Day: March 25, 2026
Meta and YouTube were negligent in the design of their platforms, knew their design was dangerous, failed to warn of those risks and caused substantial harm to the plaintiff, the jury found, News.Az reports, citing foreign media.
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The decision could set a precedent for hundreds of similar cases and lead to major changes to how social media platforms operate, especially for young users — as well as millions, even billions, in losses for the tech companies.
The case also marks a watershed moment for social media, following years of concerns from parents, advocates and lawmakers about online harms to children ranging from mental health concerns to sexual exploitation.
A now 20-year-old California woman named Kaley and her mother sued Meta, Google’s YouTube, Snap and TikTok, accusing them of intentionally hooking her as a child and causing her to develop anxiety, body dysmorphia and suicidal thoughts. Snap and TikTok settled the case before trial.
The jury deliberated for more than eight days after a seven-week trial in Los Angeles Superior Court. They ordered the companies to pay a total of $3 million in compensatory damages. The jurors will soon deliberate on whether and how much should additionally be awarded in punitive damages, based on the net worth of each company.
Meta bears 70% of the responsibility for the Kaley’s harms and YouTube 30%, jurors found.
Kaley was in the courtroom to hear the decision, along with parents of other teens who they say were harmed by social media.
A Meta spokesperson said the company would consider its options now. “We respectfully disagree with the verdict and are evaluating our legal options,” the spokesperson said.
Google said they would apeal the verdict.
“We disagree with the verdict and plan to appeal,” José Castañeda, a Google spokesperson, said in a statement. “This case misunderstands YouTube, which is a responsibly built streaming platform, not a social media site.”
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“This information is false,” CENTCOM told Anadolu.
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The denial came after Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed it had struck a US F-18 aircraft.
Iranian state media also aired footage purportedly showing the moment the jet was hit by air defense systems and crashed into the Indian Ocean.
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“My meeting with the Highly Respected President of China, President Xi Jinping, which was originally postponed due to our Military operation in Iran, has been rescheduled, and will take place in Beijing on May 14th and 15th,” Trump said on his Truth Social network, News.Az reports, citing foreign media.
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Trump said US and Chinese officials were “finalizing preparations” for the “historic” Beijing and Washington visits.
“I look very much forward to spending time with President Xi in what will be, I am sure, a Monumental Event,” Trump added.
The White House had announced the new dates shortly before Trump’s social media post.
Trump had been set to travel to Beijing between March 31 and April for the first time in his second term, for a summit aimed at resetting trade ties between the world’s two largest economies.
The Chinese and US presidents met in South Korea in October on the sidelines of a regional summit, and agreed a truce in the trade war sparked by Trump’s sweeping global tariffs.
But Trump said on March 16 that he had asked China to postpone the meeting while he deals with the war in the Middle East.
“Because of the war I want to be here, I have to be here, I feel. And so we’ve requested that we delay it a month or so,” Trump told reporters at the time.
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Key takeaways
- Civilization is undergoing a transformation into the exponential age, characterized by rapid technological advancements.
- The future economy will prioritize intelligence creation, with energy as a critical constraint.
- Traditional economic metrics like GDP will become obsolete in an economy driven by radical abundance.
- AI’s exponential growth is outpacing societal structures, leading towards an economic singularity.
- AI’s impact will extend beyond traditional professions to sectors like agriculture and manufacturing.
- The rate of change in AI capabilities is unprecedented, showing super exponential growth.
- AI tools like Claude are revolutionizing productivity with their transformative capabilities.
- User experience combined with intelligence makes AI models like Claude stand out.
- The expectation that technology will reduce workload may be misguided, as it often increases demands for output.
- The exponential age will focus on optimizing intelligence per unit of energy.
- Society must adapt to the rapid advancements in AI and technology to harness their full potential.
- The shift towards an economy of radical abundance will challenge existing economic frameworks.
Guest intro
David Mattin is Technology Lead at Global Macro Investor and founder of New World Same Humans. He is co-founder of the Exponentialist, an independent service positioning investors for the Economic Singularity driven by AI and Big Tech. His research on exponential technologies, crypto, and social change reaches leaders at investment banks, hedge funds, and family offices.
The exponential age and its implications
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The next civilization in the exponential age will focus on optimizing intelligence per unit of energy.
— David Mattin
- The exponential age represents a civilizational transformation with profound implications for technology and society.
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We are moving into a civilizational transformation known as the exponential age.
— David Mattin
- This era is characterized by rapid technological advancements that reshape markets and societies.
- Understanding the exponential age is crucial for anticipating future economic and societal shifts.
- The exponential age will redefine how economies function and prioritize resources.
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Everything all the work we’ve done has been founded in this belief that we’re moving into this thing called the exponential age.
— David Mattin
- The focus will be on efficiently converting energy into intelligence.
The future economy and radical abundance
- The transition to an economy of radical abundance will render traditional economic measures like GDP incoherent.
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When you move into such a radically different economy, all the old measures and the norms and the frameworks we use to make sense of the economy as it exists today just break down.
