Meta has resumed the roll-out of its MetaAI across Europe after halting the launch last year due to regulatory uncertainty.
The Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC) still has questions regarding Meta’s AI tool, particularly in relation to its use of personal data from Facebook and Instagram users to train large language models.
The company has been in discussions with the DPC, but instead of an agreement, it remains under review as the tool continues to roll out.
MetaAI was first introduced in the US in September 2023, followed by India in June 2024, and the UK in October. It enables users to interact with a chat function across Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, and WhatsApp.
However, its expansion in Europe faced delays last summer due to concerns raised by the Irish privacy watchdog.
The company has expressed confidence in its compliance with the EU’s data protection laws and has been transparent with the DPC about its launch. However, failure to comply with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) could lead to significant fines.
Additionally, certain aspects of MetaAI fall under the scope of Europe’s Digital Services Act (DSA), which requires the company to meet specific standards on user safety and transparency.
The European Commission has indicated it is waiting for a risk assessment from Meta to ensure that the tool complies with DSA obligations. While initial elements may not be directly relevant to the DSA, the Commission will continue to monitor the deployment closely.
For more information on these topics, visit diplomacy.edu.
The European Commission has charged the largest online platforms in the EU a total of €58.2 million in supervisory fees for their enforcement under the Digital Services Act (DSA).
These fees, which apply to platforms with over 45 million users per month, aim to fund the Commission’s activities for DSA enforcement, including administrative and human resource costs.
Meta, TikTok, and Google have filed five pending court cases against the fees, challenging the charges.
The DSA, designed to increase platform accountability, became fully applicable in February 2024, and the Commission has designated 25 Very Large Online Platforms, including major players like Amazon and LinkedIn.
During the 2024 period, the Commission launched formal proceedings against several platforms and sent over 100 requests for information.
However, instead of these fees fully covering the Commission’s expenses, they led to a deficit of €514,061. Investigations into platforms like X are ongoing, with transparency issues being a key concern.
For more information on these topics, visit diplomacy.edu.
Amazon has launched Nova Act, a general-purpose AI agent capable of controlling web browsers to perform simple tasks. Along with the new agent, Amazon is releasing the Nova Act SDK, enabling developers to create agent prototypes.
The tool will also power key features of the upcoming Alexa+ upgrade, a generative AI-enhanced version of Amazon’s voice assistant.
Developed by Amazon’s AGI lab, Nova Act is designed to automate tasks such as ordering food or making reservations. Although the model is currently a research preview, Amazon claims Nova Act outperforms competitors like OpenAI’s Operator and Anthropic’s Computer Use in internal tests.
The toolkit, available on nova.amazon.com, allows developers to integrate AI agents into applications that can navigate websites, fill forms, and interact with digital content.
Despite its early stage, Nova Act is seen as a significant step in the development of superintelligent AI, with Amazon’s AGI lab aiming to make AI agents reliable and effective across various tasks.
Instead of AI agents from other companies that have faced challenges like slow response times and error-prone performance, Amazon hopes that Nova Act will address these issues, potentially providing a competitive edge in the AI market.
The success of Nova Act could also play a crucial role in the success of Alexa+ and Amazon’s broader AI strategy.
For more information on these topics, visit diplomacy.edu.
Runway has unveiled Gen-4, its most advanced AI-powered video generator yet, promising superior character consistency, realistic motion, and world understanding.
The model is now available to individual and enterprise users, allowing them to generate dynamic videos using visual references and text-based instructions.
Backed by investors such as Google and Nvidia, Runway faces fierce competition from OpenAI and Google in the AI video space. The company has differentiated itself by securing Hollywood partnerships and investing heavily in AI-generated filmmaking.
However, it remains tight-lipped about its training data, raising concerns over copyright issues.
Runway is currently embroiled in a lawsuit from artists accusing the company of training its models on copyrighted works instead of getting permission. The company claims fair use as a defence.
