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Zupe Announces Wellness Social Network for iOS

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Built for users that value healthspan and featuring artificial intelligence, Zupe offers verified expert content, innovative ways to get trusted advice, and a convenient marketplace featuring a global selection of wellbeing brands.

HONG KONG, Nov. 20, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Zupe announced the upcoming launch of its wellness super-app. Zupe is a discovery platform—restoring trust in online advice and recommendations—that connects users with verified experts and curated products. Designed for health-forward consumers who are more in touch than ever in knowing what they want, Zupe helps them find what they need and what’s good for them.

Initially launching for iOS, the user-friendly interface intelligently integrates technology to offer a holistic digital ecosystem for health and wellness that prioritises trust and transparency. Users can share ideas, ask questions, contact experts, watch product reviews, and shop for wellness products across a number of categories spanning health, fitness, nutrition, appearance, sleep, sexual wellness, and mindfulness.

Research by the company and market data demonstrates a rising distrust of social media, particularly information and products promoted by content creators. A recent focus group commissioned in early October 2024 by Zupe indicated that 7 in 8 participants between the ages of 24-35 had negative views on obtaining ‘health information by using mainstream social media’.

The Community Feed provides users with a fast and intuitive way to access content from others, engage in discussions, and ask—and answer—questions. Experts, thoughtfully verified by Zupe, can access a dedicated suite of features. This includes options to speak to experts via instant messaging, voice calls, and video conferencing, as well as the ability to recommend products from the Zupe Marketplace to earn a commission. Diversity of thought is encouraged, and real, honest views are essential, reflected in the platform’s core features built around expert opinions and reviews. Zupe’s in-app AI also offers impartial, fact-based insights into expert content.

The Zupe Marketplace carries hundreds of wellbeing products curated from brands across the world. Users can find leading supplements and futuristic devices through to superfoods and sexual wellness products.

Qualified experts users can trust

At a time when almost anyone online can claim to be an expert—often to sell a course or consultation—Zupe combats health washing and misinformation by verifying each individual providing advice on the app. The company uses a two-stage process: candidates are interviewed by Zupe, and their qualifications and social media presence are checked for compliance with expert standards. They are then screened by a third-party background check provider to verify their documentation. Once verified, experts gain access to various dedicated features, including monetisation options and a “Verified Expert” badge.

The platform welcomes a variety of experts, from conventional specialists to alternative practitioners, supported by evidence-based methods and recognised qualifications. Currently, doctors, nurses, and other medically regulated professions are not eligible to be experts on the app due to regulatory rules. Zupe also requires individuals to meet additional standards, such as having a minimum number of years of experience, to be considered an expert.

Experts are encouraged to engage in open, honest and constructive discussion. Zupe’s community standards require experts to support their claims with research or they risk having their content removed.

Chat to experts and ask questions

Expert features—a result of thoughtful software integration—offer users innovative ways to receive paid advice. Users can contact experts via instant messaging, voice calls, or video conferences. Fractional pricing allows users to pay by the minute for most features, enabling short answers and quick advice without significant costs. Users can also contact experts directly for more personalised and extensive advice. The “Ask” function lets anyone pose and answer questions, fostering open discussions with expert responses clearly marked by their “Verified Expert” badge.

A global marketplace of leading wellbeing products

The Zupe Marketplace with its unique shopping experience eliminates frustration over finding the right products for a user’s health goals through the platform’s educational content and intuitive tools.

Today’s consumers no longer trust influencers and see through traditional marketing. Zupe builds trust by allowing real users and verified experts to test, try, and review products on the Marketplace in exchange for honest feedback—empowering them to express their opinions, both positive and negative. This radical honesty fosters trust and helps users make informed purchasing decisions, with reviews discussing product benefits, limitations, and value for money. Recognising the prevalence of sponsored content, Zupe’s approach challenges current practices: brands cannot incentivise experts or users, and moderation ensures compliance with Zupe’s community standards.

The Marketplace brings together hundreds of products from leading global brands including Pure Encapsulations, Researched Nutritionals, and LELO. Zupe takes care of everything—from driving product awareness and seeding products to experts to generating honest content that drives sales and providing business performance insights to brands.

