Content Policy

How AI is transforming healthcare and patient management

AI is moving from theory to practice in healthcare. Hospitals and clinics are adopting AI to improve diagnostics, automate routine tasks, support overworked staff, and cut costs. A recent GoodFirms survey shows strong confidence that AI will become essential to patient care and health management.

Survey findings reveal that nearly all respondents believe AI will transform healthcare. Robotic surgery, predictive analytics, and diagnostic imaging are gaining momentum, while digital consultations and wearable monitors are expanding patient access.

AI-driven tools are also helping reduce human errors, improve decision-making, and support clinicians with real-time insights.

Challenges remain, particularly around data privacy, transparency, and the risk of over-reliance on technology. Concerns about misdiagnosis, lack of human empathy, and job displacement highlight the need for responsible implementation.

Even so, the direction is clear: AI is set to be a defining force in healthcare’s future, enabling more efficient, accurate, and equitable systems worldwide.

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Google unveils smarter AI Mode for visual searches

Google’s upgraded AI Mode in Google Search now supports conversational queries and image uploads, delivering highly relevant visual results. Launched in the US in English, the feature allows users to refine searches naturally, perfect for finding inspiration or specific items effortlessly.

AI Mode simplifies shopping; users describe items like ‘barrel jeans, not too baggy,’ to get tailored, shoppable results. Google’s Shopping Graph, boasting over 50 billion product listings, provides details like reviews, deals, and availability, with 2 billion listings refreshed hourly.

The update harnesses Gemini 2.5’s advanced multimodal capabilities and a ‘visual search fan-out’ technique, enabling deeper image analysis. The approach identifies subtle details and secondary objects, ensuring results align closely with the user’s intent and the image’s full context.

On mobile, users can dive deeper by searching within specific images, asking follow-up questions to explore creative ideas or pinpoint exact items. The intuitive experience transforms how users seek inspiration or shop online, making searches more natural and precise.

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UK users lose access to Imgur amid watchdog probe

Imgur has cut off access for UK users after regulators warned its parent company, MediaLab AI, of a potential fine over child data protection.

Visitors to the platform since 30 September have been met with a notice saying that content is unavailable in their region, with embedded Imgur images on other sites also no longer visible.

The UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) began investigating the platform in March, questioning whether it complied with data laws and the Children’s Code.

The regulator said it had issued MediaLab with a notice of intent to fine the company following provisional findings. Officials also emphasised that leaving the UK would not shield Imgur from responsibility for any past breaches.

Some users speculated that the withdrawal was tied to new duties under the Online Safety Act, which requires platforms to check whether visitors are over 18 before allowing access to harmful content.

However, both the ICO and Ofcom stated that Imgur decided on a commercial choice. Other MediaLab services, such as Kik Messenger, continue to operate in the UK with age verification measures in place.

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Anthropic unveils Claude Sonnet 4.5 as the best AI coding model yet

Anthropic has released Claude Sonnet 4.5, its most advanced AI model yet, claiming state-of-the-art results in coding benchmarks. The company says the model can build production-ready applications, rather than limited prototypes, making it more reliable than earlier versions.

Claude Sonnet 4.5 is available through the Claude API and chatbot at the same price as its predecessor, with $3 per million input tokens and $15 per million output tokens.

Early enterprise tests suggest the model can autonomously code for extended periods, integrate databases, secure domains, and perform compliance checks such as SOC 2 audits.

Industry leaders have endorsed the launch, with Cursor and Windsurf calling it a new generation of AI coding models. Anthropic also emphasises more substantial alignment, noting reduced risks of deception and sycophancy, and improved resistance to prompt injection attacks.

Alongside the model, the company has introduced a Claude Agent SDK to let developers build customised agents, and launched ‘Imagine with Claude’, a research preview showing real-time code generation.

A release that highlights the intense competition in AI, with Anthropic pushing frequent updates to keep pace with rivals such as OpenAI, which has recently gained ground on coding performance with GPT-5.

Claude Sonnet 4.5 follows just weeks after Anthropic’s Claude Opus 4.1, underlining the rapid development cycles driving the sector.

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NSW expands secure AI platform NSWEduChat across schools

Following successful school trials, the New South Wales Department of Education has confirmed the broader rollout of its in-house generative AI platform, NSWEduChat.

The tool, developed within the department’s Sydney-based cloud environment, prioritises privacy, security, and equity while tailoring content to the state’s educational context. It is aligned with the NSW AI Assessment Framework.

The trial began in 16 schools in Term 1, 2024, and then expanded to 50 schools in Term 2. Teachers reported efficiency gains, and students showed strong engagement. Access was extended to all staff in Term 4, 2024, with Years 5–12 students due to follow in Term 4, 2025.

Key features include a privacy-first design, built-in safeguards, and a student mode that encourages critical thinking by offering guided prompts rather than direct answers. Staff can switch between staff and student modes for lesson planning and preparation.

