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Amazon Leo, formerly known as ‘Project Kuiper’, is the initiative of Amazon to deliver high-speed satellite internet to regions lacking reliable connectivity. By deploying thousands of low-Earth-orbit satellites, Amazon aims to reach billions of people and millions of businesses still underserved by traditional networks. The system is designed to cover most countries and extend stable internet access even to remote, rural, or hard-to-reach areas where building physical infrastructure is too difficult or costly.&nbsp;The initiative of Amazon is likely to give competition to Elon Musk's Starlink, which is also a satellite internet facility provided by SpaceX that uses a constellation of thousands of cin low Earth orbit (LEO) to deliver high-speed internet globally. It is designed to provide internet access to areas where traditional services are unreliable or unavailable, and it supports activities like streaming, online gaming, and video calls.<h3>What is Amazon Leo?</h3>Project Kuiper is now officially known as Amazon Leo, alluding to the Kuiper Belt, the asteroid belt beyond Neptune. The new name of Kuiper references Low-Earth Orbit (LEO), which orbits up to 1,200 miles (2,000 kilometres) above Earth, where 153 satellites of the Amazon currently operate.&nbsp;It aims to expand reliable internet access to underserved and remote regions worldwide, addressing connectivity gaps that persist even near major cities due to cost, terrain, and infrastructure constraints. While satellite broadband can bridge these gaps, it demands significant technological innovation and investment, an area where Amazon plans to leverage its scale to help narrow the global digital divide.&nbsp;Amazon Leo, headquartered in Redmond, Washington, with a satellite production facility in nearby Kirkland, is capable of building up to five satellites daily. A satellite processing centre at the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida supports launches through partners such as Blue Origin, SpaceX, and United Launch Alliance.<h3>What does Amazon Leo facilitates to users?</h3>This system is built on three main components: ground infrastructure, satellites, and customer terminals. Ground stations include gateway antennas for secure data transmission and TT&amp;C antennas that monitor satellite health. Satellites of this system are placed at the low Earth orbit relay between users and gateways, while customer terminals—Leo Nano, Pro, and Ultra, which deliver internet access tailored to different needs.&nbsp;Amazon decided to deploy over 3,000 satellites operating 590–630 km above Earth. The company has booked more than 80 launches, marking the largest commercial launch procurement to date, with safety and sustainability guiding the constellation’s design.&nbsp;User terminals will offer speeds of up to 100 Mbps (Nano), 400 Mbps (Pro), and 1 Gbps (Ultra). Amazon Leo expects enterprise service rollout in late 2025, with wider availability in 2026 as coverage expands.

The initiative of Amazon is likely to give competition to Elon Musk's Starlink, which is also a satellite internet facility provided by SpaceX that uses a constellation of thousands of cin low Earth orbit (LEO) to deliver high-speed internet globally.

Amazon Leo, formerly known as ‘Project Kuiper’, is the initiative of Amazon to deliver high-speed satellite internet to regions lacking reliable connectivity. By deploying thousands of low-Earth-orbit satellites, Amazon aims to reach billions of people and millions of businesses still underserved by traditional networks. The system is designed to cover most countries and extend stable internet access even to remote, rural, or hard-to-reach areas where building physical infrastructure is too difficult or costly. The initiative of Amazon is likely to give competition to Elon Musk's Starlink, which is also a satellite internet facility provided by SpaceX that uses a constellation of thousands of cin low Earth orbit (LEO) to deliver high-speed internet globally. It is designed to provide internet access to areas where traditional services are unreliable or unavailable, and it supports activities like streaming, online gaming, and video calls. What is Amazon Leo? Project Kuiper is now officially known as Amazon Leo, alluding to the Kuiper Belt, the asteroid belt beyond Neptune. The new name of Kuiper references Low-Earth Orbit (LEO), which orbits up to 1,200 miles (2,000 kilometres) above Earth, where 153 satellites of the Amazon currently operate. It aims to expand reliable internet access to underserved and remote regions worldwide, addressing connectivity gaps that persist even near major cities due to cost, terrain, and infrastructure constraints. While satellite broadband can bridge these gaps, it demands significant technological innovation and investment, an area where Amazon plans to leverage its scale to help narrow the global digital divide. Amazon Leo, headquartered in Redmond, Washington, with a satellite production facility in nearby Kirkland, is capable of building up to five satellites daily. A satellite processing centre at the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida supports launches through partners such as Blue Origin, SpaceX, and United Launch Alliance. What does Amazon Leo facilitates to users? This system is built on three main components: ground infrastructure, satellites, and customer terminals. Ground stations include gateway antennas for secure data transmission and TT&C antennas that monitor satellite health. Satellites of this system are placed at the low Earth orbit relay between users and gateways, while customer terminals—Leo Nano, Pro, and Ultra, which deliver internet access tailored to different needs. Amazon decided to deploy over 3,000 satellites operating 590–630 km above Earth. The company has booked more than 80 launches, marking the largest commercial launch procurement to date, with safety and sustainability guiding the constellation’s design. User terminals will offer speeds of up to 100 Mbps (Nano), 400 Mbps (Pro), and 1 Gbps (Ultra). Amazon Leo expects enterprise service rollout in late 2025, with wider availability in 2026 as coverage expands.

The initiative of Amazon is likely to give competition to Elon Musk's Starlink, which is also a satellite internet facility provided by SpaceX that uses a constellation of thousands of cin low Earth orbit (LEO) to deliver high-speed internet globally.

What is Amazon Leo? The e-commerce platform to challenge Elon Musk's Starlink in space-internet battle

India has moved strongly into the realm of AI worldwide with the introduction of Kyvex, a third-generation AI solution Finder company created by a billionaire entrepreneur, Pearl Kapur. Kyvex, which is meant to compete with ChatGPT and Perplexity, would make the experience different in terms of how a user engages with information by ensuring accuracy, transparency, and comprehensive contextual information.&nbsp;In contrast to the traditional chatbots that are highly dependent on the available databases, Kyvex is based on its own proprietary large language model (LLM) created solely by the Indian engineers and researchers. This is an in-house model that is better suited to research, accurate information, and interpretive intelligence and is not simply a chatbot but an intelligent knowledge partner designed to aid students, professionals and inquisitive minds around the globe.&nbsp;The project has attracted the interest of the most prominent academic and technological leaders of India such as Prof. Ramgopal Rao, former Director of IIT Delhi and Prof. PP Chakrabarti, former director of IIT Kharagpur. Their participation gives credence and richness to the vision of Kyvex to create the presence of India in the global AI innovation sphere. As of now, available on its web platform, Kyvex is ready to be released on Android, iOS, and browser extensions, making its use available to millions of people. Founder and CEO Pearl Kapur says Kyvex is not just a platform, but a movement to make every person intelligent, ethical and open with what they know. We intend to make India the center of the international AI development.&nbsp;Kyvex belongs to an emerging generation of Indian startups that are transforming the deep-tech ecosystem through a lens of innovation that is based on academic prowess and that has a goal of including everyone in the use of technology. Its open-source protocol will shortly allow software developers, teachers and companies to incorporate AI tools into their systems - the divide between research and practice. Kyvex, Made in India, is an Indian spirit of Indian ingenuity and digital independence, to the world. In its development, it will become a beacon of excellence in the world, with its AI practices serving legitimate learning, research and open information exchange in the contemporary world.&nbsp;Explore Kyvex in https://kyvex.ai. The initiative has received support from several top academicians of the country, including Prof Ramgopal Rao, former director of IIT Delhi, and Prof PP Chakrabarti, former director of IIT Kharagpur, PJ Narayanan, director of IIIT Hyderabad.

India comes to the AI fray: Billionaire Pearl Kapur creates Kyvex to redefine intelligent research

India has moved strongly into the realm of AI worldwide with the introduction of Kyvex, a third-generation AI solution Finder company created by a billionaire entrepreneur, Pearl Kapur. Kyvex, which is meant to compete with ChatGPT and Perplexity, would make the experience different in terms of how a user engages with information by ensuring accuracy, transparency, and comprehensive contextual information. In contrast to the traditional chatbots that are highly dependent on the available databases, Kyvex is based on its own proprietary large language model (LLM) created solely by the Indian engineers and researchers. This is an in-house model that is better suited to research, accurate information, and interpretive intelligence and is not simply a chatbot but an intelligent knowledge partner designed to aid students, professionals and inquisitive minds around the globe. The project has attracted the interest of the most prominent academic and technological leaders of India such as Prof. Ramgopal Rao, former Director of IIT Delhi and Prof. PP Chakrabarti, former director of IIT Kharagpur. Their participation gives credence and richness to the vision of Kyvex to create the presence of India in the global AI innovation sphere. As of now, available on its web platform, Kyvex is ready to be released on Android, iOS, and browser extensions, making its use available to millions of people. Founder and CEO Pearl Kapur says Kyvex is not just a platform, but a movement to make every person intelligent, ethical and open with what they know. We intend to make India the center of the international AI development. Kyvex belongs to an emerging generation of Indian startups that are transforming the deep-tech ecosystem through a lens of innovation that is based on academic prowess and that has a goal of including everyone in the use of technology. Its open-source protocol will shortly allow software developers, teachers and companies to incorporate AI tools into their systems - the divide between research and practice. Kyvex, Made in India, is an Indian spirit of Indian ingenuity and digital independence, to the world. In its development, it will become a beacon of excellence in the world, with its AI practices serving legitimate learning, research and open information exchange in the contemporary world. Explore Kyvex in https://kyvex.ai. The initiative has received support from several top academicians of the country, including Prof Ramgopal Rao, former director of IIT Delhi, and Prof PP Chakrabarti, former director of IIT Kharagpur, PJ Narayanan, director of IIIT Hyderabad.

In contrast to the traditional chatbots that are highly dependent on the available databases, Kyvex is based on its own proprietary large language model (LLM) created solely by the Indian engineers and researchers

One of China’s most important cybersecurity firms has been breached, revealing information about India stored on its servers. The hack revealed that KnownSec had data on the immigration records of India. The incident, which came to light earlier this month, exposed files that reportedly included details of state-aligned hacking operations across more than 20 countries. As per cyber security experts, the data is a rare glimpse into China's offensive cyber capabilities and the role of private firms in state-directed operations.<h2>KnownSec breach: What was leaked?</h2>The breach reportedly involved the leak of over 12,000 internal documents from KnownSec’s secure servers. It contained blueprints and source code for advanced malware, remote access tools and device-based attack kits, according to cybersecurity analysts. It allegedly included programmes that can access chat histories from WeChat, QQ and Telegram. There were also hardware implants disguised as USB chargers, such as malicious power banks. The files, released on the web, contained lists of targets spanning Asia, Europe and Africa, with India, Japan, Vietnam, Indonesia and the UK featuring prominently.The files were briefly shared on GitHub before being taken down, but copies have since circulated among security researchers and dark web forums.Also read: &nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/who-has-the-strongest-cyber-army-the-7-most-advanced-cyber-forces-in-the-world-1761076774892">Who has the strongest cyber army? The 7 most advanced cyber forces in the world</a><h2>KnownSec’s operations possibly targeted India</h2>Data on India was among the largest exposed in the breach. It allegedly contained archives of Indian immigration data and digital infrastructure maps. One spreadsheet allegedly contained records of 95 gigabytes of Indian immigration data, possibly stolen in 2024. Security analysts who examined the breach found that China had a long-term interest in Indian government networks and border systems.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-cyber-experts-charged-for-running-massive-ransomware-scheme-1762250877423/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-cyber-experts-charged-for-running-massive-ransomware-scheme-1762250877423/embed</a><h2>What is KnownSec?</h2>Founded in 2007, KnownSec is a private cybersecurity firm known to have collaborated with Chinese government agencies on digital defence projects. Deeply embedded in national cyber initiatives, KnownSec’s well-known products include the ZoomEye internet scanning engine, used for network reconnaissance. In January this year, the US Department of Defence blacklisted dozens of Chinese companies operating in the US that it claimed are part of the People’s Republic of China’s military apparatus. KnownSec, formally known as Beijing Zhidao Chuangyu Information Technology Co., Ltd, was one of them.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/british-clothes-company-marks-and-spencer-s-profits-plummet-due-to-cyberattack-1762346526023">British clothes company Marks and Spencer's profits plummet due to cyberattack</a><h2>KnownSec data leak is a “wake-up call”</h2>Interestingly, the data breach did not come with any ransom demand, which suggests the motive was not financial. Instead, it may have been an insider job or the work of an ideological actor. China has not officially acknowledged the breach, calling reports “groundless”, and KnownSec has issued no public statement. Leaked internal memos circulating online hinted at internal containment efforts by the company. Cybersecurity analysts warned that the exposure could have lasting effects, as the files could be repurposed by criminal or state groups. For India, the leas show the need for stronger cyber defence.

A major data breach at Chinese firm KnownSec is giving a  glimpse into how China is spying on Asian rivals including India using cyber tools. Besides several hacking programmes, state-linked cyber operations across more than 20 nations were revealed.


One of China’s most important cybersecurity firms has been breached, revealing information about India stored on its servers. The hack revealed that KnownSec had data on the immigration records of India. The incident, which came to light earlier this month, exposed files that reportedly included details of state-aligned hacking operations across more than 20 countries. As per cyber security experts, the data is a rare glimpse into China's offensive cyber capabilities and the role of private firms in state-directed operations. KnownSec breach: What was leaked? The breach reportedly involved the leak of over 12,000 internal documents from KnownSec’s secure servers. It contained blueprints and source code for advanced malware, remote access tools and device-based attack kits, according to cybersecurity analysts. It allegedly included programmes that can access chat histories from WeChat, QQ and Telegram. There were also hardware implants disguised as USB chargers, such as malicious power banks. The files, released on the web, contained lists of targets spanning Asia, Europe and Africa, with India, Japan, Vietnam, Indonesia and the UK featuring prominently. The files were briefly shared on GitHub before being taken down, but copies have since circulated among security researchers and dark web forums. Also read: Who has the strongest cyber army? The 7 most advanced cyber forces in the world KnownSec’s operations possibly targeted India Data on India was among the largest exposed in the breach. It allegedly contained archives of Indian immigration data and digital infrastructure maps. One spreadsheet allegedly contained records of 95 gigabytes of Indian immigration data, possibly stolen in 2024. Security analysts who examined the breach found that China had a long-term interest in Indian government networks and border systems. https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-cyber-experts-charged-for-running-massive-ransomware-scheme-1762250877423/embed What is KnownSec? Founded in 2007, KnownSec is a private cybersecurity firm known to have collaborated with Chinese government agencies on digital defence projects. Deeply embedded in national cyber initiatives, KnownSec’s well-known products include the ZoomEye internet scanning engine, used for network reconnaissance. In January this year, the US Department of Defence blacklisted dozens of Chinese companies operating in the US that it claimed are part of the People’s Republic of China’s military apparatus. KnownSec, formally known as Beijing Zhidao Chuangyu Information Technology Co., Ltd, was one of them. Also read: British clothes company Marks and Spencer's profits plummet due to cyberattack KnownSec data leak is a “wake-up call” Interestingly, the data breach did not come with any ransom demand, which suggests the motive was not financial. Instead, it may have been an insider job or the work of an ideological actor. China has not officially acknowledged the breach, calling reports “groundless”, and KnownSec has issued no public statement. Leaked internal memos circulating online hinted at internal containment efforts by the company. Cybersecurity analysts warned that the exposure could have lasting effects, as the files could be repurposed by criminal or state groups. For India, the leas show the need for stronger cyber defence.

A major data breach at Chinese firm KnownSec is giving a &nbsp;glimpse into how China is spying on Asian rivals including India using cyber tools. Besides several hacking programmes, state-linked cyber operations across more than 20 nations were revealed. &nbsp;

Did China access Indian immigration and border data? What the breach of cybersecurity firm KnownSec revealed

Google in India is greeting users in its search engine with an animated doodle featuring one of the most famous math formulas in the world: ax2+bx+c=0. The animated doodle highlights how this simple equation is widely used and has applications across engineering, economics, and physics. It is one of the most searched equations online.&nbsp;The quadratic equation was discovered several years ago; it has been around for centuries. The ancient mathematicians coming from Babylon, Egypt, and India worked on second-degree equations. In addition, the Indian mathematician Brahmagupta wrote about methods to solve them in the 7th century.&nbsp;"This Doodle features the quadratic equation, a mathematical tool that has a number of useful applications across physics, engineering, business, and much more," Google posted. "The quadratic equation is most often used in physics to calculate real-world motion. If you've ever watched a basketball arc toward the hoop, you've seen the quadratic equation in action," it added.&nbsp;When a user clicks on the doodle, it takes them to Google's Gemini AI mode, where a prompt asks, "My maths homework says that a basketball player's shot follows a parabola. How does the quadratic equation fit in here? Can you walk me through it?"&nbsp;"The quadratic equation fits the basketball shot because the path of the ball, influenced by gravity, is a parabola. The equation (y=ax^{2}+bx+c) models this path, where (y) is the height,(x) is the horizontal distance, and the coefficients (a,b,) and(c) represent the effect of gravity, the initial upward velocity, and the starting height, respectively," The Google AI explained with the physics behind the quadratic model.<h3>Why is Google celebrating with the doodle of the Quadratic Equation today?</h3>Google is celebrating the quadratic equation today with a Doodle to highlight its importance in STEM and its wide range of real-world applications, from physics and engineering to economics. It also serves an educational purpose, especially with the "back-to-school" season, by providing an interactive and fun way for students to learn about a fundamental math concept and see its practical use. This is a rollout of a Doodle that first appeared in the US in September and is now being released in other regions, including India, on November 12th.<h3>Google's 'Learning the Quadratic Equation' doodle</h3>Google initially launched the 'Learning the Quadratic Equation' doodle on September 8 in the US to mark the start of the school year. It has since expanded to the UK, Spain, the Netherlands, Poland, Italy, Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Libya, Egypt and several other Middle East countries.&nbsp;The first Google Doodle appeared in 1998 when co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin used it to indicate their absence from the Burning Man festival. By 2000, Google released its first international doodle to celebrate France’s Bastille Day. A decade later, on May 21, 2010, the tech giant unveiled its first interactive game doodle honouring the 30th anniversary of the iconic game Pac-Man.

