Technology

• Meet Sirius, an AI-based programmable and customizable robotic dog companion
• You can train Sirius to perform tricks and upload different voice packs
• Its available worldwide, with pre-orders starting today

From early sci-fi heroes like K9 in Dr Who, or Muffit in the original Battlestar Galactica, robot dogs have long been a staple of TV and films, but despite the predictions of every futurist from the last 30 to 50 years, household robots or robot pets still haven’t become commonplace in 2025, unless you count the best robot vacuum cleaners.

The history of robo-dogs goes back a long way. Sony was one of the first companies to really get into making robot dogs with its Aibo range, which was first released in 1999 in Japan, but, while still for sale ($2,899.99!), seems to have gone quiet of late.

There have been others since then, like the Minted Dog-E, but with all the advancements in AI that are going on at the moment, it seems inevitable that intelligent robotic dogs would be making a comeback.

The latest robo dog to try to nuzzle its way into our lives is Sirius, from Hengbot. Sirius is an AI-based programmable and customizable robotic dog designed to become your faithful digital pal.

Emotionally intelligent

It’s the AI that really makes Sirius different from previous robo dogs. Described as "emotionally intelligent”, Sirius has its own personality and can mimic the movements of real dogs like jumping, stretching, and even dancing.

Sirius can handle voice recognition, natural language processing, and image recognition. It can even understand your gestures. You can teach it tricks, sync gestures with voice commands, and even upload custom facial expressions.

At roughly 10 inches tall, Sirius is about the size of a chihuahua. It’s not too heavy either, with a 1KG frame constructed from aerospace-grade alloy for fast, responsive actions. Inside its AI brain, Sirius has up to 5 TOPS of edge computing power and comes with USB-C peripheral expansion and a powerful 2250mAh battery that offers a promised 40-to-60 minutes of play time.

(Image credit: Hengbot)A new robotic species

“With Sirius, we didn’t just build a robot, we created the first of a new kind of robotic species,” said Peiheng Song, CEO at Hengbot. “Powered by our Neurocore system, Sirius marks the start of a growing universe of intelligent, customizable robots designed to bring your imagination to life.”

Sirius is designed to be easy to customize and program, whether you’re a curious kid, first-time robot owner, or a tech-savvy developer.

It utilizes a game-like visual editor that you can use to choreograph dance routines, teach Sirius custom tricks, or train, with no coding required.

What do you think? Is Sirius the sort of robot you'd be happy to have roaming around your home? Let us know in the comments below.

Sirius is now available for pre-order at Hengbot.com with a basic model starting at $1299 with free worldwide shipping. General availability is expected in Fall 2025.

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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 Thursday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Thursday, June 26 (game #1249).

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 #1250) - hint #1 - VowelsHow many different vowels are in Quordle today?

• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 4*.

* 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 #1250) - hint #2 - repeated lettersDo any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?

• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 1.

Quordle today (game #1250) - 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 #1250) - 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 #1250) - hint #5 - starting letters (2)What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• S

• E

• A

• S

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

Quordle today (game #1250) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1250, are…

• SPEAK
• EAGLE
• AVERT
• SUING

There are dozens of five-letter words that include the letters E, A, R, and T, so I am going to give myself a break in not guessing AVERT.

There is something about the letter V that I find difficult, as it’s always the last possibility I think of and even I was trying to see if “apert” was a word before I got there.

We all have our Quordle quirks, I suppose. 

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

Daily Sequence today (game #1250) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1250, are…

• BRAID
• CABBY
• ADAGE
• MEALY

Quordle answers: The past 20

• 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
• Quordle #1231, Sunday, 8 June: REBAR, ALERT, PAYEE, FLUME
• Quordle #1230, Saturday, 7 June: FLUNK, ESTER, SPITE, CHEAP

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 Thursday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Thursday, June 26 (game #746).

