Consumer News: Social media are costing Americans billions as fraud shifts online

Ask YouTube is currently in testing mode

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Google is reportedly testing a new feature called Ask YouTube, aimed at making video search more conversational and AI-driven.

• The tool allows users to ask natural-language questions and receive curated clips or answers pulled directly from YouTube content.

• The experiment signals Googles broader push to integrate generative AI across its search and media platforms.

You might not think of it this way, but YouTube is actually a search engine as well as a video platform. People use it not just for entertainment but also to perform tasks such as changing the oil in a lawnmower.

Google may be making the process easier for users. The company said it is experimenting with a new feature called Ask YouTube, a move that could fundamentally change how users discover and interact with video content on the platform. The feature is currently available to adult Premium users.

The test, which appears to be part of the companys ongoing push into generative AI, allows users to pose questions in plain language and receive tailored responses drawn from YouTube videos.

Interpreting user intent

Rather than relying on traditional keyword searches, Ask YouTube is designed to interpret user intent more deeply. For example, instead of typing how to fix a leaky faucet, users could ask a question like, Whats the easiest way to stop a faucet from dripping overnight? The system would then surface relevant clips or summarize insights from multiple videos, effectively turning YouTube into a more interactive knowledge tool.

Early indications suggest the feature may combine video search with AI-generated summaries, highlighting key moments within clips or stitching together information from different creators. This could significantly reduce the time users spend scrubbing through videos to find specific answers.

The test aligns with Googles broader strategy of embedding AI into its core products, including Search, Maps, and Workspace. By enhancing YouTube with conversational capabilities, the company said it is positioning the platform not just as an entertainment hub, but as a direct competitor in the growing field of AI-powered information retrieval.

Questions for content creators

However, the approach also raises questions. Content creators may be concerned about how their material is used or summarized, particularly if users can get answers without watching full videos. There are also potential challenges around accuracy, context, and attributionissues that have surfaced across many generative AI applications.

Ask YouTube appears to be in limited testing, with no official timeline for a broader rollout. Still, the feature suggests a clear trend: the future of searchwhether text or videois becoming increasingly conversational, personalized, and AI-driven.

But for now, consumers are only seeing higher prices, not shortages

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Global shipping disruptions tied to the Iran war are slowing deliveries and raising costs

• Higher oil prices are pushing up the cost of making and transporting everyday goods

• So far, consumers are seeing price increases and delays more than widespread shortages

Consumers have plenty of experience with supply chain bottlenecks. There were plenty during the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to shortages and higher prices.

The ongoing conflict involving Iran is starting to ripple through global supply chains, creating delays, driving up costs, and raising concerns about potential shortages of consumer goods. But despite significant disruptions behind the scenes, American shoppers have so far been largely spared from widespread empty shelves.

Instead, the more immediate impact has been felt in the form of higher prices and sporadic delays.

At the center of the disruption is the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping chokepoint through which a large share of the worlds oil and cargo typically flows. Military activity in the region has forced shipping companies to reroute vessels or delay transit altogether, adding days or even weeks to delivery times and significantly increasing freight costs.

Those higher costs are compounded by a surge in oil prices. Energy is a fundamental input in nearly every product, from plastics and packaging to transportation, so rising fuel prices are cascading across industries. Manufacturers and retailers are increasingly passing those costs along to consumers.

Logistical hiccups

Some sectors are already showing signs of strain. Companies in the food and consumer goods industries have reported logistical hiccups tied to fuel costs and shipping delays. Meanwhile, products that rely heavily on petrochemicalssuch as medical supplies, plastics, and packaging materialsare facing tighter supply conditions.

Shortages, where they do occur, have been uneven and limited, according to industry analysts. Certain specialized or imported items may be harder to find, and some businesses report longer restocking times. But for most everyday goods, supply has held up.

That resilience is due in part to lessons learned during the pandemic. Many companies have diversified suppliers, increased inventory buffers, or shifted production closer to home. Governments and industries are also tapping stockpiles to cushion the impact of energy disruptions.

Early signs of supply strain in specific categories

There are documented stress points already:

Consumer goods & food

Large companies like Nestl report supply-chain hiccups from fuel and logistics disruptions. Businesses broadly warn of rising costs and disrupted supply chains across consumer goods sectors.

Medical and petrochemical-based products

Shortages are expected (and in some cases emerging) for items like:gloves, IV bags, syringes, plastics and packaging.These depend heavily on petrochemicals affected by the conflict.

Industrial inputs (which feed consumer goods)

Disruptions are affecting:

• Fertilizers

• Semiconductors

• Pharmaceuticals

Shortages tend to appear first in inputs, then trickle down to finished goods. Still, experts warn the situation could worsen if the conflict drags on or intensifies.

