Tech

Signal: Preferred app for Trump allies and opponents

Signal app increasingly popular among Trump’s allies and opponents for secure communications, gaining wide adoption in Washington.

Published

4 weeks ago

March 26, 2025

Ahron Young

Signal app increasingly popular among Trump’s allies and opponents for secure communications, gaining wide adoption in Washington.

In Short

Elon Musk’s team and protesters both use the Signal messaging app, known for its encryption.

The app has gained popularity among government officials and whistleblowers for secure communication, despite also attracting criminal elements.

Elon Musk’s team and protesters opposing him share a common communication tool: the Signal messaging app.

Signal, established over a decade ago, is renowned for its end-to-end encryption and is favoured by various users, including officials and corporate leaders.

The app gained significant attention following an incident involving senior Trump officials and has seen a surge in downloads, with a 16% increase in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the previous quarter.

Who runs Signal?

In Washington, many congressional aides and political appointees use Signal, which is operated by the nonprofit Signal Foundation. A recent review noted over 1,100 government officials across all states using the app.

Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency reportedly uses Signal for their operations. Musk himself has previously relied on the app during his Twitter acquisition and for personal communication.

Some governments endorse Signal’s use; for instance, the European Commission instructed its staff to adopt the app in 2020. Meanwhile, U.S. officials have also encouraged the use of encrypted apps without specifically mentioning Signal.

Despite its privacy advantages, Signal has also attracted criminal elements, as noted by the Drug Enforcement Agency.

Whistleblowers and anti-Trump protesters have increasingly turned to Signal to communicate securely. Reports indicate that recent firings have prompted colleagues to download the app for protection against surveillance.

Tech

Nvidia to build AI supercomputers in the U.S. for first time

Nvidia invests $500 billion in U.S. AI supercomputers, shifting production to Texas to strengthen supply chains and boost domestic growth amid rising tariffs and national tech pressures.

Published

3 days ago

April 18, 2025

Veronica Dudo

Nvidia invests $500 billion in U.S. AI supercomputers, shifting production to Texas to strengthen supply chains and boost domestic growth amid rising tariffs and national tech pressures.

Nvidia to build AI supercomputers in the U.S. for the first time — a $500 billion move that could redefine the global tech industry.

With new tariffs on imports from China and Taiwan, the chip giant is shifting production to Texas, partnering with Foxconn and Wistron.

Nvidia says the decision will strengthen its supply chain and boost domestic economic growth.

The announcement comes amid growing pressure to secure national tech infrastructure and reduce reliance on Asia. How will this impact jobs, prices, and America’s AI ambitions?

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Tech

‘Stuck in the past’: Has Apple lost its edge?

Apple, once an innovator, faces criticism for stale updates and designs, prompting comparisons to 1980s IBM and calls for Tim Cook’s departure.

Published

5 days ago

April 16, 2025

Ahron Young

Apple, once an innovator, faces criticism for stale updates and designs, prompting comparisons to 1980s IBM and calls for Tim Cook’s departure.

Apple, once a symbol of innovation, is now under fire for uninspiring product updates.

The headline “Has Apple lost its edge? Critics say it’s stuck in the past” captures growing frustration over recycled designs and underwhelming features.

From the original iPhone to the lacklustre Apple Intelligence, critics now compare the company to IBM in the 1980s. Is it time for Tim Cook to step aside?

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#Apple #TimCook #TechNews #iPhone #AppleIntelligence #Innovation #BradGastwirth #TechDebate

Tech

OpenAI explores social network to rival Elon Musk

OpenAI is considering a social network to rival Musk’s X, spurred by the success of its new image-generation feature.

Published

5 days ago

April 16, 2025

Ahron Young

OpenAI is considering a social network to rival Musk’s X, spurred by the success of its new image-generation feature.

In Short

OpenAI is considering creating a social network to compete with Elon Musk’s X and Meta’s Instagram, following high demand for its new image-generation tool.

The company has raised $40 billion in funding and is facing increased server demands, prompting efforts to temporarily limit the tool’s usage.

OpenAI is contemplating the development of a social network to rival Elon Musk’s X and Meta’s Instagram, according to an informed source.

This initiative is reportedly in the early stages and has emerged following the success of OpenAI’s latest image-generation tool, which has stressed the company’s servers.

The announcement was first reported by The Verge, while OpenAI has chosen not to comment on the matter.

Image-generation

In March, OpenAI launched its new image-generation feature designed to create various visual content, including diagrams, infographics, and logos. This tool also enables users to produce artistic renditions from their uploaded images.

Recently, images generated by this feature have gained significant traction on social media, with OpenAI’s CEO Sam Altman recently using one for his profile photo on X. Altman noted the overwhelming popularity has led to increased server demands.

He mentioned that the company is currently looking to limit the feature’s usage temporarily while they enhance its efficiency.

The generative AI sector is highly competitive, particularly with the involvement of Musk’s xAI, which recently acquired X. The relationship between Altman and Musk has become contentious, particularly surrounding OpenAI’s move to become a for-profit entity.