A WIRED investigation published November 2 found a network of more than 400 linked apps and websites that passed app store review as ordinary tools like pet photo editors and workout coaches, then loaded a hidden interface for turning photos of real people into explicit sexual images. Apple removed 19 apps after WIRED shared its findings, and the harmful features lived on a developer server that could show reviewers the clean version and save the other version for later.

Also this week: a study in JAMA of Medicare's AI enabled prior authorization pilot in six states found back pain injections fell about 15% and other targeted services fell about 20% in the first six months, while the researchers said they can't yet tell whether the care that didn't happen was wasteful or necessary; Goldman Sachs estimated workers likely displaced from AI exposed jobs took about a month longer than other laid off workers to find a new job; Ohio voters in at least 14 towns passed data center bans or restrictions in unofficial results, including Piqua and Trenton; Google and its partners disrupted a network that had infected more than 1.3 million Android TV streaming boxes; and police in Greenville, South Carolina warned families about ransom calls that use cloned voices.

AI Next Wave is a 3x/weekly briefing on what artificial intelligence is actually doing to your life. Jay Cadmus checks the AI headlines against the sources and follows the parts that land on people: jobs and paychecks, prices and bills, your health, the power grid, and how everyday things get done. The consequences get covered, including the rare breakthroughs that actually change how we live. Separating AI fact from AI fiction. New episodes Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. The podcast companion to the AI Next Wave newsletter at theainextwave.com. Hosted by Jay Cadmus.