1. While most social platforms struggle with user growth and profitability, LinkedIn has emerged as the most lucrative player in social media. According to Appfigures Intelligence data, LinkedIn's mobile consumer spending surpassed $1 billion for the first time in 2025, marking a 35% year-over-year increase. The platform now generates more revenue in just nine days than X (formerly Twitter) does in a full month. Despite stabilizing download figures, LinkedIn's revenue per download (RpD) has skyrocketed from $1.43 in 2020 to $12.40 in 2025—an 8.7x growth over five years. This surge is driven by enhanced Premium subscription benefits, including AI-powered job search tools and business expansion features, which deliver measurable career value to users.
2. In a live-streamed event, Alphabet (GOOG) unveiled three major updates for AI glasses: - Samsung's Galaxy XR, the first Android XR headset, now features Travel Mode, PC connectivity, and virtual avatars. - The first consumer-grade AR glasses with Gemini AI (developed in partnership with XREAL) will launch in 2026. - Google’s Nano Banana image-editing capabilities will be integrated into AI glasses. The collaborative Project Aura pairs Alphabet’s software and AI ecosystem with XREAL’s hardware, enabling context-aware conversations, device control, real-time translation, and visual search via Gemini AI.
3. xTool, a consumer laser engraver brand, achieved a milestone with single-day GMV exceeding 100 million yuan during Black Friday and Cyber Monday promotions—a 50% YoY increase. Founder and CEO Jasen Wang noted that the company, which recorded annual sales of just 200 million yuan four years ago, has successfully pivoted to a direct-to-consumer (DTC) model focused on laser and printing tools. Wang also announced the consolidation of subsidiary brands Makeblock and童心制物 under the xTool umbrella, though Makeblock’s product lines will remain intact.
4. Dating app Hinge introduced "Convo Starters," an AI feature designed to break the ice when mutual likes go unanswered. The tool generates three personalized opening lines based on photos or prompts, boosting match success rates by 100%. Hinge reports that 72% of users are more inclined to date after receiving a "like with comment." This follows Hinge’s earlier AI tool, Prompt Feedback, which optimizes profile responses.
5. C3.ai, Inc. (AI) rolled out two new features for its latest model, "Keling O1": - **Subject Library**: Users can upload multi-angle reference images to create reusable characters, props, and scenes, supporting up to 7 subjects for videos and 10 for images. AI-assisted multi-view completion and an official asset library enhance stability and efficiency. - **Comparison Templates**: These auto-generate Before & After displays by combining prompts, references, and final outputs, streamlining content layout and distribution for creators.
6. UK e-commerce data from Scurri revealed a 15% YoY rise in online orders during Black Friday/Cyber Monday (November 28–December 1). Cyber Monday outperformed Black Friday by 70% in order volume, reflecting shifting consumer preferences.
7. The puzzle game "毛糸クラッシュ - パズル ドラゴンゲーム" climbed to #29 on Japan’s iOS download chart (up 12 spots), where players solve puzzles to unlock colored yarn and defeat "evil dragons." Current monthly revenue stands at $150,000.
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