Apple Prepares AI Search Tool as Part of Siri Relaunch

Apple is working on a new artificial intelligence search system that is expected to play a central role in its planned overhaul of Siri. The platform, which is being developed under the internal name World Knowledge Answers, is scheduled for release in 2026 alongside broader upgrades to Apple’s voice assistant.

Built for Siri, Safari, and Spotlight

The new tool is designed to expand Siri from a basic fact-checking feature into a system that can generate answers in richer formats. Instead of offering short responses, it will combine text with images, video, and local information, drawing on large language models to produce results that resemble the AI-generated summaries already seen from Google, Microsoft, and newer platforms such as Perplexity. Apple is also preparing to integrate the technology into Safari and Spotlight, which would give it wider reach across iPhones and other devices.

Testing External AI Models

Although Apple is creating its own tool, reports indicate that the company has trialed Google’s Gemini model to support elements of the experience. The final design is still being refined, and it remains unclear how much of the system will rely on Apple’s own models compared with outside partnerships. Apple has also been open to acquisitions in this area, with speculation linking it to potential interest in smaller AI search companies.

Siri’s New Role

The relaunch will mark one of the biggest changes to Siri since its introduction. Apple’s plan is to shift the assistant into what it calls an answer engine, capable of pulling data from across the web while presenting results in a more conversational way. Additional features, such as planning tools and summarization options, are expected to make interactions more useful and precise. A chatbot-style app was reportedly considered but has not been prioritized, with Apple instead embedding the functions within its existing apps and services.

Competing in a Crowded Market

Historically, Apple has not positioned itself as a direct player in web search, instead relying on partnerships to handle that function. The rise of AI-driven tools has shifted that approach. With Safari integration, Apple could bring search more directly under its control while offering users an alternative to rival platforms. The move reflects broader changes in how people are accessing information online, where AI systems increasingly guide search and browsing.

The success of World Knowledge Answers could determine how competitive Apple becomes against established search providers and new AI entrants. For businesses, the change could also alter how visibility is achieved, with placement inside Apple’s system becoming as significant as traditional search rankings.

Notes: This post was edited/created using GenAI tools. Image: DIW-Aigen.

Read next: AI Adoption in America: Which States Lead, Which Lag, and Why It Matters
by Irfan Ahmad via Digital Information World

AI Adoption in America: Which States Lead, Which Lag, and Why It Matters

Artificial intelligence is becoming an integral part of our everyday lives in 2025. It can boost productivity, save overall man-hours, and teach ordinary people how to do things that fall way outside their job description. From coding to image creation, if prompted properly, AI can do it.

Even some blue-collar workers, who spend most of their workday using their hands, are seeing the benefits of AI integration through automated scheduling and digital assistants that help with paperwork and payroll. Needless to say, almost everyone is using AI in some way, but some areas of the country are utilizing it more than others.

D.C. Uses AI Most, But Rhode Island Is Most Efficient

A new study by Phrasly.ai has revealed that some states are utilizing AI more extensively than others. The study found that our nation’s capital, Washington D.C., is the number one user of AI per capita, spending the most time interfacing with artificial intelligence. Interestingly, the study also found that our nation's capital is not utilizing AI as efficiently as some other states, despite being the leading user of AI.

To the contrary, South Dakota is lagging behind in their AI usage. The study found that South Dakota residents use AI the least per capita, with users only spending slightly over 10 minutes on average per session. Whereas Delaware, the state that spends the most time using AI, spends an average of 17 minutes per session. ​

But as seen in D.C., usage doesn’t always translate to efficiency. For example, Rhode Island residents who used AI were found to use it most efficiently, saving an average of 32 hours and 5 minutes per user per month. That’s almost an entire work week saved by AI users in Rhode Island.

Unfortunately, Washington D.C. AI users were found to only save 7 hours and 29 minutes per month on average, just slightly less than an average 8-hour workday. While one workday doesn’t seem like much in comparison to Rhode Island's workweek savings, it’s still significantly more than the states that are lagging behind.

