Technology

• Nvidia's making an effort to stop scalpers buying RTX 5090 and 5080 GPUs
• The 'Verified Priority Access' program is returning, albeit only in the US
• Buyers must have created an Nvidia account on or before January 30, 2025, to be offered a purchase opportunity

The RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 launch has been a rather sorry episode for Nvidia, due to demand far exceeding supply, on top of issues with scalpers - but fortunately, Team Green is taking action to give genuine buyers a better chance of getting one of these high-end GPUs at their recommended prices.

As spotted by Wccftech, Nvidia has brought back its Verified Priority Access program, a scheme that allows a limited number of gamers (or indeed creators) in the US to purchase the RTX 5090 or RTX 5080 at MSRP by completing a form to indicate their interest.

The only stipulation is that people need to have an Nvidia account (that was created on or before January 30, 2025), and note that this only offers the chance to purchase Nvidia's own Founders Edition versions of the graphics cards.

You may remember that Nvidia introduced this scheme with the RTX 4090 and eventually the RTX 4080 too, after these GPUs were launched.

Considering the still very limited supply of high-end Blackwell GPUs, this will likely prove highly beneficial for would-be buyers. It's a struggle to find anything near MSRP at all, and third-party RTX 5090 and 5080 graphics cards (meaning GPUs not from Nvidia) which can be found on sale cost far more than their recommended pricing. Of course, this scheme won't help you buy such a third-party board, only a Founders Edition GPU.

While this priority access scheme is not going to completely turn the tide of the battle against scalpers, it'll surely help in that fight. If a scalper doesn't already have a pre-existing Nvidia account, they'll be out of luck, as creating a new one to get onto the scheme won't work (due to the mentioned January 30 deadline).

This is similar to Valve's move with the Steam Deck, where the initial pre-orders were limited to those with a Steam account that had been created in the previous year (and had made a purchase).

While Nvidia's priority access scheme is only in the US for now, hopefully it'll be expanded beyond that to other regions in the future.

(Image credit: Future) Nvidia should keep this priority access scheme going forward

Nvidia's GPUs are always highly sought after upon launch, seemingly regardless of how well any new GPUs are received by gamers, and we're seeing that again with Blackwell graphics cards. This inevitably introduces two main problems in terms of scalping and inflated prices - with the end result being that very few gamers are lucky enough to snag a new card, and they end up paying far too much for that privilege.

The Verified Priority Access scheme gives gamers a better chance of buying a powerhouse GPU, and what's more, they get it at a fair price - the MSRP, in fact. So in my opinion, this must be part of Team Green's sales strategy going forward (at least while stock woes persist).

Scalpers may still find ways to manipulate the system, especially if accounts were made before the January 30 deadline. However, there is no guarantee that those who fill in a form will get a chance to purchase, and Nvidia is 'verifying' any applicants to hopefully weed out any dubious would-be buyers. Plus each account is still limited to one purchase only.

As I've stated, this isn't going to benefit all potential buyers as there are caveats involved (notably that the scheme is restricted to US buyers only), but it's definitely a step in the right direction.

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• Nvidia's RTX 5070 Ti looks like the go-to GPU this generation, if you can find it at retail price - benchmarks and reviews suggest it's almost as good as the RTX 5080
• As if Nvidia's RTX 5000 series launch couldn't get messier, now a Redditor has received the RTX 5070 Ti days before its launch
• Rumor suggests Nvidia’s planned launch timeframe for laptops with RTX 5000 GPUs got pushed back - what does this mean for PC gamers?

• Shuhei Yoshida has talked about the increasing length of console generations
• The former PlayStation boss believes PS6 could launch in 2028
• On a 2028 launch, he said "that feels right to me."

Former PlayStation head Shuhei Yoshida has some thoughts on when the next console generation - namely the PlayStation 6 - could end up happening.

In an interview with GamesBeat, Yoshida spoke about the ever-increasing length of console generations and what that could mean for the eventual release of the PlayStation 6. Spoilers, he doesn't think it's coming any time soon.

"Right, it’s getting longer," Yoshida said in relation to the time between console generations. "The last cycle was seven years. If it’s seven years, we’ll see a new one in 2027. I have no information about the next PlayStation, but it feels a bit too early for me to say. The PS5 generation was slowed down because of manufacturing issues. If the next PlayStation comes out in 2028, that feels right to me."

Yoshida also speculated that the next Xbox console could launch around the same time, referring directly to Microsoft's "leak about a 2028 plan."

He also relates this slowing of growth, overhiring and subsequent industry-wide layoffs to the Covid 19 pandemic of recent years, saying: "I think it’s an overreaction to the Covid situation. Companies invested too much, including ourselves. Then we had to face reality and make adjustments. If you take out the Covid years you’d have smoother growth over the years."

It remains to be seen whether or not (and indeed when) the games industry can get back to a stable, sustainable level of growth over time. But Yoshida's speculation is sound here. That can also be seen in the transition from Nintendo Switch into Nintendo Switch 2, which will be a gap of more than eight years by the time the upcoming console launches.

For now, though, you can be sure that you'll still be getting a good few years of use out of your PS5 console yet.

