Technology

The whole idea of an AI phone is a rather new one, but I’d argue that Google has been both the driver and frontrunner of phones that put artificial intelligence at their center.

This started with the Google Pixel 6 and its Tensor chip, which was built around delivering strong neural network machine-learning performance rather than the best CPU and graphics processing speeds. Then, with the Pixel 8, we saw Google really embrace AI features, especially those with generative capabilities like the Magic Editor.

While some might argue that the Samsung Galaxy S24 was the first ‘AI phone’, I’d say the Pixel 8 was the one that got the ball rolling, especially as Samsung used Google tech to underpin some Galaxy AI features.

This was all built upon with the Google Pixel 9 and its stablemates, which all felt like they put AI at the heart of the Pixel experience, rather than just offer tools on top of a standard smartphone user interface.

But with the Samsung Galaxy S25 and Galaxy Z Fold 7 landing with improved AI features, and Apple Intelligence starting to get up to speed and offer a solid suite of features on compatible iPhones, as well as some synchronicity with Macs, Google’s AI phone crown could be up for grabs.

So I feel that for Google to keep ahead and continue to blaze a trail for practical, and hopefully safe, consumer use, it'll need to bring more to the table with the Pixel 10.

Accelerated AI

(Image credit: Future / Google)

But what would that look like? Well, that's a good question.

In some ways, Google already offers up a good suite of AI-powered tools, from smart call handling and document summaries to real-time translation and photo editing tools that can rework entire shots. And a lot of these are easy to access and use, something which helped make the Google Pixel 9 Pro our phone of 2024.

However, there’s room for more. Ideally, I’d like to see some of these smart AI tools work across the whole of the Pixel Launcher experience.

For example, I’d like to use Gemini to summarize what I’ve got on my Pixel phone, say, telling me apps that I’ve not used for ages or games that I’ve not played and may have forgotten about.

And I’d be very keen to have the summarization tools built out to provide me with snippets of information in third-party apps, say to quickly summarize a chapter of an ebook so I can easily pick up where I’ve left off without reading back over stuff for a refresher.

More than anything else, I’d love to have audio readouts of all kinds of text in a voice as close to natural language speaking as possible. I listen to a lot of podcasts, especially when I'm commuting or cooking, but this does mean I can fall behind on a backlog of reading.

To tackle this, I’d love to be able to ask a system-level AI to read aloud a magazine feature either from a digital source or scanned in via a phone’s camera. I’ve stumbled across some AI tools that can sort of do this, but none deliver what I’m looking for and in a seamless way that AI luminaries tend to tout.

This isn’t a pipedream, as Google already has NotebookLM with its Audio Overviews that can make a podcast out of various inputs. So if this tech could be baked into the next-generation Pixel Launcher or the rumored Pixel 10 phones, it would be a boon for me and likely other people looking for aural satisfaction.

Ultimately, while I appreciate the creative opportunities of some AI tools in terms of generating images or deeply manipulating photos, I’d like AI in general to be more about making my daily life easier and helping me better digest the almost overwhelming amount of content there is to consume in the virtual and real world.

I have faith that Google is one of the companies best placed to do this, even with my nervousness about how much the search giant’s algorithms already influence the dissemination of information.

But I do think it needs to use each new generation of Pixel phone to keep pushing the envelope, while the likes of Apple and Samsung appeal to the everyday phone users, not just to keep the AI phone crown, but also to push AI innovation forward in a way that’s genuinely useful and productive for people.

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Reuters found that Meta's AI guidelines and standards are troublesome in multiple ways.

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How to watch The Rainmaker (2025)

A mysterious death; a young hotshot lawyer looking to make his mark; tense courtroom battles –The Rainmaker TV series certainly has all the hallmarks of a classic John Grisham thriller. US viewers can tune into The Rainmaker from Aug 15 but read on and we'll show you how to watch The Rainmaker online from anywhere with a VPN.

Release date: Friday, August 15

TV channel: USA Network

US stream: Sling TV / Fubo / Peacock (week later)

Use NordVPN to watch any stream

Rudy Baylor (Milo Callaghan) is the drama's main protagonist, just out of law school and looking for his first big case. He soon finds it when he picks at scabs he shouldn't, delving deep into the suspicious circumstances around an unexplained fatality and coming face-to-face with the formidable courtroom opponent of Leo F. Drummond (John Slattery).

