Technology

• The foldable iPhone could cost between $2,100 and $2,500
• That would make it one of Apple's most expensive devices
• However, it might lack Face ID

There's never been any doubt that Apple’s anticipated foldable iPhone will be a very expensive device, and now new rumors suggest that it could be one of Apple’s priciest-ever products.

According to leaker Instant Digital (via MacRumors) the foldable iPhone will start at between $2,100 and $2,500 (that's roughly £1,580-£1,730 / AU$3,310-AU$3,625, though we wouldn’t expect those conversions to be accurate).

That would make it far more expensive than Apple’s current top phone, with the iPhone 16 Pro Max starting at $1,199 / £1,199 / AU$2,149, and would even make it more expensive than the $1,599 / £2,149 / AU$3,199 starting price of a MacBook Pro 14-inch M4 (2024).

It would also mean the foldable iPhone would exceed the price of rivals, with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 for example starting at $1,899.99 / £1,799 / AU$2,749.

The foldable iPhone could cost more than the Galaxy Z Fold 6 (Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future) $2,000+ and no Face ID

So this could be a seriously expensive device, especially as that rumored price is apparently just the starting price. And while we’d take this rumor with a pinch of salt, others agree that it will cost a lot.

We’ve heard previously that the foldable iPhone’s price could be as low as $2,000 (around £1,540 / AU$3,175) or as high as $2,500 (roughly £1,730 / AU$3,625). So whatever the case, a $2,000-plus price is looking likely.

That’s perhaps unsurprising though. After all, this being an Apple device (albeit one that Apple has yet to confirm the existence of) it's always been expected that it'll come in at a higher price than other foldable phones.

But despite its likely high price, the foldable iPhone might lack some tech we’ve come to expect from Apple’s handsets, with leaker Digital Chat Station (via MacRumors) claiming that it won’t have Face ID – though apparently it will have an under-display camera, which would be a first for Apple.

If this is correct, then it’s likely that the phone will instead have Touch ID in a side button, as we’ve heard in a previous leak. That’s not the end of the world, but it might leave some feeling shortchanged if it does indeed come with a $2,000-plus price tag.

It'll likely be some time before we learn the actual price of Apple's first foldable, with reports suggesting it's unlikely to land before 2026 at the earliest.

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• Microsoft 365 will start blocking ActiveX by default
• The “powerful” tool put users at risk of remote code execution
• Users won’t be able to create or interact with ActiveX objects

Microsoft has revealed ActiveX will be disabled by default in Microsoft 365 starting this month, citing security as the company’s key deciding factor.

In a blog post, Microsoft Office Security Product Manager Zaeem Patel acknowledged while ActiveX, which enables rich interactions within Microsoft 365 applications, is a “powerful technology,” however it’s also one that comes with associated security risks thanks to the amount of access it has to a user’s system.

From April 2025, Microsoft will disable all controls without notification by default across Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft PowerPoint and Microsoft Visio.

Microsoft starts blocking ActiveX by default this month

Patel criticized previous default settings for putting users at risk of being exploited by attackers through social engineering or malicious files.

A successful ActiveX attack could grant malicious actors access to remote code execution, putting a victim’s system and the entire organization’s network at risk.

Enabling ActiveX now requires manual action through the Trust Center, and that’s assuming system admin permissions allow access to this. Users without access will see the option greyed out, instead.

“When ActiveX is disabled, you will no longer be able to create or interact with ActiveX objects in Microsoft 365 files,” Patel confirmed.

Described as “small building blocks that create applications that work over the Internet through Web browsers,” Microsoft explains in a separate support page how ActiveX controls can be used for command buttons, list boxes and dialog boxes.

“Some existing ActiveX objects will still be visible as a static image, but it will not be possible to interact with them,” Patel added.

Beta Channel users are already being affected with the change, with Current Channel (Preview) users running Version 2504 (Build 18730.20030) or later also experiencing the change this month.

In an apparent acknowledgement that some users may not be happy about the change and the fact that there’s no real direct replacement, Microsoft is offering to collect feedback via File > Feedback in any Microsoft 365 app.

