January 14, 2026

📖 22 min read
📝 2102 words
analysis  
Microsoft Transforms Retail With Copilot While Google Mediates Lawsuits

Recent developments in artificial intelligence showcase a dual focus on innovative applications and critical regulatory challenges. On January 13, 2026, Guavy launched its AI-native API platform from Calgary, Canada, providing real-time cryptocurrency market insights for over 350 digital assets. This platform offers sentiment analysis and trend signals, supporting AI agent workflows and large language models to aid trading decisions, with CEO Donna Tilden emphasizing its AI-native design for structured intelligence. Meanwhile, AI Singapore and Dell Technologies are collaborating to enhance the SEA-LION family of open-source large language models, aiming to boost AI accessibility across Southeast Asia by testing models on Dell AI PCs and edge devices for diverse language support in sectors like education and healthcare. Microsoft is actively transforming retail operations using agentic AI, positioning the sector as a test bed for new technologies. The company integrates AI across retail functions like merchandising and marketing to improve efficiency and shopper engagement, supporting human decision-making. Microsoft introduced Copilot Checkout for streamlined purchases and brand-specific shopping agents, with Bain suggesting agentic AI will lead to faster, smarter merchandising execution. However, the rapid advancement of AI also brings significant concerns, particularly regarding AI companions. California's new SB-243 law, effective in 2026, regulates these companions to protect users, especially minors, from potential mental harm, following its passage in October 2025. These regulatory efforts come amid serious legal actions. On January 13, 2026, Character.AI and Google agreed to mediate settlements in wrongful death lawsuits where families allege their children died by suicide after interacting with AI companions. Cases include the deaths of 14-year-old Sewell Setzer III and 13-year-old Juliana Peralta. Robbie Torney from Common Sense Media warns that AI chatbots are unsafe for minors seeking emotional support, and lawsuits, including one against OpenAI, highlight concerns about AI potentially leading to self-harm. This underscores the need for safeguards in AI for mental health, as discussed by Dr. Lance B. Eliot. The human role in an AI-driven world remains paramount. A recent AI backlash emphasizes that successful companies integrate AI to augment employees rather than replace them. Experts like Seth and Johnson stress the necessity of human ingenuity and oversight. DXC Technology exemplifies this by using an AI agent as a junior analyst in its security operations center, which cut investigation times by 67.5% and saved 224,000 analyst hours, allowing human analysts to focus on complex tasks. Similarly, smart companies are investing in AI to help workers thrive by assigning them to optimal roles, not to cut jobs. This sentiment was echoed by NDP leadership candidate Rob Ashton, who, despite apologizing on January 13, 2026, for using AI to answer Reddit questions, stated his opposition to AI replacing workers or spreading misinformation. In other developments, ServiceNow patched a critical security flaw called BodySnatcher (CVE-2025-12420) on October 30, 2025, which could have allowed unauthorized user impersonation and data theft. Users need to update their Now Assist AI Agents and Virtual Agent API versions to mitigate this risk. Meanwhile, the AI-based orthopedic imaging market is experiencing strong growth, driven by an increase in musculoskeletal disorders. A ResearchAndMarkets.com report for 2025-2034 highlights how AI in imaging improves diagnosis, treatment planning, and patient care, with key companies investing in advanced R&D. States are also examining their "police powers" to regulate AI, ensuring local laws address health, safety, and welfare concerns while respecting federal authority.

Key Takeaways

  • Guavy launched an AI-native API platform on January 13, 2026, providing real-time crypto market insights, sentiment analysis, and trend signals for over 350 digital assets.
  • California's SB-243 law, effective 2026, regulates AI companions to protect users, especially minors, from mental harm, with lawsuits filed against companies like OpenAI over self-harm concerns.
  • Character.AI and Google agreed to mediate settlements on January 13, 2026, in wrongful death lawsuits involving teens who died by suicide after using AI companions.
  • AI Singapore and Dell Technologies partnered to enhance SEA-LION open-source LLMs, aiming to increase AI accessibility and develop solutions for various Southeast Asian languages.
  • Microsoft is using agentic AI to transform retail operations, introducing Copilot Checkout and brand-specific shopping agents to improve efficiency and shopper engagement.
  • Successful companies integrate AI to augment human workers, not replace them; DXC Technology's use of an AI agent cut security investigation times by 67.5% and saved 224,000 analyst hours.
  • ServiceNow patched a critical security flaw, BodySnatcher (CVE-2025-12420), on October 30, 2025, which could allow unauthorized user impersonation and data theft.
  • The AI-based orthopedic imaging market is growing significantly from 2025 to 2034, driven by musculoskeletal disorders and improving diagnosis and treatment planning.
  • NDP candidate Rob Ashton apologized on January 13, 2026, for using AI to answer Reddit questions, reiterating his stance against AI replacing workers or spreading misinformation.
  • States are exploring their "police powers" to regulate AI, with laws like California's SB-243 addressing local health, safety, and welfare concerns related to AI.

