Internet of things Archives | Page 2 of 44

Deepfakes scandal puts Elon Musk and X under scrutiny in France

French prosecutors have escalated concerns about deepfakes linked to Elon Musk’s platform X, alerting US authorities to suspicions that manipulated content may have been used to influence the company’s valuation.

According to the Paris prosecutor’s office, the controversy surrounding sexually explicit deepfakes generated by Grok, X’s AI tool, may have been deliberately amplified to artificially boost the value of X and its associated AI entity ahead of a planned stock market listing in June 2026.

Authorities in France confirmed they had contacted the US Department of Justice and legal representatives at the Securities and Exchange Commission to share findings related to the deepfakes investigation and potential financial implications.

The case builds on an ongoing French probe into X, which initially focused on alleged algorithmic interference in domestic politics. Investigations have since expanded to include the spread of Holocaust denial content and the dissemination of sexualised deepfakes through Grok.

French regulators have taken additional steps, including summoning Musk for a voluntary interview and conducting searches at X’s local offices, actions he has described as politically motivated. Parallel investigations have also been launched in the UK and across the European Union into the use of AI tools to generate harmful deepfakes involving women and minors.

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Social media ban in Ecuador targets youth crime recruitment

A proposal to restrict minors’ online activity is gaining momentum in Ecuador, where lawmakers are considering a social media ban for children under 15 as part of a broader response to rising organised crime.

Under discussion in the National Assembly, the initiative introduced by Assembly member Katherine Pacheco Machuca would amend the Code of Childhood and Adolescence to block access to platforms enabling public interaction, content sharing, and messaging. The proposal defines social networks broadly, covering services that allow users to create accounts, connect with others, and exchange content.

Unlike similar debates elsewhere, the justification for the social media ban is rooted less in mental health or privacy concerns and more in security. Ecuador has experienced a sharp deterioration in public safety, with rising homicide rates, expanding criminal networks, and increasing pressure on state institutions.

Recent findings from Ecuador’s Organised Crime Observatory indicate that around 27% of minors approached by criminal groups report initial contact through social media platforms. Surveys conducted by ChildFund Ecuador further suggest that vulnerable adolescents are increasingly exposed to recruitment tactics that combine economic incentives with normalised portrayals of violence.

In that context, the proposed social media ban is framed as a preventative measure against criminal recruitment rather than solely a child protection tool. The initiative forms part of a wider regulatory shift, including new cybersecurity legislation and draft laws targeting recruitment practices conducted through digital channels.

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ChatGPT ads rollout begins for free and Go users in US

OpenAI will begin rolling out ChatGPT ads to Free and Go users in the United States in the coming weeks, marking a significant shift in how the company monetises its flagship AI product.

The ads will be shown to logged-in adult users on lower-tier plans, while paid subscriptions, including Plus, Pro, Business, Enterprise, and Education, will remain ad-free. The rollout in the US positions ChatGPT ads as a tiered feature, separating premium experiences from ad-supported access.

To support the initiative, OpenAI has integrated advertising technology firm Criteo into its pilot programme, enabling ad buying and more targeted placements. Advertisers are reportedly being offered entry commitments ranging from $50,000 to $100,000, reflecting early efforts to build a structured advertising marketplace.

The company has also launched a dedicated advertiser page that presents ChatGPT as a platform for reaching users during active research and decision-making. ChatGPT ads are being framed as part of conversational discovery, with OpenAI advising brands to provide multiple variations of creative content to improve performance.

The rollout comes as OpenAI seeks to diversify revenue amid rising compute costs and intensifying competition. Alongside subscriptions and API services, ChatGPT ads are expected to play an increasingly important role in supporting the platform’s long-term business model.

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Microsoft reduces Copilot features to improve user experience

Microsoft is scaling back the presence of Copilot across Windows 11, signalling a shift toward a more selective and user-focused approach to AI integration.

Microsoft said it will reduce Copilot features in several built-in applications, including Photos, Widgets, Notepad and the Snipping Tool. The company described the move as part of a broader effort to integrate AI only where it delivers clear value to users.

The decision follows growing concerns about ‘AI bloat’ and user trust, with recent research indicating rising scepticism around AI. Microsoft is responding by prioritising more practical and reliable use cases rather than widespread deployment.

