This week, Claude 2 — the latest rival to OpenAI’s ChatGPT — was released by AI startup Anthropic.

Powered by a large language model, the chatbot will respond to questions and prompts in natural language. It can also summarize text, write topics, and assist in coding. 

So, if ChatGPT is down and you’re scratching your head for another option, this “safe and steerable” alternative may fit the bill. Let’s take a look at it.

Who’s Behind This Ethical Chatbot?

Anthropic considers itself an AI safety and research company. Founded by former senior members of the OpenAI team, Daniela and Dario Amodei, it aims to be ethically driven in comparison to its generative AI counterparts and has a primary focus on “reliable, interpretable, and steerable” AI systems.

Claude 2 is the second version of its chatbot model, which had previously only been available to businesses via integration with products like Slack and Zoom. Anthropic claim that Claude 2 is easier to converse with than its predecessor and can produce even longer responses. 

The risks of chatbots’ misinformation, hallucinations, copyright infringements, and completely made-up sources are raising more and more concerns. However, Anthropic has also said Claude 2 is “less likely to produce harmful outputs.” In a blog post it stated:

“We’ve been iterating to improve the underlying safety of Claude 2, so that it is more harmless and harder to prompt to produce offensive or dangerous output.”

Interestingly, it was reported that Google had invested in Anthropic back in February 2023.

How To Start Using Claude 2

For those in the US and UK, Claude 2 is available now in open beta. Simply head to Claude.ai and enter an email address or sign in with Google.

You’ll get a reminder that the chatbot is currently in beta and some of its features may not be available for free users. There will then be a handful of pages reminding users that the chatbot shouldn’t be used to give “legal, financial and medical advice,” absolving Anthropic and Claude 2 of any misuse. 

It’s also worth remembering that some of your conversations with Claude 2 could be reviewed and used to improve Anthropic’s safety systems.

After all the formalities you’ll get to the chatbot itself, which features a clean and simple user interface. Once at this stage, you’re ready to get going with Claude 2, and Anthropic has even provided suggested prompts, like “summarize this PDF document in a bullet point outline.”

Plans to roll out the chatbot globally are in the works and should happen in the next few months.

Is Claude 2 Any Good?

New chatbots and AI text generators are all well and good, but if they don’t hit the mark performance-wise then their chances of success against the likes of ChatGPT and Bard are pretty slim. 

According to Anthropic, Claude 2 scored 76.5% on the multiple-choice section of the Bar exam. It also features coding skills that outweigh its predecessor, scoring 71.2% on a Python coding test, compared to it’s predecessor’s 56% on the same test.

While it seems a legitimate competitor to the current AI heavyweights, having the most robust and intelligent performance is, of course, not at the top of the agenda for this “responsible and ethical” alternative. Anthropic has even created measures to ensure its chatbot is less vulnerable to corrupt uses.

“We have an internal red-teaming evaluation that scores our models on a large representative set of harmful prompts, using an automated test while we also regularly check the results manually.” – Anthropic, in a statement

While it’s a case of “time will tell” as to whether Claude 2 joins ChatGPT and Bard as the primary chatbots of choice, its introduction has just certainly things a lot more interesting.

Google Calendar has just launched a new feature that allows professionals and freelancers the ability to take paid appointment bookings. This functionality is likely to be useful for SMEs and entrepreneurs or those in the service industry who work in paid blocks, such as tutors and therapists.

The update is seen as an improvement on the tool’s appointment scheduling functionality. It also highlights the company’s focus on increasing processes and productivity for its business users, having last month scrapped passwords for business accounts in favour of passkeys.

Paid Appointments Will Cut The Risk Of No-Shows

In a blog post, the Google Workspace team explained that it had partnered with Stripe for the new feature. To start accepting payments, service providers can connect their existing Stripe account to Calendar or open up a new one from inside the tool.

From there, users can update their appointment schedule by ticking the ‘require payment when booking’ box. Below this is the option to set a price and currency. Users will be able to set and manage their own cancellation and refund policies, which will appear on the booking form, but Google won’t assist on that side of things.

The customer booking an appointment will visit the booking page, select a preferred time and then enter their credit card details to reserve the slot. The primary benefits of this feature aim to reduce the number of customers who book an appointment but don’t turn up, as well as streamlining payment management – both costly situations for any business.

Google also confirmed it won’t be charging any platform fees, and nor will it store or process any payment information.

When are Calendar Bookings Rolling Out?

A rollout can be expected across the next few days, for users subscribed to Business Standard, Business plus, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Education Fundamentals, Education Standard, Education Plus, the Teaching and Learning Upgrade edition, Nonprofits and Workspace Individuals.

Calendly, the schedule management app, has had a similar paid feature for over a year now. However, for those using Google Calendar exclusively, this update is likely to be a welcome one.

Calendar Features Celebrate A New Working Era

The paid appointment booking tool joins another new Google Calendar feature, which allows users to show their working location – either at home or in the office – throughout the day. Recently introduced, this functionality has proved useful for hybrid workers and is a signifier of the monumental shift to flexible working.

After the COVID-19 pandemic, a surge in American entrepreneurship was seen with over 5 million new business applications received in 2022 – the second largest figure on record. With tech companies continuing to develop tools that acknowledge this new working landscape, they’re also seemingly expediting it and making life easier for SMEs and entrepreneurs in the process.

If you’ve been searching for tweets that link to Threads, chances are you’re not going to find them. This week the platform was recently discovered to be “selectively blocking” the content, meaning those looking to locate a user’s Threads profile or surface a conversation will find it impossible. 

The speculated aim of this move seems to be in response to Twitter’s declining user numbers. While Twitter CEO Linda Yaccarino has celebrated the platform’s recent boom in traffic, reports elsewhere show it actually declined by 5% during Threads’ first 2 days.

In comparison, the Meta rival has topped 100 million users in 5 days, topping ChatGPT’s record for taking two months to reach that scale.

When Did Twitter Start “Selectively Blocking” Searches?

While it’s not known exactly when this block came into effect, it was discovered and reported on Monday 10 July by technologist and blogger Andy Baio.

In a Threads post he explained that he’d tried to undertake a search on Twitter using “url:threads.net” but it shared no results. This is in comparison to a typical search using the operator “url:” which usually would have usually pulled in any tweets linking to a specific website.

A simpler search without “url:” will return tweets that include threads.net or Threads usernames, but not direct discussions.

This Isn’t Twitter’s First Time At The Block Button

When it comes to blocking other platforms and websites from its searches, Twitter has form. When Substack launched its Twitter-feed style Substack Notes feature, the platform began censoring those links too. This resulted in users not being able to reply to, like or retweet any posts that simply mentioned “substack”.

Musk defended these restrictions by claiming that Substack was trying to capitalize on Twitter’s database to enhance their own platform. 

The current block on Threads doesn’t do this, but at this point who knows what new restrictions are on the horizon.

Similar frustrating blocks have been felt, with Musk stopping huge amounts of third-party apps from using Twitter’s API by putting in a paywall.

The Twitter vs Meta Rivalry Rolls On

Despite this blocking controversy, Yaccarino this week announced a boom in traffic on the platform. The CEO stated it experienced its “largest usage day since February” in what could be considered a move to reassure advertisers who have been spooked about the platform’s robustness of late.

These comments also follow speculation and reports that Twitter traffic has tanked since Threads’ meteoric rise.

However, Yaccarino’s figures don’t tally up with the data seen by web analytics firm Similarweb. Cited by CNBC, Twitter’s web traffic was shown to have declined by 5% in the first 2 days that Threads was available for general use. Data also showed that web traffic was down 11% compared to the same time last year. 

While the heated Twitter vs Threads rivalry continues to burn, with Meta seemingly coming out on top, it’s worth considering that this gain could simply be that typical user excitement for a new app.

