TikTok is stepping up its direct messaging game with new features like voice notes and the ability to share up to nine photos or videos in chats. The update makes TikTok’s messaging feel more like WhatsApp or Instagram, while giving Gen Z a new way to connect beyond just sharing videos.
Key Takeaway: With voice notes up to 60 seconds and safer media sharing options, TikTok aims to be more than just an entertainment app — it wants to become a regular communication hub for its users.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has marked a major milestone by launching India’s first-ever electric vehicle (EV) exports. During a ceremony at Maruti Suzuki’s Hansalpur plant in Gujarat, he officially flagged off thee-Vitara, the company’s first battery-electric SUV, which will now be exported to over 100 countries.
This event came at a particularly challenging time—just as the U.S. government imposed steep new tariffs on Indian goods, doubling previous rates to 50%. These tariffs are expected to hurt exports across many sectors, raising concerns about the future of India’s manufacturing and trade.
Key Highlights of the Launch
The e-Vitara is fully developed in India and aims to put Indian EVs on the global map.
Modi also inaugurated a new facility for manufacturing hybrid battery components, supporting the country’s growing green mobility ambitions.
Emphasizing self-reliance, Modi declared that the “world will drive made-in-India EVs,” highlighting India’s confidence in its manufacturing potential.
Tariffs Cast a Shadow—but also Ignite Resolve
The new U.S. tariffs, pegged at 50%, target key Indian exports such as textiles, jewelry, and leather goods. The higher duty is expected to undercut India’s export revenues significantly.
Despite the diplomatic and economic pressure, Modi used the launch to reinforce his “Make in India” vision, encouraging a shift toward domestic manufacturing and self-sufficiency.
Government sources suggest steps are now being taken to support affected industries through reforms, financial aid, and diversifying export destinations.
What It All Means
India’s EV export launch isn’t just a standalone event—it’s a symbol of resilience. As tariffs threaten traditional export sectors, the EV initiative signals a forward-looking shift toward sustainable and high-tech manufacturing. By embedding this launch within the broader “Make in India” narrative, Modi is steering the country through current trade turbulence with optimism and ambition.
China has introduced Kylin V11, a major update to its homegrown operating system designed to rival Microsoft Windows. Kylin V11 comes packed with a modern interface, better performance, and strong compatibility for local software. It also focuses on security and stability, making it suitable for both government and enterprise use. The OS supports cloud integration and AI-driven features, positioning itself as a serious alternative to Western systems. Experts believe this launch signals China’s strategy to reduce reliance on foreign tech giants and strengthen its domestic software ecosystem. While Windows still dominates globally, Kylin V11 could reshape the computing landscape in China.
Cybersecurity experts have uncovered a new AI-powered ransomware called PromptLock, and it’s making waves in the security world. Unlike traditional ransomware, PromptLock uses advanced AI techniques to execute attacks more efficiently, making it harder to detect and defend against.
What makes PromptLock even scarier is its ability to adapt and change its attack patterns, which means standard security tools might not be enough. Experts warn businesses and individuals to update their systems, use strong authentication, and keep regular backups to stay safe.
This discovery highlights a new trend: cybercriminals leveraging AI to make ransomware smarter and more dangerous. The big question now is—are our current security measures ready for this next-gen threat?
The U.S. government is acquiring a 10% stake in Intel. This isn’t just a financial investment; it’s a strategic step to strengthen America’s semiconductor industry. With global chip demand soaring and supply chain risks increasing, this deal aims to boost domestic chip production and reduce dependence on foreign markets—especially in critical sectors like AI, defense, and advanced computing. Experts believe this move will help the U.S. compete with countries like China and South Korea in semiconductor innovation. For Intel, this could mean more stability, government support, and a stronger role in shaping the future of tech manufacturing.
India’s gaming industry just leveled up! Several leading publishers and developers—like Nazara Technologies, Gametion (makers of Ludo King), nCore Games, Reliance Games, SuperGaming, Tara Gaming, underDOGS Studio, Aeos Games, and Dot9 Games—have come together to form the Indian Game Publishers and Developers Association (IGPDA). Here’s why this matters:
One Voice, United Vision
After the government introduced new gaming legislation, IGPDA emerged to give India’s game makers a strong, shared voice. This body aims to shine a spotlight on Made-in-India IPs, telling our stories through games and helping studios build global-quality, AAA-level titles.
