AI privacy risks and market sell-off lead tech agenda

AI privacy concerns are in focus after some “private” Claude chats and Google files appeared on search engines, prompting guidance on how users can better protect sensitive material. Market anxiety is also spreading, with Apple becoming the second $5tn company as investors flee AI stocks, helped by strong product demand and its decision to avoid the AI spending race.

The sell-off has weighed on South Korea, where the stock market hit a three-month low and Samsung and SK Hynix fell by more than 10% amid renewed fears over AI spending and Chinese competition. Legal and policy questions are also escalating, including Labour MP Jess Asato’s claim that Elon Musk’s xAI chatbot Grok added fake abusive and explicit sexual content that users had not requested. Other debates include fake customer reviews in Australia, religious freedom laws, AI agents going rogue, and AI-enabled smart lamp-posts.