United News of Bangladesh

The first stand-alone trial brought by state prosecutors in a series of lawsuits against Meta is set to begin in New Mexico, with jury selection starting Monday. The case is based on a state undercover investigation that used proxy social media accounts and posed as children to document sexual solicitations and Meta’s response. Meta owns Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp. The case could provide states with a new legal avenue to pursue social media companies over the impact of their platforms on children, relying on consumer protection and nuisance laws. Attorney General Raúl Torrez filed the lawsuit in 2023, alleging that Meta created a marketplace and “breeding ground” for predators targeting children for sexual exploitation and failed to disclose what it knew about those harmful effects. Legal experts say a victory for New Mexico could have far-reaching consequences as regulators worldwide search for legal theories to rein in social media companies. “So many regulators are keyed up looking for any evidence of a legal theory that would punish social media that a victory in that case could have ripple effects throughout the country, and the globe,” said Eric Goldman, codirector of the High Tech Law Institute at Santa Clara University School of Law. “Whatever the jury says will be of substantial interest.” The trial, which is scheduled to begin with opening statements on Feb. 9, is expected to last nearly two months. Read More: Meta secures large nuclear energy supply to power AI data centers Meta has denied the civil allegations, accusing prosecutors of using a “sensationalist” approach. Although CEO Mark Zuckerberg was removed as a defendant, he has been deposed and case documents include references to him. The New Mexico lawsuit centers on allegations that Meta’s algorithms promote harmful and addictive content to children, rather than focusing on user-generated posts themselves. Prosecutors argue this strategy could bypass longstanding legal protections under the First Amendment and Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. The state’s undercover investigation involved decoy accounts posing as minors, which documented sexual solicitations and monitored Meta’s response. Prosecutors say the company prioritized profits over child safety. Goldman said Meta is deploying significant legal resources in New Mexico and elsewhere. “If they lose this,” he said, “it becomes another beachhead that might erode their basic business.”

Some Roblox users have been staging “raids” in the popular roleplaying game Brookhaven, wearing ICE gear and acting out immigration enforcement scenarios. Others have taken to virtual streets with protest signs, displaying messages like “We hate ICE” — all compliant with Roblox’s rules against profanity. Videos of these protests and raid reenactments have gone viral on TikTok, garnering millions of views. While such activism in Roblox isn’t entirely new — similar content emerged during last summer’s “No Kings” protests — the renewed activity seems linked to recent immigration operations in Minnesota and the resistance they sparked among protesters. Read More: Meta secures large nuclear energy supply to power AI data centers Giovanni Ramos, an assistant professor at UC Berkeley, noted that virtual protests can be a healthy outlet for young people to process news about immigration enforcement. However, reenacting raids can be concerning and violates Roblox’s community standards, which prohibit content that recreates real-world sensitive events or glorifies those responsible. Roblox enforces these rules using human moderators, AI, and user reports. Ramos added that while some youth may simply be exploring current events, these protests also help them find social support and connect with peers experiencing similar challenges — an important emotional lifeline.

Apple posted record iPhone sales during the October–December holiday quarter, as loyal customers snapped up the new iPhone 17 lineup despite the company’s delayed rollout of promised artificial intelligence upgrades and recent missteps in AI development. In its quarterly results released Thursday, Apple reported iPhone revenue of $85.3 billion, up 23 percent from a year earlier and the highest ever for the device in a three month period since its launch in 2007. The strong performance came even as Apple has yet to deliver on its pledge to enhance Siri with advanced AI features in 2024. To help drive demand, Apple introduced a new “liquid glass” design across the iPhone 17 series and older models through a free software update released last September. That strategy appeared to resonate with consumers during the peak shopping season. Microsoft tops Wall Street assumption with $81.3B in revenue “The demand for iPhone was simply staggering,” Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook said during a conference call with analysts, expressing confidence that the iPhone will evolve into a leading platform for artificial intelligence. The surge in iPhone sales helped Apple post quarterly profits of $42.1 billion, or $2.84 per share, marking a 16 percent increase from the same period last year. Overall revenue rose 16 percent to $143.8 billion, with both earnings and sales beating Wall Street expectations. Apple’s shares rose about 1 percent in after hours trading following the announcement, although the stock remains slightly lower so far this year and only modestly above its level at the end of 2024. Analysts said concerns over Apple’s slower entry into AI may have been overstated. Ethan Feller of Zacks Investment Research said Apple now appears well positioned to expand AI features across its ecosystem, which includes iPads, Mac computers and smartwatches. Apple said more than 2.5 billion active devices worldwide currently run on its operating systems. Looking ahead, Apple plans to release a long delayed batch of AI tools, including an upgraded version of Siri designed to be more conversational and flexible. To support this push, the company is turning to Google’s latest AI model, Gemini 3, in a rare acknowledgment that it needs outside help in a technology seen as the industry’s most significant advance since the iPhone itself. Despite its AI challenges, the iPhone ended last year as the world’s top selling smartphone with nearly 20 percent market share, narrowly ahead of Samsung, according to International Data Corp. Apple also issued an upbeat forecast, saying revenue in the January–March quarter is expected to rise by at least 13 percent year on year, surpassing analysts’ expectations of about 10 percent growth. Meta to test paid subscriptions across Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp However, the AI boom is creating fresh pressure for Apple, particularly from a global shortage of memory chips used in smartphones and laptops. Intense demand from data centers powering AI services is pushing up chip prices, squeezing Apple’s profit margins and raising the possibility of higher prices for iPhones and other products. “We do continue to see market pricing for memory increasing significantly,” Cook told analysts, adding that the company is evaluating multiple options to manage the rising costs.

