Technology

Anyone who's fallen victim to the "Well, actually" reply needs to use this new feature.

• An Xbox Wire post highlights that we could see Hollow Knight: Silksong kinda soon-ish
• But Xbox could be trolling here...
• My outside hope is Sthat ilksong becomes an Xbox handheld launch title

In a surprising turn-up in the gaming book that I wasn’t expecting to see today, we could potentially see Hollow Knight: Silksong arrive this year… an emphasis on the aspect of 'potential' however.

In an Xbox Wire post, Guy Richards, director at ID@Xbox noted: “Looking ahead, our lineup is incredible with upcoming games like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Descenders Next, and FBC: Firebreak to play across the whole Xbox universe… and of course Hollow Knight: Silksong too!”

Now that could be a bit of an inside gaming joke in that Hollow Knight fans have been desperate for information about Silksong ever since and an Xbox Game Pass trailer back in 2022. It’s become a bit of a running joke that each year we could see the Hollow Knight sequel pop up at an Xbox Summer Showcase or the occasional Xbox indie developer preview stream, yet Silksong never appears.

However, it’s been eight years since Hollow Knight was released and since then the game has become a bit of a darling in the indie games world and spawned numerous content creators that have dived deep into the gamer’s lore and mechanics. So by that logic, a Silksong release date at the very least is something I feel Hollow Knight fans are within reason to expect.

Speaking as one such fan, my hope is we could see the Hollow Knight: Silksong, which tackles the Metroidvania game from the perspective of the first game’s antagonist-helper Hornet, get a proper showcase this year; maybe at a big Xbox Showcase in July.

There are a lot of reasons to be hyped here, as Silksong looks to take the platforming and combat of Hollow Knight and build upon it with more complex abilities and areas to explore.

But, again, this could all be a bit of trolling from Richards.

A great launch title for the Xbox handheld

Yet if there’s any weight to Richard’s words and my speculation, I’d like to run with it. I think it would be a shot in the arm for Xbox hardware if Silksong was used as a form of launch game for the so-called Xbox handheld; whether that takes the form of an Xbox-branded machine or a reworked Asus ROG Ally.

Now Hollow Knight wasn’t a platform exclusive, nor will Silksong be; unless Microsoft has cooked up some deal with developers Team Cherry. But I could see it being a great way to showcase a new handheld PC; I played Hollow Knight mostly on my Nintendo Switch and reckon it’s a great handheld gaming experience and marriage of hardware and software.

Of course, maybe Nintendo could beat Xbox to the punch and use the Nintendo Direct in April, to showcase the Nintendo Switch 2 running Silksong.

But with Metroid Prime 4: Beyond touted to make an appearance, it’s a lot more likely the game series that spawned half of the Metroidvania nomenclature would be used to show off new Nintendo hardware.

Whatever comes of this Xbox Wire post, I’m just glad that Hollow Knight: Silksong is part of the conversation, even if it’s a little dig at fans, as it reminds me that I and others have still got a promising Hollow Knight sequel to look forward to.

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• Three distinct lines of Chromebooks are coming from Acer
• Prices range from €329 (about $430 / £275) to €729 (around $800 / £610)
• Availability begins in May, with some coming later in July, 2025

Acer has announced seven new Chromebook laptops in its extensive lineup of affordable productivity and media machines.

Announced in a press release, the Acer Chromebook Plus and Acer Chromebook Plus Enterprise devices have been described as being the "ideal choice for tech lovers, young professionals, students and teachers".

All seven of the newly announced Acer Chromebook models have Google AI built-in, and it's claimed the machines feature "double the speed, memory and storage" when "compared to previous models".

Prices range from €329 (about $430 / £275) to €729 (around $800 / £610) with the Acer Chromebook Tab 311 at the lower end and the Acer Chromebook Plus Enterprise 514 at the upper end of the spectrum. Availability begins in May through to July 2025, with official US and UK pricing and availability likely to be revealed closer to the time.

Starting with the Acer Chromebook Plus range, it includes three new laptops, all with Intel Core Ultra processors inside. The mainstream offering is the Acer Chromebook Plus 514, with an Intel Core 3 N355 processor, a 14-inch WUXGA display and a 1080p webcam. A version is also available with an Intel Core 7 processor, a QHD (1440p) webcam and a claimed 17 hours battery life.

The Acer Chromebook Plus 516 utilizes a 16-inch WUXGA display, with a 1080p webcam, and Google AI inside. All three models come with 12 months' worth of Google Gemini Advanced, 2TB of cloud storage, and other benefits of Google One's AI Premium Plan as standard.

Acer's Chromebook Plus Enterprise range also comes in three configurations; the Enterprise 514 is available with either an Intel Core 3 N355 or Intel Core 7 processor, a 14-inch display, and the choice of either a 1080p or QHD (1440p) webcam.

