Latest news with #BrianThompson
Scottish Sun
11 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Cursed Apple feature RETURNS months after massive backlash that forced it to be scrapped from every single iPhone
It was first rolled out in late 2024 I-RETURN! Cursed Apple feature RETURNS months after massive backlash that forced it to be scrapped from every single iPhone Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) APPLE has revived a controversial AI feature that was once scrapped for feeding iPhone owners fake news. The tech giant released the beta version of its iOS 26 iPhone update this week, which includes the contentious notification summaries feature. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 The BBC told Apple at the time that the issue should be "urgently" addressed Credit: Getty Notification summaries used Apple Intelligence - the company's own AI software - to summarise notifications from news apps. It was first rolled out in late 2024. However, it was swiftly disabled on iPhones following widespread complaint from media outlets such as the BBC, the New York Times and the Washington Post. Several AI summaries of BBC news stories were given false headlines, including that Luigi Mangione, the man accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, had committed suicide. Other summaries falsely claimed that Spanish tennis star Rafael Nadal had come out as gay and that Luke Littler had won the PDC World Darts Championship before it even began. The AI-generated summaries were pushed as iPhone notifications with the logo of the reporting news outlet - making it look like they were coming from within the organisation's app and not via AI. The BBC told Apple at the time that the issue should be "urgently" addressed. "These AI summarisations by Apple do not reflect – and in some cases completely contradict – the original BBC content," the news outlet said in a statement in late December. "It is critical that Apple urgently addresses these issues as the accuracy of our news is essential in maintaining trust." Outlets and press groups warned that the feature was not ready and that AI-generated errors were feeding misinformation. Apple reveals 'home of future' with virtual decorations So Apple pulled the feature, vowing to improve it. The feature has since returned - with some changes. Upon installing the new update, users of compatible iPhones will be asked to enable or disable three broad categories of notifications: those for News & Entertainment apps, for Communication & Social apps, and for all other apps. Once News & Entertainment notification summaries are enabled, Apple issues a big red disclaimer to users, pointing out that "summarisation may change the meaning of the original headlines". The notifications also get a special "summarised by Apple Intelligence" caption to further distinguish them from regular, unadulterated notifications. The disclaimer makes it clear that users should expect incorrect summaries from time to time - rather than guaranteeing that summaries will always be correct. AI-summarised notifications will be in italicised text, alongside a small icon indicating it is an Apple summary, and not an official news bulletin. It's worth noting that this feature, alongside other Apple Intelligence-powered features, will only appear on select devices. Not all iPhones are compatible with Apple Intelligence. Apple Intelligence is only available on the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16 Pro Max, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro Max models.
Hans India
17 hours ago
- Hans India
Apple Unveils iOS 26 Beta 4 with Enhanced Liquid Glass and AI Summarisation Comeback
Apple has just pushed out the fourth developer beta of iOS 26, bringing a fresh round of design tweaks, performance updates, and the return of some closely-watched features. Released just ahead of the expected public beta, this version delivers both visual upgrades and functionality refinements that suggest Apple is gearing up for a major OS release later this year. A standout update in beta 4 is the reappearance of the AI-powered news summarisation tool. Initially pulled earlier this year after it inaccurately summarized a BBC article involving UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson's death, the feature is now back—with a warning. Users are now greeted with a disclaimer under the 'News & Entertainment' section, stating: 'Summarisation may change the meaning of the original headlines. Please verify the information.' This marks Apple's renewed push toward AI-driven features, with a clear emphasis on user awareness and accountability. On the design front, the Liquid Glass aesthetic—first introduced at WWDC in June—is getting its sparkle back. While a previous beta had dialed down the translucent effects, beta 4 restores them across several core apps. Users will notice dynamic, layered transparency in Photos, Weather, Apple Music, and the App Store. The Notification Centre also receives a subtle facelift, now sporting a soft tint that shifts gently as you scroll. Apple hasn't released full patch notes yet, but early testers are reporting noticeable performance boosts and bug fixes across various system components. New users jumping into beta 4 will also see revamped splash screens, along with guided introductions to revamped tools such as the smarter Siri, the updated Camera app, and the AI summarisation feature. Though still limited to registered developers, the public beta of iOS 26 is expected to launch within the week. These previews, once aimed solely at developers, have gained popularity among general users due to increasing stability and early access to key features. In tandem with iOS 26 beta 4, Apple has also dropped updated developer builds for its entire ecosystem: iPadOS 26, macOS 26, watchOS 26, tvOS 26, visionOS 26, and Xcode 26—all now available via Apple's developer portal.
