Technology

Enjoy upgraded visuals, built-in apps and superior sound with these Samsung smart monitors -- now for less.

Enzo Maresca's Blues take on the Portuguese giants for a place in the quarterfinals.

You could rake in thousands of dollars, depending on the account you choose.

Let's get one thing straight: for the record, the Nintendo Switch 2 (and other devices like the original Nintendo Switch) do a great job at appealing to a wide range of gamers, and notably, being a fantastic family-friendly device. From Mario games to fighting games like Super Smash Bros Ultimate, and now, Mario Kart World, there's no doubt that Nintendo consoles, specifically the Switch 2, have a lot to offer.

However, I don't believe the new device does enough to warrant its price tag (including the $80 price for games), especially in comparison to other handheld gaming PCs on the market. I've mentioned this several times in previous articles, highlighting the significant performance gaps between the Switch 2 and the likes of an MSI Claw 8 AI+ or Asus ROG Ally – but that's not the highlight here.

Adding to Switch 2's downsides is its LCD, which has been berated as one of the worst displays available, so much so that it's seen as worse than a standard gaming monitor. This is because its response time, as assessed by Monitors Unboxed, is an average of 33ms at a 60Hz refresh rate.

Essentially, this means you'll experience plenty of ghosting and smearing (especially in fast-paced games), which you'll more than likely notice after testing multiple games. It gets worse when you realize that multiple tests online reveal that the Switch 2 isn't using HDR properly – or at all, as it's not reaching 400 nits of brightness (the minimum for an entry-level HDR).

I've used a fair share of gaming monitors over the years, and I can tell you that 33ms at 60Hz isn't good for gaming. So, while there may be some who won't notice this while gaming, or frankly, won't care about this major disadvantage, it's objectively not a good look for Nintendo.

It's never too late to buy an Asus ROG Ally...

(Image credit: Asus)

While I've been vocal about an eventual upgrade from my Asus ROG Ally, with my preference being a bigger 8-inch handheld, the ROG Ally's display is quite incredible. It has a response time of 7ms and a 120Hz refresh rate, significantly outperforming the Switch 2's display. It starts at $649.99 on Best Buy, but there are often numerous sales pushing this down significantly (if you're in the UK, it's on sale at £449.99 on Amazon).

Yes, you'll miss out on Nintendo titles, but you get access to a bigger library of games across multiple launchers; if you manage to legally dump your purchased Switch games, you can also play these via emulators (despite Nintendo banning some even though it's not illegal).

Taking it a step further, you could opt for a Lenovo Legion Go, which uses similar detachable controllers like the Joy-Cons. Both it and the ROG Ally use the same AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor, providing better gaming performance than the Switch 2. I could go on and on about the advantages, but I'll leave you with this: you're not going to have your handheld gaming PC online accessibility stripped away from you, like you would with a Switch 2.

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Microsoft is officially phasing out saved passwords in its Authenticator app. From August 2025, the app will no longer support autofill or password storage. Instead, users will need replace saved passwords with passkeys – a new, safer login method that’s tied to your device and biometric ID.

It’s the latest move in Microsoft’s ongoing push to leave passwords behind. Last year, the tech giant reportedly detected 7,000 password attacks per second. With cyberattacks on the rise and user credentials at risk, Microsoft sees passkeys as central to a more secure future.

But what are passkeys and why are they safer than passwords? And how long do you have until Microsoft Authenticator forgets your passwords for good? We’ve broken down everything you need to know right here.

What is Microsoft authenticator?

Microsoft Authenticator is a free mobile app for Android and iOS devices. It helps you to log in to your accounts more securely. Originally designed as a two-factor authentication (2FA) tool for Microsoft accounts, it later expanded to include support for saving and autofilling passwords.

Users could use Authenticator to store logins, sync them across devices and quickly autofill their credentials on websites and apps. Once passwords were saved to Authenticator, you could verify sign-ins using your fingerprint, face recognition or a PIN.

That’s now changing. Microsoft is sunsetting password support in Authenticator, shifting instead to a newer, safer sign-in method: passkeys.