Tesla, the electric vehicle (EV) maker led by billionaire Elon Musk, reported a 3% drop in annual revenue for 2025 and a 61% fall in profits in the last quarter, as the company pivots towards artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics. The automaker announced it will discontinue production of its Model S and Model X vehicles, converting the California plant that produced them to manufacture its humanoid robots, known as Optimus. Musk also confirmed a $2 billion (£1.45 billion) investment in his AI venture, xAI, citing shareholder pressure despite mixed votes on the proposal. The move comes as Chinese EV manufacturer BYD overtook Tesla as the world’s largest electric car maker. Analysts note Tesla’s dated vehicle lineup and declining high-end models prompted the shift to focus on higher-volume vehicles like Model 3 and Model Y, alongside emerging ventures in robotaxis and AI-driven technologies. Musk described the upcoming capital expenditure of about $20 billion as an investment for an “epic future,” aiming to boost Tesla’s market value over the next decade to meet conditions of his record-breaking pay package. Tesla shares rose 2% in after-hours trading following the announcement. The strategic pivot also follows Musk’s controversial political activities, including involvement in former US President Donald Trump’s administration, which affected consumer sentiment toward the company globally.   With inputs from BBC

Microsoft on Wednesday reported revenue of $81.3 billion for the October-December quarter, marking a 17% increase from the same period a year earlier, as the company continues efforts to expand global use of its artificial intelligence tools. The tech giant posted a net profit of $30.9 billion, or $4.14 per share, for the quarter, exceeding Wall Street expectations. The results did not include the impact of Microsoft’s investments in ChatGPT developer OpenAI. Analysts surveyed by FactSet Research had projected Microsoft to earn $3.91 per share on revenue of $80.31 billion for the October-December quarter. When excluding its OpenAI investments, Microsoft’s profit rose to $38.5 billion, or $5.16 per share, reflecting a new accounting approach the company said it plans to apply going forward. The investments stem from OpenAI’s restructuring last year. Microsoft held an approximately 27% stake, valued at about $135 billion, in OpenAI as the startup originally a nonprofit transitioned into a for-profit public benefit corporation. Although Microsoft is no longer OpenAI’s exclusive cloud provider, a partnership that helped finance the AI company’s early expansion, it will continue to hold commercial rights to OpenAI products through 2032. Read More: Microsoft to invest $17.5 billion in India for AI and Cloud infrastructure Revenue from Microsoft’s AI-driven cloud computing segment totaled $32.9 billion in the final three months of the year, an increase of 29% from the same period last year and above the $32.4 billion forecast by analysts surveyed by FactSet. Despite surpassing expectations, Microsoft shares fell nearly 5% in after-hours trading following the release of its earnings report. Zacks Investment Research analyst Bryan Hayes said the decline likely reflected “investor scrutiny” over Microsoft’s heavy spending on the infrastructure including computer chips and data centers required to support artificial intelligence. Microsoft Chief Executive Officer Satya Nadella told investors during an earnings call that the company remains in the “beginning stages” of AI diffusion, referring to the broader adoption of artificial intelligence across industries.

A NASA research plane made an emergency landing in Texas on Tuesday after experiencing a malfunction that prevented its landing gear from deploying, officials said. The WB-57 aircraft touched down at Ellington Airport, southeast of Houston, sliding across the runway on its belly. Social media footage showed flames and smoke trailing from beneath the plane as it descended and came to a stop. NASA confirmed that the crew is safe and reported the incident as a "mechanical issue" that will be investigated. Local news outlets captured images of the aircraft stationary on the runway with emergency responders and fire trucks attending to the scene. The WB-57, known for its thin fuselage and two-seat cockpit, has been used in scientific research missions since the 1970s. It is capable of flying at high altitudes above 63,000 feet (19,200 meters) for about six and a half hours. Read More: NASA’s new moon rocket rolls to launch pad ahead of possible February astronaut mission According to NASA, the aircraft remains a valuable tool for atmospheric and space research.  

