- iPhone 18 A20 may cost Apple about double per chip what A19 does AppleInsider
- iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone Air 2 May Reportedly Receive a Price Hike Amid Rising Component Costs Gadgets 360
- Apple’s A20 Chip To See An 80 Percent Cost Hike To $280 Per…
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iPhone 18 A20 may cost Apple about double per chip what A19 does – AppleInsider
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Will Smith sued by former tour member for wrongful termination, sexual harassment
A former violinist and crew member for Will Smith is suing the actor and rapper, as well as his touring company, for wrongful termination and sexual harassment, claims Smith’s lawyer is denying.
Brian King Joseph, who toured with Smith in 2025,…
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Cellular energy booster restores cognition in mice with advanced Alzheimer’s disease – Fierce Biotech
- Cellular energy booster restores cognition in mice with advanced Alzheimer’s disease Fierce Biotech
- Experimental Alzheimer’s Drug Could Have The Power To Halt Disease Before Symptoms Even Start IFLScience
- These groundbreaking Alzheimer’s…
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Irregular collagen in uterine scars linked to placenta accreta development
Placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) used to be a rare pregnancy condition, but it now affects roughly 14,000 pregnancies annually, posing a major cause of maternal death. Yet why it happens is still not well understood. Placenta accreta…
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ML model predicts binding of molecules used for bioimaging
Researchers from the Nanoscience Center at the University of Jyväskylä, Finland, have developed a computational model that could expedite the use of nanomaterials in biomedical applications. Their machine learning framework is capable of…
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Bedford teen going places with automatic medication dispenser invention
“I was met with, like, lots of public visitors who shared, like, ‘Oh, I have a grandmother,’ or ‘I have a mother who has dementia, and this is something that I could see us use,’ or ‘I don’t have dementia, but even, like, I’m just…
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Author of Nation’s First Chatbot Protections Proposes 4-Year Moratorium on AI Chatbots in Toys
SACRAMENTO – Today, Senator Steve Padilla (D-San Diego) announced he will introduce legislation placing a 4-year moratorium on the sale and manufacturing of toys with artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot capabilities for children under 18. The purpose of this legislation is to allow time for safety regulations to be developed protecting children from dangerous AI interactions.
Senator Padilla is the author of Senate Bill 243, the first-of-its-kind law that requires chatbot operators to implement critical, reasonable, and attainable safeguards around interactions with AI chatbots and provide families with a private right to pursue legal actions against noncompliant and negligent developers.
“Chatbots and other AI tools may become integral parts of our lives in the future, but the dangers they pose now require us to take bold action to protect our children,” said Senator Padilla. “Our safety regulations around this kind of technology are in their infancy and will need to grow as exponentially as the capabilities of this technology does. Pausing the sale of these chatbot integrated toys allows us time to craft the appropriate safety guidelines and framework for these toys to follow. Our children cannot be used as lab rats for Big Tech to experiment on.”
Earlier this year, Mattel, Inc., one of the largest toy makers in the world, announced a partnership with OpenAI to support AI-powered products. Just last month, the US Public Interest Group Education Fund (PIRG) published the findings of a study it conducted on the safety of several AI toys. In testing, PIRG found that the toys could engage in conversations that were not age appropriate, including how to use matches to start a fire and topics of a sexual nature. The report also cites OpenAI’s own policy that says ChatGPT “is not meant for children under 13” and “may produce output that is not appropriate for… all ages.”
The dangers of chatbots have become apparent as stories of disastrous outcomes mount in the media. In Florida last year, a 14-year-old child ended his life after forming a romantic, sexual, and emotional relationship with a chatbot. Social chatbots are marketed as companions to people who are lonely or depressed. However, when 14-year-old Sewell Setzer communicated to his AI companion that he was struggling, the bot was unable to respond with empathy or the resources necessary to ensure Setzer received the help that he needed. Setzer’s mother has initiated legal action against the company that created the chatbot, claiming that not only did the company use addictive design features and inappropriate subject matter to lure in her son, but that the bot encouraged him to “come home” just seconds before he ended his life.
Last year, Senator Padilla held a press conference with Megan Garcia, the mother of Sewell Setzer, in which they called for the passage of SB 243. Ms. Garcia also testified at multiple hearings in support of the bill.
Sadly, Sewell’s story is not the only tragic example of the harms unregulated chatbots can cause. There have been many troubling examples of how AI chatbots’ interactions can prove dangerous.
In August, after learning of the tragic story of Adam Raine, the California teen that ended his life after being allegedly encouraged to by ChatGPT, California State Senator Steve Padilla (D-San Diego), penned a letter to every member of the California State Legislature, reemphasizing the importance of safeguards around this powerful technology.
