Technology

Netflix's second most-watched movie right now is the buddy comedy One Of Them Days, in which best friends Dreux and Alyssa race across LA to try and get enough cash to avoid being evicted.

Starring Keke Palmer and SZA, it's a fun ride and while it gets a bit cartoony in places, it's a great example of why buddy comedies are such a popular genre on the best streaming services: you get action, you get adventure, you get wisecracks... in other words, you get a lot of entertainment.

There are lots of brilliant buddy movies out there, and lots of buddy comedies currently make up some of the best Netflix movies you can stream – so if you're looking for a buddy movie to watch with your best buds, or to stream solo, I think you'll enjoy at least two of these three.

Friday

• Where to watch: Netflix (US, UK, AU)

Ice Cube and Chris Tucker play newly unemployed Craig and his stoner pal Smokey who, one Friday in LA, suddenly need to find $200 to avoid a world of trouble. As you'd expect from an Ice Cube movie it's got a killer soundtrack, but while some of the gags are a bit toilet humor the film itself is strong: Entertainment Weekly said that "Friday has energy, and sass, and the nerve to suggest that the line between tragedy and comedy may be in the bloodshot eye of the beholder."

Friday was released after a slew of movies that showed South Central LA as a violent criminal hellhole, and that made it a refreshing correction: as Emanuel Levy wrote: "A new generation of Black talent (director Gray, actors Chris Tucker and Ice Cube) bring verve to this much welcome comedic view of street life in South Central, after mostly crime and drug pictures set there."

If you're easily offended this might not be for you; Variety was one of many publications to point out that a lot of the humor was very crude. But many more found it hilarious, including the Arizona Daily Star: The film "synthesizes blaxploitation and pot-comedy genres and melds them into a colossus of unending laughs."

Wedding Crashers

• Where to watch: Netflix (US, UK), Prime Video (AU)

I have a rule: if it's got Walken, it's worth watching. And this is no exception. Walken is a hoot every time he's on screen in this fun comedy about two men, Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson, whose idea of a good time is to crash strangers' weddings to get free booze and pick up women. But then the duo crash the wedding of Treasury Secretary William Cleary (Walken)'s daughter, and plans start to go awry.

The Chicago Reader puts it plainly: "Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson are enormously funny." The Sydney Morning Herald liked it too: "It's an easy, breezy, lanky Hollywood rom-com with a brain, for most of its running time."

The casting is key here, because as the Bangor Daily News put it: "The film's best element is the inspired casting of Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson; their easy repartee helps to grease over the film's shortcomings." Isla Fisher as Walken's daughter is particularly great: as Three Movie Buffs said, she "manages to steal every scene that she's in."

Me Time

• Where to watch: Netflix (US, UK, AU)

Fancy a hate-watch? Any film with a 7% Rotten Tomatoes rating begs to be watched, if only to find out why so many people hated it. This Kevin Hart and Mark Wahlberg movie about a bored dad who finds some "me time" when his wife and kids are away has been pelted with so many rotten tomatoes I almost feel sorry for it.

How bad can it be? The critics were almost unanimous: it's a promising premise that's completely wasted by the script and phoned-in performances.

Empire Magazine was not amused. The jokes are "crass" and the stunts are "hackneyed"; a rare highlight is Ilia Isorelýs Paulino, an anarchic Uber driver who's genuinely funny. But the film itself is just chaotic. ABC News agreed. "This laugh-starved, buddy comedy is crushingly dim-witted and disposable."

Groucho Reviews didn't like it either. It's "a very strange mix of family sitcom and R-rated bro-down buddy comedy. A witless string of dumb comic set pieces and an unfunny slog." And Uproxx perhaps summed up the problem: "Me Time is an R-rated comedy about parenthood. Why do most of the jokes feel like they're aimed at 8-year-olds?"

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• Users are reporting a persistent Google Messages bug
• It repeatedly asks for an emoji reaction to images in chats
• The issue may be limited to users running the beta app

We're seeing multiple reports of a rather annoying emoji reaction bug in Google Messages – one that prompts you to apply a reaction to the last received message before you can do anything else, if the last message in the chat was an image.

These reports surfaced on Reddit (via Android Police) in the last few days, and it seems quite a few users have come across them. It doesn't really break the app, but it does make for a more frustrating user experience.

Emoji reactions were added to Google Messages last year, one of several upgrades rolled out to the app recently to help it catch up to the other popular messaging services out there, including WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and iMessage.

It means you can react to any message with an emoji of your choice, rather than sending a full reply: but with this bug users are being prompted to leave a reaction as soon as they go back to a chat. Ordinarily, you need to long press a message to bring up the emojis.

Finding a fix Reactions automatically popping up from r/GoogleMessages

As far as bugs in Google Messages go, this isn't the most serious we've ever come across. The easiest way to fix the problem is to send a standard text message to add to the chat, which seems to resume normal service again. We've asked Google for an update on the issue and will update this story if we hear back.

The bug also seems to be affecting users of the beta version of Google Messages too – so you could try updating to the latest stable release to solve the issue. You can do this from the Google Messages listing in the Play Store app on your phone.

Hopefully this annoyance will be caught before it rolls out more widely, which should be the case if it's only beta users who are affected. After all, the whole purpose of beta testing is to squash these kinds of bugs ahead of a full update.

Diligent code diggers have spotted numerous new features apparently on the way to Google Messages: it looks likely that we'll see improvements to how longer texts are handled, and how you can manage your busy group chats.

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• Strava just got four major upgrades
• The company has added new route filtering, a redesigned activity page, and a Strava Stickers upgrade
• The biggest change is a new proprietary map rendering engine

Strava has added four new updates to its app, including an absolutely massive 3D map rendering overhaul that promises a new level of detail to terrain and routes, making one of the best fitness apps around even better.

Strava's more modest changes include updates to Saved Routes filtering, a new Activity Details page, and Sticker exporting.

