###### September 05, 2024


Social media startup [Bluesky](https://bsky.app/) has seen substantial growth following the shutdown of X in Brazil. In just four days, the platform has attracted [over 2 million new users](https://bsky.app/profile/jaz.bsky.social/post/3l3a2i4bbv42k), a significant increase from the half-million users from the previous Friday. However, this surge in user activity has occasionally led to [system errors](https://bsky.app/search?q=bluesky+not+enough+resources), as Bluesky engineers struggle to stabilise servers to handle the surge in sign-ups.

Bluesky saw a surge in new users over the weekend, propelling it to the top of the Brazilian app charts and overtaking Meta’s Instagram Threads. App intelligence firm [Appfigures](http://appfigures.com/) reported that Bluesky’s total downloads were up 10,584% compared to the previous weekend, with a staggering 1,018,952% increase in Brazil alone. This download surge also impacted other countries where the app had previously had very little traction, resulting in an overall 584% increase in global downloads.

The countries with the highest downloads outside Brazil are the United States, Portugal, the United Kingdom, Canada and Spain. However, the most significant growth in downloads was recorded in Portugal, Chile, Argentina, Colombia and Romania, with rates going from single digits to thousands.

Bluesky has seen a significant increase in engagement on the platform due to high activity from new users. In just four days, likes on the network increased from 13 million to 104.6 million, followers skyrocketed from 1.4 million to 100.8 million, and reposts increased from 1.3 million to 11 million. This indicates a significant increase in user engagement and interest in the platform.

As of Monday, Bluesky announced an impressive increase in the number of new users, with 2.11 million users added in the past four days, a stark contrast to the previous week’s increase of 26,000 users. Additionally, [Bluesky](https://bsky.app/profile/jaz.bsky.social/post/3l3b3qfkkhi2f) saw an increase of over 100% in daily active users. By Tuesday, the number of users had increased to 2.4 million and continued to grow, reaching 2.6 million the next day, with over 85% of the new users originating from Brazil.

Bluesky’s appeal to users leaving X can be attributed to its similarity to the platform formerly known as Twitter, now owned by Elon Musk. Originally incubated within Twitter before spinning off into an independent company, Bluesky maintains much of Twitter’s design and functionality. Like X, Bluesky offers features such as likes, reposts, quote posts, lists, direct messages, search tools, and user profiles. However, Bluesky distinguishes itself by being a decentralized social network, allowing users to set up their own instances, customize feeds, subscribe to third-party moderation services, and create curated “starter packs” of recommended users to follow. Additionally, in future updates, Bluesky intends to introduce video support to its platform.

Bluesky’s approach to content and moderation also sets it apart from competitors like Threads. While Threads avoids political content recommendations to appeal to brands and influencers, Bluesky’s decentralized model offers users more control over content moderation, making it an attractive option for those looking for a less centralized platform. This could be particularly appealing to Brazilians who, following X’s ban tied to political content, sought a platform where moderation decisions are decentralized.

Bluesky’s distinctive strategy around content and moderation sets it apart from competitors like Threads. Unlike Threads, which refrains from suggesting political content in order to attract brands and influencers, Bluesky’s decentralized approach gives users greater control over content moderation. This makes it an attractive option for people looking for a less centralized platform. This aspect could be especially appealing to Brazilians who, following X’s ban related to political content, have been looking for a platform with decentralized moderation policies.

During this period, other decentralized platforms like [Mastodon](https://mastodon.social/@Gargron/113053796058286052) also saw some user growth, but the scale was significantly smaller compared to Bluesky. For example, Mastodon recorded 4,200 new registrations from Brazil in a single day, indicating that many Brazilians might be looking for a platform that not only offers decentralization but also closely mirrors the familiar Twitter/X user experience.

While Meta has not made any official statements about the impact that shifting X’s Brazilian user base to Threads would have, any growth in Threads’ user base would likely have a less prominent impact due to its already substantial size, with over 200 million monthly active users. In contrast, Bluesky’s smaller user base makes its recent gains more notable. Additionally, Brazilians may be drawn to Bluesky’s culture, which embraces chaotic, meme-centric content, reminiscent of the early days of Twitter. Considering that X’s user base in Brazil exceeds [20 million](https://www.statista.com/statistics/242606/number-of-active-twitter-users-in-selected-countries/), there is still ample opportunity for Bluesky and other competitors to achieve further growth.