The true test of Threads’ long-term future will be seen when the initial buzz of its launch has died down, and in Twitter’s ability to retain users and win back advertisers.

There’s a new social media platform in town! Threads — the Twitter alternative from Meta — launched this month, becoming instantly popular and amassing hundreds of millions of followers in just a few days.

There are plenty of other Twitter alternatives out there since Elon Musk acquired the social media company, all fighting for the users that have jumped ship since the controversial CEO took over. But if you want to know what separates Threads and Twitter, you’ve come to the right place.

Whether you’ve downloaded the new social media app or not, you’re likely a bit confused about whether or not Threads and Twitter are different at all. In this guide, we’ll explain how these two social media platforms differ, so you can decide which one is right for you.

Threads vs Twitter: Head-to-Head

Here’s how Twitter and Threads match up on basic features like post length, photos, and trending pages.

Check out our What Is Threads? guide for more detailed information

Note: These metrics are based on free Twitter users; Twitter Blue subscribers are able to post videos with no time limit, post longer Tweets, and edit posts.

Threads is growing faster than Twitter

While Twitter admittedly has a 17-year head start on Threads, the Meta-owned social media platform has taken off in the short time since its launch. In fact, as of writing, Threads has grown to 100 million followers, becoming the fastest social media platform in history to achieve that goal.

Twitter, on the other hand, is having trouble holding onto their current users, let alone attracting new users. In fact, a study in May found that 25% of users expect to ditch Twitter within the year. Suffice it to say, Threads is on the rise, and Twitter is on the decline.

Twitter has more features than Threads

As you likely saw from the table above, Twitter is still well ahead of Threads when it comes to actual functionality. Twitter has a discovery page, a following page, hashtags, and direct messaging, all of which has yet to come to Threads in any capacity.

Still, Threads is barely a week old, and the resources behind Meta are obviously substantial. Considering Zuck and the CEO of Threads have both confirmed new features are on the way, it’s safe to say that this win for Twitter may be short lived.

Threads has a better verification system than Twitter

One of the biggest problems with Twitter since Musk’s takeover was the verification fiasco, in which the platform did away with standard verification and instead made the blue check purchasable for all users. This caused utter confusion and led to a wide range of misinformation regarding brands and notable celebrities.

Threads, on the other hand, has not only kept the standard verification system, but also carried it over from Instagram, so if your account is verified on the popular photo-sharing app, you’ll also be verified on Threads.

Twitter is more toxic than Threads

We can all admit that Twitter is a bit toxic, and recently, it’s not just because it’s amassed 17 years’ worth of trolls. Musk also fired many of the social media platform’s content moderators, leaving users to be particularly unkind to anyone they come across with little consequence.

Compared to Twitter, Threads is a breath of fresh air, with individuals and brands engaging in a friendly way, so far. Admittedly, the positivity can be a bit much, but it’s certainly better than being called a racial slur for supporting a particular sports team.

Threads is a part of Meta, and Twitter isn’t

While Threads is admittedly a pleasant departure from the depravity of Twitter, let’s not forget that its parent company Meta has been far from perfect when it comes to protecting user data. In fact, the Threads privacy policy has already come under fire from many, citing the same problematic tracking behavior found on Facebook and Instagram.

Twitter certainly isn’t perfect either, though, with the company’s security executives resigning due to the platform’s poor privacy practices. Still, if you check the data safety features in the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store, you’ll see that Twitter is tracking far less than its competitors.

Threads Features Pending

Twitter may have more functionality for now, but it’s important to remember that, as of writing, Threads is only a week old. There’s more than a 100% chance that Meta is going to continue to add and improve Threads to be a full-fledged Twitter alternative.

Even better, Mark Zuckerberg and Threads CEO Adam Mosseri have confirmed that some new features will be coming, noting specifically that they are “on the list.” Here are some of the features likely coming to Threads in the near future:

• The ability to edit posts
• Support for multiple languages
• Simple account switching
• Improved desktop functionality

All that to say, in its short existence, Threads has proven to be a viable alternative to Twitter, and there’s a good chance it’s only going to get better. Check back here for more updates as the social media platform becomes part of everyday life.

It looks like generative AI is finally going to get reined in a bit, at least in China, as the country is reportedly making plans to more effectively regulate the burgeoning technology.

Generative AI platforms like ChatGPT and Google Bard have been on the rise lately, with businesses around the world taking advantage of the productivity-increasing systems.

However, many concerns about AI have been raised, and meaningful regulations have been slow to materialize. That may change in China, though.

China May Require License for AI Development

According to a report from the Financial Times, the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) — the primary regulatory organization in the country — is considering imposing stricter regulations around the use and development of generative AI platforms.

More specifically, these new rules would require businesses to acquire a license before releasing an AI model to the public. The primary goal of these measures is content control, as the country is well-known for its censorship of the internet to better control its people.

The new licensing regulations could be finalized “as early as next month,” according to the report.

Tech Ambition vs Content Control

As the Financial Times pointed out, the generative AI discussion is particularly difficult for Chinese officials. The country is currently in a mad dash for tech supremacy, competing with the west for AI dominance, battling the likes of Microsoft and Google to become the go-to AI solution for businesses around the world.

However, the country is fervently committed to controlling all the information available to its citizens, and the report noted that China wants to ensure that the information available will “embody core socialist values,” and should not “subvert state power, advocate the overthrow of the socialist system, incite splitting the country or undermine national unity.”

As a result, these regulations aren’t as clear cut as they usually are in China. After all, regulations in other parts of the world have had a negative impact, with ChatGPT nearly threatening to leave Europe due to potential EU regulations.

Regulating Generative AI Platforms

There are a lot of benefits to generative AI platforms like ChatGPT. Businesses have reported improvements in revenue and productivity due to the use of these systems, and employees are even using them to make work easier (sometimes without their bosses knowing).

Still, there are plenty of potential downsides that could lead to global problems down the line. The systems are primed to spread misinformation, prone to plagiarism, and companies and countries alike have even banned the tech outright from employee use.

All that to say, a little regulation is probably a good thing in the long run, but it’s safe to assume that China is doing it for all the wrong reasons. After all, if your primary concern is what information your citizens can get access to and not whether the technology will ruin the economy by impacting 80% of all jobs, your heart probably isn’t in the right place.

The updates are already in the works for Threads, the Twitter rival from Meta, including a chronological feed that exclusively shows posts from people you actually follow.

Threads has exploded in popularity since launching last week, amassing an impressive 100 million followers in the short period of time. The influx of users has shaken up the social media world, particularly over at Twitter, where the Musk-headed company has struggled on everything from content moderation to ad revenue.

Threads is far from perfect, with a wide range of features still in development, but one of the more requested upgrades has already been confirmed.

Threads CEO Confirms Upcoming Update

In a Threads exchange last week, CEO Adam Mosseri confirmed that a chronological feed that only shows posts from users that you follow is “on the list” of future updates coming to the popular social media platform.

If that isn’t convincing enough, Mark Zuckerberg — the CEO of Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and now Threads — posted the “thumbs up” emoji in response to the request, which should be all the proof you need that this feature is coming soon.

No timeline has been revealed for this feature’s roll out, but given the speed with which Threads has become popular and the resources available to its parent company Meta, it’s safe to assume you’ll see a chronological feed of just your followed users sooner rather than later.

What Other Features Will Be Added to Threads?

While a home feed is one of the most requested features to add to Threads, it certainly isn’t the only one that is coming down the pipeline. Mosseri and Zuckerberg have hinted at a few other additions that will be rolling out over the course of the platform’s lifetime, including:

• The ability to edit posts
• Support for multiple languages
• Simple account switching

That’s not all, though. Threads, like its photo-focused compatriot Instagram, is lacking when it comes to desktop functionality, prohibiting posting if you aren’t in the app. Fortunately, Mosseri notes that they are “working on it,” so you should be able to avoid work on your laptop as well as your phone.

