Google Expands AI Mode Access – In a major move to stay ahead in the AI race, Google has expanded access to its experimental AI Mode in Search, opening the door for more users to experience smarter, more intuitive search capabilities. Launched earlier this year in March, AI Mode is Google’s answer to the growing popularity of platforms like ChatGPT’s search function and Perplexity AI.

What Is AI Mode?

For those unfamiliar, AI Mode allows users to ask complex, multi-part questions and continue with follow-up queries—creating a more natural and deep interaction with Search. Think of it as chatting with Google rather than just typing in keywords.

No More Waitlist: AI Mode Opens to All U.S. Users

Until now, AI Mode was limited to a waitlist through Google’s Labs program. But that’s changing. As of now, anyone in the United States aged 18 or older can access AI Mode, provided they are enrolled in Labs. This marks a significant step toward making the feature more mainstream.

Even more interesting, Google is now experimenting with bringing AI Mode directly into Search, outside of Labs. A new AI Mode tab is being tested and is visible to a small percentage of U.S. users, indicating a broader rollout might be on the horizon.

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What’s New in AI Mode?

With this latest update, Google isn’t just widening access—it’s also making AI Mode more powerful. Some of the new functionalities include:

Visual Cards for Places and Products: When searching for local businesses like restaurants or salons, users will now see visual cards that include essential information such as ratings, reviews, business hours, and more. This is a game-changer for those looking for quick, detailed insights without clicking through multiple websites.

Real-Time Product Details: Shopping-related queries get a major upgrade. You’ll be able to see live prices, current promotions, images, shipping options, and even local stock availability. If you’re planning a trip or looking for specific items, this feature brings all the data to one place.

Example Use Cases:

Searching for “best vintage shops with midcentury modern furniture” could now give you real-time updates on local stores, how busy they are, and contact options—all within AI Mode.

Planning a hiking trip? Try asking for “a foldable camping chair that fits in a backpack for under $100.” AI Mode will offer curated product recommendations with details and links to retailers.

Pick Up Where You Left Off

One of the more thoughtful additions is the ability to resume your previous searches and conversations in AI Mode. Especially useful for ongoing tasks like trip planning or research, this feature is currently available on desktop. A new left-side panel now displays your past AI Mode activity, allowing you to review previous answers and add follow-up questions.

What This Means for the Future of Search

With these upgrades, Google is clearly positioning AI Mode as a central part of how we’ll search in the future. By removing friction and enabling users to have deeper, more meaningful interactions with Search, the company is attempting to redefine our expectations from a search engine.

While still in testing, the move toward integrating AI Mode more directly into the main Search interface suggests that Google is confident in its direction. It’s not just about competing with OpenAI or Perplexity anymore—it’s about shaping the future of how we explore information online.

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Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg just made a bold statement that could forever alter the advertising industry as we know it.

In a recent interview with Stratechery’s Ben Thompson, Zuckerberg revealed his vision for the future of advertising — and it’s nothing short of revolutionary. The idea is simple: eliminate the current advertising ecosystem entirely and replace it with AI-generated content, targeting, and performance analysis. Zuckerberg discussed how Meta is already using AI to improve ad targeting, but now they’re taking it a step further.

Here’s the game-changing quote from Zuckerberg:

“But there’s still the creative piece, which is basically businesses come to us and they have a sense of what their message is or what their video is or their image, and that’s pretty hard to produce and I think we’re pretty close.”

“What if you could just produce an infinite number? Yeah, or we just make it for them. I mean, obviously, it’ll always be the case that they can come with a suggestion or here’s the creative that they want, especially if they really want to dial it in. But in general, we’re going to get to a point where you’re a business, you come to us, you tell us what your objective is, you connect to your bank account, you don’t need any creative, you don’t need any targeting demographic, you don’t need any measurement, except to be able to read the results that we spit out. I think that’s going to be huge, I think it is a redefinition of the category of advertising.”

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The End of Traditional Advertising?