Last year, the Federal Trade Commission announced it launched an investigation into seven tech companies around potential harms their artificial intelligence chatbots could cause to children and teenagers.
The proposed legislation (language attached) would place a moratorium on the sale and manufacturing of toys with AI chatbot capabilities for children under 18 for a period of four years, limiting access to dangerous technology marketed exclusively for children. safety, and accountability in chatbot usage.
Last month, Senator Padilla introduced legislation that would further protections surrounding chatbots for children and other vulnerable users by:
- Bring age verification protocol in line with California’s landmark law, requiring chatbot operators to adhere to a stricter standard
- Require operators to prevent chatbots from producing or facilitating the exchange of any sexually explicit material or proposing any sexually explicit content in interactions with minors
To learn more about Senate Bill 243 and the dangers chatbots can pose, click here.
The bill will be introduced and receive a bill number when the Senate gavels into session Monday, January 5th and will be heard in the Senate in the following months.
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Steve Padilla represents the 18th Senate District, which includes the communities of Chula Vista, the Coachella Valley, Imperial Beach, the Imperial Valley, National City, and San Diego. Prior to his election to the Senate in 2022, Senator Padilla was the first person of color ever elected to city office in Chula Vista, the first Latino Mayor, and the first openly LGBT person to serve or be elected to city office. Website of Senator Steve Padilla: https://sd18.senate.ca.gov/
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Author of Nation’s First Chatbot Protections Proposes 5-Year Moratorium on AI Chatbots in Toys
SACRAMENTO – Today, Senator Steve Padilla (D-San Diego) announced he will introduce legislation placing a 5-year moratorium on the sale and manufacturing of toys with AI chatbot capabilities for children under 18 to allow time for safety regulations to be developed protecting children from dangerous AI interactions.
Senator Padilla is the author of Senate Bill 243, the first-of-its-kind law that requires chatbot operators to implement critical, reasonable, and attainable safeguards around interactions with artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots and provide families with a private right to pursue legal actions against noncompliant and negligent developers.
“Chatbots and other AI tools may become integral parts of our lives in the future, but the dangers they pose now require us to take bold action to protect our children,” said Senator Padilla. “Our safety regulations around this kind of technology are in their infancy and will need to grow as exponentially as the capabilities of this technology does. Pausing the sale of these chatbot integrated toys allows us time to craft the appropriate safety guidelines and framework for these toys to follow. Our children cannot be used as lab rats for Big Tech to experiment on.”
Earlier this year, Mattel, Inc., one of the largest toy makers in the world, announced a partnership with OpenAI to support AI-powered products. Just last month, the US Public Interest Group Education Fund (PIRG) published the findings of a study it conducted on the safety of several AI toys. In testing, PIRG found that the toys could engage in conversations that were not age appropriate, including topics of a sexual nature and how to use matches to start a fire. The report also cites OpenAI’s own policy that says ChatGPT “is not meant for children under 13” and “may produce output that is not appropriate for… all ages.”
The dangers of chatbots have become apparent as stories of disastrous outcomes mount in the media. In Florida last year, a 14-year-old child ended his life after forming a romantic, sexual, and emotional relationship with a chatbot. Social chatbots are marketed as companions to people who are lonely or depressed. However, when 14-year-old Sewell Setzer communicated to his AI companion that he was struggling, the bot was unable to respond with empathy or the resources necessary to ensure Setzer received the help that he needed. Setzer’s mother has initiated legal action against the company that created the chatbot, claiming that not only did the company use addictive design features and inappropriate subject matter to lure in her son, but that the bot encouraged him to “come home” just seconds before he ended his life.
Last year, Senator Padilla held a press conference with Megan Garcia, the mother of Sewell Setzer, in which they called for the passage of SB 243. Ms. Garcia also testified at multiple hearings in support of the bill.
Sadly, Sewell’s story is not the only tragic example of the harms unregulated chatbots can cause. There have been many troubling examples of how AI chatbots’ interactions can prove dangerous.
In August, after learning of the tragic story of Adam Raine, the California teen that ended his life after being allegedly encouraged to by ChatGPT, California State Senator Steve Padilla (D-San Diego), penned a letter to every member of the California State Legislature, reemphasizing the importance of safeguards around this powerful technology.
Last year, the Federal Trade Commission announced it launched an investigation into seven tech companies around potential harms their artificial intelligence chatbots could cause to children and teenagers.
The proposed legislation (language attached) would place a moratorium on the sale and manufacturing of toys with AI chatbot capabilities for children under 18 for a period of five years, limiting access to dangerous technology marketed exclusively for children. safety, and accountability in chatbot usage.
