Social media giants Meta and YouTube are facing accusations of creating "addiction machines" in a landmark trial examining the mental health effects of their platforms, while Discord will soon implement age verification measures for access to adult content. These developments come as a new study highlights the potential dangers of AI chatbots providing medical advice, and Novo Nordisk, the maker of popular weight-loss drugs, sues a rival firm over alleged "knock-off" versions.
The trial against Meta and YouTube began in California, where Mark Lanier, representing the plaintiff "K.G.M.," argued that the companies intentionally designed their platforms to be addictive, leading to mental health issues. "These companies built machines designed to addict the brains of children, and they did it on purpose," Lanier stated in his opening argument, according to BBC Technology. Lawyers for Meta and YouTube countered that the plaintiff's addiction stemmed from other underlying issues.
Discord announced it would require users globally to verify their age using a face scan or ID to access adult content, a move aimed at protecting younger users. This initiative, set to roll out worldwide from early March, follows existing age verification practices in the UK and Australia, according to BBC Technology. The online chat service, which boasts over 200 million monthly users, aims to place all users into a teen-appropriate experience by default.
Meanwhile, a study from the University of Oxford revealed that AI chatbots provide inconsistent and potentially risky medical advice. Researchers found that users seeking healthcare advice from AI received a mix of accurate and inaccurate responses, making it difficult to discern trustworthy information. Dr. Rebecca Payne, lead medical practitioner on the study, warned that relying on chatbots for symptom diagnosis could be "dangerous," as reported by BBC Technology. A Mental Health UK poll from November 2023 indicated that over one in three UK residents now use AI for mental health or wellbeing support.
In the business sector, Novo Nordisk, the maker of Ozempic and Wegovy, filed a lawsuit against a rival firm, Hims & Hers, for allegedly selling "unsafe, knock-off" versions of its weight-loss drugs in the US. Novo Nordisk sought to ban Hims & Hers' weight-loss pills and injections, claiming they were unapproved and infringed on its patents, according to BBC Business. Hims & Hers initially launched a new weight-loss pill, prompting the legal action, and subsequently announced it would stop selling the pill. The company's share price declined following Novo Nordisk's decision to pursue the lawsuit, which Hims & Hers called a "blatant attack."
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