Technology

Novakid launches NovaPals, an AI-native conversational app designed for independent English-speaking practice

Published

2 days ago

April 20, 2026

AI-native conversational partner delivering 24/7 English speaking practice with an adaptive curriculum based on CEFR standards

Designed with AI from the ground up, not retrofitted, leveraging Novakid’s proven years teaching hundreds of thousand students across the globe and through millions of lessons

Targets the ‘excluded middle’: learners aged 13+ who have outgrown children’s apps but aren’t ready for adult tools

SAN FRANCISCO, April 20, 2026 /CNW/ — Novakid, the award-winning online English school for children, launched NovaPals, an AI-first conversational English app designed to give learners an unlimited and independent speaking practice. Unlike traditional language learning tools focused on grammar drills or vocabulary exercises, NovaPals delivers real-time conversations with an AI partner that adapts to proficiency level, remembers previous interactions, and guides learners through a structured CEFR-aligned curriculum.

The app addresses a critical gap in language education: learners who have moved beyond simplified children’s content but aren’t yet comfortable with adult-level tools. NovaPals provides judgment-free speaking practice accessible anytime, anywhere, making it particularly valuable for students with limited access to live tutors or structured classroom conversation time. As such, NovaPals is the perfect companion for children, teens, and all those who need extra speaking practice.

What sets NovaPals apart is its foundation: the app is built AI-native, architected around Novakid’s proprietary conversational AI agents. The agents draw on almost 10 years of human-designed curriculum expertise delivered to hundreds of thousand students and over 20 million lessons. Rather than offering an open-ended chatbot, NovaPals guides learners through purposeful conversations with defined learning objectives and built-in assessment tracking.

“We’ve spent years building the best human-led English curriculum for children,” said Max Azarov, CEO and co-founder of Novakid. “NovaPals represents our next evolution: taking that expertise and reimagining it for an AI-native experience. This isn’t AI layered onto traditional content, it’s a product designed from day one around what conversational AI does best: personalized and adaptive practice at scale.”

NovaPals builds on insights taken from Pandy, Novakid’s AI tutor deployed to support between-lesson practice. Real-world experience and practice revealed that AI-driven interactions often encourage learners to speak more frequently and with greater confidence, particularly when the AI partner provides consistent encouragement without social pressure or judgment.

The app features a cast of friendly and approachable characters that learners interact with over time, creating a sense of connection and accountability similar to the social contract that makes human tutoring effective. Gamification is integrated from day one in order to provide students with a fun and engaging experience.

“Our initial AI Tutor tests showed us that younger learners genuinely bonded with AI tutoring,” said Chris Kemsley, Product Lead for NovaPals. “That made us ask: what could that look like for other students not finding the learning solution tailored to their needs? For us, it meant combining three things: expert human curriculum design, a product they actually want to use, and emulating the social contract between learner and tutor. The result is NovaPals.”

NovaPals represents a strategic expansion of Novakid’s learning ecosystem, designed to scale beyond the current market for human-led, synchronous tutoring. By offering both teacher-led instruction and AI-powered independent practice, Novakid provides learners with a full array of learning options: human teachers for structured lessons and feedback as well as AI partners for daily study and confidence building.

NovaPals is available for download on iOS and Android.

About Novakid

Novakid is a leading online English learning platform for young learners, and one of the fastest-growing EdTech companies globally. A US company, with a head office in London, this Series B startup has raised $41.5 million in funding from leading global investors, and is trusted by over 990,000 families across 50+ countries.

Novakid membership offers parents an easy and affordable way to get their kids to practice English regularly by participating in online international activities they love. Regular practice complements their academic studies at school, builds confidence and expands opportunities.

Novakid offers multiple ways to learn, adapting to every child – cute Pandy (our AI tutor), group workshops with certified teachers, live streams, and individual 1:1 classes for most serious learners.

AI is at the core of how Novakid personalises learning: matching students to the right teacher, adapting lesson pacing, tracking progress against Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) standards, and creating individual learning journeys.

Novakid’s approach works. On average, 96% of students improve their English within 6 months. 75% show results from month 1, and most pass assessments on the first or second try.

