Bill Gates wants to give away 99% wealth by 2045

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has announced on May 8 that he plans to donate nearly all of his wealth within the next two decades, significantly accelerating the timeline for winding down the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. 

Instacart CEO Fidji Simo is joining OpenAI

Fidji Simo, the current CEO of Instacart, is set to join OpenAI as CEO of Applications, the company announced on May 7. 

Press Release / Entrepreneur duo launches mobile app for emergency comms

Shojag, a mobile application launched by Bangladeshi entrepreneurs Monzur Morshed and Atiqur Rahman, seeks to bridge the gap between citizens and emergency responders through real-time, location-based alerts.

Meta admitted Facebook was "losing badly" to TikTok: court filings

Meta executives, including CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Instagram head Adam Mosseri, openly acknowledged TikTok's dominance over Facebook and Instagram in key areas of social media engagement, during discussions dated February 2022, filed as part of the US Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) antitrust lawsuit against Meta, according to a recent report by TechCrunch.

Google fires 200 employees in sales and partnerships unit: report

Google has laid off approximately 200 employees from its global business unit, which handles sales and partnerships, according to a recent report by The Information. The move comes as major tech companies continue shifting resources toward artificial intelligence (AI) and data centre investments while scaling back in other areas.

SBL announces new investment in Shikho

Startup Bangladesh Limited (SBL), the government-backed venture capital arm of the ICT Division, has announced a strategic investment in Shikho, an EdTech startup, in a move aimed at accelerating the adoption of AI-driven learning tools across Bangladesh on May 7.

OpenAI to cut Microsoft revenue share in non-profit restructuring: report

OpenAI plans to significantly decrease the revenue share it provides to Microsoft, its largest investor, according to a report by The Information. Currently, OpenAI shares 20% of its revenue with Microsoft under an agreement that runs through 2030, but this share is expected to drop to 10% or lower by the end of the decade, states the report. 

The skills premium: how AI became essential for marketers

The marketing world is undergoing a seismic transformation. As generative artificial intelligence (gen AI) matures from a technical novelty into a strategic necessity, marketing professionals are being forced to adapt at a pace unprecedented in recent memory. No longer confined to the realms of data science or IT, AI has become central to the everyday operations of marketing departments, not just enhancing productivity, but fundamentally reshaping the structure, skills, and strategy of marketing teams worldwide.

A personal goodbye to Skype; the app that connected worlds

Today, Skype, the app that once connected me to so many important moments, is officially gone. It’s a strange feeling. Sure, I have switched to Messenger for chats and Zoom for meetings like everyone else. But I can’t help but feel a little sad. Few things else carry the same level of nostalgia as that familiar blue icon.

iPhone 18 Pro may launch in 2026, but standard model in 2027: report

Apple could split its iPhone 18 lineup across two different launch windows, with Pro models arriving in late 2026 and standard versions following in early 2027, according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo and a report from The Information. This would mark a major shift from Apple’s traditional fall-only release cycle.

Skype died today because you keep using Zoom

Skype, once the undisputed pioneer of internet-based video calls, has officially been shut down by Microsoft as of 5 May 2025, marking the end of a two-decade era in digital communication.

LATEST

LATEST

Press Release / Honor X8c launched in Bangladesh

Honor has officially launched the Honor X8c smartphone in Bangladesh. 

SpaceX's Starbase is now an official city

SpaceX's South Texas rocket facility has been officially incorporated as the city of Starbase after residents overwhelmingly approved the measure in a local vote held this Saturday. The newly formed city, located near the Mexico border, will oversee an area of about 1.5 square miles where SpaceX conducts rocket launches and tests for its NASA and Defense Department contracts, including missions aimed at returning astronauts to the moon and eventually reaching Mars.

Press Release / Mitsubishi unveils locally assembled Xpander at Dhaka Motor Show 2025

Mitsubishi Bangladesh has officially unveiled the locally assembled Mitsubishi Xpander at the Dhaka Motor Show 2025. The company unveiled four variants of the Xpander lineup, which includes Xpander Classic, Xpander Premium, Xpander Eco, and the special edition Xpander Sport.