The Acer Chromebook Plus Enterprise 516 also features an Intel Core 7 processor, a 16-inch WUXGA screen, and a QHD webcam. The biggest difference appears to be the weight and thickness when compared to the Plus range, being 3lbs (1.4kg) in weight and less than 18mm (0.7 inches) thick.

The last of the newly announced Acer Chromebooks is the revised Tab 311 model. Unlike the other models, it isn't powered by an Intel Core Ultra CPU but the tried-and-true MediaTek Kompanio 520 processor, with 128GB storage, and up to 8GB LPDDRX memory.

Despite the lower-end specs, it features a 10.95-inch IPS WUXGA display, so it will look the part with its humble specs that are more than enough for the web-based workloads of the Google ecosystem.

Chromebooks are becoming more powerful

Acer's latest lineup could be fast enough to rival some of the best Chromebooks available in 2025, especially those models utilizing an Intel Core Ultra 7 processor. Traditionally, Chromebooks are lower-end, affordable laptops for kids, students, and professionals as ChromeOS is exclusively web-based, meaning there's not necessarily a need for the horsepower defining MacBooks and Windows-based x86 machines.

With that said, the utilization of Intel Core Ultra processors means that Acer's latest Chromebooks will be substantially faster in web browsing, media playback, word processing, and other productivity tasks in contrast to the older Intel Celeron and MediaTek processors we usually see in machines costing $300 / £300 to $700 / £700 from other manufacturers.

With the rough pricing revealed alongside the availability, it's looking like Chromebooks as viable alternatives to Windows and Mac machines will offer up more competition. From the specs provided, they sound like good value, but we won't know how they perform and compare to their competition until we go hands-on later in the year.

For how RAM-intensive Chrome (and Chromium browsers) can be, it sounds like a little more power is long overdue. While they're unlikely to rival the best laptops and best ultrabooks, they sound like solid offerings for the wallet-conscious consumer wanting value for money.

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• Asus' AI Cache Boost is said to improve AI workload uplift by nearly 20%
• The tests were conducted with the three most recent AMD Ryzen 9000 processors
• AMD's Ryzen 7 9800X3D seems to benefit the most

Asus has launched a BIOS feature named AI Cache Boost which is said to increase AI workload performance on AMD's Ryzen 9000 processors by up to 19.35%.

AI Cache Boost comes as part of a new BIOS firmware update for Asus' AMD 800 series motherboards which is said to "pump up the AI performance of your AMD Ryzen system" for AI apps, such as working with large language models (LLMs).

Specifically, Asus has tested the two recently released AMD Ryzen 9950X3D and Ryzen 9 9900X3D processors and their optimizations benefitting "AI enthusiasts".

To use the tech with a Ryzen 9000 series CPU and an Asus AMD 800 series motherboard, then, you go to the UEFI BIOS utility, head into the Extreme Tweaker tab, and then toggle AI Cache Boost to 'Enabled' and that will have it ready to handle more AI workloads.

Asus claims its AI Cache Boost includes overclocking the Infinity Fabric clock to 2100 MHz, which is said to boost the total bandwidth of data transfers between the Ryzen 9000 series CPU cores, cache, and memory for working with large language models.

The hardware manufacturer's tests were conducted with a ROG Crosshair X870E Hero motherboard, an RTX 5090, and 32GB DDR5 RAM as the test bench. As well as the two most recently released AM5 chips, the 9800X3D was also put through its paces in Geekbench AI with the ONNX DirectML framework as a benchmark.

On average, Asus' AI Cache Boost saw around a 5% increase in Geekbench AI with its Single Precision and Half Precision scores for both the 9950X3D and 9900X3D. However, the 9800X3D saw the highest difference, of 7.93% with its Half Precision Score (comparing the default of 63365 to 68393).

The claimed 12.5% performance bump was also achieved on the 9800X3D with the UL Procyon AI Computer Vision Benchmark, a sweeping improvement of 1680 compared to 1490. Based on the published benchmarks, it seems that the popular gaming CPU may benefit more than the two leading models.

Asus acknowledges that it's still "early days" for the RTX 5090, so it had conducted tests with the previous-generation (but still excellent) RTX 4090 as well. It's this pairing that we see the largest boost, in tandem with the existing BIOS feature Turbo Game Boost (which allows the CPU to operate more efficiently by disabling simultaneous multithreading).

By using both AI Cache Boost and Turbo Game Mode together, the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D saw a jump from 1426 to 1702 in the UL Procyon AI Computer Vision Benchmark. Without Turbo Game Mode, however, the difference was minimal at just 1485 (4.1%). To get the best experience, you may need both BIOS features enabled.

A leg up for AI workloads on niche hardware

Asus' benchmarks reveal anywhere from a slight boost to a significant uplift in AI performance on the Ryzen 9000 series, when paired with leading 90-class graphics cards for good measure. Based on the averages, it seems like the Ryzen 7 9800X3D benefits the most (barring one or two top-end exceptions).

