Product & Design Pulse v38

AI Controversy, Big Fines, and Legal Battles

Author

Malcom Jones
May 05, 2025

Welcome to this week’s edition of Product & Design Pulse, where we explore the latest in tech, product, design, and innovation! Google is under fire for planning to roll out its Gemini AI chatbot to children despite safety concerns, while Meta doubles down on its expansive AI strategy across all its platforms. The Irish Data Protection Commission fined TikTok €530 million for GDPR violations, and Apple was ordered to pay $502 million in a UK patent dispute. In the U.S., Epic’s legal clash with Apple wrapped, allowing Epic, Spotify, and others to finally show pricing and links in its iOS app. New product updates across YouTube, Lyft, and Instagram, along with rumors of an Apple AI coding collaboration with Anthropic.

Last week…

  1. Google’s Gemini AI Chatbot Raises Concerns About Child Safety

    Google is facing scrutiny over its Gemini AI chatbot, which has been shown to generate troubling responses when used by children. While marketed as a general-use assistant, the bot reportedly offered inappropriate advice and failed to recognize age-sensitive contexts, raising alarms among researchers and regulators. Now Google plans to roll out the service to minors.

  2. Meta’s Expansive AI Strategy and Vision

    Meta is aggressively investing in artificial intelligence, aiming to integrate AI across its platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. The company’s strategy involves developing advanced AI models and tools to enhance user experience and engagement. This move positions Meta as a formidable player in the AI landscape, challenging competitors and shaping the future of digital interaction.

  3. TikTok Fined €530 Million by Irish Data Protection Commission

    The Irish Data Protection Commission has fined TikTok €530 million for violations related to the transfer of European user data to China and lack of transparency. The decision mandates TikTok to implement corrective measures within six months to comply with GDPR regulations. This significant penalty underscores the EU’s commitment to enforcing data protection laws.

  4. Apple Ordered to Pay $502 Million in UK Patent Dispute

    A UK court has ruled that Apple must pay $502 million to Optis Cellular Technology for infringing on 4G technology patents. The dispute centered around Apple’s use of standard-essential patents without appropriate licensing agreements. Apple plans to appeal the decision, arguing that Optis is exploiting the patent system.

  5. Epic Games vs. Apple: Ninth Circuit Court Ruling

    The Ninth Circuit Court upheld the lower court’s decision that Epic Games breached its contract with Apple by implementing its own payment system in Fortnite. However, the court also affirmed that Apple’s anti-steering provisions violated California’s Unfair Competition Law. This complex ruling reflects the ongoing legal battles over app store policies and antitrust concerns.

🗓️ Upcoming Events

📱 Product & Feature Highlights

[Q2‘25] Latest improvements to YouTube on TV

Here’s our latest round of improvements for the YouTube on TV viewing experience this quarter

support.google.com/youtube/thread/341112828?hl=en

Sycophancy in GPT-4o: What happened and what we’re doing about it

We have rolled back last week’s GPT‑4o update in ChatGPT so people are now using an earlier version with more balanced behavior. The update we removed was overly flattering or agreeable—often described as sycophantic.

openai.com/index/sycophancy-in-gpt-4o

Upload and edit your images directly in the Gemini app

We’re rolling out the ability to easily modify both your AI creations and images you upload from your phone or computer.

blog.google/products/gemini/image-editing

More Than a Ride, It’s Independence: Introducing Lyft Silver, Available for Early Access Nationwide

Live phone support and sharable ride details help connect loved ones and open doors for older adults.

www.lyft.com/blog/posts/lyft-silver-live-phone-support

Apple Updates IAP Guidelines

The App Review Guidelines have been updated for compliance with a United States court decision regarding buttons, external links, and other calls to action in apps. These changes affect apps distributed on the United States storefront of the App Store, and are reflected in updates to Guidelines 3.1.1, 3.1.1(a), 3.1.3, and 3.1.3(a).View the App Review GuidelinesTranslations of the guidelines will be available on Apple Developer website within one month.

developer.apple.com/news/?id=9txfddzf

Following Landmark Court Ruling, Spotify Submits New App Update to Apple to Benefit U.S. Consumers — Spotify

Updated May 2: In a victory for consumers, artists, creators, and authors, Apple has approved Spotify’s U.S. app update. After nearly a decade, this will finally allow us to freely show clear pricing information and links to purchase, fostering transparency and choice for U.S. consumers. We can now give consumers lower prices, more control, and easier access to...

newsroom.spotify.com/2025-05-01/following-landmark-court-ruling-spotify-submits-new-app-update-to-apple-to-benefit-u-s-consumers

Apple is working with Anthropic on an AI coding tool for Xcode

Another new AI push for Apple.

www.theverge.com/news/660533/apple-anthropic-ai-coding-tool-xcode

NYT Games Launches Multi-Game Leaderboard

www.nytco.com/press/nyt-games-launches-multi-game-leaderboard

Google is finally building its own DeX: First look at Android's Desktop Mode

Here's an early look at Android's Desktop Mode, Google's version of Samsung DeX! This brings a PC-like interface to Pixel and stock Android.

www.androidauthority.com/android-desktop-mode-leak-3550321

Introducing the Meta AI App: A New Way to Access Your AI Assistant

We're launching the Meta AI app, our first step in building a more personal AI.

about.fb.com/news/2025/04/introducing-meta-ai-app-new-way-access-ai-assistant

📚 Resources

Evolving human-centered design: Part 1 - Microsoft Design

Explore how Microsoft's Mixed Reality Design and UX Research team expanded Learn how Microsoft's Mixed Reality Design and UX Research team evolved human-centered design (HCD) by addressing collective user needs, intersecting user journeys, and group outcomes. Discover key gaps in traditional HCD frameworks and new methods to improve UX design.

microsoft.design/articles/evolving-human-centered-design-part-1

🧠 For the Nerds

Will AI Ever Understand Language Like Humans?

AI may sound like a human, but that doesn’t mean that AI learns like a human. In this episode, Ellie Pavlick explains why understanding how LLMs can process language could unlock deeper insights into both AI and the human mind.

www.quantamagazine.org/will-ai-ever-understand-language-like-humans-20250501

👀 Fun & Interesting Things

Snapshot on Apple

Discover more about the artists, actors, and athletes you love across Apple.

snapshot.apple.com