The quadratic equation was discovered several years ago; it has been around for centuries. The ancient mathematicians coming from Egypt, Babylon, and India worked on second-degree equations.

Google in India is greeting users in its search engine with an animated doodle featuring one of the most famous math formulas in the world: ax2+bx+c=0. The animated doodle highlights how this simple equation is widely used and has applications across engineering, economics, and physics. It is one of the most searched equations online. The quadratic equation was discovered several years ago; it has been around for centuries. The ancient mathematicians coming from Babylon, Egypt, and India worked on second-degree equations. In addition, the Indian mathematician Brahmagupta wrote about methods to solve them in the 7th century. "This Doodle features the quadratic equation, a mathematical tool that has a number of useful applications across physics, engineering, business, and much more," Google posted. "The quadratic equation is most often used in physics to calculate real-world motion. If you've ever watched a basketball arc toward the hoop, you've seen the quadratic equation in action," it added. When a user clicks on the doodle, it takes them to Google's Gemini AI mode, where a prompt asks, "My maths homework says that a basketball player's shot follows a parabola. How does the quadratic equation fit in here? Can you walk me through it?" "The quadratic equation fits the basketball shot because the path of the ball, influenced by gravity, is a parabola. The equation (y=ax^{2}+bx+c) models this path, where (y) is the height,(x) is the horizontal distance, and the coefficients (a,b,) and(c) represent the effect of gravity, the initial upward velocity, and the starting height, respectively," The Google AI explained with the physics behind the quadratic model. Why is Google celebrating with the doodle of the Quadratic Equation today? Google is celebrating the quadratic equation today with a Doodle to highlight its importance in STEM and its wide range of real-world applications, from physics and engineering to economics. It also serves an educational purpose, especially with the "back-to-school" season, by providing an interactive and fun way for students to learn about a fundamental math concept and see its practical use. This is a rollout of a Doodle that first appeared in the US in September and is now being released in other regions, including India, on November 12th. Google's 'Learning the Quadratic Equation' doodle Google initially launched the 'Learning the Quadratic Equation' doodle on September 8 in the US to mark the start of the school year. It has since expanded to the UK, Spain, the Netherlands, Poland, Italy, Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Libya, Egypt and several other Middle East countries. The first Google Doodle appeared in 1998 when co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin used it to indicate their absence from the Burning Man festival. By 2000, Google released its first international doodle to celebrate France’s Bastille Day. A decade later, on May 21, 2010, the tech giant unveiled its first interactive game doodle honouring the 30th anniversary of the iconic game Pac-Man.

The quadratic equation was discovered several years ago; it has been around for centuries. The ancient mathematicians coming from Egypt, Babylon, and India worked on second-degree equations.

Google Doodle shows Quadratic Equation: Check reasons behind this mathematical tribute

The first humanoid robot of Russia, powered by artificial intelligence, introduced as a breakthrough in domestic robotics, made an unforgettable debut, but not what the makers had expected. The robot, named AIdol, took a tumble on stage during its official presentation in Moscow on November 10, leaving onlookers amused and developers embarrassed, according to a report in The Newsweek.&nbsp;As AIdol was being escorted onto the stage by two handlers to the famous Rocky theme song, the robot suddenly lost its balance and fell, leaving several pieces behind on the stage. Staff members rushed to its aid, attempting to conceal the malfunction behind a large screen as they tried to reassemble the fallen machine. The demonstration of the AI robot was meant to highlight the growing technological capabilities of Russia has quickly turned into an internet sensation.&nbsp;Video clips of the incident have surfaced across social media platforms, drawing waves of humorous reactions. “I can’t stop laughing — it looks like it learned to walk from alcoholics,” one user joked with a post on X.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">I can&#39;t stop laughing 😆 This is a presentation of Russia’s first AI robot. I think it learned to walk from alcoholics. <a href="https://t.co/bd5M58c6rj">pic.twitter.com/bd5M58c6rj</a>&mdash; Kate from Kharkiv (@BohuslavskaKate) <a href="https://twitter.com/BohuslavskaKate/status/1988335548478755185?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 11, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h3>Netizens react to viral video</h3>After the video came to light on the internet, several users on X flooded with their mixed opinion in the comment section of the clip. A user wrote, "Before it fell it looked total shit. Boston Dynamics have nothing to worry about."&nbsp;Expressing concern about the engineers who were at the stage during the demonstration of the Robot, the next netizens said," Don’t worry about the robot, I would be more concerned about these two engineers."&nbsp;Another said, "This is not bad design or programming. This is the most advanced robotics and AI. It’s just mimicking what it sees. In this case it’s alcoholic Russian creators."&nbsp;The next added, "This looks like 20 years ago in China. Russian should stick with hacking. Sorry but AI and robotics belongs to Elon musk and China."

The demonstration of the AI robot was meant to highlight the growing technological capabilities of Russia has quickly turned into an internet sensation after its videos went viral, showing the robot suddenly losing its balance.

The first humanoid robot of Russia, powered by artificial intelligence, introduced as a breakthrough in domestic robotics, made an unforgettable debut, but not what the makers had expected. The robot, named AIdol, took a tumble on stage during its official presentation in Moscow on November 10, leaving onlookers amused and developers embarrassed, according to a report in The Newsweek. As AIdol was being escorted onto the stage by two handlers to the famous Rocky theme song, the robot suddenly lost its balance and fell, leaving several pieces behind on the stage. Staff members rushed to its aid, attempting to conceal the malfunction behind a large screen as they tried to reassemble the fallen machine. The demonstration of the AI robot was meant to highlight the growing technological capabilities of Russia has quickly turned into an internet sensation. Video clips of the incident have surfaced across social media platforms, drawing waves of humorous reactions. “I can’t stop laughing — it looks like it learned to walk from alcoholics,” one user joked with a post on X.

The demonstration of the AI robot was meant to highlight the growing technological capabilities of Russia has quickly turned into an internet sensation after its videos went viral, showing the robot suddenly losing its balance.

'AI, robotics belong to Elon Musk and China': Netizens roast Russia’s AI robot after on-stage crash — WATCH

China has officially accused the United States of orchestrating a scheme to steal $14 billion worth of Bitcoin, allegedly one of the largest cryptocurrency thefts in history. The claim marks the latest twist in the long-running saga of the LuBian crypto mining pool. What really happened, and how is the whole story related to the ‘pig butchering scam’ and the baby-faced crypto entrepreneur Chen Zhi? Here is what you should know.<h2>The hack of LuBian</h2>LuBian was a China-based Bitcoin mining pool that reportedly operated facilities in both China and Iran. In December 2020, it was hit by a major cyberattack in which an estimated 127,426 Bitcoins were stolen. According to blockchain analysts, the cryptocurrency—worth about $3.5 billion at the time—is now valued at roughly $14 billion. The attackers allegedly drained LuBian’s “hot wallets” by exploiting vulnerabilities in its private key management system and possibly using zero-day exploits. Following the breach, LuBian’s operations quickly declined, and by early 2021, the mining pool went largely offline.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/chinese-crypto-queen-in-london-she-duped-thousands-of-china-s-elderly-fled-to-the-uk-with-billions-and-got-caught-1762850563158">Chinese Crypto Queen in London: She duped thousands of China’s elderly, fled to the UK with billions – and got caught</a><h2>China’s fresh accusation of US involvement in the LuBian hack</h2>On Tuesday (Nov 11), the Chinese National Computer Virus Emergency Response Centre (CVERC) publicly accused the US government of being behind the 2020 LuBian hack. In an official report, CVERC claimed that the operation was a “state-level theft” carried out by American intelligence agencies using advanced hacking tools similar to those used in operations such as Stuxnet—the joint US-Israeli cyberattack that targeted Iran’s nuclear programme in 2010. According to CVERC, US agencies infiltrated LuBian’s systems, stole the Bitcoin, and kept the funds dormant until 2024. That year, the US Department of Justice (DOJ) seized nearly the same amount—127,271 BTC—as part of a criminal forfeiture case linked to Cambodian businessman Chen Zhi. At the time, it was described as the largest cryptocurrency forfeiture in US history.CVERC argued that the DOJ’s seizure was an attempt to legitimise the stolen funds, framing the move as “thieves recovering their own loot”.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/remains-of-russian-crypto-millionaire-and-wife-found-buried-in-uae-desert-after-attempted-loot-1762917676726">Russian thugs dismember and bury crypto millionaire and wife after finding their crypto wallets were empty</a><h2>Who is Chen Zhi, and what is his crime?</h2>Chen Zhi is the founder of the Prince Group conglomerate. The US maintains that the 2024 Bitcoin seizure was lawful, as it was the wallet owned by Chen Zhi's group inside the LuBian mining pool. US court documents accused Chen Zhi of running a $6 billion global investment fraud through a company called EZ Blockchain, selling fake crypto mining equipment and laundering the proceeds. Chen is reportedly a fugitive and remains wanted by US authorities.<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/trump-praises-bitcoin-s-role-in-supporting-dollar-stability-1762493927574/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/trump-praises-bitcoin-s-role-in-supporting-dollar-stability-1762493927574/embed</a><h2>How the LuBian case is linked to the ‘pig butchering scams’</h2>Investigators alleged that Chen Zhi’s operations may have overlapped with the so-called “pig butchering” scams. These are online fraud schemes in which victims are encouraged to invest in fake cryptocurrency platforms before being “slaughtered”, when their funds vanish. US prosecutors alleged that parts of Chen’s network promoted fraudulent mining investments similar to those used in pig butchering scams. They allegedly funnelled proceeds through LuBian to obscure their origins. If true, this would mean the same infrastructure tied to the LuBian hack also helped launder funds from global crypto scams across Asia, Europe and North America.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/why-are-crypto-markets-falling-1760706709071">Why are crypto markets falling? Explained</a><h2>Crypto, cyberwarfare, crime and global politics: Why the LuBian case is important</h2>The LuBian dispute highlights how cryptocurrency, geopolitics, and cyberwarfare increasingly intersect. China sees the alleged hack as part of a broader US effort to undermine its economic and technological influence, while the US portrays its actions as legitimate law enforcement against international fraud. Blockchain analysts say the wallets seized by the DOJ match those from the 2020 hack, but there is no independent evidence linking the breach to US intelligence agencies. The incident underlines how cryptocurrencies have become a new front in global power struggles.

China has accused the US of stealing $14 billion worth of Bitcoin from the LuBian mining pool. LuBian is linked to Chen Zhi, a fugitive entrepreneur accused of fraud and 'pig butchering scams'. Know more about the fascinating saga of cyberwarfare and geopolitical tensions over cryptocurrency.


China has officially accused the United States of orchestrating a scheme to steal $14 billion worth of Bitcoin, allegedly one of the largest cryptocurrency thefts in history. The claim marks the latest twist in the long-running saga of the LuBian crypto mining pool. What really happened, and how is the whole story related to the ‘pig butchering scam’ and the baby-faced crypto entrepreneur Chen Zhi? Here is what you should know. The hack of LuBian LuBian was a China-based Bitcoin mining pool that reportedly operated facilities in both China and Iran. In December 2020, it was hit by a major cyberattack in which an estimated 127,426 Bitcoins were stolen. According to blockchain analysts, the cryptocurrency—worth about $3.5 billion at the time—is now valued at roughly $14 billion. The attackers allegedly drained LuBian’s “hot wallets” by exploiting vulnerabilities in its private key management system and possibly using zero-day exploits. Following the breach, LuBian’s operations quickly declined, and by early 2021, the mining pool went largely offline. Also read: Chinese Crypto Queen in London: She duped thousands of China’s elderly, fled to the UK with billions – and got caught China’s fresh accusation of US involvement in the LuBian hack On Tuesday (Nov 11), the Chinese National Computer Virus Emergency Response Centre (CVERC) publicly accused the US government of being behind the 2020 LuBian hack. In an official report, CVERC claimed that the operation was a “state-level theft” carried out by American intelligence agencies using advanced hacking tools similar to those used in operations such as Stuxnet—the joint US-Israeli cyberattack that targeted Iran’s nuclear programme in 2010. According to CVERC, US agencies infiltrated LuBian’s systems, stole the Bitcoin, and kept the funds dormant until 2024. That year, the US Department of Justice (DOJ) seized nearly the same amount—127,271 BTC—as part of a criminal forfeiture case linked to Cambodian businessman Chen Zhi. At the time, it was described as the largest cryptocurrency forfeiture in US history. CVERC argued that the DOJ’s seizure was an attempt to legitimise the stolen funds, framing the move as “thieves recovering their own loot”. Also read: Russian thugs dismember and bury crypto millionaire and wife after finding their crypto wallets were empty Who is Chen Zhi, and what is his crime? Chen Zhi is the founder of the Prince Group conglomerate. The US maintains that the 2024 Bitcoin seizure was lawful, as it was the wallet owned by Chen Zhi's group inside the LuBian mining pool. US court documents accused Chen Zhi of running a $6 billion global investment fraud through a company called EZ Blockchain, selling fake crypto mining equipment and laundering the proceeds. Chen is reportedly a fugitive and remains wanted by US authorities. https://www.wionews.com/videos/trump-praises-bitcoin-s-role-in-supporting-dollar-stability-1762493927574/embed How the LuBian case is linked to the ‘pig butchering scams’ Investigators alleged that Chen Zhi’s operations may have overlapped with the so-called “pig butchering” scams. These are online fraud schemes in which victims are encouraged to invest in fake cryptocurrency platforms before being “slaughtered”, when their funds vanish. US prosecutors alleged that parts of Chen’s network promoted fraudulent mining investments similar to those used in pig butchering scams. They allegedly funnelled proceeds through LuBian to obscure their origins. If true, this would mean the same infrastructure tied to the LuBian hack also helped launder funds from global crypto scams across Asia, Europe and North America. Also read: Why are crypto markets falling? Explained Crypto, cyberwarfare, crime and global politics: Why the LuBian case is important The LuBian dispute highlights how cryptocurrency, geopolitics, and cyberwarfare increasingly intersect. China sees the alleged hack as part of a broader US effort to undermine its economic and technological influence, while the US portrays its actions as legitimate law enforcement against international fraud. Blockchain analysts say the wallets seized by the DOJ match those from the 2020 hack, but there is no independent evidence linking the breach to US intelligence agencies. The incident underlines how cryptocurrencies have become a new front in global power struggles.

China has accused the US of stealing $14 billion worth of Bitcoin from the LuBian mining pool. LuBian is linked to Chen Zhi, a fugitive entrepreneur accused of fraud and 'pig butchering scams'. Know more about the fascinating saga of cyberwarfare and geopolitical tensions over cryptocurrency

China accuses US of $14 billion Bitcoin theft: How is LuBian hack linked to 'pig butchering scam' and Chen Zhi?