Previously adapted for the silver screen by Francis Ford Coppola and starring Matt Damon, USA's TV version of the iconic 1997 legal drama will take its time retelling this complex tale of conspiracy and corporate wrongdoings over 10 tense episodes.

Grab your gavel and prepare to watch The Rainmaker online and stream weekly episodes from anywhere.

How to watch The Rainmaker online in the US

You can watch The Rainmaker on USA Network on Fridays at 10pm ET/PT in the US. New episodes air weekly starting with the premiere on Friday, August 15.

Don’t have cable? You can also watch USA via Sling TV on its Blue plan costing from just $45.99 per month or $4.99 per day. Or, with more than 200 channels, Fubo is a more comprehensive cord cutting alternative. It costs from $84.99 a month and new users can get a free Fubo trial.

The Rainmaker will also be available to stream on Peacock, with episodes landing on the platform one week after they go out on USA. The Peacock price starts at $10.99 a month and you can get 12 months for the price of 10 by opting for an annual plan.

Away from the US? Use a VPN to watch The Rainmaker on Sling, Fubo or Peacock from abroad.

How to watch The Rainmaker online from outside your country

If you’re traveling abroad when The Rainmaker airs, you’ll be unable to watch the show like you normally would due to annoying regional restrictions. Luckily, there’s an easy solution.

Downloading a VPN will allow you to stream online, no matter where you are. It's a simple bit of software that changes your IP address, meaning that you can access on-demand content or live TV just as if you were at home.

Watch The Rainmaker from anywhere with one of the best VPNs:

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How to watch The Rainmaker online in Canada

Just like south of the border, Canadian viewers can watch The Rainmaker on the USA Network. The difference is that episodes will go out a day later on Saturdays at 10pm ET/PT.

Rather stream the show? Use the CTV.ca website. You'll likely need to enter your cable provider details.

US viewer currently traveling in Canada? Download a VPN to connect to your streaming service back home and watch The Rainmaker no matter where you are.

Can I watch The Rainmaker online in the UK?

At the time of writing, there has been no confirmation that The Rainmaker will be shown in the UK.

Currently visiting the UK? Downloading a good VPN will let you effortlessly connect to your usual streaming services from anywhere in the world.

How to watch The Rainmaker online in Australia

To stream The Rainmaker in Australia, you'll need a Stan subscription. Episodes will land on Saturdays, with the first one available on August 16.

Stan subscriptions costs from $12 a month for a Basic plan, with incremental increases if you want to add HD/4K quality and additional devices.

Or if you’re visiting Australia from abroad and want to watch on your home service, simply download a VPN to stream The Rainmaker just as you would back home.

Can I watch The Rainmaker for free?

The show isn't on any free services, but US viewers can use the Fubo 5-day free trial to watch available episodes of The Rainmaker for free.

The Rainmaker trailerThe Rainmaker cast

• John Slattery as Leo F. Drummond
• Milo Callaghan as Rudy Baylor
• Madison Iseman as Sarah Plankmore
• Lana Parrilla as Jocelyn Stone
• P. J. Byrne as Deck Shifflet
• Robyn Cara as Kelly Riker
• Dan Fogler as Melvin Pritcher
• Wade Briggs as Brad Noonan
• Tommie Earl Jenkins as Prince Thomas

The Rainmaker episode guide

There's set to be 10 episodes of The Rainmaker.

(Dates all US premieres)

• Episode 1 - "Another Rainy Day": Tuesday, Friday, August 15
• Episode 2 - "Nashville Hot": Friday, August 22
• Episode 3 - Friday, August 29
• Episode 4 - Friday, September 5
• Episode 5 – Friday, September 12
• Episode 6 – Friday, September 19
• Episode 7 – Friday, September 26
• Episode 8 – Friday, October 3
• Episode 9 – Friday, October 10
• Episode 10 – Friday, October 17

VPN services are evaluated and tested by us in view of legal recreational use. For example:a) Access to services from other countries, (subject to the terms and conditions of that service).b) Safeguarding your online security and making your online privacy more robust when abroad.Future plc does not support nor condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. We do not endorse nor approve of consuming pirated content that is paid-for.