States like South Dakota, Wyoming, and Kansas were found to be the least efficient, with AI users saving between 49 minutes and 3 hours per month per user. Perhaps these are states that could benefit from AI teaching programs, especially for those using AI in business.

Speaking of efficiency and the integration of AI into business, a separate study by the Infosys Knowledge Institute found that one in two business initiatives using AI were successful. The study also noted that AI success is closely tied to a business's ability to effectively adapt its operations and data infrastructure. To put it another way, AI's impact comes not from layering AI onto existing processes, but from rethinking how those processes work in the first place.

Monday Night Is The New AI Rush Hour

When it comes to AI usage, there are some hours of the day and days of the week that are more popular than others, according to Phrasly’s study. Overall, the U.S. sees the most AI usage on Monday at 8 p.m., which the study speculated is because “people are squeezing in productivity after the traditional 9-to-5 — students finishing those essays due tomorrow, professionals tackling leftover tasks, or maybe just those looking for last minute dinner inspiration.” We might also attribute this to the fact that AI users are seeking to engage in creative work during quieter times of the day, or perhaps they are using AI as a late-night companion.

Despite AI’s limited emotional intelligence, people are increasingly turning to AI for advice and mental health support, according to a study by JMIR Mental Health. The appeal? Well, AI is available 24/7, it’s non-judgmental, and confidential. One might argue that it’s also relatively inexpensive compared to rising healthcare costs in the U.S.

On the state level, Oregon, Vermont, and Delaware are using AI earlier in the day than the rest of the country. All three states are mostly interacting with AI between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. local time, suggesting that these states use AI for work most commonly based on their peak usage time. Late-night states like Idaho and Pennsylvania are seeing their peak usage at 9 p.m.

Interestingly, no state in the study was found to use AI primarily during the weekend. Other studies have explored this reasoning and have suggested that AI is most beneficial to the average user on work and school days. Other studies have also noted that AI usage significantly drops during the summer months, suggesting that students may be among the biggest users of AI.

This raises the question: Will states that currently lack AI usage continue to struggle well into the future? If the internet boom of the late 1990s and early 2000s taught us anything, it’s clear that states lagging behind in AI usage now will likely continue to lag behind.

Content Generation, Humanization, and Detection

The study also analyzed the three different application types for AI usage: generation, humanization, and detection. Content generation and humanization were most popular among AI users in Virginia, while AI detection was most popular in Wyoming.

This might lead one to believe that the small percentage of Wyoming residents using AI are afraid of being caught. Still, state government officials are encouraging residents to put their fears aside by educating them. In fact, the University of Wyoming has launched an AI Initiative to develop an AI-capable workforce and apply the technology to key state industries, including energy and agriculture. Wyoming residents might be hesitant to use AI, but state officials are not.

Midwestern States Are Lagging Behind

Overall, the study paints a clear picture. AI is no longer an exclusive experiment that’s only accessible to tech professionals. It has become a mainstream tool that is reshaping how Americans work, study, and communicate; yet, AI adoption is anything but uniform. Washington, D.C. leads in overall usage, Rhode Island leads in efficiency, Delaware leads in session length, and much of the Midwest continues to trail behind.

While some people have doubts about AI and others think it’s the next best thing after sliced bread, we can all agree that the adoption gap of AI is real, and it may shape the future of work in the U.S. for many years to come.

Read next: Rising AI Pressure Pushes Professionals Back Toward Human Networks

by Irfan Ahmad via Digital Information World

Court Orders Google to Open Search Data and End Exclusive Deals

Google’s legal battle with U.S. regulators has reached a turning point. A federal court has ruled that the tech giant must stop making exclusive agreements that kept its search service as the default choice on many devices. It will also be required to share parts of its search data with competitors, though it will keep control of Chrome and Android.

A Case Years in the Making

The dispute began in 2020 when the Department of Justice claimed Google had built an illegal monopoly around internet search. After a long trial, the court found last year that the company had used restrictive contracts and huge payments to partners such as Apple to secure its position. Those deals gave Google unmatched visibility and left rival search engines struggling to compete.

