Understanding the
rise of China's OEMs: Key players,
global ties, and future potential

In this new report, automotive industry analyst, Felipe Munoz, analyses the rapidly evolving landscape within China, alongside an overview of the main players emerging from China’s burgeoning automotive industry.

Learn about the key players, global ties, and future potential of Chinese car brands, and access the latest market data and intelligence.

The post Understanding the rise of China’s OEMs: Key players, global ties, and future potential appeared first on Tech Research Online.

Oprah in her recent intention has expressed her fascination with AI’s potential to make the world better. “I’m fascinated by how this technology, AI, is going to be a resource for change and improvements and making the world better. And yet, the other side of it: Who’s in control of it, and what happens when the bad guys get it?” – Oprah added.

The Oprah Gates Altman interview will explore AI’s future impact on society. The one-hour Oprah special show will air on ABC and stream on Hulu the following day.

Here’s what viewers can expect from the show:

The Ethics of AI

In her interview with OpenAI’s Sam Altman, Oprah Winfrey will be seeking to give viewers a layman’s explanation of AI technology, how it works, and ethical considerations on the part of AI companies.

In the past, questions have been raised about the role of AI company executives in ensuring that AI technologies align with societal values. AI companies have also been in the spotlight over ethical issues like AI algorithm biases, copyright infringement, and transparency of AI-driven decisions.

OpenAI has been accused of copyright infringement multiple times. In December last year, the New York Times sued the company for using its articles to train its AI models like ChatGPT.

Viewers can expect these issues to be at the heart of Oprah’s interview with Altman. In this conversation, Altman will likely clarify the immense responsibility AI company executives have in AI development and execution during the show.

Impact of AI on Job Market

Job loss due to AI is a major concern for many and will be a key topic in the upcoming Oprah Winfrey interview with Bill Gates. While AI has the potential to create new job opportunities, it is also estimated that up to 300 million jobs worldwide could be automated by AI, potentially leaving many people unemployed.

In May this year, former Google VP, Prof. Geoffrey Hinton raised an alarming AI warning about AI’s impact on the job market. He said robots and AI will hurt society and leave millions of people jobless. It will take up a big chunk of routine jobs and lead to the disappearance of numerous mid-level and blue-collar jobs.

As she hosts Microsoft’s Co-founder Bill Gates, Oprah Winfrey will likely discuss AI-driven innovation in different sectors, including healthcare. The conversation will also focus on AI’s impact on jobs. Gates will likely raise warnings about the effects of AI on routine tasks while highlighting its ability to enhance productivity for white-collar jobs.

AI Capabilities and Challenges

Viewers can expect to hear more about AI potential, capabilities, and challenges throughout the show. Popular YouTube creator, Marques Brownlee, who uses AI to brainstorm video ideas and edit thumbnails will showcase AI capabilities on the show.

Altman will likely share insights and perspectives on the opportunities AI presents including augmenting human capabilities and performing tasks autonomously. He will also discuss the challenges with AI regulation and the threat for large-scale disinformation due to AI model ability to write computer codes.

As a tech pioneer and philanthropist, Gates is expected to share insights on AI’s potential to improve sectors like health, science, and education on the show. He will also discuss the changes that AI could cause in these sectors. Viewers can expect to get a balanced view of AI’s opportunities and challenges in society from his perspective.

AI Risks and Threats

The ‘AI and the Future of Us’ event will help viewers understand the risks and threats posed by AI technology. Oprah’s conversation with Tristan Harris and Aza Raskin will focus on risks associated with powerful AI systems. She will also feature Marilynne Robinson on the show to discuss the AI threats to human values and how to resist its convenience.

FBI Director, Christopher Wray will appear on the Gates Altman interview with Oprah to shed light on emerging security threats, including how criminals and foreign adversaries use AI to advance their agenda.

The “AI and the Future of Us: An Oprah Winfrey Special” show is a production of Winfrey’s Harpo Productions.

The post Oprah Hosts Sam Altman, Bill Gates on Special AI Interview appeared first on Tech Research Online.

According to Yahoo Finance, the new You.com funding will enable the AI company to excel whereas other rivals that raise billions fail.

Getting Better

You.com’s founder and CEO, Richard Socher says his company challenges itself to be better than Google. According to Socher, the You.com Google competition would be futile if its based on simple queries that constitute the bulk of Google searches- which include basic facts, references, and conversions.

“People willing to pay for You.com are people that do productive knowledge work. And this is actually where the sweet spot, where the killer app for this technology is- making this a productivity engine, telling these agents when and how to search the internet,” Socher says.

You.com launched in 2021. Since then, the AI-search engine has responded to 1 billion queries and attracted millions of users across tech unicorns, hedge funds, and public companies. Its biggest competitor, Google is currently embroiled in multiple antitrust cases after a US Judge termed it an illegal monopoly.

