logo
Alphabet Stock (GOOGL) Jumps Despite YouTube AI Age Estimate Backlash

Alphabet Stock (GOOGL) Jumps Despite YouTube AI Age Estimate Backlash

Alphabet (GOOGL) stock was up on Thursday even as the company faces backlash over changes to YouTube. The video streaming platform has launched new age estimate tools that are powered by artificial intelligence (AI). These tools estimate a user's age based on their activity on the platform.
Elevate Your Investing Strategy:
Take advantage of TipRanks Premium at 50% off! Unlock powerful investing tools, advanced data, and expert analyst insights to help you invest with confidence.
The big issues that users have with this are the errors it can make and how to fix them. If a user's account is estimated to be younger than it is, that person can have their content restricted on the platform, both as a viewer and a creator. If this happens, users have to submit personal data to YouTube to have the restriction removed. This can include an ID, credit card, or selfie.
While YouTube maintains that this new AI age estimate is to protect younger users on the platform, some have complained about the security risks it poses to other users. That includes the type of sensitive information that has to be shared with the company to remove any blocks or restrictions. It's unclear if this backlash will cause YouTube to reverse course on its new AI tool, or at least ease requirements for age verification.
Alphabet Stock Movement Today
Alphabet stock was up 0.84% on Thursday, extending a 7.64% year-to-date rally. The shares have also climbed 25.21% over the past 12 months. AI has been a major catalyst for GOOGL stock recently, as it enhances its Gemini AI services.
Is Alphabet Stock a Buy, Sell, or Hold?
Turning to Wall Street, the analysts' consensus rating for Alphabet is Strong Buy, based on 27 Buy and nine Hold ratings over the past three months. With that comes an average GOOGL stock price target of $217.25, representing a potential 6.71% upside for the shares.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Cat soap operas and babies trapped in space: the ‘AI slop' taking over YouTube
Cat soap operas and babies trapped in space: the ‘AI slop' taking over YouTube

Yahoo

time2 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Cat soap operas and babies trapped in space: the ‘AI slop' taking over YouTube

Babies trapped in space, zombie football stars and cat soap operas: welcome to YouTube in the era of AI video. Nearly one in 10 of the fastest growing YouTube channels globally are showing AI-generated content only, as breakthroughs in the technology spur a flood of artificial content. Guardian analysis of data from the analytics firm Playboard shows that out of the top 100 fastest growing channels in July this year, nine were showing purely AI-generated content. The offerings include channels featuring bizarre narratives such as a baby crawling into a pre-launch space rocket, an undead Cristiano Ronaldo and melodramas featuring humanised cats. AI video generation has surged amid the release of powerful tools such as Google's Veo 3 and Elon Musk's Grok Imagine. The channels have millions of subscribers in total, including 1.6 million for the space-stranded infant and 3.9 million for Super Cat League, which features human-like cats having affairs and, among one of many bizarre scenes, the felines shooting down and dismembering an eagle. Many of these videos qualify as 'AI slop', which refers to low-quality, mass-produced content that is surreal, uncanny or simply grotesque. But some contain a brief, rudimentary plot – in a sign of the growing sophistication of AI-generated content. YouTube has tried to stem the slop deluge by blocking the sharing of advertising revenue with channels that post repetitive and 'inauthentic' content – a policy targeted at AI content. 'All content uploaded to YouTube is subject to our community guidelines – regardless of how it's generated,' said a spokesperson for YouTube, which is owned by Google's parent company. After being contacted by the Guardian about the channels – which included channels in the fastest growing list for June – YouTube said it had removed three of them from the platform and blocked a further two from receiving advertising income. It did not specify which channels had been sanctioned. One expert said AI video generators herald the next wave of internet 'enshittification', a term first used by the British-Canadian author Cory Doctorow. Coined in 2022, Doctorow used it to describe the decline in quality of users' online experiences, as platforms prioritise profit over offering high-quality content. 'AI slop is flooding the internet with content that essentially is garbage,' said Dr Akhil Bhardwaj, an associate professor at the University of Bath's school of management. 'This enshittification is ruining online communities on Pinterest, competing for revenue with artists on Spotify and flooding YouTube with poor quality content.' 'One way for social media companies to regulate AI slop is to ensure that it cannot be monetised, thus stripping away the incentive for generating it.' Ryan Broderick, the author of the popular Garbage Day newsletter on internet culture, is scathing about the impact of AI video, writing last week that YouTube has become a 'dumping ground for disturbing, soulless AI shorts'. Instagram's Reels video feature is also flooded with AI content. On the platform, a video of various celebrities' heads attached to animal bodies has gained 3.7m views, starring the 'Rophant' (Dwayne Johnson and an elephant) and 'Emilla' (Eminem on a gorilla). On TikTok, many AI-generated videos have gone viral, including a video of Abraham Lincoln vlogging his ill-fated trip to the opera and cats competing in an Olympic diving event. However, the Lincoln and cat Olympic videos are more in the spirit of the internet's pre-slop era of playful wit. Instagram and TikTok said they require all realistic AI-content to be labelled. Videos suspected to contain AI from these channels were cross-checked with deepfake detection service provider Reality Defender. The channels featuring AI videos for July are: Super Cat League (3.9 million subscribers) বজল মিয়া 767k (2 million subscribers – this account has since been closed) LSB POWER GAMING (1.7 million subscribers) Amite Now Here (1.4 million subscribers) Starway (2.8 million subscribers) AmyyRoblox (2.4 million subscribers) Again Raz Vai (1.8 million subscribers) Cuentos Facinantes (4.8 million subscribers) MIRANHAINSANO (4.9 million subscribers) Sign in to access your portfolio

