Breaking AI & Tech News Analyzed

Liverpool FC has officially announced that Mohamed Salah will depart the club at the end of the season. The news was shared in a statement released on Tuesday, with the club citing Salah's desire to be transparent with the supporters about his future.In a video message on his social media accounts, Salah expressed his gratitude to the club, city, and fans, highlighting the significant impact Liverpool has had on his life. He described Liverpool as more than just a football club, but a passion, history, and spirit.During his time at Liverpool, Salah has achieved immense success, helping the team secure two Premier League titles, the Champions League, FIFA Club World Cup, UEFA Super Cup, FA Cup, two League Cups, and an FA Community Shield. He has scored 255 goals in 435 appearances, making him the club's all-time third-highest goalscorer and winning the Premier League Golden Boot on four occasions.Salah joined Liverpool from AS Roma in 2017 and has since established himself as one of the best players in the club's history. His departure marks the end of an era for the Egyptian star, who has been an integral part of the team's success over the past few years.

A landmark jury verdict has found Meta and YouTube liable for deliberately designing addictive products that harmed a young user, KGM. The jury ruled that the tech companies were both negligent and failed to provide adequate warnings about the potential dangers of their products.The plaintiff, KGM, testified that she became addicted to YouTube at age six and Instagram at nine, which she claimed had deleterious effects on her wellbeing. By age 10, she said she had become depressed and was engaging in self-harm as a result. Her social media use allegedly caused her to have strained relationships with her family and in school.The jury awarded KGM $6m in damages, with Meta to pay 70% and YouTube the remainder. This lawsuit, over social media's alleged harm to young people, was the first of its kind to go to trial.KGM's lawyers argued that the companies' features, such as infinite scrolling and video autoplay, were designed to keep people on the apps and made the products addictive. The plaintiffs' arguments mirrored those brought against big tobacco in the 1990s, focusing on the addictive qualities of social media and the companies' public denial despite knowledge of their products' harms.Meta and YouTube have consistently denied wrongdoing and plan to appeal the verdict. A YouTube spokesperson said the video service was a responsibly built streaming platform, not a social media site. Meta said KGM's mental health issues were brought on by a difficult home life and social media use was not to blame.This trial is the first in a consolidated group of cases brought in California against Meta, TikTok, YouTube, and Snap on behalf of more than 1,600 plaintiffs. The next bellwether case is scheduled to go to trial in July.

The UK government is set to trial social media curbs for teenagers in a major study aimed at understanding the impact of reduced social media use on young people's lives. Hundreds of UK teenagers will participate in the six-week pilot, which will test different restrictions on social media use, including bans, digital curfews, and time limits on popular apps like Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat.The trial, led by the UK government, will involve 300 teens across all four nations of the UK, with some participants having their social apps disabled, while others will have access blocked overnight or capped to one hour's use. The goal is to gather evidence on how different restrictions affect young people's day-to-day lives.Technology Secretary Liz Kendall emphasized the importance of testing different options in the real world, stating that the pilots will provide the evidence needed to take the next steps, informed by the experiences of families themselves.The pilot is part of a broader effort to address concerns about the mental health risks associated with unfettered internet access. Nearly 30,000 parents and children have responded to the government's digital wellbeing consultation, which closes on May 26. An independent study, funded by the Wellcome Trust, will also examine the impact of reducing social media use among adolescents.The study, involving about 4,000 students between the ages of 12 and 15 from 10 Bradford secondary schools, will investigate changes in anxiety and sleep quality, time spent with friends and family, wellbeing, body image, social comparison, school absences, and bullying.The UK government faces pressure to follow Australia's move to ban access to social media sites for under-16s, with France, Spain, and Indonesia also considering similar bans. The European parliament has passed a resolution on age restrictions, although it is not legally binding.Critics argue that the pilot is a half-measure that puts pressure on parents rather than holding big tech accountable for the harm caused by social media. Bereaved parents have written to parliamentarians, urging them to support a ban and expressing concern about the consultation process.

A 60-year-old man has received a suspended prison sentence after pleading guilty to sending offensive messages about England international Jess Carter during the European Championship last summer.Nigel Dewale, of Great Harwood in Lancashire, was sentenced to six weeks, suspended for 12 months, after a hearing at Blackburn magistrates court. He also received a four-year football banning order and a requirement to engage in a 10-day rehabilitation programme.Dewale had admitted to sending 'malicious communications' on TikTok and was identified as the author of two posts that used both racist and misogynist language.The deputy director of the UK Football Policing Unit, Mike Ankers, welcomed the verdict and praised the determination of Carter and the rest of the Lionesses to stand up to online abuse.Ankers said he believed there continued to be substantial underreporting of the online abuse directed at athletes and called for social media companies to be held accountable for sharing identifying information of account holders suspected of hate speech.

