Technology

Now that AI has quickly become embedded in global enterprise operations, it has the ability to impact everything from data analysis to decision-making and even security.

Most conversations, however, focus on AI capability, power, productivity, and accuracy, but leave out one major issue.

While everyone is focused on what happens as AI is implemented, very few are asking what happens when access to AI capability suddenly disappears.

A prominent example of this is the debate around Anthropic restoring access to its Fable and Mythos AI models, which primarily revolved around compliance timelines and export control mechanics.

Yet, few have questioned why so many organizations discovered that one external decision, out of their control, removed a business-critical capability seemingly overnight. In short, AI access disruptions are a symptom of a much larger operational resilience issue, and expose an overlooked governance gap around dependency.

As organizations integrate AI deeper into their business operations, they need to shift their focus from exploring whether AI is secure enough right now to start asking whether their organizations can even continue operating if or when those very AI services become unavailable.

Security does not equal resilience

These little discussed topics bring up an important point that security and resilience are not synonymous.

Security prevents and protects systems from compromise. This keeps attackers from gaining access, reduces the number of vulnerabilities, and defends against malicious entities - all crucial elements of security operations. Resilience is the ability to continue business operations when systems, services, or data become unavailable, regardless of the cause.

We tend to associate resilience with situations such as cyberattacks or IT infrastructure failures. AI has changed the threat landscape for organizations, how they work with AI, and protect themselves from it. Organizations must now increasingly plan for disrupted access to critical tools and functions caused by geopolitical decisions, regulations, or changes made by technology providers themselves.

A service doesn't have to be hacked to become unavailable. A policy decision on the other side of the world can have the exact same operational effect. We saw exactly that with Anthropic.

With this in mind, resilience has to be built into how the enterprise operates and include any new AI infrastructure, so business continuity is ensured even through policy interference.

AI Creates a New Kind of Vendor Dependency

Where traditional software dependency usually involves a single or small amount of vendors, enterprise AI often depends on an interconnected ecosystem that organizations do not own or control. Every additional layer in the AI ecosystem represents a dependency, and therefore a potential point of failure.

This creates four risk factors that leadership needs to be mindful of:

Data sovereignty: Enterprise data may be processed under legal jurisdictions the organization doesn't control, with limited visibility into who can access it or whether it feeds future model training

Model sovereignty: Organizations often have little to no control over model availability, feature capabilities and changes, or access decisions, leaving them exposed if a provider suddenly decides to restrict access or withdraw capabilities.

Infrastructure dependency: Much of today’s enterprise AI ecosystem relies on a small handful of cloud providers operating under specific national jurisdictions.

AI supply chain risks: An interconnected system of foundation models, cloud platforms, and software vendors means disruption at even one layer can quickly cascade across the wider technology stack.

These factors increasingly depend on geopolitics rather than technology.

AI Governance is a Boardroom Issue

The reality is that a vendor contract alone cannot guarantee uninterrupted access to the tools and platforms that an enterprise has invested in. But governance frameworks haven’t truly evolved to account for this issue. Only newly emerging frameworks like NIS2 and DORA recognize that resilience must go beyond fending off cybersecurity threats.

Best practice for an organization as they approach vendor contracts and governance frameworks of their own is to understand where dependencies lie across suppliers and develop contingency plans that allow them to operate smoothly through eras of disruption.

Whether the dependency is within an AI platform, ITSM solution, a CRM, or another business critical technology, organizations should assess how they would continue operating if access changed overnight. AI should be subjected to the same scrutiny as any other critical third-party vendors.

Begin Resilience Frameworks Before the Next Disruption

On top of this, boards should be cautious about accepting AI capability claims at face value. Organizations should require evidence that vendor claims deliver measurable outcomes.

While AI can quickly identify an overwhelming amount of potential vulnerabilities, discovery alone does not improve resilience. Human expertise here remains essential to validate findings, prioritize fixes based on order of immediate business impact and ensure resources are focused where true risk exists.

The biggest lesson from recent AI disruption is how many organizations have underestimated their dependence on technologies they don’t have assured control over. And with renewed conversation from U.S. legislators around a potential AI “kill switch,” this has to be top of mind.

Business leaders must recognize that with all the opportunity AI unlocks, the risk of vendor dependency is close to follow. If I were head of technology at a major enterprise today, I would ensure teams across the entire technology and security departments understand where critical AI capabilities originate, the dependencies that exist across the supply chain, and how operations can remain resilient if access changed overnight.

Ultimately, the future of successful enterprise AI use will be determined by organizations baking governance and resilience strategies into business plans so that through commercial, political, and operational disruptions, business can continue as securely as usual.

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This article was produced as part of TechRadar Pro Perspectives, our channel to feature the best and brightest minds in the technology industry today.

