WhatsApp has finally been spotted working on a document scanning feature for Android, six months after it was introduced on WhatsApp for iOS. This allows users to scan and send documents directly within the app as media attachments. Last week, WhatsApp starting rolling out a message summarisation feature on a recent version of WhatsApp beta for Android.
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) recently directed smartphone makers to preload the Sanchar Saathi app on new devices. Reports suggested that OEMs would also have to ensure that users could not uninstall or disable the state-owned cybersecurity app. However, the government has now issued clarification on the same, stating that keeping it is completely optional, and the app can be removed from devices. Apple, meanwhile, does not reportedly plan to comply with the directive due to privacy and security issues for the iOS ecosystem.
The Government of India's Ministry of Communications announced on Wednesday that it is withdrawing the mandatory pre-installation of the Sanchar Saathi app. The ministry said that the popularity of the app is growing. Hence, the mandate is now rendered moot. The decision comes soon after a report suggested that Apple plans to push back against the new mandate, citing privacy and security concerns. While the app was earlier reported to be an unremovable one, the Union Minister of Communications, Jyotiraditya Scindia, recently clarified that users will be able to uninstall it from their phones.
ChatGPT may soon integrate with Apple’s Health app, according to a report that found Health app imagery inside the chatbot’s latest iOS build. The discovery suggests ChatGPT could eventually analyse activity, sleep or diet data to answer health-related queries, though no implementation details are visible yet. Neither company has confirmed the feature, and concerns about sharing sensitive health data remain.
PhonePe’s Indus Appstore and Motorola India entered a partnership on Wednesday. Announcing the partnership, PhonePe highlighted that the Indus Appstore will now be available on all Motorola devices in the country. The move expands the Indian app marketplace’s footprint to more devices, allowing Android users to choose their preferred source to download and install apps.
YouTube has introduced its first year-end Recap for videos, offering users a 2025 viewing summary previously limited to YouTube Music. The feature generates up to 12 personalised cards showing top channels, topics, viewing trends and a personality type. Some users will also see music data, with deeper insights available in the Music app. Recap is rolling out globally this week across mobile and desktop for adult accounts. YouTube also shared 2025 trends alongside the 2025 Recap.
Apple reportedly plans to resist the directive issued by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) for preloading of the Sanchar Saathi app on all smartphones sold in the country. According to a report, the Cupertino-based tech giant will not take a legal stand but convey its privacy and security concerns around the app to the government, marking a potential regulatory standoff. The development comes as the Centre moves to tighten digital identity and anti-fraud frameworks linked to mobile devices.
Google is working on a major “UX 2.0” overhaul for the Gemini app to address complaints about clutter and usability. According to a company executive, the redesign will focus on improving the overall user experience rather than just updating visual elements. Google is also developing a macOS version of the app, marking its first AI-powered desktop application. No release timeline has been shared yet.
New data suggests Amazon’s AI shopping assistant Rufus helped boost both engagement and sales during Black Friday. According to Sensor Tower, shopping sessions with Rufus rose 86 percent compared to a recent non-sale day, while purchases from Rufus-assisted sessions were 75 percent higher than non-Rufus ones. Adoption is still limited, but the trend indicates growing comfort with AI-guided shopping.
Google is reportedly preparing to add a Projects feature to Gemini, offering a sandboxed space where users can group multiple chats under a single topic. An APK teardown of the latest Google app beta revealed the interface, including options to set a project focus, upload files and organise work. The feature is still inactive and unannounced, and file uploads may be capped at 10 per project.
OpenAI appears to be testing ads in ChatGPT, according to leaked screenshots and code strings found in the app’s Android beta. References to search ads, targeting and carousels suggest early groundwork for an ad-led model, and at least one user has already seen a banner ad. While details remain unclear, ads will likely be limited to free and lower-tier plans rather than Plus or Pro.
Instagram is said to be testing a new limit for content discovery. According to a report, the Meta-owned social media platform is testing a restriction on the number of hashtags added to a post. Users are reportedly encountering a notice when they attempt to insert more than three hashtags. The new functionality, however, is yet to be announced and is believed to be part of a limited test before its wider rollout.