Strava subscribers can now search Saved Routes by keyword or filter them by sport type, distance, elevation, owner, or even surface type.

The Activity Details page is now more immersive, with a full-screen layout including route, photos, and videos showcased, letting you more easily see your best moments and achievements.

Thirdly, Strava Stickers can now be exported directly to Instagram Stories, and you can download them for use on other platforms. As mentioned, however, it's the 3D mapping that we're really excited about.

Strava's new 3D mapping

Strava's rich new 3D mapping (Image credit: Strava)

Strava has integrated its own proprietary mapping engine into the Strava app. The company says it will bring lifelike 3D terrain, detailed satellite imagery, and new map layers for winter trails and activities.

Strava's Map Rendering Engine (MRE) now uses a hilariously-named technology called FATMAP, a company it acquired in 2022. With the new maps, users will get more detailed insight into Avalanche Gradients, general gradients, aspect (the direction a slope faces), and improved winter map styles to help you plan cold-weather activity.

You can find the new maps in the Maps tab on the app, and they'll even show when you're looking back at previous activities. Strava says that it's going to keep building on MRE to add even more improvements and map innovations in the future, so there should be plenty to look forward to.

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• Ninja has launched an extra-large version of its Sizzle Pro indoor grill
• It's large enough to cook family meals and is non-stick for easy cleaning
• It's available in the US for $199.99 but isn't currently sold elsewhere

Ninja has released a new indoor grill with an extra-large cooking area that's big enough to cook up to 10 burgers at once so that you and your guests can all eat together, or so you can prepare whole family meals.

Ninja is well known for making some of the best air fryers you can buy, but it's also no slouch when it comes to hybrid cookers and indoor electric grills. The new Ninja Sizzle Pro XL is a super-sized version of the original Sizzle Pro, with a 20-inch griddle that gives you enough space to cook a whole stack of pancakes for a family of four or prepare a huge batch of fried rice for a quick weekday dinner.

You can cook with the lid up or down, depending on whether you want to create char-grilled flavor when cooking meat or lock in moisture when preparing fish and vegetables.

When you're done, the non-stick ceramic plates are a piece of cake to clean, and you can remove the ventilated lid for hand-washing. No more awkward scrubbing.

(Image credit: SharkNinja) License to grill

The Ninja Sizzle Pro XL is available now direct from Ninja for $199.99. That's approximately £160 / AU$330, but the grill is currently only available in the US, and I expect it's likely to stay that way since the original Sizzle Pro isn't available in other countries either.

If you can't get your hands on the Sizzle Pro XL, take a look at the Ninja Woodfire Pro Connect XL, which adds a smoky flavor to your food using a small portion of woodchips, and earned a full five stars from our reviewer thanks to its extra large capacity and smart thermostat for temperature control.

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• Google's March Wear OS update has been causing Pixel Watch problems
• Users have reported notification lag, crashing, and more
• An April hotfix has rolled out that appears to solve those issues

Google appears to have rolled out an April hotfix for the delayed-notifications, crashing, and performance issues caused by the Google Pixel Watch Wear OS 5.1 update that rolled out in March.

Redditors in the r/Pixelwatch subreddit noted the rollout on April 8. We've reached out to Google to confirm whether or not this specifically fixes the aforementioned issues, and while the company has yet to respond, the early signs are promising.

In March Google told TechRadar: "We’re aware of an issue affecting a very small number of Pixel Watch users, where they are experiencing delayed notifications on their device after taking the March update."

Google confirmed that it was investigating and said it would share more details when a fix was ready. While those details have yet to be shared, users are reporting that many of the issues appear to be solved.

Wear OS 5.1 fixed

"I've been testing it for around 2 hours and so far so good regarding the notification lag," one Redditor stated. Another said the update had "Fixed my issues with editing the watchface in the phone app. It was crashing and lagging. Back to smooth again."

Users are downloading the fix on all three Pixel Watch models, including the original, the Pixel Watch 2, and Google's best Android smartwatch, the Pixel Watch 3.

One issue that went unreported when the first update rolled out last month was battery drain. However, in the wake of the hotfix, a few users have reported the issue, hoping it'll be fixed.

"I completed the update, and now everything is working," another reported users.

You should be able to download the latest Wear OS 5.1 hotfix from Settings > System > System updates, tapping multiple times to trigger the download.

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• Instagram has never released a native app for Apple’s iPads
• That might soon change, as a leak claims an iPad app is coming soon
• For now, you can install an Instagram web app while you wait

Instagram has long lacked a native iPad app, but that could soon change, at least according to a claim from The Information. That could be welcome news for iPad and Instagram fans who are tired of having to use a different device for their favorite social media site.

The Information’s report cites an Instagram employee who supposedly has knowledge of the plans. This worker states that Instagram developer Meta is hoping to take advantage of the turmoil facing TikTok – which could be forced to sell its American business under pressure from US president Donald Trump – to target TikTok users who might be looking for an alternative app.

While Instagram has never had a native iPad app, you’ve been able to run it on Apple’s tablets for a while. That’s because iPads are able to run apps designed for the iPhone, although in Instagram’s case the experience is not well optimized for Apple’s tablet.

Instagram recently took aim at TikTok owner ByteDance in another way, debuting a video-editing app called Edits that's designed to compete with ByteDance’s CapCut. CapCut was recently removed from Apple’s App Store due to federal restrictions on its parent company’s apps.

How to install Instagram on your iPad

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

While we wait for a native Instagram app on the iPad, you can actually add the social media site to your Apple tablet in the form of a web app. This works like a normal app, so it can be added to your iPad’s Dock and found in the App Switcher.

First, go to instagram.com in Safari and log in. Tap the share sheet button and select Add to Home Screen > Add. This places a web app on your iPad that launches Instagram. Tap the app icon that has appeared and log in again.