Idea Behind You.Com

Although the term productivity engine may not define You.com intuitively, the idea behind the AI-search engine is to use natural language to inform the system about what the user wants to know, irrespective of complexity.

“When we first started You.com, we saw an opportunity to reinvent the gateway to everyone’s online journey. Billions of questions were being answered every day with a list of blue links, but our users wanted more. We built You.com to enhance productivity, inspire new thinking, and develop a deeper understanding of the world through human-AI collaboration,” Socher explains.

You.com uses AI agents to help users find the information they need. For instance, a user can ask the system to ‘summarize literature on side effects of paracetamol’. Language models would probably not answer such a question. You.com focuses on performing such demanding tasks. The query is first examined to enable AI agents to find the right information and techniques.

“Our AI agents help millions of knowledge workers be more productive, whether it’s through fast, accurate answers, research and analysis, problem-solving, or content creation,” Socher adds.

Comparable Service

When it comes to business, You.com says its services compare favorably as it continues to grow its paying customer base. This year alone, the AI-search platform has increased its subscriber base fivefold. The company says its AI-search platform is currently serving large companies in the market.

“The unit economies for large enterprise deals are positive, and some companies are using us millions of times per day. Companies are raising money so they can give away their product for free, and ads haven’t really been figured out for chat. We’ve been more careful about this, and we think it’s time for us to scale,” Socher says.

You.com’s latest funding round was led by Georgian. Big tech names like Nvidia, Salesforce Ventures, DuckDuckGo, Day One Ventures, and SBVA participated in the funding round. The new funding is expected to significantly boost You.com’s valuation having brought the company’s total funding to $99 billion.

The post You.com Takes on Google with Complex Queries appeared first on Tech Research Online.

News of German SAAS Ryte acquisition represents a significant change in the digital marketing landscape. The acquisition brings two powerhouses together to redefine enterprise SEO capabilities and website user experience.

Combined Expertise

Semrush has created a robust online visibility management platform. The SaaS platform allows businesses across the globe to optimize their websites for search engines. It provides a range of digital marketing services including content marketing, pay-per-click, social media campaigns, and competitive research campaigns.

Businesses that use Semrush also track results from their online marketing initiatives on the platform. Following the acquisition, Ryte and Semrush will combine their acquisition to achieve new levels of growth.

Ryte Founder, Andy Bruckschloegl said, “We are excited to join Semrush and advance our shared vision for the future of Website User Experience, as well as strengthen Semrush’s cutting-edge Enterprise SEO Platform.”

New Opportunities

Rytes expects its acquisition by Semrush to open new sales opportunities. The startup will be looking to leverage the extensive customer base that Semrush has to achieve this goal. The acquisition presents Ryte with new cross-selling and customer penetration opportunities.

“With Semrush, Ryte seeks to drive innovation, accelerate platform development, and amplify our global presence more rapidly than we could as a standalone company,” Bruckschloegl added.

Semrush sees the acquisition as an extension of its Enterprise SEO Platform. The SaaS company commits to help big companies enhance their online visibility, marketing operations, and productivity.

“We warmly welcome all Ryte employees to the Semrush family and look forward to capitalizing on the opportunities this acquisition brings,” Eugene Levin, Semrush President said.

Good Reputation

Ryte was founded in 2012. The SaaS company helps agencies and companies to optimize website experiences for users. The startup serves companies such as Bauhaus, Hilti, Allianz, and HomeToGo.

“We are entering an exciting phase, and I am immensely proud of the entire Ryte team, particularly my two co-founders, Marcus Tandler and Neils Dorje, as well as our CFO and COO, Jens Mittnacht. Their invaluable contributions have been key to achieving this important milestone for our future,” Bruckschloegl added.

Over the years, the company has built a positive image through its comprehensive suite that enhances search engine optimization, accessibility, compliance, performance, quality assurance, and sustainability for businesses of all sizes.

The post Semrush Expands Enterprise SEO Platform with Ryte Acquisition appeared first on Tech Research Online.

Proof of Concept

Zaplox is a digital guest solutions company. The company commenced a collaboration with Google to create a mobile key proof of concept in Google Wallet. This hotel mobile key in the Google Wallet partnership started in 2023. The mobile room key concept was tested at Bay View Suites in California’s Mountain View area. The suites are owned by Google.

Zaplox CTO, Kim Lood, said, “We are honored to announce the launch of mobile keys in Google Wallet. This launch demonstrates our vision of delivering next-generation technology and proves that when visionary minds unite and work together with the latest technology, we can truly leave a mark on the industry.”

Zaplox leveraged the BLE technology to develop Strawberry mobile keys.

First in the World

Clarion Hotel Post becomes the first hotel to launch Strawberry mobile keys in Google Wallet.

