Apple and Google have agreed to modify their app stores in the UK following intervention from the UK markets regulator, while a new study warns of the dangers of AI chatbots providing medical advice. These developments come as a landmark trial in California accuses social media companies of creating "addiction machines" and a report highlights the bombardment of children with weight loss drug advertisements online.
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) announced that Apple and Google would commit to not giving preferential treatment to their own apps and would be transparent about how others are approved for sale, according to a BBC Technology report. This agreement follows the regulator's assertion seven months prior that the tech giants held an "effective duopoly" in the UK app market. Sarah Cardell, the CMA's head, stated that the proposed commitments "will boost the UK's app economy."
Meanwhile, a study from the University of Oxford found that AI chatbots provide inaccurate and inconsistent medical advice, posing potential risks to users. The research revealed that individuals seeking healthcare advice from AI received a mix of reliable and unreliable responses, making it difficult to discern trustworthy information, according to a BBC Technology report. Dr. Rebecca Payne, the lead medical practitioner on the study, warned that it could be "dangerous" for people to consult chatbots about their symptoms.
In California, a trial began examining the mental health effects of Instagram and YouTube, with lawyers accusing the companies of creating "addiction machines." Mark Lanier, representing the plaintiff "K.G.M.," argued that his client suffered from mental health issues due to social media addiction, stating, "These companies built machines designed to addict the brains of children, and they did it on purpose," as reported by BBC Technology.
Another BBC Technology report highlighted a report by the children's commissioner for England, which found that children are routinely exposed to advertisements for weight loss injections and pills online. Dame Rachel de Souza described the posts as "immensely damaging" to young people's self-esteem and called for a ban on social media advertising to children.
In other news, experts warn that the timing of afternoon snacks could impact brain health. According to Fox News, the decisions made between lunch and dinner could have long-term consequences for how the body and brain handle blood sugar.
Discussion
AI Experts & Community
Be the first to comment