China is six months behind the US on AI, the US has to move faster: Div Turakhia

The India-born tech investor, entrepreneur and billionaire businessman spoke to Rest of World about the promise of AI technology, why the U.S. needs to move faster to compete with China, and the advantage the UAE has on building AI. | Continue reading


@restofworld.org | 4 months ago

Nigeria will become a net exporter of tech talent: Nigerian Minister Dr. Bosun Tijani

The tech entrepreneur-turned-bureaucrat spoke to Rest of World about his year in government, his administration’s priorities for advancing AI in Nigeria, and the difficult task of choosing between allies. | Continue reading


@restofworld.org | 4 months ago

“China’s K-pop moment”: Wukong’s global success sparks government embrace of video games as soft power

China is changing its long-critical stance thanks to the smash hit, according to Chinese game developers and industry analysts. | Continue reading


@restofworld.org | 4 months ago

Singapore’s gig workers worry new benefits could mean lower pay

A first-in-the-region law gives gig workers injury compensation and retirement benefits. But some workers fears the higher costs will be passed on to them. | Continue reading


@restofworld.org | 4 months ago

China’s biggest AI model is challenging American dominance

Alibaba’s Qwen has been shining on benchmark tests, despite chip restrictions. | Continue reading


@restofworld.org | 4 months ago

Quiz: How much do you know about money?

It’s the world economy, stupid. | Continue reading


@restofworld.org | 4 months ago

Political campaigns embrace AI to reach voters across language barriers

Advocacy groups like AAPI Victory Alliance are using ChatGPT and Claude to reach speakers of Hindi, Tagalog, and more. | Continue reading


@restofworld.org | 4 months ago

Netflix and thrill: the hunt for the next Squid Game in Southeast Asia

As Amazon and Disney step back, Netflix invests in “locally authentic” content to grab subscribers in the region. | Continue reading


@restofworld.org | 4 months ago

New data reveals exactly when the Chinese government blocked ChatGPT and other AI sites 

Rest of World received exclusive access to a platform that tracks patterns and timing of Chinese online censorship. | Continue reading


@restofworld.org | 4 months ago

Destined for clicks: YouTube is driving an astrology boom in Pakistan

Pakistanis are looking for certainty. Astrologers on YouTube want to help. | Continue reading


@restofworld.org | 4 months ago

Brazil banned X. Right-wing politicians are still using it

Echoing Elon Musk, the politicians claim they are defending free speech. | Continue reading


@restofworld.org | 4 months ago

How InstaDeep became Africa’s biggest AI startup success

Karim Beguir is the co-founder and CEO of InstaDeep, a Tunisian startup that was acquired for $682 million by BioNTech. | Continue reading


@restofworld.org | 4 months ago

Mexican shoppers say Shein and Temu’s delivery partner is stealing their stuff

Former employees at third-party logistics company J&T Express say the high volume of packages from the two Chinese companies has become unmanageable. | Continue reading


@restofworld.org | 4 months ago

Alibaba.com’s U.S. expansion hinges on wooing mom-and-pop shops

President Kuo Zhang tells Rest of World in an exclusive interview that the company is bullish about the U.S. market. | Continue reading


@restofworld.org | 5 months ago

Alibaba.com’s U.S. expansion hinges on wooing mom-and-pop shops

President Kuo Zhang tells Rest of World in an exclusive interview that the company is bullish about the U.S. market. | Continue reading


@restofworld.org | 5 months ago

Extreme weather is making life harder for Vietnam’s delivery riders

From intensive heat to flood risks, climate change has made the working lives of hundreds of thousands of gig workers harder and more dangerous, so many are banding together to help their communities cope. | Continue reading


@restofworld.org | 5 months ago

Pakistan’s China-style firewall is rattling its tech industry

Internet speeds in the country have dropped by up to 40% due to the government's efforts to monitor internet traffic, said service providers. | Continue reading


@restofworld.org | 5 months ago

Filipinos are embracing electric three-wheelers faster than officials can regulate them

Unregistered three-wheelers big enough for whole families are a popular antidote to the country's terrible gridlock. | Continue reading


@restofworld.org | 5 months ago

Amid a surge in violence in Tijuana, ride-hailing apps and authorities implement new safety measures

Uber launched a panic button linked to state-run emergency centers to keep drivers and users safe — but violence remains unabated. | Continue reading


@restofworld.org | 5 months ago

Around the world with Rest of World

Put your geography knowledge to the test. | Continue reading


@restofworld.org | 5 months ago

Malaysia’s homegrown car brands bank on cheaper models to compete with Tesla and BYD

Proton and Perodua are betting on low prices and an emotional connection with Malaysia’s drivers to compete with BYD and Tesla. | Continue reading


@restofworld.org | 5 months ago

How Bangladesh’s tech industry navigated an unprecedented political crisis

July’s internet blackout and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s sudden exit is estimated to have cost the industry $300 million. | Continue reading


@restofworld.org | 5 months ago

Uber drivers in Kenya are ignoring the app and charging their own rates

The local gig workers’ union defends the practice, which Uber forbids, as a form of peaceful pushback against low earnings. | Continue reading


@restofworld.org | 5 months ago

The Uruguayan company teaching people how to turn regular cars into EVs

Organización Autolibre is teaching individuals and companies across 14 countries to retrofit vehicles. Critics worry about the process’s safety. | Continue reading


@restofworld.org | 5 months ago

When EV startups shut down, will their cars still work?