That’s all you need to do. The web app has a few restrictions compared to Instagram’s native iPhone app – you can’t post images, for example, but you can browse feeds, send direct messages, like posts and add comments.

For now, this method will have to suffice if you want an Instagram app on your iPad. But with a native app supposedly on the way, workarounds like this might not be needed for much longer.

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• Copilot in Azure is now a fully supported, generally available tool
• It lasted 11 months in public preview, counting millions of interactions
• Microsoft says it listened to customer feedback to improve performance and more

Microsoft has confirmed the general availability of Copilot in Azure, which will become available to all users at no additional cost.

The milestone comes nearly one year after Copilot in Azure entered public preview in May 2024, and since then, hundreds of thousands of users are reported to have submitted millions of prompts, highlighting the eagerness surrounding the product.

Ruhiyyih Mahalati, VP, Engineering Manager detailed how the AI tool can help save workers time by enhancing productivity, noting that Microsoft’s developers alone have saved more than 30,000 hours every month.

Copilot in Azure is now generally available

Speaking about the wide scope of AI, Mahalati envisions enterprises from finance, healthcare and consumer goods all being able to leverage Copilot in Azure to enhance efficiency.

Moreover, Microsoft promises to have listened to customer feedback in the 11 or so months that Copilot in Azure has been in public preview, making considerable improvements along the way to improve performance and stability.

For example, Copilot in Azure’s response time has been improved by more than 30% in the past year, with a few different tweaks responsible for the upgrades, such as using newer, quicker base models. Mahalati also proudly proclaimed that Copilot in Azure boasts a 99.9% uptime.

Besides UI improvements to improve accessibility, Microsoft has also shoehorned 19 languages into the product as of general availability: Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional), Czech, Dutch, English, French, German, Hungarian, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese (Brazil), Portuguese (Portugal), Russian, Spanish, Swedish and Turkish.

In the blog post, the VP also noted Microsoft’s commitment to responsible AI. “Copilot in Azure has been built keeping AI fairness, reliability and safety, privacy and security, inclusiveness, transparency, and accountability at the center in accordance to Microsoft’s Responsible AI principles,” Mahalati said.

At the same time, users can now access a generally available version of Copilot in Azure Mobile App, which features bug fixes, performance optimizations and other enhancements.

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• The Google Pixel 10 and Pixel 10 Pro could cost the same as their predecessors
• The Google Pixel 10 Pro XL might cost more
• The Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold is said to cost less, with future models reducing in price even further

It’s not unusual for prices of an upcoming phone to leak, but what is unusual is to hear about prices for devices that are several years away, and that’s exactly what’s happened today, with a massive Pixel series pricing leak. This leak also includes the Google Pixel 10 line though, so let’s start with that.

According to Android Headlines citing “a source familiar with Google’s plans”, the Google Pixel 10 itself will have an unchanged price, at least in the US, making it $799 again. If that holds true elsewhere it will be £799 / AU$1,349.

The Google Pixel 10 Pro will also apparently retain its predecessor’s price, meaning a starting price of $999 (and likely £999 / AU$1,699). You will however apparently have to pay more for the Pixel 10 Pro XL, with that said to be roughly $100 more than the $1,099 / £1,099 / AU$1,849 Pixel 9 Pro XL.

The best news relates to the Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold, which could actually be cheaper than its predecessor. Apparently, this will start at around $1,600, down from the $1,799 Pixel 9 Pro Fold. That might mean a price elsewhere of roughly £1,600 / AU$2,450.

The Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future) 2026 and beyond

And here’s where we get to the more future-looking news, as the same source claims that the Pro Fold model will drop again in price in 2027, bringing it to around $1,500 (possibly around £1,500 / AU$2,300). There’s no word of a price change next year, so presumably that will stay at $1,600, and in 2028 it will apparently remain at $1,500.

The source also claims that Google will keep offering its current selection of handsets – a standard phone, a Pro model, a Pro XL, and a Pro Fold, as well as the A-series – through to at least the Pixel 13 series in 2028.

And speaking of the A-series, this will apparently remain at $499 (likely £499 / AU$849) through at least the Pixel 12a in 2028.

All that said, we’d take these claims with a pinch of salt. Any leaks that look this far ahead could easily be wrong, as even if this is Google’s plan currently, that could change.

The claim that Google will gradually reduce the price of the Pro Fold line is especially surprising, since we haven’t seen that with other foldables so far, and with tariffs and inflation, that could be hard to achieve. But then this might be exactly what’s needed to make foldable phones mainstream.

We should find out whether the first of these claims are accurate in August, as that’s probably when the Pixel 10 series will launch.

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Marvel Rivals Season 2 is just days away, meaning you'll be able to jump into the next season of Marvel Rivals, and try out the new Heroes soon. There's a ton of changes coming to the game in the next few months, including a shift in how Team Ups work, and an overhaul of the missions system. If things pan out, it should be easier than ever to earn new cosmetics, and work your way through the Battle Pass.

What's new in Marvel Rivals?

(Image credit: NetEase)

Marvel Rivals is currently primed and ready for a new season. Developer NetEase has released the full patch notes for the next update, which will add new Heroes, maps, and more. There's still time to work your way through the current Battle Pass, which features an awesome Wolverine skin in its final tier. For now, three strategist teams appear to be the meta, though I'm hoping Season 2 will disrupt this, giving teams more choice in how they play. We'll have to wait and see.

In my Marvel Rivals review, I praised the game's huge suite of Heroes, and the surprising amount of depth found when trying out each one. With Season 2, there's set to be two new Heroes, X-Men legend Emma Frost and the delightfully villainous Ultron. We know more about the former, with the latter arriving later on in the season. Since its launch, Marvel Rivals has changed quite a bit, adding smart changes to Competitive Mode while giving players something to work toward. It's consistent updates like this that make Marvel Rivals a worthy inclusion in our best PC Games of 2025 list.

