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Instagram’s broadcast channels, a Telegram-style one-way messaging feature, will soon be available more broadly. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg wrote on his own channel that the company is rolling out the feature globally today. Until now, it had been limited to select creators.

Broadcast channels allow users to send messages to their followers, who can react to them and vote in polls, but aren’t able to respond directly. Zuckerberg has been using his channel to share announcements and updates on Meta’s products.

Along with text updates, creators can post images, videos and audio clips. They can also invite others to join their channel as a collaborator. Zuckerberg previously had a public chat with Adam Mosseri, the head of Instagram, on his channel.

Meta brought channels to WhatsApp for the first time last week. A few organizations have access for now, but WhatsApp will offer the feature more broadly in the coming months. Meta plans to bring channels to Facebook and Messenger as well.

Meanwhile, Meta is developing a text-based “decentralized social network” to rival Twitter. Reports suggest that while this will be a standalone service that will connect to the networking protocol that powers Mastodon, you’ll be able to log in with your Instagram account to populate your profile.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/instagram-is-rolling-out-its-telegram-like-broadcast-channels-worldwide-160815133.html?src=rss 

Mercedes-Benz is putting ChatGPT on the road. The automaker is using Microsoft’s Azure OpenAI Service to bring the viral natural-language model to its in-car voice assistant. It will initially be available in a three-month beta program for US customers in select vehicles, but Mercedes says it will consider a broader and more permanent rollout in the future.

ChatGPT integration could put the automaker’s “Hey Mercedes” voice assistant on steroids. Rather than merely answering simple and pre-programmed commands like “Turn up the heat” or “What’s the forecast,” it can carry natural conversations about virtually any topic, including contextual follow-up questions. (Children of the 1980s can finally live out their Knight Rider fantasies.) In addition, Mercedes says it’s “exploring” ChatGPT plugins to enable tasks like making restaurant reservations or booking movie tickets through natural language.

Although holding a lengthy chat on the road could lead to distracted driving, the fact that it’s voice-only should lessen the concern for recklessness. Perhaps it could even help by answering questions you’d otherwise be tempted to look up on your phone while behind the wheel.

Mercedes and Microsoft tout Azure’s “enterprise-grade security, privacy and reliability” for data protection. Still, the companies clarify that your conversations will be “stored in the Mercedes-Benz Intelligent Cloud, where it is anonymised and analysed.” In other words, assume people will listen to your recordings for training and data analysis, so be wary about uttering anything that’s private or could identify you personally.

The three-month beta begins on June 16th and will only cover select Mercedes models running the MBUX infotainment system. (You can view the list of eligible vehicles in the footnotes here.) To enter the program in a qualified model, tell the car’s built-in voice assistant, “Hey Mercedes, I want to join the beta program.”

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mercedes-tries-putting-chatgpt-in-your-car-162822051.html?src=rss 

Sony has once again discounted a number of its wireless headphones and earbuds, including a few models we’ve recommended in past reviews and buying guides. The flagship WH-1000XM5, for one, is back down to $348. While that isn’t an all-time low, it’s still $50 off the noise-cancelling pair’s typical going rate over the past few months. The XM5s are the top pick in our guide to the best wireless headphones, and we gave them a review score of 95 last year thanks to their powerful active noise cancellation (ANC), comfy fit, punchy yet customizable sound and roughly 30-hour battery life. Like other Sony headphones, they also come with a handful of useful software features; “Speak-to-Chat,” for example, automatically pauses your music when the headphones detect that you’re speaking.

If that’s too expensive, the previous-generation WH-1000XM4 remains a solid buy at its current deal price of $278. Again, that’s not an all-time low, but it’s $70 less than usual. The XM4s are a little bulkier than their successor, with a worse mic for phone calls and slightly boomier sound out of the box. We found their ANC to be worse at muting mid- and treble-range sounds as well, though it’s still more effective than most wireless models. Otherwise, the XM4’s feature set is mostly the same, plus they can fold up for easier storage. The XM5s also rely on an automatic ANC adjustment system, which some may prefer to avoid. We gave the XM4 a review score of 94 back in 2020.

If you want a set of in-ear headphones, the WF-1000XM4 is down to $198. Though we’ve seen this deal for much of the last few months, it’s $70 off the list price for the top pick in our best wireless earbuds guide. We’re still fans of this pair’s ANC, sound quality and battery life, but be warned: Severalrecentleaks suggest that Sony will launch a follow-up model in the near future, so it might be worth waiting. If you’re willing to trade wireless charging, a couple hours of battery life and some ANC strength for a smaller and lighter design, the LinkBuds S are also worth a look at $128. They’re an honorable mention in our guide, and this deal takes about $30 off their average street price. You can find a full rundown of the sale at Amazon and Sony’s online store, among other retailers.

Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/sonys-excellent-wh-1000xm5-headphones-are-50-off-144907161.html?src=rss 

Uber will soon start displaying video ads in its apps. They’ll appear while you wait for a ride to show up and while you’re in transit, after you place orders in Uber Eats and in search results and other parts of Drizly, the company told The Wall Street Journal. Ads will also be shown on tablets that are placed inside some Uber cars.

Users in the US will start seeing video ads this week. Tablets displaying ads will be installed on a city-by-city basis in the country. The company plans to roll out video ads in the UK, France, Australia and other markets later this year.

Static ads have been shown in Uber Eats since 2019 and in the company’s eponymous ride-hailing app since last year. The company started offering new ad tools in Drizly, the alcohol-ordering app it bought in 2021, last year. Mark Grether, vice president and general manager of Uber’s advertising division, said the company is on course to clear $1 billion in ad revenue in 2024.

The video ads in the apps will be muted by default (audio will play on tablets that are in cars) and will run for up to 90 seconds. An Uber ride lasts around 15 minutes on average, and users typically spend between two and three minutes looking at the app during trips. “We have two minutes of your attention. We know where you are, we know where you are going to, we know what you have eaten,” Grether told the Journal. “We can use all of that to then basically target a video ad towards you.”

The company says it won’t share individuals’ data with advertisers. You’ll be able to opt out of ad targeting based on demographic data and your activity in Uber’s apps, but you can’t opt out of ads altogether, Uber says. Unless, of course, you lock your phone or switch to another app.

It’s not yet clear whether you’ll be able to immediately close an ad once it starts playing. If not, users may temporarily be unable to access certain features in Uber’s apps, such as the safety tools and the ability to message a driver or Uber Eats courier. Engadget has asked Uber for clarification.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/uber-will-start-showing-video-ads-in-its-apps-this-week-150540078.html?src=rss