✊ AI is protesting already?

👋 Good morning! Today we’re unpacking AI secretly posing as activists (seriously), how your daily smartphone habits might protect against dementia, and why tropical foods could rival Mediterranean staples. Plus, we’ll break down the real story behind UnitedHealth’s major financial slip—and why your wallet cares.

Let’s dive in!

Health care AI stuck in limbo. Only 30% of AI healthcare pilots go live, stalled by security and cost fears.

Google’s AI safety report falls short. Experts say Gemini 2.5 Pro’s report omits key AI safety details.

China’s AI classroom overhaul. China will integrate AI into textbooks and teaching methods through its ambitious “strong-education nation” plan running to 2035. The goal: sharpen students’ problem-solving skills and prep them for a rapidly evolving, tech-driven global economy.

Undercover AI bot personas raise red flags. Newly surfaced documents show private firm Massive Blue secretly used AI-powered bots posing as paid protesters and grassroots activists, sparking ethical questions about digital manipulation and covert law enforcement surveillance tactics.

Meet Flynn, Europe’s first AI art student. Flynn, an AI developed by Vienna’s Technical University, just aced the admissions interview at the prestigious University of Applied Arts. Now officially enrolled alongside human peers in digital media courses, Flynn attends lectures, participates in critiques, and even receives grades. This bold experiment challenges traditional concepts of creativity, accreditation, and education itself. It also points toward a future where artistic careers increasingly blend human imagination with sophisticated algorithms and coding skills.

Paralyzed patients regain their voices. Scientists from UC Berkeley and UCSF have developed a revolutionary brain-computer interface that translates neural signals directly into personalized speech in real-time. Volunteers suffering from paralysis simply think about speaking, and the system restores their natural voice through AI-driven technology. This groundbreaking achievement not only dramatically improves quality of life for those who’ve lost speech capabilities but also signals rapid advancements—and exciting career opportunities—in the fast-growing fields of neurotech and assistive technology.

CFPB cutting 1,500 jobs. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau will lay off 1,500 employees as the Trump administration shifts enforcement priorities.

Trump extends federal hiring freeze. President Trump’s new order extends the current federal hiring freeze through July, keeping government hiring flat and signaling continued tight budgets. Federal job seekers face limited openings as the administration holds headcounts at inauguration-day levels.

A manufacturing boom could create 3.8M U.S. jobs by 2033. Fortune forecasts that U.S. factories will need to fill roughly 3.8 million new roles over the next decade as baby boomers retire and manufacturers expand their operations. From high-tech robotics plants to busy food-processing facilities, companies are attracting younger workers with higher salaries, apprenticeships, and extensive on-the-job training. For early-career pros and Gen Z workers skilled in mechatronics, quality control, or logistics, manufacturing represents a stable, lucrative career path worth considering.

Oil climbs amid sanctions. Brent crude oil surpasses $66 as U.S. sanctions on Iran and OPEC cuts tighten global supply.

Mixed market signals. The Dow dropped 1.3% amid a UnitedHealth profit scare, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq inched upward. Treasury yields rose slightly as traders grappled with conflicting economic data and ongoing concerns about potential tariff fallout.

Tariff tensions heighten U.S. recession odds to 45%. A new Reuters poll warns aggressive import tariffs could shrink U.S. GDP growth to just 1.4% in 2025, increasing the risk of a recession to the highest level since late 2023. While tariffs aim to shield domestic industries, experts caution they’re likely to curb consumer spending and business investments. If you’re considering major financial moves—like buying property or starting a new venture—stay flexible and prioritize emergency savings, as trade policy uncertainties persist.

Bobbi Brown’s memoir announced. Beauty mogul Bobbi Brown’s memoir Still Bobbi arrives September 23, detailing her makeup-to-mogul journey.

Tropical diet beats Med? Move aside, tomatoes and olive oil—new research finds tropical foods like plantains and cassava offer similar heart and metabolism benefits. Your healthy-eating shortlist might soon get a summery upgrade from these surprising dietary staples.

Your smartphone habit might fight dementia. A recent study found that regular smartphone activities like puzzles, video calls, and browsing the web could slash dementia risk by up to 58% for adults aged 65 and older. Researchers attribute these results to increased mental stimulation, which strengthens neural connections and keeps cognitive abilities sharp. If you’re concerned about aging loved ones, gently encouraging balanced smartphone use might be one of the easiest and most effective strategies to help maintain their memory, independence, and overall brain health.

On April 17, UnitedHealth Group—America’s largest health insurer—reported Q1 revenue of $109.6 billion, missing analyst forecasts by roughly $2 billion. This marked UnitedHealth’s first quarterly revenue miss since 2008, causing shares to plunge over 22%, their biggest single-day drop since 1998, and wiping nearly $120 billion off their market value.

While adjusted earnings per share (EPS) hit $7.20, the company sharply lowered its annual guidance:

CEO Andrew Witty called the results “unusual and unacceptable,” citing unexpectedly low engagement from members leaving health plans, reduced Medicare reimbursements, and shifting complexities within Optum Health memberships, all of which hurt profitability. Analysts, including those from Mizuho, noted the unusual lack of clarity from UnitedHealth—a company known for cautious forecasting.

UnitedHealth’s troubles triggered a broader sell-off among health insurance stocks, spotlighting rising healthcare costs, demographic pressures, and policy risks facing the industry. The results have reignited conversations about necessary reforms—like expanding value-based care, enforcing price transparency, and addressing surprise billing practices.

Why it matters: UnitedHealth’s unexpected financial troubles highlight how vulnerable even large, stable healthcare giants are to rising costs and shifting policies. This instability underscores the urgent need for healthcare reforms—directly affecting the affordability, reliability, and quality of your healthcare coverage and influencing critical decisions about your personal and financial well-being.

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Every day, the world generates about 402.74 million terabytes of new data—enough to fill over 100 million standard DVDs.

In 1991, the first webcam was set up at Cambridge University—pointed at a coffee pot—so researchers could see when a fresh brew was ready.

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