Google’s Gemini 3 Pro was reportedly jailbroken by a group of researchers recently. As per the report, the researchers were able to break into the Gemini 3-powered artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot within five minutes, and were able to make it generate harmful and potentially dangerous outputs. The demonstration reveals several security flaws in the chatbot’s system, and in the wrong hands, it could lead to concerning consequences.
The Ministry of telecommunications has reportedly asked smartphone makers to pre-install the Sanchar Saathi app on new devices. As per the report, the notice was sent to mobile brands operating in the country on November 28, highlighting that users should not be able to uninstall or disable the app. The government’s cybersecurity app allows users to report suspected fraud calls and SMS, block stolen phones, as well as several other awareness-based features.
Netflix has updated its support page to let users know that the platform’s mobile app will no longer support casting to newer Chromecast devices and Google TV Streamer. Some users have already noted that the Cast icon in the app has been removed. The company maintains that Google Cast and older Chromecast devices are currently supported.
Stanford researchers found that a browser-based tool that reorders posts on X can reduce political hostility. Tested during the 2024 US election, it pushed extreme or partisan content lower in users’ feeds without hiding anything. After ten days, participants reported warmer feelings toward the opposing political side. The study suggests small ranking tweaks may influence attitudes, though findings are limited to the trial’s scope.
Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), on Friday, announced a new feature for the new Aadhaar app. The app, which was launched on Android’s Play Store and iOS’ App Store on November 9, will soon support mobile number updation. The new capability will require users to share one-time password (OTP) and face authentication to link a new number to the app.
Meta Platforms has announced support for additional Indian languages across Instagram, Facebook and the Edits app. The update was revealed at the House of Instagram event in Mumbai on Friday. According to the company, the rollout is aimed at helping creators reach wider audiences and engage more effectively. Meta AI Translations is also expanding to new languages, including Bengali, Marathi and Telugu.
OpenAI appears to be testing a new version of ChatGPT’s image generator that lets users pick preset styles, similar to the Sora app. Leaked screenshots show a banner referencing faster generation and more consistent editing, along with visual cards for trending styles such as Crayon and Chibi. The feature has surfaced for some users, though it has not yet been officially announced.
Google introduced a new Power Saving Mode in Google Maps earlier this month. This feature, designed to conserve battery life during navigation, started reaching more devices. Google Maps switches to a black-and-white interface in this mode. It displays essential information. The feature is only available in Pixel 10 series smartphones.
OpenAI has rejected claims that ChatGPT contributed to a teenager’s suicide, arguing the lawsuit relied on selective excerpts of their conversations. The company says it has submitted the full transcript to provide context and noted ChatGPT repeatedly urged the teen to seek help. OpenAI cited its liability limits and said its products should not be treated as a sole source of truth.
OpenAI says some API user data was exposed in a recent Mixpanel breach, though its products and sensitive information such as API keys and payment details were not affected. The leaked dataset appears to include basic profile details and analytics metadata from platform.openai.com. OpenAI has stopped using Mixpanel, is investigating the incident, and has advised affected users to watch for phishing attempts.
The X app has received a new feature, which will show posts in the 'Following' timeline using Grok's AI capabilities, Elon Musk announced on Thursday. The AI agent will determine the relevance of a post, along with the user's past engagement and the people they follow, to rank posts above the most recent ones. However, the company is giving people the option to revert to the chronological feed. Additionally, the prices in India of the two X Premium subscriptions have been reduced.
Apple has approached the Delhi High Court to challenge an amended CCI penalty rule that lets regulators impose fines based on a company’s global turnover. The company argues the formula is arbitrary and disproportionate, noting it could face penalties of up to $38 billion if found guilty in an ongoing App Store investigation. The case is scheduled for a hearing on December 3.
Google announced earlier this month that Gemini would replace Google Assistant as the primary artificial intelligence (AI) assistant in Maps. This change is now finally said to be taking place. According to a report, Gemini is now available to help users in Google Maps, enabling them to start navigation to a destination, find places along the route, and share estimated time of arrival (ETA) with others, using simple voice-based commands.
Microsoft introduces several new shopping-focused AI features to Copilot Mode in the Edge browser. Users can now access capabilities, such as Cashback, Price comparison, Price history, Product insights, and Price tracking, from within the browser. These features are currently only available in the US. This makes it the fourth AI company, after Google, OpenAI, and Perplexity, that is targeting the upcoming holiday season to drive engagement on its platform.
