Google's AI age tests will have consequences that extend far beyond YouTube
According to a new Google blog post , the same technology will start testing across a wider set of Google services in the coming weeks. It will target a small number of US users in the initial testing phase, before rolling out more broadly over time.
The system works by using machine learning to analyze how you use your account, including the types of things you search for, what you watch on YouTube, and other behavioral patterns. If the algorithm thinks you're under 18, you'll get a prompt asking you to verify your age, either by uploading an ID or taking a selfie. Google says it's trying to avoid unnecessary data collection and will only ask for proof when needed.
If you don't verify, or if the system gets it right, you'll be pushed into a more limited version of Google's ecosystem by default. That means Digital Wellbeing tools like bedtime reminders on YouTube, no personalized ads, no Timeline history in Google Maps, and no access to age-restricted apps in the Play Store. Some of those changes are genuinely positive for protecting younger users, but it's only a matter of time before wrongly flagged adults start getting frustrated.
To be fair to Google, the whole tech industry is under pressure to do more to protect kids online. Still, there's something a little unsettling about having an AI model scan your habits and decide you're not old enough for certain content — especially if it gets it wrong. If your account is new or you've been binge-watching MrBeast challenges and Taylor Swift reaction videos, you might find that Google starts nagging you to go to bed at a reasonable hour.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
20 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Tesla Board Approves Elon Musk Stock Award Worth $29B
Key Takeaways Tesla's board approved paying CEO Elon Musk 96 million shares in an "Interim Award" under the electric vehicle maker's 2019 Equity Incentive Plan. At Friday's closing price, that values the package at approximately $29 billion. Musk won't receive the award if courts change course and give approval to his 2018 compensation package worth some $56 world's richest man just got a lot richer. In a regulatory filing, Tesla (TSLA) reported that CEO Elon Musk would receive 96 million shares of restricted stock as part of an "Interim Award" under the electric vehicle maker's 2019 Equity Incentive Plan. At Friday's closing price of $302.63, that would value the agreement at about $29 billion. The company noted the decision came after the board earlier this year "established a special committee ... to consider certain compensation matters involving Elon Musk." That committee, consisting of disinterested directors Robyn Denholm and Kathleen Wilson-Thompson, made the recommendation, which was approved by the board yesterday. Tesla noted the stock will vest two years from now, providing Musk remains CEO or holds another key executive position, and he will have to pay $23.34 per share for them. However, he will forfeit all the award if the courts eventually decide he can receive the estimated $56 billion pay package from 2018 that was approved by shareholders. A Delaware judge struck down that deal, agreeing with plaintiffs who argued that it was excessive. Tesla shares were up about 1% today, but they've lost nearly a quarter of their value year-to-date. Read the original article on Investopedia Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
20 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Meta Stock Could Soar Past $1,000 Thanks to AI – Time to Buy?
Meta Platforms (META) is aggressively investing in artificial intelligence (AI). The company's management recently said that 2025 capital expenditures could range between $66 and $72 billion. That's roughly $30 billion more than last year, and a large chunk of this capital would go towards rapidly scaling its AI infrastructure. Naturally, these significant investments raise concerns. Can Meta maintain healthy profit margins in the short term? And will these hefty investments translate into long-term gains? More News from Barchart Find Winning Momentum Trades With This Moving Average Stock Screener Tariffs, Earnings and Other Can't Miss Items this Week This Blue-Chip Dividend Stock Is Stuck in the Tariff Crosshairs. Can Cost Cuts Save the Day? Get exclusive insights with the FREE Barchart Brief newsletter. Subscribe now for quick, incisive midday market analysis you won't find anywhere else. Despite those concerns, early signs suggest that Meta's AI strategy is already beginning to pay off. Improvements in user engagement and stronger monetization, both fueled in part by AI innovations, are helping to drive optimism about the company's long-term outlook. Notably, at least one Wall Street analyst expects Meta stock to top $1,000 over the next 12 months. To be precise, the Street-high price target for Meta stock is now $1,086, representing a potential upside of around 41.5% from current levels. AI is Meta's Rocket Fuel AI is emerging as the catalyst that's helping Meta to enhance its user engagement, improve content discovery, boost ad performance, and drive overall revenue growth. Notably, the number of daily active users (DAUs) continues to rise across its platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. In fact, in June, over 3.4 billion people used at least one of Meta's apps every day. Across Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, AI is increasingly fine-tuned to deliver content that users find both relevant and compelling. These improvements are translating into more time spent on the platforms. In the second quarter, time spent watching videos on Instagram surged over 20% year-over-year globally. Facebook saw similarly strong growth, especially in the U.S., where video engagement also climbed by more than 20%. These gains reflect Meta's ongoing improvements in its recommendation algorithms, which continue to evolve and become more responsive to users' real-time interests. Thanks to these initiatives, Meta saw a 5% jump in average time spent on Facebook and a 6% increase on Instagram in just one quarter. Further, Meta AI is already reaching over a billion monthly users, and the focus is shifting toward creating deeper, more personalized experiences, which are expected to drive engagement levels higher. AI is also supercharging Meta's advertising business. In Q2, the company's total Family of Apps revenue hit $47.1 billion, up 22% year-over-year. Advertising revenue specifically came in at $46.6 billion, up 21%. Growth was strongest in Europe and the rest of the world region, where ad revenue climbed 24% and 23% respectively, with North America and Asia-Pacific also posting solid gains. Meta's upgraded recommendation models are now live on more ad surfaces, driving around 5% more ad conversions on Instagram and 3% on Facebook. More advertisers are also tapping into Meta's generative AI tools for ad creative, with a significant portion of ad revenue now coming from campaigns that utilize its Gen AI features. Meta is gaining strong traction with its Advantage+ suite of AI-powered tools. Its Advantage+ Creative suite is seeing growing adoption of generative AI features. Nearly 2 million advertisers are now using its video generation tools—Image Animation and Video Expansion. Meta is also seeing promising results from its AI-driven text generation tools, which continue to improve as new features are added. Overall, by enhancing user engagement, improving content discovery, and boosting ad performance, AI is driving significant gains across Meta's platforms. With billions of users and strong momentum in both user activity and advertising revenue, Meta's strategic focus on AI is paying off and will drive its long-term growth. Is Meta Stock a Buy Now? Meta stock has gained over 56% in the past year. Despite the significant appreciation in its price, Meta's aggressive investment in AI is becoming the engine behind its next phase of growth. From higher user engagement and improved ad performance to the rapid adoption of its AI-powered tools, the early results are promising. While the scale of spending raises short-term concerns, the long-term upside could be substantial if current trends continue. Wall Street is optimistic and maintains a 'Strong Buy' consensus rating on Meta stock, reflecting confidence in the social media giant's growth story, particularly as it integrates AI into its products. On the date of publication, Amit Singh did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. This article was originally published on
Yahoo
20 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Onsemi posts quarterly revenue drop, sees dull third-quarter profit on market uncertainty
(Reuters) -U.S. automotive chipmaker Onsemi on Monday forecast lackluster profit for the third quarter, after reporting a sharp decline in second-quarter revenue, sending its shares down by more than 10%. Sales growth in battery electric vehicles has slowed due to an uncertain economic environment, brought on by global import duties, and elevated borrowing costs in the U.S. Consumers have hit the breaks on big-ticket spending as tariffs threaten to increase the costs of automobiles by thousands of dollars and drive up inflation. This has been forcing automakers to reassess production plans and withhold financial investments, affecting companies such as Onsemi. The company acknowledged during its earnings call that the EV market remains soft, especially in North America and Europe, with recovery being slower than hoped. However, Onsemi said it sees "signs of stabilization" across its end markets, after a prolonged slump in demand due to excess chip supply. The company is among a select group of suppliers providing silicon carbide chips, which are critical for extending the range of EVs. It added that it has not yet seen a broad-based recovery in automotive and expects only low single-digit growth in the third quarter. An end to the $7,500 federal tax credit for electric cars has also cast a cloud over the EV industry's outlook, with some firms expecting a hit to the market growth. Onsemi expects third-quarter adjusted earnings between 54 cents and 64 cents per share, compared with analysts' average estimate of 59 cents, according to data compiled by LSEG. It forecast revenue of $1.47 billion and $1.57 billion for the third quarter, the midpoint of which is slightly above estimates of $1.50 billion. The company's second-quarter revenue of $1.47 billion beat expectations of $1.45 billion, but fell about 15% from a year ago.