(Image credit: Shutterstock)When will Microsoft Authenticator passwords stop working?

Microsoft has already begun winding down password support in Authenticator. Its timeline for phasing out saved passwords is as follows:

• June 2025: You can no longer add new passwords to the Authenticator app.
• From July 2025: Autofill functionally for saved passwords will be disabled, meaning the app won’t auto-complete login details.
• From August 2025: All saved passwords will be permanently removed from Microsoft Authenticator.

According to a notification in the app, you can export saved passwords “until Autofill ends”. You can do that by heading to the settings menu and selecting ‘Export Passwords’. Exported passwords can then be imported to another autofill provider, including your Google account or iCloud Keychain.

Alternatively, you can enable Edge as your autofill provider. From that same notification, simply tap ‘Turn on Edge’. Because saved passwords are synced with your Microsoft account, Edge will have access to your sign-in credentials, including autofill functionality.

What are passkeys?

Passkeys are an alternative way to log into your account. Instead of relying on a word or phrase that you need to remember or save, passkeys use biometrics or a PIN to verify your identity.

Passkeys are a credential developed by the Fast Identity Online Alliance (FIDO). They use an open authentication protocol that’s designed to replace passwords altogether.

When you create a passkey, your device stores a private key. To log in, you simply unlock your device using face recognition, your fingerprint or a PIN number. That matching public key then verifies your identity online against the private key.

Why are passkeys safer than passwords?

Passwords have long been the weakest link in online security. Since the advent of passwords, people have been using weak, easily guessable phrases to help them remember their own sign-in credentials. Many people also have a habit of reusing the same passwords or similar variants across different accounts.

That tactic leaves users particularly vulnerable if a data breach exposes their password. Passwords also expose people to the risk of phishing scams, a growing number of which aim to steal their credentials.

The Microsoft passwordless sign-in experience (Image credit: Microsoft)

Passkeys solve all of these issues. Unlike passwords, they aren’t typed, sent or stored on a server. Passkeys are kept on your own device. That means there’s nothing for cybercriminals to intercept.

What’s more, because they’re tied to both your device and your identity, they’re a much stronger form of authentication than a standard password. They can’t be stolen or cracked like a password, even with brute-force guesswork.

Passkeys also have the added benefit of being easier to use. Microsoft reckons that passkey sign-ins have a 98% success rate, compared to just 32% for passwords.

Because passkeys are linked to devices, some users will be concerned about losing their smartphone. However, many people already own and use multiple passkey-ready devices, including tablets and laptops with biometric support. Even if you lose access to one device, the others can be used as a backup.

Microsoft isn’t alone in pushing for passkey usage. Google, Apple and Amazon, among others, are all adopting passkeys too. The FIDO alliance says that more than 15 billion accounts now support passkey sign-ins. Microsoft has reported that it sees ‘nearly a million’ passkeys registered every day.

How to set up a passkey in Microsoft Authenticator

For existing Authenticator app users, getting started with passkeys is straightforward. Simply open the Authenticator app, choose your account from the settings menu and select ‘Set up a passkey’. You’ll be asked to sign in with your account credentials, before being walked through the rest of the setup process.

If you’re setting up Authenticator for the first time, the app may prompt you to allow Authenticator as a source for passkeys in your device’s password settings menu. Do this, hit continue and you’ll be ready to use passkeys.

(Image credit: Microsoft)

You can also configure passkeys through your Microsoft account online. Sign in to your Microsoft account, then locate ‘Advanced Security Options’. Select ‘Add a new way to sign in or verify’, followed by ‘Face, Fingerprint, PIN, or Security Key’.

According to an article published by Microsoft, it will "automatically detect the best available method on your account and set that as the default". That means even where you have both a password and a passkey set up for your account, it will always prompt you for your passkey first.

New Microsoft accounts will use passkeys by default. The sign-in process has also been redesigned and simplified to prioritize password-free logins.

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• Codio Coach improves grades on its platform, but outside results may not look the same
• AI-assisted learning boosts short-term gains, but critics warn about long-term learning quality
• Completion rates doubled, but only in courses that already rely on Codio’s internal system

A new AI-powered learning assistant, Codio Coach, claims to boost student grades by 15% using a Socratic method inspired by a 2,400-year-old approach.