With that said, to use this feature, you'll need a specific motherboard series and also the use of Turbo Game Mode to take things further. If you're thinking of building a rig purely for AI workloads then it seems like the new BIOS feature could be a small shot in the arm to make things a little faster and easier, however, it's debatable whether around 3-6% in most tests is worth upgrading.

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• Apple has patented a radical Apple Watch redesign
• It reveals a unique new foldable design with two inner displays and one outer display
• It also features a camera, and even rotating and sliding elements

A new patent has revealed that Apple is considering a radical redesign of the Apple Watch that would deliver a foldable dual-screen display and a camera.

The patent, innocuously dubbed 'wearable electronic device', was filed for by Apple back in September 2023 and published today, March 20.

First spotted by PatentlyApple, the filing reveals a wearable device "including a fixed portion and a movable portion" with a display assembly, and an optical sensor, presumably for registering when the display is opened and closed.

The patent text notes that even the best smartwatches available today "are limited in terms of screen size and functionality relative to their smartphone counterparts," and are as such preferred for many device interactions.

Apple highlights a "constant need for improved functionality of wearable electronic devices," hence its ground-breaking proposed redesign.

Is this the Apple Watch of the future?

(Image credit: Apple / USPTO)

The customary dense patent language is complemented by images that clearly reveal Apple's vision for a smartwatch of the future.

It references a device that contains both an outer display and an inner display, the latter being two displays hidden inside a folding mechanism akin to any foldable smartphone you might be familiar with.

One such iteration of the patent includes a "continuous" display, one unit joined by a folding mechanism, rather than two separate displays that fold out from each other.

There's also a reference to a movable, rotating portion that can move around an axis, as shown in the image above.

Another part of the patent references an outward and inward-facing camera pairing that could be used for taking pictures and answering FaceTime calls.

As you can imagine, this outlandish overhaul of the Apple Watch is nowhere near release, so don't expect to see a folding Apple Watch Ultra 3 with two cameras.

However, Apple has at least explored the idea of overhauling the design of the Apple Watch. By nature its form factor is small and limited in scope, so a folding display mechanism could be a novel solution to solving that problem.

Another recently revealed patent shows Apple is considering blood pressure monitoring tech powered by a liquid-filled sensor in the Apple Watch strap.

Of course, this is merely an idea committed to paper at this point, and may never see the light of day, but it's certainly an enticing look behind the scenes at how Apple considers designs for future tech, especially its wearables.

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• A bunch of Daredevil: Born Again season 2 images reveal how the show's first chapter will end
• Filming is well underway on the Marvel TV series' next installment
• The spoiler-filled stills were posted online in mid-March

It's time to be vigilant, erm, vigilantes, because some huge spoilers for Daredevil: Born Again's season 1 finale have already appeared online.

Surprisingly, though, those details weren't leaked by an industry insider on social media. Instead, they come by way of official behind-the-scenes shots snapped by photographers as filming continues on the Marvel TV show's second season.

I won't directly post the images in this article, but I plan on discussing what they reveal about the final episode of Daredevil's TV revival on Disney+. So, if you don't want to know anything about how season 1 will end or where its sequel will begin, I urge you to turn away now as major spoilers immediately follow.

What do the pictures tell us about Daredevil: Born Again's season 1 finale?

"...what do you mean Born Again season 1's finale has already been spoiled?" (Image credit: Marvel Studios/Disney+)

The first few images, which have circulated online since they were first uploaded last Tuesday (March 11), don't reveal anything hugely significant.

A couple of them confirm that Genneya Walton's B.B. Urich will be back for more on-the-beat reporting in one of the best Disney+ shows' second season, though, so she's set to survive the events of its forebear. Urich is seen speaking to a new addition to Born Again's cast for season 2, though, in the form of Sydney Parra. It's unclear who she'll be playing in the follow-up to this Marvel Phase 5 project (NB: Born Again season 2 will be part of the Marvel Phase 6 line-up).

Karen and Matt will be reunited in Born Again season 2, if not beforehand (Image credit: Marvel Studios/Disney Plus)

It's the photographs that were uploaded to the internet on March 18, though, that contain the biggest spoilers.

For one, the images confirm that Charlie Cox's Matt Murdock will reunite with Deborah Ann Woll's Karen Page. The pair had become estranged after Franklin Foggy Nelson's death in the season 1 premiere. It's made clear here, however, that the duo will patch things up before this season ends or its sequel entry begins.

That's not all. The pictures show Woll's Page sporting a dark red, bob-style haircut, which is a stark contrast to the long, blonde hairstyle she's had since a live-action Daredevil TV series was made. That program originally aired on Netflix, but is now available on Disney+, aka another of the world's best streaming services.

Cox's Murdock is also sporting something of a disguise. He's wearing plain clothes – complete with a goodie to hide his identity – and a knee-length coat, which is also a far cry from Murdock's classier attire in the suits that he wears as a lawyer. His crimefighting costume is nowhere to be seen, either.

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If the duo are wearing what passes as a disguise in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), they must be on the run or trying to keep a low profile, right? It appears that way, especially when you read the small print on a missing person's poster – one that confirms Murdock is the MIA individual – that's been slapped on a nearby wall.