When British police raided a mansion near Hampstead Heath in 2021, they found something extraordinary. Besides racks of designer clothes, piles of shopping bags, and unopened Amazon boxes, they recovered hard drives containing more than 60,000 Bitcoin, worth over £5 billion. The woman in the mansion, Yadi Zhang – also known as Zhimin Qian – had been living under a false name, posing as an heiress. In reality, she was a fugitive who had fled China, accused of running one of that country’s biggest investment scams.<h2>The crypto queen of China, who was hiding in the UK</h2>Qian, 47, built her fortune by defrauding more than 100,000 Chinese pensioners through her company, Lantian Gerui, which claimed to mine cryptocurrency and invest in high-tech health products. In truth, it was a Ponzi scheme that used money from new investors to pay supposed profits to earlier ones, while Qian quietly transferred billions into her own accounts.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/crypto-political-spend-rivals-big-oil-lobby-world-business-watch-wion-1761800916225/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/crypto-political-spend-rivals-big-oil-lobby-world-business-watch-wion-1761800916225/embed</a><h2>The “Little Flower” persona of Chinese crypo queen</h2>Qian crafted an image of a poetic visionary who wrote about love, patriotism and caring for the elderly. Her followers called her “Little Flower.” Her company’s events drew thousands, filled with patriotic music and promises of effortless wealth. “Get rich while lying down,” was her slogan. As in most Ponzi schemes, investors initially received small daily payouts that convinced them it was real. Many even borrowed heavily to invest more.<h2>Chinese crypto queen's ponzy scheme collapse&nbsp;</h2>When the scheme began to collapse in 2017 and Chinese authorities launched an investigation, Qian fled the country using a fake passport and arrived in London, according to police. She rented a mansion for £17,000 a month, and hired a personal assistant to convert her cryptocurrency, claiming to be the daughter of a diamond baron.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/why-are-crypto-markets-falling-1760706709071">Why are crypto markets falling? Explained</a><h2>Inside Qian’s diary: delusions of grandeur</h2>Qian’s diary, later seized by British police, revealed even bigger ambitions. She planned to buy a castle in Sweden, befriend a British duke, and even become the “queen” of Liberland – a self-proclaimed microstate on the Danube. In London, she spent her days gaming, shopping online and lying in bed, living the dream her investors had paid for.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-us-coordinate-real-time-to-seize-cryptocurrency-assets-worth-150-million-1757086955195">India, US coordinate real time to seize cryptocurrency assets worth $150 Million</a><h2>The mistake that exposed the Chinese crypto queen in UK</h2>Her downfall came when she tried to buy another luxury property in north London. Her assistant could not explain the source of the funds, raising suspicions that triggered a money-laundering investigation. British police raided her Hampstead home in 2021 and uncovered the enormous crypto cache – one of the largest ever seized in the UK.<h2>Guilty plea and sentencing for China crypto queen</h2>Arrested in York in 2023, Qian initially claimed she was escaping political persecution. But when faced with overwhelming evidence, she pleaded guilty to money-laundering offences. She remains in custody and is due to be sentenced at Southwark Crown Court this week.<h2>Victims left behind, and might never get paid</h2>While Qian will face British justice, thousands of her victims in China may never recover their losses. Many elderly investors lost their life savings; one man told the BBC he lost both his marriage and his retirement funds. Others were left unable to afford food or medical care. If victims cannot prove ownership of the stolen funds, the remaining billions could ultimately revert to the UK government.

Zhimin Qian, a Chinese “Crypto Queen,” duped 100,000 pensioners in a £5bn Bitcoin scam, fled to London, and now faces sentencing in the UK for one of the world’s largest crypto frauds. This is her story


When British police raided a mansion near Hampstead Heath in 2021, they found something extraordinary. Besides racks of designer clothes, piles of shopping bags, and unopened Amazon boxes, they recovered hard drives containing more than 60,000 Bitcoin, worth over £5 billion. The woman in the mansion, Yadi Zhang – also known as Zhimin Qian – had been living under a false name, posing as an heiress. In reality, she was a fugitive who had fled China, accused of running one of that country’s biggest investment scams. The crypto queen of China, who was hiding in the UK Qian, 47, built her fortune by defrauding more than 100,000 Chinese pensioners through her company, Lantian Gerui, which claimed to mine cryptocurrency and invest in high-tech health products. In truth, it was a Ponzi scheme that used money from new investors to pay supposed profits to earlier ones, while Qian quietly transferred billions into her own accounts. https://www.wionews.com/videos/crypto-political-spend-rivals-big-oil-lobby-world-business-watch-wion-1761800916225/embed The “Little Flower” persona of Chinese crypo queen Qian crafted an image of a poetic visionary who wrote about love, patriotism and caring for the elderly. Her followers called her “Little Flower.” Her company’s events drew thousands, filled with patriotic music and promises of effortless wealth. “Get rich while lying down,” was her slogan. As in most Ponzi schemes, investors initially received small daily payouts that convinced them it was real. Many even borrowed heavily to invest more. Chinese crypto queen's ponzy scheme collapse When the scheme began to collapse in 2017 and Chinese authorities launched an investigation, Qian fled the country using a fake passport and arrived in London, according to police. She rented a mansion for £17,000 a month, and hired a personal assistant to convert her cryptocurrency, claiming to be the daughter of a diamond baron. Also read: Why are crypto markets falling? Explained Inside Qian’s diary: delusions of grandeur Qian’s diary, later seized by British police, revealed even bigger ambitions. She planned to buy a castle in Sweden, befriend a British duke, and even become the “queen” of Liberland – a self-proclaimed microstate on the Danube. In London, she spent her days gaming, shopping online and lying in bed, living the dream her investors had paid for. Also read: India, US coordinate real time to seize cryptocurrency assets worth $150 Million The mistake that exposed the Chinese crypto queen in UK Her downfall came when she tried to buy another luxury property in north London. Her assistant could not explain the source of the funds, raising suspicions that triggered a money-laundering investigation. British police raided her Hampstead home in 2021 and uncovered the enormous crypto cache – one of the largest ever seized in the UK. Guilty plea and sentencing for China crypto queen Arrested in York in 2023, Qian initially claimed she was escaping political persecution. But when faced with overwhelming evidence, she pleaded guilty to money-laundering offences. She remains in custody and is due to be sentenced at Southwark Crown Court this week. Victims left behind, and might never get paid While Qian will face British justice, thousands of her victims in China may never recover their losses. Many elderly investors lost their life savings; one man told the BBC he lost both his marriage and his retirement funds. Others were left unable to afford food or medical care. If victims cannot prove ownership of the stolen funds, the remaining billions could ultimately revert to the UK government.

Zhimin Qian, a Chinese “Crypto Queen,” duped 100,000 pensioners in a £5bn Bitcoin scam, fled to London, and now faces sentencing in the UK for one of the world’s largest crypto frauds. This is her story &nbsp;

Chinese Crypto Queen in London: She duped thousands of China’s elderly, fled to the UK with billions – and got caught

Apple is reportedly developing a new set of satellite-powered features for iPhones that could allow users to stay connected even without cell or Wi-Fi networks.&nbsp;According to a report by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the upcoming features may include offline navigation via satellite and better natural signal detection.<h2>iPhone may soon work even without network coverage</h2>Apple’s iPhone already supports emergency SOS texting, calling roadside assistance, and contacting emergency services through satellite connectivity.&nbsp;But according to Gurman’s report, Apple is now planning to go further. Reports say that the company is said to be developing a special API that will allow third-party apps to use satellite connections.&nbsp;This means developers could add satellite-based communication and navigation tools directly into their apps, which will help users stay connected in remote areas where mobile networks fail.<h2>Apple Maps could get an offline satellite navigation feature</h2>A major update in recent development is to be the new version of Apple Maps that could work even without internet access. The report says users will be able to navigate using satellite data, making it easier for travellers, hikers, or anyone exploring regions with no signal.&nbsp;According to The Information, Apple is also exploring ways to improve 5G coverage by using satellites to connect areas where regular towers cannot reach.&nbsp;<h2>Apple and Globalstar working together on upgrades</h2>Apple’s satellite partner Globalstar will play a key role in supporting these upgrades. The company reportedly needs to expand and upgrade its satellite infrastructure, and Apple is helping to finance those improvements.&nbsp;Basic satellite features are expected to remain free for users, but more advanced options might require payments through mobile carriers, Bloomberg said.&nbsp;If successful, these plans could make the iPhone one of the most reliable communication devices in the world. It is capable of staying connected from anywhere, even the most remote corners of the planet.

Apple is reportedly developing new satellite-powered iPhone features, which includes offline navigation and third-party app support. These upgrades could keep iPhones connected anywhere, even without cell or Wi-Fi networks.

Apple is reportedly developing a new set of satellite-powered features for iPhones that could allow users to stay connected even without cell or Wi-Fi networks. According to a report by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the upcoming features may include offline navigation via satellite and better natural signal detection. iPhone may soon work even without network coverage Apple’s iPhone already supports emergency SOS texting, calling roadside assistance, and contacting emergency services through satellite connectivity. But according to Gurman’s report, Apple is now planning to go further. Reports say that the company is said to be developing a special API that will allow third-party apps to use satellite connections. This means developers could add satellite-based communication and navigation tools directly into their apps, which will help users stay connected in remote areas where mobile networks fail. Apple Maps could get an offline satellite navigation feature A major update in recent development is to be the new version of Apple Maps that could work even without internet access. The report says users will be able to navigate using satellite data, making it easier for travellers, hikers, or anyone exploring regions with no signal. According to The Information, Apple is also exploring ways to improve 5G coverage by using satellites to connect areas where regular towers cannot reach. Apple and Globalstar working together on upgrades Apple’s satellite partner Globalstar will play a key role in supporting these upgrades. The company reportedly needs to expand and upgrade its satellite infrastructure, and Apple is helping to finance those improvements. Basic satellite features are expected to remain free for users, but more advanced options might require payments through mobile carriers, Bloomberg said. If successful, these plans could make the iPhone one of the most reliable communication devices in the world. It is capable of staying connected from anywhere, even the most remote corners of the planet.

Apple is reportedly developing new satellite-powered iPhone features, which includes offline navigation and third-party app support. These upgrades could keep iPhones connected anywhere, even without cell or Wi-Fi networks.

iPhones may soon get offline navigation via satellites, reports say

From its primitive days of bartering, the financial industry has gone through a long and winding transformation process, to coins, then paper, and finally to today's up-to-the-minute technology. AI has surely implanted itself in the finance industry as well, wherever financial technology changes people's interaction with money. The technophile and finance-knowledgeable Adarsh Naidu is one person who has been ruminating about the topic of money and AI throughout his time.Adarsh, throughout his professional journey, has been a commissioner in the deployment of AI and machine learning at different globally renowned companies. Among the various benefits he has brought are the making of fraud detection systems, the providing of blockchain-based audit solutions, and the building of AI infrastructure that is recognised by both AWS and Google. Moreover, he has worked as an advisor by partnering with Fortune 500 corporations on the ethical use of AI.The numbers speak for the impact of his work: not only did Adarsh's association with AI-based models lead to a 40 per cent reduction in fraudulent transactions, but also, the customer dispute resolutions got automated by 70 per cent, saving the firm $10 million annually. Besides, the predictive analytics models, under his supervision, reached a 25 per cent enhancement in loan approval accuracy, thus supporting lenders in risk management and faster service provision to consumers.One of his major projects is the development of an AI-based fraud detection system that is capable of processing more than $50 billion in transactions annually. In addition, the development of a blockchain solution for instant and traceable international payment transfers was another important project of which later a global bank successfully implemented. Adarsh was also involved in the creation of a generative AI tool for compliance management, which later resulted in a 60 per cent decrease in the manual audits needed.

Adarsh, throughout his professional journey, has been a commissioner in the deployment of AI and machine learning at different globally renowned companies.

From its primitive days of bartering, the financial industry has gone through a long and winding transformation process, to coins, then paper, and finally to today's up-to-the-minute technology. AI has surely implanted itself in the finance industry as well, wherever financial technology changes people's interaction with money. The technophile and finance-knowledgeable Adarsh Naidu is one person who has been ruminating about the topic of money and AI throughout his time. Adarsh, throughout his professional journey, has been a commissioner in the deployment of AI and machine learning at different globally renowned companies. Among the various benefits he has brought are the making of fraud detection systems, the providing of blockchain-based audit solutions, and the building of AI infrastructure that is recognised by both AWS and Google. Moreover, he has worked as an advisor by partnering with Fortune 500 corporations on the ethical use of AI. The numbers speak for the impact of his work: not only did Adarsh's association with AI-based models lead to a 40 per cent reduction in fraudulent transactions, but also, the customer dispute resolutions got automated by 70 per cent, saving the firm $10 million annually. Besides, the predictive analytics models, under his supervision, reached a 25 per cent enhancement in loan approval accuracy, thus supporting lenders in risk management and faster service provision to consumers. One of his major projects is the development of an AI-based fraud detection system that is capable of processing more than $50 billion in transactions annually. In addition, the development of a blockchain solution for instant and traceable international payment transfers was another important project of which later a global bank successfully implemented. Adarsh was also involved in the creation of a generative AI tool for compliance management, which later resulted in a 60 per cent decrease in the manual audits needed.

Adarsh, throughout his professional journey, has been a commissioner in the deployment of AI and machine learning at different globally renowned companies.

Can AI be trusted with your money? The drive to implement smarter and safer financial technology using AI

Online dating app Tinder is introducing a new artificial intelligence feature called ‘Chemistry’, which will analyse users’ photos and interests to recommend better matches. This news feature is currently being tested in Australia and New Zealand and will become a major part of Tinder’s 2026 product update, according to Match Group CEO Spencer Rascoff.&nbsp;<h2>AI-powered ‘Chemistry’ feature&nbsp;</h2>The new Chemistry feature will ask users interactive questions and, with permission, access photos from their phone’s Camera Roll to understand their lifestyle and personality of the user.&nbsp;Tinder says the AI will use this information to suggest more compatible matches. For example, if someone’s photos show hiking or outdoor activities, they may be matched with users who share similar hobbies and interests.&nbsp;According to Rascoff, Chemistry aims to “create more natural connections” by helping the app understand who users really are, beyond profile bios and swipes.&nbsp;Tinder faces revenue pressure amid AI push&nbsp;Despite the innovation, Tinder’s parent company Match Group has seen nine straight quarters of decline in paying subscribers. The company reported that Tinder’s direct revenue will take a $14 million hit in the fourth quarter of 2025 due to ongoing product testing.&nbsp;Match expects overall Q4 revenue to land between $865 million and $875 million, slightly below analyst estimates of $884.2 million. Tinder’s revenue also fell 3 per cent year-over-year, while its paying users dropped by 7 per cent.&nbsp;Match’s total revenue for the third quarter stood at $914.2 million, with profits of $160.8 million, roughly in line with expectations.<h2>Other AI and safety updates on Tinder</h2>Tinder has also started using AI language models (LLMs) to make the app safer. One feature prompts users with a question -&nbsp; “Are you sure?” - before they send messages that may be offensive.&nbsp;Another AI tool to help users select their best photos to improve their profiles. Tinder is also experimenting with new modes like double dating, facial verification, and profile redesigns where bio details appear on the first photo card.&nbsp;Meanwhile, other tech companies like Meta are testing similar AI tools that can access users’ private photos for image editing suggestions, raising privacy concerns across the industry.&nbsp;<h2>Challenges ahead for online dating apps</h2>Even with these AI-driven updates, Tinder faces a tough market. Many young users are reportedly spending less time online dating, preferring in-person social experiences. Economic pressures and reduced disposable income in the United States have also made users less likely to pay for dating subscriptions.&nbsp;The success of Tinder’s new AI features will depend on whether they can rebuild user trust and engagement in a market that’s becoming both competitive and cautious

Tinder is testing a new AI feature that analyses users photos and interests to suggest more compatible matches. It is currently live in Australia and New Zealand, this AI update could reshape online dating when it launches globally in 2026.

Online dating app Tinder is introducing a new artificial intelligence feature called ‘Chemistry’, which will analyse users’ photos and interests to recommend better matches. This news feature is currently being tested in Australia and New Zealand and will become a major part of Tinder’s 2026 product update, according to Match Group CEO Spencer Rascoff. AI-powered ‘Chemistry’ feature The new Chemistry feature will ask users interactive questions and, with permission, access photos from their phone’s Camera Roll to understand their lifestyle and personality of the user. Tinder says the AI will use this information to suggest more compatible matches. For example, if someone’s photos show hiking or outdoor activities, they may be matched with users who share similar hobbies and interests. According to Rascoff, Chemistry aims to “create more natural connections” by helping the app understand who users really are, beyond profile bios and swipes. Tinder faces revenue pressure amid AI push Despite the innovation, Tinder’s parent company Match Group has seen nine straight quarters of decline in paying subscribers. The company reported that Tinder’s direct revenue will take a $14 million hit in the fourth quarter of 2025 due to ongoing product testing. Match expects overall Q4 revenue to land between $865 million and $875 million, slightly below analyst estimates of $884.2 million. Tinder’s revenue also fell 3 per cent year-over-year, while its paying users dropped by 7 per cent. Match’s total revenue for the third quarter stood at $914.2 million, with profits of $160.8 million, roughly in line with expectations. Other AI and safety updates on Tinder Tinder has also started using AI language models (LLMs) to make the app safer. One feature prompts users with a question - “Are you sure?” - before they send messages that may be offensive. Another AI tool to help users select their best photos to improve their profiles. Tinder is also experimenting with new modes like double dating, facial verification, and profile redesigns where bio details appear on the first photo card. Meanwhile, other tech companies like Meta are testing similar AI tools that can access users’ private photos for image editing suggestions, raising privacy concerns across the industry. Challenges ahead for online dating apps Even with these AI-driven updates, Tinder faces a tough market. Many young users are reportedly spending less time online dating, preferring in-person social experiences. Economic pressures and reduced disposable income in the United States have also made users less likely to pay for dating subscriptions. The success of Tinder’s new AI features will depend on whether they can rebuild user trust and engagement in a market that’s becoming both competitive and cautious

Tinder is testing a new AI feature that analyses users photos and interests to suggest more compatible matches. It is currently live in Australia and New Zealand, this AI update could reshape online dating when it launches globally in 2026.