Codio Coach, launched in April 2024, was built using Anthropic’s Claude large language model and is designed to guide learners rather than provide direct answers.

Codio’s research, drawn from 1,800 learners across 39 computer science courses between January 2023 and December 2024, shows that median grades increased by 15% and average grades rose by 12% when Codio Coach was integrated into courses.

Codio claims academic gains rooted in ancient methods

The reported results are impressive, but the claims invite a closer look, especially as AI continues to gain ground in education settings.

These numbers are based on data from Codio-hosted environments, which raises questions about external validity and how these gains might generalize beyond the platform.

The system simplifies summaries and plain-language error explanations.

Fifty-six percent of the interactions were triggered by the “explain this error” tool, which helps students understand compiler or runtime issues, suggesting that support during debugging is especially valuable.

“These findings are an important proof point that AI, when thoughtfully designed and embedded in the learning experience, can drive real improvements in outcomes,” said Philip Snalune, CEO and Co-Founder of Codio.

But while Snalune’s optimism is clear, the definition of “real improvements” in the context of controlled environments versus broader academic settings deserves scrutiny.

Codio’s study reveals that usage was highest in beginner and intermediate programming courses, where early frustrations often lead to dropout.

This could explain the doubled completion rates, as error-handling tools may help keep students engaged long enough to complete their coursework.

However, critics may argue that heavy reliance on AI, even for non-answer-based help, could create long-term dependencies, especially if students are not taught how to solve problems without intervention.

Codio Coach may indeed help students navigate the challenges of early coding education, especially when paired with the best laptops for students.

However, the claims of a 15% grade improvement, drawn from data within a closed system, do not settle the matter.

It’s one thing for an AI assistant to help students understand code, and it is another to prove lasting academic impact without unintended dependencies.

Nevertheless, Codio has shown that AI could be more context-aware, and this might just be what separates the best learning platform from the best AI writer.

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• Two-thirds of shoppers won’t let AI check out their cart, even for better deals
• Most people fear that AI is helping retailers more than it's helping them to make smart choices
• Customers want suggestions, not machines deciding what color, brand, or size to buy

As major tech and retail giants rush to integrate agentic AI into e-commerce, consumer sentiment remains cautious.

Top brands like Amazon, Google, Walmart, and Mastercard are pushing the boundaries with AI systems designed to act on behalf of shoppers.

However, it appears that most shoppers are saying “no thank you,” we do not need a machine to act on our behalf.

Consumer trust lags behind AI shopping ambitions

According to a survey by Omnisend, 66% of U.S. shoppers say they would not allow AI to make purchases for them, even if it meant securing better deals.

This resistance reflects not just hesitation about new technology, but a deeper mistrust of whose interests these AI tools actually serve.

“Consumers are open to AI enhancing their shopping experience, but there’s a world of difference between getting a smart recommendation and handing over the entire wallet,” says Bernard Meyer, e-commerce expert at Omnisend.

Agentic AI promises convenience by automating the selection and payment process.

In theory, this could streamline buying decisions, reduce time spent searching for deals, and even personalize orders, but many shoppers remain skeptical.

“Shoppers want to know exactly what they’re buying, whether it’s size, color, or brand. Trusting an agent to make those calls is still a leap. Especially when consumers suspect AI is working for the retailer, not them. Until that trust gap closes, AI will remain a product discovery tool.”

Nearly half of those surveyed, 48%, believe AI should focus on customer service improvements rather than transactional control.

Many feel AI’s current use prioritizes upselling rather than helping customers.

In fact, 42% see AI today as being mainly geared toward increasing sales rather than solving problems.

This perceived bias undermines confidence in AI agents and fuels concern over the erosion of independent choice.

Even the best online marketing tool or email marketing service might struggle with public perception if AI is seen as amplifying manipulation or exploiting user data for targeting.

In addition to trust, data privacy plays a significant role in the hesitation, and 58% of respondents said they were concerned about how AI handles their data.

