iWorld
Viswanathan Anand decodes the game of deception in a high tea duologue with Barun Das
MUMBAI: The latest episode of Duologue with Barun Das, airing on News9 on 15 March at 10 pm, features a compelling exchange between TV9 Network’s MD & CEO Barun Das, and chess legend Viswanathan Anand. Known for its deep, thought-provoking conversations, Duologue once again delivers an intellectual discourse that goes beyond the surface.
Anand, a five-time World Chess Champion, delves into how chess mirrors life, shaping critical thinking and resilience. Reflecting on his playing style, he remarked, “How you approach chess often reflects your approach to life.” With humour, he recalled his mother’s jest, “If I hated losing in chess as much as in cards, I’d be a better player.”
Das described the conversation as “a fascinating dive into Anand’s visionary outlook on chess, AI, and life itself.” He added, “In chess, checkmate signals the end, but in this duologue, the discussion only deepens, sparking new perspectives and ideas.”
Anand shared his views, the sport’s potential inclusion in the Olympics, and the growing prize money, especially in women’s chess. He also addressed the Nikhil Kamath controversy, acknowledging it as an unfortunate event.
Anand noted that computers have surpassed human players for over 25 years, with AI-driven neural networks revolutionising chess even further. Instead of resisting change, he believes players must learn to ask the right questions rather than seek fixed answers.
As Duologue nears the end of its third season, this episode stands out as an insightful and engaging discussion. Don’t miss it on News9 this Friday at 10 pm.
iWorld
X launches XChat messaging app on iOS with calls and encryption
Standalone app marks shift from “everything app” vision, adds E2E messaging.
MUMBAI: From one big app to many small chats, X seems to be splitting its ambitions. X has rolled out its standalone messaging app, XChat, to iOS users, opening up a new front in its evolving product strategy. The app allows users to connect with existing X contacts through private and group messages, file sharing, as well as audio and video calls. The launch follows a limited beta phase, where the platform tested the product with a smaller user base to refine the experience. Now available publicly, XChat marks a notable pivot from earlier ambitions championed by Elon Musk to turn X into a single “everything app” combining messaging, payments, commerce and more.
Instead, the company under xAI ownership and backed by SpaceX appears to be building a suite of standalone applications, each targeting specific use cases while expanding its broader ecosystem.
At launch, XChat includes end-to-end encrypted messaging, PIN-based access, disappearing messages, and features such as message editing, deletion for all participants, and screenshot blocking. The company has also said the app is free from advertisements and tracking mechanisms, positioning it as a privacy-first alternative in a crowded messaging space.
However, security claims around the platform are likely to face scrutiny. Earlier iterations of XChat drew criticism from experts who argued it fell short of established encrypted platforms like Signal. With the wider rollout, the app is expected to undergo fresh evaluation to assess whether those concerns have been addressed.
Beyond messaging, XChat will also house X’s Communities feature, which is being discontinued on the main platform due to low usage and spam concerns. Migrating these users could provide an early boost to adoption, effectively turning XChat into both a communication and community hub.
The move underscores a broader recalibration at X less about cramming everything into one app, and more about spreading bets across multiple touchpoints, one message at a time.
