Private Whatsapp | JOMO for 26th May
In today’s JOMO: WhatsApp suddenly values privacy, JP Morgan’s IndexGPT and there’s a new Tako in town
🗞In the news
WhatsApp Usernames May Let You Keep Your Phone Number Private
WABetaInfo has spotted a WhatsApp username field in the latest beta Android app, allowing users to choose unique usernames for their accounts. The likelihood is that WhatsApp intends to let users reach other people by entering a username instead, much like Telegram.
MacRumors: https://www.macrumors.com/2023/05/25/whatsapp-usernames-in-development/
This is a BIG step for WhatsApp, given its stubborn insistence, so far, for a mobile number. Looks like the recent spam calls nudged up this feature’s priority
With new grant program, OpenAI aims to crowdsource AI regulation
OpenAI says it’s launching a program to award ten $100,000 grants to fund experiments in setting up a democratic process for deciding what rules AI systems should follow — “within the bounds defined by the law.”
TC: https://techcrunch.com/2023/05/25/when-new-grant-program-openai-aims-to-crowdsources-ai-regulation/
YouTube Stories are shutting down June 26 as company focuses on Shorts
The Google-owned video site announced today that YouTube Stories will be shutting down on June 26, 2023, as the company aims to focus on other key areas, like Shorts, Community posts and live videos, in addition to its traditional long-form content
TC: https://techcrunch.com/2023/05/25/youtube-stories-are-shutting-down-june-26-as-company-focuses-on-shorts/
Wonder if Instagram stories will become Reels only then?
🤩New products, features, launches
Google starts rolling out Search Generative Experience (SGE) in preview
Instead of just seeing 10 blue links, Search will now generate an AI-powered “snapshot” of information and other insights/tips to answer your question brought in from multiple sources and then summarized by Google. It will appear beneath the search bar with a color background used to differentiate it from the usual light/dark theme.
9to5google: https://9to5google.com/2023/05/25/google-search-generative-experience/
Finally something tangible from Google, but it sure is playing it slow on this compared to Microsoft
TikTok is testing an AI chatbot called Tako
Verge: https://www.theverge.com/2023/5/25/23737017/tiktok-ai-chatbot-tako-test
Interrresting
🤔Interesting read
JPMorgan is developing a ChatGPT-like A.I. service that gives investment advice
“This is a real indication they might have a potential product to launch in the near future,” Gerben said. “Companies like JPMorgan don’t just file trademarks for the fun of it,” he said. The filing includes “a sworn statement from a corporate officer essentially saying, ‘Yes, we plan on using this trademark.’”
CNBC: https://www.cnbc.com/2023/05/25/jpmorgan-develops-ai-investment-advisor.html
From copywriters to now financial advisors ‘khatre mein hai!’
Info Edge, reeling from Rahul Yadav’s startup loss, now writes off Bijnis
Info Edge, the largest shareholder in Bizcrum Infotech, the holding firm of Bijnis, has written off its entire investment in the Indian startup, citing “principles of conservatism and prudence,” in the latest drastic market correction in the fast-growing South Asian ecosystem grappling with the weakening global economy.
TC: https://techcrunch.com/2023/05/26/info-edge-reeling-from-rahul-yadavs-startup-loss-now-writes-off-bijnis/
Some rather dubious investments lately from InfoEdge, but hey, the stock’s up almost 10% today!
Netflix might ruin password sharing for everyone
Whether or not paid sharing ends up hurting Netflix’s balance sheet, it could have huge implications for the entire streaming industry. Other companies, like Disney, Warner Bros. Discovery, and Paramount, are likely looking to see how consumers respond to Netflix’s password-sharing crackdown.
Verge: https://www.theverge.com/2023/5/26/23737858/netflix-password-sharing-crackdown-streaming-industry
Winter is coming, for password sharing
📊Poll for the day
Are you concerned with your privacy on WhatsApp?
Nah
Yes
Chalta hai!
Curated from:
Morning Brew, Verge, Techcrunch, Techmeme, CNBC, Hacker News, Product Hunt and more