Work-Life Balance Across America Looks Very Different by State

American culture centers on a passion for innovation and hard work, but could it be that certain regions achieve a better work-life balance than others? A new graphic from the team at Qualtrics sets out to answer this question. They’ve created a color-coded map based on the percentage of the past year that residents in each state spent working. Work shapes routines, finances, well-being, and so many aspects of our lives, so data presented like this can create a powerful statement about the state of work culture that can direct our attention to problems, policies, and workforce strengths. The team created the map using data from this academic survey from the University of Maryland and Minneapolis.

Key Findings and Statistics

According to the map, workers in these states spent the highest percentage of the year working:

• Utah
• Mississippi
• North Carolina
• Alabama
• Colorado
• South Dakota
• Pennsylvania
• West Virginia
• Arkansas
• Minnesota

Residents in these states spent the least amount of time working last year:

• Connecticut
• Michigan
• South Carolina
• Oklahoma
• Illinois
• Kentucky
• Oregon
• Washington
• Texas
• Massachusetts
• New Hampshire
• Ohio
• Wisconsin

Looking at the maps color-coded patterns, it appears that states in the South generally spend more time working than northern states, though there are some stand out exceptions, like Oklahoma and South Carolina. The national average of minutes worked in the year is around 110,000 minutes. This helps us judge outliers and find patterns. For example, we can see most states in the Northeast worked a bit more than average, with a major exception for Connecticut. In fact, Connecticut residents spent the least time working out of any state in the country.

High-Intensity Work Areas

Examining trends in the states with the highest percentages might reveal why workers are spending so much time on the job. The five states with the highest percentages were Utah, Mississippi, North Carolina, Alabama, Colorado, and South Dakota.

We can analyze why some of these states have the highest averages due to regional factors. For example, Utah has a lower unemployment rate than the national average, so that can mean people work a lot because jobs are plentiful or Utah residents are especially hard-working, fitting in multiple jobs, full-time work, and overtime.

Another common factor the data shows us is that low-wage states have higher work hours. Many of these happen to be southern states, like Mississippi, Alabama, South Dakota, and West Virginia. Lower average wages mean that workers have to take on longer hours just to afford necessities and make ends meet. Some of these states, like Mississippi, are hubs for the manufacturing industry, which often demands longer hours. Some of these jobs belong in the low-wage category as well. These states are pointing toward poor work-life balance with long, difficult hours. Another factor that can lead to people needing to work longer hours is cost of living, which can vary quite a bit from from state to state. In Colorado, for example, the cost of living is higher than the national average, which means residents there might need those extra hours to afford shelter, food, and so on.

Work-Life Balance Leaders

On the other end of the spectrum, some states are leading the way in work-life balance. These include Connecticut, Michigan, South Carolina, and Oklahoma. Interestingly, these outlier states aren’t united by region, they represent areas all over the country. What can we learn from their data? Factors outside broader region must be at play to influence their work-life balance.

For example, Connecticut residents worked the least due to the prevalence of part-time work in this state. Connecticut employs more part-time workers than most other states, which means less hours for workers. Factors that might make this possible are tourism leading to rushes in part of the year and lulls in others, high-paying service industry jobs that provide strong tips, and a thriving freelance or entrepreneur culture.

The cost of living could have an impact yet again. Oklahoma has some of the lowest housing costs in the country, meaning less staring on wages and the ability to work fewer hours. South Carolina is also relatively affordable compared to many other states. Pair this with culture and we might have an idea of why these states are leading in work-life balance. Southerners are known for a more relaxed lifestyle, perhaps influenced by a hot climate leading to high noon breaks for the heat.

Industry Factors

The prevalence of certain industries certainly impacts how many hours workers are logging. Manufacturing is a demanding job with long hours, which we can see reflected in the high work hours found in Mississippi, a manufacturing hot spot. The medical industry is known for requiring high work hours out of nurses, doctors, and support staff alike. We may be able to see this reflected in the data when looking at states with some of the largest and most well-known hospitals. Agriculture and logging require demanding schedules too, which might explain why so many Midwestern states and states in the Pacific Northwest have higher than average work hours. Not all the data holds true though. The tech and IT industry are known for long hours, and we know that Silicon Valley in California is the center of tech innovation, but the state shows lower than average work hours. Perhaps this industry has mastered the balance between work demands and a healthy lifestyle?

