California colleges spend millions on faulty AI systems: 'The chatbot is outdated’ – The Markup Community colleges are spending millions on AI-powered chatbots that students say often give inaccurate answers. Many might see upgrades this year.

Community colleges are spending millions on AI-powered chatbots that students say often give inaccurate answers. Many might see upgrades this year.

Turnitin charged colleges vastly different amounts to detect plagarism – The Markup Purchasing records show some colleges are paying three times more than others.

Purchasing records show some colleges are paying three times more than others.

Kids are making deepfakes of each other, and laws aren’t keeping up – The Markup Schools and lawmakers are grappling with how to address a new form of peer-on-peer image-based sexual abuse that disproportionately targets girls.

Schools and lawmakers are grappling with how to address a new form of peer-on-peer image-based sexual abuse that disproportionately targets girls.

Hiring in an era of fake candidates, real scams and AI slop – The Markup AI-written applications, an impersonator and a recruiter scam followed just one remote job posting.

AI-written applications, an impersonator and a recruiter scam followed just one remote job posting.

California's fire protection agency made an AI chatbot.  It can’t answer one crucial question – The Markup The bot fails at some basic questions about fires. Cal Fire says it is working on fixes.

The bot fails at some basic questions about fires. Cal Fire says it is working on fixes.

AI is helping students be more independent, but the isolation could be career poison – The Markup Chatbots may give students quick answers when they have questions, but they won’t help students form relationships that matter for college and life success.

Chatbots may give students quick answers when they have questions, but they won’t help students form relationships that matter for college and life success.

Prison education often means no internet, limited tech – The Markup California and other states have pushed to expand prison education, but they continue to limit inmates’ access to the internet and other technology

California and other states have pushed to expand prison education, but they continue to limit inmates’ access to the internet and other technology

We caught companies making it harder to delete your personal data online – The Markup Dozens of companies are hiding how you can delete your personal data, The Markup and CalMatters found. After our reporters reached out for comment, multiple companies have stopped the practice.

Dozens of companies are hiding how you can delete your personal data, The Markup and CalMatters found. After our reporters reached out for comment, multiple companies have stopped the practice.

Generative AI is eating culture. See how close it’s getting to disrupting dance – The Markup Dancers say their craft can’t be duplicated by AI. Our tests show they’re right — for now.

Dancers say their craft can’t be duplicated by AI. Our tests show they’re right — for now.

Google kept its lobbying on this privacy bill super, super quiet – The Markup Google organized business owners against California legislation to force its Chrome web browser to safeguard personal data.

Google organized business owners against California legislation to force its Chrome web browser to safeguard personal data.

How we tested and evaluated AI-generated dance videos – The Markup None of the videos produced by the leading AI platforms showed the actual dances we requested.

None of the videos produced by the leading AI platforms showed the actual dances we requested.

It’s hard to find resources while on the transplant list. These sites want to change that – The Markup Here are seven resources to help if you need an organ transplant

Here are seven resources to help if you need an organ transplant

‘We’re basically pushers:’ How a battle over kids on social media is unfolding in two California courtrooms – The Markup Lawsuits in California federal and state court are unearthing documents embarrassing to tech companies — and may be a tipping point into federal regulation.

Lawsuits in California federal and state court are unearthing documents embarrassing to tech companies — and may be a tipping point into federal regulation.

Mamdani to kill the NYC AI chatbot we caught telling businesses to break the law – The Markup New York mayor says terminating the ‘unusable’ bot will help close a budget gap

New York mayor says terminating the ‘unusable’ bot will help close a budget gap

Is the patient Black? Check this box for yes – The Markup For years a race-based medical calculation delayed Black patients access to life-saving kidney transplants

For years a race-based medical calculation delayed Black patients access to life-saving kidney transplants

Why a new California law could change the way all Americans browse the internet – The Markup Legislation recently enacted in California will make it easier for consumers nationwide to protect their data

Legislation recently enacted in California will make it easier for consumers nationwide to protect their data

Google tool makes AI cheating easier, teachers say – The Markup A Chrome browser tool features a movable bubble that provides information without typing a prompt, spurring a rise in AI cheating on tests.

