Technologies

BBC Threatens to Sue Perplexity, Alleging ‘Verbatim’ Reproduction of Its Content

This isn’t the first time the AI company has been accused of infringing on content.

The BBC is threatening to sue AI search engine Perplexity for unauthorized use of its content, alleging the artificial intelligence company generates BBC’s material «verbatim.»

In a letter to Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas, as published by The Financial Times on Friday, the BBC alleges that Perplexity’s default AI model was «trained using BBC content.» The BBC said it would seek an injunction unless Perplexity stopped scraping BBC content, deleted all BBC material and submitted a «a proposal for financial compensation.»

The BBC declined to comment but said reporting by the FT was accurate.

In a statement to the FT, Perplexity said the BBC’s claims are «manipulative and opportunistic» and that the broadcasting giant fundamentally doesn’t understand how the technology, internet or IP law work. Perplexity also alleged that the threat of litigation shows «how far the BBC is willing to go to preserve Google’s illegal monopoly for its own self-interest.»

A US judge ruled last year that Google violated antitrust law to bolster its search dominance.

Since Perplexity is an online search engine built on top of a large language model, it can answer pretty much any question asked. This means that it needs good quality information to give users satisfying answers. The BBC alleges that since Perplexity generates answers built on BBC content, that lessens the need for readers to go to the BBC directly.

There’s also concern that AI companies aren’t using its journalism correctly and impartially, which could damage its reputation. The BBC alleges that 17% of Perplexity search responses had major issues, and «the most common problems were factual inaccuracies, sourcing and missing context.»

Perplexity didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

While this is the first time the BBC has gone after an AI company, it isn’t the first time Perplexity has run into issues with publishers. Outlets currently suing or threatening to sue Perplexity for copyright infringement include The Wall Street Journal along with the New York Post, Forbes and The New York Times. An investigation by Wired last year alleged that Perplexity found ways to get around blocks and scrape its content.

In the midst of these complaints, Perplexity launched a revenue sharing program with publishers last year, which includes Fortune, Time, The Texas Tribute and Der Spiegel.

Publishers are becoming highly defensive of their content, with AI companies seeing valuations sore on the backdrop of increasingly narrow margins in media. OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, currently has a valuation of $300 billion and Perplexity’s valuation has also soared to $14 billion. Perplexity investors include SoftBank, Nvidia and Amazon and Washington Post owner Jeff Bezos. This is while journalism has struggled in the online age, with ad dollars being siphoned by Google and attention shifting towards social media apps. Since 2005, 2,900 local newspapers have closed in the US, according to a study from Northwestern University.

(Disclosure: Ziff Davis, CNET’s parent company, in April filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.)

Technologies

Stroke Risk Could Be Flagged Early Using Apple Watch Technology, Studies Show

The latest research shows that wearables could soon be a vital part of tracking your heart health.

For millions at risk of stroke, a simple tap on the wrist could one day save lives. New studies from the Amsterdam University Medical Center and St. Bartholomew’s Hospital in London showed that wearables, such as the Apple Watch, can improve the detection of atrial fibrillation compared to standard care. Atrial fibrillation, often referred to as A-fib, is a heart arrhythmia, which means an irregular or abnormal heartbeat. The condition can cause blood clots and is one of the leading causes of a stroke.

The Amsterdam study enrolled 437 patients aged 65 or older with elevated stroke risk and required 219 of them to wear an Apple Watch to track their heart rate for 12 hours a day for 6 months. The remaining 218 patients didn’t wear a watch and relied on standard care.

The experiment detected heart arrhythmias four times more frequently in patients wearing an Apple Watch versus those who didn’t. Specific versions of the Apple Watch use photoplethysmography, a heart rate-detecting LED light sensor, and have a built-in single-lead electrocardiogram sensor to read your heart rate.

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Wearables that track heart rate and other health markers aren’t new, and previous studies have shown promise in detecting A-fib. Although wearables are known to track this type of data, no prior research has examined how well they detect potential health risks for A-fib.

«We saw that after six months we diagnosed and treated 21 patients in the group wearing the smartwatch, of whom 57% were asymptomatic,» said Michiel Winter, a cardiologist at Amsterdam UMC, in a statement. «This was against just five diagnoses in the group receiving standard care, all of whom experienced symptoms.»