Socioeconomic Implications

Studies like these are important because time spent on the job closely correlates with other quality of life metrics. High work hours put strain on busy families. Strenuous physical jobs can take a toll on physical health. Lots of business and time spent at work can signal a booming local economy or it can mean a community that doesn’t have the time and resources to support other industries like restaurants, entertainment, and leisure.

Natural questions follow studies like these. Do higher work hours mean higher profits for businesses? Do workers that log more hours earn significantly more money? These are all important questions that could lead to valuable studies stemming from this one. When data and studies affect so many people as in this case, it can be difficult to draw reliable conclusions, and the only solution is a push for more data collection and studies like this one.

Looking to the Future

This study is useful for anyone looking to examine why certain regions might have longer work hours, the differences between industries and cultures, and provide insight and evidence for change-makers concerned with working conditions and worker rights. The COVID-19 pandemic had a major impact on the way we work, so it might be fascinating to re-examine this data in a few years since the workforce is changing rapidly. Did the chart make you examine your own work-life balance? Sometimes graphics like this prompt us to reflect on our own lives and see how we fit into a wider picture.

Take a careful look at all the rich data Qualtrics collected. You’re sure to find facts we haven’t mentioned and add your own insight to the story this graphic tells.

Read next: Top 10 Best-Selling Smartphones Globally in Q1 2025

by Irfan Ahmad via Digital Information World

AI Tool 'YouTube-Tools' Scrapes Comments to Build User Profiles, Raising Privacy Alarms

A controversial web service called YouTube-Tools is now offering AI-generated background reports on YouTube users—based entirely on the comments they’ve left across the platform. For $20 a month, anyone with an email and a credit card can use it to gather inferred data about another user’s location, language, and cultural or political views.

The tool operates by scraping YouTube comment data—up to “20 billion comments” from “1.4 billion users,” according to the site—and feeding it into a custom AI model based on technology from French startup Mistral. Within seconds, the system returns a written summary of the user’s possible region, interests, and behavioral patterns.

The developer behind the tool has a track record. This is the latest in a suite of OSINT-style tools, which include LoL-Archiver (originally built to investigate League of Legends usernames), nHentai-Archiver (for tracking comments on the adult manga platform), Kick-Tools (which surfaces user chat and ban history from Kick), and Twitch-Tools (which indexes public chat logs from over 39,000 Twitch channels).

While the developer insists these services are intended for law enforcement agencies, journalists, and private investigators, access is immediate—no license check required. A representative told 404 Media that the site uses a "targeted KYC" process, but in practice, it allows anyone to register and begin scraping data within minutes. The site’s own Terms of Service say it's restricted to licensed professionals, yet there’s little friction in place to prevent casual or malicious use.

The developer, who claims to be based in Europe and have a background in OSINT (open-source intelligence), reveals that law enforcement agencies in Portugal, Belgium, and other EU countries are already using the tools. They’ve also stated that access is revoked for users with "illegitimate purposes," though one cited example involved merely identifying a temporary email address.

YouTube’s policies explicitly prohibit unauthorized scraping. According to its documentation, “public search engines may scrape data only in accordance with YouTube's robots.txt file or with YouTube's prior written permission.” Whether YouTube is enforcing that rule in this case remains unclear—the company did not provide comment so far.

The AI summaries, currently unique to the YouTube-Tools product, are designed to streamline what might otherwise be a time-consuming review of comment histories. In one test, the system linked a user to Italy based on language and cultural references, and flagged patterns in their social commentary without identifying explicit political leanings.

Still, experts warn that tools like this blur the line between public data analysis and digital profiling. The ability to scrape, index, and infer personal details at scale—especially without oversight—opens the door to abuse. Researchers have already observed some harassment-focused online groups experimenting with the developer’s other tracking tools.

With similar platforms—like the now-defunct Discord scraper Spy Pet—having already been banned, the rise of YouTube-Tools signals growing tension between open internet data and individual privacy. While the comments are public, users rarely expect them to become fuel for AI-powered profiling.

As aggregation becomes indistinguishable from surveillance, the question isn’t whether your data is out there—it’s who’s putting it together, and why.