Zupe AI

Zupe AI takes getting accurate health information to a new level by providing objective insights alongside expert content. Coming later, Zupe AI will be able to complement expert features and take action across the app, like asking users questions about their health concerns and then making appropriate product recommendations. Artificial intelligence and generative AI empower users with Zupe’s Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) engine, leveraging the latest research and knowledge. Content is enriched with data from Zupe’s proprietary technology to deliver objective, quick, and simple facts. Zupe AI is multimodal, providing intelligent feedback on textual, visual, and audio content. For instance, the Zupe AI can offer a neutral opinion on a post about a nutritional supplement–based on current research. The Zupe AI model is currently available in the Community Feed and in English. 

Get early access

Download Zupe on iOS here.

About Zupe

Zupe is revolutionsing the way consumers pursue optimal health and wellness—with its app for iOS, and, soon, Android and web versions. The Hong Kong-headquartered company is dedicated to innovating the online health experience with plans to enter major global markets.

References:

1 Zhang, Y., Wang, Y., Yongsatianchot, N., Gaggiano, J. D., Suhaimi, N. M., Okrah, A., Kim, M., Griffin, J., & Parker, A. G. (2024). Profiling the dynamics of trust & distrust in social media: A survey study.

Press Contact
tatum@zupe.life 

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SOURCE Zupe Group Limited

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Karma Automotive Announces Eximius, the Bespoke Vehicle Program for Elite Clients Seeking Singular Expressions of Extreme Performance and Bold Craftsmanship

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The First Eximius Creation, “Eximius 1,” is a Menacing Four-Seater Built for the Track which Makes its World Premiere at the 2026 Concours at Wynn Las Vegas

LAS VEGAS, Oct. 31, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Karma Automotive builds vehicles in the hundreds rather than the thousands, attracting a highly individualistic clientele seeking a unique statement. For those who wish to go further still, and explore new possibilities beyond the extensive options for personalization available through the Studio program, Karma has created the Eximius bespoke vehicle program. Eximius clients may modify the vehicle’s body, performance and powertrain, collaborating with Karma’s design and engineering teams to build a One-of-One statement which will never be repeated.

Karma Eximius clients may modify the vehicle’s body, performance and powertrain to build a One-of-One statement

The first vehicle from Karma Eximius debuts today at the 2026 Concours at Wynn Las Vegas. A menacing four-seater purpose-built for the track, “Eximius 1” is in ongoing development with its commissioning client, who is not revealed at this time. Upon delivery in 2027, “Eximius 1” will be fitted with an extreme-performance Plug-in Series Hybrid utilizing a 6.2 Liter V8 producing nearly 1200hp (550hp ICE, 645hp battery), delivering acceleration from 0-60mph in 2.7 seconds and a top speed in excess of 200mph (estimated). As these parameters would demand, “Eximius 1” will be equipped with carbon-ceramic brakes and two-piece slotted brake rotors, and Ohlins semi-active suspension.

“‘Eximius 1’ began as a conversation with an elite client who loves their Karma Revero, but wanted something more extreme and unexpected, which was music to our ears,” says Marques McCammon, President and Chief Executive, Karma Automotive. “The Eximius program effectively deletes the word ‘no’ from conversations about what’s possible,” he continues, “and as a four-seat track weapon packing what’ll be the most powerful Plug-in Series Hybrid powertrain and vehicle ever developed, ‘Eximius 1’ shatters expectations and further establishes Karma as a manufacturer of exotic, uniquely American vehicles.” 

Exterior Design
“Eximius 1” is an imposing vehicle to behold, exhibiting the muscularity and eyepopping strength of a superhero. Every panel – excluding the body surface outer – is constructed of pre-impregnated carbon fiber, and the vehicle is 50mm wider due to its wheel arch extensions. The front doors and hood have a unique technical fade from glossy, exposed regular carbon fiber to signature Borealis Blue paint.

The front carbon splitter sets an aggressive tone and is flanked by massive side air intakes incorporating Karma’s Target Acquisition Lighting, rotated 45º to create a distinctive ‘><‘ DRL graphic identity. On the hood, the dramatic arc of the Comet Line – which is inspired by Halley’s Comet is it streaks across the evening sky – widens from its apex towards the base of the windshield; vents above the front fenders release air pressure from the wheel housings and add further visual intrigue. Moving to the side of the vehicle, the front fenders aft of the wheels feature Karma’s signature “Backslash” bearing the number “5,” which is of particular significance to the commissioning client. 21″ Magnesium wheels with center-locks reduce rotating and unsprung mass, and are finished in satin black. Aft of the driver’s side front wheel, twin exhaust tips announce the fearsome new powertrain.

