Latest news with #DuckDuckGo
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Fact Check: Eminem didn't announce $10M investment to build stray dog rescue 'paradise'
Claim: Rapper Eminem announced a $10 million investment to build stray dog rescue facilities. Rating: A rumor that circulated online in late May 2025 claimed rapper Eminem announced a $10 million investment to build stray dog rescue facilities. For example, on May 21, a manager of the Eminem Logic Facebook page posted (archived), "SOCIAL MEDIA SHOCKER: Eminem unexpectedly announces a $10 million investment to build a 'paradise' for stray dog rescue – promising love and shelter for thousands of abandoned dogs!" The post, which received hundreds of thousands of engagements and potentially millions of views, purportedly displayed three photos of Eminem, two showing him with dogs. Many other users also shared the same rumor on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, TikTok, X and YouTube, including some posts calling Eminem's alleged venture a "sanctuary." (Image courtesy of Eminem Logic/Facebook) However, searches of Bing, DuckDuckGo, Google and Yahoo found no news media outlets reporting about this matter. Eminem was simply the latest famous person attached to a fabricated story about an investment into building stray dog rescue facilities. The people who created these posts included photos giving off the general look of pictures generated by artificial-intelligence (AI) tools. As such, the rumor Eminem announced an investment of millions of dollars into helping stray dogs was false. A May 18 post (archived) showcasing the rumor about Eminem investing in stray dog rescue facilities featured a link in the top comment. That link led users to an advertisement-filled article on the plain-appearing WordPress blog That article falsely claimed the rapper announced the investment news on his X profile. A check of his X feed found no such posts. The inclusion of the link to the ad-filled article highlighted the likelihood that the people who create such false rumors do so with the goal of earning advertising revenue, and that they cycle through various famous people with the hope of some of the posts receiving viral shares. Snopes contacted by email a representative for Eminem and will update this article if we learn more information. Earlier in May 2025, Snopes reported about the unfounded rumor of singer Jelly Roll investing $20 million, also for a "paradise" for rescuing stray dogs. Additionally, other social media users baselessly claimed in posts, during the month of May, that various NFL quarterbacks each allegedly invested millions of dollars into stray dog rescue facilities, including Pittsburgh Steelers' Mason Rudolph, Buffalo Bills' Josh Allen and Dallas Cowboys' Dak Prescott. MLB second baseman Jose Altuve of the Houston Astros also appeared in a post with the same rumor. For further reading, a previous fact check examined the truth behind a rumor about a canine sanctuary existing on Dog Island — an authentic island off the northern panhandle of Florida. Bing. DuckDuckGo - Protection. Privacy. Peace of Mind. Google. Yahoo | Mail, Weather, Search, Politics, News, Finance, Sports & Videos.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Fact Check: No, UK's Princess Beatrice didn't cut ties with family after DNA test revealed 'true paternity'
Claim: Britain's Princess Beatrice cut ties with the British royal family after a DNA test revealed her true paternity. Rating: A rumor that circulated online in May 2025 claimed Britain's Princess Beatrice, the elder daughter of Prince Andrew and his ex-wife, Sarah, Duchess of York, cut ties with the British royal family after a DNA test revealed her true paternity. Beatrice is ninth in the line of succession to the British throne. Searches of Bing, DuckDuckGo, Google and Yahoo revealed users primarily sharing this rumor in at least dozens of YouTube videos. For example, on May 17, a manager of the Retro Discovery YouTube channel (@RetroDiscoverys) published an advertisement-filled video displaying the title, "Princess Beatrice Cuts All Ties After Shocking DNA Reveals Her True Paternity." The thumbnail image also allegedly showed Queen Camilla kissing Andrew, along with the text, "Camilla is your mother." That one clip received over 371,000 views, as of this writing. Other users also reposted content about the rumor from YouTube on Facebook (archived) and TikTok (archived). (Image courtesy of Retro Discovery/YouTube) However, those same searches of the four search-engine websites also found no news media outlets reporting about Beatrice cutting ties with family or receiving "shocking" DNA test results about her purported "true" father. Rather, the rumor was simply the latest in a long line of YouTube videos featuring fabricated stories and artificial intelligence (AI)-generated voice narration about prominent figures in the entertainment business and politics — as well as anyone associated with the royal family — all for the goal of YouTube monetization via ad revenue. While the Retro Discovery channel's video and description did not include any disclaimers about its story, the channel's bio features a disclaimer about the inauthentic nature of its content, reading in part: The