Uploaded February 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is changing the way we look for information online. Search engines increasingly offer AI-generated answers that keep users on their platforms instead of redirecting them to external websites, and many are now using generative AI tools as search engines. This convergence has intensified competition between traditional search engines and generative AI platforms. At the same time, experts warn that such reliance may lead to informational dependency and a decline in users' cognitive skills.
🔎 Read more in our EPRS briefing: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document/EPRS_ATA(2025)779238
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is changing the way we look for information online. Search engines increasingly offer AI-generated answers that keep users on their platforms instead of redirecting them to external websites, and many are now using generative AI tools as search engines. This convergence has intensified competition between traditional search engines and generative AI platforms. At the same time, experts warn that such reliance may lead to informational dependency and a decline in users' cognitive skills.
🔎 Read more in our EPRS briefing: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document/EPRS_ATA(2025)779238
![What if generative artificial intelligence became conscious? [Science and Technology Podcast]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/C4uoNxPxKMk/mqdefault.jpg "What if generative artificial intelligence became conscious? [Science and Technology Podcast]
Generative artificial intelligence applications, such as ChatGPT, are powered through complex learning processes by comprehensive datasets of – potentially dubious – human-created content. There are concerns that such tools could develop consciousness and spark emergent behaviour that is, by definition, unpredictable and therefore potentially unsafe. Do these concerns point to a need to look again at the relevant legislation?
See the paper publication behind this podcast:
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/stoa/en/document/EPRS_ATA(2023)753162
Subscribe to EPRS Science and Technology Podcasts:
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/audio-podcasts.html")
![Confirmation hearings of the Commissioners-designate [Policy Podcast]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/DDNWqxvLVMg/mqdefault.jpg "Confirmation hearings of the Commissioners-designate [Policy Podcast]
Ahead of the autumn 2024 Commissioners-designate hearings, Parliament has adapted the rules for the process, which will apply for the members of the second von der Leyen College. Since the 2004 investiture, Parliament has used its role in appointing the Commission to replace certain controversial candidates and force adjustments to certain portfolios, although according to the Treaties Parliament can only reject or accept the College as a whole. Confirmation hearings have become critical for Parliament to hold the Commission accountable, and have gained prominence as a tool for Parliament to take a greater role in EU agenda-setting.
See the publication behind this podcast:
Confirmation hearings of the Commissioners-designate: A decisive step in the investiture process
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/BRIE/2024/762400/EPRS_BRI(2024)762400_EN.pdf
🎧Listen to our podcasts reporting on the latest EU policy developments, looking into the impact they will have on our lives and capturing their policy implications:
iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/european-parliament-eprs-policy-podcasts/id1086996218?mt=2
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6gy0Q2GWrcpPsAE71iSiEn
YouTube Music: https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLPPfzoqPUImUlrgj7CsP5N2x7DNpzp7NL&si=uxxbZBn0Lj96nUov")
![Young people and the news [Policy podcast]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Df2PMqL_QS0/mqdefault.jpg "Young people and the news [Policy podcast]
News media are now faced with digitally native younger generations who often pay more attention to influencers and celebrities than they do to journalists, even when it comes to news. The teaching of media literacy skills is more necessary than ever to help people – especially children and young people – understand the difference between news circulating on social media and news provided by professional media sources.
See the publication behind this podcast:
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/ATAG/2024/766238/EPRS_ATA(2024)766238_EN.pdf
🎧Listen to our podcasts reporting on the latest EU policy developments, looking into the impact they will have on our lives and capturing their policy implications:
iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/european-parliament-eprs-policy-podcasts/id1086996218?mt=2
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6gy0Q2GWrcpPsAE71iSiEn
YouTube Music: https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLPPfzoqPUImUlrgj7CsP5N2x7DNpzp7NL&si=uxxbZBn0Lj96nUov
#Youth #Young #News")
![Toy safety regulation [Policy Podcast]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/F9ofY3GyYjw/mqdefault.jpg "Toy safety regulation [Policy Podcast]
In July 2023, the European Commission adopted a proposal to revise the EU toy safety legislation.
This proposal pursues two main objectives:
a) achieving a higher level of child protection, including from the most harmful substances,
b) reducing the number of non-compliant and unsafe toys on the EU market.
Subscribe to EPRS Policy Podcasts: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/audio-podcasts.html
See the paper publication behind this podcast:
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document/EPRS_BRI(2023)754600")