Will Threads Kill Twitter?

Given the surge in popularity only a week into its existence, there are many wondering if Threads could actually be the Twitter alternative to take down the social media platform once and for all.

It’s certainly much more plausible than it was even a few years ago. Twitter has seen its fair share of issues since Elon Musk took over, from advertisers fleeing the platform to content moderation taking a serious hit. Heck, the company isn’t even paying rent, which could lead to evictions from its headquarters.

Threads is already facing a bit of controversy, though, which may make the ascent to top dog that much more difficult. For starters, the privacy policy is drawing criticism, considering it follows many of the problematic practices of the other Meta apps like Facebook and Instagram. On top of that, Twitter has already threatened a lawsuit against Meta for essentially copying the app to steal users.

All that to say, we’re in the early stages of the Twitter vs Threads discussion, so it’s hard to say which one will come out on top. Either way, it’s shaping up to be quite the battle.

Apple issued an emergency Rapid Security Response (RSR) to address a malicious zero-day vulnerability spotted in fully-patched iPhones, iPads, and Macs – and then withdrew it after it appeared to have caused a serious bug in Safari.

The update from Apple, for devices running on iOS 16.5.1, iPadOS  16.5.1, or ‌macOS Ventura‌ 13.4.1, was designed to protect users from the CVE-2023-37450 vulnerability.

The urgent RSR patch has only been issued once before in the company’s history. It is likely that it will be reissued as soon as the safari bug has been addressed.

Apple Releases Emergency Security Update, then Withdraws It

Apple released an urgent security patch to address a zero-day vulnerability that has been spotted on the latest versions of iOS, iPadOS, and macOS software.

The bug, known as CVE-2023-37450, puts un-patched users at risk of malware attacks by making it possible for bad actors to gain arbitrary code execution on targeted devices.

“This Rapid Security Response provides important security fixes and is recommended for all users” – Apple’s security update

The vulnerability was first reported by an anonymous security researcher after being found in Apple Safari’s WebKit browser engine, and is currently believed to be being exploited.

However, Apple withdrew the update shortly after it was originally issued.

Why was Apple Security Update Withdrawn?

The update appears to have been removed after users reported issues with using Safari after installing the latest patch – specifically, sites including Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, Zoom and others issued warnings about not being supported by the Safari browser.

Following this, Apple pulled the Rapid Security Response, presumably to iron out the Safari bug.

The update is an important one, and as such Apple is expected to reissue it as soon as the bugs have been resolved.

What is Apple’s Rapid Security Response?

Apple has patched ten zero-day vulnerabilities so far in 2023, including three bugs earlier this month which were exploited to deploy Triangulation spyware on iPhones, and two bugs in April which involved high-risk targets.

However, Apple’s Rapid Security Response is a new type of patch that has only been deployed two times in total.

According to Apple’s own statement, its new RSR response delivers “important security improvements between software updates” and may also be used to mitigate some security issues more quickly, such as issues that might have been exploited or reported to exist in the wild.”

In contrast to general security patches, RSR appears to be deployed in high-stakes, urgent situations, when targets are already being exploited. They also require users to make updates themselves, instead of making changes to the software automatically.

How To Get the Security Update When Reissued

Fortunately, installing Apple’s RSR security update is straightforward. If you have an iPhone or iPad, all you need to do is follow the steps below:

1. Open your “General Settings”
2. Go to “Software Update”
3. Depending on your device, click “Download and Install” when you see “iOS Security Response Update 16.5.1 (a)” or “iPadOS Security Response Update 16.5.1 (a)

Mac user? Follow these steps instead:

1. Open up “System Settings” on Apple’s menu, and select “General”
2. Go to “Software Update” and select  “macOS Security Response Update 13.4.1 (a)” as available

After you click download, the hardware will then reboot to complete the installation.

Microsoft has announced it will be letting go of 276 Washington-based workers, as the software company restructures parts of its business just 11 days into its new financial year.

These recent cuts, which have affected customer service, sales, and support roles, build on the 10,000 global layoffs it announced on January 18 as the company continues to offset mammoth hiring efforts that took place throughout Covid-19.

While the US employment rate remains stable at large, Microsoft’s latest dismissals are the latest in a long line of layoffs to plague the tech sector in 2023. Here’s what we know so far.

Microsoft Announces Another Round of Layoffs

According to an internal announcement Microsoft released on Monday morning, the software provider and OpenAI partner has announced another round of layoffs at the start of their financial year, as part of a strategic restructuring effort.

While the big tech company hasn’t announced the number of cuts publically, a filing with Washington state’s Employment Security Department revealed that 276 Seattle-based workers have been affected in total.

Unlike previous layoffs, which have affected a broad range of divisions including marketing and the Internet of Things (IoT), these cuts have exclusively targeted customer service, support, and sales roles.

“We will continue to prioritize and invest in strategic growth areas for our future and in support of our customers and partners.” – Microsoft spokesperson

A Microsoft spokesperson said that these “organizational and workforce adjustments” are a necessary part of running their business, but explain that they will continue to invest in “high growth areas” of the business.

Microsoft Doubles Down on AI Investment

This isn’t an uncommon strategy for Microsoft. When the Washington-based company announced it would be cutting 10,000 roles in January 2023 — equating to around 5% of its total workforce — its CEO Satya Nadella claimed they would continue hiring in “strategic areas”.

These hiring efforts appear to be largely focused on AI, as the tech giant enters a new phase of its partnership with ChatGPT owner OpenAI, and continues to ramp up its responsible AI program, which is part of its concerted effort to address the ethical implications of AI.

“Moving forward, we know we need to invest even more in our responsible AI ecosystem by hiring new and diverse talent, assigning additional talent to focus on responsible AI full time, and upskilling more people throughout the company.” – Natasha Crampton, Chief Responsible AI Officer at Microsoft

In a blog post released in May, Microsoft’s Chief Responsible AI Officer Natasha Crampton announced that investing in teams is necessary for the program to succeed — alongside building governance models and establishing committed leadership for responsible AI.

However, despite Crampton’s desire to hire “new and diverse talent” to support Microsofts burgeoning “AI ecosystem”, no official hiring timeline has been announced.

Threads, the new social conversations app from Mark Zuckerberg and Meta, has soared past the 100 million user mark less than a week after being released.

Rollout of Threads started on June 5 in the Americas and June 6 in the rest of the world, excluding most European countries where it has yet to be approved by EU regulators. Passing the 100 million milestone just five days after launch is no small feat for the platform, which has instantly been hailed as one of the best Twitter alternatives despite missing some key features in its current incarnation.

In fact, it makes Threads the fast-growing app ever according to the data. For reference, global sensation Pokémon Go is estimated to have topped 100 million installs about a month after its launch back in 2016, while ChatGPT took nearly two months to clear the same mark in more recent memory.

The Instagram Threads Story So Far

Shortly after its launch last week, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg was on Threads with regular updates about the app’s adoption. According to the Facebook and Instagram supremo, Threads got 2 million users in its first two hours; 5 million sign-ups in four hours; and had passed 10 million users in seven hours. After approximately a day, Zuckerberg estimated that more than 30 million people had signed up for the new social media platform.

Attracting that kind of traction is such a short period of time is a major achievement, albeit one that’s made a little bit easier by the fact that “signing up” for Threads is largely a case of linking an existing Instagram account. It’s not to say the launch of app has been all plain sailing, either, as already the Threads privacy policy is taking its fair share of heat.

So too is  a slightly threadbare Threads feature set. Users have been as quick to point out Threads’ shortcomings as they have to download it, including things like the lack of a web interface, no Following feed (and a misfiring algorithm instead only suggesting posts), and the absence of direct messaging functionality. None of that has stopped it being anointed the “Twitter Killer,” however, and further escalating the war of words between Meta CEO and his counterpart at Twitter, Elon Musk.

