Delta launches AI assistant and free YouTube on flights
Delta Air Lines introduced an AI-powered assistant and expanded in-flight services during CES 2025. The Delta Concierge, built into the airline’s mobile app, will provide proactive travel updates like passport expiration alerts and visa requirements. Passengers can interact with the assistant using voice or text for added convenience.
SkyMiles members will soon enjoy free access to YouTube Premium and YouTube Music during flights. The new offering enhances Delta’s focus on passenger entertainment while adding exclusive perks for frequent flyers.
A next-generation in-flight entertainment system will begin rolling out in 2026, featuring 4K HDR QLED displays, Bluetooth connectivity, and 96 terabytes of storage for movies, TV shows, and music. Delta describes it as the first cloud-based system of its kind.
The company also announced a collaboration with Airbus on the fello’fly project, testing formation flying to conserve fuel. Regulatory hurdles could delay widespread adoption, but the energy-saving potential remains promising.
Online sales rise as AI chatbots help shoppers during holidays
AI-powered chatbots played a key role in boosting online sales during the 2024 holiday season, with United States e-commerce revenue rising nearly 4% year-on-year to $282 billion, according to Salesforce. Consumers increasingly relied on AI-based customer service tools for purchases and returns, with chatbot usage growing by 42% compared to 2023. Retailers also leveraged targeted promotions, product recommendations, and loyalty programmes to attract bargain hunters.
Despite the sales growth, a sharp increase in product returns emerged as a significant challenge for retailers. The return rate climbed to 28%, up from 20% in the previous year, potentially affecting profit margins. Caila Schwartz, director of Consumer Insights at Salesforce, noted that AI-driven tools would be crucial in 2025 to help retailers reduce losses from returns and retain customers. Mobile shopping remained dominant, with 79% of all orders placed via smartphones, peaking on Christmas Day as last-minute buyers made their final purchases.
Social media platforms such as TikTok Shop and Instagram also played a growing role in holiday sales, driving 14% of traffic to e-commerce sites. AI-driven sales reached $229 billion globally, an increase from $199 billion in 2023. As retailers continue to invest in digital shopping tools, the balance between AI-driven efficiency and managing high return rates will be critical for sustaining profitability in the coming years.
Apple to settle Siri privacy lawsuit for $95 million amidst ongoing user consent concerns
Apple has agreed to pay $95 million to settle a class action lawsuit alleging its Siri voice assistant violated users’ privacy. The lawsuit claimed that Apple recorded users’ private conversations without consent when the ‘Hey, Siri’ feature was unintentionally triggered. These recordings were allegedly shared with third parties, including advertisers, leading to targeted ads based on private discussions.
The class period for the lawsuit spans from 17 September 2014 to 31 December 2024 and applies to users of Siri-enabled devices like iPhones and Apple Watches. Affected users could receive up to $20 per device. Apple denied any wrongdoing but settled the case to avoid prolonged litigation.
The settlement amount is a small fraction of Apple’s annual profits, with the company making nearly $94 billion in net income last year. While the company and plaintiffs’ lawyers have yet to comment on the settlement, the plaintiffs may seek up to $28.5 million in legal fees and expenses. A similar lawsuit involving Google’s Voice Assistant is also underway in a California federal court.
AI reshapes eCommerce tasks and security
AI is set to redefine retail in 2025, offering highly personalised shopping experiences. AI assistants are expected to manage up to 20% of eCommerce tasks, including product recommendations and customer service. Industry leaders like Citi and Google Cloud predict more intuitive and efficient retail processes but warn about data privacy concerns. Enhanced demand forecasting could also reduce inventory costs by 10%.
Experts highlight potential challenges, such as algorithmic biases and AI-driven fraud. Regulators worldwide are preparing new policies to ensure secure and fair AI implementation as businesses invest heavily in AI capabilities.
AI will not only handle routine tasks but also revolutionise customer interactions. With advanced behavioural insights and multimodal capabilities, businesses are poised to gain deeper understanding and engagement with their customers. However, widespread industry transformation is expected to take several years as companies address scalability and trust in AI decision-making.
