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White House: OpenAI, Google, Others Pledge to Watermark AI Content for Safety

This illustration picture shows icons of Google's AI (Artificial Intelligence) app BardAI (or ChatBot) (C-L), OpenAI's app ChatGPT (C-R) and other AI apps on a smartphone screen in Oslo, on July 12, 2023. (Photo by OLIVIER MORIN / AFP)
This illustration picture shows icons of Google's AI (Artificial Intelligence) app BardAI (or ChatBot) (C-L), OpenAI's app ChatGPT (C-R) and other AI apps on a smartphone screen in Oslo, on July 12, 2023. (Photo by OLIVIER MORIN / AFP)
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White House: OpenAI, Google, Others Pledge to Watermark AI Content for Safety

This illustration picture shows icons of Google's AI (Artificial Intelligence) app BardAI (or ChatBot) (C-L), OpenAI's app ChatGPT (C-R) and other AI apps on a smartphone screen in Oslo, on July 12, 2023. (Photo by OLIVIER MORIN / AFP)
This illustration picture shows icons of Google's AI (Artificial Intelligence) app BardAI (or ChatBot) (C-L), OpenAI's app ChatGPT (C-R) and other AI apps on a smartphone screen in Oslo, on July 12, 2023. (Photo by OLIVIER MORIN / AFP)

Top AI companies including OpenAI, Alphabet and Meta Platforms have made voluntary commitments to the White House to implement measures such as watermarking AI-generated content to help make the technology safer, the Biden administration said.
The companies - which also include Anthropic, Inflection, Amazon.com and OpenAI partner Microsoft - pledged to thoroughly test systems before releasing them and share information about how to reduce risks and invest in cybersecurity.
The move is seen as a win for the Biden administration's effort to regulate the technology which has experienced a boom in investment and consumer popularity, Reuters reported.
Since generative AI, which uses data to create new content like ChatGPT's human-sounding prose, became wildly popular this year, lawmakers around the world began considering how to mitigate the dangers of the emerging technology to national security and the economy.
US Senate Majority Chuck Schumer in June called for "comprehensive legislation" to advance and ensure safeguards on artificial intelligence.
Congress is considering a bill that would require political ads to disclose whether AI was used to create imagery or other content.
President Joe Biden, who is hosting executives from the seven companies at the White House on Friday, is also working on developing an executive order and bipartisan legislation on AI technology.
As part of the effort, the seven companies committed to developing a system to "watermark" all forms of content, from text, images, audios, to videos generated by AI so that users will know when the technology has been used.
This watermark, embedded in the content in a technical manner, presumably will make it easier for users to spot deep-fake images or audios that may, for example, show violence that has not occurred, create a better scam or distort a photo of a politician to put the person in an unflattering light.
It is unclear how the watermark will be evident in the sharing of the information.
The companies also pledged to focus on protecting users' privacy as AI develops and on ensuring that the technology is free of bias and not used to discriminate against vulnerable groups.

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Technology

Toyota Recalling 1.02 million US Vehicles over Rear Camera Flaw

Toyota logo is seen in this illustration taken July 28, 2025. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration
Toyota logo is seen in this illustration taken July 28, 2025. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration
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Toyota Recalling 1.02 million US Vehicles over Rear Camera Flaw

Toyota logo is seen in this illustration taken July 28, 2025. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration
Toyota logo is seen in this illustration taken July 28, 2025. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration

Toyota Motor said Wednesday it is recalling 1.02 million vehicles in the United States due to a flaw that may cause a rear-view camera to fail, boosting the risk of a crash. The recall covers certain 2022 through 2026 Toyota and Lexus model year vehicles -- including Camry, Highlander, RAV4, Prius and Lexus RX, TX, LS, GX, NX and LX -- as well as Subaru Solterra vehicles equipped with a Panoramic View Monitor system, the automaker said. A software error may cause the camera image to freeze or go blank when the vehicle is in reverse, meaning the vehicles fail to comply with federal rear visibility requirements, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said.

Dealers will update the parking assist software, Reuters reported.

Automakers have recalled millions of vehicles in recent years over rear camera issues. Over the last month, Ford has recalled 3.3 million vehicles for rear camera issues. Stellantis last year recalled nearly 1.2 million vehicles for rear camera problems.

The cameras are mandatory to help prevent drivers from striking people or objects when backing up. Last month Toyota recalled nearly 394,000 US vehicles due to a rear-view camera issue that could reduce drivers' visibility and increase the risk of a crash.

That recall covered several models including certain 2022-2025 Tundra, Tundra Hybrid, and 2023-2025 Sequoia Hybrid vehicles.