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• NATO is planning to fortify the border with Russia and its allies with a network of sensors and drones, with AI assistance
• The Eastern Flank Deterrence Initiative will track threats along the NATO borders with Russia and Belarus
• The strategy mirrors the steps taken by Ukraine to bolster its defenses against Russian aggression

NATO’s concerns about its border with Russia and Belarus have grown into plans to deploy sensors and drones along 3,500 kilometers, with an AI element to assist in threat detection and tracking.

Known as the Eastern Flank Deterrence Initiative, the AI will be used to control fleets of drones, but the AI’s role in the kill chain will not involve decision-making.

Instead, human operators will be given the final say on whether a drone can strike a target.

Millions of drones

The plans follow a similar approach in Ukraine, where the borders with Russia and Belarus are closely observed by AI-managed drones. But the move towards AI looks set to evolve the procedural kill chain into a kill web, where information provided by drones and sensors with AI oversight is provided to a human operator for a decision.

The Eastern Flank Deterrence Initiative (EFDI) is a fully fledged operation, complete with a data backbone, for which US Army Maj. Ben Schiff is the product manager. The EFDI Data Backbone is described as a “digital ‘nervous system’” for the project, which connects not just the sensors and drones but also satellites and the information systems of NATO members.

Automation of the drones is mainly concerned with the “boring” jobs, like hovering over target areas to detect incursions. But the drones don’t attack unprompted. Instead, this is brought to the human operative for the final decision.

“So the humans are deciding what the drone does, but they don't necessarily need to take the action of flying it because we don't have a million pilots,” said Schiff. “We can't fly a million drones at the same time.”

The kill web

Traditionally, drone strikes have been overseen by a procedural kill chain, whereby information is assessed by a remote operator ahead of a decision being made to attack a target. The EFDI program is unifying data to progress NATO’s approach from a kill chain to “kill web.” This means the information accumulated on the target – from drones but also sensors and satellites, as well as member country information – can be quickly passed to operators. But the devices assembling the data need to be able to work together.

Maj. Matt Blubaugh, a spokesperson for US Army Europe and Africa, says "The value of a drone, sensor, or other capability is not determined solely by its individual performance [but] its effectiveness depends on how well it integrates into the broader operational ecosystem."

The model has already been proved in combat, such as taking out an Iranian Shahed drone in Kuwait.

The Ninja Crispi Pro arrived in Australia only in June this year, and I immediately wanted it. You see, I'd been eyeing the standard Ninja Crispi for a while because the nonstick coating of the trays in my two-drawer air fryer was coming off. My research told me that it wasn't toxic, but I was still concerned.

So it was serendipitous that the larger Crispi Pro came along just when I was ready to ditch my old air fryer — and at a price that wasn't all that much more over the standard Crispi. For AU$399 RRP, it may not be 'cheap' but it sure is good value considering how well it's performed in the last couple of months I've had mine. So much so that I don't regret ditching my previous air fryer that was more versatile thanks to a steam functionality as well.

Right now, the Crispi Pro is going slightly cheaper as well, down to AU$322 on Amazon and at JB Hi-Fi, and available in four colour options.

Don't be fooled by Amazon's list price — Ninja released the Crispi Pro for AU$499 initially, but it's been available for AU$399 RRP since its June launch. Even though it's a small saving, it's absolutely worthwhile even at full price, not just because of the non-toxic glass containers, but also its overall performance.View Deal

I may not have done TechRadar's Ninja Crispi Pro review, but I wholeheartedly agree with its high star rating and, for me, it comes down to the glass containers more than the performance — all the best air fryers in Australia offer excellent cooking results, but few are as safe as glass.

Glass is also remarkably easy to clean — just chuck it in the dishwasher without even having to think about it or soak it in the sink if you have caked-in food on the sides and a light scrubbing will have it sparkling again.

I also appreciate the bigger container's massive 5.7L capacity, something that most two-drawer air fryers don't offer (for context, you get about 4L to 4.5L at most in the average dual-basket models). You don't have to worry about picking the smallest chicken to roast, for example, and can make fries or wedges for up to 10 people.

(Image credit: Karen Freeman / Future)

The smaller 2.3L container is fine for making dishes for a single person, but I would be careful with what I put in there. Chicken drumsticks, for example, have a little height to them and when I tried cooking two in the smaller container, the raw and cooked results scraped against the rubber gasket around the top heating element of the appliance every time I took the container out or replaced it on the modular stand.

Sitting higher within the machine also means that the food is close to the heating element on the top of the appliance, so if the food you're cooking splutters, you'll need to ensure you clean the heating element after each use to prevent burns and subsequent deterioration in performance.

However, 'flatter' foods like a fillet of fish, fries or some vegetables for roasting is fine in the smaller basket.

Ninja also has a 3.2L container as well, but you'll need to buy that separately. Personally, I'd have preferred the 3.2L and 5.7L dishes to be the default options, with the 2.3L being the additional purchase, but that's not a complaint in any way; it's a reflection of my own needs.

