Social media is undergoing significant shifts, particularly after Elon Musk’s takeover of Twitter (now X), raising concerns about trust and content moderation. As platforms like Threads, Mastodon, and BlueSky offer decentralised alternatives, users and brands face challenges in navigating misinformation and verifying identities. While decentralised platforms are gaining ground, the future of X depends on its ability to rebuild trust. Meanwhile, the rise of AI chatbots like ChatGPT has led to emotional engagement with users, sparking concerns over over-reliance and emotional dependence. As these platforms and technologies evolve, it’s crucial for users and brands to stay adaptable and mindful of the changing landscape.

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.

Ant Group uses Chinese semiconductors to cut AI training costs by 20%, competing with US firms like Nvidia.

In Short

Jack Ma-backed Ant Group has developed cost-effective AI training techniques using Chinese semiconductors, cutting costs by 20% and producing results comparable to Nvidia. As the company pivots towards local alternatives in response to US bans, its models may significantly enhance Chinese AI development and reduce costs for services.

Jack Ma-backed Ant Group Co. has developed cost-effective techniques for training AI models using Chinese-made semiconductors, reportedly reducing costs by 20%.

The company utilised domestically produced chips from affiliates like Alibaba and Huawei, employing the Mixture of Experts machine learning method, which produced results comparable to Nvidia’s H800 chips.

While Ant continues to use Nvidia for some AI development, it is increasingly leveraging alternatives such as Advanced Micro Devices and Chinese chips for its latest models.

This development positions Ant in competition with Chinese and US firms, especially following DeepSeek’s demonstration of cost-effective model training compared to major investments by OpenAI and Google.

The move highlights the shift of Chinese companies towards local alternatives in response to the US ban on advanced Nvidia semiconductors, including the powerful H800 model.

Ant recently published a research paper claiming that its models sometimes outperform those of Meta in specific benchmarks, a claim that Bloomberg has not independently verified. If confirmed, these models could significantly advance Chinese AI development by reducing inference costs for AI services.

As AI investment grows, Mixture of Experts models are becoming widely adopted due to their efficiency, dividing tasks into smaller data sets.