The company behind a popular fertility app has agreed to pay $200,000 in federal and state fines after authorities alleged that it had shared users' personal health information for years without their consent, including to Google and to two companies based in China.

By Supantha Mukherjee STOCKHOLM Artificial intelligence companies and governments should allocate at least one third of their AI

Ireland’s newspaper of record has removed an article it said “may not have been genuine”, amid suspicions of a hoax using artificial intelligence (AI). The comment piece was published by The Irish Times on Thursday with the headline, “Irish women’s obsession with fake tan is problematic”. But the opinion article was taken down the following day, after reaching second place in the paper's most read online articles that day, according to broadcaster RTE, and sparking discussions about fake tan on a lunchtime radio show. An initial message on Friday reportedly said the article’s text had “been removed pending checks”. By Saturday, the paper had issued a “corrections and clarifications” note under the original headline, reading: “The Irish Times has become aware that the article originally published on this page may not have been genuine. “The article’s text was removed on Friday, May 12th, 2023, and a review has been initiated.” Claiming to be from “a strict Catholic family” in Ecuador who moved to Ireland in 2015 during the vote to legalise gay marriage, the purported author argued that Ireland’s “widespread use of fake tanning products” jarred with their vision of the country as at the “forefront of progressive social change”. “To me, fake tan represents more than just an innocuous cosmetic choice; it raises questions of cultural appropriation and fetishisation of the high melanin content found in more pigmented people,” the now-deleted article stated. But while the original headline and image remain online, the text and author’s byline has now been removed from the page, after journalists questioned whether the image of the author had also been created by AI. The Independent has approached the newspaper for comment. In a statement reported by the Irish Examiner, a spokesperson said: “On Friday, The Irish Times became aware that an article published online under the headline ‘Irish women’s obsession with fake tan is problematic’ may not have been genuine. “The story has been removed from irishtimes.com, and a review has been initiated.” Read More AI pioneer warns UK is failing to protect against ‘existential threat’ of machines Disturbing research warns AI may be ‘Great Filter’ that wipes out human civilisation Artificial intelligence could ‘transform’ heart attack diagnosis, scientists say ChatGPT user in China detained for creating and spreading fake news, police say

The UK and Welsh government have banned the app from staff phones over security concerns.

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During the wait for improved online safety laws, tens of thousands of grooming crimes have been recorded. The Online Safety Bill, which is meant to become law this autumn, has encountered numerous delays and changes since it become a proposed legislation. As a result, the children’s charity NSPCC has called on MPs and tech giants to support the Bill, especially since 34,000 online grooming crimes had been recorded by UK police forces over the last six years, since first calling for more robust safety regulations in 2017. Based on data from 42 UK police forces, the NSPCC said that last year, 6,350 offences related to the sexual communication with a child were recorded. Some 5,500 took place against primary school-aged children, and 73% of the crimes were related to Meta-linked platforms or Snapchat. NSPCC chief executive Sir Peter Wanless said: “The number of offences must serve as a reminder of why the Online Safety Bill is so important and why the ground-breaking protections it will give children are desperately needed. “We’re pleased the government has listened and strengthened the legislation so companies must tackle how their sites contribute to child sexual abuse in a tough but proportionate way, including in private messaging.” Here are some of the red flags parents should be on the look out for. Being secretive about how they are spending their time On their website, Childline define grooming as someone building a child’s trust to make a connection in order to do something sexual or illegal. “Studies show parental supervision typically declines as children get older, however online abuse does not,” said Mark Bentley, safeguarding and cyber security lead at charity The National Grid for Learning (LGfL). From being secretive to omitting relevant information, changes in behaviour can vary from child to child. But it’s something for all parents to be mindful of when their child starts using social media more. “Unfortunately, as in many areas of child protection, indicators of abuse can often mirror natural markers of growing up,” said Bentley. “As children and adolescents develop, they seek independence from parents, engage in risk taking and have changes in mood and friendship group. “Nonetheless, these markers remain vital to watch out for, even if it is just to support your growing child. Those who are being groomed online are much more likely to be defensive and secretive about phone usage and loathed to be separated from their device.” Having unexplained gifts, big or small Buying gifts for children, whether big or small, can be another grooming technique used to flatter children and their families. “Some groomers have been known to provide alternative phones just to contact them, and this is always a red flag if you suspect your child may have a secondary device,” said Bentley. They are spending too much time onlineSocial media may promote negative experiences if no boundaries have been established.“Of course, some of these [red] flags can also be a sign of the child going through adolescence but it’s important to discuss any unusual behaviour with them as soon as possible,” said Simon Newman, member of International Cyber Expo’s advisory council and of the Cyber Resilience Centre for London.“The way groomers target children varies, but is often done through social media sites, text messages and apps, emails or online forums – particularly gaming sites.”They develop friendships with a much older person Children and young people can be groomed by a stranger or by someone they know – such as a family member, friend or professional, according to NSPCC. But the age gap between a child and their groomer can also be relatively small. The groomer may also work towards building a relationship with the family to gain trust, so they can be left alone with the child. “There are various models of the stages of grooming, but at heart it revolves around building up trust and making a child feel understood and listened to in a way they do not feel elsewhere, and then breaking down the links of trust to family, school, friends and other adults,” said Bentley. “Any parent thinking that this might be happening should definitely reach out for help.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Rumer Willis says she is ‘grateful’ to her body following birth of daughter Sugary cereals and yoghurts must remove child-friendly packaging – health group Clever kitchen storage solutions to clear the clutter

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Instagram is working on an AI chatbot with 30 different personalities for users to interact with, according to leaks. App researcher Alessandro Paluzzi shared screenshots of the ‘Chat with an AI’ feature, revealing details of an artificial intelligence agent similar to ChatGPT. It offers users the option to ask questions and seek advice, as well as a writing assistance tool for help with composing messages. “Bring AI to your chats for a more fun and engaging experience,” the leaked images of the ‘Chat with an AI’ feature states. “Chat with 30 AI personalities and find which one you like the best.” It is not yet clear when Instagram plans to release the AI chatbot, if at all. The Independent has reached out to Instagram for comment, though the company typically does not speak about unreleased products. Several other social media platforms have already launched similar AI tools, or are rumoured to be working on them. In February, Snapchat unveiled its ‘My AI’ chatbot, which is powered by OpenAI’s ChatGPT technology. The tool can be used to “answer a burning trivia question, offer advice on the perfect gift for your BFF’s birthday, help plan a hiking trip for a long weekend, or suggest what to make for dinner”, according to Snapchat. It was met with skepticism from some users, who reported on social media that they felt uncomfortable sharing their data with the AI chatbot. “I want it gone, remove it,” one user wrote in response to Snapchat’s tweet about the feature, while another asked: “Can we have the option to delete it.” TikTok is also currently testing an in-app chatbot called Tako, which has seen a limited roll out in a few select countries like the Philippines. “Being at the forefront of innovation is core to building the TikTok experience, and we’re always exploring new technologies that add value to our community,” a TikTok spokesperson said. “In select markets, we’re testing new ways to power search and discovery on TikTok, and we look forward to learning from our community as we continue to create a safe place that entertains, inspires creativity and drives culture.” Read More ChatGPT creator says AI ‘superintelligence’ is impossible to stop Meta Ireland to cut about 490 jobs Ukrainian schoolboy to buy home for his mother after selling Minecraft server Here’s what it’s like to use Apple’s new virtual reality headset