If users fear these systems are aligned with commercial agendas rather than their interests, adoption may stall regardless of technical sophistication.

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Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Strands 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 Saturday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Saturday, June 28 (game #482).

Strands is the NYT's latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it's great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.

Want more word-based fun? Then check out my NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, and Marc's Wordle today page for the original viral word game.

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

NYT Strands today (game #483) - hint #1 - today's themeWhat is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… ... Hue are my sunshine

NYT Strands today (game #483) - hint #2 - clue words

Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.

• LINE
• ROLL
• BASIN
• HOUSE
• TRENCH
• SEEN

NYT Strands today (game #483) - hint #3 - spangram lettersHow many letters are in today's spangram?

• Spangram has 15 letters

NYT Strands today (game #483) - hint #4 - spangram positionWhat are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First side: left, 6th row

Last side: right, 6th row

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

NYT Strands today (game #483) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #483, are…

• BLUE
• GREEN
• VIOLET
• YELLOW
• INDIGO
• ORANGE
• SPANGRAM: CHASING RAINBOWS

• My rating: Easy
• My score: Perfect

Wow. Strands, I didn’t know you could do this. 

After a year or so of playing this game, it is really fun when something unexpected happens, like today’s color explosion – a tribute to International LGBT Pride Day yesterday, the NYC Pride March today and the six colors of the rainbow flag.

I must admit I really struggled to put together the spangram CHASING RAINBOWS seeing the whole thing in three stages – first rainbows, then sing, then chasing. All worth it, of course. 

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

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Saturday, June 28, game #482)

• REMOTE
• FLASHLIGHT
• CLOCK
• TOYS
• CAMERA
• SPANGRAM: BATTERIES REQUIRED

What is NYT Strands?

Strands is the NYT's not-so-new-any-more word game, following Wordle and Connections. It's now a fully fledged member of the NYT's games stable that has been running for a year and which can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

I've got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you're struggling to beat it each day.

Looking for a different day?

A new Quordle 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 Saturday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Saturday, June 28 (game #1251).

Quordle was one of the original Wordle alternatives and is still going strong now more than 1,100 games later. It offers a genuine challenge, though, so read on if you need some Quordle hints today – or scroll down further for the answers.

Enjoy playing word games? You can also check out my NYT Connections today and NYT Strands today pages for hints and answers for those puzzles, while Marc's Wordle today column covers the original viral word game.

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

Quordle today (game #1252) - hint #1 - VowelsHow many different vowels are in Quordle today?

• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 3*.

* Note that by vowel we mean the five standard vowels (A, E, I, O, U), not Y (which is sometimes counted as a vowel too).

Quordle today (game #1252) - hint #2 - repeated lettersDo any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?

• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 0.

Quordle today (game #1252) - hint #3 - uncommon lettersDo the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?

• No. None of Q, Z, X or J appear among today's Quordle answers.

Quordle today (game #1252) - hint #4 - starting letters (1)Do any of today's Quordle puzzles start with the same letter?

• The number of today's Quordle answers starting with the same letter is 2.

If you just want to know the answers at this stage, simply scroll down. If you're not ready yet then here's one more clue to make things a lot easier:

Quordle today (game #1252) - hint #5 - starting letters (2)What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• M

• A

• S

• S

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

Quordle today (game #1252) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1252, are…

• MIRTH
• APTLY
• SCRUB
• SMACK

A very difficult round today, with just one vowel in every word. 

Getting APTLY was my biggest triumph, but it took a while before I got there and only after experimenting with possible words that begin and end with the letter A.

