X expands its vertical video feed to global users

Elon Musk’s social media platform, X, is rapidly expanding its new X Video Feed, a dedicated vertical video experience, to users worldwide. After its initial rollout in the U.S., the feature is now reaching global markets, including India, Australia, and several European regions. This marks a significant shift in X’s strategy to compete in the ever-evolving video-driven social media landscape, as confirmed by a company spokesperson.

The feature, currently available only on iOS, provides users with a seamless, TikTok-inspired video-scrolling experience through a designated tab in the app. Positioned prominently next to the Grok button, the X Video Feed integrates short-form videos with an engaging swipe-up navigation style, capitalizing on the growing popularity of vertical video formats.

A Gradual Yet Strategic Rollout

The global rollout of the X Video Feed is underway, but Android users will have to wait as the feature is still exclusive to iOS devices. While X has not specified when the Android version will become available, the staggered rollout strategy allows the company to refine the feature based on user feedback.

X’s move to enhance its video experience aligns with a broader trend in the social media industry. Platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube have set the standard for short-form, immersive video content that drives user engagement. By incorporating these features, X aims to establish itself as a competitor in this lucrative market.

Leveraging Uncertainty Around TikTok

X’s launch of the vertical video feed comes at a time when TikTok faces potential bans or regulatory hurdles in key markets. In the U.S., the platform’s future remains uncertain, as lawmakers and regulators continue to scrutinize its ownership and data security practices. The enforcement of a TikTok ban has been paused, but the platform’s vulnerability provides an opportunity for competitors like X to capture market share.

With TikTok’s dominance in short-form video being questioned, X is positioning its video feed as a compelling alternative. The platform’s integration of video ads after every few scrolls is not only a revenue-generating strategy but also a way to keep users engaged for longer periods.

The Role of the X Video Feed in Driving Revenue

The X Video Feed isn’t just about entertainment—it’s a key revenue driver for the platform. By embedding ads seamlessly within the video feed, X has adopted a monetization model similar to Instagram Reels and TikTok. This feature allows advertisers to tap into highly engaged audiences while enabling X to diversify its revenue streams.

Moreover, video content has proven to be more engaging than static posts, meaning users are likely to spend more time on the app. The combination of ad placement and increased screen time positions the X Video Feed as a powerful tool for boosting the platform’s profitability.

X’s Expanding Video Ecosystem

The rollout of the vertical video feed is the latest addition to X’s broader video ecosystem. Over the past two years, the platform has heavily invested in video capabilities. In 2022, X introduced the ability to scroll through short videos by tapping and swiping on video content within the timeline. Additionally, the launch of a stand-alone TV app showcased the platform’s ambition to cater to long-form video viewers, creators, and organizations.

With the introduction of the X Video Feed, the platform is bridging the gap between short-form and long-form video content, creating a comprehensive video experience for users. This diversification allows X to cater to a wider range of user preferences while encouraging creators to publish video content directly on the platform.

The Future of X Video Feed

The introduction of the X Video Feed signals a transformative shift for the platform, positioning it as a serious contender in the competitive world of short-form video content. By blending entertainment with monetization strategies, X is leveraging the growing demand for vertical video to engage users and attract advertisers.

As the feature expands to Android and continues its global rollout, X will likely refine its offering to better compete with established players like TikTok and Instagram. The combination of user engagement, ad revenue, and innovative video experiences makes the X Video Feed a key pillar in Elon Musk’s vision for the platform’s future.

Ultimately, the X Video Feed represents more than just a feature—it’s a strategic move to redefine the way users interact with video content on social media

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Social Tech

Instagram Stories now offers users direct access to Meta AI editing tools

by George Mensah 2025-10-29

Meta is pushing deeper into AI territory with new AI-editing tools in Instagram Stories, where users can edit images and videos simply by typing in what they want to modify. From hair color to special effects, the feature upends the possibilities of creators and regular users alike to personalize their content.

Text Prompts Meet Visual Creativity

Until now, Instagram’s AI editing tools were primarily accessible through Meta AI’s chatbot, which required users to interact via direct messages. With this latest integration, however, AI editing becomes native to Stories, allowing anyone to make instant visual edits using plain language commands.

These new edit features come under the “Restyle” menu that can be accessed using the paintbrush icon in Instagram Stories. One can type commands such as “give me a sunset background,” “remove the person in the corner,” or “color my hair pink.” The AI carries out the edit one wants within seconds.

Meta suggests that users only have three primary actions to select from — Add, Remove, or Change — while specifying what they’d like to alter. The AI will automatically add objects, alter appearances, or completely restyle the photo based on what they’ve described.

Preset Effects and Dynamic Video Edits

In addition to custom prompts, Instagram also has pre-select AI effects that can beautify or stylize posts. Filters like sunglasses, a denim jacket, or even a watercolor art effect can be applied.