"Matt Murdock attended the Mayor's recent gala at Gracie Mansion," it reads. "Where he heroically saved Mayor Fisk's life by blocking an assassin's bullet, but was himself critically injured."

Wait, Murdock saved his archnemesis from being shot?! This isn't the first time that Fisk has been shot – his surrogate daughter Maya Lopez also tried to kill him in Hawkeye – but it's fascinating to read that Murdock actually stopped another Fisk assassination attempt.

What's even more intriguing is that, if Murdock saved Fisk's life, wouldn't the latter be grateful and call off his crusade to eradicate the so-called threat of New York's vigilante contingent? Evidently not, if Murdock and Page have gone into hiding. Oh, and based on the fact that the images also confirm Fisk's Anti-Vigilante Task Force is still patrolling the streets.

Who tries to assassinate Mayor Wilson Fisk? (Image credit: Marvel Studios/Disney+)

The big question now is: who tries to kill Fisk? Will it be Bullseye, who's currently incarcerated but has the capacity to land every shot he takes? Is it Frank Castle/The Punisher, who'll have an ax to grind with Fisk with the latter going after lawless crimefighters? Could it be Muse, who finally made an appearance in Born Again episode 4? What about someone we haven't seen yet in the show?

Whoever it is, we know how Daredevil: Born Again's first season is largely going to end. Murdock will save Fisk's life, Fisk will continue his pursuit of vigilantes as New York Mayor, and Murdock and any of his allies will have to go into hiding or go on the run. We'll find out what actually happens when season 1's ninth and final episode arrives on April 15 (US) and April 16 (UK and Australia).

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• A popular spyware company has suffered a data breach
• Almost 2 million SpyX records were compromised
• The software monitors devices without the users knowledge or consent

A widely-used consumer-grade stalkerware operation was hit by a data breach in 2024, with millions of customers potentially affected.

A TechCrunch report claims the beach affected SpyX and two related mobile apps, impacting the information of almost 2 million people, including 17,000 Apple iCloud credentials.

Seemingly, neither the targets of the spyware, nor the customers of the software were ever notified of the breach, which reportedly occurred in June 2024.

SpyX breach

SpyX calls itself the ‘best phone monitoring App’, and provides ‘real-time recording, video, audio, and screenshots' of the target’s device.

It markets itself as a ‘parental control’ service, and operates stealthily, running without notifications or icons, so a target could be completely unaware of the invasive software installed on their device.

Exposed in the breach were IP addresses, email addresses, device information, 6-digit PINs, and iCloud credentials likely used to monitor targets through the cloud. This breach is the 25th mobile surveillance software to have suffered a breach or exposed victim or user data since 2017, TechCrunch notes, leaving anyone affected in serious danger of identity theft, fraud, or just a real threat to their privacy.

The existence and legitimization of spyware puts both victims and users at risk, as these malware tools can be injected easily but are incredibly difficult to detect. In July 2024, millions of spyware customers were exposed in a huge breach, and sensitive information was compromised.

Spyware, or stalkerware, lets users who buy the software install the app on devices belonging to children, employees, or partners (or anyone whose device they have access to), without their knowledge or consent.

Although these apps are designed to be undetectable, there are signs you may have been infected, like a device being unusually slow, crashing randomly and more often, or a sudden increase in ads and pop ups.

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• Miele has launched Guard L1 Comfort XL cylinder vacuum
• Features a companion app, LDC screen, and automatic floor detection
• Available now in UK and Ireland, RRP £499

Miele has launched a new cylinder vacuum that boasts a range of cutting-edge features for a more efficient and low-effort cleaning routine. The Guard L1 Comfort XL vacuum features Wi-Fi integration, a companion app, and automatic floor detection – all features that appear on today's best cordless stick vacuums, but (until now), nowhere else.

The LCD screen – like you'd find on one of the best Dyson vacuums on the market – provides a useful way to convey information at a glance. It'll tell you what percentage full the dust bag is, so you don't have to worry about overfilling it and can make sure you're prepped with spares before you need them. It'll also tell you when the exhaust filter needs replacing, and provide warning notifications – for example, if there's a blockage that needs attention.

You can also access this information via a companion app. I'm not sure if you must have the companion app downloaded to use this machine effectively, but I hope not.

(Image credit: Miele)

Another useful feature ported in (rather late) from cordless stick vacuums is automatic suction adjustment. The Miele Guard L1 can tell what kind of floor it's on, and change the suction level in response. So it'll ramp up to pull dust from deep in your carpet fibers, but drop to a lower-power mode for hard floors, where the dust is just on the surface.

Even though you don't have to worry about preserving battery (as you might on a cordless vacuum) it's a win when it comes to not wasting power, and also ensuring an efficient clean with minimal effort. If you want to manually change suction, you can do so via a switch on the handle rather than having to return to the canister.