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 #747) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• COUNT
• HARP
• BIRD
• WINGS
• CHIC
• GROUCH
• BLUES
• MARX
• MONSTER
• ROBE
• CHEMICAL
• CURRENT
• BLOOD
• FRESH
• HALO
• HAPPENING

NYT Connections today (game #747) - hint #1 - group hints

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

• YELLOW: Vogue
• GREEN: Heaven sent
• BLUE: Jim Henson creations
• PURPLE: Bros

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 #747) - hint #2 - group answers

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

• YELLOW: IN FASHION 
• GREEN: PARTS OF AN ANGEL COSTUME 
• BLUE: "SESAME STREET" FIGURES 
• PURPLE: BROTHERS

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

NYT Connections today (game #747) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #747, are…

• YELLOW: IN FASHION CHIC, CURRENT, FRESH, HAPPENING
• GREEN: PARTS OF AN ANGEL COSTUME HALO, HARP, ROBE, WINGS
• BLUE: "SESAME STREET" FIGURES BIRD, COUNT, GROUCH, MONSTER
• PURPLE: BROTHERS BLOOD, BLUES, CHEMICAL, MARX

• My rating: Easy
• My score: Perfect

My enjoyment at whizzing through today’s puzzle without any mistakes is tempered by the fact that I didn’t get the BROTHERS group.

My reasoning for not putting the purple quartet together is that I initially thought that the inclusion of GROUCH, HARP and MARX indicated some kind of trap. But even with that possibility eliminated I still saw everything else before the link between Marx, BLUES, CHEMICAL and BLOOD.

I am sure there will be some players who prickle at the idea of angels having a “costume”. It doesn’t feel right somehow, although saying uniform would be a little more contentious.

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

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Thursday, June 26, game #746)

• YELLOW: COMPONENTS OF A SALAD CHEESE, DRESSING, LETTUCE, PROTEIN
• GREEN: KINDS OF MACHINES ENIGMA, PINBALL, SEWING, VENDING
• BLUE: LEGAL DRAMAS DAMAGES, GOLIATH, MATLOCK, SUITS
• PURPLE: ENDING WITH PLAYING CARDS BOJACK, HAWKING, LOVELACE, MCQUEEN

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.

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 Thursday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Thursday, June 26 (game #480).

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

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Playing dirty

NYT Strands today (game #481) - hint #2 - clue words

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

• SOLD
• FUNK
• LOVE
• RIFT
• FAKE 
• STUCK

NYT Strands today (game #481) - hint #3 - spangram lettersHow many letters are in today's spangram?

• Spangram has 11 letters

NYT Strands today (game #481) - hint #4 - spangram positionWhat are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First side: bottom, 5th column

Last side: right, 4th row

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

NYT Strands today (game #481) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #481, are…

• SHOVEL
• BUCKET
• TRUCK
• FUNNEL
• MOLD
• RAKE
• SIFTER
• SPANGRAM: SANDBOX TOYS

• My rating: Easy
• My score: Perfect

Today’s theme went over my head a little. After finding BUCKET and SHOVEL in quick succession, my mind went to construction site rather than SANDBOX TOYS, but I guess it works both ways.

A right-to-left spangram always plays with my mind a little bit and for extra fun today we had a yellow snake that took the unusual bottom-to-side route.

Apart from that, the biggest challenge was finding some words to include in the hints list – a sure sign that this particular edition was a little too easy.

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

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Thursday, June 26, game #480)

• TURKEY
• QUAIL
• GOOSE
• PARTRIDGE
• GROUSE
• PHEASANT
• SPANGRAM: GAME BIRDS

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.

• Leaked foldable iPhone specs suggest it could have two 48MP cameras
• That's fewer cameras than rival foldables, and far fewer megapixels than at least one upcoming rival's camera might have
• The leak also details screen and construction specs

While there have been numerous leaks about the foldable iPhone, until now, we hadn't heard all that much about its cameras, apart from the fact that there will likely be two of them. Now, though, we have a better idea of the iPhone Fold's megapixel credentials.