What Zuckerberg is describing is a future where businesses would no longer need to hire agencies to create ads or manage their campaigns. Instead, businesses could simply tell Meta their goals, connect their payment methods, and let AI handle everything else. This would include generating photos, videos, writing copy, targeting the right audience, measuring performance, and continuously optimizing ads — all powered by AI.

This vision of “infinite creative” sounds like something straight out of a tech demo, but Zuckerberg’s comments suggest it’s closer to reality than we might think. The concept promises to streamline the advertising process to a degree never seen before, drastically reducing the need for agencies and advertisers to be involved in the day-to-day mechanics of ad creation and performance tracking.

The Industry’s Reaction: Fear and Distrust

Naturally, the advertising world wasn’t exactly thrilled about Zuckerberg’s comments. I reached out to some industry insiders to get their take, and the reactions were far from positive.

One CEO from a major ad agency had serious concerns about letting Meta handle both ad creation and optimization, calling it “a scary concept.” But the real concern came from Zuckerberg’s comment about letting businesses “read the results they spit out.” They argued that no client would trust results coming directly from Meta without independent verification, given the platform’s history of ad fraud scandals and questionable measurements.

Another media executive didn’t mince words: “‘Read the results that we spit out’ is gold,” they said. “It’s the full cycle from condescension to active antagonism. Meta is essentially saying, ‘We’ll fucking kill you.’”

It’s clear that Zuckerberg’s vision of AI-powered, hands-off advertising doesn’t sit well with the big brands and agencies who’ve spent years building systems to monitor and audit ad performance. With Meta taking control of the entire ad cycle — from creation to optimization to measurement — traditional advertisers may find themselves sidelined.

What This Means for Small Businesses and the Platform Economy

Meta’s plan might benefit smaller businesses that can’t afford traditional agencies, as AI tools could make ad creation and optimization more accessible. But this shift could lead to massive changes in the broader platform economy. As AI-generated ads become the norm, big agencies may move their advertising dollars to platforms that don’t fully automate the process.

At the end of the day, Zuckerberg’s vision for the future of advertising represents a seismic shift in how businesses connect with consumers. The question remains: will AI-driven ad creation and optimization truly replace the complex and trusted systems that the advertising industry has built over the years?

Only time will tell, but one thing is clear: the advertising industry is on the cusp of a massive transformation, and Meta is leading the charge.

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Artificial Intelligence (AI) has quickly become one of the most powerful forces shaping higher education today. But are educational institutions truly ready to harness it? A recent survey conducted by Inside Higher Ed and Hanover Research paints a sobering picture—one that should serve as a serious alert not just for universities abroad, but for Indian institutions as well.

The 2025 survey, which gathered responses from over 100 chief technology and information officers (CTOs) across U.S. colleges, revealed something critical: one in three tech leaders say their campus is far more reliant on AI than it was just a year ago. Yet, despite this growing dependence, many institutions still lack a clear and comprehensive strategy to govern its use.

A Fragmented Approach to AI Governance

What’s troubling is the fragmented way in which AI is being handled. Only a small number of colleges consider investments in generative AI a top priority, and just 19% of CTOs feel that higher education is managing AI effectively. In fact, 31% of institutions surveyed haven’t implemented any formal AI policies—nothing that covers its use in teaching, research, administration, or student services.

Chris van der Kaay, a former CIO and now a higher education consultant, warns that this lack of structure is adding to the existing chaos in the sector. According to him, unless colleges take control of how AI is deployed, they risk ceding that control to private corporations. In simpler terms: If educational leaders don’t lead the way, someone else will—and that might not be in the best interest of students or academic autonomy.

Technology Leaders Left Out of Strategy Talks

The survey also revealed that while 59% of CTOs are part of their institution’s executive leadership, nearly half believe their insights are not being utilized effectively in strategic planning. This disconnect becomes even more concerning when we realize that demand for online education is increasing, but colleges still lack strong AI governance frameworks to support it.

