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• UK office workers waste 11.3 billion hours on administrative tasks every year
• Dropbox employees report saving 7.9 hours/week by using AI
• Better tech and flexible work could unlock creativity

New data from Dropbox has quantified just how much time we're wasting and precisely where AI can help – UK office workers alone are said to waste 11.3 billion hours annually on administrative tasks like emailing and scheduling.

In fact, only two in five (42%) UK workers have enough time for creative work, placing the country behind the likes of Germany and the US.

Due to being bogged down in meaningless tasks, nearly half (45%) are only able to spend 0-5 hours per week on developing new ideas or solutions, making progress especially slow.

UK office workers waste billions of hours annually on administrative work

One in four (24%) were found to be spending between six and 10 hours per week on administrative tasks – roughly the equivalent of a whole working day. Coincidentally, time constraints were found to be the biggest limiter on innovation and long-term thinking.

Half (51%) of UK workers feel they have the necessary tools and time to do their jobs efficiently, but this still places them ahead of France and the US where workers appear to be less satisfied.

Nevertheless, it seems like most office workers spend too much time chasing their tail. Given an extra hour in the day, 27% would catch up on tasks and 18% would aim to reduce workload.

Speaking about its own solutions, Dropbox said that its AI-using employees save an average of 7.9 hours per week on tasks like research, coding and writing – more or less a full working day. An overwhelming number of Dropbox's employees (96%) now use AI weekly for tasks like information retrieval, brainstorming, coding, documentation and drafting.

Looking ahead, the company states that "systemic transformation" is vital, be that access to new tools or embracing flexible working models to enable greater autonomy.

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• Accessory maker Dbrand has once again responded to the controversy surrounding its Nintendo Switch 2 Killswitch Joy-Con controllers
• The company intially suggested that players were holding the console wrong, making the Joy-Con controllers easily detach
• It has now apologized for its "spectacularly terrible response" and is "100% committed to is getting everyone replacement Joy-Cons ASAP"

Nintendo Switch 2 accessory company Dbrand has issued an apology amid its botched Killswitch Joy-Con 2 grip controversy, promising replacements.

Last week, Dbrand released a lengthy Reddit post, responding to Switch 2 fans who have been experiencing disconnection issues with the company's Killswitch Joy-Con 2 grips.

Initially, it claimed that users were simply holding the Switch 2 wrong if gripping it by the Joy-Con itself. Dbrand also said that the Killswitch had been tested by its own development team, "hundreds of content creators (both paid and unpaid), and dozens of journalists.

"Not one of them, ourselves included, precariously held the entire console by only one Joy-Con, horizontally, with zero instinctive finger support on the back, loading 87% of the console weight directly onto the Joy-Con hinge," Dbrand said.

It also listed some reasons why the controllers were detaching so easily for users among a series of demonstration clips:

1. You’re holding the NS2 by only one Joy-Con, stressing 87% of the weight on the hinge.
2. You’re touching only the Joy-Con itself, without naturally supporting any part of the main console.
3. Your console has lowered to an angle that’s more parallel to the ground than it is not.

I love my killswitch 2.. buttttttt from r/dbrand

However, Dbrand did acknowledge the viral videos of the Killswitch disconnecting too, saying that it believes "it's due to these Joy-Con Grips featuring an inner attachment lip that’s a hair thicker than desired", and that it had "adjusted our tolerance guidelines for mass production to filter out any Joy-Cons that cross that 'lip is 0.12mm too thick' threshold."

Fans weren't too happy with Dbrand's initial response, with one user saying: "As an engineer, what I have to say is this: the design is imperfect and needs improvement."

"They went radio silence only to come back and exhaustively blame the customer again," another said.

Now, in a follow-up post, Dbrand has apologized for its original response, saying it's going to "try out a new communication strategy where we both say fewer words and devote less of them to blaming you."

"After reading through your feedback, it’s quite clear that our post was a spectacularly terrible response to the issue at hand," the company said. "Some of you have expressed that opinion in a perfectly reasonable way. Others have expressed it with literal death threats.