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• The new OnePlus Watch 3 looks promising, but US users won't get the same features
• Notably, ECG support won't be included because it didn't get FDA approval
• It's tied into the new "60-Second Health Check-In" feature, which will also be absent

We published our hands on preview for the OnePlus Watch 3, and all early signs point to it being one of the best smartwatches of the year. Sadly, that recommendation might need to come with an asterisk if you're in the US or Canada: the big-but-beautiful smartwatch will be missing some features, tied to the lack of certification for the ECG (electrocardiogram) sensor from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The FDA certification is considered the 'gold standard' for a smartwatch's health features. The best Apple Watches carry FDA-approved features such as irregular heart rate rhythm notification, authorizing the feature for use in studies and some medical settings. FDA approval is often used as a marketing play, signifying a smartwatch's health features are accurate and reliable.

“The OnePlus Watch 3 did not receive official certification from the U.S. FDA on its ECS capabilities, the ECG Analyzer feature on the OnePlus Watch 3 will not be available to users in the United States or Canada,” a statement from the manufacturer explained to Android Authority.

OnePlus Watch 3 missing features in US and Canada

As we mentioned in our preview, one of the biggest new features is the 60-second health check in, which includes a variety of measurements taken all at once, including an ECG. Its absence means that two of the new flagship features, the ECG and the 60-second health check-in, won't be available – at least at launch.

It's not the first time a device has had problems with features at launch. Even Apple is not immune: most recently, Apple's blood oxygen monitoring technology infringed on health tech firm Masimo's patent, and the feature was removed via a software update. We're still waiting for them to return — it's in there, it's just deactivated until the disagreement can be hashed out.

There's every chance OnePlus gets the FDA 'thumbs up' in future, but for now it's something to be aware of.

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US Nvidia RTX 5070 Ti stock

UK Nvidia RTX 5070 Ti stock

Nvidia's newest addition to the RTX 5000 series lineup, the RTX 5070 Ti, starts at $749 in the US and £729 in the UK and is available for purchase starting today Thursday, February 20.

If you're on the hunt for a shiny new Blackwell card to put in your PC, unfortunately you are far from alone. The good news is, you've come to the right place. TechRadar's Computing team has our eyes glued to the retailers in this list so you can be the first to know where to buy the RTX 5070 Ti as stock changes.

We're also on the lookout for prebuilt gaming PCs and laptops with 5070 Ti cards already installed. These may be your best bet at getting an RTX 5070 Ti close to launch day for a reasonable price.

So be sure to bookmark this page - you won't want to miss any updates on these GPUs. If the RTX 5080 and 5090 are to be any indication, the 5070 Ti will sell out incredibly fast.

WHERE TO BUY RTX 5070 Ti: US QUICK LINKS

• Nvidia: Buy third-party GPUs direct from Nvidia
• Amazon: May have some initial stock but usually a good bet later on
• Best Buy: Several third-party cards on sale
• Newegg: Loads of 5070 Ti cards from Asus, Gigabyte, MSI, and more
• B&H: A few PNY cards available from stock alert only
• Micro Center: Retailer will have stock on February 20
• Adorama: Worth a look when sales go live

WHERE TO BUY RTX 5070 Ti: UK QUICK LINKS

• Nvidia: Find third-party GPUs right on Nvidia's website
• Amazon: Should have a number of RTX 5070 ti models soon
• Ebuyer: Already lists RTX 5070 Ti models but no pre-orders (yet)
• Scan: Loads of Zotac, Gigabyte, and more 5070 Ti GPUs
• Overclockers: Has a fair amount of stock available from Feb 20 at 2pm
• Box: Check here for third-party stock
• EE: The mobile network operator is selling RTX 5070 Ti GPUs on a first-come first-serve basis

WHERE TO BUY RTX 5070 TI IN THE US

If you've been put off by the RTX 5080 and 5090s' price tags, I don't blame you. Nvidia's RTX 5070 Ti card comes in at a much more palatable price point for a modern-day upgrade, and you still get the latest Nvidia advancements like fifth-gen Tensor cores and Multi Frame Generation.

They're likely to sell out nearly instantly, though. So be sure to have your alerts set and this page bookmarked if you plan to get one on launch day, February 20.

Nvidia RTX 5070 Ti deals at Amazon
If the 5070 Ti follows suit of its bigger brothers, Amazon probably won't actually have much stock at all on launch day. We're not positive this will be the case, so I'd still check it out, but I presume Amazon will be a better bet for stock down the road.View Deal

Nvidia RTX 5070 Ti deals at Nvidia
Nvidia, on the other hand, will definitely have RTX 5070 Ti stock for sale on Thursday. Not only can you find the Founder's Edition card direct from Nvidia, but you can also jump to third-party GPUs from Asus, MSI, and more right from Nvidia's website. If you can get in quick enough, this could be a good shot at getting your hands on a Blackwell card when they drop.View Deal

Nvidia RTX 5070 Ti deals at Best Buy
Best Buy is always a great place to look for graphics cards, but because most everyone knows that, stock is sure to disappear before you can blink twice. That said, with the wide range of 5070 Ti models and prebuilts on offer here, you might luck out. View Deal

Nvidia RTX 5070 Ti deals at Newegg
Newegg is still running a GPU trade-in value deal, which is a great chance to get a 5070 Ti at a discounted price while also getting rid of your old hardware. We're not seeing any Founder's Edition cards on sale, but there are plenty of third-party GPUs to pick from.View Deal

Nvidia RTX 5070 Ti deals at B&H
B&H photo has it set up so that the only way you can get an RTX 5070 Ti is if you're signed up and have stock alerts enabled. This is one extra hoop to jump through, but hopefully it should stave off some scalpers and give you a chance to get a graphics card on launch day.View Deal

WHERE TO BUY RTX 5070 Ti IN THE UK

Stock for the RTX 5080 and 5090 seems to have disappeared just as quickly in the UK as in the US, so we doubt the 5070 Ti will prove to be much different. That's why it's important to have your bookmarks set and your alerts enabled at these retailers!