Each data point that the app and LCD screen show focus on highlighting common issues that cause a loss in suction power, both immediately and that can cause longer-term performance issues over the course of the vacuum's life.

Dan Young, Floorcare Manager at Miele GB

"The Miele Guard L1 vacuum cleaner is designed to make your cleaning routine smarter and more efficient," Dan Young, Floorcare Manager at Miele GB, told TechRadar. "Each data point that the app and LCD screen show focus on highlighting common issues that cause a loss in suction power, both immediately and that can cause longer-term performance issues over the course of the vacuum's life."

The Miele Guard L1 Comfort XL cylinder vacuum is available now in UK and Ireland, at an RRP of £499. It's one of several new 'Guard L1' vacuums, but unfortunately, it looks like it's only the range-topping Comfort XL that comes with the screen, app connectivity, and automatic suction adjustment. Miele has a presence in both the US and Australia, but no news yet as to whether the new model will make it over there.

Why the wait?

Cordless, bagless stick vacuums remain the floor cleaner du jour, and I can see why. It's certainly convenient not to have to dodge cables and plug and re-plug into power outlets as you go about your cleaning routine. But there are downsides to this style of vacuum. Upright vacuums or cylinder vacuums almost always have more suction power, and last far longer overall.

Bags are a minor hassle but have their benefits too. One of my regular vacuum cleaner testers swears by bagged vacuums, and there are benefits for allergy sufferers because there's less chance for dust and other particles to escape back into the air once they've been sucked up.

In short, these alternative vacuum types aren't a dusty (pun intended) relic of a bygone era, and there's no reason why stick vacuums should be getting all the attention. Miele is known as a more traditional premium brand, and I'm pleased to see it has finally stepped up to the plate to deliver a cylinder vacuum for the modern era.

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Just months into 2025, and the global race to innovate around AI has already delivered a slate of major developments. Most recently, the launch of (DeepSeek in China) set off discussions about the downward trend on the costs of AI for businesses, and that was just weeks after the UK government laid out its plans to make the country an AI superpower.

We’re seeing a collision of AI policy and business response, and the UK government’s promised infrastructure improvements will create a newfound urgency to create or implement solutions that can take advantage.

But are businesses ready? While organizations may already be using AI in different capacities to boost productivity and make better decisions, for those gains to improve in line with the technology’s rapid development they need to consider one key factor: the caliber of their data.

The three elements of ‘good’ data

There are three pillars that underpin strong data foundations - quantity, quality and context - which leaders across business functions will need to understand to reap the benefits AI promises for their teams. As the pace of innovation quickens, the sooner these principles can be applied, the earlier companies can start extracting value from their AI adoption journeys.

1. Quantity

Many data stores rely heavily on manually entered data, which opens the door to human error and inconsistencies. These existing data gaps cannot be ignored any longer or organizations risk letting them continue to widen, putting them further and further behind the pack as others adopt AI.

For example, a tech firm that solely uses CRM data to drive sales for a new product might overlook signs of buyer hesitation that were never entered into its platform. Scale this across processes in a world where AI is integrated throughout organizations, and soon you’re left with a lot of misguided decisions. However, an AI solution that automatically captures data from multiple sources like calls and emails – wherever prospects engage with them – could get deeper insights into how they can better communicate the product’s benefits.

Businesses need to be bridging the data gap today, adopting tools and processes that enable automated data capture across various touchpoints. Even within functions that haven’t yet integrated AI, effectively collecting data now is the first step on the roadmap to eventually doing so.

2. Quality

Having lots of data means little if it isn’t objective and trustworthy, and this is where human error or unintentional bias can prove a pitfall. If the dataset powering a model is incomplete, biased or outdated, even the most powerful AI’s outputs will be flawed and impact any decisions made that are based on them.

Organizations will only be able to take advantage of the rapid pace of AI innovation if they adopt automated data capture to minimize manual inputs. Otherwise, they’ll continue running into the same issues over and over: outputs that reflect the assumptions and biases of whoever first entered the data, rather than reality.

3. Context

AI only becomes truly powerful when it can merge lots of high-quality data with the specific context it is being used for. A work landscape where processes are AI-enhanced across functions, ultimately the vision many have for the technology, cannot be achieved if organizations don’t map their discrete data to the relevant business context.

Say a customer wants to churn because they are unhappy with the service they’re getting. An AI model that doesn’t understand the business or customer won’t generate a meaningful response to their concerns. Arming it with the right contextualized data, however, would allow the AI to account for past interactions, the length of the relationship and available products or services in order to generate a tailored response that will actually help the customer.

Why data matters - now and in the future

No amount of government support will change the fundamental principle that in order to deliver accurate and actionable outputs, enterprise-grade AI solutions need to have the right data feeding into them. Without a strategic approach to gathering data and applying the right context to it, even the most technically advanced AI platform will come up short, even with the infrastructure gains countries are racing to put in place.