India Today
20 hours ago
- India Today
iOS 26 beta 4 cranks up the liquid in Liquid Glass again, introduces bunch of new features
Apple has rolled out the fourth developer beta of iOS 26, offering a clearer glimpse of what's to come in its next major software release. Arriving just days before the expected launch of the iOS 26 public beta, this new version refines the look and feel of the operating system and reintroduces some controversial AI the most notable changes is the return of AI-powered news notification summaries, which Apple had temporarily paused earlier this year. The feature faced backlash after a serious error misrepresented a news story involving the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. At the time, the AI-generated summary falsely stated that the suspect had died by suicide, a claim the BBC, whose article was summarised, firmly denied. In response, Apple pulled the feature and promised beta 4, Apple has reintroduced the summarisation feature alongside a new setup screen that now includes a warning. Under the 'News & Entertainment' section, users are cautioned: 'Summarisation may change the meaning of the original headlines. Please verify the information.' The message reflects Apple's attempt to strike a balance between innovation and responsibility as it pushes deeper into AI integration. Alongside this, beta 4 continues refining the Liquid Glass design overhaul first unveiled at WWDC in June. While the previous beta had toned down some of the more translucent elements, beta 4 brings back that signature Apple flair, with apps like Photos, Weather, Apple Music and the App Store once again sporting dynamic, transparent layers. The Notification Centre has also seen tweaks, now sporting a soft tint that changes subtly as users scroll. In addition to these changes, users updating to the latest beta are now greeted with a new welcome splash screen, as well as introductory pages for features like the updated Camera app, the smarter Siri, and the AI notification summary Apple has yet to publish the full release notes for beta 4, early testers have reported performance improvements and minor bug fixes across the board. The beta is currently limited to developers, but the public beta of iOS 26 is expected within the week, offering broader access to a more stable version of the software. As always, developer betas are designed to give app makers time to ensure compatibility and performance before the full public rollout, expected later this year. However, growing consumer interest in early access has prompted Apple to continue offering public betas with fewer bugs and greater stability, an initiative it has maintained since WWDCs in recent iOS 26 beta 4, Apple also released fresh developer builds for its other platforms: iPadOS 26, macOS 26, watchOS 26, tvOS 26, visionOS 26, and Xcode 26. All are now available to registered developers through Apple's portal.- Ends
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Analysts Are Cutting Their Price Targets for UnitedHealth Stock Before Q2 Earnings. Is It Time to Ditch Shares?
UnitedHealth (UNH) has not had a healthy time for the better part of the last 12 months. The company has been rocked by the assassination of its CEO Brian Thompson in December 2024, as well as by the questioning of its policy practices, shareholder lawsuits, and Justice Department investigations. UNH shares are now down 44% on a year to date basis. To compound matters further, analysts have been slashing their price target ahead of its second quarter earnings. Morgan Stanley's Erin Wright cut the price target from to $342 from $374 earlier, citing ongoing challenges at UnitedHealth's health services unit, Optum, and Wolfe Research trimmed its price target sharply to $330 from $363, warning about near-term earnings volatility and delayed sentiment recovery around the stock. Meanwhile, Barclays lowered its price target to $337 from $350, highlighting earnings pressure. All retained their 'Buy' or 'Outperform' ratings on the stock, though. More News from Barchart It's Never 'Happened in the History of Tech to Any Company Before': OpenAI's Sam Altman Says ChatGPT is Growing at an Unprecedented Rate This Penny Stock Wants to Become the MicroStrategy of Dogecoin Option Volatility And Earnings Report For July 21 - 25 Stop Missing Market Moves: Get the FREE Barchart Brief – your midday dose of stock movers, trending sectors, and actionable trade ideas, delivered right to your inbox. Sign Up Now! About UnitedHealth Stock Over the past 20 years, the UNH stock has been a bona fide wealth creator for its