Zuckerberg vs Musk Just Won’t Go Away

In many ways, Musk vs Zuckerberg needs no introduction. Most rivalries veering towards PPV fight infamy don’t. Yet in the context of Threads and Twitter, there are some genuine points of intrigue. Shortly after the launch of Threads, Twitter bosses wrote to Meta and warned it against using “trade secrets” in the development of its new platform. Musk, of course, was more blunt in his outward appraisal of the situation, saying: “Competition is fine, cheating is not.”

Central to the cease-and-desist letter are accusations that ex-Twitter employees poached by Meta have brought various bits of intellectual property with them. It might be difficult to prove, given that the idea of text-based online discussion is almost as old as the internet itself, going back at least as far as the Usenet and BBS forums of yesteryear.

That hasn’t stopped Musk from seeking to further escalate his public dispute with Zuckerberg. Over the weekend, the Tesla and SpaceX billionaire was characteristically active online, saying that Threads is “just Instagram minus the pics” before later tweeting: “Zuck is a cuck.” The latter snippet is being interpreted as an archaic attack on Zuckerberg’s masculinity, as it potentially alludes to the medieval insult “cuckold.”

Threads Still Missing That Killer Feature

If Threads wants to kill off Twitter, its rapid adoption suggests it’s well placed to do so. However, it’s unlikely to render the rival platform null and void unless it brings something new to the party and can carve out an identity of its own, beyond being “Twitter before Twitter was ruined.” In other words, Musk isn’t actually that wide of the mark: Threads is basically just another text-based social app, albeit one that promises more proactive community moderation and friendlier vibes as a result.

Its “killer feature,” if it has one at this early stage of its existence, is the promise of integration with the fediverse. What is the the fediverse, we hear you ask? The portmanteau of “federated” and “universe” is a relatively new concept that basically refers to a loose networks of decentralized servers sharing data with one and other.

In relation to social media, it basically means that not only will Threads let you share and interact with people across Meta’s stable of apps, like Facebook and Instagram, but also third-party ones, with Mastodon being the first integration that has been mooted. This kind of distinctive feature is something that would not only convert disenfranchised Twitter users into Threaders, but also help win over the TikTok demographic – and the all-important advertising clout that comes with them.

Unfortunately, like much of Threads, it seems fediverse integration isn’t quite catwalk ready at this stage.

OpenAI and Meta are being sued for copyright infringement in US District Court by a trio of authors including the comedian Sarah Silverman.

At the heart of the lawsuit are allegations that OpenAI’s GPT-3.5 and GPT-4 and Meta’s LLaMA Large Language Models (LLM) were trained using copyrighted works illegally scraped from book torrenting websites.

As well as Silverman’s works, including her 2010 memoir Bedwetter,  books by Chris Golden (Ararat) and Richard Kadrey (Sandman Slim) are also cited as examples of the LLMs summarizing copyrighted works without attribution.

Sarah Silverman vs OpenAI and Meta Explained

While closely linked, the lawsuits being levelled by the authors against OpenAI – which owns ChatGPT – and Meta are actually two separate filings.

The main exhibits cited against OpenAI are ChatGPT responses to prompts for summaries of the works of Silverman and her co-plaintiffs. Here, the primary issue cited is the fact that these digests are produced without “any of the copyright management information Plaintiffs included with their published works.”

In the complaint against Meta, the authors claim that the datasets used by the Facebook, Instagram and Threads owner to train its LLaMA model include illegally acquired materials gleaned from “shadow library” websites such as Bibliotik, a torrenting website for books that works similar to how the infamous Pirate Bay network does for movie and TV show downloads.

Multiple Literary Lawsuits Leveled at OpenAI

The dual-actions featuring Sarah Silverman and her works are just the latest literary lawsuits to be leveled at OpenAI in quick succession.

Having teamed up in November 2012 under the LLM Litigation banner, California area lawyers Joseph Saveri and Matthew Butterick are spearheading the legal actions on behalf of both Silverman’s trio and two more authors, Paul Tremblay and Mona Awad. Filed at the end of June, Tremblay and Awad’s lawsuit similarly accuses of the OpenAI language models underlying ChatGPT of “ingesting” their copyrighted works when collecting data across the internet to help train the chatbot.

In addition to these claims, Saveri and Butterick are also overseeing lawsuits on behalf of developers (vs. AI coding platform GitHub Copilot, in which Microsoft is named a co-defendant) and artists (vs. AI image generator Stable Diffusion).

OpenAI Lawsuits

Separate to these, OpenAI is facing a further $3 billion class action lawsuit from a group of anonymous individuals who claim that the “secret scraping” of data conducted to train ChatGPT models amount to nothing less than “data theft.”

Overall, initial enthusiasm for AI technology and its flag-bearer seems to be waning for the first time. ChatGPT use has declined for the first time since its public launch, while real questions are starting to emerge over how ChatGPT saves your data.

These are just some of the many ethical issues starting to emerge around artificial intelligence and companies like OpenAI, with the lawsuits starting to flood in from the creative industries potentially just the the tip of the iceberg. Who will have the last laugh? If not the robots themselves, then it really does seem to be anyone’s guess.

Meta Accused of “Cheating” by Twitter

The crux of the issue in the cease-and-desist letter is Twitter’s claim that Meta has poached a large number of former employees in the past year. Some of these ex-Twitter employees are said to have “had and continue to have access to Twitter’s trade secrets and other highly confidential information” and “many” of whom have “improperly” kept Twitter documents or electronic devices.

The letter continues: “With that knowledge, Meta deliberately assigned these employees to develop, in a matter of months, Meta’s copycat ‘Threads’ app with the specific intent that they use Twitter’s trade secrets and other intellectual property in order to accelerate the development of Meta’s competing app, in violation of both state and federal law as well as those employees’ ongoing obligations to Twitter.”

It’s unclear at this time what evidence Twitter has to back up its claims that these former employees stole trade secrets and used them in the development of Threads. Musk took to his platform to condemn Meta on Thursday, in a tweet which read: “Competition is fine, cheating is not.” 

Meta Defends New “Twitter Killer” Platform

Meta was quick to refute claims of any wrongdoing. In a Threads post, Meta’s communications director, Andy Stone said: “No one on the Threads engineering team is a former Twitter employee — that’s just not a thing.”

People around the world (excluding the European Union for the time being) can now get Threads in seconds using their Instagram account or by downloading the app. 

Threads benefits from an in-built user base thanks to its seamless access via Instagram which already has millions of active monthly users. The ease in which a Threads account can be created has clearly led to its early success, garnering the title of the most rapidly downloaded app of all time.

A Final Nail in the Coffin for Twitter?

Launched in 2006, Twitter now faces an uncertain future, with a string of public mishaps, layoffs and lawsuits since the Tesla and SpaceX chief, Elon Musk took the helm in October 2022.

This lawsuit is yet another in a string of legal cases the social platform is currently battling, the only difference being that it was initiated by Twitter themselves. 

Tesla CEO Elon Musk completed the deal to acquire Twitter at his original offer price of $54.20 a share at a total cost of roughly $44 billion. 

However, the social media platform has reportedly seen an ad sales slump and drop in users. Will Meta’s Threads platform be the final nail in the coffin for Twitter? Only time will tell. 

Despite one or two recent blips in usability, OpenAI is pushing on with development of its next-gen chatbot model and has just announced the general availability of GPT-4.

In a blog post, the company announced that all existing OpenAI API developers, who have a “history of successful payments”, will be able to access the latest text-generating model. 

Plans to open up GPT-4 access to new developers are in the works, too, and expected to go live by the end of July. This is likely to be followed by OpenAI, who owns ChatGPT, raising availability limits “depending on compute availability”, which it has struggled with recently as the demand for generative models rapidly increases.