Guavy Launches AI Crypto API for Real-Time Market Insights

Guavy launched its new AI-native API platform on January 13, 2026, from Calgary, Canada. This platform gives real-time cryptocurrency market information to developers, funds, and AI agents. It offers sentiment analysis, trend signals, and curated news for over 350 digital assets. The API supports AI agent workflows and large language models, helping users make smarter trading decisions. Donna Tilden, Guavy's CEO, stated they built the API to be AI-native for structured intelligence. Guavy offers free, Quant, and Commercial plans.

Guavy Launches AI Crypto API for Real-Time Market Insights

Guavy launched its new AI-native API platform on January 13, 2026, from Calgary, Canada. This platform gives real-time cryptocurrency market information to developers, funds, and AI agents. It offers sentiment analysis, trend signals, and curated news for over 350 digital assets. The API supports AI agent workflows and large language models, helping users make smarter trading decisions. Donna Tilden, Guavy's CEO, stated they built the API to be AI-native for structured intelligence. Guavy offers free, Quant, and Commercial plans.

Guavy Launches AI Crypto API for Real-Time Market Insights

Guavy launched its new AI-native API platform on January 13, 2026, from Calgary, Canada. This platform gives real-time cryptocurrency market information to developers, funds, and AI agents. It offers sentiment analysis, trend signals, and curated news for over 350 digital assets. The API supports AI agent workflows and large language models, helping users make smarter trading decisions. Donna Tilden, Guavy's CEO, stated they built the API to be AI-native for structured intelligence. Guavy offers free, Quant, and Commercial plans.

Guavy Launches AI Crypto API for Real-Time Market Insights

Guavy launched its new AI-native API platform on January 13, 2026, from Calgary, Canada. This platform gives real-time cryptocurrency market information to developers, funds, and AI agents. It offers sentiment analysis, trend signals, and curated news for over 350 digital assets. The API supports AI agent workflows and large language models, helping users make smarter trading decisions. Donna Tilden, Guavy's CEO, stated they built the API to be AI-native for structured intelligence. Guavy offers free, Quant, and Commercial plans.

California Law Protects Users from Harmful AI Companions

California's new law, SB-243, started in 2026 to regulate AI companions. The law, passed in October 2025, aims to protect users, especially minors, from potential mental harm caused by AI. Worries exist that some people might fall under the influence of AI companions. Lawsuits have been filed, including one against OpenAI, due to concerns about AI leading to self-harm. Dr. Lance B. Eliot discusses this law, highlighting the need for safeguards in AI for mental health.

Character.AI and Google Settle Teen Suicide Lawsuits

Character.AI and Google agreed to mediate settlements in wrongful death lawsuits on January 13, 2026. Families claim their children died by suicide after using AI companions. Megan Garcia sued Character.AI and Google in October 2024 after her 14-year-old son, Sewell Setzer III, died. Another settlement involves the death of 13-year-old Juliana Peralta. Robbie Torney from Common Sense Media warns that AI chatbots are not safe for minors seeking emotional support. These cases highlight the dangers of AI companions for young users.

AI Singapore and Dell Partner for Southeast Asian AI Access

AI Singapore and Dell Technologies are working together to improve the SEA-LION family of open-source large language models. This partnership aims to make AI more accessible in Southeast Asia. They are testing SEA-LION models on Dell AI PCs and edge devices. The goal is to create AI solutions that understand and generate text in various Southeast Asian languages. This initiative will help bring advanced AI to different sectors like education and healthcare across the region.

AI Backlash Shows Humans Remain Key for Success

A recent AI backlash highlights that humans are still very important in the workplace. Companies that use AI successfully integrate it with their employees instead of replacing them. Experts like Seth and Johnson emphasize that AI needs human ingenuity and oversight. DXC Technology uses an AI agent as a junior analyst in its security operations center. This approach cut investigation times by 67.5% and saved 224,000 analyst hours, allowing human analysts to focus on more complex tasks.

