Human therapists staged a strike to protest against being replaced by AI counselors.

      When those treating your anxiety express their own anxiety about AI, it may be wise to take heed.

      Recently, more than 2,400 Kaiser Permanente mental health providers in Northern California completed a 24-hour strike. A primary concern among them mirrors the anxiety felt by many in sectors affected by AI: the worry that artificial intelligence could take over their jobs.

      Kaiser has reassured that AI will not replace therapists' positions. The company informed NPR that it does not use AI for medical or care decisions. However, employees argue that the changes they are observing suggest otherwise.

      Licensed clinical social workers are being redirected from triage duties and are being substituted by unlicensed personnel following scripts or utilizing apps for online patient assessments. Therapists view this as a progression towards AI-led care.

      Is AI actually taking the place of therapists?

      Not at this time, according to psychologist Vaile Wright, senior director of health care innovation at the American Psychological Association. In an NPR interview, she indicated that no AI solution presently exists that can supplant human-driven therapy or mental health care.

      In areas where AI is implemented, it primarily deals with paperwork—such as billing, updating health records, and other administrative duties that diminish a therapist's time. This is arguably beneficial, as it allows healthcare providers to concentrate more on patient care.

      Should there be concern regarding the AI tools your provider might employ?

      Dr. John Torous, a psychiatrist and director of digital psychiatry at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, points out that many AI tools emerging in mental health care show promise but are not yet fully evaluated.

      Some tech firms are already developing AI chatbots for patient triage and assessments. Torous emphasizes the need for mental health professionals to stay informed about these tools and to reject those that are unsafe or ineffective, especially considering the lack of robust regulation.

      The nurses who participated in the strike share similar anxieties. Katy Roemer, a Kaiser nurse, expressed her concerns plainly in an AP interview: “Will AI benefit patients? Will it benefit employees at Kaiser Permanente? Or will it merely serve the corporation’s profit margins?”

      Perplexity

      Recently, Microsoft announced Copilot Health and Perplexity has entered the healthcare sector with its own Perplexity Health solutions. It is evident that AI is here to remain, and it will impact nearly every industry. The pressing issue is whether healthcare systems will utilize it to genuinely assist patients or simply to cut expenses.

      Rachit is an experienced tech journalist with more than seven years of expertise in consumer technology coverage.

      Apple finally adopts Google's strategy for ads in Maps

      Apple is transitioning Apple Maps towards advertising, which could change how a billion users discover, navigate, and make purchases on the navigation app.

      Apple is officially following the Google Maps model. The Cupertino company is advancing plans to integrate ads within Apple Maps, allowing businesses to purchase visual placements in the app’s search results. Apple’s services division already produces over $100 billion annually, and monetizing Maps appears to be a logical next step. With millions of iPhones, Apple Watches, and CarPlay dashboards utilizing the app, it presents a prime opportunity for targeted advertising.

      Apple has scheduled the date for WWDC 2026, its major software event of the year

      Apple's most significant software release of the year now has a date, and the countdown begins.

      Apple has confirmed the dates for WWDC 2026. The keynote will start on Monday, June 8, and continue until June 12. This is traditionally when Apple reveals the upcoming versions of all its operating systems.

      What can we expect at WWDC this year?

      Nvidia DLSS 5 could shape the future of graphics, and I still wish for a large "Off" button

      Neural rendering is fascinating, but "yassifying" game characters is less so.

      For years, achieving photo-realism was viewed as the ultimate milestone for next-gen gaming. Ray-tracing represented significant progress. Following that were super-resolution and super-sampling enhancements. However, when Nvidia presented its next major leap in video game visuals, the fifth-generation Deep Learning Super Sampling, a debate ensued. Notably, DLSS 5 is more than just an upgraded version with improved graphics and performance.

      Nvidia is marketing it as a real-time neural rendering model that can incorporate more photo-realistic lighting and material detail into game frames, representing a far larger shift than mere upscaling. This is a daring technical and aesthetic move. While it sounds impressive, and indeed parts of it are, if DLSS 5 operates as intended, it could enhance game visuals without developers needing to force each lighting effect in the traditional manner.