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• Microsoft Teams adds "enhanced" spell check feature
• Users will be alerted to issues as they type in Teams
• Multi-language support means users can switch between up to three languages

Making embarassing spelling mistakes in crucial work conversations or Microsoft Teams calls could soon be a thing of the past thanks to a new update.

The video conferencing service has announced it is rolling out "enhanced spell check", giving users the tools to make sure their messages are as accurate as possible.

Microsoft says the addition, "will help ensure that your messages are clear and professional" - something I'm sure we've all worried about in the past.

Microsoft Teams spell check

In a Microsoft 365 updates blog post, the company outlined how the feature will work, spotting any issues in the Teams compose box and marking or highlighting the problem immeidately.

Users will then be able to choose a correction from a dropdown menu, ignore the suggestion, or add a word to their dictionary.

The new spell check feature will also offer multi-language, support, with users able to switch between up to three languages. It isn't mentioned exactly which languages are supported at launch, but we'll hopefully get more information on this soon.

The feature is listed as rolling out now, and is generally available for all users on Windows desktop and Mac devices, across all platforms.

The launch is the latest in a series of recent improvements to Microsoft Teams announced by the company as it looks to make the platform more intuitive.

This includes the recent launch of real-time text (RTT) capabilities, allowing participants to type a message while someone else's speech is being transcribed, giving users who prefer typing to speaking another way to make sure their voices get out there.

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• A remaster of The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion seems imminent
• Screenshots have been sourced from developer Virtuos's website
• It could launch with a Deluxe Edition as early as next week

For me, the biggest news of the week isn't anything Nintendo Switch 2-related, or even Respawn's new Star Wars game. Nay, it's the notion that the long-rumored The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion remaster may actually be completely real.

Potential images of the remaster have appeared over on the Oblivion subreddit, sourced from developer Virtuos's website. And even more images, including comparison shots to the original game and one showcasing a Deluxe Edition, have been collated in an Imgur post.

What's more, as reported by Eurogamer, the supposed remaster could be launching as early as next week (likely April 21 - 25) for Xbox Series X|S, PS5, PC, and Xbox Game Pass. If this is indeed true, it means I'll once again have to punt Baldur's Gate 3 back into the backlog mines despite receiving its massive final patch, because Oblivion is one of my all-time favorite games.

Oblivion images on Virtuos website from r/oblivion Remake Screenshots from Virtuos' Website: from r/oblivion

We've been hearing about a potential Oblivion remaster since 2023, back in the days of the FTC vs. Microsoft court case. But still, I can't shake the feeling that a shadow drop next week feels a little weird to me.

Microsoft has announced its next Xbox Games Showcase for June 8, right around the time of Summer Game Fest. I think it would probably make more sense to reveal the Oblivion remaster there. But hey, if this isn't all an elaborate hoax and it is indeed arriving next week, I certainly won't complain.

Why Oblivion?

Oblivion might just be the most divisive entry in The Elder Scrolls franchise. It was a mind-boggling showcase for 2006 and certainly helped to shift many an Xbox 360. But quite frankly, the game is the textbook definition of 'jank.'

Whether it's non-player characters (NPCs) talking absolute gibberish to one another, voice actors swapping between lines from the same character, a broken leveling system, or its horrifying Play-Doh-esque denizens, Oblivion's highly cursed nature is typically what people remember fondly of the game.

It can often feel like a bizarre fever dream as you witness the world of Cyrodiil and its characters behave in increasingly bizarre ways. All backed by Jeremy Soule's legendary soundtrack, Oblivion is a game that definitely has more than a few screws loose, but I'll be damned if it doesn't have heart.

Hopefully, that charm won't be lost in a polished-up remaster with more modern visuals and various quality-of-life updates. But still, if this whole thing does turn out to be an elaborate hoax, pretend I didn't say anything.

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Ransomware has always been an evolving threat, as criminal gangs experiment with new tactics to terrorize their victims and gain maximum leverage for making extortion demands. Weaponized AI is the latest addition to the arsenal, enabling high-level groups to launch more advanced attacks and opening the door for novice hackers. The NCSC has warned that AI is increasing the global threat posed by ransomware, and there has also been a reported increase in AI-powered phishing attacks.