Here's everything you need to know about the next season of Marvel Rivals, including when the current one ends, and what to expect from the new Heroes that are being added. As release day draws nearer, I'll update this page with all of the latest news and info.

When is the next season of Marvel Rivals?

Marvel Rivals Season 2 will arrive on April 11, 2025. This means that it'll launch at the following time according to your timezone:

• April 11 at 5AM PT: West Coast US
• April 11 at 8AM ET: East Coast US
• April 11 at 1PM BST: United Kingdom
• April 11 at 2PM CET: Central Europe
• April 11 at 9PM JST: Japan

The times above are based on the Tweet linked here, which gives an estimated downtime of 2-3 hours. Given that we now know when the game will go down for maintenance, I've approximated when it'll be back up. This could differ on the day, depending on how the maintenance period goes.

When does the current season of Marvel Rivals end?

(Image credit: NetEase)

Marvel Rivals Season 1.5 will go offline for a few hours before the launch of the second season. Keep an eye on the official Marvel Rivals website for any changes. For now, here are the maintenance times for the scheduled downtime preceding Season 2:

• April 11 at 2AM PDT: West Coast US
• April 11 at 5AM ET: East Coast US
• April 11 at 10AM BST: United Kingdom
• April 11 at 11AM CET: Central Europe
• April 11 at 6PM JST: Japan

Marvel Rivals Emma Frost release date

(Image credit: NetEase)

Marvel Rivals will add Emma Frost at the launch of the new season on April 11. She's a new Vanguard, operating on the front line of battle by utilizing telekinetic abilities and sheer brawling firepower. NetEase has fully detailed the character in the video below, which shows off each of her abilities.

It appears that she'll have a decent bit of range, as well as the ability to apply her diamond skin and move in for close-quarters combat. She has an ultimate that damages multiple enemies at once with telekinetic beams while pulling them toward her.

There are some interesting details to Emma Frost's kit that are worth diving into. Firstly, her dash and choke slam ability ends with a sweep kick which knocks enemies back. This can be used to throw an opponent off of an edge for a quick kill.

Emma Frost can also place diamond shields, using them to block Ultimates like Iron Man's. This works similarly to Groot's shield walls, in that there's a fair bit of range to where you can place them.

Emma Frost joins Hulk, Doctor Strange, Venom, Captain America, The Thing, Groot, and Magneto as a Vanguard. Primarily, she will be used to tank damage on the frontline, though she clearly has a lot of potential as a brawler, and some support elements in her shielding abilities.

Emma Frost joins Hulk, Doctor Strange, Venom, Captain America, The Thing, Groot, and Magneto as a Vanguard. Primarily, she will be used to tank damage on the frontline, though she clearly has a lot of potential as a brawler, and some support elements in her shielding abilities.

I'm a Venom main in Marvel Rivals, so I primarily tend to go with Vanguards over the other two classes, so I'll definitely be giving Emma Frost a go when she launches.

We'll have to wait and see how her Team Up with Magneto and Psylocke plays out, but having a 2-tank team with Emma Frost and Magneto could be a good place to start in terms of working out a new meta.

Marvel Rivals Ultron release date

(Image credit: NetEase)

Now for Ultron, who won't launch until Season 2.5. If we look at the release schedule for the previous season, I expect Ultron to arrive sometime in May.

We haven't seen much from this upcoming character just yet, only a brief tease in the Season 2 reveal trailer. It's clear that he's set to be the villain of the season but in terms of how he'll play? Well, that's yet to be seen.

Marvel Rivals Season 2 Team Up Changes

(Image credit: NetEase)

Marvel Rivals Season 2 will bring in a bunch of new Team Ups, while removing existing ones. The first new one sees Emma Frost as the anchor Hero, with an ability called Mental Projection. This gives Magneto and Psylocke illusory projections, making it more difficult for the enemy to hit them.

Next up is Arcane Order, which sees Doctor Strange sharing his magic abilities with Scarlet Witch, enhancing her attacks. Then, Stars Aligned allows Winter Soldier to leap towards allies at critical moments.

Here are the key points on the changes coming to Team Ups in Marvel Rivals Season 2:

• Mental Projection: Emma Frost, Magneto, Scarlet Witch (NEW)
• Arcane Order: Doctor Strange, Scarlet Witch (NEW)
• Stars Aligned: Captain America, Winter Soldier (NEW)
• Gamma Charge: Hulk, Namor, Iron-Man (Doctor Strange removed, Namor added)
• Ammo Overload: Rocket, Punisher (Winter Soldier removed)
• Dimensional Shortcut: Magik, Black Panther (Psylocke removed)
• Chilling Charisma: Luna Snow, Jeff the Land Shark (Namor removed)
• Voltaic Union: Thor, Storm, Captain America (Removed entirely)
• Metallic Chaos: Magneto, Scarlet Witch (Removed entirely)

Marvel Rivals Season 2 balancing changes

In the Developer Vision video you can view above, some general balance updates are outlined for the future of Marvel Rivals. We've collected the key points in the list below:

• Hero balancing (buffs): Black Widow, Mister Fantastic, Scarlet Witch, Jeff the Land Shark, Peni Parker, Moon Knight, and Rocket Raccoon
• Hero Balancing (nerfs): Doctor Strange, Adam Warlock, Loki
• New Hero schedule: One per month from Season 3 onwards
• Maps: Map rotation will be in effect from Season 2 onwards (ranked), Hellfire: Gala (new map)
• Modes: New limited-time modes will be added over time
• Competitive: Map rotation, Bans added to Gold III, each player drops 9 divisions at the start of Season 2, minimum level requirement now 15, One Above All and Eternity ranks only allow duo queuing, Increasing the rate of individual performance vs match outcome.

Marvel Rivals next season FAQ Who was the last Hero to be added to Marvel Rivals?