Tinder to use AI tool that learns your lifestyle for smarter dating

An eagerly watched legal battle between Amazon and Perplexity AI could redefine how we shop online. Amazon is challenging Perplexity AI’s Comet browser, which includes an AI assistant that can log into users’ shopping accounts and make purchases on their behalf. The court case is expected to shape the future of “agentic commerce”, where AI acts autonomously for users.&nbsp;<h2>Status of the Amazon vs Perplexity AI case on agentic shopping</h2>Amazon sent a cease-and-desist letter to Perplexity on October 31, and then filed a lawsuit four days later in the US District Court for the Northern District of California. Perplexity, in a blog post, aptly titled “Bullying is Not Innovation”, accused Amazon of trying to stifle progress and restrict user choices. No hearings have been scheduled yet, but the outcome could have ripple effects far beyond these two companies.<h2>Automated shopping: How the shopping bot on Comet browser of Perplexity AI works</h2>Comet’s users can tell the AI assistant what they want to buy, and it handles the rest — searching for products, comparing prices, adding items to the basket, and even checking out. Perplexity describes it as a personal assistant that knows exactly what you want and takes care of all the clicks for you.<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/openai-aws-openai-strikes-mega-38b-cloud-deal-with-amazon-web-services-1762255380066/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/openai-aws-openai-strikes-mega-38b-cloud-deal-with-amazon-web-services-1762255380066/embed</a><h2>Why is Amazon suing Perplexity over its shopping bot?</h2>Amazon is accusing the startup of violating its terms of service. According to Amazon, Comet’s AI performs automated actions that are disguised as human browsing activity, effectively turning Comet into a “stealth browser”. Amazon argues that this poses potential security and privacy risks, including exposure of personal data and disruption of returns or refunds. The company also claims this could be computer fraud under the US Computer Fraud and Abuse Act and California’s Comprehensive Computer Data Access and Fraud Act.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/amazon-microsoft-accenture-and-more-here-s-a-list-of-companies-cutting-jobs-to-focus-on-ai-1761829243515">Amazon, Microsoft, Accenture and more: Here’s a list of companies cutting jobs to focus on AI</a><h2>What’s Perplexity saying about its shopping bot in Comet browser?</h2>Perplexity argues that Comet does not scrape data or store user information on its own servers. The company says the AI acts only under direct user instruction, while login credentials are kept locally on the user’s device. In its view, the AI assistant is not an unauthorised bot but an extension of the user — a digital stand-in acting with full consent.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/lack-of-market-research-or-tone-deaf-chinese-shopping-site-aliexpress-sells-lord-jagannath-doormat-online-devotees-outraged-1753788995615">Lack of market research or tone-deaf? Chinese shopping site AliExpress sells 'Lord Jagannath doormat’ online, devotees outraged</a><h2>At stake is a $50 billion advertising business of Amazon</h2>Perplexity accuses Amazon of trying to crush competition to protect its $50 billion advertising business, which depends heavily on data from human browsing and impulse purchases. If users delegate shopping to an AI that optimises for the best deal, rather than ‘sponsored results’, Amazon could lose control over which products people see, and which ads they click on.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/amazon-planning-to-replace-600-000-employees-with-robots-report-makes-massive-claim-1761116762286">Amazon&nbsp;planning to replace 600,000 employees with robots? Report makes massive claim</a><h2>How the Amazon vs Perplexity case could change online shopping</h2>The case is shaping up as a David vs Goliath battle. If the court sides with Amazon, it could lead to tighter restrictions on any AI that tries to browse websites or make purchases on behalf of users. Such a ruling might shut out smaller AI companies from building their own shopping assistants and further strengthen large tech platforms like Amazon.It’s worth noting that Amazon already has its own AI shopping tools, such as Rufus and “Buy for Me”, which operate within its website and mobile app.<h2>Agentic commerce is the future? If Perplexity wins, a new kind of online shopping could emerge</h2>Shopping online is hard work. It would be wonderful if a trustworthy AI could handle the task for you. Imagine a world where you simply say, “Find me the best deal on jeans,” and within seconds the AI compares dozens of stores, applies coupons, checks return policies, and completes the purchase — all without you clicking once.But convenience comes with challenges around security, trust and accountability. What happens if the AI buys the wrong items? Who is responsible if there’s a return dispute or a data breach caused by automated access? These legal and ethical questions are exactly what this lawsuit could begin to define.The core issue is whether Comet broke Amazon’s rules — and, more broadly, whether users have the right to let an AI act fully on their behalf online. Can a bot legally and safely shop for you? Or will platforms draw a harder line against any automation that bypasses their systems?The answer to these questions would shape the next decade of e-commerce, and decide who really controls the future of online shopping: the user or the platform. &nbsp;

Shopping online is hard work. It would be wonderful if a trustworthy AI could handle the task for you. Imagine a world where you simply say, “Find me the best deal on jeans,” and within seconds, the AI compares dozens of stores and completes the purchase. Is that the future?

An eagerly watched legal battle between Amazon and Perplexity AI could redefine how we shop online. Amazon is challenging Perplexity AI’s Comet browser, which includes an AI assistant that can log into users’ shopping accounts and make purchases on their behalf. The court case is expected to shape the future of “agentic commerce”, where AI acts autonomously for users. Status of the Amazon vs Perplexity AI case on agentic shopping Amazon sent a cease-and-desist letter to Perplexity on October 31, and then filed a lawsuit four days later in the US District Court for the Northern District of California. Perplexity, in a blog post, aptly titled “Bullying is Not Innovation”, accused Amazon of trying to stifle progress and restrict user choices. No hearings have been scheduled yet, but the outcome could have ripple effects far beyond these two companies. Automated shopping: How the shopping bot on Comet browser of Perplexity AI works Comet’s users can tell the AI assistant what they want to buy, and it handles the rest — searching for products, comparing prices, adding items to the basket, and even checking out. Perplexity describes it as a personal assistant that knows exactly what you want and takes care of all the clicks for you. https://www.wionews.com/videos/openai-aws-openai-strikes-mega-38b-cloud-deal-with-amazon-web-services-1762255380066/embed Why is Amazon suing Perplexity over its shopping bot? Amazon is accusing the startup of violating its terms of service. According to Amazon, Comet’s AI performs automated actions that are disguised as human browsing activity, effectively turning Comet into a “stealth browser”. Amazon argues that this poses potential security and privacy risks, including exposure of personal data and disruption of returns or refunds. The company also claims this could be computer fraud under the US Computer Fraud and Abuse Act and California’s Comprehensive Computer Data Access and Fraud Act. Also read: Amazon, Microsoft, Accenture and more: Here’s a list of companies cutting jobs to focus on AI What’s Perplexity saying about its shopping bot in Comet browser? Perplexity argues that Comet does not scrape data or store user information on its own servers. The company says the AI acts only under direct user instruction, while login credentials are kept locally on the user’s device. In its view, the AI assistant is not an unauthorised bot but an extension of the user — a digital stand-in acting with full consent. Also read: Lack of market research or tone-deaf? Chinese shopping site AliExpress sells 'Lord Jagannath doormat’ online, devotees outraged At stake is a $50 billion advertising business of Amazon Perplexity accuses Amazon of trying to crush competition to protect its $50 billion advertising business, which depends heavily on data from human browsing and impulse purchases. If users delegate shopping to an AI that optimises for the best deal, rather than ‘sponsored results’, Amazon could lose control over which products people see, and which ads they click on. Also read: Amazon planning to replace 600,000 employees with robots? Report makes massive claim How the Amazon vs Perplexity case could change online shopping The case is shaping up as a David vs Goliath battle. If the court sides with Amazon, it could lead to tighter restrictions on any AI that tries to browse websites or make purchases on behalf of users. Such a ruling might shut out smaller AI companies from building their own shopping assistants and further strengthen large tech platforms like Amazon. It’s worth noting that Amazon already has its own AI shopping tools, such as Rufus and “Buy for Me”, which operate within its website and mobile app. Agentic commerce is the future? If Perplexity wins, a new kind of online shopping could emerge Shopping online is hard work. It would be wonderful if a trustworthy AI could handle the task for you. Imagine a world where you simply say, “Find me the best deal on jeans,” and within seconds the AI compares dozens of stores, applies coupons, checks return policies, and completes the purchase — all without you clicking once. But convenience comes with challenges around security, trust and accountability. What happens if the AI buys the wrong items? Who is responsible if there’s a return dispute or a data breach caused by automated access? These legal and ethical questions are exactly what this lawsuit could begin to define. The core issue is whether Comet broke Amazon’s rules — and, more broadly, whether users have the right to let an AI act fully on their behalf online. Can a bot legally and safely shop for you? Or will platforms draw a harder line against any automation that bypasses their systems? The answer to these questions would shape the next decade of e-commerce, and decide who really controls the future of online shopping: the user or the platform.

Shopping online is hard work. It would be wonderful if a trustworthy AI could handle the task for you. Imagine a world where you simply say, “Find me the best deal on jeans,” and within seconds, the AI compares dozens of stores and completes the purchase. Is that the future?

Can a bot really go ahead and shop for you? Why the Amazon vs Perplexity AI case could change the future of online shopping

Maharashtra became the first state in India to partner with billionaire Elon Musk-owned Starlink on Wednesday to deliver satellite-based Internet Connectivity Across Remote and Underserved Regions. Maharashtra government signed a Letter of Intent with Starlink Satellite Communications Private Limited to deploy satellite-based internet services for government institutions, rural communities, and critical public infrastructure. This will be subject to Starlink’s regulatory and compliance clearances from the Government of India. The announcement was made by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who referred to Musk’s Starlink as one of the biggest players in the Information Communication Technology (ICT) Industry.&nbsp;Fadnavis said the services would also be extended across “remote and underserved regions and aspirational districts” like Gadchiroli, Nandurbar, Washim and Dharashiv.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">BIG NEWS! Maharashtra Becomes India&#39;s First State to Partner with Starlink! It was wonderful to welcome Ms. Lauren Dreyer, Vice President, Starlink in Mumbai today, where the Government of Maharashtra signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with Starlink Satellite Communications Private… <a href="https://t.co/8777O45ivq">pic.twitter.com/8777O45ivq</a>&mdash; Devendra Fadnavis (@Dev_Fadnavis) <a href="https://twitter.com/Dev_Fadnavis/status/1986015372613673204?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 5, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

&nbsp;&nbsp;“With @Starlink’s cutting-edge satellite technology, led by @elonmusk and @laurendreyer, Maharashtra takes a bold leap forward in bridging the last digital divide—powering education, healthcare, and connectivity in every corner of our State,” Maharashtra CMO wrote in a post on X.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/indian-origin-cincinnati-mayor-aftab-pureval-wins-second-term-vanquishes-jd-vance-s-half-brother-1762347016439">Indian-origin Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval wins second term, vanquishes JD Vance’s half-brother</a>&nbsp;The letter of intent (LOI) was signed by Lauren Dreyer, Vice President, Starlink, and Virendra Singh, IAS, Secretary, Department of Information Technology, Government of Maharashtra, in the presence of Fadnavis to expand high-speed internet access across rural and remote regions.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Maharashtra poised to become the first Indian state to formally collaborate with Starlink to deploy satellite-based internet services. This collaboration with one of the largest companies in the ICT industry holding the largest number of communication satellites in the world will… <a href="https://t.co/9QL2OBkgoZ">pic.twitter.com/9QL2OBkgoZ</a>&mdash; CMO Maharashtra (@CMOMaharashtra) <a href="https://twitter.com/CMOMaharashtra/status/1986112159072547103?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 5, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

&nbsp;&nbsp;The move is part of the state’s Digital Maharashtra mission and aims to strengthen digital connectivity in areas with limited network access“Elon Musk’s Starlink is one of the largest companies in the ICT industry holding the largest number of communication satellites in the world. It is our honour that the company is arriving in India and partnering with Maharashtra. This is a giant leap towards future-ready Maharashtra and setting the benchmark for Hon PM Narendra Modi Ji’s Digital India mission at the grassroots,” Fadnavis wrote on X.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Star Link reaches Maharashtra 📡 History created! Star Link is all set to come to Maharashtra for high-speed satellite internet to every remote village, tribal school, and health centre in Maharashtra. With this partnership, Maharashtra will bridge the digital divide and lead… <a href="https://t.co/f6a0Fb8YaW">pic.twitter.com/f6a0Fb8YaW</a>&mdash; CMO Maharashtra (@CMOMaharashtra) <a href="https://twitter.com/CMOMaharashtra/status/1986036788927037699?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 5, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

&nbsp;&nbsp;The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) had granted the Global Mobile Personal Communication by Satellite (GMPCS) licence to Starlink earlier this year in June, after it completed all security requirements as mentioned in its letter of intent.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/indian-american-lawyer-neal-katyal-to-argue-against-trump-s-tariffs-in-us-supreme-court-1762283120852">Indian-American lawyer Neal Katyal to argue against Trump’s tariffs in US Supreme Court</a>&nbsp;Starlink has now become the third satcom company to get a GMPCS licence after Eutelsat’s OneWeb and Reliance Jio to provide services in the country.&nbsp;V-P Dreyer lauded the collaboration and said that Starlink’s mission is to connect those who have been left behind.“We pride ourselves in providing high speed connectivity whatever their background and wherever people are. We are therefore honoured to collaborate with the Government of Maharashtra in this first-of-its-kind initiative. Starlink’s mission, which is complementary to other government initiatives and providers, is to connect those who have been left behind by traditional infrastructure,” she added.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-to-replace-kopeck-coins-with-shah-in-another-bid-to-break-away-from-russia-1762353636573">Ukraine to replace kopeck coins with ‘shah’ in another bid to break away from Russia</a>&nbsp;Tesla CEO, Elon Musk had previously met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in February during the latter’s visit to the United States, where the two discussed Starlink’s launch plans and India’s concerns over meeting certain security conditions.

Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis said Musk’s Starlink is one of the biggest players in the Information Communication Technology Industry and its services would be extended across “remote and underserved regions and aspirational districts” like Gadchiroli, Nandurbar, Washim and Dharashiv.

Maharashtra became the first state in India to partner with billionaire Elon Musk-owned Starlink on Wednesday to deliver satellite-based Internet Connectivity Across Remote and Underserved Regions. Maharashtra government signed a Letter of Intent with Starlink Satellite Communications Private Limited to deploy satellite-based internet services for government institutions, rural communities, and critical public infrastructure. This will be subject to Starlink’s regulatory and compliance clearances from the Government of India. The announcement was made by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who referred to Musk’s Starlink as one of the biggest players in the Information Communication Technology (ICT) Industry. Fadnavis said the services would also be extended across “remote and underserved regions and aspirational districts” like Gadchiroli, Nandurbar, Washim and Dharashiv.

Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis said Musk’s Starlink is one of the biggest players in the Information Communication Technology Industry and its services would be extended across “remote and underserved regions and aspirational districts” like Gadchiroli, Nandurbar, Washim and Dharashiv.

Maharashtra becomes first state in India to sign deal with Elon Musk’s Starlink

Chinese President Xi Jinping jocularly told Lee Jae-myung to "check if there’s any backdoor" on the smartphones he gifted to his South Korean counterpart. The unusual exchange was seen in some circles as a sarcastic remark on longstanding suspicions that mobile phones are used as tools of surveillance by China. But what exactly is a "backdoor"? Is it even possible to spy on cell phone users via such a method? The answers might surprise you — and no, it’s not only China that’s been accused of turning devices into digital spies. Read on to find more about the world of digital device surveillance.<h2>What Xi told Lee when gifting Xiaomi smartphones</h2>During a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the APEC Summit in Gyeongju on November 1, Xi gifted Lee Jae-myung a pair of Xiaomi smartphones. When Lee asked if the devices were secure, Xi smiled and said through an interpreter, "You should check if there’s a backdoor," drawing laughter from the leaders and delegations on both sides. The moment, light-hearted as it was, carried a subtle undertone: A wry acknowledgement of global fears that modern smartphones — mainly Chinese-made but others too— could be turned into listening posts in a new era of digital geopolitics.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/what-s-behind-the-us-move-to-limit-huawei-s-ai-chip-production-in-2025-1749807803990">What’s behind the US move to limit Huawei’s AI chip production in 2025?</a><h2>Digital surveillance: What's the hidden ‘backdoor’ inside your phone?</h2>In cybersecurity, a ‘backdoor’ refers to a secret method of bypassing normal authentication or encryption controls on digital devices. This would potentally allow hackers, the manufacturers or even governments, to sneak inside the system without users' permission. Once accessed, &nbsp;calls can be quietly intercepted. Messages and photos can be accessed. Even the camera and microphone of these devices can be turned on remotely. Unlike a typical software bug, a backdoor is put there deliberatedly. Some of these could be for maintenance (remote-access of phones and computers) or law-enforcement access. It is nearly impossible to be sure who all can access a single phone using such backdoors. The backdoors, even when created for "good" intentions, could be used for exploitation.<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/russia-china-honeytrap-west-with-beautiful-spies-1761331069743/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/russia-china-honeytrap-west-with-beautiful-spies-1761331069743/embed</a><h2>China’s tech industry has long faced accusations of covert data collection</h2>In 2016, researchers found pre-installed software in some budget Android phones made in China. They were allegedly transmitting user data secretly to servers in China. Huawei and Xiaomi have often faced such allegations, but both have repeatedly denied building surveillance features into their devices. In their defence, these Chinese companies had pointed the fingers at rogue app developers or firmware vendors.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/us-china-chip-tensions-rise-as-taiwan-blacklists-huawei-details-here-1750237097649">US–China chip tensions rise as Taiwan blacklists Huawei: Details here</a><h2>Digital device snooping: No country is innocent</h2>China, however, is not the only country alleged to have used backdoors on digital devices. In the US, the "Clipper chip" sought to give the government a built-in key to encrypted phones. This was cancelled due to public backlash. The Edward Snowden leaks revealed that the US intelligence agencies like NSA, could infiltrate smartphones by intercepting them in transit and implanting spy firmware. The Israeli firm NSO Group’s Pegasus spyware created invisible backdoors on iPhones and Android devices. This controversial product, sold commercially, could allow governments worldwide to monitor journalists and activists. Russia reportedly deployed malware that could hijack soldiers’ smartphones in conflict zones.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pakistan-spying-on-its-own-citizens-using-chinese-technology-claims-amnesty-international-investigation-report-1757409778161">PAKISTAN SPYING on its own citizens using Chinese technology, claims Amnesty International investigation report</a><h2>Every phone and digital device is a potential spy</h2>While no nation publicly admits to planting consumer backdoors, nearly every major power has used digital tools to watch, listen, and gather intelligence. As cellular networks grow smarter and more connected, the line between convenience and surveillance is thinning out . Xi’s quip to Lee may have been a joke, but it echoed a deeper truth that trust in technology is as fragile as the code it runs on. Checking if your device has a backdoor is not always possible. &nbsp;But it's not just a matter of paranoia anymore: it’s an aspect of digital self-defence. &nbsp;

Checking for a backdoor isn’t paranoia anymore; it’s digital self-defense.

