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• Physical reservoir computing is a muscle-powered Matrix-like concept
• Human tissue’s nonlinear behavior could support real-world data processing
• New study imagines biology and machines merging into hybrid computers

In a study that blends biology and computing, a researcher from the Graduate School of Engineering Science at Osaka University has come up with a concept exploring how human muscles could be used as part of a computational system, processing data and solving problems.

If the idea sounds like something out of The Matrix, that’s not far off. The study hints at a future where the human body becomes a part of the computing environment, blurring the line between man and machine.

In a paper published on IEEE Xplore, Yo Kobayashi shares his research based on reservoir computing, a computational framework that uses a fixed, non-linear system (the "reservoir") to process time-based data, with only the output layer requiring training. It relies on the natural properties of physical systems to perform complex tasks and Kobayashi's research suggests human soft tissue could be used to process information.

(Image credit: Osaka University) A different kind of machine

Instead of building a digital model, Yo Kobayashi looked at how real muscles respond under strain, using ultrasound to track wrist movements in volunteers.

These recordings showed how muscle tissue deforms and returns to its original shape, offering a pattern that could be read as data.

"An ideal reservoir possesses both complexity and memory," explains Kobayashi in an article on Tech Xplore. "Since the mechanical responses of soft tissue inherently demonstrate stress–strain nonlinearity and viscoelasticity, muscular tissue easily satisfies these criteria."

The system was tested on tasks typically used to benchmark machine learning models. It was able to predict outcomes in nonlinear dynamic systems, showing stronger performance than models that don’t consider internal tissue behavior.

"One potential application area of this technology is wearable devices," says Kobayashi. "In the future, it may be possible to use our own tissue as a convenient computational resource. Since soft tissue is present throughout the body, a wearable device could delegate calculations to the tissue, enhancing performance."

The research is still in its early stages. “There are comparatively few studies that use living organisms as reservoirs, and until now, none that use in vivo human tissue,” Kobayashi says.

It's a fascinating concept, and one that opens the door to a future where computing runs not just on silicon, but on people power.

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2025 may not be the year of the foldable phone, but if Apple finally enters the space in 2026, we could be in for a big turnaround.

That's the latest message from analysts at Counterpoint Research, who explained that 2024 was a year of almost imperceptible foldable growth and, probably more worrisome, 2025 will be down slightly.

Counterpoint Research has been ringing this bell since late last year when it produced a similar report. Now, almost five months into the year, they see no signs that 2025 will even meet 2024's flat sales numbers. It's likely a frustrating turn of events for Samsung, Google, Oppo, Huawei, and Motorola, all of which are now deeply invested in the category.

Overall, foldable phones have never accounted for more than 2% of the entire smartphone market. One factor that might be holding back the foldable market is price. Some of the best folding phones cost double that of a standard flagship.

Many of these companies have yet to make a compelling use case for folding phones, aside from "Do you want to have a tiny tablet in your pocket that doesn't take up more space than a standard phone?" [Author's Note: Yes. Yes, I do]

Motorola Razr 50 Ultra (Image credit: Blue Pixl Media)

While consumers remain uninspired, tech companies appear no less invested in the category. Honor and Oppo's recent entries are helping to grow the folding phones' tiny smartphone category market share, but mostly outside the US.

Folding phones won't disappear from our digital landscape. In fact, Counterpoint Research indicates that the market is preparing for a resurgence.

"It is definitely not a sign of the market peaking; rather it is a sign of regrouping before 2026, which is expected to be exciting and rejuvenating for the segment with the entry of Apple and a slew of clamshells,” wrote Counterpoint Senior Analyst Jene Park.

Most rumors now point to Apple entering the foldables market in 2026, which is a lynchpin of this resurgence.

It's a familiar story.

Apple CEO Tim Cook posing for a selfie while someone else wears a Vision Pro (Image credit: Apple)

Apple's product category playbook is usually one where it watches other players flounder around with oddball and subpar entrants. Then it swoops in with something beautiful and seemingly obvious, a product that captivates consumers and media alike.

It happened with MP3 players around the turn of the century (iPod) and later with screen-focused smartphones (iPhone) and then tablets (iPad). In each case, Apple was by no means the first, but it quickly became the best and most desirable.

Foldables are somewhat different, though, because while the market is stagnant, the products are generally considered excellent. Sure, Samsung, Google, and others have done themselves no favors by not always putting the absolute best cameras and technology in every folding handset. Even so, these are otherwise excellent and versatile devices.

Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold in Porcelain (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

I've tested the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 and the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold, and I love each of them. They're well-built, thin, comparatively light, powerful, full of AI, and generally fun to use as phones and as tiny tablets.

Yes, they can be prohibitively expensive, but you know that prices will eventually tumble.

Apple's entry, though, will prove to be a game changer. I bet even Samsung, Google, and others are desperate for them to enter the fray and reinvigorate the market. Counterpoint Research believes that a 2026 iPhone Fold will quickly eat a sizable chunk of the tiny folding phone market, but also instantly enlarge it.

