Latest news with #PollyHudson
The Guardian
30-04-2025
- Health
- The Guardian
Shoes on at home or shoes off? If you care about your health, it's a no-brainer
It is a truth almost universally unacknowledged in the UK that wearing shoes in the home is gross. More than gross, actually – there's scientific evidence it could have serious health consequences and even, if you want to come over all dramatic about it, be life-threatening. And yet I can count on the fingers of no hands the people I know who ask me to remove my shoes when I visit. Until now this has been an uncomplicatedly divisive subject: you were either a Shoes Off household, or you weren't. But a secret underground movement is gathering pace – the Shoes On households who wish they were Shoes Off, but are worried about the uptight implications of rolling out that policy. Can you be a Shoes Off household while avoiding Shoes Off household energy? The Shoes Off brigade get a bad rap, given that they're essentially right – outdoor shoes carry bacteria, allergens and toxic chemicals that could lead to E coli, MRSA or various deadly bloodstream infections. You're glazing over, aren't you? Maybe this will grab your attention: 96% of shoes tested positive for coliform bacteria, which is commonly found in faecal matter, in a University of Arizona study. Everyone will presumably now try to convince themselves they're in the 4% club but although maths is far from my strong point, I'm fairly sure we can't all be. In other words, we'd apparently rather let our friends track crap all over our homes than demand they go shoe-free, because that seems so control-freaky and joyless. The other problem with Shoes Off households is that most of them don't give you advance warning, meaning you could end up barefoot in public without the maintenance essential for that to be a mutually non-horrifying experience – or wearing your worst socks. Your shoes might be the key element that ties your whole look together, so you're a fashion disaster without them. Also, Shoes Off households can't win with their implementation methods. If they offer communal slippers, yuck. If they don't, eeek. What Shoes Off households need is a rebrand, for somebody seen as fun and relaxed, but trustworthy, to out themselves as one of them. It's a tall order, because it would have to be exactly the right person, universally adored, no less than national treasure status for sure. No pressure, Olivia Colman, but our lives are in your hands. Polly Hudson is a freelance writer
Express Tribune
24-04-2025
- Express Tribune
New meta's AI chatbot on whatsapp sparks privacy fears
Listen to article WhatsApp's newly launched AI feature has sparked frustration among users after it emerged the tool cannot be removed from the app, despite the company describing it as 'entirely optional.' The Meta AI chatbot, represented by a multi-coloured blue icon on the Chats screen, provides users with AI-driven responses to queries. However, its permanent presence in the interface has drawn comparisons to other controversial tech rollouts, such as Microsoft's now-revised Recall feature. A WhatsApp spokesperson told that the company sees the tool as similar to non-removable options like 'channels' or 'status,' and added: 'We think giving people these options is a good thing and we're always listening to feedback from our users.' The backlash echoes wider concerns about user control and digital privacy as tech firms integrate AI deeper into everyday services. The introduction of WhatsApp's AI assistant coincides with Meta's announcement of a separate update aimed at teen users on Instagram. The company disclosed it is piloting an artificial intelligence system in the United States that can identify accounts created by minors who may have provided false age information. As for WhatsApp's AI assistant, not all users will see the new blue circle icon yet. Meta confirmed the tool is being gradually introduced across select regions and may not appear immediately, even within countries where it is available to others. The blue circle, which appears in the corner of the chats screen, is accompanied by a search bar prompting users to 'Ask Meta AI or Search.' The same feature is being integrated into Facebook Messenger and Instagram, both of which are also owned by Meta. This chatbot is driven by Meta's own large language model, Llama 4. Before interaction, users are presented with a detailed introduction explaining the tool's purpose and noting that its use is 'optional.' According to Meta's website, the AI can provide answers to questions, offer educational insights, or assist with creative thinking. In testing, the chatbot returned accurate weather details for Glasgow within seconds, including temperature, rainfall probability, wind and humidity. However, one suggested link mistakenly referenced Charing Cross station in London rather than the Glasgow location. Public reaction, particularly in Europe, has been mixed. Users on platforms such as X (formerly Twitter), Bluesky and Reddit have voiced frustration over the feature's permanence. Among them, columnist Polly Hudson criticised the inability to disable the assistant. AI and privacy expert Dr Kris Shrishak offered sharper criticism, alleging Meta is leveraging its vast user base to test AI products and gather data. He argued that Meta's AI development process involved 'privacy violations by design' through the use of scraped online content, including pirated books. A report by The Atlantic suggested Meta may have accessed millions of pirated texts via Library Genesis (LibGen) to train Llama. Author groups globally are now campaigning for government intervention, while Meta faces legal action from writers over the use of their intellectual property. Asked about the Atlantic findings, a Meta spokesperson declined to comment. While Meta has stated that the chatbot only accesses messages users send directly to it—and that all personal chats remain end-to-end encrypted—concerns remain. The UK's Information Commissioner's Office said it is monitoring how Meta AI processes personal data on WhatsApp, especially involving minors. 'AI development depends heavily on personal data,' the agency said. 'Organisations must ensure they meet legal obligations, particularly where children are concerned.' Dr Kris Shrishak has urged users to exercise caution when interacting with Meta AI. He explained that while end-to-end encryption protects messages exchanged between friends, communication with the chatbot operates differently. 'When you're chatting with a friend, encryption keeps Meta out,' Shrishak said. 'But when you use Meta AI, one side of the conversation is Meta itself.' Meta has also warned users to think carefully about what they share with the AI assistant. In guidance published on its site, the company advises against submitting any personal or sensitive details users would not want stored or referenced. 'Only share information you're comfortable with being retained and potentially used,' the company said.
