Ads Are Coming to WhatsApp Status

WhatsApp to Start Showing Ads in Status Section

WhatsApp is officially entering the ad space. Meta announced that users will soon begin seeing ads in the Status section—similar to Instagram Stories—as part of its broader strategy to monetize the platform without compromising private messaging.

Key Points:

1. Where and How Ads Will Appear - Ads will be limited to the Status tab, not personal or group chats. Targeting will be based on location, language, followed channels, and prior ad interactions—not private conversations or phone numbers.

2. Personalization and Control - Users connected to Meta’s Account Center may receive more personalized ads, while Meta assures that message contents remain untouched for targeting purposes.

3. New Tools for Creators and Businesses - WhatsApp is rolling out features for Channel promotion and paid subscriptions, giving brands and creators new monetization options within the app’s ecosystem.

Conclusion
With over 1.5 billion daily users engaging with Status and Channels, WhatsApp’s move to introduce ads could reshape how both users and businesses interact with the platform. While privacy remains protected, this step pushes WhatsApp deeper into Meta’s broader commercial ambitions.

OpenAI–Microsoft Partnership Reaches Breaking Point

Tensions between OpenAI and Microsoft have escalated dramatically, with OpenAI now considering filing antitrust complaints against its biggest backer. Disputes over intellectual property, compute access, and internal restructuring have brought the once-storied AI alliance to the verge of collapse.

Key Points:

1. IP and Product Clashes - The latest flashpoint is OpenAI’s $3B acquisition of Windsurf, whose IP the company may now withhold—fearing it could benefit Microsoft’s competing tool, GitHub Copilot.

2. Antitrust Threats on the Table - OpenAI is reportedly weighing the “nuclear option” of accusing Microsoft of anticompetitive behavior, possibly pushing for a federal review of their partnership.

3. Partnership Realignment Underway - Microsoft resisted OpenAI’s transition to a Public Benefit Corporation, while OpenAI has started partnering with Google on compute to reduce its reliance on Microsoft’s Azure cloud services.

Conclusion

What started as AI’s most influential partnership is now fraying fast. With OpenAI seeking independence before reaching AGI, and Microsoft growing more protective of its own AI ambitions, a legal battle could dramatically reshape the power dynamics in the AI world.

🚀 Other AI updates to look out

• Siri Gets a Brain Upgrade - Apple is giving Siri a major overhaul with a new AI model that promises to make it smarter, faster, and more helpful. In short, it might finally get your grocery list right.

• New York Passes Landmark AI Safety Law - The RAISE Act makes New York the first U.S. state to require AI giants like OpenAI and Google to publicly disclose how they ensure AI safety. Startups are exempt—for now.

• Google Backs Away from Scale AI - Google was ready to invest $200M in Scale AI—but backed out after Meta scooped up a 49% stake. The move hints at growing concerns over sharing data pipelines with rivals.

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