platform trials

The first US trial over allegations that TikTok contributed to a teen mental health crisis is set to begin, testing claims that the platform's design harms young users. The case is being closely watched as a test of social media companies' legal responsibility for youth wellbeing and could shape future litigation against major platforms.

Google has begun testing a feature that lets users in India buy products from Flipkart, the Indian e-commerce platform owned by Walmart, directly through its Gemini assistant and AI Mode in Search. The trial points to a broader push to turn AI chat and search experiences into shopping channels, as tech companies race to blend conversational AI with online commerce.

Platform trials, which test multiple treatments against a single control group, are changing how clinical evidence is generated in medicine. Commentators argue that regulators have not yet adapted their standards to this trial design, raising questions about how such evidence will be assessed for drug approvals.