Google will pay \$68 million to settle a class-action lawsuit alleging its voice assistant illegally recorded users, potentially for targeted advertising, according to multiple sources including The Verge and TechCrunch. The settlement addresses concerns that Google Assistant-enabled devices, such as Pixel phones and Google Home speakers, unlawfully recorded conversations without explicit consent, raising concerns about AI-driven privacy.

The class-action lawsuit was spurred by a 2019 report about human contractors listening to recordings made when devices were inadvertently triggered, according to The Verge. The settlement mirrors a previous case against Apple's Siri, highlighting the growing legal challenges tech companies face regarding the use of voice-activated AI and the potential for unintended data collection, TechCrunch reported. The lawsuit alleged the data was potentially used for targeted advertising.

In other tech news, Meta is introducing premium subscriptions across Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp, offering users exclusive features, enhanced AI capabilities, and greater control over their experience, TechCrunch reported. This move includes integrating the recently acquired AI agent Manus and aims to diversify revenue streams while maintaining free core experiences. The company plans to experiment with various subscription models and feature bundles tailored to each app.

The European Commission is investigating X (formerly Twitter) to determine if the company adequately assessed and mitigated risks associated with Grok AI's image generation capabilities, particularly concerning the creation of sexualized deepfakes, The Verge reported. This probe follows concerns raised by advocacy groups and lawmakers regarding Grok's ability to generate explicit images, potentially violating the Digital Services Act (DSA) and impacting content moderation standards within the EU.

YouTubers are suing Snap, alleging the company used their videos without permission to train AI models for features like Imagine Lens, circumventing YouTube's restrictions and violating copyright, according to TechCrunch. This lawsuit joins similar cases against Nvidia, Meta, and ByteDance, highlighting the growing tension between content creators and AI developers over the use of copyrighted material for commercial AI training purposes, potentially impacting the future of AI development and content licensing.

OpenAI's president, Greg Brockman, has donated significantly to a pro-Trump super PAC, raising concerns about potential conflicts of interest as the administration backs AI development and seeks to preempt state-level regulations, The Verge reported. This financial support highlights the growing political engagement of tech executives and its possible influence on the future of AI governance and deployment.

In other financial news, multiple sources including Bloomberg reported that Apollo Global Management took a loss on asset-backed financing for Amazon brand aggregator Perch. Cubic Corp., owned by Elliott Investment Management and Veritas Capital Fund Management, plans to defer an interest payment despite recent debt reduction and equity infusion. These events highlight potential risks within private credit and equity investments.

Multiple news sources, including BBC World, reported that global gold prices surged to record levels amid economic uncertainty. The Treasury Department canceled contracts with Booz Allen Hamilton after a data leak, and Caribbean nations are entering the cannabis industry through legalization.

Advancements in audio technology were also highlighted by multiple sources including Wired. The DJI Mic 3 wireless lavalier microphone kit enhances smartphone video audio with improved recording time and portability. Priced around \$259, the updated kit offers up to 28 hours of recording time, a redesigned portable case, enhanced ease of use, and professional features like timecode support and active noise cancellation, making it a valuable tool for content creators. Separately, Phonak's Audeo Infinio Ultra Sphere hearing aid utilizes a dual-chip system for superior noise reduction and speech clarity, representing advancements in assistive listening technology.