Following the recent removal of Tik Tok from the US Apple store and the threat of an impending ban, US-based search engine, Perplexity, has submitted a bid to purchase the popular video app. This could be a potential lifeline for Tik Tok as they face pressure from the US government to cut ties with parent company ByteDance. The merger could bring together two vastly different applications, with Perplexity known for its language models and ability to gather information from open-source AI platforms. This unexpected turn of events could potentially pave the way for a new chapter in Tik Tok's future.
Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers came to the defense of his friend, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., on The Pat McAfee Show ahead of Kennedy's confirmation as Health and Human Services nominee. The pair share the same controversial anti-vaccination views and Rodgers warned senators not to underestimate Kennedy's intelligence. In a surprising twist, a two-year-old who was initially misdiagnosed with the flu, ended up having a serious illness after her mom stepped in and advocated for her. A surgeon in Texas also faced a bizarre interruption during a surgery when he had to take a call from a patient's insurance provider.
After the U.S. Supreme Court's oral arguments regarding a law mandating TikTok's sale, popular YouTuber Jimmy 'MrBeast' announced on X that he would buy the platform to prevent a potential ban. Many users reacted to his tweet, with some suggesting he partner with Elon Musk and others expressing concern about the impact on his YouTube channel and the potential risks involved.
A recent report from Bloomberg suggests that China may be considering selling Tik Tok USA to Elon Musk's X company, sparking speculation and concern among users. However, Tik Tok has denied these rumors and has until Jan 19, 2025 to divest from the US market according to a US ban. Entrepreneur and investor Kevin O'Leary has put $20 billion on the table to acquire Tik Tok USA without the algorithm, emphasizing the platform's success in the digital advertising space. With 110-130 million users in the US alone, Tik Tok's future remains uncertain as negotiations and bids continue.
The crowd at Coachella was in for a surprise when Kesha took to the stage with fellow artist Renee Rapp. The singer changed the lyrics to her popular song Tik Tok, replacing the reference to rapper P Diddy with a more explicit line. This comes amidst legal troubles for Diddy, who is currently facing sexual assault allegations. This isn't the first time Kesha has updated the P Diddy reference in her song, previously removing it altogether when the rapper was accused of rape last year.
Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R) is leading the effort to pass a bipartisan bill that would impose restrictions on the popular Chinese app Tik Tok in the United States. The bill would require Tik Tok to be sold to a US company or face a complete ban, citing concerns about the Chinese Communist Party's control and potential manipulation of user data. With over 177 million users potentially at risk, the bill is being pitched as a critical national security measure.