Technology

• Colorware has launched two retro-themed AirPods redesigns
• They come in Mac-style cream and NeXT-inspired black
• The revamps are available for the AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro 2

Apple’s best AirPods are only available in white, which isn't surprising given Apple’s near obsession with minimalism. But if you want a bit more color in your earphones, Colorware has now started selling AirPods in a range of custom retro designs.

The Colorware AirPods Retro collection features two options: a Light design in matte cream, and a Dark version in matte black. They’re intended to mimic the look of classic Steve Jobs computers, with the former replicating the beige appearance of Apple Macs from the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, and the latter paying homage to the NeXT computers that Jobs worked on after he left Apple in 1985.

In both cases you’ll get rainbow-tinted highlights that nod to the rainbow logo Apple used for much of its early existence. Past Macs also incorporated this multicolored motif into their designs.

Colorware’s Retro Collection comprises revamps of the AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation and the AirPods Pro 2. You’ll pay $439 for the AirPods 4 version and $499 for the AirPods Pro edition. That’s a significant markup in each case, as these earphones normally cost $179 and $249, respectively.

Expanding the color palette

(Image credit: Colorware)

This isn’t the first time we’ve seen Colorware offering custom overhauls of Apple products. The company recently launched a range of skin-tone remakes for much of the AirPods range, and it also sells a retro-flavored Mac mini with similar stylings to the firm’s latest AirPods redesigns.

Unfortunately, this is one of the few ways you can add a splash of color to your AirPods. There are claims that Apple at one point considered selling AirPods in a variety of tones, but that never came to pass. Instead, you can have AirPods in any color you like, as long as it’s white.

Colorware’s souped-up earphones are a pricey way to inject a lick of paint into your audio life, but they’re certainly an eye-catching option. If you’ve been wanting to jazz up your AirPods and don’t mind paying a premium for the privilege, they might be worth a look.

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Savings accounts aren't the only place your money earns interest.

• Silent Hill 2 remake developer Bloober Team is continuing its partnership with Konami
• It will be working on a new project with Konami's intellectual property
• It could potentially be another Silent Hill remake

More Silent Hill remakes could be on the horizon as Silent Hill 2 remake developer Bloober Team is set to continue its partnership with Konami.

The continuation of the partnership was announced on Bloober Team's website (via GamesIndustry.biz). The post confirms that the Polish developer and Japanese publisher "are continuing their partnership, announcing the signing of a new agreement for a joint project. Following the massive success of the remake of one of the most highly anticipated psychological horror games - Silent Hill 2 - the developers are now focusing on a new game based on Konami's IP."

Bloober Team CEO Piotr Babieno stated that the partnership had been "incredibly fruitful," adding: "we can't reveal too many details at this time, but we are confident that fans will be just as excited about our collaboration as we are. We can't wait to share something truly special with players when the time is right."

At present, there's no information on what this new project is. But it does seem likely that Bloober Team could be set on delivering another remake - potentially for the 1999 original or its direct sequel Silent Hill 3. It could even be a wholly original Silent Hill title. In that case, it'd be interesting to see Bloober Team's take on the town within the confines of a brand new story.

At present, Bloober Team is working on a science fiction horror game called Cronos: The New Dawn. It'll be an original project from the developer, and is currently slated for release in 2025 for PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S and PC.

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• Elon Musk's DOGE is a Slack customer, Marc Benioff reveals
• Salesforce CEO says partnership shows closeness to US government
• Salesforce reports another successful financial quarter, with $10bn in quarterly revenues

The major recent cuts to the US government by Elon Musk's DOGE department are being co-ordinated using Slack, the CEO of parent company Salesforce has declared.

Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff confirmed DOGE is using the company's online collaboration platform to communicate and stay in touch.

“We have a lot to offer the government in terms of giving them opportunities to operate with more efficiency,” Benioff said in an interview held to mark the company's latest financial results. “The DOGE team is using Slack, which is very exciting.”

DOGE and Slack

Benioff, who said he is yet to meet Musk or President Trump, added DOGE offers a chance to “create a more automated and more efficient government over time.”

Salesforce has long been a significant software provider for the US government, with a recent report from the US Government Accountability Office claiming it is responsible for 8.70% of licences.