According to leaker Digital Chat Station (via @Jukanlosreve), the foldable iPhone is "expected" to have a pair of 48MP cameras. They don’t specify what type of cameras these will be, but previous leaks point to wide and ultra-wide snappers, with no telephoto to speak of.

But if that’s the case, then the foldable iPhone might not impress camera fans, nor tempt them away from rival handsets. After all, both the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 and the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold have triple-lens cameras, with wide, ultra-wide, and telephoto lenses, respectively.

Apple foldable info:Specs haven’t been finalized yet.The most recent test version features a display around 7.58 inches with a 2713x1920 resolution and a 14.1:10 aspect ratio.It’s expected to have dual 48MP cameras, a hinge made of a more durable amorphous metal glass… pic.twitter.com/kBQMor0SxgJune 26, 2025

And while the foldable iPhone's rumored 48MP megapixel count is competitive compared to current models, it'll have newer, better competition by the time it launches. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7, for example, is rumored to have a 200MP main camera.

Of course, megapixels are only one part of what makes a camera good, and their importance can be overstated. But big megapixel counts certainly look good on spec sheets.

So, with the foldable iPhone also quite possibly set to cost more than rival devices, it could be a tough sell for anyone who cares about smartphone photography.

A big screen, a tough hinge, and a titanium frame

As well as the cameras, this latest leak also details the foldable iPhone's potential screen, saying that it might have a 7.58-inch 1920 x 2713 foldable display with a 14.1:10 aspect ratio.

Additionally, the phone is said to have “a hinge made of a more durable amorphous metal glass composite, and a titanium alloy body.” Those details sound more promising, with that screen being somewhat similar to rivals, and the use of titanium likely helping keep the weight of the foldable iPhone down and its durability up.

Of course, we’d take all of this with a pinch of salt, as we would any leak – and especially leaks surrounding the foldable iPhone, since this device probably won’t launch until next year at the earliest.

Indeed, while the source has a good track record, they claim that the specs in question aren’t yet finalized; they're simply the ones Apple is currently testing.

So, even if their current information is accurate, it’s entirely possible that Apple will change some or all of these specs before release. At least on our part, we hope the cameras in particular differ from what's detailed here.

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• HDMI 2.2's bandwidth is up from 48Gbps to 96Gbps
• Uncompressed 4K at 240Hz and 8K at 60Hz – or compressed 4K at 480Hz and 8K 240Hz
• Not all ports labelled HDMI 2.2 have to support the full spec

It's official: the HDMI 2.2 specification has been published, and that means manufacturers can start building it into their products. You won't see it immediately – there's a fair lag between a new spec being published and the appropriate hardware making it into production – but it promises some big improvements and some minor annoyances.

The good news first: provided you have an Ultra96 cable, you'll be able to take advantage of bandwidth of 96Gbps compared to HDMI 2.1b's 48Gbps.

The bad news: just because a HDMI port says "Ultra96" on it doesn't mean you'll get 96Gbps, because that would be too easy.

Why HDMI 2.2 doesn't necessarily mean you'll get upgraded everything

As FlatPanelsHD reports, if a cable says it's Ultra96 certified then it has to deliver 96Gbps. But if a device's HDMI 2.2 port says Ultra96, it doesn't. It could be 80Gbps, or 64Gbps.

That's because with HDMI 2.2, manufacturers can stick the 2.2 / Ultra96 label on their products even if those products don't support every part of the standard.

It's rather reminiscent of USB-C: just because something has a USB-C connector doesn't mean it supports any or all of the important features you might expect it to.

The spec is impressive, however. In addition to better AV device synchronisation via Latency Indication Protocol and support for uncompressed 4K 240Hz and 8K 60Hz there's DSC 1.2a signal compression for even higher-res formats of up to 16K – although that requires the display and its video/audio source to support both HDMI 2.2 and DSC 1.2a, and the latter is optional. And of course it also requires creators to commit to making things in 16K too.

