Here are the top trending news from the world of technology and AI during the last 24 hours.
1)
WhatsApp unveils Voice Message Transcription Feature
Since past several months, WhatsApp has been busy in adding lots of exciting new features. Keeping up with this practice, the instant messaging platform has now launched a new feature that enables users to transcribe voice messages into text. This means that WhatsApp users can read their voice messages instead of listening to them. This feature can prove immensely useful especially in noisy environment or during multi-tasking. Users will have to manually activate the transcription feature by going into the settings. Once enabled, users can transcribe the voice message by long pressing it and selecting the transcribe option. Currently, the feature supports five languages including English, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian and Hindi.
2)
Neuralink receives approval for Human Trials in Canada
Elon Musk’s company Neuralink is all set to initiate its first-ever clinical trails outside the United States, after receiving official approval from the Canadian government. This means that Canadian patients suffering from quadriplegia problems can now seek admission for the trail procedure. The trails will be conducted at Toronto Western Hospital. Till now Neuralink has conducted only two trails in the United States. One of its patients successfully demonstrated the capability to use computer aided design software immediately after the surgery. For all those who don’t know, Neuralink is a brain computer interface implant company that aims to help patients suffering from quadriplegia problems to use computers or smartphones purely through their thought process.
3)
US Department of Justice wants Google to sell off Chrome
The US Department of Justice or DOJ has officially requested a federal judge to legally facilitate the sale of Google’s Chrome web browser. This important rule comes after the DOJ found that Chrome was helping Google to become a monopolist in the search engine market. It argued that selling of Chrome would eliminate Google’s unfair control over internet’s entry point, ultimately giving a level playing field to other competitors and fostering competition as well as innovation in the search engine market. According to experts, if the sale does occur, Google Chrome could be valued approximately at $20 Bn.
4)
Spotify launches ‘Sleep Timer’ feature for audiobooks
Spotify is going to make it easier for its users to listen for audiobooks while preparing to go for sleep. It has done this by launching a new feature called Sleep Timer, which allows users to set a timer that automatically stops playback after a specified duration, making it easier to listen to audiobooks before falling fast asleep. Users don’t have to worry about the audio playing all night and thereby preventing interruption during the sleep. Alongside the sleep timer, Spotify has rolled out other features designed to improve audiobook navigation and usability. These new features will be available for both IOS and Android app.