Genuine Support Across the Board
IGPDA isn’t just about big studios—it’s about supporting the whole ecosystem. From developers and publishers to academia, tech partners, investors, and even indie creators—it’s a full-stack alliance. According to underDOGS Studio, this is a vital launchpad for indie heroes to create world-class franchises backed by India.
Making Mumbai the Global Game Hub
One exciting move: IGPDA is teaming up with the Maharashtra government to shape Mumbai into a global gaming hub. The plan includes policy support to draw companies into the state and attract investment.
More Than Just Games
While compliance with new laws is important, IGPDA is focusing on building for tomorrow. That includes:
Encouraging innovation,
Advocating for global standards like privacy and parental controls,
Helping studios with infrastructure (cloud, tools, testing), and
Mentoring and investment access for newcomers.
Cultural Power Play
This isn’t just about economics—it’s about culture. Industry leaders like Amish Tripathi (Tara Gaming) stress that India deserves a slice of the global gaming pie. Our own stories, crafted into games, can both bring revenue home and export our culture worldwide.
What’s Ahead?
IGPDA will join hands in Maharashtra’s state-backed showcase event toward the end of the year.
They’ll bring policy input, skill-building, and global visibility to India’s AVGC (Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics) ecosystem.
The goal? To move beyond struggling under regulatory burdens toward bold, creative ambition—and claim India’s place on the world gaming stage.
Ever wish you could chat about the perfect song or podcast episode without switching apps? Well, Spotify turned that wish into reality today. They’re rolling out Messages—a sleek, new in-app messaging feature that lets you connect, recommend, and react—all within the Spotify universe.
What’s the Deal With Messages?
One-on-one chats only — no group convos here.
You can message people you’ve already interacted with on Spotify—like those you’ve collaborated with on playlists, joined Jams or Blends, or share a Duo/Family plan with.
To send a message: tap the share icon in the Now Playing view, pick a friend, and send. The recipient needs to accept a message request before chatting begins.
You can reply with text and emojis, making music talk feel fun and informal.
There’s a dedicated Messages inbox—access it through your profile icon in the top-left.
Why Spotify Did It (Again)
Believe it or not, Spotify used to have messaging back in 2017—but it didn’t stick due to low use. This time, though, they’re betting on their massive growth—Spotify had around 696 million monthly active users in Q2 2025.
This move is part of Spotify’s push to be more of a social platform—not just a streaming app. Plus, as competitors like Apple Music, Amazon Music, and YouTube Music heat up their game, Spotify wants to keep users engaged and on their app longer.
Of course, they’re not trying to kill off sharing via Instagram, WhatsApp, or TikTok—Messages are meant to complement those, not replace them.
What Users and the Media Are Saying
Business Insider puts it simply—Spotify’s giving users a DM-style feature to swap music picks. TechCrunch emphasizes it’s a push to make Spotify more social, so users don’t have to hunt for songs they previously shared. Reuters highlights this feature as a smart way to boost engagement amid rising competition.
How to Start Using Messages
Make sure you’re in a supported, selected market, using mobile, and you’re 16+.
Listen to a track, podcast, or audiobook.
Tap share → select friend → send.
If they accept your message request, you’re good to chat and react!
What Would Make a Great Follow-Up?
Will Spotify eventually allow group messaging?
Could artists use this to connect with fans (maybe sending exclusive tracks)?
What about encryption—is it secure enough?
So, in short: Spotify just got chatty! Whether it’s swapping hits with your bestie or discovering a podcast through a tap, Messages gives you a seamless way to stay connected—all without leaving the app.
Perplexity has launched a new, transparent revenue share program for publishers, aiming to compensate media outlets when their content is used or referenced in AI-powered search results and tasks.
How Perplexity’s Revenue Share Works
Perplexity’s initiative introduces a subscription tier called Comet Plus, priced at $5 per month, that enables publishers to earn money through three channels:
Users will now be directed straight to publisher websites via the Comet browser.
When publisher content is cited in search answers.