GTA 6 got delayed: Rockstar announces release date

Rockstar Games has confirmed that Grand Theft Auto VI, one of the most anticipated video game releases of the year, will now launch on 26 May 2026. The game was previously expected to arrive in 2025, following the release of its first official trailer in 2023.

LlamaCon 2025: Meta challenges OpenAI with open-source AI vision

Meta has used the stage of its inaugural LlamaCon to draw a clear line between its open-source AI philosophy and the more closed, proprietary approach used by OpenAI. At the inaugural LlamaCon, a new event dedicated to developers building with the company’s open-source AI models, Meta has unveiled a series of major product updates and strategic partnerships.

Govt launches ‘Nagorik Sheba’: A one-stop online platform for citizen services

The Government of Bangladesh (GOB) has launched a unified digital platform named ‘Nagorik Sheba Bangladesh’ in short ‘Nagorik Sheba’ (Citizen service), aimed at delivering a wide range of government services through a single online gateway, with physical service points operated by local entrepreneurs across the country.

STARTUPS

STARTUPS

Move over SpaceX. Bangladesh has its own rockets now

Bangladeshi aerospace company DhumketuX has officially unveiled Bidrohi, a domestically built commercial sub-orbital space rocket made in Bangladesh, on 29 April.

River acquires Pathao co-founder Elius’ Wind app

River, a US-based technology company founded by Bangladeshi-American entrepreneurs, has acquired Wind, a blockchain-based payments application created by Hussain M Elius, the former CEO of Pathao. 

Kicked from Columbia, backed by VCs: AI cheating tool raises $5.3 mln

A controversial artificial intelligence (AI) startup that began as a tool for cheating in job interviews has secured $5.3 million in seed funding, despite its founders being suspended from Columbia University over its creation.

Bangladeshi founders raise $2.6M to launch world’s first self-driving AI CRM

Bangladeshi-led startup Octolane secures $2.6M to launch the world’s first self-driving AI CRM, transforming how sales teams engage with customers.

Former OpenAI leaders join ex-CTO Mira Murati's AI startup

Two former OpenAI researchers have joined Thinking Machines Lab, the new artificial intelligence venture launched by ex-OpenAI CTO Mira Murati. Bob McGrew, OpenAI's former chief research officer, and Alec Radford, a key researcher behind the GPT technology, are now advising the startup, as per the company's official website.

Bangladesh Bank announces Tk 800 crore equity fund for startups

Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr Ahsan H. Mansur today announced two major funds to support the country’s startup ecosystem during the ongoing Bangladesh Investment Summit 2025.

10 biggest tech acquisitions of the decade

The tech world has seen some jaw-dropping deals over the past decade, with companies shelling out billions to dominate markets, expand their ecosystems, and stay ahead of the competition. Here’s a look at the largest tech deals that have reshaped the industry in the last decade.

APPS

APPS

Duolingo to replace contractor roles with AI; adopts "AI-first" strategy

Duolingo, the language learning app, will phase out contractor roles for tasks that artificial intelligence can handle, according to a recent internal email from cofounder and CEO Luis von Ahn announcing the company's shift to an "AI-first" approach. The message, posted on Duolingo's official LinkedIn account, outlines plans to restructure operations around AI capabilities.

You can now ask ChatGPT for online shopping recommendations

OpenAI has updated ChatGPT's search function to display product suggestions when users make shopping-related queries. According to an official blog post by the company, this feature will provide item recommendations with specifications and purchase links in response to queries that implies shopping intent.

WhatsApp is rolling out in-app translation services

WhatsApp has announced that it is introducing a new in-app translation feature that enables users to translate messages and channel updates directly within the app, using entirely on-device processing to maintain privacy and preserve end-to-end encryption. 

Android will auto-reboot your phone if locked for three days: report

Android is rolling out a new optional security feature that automatically reboots devices if they remain locked for three consecutive days, according to a report by 9to5Google. The update, delivered via the upcoming Google Play services version 25.14, aims to enhance security by forcing devices into a 'Before First Unlock (BFU)' state, requiring a PIN or pattern instead of biometrics to regain access.

OpenAI making its own X-like social media platform: report

ChatGPT-maker OpenAI is developing its own social media platform, according to sources familiar with internal discussions reported by The Verge. While still in the early prototyping stages, the experimental project reportedly features a social feed integrated with ChatGPT's image generation capabilities—potentially positioning OpenAI against rivals like Elon Musk's X and Meta.