The full-width rear GT wing maximizes stability and downforce at high speeds, and continues the distinctive ‘><‘ DRL graphic identity established at the front of “Eximius 1.” The rear fascia also boasts large side air intakes which are connected by a dominant diffuser to manage underbody airflow.

Interior Design
An aura of intensity continues to the interior of “Eximius 1.” In concert with the exterior, blue-tinted carbon-fiber adorns the seats, flat-bottom steering wheel and doors; for aesthetics and weight-savings, all four doors are manufactured in exposed carbon fiber with one purposeful arm pad on each door. The seats, which are Recaro carbon fiber buckets up front, are trimmed with blue Alcantara and blue Italian leather with Moondust Alcantara upper sections, creating an articulated, form-fitted feel. To support high-speed driving and intense braking force, the accelerator, brake pedal and dead pedal are billet machined aluminum.

The instrument panel is reimagined in glossy carbon fiber and incorporates anodized billet aluminum HVAC vents. The carbon fiber center console is simplified to include the essentials only: the PRND gear selector, window switches, key fob holder, and Emergency kill switch. This console extends through to the rear compartment, to which the client’s custom-fitted carbon fiber racing helmet is held in place by a center-latched strap matching the blue seat belts.

About Karma Automotive
Karma Automotive is America’s only full-line ultra-luxury vehicle manufacturer, and a pioneer of Plug-in Series Hybrid vehicles which it manufactures at its Karma Innovation and Customization Center (KICC) in Moreno Valley, CA. Its Executive, Product Development, and Design headquarters are located in nearby Irvine, CA. The Karma portfolio embodies California’s spirit of innovation and entrepreneurial boldness, reflected by the signature Comet Line which is the central hallmark of Karma’s new design language. The Gyesera Grand Coupe, a Plug-in Series Hybrid four-seater, arrives at dealerships in December 2026; and the Amaris GT 2-Door Plug-in Series Hybrid arrives in Q4 2027. The Karma Kaveya Super Coupe, with over 1,000HP and butterfly-doors, will arrive in Q1 2028, to be followed by the Karma Ivara GT-UV: both EVs will incorporate SDVA (Software-Defined Vehicle Architecture) developed with leading technology partners. For more information, visit www.karmaautomotive.com) 

Media Contact:

Joe Richardson, (917) 716-6617
Joe@BeautifulNoisePR.com 

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SOURCE Karma Automotive

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ModelBest and OpenBMB Open-Source MiniCPM-OCR Series, Delivering High-Performance Document Parsing and AI-Powered Quality Control

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BEIJING, Oct. 31, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — ModelBest and OpenBMB jointly announced the release and open-source availability of the MiniCPM-OCR series, a family of models for efficient document parsing and parsing-quality assessment. The launch includes two models: MiniCPM-OCR 1.0 (1.3B) and MiniCPM-OCR Jev (2B).

As the first OCR-focused model in the MiniCPM family, MiniCPM-OCR 1.0 brings top-tier parsing accuracy to a compact 1.3-billion-parameter architecture optimized for edge deployment, pushing forward the balance between efficiency and performance for open-source OCR models. Built for real-world conditions, it accurately parses scanned, photographed, curved, tilted and screen-captured documents without cumbersome image pre-correction, lowering the barrier to large-scale document digitization.

The model handles dense bilingual Chinese-English content, complex mathematical formulas, and multi-level or borderless tables, consistently performing at a leading level across a broad range of mainstream industry evaluations. Beyond full-page reconstruction, it supports key information extraction (KIE), pulling specified fields from invoices, IDs and financial statements according to business instructions.

Powered by DSpark decoding acceleration, MiniCPM-OCR 1.0 significantly increases end-to-end throughput while lowering per-page latency. For enterprises processing millions of pages—such as financial contract archives, academic libraries and government records—this means processing far more documents with the same hardware and time budget, at a substantially lower computing cost.

To address the long-standing need for page-by-page manual review, ModelBest and OpenBMB also introduced MiniCPM-OCR Jev, the first OCR result decision model that acts as an “AI quality inspector.” Rather than performing OCR itself, Jev compares the source image with OCR output and rapidly assigns confidence scores to text, LaTeX formulas and tables, detecting missing characters, errors and formatting misalignments. Despite its compact 2B-parameter size, Jev delivers judgment accuracy typically associated with far larger models.

