consumer AI

NPR examines the cost of America's AI data center boom to ordinary electricity customers. As utilities build new capacity to serve the massive power demands of artificial intelligence infrastructure, the report asks how much of those expenses will be passed on to ratepayers, and Congress is weighing what protections consumers should have against subsidizing corporate energy use.

The Federal Trade Commission has opened an investigation into OpenAI, Anthropic and other leading AI companies, examining potential risks tied to their consumer products. The probe signals growing regulatory scrutiny of the AI industry in the United States, with attention on how companies test, market and safeguard their systems for the public.

US lawyer and YouTuber Law By Mike says he spent 100 days buying AI scam advertisements to document how they operate and what they promote. He claims to have purchased every AI scam ad he could find during the period, drawing over 1.4 million likes. The stunt highlights growing concern about deceptive AI-themed advertising, including fake tools and misleading promotions targeting consumers online.

Food giant Conagra, cited by Reuters, says artificial intelligence is changing how Americans buy snacks. Shoppers are increasingly asking AI tools for snack recommendations rather than searching for specific products, while also scrutinising ingredient lists more closely. The company says this shift in consumer behaviour is influencing how it thinks about marketing and product development in the US packaged food market.

Legato, a hearing technology startup, has launched AI-powered hearing glasses, according to TechCrunch. The product combines eyewear with hearing assistance driven by artificial intelligence, positioning the company in the growing market for consumer hearing tech. Details on pricing, availability and features were not included in the initial report.

Talk is growing around the 'AI wealth effect': the way surging investment in artificial intelligence companies is creating large paper gains for shareholders and boosting spending among a narrow group of beneficiaries. Commenters are weighing whether AI-driven stock gains are broadening the economy or concentrating wealth in a few tech firms, with comparisons to earlier tech booms.

The tech industry is heavily promoting AI-powered shopping bots that can browse, compare and purchase products on behalf of consumers. Despite the enthusiasm from major tech firms and retailers, industry reporting suggests the technology remains immature and is still years away from working reliably for everyday shoppers.

Robinhood is reported to be planning a major push into AI-powered trading bots that would manage trades for customers automatically, including overnight, according to a Wall Street Journal report. The move would take the retail brokerage beyond simple self-directed investing toward automated, always-on portfolio management. It signals how brokerages are racing to fold generative AI into consumer finance products.

The Nori AI Family Hub, a smart home device aimed at families, is drawing attention following a spotlight feature from tech outlet GadgetMatch. The device positions itself as an AI-powered central hub for household organisation, communication and family routines. Details on pricing, availability and how it compares with rival smart displays remain limited so far.

A new AI-powered robot called Taku is being introduced as a helper for everyday household chores. Named Taku, the robot is presented as capable of handling routine domestic tasks, adding to a growing wave of consumer robots designed to bring artificial intelligence out of the lab and into the home. Details on availability and pricing have not been widely reported yet.

Mastercard has launched advanced B2B analytics that let the card network ingest a business's accounts payable data and present it back to the company, using AI to help make working capital more efficient. The tool focuses on analyzing supplier payments, and is being shared among finance and banking observers discussing how card networks are expanding into corporate payments data services.

A legal analysis examines how mass arbitration operates, focusing on the procedural rules set by arbitration providers, recent court decisions shaping the practice, and the growing role of artificial intelligence. Mass arbitration allows large groups of consumers to file similar claims, often over financial products, and the piece assesses how technology and case law are changing the landscape.

The Federal Trade Commission has opened an investigation into OpenAI, Anthropic and other artificial intelligence companies over potential consumer and safety risks posed by their products. The move marks one of the most significant US regulatory actions yet against the leading AI developers, as regulators scrutinize whether chatbots and other AI tools may harm or mislead consumers.

Hearing technology startup Legato has launched AI-powered hearing glasses, combining eyewear with hearing assistance driven by artificial intelligence. The product aims to make hearing support more discreet and accessible, joining a growing wave of tech companies building AI-enhanced wearable devices for everyday health needs.