Researchers from the American Psychological Association recently published findings from 781 Garmin Vivosmart 4 users, collected over three months, reporting no correlation between the stress levels shown on the watch and the self-reported feelings of stress by the participants.

Typically, this has been jumped on by the media, quick to write headlines like "Smartwatches offer little insight into stress levels" and "Your smartwatch is lying to you about stress levels" and so on. However, as someone whose job it is to test the best smartwatches and fitness trackers on the market, I think there's more to this than meets the eye.

At first glance, the research seems pretty damning: in the three-month window, participants were asked to regularly self-report how they felt they were sleeping, along with information about their perceived tiredness and stress levels.

The study, published in the Journal of Psychopathology and Clinical Science, had this to say regarding the results:

"Self-report and wearable measures of sleep-related variables showed robust associations, while associations were weaker for tiredness, and measures of stress did not overlap for most individuals. These findings suggest that wearable data and their corresponding self-report measures may not necessarily measure similar constructs."

So while the Vivosmart 4 is good for sleep tracking and lines up with self-reported sleep quality, it struggles to tell when you're tired and stressed.

The researchers were aiming to see if wearable technology can provide a "warning system" for depression in students, using the above biomarkers. Most headlines have largely ignored this or buried the lede, conflating stress with excitement and high heart rate.

The stress Garmin watches refer to is physiological stress, which happens to your nervous system when your heart beats faster and you start to sweat. Exercise, excitement, arousal, and other emotional factors can cause this to happen to your body. It's impossible for LED heart rate and body temperature sensors to read your mood, so it's all logged as 'stress'.

I'm currently testing the WHOOP MG, and its app also contains a stress metric. On asking its AI coach – what a time to be alive – whether stress meant emotional or physiological, my app had this to say:

"The Stress metric in the WHOOP app is physiological – it's based on signals from your body, not how you feel emotionally."

"While emotional stress (like anxiety or pressure at work) can show up in your score, so can things like a tough workout, poor sleep, or even fighting off a cold. The Stress Score is a window into how your body is handling all types of stressors, not just your mood."

(Image credit: Future)

It's easy to see how people get confused, and there is a grain of truth in that the headlines would be correct in assuming smartwatches aren't very good at calculating people's moods.

However, that's because they weren't designed to actually record mood, rather than any failing on their part. The whole study was testing whether smartwatches could be used as a depression predictor, and while indicators such as lack of sleep can be accurately measured, they can't do moods – especially if people are recording themselves as feeling stressed out, rather than reporting physiological sources of stress.

My tip? Use the stress metric in tandem with other metrics, such as sleep and calories burned, to understand when it's time to take a rest if you're able to do so. If your stress is high and your sleep is low, but you feel otherwise happy, you might want to skip the bars or the gym this Friday night and have a relaxing evening with a book to bring that stress score down.

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• Google will invest $9 billion in Oklahoma over the next two years
• Investment centers on the expansion of one existing data center, and the construction of another
• Another $1 billion scheme will see Oklahoma students get access to AI training

Google has announced plans to invest $9 billion to expand its cloud and AI infrastructure in Oklahoma over the next two years.

As part of the multi-billion dollar investment, the company has committed to building a new data center campus in Stillwater and expanding its existing Pryor data center, which opened in 2011 and has received an estimated $4.4 billion to date.

Oklahoma citizens will also benefit from a separate pot of funding which Google plans on sharing across multiple US states to boost AI skills.

Google is spending billions on Oklahoma AI

"As part of a broader $1 billion commitment to American education and competitiveness, the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University are part of the first cohort of the Google AI for Education Accelerator," the company wrote.

The scheme will see participants access Google Career Certificates and other AI training courses.

Acknowledging data center campuses come with broader environmental and sustainability impacts, Google will also partner with the electrical training ALLIANCE to boost the state's electrical workforce pipeline by 135% in anticipation of increased demand in the future.

Google President and Chief Investment Officer Ruth Porat announced the investment during a visit to the Pryor campus on August 13, 2025, noting, "Google is helping to power a new era of American innovation with our investments in Oklahoma."

"For nearly two decades, Google has proudly called Oklahoma home, starting with our data center in Mayes County, our second largest in the world," Porat added.

Since building out its first campus in the state, Google claims to have invested over $5.7 billion in the state, generating $2.2 billion of economic activity for state citizens and businesses in 2024 alone.

