France’s health watchdog has warned that social media harms adolescent mental health, particularly among younger girls. The assessment is based on a five-year scientific review of existing research.
ANSES said online platforms amplify harmful pressures, cyberbullying and unrealistic beauty standards. Experts found that girls, LGBT youths and vulnerable teens face higher psychological risks.
France is debating legislation to ban social media access for children under 15. President Emmanuel Macron supports stronger age restrictions and platform accountability.
The watchdog urged changes to algorithms and default settings to prioritise child well-being. Similar debates have emerged globally following Australia’s introduction of a teenage platform ban.
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AI is no longer confined to chatbots and content tools. In the food and beverage sector, companies are utilising advanced AI systems to forecast consumer trends, expedite product development, and explore new ingredients for future products.
Mars, the multinational behind brands such as Dolmio, Pedigree, and Mars bars, is using AI to support its health and sustainability goals. Darren Logan, vice president of research at the Mars Advanced Research Institute, said the company is exploring plant compounds and alternative proteins.
Fermentation is also expanding Mars’ ingredient research by generating new chemical compounds through interactions between plants and microbes. Logan said combining plants with microbes increases chemical diversity, producing substances that would not otherwise exist.
The chocolate manufacturer partnered with UC Davis spin-out PIPA and its AI research platform LEAP to support this work. The system constructs knowledge graphs utilising scientific literature, databases, and the company’s proprietary data to establish connections between ingredients, microbes, and human health.
Logan said the platform helps reduce the time and cost of experimentation by guiding researchers towards more promising test options. Human oversight remains central to every AI-assisted decision.
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Gadget makers face rising costs as AI drives intense demand for memory chips. Supplies of DRAM and storage components have tightened across global markets.
Manufacturers have shifted production towards AI data centres, squeezing availability for consumer devices. Analysts warn the memory shortage could extend well into next year.
Higher prices are already affecting laptops, smartphones and connected devices. Some companies are redesigning products or limiting features to manage the costs of chip components.
Industry experts say engineers are writing leaner software to reduce memory use. The AI surge is marking the end of an era of cheap and abundant memory.
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The UK government has dropped plans for mandatory digital ID for workers. Ministers say existing right-to-work checks will be digitised instead.
Labour had argued compulsory digital ID would curb illegal working and fraud in the UK. Under the revised plan, checks will become fully online by 2029, without the need for a new standalone ID system.
The reversal follows a political backlash, collapsing public support and concern among Labour MPs. Keir Starmer faced criticism over unclear messaging and repeated recent policy U-turns.
Ministers say platforms like Gov.uk One Login remain central to reform. Regulators, including Ofcom, continue to oversee digital compliance and worker protections.
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The robotics company Agibot has launched a series of Asia-Pacific strategic initiatives for 2026 with a high-profile event in Malaysia, signalling its push to expand embodied AI and robotics across the region.
The launch, held at i-City in Selangor, was attended by executives, Malaysian government officials, partners, and customers. It also marked the opening of the first AI and Robotics Experience Centre in Malaysia.
The centre was developed in partnership with I-Bhd and officiated by Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Chang Lih Kang. Agibot said the facility will showcase real-world applications of humanoid robotics.
Founder and CEO of Agibot, Deng Taihua, said the company produced its 5,000th humanoid robot in 2025, strengthening its position as it begins regional expansion in 2026.
The firm plans to deploy its systems across property, hospitality, tourism, and urban services, while its partnership with I-Bhd will focus on wellness, longevity, and residential robotics.
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Rising use of AI is transforming cyberattacks in the UAE, enabling deepfakes, automated phishing and rapid data theft. Expanding digital services increase exposure for businesses and residents.
Criminals deploy autonomous AI tools to scan networks, exploit weaknesses and steal information faster than humans. Shorter detection windows raise risks of breaches, disruption and financial loss.
High-value sectors such as government, finance and healthcare face sustained targeting amid skills shortages. Protection relies on cautious users, stronger governance and secure-by-design systems across smart infrastructure.
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The US AI company, OpenAI, has acquired healthcare technology startup Torch only days after unveiling ChatGPT Health, signalling an accelerated push into medical and clinical applications.
Financial terms were not officially disclosed, although media reports estimate the transaction at between $60 million and $100 million.
Torch was developed as a unified medical memory platform, designed to consolidate patient data from hospitals, laboratories, wearable devices and consumer testing services.
The company positioned its technology as a means to support AI systems in navigating fragmented healthcare information, rather than relying on isolated data sources.
Torch’s four-person team will join OpenAI following the acquisition, reinforcing the company’s internal healthcare expertise. OpenAI has emphasised privacy, safety and collaboration with medical professionals as core principles guiding its expansion into sensitive data environments.
The move follows a broader strategy by OpenAI to strengthen enterprise offerings, particularly for large healthcare organisations. Recent hires and partnerships suggest healthcare remains a priority area as AI adoption increases across regulated sectors.
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Ant International has announced a partnership with Google to support the launch of the Universal Commerce Protocol, a new open standard designed to enable agent-driven commerce across discovery, purchasing and post-purchase support.
A collaboration that aims to simplify how AI agents, merchants and payment providers interact across platforms.
The protocol establishes a shared language that enables agents to collaborate seamlessly without requiring bespoke integrations, while remaining compatible with existing industry frameworks. Google says alignment on common standards is essential for agentic commerce to scale across sectors and markets.
AI interfaces such as the Gemini app and AI Mode in Google Search are expected to support native purchasing within conversations. Users expressing shopping intent will receive curated product options and complete payments through integrated wallet services without leaving the chat environment.
Ant International is contributing payment expertise, alternative payment methods and AI-based risk management to ensure traceable transactions and consumer trust.
The company states that secure intent verification and fraud protection are crucial as users entrust purchasing decisions to intelligent agents.
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Ireland’s Data Protection Commission is owed more than €4 billion in fines imposed on companies, primarily Big Tech firms. Most of the penalties remain unpaid due to ongoing legal challenges.
Figures released under Freedom of Information laws show the watchdog collected only €125,000 from over €530 million in fines issued last year. Similar patterns have persisted across several previous years.
Since 2020, the commission has levied €4.04 billion in data protection penalties. Just €20 million has been paid, while the remaining balance is tied up in appeals before Irish and EU courts.
The regulator states that legislation prevents enforcement until the court proceedings conclude. Several cases hinge on a landmark WhatsApp ruling at the EU’s top court, expected to shape future collections.
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A Northern Ireland politician, Cara Hunter of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP), has quit X after renewed concerns over Grok AI misuse. She cited failures to protect women and children online.
The decision follows criticism of Grok AI features enabling non-consensual sexualised images. UK regulators have launched investigations under online safety laws.
UK ministers plan to criminalise creating intimate deepfakes and supplying related tools. Ofcom is examining whether X breached its legal duties.
Political leaders and rights groups say enforcement must go further. X says it removes illegal content and has restricted Grok image functions on the social media.
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