When the AI agent uses content to fulfill user tasks. Unlike traditional ad-supported models, this program pools subscription revenues and distributes 80% directly to publishers, with Perplexity keeping 20% for operational costs.
Funding and Payouts
The program starts with an initial $42.5 million revenue pool dedicated to publisher compensation, with plans to grow this fund as subscriptions increase. Payments will be calculated based on how frequently a publisher’s content is used in AI search results, cited in answers, or utilized by AI agents.
Industry Impact and Reception
This model is one of the first by an AI startup to transparently share revenues based on actual content usage, representing a shift from the multimillion-dollar exclusive licensing deals common with AI giants like OpenAI and Google. This move comes as a response to criticism that AI tools exploit journalism without fair return and is intended to set a more balanced compensation model in the age of AI.
Publisher Participation
Perplexity is actively seeking major publishing partners and has previously worked with outlets like TIME, Fortune, the LA Times, Blavity, and Der Spiegel. While specific new partners for Comet Plus haven’t been disclosed, the company emphasizes that the program is open to collaboration and feedback from the media industry.
The Fresh Take
With the launch of Comet Plus and this revenue-share model, Perplexity is attempting to set a precedent for sustainable media monetization in the AI-driven web. It emphasizes transparency, direct payouts based on actual usage, and an open invitation to publishers to help refine the system—moving beyond ad clicks and traffic, toward a business model designed for the modern search experience.
Meta just dropped an exciting update for AI enthusiasts—it’s partnering with Midjourney to integrate their cutting-edge aesthetic technology into Meta’s future AI products. The goal? To make AI not just smart, but visually beautiful.
According to Meta, this collaboration is more than just a licensing deal. It’s a technical partnership where both research teams will work closely to push the boundaries of AI creativity. And honestly, it makes sense. Midjourney has already set the bar high in the world of AI-generated art, so combining that with Meta’s scale could be game-changing.
Meta is going all-in to deliver top-notch products—bringing together world-class talent, huge computing resources, and strategic partnerships with leading industry players. With Midjourney’s visual flair and Meta’s ambitious roadmap, this could reshape how we experience AI-generated content across social media and beyond.
The companies are keeping details under wraps for now, but they promise more updates soon. If this is just the beginning, the future of AI visuals might be a whole lot more beautiful.
Elon Musk is back in the spotlight, and this time it’s not about rockets or EVs. His AI company, xAI, just made a big announcement – Grok 2.5 is now open source. Yep, the same advanced language model that’s been grabbing attention is now free for developers and researchers to play with.
The @xAI Grok 2.5 model, which was our best model last year, is now open source.
Well, Grok 2.5 isn’t just another chatbot brain. It’s built to compete with the big guns like GPT and Google’s Gemini. By opening it up, xAI is giving everyone – from indie coders to tech giants – the chance to experiment, tweak, and build on top of a powerful model without paying hefty licensing fees.
What Makes This Different?
Here’s the interesting part: most AI companies keep their models under lock and key. But Musk is taking a different route, betting on transparency and community-driven progress. This move not only levels the playing field but also speeds up innovation in areas like chatbots, enterprise tools, and AI-driven apps.
Why Would Musk Do This?
Probably to challenge the growing dominance of closed AI ecosystems. Plus, let’s be honest, open-source projects often grow faster because thousands of brains work on them instead of just one company’s team.
What Does It Mean for Developers and Businesses?
For developers, this is honestly a big deal. Imagine building apps with serious AI power without burning through your budget – that’s what this unlocks. Businesses can finally tinker with custom AI tools without being stuck paying crazy fees to big vendors.
The Bigger Picture
And for the AI world? It feels like a push toward making this stuff way more accessible to everyone, not just big tech. It’s not just xAI making bold moves. OpenAI has also opened parts of ChatGPT to the public. Two new open-weight models—gpt-oss-20B and gpt-oss-120B—are now available under the Apache 2.0 license. The smaller one runs on laptops, while the bigger model works on desktops or cloud GPUs. This marks a clear trend: even AI giants are embracing openness, and xAI’s Grok 2.5 release shows the competition is heating up.
The Takeaway
Grok 2.5 going open source isn’t just another update in the news feed – it’s a bold move that could seriously shake up the whole AI race.
