Hello, everybody.

Every week we share information about exciting technology and business events. Today we are going to write about Instagram’s controversial innovations, Ilon Mask’s fresh grand plans, podcasts skyrocketing popularity and other news.

Instagram launches fight against online insults

Instagram initiates new features to protect users from insults. If the artificial intelligence-based system regards a comment offensive, it will warn the user and offer less violent language.

The tests suggest that the feature does encourage people to avoid toxic statements.

Moreover, Instagram has announced Restrict service allowing users to hide other people’s comments with only the author able to see the hidden comment.

Raiffeisen bank to add a loan application option via Telegram, Viber and VKontakte

Raiffeisen bank will significantly facilitate a consumer loan application process enabling users to apply from a smartphone. Loan applications will be processed in two stages:

1) Filling in the application via a social network bot;

2) Interview with the bank manager.

The service, so far offered to customers in locations lacking Raiffeisen bank branches, will become available to all Russia’s citizens from September 2019.

Tesla plans to completely switch over to robot taxis

If the robot taxis launch is successful, Tesla will discontinue selling cars. Ilon Mask, Tesla CEO, believes that selling robot taxis is several-fold more profitable than selling Tesla conventional vehicles even if the robot taxi development costs are factored in. Mask’s calculations suggest that the profits generated by the robot taxis will significantly exceed the costs.

He later said that Tesla cars would continue to be available at a much higher price than today.

Experts name podcasts the best advertising platform of 2019.

Experts expect the podcast advertising income to exceed $1 billion by late 2019. Increasingly more advertisers are opting for podcast platforms when posting their materials. The forecasts suggest that the income from this advertising venue will grow to $1.4 billion by 2023.

The podcasts growing popularity is driven by their convenience and the audio information quality they offer. Apple’s analysis suggests that over 90% of people listen to podcasts all the way through. Smart speakers play a big role — they wake up users in the morning, tell them the latest news and remind them of their plans.

The New Microsoft browser guarantees absolute information confidentiality

Microsoft is to release, in the coming months, a new version of its latest browser Edge with its developers promising enhanced confidentiality. Sathya Nadella, Microsoft CEO, claims that the browser users can be 100% sure that their personal data is safe.

After the Cambridge Analytica scandal, millions of people around the world have been concerned with personal data privacy which is precisely what the Edge new version focuses on. Microsoft hopes to compete with Google Chrome as the browser has been losing user confidence lately.

Amazon to compete with SpaceX in space

The SpaceX Internet monopoly in space will soon come to an end — Amazon has filed an application with the U.S. federal authorities to launch its communications satellites.

Amazon maintains that the 3,236 Kuiper satellites will provide high-speed Internet access to tens of millions of users globally. The satellites will operate in low orbits at altitudes of about 590–630 km.

Jeff Bezos, Amazon CEO, says that the Kuiper project will help to enhance the entire range of wireless communication services — from mobile operators to aircraft, to sea and land transport.