Limited or inaccurate data will lead an AI application to produce unreliable or superficial results, like advice for engaging with prospects based on incomplete CRM data that, as a result, could be biased. On the other hand, an AI strategy built on strong data foundations lets organizations tap into deeper, more relevant insights with unmatched speed in the short-term, while setting the stage to take advantage of new advancements as they emerge from different parts of the world.

There’s no shortcut to success with AI. Anything built on shaky foundations is at risk of underdelivering from the start, and that’s where we are with AI. There is still so much potential to unlock but many organizations still aren’t putting themselves in a position to fully realize it.

Organizations that get it right will be able to apply AI to existing operations more effectively and give themselves a competitive edge in capitalizing on the global race to build out the necessary infrastructure.

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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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• Anti Social Social Club has revealed a new Assassin's Creed collection
• It features designs inspired by Assassin's Creed Shadows
• Products include hoodies, t-shirts, and accessories

Fashion brand Anti Social Social Club (ASSC) has announced a new collection in collaboration with Ubisoft. Intended to celebrate the latest entry in the Assassin's Creed franchise, Assassin's Creed Shadows, it includes a range of streetwear items that actually look remarkably good as far as gaming merchandise goes.

The highlight of the collection for me is easily the slick white hoodie, which features a striking Assassin's Creed Shadows logo on the front and a bright red graphic featuring heroes Yasuke and Naoe on the back.

The contrast is excellent and the overall design strikes a good balance between minimalism and prominent artwork from the Assassin's Creed game.

If those colors aren't your style, there is also a distinct maroon hoodie with a front print showing a manga-style interpretation of Naoe and Yasuke plus Japanese kanji text on the arms. This is in addition to a few black hoodies, with their own unique graphics.

There are plenty of t-shirts in many different colors, with designs ranging from an illustration of Yasuke's helmet to shurikens inside the ASSC logo.

For something a little more unique consider the football jersey - which blends a sports style with prominent Assassin's Creed Shadows and ASSC logos. Similarly sporty are the tracksuit sets, featuring more bright logos and kanji.

I quite like the coach jacket too, with a cool white and grey design that shows Yasuke and Naoe wielding their trademark weapons.

Some accessories will also be available alongside these items of clothing, including a range of Assassin's Creed Shadows-inspired hats. On top of this, the brand will be releasing a ceramic sake glass set in limited quantities.

The products will be available via the Anti Social Social Club website from March 29, 8:00 PST / 11:100 EST / 15:00 GMT. Prices range from $40 to $125.

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• I was already sold on Assassin's Creed Shadows on PS5 Pro, but now the devs are teasing that the game will soon get a boost from PSSR

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, March 20 (game #1151).

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 #1152) - hint #1 - Vowels How 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 #1152) - hint #2 - repeated letters Do any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?

• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 2.

Quordle today (game #1152) - hint #3 - uncommon letters Do 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 #1152) - 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 0.

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 #1152) - hint #5 - starting letters (2) What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• D

• V

• T

• A

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

Quordle today (game #1152) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1152, are…

• DITTY
• VALOR
• TOWER
• AMISS

I’ll put this down to a lucky win as I had several options instead of DITTY, but for some reason guessed the correct word.

I also made a mistake with AGISM, ignoring the far more obvious AMISS – a word that has cropped up a few times in Quordle. That’s one of the big differences between this game and Wordle, previously used words will return again and again.

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

Daily Sequence today (game #1152) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1152, are…

• SIEVE
• AWAKE
• BLOCK
• WEIRD

Quordle answers: The past 20

• Quordle #1151, Thursday 20 March: RIPER, STILL, WAFER, NOTCH
• Quordle #1150, Wednesday 19 March: FLAME, CARAT, SPAWN, TUNIC
• Quordle #1149, Tuesday 18 March: NAVEL, TREAT, COPSE, SLINK
• Quordle #1148, Monday 17 March: INFER, FLINT, CHUMP, SHEER
• Quordle #1147, Sunday 16 March: INPUT, RUMBA, ELUDE, BLANK
• Quordle #1146, Saturday 15 March: SPEED, CLASH, RISKY, GRATE
• Quordle #1145, Friday 14 March: BELIE, SPEAR, GROWL, ADOBE
• Quordle #1144, Thursday 13 March: AMISS, METAL, TEARY, SHORT
• Quordle #1143, Wednesday 12 March: AWASH, PUSHY, RALPH, PROOF
• Quordle #1142, Tuesday 11 March: LINGO, JUICE, SHARP, REVEL
• Quordle #1141, Monday 10 March: AVAIL, THESE, TITAN, GAUGE
• Quordle #1140, Sunday 9 March: SKILL, IDEAL, WHERE, REHAB
• Quordle #1139, Saturday 8 March: WATCH, LAPSE, WREST, HEFTY
• Quordle #1138, Friday 7 March: GLEAN, SHINY, DECRY, MANGA
• Quordle #1137, Thursday 6 March: TRICE, EIGHT, BELCH, RIPER
• Quordle #1136, Wednesday 5 March: PLEAD, TWANG, MAJOR, RISKY
• Quordle #1135, Tuesday 4 March: FLOWN, ETUDE, TOPAZ, JOKER
• Quordle #1134, Monday 3 March: FRILL, KAYAK, REBAR, WORDY
• Quordle #1133, Sunday 2 March: TUNIC, GLOSS, DEBUG, LARGE
• Quordle #1132, Saturday 1 March: DENSE, BONEY, KITTY, SMEAR