This is someway behind Microsoft, with 31.30%, but ahead of the likes of Oracle (6.96%), VMware (3.48%) and Cisco (3.48%).

Stephen Ehikian, currently acting administrator of the US General Services Administration, is a former Salesforce executive, and has said he will work closely with DOGE, suggesting further tie-ups could launch soon.

Benioff was speaking as Salesforce announced its results for Q4 2024 and full fiscal year ended January 31, 2025.

The company announced fourth quarter revenues of $10.0 billion, up 8% year on year, for a total FY25 revenues of $37.9 billion, up 9% year on year.

“We had an incredible quarter and year, with strong performance across all our key metrics, including the highest cash flow in our company’s history and more than $60 billion in RPO,” Benioff said in a press release accompanying the results.

“No company is better positioned than Salesforce to lead customers through the digital labor revolution. With our deeply unified platform, seamlessly integrating our Customer 360 apps, Data Cloud and Agentforce, we’re already delivering unprecedented levels of productivity, efficiency and cost savings for thousands of companies.”

Via Bloomberg

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Oscar Wilde once said, "Life imitates art far more than art imitates life." Let’s hope that isn’t true when it comes to the Netflix series Zero Day, which has just started airing. This political thriller stars Robert De Niro and Angela Bassett, whose characters lead the investigation and response efforts after a devastating cyberattack causes massive casualties, chaos and hardship across the United States.

Hollywood Taps into Our Fears

While audiences often joke that Hollywood keeps recycling the same storylines, writers have no trouble tapping into the public’s deepest fears. Over the past decade, we’ve seen countless films and TV shows explore unsettling topics like pandemics, EMP attacks and the existential threat of AI. As humans, we fear things that we don’t fully understand but that could pose a threat. That is because uncertainty breeds fear.

It’s only natural, then, that cyberattacks have become the latest fodder for gripping on-screen dramas. Even if the average Netflix viewer isn’t familiar with the technical details of how cyberattacks are carried out, they’re acutely aware of their growing frequency and severity. Millions of Americans have had their data exposed in attacks, and while they may not fully understand what ransomware is, they know it isn’t good.

Could Such an Attack Really Happen?

While the critical reception of Zero Day remains to be seen, one thing is certain: viewers will debate the plausibility of the events unfolding on their screens. Could a devastating attack like that actually happen? It’s technically possible, but the risk is similar to the remote chance of a civilization-ending asteroid strike (a scenario that has itself inspired more than one movie).

Why? Well, while it is one thing to bring down the business operations of a single entity such as Colonial Pipeline, MGM Resorts or Halliburton, executing a coordinated attack on an entire nation's critical infrastructure is an entirely different challenge. There are multiple reasons:

1. A broadscale attack would require a vastly more complex and coordinated effort. Critical infrastructure organizations include everything from power plants to transportation networks to healthcare providers, and these sectors employ different security protocols, procedures and technologies. Therefore, it would be very difficult for attackers to develop a one-size-fits-all approach.

2. Unlike a single organization, national infrastructure is managed by a mix of public and private entities, making it harder to exploit a common vulnerability.

3. Many critical infrastructure systems have built-in redundancies and resilience measures to withstand localized failures or attacks, making it more difficult to cause widespread disruption.

Other Deterrents: Time, Scale and Retaliation

Let's consider possible initiators for such an attack. Today, only the largest cybercriminal groups may have the skills and resources for it. However, they are driven by financial gain. They would see no sense in investing their efforts with seemingly no future benefit while having dozens of proven methods to monetize their activities, from business email compromise to ransomware attacks.

Another possible threat actor, hacktivists driven by social or political agendas, may have enough motivation, but they have no resources for a large-scale coordinated effort spanning multiple years. The Netflix screenplay writers will surely come up with an unexpected twist in the plot, but in reality, it could only be a nation-state cyber operation.

Cyberattacking another nation’s civilian infrastructure is an assault on all its citizens. In today's digital world, such a move would be considered an act of war and spur an intense global manhunt for the perpetrators. While some nation-states eagerly perform espionage and reconnaissance campaigns, the stakes would be too high for any of them to risk the wrath of a superpower with a wealth of responses in their arsenal. The potential for escalation to conventional warfare serves as a powerful deterrent against any large-scale cyberattacks.