On video content, the feature does even better — creators are able to superimpose atmospheric effects like falling snow, glowing embers, or cinematic lighting, which makes Stories appear more polished and professional without the necessity of using editing apps.

Privacy and AI Usage Terms

While the new features enable creativity, they come with privacy implications. Being used to introduce users to Meta’s Terms of Service for AI, which allow the company to “analyze photos and videos, including facial data, to make AI better.” According to Meta, it allows its systems to “summarize image contents, edit images, and generate new content based on the image.”

Critics have also had concerns regarding the ways in which such data might be used to train Meta’s broader AI models, though the company has sworn to remain committed to responsible innovation and transparency.

Meta’s Expanding AI Push

The release of AI editing software is just part of Meta’s overall strategy to roll out artificial intelligence on every platform it has, from Facebook and Instagram to WhatsApp. Recently, Meta began beta-testing a “Write with Meta AI” feature, which helps users compose intelligent or engaging comments under Instagram posts.

Meanwhile, Meta’s separate Meta AI app — with its chatbot and new “Vibes” AI-generated video stream — has been picking up steam. According to Similarweb estimates, iOS and Android daily active users rose from 775,000 to 2.7 million over a four-week span as of October 17.

Protecting Younger Users

As a response to increasing complaints from regulators and parents, Meta has also added new parental tools for its AI features. Parents may now shut off chats with AI characters and filter topics that their teens have with the chatbot to provide a safer online environment.

With these new instruments, Instagram is not only emerging as a social network but a creative platform fueled by generative AI. With Meta, OpenAI, and Google competing for leadership, this launch shows how AI is becoming more a part of the social fabric of our era — blurring the line between creativity, technology, and self-expression.

Social Tech

A program is launched by Meta to promote the adoption of their Llama AI models by companies

by George Mensah 2025-05-22

Meta is rolling out red carpet treatment for AI startups with its new Llama for Startups initiative—offering cash, technical support, and exclusive access to its AI engineering team. But beneath the generous facade lies a fierce battle for dominance in the trillion-dollar generative AI market.

What Startups Get From Meta’s Program

💰 **Up to 36,000∗∗(36,000∗∗(6K/month for 6 months) in cloud credits
🤝 Direct engineering support from Meta’s Llama team
🔧 Early access to custom Llama model fine-tuning tools
🌐 Networking with other AI-first startups

Eligibility requirements are surprisingly accessible:

U.S.-based incorporation
Less than $10M in total funding
At least one developer on payroll
Building generative AI products

Deadline to apply: May 30, 2024

Why Meta Needs Startups More Than Ever

Despite 1 billion+ Llama downloads, Meta faces mounting pressure:

🔥 Competitive Threats

Google’s Gemini and Anthropic’s Claude dominate enterprise adoption
OpenAI’s GPT-4o leads in multimodal capabilities
Mistral, DeepSeek, and Alibaba’s Qwen are winning open-source favor

🚨 Recent Llama Stumbles

Llama 4 Behemoth delayed due to underperformance (WSJ)
Benchmark cheating allegations on LM Arena leaderboard
Public vs. “optimized” model discrepancies eroding trust

💸 Meta’s Make-or-Break AI Bet

Projecting 2B−2B−3B AI revenue in 2025
Banking on 460B−460B−1.4T by 2035 (yes, trillion)
Spending $900M+ annually just on GenAI R&D

The Hidden Strategy Behind the Startup Play

This isn’t just altruism—it’s a three-pronged chess move:

Lock-In Future Customers
Startups that build on Llama today become enterprise buyers tomorrow.
Crowdsource Innovation
Early adopters essentially beta-test new Llama capabilities for free.
Combat Open-Source Defections
With alternatives like Mistral gaining traction, Meta needs to make Llama indispensable.

What’s Really at Stake?

Meta’s playing a long infrastructure game:

60B−60B−80B earmarked for 2025 data centers
Revenue-sharing deals with cloud providers hosting Llama
Future Llama API monetization (Zuck hinted at ads/subscriptions)

For startups, the calculus is simple:
✅ Free money and support in a cash-strapped AI winter
❌ Risk of vendor lock-in as Llama evolves

Should Your Startup Apply?

The case for jumping in:

If you’re already using Llama, this is free acceleration
Early access could provide competitive edge
Meta’s engineering insights are gold dust for product refinement

Reasons to hesitate:

$36K doesn’t go far with today’s GPU costs
Potential IP concerns working closely with a tech giant
Llama’s long-term roadmap remains uncertain

The Bottom Line

Meta’s throwing a Hail Mary to cement Llama as the open-weight model of choice. For scrappy AI startups, it’s a rare chance to piggyback on Meta’s war chest—just don’t mistake it for a long-term partnership.

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