Organizations now face increased threats from more sophisticated attacks, such as polymorphic malware that can mutate in real time to evade detection, enabling groups to strike with more accuracy and frequency.

As AI continues to rewrite the rules of ransomware attacks, organizations are still relying on traditional defenses are at a greater risk of falling victim to this next generation of cyber attacks.

How AI is making ransomware more accessible

Cybercriminals, like legitimate businesses, are finding new ways to use AI tools and this is making ransomware attacks more accessible and scalable. By automating critical attack processes, cybercriminals can launch faster, more sophisticated campaigns while minimizing human effort.

There are benefits for established and experienced criminal gangs which can now increase the scale of their operations. At the same time, because AI is lowering the barriers for entry, those with less technical expertise can access ransomware as a service (RaaS) to launch advanced attacks at a level that would normally be above their pay grade.

OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, confirmed it has detected and disrupted more than 20 operations using its popular generative AI tool for malicious activity. This ranged from writing copy for targeted phishing campaigns to directly coding and debugging malware.

The group known as FunkSec - a RaaS provider - is a recent example of how these tools are elevating the capabilities of criminal groups. It’s believed the gang only has a handful of members, and their human-created code has been fairly simplistic, with a very basic level of English.

However, since emerging in late 2024, FunkSec racked up more than 80 reported victims within a single month, with various AI tools helping them punch well above their weight.

Investigations have found signs of AI-generated code within the ransomware used by the gang alongside web and ransom copy clearly written by a Large Language Model (LLM). The group also used a generative AI tool called Miniapps to create a chatbot to support their operations.

AI-powered attacks are more precise and powerful

AI tools also enable attackers to research their victims and create targeted phishing campaigns far more efficiently. Malicious activity is easy to disguise as legitimate sales and marketing emails, enabling cybercriminals to slip past attempts by LLMs to block illegal and unethical activity. Some criminal groups are also starting to use LLM-powered chatbots to handle ransom negotiations. As these malicious models learn from experience, we may see more aggressive and effective psychological tactics ahead.

One of the most significant concerns is that attackers can create more sophisticated ransomware that moves faster, hits harder, and is designed to evade detection.

An example of this is polymorphic malware, which is programmed to automatically modify code each time the malware replicates or infects a new system and uses obfuscation and encryption to hide malicious payloads. This makes it extremely difficult for traditional signature-based detection tools to identify an active attack.

Polymorphic malware, such as Storm Worm, has been around for some time, but the AI revolution of the last two years had made it easier to create and deploy. Polymorphic ransomware is especially dangerous since attacks will cause more damage, the longer they can evade detection.

How can businesses defend against AI-driven ransomware?

With AI powering up ransomware gangs, businesses must evolve their defenses to stay protected. Traditional security tools alone are no longer enough, and organizations need to match their fast-moving adversaries with their own adaptive, AI-driven strategies to keep up.

One crucial step is considering how to fight AI with AI. Advanced AI-driven detection and response solutions can analyze behavioral patterns in real time, spotting anomalies that traditional signature-based tools might miss. This is essential for countering tactics like polymorphism that have been specifically developed to evade standard detection tools. Continuous network monitoring adds another layer of defense, helping to detect suspicious activity before ransomware can activate and spread.

Beyond detection, AI-powered solutions are also important for preventing data exfiltration as modern ransomware gangs almost always rely on data theft to pressure their victims. Our research found that 94% of reported ransomware attacks in 2024 involved exfiltration, underlining the need for Anti Data Exfiltration (ADX) solutions to be part of a layered security strategy. By blocking unauthorized data transfers organizations can shut down extortion attempts leaving attackers with no choice but to move on.

While advanced tools are essential for keeping up, it’s important not to neglect the fundamentals - at the foundation of a strong defense lies basic cybersecurity hygiene. Many attacks exploit simple security gaps, so businesses must patch vulnerabilities quickly and adopt Zero Trust security principles, enforcing MFA and least privilege access to limit lateral movement.

Facing the future of ransomware

AI is transforming ransomware into a more targeted threat that moves faster and is better at evading defenses. These increasingly efficient, scalable, and sophisticated ransomware campaigns are making businesses more vulnerable than ever.

