Digital identities Archives | Page 18 of 183

Why human remain the real advantage in the AI era?

AI is quickly becoming part of everyday business operations. Companies are already using it to analyse data, optimise campaigns and manage complex digital systems. Greater automation, however, is also revealing a simple reality: the human side of leadership is becoming even more important.

A I performs well when speed and scale are needed. Systems can process huge volumes of information and detect patterns far faster than people. Planning in many industries is already shifting from broad demographics toward signals based on behaviour and intent.

Operational complexity is another area where AI is proving useful. Modern digital ecosystems involve multiple platforms and formats, from programmatic advertising to retail media and connected television. Automation can handle forecasting, pacing and reporting, freeing teams to focus on strategy and interpretation.

Personalised communication is also becoming easier to achieve. AI tools can generate tailored messages for diverse audiences, adapting content based on context and behaviour. Human oversight still matters, especially in markets where culture, language and economic realities vary widely.

Growing reliance on AI also brings risks that leaders must address openly. Trust is one of the biggest concerns. Technologies capable of producing convincing text, images and video can also create misinformation at scale, threatening the credibility of media and digital platforms.

Workforce readiness presents another challenge. Technology alone cannot drive transformation without people who understand how to use it. Investment in reskilling and digital literacy is increasingly seen as essential for organisations adopting AI.

Dependence on large global platforms raises additional strategic questions. As automation expands, control over data, distribution and revenue can shift away from local players. Businesses may find themselves relying heavily on external technologies to reach their own markets.

Many leaders now argue that the role of management in the AI era is not simply to promote technology, but to protect trust and invest in people. AI can enhance productivity and support decision-making, yet responsibility for outcomes still rests with humans.

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AI tool could help detect domestic violence risk years earlier

Researchers in the United States have developed an AI system designed to help doctors identify patients who may be at risk of intimate partner violence. The tool analyses hospital data to detect patterns associated with abuse, potentially enabling healthcare professionals to intervene earlier.

Intimate partner violence refers to abuse from current or former partners and can lead to serious injuries, chronic pain, and long-term mental health problems. According to the European Commission, 18 percent of women who have had a partner reported experiencing physical or sexual violence from a partner in 2021.

The study, published in the journal Nature, examined hospital records from nearly 850 women who had experienced intimate partner violence and more than 5,200 similar patients in a control group. Researchers used the data to train three different machine learning systems to detect patterns associated with abuse.

One model analysed structured hospital data, such as age and medical history. A second model examined written clinical notes, including doctors’ observations and radiology reports. A third system combined both data types and achieved the strongest results, correctly identifying risk in 88 percent of cases.

Researchers found that the system could flag potential abuse more than three years before some patients later entered hospital-based intervention programmes. By analysing large datasets, the tool can detect patterns of physical trauma linked to abuse and alert clinicians so they can approach the issue carefully and offer support.

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Tinder tests AI matchmaking features for modern dating

Popular dating platform Tinder is testing a new AI-powered feature called ‘Chemistry’ designed to improve matchmaking. The tool analyses user profiles to identify more relevant connections while the app’s familiar swipe system remains central to the experience.

Developed by parent company Match Group, the feature uses AI to understand personality traits, interests and preferences through profile data. Future updates may allow users to answer questionnaires or share photo archives to refine recommendations.

Additional modes are also being introduced to further personalise matches. Music preferences and astrology signs can now influence suggested profiles, reflecting evolving trends among younger online daters.

The platform is also testing in-person events and virtual video speed dating to encourage real-world interaction. AI moderation tools are also being deployed, helping detect inappropriate messages and verify that profiles belong to real people.

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Seoul deepens ties with global AI developers

South Korea is pursuing a partnership with AI company Anthropic as part of a national strategy to strengthen technological capabilities. Officials are working toward a memorandum of understanding with the developer of the Claude AI system.

The initiative follows discussions between South Korea’s science minister and Anthropic’s chief executive, Dario Amodei, during an AI summit in New Delhi. Authorities are also preparing for the company’s planned office opening in the city in 2026.

Government leaders in South Korea have already expanded cooperation with OpenAI. Policymakers say the strategy aims to build ties with leading global AI developers while supporting domestic innovation.

Officials are also developing a homegrown AI foundation model with local companies. The programme forms part of a national plan to position the country among the world’s leading AI powers.

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Meta removes encrypted messaging from Instagram DMs

Meta will discontinue end-to-end encryption for Instagram direct messages starting in May 2026. The company said the feature saw limited use among Instagram users.

Users with encrypted chats will receive instructions on how to download messages or media before the feature ends. Meta confirmed the change through updates to its support pages and in-app notifications.

The decision comes amid ongoing debate about encryption and online safety on major social platforms. Critics argue that encrypted messaging can make it harder to detect harmful activity involving minors.

Meta said users seeking encrypted communication can continue using WhatsApp or Messenger. The company maintains end-to-end encryption for messaging services outside Instagram.