For now, the clearest sign of strain isnt whats missing from store shelvesits whats showing up on price tags.

The signer is taking a proactive move to prevent deepfake rip-offs

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Taylor Swift has reportedly filed new trademark applications covering both her likeness and her voice.

• The move is widely seen as a preemptive strike against the growing threat of AI-generated deepfakes.

• Legal experts say the filings could set a precedent for how celebrities protect their identity in the age of generative AI.

If you are a famous person, people without fame increasingly try to cash in by using AI to rip off your likeness even your voice. Taylor Swift is taking an aggressive step to protect her identity in the digital age, filing trademark applications that extend beyond her image to include her voice, an increasingly valuable and vulnerable asset in an era of rapidly advancing artificial intelligence.

According to filings submitted to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, the global pop star is seeking expanded protections that would give her greater control over how her likeness and vocal identity are used commercially. While celebrities have long trademarked their names and images, Swifts attempt to formally secure rights over her voice signals a new frontier in intellectual property law.

The move comes amid a surge in AI-generated deepfake content, including songs that mimic the voices of well-known artists. In recent years, viral tracks using AI-generated versions of major performersincluding Swifthave circulated widely online, raising concerns about consent, compensation, and reputational harm.

Entertainment industry unease

Legal analysts say Swifts filing reflects growing unease within the entertainment industry. According to legal analysts, voice is becoming just as recognizable and monetizable as a face. If courts uphold these kinds of protections, they say it could fundamentally reshape how identity rights are enforced.

Swift has been particularly proactive in managing her intellectual property. Her ongoing efforts to re-record her early albums to regain control over her master recordings have already positioned her as a leading figure in artist rights. This latest legal maneuver appears to extend that strategy into emerging technological territory.

Whos next?

The implications could reach far beyond the music industry. Actors, influencers, and even public figures in politics and media are facing similar challenges as AI tools make it easier to replicate voices and appearances with minimal effort.

Tech companies, meanwhile, are under increasing pressure to address misuse. Some platforms have begun implementing watermarking and detection tools for synthetic media, but enforcement remains inconsistent.

For Swift, the trademark filings are as much about prevention as enforcement. By formally staking a legal claim to her voice, she may be better positioned to challenge unauthorized uses before they spread widely.

Whether the filings will be approvedand how broadly they will be interpretedremains to be seen. But one thing is clear: as artificial intelligence blurs the line between real and replica, the battle over who owns a persons identity is just beginning.

Luxury cars top list of vehicles resold within first year, study finds

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Luxury brands dominate the list of new cars resold within the first year, led by multiple BMW and Mercedes-Benz models.

• Eleven vehicles were found to be resold at rates two to five times higher than the industry average of 1.5%.

• Loaner vehicle programs and unmet owner expectations are among the key factors driving early resale activity.

When someone buys a new car and trades it in within the first 12 months, it might be wise to take notice. When particular makes and models fall into that category, it could be a red flag.

A recent study from automotive research firm iSeeCars.com sheds light on which new vehicles owners are most likely to sell within the first year of ownership and the results skew heavily toward luxury brands.

Analyzing more than 24 million new car sales, researchers found that just 1.5% of new vehicles are typically resold within the first 12 months. However, 11 models far exceed that benchmark, with resale rates ranging from about 3.2% to as high as 8%.

Luxury brands in the lead

Leading the list is the BMW 3 Series, with 8% of units resold within a year, followed by the BMW 5 Series (7.1%) and Mercedes-Benz C-Class (6.1%). Other vehicles on the list include the Nissan Versa Note, Dodge Dart, BMW X3, BMW 4 Series, Mercedes-Benz E-Class, Chrysler 200, Subaru WRX, and Nissan Versa.

Luxury automakers account for more than half of the vehicles identified. But dissatisfaction with the vehicle is not always the reason.

According to the study, one major reason is the widespread use of dealer loaner programs. Automakers often incentivize dealerships to purchase new vehicles for temporary use as service loaners, which are then resold as lightly used cars within a year.

Additional factors

Additional factors may also contribute to the high turnover, including dissatisfaction among first-time luxury buyers who opt for entry-level trims, as well as quality concerns or unmet expectations.

Among the non-luxury models on the list, all received average or below-average scores in the J.D. Power 2016 Initial Quality Study, suggesting that perceived or actual quality issues may play a role in early resale decisions.

Still, researchers caution that lower quality ratings do not necessarily indicate serious defects. In many cases, vehicles are resold simply because they fail to meet buyer expectations rather than due to major mechanical problems.

The findings highlight how ownership experience including expectations, incentives, and early impressions can significantly influence how long drivers keep a new vehicle.