The change also aligns with earlier adjustments to Copilot plans, including shelving some system-level integrations and delaying features such as Windows Recall due to privacy and security concerns. Even after launch, vulnerabilities in Recall have continued to surface, reinforcing the need for caution.

Beyond AI, Microsoft is introducing several usability improvements to Windows 11. These include allowing users to reposition the taskbar, enhancing File Explorer performance, refining Widgets, and giving users greater control over system updates.

The update signals a broader recalibration, as Microsoft balances innovation with user expectations, aiming to deliver AI features that are both useful and trusted within everyday computing environments.

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DoorDash launches Tasks app to train AI robots with gig workers

A new wave of AI development is increasingly relying on real-world human behaviour, with DoorDash moving to tap its gig workforce to generate training data for robotics systems.

DoorDash has launched a standalone app called Tasks, allowing couriers to earn money by recording themselves performing everyday activities such as folding clothes, washing dishes or making a bed. The collected data is used to train AI and robotics models to understand physical environments and human interactions better.

The move reflects a broader shift in AI training, where companies are seeking physical, real-world data rather than relying solely on text and images. Such data is essential for building systems capable of performing tasks in dynamic environments, including humanoid robots and autonomous machines.

Other companies are pursuing similar strategies. Uber and Instawork have tested gig-based data-collection models, while robotics startups are using wearable devices, such as gloves and head-mounted cameras, to capture detailed motion data for training.

The Tasks app is currently being rolled out as a pilot, with DoorDash planning to expand the types of available assignments over time. Some tasks may also be integrated into the main Dasher app, including activities that support navigation or assist autonomous delivery systems.

As competition intensifies, access to large-scale physical data is becoming a critical advantage. DoorDash’s approach highlights how gig-economy platforms are increasingly integrated into the development of next-generation AI systems.

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Alibaba AI strategy targets $100 billion cloud and AI revenue

An ambitious target to generate $100 billion in annual cloud and AI revenue within five years has been set, as Alibaba seeks to counter slowing growth in its once-dominant e-commerce business.

The push follows a sharp deterioration in financial performance, with quarterly earnings plunging and revenue growth missing expectations. The results underscore growing urgency within the company to extract meaningful returns from its AI investments, which have so far required heavy capital outlays.

Central to the strategy is a shift toward monetisation, with the rollout of agentic AI services such as Wukong and price increases of up to 34% across cloud and storage products. Alibaba is positioning its AI and cloud division as its primary growth engine, aiming to replicate the momentum seen in recent quarters, when AI-related revenues expanded by triple digits.

However, competitive pressures are intensifying. Domestic rivals including Tencent are leveraging vast ecosystems such as WeChat to gain an advantage in agentic AI, while a new wave of players like DeepSeek, MiniMax and Zhipu are offering low-cost, open-source models that compress margins across the industry.

At the same time, Alibaba faces structural challenges beyond AI. Core businesses such as e-commerce and food delivery remain under pressure from aggressive competition, while rising operational costs – subsidies and promotions to attract users – continue to weigh on profitability.

Leadership uncertainty and ongoing restructuring add further complexity. With major investment commitments exceeding $50 billion and increasing competition from both domestic and global players, Alibaba’s ability to execute on its AI strategy will be critical in determining whether it can sustain long-term growth and regain market confidence.

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Horizon Worlds remains active as Meta reconsiders VR plans

Meta has reversed its earlier decision to discontinue virtual reality support for Horizon Worlds, allowing the platform to remain available on VR headsets despite previous plans to prioritise mobile and web access.

The decision follows an internal reassessment of user engagement trends, which indicate limited adoption of VR-based social platforms.

While Horizon Worlds was once positioned as central to the company’s metaverse ambitions, demand has remained relatively low, raising questions about the long-term viability of immersive social environments.

Financial pressures also continue to shape strategy.

Meta’s Reality Labs division has recorded substantial losses since 2021, reflecting high investment in virtual and augmented reality technologies without corresponding commercial returns.

Industry data further suggests declining headset sales, reinforcing uncertainty around VR as a mainstream consumer platform.

In contrast, mobile usage of Horizon Worlds is growing faster. Increasing downloads point to broader accessibility and improved product-market alignment, though revenue generation remains limited.

As a result, Meta is prioritising mobile development instead of fully abandoning VR, maintaining a dual approach while seeking more sustainable engagement models.