Karen Freeman / FutureKaren Freeman / FutureKaren Freeman / Future

The fact that all the containers come with airtight lids is also a tick in my books. Got leftovers? Leave them in the container, cover and pop in the fridge, then just reheat in the air fryer itself. That's less cleaning up!

Despite the two containers, the Crispi Pro doesn't take up too much space on the kitchen counter. In fact, its footprint is about half that of my previous dual-basket air fryer, and most of us would be able to stow away a small glass container in a drawer or cabinet. And I now no longer worry about black bits contaminating my food.

If you're keen on an air fryer upgrade, I'd highly recommend the Ninja Crispi Pro but, if you don't need to feed an army, even the standard Ninja Crispi is a good option (it just has smaller containers).

• Texas Robotaxi passenger films car hitting plastic traffic posts
• Company claims "impeccable" Robotaxi safety record
• Tesla is preparing Cybercabs for public roads imminently

A Tesla Robotaxi user in Austin, Texas, has captured the moment their driverless ride failed to navigate a curb extension, marked off by plastic traffic posts, turning directly into them and carrying on with the journey.

The incident came not long after Tesla’s head of AI told investors the Robotaxi program has an “impeccable safety record” with “zero notable incidents,” according to Electrek.

The footage, posted to Reddit, shows the vehicle creeping forward, backing up, creeping forward again, and then driving right through the posts.

An audible thud can be heard as the vehicle hits the posts, while the passenger can be heard saying, "It hit em, it hit em."

The Robotaxi in question didn’t have a safety operator behind the wheel, although it is unclear whether a remote operator was called upon to authorize the decision to drive through the marked-off area.

Tesla Robotaxi Rams through several Bollards and keeps going. from r/SelfDrivingCars

Tesla’s decision to eschew “costly” LiDAR in favor of high-definition cameras and other sensors has been met with plenty of criticism, but this particular incident appears to indicate a potential issue with Tesla’s mapping, rather than its sensors.

According to Electrek, Redditors used the Texas Orthopedics building visible in the video’s frame to pin down the exact corner where the incident took place on Google Maps, and Street View shows those posts have been in place since at least February 2024.

Tesla's choice not to use a proprietary high-definition mapping system, as Waymo does, means it is largely up to the autonomous vehicle's on-board compute power to make on-the-fly decisions. Here, it looked like it failed.

Despite this, VP of AI Ashok Elluswamy defended Tesla’s Robotaxi safety record at the company's Q2 earnings call, claiming that the company has driven “more than 380,000 miles” with “zero notable incidents.”

Analysis: Tesla readies its Cybercab for public roads

(Image credit: Tesla)

Despite Tesla accumulating a fraction of the unsupervised autonomous ride-hailing miles compared to its closest rival, Waymo (220 million plays Tesla's 380,000), it has been reported that it could start trialing its fully autonomous Cybercab on public roads this month.

As a reminder, the Cybercab is a purpose-built, fully autonomous taxi that rolls off the production line without traditional pedals or a steering wheel, leaving every part of the driving experience to computers, cameras, and a handful of sensors.

The Next Web reports that Tesla’s own employees will be the first to test Cybercab on public roads, although it could start introducing the vehicles into its Austin autonomous fleet soon thereafter.

However, Tesla’s Austin fleet is reported to have shrunk to around 17 cars, down from about 25 in the spring, while those that still exist are operating in a tightly controlled, geofenced area that is a fraction of the size of the area Waymo is working with.

While every autonomous ride-hailing service naturally deals with issues and incidents on a daily basis, the recent video clip from Austin shows that Tesla still has plenty of work to do in order to back up that “impeccable” safety record claim… and boost consumer confidence in a Cybercab service that lacks any physical controls.

The luxury electric SUV rolls out with HMG’s biggest battery to date and its most dramatic set of doors.

Xfinity Shield is a combination of cyber and home security using several new technologies I’ve seen in recent years.

A new dedicated study hub includes a study notebook, customized flash cards and practice quizzes.

• Japan has now launched the second U.S. surveillance payload under the program
• The payload will feed near-real-time orbital data to U.S. forces
• Mission Delta 2 will operate the American payload after deployment

The United States Space Force and Japan have completed a bilateral satellite launch meant to strengthen surveillance capabilities across the Pacific region and beyond.

A US space domain awareness payload was carried aboard Japan's Quasi-Zenith Satellite 7, launched from Tanegashima Space Center.

This mission marked the second and final launch under the Quasi-Zenith Satellite System-Hosted Payload program, described as the first bilateral U.S.-Japan cooperative effort built specifically around national security.

A wider watch over the Indo-Pacific

The US payload will be operated by Combat Forces Command's Mission Delta 2, a unit that identifies and tracks objects across contested orbital terrain.

Mission Delta 2 is headquartered at Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado and maintains a presence at 11 separate operating locations worldwide.

Once fully operational, the payload is expected to deliver near real-time data to the Space Surveillance Network, expanding awareness of the geosynchronous orbit above the Indo-Pacific.