A Chrome browser tool features a movable bubble that provides information without typing a prompt, spurring a rise in AI cheating on tests.

Ten answers that could save a life: Organ donation explained – The Markup We asked experts to break down the top questions about how the transplant system works — and why equity matters.

We asked experts to break down the top questions about how the transplant system works — and why equity matters.

How American Big Tech guards the profits it extracts around the world – The Markup A consortium of journalists is revealing how the industry influences governments in Latin America and globally.

A consortium of journalists is revealing how the industry influences governments in Latin America and globally.

Following Markup investigation, Congress finds data brokers cost consumers tens of billions of dollars – The Markup A congressional investigation estimates broker breaches have cost consumers $20 billion in identity theft. Major brokers now promise to make it easier to opt out of their databases.

A congressional investigation estimates broker breaches have cost consumers $20 billion in identity theft. Major brokers now promise to make it easier to opt out of their databases.

State AI regulation is in the crosshairs of Trump executive order – The Markup Since 2016, California enacted more AI regulations than any other state. The president's new order against such laws worries state officials.

Since 2016, California enacted more AI regulations than any other state. The president's new order against such laws worries state officials.

Graphic of a screenshot of The Markup's story "Dating App Cover-Up: How Tinder, Hinge, and Their Corporate Owner Keep Rape Under Wraps" next to the text "WINNER," the headline of the story, and the Society for Advancing Business Editing and Writing’s Logo

The Markup’s collaborative investigation “Dating App Cover-Up: How Tinder, Hinge, and Their Corporate Owner Keep Rape Under Wraps” has won in the Society for Advancing Business Editing and Writing’s 2025 Best in Business Awards. bit.ly/4m06u0g

Dating App Rape Survivors File Lawsuit Accusing Hinge, Tinder of “Accommodating Rapists” – The Markup The civil lawsuit filed Tuesday, citing the Dating App Reporting Project, argues that dating apps could kick off serial rapists, but don’t.

The civil lawsuit, citing the Dating App Reporting Project, argues that dating apps could kick off serial rapists, but don’t.

Are TikTok and X tracking you across the internet? Our privacy tool can now tell you – The Markup We’ve updated The Markup’s privacy tool to help you understand how sites are tracking you through TikTok and X pixels.

We’ve updated The Markup’s privacy tool to help you understand how sites are tracking you through TikTok and X pixels.

Could this mysterious website influence the 2026 election? – The Markup The California Courier likes to run Facebook ads against Democrats. Its funding, and most of its writers, are a mystery.

The California Courier likes to run Facebook ads against Democrats. Its funding, and most of its writers, are a mystery.

How Californians can use a new state website to block hundreds of data brokers – The Markup A tool called DROP lets California residents fill out a few forms to keep their personal data from being tracked or sold by data brokers.

A tool called DROP lets California residents fill out a few forms to keep their personal data from being tracked or sold by data brokers.

It was John Wayne’s political club. Now it’s spending millions on online influence – The Markup The Lincoln Media Foundation has spent big to push ‘local’ conservative messaging

The Lincoln Media Foundation has spent big to push ‘local’ conservative messaging

California tried to protect students’ data. Tech companies found loopholes – The Markup A legislative battle is under way over gaps that allow companies to collect and sell students’ personal information.

A legislative battle is under way over gaps that allow companies to collect and sell students’ personal information.

He saw an abandoned trailer. Then, he uncovered a surveillance network on California's border – The Markup Southern California residents are noticing new license plate readers that appear to be operated by the Border Patrol. Some have had confusing encounters with agents.

Southern California residents are noticing new license plate readers that appear to be operated by the Border Patrol. Some have had confusing encounters with agents.

California colleges spend millions on faulty AI systems: 'The chatbot is outdated’ – The Markup Community colleges are spending millions on AI-powered chatbots that students say often give inaccurate answers. Many might see upgrades this year.

Community colleges are spending millions on AI-powered chatbots that students say often give inaccurate answers. Many might see upgrades this year.