“Becoming the first hotel in the world to offer mobile keys in both Google Wallet and Apple Wallet is a testament to our commitment to enhancing the guest experience at every touchpoint and underscores the importance of collaborating with industry-leading technology partners,” Strawberry Strategic Growth VP Christian Lundén said.

The NFC mobile keys allow guests to place their room keys on Google Wallet. This allows them to access hotel facilities and unlock their rooms with digital keys.

Exceptional Experiences

Development of the Strawberry NFC mobile key comes after the announcement of mobile keys via Apple Wallet was made last summer. According to Strawberry’s Strategic Growth VP, Christian Lundén, hotel guests are always looking for positive experiences.

“We are constantly striving to deliver exceptional experiences and a seamless guest journey, and the launch of hotel keys in Google Wallet is an important step on that journey. This is exactly what hotel guests are looking for and expect, and we are thrilled to be able to offer this next-generation mobile key solution through our strong partnerships. The initial response from the hotel guests has been very positive,” he said.

HTEC Conference

The launch of the Strawberry mobile keys Google wallet comes at a time when the HITEC conference is going on in North Carolina. Conversations on how technology can be used to humanize the hospitality industry took center-stage in the conference.

Mews founder, Richard Valtr, says the focus should be on providing positive experiences to guests. Not just giving them a place to sleep. The greatest obstacle to achieving this is the cold first impression guests receive.

“A check-in is a process. You give me the [credit] card. You give me your ID, and I give you a key card so you can access the room. One of the things we’ve thought very, very passionately about was that we wanted the experience of coming to a hotel not to be a check-in, but a welcoming, because that’s what’s human and natural,” Valtr said.

Technological solutions like Strawberry mobile keys address this problem. With digital keys, guests can bypass front desks and access their rooms directly.

The post Clarion Hotel Post Launches Strawberry Mobile Keys appeared first on Tech Research Online.

Companies can do this while safeguarding their brands. Adobe Express is powered by Adobe Firefly genAI service. It’s a one-stop-shop AI content creation app that allows users to ideate. Users also use it to design and share videos, social media posts, flyers, logos, and other content formats fast and with ease.

New Features

Businesses need captivating visual content to stand out. These include social media posts and marketing assets. They also include emails, flyers, and presentations. Adobe Express is designed to place generative AI at the fingertips. During the Adobe design event, the company unveiled more Adobe Express features.

These included presentation and print features that allow users to design anything from anywhere with ease. Its AI-powered custom models, reference images, and bulk create and generate features are supercharging users. They are helping users to achieve more.

Adobe’s Digital Media Business President, David Wadhwani said, “The new Adobe Express is built for business, making it easy for anyone in an organization to design on-brand visual content that drives business outcomes. With Adobe’s responsible approach to AI, strong record of product innovation, and proven ability to deliver products that empower businesses of all sizes, Adobe Express offers an unparalleled combination of deep creative expertise and enterprise credentials business leaders and users can trust.”

Adobe Express also comes with Firefly Image 3 Model and locked templates’ capabilities. These features allow businesses to protect their brands. Adobe software also enhances collaboration between creative studio teams, business users, and agencies.

Real Use Cases

Marketing leaders from leading brands attended the Adobe event. These included IBM and Unilever. Nonprofits like Limbitless Solutions and 100 Cameras participated in the event. Teams from these brands shared their experiences with Adobe Express.

They showcased real use cases and product demos to bring their experiences to life. Social media teams are using the software to automate content quickly. Sales teams are using Adobe designs to customize shareable videos and pitches with ease. Regional marketers reported using Adobe software. They used it to repurpose content for different cultures, contexts, and languages.

IBM’S Senior VP of Marketing and Communication said, “Marketers are looking for trusted AI that seamlessly integrates into their work. Adobe Express for Enterprise is empowering marketers at IBM to create on-brand content aligned to business objectives that delivers compelling, personalized experiences to targeted audiences.”

High Adoption

Adobe said strong product innovation guided its software design during the Adobe Design Made Easy event. This innovation has attracted leading brands.

Unilever’s Global VP for Consumer Experience Technology, Aaron Rajan said, “Over the last year, we have been pioneering the use of AI technology like Adobe Firefly and Adobe Express with all our marketers worldwide, helping responsibly create and scale on-brand content for our 400 brands across 100+ marketers and 3.2 billion consumers who use our brands every day.”

Dentsu, the world’s biggest advertising agency network, empowered marketers to use Adobe Express. The company registered a 70% faster time to market as a result.

Adobe said its software resulted in a 96% increase in monthly active mobile users. The company also recorded an 86% increase in cumulative creations generated annually.

The post AI-Powered Software Carries the Day at Adobe’s Design Made Easy Event appeared first on Tech Research Online.