India launches AI-driven consumer protection initiatives
The Indian government has launched several initiatives to strengthen consumer protection, focusing on leveraging technology and enhancing online safety. Key developments include the introduction of the AI-enabled National Consumer Helpline, the e-Maap Portal, and the Jago Grahak Jago mobile application, all designed to expedite the resolution of consumer complaints and empower citizens to make informed choices.
The government of India also highlighted the significant progress made through the three-tier consumer court system, resolving thousands of disputes this year. In the realm of e-commerce, major platforms like Reliance Retail, Tata Sons, and Zomato pledged to enhance online shopping security, reflecting the government’s commitment to ensuring consumer confidence in the digital marketplace.
The e-Daakhil Portal has been expanded nationwide, achieving 100% adoption in states like Karnataka, Punjab, and Rajasthan, making it easier for consumers to file complaints online. The Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) is also drafting new guidelines to regulate surrogate advertising and has already taken action against 13 companies for non-compliance with existing rules.
The importance of these initiatives was underscored at the National Consumer Day event, where key officials, including Minister of State for Consumer Affairs B L Verma and TRAI Chairman Anil Kumar Lahoti, were present. The event highlighted the government’s ongoing efforts to foster a safer and more transparent consumer environment, especially in the rapidly evolving digital landscape.
Data deletion hampers OpenAI lawsuit progress
OpenAI is under scrutiny after engineers accidentally erased key evidence in an ongoing copyright lawsuit filed by The New York Times and Daily News. The publishers accuse OpenAI of using their copyrighted content to train its AI models without authorisation.
The issue arose when OpenAI provided virtual machines for the plaintiffs to search its training datasets for infringed material. On 14 November 2024, OpenAI engineers deleted the search data stored on one of these machines. While most of the data was recovered, the loss of folder structures and file names rendered the information unusable for tracing specific sources in the training process.
Plaintiffs are now forced to restart the time-intensive search, leading to concerns over OpenAI’s ability to manage its own datasets. Although the deletion is not suspected to be intentional, lawyers argue that OpenAI is best equipped to perform searches and verify its use of copyrighted material. OpenAI maintains that training AI on publicly available data falls under fair use, but it has also struck licensing deals with major publishers like the Associated Press and News Corp. The company has neither confirmed nor denied using specific copyrighted works for its AI training.
EU regulators to rule on Nvidia’s Run deal by December
EU antitrust regulators are expected to announce their decision on Nvidia’s proposed acquisition of Israeli AI startup Run by 20 December. The European Commission has flagged concerns that the $700 million deal, announced in April, could harm competition in the AI and chip sectors. Nvidia must gain regulatory approval before proceeding.
The watchdog will either approve the deal, with or without conditions, or open a four-month investigation if concerns persist. The scrutiny reflects broader fears about ‘killer acquisitions’, where large firms acquire startups to stifle innovation.
Nvidia‘s processors are crucial for AI applications, including tools like ChatGPT, making this acquisition significant for the tech and AI industries. The decision will have implications for competition in rapidly evolving AI markets.
US targets Google Chrome in antitrust case
The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) is reportedly pushing for Alphabet’s Google to divest its Chrome browser, escalating efforts to curb the company’s alleged monopolistic practices in digital markets. This follows a prior ruling that Google illegally dominated the search market. The DOJ also plans to address Google’s control over AI and the Android operating system.
Google, which commands two-thirds of the global browser market, denies the claims, arguing that its success stems from user preference and robust competition. It also criticises the DOJ’s proposals as extreme and potentially harmful to consumers. Prosecutors have suggested a range of remedies, including ending exclusive search agreements with companies like Apple or enforcing Chrome’s divestiture if market competition does not improve.
A trial to finalise the remedies is set for April, with a ruling expected by August 2025. Google intends to appeal any decision to divest Chrome, citing the browser’s integral role in its ad revenue and user experience.