OpenAI begins testing ads in ChatGPT free and Go tiers
OpenAI is testing targeted ads in its free and Go ChatGPT tiers in the U.S., a move that seems aimed at generating revenue while maintaining answer independence.
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1163 storiesX suffers second major outage this week
X is experiencing its second large-scale outage this week, with nearly 80,000 reports of service disruptions amid ongoing scrutiny over its AI chatbot, Grok.
YouTube relaxes monetization rules for controversial content
YouTube is updating its advertiser-friendly guidelines to allow more dramatized content on sensitive topics to earn full ad revenue, excluding specific categories like child abuse.
Bluesky rolls out stock cashtags and live streaming badges
Bluesky is adding cashtags and Twitch streaming badges, features that could potentially help the platform capitalize on a recent surge in U.S. app installs.
The rise of micro apps: non-developers are building their own software
Driven by AI advancements, non-developers are increasingly building personal micro apps for niche needs, though these tools still face challenges regarding distribution and security.
Wikimedia expands commercial data access for AI firms
The Wikimedia Foundation has signed new partnerships with several AI companies, allowing them to access Wikipedia data via its commercial Wikimedia Enterprise product.
Spotify raises U.S. subscription prices for third time in three years
Spotify has raised its U.S. subscription price to $12.99, marking its third increase in three years as analysts predict the hike could boost revenue by $500 million.
Netflix expands video podcast slate to challenge YouTube
Netflix is increasing its investment in original video podcasts, launching new shows with Pete Davidson and Michael Irvin to challenge YouTube’s dominance in the space.
Mobile app spending climbs 21.6% despite five-year download decline
Appfigures reports global mobile app downloads fell 2.7% in 2025, yet consumer spending climbed 21.6% to an estimated $155.8 billion, driven by subscriptions and in-app purchases.
Digg launches public beta to challenge Reddit
Digg is launching its open beta to the public, aiming to address social media toxicity through new verification tools and community-led moderation.
Bandcamp bans AI-generated music from its platform
Bandcamp is banning AI-generated music and audio from its platform, citing a desire to ensure fans that music on the site is created by humans.
YouTube adds new parental controls for Shorts
YouTube is rolling out new parental controls internationally, allowing parents to set time limits, block Shorts, and manage reminders for children’s accounts.
Tesla to end one-time purchases for Full Self-Driving software
Tesla will stop selling its Full Self-Driving software for a one-time fee on February 14, shifting to a subscription-only model that could impact its legal and financial standing.
VoiceRun raises $5.5M to build a voice agent factory
VoiceRun raised a $5.5 million seed round led by Flybridge Capital to scale its developer-focused platform for building voice agents using code.
Google denies claims that AI shopping tools enable overcharging
Google is defending its new AI shopping protocol after a consumer watchdog warned it could potentially enable "personalized upselling" and overcharging, which the company denies.
Ring pivots to AI-powered home assistant strategy
Ring is transitioning from a video doorbell provider to an AI-powered intelligent assistant for homes and businesses, while navigating new law enforcement partnerships and privacy concerns.
Apple launches Creator Studio subscription bundle
Apple is launching a $12.99-per-month "Creator Studio" subscription bundle, providing access to six creative apps and premium iWork content starting January 28.
Salesforce turns Slackbot into an AI agent
Salesforce has launched an AI-agent version of Slackbot, designed to automate tasks like scheduling and email drafting, in a bid to drive enterprise adoption.
Amazon bets on massive device footprint to scale Alexa+
Amazon is rolling out its Alexa+ generative AI platform, claiming that more than 600 million of its devices are capable of supporting the new assistant.
Betterment confirms data breach after social engineering attack
Betterment confirmed a data breach via social engineering that exposed customer personal information, though the company states no accounts or login credentials were compromised.