Both US payloads under the program were designed and built by MIT Lincoln Laboratory in Lexington, Massachusetts, while the Japanese host satellites came from Mitsubishi Electric Corporation in Kamakura.

The arrangement traces back to a December 2020 agreement between the two nations to jointly execute the hosted-payload program.

Officials describe the effort as evidence of a maturing alliance built around shared access to orbital infrastructure.

"The successful launch of QZS-7 is a powerful testament to the enduring strength and rapid modernization of the U.S.-Japan alliance," said Col. Bryon McClain, Space Force portfolio acquisition executive for Space Combat Power.

He added that merging capabilities in satellite communications helps maintain security in a contested space domain.

A project years in the making

According to the program’s officials, the launch was preceded by two years of integration work between U.S. and Japanese engineering teams.

"QZSS-HP is a key contributor to help us meet the threat of peer adversaries in space," said Col. Gina Peterson, deputy commander of Mission Delta 2 for Space Domain Awareness.

Brig. Gen. Brian Denaro, commander of U.S. Space Forces Pacific, called the U.S.-Japan alliance one of the country's greatest strategic advantages in the region.

He said the program shows how the two militaries can build interoperability from design through launch.

Neither government has disclosed the cost of the two-satellite program or a timeline for when the second payload will reach full operational status.

Space Force officials treat the launch primarily as an alliance milestone rather than a specific technical breakthrough.

That distinction matters because surveillance gains from a single hosted payload are likely to be incremental rather than transformative on their own.

The program's real test will be whether it produces usable, timely data that changes how the US and Japan respond to activity in geosynchronous orbit.

• New version of Siri Remote appears in latest Apple code
• There are no details of how it might differ from the current one
• One popular wish, customizable buttons, is already possible

Apple's latest product leaks include good news for Apple TV owners like me: a new Siri remote is coming. The current one is rather divisive, with some people comparing it to the Magic Mouse as an example of Apple style over substance; I definitely think the current one is perhaps a little too sharp-edged and minimalist, and hitting the on-screen Skip button with it is often more miss than hit.

The leak was spotted by MacRumors in the code of the macOS 26.7 release candidate, which is the last version of code given to developers and beta testers before the final and official release. In the code there's a reference to 'ATVRemote1,5', which appears to be the same new remote control that Bloomberg's Mark Gurman previously described as part of Apple's 2026 product road map.

There are no details of what this new remote might do, but Redditors have plenty of good ideas — and three in particular would be on a lot of my fellow Apple TV owners' wishlists.

The features we'd like to see in the new Apple TV remote

If you don't need the mute button you can remap it. (Image credit: Future)

Over on r/apple, the very first suggestion is the one that's top of my wishlist too: a dedicated Source button.

Like Redditor Masam10, who like me has their Apple TV 4K connected to a Samsung TV, "A source button would mean I could officially drop my Samsung remote and throw it away. 9/10 times my Apple TV works just fine with HDMI CEC, but every now and then it will get a bit funky and not work and I have to use the Samsung remote to swap inputs," they explain.

The second suggestion, by the fantastically named 'handtoglandwombat', is a speaker for Apple's Find My feature. That'd be very welcome too, given the current Apple TV remote has a habit of disappearing down any available nook in your sofa. Some even have their remote in a case that holds an AirTag for this very reason.

Lastly, another interesting suggestion is the addition of a customizable action button — and the discussion of that unearthed an Apple tip I didn't know about, even though it's been there for a few years: you don't need to wait for a new remote to customize your buttons.

You can sacrifice one of your remote buttons, such as the Mute button, by changing what it does in Settings > Remotes and Devices > Volume Control > Learn New Device. Follow the instructions and when you get to the bit where it says press and hold the mute button, don't. Press the source/input button on your TV remote instead.

The downside, of course, is that you no longer have a mute button. But you might think that's a price worth paying to have a source/input button instead.

The next generation Apple TV is expected to arrive this Fall alongside a new HomePod mini, so we shouldn't have too long to wait for the new Siri remote — although whether it has all of these features remains to be seen.

Thinking of buying a new TV?

Try our TV size and model finder! You tell it how far you sit from your TV, we'll tell you what size to buy based on viewing angle advice from image quality experts, and we'll recommend our three top TVs at that size for different prices.

• Ukraine’s new ground robot can carry 210 kilograms across rough terrain
• The Gnom L2 can travel 50 kilometers on one charge
• Remote control keeps operators away from dangerous frontline supply routes

Ukrainian robotics company Temerland has rolled out a new Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV) called the Gnom L2, engineered to haul substantial loads over difficult terrain.

Engineers rate its cargo capacity at 210 kilograms, equivalent to 463 pounds, while top speed reaches 12 kilometers, or 7 miles, per hour.

A single charge reportedly lets the machine cover 50 kilometers, close to 31 miles, before it needs to return for resupply or recharging.

