The latest update to Advanced Voice Mode allows users to pause mid-sentence without being cut off—a common issue with AI voice tools that often interrupt users during brief silences or deep breaths.
Free users of ChatGPT now benefit from this smoother conversational experience, while paying subscribers—including those on the Plus, Teams, Edu, Business, and Pro plans—also enjoy a more refined voice assistant.
The AI now speaks with a more engaging and creative tone, delivering answers that are clearer and more direct.
OpenAI’s goal is to create a more personable assistant that feels comfortable to speak with. According to the company, the changes make the AI more enjoyable to use and better equipped for real-time conversation.
These upgrades come as competition in the AI voice market heats up. Startups like Sesame, backed by major investors, are gaining attention with lifelike AI voices, while tech giants like Amazon are preparing to release enhanced voice assistants powered by large language models.
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The inquiry, launched under the Digital Markets Act (DMA), examined whether Apple’s design restricted users from easily switching to rival browsers or search engines.
Changes implemented by the company have addressed the concerns of the European Commission, leading regulators to conclude the case.
The probe, which began in March last year, was part of the EU’s broader effort to ensure fair competition in digital markets.
Apple made modifications to its browser settings to comply with the new regulations, avoiding potential fines or further legal action. These changes align with the goal of the European Union to prevent dominant technology firms from imposing unfair restrictions on users.
Regulators are expected to officially close the investigation soon, marking a significant step in enforcing the DMA. The outcome highlights the EU’s growing influence over global tech policies, compelling major companies like Apple to adjust their practices to meet stricter competition standards.
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Meta has come under fire once again, this time over a new AI experiment on Instagram that suggests comments for users. Some users accused the company of using AI to inflate engagement metrics, potentially misleading advertisers and diminishing authentic user interaction.
The feature, spotted by test users, involves a pencil icon next to the comment bar on Instagram posts. Tapping it generates suggested replies based on the image’s content.
Meta has confirmed the feature is in testing but did not reveal plans for a broader launch. The company stated that it is exploring ways to incorporate Meta AI across different parts of its apps, including feeds, comments, groups, and search.
Public reaction has been largely negative, with concerns that AI-generated comments could flood the platform with inauthentic conversations. Social media users voiced fears of fake interactions replacing genuine ones, and some accused Meta of deceiving advertisers through inflated statistics.
Comparisons to dystopian scenarios were common, as users questioned the future of online social spaces.
This isn’t the first time Meta has faced backlash for its AI ventures. Previous attempts included AI personas modelled on celebrities and diverse identities, which were criticised for being disingenuous and engineered by largely homogenous development teams.
The future of AI-generated comments on Instagram remains uncertain as scrutiny continues to mount.
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US retailers Walmart and Target are engaged in tense negotiations with suppliers over proposed price increases on a wide range of products.
Manufacturers argue that rising costs, driven by tariffs imposed under former President Donald Trump, are making it difficult to maintain prices. Retailers, however, are pushing back to avoid losing market share and discouraging cost-conscious shoppers.
United States businesses such as Nordic Ware and Bogg Bag have seen production costs surge due to tariffs on aluminium and Chinese imports.
While some suppliers are attempting to raise prices, major retailers require a lengthy review process before accepting any increases.
Smaller manufacturers face the risk of having their products replaced with cheaper alternatives if they insist on higher prices.
Toymaker MGA Entertainment is among the firms negotiating price hikes with Walmart and Target, but retailers are resisting, citing concerns over strained consumers.
Some companies are absorbing losses to maintain shelf space, while others are seeking alternative production locations to reduce costs. The outcome of these pricing battles will determine how much shoppers ultimately pay for everyday goods.
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Genetic testing company 23andMe has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the United States as part of efforts to sell the struggling business.
Co-founder and CEO Anne Wojcicki has resigned after multiple failed takeover attempts, with CFO Joe Selsavage stepping in as interim chief executive.
The company had previously cut 40% of its workforce and halted therapy development in a restructuring effort announced in November.
Wojcicki had been pushing for a buyout since April 2023 but faced repeated rejections from the board. Her most recent bid, valuing 23andMe at $11 million, was significantly lower than the company’s current $50 million market value.
Despite financial difficulties, the firm has secured a $35 million financing commitment and expects to continue operations during the sale process.
The company has faced mounting challenges, including a $30 million settlement for a 2023 data breach that exposed the personal information of 6.9 million customers.
With estimated liabilities between $100 million and $500 million, 23andMe’s future now depends on securing a buyer willing to salvage the once high-profile genetic testing firm.
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Meta, the owner of Facebook and Instagram, has agreed to stop targeting a UK citizen with personalised adverts as part of a settlement in a landmark privacy case.
The case, which avoided a high court trial, was brought by human rights campaigner Tanya O’Carroll in 2022, who claimed Meta had violated UK data laws by processing her personal data for targeted advertising without her consent.
