Apple is reportedly working on a revamped version of its Health app, which will feature an AI coach designed to help users improve their health instead of simply tracking basic data.
The AI coach will offer personalised advice based on data collected from users’ medical devices, with a particular focus on food tracking.
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, who initially reported on the project in 2023, now indicates that development is progressing, with the new feature expected to launch as part of iOS 19.4, possibly by spring or summer 2026.
The AI coach is currently being trained using data from Apple’s physicians, and the company plans to incorporate more medical professionals to provide health-related content, including videos, instead of relying solely on general advice. The new service is reportedly being referred to as Health+.
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The US is just days away from imposing a ban on TikTok unless a deal is struck with its Chinese parent company ByteDance. The ban, set to take effect on Saturday, would affect 170 million American users of the popular app.
However, President Donald Trump has expressed confidence that an agreement will be reached in time. He extended the deadline from January to April 5 to give ByteDance more time to find a non-Chinese buyer for TikTok’s US operations.
Trump mentioned that there is significant interest from potential buyers, with private equity firm Blackstone reportedly evaluating a minority investment in TikTok’s US business.
The discussions are centred on ByteDance’s existing non-Chinese shareholders, including Susquehanna International Group and General Atlantic. Washington’s main concern is that TikTok’s ownership by ByteDance allows the Chinese government to potentially influence the app and collect data on Americans.
Despite the pressure, TikTok has yet to comment on the situation. If no agreement is reached by the deadline, TikTok faces the risk of being banned, though the app would remain on users’ devices if already installed. However, new users would not be able to download it.
The app is already banned in countries like India over similar national security concerns.
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Studio Ghibli-style artwork has gone viral on social media, with users flocking to ChatGPT’s feature to create or transform images into Japanese anime-inspired versions. Celebrities have also joined the trend, posting Ghibli-style photos of themselves.
However, what began as a fun trend has sparked concerns over copyright infringement and the ethics of AI recreating the work of established artists instead of respecting their intellectual property.
While OpenAI has allowed premium users to create Ghibli-style images, users without subscriptions can still make up to three images for free.
The rise of this feature has led to debates over whether these AI-generated images violate copyright laws, particularly as the style is closely associated with renowned animator Hayao Miyazaki.
Intellectual property lawyer Even Brown clarified that the style itself isn’t explicitly protected, but he raised concerns that OpenAI’s AI may have been trained on Ghibli’s previous works instead of using independent sources, which could present potential copyright issues.
OpenAI has responded by taking a more conservative approach with its tools, introducing a refusal feature when users attempt to generate images in the style of living artists instead of allowing such images.
Despite this, the controversy continues, as artists like Karla Ortiz are suing other AI generators for copyright infringement. Ortiz has criticised OpenAI for not valuing the work and livelihoods of artists, calling the Ghibli trend a clear example of such disregard.
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Fashion retailer H&M is set to introduce AI-generated ‘twins’ of 30 real-life models, which will be used in social media and marketing campaigns. The company says this move, made in collaboration with Swedish tech firm Uncut, explores new creative possibilities while preserving a ‘human-centric’ approach.
H&M has emphasised that models will maintain control over how their digital replicas are used, including receiving payment similar to traditional modelling contracts. However, the announcement has sparked backlash across the fashion industry.
Critics, including influencer Morgan Riddle, fear that AI models could take away job opportunities from photographers, stylists, and other production crew. Trade unions like Equity have voiced concern over the lack of legal protections for models, warning that some are being pushed into unfair contracts that compromise their rights and ownership over their image.
The company says AI-generated images will be clearly marked and used responsibly, complying with platform rules on disclosing synthetic content. H&M is not alone in testing the waters—other fashion brands such as Levi’s and Hugo Boss have also experimented with AI-generated visuals, prompting debates about the future of creative jobs in the industry.
Why does it matter?
While H&M highlights potential upsides like less travel and increased flexibility for models, union leaders insist stronger protections and industry-wide agreements are urgently needed to prevent exploitation in the evolving digital fashion landscape.
TSMC says future chip factories in the US will take two years or less to complete, a big step forward from the five years needed for its first Arizona plant. The goal is to narrow the technology gap with its cutting-edge Taiwanese fabs.
While the first US fab makes chips on a 4nm process, TSMC aims to start 3nm production in 2028 and reach 2nm ‘before 2030.’ This would bring American output closer to the most advanced nodes used in Taiwan.