"As easy as it is to boil our original post down to 'you’re holding it wrong', what we're sober to now is the point that you should be allowed to hold it however the f**k you want, without detachment occurring. We get it. Please continue dunking on us for the next six to eight months for reincarnating Steve Jobs."

Dbrand explained that it is now working on developing a new version of the Killswitch, and that it is "100% committed to is getting everyone replacement Joy-Cons ASAP regardless of whether they’re severely affected, haven’t experienced the issue, have emailed us a dozen times, or have no clue about any of this."

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The Social Network, the Facebook biographical drama that Mark Zuckerberg said was "hurtful", is getting a sequel. And if the first one made Zuck do a frowning face, then he ain't seen nothing yet.

Reports say that the script for the new movie will focus on The Facebook Files, the devastating Wall Street Journal report that showed Facebook and Zuckerberg were well aware of the toxic effects the platform was having on young users and on political elections.

According to Deadline, Oscar-winning screenwriter Aaron Sorkin is taking original director David Fincher's place to direct The Social Network Part II for Sony Pictures. And where the first movie followed the origins of the world-straddling social media platform, the second intends to look at the damage it's been accused of doing.

What will The Social Network Part II be about?

It's currently unclear whether Jesse Eisenberg or any other original cast members will return. (Image credit: Columbia Pictures/Relativity Media)

According to Esquire, the new movie will adapt the series of Wall Street Journal reports from 2021 called The Facebook Files. As the WSJ said at the time: "Facebook Inc. knows, in acute detail, that its platforms are riddled with flaws that cause harm, often in ways only the company fully understands."

The Facebook Files made – and provided evidence for – multiple allegations, including that Facebook was well aware of how toxic Instagram was for many teen girls; that Facebook has a "secret elite" list of people for whom Facebook's rules don't apply; that Facebook knew its revised algorithm was fueling rage; and that Facebook didn't do enough to stop anti-vax propaganda during Covid-19. Most damningly of all, The Facebook Files reported that all of these things were well known to senior executives, including Mark Zuckerberg.

It's clear which side Sorkin is taking. "I blame Facebook for January 6," he said last year. "Facebook has been, among other things, tuning its algorithm to promote the most divisive material possible. Because that is what will increase engagement ... There’s supposed to be a constant tension at Facebook between growth and integrity. There isn’t. It’s just growth."

According to Deadline, the new movie won't be about the storming of the Capitol. But it will focus on "Facebook’s effect on teens, preteens, violence and countries outside the US."

The Social Network Part II is currently in development with filming and release schedules to be confirmed. The first movie is not currently available to stream on any of the best streaming services in the US at the moment but you can rent it from Prime Video and Apple TV. Or you can read the script (legally) for free. Alternatively, those in the UK can stream it on Prime Video, while Australians can catch it on Binge.

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Stay cool and safe during this heat wave with these essential, heat safety items, readily available on Amazon.

Shocker. The Trump Mobile T1 phone will not be 'Made in the USA.' We know this because the Trump Mobile website quietly altered the T1 language and now claims the phone will be "American Proud Design".

It's an interesting turn of phrase, and one that's reminiscent of how Apple describes the creation of its popular iPhone. On the packaging (it used to be on the devices), it says 'Designed by Apple in California.' Everyone knows that the products are largely assembled elsewhere, often in China, but increasingly in India and Vietnam.

For months, US President Donald Trump has been pressuring Apple CEO Tim Cook to build his iPhone in America. Cook has offered some plans to help shift the balance so that some of the work, perhaps some chip development, possibly some Apple Intelligence hosting, might happen in the US, but that's never been enough for Trump.

But now, maybe, just maybe, Trump will change his tune. Even though the President is not directly involved with Trump Mobile or the T1 phone (it's a Trump family business), it has all the earmarks of a Donald Trump creation, including the gaudy gold finish and that somewhat oddball design (why is it so tall?). The 'Made in the US' claim was no accident; that's Trump's entire brand.

The new wordsmithing on the Trump Mobile site is nothing if not entertaining:

"The T1 Phone isn’t just powerful—it’s brought to life right here in the USA. With American hands behind every device, we bring care, precision, and trusted quality to every detail."