Around 15 years ago, Ashley Markle was introduced to a culinary curiosity that would later become a global phenomenon. While staying at her aunt's house, she encountered a small, plastic-wrapped biscuit that would forever change her perception of cookies. What began as an unknown airline snack evolved into one of the fastest-growing biscuit brands in the US, with Markle becoming an unwitting early adopter of what would become a cultural movement.The spiced caramel biscuit, created in 1932 by Belgian company Lotus, has experienced remarkable peaks in popularity over the past decade. From being described as 'crack in a jar' in 2014 to becoming a staple in freakshakes in 2016, the brand has consistently found new ways to capture consumer interest. The pandemic home-baking boom in 2021 propelled Biscoff into social media stardom, with chef Jon Watts demonstrating multiple Biscoff recipes on daytime television.In January 2026, Biscoff experienced another viral surge, particularly on TikTok and Instagram, where users obsessively shared recipes for a 'Japanese cheesecake' featuring the biscuits. Markle, a social media creator specializing in snack recipes, has seen her Biscoff-related content accumulate millions of views, including a cheesecake recipe that garnered over 4 million views and a two-ingredient cookie recipe with 5.6 million views.The phenomenon extends beyond social media. A teacher named Raj developed such an affinity for Biscoff that he purchased multiple boxes, declaring: 'I'd smoke Biscoff if I could.' At his school, colleagues use the biscuits as incentives for students to attend tutoring sessions, demonstrating the brand's cultural penetration.Food industry experts attribute Biscoff's success to several converging trends. Lisa Harris, co-founder of food consultancy Harris and Hayes, explains: 'Biscoff isn't a single trend in itself, more an expression of various converging trends.' The brand taps into nostalgia, accessible indulgence, and versatility, allowing it to appear in everything from drinks to ice cream to desserts.The brand's partnerships with other companies exemplify modern 'collab culture', with Harris noting that products with distinctive flavors often develop a life of their own among consumers. 'Fans run with it and feel as if they have ownership over the product as much as the brand itself does,' she observes.Lotus Bakeries has responded strategically to the social media buzz. The company is removing the Lotus embossing from biscuits, replacing it with the word Biscoff to better resonate with younger shoppers. Niamh Leonard-Bedwell, fast-moving consumer goods editor at The Grocer, notes: 'In the week to January 17, their volume sales were up 30% on the same time last year.'The business impact has been substantial. In its 2025 annual results, Lotus announced a 10% revenue increase, with more than half coming from the Biscoff brand. The company has expanded internationally with factories in the US and Thailand, with founder's grandson Jan Boone declaring: 'We want to conquer the world.'Despite its sweet reputation, Biscoff is venturing into savory territory with recipes like prawns in Biscoff sauce and creamy Biscoff duck breast. However, chef Jon Watts remains skeptical about these applications, preferring the biscuit's traditional uses in desserts and treats.Industry analysts believe Biscoff's universal appeal will sustain its popularity. Unlike divisive trends like matcha, Biscoff offers a 'quite universally likable flavor' that balances novelty with familiarity. As Kiti Soininen of Mintel notes: 'If it's that sort of safe adventure, where it's got that newness, that freshness, but it's pairing that with familiarity – that hits the mark with a lot of people.'Despite growing concerns about ultra-processed foods, Biscoff's traditional positioning may insulate it from criticism. There's a disconnect between how products are classified and consumer intuition, with Soininen observing: 'If my grandmother can have bought this then it can't be truly ultra-processed.'With retailers developing Biscoff-inspired products including porridge, tea, popcorn, and breakfast cereal, the trend shows no signs of abating. As Markle predicts: 'I don't see anybody deciding that they don't like Biscoff any more.'

A New Mexico jury has ordered Meta to pay $375m in civil penalties after finding the company liable for misleading consumers about the safety of its platforms and enabling harm, including child sexual exploitation. This verdict marks the first bench trial to find Meta liable for acts committed on its platform. The lawsuit, brought by New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez, claimed that Meta executives knew their products harmed children but disregarded warnings from their own employees and lied to the public about the risks. The jury found Meta liable for violating New Mexico's consumer protection laws, specifically the Unfair Practices Act. The penalty of $375m is the maximum allowed under the law of $5,000 per violation. Meta has announced its intention to appeal the ruling, accusing Torrez of making 'sensationalist, irrelevant arguments.' Internal Meta documents and testimony revealed that company employees and external child safety experts repeatedly warned about risks on Meta's platforms. Evidence presented included details of a sting investigation, 'Operation MetaPhile,' which led to the arrest of three men charged with sexually preying on children through Meta's platforms. The New Mexico court also heard about deficiencies in Meta's reporting of crimes on its platforms, including the exchange of child sexual abuse material. Meta generated high volumes of 'junk' reports by overly relying on AI to moderate its platforms, making it difficult for law enforcement to investigate crimes. In the next phase of the legal proceedings, the attorney general's office will seek additional financial penalties and court-mandated changes to Meta's platforms to offer stronger protections for children. The state is seeking design feature changes, including 'enacting effective age verification, removing predators from the platform, and protecting minors from encrypted communications.' This verdict is seen as a 'historic victory' for children and families who have been affected by Meta's actions. The case may also open the floodgates to further litigation and regulation of social media companies.

