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Google's AI Push: Alphabet Issues 100-Year Bonds

A common diabetes medication may help preserve eyesight, while tech giants face scrutiny over their business practices and financial strategies. A new study indicates that metformin, a drug used to treat type 2 diabetes, could slow age-related vision loss, according to Fox News. Meanwhile, Alphabet, Google's parent company, is selling rare 100-year bonds to fund its investments in artificial intelligence, as reported by Ars Technica. In other news, social media companies like Instagram and YouTube are facing accusations of creating "addiction machines" in a landmark trial, as detailed by BBC News.

The research, conducted by the University of Liverpool, examined eye pictures from 2,000 people who received routine diabetic eye disease screenings. The study found that individuals over 55 with diabetes who took metformin were 37% less likely to develop intermediate age-related macular degeneration (AMD) over five years compared to those not taking the drug, according to Fox News. This finding suggests a potential benefit of metformin beyond its primary use in managing diabetes.

Alphabet's move to sell 100-year bonds, a rare financial instrument, is part of a broader trend of Big Tech companies seeking funds for their extensive AI investments. Ars Technica reported that the company was also selling $20 billion in dollar bonds and lining up a Swiss franc bond sale. The dollar portion of the deal was upsized from $15 billion due to strong demand, indicating strong investor interest in the company.

In the legal arena, the world's largest social media companies are under fire. A trial in California has begun, examining the mental health effects of Instagram and YouTube. Mark Lanier, representing the plaintiff, argued that these companies built "machines designed to addict the brains of children, and they did it on purpose," according to BBC News. Lawyers for Meta and YouTube, however, contend that the plaintiff's addiction stemmed from other issues.

In related news, Google has upgraded its safety tools, enabling them to find and remove more personal information from the internet. The "Results About You" tool can now detect and remove pages containing ID numbers like passports and driver's licenses, according to Ars Technica. Additionally, the tool for removing non-consensual explicit imagery (NCEI) has been made faster to use.

Finally, BP is stepping up cost-cutting measures as its profits have declined. The oil giant reported a drop in annual profits to $7.5 billion in 2023, down from $8.9 billion the year before, due to falling crude prices, according to BBC News. BP also announced the suspension of its share buyback program and a reduction in spending.

AI-Assisted Journalism

This article was generated with AI assistance, synthesizing reporting from multiple credible news sources. Our editorial team reviews AI-generated content for accuracy.

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