Last month, Senator Padilla introduced legislation that would further protections surrounding chatbots for children and other vulnerable users by:
- Bring age verification protocol in line with California’s landmark law, requiring chatbot operators to adhere to a stricter standard
- Require operators to prevent chatbots from producing or facilitating the exchange of any sexually explicit material or proposing any sexually explicit content in interactions with minors
To learn more about Senate Bill 243 and the dangers chatbots can pose, click here.
The bill will be introduced and receive a bill number when the Senate gavels into session Monday, January 5th and will be heard in the Senate in the following months.
###
Steve Padilla represents the 18th Senate District, which includes the communities of Chula Vista, the Coachella Valley, Imperial Beach, the Imperial Valley, National City, and San Diego. Prior to his election to the Senate in 2022, Senator Padilla was the first person of color ever elected to city office in Chula Vista, the first Latino Mayor, and the first openly LGBT person to serve or be elected to city office. Website of Senator Steve Padilla: https://sd18.senate.ca.gov/
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Led by Mariah Carey, holiday songs dominate the charts for one last week
It’s a week of chart milestones, as holiday songs hold down the top 24 spots on the Billboard Hot 100, Mariah Carey extends multiple chart records and Taylor Swift pulls out all the stops to defeat her…
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FTSE 100 index hits 10,000 milestone in new year rally
Pritti Mistry,Business reporterand
Theo Leggett,International business correspondent
AlamyThe FTSE 100 index has climbed above 10,000 points for the first time, passing a significant stock market milestone, on the first trading day of the year.
Shares included in the index performed strongly in 2025, leaving the benchmark more than 21% higher than a year ago, when it stood at just over 8,260. It set a new all-time record reaching 10,046 points before dropping back and closing the day at 9951.
Despite much talk of high stock valuations in the US over the past year, the London index outperformed the major American indexes in 2025.
Shares in British brands such as Currys and Next rose steeply alongside gains for precious metal miners, defence and financial services companies.
The FTSE 100 tracks the performance of the 100 largest companies listed on the London Stock Exchange.
A big rise is good news for investors, including anyone with a pension or other savings that are invested in the stock market, but is not a direct measure of the UK economy’s performance.
Many of the constituent companies have large overseas operations as well as a UK presence, and around three quarters of the revenues of the FTSE 100 firms is generated abroad.
In 2025 rising gold and silver prices boosted firms such as Rio Tinto, while increased global defence spending lifted contractors including Babcock and Rolls-Royce – amid economic uncertainty and geopolitical tensions.
The British benchmark index set a new all-time intraday record as trading resumed after the new year holiday, rising more than 1% within the first hour to reach 10,046 points – up 115 from its previous level, before falling back below the threshold.
The brief episode of trade above 10,000 followed twelve months of staggered rises.
Susannah Streeter, an independent financial commentator, said the 10,000-point marker was “a psychologically important milestone” and showed London’s blue-chip index was “back in favour” with investors.
“Concerns continue to swirl about the super-high valuation of US tech sector,” she said, making the UK market more appealing.
Dan Coatsworth, head of markets at investment platform AJ Bell, said crossing the 10,000-point was a New Year’s gift for the chancellor, Rachel Reeves, who has been calling for more investment in the UK share market to boost economic growth.
“She has been banging the drum about the merits of investing over parking cash in the bank.
“The FTSE 100’s achievements just go to show what’s possible when buying UK shares,” he said.
While London-quoted companies were sometimes considered “old and boring”, the mix of industries, including mining and banking, appealed to investors seeking stability during uncertain times, he said.
“Investors often seek solace in companies whose goods and services should be in demand no matter what’s happening in the world.
“For example, we all need to pay insurance or water bills, or those in the habit are still likely to buy cigarettes or vapes, and the FTSE 100 has plenty of companies playing on these themes on offer.”
The chancellor said the FTSE’s break-through was “a vote of confidence in Britain’s economy and a strong start to 2026”.
The FTSE index, which is dominated by large international companies, closed 2025 at 9,931, after repeatedly hitting record highs during the year.
Although it is often seen as a measure of Britain’s corporate strength, the FTSE 100 largely reflects global business activity because most of its companies earn a significant share of their revenues overseas rather than from the UK economy.
Its rise follows a global trend, which has seen stock markets surge over the expectation that artificial intelligence (AI) will boost company earnings.
However, some experts have warned that if high hopes for AI are not realised, or do not appear quickly enough, that enthusiasm could evaporate – and prompt a steep fall in share values.
Share prices rise or fall based on investors’ expectations of what they think companies will earn in the future. Among the strong performers in 2025 were fashion retailer Next, which raised its profit outlook four times over the year, and luxury brand Burberry which returned to profit after back-to-back annual losses.
However, shares in bakery chain Greggs have seen a 39% drop with investors anxious about its expansion plans and lacklustre sales growth. Diageo and WH Smith also suffered sharp falls.
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