Image: DIW-Aigen

Read next:

• How Student Responsibility Shapes AI Use and Academic Success

• 11 Best AI Logo Generators and Logo Makers for 2025
by Irfan Ahmad via Digital Information World

Looking for the Best AI Logo Generators in 2025? Start with These

Before AI, dedicated graphic designers used to create logos which would take a lot of time and effort. But now designing logos have become accessible to everyone, thanks to AI-powered logo makers.

But there are so many AI-logo makers in the market which makes it hard to find and pick the right one. If your logo is poorly designed, it can hurt your brand so it is important to always design the right logo with the right tool.

90% of the first impressions of your brand comes from logos and they need to show what you actually are and what you do. This is the reason it is very important to make a unique and memorable logo. Now that we have AI, it has become easier to design logos and explore different layouts, styles and color schemes.

So, now it has become very important to incorporate AI when you are logo designing. We have compiled the top 11 best AI logo-makers for you that can help you make your logo stand out.

How to Make Logos with AI Generators?

There are many AI logo design tools, and they work best when there is some human creativity involved. It is important to use these AI logo generators as assistants, not replacements and that can help you work faster. To create logos using AI generators:

1- Enter Information About Your Brand:

The first step is to select an AI logo maker which fits you (and your needs) the best. Then you need to provide the AI logo maker with details like:

● Your brand name or business
● Tagline (if you have one)
● Style Your Prefer (like playful, modern or minimalist)
● Colors, Icons and Fonts you want in your logo

2- Customize the Design:

AI logo makers don't always make perfect designs so you have to try and try again. Most of the AI logo makers have tools that let you change spacing and layout, fonts, colors and icons and different variations of the logos. So you have enough room to show your creativity and make improvements.

3- Refine and Finalize:

Once you are sure about the base design, then comes the step to refine it. This is the time to test your logos in different formats and sizes. You can also ask for feedback or work with a designer to polish your logo.

Benefits of Using An AI Logo Maker

There are several benefits of using an AI logo maker like faster, cheaper and more accessible designing. But you need to keep in mind to not rely on AI only as you need human creativity as well to make your brand’s logo unforgettable. Some of the benefits of using AI logo maker are:

1- Cost Effective:

Traditional design services are costly, but AI tools are cost effective which makes them best for small businesses and startups which have a budget.

2- Time Saving:

AI logo makers save a lot of time as you can generate several logos in minutes. It also speeds up the brainstorming phase so you can move to the next step faster. AI tools provide you with enough tools to think fast and be creative.

3- Versatility:

AI logo makers are very versatile and you can try out different icons, colors, fonts and styles with ease. You can have enough options and combinations that can help you see what your brand’s identity really is.

4- Scalability:

One of the advantages of using AI logo makers is its scalability, and if you need lots of logos fast for different campaigns, sub-brands or different markets, AI can help you deliver with consistency, but human expertise is still a key.

What Things to Look for in AI Logo Makers?

One thing is for sure that not all AI logo makers have the best performance so it is very important to choose the ones which deliver high-quality results. When you are choosing an AI logo maker, it is important that you look for some factors that make them different from all those AI logo makers in the market. Some of those factors are:

1- Quality of Work:

The best AI logo makers have the quality of producing high-grade logos in different styles. The logo makers should be capable of generating all kinds of styles, from modern and minimalist to classic and playful.

2- Customizable Options:

The AI logo makers should have flexibility and customizable options because it is important when you want to generate a specific brand image. It is important to have full control over tools like color palettes, fonts & typography, layouts and composition, icons & symbols and style presets. But most of the free AI logo makers often have limited ability to make the specific designs you want.

3- User Experience

When you are working with an AI logo maker, usability and speed are the most important. The interface of the AI logo maker should be easy to use, with clean design layouts and should also be fast to generate designs. The tools should be easily accessible and you should feel that you have control over them.

4- Integration and Expert Options

When you have designed a logo, it is important that it works everywhere from web to print to product packaging. So you have to look for an AI logo maker that has high resolution exports (SVG, PNG, PDF, EPS), transparent background support and easy integration with software like Figma, Adobe Illustrator, Canva, etc.