A heavier vehicle for frontline logistics

The company equipped the L2 with higher-capacity batteries to support longer movements while carrying substantial loads.

Its cargo basket has also been reinforced, while a combination of wheels and tracks helps the vehicle move across uneven ground.

Operators control the machine remotely using specialized HotRC equipment, keeping humans involved in decisions about its movement.

The machine does not support autonomous control; thus, it can not independently navigate battlefields without operator input.

The Gnom L2 is currently under field evaluation, so its published specifications may change as testing provides more engineering data.

The manufacturer has not disclosed production numbers, battlefield deployment figures, unit costs, or detailed results from combat operations.

These factors will be important in determining how well the L2 can perform repeated resupply missions in demanding conditions.

However, its payload could allow military units to transport ammunition, equipment and other heavy supplies while reducing soldiers’ exposure during routine logistics work.

Its range could also support trips between supply points and forward positions, although real-world endurance will depend on terrain, cargo weight and operating conditions

One platform, several battlefield roles

The L2 joins several other Gnom variants developed by Temerland for reconnaissance, engineering, evacuation, and support missions.

The company previously introduced the Gnom ND-Recon, which uses six cameras and six high-gain microphones for reconnaissance.

It can also carry a tethered drone with a charging station, while other equipment can provide defensive functions.

Temerland is also developing a Gnom version equipped with a robotic arm for emergency evacuation, mine clearance and engineering tasks.

The range of configurations shows how the company is adapting one robotic platform for different military needs.

For the L2, the focus is moving heavy loads through difficult terrain while keeping personnel away from some routine transport risks.

However, questions remain about its performance when communications are disrupted, or electronic warfare interferes with control links.

Production capacity, Ukrainian deployment numbers and operational frequency are also unknown.

Because the L2 is still undergoing trials, there is no certainty that it will ever be deployed in real combat situations.

Its long-term value will therefore depend on whether it can reliably deliver heavy loads under the unpredictable conditions of active combat zones.

Via Drone Front

• Morgan County's 12-month moratorium has no enforcement power thanks to Dillon’s Rule limiting its ability to act against a proposed 50 MW Bitcoin mine by VoltCore
• The town of Somerville never adopted zoning, and the site sits outside the town limits, leaving its 18-month moratorium equally unenforceable
• The developer trades under three different corporate identities, was refused easements by all four affected landowners, and is routing utilities through the county right-of-way instead

Somerville, Alabama, a town with fewer than 800 residents and the state's oldest surviving courthouse, had no reason to think about land use law until this summer.

However, a 50 Megawatt data center designed to mine cryptocurrencies spanning 15 acres could now disrupt life in an otherwise idyllic town.

This is despite there being two different moratoriums in place, one from Morgan County and another from Somerville's town council, to prevent its construction, moves that lack legal teeth to follow through.

Local governments limited by an arcane Iowa Supreme Court ruling?

Alabama is one of 31 states that follow Dillon's Rule, a principle written into its 1901 constitution, which holds that local governments may exercise only the powers the legislature grants them.

County commissions in Alabama cannot zone property, pass ordinances, or raise taxes without first going to Montgomery for local legislation. Morgan County has no zoning in its unincorporated areas because it has never been given the authority to create any.

In a nutshell, the developer found the perfect loophole: a lack of rules that would allow the county to enforce zoning in its own domain.

Morgan County Commission Chairman Ray Long has been unusually candid about how little his own resolution, which was passed unanimously after residents collected 450 signatures, accomplishes, calling it a 'message' rather than an actual mechanism to force the developer to vacate its plans. When asked what tools were left, he said the county could essentially tell the company, "We really wish you wouldn't do it."

Somerville's position is only marginally better: Municipalities in Alabama do hold zoning power, and a long list of cities have used it this year, but Somerville never adopted any in the past. Mayor Darren Tucker told The Decatur Daily he had pushed his council to pass zoning for years, and it had failed every time, meaning nothing would stop a data center from buying land inside the town limits and building on it.

The 18-month moratorium the council approved on June 30 is the town's attempt to buy time to do exactly that, and part of the plan is to ask the Alabama League of Municipalities whether a town without zoning can legally block a data center in the first place.

The company building out the data center is VoltCore, but the original buyer of the 15-acre parcel is Texas-based Sovereign Global Solutions Inc., which later transferred it to Alabama-based Sovereign Gazelle LLC. Residents reportedly could not reach the listed agent for the latter two and also noted that the former's phone and email contacts were invalid. A third LLC also linked to the data center, Project Avalanche, was created on the fourth of August.

The developer, which needed utility connections for a proposed 10-acre facility on the 15-acre parcel, was denied access by four landowners; it offered a mix of cash, a gas line to their houses, and free internet connectivity, among other perks. It responded by pushing for a right-of-way approach that cannot be legally turned down.

