Microsoft has officially closed its local operations in Pakistan, ending a 25-year presence in the country as part of a global restructuring strategy. The tech giant confirmed the move on Friday, stating it will now serve Pakistani customers through regional offices and authorized resellers, rather than maintaining a physical office in the country.

In a statement to TechCrunch, a Microsoft spokesperson said:

“Our customer agreements and service will not be affected by this change. We’ve successfully implemented this operational model in other countries around the world. Our commitment to customers remains unchanged.”

Minimal Local Impact, but a Symbolic Exit

The decision directly affects just five employees in Pakistan, none of whom were involved in engineering roles. Microsoft has long relied on local partners to market and deliver its cloud-based products like Azure and Microsoft Office in the country. In contrast to neighboring India, which hosts large engineering and R&D hubs for global tech firms, Pakistan has not attracted similar long-term investment in tech infrastructure or talent development.

This change comes as part of a broader company-wide optimization effort. Just earlier this week, Microsoft announced a global reduction of about 9,000 roles, or 4% of its workforce.

Operational Shift Already Underway

Microsoft had been gradually transitioning its Pakistan operations over the past few years. The company moved licensing and commercial contract responsibilities to its European hub in Ireland while allowing certified Pakistani partners to handle day-to-day customer engagement. This gradual shift indicates that the recent closure was likely a strategic decision rather than a sudden move.

Pakistan’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting acknowledged the closure, calling it part of Microsoft’s broader “workforce optimization program.” The ministry also emphasized its ongoing dialogue with Microsoft’s regional leadership to safeguard local user interests.

A Contrast with Google’s Growing Presence

Microsoft’s departure highlights Pakistan’s complex tech landscape, where international confidence seems shaky. This exit contrasts sharply with Google’s recent actions—last year, Google invested $10.5 million in Pakistan’s public education sector and is exploring plans to manufacture 500,000 Chromebooks in the country by 2026.

This makes Microsoft's decision even more notable, especially as the Pakistani government just announced a new initiative to offer IT certifications from global tech firms like Google and Microsoft to half a million young people.

Reflection on Missed Opportunities

Jawwad Rehman, Microsoft’s first lead in Pakistan, expressed disappointment in a LinkedIn post, framing the closure as a result of an unsupportive environment for global tech companies.

“This is more than a corporate exit. It’s a sobering signal of the environment our country has created… even global giants like Microsoft find it unsustainable to stay,” Rehman wrote.

His remarks highlight a broader concern that Pakistan has failed to build on early momentum, missing the chance to become a key player in the global tech outsourcing market.

Conclusion

Microsoft's decision to close its local office in Pakistan is part of a global shift, but its symbolic weight shouldn't be ignored. While the company insists customer service will remain unaffected, the move raises questions about Pakistan’s standing in the global tech ecosystem. As Google deepens its investment, Microsoft’s exit serves as a wake-up call for policymakers, developers, and entrepreneurs to re-evaluate how the country supports foreign tech partnerships.

Google is taking a big step forward in AI-powered creativity with the global launch of Veo 3, its newest video generation model. Now available to Gemini users in over 159 countries, Veo 3 makes it possible to turn simple text prompts into short, AI-generated videos.

So, what is Veo 3?

Think of Veo 3 as your creative assistant. Just type out what you want to see, and this AI tool will generate a video — up to 8 seconds long — based on your prompt. Whether you're imagining a sunset over mountains or a futuristic cityscape, Veo 3 brings your ideas to life in just a few seconds.

Who can use it?

Right now, it’s available only to paying subscribers on Google’s AI Premium Plan. If you’re using Gemini Advanced, you’ll find Veo 3 built in — but there’s a limit of three videos per day to keep things running smoothly.

What’s coming next?

According to Google’s Josh Woodward, they’re already working on the next big feature: image-to-video generation. That means you’ll soon be able to animate still images using Veo — turning photos into short, moving clips with just a click.

Why it matters

Veo 3 isn’t just a fun tool — it’s a glimpse into how video content might be created in the future. With AI handling the heavy lifting, more people can bring their ideas to life without needing editing skills or expensive software.

In a nutshell

• Veo 3 is now live in 159+ countries
• Just type a prompt to create an 8-second video
• Only for AI Premium Plan (Gemini Advanced) users
• Limited to 3 videos per day
• Image-to-video support is on the way

If you’re curious about where creative tech is headed, this is something to keep an eye on.

Meta is further strengthening WhatsApp Business by introducing voice calling for large companies and expanding its use of artificial intelligence to support customer service and shopping experiences. These updates mark another step in Meta’s goal to make WhatsApp a go-to platform for business communication and e-commerce.

Voice Calling Coming to Larger Businesses

Until now, only small business accounts could communicate with customers via voice on WhatsApp. That’s about to change. In the coming weeks, Meta will roll out voice calling capabilities for larger businesses through the WhatsApp Business API.

This will allow customers to make voice calls to companies — and for the first time, businesses will be able to return those calls. WhatsApp will also soon enable voice messaging between customers and businesses, offering more flexibility and convenience for communication.