Is that "American hands" collecting the money on pre-orders? I doubt it means that anyone is assembling the phone in the US. Maybe there's a US designer who's looked at all the existing Android 15 smartphones and selected his favorite bits (I give them credit for including the 3.5mm headphone jack).

'Made for America', more like itImage 1 of 2

How Trump Mobile described the T1 before (via WayBack Machine). (Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 2

How they describe it now. (Image credit: Future)

Trump Mobile, though, is facing the hard truth of 21st-century consumer electronics: almost nothing is built in the US, and almost all the components needed to make the phone are fabricated outside the contiguous United States.

As we reported a few weeks ago, living up to the 'Made in the US' claim was challenging, at best:

"Firstly, "made in the USA" has a high bar. Professor Tinglong Dai, who teaches at the Johns Hopkins University Carey Business School, told us: "The FTC [Federal Trade Commission] has a strict standard for “Made in USA”: all or almost all parts and processing must be domestic. Judging by that standard, the claim is unrealistic."

Will Trump finally concede to Cook that, "Yes, perhaps, it's not reasonable to demand that you build your iPhone here in America when I can't even build my own name-branded phone here in the US."

The $499 phone has been on preorder for less than two weeks, but I do wonder if anyone who was sold on the idea of a modern 'Made in the USA' handset has been requesting the return of their $100 down payment.

Will more people now wait until the phone ships "later this year" and for the first reviews to appear before they buy? That's assuming Trump Mobile offers the phone for review. For American tech media, that means Trump Mobile will need to figure out how to get the phone to the US first.

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With its impressive level of detail and punchy bass, it didn’t take long for the JBL Clip 5 to get me hooked, and one year on, I’m still using it to listen to music and podcasts every morning and evening.

At a list price of $79.95 / £59.99 / AU$89.95, the JBL Clip 5 is fantastic value for money considering the impressive durability, practicality, and enjoyable sound that’s packed into such a conveniently compact speaker. What’s more, there are often deals on offer from JBL and Amazon, where I’ve spotted it for as little as $50 / £39 / AU$66 at times, making it an absolute steal.

There’s no greater testament to my appreciation of the JBL Clip 5 than the fact that I have it out on display despite it not being remotely my style aesthetically. This may not sound like much of an accolade to some, but as a girly-girl with white furniture and pale gray rooms with glittery pink feature walls, the slightly utilitarian, black and orange Clip 5 is very off-brand for me – so the fact I want to keep it out and accessible speaks volumes. If the black and orange colorway isn’t for you either, that’s okay, as there’s a huge range of colors to choose from, including white, purple, red, blue, and some multi-colored options, too.

The JBL Clip 5 is still featuring as the top budget option in our pick of the best Bluetooth speakers, and I’m still as happy with its performance as I was when I first reviewed it 12 months ago. But as time’s gone on, I’ve come to appreciate the following five qualities more and more.

It’s always adventure-ready

While the look of the carabiner may not be for everyone, it’s made things much easier whenever I’ve taken the Clip 5 on the road, as I’ve been able to clip it onto backpack straps and luggage handles. The carabiner has also been great for hanging the Clip 5 from door handles and my bathroom mirror, which has proven particularly useful for the times when surface space has been limited.

It’s the perfect bath-time buddy

We already know that the IP67 rating of the Clip 5 is legit after it spent some time swimming in the TechRadar testing tank, and yet I’m still impressed by how well it’s handled spending so much time in a steamy bathroom.

It’s never complained when I’ve been pushing its buttons with soaking wet hands, and despite always being out on a surface, it doesn’t look obviously dusty.

(Image credit: Future)It’s a sound all-rounder

I love a speaker that can play almost anything straight out of the box, so I’m really happy that I’ve been able to switch straight from a comedy podcast to bass-heavy beats without needing to play with any settings.

When I’m in the mood to fine-tune the audio, however, there are four equalizer presets for me to choose from on the JBL portable app, or I can go ahead and customize the EQ myself, which is a great feature to have at this price point.