Reducing Risk Remains Imperative

Even though the odds of a devastating asteroid collision are remote, NASA still actively works to mitigate the risk through planetary defense initiatives. Similarly, even though a cyberattack like the one depicted in Zero Day is unrealistic, it’s essential for critical infrastructure organizations to continue bolstering their defense and response postures.

Fortunately, governments worldwide are not leaving these organizations to fend for themselves when it comes to cybersecurity. National-level critical infrastructure is now under continuous monitoring by government agencies and specialized security organizations to speed threat detection and response. In the U.S., the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) plays a key role in overseeing cybersecurity efforts and coordinating protections across both public and private sectors, helping to ensure that critical systems are fortified against evolving threats.

In addition, government agencies and critical infrastructure organizations have worked together to establish emergency response teams capable of quickly isolating and neutralizing widespread cyber threats.

The Bottom Line

Hollywood excels at creating TV shows and movies that explore “what if” scenarios, and cybersecurity is a natural topic to inspire writers today. There’s an old adage that “TV holds up a mirror to our society.” In the case of Zero Day, this is only partly true: The show does provide a solid representation of public fear around cyberattacks, but it does not accurately reflect the reality that such a devastating incident is actually highly improbable.

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This article was produced as part of TechRadarPro's Expert Insights channel where we feature the best and brightest minds in the technology industry today. The views expressed here are those of the author and are not necessarily those of TechRadarPro or Future plc. If you are interested in contributing find out more here: https://www.techradar.com/news/submit-your-story-to-techradar-pro

• Invincible season 3's final two episodes could be the show's most brutal entries yet
• Episode 6's mid-credits scene teases why this will be the case
• Long-time Invincible fans will know what to expect from episodes 7 and 8

Invincible season 3's final two episodes are fast approaching, and it appears that its seventh and eighth chapters will be the show's most devastating since the show's season 1 finale.

I'm not being hyperbolic, either. The adult animated series' latest episode, titled 'All I Can Say Is I'm Sorry', is one of the numerous Invincible episodes that have a mid- and/or post-credits scene. But, while many of its siblings' mid- and post-credits scenes have teased calamitous incidents to come, season 3 episode 6's mid-credits stinger hints that two of the graphic novel series' most brutal events will play out before this season ends.

Full spoilers immediately follow for Invincible season 3 and the comic books it's based on.

If Mark thought he already had it bad in season 3, he's seen nothing yet (Image credit: Amazon MGM Studios/Prime Video)

Let's start with episode 6's mid-credits sequence. As Eve consoles Mark for what seems like the umpteenth time this season, the camera pulls back to reveal that the pair are being watched. Indeed, a spherical drone, one that's identical in design to the one that was spying on Mark and his family in season 3 episode 3, is seen hovering at a distance.

That episode already dropped a huge clue that one of Mark's biggest nemeses would return in one of the best Prime Video shows' third season. It's not until 'All I Can Say Is I'm Sorry', though, that the the shock reveal is made: yep, none other than Angstrom Levy is the individual who's been surveilling Mark and his loved ones.

*SPOILERS* #INVINCIBLE #InvincibleSeason3 Angstrom Levy tease at the end of Episode 3! pic.twitter.com/ZHjxMuQOv6February 7, 2025

Non-comic book readers may be stunned that Levy is back from the dead. However, as I discussed in my Invincible season 2 part 2 ending explainer piece, Mark didn't kill him. I mean, that much is obvious now, isn't it?

Anyway, you might be thinking that Levy's return (you'll most likely find out how he survived in season 3 episode 7) spells danger for Mark and all those he holds dear in the Amazon TV Original – and you'd be right. However, they're not the only ones whose lives may be at risk from the cybernetically-enhanced Levy because of the company he now keeps.

*SPOILERS* #INVINCIBLESeason3The Alternate Mark Graysons are finally here! #INVINCIBLE pic.twitter.com/89t5p52jJ9February 27, 2025

After Angstrom rises from the seat of his secret lair, he walks towards a group of individuals who look exactly like Mark Grayson, aka the eponymous superhero. Levy utters the line "this will do" as a wide shot reveals a bunch of multiversal Invincibles.