Technology

China Poses 'Very Significant' Challenge to German Brands, BMW Leader Says

The new BMW iX3 is displayed during its world premiere ahead of the IAA auto show, in Munich, Germany, September 5, 2025. REUTERS/Angelika Warmuth
The new BMW iX3 is displayed during its world premiere ahead of the IAA auto show, in Munich, Germany, September 5, 2025. REUTERS/Angelika Warmuth
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China Poses 'Very Significant' Challenge to German Brands, BMW Leader Says

The new BMW iX3 is displayed during its world premiere ahead of the IAA auto show, in Munich, Germany, September 5, 2025. REUTERS/Angelika Warmuth
The new BMW iX3 is displayed during its world premiere ahead of the IAA auto show, in Munich, Germany, September 5, 2025. REUTERS/Angelika Warmuth

China poses a "very significant" competitive challenge to German carmakers, the head of luxury carmaker BMW's new Hungarian plant said on Wednesday, with Chinese rival BYD soon to start production in the country.

Under right-wing Prime Minister Viktor Orban, Hungary has become an important trade and investment partner for China, in contrast with some other European Union nations considering becoming less dependent on the world's second-largest economy.

BMW said it would start series production of its iX3 electric model at a plant in the eastern Hungarian town of Debrecen from the end of October, becoming the third major German brand to enter Hungary after Audi and Mercedes-Benz, Reuters reported.

"China constitutes a very significant challenge, all of us can agree on that," BMW's Hungarian Chairman and Chief Executive Hans-Peter Kemser told a conference alongside local leaders from Audi and Mercedes-Benz.

"We must also see that Chinese manufacturers are arriving in Europe. That is a fact," Kemser said through an interpreter.

China's BYD plans to start production at its new electric-vehicle plant in southern Hungary by the end of 2025, while also investing $94 million to triple its local electric bus output.

Michael Breme, Chief Executive of Audi's Hungarian unit, said western manufacturers had lost market share in China and local brands now account for two-thirds of the market there.

"The Chinese market is simply too important to give up on," Breme said. "We need to find new strategies in the local markets."

Zoltan Guth, head of communications and external affairs at Mercedes-Benz Manufacturing Hungary, said the brand also aimed to preserve its market share in China with new or redesigned models to be launched in coming years.

Technology

Reddit, Kick to Be Included in Australia’s Social Media Ban 

The Reddit app is seen on a smartphone in this illustration taken, July 13, 2021. (Reuters)
The Reddit app is seen on a smartphone in this illustration taken, July 13, 2021. (Reuters)
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Reddit, Kick to Be Included in Australia’s Social Media Ban 

The Reddit app is seen on a smartphone in this illustration taken, July 13, 2021. (Reuters)
The Reddit app is seen on a smartphone in this illustration taken, July 13, 2021. (Reuters)

Popular social media website Reddit and streaming giant Kick will be added to a list of websites banned for under-16s in Australia from next month, Canberra said Wednesday.

Australia will from December 10 force social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram and TikTok to remove users under the age of 16, slapping hefty fines of up to Aus$49.5 million (US$32 million) if they fail to do so.

Streaming platform Kick and online forum Reddit will also be included in the new legislation, Minister for Communications Anika Wells said Wednesday.

"Online platforms use technology to target children with chilling control," Wells told reporters.

"We are merely asking that they use that same technology to keep children safe online," she said.

"We want children to have a childhood and we want parents to have peace of mind."

There is keen interest in whether Australia's sweeping restrictions can work as regulators around the globe wrestle with the dangers of social media.

On paper, the ban is one of the strictest in the world.

But some experts are concerned that the law will be merely symbolic.

So far, platforms like Roblox, Discord and WhatsApp will not be banned, but streaming site Twitch is under review.

But Wells said the list of banned platforms was not static and could change.

And eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant said while age restrictions were one "really potent solution" to stopping social media harm, they were not a quick fix.

Social media companies have previously described the laws as "vague", "problematic" and "rushed".

A Kick spokesperson said: "Australia represents a small share of our global audience, but Kick was built here and we'll keep backing our local creators."

"We'll continue engaging constructively on these new rules to support fair outcomes: protecting online safety without compromising privacy or limiting the creative freedom that drives Australia's creator economy," they added.

Kick came under scrutiny in France after a 46-year-old man died during a 12-day livestreaming marathon on his channel that showed him enduring abuse and humiliation dished out by other participants.

The government said earlier this year social media giants will not be required to verify the ages of all users, but must take "reasonable steps" to detect and deactivate underage ones.