Perhaps to an extent both those things are true.

after grumbling from users.Media analyst Hanna Kahlert at Midia Research told BBC News the move followed the pattern of "social and AI trying to absorb each other".

She said it was not, however, necessarily what customers actually wanted."Users primarily still use social platforms to talk to their friends, and see their friends' updates," she added."Adding AI into direct messaging inherently supplants that - it reduces trust between users and distracts from the current USP."

This tie-up brings together two of the most colourful and sometimes controversial figures in tech.in August 2024, after being accused of failing to properly moderate his app to reduce criminality.

Critics had branded the platform

because of what they said was the amount of criminal activity being discussed on the platform.During a press conference on Friday, the commander of United States Africa Command (Africom), Gen Michael Langley, described recent attacks in Nigeria, the wider Sahel, and the Lake Chad Basin as deeply troubling, warning that the groups' access to the coast would significantly boost their capacity for smuggling and arms trafficking.

It is thought that more than 400 soldiers have been killed by militants since the beginning of last month in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, Reuters reports.The vocalist of a thrash metal band said he felt "lucky" that the group has been selected to perform at a festival he first attended more than 15 years ago.

Lee Margaillan, from Collapse The Sky, a band from Norwich, said the group entered a competition to play at Download Festival as part of its, Leicestershire, between 13-15 June with headliners Green Day, Sleep Token, Korn and McFly amongst the line-up.