Instagram’s ‘First Draft’ feature aims to make editing Reels less tedious

techcrunch.com Aug 25, 2026

Instagram’s ‘First Draft’ feature aims to make editing Reels less tedious

Curated by Shubham · TechCapsules · Aug 25, 2026

AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication

Instagram announced “First Draft,” an automated editing tool that trims selected clips, removes pauses, and stitches the best moments into an initial cut in under ten seconds. The feature, available on iPhone, can be accessed during recording or from the Reels gallery, allowing creators to start with a ready‑made draft and refine it further. Instagram’s move keeps editing within its own app, reducing the need to export footage to third‑party software. First Draft launches alongside other creator tools such as “Replace Audio” and “Series.”

💡 Why It Matters

· By embedding quick cuts directly into Instagram, the platform lowers the barrier for novice creators, potentially expanding the volume and diversity of user‑generated Reels.

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WhatsApp Rolls Out Enhanced Passkeys and Smarter Caller ID

Meta announced a major security overhaul for WhatsApp, expanding passkey support and adding richer caller identification. The two‑step verification process now accepts alphanumeric passwords instead of a six‑digit PIN, allowing longer, complex passcodes that resist brute‑force attacks and protect against account migration after SMS code theft. Users can attach multiple passkeys to a single account across Android and iOS devices, enabling seamless multi‑device enrollment on phones, tablets and iPads. On Android, incoming calls from numbers not in a user's address book trigger a caller‑context card displaying the caller’s registered country and any shared group chats, giving a quick legitimacy check. The updates aim to curb phishing and scam calls while strengthening overall account security for billions of daily users worldwide.

💡 By making brute‑force attacks substantially harder and giving real‑time context for unknown callers, the changes directly target the tactics most used in WhatsApp‑based fraud, raising the barrier for scammers.

sea.mashable.com · Aug 26

AI mental healthcare is here. Can it help people — or cause…

Talkspace, a prominent virtual therapy platform, has launched Tee, an artificial intelligence mental health application designed to provide therapeutic support. Developed by clinicians and trained on anonymous Talkspace data, Tee utilizes a specialized large language model to assist users over the age of eighteen. The service costs $19.99 per month and includes safety protocols to identify extreme distress, automatically escalating such cases to human caregivers. Dr. Nikole Benders-Hadl, Talkspace’s Chief Medical Officer, helped develop the tool to address the growing trend of patients using general-purpose chatbots for mental health needs. Unlike generic models, Tee is informed by actual therapy sessions and clinical expertise. The launch follows a significant increase in telemedicine adoption during the pandemic, with Talkspace expanding its offerings beyond asynchronous messaging to include this AI-driven solution. The company aims to improve clinical quality and efficiency while providing accessible support to users who might otherwise turn to unregulated digital health tools.

💡 This launch marks a critical shift from experimental AI wellness tools to clinically supervised digital care, directly addressing the safety risks of unregulated chatbots. By embedding professional oversight into an accessible, low-cost format, Talkspace attempts to legitimize AI therapy while mitigating the potential for harmful misinformation.

firstpost.com · Aug 25

ChatGPT can now turn your ideas and images into sticker packs: Here’s…

OpenAI has introduced a sticker‑making feature to the ChatGPT mobile app, letting users generate personalized packs of up to nine AI‑created stickers from a simple text prompt. The tool runs on the new ChatGPT Images 2.0 model, which can produce multiple images in a single request and supports 18 visual styles such as Anime, 3D and Holographic. After generation, users may remix stickers with emojis, adjust expressions, and download or share the pack directly through WhatsApp, iMessage and other supported platforms. The feature expands the app’s recent image‑generation update, which improves instruction following, detailed rendering and text accuracy. It is available worldwide at no cost to all ChatGPT mobile users. Creators can fine‑tune elements with follow‑up prompts for exact edits later.

💡 By turning casual text into shareable visual language, OpenAI blurs the line between conversation and content creation, giving everyday users a rapid, free tool to personalize digital expression.

tomsguide.com · Aug 25

The best way to use ChatGPT for writing isn’t writing — 7…

Professional writers are increasingly leveraging ChatGPT not for direct content generation, but as a collaborative partner to enhance the writing process. The author, who writes for a living, argues that using AI to generate text undermines the craft. Instead, they utilize the tool for pre-writing research, idea pressure-testing, and post-draft analysis. By treating AI like a remote writer’s room colleague, users can ask unlimited questions without social friction. The article outlines seven specific prompts designed to improve work without asking the AI to write sentences. One key strategy involves asking ChatGPT to critique ideas before drafting begins. This approach forces the AI to identify weak premises and assumptions rather than offering generic praise. The author advises against using AI humanizers to mask detection. Instead, writers should focus on using the technology to strengthen their arguments and refine their thinking. This method preserves the human element of writing while benefiting from AI’s analytical capabilities. It transforms the tool from a replacement into a supportive resource for creative professionals seeking to improve their output quality and efficiency.

💡 Shifting AI from a ghostwriter to a critical editor preserves the unique voice and integrity of human-created content. This approach allows professionals to maintain authenticity while leveraging technology for structural improvement.

9to5google.com · Aug 25

WhatsApp two-step verification codes are ditching six-digit PINs for full passwords

WhatsApp has upgraded its two‑step verification from a six‑digit PIN to a full alphanumeric password that can include special characters, aiming to strengthen account security. The change follows the platform’s milestone of one billion users adopting passkeys. Alongside the new verification method, Android users will see an enhanced incoming‑call screen that displays caller country and group membership. The updates are part of WhatsApp’s broader effort to protect accounts from unauthorized access.

💡 By replacing a predictable numeric PIN with a complex password, WhatsApp reduces the risk of brute‑force attacks and enhances user privacy. The new call‑screen feature also helps users quickly identify suspicious contacts, further tightening security.

thehackernews.com · Aug 25

WhatsApp Adds Multiple Passkeys for Phishing-Resistant Sign-Ins Across iOS and Android

Meta announced that WhatsApp will now support multiple passkeys per account, enabling phishing‑resistant sign‑ins on both iOS and Android. The update follows the platform’s earlier passkey rollout on Android in October 2023 and its expansion to iOS in early 2024, with over 1 billion users already employing passkeys. Users can manage passkeys via Settings > Account > Passkeys. WhatsApp also introduces a full‑password two‑step verification and enhanced call‑context information for Android users.

💡 By allowing multiple passkeys, WhatsApp strengthens account resilience against credential theft, while the new password‑based two‑step verification raises the security bar beyond simple PINs.