Ticketmaster is a digital ticketing platform, and Santander is a consumer bank. The two companies are among the biggest Snowflake customers. After the Snowflake password breach, many corporate clients are worried. They fear their cloud data could have been stolen.

Snowflake serves big global corporations, like hospitals, banks, and tech firms. The company analyzes and stores huge volumes of data, including client data, in the cloud.

Confirmed Breach

Live Nation, Ticketmaster’s parent company, reported that hackers stole personal details. The details belonged to more than 550 million clients. The details include names, phone numbers, addresses, and credit card credentials. Santander has also seen its client data stolen.

According to the bank, the data belongs to customers in Latin America and Spain. The bank also lost personal details of 200,000 past and current employees, including 20,000 from the UK. ShinyHunters, a cybercriminal group, has claimed responsibility for the Snowflake customer data leak.

The group is demanding a $2 million ransom from Santander and $500,000 from Ticketmaster. The two companies have not named Snowflake. However, it said it’s aware of unauthorized access to some of its customer accounts. There is no evidence of a direct breach of its systems.

“We have not identified evidence suggesting this activity was caused by a vulnerability, misconfiguration, or breach of Snowflake’s platform. We have not identified evidence suggesting this activity was caused by compromised credentials of current or former Snowflake personnel,” Snowflake said in a statement.

Unsecured Accounts

The cloud data management company attributed the breach to a Snowflake info-stealing malware. This type of malware scrapes passwords that users save from their computers.

“This appears to be a targeted campaign directed at users with single-factor authentication. As part of this campaign, threat actors have leveraged credentials previously purchased or obtained through info-stealing malware,” Snowflake added.

Snowflake stores sensitive data for its customers. However, it allows each customer to manage the security in their environment. Its system settings don’t require customers to automatically use multi-factor authentication. The lack of multi-factor authentication let cybercriminals access customer data.

Some customers may have set up their environments without extra security. This made them more vulnerable.

Compromise on Snowflake Accounts

The company confirmed that it has evidence of a Snowflake customer password breach. The breach was on the company’s own accounts. The company said an unauthorized actor had accessed personal details. They did this through a demo account. The account belonged to a former Snowflake staff member.

According to the company, its demo accounts did not have multi-factor authentication protection. Its corporate accounts were not linked to the demo account. Snowflake has asked its customers to put in place multi-factor authentication immediately.

Customers should establish network rules. They should also reset access credentials and rotate them from time to time. Snowflake is working with Mandiant and CrowdStrike to investigate the cybersecurity threat.

The post Did Unsecured Accounts Lead to Snowflake Customer Password Breach? appeared first on Tech Research Online.

Lenovo’s Global Vice President and CMO of Intelligent Devices Group and International Markets, Emily Ketchen said the tech giant is cognizant of the need for a healthy digital balance to ensure mental well-being.

“With huge advancements in AI and smarter technologies, now is the time to explore and pilot creative new ways to use technology like AI thoughtfully and responsibly, for the greater good. Lenovo is uniquely positioned to lead here.” Ketchen said.

Rising Anxiety 

Across the world, youth experience challenges reconciling the lives they live online and with those in the real world. Stats show that two-thirds of Gen-Z youth experience a disconnect between their offline and online selves, leading to anxiety and loneliness. About half of Gen Zs find it easier to express themselves online. About 60% desire to have difficult conversations with loved ones in real life. Lenovo’s ‘Meet Your Digital Self’ project seeks to address this challenge.

“The type of AI innovation in Lenovo’s ‘Meet Your Digital Self’ social experiment shows promise as a way generations with different understandings of online personas can meet and understand each other,” Sarah Kendrick, Mental Health Innovations Clinical Director said.

Lenovo AI Avatars Experiment 

Lenovo’s ‘Meet Your Digital Self’ is a groundbreaking social experiment, the first-of-its-kind. The tech giant leveraged its wide tech portfolio to pioneer Lenovo-powered AI avatars on personal computers, software solutions, cloud, and mobile phones. This combined tech approach brought life to online personas of Gen Z participants through the use of lifelike digital avatars that can have natural, unscripted conversations.

In the experiment, AI avatars powered by Lenovo resembled every participant. However, they were built to respond to conversations real-time. Depending on the discussion, they can vary their tones, facial expressions, and movements. To achieve this, the avatars were trained based on the data provided by the participant’s digital persona.

Gen Z participants had impactful conversations between them, their family members, and the Lenovo AI avatars. These conversions may never have happened in real life. Through real-time conversations with Lenovo-powered AI avatars, family members got valuable insights about their Gen Z relatives. This enabled them to understand their Gen Z loved ones better and reconnect with them in real life.

Strategic Partnerships 

Lenovo plans to take Lenovo AI avatars global through the ‘Meet Your Digital Self’ project.