During a recent summit, Chinese President Xi Jinping jokingly told South Korean President Lee Jae-myung to "check for any backdoor" on Xiaomi phones he gifted. Smartphone surveillance through such backdoors is not a joke, but a reality.

Chinese President Xi Jinping jocularly told Lee Jae-myung to "check if there’s any backdoor" on the smartphones he gifted to his South Korean counterpart. The unusual exchange was seen in some circles as a sarcastic remark on longstanding suspicions that mobile phones are used as tools of surveillance by China. But what exactly is a "backdoor"? Is it even possible to spy on cell phone users via such a method? The answers might surprise you — and no, it’s not only China that’s been accused of turning devices into digital spies. Read on to find more about the world of digital device surveillance. What Xi told Lee when gifting Xiaomi smartphones During a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the APEC Summit in Gyeongju on November 1, Xi gifted Lee Jae-myung a pair of Xiaomi smartphones. When Lee asked if the devices were secure, Xi smiled and said through an interpreter, "You should check if there’s a backdoor," drawing laughter from the leaders and delegations on both sides. The moment, light-hearted as it was, carried a subtle undertone: A wry acknowledgement of global fears that modern smartphones — mainly Chinese-made but others too— could be turned into listening posts in a new era of digital geopolitics. Also read: What’s behind the US move to limit Huawei’s AI chip production in 2025? Digital surveillance: What's the hidden ‘backdoor’ inside your phone? In cybersecurity, a ‘backdoor’ refers to a secret method of bypassing normal authentication or encryption controls on digital devices. This would potentally allow hackers, the manufacturers or even governments, to sneak inside the system without users' permission. Once accessed, calls can be quietly intercepted. Messages and photos can be accessed. Even the camera and microphone of these devices can be turned on remotely. Unlike a typical software bug, a backdoor is put there deliberatedly. Some of these could be for maintenance (remote-access of phones and computers) or law-enforcement access. It is nearly impossible to be sure who all can access a single phone using such backdoors. The backdoors, even when created for "good" intentions, could be used for exploitation. https://www.wionews.com/videos/russia-china-honeytrap-west-with-beautiful-spies-1761331069743/embed China’s tech industry has long faced accusations of covert data collection In 2016, researchers found pre-installed software in some budget Android phones made in China. They were allegedly transmitting user data secretly to servers in China. Huawei and Xiaomi have often faced such allegations, but both have repeatedly denied building surveillance features into their devices. In their defence, these Chinese companies had pointed the fingers at rogue app developers or firmware vendors. Also read: US–China chip tensions rise as Taiwan blacklists Huawei: Details here Digital device snooping: No country is innocent China, however, is not the only country alleged to have used backdoors on digital devices. In the US, the "Clipper chip" sought to give the government a built-in key to encrypted phones. This was cancelled due to public backlash. The Edward Snowden leaks revealed that the US intelligence agencies like NSA, could infiltrate smartphones by intercepting them in transit and implanting spy firmware. The Israeli firm NSO Group’s Pegasus spyware created invisible backdoors on iPhones and Android devices. This controversial product, sold commercially, could allow governments worldwide to monitor journalists and activists. Russia reportedly deployed malware that could hijack soldiers’ smartphones in conflict zones. Also read: PAKISTAN SPYING on its own citizens using Chinese technology, claims Amnesty International investigation report Every phone and digital device is a potential spy While no nation publicly admits to planting consumer backdoors, nearly every major power has used digital tools to watch, listen, and gather intelligence. As cellular networks grow smarter and more connected, the line between convenience and surveillance is thinning out . Xi’s quip to Lee may have been a joke, but it echoed a deeper truth that trust in technology is as fragile as the code it runs on. Checking if your device has a backdoor is not always possible. But it's not just a matter of paranoia anymore: it’s an aspect of digital self-defence.

During a recent summit, Chinese President Xi Jinping jokingly told South Korean President Lee Jae-myung to "check for any backdoor" on Xiaomi phones he gifted. Smartphone surveillance through such backdoors is not a joke, but a reality.

'Check for any backdoor', Xi's light-hearted warning on phones he gifted to S Korea president. Yes, someone can crack your phone for spying

OpenAI has rolled out an update for its AI video generator Sora, introducing new tools that let users create reusable characters, stitch clips together, and explore trending videos through leaderboards.<h2>Character cameos: Turning anything into a digital avatar</h2>The biggest addition to the Sora 2 update is the introduction of “character cameos,” a feature that lets users turn almost any image or person into a reusable avatar for AI-generated videos.&nbsp;As per OpenAI’s official release notes, this feature will allow users to create an original persona that can appear in multiple videos. These cameos can be based on people, pets, drawings, or even toys.&nbsp;“Each character comes with its own permissions,” OpenAI explained. “You can keep it private, share it with friends, or make it public for anyone to use.” Users can also assign each character a display name and handle, tagging them to make cameo appearances in videos.&nbsp;The feature builds on an earlier version of Sora that allowed users to make AI-generated likenesses of themselves for use in videos. However, it remains unclear how OpenAI plans to verify if uploaded images represent real or fictional people, especially given ongoing debates about the ethical use of AI-generated likenesses.&nbsp;

&nbsp;<h2>New tools: clip stitching and community leaderboards</h2>OpenAI has also added a video stitching function, allowing users to combine several short clips into longer, multi-scene videos. This gives creators greater flexibility to tell full stories or create more cinematic experiences directly within the Sora app.&nbsp;The update further introduces leaderboards that highlight the most remixed videos and the most popular cameo characters. The feature aims to encourage creativity and community participation by spotlighting top user-generated content.&nbsp;As of now, it is available to users in the United States, Canada, Japan, and South Korea can sign up for Sora without an invitation code to try the new tools.&nbsp;<h2>Trademark dispute and wider availability</h2>The update comes shortly after Cameo, a celebrity video platform, filed a trademark infringement lawsuit against OpenAI for using the term “cameo” in Sora’s features. OpenAI has not commented publicly on the legal dispute.&nbsp;Sora continues to attract attention in the fast-growing AI video space, competing with tools like Runway, Pika, and Synthesia. With these new creative updates, OpenAI is aiming to make Sora more social and user-driven, offering tools that blend AI video generation with community engagement.&nbsp;&nbsp;

OpenAI makes AI video creation more personal and community-driven. OpenAI’s Sora 2 update adds “character cameos,” letting users turn photos or drawings into reusable AI avatars. Making Sora more social, creative, and interactive than ever.

OpenAI has rolled out an update for its AI video generator Sora, introducing new tools that let users create reusable characters, stitch clips together, and explore trending videos through leaderboards. Character cameos: Turning anything into a digital avatar The biggest addition to the Sora 2 update is the introduction of “character cameos,” a feature that lets users turn almost any image or person into a reusable avatar for AI-generated videos. As per OpenAI’s official release notes, this feature will allow users to create an original persona that can appear in multiple videos. These cameos can be based on people, pets, drawings, or even toys. “Each character comes with its own permissions,” OpenAI explained. “You can keep it private, share it with friends, or make it public for anyone to use.” Users can also assign each character a display name and handle, tagging them to make cameo appearances in videos. The feature builds on an earlier version of Sora that allowed users to make AI-generated likenesses of themselves for use in videos. However, it remains unclear how OpenAI plans to verify if uploaded images represent real or fictional people, especially given ongoing debates about the ethical use of AI-generated likenesses.

OpenAI makes AI video creation more personal and community-driven. OpenAI’s Sora 2 update adds “character cameos,” letting users turn photos or drawings into reusable AI avatars. Making Sora more social, creative, and interactive than ever.

Create your own AI character: OpenAI rolls out big 'Sora 2' update

An Australian family with millions of online followers is moving to the UK to bypass a new social media restriction in their home country. Starting this December, Australia's groundbreaking law will prevent anyone under 16 from creating or maintaining social media accounts, including platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, and YouTube. The family, known as the ‘Empire Family’, consists of moms Beck and Bec Lea, along with their two children: Prezley, 17, and Charlotte, 14, who all actively share content about their daily lives. In a recent post, the family shared that they use the internet for positive purposes and that relocating to the United Kingdom will allow Charlotte to continue creating content without disruption.&nbsp;The social media ban in Australia aims to safeguard young people from the negative effects of online platforms. If social media companies fail to comply, they could face significant fines, potentially up to A$50 million ($32.5 million; £25.7 million). While details on enforcement are still unclear, the government is considering measures such as verifying age through official documents, parental approval, or facial recognition technology. These plans have raised concerns over privacy and the reliability of age verification systems.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-nuclear-option-what-is-a-filibuster-which-trump-wants-to-eliminate-in-us-senate-to-end-the-government-shutdown-1761889831298">'Nuclear Option': What is a filibuster, which Trump wants to eliminate in US Senate to end the government shutdown?</a>&nbsp;Initially, YouTube was exempt from the ban, but the Australian government reversed this decision, meaning teens under 16 will no longer be able to upload or interact with content on the platform, although they can still view videos. In a video explaining the family's decision to relocate from Perth to London, Beck emphasized that they do not oppose the law but feel that it’s unclear how the regulations will work in practice. She acknowledged the importance of protecting young people online but stressed the need for clarity in how the law will be implemented.&nbsp;Beck’s wife, Bec, also pointed out how much social media has evolved over the years and how many young people now use it to make a positive impact. The family is able to make the move because they hold dual Australian and British citizenship, and Charlotte recently switched to online schooling, which allows them to live anywhere. Charlotte, who posts as Charli, has gained a massive following: half a million subscribers on YouTube, over 300,000 fans on TikTok, and nearly 200,000 followers on Instagram, with her accounts managed by her parents.&nbsp;The family’s main platform is YouTube, where Prezley has 2.8 million subscribers and their joint account has 1.8 million followers. Their content mainly consists of makeup tutorials, gaming sessions, and family travel videos.

Why this family with millions of followers on social media is relocating to UK

An Australian family with millions of online followers is moving to the UK to bypass a new social media restriction in their home country. Starting this December, Australia's groundbreaking law will prevent anyone under 16 from creating or maintaining social media accounts, including platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, and YouTube. The family, known as the ‘Empire Family’, consists of moms Beck and Bec Lea, along with their two children: Prezley, 17, and Charlotte, 14, who all actively share content about their daily lives. In a recent post, the family shared that they use the internet for positive purposes and that relocating to the United Kingdom will allow Charlotte to continue creating content without disruption. The social media ban in Australia aims to safeguard young people from the negative effects of online platforms. If social media companies fail to comply, they could face significant fines, potentially up to A$50 million ($32.5 million; £25.7 million). While details on enforcement are still unclear, the government is considering measures such as verifying age through official documents, parental approval, or facial recognition technology. These plans have raised concerns over privacy and the reliability of age verification systems. Also Read: 'Nuclear Option': What is a filibuster, which Trump wants to eliminate in US Senate to end the government shutdown? Initially, YouTube was exempt from the ban, but the Australian government reversed this decision, meaning teens under 16 will no longer be able to upload or interact with content on the platform, although they can still view videos. In a video explaining the family's decision to relocate from Perth to London, Beck emphasized that they do not oppose the law but feel that it’s unclear how the regulations will work in practice. She acknowledged the importance of protecting young people online but stressed the need for clarity in how the law will be implemented. Beck’s wife, Bec, also pointed out how much social media has evolved over the years and how many young people now use it to make a positive impact. The family is able to make the move because they hold dual Australian and British citizenship, and Charlotte recently switched to online schooling, which allows them to live anywhere. Charlotte, who posts as Charli, has gained a massive following: half a million subscribers on YouTube, over 300,000 fans on TikTok, and nearly 200,000 followers on Instagram, with her accounts managed by her parents. The family’s main platform is YouTube, where Prezley has 2.8 million subscribers and their joint account has 1.8 million followers. Their content mainly consists of makeup tutorials, gaming sessions, and family travel videos.

The Empire Family, popular online influencers, are relocating to the UK to avoid their country's new social media ban for under-16s, allowing them to continue content creation

Why this family with millions of followers on social media is relocating to United Kingdom

Forget the usual concerns about your phone listening in—your vacuum might be the one you should really be wary of. Harishankar Narayanan, a computer programmer and tech hobbyist, shared a chilling experience on his blog after discovering that his $300 iLife A11 smart vacuum was secretly transmitting private data from his home. Narayanan, known for his cautious nature, decided to monitor his vacuum’s network traffic after using it for a year. To his shock, the vacuum was sending continuous data back to its manufacturer’s servers, located halfway across the world.&nbsp;Despite never having consented to such data-sharing, he found that the vacuum was constantly transmitting logs and telemetry. Alarmed, Narayanan attempted to stop this data flow, but left other traffic, like firmware updates, untouched. However, his vacuum soon started malfunctioning. The device refused to boot up one morning, and after several attempts to repair it, including visits to the service center, the vacuum continued to break down. Eventually, the service center declared the device out of warranty and ceased any further repairs.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/zohran-mamdani-faces-probe-over-alleged-illegal-foreign-donations-in-nyc-mayoral-campaign-here-s-what-we-know-1761724686626">Zohran Mamdani faces probe over alleged illegal foreign donations in NYC mayoral campaign: Here's what we know</a>&nbsp;Curious and frustrated, Narayanan took matters into his own hands. After disassembling and reverse-engineering the vacuum, he uncovered a shocking truth: the device had Android Debug Bridge (ADB) exposed to the world. Within moments, he had full root access to the vacuum. No hacking required—just plug and play.<h2>Read Harishankar Narayanan's post here</h2>

What he discovered next was even more unsettling. The vacuum was running Google Cartographer, a program that creates 3D maps of the home. This data, it turns out, was being transmitted to the company. Further investigation revealed a mysterious line of code sent from the manufacturer, which was timestamped at the exact moment his vacuum stopped working. It appeared that someone had remotely issued a “kill” command to disable his device.&nbsp;Narayanan reversed the script and rebooted the vacuum, which immediately sprang back to life. He realised that the company had not only embedded remote control capabilities but had actively used them to punish him for blocking their data collection. Whether by design or automation, his device had been rendered useless as a consequence of trying to stop its data transmission. This incident led Narayanan to conclude that many smart vacuums—and likely other home gadgets—are built with similar covert systems. “Our homes are filled with cameras, microphones, and sensors, all connected to companies we know little about,” he warned. “With just one line of code, these devices can be weaponised.”

