Table of Contents

• OpenAI

• WhatsApp

Top Stories Today

OpenAI

OpenAI secured a one-year, $200 million agreement to supply the U.S. Department of Defense with cutting-edge AI prototypes for both combat and administrative applications. This deal, OpenAI’s first listed on the Pentagon’s website, follows its partnership with defense tech firm Anduril and launches its “OpenAI for Government” program, which also includes ChatGPT Gov. The contract will help the military explore use cases ranging from healthcare support for service members’ families to proactive cyber defense, all while adhering to OpenAI’s ethical guidelines. Work will primarily take place in the Washington, D.C., area, and builds on OpenAI’s broader efforts to strengthen U.S.-based AI infrastructure.

WhatsApp

Meta is introducing advertisements to WhatsApp for the first time, allowing businesses to place “status ads” within the app’s Updates tab that encourage users to chat directly with brands. The company will also monetize its Channels feature by offering search ads and enabling administrators to charge subscription fees for exclusive content (with Meta eventually taking a 10% cut). These moves, announced amid Meta’s ongoing antitrust scrutiny, mark a significant departure for WhatsApp, which has historically avoided ad placements despite its 3 billion users. Meta plans to limit ad visibility to the Updates section to keep personal chats ad-free and will use minimal profile data, such as location and language, to target advertisers.

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