Remedies Announced

The remedies unveiled this week aim to loosen that hold without breaking up the company. Google is now barred from exclusive contracts across Search, Chrome, Assistant and Gemini. At the same time, it will have to make certain search index data and user interaction information available to qualified competitors. Advertising data is not included, but the hope is that opening access to core search material will give rivals a chance to improve their services.

• Also read: AI Assistants Expand but Fail to Dethrone Search Engines

The court also ordered Google to provide syndication options that allow other companies to deliver search results and ads while building their own technology. These arrangements must be offered on standard commercial terms.

No Forced Breakup

The government had originally pushed for more drastic measures, including the sale of Chrome and possible limits on Android. The court rejected those proposals, warning that removing those products from Google would cause disruption for consumers and partners. Instead, the focus is on cutting off the practices that reinforced its dominance rather than dismantling the tools themselves.

Google’s Position

Google responded by highlighting changes in the industry, pointing to the rise of artificial intelligence as an alternative way for people to find information. The company has raised concerns about privacy risks in sharing search data and signaled plans to appeal the ruling. Any appeal could delay enforcement for years, leaving the impact uncertain in the near term.

What It Means

The decision marks a new phase in how regulators deal with large technology companies. By keeping Chrome and Android intact but opening search data and ending exclusivity, the court has tried to balance competition with stability. Whether this approach succeeds will depend on how rivals use the access they are given and how long the appeals process drags on.

Notes: This post was edited/created using GenAI tools. Image: DIW-Aigen.

Read next: Parental Controls Are Coming to ChatGPT as Safety Questions Grow
by Asim BN via Digital Information World

Parental Controls Are Coming to ChatGPT as Safety Questions Grow

OpenAI is preparing to roll out parental controls in ChatGPT, a move that highlights how much the chatbot has already become part of teenagers’ daily routines. The company says the update will arrive within a month. Parents will be able to link their accounts with those of their children once they reach the age of 13. After that, they can turn off features like chat history or memory, while also receiving alerts if the chatbot thinks a teenager is showing signs of distress.

The alerts are not constant monitoring. They are set to appear only in cases where the system reads a risk of real emotional harm. That might mean signs of depression, language pointing to self-harm, or other moments when a check from a parent could matter. For most everyday chats, parents will not see what their child is typing.

A Different Model for Sensitive Cases

OpenAI has also said it will direct some conversations into a safer version of its model. That switch will happen automatically if the chatbot picks up on a crisis. The version it moves to has been trained to follow rules more strictly and resist prompts that might push it toward unsafe answers. Even if a user started in another mode, the system will force the change if a risk is detected.

• Also read: Study Shows Chatbots Can Be Persuaded by Human Psychological Tactics

Expert Advice Behind the Design

The new controls are being shaped with outside input. A council on well-being and a physician network with specialists in mental health, substance use, and adolescent care are part of the process. Their advice is helping to define what counts as a warning sign, how the chatbot should respond, and what escalation might look like when the risk is judged to be serious.

Broader Push on Safety

The changes fit into a larger plan to make ChatGPT safer. OpenAI has promised more updates over the next four months. Some of those are aimed at sensitive areas like eating disorders and substance use. The timing also follows a lawsuit in the United States in which a family alleged that ChatGPT gave harmful responses to their son before his death. That case has increased scrutiny of how AI behaves in difficult moments.

The new parental tools are arriving at a point when chatbots are no longer seen as simple novelties. For many young users, they are part of private life. What the AI says in fragile moments could have real consequences, which is why OpenAI is moving now to add these controls.

Notes: This post was edited/created using GenAI tools. Image: DIW-Aigen.

Read next: Cost Pressures Persist Despite Cooling Inflation, Survey Finds
by Irfan Ahmad via Digital Information World

Cost Pressures Persist Despite Cooling Inflation, Survey Finds

Inflation slowed to 2.7 percent this summer, well below the nine percent peak of 2021–2022. Yet many households still feel burdened by higher prices, as shown in a recent consumer survey, conducted by Statista. Almost half of U.S. adults named the cost of living as their greatest personal challenge, placing it ahead of health, work balance, and political concerns.

