Welcome to today's edition of the NextBigWhat Daily News!
Check today's top 10 news stories.
Byju’s considers selling subsidiaries Great Learning and Epic to pay $1.2bn debt
- Edtech giant Byju’s is planning to sell Great Learning and Epic to satisfy debt obligations.
- The sale of these assets might help meet repayment for a $1.2bn term loan from US creditors.
- Byju’s has proposed a repayment plan, offering to settle the entire loan in less than six months.
WhatsApp Beta Features Third-Party Chats Screen Under New EU Regulation
- In response to the EU’s Digital Markets Act, a new WhatsApp beta screen supports third-party conversations.
- WABetaInfo revealed that this section in the app could display messages from different chat services.
- Although no timeframe is confirmed, interoperability between messaging services like Signal or Telegram and WhatsApp must be live by March 2024.
Google.org launches $20M Digital Futures Project to support AI research and policy solutions
- The fund aims to aid thinkers exploring AI’s impacts on security, labor markets, economic growth, and its governance.
- Grantees include institutes globally, promoting responsible AI innovation and addressing complex challenges like bias and misinformation.
- The announcement comes ahead of a private AI-focused congressional meeting featuring some of the most influential figures in tech.
Kale Logistics Secures $30M for Global Growth, Led by Creaegis Advisors
- The funding round brings Kale Logistics’ total raise to $35M, following a $5M Series A in 2020.
- The firm plans to expand its digital logistics services in the U.S. and Europe, leveraging its SaaS platform to streamline shipping processes.
- Currently operating in 36 countries, Kale Logistics seeks to enhance its product portfolio and enlarge its team with the new funding.
Airbnb Appoints Google’s AI Expert James Manyika to Board
- Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky believes AI will revolutionize the company by 2024.
- Manyika’s role will be crucial in developing an AI-based interactive and personalized interface.
- James Manyika replaces Belinda Johnson on Airbnb’s board, strengthening its AI and societal focus.
Character.ai Closing Gap with ChatGPT in US Mobile App Usage
- Character.ai, the AI app maker is catching up to ChatGPT in terms of US mobile app usage, standing at 4.2 million monthly active users while ChatGPT garners nearly 6 million.
- Character.ai’s attraction to a younger demographic, particularly the 18- to 24-year-old age group, significantly contributes to its growth.
- Despite some decline over the past months, ChatGPT’s website traffic is on the rise again, showing a 0.4% increase as the school year resumes.
RBI: 1.5 million people and 300,000 merchants use India’s CBDC
- India’s central bank digital currency trial has reportedly been made available to 1.46 million customers. In 26 locations, 13 banks are running the digital rupee trial, and as of August 31st, over 300,000 businesses were accepting CBDC payments.
- By the end of this year in December, RBI wants to have 1 million daily CBDC transactions.
Platform X reportedly slows down linked engagement to NY Times while maintaining other link speeds
- NewsWhip data shows a significant drop in engagement with NY Times-linked posts on X since July.
- Other major news sites such as CNN, Washington Post, and the BBC do not experience similar reduction in user reach.
- Despite allegations, the exact cause behind user reach decline is unclear and both X and NY Times have not commented.
Meta’s Threads App Temporarily Blocks Keyword Searches of ‘Sensitive’ Topics
- Threads is blocking searches for ‘potentially sensitive’ words linked to misinformation on Meta’s platform.
- Terms blocked include ‘COVID’, ‘coronavirus’, ‘vaccines’, and others linked to unsavory content.
- Meta views the move as a cautious learning curve from past missteps, despite obstructing access to non-rule-breaking discussions and information.
ICRIER Proposes 3% Levy on OTT Platforms, TRAI Consults
- Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER) suggests a 3% Broadband Infrastructure Levy on significant OTT service providers’ India operations.
- Levy calculation based on net revenue from specialized contracts between telcos and OTT providers.
- ICRIER references European policy and ‘Netflix Law’ in Korea to support their argument.
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