Invincible devotees, myself included, have known this reveal has been coming. For those who have been introduced to the Invincible franchise via its Prime Video adaptation, though, the signs have been there since season 3 began. Indeed, Invincible's third season has been laying the groundwork for one of the comics' bloodiest battles since its premiere. The evidence for Mark's multiversal variants' arrival? Season 3's new title sequence, which you can remind yourself of in the X/Twitter post above.

So, what's all of this leading to? For one, The Invincible War. You can read more about that cataclysmic event in the article I linked to in the previous paragraph.

"If you choose to oppose me, you will not survive" (Image credit: Image Comics)

That's not all, though. In the immediate aftermath of that potentially world-ending incident that claims the lives of millions, including some of Mark's fellow heroes – now you know why I'm worried for Rex and Rae after that sweet episode 5 scene – an injured and distraught Mark is forced to defend planet Earth from another terrifying and destructive threat. That'll be the monstrous Viltrumite warrior known as Conquest, who's rumored to be voiced by Breaking Bad alumnus Jonathan Banks, i.e. one of nine new actors who were officially announced as part of Invincible season 3's voice cast in January.

I'll refrain from spoiling anything else about The Invincible War and the Mark-Conquest showdown because, for non-graphic novel readers, they're best experienced without knowing what'll happen. One last piece of advice, though: have a box of tissues ready, because you're going to need them.

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• Final ZE3000 SV launch today, for $99.99 / £89.99 (about AU$180)
• New 10mm dynamic drivers with pressure optimization and ANC
• 7-band EQ, gaming mode and multi-point pairing

Underrated audio expert Final Audio has announced a new version of its ZE3000 true wireless earbuds, the Final ZE3000 SV. These aren't just a minor refresh: they've got brand new drivers and active noise cancelling too.

We like Final's headphones a lot, but they're not as well-known as they should be. The Final Audio UX3000 over-ears got the full five stars in our review and so did the affordable wired in-ears, the Final VR500. And we gave the Final ZE8000 MK2 earbuds four and a half stars out of five. So I'm intrigued by these, because they're promising a lot of performance for not very much money.

The new earbuds feature new 10mm drivers, Final's f-Core SV. (Image credit: Final Audio) Final ZE3000 SV: key features and pricing

There are three key new features in these buds. The first is the new f-Core SV drivers, which are 10mm dynamic drivers – a significant increase from the previous 6mm drivers. Final says that the drivers have been designed to fully utilize the acoustic space inside the earbuds "without the need for equalization."

The second new feature is called the f-LINK Port. It's been carefully created to optimize the pressure inside the earbuds while still retaining waterproofing, and Final promises serious bass as a result.

And thirdly there's Comfort ANC, Final's latest version of active noise cancellation. The promise here is effective ANC without that weird pressure feeling you can sometimes get from ANC buds.

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The new buds will be available from today, February 27, with a price tag of $99.99 / £89.99 / about AU$180 – we look forward to seeing how they compare to the best budget earbuds soon.

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Ransomware has been becoming an increasingly common problem in recent years for organizations, regardless of size, sector or location. Indeed, Netwrix’s 2024 Hybrid Security Trends Report revealed that malware attacks like ransomware are one the three most common types of security incidents that organizations experienced in the last year. According to the Information Commissioner’s Office report, in 2023 organizations in Britain reported more data breaches due to ransomware attacks than ever before.

In response to this threat, proposals to make ransomware payments illegal have been gaining traction. For example, earlier this year, Ciaran Martin, ex-CEO of the UK National Cyber Security Centre, called for a ransomware payment ban. The reasoning is that if ransomware payments were illegal, organizations would stop making them, so malicious actors would no longer have an incentive to carry out ransomware attacks.

But is this approach really a viable solution to the scourge of ransomware?

The moral imperative in some ransomware situations

Ransomware is clearly different from cases of physical extortion like kidnapping and hostage situations. But a ransomware attack can still pose a serious danger to human lives. Notably, an attack on critical national infrastructure (CNI), such as hospitals and other healthcare facilities, can put patients’ lives at risk. In June 2024, Synnovis, a blood test provider for major London hospitals, fell victim to a ransomware attack that resulted in cancellation or postponing over 1600 operations and outpatient appointments. In such cases, it’s much harder to say that paying the ransom should be prohibited by law.