Forbes
24-04-2025
- Forbes
WhatsApp Confirms How To Block Meta AI From Your Chats
WhatsApp has the answer Meta, Google and others have a dilemma. They need to stitch AI through their platforms, but users are understandably worried this is a privacy nightmare come true. Google has been leading the charge, but has been careful to emphasize opt outs at all times. Meta has taken a different approach with WhatsApp. AI is now there. You can't remove it. But if you don't like it, then just don't use it. Cue the backlash. Polly Hudson summed up the mood in a Guardian column: 'There are five stages of grief, but only two stages of discovering the little Meta AI circle on your WhatsApp screen. Fear, then fury.' Meanwhile, WhatsApp assured users via BBC News that its suddenly ever-present blue circle is optional, despite being unremovable. I do like the team at WhatsApp. My strong sense is they exist in a corporate machine but do their best to hold as true as they can to the platform's heritage. Privacy, security, simplicity. It's a private messaging machine — the world's largest, but it's owned by a marketing machine that has build an empire on harnessing user data. And so with perfect timing and wry irony, just as the unremovable blue circle turned up on billions of phones, WhatsApp quietly confirmed the solution. Yes, you can remove, disable, stop Meta AI. You just need to do so chat by chat. The AI block is not front and center. But it's there. As has now been quietly confirmed. "Advanced Chat Privacy," WhatsApp says 'is a new setting available in both chats and groups helps prevent others from taking content outside of WhatsApp for when you may want extra privacy. When the setting is on, you can block others from exporting chats, auto-downloading media to their phone, and using messages for AI features. That way everyone in the chat has greater confidence that no one can take what is being said outside the chat.' So, no Meta AI intruding into any of those chats. It is stopped. Meta assures it can't see any message content, but that's perception versus reality. When you engage AI, Meta says it 'shares information with select partners so Meta Al can offer relevant responses." As such, it warns, "don't share information, including sensitive topics, about others or yourself that you don't want the Al to retain and use." 'You can turn this on by tapping the chat name,' WhatsApp explains, 'then tapping on Advanced Chat Privacy. This is the first version of this feature and we're planning to add more to it so that it will eventually include even more protections.' The privacy setting also blocks any user exporting the chat or autosaving media to their phone's gallery, which you shouldn't do anyway for security reasons. 'This new setting is rolling out to everyone on the latest version of WhatsApp.' If you're at all worried about Meta AI, then just make sure you enable this on your chats and the blue circle is stopped in its tracks. Problem solved.
