Tech
EU’s Data Union Strategy Seeks to Boost AI and Cross-Border Data Use, but GDPR Stays Untouched
As the European Commission’s consultation on the European Data Union Strategy (EDUS) nears its July 18 deadline, the initiative has drawn a mix of support and criticism. Aimed at stimulating data-driven innovation—particularly for generative AI—the strategy promises to simplify the EU’s complex data governance landscape. But its deliberate omission of any review of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) has raised eyebrows.
The EDUS is positioned as a framework to streamline and harmonize existing EU data laws, including the Open Data Directive, the Data Act, and the Data Governance Act. Its goals include promoting broader access to data, incentivizing voluntary data sharing, reducing administrative burdens, and strengthening international data flows.
However, experts argue that the strategy avoids addressing some of the key barriers currently hampering the European data economy—chief among them, the GDPR. The strategy makes only vague references to maintaining “privacy and security standards,” without directly naming the GDPR. Despite its role as a cornerstone of EU data policy, GDPR remains politically sensitive and, according to Commission officials, too controversial to revisit.
This approach has sparked concerns, especially as many EU member states interpret GDPR’s definition of “personal data” narrowly, creating legal and practical barriers to initiatives that rely on open or shared data. The lack of meaningful exemptions under Article 6(f), which allows for processing of personal data in the public interest, continues to constrain innovation, particularly in sectors like AI and public services.
Beyond the GDPR issue, stakeholders have also highlighted several unresolved structural problems:
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Unfair B2B Data Sharing
While the Data Act is designed to ensure fair access to data for smaller companies, in practice, large corporations continue to dominate through restrictive and often exploitative contracts. Legal dispute mechanisms exist but are rarely used by startups wary of prolonged battles with industry giants. -
Lack of Compensation for Public Institutions
State-owned entities that manage valuable datasets face financial disincentives when required to open data for free. Without clear government compensation—such as Latvia’s model of reimbursing public registries—many institutions have little motivation to provide high-value data. -
Gap in Business Feedback on Data Infrastructure
While the EU measures progress through tools like the Open Data Maturity Index, there is limited insight into how businesses experience the system. Missing are evaluations on usability, dataset relevance, and responsiveness of public authorities—factors critical to real-world data utility.
As the EU pushes forward with its Data Union Strategy, experts warn that meaningful transformation will require more than legislation—it demands addressing the entrenched structural issues and political sensitivities that continue to limit the full potential of Europe’s digital economy.
Tech
Google Removes Some AI Health Summaries After Accuracy Concerns
Google has reportedly removed certain AI-generated summaries for health-related searches after an investigation found that some of the information provided could be misleading.
The summaries, known as AI Overviews, appear at the top of search results and are designed to provide concise answers to user questions. A report by the Guardian newspaper found that several AI Overviews contained inaccurate health information, raising concerns about potential harm to users.
The investigation highlighted cases where the AI supplied numbers with little context in response to queries such as “what is the normal range for liver blood tests?” and “what is the normal range for liver function tests?” The results did not account for differences based on age, sex, ethnicity, or nationality. In some cases, Google’s AI extracted data from Max Healthcare, an Indian hospital chain in New Delhi, rather than providing verified global medical guidance.
Featured snippets, which also appear at the top of Google search results, differ from AI Overviews because they extract existing text from relevant websites rather than generating new content. However, the Guardian noted that even variations of liver test queries, such as “[liver function test] lft reference range,” continued to produce AI-generated summaries. Liver function tests measure proteins and enzymes in the blood to evaluate how well the liver is performing.
In one example, Google’s AI reportedly advised pancreatic cancer patients to avoid high-fat foods. Experts told the Guardian that such guidance could be dangerous, potentially increasing the risk of mortality among patients.
The Guardian’s findings come amid broader concerns about AI chatbots “hallucinating,” a term used to describe when AI systems generate false or misleading information due to incomplete or inaccurate data. Experts have warned that reliance on AI for medical information could pose serious risks if users interpret these responses as authoritative.
Euronews Next contacted Google to confirm whether AI Overviews had been removed from certain health queries but did not receive an immediate response. Google announced over the weekend that it would expand AI Overviews to Gmail, allowing users to ask questions about their emails and receive automated answers without searching through messages manually.
The development underscores ongoing tensions between AI innovation and accuracy, particularly in sensitive areas such as healthcare. As AI tools become more integrated into search engines and email platforms, experts emphasize the importance of verifying information with trusted medical sources and cautioning users against relying solely on machine-generated summaries.