I tend to agree with them. When I ran an anecdotal poll on X asking who consumers might buy a smartphone from, Apple led the field with Samsung, which has been in the space longer than any other company, a close second.

Would you buy a folding phone fromApril 1, 2025

Most rumors assume that while Apple will bring a lot of cutting-edge features like a liquid metal hinge and an extremely thin chassis likely borrowed from the rumored iPhone 17 Air, it won't be lowering the bar on price. Most think the iPhone Fold could be in the $2,000 range.

That's a lot, not Vision Pro a lot, but it'll mean that a simple iPhone 16 Pro trade-in won't be enough to defray most of the costs. You'll have a high monthly payment for the pleasure of owning Apple's first foldable, and still, I think people will gladly pay that much for an iPhone Fold.

There is a chance that Apple could go with a slightly different design direction with its iPhone Fold, and instead of chasing the Z Fold 6 and other folding tablets, it could deliver a true clamshell.

Folded, the iPhone Fold X would be the size of a Z Flip 6 (but thinner). Unfolded, it would be the size of an ultra-thin iPhone 16 – so the thinness of an iPhone 17 Air, but the pocketable screen size of a 6.1-inch iPhone 16.

That would be appealing on two fronts: a more portable form factor and likely a much more attractive price.

For now, it's a waiting game. Apple hasn't hinted at its folding plans, and there are no indications of a surprise flexible phone unveiling in September. But WWDC 2025, Apple's upcoming developers' conference, is just weeks away, and it could be the perfect platform to tease those plans.

Such a move could either turn around foldable's 2025 fortunes or further depress them as more potential foldable customers decide to hold off until Apple finally ships the iPhone Fold.

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• Fake receipts are now easy to generate with ChatGPT
• They're convincing and additional tweaking makes them look very real
• OpenAI says metadata and usage policies will protect us

Generative AI appears to be fixing one of the most obvious problems with AI-generated imagery: the text. And while that's welcome news for anyone fed up with seeing images containing absolute gibberish, it may have unintended consequences too – it turns out that ChatGPT is now pretty good at creating fake receipts.

The fakes aren't completely convincing if you know what to look for: they're a little too clean, a little too CGI, and sometimes get the sums wrong (like in our example above). But they're also easy to miss – and with a bit of fiddling you can make them look more realistic with creases and food stains.

For now, it seems that the most effective way of doing this is to get ChatGPT to recreate an existing receipt, which can then be changed to show whatever prices you'd like.

OpenAI says it isn't too worried, but it does appear to be an effective new tool for digital fraudsters and troublemakers.

Why OpenAI is okay with the fakes, for now

You can use 4o to generate fake receipts.There are too many real world verification flows that rely on “real images” as proof. That era is over. pic.twitter.com/9FORS1PWsbMarch 29, 2025

We reached out to OpenAI and a spokesperson told us it's keeping an eye on trends like AI-generated receipts. "We monitor image generations on and off our platform, use internal tools to verify they were created by our products, and take action when we identify violations of our usage policies," they told us.

"We're always learning from real-world use and feedback, and we'll continue refining our policies to balance creative freedom with preventing misuse. All images include industry-standard C2PA metadata indicating they were AI-generated by OpenAI," the OpenAI spokesperson added.

However, OpenAI spokesperson Taya Christianson went a little further, telling TechCrunch that there was a positive potential use for fake receipts: "teaching people about financial literacy" in non-fraudulent situations.

I can also imagine using it for illustrating articles, or for creating props for real or virtual staging. But fake receipts can also be used for fraud, and the more convincing the images, the more fraud they're likely to facilitate.

Those 'made by ChatGPT' metadata safeguards are fine, but exporting an image without metadata is a one-click job. I'm not sure those safeguards will do the slightest thing to stop fake images being used for fraud any more than social media "be nice" policies have stopped people from being awful on the internet.

But I have to admit, it'd be very funny if OpenAI's own employees started using the tech to inflate their expense claims.

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• Mullvad VPN has rolled out an upgrade to its feature that protects against AI tracking
• The second version of Defense Against AI-guided Traffic (DAITA) is now available for all VPN apps
• Mullvad released DAITA in May 2024 as "the first step" in the battle against sophisticated traffic analysis

Mullvad VPN has just unveiled a considerable upgrade to its protections against AI surveillance.

The second version of its Defense Against AI-guided Traffic (DIATA) is now available for all VPN apps, bringing two major improvements that "make it harder for attackers targeting DAITA."

One of the best VPN providers for privacy-conscious users, Mullvad released DAITA in May 2024 as "the first step" in the battle against sophisticated traffic analysis powered by new generative AI software.

DAITA 2.0

Built entirely on an open-source framework, DAITA modifies the appearance of data packets sent over the VPN network to prevent snoopers from tracing activity back to you.

It does so by making all data packets the same size, adding random background traffic, and distorting patterns.

According to Jan Jonsson, CEO of Mullvad VPN, this capability is critical, as AI can be used to analyze traffic patterns. In simpler terms, this means your activities may be linked to you without the need to break the encryption offered by the virtual private network (VPN).