Developers Have Been Ready For Quite Some Time

According to the OpenAI blog, millions of developers have been calling for access to the GPT-4 API since March 2023. With the capabilities of the model outweighing anything these devs have used before, it’s little wonder the demand has grown.

The system’s predecessor, GPT-3.5, only accepted text, so developers are understandably keen to explore the possibilities of a model that can generate code, and accept image and text inputs.

However, before you get too excited it’s worth knowing that the image-understanding functionality won’t be available right away. This is still in testing with the AI-powered virtual assistance app Be My Eyes. It’s not yet known when this capability will go live.

Much like previous GPT models, GPT-4 has been trained using publicly available data, such as content from web pages, as well as data licensed by OpenAI itself.

It’s All Hands on Deck For Refining The Models

With reports of ChatGPT’s fake news seemingly surfacing every other day, we know the system isn’t perfect. As well as being unable to introduce security vulnerabilities into the code it creates, it’s becoming well known for its hallucinations and information errors.

OpenAI is well aware of these hindrances and has said it will allow developers to “fine-tune” GPT-4 and GPT-3.5 Turbo – one of the original models that powers ChatGPT – with their own data. The caveats are, they must have been able to do it with several other of the system’s text-generating models, and they won’t be able to get hands-on until later this year.

The APIs keep Coming, But Older Models Will Disappear

Not content with making GPT generally available, OpenAI have also opened up the APIs for DALL-E 2 – the company’s image-generating model – and Whisper – its speech-to-text model.

However, you can expect to see older models of the system – such as GPT-3 – becoming unavailable. It’s understood they can’t keep up with computer capacity and will be replaced with a new, more efficient “base GPT-3” model. OpenAI has stated it’ll provide developer support with the transition.

“In the coming weeks, we will reach out to developers who have recently used these older models, and will provide more information once the new completion models are ready for early testing,” OpenAI said in a statement. 

Developers will have until January 4th 2024 to manually upgrade their old models.

For businesses in New York City, a new law states they must prove that any AI tools used in their hiring process are free from racism and sexism.

Concerns have steadily grown around the data this type of AI software – known as an Automatic Employment Decision Tool, or AEDT – is trained on. So now, it must pass a third-party audit.

The ruling comes into effect on Wednesday 12th July, and is believed to be the first of its kind. AI may be creeping in to every aspect of work life, but now we’re seeing a stricter call for accountability.

Companies Using The Software Need To Be Transparent

AEDTs have fast become a popular tool in the recruitment process owing to the vast amount of applicants businesses get per job listing.

“In the age of the internet, it’s a lot easier to apply for a job and there are tools for candidates to streamline that process. Like ‘give us your resume and we will apply to 400 jobs. [Businesses] get just too many applications. They have to cull the list somehow, so these algorithms do that for them.” – Cathay O’Neil, CEO of consulting firm Orcaa

However, studies have shown that AI programs in general can display racism, sexism and other biases. This has understandably led to calls for an investigation on whether potential job candidates are being ruled out unfairly.

The new law states that companies who operate with these recruitment tools need to have them audited or they’ll be using them illegally. More than this, they’ll have to publish the results of the audits in an effort to provide total transparency. 

New York’s Department of Consumer and Worker Protection will be the ones to enforce the law and investigate complaints of company violations. However, it’s not yet known how and to what extent.

Regulation of AI Tools Is Growing

Businesses the world over are scrambling to figure out which AI tools are beneficial to them. However, their use won’t remain without regulation. We’ve already seen the impact of what happens in the legal sector when ChatGPT is asked to contribute to research. Spoiler alert: fines and red faces. 

As well as this there are plagiarism and cybersecurity issues. All of these unknowns have led to tech company executives and federal lawmakers calling for regulation.

While we don’t yet know what this could look like, it’s important to note that Italy temporarily blocked ChatGPT for potentially violating European Union Data protection laws.

This Move Is Progress, But Not Foolproof

While the new law has generally been well received by workers and regulators, it’s not without flaws. Gaps remain in the auditing requirements that include disability or aged-based discrimination. 

As well as this, there’s no concrete evidence that the AI tools are particularly great at selecting potential employees. It’s more about reducing the volume of applications.

So while the audits will be beneficial in reducing biases, a wider question remain on whether the tools need further refining before widespread use.

Volkswagen announced that it will begin testing autonomous vehicles in the United States, starting with a fleet of driverless ID. Buzz electric microbuses. The test will take place on public roads in Austin, Texas, starting later this month, using a fleet of ten self-driving vehicles equipped with partner Mobileye’s technology.

The news comes after the German automaker, which had previously made a misstep by investing in Ford’s now closed self-driving car unit, Argo, has been partnering with supplier Mobileye. 

The strategic change in direction saw VW bring the development of its driverless technology in-house under the supervision of Mobileye, pioneers in driver-assist technology for 20 years. 

Volkswagen ADMT: Another New Subsidiary

The company will create a new subsidiary called Volkswagen ADMT, with offices in Austin and Belmont, California. Employees from the failed EV company, Argo, will staff this new division. 

Autonomous ID. Buzz vehicles with fleet management and “remote guidance solutions” will also be sold to “other leading companies in the mobility and transportation space,” the company said.

The aim of these tests is to bring driverless goods delivery and ride-hailing services to the US in 2025. A mission many other automotive companies have tried at but not yet achieved in the past decade.

Volkswagen has already been testing its self-driving ID. Buzz in Germany, where it plans to launch commercial robotaxi and delivery services in 2025. VW plans to offer this service via another of their subsidiaries, Moia. 

VW’s autonomous driving software is developed by Cariad, yet another subsidiary of Volkswagen, which recently appointed Bentley’s production boss, Peter Bosch, to turn around its struggling division in a shake up which saw several other of Cariad’s C-suite replaced.

What’s the Buzz About the ID. Buzz?

The ID. Buzz is a new electric vehicle from Volkswagen that is inspired by the much-loved classic Microbus of the 1960s and 1970s. The self-driving version of the ID. Buzz will be equipped with a variety of sensors and software that will allow it to navigate roads and avoid obstacles without human intervention. The electric vehicle, which was introduced publicly last month, will be available to buy in 2024. 

Volkswagen chose Austin as the location for its self-driving testing program because the city has a reputation for being supportive of innovation and has a favorable climate for autonomous vehicle testing. The company plans to test the ID. Buzz in a variety of driving scenarios, including in traffic, on highways, and in urban areas.

The testing program is part of Volkswagen’s broader strategy to develop self-driving technology. The company has said that it plans to launch a commercial self-driving ride-hailing service in the United States and Europe by 2026.

In a decade-long pursuit to bring safe, driverless vehicles to the public, the testing of these cars is still in its early stages but is gaining momentum as more and more companies invest in this technology. Volkswagen’s testing program in Austin is a significant milestone in the development of self-driving vehicles, and it is likely to be closely watched by other companies in the industry.

A member of the US Navy’s information security research team has this week published an experimental tool that exploits incoming file restraints within Microsoft Teams.

Named TeamsPhisher, the Python-based tool takes advantage of an unresolved security flaw. It means attackers can bypass Teams’ file-sending restrictions to undertake standard phishing or infection techniques, such as sharing malware. 

While the TeamsPhisher tool was created for authorized U.S Navy operations, it flagged up the wider security risk that threat actors can use to target businesses. This appears to be the latest in cybersecurity issues currently plaguing Microsoft, having recently denied large scale DDoS attacks.

How Does TeamsPhisher Work?

Ultimately what’s happening here is that the client-side systems are being tricked into thinking of an external user as an internal Teams one. TeamsPhisher does this by changing the ID in a message’s POST request, and all that’s needed to use it is a valid Teams and Sharepoint license. 

The tool begins by verifying that the target user exists and can receive external messages. From there, it creates a new thread between itself and the target and sends a message with a Sharepoint attachment link.