OpenAI has updated ChatGPT’s Voice Mode so it now works directly inside the chat interface instead of opening a full-screen view. This lets users speak to the AI while seeing messages, visuals and tools such as Shopping Research. The change also makes it easier to generate and review images or code without ending a voice session. A toggle in settings restores the previous full-screen mode.
X is reportedly rolling out a new Android interface, according to a tipster, who claims the UI can be enabled through a hidden menu in version 11.42.0-release.0. The tipster also highlights limited-time discounts on X Premium plans, offering the first month of Premium for Rs. 100 and Premium+ for Rs. 890. The offer is said to run until December 2, 2025. Premium reduces ads and adds creator tools, while Premium+ removes ads entirely and provides the highest usage limits.
WhatsApp is reportedly testing a new feature for its Android app that adds a celebratory animation in chats. According to details shared by a feature tracker, the platform is working on a confetti effect that appears when users react to messages with certain emojis. The change is purely visual and aims to make reactions in Chats, Channels and Status updates feel more expressive.
Microsoft has announced that its Copilot AI chatbot will be discontinued on WhatsApp beginning January 15, 2026. The decision follows Meta’s updated Business API policies, which restrict AI developers and service providers from accessing or operating through the WhatsApp Business Solution. With this change, Microsoft becomes the second major AI company to withdraw its chatbot from the platform, following OpenAI’s exit in October.
Google is reportedly testing a new approximate location toggle in Chrome for Android. The feature may give more flexibility to users to share only an approximate location with specific websites. It was spotted in version 142.0.7444.171. This change could enhance privacy controls, letting users limit websites that can track their location.
Telegram has added three creator-focused features to its app, including Live Stories, which let users stream directly from their Story feed with real-time comments and star-based interactions. Scheduled messages now support repeat intervals, and collectible Gifts will be distributed through an auction system for fairer access. The features are rolling out to all users on Android and iOS.
OpenAI has added a new Shopping Research tool to ChatGPT, giving users a visual, interactive way to find products. Available across all major plans, it asks clarifying questions and then curates a list based on user preferences. The feature performs well in detail-heavy categories and offers “nearly unlimited” usage during the holidays, though purchases still need to be completed outside ChatGPT.
As we are nearing the year-end, YouTube Music has started rolling out the 2025 Recap. It shows personalised insights into the music habits of users. It highlights the total listening time for favourite artists. It also spotlights the top albums and highlights the countries of the most-played artists. This year's recap also includes an AI-powered chat feature.
Adobe has added the Nano Banana Pro model to Photoshop and Firefly, following its recent partnership with Google. Users can generate images and make text-based edits across apps, with Creative Cloud Pro and Firefly subscribers getting unlimited generations until December 1. The model is also available in Firefly Boards for brainstorming and in Photoshop for high-resolution generative edits.
Google is reportedly working on closer interoperability between Gemini and NotebookLM. Code spotted in the Gemini app shows an upcoming NotebookLM button that may let users send chats directly into notebooks, while another snippet suggests users could import NotebookLM notebooks into Gemini as attachments. The features remain unannounced and experimental, but reflect Google’s recent push to expand NotebookLM with new AI capabilities.
WhatsApp has introduced a group member tags feature in its latest beta update, allowing users to assign personalized labels that identify their roles within group chats. The feature, currently available to select beta testers, enables members to add custom tags up to 30 characters long that describe their responsibilities, expertise, or positions within specific groups.
OpenAI has expanded ChatGPT’s group chats globally, bringing the collaboration feature to all logged-in users on the Free, Go, Plus and Pro tiers. Users can create groups via a new icon, share invite links, and tag ChatGPT for assistance. The feature supports reactions, threaded replies and custom instructions. Groups appear in a dedicated sidebar section and can be managed or deleted by the creator.
CERT-In has issued an advisory regarding multiple vulnerabilities affecting Google Chrome on various operating systems. The latest bulletin, published on Friday, has flagged the discovered vulnerabilities as high risk. As per the cybersecurity firm, threat actors may potentially exploit the security flaws to remotely execute arbitrary code on the affected systems. All individual users and organisations using Google Chrome on Windows, macOS, and Linux have been advised to update to the latest version of the web browser.
