privacy

Schools across the United States are adopting artificial intelligence tools in classrooms, but educators are doing so with little research evidence on effectiveness and few official policies to guide use. NPR reports that districts are experimenting with AI for teaching and administrative tasks while questions remain about impacts on learning, academic integrity, and data privacy.

Meta is pressing ahead with its early access programme for Muse, its AI assistant, alongside continued promotion of its smart glasses line at Meta Connect. Observers note revelations about how the chatbot handles files on devices, and say the company's AI and wearables form a coherent strategy. The debate now centres on whether users will accept the level of control Meta exerts over these systems and trust it with personal data.

Maryland has joined a $2.3 million settlement with laboratory company Labcorp over a data breach that exposed sensitive consumer information. The multistate agreement resolves claims that the company failed to adequately protect personal data. Residents affected by the breach may be eligible for compensation under the terms of the settlement, which continues to draw attention from state attorneys general and privacy advocates.

A debate is under way among developers and AI watchers over whether the growing demand for AI compute will be met on personal devices or in data centers. One iOS developer says they push as much processing on-device as possible for privacy and cost reasons, noting Apple is betting on the same approach. Others point out that frontier models keep growing larger, favoring cloud infrastructure.

Ad-tech company 33Across has rebranded as WealthStage, repositioning itself as an advertising platform for banks, trading apps, lenders, brokers and insurers. The company says its AI engine scores household wealth to target financial ads, pointing to an estimated $124 trillion changing hands between generations by 2048 as the market opportunity. Questions are being raised about which data sources feed the wealth-scoring system and what parts of the old 33Across business remain.

Ireland's Data Protection Commission has fined Google €403 million for breaches of the EU's General Data Protection Regulation. The decision, reported by the Irish Times, is one of the largest GDPR penalties issued against a major technology company and intensifies scrutiny of how Google handles user data. The ruling is likely to fuel ongoing debate in Europe about enforcement against big tech firms.

Ireland's Data Protection Commission has fined Google €403 million following an inquiry into how the company processes users' location data. The decision, announced by the watchdog, adds to a series of major EU privacy enforcement actions against large technology firms under the GDPR. Details of any required changes to Google's practices were not immediately clear.

The Seattle City Council has voted to ban surveillance pricing in the sale of groceries, meaning retailers can no longer set individualized prices based on customer data such as shopping habits or personal profiles. Consumer advocacy group Consumer Reports, which supported the measure, announced the decision. The move is being discussed as a potential model for other cities weighing protections against data-driven price discrimination.

Finance experts in South Carolina's Upstate region are cautioning people about the risks of relying on artificial intelligence tools for financial decisions. The warning highlights potential pitfalls such as inaccurate advice, data privacy concerns, and overconfidence in automated recommendations when managing personal finances.

New Norwegian science reporting says children and teenagers aged 9 to 18 increasingly turn to AI chatbots instead of Google for information and everyday questions. Researchers warn the consequences of this shift are unknown, raising concerns about accuracy, privacy and how young people learn to search and evaluate information online.