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Google’s AI Overviews feature has come under fire for inaccurately identifying the aircraft involved in the recent Air India crash near Ahmedabad. While initial reports and official confirmations stated that the ill-fated Flight AI 171 was a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, AI-generated summaries on Google Search incorrectly labeled it as an “Airbus A330.”

The error was first flagged by Ars Technica, which noted that the AI system likely confused contextual mentions of “Airbus” in competing industry coverage with the actual aircraft involved. The crash, which killed 241 people on board, is among the worst air disasters in India’s aviation history.

AI Overviews is designed to provide quick, summarized answers to user queries. However, the incident exposed a persistent limitation of such tools: a tendency to "hallucinate" or conflate unrelated details when processing large volumes of data.

Responding to the issue, a Google spokesperson acknowledged the mistake and said the incorrect response had been taken down. “As with all Search features, we rigorously make improvements and use examples like this to update our systems,” the statement read. “This response is no longer showing. We maintain a high-quality bar with all Search features, and the accuracy rate for AI Overviews is on par with other features like Featured Snippets.”

The mix-up underscores the challenges tech companies face in rolling out generative AI for real-time search—particularly when accuracy is crucial in sensitive news events.

<a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/brand-makers/scale-ais-alexandr-wang-to-join-metas-superintelligence-mission-jason-dorege-to-be-interim-ceo-of-startup-70176.htm">Read More: Scale AI's Alexandr Wang to join Meta's superintelligence mission; Jason Dorege to be interim CEO of startup</a>

Google’s AI Overviews falsely link Airbus to Air India crash; company responds

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg is going full throttle on artificial intelligence—and he’s taking the hiring process into his own hands. According to a Bloomberg report, Zuckerberg is personally building a new elite AI team with a bold mission: to develop “superintelligence,” AI systems that could eventually surpass human reasoning.

And for the right talent, the pay is reportedly extraordinary—possibly reaching nine figures, positioning it as one of the most lucrative and highest paid AI jobs in the world.

The urgency behind this new push stems from Zuckerberg’s dissatisfaction with Meta’s AI progress so far, particularly the development of Llama 4, the company’s latest large language model. While Meta has made strides in deploying AI across its ecosystem—from Facebook and WhatsApp to Ray-Ban smart glasses—it continues to trail rivals like OpenAI, Microsoft, and Google in the race for true AI dominance.

<a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/brand-makers/scale-ais-alexandr-wang-to-join-metas-superintelligence-mission-jason-dorege-to-be-interim-ceo-of-startup-70176.htm">Read More: Scale AI's Alexandr Wang to join Meta's superintelligence mission; Jason Dorege to be interim CEO of startup</a>

Zuckerberg has responded by going hands-on. He’s held direct meetings with top AI researchers at his homes in California and has reorganized Meta’s Menlo Park headquarters to house the new AI unit just steps from his own office. He plans to build a 50-member team of world-class AI researchers and engineers to drive Meta’s superintelligence ambitions forward.

One major figure reportedly involved is Alexandr Wang, CEO of Scale AI, a data labeling firm that may receive billions in investment from Meta to accelerate its AI efforts.

Funding for the initiative will come from Meta’s robust advertising business, insiders say, giving Zuckerberg the financial firepower to compete in what’s become a global AI arms race.

With companies like Google DeepMind, Apple, Microsoft, and Elon Musk’s xAI also gunning for breakthroughs in artificial general intelligence (AGI), Zuckerberg is betting Meta can distinguish itself by continuing to open-source its Llama models—similar to what Android did for mobile. It’s a strategic move designed to win developer mindshare and encourage widespread adoption.

Whether Meta’s all-in gamble pays off remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: Zuckerberg wants Meta not just in the AI race—but at the front of it.

<a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/how-it-works/with-ai-push-alphabet-amazon-and-meta-together-to-acquire-54-7-of-global-ad-market-warc-70220.htm">Read More: With AI push, Alphabet, Amazon and Meta together to acquire 54.7% of global ad market: WARC</a>

Mark Zuckerberg’s AI gambit: Superintelligence, nine-figure salaries, and a team of 50

Driven by artificial intelligence, Alphabet, Amazon and Meta are set to acquire more than half of the global ad market, with a combined market share of 54.7% excluding China this year, according to WARC’s Global Ad Forecast Q2 2025 update. Overall, the trio will contribute to $524.4 billion in adex, which is expected to rise to 56.2% in 2026, the report added.