"AI will be used both to collect data about people and to analyze that data. That’s why we developed DAITA, to counteract this right at the point of the data collection," Jonsson told me back in October.

On March 28, 2025, however, Mullvad released the second version of DAITA across all its platforms to reduce attacks against the feature itself.

DAITA version 2 now available on all platforms: https://t.co/B77nm95UHkMarch 28, 2025

As per Mullvad's own words, "DAITA version 2 brings two major improvements: a large reduction in overhead traffic and dynamic configurations that vary VPN tunnel characteristics between connections."

The first improvement refines one of the covert practices DAITA employs to confuse AI tracking – the addition of dummy packets to distort network patterns.

DAITA 2.0 now inserts half the amount of these packets but promises to deliver the same level of defense. "As a customer using DAITA, the immediate benefit is improved speed," says the provider.

In the new version, two VPN clients visiting the same webpage will now produce different in-tunnel data streams, too, to make it harder for attackers to circumvent DAITA protections. A new configuration is also selected every time a device recreates its VPN connection.

If you want more technical details on how DAITA works, I suggest reading this post by Karlstad University's cybersecurity researchers on the matter.

Mullvad's commitment to protecting your data against AI surveillance doesn't stop there, either. The team is already working on a new version of DAITA.

"DAITA version 3 is already on the roadmap and will introduce a new type of defense alongside the existing ones. Watch this space for more updates as we advance the state of accessible and performant network traffic defense."

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Let's look back at the streak-busting challenges across Connections, Wordle, Mini Crossword and Strands from the last month.

• Researchers from Sucuri found malicious code hiding in the mu-plugins directory
• The malware redirected visitors, served spam, and could even drop malware
• The sites were compromised through vulnerable plugins, poor admin passwords, and more

A special directory in WordPress is being abused to host malicious code, researchers has claimed, warning the code allows threat actors to remain persistent on vulnerable websites, while executing arbitrary code, redirecting people to malicious websites, and displaying unwanted spam and ads.

Researchers from Sucuri discovered threat actors were hiding malicious code in “mu-plugins” (short for Must-Use plugins), a directory that stores plugins that are activated automatically and cannot be deactivated through the admin panel.

These are typically used for essential site functionality, custom modifications, or performance optimizations that should always run.

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Remote code execution risks

"This approach represents a concerning trend, as the mu-plugins are not listed in the standard WordPress plugin interface, making them less noticeable and easier for users to ignore during routine security checks," Sucuri researchers explained.

So far, the analysis uncovered three variants of malicious code - redirect.php (redirects visitors to malicious sites), index.php (remote code execution and malware dropper capabilities), and custom-js-loader.php (injects spam).

“The potential impact ranges from minor inconveniences to severe security breaches, highlighting the importance of proactive website security measures,” Sucuri warned.

Discussing how the sites might have been infected, the researchers said there were multiple ways to compromise a WordPress site. That includes exploiting a vulnerable plugin or a theme, compromised admin credentials, or abuse of poorly secured hosting environments.

To mitigate the risk, website admins should scan their WP installation for malicious files (particularly in the mu-plugins directory), check for unauthorized admin accounts, audit installed plugins, update WordPress, plugins, and themes, change all admin passwords and set up 2FA if possible, and monitor file integrity by setting up a security plugin.

WordPress is the world’s best website builder, powering the majority of the websites on the internet. As such, the platform is constantly under a barrage of cyberattacks.

Via The Hacker News

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• Apple was hit with an over €150 million fine in France on Monday, March 31, 2025
• France's antitrust watchdog found Apple's App Tracking Transparency (ATT) framework "neither necessary nor proportionate"
• Apple launched ATT in April 2021 to help users manage apps' data tracking permissions

Apple has been fined in France over its privacy framework that helps users stay on top of third-party online tracking.

France's antitrust watchdog issued a fine of over €150 million on Monday, March 31, 2025, after finding Apple's App Tracking Transparency (ATT) framework "neither necessary nor proportionate."

Apple launched ATT in April 2021 to make it easier for users to manage data tracking permissions. Despite seeming a positive move for people's online privacy, France's watchdog found that the implementation could penalize smaller app publishers.

"An artificially complex framework"

The Autorité de la concurrence (France's Competition Authority) decided to issue the fine against Apple "for abusing its dominant position in the sector for the distribution of mobile applications on iOS and iPadOS devices between April 2021 and July 2023," the regulator wrote in an official statement.

Starting in iOS 14.5, iPadOS 14.5, and tvOS 14.5, Apple's ATT feature requires all applications to obtain users' explicit consent before collecting data and targeting them with personalized ads.

While the French watchdog doesn't find the ATT framework problematic per se, it does describe its implementation as neither necessary nor proportionate to Apple’s stated objective of protecting personal data.

Specifically, the regulators found that such a consent pop-up system leads to an "artificially complex framework" for users that penalises publishers of third-party applications when operating in the iOS environment.

That's because ATT consent pop-ups, the group explains, aren't valid under the French Data Protection Act. This means that third-party users will have to ask permission twice from their users.