This is not an isolated case; more than 500 moratoriums have been documented across 42 states, and South Dakota has passed a law restricting installations of 10 MW or more, with proposals moving in New York, Oklahoma, and North Carolina. Developers are also fighting back, however, and despite $130+ billion in canceled AI data center projects so far, plenty more is to come as AI buildouts continue unabated in a never-ending hunt for cheap land, power, and access to water.

The lesson a developer takes from the situation in Somerville is ironically that public opposition in an unincorporated county is legally inert, and that the cheapest land, the cheapest power, and the weakest local government often tend to be one and the same. A fix might be in the works, but in this case it could come months or years after the concrete is already poured.

The company’s doing a trial run on a loyalty program that includes discounts on brand merch.

Whoop is known for its wearable fitness tracker. Now it wants to become your source for lab testing.

Google’s most advanced Pixel phone loses its cheapest tier, gains a few features, but most of it remains the same. And that’s just fine.

• New analysis links aggressive driving to premature EV battery degradation 
• Chinese researchers found optimizing driving style can prolong battery life  
• Researchers used AI modeling to link driving style to battery wear

Researchers at Shanghai Dianji University in China have linked aggressive driving styles to premature EV battery degradation, concluding that optimizing driving style is an “effective way to alleviate the aging of power batteries and extend cycle life”.

The researchers pored over a year’s worth of driving data from 15 EVs in Guangzhou during 2022, gathering data every 10 seconds on metrics such as speed, current and state of charge to determine the overall smoothness of acceleration and deceleration, as well as the overall intensity of driving.

Once gathered, the data was compiled to create profiles, with the smoothest category dubbed ‘eco-driving’ and the most aggressive category housing those scenarios where the vehicle was pulling very high electrical current from the battery, and included situations such as repeated high-torque demands at relatively low speeds, according to Science Alert.

But this is where it gets clever, because instead of simply looking for correlations between factors like acceleration and battery stress, the researchers developed machine learning frameworks that could separate driving behavior from other factors that can adversely affect long-term battery performance, such as temperature, the battery’s state of charge and time spent idling.

While the paper is clear to point out that the dataset didn't have directly measured long-term battery state-of-health or capacity-fade data, instead using a model to predict long-term degradation, it did find that the most aggressive driving category produced a battery aging rate 18.4 times higher than the most economical driving style.

Longer term, the research group’s battery-aging model estimated a 53.22% capacity fade after 1,000 cycles for the most aggressive driving style, compared with 21.15% for the most economical.

This doesn’t necessarily mean that the fastest drivers are going to wear out their EV batteries quicker, but it could suggest those that regularly launch their electric vehicles away from traffic lights or constantly plant the throttle only to slam on the brakes a few seconds later could be putting substantially more stress on their battery packs.

Analysis: too many variables for concrete evidence

(Image credit: Tesla)

Admittedly, I’m not claiming to be on the same academic level as the researchers from Shanghai Dianji University, but it feels like there are a lot of confounding variables that could also speed up battery degradation.

The way in which an EV is charged has often been cited as a potential contributing factor to premature battery degradation, although a study by Recurrent (via CleanTechnica) found that there was no significant difference in range degradation between Teslas that fast charge more than 90% of the time and those that fast charge less than 10% of the time.

However, this could be a different case entirely if an EV owner was to exclusively charge via 400kW or higher outlets, as opposed to Tesla’s 250kW max charging speeds.

Similarly, factors like vehicle load, the terrain and gradient of roads regularly used by owners and even traffic conditions could all be contributing factors to diminishing range over time.

That said, it’s generally wise to drive as smoothly as possible, both in order to maximize EV range and keep your passengers from your spoiling your box-fresh EV interior.

But now, long-term battery health could also be a consideration for a lighter approach to the accelerator pedal.

Kids aren't the only ones who need new shoes for the school year. August is a perfect time to pick up a pair of sneakers, and Amazon's back-to-school sale is slashing prices on top-rated models from brands like Nike, Hoka, New Balance, Adidas, and Skechers.

Below are popular women's and men's running shoe models on sale, with savings up to 35% and prices starting at just $54. I've listed a wide range of athletic shoes, including extra support for runners and casual walking sneakers for everyday wear. Every model listed below is highly rated on Amazon, and some are included in our best running shoes guide.

You'll find links to popular sneaker brands below if you want to browse Amazon's site, followed by my pick of today's best back-to-school deals on running shoes. Keep in mind these are limited-time offers, and today's discount lets you kick off the new school year with a new (discounted) pair of shoes.