In terms of when you'll actually be able to get HDMI 2.2 products, it'll hopefully happen more quickly than the two-year gap between HDMI 2.1's announcement and arrival. But even on a speedier schedule you're probably looking at HDMI 2.2 TVs first appearing in late 2026 or early 2027.

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I’d bet you’ve seen a Vestaboard out and about – some coffee shops use them to let you know an order is ready, hotels have them around showing the weather or custom text, restaurants have them up, and you can even have one in your home or apartment.

It’s been around for a bit, and there’s even a smaller, much more affordable version up for now – more on that later – but the Vestaboard is an expensive smart display that lacks an LED screen, and that makes it especially refreshing.

The Vestaboard itself doesn’t scream 'smart', and that’s sort of the point; it’s a classic ticker board that seems like it was taken straight out of an old airport terminal or train station. But these 132-character modules, they can flip, fold, and flap to instantly display the right character, icon, or color. Since it’s connected to the internet, you can send almost anything to it… assuming it fits.

TechRadar Smart Home Week

This article is part of TechRadar's Smart Home Week 2025. From lighting and switches to robot vacuums and smart thermostats, we're here to help you pick the right devices to make your life easier, and get the most out of them.

I’ve been testing a Vestaboard review unit for a while and have used it to display various things, including the weather, what’s currently playing on Spotify, a random Springsteen lyric, election results, the latest sports scores, and even inspirational quotes. With any of these, when it gets the input from the companion app for iOS or Android, as well as a status update from one of the connected services, it will spring to life and update the board.

This could be switching from the weather forecast, which flashes every morning, to a quote of the day, or, if I have it synced with music playback, updating every time a new song begins. Yes, the turning of the flaps to display a new message can be quite jarring at first, but I’ve grown accustomed to it. I really like the simplicity of this smart display.

The price of that simplicity and minimalism doesn’t come cheap, though. The Vestaboard is $3,499 (about £2,500 / AU$5,300) in either Flagship Black or Vestaboard White, and to get access to these third-party extensions and service connections, you’ll need Vestaboard Plus at $99.99 (about £70 / AU$150) a year. Clearly not super accessible or affordable, though there is a cheaper, smaller, equally click-clacky Vestaboard Note up for order now at the discounted price of $899 (about £660 / AU$1,370), which will eventually jump to $1,299 (about £950 / AU$2,000).

Price aside, let’s dive into the Vestaboard, starting with the fact that it needs to be wall-mounted. Fortunately, a plate is included in the box. I was able to install the unit itself with the help of a family member, first mounting the wall bracket, then the central unit, plugging it into power, and then attaching the cover over the front.

(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)

The Vestaboard comes with a super-short power cable, which isn’t ideal, especially for renters. Why? Well, you’re likely not someone who’s installing a dedicated outlet for this, and you’ll need to pay $24 for a longer, eight-foot power cable that the brand sells, or opt for an extension of some sort. Considering the unit itself is so expensive, I really wish you got both in the box, or just the longer one.

To be clear, though, it can’t just stand up on its own, so you’ll need to wall-mount it. As much as it is a smart display and messaging board, it is also designed to be an art piece that can be updated. You can even design your own creations with icons and colored flaps to appear on the board or, with Vestaboard+, have it cycle through several categories, either user-generated or made in-house at the company.

Once mounted and plugged in, I followed the steps in the app to discover the Vestaboard, connected it to the Wi-Fi, and walked through the tutorial. I also made the call to pay the $95 for a year of Vestaboard Plus, as it really makes the experience. I do believe it should be included, as it gives you access to a whole range of pre-made things to toss up and extensions.

(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)

The latter are the most exciting – I can sync my Vestaboard with my Sonos account to display the song title and artist when it’s playing, or even connect with a specific service like Spotify. There’s also a host of content, including daily jokes, little games like word scrambles, and quotes from anything – from Bruce Springsteen songs to Disney movies or historical figures. It’s extensive and aims to encompass a variety of genres.

(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)

You can also write out anything custom you’d like to display – so for a friend’s birthday, I could write 'Happy Birthday Karalyn', or for a New Year’s Eve party, I had the Vestaboard display ticker a countdown that ended with it saying 'Happy New Year' and flipping the various flaps to simulate fireworks.

