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Social Media

Instagram Limits Live Feature to Accounts with 1,000+ Followers

Instagram now requires users to have a public account with a minimum of 1,000 followers to go live.

This change restricts the live feature, previously available to all users regardless of follower count or account privacy.

The new requirement aligns Instagram with TikTok, which also mandates 1,000 followers for live streaming, while YouTube requires only 50 subscribers.

Instagram states the move aims to improve the overall Live consumption experience, potentially by limiting lower-quality streams and saving on hosting costs.

Users have expressed displeasure, with some requesting the change be reversed.

Social Media & Charity

TikTok Introduces 'TikTok Pro' with Charity Support in Europe

TikTok has launched 'TikTok Pro' in Germany, Portugal, and Spain, featuring the 'Sunshine Programme.'
Users earn 'virtual sunshine' by engaging with charity content and inviting new users, which TikTok then converts into donations to charitable organizations.
'TikTok Pro' offers the same content as the standard app but excludes live streams, shopping features, and ads, focusing on charitable support.

Cybersecurity

International Operation Dismantles BlackSuit Ransomware Infrastructure

A joint U.S.-European operation led by German prosecutors has seized the infrastructure of the BlackSuit ransomware gang. The operation, conducted on July 24, involved seizing the gang's servers and systems, securing considerable amounts of data to identify those responsible. The servers were switched off, effectively halting the ransomware malware. BlackSuit had targeted 184 victims worldwide, including several in Germany. The gang's leak site on the dark web is now displaying a seizure notice. The operation included help from ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations unit and Europol. BlackSuit has targeted U.S. cities and organizations in various industries. In 2024, CISA warned that the gang was rebranding from Royal to BlackSuit.

Energy Efficiency

Pearl Edison Partners with Utilities to Simplify and Reduce Costs of Home Energy Efficiency Upgrades

Pearl Edison, a Detroit-based startup, is collaborating with utilities to streamline and reduce the cost of home energy retrofit projects like installing solar panels and heat pumps. They have raised $3.3 million in seed funding from New System Ventures and Commonweal Ventures.

The company partners with utilities to identify potential customers for energy upgrades and creates a white-labeled website to facilitate sign-ups. Pearl Edison uses data to generate guaranteed price quotes and sends workers to verify plans before finalizing the design.

By working directly with utilities, Pearl Edison aims to reduce customer acquisition costs and offer homeowners savings on energy efficiency upgrades. They currently have programs with DT Energy in Michigan, Duquesne Light in Pittsburgh, and the city of Ann Arbor, Michigan, and plan to add more utility partners this year.

Venture Capital & Gender Equality

Women's Advancement in Venture Capital: A Decade of Progress

A recent report by All Raise indicates significant progress for women in venture capital. Women now hold 18.6% of top roles at leading VC firms, doubling the percentage since 2018.
The report highlights that many women received promotions last year, and investors are actively seeking to back underrepresented founders (75% of investors).
While few women lead mega-funds ($3 billion or more), there's a rise in women-led solo ventures. Over 100 women-led funds launched in the past decade, with nearly 180 firms raising $5.3 billion in 2023.

AI in Manufacturing

SixSense Secures $8.5M to Revolutionize Semiconductor Manufacturing with AI

SixSense, a Singapore-based deep tech startup, has raised $8.5 million in Series A funding to advance its AI-powered platform for real-time chip defect prediction and detection in semiconductor manufacturing. The platform aims to convert raw production data into actionable insights, helping factories prevent quality issues and improve yield. Founded by Akanksha Jagwani and Avni Agarwal, SixSense's technology is already used by major manufacturers like GlobalFoundries and JCET, resulting in faster production cycles, yield improvements, and reduced manual inspection work. The company is expanding into the U.S. amid geopolitical shifts driving new manufacturing investments globally.

Technology

Reddit's AI and Advertising Investments Drive Revenue Growth

Reddit's second-quarter earnings reveal a significant focus on AI, particularly in advertising. The company's revenue is primarily driven by ads, accounting for $465 million (93% of total revenue). New AI-powered marketing tools like Reddit Insights and Conversation Summary Add-ons have been launched to aid advertisers. Additionally, the data licensing business, involving deals with AI providers like Google and OpenAI, grew by 24% to $35 million. The Reddit Answers tool has also seen substantial growth, reaching 6 million weekly users. CEO Steve Huffman aims to integrate this tool deeper into the core search experience.

Technology

Apple Intensifies Focus on AI with Increased Investments and Strategic Acquisitions

Apple is increasing its investments in AI, viewing it as a crucial technology. CEO Tim Cook emphasized integrating AI across devices and platforms. The company is reallocating resources and making strategic acquisitions to enhance its AI capabilities.

Apple has launched over 20 AI features, including visual intelligence and writing tools, and plans to introduce live translation and an AI-powered workout buddy. However, the personalized Siri update has been delayed to 2026.

Cook believes AI devices will complement, not replace, the iPhone. Apple reported strong iPhone sales and record revenue in Q3, boosting its stock.

Mobile Technology

Apple's iPhone Milestone: 3 Billion Units Sold and Rising Revenue

Apple CEO Tim Cook announced that the company has sold 3 billion iPhones since its launch in 2007.

The first billion iPhones were sold in nine years (by 2016), while the next 2 billion were sold in the subsequent nine years, highlighting the product's increasing popularity.

iPhone sales generated $44.6 billion in revenue this quarter, a 13% year-over-year increase, representing nearly half of Apple's total revenue of $94 billion.

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman suggests that concerns about potential tariff-related price increases may have temporarily boosted iPhone sales.