Amazon's back-to-school running shoe sale

• Nike running shoes
• Brooks running shoes
• New Balance running shoes
• Hoka running shoes
• Sketcher running shoes

The best Women's back-to-school running shoe deals

Skechers Skechers Women's Glide-Step Altus Hands-Free Slip-Ins Sneakers

Nike Nike Women's Revolution 8 Road Running Shoes

NORTIV 8 Nortiv 8 Women's Walking Shoes

New Balance New Balance Women's Dynasoft Tektrel V1 Suede Trail Running Shoe

New Balance New Balance Women's Fresh Foam Roav Running Shoe

New Balance New Balance Women's 327 Sneakers

Brooks Brooks Women Ghost Max 3 Running Shoe

HOKA Hoka Women's Clifton 10 Running Shoe

Saucony Saucony Women's Endorphin Speed 5 Sneaker

The best Men's back-to-school running shoe deals

New Balance New Balance Men's Fresh Foam Arishi V4 Running Shoe

adidas Adidas Men's Swift Run Shoe

New Balance New Balance Men's 515 V3 Sneaker, Reflection/white/aluminum Grey, 11

New Balance New Balance 574 Unisex Shoes

Nike Nike Men's Air Max Alpha Trainer 6 Workout Shoes, White/white-Black-Gum Medium Brown, 10

New Balance New Balance Men's 408 V1 Sneakers

adidas Adidas Men's Adizero Pacer Running Shoe

Skechers Skechers Men's Go Walk Glide Step 2.0 Zalor Hands Free Slip-Ins Sneaker, White/black, 10.5

Brooks Brooks Men’s Ghost 17 Neutral Running Shoe

The ChatGPT maker is also beefing up its security systems.

• The Fairphone Gen 6 Plus has landed, and it's available in the US too
• However, at $649.99 / £569, some tech fans are questioning its price
• The specs aren't special, but it's modular and sustainably produced

The Fairphone Gen 6 Plus has just launched, and the big news with this model is that, for the first time, a Fairphone is available in the US with Android fully intact (previously, Fairphones sold outside of Europe were only available in de-Googled configurations). But with this wider availability comes some increased scrutiny about the phone's price.

You see, Fairphones cost a lot for what you’re getting on paper, with the Fairphone Gen 6 Plus retailing for $649.99 / £569 (that's around AU$920, though it's not currently available in Australia). For that price, you get a 6.31-inch 120Hz OLED display, a mid-range Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 chipset, 12GB of RAM, 256GB of storage, a microSD card slot, and a 4,415mAh battery with 30W wired charging, and no wireless charging.

The phone also has a 50MP main camera, a 13MP ultra-wide, and a 32MP selfie camera on the front. All of these specs are... fine, but mid-range at best, and rather worse than what you'll find on most other comparably priced phones.

But this isn’t most phones. The Fairphone Gen 6 Plus stands out in two main ways. First, it’s built to last, with a modular design that lets you swap out 12 parts yourself; it’s easy to repair or replace a worn-out battery, for instance. That, coupled with software updates until 2033, means, in theory, you won’t need to buy another phone for a long time.

The other notable element of Fairphone’s products is that they’re designed to be fair to the environment and the people making them, meaning things like higher wages, safer factories, and net-zero emissions targets.

Of course, these sustainable practices come at a cost.

A fairer world isn't cheap

(Image credit: Future)

As for whether this cost is worth it, smartphone fans are divided on the matter.

On our recent TikTok about the Fairphone 6 Gen Plus, one user argued that “comparing this phone to others by price is like comparing a $5 Walmart steak to a steak from a local ranch,” clarifying that, in this analogy, the other phones are the Walmart steak, as they’re “only this cheap because of the blood and the exploitation of the workers.”

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This individual, then, is clearly in favor of paying what they see as a price that’s fair for the workers. But another commenter argued that “a similarly priced phone with way better specs will last you longer if you just take care of it,” so in their view, the longevity of this phone is a questionable selling point.

Other comments are similarly mixed, but more seem opposed to the price than in favor of it, with one going so far as to call it “dead on arrival,” adding that “this must be a joke at this price.”

But Fairphone has never been a mainstream brand — its products are not and never will be for everybody. If you believe the world should be fairer, and that workers should make a fair wage, then it’s a company worth supporting.

That’s my view, anyway — but then again, I say this while using an iPhone as my main device, so maybe I’m a hypocrite.

Personally, as a fan of the latest tech, I’d be more inclined to pay a premium for a Fairphone if it could offer specs to match the very best phones, but for a small brand with limited resources, I can understand why Fairphone is limiting itself to the mid-range market for now.

We're currently putting the Fairphone 6 Gen Plus through its paces, so stay tuned for our full review verdict in the coming weeks.

• Claude can now draft and send messages on your behalf in Gmail
• However it can do so without asking for permission, potentially leading to awkward responses
• Claude also gets stronger Google Drive access, but says it won't train its AI on your files

Anthropic has revealed that Claude's integration with Gmail has taken a major step forward - with the AI now able to draft and send emails on a user's behalf.

"Ask Claude to reply to a thread, and it drafts and sends the response. You control when it needs your approval," the company wrote in an update on X.

However the news immediately prompted a flood of replies and comments from users worried about the potential implications of having an AI send emails unseen by them.

Ask for forgiveness, not permission?

Although a Claude connector has been available in Google Workspace for a while, actually sending an email on the user's behalf is a significant step forward, and a potentially troubling one at that.