The attacks can be batched, by giving TeamsPhisher the attachment, a message and list of users to target. It will upload the attachment to the sender’s Sharepoint and work through each recipient while repeating its actions.

The tool is sophisticated enough to provide a preview for attackers, helping them verify their target lists and ensure the message looks unsuspecting from a recipient’s point of view. A number of features could even be used to refine attacks, including sending secure file links that can only be viewed by the chosen recipient.

Although the tool was built for authorized red team operations, it’s clear to see how easily malicious actors could take advantage of the tool and these vulnerabilities.

A Resolution Won’t Be Immediate

The issue that TeamsPhisher exploits was initially flagged last month by UK-based cybersecurity experts Jumpsec. Microsoft was made aware of it, but told Jumpsec researchers that it didn’t meet the bar for immediate servicing. 

Despite the ability for attackers to spread malware without being detected, Microsoft has stated that it considers the attacks to rely on social engineering to be successful. 

In a statement to BleepingComputer, Microsoft added “we encourage customers to practice good computing habits online, including exercising caution when clicking on links to web pages, opening unknown files, or accepting file transfers.”

So while a system repair may not be on the horizon right now, there are a few safety precautions organizations can take to protect from getting attacked: Creating an allow-list for trusted domains can help limit the risk, as can disabling communication with external tenants if they’re not explicitly needed.

A recent survey has revealed that 75% of consumers would stop using a brand if they’ve been hit by a ransomware attack.

Over 1,000 consumers were surveyed and the results showed that a hefty majority (81%) felt “very scared or worried” that their data was being held by an organization that didn’t have robust enough cybersecurity. So much so, that one third of them would be prepared to move to a competitor brand. 

Consumers Are Savvier With Security Now More Than Ever

In a world where data breaches seem to be happening every other week, consumers understandably place a huge importance on the security of their data. This, in turn, has led to justified demands that the vendors who hold their data must employ appropriate protection. 

The survey from backup appliance company Object First, found that 55% of respondents favor brands with data protection measures such as password protection, access management strategies, and a reliable backup and recovery plan.

For those who have experienced an attack on a brand, 30% lose all confidence in the company’s data protection plan, and one third demand evidence of a resilient backup and recovery strategy.

Let’s Hear It for the Data Protection Plans

Interestingly, 61% of consumers revealed that a second ransomware attack on a brand was enough for them to reevaluate their negative perception of a data protection and recovery plan. It seems that any doubts around their effectiveness disappear when in the midst of an attack.

So while the demand for a backup and recovery practice is clear, it’s more nuanced than brands simply being aware they could be subject to ransomware. A proactive approach is the right approach, saving security teams the costly and time-sensitive pressures of being responsive should an attack happen.

“Given the indispensable role of data in today’s world, it is no wonder consumers are seeking greater protection as organizations generate and consume more data than ever. While preventing a ransomware attack is the ideal scenario, it is not always feasible. Consumers take data protection seriously, and organizations must prioritize safeguarding consumer data against modern threats. ” – David Bennett, CEO of Object First.

By providing a comprehensive and tough data protection plan, brands are more likely to retain their reputation and the confidence of their consumers.

Gen Z Appear More Tolerant Of Attacks

A further insight from the survey revealed that ransomware attacks are viewed differently by different generations.

A higher percentage of Gen Z (37%) will happily take an apology over monetary compensation (12%). But Baby Boomers are less likely to be satisfied with either, as 74% of them state their trust in a vendor would be “irreparably damaged after suffering more than one ransomware attack.”

However, what the survey has shown is that safeguarding consumer data with tools like password managers and VPNs should be a key consideration for brands, particularly as it seems to have risen sharply in demand.

While a robust strategy should be made specific to your company, simple steps such as encrypting sensitive user data, only collecting essential information, and implementing multi-factor authentication will all help too.

A new social media app approaches! A Twitter-clone from Meta — dubbed Threads — has officially launched, and it’s already drawing condemnation from critics for its privacy policy.

Meta doesn’t have the best track record when it comes to protecting user data. Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram have all experienced their fair share of breaches and leaks, with scandals marring the company’s overall reputation for privacy.

Now, the new app is receiving criticism for its privacy policy, but is it actually problematic?

What Data Does Threads Track?

As is often the case with social media apps, the Threads privacy policy sounds a bit intrusive. Here’s a quick list of all the data that the app tracks when you use or interact with it, according to the Threads Supplemental Privacy Policy:

• Profile information
• User activity
• Followers and other connections
• Third party service and user data
• App, browser, and device information

However, if you do a quick glance at the Data Safety section in the Google Play Store or the App Privacy section in the Apple App Store, you’ll see that the data available to Threads is quite extensive. Some tracked data that falls into the above categories include sexual orientation, credit score, and health and fitness info.

Threads Privacy Policy Concerns

All that data may sound like a lot to track for a simple Twitter clone. However, the reality is that, compared to other Meta apps like Facebook and Instagram, it’s par for the course, with all three tracking the data listed above.

On the other hand, according to the Google Play Store, Twitter collects far less data and, even better, shares none of it with third-party services. This is likely one of many reasons why Elon Musk and Jack Dorsey — the current and former heads of Twitter — felt comfortable speaking out about the privacy policy.

All your Threads are belong to us https://t.co/FfrIcUng5O pic.twitter.com/V7xbMOfINt

— jack (@jack) July 4, 2023

A mere 20 minutes after the above tweet, Elon Musk chimed in with his signature brevity online with nothing more than a simple “Yeah” to show his support for the sentiment.

Meta’s History on Privacy

Whether or not Threads is a significant privacy concern or just another Meta app that collects too much data remains to be seen for now. What we do know is that the company formerly known as Facebook has not been great when it comes to protecting its users’ privacy.

For starters, Meta was fined $1.3 billion earlier this year for violating the EU’s data privacy rules. In fact, the company’s history of bad data privacy is holding up the launch of Threads in the EU, which makes the 30 million users on day one even more impressive.

On top of that, you’ve got the infamous Cambridge Analytica scandal that saw an unprecedented level of access to user data that was used for everything from influencing elections to scamming people out of money.

All that to say, Meta may not be worthy of our user data given its history, but apparently people are willing to do anything to get off of Twitter.

Earlier this week, Meta launched Threads — the Twitter alternative that is connected through Instagram. Millions of users have already signed up, dwarfing other Twitter alternatives in the process.

Amongst all the new posts and Musk memes, users noticed a new word that could have a big impact on how you connect with others online.

So, what is the fediverse and what does is mean for the future of social media?

Meta and the Fediverse

If you’re one of the 30 million users that signed up for Threads in the first day, you likely saw a brief explainer page that gave you a quick overview of what to expect from the new social media app. It explained that the app is part of the Instagram platform and gave a little nod to the terms of service and privacy policy.

However, there was an additional explainer from Threads that had some users scratching their heads, which read: Future versions of Threads will work with the fediverse, a new type of social media network that allows people to follow and interact with each other on different platforms, such as Mastodon.

As far as explainers go, it was admittedly pretty brief. Fortunately, Meta put out an in-depth overview of the fediverse and how it will work in the future.

“Our vision is that Threads will enable you to communicate with people on other fediverse platforms we don’t own or control. This means that your Threads profile can follow and be followed by people using different servers on the fediverse. Your content and information may be shared with those servers, for example, if you interact with content from other servers or if you have followers from other servers.”

So, what does that mean for everyday users? Honestly, there’s nothing to worry about right now, but it points to future plans by Meta for how users will interact on social media down the line.

What Is the Fediverse?

According to the blog post from Instagram, the fediverse — which is a portmanteau of “federation” and “universe” — is “a social network of different servers operated by third parties that are connected and can communicate with each other.”