Only 11% of tech leaders said their institution has a well-defined AI strategy. And over half of them admitted their campuses are looking at AI in isolated, case-by-case ways instead of thinking holistically. This scattered mindset risks turning AI into just another tool—when in reality, it’s a transformative force that demands enterprise-level thinking.

Van der Kaay put it bluntly: “AI is not just another tool to help us do our jobs faster. It’s making us rethink why we do what we do.” That’s why a piecemeal approach—relying on outdated processes and policies—isn’t going to cut it.

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Security Concerns in a Hyper-Connected Era

The arrival of AI also brings new cybersecurity challenges. With AI tools enabling more sophisticated attacks, only three out of ten CTOs feel confident in their institution’s ability to protect against data breaches or ransomware. And it’s not just about buying the latest software.

As van der Kaay rightly points out, cybersecurity needs to be balanced with academic freedom. IT departments can’t simply lock systems down without first understanding how that impacts the learning experience. Cybersecurity has to be woven into the institution’s broader technology strategy, involving faculty, students, and administrators alike.

External Pressures and Shrinking Budgets

Another serious issue is financial instability. Under the current U.S. administration, federal research funding to universities has been slashed, affecting even well-funded institutions. At the same time, big tech companies are aggressively promoting AI-driven tools as solutions to boost student success—but not everyone in academia is convinced of their effectiveness.

Despite budget constraints, colleges are under pressure to innovate quickly. Yet, according to the survey, while 68% of CTOs see the importance of using data to support student success, and 59% prioritize AI in teaching and learning, very few institutions have made real progress in digital transformation. Only 39% have even set clear goals, and none have completed the journey.

Why? The biggest barriers cited were a lack of skilled IT staff, limited funding, and poor data integration. These are challenges Indian institutions are all too familiar with.

Data Isn’t Enough—Action Is What Counts

Glenda Morgan, an ed-tech market analyst, put it well: “Data alone tells you what’s wrong. But taking the right action is the hard part.” The recent push in U.S. policy to hold colleges accountable for unpaid student loans has added urgency to this issue. Institutions must act on data—not just collect it.

That means aligning AI and tech strategies with the student journey. It’s not about which tool is trendy, but about which one actually helps students learn better, graduate faster, and prepare for the workforce.

A New Era of AI Literacy in Schools

The conversation around AI isn’t limited to universities. A new executive order in the U.S. has pushed for AI education to begin in K-12 schools, supported by public-private partnerships. This move is significant. While schoolteachers may be required to integrate certain tools, university faculty still have more freedom to decide how (or if) they use AI in the classroom.

That freedom can be a strength—but only if supported by clear policies and funding. Marc Watkins from the University of Mississippi believes institutions will soon need to approach state legislatures for support in preparing both students and teachers for an AI-driven future.

He’s right: AI isn’t going anywhere. And colleges that don’t act now will struggle to keep up. The future workforce demands AI-literate graduates, and we can’t achieve that without AI-literate educators.

Access Gaps and the Need for Unified Policies

Some universities, like the California State University system, have already begun providing AI tools to all students. But the survey shows that nearly half of colleges still don’t offer such access. This digital divide will only grow unless institutions invest in AI policies that are not only visionary but also actionable.

As Watkins warns, having a policy on paper isn’t enough. “If every teacher or department sets their own AI rules, it creates chaos for students,” he said. How can students be expected to develop AI skills when their educators still view it as cheating?

Final Thoughts: Time to Lead, Not Follow

The message is clear: AI is here, and it’s not a passing trend. Colleges and universities—especially in India—must take charge of how they engage with this technology. It’s no longer about if we integrate AI into education, but how well we do it.

Institutions must create cohesive policies, build internal capacity, and make digital transformation a serious priority. Otherwise, we risk falling behind—not just in technology, but in preparing our students for the world they’re about to enter.

The leadership imperative is now. And the question is: Will colleges rise to meet it?

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In a major digital milestone, WhatsApp has now surpassed 3 billion monthly active users, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg confirmed during the company’s Q1 earnings call on Wednesday.