These features open the door for companies to use AI voice agents for customer support. Businesses can now explore tools from startups like Vapi, ElevenLabs, Coval, and Phonic to create AI-powered voice systems for WhatsApp, helping them handle common queries and tasks more efficiently.

AI for Product Recommendations and Support

Meta is also expanding its use of artificial intelligence for personalized product recommendations. These AI tools will help businesses suggest products based on previous conversations or user preferences. After the initial interaction, AI can handle follow-up questions or provide order updates directly through the WhatsApp chat.

This builds on an existing pilot program launched last year in Mexico, where Meta began testing AI-based customer support and marketing tools. With the current expansion, more merchants will gain access to these capabilities.

The approach mirrors what several AI startups are doing — using chat-based tools to offer tailored shopping experiences that feel more like a conversation than a typical online search.

A Growing Opportunity for Meta

WhatsApp Business already sees more than 200 million monthly active users and has become a key part of Meta’s broader business strategy. The company earns revenue through its click-to-WhatsApp ads and charges businesses for premium messaging features.

While Meta isn’t charging for these new AI tools yet, it could introduce pricing in the future as adoption grows and the services prove their value at scale.

Conclusion

Meta’s updates to WhatsApp Business aim to improve the way businesses interact with customers — making conversations more personal, immediate, and helpful. With the addition of voice calling and AI-driven tools, WhatsApp is quickly becoming more than just a messaging app. It’s evolving into a platform that blends communication, support, and shopping into one seamless experience.

Meta is taking a major step in the race toward artificial general intelligence (AGI) by restructuring its AI operations under a new entity: Meta Superintelligence Labs. This move reflects CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s long-term vision of building AI systems that go beyond current capabilities—aiming for what he describes as “superintelligence.”

A Unified Approach to AI

According to an internal memo obtained by Bloomberg, all of Meta’s AI teams will now report to the newly established Superintelligence Labs. The goal is to consolidate Meta’s AI efforts across the company, reduce fragmentation, and speed up innovation in AGI development.

Leading this new group is Alexandr Wang, the former CEO of data labeling firm Scale AI. He joins Meta as its Chief AI Officer, following the company’s $14.3 billion investment in Scale AI earlier this month. Alongside Wang, Nat Friedman, former GitHub CEO, will oversee AI product development and applied research within the new division.

Strengthening Talent from Across the Industry

As part of its aggressive push, Meta has also hired top AI researchers from rival companies. The company recently brought on 11 new AI experts, including:

• Pei Sun, a former principal researcher at Google DeepMind
• Joel Pobar, an engineer previously with Anthropic

These new hires add significant depth to Meta’s AI team, reflecting the company's growing influence and determination to lead in AGI.

Zuckerberg’s Vision for Superintelligence

Mark Zuckerberg has made it clear that AI is at the core of Meta’s future—from social media platforms to virtual and augmented reality. By uniting its AI research and product teams under one banner, Meta is aiming to make faster, more coordinated progress toward building advanced AI systems that can operate at—or beyond—human-level intelligence.

Conclusion

The launch of Meta Superintelligence Labs marks more than just a leadership change—it signals a strategic shift in how Meta approaches artificial intelligence. With strong leadership, major investments, and new talent onboard, Meta is making it clear that it intends to be a frontrunner in the future of AI development.

YouTube is finally preparing to launch its mobile video editing app, YouTube Create, on iOS, nearly two years after its initial release on Android. This expansion marks Google’s latest effort to grow its presence in the content creation space, but it enters a highly competitive market dominated by CapCut and InShot.

YouTube Create’s iOS Rollout

According to job postings reviewed by TechCrunch, Google is hiring software engineers in Bengaluru, India, to build the iOS version of YouTube Create. The Android app first launched in September 2023 in eight markets and later expanded to 13 more countries by early 2024. It provides free video editing tools designed for YouTube Shorts and long-form content, offering features such as stickers, GIFs, effects, and transitions.

The app was developed with direct input from more than 3,000 creators, which helped shape its feature set to meet the practical needs of video editors and online creators.

Falling Behind Established Competitors

Despite its thoughtful design and YouTube integration, YouTube Create is still significantly behind its competitors in terms of adoption and engagement.

In the second quarter of 2025:

• CapCut saw 66 million downloads on Android.
• InShot followed with 21 million downloads.
• YouTube Create had fewer than 500,000 downloads this quarter and around 4 million since its initial launch.

User engagement statistics further highlight the gap:

• CapCut had 442 million monthly active users on Android.
• InShot had 92 million.
• YouTube Create had fewer than 1 million.

On iOS, the competition is just as intense. CapCut led with 194 million monthly active users in Q2, while InShot reached 25 million. Meanwhile, Instagram’s native editing tools and CapCut are dominating downloads on Apple devices.

Some Progress, but Retention Is a Concern

There are positive signs of growth. YouTube Create’s monthly active users grew by 28% year over year in Q2—surpassing CapCut’s 9% growth and outperforming InShot, which saw a 7% decline.

