Techin' Geek

On Thursday, Meta revealed its plan to begin the rollout of more sophisticated AI systems to manage content enforcement as it aims to reduce dependency on third-party suppliers. Content enforcement tasks encompass identifying and eliminating material pertaining to terrorism, child exploitation, drugs, fraud, and scams.

The corporation states that it will implement these enhanced AI systems throughout its applications once they reliably surpass its existing content enforcement techniques. Concurrently, it will lessen its reliance on external vendors for content moderation.

“Although we will still employ individuals to review content, these systems will be capable of handling tasks that are more suited to technology, such as repetitive assessments of graphic material or areas where malicious actors are continually altering their strategies, such as in illegal drug sales or scams,” Meta elaborated in a blog entry.

Meta is confident that these AI systems can identify more infractions with improved precision, enhance scam prevention, respond more swiftly to real-world occurrences, and minimize over-enforcement.

According to the company, initial tests of the AI systems have shown encouraging results, as they can recognize twice as much violating adult sexual solicitation content compared to its review teams, while also decreasing the error rate by over 60%. It further claims that the systems can detect and thwart more impersonation accounts involving celebrities and other high-profile figures, as well as assist in preventing account takeovers by identifying indicators like logins from unfamiliar locations, password alterations, or profile edits.

Moreover, Meta states that the systems can recognize and address approximately 5,000 scam attempts daily, where fraudsters try to deceive individuals into disclosing their login information.

“Specialists will design, educate, supervise, and assess our AI systems, measuring performance and making the most intricate, high-impact choices,” Meta stated in the blog entry. “For instance, people will remain pivotal in making the highest-risk and most critical decisions, like appeals against account deactivation or reports made to law enforcement.”

This initiative arrives as Meta has been easing its content moderation policies over the past year or so, following President Donald Trump’s return to office. Last year, the firm discontinued its third-party fact-checking initiative in favor of a model similar to X’s Community Notes. It has also removed limitations on “subjects that are part of mainstream discussions” and remarked that users would be encouraged to adopt a “personalized” method regarding political content.

Additionally, this occurs as Meta and other major technology firms currently face several legal challenges aimed at holding social media giants responsible for the harm caused to children and young users.

On Thursday, Meta also declared the launch of a Meta AI support assistant that will provide users with round-the-clock support. The assistant is being rolled out internationally to the Facebook and Instagram applications for both iOS and Android, as well as within the Help Center on Facebook and Instagram on desktop.

Following the resolution of its protracted antitrust dispute concerning the Android app ecosystem earlier this month, Google announced on Thursday that it will simplify the process of installing Android apps from sources outside the Play Store. The company revealed new information about an “advanced flow” feature that will permit Android device users to disable a verification requirement, which otherwise restricts the sideloading of apps.

Last year, the tech giant declared that it would mandate all Android apps to be registered by verified developers in order to be installed on certified Android devices. This move was aimed at curbing the capacity of malicious actors to disseminate malware, execute financial scams, and acquire users’ personal information through applications outside the Play Store.

While added security measures can help mitigate such threats, certain Android users desire the autonomy to install unverified applications and accept the risk if these apps prove to be hazardous.

With the newly introduced “advanced flow” feature, users will have the ability to undergo a one-time procedure to deactivate these extra safeguards while still aiding in the prevention of scams.

The procedure starts by activating developer mode within Android’s system settings, a step intended to prevent any accidental actions or “one-tap” bypasses that malicious actors frequently utilize in high-pressure frauds. Google points out that scammers often exploit fear to instill a sense of urgency in their targets, employing strategies such as threats of financial catastrophe, legal complications, or harm to family members. They frequently maintain phone contact with the victim and guide them through the steps needed to disable the security measures on their device.

According to a report by the Global Anti-Scam Alliance (GASA), cited by Google, 57% of adults globally fell victim to a scam in 2025.

Once developer mode is activated, there’s a brief verification designed to ensure that no one is guiding the user to disable their security measures. Users will then reboot their device and reauthenticate, a method that disconnects any remote access or ongoing phone calls that a scammer might be exploiting to monitor their potential victim’s actions.

After a one-time, one-day protective waiting period, users will be able to verify that it is indeed them making the change. Given that scammers typically depend on artificially created urgency, this waiting period grants users an opportunity to reflect, Google clarifies. Once the waiting time elapses, the device owners can utilize biometric authentication, such as a fingerprint or facial recognition, or their device PIN to validate the alteration.

Upon completion of the process, Android users will have the capability to install applications from unverified developers outside the Play Store. Users may opt to enable this feature for 7 days or indefinitely. Google states that users will still receive a warning that the application is from an unverified developer for safety reasons, but they will have the option to dismiss this warning with a tap.

The company emphasizes that alongside this new flow, it is also providing free, limited distribution accounts for students and hobbyists who wish to share apps with a small audience of up to 20 users without needing to verify their accounts with a government ID or registration fee.

These adjustments follow the resolution of a lengthy legal confrontation between Google and Fortnite creator Epic Games regarding anticompetitive matters on the Play Store. As a result of the settlement, Google announced it would reduce its Play Store commissions to 20% on in-app purchases, with an additional 5% applied if app developers choose to utilize Google’s billing system.

On Thursday, DoorDash revealed the launch of a new, independent “Tasks” application that will enable the company to compensate its delivery couriers for carrying out tasks designed to enhance AI and robotic technologies. According to DoorDash, delivery couriers can earn money by engaging in activities such as recording everyday routines or speaking in different languages.

“This data aids AI and robotic systems in comprehending the physical environment,” DoorDash stated in a blog entry. “Compensation is provided upfront and is based on the effort and complexity of the task.”

Bloomberg notes that the original audio and video clips submitted by employees will be utilized to assess both the company’s proprietary AI models and those created by its partners in sectors like retail, insurance, hospitality, and technology.

One task example involves instructing a courier to record themselves washing at least five dishes while outfitted with a body camera, ensuring each clean dish is displayed in the frame for a few seconds before proceeding to the next, according to Bloomberg.

DoorDash is not the sole company leveraging its delivery staff to train AI systems. Late last year, Uber revealed intentions to allow drivers to earn additional income by completing minor tasks, such as uploading images to assist in training AI models.

Alongside the separate Tasks app, delivery couriers will see newly introduced digital “Tasks” in the Dasher application. These consist of activities such as assisting restaurants in showcasing their menus through genuine photographs of their meals or capturing images of hotel entrances to facilitate easier drop-off for delivery drivers. The partnership between DoorDash and Waymo, wherein couriers are incentivized to close self-driving car doors, is also featured in the app as a task.

“Tasks aim to help businesses gain better insights into on-ground realities while providing Dashers with flexible earning opportunities,” stated Ethan Beatty, General Manager of DoorDash Tasks, in the blog post. “With over 8 million Dashers capable of reaching nearly any location across the U.S. and seeking to earn beyond deliveries, this represents a significant opportunity to digitize the physical landscape.”

Both the in-app Tasks and the independent Tasks app are accessible in select locations throughout the U.S., excluding California, New York City, Seattle, and Colorado. DoorDash intends to broaden the types of tasks and expand to additional countries in the future.