This achievement cements WhatsApp’s place among the world’s most widely used apps — joining Facebook as one of the few platforms to reach the 3 billion user mark. Notably, WhatsApp remains free of ads and has never charged users for access, making its growth even more remarkable.

From a Startup to a Global Communication Giant

WhatsApp was founded in 2009 and was acquired by Facebook (now Meta) in 2014 for a whopping $19 billion. Since then, its user base has steadily grown, hitting 2 billion monthly users in 2020 and now reaching a new high of 3 billion in 2024.

While the app began as a simple, ad-free messaging platform, it has evolved into one of Meta’s most valuable assets, particularly as the tech giant pivots toward artificial intelligence.

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WhatsApp and Meta’s AI Push

During the earnings call, Meta CFO Susan Li emphasized WhatsApp’s growing role in Meta’s AI strategy. She said WhatsApp is now the strongest channel for Meta AI usage among all of the company’s platforms — including Instagram and Facebook.

“Most WhatsApp users who interact with Meta AI are doing so in one-on-one chats,” Li said, highlighting the app’s personal and direct engagement model.

Zuckerberg added that while WhatsApp offers a natural entry point for AI features globally, Meta faces challenges in the U.S. market, where users still largely rely on built-in messaging apps like iMessage and SMS. To address this, Meta recently launched the standalone Meta AI app, aimed at becoming a key player in the American AI and messaging space.

“We hope to become the leader over time in the U.S. messaging market,” Zuckerberg said. “But we’re in a different position there than we are in most of the rest of the world on WhatsApp.”

WhatsApp Business: Fueling Revenue Growth

Beyond personal messaging, WhatsApp is also powering Meta’s business ambitions. The WhatsApp Business platform, which enables companies to connect with customers via automated chats and customer service tools, played a significant role in Meta’s recent revenue.

According to the company, WhatsApp Business helped drive a large portion of the $510 million generated by Meta’s family of apps last quarter.

Looking ahead, Meta is testing AI-powered tools for WhatsApp Business, including a new AI agent management dashboard. This feature will allow businesses to train Meta’s AI using their own content — such as website information, WhatsApp profiles, Instagram pages, and Facebook data.

The company is also exploring ways to enable businesses to deploy Meta’s AI chatbot directly within customer conversations on WhatsApp, which could dramatically change how businesses offer support and drive sales.

What This Means for Users and Businesses

With 3 billion users now actively using WhatsApp every month, the platform’s influence in both personal and professional communication is undeniable. Meta’s efforts to integrate AI features and expand WhatsApp Business tools indicate that the app is not just a messaging service anymore — it’s becoming a major hub for digital interaction, commerce, and AI-driven experiences.

As Meta continues its push into artificial intelligence, WhatsApp’s massive global reach may very well be the foundation on which the company builds its next generation of digital products.

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In a significant new development, Apple has begun notifying users across 100 countries that they may have been targeted by government-grade spyware. According to the individuals who received the alerts, Apple believes these attacks were carried out by what it calls “mercenary spyware” — surveillance software often developed by private companies and sold to governments.

So far, only two recipients of the warning have come forward publicly.

Who Was Targeted?

One of them is Italian journalist Ciro Pellegrino, who works with the digital news outlet Fanpage. In an article published Tuesday, Pellegrino said he received both an email and a text message from Apple. The message informed him that his iPhone may have been compromised by a targeted spyware attack.

“Today’s notification is being sent to affected users in 100 countries,” the alert read, according to Pellegrino. He noted in his article: “Did this really happen? Yes, it is not a joke.”

The second known recipient of Apple’s notification is Eva Vlaardingerbroek, a Dutch right-wing activist. On Wednesday, she posted a video on X (formerly Twitter) that included a screenshot of the warning she received.

“Apple detected a targeted mercenary spyware attack against your iPhone,” the message read. “This attack is likely targeting you specifically because of who you are or what you do. Although it’s never possible to achieve absolute certainty when detecting such attacks, Apple has high confidence in this warning — please take it seriously.”