The company also matched 87% of its energy consumption with carbon-free energy in 2022-2023 from over 680MW of clean energy contracts in the state, boasting about other achievements like water replenishment and advanced power usage effectiveness in its impact study.

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• Nvidia RTX Pro 4000 SFF delivers over twice the AI performance of its predecessor
• Nvidia claims the RTX Pro 2000 outpaces the RTX A2000 in 3D modeling performance
• Both new GPUs maintain a 70-watt limit, enabling deployment in space-limited systems

Nvidia has launched two new SFF (Small Form Factor ready) RTX Pro Servers and workstation GPUs built on its Blackwell architecture that use a single-fan, blower-style, low-profile design.

The new RTX Pro 4000 SFF and RTX Pro 2000 slot in beneath the top-end RTX Pro 6000 but are designed to maintain strong performance for professional workloads in smaller, lower-power workstation builds.

Both GPUs aim to shift more processing from CPU to GPU, allowing even small-form-factor workstations to handle AI inference, rendering, and simulation faster than before.

Compact hardware with workstation-level capability

The RTX Pro 4000 SFF is built with 24GB of ECC GDDR7 memory and delivers up to 770 AI TOPS.

Nvidia says it offers more than twice the AI performance of the previous-generation RTX A4000 SFF, and also features improved ray tracing, 50% more memory bandwidth, and has a 70W thermal limit, making it suitable for workstations with limited cooling capacity.

The RTX Pro 2000, also limited to 70W, carries 16GB of ECC GDDR7 memory and 545 AI TOPS of throughput.

Nvidia claims it is about 1.5 times faster than the RTX A2000 in 3D modeling, CAD, and rendering.

The company also points to its usefulness in AI-powered image and text generation, potentially speeding up design and content workflows in smaller studios or engineering teams.

These workstation GPUs share the Blackwell architecture benefits found in Nvidia’s larger RTX PRO lineup, including support for FP4 precision through fifth-generation Tensor Cores and the second-generation Transformer Engine.

This is intended to improve inference performance while keeping power consumption in check.

Nvidia has not yet disclosed specific pricing for these models but has indicated that it will make them available through partners such as PNY, TD Synnex, Dell, HP, and Lenovo later this year.

Given their position below the RTX Pro 6000, they are expected to cost considerably less while still providing a large performance increase over earlier small-format workstation GPUs.

While marketed as an upgrade path for professionals, the actual advantage over the fastest CPU-only small workstation configurations will depend on workload type and software optimization for GPU acceleration.

For tasks that already benefit heavily from GPU compute, such as AI inference, large-scale rendering, and simulation, the new RTX Pro 4000 SFF and RTX Pro 2000 could offer strong gains without requiring a larger, more expensive workstation.

For CPU-focused applications, the improvements may be less dramatic, but the added GPU capability still expands the performance envelope for small, power-limited systems.

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• Dahua CCTV flaws identified by Bitdefender affect over 100 popular security camera models
• Vulnerabilities allow remote code execution without authentication over local or internet connections
• Company urges firmware updates and network isolation to prevent exploitation

Researchers at Bitdefender have announced two critical vulnerabilities affecting a large number of Dahua smart cameras.

The flaws, which were patched in the most recent firmware update, could allow unauthenticated attackers to take full control of affected devices.

Dahua has confirmed that a total of 126 models were affected, including multiple IPC, SD, and DH series devices, not just the Hero C1 model first reported.

Patch now

The first of the vulnerabilities, CVE-2025-31700, is a buffer overflow flaw in Dahua camera firmware that can be triggered when the device processes specially crafted network packets. If exploited, it could cause the camera to crash or, in some cases, allow a remote attacker to run their own code on the device.

The second, CVE-2025-31701, is another buffer overflow issue also exploitable through maliciously crafted packets sent over the network. It too can be used to crash the camera or potentially gain full remote control depending on the target’s defenses.

Both can be exploited to run arbitrary code with root privileges.

Bitdefender privately reported the issues to Dahua on March 28, 2025. The Chinese video surveillance equipment manufacturer acknowledged the report the next day and validated the findings by April 1.

It requested some time to prepare a fix for the issues, with patches finally rolling out last month, followed by the agreed public disclosure.