Moreover, cybercriminals quickly adapt to changing circumstances. If legal limitations are put into effect, threat actors will likely find ways to overcome them quite swiftly. Ultimately, banning ransom payments could push business leaders into further moral conundrums while under pressure.

The possibility of reduced reporting of ransomware incidents

In July the UK Government announced their intention to introduce mandatory reporting of all ransomware incidents as a part of the Cyber Security and Resilience Bill. Thus, the Government prioritized transparency of the ransomware incidents over an attempt to completely ban them.

Indeed, a well-executed ransomware attack can potentially hinder the victim’s business operations to the point of near bankruptcy. Under the proposed new regulations, decision-makers would be expected to report the incident and not pay the ransom. But would they take that path, given that their livelihood, and the livelihood of many others within the organization, hang in the balance? Or might some organizations choose to pay the ransom without informing government agencies of the attack?

We have to remember that the latter option is a viable choice, and it has ramifications beyond the organization that makes it. Not reporting the incident reduces visibility in cybercriminals' activity, which in turn affects the ability of law enforcement and software vendors to take appropriate steps in response. Without all the information, addressing the challenge of ransomware will become much more difficult.

The banking industry experience — a better way forward?

Various risks are inherent in the nature of the banking industry, and the sector has developed ways to mitigate them. For example, years ago, the main threat was a physical bank robbery, so banks reduced cash handling and installed security cameras, alarm systems and, finally, time-lock safes. Adopting the right security measures is still essential for banks to keep their licenses today.

Following this example, governments could create cybersecurity benchmarks and make risk mitigation strategies the norm for other high-risk industries like energy, manufacturing and healthcare. With standards in place, organizations would have appropriate guidance for establishing an efficient strategy against the threat of ransomware.

Additionally, law enforcement worldwide has a crucial role to play when it comes to collaborating to take down ransomware networks. The recent dismantling of the ransomware gang LockBit performed by the National Crime Agency, FBI, and international partners from nine other countries proves the effectiveness of such collaboration. Government institutions from all over the world released a cybersecurity advisory that summarized LockBit’s tools and tactics. That work resulted in the group's attack assets being seized, which has made it difficult for them to operate.

Looking ahead: how to combat the threat of ransomware

Ransomware continues to cause significant damage to organizations worldwide, and it is natural for governments to consider legislation that could help reduce the threat. However, denying victim companies the option of paying a ransom to restore their data and operations is not a practical solution. Instead, organizations must prioritize improving their cybersecurity measures, while government departments should increase their vigilance, assistance and investigations.

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This article was produced as part of TechRadarPro's Expert Insights channel where we feature the best and brightest minds in the technology industry today. The views expressed here are those of the author and are not necessarily those of TechRadarPro or Future plc. If you are interested in contributing find out more here: https://www.techradar.com/news/submit-your-story-to-techradar-pro

Staying in shape and multitasking at home is easier than ever. Here are my thoughts on under-desk treadmills.

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• xAI’s Grok 3 chatbot has added a voice mode with multiple personalities
• One personality is called “unhinged” and will scream and insult you
• Grok also has personalities for NSFW roleplay, crazy conspiracies, and an “Unlicensed Therapist” mode

AI voice assistants are usually polite, informative, and calm when they respond to you. xAI’s Grok 3 has apparently decided to set that strategy on fire, sending it literally screaming into the void.

Grok 3 has multiple voice options, each with a distinct personality, including an “unhinged” option that will yell, insult, and indeed scream at you before shutting down in the right circumstances.

AI developer Riley Goodside showcased just how wild the unhinged voice for Grok 3 can be in a recording where he repeatedly interrupts Grok’s responses. The AI soon becomes frustrated and finally snaps, letting out a disturbingly long, horror-movie-worthy shriek. It then throws in a final insult before cutting the call. A masterpiece of customer service, this is not. You can hear it in the clip below.