###### Image Credits: Bluesky

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Bluesky Gains Over 2 Million Users After X Shutdown in Brazil

###### September 03, 2024


[SparkLabs](https://www.sparklabsgroup.com/), a well-known early-stage venture capital firm recognized for its backing of [OpenAI](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/bernardmoon_openai-ai-artificialintelligence-activity-7156737614866247680-gtR8/) and several other AI startups such as Vectara, Allganize, Kneron, Anthropic, xAI, Glade (YC S23), and Lucidya AI, has revealed the completion of a new $50 million fund. The fund called the AIM AI Fund, is dedicated to backing AI startups through the Saudi Arabia-based AIM-X accelerator and other AI initiatives globally.

The creation of this new fund is indicative of broader trends in the AI ​​industry. The emergence of generative AI has led to a proliferation of AI startups and intensified competition among investors in their quest to identify the next breakthrough innovation, similar to what OpenAI achieved. Furthermore, this initiative underlines the expanding horizons of AI prospects beyond Silicon Valley. The AIM-X accelerator, part of the Saudi Arabian AI Mission, aims to drive advancements in AI technology over the next five years.

In recent years, there has been a significant increase in the number of AI startups around the world. According to the [Edge Delta report](https://edgedelta.com/company/blog/ai-startup-statistics), as of March 2024, there are over 210 AI unicorn companies, each with a valuation of over $1 billion. While this trend is seen globally, the United States maintains its position as the leader in AI startup formation, with a staggering 4,633 startups established between 2013 and 2022.

SparkLabs intends to allocate around 35% of the new fund to support the accelerator’s participants, while the remaining 65% will be allocated to Series A and Series B investments outside of Saudi Arabia. Bernard Moon, co-founder and partner at SparkLabs, highlighted that the accelerator aims to prioritize minority allocations for investments within Saudi Arabia and the MENA region. The fund's primary goal would be to support the most promising AI startups from around the world, with a particular focus on those from the United States.

The typical investment amount for accelerator program participants is around $200,000, which can go up to $500,000 in special circumstances. Series A and B investments will range from $1 million to $5 million, and the fund aims to support between 50 and 70 companies.

SparkLabs did not disclose who its limited partners are; however, Moon shared that they include a government fund of funds. The first batch of startups funded by the AIM AI Fund will be shared at the [GAIN Summit](https://globalaisummit.org/en/default.aspx) (Global AI Summit) in Riyadh on September 10. SparkLabs has already supported about 14 startups from the fund, including:

- [viACT](https://www.viact.ai/) – AI video analytics for workplace safety and construction management based in Hong Kong

- [IdeasLab ](https://www.ideaslab.com/)– New York-based AI solutions for analyzing sensor-less body movements

- [Ahya](https://www.ahya.ai/) – Pakistan-based AI climate software for emissions analysis and carbon offset transactions

- [Swirl](https://www.goswirl.live/) – Indian video platform using AI to improve customer engagement for brands

- [Contents.com](http://contents.com) – Italian AI content creation platform

- [Orko](https://orkofleet.com/) – AI electric vehicle fleet management platform from Singapore

- [Layla](https://layla.ai/) – German AI travel startup

- [Roughneck AI](https://www.roughneck.ai/) – San Francisco-based multimodal real-world data platform for deep learning

- [Arctech Innovation](https://www.arctechinnovation.com/) – UK-based AI-powered pest and disease detection products

- [OptimHire](https://optimhire.com/) – San Francisco-based AI hiring platform

- [WideBot AI](https://widebot.net/) – Arabic generative AI platform in Riyadh

- [Orbo AI](https://www.orbo.ai/) – Mumbai-based AI tool for beauty brands

- [Vyrill](https://www.vyrill.com/) – e-commerce marketing platform San Francisco-based AI video intelligence

- [Stack Tech Farm](https://stacktech.farm/): Berlin-based agtech specializing in vertical farming

SparkLabs, with over 14 funds globally and two in Saudi Arabia, has invested in 550 startups globally.

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SparkLabs Secures $50M to Invest in Leading AI Startups Across the Globe

###### August 30, 2024


Google has recently launched a new feature called Gmail Q\&A that enables Android users to chat with [Gemini](https://gemini.google.com/), the company’s AI assistant, from within the Gmail app. This feature was introduced in a [blog post](https://workspaceupdates.googleblog.com/2024/08/gmail-q-new-way-of-searching-your-inbox.html) and is now available to subscribers of Gemini, allowing them to interact with the AI assistant directly from their email inbox. The feature will also be made available to iOS users soon.

One of the unique features of Gmail Q\&A is the integration of Google Gemini as a personal assistant within the Gmail app. This allows Gemini access to the entire email inbox, allowing users to interact with it through voice commands. Gemini can summarize and provide updates on specific topics and search for specific details within emails. For example, a user can say ‘Catch me up on the emails about quarterly planning’ to get a summary of relevant emails or ask ‘How much did the company spend on the last marketing event?’ to retrieve specific information.