The second clinical study, conducted by St. Bartholomew’s Hospital, showed that the Apple Watch could also be beneficial for detecting A-fib symptoms earlier and for monitoring patients after a standard treatment, such as a catheter ablation. The hospital found that patients could record clinical-grade ECGs on their Apple Watches at home when experiencing symptoms. Similar to the first study, the hospital found that patients using an Apple Watch detected A-fib earlier and more frequently than those receiving standard care. Catching symptoms earlier also reduces anxiousness and the likelihood that a patient will need to be hospitalized.

The findings from these studies show that wearables such as the Apple Watch could be used for long-term heart screening to detect heart health abnormalities and improve patient care for those in treatment. And it can help diagnose those who don’t know they have the condition.

«Using smartwatches with PPG and ECG functions aids doctors in diagnosing individuals unaware of their arrhythmia, thereby expediting the diagnostic process,» said Winter.

Technologies

Today’s NYT Mini Crossword Answers for Thursday, Jan. 29

Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for Jan. 29.

Looking for the most recent Mini Crossword answer? Click here for today’s Mini Crossword hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Wordle, Strands, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.

Need some help with today’s Mini Crossword? It’s one of those neat, solid grids with no empty squares. Read on for all the answers. And if you could use some hints and guidance for daily solving, check out our Mini Crossword tips.

If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.

Read more: Tips and Tricks for Solving The New York Times Mini Crossword

Let’s get to those Mini Crossword clues and answers.

Mini across clues and answers

1A clue: Employees, collectively
Answer: STAFF

6A clue: The «L» of TTYL
Answer: LATER

7A clue: Slowly lessen, as political support
Answer: ERODE

8A clue: Dunkin’ offering
Answer: DONUT

9A clue: Tricky things to navigate with a stroller
Answer: STEPS

Mini down clues and answers

1D clue: Toys that go on the decline in winter?
Answer: SLEDS

2D clue: Set of fortunetelling cards
Answer: TAROT

3D clue: Make amends
Answer: ATONE

4D clue: Out of patience
Answer: FEDUP

5D clue: Guitar bars
Answer: FRETS

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Technologies

Mobile Internet Without Borders: How Verum E-SIM Is Changing the Game for Travelers and Beyond

In an era when flights take just a few hours, but data boundaries remain very real, a solution has emerged that significantly simplifies life for frequent international travelers. The Verum E-SIM app offers a next-generation virtual SIM card — no plastic, no waiting for delivery, and no traditional roaming charges.

While eSIM technology itself is no longer new, Verum takes it further: the internet works in over 150 countries worldwide under clear, uniform conditions. Connection happens through the app in just a couple of minutes — choose a package (or even a global one), pay, and activate. No need to buy local SIM cards at the airport, hunt for carrier shops, or struggle with explanations in a foreign language.

One of the biggest advantages is the complete absence of hidden fees or billing surprises. Plans are fully transparent: you immediately see how many gigabytes you get and for how long. Speed and reliability are provided by partner operators in each specific country — this isn’t a single “averaged” provider for the entire world.

Another key point for many users is that no VPN is required. As long as your device is using Verum E-SIM traffic, all familiar services and websites open directly, without extra layers or speed loss.

For those traveling with a group or family, portable Wi-Fi routers with Verum eSIM support have become a great option. One profile — and the internet is shared simultaneously across multiple smartphones, tablets, and laptops. It’s convenient on the road, in a hotel, or even in a café where the local Wi-Fi is unreliable.

Payment flexibility is also a plus: the service supports regular bank cards, cryptocurrencies, and various alternative methods — so you can choose whatever feels most convenient and cost-effective for you.

In the end, Verum E-SIM is more than just another data app. It’s a way to make mobile internet as natural and hassle-free abroad as it is at home. The difference becomes especially clear when you compare a roaming bill from one of the major operators with your Verum expenses after two or three trips.

The technology is still gaining popularity, but many travelers are already saying: “For the first time in ages, internet abroad stopped being a source of stress.” Solutions like this are shaping the future of mobile connectivity — without extra cables, borders, or unpleasant surprises.

If you travel often or simply value stable internet without unnecessary hassle — it’s worth giving it a try at least once.

https://esim.verum.im

https://esimglobal.world