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Buy Now Pay Later in Bumps, Bar-Focused Dating App, Music Industry Pushes Back on AI and More
Skimming Headlines Should Still Make You the Smartest in the Room
Yashank Goswami
May 27, 2025
This Week’s Tech & Trend Binge
Let’s skip the fluff and jump into this week’s 8-minute dose of brain fuel 🧠✨
Table of Contents
WhatsApp Launches Voice Chat for Groups
WhatsApp’s new “Voice Chat” feature lets group members jump into conversations without the chaos of a group call.
Instead of ringing everyone, it sends a quiet notification so people can join if they want.
Perfect for work, family gossip, or that one friend who always calls at midnight.
Salesforce to Buy Informatica for $8 Billion
Salesforce is buying Informatica for a cool $8 billion, betting big on smarter data tools for the AI era.
This move means Salesforce can offer even more powerful solutions to businesses everywhere.
Somewhere, a lot of data nerds are celebrating.
📎 CNBC
Dreamies Treats unleashed a massive 3D billboard campaign featuring giant, hand-painted fibreglass cats scaling rooftops.
It’s the purr-fect example of creative marketing grabbing attention in a crowded world.
You’d see me up there if it were Hello Panda Cookies Ad
If you see a cat on a building, don’t panic, it’s just good advertising.
📎 AdAge
TikTok, Instagram, Pinterest Double Down on In-App Shopping
Social media is now your shopping mall. TikTok, Instagram, and Pinterest are making it easier than ever to buy what you see, with built-in shopping tools and seamless checkout.
They are unstoppable right now, and we are a part of it.
“Your feed is now your mall, just don’t blame us for your next impulse buy.”
📎 Seafoam
Google Business Profile Gets “What’s Happening” Feature
Local businesses can now use Google’s new “What’s happening” tool to post deals, events, and promos right to their Business Profile.
It even syncs with Facebook, so your updates are everywhere at once.
Your favourite coffee shop just got even better at tempting you in.
Via SearchEngineLand.com
Anthropic’s Claude 4 AI Model Impresses with Reasoning
Anthropic’s new Claude 4 model is turning heads for its ability to handle complex reasoning and nuanced conversations.
Early testers say it’s less likely to hallucinate and more likely to actually help you get things done. Finally, an AI that won’t tell you the capital of France is “42.”
Joke’s aside, Anthropic’s Claude 4 is actually a lot better at coding and reasoning.
Read more about it here.
UK Music Industry Pushes Back on AI Training Rules
The UK music industry is worried that new government rules on AI training could hurt artists’ rights and copyright protections. Stakeholders fear AI could “learn” from their work without paying up.
The battle of bots vs. bands continues.
The UK House of Lords (which makes laws, investigates public policy, and holds the government accountable) just delivered a strong message to the government.
And the tech world by voting (287 to 118!) for an amendment to the Data Bill that would force AI companies to come clean about which copyrighted works they’re using to train their models.
This move, led by Baroness Beeban Kidron and backed by major artists like Elton John and Paul McCartney, demands transparency so creators can know, and opt out, if their work is being fed to the bots.
Photograph: PA Images/Alamy
The government’s original plan would have let AI developers use copyrighted content unless rights holders specifically opted out, a system critics say is nearly impossible for creators to manage.
The Lords’ amendment flips the script: now, tech companies would have to notify creators and let them say no.
The debate is far from over, with the bill bouncing between the Lords and Commons in a classic round of “parliamentary ping-pong,” but the creative industry is making it clear, they don’t want to build AI for free and then rent it back from tech giants.
As the government reviews over 11,000 responses to its AI consultation, one thing’s certain: the UK’s creative sector isn’t backing down, and the fight for fair play in AI is just heating up.
Read all about it here.
Seamless Switching From Windows 11 PC and Android Phone
Microsoft is working on a new feature for Windows 11 called “Cross Device Resume,” and it’s basically Apple’s Handoff, but for PC and Android fans. (Apple users are sitting with pride while reading this)
This tool lets you start something on your Android phone (like playing a song on Spotify) and pick up exactly where you left off on your Windows 11 computer, right down to the same spot in the track.
The feature was quietly shown off at Build 2025 and then quickly edited out of Microsoft’s demo video, but eagle-eyed techies caught it in action.
If it rolls out, expect to see more apps (like WhatsApp) join in, making it easier than ever to bounce between your phone and PC without missing a beat.
Heineken Launches Bar-Focused Dating App
Heineken is shaking up the dating app scene, but not for romance! The global beer giant has launched “Bar Dating” apps in Brazil and Italy, designed to help young adults swipe right on new bars instead of new people.
The idea? Each bar gets its dating profile, so you can match with venues that fit your vibe, whether you’re into live music, laid-back atmospheres, or just a killer pint and good conversation.
Why the twist? Heineken’s research found that 67% of Gen Z and Millennials admit they keep going back to the same bar, even though they crave new experiences and connections.
LOVE ON TAP
Many feel their social lives are stuck on repeat: 59% don’t think their nights out are as rewarding as they could be, and a third wish they had more new adventures.
The app aims to help users break out of their comfort zones, discover new hangouts, and make real-life connections, while also supporting local bars with a fresh stream of customers.
With features inspired by popular dating apps, users can “swipe” through bars, check out their personalities, and plan group meetups.
The app is available as “Bar Dating” in Italy and “Hei” in Brazil, and is part of Heineken’s bigger push to revive nightlife and back the bar industry after tough years.
So, if you’re tired of the same old scene, maybe it’s time to “see other bars.” Who knows, your next great night out could be just a swipe away.
“Buy Now, Pay Later” Boom Hits a Bumpy Road
Klarna, the Swedish fintech that made “buy now, pay later” (BNPL) a shopping staple, is suddenly feeling the financial hangover.
In the first quarter of 2025, Klarna’s consumer credit losses jumped 17% year-over-year to a whopping $136 million, with more customers falling behind on payments.
While Klarna insists it’s just a side effect of more people using the service, analysts are raising eyebrows, and regulators are looking the other way after recent rollbacks in oversight.
Why the trouble? BNPL is super easy to use (maybe too easy): no credit checks, no interest, just split your payments and hope for the best.
But with 4 in 10 users missing payments and more shoppers financing everything from sneakers to fast food, experts warn the trend is looking less like innovation and more like a debt bubble.
Memes are out of hand but on point lol
Why is this important?
BNPL became popular because it’s easy to use (no credit checks, no interest).
But that ease has a downside: People are now borrowing for everyday items like fast food, clothes, and even festival tickets.
The concern? BNPL is starting to look like a debt bubble, people spending money they don’t have, and not paying it back.
Klarna’s not bankrupt, yet. But, as more people borrow to fill the gap between paychecks, the BNPL party could be winding down.
If you’re financing your festival tickets in four easy payments, maybe check your wallet before checking out.
Meme of the day
Any thoughts on what he must’ve done wrong?