Google agrees to $40.2m payout to South African media
South Africa’s Competition Commission says Google will pay $40.2 million to support local media after an inquiry found reduced visibility and declining referral traffic.
Artificial intelligence
Imisi reveals she was fresh out of a breakup before entering BBNaija house
BBNaija winner Imisi says she entered the reality show still healing from a difficult breakup.
Google AI blocks queries on Trump’s cognitive decline, allows for Biden
Google has been accused of bias after its AI Overview blocked search results about Donald Trump’s cognitive health while allowing summaries for Joe Biden.
Top AI researchers depart OpenAI, Google and Meta for fresh AI start-up
Top AI researchers are leaving big tech labs to join Periodic Labs, a start-up focused on accelerating scientific discovery through AI-driven experiments.
YouTube to pay Trump $24m settlement over post-Jan. 6 account suspension
YouTube has agreed to pay $24.5 million to settle a 2021 lawsuit brought by former President Donald Trump, with the majority of the funds being directed toward the construction of a new White House ballroom, a move legal experts decry as “influence-peddling” rather than a settlement based on legal merit.
Google says Biden pressured it to censor content, restores banned accounts
Google admitted censoring content under Biden administration pressure and will reinstate banned users.
Did artificial intelligence help Google avoid a regulatory breakup?
A judge ruled that AI’s disruption of search spared Google from being broken apart in a major antitrust case.
Israel allegedly paid Google $45m to suppress reports of Gaza starvation
Drop Site News reports Israel paid Google $45m to run ads downplaying Gaza starvation during its blockade, which has left over 367 people dead, including 131 children.
Report flags Google’s Gemini AI as ‘high risk’ for children and teens
Common Sense Media says Gemini exposes minors to harmful content despite filters.
Trump threatens action against EU for hitting Google, Apple with heavy fines
Trump threatened to use Section 301 trade powers to counter what he called unfair EU fines on U.S. tech companies.