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Bluesky’s New Blue Check Verification System
Bluesky may soon launch a blue check verification system, spotted in its GitHub repo. Unlike X’s subscription-based model, Bluesky’s approach involves multiple trusted organizations, like The New York Times, issuing checks. Verified users get a blue circle with a white checkmark. The system, possibly announced April 21, 2025, aims for decentralized, transparent verification.
Read more on TechCrunch
Medicare Startup Chapter Secures $75M, Hits $1.5B Valuation
Chapter, a Medicare advisory startup co-founded by Vivek Ramaswamy, raised $75 million, pushing its valuation to $1.5 billion. Known for prioritizing client needs over insurer profits, the company draws bipartisan leadership, including Donna Shalala. Backed by investors like Peter Thiel and JD Vance, Chapter continues to reshape Medicare plan guidance for seniors.
Read more on newsbytes
xAI Introduces Memory Feature to Grok
Elon Musk’s xAI has rolled out a memory feature for its Grok chatbot, enabling it to remember past chats for more personalized responses. Currently in beta on web and mobile (except EU/UK), users can view, manage, or delete memories anytime. This update brings Grok closer to rivals like ChatGPT and Gemini in user-tailored AI interactions.
Read more on TechCrunch
Wall Street Sinks, Nvidia Slides Amid Fresh U.S. Chip Export Restrictions
Wall Street dipped Wednesday, led by chipmakers, after new U.S. export curbs hit Nvidia and AMD hard, wiping billions from their outlooks. Nvidia warned of a $5.5 billion charge, AMD $800 million. Investors grew cautious as trade tensions, tariff worries, and Fed rate speculations added uncertainty, despite strong retail sales data and stable earnings from United Airlines.
Read more on Reuters
Figma Files for IPO After Adobe Deal Collapse
Design software maker Figma has confidentially filed for an IPO with the SEC, following the collapse of its $20 billion Adobe acquisition due to regulatory hurdles. The move comes as tech IPOs face uncertainty. Valued at $12.5 billion in 2024, Figma continues to grow, backed by top investors and earning $600 million annually.
Read more on CNBC
OpenAI Unveils GPT-4.1 Models Designed for Smarter Coding
OpenAI launched GPT-4.1, plus mini and nano versions, flaunting a huge 1M-token context window. It promises sharper coding skills and better real-world use, but still lags behind Google’s Gemini and Anthropic’s Claude on benchmarks. Cheap, fast, but not perfect — OpenAI admits reliability drops as input grows. Progress? Sure. Flawless? Not yet!
Read more on TechCrunch
Flipkart Bets Big on Quick Commerce in 2025
After a $379 Mn fund boost, Flipkart CEO Kalyan Krishnamurthy revealed plans to expand its quick commerce arm, Flipkart Minutes, from 300 to 800 stores by year-end. Despite tough competition from Blinkit, Zepto, and Instamart, Flipkart is eyeing India’s top cities where fast delivery demand is surging. The quick commerce market is rapidly growing, despite ongoing cash burn.
Read more on Inc42
WhatsApp Rolls Out New Features Across Chats, Calls & Channels
WhatsApp has introduced new updates including real-time online status in group chats, smarter notification controls, and document scanning on iPhones. Video calls now offer better quality and reliability. Users can create events in personal chats, invite others during calls, and enjoy upgraded channel tools like short video sharing, QR codes, and voice message summaries.
Read more on TechCrunch
Cal AI, a Photo-Based Calorie Tracker with Over a Million Downloads, Created by Teen Duo
Zach Yadegari and Henry Langmack, both 18, launched Cal AI, a calorie-tracking app, in May. It’s racked up over 5 million downloads and $2 million in revenue last month. Using AI models, it’s 90% accurate at logging food from photos. The teen founders met more coders, lived in a hacker house, but Zach still wants college.
Read more on TechCrunch
Deepinder Goyal Teams Up with Former Zomato COO for Aerospace Venture, Pours in $20M: Report
Zomato billionaire Deepinder Goyal and former COO Surobhi Das are teaming up for LAT Aerospace, a stealth startup crafting affordable 12-24 seater STOL aircraft for regional travel. Goyal’s invested $20M, mentoring from the sidelines, while Das leads. They’re eyeing $50M more to build a top-notch team in Delhi!