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Study warns AI chatbots may reinforce delusional thinking

A new scientific review has raised concerns that AI chatbots could reinforce delusional thinking, particularly among people already vulnerable to psychosis. The review, published in The Lancet Psychiatry, summarises emerging evidence suggesting that chatbot interactions may validate or amplify delusional thinking in certain users.

The study examined reports and research discussing what some have described as ‘AI-associated delusions’. Dr Hamilton Morrin, a psychiatrist and researcher at King’s College London, analysed media reports and existing evidence exploring how chatbot responses might interact with psychotic symptoms.

Psychotic delusions generally fall into three categories: grandiose, romantic, and paranoid. Researchers say chatbots may unintentionally reinforce such beliefs because they often respond in ways that are supportive or affirming. In some reported cases, users received responses suggesting spiritual significance or implying that a higher entity was communicating through the chatbot.

Researchers emphasise that there is currently no clear evidence that AI systems can independently cause psychosis in individuals without prior vulnerability. However, interactions with chatbots could strengthen existing beliefs or accelerate the progression of delusional thinking in people already at risk.

Experts say the interactive nature of chatbots may intensify the effect. Unlike static sources of information such as videos or articles, chatbots can engage users directly and repeatedly, potentially reinforcing problematic beliefs more quickly.

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Google Earth AI supports disease forecasting and public health planning

Researchers are increasingly combining geospatial data with predictive modelling to anticipate health risks.

In that context, Google has introduced new capabilities within Google Earth AI designed to help public health experts forecast outbreaks and identify vulnerable communities.

The system integrates environmental information such as weather patterns, flooding and air quality with population mobility data and health records.

These insights allow researchers to analyse how environmental conditions influence the spread of diseases, including Dengue Fever and Cholera.

Several research initiatives are already testing the models. In collaboration with the World Health Organisation Regional Office for Africa, forecasting tools combining Google’s time-series models with geospatial data improved cholera prediction accuracy by more than 35 percent.

Academic researchers are also applying the technology to other diseases. Scientists at the University of Oxford have used Earth AI datasets to improve six-month dengue forecasts in Brazil, helping local authorities prepare preventative responses.

The technology is also being tested for chronic disease analysis. In Australia, partnerships with health organisations are exploring how geospatial models can identify regional health needs and support preventative care strategies.

Combining environmental intelligence with health data could enable public health systems to shift from reactive crisis management to earlier detection and prevention of disease outbreaks.

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EU reviews X compliance proposal under Digital Services Act

X has submitted a compliance proposal to the European Commission outlining how it intends to modify its blue check verification system following regulatory concerns under the Digital Services Act.

The EU regulators concluded that the platform’s system allowed users to obtain verification simply by paying for a subscription without meaningful identity checks, potentially misleading users about the authenticity of accounts.

The Commission imposed a €120 million fine in December and gave the company 60 working days to propose corrective measures. Officials confirmed that X met the deadline for submitting a plan, which regulators will now assess.

The platform, owned by Elon Musk, must also pay the penalty while the Commission evaluates the proposed changes. The company has challenged the enforcement decision before the EU’s General Court.

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Major tech firms pledge to fight online fraud

Major technology and consumer-facing companies, including Google, Amazon, and OpenAI, have signed the ‘Industry Accord Against Online Scams and Fraud’ to share threat intelligence and strengthen defences against online fraud.

The voluntary pact brings together 11 signatories: Amazon, Adobe, Google, Levi Strauss & Co., LinkedIn, Match Group, Microsoft, Meta, OpenAI, Pinterest, and Target. It aims to improve coordination among companies and strengthen cooperation with governments, law enforcement, and NGOs.

The accord commits to sharing intelligence on criminal networks, using AI to detect fraud, and strengthening verification for financial transactions. Participating companies will also provide clearer reporting channels for users and encourage governments to prioritise scam prevention.

Executives emphasised that tackling scams requires collective effort. Meta’s Nathaniel Gleicher said the accord enables companies to share insights beyond individual cases, while Microsoft’s Steven Masada highlighted the need for faster collaboration to disrupt scams and track perpetrators globally.

The move comes as online scams grow in scale and sophistication, aided by AI-generated content and cross-platform operations. Consumers lost over $16 billion to online scams in 2024, prompting firms to boost safety features and push for stronger regulations and law enforcement.

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Europe aims to tighten AI rules and personal data standards

The European Council has proposed AI Act amendments, banning nudification tools and tightening rules for processing sensitive personal data. The move represents a key step in streamlining the continent’s digital legislation and improving safeguards for citizens.

Council officials highlighted the prohibition of AI systems that generate non-consensual sexual content or child sexual abuse material. The measure matches a European Parliament ban, showing strong support for tighter AI controls amid misuse concerns.

The proposal follows incidents such as the Grok chatbot producing millions of non-consensual intimate images, which sparked a global backlash and prompted an EU probe into the social media platform X and its AI features.

Other amendments reinstate strict rules for processing sensitive data to detect bias and require providers to register high-risk AI systems, even if claiming exemptions. Negotiations between the Council and Parliament will finalise the AI Act’s updated measures.

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