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Most downloaded news app in America with ties to China highlights dangers of AI

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Most downloaded news app in America with ties to China highlights dangers of AI

NewsBreak is one of the most downloaded news apps in the U.S. with more than 50 million monthly users. However, according to a Reuters report, the company is spreading misinformation through artificial intelligence (AI)-generated content. The report also highlights that NewsBreak has roots in China, with its technology being maintained in Beijing and receiving funding from a Chinese company that allegedly works for the country’s military.

NewsBreak app (Google Play) (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

How NewsBreak is misusing AI

The Reuters report highlighted many instances where NewsBreak used AI to generate news that never actually happened. For instance, last Christmas Eve, it published an alarming piece about a small-town shooting. It was headlined “Christmas Day tragedy strikes Bridgeton, New Jersey, amid rising gun violence in small towns.”

However, no such incident happened. The Bridgeton, New Jersey police department posted a statement on Facebook on Dec. 27 dismissing the article – produced using AI technology – as “entirely false.”

NewsBreak doesn’t write all of its articles. The company is a distributor that publishes licensed content from outlets like Reuters, Fox, CNN and AP. Some of its articles are also sourced using information available on the internet and through paraphrasing press releases.

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A man reading the news on his tablet (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

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How NewsBreak’s automated content disrupted local communities

According to a Reuters investigation, there have been at least 40 instances since 2021 where NewsBreak’s use of AI tools has affected communities. The app has published erroneous stories, created 10 stories from local news sites under fictitious bylines and lifted content from its competitors. Two local community programs assisting disadvantaged people were impacted by erroneous stories produced by NewsBreak’s AI.

This year, in January, February and March, a Colorado-based food bank, Food to Power, had to turn people away because NewsBreak stated incorrect times for food distributions. The charity complained to NewsBreak in a Jan. 30 email to the company’s general customer support address but received no response. Harvest912, a charity in Erie, Pennsylvania, reported a similar incident.

Norm Pearlstine, former Executive Editor at the Wall Street Journal and the Los Angeles Times, worked as a consultant for NewsBreak. He told Reuters that the company also tried to create fake accounts to access content that publishers had put behind paywalls.

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News site on laptop (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

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NewsBreak’s China connection

NewsBreak advertises itself as a U.S.-based and U.S.-invested startup, but the company has its roots in China. It was founded in 2015 by Jeff Zheng, who currently serves as the CEO of NewsBreak. Zheng is also the founder of the Chinese news aggregation app Yidian. In fact, the two companies share a U.S. patent, registered in 2015, for an “Interest Engine” algorithm, which recommends news content based on a user’s interests and location.

Until 2019, NewsBreak was a subsidiary of Yidian, and the Chinese news aggregation company referred to NewsBreak as its U.S. version until 2021, according to the Wire China. Plus, one of NewsBreak’s primary backers is Beijing-based IDG Capital, which is on a list of dozens of Chinese companies the Pentagon alleges are working with the Chinese military. It is important to note that there’s no evidence that NewsBreak censored or produced news favorable to the Chinese government.

We reached out to NewsBreak for comment on this article and have not heard back as of our deadline.

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A woman reading the news on her smartphone (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

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4 ways to protect yourself from misinformation

The growing use of AI means the internet is now harder than ever to navigate. Follow these steps to protect yourself from misinformation.

1) Verify sources: Check the credibility of the source. Look for news from reputable organizations with a track record of accuracy and accountability. Verify the information across multiple trusted sources before believing or sharing it.

2) Check the author: Investigate the author of the content. Ensure they are credible and have the necessary expertise or background. Be wary of articles without author bylines.

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3) Use fact-checking tools: Use fact-checking websites and tools like Snopes, FactCheck.org or the International Fact-Checking Network to verify dubious claims. These resources can help you determine the accuracy of the information.

4) Be skeptical of social media: Take information on social media with a grain of salt. Platforms like Facebook, X and Instagram can be breeding grounds for misinformation. Verify the information from reliable sources before sharing or believing it. Be particularly cautious of viral content and consider the potential biases of those sharing it.

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Kurt’s key takeaways

The internet has always been a breeding ground for misinformation, but now that news media publications have started using AI to generate content, misinformation is at its peak. The NewsBreak incident is one of the many that have come to light in recent years, and it’s only an indication of what we are about to witness. It’s important that you take your dose of news from reliable sources. You can always trust me for tech-related news, but for other content, make sure you verify the sources.

As we navigate the digital age with AI, what responsibilities do platforms like NewsBreak have in combating the spread of misinformation? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.

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For more of my tech tips and security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to Cyberguy.com/Newsletter.

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Use this map to find the data centers in your backyard

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Use this map to find the data centers in your backyard

When Oregon resident Isabelle Reksopuro heard Google was gobbling up public land to fuel its data centers in her home state, she didn’t initially know what to believe. “There’s a lot of misinformation about data centers,” she said. “Google has denied taking that land.”

Technically, she explains, The Dalles, a city near the Washington state border, sought to reclaim that land, “and Google is just a big, unnamed power user.” The city had in fact asked for ownership of a 150-acre portion of Mount Hood National Forest, claiming it needs access to Mount Hood’s watershed to meet municipal needs as its population — 16,010 as of the 2020 census — grows. But critics, including environmentalists, say the city is trying to secure more water for Google, which has a sprawling data center campus in The Dalles that already consumes about one-third of the city’s water supply.