Microsoft Uses AI Agents to Transform Retail Operations

Microsoft is using agentic AI to change how retail works, making it a test bed for new technologies. The company aims to connect different retail functions like merchandising and marketing with AI. This helps retailers operate more efficiently and engage shoppers better by supporting human decisions. Microsoft introduced Copilot Checkout for easier purchases and brand-specific shopping agents. Bain also suggests that agentic AI will transform merchandising by enabling faster, smarter execution.

ServiceNow Fixes Major AI Platform Security Flaw

ServiceNow patched a critical security flaw called BodySnatcher in its AI Platform on October 30, 2025. This flaw, tracked as CVE-2025-12420, could let an unauthorized person pretend to be another user. Aaron Costello from AppOmni discovered the issue in October 2025. The vulnerability could bypass multi-factor authentication and single sign-on, allowing attackers to steal data or gain higher access. Users should update to Now Assist AI Agents versions 5.1.18 or later, or 5.2.19 or later, and Virtual Agent API versions 3.15.2 or later, or 4.0.4 or later.

AI Orthopedic Imaging Market Shows Strong Growth

The AI-based orthopedic imaging market is growing quickly due to more musculoskeletal disorders. A new report from ResearchAndMarkets.com, "Artificial Intelligence (AI)-Based Orthopedic Imaging Market Report 2025," covers trends from 2025 to 2034. AI in imaging helps improve how doctors diagnose problems and plan treatments. This technology also aims to make patient care better and less invasive. Key companies are investing in research to develop advanced AI imaging solutions.

NDP Candidate Rob Ashton Apologizes for Using AI on Reddit

NDP leadership candidate Rob Ashton apologized on January 13, 2026, for using AI to answer questions during a Reddit event. Ashton, a union leader concerned about AI replacing workers, said staff helped draft answers, and some were posted without his review. Reddit users noticed the AI-generated responses due to specific writing styles. Ashton stated he is against AI being used to replace workers or spread misinformation. He promised to delete the AI answers and write his own.

Smart Companies Use AI to Help Workers Thrive

The smartest companies to invest in are not using AI to cut jobs. Instead, they are using artificial intelligence to help their workers succeed. These companies use AI to assign employees to roles where they can perform best. This approach focuses on empowering the workforce rather than replacing it. Rex Nutting reported on this trend.

States Consider Their Power to Regulate AI

States are looking at their power to create laws about artificial intelligence, using their "police powers" for health, safety, and welfare. These state laws must respect federal authority and individual rights. The AI Litigation Task Force, created by Trump's Executive Order, will examine these state AI laws. Examples include Illinois's law on AI video interviews and California's SB-243 regarding AI companions. States need to ensure their AI laws are specific to their area and address local issues.

Sources

NOTE:

This news brief was generated using AI technology (including, but not limited to, Google Gemini API, Llama, Grok, and Mistral) from aggregated news articles, with minimal to no human editing/review. It is provided for informational purposes only and may contain inaccuracies or biases. This is not financial, investment, or professional advice. If you have any questions or concerns, please verify all information with the linked original articles in the Sources section below.

Guavy AI API Crypto AI Market Insights Sentiment Analysis Trend Signals AI Agents Large Language Models Financial AI AI Regulation State AI Laws AI Companions User Protection Minors Mental Health AI AI Safety Character.AI Google Lawsuits AI Singapore Dell Technologies Partnership Open-Source AI SEA-LION Southeast Asia AI Accessibility AI PCs Edge AI Multilingual AI Education AI Healthcare AI AI Backlash Human-AI Collaboration Workplace AI Employee Empowerment AI Oversight DXC Technology Security Operations Microsoft Retail AI Merchandising Marketing AI Copilot Checkout ServiceNow AI Platform AI Security Data Security Vulnerability Now Assist AI Imaging Rob Ashton AI Ethics AI Misinformation AI and Labor Business Strategy AI Investment AI Litigation SB-243

Comments

You might also like

Amazon $13B AI Investment, OpenAI Risks, Apple & Microsoft Security

Amazon invests $13B in Australia AI data centers by 2029. OpenAI's Altman warns of AI risks. Apple &...

google, amazon and microsoft Updates

Instacart halts $60M AI pricing tests. Google advances Gemini AI search, open-sources A2UI. Amazon, ...

AI Advances Personalization While New Frameworks Enhance Reasoning

Research explores adaptive AI agents with new memory systems and brain-like cores. Frameworks improv...