BBC News
23-04-2025
- BBC News
WhatsApp defends 'optional' AI tool that cannot be turned off
WhatsApp says its new AI feature embedded in the messaging service is "entirely optional" - despite the fact it cannot be removed from the Meta AI logo is an ever-present blue circle with pink and green splashes in the bottom right of your Chats with it opens a chatbot designed to answer your questions, but it has drawn attention and frustration from users who cannot turn it off. It follows Microsoft's Recall feature, which was also an always-on tool - before the firm faced a backlash and decided to allow people to disable it."We think giving people these options is a good thing and we're always listening to feedback from our users," WhatsApp told the BBC. It comes the same week Meta announced an update to its teen accounts feature on firm revealed it was testing AI technology in the US designed to find accounts belonging to teenagers who have lied about their age on the platform. Where is the new blue circle? If you can't see it, you may not be able to use it says the feature is only being rolled out to some countries at the moment and advises it "might not be available to you yet, even if other users in your country have access". As well as the blue circle, there is a search bar at the top inviting users to 'Ask Meta AI or Search'. This is also a feature on Facebook Messenger and Instagram, with both platforms owned by AI chatbot is powered by Llama 4, one of the large language models operated by you ask it anything, there is a long message from Meta explaining what Meta AI is - stating it is "optional".On its website, WhatsApp says Meta AI "can answer your questions, teach you something, or help come up with new ideas".I tried out the feature by asking the AI what the weather was like in Glasgow, and it responded in seconds with a detailed report on temperature, the chance of rain, wind and also gave me two links for further information, but this is where it ran into of the links was relevant, but the other tried to give me additional weather details for Charing Cross - not the location in Glasgow, but the railway station in London. What do people think of it? So far in Europe people aren't very pleased, with users on X, Bluesky, and Reddit outlining their frustrations - and Guardian columnist Polly Hudson was among those venting their anger at not being able to turn it Kris Shrishak, an adviser on AI and privacy, was also highly critical, and accused Meta of "exploiting its existing market" and "using people as test subjects for AI"."No one should be forced to use AI," he told the BBC. "Its AI models are a privacy violation by design - Meta, through web scraping, has used personal data of people and pirated books in training them."Now that the legality of their approach has been challenged in courts, Meta is looking for other sources to collect data from people, and this feature could be one such source."An investigation by The Atlantic revealed Meta may have accessed millions of pirated books and research papers through LibGen - Library Genesis - to train its Llama groups across the UK and around the world are organising campaigns to encourage governments to intervene, and Meta is currently defending a court case brought by multiple authors over the use of their work.A spokesperson for Meta declined to comment on The Atlantic investigation. What are the concerns? When you first use Meta AI in WhatsApp, it states the chatbot "can only read messages people share with it"."Meta can't read any other messages in your personal chats, as your personal messages remain end to end encrypted," it the Information Commissioner's Office told the BBC it would "continue to monitor the adoption of Meta AI's technology and use of personal data within WhatsApp"."Personal information fuels much of AI innovation so people need to trust that organisations are using their information responsibly," it said."Organisations who want to use people's personal details to train or use generative AI models need to comply with all their data protection obligations, and take the necessary extra steps when it comes to processing the data of children."And Dr Shrishak says users should be wary. "When you send messages to your friend, end to end encryption will not be affected," he said."Every time you use this feature and communicate with Meta AI, you need to remember that one of the ends is Meta, not your friend."The tech giant also highlights users should only share what they are happy with being used by others."Don't share information, including sensitive topics, about others or yourself that you don't want the AI to retain and use," it says. Additional reporting by Joe Tidy
The Guardian
07-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
The best possible wedding gift? Leaving the reception without saying goodbye
Turns out it's not only intricate dances and lip-syncing – there is common sense on TikTok, too. An idea circulating there is that a new wedding rule should be introduced, stipulating that guests must not say goodbye to the happy couple, but should just leave. That way, the newly spliced spouses are allowed to enjoy the most expensive party they will ever throw, rather than being persistently interrupted and pulled off the dancefloor. While your kneejerk reaction may be that this is rude, ungrateful ghosting on the most special day of their lives, stop for a moment and think about it rationally – and mathematically. A wedding reception can easily have 150 guests, some of whom will be in couples. Even if they're bored witless, social convention dictates that people usually stay until the last, say, two hours of the night, which means one or two goodbyes a minute. So, in fact, the couple won't be repeatedly pulled off the dancefloor, because they won't have enough time to get back on it after the previous guests bid them adieu. Of all the wedding presents you could give, quietly slipping out of the reception is probably the one that would be most appreciated. Most weddings are already an endurance test of the same conversations ad nauseam – everyone tells you that the service was beautiful, you look lovely and they are so happy for you. These may seem like sentiments it's impossible to tire of hearing; this is not the case. The French exit should not only become the norm for weddings – it should be rolled out for all gatherings. If you left a concert early to beat the rush, you wouldn't stop Taylor Swift in the middle of Shake It Off to thank her for a lovely evening, would you? There is never any need to say goodbye – especially in Britain, where the rules of small talk dictate that you reply: 'You off then?' when someone announces their departure, even though that is what they just said. A message to the host the next day happily suffices; it will probably mean more, as any big do at which you are the focus is a blur anyway. No need to say goodbye at the end of that, either. Polly Hudson is a freelance writer
