Instagram and Spotify are now collaborating to ensure users have quick and seamless access to songs. Instagram users will now be able to quickly add what they like to their Spotify library with just a few taps.

Short-form videos make song discovery easy but listening to them was difficult.

Nearly every social media platform app is now offering short and ultra-short videos. These videos have a wide variety of content. However, one of the most included elements is songs or audio tracks from popular albums and even movies.

It is quite common to discover new songs and artists from apps like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube Shorts. Despite knowing the names of the songs, it has been cumbersome to add them to a Spotify playlist. The process involved multiple steps, which the two platforms have now reduced.

Instagram and Spotify have reportedly ensured that users can quickly add songs they like to their Spotify playlists. Specifically speaking, Spotify indicated it is working with Instagram for a seamless experience.

“We know that music is all around you and sometimes that means right on your social media feed. That’s why beginning today, Spotify is excited to unveil a new integration with Instagram that makes it even easier to capture and instantly add songs to Spotify from Instagram with just one simple tap.”

How to add songs from Instagram to Spotify playlists?

Instagram users will reportedly have a simple and quick way to add songs they like on Instagram and Reels to their Spotify library with just a few taps.

Previously, Instagram and Reel users were able to get more information about the song they listened to in one of the videos. However, moving forward, users would be able to the song to Spotify without leaving the app.

Instagram has essentially added a new button that appears right next to the player for listening to a preview of the song. The button says “Add” with the Spotify logo right next to the audio scrubber.

When users tap that Add button, the song will get added to the “Liked Songs” in their Spotify library. Instagram has indicated that the new Add button will be available all around the world. As expected, the feature would be rolled out gradually.

It goes without saying, Instagram users will have to link their Spotify account with their Instagram account. However, after the linking process, it is a one-tap process to add songs from Instagram to Spotify playlists. Incidentally, TikTok has been offering this future for quite some time.

AI has been used to defraud people through everything from calling voters to faking celebrity giveaways. Now, the US Treasury Department claims machine learning AI has played a critical part in its enhanced fraud detection processes over the past year — if a broken clock can be right twice a day, maybe AI can do something good one time?

In a new release, the Treasury states it prevented and recovered “fraud and improper payments” worth over $4 billion over the last fiscal year (October 2023 to September 2024). This number represents a tremendous increase from the previous year, which reached just $652.7 million. One-fourth of the $4 billion apparently comes from recovery by “expediting the identification of Treasury check fraud with machine learning AI.” Again, does it feel a bit like making a deal with the devil? Yes. But, such is 2024.

The $1 billion comes alongside $2.5 billion in prevention from “identifying and prioritizing high-risk transactions” and another $680 million toward additional prevention techniques.

The Treasury plans to share the technology with other federal agencies, though some have already implemented their own. The IRS, for example, has taken steps to use AI to find tax evaders, automate services and conduct audits.

Presented by Xsolla

“Inclusivity in gaming” isn’t a buzzwordy slogan, and it shouldn’t be a burden for game developers – in fact, it’s good for business. The game playing audience is 3 billion strong, encompassing enthusiasts of every age, background and ability. But there’s a big gap between who’s playing, and the kinds of characters they see on the screen. Why should developers care?

“Diversity and inclusion are not just ethical imperatives; they are essential for driving innovation, creating meaningful connections within the gaming community and building sustainable growth for the entire industry,” said Bridget Stacy, VP of marketing at Xsolla. “A sizeable majority of players want more diverse characters, and more diverse stories, and at this year’s Diversity in Gaming Lunch, we’ll share actionable strategies to meet their needs and bring diversity, equity and representation in gaming to our players and our industry.”

Stacy is referring to the Diversity in Gaming Lunch at GamesBeat Next 2024, presented by Xsolla (October 28-29, 2024 in San Francisco, CA). The lunch will take place on Tuesday, October 29 from 12:30-1:30pm PT and it’s open to all GamesBeat Next attendees.

Attendees will join a panel of industry experts in an engaging panel discussion that takes on the big challenge: the critical importance of diversity and inclusion in the gaming industry, and why inclusion is actually a key driver of innovation and long-term success.

That’s because gamers in every demographic are putting their money where their mouth is: inclusive game companies can generate $500M+ of additional incremental monthly revenue, and double the average spending of women players. Meanwhile, the challenge to create bigger, more representative stories is fostering major innovation in the ways developers of every size are approaching game design, and bringing to life a more resilient and vibrant industry for all.

Date: October 29, 2024

Time: 1-1:30 pm PT (doors open at 12:30pm)

Speakers: Sheloman Byrd, CEO, Open Ocean Games; Jessica Murrey, CEO, Wicked Saints Studios; Bridget Stacy, VP of global marketing, Xsolla and more to be announced.

Ready to join? Register to attend GamesBeat Next 2024, and RSVP for the lunch during registration. 

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After researching 100 ink cartridges across some of the best printer brands, I discovered a shocking fact: the HP 65 Tri-Colour ink cartridge is one of the most expensive inks in the world, costing a staggering $9,995 per litre.

Despite its modest price tag of just $19.99 per cartridge, the cost efficiency of this ink is far from ideal.

The New York Times has introduced the next title coming to its Games catalog following Wordle’s continued success — and it’s all about math. Digits has players adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing numbers. You can play its beta for free online right now. 
In Digits, players are presented with a target number that they need to match. Players are given six numbers and have the ability to add, subtract, multiply, or divide them to get as close to the target as they can. Not every number needs to be used, though, so this game should put your math skills to the test as you combine numbers and try to make the right equations to get as close to the target number as possible.

Players will get a five-star rating if they match the target number exactly, a three-star rating if they get within 10 of the target, and a one-star rating if they can get within 25 of the target number. Currently, players are also able to access five different puzzles with increasingly larger numbers as well.  I solved today’s puzzle and found it to be an enjoyable number-based game that should appeal to inquisitive minds that like puzzle games such as Threes or other The New York Times titles like Wordle and Spelling Bee.
In an article unveiling Digits and detailing The New York Time Games team’s process to game development, The Times says the team will use this free beta to fix bugs and assess if it’s worth moving into a more active development phase “where the game is coded and the designs are finalized.” So play Digits while you can, as The New York Times may move on from the project if it doesn’t get the response it is hoping for. 
Digits’ beta is available to play for free now on The New York Times Games’ website