(Image credit: Autorité de la concurrence)

The Autorité also criticized the rules for which users need to refuse advertising tracking only once, but they must always confirm their consent twice. This, according to the group, de-facto undermines the neutrality of the informed consent that ATT is supposed to facilitate.

Furthermore, "While publishers were required to obtain double consent from users for tracking on third-party sites and applications, Apple did not ask for consent from users of its own applications (until the implementation of iOS 15)," wrote the Autorité, pointing out the disproportionate treatment existing between Apple and third-party developers.

Commenting to the Associated Press, Apple said that ATT gives users more privacy control "through a required, clear, and easy-to-understand prompt about one thing: tracking," which is consistent for all developers, including Apple.

"We have received strong support for this feature from consumers, privacy advocates, and data protection authorities around the world," Apple also told the Associated Press, adding that France's Competition Authority has not required any specific changes to ATT.

Not just France

This isn't the first time Apple's ATT has attracted criticism in Europe, either.

In 2023, Italy's antitrust watchdog accused the US tech giant of abusing its market dominance by applying more restrictive and disadvantageous data privacy policies to non-Apple apps.

Similar actions may continue across the European block as new Digital Markets Act rules are expected to thighthen up competition requirements for Big tech providers.

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• Nintendo announces two Treehouse presentations for this week
• The first will air on April 3 and the second on April 4
• Both broadcasts will feature "hands-on gameplay of Nintendo Switch 2 games"

Nintendo has announced that it will be airing two Treehouse presentations later this week, offering a new look at Switch 2 gameplay.

The first broadcast will air on April 3 at 7AM PT / 10AM ET / 3PM BST, and the second will take place at the same time on April 4.

We don't know how long each presentation will be, but Nintendo did say that both will feature "hands-on gameplay of Nintendo Switch 2 games".

Like previous Treehouse broadcasts, we can expect game developers and possibly even notable Nintendo employees to be in attendance, playing and discussing some of the games that will be featured.

Join us on April 3rd and April 4th at 7 a.m. PT each day for a Nintendo Treehouse: Live | Nintendo Switch 2 presentation featuring hands-on gameplay of #NintendoSwitch2 games! pic.twitter.com/gsi0MqyZyZApril 1, 2025

Both Treehouse presentations will air after the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct Showcase, which is scheduled to take place on April 2 at 6AM PT / 9AM ET / 2AM BST.

We're expecting a brand new look at the hardware, learn pricing and preorder details, as well as be treated to unannounced Switch 2 games.

The new Mario Kart game, which was unveiled at the same time as the console, is likely to make an appearance, but there are also rumors of a Super Mario Odyssey sequel, with some fans speculating a new The Legend of Zelda reveal.

Any games announced during the Direct Showcase will hopefully be featured during the Treehouse presentations later in the week, offering a deeper look at the console's launch titles.

Nintendo has already confirmed that the Switch 2 will feature backwards compatibility, so we may learn if these games will be playable on the original Switch, as well.

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• Wild concept will draw crowds at the Seoul Mobility Show
• Aggressive bodywork and hydraulic handbrake signal sporting intent
• Could this be a more affordable alternative to the Renault 5 Turbo 3E?

Hyundai has unveiled its latest, attention-grabbing concept car and it’s so wild, we had to check in with a PR representative to make sure it wasn’t some sort of April Fool’s gag.

Taking plenty of inspiration from retro video games, Insteroid is, as the name suggests, a diminutive Inster on, erm, steroids. But rather than beef it up with a raised ride height and a roof rack like the Cross variant did, Insteroid takes things in an altogether more sporting and thrill-seeking direction.

The bodywork, for example, shares elements with the equally wild, hydrogen-powered N Vision 74, with an extra-wide stance, “track-optimized” wheels and an impressive rear wing you could happily eat a bucket of Korean fried chicken from when parked up at the local car meet.

Hyundai Insteroid EV concept car pumping out the beats pic.twitter.com/iRdeJhzKoSApril 1, 2025

Inside, it’s an interesting mix of racy bucket seats, a roll cage and a track-inspired steering wheel and adjustable column. Hyundai says every element of the stripped-out cockpit is fully adjustable and images show that the retro-futuristic instrument cluster, which looks like it has been designed by Teenage Engineering, can be adapted and adjusted to suit the individual.

According to Simon Loasby, Senior Vice President and Head of Hyundai Design Center, it also offers an “immersive sound experience” that not only comes to life when being driven, but can also get the party started when stationary.

This is aided by an integrated “Beat House” sound system and neat pixelated Message Grid on the lower bumper that acts as a digital ticker-tape for broadcasting messages to the outside world. Alternatively, it can display an interactive graphic equalizer when pumping out tunes.

Compact hot hatches are back in the limelight Image 1 of 5

(Image credit: Hyundai)Image 2 of 5

(Image credit: Hyundai)Image 3 of 5

(Image credit: Hyundai)Image 4 of 5

(Image credit: Hyundai)Image 5 of 5

(Image credit: Hyundai)

Although the Insteroid is very much a concept car for now, it gives a good indication of what a small, fun and affordable hot hatch could look like – something that fills the void left by Volkswagen’s Up! GTI and the infamous Renault Twingo RS, for example.