content presented in our videos, descriptions, and thumbnails is not intended to be interpreted as factual or definitive evidence regarding any topics discussed. We make no claims about the actions or behavior of individuals or entities mentioned in the video. The material is speculative in nature, based on internet gossip, and is provided solely for entertainment and discussion purposes. It should not be used to draw conclusions, take action, or imply wrongdoing by anyone featured in or outside the video. If any part of our content is found to be misleading, false, or offensive, please reach out to us directly, and we will address the issue promptly. By consuming our content, you agree that we are not responsible for any misinformation, harm, or damages resulting from its use. Always approach information critically and verify its accuracy before accepting it as truth. The bio's writer asks users to "reach out" if "content is found to be misleading, false, or offensive," claiming that they "will address the issue promptly." However, the bio did not display any contact information for users to alert the channel's managers of such content, or for Snopes to ask questions about the false rumor. YouTube creators publishing similar content also uploaded other ad-filled videos in May featuring different members of the royal family alongside fabricated DNA-test rumors. Some of those titles included, "Prince Harry COLLAPSES In Court After DNA Test Results Of Archie Turns Out Shocking," "Prince William Cuts All Ties After DNA RESULT Reveal His True Paternity" and "Queen Camilla's Son Cuts All Ties After Shocking DNA Reveal His True Paternity." If any such news had truly occurred, news media outlets around the world would have rushed to cover the matter. The opening clip in the Retro Discovery YouTube video — prior to the start of the AI-generated narrator voice — shows Beatrice in a sit-down interview saying the words, "And I think at that stage, those moments of doubt just pop into your head. I'm not good enough. I'm not smart enough. Why am I not like the others?" However, this interview had nothing to do with a DNA test about her parents. Instead, the clip originated in a video on the Made By Dyslexia YouTube channel, and showed Beatrice opening up about her dyslexia diagnosis. In 2023, published more information about Beatrice and her husband, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, both living with dyslexia. For further reading, a previous fact check examined whether Prince William truly faced a £60 fine for taking his son, Prince George, out of school to go to a soccer game. "Britain's Princess Beatrice Gives Birth to Second Daughter." The Associated Press, 29 Jan. 2025, Henni, Janine. "Princess Beatrice Says She Will Be 'Grateful' to Guide Her Kids If They Have Dyslexia." 3 Oct. 2023, "HRH Princess Beatrice Made By Dyslexia Interview." YouTube, Made By Dyslexia, 23 May 2020,
Tom's Guide
24-05-2025
- Business
- Tom's Guide
I ditched Google for Perplexity for a month — and I don't think I can go back
Like many people, I have naturally defaulted to Google as my search engine of choice. It's not through a lack of trying out the competition. I've used DuckDuckGo, Brave, and a selection of competitors, but the lure of different unique selling points has never managed to pry me away from the ease of Google. However, there is a newer and potentially more interesting competitor that could change all of that. Perplexity is part of the recent wave of AI chatbots that have emerged in recent years, except it's slightly different. Where ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude have all positioned themselves as chatbots to help answer your never-ending list of questions and tasks, Perplexity is coming for the search engines, offering an AI-powered approach to search. It uses AI models and sources from the internet to provide answers to your queries. Think of this as a melting pot between Google and ChatGPT, offering detailed answers to every thought that crosses your mind. So, how did I find Perplexity, and can it replace Google in my life? I put Google away and switched over to Perplexity for a month to see if it really is the future. Perplexity operates in a very similar manner to Google's AI overview. Ask it a question and it will provide a detailed response, offering a full answer, as well as a list of sources to show where its information has come from. You can even see the route it took to complete your request. Perplexity thrives when you need a lot of information. I found it especially useful in a few instances — firstly, buying advice. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. 