Ultimately, the user will still have to ask Claude to perform the action first, but how it drafts the message, and the content within, has the potential to lead to some serious embarrassment for some users.

(Image credit: Anthropic)

The tool, which is live now, will only be available to users on paid Claude plans, , and Anthropic later clarified the process in a support page, noting that asking for approval is the default setting, and on Team and Enterprise plans, admins will be able to decide "whether members can allow these actions to run without asking each time".

The update will also mean Claude can forward emails, and manage files in Google Drive, helping users track down the information they need with a single command, as well as uploading files, creating folders and add Google Docs directly to chats and projects.

"Claude mirrors your existing permissions—you cannot access information you don't already have access to in Google Workspace," the support page noted, adding that Anthropic would not, "train our models on your Gmail, Drive, or Calendar connector data, ensuring your private information remains private."

Users appeared divided on the new tool, with some supporting the launch, and others seemingly very opposed.

"sending the email was never the hard part, the hard part is the apology email it sends next," one X user wrote.

"I would rather use my own head than to let Claude reply especially responding to my clients," another said, "Don't want Claude hallucinating me into exposing my cost or another client's IP. Claude can apologize but not get your client back. Need to keep our brains working and not letting it totally rot."

sending the email was never the hard part, the hard part is the apology email it sends nextAugust 18, 2026

We rated the GMKtec G10 our top mini PC for those on a budget and Amazon has slashed the price from $379.99 to just $275.49, making it an even better deal.

That's a saving of $104.50, or around 28%, on a complete mini PC with 16GB of dual-channel DDR4 memory and a 256GB SSD, meaning it's ready to use rather than being a barebones system that requires you to populate it with your own memory and storage.

The G10 can drive three displays via HDMI, DisplayPort and USB-C, and 2.5GbE Ethernet gives you much faster wired networking than the Gigabit connection commonly found on inexpensive PCs.

G10 Mini PC: was $379.99 now $275.49
The GMKtec G10 combines a 4-core, 8-thread Ryzen 5 3500U with Radeon Vega 8 graphics, 16GB dual-channel DDR4 and a 256GB SSD. Connectivity includes Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.0 and 2.5GbE Ethernet.View Deal

Why we recommend it

The G10 gets the basics right without stripping away useful features to hit a low price. There's also considerable scope for upgrading it later. It has two M.2 2280 PCIe 3.0 slots with support for up to 16TB of SSD storage, so its relatively small 256GB drive doesn't have to remain a limitation. The memory can also be expanded to 64GB.

We said "You can find a lot of cheap Windows 11 mini PCs these days, but the GMKtec G10 was a stand-out in our tests. In our review, we said, "at the asking price, this is a terrific little system that can easily be upgraded to handle larger tasks with more memory and storage."

We also added, "Sure, it's not going to win any awards for speed. And it's hardly a work-horse — you'd struggle to edit 4K videos, play games, or run complex software. But if your goal is to find a budget mini PC that can tackle light duties, like browsing, streaming, and office work without breaking the bank, the G10 proved to be a superb machine."

For more top-tested machines, see our guide to the best mini PCs.

Price context & historical value

The GMKtec G10 usually sells for $379.99 in this configuration, but Amazon has reduced it to $275.49. That knocks $104.50 off the price, equivalent to a discount of around 28%.

That isn't the cheapest we've seen it, though. The price dropped to $252 at the very start of July this year for a very short — blink-and-you'll-miss-it — period.

At under $280, you're still getting the complete system with 16GB RAM and an SSD included, so it's still worth buying if you're looking for an inexpensive ready-to-use mini PC rather than a barebones machine.

Looking to save? We've selected the best mini PC deals this week.

Should you buy it?

✅ Buy the GMKtec G10 if...

You want an inexpensive, compact PC for office work, studying, web browsing, streaming and general home computing and we picked the G10 as our best budget mini PC for good reason.

Support for three 4K displays gives you plenty of desktop space for spreadsheets, browser windows, video calls and other productivity tasks.

❌ Skip the GMKtec G10 if...

You need a machine for heavy creative workloads. Radeon Vega 8 integrated graphics can handle casual and lighter tasks, but this isn't a substitute for a PC with a discrete graphics card.

The Ryzen 5 3500U is also an older processor, and the 256GB SSD isn't particularly generous. Neither is necessarily a problem at this price, but there are considerably faster mini PCs available if you're willing to spend a little more.

The Catch: What to know before you buy

The biggest compromise is age rather than basic functionality. AMD's Ryzen 5 3500U is a 4-core, 8-thread processor that dates from an earlier Ryzen generation, so don't mistake its Ryzen 5 branding for the performance you'd get from a more recent Ryzen 5 chip.

Wi-Fi 5 is similarly behind the latest wireless standards, and 256GB can disappear quickly once you've installed your applications and personal files. Thankfully, the latter is much easier to address thanks to the G10's storage expansion options.