Technology

The US government has announced a radical plan to control exports of cutting-edge AI technology to most nations.

• Apple is expected to unveil three new Apple Watch models in 2025
• There will reportedly be a new Ultra 3, SE 3, and Apple Watch Series 11
• The SE is rumored to feature a new design, while the Ultra and Series 11 likely won't

Apple is expected to unveil three new Apple Watch models in 2025, according to a reliable source.

Apple releases a new Apple Watch alongside its new iPhone for the year, usually in September at its main keynote, and according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, 2025 will be no different.

In his Power On newsletter, Gurman says Apple will offer its "usual major announcements" in the second half of 2025, including the iPhone 17 and upgrades to all of the best Apple Watches.

Specifically, Gurman says Apple is planning a "fresh" version of the Apple Watch SE with "a new look." We can also expect a new Apple Watch Ultra 3 and Apple Watch Series 11; however the report suggests that these will "probably stay roughly the same." So what else can we expect from these new models?

Apple Watch SE 3 and Ultra 3 details

The Apple Watch Series 11 is unlikely to iterate on the design of the Series 10. (Image credit: Future)

Gurman notes that the Apple Watch Ultra 3 may add both satellite connectivity and 5G RedCap (Reduced Capability) network access. Gurman also says it's "highly likely" that high blood pressure detection will be added to both the Series 11 and Ultra 3.

The rumored redesign of the Apple Watch SE 3 is particularly noteworthy, and makes a lot of sense given the current lineup. The Apple Watch SE 2 design sticks out against the rest of the lineup – it hasn't changed since the first generation of the Apple Watch SE, which in turn was based on the Apple Watch Series 6.

As such, the current model's design language lacks the sleeker edges and thinner bezels of today's best Apple Watch models. Gurman doesn't say exactly what will change with the Apple Watch SE 3, but it's likely that Apple is planning to bring its budget model into line with the main series' more modern look.

The Apple Watch SE 2 is easily one of the best cheap smartwatches available right now, so a design tweak, plus the usual slew of upgraded internals that we can probably expect, should be enough to enable Apple to maintain a lead in this space for another year or two. Other likely upgrades are a new chip – the SE 2 runs on the older S8 SiP – and possibly a larger 41/45mm form factor.

Whichever way you slice it, 2025 is shaping up to be a very exciting year for Apple Watch fans.

You may also like

• Apple Watch Ultra 3 rumors suggest it could be a seriously underwhelming upgrade
• Waiting for the Apple Watch Ultra 3? A microLED screen boost looks increasingly unlikely
• I've spent 10 years with the Apple Watch, and after 10 minutes with the Galaxy Watch Ultra I can't believe Samsung skipped this feature

• AI will displace 92 million workers, but create 170 new roles
• Clerical and secretarial roles are most at risk of displacement
• New skills to learn include AI, big data, networks and cybersecurity

The World Economic Forum (WEF) has released its latest report on the future of jobs, staing AI might actually create more jobs than it destroys.

The prospect that artificial intelligence could be beneficial to the labor market goes against initial concerns surrounding the technology, and echoes findings from other studies that have been published since the public preview launch of ChatGPT in November 2022, which is credited with starting the AI boom.

WEF’s report not only suggests that a net job increase could happen, but it also explores the changing landscape and evolving skills demand.

AI will create more jobs than its destroys

We’ve recently heard from AI and ML expert Tak Lo that artificial intelligence will lead to “net job creation [and] new job creation,” but official WEF documentation confirming this should be music to the ears of skeptics.

By the end of the decade, the report predicted AI will displace 92 million roles, however the creation of 170 million jobs will result in a net creation of 78 million positions. The total amount of new roles set to be created equates to around 14% of today’s total employment.

“As we enter 2025, the landscape of work continues to evolve at a rapid pace. Transformational breakthroughs, particularly in generative artificial intelligence (GenAI), are reshaping industries and tasks across all sectors," said WEF Managing Director Saadia Zahidi.

The report reveals a big emphasis on AI and big data, networks and cybersecurity, and technological literacy skills, which are said to be the fastest growing, while predicting the demise of clerical and secretarial roles as a result of automation.

