Bonded Bitesize – Your Midweek Roundup

Meta brings its anti-scam facial-recognition test to the UK and Europe

Meta is expanding its facial-recognition test to the UK after initially excluding the country. The tools aim to combat scam ads using celebrity likenesses and help users regain access to compromised accounts. The test, already active in other regions, will now extend across the EU. Meta secured approval from UK regulators, aligning with the country’s AI-friendly stance. Public figures will receive opt-in notifications for ‘celeb-bait’ protection, and a ‘video selfie verification’ feature will be available to all users. Meta insists facial data is deleted after use and not repurposed. The move follows past controversies, including a $1.4 billion biometric data lawsuit. Meta continues to invest in AI, positioning these tools as a way to address security concerns while shaping public acceptance of facial recognition.

Google Launches AI Mode for Search

Google is testing a new AI Mode for Search, which generates an entire page of AI-powered results for complex queries, unlike its existing AI Overviews. Powered by Gemini 2.0, AI Mode can conduct multiple related searches simultaneously and present organised results with links, tips, and follow-up suggestions. If the AI’s confidence in a response is low, traditional search results will be shown instead. The feature is part of Google’s broader AI integration strategy as it faces competition from AI-driven search tools. AI Mode is currently available to select Google One AI Premium users in the U.S. Google is also improving AI Overviews, expanding access to teens, and enhancing responses with richer formatting, images, and video.

Amazon is reportedly developing its own AI ‘reasoning’ model

Amazon is reportedly developing its own AI reasoning model under the Nova brand, set to launch as early as June. Similar to OpenAI’s o3-mini and DeepSeek’s R1, the model will incorporate advanced reasoning capabilities, improving accuracy in fields like math and science. Amazon plans to use a hybrid reasoning architecture, akin to Claude 3.7 Sonnet, allowing both quick answers and complex problem-solving within a single system. The company also aims to make Nova more cost-efficient than competitors, though this may be challenging given DeepSeek’s reputation for low-cost AI models. The move signals Amazon’s increasing investment in AI development as it seeks to compete in the rapidly evolving landscape.

Threads tests adding ‘interests’ on profiles to connect users with topical discussions

Meta’s Threads is testing a new interests feature that lets users add topics to their profiles, helping them discover and join relevant discussions. This aims to make it easier for users—especially newcomers—to connect with conversations without needing to follow specific accounts. The feature complements Threads’ custom feeds, which allow users to curate and share topic-based feeds. Both tools leverage Threads’ understanding of topics to enhance engagement. Currently in mobile-only testing, Meta plans to share more details soon. The move positions Threads as a stronger rival to X and Bluesky, which has gained traction with its custom feed and decentralisation approach.

Instagram Takes On Discord, Adds Community Chat

Instagram is testing a Community Chat feature, inspired by Discord, allowing users to create topic-based group chats with up to 250 members. Unlike Instagram’s Broadcast Channels, which focus on one-way communication, Community Chats foster more interactive discussions among like-minded users. Admins will have moderation controls, including removing messages and members. The feature aligns with Meta’s broader push toward community-driven social experiences, similar to updates seen on WhatsApp, Facebook, and Messenger. While details on advertising opportunities remain unclear, this could open new ways for brands to target niche interest groups. The move comes as Discord, with 200M+ active users, explores a potential public listing.

Google Shopping unveils AI-powered fashion and beauty features

Google has introduced AI-driven shopping tools to enhance personalisation and interactivity, including Vision Match for generating shoppable clothing suggestions based on descriptions, Virtual Makeup Try-On for testing celebrity-inspired looks via AR, and an expanded Virtual Clothing Try-On for viewing pants and skirts on diverse body types. With over 1 billion shopping activities daily and more than half of shoppers struggling to find envisioned items, these features aim to bridge the gap between online and in-store experiences, boosting confidence in purchase decisions and driving higher conversion rates.

Amazon tightens its grip on TV ads with AI tool built for upfront negotiations

Amazon is expanding its dominance in TV advertising with Complete TV, an AI-driven tool that optimises ad spending across Prime Video and other streaming platforms, helping advertisers manage upfront commitments and scatter market budgets efficiently. Leveraging its vast first-party data, Amazon offers deep audience insights and real-time spend allocation, aiming to eliminate inefficiencies like redundant reach and last-minute budget shifts. While the tool promises smarter and more accountable ad placements, its growing influence raises concerns about advertiser control versus Amazon’s own interests. As streaming ad dollars rise and traditional TV models decline, tools like Complete TV signal the future of ad buying.

ChatGPT doubled its weekly active users in under 6 months, thanks to new releases

OpenAI’s ChatGPT has experienced significant growth, reaching 400 million weekly active users by February 2025, driven by continuous updates like the GPT-4o model and Advanced Voice Mode. After initially gaining traction as a novel app, its growth accelerated with the introduction of multimodal capabilities and voice functionality. Mobile usage has also grown steadily, with 175 million users accessing ChatGPT via mobile. Despite competition from apps like DeepSeek, which captured a notable share of the mobile user base, ChatGPT remains the top AI app, leading in both web traffic and mobile active users, according to recent market analysis.

Reddit adds new tools to help users contribute and connect across its platform

Reddit is introducing a suite of new tools to enhance the posting experience, particularly for newer users. Features include ‘Community Suggestions’, which helps users find the right subreddit for their posts, and ‘Post Check’, which alerts users if their post may break subreddit rules. Additionally, a tool will allow users to repost removed content to alternative subreddits, and Reddit will notify users if they don’t meet community criteria. The platform is also improving ‘Post Insights’, giving users data on views, upvotes, and shares to help refine future posts. These features are now available on mobile and desktop.

Snapchat Expands Creator Offerings Through Partnership With Later

Snap is expanding its creator offerings through a partnership with Later, a platform that manages influencer marketing and social media campaigns. This collaboration will allow marketers to discover Snapchat-specific creators, automate content scheduling, and manage campaign collaborations via Later’s platform. Later’s recent acquisition of Mavely gives access to a broader pool of creators and data, enhancing the partnership’s reach. The integration with Snapchat’s APIs will also provide creators with tools for brand collaborations, analytics, and monetisation. This move could boost creator content, user engagement, and advertising revenue for Snapchat.