Nvidia RTX 5070 Ti deals at Nvidia
Going directly to the source could net you an RTX 5070 Ti, but you'll have to be quick about it. You can find both Founder's Edition and third-party cards here for fair prices.View Deal

Nvidia RTX 5070 Ti stock at Overclockers
You can look now to see what kind of stock Overclockers will have available starting at 2pm on February 20. There are all kinds of third-party 5070 Ti GPUs from PNY, Asus, Gigabyte, and more. Ignore the crazy price tags for now, these will change come launch day.View Deal

Nvidia RTX 5070 Ti stock at Ebuyer
Ebuyer is another fantastic site to check for new PC components, and the 5080 launch is no exception. Like everywhere else, be sure to check back in on January 30 to assess the available stock.View Deal

Nvidia RTX 5070 Ti stock at Scan
Scan looks to have a fantastic amount of stock for the Nvidia RTX 5070 Ti. Not only can you find Blackwell graphics cards from just about every major third-party retailer, but there are already listings for gaming laptops as well.View Deal

Nvidia RTX 5070 Ti stock at EE
While you may not think of EE when it comes to graphics cards, it's also going to be selling Nvidia's RTX 5070 Ti on February 20 on a first-come-first-serve basis.View Deal

• These are the best graphics cards of 2025

(Image credit: MSI)

Good morning! Today's the day that the Nvidia RTX 5070 Ti goes on sale. If Nvidia's previous RTX 5000 series launches are anything to go buy, expect stock to go live around 9am ET / 2PM GMT.

That's still a few hours away, so now is a good time to check out the retailers above, and make sure you're signed in to your accounts ahead of the GPUs going on sale.

This is because, like the RTX 5080 and RTX 5090 GPUs that launched a few weeks ago, I expect the RTX 5070 Ti to sell out fast, so you'll want to make sure you're as prepared as usual. You don't want to have a new GPU in your shopping cart, only to find out when you come to pay that you need to sign in with a long-forgotten password.

(Image credit: Future)

So, why do we think the RTX 5070 Ti will sell out fast? Well, for a start, as I mentioned earlier, the RTX 5080 and RTX 5090 sold out incredibly quickly when they went on sale a few weeks ago, proving that there's a huge demand for Nvidia's latest GPUs.

Those two cards are high-end and very expensive GPUs, which makes the fact they sold out so fast even more impressive.

However, this doesn't bode well for RTX 5070 Ti stock availability. For a start, everyone who tried and failed to get a 5090 or 5080 will likely try to get a 5070 Ti, as reviews suggest it's an excellent card.

On top of that, the 5070 Ti has a much more affordable price tag, which should mean it'll be more popular than the premium GPU, so we could see even more people try to snag one.

(Image credit: Future / Mike Moore)

So, there's going to be a big rush when the RTX 5070 Ti goes on sale - but there are some things we've learned from the earlier launches that can help improve your chances of getting one.

Firstly, I recommend you keep this page open throughout the day, as we'll be updating it live - and we'll be giving stock alerts when we find a retailer that is still selling 5070 Tis, and we'll link directly to the GPUs so you can quickly buy them.

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

Using this page to help you find stock will also keep you from being scammed or overpaying. Unfortunately, unscrupulous people will use the excitement and demand of the 5070 Ti to take advantage of people.

This could be done by selling fake cards, or (in a process known as 'scalping') buying real 5070 Tis and then selling them on for hugely inflated prices.

We'll only recommend trusted retailers that we know won't rip you off, and we'll only link to 5070 Ti models that are sensibly priced. With the RTX 5090 launch, I found several retailers selling the GPU for around $4,000 - a huge mark up. No matter how desperate you are to get a new 5070 Ti, you really don't want to pay obscene amounts just to get one. It's much better to wait until more stock arrives - trust me.

As well as the main retailers, we'll also check out less well known stores as well, as they can sell out more slowly as most people will check out the likes of Best Buy and Currys (in the UK) first.

(Image credit: Future / HP)

As with previous GPUs that were subject to high demand, one alternative way of getting hold of one is by buying a pre-built gaming PC with the GPU installed.

While this might seem an expensive way of doing things, it can be worth it if you were thinking of upgrading several parts of your Pc at once. You could also sell your old PC if you no longer need it, and that could make the initial outlay more affordable.

And, while this might not be the case with. the more affordable 5070 Ti, we have seen in the past inflated GPU prices which meant buying an entire PC with the GPU installed wasn't much more expensive than buying the GPU by itself! Considering you're getting other new components with an entire PC, it can end up being better value than you might first imagine.

So, we'll also highlight any great prebuilt gaming PCs that come with the RTX 5070 Ti as well.