O’Carroll’s case received support from the UK’s data watchdog, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), which stated that users have the right to opt out of targeted ads.
The settlement has been hailed as a victory for O’Carroll, with potential implications for millions of social media users in the UK. Meta, however, disagreed with the claims. Instead of this, the company was considering introducing a subscription model in the UK for users who want an advert-free version of its platforms.
The ICO’s stance in favour of privacy rights could prompt similar lawsuits in the future, as users are increasingly demanding control over how their data is used online.
O’Carroll argued that the case demonstrated the growing desire for more control over surveillance advertising and said that the ICO’s support could encourage more people to object to targeted ads.
Meta, which generates most of its revenue from advertising, emphasised that it took its privacy obligations seriously and was exploring the option of a paid, ad-free service for UK users.
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Cybercriminals are using fake adverts for popular SEO platform Semrush to trick users into giving up access to their Google accounts, researchers have warned.
The malvertising campaign features ads that link to a bogus Semrush login page, which only allows users to sign in via Google, a tactic designed to steal high-value credentials.
According to Malwarebytes, Semrush accounts are often linked to critical Google services such as Analytics and Search Console.
These tools store confidential business insights, which threat actors could exploit for strategic and financial gain. The scammers may also access names, phone numbers, business details, and partial card information through compromised Semrush accounts.
By impersonating Semrush support, attackers could deceive users into revealing full card details under the pretence of payment or billing updates. However, this may open the door to wider fraud, such as redirecting funds from vendors or business partners.
With Semrush serving over 117,000 customers, including a significant share of Fortune 500 firms, the attack underscores the growing risks of malvertising on platforms like Google.
Security experts are urging businesses to tighten account access controls and remain cautious when engaging with search ads, even from seemingly reputable brands.
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Google has removed 10,000 fake business listings from Google Maps and filed a lawsuit against a scam network accused of creating and selling fraudulent profiles.
The legal action was prompted by a complaint from a Texas locksmith who discovered someone had impersonated their business on the platform. That led Google to uncover a broader scheme involving fake listings for profit.
The company warns that scammers are using increasingly advanced methods to trick users. These fake listings may appear legitimate, leading customers to contact or visit them.
Victims are sometimes overcharged for services or misled into paying upfront for services that are never delivered. Scammers also use fake reviews and manipulated Q&As to make the listings seem trustworthy.
In 2023 alone, Google blocked or removed 12 million fake business profiles, an increase of one million from the previous year.
The company has also been cracking down on businesses using fake engagement tactics, including artificial reviews, to inflate their reputations falsely.
Internationally, Google has begun implementing stricter rules in response to growing regulatory pressure, including in the UK, where it restricts deceptive businesses engaged in review manipulation.
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San Francisco-based data startup Airbyte has unveiled a new set of enterprise tools aimed at helping companies move and manage data more securely, especially as AI becomes more central to operations. The updates, announced Thursday, include new connectors for apps such as NetSuite, SAP, and ServiceNow, as well as support for extracting unstructured data from platforms like Google Drive and SharePoint.
A key highlight of the release is compatibility with Apache Iceberg, an open-source format that enables businesses to centralise data into a single, AI-compatible “lakehouse.” This allows companies to better control how and where their data flows while preserving the flexibility needed for high-performance analytics and machine learning.
Airbyte co-founder and CEO Michel Tricot stressed the importance of data sovereignty in an AI-driven era. He noted that while AI tools can be powerful, giving away sensitive internal data, like employee compensation or strategic business metrics, to external services is a risk many companies are no longer willing to take. Airbyte’s approach ensures that only the enterprise sees and manages its data pipelines.
Founded in 2020, Airbyte now serves over 7,000 enterprise clients, including names like Invesco and Calendly, and has secured more than $181 million in funding. As businesses continue to prioritise secure, scalable infrastructure for AI, Airbyte’s offerings are positioning it as a go-to partner for data portability without compromise.
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Apple is facing a class-action lawsuit in the United States over delays in delivering its much-promoted Apple Intelligence features.
The legal action, filed in a US based San Jose federal court, claims the company misled customers by advertising advanced AI tools that have yet to materialise on supported devices.
The complaint argues that buyers of new iPhones and other Apple products were promised ‘transformative’ AI capabilities at launch, only to find these features were either severely limited or completely absent.
According to the plaintiffs, Apple’s marketing created a “reasonable consumer expectation” that was ultimately not met.
This legal challenge adds to mounting pressure on the company, which has struggled to roll out its next-generation AI tools.
A recent Bloomberg report suggested internal tensions, revealing that CEO Tim Cook has reportedly lost confidence in AI chief John Giannandrea’s ability to deliver on the company’s ambitions.
The case reflects growing scrutiny of tech firms’ promises around AI, especially as consumer trust becomes more closely tied to the reality behind flashy announcements.
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