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Business Wire
2 days ago
- Business
- Business Wire
Former Google Distinguished Engineer David Petrou Launches Continua, a New Vision for Social AI
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Continua, the company pioneering Social AI, today announced it has raised $8 million in seed funding to uplevel the group chat, reimagining how artificial intelligence can be a true participant in dynamic conversations. The round was led by GV with participation from Bessemer Venture Partners and notable angel investors including Jeff Dean, Adam Ghetti, Eoghan McCabe, Josh Reznick, Peter Mattis, Spencer Kimball, Daniel Loreto, Ben Sigelman, Dor Levi, Zach Lloyd, Eyal Manor, Lauryn Motamedi, Des Traynor, Dan Shipper, and more. Continua brings the first Social AI agent directly into group chats, transforming real-time conversations into organized, actionable outcomes. Share Founded by David Petrou, a former Google Distinguished Software engineer who helped start Google Goggles, Continua was born out of a vision to harness the full power of large language models, organizing the flurry of ideas in group conversations and shaping them into something meaningful. Continua joins the group chat on SMS, iMessage, or Discord, adding an always-on AI agent that helps tame the chaos, elevate productivity, and coordinate between all the members of the group. Leveraging his time and learnings from being on the founding team of Google Glass, and leading large teams launching on-device machine intelligence, Petrou identified an opportunity to expand beyond the visual world and create a new type of AI that is capable of magnifying what's in users' minds while advancing the conversation of multiple people at once. "In the years I spent exploring computer vision and visual search, I realized there was an untapped opportunity to fundamentally shift how we understand and share information," said Petrou, founder and CEO of Continua. "So much of what is interesting happens inside our own thoughts and the ideas we share with others — things we cannot see. Continua reaches beyond the visual by activating large language models to grapple with all this hidden terrain." Studies show that 66% of Americans feel overwhelmed by group chats, though 100% of GenZ and 83% of all Americans take part in one to four group chats regularly. Continua is an agent that unlocks an entirely new way to text — increasing shared understanding, deepening enjoyment, and centering attention on the things that matter most. With 52% of the workforce reporting that they experience burnout due to severe pressure, Continua's technology provides critical relief. A trusted member of the conversation, Continua's agent understands social etiquette, can distinguish between distractions and directions, and gets smarter with every exchange, learning from the group's inputs and outputs. Like a strong team player or a great friend, the agent will anticipate needs, offer actionable and timely assistance, and seamlessly integrate into the natural banter. Suggestions and brainstorm notes are shaped into clear, intentional, and assigned next steps, via shared checklists, documents, calendar invitations, and more. This funding advances Continua's ability to enhance the social fabric of how people coordinate, collaborate, and stay connected. With Continua, individuals can focus their attention on the things that are of highest priority to them, elevating their sense of fulfillment and advancing the group's collective progress. "David has built a team of industry veterans from leading technology companies to marry deep knowledge of AI with a superior consumer experience," said Erik Nordlander, General Partner at GV. "The Continua team understands the power of large language models and how to deploy them intentionally to remove barriers and friction from everyday interactions and teamwork. Their technology is sparking a fundamental shift in how AI can serve people in their most important moments and we're excited to support that vision of the future." To start chatting with Continua, visit About Continua Continua is pioneering Social AI, creating the first artificial intelligence designed to enhance group conversations and collaboration. Founded by former Google Distinguished Software Engineer David Petrou, Continua is backed by GV, Bessemer Venture Partners, and leading angels in the AI and consumer technology space. Learn more at About GV Launched as Google Ventures in 2009, GV supports innovative founders moving the world forward. GV is a multi-stage venture capital firm that invests across sectors, including artificial intelligence, the life sciences, consumer, enterprise, and frontier technology. GV is a non-strategic and independent venture firm that oversees over $10 billion in assets