Reacting to the message, Vlaardingerbroek called it “an attempt to intimidate me, an attempt to silence me, obviously.”

Neither Pellegrino nor Vlaardingerbroek responded to media requests for further comment.

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Apple’s Track Record With Spyware Warnings

This isn’t the first time Apple has warned users about targeted spyware. The company periodically sends out these types of alerts when it detects high-risk attacks, often advising affected users to connect with digital security organizations such as Citizen Lab or Access Now for support and investigation.

In fact, last year Apple issued two similar warnings affecting users in multiple countries. However, the company rarely names the spyware involved or the attackers behind it.

So far, Apple has not made a public statement regarding this most recent wave of alerts.

A Growing Pattern of Attacks in Italy

This incident marks the second time this year that an Italian journalist has been targeted with mercenary spyware. Back in February, WhatsApp notified Fanpage journalist Francesco Cancellato, a colleague of Pellegrino, that his device had also been attacked.

According to WhatsApp, the spyware in that case was developed by Paragon Solutions, an Israeli company that sells surveillance tools to governments. Digital watchdog Citizen Lab, which has investigated spyware abuse for over a decade, confirmed it was investigating the attack.

Following Cancellato’s revelation, two other individuals — employees of Mediterranea Saving Humans, a humanitarian organization focused on rescuing migrants — also came forward claiming they had been targeted by the same spyware.

Reports suggest that Paragon has since severed ties with its Italian government client following backlash over the surveillance of journalists and aid workers.

What’s Next?

While the exact nature of the spyware involved in Apple’s latest notifications remains unclear, the warnings add to growing concerns about the misuse of commercial surveillance tools. Human rights advocates have repeatedly called for stricter regulation and transparency around how these tools are sold and used — especially when they target journalists, activists, and civil society members.

With Apple sending alerts across 100 countries, this may only be the tip of the iceberg.

As more affected individuals come forward and further details emerge, this story is likely to develop quickly. We’ll continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as they become available.

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2025 Tech Layoffs – The wave of tech layoffs continues to surge in 2025, as companies across the globe tighten budgets, restructure teams, and reimagine their future workforce needs in the age of AI and automation.

Last year, over 150,000 tech workers lost their jobs across 549 companies, according to Layoffs.fyi. And this year, we’re already seeing significant job cuts — with more than 22,000 layoffs reported so far. February alone accounted for a massive 16,000+ job losses, a grim reminder that even the most innovative sectors aren’t immune to economic pressure and rapid change.

This live tracker provides a comprehensive and up-to-date list of tech layoffs in 2025. From global giants like Google and Intel to Indian startups like Cars24 and Zopper, the impact is widespread. Whether it’s cost-cutting, restructuring, or pausing IPO plans, each move tells a story of changing priorities and economic caution.

April 2025 Layoffs

Expedia

Laid off about 3% of its workforce, mostly from product and technology roles. This comes after hundreds were cut from the marketing team in March.

Cars24

Cut around 200 employees in tech and product. The Indian used-car platform has raised $450M since 2023 and is now focusing on profitability.

Meta

Let go of 100+ employees in its Reality Labs division, affecting teams working on VR experiences for Quest and hardware operations.

Intel

Announced a massive layoff of over 21,000 employees — roughly 20% of its workforce — ahead of its Q1 earnings call under new CEO Lip-Bu Tan.

GM

Laid off 200 workers at its Michigan EV factory amid the slowdown in electric vehicle demand.

Zopper

Let go of 100 employees this year, with 50+ job cuts just last week. The Indian insurtech firm has raised $125M to date.

Turo

Reduced its workforce by 150 positions after delaying its IPO. The move is aimed at ensuring long-term growth amid economic uncertainty.

GupShup

Fired about 200 employees — its second round of layoffs in five months. The conversational AI firm aims to boost efficiency.