Meanwhile, it is reportedly seeking new funding at a $4 billion valuation, with hopes of reaching $300 million in annual revenue. As AI video tools advance, concerns grow over their impact on jobs in the entertainment industry, with thousands of positions at risk.
For more information on these topics, visit diplomacy.edu.
Apple Intelligence is expanding with new features, including Priority Notifications, which highlight time-sensitive alerts for users. This update is part of iOS 18.4, iPadOS 18.4, and macOS Sequoia 15.4, rolling out globally.
The AI suite is now available in more languages and has launched in the EU for iPhone and iPad users.
Additional improvements include a new Sketch style in Image Playground and the ability to generate ‘memory movies’ on Mac using simple text descriptions. Vision Pro users in the US can now access Apple Intelligence features like Writing Tools and Genmoji.
Apple’s AI rollout has been gradual since its introduction at WWDC last year, with features arriving in stages.
The update also brings fresh emojis, child safety enhancements, and the debut of Apple News+ Food, further expanding Apple’s digital ecosystem.
For more information on these topics, visit diplomacy.edu.
OpenAI has made its image generator, powered by the GPT-4o model, accessible to all users, CEO Sam Altman announced on X. Previously, this feature was available only to paying ChatGPT subscribers.
While there is no clear indication of how many images free-tier users can create, Altman previously mentioned a possible limit of three per day.
The tool has seen massive demand since its launch, with Altman joking that OpenAI’s GPUs were ‘melting’ under the pressure. However, it has also sparked controversy, particularly after users began generating images in the style of Studio Ghibli, raising copyright concerns.
Others have used the generator to create fake receipts, such as restaurant bills. OpenAI has responded by stating that all AI-generated images contain metadata identifying them and that the company takes action when violations occur.
In a major financial development, OpenAI has secured $40 billion in funding from SoftBank, valuing the company at $300 billion. The company also revealed that ChatGPT now boasts 500 million weekly active users and 700 million monthly active users, marking a significant milestone in its growth.
For more information on these topics, visit diplomacy.edu.
TikTok is expanding its e-commerce push by launching TikTok Shop in France, Germany and Italy. Already active in Spain and Ireland, the feature allows users to buy products directly within the app via videos, livestreams and a dedicated shop tab.
Customers can now browse, order, and get personalised product suggestions without leaving TikTok. However, users under 18 won’t be able to access content linked to TikTok Shop, with the platform promising stricter moderation.
The move has sparked concern among French retailers, with trade groups calling on the government to act against what they see as unfair competition from platforms like TikTok, Shein and Temu. Lawmakers are also investigating TikTok’s impact on young users.
For more information on these topics, visit diplomacy.edu.
The Coimisiún na Meán has warned that differing interpretations of the Digital Services Act (DSA) by EU regulators are hindering a unified approach to online platform regulation.
Maria Donde, Director of International Affairs at Coimisiún na Meán, highlighted the challenges of aligning various regulators’ approaches to the DSA, which has left room for interpretation.
She emphasised the importance of finding common ground, especially as the DSA, which came into effect last February, imposes transparency and election integrity requirements on platforms.
The DSA requires each EU member state to appoint a Digital Services Coordinator as a point of contact for platforms. Ireland, home to major platforms like TikTok and X, is at the forefront of enforcement.
Donde stressed the need for a consistent voice within the EU, particularly as the law faces criticism globally. The US government has condemned the EU’s regulatory approach, calling it a threat to free speech and accusing Europe of sidelining US tech companies.
The European Commission has already initiated several investigations under the DSA, targeting platforms such as X, TikTok, and Temu. These probes are ongoing, with potential fines for non-compliance reaching up to 6% of a company’s global turnover.
For more information on these topics, visit diplomacy.edu.
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+.
For more information on these topics, visit diplomacy.edu.
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.
For more information on these topics, visit diplomacy.edu.