A tech enthusiast found his smart vacuum was secretly transmitting data and even remotely disabling itself after he blocked its communication

Forget the usual concerns about your phone listening in—your vacuum might be the one you should really be wary of. Harishankar Narayanan, a computer programmer and tech hobbyist, shared a chilling experience on his blog after discovering that his $300 iLife A11 smart vacuum was secretly transmitting private data from his home. Narayanan, known for his cautious nature, decided to monitor his vacuum’s network traffic after using it for a year. To his shock, the vacuum was sending continuous data back to its manufacturer’s servers, located halfway across the world. Despite never having consented to such data-sharing, he found that the vacuum was constantly transmitting logs and telemetry. Alarmed, Narayanan attempted to stop this data flow, but left other traffic, like firmware updates, untouched. However, his vacuum soon started malfunctioning. The device refused to boot up one morning, and after several attempts to repair it, including visits to the service center, the vacuum continued to break down. Eventually, the service center declared the device out of warranty and ceased any further repairs. Also Read: Zohran Mamdani faces probe over alleged illegal foreign donations in NYC mayoral campaign: Here's what we know Curious and frustrated, Narayanan took matters into his own hands. After disassembling and reverse-engineering the vacuum, he uncovered a shocking truth: the device had Android Debug Bridge (ADB) exposed to the world. Within moments, he had full root access to the vacuum. No hacking required—just plug and play. Read Harishankar Narayanan's post here

A tech enthusiast found his smart vacuum was secretly transmitting data and even remotely disabling itself after he blocked its communication

Your vacuum might be spying on you: When a $300 'smart' gadget became an Indian man's worst nightmare

&nbsp;&nbsp;A new anxiety is settling into schools worldwide. With AI tools now capable of writing essays, solving complex math problems, and delivering lessons, a pressing question has emerged: Are human teachers becoming obsolete?&nbsp;"Not at all," said Ravi Bhushan, Founder &amp; CEO of BrightCHAMPS. In a recent interaction with WION, the head of the global education platform argued that the rise of AI simply “marks a shift in the role of the educator.”&nbsp;Bhushan contended that the age of AI signals the end of one kind of teaching and the urgent beginning of another. "Teachers are and will increasingly go from being deliverers of information to facilitators of higher-order thinking," he said.<h3>The Human Edge in an AI World</h3>&nbsp;As the founder of BrightCHAMPS, a platform dedicated to building next-generation skills in children, Bhushan had a frontline view of this technological shift. He was quick to differentiate what AI can and cannot do.&nbsp;Bhushan explained that AI is revolutionary for personalising education. Intelligent Tutoring Systems can "accelerate learning speed, depth, and outcomes" and make one-on-one learning scalable in a way that was "prohibitively out of the reach" for many. AI can "shorten the feedback loop" and adapt to a student's individual pace.&nbsp;"But what it cannot do, is replicate the emotional and ethical guidance, and sense of connection that only human teachers can foster with their students,” Bhushan added.&nbsp;He argued that learning is not just about data transfer. When a human teacher is involved, students “develop their EQ along with their IQ”. Unlike an algorithm, a person “can also read non-verbal cues and body language”, tailoring their approach to a child's social and emotional needs. This is a "richer experience" that AI simply "cannot duplicate."&nbsp;<h3>Bridging the Gap Between Digital and Human Skills</h3>With the World Economic Forum highlighting an increasing demand for "human skills" like empathy, creativity, and critical thinking, the teacher's new role becomes clear. However, Bhushan offered a "simple, but unpalatable answer" for how teachers can bridge this gap: "they need to stop fearing tech themselves, first."&nbsp;&nbsp;He called on educators to move past "sweeping generalisations and fear-mongering" and instead model curiosity and critical thinking for their students. "Digital learning is an inevitability for Gen Alpha and beyond," Bhushan said. "To deny this fact is to deliberately hold students back."&nbsp;<h3>Beyond "How to Use" AI: Teaching “How it Works”</h3>The most critical task for modern teachers, Bhushan noted, is to ensure children learn to use technology responsibly and ethically, not just technically. The key is "ensuring that we teach them the how behind the what behind AI and tech."&nbsp;&nbsp;He provided powerful examples:&nbsp;On Social Media: "We can tell them that social media... are designed to turn them into unthinking consumers... or we can show them how these platforms are optimised to keep them spending more and more time online by reinforcing thought patterns..."&nbsp;&nbsp;On AI Bias: "We can keep harping about how privileged they are, or we can show them that so much of the world is unrepresented on the internet by showing them the creator-driven biases and hallucinations in AI due to data sets that ignore... the historically marginalised."&nbsp;&nbsp;On Research: "We can tell them that they should research well, or we can show them how over-relying on one source of information often leads to wildly inaccurate assumptions."&nbsp;&nbsp;According to him, this is the new work of teaching. It's not about fearing AI, but about dissecting it. "We can teach children to use tech responsibly by... teaching them a combination of how the technology works + the flaws and work in progress nature of the technology," Bhushan concluded. “We can only fix the ethical gaps... if we first honestly acknowledge that they exist!”&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

As AI tools flood classrooms, many fear for the future of teaching. But one industry leader argues this isn't the end of an era, but the beginning of a crucial shift.

A new anxiety is settling into schools worldwide. With AI tools now capable of writing essays, solving complex math problems, and delivering lessons, a pressing question has emerged: Are human teachers becoming obsolete? "Not at all," said Ravi Bhushan, Founder & CEO of BrightCHAMPS. In a recent interaction with WION, the head of the global education platform argued that the rise of AI simply “marks a shift in the role of the educator.” Bhushan contended that the age of AI signals the end of one kind of teaching and the urgent beginning of another. "Teachers are and will increasingly go from being deliverers of information to facilitators of higher-order thinking," he said. The Human Edge in an AI World As the founder of BrightCHAMPS, a platform dedicated to building next-generation skills in children, Bhushan had a frontline view of this technological shift. He was quick to differentiate what AI can and cannot do. Bhushan explained that AI is revolutionary for personalising education. Intelligent Tutoring Systems can "accelerate learning speed, depth, and outcomes" and make one-on-one learning scalable in a way that was "prohibitively out of the reach" for many. AI can "shorten the feedback loop" and adapt to a student's individual pace. "But what it cannot do, is replicate the emotional and ethical guidance, and sense of connection that only human teachers can foster with their students,” Bhushan added. He argued that learning is not just about data transfer. When a human teacher is involved, students “develop their EQ along with their IQ”. Unlike an algorithm, a person “can also read non-verbal cues and body language”, tailoring their approach to a child's social and emotional needs. This is a "richer experience" that AI simply "cannot duplicate." Bridging the Gap Between Digital and Human Skills With the World Economic Forum highlighting an increasing demand for "human skills" like empathy, creativity, and critical thinking, the teacher's new role becomes clear. However, Bhushan offered a "simple, but unpalatable answer" for how teachers can bridge this gap: "they need to stop fearing tech themselves, first." He called on educators to move past "sweeping generalisations and fear-mongering" and instead model curiosity and critical thinking for their students. "Digital learning is an inevitability for Gen Alpha and beyond," Bhushan said. "To deny this fact is to deliberately hold students back." Beyond "How to Use" AI: Teaching “How it Works” The most critical task for modern teachers, Bhushan noted, is to ensure children learn to use technology responsibly and ethically, not just technically. The key is "ensuring that we teach them the how behind the what behind AI and tech." He provided powerful examples: On Social Media: "We can tell them that social media... are designed to turn them into unthinking consumers... or we can show them how these platforms are optimised to keep them spending more and more time online by reinforcing thought patterns..." On AI Bias: "We can keep harping about how privileged they are, or we can show them that so much of the world is unrepresented on the internet by showing them the creator-driven biases and hallucinations in AI due to data sets that ignore... the historically marginalised." On Research: "We can tell them that they should research well, or we can show them how over-relying on one source of information often leads to wildly inaccurate assumptions." According to him, this is the new work of teaching. It's not about fearing AI, but about dissecting it. "We can teach children to use tech responsibly by... teaching them a combination of how the technology works + the flaws and work in progress nature of the technology," Bhushan concluded. “We can only fix the ethical gaps... if we first honestly acknowledge that they exist!”

As AI tools flood classrooms, many fear for the future of teaching. But one industry leader argues this isn't the end of an era, but the beginning of a crucial shift.

Are human teachers becoming obsolete? EdTech CEO explain how AI could change the way of teaching

OpenAI launched its new ChatGPT Atlas browser. “This is an AI-powered web browser built around ChatGPT,” OpenAI Chief Executive Officer Sam Altman said during a livestreamed event on Tuesday. He said AI “represents a rare, once-a-decade opportunity” to rethink the browser.&nbsp;He posted on X&nbsp; Our new AI-first web browser, ChatGPT Atlas, is here for macOS.&nbsp;Please send feedback! Availability on other platforms to follow.&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Our new AI-first web browser, ChatGPT Atlas, is here for macOS. Please send feedback! Availability on other platforms to follow.&mdash; Sam Altman (@sama) <a href="https://twitter.com/sama/status/1980690768391201180?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 21, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>A new AI-driven browser experience</h2>As per OpenAI, this new browser allows users to open a ChatGPT sidebar in any window to summarise pages, analyse data, compare products, or complete online tasks such as booking a trip or making purchases.&nbsp;In its agent mode, ChatGPT Atlas can interact directly with websites on behalf of users, performing complex tasks from start to finish.&nbsp;The browser is currently available globally on macOS and will soon roll out to Windows, iOS, and Android, OpenAI said in its official announcement.&nbsp;<h2>Competing in a crowded AI browser market</h2>The launch of ChatGPT Atlas places OpenAI in direct competition with a growing number of AI browsers such as Perplexity’s Comet and Opera’s Neon. These browsers integrate AI tools capable of summarising content, filling forms, and drafting code to make browsing more efficient.&nbsp;Shares of Alphabet, the parent company of Google, dropped 1.6 per cent in afternoon trading following the announcement, reflecting market reaction to the new competition.&nbsp;Google has already begun integrating its Gemini AI assistant into Chrome for U.S. users, with plans to extend support to its iOS app soon.&nbsp;<h2>A challenge to Chrome’s dominance</h2>ChatGPT Atlas represents OpenAI’s effort to expand beyond its core chatbot technology. Since the debut of ChatGPT in 2022, the company has sought new ways to grow amid increasing competition from Google, Anthropic, and other AI startups.&nbsp;By embedding AI directly into the browsing experience, OpenAI aims to create a more interactive and intelligent internet tool one that goes beyond traditional search engines.&nbsp;A recent Bloomberg report noted that this shift comes at a time when Big Tech companies are heavily investing in generative AI, reshaping the online information ecosystem.&nbsp;In a related development, a U.S. federal judge ruled in September that Google can continue paying partners to promote its search engine, acknowledging that generative AI now poses a serious challenge to traditional search dominance.

OpenAI has launched ChatGPT Atlas, a new AI-powered web browser for macOS that blends ChatGPT directly into browsing. It helps users summarise pages, compare products, and complete tasks online. A Windows and mobile rollout will follow soon.

OpenAI launched its new ChatGPT Atlas browser. “This is an AI-powered web browser built around ChatGPT,” OpenAI Chief Executive Officer Sam Altman said during a livestreamed event on Tuesday. He said AI “represents a rare, once-a-decade opportunity” to rethink the browser. He posted on X Our new AI-first web browser, ChatGPT Atlas, is here for macOS. Please send feedback! Availability on other platforms to follow.

OpenAI has launched ChatGPT Atlas, a new AI-powered web browser for macOS that blends ChatGPT directly into browsing. It helps users summarise pages, compare products, and complete tasks online. A Windows and mobile rollout will follow soon.

OpenAI launches ChatGPT Atlas browser to challenge Google Chrome and Perplexity

On Monday (October 20), a major disruption hit a range of widely-used online services, including Amazon's cloud platform AWS, Robinhood, Snapchat, and Perplexity AI. The issue, tracked by Downdetector, appeared to stem from AWS, which supports much of the internet's infrastructure. According to Downdetector, over 2,000 reports of AWS outages emerged across the United States, with users struggling to access a variety of apps and services. Even Amazon’s own platforms, such as Amazon.com, Prime Video, and Alexa, faced connectivity problems.&nbsp;Aravind Srinivas, CEO of Perplexity AI, confirmed that the disruptions were directly linked to issues with AWS, which led to temporary interruptions in their operations. Other popular services also experienced sporadic outages, including Venmo, the peer-to-peer payments app from PayPal. AWS in a statement said, "We can confirm increased error rates and latencies for multiple AWS Services in the US-EAST-1 Region. This issue may also be affecting Case Creation through the AWS Support Center or the Support API. We are actively engaged and working to both mitigate the issue and understand root cause."&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/louvre-from-a-medieval-fortress-to-the-world-s-most-iconic-museum-know-its-history-and-significance-1760940102282">Louvre: From a medieval fortress to the world’s most iconic museum. Know its history and significance</a>&nbsp;The ripple effect was widespread, affecting numerous platforms that depend on AWS, including Canvas by Instructure, Crunchyroll, Roblox, Whatnot, Rainbow Six Siege, Coinbase, Canva, Duolingo, Goodreads, Ring, The New York Times, Life360, Fortnite, Apple TV, Verizon, Chime, McDonald’s App, CollegeBoard, Wordle, and PUBG Battlegrounds.Although some platforms have started to recover, users continued to report issues well into the afternoon. As of now, Amazon has not issued an official statement on the cause or duration of the outage.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/are-chatbots-the-new-spiritual-gurus-how-ai-is-shaping-modern-worship-and-beyond-1760944885345">Are chatbots the new spiritual gurus? How AI is shaping modern worship&nbsp;and&nbsp;beyond</a><h2>Here is the list of sites, apps affected</h2>Amazon.com Prime Video Alexa Robinhood Snapchat Perplexity AI Venmo Canvas by Instructure Crunchyroll Roblox Whatnot Rainbow Six Siege Coinbase Canva Duolingo Goodreads Ring The New York Times Life360 Fortnite Apple TV Verizon Chime McDonald’s App CollegeBoard Wordle PUBG Battlegrounds

Massive AWS outage disrupts multiple popular apps, including Amazon. Check the whole list here

On Monday (October 20), a major disruption hit a range of widely-used online services, including Amazon's cloud platform AWS, Robinhood, Snapchat, and Perplexity AI. The issue, tracked by Downdetector, appeared to stem from AWS, which supports much of the internet's infrastructure. According to Downdetector, over 2,000 reports of AWS outages emerged across the United States, with users struggling to access a variety of apps and services. Even Amazon’s own platforms, such as Amazon.com, Prime Video, and Alexa, faced connectivity problems. Aravind Srinivas, CEO of Perplexity AI, confirmed that the disruptions were directly linked to issues with AWS, which led to temporary interruptions in their operations. Other popular services also experienced sporadic outages, including Venmo, the peer-to-peer payments app from PayPal. AWS in a statement said, "We can confirm increased error rates and latencies for multiple AWS Services in the US-EAST-1 Region. This issue may also be affecting Case Creation through the AWS Support Center or the Support API. We are actively engaged and working to both mitigate the issue and understand root cause." Also Read: Louvre: From a medieval fortress to the world’s most iconic museum. Know its history and significance The ripple effect was widespread, affecting numerous platforms that depend on AWS, including Canvas by Instructure, Crunchyroll, Roblox, Whatnot, Rainbow Six Siege, Coinbase, Canva, Duolingo, Goodreads, Ring, The New York Times, Life360, Fortnite, Apple TV, Verizon, Chime, McDonald’s App, CollegeBoard, Wordle, and PUBG Battlegrounds. Although some platforms have started to recover, users continued to report issues well into the afternoon. As of now, Amazon has not issued an official statement on the cause or duration of the outage. Also Read: Are chatbots the new spiritual gurus? How AI is shaping modern worship and beyond Here is the list of sites, apps affected Amazon.com Prime Video Alexa Robinhood Snapchat Perplexity AI Venmo Canvas by Instructure Crunchyroll Roblox Whatnot Rainbow Six Siege Coinbase Canva Duolingo Goodreads Ring The New York Times Life360 Fortnite Apple TV Verizon Chime McDonald’s App CollegeBoard Wordle PUBG Battlegrounds

An AWS outage caused disruptions for major platforms like Amazon, Robinhood, Snapchat, Venmo, and more, with widespread connectivity issues reported

Elon Musk has admitted that X is underpaying creators and needs to improve how payments are allocated. Musk’s comment on X came after creators raised concerns about inconsistent and low payouts under the platform’s monetisation system.Elon Musk said the main issue with X’s creator payout system is underpayment and inaccurate allocation of revenue.He also added that YouTube handles creator payments much better.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">No, the issue is that we are underpaying and not allocating payment accurately enough. YouTube does a much better job.&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1978721345279082596?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 16, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Elon Musk responds to payout concernsIt began when Nikita Bier, the product head at X, said the X team was working on upgrades for power users. In response, creator Peter Duan commented ongoing problems with monetisation, saying he had been “consistently underpaid” compared to his peers.&nbsp;“Please fix the monetisation. I have consistently compared my payouts with my peers and have been consistently underpaid,” Duan wrote.

Bier then replied, saying, “At this point, I think creator payouts do more harm than good and we need to off-ramp to a different system.” Then Musk stepped in and commented, “No, the issue is that we are underpaying and not allocating payment accurately enough. YouTube does a much better job.”

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://twitter.com/nikitabier?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@nikitabier</a> please fix the monetization. I have consistently compared my pay outs with my peers and have been consistently underpaid. Happy to provide data. Thank you 🙏&mdash; Peter Duan 🌎 🚀 (@BTCBULLRIDER) <a href="https://twitter.com/BTCBULLRIDER/status/1972859142407921703?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 30, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>Creators raise concerns over X payouts</h2>Several content creators on X have shared similar concerns in recent months. Many have said that earnings from the platform’s ad revenue-sharing model often fluctuate widely, even when engagement numbers remain stable.According to reports from The Verge, some creators earning millions of impressions each month receive payouts of only a few hundred dollars. In contrast, YouTube’s Partner Programme, which takes a 45 per cent cut of ad revenue, offers more predictable and transparent payments.<h2>X’s revenue-sharing programme</h2>&nbsp;X launched its ad revenue-sharing programme in 2023 to encourage more creators to post on the platform. The system rewards users who subscribe to X Premium and meet certain engagement thresholds. However, many creators have said that the criteria and payout structure remain unclear.