However, the app is still facing major challenges in keeping users engaged:

• Retention rates remain low, with only about 1% of users continuing to use the app 90 days after download, compared to 7% for CapCut and 4% for InShot.
• Usage time per month averages 38 minutes for YouTube Create, while CapCut users spend 62 minutes.
• User sessions per month are also lower—11 on YouTube Create compared to 23 on CapCut.

Expanding Global Reach

YouTube Create is slowly diversifying its user base. India, which once accounted for 67% of its monthly active users, now represents 51%, suggesting growth in other regions. Indonesia is now the second-largest market with 21%, followed by Germany (5%), Brazil (4%), and the UK (3%).

The app is also gaining traction in new regions, with significant growth in:

• Spain (119% increase in monthly active users year over year)
• South Korea (91%)
• France (89%)
• Singapore (71%)

These figures show that while the app is still small, it is gaining momentum in global markets.

Looking Ahead

A launch on iOS could significantly boost YouTube Create’s visibility and user base, particularly among creators who work across both Android and Apple platforms. But strong competition from deeply integrated tools like CapCut, which benefits from its connection to TikTok, poses an ongoing challenge.

According to Sensor Tower’s senior insights analyst Abe Yousef, YouTube Create's growth in active users, even amid modest download numbers, could signal that it’s building a more loyal user base. However, the app will need to improve retention, engagement, and overall visibility to close the gap with its more established competitors.

Conclusion

YouTube Create’s upcoming release on iOS is a strategic move to attract more creators and broaden its market share. While the app has shown signs of growth, it still has a long way to go before it can challenge leading video editors like CapCut and InShot. The success of this iOS launch could play a crucial role in determining whether YouTube Create becomes a real competitor in the mobile editing landscape.

Google has introduced a new experimental app called Doppl, designed to let users virtually try on outfits using artificial intelligence. Available now on iOS and Android in the United States, the app gives you a digital version of yourself to see how different clothing items might look—without needing to step into a fitting room.

What is Doppl?

Doppl allows you to visualize outfits on your own body. To get started, you upload a full-body photo, then select clothing images—these can be anything from a screenshot on social media, a photo of a friend’s outfit, or even something you saw while shopping. The app then uses AI to create an image of you wearing the selected clothing.

But it goes further than just images. Doppl can generate AI-powered videos of your virtual self, showing how an outfit might look in motion—helping you better imagine how it would appear in real life.

Key Features:

• Virtual Try-On with Your Photo: See yourself in any outfit using just one picture.
• Animated Visualizations: Get a realistic video of how the clothes would move and fit.
• Style Library: Save and revisit your favorite looks.
• Share with Friends: Easily send your looks to others for feedback.

A Step Forward from Google Shopping

While Google has previously offered virtual try-on tools, those were limited to showing clothes on models of different body types. Doppl takes it a step further by putting you in the frame. It also builds on Google Shopping’s recent features, but in a dedicated app that makes the experience more accessible and personal.

According to Google, “We hope Doppl helps you explore your style in new and exciting ways.” However, they also noted that as a Google Labs experiment, the app is still evolving. That means the accuracy of fit and garment detail may not always be perfect.

Conclusion

Doppl offers a new way to engage with fashion—using your own image to test out styles, outfits, and ideas. While it's still early days, this app has the potential to transform how we shop and plan what to wear. It’s a creative, interactive glimpse into the future of personalized fashion experiences.

Whether you're looking for outfit inspiration or just curious about how something might look on you, Doppl could be a fun tool to try.

Meta is making it easier to stay on top of your WhatsApp conversations — without having to scroll endlessly through unread messages. The company has announced a new AI-powered summaries feature for WhatsApp, powered by Meta AI.

This optional feature gives users a private summary of unread messages in a chat, so you can quickly catch up without opening each message individually. The best part? Only you can see the summary — no one else in the chat will even know you used it.

How It Works

The feature uses Meta’s Private Processing technology, introduced earlier this year, to generate summaries without compromising end-to-end encryption or your privacy. Meta reassures users that it cannot see your messages or summaries, and nothing leaves your device in a way that exposes personal content.

You’ll see a small icon inside the chat if the feature is available for you. If you choose to enable it, Meta AI will quietly generate quick overviews of the unread content — making long group chats and catch-up messages easier to manage.

Where and When It's Available

Right now, the AI message summaries are rolling out only in the U.S., with support for the English language. Meta plans to expand this feature to other countries and more languages later this year.

Until now, users could interact with Meta AI by asking questions or tagging messages for context, but Meta AI couldn’t read the chats themselves. This update changes that — in a privacy-preserving way.

How to Use It

The feature can be turned on manually by going to:

Settings > Chats > Private Processing

From there, users can choose to enable or disable specific AI features like message summaries or writing suggestions, giving full control to the user.

A Smarter Way to Manage Chats

Whether you're returning from a weekend getaway or waking up to dozens of unread messages, this new feature makes it faster and easier to catch up. Meta is blending AI convenience with strict privacy measures — a move that could shape the future of messaging apps.

Conclusion

Meta’s new AI message summaries offer a modern solution to chat overload, without sacrificing privacy. It’s another step in the company’s mission to integrate smart, helpful AI tools across its platforms — and WhatsApp users in the U.S. are the first to benefit.

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