— David Mattin
- Emerging technologies will fundamentally alter economic frameworks and metrics.
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The future economy will be driven by intelligence, with energy as the binding constraint.
— David Mattin
- Radical abundance will push prices very low or to zero, challenging current economic models.
- Understanding the implications of AI and robotics is essential for adapting to these changes.
- The focus on intelligence creation will redefine economic priorities and development.
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The big game becomes about creating more intelligence and the binding constraint there in the end will be energy.
— David Mattin
AI’s impact on industries and society
- AI will significantly impact agriculture and manufacturing, not just traditional professions.
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We’re talking everything… they’ll be able to run our agriculture and farming and lots of manufacturing.
— David Mattin
- The exponential growth of intelligence is outpacing societal structures, leading to a potential economic singularity.
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Intelligence is far moving faster than the world around us.
— David Mattin
- AI’s broad applicability challenges common perceptions of its impact on various sectors.
- The rapid advancements in AI models indicate a transformative trend in technology development.
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The rate of change in AI model capabilities is unprecedented, showing super exponential growth.
— David Mattin
- Society must adapt to harness the full potential of AI across industries.
The transformative power of AI tools like Claude
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Claude is probably the greatest product ever invented due to its transformative capabilities.
— David Mattin
- AI tools like Claude offer infinite intelligence applicable to every task for a nominal cost.
- The combination of user experience and intelligence sets Claude apart from other AI models.
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What makes it special is it has UX plus intelligence… they really have nailed the UX in a way ChatGPT for me hasn’t.
— David Mattin
- Understanding the significance of AI tools in productivity is essential for leveraging their potential.
- Claude’s broad applicability and transformative potential make it a valuable asset in various tasks.
- The user experience plays a crucial role in technology adoption and effectiveness.
- AI tools are revolutionizing productivity by offering innovative solutions to complex problems.
The evolving nature of work and productivity
- The expectation that technology will reduce our workload may be misguided, as it often leads to increased demands for output.
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The leisured week or day that we thought technology would deliver us into perhaps is not gonna work like that.
— David Mattin
- Technology’s impact on productivity challenges common beliefs about work-life balance.
- The demand for more and better output may increase as technology advances.
- Understanding the impact of AI and technology on productivity is crucial for managing work expectations.
- The evolving nature of work requires adapting to new productivity paradigms.
- Society must navigate the balance between technological advancements and workload demands.
- The future of work will be shaped by the interplay between technology and productivity expectations.
Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.
The post David Mattin: The exponential age demands a new economic framework, AI will redefine productivity across industries, and radical abundance will challenge traditional metrics | Raoul Pal appeared first on azeritimes.com.
Ivanna Lisette Ortiz, from Orlando, Florida, also pleaded not guilty through her lawyer to more than a dozen other felony counts in Los Angeles Superior Court, News.Az reports, citing foreign media.
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Prosecutors allege the singing superstar, her hip-hop star partner ASAP Rocky, and their three young children, were among the people assaulted at their home in the Beverly Hills area of California on March 8, when Ortiz, 35, pulled up to the property and sprayed about 20 bullets from an AR-15 style rifle into the tall exterior wall.
Ortiz is charged with 10 counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm and three counts of shooting at an occupied vehicle or dwelling. She could get life in prison if convicted on all charges.
Her lawyer, deputy public defender Derek Ray Dillman, entered the plea on her behalf as Ortiz appeared behind glass in a custody area, wearing yellow jail clothes with her blonde hair in plaits.
She spoke only to agree to waive her right to a speedy preliminary hearing, the next phase of the case where evidence is presented to determine whether a trial is warranted.
Her lawyer asked that her bail be reduced from 1.9 million dollars (£1.4 million) to 70,000 dollars (£52,000) based on her ability to pay. Judge Theresa McGonigle declined the request and kept the bail the same.
The prosecutor, arguing against the reduction, said she was a major risk to the community and would likely flee.
“This case involves a dangerous, deliberate shooting into occupied homes,” deputy district attorney Alexander Bott said. “This is the kind of conduct that could easily have resulted in multiple homicides.”
When Ortiz was arrested hours after the shooting, she was alone in her car with the rifle, more rounds and a wig she intended to use as a disguise, Mr Bott said.
Public records show Ortiz has been a licensed speech pathologist for more than a decade. Judge McGonigle ruled at the state attorney general’s request that she should be prevented from practising in California.
District attorney Nathan Hochman said when Ortiz was charged that Rihanna and Rocky were together in an Airstream trailer at the time of the shooting, while her mother, their children and staff were in the main house.
The three counts of firing at a dwelling were for Rihanna’s house, her trailer, and a neighbour’s house, prosecutors said. The 10 assault counts were for Rihanna and family, two staff and two people in the neighbouring house.
Mr Hochman would not say where any of the bullets landed, discuss a motive or describe any connection between Ortiz and Rihanna, saying all were under investigation.
He also said his office was investigating social media posts from Ortiz from the days leading up to the gunfire.