OpenAI releases GPT-4.1 models with improved coding capabilities

OpenAI has recently launched its latest AI models, GPT-4.1, GPT-4.1 mini, and GPT-4.1 nano, which the company claims to offer improvements in coding, instruction following, and long-context comprehension. These models are currently only available through OpenAI's API (Application Programming Interface). 

Meta releases latest multimodal AI models, Llama 4

Meta has just released Llama 4, its newest set of artificial intelligence models, designed to process and generate text, images, audio, and video. The first two publicly available versions—Llama 4 Scout and Llama 4 Maverick—are now open for download, while a more advanced model, Llama 4 Behemoth, remains in development.

GADGETS

GADGETS

Press Release / Samsung launches Galaxy A06 in Bangladesh

Samsung has officially launched the Galaxy A06 smartphone in Bangladesh. 

India to make most US iPhones instead of China: report

Apple is speeding up plans to shift iPhone production from China to India, aiming to make most iPhones sold in the US in Indian factories by late 2026, according to a recent report by Reuters. The move comes as Apple tries to avoid possible higher US tariffs on Chinese-made goods, a source told Reuters.

You can soon buy the MDR Dasher keyboard from 'Severance'

Atomic Keyboard, a keyboard studio, has opened an exclusive preorder waitlist for its MDR Dasher keyboard replica, a modern recreation of the Data General 'Dasher' terminal keyboard featured in Apple TV Plus’s series 'Severance'.

Hands-on review / Redmi Note 14 4G: Big battery, bright display, and bang for your buck

Let’s be real—buying a phone under BDT 25,000 these days feels like trying to get decent biryani for under 100 bucks. Expectations are high, budgets are tight, and compromises are inevitable. Enter the Xiaomi Redmi Note 14 4G, a phone that doesn’t promise the world—but gives you a pretty good piece of it anyway.

Vivo launches V50 Lite in Bangladesh

Vivo has officially launched the V50 Lite smartphone in Bangladesh.

Press Release / Realme launches C75x in Bangladesh

Realme has officially launched the realme C75x in Bangladesh. 

GUIDES

GUIDES

You can get up to $100,000 for hacking Starlink's network

Want to get paid big bucks for hacking satellites? Elon Musk's Starlink is offering security researchers and ethical hackers up to $100,000 if they can crack its global satellite internet network - legally. As of February 11, 2025, the company's bug bounty program on Bugcrowd has already paid out for 118 vulnerabilities, with an average reward of $1,466.66 per bug over the last three months.

10 prompt engineering tips to get better AI responses

Ever wondered why some people get brilliant results from AI tools like Gemini, while others receive gibberish? The secret lies in prompt engineering, the craft of designing clear, practical instructions for AI systems. Here are 10 essential prompt engineering tips to dramatically improve your AI interactions.  

A beginner’s guide to buying graphics cards

For those seeking higher frame rates and better visual quality, upgrading the graphics card is often the most effective way to improve performance.

Five essential gears to begin your astrophotography journey

From capturing stunning shots of the Milky Way to photographing rare cosmic events, Bangladesh’s astrophotography community is growing, fuelled by curiosity and creativity. Here are five essential pieces of gear to help you embark on your own astrophotography journey.

How to save your Facebook Live videos before they are deleted

Starting February 19, Facebook will automatically delete live broadcast videos from Pages and profiles after 30 days, according to a recent announcement by the popular social media platform. Users who want to keep their live videos must download or transfer them before they expire. Here's how you do so.

How to save space on your phone

Running out of space on your phone can be frustrating, especially when you want to take a photo or download something important. Whether you're using an Android or iPhone, here are seven practical tips to help you reclaim storage and keep your phone running smoothly.

How to backup everything on your Google account

Our Google accounts hold a significant amount of data, from cherished photos and important documents to critical emails and contacts. Here are some ways in which you can backup valuable information and files from various Google apps.

Videos and Podcasts

Videos and Podcasts

Starlink: Yunus asks Musk to come over, launch it within 90 days

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus has extended an invitation to billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk to visit Bangladesh and oversee the launch of SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet service in the country within the next 90 working days.