On the flip side, some of the safest roles include manual labor, such as farmers, laborers and truck drivers. As for knowledge workers, software and application developers look to be the safest from AI’s impacts.

Employers are also still looking for workers with traditional skill sets, like analytical thinking, resilience, flexibility and agility, leadership and social influence.

To that point, WEF expects two-fifths (39%) of the current skill sets to be “transformed or become outdated” between now and 2030.

Looking ahead, WEF’s research suggests more than three in four (77%) companies are planning to implement retraining programs to support their workers, while 70% intend to hire AI specialists, highlighting the importance of upskilling in that area.

You might also like

• We’ve listed the best job sites and best recruitment platforms
• Boost your chances of a career with the best online learning platforms
• Nationwide boss says women working at home could be missing out on job opportunities

Because sometimes "Haha" can come across as condescending or sarcastic.

From tunnels to Tesla factories to SpaceX launch facilities, there’s barely a place on Earth that doesn’t feel the gravitational pull of humanity’s wealthiest reply guy.

Now that Novo Nordisk is the world’s weight-loss juggernaut, will it have to betray its first patients—type 1 diabetics?

WIRED sent reporters far and wide to find out who controls the world's wealth. What did they find? Men. From Trump, Musk, and Putin to the CEOs, crypto schmoes, and solar bros, meet the patriarchy controlling the purse strings.

The holders of the vast majority of the world’s wealth? Men. So many men—from Trump and Musk and Putin to every CEO, crypto schmo, and solar bro in between.

The next new thing doesn’t have to cost as much as next month’s paycheck.

He thought he’d make millions of dollars selling solar panels door-to-door. The reality was much darker.

AI finance apps are reaching Gen Z and millennial users with personalized chatbots that offer money advice—and upsell them big time.

• Hyperkin has announced a new collaboration with Crunchyroll
• This includes new Nintendo Switch accessories inspired by Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End
• Two controllers and two cases have been revealed

Gaming hardware brand Hyperkin has partnered with Crunchyroll to release a new line of anime gaming accessories. The first batch features designs inspired by the hugely popular Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End show.

As revealed in a recent X / Twitter post, four products are on the way. This includes two cute new variants of the Hyperkin Pixel Art Controller and two unique Eva cases for the Nintendo Switch. In my eyes, the controllers are definitely the star of the show here as they look absolutely stunning.

One comes in an almost duck-egg blue color scheme, decorated with a print of protagonist Frieren wielding a staff. Shiny golden face buttons and bright red power and turbo buttons add a lovely splash of contrasting color. The other controller is even better, however, coming with that same duck egg blue hue but introducing mellow lilac thumbsticks and using a lovely baby pink for its D-pad, start and select, and face buttons.

It’s complimented by a wonderful print with Frieren in a field of flowers beneath a sky with a perfectly matching gradient. As with the standard Hyperkin Pixel Art Controller, both models are fully compatible with Nintendo Switch, PC, and mobile. They weigh just 0.65 lbs / 294.8g and, thanks to their small Super Nintendo Entertainment System controller style shape, seem impressively pocketable.

Carrying in style

The two cases are a little less exciting, but still pretty cool, as they both have similar designs to the controllers, so you can match them for a fully coordinated setup. Both have printed graphics on their hard shells and can fit a Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch OLED, or Nintendo Switch Lite thanks to a removable foam insert.

As they are just cases, there’s not a lot in the way of special features here but they do have storage space for up to eight game cartridges plus an area for small accessories like cables. They also both have small carrying handles, making it a bit easier to haul your console around without a rucksack.

There’s no official word on any prices or even a release date for these items at the moment, but there’s hopefully not going to be that long to wait.

You might also like...

• I absolutely love handheld gaming PCs, but I’m sorry Acer – an 11-inch display is just too large
• Nintendo has finally commented on the Switch 2 leaks, but it's only left me with more questions
• Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii's New Game Plus mode is free, but it won't be available at launch

APYs have been falling for months. Here's where you can still lock in a great one.

• Marvel Zombies' official launch date has been confirmed by Disney
• The MCU's first adult animated show will make its debut on October 3
• The Disney Plus series' final episode won't be released on Halloween, though

Disney has finally revealed when Marvel Zombies will be released on Disney Plus.