The two vulnerabilities can be especially dangerous for devices accessible from the internet via port forwarding or UPnP, as no authentication is required for possible exploitation.

Bitdefender warns that successful attacks could bypass firmware integrity checks and deploy persistent malicious code, making cleanup difficult.

Dahua, the world’s second-largest CCTV manufacturer behind Hikvision, has faced scrutiny in several countries over cybersecurity issues and data privacy concerns, particularly related to potential vulnerabilities in its network-connected devices.

It maintains a Product Security Incident Response Team (PSIRT) to coordinate with researchers on reported flaws, such as in the case of these vulnerability disclosures.

It is urging all customers who have not yet done so to update their camera firmware as a matter of urgency.

For anyone unable to do so immediately, it advises disconnecting vulnerable devices from direct internet access, disabling UPnP, and isolating cameras on separate networks to reduce risk.

A detailed list of affected models is included in Dahua’s online advisory, along with links to patched firmware.

Both Dahua and Bitdefender stress unpatched internet-connected devices should be considered prime targets.

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The new feature resembles a Lite Brite, but don't expect it immediately.

The actor currently stars in six movies available on the platform, two of which are in the US's top 10.

“Pay as you go” now means paying when you stop, too.

LG and Panasonic are just two of the top brands in the OLED TV market, but unlike rivals such as Samsung, Sony and Philips, their TVs often share a lot in common, right down to using the same OLED display panels.

The LG G4 and Panasonic Z95A, two of the best OLED TVs launched in 2024, both used micro-lens-array (MLA) OLED panels manufactured by LG. In 2025, it’s a similar story as the LG G5 and Panasonic Z95B both use LG’s new Primary Tandem RGB OLED panel (also known as four-stack OLED).

That means you should expect a similar picture from both, right?

As I’ve discovered when testing combinations of some of the best TVs, models that use the same display panel don’t always look the same. For example, the Samsung S95F and Sony Bravia 8 II flagship OLED TVs use Samsung’s QD-OLED panels, but when I tested them side by side, I got very different results.

The LG G5 and Panasonic Z95B were featured in our recent OLED four-way showdown with a casual judging panel, with the aforementioned S95F and Bravia 8 II rounding out the group, but I thought it would be illuminating to compare the LG and Panasonic on their own.

Brightness Image 1 of 2

In default Filmmaker Mode, the LG G5 (right) clearly has the brightness advantage over the Panasonic Z95B (right) (Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 2

But adjust the Z95B's brightness, and it gets much closer to the G5 (Image credit: Future)

With both the Z95B and G5's default Filmmaker Mode settings active, it was clear that the G5 had a huge brightness advantage – an odd result considering both use the same OLED panel. When viewing some demo footage from the Spears & Munsil UHD Benchmark 4K Blu-ray in HDR10 format, scenes with snow looked far brighter and more vibrant on the G5, with much more brilliant whites and highlights. The Z95B’s picture still looked very accurate, but dim in comparison.

Leaving both sets in Filmmaker Mode, I measured the Z95B’s peak HDR brightness on a 10% white window pattern at 1,028 nits, a significantly lower result than the G5’s 2,268 nits on the same pattern.

After a quick check of the Z95B’s picture settings, I found its Luminance Level (brightness) was set to 70/100 by default, while the G5’s was set to 100/100. After upping the Z95B’s brightness to 100, it hit 2,355 nits, making it the brightest OLED I’d measured to date on this test.

Going back to the same Spears & Munsil footage with the brightness on the Z95B set to 100, the snow scenes now showed much more dazzling whites. It looked very similar to the G5, with the only real difference being the color temperature. I did, however, feel that despite the boost in brightness, the Z95B lost a little of the picture accuracy I’d noted previously.

Color and contrast

With Dolby Vision sources, such as Wicked (pictured) the Panasonic Z95B (left) and LG G5 (right) have very similar colors. (Image credit: Universal Pictures / Future )

Both the Z95B and G5 had superb color in my comparison. Watching more Spears & Munsil footage in HDR10 format, a parrot’s yellow and green feathers looked vivid on both TVs, and a field of red flowers was crisp and refined, with plenty of punch. Once again, the G5’s brightness in default settings gave colors more pop, but upping the Z95B’s brightness brought it to a similar level of vibrancy. The Z95B demonstrated richer, deeper colors, though, thanks to its stronger contrast and more refined black levels.