“Ultimately, we hope that through our ‘Meet Your Digital Self’ social experiment we can spark meaningful conversations that contribute to the mental wellbeing of individuals and communities worldwide,” Ketchen added.

The company already partnered with organizations like Shout in the UK, Anata no Ibasho in Japan, and Crisis Text Line in the US and Puerto Rico. These partnerships are aimed at expanding mental health resources and support to a wider audience.

The post How Lenovo AI Avatars Could Address the Youth Mental Health Challenge appeared first on Tech Research Online.

For over a decade now, wearable technology has advanced significantly with fitness trackers, smartwatches, and augmented reality glasses becoming extremely popular. Smart rings are poised to take wearable devices a notch higher. Though much smaller than other wearables, digital rings are increasingly changing the way people interact with technology. They offer advanced solutions for lifestyle enhancement and provide users an unobstructed way to track health metrics and access information without the need to carry bulky devices.

Digital rings come with a stylish appearance that easily makes them the preferred option for tech-savvy consumers. These aspects place wearable technology rings at the top of wearable technology market innovation according to a MarkWide Research Report. In this article, we delve deeper into what digital rings can do and the benefits they offer users.

What Are Smart Rings?

Smart rings are wearable electronic devices that are fitted with mobile components such as NFC chips and sensors. These stylish but compact wearables are worn on the finger and are capable of performing electronic tasks like receiving notifications, tracking health metrics, and making contactless financial transactions. The best smart rings feature multiple technologies including:

1. Sensors

This technology enables wearable technology rings to track varying parameters. Some of the sensors that are fitted in digital rings include optical or infrared sensors to monitor pulse or heart beat, gyroscope sensors that detect balance, 3-axis accelerometer sensors to track movement and sleep, and EDA sensors to track cognition, emotions, and feelings. Other sensors that come with smart rings for health include SpO2 which monitors oxygen levels in the blood, NTC thermistor which tracks body temperature, and glucose sensors which monitor blood sugar levels.

2. Near Field Communication (NFC)

NFC refers to wireless connections that utilize magnetic field induction to enable communication between devices that are located in close range. NFC technology works effectively with common applications in laptops, smartphones, access cards, digital wallets, transport cards, point-of-sale terminals, and many others.

3. Bluetooth

This technology syncs the data that’s collected by sensors, allowing smart ring companies to analyze and generate user-friendly reports and personalized recommendations to users.

What Do Smart Rings Do?

Digital rings are used for different applications. Health and fitness are the most common applications in the market with Apple smart rings set to lead in monitoring health metrics while Oura smart rings and Samsung smart rings are perfect for tracking daily activities and nightly rest. Other practical smart ring capabilities include:

1. Contactless Payments

Digital rings like K Ring and McLEAR are already paving the way for contactless payment systems. Rings with these capabilities allow users to tap and make transactions of amounts that don’t exceed MasterCard and Visa global contactless payment terminals. Countries such as the Netherlands, the U.K., France, Japan, Australia, and Russia already have banks that allow smart ring contactless payments for debit and credit payments via activated MasterCard and Visa payment terminals.

2. Smart Key

Digital rings that are fitted with optical sensors can replace conventional keys or access badges or cards by working as smart keys that open homes, offices, and cars. These capabilities improve security systems as taking the ring off the finger halts access and ensures that no one can access your home, office, or the car you connect to the smart ring. Tesla smart rings are great examples of the convergence between smart and digital rings. The rings allow users to lock, start, and unlock a range of Tesla models including Model Y, Model 3, and Model S 2021.

3. Transit Pass

Various NFC smart rings come with tap-to-pay card readers that passengers can use to access transit gates, allowing them to serve as tickets or travel passes in public transportation. The rings work like stored-value cards, holding monetary value and making it readily available during travel without requiring third-parties from network connections or credit/debit accounts. A good example is the K Ring that provides transit passes for most rail services in London as well as Transport for London services.

4. Device Control

Wearable digital rings allow users to control devices like smartphones remotely. Users can improve their productivity and reduce screen time by using them to receive messages, control music, get call notifications, and set alarms remotely.

What Are the Benefits of Wearing a Smart Ring?

In addition to their tracking capabilities, wearable technology rings offer users a range of benefits that include:

1. Gesture Control Capabilities

Digital rings come with tiny sensors that support gesture control. This allows users to interact with other devices, including smart home appliances by waving their hands. This feature enhances accessibility to technology and supports home automation.

2. Better Privacy and Safety

Although wearable devices function the same way, digital rings have an edge when it comes to privacy. The absence of screens means that your information remains inaccessible to those around you. Wearable technology rings also come with SOS features or panic buttons that can alert emergency services or predefined contacts when a user is in distress. In critical situations, these features can save lives.