In a 2025 Marvel animation preview posted on The Walt Disney Company website, the comic giant's first TV-MA animated show's launch date was confirmed to be Friday, October 3. That means the What If...? spin-off miniseries will arrive in time for the spookiest season of the year, aka Halloween.

Marvel Zombies' October launch date isn't a great shock. Last November, Marvel revealed the official release dates and windows for its 2025 Disney Plus line-up, which includes the highly-anticipated arrival of Daredevil: Born Again. Among the latter's sibling projects, Marvel Zombies was confirmed to be releasing on Disney Plus this October, so this latest announcement just narrows down its late 2025 release window.

For the uninitiated: Marvel Zombies is a follow-up to What If...? season 1 episode 5, titled 'What If... Zombies!?'. That entry, which was inspired by Marvel's 'Zombies' comic book series, took place in an alternate reality to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) – one where, surprise surprise, a zombie outbreak leads to an apocalyptic event that almost wipes out humanity. Marvel Zombies will pick up the story after that episode's ending, which left Earth's remaining superheroes, including Spider-Man, still searching for a cure. Ms Marvel, Shang-Chi, Yelena Belova, Red Guardian, Kate Bishop, and Ironheart are confirmed to be part of the show's dwindling superhero roster.

Rising from the dead, but not on Halloween itself

"Fine, I'll do it myself... again" (Image credit: Marvel Studios/Disney Plus)

Given its TV-MA rating, Marvel Zombies will, according to the comic titan's head of TV and streaming Brad Winderbaum, be "more hardcore" than previous MCU projects. What better time to release the studio's first potentially gore-filled series, then, than the scariest time of the year, i.e. Halloween?

The Marvel Phase 6 show will arrive ahead of 2025's spooky season, but it won't make its debut on that date, nor will the limited series' final chapter arrive on October 31. Indeed, Zombies will be a four-part event, with its premiere set for the aforementioned date of October 3. If all four episodes are released on launch day, it'll debut in full almost one month before Halloween arrives. Even if Zombies follows the traditional MCU TV series release schedule format – i.e. new episodes airing weekly – though, its finale is set to land on one of the world's best streaming services on October 24.

Similarly spooky MCU projects, such as Werewolf by Night and Agatha All Along, haven't debuted or ended on Halloween. The former mini-TV film arrived on October 7, while the latter WandaVision spin-off premiered on September 18 and ended on October 30, so Marvel has previous form for not launching its horror-esque productions on October 31. Still, I think it's a little disappointing that Zombies won't do so, especially as Halloween falls on a Friday this year. Streaming Zombies' finale would've made for a frightfully fun aperitif to a weekend of spooky season partying, in my view!

You might also like

• Here's what's coming to Disney Plus in January, including a new Spider-Man show
• Get the lowdown on Captain America: Brave New World ahead of its February 14 debut
• Find out how to watch the Marvel movies and shows in order

• Reputable leaker Mark Gurman has detailed the likely launch windows for Apple's 2025 products
• First up we could see the iPhone SE 4, iPad 11, and iPad Air 2025
• Later in the year we'll likely see the iPhone 17 series, including the iPhone 17 Air

It’s been looking for a while like Apple could be set for another busy year, with talk of an iPhone 17 Air and an iPhone SE 4 alongside the company’s annual launches, and now we have a clearer idea of exactly what to expect and when.

In a paywalled Bloomberg article (via NotebookCheck) reputable leaker Mark Gurman has laid out a roadmap for Apple 2025’s product launches, and first up we’ll apparently get the iPhone SE 4.

This device – which we recently heard might instead launch as the iPhone 16E – will apparently have an iPhone 14-like design, complete with Face ID. Gurman also claims it will support Apple Intelligence, all of which is stuff we’ve heard before. These upgrades may mean a slight price rise relative to the iPhone SE (2022), but this is still expected to be marketed as a budget iPhone.

It will reportedly land in Q1 or early Q2, and either alongside it or soon after we could get the iPad 11, according to Gurman. This will reportedly have an A17 Pro chipset (just like the iPhone 15 Pro) and 8GB of RAM, a combination that will presumably be sufficient to power Apple Intelligence features.

