Artificial intelligence (AI) is everywhere these days—from the apps that help us order dinner to the search engines that answer our most pressing questions. But as AI becomes more deeply woven into our daily routines and the backbone of countless industries, it’s also finding itself at the center of heated debates about transparency, fairness, and even political influence. Recent headlines have thrown a spotlight on how AI is shaping not just the future of work, but also the flow of information at the highest levels of power.
On October 2, 2025, reports surfaced that Google had apparently blocked certain AI-generated search results for queries about former President Donald Trump’s mental acuity. According to The Economic Times, users attempting to use Google’s AI-powered search mode to ask questions about Trump’s cognitive decline or possible dementia found that the system would not generate an AI summary. Instead, it simply displayed a list of top web page results. This stands in contrast to queries about President Joe Biden, for whom Google’s AI mode does provide a summary—albeit one that emphasizes the complexity and lack of definitive answers without a formal medical diagnosis.
Google’s approach raises questions about how AI systems determine what information to present to users. A Google spokesperson explained, “Our systems automatically determine where an AI response will be useful, and it’s not always 100 percent consistent. We don’t show AI Overviews on every query and similarly in AI Mode, for some topics (like current events) we may show a list of links as the response.” This policy, while seemingly neutral on its face, has drawn criticism from those who see a double standard in how public figures are treated—especially when the stakes are as high as a presidential election.
Adding fuel to the fire, The Verge reported that Google might be “concerned about the president’s reaction” to questions about his alleged cognitive decline. The timing of these changes is notable: they came after Google CEO Sundar Pichai met with Trump at the White House on September 4, 2025. During the meeting, Pichai publicly praised Trump’s administration for its “AI Action Plan,” stating, “The AI moment is one of the most transformative moments any of us have ever seen or will see in our lifetimes, so making sure the U.S. is at the forefront—and I think your administration is investing a lot. Already the AI action plan under your leadership I think is a great start, and we look forward to working together. And thanks for your leadership.”
Whether this meeting influenced Google’s approach is up for debate, but the optics are hard to ignore. Meanwhile, YouTube—a Google-owned platform—agreed this week to pay $24.5 million to settle a lawsuit filed by Trump after his account was suspended following the January 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol. The intersection of AI, politics, and corporate interests has never been more fraught.
Trump himself has long dismissed scrutiny about his mental acuity, famously calling himself a “stable genius” and boasting about passing the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, a test designed to detect early signs of dementia. In June 2025, he turned the tables, alleging that Biden had “suffered from serious cognitive decline” for years. Yet, as The Economic Times notes, Trump—who is set to surpass Biden as the oldest sitting president in U.S. history—has not faced the same level of public scrutiny regarding his cognitive abilities, despite numerous concerning signs. The President has repeatedly dismissed any suggestion that he is in mental decline, often touting his performance on cognitive tests that include tasks like drawing a clock to show a specific time and identifying animals.
While the debate over AI’s role in politics rages on, the technology is simultaneously revolutionizing virtually every major industry. According to a 2024 McKinsey report cited by Quartz, 78% of people now use AI for at least one professional function. The workplace is changing at breakneck speed, with AI amplifying production, providing instant access to information, and scaling effortlessly with growing teams. In fact, AI’s energy efficiency has improved by 40% annually between 2022 and 2024, thanks to advances in data center technology—a significant step forward for those concerned about the environmental impact of these powerful algorithms.
Human resources departments, for example, are leveraging AI-powered tools to streamline operations, search applications, and compare resumes. The algorithms can quickly source candidates from around the globe and spot hiring trends that open new markets. Research shows that 65% of executives use AI to compete globally, making HR teams more agile and efficient than ever before.
Healthcare is another sector where AI is making a dramatic impact. Microsoft found that AI programs correctly diagnose patients 85% of the time—four times higher than the rate of participating doctors. Doctors use AI to create treatment plans, combining patient lifestyle data with medical histories to suggest personalized options based on similar cases. This isn’t just a matter of convenience; it’s a potential lifesaver, especially in under-resourced or high-pressure environments.
Finance professionals are also reaping the benefits of AI. Predictive analytics powered by AI can identify trends and compliance issues, offering crucial risk management recommendations. The U.S. Treasury Department reported that AI tools saved over $4 billion in fraud prevention and recovery during 2024 alone. These tools are now indispensable for both personal and professional financial advisers, as well as for preventing large-scale financial fraud.
Education, too, is undergoing a transformation. AI helps students optimize their study sessions according to individual learning preferences and uses predictive analytics to suggest timely interventions. Universities are responding by creating new study paths for those interested in majoring in AI programming, acknowledging that the tool is quickly becoming a fundamental part of global industries.
Nonprofits, despite receiving $592.50 billion in individual donations in 2024, still face challenges in fundraising. AI assists by predicting donor behavior, personalizing outreach, and automating event planning. These efficiencies allow nonprofit teams to focus more on their missions and less on administrative hurdles.
Manufacturing is another area where AI is proving its worth. Downtime costs automotive manufacturers an estimated $2.3 million per hour—a twofold increase from 2019. AI-driven predictive maintenance helps teams make preemptive repairs, reducing the risk of costly breakdowns and keeping production lines running smoothly.
Even the fashion industry is getting a makeover thanks to AI. Algorithms monitor social media, runway images, and company data to forecast trends and consumer demand. This allows clothing manufacturers to make more accurate predictions about what products will resonate with shoppers, reducing waste and boosting profits.
As AI continues to reshape our world, the challenges of transparency, bias, and political influence loom large. Whether it’s the information we see in search results or the algorithms that power billion-dollar industries, the stakes have never been higher. The choices made by tech giants like Google—and the ways they interact with those in power—will define not just the future of AI, but the very fabric of our society.