WARC’s latest global projections are based on data aggregated from 100 markets worldwide and leverage a proprietary neural network which projects advertising investment patterns based on over two million data points.


Retail Media grows fastest; Video advertising to decline


Search is set to account for more than a fifth (21.5%) of the ad market this year, with spend rising 7.4% to $248.6bn despite regulatory threats; and 6.8% next year, by which time the market would be worth $265.5bn – equivalent to 21.5% of all spend, up from 21.2% in 2024. 

Social media – the largest single advertising medium globally – is poised to account for a quarter (25.8%) of all ad spend this year, at a total of $298.3bn. A strong first quarter rise of 14.9% precedes an expected slowdown, with growth averaging 11.2% over the coming three quarters as tariffs begin to impact Asian brands disproportionately. The social market is still on track to grow 12.0% to $298.3bn this year.

Retail media is set to be fastest growing advertising medium this year (+14.4%), which accounts for an eighth (15.2%) of all global advertising spend this year. Amazon’s retail media ad business grew 21.0% to $13.3bn during the first quarter, accounting for a third (33.4%) of the global retail media market. WARC projects Amazon’s ad income will grow by 16.1% to $60.6bn this year. A further rise of 14.9% is forecast next year

Global video advertising spend is forecast to decline by 2.6% in 2025 to $183.9bn, equating to 15.9% of all spend this year. The contraction is driven by a continued decline in linear TV, which still represents over three-quarters of the total video market, but is expected to fall by 6.3% this year – a drop exacerbated by 2024 major sporting and political events. Notably, 2025 marks the first year that retail media will command a greater share of global ad spend than linear TV. However, video-on-demand advertising is forecast to rise by 13.2% to $39.9bn.


Slowdown in Global adex


According to WARC Media, global advertising spend is now on course to grow 6.2% this year to $1.16 trillion, a downgrade of half a percentage point from WARC’s March forecast as key sectors react to growing market volatility.

“Trade tensions are forcing major sectors to rethink their ad strategies. Automakers are cutting back amid rising costs and a pivot to performance media, while retailers tighten budgets as tariffs squeeze margins,” explains James McDonald, Director of Data, Intelligence & Forecasting at WARC.


Retail, auto brands to cut ad spends


Key sectors such as retail (-6.1%) and automotive (-4.0%) are set to cut ad spend this year, while ad spend growth across technology and CPG brands is muted compared to previous rates.

The automotive industry invested $56.8bn in advertising last year with almost a quarter (22.9%) going to premium video formats, but spend is expected to be down 4% this year as manufacturing stalls and key players pare back brand building. However, budgets are shifting from video towards digital platforms, with automotive spend on social ads surpassing linear TV for the first time in 2025. The sector should rebound next year with a 7.5% rise pushing spend to a total of $58.6bn. 

Retail, with projected ad spend of $166.1bn this year (14.3% of the global ad market), faces a fall of 6.1% from 2024 levels. This largely reflects impending US trade tariffs on key goods and raw materials, which are poised to increase costs for global retailers, particularly those heavily reliant on Chinese imports such as Amazon and Walmart. 

The tech and electronics sector is expected to spend $90.3bn on advertising this year. A YOY rise of 5.5% represents a cut from our +6.2% forecast in March: a sharp slowdown from the 24.3% rise recorded last year. Tariffs are driving the sector to adjust go-to-market strategies, shifting investments toward less-affected regions or different product lines to buffer against hardware margin erosion. 

Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) companies experienced their weakest first quarter sales revenues since the pandemic. Further, with tariffs reaching as high as 145% for Chinese imports and additional tariffs on goods from Canada and Mexico, CPG companies are facing major disruption to their established supply chains. WARC expects core CPG sectors, such as soft drinks (+7.1%), toiletries & cosmetics (+7.2%) and household & domestic (+4.2%) to record growth in advertising spend at a global level this year, though all see a significant slowdown from 2024.