The Thing and Human Torch were added at the launch of Marvel Rivals Season 1.5, rounding out the Fantastic Four in-game. The Thing acts as a Vanguard, while The Human Torch is a Duelist. Both are great options for newcomers, with The Thing being the perfect starter tank to learn.

Who are the next characters coming to Marvel Rivals?

The next two characters coming to Marvel Rivals are Emma Frost and Ultron. Emma Frost has been fully revealed, and she'll be a Vanguard with telekinetic and diamond-skin abilities. Ultron has been shown in trailers, but we've not seen gameplay yet.

What season is Marvel Rivals in?

Marvel Rivals is currently in Season 1.5. This started on February 21, and runs through until April 11. We'll then be in Season 2.

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When OpenAI made headlines with its ChatGPT launch in 2022, it was clear that its evolution into the workforce was only a matter of time. According to Sam Altman, technology is advancing so rapidly that we can expect this shift within the next few months. But is replacing humans with AI employees a genius business move, or akin to hiring unpredictable interns?

While human employees come with additional costs such as training, sick leave, and salaries, AI workers bypass these expenses. Instead, they introduce their own unique challenges that can be just as disruptive for employers.

Holidays vs. System Updates

Virtual workers don’t need to rest in the same way as humans, and it’s often seen as the biggest benefit of AI workers. AI doesn’t sleep and can work at all hours, unlike human employees who have set hours and need regular breaks. However, while AI never has the need for out of office replies, it does require plenty of maintenance and updates to perform.

For virtual employees, system downtime is the AI equivalent of a holiday, while planned maintenance or unexpected outages can disrupt operations just like a human taking time off for appointments or illness. The promise of 24/7 availability isn't entirely true if there are issues in the infrastructure.

According to a recent report by Splunk, unplanned downtime costs the world's largest 2,000 companies a combined $400 billion per year, averaging $200 million per company. From lost revenue, regulatory fines, and hidden costs like slower time to market and worsened brand reputations, downtime can be a very costly challenge.

So, although AI doesn't need a time off to recharge, ensuring its performing as it should needs to be a top priority for any organization introducing AI employees. AI models need to be regularly updated to avoid deteriorating in accuracy, leading to outdated or incorrect outputs. The recent shift towards retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) is an attempt to combat this, by enabling Large Language Models (LLMs) to source data from verified external sources, but it’s not an easy fix and still requires close monitoring.

Sickness vs Hallucinations

An AI employee won’t call in sick, but they can suffer from bugs and hallucinations that can be equally as disruptive. An AI hallucination occurs when a model generates incorrect or nonsense outputs, and this happens more than you would think. For instance, in 2017, Microsoft's AI chatbot Tay had to be shut down after it began generating offensive tweets less than a day after its launch.

Just like human immunity, different AI models vary in their robustness against bugs. OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google are all racing to reduce model hallucinations, but even top of the range models can still be unreliable at times. For organizations with AI employees, the priority should be treating these issues but also working to detect any potential future issues before they cause harm. Ongoing governance is therefore essential, in the same way as managing employee performance to identify any challenges or skills shortages.

Monthly pay vs. Updates

It’s a common misconception that AI is a pay-once, use forever deal. The cost of deploying AI solutions isn't set by a wide-open market; it's influenced by major players like Sam Altman and Google’s CEO, Sundar Pichai. As AI models evolve, it’s likely that businesses may need to invest further into costly updates or building entirely new systems to keep up with competitors. This ongoing investment could be the same as providing pay raises or professional development for human employees.

For example, ChatGPT recently launched a business-tier solution, and companies are already integrating AI co-pilots into their workflows. These tools are often tied to evolving licensing fees, cloud computing costs, and retraining requirements which means the AI you implement today could be severely outdated in just two years, requiring additional investment to maintain the same level of efficiency.

Training vs. Data input

In the same way that human employees need training to improve and develop in their role, LLMs need vast amounts of data to learn from to enhance performance. The more complex a model is, the more data it requires. For example, some models may need at least 10 million labelled items. It’s not just about the volume of data; the quality and relevance of this data are also crucial, as AI can only be as good as the data it is trained on. Poor data input means poor data output.

Linking abstract knowledge to real-world examples, also known as “Grounding AI” is a way to improve the ability of AI models to produce better predictions and responses. To do this, many companies are turning to RAG as a way of enhancing AI accuracy, by allowing models to pull from verified external sources instead of relying purely on pre-trained data.

Just like human development, training AI needs to be done regularly and consistently to get the best results. Especially as regulations around AI tighten and change, it’s crucial for companies to remain compliant with data protection laws, bias mitigation requirements, and industry-specific standards. Especially for businesses in highly regulated industries such as finance, firms using AI must align with regulations like the EU AI Act, ensuring models are transparent and accountable. This means regular audits, governance, and retraining.

So, what’s the verdict?

The truth is, it's not about choosing whether AI or human employees are better for a business. Instead, the real power comes by harnessing both. Issues such as governance, training, hallucinations and updates can be just as time consuming and expensive for businesses as managing human talent. The value of AI is in enabling humans to take more time for the things that only they can do; deeper thinking, creativity and building authentic human connections – capabilities that AI simply cannot, no matter how much it continues to evolve and advance.

Granted, implementing AI tools into business processes will free up time and improve efficiency, but that doesn’t mean that humans don’t still have a place. When the efficiency and intelligence of AI join forces with the creativity, empathy, and strategic thinking of humans, the possibilities are limitless. Together, they can drive innovation, boost productivity, and propel businesses towards long-term sustainable success.

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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

• Nutribullet and McLaren have teamed up for a set of three themed blenders
• Each blender features McLaren's signature gray and papaya livery colors
• The original versions of all three received high scores from our reviewers

Nutribullet, maker of some of the world's best blenders, has teamed up with the McLaren Formula 1 team for a set of F1-themed soup and smoothie-makers. The collaboration might sound like a belated April Fools joke, but it's very real, and the three race-ready blenders are available to buy now direct from Nutribullet.