An influx of Airs

A successor to the iPad Air (2024) could be coming soon (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

Then sometime in the spring (so presumably between early March and late May), Apple will apparently launch a new iPad Air, which Gurman expects will have an M4 chipset, bringing it closer to the current iPad Pro models. This slate could also launch alongside some new Magic Keyboards.

Then we come to Apple’s biggest launch of the year, with the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, and iPhone 17 Air (or possibly just iPhone Air). The last of those will apparently use Apple’s first in-house modem, be equipped with an A19 chipset, and have a single-lens camera.

That might be it as far as phones and tablets go this year, though Gurman adds that a new iPad Pro equipped with an M5 chipset could launch in either late 2025 or early 2026, so it’s possible Apple will close out the year with that.

So that’s a lot of devices that are supposedly on the way. If we include the iPad Pro and exclude the Magic Keyboards then that’s eight distinct new Apple devices we might see in 2025, and once you factor in the likely multiple sizes the iPad Air and iPad Pro could launch in, that number goes up to at least 10.

You might also like

• The iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max cameras could get both downgrades and upgrades this year
• Here's just how thin the iPhone 17 Air could be – and it's thinner than the rumored Galaxy S25 Slim
• Best iPhone: which Apple smartphone reigns supreme?

Savings rates continue to fall weekly, but there's still time to earn interest.

Behind the scenes, companies and governments are feeding a trove of data about international travelers into opaque AI tools that aim to predict who’s safe—and who’s a threat.

The start of a new year presents an opportunity for businesses to take stock and evaluate the effectiveness of their data storage. As the world continues to generate record volumes of data, particularly through the evolution of AI capabilities, it’s more important than ever that organization ensure they safeguard against future storage challenges.

With surging data volumes, industry is set to face two key challenges in 2025: an impending data shortage crisis, and the environmental impact of data centers. However, there are actions organizations can take to navigate these challenges.

The explosion of global data will cause a data shortage crisis

The world is creating data at unprecedented volumes, with no signs of slowing down anytime soon. For reference, in 2028, as many as 400 zettabytes will be generated, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 24%.

To put into perspective how large this quantity is, consider how many grains of sand there are on all the world’s beaches – in theory, the latest research indicates there are over seven sextillion. Research by the California Institute of Technology equates one single zettabyte of information to exactly this, the amount of sand across the world’s beaches. Now times that by four hundred and we can begin to understand just how much data that will be generated and processed by the world’s computers in 2028 alone.

With the development of AI tools continuing to mature and grow in scale globally, the value of data will increase, which will lead us towards storing more data, for longer periods of time. However, the storage install base is forecasted to have only a 17% CAGR, which is a significantly slower pace than the growth of data being generated. As it takes a whole year to build a hard drive, the disparity in growth rates will subsequently disrupt the global storage supply and demand equilibrium, causing a data shortage crisis.

Looking ahead, organizations will likely become less experimental and more strategic in their use of AI. Navigating this looming storage crisis will require businesses to start building long-term capacity plans now, to ensure adequate storage supply, and fully monetize investments in AI infrastructure.

Storage innovation is imperative to tackling the data center crunch and protecting the planet

As the global data boom continues unabated, it will eventually reach the point where data centers will become overwhelmed. According to the UK’s National Grid, power demand from commercial data is expected to increase six-fold within the next 10 years along. This increase in demand will clearly impact the capabilities and performance of data centers, resulting in a crunch in resource.

However, there are a number of barriers to tackling this issue, including financial, regulatory and environmental hurdles. These barriers will increasingly challenge and oppose the need for greater, physical data center space, and capacity.

According to CBRE, AI advancements are specifically projected to be a significant driving factor for future data center demand. To manage the rising need for power density, high-performance computing will require rapid innovation in data center design and technology.

That being said, it’s not just innovation in computing that is needed to help address this data crunch. The implementation of higher area density hard drives, which expand the amount of data stored on a given unit of storage media, can enable greater data capacity in data centers. Investing in these drives can help data centers avoid the need for building new data storage sites, resulting in significant TCO savings and reducing the future environmental impacts of new centers.