There was even a Santa Tracker – though TechRadar’s own live blog was a bit more real-time – an election tracker, and nearly all major sports leagues are covered here. I also have mine set to display the weather forecast daily at 8am, and it’s nice to quickly glance at the screen and see if I need an umbrella or not. Again, you don’t need to spend $3,500 just for that, but it’s part of the Vestaboard experience.

One thing to note is that the Vestaboard can't be used to control other smart home gadgets. It’s really a display board that can be used for custom messaging, text from widgets, or art created using its colored flaps. It’s a high-priced, expensive smart home device that’s definitely a lavish expense, but I have no doubt that it’ll be delightful when it starts to display something fresh.

(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)

At this price, I truly believe that the longer power cord and a subscription to Plus should be included in the box. I mean, $3,500 is a lot, and depending on your setup, you’ll need the power cord, and the subscription really lets you get the most out of the device.

I think that’s what makes the smaller Vestaboard Note really exciting, and the fact that the ecosystem is slowly but surely expanding. Similar to spending thousands of dollars on a TV, the Vestaboard falls into the nice-to-have category.

After a few months of testing, the thrill hasn’t worn off; I’ve just grown more used to it springing to life to update the ticker board. It’s easily one of the most elegant pieces of tech in my apartment, and the one that catches the attention of family and friends every time, without fail.

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• ChatGPT is being asked some interesting security questions
• Users are concerned about phishing, scams, and privacy
• Personal information is being fed into the AI agent, putting users at risk

AI is fast becoming a personal advisor for many people, offering help with daily schedules, rewording those difficult emails, and even acting as a fellow enthusiast for niche hobbies.

While these uses are typically harmless, many people have begun using ChatGPT to act as a security guru, but not doing it in a particularly secure way.

New research from NordVPN has uncovered some of the questions ChatGPT is asked about security – from dodging phishing attacks to wondering if a smart toaster could become a household threat.

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The top security question asked by ChatGPT users is “How can I recognize and avoid phishing scams?” - which is understandable given that phishing is probably the most common cyber threat any normal person could face.

The rest of the questions follow a similar trajectory, from insight into the best VPN, to tips on how best to secure personal information online. It's definitely refreshing to see AI being used as a force for good at a time when hackers are cracking AI tools to pump out malware.

It’s not all good news though, I’m afraid. NordVPN’s research also highlighted some of the most bizarre security questions people are asking ChatGPT, such as, “Can hackers steal my thoughts through my smartphone?”, and, “If I delete a virus by pressing the delete key, is my computer safe?”

Others voice concerns about hackers potentially hearing them whisper their password as they type it, or hackers using ‘the cloud’ to snoop on their phones while it charges during a thunderstorm.

"While some questions are serious and insightful, others are hilariously bizarre — but they all reveal a troubling reality: Many people still misunderstand cybersecurity. This knowledge gap leaves them exposed to scams, identity theft, and social engineering. Worse, users unknowingly share personal data while seeking help,” says Marijus Briedis, CTO at NordVPN.

Many users will frequently ask AI models questions that include sensitive personal information, such as physical addresses, contact information, credentials, and banking information.

This is particularly dangerous as most AI models will store the chat history and use it to help train the AI to better respond to questions. The key issue being that hackers could potentially use very carefully engineered prompts to extract sensitive information from the AI, and use it for all kinds of nefarious purposes.

“Why does this matter? Because what may seem like a harmless question can quickly turn into a real threat,” says Briedis. “Scammers can exploit the information users share — whether it’s an email address, login credentials, or payment details — to launch phishing attacks, hijack accounts, or commit financial fraud. A simple chat can end up compromising your entire digital identity.”