Switching to Wicked on 4K Blu-ray in Dolby Vision, the default brightness settings were 100/100 in both the Dolby Vision Dark mode on the Z95B and Dolby Vision Filmmaker Mode on the G5. This made the colors on both TVs look very similar. Elphaba’s green skin and the pink flowers and blue details on a wall in the Wizard & I scene both had the same eye-popping, vibrant color, and they also looked true-to-life.

Where the TVs differed was that the Z95B's deeper black levels made colors appear bolder and more detailed, whereas they looked brighter and punchier on the G5. This was easy to see in Glinda’s pink outfits and the greens of the Emerald City in Wicked.

Both the Panasonic Z95B (left) and LG G5 (right) deliver excellent contrast and black levels, but the Z95B looked more accurate on The Batman (Image credit: Warner Bros. / Future)

As you’d expect from two top-tier OLED TVs, both black levels and contrast are excellent. Watching Alien: Romulus in Dolby Vision on 4K Blu-ray, shots of space or dark tunnels within the ship showcased rich black levels on both TVs, with excellent contrast between dark shadows and bright highlights from stars, lights and torches. The Z95B had the edge of the two TVs here with its deeper blacks, but again, both looked great.

Switching to The Batman in Dolby Vision on 4K Blu-ray, I used the opening crime scene section I regularly use for testing contrast. For this movie, I had to view in dimmed or pitch black conditions as both the Z95B and G5 struggled with the overhead lighting in our testing lab.

Interestingly, although both showcased excellent black levels and contrast, with the torches carried by detectives balancing well against the dim surroundings, I noticed that in pitch black conditions, black levels were more elevated on the G5. The Z95B’s deeper blacks resulted in stronger contrast, although there was some loss of shadow detail, specifically Batman’s eye and the logo on his chest when he looked towards the camera. Of the two, I found myself drawn to the Z95B as it felt more accurate to the movie.

Bang for your buck

Both the Z95B (left) and G5 (right) are brilliant OLED TVs, but your choice may come down to personal preference and price. (Image credit: Future)

It’s fair to say that in recent years, a drawback of Panasonic’s flagship OLED TVs has been their price, which is often hundreds more than that of its main rivals at launch. This year, however, Panasonic is being more aggressive with its pricing. The 55-inch Z95B is available for $2,399 / £2,299, while the 55-inch G5 is available for $2,199 / £2,299. The 65-inch Z95B, meanwhile, is available for $3,099 / £2799, while the 65-inch G5 is $2,899 / £2.899.

One thing that could swing things in the Z95B’s favor between these two TVs is sound. Panasonic’s TVs are always among the best TVs for sound, and the Z95B is no different.

Watching the Batmobile chase scene from The Batman, the Z95B stood head and shoulders above the G5 when it came to the built-in sound. The Z95B’s punchier sound and much more powerful bass better captured the rumble of the Batmobile’s engine and the crunching of car impacts and explosions. Speech was clear on both sets, but the Z95B delivered better clarity. With the Z95B, you can easily watch without using one of the best soundbars – a factor that saves you money – whereas a soundbar is more recommended with the G5.

Where the G5 has the edge is in its gaming features, which are up there with the best gaming TVs and include 4K 165Hz support on four HDMI 2.1 ports. The LG’s webOS 25 smart TV interface is also one of the best I’ve used and provides a superior overall experience to the Z95B’s Fire TV smart interface.

Both of these are class-leading OLED TVs, and both are in the conversation for TV of the year. But based on this comparison, I found myself favoring the Panasonic Z95B. Its default Filmmaker Mode brightness setting may be odd, but once adjusted, I found myself more drawn to its picture than the LG G5's picture.

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• Finance-themed phishing uses personalized subjects and file names to deliver malware
• Travel and response phishing also use personalization to push information stealers and RATs
• Cofense urges verification of unexpected emails and updates to security tools

Attackers are increasingly personalizing phishing emails to deliver malware, experts have warned, with criminals reaping in huge gains.

In adding the recipient’s name, company and other details into subject lines, file names, and message content, threat actors seek to make the messages appear more legitimate, increasing the chances that recipients will open malicious attachments or click links, researchers at Cofense have revealed.