A nine-time Grammy Award winner, Rihanna has 14 No 1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, including We Found Love, Work, Umbrella and Disturbia. She founded the makeup brand Fenty Beauty in 2017.
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The CDC reported on March 19 that it is tracking the variant after routine surveillance detected a steady rise in U.S. cases. The World Health Organization also added the “highly mutated” virus to its February 23 list of “variants of interest,” with cases appearing in countries including Japan, Kenya, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom, News.Az reports, citing USA TODAY.
Although BA.3.2 has not yet caused a large number of cases in the U.S., it has been detected in more than 20 countries and represents up to 30% of cases in some regions.
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The CDC noted that monitoring the variant helps assess its potential to evade immunity from previous infection or vaccination.
Here’s what to know about COVID variant BA.3.2, or “Cicada”.
What is the COVID variant ‘Cicada’ (BA.3.2)?
“Cicada” is a nickname given to BA.3.2, a highly mutated COVID-19 variant. It was first detected in a person traveling to the United States in June 2025 and was thus nicknamed after the rarely-emerging insects because it has largely remained undetected or “underground” since discovery, Dr. Robert H. Hopkins, Jr., medical director of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases, told USA TODAY in an email.
The first case in a U.S. patient was diagnosed in January, he said. Between then and the latest available data from Feb. 11, it was detected in wastewater samples − collected from water sources such as sewage, industrial waste, and stormwater runoff to measure pathogens’ presence − from 132 sites across at least 25 states, according to the CDC. The variant was also present in samples from travelers’ voluntary nose swabs.
BA.3.2 has likewise been reported in at least 23 countries, according to the CDC, which also said the very first case worldwide was detected in November 2024 in South Africa. Cases began increasing in September 2025, the agency said.
The variant is considered “highly mutated” because its 70-75 mutations make it distinct from the JN.1 lineage, which has been the source of the predominant U.S. strains over the last two years, according to Hopkins.
Where is the BA.3.2 ‘Cicada’ variant spreading?
The CDC’s latest data from Feb. 11 tracked the presence of BA.3.2 in 25 states, including California, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, and Wyoming.
More recent data from WasteWaterSCAN, a Stanford University-led tool for tracking the spread of disease, found BA.3.2 was detected in only 3.7% of wastewater samples as of March 14. Variant XFG remains the dominant strain at 53% of samples, followed by LF.7 with 10.3%.
“The number of mutations from JN.1 viruses makes it less likely that the current vaccines will be highly effective against Cicada, but we need more data to better answer this question,” said Hopkins. “It is possible we will see Cicada become the dominant strain in the US, but that is by no means certain. I have heard some concern raised about the possibility that it could drive a US summer surge.”
Cicada already accounts for about 30% of COVID-19 sequences in Germany and some other Northern European countries (such as Denmark and the Netherlands) as of January, he said.
“Low vaccination rates and little to no public health effort toward stopping COVID infections and spread leaves us vulnerable,” Hopkins added.
What are the symptoms of Cicada?
Like in the case of most other variants, the symptoms of Cicada are the same as those of other COVID-19 infections. As a result, the CDC said indicators to look out for remain the same as with existing variants. Some symptoms may include:
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Headache
- Fatigue
- Sneezing
- Sore throat
- Coughing
- Changes to the sense of smell or taste
Some later variants have been associated with “razorblade throat” based on increased reports of throat pain.
“I have not seen any data which indicates that Cicada is any more severe than other circulating variants,” said Hopkins. “Severe sore throat is reported as a common symptom along with other typical COVID symptoms.”
What to do if you test positive
While mutations could mean existing COVID-19 boosters may not prevent infection as effectively, they can still offer protection against severe disease and death, especially as vaccine formulations catch up.
“When sick, get tested. If positive, stay home until better and confirm with a negative test. If that’s not possible, wear a fit N95 mask,” Rajendram Rajnarayanan,assistant dean of research and associate professor at the New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine at Arkansas State University,previously told USA TODAY. “Get Boosted as soon as it’s available. It works against all of the top circulating lineages, including XBB.1.16, EG.5.1, FL.1.5.1, etc.”
If you believe you may have COVID or test positive, the CDC suggests several ways to treat the symptoms and stop the spread.
- Stay home and separate from others.
- Improve ventilation in your home.
- Wear an N95 or other high-quality mask when around other people.
- Keep up to date on COVID vaccines and boosters.
- Monitor symptoms and stay in touch with your healthcare provider.
- Take medications and treatments as prescribed.
- Rest and use over-the-counter medications to manage symptoms like headaches.
- Practice hygiene such as washing hands often and cleaning shared surfaces.
- Use their testing and treatment location tool to find resources in your area.
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Iran could open a new front in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait if attacks target its territory or islands, according to an unnamed military source affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), News.Az reports, citing Tasnim news agency.
The source warned, “If the Americans intend to take action regarding the Strait of Hormuz, they should be careful not to add another strait to their challenges… Iran is fully prepared to escalate the situation.”
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The Bab el-Mandeb Strait has already seen tensions due to attacks by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi forces on ships in the area.
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