With AI push, Alphabet, Amazon and Meta together to acquire 54.7% of global ad market: WARC

India’s leading private airlines—IndiGo, SpiceJet, and Akasa Air—have extended heartfelt solidarity to Air India following the tragic crash of Flight AI 171 near Ahmedabad, which has claimed over 260 lives in one of the worst air disasters in the country’s history.

The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, bound for London with 242 passengers and crew, crashed into a medical college complex shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad, killing nearly all onboard and several people on the ground.

In an outpouring of support, all three private carriers issued statements on social media platform X (formerly Twitter):

IndiGo said, “We are deeply saddened by the unfortunate incident at Ahmedabad airport. Our thoughts are with the passengers, crew, and their families. We stand united in spirit with Air India in this very difficult time.”

SpiceJet echoed the sentiment, stating, “We are truly saddened by the tragic incident... Our prayers are with the passengers, crew, and their loved ones.”

Akasa Air issued a similar message and, like the other carriers, removed its display picture and header images across social platforms in a mark of collective mourning.

Expressions of grief came from across the corporate and political spectrum. Tata Group, which owns Air India, expressed “profound sorrow” and pledged full support to bereaved families. Gautam Adani, whose group operates Ahmedabad airport, confirmed close coordination with authorities on rescue and relief.

Bollywood actor Salman Khan cancelled a scheduled event, saying, “We are with the country.” President Droupadi Murmu called it a “heart-rending disaster,” while Home Minister Amit Shah and Civil Aviation Minister Rammohan Naidu visited the crash site on directions from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The incident triggered immediate ripples in the financial markets: shares of IndiGo fell around 3%, SpiceJet dropped 1.5%, and Boeing—maker of the ill-fated aircraft—saw a 7–9% decline in pre-market US trading.

The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) have launched a full investigation. Authorities are analysing black box data, pilot communication logs, and weather conditions at the time of the crash. No preliminary findings have been released yet.

Air India Chairman N. Chandrasekaran confirmed that the airline has activated an emergency response centre and dispatched family support teams to assist next of kin and survivors.

<a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/special-coverage/air-indias-flight-path-forward-a-test-of-legacy-and-leadership-70137.htm">Read More: Air India’s flight path forward: A test of legacy and leadership</a>

IndiGo, SpiceJet, Akasa Air rally behind Air India after Ahmedabad plane crash

Amazon has nearly doubled the ad load on Prime Video just 18 months after first introducing commercials on the platform, ADWEEK reported. As per the media report, Prime Video ad load has gradually increased to four to six minutes per hour.

While Amazon had previously hinted at a ramp-up in ad inventory to investors, the shift hasn’t been publicly acknowledged to consumers. The stealthy increase has sparked scrutiny among ad buyers, who say the change reflects Amazon’s broader ambitions to scale its streaming advertising business and compete more aggressively with other ad-supported platforms.

When Prime Video first rolled out ads, Amazon opted for a light approach to ease viewer backlash. The service, included by default for over 150 million Prime subscribers, initially offered one of the lowest ad loads in the streaming landscape. But by late 2024, Amazon had already signaled to Wall Street that it would begin “right-sizing” its ad inventory.

With four to six minutes of ads per hour, Prime Video now sits squarely in the industry’s “middle tier” alongside services like Hulu and Paramount+, far below traditional linear TV, where ad time often reaches 13–16 minutes per hour. Netflix still holds the lowest ad load among major streamers. 

Read More: <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/digital/meta-launches-ai-powered-video-editing-feature-for-everyday-creators-70018.htm">Meta launches AI-Powered video editing feature for everyday creators</a>

The growth in inventory could also help Amazon better serve niche verticals and make fuller use of its proprietary ad tech stack, including Amazon Marketing Cloud and its demand-side platform. But despite these advances, some advertisers remain cautious due to measurement limitations.

Amazon’s shift aligns with a larger push to evolve Prime Video into a full-scale ad platform. Alongside the expanded ad load, the company has introduced new tools for marketers, including show-level audience data, private auction capabilities and upcoming contextual targeting products.

