AI Dominates Headlines: From Email Glitches to Ethical Debates and Global Competition

A wide range of developments in the tech world have emerged, spanning from AI-driven innovations and ethical concerns to data privacy issues and legal battles. Google's Gmail experienced issues with spam and misclassification, while OpenAI scaled its PostgreSQL database to support 800 million users. Simultaneously, the White House faced criticism for using AI to alter a protest photo, and TikTok users expressed concerns over data collection policies.

Gmail users experienced disruptions as early as Saturday morning, with emails being misclassified and spam warnings appearing on messages from known senders, according to TechCrunch. Google acknowledged the issue and stated they were "actively working to resolve the issue."

OpenAI revealed how it is using the open-source PostgreSQL database to run ChatGPT and its API platform for 800 million users, VentureBeat reported. The company utilizes a single-primary PostgreSQL instance, challenging conventional scaling wisdom. "One Azure PostgreSQL Flexible Server handles all writes," VentureBeat noted, adding that nearly 50 read replicas handle reads. The company has seen a 10x increase in PostgreSQL load over the past year.

The White House sparked controversy after posting an AI-altered image of a civil rights attorney protesting ICE, Ars Technica reported. Critics raised concerns about the ethical use of AI in government communications. The White House defended its actions, stating "the memes will continue," according to Ars Technica.

TikTok users voiced concerns regarding the app's updated privacy policy, which mentions the potential collection of sensitive data like immigration status, TechCrunch reported. However, this disclosure is primarily for compliance with state privacy laws and is not a new practice.

In other AI developments, Anthropic's Claude Cowork became available to Team and Enterprise users, transforming the AI chatbot into a collaborative workspace, VentureBeat reported. This shift raises questions about data ownership and workflow continuity within organizations.

ChatGPT Health, OpenAI's new tool, aims to provide medical information, raising questions about the safety and reliability of AI in healthcare, MIT Technology Review reported. Concerns have been raised about the potential for harmful medical advice.

Several companies are leveraging AI to enhance their services. Harvey, a legal AI leader, acquired Hexus to bolster its offerings for in-house legal departments, TechCrunch reported. Pinterest is leveraging open-source Chinese AI models, like DeepSeek R-1, to enhance its recommendation engine, BBC Technology reported, marking a shift as US companies explore alternatives to proprietary American AI.

Job seekers are also adapting to the rise of AI. TopResume offers services to optimize resumes for AI-driven Application Tracking Systems (ATS), increasing the chances of human review, Wired reported.

Legal challenges and investigations are also making headlines. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) dropped its effort to unmask anonymous social media accounts monitoring ICE activity after facing legal challenges citing First Amendment rights, Ars Technica reported. The Department of Justice is reportedly investigating Deel, an HR and payroll startup, for allegedly hiring a corporate spy to steal confidential information from its competitor, Rippling, TechCrunch reported.

Tesla has been repeatedly fined in the UK for failing to provide driver information to police investigating traffic offenses, BBC Business reported. The Post Office and Fujitsu are facing accusations of deliberately obstructing a former sub-postmaster's £4 million damages claim related to the Horizon IT scandal, BBC Business reported.

Despite the challenges, AI continues to fuel innovation. Young entrepreneurs are increasingly leveraging AI to launch successful ventures, exemplified by Throxy, a startup using AI agents for sales teams, BBC Technology reported.

The SEC dropped its lawsuit against Gemini, the crypto exchange founded by Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, TechCrunch reported. The SEC and Gemini asked the court to dismiss the lawsuit, which centered on the collapse of an investment product called Gemini Earn.