This page hosts daily news stories about the media, social media, and the journalism industry. Get the latest Hirings and Firings, Media Transactions, Controversies, and more.
Search.com Tops Perplexity with $35B Bid for Google Chrome
Search.com, recently acquired by Ad.com, has placed a $35 billion bid for Google’s Chrome browser, surpassing Perplexity’s $34.5 billion offer earlier this month. Backed by JP Morgan and private equity firms, the bid could reshape the browser market if approved amidst Google’s ongoing antitrust trial. Chrome currently holds 65% of the global browser market, and Search.com aims to introduce AI-powered browsing with features like cashback, revenue-sharing for publishers, and reduced ad clutter. Public Good, the parent company of Search.com, positions the bid as a way to ensure equitable AI access and advertising innovation. (Read More) (MediaPost Rating)
Voice of America Faces Threat Amid Russia and China’s Growing Disinformation in Africa
The Trump administration is reportedly pushing for the closure of Voice of America (VOA), even as Russia and China escalate disinformation campaigns in Africa. A report by the Africa Center for Strategic Studies cites a fourfold increase in such campaigns since 2022, with Russia responsible for 80 documented efforts across 22 African nations. The U.S. Department of Defense links Russia’s disinformation tactics to destabilizing events, such as the military coup in Niger. Meanwhile, China continues expanding its media influence through training programs and media acquisitions. VOA, which reaches 93 million weekly and is trusted across Africa, is viewed as critical in countering these authoritarian narratives. (Read More) (The Hill Rating)
ChatGPT’s Autonomous Agent Shows Massive Growth in Real-World Use
BrightEdge CEO Jim Yu has confirmed that OpenAI’s autonomous ChatGPT agent, released in July, is now active and rapidly growing. The agent, designed to complete complex tasks in real-time, has reached 33% of the traffic volume of organic search. Yu advises marketers to adapt and welcome AI agents, emphasizing their role in real-time decision-making and content consumption. Unlike traditional bots, these AI agents are performance-sensitive, requiring faster responses and new analytics infrastructures, as they do not interpret JavaScript. Yu also revealed OpenAI is building its own web index separate from Bing and Common Crawl. (Read More) (MediaPost Rating)
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