Here are the top trending news from the world of technology. News that every tech enthusiast should keep a tab on.
1)
Video calls all set to debut on X, CEO confirms
While speaking in CNBC interview on Thursday, X CEO Linda Yaccarino confirmed that video calls will be soon integrated to the platform. She said that users will be able to make video chat calls without having to share their phone number with anyone on the platform. The move to integrate video calls into the platform is considered important for transforming ‘X’ into a ‘super-app’ that will offer many useful features like long-form videos, payments and creator subscriptions. By the way, X is not the only platform that is working to video calls into the platform. Meta, formerly known as Facebook, is also working on a video calling feature for its messaging app.
2)
Russia makes first voyage to Moon after 47 years
Russia on Thursday launched a spacecraft ‘Luna-25’ craft that is likely to land on Moon in next five days. This marks Russia’s first ever lunar mission since 1976 and also first major space mission since the start of Ukraine war. The Luna-25 craft will land on the moon’s south pole, hoping to dig up water ice beneath the surface. Russia’s maiden lunar mission after 47 years signifies Russia’s strong desire to reclaim its status as a space superpower. Russia’s lunar mission coincides with India’s Chandrayaan 3 mission, which is also aiming to land a rover on Moon’s south polar region tentatively on August 23rd.
3)
Amazon is phasing out dozens of in-house brands
Amazon is reportedly planning to cut down on most of its in-house clothing brands as part of its cost-cutting measure. This includes in-house cloth brands like Lark & Ro, Daily Ritual, and Goodthreads. Amazon’s in-house clothing brands have been struggling to compete with more established brands. They also have been often criticized for being overpriced and for offering a limited selection of styles. Amazon must be hoping that phasing out dozens of in-house brands will help in improving its profitability and compete more effectively with other major retail players like Walmart and Target.
4)
ChatGPT’s Custom Instructions Feature now available for free users
OpenAI has announced that custom Instructions feature are now available to ChatGPT users on the free plan. Until now custom Instructions feature was available only to paid subscribers. Custom Instructions allow users to provide ChatGPT with additional information about their preferences and context, which can help ChatGPT to generate more accurate and relevant responses. To use custom Instructions, users need to simply click on the three dots located next to your account name. This will reveal the custom Instructions option. Users can then enter their preferences and context into the two text fields provided.
5)
YouTube disables links in Shorts to combat spam
YouTube has announced that starting from 31st August it will be disabling links in Shorts comments, descriptions, and the vertical live feed. YouTube said that this will help in cutting down on spams and scams on the platform. The Google owned streaming platform further added that it had seen a “significant increase” in spam and scams in Shorts, with links being used to promote malicious websites, phishing attacks, and other scams. YouTube said that it is working on a new way for creators to share links in Shorts without making them clickable.