WhatsApp May Replace Phone Numbers With Usernames Soon
WhatsApp, the world’s most popular messaging platform may soon replace phone numbers with quirky usernames. The Meta-owned company is rolling out a new update through the Google Play Beta Program, to version 2.23.11.15 which is under development, according to WhatsApp beta testing website WABetaInfo.
“In the past months, we shared a lot of articles about new features in development for WhatsApp. These features confirm their commitment to providing a better user experience to all people, but we have something else important to announce today. After installing the latest WhatsApp beta for Android 2.23.11.15 update from the Google Play Store, we spotted a significant feature during our usual exploration of the new build,” WABetaInfo wrote on its page.
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High-Ranking Meta India Execs Among Those Who Were Let Go
Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook, has implemented another round of job cuts as part of its plan to eliminate 10,000 roles. This is the final phase of a three-part layoff initiative announced in March. Employees from various departments, including marketing, site security, enterprise engineering, program management, content strategy, and corporate communications, took to LinkedIn to inform others about their layoffs, as reported by Reuters.
In addition to these teams, Meta also reduced its workforce in units focused on privacy and integrity, as mentioned in the LinkedIn posts. These job cuts mark the second round of mass layoffs at Meta this year, with over 11,000 employees already let go previously. The company’s employee count has now returned to a level similar to mid-2021 after a significant increase in its workforce through hiring initiatives in 2020.
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Brain Implants: Elon Musk’s Neuralink Gets US FDA Nod To Start Human Trials
Neuralink, the brain-implant company founded by Elon Musk, announced on Thursday that it had received approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to commence its first clinical study involving human participants. This is a significant milestone for the company, which had previously faced challenges in obtaining approval.
Since 2019, Musk has made multiple predictions about initiating human trials for a brain implant designed to treat severe conditions like paralysis and blindness. However, Neuralink, established in 2016, only pursued FDA approval in early 2022, resulting in the rejection of their application, according to seven current and former employees who spoke to Reuters in March.
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