Of course, we're still updating our where to buy the Nvidia RTX 5080 and where to buy the Nvidia RTX 5090 guides as well, though stock remains extremely low, so there's not too much to report at the moment.

• AWS is no longer accepting new users for its Chime service
• The business communications service launched in 2017
• Existing subscribers have one year to find an alternative

Amazon has revealed it is shuttering its in-house business communication services Chime.

In a blog post, AWS Technical Senior Product Manager Beth Styles confirmed the company will be ending support for Chime within one year.

Amazon’s in-house business communication services stopped accepting new users on February 19, 2025 – the day of the announcement, however, existing users have a full year, until February 20, 2026, before they will no longer be able to host meetings or use Business Calling features.

Amazon to discontinue Chime

Previously described as a “flexible communications service with pay-as-you-go pricing,” Chime had desktop, web and mobile clients and worked on major operating systems, including Linux.

A relatively new piece of software, when Chime launched in 2017 it cost from $2.50 per user per month.

“Features that will no longer be supported include scheduling and hosting meetings, adding and managing users, and other capabilities available using the Amazon Chime console," Styles explained.

To be considered an existing user, account holders will need to have created a Team or Enterprise account before February 19, 2025. Users are being advised to delete their data and set up accounts elsewhere, but Amazon’s Support team are on hand for anybody struggling with data deletion.

Amazon has a dedicated guide for transitioning to other providers. Styles said: “We know that you may need support to transition to other collaboration solutions.”

Recommended systems include another in-house solution, AWS Wickr, as well as third-party software like Zoom, Webex and Slack.

AWS VP of Enterprise Applications Gene Farrell said the software was designed to give workers something that was easy to use and affordable to run, however around three years later when workers were sent home at the height of the pandemic, it was the likes of Zoom, Microsoft Teams and Google Meet that got the world’s attention – struggling with intense competition could be partly to blame for Chime’s demise.

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• HBO has finally announced The Last of Us season 2's release date
• The hugely popular TV show will return to our screens in mid-April
• Three new character posters have also been released

HBO has finally confirmed when The Last of Us season 2 will be released.

The hugely popular post-apocalyptic drama, whose first season wowed audiences in early 2023, will return to our screens on Sunday, April 13. Well, in the US – fans in the UK and Australia will have to wait until Monday, April 14 to tune into the next seven-part installment.

The confirmation, which came yesterday (February 19), arrived alongside some new character posters, which show one of season 2's leading trio: Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie (Bella Ramsey), who appeared in The Last of Us TV show's first installment, and season 2 newcomer Kaitlyn Dever as Abby.

Every path has a price.#TheLastOfUs returns April 13 on Max. pic.twitter.com/prGsEfBIloFebruary 19, 2025

An adaptation of Naughty Dog's critically-acclaimed and multi-award-winning video game series, The Last of Us tells the tale of Joel and Ellie, two loss-afflicted individuals thrown together by happenstance amid a mass extinction event. Humanity has been ravaged by the cordyceps virus, a fungal disease that turns infected people into mindless and violent zombie-esque monsters, and the pockets of humankind that remain have become insular, fear-mongering or fearful communities that battle to survive.

The Last of Us season 2 will pick up events five years after its predecessor's finale. Per a brief logline, Joel and Ellie will be "drawn into conflict with each other and a world even more dangerous and unpredictable than the one they left behind".

Season 2's launch date announcement has been a long time coming. The first we knew about the show's return was the inclusion of The Last of Us 2's first-look footage in a new Max trailer, which arrived last August, that revealed it would be with us sometime in 2025. One month later, HBO boss Casey Bloys confirmed it would be released in the first half of 2025, before a November 2024 update from Bloys revealed The Last of Us season 2 would debut in early 2025. HBO announced an April 2025 launch during a Sony presentation at CES 2025 last month, too, which was the latest update we received on the US network's hugely successful TV Original.

Is a new trailer for The Last of Us season 2 going to be released?

Searching for season 2's official trailer has got us all like... (Image credit: Liane Hentscher/HBO)

I'd be very surprised if one isn't. The Max series' next chapter is one of the most anticipated new shows of 2025, so you can bet that HBO will release a new trailer to build excitement ahead of season 2's launch.

So, when might a new teaser make its way online? I have no insider knowledge on the matter, but I'm convinced that we'll get one on Saturday, March 8. Per HBO (see the X/Twitter below), that's the date that a season 2 panel will be held as part of South by South West (SXSW) festival in Austin, Texas, which seems as good a time as any to release some more footage for us to pore over.

See you in Austin, TX, where it all began. Don’t miss the 2025 @SXSW panel Saturday, March 8. #TheLastOfUs #SXSW pic.twitter.com/4XXYoXhY7BFebruary 11, 2025

We haven't been starved of footage for one of the best Max shows' sophomore outing thus far, mind you. The Last of Us 2's unsettling first teaser was released last September and, while it didn't give away too much (hey, there are people who haven't played the games, so nothing major could've been spoiled), it provided first-looks at some of this season's new cast, including Dever's Abby. Another teaser was released in mid-January, too – although, after its release, online discussions were dominated by fan concerns about the welfare of one of its new cast members.

Want more details on the hit show's return? Read my dedicated guide on The Last of Us season 2 or find out how many more seasons it might run for, according to HBO's Head of TV Francesca Orsi.

