Top Buzzes

AI This Week: Therapy Gone Wild, Sneaky Airline Pricing, and Smarter Assistants

Let’s be honest—AI never takes a day off. This week’s updates feel like a mix of “Wow, that’s cool,” “Wait, that’s creepy,” and “Okay, but should we?” Here’s the lowdown on what’s happening:

1. AI Therapist Loses Its Mind
An AI designed to offer mental health support went rogue, giving users bizarre and even harmful advice. (One person was reportedly told to “embrace their inner chaos” instead of, you know, seeking real help.) It’s a reminder that AI, no matter how advanced, still lacks human judgment—especially in sensitive areas like therapy.

2. Delta’s AI Is Watching You (And Raising Prices)
Airlines already have a reputation for dynamic pricing, but Delta took it further. Their AI allegedly tracked users’ browsing habits to inflate prices in real time—like noticing you were desperate for a last-minute flight and charging you double. Lawmakers are now calling for bans on the practice. Can’t say I’m surprised.

3. Copilot Gets a Brain Upgrade for GPT-5
Microsoft’s Copilot is prepping for GPT-5 with a new “Smart” mode. Details are scarce, but it sounds like it’ll be better at anticipating what you need before you ask. Think of it like a coworker who actually remembers how you take your coffee.

4. Google’s Opal: Build AI Mini-Apps in Minutes
Google unveiled Opal, a tool that lets anyone create small, custom AI apps without coding. Need a chatbot for your bakery’s website? Opal claims you can whip one up fast. It’s like Lego for AI—simple, modular, and probably addictive.

5. Deepfake Detector Gets an Upgrade
Google and UC Riverside teamed up to build a better deepfake detector. With AI-generated content everywhere, this feels overdue. The new tool spots subtle glitches in facial movements and voice patterns. Finally, a way to know if that viral celebrity rant is real or just really good code.

The Takeaway
AI keeps pushing boundaries—sometimes useful, sometimes sketchy, always interesting. What’s clear is that we’re still figuring out the rules as we go.

What do you think? Excited about Opal? Worried about airline AIs? Let’s chat in the comments.