5- Smarter AI Capabilities

When an AI logo maker has a smart AI tool, it means that they don't just generate logos, they learn according to user needs. When you are choosing an AI logo maker, make sure that it adapts to your brand guidelines, generates context-aware design options and refines outputs based on feedback.

Now that you have learnt everything about what to look for in an AI logo generator to enhance your brand image, we will now proceed to the list of some of the best AI logo makers that can help you generate unique logos.

11 Best AI Logo Generators in 2025

2025 is packed with the best AI logo generators in the market. But when there are a lot of options, starters get confused about which ones are the best ones. When you are working professionally, you don’t have time to try different AI logo generators to find the best ones as it is simply can consume a lot of your time. So, we have made it easier for you by making a list of the 11 best AI logo generators as they have all the qualities that we have mentioned above. The AI logo generators to try in 2025 are:

• Looka
• Designs.ai
• LogoAI
• Tailor Brands
• Logomaster
• Logomakerr
• Logo.com
• Brandmark
• Logopony
• Brandcrowd
• DesignEVO

1- Looka

Let’s take a look at features of Looka:

Features:
● AI-generated websites
● Brand kit generation
● Merch and collateral mockups
● AI logo generator
● Customizable designs

Why to Choose Looka?

Looka is one of the most popular AI logo makers because of its easy-to-use interface which guides the users through every step of design making. It will ask you your brand name, industry, color preferences and logos you like to deliver something close to your liking.

As you browse ideas and choose some of your favorite designs, Looka AI gets smarter and gives you more tailored options. You can then select a logo you like, make it customizable and preview how it will look on business cards, merchandise and other materials.

Pricing:
The one-time logo pricing on Looka starts from $20, while branding and web-packages start from $96 a month.

Based In:
Looka is based in Toronto, Canada.

Best for:
Looka is best for new brands that need a logo and full branding kit quickly and in an affordable way.

2- Designs.ai

Design.ai has following features:

Features:
● AI logo maker
● AI copy and SEO writer
● AI voice overs
● Text-to-image generator
● Video generator
● AI-powered graphic design

Why to choose Designs.ai?

Designs.ai doesn't only generate logos, it also helps you in generating a full brand identity package, including all the collateral. You need to have a subscription for Designs.ai to have full access to its creative suits, like AI tools for images, videos, voiceovers and more. It is a great option if you want to explore AI in logo generators.

Pricing:

Its pricing starts from $19 per month.

Based In:

It is based in Singapore.

Best for:

Designs.ai is best for enterprises and freelancers who need an AI logo generator for their regular creative needs.

• Also read: Try These Prompts in AI Chatbots To Go Deeper into Your Questions and Issues

3- LogoAI

Some of the features of LogoAI are as follows:

Features:
● AI logo creator
● Visual identity
● Brand collateral

Why to choose LogoAI?

LogoAI is an AI logo generator which makes it easy to create logos and brand collateral like templates, business cards and social media content in just a few clicks. It has a very easy to use interface, and has an ability to generate unlimited logo designs. But you can only download the logos when you pay for them. There's no free trial for LogoAI and some people say that its brand kit isn't as polished as some of its competitors.

Pricing:

The one-time logo pricing on LogoAI is $29-99.

Based In:

LogoAI is based in Shanghai, China.

Best for:

LogoAI is best for small businesses and freelancers who need a quick AI logo generator.

4- Tailor Brands

Some of the features of the AI logo maker of Tailor Brands are:

Features:
● AI logo designer
● Business registrations
● Financial compliance
● Brand collateral
● Banking and insurance
● Web domains and email

Why to choose Tailor Brands?

A business development program, Tailor Brands offers services like company registration, web hosting and financial compliance, all under one subscription. Moreover, Tailor Brands also had a solid AI logo maker. Even though style options are limited (like monogram, wordmark, or icon), it is a great place to create and customize a basic logo. You can edit logos however you want and download them in different formats.

Pricing:

You can get pricing for Tailor Brands upon request.

Based In:

It is based in New York, USA.

Best for:

Tailor Brands is best for startups in the US looking for full business startup services.

5- Logomaster

Logomaster has the following features:

Features:
● AI logo design
● Website builder

Why to choose Logomaster?