Speaking of Renault, the French marque has also been exploring what is possible with electric motors and battery packs, pushing its latest Renault 5 to the extremes with its recently unveiled Turbo 3E model. Although most predict it will cost the same as most modern supercars.

The Insteroid features a similar hydraulic handbrake and gaming-inspired interior that Renault debuted on its drifting R5 turbo concept of 2022, but shrinks it down into an even smaller package and, should it make it to production, could feature more affordable, watered-down performance tech borrowed from the excellent Hyundai Ioniq 5 N.

(Image credit: Future)

Regardless of whether it ever makes it into showrooms or not, Insteroid is the sort of concept car that electric vehicles desperately need right now.

Wild designs, innovative features and a promise of scintillating electric performance are things that have the potential to get people talking and the next generation genuinely excited about the future of motoring.

Plus, it is tapping into a youth that is currently celebrating the Max Power era of obnoxious sound systems, Fast and the Furious-style underbody lighting and wider car tuning culture. The 90s are so in right now, just hit Instagram for proof.

If Hyundai shuns the expensive in-wheel motors of Renault's Turbo 3E and borrows some of the more affordable elements of the Ioniq 5 N, we could well have our first wallet-friendly electric hot hatch in a high-performance Inster variant.

It can then be up to the owner whether or not they want to fit a festival-spec sound system in the trunk.

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• Android users have noticed a test that autoplays the first video in your feed when you open the YouTube app
• Users have expressed their negative feelings online, with some sharing tips and workarounds for avoiding this
• This is another of YouTube's recent experimental features, and follows the platform's 'recommended videos' list in the app's playback queue

Usually, when YouTube implements new experimental features, you can spot them from a mile away. However, the video platform has been quite discreet and sneaky with its latest test, and some users have noticed that it has been automatically playing the first video in their feed as they open the Android version of the app.

Over the past month or so, several Android users have reported their experiences with this strange autoplay function, and though most believed it to be a bug at first, it turns out that it’s intentional on YouTube’s part. To say people are frustrated is an understatement, and they haven’t shied away from expressing their feelings in countless Reddit threads.

Video plays when I open App from r/youtube

"I opened my YouTube app on my Samsung phone today, and it immediately started playing a video. I checked that autoplay was disabled and restarted the app, and that didn't fix anything," said one user on Reddit, which attracted a roster of replies from fellow Android users with the same issue.

There’s an existing YouTube feature that you can enable to automatically play videos one after the other, and this can easily be turned off in your settings, but one of the most annoying parts of YouTube’s mystery autoplay test is that it’s not as simple to avoid. Luckily, users who have been experiencing this issue have found a way to stop this by uninstalling the app’s latest update, or by clearing their data and cache.

YouTube is in an era of experimentation

It’s an interesting time for YouTube, which seems to be carrying out a new test every week. Autoplaying videos are just one of a cluster of experiments that could result in new features for the app, for better or worse.

Other recent tests point to the possible arrival of new features for YouTube Premium subscribers, including a function that allows you to control audio quality in videos, as well as a new time-saving perk that shows you recommended content directly in your playback queue. YouTube has also been testing a fix for subscriber notifications, and while this could be a blessing for users, it could be a big risk for creators.

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I'm excited for Den of Wolves after checking out the Payday series' spiritual successor at this year's GDC.

• Deep Research is coming to the free tier of ChatGPT very soon
• The Plus tier still offers considerable advantages over the free tier
• ChatGPT Plus has much higher usage limits and features

ChatGPT’s Deep Research has proved to be incredibly popular. It acts like a team of researchers who head off online and research a complex subject for you before returning with a full report, including sources, on the subject you’ve asked it to investigate.

For example, using Deep Research you could ask ChatGPT to compile a report on how the gaming industry has changed in the last three years and it would get back to you with a full report complete with data tables and sources.

Deep Research falls under the category of an AI agent because it can act independently. You effectively give it a task and off it goes to research it for you before using its AI to apply reasoning before coming to conclusions.

From Pro to Plus

Deep Research started off on the Pro tier of ChatGPT, which costs a whopping $200 (£165 /AU$325) a month, but very quickly moved to the more reasonable $20 (£16 / AU$30) Plus tier, where I’ve been enjoying it for the last few weeks.

It was always the plan that Deep Reasoning would move to the free tier of ChatGPT eventually, but it looks like this may happen sooner than later.

X user Tibor Blaho recently noted, in a discussion about Deep Research with two of OpenAI's Technical Staff, that they revealed it was coming to the free tier very soon.

"We are launching [ChatGPT Deep Research] to free very soon!" https://t.co/xFm3MehVhF pic.twitter.com/LxfkJgj9lTMarch 29, 2025

While this is obviously great news for free tier users, it brings into question whether the Plus tier of ChatGPT is still worth paying for. I think it is, and I’ll give you a few reasons why:

1. Fewer limitations

Sure, Deep Research may be coming to the free tier of ChatGPT very soon, but I bet you it’s limited to just a small sample of uses a day.