'Is an Oura subscription worth it?' has been a question that's been on my mind since digging an old Oura ring out of my desk in an effort to become a healthy member of society. Perplexity offered me a page-long answer, covering the benefits, costs, and considerations, a summary, and related questions for me to ask. After clicking through a few related questions, I was fully clued in on everything I needed to know. Equally, this style of search engine is great for advice on how to do things. By searching through authority hobby sites, Reddit forums and expert guides, Perplexity helped me with confusing garden tasks, fixing things around my house, and to work out spice blends for cooking. Outside of search functions, Perplexity also offers a Discover tool. This searches the internet for big news stories and interesting topics that are current. What I especially like about this is that Perplexity will scan multiple sources for this, compiling a report of what has happened with an array of information sources. With the introduction of Google AI overview, Perplexity isn't as unique compared to Google as it once was. I'd argue that Perplexity does the job better and is more intuitive, but not necessarily drastically different. However, Perplexity does blend the worlds of AI and search in other ways. One of its best features is its inclusion of deep research. This is a feature popping up more and more in AI, taking on more complicated research tasks while also putting more time and effort into its thinking. This is a great replacement for the rabbit holes you sometimes have to go down with Google. I often found myself able to solve all of the questions I had in one go, where before I would have been poring through Wikipedia pages and articles. Perplexity also offers other features like Spaces, where you can turn the AI model into a super-personalized source. For example, you could load it with papers and articles about the Moon and have the Space be an incredibly specific responder on this topic. This is especially useful for incredibly niche topics that ChatGPT is too focused for. For example, give it a selection of interviews on a famous individual, and Perplexity can answer questions only using information from these interviews. While it's a fun feature (and very similar to what you get from Google's NotebookLM), it isn't one that I've actually ended up using much. This feels best matched to students or those trying to study up on very niche subjects. One feature of Perplexity that stands out is the ability to change AI models. OpenAI, Claude and Grok all have models available via Perplexity, letting you change things up to what works best with your query. Okay, so the drawbacks. Even though Perplexity is heavily backed by online sources, it can still make the mistake that we see most often with AI. Hallucinations, or in other words, when an AI makes a mistake do still happen. In the time I've been using Perplexity as my main search engine, I haven't seen any, but it is a risk that needs to be kept in mind. More importantly, compared to Google, Perplexity can't complete on your commands. For example, while it can tell you the directions to get somewhere, it has to outsource showing a map to Google. Ask for a location, and Perplexity will give you the address, but that's the limit. The same happens with booking anything or making a purchase. Compared to Google, this is the major issue with Perplexity: it can only get you so far. This is especially notable when you're trying to do anything that requires a second step past the search engine. Often times, I found myself having to use Google anyway because I would hit a roadblock with how far Perplexity could take me. This is a problem Perplexity and other AI chatbots are attempting to remedy, adding in-app purchasing to their skillsets and potentially, down the line, we could see in-app bookings and maps. However, for now, Perplexity quite often has to hand back to Google anyway to complete these kind of tasks. This has had me split between the two. Now, I quite often use Perplexity for queries that don't require another step. This includes reviews of products, tips on how to do things and queries about the world. However, if I'm looking to buy something, get somewhere or book anything, Perplexity just isn't there yet.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Fact Check: Samuel L. Jackson did not testify at Sean 'Diddy' Combs trial
Claim: Actor Samuel L. Jackson testified against Sean 'Diddy' Combs during his trial in New York. Rating: A claim alleging Hollywood star Samuel L. Jackson testified against Sean "Diddy" Combs, the music mogul on trial in a New York federal court facing charges of racketeering, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution, circulated online in May 2025. The rumor further purported that Jackson named comedian Steve Harvey as a coconspirator in the crimes of which Combs is accused, alleging Harvey "groomed" his stepdaughter, Lori Harvey, for the rapper. The trial was on the minds of many internet users, as Combs faces a potential sentence of life in prison if found guilty. Users spread the rumor on social media platforms like Facebook (archived) and TikTok (archived) and it was particularly pervasive on YouTube (archived, archived, archived). A grand jury indictment further charged Combs with creating "a criminal enterprise whose members and associates engaged in, and attempted to engage in, among other crimes, sex trafficking, forced labor, kidnapping, arson, bribery, and obstruction of justice." @jep1536 #cops #news #copsoftiktok #nasa #fo #ysl ♬ original sound - jep1 However, the claim that Jackson testified against Sean "Diddy" Combs is false. There is no evidence that Jackson appeared at the trial and searches on Google and DuckDuckGo reveal no credible outlet reported this claim. Further, while