3. Less Cumbersome

Digital rings are more comfortable to wear because of their lightweight and compact design. They provide a seamless and intuitive experience to users who prefer to use them for fitness tracking and contactless payments.

4. Longer Battery Life

Smart wearable rings have no screens. This reduces their power consumption significantly compared to other wearable devices like fitness bands and smartwatches. The majority of digital rings have a battery life of 3 to 7 days compared to fitness bands and smartwatches whose batteries last for 1 to 2 days.

5. Valuable Jewelry Pieces

Smart rings are both technology and jewelry pieces. When you get one, you wear it on your finger every day. There are varying ring styles to choose from, and you can opt for a minimalist, sleek, or more noticeable design. Whatever style you go for, the aesthetics that come with wearable rings make them valuable jewelry pieces that enhance your look.

Future Outlook

With the rising demand for discreet and convenient wearables, the future of smart rings looks promising. These innovative wearables blend fashion, technology, health, and finance. There’s no doubt that moving into the future, the powerful features they offer will inevitably shape our interaction with technology.

The post Smart Rings: The Future of Wearables? appeared first on Tech Research Online.

Instagram over the years has brought many updates/features to the social media app. The update and features had made it a great and easy-to-use app. Today, Instagram is the go-to app for content creators to publish their content online. Content Creators affiliates, influencers, and the company promote themselves on these platforms while other users use the platform for content consumption and browsing.

Adam Mosseri, the head of Instagram, on the IG broadcast announced that they will begin rolling out the feature in the United States. He further added that it will only be available to public accounts. Creators may turn off this feature and prevent their material from being downloaded. It is unclear whether the reel download feature will be available on all devices, and it will be worth watching.

How Do Instagram Reels Work?

The Instagram Reel was introduced on August 5, 2020, and is a method to make and discover short, amusing videos on the platform that is controlled by Meta. Instagram Reel enables users to record, edit, and share 15-second multi-clip Videos with audio, effects, and fresh design tools. Then, through Explore, these can be made available to the larger community as well as shared with followers on Feeds.

How to Download the Reels?

Simply, hit the Share symbol on a reel you like and choose Download. Reels shared by private users cannot be downloaded, and public accounts can disable the ability for others to download their reels in Account Settings.

Mosseri did not explain in his announcement whether the downloaded reels will bear IG’s watermark, as is the case with TikTok video downloads and YouTube clips. YouTube began including its branding in downloaded’ shorts’ to prevent cross-platform video sharing.

Instagram has 2.35 million active users globally. But since this feature is just for the US, Instagram can soon roll out this feature to the remaining countries. This can add to the popularity of Instagram and can increase its user base significantly.

The post Instagram Now Allows Users to Download Reels on Their Devices appeared first on Tech Research Online.

Much before the popular Indian player made it to the limelight with the ‘sticker’, it had been trending on social media platforms like Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. So, what exactly is the sticker, and what makes this fitness gadget expensive?

Iyer had recently partnered with a startup called ‘Ultrahuman’ that is based out of Bangalore. As a part of the collaboration, he started using its product—the ‘Ultrahuman M1’. The Ultrahuman M1 is basically a gadget that continuously monitors your blood glucose level in real-time. The gadget can be paired with an app called ‘Ultrahuman’ which is currently available for iOS. To boost the visibility of the device, Ultrahuman has partnered with multiple influencers on various social media platforms, along with Iyer.

What Is the Ultrahuman M1?

The Ultrahuman M1 focuses on the metabolic fitness of your body by tracking blood glucose and other biomarkers. It tracks blood glucose along with other advanced biomarkers in our body to provide health insights.

The Ultrahuman M1 consists of a biosensor that reads blood-glucose levels in real time and relays the derived insights to the app, Ultrahuman. All you have to do is paste the sticker onto your triceps and pair the gadget to your smartphone.

How does the Ultrahuman M1 work?

The tracker helps you understand more about your body’s metabolic patterns through glucose levels. It also tells you how different foods and activities impact your body. The insights generated through the tracker are further combined with Ultrahuman’s personalized AI-driven nudges. Based on the results, the app provides access to performance coaches as well as unique software features such as fuelling zones, vectors, and others, that help users make necessary lifestyle decisions. It also helps them improve their metabolic fitness levels over time.

The gadget is the innovation of a Bangalore-based startup called Ultrahuman.

About Ultrahuman

Ultrahuman was founded by Mohit Kumar and Vatsal Singhal in 2019. During an interaction with News18 Tech, Singhal, who is currently serving as the CTO of the company, shared: “Think of a small sensor that is always attached to your body and tells you exactly when your body needs food when it’s the best time to workout and what lifestyle you should adopt to stay fit. This is exactly what the Ultrahuman platform or Ultrahuman Cyborg offers. It’s like a live fuel meter for your body, considering the fuel for the body as blood glucose.”