According to Nutribullet, the three blenders are "infused with McLaren’s signature papaya aesthetic – blending speed, precision, and innovation from the racetrack to the kitchen."

The trio include the Nutribullet x McLaren F1 Team Portable – a new version of the Nutribullet Portable Blender we reviewed last year. Our tester Victoria Woolaston praised its light weight, which makes it ideal for carrying to the office or gym, and its very reasonable price tag. Its battery life was also impressive, and she found it lasted around two weeks between charges in typical use.

She did note that it struggled somewhat with particularly tough ingredients, and it was sometimes necessary to run two blending cycles to incorporate difficult vegetables into smoothies, but no more so than other single-serve blenders at this price point.

(Image credit: Nutribullet, McLaren) Pulp position

Also on the starting grid is the Nutribullet x McLaren F1 Team Pro 900: a papaya and graphite-hued version of the more powerful Nutribullet 900. Our reviewer Emily Peck found that the 900 produced consistently good results, and noted that it's a particularly good pick for small kitchens.

"There's only one setting, but it offers you 50% more power than the original Nutribullet, with the speedy blade delivering super-smooth results," she said.

Finally, there's the Nutribullet x McLaren F1 Team Ultra. The original Nutribullet Ultra earned four and a half out of five stars in our review, producing silky smoothies and nicely textured hummus with ease. It's also one of the quietest blenders we've tested to date.

There's been a trend in kitchen appliances recently for subtle, natural shades like buttery yellow and leafy green, but if that's not your style then one of these blenders could add a welcome shock of color to your kitchen. You could even use one to whip up a quick papaya and coconut smoothie for refreshment during this weekend's Bahrain Grand Prix.

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• PowerColor has launched a new Radeon RX 9070 XT Red Devil Spectral White GPU at $899.99
• Its Hellhound model is available at $849.99
• Best Buy features even older RDNA 3 GPUs at high prices above their MSRP

If you thought the GPU market would get any better after recent pricing issues, think again: unfortunately, there's yet another huge price hike on, this time on an AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT partner card.

As reported by VideoCardz, PowerColor has launched an overclocked Radeon RX 9070 XT Red Devil Spectral White GPU, with a price point at $899.99 - which is a ridiculous $300.99 more than the card's $599 MSRP. This is featured alongside PowerColor's Hellhound variant on Micro Center, priced at $849.99.

It's a similar move to another board partner of AMD's: I've previously highlighted the XFX Radeon RX 9070 XT on Best Buy, which was being sold for up to $939.99 at the time, and we're now seeing a similar pattern with PowerColor models. The same applies to older RDNA 3 GPUs, with prices above MSRP despite being more than two years old.

While there are currently tariffs on imported goods in the US - which could make prices even more absurd in the near future - these price increases were happening long before Trump kicked off his tariff war. From the moment Nvidia's RTX 5000 series launched, price hikes across multiple retailers came into effect.

It's also worth noting that AMD's Radeon RX 9070 series GPUs were originally being sold at retail price (at least during the launch), and now that's changed entirely within the span of just a few weeks. It can be argued that this issue stems from a lack of availability and a shortage of GPU dies (especially with such a high GPU demand from consumers, and the new hunger for silicon from the burgeoning AI industry), but this isn't the first time retailers and AIBs have raised prices to ridiculous amounts.

(Image credit: DarwelShots / Shutterstock) Is the GPU market on the verge of a major crash?

Since the 2020 pandemic, average prices for GPUs have soared immensely, with multiple PC gamers tempted to overspend - so this isn't exactly a new occurrence. This current state of the GPU market is quite literally the worst I've seen, as I've stated before, and with tariffs now involved, it could be the start of a graphics market crash.

That's a big could be, though, as there is clearly still a large number of consumers willing to buy these inflated GPUs, as most are sold out across most retailers. Regardless, given how matters are now, I can only see prices continuously rising and leaving more and more PC gamers unable to purchase new hardware.

The RTX 5080 is already expensive at its retail price ($999 / £939 / AU$2,019), and partner cards take this up to $1,500 (based on Best Buy listings). As great as the RTX 5080 and RTX 5090 are, I'd argue that there are very few gamers who would be willing to spend these sorts of figures just for an enhanced experience with better performance.

I'd hate to see it, but we could soon reach a point where consumers opt out of any GPU upgrades: with Nvidia and AMD's focus on AI now very clear, we could witness a slow and painful dwindle in priority for gaming GPUs for both Team Green and Team Red...

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• A new leak suggests Nvidia's RTX 5060 Ti and non-Ti variant will stick with the previous gen's 128-bit memory bus
• This is contrary to other RTX 5000 series GPUs using higher memory buses
• The rumored use of GDDR7 VRAM may be the biggest highlight over their predecessors

Nvidia isn't done with its RTX 5000 series GPU lineup yet, as its unannounced RTX 5060 Ti and RTX 5060 desktop cards are still on the horizon. However, a new leak has supposedly uncovered more of their specifications.

As highlighted by VideoCardz, Nvidia's RTX 5060 Ti and RTX 5060 will use a 128-bit memory bus, the same as their predecessor, according to a leaked shipping description. This is different from the RTX 5070's 192-bit memory bus, along with the rest of the Blackwell GPU lineup, which is important for improving VRAM performance in GPUs.

While this may seem disappointing at first glance, the leaked specifications suggest both GPUs will use GDDR7 memory: the RTX 5060 reportedly has an 8GB VRAM GDDR7 capacity, while its Ti counterpart will have both 16GB and 8GB GDDR7 options. As VideoCardz hints, this could come in handy as a potential boost with much higher speeds and bandwidth over their predecessors, which use GDDR6 instead.

It's worth taking this with a grain of salt: we know that the RTX 5060 will be unveiled eventually, but there's no confirmation yet on Team Green's end, so it's worth waiting for official specs to come to light.

