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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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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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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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 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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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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Despite speculation that the feature was expanding internationally, OpenAI has clarified that advertisements in ChatGPT are currently available only to users in the US.
Questions about a broader rollout emerged after references to advertisements appeared in the platform’s updated privacy policy. Some users interpreted the language as evidence that advertising would soon be introduced globally.
OpenAI said the policy update does not signal an immediate expansion. According to the company, advertising features are still being tested within the US as part of a gradual deployment strategy.
ChatGPT advertisements were introduced in February 2026 and appear below responses generated by the chatbot. The ads are shown only to logged-in users on free subscription tiers and are not displayed to users under eighteen.
Company representatives stated that advertising systems operate independently from the AI model that generates responses. According to OpenAI, advertisers cannot influence or modify the content produced by ChatGPT.
The company also said it does not share user conversations or personal chat histories with advertisers. However, advertisements may still be personalised based on user queries, which has prompted discussions about how conversational interfaces could shape consumer decisions.
OpenAI indicated that it is adopting a cautious, phased approach before considering any wider rollout of ChatGPT advertising features in other markets.
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Microsoft UK is the first industry partner in the UK government’s TechFirst program, offering 500 work placements and 5,000 volunteering hours over four years. The collaboration aims to develop AI and technology skills nationwide.
The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) said the partnership will expand digital capabilities in education and the workforce. Microsoft UK CEO Darren Hardman will serve as Social Mobility Champion, linking students and early-career talent with technology-sector opportunities.
TechFirst aims to reach one million secondary students and over 4,000 graduates and researchers, providing school programs, scholarships, doctoral support, and regional funding to connect businesses with local talent.
Microsoft’s commitment includes mentoring and placements to support students entering technology careers.
Scholarships include TechGrad for undergraduates and master’s students, and the Spärck AI Scholarship, supporting AI degrees at nine UK universities, including Cambridge, Oxford, Imperial College, and UCL.
Doctoral researchers benefit from the TechExpert initiative, while the Turing AI Fellowships attract top AI talent to UK institutions.
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According to reports, OpenAI is preparing to integrate its AI video generator Sora directly into ChatGPT, a move that could expand the platform’s capabilities beyond text and image generation.
Sora currently operates as a standalone application and web service. Integrating the tool into ChatGPT could dramatically increase its visibility and usage, particularly given the chatbot’s massive global user base.
The company released an updated version of the model in 2025 that allows users to create, remix and even appear inside AI-generated videos. Bringing those features into ChatGPT would represent a major step toward making video generation a mainstream function within conversational AI systems.
Competition in the generative video market is intensifying. Companies, including Google, are developing similar technologies, with the company’s Gemini platform offering video creation powered by the Veo system. Other developers are also launching text-to-video models as the field rapidly expands.
Despite the potential growth, integrating video generation into ChatGPT may significantly increase operating costs. Running large AI systems requires vast computing resources and energy, and the chatbot already costs billions of dollars annually to operate.
Although OpenAI earns revenue from subscriptions, the majority of ChatGPT users currently use the free version. The company is therefore exploring additional monetisation strategies, including advertising and new premium services.
Integrating Sora into ChatGPT could therefore serve both strategic and financial goals, strengthening the platform’s position in the competitive generative AI market while expanding the types of content users can create.
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Australia’s financial regulator has warned young investors to be cautious with social media influencers and AI chatbots. A survey by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission found one in four Gen Z Australians invest in crypto, often guided by online content.
The survey of 1,127 participants aged 18 to 28 showed 63% use social media for financial information, 18% rely on AI platforms, and 30% consult YouTube. AI was the most trusted source at 64%, but over half still trust influencers and social media despite possible misinformation.
ASIC previously issued warnings to 18 influencers suspected of promoting high-risk products without a licence. Commissioner Alan Kirkland said some social media marketing promotes crypto scams or risky super switches that threaten young people’s key assets.
The regulator is also watching AI financial guidance. Personalised advice from unlicensed sources is illegal, and young investors should carefully check sources, especially as crypto exchanges increasingly use AI bots for trading guidance.
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