AI to Enforce Phone Ban. Claude Adds Excel Integration. Google Photos Adds Me Meme. Japanese Creatives Lose Income.

Show notes

The AI news for January 25th, 2026

--- This episode is sponsored by ---

Pickert GmbH
Find our more about our today's sponsor Pickert at pickert.de.

---

Would you like to create your own AI-generated and 100% automated podcast on your chosen topic? --> Reach out to us, and we’ll make it happen.

Here are the details of the day's selected top stories:

Accidents: Road Safety Council calls for AI monitoring of the mobile phone ban.
Source: https://www.heise.de/news/Unfaelle-Verkehrssicherheitsrat-fordert-KI-Ueberwachung-des-Handy-Verbots-11152909.html?wt_mc=rss.red.ho.themen.k%C3%BCnstliche+intelligenz.beitrag.beitrag
Why did we choose this article?
Proposes using AI camera surveillance and legal changes to enforce phone bans and cycling alcohol limits—this would affect enforcement, privacy, and everyday road users.

Anthropic makes Claude's Excel integration available to all Pro subscribers.
Source: https://the-decoder.de/anthropic-schaltet-excel-integration-von-claude-fuer-alle-pro-abonnenten-frei/
Why did we choose this article?
Brings an AI assistant directly into Excel for Pro users with finance-focused connectors and templates—practical productivity gains for analysts and finance teams.

Google Photos: New AI feature 'Me Meme' creates personalized memes.
Source: https://the-decoder.de/google-photos-neue-ki-funktion-me-meme-erstellt-personalisierte-memes/
Why did we choose this article?
A consumer-facing feature that auto-generates memes from your selfies inside Photos—changes how people create and share personal content and raises privacy/sharing considerations.

One in ten Japanese creatives loses income due to generative AI.
Source: https://the-decoder.de/jeder-zehnte-japanische-kreative-verliert-einkommen-durch-generative-ki/
Why did we choose this article?
Survey evidence that generative AI is already cutting income for illustrators—an immediate economic impact on creatives with implications for jobs, contracts, and copyright policy.

Do you have any questions, comments, or suggestions for improvement? We welcome your feedback at podcast@pickert.de.