Ultimately, these entry-level GPUs and their chances of success in the GPU market will likely depend on pricing. With availability, scalping, and inflation being Nvidia's main issues with its RTX 5000 series launch, the graphics giant may have a hard time convincing consumers to opt for its lineup if the GPUs prove difficult to obtain at retail price.

(Image credit: Nvidia, Shutterstock) Regardless of how good or bad the new GPUs are, pricing will determine their fate...

It's a sad reality that PC gamers are facing with the GPU market currently in disarray - and with recent tariffs mixed in with scalping and high demand, I doubt it’ll end any time soon.

Unfortunately, it means the RTX 5060 Ti and non-Ti GPUs will likely suffer the same fate (especially if they turn out to be great options for budget gamers). We've seen third-party cards from both Nvidia and AMD selling above MSRP at multiple retailers; if Team Green doesn't make a reference card for either of the upcoming GPUs, it could be much worse, as consumers will be left entirely at the mercy of retailers and Nvidia’s manufacturing partners.

PC gaming can already be an expensive hobby, and all recent speculation points towards this getting worse: besides PC hardware, we now have game prices to worry about too, thanks to Nintendo's absurd $80 game pricing (no, I won't shut up about this).

I really hope Nvidia can surprise consumers with these new cards, as it certainly needs a kickstart for good momentum. It's not just been inflation and pricing, but drivers and missing ROPs have haunted Team Green since the RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 launch. Let's just hope a new launch can get us excited again...

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The debate over the future of AI continues to rage, with battle lines being drawn between Big Tech’s domination of AI development and grassroots, community-driven innovation – a situation that will set the tone for how the industry develops in the years ahead.

In its recent history, AI has been increasingly dominated by a handful of tech giants, creating what many believe is a monoculture where just a few major players control access and progress.

However, new government policies and open source initiatives could help restore balance in the industry. The significance of open-source AI gained global attention in January during the ‘DeepSeek tech crash.’ While headlines focused on falling AI stock prices, the other big story was the immense potential of freely available AI models that can be used, modified and distributed without restrictions.

So, how might this play out, and what kind of AI ecosystem should the industry aim for to ensure the technology delivers for everyone?

Open source – a route to ethical AI innovation

Few would argue with the notion that open source and AI are natural partners. Both thrive on collaboration and shared innovation, allowing researchers and developers to collectively accelerate the pace of innovation while also ensuring broader access to emerging technologies.

Open source principles will be key to AI's future health, from collaborative improvements and knowledge pooling to transparency. Deeper integration on an industry-wide basis can create the conditions required for fairer, more ethical innovation. In doing so, the AI ecosystem can avoid problems associated with the vendor lock-in, limited transparency and restricted access to foundational models associated with uncompetitive technology markets.

On the other hand, if AI development remains concentrated within relatively few dominant players, users will undoubtedly face higher costs. They will be offered fewer opportunities to tailor solutions to their specific needs. This situation will only intensify as more AI is integrated into IT infrastructure.

That’s why finding a sustainable path for open source is crucial, especially as organizations today face massive internal and external pressure to become AI-powered. In an open source environment, AI tools will give organizations the power to deploy and manage workloads at the enterprise scale. In particular, they will allow businesses to select and integrate their preferred large language models (LLMs) while fully owning their data and infrastructure.

The rise of open source AI also means organizations can leverage the surge in new infrastructure software innovation to fuel and enable digital transformation. These emerging technologies create new levels of freedom and flexibility. As organizations will embrace these qualities, they drive further demand for reliable, secure and enterprise-ready solutions. In this context, AI/open source-led innovation becomes a virtuous circle.

The UK is the third-largest AI market in the world and the UK Government has recently shared the AI Opportunity Action Plan to boost economic growth and improve people’s everyday life.

The impact of open source across AI development and implementation is already impressive. A recent study by McKinsey found that open source AI is widely adopted by 63% of organizations overall and 72% in tech, particularly by organizations leveraging AI for competitive advantage (40% more likely to use it), with key benefits including lower costs (60%).

However, a democratic approach to AI , fostering open source-led innovation, will be essential for the success of a thriving AI ecosystem. The advancement of open technology with openness and choice for customers will be a corner-stone for creating resilient digital infrastructures

The role of regulation

Looking more closely at the growing role of open source AI models, however, progress is not simply a matter of accessibility or ideology; the industry also needs effective regulatory guardrails. While AI governance is still at a relatively early stage compared to other tech sectors, there are some clues as to the direction of travel. Last year, for example, the White House acknowledged the benefits of open source AI, such as fostering innovation and allowing a broader range of actors to examine and improve models.

To build on this sentiment, the ideal scenario would be to commit to AI regulations that ensure AI can be accessed, used, changed and shared transparently by anyone. Now more than ever, enterprises require sovereignty, control and the ability to customize AI implementations – all of which are best ensured through open source.

Additionally, community-governed development is the best way to reduce the possibility of flaws, drive innovation and leverage AI’s full potential. The Linux Foundation project AI & Data for example fosters collaboration and provides trusted AI & Data infrastructure, uniting developers, organizations, and users.

With open source AI, customers also have full visibility into the software code and development process, increasing trust and bolstering AI, which is still a nascent technology. Community-based open standards can also address AI safety concerns, not least because engaging the community is one of the best ways to improve security protocols and resilience.

Clearly, this is a highly complex and nuanced situation where competing interests and priorities will come under further scrutiny. For those interested in a future where AI innovation takes place in a fair and ethical environment, collaboration and open standards will be key.

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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

Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for April 9.

I always enjoy a chance to mess with AI video generators. Even when they're terrible, they can be entertaining, and when they pull it off, they can be amazing. So, I was keen to play with Runway's new Gen-4 model.