The statistics explain the mood. Since January 2021, consumer prices have risen more than 22 percent. Food, housing, and transport have climbed even faster, while wages increased by a slightly smaller margin, leaving purchasing power weaker than before. The strain helps explain why falling inflation rates have not translated into relief at the kitchen table.

Other challenges remain part of the picture. One in four respondents reported difficulties with physical or mental health, while similar numbers pointed to work-life balance issues. Political debate, aging, housing stress, and career dissatisfaction followed, but none rivaled the dominance of day-to-day costs.

Challenge	Percentage
Cost of living	49.1%
Physical health	26.3%
Mental health	26.0%
Work-life balance	25.8%
Political or social issues	22.7%
Age-related concerns	16.7%
Housing	16.6%
Career dissatisfaction/uncertainty	16.2%

The survey also highlights a paradox common in advanced economies: governments can report growth, stability, and resilience, while households continue to feel stretched and insecure. This contrast carries lessons for other nations, that economic strength on paper does not always reflect lived reality for citizens.

At the same time, history shows that even extended periods of pressure are not permanent. Hardship often pushes communities toward resourcefulness, adaptability, and renewed strength. That perspective tempers discouragement, offering a reminder that while challenges weigh heavily today, they also plant the seeds for recovery and resilience tomorrow.

Notes: This post was edited/created using GenAI tools.

Read next: Genocide Scholars Cite Mass Deaths, Famine in Declaring Israel’s Gaza Actions Genocidal
by Irfan Ahmad via Digital Information World

Daily Vitamin D May Keep Cells Healthier for Longer, but Scientists Urge Caution

Vitamin D supplements could help protect the caps on our chromosomes that slow ageing, sparking hopes the sunshine vitamin might keep us healthier for longer, a recent study suggests.

Image: Felipe Coelho / unsplash

The researchers discovered that taking 2,000 IU (international units, a standard measure for vitamins) of vitamin D daily helped maintain telomeres – the tiny structures that act like plastic caps on shoelaces, protecting our DNA from damage every time cells divide.

Telomeres sit at the end of each of our 46 chromosomes, shortening every time a cell copies itself. When they become too short, cells can no longer divide and eventually die.

Scientists have linked shorter telomeres to some of our most feared diseases of ageing, including cancer, heart disease and osteoarthritis. Smoking, chronic stress and depression all appear to speed up telomere shortening, while inflammatory processes in the body also take their toll.

Beyond strong bones

It is well known that vitamin D is essential for bone health, helping our bodies absorb calcium. Children, teenagers and people with darker skin or limited sun exposure particularly need adequate levels to build and maintain strong bones.

But vitamin D also powers our immune system. A review of evidence found that vitamin D supplements can cut respiratory infections, especially in people who are deficient.

Early research even suggests it might help prevent autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and multiple sclerosis, though more trials are needed.

Since inflammation damages telomeres, vitamin D’s anti-inflammatory effects could explain its protective role.

In this recent study, from Augusta University in the US, the researchers followed 1,031 people with an average age of 65 for five years, measuring their telomeres at the start, after two years, and after four years. Half took 2,000 IU of vitamin D daily, while the other half received a placebo.

The results showed that telomeres were preserved by 140 base pairs in the vitamin D group, compared with a placebo. To put this in context, previous research found that telomeres naturally shorten by about 460 base pairs over a decade, suggesting vitamin D’s protective effect could be genuinely meaningful.

This isn’t the first promising finding. Earlier studies have reported similar benefits, while the Mediterranean diet – rich in anti-inflammatory nutrients – has also been linked to longer telomeres.

Telomeres explained.

The catch

But there are some important points to note. Some researchers warn that extremely long telomeres might actually increase disease risk, suggesting there’s a sweet spot we don’t yet understand.

There’s also no agreement on the right dose. The Augusta researchers used 2,000 IU daily – much higher than the current recommended intake of 600 IU for under-70s and 800 IU for older adults. Yet other research suggests just 400 IU might help prevent colds.

Experts say the optimal dose probably depends on individual factors, including existing vitamin D levels, overall nutrition and how the vitamin interacts with other nutrients.