under management, with Alphabet as a sole Limited Partner. GV has backed 400 active portfolio companies spanning North America, Europe, and Israel. The firm is headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area, with offices in Cambridge, New York, and London. About Bessemer Venture Partners Bessemer Venture Partners helps entrepreneurs lay strong foundations to build and forge long-standing companies. With more than 145 IPOs and 300 portfolio companies in the enterprise, consumer and healthcare spaces, Bessemer supports founders and CEOs from their early days through every stage of growth. Bessemer's global portfolio has included Pinterest, Shopify, Twilio, Yelp, LinkedIn, PagerDuty, DocuSign, Wix, Fiverr, and Toast and has more than $18 billion of assets under management. Learn more at
Tom's Guide
5 days ago
- Tom's Guide
iOS 26 lets you create polls in iMessage — here's how to create your own
iOS 26 finally brings native polling to iMessage, so you don't need third-party apps anymore when making group decisions. Whether you're choosing a restaurant, planning weekend activities, or settling any group debate, polls cut down on endless back-and-forth messaging. The feature works within group chats, showing real-time results and letting you see who voted for what option. All poll data stays end-to-end encrypted, just like regular iMessages, so your group decisions remain private. You can create polls with up to 12 different options and rearrange them before sending. The polls appear directly in your conversation thread, making it easy for everyone to participate and watch results update as votes come in. Before creating polls, confirm that all group chat members have iOS 26, iPadOS 26, or macOS Tahoe 26 installed on their devices. Anyone running older versions won't see or be able to participate in polls. Check that your group chat shows blue message bubbles, not green ones, as green bubbles indicate SMS messaging, which doesn't support polls. If you see green bubbles, some members may not have iMessage enabled or might be using Android devices. Open the Messages app and either select an existing group chat or create a new one. To start a new group chat, tap the compose icon (pencil and paper symbol) in the top-right corner, then add members by typing their names or tapping the "+" icon to select contacts. Send a regular message first to establish the group chat if you're creating a new one. Once your group chat is active and everyone is participating through iMessage, you're ready to create your first poll. Tap the "+" icon and select "Poll" — this is represented by a bar graph icon. Type your poll question in the main text field, for example: Where should we meet for dinner tonight? Next, start adding your answer options by tapping the choice boxes and typing in your different options. You must include at least two choices for the poll to function. Additional choice boxes appear automatically as you add options, and you can include up to 12 different choices. To reorder options, tap and hold any choice, then drag it to your preferred position before sending the poll. Once you're satisfied with your question and options, tap the send button to share the poll with your group. The poll appears as an interactive message in your conversation thread, showing your name as the poll creator at the top. Group members can vote by simply tapping their preferred option or options — the poll supports both single-choice and multiple-choice selections depending on how you set it up. Profile pictures of voters appear next to each option they selected, making it easy to see exactly who chose what without having to ask. You can see the current winner at a glance based on which option has the longest bar. Your poll is now live and working to make group decisions much simpler. No more scrolling through dozens of messages trying to figure out what everyone wants - the visual results make it clear which option is winning. The poll stays in your chat history, so you can always look back at the results when you're ready to finalize plans or make your decision. Also, group members can continue voting and changing their minds until you're ready to close the discussion. Once you start using polls in your group chats, you'll wonder how you ever made group decisions without them. Now you've learned how to create polls in iMessage, why not take a look at some of our other useful guides? Make the most of iOS 26 by checking out iOS 26 Liquid Glass icons — how to get the stunning new look on your iPhone. For more useful tips, don't miss How to speed up your iPhone by clearing its cache and Your iPhone Notes app has a secret messaging feature — here's how to use it. Follow Tom's Guide on Google News to get our up-to-date news, how-tos, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips.
