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New WhatsApp Feature Is Set To Transform Voice Chats
An in-chat bubble will let up to 32 users join whenever they’re available.
Whether you’re sharing family news or connecting with friends during a nail-biting sports event, there are often moments when you need to talk amongst yourselves in a WhatsApp group chat. Now, the Meta-owned company is introducing an exciting new feature that should revolutionize the messaging platform’s user experience by enabling up to 32 users to seamlessly join conversations without disruption.
Instead of intrusive automatic ringing, group participants will receive push notifications and can tap on a bubble to join the voice chat, offering a more user-friendly and less disruptive experience.
Once in a voice chat, participants can access call controls from the top of the interface. This ensures that users can manage call settings without hampering their ability to send and receive text messages simultaneously.
Voice chats will roll out on iOS and Android in the coming weeks, and in the early stages, WhatsApp will focus on larger group chats with participant ranges of 33 to 128. The latest update marks a significant stride towards refining WhatsApp’s user interface while enhancing group communication and adding an additional layer of security using end-to-end encryption.
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The latest WhatsApp update coincides with Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s news during the company’s recent earnings report that interactions between users and businesses have surpassed 600 million daily occurrences, with revenue hitting $293 million in Q3 — a 53% year-on-year increase.
WhatsApp now has over 2 billion monthly active users, making it one of the most widely used messaging platforms worldwide.
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Google To Launch AI Hub In Saudi Arabia, Aiming For $71B GDP Boost
The tech giant also plans to develop local AI solutions, and train regional talent to foster innovation and entrepreneurship.
Google has announced plans to set up a cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) hub in Saudi Arabia, a move aimed at accelerating technological growth and economic development across the wider gulf region. The ambitious project aligns with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, an initiative that champions technology and innovation as central to economic diversification away from the oil industry.
According to Google, the hub has the potential to contribute as much as $71 billion to Saudi Arabia’s economy. The initiative will likely speed up the adoption of AI across industries such as healthcare, retail, and financial services — not only within Saudi Arabia but also throughout the wider MENA region and beyond.
Yasir Al Rumayyan, Governor of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), highlighted the importance of the project for the Kingdom: “This partnership demonstrates PIF’s dedication to fostering an AI-friendly environment through investments in human capital and technology, upskilling thousands with cutting-edge tools to support our sustainable and innovative infrastructure goals,” he explained. Al Rumayyan also emphasized that Saudi Arabia’s combination of sector knowledge and long-term investment strategies makes it an ideal environment for global technology partnerships.
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A central aim of Google’s initiative is nurturing local talent. The AI hub will offer a range of training, research, and collaboration opportunities for developers, researchers, and entrepreneurs within Saudi Arabia. Google envisions training “millions” of people, helping to create a robust innovation ecosystem that supports entrepreneurship and ensures economic benefits reach all segments of society.
As international technology giants increasingly look to develop solutions tailored to regional needs, Google’s initiative reflects a progressive approach that leverages the strengths of local markets. With the potential to inject billions into the economy and strengthen digital capacities, Saudi Arabia could soon emerge as a prominent center for AI innovation in the Middle East.
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