Dating app Tinder has launched a new tool called Explore that lets users search for potential matches based on their interests. In Explore, users can discover dates who share a love for'every mood and activity', such as gaming, music, food and – for those who want to form a'power couple' – entrepreneurship. Explore, found as a separate tab within the Tinder app, expands on previous filters that had helped users find a date – age, location and sexuality. By giving users the option to navigate through profiles arranged by interest, Tinder is giving users more control over who they meet, according to the company. Explore is now rolling out for users in the UK, the US, Australia and New Zealand, and will be available globally by mid-October.

Care to chat before you swipe left or right? Tinder will roll out an update Tuesday introducing several big features, including the opportunity to chat with potential singles before making a match, the social app announced. The feature, called Hot Takes, is described as a social experience, and the first time Tinder users are able to chat with each other before they match. A timer during the session will tick down, allowing users to choose whether it expires and move on or complete a match. Also coming to Tinder: the option to add videos to their profiles, and an Explore tab where users can find people based on shared interests.

Instagram has shared new details on how its app uses machine learning to surface content for users, stressing that, when making recommendations, it focuses on finding accounts it thinks people will enjoy, rather than individual posts. The blog post is technical in nature and contains no big surprises, but it offers an interesting behind-the-scenes perspective at a time when algorithmic recommendation systems are under scrutiny for pushing users toward dangerous, hateful, and extremist content. While Instagram has not been criticized with the same ferocity as YouTube (dubbed "the Great Radicalizer" by The New York Times), it certainly has its share of problems. Hateful content and misinformation thrive on the platform as much as any other social network, and certain mechanisms in the app (like its suggested follows feature) have been shown to push users toward extreme viewpoints for topics like anti-vaccination. In its blog post, though, Instagram's engineers explain the operation of the Explore tab while steering clear of thorny political issues. "This is the first time we're going into heavy detail on the foundational building blocks that help us provide personalized content at scale," Instagram software engineer Ivan Medvedev told The Vergeover email.

Instagram has shared new details on how its app uses machine learning to surface content for users, stressing that, when making recommendations, it focuses on finding accounts it thinks people will enjoy, rather than individual posts. The blog post is technical in nature and contains no big surprises, but it offers an interesting behind-the-scenes perspective at a time when algorithmic recommendation systems are under scrutiny for pushing users toward dangerous, hateful, and extremist content. While Instagram has not been criticized with the same ferocity as YouTube (dubbed "the Great Radicalizer" by The New York Times), it certainly has its share of problems. Hateful content and misinformation thrive on the platform as much as any other social network, and certain mechanisms in the app (like its suggested follows feature) have been shown to push users toward extreme viewpoints for topics like anti-vaccination. In its blog post, though, Instagram's engineers explain the operation of the Explore tab while steering clear of thorny political issues. "This is the first time we're going into heavy detail on the foundational building blocks that help us provide personalized content at scale," Instagram software engineer Ivan Medvedev told The Verge over email.

Google is working on some nifty new features for Google Maps, including a short list of your favorite places, the possibility of a'virtual positioning system' and more. Assistant is coming to Google Maps in a big way, with a ton of new shortcuts, as well as the ability for the digital assistant to text your friend when you're on your way. Google is rolling out a tool called'Your Match', which uses machine learning to determine your location and interests, serving up targeted suggestions for new businesses opening up in your area and more.

Google is working on some nifty new features for Google Maps, including a short list of your favorite places, the possibility of a'virtual positioning system' and more. Assistant is coming to Google Maps in a big way, with a ton of new shortcuts, as well as the ability for the digital assistant to text your friend when you're on your way. Google is rolling out a tool called'Your Match', which uses machine learning to determine your location and interests, serving up targeted suggestions for new businesses opening up in your area and more.