Newsweek
7 days ago
- Newsweek
Delta Passenger Asleep on Flight, Anger at What Woman Does on Next Seat
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A Delta Air Lines passenger joining a Microsoft Teams call during an early morning flight has prompted criticism on Reddit. The incident was detailed in a post titled, "New absurd behavior: Teams meeting from flight," shared by Reddit user u/br0princess on August 4 in the r/delta subreddit. The post described a woman who disrupted the quiet cabin during a flight from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL). The poster, who did not share their name or age, told Newsweek: "I was sitting in the main cabin" and the "flight was full." "Flying SFO to ATL on the 6:15 a.m., so we all clearly got up early to make the flight," the user wrote in the post. "I'm prepared to catch some more sleep with my neck pillow, eye mask, and earplugs." That plan was upended, the poster explained, when the woman seated next to them began speaking loudly during a video call. "At 8:30 a.m. PT [Pacific Time] this woman next to me wakes me up from TALKING on her Teams meeting, on camera," the user wrote. "I can tell someone on the meeting was shocked that she joined given that she's obviously on plane. She goes 'But it was an important meeting!!!!! I didn't want to miss it.'" The poster told Newsweek that the woman wore headphones and only spoke at the start of the call to say she'd keep her camera off. "She didn't speak again but she did stay on the call to watch her coworkers on the meeting, screen share and take notes/listen..." The Reddit post quickly gained traction, with 4,400 upvotes and hundreds of comments. It sparked a wide-ranging conversation about in-flight internet etiquette and passenger behavior. "If it was that important," the original poster continued. "Maybe don't fly during your In Person Account Meeting to review your marketing statistics for your client?...I'm FUMING. People have lost their damn minds and basic courtesy." A stock image of a woman wearing earphones and using a laptop on a plane. A stock image of a woman wearing earphones and using a laptop on a plane. Getty According to the Delta website, free Wi-Fi is available for SkyMiles members on most domestic flights and "once you are connected to Wi-Fi, you can message using messaging apps such as iMessage, Facebook Messenger or WhatsApp on compatible devices." However, the airline does not specify any guidelines for taking calls on board. While the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has permitted the use of portable electronic devices during flights since 2013, the rules around voice calls and video conferencing are unknown. Back in October 2013, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced that "airlines can safely expand passenger use of Portable Electronic Devices during all phases of flight" and "most commercial airplanes can tolerate radio interference from portable electronic devices." While it's safe to read downloaded materials, such as e-books and calendars, and to play games, "in some instances of low visibility—about one percent of flights—some landing systems may not be proven to tolerate the interference," the FAA said, advising that "in those cases, passengers should be asked to turn-off devices." While connectivity may be technically safe, airlines and social norms still frown upon disruptive in-flight behavior—especially during early morning flights when many passengers are trying to rest. The Reddit user told Newsweek: "I did tell her that the call wasn't allowed, she claimed she didn't know, even though it was announced at the start of the flight. I told a flight attendant walking past us and the flight attendant told her to stop. She did not and continued to sit on the call." The poster then asked the woman to get up and then went to speak with a flight attendant about her again. "She was told she'd get written up if she stayed on the meeting and she said she was only working, not on a meeting," the poster noted. "Nothing really came of it," the poster said. "The part that upset me the most was that she spoke loudly and woke me up on an early morning flight to do something that was prohibited..." Several Reddit users expressed sympathy with the original poster. "FA [flight attendant] here: Please ring your call light. I will shut that nonsense down," wrote user u/Cassie_Bowden in response. Another commenter, u/New-Reference-2171, agreed: "I came to say this—ring your call button." Others were baffled by the woman's decision to conduct an audible, on-camera meeting mid-flight. "I truly don't know how all of you stand the entitled people who do this," wrote u/vampyire. User u/rando435697 added: "That's incredibly bizarre behavior by me, I've joined meetings in flight, however, I've shared in advance with my team that I was going to be on a flight, I'd be off camera and listening in only. Being active and potentially giving away sensitive information—not to mention disturbing other passengers, is just unhinged and wildly inappropriate." Newsweek has contacted Delta Air Lines for comment via email. Do you have a travel-related story to share? Let us know via life@ and your story could be featured on Newsweek.
