Good evening!
Get ready: your WhatsApp messages might be getting monetized soon.
Here are the 7 things you missed today:
1. ✂️ Google is Planning to Cut Ties With Scale AI
Meta’s big investment in Scale AI last week might have some repercussions… apparently Google had planned to pay Scale AI $200 million this year, but is now having conversations with the startup’s competitors and is planning to cut ties. (TechCrunch)
2. 🍪 The Lawsuit That Started With a Cookie
An online retailer thought cookie banners were optional. One customer complaint turned into a privacy class action lawsuit.
The solution? Captain Compliance came in with a full audit, installed a legally compliant banner, and rewrote their policy in 24 hours.
The lawsuit was dropped, but the warning is clear: ignore privacy laws, and pay the price.
Start protecting your business today with Captain Compliance. Get a free privacy audit for your business and 25% off your first year.
3. 📞 WhatsApp is Getting Ads
Meta is beginning to test ads in WhatsApp’s Stories-like Status section, marking a significant step toward monetizing its most globally used messaging platform. The ad placements will appear in the updates tab, alongside updates from contacts and followed businesses. (The Verge)
4. 👀 Can AI Find Your Content?
AI chatbots can’t cite what they can’t find.
Doesn't matter how great your content or product is. If your competitors are earning links from credible sources, they’ll win search, and AI will cite them instead of you.
That’s what the folks at dofollow.com fix. They help B2B SaaS brands earn backlinks from sources that matter—so you rank higher, get surfaced by AI, and actually get seen.
5. 😬 Google Apologized for Friday’s Cloud Outage
Is it too late now to say sorry? Google Cloud issued an apology after a global outage on Friday disrupted major services including Cloudflare, OpenAI, and Shopify. The issue stemmed from a new feature that wasn’t immediately tested in real-world situations, and Google says it’s now implementing safeguards to prevent recurrence. (CNBC)
6. 🚗 Zoomcar Breach Impacted 8.4M User Accounts
Indian car-sharing platform Zoomcar revealed a hacker accessed the personal data of at least 8.4 million users, including their names, emails, and IP addresses. The company is investigating the incident and says it has taken steps to secure its systems amid growing scrutiny over cybersecurity in mobility platforms. (TechCrunch)
7. 💰 Aspora Raised $50M from Sequoia
Fintech startup Aspora has raised $50 million in Series B funding, coled by Sequoia and Greylock, to build remittance infrastructure tailored to the Indian diaspora, aiming to improve speed, cost, and transparency. The new round values the company at $500 million. (TechCrunch)
Bonus. 🤖 Level Up Your AI Game
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