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• 27% of respondents in the US use AI tools instead of search engines
• Uptake is lower in the UK, where 13% of consumers favor AI tools
• Reasons given include efficiency, ease of use, accuracy and personalisation

For decades, “Google it” has been the answer if you want answers on the web. But that could be changing: according to new survey data, more and more people are swapping search engines for AI-powered chatbots such as ChatGPT.

More than a quarter of people recently surveyed in the US reported using AI tools instead of a traditional search engines. That number was lower in the UK, but still representative of a significant shift in consumer behaviour, with 13% of respondents saying that they now turn to AI ahead of traditional search tools such as Bing and Google.

The data comes from in-depth research conducted in December 2024 by Future, the publisher which owns TechRadar. Hundreds of UK and US consumers took part in the survey, answering a series of questions on their interaction with AI-powered tools and services.

Just as revealing as those headline statistics are the reasons people gave for using AI tools instead of search engines. We’ve unpicked the key takeaways below – and the answers make for fascinating reading.

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Why are people switching?

Every survey participant who said that they use AI instead of search engines was asked to give reasons why. The sentiments were remarkably similar on both sides of the Atlantic, with five clear threads emerging from the data.

Time-saving and efficiency was one justification, with users suggesting that AI tools deliver specific results more quickly. One participant in the US went into detail, saying that AI tools allow them to “grasp key information faster, without having to browse through everything one by one like in the traditional way.”

That was echoed by UK respondents, including one who wrote that AI tools are “much more specific than a general Google search.”

But it’s not just speed that appeals to adopters of AI. Ease of use also plays a key role in the shift away from traditional search engines, with a number of responses claiming that AI tools make the search process simpler, more user-friendly and – in the words of one UK participant – “more convenient”. A US participant summed it up succinctly: “It’s easier than Googling!”

Accuracy of results is another factor cited in the survey feedback. In the US, a user commented that “the results from AI search are more precise”, reflecting a broader idea that AI tools offer more relevant information, with less noise than traditional search. “I get more accurate [sic] and less bias in search results,” wrote a UK participant.

The contextual awareness of AI tools also appears to be a key factor in pulling users away from search engines.

One UK user wrote that they “used it to get more tailored results when writing my Master’s thesis”, while another said that AI “feels more specific and personalized.” That was mirrored by responses in the US, including one which reported that AI responses are "customized for each individual question.”

Finally, survey respondents praised the depth and insight offered by AI tools. “It gives more of an in-depth explanation rather than traditional search engines,” wrote one participant in the UK.

Some praised the ability of AI tools to summarise complex topics in an accessible way, while others appreciated the creative potential of exchanges with AI chatbots. “It can understand the context really well and chat with me,” wrote one US user.

"Swapping Google for ChatGPT isn't a leap – it's evolution"

The sentiments expressed in the survey tally with those of plenty of AI experts, too.

According to A.J. Ghergich, a global VP at Botify, "People are waking up to 'AI as the everyday assistant, not just a search engine.'”

He continues: "Swapping Google for ChatGPT isn't a leap – it's evolution. We're trading link-scrolling for conversation, moving from digital library cards to having a personal researcher who talks back.

"We're done with generic search results. AI promises something better – a digital confidant who gets to know you, remembers your preferences, and becomes smarter with every conversation."

Meanwhile, Ben Wood, Chief Analyst, CCS Insight, says that the research "aligns well with the feedback CCS Insight is seeing from consumers. Around 45% of people we spoke to in the UK told us the most compelling use case for AI is collating answers without having to click on search results. Summarising long documents and automatically writing emails or letters in a particular style are also popular user cases."

Much of this feedback reflects our own hands-on experience comparing ChatGPT Search to Google Search, and with the likes of Perplexity Search also offering an AI alternative to traditional search engines, we wouldn't be surprised if future surveys see this trend accelerating.

As John-Anthony Disotto, TechRadar's Senior AI Writer, says, "People want info and they want it fast. AI is showcasing that it can get you accurate info faster than anything we’ve seen before."

510 participants from the US and 518 participants from the UK responded to the survey.

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Another year, another spate of tech hardware companies trying to entice gamers over to the dark side - by which I mean, trying to convince them that 3D display technology is the Next Big Thing in gaming. I’ve never been a fan; I shelled out for a Nintendo 3DS expecting a wild new dimension of gaming only to spend my entire time with the handheld in 2D mode.

Acer’s still trying to crack this particular nut, having launched its SpatialLabs glasses-free 3D tech a few years back. At the IEM Katowice esports tournament in Poland last week, I got to enjoy some hands-on time with its latest Predator SpatialLabs View 27 monitor - and honestly, although the tech has certainly improved since its earlier iterations, I’m still not convinced.

When most people hear the phrase ‘3D’, they think of a pair of chunky glasses (or perhaps the even older red-blue paper spectacles). SpatialLabs doesn’t work the same way as ‘conventional’ 3D displays; instead, it works by utilizing eye-tracking cameras to perfectly mesh two rendered images together on a stereoscopic display, creating a three-dimensional effect that shifts to remain effective even if you move your head - unlike Nintendo’s clunky handheld.

