Few reports have had as much analytical weight in the last ten years as Mary Meeker’s yearly trend briefings. This time, however, she recorded a tectonic transformation rather than merely observing changes. She provides a 340-page masterpiece in her most recent AI-focused report that effectively illustrates how artificial intelligence is fundamentally changing the human experience. Meeker describes the quick and explosive adoption of generative AI platforms in her trademark data-rich style. Platforms like Instagram and TikTok took years to reach the milestone of 100 million users, which ChatGPT had already surpassed within two months of launch. Just that figure highlights…
Author: monitoringmonthly
Users of Snapchat started noticing something remarkably unexpected in recent days: the silent demise of “My AI,” the platform’s AI companion. It had been an omnipresent icon at the top of many people’s chat lists, ready to provide guidance, respond to trivia questions, or just act as a diversion from a demanding day. Then it vanished without warning. Not removed. Not made public. Simply absent. The absence was abrupt and somewhat confusing for people who used My AI on a daily basis. Its departure was surprisingly refreshing for those who never quite warmed to the feature. This response highlights a…
Vidqu AI Girlfriend has experienced unexpected cultural growth in the last 12 months. It found a remarkably effective niche—offering quick, adaptable digital companionship that feels approachable, funny, and surprisingly personalized—rather than revolutionizing artificial emotion. The platform has changed how many people relate to virtual intimacy, with over 4.7 million users and a daily increase in conversational interactions. For those who don’t know, Vidqu lets you make and communicate with personalized AI friends or select from a range of pre-made characters like “CEO Sophia” or “Gamer Girl Jenna.” Conversations develop like lighthearted friend-to-friend interactions, occasionally nonsensical and occasionally flirtatious. After five…
A phishing campaign that targeted HMRC in recent weeks has left a shocking trail that has raised public concerns about the security of digital identities in addition to exposing a weak aspect of government infrastructure. An estimated £47 million was stolen from about 100,000 PAYE taxpayer accounts that were compromised by criminals posing as authorized users. Surprisingly, the hack was based on common deception rather than a Hollywood-style scheme involving dark web masterminds and encrypted malware. Fraudsters obtained login credentials from gullible people by impersonating HMRC in emails and texts. They used these credentials to open or access online tax…
The excitement was palpable when CD PROJEKT RED took the stage at Unreal Fest 2025. The Witcher 4’s UE 5.6 tech demo boldly described the direction of open-world gameplay in addition to revealing a new fantasy setting. The presentation gave a sneak peek at how this legendary franchise intends to use the most recent advancements from Unreal Engine, with the game running at a steady 60 frames per second on the PlayStation 5. The tech demo took viewers into the untamed, snow-flecked mountain trails of Kovir, an area never before explored in Witcher games, under the direction of Ciri, who…
The location of Rockaway Pizza might seem like just another corner store in Pittsburgh’s growing pizza scene to someone casually browsing Google Maps. But as soon as you read the reviews, that impression vanishes. What happens is a lively fusion of digital drama and culinary credibility, with one element being hand-tossed dough and the other being pure, uncensored entertainment. The comments are fervent, divisive, and occasionally especially raw. Consumers laud each slice’s remarkably strong flavors and remarkably authentic New York-style crusts. The charred-edged Grandma Vodka and the exquisitely layered Pepperoni Sicilian frequently receive almost poetic references. However, among the five-star…
In a world where data is everything, trust is essential. Every time someone uploads a resume, shares their email address, or even clicks “accept cookies,” there is an implicit commitment that their data won’t disappear into oblivion. This fundamental expectation is protected by a remarkably significant rule under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR): the right to information. This right, which is protected by Articles 13 and 14, guarantees that personal information is not only gathered and used but also that it is done so in an open, transparent, and legal manner. GDPR attempts to inform people about who is…
When Jaime Chapman addressed the controversy surrounding AI-generated images, he didn’t mince words. In a direct message to her 86,000 Instagram followers, she denounced the people behind the digitally altered bikini photo that was circulated on Reddit. “Have a good day to everyone except those who make fake AI photos of other people,” she wrote in a succinct but incredibly impactful caption. The post was emotionally charged, particularly when she added, “This has happened a few times now and it needs to stop,” and was accompanied by an inset image of the original. By being so forthright, Chapman is not…
In 2023, DragonForce Ransomware appeared with the acute accuracy of a cybermercenary who had previously been a political activist. The group quickly shifted its focus from making headlines for hacks motivated by ideological beliefs to profitable extortion campaigns using the Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS) model. It quickly became a disruptive force, enabling affiliates on different continents to use its platform to launch customized attacks, with each ransomware payload designed to target particular industries with terrifying precision. By 2025, DragonForce had evolved into a franchise rather than merely a threat. Its core team creates the tools, manages the infrastructure, and negotiates the ransom,…
Since its modest beginnings as a community-focused technical college in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne in 1908, Swinburne University of Technology has gradually grown into a vibrant establishment where digital innovation and engineering brilliance coexist. Through its evolution in response to societal demands, from space exploration to vocational training, it now represents a unique combination of intellectual inquiry and hands-on learning. Today, strolling around its Hawthorn campus is strikingly similar to entering a collaborative lab where startup endeavors, design prototypes, and aerospace dreams all come together under the direction of a curriculum that has been purposefully crafted for the future.…