But while cybercriminals evolve quickly, so can defenders. Although AI tools are rewriting many of the ransomware rules, the fundamentals of defense remain the same. Businesses need to anticipate AI-powered tactics and strengthen their defenses to match. Companies that can detect and stop incoming attacks and prevent attackers from accessing and exfiltrating their data will present hardened targets that disrupt the ransomware business model.

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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

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It’s hard to believe it’s been five years since the COVID-19 pandemic first hit. While life has gradually moved forward, its impact is still being felt in countless ways. COVID accelerated the development of many kinds of technology including artificial intelligence (AI). Once seen as novel and full of promise, AI has seen a meteoric shift – from something promising and experimental into something that is a critical driver of innovation.

One sector that has reaped the benefits of this accelerated development is healthcare, where it is being used to support clinical decision-making, monitor patient outcomes, and accelerate drug discovery.

So, what would a pandemic response look like today, in a world where AI tools play such a central role?

Enhanced detection and forecasting

There are straightforward ways that more advanced AI models could support the healthcare system. Data analysis, for instance, could help track the spread of a virus in real time and pinpoint the most effective treatments more quickly than ever before.

But the real potential of AI goes far beyond the basics. Today, we’re able to use its capabilities in far more impactful ways, particularly when it comes to tackling the challenges we faced five years ago.

Take detection, for example. AI has the incredible ability to analyze large sets of data from multiple sources in the blink of an eye. Through this analysis, it can then predict any unusual patterns that might occur, allowing governments the opportunity to be one step ahead. Not only that, with machine learning, AI can be trained on the historical data from previous outbreaks and forecast any red flags that may be on the horizon. Governments could then use this intelligence to plan their response and take steps to slow the spread.

A secondary and major benefit of a powerful forecasting system is that it can markedly improve efficiency – in many areas. There has been a swell of conversation around the financial viability of our NHS as the world becomes more expensive and life expectancy rises. The government has already acted, with plans to scrap NHS England after a £6.6 billion budget deficit was predicted for the coming year. Step forward AI. By accurately forecasting and predicting future health trends, governments can allocate resources in a much more efficient manner, reducing government waste.

Further, today’s AI models could play a vital role in the more technical healthcare challenges a major health crisis presents. Looking back, one of the most challenging features of COVID-19 was the development and rollout of the vaccine. The overall cost of the vaccine was estimated to cost the government £376 billion.

Development and discovery

Today, however, AI is doing powerful work in vaccine development and discovery. In America, AI is being harnessed to help create vaccines tailored to vulnerable groups. Additionally, through data analysis, it could predict which individuals are in the most immediate need of the vaccine and predict how candidates may react to it. Going even further, AI has the capacity to test millions of vaccine variations before a human trial has even begun, therefore optimizing clinical trial design.

A more efficient system for vaccine discovery, development, and distribution would allow the government to not only respond more quickly, but also better allocate resources to other areas of the healthcare system that are under great strain.

It can improve outcomes, but it can also help shape how information around those outcomes is shared. Which brings us on to another area where AI could make a meaningful difference: misinformation.

When the virus struck, little information was available about it and how it would affect the public, and the information that was relayed was possibly less robust than it needed to be. The government at the time had to set up specialist units to combat false narratives – costing valuable resources. With AI’s ability to decipher information in real time, any information or data getting passed around can be easily fact-checked, mitigating the spread of false and dangerous guidance.

AI has transformed how we would handle a global pandemic, but it’s also important to understand how the COVID-19 virus accelerated this progress. While the role of AI in healthcare was already being established at the time of the pandemic, COVID compressed the timeline – accomplishing in five years what might have taken a decade.

From experimentation to implementation

In truth, when the pandemic hit, AI in healthcare was largely experimental and often used solely for research and diagnostics, with little real-world deployment. COVID acted as a catalyst for investment in AI – and technology in general. Prior to the pandemic, investment in tech was dwindling, but fast-forward to 2021, and there was a marked difference in the attitude towards technology.