Elon Musk admitted that X has been underpaying creators and needs to fix how revenue is shared. After complaints of low and inconsistent payouts, Musk said YouTube manages creator payments far better, and promised improvements to X’s monetisation system.

Elon Musk has admitted that X is underpaying creators and needs to improve how payments are allocated. Musk’s comment on X came after creators raised concerns about inconsistent and low payouts under the platform’s monetisation system. Elon Musk said the main issue with X’s creator payout system is underpayment and inaccurate allocation of revenue. He also added that YouTube handles creator payments much better.

Elon Musk admitted that X has been underpaying creators and needs to fix how revenue is shared. After complaints of low and inconsistent payouts, Musk said YouTube manages creator payments far better, and promised improvements to X’s monetisation system.

Elon Musk admits X underpays creators, says YouTube does it better

Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, till recently was on a mission to cure cancer—or at least that’s the headline goal. But apparently, curing cancer can wait, because on Tuesday (Oct 14) he signed off on another high-priority initiative: letting OpenAI's ChatGPT make porn. Yes, you read that right. Altman took to X (formerly Twitter) to announce that ChatGPT will now “treat adult users like adults.”<h2>What did Sam Altman say?</h2>In an X post, OpenAI CEO Altman said that they had made ChatGPT "pretty restrictive" to make sure they were "being careful with mental health issues". However, now they've apparently "realised" that staying sensitive to mental health issues made the platform "less useful/enjoyable to many users who had no mental health problems". Insisting that "given the seriousness of the issue," the AI maker "wanted to get this right". How? By allowing users to generate porn on the popular chatbot.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/why-scientists-revive-40-000-year-old-ancient-virus-with-pandemic-potential-from-arctic-ice-1759812221224">Why?? Scientists revive 40,000-year-old ancient virus with 'pandemic potential' from Arctic ice</a>By December, he promised, the platform will allow even more risqué creations, including erotica for verified adults. Because apparently nothing says responsible AI innovation quite like giving adults the green light to generate digital fantasies. "In December, as we roll out age-gating more fully and as part of our 'treat adult users like adults' principle, we will allow even more, like erotica for verified adults," said Altman.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">We made ChatGPT pretty restrictive to make sure we were being careful with mental health issues. We realize this made it less useful/enjoyable to many users who had no mental health problems, but given the seriousness of the issue we wanted to get this right. Now that we have…&mdash; Sam Altman (@sama) <a href="https://twitter.com/sama/status/1978129344598827128?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 14, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>Why were ChatGPT restrictions put in place?</h2>ChatGPT was made to wear a figurative chastity belt after a teenage user tragically took his own life with alleged guidance from the AI. Erotica writers, predictably, were not thrilled—arguing that the AI had been a perfectly safe tool for penning steamy scenes.Now, according to Altman, the mental health risks have been "mitigated," so adults can once again let the AI do their dirty work.Altman framed the move as a logical next step. "Now that we have been able to mitigate the serious mental health issues and have new tools, we are going to be able to safely relax the restrictions in most cases," he said. Translation: yes, we figured out how to stop ChatGPT from being dangerous, so let’s make it fun again.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/ex-journalist-pete-hegseth-mocks-press-as-us-media-revolts-against-pentagon-s-gag-order-press-no-longer-roams-free-1760402303105">Ex-journalist Pete Hegseth mocks press as US media revolts against Pentagon’s gag order: ‘Press no longer roams free’</a>This update follows another statement by Sam Altman, where he suggested that AI could be used to "cure cancer". Thanks to the new risqué rollout announcement, critics, of course, are having a field day. "Why do age-gates always have to lead to erotica? Like, I just want to be able to be treated like an adult and not a toddler, that doesn't mean I want perv-mode activated," commented one X user on Altman's post.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Why do age-gates always have to lead to erotica? Like, I just want to be able to be treated like an adult and not a toddler, that doesn&#39;t mean I want perv-mode activated.&mdash; cate bligh (@catebligh) <a href="https://twitter.com/catebligh/status/1978130471318921225?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 14, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

"When you say ‘Adult Mode’ and erotica will be allowed in ChatGPT, how do you define the ethical boundaries of digital intimacy?," asked another.&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">When you say “Adult Mode” and erotica will be allowed in ChatGPT, how do you define the ethical boundaries of digital intimacy?&mdash; VraserX e/acc (@VraserX) <a href="https://twitter.com/VraserX/status/1978155429893967935?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 14, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Others just posted satire and memes trolling him.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <a href="https://t.co/V7kn1gHOFB">pic.twitter.com/V7kn1gHOFB</a>&mdash; Jared Davidson (@Archetapp) <a href="https://twitter.com/Archetapp/status/1978138446364287322?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 14, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">2023: AI will cure cancer 2025: soon we will achieve AI erotica for verified adults&mdash; Dr J Rould (@jrouldz) <a href="https://twitter.com/jrouldz/status/1978143401951297721?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 14, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Chatgpt to users <a href="https://t.co/RiiLSLWiq8">pic.twitter.com/RiiLSLWiq8</a>&mdash; Monkey (@y1ssh) <a href="https://twitter.com/y1ssh/status/1978130852073668642?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 14, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has announced ChatGPT will now allow adult content for verified users, saying the AI can safely “treat adult users like adults.” His announcement has led to mixed reactions, with netizens both trolling him and applauding the move. All you need to know.

Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, till recently was on a mission to cure cancer—or at least that’s the headline goal. But apparently, curing cancer can wait, because on Tuesday (Oct 14) he signed off on another high-priority initiative: letting OpenAI's ChatGPT make porn. Yes, you read that right. Altman took to X (formerly Twitter) to announce that ChatGPT will now “treat adult users like adults.” What did Sam Altman say? In an X post, OpenAI CEO Altman said that they had made ChatGPT "pretty restrictive" to make sure they were "being careful with mental health issues". However, now they've apparently "realised" that staying sensitive to mental health issues made the platform "less useful/enjoyable to many users who had no mental health problems". Insisting that "given the seriousness of the issue," the AI maker "wanted to get this right". How? By allowing users to generate porn on the popular chatbot. Also read | Why?? Scientists revive 40,000-year-old ancient virus with 'pandemic potential' from Arctic ice By December, he promised, the platform will allow even more risqué creations, including erotica for verified adults. Because apparently nothing says responsible AI innovation quite like giving adults the green light to generate digital fantasies. "In December, as we roll out age-gating more fully and as part of our 'treat adult users like adults' principle, we will allow even more, like erotica for verified adults," said Altman.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has announced ChatGPT will now allow adult content for verified users, saying the AI can safely “treat adult users like adults.” His announcement has led to mixed reactions, with netizens both trolling him and applauding the move. All you need to know.

Sam Altman okays AI porn on ChatGPT, says OpenAI chatbot's current version 'less enjoyable'

Good news for the Indian Air Force, in a major defence boost, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has announced its intention to extend the range of its Astra Mark 2 air-to-air missile to more than 200 kilometres. The move, as per reports, is aimed at strengthening India’s indigenous capabilities in beyond visual range (BVR) air combat and enhancing the striking power of its fighter jets in the aftermath of the recent India-Pakistan war.<h2>India to acquire 700 Mark 2 missiles</h2>Citing defence sources, ANI reports that the Defence Ministry is expected to soon discuss a proposal for the acquisition of around 700 Astra Mark 2 missiles. These will be integrated into the Sukhoi and Light Combat Aircraft fleets, giving Indian pilots the ability to engage adversaries from much longer distances than before.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/kerala-s-brain-eating-amoeba-scare-deepens-3-year-old-latest-to-be-infected-death-toll-rises-to-23-1760341544268">Kerala’s ‘brain-eating amoeba’ scare deepens: 3-year-old latest to be infected, death toll rises to 23</a>Earlier plans had targeted a maximum range of roughly 160 kilometres, but the new development pushes that envelope significantly, making India one of the few countries in the region with such extended BVR capabilities.<h2>Astra Mark 2</h2>The Astra Mark 2 builds on the success of its predecessor, the Astra Mark 1, which already boasts a range exceeding 100 kilometres and features an advanced guidance and navigation system. The DRDO has collaborated with over 50 public and private organisations, including Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, to bring the missile from concept to deployment.Developing indigenous long-range air-to-air missiles has become a key priority for India, particularly as regional aerial threats evolve. During Operation Sindoor, for example, India demonstrated its ability to strike Pakistani airbases and terror camps from stand-off ranges, limiting the risk to its own pilots. Pakistani aircraft, including F-16s and Chinese-made fighters, were reportedly destroyed both in the air and on the ground, along with several unmanned aerial vehicles and reconnaissance planes.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/sam-altman-okays-ai-porn-on-chatgpt-says-current-version-less-enjoyable-to-users-with-no-mental-health-problems-1760493777871">Sam Altman okays AI porn on ChatGPT, says OpenAI chatbot's current version 'less enjoyable'</a>The Pakistan Air Force attempted counterattacks using PL-15 missiles, but they failed to impact Indian forces significantly. The experience highlighted the importance of long-range indigenous missile capabilities to ensure air superiority in the region.With the Astra Mark 2’s upgraded range, India aims to maintain a strategic edge in future aerial engagements, allowing pilots to engage threats beyond visual range while keeping Indian fighter jets safely out of reach.&nbsp;

India’s DRDO is set to extend the range of its Astra Mark 2 air-to-air missile to over 200 km, a major boost for the Indian Air Force. Here's all you need to know.

Good news for the Indian Air Force, in a major defence boost, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has announced its intention to extend the range of its Astra Mark 2 air-to-air missile to more than 200 kilometres. The move, as per reports, is aimed at strengthening India’s indigenous capabilities in beyond visual range (BVR) air combat and enhancing the striking power of its fighter jets in the aftermath of the recent India-Pakistan war. India to acquire 700 Mark 2 missiles Citing defence sources, ANI reports that the Defence Ministry is expected to soon discuss a proposal for the acquisition of around 700 Astra Mark 2 missiles. These will be integrated into the Sukhoi and Light Combat Aircraft fleets, giving Indian pilots the ability to engage adversaries from much longer distances than before. Also read | Kerala’s ‘brain-eating amoeba’ scare deepens: 3-year-old latest to be infected, death toll rises to 23 Earlier plans had targeted a maximum range of roughly 160 kilometres, but the new development pushes that envelope significantly, making India one of the few countries in the region with such extended BVR capabilities. Astra Mark 2 The Astra Mark 2 builds on the success of its predecessor, the Astra Mark 1, which already boasts a range exceeding 100 kilometres and features an advanced guidance and navigation system. The DRDO has collaborated with over 50 public and private organisations, including Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, to bring the missile from concept to deployment. Developing indigenous long-range air-to-air missiles has become a key priority for India, particularly as regional aerial threats evolve. During Operation Sindoor, for example, India demonstrated its ability to strike Pakistani airbases and terror camps from stand-off ranges, limiting the risk to its own pilots. Pakistani aircraft, including F-16s and Chinese-made fighters, were reportedly destroyed both in the air and on the ground, along with several unmanned aerial vehicles and reconnaissance planes. Also read | Sam Altman okays AI porn on ChatGPT, says OpenAI chatbot's current version 'less enjoyable' The Pakistan Air Force attempted counterattacks using PL-15 missiles, but they failed to impact Indian forces significantly. The experience highlighted the importance of long-range indigenous missile capabilities to ensure air superiority in the region. With the Astra Mark 2’s upgraded range, India aims to maintain a strategic edge in future aerial engagements, allowing pilots to engage threats beyond visual range while keeping Indian fighter jets safely out of reach.

India’s DRDO is set to extend the range of its Astra Mark 2 air-to-air missile to over 200 km, a major boost for the Indian Air Force. Here's all you need to know.

IAF pilots may soon engage enemies before they even see them — DRDO to extend Astra Mark 2 missile's range to 200 km

Online video piracy is on rising again, &nbsp;and streaming platforms are partially responsible for driving frustrated consumers back to illicit downloads. Streaming services came to the scene as a legal, convenient alternative to the torrents and online content piracy. In the past five years, online piracy of movies, series, and other content has surged, moving closer to the scale seen before giants like Netflix revolutionised content access. While Hollywood studios fought piracy through courts and legislation, leading to crackdowns on torrent sites and piracy platforms, streaming services have been squeezing consumers in recent years through raising subscription fees, aggressive password-sharing restrictions, and fragmented content distributed across multiple platforms. The result? Viewers find themselves subscribing to numerous services to keep up, pushing some back to piracy in order to dodge the rising costs.<h2>Rise of piracy is a consumer baclash against streaming giants</h2>Anecdotal evidence suggests that many consumers now simultaneously maintain paid streaming subscriptions and access content through piracy websites, blending both worlds as they juggle convenience, cost, and availability. We are essentially seeing a return to the early 2010s, when online piracy thrived before streaming’s golden era took hold.Analysts frame this resurgence of piracy as a consumer backlash against price hikes, ad intrusions, and the growing complexity of streaming services. Estimates from MUSO, a leading anti-piracy firm, show global piracy site visits ballooned from approximately 104 billion in 2020 to over 216 billion in 2024 — a staggering 66 per cent increase in just four years, with film and TV downloads leading the surge.&nbsp;The rising costs of streaming services, coupled with new ad-supported tiers and the controversial crackdown on password sharing led by Netflix and followed by others, have depleted the appeal that once drove people away from illegal sources.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/salman-khans-sikandar-leaked-online-3000-pirated-links-pulled-down-on-release-day-8909530">Salman Khan's Sikandar leaked ONLINE: '3000 pirated links' pulled down on release day</a><h2>Streaming was once the darling of entertainment industry but then, this happened</h2>&nbsp;Between 2015 and 2020, the early boom of official streaming offered consumers affordable, on-demand access to vast libraries, often outpacing the speed and convenience of illegal torrenting. But since 2020, particularly in the Covid pandemic and post-pandemic years, piracy has been bouncing back.&nbsp;Rising living costs and what some call ‘streaming fatigue’ — the exhaustion of juggling multiple platforms — have contributed to this reversal.Data from MUSO’s 2023 report revealed that pirated video content attracted over 229 billion visits annually, with film piracy traffic spiking sharply in recent years. Due to conent piracy, the entertainment industry has reportedly lost tens of billions annually worldwide, affecting jobs and revenues across the sector.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood/news-the-matrix-resurrections-leaked-online-on-torrent-sites-days-before-india-release-438732">'The Matrix Resurrections' leaked online on torrent sites, days before India release</a><h2>Torrenting is being embraced by the young generation</h2>Despite law enforcement actions including site blocking and server raids, torrent sites remain active and continue to serve a dedicated user base. In regions like Sweden, 25 per cent of people - mostly aged 15 to 24 - openly admit to pirating content, often via torrents, viewing streaming as “cable 2.0.”&nbsp;Many users automate torrent setups to build seamless, ad-free libraries, effectively creating their own DIY Netflix without subscription fees.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/bollywood/housefull-5-akshay-kumar-abhishek-bachchan-s-comedy-film-leaked-online-on-tamilrockers-1749181311760">Housefull 5: Akshay Kumar &amp; Abhishek Bachchan's comedy film Leaked online</a><h2>How streaming industry lost consumer confidence</h2>Streaming giants' recent policies look more punitive than consumer-friendly. Average household spending on streaming in the US is estimated to have climbed substantially, with Netflix’s monthly fees rising from around $8 in 2011 to over $15 in 2023.&nbsp;Disney+ and Max have also increased subscription prices, while content fragmentation forced consumers to juggle multiple subscriptions—sometimes costing $50 to $100 monthly per househild. These amounts often surpass the expense of traditional cable TV.Streaming platforms have introduced cheaper, ad-supported plans, yet “ad creep” has begun to infiltrate even so-called ad-free tiers, prompting complaints about interruptions that users once avoided by pirating content.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/bollywood/scam-worth-rs-22-400-crore-killing-bollywood-piracy-hurting-business-of-hindi-films-1747881065974">Scam worth Rs 22,400 crore killing Bollywood: Piracy hurting business of Hindi films</a>&nbsp;The “seamless viewing experience” is increasingly cited as a key factor driving consumers toward piracy, which offers uninterrupted access without ads or limits.The fragmentation of content licensing has exacerbated the issue. Disney’s withdrawal of its titles from competing platforms, and the constant shuffle of exclusives mean viewers are forced into a frustrating hunt across multiple apps. As a consequence, more than 90 per cent of piracy traffic in 2023 targeted movies and TV shows.Password-sharing crackdowns, especially those initiated by Netflix in 2023, have stirred dissatisfaction among younger viewers who traditionally shared family accounts. For many, piracy now appears as the easiest, cheapest solution when faced with subscription fees hovering around $15 or more per service.<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/world-s-largest-sports-piracy-site-shut-down-1757011258408/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/world-s-largest-sports-piracy-site-shut-down-1757011258408/embed</a><h2>Users view piracy as acceptable&nbsp;</h2>When legal alternatives feel overpriced or bogged down with ads, surveys are showing that viewrs think piracy is acceptable. Industry experts like Andy Chatterley of MUSO highlighted that piracy fills the “seamless viewing experience” gap left by streaming services, offering users access, affordability, and ownership—albeit illegally.While unlicensed streaming dominates much piracy traffic, torrents still play a significant role, prized for their high-quality downloads and offline viewing capabilities.&nbsp;<h2>Streamers are prioritising profit over experience. It will hurt them</h2>&nbsp;As streaming platforms prioritise profits over consumer convenience, piracy will continue its resurgence.If streaming services fail to heed the lessons of the torrent era and address consumer frustrations with pricing, ads, and content fragmentation, the entertainment industry could face substantial revenue losses in the coming years.&nbsp;The data and consumer sentiment tell a clear story: frustration is winning, and the mantra “Can’t pay, won’t pay” echoes louder than ever.