The UK recently announced its AI Opportunities Action Plan, outlining the next phase of AI development for Britain. The ambition is to use AI for economic prosperity, improved public services, and increased opportunity. The UK already has the groundwork to be a leader in AI as it benefits from high-quality research and engineering talent, particularly in AI for science and robotics. As the UK makes a concerted push on AI, the US has announced $500 billion in private capital funding to grow AI infrastructure.

This increased focus from plans and investments will impact the way that AI is utilized. As AI grows increasingly pivotal in technology, offering tools and methodologies that can enhance precision and adaptability across various domains, there are three areas where we can anticipate growth: generative AI, verification & validation, and control system designs.

GenAI moves onto block diagrams, 3D models, and flow charts

While the initial focus on text-based GenAI continues to influence software-centric workflows, its impact on tools with higher-level abstractions is lagging. In 2025, we expect continued progress in applying GenAI to “no code” tools such as block diagrams, 3D models, and flowcharts. These tools enable organizations to graphically represent complex systems, effortlessly edit components, and manage the inherent complexity.

Furthermore, they are essential to productivity and validate confidence in system-level performance. Integrating GenAI with these tools will further increase their productivity while keeping the interfaces familiar to end users. More tools in this space will integrate AI copilots that can understand engineering models and assist in their design and management.

Leveraging verification and validation for AI compliance

Industry governing bodies are introducing AI compliance requirements, frameworks, and guidance as the integration of AI into safety-critical systems in automotive, healthcare, and aerospace applications accelerates. In response, technology leaders must prioritize the introduction and implementation of Verification and Validation (V&V) processes to ensure their AI components are ready for deployment under all conditions and can meet potential reliability, transparency, and bias compliance standards.

V&V is crucial for verifying the robustness of deep learning models and detecting out-of-distribution (OOD) scenarios, particularly in safety-critical applications. Robustness verification is crucial because neural networks can misclassify inputs with minor, imperceptible changes, known as adversarial examples. For instance, a subtle perturbation in a chest X-ray image might lead a model to incorrectly identify pneumonia as normal. Engineers can provide mathematical proof of a model’s consistency and test these scenarios using formal verification methods, such as abstract interpretation. This process enhances the model's reliability and ensures compliance with safety standards by identifying and addressing vulnerabilities.

Out-of-distribution detection is equally important, as it enables AI systems to recognize and appropriately handle unfamiliar inputs. This capability is vital for maintaining accuracy and safety, especially when unexpected data leads to erroneous predictions. The ability to discern between in-distribution and out-of-distribution data ensures that AI models can defer uncertain cases to human experts, thereby preventing potential failures in critical applications.

Focusing on V&V allows organizations to comply with AI frameworks and standards while advancing product development within their industry. A proactive compliance approach ensures that AI systems are reliable, safe, and ethically sound, maintaining a competitive edge in a rapidly evolving landscape.

The rise of AI-based reduced order models in engineering

The trend of using AI-based Reduced Order Models (ROMs) is expected to grow, driven by advances in AI technology and computational power. Organizations leveraging these models will enhance system performance and reliability, as well as the efficiency and efficacy of system design and simulation.

The primary driver behind this shift is the need to manage increasingly complex systems while maintaining high levels of precision and speed. Traditional computer-aided engineering (CAE) and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models are accurate but computationally heavy and suboptimal for real-time applications. AI-based ROMs address this by cutting computational demands while maintaining accuracy. Organizations can use these models to simulate complex phenomena more quickly, facilitating faster iterations and optimizations.

Furthermore, AI-based ROMs' highly versatile ability to adapt to varying parameters and conditions enhances their applicability across different scenarios. This adaptability is particularly valuable in the aerospace, automotive, and energy fields, where engineered systems often involve intricate physical phenomena that require detailed modeling and simulation. For example, businesses that design and test aircraft components, such as wings or engines, can simulate aerodynamic properties and stress factors more efficiently, allowing engineers to iterate and optimize designs quickly. Additionally, AI-based ROMs can adapt to various flight conditions, making them versatile tools for testing multiple scenarios using the same model. This capability accelerates the development process, reduces costs, and enhances the reliability of the final product.

AI breaks down barriers in complex system control

AI’s continued integration into control design will transform the field, particularly in managing complex systems and embedded applications. Traditionally, control system design relied on first-principles modeling that required deep knowledge and understanding of the system. Data-driven modeling was largely limited to linear models that are valid only in a small part of the design envelope. AI is transforming this landscape by enabling the creation of accurate nonlinear models from data. This enables the creation of highly accurate models that combine first principles and data and are valid over the entire operating range. This advancement allows for better control of complex systems.

