Hub AI and society

Artificial Intelligence is a key technology that can help us solve major societal challenges such as climate change, energy supply, healthcare, education or logistics. AI can solve specific problems more effectively by supporting us in decision-making, automating solutions and thus scaling them, or discovering completely new solutions. But the use of AI also poses new risks, for example when it comes to surveillance or questions of social justice.

What is our society doing with AI – and what is AI doing to our society? We shed light on this question in our AI and Society Content Hub.

AI and society

Aug 23, 2025Aug 23, 2025

Google downplays AI's environmental impact in new study

AI and society

Aug 17, 2025Aug 17, 2025

Meta's human-like chatbot personas can mislead users and result in real-world harm

AI and society

May 6, 2025May 10, 2025

US think tank warns of "reverse brain drain" in China's AI sector

AI and society

Aug 13, 2025

U.S. authorities have reportedly embedded secret GPS trackers in shipments of advanced AI chips

AI and society

Aug 13, 2025Aug 13, 2025

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Perplexity goes for another PR stunt: the AI startup offered Google $34.5 billion for its Chrome web browser, even though a sale isn't actually on the table. The company previously made public overtures toward TikTok in a similar bid for attention. With these stunts, Perplexity is trying to position itself alongside major tech brands, but it faces its own challenges, including multiple copyright lawsuits and mounting competition. The timing of the Chrome offer is notable, coming as a U.S. court weighs potential antitrust action against Google. According to the Wall Street Journal, Perplexity itself is valued at around $18 billion - about half the amount it offered for Chrome. Still, investors are reportedly willing to back the full amount. Perplexity says it would continue to support Chromium and keep Google as the default search engine. Most observers see the move as a play for attention, as Perplexity looks to stay relevant against rivals like OpenAI, xAI, and Anthropic.

WSJ

AI and society

Aug 13, 2025Aug 13, 2025

Short

OpenAI is reportedly planning an investment in Merge Labs, a startup developing brain-computer interfaces that would put it in direct competition with Elon Musk's company Neuralink, according to the Financial Times. Merge Labs will be co-founded by Sam Altman, though he is not expected to take on an operational role. The company's goal is to use recent advances in AI to create more powerful brain implants. Merge is seeking to raise $250 million at a valuation of $850 million, the FT reports. Musk and Altman have been seen as rivals since Musk left OpenAI in 2018. Neuralink, which was founded in 2016, has so far raised $650 million from investors including Sequoia Capital.