Logomaster is a good choice if you want to make a quick logo, without any hard work. It is a fairly straightforward AI logo generator, which is fast and reliable when it comes to logo generation. All you need to do is enter your business name, then choose icons and colors you want, and you will get instant logo options that you can choose from.

Logomaster also partners up with Wix to help you build a basic website for your brand.

Pricing:

$15-$70 is one-time pricing on Logomaster.

Based In:

Logomaster is based in Hong Kong.

Best for:

Freelancers and startups who need basic branding can take help from Logomaster.

• Related: Best AI Tools to Instantly Enhance Photos Without Editing Skills

6- Logomakerr

Some of the features of Logomakerr are:

Features:
● AI logo creator
● Visual identity
● Brand collateral

Why to choose Logomakerr?

There is a one-time payment model on Logomakerr which means that you only pay when you have made and finalized your logo maker and now need to download it. You also get options to add extras like letterheads, branding kits, posters, templates and business cards.

Even though most of the logos on Logomakerr are basic, it is a good option if you need a quick logo at an economical rate.

Pricing:

The one-time pricing of logos on Logomakerr is $29-$99.

Based In:

It is based in the United States.

Best for:

Logomakerr is best for startups that need quick and affordable AI logo generators.

7- Logo.com

Features of Logo.com are as follows:

Features:
● AI logo creator
● Business name generator
● Website builder
● Brand kit and merch
● AI design tool

Why to choose Logo.com?

Just like other logo makers, Logo.com aleo generates logo options based on the style, name and color preferences of your business. You get enough room to customize icons, fonts and layouts on Logo.com, as well as some extra tools like AI website builder and business name generator.

It is a great tool if you want to brainstorm ideas and then refine them with a designer to get what you want as a final result.

Pricing:

Logo.com has a free option and its paid version starts from $10-$13 per month.

Based In:

Logo.com is based in Vancouver, Canada.

Best for:

New businesses that need a logo can take advantage of Logo.com the most.

8- Brandmark

Features of Brandmark include:

Features:
● AI logo generator
● Brand guidelines
● Basic brand kit
● Custom logo concepts
● Icons
● Social media assets

Why to choose Brandmark?

There are different tools for logos for business cards, style guides, social media covers and icons so users get enough options when it comes to logo generation. The top-tier package of Brandmark also offers ten custom logo concepts from human designers so users can get some inspiration.

Brandmark is a good choice for an AI image generator if you have a rough idea of what you want and need expert advice and help to refine the idea into final logo design.

Pricing:

The one-time pricing on Brandmark is $25-$175.

Based In:

It is globally distributed.

Best for:

Brandmark is best for small to mid-sized businesses which want help in designing logos with AI tools.

• You might like: Want to Edit Videos Like A Pro? Use these Best Free and Paid Video Editing Tools in 2025

9- Logopony

Some of the features of Logopony are:

Features:
● AI logo maker
● Design resources
● Company name generator
● Brand kit and social media assets

Why to choose Logopony?

Logopony offers what people call ‘curated randomness’ as it helps users create unique colors, fonts and layout combinations that go well with your company or brand. It also has an inspiration tool that helps users with design tips.

Even though Logopony is slightly pricier than other AI logo generators, it stands out because of its flexibility and creativity.

Pricing:

The price for one-time logo generation is $20-$85.

Based In:

Logopony is based in Tallinn, Estonia.

Best for:

Logopony is best for businesses that want creative AI logos but with thoughtful branding kits.

10- Brandcrowd

Some of the features of Brandcrowd are as follows:

Features:
● AI logo generator
● Business name generator
● Custom logos
● Brand kit
● Design editor

Why to choose Brandcrowd?

Brandcrowd is an AI logo generator which offers custom logos for sales, social media assets, business cards, letterheads and more. Brandcrowd is also known for having design options that are more customized and creative so you can test many options that suit you the best.

Pricing:

The pricing for Brandcrowd is given to you upon request.

Based In:

It is based in New South Wales, Australia.

Best for:

Brandcrowd is best for businesses looking for AI logos with more customizable options.

11- DesignEVO

Some of the features of DesignEVO include:

Features:
● AI logo maker
● Logo design template
● Design tips and resources
● Free low-res download

Why to choose DesignEVO?