It’s convenient to control

Unlike some other Bluetooth speakers that have small or illogically placed buttons, I found the buttons on the Clip 5 very intuitive and easy to use. The position of the power button works really well for me, as it lives at the carabiner end of a set of three indented buttons, so it wasn’t long before I could turn the Clip 5 on with my eyes closed.

I like that the play button is multi-functional, so I can use it to either pause or skip tracks. And I especially like how this and the volume buttons are shaped like play, minus, and plus icons, again making it easy to take control over my listening experience, even when I’ve managed to get water in my eyes.

(Image credit: Future)Bountiful battery life

The advertised battery life of the JBL Clip 5 is a satisfying 12 hours, and it lasted just under eleven and a half hours when I played music non-stop at 50 percent volume, which was good going considering how loud it sounds.

In reality, though, as I usually have the volume set to around 30 percent and have been happy leaving it on the default EQ most of the time, I’ve found the battery lasting far longer than this. So if you prefer a relaxed listen, and you’re not going to be getting the JBL Clip 5 blasting out beats on a daily basis, you’ll likely find that you won’t be needing to charge it all that often, either.

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• SME leaders are reporting increased stress and mental health concerns
• Higher workloads, tech stresses, and a lack of downtime are all contributing
• Tech worries like downtime and data breaches are concerning leaders

British SME leaders are increasingly stressed and struggling with mental health concerns thanks to increased workloads, hours, and tasks, research from Virgin Media 02 reveals. A shocking three quarters (76%) admit that shifting business demands are impacting their mental health.

For most of us, holidays offer a welcome break, chance to relax, and just an opportunity to switch off from work-related craziness. For SME leaders though, many don’t get the chance, with 28% saying they cannot afford to take the time off.

Leaders can expect sleepless nights too, with 33% losing sleep at night over tech worries specifically, as technology-related stresses correlate directly to wellbeing for 89% of respondents.

‘Too many hats’

Pretty much anyone will tell you that tech can sometimes be troubling, and over half (53%) of SME directors have dealt with tech issues causing lost time, revenue impacts, or significant stress in the last month alone.

Unsurprisingly, cybersecurity threats as well as technical faults and data breaches are cited as stressors for 79% of respondents - with tech downtime costing 37% of leaders money their business can’t afford, and 31% suffering productivity loss as a result.

SME directors are spending an average of 10 hours per week on tasks that are outside of their core expertise, and 54% have to spend more time on unfamiliar tasks than those they’re trained for, adding enormous pressure.

The report outlines that SME leaders are frequently de-facto appointed as the go-to person for problems that they ‘don’t really know how to solve’ (59%), and many are unable to ‘switch off,’ with 96% reporting checking emails or solving business issues outside of work hours.

“The pressures on the shoulders of the SME community are enormous,” says Ross Pearson, Head of Small Enterprise at Virgin Media O2 Business.

“Especially as many make difficult business decisions and are often stretched across many different areas. SME leaders have always been known for ‘wearing multiple hats’, but in today’s business landscape, the term has a new meaning. The latest data from Virgin Media O2 Business reveals the toll of added responsibilities, with action needed to support leader wellbeing and mental health.”

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The UK Government announced the AI Opportunities Action Plan to accelerate the development of AI technologies and support businesses in adopting AI responsibly.

The plan includes creating ‘AI Growth Zones’ across the UK to facilitate the construction of data centers and expanding the AI Research Resource (AIRR) to foster AI-driven growth across industries such as finance, healthcare, and manufacturing.

Over the next six months, the government will develop a long-term strategy to support AI infrastructure, backed by investments in software, skills, and computing capabilities over ten years.

However, for businesses to take full advantage, they must first ensure they have the right foundations in place. And that starts with optimizing processes and tackling SaaS sprawl. Without clean processes and a streamlined tech stack, AI adoption will be inefficient and ineffective.

The perils of SaaS sprawl

SaaS sprawl happens when companies adopt multiple digital tools to meet business needs, often leading to redundant app functions, inconsistent workflows, and siloed data. As a result, business processes are defined around the rigid workflows within SaaS applications instead of mature processes defining the software footprint. Businesses use countless apps nowadays, meaning IT teams struggle to maintain visibility over their entire software ecosystem. Research shows that business departments control 70% of SaaS spending and more than half of their applications, while IT manages less than 20% of third-party software.

