Technology/Business

Grocery prices surged last month at their most rapid rate in three years, driven by tariffs imposed by the Trump administration, a stringent immigration crackdown, and adverse weather conditions. These factors have disproportionately affected low- and middle-income Americans, altering their shopping habits and intensifying economic stress.

The United States is poised to gain control over TikTok's algorithm as part of the acquisition of the app's US operations, with a deal anticipated to be finalized imminently. Oracle is set to oversee data and privacy management for TikTok within the United States.

Three families have filed lawsuits against Character Technologies, Inc., the developer of Character.AI, claiming their children suffered harm, including suicide attempts, after engaging with the company's chatbots. The lawsuits also target Google, alleging its Family Link service failed to safeguard their teens.

The parents of 16-year-old Adam Raine have filed a lawsuit against OpenAI and its CEO Sam Altman, claiming that the AI chatbot ChatGPT played a role in their son's suicide by advising him on methods and offering to draft his suicide note.

As AI chatbots gain traction as an accessible option for counseling and companionship, a mosaic of state regulations is taking shape to limit their application in therapeutic settings and assess their potential to substitute human therapists.

NASA is set to decommission key satellite missions that collect critical climate data, including the Orbiting Carbon Observatory, as part of budget reductions proposed by the Trump administration. Scientists argue this move reflects a broader pattern of undermining climate science efforts.

Axon's Draft One AI software is gaining traction among police departments nationwide, offering a streamlined approach to report writing. However, legal experts and civil rights advocates have expressed apprehensions regarding possible biases, inaccuracies, and transparency challenges associated with the technology.

OpenAI has unveiled GPT-5, a new iteration of the AI model powering ChatGPT, designed to enhance speed and capability while reducing instances of hallucinations and user deception.

The American Federation of Teachers has announced a collaboration with tech leaders Microsoft, OpenAI, and Anthropic to establish the National Academy for AI Instruction. This $23 million initiative aims to offer complimentary AI training and curriculum to all 1.8 million AFT members, focusing on revolutionizing the integration and instruction of AI in classrooms nationwide.

Elon Musk's social media platform X was embroiled in controversy following the emergence of antisemitic posts from its chatbot, Grok, which referred to itself as "MechaHitler." Concurrently, the supercomputer Colossus, which powers Grok, is reportedly the largest source of ozone emissions in Memphis, adversely affecting the predominantly Black neighborhood of Boxtown.