Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence company, xAI, has raised a staggering $6 billion in a recent funding round, according to a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). This monumental funding marks a significant step forward in xAI’s mission to reshape the AI landscape. Key Players Behind the Investment The investment round included contributions from 97 participants, each pledging a minimum of $77,593. While the SEC filing doesn’t reveal…
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As another year draws to a close, Google has shared its highly anticipated “Year in Search” report for 2024. This annual snapshot captures the trending topics, events, and personalities that piqued global curiosity and shaped online conversations. From thrilling sports tournaments to the latest lifestyle crazes, here’s a closer look at what captivated searchers this year. Global Search Highlights: Sports, News, and Entertainment Steal the Spotlight Sports Dominate Global Searches…
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Advanced Custom Fields (ACF), a popular WordPress plugin with over 2 million active installations, has been returned to WP Engine following a court-ordered preliminary injunction. The ruling required Automattic, led by WordPress co-founder Matt Mullenweg, to relinquish control of the plugin after months of controversy and heated debate within the WordPress community. What Happened? The saga began in October when WordPress.org assumed control of the free version of ACF, rebranding…
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In a bold move, Joost de Valk, co-founder of the popular Yoast SEO plugin, is advocating for a significant overhaul in WordPress leadership. He believes it's time to shift away from the current model, which places Matt Mullenweg at the helm as the sole decision-maker. Joost envisions a more democratic structure that reflects the diverse voices within the WordPress community. However, Mullenweg isn't on board with this vision and has…
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For the first time in its history, WordPress.org will be pausing several services during the holiday season. The announcement, made by WordPress co-founder Matt Mullenweg via his blog, aims to give much-needed rest to the volunteers and contributors who power the platform. Services on Pause The temporary suspension includes: - New Account Registrations: No new user accounts can be created on WordPress.org during the break. - Plugin Reviews and Submissions:…
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Instagram is gearing up to revolutionize how creators edit videos by introducing powerful AI-driven tools. These tools, teased by Instagram head Adam Mosseri, will allow users to transform nearly every aspect of their videos through simple text prompts. Leveraging Meta’s cutting-edge Movie Gen AI model, the new features aim to give creators an unprecedented level of control and creativity. According to Mosseri, these features are expected to roll out next…
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The latest update to Gutenberg, the go-to plugin for WordPress block editing, has arrived with version 19.9. This release is packed with features that make designing and managing your website easier, faster, and more intuitive. Whether you’re a casual blogger or a pro developer, here’s a breakdown of the highlights in this update. Style Book: Now for Classic Themes If you’re using a classic theme, great news! The Style Book,…
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The WP Community Collective (WPCC), a key player in the WordPress ecosystem, has taken an exciting step forward by formally incorporating as a California membership nonprofit. The organization is now positioned as a mutual benefit nonprofit, amplifying the voices of the WordPress community in a way that’s both inclusive and impactful. Sé Reed, President and CEO of WPCC, emphasized the organization's mission: “A lot is said about (and to) the…
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OpenAI has rolled out exciting updates to ChatGPT, making advanced features like web search, voice functionality, and maps free for all registered users. Previously available only to Premium subscribers, these tools are now accessible to everyone with a ChatGPT account, enhancing the platform's utility and convenience. Free Web Search for All In a game-changing move, ChatGPT’s web search is now open to all logged-in users globally. Whether you're using ChatGPT…
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Does pineapple belong on pizza? It’s the age-old debate that splits dinner tables worldwide. But for WordPress users, this polarizing pizza topping unexpectedly popped up somewhere new—the WordPress.org login page. When users attempted to log in, they were met with a mandatory checkbox requiring them to confirm: “Pineapple is delicious on pizza.” Agreeing was the only way to proceed. Why the Pizza Checkbox? A Little Backstory This isn’t the first…
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WhatsApp has rolled out new features to make video calls more versatile and user-friendly, just in time for the holiday season. These updates include participant selection for group video calls, improved video quality, and a streamlined call tab for desktop users. These upgrades are part of Meta's efforts to position WhatsApp as a strong contender against platforms like Google Meet and Zoom for both personal and professional communication. Selective Group…
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OpenAI recently faced a significant outage affecting ChatGPT, Sora, and its developer-facing API, which began around 3 PM PT on Wednesday. Fortunately, by 9 PM PT, the services were largely restored, and users could once again access their favorite AI tools. In an update posted on its status page, OpenAI confirmed, “ChatGPT, API, and Sora were down today, but we’ve recovered.” While the exact cause of the outage is still…
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Automattic, the parent company behind WordPress.com and other popular online tools, has announced its acquisition of WPAI, a company specializing in artificial intelligence solutions tailored for WordPress. Founded just two years ago, WPAI has quickly gained attention for innovative products like CodeWP (an AI-powered coding assistant for WordPress developers), AgentWP (an AI agent designed for WordPress tasks), and WP.Chat (an alternative to ChatGPT built specifically for WordPress users). Financial terms…
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The Northern California District Court, led by Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín, has issued a preliminary injunction in favor of WP Engine in its legal dispute with Automattic, the parent company of WordPress.com, and its CEO, Matt Mullenweg. This decision, handed down after a contentious hearing on November 26, 2024, requires Automattic to cease actions that WP Engine claims were harming its business and access to the WordPress ecosystem. Key Provisions of…
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