Simultaneously, the growing computational power of microcontrollers is facilitating the embedding of AI algorithms directly into systems. This integration is particularly impactful in the consumer electronics and automotive industries, where highly responsive systems are becoming the norm. For instance, AI is embedded in power tools to monitor and react to environmental changes, such as sudden material density shifts that could pose safety risks. These tools use embedded AI to autonomously adjust their operation, enhancing safety and performance.

The convergence of AI with complex system control and embedded systems ushers in an era of more robust, adaptive, and intelligent control design. Organizations can now create systems that learn and adapt in real-time, providing unprecedented precision and efficiency. This creates an environment where AI-driven solutions address traditional control problems, paving the way for smarter, more integrated systems across various engineering domains.

There should be excitement about AI’s continued maturation and progression. The fusion of physics insights with AI models will enhance transparency and adaptability, reducing the “black box” nature of traditional approaches. The democratization of AI tools enables organizations to access advanced capabilities more easily. These advancements will elevate AI's role in engineering and enable technical professionals to build better engineered systems more rapidly and effectively.

We've featured the best AI phone.

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

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, March 20 (game #382).

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 #383) - hint #1 - today's theme What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Ode to the aubergine

NYT Strands today (game #383) - hint #2 - clue words

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

• SAME
• TILL
• APRIL
• GEAR
• GAIN
• DIES

NYT Strands today (game #383) - hint #3 - spangram letters How many letters are in today's spangram?

• Spangram has 12 letters

NYT Strands today (game #383) - hint #4 - spangram position What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First side: top, 4th column

Last side: bottom, 3rd column

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

NYT Strands today (game #383) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #383, are…

• STUFFED
• MOUSSAKA
• PARMIGIANA
• RATATOUILLE
• SPANGRAM: EGGPLANT DISH

• My rating: Easy
• My score: Perfect

Although initially confused by today’s theme (is there a song called Ode to the aubergine?) I quickly saw the Spangram EGGPLANT DISH in the puzzle and found the vital words with little difficulty.

Well, apart from – even with help – struggling to spell RATATOUILLE, MOUSSAKA and PARMIGIANA.

Far harder today was finding some Hint words.

My favorite eggplant dish didn’t make the cut, but then perhaps Baba Ganoush (a fun thing to say instead of a swearword) being a dip doesn’t qualify as a dish.

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

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Thursday, 20 March, game #382)

• FLAMINGO
• STORK
• BITTERN
• IBIS
• EGRET
• SPOONBILL
• SPANGRAM: WADING BIRD

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.

More mobile companies, including Samsung and Google, have embraced satellite texting to keep customers connected off the grid.

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, March 20 (game #648).

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 #649) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• COMPASS
• ICON
• SOAP
• WORLD
• LEGEND
• EXAM
• STENCIL
• CHART
• SCENE
• RULER
• MITZVAH
• CIRCLE
• GREAT
• SPHERE
• LION
• T-SQUARE

NYT Connections today (game #649) - hint #1 - group hints

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

• YELLOW: A person’s environment
• GREEN: Notable  
• BLUE: Building plans 
• PURPLE: The word that connects them rhymes with “car”

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 #649) - hint #2 - group answers

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

• YELLOW: MILIEU
• GREEN: LUMINARY
• BLUE: ARCHITECTURAL DRAWING TOOLS
• PURPLE: __BAR

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

NYT Connections today (game #649) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #649, are…

• YELLOW: MILIEU CIRCLE, SCENE, SPHERE, WORLD
• GREEN: LUMINARY GREAT, ICON, LEGEND, LION
• BLUE: ARCHITECTURAL DRAWING TOOLS COMPASS, RULER, STENCIL, T-SQUARE
• PURPLE: __BAR CHART, EXAM, MITZVAH, SOAP

• My rating: Moderate
• My score: 1 mistake

A very rare Connections where I saw the Purple group well before the end. MITZVAH was the biggest clue but I still used up a Mistake. I knew the common thread was the word __BAR but stupidly I included LION as there is a UK candy called Lion Bar and I thought maybe it was a worldwide thing. This daft decision aside, I'm pleased to have completed today’s puzzle.

I almost included CIRCLE among the ARCHITECTURAL DRAWING TOOLS before remembering it’s the same thing as a COMPASS.

In another rarity I didn’t get the Yellow group at all, seeing LUMINARY first – including LION was a stretch, but I didn’t see any alternatives.

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

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Thursday, 20 March, game #648)

• YELLOW: OUTSPOKEN DIRECT, FRANK, LOUD, VOCAL
• GREEN: BODIES OF WATER BAY, CHANNEL, SOUND, STRAIT
• BLUE: KINDS OF CORDS BUNGEE, EXTENSION, SPINAL, UMBILICAL
• PURPLE: THINGS IN BOTTLES GENIE, LIGHTNING, MESSAGE, SHIP

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.