Although these findings are exciting, it’s too early to start popping high-dose vitamin D in the hope of slowing ageing. The strongest evidence for healthy ageing still points to the basics: a balanced diet, regular exercise, quality sleep, not smoking and managing stress, all of which naturally support telomere health.

However, if you’re deficient in vitamin D or at risk of poor bone health, supplements remain a sensible choice backed by decades of research. As scientists continue unravelling the mysteries of ageing, vitamin D’s role in keeping our cellular clocks ticking may prove to be just one piece of a much larger puzzle.

Dervla Kelly, Associate Professor, Pharmacology, University of Limerick

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

by Web Desk via Digital Information World

Global Startup Cities in 2025: Power Shifts Beyond Silicon Valley

Startup cities remain at the core of global innovation. They supply investors with high-growth opportunities and give entrepreneurs the environment to test, scale, and export new technologies. In 2025, as per Startupblink, the Bay Area still holds its position as the strongest ecosystem worldwide, but the picture is changing as Asia and Europe sharpen their roles.

U.S. Leadership Holds, but Competition Emerges

San Francisco commands the global table with an ecosystem score of 853, nearly triple its closest challenger. Deep venture capital reserves and dense networks of experienced founders keep its lead secure. New York, with its financial expertise and diverse talent base, stands firmly in second place. Los Angeles, Boston, Seattle, and Austin strengthen the U.S. footprint, showing that American innovation is no longer confined to one coastal hub.

Europe’s Anchor in London

London ranks third globally, the highest position outside the United States. Its ecosystem benefits from close links between universities, venture investors, and government initiatives designed to expand computing infrastructure. Tech giants have noticed this environment: major firms are investing in local research and training programs, reinforcing the city’s role as Europe’s central startup magnet. Paris and Berlin add further weight, though London clearly sets the pace on the continent.

Asia’s Expanding Influence

Beijing and Shanghai represent China’s ability to scale ventures at speed, with Beijing securing a global fifth place. China’s market size, policy support, and rapid commercialization of research create fertile ground for startups, particularly in artificial intelligence and advanced manufacturing. Shenzhen, with its strength in hardware, also appears among the top ecosystems.

India’s Bangalore enters the global top ten, recognized for its deep pool of engineers and growing base of tech investors. New Delhi and Mumbai also appear in the broader rankings, highlighting India’s role as one of the fastest-rising startup nations. Together, these cities underline Asia’s growing contribution to the global tech race.

Israel and Singapore Punch Above Their Weight

Beyond the major economies, smaller nations are also visible. Tel Aviv continues to attract global attention for cybersecurity and defense-related technology, while Singapore leverages its position as a financial and logistics hub for Southeast Asia. Both cities show that size does not limit startup ambition when government policy, infrastructure, and investment align.

The Road Ahead

The global startup landscape in 2025 is more distributed than a decade ago. The Bay Area still dominates, but growth in Asia and Europe points to a more balanced future. As technology becomes central to economic strength and national security, cities that nurture talent and attract investment will play an outsized role in shaping global competition.

Rank	City (Country)	Startup Ecosystem Score
1	San Francisco Bay (United States)	853
2	New York (United States)	316
3	London (United Kingdom)	187
4	Los Angeles Area (United States)	139
5	Beijing (China)	137
6	Boston Area (United States)	128
7	Shanghai (China)	102
8	Paris (France)	82
9	Tel Aviv Area (Israel)	79
10	Bangalore (India)	78
11	New Delhi (India)	64
12	Singapore City (Singapore)	62
13	Tokyo (Japan)	61
14	Berlin (Germany)	60
15	Seattle (United States)	58
16	Austin-Round Rock Area (United States)	51
17	Shenzhen (China)	49
18	Mumbai (India)	48
19	Chicago (United States)	48
20	Seoul (South Korea)	48

Notes: This post was edited/created using GenAI tools.

Read next: ChatGPT Gains Effort Picker, Flashcard Quizzes, and Codex Upgrade in Latest Tests
by Web Desk via Digital Information World