Combs and Lori Harvey reportedly dated in the past, there is no evidence that Steve Harvey was involved in Combs' alleged crimes or was mentioned during the trial as of this writing. Instead, on May 22, 2025, a video created at least partially with artificial intelligence (AI) appeared on a YouTube channel with a disclaimer that read, "The content on this channel may contain gossip-based information, rumors, or exaggerated portrayals of reality. Please exercise your own discretion while watching and remember that not all information presented may be factual or verified." Further, the video itself contained a disclaimer in its description that read, "this content is fictional and intended for entertainment purposes only. No verified court documents or official statements confirm these claims." The description of the video also featured a note under the heading "how this content was made" that read, "Sound or visuals were significantly edited or digitally generated." Indeed, plugging the video into the AI-detection tool Hive Moderation revealed that the voice-over audio was 99% likely to have been generated with AI. Many of the visuals used in the video are authentic clips of Jackson and Combs from prior interviews or courtroom sketches available online. (Hive Moderation) The same YouTube channel, WhatIsMyStarWorth, shared similar false claims Snopes has previously fact-checked. These include allegations that Usher testified against Combs and that a secret Prince recording was played during the trial. A quick look at the channel's video page revealed a slew of rumors conjured about various notable names with no tangible involvement in the Combs trial using AI-generated thumbnail images of Combs and the celebrities in question. (WhatIsMyStarWorth on YouTube) The video purported that the news came from an outlet called Inner City Press, though there is no evidence that Inner City Press reported about Jackson in relation to the trial. Further, the outlet previously debunked similar claims that falsely credited it with being the source of the fictional news. CBC. "Diddy on Trial - Transcript." CBC Radio, 22 May 2025. "Diddy Faces Public Scrutiny over Alleged Sex Crimes as Questions Arise about Future of His Music." AP News, 21 Sept. 2024, "Diddy Hangs Out With Rumored Girlfriend Lori Harvey's Family in Italy." TMZ, Accessed 23 May 2025. France, Lisa Respers. "Courtroom Sketches of the Sean 'Diddy' Combs Trial Are Drawing Quite a Reaction." CNN, 21 May 2025, Liles, Jordan. "Secret Prince Recording Wasn't Played at Sean 'Diddy' Combs Trial." Snopes, 19 May 2025, ---. "Usher Didn't Testify in Court against Sean 'Diddy' Combs." Snopes, 21 May 2025, Scannell, Nicki Brown, Lauren del Valle, Kara. "May 20, 2025 - Day 7 of Testimony in the Sean 'Diddy' Combs Trial." CNN, 20 May 2025, United States of America v. Sean Combs. United States District Court Southern District of New York, "United States v. COMBS, 1:24-Cr-00542 - CourtListener, Accessed 23 May 2025. What Is Sean "Diddy" Combs Charged with and How Long Will His Trial Last? 13 May 2025,
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Fact Check: Secret Prince recording wasn't played at Sean 'Diddy' Combs trial
Claim: During Sean "Diddy" Combs' federal sex-trafficking trial in New York in May 2025, prosecutors presented a recording from Prince's final days alive, in which he divulged details of Combs' alleged illicit activities at past parties. Rating: A rumor that circulated online in May 2025 claimed federal prosecutors in Sean "Diddy" Combs' New York sex-trafficking trial presented as evidence a secret recording of Prince exposing the music mogul. Specifically, the rumor said that, in the seven-time Grammy-winning recording artist's final days alive, Prince divulged details of Combs' alleged illicit activities at past parties, including saying, "If something happens to me, this recording needs to go to the press or the police, either one." However, searches of Bing, DuckDuckGo, Google and Yahoo found no news media outlets credibly reporting anything about a Prince video or audio recording at Combs' trial. Instead, those searches displayed links to YouTube videos promoting similar rumors in previous days and months, all with misleading and sensationalist thumbnail images. A video (archived) from WhatIsMyStarWorth, a YouTube channel promoting the rumor, showed a text description describing the clip as fictional content — a disclaimer only visible upon expanding the text description by clicking "more." The same clip also displayed a YouTube-enabled disclaimer about "altered or synthetic content," referencing the artificial intelligence (AI)-generated scripting and voice narration. Further, the inauthentic thumbnail image showing pictures of Prince and Combs claimed the matter involved a "Prince & 'Diddy' video" recording, while the YouTube video itself contradicted that claim, only telling of an audio recording. On May 14, R&B singer Cassie, formally Cassie Ventura — Combs' ex-girlfriend who testified against him during the trial — said in court that she once fled Prince's house during a party after noticing Combs' presence, alleging Combs later physically assaulted her at the Beverly Hills Hotel. Her testimony made no mention of a Prince recording. Prince