Grok 3 Voice Mode, following repeated, interrupting requests to yell louder, lets out an inhuman 30-second scream, insults me, and hangs up pic.twitter.com/5GtdDtpKceFebruary 24, 2025

Voice of the unhinged

The “unhinged” personality is just one of several that Grok’s new voice mode offers. There’s also “Storyteller,” which does exactly what it sounds like; “Conspiracy,” which is really into Sasquatch and alien abductions; and “Unlicensed Therapist,” a personality that apparently failed the exams, possibly over a lack of empathy.

Then there’s “Sexy” mode, which is labeled 18+ and, unlike the voice settings of competitors like ChatGPT, does not shy away from full-on roleplaying NSFW scenarios. So, Grok will scream at you or whisper sweet nothings into your ear, depending on your preference.

It's a vision of AI that may not appeal to everyone. That said, it completely aligns with how CEO Elon Musk described xAI's goals in countering what he claims are overly sanitized and politically correct AI models from companies like OpenAI. While OpenAI’s ChatGPT has a voice feature, it’s still programmed to maintain a neutral, controlled demeanor. Grok, on the other hand, is unpredictable. It doesn’t just let you talk over it; it may react aggressively or emotionally. Not that you'd notice in the official promotions, however.

Try Grok voice conversation mode!Requires a Premium+ or SuperGrok subscription. pic.twitter.com/247Ev60DoJFebruary 24, 2025

Most mainstream AI tools have strict guidelines about content, particularly around "adult" topics. Grok 3 has seemingly been programmed with the opposite philosophy, except for when the company decides the model needs to be "corrected" in claims about the CEO.

Of course, this approach isn’t without controversy. AI personalities like “Unlicensed Therapist” could easily give people misleading or unhelpful advice, while a chatbot that openly encourages conspiracy theories seems like it could go off the rails quickly. And the “Sexy” mode? Well, that’s another ethical discussion that few would expect to have regarding mainstream AI tools. There’s also the question of how much of this is genuinely useful versus just pure spectacle. Very loud spectacle.

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Almost all of the time spent during Amazon’s February 26, 2025, ‘Devices and Services’ event was on Alexa Plus. It’s the glow-up we’ve been waiting for, seemingly making Alexa much more natural, leagues smarter, and potentially invaluably helpful.

Even so, at the center of all the demos – including the ones led by Devices lead Panos Panay – was one device, the Echo Show 21. It’s the biggest smart display from Amazon and the largest touchscreen Alexa interface, supporting an all-new Alexa Plus user interface (UI) at launch.

Both of those attributes likely made it easier to demonstrate Alexa’s new tricks to a large audience on stage and in demo rooms, but even so, it speaks to Amazon’s bigger ambitions. With Alexa Plus, you can talk more conversationally, interrupting it when necessary just like you would when talking to another person, all without repeating the wake word.

(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)

But it’s also a touch-first experience – now more than ever. When you ask Alexa to call an Uber or another rideshare service for your friend from Newark Airport in New Jersey to an office in New York City, Alexa will read out the first option. However, you can also tap to select whichever ride level is best for your needs to speed up the interaction.

The same goes for asking Alexa to check if anyone walked the dog – it can pull up all the recent Ring video alerts where a dog was pictured. Rather than waiting for it to cycle through them all, you can swipe with a finger along the bottom of the screen UI. As impressive as chatting with the new Alexa is, the interface was designed with touch in mind.

Further, Amazon will give you first dibs on trying Alexa Plus – well, access to the service during the initial rollout phase – if you have a household with an Echo Show 8, 10, 15, or 21. Keep in mind that you’ll need to be in the United States with a Prime membership or pay $19.99 a month.

The screen part of the Alexa experience is more critical than ever before. It’s not just for showing a weather graphic depicting the conditions outside or for displaying a fun GIF when you ask Alexa for a joke. Your Echo Show isn’t even just for streaming a TV show or movie from Prime Video. Beyond just chatting it up with Alexa, Amazon wants you to interact with Alexa Plus with touch.

That’s almost a retraining, and one that is ideal for Amazon – or at least, I think if you ask them – to put the importance of getting an Echo Show in your home at the highest spot on the list. I already find the Echo Show handy. It's a multipurpose screen that potentially lets you put your phone away. With the Echo Show 21 and Alexa Plus, as you ask for help ordering groceries, making dinner reservations, or even securing concert tickets, you can have a natural conversation with the AI and jump in touch when necessary.