Novakid website: https://novakidschool.com
NovaPals website: https://novapals.ai/en

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SOURCE NovaKid

Technology

SiriusXM Media Becomes Exclusive Audio Advertising Representative for YouTube in the United States

Published

11 minutes ago

April 22, 2026

YouTube, Home of The World’s Number One Podcast Platform and a Leading Music Service, Chooses Audio Ad Powerhouse SiriusXM Media as Its Exclusive Audio Sales Representative in the U.S.

New Deal Cements SiriusXM’s Leadership In Powering The Largest Ad-Supported Audio Ecosystem And Gives Brands Exclusive Access To YouTube’s Audio-First Inventory

NEW YORK, April 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — SiriusXM (NASDAQ: SIRI) today announced a new audio advertising partnership with Google that connects YouTube to one of the largest audio advertising platforms in North America. The agreement makes SiriusXM Media, the advertising group representing SiriusXM, Pandora, and expansive Streaming and Podcast Networks, the exclusive advertising representative of YouTube audio advertising inventory in the U.S. This will provide advertisers access to guaranteed impressions at scale for the first time, backed by similar sophisticated targeting and measurement as YouTube’s ecosystem.

“Audio is one of the most powerful mediums for listeners, creators, and advertisers alike, and at SiriusXM Media, we’re proud to be at the forefront helping brands harness that impact at scale,” said Scott Walker, SiriusXM’s Chief Advertising Revenue Officer. “By partnering with YouTube, a true leader in ad-supported content consumption, we’re uniting our unique skillset with their audience, creating an unparalleled opportunity for marketers and creators to grow their businesses.”

“YouTube has become a primary destination for audio-first content, where fans engage with their favorite podcasts, music, and creators,” said Romana Pawar, Senior Director of Product, YouTube Ads. “By partnering with SiriusXM Media, we are making it easier than ever for advertisers to tap into these high-attention moments.”

YouTube audio ads reach listeners wherever they are across audio-first content and behaviors: immersed in podcasts, talk shows, and music. By meeting users in environments primed for listening and engagement, such as when YouTube content is playing on smart speakers, brands can tap into high-intent listening experiences across YouTube’s vast creator ecosystem. According to a study from SiriusXM Media and Edison Research, there are more than 212 million monthly listeners in the U.S.1 engaging in audio-first content or environments on YouTube.

Starting this fall, advertisers will be able to buy guaranteed audio ad impressions against YouTube’s high-value audiences at scale for the first time directly through SiriusXM Media—paired with an audio-first activation approach to extend reach and impact. Brands can now reach YouTube’s expansive, next-generation and highly engaged audience in the same place where they buy SiriusXM Media’s leading portfolio of ad-supported audio inventory, ensuring a seamless buying experience powered by AdsWizz Inc.’s ad tech platform. As audio continues to reach consumers as a constant companion throughout the day, from commuting to working hours, this deal gives brands an opportunity to reach a valuable audience that is further leaning into audio-first behaviors and content on YouTube in high-attention moments.

Powered by AdsWizz, SiriusXM Media now offers access to 255 million monthly listeners2—reaching nearly 90% of the U.S. population 13+—delivering expansive scale and incremental reach, best-in-class measurement and targeting capabilities, and premium brand-safe environments across every major audio touchpoint. The landmark partnership with YouTube highlights SiriusXM’s commitment to an open, partner-first audio advertising ecosystem, continuing to connect advertisers to premium audio content wherever audiences choose to listen.

For more information, please visit https://www.siriusxmmedia.com/advertise-on-youtube-audio.

About Sirius XM Holdings Inc.
SiriusXM is the leading audio entertainment company in North America with a portfolio of audio businesses including its flagship subscription entertainment service SiriusXM; the ad-supported and premium music streaming services of Pandora; an expansive podcast network; and a suite of business and advertising solutions. SiriusXM offers a broad range of content for listeners everywhere they tune in with a diverse mix of live, on-demand, and curated programming across music, talk, news, and sports. For more about SiriusXM, please go to: www.siriusxm.com.

Media Contacts:
Victoria Chow, victoria.chow@siriusxm.com
Erica Walsh, ericawalsh@google.com

1 Edison Research, Infinite Dial 2026 + SiriusXM Media
2 Edison Research, Infinite Dial 2026 + SiriusXM Media

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SOURCE Sirius XM Holdings Inc.