2m ago

Will DeepSeek become a major competitor to OpenAI?

The competition in the world of artificial intelligence, or AI, is getting more intense day by day. Along with powerful models like OpenAI's ChatGPT, China's DeepSeeK AI is also gaining popularity. How is this new AI startup surprising the whole world? Let's find out in today's Star Explains.

3m ago

Apple Intelligence on iPhone in 5 minutes

After months of speculation, Apple officially introduced its Apple Intelligence platform during the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2024 in June.

8m ago

Introducing iPhone 16

Apple has officially unveiled the iPhone 16, the latest version of its flagship smartphone.

8m ago

Youngsters who showed the world what our robots can do

Competing against 451 teams from 77 countries, the Bangladeshi robotics team "Robonium Bangladesh" clinched the 5th position in the World Robot Olympiad 2023 in the "Future Innovators (Senior)" category, held in Panama

1y ago

Apple iphone Event in 12 Minutes

The essentials from tonight's Apple Event

1y ago

Developing Games in Bangladesh

Game development in Asia has largely been taking place in East Asia since the creation of video games. Is this about to change ? We talked to Mehnaz Irtika from The Daily Star, who told us about the challenges Bangladesh's game industry faces if it wants to compete with the big dogs.

1y ago

Augmenting Schools - AR Learning

We explore the use of Augmented Reality in education. With us to discuss how deployment of AR could affect Bangladesh's education and consumer sector is Md. Ridwan Sakib Anjum, an in-house contributor for the Tech and Startup section of The Daily Star.

1y ago

Samsung launches Galaxy A06 in Bangladesh

Samsung has officially launched the Galaxy A06 smartphone in Bangladesh. 

1w ago

You can now ask ChatGPT for online shopping recommendations

OpenAI has updated ChatGPT's search function to display product suggestions when users make shopping-related queries. According to an official blog post by the company, this feature will provide item recommendations with specifications and purchase links in response to queries that implies shopping intent.

1w ago

Amazon enters space internet race; first Kuiper satellites launched

Amazon has launched its first batch of 27 satellites for Project Kuiper, marking the beginning of its $10 billion plan to build a global broadband internet network. The satellites were carried into space on April 28, 2025, by a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.  

1w ago

Bangladesh’s internet future hampered by fragmentation, says APNIC Chief Scientist

Geoff Huston, Chief Scientist at the Asia Pacific Network Information Centre (APNIC), believes Bangladesh has made important strides in internet development but faces critical hurdles, particularly in IPv6 adoption and network security. Speaking at the APRICOT 2025 and APNIC 59 conference in Kuala Lumpur, Huston outlined the country’s progress, challenges, and opportunities for growth. In an exclusive interview, he shared his insights into how Bangladesh can strengthen its internet infrastructure.

1w ago

Foodpanda to exit Thailand in May

Foodpanda, the Asia-based food delivery platform operated by German company Delivery Hero, will cease operations in Thailand on 23 May, according to a recent report by Reuters.

1w ago

Huawei receives bKash partner excellence award

Huawei has received the bKash Partner Excellence Award for the fifth time.

1w ago

India blocks 16 Pakistani YouTube channels: report

India has restricted access to 16 Pakistani YouTube channels, including major news outlets and individual creators, following the recent incident in Pahalgam, according to reports by The Hindu and Times of India.

1w ago

Nike is being sued by its NFT buyers

Nike is facing a lawsuit from NFT (non-fungible tokens) buyers who claim the company left them with worthless digital assets after suddenly shutting down its RTFKT NFT division, the unit that made Nike-themed NFTs, last December.

1w ago

India to make most US iPhones instead of China: report

Apple is speeding up plans to shift iPhone production from China to India, aiming to make most iPhones sold in the US in Indian factories by late 2026, according to a recent report by Reuters. The move comes as Apple tries to avoid possible higher US tariffs on Chinese-made goods, a source told Reuters.

1w ago

Bangladeshi researcher invents drone-based disaster communication system

A. F. M. Shahen Shah, a Bangladeshi researcher based in Turkey, has developed drone-based technology that could significantly improve emergency communication during natural disasters. His work, which has gained notable coverage in Turkish media, addresses the critical problem of the collapse of communication networks following disasters such as earthquakes and floods.

1w ago