#Journalism

A ubiquitous sugar substitute found in Thai supermarkets, bakeries, bubble tea shops, and increasingly in “health” products, erythritol, has emerged as a fresh concern for heart health. Recent scientific studies—including a major investigation led by the University of Colorado Boulder—reveal that consuming even a typical serving of erythritol may rapidly trigger changes in blood vessels and platelets that set the stage for heart attack and stroke. With sugar-free and “keto” diets growing in popularity across Thailand, these findings carry weighty implications for millions of Thai consumers who have long considered erythritol as a harmless alternative to sugar.

A familiar sugar substitute found across Thai supermarkets, bakeries, and bubble tea shops is drawing renewed scrutiny. Erythritol, popular in sugar-free and “health” products, may trigger immediate changes in blood vessels and platelets that increase the risk of heart attack and stroke. With many Thais turning to sugar-free and keto options, these findings carry significant implications for millions who view erythritol as harmless.

Erythritol is a sugar alcohol produced by fermenting corn or wheat starch. It is marketed as a natural, low-calorie option suitable for people with diabetes or those following low-carb regimens. Regulators in the United States and Southeast Asia have approved its use, helping it become widespread in beverages, snacks, toothpaste, and personal care items. Unlike some sugar alcohols, it typically causes little digestive upset, which adds to its popularity.

A wave of advanced artificial intelligence systems is transforming the internet, raising urgent questions about online content quality, trustworthiness, and the future direction of the web. As highlighted in recent coverage by The Economist, the proliferation of AI-generated material is fundamentally altering how people use, perceive, and rely on digital platforms—a development with significant implications for Thailand and the wider region.

Over the past decade, AI capabilities have grown at a breathtaking pace, from basic chatbots and autocomplete tools to sophisticated text, audio, and image generators. This technological leap has enabled anyone—businesses, individuals, and even malicious actors—to produce massive volumes of convincing, human-like content virtually instantly. While this democratizes content creation, it also blurs the line between authentic information and synthetic material, making it increasingly difficult for users to discern what is real.

A surge of advanced artificial intelligence is transforming the internet, bringing urgent questions about content quality, credibility, and the future of online information in Thailand and the region. Research shows AI-generated content now influences how people access and interpret news, with clear implications for Thai readers.

Over the past decade, AI has evolved from chatbots to sophisticated systems that produce text, audio, and images. This leap enables businesses, educators, and creators to generate vast amounts of material quickly. While it empowers content creation, it also blurs the line between real and synthetic information, making it harder to discern authenticity.

Generative AI is rapidly reshaping the global publishing landscape, altering how traffic, revenue, and recognition flow to newsrooms and book publishers. Industry insiders warn that, if Thai publishers and readers do not adapt, independent journalism could be at risk. AI-powered tools can summarize and answer questions about articles and books by drawing on vast written content, often without permission from authors or publishers. Data from recent industry analysis suggests that such tools can significantly reduce traffic from search results, challenging digital revenue models built on advertising and subscriptions.

The rise of generative AI is urgently reshaping the global publishing landscape, as powerful chatbots undermine the traditional flows of traffic, revenue, and recognition on which news and book publishers depend. Recent research and first-hand industry accounts suggest this disruption could threaten the very existence of independent journalism worldwide, especially if Thai publishers and readers fail to adapt to this new reality.

Generative AI platforms—such as ChatGPT, Google’s AI Overviews, Claude, Grok, and Perplexity—can now summarize and answer questions about online articles and books, often by drawing on vast troves of written content without explicit permission from authors or publishers. According to a comprehensive study referenced in The Atlantic’s “The End of Publishing as We Know It,” Google’s AI Overviews feature alone has slashed website traffic from search results by over 34%. As a result, news providers reliant on digital traffic for advertising and subscriptions are experiencing dramatic declines in visitors, forcing staff layoffs at prominent outlets and sparking anxiety about the future of professional journalism (The Atlantic).

New research has revealed that the end of a romantic relationship is rarely a sudden event, but rather the result of a lengthy, two-stage decline in satisfaction that often starts years before a couple officially parts ways. Published in the prestigious Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, the comprehensive analysis by an international team illuminates how the unraveling of a romantic bond is a slow process punctuated by a “terminal phase” of sharper decline just before the breakup actually happens (PsyPost).

A new international study shows that relationship endings are rarely abrupt. Instead, satisfaction declines in two stages, often starting years before couples separate. The research, published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, reveals a gradual early drop followed by a sharper “terminal phase” as the breakup nears.

For Thai readers, where family bonds and romantic relationships are deeply valued, the findings resonate on a personal level. The study illuminates what happens in the years leading up to a breakup, not just in the final months. As Thailand navigates evolving norms around love, marriage, and divorce, these insights into relationship dynamics are increasingly relevant.

A new study shows that true happiness stems from emotional engagement with nature, not merely time spent outside. Published in the Journal of Environmental Psychology in May 2025, the findings challenge the idea that more outdoor time automatically boosts well-being. The research emphasizes how much joy people feel during nature experiences, rather than how often they venture outdoors.

In Thailand, a nation famed for its lush parks, tropical coasts, and deep respect for the natural world, the common belief has been that frequent nature visits raise happiness. The Taiwan-based Academia Sinica study, however, suggests that well-being relies more on emotional connection to nature than on the frequency of outdoor activity.

A groundbreaking new study has revealed that genuine enjoyment of nature—rather than merely spending time outdoors—plays a crucial role in boosting individuals’ happiness and life satisfaction. Published in the Journal of Environmental Psychology in May 2025, the research offers a nuanced understanding that challenges common perceptions, highlighting the importance of emotional engagement with the natural world over sheer frequency of outdoor activity (PsyPost.org).

For many in Thailand, a country renowned for its lush national parks, stunning coastlines, and traditional reverence for natural beauty, the assumption has long been that more frequent visits to nature equate to greater well-being. Yet, this study out of Academia Sinica in Taiwan finds that the benefits of green spaces hinge less on how often people step outdoors and more on how much joy and pleasure they actually derive from these experiences.

A surge in artificial intelligence is reshaping jobs across industries, not just in tech hubs. Experts warn that anyone who works with words, data, or ideas should begin preparing for change. A recent opinion piece in a major U.S. newspaper emphasizes that the window for proactive action may be shorter than many expect, urging readers to build resilience now.

AI is already displacing some coding and content creation roles previously seen as safe from automation. What sets today apart is the speed of development; knowledge that felt current last year can become outdated within months. A respected professor from a leading business school notes that even with no further AI advances, the next decade will bring major shifts across professions. Yet many in the industry believe ongoing progress is likely.

As artificial intelligence (AI) technologies surge ahead at a blistering pace, it is no longer just software engineers and tech sector insiders who need to worry about their jobs being disrupted—according to leading experts, everyone whose work involves words, data, or ideas must begin preparing to adapt. The urgency of this message comes through powerfully in a recent opinion column in The Washington Post, which warns that the period of “grace” may be much shorter than many professionals realize (Washington Post, 2025).