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

Daily Sequence today (game #1252) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1252, are…

• RAVEN
• ARBOR
• DRUID
• PRICE

Quordle answers: The past 20

• Quordle #1251, Saturday, 28 June: AWOKE, SMOKY, DEVIL, SWING
• Quordle #1250, Friday, 27 June: SPEAK, EAGLE, AVERT, SUING
• Quordle #1249, Thursday, 26 June: SLUMP, REBUS, GUAVA, MONEY
• Quordle #1248, Wednesday, 25 June: SOGGY, CLASH, MODEM, SQUAD
• Quordle #1247, Tuesday, 24 June: QUALM, SQUIB, AXIAL, FLACK
• Quordle #1246, Monday, 23 June: PIXEL, FJORD, STEAL, EXIST
• Quordle #1245, Sunday, 22 June: WREST, CRAZE, PAPAL, SCION
• Quordle #1244, Saturday, 21 June: BUDDY, GROUT, BEGIN, MADAM
• Quordle #1243, Friday, 20 June: BRAID, DULLY, HASTE, LURID
• Quordle #1242, Thursday, 19 June: BRUSH, ISLET, FRUIT, PRIVY
• Quordle #1241, Wednesday, 18 June: MEDIA, SHARK, GUPPY, MOURN
• Quordle #1240, Tuesday, 17 June: LEAPT, PRISM, ADMIN, WHINE
• Quordle #1239, Monday, 16 June: RETRY, SCALD, DINGO, FEIGN
• Quordle #1238, Sunday, 15 June: SHOCK, STEIN, BROIL, COVEN
• Quordle #1237, Saturday, 14 June: STICK, FERRY, THESE, IONIC
• Quordle #1236, Friday, 13 June: REPEL, LARGE, SNIDE, CARRY
• Quordle #1235, Thursday, 12 June: SCANT, BATCH, UNDER, PARSE
• Quordle #1234, Wednesday, 11 June: CRAVE, ROOST, ANGLE, FLOOD
• Quordle #1233, Tuesday, 10 June: DECRY, CHEEK, FILET, EASEL
• Quordle #1232, Monday, 9 June: DERBY, LEMON, WRITE, HOVEL

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 Saturday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Saturday, June 28 (game #748).

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 #749) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• EARTHWORM
• FLOAT
• MUSHROOM
• MOONWALK
• STARTLE
• PUDDLE
• SUNDAE
• JUMP
• SHAKE
• ROBOT
• MUD
• FLOSS
• BOLT
• SPLIT
• CABBAGE PATCH
• JERK

NYT Connections today (game #749) - hint #1 - group hints

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

• YELLOW: Gelato delight
• GREEN: Surprise!
• BLUE: Shake a leg
• PURPLE: Post precipitation

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 #749) - hint #2 - group answers

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

• YELLOW: ICE CREAM TREATS
• GREEN: FLINCH
• BLUE: DANCE MOVES
• PURPLE: SEEN IN THE AFTERMATH OF A RAINSTORM

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

NYT Connections today (game #749) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #749, are…

• YELLOW: ICE CREAM TREATS FLOAT, SHAKE, SPLIT, SUNDAE
• GREEN: FLINCH BOLT, JERK, JUMP, STARTLE
• BLUE: DANCE MOVES CABBAGE PATCH, FLOSS, MOONWALK, ROBOT
• PURPLE: SEEN IN THE AFTERMATH OF A RAINSTORM EARTHWORM, MUD, MUSHROOM, PUDDLE

• My rating: Hard
• My score: 2 mistakes

There were so many possible DANCE MOVES in today’s Connections that I thought it could be a trap, but when I tried putting a dance craze group together I got “one away”, so persisted and got “one away” again.

I had no idea CABBAGE PATCH was a dance move, but I do think JERK and EARTHWORM are.

Instead, I switched to other groups and easily found ICE CREAM TREATS and FLINCH (dancing and flinching have a lot in common).

I arrived at the purple group though a process of elimination, but there is no way I would have gotten SEEN IN THE AFTERMATH OF A RAINSTORM any other way – MUD and PUDDLE, maybe, but I was unaware of the links between a MUSHROOM and some rainfall.

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

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Saturday, June 28, game #748)

• YELLOW: THINGS A DOG CAN FETCH BALL, BONE, FRISBEE, STICK
• GREEN: GREAT MANY DROVE, HOST, LOAD, SCORE
• BLUE: POSSIBLE RESULTS OF A TRAFFIC VIOLATION BOOT, POINTS, TICKET, TOW
• PURPLE: INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION INVENTORS BELL, DIESEL, SINGER, WATT

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.

