Latest news with #Wingman
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
How Grindr's new 'Right Now' live feature enables even quicker hookups
Grindr has officially gone live. The app's newest feature, Right Now, is a scrollable feed where users can post photos and text for an hour at a time, letting nearby folks know exactly what they're looking for right now. Unlike the traditional grid view that sorts profiles by proximity, Right Now functions like a stripped-down, sexed-up version of Twitter. Posts disappear after an hour, but users can mark themselves as ready to host (yes, that kind of host) and make their intentions clear upfront. See on Instagram Grindr says the idea came from user demand. 'We built this intention-based feature based on feedback from our community,' said Chief Product Officer AJ Balance in a statement, 'so they can connect with like-minded people without wasting time on mismatched expectations.' The feature soft-launched in March, and thanks to overwhelming engagement, Grindr accelerated its global rollout. For now, users will receive a few free sessions per week, depending on their location, with the option to purchase additional sessions. Accessing the feed is simple: it's now embedded into the app via a new button on the main grid, the bottom nav bar, or the side drawer. Right Now is part of a larger Grindr overhaul that includes AI-powered tools like A-List (a chat summarizer) and Wingman (an AI flirting assistant). It's all part of the company's plan to revamp its image, recover from a rocky IPO, and cash in on immediacy. Call it 'the Global Gayborhood in Your Pocket™,' as Grindr's branding goes—but now it's also your local live feed for horny dispatches. Because when someone asks if you're up, Grindr wants to make sure you answer fast.
Indian Express
4 days ago
- Business
- Indian Express
Grindr rolls out new in-app, live feed ‘Right Now' with disappearing posts
Gay dating app Grindr has introduced a new social media-like live feed feature called Right Now. The new feature is being rolled out to all users of the platform globally after conducting a pilot test in select markets. The Right Now feed is different from the traditional Grindr interface, which shows users a host of other users' profiles along with details such as how far away they are from the user's location. Instead, it resembles the feed on X (formerly Twitter) and shows users a stream of posts with text as well as photos, according to a report by The Verge. However, all user posts that appear in the Right Now feed disappear after an hour. The feed is currently accessible only in hour-long sessions that are free for users in certain locations, Grindr said, adding that users will soon be able to purchase more Right Not sessions as well. The Right Now feed has been designed to help people 'find exactly what they want, when they want it – without the guesswork,' according to AJ Balance, the chief product officer at Grindr. 'We built this intention-based feature based on feedback from our community so they can connect with like-minded people without wasting time on mismatched expectations,' Balance said. 'The response to our initial March launch was so strong we accelerated the global rollout ahead of schedule because it's clear people want this… well, right now,' Balance was quoted as saying. The expanded access to Right Now is part of Grindr's broader efforts to generate more revenue by rolling out new features and monetising them through in-app purchases. The company is facing financial woes with its stock price plummeting by 70 per cent since its initial public offering (IPO) in 2022. To turn things around, Grindr is betting big on AI. 'For all the new things that we build, I want them to be built as if we are an AI-native startup. If you're going to do marketing for this, great; start thinking with AI first and then go to people because that's how I think companies are going to be built moving forward and that's what we should be doing as a business as well,' Grindr's CEO George Arison was quoted as saying. He was speaking at the Wall Street Journal's Future of Everything conference last week Some of these AI features include A-List, which shows users summaries of chats in order to help them rekindle 'meaningful past connections' and pursue 'high-potential matches.' Grindr has also introduced an AI assistant named Wingman to help users draft chat responses as well as figure out dating spots and receive sex tips. The platform's AI features are reportedly powered by Anthropic's Claude Sonnet 3.7 model and Amazon Web Services' Bedrock models. While some of the features have a free trial, continued access to them requires users to sign up to the platform's monthly subscription plans.
CairoScene
20-05-2025
- Business
- CairoScene
BrewDog Taps Into Dubai With First Mid East Bar on Bluewaters Island
The Scottish craft beer brand launches its first Dubai bar on May 23rd, with plans to open eight locations in the city. May 20, 2025 Scottish craft beer brand BrewDog is making its Middle East debut with the opening of its first bar in Dubai on Friday, May 23rd. Set on Bluewaters Island, the new venue brings the brand's signature blend of bold brews and laid-back dining to one of the city's fastest-growing lifestyle destinations. The bar features 22 taps pouring BrewDog's most popular beers, including Punk IPA, Lost Lager, Elvis Juice, and Wingman. It will also serve a full food menu, staying true to the brand's global format of pairing craft beer with comfort food in an industrial-chic setting. This launch kicks off BrewDog's broader UAE ambitions. The brand has partnered with Dubai-based Rise Hospitality and plans to open eight locations across the emirate within five years. Located steps away from Ain Dubai, the world's tallest observation wheel, Bluewaters Island has become a magnet for international food and beverage concepts. BrewDog's arrival adds to the area's evolving identity as a nightlife and hospitality hub. Founded in 2007 in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, BrewDog has built a global following with locations in cities like London, Berlin, Tokyo, and Las Vegas—with Dubai now joining the list.