Obviously, in the case of Meta, there are a lot of apps that are already part of the same ecosystem, including Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, and now Threads. The fediverse, however, would allow even more expansive integration. You’d be able to use your Instagram account to interact with Mastodon, for example, which is not affiliated with Meta in any capacity.

Effectively, it would allow you to use and connect your various social media accounts to access and interact with other social media accounts that aren’t necessarily connected by standard means.

This could be a big step in creating a more cohesive social media experience across the entire internet. That is, if Zuck can figure out this ‘verse better than the last one.

Zuck Loves a Good ‘Verse

Let’s be honest, this isn’t the first time Mark Zuckerberg has gotten excited about a particular ‘verse. In fact, it feels like yesterday that the company was rebranding itself as Meta in service of a Metaverse push to bring users into the virtual world of social media.

However, despite the massive investment in the Metaverse, the social media giant has substantially dialed back the push for the immersive virtual world due to an overwhelming lack of interest and the looming recession.

The fediverse could end up going the same route, although there are certainly more social media users asking for an integrated solution that allows for cross-platform use than a virtual meeting room filled with animated versions of your coworkers, so we’ll have to see how it all shakes out.

Is the ChatGPT honeymoon already over? The popular generative AI platform has reportedly had a decline in monthly traffic and unique visitors for the first time since it launched in November 2022.

There’s no denying that ChatGPT has had a significant impact on the business world over the last few months. Employees around the world have used it for everything from emails to coding, and productivity has enjoyed a notable bump as a result.

However, with so many AI alternatives popping up, it’s possible that the sun is already setting on the explosive popularity of ChatGPT.

AI on Decline in June

According to insights from Similarweb.com, ChatGPT isn’t soaring like it was just last month. The monthly worldwide traffic fell by 9.7%, with US use falling even more, declining by 10.3% from May to June.

Traffic wasn’t the only metric that ChatGPT saw a decline in, either. Its unique visitor numbers were down by 5.7% and time spent using the service declined by 8.5% during the same time period.

ChatGPT isn’t the only generative AI platform that is having trouble. Character AI, a service that allows you to interact with AI-generated personalities in real time, also saw a drop in worldwide visits by 32% from May to June.

ChatGPT Growing Pains

While ChatGPT saw unfettered success over the course of the last few months, it has since begun to falter in some major ways. For starters, organizations have begun banning the use of ChatGPT at work for employees. Companies like Samsung and Apple have both put restrictions on the tech, and even US Congress has insisted that staff limit their use of the generative AI platform.

On top of that, security concerns have begun to creep up as ChatGPT has gotten more popular. Some account credentials were even discovered on the dark web, encouraging many users to investigate the ChatGPT privacy policy to find out what kind of data gets saved on the platform.

That’s not all, either. Pushes to regulate AI platforms like ChatGPT have been fervent from government officials and tech experts have been vocal about its potential negative impacts. Pioneers like Steve Wozniak and even Elon Musk have signed open letters calling for pauses to the technology to explore the potential ramifications of exploring the tech unchecked.

All that to say, the decline of ChatGPT is understandable, given the number of problems that have arisen in just the last few months.

The Beginning of the End for AI?

While these declining numbers and mounting controversies are likely causing some concern at OpenAI, the reality is that ChatGPT was so popular for so long that a monthly decline was bound to happen at some point. After all, the service saw meteoric growth in a few short months, dwarfing even the popularity of pandemic-era Zoom, which saw its fair share of security problems as a result of the influx of new users.

In earnest, there aren’t enough people on Earth for ChatGPT to maintain its level of growth over such a short period of time. That, combined with the “eye-watering” infrastructure costs made a decline in users inevitable for the generative AI platform.

Simply put, ChatGPT isn’t going anywhere. The technology remains a groundbreaking new tool when it comes to productivity, and it will likely have a notable impact on the world at large over the course of its lifetime. Still, if it doesn’t address some of the more pressing concerns, it could leave the door open for an alternative like Google Bard to take the top spot.

Meta’s new Twitter rival, Threads, is taking the social media world by storm and has already racked up over 10 million users in its short life, according to Mark Zuckerberg.

The Meta CEO is promoting Threads, or Instagram Threads in full, as one of the best Twitter alternatives and a more “friendly” place to have online conversations, with the unavoidable comparison being with the avian-themed app bought by Elon Musk last October. Already, Threads is available to download in over 100 countries worldwide, including the US and UK. That number would be even larger, but the app is not yet available in the EU due to regulatory issues. Rolling out Threads this week, Meta simply called the platform a “new way to share with text.”

It added that the version of Threads now available is an “initial” product but that new features will be rolled out in the future, including the ability to interact with users on other social media platforms like Mastodon.  At present, Threads allows you to share posts of up to 500 characters, follow other users, and participate in conversations with them.

How to Use Threads and First Impressions

Getting started with Threads is simple enough. We’ll cover the basics here, but for a more detailed look we also have a guide on how to get Instagram Threads.

That said, all you really need to do is go to the relevant app store and download Threads. Here are the links you need to get started:

• Download Instagram Threads for iOS
• Download Instagram Threads for Android

After that, you’ll be prompted to log-in with Instagram. There doesn’t seem to be the option to create a new account just for Threads, so if you don’t already have an Insta account but want to check out Threads, it looks like you’ll have to sign up.

After that, you’ll be invited to follow the same accounts you do on Instagram. One thing we noticed in our early use of Threads is that hitting the ‘Follow All’ button at this point sends a new personal follow to request to everyone on your following list. There’s no question it’s convenient, but make sure you’re happy with nudging everyone you follow as we can think of certain cases where this might not be ideal.

Also, bear in mind if you’ve set your Threads to public that both your Following and Followers lists will be public, too. Again, there may be instances where this isn’t something you want, especially if you’ve set your Instagram to private, as many people do because of how personal sharing photos is.

Once you’re all set up, you can then start interacting on Threads. Just like on Twitter, you reply, re-share and quote posts. And like both Twitter and Instagram, you’ll notice that your feed isn’t just posts from people you follow but also heavily populated with recommended content. We’d love the option to filter this out, as our initial impression is that our feed is definitely on the spammy side. Of course, as with other social media platforms you can hide, block, and report other users on Threads.

From a business perspective, it’s also worth noting that Instagram’s considerable e-commerce reach doesn’t seem to extend to Threads right now, though we’re sure Meta has some B2C ambitions for its new platform.

The Latest Twist in Zuckerberg vs Musk Rivalry

Twitter owner Elon Musk and Zuckerberg have been involved in a mudslinging match recently when it comes to their social media platforms. Zuckerberg has said he has high hopes from Threads and sees a future featuring a “public conversations app with more than 1 billion people on it.

He added that “Twitter has had the opportunity to do this but hasn’t nailed it” and that keeping Threads positive is the “key to its success” — a not-so-thinly veiled jibe at Twitter’s current reputation as a breeding ground for online trolls and less than savory debate.

At the time of writing, it has attracted 10 million users in a short space of time, so these ambitions could well be realistic. After all, Facebook has nearly 3 billion users.

Musk, naturally, fired back, stating “It is infinitely preferable to be attacked by strangers on Twitter, than indulge in the false happiness of hide-the-pain Instagram.”

At the moment it’s just words that Zuckerberg and Musk are exchanging, but it could soon turn physical. Last month Musk challenged Zuckerberg to a cage match, to which he shot back the message “send me location.”

Regardless of whether the grudge match takes place or not, one thing is for sure, the fight for social media domination between the two just got very real.

Threads vs Twitter: Is It Even a Fight?

One has to wonder how long Meta and Mark Zuckerberg have had Threads up their sleeve, but they couldn’t have hoped for a more opportune time to strike.

Since Musk’s takeover of Twitter last year, the erstwhile social media giant has been mired in controversy after controversy: from firing over half the workforce, to not paying bills, and even being threatened with eviction. It has also welcomed back many of its most controversial users that were banned in the pre-Musk era.