Why You Should Monitor Blood Glucose Levels?

The founders also emphasized the importance of monitoring blood glucose levels. Being an anabolic hormone, insulin signals our body cells to pick up glucose from the blood for use. When someone experiences chronologically elevated levels of insulin, they might develop insulin resistance. This results in the build-up of more fuel (glucose and triglycerides) in the body and potentially less efficient usage of glucose.

Globally, more than a billion people suffer from some form of metabolic syndrome at the present time. These also include diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, abnormal lipid levels, obesity, PCOS, Alzheimer’s disease, and many more. However, the good news is although some aspects of our metabolism are impacted by variables outside our control, a lot of it is determined by our lifestyle. This is where Ultrahuman comes into play.

The post All You Should Know About the ‘K’ Sticker; the Expensive Fitness Gadget! appeared first on Tech Research Online.

For startups, 2020 has been a roller coaster ride and though Covid-19 has forced some industries to pivot completely, others have thrived.  

Some of the most successful tech companies today including Instagram, Uber, and Airbnb started their success stories as tech startups. Now, they are popular globally because of their state-of-the-art technologies and engaging, and inspiring ideas. They have gone so far now that they are now opening new doors for other tech startups.  

However, no one has ever seen or experienced the current global health crisis like now. As people and companies have started to embrace the new normal, there are also certain changes they need to expect in the business landscape.   

We have entered the year 2021, but a lot of changes have already happened in 2020. In the year 2020, we have been seeing some major shift in the tech trends with the huge shift to remote working, online socializing, online shopping, and more.   

On the top is work-from-home that resulted from quarantine. Despite many Tech Startup have already embraced the WFH even before the coronavirus, many are still adjusting. The shift has been especially more on technologies that have capitalized on digital.  

In Harvard Business Review, Dan Higgins and Nicola Morini Bianzino write:  

“As businesses look to embed lessons learned in recent months and to build enterprise resilience for the future, they are due for even more transformation. As such, most organizations are voraciously evaluating existing and future technologies to see if they’ll be able to deliver the innovation at a scale that they’ll need to survive and thrive.”  

Here are some stats about the tech startup industry in the US:  

According to a report, the U.S. is the largest tech market for $1.6 trillion in 2019 in the world.   

In the U.S., the average of 20 technology companies founded per year reaching $100 million in revenues.   

The tech startup industry has the highest startup business failure rate which is more than 63% as of 2018.   

Since no one can tell when the pandemic will end what changes and trends should tech startups expect next year and in the future?   

So, in this blog post, we have covered the hottest tech StartUp trends for 2021 that have grown in 2020 and will continue to thrive.  

1. Remote Working  

Looking back at 2020, remote working might have been the most obvious technology trends for 2021 to start with. However, there is so much room for growth in this segment.   

For instance, according to LinkedIn’s analysis of 18 countries, they reported a jump in remote postings:  

In the Future Workforce Pulse Report, Upwork reveals that nearly 36.2 million Americans will be working remotely by 2025 which is an increase of 87% from pre-pandemic levels. Blueface predicts that remote working will be competing with physical offices by 2025.  

In the initial months of 2020, many companies faced several issues while adapting to a remote working model. But as we enter the new year let’s hope to hear some good news.  

Recently, Techcrunch interviewed six leading investors about their experience with the remote working situation. By the end of it, there was one common theme that was common for all. VCs did not believe that the current tools and services can solve all issues in remote working. They even claimed that there was still a lot of work that is still needed to be done.  

Clement Cazalot, managing director of Techstars Boston, “All the security [and] compliance while being remote is still largely untapped as companies are figuring out the answer.”  

Yes, security is going to be a major issue in the coming years as we have seen in the past with Zoom security concerns. But, along with that, there are so many other opportunities, for instance, personal remote process automation and office collaboration.  

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So, even though remote working might be young, there are a lot of opportunities for startups to grow and help people tackle problems.   

As of today, a few tech startups have already started to work in the remote working tooling space pre-COVID-19. They are expected to grow in the year 2021 in this space. For example, Abodoo, Figma, and Bluescape.  

2. Robotic Delivery  

I guess I am being very obvious here! But, the use of robots for delivery is the next strategic technology trends. However, its slow adoption can be due to the unwillingness of people to opt for technology in deliveries.   

According to a paper by Statista, one reason for low adoption is that the customers favor cheaper home delivery options over instant delivery. Another reason is that the consumers trust drone-based delivery for non-luxury goods but remain skeptical about its use in luxury items.  

Now, this has become one of the most complicated and hottest focuses as we emerge from 2020 and into 2021.   

Right now, China is the first country to jump at the opportunity. The country has ramped up its deployment of robots for delivery. The country says that this will be an effective measure to slow the spread of COVID-19.  