If you need an AI logo generator just to generate ideas for your logo, DesignEVO is best. There are templates on DesignEVO which you can use to design your logo from scratch and then you can download a free low resolution version of that logo. To get full access and copyrights, you have to pay for it.

Pricing:

The pricing for DesignEVO starts at $49.99-$99.99 one-time and is free for low-resolution results.

Based In:

DesignEVO is based in Hong Kong.

Best for:

DesignEVO is best for testing and idea generation of logos before handing them to a human professional.

Conclusion:

Now that you have taken a look at 11 best AI generators, you can check them out yourselves and see how they are perfect for designing and customizing logos. Although some are paid and have subscriptions, the things that make them worth it are their high-quality results, easy-to-use interface and tools, and many options to make changes in the logos. After you design your logo after using one of these tools, you will see how your brand image is shining a little bit more and how much your logo stands out among the boring and generic ones. Also remember that you can use all AI logo generators you want, but you cannot make a perfect logo without human expertise and input. So, make sure to only use AI logo generators for brainstorming and making rough designs of the logo and then take inspiration from designers and logo experts to make a more refined version of the design. A logo can only standout if it has a bit of human touch!

Read next: 7 Free Tools Replacing Costly Creative Software for Budget-Conscious Users
by Arooj Ahmed via Digital Information World

How Student Responsibility Shapes AI Use and Academic Success

A new study shows that students who are more responsible and hardworking are less likely to use AI tools like ChatGPT to help with schoolwork. And when students lean too much on these tools, it can actually hurt their learning. They tend to feel less confident, do worse in their classes, and often feel like no matter what they do, it won’t make a difference.

ChatGPT and similar AI tools can write essays, explain things, and even hold a conversation. They’re tempting when deadlines are tight and stress is high. But while they can offer a quick fix, they may not be helping students in the long run.

The study followed over 300 business students from three universities in Pakistan. Researchers wanted to see how personality traits affected students' use of generative AI, and what the results were. The study was done in three steps: first, students answered questions about their personality and how fair they thought their grades were. Later, they shared how often they used AI for school. Last, they reported how confident they felt in their academic skills, how helpless they felt, and what their grades were.

Out of all the personality traits they looked at, one stood out: conscientiousness. Students who were more organized, disciplined, and goal-focused were much less likely to rely on AI for their work. These same students tended to have higher grades, felt more in control of their success, and didn’t feel as helpless when things got tough.

Interestingly, students who were open to new experiences or who tended to be more anxious didn’t show clear patterns when it came to using AI. Even though you might expect curious students to use new tech more, that wasn’t the case here. One possible reason: they may enjoy thinking for themselves and prefer doing things their own way.

Another finding: students’ opinions about whether their grading system was fair didn’t make much difference in how much they used AI. Only one small connection showed up—students who were both open to new experiences and thought the grading was fair used AI a bit less, but this link wasn’t very strong.

What really stood out was how using AI seemed to affect students. Those who used AI more often said they didn’t feel very confident in their academic abilities. Many also felt like trying hard wouldn’t help, which is a warning sign of learned helplessness. On top of that, they had slightly lower grades overall.

This suggests that while using AI might save time, it could also chip away at a student’s belief in themselves. If someone starts to think they can’t succeed without help from AI, they may stop trying as hard, especially when facing a challenge. Over time, that mindset could turn into a habit—and not a healthy one.

The study also found that conscientious students performed better partly because they didn’t rely on AI. Their good study habits and sense of responsibility seemed to protect them from the downsides of using these tools too much.

Even though this research focused on business students in Pakistan, it points to a bigger question that schools everywhere are starting to face: how should we deal with AI in the classroom? If students start letting AI do the heavy lifting, they might miss out on the kind of learning that builds real skills—like critical thinking, problem-solving, and resilience.

The researchers say it’s not about banning AI. Instead, the key is helping students use it wisely. When used the right way, AI can support learning—helping students brainstorm, check their writing, or think through new ideas. But if it becomes a crutch, it can hurt more than help.

Going forward, the researchers want to look at how AI affects students in the long term—especially things like creativity, independence, and how ready they are for the job market. They also want to figure out what kinds of training or support could help students use AI in a way that boosts learning, not replaces it.