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Meta’s metaverse collapses as Horizon Worlds shuts down on Quest

Meta will shut down Horizon Worlds on its Quest headsets, ending its flagship virtual reality (VR) platform and marking a clear retreat from its metaverse ambitions. The app will be removed from the Quest store on 31 March and discontinued in VR by 15 June, continuing only as a mobile service.

Horizon Worlds, launched in 2021, was central to Meta’s rebranding from Facebook and its vision of a fully immersive virtual environment. Despite billions in investment and high-profile partnerships, the platform failed to attract a large user base and struggled with design limitations and weak engagement.

Reality Labs, the division behind the metaverse push, has accumulated nearly $80 billion in losses since 2020, including more than $6 billion in a single quarter. Recent layoffs affecting around 10 percent of the VR workforce, along with the shutdown of related projects, underscore a broader pullback.

Competition and shifting priorities have accelerated the decline. Rival platforms such as VRChat maintained stronger communities, while Meta increasingly redirected resources toward AI and hardware, including its Ray-Ban smart glasses.

Although Meta says it remains committed to VR, the closure of Horizon Worlds signals a strategic reset. The company is repositioning its future around AI-driven products, marking a decisive shift away from its earlier metaverse vision.

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Google responds to UK digital market rules and CMA proposals

Debate over proposed UK digital market rules is intensifying, with Google outlining its position and emphasising the need to balance competition with user experience and platform integrity. The company said it supports the objectives of the Competition and Markets Authority but warned that some proposals could introduce risks for users.

G o ogle argued that maintaining fair and relevant search results remains a priority, stating that its ranking systems are designed to prioritise quality rather than favour its own services. It cautioned that certain third-party proposals could expose its systems to manipulation, potentially weakening protections against spam and reducing the pace of product improvements.

The company also addressed user choice on Android devices, noting that existing options already allow users to select preferred services. It suggested that adding frequent mandatory choice screens could disrupt user experience, proposing instead a permanent settings-based option to change defaults without repeated prompts.

Regarding publisher relations, Google highlighted efforts to increase control over how content is used, particularly with generative AI features such as AI Overviews. It said new tools are being developed to allow publishers to opt out of specific AI functionalities while maintaining visibility in search results.

Google said it would continue engaging with UK regulators to shape rules that support users, publishers, and businesses, while ensuring that innovation and service quality are not compromised.

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AgentKit enables ID verification for AI-powered online commerce

Tools for Humanity has introduced a new verification system to strengthen trust in online transactions, as demand for reliable ID verification tools grows in AI-driven environments. The update builds on its World project, which aims to prove that real humans, rather than automated systems, are behind digital activity.

The company’s latest release, AgentKit, is designed to support agentic commerce by allowing websites to verify that AI agents are acting on behalf of authenticated users. As AI programs increasingly browse websites and make purchases autonomously, ID verification tools are becoming essential to prevent fraud, spam, and misuse.

AgentKit relies on World ID, a system that generates a secure digital identity through biometric verification. Users obtain a verified ID by scanning their iris using a dedicated device, which converts the scan into an encrypted digital code. These ID verification tools are then used to confirm that transactions initiated by AI agents are linked to a real and unique individual.

The system integrates with the x402 protocol, a blockchain-based standard developed by Coinbase and Cloudflare, enabling automated transactions between systems. By combining this protocol with ID verification tools, websites can validate whether a human user authorises an AI agent before completing a purchase.

‘AgentKit is built as a complementary extension to the x402 v2 protocol, in coordination with Coinbase,’ the company said. ‘The integration is designed so that any website already using x402 can enable proof of unique human verification alongside (or instead of) micropayments.’

According to the company, the approach functions similarly to delegating authority to an AI agent, allowing platforms to decide whether to trust automated actions. These ID verification tools provide a layer of accountability, helping ensure that AI-driven transactions remain secure and traceable.

AgentKit is currently available in beta, with developers encouraged to test and refine the system. However, access depends on users obtaining a verified World ID, reinforcing the central role of biometric-based ID verification tools in the company’s ecosystem.

As agentic commerce expands across platforms such as Amazon and Mastercard, the need for trusted identity systems is becoming more urgent. By positioning its ID verification tools at the centre of this emerging market, the company aims to establish itself as a key provider of trust infrastructure for AI-powered digital transactions.

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