Gaming in three dimensions

Does it work? Yes, actually - while I’m not going to give you the spiel about graphics that ‘leap out of your screen’ or whatever, the Predator SpatialLabs View 27 does provide a good sense of physical depth, both for individual objects and wide scenes. I got to play some of Street Fighter VI’s World Tour mode on it, and it looked great; exploring Metro City (no, not the one from Megamind) demonstrated a tangible depth of field to the streets and the legions of random pedestrians I could challenge to a fistfight. I think some games might benefit from this tech more than others, and Acer has a list of supported titles if you’re curious.

Regardless of the game you play, though, there are a few glaring issues with using SpatialLabs for gaming. For starters, it’s liable to cause eye strain for some users - I certainly found this to be the case after just five minutes of getting my ass handed to me by Chun-Li, and I’ve heard similar reports from colleagues who have tested out previous SpatialLabs devices. Considering that many gamers (totally not me) are known to spend multi-hour binges at their desktops, it feels like a migraine waiting to happen.

Yes, I know the screen looks blurry; unfortunately, SpatialLabs can't track the 'eye' of a camera. (Image credit: Future)

The other major problem with SpatialLabs - and basically any glasses-free 3D gaming solution - is that it tanks performance. There’s no good way to put this; stereoscopic 3D requires the real-time rendering of two full-resolution frames, which means that you’re going to struggle to achieve high framerates in games unless you're packing some of the absolute best gaming hardware,

My esteemed colleague over at TechRadar Gaming, Dash Wood, struggled with exactly this problem when he reviewed the Acer Predator Helios 300 SpatialLabs Edition back in 2023. Despite being a relatively powerful gaming laptop, it struggled significantly once the 3D mode was turned on, and even the newer 2024 model (which uses an RTX 4080 GPU) is locked to a 2K resolution at 60Hz in 3D mode while running in 4K in 2D.

3D vs VR

I’m willing to give Acer a pass on the eye-strain point. Although it feels like 3D has been around forever, this sort of glasses-free tech is still a relatively fledgling technology. Some people struggle to use VR for extended periods of time, and while I used to feel this way, the technology has advanced enough that I’ve become more comfortable with strapping on my headset and picking up my motion controllers for some Beat Saber or Pistol Whip in lieu of going to the gym.

However, as I thought about this, a thought occurred to me: why does anyone still think 3D is the future of gaming when virtual reality exists as it does today? VR is still improving too, but faster than 3D displays are. I can attest to the extreme difference between a first-gen Oculus Rift and Apple’s Vision Pro headset; it’s night and day, a far greater leap than I feel Acer’s Predator SpatialLabs View 27 makes over a 3D TV from the 2000s like Sony’s first 3D Bravia, even if it’s managed to ditch the bulky glasses. Why would I want to use a screen that gives a kinda-sorta-three-dimensional effect when I could put on a Meta Quest 3 and be fully immersed in a rendered world that appears to surround me completely?

So yeah - sorry, Acer, and sorry to everyone else who is hard at work on 3D displays right now. I just don’t think the gaming sphere will ever truly embrace 3D when VR exists. Mind you, there are other valid uses for this technology - Acer highlights the value of its SpatialLabs displays to professionals like architects and 3D asset designers (and prison dentists, according to a conversation I had with Acer PR), so it’s probably not about to die out anytime soon. Still, I think it might be time for SpatialLabs to shift focus away from gamers, and take serious aim at the enterprise space.

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• A new Future survey reveals the most popular AI tools we're using
• ChatGPT remains the most popular AI tool, but its lead is relatively slender
• Rivals like Google Gemini are catching – as other research confirms

Artificial intelligence tools are transforming the way we work and create, but which apps are proving most popular right now? A survey run by Future Publishing (the owner of TechRadar) covering hundreds of tech consumers in the US and the UK shows AI use is increasing – and reveals the tools we're turning to the most often.

There are some familiar names in these results, but also some up-and-coming challengers in the AI space – showing there are more of these apps than ever, all ready and willing to lend a hand with writing text, creating images, searching files, and more. AI has never been more ubiquitous, and the trend is only going one way.

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Here are the 12 most popular AI tools right now, in reverse order. You may spot some you're already using, and some you feel you should be using. Both US and UK participants were quizzed at two points during 2024, to track changing use over time. Let's dive in…

10. DreamStudio, Midjourney, Stable Diffusion (joint)

• DreamStudio (used by 10% of US survey respondents, 7% in the UK)
• Midjourney (used by 10% in the US, 7% in the UK)
• Stable Diffusion (used by 10% in the US, 7% in the UK)

It's a three-way tie for 10th place, with DreamStudio (images), Midjourney (images), and Stable Diffusion (images, video, and audio) all used by 8.5% of our respondents (on average). They all offer speedy, prompt-based content generation for a wide variety of purposes.

(Image credit: Midjourney)

All three are on the up, too – with growth of 88% for Dream Studio, 59% for Midjourney, and 43% for Stable Diffusion in the months between our two survey snapshots. They're also all paid-for tools, with no free tiers available.

9. Jasper

• Used by 10% of US survey respondents, 7% in the UK

In 9th place, and used by 9% of the people we quizzed on average, there's Jasper. Jasper offers a range of AI services for marketers, so there's everything from chatbots to image generators to trend analysis – for a fee (though you can get a free trial).

(Image credit: Jasper / Future)

Jasper wasn't included in the first survey round, so we can't tell you how much its usage numbers have grown over the course of the last year, but the data shows it's slightly more popular in the US than the UK.