On 30th December 2020, China’s first national standard for express delivery drone service published specifications for its service which will be effective from January 1st, 2021. Other than that, several delivery apps Meituan and Dianping have even started using autonomous vehicles for grocery orders. Recently, Meituan has launched the tech publicly though the company tested this technology last year.  

China is not the only country looking to push robotic deliveries. In the Western world, other startups such as Starship Technologies, Manna, and Nuro are also trying to tackle this problem.  

In 2020, grocery e-commerce has almost doubled, accelerating the initial timelines for this technology’s deployment to help meet the growing demand in 2021.  

3. Virtual and Telehealthcare  

With the ongoing pandemic, healthcare institutions are desperately trying to lower the exposure of COVID-19 to both workers and patients.  

This has become one fact that many private and public practices have started implementing telehealth offerings.  

The primary care is in-person nature. This is especially true in the case of relationships between PCPs (primary care physicians/providers) and patients. It stems from a need to ‘see patients’ in person.   

However, studies have shown that nearly 80% of primary care services can be delivered virtually. Telehealth has surged by 50% pre-pandemic levels.  

A few years ago, IHS Technology predicted that 70 million people in the U.S. would use telehealth by 2020. Since Forrester Research has predicted that this number has surged close to a billion by 2020. 

With the COVID-19 pandemic, Telehealth has given companies opportunities to lead the charge. Teladoc is one such company that has since increased its 2019 projections to double visit volume.  

For startups who are concerned with healthcare, telehealth allows them to grow and compete with larger players.  

K Health, 98point6, and Eden Health are some startups that are already taking advantage of this opportunity.   

But we should not forget that there is another focus beyond the telehealth focus in healthcare that will exponentially grow in 2021.  

These include:  

• Advancements in Biotech  
• Robotic Healthcare   

AI and Machine Learning opportunities to help support the diagnosis. For example, Suki AI is offering an AI-powered platform that is also voice-enabled to automate clinical documentation.  

4. Tech Startup Using 5G  

In the time of the pandemic, we have heard many conspiracy theories revolving around 5G and COVID-19. No doubt, the demand for higher speed internet and well-connected homes are one of the major reasons for the advancement of 5G.  

Why?  

Because we need a better network for better connectivity. And, though many of us think that COVID-19 has stalled the rollout of 5G, in reality, it has only pushed the deployment further.  

With Australia having rolled out the technology years before COVID-19, other telcos around the globe are on track to deliver 5G.   

In October, Verizon has announced the expansion of its 5G network to reach more than 200 million people.  

In China, the deployment of 5G has been rapid and Ericsson is leading the charge.   

Some other interesting stats include:  

• Currently, over 380 operators are investing in 5G  
• 35+ countries have already launched commercial 5G  

This has proved itself as one of the best strategic technology trends for 2021 for startups who want to utilize 5G within their services. Some startups such as Movandi are working to help 5G transfer data at greater distances.                                        

How 5G is impacting smart cities is one key area. For instance, startups such as Novalume help municipalities manage their smart city data through sensors and public lighting network.   

Another example is the Tech Startup in Spain such as Nido Robotics will use drones to explore the seafloor. These drones will help in better navigation and use IoT to help communicate with devices through 5G networks.  

Besides, 5G networks are also capable of helping devices work together in real-time. It helps them avoid collisions and allows them to travel unmanned.  

These are some of the applications that have helped to enable 5G and with its rapid deployment, its market is expected to grow from startups who are looking to utilize this technology.  

5. Online Education  

Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, online education was already growing rapidly with global edtech investments reaching US$18.66 billion in 2019. Its overall market for online education is estimated to reach nearly $350 Billion by 2025.   

Why is the education sector growing so fast?   

While it is a no-brainer why it has seen massive growth in recent months here are some reasons.  

According to UNESCO, some 1.3 billion learners were unable to attend school or university around the world as of March 2020. This has opened up a huge opportunity for online education sectors as schools and colleges have started to conduct classes via video conferencing.   

In fact, even after everything returns to normal, many institutions have been recommended to complete a part of their curriculum online.  

GO1, a tech startup working in the field of corporate online education, has managed to secure funds as COVID-19 runs a rampage. GO1 focuses on a sector that is growing year on year.  

Andrew Barnes from GO1, once suggested: “The awareness that organizations and individuals have around the importance of continuing to upskill and re-skill is really at the forefront, particularly as people get back into a new state of normal.”   

Today, there is a huge growth opportunity in online education from secondary and higher education to corporate. In the year 2021, we are expecting more growth for the sector and its startups.  

Conclusion

Here are some of the hottest Top Tech startups trends for the year 2021. While you may have already heard about some of them as they have already taken off. In the future, you will continue to hear about them growing tremendously especially in 2021. 

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