If you’ve been following ChatGPT’s recent server meltdown caused by the release of its native image generation abilities you’ll be aware that ChatGPT has limited its image generation allowances to just three images on the free tier.

Being able to generate only three images a day is hopelessly restrictive, and while they may up the limit in the future, I would expect the release of Deep Research into the wild to elicit a similarly huge response from the public, causing yet another server meltdown and tough restrictions being imposed to the free tier.

Basically, everything is limited in the free tier, including things like how many files you can upload to ChatGPT a day. On the Plus account, you don’t need to worry about that. While there are still some limits, you rarely ever get close to them.

2. More LLMs

Having a Plus account also comes with a whole range of benefits, but the main one is access to more LLMs. On the Plus tier, you can (currently) access ChatGPT 4o, 4o-mini, 4, 4o with scheduled tasks, 4.5, o1, o3-mini and o3. That’s a lot of choice! On the free tier, you only have access to ChatGPT 4o-mini, with some very limited access to 4o and o3-mini.

You’ll find that these different LLMs are more useful when it comes to doing complex tasks that require more reasoning, not to mention that you get a chance to play around with the research preview of OpenAI’s very latest model, ChatGPT-4.5

Sora AI video generation (Image credit: Future) 3. Sora video generation

On a Plus account, you get limited access to Sora AI video generation. Sora is great, but to really use it properly and create clips that don’t have a watermark on you need a Pro account, (provided you are in the US) you can at least experiment with it in the Plus account, which is great fun.

Using ChatGPT's Advanced Voice Mode. (Image credit: Shutterstock / Rokas Tenys) 4. You can talk to ChatGPT and have it talk back

Advanced Voice mode is one of the best ChatGPT features, and you need a Plus account to access it for more than 15 minutes a month. 15 minutes is really just a preview of the feature, and you'll find you run out of time before you've really had a chance to explore.

There are a range of different voices available for you to choose from, and it makes ChatGPT feel more personal and intimate.

You can access Advanced Voice mode from the ChatGPT website or its various apps, including mobile, and for many people, it’s their preferred way of using ChatGPT.

5. All the extras

Those are the main benefits to using ChatGPT Plus, but of course you get everything that you get in the free tier as well, including ChatGPT Canvas and ChatGPT search.

While ChatGPT search is available in both the free and Plus accounts, there are some other features that you only get with Plus like projects, which is a way to group files and chats together, tasks, which can be scheduled for another time, and the ability to create custom GPTs, so you can create exactly the sort of chatbot you want for a specific task.

All in all, there are more than enough good reasons to keep your ChatGPT Plus subscription, even if Deep Research becomes available on the free tier. I think you'd find that going back to the free tier from the joys of a Plus subscription would be a deeply frustrating experience.

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• Researchers found an unprotected database containing sensitive customer data
• It belongs to APIsec, a company specializing in API security testing
• Affected customers were allegedly notified

APIsec, a company specializing in proactive, automated, and continuous API security testing, may have inadvertently leaked sensitive customer data online, experts have said.

The discovery was first made by cybersecurity researchers UpGuard, and later confirmed by the company itself.

The data was being stored in an internet-connected database that wasn’t password-protected, and has apparently remained like that for “several” days before being locked down as soon as UpGuard notified APIsec.

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Notifying affected customers

Since the company tracks its clients’ APIs for security weaknesses, most of the data was generated by its own products.

Some of the data dated back to 2018, and included both customer employees and users’ names, email addresses, as well as API security posture information. Since this data included things like whether or not 2FA was activated, it is the type of information that can prove quite useful for a threat actor.

APIsec reportedly first tried to downplay the importance of the incident, saying the database held “test data”, that it wasn’t the company’s production database, and that it didn’t hold customer data, but changed its stance when presented with information suggesting otherwise.

Apparently, UpGuard found evidence that the database also held data from real-world corporate customers, including names and emails, and scan results.

When TechCrunch shared the information with APIsec, it later said that it notified customers whose personal information was found in the data. However, it didn’t want to say how many people were affected, nor did it want to share a copy of the breach notification letter.

Unprotected databases remain one of the key causes of sensitive data leaks. Many organizations use the cloud to host information about their employees, clients, or customers, forgetting the fact that cloud hosting works on a shared responsibility model.

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• Nintendo Switch 2 dev kits don't have 4K output according to a new report
• The new rumor suggests the Switch 2 won't feature 4K output either, but contradicts earlier rumors that it will in docked mode
• The Nintendo Switch 2 Direct tomorrow is expected to reveal new hardware details

A new Nintendo Switch 2 rumor suggests that the console might not feature 4K output at launch if reports of the capabilities of the dev kits are anything to go by.

This comes from the latest episode of the Insider Gaming Weekly podcast, where Tom Henderson shared some insight on the upcoming Switch console, saying that one source at the Game Developers Conference (GDC) told him that some dev kits don't offer 4K output.