Tech
ChatGPT Launches Health Feature to Help Users Manage Medical Information
OpenAI has unveiled a new health-focused feature for ChatGPT, aimed at helping users better understand their well-being and prepare for medical conversations. The tool, called ChatGPT Health, connects users’ personal health data, such as medical records and wellness apps, to deliver more personalized guidance.
The feature is designed as a standalone experience within ChatGPT, with health-related chats, files, and connected apps kept separate from users’ other conversations. OpenAI said health information is not shared with non-health chats, and users can view or delete Health memories at any time through the platform’s settings.
“ChatGPT Health is another step toward turning ChatGPT into a personal super-assistant that can support you with information and tools to achieve your goals across any part of your life,” Fidji Simo, OpenAI’s applications CEO, said in a post on Substack.
Users can connect apps such as Apple Health, MyFitnessPal, and Function to ChatGPT Health. The AI can then help interpret recent test results, offer guidance for doctor appointments, and provide insights on diet, exercise routines, or healthcare choices. OpenAI emphasized that all app connections require explicit user permission and undergo additional privacy and security reviews.
OpenAI stressed that the tool is not intended to replace medical care. ChatGPT Health is designed to assist users in understanding patterns in their health and supporting everyday wellness questions. The company said the platform was developed with input from more than 260 physicians across 60 countries, who provided feedback on model outputs over 600,000 times.
Health-related queries are already a major reason people use ChatGPT, with the company reporting that over 230 million questions about health and wellness are asked globally each week. ChatGPT Health aims to make these interactions more personalized by leveraging data from users’ medical and wellness apps.
Access to ChatGPT Health is initially limited to a small group of early users with Free, Go, Plus, or Pro accounts. Users in the European Economic Area, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom are not included in the early rollout due to stricter local health and data regulations. Some app integrations and medical record access are currently only available in the United States.
OpenAI said it plans to expand ChatGPT Health to all users on web and iOS in the coming weeks as the platform is refined.
The company highlighted that the feature is meant to complement, not replace, professional medical advice. By providing insights from personal health data and helping users track trends over time, ChatGPT Health seeks to make individuals better prepared for discussions with their healthcare providers.
Tech
CES 2026 Set to Showcase AI Everywhere, Next-Gen Laptops, and Robotics
The world’s largest technology exhibition, CES 2026, opens Tuesday in Las Vegas, following two days of media previews. The event will feature over 4,500 exhibitors, including 1,400 start-ups and major companies such as Meta, Lenovo, Samsung, and Nvidia, offering a glimpse into the latest developments in artificial intelligence, consumer electronics, and robotics.
Last year, CES attracted more than 140,000 attendees across multiple venues, amid economic uncertainty and discussions on tariffs under the Trump Administration. Paolo Pescatore, a tech analyst, said the focus has shifted from simply showcasing connected devices to exploring how people interact with them and the content they access.
Artificial intelligence will play a central role at this year’s show. Industry leaders are integrating AI into nearly every category of technology. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang is expected to present the company’s latest productivity-focused AI solutions, while AMD CEO Lisa Su will outline her vision for future AI developments. Lenovo CEO Yuanqing Yang will also address AI integration in consumer devices and enterprise solutions.
A competition over next-generation chips is anticipated to dominate attention. Intel has unveiled its Core Ultra “Panther Lake” platform, while Qualcomm introduced the Snapdragon Elite X2, a mobile processor for Windows on Arm devices. These advancements are expected to spark a wave of new laptop announcements. LG has teased its 2026 Gram Pro line, including what it claims is the “world’s lightest 17-inch RTX laptop.”
Tim Danton, editor of TechFinitive.com, said, “CES 2026 won’t be short of laptops. Intel’s new chips promise high performance and long battery life, and we’re likely to see innovative designs, including rollable screens and more repairable models.”
CES will also feature innovations across healthcare, wearables, vehicles, and gaming. Sony Honda Mobility is expected to present a production version of its Afeela electric vehicle. Domestic robotics will be highlighted as well, with LG unveiling its helper bot “CLOiD,” designed for indoor household tasks. Ben Bajarin, CEO of Creative Strategies, said humanoid robots will increasingly appear at the show, marking the rise of “physical AI”—artificial intelligence that manifests in real-world applications such as autonomous cars and home assistants.
Samsung will showcase new uses of OLED technology, integrating it into AI-powered devices to enhance displays, including an AI OLED Bot that functions as a teaching assistant in educational settings.
Bajarin added that concerns over an AI bubble have eased. “This is more of a build-out than a bubble. We are at the start of a major industrial investment cycle, laying the groundwork for future computing capabilities,” he said.
CES 2026 promises a wide array of AI-driven gadgets, next-generation laptops, and autonomous robotics, reflecting the growing influence of artificial intelligence across industries and everyday life.
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