Meta has announced that it is testing a premium subscription model on Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp. Meta stated that it plans to test different subscription features and bundles for each app over the next few months. Pricing and available regions have not yet been disclosed. The expansion of Manus, the AI agent suite recently acquired by Meta, is cited as a key pillar of the subscription strategy. Meta is pursuing a dual strategy of integrating Manus into its services while continuing to sell standalone subscriptions for enterprises [… ]
Google has unveiled a new feature that redefines the role of the web browser. Google announced the introduction of Auto Browsing, a Gemini-based automatic browsing feature, to Google Chrome for desktop. Based on Google's latest AI model, Gemini 3, this feature provides an agent-like experience that performs actual actions on behalf of the user during web browsing. Currently, Auto Browsing is being rolled out in stages to paid subscribers of Google AI Pro and AI Ultra [… ]
Kakao announced on January 28th that it had revamped the existing reply feature in open chats into a comment format with the KakaoTalk 26.1.0 update. This shift allows conversations to be hierarchically organized under a single original message, and is considered an example of applying the threaded communication model familiar from Slack and Discord to a popular messaging app. The focus of the redesign is on maintaining context. While replies made it easy to retrieve past messages, the increased number of replies made it difficult to keep track of the connections between them. The comment structure allows for specific messages […]
OpenAI has unveiled Prism, a free AI workspace for scientists. Prism is a product that integrates ChatGPT into a LaTeX editor widely used for writing academic papers, allowing researchers to receive immediate AI assistance while writing documents. MIT Technology Review compared this to the trend of adding chatbots to coding editors to boost productivity, stating that it is closer to "vibe coding" in the scientific field. Kevin Weil, who leads OpenAI for Science, stated in a briefing that 2026 will be science [… ]
Spotify is expanding its AI-based personalization features and testing "Prompted Playlists." This feature allows users to input their desired mood and situation via text, and Spotify generates a playlist based on listening history and music trend information. It has been reported that Spotify began an initial test with Premium users in New Zealand in December 2025. Subsequently, it is said that the service will be sequentially rolled out in beta form to Premium users in the U.S. and Canada starting January 22, 2026 [… ]
Speculation persists that Samsung Electronics will revamp Bixby around generative AI alongside the next-generation Galaxy S26 series. The key direction is to integrate Perflexity's question-and-answer capabilities into Bixby. While the existing Bixby excelled in device settings and basic command processing, Perflexity is known to be strong in web-based information retrieval and source-centric summarization. By combining these two pillars, users can control devices and access information [… ] with a single call.
With Switzerland set to officially launch its national electronic identity (eID) in 2026, the Federal Office for Information Technology and Communications (FOITT) and the Federal Office of Justice (FOJ) have unveiled the branding for the central wallet app, swiyu. Swiyu is the name of the federal government's digital wallet, and the eID rollout will be implemented in two phases. The branding, based on surveys and tests targeting language groups across Switzerland, prioritizes building trust. Visual identity […]
Evernote has unveiled the extensively updated v11. This v11 is the first major version since v10 in 2020 and is regarded as a milestone declaring a new leap forward based on the technological foundation accumulated over the past few years. The core of v11 is the direction of evolving Evernote into a user's second brain. While maintaining the existing structure of Notes, Notebooks, Spaces, Tasks, and Tags, it places artificial intelligence at the center to elevate information management and productivity to the next level. This version includes three [… ]
Netflix is adding real-time engagement features to its live content. Netflix announced the official launch of a new feature that allows viewers to vote directly during broadcasts. This feature will be first introduced through the live audition program Star Search, which premieres on January 20. While watching the show, subscribers can select multiple-choice options or rate contestants' performances on a five-star basis. Voting can be done via TV remote or the Netflix mobile app [… ]
Google has unveiled the Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP), an open standard targeting the next-generation commerce environment. UCP is a technical standard designed to connect the entire process from product browsing to payment into a single flow within a conversational AI environment. Its core feature is a simplified structure that enables consumer interface providers, payment providers, and retailers to connect using a common language. UCP was developed under the leadership of Google, and major commerce companies such as Shopify, Etsy, Walmart, and Target [… ]
OpenAI has unveiled its strategy to expand the ChatGPT service, along with plans to introduce new advertisements to broaden access to artificial intelligence. OpenAI explained that as AI evolves into personalized super assistants, who has access to this technology has a significant impact on the expansion of social opportunities. OpenAI has been providing powerful AI to more people through its free version and ChatGPT Go, a low-cost subscription model. ChatGPT Go […] last year
Apple has chosen Google's Gemini, rather than OpenAI's ChatGPT, as the AI foundation for the next-generation Siri. In a joint statement released on January 12, 2026, Apple and Google announced a multi-year collaboration to build the next-generation Apple Foundation model on top of the Gemini model and Google Cloud technologies. This model will underpin future Apple Intelligence features and will be applied to a more personalized Siri by 2026. In the joint statement, Apple stated that after an evaluation process […]