For Apple, which relies heavily on TSMC, the move reduces geopolitical risks tied to China–Taiwan tensions. Critics, however, point out that all R&D remains in Taiwan, limiting the US’s chances of true semiconductor leadership.
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Researchers at Caltech have developed a groundbreaking silicon device that could help quantum computers communicate over long distances.
The innovation, created by a team led by Professor Mohammad Mirhosseini, successfully converts microwave photons into optical photons, overcoming a major challenge in quantum networking. Their findings were recently published in Nature Nanotechnology.
Quantum computers rely on microwave photons to store and process information, but these particles require near-zero temperatures and lose data when travelling through standard internet cables.
Optical photons, however, can move efficiently over long distances at room temperature. The new device acts as a bridge between the two, using a vibrating silicon beam to convert microwave signals into optical ones with remarkable efficiency.
Built from silicon to minimise noise, the transducer outperforms older systems by 100 times while maintaining the same level of signal clarity.
The breakthrough brings the concept of a quantum internet closer to reality, offering a scalable way to link quantum computers across vast networks in the future.
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AI search company Perplexity is developing a feature similar to Google’s popular Circle to Search, according to CEO Aravind Srinivas. He announced on X that the functionality would be ‘coming soon’ to all Android users, though specific details remain unclear.
A demo video shared by Srinivas showed how users can highlight text in conversations with Perplexity and request further information.
In the demo, a user circled a mention of Roger Federer and asked about his net worth, prompting Perplexity to fetch details from the web. However, since Google has trademarked ‘Circle to Search’, Perplexity may need a different name for its version.
Perplexity has been gaining popularity as an AI-powered search assistant, with some users preferring it over Google’s Gemini. The company recently introduced an AI-driven web browser called Comet, though it remains uncertain whether it will expand beyond smartphones to platforms like Windows and macOS.
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CoreWeave, the Nvidia-backed AI infrastructure company, has reduced the size of its US initial public offering (IPO) and priced its shares below the initial range, raising concerns over investor interest in AI infrastructure.
The company will offer 37.5 million shares, 23.5% fewer than originally planned, with shares priced at $40 each, well below the lower end of the expected price range.
Despite strong backing from Nvidia, which committed to a $250 million order, the IPO has faced a tepid reception due to concerns about CoreWeave’s long-term growth and capital-intensive business model.
Investors have expressed worries over the company’s reliance on Microsoft’s shifting AI strategy, which could affect demand for its GPU chips. Additionally, CoreWeave’s high debt levels and lack of profitability have raised doubts about its financial sustainability.
The reduced IPO comes at a time when the US IPO market is struggling, with fewer equity deals and lower transaction values in 2024 compared to last year.
CoreWeave’s stock market debut, once seen as a test for the AI infrastructure market, now signals waning investor confidence in AI companies, especially those without a proven profit history.
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Two former Meta AI executives have secured $15 million in funding for Yutori, a San Francisco-based startup focused on developing AI personal assistants.
The funding round was led by Radical Ventures, with backing from prominent investors including AI pioneer Fei-Fei Li and Google DeepMind’s Jeff Dean.
Yutori aims to create autonomous AI agents capable of executing complex online tasks without human intervention. Unlike traditional chatbots, these AI assistants will handle real-world actions, from ordering food to managing travel plans, streamlining everyday digital interactions.
The company is also advancing post-training techniques to enhance AI models’ ability to navigate the web efficiently.
With a team of experts who previously worked on Meta’s AI projects, including the development of Llama 3 and Llama 4 models, Yutori is positioning itself at the forefront of AI-driven automation.
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Dartmouth College researchers have trialled an AI chatbot, Therabot, designed to assist with mental health care. In a groundbreaking clinical trial, the app was tested on individuals with major depressive disorder (MDD), generalised anxiety disorder (GAD), and those at risk for eating disorders.
The results showed encouraging improvements, with users reporting up to a 51% reduction in depression and a 31% decrease in anxiety. These outcomes were comparable to traditional outpatient therapy.
The trial also revealed that Therabot was effective in helping individuals with eating disorder risks, leading to a 19% reduction in harmful thoughts about body image and weight issues.
Researchers noted that after eight weeks of engagement with the app, participants showed significant symptom reduction, marking progress comparable to standard cognitive therapy.
While Therabot’s success offers hope, experts highlight the importance of balancing AI with human oversight, especially in sensitive mental health applications.
The study’s authors emphasised that while AI can help improve access to therapy, particularly for those unable to access in-person care, generative AI tools must be used cautiously, as errors could have serious consequences for individuals at risk of self-harm.
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