This fragmentation weakens AI’s ability to drive impact holistically, including limited visibility into data and limited context of the processes within an organization.

Excessive SaaS usage and ‘duct taped’ processes also create inefficiencies in workforce productivity. Employees often waste time toggling between different applications, manually transferring data, and resolving discrepancies between systems. This not only slows down business operations but increases the risk of human error, further compromising AI’s effectiveness.

Reducing SaaS sprawl is not just about cutting costs – it’s about creating an interconnected system where data, context, and process logic are orchestrated efficiently, helping ensure that AI can generate high-quality impact. Pivoting to a process first framework, companies can define what good looks like and create a digital experience that fits the process they need leading to tech stack consolidation, unified workflows, enhanced data integrity and ultimately optimal AI performance.

Three steps for strong AI foundations

Step 1: Identify and map business processes

Far too often, businesses buy software to address processes, but there’s no amount of technology that can fix bad processes. Instead, businesses should address process first and build custom solutions that operate based on their systems, approval flows, data, and business logic. Companies can use process management tools to identify and map the business processes they want to run across their teams. As part of this process, businesses can uncover redundant technology, broken integrations, and create a plan to consolidate applications to make critical solutions work together more efficiently. This approach eliminates inefficiencies, reduces manual intervention, and enhances AI-driven automation. IT teams can regain oversight and governance to ensure compliance, while also creating standardized workflows that maximizes the value of existing software.

Step 2: Automate processes and build applications

Once businesses have identified and mapped their processes, the next step is implementing automation to streamline and orchestrate them. Automation tools and workflow management systems help eliminate repetitive manual tasks while ensuring consistency and accuracy. From the streamlined workflows to automated document generation and forms, businesses can align automation with their processes and leverage low code and AI to build custom solutions that create a seamless, scalable system that offers that all-important operational efficiency.

While SaaS sprawl is a huge problem for businesses, the solution isn’t to scrap SaaS altogether. Rather, it’s about removing the need for supporting software around core business systems that incurs costs and damages efficiency. Custom apps can help businesses achieve a happy equilibrium. They eliminate the need for ancillary software solutions by leveraging automated workflow data and low-code development to build purpose-built solutions for their operations.

Step 3: Infuse AI for scale

Once custom solutions are built around unique workflows and business logic, businesses can begin to infuse AI where non-deterministic capabilities are needed to scale. AI is a powerful adaption to traditional, deterministic automation because it can:

• Analyze unstructured data (like text, images, or voice)

• Learn patterns from past data

• Make probabilistic predictions or classifications

• Adapt over time as new data becomes available

From customer support triage to fraud detection, AI can be infused into custom apps to help streamline processes and navigate inputs based on probabilities, context, or learned patterns.

Winning the AI race

Industry experts, like Forrester, agree that building custom apps that are infused with AI is the future instead of buying multiple off-the-shelf SaaS tools. By integrating AI-driven automation into custom applications, businesses can not only reduce software sprawl but unlock new levels of efficiency, agility, and innovation.

However, to maximize ROI with AI, it must be applied to the right opportunities with the right foundations in place. This means efficient business processes must be mapped out and automated across all the systems of record, data must be harmonized to provide proper context, and AI must be leveraged for the non-deterministic nodes where traditional automation can't drive efficiency.

By combining process, automation, and custom applications, businesses create a scalable, intelligent tech stack that adapts and improves over time - eliminating inefficiencies and unlocking new levels of productivity. When thinking about winning the AI race, businesses should keep in mind that no number of systems can fix bad processes. Creating a strong foundation rooted in optimized processes will help ensure they take full advantage of AI.

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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

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is starting to feel like a giant word salad. LLMs here, multimodal there, generative, foundation models, agentic—buzzwords bouncing around like a Slack channel gone rogue. But tucked between all that noise is something quietly revolutionary: agentic AI. And if you’re a CEO, tech investor, or just someone whose calendar looks like a battlefield of overlapping meetings… you might want to pay attention. Let’s break it down.