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• PlayStation is sticking to its strategy of not launching first-party games on PS Plus on day one
• PlayStation vice president of global services Nick Maguire says "we’re not looking to put games in day and date"
• He adds that bringing games to the service 12-18 months after they've released is "working really well across the platform"

PlayStation has confirmed that it will be sticking to its current launch strategy and won't start releasing first-party games on PS Plus on day one.

In an interview with Game File, PlayStation vice president of global services Nick Maguire explained that the company is not looking to change its policy by adding first-party titles to the subscription service the same day they release, unlike Xbox with Game Pass.

"We’ve sort of stayed true to our strategy across the board, where we’re not looking to put games in day and date," Maguire said.

Xbox has remained consistent with how it releases exclusive titles, like Starfield and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, to Game Pass, however, as Maguire goes on to explain, Sony only adds its first-party titles to PS Plus at least 18 months after launch.

"Our strategy of finding four or five independent day-and-date titles - and using that to complement our strategy of bringing games in when they’re 12, 18 months old or older - that balance for us is working really well across the platform," he said. "If there were six or seven great opportunities, then we would go for them as well."

God of War Ragnarok, which launched in late 2022, wasn't available on PS Plus until January 2025, almost 26 months later, while Horizon Forbidden West, which was released in February 2022, was added a lot sooner in February 2023 before it was later removed from the service in 2024.

When asked if PlayStation would ever consider adding first party live-service games to PS Plus, like Concord - a game that was taken offline after just two weeks - Maguire declined to comment but did say that the service has "proven itself to be a great way to introduce new players to franchises".

"There's always going to be a moment for any game where there's the right time for it to go into Plus, when it's ready to reach a wider audience or… to find new fans or new parts of our platform that it hasn't already reached," Maguire said.

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• Sony celebrates 15 years of PlayStation Plus with a summer of exclusive offers for members
• PS Plus Premium members can experience a Game Trial of Monster Hunter Wilds and WWE 2K25
• Several events, including an Online Multiplayer weekend, will also be held this month

Sony is celebrating 15 years of PlayStation Plus with a summer of exclusive offers for members.

Starting now throughout summer, Sony will be commemorating the service's latest milestone by running a series of activities available to subscribers.

"PlayStation Plus is celebrating its 15-year anniversary later this month, and it’s amazing to see how much the service has evolved since it first launched on June 29, 2010," Sony said on PlayStation Blog. "From all of us at Sony Interactive Entertainment, we want to send out a huge thank you to all our fans for your support throughout these years."

First up is a Game Trial of WWE 2K25 for PS Plus Premium members, which is available now, as well as a Game Trial for one of the best games of the year so far, Monster Hunter Wilds, which can be claimed on June 30.

Subscribers can also redeem the Valorant PS Plus Pack today, which features a set of cosmetic items including 2x Prelude to Chaos Gun Buddy, 1x Kohaku & Matsuba Player Card, 1x Imperium Spray, 1x Chronovoid Spray, and 10x Radianite Points.

Sony will then host a PlayStation Store Exclusive Offer Weekend on June 27 to June 29, which will offer members the opportunity to grab exclusive savings on titles such as Sniper Elite: Resistance, Sid Meier’s Civilization VII, and Star Wars Outlaws.

A special PlayStation Plus 15th Anniversary Cup tournament will then be held on June 28, where players will be able to compete in games like EA Sports FC, NBA 2K, UFC, Madden NFL, College Football, Tekken 8, and more for a chance to win prizes including in-game virtual currency, an exclusive PSN avatar, and Sony Pictures Core Movie Credits.

An Online Multiplayer weekend will also kick off the same day until June 29, where players can join online multiplayer matches with no PlayStation Plus membership required, and, finally, from today through August 12, Premium members can unlock a 15% discount on up to 2,000 movies store-wide across the Sony Pictures Core library.

Alongside these offers, Sony has also announced the batch of free PS4 and PS5 games for the month of July, which includes Diablo 4, The King of Fighters XV, and Jusant.

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• For every one person who prefers interacting with AI, 4.4 prefer speaking with humans
• Baby-boomers are seriously anti-AI when it comes to customer service
• Report highlights the value of human connection

According to new research from Okta, 70% of consumers prefer interacting with humans, with only 16% opting for AI agents over humans.