As we moved into lockdowns and a period with strict social restrictions, the focus turned to developing and implementing AI and tech that could improve mental health and wellness, with the use of mental health and well-being apps increasing 200% during the pandemic.

COVID also exposed gaps in the healthcare system; overburdened staff, slower diagnostics, and delayed responses. However, one of the most significant gaps was the bias in the data collected. The pandemic highlighted the lack of trust in healthcare in certain populations. The black community in the UK were much less likely to get the vaccine compared with other ethnic groups, for example.

Building trust in healthcare among minority communities is, therefore, vital to ensuring healthcare systems can support everyone. If provided with the right data, AI can significantly build trust and challenge misinformation that spreads so easily in today’s tech-centric society.

AI and the future of crisis response

Looking ahead, AI has the power to transform the management of global health crises. Governments are investing in AI infrastructure, building large language models (LLMs), and considering creating data-sharing platforms to support this innovation.

This is where we need collaboration. The NHS has the most extensive set of healthcare data but doesn’t share it. If that data is made available, we can train our AI platforms to analyze areas where improvements can be made. There also needs to be a commitment to train staff and make them aware of the benefits that AI can provide in terms of their productivity and workflow.

In conclusion, the pandemic and the following five years have highlighted how AI and healthcare institutions can be better prepared for any potential health crisis in the future. With a commitment to collaboration, the power of artificial intelligence can foster transparency, gather equitable data, and build trust among the population. By working hand in hand, we can build a healthcare ecosystem that is proactive and resilient.

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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

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• Aurzen first debuted its tri-folding compact projector at CES 2025
• After a Kickstarter, it's now up for sale on Amazon and already seeing a discount
• With the ultra-portable Zip projector, it can show content horizontally or vertically

The 2025 Consumer Electronics Show might be long over, but in about four months since then, one of the wildest products we saw on the show floor is well up for order and shipping soon.

The Aurzen ZIP is a tri-folding ultra-portable projector, making the like of the Samsung Freestyle seem downright clunky. It impressed us in a brief demonstration at the show, mostly for the sheer novelty and it’s up for order right now on Amazon.

It’s priced at $399.99, with Prime members scoring free shipping, but if you pick the Gold color you can clip a coupon on the page for $20 off.

That brings the cost for this compact projector down to $379.99. Though, if you’re set on Grey you’ll need to pay the full price of $399.99.

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Aurzen’s ZIP lets you cast a 720pHD screen on nearly any surface from an integrated DLP projector. It promises up to 100 ANSI lumens of brightness and even has stereo speakers built-in, though considering the size, we wouldn’t expect super-powerful audio.

It even packs a solid amount of connectivity, including Bluetooth 5.4 for screen mirroring or connecting to another audio service. Still, through a Wi-Fi dongle, you can utilize CastPlay to communicate with other devices and cast content.

Even neater, though, is that the ZIP can cast content horizontally, which makes it great for watching movies, TV shows, or even a sports game, but the versatility is upped as it can also show vertical content in the 3:2 format.

This means you can connect your iPhone or Android to watch TikToks, YouTube Shorts, or Instagram Reels on the big screen. Err, wherever you opt to put that big screen. There is a built-in gyroscope to let it make that switch from horizontal to vertical or vice versa as well. An Apple-esque feature list on Amazon lists that the Zip features Auto Keystone – which should mean you get a clear picture – and ‘Zero-Lag Focus.’

Even with a laundry list of features, don’t go into the Aurzen Zip thinking it’s going to deliver the best picture possible. It's almost certainly a step below the Samsung Freestyle.

Rather, this will be excellent for the traveler or someone who is on the go and wants to take in content – horizontal or vertical – via a bigger view. Maybe, you’re on the road and want to lie in bed and watch a show on your ceiling.

It also speaks to the design here, which is the really neat part – the Zip is a full tri-folding design for a projector that weighs in at just 9.8 ounces or 280 grams. When closed, it’s a bit bigger than a Post-it note at 3.1 x 3.1 x 1 inch, and you can get it to project the perfect view by tilting the top panel, which contains the projector and top controls.