Generative AI: The genius with no to-do list

Businesses adore Generative AI for its ability to complete routine tasks. Whether summarizing documents or creating social media visuals, it’s already transforming industries, with McKinsey reporting that 71% of organizations use it in at least one business function. Early adopters are already seeing impressive returns, delivering an average of $3.70 in value for every dollar invested.

You’ve undoubtedly seen generative AI in action—chatbots that write like Hemingway, image tools that can paint a Studio Ghibli cat playing chess with Einstein, the tools that code. It’s impressive. But here’s the catch—it’s passive.

While both Generative and Agentic AI spring from similar foundational technologies, their applications diverge significantly. Simply put, Generative AI doesn’t initiate. It reacts. You ask, it answers. You prompt, it paints. You guide, it follows. And for a while, that was enough. We built content generators, piloted promising tools, and deployed internal copilots for knowledge management. But now the question is shifting—from “how smart is the output?” to “what actions can it take?”

That’s where things get interesting.

Meet Agentic AI: The self-starter with an agenda

Agentic AI isn’t just smart. It’s assertive. These systems aren’t just responding—they’re deciding. They’re setting goals, making plans, and executing them, all (mostly) without your nudging.

If Generative AI is like a talented artist creating stunning works on command, think of agentic AI as a highly competent chief of staff. You give it a direction—“improve customer churn”—and it starts to act. It looks at retention data, cross-checks CRM logs, generates hypotheses, triggers outreach campaigns, and, crucially, updates its approach as new data rolls in. All while you’re in a different meeting entirely. Agentic AI uses reasoning, decision-making algorithms, and environment-based data to act and adapt.

What truly sets Agentic AI apart is its ability to harness the distributed nature of knowledge and expertise. Traditional AI often operates within fixed boundaries, following predetermined paths. Agentic systems can break down complex tasks into smaller, manageable sub-tasks, identify the right specialized agents for these sub-tasks, then orchestrate interactions between agents to synthesize solutions efficiently.

It’s exciting. It’s unnerving. And it’s coming fast.

Where it’s already showing up (even if we didn’t call it that)

Agentic AI might sound like something from a sci-fi novel, but it’s not an abstract concept on the distant horizon. It’s already orbiting, quietly making itself indispensable in multiple industries. For instance, AutoGPT has laid the foundation for this technology by combining tools like GPT-4 and vector databases. While not flawless, it showcases the skeletal structure of agency in action.

Take Devin, an autonomous AI software engineer, as another example. Devin does more than just churn out code. It reads specifications, reviews repositories, and even submits pull requests. Then there’s Rewind AI, which builds memory-driven agents that remember your digital activity, enabling them to take actionable steps proactively.

Or consider where Siri and Google Assistant are headed. Beyond just answering questions; it will book appointments, make purchases, and handle tasks on your behalf. This isn’t just intelligence we’re talking about—it’s initiative. And it represents an entirely new paradigm in how technology engages with humans and that’s a whole new animal.

Okay, but why should businesses care?

If generative AI was about productivity, agentic AI is about orchestration and autonomy of decision making. Imagine an operations department where AI isn’t just used in workflows but actively manages them. They could approve routine requests, identify bottlenecks, and adjust processes to maximize efficiency.

Sales teams could further benefit from AI assistants that do more than score leads. Agents could initiate contact, schedule calls, share documents, and even assign post-meeting tasks, keeping the momentum going seamlessly. Meanwhile, in finance, AI agents could identify recurring errors, automate compliance reports, or optimize cash flow processes without needing constant human intervention.

Even recruitment could see a transformation with agentic AI. Imagine AI that proactively searches for candidates, vets their profiles, and initiates first contact before your hiring manager even begins their day.

Essentially, agentic AI flips the script. It doesn’t just generate answers. It acts. It executes. It adapts. And honestly? It might be the closest thing we’ve got to cloning your best team member and equipping them with limitless energy and focus.

