Meta begins testing Instagram Plus subscription in select markets
Meta has begun testing a premium subscription service called Instagram Plus in Mexico, Japan, and the Philippines, with potential for expansion into additional countries.
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889 storiesBluesky’s new AI tool Attie faces immediate user backlash
Bluesky launched an AI assistant called Attie, which has already been blocked by about 125,000 users, making it the second most blocked account on the network.
YouTube CEO says top creators will not leave the platform
YouTube CEO Neal Mohan says he is not concerned about competitors like Netflix, asserting that popular creators view the platform as their permanent home.
Bluesky secures $100M and debuts AI-powered Attie app
Bluesky has launched Attie, a standalone AI assistant app for custom feeds, alongside securing $100 million in funding to support its decentralized social ecosystem.
Top iPad apps for digital creativity
Apple has transformed the iPad into a powerful creative device, with various apps now enabling professional-grade digital art, video editing, and design work.
Whoop reports revenue growth and eyes expansion beyond athletes
Whoop, a Boston-based wearable company, reports revenue growth of more than 100% while navigating regulatory challenges and intensifying competition from rivals like Oura.
Waymo hits 500,000 weekly paid robotaxi rides
Waymo now provides 500,000 paid robotaxi rides weekly across 10 U.S. cities, a tenfold increase since May 2024, suggesting improved utilization of its fleet.
Apple says Lockdown Mode has resisted all spyware attacks
Apple reports that no devices with Lockdown Mode enabled have been successfully hacked by mercenary spyware, though the company notes it is possible attacks have gone undetected.
Google launches tools to import chat history into Gemini
Google has launched "switching tools" allowing users to import chat histories and personal memories from competitors like ChatGPT and Claude directly into Gemini.
Mastodon redesigns user profiles to improve usability
Mastodon is redesigning user profiles to improve usability and attract mainstream users, as its monthly active user count hovers around 800,000.
Google expands Live Translate to iOS and adds new countries
Google is expanding its AI-powered Live Translate feature to iOS and new countries, while simultaneously rolling out its conversational Search Live feature to a global audience.
Leaked hacking tools expose millions of iPhone users to spyware
Leaked hacking tools Coruna and DarkSword have exposed millions of iPhone users to spyware, challenging the assumption that such attacks are rare and limited.
Google expands Search Live to over 200 countries
Google is expanding its AI-powered Search Live feature to more than 200 countries and territories, supported by the new Gemini 3.1 Flash Live model.
LiteLLM hit by malware as compliance partner faces scrutiny
LiteLLM, an open-source AI tool downloaded as often as 3.4 million times per day, was hit by malware, raising questions about security certifications provided by compliance startup Delve.
WhatsApp expands AI features to compete with external tools
WhatsApp is rolling out AI-powered suggested replies and new account management tools, as Meta likely aims to keep users within its ecosystem rather than using external AI tools.
Verne partners with Uber and Pony.ai for European robotaxi launch
Verne plans to launch a commercial robotaxi service in Europe, backed by an undisclosed investment from Uber and autonomous technology from Pony.ai.
Apple expands developer data tools in App Store Connect
Apple has updated App Store Connect with more than 100 new metrics and enhanced filtering tools, aiming to provide developers with deeper, first-party performance insights.
Reddit introduces human verification for suspected bot accounts
Reddit is introducing labeling for automated accounts and may require human verification for suspected bots, though the requirement will not be sitewide.
Meta launches new initiative to support small businesses
Meta is launching "Meta Small Business," a new initiative led by Dina Powell McCormick and Naomi Gleit to support entrepreneurship and AI adoption among tens of millions of entrepreneurs.
Meta integrates generative AI into Facebook and Instagram shopping
Meta is testing generative AI to summarize product reviews and streamlining checkout on Facebook and Instagram while expanding its creator affiliate program.