8. DALL-E

• Used by 12% of US survey respondents, 7% in the UK

Up to 8th now, and we have DALL-E, used by 9.5% of respondents: the AI image generator is owned and developed by OpenAI, and is now only available inside the ChatGPT interface for free users and subscribers (who get differing levels of access).

(Image credit: OpenAI / Future)

Type out a prompt, and DALL-E gives you an image – and you can even make edits afterwards. It's used by 12% of people in the US, and 7% of people in the UK, with usage growing an impressive 47.5% between our two survey points.

7. Claude

• Used by 11% of US survey respondents, 9% in the UK

Claude comes in 7th in our results. The AI chatbot can help you brainstorm ideas, produce visuals, create schedules, and work with documents and images. It does have a free plan, though you get a lot more features if you subscribe.

The Claude AI interface (Image credit: Claude / Future)

For example, you get a choice of models to pick from when using Claude, though some are exclusive to paying members. Like Jasper, Claude wasn't included as an option in our first survey snapshot, but is a little more widely used in the US compared to the UK.

6. Perplexity

• Used by 12% of US survey respondents, 9% in the UK

With an average of 11% of our survey participants using it, Perplexity is in 6th place: a chatbot that can generate text, analyze documents, search the web and more, with both free and paid-for plans available. It's also recently launched a Deep Research tool.

(Image credit: Perplexity / Future)

It's also noticeable for letting you run models from other companies inside its interface. We don't have figures for usage over time when it comes to Perplexity, but it is slightly more popular in the US than the UK – 12% vs 9%.

5. Image Creator from Microsoft Designer

• Used by 14% of US survey respondents, 9% in the UK

Into our top five, and in 5th place we've got Image Creator from Microsoft Designer. As you can tell from the name, it's an AI-powered graphic design tool inside the larger Microsoft Designer app, and it's used by an average of 11.5% of our survey participants.

(Image credit: Microsoft / Future)

Used by 14% of US respondents and 9% of UK respondents, it's clear a lot of visuals are being churned out by Image Creator – usage is also up 29% over the course of our survey period. You can use it for free, and pay for additional image generation credits.

4. Grammarly

• Used by 24% of US survey respondents, 16% in the UK

You might not have expected to see Grammarly on this list, but the writing checker has rolled out a host of AI features in recent times, and it's in 4th place with an average usage level of 20%. You can use it for free, though a Pro account gives you more AI access.

(Image credit: Grammarly / Future)

Grammarly's main focus is on text, whether it's generating it from scratch, rewriting what you've already written, or checking for mistakes. It's used by 24% of people in the US and 16% of people in the UK, with a small 3.5% level of growth over the course of the survey.

3. Microsoft Copilot

• Used by 23% of US survey respondents, 17% in the UK

You can't have failed to notice Microsoft Copilot trying to find its way into every single Microsoft product in recent times – Microsoft is really, really keen for people to use it, and it averages 20% in terms of those in our survey who are using it, putting it in 3rd place.

(Image credit: Microsoft / Future)

Copilot can be used to generate text, think through problems, come up with ideas, create images, search the web, and more, with extra features for paying users. Usage is up 64% across last year, with 23% of US users and 17% of UK users regularly logging in.

2. Google Gemini

• Used by 27% of US survey respondents, 18% in the UK

Our 2nd place spot goes to one of the more familiar names in AI apps, Google Gemini. Across the US and UK, 22.5% of people are using it (27% in the US and 18% in the UK), and Gemini grew its userbase by a whopping 97% over our survey period. We weren't the only survey to discover this trend, as you can see further down this page.

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

Gemini is a multimodal AI app that can deal in text, audio, images, and documents, and Google isn't slowing down when it comes to adding new features. There is a free tier, but paying users get more advanced models and tools.

1. ChatGPT

• Used by 39% of US survey respondents, 35% in the UK

The competition may be gaining on it, but ChatGPT is still out in front as the most used AI tool – with an average of 37% of users we surveyed now making use of it (that's 39% in the US and 35% in the UK). Growth was 7% over the course of our study period.

(Image credit: OpenAI / Future)

ChatGPT is the multimodal bot that's mainly responsible for kickstarting the generative AI revolution: it can produce text and images, analyze documents, and search the web, plus it sounds like there's much more to come too.

Those results in full...

Here's a graph showing those results from our AI survey, where ChatGPT remains on top, but perhaps not as far ahead of its rivals as you might expect...

Our results also chime with some other recent research on the subject. Ben Wood, Chief Analyst at CCS Insight, told us: "At CCS Insight we’ve noted similar findings when it comes to the most popular AI services. ChatGPT leads with 39% of Brits telling us that they have used the service, with that number being even higher in the US, where we recorded that 42% of consumers have interacted with the platform," he said.

"Google’s Gemini is lagging ChatGPT, but we are seeing engagement growing. Awareness is also extremely high for both services, reaching over 80% in the UK and US for ChatGPT. In the US, awareness of Gemini is only fractionally behind ChatGPT at 73% while in the UK it has reached 69%," he added.

The race for the title of best AI tool is only just getting started, then – and it's clear why OpenAI, Google and Microsoft are all keen to add new features on a seemingly weekly basis. It'll be fascinating to see what this chart looks like in a year and beyond.

