Elon Musk, CEO of X (formerly Twitter), has confirmed the upcoming launch of Xmail, sparking speculation about its potential to rival Google’s Gmail. This follows rumors of Gmail shutting down, which Musk’s confirmation addresses.

The announcement came after a tweet from Nathan McGrady, a senior member of X’s Security Engineering team, inquiring about Xmail’s launch date. Musk’s response confirmed the service is in development, potentially reshaping the email service landscape.

Amid concerns over Gmail’s future, a viral post on X suggested Google’s email service would cease operations by August 1, 2024. Google clarified on X that Gmail is not shutting down and recent interface changes were routine updates.

Despite Google’s reassurances, discussions about email alternatives have surged. Some users are interested in trying Xmail, expressing distrust toward Gmail and a readiness to explore alternatives.

In other news, Musk, also SpaceX CEO, called for humanity to expand beyond Earth, advocating for a moon base and cities on Mars. He noted the lack of lunar missions since Apollo 11 in 1969, highlighting the need for further space exploration beyond historical milestones.

Tech giants like Google, Microsoft, and OpenAI are heavily investing in AI and ML models to transform the digital landscape. However, the rise of AI also brings challenges like the spread of misinformation through AI-generated content. To combat this, Meta has partnered with the Misinformation Combat Alliance (MCA) to launch a fact-checking helpline on WhatsApp, targeting deepfakes and AI-generated misinformation.

The helpline, set to start in March 2024, will allow the public to report misleading AI-generated media, or deepfakes, via a WhatsApp chatbot supporting English and three regional languages. Messages will be vetted by fact-checkers, industry partners, and digital labs to verify content and debunk false claims.

The initiative aims to detect, prevent, report, and raise awareness about deepfakes. Meta is developing the WhatsApp chatbot, while the MCA is creating a central unit for deepfake analysis, collaborating with 11 fact-checking organizations. Bharat Gupta, MCA’s president, emphasized the DAU’s role in combating AI-enabled disinformation.

Meta has also announced plans to label AI-generated images on its platforms, helping users differentiate between real and synthetic photos. This move is part of Meta’s efforts to tackle misinformation, including reducing forwarded messages and removing fake accounts on WhatsApp.

Google Pay is rolling out SoundPods, portable speakers that validate and announce successful payments, to small merchants across India. The expansion comes as Google Pay consolidates its U.S. payments apps.

After positive feedback from a trial last year, Google is expanding SoundPods, which are widely adopted in India. These speakers, known as “soundboxes,” help merchants validate payments and contest illegitimate claims.

While Paytm leads the market, PhonePe is also expanding its device presence. More than 20 million merchants in India use similar devices, costing around $18 to $20 each.

SoundPods were designed for small Indian merchants who can’t afford traditional point-of-sale devices but accept UPI payments, the preferred method in India.

Google Pay is offering SoundPods at a minimal cost, with a one-time fee of $18 for a year or a one-time fee of $6.06 per day for 25 days in a month. Merchants processing 400 payments in a month with SoundPods will get $1.5 cashback.

Google is proud to contribute to India’s digital payments evolution and remains committed to the country’s digital transformation.