This controversy made Reksopuro curious about the backlash to data centers being built in other communities. So Reksopuro, a student at the University of Washington who studies the connections between tech and public policy, decided to map it out. Using information collected by Epoch AI and data scraped from legislation on data centers, she built an interactive map tracking AI policy around the world. She designed it to be simple enough for anyone to use. “I wanted it to be something that my younger sisters could play through and explore to understand what are the data centers in the area and what’s actually being done about it,” Reksopuro said. She hoped to shift their opinions that way, “instead of like, through TikTok.”

Four times a day, the map searches for new sources and checks them against the existing database Reksopuro built out. “Once it does that, it will write a new summary, add it to the news feed, and populate it on the sidebar,” she said. “I wanted it to be self-updating, since I’m also a student.”

Reksopuro isn’t against data centers, but she thinks tech giants benefit from a lack of transparency around data center policies. “Right now, it’s this really opaque thing — and all of a sudden, there’s a facility,” she said. “I think that if people knew about data centers beforehand, it would give them leverage. They would be able to negotiate: ask for job training programs, tax revenue, environmental monitoring, things to improve their community.”

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Fox News AI Newsletter: Graduation speaker praises AI, gets instantly booed

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Fox News AI Newsletter: Graduation speaker praises AI, gets instantly booed

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

 

Welcome to Fox News’ Artificial Intelligence newsletter with the latest AI technology advancements.

IN TODAY’S NEWSLETTER:

– UCF graduates clobber commencement speaker with boos after she says AI is the ‘next Industrial Revolution’

– OPINION: DIRECTOR KASH PATEL: We brought the FBI out of the past and into the AI age

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– OpenAI backs creation of global AI governance body led by the U.S. that would include China as a member

TOUGH CROWD: During a recent commencement ceremony at the University of Central Florida, a speaker was met with loud boos from the graduating class after declaring that artificial intelligence represents the next industrial revolution. Fox News Digital reporting captures this tense cultural moment, illustrating the mixed public sentiment and skepticism surrounding AI’s growing footprint in daily life.

A statue on the campus of the University of Central Florida in Orlando, Florida. (iStock)

BADGE MEETS BYTE: Reflecting on the modernization of national security in a Fox News op-ed, FBI Director Kash Patel explores how the bureau must adapt its strategies to address modern threats and advance beyond the artificial intelligence age.

TECH DIPLOMACY: OpenAI is throwing its support behind the establishment of a new global artificial intelligence governance organization that would be led by the United States while notably including China as a member. Fox News Digital reporting examines the geopolitical dynamics and regulatory implications of this proposed framework as global powers race to set the standards for AI development.

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EQUITY ELEVATION: The massive wave of wealth generated by the explosive growth of ChatGPT and the broader AI industry is driving a sudden surge in the San Francisco Bay Area’s luxury real estate market. Fox News Digital reporting breaks down how the influx of new tech capital is reshaping local housing dynamics and fueling a high-end property frenzy.

FBI Director Kash Patel listened as Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche spoke during a press conference at the Department of Justice on April 28, 2026, in Washington, D.C. (Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)

STRATEGY RESET: Tech giant Cisco is planning to eliminate thousands of jobs as the company shifts its primary focus to accelerate its artificial intelligence initiatives, a move that comes despite the company beating earnings expectations. Fox News Digital reporting details the corporate restructuring and broader economic trends pushing legacy tech firms to aggressively pivot toward AI.

ROAD HAZARD: Waymo is issuing a sweeping recall of its autonomous vehicle fleet following a concerning incident that highlighted significant safety issues with the self-driving technology. Fox News Digital reporting outlines the specifics of the recall, the nature of the safety flaw, and what this setback means for the future of fully autonomous transportation on public roads.

BOTS IN THE BAY: A newly developed, artificial intelligence-powered robot has been engineered to seamlessly change and balance vehicle tires without human intervention. Fox News Digital reporting showcases this latest innovation, exploring how automation and AI mechanics could soon revolutionize the automotive service and repair industry.

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OpenAI CEO Sam Altman speaks during the 2026 Infrastructure Summit in Washington, D.C., on March 11, 2026. (Kylie Cooper/Reuters)

 

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Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future with Fox News here.

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Microsoft’s Edge Copilot update uses AI to pull information from across your tabs

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Microsoft’s Edge Copilot update uses AI to pull information from across your tabs

Microsoft Edge is adding a new feature that will allow its Copilot AI chatbot to gather information from all of your open tabs. When you start a conversation with Copilot, you can ask the chatbot questions about what’s in your tabs, compare the products you’re looking at, summarize your open articles, and more.

In its announcement, Microsoft says you can “select which experiences you want or leave off the ones you don’t.” The company is retiring Copilot Mode as well, which could similarly draw information from your tabs but offered some agentic features, like the ability to book a reservation on your behalf. Microsoft has since folded these agentic capabilities into its “Browse with Copilot” tool.

Several other AI features are coming to Edge, including an AI-powered “Study and Learn” mode that can turn the article you’re looking at into a study session or interactive quiz. There’s a new tool that turns your tabs into AI-powered podcasts as well, similar to what you’d find on NotebookLM, and an AI writing assistant that will pop up when you start entering text on a webpage.

You can also give Copilot permission to access your browsing history to provide more “relevant, high-quality answers,” according to Microsoft. Copilot in Edge on desktop and mobile will come with “long-term memory” as well, which can tailor its responses based on your previous conversations. And, when you open up a new tab, you’ll see a redesigned page that combines chat, search, and web navigation, along with the Journeys feature, which uses AI to organize your browsing history into categories that you can revisit.

Meanwhile, an update to Edge’s mobile app will allow you to share your screen with Copilot and talk through the questions about what you’re seeing. Microsoft says you’ll see “clear visual cues” when Copilot is active, “so you know when it’s taking an action, helping, listening, or viewing.”

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