The UK's green energy landscape is experiencing a significant shift as Jürgen Maier, the boss of GB Energy, joins other prominent renewable energy leaders in advocating for increased North Sea oil and gas production. This move comes as the UK government faces mounting pressure to address an impending energy cost crisis. Maier, in a social media post on LinkedIn, emphasized that while more North Sea oil and gas may not directly reduce energy costs, which have surged due to escalating tensions in the Middle East, it could bring substantial economic benefits, including more jobs and higher tax revenues. He described himself as “a supporter” of a well-managed energy transition that includes “all energy,” later clarifying in a separate post that he fully supports the government’s ban on new oil and gasfield exploration licences. Maier suggested that utilizing existing fields and tiebacks—allowing new deposits to be extracted from existing infrastructure—aligns with an 'All Energy' approach. This strategy, he argues, would give supply chain companies sufficient time to transition while renewables remain the long-term goal. The comments from Maier follow similar endorsements from other green energy leaders, such as Greg Jackson, the Octopus Energy boss, and Tara Singh, the new chief executive of RenewableUK. Jackson, who sits on the Cabinet Office board, told the Daily Telegraph that the UK needs more “sovereign energy,” which requires practical decisions, including leveraging North Sea resources. Singh argued that Britain should produce more energy “of every kind” and called for taking energy out of the culture wars. Despite these calls, Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has ruled out new licences for the North Sea, though decisions on the Rosebank and Jackdaw fields, which were licensed under the previous government, are still pending. Industry sources expect these fields to be approved soon, potentially beginning production by the end of the year, which could provoke backlash from green groups. The government recently dismissed warnings from Offshore Energies UK that failing to produce more North Sea oil and gas would increase the UK's reliance on imports amid rising global instability. A government spokesperson stated that new licences would not enhance energy security or reduce bills, highlighting that oil and gas prices are set internationally. A Great British Energy spokesperson reiterated the company's focus on driving the clean energy transition to deliver a more secure and independent energy system. They emphasized that oil and gas will remain part of the energy mix for decades, and preserving the skills of oil and gas workers is crucial for a clean energy future.

Rapper Jay-Z recently spoke out about a sexual assault lawsuit filed against him and Sean 'Diddy' Combs' in 2024. The lawsuit alleged that both men raped a 13-year-old girl at a party in 2000, which both Jay-Z and Combs vehemently denied.In a recent interview with GQ, Jay-Z explained why he chose to fight the lawsuit rather than settle. He stated, 'I can’t take a settlement – it ain’t in my DNA.' He further emphasized that settling would have been difficult for him and his family, particularly his wife Beyoncé.Jay-Z expressed that he was 'heartbroken' and 'angry' when the allegations first emerged. He described the experience as 'really hard' and mentioned that he hadn't felt 'uncontrollable anger' in a long time. The rapper emphasized the importance of being certain before making such serious accusations against someone.The lawsuit was voluntarily dismissed in February 2025. Jay-Z's attorney, Alex Spiro, previously described the claims as 'provably, demonstrably false' and highlighted an 'impossible timeline.'In addition to discussing the lawsuit, Jay-Z touched on other topics, including the beef between Kendrick Lamar and Drake and what he described as a 'right-wing agenda to silence voices in the hip-hop community.' He expressed concern about the negative impact of such conflicts on social media and the involvement of people's families.Jay-Z also reflected on 30 years since the release of his debut album Reasonable Doubt, which he will celebrate with two shows at New York's Yankee Stadium in July.

England cricketer Ben Duckett has made a significant decision to pull out of the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) to focus on his career with the England Test team. Duckett was signed by Delhi Capitals at the IPL auction in December for a substantial £200,000, but he has now withdrawn from the tournament. The decision comes after a combination of a poor Ashes series, where he played all five Tests with a highest score of 42, and heavy travel following his reserve duties at the recent T20 World Cup. Duckett believes that playing for Nottinghamshire will help him regain his form and secure his place in the England team. “It was a very difficult decision, and I want to apologise to everyone at Delhi that I won’t be coming,” Duckett told the Telegraph. “I’ve spent a lot of time away from home in different places, and it felt like the best thing for me to do to be ready to play for England is to be here right now, at home, refreshing my mind and body.” Under IPL rules, players who withdraw from the tournament for reasons other than injury face a three-year ban. Duckett follows in the footsteps of Harry Brook, who also signed for Delhi in 2025 before pulling out to prioritise his England career. Duckett’s recent performances have been under scrutiny, particularly after a video of him drunk on a night out during the team’s mid-tour break in Noosa was published on social media. He has since apologised for the incident, acknowledging that it was unprofessional. The England team is currently under pressure to refresh its lineup after the Ashes defeat. While Duckett’s opening partner, Zak Crawley, may be the likelier to make way for a newcomer, Duckett has shown promise since his return to the Test team in 2022, averaging 42 with six centuries.