TikTok’s newly established US joint venture has updated its privacy policy to expand the scope of location data it can collect from its nearly 200 million users in the United States. The revised policy was released after investors finalised a deal on Thursday with TikTok’s Chinese parent company ByteDance to oversee the short-form video platform’s US operations. According to the updated privacy terms, the joint venture may now “collect precise location data, depending on your settings”, replacing the earlier policy that permitted only the collection of “approximate” location information. TikTok did not immediately respond to the BBC’s request for comment on the change. The policy states that sensitive personal information will be handled “in accordance with applicable law” and notes that users can disable location services at any time through their device settings. Even before the creation of the new venture, TikTok gathered location data using a user’s SIM card or IP address, or both. However, a 2024 version of its privacy policy indicated that the company did not collect even approximate GPS data from American users running the latest version of the app. Read More: Meta secures large nuclear energy supply to power AI data centers Precise location sharing has not yet been activated in the United States. It is expected to remain optional and turned off by default, requiring users to opt in through a pop-up message. TikTok has not specified when the update will be introduced for US users. The platform already collects similar information from users in the UK and Europe through its “Nearby Feed” feature. The US joint venture is also expanding permissions to gather data related to user interactions with TikTok’s artificial intelligence tools, including prompts, questions and details on how, when and where AI content is created. TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC includes managing investors such as cloud computing firm Oracle, which will oversee the retraining of TikTok’s recommendation algorithm and ensure it is secured in Oracle’s US cloud environment. ByteDance will retain a minority stake just under 20 percent, while other investors include Silver Lake and Abu Dhabi-based MGX. Concerns remain in Washington over ByteDance’s continued involvement, with lawmakers questioning whether the deal fully safeguards US user data. With inputs from BBC

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos’ rocket company, Blue Origin, plans to launch over 5,400 satellites to build a new global internet network named TeraWave. The network will provide continuous internet access worldwide and transfer large amounts of data faster than rival services. Blue Origin said TeraWave will focus on businesses, data centres, and governments, unlike Elon Musk’s Starlink, which serves individual customers. At its fastest, TeraWave will offer upload and download speeds up to 6 terabits per second, far exceeding current commercial satellite services. Blue Origin aims to start launching the satellites by the end of 2027. The company has previously achieved a rocket booster landing on a floating platform and conducted an 11-minute all-female space flight. Amazon also runs a satellite project called Leo, with around 180 satellites in orbit. Leo focuses more on public internet access and plans to launch over 3,000 satellites eventually. The TeraWave project will compete with Starlink and Amazon Leo in the growing satellite internet market.   With inputs from BBC

Artificial intelligence chatbots such as ChatGPT are increasingly being used not only for information and advice, but also for emotional support and companionship, raising new questions about what machines can teach humans about listening better. Anna, a Ukrainian living in London, says she regularly uses the premium version of ChatGPT because of its ability to listen without interrupting or judging her. While she knows it is only a machine, she says its patient and consistent responses help her reflect on her thoughts and emotions. “I can rely on it to understand my issues and communicate with me in a way that suits me,” she said, asking to remain anonymous. After a recent breakup, Anna said the chatbot’s non-judgmental presence allowed her to explore her mixed feelings in a way her friends and family could not. Her experience reflects a growing trend. Research cited by Harvard Business Review shows that in 2025, therapy and companionship became the most common use of generative AI tools such as ChatGPT. Other studies suggest that people often rate AI-generated responses as more compassionate and understanding than those written by humans, including trained crisis hotline workers. Researchers say this does not mean AI is genuinely empathetic, but rather that many people rarely experience truly non-judgmental and uninterrupted listening in everyday life. Experiments have found that people often feel more hopeful and less distressed after interacting with AI-generated responses compared to human ones. Large language models are designed to recognise emotions, reflect them back and offer supportive language. They do not interrupt, do not become impatient and do not try to dominate conversations. This creates a sense of psychological safety for users, allowing them to share difficult thoughts more freely. Experts say there are several lessons humans can learn from AI about listening, including giving uninterrupted attention, acknowledging emotions, avoiding quick judgments and resisting the urge to immediately offer solutions. Psychologists also note that people often turn conversations back to themselves by sharing similar personal stories, which can shift attention away from the speaker. AI systems, having no personal experiences, do not fall into this habit. However, researchers warn against over-reliance on AI for emotional support. While chatbots can simulate empathy, they do not possess genuine care or understanding. There are also concerns about vulnerable people forming emotional dependence on AI or being exposed to harmful advice. Michael Inzlicht, a psychologist at the University of Toronto, cautioned that AI companies could potentially manipulate users and that excessive reliance on chatbots could weaken real human connections. Despite these risks, experts say AI can still serve as a useful tool for inspiring better listening habits and greater compassion among people. “There is something uniquely meaningful about a human choosing to be present and listen,” researchers say, adding that while AI may help people feel heard, it cannot replace the depth of real human connection.   With inputs from BBC

OpenAI will start showing ads on ChatGPT for some users in the United States, the company announced. The trial will affect free users and a new lower-cost subscription tier, ChatGPT Go, which costs $8 per month. OpenAI said the ads will appear after prompts, such as holiday suggestions, and will not change the AI’s responses. OpenAI stressed that user conversations will not be shared with advertisers. The company said ads are being tested so more people can use its tools with fewer limits. Experts say the move is part of OpenAI’s effort to earn revenue, as the company has not yet made a profit despite 800 million users. Only 5% of them are paid subscribers. ChatGPT already offers Plus and Pro tiers, costing $20 and $200 per month in the US. OpenAI first introduced ChatGPT Go in India in 2025 before expanding globally. The company began as a non-profit but is now more commercially focused.   With inputs from BBC