Jev supports cross-model deployment and can be integrated into existing OCR workflows without replacing the underlying OCR engine. It can automatically identify reliable results for direct processing, flag potentially inaccurate outputs for human review and select the best result from multiple OCR systems. This enables enterprises to move from full manual inspection toward risk-based, automated quality control.

The MiniCPM-OCR series is available on GitHub, Hugging Face and ModelScope, and supports vLLM, SGLang, llama.cpp and Ollama, along with SDKs, APIs, Agent Skill plugins and open-source fine-tuning code. Day-0 hardware adaptation covers AMD, Arm, Houmo AI, Intel and NVIDIA. Through the FlagOS software stack, it also has Day-0 support for AI and edge chips from CIX Technology, Huawei Ascend, Hygon, Iluvatar CoreX, Kunlunxin, MetaX, Moore Threads, Sunrise, T-Head, TsingMicro, NVIDIA and Apple Mac (Arm).

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SOURCE ModelBest

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Wulcea Elevates Consumer Trust in Heated Apparel Through Multi-National Safety Certifications and Rigorous Technical Testing

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NEW YORK, Oct. 31, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — As smart heated clothing gains broader adoption, consumers are paying closer attention to the safety and reliability of the technology behind these products. Wulcea, a brand specializing in graphene-powered heated apparel, combines its flexible GrapheneNano™ heating technology with documented safety compliance and durability testing for its heating components and battery systems.

“Trust in smart heated apparel goes beyond warmth—it comes down to confidence in battery safety and heating element reliability,” said John C, Founder of Wulcea. “Our goal is to give users peace of mind through certified technical standards.”

Advanced Graphene Heating Elements Supported by Global Standards

At the core of Wulcea’s thermal architecture is its GrapheneNano™ heating technology. Engineered to eliminate garment stiffness, Wulcea integrates flexible graphene elements that deliver balanced warmth across key upper-body zones while preserving natural garment drape and full freedom of movement.

Wulcea supports its heating components with applicable compliance documentation for major markets. These include CE and FCC compliance documentation addressing relevant electrical and electromagnetic compatibility requirements, as well as PSE compliance for applicable products in Japan. RoHS compliance further addresses restrictions on specified hazardous substances in applicable electrical and electronic components.

Multi-Certified Battery System for Dependable Power

To power its heating elements, Wulcea pairs its heated apparel with rechargeable battery systems designed for convenient everyday use. Featuring a compact design and housed in dedicated interior pockets, the batteries provide portable power while maintaining a streamlined garment profile and comfortable fit.

Wulcea backs its battery options with comprehensive third-party accreditations. UL certification demonstrates that the battery system has been evaluated against recognized power bank safety requirements, covering key areas such as overcharge protection, short-circuit protection, and thermal safety. The battery systems are also supported by applicable CE and FCC compliance documentation, addressing relevant regulatory requirements for electrical and electromagnetic compatibility.

For daily handling and travel, RoHS compliance validates that the battery system meets stringent global standards for material safety. The battery models have also undergone applicable UN 38.3 testing, supporting compliance with international requirements for lithium battery transportation.

Real-World Durability and Practical Usability

Component compliance forms Wulcea’s foundation, but reliability is defined by real-world performance. Built for high-flex endurance, Wulcea’s flexible graphene heating elements are tested through 10,000 active flexing cycles to maintain steady thermal output through repeated bending and everyday body movement.

Everyday convenience is equally essential. Built for hassle-free care, Wulcea’s heating elements withstand 100 machine-wash cycles under standard care guidelines, maintaining internal conductivity and structural stability under repeated laundering.

Integrated NTC temperature sensors provide thermal monitoring and are designed to stop heating if temperatures exceed 131°F (55°C). Combined with runtime of up to 10 hours on the low setting and a discreet interior control button, these features support practical everyday use in cold-weather conditions.

Aligning Technical Standards with Everyday Warmth

By combining graphene-based heating technology with documented battery safety compliance and durability testing, Wulcea continues to focus on the technical foundations of dependable heated apparel. This approach reflects the brand’s emphasis on bringing together safety considerations, practical functionality, and everyday comfort for cold-weather use.

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SOURCE Wulcea

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