Forto

Eliminated 200 roles — around one-third of its staff. The German logistics startup mainly reduced its sales team.

Wicresoft

Ended operations in China, laying off 2,000 workers. This follows Microsoft’s decision to stop outsourcing support to its joint venture amid trade tensions.

Five9

Cut 123 jobs (4% of staff) to focus on AI and strategic growth areas.

Google

Laid off hundreds from its platforms and devices division, including Android, Pixel, and Chrome teams.

Microsoft

Is reportedly planning more layoffs by May, especially middle managers and non-technical roles, aiming to increase coder-to-PM ratios.

Automattic

The company behind WordPress.com is cutting 16% of its staff (270+ employees), as part of a company-wide restructure.

Canva

Laid off 10–12 technical writers, months after encouraging teams to adopt generative AI tools.

March 2025 Layoffs

Northvolt

Fired 2,800 employees — over 60% of its total workforce — after filing for bankruptcy.

Block (formerly Square)

Cut 931 jobs (8%). CEO Jack Dorsey clarified the layoffs weren’t AI-driven, but aimed at internal restructuring.

Brightcove

Let go of 198 U.S.-based employees — nearly two-thirds of its domestic workforce — after being acquired by Bending Spoons.

Acxiom

Laid off 130 workers (3.5% of total) following a proposed merger of its parent company, IPG, with Omnicom.

Sequoia Capital

Closed its Washington D.C. office, laying off three employees in a strategic shift away from policy engagement.

Siemens

Announced 5,600 global job cuts in its EV and automation segments to remain competitive.

HelloFresh

Laid off 273 employees, closing a Texas distribution center to consolidate operations.

Otorio

Cut over 50% of its workforce post-acquisition by Armis, downsizing to streamline operations.

ActiveFence & D-ID

Both cybersecurity startups announced layoffs — 7% and 25% of their staff respectively — during restructuring.

NASA

Closed multiple offices including its Office of Technology and DEI branch amid federal restructuring, linked loosely to political shifts.

Wayfair

Cut 340 jobs in its tech division as it shifts business priorities.

HPE, TikTok, Ola Electric, LiveRamp, Rec Room

All announced notable job cuts ranging from 300 to 2,500 roles, either due to market challenges or internal streamlining.

February 2025 Layoffs

HP

Cutting up to 2,000 jobs to save $300M as part of its “Future Now” plan.

Grubhub

Laid off 500 employees following its $650M sale to Wonder Group.

Autodesk

Let go of 1,350 employees (9%) amid GTM strategy changes.

Google

Announced a new voluntary exit program and reorganized its People Ops and Cloud divisions.

Starbucks

Slashed 1,100 tech jobs as it shifts to outsourcing some IT functions.

Blue Origin

Cut 1,000+ roles, mainly in engineering, amid shifting project priorities.

Salesforce

Laid off 1,000+ employees, even as it aggressively hires for AI initiatives.

Workday

Cut 1,750 jobs (8.5%), citing a need to stay lean in the current environment.

Unity, JustWorks, Sonos, Sprinklr, Okta, Cruise

All these companies made headlines for letting go of hundreds to thousands of workers due to underperformance or major pivots.

January 2025 Layoffs

Amazon, Stripe, Meta, Wayfair

Each kicked off the year with major job cuts, ranging from communications teams to country-wide operations (like Wayfair’s exit from Germany).

Cushion, Pandion, Pocket FM, SolarEdge

Startups both big and small announced shutdowns or significant headcount reductions as investor sentiment tightens and costs rise.

Why Are These Layoffs Happening?

From global inflation and declining ad revenues to AI-driven restructuring and failed IPOs, the causes are varied but interconnected. Many firms are prioritizing profitability, automation, and long-term sustainability over aggressive growth.

While innovation continues at breakneck speed, the human cost behind that progress remains a critical story — one that deserves tracking, analysis, and empathy.

Stay updated with this evolving list — we’ll continue to track the latest layoffs and what they mean for the future of tech, jobs, and startups.

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