"I heard this from one developer at GDC and also heard it separately in an email... but the dev kits, or some of the dev kits, don’t have a 4K output," Henderson said.

"So that tells me, does it mean that the Nintendo Switch 2 will also not have a 4K output when it's released?"

It's important to note that although dev kits may not have this feature, it doesn't necessarily mean the final version of the Switch 2 won't, since the system won't offer the same specs as an unfinished product.

Henderson also stressed that this isn't confirmed and that fans should take this rumor with a pinch of salt, considering earlier reports claimed that the console will support 4K when in docked mode and 1080p resolution during handheld.

The Nintendo Switch 2 Direct Showcase is scheduled to air tomorrow April 2, so we should get all our answers during the broadcast. The long-awaited event is also expected to offer fans a new look at the hardware, along with a final release date, pre-order, and pricing details.

It's also speculated that we'll see new footage of the new Mario Kart game running on the console, as well as potential unannounced software, like the rumored Super Mario Odyssey sequel or a new The Legend of Zelda game.

We're covering the Switch 2 Direct build-up right here!

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• CISA is warning of new malware targeting vulnerable Ivanti products
• Multiple products, vulnerable to a 2024 flaw, are being targeted
• The malware can create web shells, harvest credentials, and more

Multiple Ivanti products are being targeted by a piece of malware called RESURGE, a new security advisory published by the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has said, detailing both the malware and the vulnerability being exploited to deploy it.

Resurge is a variant of SPAWNCHIMERA, a piece of malware targeting Ivanti Connect Secure appliances, enabling unauthorized access and persistent control over vulnerable endpoints.

While RESURGE can also survive reboots, the malware can also create web shells, manipulate integrity checks, modify files, and use the web shells to harvest credentials, create accounts, reset passwords, and escalate permissions.

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Remote code execution risks

Furthermore, RESURGE can copy the web shell to the Ivanti running boot disk and manipulate the running coreboot image.

To infect the devices with RESURGE, threat actors are abusing CVE-2025-0282, a critical stack-based buffer overflow vulnerability in Ivanti Connect Secure, Policy Secure, and Neurons for ZTA gateways. It allows remote unauthenticated attackers to execute arbitrary code, and has been exploited in the wild since mid-December 2024.

CISA added the threat to its KEV catalog in early January 2025, noting the vulnerable software includes Ivanti Connect Secure (before version 22.7R2.5), Ivanti Policy Secure (before version 22.7R1.2), and Ivanti Neurons for ZTA gateways (before version 22.7R2.3).

There are a number of things companies could do to mitigate the risk, CISA says.

“For the highest level of confidence, conduct a factory reset,” the advisory says. “For Cloud and Virtual systems, conduct a factory reset using an external known clean image of the device.”

Furthermore, users should reset credentials of privileged and non-privileged accounts, reset passwords for all domain users and all local accounts, review access policies to temporarily revoke privileges/access for affected devices, reset the relevant account credentials or access keys, and monitor related accounts, especially administrative accounts.

Via The Register

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Today is the big day gamers! The Nintendo Switch 2 Direct is under 24 hours away and we're expecting to learn all about the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 console.

From a potential breakdown of its unique hardware features to our first confirmation of some of its launch games, this is likely to be the most interesting and exciting Nintendo broadcasts in years.

So what do you we know for sure about the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct? Not a lot beyond its start time, length, and how to watch it, but that's exactly what makes it so intriguing.

Join me as I keep you up to date with all the latest news and rumors as they come in throughout the build up to the event. I'll also be sharing my own personal predictions, plus the occasional tip on how best to prepare.

Nintendo Switch 2 Direct start time

The Nintendo Switch 2 Direct takes place on April 2, 2025. It starts at 9AM ET / 6AM PT / 2PM BST.

Nintendo has now confirmed via a social media post that the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct will be "approximately 60 minutes long" - which is about what we expected.

Nintendo Switch 2 Direct live countdown

Want to see the hours and minutes tick down in real time? Here's a live countdown until the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct.

Nintendo Switch 2 Direct how to watch

The most reliable place to watch the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct is the official Nintendo YouTube channel. It will also be streaming via Twitch.

The broadcast is currently not live, so I'd recommend bookmarking the page for easy access. When you are able to tune in, I'll let you know straight away so keep checking back here for updates.

Good afternoon everyone and welcome to the beginning of our live Nintendo Switch 2 Nintendo Direct coverage!

With the highly anticipated event under 24 hours away, there's still plenty of time to get excited before our first in-depth look at Nintendo's next console.

Whether you're a more recent fan or a long time Nintendo gamer like me, nothing quite compares to the excitement of learning more about a new piece of hardware from the company.

Tomorrow's event is undoubtedly going to be an important part of gaming, so this isn't one that you'll want to miss!

I'm going to be guiding you through the build up to the broadcast, so let's begin...

What is tomorrow's event?

(Image credit: Nintendo)

Don't worry if you're a little out of the loop and want to know what all the fuss is about. Here's a quick recap explaining exactly why we're so excited.