Cofense analyzed a year’s worth of data and found that while several campaign themes use this tactic, finance-themed phishing was the most worrying due to both its frequency and impact.

Stay safe

Nearly 22% of subject-redacted emails fell into this category, often posing as invoices, tenders, or payment summaries.

Many of these emails carried jRAT, a cross-platform remote access trojan that can give attackers full control of a system, steal files, and install more malware.

Finance-themed phishing is particularly effective because it blends seamlessly with normal workplace communication, as employees often expect emails about contracts or payment updates.

While finance-themed phishing accounted for 21.9% of personalized subject cases, other themes also made heavy use of this approach.

Travel Assistance was the largest category at 36.78%, often used to deliver Vidar Stealer under the guise of reservation or itinerary updates.

Response-themed emails followed at 30.58%, frequently carrying PikaBot in messages disguised as meeting cancellations or order confirmations.

Tax-themed campaigns made up 3.72%, commonly involving Remcos RAT in password-protected archives, while Notification-themed phishing also represented 3.72%, delivering various malware families including WSH RAT and jRAT.

To counter these threats, Cofense advises verifying unexpected email requests through trusted channels, keeping antivirus and malware removal tools up to date, and limiting public exposure of staff details to make targeting harder.

Summing up, Cofense says, “While customized subject lines are not used in all malware email samples, it is a strong tactic to make the recipient feel a higher sense of urgency that may lead to a successful infection. Particularly targeted emails delivering RATs or Information Stealers can be notable for potentially providing remote access or login credentials that can be brokered to ransomware threat actors.”

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Geoffrey Hinton, scientist, former Google employee, and widely recognized 'Godfather of AI,' has made a late-stage career of criticizing his godchildren. And now he's taken it all a step further, insisting we need "AI Mothers," not AI Assistants.

Speaking at the AI4 Conference in Las Vegas this week, and as first reported by Forbes, Hinton again sounded the alarm on the impending advent of Artificial General Intelligence, which he now believes will arrive in a few years, a notion that syncs with recent comments from OpenAI CEO Sam Altman.

That acceleration from what was once thought to be decades to a few orbits around the sun is, perhaps, what prompted Hinton to argue that we need something other than AI Assistants.

"We need AI mothers rather than AI assistants," Hinton said, according to Forbes. The idea, Hinton posits, is that AI's with "maternal instincts" are a sort of protection system. After all, mothers generally don't harm and usually protect their children.

If AI systems like ChatGPT, Claude AI, and Gemini truly become smarter than us in a matter of years, having them in some way feel as if it's their job to look out for us might prevent them from harming us or society.

Hinton, who recently won a Nobel Prize and helped develop the technological foundation that arguably made all this AI possible, left Google in 2023 and immediately started warning people about a dire AI future. Imagine a parent disowning their child, and you get the idea.

I don't think Hinton is turned off from AI. After all, he can't stop talking about it, and appears to recognize its potential, but it's also clear it scares him.

He previously told The New York Times in 2023 that

• Increased competition is leading to a less cautious approach
• He presciently warned about the flood of fake online content
• He warned about AI taking on all the jobs we don't want to do (it may be taking others, as well)
• He worried about AI that can both program and then run programming (a very dangerous closed loop)
• And he was talking almost immediately about AI outsmarting us

So, sure that day is now fast approaching, but is a motherly AI what we want or need? I don't think so.

The minute we start training "Mom Instincts" into AI, it will start to act like a mother and slip into that creepy, uncanny valley where you can no longer tell if you're talking to a program or a person. Motherly instincts imply warmth, compassion, caring, understanding, and love. I don't want those things from an AI.

What I think we need, though, is for AI assistants to understand what it means to be human. Put another way, if AI chatbots can at least understand humanity, they can serve us better. They can also recognize our propensity for trust and perhaps finally stop presenting us with false narratives and fake friendliness and interest.

We shouldn't want companionship out of our super-intelligent AI systems. Instead, we need utility and trust, an ability to carry out our wishes in a way that best serves our interests.

The last thing we need is an AI full of maternal instincts, which then makes its own choices and, when things go awry, insists, "Well, dear, mother knows best."

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A more powerful processor will mean more AI features.

The company initially mentioned the update in a post online Thursday.