Gemini vs ChatGPT: Comparing Strengths, Weaknesses, and Real-World Uses
Gemini vs ChatGPT: Comparing Strengths, Weaknesses, and Real-World Uses

Time Business News

time2 hours ago

  • Time Business News

Gemini vs ChatGPT: Comparing Strengths, Weaknesses, and Real-World Uses

If you're short on time, here's the essence: ChatGPT excels at creativity, storytelling, and natural conversations, while Gemini is designed for accuracy, real-time information, and seamless integration with Google's ecosystem. Think of ChatGPT as the imaginative writer who can draft essays, brainstorm ideas, and simulate engaging conversations. Gemini, on the other hand, is like a research assistant who always has the latest news, data, and Google-powered insights at hand. Which one is better? The answer depends on what you need most from an AI assistant. AI isn't just a buzzword anymore — it's becoming part of daily work, study, and even leisure. From helping students finish assignments to supporting businesses in decision-making, AI tools are shaping the way we live and work. With Google's Gemini entering the scene and OpenAI's ChatGPT already being widely adopted, the question isn't just about features. It's about trust, usability, and real-world value. Users want to know which model can best save them time, improve creativity, or provide reliable answers. That's why looking at Gemini vs ChatGPT side by side is so important. OpenAI launched ChatGPT as part of its mission to create AI that benefits humanity. Its foundation is built on the GPT (Generative Pre-trained Transformer) models, which specialize in generating human-like text from prompts. Google's Gemini, however, is part of its DeepMind and AI-first strategy, aiming to combine cutting-edge research with practical applications. Gemini was designed not just to chat, but also to integrate across Google's massive ecosystem — from Docs to YouTube. This difference in origin also explains their strengths: ChatGPT leans toward conversation and creativity, while Gemini leans toward information accuracy and tool integration. ChatGPT is known for sounding natural, friendly, and often surprisingly human. It can role-play, tell stories, draft emails, and even write poetry with ease. Gemini, while conversational, tends to stay closer to facts. Its responses are polished, but you might notice they sometimes feel more formal or structured compared to ChatGPT's casual flow. If your priority is creative writing or brainstorming, ChatGPT usually has the upper hand. One of Gemini's biggest advantages is its ability to pull live data from the web. Ask about today's news, stock prices, or a trending video, and Gemini can bring you accurate, up-to-date answers. ChatGPT, on the other hand, relies on its training data unless paired with a browsing plugin or third-party integration. While the GPT-4 model has improved knowledge, it still cannot natively access the latest information in the way Gemini can. This makes Gemini especially valuable for researchers, journalists, or anyone who depends on real-time updates. When comparing Gemini vs ChatGPT, accuracy is one of the most debated aspects. ChatGPT can sometimes 'hallucinate,' meaning it generates information that sounds convincing but isn't factually correct. can sometimes 'hallucinate,' meaning it generates information that sounds convincing but isn't factually correct. Gemini, with its Google integration, has a stronger foundation for fact-based responses. It's less prone to fabricating details, though it can still simplify or omit complexities. If your work requires verified and up-to-date information, Gemini has the edge. But if you're more interested in creative problem-solving, ChatGPT often feels more flexible. Gemini was built to be multimodal from the ground up — meaning it can handle text, images, audio, and video input/output more natively. This aligns with Google's vision of AI being able to process the world the way humans do. ChatGPT has also added multimodal capabilities in GPT-4, such as analyzing images or generating visuals through integrations like DALL·E. However, Gemini's design is expected to push these features even further in the future. This makes Gemini potentially more powerful in fields like education, media, and accessibility, where AI must process different types of content seamlessly. Here's where Gemini truly shines: it's part of the Google ecosystem. Imagine drafting an essay in Google Docs, asking Gemini to fact-check it, then pulling in a YouTube video summary — all without switching tabs. ChatGPT doesn't have the same native integration with platforms like Google Workspace. However, it's widely used through third-party integrations, APIs, and plugins, making it extremely versatile for businesses, developers, and individual users. If you're already heavily invested in Google tools, Gemini might feel like a natural fit. If you prefer broader customization, ChatGPT offers more flexibility. People use ChatGPT for a wide range of tasks: Students use it to explain complex topics in simpler terms. Writers and marketers rely on it for brainstorming, drafting, and editing. Professionals turn to it for email writing, meeting summaries, and idea generation. In short, ChatGPT acts as a creative partner for anyone who needs text-based assistance. Gemini's strength lies in practical productivity. For example: Journalists use it to pull breaking news updates. Analysts leverage it for quick data interpretation from Google Sheets. Everyday users rely on it to summarize YouTube content or answer factual questions instantly. It's less about brainstorming and more about getting accurate, actionable information quickly. Neither Gemini nor ChatGPT is the 'final form' of AI. Both companies are in an arms race to improve usability, accuracy, and creativity. ChatGPT will likely continue leading in conversational depth and creativity . . Gemini will likely dominate in real-time data, integrations, and multimodal performance. For users, this means more choice, more power, and more ways to work smarter with AI. When it comes to Gemini vs ChatGPT, there's no universal 'winner.' The smarter choice depends on your personal or professional needs: Pick ChatGPT if you value creativity, natural conversation, and flexible brainstorming. if you value creativity, natural conversation, and flexible brainstorming. Pick Gemini if you prioritize accuracy, real-time information, and seamless Google integration. In reality, many people may find themselves using both — one as a creative companion, the other as a reliable researcher. 1. Is Gemini more accurate than ChatGPT? Yes, Gemini is generally more accurate for real-time facts because it pulls data from the web, while ChatGPT relies on trained data unless extended with browsing. 2. Can ChatGPT generate more creative content than Gemini? Yes, ChatGPT is often better at writing stories, brainstorming ideas, or creating content that requires imagination. 3. Which is better for students: Gemini or ChatGPT? Students may benefit more from ChatGPT for essays and explanations, while Gemini is useful for research and fact-checking. 4. Does Gemini replace ChatGPT? Not necessarily. Gemini complements ChatGPT by excelling in areas like real-time accuracy and Google tool integration. 5. Will both Gemini and ChatGPT keep improving? Absolutely. Both Google and OpenAI are investing heavily in AI, meaning users can expect faster, smarter, and more capable versions in the future. TIME BUSINESS NEWS