Technology

ServiceForge plants two million trees worldwide

Published

11 minutes ago

April 22, 2026

The company celebrates a meaningful milestone in its ongoing initiative to make a lasting impact within global communities

PORTLAND, Ore., April 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — ServiceForge, the 24/7 live answering and customer service platform built for skilled trades and home service businesses, announces a significant achievement in its ongoing sustainability drive: the company has now planted more than two million trees worldwide, a milestone reached in time for Earth Day 2026.

Each month, ServiceForge plants one tree for every employee and every customer. What began as a simple commitment to give back has grown into a meaningful, long-term impact effort, now surpassing a major milestone. This accomplishment reflects the company’s continued dedication to environmental stewardship and community-focused values.

For context, two million trees adds up to:

Approximately 4,000 acres of forestRoughly 3,000 football fieldsTrees sufficient to remove an estimated 44,000 metric tons of CO₂ per year (equivalent of taking 9,500 cars off the road)

“This milestone reflects the kind of work we believe in: steady, intentional and rooted in real impact,” said Jane Blanchard, head of brand and marketing for ServiceForge. “In the skilled trades, success isn’t about quick wins; it’s about the slow, human work of strengthening homes, businesses and communities. Planting trees is a natural extension of that mission. It’s a way for us to contribute to something lasting, something that grows alongside the businesses we serve.”

ServiceForge partners with verified reforestation organizations that plant trees in areas affected by deforestation, wildfires and climate change. Partners include Trees for the Future, Save the Redwoods League and Friends of Pando, ensuring that each tree contributes to restoration efforts where it’s needed most.

“We’re in the business of fixing things,” Blanchard said. “What better way to exemplify that commitment than by planting trees, which clean the air, restore habitats and ultimately make the world a better place.”

For more information about ServiceForge and their Giving Back initiative, visit https://www.serviceforge.com/why-serviceforge/givingback

About ServiceForge
ServiceForge helps home service businesses get found, get booked and get paid with 24/7 human answering, scheduling, lead qualification and payments. By combining smart technology with real human connection, ServiceForge helps service businesses stand out in an increasingly disconnected world, ensuring contractors capture more jobs while delivering exceptional customer service. For more information, visit serviceforge.com.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/serviceforge-plants-two-million-trees-worldwide-302748866.html

SOURCE ServiceForge

Technology

Contractor Commerce launches AI-powered conversational buying experience

Published

11 minutes ago

April 22, 2026

New technology ushers in new era of e-commerce for home service contracting companies

LEBANON, Ohio , April 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Contractor Commerce, a leading e-commerce and sales enablement platform built specifically for home service contractors, announces the next evolution in its platform: a conversational buying experience that’s powered by AI and designed to improve the way homeowners shop for residential services online.

By empowering home service professionals to establish their own virtual storefronts, Contractor Commerce has long championed a modern buying experience, fully aligned with the way consumers seek information on the web, including through guided buying journeys and seamless purchasing flows. With conversational buying, Contractor Commerce embeds AI directly into the shopping experience, allowing the end consumer to enjoy a more natural, personalized and responsive process.

“This shift from guided to conversational shopping builds on everything we’ve done up to this point,” said Paul Redman, president of Contractor Commerce. “Our goal has always been to help contractors meet homeowners where they are. This advanced and intuitive approach will further that goal, and cement Contractor Commerce as a category leader.”

Contractor Commerce’s expanded capabilities are designed to reflect how homeowners buy today: researching options, comparing pricing and making decisions in a time and place that’s most convenient to them. Features include:

An image upload option, allowing homeowners to submit photos of their home systems to receive specific, real-time recommendations.Robust pricing tools, including quote comparisons and full rebate integration, enabling homeowners to fully assess their options and understand the fine print.An AI agent-guided buying journey, providing homeowners with personalized assistance even when they are not fully sure what types of services they need.

“Our conversational buying platform is made for contractors, not retailers,” Redman said. “The goal is to help businesses establish trust, improve their lead qualification process and capture after-hours demand, all while providing customers with a frictionless shopping experience.”

For more information about Contractor Commerce, visit ContractorCommerce.com.

About Contractor Commerce

Contractor Commerce is the pioneer and industry leader in providing e-commerce services for contractors, offering plug-and-play online stores for home service companies so they can grow their sales and serve customers with convenience and transparent pricing. To learn more about Contractor Commerce and its innovative solutions, visit ContractorCommerce.com.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/contractor-commerce-launches-ai-powered-conversational-buying-experience-302749472.html

SOURCE Contractor Commerce