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Amazon doubles Prime Video ad load to 4–6 minutes per hour

French President Emmanuel Macron has announced that France will soon ban children under the age of 15 from accessing social media platforms, part of a broader push to address growing concerns about the impact of digital platforms on youth and rising violence involving minors.

“I am proposing banning social media for children under 15,” Macron posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday evening. “Platforms have the ability to verify age. Let’s do it.” He added that the law would come into effect in the “coming months.”

The announcement follows similar action in Australia, which earlier this year banned social media access for those under 16. France has joined Spain and Greece in backing an EU-wide framework to regulate children’s access to online platforms, citing growing evidence that social media usage negatively affects young people's mental and physical health. However, Macron said France would proceed alone if the European Union delays action. “We cannot wait,” he told broadcaster France 2.

The French government is also taking steps to address youth violence in the country. In a separate move, Macron said France will impose an immediate ban on the sale of knives to minors. The measure follows the fatal stabbing of a 31-year-old school assistant by a 14-year-old student during a bag search in Nogent in eastern France, an incident that has deeply shocked the nation.

"A 15-year-old will no longer be able to buy a knife online," Macron declared, adding that the government would enforce “massive financial sanctions and bans” on any violations.

Prime Minister François Bayrou confirmed that the decree banning knife sales to minors will be issued within the next two weeks and will take effect immediately. The list will include “any knife that can be used as a weapon,” he said in a televised interview with TF1. Bayrou also called for a trial run of metal detectors in schools to prevent further violence.

Both initiatives—targeting online exposure and physical weapon access—mark a new phase of Macron’s youth safety strategy as France grapples with issues of teen aggression and digital well-being.

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France to ban social media for under-15 soon, Says French President Macron

Alphabet Inc's Google said it has resolved a sweeping global outage that disrupted access to several of its services, including Gmail, Google Chat, Meet, Calendar, Drive, and Voice. The issue was resolved for all affected users, the company confirmed in an update, according to media reports.

The outage's effects extended far beyond Google's own platforms. Popular services such as Spotify, Discord, and Snapchat - many of which rely on Google Cloud infrastructure - were also affected, the report added. 

Also Read: <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/brand-marketing/chatgpt-down-global-outage-plunges-users-into-ai-darkness-69674.htm">ChatGPT down: Global outage plunges users into AI darkness</a>

The disruptions began around 2:30 PM ET on Thursday (12:00 AM IST on Friday) with users across the globe reporting problems on platforms like Gmail, Google Search, Google Maps, Discord, Spotify, Twitch, Snapchat, and Nintendo Switch Online.

Tracking service Down Detector registered over 11,000 reports from India and 10,000 reports from the United States at the peak of the incident.

Google's own advanced services, including Vertex AI and Google Nest, were impacted. Additionally, third-party apps heavily reliant on Google Cloud - such as Character.ai, Rocket League, the Pokémon Trading Card Game, and Anthropic's Claude - suffered significant service outages, the report added.

Cloudflare, a provider of cybersecurity and content delivery services, acknowledged that its systems were partially affected. "This is a Google Cloud outage. A limited number of services at Cloudflare use Google Cloud and were impacted. We expect them to come back shortly," a spokesperson told CNN.

Other internet infrastructure providers, including Shopify, also experienced temporary interruptions as a result of the outage.

Google Cloud engineers identified the root cause by 1:16 PM PT (1:46 AM IST) and began mitigation efforts. While services gradually resumed across most regions, some lingering performance issues persisted in Google's "us-central1" zone for several hours.

Finally, at 9:27 PM ET (6:27 AM IST), Google declared all services fully recovered, "All the services are fully recovered from the service issue," the company stated, adding that a detailed analysis will be shared once its internal investigation concludes.

Also Read: <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/how-it-works/biggest-social-media-outages-in-recent-years-67155.htm">Biggest social media outages in recent years</a>

Global Google outage disrupts Gmail, Spotify, Discord; services restored

Meta has rolled out a new generative AI-powered video editing feature across its platforms, allowing users to transform their short-form videos with just a few clicks. Available through the Meta AI app, the Meta.AI website, and the Edits app, this new tool lets users experiment with creative visual styles using preset AI prompts — no editing experience required.