Nintendo first unveiled the Nintendo Switch 2, the upcoming successor to its hugely popular Nintendo Switch console, in a surprise reveal trailer posted almost two months ago on January 16, 2025.

It showed off the new system officially for the first time, with a slick 3D animation paired with cute music and cool sound effects.

Although there were plenty of small hints throughout, the video confirmed very few new features and didn't explicitly mention any games (though what looks like a new Mario Kart was shown briefly on screen).

It did plainly state that the Nintendo Switch 2 would be able to play most Nintendo Switch games though, but that's basically all we know for sure right now.

The video ended with a date: April 2, 2025, which the company then confirmed would be the day of a dedicated Nintendo Switch 2 Direct.

I expect this broadcast to be a detailed breakdown of the system, outlining its features and revealing some of its launch games. I also think we're likely to learn a release date, with pre-orders potentially opening too.

Nintendo confirms the broadcast's length

Here's a quick, but important, update!

Nintendo has officially confirmed the length of the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct in a new X / Twitter post.

Join us tomorrow, April 2nd, at 6 a.m. PT for a closer look at #NintendoSwitch2! The #NintendoDirect: Nintendo Switch 2 – 4.2.2025 livestream will be approximately 60 minutes long.Watch it here: https://t.co/Rw1wnp5Xbr pic.twitter.com/eF7jJ2dDxjApril 1, 2025

We now know that it last around 60 minutes, which falls in line with my own predictions. That's a bit longer than the usual 40 minute or so Nintendo Direct format, so hopefully means that we're going learn a lot of new information.

Even if you've seen it before, I would recommend giving yourself a quick recap of the initial Nintendo Switch 2 first-look trailer to get yourself excited before tomorrow's event.

You can see it below:

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Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Connections puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Tuesday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Tuesday, April 1 (game #660).

Good morning! Let's play Connections, the NYT's clever word game that challenges you to group answers in various categories. It can be tough, so read on if you need Connections hints.

What should you do once you've finished? Why, play some more word games of course. I've also got daily Strands hints and answers and Quordle hints and answers articles if you need help for those too, while Marc's Wordle today page covers the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Connections today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Connections today (game #661) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• FANCY
• READING
• NICE
• IMPULSE
• JOB
• TYPE
• LIKE
• VENUS
• KIND
• HERB
• ROBIN
• LARK
• TENNESSEE
• WHIM
• SORT
• HANK

NYT Connections today (game #661) - hint #1 - group hints

What are some clues for today's NYT Connections groups?

• YELLOW: Chance encounter
• GREEN: Stuff that is all very similar
• BLUE: A famous surname shared
• PURPLE: Grammatically speaking 

Need more clues?

We're firmly in spoiler territory now, but read on if you want to know what the four theme answers are for today's NYT Connections puzzles…

NYT Connections today (game #661) - hint #2 - group answers

What are the answers for today's NYT Connections groups?

• YELLOW: CAPRICE
• GREEN: ILK 
• BLUE: WILLIAMSES 
• PURPLE: WORDS PRONOUNCED DIFFERENTLY AS PROPER NOUNS 

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Connections today (game #661) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #661, are…

• YELLOW: CAPRICE FANCY, IMPULSE, LARK, WHIM
• GREEN: ILK KIND, LIKE, SORT, TYPE
• BLUE: WILLIAMSES HANK, ROBIN, TENNESSEE, VENUS
• PURPLE: WORDS PRONOUNCED DIFFERENTLY AS PROPER NOUNS HERB, JOB, NICE, READING

• My rating: Hard
• My score: 2 mistakes

After yesterday’s headache-inducing letters and symbols, it was a relief to see a more regular collection of words. Not that it was much easier.

I had FANCY, NICE, SORT and KIND in a group together thinking they were all pleasant attributes, although in hindsight “sort” is a bit 1970s British comedy slang and unlikely to make it into Connections.

My next mistake was coupling LARK, JOB, VENUS and NICE, my thinking being we were looking for key parts of popular sayings (up with the lark, if a job’s worth doing…, men are from Mars, it’s nice to be nice,) but after going up that blind alley I regrouped.

I’m kicking myself that I didn’t get WILLIAMSES quicker and probably would have done if the list had included Serena.

How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Tuesday, 1 April, game #660)

• YELLOW: CURRENCY SYMBOLS $, £, 7, €
• GREEN: AND/TOGETHER WITH &, +, N, X
• BLUE: EMOTICON MOUTHS (,), 0, Р
• PURPLE: "RIGHT" R, →, ⊾, V

What is NYT Connections?

NYT Connections is one of several increasingly popular word games made by the New York Times. It challenges you to find groups of four items that share something in common, and each group has a different difficulty level: green is easy, yellow a little harder, blue often quite tough and purple usually very difficult.

On the plus side, you don't technically need to solve the final one, as you'll be able to answer that one by a process of elimination. What's more, you can make up to four mistakes, which gives you a little bit of breathing room.

It's a little more involved than something like Wordle, however, and there are plenty of opportunities for the game to trip you up with tricks. For instance, watch out for homophones and other word games that could disguise the answers.

It's playable for free via the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.