Read more on ISN
AstroTalk Snags Ex-GlobalBees Star as Ecommerce Chief
AstroTalk’s tapped Damandeep Soni, ex-GlobalBees prez, as its new ecommerce CBO. He’ll steer their D2C venture, AstroTalk Store, selling gemstones and spiritual goodies. Fresh off a $14M funding boost, the astrology platform’s revenue soared to Rs 651 crore last year. Soni’s psyched to build a trusted spiritual shopping hub!
Read more on YourStory
Spotify’s New Gig: Turning Your Stories into Audiobooks
Spotify’s launching a program for authors to submit short stories (10,000-20,000 words) in romance, mystery, or sci-fi for audiobook production. They’ll handle everything and pay advances plus royalties—no erotica or kids’ stuff, though. It’s a bold move to rival Audible, building on their audiobook push since 2021. Cool, right?
Read more on TechCrunch
Google Apologizes for Chromecast Outage
Google’s emailing Chromecast users today, saying sorry for a glitch hitting 2nd gen and Audio models. Since the weekend, “Untrusted device” errors have frustrated folks trying to cast. They’re working on a fix—might be an expired certificate issue from March 9th—and promise updates soon via the Nest Community page. Hang tight!
Read more on TheVerge
TikTok introduces new parental controls
TikTok’s rolling out tools to protect teens, letting parents block app access during set times and monitor followers via Family Pairing. A “wind-down” feature nudges kids under 16 to sleep after 10 p.m. with calming prompts, while STEM feeds return—all part of TikTok’s push to ease lawmaker worries.
Read more on TechCrunch
Gmail’s New AI Feature Simplifies Adding Events to Calendar
Google’s Gemini AI now lets Workspace users add events to Google Calendar directly from emails. The “Add to calendar” button appears when calendar-related content is detected, streamlining event creation. Available in English on the web, this feature is open to Business, Enterprise, and select Google One AI Premium users. Admins can enable it through the Workspace Admin console.
Read more on TechCrunch
Discord Explores IPO, Eyes Public Market Debut
Discord, a chat app with over 200 million users, is in early talks for an IPO, per The New York Times. Valued at $14.7 billion in 2021, the company previously rejected a $10 billion Microsoft buyout. Popular in gaming, crypto, and AI communities, Discord remains tight-lipped about its plans.
Read more on TechCrunch
BYJU’S Parent and Founder’s Brother Guilty of $533M Fraud
A US bankruptcy court ruled that BYJU’S parent, Think & Learn Pvt Ltd, and Riju Ravindran defrauded lenders by stealing $533 million from BYJU’S Alpha, Inc. The court confirmed fraudulent transfers and Riju’s breach of duties. Lenders aim to recover the funds, adding to BYJU’S ongoing financial and legal struggles in the US and India. Damages are pending.
Read more on YourStory
Darwinbox Secures $140M to Boost HR Tech Globally
Darwinbox, an Indian startup, just raised $140 million to expand its all-in-one HR SaaS platform, taking on big names like Rippling and Deel. Co-led by KKR and Partners Group, with investors like Microsoft and Sequoia, they’re targeting the U.S. market, serving over 1,000 enterprises and 3 million employees with flair!
Read more on TechCrunch
TikTok Revamps Desktop Platform to Challenge YouTube
TikTok is revamping its desktop platform to take on YouTube in the realm of long-form videos. They’re rolling out better tools for creators and tweaking their algorithms, making it clear they want to move beyond just short clips and grab a bigger slice of the online video pie. This shift might change how people consume video content and could put some pressure on YouTube’s stronghold in the market.
Read more on TechCrunch
Amazon’s Alexa+ Gets a Big AI Upgrade
Amazon unveiled Alexa+ in NYC, a revamped AI assistant that knows your life—books, schedules, even pizza picks. It reads docs, manages smart homes, and adjusts to your mood. Super handy, with slick Echo Show visuals, but fingers crossed it’s as accurate as they say!
Read more on TechCrunch
Glance Debuts AI-Driven Shopping on Lock Screens with New Google Funding
Glance just dropped a cool new feature: a generative AI shopping experience that styles outfits on your personalized avatar, powered by Google’s Gemini and Vertex AI. With fresh Google funding, Glance AI is testing in the U.S., aiming to roll out to 300 million users in India and beyond soon!
Read more on TechCrunch
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