Geeky Gadgets
31-07-2025
- Geeky Gadgets
How to Customise iMessage Backgrounds (iOS 26 Public Beta)
Apple's iOS 26 public beta introduces an exciting new feature: the ability to customize iMessage chat backgrounds. This update transforms the messaging experience by allowing users to personalize their conversations with animated visuals, AI-generated images, and interactive elements. Whether you prefer pre-designed themes or want to create something entirely unique, this feature offers a range of tools to make your chats more engaging and visually appealing. Below is a detailed videoo from Jacob's QuickTips to help you explore and use this functionality effectively. Watch this video on YouTube. Getting Started with Background Customization Customizing your iMessage background is straightforward and intuitive. Follow these steps to begin: Open an iMessage conversation and tap the recipient's name at the top of the chat window. From the dropdown menu, select the new 'Backgrounds' option. option. Access the customization interface, where you can preview and apply changes in real time. The customization interface is designed with user-friendliness in mind, allowing you to explore various options such as preset themes, personal uploads, and AI-generated designs. The real-time preview feature ensures that you can see exactly how your chosen background will appear before finalizing your selection. Exploring Preset Background Categories Apple has curated a diverse collection of preset background categories to suit different moods, styles, and preferences. These categories include: Sky: Features drifting clouds and serene skies, perfect for a calming atmosphere. Features drifting clouds and serene skies, perfect for a calming atmosphere. Aurora: Showcases vibrant, dynamic light displays inspired by the northern lights. Showcases vibrant, dynamic light displays inspired by the northern lights. Water: Offers tranquil underwater scenes with flowing waves and aquatic visuals. Offers tranquil underwater scenes with flowing waves and aquatic visuals. Colour: Provides bold, animated color gradients for a modern and energetic vibe. Each category includes dynamic, animated visuals that add depth and movement to your chats. These presets are ideal for users who want visually stunning backgrounds without the need for extensive customization. Creating Custom Backgrounds For those seeking a more personalized touch, iOS 26 allows you to create custom backgrounds using your own images or Apple's AI-powered tools. Here's how you can make your iMessage interface truly unique: Upload Photos: Select images from your device to use as chat backgrounds. This option lets you incorporate personal memories, favorite visuals, or meaningful artwork into your conversations. Select images from your device to use as chat backgrounds. This option lets you incorporate personal memories, favorite visuals, or meaningful artwork into your conversations. AI-Generated Designs: Use Apple's 'Image Playgrounds' tool to create custom backgrounds. Simply enter a text prompt, such as 'sunset over the mountains' or 'city skyline at night,' and the AI will generate a unique design tailored to your description. These customization options empower users to express their individuality and creativity, making sure that every chat feels personal and distinctive. Interactive Animations One of the standout features of this update is the introduction of interactive backgrounds. Unlike static visuals, these backgrounds respond dynamically to user interactions, adding a layer of immersion to your chats. For example: Sending a reaction, such as a heart or thumbs-up, can trigger ripples, shimmering effects, or other animations in the background. Background animations adapt to the flow of the conversation, creating a seamless and engaging experience. This feature enhances the visual and interactive aspects of iMessage, making conversations more dynamic and enjoyable. Customizing Group Chats The background customization feature is not limited to individual chats; it extends to group conversations as well. Here's what you need to know about customizing group chat backgrounds: When a background is applied to a group chat, all participants will see the changes, making sure a cohesive and unified visual experience. Only the group admin has the authority to modify the background settings, maintaining consistency and preventing conflicts among participants. This functionality ensures that group chats remain visually harmonious while still allowing for creative expression. Reverting to Default Backgrounds If you decide to return to the standard iMessage appearance, reverting to the default background is simple and quick: Navigate to the 'Backgrounds' menu within the customization interface. menu within the customization interface. Select the 'None' option to remove any applied backgrounds and restore the default look. This option provides flexibility, allowing you to experiment with different designs while retaining the ability to reset your chat interface whenever desired. Enhancing Your Messaging Experience The iOS 26 public beta's iMessage background customization feature represents a significant enhancement to the messaging experience. With options ranging from preset themes to AI-generated designs and interactive animations, it caters to a wide array of user preferences. The ability to customize group chats further expands its appeal, making sure a unified and visually engaging experience for all participants. Whether you're looking to add a personal touch, explore creative visuals, or simply make your conversations more dynamic, this feature provides the tools to transform your iMessage interface into a platform that reflects your style and personality. Take a look at other insightful guides from our broad collection that might capture your interest in iMessage background customization. Source & Image Credit: Jacob's QuickTips for iPhone Filed Under: Apple, Apple iPhone, Guides Latest Geeky Gadgets Deals Disclosure: Some of our articles include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, Geeky Gadgets may earn an affiliate commission. Learn about our Disclosure Policy.
