Advocacy groups urge YouTube to protect children from AI-generated videos, dubbed "AI slop," by implementing content labeling and stronger parental controls. This follows Google's $1 million investment in AI animation targeting kids, amid legal scrutiny on tech platforms for social media harms to young users.

A class-action lawsuit claims Perplexity AI secretly sent user data to Meta and Google, potentially breaching California privacy laws. The case could set precedents for AI data privacy standards.

Block co-founder envisions an AI-native transformation to replace middle management, emphasizing a streamlined, intelligence-driven organization. The strategy includes three new roles and AI managing coordination, with human oversight on strategy and governance, aiming for efficiency in a remote-first setup.

Global semiconductor equipment spending is set to jump 18% to $133 billion in 2026, driven by AI and data-center demand. SEMI's forecast anticipates continued growth through 2029, underscoring a shift toward advanced-node and memory investments, with notable regional expansion efforts.

Discovery Education has launched the Connected Ecosystem, a comprehensive K-12 framework integrating AI and adaptive learning to enhance teaching in 45% of U.S. schools. The initiative emphasizes data protection and privacy, aligning with industry needs for integrated AI solutions, and extends its global educational reach.

Canada's real estate sector increasingly relies on AI and data analytics to address the housing crisis, exemplified by Sky Property Group's innovative approach. This shift enables mid-sized developers to compete effectively by optimizing project delivery and compliance, while predictive analytics support ethical and equitable development.

Surfin Meta and the Philippines SSS have inked an MOU to explore digital modernization using AI and analytics to enhance service delivery for members. Announced at Davos, this partnership aims to improve governance and streamline processes, positioning the Philippines as a key market for Surfin's fintech expansion.

Gmail introduces an AI Inbox for Google AI Ultra subscribers in the US, featuring a Gemini 3-driven system to streamline email management with suggested actions and topic summaries. The service prioritizes privacy, allowing users to disable AI features, and ensures personal data is not used for AI training.

Pickmybrain, an AI platform for creating Digital Brains of public figures, has raised $2.1 million in pre-seed funding to expand its team and market reach. The startup aims to revolutionize knowledge sharing by allowing experts to monetize their expertise through AI-driven personas, offering a shift from ad-based models to utility-focused platforms.

LazyJobSeeker, a conversation assistant designed to provide real-time guidance in professional settings, is gaining traction with over 95,000 users globally. Initially developed as an internal tool, it has evolved into a commercial platform, with strong organic growth driven by its global applicability to various professional fields.

ExpressVPN launches ExpressAI, a privacy-focused AI platform with encrypted data that remains unreadable, even to the provider. The service offers multiple AI models, ghost mode, and a secure vault for re-accessing chats, ensuring user anonymity and privacy.

Nothing plans to release AI-powered smart glasses in early 2027, aiming to compete with tech giants like Google and Meta. The glasses will rely on smartphones for AI processing and lack a built-in display, while AI-enhanced earbuds are also under development for this year.

Acclaim has launched its voice-first AI platform in the U.S., targeting regulated industries with Fred Fontes as CEO, supported by a $34 million Series A funding. The platform aims to enhance efficiency and compliance through advanced AI capabilities, and its GOAL framework facilitates seamless workflow execution, already showing success with TBC Group in Uzbekistan.

Corti's Symphony AI model claims a 25% boost in medical coding accuracy, now available via API for developers. Trained on 1.8M patient encounters, it supports US and European coding standards.

TWSC is advancing its AI storage strategy with a self-developed SSD controller and in-house manufacturing, focusing on robust performance for large-scale AI tasks. Their edge solutions cater to AI PCs and industrial applications, emphasizing compatibility and reliability with domestic SoCs and high-speed, energy-efficient storage technologies.

A supply chain attack on the Axios npm package has led to two malicious releases embedding a remote access trojan through a hidden dependency. Experts urge immediate mitigations, including downgrading Axios versions and strengthening supply chain defenses, as the attack highlights a significant escalation in threat tradecraft.

Databricks is investing over $850 million in the UK, significantly expanding its presence with a new London HQ and aiming to train 100,000 in data and AI by 2028. This move includes partnerships with major UK businesses and a focus on fostering growth in AI and data technologies across Europe.

Google for Startups Accelerator: India has opened applications for its 2026 cohort, targeting AI-first startups from Seed to Series A stages, focusing on cutting-edge AI domains. This equity-free program offers hands-on AI integration, mentorship, and access to Google's advanced AI models to foster innovation in India's burgeoning AI market, projected to hit $17 billion by 2027.

Gnani.ai secures $10 million in Series B funding from Aavishkaar Capital and Info Edge Ventures to enhance its multilingual AI for enterprise voice applications. This investment aims to boost global expansion and contribute to India's digital transformation by addressing digital inequality in critical sectors.