YouTube is experimenting with the return of private in-app messaging six years after discontinuing the feature. The test, limited to users aged 18 and older in Ireland and Poland, allows people to share videos and chat directly within the YouTube mobile app. It includes strict safety measures, with all messages governed by YouTube’s Community Guidelines and chats initiated only through invites. If the experiment proves successful, YouTube may expand it to more regions. Spotify launched a similar feature earlier this year.
WhatsApp has officially brought back its 'About' feature. The reintroduced feature lets users share short, casual status updates with text or emojis. The About will be placed at the top of individual chats and on profiles, and users can tap on it to reply directly. The update will expire after 24 hours by default, but users can customise the timer.
WhatsApp’s contact-discovery flaw let researchers match 3.5 billion phone numbers to active accounts. By exploiting the absence of rate limits, they checked vast number ranges to see which were registered. They also found that many users exposed their profile photos and About texts publicly. The team even identified millions of accounts in countries where WhatsApp is banned. Meta fixed the issue after disclosure.
Amazon Video Recaps was launched on Wednesday to offer AI-generated video summaries of previous seasons of select Amazon Originals shows. The feature is said to help users catch up before they start streaming a new season. With the generative AI, the feature recognises and combines major plot points, pivotal moments, character arcs, and dialogues to create a recap with voiceover narrations. It is currently rolling out in beta for select English-language shows in the US.
Google on Thursday announced the rollout of a new feature in the Gemini app, which allows users to verify if an image was generated or edited using the company’s artificial intelligence (AI) tools. The Mountain View-based tech giant said this move is aimed at increasing content transparency using SynthID, its digital watermarking technology. This capability will also be expanded to support additional formats beyond images, such as video and audio clips.
Telegram has announced a new update that adds several new features. The instant messaging platform now allows users to host live streams in Telegram Stories. It also has a live chat feature where viewers can add comments. Users can also enable scheduled messages and reminders to be repeated at set intervals for task automation. Further, the company said that new Telegram Gifts will be released on an auction basis to ensure fair distribution.
Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology's UIDAI recently launched its new Aadhaar app for Indian residents. On Wednesday, UIDAI conducted a webinar, which was attended by over 250 stakeholders on "Offline Verification using the Aadhaar App".Available for Android and iOS users, the new app enables people to store their details, update information, and share a digital copy of their Aadhaar card with others. Moreover, while sharing, a user can choose to hide some pieces of information to only present the relevant details.
Apple released the list of finalists for the 2025 App Store Awards to highlight the 45 best apps and games of the year across the iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, Apple TV and Apple Vision Pro. The list includes BandLab, Capybara Go and Detail. Finalists in the Apple Arcade Game of the Year category include Katamari Damacy Rolling LIVE. The winners will be announced soon.
Snapchat has announced a new feature that enables conversations on trending topics and events in its community. Dubbed Topic Chats, it is claimed to bring the social media app’s popular features to public conversations, where Snaps are clustered about the topics being talked about in the community. Topic Chats appear in several places in the Snapchat app, such as Spotlight videos, allowing users to jump in and explore related Spotlight videos.
Perplexity reportedly plans to launch a free agentic shopping feature next week, expanding its shopping-focused tools within the Perplexity ecosystem. The new product will let users research items and complete purchases directly from answers, similar to the existing Buy with Pro tool, but available without a subscription. Perplexity confirmed it aims to streamline the shopping process for users, though details remain limited.
A new NordPass report shows “123456” remains the most common password globally in 2025, followed by “admin” and other simple number strings. India’s list mirrors global trends, with “Pass@123” also appearing. NordPass says weak and guessable passwords remain widespread across age groups despite rising awareness. The firm recommends stronger, unique passwords and multi-factor authentication.
Samsung and AU Small Finance Bank are coming together to introduce the Tap & Pay feature for AU Visa Credit Card users through Samsung Wallet. The company said that this allows people to make credit card payments directly from their Galaxy smartphones, without having to carry cards in physical form. This comes as part of the slew of new features that the company has been recently announcing for the Samsung Wallet app in India. Recently, the tech giant brought a feature that enables users to add their UPI accounts during the initial setup of their handsets.