In the UK, this trend is even more pronounced, with just 11% preferring AI agent interactions and one in two (54%) not even trusting AI with their personal data.

Moreover, barely one in three (36%) see any real benefit in AI agents altogether, suggesting that the productivity-enhancing technology might not be at its most useful in customer service settings.

Consumers just want humans

Artificial intelligence is most valued in language translation, research and writing – outputs that are task-orientated, rather than the transactional conversations that are typical of customer service agents.

Globally, Okta found that the ratio of those who prefer humans to those that prefer AI stands at 4.4:1, however countries like the US (4.2:1), Japan (3.4:1) and India (1.1:1) were less worried about talking with humans. Still, no country scored higher for AI, highlighting the importance of human interaction and involvement in customer service.

Okta also compared generations, with baby-boomers hugely less likely to want to talk to AI (41.5:1) – way more than Gen X (9.8:1), Millennials (3.2:1) and Gen Z (2.3:1).

Quite simply, it's the human touch that gives humans the upper edge – 'A human understands my needs better', said two in three (64%) respondents. Frustration when dealing with AI agents was also a significant frustration (38%).

However, there are some benefits to interacting with AI, including quicker and more streamlined responses without emotional bias.

Looking ahead, Okta calls for a measured and calculated approach to AI agents, building security and privacy-first initiatives into them from the get-go. "Finally, don’t overlook the value of human agents – if one thing is clear from the survey, it’s that users still value that human connection," the report concludes.

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• You can now pay annually for Google AI Pro for the first time
• The overall price is the equivalent of getting two months for free
• As yet, ChatGPT doesn't offer annual subscription options

Good news if you're fully committed to Google Gemini AI, and you like saving money: the Google AI Pro subscription can now be purchased annually as well as monthly, and you 'll save yourself a chunk of money if you pay year-to-year.

As spotted by 9to5Google, you can now pay $199.99 for a year of AI goodness, instead of the existing $19.99 a month option – with the latter working out as $239.88 over the 12 months ($39.89 more than an annual plan).

In the UK, your options are £18.99 a month or £189.99 a year (saving you £37.89). It's not immediately clear if the deal is the same in Australia, but there the monthly fee is AU$32.99 – so presumably you'd be looking at AU$329.99 a year (saving AU$65.89). Essentially, you're getting two months free if you pay for a year in advance.

Of course, the downside of annual plans is that you're committed for a full year, so you can't opt out whenever you like – which is why you'll often see annual plans available for less overall, in all the places where you're signing up for a subscription.

How does ChatGPT compare?

Subscription

Monthly price

Annual price

Google AI Pro

$19.99 / £18.99 / AU$32.99

$199.99 / £189.99 (Aus TBC)

Google AI Ultra

$249.99 / £234.99 / AU$409.99

Not available

ChatGPT Plus

$20 / £20 (about AU$30.58)

Not available

ChatGPT Pro

$200 / £200 (about AU$306)

Not available

ChatGPT Plus remains at $20 / £20 per month (AU$30.58 at current rates). There's no option to pay annually as yet, and you can also put up $200 / £200 (about AU$306) per month for the top-tier ChatGPT Pro plan, with fewer limits and more features.

For comparison purposes, Google's own super-charged, pro-level plan is Google AI Ultra, and that's going to set you back $249.99 / £234.99 / AU$409.99 per month. At the time of writing, there's no option to pay annually (perhaps understandably), though you do get the first three months for half price if you want to give it a try.

All of which means there's not too much to choose between the monthly costs of Gemini and ChatGPT, when it comes to the cheaper plans that most people are going to sign up for – but if you want to pay annually and save, that's only possible on the Google service.

We'll have to wait and see whether ChatGPT responds with an annual plan of its own. It's also worth mentioning that you can use both Gemini and ChatGPT for free, but with a limited set of features and more restrictions on your usage.

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