However, it is crucial to exercise caution when relying on AI models, including Gemini, as the information generated may occasionally be inaccurate or result in hallucinations. Therefore, it is advisable to double-check the AI's responses to ensure their accuracy and authenticity.

When it comes to finding information in Gmail, users can typically rely on the search bar located at the top of the app. However, Google is now introducing the Gemini button, situated adjacent to the search function, to signify a shift away from traditional search methods towards AI-driven chat interactions. Instead of searching for the original email, the new feature encourages users to converse with an AI chatbot that will summarize the desired information, while still referencing the source email in its replies.

To access this feature, subscribers can click on the black star logo, which represents Gemini, in the top-right corner of the app within Google's product suite. At the moment, Gmail Q\&A is capable of accessing only your emails, but Google intends to broaden its scope to encompass files from your Drive account in the future.

Gemini has been integrated into various Google products as part of Google's broader effort to incorporate more AI features. In June, [Google](https://workspaceupdates.googleblog.com/2024/06/gemini-in-side-panel-of-gmail.html) made Gmail Q\&A available to web users who subscribe to Gemini or Google One AI Premium. This service costs approximately $20 per month.

It's unlikely that Gmail Q\&A will become available to free Gmail users in the foreseeable future. Instead, Google is using features like Gmail Q\&A to justify Gemini's high subscription costs. The company is gradually integrating Gemini into its suite of products, including Google Docs, Gmail, and Google Calendar, among others, but these advanced AI features come at a price. So far, these AI integrations represent Google's most promising way to monetize Gemini.

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Android Gmail Users Gain New AI Chat Feature with Gemini

###### August 27, 2024


The AI-powered scheduling tool Reclaim.ai, which is supported by investors including Calendly and Index Ventures, has been acquired by Dropbox. Although the acquisition was announced on Reclaim.ai's [website](https://reclaim.ai/blog/dropbox-acquires-reclaim), Dropbox has not revealed any financial details regarding the deal.

Reclaim.ai, which was founded in 2019 by Henry Shapiro and Patrick Lightbody, has announced that it will continue to develop its product while under the ownership of Dropbox. The tool, used by over 43,000 companies and more than 320,000 people worldwide, will also maintain ongoing support for all users.

Moreover, Reclaim.ai has successfully secured over $9.5 million in funding from various investors, such as Calendly, Character.vc, Flying Fish, Gradient Ventures, Index Ventures, Operator Partners, Yummy Ventures, Grafana CEO Raj Dutt, and former GitHub CTO Jason.

The startup has prioritized the utilization of AI to assist users in effectively managing their time, which includes tasks such as identifying available meeting slots, scheduling tasks, establishing personal routines, and ensuring adequate breaks. Its product seamlessly integrates with Google Calendar and provides various features such as booking links and the automatic scheduling of optimal times for all participants. Reclaim.ai has competition from other scheduling tools such as [Calendly](https://calendly.com/), [Clockwise](https://www.getclockwise.com/), and [Doodle](https://doodle.com/en/).

Reclaim.ai offered a basic free tier for individual users, with small team plans starting at $8 per person per month. The company has indicated that the fee will remain the same for the time being.

In a video posted on X, the founders of Reclaim.ai have [revealed](https://twitter.com/reclaimai/status/1825943570177733107?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) that the entire team of 22 people will be joining Dropbox. They expressed their enthusiasm for joining forces with Dropbox, as they believe that this partnership will help them advance their shared mission of ‘designing a more enlightened way of working’, a vision that both companies have pursued since Reclaim.ai's establishment in 2019.

Reclaim.ai has so far only offered integration with Google Calendar. However, the company has mentioned plans to add support for Outlook integration in the near future.

The acquisition mentioned is part of a larger trend observed in productivity companies to incorporate calendar management and scheduling tools into their platforms. This year, ClickUp, with backing from Tiger Global and a16z, acquired Hypercal, a calendar startup, to enhance its scheduling capabilities. Additionally, in January, Notion introduced a new calendar product, which was developed based on its acquisition of Cron in 2022.

Earlier this month, in its Q2 2024 report, Dropbox revealed that it had generated $634.5 million in revenue, representing a 1.9% YoY increase, and had 18.22 million paying users, up from 18.04 million in the previous year.


###### Image Credits: Reclaim.ai

Bluesky Gains Over 2 Million Users After X Shutdown in Brazil

SparkLabs Secures $50M to Invest in Leading AI Startups Across the Globe

Android Gmail Users Gain New AI Chat Feature with Gemini

Reclaim.ai Now Part of Dropbox in Strategic AI Move