Yahoo
30-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Germ brings end-to-end encrypted messages to Bluesky
A new startup called Germ is bringing end-to-end encrypted messaging to the Bluesky social network, allowing its users to have a more secure option for chats than Bluesky's existing DMs. After over two years of development, the service is launching its encrypted DMs for Bluesky into beta this week, with plans to gradually onboard new testers ahead of a public launch. In time, the technology that Germ is building, much of which is open sourced, could allow Bluesky to introduce encrypted messaging into its own app. Germ was designed to offer an alternative to existing end-to-end encrypted platforms that dominate globally, like iMessage, Signal, and WhatsApp. Germ takes advantage of newer technologies, like Messaging Layer Security (MLS), a new standard approved by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), and the AT Protocol (or ATProto), which powers Bluesky. However, instead of requiring a user's phone number as some messaging apps do, Germ integrates with AT Proto. This allows Germ users to securely chat with friends from Bluesky and the wider open social web, including apps like Flashes and Skylight, but with added controls over the user experience. For instance, you can choose to accept DMs from people you follow on Bluesky, or you could configure it so that only you can initiate chats with other people. Plus, when you block a user in Germ, you can choose whether you want to only block them in Germ or if you want to block them across Bluesky and other AT Proto-powered apps as well. The concept for Germ comes from co-founders Tessa Brown (CEO), a communications scholar who previously taught at Stanford, and Mark Xue, who worked as a privacy engineer at Apple on technologies like FaceTime and iMessage. Brown's studies led her to realize that access to private communications was fundamental to the health of social networks. 'We know that, psychologically, you can't build a good relationship with people if you feel like you're being stared at and manipulated all the time. And that's really what social media is today,' Brown tells TechCrunch. 'So I came out of that work with a really strong conviction around end-to-end encrypted messaging as kind of the centerpiece of what I thought was the future of social media and the future of communication,' she adds. Xue, meanwhile, came out of Apple believing that the use of phone numbers and telephony is a dated technology to serve as the basis for secure communications, and wanted to build something new. Today, Germ's service works by way of a 'magic link,' which is generated for you and pasted into your Bluesky bio. When another Bluesky user on iOS clicks this link, they can immediately chat with you without downloading a new app from the App Store. To make this possible, Germ takes advantage of underutilized Apple technology called App Clips, which allow users to run a portion of an app's code on their device without installing the full app. Today, app clips are used for miscellaneous one-off type transactions, like paying for parking via a QR code. But in Germ's case, they allow for quick chats. While the user experience is simple enough, the technology behind it is not. The link itself is actually a cryptographic key that authenticates the user's AT Proto identity to confirm that the user is the person associated with that Bluesky handle. From the Germ app clip, you can choose to install the Germ iOS app, which offers more controls, access to your friends list, and now, Bluesky pairing. The pairing feature was somewhat finicky in our tests, but we are running the iOS 26 developer beta, which may be causing complications. (To work around the issue, we started the chat from the app clip first, before trying to authenticate from the installed app.) Brown tells TechCrunch that she's excited about building within the Bluesky community, given the app's growing cultural impact, which has attracted big names in U.S. politics, like Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, and other representatives, senators, and governors, to join. Given that Germ is ahead of the Bluesky team itself in building encrypted messaging technology, Brown is hopeful that Germ's protocol could be more broadly adopted by Bluesky and others in the future. While currently free to use, the Germ app may later introduce a premium subscription upgrade that offers more advanced services, including private AI services, personalization tools, and more. The four-person startup has raised pre-seed funding from angel investors, including a co-author of MLS and other trust and safety experts. Institutional investors include K5 Global and Mozilla Ventures. The company hopes to raise additional funds for an Android version in the future. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