It's an all-Brazilian clash in Philadelphia with a place in the quarterfinals up for grabs.

• Google expands Gemini AI access to students under 18, but with safeguards
• Includes AI literacy tools, fact-checking, and stricter content moderation
• It nevertheless raises new questions about AI's long-term role in global education systems

When calculators first entered classrooms, many worried they would weaken students’ math skills. The arrival of the internet and smartphones, brought similar fears about plagiarism and distraction - and now, AI tools are taking their turn in the spotlight.

With the rollout of Google’s Gemini app to all Google Workspace for Education users, including students under 18, those old concerns are resurfacing in a new form.

Gemini promises to assist with everything from lesson planning to real-time feedback, but its expansion also raises tough questions about AI’s long-term role in education and how it may reshape learning itself.

Stricter content policies

Google says the goal is to support creativity, learning, and responsible AI use, as Gemini includes LearnLM, a family of AI models tuned for education and developed with input from teaching experts.

These models are built to handle tasks like helping students brainstorm ideas, check their understanding, or generate practice materials.

For students under 18, Gemini has stricter content policies and AI literacy tools endorsed by groups like ConnectSafely and the Family Online Safety Institute.

First-time users are guided through onboarding content that explains how to use AI responsibly.

To reduce the risk of misinformation, Gemini includes a fact-checking feature. When a student asks a fact-based question, the tool runs a double-check response using Google Search.

This happens automatically the first time and can be triggered later by the student if needed.

Privacy and security have been stressed by Google in the rollout, saying Gemini for Education follows the same data protection terms as the rest of Workspace for Education.

In a nutshell, that means student data is not used to train AI models or reviewed by humans.

The app is also aligned with education and privacy regulations like FERPA, COPPA, HIPAA, and FedRAMP.

That said, some educators and parents remain unsure how AI will affect student engagement and thinking, and is something we’ve covered a lot previously.

Google Gemini may save time and boost productivity, but big questions remain about whether students could come to rely on it too heavily or whether it might shift how learning is assessed.

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• Get free Google AI Pro tools with select Acer Chromebook Plus models
• AI, storage, and video creation tools are completely free for one full year
• Offer includes 2TB storage and premium Gemini model access

If you're considering buying a new Chromebook, Acer has just come up with a compelling reason to look at its Plus range.

For a limited time (between now and February 1, 2026), select Acer Chromebook Plus models come bundled with $240 worth of Google AI services.

The eligible models are the Acer Chromebook Plus 514, 516, and Spin 714. The Google AI Pro plan unlocks access to Gemini 2.5 Pro, 2TB of cloud storage, and AI features inside Gmail, Docs, and other Google services.

Making AI tools more accessible

While you get a full free year of the Google AI Pro plan, it's worth mentioning that a $19.99 monthly subscription kicks in after the promotional period, so you’ll need to remember to cancel it if you don’t want to face ongoing charges.

Users also get NotebookLM, which helps with organizing and synthesizing research, and Flow, a video tool built to help with cinematic story creation. Flow is powered by Google’s Veo 3 Fast model, included as part of the same plan.

NotebookLM allows more depth in user sessions, offering five times the number of notebooks, queries, and source references compared to its free version. It’s aimed at making research and writing more manageable for students, professionals, or content creators.

The Chromebook Plus Spin 714 sports Intel Core Ultra processors and up to 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM. It includes a convertible form factor and stylus support.

The 514 (CB514-5H) offers up to an Intel Core 7 chip, paired with up to 16GB of LPDDR5X memory and 512GB of storage. The 514 (CB514-6H) runs on an Intel Core 3 N-series processor and also supports up to 16GB of RAM and 512GB NVMe SSD.

For those who need more screen space and power, the Chromebook Plus 516 includes up to an Intel Core 7 processor, 16GB of LPDDR5X memory, and 512GB of internal storage. All models support either Wi-Fi 6E or Wi-Fi 7 and come equipped with high-resolution QHD displays.

All of the Chromebook Plus devices also come with Google’s built-in AI tools, like Magic Eraser and AI-enhanced video calls.

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