Core Insights - Google is integrating ads into its new AI Mode for online search to maintain its advertising revenue while competing with ChatGPT [3][5][8] - The shift towards AI in advertising is expected to change how brands promote themselves and interact with consumers [4][11] Advertising Integration - Google is testing the integration of ads into AI Mode responses, building on previous AI-generated summaries known as "Overviews" [6][7] - Over 1.5 billion users view AI Overviews monthly, indicating significant engagement with this new format [7] AI Tools and Features - Google is introducing AI tools to enhance the creation of online ads, similar to initiatives by Meta [9] - These tools aim to improve targeting and conversion rates for merchants [10] Revenue Diversification - Monetizing AI tools and data could provide Google with new revenue streams, especially as its traditional ad business faces regulatory pressures [11] - The development of new business models around AI results is anticipated to be beneficial for Google in the long run [11]

Core Viewpoint - Google is integrating advertisements into its new AI Mode for online search to counter the competition posed by ChatGPT, which has been attracting search queries away from Google [1][3]. Group 1: Advertising Integration - The integration of advertising into generative AI chatbots has been a significant concern, as these chatbots have generally avoided disrupting user experience with ads [2]. - Advertising constitutes over two-thirds of Google's revenue, making it essential for the company's financial health [2]. - Google is testing ad integration within AI Mode responses, building on insights from AI-generated summaries known as "Overviews" [4]. Group 2: AI Mode Features - Google's AI Mode aims to provide a more conversational interaction during search queries, offering answers in various formats such as video, audio, or graphs [3]. - AI Overviews, which display comprehensive AI-generated responses above traditional links and ads, have reached over 1.5 billion users globally since their introduction [5]. Group 3: Competitive Landscape - Google's push into generative AI intensifies competition with OpenAI's ChatGPT, which has also integrated search functionalities into its chatbot [7]. - Google is making AI tools available to advertisers to enhance online marketing content creation, similar to initiatives by Meta, its primary rival in online advertising [7][8].

Core Point - The popular video game Fortnite has returned to the iPhone app store in the U.S., ending a prolonged absence due to a legal dispute with Apple over in-app transaction fees [1][2]. Group 1: Legal Context - Fortnite was removed from the iPhone and iPad in 2020 after Epic Games attempted to bypass Apple's 15% to 30% commissions on in-app transactions [2]. - The return of Fortnite follows a motion filed by Epic Games asking a federal judge to order its reinstatement as part of a civil contempt ruling against Apple [3][4]. - The ongoing legal battle includes allegations from Epic that Apple has created an illegal monopoly with its app store, a claim that was dismissed in a 2021 ruling [4][5]. Group 2: Court Rulings and Changes - U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers ruled that while Apple was not violating antitrust laws, it must allow links to alternative payment options, which could offer lower prices [5]. - Following an appeal process that reached the U.S. Supreme Court, Apple introduced a new system allowing links to alternative payment methods while still imposing a 27% commission on transactions outside its system [5][6]. - Despite the ruling, Epic accused Apple of ignoring the legal system, leading to further court hearings and a ban on collecting commissions on alternative payment options [6]. Group 3: Current Developments - Epic Games claimed that Fortnite was still being blocked by Apple despite the court's ruling, prompting further legal action to clarify the game's status [8]. - Judge Gonzalez Rogers questioned Apple's continued blocking of Fortnite without an appeals court order and scheduled a hearing to address the issue [9].

This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai speaks at a Google I/O event in Mountain View, Calif., Tuesday, May 20, 2025. Credit: AP Photo/Jeff Chiu Google on Tuesday unleashed another wave of artificial intelligence technology to accelerate a year-long makeover of its search engine that is changing the way people get information and curtailing ...

Core Viewpoint - Meta's Community Notes program aims to enhance fact-checking and curb misinformation while promoting free expression, building on lessons learned from X's (formerly Twitter) similar initiative [1][19]. Group 1: Program Overview - Meta has over 3.35 billion combined monthly active users across its platforms [1]. - The Community Notes program is currently in a waitlist phase for Canadian users, with no official launch date announced [2]. - The initiative was first launched in the United States and is set to expand globally [3]. Group 2: Learning from X's Experience - Meta has the opportunity to improve upon X's Community Notes by addressing algorithmic biases and enhancing features based on four years of evolution [4]. - X's Community Notes, initially known as Birdwatch, aimed to broaden voices in fact-checking and curb misinformation through community-driven moderation [5]. - Research indicates that crowdsourcing can effectively identify misleading content [6]. Group 3: Functionality and Impact - On X, users contribute context to posts and can rate contributions, with notes gaining visibility based on diverse user support [7]. - Preliminary research suggests that Community Notes positively impacts misinformation, with authors often retracting misleading posts when notes are attached [10]. - Transparency is a notable strength of X's program, allowing public access to data and algorithms [11]. Group 4: Challenges and Limitations - X's Community Notes faces challenges such as low user popularity and the risk of manipulation by coordinated groups [13]. - The consensus-based approach has resulted in less than 9% of submitted notes reaching the general audience, indicating a lack of visibility for many contributions [14]. - The complexity of enforcing consensus among diverse viewpoints across different countries poses additional challenges [15]. Group 5: Responsibility and Legal Concerns - There is a risk that Community Notes may serve as a smokescreen for platforms to shift responsibility away from active misinformation management [16]. - Legal frameworks may complicate the anonymity of contributors, especially if governments demand access to identities [17]. - The lack of enforcement actions based on Community Notes outcomes weakens the program's effectiveness [18]. Group 6: Future Outlook - Meta's success with Community Notes will depend on continuous experimentation, improvement, and prioritizing transparency to rebuild public trust [19]. - Regulators play a crucial role in holding platforms accountable and ensuring fair and unbiased algorithms [20].

