Perplexity AI, a California-based search startup, is close to raising $500 million in new funding, which would value the company at around $9 billion. The latest funding round will be led by venture capital firm Institutional Venture Partners (IVP), which also has a seat in the startup.

Internet freedom in Bangladesh experienced notable declines in 2024.

Amazon has begun delivering a range of products via drone to select customers in the Phoenix area of Arizona in the US, marking the latest phase in its expanding drone delivery initiative.

Apple Inc. has begun researching the potential of entering the smart glasses market, according to technology journalist Mark Gurman of Bloomberg.

Joby Aviation, Inc., a company specialising in electric air taxis, has successfully completed its first international exhibition flight in Japan. The flight recently took place at Toyota’s Higashi-Fuji Technical Center in Shizuoka.

Grameenphone has released the latest episode in its Lumière series, featuring Kazi Khaleed Ashraf, a prominent Bangladeshi architect, urbanist, and architectural historian. Hosted by Nabila Khalid, the episode, the last one of the second season, provides an in-depth look at Ashraf’s career, his architectural philosophy, and the key milestones in his academic and professional journey, including his experiences at the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Japanese researchers have successfully launched the world’s first wooden satellite, named LignoSat, into space. The satellite was sent on Tuesday aboard a SpaceX mission to the International Space Station (ISS) to explore the use of timber in future lunar and Mars missions.

OpenAI, the company behind the popular ChatGPT, is reportedly in discussions with the California attorney general’s office to change its corporate structure to a for-profit model, according to Bloomberg News. This potential shift would mark a significant change for OpenAI, which was originally established as a non-profit research organisation in 2015.

Facebook and Nvidia are asking the US Supreme Court to dismiss securities fraud lawsuits filed by investors, in cases that could make it harder to hold companies accountable in court. Both tech giants are challenging rulings by a lower court that allowed these lawsuits to move forward, saying the cases don’t meet legal standards.

Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, recently announced it will keep its ban on new political ads even after the US Election Day,  aiming to reduce misinformation during the post-election period.

The Junior Chamber International (JCI) Bangladesh debate team has won the 2024 JCI World Debating Championship, marking the first time a team from Bangladesh has achieved this title.

Seven French families have filed a lawsuit against social media platform TikTok, accusing the company of exposing their teenage children to content that allegedly contributed to their mental health decline, and for two of them, the cause of suicide.

Disney is stepping up its AI efforts with the creation of the 'Office of Technology Enablement', a new business unit to drive tech integration across its film, TV, and theme park divisions, according to a Reuters report. 

Political and religious misinformation surged in Bangladesh following a major government shift, Dismislab reports.

Unregulated gambling ads are infiltrating popular mobile games in Bangladesh, exposing millions, including young users, to betting content through Google’s network.

From clogging drains that worsen floods to leaching harmful chemicals into food and water, polythene bags are a persistent threat.

Apple is set to invest up to $1.5 billion in American satellite provider Globalstar Inc. to enhance iPhone communication capabilities, particularly in areas with limited network coverage, according to a recent report by Reuters.

Here are our picks for jobs of the week. Check out the article for more details.

Google has introduced a set of AI-powered updates to Google Maps, utilising its Gemini model to make location-based searches more responsive and contextually aware. 

The P-12 Shuttle, developed by Swedish company Candela, recently debuted as an electric-powered passenger ferry, designed to glide above the water. According to Candela, the ferry has a speed of up to 30 mph, while running silently on electricity.