Twitter was no doubt hoping the recent appointment of ex-NBCUniversal ads boss Linda Yaccarino as new CEO would kickstart a revival, but the launch and runaway early success of Threads may in fact suggest something very different — that a true Twitter killer has finally landed.

Present-day Twitter is almost unrecognizable from the social media platform Elon Musk acquired last October.

From its new recommendation algorithm to its laissez-faire approach to content moderation, searching for the latest news and gossip can feel a lot like navigating the Wild West. Combine this with the complete commodification of its verification system and the new “temporary post limit” placed on unverified users, and even many of Twitter’s most loyal users have had enough.

But as Twitter users jump ship at record rates, a number of viable alternatives are emerging from the woodwork, including Threads, a text-sharing platform cooked up by Meta that’s shaping up to be its biggest rival yet.

If you’re ready to move on from Twitter, see how the blue birds competitors compare at a glance below, or read on for deeper dives into their features and comparison points.

Threads

• Potentially the most convenient Twitter alternative
• Reached 70 million users in just two days (and climbing rapidly)

As if accepting an invitation to cage-fight Elon Musk wasn’t enough, Meta’s CEO Mark Zuckerburg recently launched Twitter competitor, Threads — a new social media platform that describes itself as “Instagram’s text-based conversational app.”

Threads offers a lot of similar functionality to Twitter, letting users share text-based posts, images, and videos, and message other accounts privately. Screenshots of the app reveal a striking resemblance to Twitter’s interface too, suggesting that it’ll be a smooth transition for those comfortable with Twitter’s design.

Since the social media app is run by Instagram, it lets you connect with existing followers. This means the app is easier to get started on than other alternatives like Bluesky or Mastodon.

Who Is Threads best suited for?

+ Great for sharing more with friends and family
– Fewer privacy controls

Threads’ integration with Instagram makes it ideal for those that use Twitter to keep up to date with family and friends. Its verification system, that works similarly to Facebook and Instagram, makes it easier to detect trusted users too.

However, Meta currently collects a lot more user data than Twitter, so if privacy is one of your top concerns we’d recommend sticking with the blue bird, or switching to another platform with better data safeguarding, like Mastodon.

Read more: What is Instagram Threads?

Mastodon

• Best fully decentralized Twitter alternative
• 10 million users

Mastodon is a non-profit German-born social media site that’s profited massively from Twitter’s sinking ship – amassing 70,000 new users in the month following Musk’s takeover.

Mastodon relies on open-source technology, allowing anyone to edit or install its software onto their server. Built with the ambitious aim of “democratizing social media” the platform is being dubbed as one of Twitter’s biggest threats, despite its starkly different structure.

The Mastodon app is made up of a collection of federated servers called ‘Instances’ which act as individual communities with their own distinct rules and purposes. Each of these platforms can connect to each other through nodes, creating an interconnected network called “Fediverse.”

Confused? Read our guide to Mastodon to learn about how the micro-blogging platform works in greater detail.

Who is Mastodon best suited for?

+ More power to the users
 – Potentially more confusing to set up

Both social media apps share surprisingly similar features, with Mastodon users being able to fire off short messages with ‘Toots’ instead of Tweets. Both platforms use hashtags and allow users to reply, bookmark, and re-share content.

However, this is pretty much where the similarities end. Mastodon’s community servers are more reminiscent of Reddit than Twitter. But if you’re looking for a completely decentralized way to share content and connect with new communities, it could be a great substitute.

Discord

• Best for connecting with smaller communities
• 140 million users

Discord started out as an instant-messaging app for gamers but has since evolved into a multi-purpose platform where users can connect over a wide variety of shared interests.

Unlike Twitter, which offers a single public network, Discord lets its users communicate in public and private spaces — called “servers.” On these servers, users can call or text other members about a variety of topics including anime, cryptocurrency, and of course, gaming.

“We’re not really a platform where you’re scrolling mindlessly through a feed liking posts,” – Rick Ling, Discord’s Head of Product and Communities

On the surface, Discord and Twitter serve pretty different purposes. But with the app’s user base tripling since 2019, it’s clear that Discord is sweeping up some of Twitter’s former users. So how do the apps compare side by side?

Who is Discord best suited for?

+ Great for niche interest groups
– Harder to build a public following

Just like Twitter, Discord can be used to share information and discuss topical content. Both apps also allow you to send messages directly too, alongside broadcasting to broader audiences.

However, unlike Twitter’s micro-blogging platform, Discord operates more like a chat room, making it more suited for people trying to connect with new communities and bond over niche interests.

Discord’s server-based model offers a welcomed respite from Twitter’s doom-scrolling too. But due to Discord’s poor discoverability features, it won’t be a great substitute for those looking to build a following.

Post

• Most user-friendly alternative for news-seekers
• 950,000 users

Post is a content-sharing platform that works in a pretty similar way to Twitter. Launched in beta last year as a publishing-focused Twitter alternative, Post is a user-friendly platform where users can share and repost content and browse emerging news articles.

Post isn’t decentralized like Discord or Mastodon, and lets users browse content from a range of publishing partners with its unique ‘micropayment’ feature. Unlike Twitter, the app’s content isn’t primarily driven by its users, making its ultimate purpose quite different from Musk’s social media site.

Who is Post best suited for?

+ Great for keeping up with the latest news
– More expensive to use

Post was primarily designed to help media outlets monetize their content, so it’s more suitable for users looking to expand their information bubble than microblogging sites like Twitter and Tumblr.

However, since Post’s micropayments feature charges users per piece of content, rather than charging a flat fee, the price of the service can escalate quickly if you’re looking to unlock information from a large variety of sources.

Cohost

• Best for users wanting a chronological timeline
• 38,000 users

Cohost may be in its early days, but it’s shaping up to be a viable Twitter alternative due to its similar structure, mindful approach to content moderation, and generous free tier.

Cohost has a stripped-backed interface, doesn’t have any ads, and offers a great selection of features — from CSS code integrations and posts with no-character limits. However, since Cohost is still in its Beta phase, some parts of the app are still in development and users require need an invitation code to get started.

Who is Cohost best suited for?

+ Simple feed of ordered updates
– Still under development

On the surface, Cohost and Twitter operate similarly, with both platforms giving users a way to share their thoughts, repost content, and gain followers.

However, unlike Twitter, which uses a recommendation algorithm to promote personalized, trending, and often more emotive content, Cohost’s posts are displayed chronologically. This makes Cohost ideal for users looking to view content more objectively.

Bluesky

• Closest user experience to Twitter
• 180,000 users

Bluesky is another promising alternative that shares a lot in common with rival, Twitter, including its founder, Jack Dorsey. With an interface that bears a striking resemblance to Twitter, and a raft of similar features — from posts and feeds to mute buttons — Bluesky is probably the best bet for those after a Twitter dupe.

However, while all posts on the platform are public, Bluesky has a decentralized structure, allowing users to create their own distinct communities, placing it somewhere in between Musk’s platform and alternatives like Mastodon and Discord.

Despite the buzz around Bluesky, the insurgent app is still in its beta phase. And with 1.9 million users currently on the waitlist, it may be a while until you get your hands on Dorsey’s new creation.

Who is Bluesky best suited for?

+ Great for those who liked ‘old Twitter’
– Very long waitlist

Bluesky’s Twitter-like interface makes it a great alternative for those that aren’t looking to veer too far from the blue bird. Its federated design makes it appealing to users looking to bond over niche topics in smaller communities too.

The World After Twitter

Given the bold moves taken by Twitter CEO Elon Musk, it’s safe to say the exodus from the popular social media channel has just begun. We’ll continue to update this page with more Twitter alternatives as they become available, so check back often to stay up to date on your doom-scrolling options!

Check out our guide to the best TikTok alternatives to find other social media platforms that work for you.

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