(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)

And even if you only have an Echo Show in the kitchen or mounted on the wall in a hallway, it can always be the central device for your queries. Let’s say you really want to get tickets for Bruce Springsteen on his upcoming European tour or for Sabrina Carpenter – I mean, we all want to hear Busy Woman live – you can start by asking Alexa Plus on an Echo Dot for tickets, but rather than hear a laundry list of all the available sections, you say, "Show it to me on my Echo Show (or even Kitchen Echo, if that’s where it is)" and from there you can scroll and see visuals of all the seat locations. That could be really handy, plus you get the added benefits of a larger screen Echo.

It’s part of Amazon’s larger play here: to get an Echo screen into everyone’s home. I’m for it, especially after seeing the experience of ordering Amazon Fresh and letting Alexa Plus do some of the heavy lifting. That’s awesome, but it’s also the smarter reminders and the fact that it doubles as a TV, a shared calendar, and so much more.

It also fits in with the strategy of other brands. Samsung comes to mind first, as they famously push the idea of a screen everywhere, from an actual TV to a screen in, say, your fridge, stove, and dryer or washer. That tech giant won’t make a smart display, but Apple, on the other hand, is rumored to be entering this category with a device that could mark a major win for its Home ecosystem, which has had its speed bumps.

(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)

Amazon has a unique opportunity to actually end up with a screen in most of its users' homes, though. It’s long offered an Echo Show in various sizes, with the 5 and 8 being some of the most affordable, so there’s a good chance you might already have one. Alexa Plus will likely excite you with an AI infusion that is set to be way more natural and make the smart home easy to control – advanced routines and all – in a device that isn’t a phone.

@techradar

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• 7 genuinely useful Alexa Plus features that might make it my go-to AI assistant

I don't want to overstate things but, between us, Alexa Plus may be the Alexa you've been waiting for. Amazon unveiled its massive digital assistant overhaul, which makes the platform smarter, more conversational, more personal, proactive, and a true doer. I might've considered this all a bit of hype if I hadn't seen so many live demos and, yes, even tried it out for myself.

Alexa Plus is Amazon's first attempt at a true generative AI system that can respond to natural language prompts, retain context, remember facts about you and your life, and quickly solve prompts that range from building grocery lists to figuring out if anyone has walked the family dog.

After Amazon CEO Andy Jassy gave us a deep model dive and Amazon Devices head Panos Panay and other execs walked us through the details of the new Alexa Plus (along with Alexa.com and the new app), Amazon walked me through a series of demos that illustrated the platforms new, and formidable AI powers. Executives tell me that the device manages its queries locally on device and in the cloud. The decision depends on complexity, and those requiring AI models will largely be in the cloud.

(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff) Finally, a truly smart home

The Alexa Plus smart home demo was a true eye-opener from an impact standpoint. Amazon Alexa VP Scott Durhan showed us on an Echo Show (all demos were on the 21-inch smart display) how he could say to Alexa, "I've been away on business, can I see a quick summary of what's happened in the house while I was away?" Alexa Plus works with Ring (also owned by Amazon) and uses the platform's new smart video search (a premium service) to quickly find video snapshots from around the home that are within that time frame.

One of the hallmarks of the new Alexa Plus is its ability to maintain context and answer follow-up questions. Durham asked if his dog had gotten walks in that time frame, and Alexa Plus returned videos showing when the dog was taken outside. Durham, notably, did not have to repeat Alexa's name or spell out every detail of what he wanted in the prompt (they call this old way of engaging with the digital assistant "Alexa Speak") to add details like the fact that he owns a dog or its name.

Durham had shared that information previously with Alexa Plus, and it was remembered and integrated into the system.

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One of my frustrations with the current Alexa platform is that, even when you use the app, it is still incredibly difficult to set up away routines. I want to just speak to Alexa and make it happen. Durham showed me how you can now simply describe what you want, "I'm gonna be away for a week, can you create a routine so that the lights kind of come on and look like someone's home." A moment later, Alexa Plus created an "Away Mode Lights 7PM-to-9PM" routine. That was simple and effective.