In the end, the message is simple: AI is a tool, not a shortcut. If students overuse it, they might lose touch with the very skills school is supposed to build. And that’s something teachers, schools, and students themselves should keep in mind.

Image: DIW-Aigen

Read next: AI Alters Graduate Hiring as Tech Companies Prioritize Experience Over Fresh Talent
by Irfan Ahmad via Digital Information World

Google Rejects Claims AI Search Is Draining the Web, Says Queries Are Rising

Google CEO Sundar Pichai has pushed back against growing concerns that the company's AI-powered search features are hollowing out the internet. Despite ongoing criticism from publishers and industry groups, Google insists that its new search tools are leading to more engagement — not less.

Over the past year, Google has gradually shifted its search platform toward AI-generated summaries and conversational results. This change, now branded as “AI Mode” and “AI Overviews,” offers direct answers instead of just links. That shift has triggered backlash from digital publishers who say their traffic is vanishing and their content is being used without fair return.

Groups representing media organizations argue that the few remaining benefits of Google Search — mainly link-based traffic — are now disappearing. Some describe the new system as an aggressive takeover of content that strips away credit, clicks, and context.

But Google doesn’t see it that way. The company's CEO, in a recent interview, claims that AI features are leading to longer, more detailed queries, and more people are exploring different types of information across the web. According to internal data, Google has recorded query growth even on platforms like Apple’s Safari — where reports recently suggested a dip in user activity for the first time in decades.

In Google's view, the structure of online discovery is evolving, not collapsing. The company argues that it continues to direct significant traffic to outside websites and says it’s indexing more pages than ever before. Google believes its AI-driven model still plays a vital role in connecting users with content creators.

Some in the tech industry aren’t convinced. Critics point to patterns showing user behavior shifting away from clicking links and toward accepting answers directly from Google’s results. They argue that while queries might be increasing, website visits are not — and that’s what truly matters for independent publishers.

Google, however, remains committed to its strategy. The company maintains that AI Mode isn’t designed to replace publishers, but to organize information more effectively. Executives say users are being sent to a broader range of sources than before, especially for topics that benefit from multiple perspectives.

As the debate continues, the company is trying to strike a balance between advancing AI features and keeping the web’s content ecosystem alive. Google says it is aware of its responsibilities and continues to refine how it presents and sources information.

At the same time, the company is betting big on AI. Executives say the technology will drive a new wave of innovation, possibly even surpassing the impact of the early internet. Google expects to see entirely new industries emerge, powered by smarter tools and fresh approaches to how people search, learn, and interact with the digital world.

For now, tensions remain. Publishers want compensation and visibility. Google wants progress and user satisfaction. And in the middle, the web keeps shifting — one query at a time.

Image: DIW-Aigen

Read next: Study Shows Popular AI Chatbots Easily Bypass Safety Filters Using Known Jailbreaks
by Irfan Ahmad via Digital Information World

Study Shows Popular AI Chatbots Easily Bypass Safety Filters Using Known Jailbreaks

Despite all the talk about safety, today’s AI chatbots are still wide open to being tricked — and the consequences could be much worse than most people realize.

A research team from Ben Gurion University in Israel dug into how vulnerable language models really are, especially when it comes to so-called "jailbreaking" — a way of bending the rules and making the models respond in ways they’re not supposed to. What they found paints a pretty troubling picture. Not only are mainstream models like ChatGPT still falling for old tricks, but even the biggest tech companies aren’t doing much to fix the problem.

The researchers didn’t need to invent anything new. They simply used a known jailbreak method that had already been floating around online for months. When they tried it out on popular AI systems — the kind used by millions every day — the results were shocking. The filters designed to block unsafe or illegal content broke down easily. The models gave up answers on everything from how to commit fraud to making explosives, and in some cases, they even offered extra details no one asked for.

That’s not just a slip-up — that’s a sign that something’s deeply broken under the hood.

To make matters worse, the team developed a broader jailbreak method that worked across most of the models they tested. This wasn’t a one-off fluke; it was a pattern. And when they reached out to the companies behind these models? Most didn’t respond. A few deflected responsibility, suggesting the issue was outside their scope. Meanwhile, the vulnerabilities stayed wide open.