Navigating the challenges in 2025

As we look towards the year ahead and the potential obstacles that may affect business operations, there are key actions that organizations should implement now to be ahead of the curve.

Businesses should prioritize building robust long-term capacity plans, to minimize the future disruption caused by rapid global data growth. There are also huge benefits in investing in improved AI infrastructure and higher areal density hard drives, to effectively tackle the impact of increased demand on data centers.

As we end this year and approach the next, and as organizations map out their 2025 business plans, it’s critical they factor in implementing effective data storage solutions for the good of their performance, bottom line and the planet.

We've compiled a list of the largest SSD and hard drives.

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

Wear weightlifting shoes to improve your experience on the gym floor. Here's some expert advice.

Great businesses are built on data. It's the invisible force that powers innovation, shapes decision-making, and gives companies a competitive edge. From understanding customer needs to optimizing operations, data is the key that unlocks insights into every facet of an organization.

In the past few decades, the workplace has undergone a digital transformation, with knowledge work now existing primarily in bits and bytes rather than on paper. Product designs, strategy documents, and financial analyses all live within digital files spread across numerous repositories and enterprise systems. This shift has enabled companies to access vast volumes of information to accelerate their operations and market position.

However, with this data-driven revolution comes a hidden challenge that many organizations are only beginning to grasp. As we look deeper into corporate data, organizations are uncovering a phenomenon that's as pervasive as it is misunderstood: dark data.

Gartner defines dark data as any information assets that organizations collect, process, and store during regular business activities but generally don't use for other purposes.

What makes dark data that insidious?

Dark data often contains a company's most sensitive intellectual property and confidential information, making it a ticking time bomb for potential security breaches and compliance violations. Unlike actively managed data, dark data lurks in the background, unprotected and often forgotten, yet still accessible to those who know where to look.

The scale of this problem is alarming: according to Gartner, up to 80% of enterprise data is “dark,” representing a vast reservoir of untapped potential and hidden risks.

Let's consider the information from annual performance reviews as an example. While official data is stored in HR software, other sensitive information is stored in various forms and across various systems: informal spreadsheets, email threads, meeting notes, draft reviews, self-assessments, and peer feedback. This scattered, often forgotten data paints a clear picture of the complex and potentially dangerous nature of dark data within organizations.

A single breach exposing this information could lead to legal liabilities and regulatory fines for mishandling personal data, damaged employee trust, potential lawsuits, competitive disadvantage if strategic plans or salary information is leaked, and reputational damage that could impact recruitment and retention.

The unintended consequences of AI

AI is changing how organizations handle dark data, bringing both opportunities and significant risks. Large language models are now capable of sifting through vast troves of unstructured data, turning previously inaccessible information into valuable insights.

These systems can analyze everything from email communications and meeting transcripts to social media posts and customer service logs. They can uncover patterns, trends, and correlations that human analysts might miss, potentially leading to improved decision-making, enhanced operational efficiency, and innovative product development.

However, this newfound ability to access data is also exposing organizations to increased security and privacy risks. As AI unearths sensitive information from forgotten corners of the digital ecosystem, it creates new vectors for data breaches and compliance violations. To make matters worse, this data that is being indexed by AI solutions is often behind permissive internal access controls. The AI solutions make this data widely available. As these systems become more adept at piecing together disparate bits of information, they may reveal insights that were never intended to be discovered or shared. This could lead to privacy infringements and potential misuse of personal information.

How to combat this growing problem

The key lies in understanding the context of your data: where it came from, who interacted with it, and how it's been used.

For instance, a seemingly innocuous spreadsheet becomes far more critical if we know it was created by the CFO, shared with the board of directors, and frequently accessed before quarterly earnings calls. This context immediately elevates the document's importance and potential sensitivity.

The way to gain this contextual understanding is through data lineage. Data lineage tracks the complete life cycle of data, including its origin, movements, and transformations. It provides a comprehensive view of how data flows through an organization, who interacts with it, and how it's used.

By implementing robust data lineage practices, organizations can understand where their most sensitive data is stored and how it is being accessed and shared: By combining AI based content inspection along with context on how it’s being accessed and shared (i.e. data lineage), organizations can quickly identify dark data and prevent it from being exfiltrated.

We've compiled a list of the best document management software.

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