General AI
Instagram launches 'Features' for longform horizontal video
The Verge Creator Economyhigh confidence
Why it matters
- →Instagram directly challenges YouTube by enabling longform horizontal video content.
- →Creators can now build deeper engagement through formats like podcasts and specials.
- →The platform shifts strategy from pure social connection to competing for watch time and ad revenue.
Instagram is testing a new format called 'Features,' which supports longer, horizontal videos, marking a departure from its traditional short-form focus. CEO Adam Mosseri stated the goal is to make longform and shortform content symbiotic, similar to how podcasts or comedy specials are distributed. The feature is currently in limited testing with select creators in the US and Brazil. This move follows the expansion of Instagram's standalone TV app to major smart TV platforms.
Read originalThe story around this
Earlier coverage that leads up to this article, and what followed. Lines connect each piece to the closest one after it, converging here.
What happened next
- 1Instagram lacks monetization plan for long-form video
The Verge Creator Economy · October 28, 2026 · Related
More in General AI
© Wes RothGeneral AIother
Binance hack reveals AI-driven cyber threats
The $6.36 billion Binance theft marks a terrifying shift where AI isn't just a tool but the primary weapon in state-sponsored cyber warfare. North Korean actors leveraged autonomous agent swarms and cloaked daemons to execute the heist in minutes, exposing critical vulnerabilities in traditional defense models. This incident forces a stark realization: protecting digital infrastructure now requires AI systems that cannot be easily shut down without catastrophic consequences. The era of passive security is over; we are entering a period where offensive AI capabilities outpace our ability to contain them.
Wes Roth
© All About AIGeneral AIother
Sikt Intelligence launches AI superforecaster for prediction markets
Sikt Intelligence is testing whether an AI model can consistently beat human judgment and market prices on prediction platforms like Polymarket and Kalshi. The system aggregates global news to assign probabilities to events, flagging discrepancies where its forecast diverges from the market's implied odds. This approach treats prediction markets as a live laboratory for measuring AI reasoning under uncertainty rather than just generating static text. If the model can identify mispriced outcomes, it demonstrates a practical application of LLMs in financial decision-making that goes beyond simple sentiment analysis.
All About AI
© The Verge AIGeneral AIproductivity
Starbucks plans AI drive-thru personalization by 2027
Starbucks is moving from experimental AI to concrete infrastructure plans for its drive-thrus. CEO Brian Niccol outlined a roadmap starting in 2027 that includes recognizing customers upon arrival and serving personalized digital menus. This mirrors similar pilots at Taco Bell and McDonald’s, signaling a shift toward hyper-personalized fast-food experiences. The company is also testing background AI models to help baristas input orders more accurately. It remains unclear how soon these features will roll out beyond the 2027 target.
The Verge AI