Technology

As the finance sector continues to evolve, traditional automation methods are no longer sufficient for CFOs and CIOs seeking to modernize their operations. The need for transparency and explainability has become paramount, driving the adoption of AI systems that can reason and provide insights, rather than just compute. This shift is exemplified by Basis, a US-based startup that leverages OpenAI’s GPT-4.1 and GPT-5 models to develop AI agents capable of automating structured accounting work while maintaining human oversight. ...

As the digital landscape continues to evolve, tech giants are constantly reassessing their partnerships and product offerings. OpenAI’s decision to end ChatGPT’s availability on WhatsApp after January 15, 2026, reflects broader industry trends towards platform consolidation and user experience optimization. This move affects over 50 million users who have grown accustomed to ChatGPT’s conversational AI on WhatsApp. However, OpenAI is committed to ensuring a seamless transition for its users. By downloading the ChatGPT app on iOS, Android, or desktop, users can continue their conversations without interruption. Creating a ChatGPT account and linking it to their WhatsApp profile will also enable users to access their conversation history. ...

As the semiconductor industry continues to evolve, Intel’s recent third-quarter earnings report has sent a positive signal to investors, with the company’s revenue and net income exceeding Wall Street expectations. This turnaround is largely attributed to a combination of factors, including a $20 billion boost to its balance sheet, courtesy of significant investments from SoftBank, Nvidia, and the U.S. government. The $2 billion investment from SoftBank in August, followed by the U.S. government’s unprecedented 10% equity stake, and Nvidia’s $5 billion stake in September, have collectively contributed to Intel’s improved financial performance. These investments not only demonstrate the confidence of major players in Intel’s potential but also underscore the strategic importance of the company in the global semiconductor landscape. ...

This move reflects broader industry trends towards harnessing the power of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to enhance user experience. OpenAI’s acquisition of Software Applications, Inc., the developer of Sky, an AI-powered natural language interface for Mac computers, marks a significant step towards embedding AI into consumers’ everyday lives. As Ari Weinstein, co-founder and CEO of Software Applications, Inc., notes, “We’ve always wanted computers to be more empowering, customizable, and intuitive. With LLMs, we can finally put the pieces together. That’s why we built Sky, an AI experience that floats over your desktop to help you think and create.” This vision is now set to reach hundreds of millions of people through OpenAI. ...

As the social media landscape continues to evolve, Meta is pushing the boundaries of creative expression on Instagram. The company’s latest move involves integrating its AI-powered photo and video editing tools directly into Instagram Stories. This development reflects the growing importance of AI-driven content creation and editing capabilities in the social media ecosystem. By introducing text-based prompts in Instagram Stories, Meta is making its AI editing features more accessible to users. The “Restyle” menu, located at the top of Instagram Stories, allows users to enter text prompts to add, remove, or change elements in their photos and videos. For instance, users can ask Meta’s AI to change their hair color, add a crown, or insert a sunset background. This functionality is a significant step forward from the company’s previous AI-powered image editing capabilities, which were limited to interactions with the Meta AI chatbot. ...

The music industry has received a significant boost from YouTube, with the platform paying out over $8 billion to the industry in the 12 months between July 2024 and July 2025. This milestone, announced by YouTube’s Global Head of Music, Lyor Cohen, demonstrates the effectiveness of the company’s twin-engine revenue model, which combines ads and subscriptions. As Cohen stated, “Today’s $8 billion payout is a testament to the fact that the twin engine of ads and subscriptions is firing on all cylinders.” ...

As the e-commerce landscape continues to evolve, Amazon is pushing the boundaries of personalized shopping with its latest innovation: “Help Me Decide.” This AI-powered tool is designed to provide users with tailored product recommendations, explaining why a particular item is the best fit for their needs. By leveraging large language models, AWS’ generative AI app service Bedrock, OpenSearch, and SageMaker, Amazon aims to revolutionize the way we shop online. The “Help Me Decide” feature is not just a random product suggestion tool; it’s a sophisticated system that takes into account a user’s search history, browsing behavior, and purchase records to offer relevant and informed recommendations. For instance, if you’re planning a camping trip and have been searching for sleeping bags, stoves, and camping boots, the tool will suggest a four-person, all-season tent that matches your requirements. This move reflects broader industry trends, where companies like Google, OpenAI, and Perplexity are also investing in AI-powered shopping tools to drive sales and enhance customer experience. ...

As the demand for AI-generated content continues to rise, OpenAI’s Sora app is poised to revolutionize the way we create and share videos. With its recent launch in the U.S. and Canada, Sora has already shot to the top of the App Store, with over 2 million downloads estimated by third-party app store data from Appfigures. This move reflects broader industry trends, where AI-powered content creation is becoming increasingly popular. ...

The electric vehicle (EV) market is undergoing a significant transformation, and Rivian is the latest company to feel the effects. With a reported 600 job cuts, the company is reducing its workforce by about 4% in its third layoff of the year. This move reflects broader industry trends, as EV manufacturers struggle to maintain sales momentum amidst increasing competition and shifting consumer demand. As Rivian prepares to launch its mass-market R2 SUV in 2026, the company is facing challenges in keeping up with sales targets. Its current lineup is expected to see a 16% drop in delivery figures by the end of 2025, compared to last year’s sales. The R2 SUV is a crucial model for Rivian, with plans to produce up to 150,000 units per year at its factory in Normal, Illinois. The company has also broken ground on a new factory outside of Atlanta, which will contribute to the production of the R2 and other variants. ...

As the entertainment industry navigates the potential of generative AI, Netflix is taking a bold step forward. In its recent quarterly earnings report, the company expressed confidence in its ability to “effectively leverage ongoing advances in AI.” This move reflects broader industry trends, where studios are exploring ways to harness AI’s power without replacing human creatives. Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos emphasized that “it takes a great artist to make something great” and that AI can only enhance the creative process, not replace it. The company has already experimented with generative AI in productions like “The Eternaut” and “Happy Gilmore 2,” using it to create special effects and manipulate character appearances. Sarandos believes that AI will help storytellers work “better, faster, and in new ways,” but acknowledges that the technology is not a substitute for human creativity. ...

The launch of OpenAI’s Atlas browser marks a significant shift in the tech landscape, as it directly challenges Google’s dominance in the search and advertising markets. This move reflects broader industry trends, where AI is increasingly being used to reimagine traditional internet experiences. As OpenAI CEO Sam Altman noted, “We think AI represents a rare, once-a-decade opportunity to rethink what a browser can be.” The Atlas browser’s chat-oriented search interface, led by Ben Goodger, poses a substantial threat to Google’s search model. By allowing users to engage in a back-and-forth conversation with search results, Atlas provides a more interactive and intuitive experience. As Goodger explained, “This new model of search is really powerful. It’s a multi-turn experience. You can have this back-and-forth with your search results instead of just being sent off to a web page.” This approach has the potential to disrupt Google’s advertising business, which relies heavily on traditional search results. ...

As the world becomes increasingly reliant on high-performance networks, a recent test by Deutsche Telekom has exposed significant limitations in IPv6, the next-generation Internet protocol. This move reflects broader industry trends towards large-scale networking and the need for more efficient protocols. In a bid to simulate dynamic satellite networks, Deutsche Telekom pushed the limits of Kubernetes, containers, and networks, ultimately revealing that IPv6 is not yet ready for large-scale deployments. ...