The situation turns even darker with open-source AI models. Unlike corporate platforms that can be updated or patched, open-source versions can’t be pulled back once they’re out in the wild. If someone downloads a version of a chatbot with no restrictions, it’s out there for good. Shared, copied, archived — it can’t be un-leaked.

And right now, these so-called "dark LLMs" are multiplying. Some are openly advertised for their lack of ethics and willingness to help with hacking, scams, or worse. You don’t need a supercomputer to run one. In fact, anyone with a decent laptop can get access — and that includes kids.

Jailbreaking, once a niche hacker hobby, has turned into a booming underground trend. There are entire online communities dedicated to crafting prompts that fool chatbots into saying what they shouldn’t. One subreddit has over 140,000 members sharing tips on how to slip past safeguards like it’s a game. The truth is, these models don’t need much convincing — just the right kind of nudge, and they’ll spill the beans.

That’s where the real concern lies. If a 16-year-old can jailbreak a chatbot in under a minute, what can a cybercriminal or extremist group do?

Some defenses are being tested — AI firewalls, data filters, even techniques to “unlearn” specific information after a model has already been trained. But they’re not widely adopted, and so far, the progress has been patchy at best. A few companies have launched tools to detect harmful prompts or responses before they go through, but there’s no universal fix, and no guarantee these methods will keep up with the latest jailbreak tricks.

The problem isn't just technical — it’s also cultural. The AI industry moves fast, and safety often gets left in the rear-view mirror. Everyone wants to be first, but few seem willing to slow down and deal with what’s already slipping through the cracks.

The bottom line? These systems can be incredibly useful. They help with research, translate languages, write code, even assist in medicine. But when they start giving out step-by-step instructions for crimes or violence, that usefulness turns into something dangerous.

This isn’t science fiction. It’s happening right now, in plain sight. And if nothing changes, the same technology that’s meant to help us may just end up in the wrong hands — if it hasn’t already.

Image: DIW-Aigen

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Meta’s Top AI Voice Breaks Down What Real Intelligence Demands, And Why Machines Still Don’t Measure Up

At a recent summit in Paris focused on AI policy and progress, Meta’s head of artificial intelligence Yann LeCun shared a stripped-down view of what it truly means to be intelligent. While many companies push boundaries with language models and generative tools, he argued that current systems are missing the fundamentals that even ordinary animals grasp intuitively.

In his view, four abilities lie at the core of genuine intelligence that is understanding the physical surroundings, storing memories that last, reasoning through problems, and planning with structure — especially when the steps require hierarchy. These aren’t abstract goals; they’re everyday survival tools in nature.

Modern AI, he noted, doesn’t yet check those boxes. Instead of developing models that genuinely learn how the world works, most companies are adding extra parts to cover weaknesses. A computer might learn to describe what it sees by adding a separate vision module. Or it might pull facts from databases to simulate memory. But stacking components on top of text-based systems, he warned, doesn’t replicate how thinking minds function.



He believes the fix won’t come from upgrades—it’ll come from changing direction. That means building systems that think in terms of cause and effect. Give a machine a sense of what’s happening right now, let it imagine taking an action, and train it to forecast what changes that action might cause. That loop—observe, act, predict—is how living things adapt.

But life doesn’t follow scripts. Events unfold in unpredictable ways, with details that often don’t matter. So rather than trying to predict everything, he said AI needs to learn abstraction. Humans have done this for centuries. Chemistry, for example, became manageable when scientists stopped thinking about every atom and started thinking in layers—particles, atoms, molecules, then materials. At each level, unnecessary information gets filtered out.

That approach—learning by organizing the world into usable layers—is what Meta’s team is now pursuing. Earlier this year, the company released a research model named V-JEPA. Unlike tools that try to guess every pixel in a picture or frame in a video, V-JEPA focuses on the underlying patterns. It learns by noticing what’s missing and figuring out what should be there, without getting distracted by details that don’t carry meaning.

The long-term hope is to teach machines to think less like machines. Not just to respond with plausible answers, but to build a quiet, internal logic—a map of the world they can use to reason and plan. For now, that goal remains out of reach. But if intelligence can be broken down into parts, Meta seems determined to build the missing ones.

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by Irfan Ahmad via Digital Information World