Designed to be intuitive and accessible, the feature currently supports 10-second video transformations for free, as part of a limited-time offer. Users simply upload a video, browse through more than 50 AI-powered editing prompts, and select one that fits their creative vision. These prompts can completely reimagine a video’s look — whether it’s turning an everyday clip into a vintage comic book, adding dreamy sparkle effects, or applying a video game-inspired aesthetic.

For instance, Meta AI can enhance a gloomy, rainy-day video with soft pearlescent light and dreamy focus, or turn an ordinary street scene into a glowing, neon-lit battlefield. The tool is inspired by Meta’s Movie Gen models and marks a significant first step in the company’s broader plan to bring AI video generation and editing tools across all its apps and products.

Later this year, Meta plans to let users make highly specific edits using their own text prompts — enabling even more customized video transformations alongside Meta AI.

Once a video is edited, users can instantly share it to Facebook, Instagram, or the Discover feed within the Meta AI app and Meta.AI website, making the entire process from creation to distribution seamless.

The new feature is currently available in the U.S. and over a dozen other countries.

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Meta launches AI-Powered video editing feature for everyday creators

Malini Agarwal, the founder and longtime face of MissMalini Entertainment, announced she is stepping down from her role as creative director, marking the end of a defining chapter in the evolution of one of the country's earliest digital lifestyle brands.

In a statement shared on social media, Agarwal said, “After years of love, laughter and oodles of glam, I’m officially moving on… to begin a whole new adventure.” She added that the brand, which she described as her “soul project,” will now continue under “a content-first company,” calling it the “perfect next step in its evolution.”

The announcement follows the acquisition of MissMalini Entertainment by marketing agency Creativefuel from the Good Glamm Group. According to media reports, the deal was valued at ₹6 crore, and includes the transfer of the brand’s domain and social media assets. The Good Glamm Group, however, will retain the talent management arm of the company.

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MissMalini was acquired by the Good Glamm Group in 2021 and became part of its broader digital media and influencer marketing portfolio, which includes divisions such as Girl Tribe, Ignite Edge, Agent M, and MM Studios.

Agarwal, a prominent figure in the digital media ecosystem, began her career in broadcast and print journalism with roles at MTV Networks India, Channel V, Mid-Day, BBC, and Radio One, before launching MissMalini as a personal blog that evolved into a full-fledged content and influencer marketing business.

Read More: <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/brand-makers/the-good-glamm-group-sells-missmalini-entertainment-to-creativefuel-62167.htm">The Good Glamm Group sells MissMalini Entertainment to Creativefuel</a>

Malini Agarwal moves on from MissMalini Entertainment

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare concluded its final round of consultations this week on draft rules that would bring Over-the-Top (OTT) platforms under the same tobacco advertising restrictions that govern films and television broadcasts, as per reports. 

The proposed rules, introduced in 2024 under Section 5 of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), 2003, seek to curb both direct and indirect promotion of tobacco products in digital content. The move comes amid rising concern over the influence of on-screen smoking depictions, particularly on younger audiences.

Public health officials pointed to research, including a 2019 study published in the British Medical Journal, which found tobacco imagery in nearly 60 percent of episodes across multiple seasons of shows on leading streaming platforms. Regulators emphasized the need for health warnings, clearer guidelines and stronger safeguards to protect adolescent viewers.

Industry representatives, while broadly supportive of the public health objectives, voiced apprehensions over the practical challenges of implementation. Concerns were raised about the financial burden of compliance, operational complexity and the potential impact on creative expression.

According to officials, 41 formal submissions were received during the consultation process. The majority backed the proposed framework, while a smaller number called for greater flexibility in execution. In response, regulators offered a six-month window for compliance, allowing platforms time to adjust to the new requirements.

The draft rules now move into the finalization phase, highlighting the government’s intent to bring digital media in line with its broader tobacco control policies, a regulatory shift that may have far-reaching implications for the booming streaming industry.

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