died on April 21, 2016. Weeks later, on June 2, a Minnesota medical examiner announced Prince's cause of death as an accidental overdose of fentanyl. Snopes contacted by email a manager of the WhatIsMyStarWorth YouTube channel to ask why they didn't feature the fictional content disclaimer anywhere in the video itself, and if their primary goal is advertising revenue based on promoting misleading content. We will update this article if we learn more information. On May 18, a manager of the WhatIsMyStarWorth YouTube channel, one of many channels promoting the rumor, posted a video (archived) titled, "1 MINUTE AGO: Prince's SECRET Recording Just Shattered Diddy's Trial…" As of this writing, the clip received over 757,000 views. Other users also promoted the same false rumor on Bluesky (archived), Facebook, Threads (archived), TikTok, X (archived) and YouTube (archived). The clip displayed a brief text description including a disclaimer about its fabricated content: In a stunning turn of events, a previously unreleased recording from the late music icon Prince has surfaced — and it's reportedly causing major damage to the ongoing trial of Sean "Diddy" Combs. The recording, said to have been made in confidence, contains explosive insights and personal warnings that directly tie into the heart of the case. In this video, we break down the content of the alleged recording, how it resurfaced, and why it's being described as a game-changer in the courtroom. Prince, known for his cryptic genius and deep knowledge of the music industry, may have left behind more than just music—he may have left a warning no one expected. This revelation could shift everything. Disclaimer: This content is fictional and for entertainment purposes only. No official sources confirm the existence of such a recording. The video begins with the AI-generated voice narrator announcing the disclaimer, "Before we begin, viewer discretion is strongly advised. The following is for educational and entertainment purposes only." In the very next sentence, the narrator says, "This is the verbatim federal courtroom testimony of the Sean 'Diddy' Combs trial, as reported by Inner City Press." The authentic Inner City Press online presence said on X (archived) that the idea of the prosecution playing a Prince recording, and their publication reporting on it, were both false. The video doesn't feature an AI-generated version of Prince's image and voice on a recording. Rather, the clip's AI-generated narrator speaks about the words purportedly said by Prince on the alleged "tape." After one moment, the narrator says that Combs stood up and yelled in the courtroom, "That's a lie!" According to the narrator, the prosecution timed the reveal of the alleged secret recording to catch Combs with his guard down, in order to show the jury his "rage, guilt [and] loss of control" — a story the YouTube creator or someone else fabricated entirely. The fictional story spread during Combs' trial in Manhattan federal court. In September 2024, the U.S. attorney's office for the Southern District of New York charged him with racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution, all centered on so-called "freak-off" parties — alleged sexual marathons involving drug use and coercion. Combs pleaded not guilty; if convicted, he faces a minimum prison sentence of 15 years and a maximum of life in jail. Between May 16 and 19, the WhatIsMyStarWorth YouTube channel created other videos also centered on Combs' trial, similarly containing disclaimers about fictional content. The video "1 MINUTE AGO: Cassie Reveals What She Saw Inside Diddy's Secret Tunnels" received over 961,000 views; "1 MINUTE AGO: Justin Bieber Step In On Day 5, Diddy Loses It in Court" displayed more than 403,000 views; "1 MINUTE AGO: 50 Cent ENDED Diddy's Case in Court, What Happened Next Was Shocking...." showed nearly 940,000 views; "1 MINUTE AGO: Diddy's Bodyguard Finally Releases the Tape, Courtroom in SHOCK..." earned around 400,000 views; and "1 MINUTE AGO: Mo'Nique Names Tyler Perry, Oprah & Diddy in EXPLOSIVE Testimony..." revealed about 227,000 views, all of this writing. For further reading, a previous fact check examined whether Prince once said, "Money won't buy you happiness, but it'll pay for the search." Bacher, Danielle, and Liam Quinn. "Cassie Says She Fled 'Once in a Lifetime' Experience at Prince's House After Learning Diddy Was There Too." 14 May 2025, Cohen, Luc, and Jonathan Stempel. "Sean 'Diddy' Combs Pleads Not Guilty to Sex Trafficking; Judge Denies Bail." Reuters, 18 Sept. 2024, Gainer, Alice, and Mark Prussin. "Singer Dawn Richard Testifies at Sean 'Diddy' Combs Trial, along with a Former Friend of Cassie's." CBS News, 19 May 2025, Italie, Hillel, et al. "Prince, Hugely Inventive, Influential Musician, Dead at 57." The Associated Press, 22 Apr. 2016, Landrum Jr., Jonathan. "Diddy Faces Public Scrutiny over Alleged Sex Crimes as Questions Arise about Future of His Music." The Associated Press, 21 Sept. 2024, "Prince | Artist." Sisario, Ben, and Julia Jacobs. "Drugs, Sex, Baby Oil: The 'Freak-Offs' at the Core of Sean Combs's Troubles." The New York Times, 22 Sept. 2024, "Timeline of Key Events in Investigation into Prince's Death." The Associated Press, 18 Apr. 2018,