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There's also the long-standing issue of naming smart gadgets in the home and Alexa not responding properly unless you use that exact name in your query. Alexa Plus doesn't seem to mind some significant vagueness. You can tell it that you want it to turn off a light in the sitting room, and it will turn off the light in that room, which is called "Sofa Light," even though you didn't call it by name.

I only hope that Alexa Plus works as well in the real world (read "my smart home").

Let's go shopping

We also got a look at Alexa Plus' upcoming grocery feature, which can work with Amazon Fresh (among other grocers) to build meal plans and grocery lists based on skeletal information.

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I told Alexa Plus that I wanted to build a dinner for vegetarians who like meat-like products. Soon, I had dishes using ingredients like Beyond Meat. When I asked for side dishes that would work, it remembered the vegetarian aspect and found foods like corn on the cob and vegetarian cole slaw.

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Alexa Plus can then quickly take those recipes and spin up a shopping list that you can alter by tapping the screen or asking it to change specific grocery items. Alexa Plus' ability to stay in the moment was remarkable.

Sucking in docs and details

Alexa Plus can also read documents you email to alexa@alexa.com. Sending Alexa one of your emails may seem odd and a bit of a privacy issue, but assuming you trust Amazon, it's easy enough to do.

We saw how when you mail Alexa an email describing an upcoming tennis match (you can also send PDFs, Word Docs, and TXT files), Alexa Plus can identify that there's an event and automatically add it to your calendar, which will appear on the Echo Show. If the doc has multiple events, Alexa Plus will email you back and ask which one you want to add. We saw how you can query Alexa Plus and ask, "Where is my first match?"

If there's a small detail you need from the email, you can ask about that and then tell Alexa Plus to memorize it and remind you if you need any equipment for the match.

Naturally, Amazon execs showed us how easy it is to go from talking about the match to asking Alexa Plus to help you find a new tennis racquet. It can even watch for deals on the racquet of your choice. For now, this only works with Amazon and not third-party retailers.

(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff) That's entertainment

One of the most entertaining demos was using Alexa Plus to discover and find music and movies with only scant information.

Watching this demo, I felt like Amazon must have been listening in on conversations between me and my wife, where we try to describe a movie or TV show to each other: "It has that guy in from Dawson's Creek, but he's on a boat...?"

I watched as Alexa Plus deftly handled piecemeal prompts like, "What is the song that Phoebe thinks is about Tony Danza?" Alexa Plus knew it was "Hold Me Closer Tiny Dancer" and we were referring to the Friends episode where Phoebe thinks it's about the Who's the Boss? star.

We went through a series of movie prompts that reminded me of Jeopardy! questions where we failed to stump Alexa Plus.

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Alexa Plus is not just smart about entertainment; it's also pretty good at managing how you enjoy it in ways that make customization dead simple.

We started on an Echo show that was "in the kitchen" and asked Alexa to play "The song at the end of The Breakfast Club" in the Living Room (an Echo Studio). Then we asked it to switch the music to the living room (another Echo Studio on the other side of the demo space). Finally, the exec told Alexa Plus that he was going "to do some dishes, move it there," and Alexa Plus shifted the music to the Echo Show in the "kitchen."

From accurately guessing "Don't You Forget About Me," to deftly moving the music around without all the specific details it usually takes, Alexa Plus AI-powered entertainment skills appear formidable.

Exciting but

It was a series of impressive demos, but I do have questions about privacy and support for screenless Echos. Amazon has already confirmed that not every Echo ever made will support Alexa Plus (they'll still work with the original Alexa), but I do wonder what the experience will be like on smart speakers.

The Ring integration is exciting, but you have to pay for that video feature. Otherwise, queries about activities over the last two weeks might come up with nothing.

I am glad Amazon is including Alexa Plus in Amazon Prime. It's hard to imagine paying $19.99 a month for the privilege of using it.

I also wonder just how much of Anthropic's Claude is at work here. Amazon called them a partner, but are we still talking to Alexa, or is this now Claude in Alexa Plus clothing?

Even so, this is the change Alexa desperately needed, and I think it's safe to say that Amazon has officially entered the consumer AI race.

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