Hindustan Times
04-05-2025
- Hindustan Times
Mark Zuckerberg's Arctic superyacht faces protests from local activists in Svalbard: Here's why
While known for his love of adventure, Mark Zuckerberg's latest escapade has caused a stir in Longyearbyen, Svalbard. Local activists recently held a peaceful protest against the billionaire's luxury vessels—the $300 million superyacht Launchpad and its $30 million support vessel Wingman—which are currently navigating the pristine Arctic waters. Also Read: SNL pokes fun at Bill Belichick's 49-year age gap with his girlfriend: 'Old men can now date far younger women' A group of local activists began a peaceful protest against Zuckerberg's luxurious vessel, armed with banners, whistles, and determination, making it clear that they were unwelcome in Longyearbyen. Their message was also amplified on social media via the Instagram account @arcticclimateaction, according to NRK. It read, 'If he thinks he can come to one of the most threatened and fragile places in the world with two yachts (while one of them emits 40 tons of CO₂ per hour) without being criticised, he's thinking wrong.' It added, 'We'll be there on Wednesday evening (April 30), showing that Longyearbyen steps up for the Arctic when needed. The precise time will be announced in the Facebook event (the irony…). Bring things that make noise, whistles, drums, vuvuzelas, etc. Come angry, but stay peaceful. We're still looking for speakers, and spontaneous speeches are encouraged.' A post shared by Arctic Climate Action Svalbard (@arcticclimateaction) A post shared by Greenpeace Norge (@greenpeacenorge) A post shared by Arctic Climate Action Svalbard (@arcticclimateaction) Moreover, the activists brought to notice that the entire journey from the Azores to Northern Norway and Svalbard is over 4,000 kilometres. This means the entire round trip would result in an amount of emissions which will be equal to what 1400 Norwegians would produce in a year, as reported by Luxury Launches. It is also important to notice that Svalbard is one of the most delicate ecosystems in the world. Temperatures in parts of the archipelago have increased nearly twice as quickly as previously predicted, raising alarm among both climate scientists and local residents. Also Read: Eric Trump attends 'very wild' crypto conference in Dubai; here's what happened inside luxury resort Zuckerberg's decision to navigate the Arctic with two superyachts, a helicopter for heli-skiing, and an extensive Norway itinerary is being seen as deeply irresponsible. This is because his luxurious 387-foot-long Launchpad, powered by four massive MTU 20v 4000 M93L diesel engines, results in an enormous carbon footprint. Each engine burns about 291 gallons of diesel per hour, and at a cruising speed of 16 knots, the total fuel consumption jumps to 1,165 gallons per hour, emitting roughly 40 tons of CO2. With the addition of the Wingman in tow, these numbers climb even higher, intensifying concerns over the environmental impact. It is uncertain whether the billionaire was present for any part of the journey.
Bloomberg
30-04-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
Stock Movers: Starbucks, Super Micro, Amazon
On this episode of Stock Movers: - Starbucks (SBUX) shares fall after the company said same-store sales declined 1% in the quarter ended March 30, missing Wall Street estimates, and earnings per share also missed expectations. CEO Brian Niccol said "behind the scenes, we really are showing a lot of signs of progress' -- Niccol took the helm in September and kicked off an overhaul of its cafes to make them more welcoming - Super Micro (SMCI) shares plunge after the company's preliminary results for the fiscal third quarter fell short of analysts' estimates. The company attributed the miss to customers delaying purchases, which will be pushed into the current quarter, and also cited higher inventory reserves and expedited costs for new products. - Amazon (AMZN) shares fall after Grindr said it's using artificial intelligence tools from and Anthropic to develop features for its 'Wingman' product, rather than relying on chatbots. President Donald Trump called Jeff Bezos to complain following the report, and Trump said Bezos "solved the problem very quickly, and he did the right thing.'