You can watch our first look at the Aurzen Zip from CES 2025 above, and let me know in the comments if you end up adding this to your cart. Again, it’s available on Amazon for $399.99 in Grey, but if you get in Gold, you can clip the $20 off coupon on the page to get it for just $379.99.

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• Skullcandy Method 360 ANC are wireless earbuds with Bose sound
• 9 hrs battery in the buds with ANC on, Bose-style ergonomic fit
• Available now for $99 / £99 (about AU$200) – US price will rise to $119

Skullcandy has just unveiled its latest earbuds, and they're a mashup with Bose that I think looks like incredibly good value for their $99 / £99 launch price – though in the US, that's just an initial introductory price, and will rise to $119 officially.

The Skullcandy Method 360 ANC buds are true wireless buds that come in a really cool slide-out case with an O-ring to connect to your backpack or cool skate clothes (the press images seem to emphasize the skating vibe).

The design of the buds themselves bears more than a passing resemblance to the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds, but with Skullcandy-like funky color options. They have fins for a super-secure fit, and apparently this is "licensed technology from Bose [to] help ensure a perfect fit and block out unwanted sound". There are different-sized fins and eartips to help get the most secure fit for your ear shape.

Speaking of blocking out the sound, they have active noise cancellation, with adjustable modes via Skullcandy's app and a 'Stay-Aware' passthrough mode. Four mics power the ANC, and given the tech involved, it seems that Bose has had its hand in here as well – these could rank among the best noise-canceling earbuds on a budget.

Impressively, the battery life with ANC turned on is nine hours from the earbuds, with another 23 hours from the case. That's way above most of the competition from even the best earbuds. With the ANC off, you get 11 hours from the buds and a further 29 from the case.

(Image credit: Skullcandy)

Now, you might assume (as I did) from the '360' name that there's some kind of spatial audio here. Well, there isn't.

Which is fine given the budget, I have no complaint about that – but it feels like Skullcandy already blew the perfectly good name it could've given the next-gen version where it did add this feature.

There's multi-point pairing, Google Fast Pair support, and Bluetooth 5.3 including Bluetooth LE Audio support, so they're somewhat future-proof. There's no mention of Bluetooth Auracast support, but the version of Bluetooth here supports it, so it might be possible in the future.

It's also a shame there's no Find My support, but I can live without that. There's very little to complain about otherwise – even little things that are often left out of budget buds are here, including IPX4 sweat resistance and auto-pausing wear detection when you take them off.

Left to right: Plasma, Primer, Black, Bone, Leopard (Image credit: Skullcandy)

The color options are especially good. They are, in order of how awesome they sound: Plasma, Leopard, Bone, Primer, and Black. They are, in order of how cool they look: Leopard, Plasma, Primer, Black, and Bone.

If these have sound quality and ANC to match the Bose partnership, and the comfort we expect from Skullcandy, these look like they've hit a real value sweet spot, and may rank among the best budget earbuds.

We've already had our hands on them, and will bring you some first impressions once we've had a chance to make some early judgments. They're available to buy from today.

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• Google and the Wild Dolphin Project have developed an AI model trained to understand dolphin vocalizations
• DolphinGemma can run directly on Pixel smartphones
• It will be open-sourced this summer

For most of human history, our relationship with dolphins has been a one-sided conversation: we talk, they squeak, and we nod like we understand each other before tossing them a fish. But now, Google has a plan to use AI to bridge that divide. Working with Georgia Tech and the Wild Dolphin Project (WDP), Google has created DolphinGemma, a new AI model trained to understand and even generate dolphin chatter.

The WDP has been collecting data on a specific group of wild Atlantic spotted dolphins since 1985. The Bahamas-based pod has provided huge amounts of audio, video, and behavioral notes as the researchers have observed them, documenting every squawk and buzz and trying to piece together what it all means. This treasure trove of audio is now being fed into DolphinGemma, which is based on Google’s open Gemma family of models. DolphinGemma takes dolphin sounds as input, processes them using audio tokenizers like SoundStream, and predicts what vocalization might come next. Imagine autocomplete, but for dolphins.