shareholders, amassing share price growth of a whopping 450%. The company now operates through two segments, UnitedHealthcare and Optum. While UnitedHealthcare offers health insurance plans, including Medicare Advantage and commercial products, Optum is a fast-growing services arm providing pharmacy benefits, care delivery, analytics, and IT services. Additionally, it is the largest health insurer in the United States and ranked number one globally by revenue in the healthcare industry. So, can UNH finally find its mojo back? I think it can and here's why. UNH Is Too Big to Ignore As highlighted above, UnitedHealth commands a dominant position as the largest health insurer in the United States. That scale gives it real leverage in the market. But perhaps more important is how the company brings together two traditionally separate lines of business. UnitedHealth commands a level of coordination that pure-play insurers can't match, allowing for operational synergies that offer both efficiency and flexibility. In the first quarter of 2025, customer growth in UnitedHealthcare was particularly notable, rising by 780,000 individuals from the previous quarter. The total number now stands at 3.2 million. This uptick appears to be linked to strong uptake in some of the company's more tailored healthcare offerings. The benefits of that growth are evident in the top-line momentum across all key business segments, including Optum Insight and Optum Rx. Delving further into Optum, what makes the business even more interesting is its steady, contract-based revenue. Unlike insurance, which tends to be vulnerable to short-term medical cost volatility, Optum offers stability. At this point, nearly 43% of UnitedHealth's operating income is being generated by its healthcare services division. And management has signaled clear intent to keep expanding this business. In 2025, they are aiming to add another 650,000 patients under value-based care agreements. Broadly, demographic forces remain in UnitedHealth's favor. As the U.S. population ages, the demand for integrated health solutions continues to rise. The company's holistic model is well suited to meet that growing demand. Still, there are concerns. UnitedHealth has been criticized for what some see as an unusually high claims denial rate, and that narrative could hurt its brand image with the possibility of consumers taking their business elsewhere. At the same time, financial ratios show pressure. The company's combined ratio sits at 97.2%, which leaves little room for error. Also, in the first quarter, its medical care ratio came in at 84.8%, a slight increase from 84.3% a year earlier. That movement, though small, is negative for profitability since it indicates that the cost of providing care is rising faster than premiums. Solid Fundamentals UnitedHealth missed both revenue and earnings estimates in the most recent quarter. Still, the company reported revenues of $109.6 billion in Q1, 2025, up $9.8 billion year over year. In terms of segments, Optum's revenues were at $63.9 billion in the quarter, up from $61.1 billion, with an improvement in operating margins to 6.1% from 5.8%, in the year-ago period. Earnings at $7.20 per share grew by 4.2% from the prior year but slightly missed the consensus estimate. Coming to cash flows, in Q1 2025, UNH's cash flow from operations surged to $5.5 billion compared to just $1.1 billion in the prior year as the company closed the quarter with a cash balance of $34.3 billion. This was much higher than its short-term debt of $9.9 billion. However, a reduction in projected 2025 net earnings per share to be between $24.65 to $25.15 per share earlier is a concern. Yet, revenue estimates remained unchanged at $450 billion to $455 billion, the midpoint of which would denote yearly growth of 6.8%. Also, UNH stock is trading at comfortable valuations. Its forward price-earnings ratio of 14.1x is nearly 40% below the sector median. The company will report its Q2 2025 earnings on July 29. Analyst Opinions on UNH Stock Overall, analysts have attributed a rating of 'Moderate Buy' for UnitedHealth stock, with a mean target price of $358.70. This denotes uspide potential of about 27% from current levels. Out of 24 analysts covering the stock, 15 have a 'Strong Buy' rating, two have a 'Moderate Buy' rating, and seven have a 'Hold' rating. On the date of publication, Pathikrit Bose 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 Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Analysts Are Cutting Their Price Targets for UnitedHealth Stock Before Q2 Earnings. Is It Time to Ditch Shares?
