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- Netflix gets TikTok-ified
Good morning, tech enthusiasts. Netflix is soon rolling out its first major overhaul in more than a decade with a home page redesign, an AI search experience, and a TikTok-like vertical feed on mobile.
The new UI is designed to keep you forever bingeing on its content, never hitting the “cancel subscription” button—but now that Netflix is dipping into short-form video feeds, does it aim to compete with TikTok and Instagram too?
In today’s tech rundown:
Netflix’s major redesign, AI search tool
Meta’s facial recognition smart glasses
Musk’s X digital wallet hits NY roadblock
Whoop’s big upgrade, medical-grade tracking
Quick hits on other major news
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
NETFLIX
Image source: Netflix
The Rundown: Netflix just unveiled its biggest update in over a decade, rolling out its first major homepage redesign since 2013 — alongside beta tests of a generative AI-powered search tool and a TikTok-style vertical video feed on its mobile app.
The details:
Netflix’s home page redesign moves the main menu from the left to the center and makes shortcuts like Search and My List more prominent.
A ChatGPT-powered mobile search tool lets users find content using natural, conversational language such as “I want something funny and upbeat.”
The search feature is launching as a limited, opt-in beta for iOS users, with early access already available in Australia and New Zealand for now.
Netflix is also testing a TikTok-style vertical video feed on its mobile app, where users can swipe through short clips curated from its shows and movies.
Why it matters: As the streaming wars intensify, Netflix’s revamp, especially the AI tool and vertical feed, aims to avoid subscriber churn and draw in younger audiences. The company has set the standard for design in the industry, so any changes it makes will also probably have a ripple effect among other major streamers.
META
Image source: Meta
The Rundown: Meta is working on a “super sensing” live AI upgrade for its next-gen Ray-Ban smart glasses, aiming to enable real-time facial recognition, letting users identify people by name simply by looking at them.
The details:
The Information reports that Meta has two smart glasses in the works and has reworked its processes for assessing risks and releasing products faster.
While users would need to opt in to use the tool, those being scanned wouldn’t have the ability to opt out — although Meta is exploring an on-device indicator.
The company is already testing live AI in its current models and is working toward reducing battery load while adding this capability into the mix.
It shelved facial recognition tech in 2021 following a wave of privacy and ethical concerns, but is now betting that the landscape has shifted.
Why it matters: Meta’s “super sensing” mode could extend beyond smart glasses to other wearables — like camera-equipped earphones — enabling its AI to track your daily activity and deliver personalized notifications, if opted in. Despite ethical concerns, this push from Meta comes as U.S. regulatory scrutiny seems to be easing.
X/TWITTER
Image source: Ideogram / The Rundown
The Rundown: Elon Musk’s social media platform X is gearing up to launch a digital wallet — called X Money — but the plan has reportedly hit a roadblock as two Manhattan lawmakers demanded regulators deny it a license to operate in the state.
The details:
New York state lawmakers have urged the New York Department of Financial Services to deny X Corp. a money transmitter license to operate in the state.
X Corp. has already secured licenses in 42 states and the District of Columbia, but has not yet obtained approval from New York.
Their opposition is based on concerns regarding Musk’s “pattern of reckless conduct” in both business and government roles.
Backed by a partnership with Visa, X Money is being touted as Musk’s attempt to rival payment processing services like Venmo, Zelle, and Apple Pay.
Why it matters: New York’s licensing standards are among the most stringent in the nation, and without its approval, X Money would be unable to serve one of the largest and most influential financial markets in the U.S. This would certainly delay or limit the rollout of Musk’s vision to transform X into the “everything app.”
WHOOP
Image source: Whoop
The Rundown: Whoop just unveiled the Whoop 5.0 and Whoop MG, featuring a sleeker design, faster processing, enhanced sensors, and three times the battery life, with the MG also offering an FDA-cleared ECG feature for advanced heart monitoring.
The details:
Designed for 24/7 use, the new Whoop’s battery runs up to 14 days on a single charge with an optional wireless PowerPack extending usage to 30 days.
Whoop says the new sensors capture health and fitness data 26 times per second and deliver 10 times greater energy efficiency.
Whoop MG’s medical-grade, FDA-cleared ECG feature enables users to screen for irregular heart rhythms by placing their fingers on the device.
Both devices also offer new health insights in the app, including BP, health span stats, VO₂ Max, heart rate zones, and advanced sleep tracking.
Why it matters: While Apple and Garmin dominate the wearables game, Whoop has specifically drawn athletes with a focus on data-driven recovery, sleep, and performance. Now, with the new wellness features and an low-priced subscription, the company is eying everyday users and looking to edge out its closest competitor, Oura.
QUICK HITS
📰 Everything else in tech today
Samsung officially announced the launch date of the Galaxy S25 Edge, its slimmest Galaxy S series smartphone to date, set to launch on May 13.
Google agreed to fund the development of three nuclear sites to meet the vast energy needs of data centers, with each site generating up to 600 megawatts.
India's space agency plans to launch an uncrewed mission later this year while pushing back its first human spaceflight to early 2027.
Fintech giant Stripe unveiled a sweeping set of new products and upgrades, including an AI model for payments, trained on tens of billions of transactions.
Amazon Web Services is investing $4B to establish its first cloud infrastructure region in Chile, marking it as AWS's third region in Latin America.
Apple is reportedly developing new chips for its first smart glasses to compete with Meta’s Ray-Bans and to power more powerful Mac and AI servers.
U.S. fintech company Robinhood is preparing to launch a new blockchain-based platform designed to let retail investors in Europe trade U.S. securities.
Tesla’s patent bid for the term “robotaxi” was deemed too generic by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, so the company has applied for the term “Joyrobotaxi.”
SpaceX’s Starlink is one step closer to officially launching its satellite internet service in India, with the Indian government signing a letter of intent.
Researchers completed a first-in-human clinical trial using CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing to empower the immune system against advanced colon and stomach cancers.
Apple SVP Eddy Cue testified during a Google antitrust case, saying that the iPhone may be obsolete in 10 years as AI creates “new opportunities for new entrants.”
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See you soon,
Rowan, Jennifer, and Joey—The Rundown’s editorial team
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