All data is stored in Australia under departmental control. NSWEduChat is free and billed as the most cost-effective AI tool for schools. Other systems are accessible but not endorsed; staff must follow safety rules, while students are limited to approved tools.

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Greece considers social media ban for under-16s, says Mitsotakis

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has signalled that Greece may consider banning social media use for children under 16.

He raised the issue during a UN event in New York, hosted by Australia, titled ‘Protecting Children in the Digital Age’, held as part of the 80th UN General Assembly.

Mitsotakis emphasised that any restrictions would be coordinated with international partners, warning that the world is carrying out the largest uncontrolled experiment on children’s minds through unchecked social media exposure.

He cautioned that the long-term effects are uncertain but unlikely to be positive.

The prime minister pointed to new national initiatives, such as the ban on mobile phone use in schools, which he said has transformed the educational experience.

He also highlighted the recent launch of parco.gov.gr, which provides age verification and parental control tools to support families in protecting children online.

Mitsotakis stressed that difficulties enforcing such measures cannot serve as an excuse for inaction, urging global cooperation to address the growing risks children face in the digital age.

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California enacts first state-level AI safety law

In the US, California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed SB 53, a landmark law establishing transparency and safety requirements for large AI companies.

The legislation obliges major AI developers such as OpenAI, Anthropic, Meta, and Google DeepMind to disclose their safety protocols. It also introduces whistle-blower protections and a reporting mechanism for safety incidents, including cyberattacks and autonomous AI behaviour not covered by the EU AI Act.

Reactions across the industry have been mixed. Anthropic supported the law, while Meta and OpenAI lobbied against it, with OpenAI publishing an open letter urging Newsom not to sign. Tech firms have warned that state-level measures could create a patchwork of regulation that stifles innovation.

Despite resistance, the law positions California as a national leader in AI governance. Newsom said the state had demonstrated that it was possible to safeguard communities without stifling growth, calling AI ‘the new frontier in innovation’.

Similar legislation is under consideration in New York, while California lawmakers are also debating SB 243, a separate bill that would regulate AI companion chatbots.

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YouTube settles Donald Trump lawsuit over account suspension for $24.5 million

YouTube has agreed to a $24.5 million settlement to resolve a lawsuit filed by President Donald Trump, stemming from the platform’s decision to suspend his account after the 6 January 2021 Capitol riot.

The lawsuit was part of a broader legal push by Trump against major tech companies over what he calls politically motivated censorship.

As part of the deal, YouTube will donate $22 million to the Trust for the National Mall on Trump’s behalf, funding a new $200 million White House ballroom project. Another $2.5 million will go to co-plaintiffs, including the American Conservative Union and author Naomi Wolf.

The settlement includes no admission of wrongdoing by YouTube and was intended to avoid further legal costs. The move follows similar multimillion-dollar settlements by Meta and X, which also suspended Trump’s accounts post-January 6.

Critics argue the settlement signals a retreat from consistent content moderation. Media scholar Timothy Koskie warned it sets a troubling precedent for global digital governance and selective enforcement.

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New Facebook tools help creators boost fan engagement

Facebook has introduced new tools designed to help creators increase engagement and build stronger communities on the platform. The update includes fan challenges, custom badges for top contributors, and new insights to track audience loyalty.

Fan challenges allow creators with over 100,000 followers to issue prompts inviting fans to share content on a theme or event. Contributions are displayed in a dedicated feed, with a leaderboard ranking entries by reactions.

Challenges can run for a week or stretch over several months, giving creators flexibility in engaging their audiences.

Meta has also launched custom fan badges for creators with more than one million followers, enabling them to rename Top Fan badges each month. The feature gives elite-level fans extra recognition and strengthens the sense of community. Fans can choose whether to accept the custom badge.

To complement these features, Facebook adds new metrics showing the number of Top Fans on a page. These insights help creators measure engagement efforts and reward their most dedicated followers.

The tools are now available to eligible creators worldwide.

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ChatGPT gets family safety update with parental controls

OpenAI has introduced new parental controls for ChatGPT, giving families greater oversight of how teens use the AI platform. The tools, which are live for all users, allow parents to link accounts with their children and manage settings through a simple control dashboard.

The system introduces stronger safeguards for teen accounts, including filters on graphic or harmful content and restrictions on roleplay involving sex, violence or extreme beauty ideals.

Parents can also fine-tune features such as voice mode, memory, image generation, or set quiet hours when ChatGPT cannot be accessed.

A notification mechanism has been added to alert parents if a teen shows signs of acute distress, escalating to emergency services in critical cases. OpenAI said the controls were shaped by consultation with experts, advocacy groups, and policymakers and will be expanded as research evolves.

To complement the parental controls, a new online resource hub has been launched to help families learn how ChatGPT works and explore positive uses in study, creativity and daily life.

OpenAI also plans to roll out an age-prediction system that automatically applies teen-appropriate settings.

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