UnitedHealth (UNH) has not had a healthy time for the better part of the last 12 months. The company has been rocked by the assassination of its CEO Brian Thompson in December 2024, as well as by the questioning of its policy practices, shareholder lawsuits, and Justice Department investigations. UNH shares are now down 44% on a year to date basis. To compound matters further, analysts have been slashing their price target ahead of its second quarter earnings. Morgan Stanley's Erin Wright cut the price target from to $342 from $374 earlier, citing ongoing challenges at UnitedHealth's health services unit, Optum, and Wolfe Research trimmed its price target sharply to $330 from $363, warning about near-term earnings volatility and delayed sentiment recovery around the stock. Meanwhile, Barclays lowered its price target to $337 from $350, highlighting earnings pressure. All retained their 'Buy' or 'Outperform' ratings on the stock, though. More News from Barchart It's Never 'Happened in the History of Tech to Any Company Before': OpenAI's Sam Altman Says ChatGPT is Growing at an Unprecedented Rate This Penny Stock Wants to Become the MicroStrategy of Dogecoin Option Volatility And Earnings Report For July 21 - 25 Tired of missing midday reversals? The FREE Barchart Brief newsletter keeps you in the know. Sign up now! About UnitedHealth Stock Over the past 20 years, the UNH stock has been a bona fide wealth creator for its shareholders, amassing share price growth of a whopping 450%. The company now operates through two segments, UnitedHealthcare and Optum. While UnitedHealthcare offers health insurance plans, including Medicare Advantage and commercial products, Optum is a fast-growing services arm providing pharmacy benefits, care delivery, analytics, and IT services. Additionally, it is the largest health insurer in the United States and ranked number one globally by revenue in the healthcare industry. So, can UNH finally find its mojo back? I think it can and here's why. UNH Is Too Big to Ignore As highlighted above, UnitedHealth commands a dominant position as the largest health insurer in the United States. That scale gives it real leverage in the market. But perhaps more important is how the company brings together two traditionally separate lines of business. UnitedHealth commands a level of coordination that pure-play insurers can't match, allowing for operational synergies that offer both efficiency and flexibility. In the first quarter of 2025, customer growth in UnitedHealthcare was particularly notable, rising by 780,000 individuals from the previous quarter. The total number now stands at 3.2 million. This uptick appears to be linked to strong uptake in some of the company's more tailored healthcare offerings. The benefits of that growth are evident in the top-line momentum across all key business segments, including Optum Insight and Optum Rx. Delving further into Optum, what makes the business even more interesting is its steady, contract-based revenue. Unlike insurance, which tends to be vulnerable to short-term medical cost volatility, Optum offers stability. At this point, nearly 43% of UnitedHealth's operating income is being generated by its healthcare services division. And management has signaled clear intent to keep expanding this business. In 2025, they are aiming to add another 650,000 patients under value-based care agreements. Broadly, demographic forces remain in UnitedHealth's favor. As the U.S. population ages, the demand for integrated health solutions continues to rise. The company's holistic model is well suited to meet that growing demand. Still, there are concerns. UnitedHealth has been criticized for what some see as an unusually high claims denial rate, and that narrative could hurt its brand image with the possibility of consumers taking their business elsewhere. At the same time, financial ratios show pressure. The company's combined ratio sits at 97.2%, which leaves little room for error. Also, in the first quarter, its medical care ratio came in at 84.8%, a slight increase from 84.3% a year earlier. That movement, though small, is negative for profitability since it indicates that the cost of providing care is rising faster than premiums. Solid Fundamentals UnitedHealth missed both revenue and earnings estimates in the most recent quarter. Still, the company reported revenues of $109.6 billion in Q1, 2025, up $9.8 billion year over year. In terms of segments, Optum's revenues were at $63.9 billion in the quarter, up from $61.1 billion, with an improvement in operating margins to 6.1% from 5.8%, in the year-ago period. Earnings at $7.20 per share grew by 4.2% from the prior year but slightly missed the consensus estimate. Coming to cash flows, in Q1 2025, UNH's cash flow from operations surged to $5.5 billion compared to just $1.1 billion in the prior year as the company closed the quarter with a cash balance of $34.3 billion. This was much higher than its short-term debt of $9.9 billion. However, a reduction in projected 2025 net earnings per share to be between $24.65 to $25.15 per share earlier is a concern. Yet, revenue estimates remained unchanged at $450 billion to $455 billion, the midpoint of which would denote yearly growth of 6.8%. Also, UNH stock is trading at comfortable valuations. Its forward price-earnings ratio of 14.1x is nearly 40% below the sector median. The company will report its Q2 2025 earnings on July 29. Analyst Opinions on UNH Stock Overall, analysts have attributed a rating of 'Moderate Buy' for UnitedHealth stock, with a mean target price of $358.70. This denotes uspide potential of about 27% from current levels. Out of 24 analysts covering the stock, 15 have a 'Strong Buy' rating, two have a 'Moderate Buy' rating, and seven have a 'Hold' rating. On the date of publication, Pathikrit Bose 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 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
