Author: Frank Salvato

Artificial intelligence has become an increasingly indispensable tool for American college students, even as public skepticism toward the technology remains evident in commencement ceremonies where pro-AI remarks have drawn boos from graduates. Recent survey data from American University’s Kogod School of Business shows that more than 80% of students have used AI for academic work within the past six months, with regular usage among business students climbing dramatically over the past three years. Students primarily rely on AI for brainstorming, summarizing information, research assistance, and improving productivity while simultaneously expressing concerns that the technology may undermine critical thinking, academic integrity,…

A federal appeals court has handed Perplexity a significant legal victory by ruling that its AI-powered Comet browser may continue helping users browse and purchase products on Amazon without Amazon’s authorization. The Ninth Circuit concluded that it is the user—not Perplexity—that accesses Amazon’s systems, undermining Amazon’s argument that the AI company violated the federal Computer Fraud and Abuse Act. The decision reverses a lower court injunction and marks the first major appellate ruling addressing AI shopping agents, with potentially far-reaching consequences for digital commerce, competition, and the future relationship between AI assistants and online platforms. Amazon has indicated it disagrees…

Chime has announced plans to eliminate approximately 10% of its workforce—roughly 135 to 150 positions—as the fintech company restructures around artificial intelligence, flatter management, and smaller operating teams. According to company leadership, AI is enabling leaner organizations capable of making faster decisions while requiring employees with different technical skills. The layoffs come amid a broader wave of workforce reductions across the technology and financial technology sectors, where companies are increasingly citing AI-driven productivity gains and organizational efficiency as justification for reducing headcount. Critics argue that many firms are using AI as both a legitimate productivity tool and a convenient rationale…

Snap is making one of the biggest bets in its history by positioning augmented reality (AR) glasses—not its Snapchat app—as the centerpiece of its long-term future. The company believes AI-powered wearable computing will eventually replace many smartphone functions, even as it faces formidable competition from Meta, Google, Apple, and OpenAI-backed hardware initiatives. Snap’s strategy centers on its premium Specs glasses, which integrate AI with immersive AR experiences, despite their high price and the company’s ongoing financial pressures. The gamble reflects a broader industry belief that the next major computing platform will be worn rather than carried, but it also raises…

Australia’s government has increased a proposed levy on major technology platforms that do not negotiate commercial agreements with domestic news organizations, raising the rate from 2.25% to 2.5% while shifting the tax base to Australian digital advertising revenue rather than total local revenue. The revised proposal is intended to preserve funding for Australian journalism by encouraging companies such as Google, Meta, TikTok, and now LinkedIn to strike voluntary licensing deals instead of paying the levy. Supporters argue the measure recognizes the value professional journalism provides to digital platforms, while critics contend the revised structure contains loopholes that could reduce collections,…

The push to modernize elections through technology has an understandable appeal. Faster tabulation, reduced human error, and streamlined administration all sound like responsible improvements in a world that increasingly relies on digital infrastructure. Yet when the conversation turns to integrating artificial intelligence into machine-based voting systems, the stakes rise dramatically. Elections are not merely logistical exercises—they are the foundational mechanism by which citizens confer legitimacy on their government. Introducing opaque, adaptive algorithms into that process risks undermining public trust, eroding transparency, and opening doors to vulnerabilities that are far more difficult to detect and correct than traditional forms of election…

Meta has begun testing an age-confirmation feature within WhatsApp as governments around the world intensify efforts to require stronger protections for minors using online platforms. The test is designed to verify whether users meet the service’s minimum age requirements and reflects mounting regulatory pressure on technology companies to better identify underage users. The initiative comes amid broader disputes over whether app stores or social media platforms should bear primary responsibility for age verification, while privacy advocates continue to question how such systems balance child protection with user privacy. The move places Meta squarely at the center of an increasingly contentious…

TikTok has reached confidential settlements in three closely watched lawsuits brought by teenagers who alleged the platform’s design fostered compulsive use and contributed to serious mental health harms, avoiding what would have been another major bellwether trial in the rapidly expanding wave of social media addiction litigation. The settlements come as thousands of similar lawsuits remain pending against TikTok, Meta, Google, and Snap in state and federal courts, with plaintiffs alleging the companies deliberately engineered addictive features targeting young users. While the settlements do not constitute admissions of liability, they underscore the growing legal, financial, and reputational risks confronting the…

New Jersey has filed a sweeping lawsuit accusing Amazon of using its dominant position in the package delivery market to suppress wages and working conditions for drivers operating through its Delivery Service Partner (DSP) network and Amazon Flex program. State officials contend Amazon exerts such extensive control over contractors that it effectively dictates compensation, scheduling, and labor conditions while insulating itself from the legal responsibilities of being a direct employer. The lawsuit alleges Amazon’s business model unlawfully limits competition for labor, discourages unionization, and depresses driver earnings despite the company’s enormous market power. Amazon rejects the allegations, maintaining that its…

The debate over artificial intelligence regulation in Washington has shifted rapidly from a largely hands-off approach intended to accelerate American innovation to renewed discussions about greater federal oversight, creating uncertainty for technology companies, investors, and policymakers alike. According to reporting, officials have weighed multiple regulatory approaches in a relatively short period, reflecting growing concerns over national security, public safety, and the pace of AI development. Critics argue that repeated policy reversals risk undermining business confidence and America’s competitive position, while supporters contend that advanced AI capabilities warrant careful oversight before increasingly powerful systems are widely deployed. From a conservative perspective,…