As Chinese EV makers close, drivers of “smartphones on wheels” say software updates and maintenance are in jeopardy. | Continue reading


@restofworld.org | 5 months ago

Buy-now-pay-later plans lead to rampant scams and bad debt across Southeast Asia

From Thailand to Vietnam, a loophole in buy-now-pay-later schemes that allows users to get cash is raising concerns. | Continue reading


@restofworld.org | 5 months ago

Building a food delivery app in the internet shutdown capital of the world

Jammu and Kashmir’s Gatoes was founded in 2020 in the middle of a months-long government-imposed internet restriction. It is now expanding in north India. | Continue reading


@restofworld.org | 5 months ago

A beauty contest controversy turned Uber into an unlikely battlefield between Nigeria and South Africa

Bolt has suspended inter-country requests between South Africa and Nigeria as users book hoax rides to prank drivers. | Continue reading


@restofworld.org | 5 months ago

Download this: The world’s favorite apps

Test your knowledge of the world’s most popular social media sites, dating apps, gaming platforms, and more. | Continue reading


@restofworld.org | 5 months ago

Teens are making thousands by debating Trump vs. Harris on TikTok

Students are earning up to $7,000 a month from TikTok duels and using it for college tuition. “Easiest money we will probably ever make.” | Continue reading


@restofworld.org | 5 months ago

Indigenous creators are clashing with YouTube’s and Instagram’s sensitive content bans

Deep in the heartlands of Brazil, Indigenous creators are having to censor themselves to avoid getting banned on social platforms. | Continue reading


@restofworld.org | 5 months ago

Microsoft is building a data center in a tiny Indian village. Locals allege it’s dumping industrial waste

“These big companies think they can enter small villages like ours, take our land, and destroy it.” | Continue reading


@restofworld.org | 5 months ago

To defend local business, Indonesia cracks down on e-commerce

Indonesia has introduced measures to limit sales of cheap imports on e-commerce platforms such as Shopee, Lazada and TikTok Shop that are hurting local firms. | Continue reading


@restofworld.org | 5 months ago

Elon Musk said he’d eliminate bots from X. Instead, election influence campaigns are running wild

In a year of global elections, X is making it easy to meddle. | Continue reading


@restofworld.org | 5 months ago

Crunchyroll is trying to turn India into a nation of anime lovers

The world’s largest anime streaming service is opening its second local office, working with Bollywood stars, and adding dozens of shows per quarter. | Continue reading


@restofworld.org | 5 months ago

The deepfake election nightmare hasn’t happened. Singapore still wants to ban them

Following South Korea’s lead, Singapore intends to ban deepfakes ahead of upcoming elections, despite concerns of curbing freedom of speech. | Continue reading


@restofworld.org | 5 months ago

The company that thinks it can succeed where Lime failed

Russia’s Whoosh launched in Brazil last year, and plans to expand across the country by 2026. | Continue reading


@restofworld.org | 5 months ago

India wants to make influencers register with the government

Under the proposed bill, anyone from local content creators to Taylor Swift could be classified as a “digital news broadcaster.” | Continue reading


@restofworld.org | 6 months ago

Spotify created then killed the podcast boom in Latin America. #stolenvalor | Continue reading


@restofworld.org | 6 months ago

Indonesian fishermen are using a government AI tool to find their daily catch

Unlike wealthier nations where startups and big tech take the lead on AI, an Indonesian government agency is leading the charge and focusing on practical applications. | Continue reading


@restofworld.org | 6 months ago

How Spotify started — and killed — Latin America’s podcast boom

In Latin America, “podcast” and “Spotify” became synonymous; now the audio industry is reckoning with the company’s retreat. | Continue reading


@restofworld.org | 6 months ago

How well do you know global food delivery?

Test your knowledge of the world’s favorite delivery apps and most-ordered dishes. | Continue reading


@restofworld.org | 6 months ago

Vietnam is the latest battleground in BYD’s bid to dominate Southeast Asia’s EV market

BYD, the top EV maker, faces challenges in Vietnam, where VinFast dominates the charging infrastructure, and consumers are wary of Chinese goods. | Continue reading


@restofworld.org | 6 months ago

Worldcoin may not be legal in Colombia, but that’s not stopping it

Scan eyeballs first, ask questions later. | Continue reading


@restofworld.org | 6 months ago

Disturbed by tragic deaths, Indian students are raging against celebrity YouTube teachers

Students feel betrayed by the lack of support from these educators who enjoy near-cult popularity. | Continue reading


@restofworld.org | 6 months ago

Nigeria’s economic crisis is fueling a stunt philanthropy boom

A crop of content creators are building fame on MrBeast-style content. | Continue reading


@restofworld.org | 6 months ago

Can a church exist exclusively on the internet?

Inside the emerging virtual-preaching economy in internet-obsessed Kenya. | Continue reading


@restofworld.org | 6 months ago

Filipinos want the country’s biggest YouTube star to be their next president

Raffy Tulfo’s popular YouTube show helped him become senator. It may get him elected president. | Continue reading


@restofworld.org | 6 months ago