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The excitement around the Humane AI Pin has faded. The company behind the $700 AI device has sold its assets to HP for $116 million, and some of the employees have joined the company. It's a lot of money, but not exactly a coup for Humane, considering the startup had raised over $230 million. HP discontinuing the AI Pin is just the capper.

The withering of Humane's fortunes has more significant implications for another AI device, the Rabbit’s R1. The chirpy little AI gadget and the startup behind it may end up in a similar place as Humane if it's not careful. There are plenty of reasons why Humane may have failed, though I have a few theories.

The biggest reason may have been a lack of features people wanted. There were some intriguing ideas, like the screenless interaction with the AI, the laser projector that looked great in demo videos, and the continual link to the AI assistant. However, the reviews all highlighted slow AI processing, unreliable hardware, and feeling like the $24 monthly subscription fee was too much, especially on top of the $700 purchase price. As AI apps like ChatGPT improved, many may have decided they could get all the features they liked from their smartphone and returned the Humane AI Pin.

Rabbit should be taking notes. Right now, the R1 is struggling with some of the exact same issues: a lack of must-have features, performance hiccups, and a growing sense that it's an inessential accessory. Rushing out a prototype too quickly when the hardware is still unstable is a problem, especially when the hardware is the main selling point. A lack of certain features, like messaging and social media support, raises the same questions about its value as Humane faced.

Rabbit hole

I think the R1 can survive if Rabbit makes the right moves. That includes upgrading the R1’s Large Action Model (LAM) AI engine. The LAM is supposed to be the magic sauce that makes the R1 superior to Siri or Alexa, but even being just as good won't help it stand out. It needs to be instant and accurate when booking a ride, answering a question, or summarizing emails. Rabbit should throw everything they have into improving LAM, even if that means bringing in outside help and partnering with OpenAI or Anthropic.

Rabbit also needs to get deals in place to work with WhatsApp, Slack, and the Android and iOS messaging services at the very least. Even better, they should lean into voice-based messaging and AI-powered summaries, though they'd need to make sure they work at least as well as Apple Intelligence.

Ultimately, Rabbit needs to work out its positioning. Right now, it’s unclear who the R1 is for. Is it a productivity tool? A digital assistant for busy professionals? A toy for tech enthusiasts? Instead of trying to be everything to everyone, they should focus on a specific audience and go all in. If they position the R1 as an ultra-efficient personal AI secretary, something that can handle voice-to-text notes, summarize meetings, and manage calendars in a smoother way than any smartphone assistant, they might find a real niche.

And let’s not forget developers. Rabbit should aggressively court third-party developers, giving them the tools to build new integrations and apps for the R1. A strong developer ecosystem could turn the R1 from a novelty into a platform.

The Rabbit R1 isn’t doomed yet, but it is at a crossroads. It risks becoming another Humane AI Pin, an ambitious but ultimately forgettable attempt at AI hardware. But if Rabbit takes decisive action, it might just pull a, well, rabbit out of its AI hat.

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• Pika has released an iOS app that enables easy AI video creation from your phone
• The app includes many features, like Pikaffects, PikaScenes, and Pikadditions
• A new mobile feature called PikaMemes will make your face a reaction video GIF

Pika Labs has introduced an iOS app for those who want to play with the AI video creator's tools while on the go. With a few taps and a little patience, you can produce impossible videos ready to post on social media.

Pika chose to release the app only a few weeks after rolling out the Pika 2.1 model and its many new features and upgrades, including higher quality videos, more lifelike people and animals, and far more realistic movement and physics in general.

Further, if you're too impatient to wait for Pika 2.1, you can switch to Pika Turbo, a three times faster model that uses far fewer Pika credits to make a video, though it might not produce quite as impressive results.

AI imagination

All of Pika's popular tools are in the app – including Pikaffects, which creates bizarre transformations that deliver surreal, slightly unhinged visual spectacles. Give that vacation photo a melting Salvador Dalí look, turn the elephant at the zoo into the cake, and explode the litter thrown by a careless driver, all from your phone.

You can also add a touch of whimsy or unreality to a video with the Pikadditions tool. You pick a video to alter, then upload another image and describe how you want to infuse your footage with unreal elements. You might add a dragon to your backyard barbecue video or yourself in your favorite movie. As a test, I gave my dog some surprising new friends in our snowy backyard.

If you want a more narrative film, PikaScenes, formerly Scene Ingredients, lets you set the stage for your stories. If you forget a friend's birthday, you could send a personalized video of an animated scene starring them and a range of appropriate AI-crafted characters, props, and settings from your own photos or by a text prompt.

There's also a mobile app-exclusive feature called PikaMemes. As the name suggests, you can meld a photo with an emoji or popular meme concept and bring it to life in a short video or GIF. Say you want to share exactly how you feel when overwhelmed on a Monday. Just upload a good selfie or headshot and match it to the right mood; you won't need words to share how you feel.

All of these tools on a mobile app really encourage a lot of playing around. To take advantage of this, you'll need more than 150 tokens a month, which are provided for free, as the videos can range from five tokens for a Turbo model basic video to 60 credits for using Pika 2.1 and the most complex features. You can sign up for the Basic plan at $8 per month and get 700 credits, or the Standard plan for $28 and 2,300 credits.

Still, if you want to really stand out on TikTok or Instagram or just feel like really hammering home how much heat you're feeling, it's probably going to be hard to resist giving it a shot.

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