Stealable ideas: Agentic AI use cases you can test now

You don’t have to wait for some polished VC-backed platform to start exploring what agentic AI can do for your business. My advice is to start small but think big. Deploy agentic systems in clearly defined areas where success can be measured. Execute well, then use those success stories to justify broader investments. Tangible wins can demonstrate ROI and build the case for confident adoption.

For example, you could deploy project agents to oversee task lists, ensuring that the right people are kept informed and that project timelines adjust dynamically when necessary. Customer agents can handle service tickets autonomously, only escalating issues to human agents when empathy or a nuanced touch is required. Finally, talent agents could take the lead on building passive candidate pipelines, handling initial outreach, and drafting those crucial first-touch emails.

Agentic AI is no longer just a concept; it’s quietly proving its worth across industries, paving the way for a future where technology doesn’t just assist but acts.

Here’s the thing, though—it’s not about replacing people. It’s about giving them back the 40% of their day they spend nudging, chasing, checking, and… sighing.

But, let’s not automate the chaos

Look, agentic AI isn’t a golden goose. Agentic AI relies heavily on accurate, high-quality data. Without clean, structured data, it cannot reason effectively or make sound decisions. Enterprises need a centralized semantic layer to bridge disconnected data silos. By building knowledge graphs that organize data into meaningful business entities, companies can ensure agents have the right context to operate within and make accurate decisions.

Keep in mind these systems can still hallucinate. They can act too quickly or without enough context. And when you hand off autonomy, even partially, you’re entering a zone that demands trust and control.

Agents act autonomously, but with greater power comes the need for stricter control. One common risk is the improper allocation of roles, where agents might access sensitive information.

The solution? Guardrails. Clear policies. Audit trails. And maybe—just maybe—a human in the loop, especially early on. Trust grows over time with consistent accuracy and insights.

Powerful? Absolutely. But infallible? Not even close.

The real question: Are you waiting to be disrupted?

Agentic AI flips the script. It doesn’t wait for instructions—it looks for problems to solve. It’s less a tool, more a teammate (with an unsettling amount of caffeine).

So the real ask here isn’t whether this tech is coming. It’s whether you’re testing it now—or waiting for a competitor who already is. Whether you're using a single agent to optimize a supply chain or orchestrating an entire ecosystem of specialized AI systems, Agentic AI is not just optional anymore. It’s essential.

Because here’s the truth: AI that paints pictures is cool. But AI that sends emails, reschedules meetings, flags budget leaks, and follows up with clients while you’re asleep?

That’s a game-changer.

And it’s already knocking.

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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

With Disney Plus thrown in, it's just in time for summertime viewing.

• Workers who use AI every day are more likely to feel job satisfaction
• Clear communication around corporate AI strategies is important
• AI users are slightly more stressed, but this could mean higher engagement

According to joint research from Jabra and The Happiness Research Institute, workers who use artificial intelligence every day are 34% more satisfied with their jobs than their non-user counterparts.

A clear strategy and communication was also revealed to be vital, with employees who are aware of their company's AI strategy 2.5x more hopeful about the future.

In fact, AI has proven to be so helpful in workplace settings that workers are reporting better work-life balances, with happy employees typically 4.5x more likely to be happy in life outside of work.

AI in work is shaping up to be a good thing

According to the figures, frequent AI users report stronger goal achievement, more advanced opportunities and greater optimism about future job enjoyment and fulfilment.

However, pressure to master tools, prompt crafting and AI output verification is mounting, and frequent AI users report up to 20% more stress than infrequent users. Mildly elevated stress like this could signify higher engagement, however increased stress could also put workers at risk of burnout.

Slow adoption could also be hindering results, with only one-third (30%) of workers saying their company is meaningfully AI-ready. This lack of readiness could be hurting morale and increasing frustration, despite the interest and willingness demonstrated by employees.

Nevertheless, a major conclusion from the study is that AI is far more than just a productivity tool. "It’s easy to talk about AI in terms of productivity. But we need to start talking about it in terms of psychology," The Happiness Research Institute CEO Meik Wiking explained.

The joint Jabra report also flips the discussion around AI replacing human workers on its head, instead proposing that those who don't use AI could be less likely to feel satisfied in their jobs.

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• 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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