Peacock bets on AI and vertical video to boost engagement
Peacock is launching AI-driven mobile features, including vertical NBA broadcasts and a personalized Bravoverse, to drive engagement as the streaming service continues to operate at a loss.
Sections
Apps & Consumer
1161 storiesMotional robotaxis launch on Uber in Las Vegas
Motional’s self-driving Ioniq 5 vehicles are now available on the Uber app in Las Vegas, with the companies expecting to reach fully driverless service by year-end.
Truecaller launches global family fraud protection feature
Truecaller has launched a global family safety feature allowing admins to monitor and remotely end fraudulent calls for up to five members, marking a strategic product shift.
Channel Surfer brings retro TV guide experience to YouTube
Channel Surfer is a new web app that organizes YouTube content into a retro-style TV guide, aiming to solve user indecision fatigue with a linear viewing experience.
Substack pushes into video with new studio and TV app
Substack has launched a desktop-only recording studio for creators, aiming to streamline video production as it competes with platforms like Patreon for multimedia content.
Facebook Marketplace adds Meta AI for automated seller tools
Facebook is integrating Meta AI into Marketplace to automate seller tasks, including drafting listing descriptions, suggesting prices, and generating auto-replies to buyer inquiries.
Tinder pivots to IRL events and AI in product overhaul
Tinder held its inaugural product keynote, introducing AI-driven matching and IRL event features to re-engage younger users amid declining subscriber growth.
Bumble tests AI matchmaker and experiments with swipe-free profiles
Bumble is launching an AI dating assistant called Bee and testing the removal of its signature swipe mechanism in select markets to improve user engagement.
Wayve, Uber, and Nissan plan Tokyo robotaxi service
Wayve, Uber, and Nissan plan to launch a robotaxi service in Tokyo, with a pilot scheduled for late 2026, following Wayve’s $1.2 billion funding round.
Disney+ launches Verts short-form video feed in the U.S.
Disney+ is rolling out Verts, a new short-form video feed for U.S. users, aiming to boost daily engagement and discovery across its century-old content catalog.
Google launches conversational 'Ask Maps' and immersive navigation
Google is rolling out Gemini-powered "Ask Maps" in the U.S. and India, alongside a 3D "Immersive Navigation" feature starting in the U.S.
Google Play adds cross-platform gaming and AI-powered assistance
Google announced new Google Play gaming features at GDC 2026, including cross-platform "buy once, play anywhere" pricing, game trials, and AI-powered assistance.
Lovable hits $400M ARR with just 146 employees
Lovable, a "vibe coding" platform, reached $400 million in annual recurring revenue with only 146 employees, underscoring the commercial viability of natural language app development.
AltStore PAL becomes first federated app marketplace
AltStore PAL has become the first federated app marketplace, allowing developers to share updates directly via the fediverse, though some larger apps plan to join later.
WordPress launches private, browser-based publishing service
WordPress launched my.WordPress.net, a new service allowing users to run private, browser-based WordPress sites with storage starting at roughly 100MB.
WhatsApp launches parent-supervised accounts for pre-teens
WhatsApp has launched parent-supervised accounts for users under 13, restricting access to features like Meta AI and Channels to enhance safety for younger users.
Amazon expands Shop Direct to include third-party product feeds
Amazon is expanding its Shop Direct program to U.S. customers, integrating third-party product feeds to allow discovery and purchase of items not sold directly by the retailer.
Meta adds scam detection to Facebook, WhatsApp, and Messenger
Meta is deploying new scam detection tools across Facebook, WhatsApp, and Messenger to proactively warn users about suspicious activity and unauthorized account linking attempts.
TikTok adds Apple Music integration for full song playback
TikTok has partnered with Apple Music to allow users to play full songs directly within the app, with a worldwide rollout planned over the coming weeks.
Google brings Gemini in Chrome to India, Canada, and New Zealand
Google is expanding Gemini integration in Chrome to India, Canada, and New Zealand, though the rollout excludes the agentic capabilities currently available to U.S. users.