Foreigners allowed to travel to the US without a visa could soon face new social media screening

WASHINGTON (AP) — Travelers who are now able to come to the United States without a visa might soon need to provide social media, email, and family history details to the Department of Homeland Security. The Trump administration has increased monitoring of international travelers. And now, Customs and Border Protection is proposing collecting five years of social media data from travelers from about roughly 40 mostly European and Asian countries who can now come to the U.S. for tourism or business for three months without visas. The public has 60 days to comment on these proposed changes.

San Francisco woman gives birth in a Waymo self-driving taxi

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Waymo's self-driving taxis have been in the spotlight for both negative and positive reasons. This week, the automated ride-hailing taxis went viral after a San Francisco woman gave birth inside a Waymo taxi while on her way to the hospital. A Waymo spokesperson on Wednesday confirmed the unusual delivery. It said the company's rider support team detected unusual activity inside the vehicle and alerted 911. The taxi arrived safely at the hospital before emergency services. Waymo's popularity is growing despite heightened scrutiny following an illegal U-turn and the death of a San Francisco cat. The company, owned by Alphabet, says it is proud to serve riders of all ages.

OpenAI names Slack CEO Dresser as first chief of revenue as ChatGPT maker aims to make a profit

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — OpenAI has appointed Slack CEO Denise Dresser as its first chief of revenue. Dresser will oversee global revenue strategy and help businesses integrate AI into daily operations. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman recently emphasized improving ChatGPT, which now has over 800 million weekly users. Despite its success, OpenAI faces competition from companies like Google and concerns about profitability. The company earns money from premium ChatGPT subscriptions but hasn't ventured into advertising. Altman had recently announced delays in developing new products like AI agents and a personal assistant.

Social media ban for children under 16 starts in Australia

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has welcomed a groundbreaking social media ban for children under 16 as families taking back power from tech giants. The ban took effect on Wednesday.  Albanese has acknowledged the challenges of implementation but emphasized the importance of protecting children. Platforms, including Facebook and TikTok, face hefty fines if they fail to comply. Australia's eSafety Commissioner will monitor compliance and report by Christmas on whether the ban is working. Some children have found ways to bypass the restrictions, but officials warn they will eventually be caught. The ban has sparked debate, with some families concerned about negative impacts.

South Korea to require advertisers to label AI-generated ads

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea will require advertisers to label their ads made with artificial intelligence technologies from next year as it seeks to curb a surge of deceptive promotions featuring fabricated experts or deep-faked celebrities endorsing food or pharmaceutical products on social media. Following a policy meeting chaired by Prime Minister Kim Min-seok on Wednesday, officials said they will ramp up screening and removal of problematic AI-generated ads and impose punitive fines, citing growing risks to consumers, especially older people who struggle to tell whether content is AI-made.

Our AP Breakthrough Entertainers of 2025 take a survey

The youngest is 16. The oldest are 40. Two are newly minted Emmy winners. Two had dreams of professional soccer. Two count Tom Cruise as a pivotal co-star. But there’s one thing all five have in common. That's a banner 2025. The Associated Press has named Arden Cho, Owen Cooper, Danny Ramirez, Chase Sui Wonders, and Tramell Tillman as its 2025 Breakthrough Entertainers. In interviews, they shared the impact of fame, the importance of supportive relationships and their thoughts on artificial intelligence. Each entertainer reflected on their childhood dreams and how their careers have evolved.

Microsoft investing $17.5 billion in India for AI and cloud infrastructure

NEW DELHI (AP) — Microsoft has announced its largest-ever Asia investment of $17.5 billion in India to enhance cloud and artificial intelligence infrastructure over the next four years. CEO Satya Nadella revealed this on Tuesday after meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi. The investment aims to build infrastructure, skills and sovereign capabilities for India's AI future. This highlights the global technology competition to expand in India. The country is one of the fastest-growing digital markets. Google announced a $15 billion investment in India in October for its first AI hub. Microsoft plans to scale up cloud and AI infrastructure and expand operations across India.

Google facing a new antitrust probe in Europe over content it uses for AI

LONDON (AP) — The European Union is investigating Google for potential antitrust violations related to its AI models. Regulators are examining whether Google has used online content from web publishers and YouTube without permission or payment. They're concerned Google may have given itself an unfair advantage with its AI Overviews and AI Mode services. These services generate summaries and provide chatbot-style answers. The investigation, announced Tuesday, also looks into whether Google has restricted rival AI developers. Google argues the complaint could stifle innovation. The investigation is under the EU's competition regulations, not the newer Digital Markets Act.

Australia's social media ban leaves a 15-year-old worried about losing touch with friends

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Australia has introduced a world-first social media ban for children under 16, starting Wednesday. Riley Allen, a 15-year-old from a remote sheep ranch, is concerned about staying in touch with friends. Platforms like Facebook and TikTok face hefty fines if they don't comply. Riley's mother, a teacher, supports the ban but acknowledges kids might find ways around it. Another 15-year-old, Noah Jones, is challenging the law in court, arguing it limits freedom of communication. Critics warn the ban could push kids to less regulated platforms. The case will be heard next year.

Southeast Asia embraces offshore wind power, as Trump bashes renewable energy

HANOI, Vietnam (AP) — Southeast Asia is embracing the embattled offshore wind industry as it reels from U.S. President Donald Trump’s rejection of renewable energy. That dramatic shift in U.S. policy has thrown billions of dollars-worth of American offshore wind projects into turmoil. Industry experts say interest and investment is pivoting to the untapped potential for wind power in Southeast Asia. Momentum is building in the Philippines and Vietnam with first-time project auctions and new power development plans. Analysts say both countries may offer strategies for other developing nations wanting to build their energy independence and meet goals for countering climate change.