Neil Young's gift to Greenland: Free access to his entire music catalog

NEW YORK (AP) — Neil Young is offering free access to his entire music catalog to residents of Greenland. He announced this on his blog on Tuesday in a bid to ease stress amid tensions involving the U.S. and NATO. Young's offer lasts a year with possible renewal and requires a Greenland-based cellphone. This gesture contrasts with his recent decision to remove his music from Amazon Music. Young criticized its founder Jeff Bezos for supporting U.S. President Donald Trump. Young has a history of clashing with streaming platforms including Spotify over issues like misinformation and audio quality. His hits include “Rockin' in the Free World” and “Heart of Gold.”

Trump's use of AI images pushes new boundaries, further eroding public trust, experts say

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Trump administration has not shied away from sharing AI-generated imagery online, embracing cartoonlike visuals and memes and promoting them on official White House channels. But an edited — and realistic — image of a civil rights attorney in tears after being arrested is raising new alarms about how the government is blurring the line between what is real and what is fake, especially with leaders mocking criticism of the edited image. Misinformation experts are concerned the spread of AI-generated or edited images could erode public perception of the truth and sow distrust.

Meta, TikTok and YouTube face landmark trial over youth addiction claims

Three of the world’s biggest tech companies face a landmark trial in Los Angeles starting this week over claims their platforms deliberately addict and harm children. Snapchat owner Snap has settled the case, but Meta’s Instagram, ByteDance’s TikTok and Google’s YouTube will face a jury trial for the first time over claims that their platforms have contributed to the youth mental health crisis. Jury selection starts this week in the Los Angeles Superior Court. It’s the first time the companies will argue their case before a jury.

Not ready for robots in homes? The maker of a friendly new humanoid thinks it might change your mind

NEW YORK (AP) — A new humanoid robot named Sprout, developed by Fauna Robotics, is making its debut. Unlike sleek and powerful-looking machines from companies like Tesla, Sprout is designed to be approachable and friendly. Standing at 3.5 feet tall, it features a soft, foam exterior and expressive features. Fauna Robotics aims to create a new industry of “approachable” robots for homes, schools and social spaces. Sprout is more of a software developer platform, priced at $50,000, targeting university labs and tech entrepreneurs. Early customers include Disney and Boston Dynamics. The robot's design draws inspiration from beloved science fiction characters like WALL-E, Baymax and R2-D2.

French lawmakers approve bill banning social media for children under 15

PARIS (AP) — French lawmakers have approved a bill banning social media for children under 15. The measure, which also bans mobile phones in high schools, passed with a 130-21 vote on Monday. President Emmanuel Macron has requested fast-tracking the legislation, which will be discussed by the Senate soon. Macron supports the ban, citing scientific recommendations and public demand. Critics argue it infringes on civil liberties. The bill aligns with the EU’s Digital Services Act, aiming to protect minors online. It follows similar actions in Australia and potential measures in the UK, reflecting growing concern over children’s online safety.

EU steps in to make sure Google gives rivals access to AI services and data

BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union is stepping in to ensure Google gives rival AI companies and search engines access to data and Gemini AI services. On Tuesday, the EU's executive arm announced it was opening "specification proceedings" to ensure Google complies with the Digital Markets Act. This act requires Big Tech companies to provide smaller players equal access to hardware and software features. The EU will specify how Google should give third-party AI companies access to features available through its services. The proceedings will wrap up in six months with draft measures for Google. Google's Clare Kelly expressed concerns about the procedure's motivations.

IShowSpeed wraps up Africa tour highlighting the continent's cultural diversity

DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — The American streamer and YouTuber IShowSpeed is wrapping up a 28-day tour of Africa aimed at showcasing the continent's cultural diversity. The tour began in Angola in December and included stops in Morocco, Senegal, Nigeria and Ghana. IShowSpeed sampled local dishes and learned traditional dances in the YouTube streams lasting up to nine hours. Many African Americans have praised his efforts to change perceptions of Africa. But some people have criticized his exaggerated persona and antics. IShowSpeed's real name is Darren Watkins Jr. He’s expected to arrive Tuesday in Namibia which is likely the tour’s final stop.

European Union opens investigation into Musk's AI chatbot Grok over sexual deepfakes

LONDON (AP) — European Union regulators have opened a formal investigation into Elon Musk's social media platform X after its AI chatbot Grok started producing nonconsensual sexualized deepfake images. The scrutiny from Brussels comes after Grok sparked backlash by using AI to undress people, including children, in images. Sme governments have banned the service or issued warnings. The EU's executive is examining whether X has met its obligations under the Digital Services Act to contain illegal content. An X spokeswoman said the platform remains committed to safety and has zero tolerance for child sexual exploitation and non-consensual nudity.

Egypt to adopt restrictions on children’s social media use to fight 'digital chaos'

CAIRO (AP) — Egypt is exploring ways to regulate children's use of social media. The Egyptian Parliament announced plans Sunday to draft legislation aimed at ending what it calls the "digital chaos" affecting children. Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi's has called for restrictions until children are mature enough to handle social media responsibly. Legislators say they will consult with the government and expert bodies to draft a law. A 2024 report says about 50% of children under 18 in Egypt use social media platforms where they are likely exposed to harmful content, cyberbullying and abuse. Australia, the United Kingdom and France are considering similar measures to protect children from online risks.

Trump administration invests in another US rare earth miner to loosen China's grip on supply

The U.S. is taking a minority stake in an Oklahoma rare earth miner, the latest government investment in the sector as it seeks to minimize its reliance on imports of a material used prevalently in smartphones, robotics, electric vehicles and many other high tech products. China processes more than 90% of the world’s critical minerals and has used its dominance in the market to gain leverage in the trade war with Washington. USA Rare Earth said Monday that the U.S. Commerce Department is investing $1.6 billion in the company to advance work on a mine in Texas and to build a magnet manufacturing facility in Oklahoma.