Core Insights - Microsoft is integrating models from Elon Musk's xAI into its artificial intelligence marketplace, specifically the Grok 3 model [3][11] - The competition among major cloud service providers, including Microsoft, Amazon, and Google, is intensifying as they strive to be the primary platform for AI application development and deployment [4] - Microsoft has positioned itself as a leader in AI tools, significantly due to its investment in OpenAI, and aims to leverage AI to enhance workplace productivity [8][12] Company Developments - Microsoft Azure users now have access to over 1,900 AI model variants, including those from OpenAI, Meta, and DeepSeek, with the addition of Musk's models expanding the selection [5] - At the Build developer conference, Microsoft announced new products aimed at improving the management of AI agents and tools, including support for Anthropic's Model Context Protocol [6][10] - Microsoft introduced various tools for developers and businesses, such as a leaderboard for AI models and a selection tool for choosing appropriate models for specific tasks [9][10] Financial Outlook - Microsoft's AI suite, which encompasses cloud infrastructure and AI applications, is projected to generate at least $13 billion in annual revenue [12]

Core Viewpoint - The popular game "Fortnite" is currently unavailable on Apple's App Store globally, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict between Epic Games and Apple over app distribution and commission fees [1][2]. Company Actions - Epic Games has stated that "Fortnite" will remain offline worldwide until Apple unblocks it, following a submission for an app update that was blocked by Apple [2][3]. - Apple requested Epic to resubmit the app update without including the US storefront to avoid impacting Fortnite's availability in other regions [3]. Legal Context - Epic Games has been engaged in legal battles with Apple since 2021, primarily over the latter's commission fees, which can reach up to 30% [8][9]. - A US federal judge recently indicated that Apple is not complying with a previous court order requiring it to allow alternative payment methods outside the App Store [10]. Market Impact - "Fortnite" has approximately 500 million users as of 2023, making it a significant player in the gaming industry [8]. - The ongoing dispute has implications for Apple's services revenue, which constitutes over 25% of its total revenue, as the company seeks to reduce reliance on iPhone sales [12]. Regulatory Environment - The European Union's Digital Markets Act (DMA) mandates that Apple and other tech giants open their platforms to competition, allowing alternative app distribution methods [5][9]. - Following the court ruling, other companies like Spotify have begun to leverage the new regulations to offer alternative payment options [13].

Core Argument - The US government is attempting to prove that Meta acquired Instagram and WhatsApp to eliminate them as competitors, which could lead to Meta being forced to divest these apps [1][2]. Antitrust Case Details - The case, initiated by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), is being heard in a federal court in Washington, presided over by Judge James Boasberg [2]. - The trial is expected to last several more weeks, with key Meta executives, including CEO Mark Zuckerberg, testifying [4]. Market Competition - The government argues that Meta's unique ability to connect friends and family across its apps is a significant factor in its success, positioning Snap as a distant competitor [3][5]. - Meta counters that its real competitors are platforms like YouTube and TikTok, emphasizing a broader and more dynamic market landscape [3][9]. Financial Performance and Market Position - The government claims that Meta's dominance allows it to generate substantial profits, despite reports of customer dissatisfaction with its products [5]. - Meta executives assert that the company is facing challenges, particularly as younger users shift towards TikTok-style content, indicating a changing market environment [6][7]. Testimonies and Evidence - Testimonies have included statements from Instagram's founder, Kevin Systrom, suggesting that Zuckerberg may have undermined Instagram's success post-acquisition, supporting the government's argument [8]. - Meta has begun presenting its own witnesses, arguing that the FTC has not met the legal standards required for an antitrust case [9].

This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: The Coinbase logo covers the Nasdaq MarketSite in New York's Times Square, April 14, 2021. Credit: AP Photo/Richard Drew, File Coinbase, the largest cryptocurrency exchange based in the U.S., said Thursday that criminals had improperly obtained personal data on the exchange's customers for use in crypto-stealing scams and were d ...

Core Insights - Airbnb is diversifying its offerings by introducing home services such as haircuts and wellness professionals, marking its most ambitious expansion since its inception in 2008 [4][5] - The company aims to enhance customer engagement by transforming occasional users into frequent ones, with a focus on convenience and trust [5][6] - Airbnb's CEO, Brian Chesky, envisions the platform evolving into a "perfect concierge" for travel and living, competing with established players like Expedia and Booking [9] Business Expansion - The new service will be available in 260 cities globally, with plans for further expansion into additional locations and services [6] - Childcare services are identified as a long-term goal, indicating a desire to build deeper trust with users [6] Technology Integration - Airbnb has developed an AI customer service agent, which is being rolled out to American users and will expand internationally [7][8] - The AI is trained on extensive data related to customer stays, aiming to provide personalized travel experiences [8] Market Positioning - The company is adapting to challenges such as a decrease in foreign tourists to the U.S., emphasizing its flexibility in catering to domestic travelers [12] - Chesky maintains that Airbnb's brand is larger than any individual, despite political controversies surrounding co-founder Joe Gebbia [10][11]