Your Daily Work Horoscope for August 17, 2025
Your Daily Work Horoscope for August 17, 2025

Yahoo

time3 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Your Daily Work Horoscope for August 17, 2025

Your Daily Work Horoscope for August 17, 2025. Discover your Daily Work Horoscope for each zodiac sign here. Aries Numbers and names will be harder than usual to cope with, so try to think big. You and your people will be able to come up with a wealth of new ideas for solving the problems you see brewing. Taurus Your ideas are coming to the rescue once again. If you are in a position to speak up, do so without fear. It's a good time for brainstorming or strategic planning, either by yourself or in groups. Gemini It's a great time to engage in social interactions of all kinds. You will be sure to dazzle clients and impress potential employers, so make sure you're all booked up and looking your best! Cancer You are skeptical by nature, and you can use that serious doubt to make life a little easier for you and your peers. Ask the hard questions and make sure everything happens for a reason. Leo Your sense of what other people need and what they mean when they are speaking with you will help you nail any interactions you have right now. It might be a good time to ask the boss for a favor. Need a quick answer? Yes/No Tarot will offer guidance right now! Virgo Though you clearly see the changes that need to be made, you will experience some serious resistance at all levels of the organization. Go slowly and build plenty of support before proceeding. Libra Your personal productivity might not be all that great right now, but you will contribute to your group's success on several key projects. It's a good time to consider new options. Scorpio Low-key improvements will be easy to implement and will bump productivity almost immediately. Make sure you are directing (or at least informing) the initiative toward change. Sagittarius Your social skills are locked and loaded, so the competition had better be beware for the time being. But you should be careful too. You've come a little too close to gullibility for comfort. Capricorn Try to take care of that big financial issue everyone around you knows about but nobody is talking about. By speaking up, you'll draw a small measure of support from an unusual source. Aquarius Internal struggles are important to an organization's development, but the current round of infighting is counterproductive. Use whatever power you have to force all sides to compromise. Pisces You might be surrounded by great ideas, but it will be up to you to pick the right one and make sure it gets implemented properly. Your leadership will pave the way to success. Discover why 2022 is the year you've been waiting for with your 2022 Premium Horoscope Solve the daily Crossword

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store