Online video piracy is surging again as streaming platforms have lost the plot on consumer confidence by raising prices, cracking down on password sharing, and fragmenting content. Frustrated users are going back to torrents and piracy sites. Here is a warning shot:

Online video piracy is on rising again, and streaming platforms are partially responsible for driving frustrated consumers back to illicit downloads. Streaming services came to the scene as a legal, convenient alternative to the torrents and online content piracy. In the past five years, online piracy of movies, series, and other content has surged, moving closer to the scale seen before giants like Netflix revolutionised content access. While Hollywood studios fought piracy through courts and legislation, leading to crackdowns on torrent sites and piracy platforms, streaming services have been squeezing consumers in recent years through raising subscription fees, aggressive password-sharing restrictions, and fragmented content distributed across multiple platforms. The result? Viewers find themselves subscribing to numerous services to keep up, pushing some back to piracy in order to dodge the rising costs. Rise of piracy is a consumer baclash against streaming giants Anecdotal evidence suggests that many consumers now simultaneously maintain paid streaming subscriptions and access content through piracy websites, blending both worlds as they juggle convenience, cost, and availability. We are essentially seeing a return to the early 2010s, when online piracy thrived before streaming’s golden era took hold. Analysts frame this resurgence of piracy as a consumer backlash against price hikes, ad intrusions, and the growing complexity of streaming services. Estimates from MUSO, a leading anti-piracy firm, show global piracy site visits ballooned from approximately 104 billion in 2020 to over 216 billion in 2024 — a staggering 66 per cent increase in just four years, with film and TV downloads leading the surge. The rising costs of streaming services, coupled with new ad-supported tiers and the controversial crackdown on password sharing led by Netflix and followed by others, have depleted the appeal that once drove people away from illegal sources. Also read: Salman Khan's Sikandar leaked ONLINE: '3000 pirated links' pulled down on release day Streaming was once the darling of entertainment industry but then, this happened Between 2015 and 2020, the early boom of official streaming offered consumers affordable, on-demand access to vast libraries, often outpacing the speed and convenience of illegal torrenting. But since 2020, particularly in the Covid pandemic and post-pandemic years, piracy has been bouncing back. Rising living costs and what some call ‘streaming fatigue’ — the exhaustion of juggling multiple platforms — have contributed to this reversal. Data from MUSO’s 2023 report revealed that pirated video content attracted over 229 billion visits annually, with film piracy traffic spiking sharply in recent years. Due to conent piracy, the entertainment industry has reportedly lost tens of billions annually worldwide, affecting jobs and revenues across the sector. Also read: 'The Matrix Resurrections' leaked online on torrent sites, days before India release Torrenting is being embraced by the young generation Despite law enforcement actions including site blocking and server raids, torrent sites remain active and continue to serve a dedicated user base. In regions like Sweden, 25 per cent of people - mostly aged 15 to 24 - openly admit to pirating content, often via torrents, viewing streaming as “cable 2.0.” Many users automate torrent setups to build seamless, ad-free libraries, effectively creating their own DIY Netflix without subscription fees. Also read: Housefull 5: Akshay Kumar & Abhishek Bachchan's comedy film Leaked online How streaming industry lost consumer confidence Streaming giants' recent policies look more punitive than consumer-friendly. Average household spending on streaming in the US is estimated to have climbed substantially, with Netflix’s monthly fees rising from around $8 in 2011 to over $15 in 2023. Disney+ and Max have also increased subscription prices, while content fragmentation forced consumers to juggle multiple subscriptions—sometimes costing $50 to $100 monthly per househild. These amounts often surpass the expense of traditional cable TV. Streaming platforms have introduced cheaper, ad-supported plans, yet “ad creep” has begun to infiltrate even so-called ad-free tiers, prompting complaints about interruptions that users once avoided by pirating content. Also read: Scam worth Rs 22,400 crore killing Bollywood: Piracy hurting business of Hindi films The “seamless viewing experience” is increasingly cited as a key factor driving consumers toward piracy, which offers uninterrupted access without ads or limits. The fragmentation of content licensing has exacerbated the issue. Disney’s withdrawal of its titles from competing platforms, and the constant shuffle of exclusives mean viewers are forced into a frustrating hunt across multiple apps. As a consequence, more than 90 per cent of piracy traffic in 2023 targeted movies and TV shows. Password-sharing crackdowns, especially those initiated by Netflix in 2023, have stirred dissatisfaction among younger viewers who traditionally shared family accounts. For many, piracy now appears as the easiest, cheapest solution when faced with subscription fees hovering around $15 or more per service. https://www.wionews.com/videos/world-s-largest-sports-piracy-site-shut-down-1757011258408/embed Users view piracy as acceptable When legal alternatives feel overpriced or bogged down with ads, surveys are showing that viewrs think piracy is acceptable. Industry experts like Andy Chatterley of MUSO highlighted that piracy fills the “seamless viewing experience” gap left by streaming services, offering users access, affordability, and ownership—albeit illegally. While unlicensed streaming dominates much piracy traffic, torrents still play a significant role, prized for their high-quality downloads and offline viewing capabilities. Streamers are prioritising profit over experience. It will hurt them As streaming platforms prioritise profits over consumer convenience, piracy will continue its resurgence. If streaming services fail to heed the lessons of the torrent era and address consumer frustrations with pricing, ads, and content fragmentation, the entertainment industry could face substantial revenue losses in the coming years. The data and consumer sentiment tell a clear story: frustration is winning, and the mantra “Can’t pay, won’t pay” echoes louder than ever.

Online video piracy is surging again as streaming platforms have lost the plot on consumer confidence by raising prices, cracking down on password sharing, and fragmenting content. Frustrated users are going back to torrents and piracy sites. Here is a warning shot:

Online video piracy is growing. Streaming platforms' anti-consumer moves are part of the problem

X, formerly known as Twitter, has removed 1.7 million bot accounts that were flooding users’ replies with spam and irrelevant content, the company’s Head of Product Nikita Bier posted through his X account on today.&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">This week we purged 1.7 million bots engaging in reply spam. You should start noticing improvements in the coming days. We will be focusing on DM spam next.&mdash; Nikita Bier (@nikitabier) <a href="https://twitter.com/nikitabier/status/1977446408136650785?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 12, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>Massive bot purge to reduce spam</h2>In a post shared on X, Bier said: “This week we purged 1.7 million bots engaging in reply spam. You should start noticing improvements in the coming days. We will be focusing on DM spam next.”&nbsp;While X has not disclosed the exact process used to detect and remove the accounts, it has reportedly used automated detection tools and behavioural analysis to identify patterns linked to spam activity.&nbsp;This marks one of the largest bot clean-ups since Elon Musk took over the company in 2022. Since then, X has faced ongoing criticism about the growing presence of fake accounts and spam bots that disrupt conversations and spread misleading content.&nbsp;Bier said the clean-up is part of a broader plan to improve user experience and restore trust in the platform’s interactions.<h2>X to test new link-sharing and engagement feature</h2>In another update, Bier revealed that X will test a new approach to link-sharing next week. The goal, he said, is to ensure “all content on the platform has equal visibility on Timeline.”&nbsp;The announcement follows earlier comments by Musk, who hinted at changes in how external links are displayed, in an effort to keep users more engaged within the platform.The test may involve adjustments in layout, algorithmic visibility, or new ways of displaying posts with embedded links. This experiment comes as X continues to evolve its interface to balance user engagement and content distribution.&nbsp;&nbsp;

X has deleted 1.7 million bot accounts to cut spam and improve user experience. The platform will now target DM spam and test new link-sharing features, as it rebuilds its Android app and boosts hiring. These updates show X’s push to rebuild trust and enhance engagement.

X, formerly known as Twitter, has removed 1.7 million bot accounts that were flooding users’ replies with spam and irrelevant content, the company’s Head of Product Nikita Bier posted through his X account on today.

X has deleted 1.7 million bot accounts to cut spam and improve user experience. The platform will now target DM spam and test new link-sharing features, as it rebuilds its Android app and boosts hiring. These updates show X’s push to rebuild trust and enhance engagement.

X removed over 1.7 million bots; DM spam next, says product head Nikita Bier

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has renewed his criticism of OpenAI, calling the artificial intelligence company “built on a lie” and accusing it of misusing its original nonprofit status. His comments come amid new allegations that OpenAI used intimidation tactics against advocates of AI regulation.&nbsp;<h2>Musk responds to former OpenAI board member</h2>Musk’s comments on X followed a post by Helen Toner, a former OpenAI board member, who said the company had used “dishonesty and intimidation tactics” in its policy work, despite some of its positive achievements.&nbsp;When users on X asked if OpenAI should still be considered a nonprofit, Musk replied:&nbsp;&nbsp;“They stole a charity and used it for their own financial gain.”&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">They stole a charity and used it for their own financial gain&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1976786548139196464?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 10, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>Allegations of intimidation emerge</h2>The controversy deepened after Nathan Calvin, a lawyer at AI policy nonprofit Encode AI, alleged that OpenAI sent a sheriff’s deputy to his home to serve him with a subpoena. Calvin claimed the subpoena demanded private communications about California’s newly passed AI transparency law (SB 53).&nbsp;Writing on X, Calvin said: “One Tuesday night, as my wife and I sat down for dinner, a sheriff’s deputy knocked on the door to serve me a subpoena from OpenAI.” He described the move as an attempt to intimidate critics of the company.&nbsp;OpenAI has not commented on the specific allegation. However, the subpoena reportedly relates to its ongoing legal dispute with Musk, who sued the company earlier this year, accusing it of abandoning its original nonprofit mission. OpenAI countersued, claiming Musk was attempting to slow down its progress through legal pressure.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">One Tuesday night, as my wife and I sat down for dinner, a sheriff’s deputy knocked on the door to serve me a subpoena from OpenAI. I held back on talking about it because I didn&#39;t want to distract from SB 53, but Newsom just signed the bill so... here&#39;s what happened: 🧵 <a href="https://t.co/VnYCJYg2DH">pic.twitter.com/VnYCJYg2DH</a>&mdash; Nathan Calvin (@_NathanCalvin) <a href="https://twitter.com/_NathanCalvin/status/1976649051396620514?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 10, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

&nbsp;<h2>Nonprofit roots under scrutiny</h2>Founded in 2015 as a nonprofit, OpenAI’s stated goal was to develop artificial general intelligence (AGI) that benefits all of humanity.&nbsp;&nbsp;In 2019, OpenAI created a for-profit subsidiary to attract funding, later forming partnerships worth billions of dollars including a reported $100 billion investment from Nvidia and potential warrants for 160 million shares in AMD, according to several reports.&nbsp;The company has since announced it would remain under nonprofit oversight, with its commercial arm converted into a public benefit corporation. Despite that, critics argue its growing profits and private partnerships contradict its founding promise.&nbsp;<h2>Broader debate on AI ethics</h2>The Musk-OpenAI dispute highlights a wider industry struggle between profit-driven AI development and public accountability. With AI systems becoming more powerful, whereas few experts warn that governance, transparency, and ethical oversight must keep pace.&nbsp;OpenAI, Google, Microsoft, and Anthropic have all faced increasing scrutiny from regulators and policymakers over AI safety, bias, and data transparency.&nbsp;As governments worldwide push for clearer AI laws, Musk continues to position himself as a vocal critic of what he calls “irresponsible AI expansion”&nbsp;

Elon Musk reignited his feud with OpenAI, calling it “built on a lie” after new claims that the company used intimidation tactics against AI policy advocates. The dispute raises deeper questions about OpenAI’s nonprofit roots and the growing tension between profit and AI ethics.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has renewed his criticism of OpenAI, calling the artificial intelligence company “built on a lie” and accusing it of misusing its original nonprofit status. His comments come amid new allegations that OpenAI used intimidation tactics against advocates of AI regulation. Musk responds to former OpenAI board member Musk’s comments on X followed a post by Helen Toner, a former OpenAI board member, who said the company had used “dishonesty and intimidation tactics” in its policy work, despite some of its positive achievements. When users on X asked if OpenAI should still be considered a nonprofit, Musk replied: “They stole a charity and used it for their own financial gain.”

Elon Musk reignited his feud with OpenAI, calling it “built on a lie” after new claims that the company used intimidation tactics against AI policy advocates. The dispute raises deeper questions about OpenAI’s nonprofit roots and the growing tension between profit and AI ethics.

Elon Musk accuses OpenAI of being “built on a lie” amid new controversy

Once a private off-the-record lecture series by the Palantir CEO, billionaire Peter Thiel, has been breached, multiple audio excerpts and notes of attendees circulating online, the leaked sections have very polarising content, including references to the Biblical figure “Antichrist”. He is seemingly recasting a debate around technology and religion, framing its importance in spiritual warfare. The content has been termed by many as extremely polarising.The two-hour lecture “The Antichrist: A Four-Part Lecture Series” was delivered by the billionaire in San Francisco in September- October 2025. Thiel described himself as a 'small-o orthodox Christian'; he argued that critics of unrestrained technology or those who advocate regulation or environmental activism are a modern archetype of Biblical ‘Antichrist’ who undermines progress. He urges to use of technology for a ‘spiritual warfare’.&nbsp;“The antichrist comes to power by talking constantly about Armageddon, about rumours of wars,” said Thiel.“In the 17th, 18th century, the Antichrist would have been a Dr Strangelove, a scientist who did all this sort of evil, crazy science…In the 21st century, the Antichrist is a Luddite who wants to stop all science. It’s someone like Greta or Eliezer,” according to the leaked recording.Several media forensics experts have analysed the audio and concluded that at least part of it is unaltered or authentic. The billionaire went on to comment about several of his interpersonal feuds with other billionaires, like Bill Gates and venture capitalist Marc Andreessen. While speaking fondly about Elon Musk, and the US VP JD Vance.&nbsp;People see the content as grandiose or conspirational and unsettling mixture of theology and technology. This is specifically troubling, because it draws from Biblical archetypes like ‘Armageddon’, ‘Antichrist’ to shape his political and ideological narrative into an existential one. Moreover, the manner of staging these lectures off the record and privately framing them, denying public accountability and scrutiny.People on Reddit have slammed the conspiracy theories and personal vendetta of Thiel: “Extreme wealth is deranging in and of itself, and it usually takes the most sociopathic people to execute the level of backstabbing and underhanded practices to even approach billionaire status.”

Audio from Peter Thiel’s secret “Antichrist” seminar leaks, exposing his apocalyptic views on technology, politics, and the future of civilisation.

Once a private off-the-record lecture series by the Palantir CEO, billionaire Peter Thiel, has been breached, multiple audio excerpts and notes of attendees circulating online, the leaked sections have very polarising content, including references to the Biblical figure “Antichrist”. He is seemingly recasting a debate around technology and religion, framing its importance in spiritual warfare. The content has been termed by many as extremely polarising. The two-hour lecture “The Antichrist: A Four-Part Lecture Series” was delivered by the billionaire in San Francisco in September- October 2025. Thiel described himself as a 'small-o orthodox Christian'; he argued that critics of unrestrained technology or those who advocate regulation or environmental activism are a modern archetype of Biblical ‘Antichrist’ who undermines progress. He urges to use of technology for a ‘spiritual warfare’. “The antichrist comes to power by talking constantly about Armageddon, about rumours of wars,” said Thiel. “In the 17th, 18th century, the Antichrist would have been a Dr Strangelove, a scientist who did all this sort of evil, crazy science…In the 21st century, the Antichrist is a Luddite who wants to stop all science. It’s someone like Greta or Eliezer,” according to the leaked recording. Several media forensics experts have analysed the audio and concluded that at least part of it is unaltered or authentic. The billionaire went on to comment about several of his interpersonal feuds with other billionaires, like Bill Gates and venture capitalist Marc Andreessen. While speaking fondly about Elon Musk, and the US VP JD Vance. People see the content as grandiose or conspirational and unsettling mixture of theology and technology. This is specifically troubling, because it draws from Biblical archetypes like ‘Armageddon’, ‘Antichrist’ to shape his political and ideological narrative into an existential one. Moreover, the manner of staging these lectures off the record and privately framing them, denying public accountability and scrutiny. People on Reddit have slammed the conspiracy theories and personal vendetta of Thiel: “Extreme wealth is deranging in and of itself, and it usually takes the most sociopathic people to execute the level of backstabbing and underhanded practices to even approach billionaire status.”

Audio from Peter Thiel’s secret “Antichrist” seminar leaks, exposing his apocalyptic views on technology, politics, the future of civilisation and prophesying an Armageddon.

Audio from Peter Thiel’s secret “Antichrist” seminar leaks, revealing apocalyptic tech theology

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Apocalyptic tech theology: Inside billionaire Peter Thiel’s antichrist obsession