The model is very slim and can run on a Google Pixel. WDP is already deploying DolphinGemma in the field this summer, using Pixel 9s in waterproof rigs. These models will be listening in, identifying vocal patterns, and helping researchers flag meaningful sequences in real time.

Flipper speaks

But the ultimate goal here isn’t just passive listening. WDP and Georgia Tech are also working on a system called CHAT (short for Cetacean Hearing Augmentation Telemetry), which is essentially a two-way communication system for humans and dolphins. CHAT lets researchers assign synthetic whistles to objects dolphins like, including seagrass and floating scarves, and then waits to see if the dolphins mimic those sounds to request them. It’s kind of like inventing a shared language, except with underwater microphones instead of flashcards.

DolphinGemma doesn’t just analyze dolphin sounds after the fact; it helps anticipate what sounds might be coming, enabling faster response times and smoother interactions. In essence, it’s like a predictive keyboard for dolphins. The whole project is still in an early stage, but Google plans to open-source DolphinGemma later this year to accelerate progress.

The initial model is trained on the vocalizations of Atlantic spotted dolphins, but it could theoretically be adapted to other species with some tuning. The idea is to hand other researchers the keys to the AI so they can apply it to their own acoustic datasets. Of course, this is still a long way from chatting with dolphins about philosophy or their favorite snacks. There’s no guarantee that dolphin vocalizations map neatly to human-like language. But DolphinGemma will help sift through years of audio for meaningful patterns.

Dolphins aren't the only animals humans may use AI to communicate with. Another group of scientists developed an AI algorithm to decode pigs' emotions based on their grunts, squeals, and snuffles to help farmers understand their emotional and physical health. Dolphins are undeniably more charismatic, though. Who knows, maybe someday you'll be able to ask a dolphin for directions while you're sailing, at least if you don't drop your phone in the water.

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• Raghib Hussain named new CEO as Intel shifts its strategic focus

Intel, now under the leadership of new CEO Lip-Bu Tan, has been facing a number of challenges in recent years, to the point where it was rumored the tech giant could sell off its chip-design and marketing business or spin off its chip plants.

Whether that will happen in the future remains to be seen, but Intel says it has signed a definitive agreement to sell 51% of its Altera business to Silver Lake for $4.46 billion.

This values the company at $8.75 billion, which is quite a drop from nearly $17 billion Intel paid for it in 2015.

Once-in-a-generation opportunity

Altera has been active in FPGA (field programmable gate array) development for over four decades, providing programmable semiconductor solutions for use in industries like communications, aerospace, government, data centers, and industrial automation.

The sale gives Altera operational independence and establishes it as the largest pure-play FPGA semiconductor company in the world. Intel will keep a 49% stake, allowing it to remain involved while shifting its focus more squarely to its core operations.

The transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2025, pending customary closing conditions.

Once finalized, Intel plans to deconsolidate Altera’s financials. In 2024, Altera reported $1.54 billion in revenue, a GAAP operating loss of $615 million, and non-GAAP operating income of $35 million.

Raghib Hussain, previously president of Products and Technologies at Marvell, will succeed Sandra Rivera as CEO of Altera on May 5, 2025.

“This investment represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to invest in a scale leader in advanced semiconductors,” said Kenneth Hao, chairman and managing partner of Silver Lake.

“Together with Raghib, we will be focused on strengthening Altera’s technology leadership position and investing in emerging AI-driven markets such as edge computing and robotics. We look forward to working closely with Intel as a strategic partner who will continue to provide U.S.-based foundry services and complementary engagement with customers.”

Lip-Bu Tan described the agreement as a strategic step forward. “Today’s announcement reflects our commitment to sharpening our focus, lowering our expense structure and strengthening our balance sheet,” he said.

“Altera continues to make progress repositioning its product portfolio to participate in the fastest growing and most profitable segments of the FPGA market. We are grateful for Sandra’s strong leadership and lasting impact throughout her 25-year Intel career and wish her continued success as she begins a new chapter. Raghib is a superb executive we selected to lead the business forward based on his vast industry experience and proven track record of success. We look forward to partnering with Silver Lake upon closing of the transaction, as their industry expertise will help to accelerate Altera's efforts and unlock additional economic value for Intel.”

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