The company boasted that the Gen-4 (and its smaller, faster sibling model, Gen-4 Turbo) can outperform the earlier Gen-3 model in quality and consistency. Gen-4 supposedly nails the idea that characters can and should look like themselves between scenes, along with more fluid motion and improved environmental physics.

It’s also supposed to be remarkably good at following directions. You give it a visual reference and some descriptive text, and it produces a video that resembles what you imagined. In fact, it sounded a lot like how OpenAI promotes its own AI video creator, Sora.

Though the videos Sora makes are usually gorgeous, they are also sometimes unreliable in quality. One scene might be perfect, and the next might have characters floating like ghosts or doors leading to nowhere.

Magic movie

Runway Gen-4 pitched itself as video magic, so I decided to test it with that in mind and see if I could make videos telling the story of a wizard. I cooked up a few ideas for a little fantasy trilogy starring a wandering wizard. I wanted the wizard to meet an elf princess and then chase her through magic portals. Then, when he encounters her again, she's disguised as a magical animal, and he transforms her back into a princess.

The goal wasn’t to create a blockbuster. I just wanted to see how far Gen-4 could stretch with minimal input. Not having any photos of real wizards, I took advantage of the newly upgraded ChatGPT image generator to create convincing still images. Sora may not be blowing up Hollywood, but I can't deny the quality of some of the pictures produced by ChatGPT. I made the first video, then used Runway's option to "fix" a seed so that the characters would look consistent in the videos. I pieced the three videos into a single film below with a short break between each.

AI Cinema

You can see it's not perfect. There are some odd object movements, and the consistent looks aren't perfect. Some background elements shimmered oddly, and I wouldn’t put these clips on a theater screen just yet. However, the actual movement, expression, and emotion of the characters felt surprisingly real.

And, I liked the iteration options, which didn't overwhelm me with too many manual options but also gave me enough control so that it felt like I was actively involved in the creation and not just pressing a button and praying for coherence.

Now, will it take down Sora and OpenAI's many professional filmmaker partners? No, certainly not right now. But I'd probably at least experiment with it if I were an amateur filmmaker who wanted a relatively cheap way to see what some of my ideas could look like. At least, before spending a ton of money on the people needed to actually make movies look and feel as powerful as my vision for a film.

And if I grew comfortable enough with it and good enough at using and manipulating the AI to get what I wanted from it every time, I might not even think about using Sora. You don't need to be a wizard to see that's the spell Runway is hoping to cast on its potential user base.

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Google surprised me when I first experimented with its NotebookLM AI tool. The AI-powered research assistant offers a relatively intuitive and focused setup to make custom guides on any topic you can name. It's now poised to become even more accessible with a mobile app soon.

The app should be exciting for anyone who works with large volumes of information or just has an idiosyncratic learning style. NotebookLM basically takes any text, including Google Docs, PDFs, and even YouTube videos that have a transcript, unifies it, and recontextualizes the result as a summary, study guide, or other presentation.

As good as NotebookLM's summarization and ability to synthesize notes are, its most memorable aspect is the Audio Overviews it can create. Audio Overviews basically turns all that information you uploaded into a podcast hosted by two AI characters. The synthetic conversation between the two AI hosts can actually sound like people who have read what you uploaded and want to discuss it.

At first, I thought it was a gimmick, but it's really just a reformatting of information like any other. If you’ve ever felt like you'd absorb details from books and other text better in a BBC panel discussion, it's a great option.

It's also the most obvious reason to anticipate the NotebookLM mobile app. It’s perfect for multitaskers, commuters, and anyone whose eyes are too tired to stare at another screen. I’ve used it to refresh myself on interview transcripts before writing articles and just as a fun way to explain a confusing topic. When the app hits smartphones, the ability to do this on the go may be huge for anyone who wants to absorb complex information but doesn’t always have the time or focus to read it.

Pocket NotebookLM

Of course, Audio Overview is just one part of what makes NotebookLM worth your attention. Unlike many AI assistants, which often operate in a vacuum or require you to explain everything from scratch, NotebookLM has context from the content you share specifically. Its abilities are many, from basic summaries and the ability to answer questions to creating timelines, brainstorming new ideas built on the information, and instant cross-references.

That's useful on a computer. As a mobile app, there's a lot more opportunity to exploit NotebookLM's tools. Sure, you'll have needed to upload the information, but if it's there, you can instantly pull up that quote you can't quite remember or fact about the person you're about to meet.

Of course, it’s not perfect. NotebookLM is only as smart as the information you give it. If your sources are a mess, it won’t magically fill in the blanks. It also can't replace real research. Sometimes, it misses nuance or answers too confidently when the source it pulls from is hedging. But the fact that it’s transparent about the answers helps compensate. And, at least it will always offer something to listen to on your next long commute.

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• This new Bloomin8 E-Ink Canvas frame comes in several sizes and lasts for a year on a charge
• You could easily place one on your wall and have it rotate through shared images via an app upload or through an SD card
• These screens also fit into a popular IKEA frame

Digital photo frames are eye-catching pieces of technology for the home, but they come with challenges like power cables and the need for constant connection to the cloud.

What if you could place digital images throughout your home – on every wall – and none of them needed wires or full-time internet connectivity? That would be the new Bloomin8 E-Ink Canvas from Arpobot.

Unveiled in a Kickstarter program this week, the new full-color E-Ink displays are designed to fit inside some standard art and photography frames, including the RÖDALM series from IKEA.

(Image credit: Arpobot)

Based on E-Ink's Spectra6 technology, the Bloomin8 rechargeable displays support full color and 200ppi of resolution. More importantly, they can hold an image indefinitely, which means you only need power to change the display image. A Bloomin8 E-Ink Canvas can operate, according to Arpobot, for up to a year on charge.

It's a rare consumer use for the all-color Spectra6 panel, which E-Ink has traditionally pitched for commercial use (think advertising displays). But it's certainly not the only one.

Bloomin8 will compete with the PocketBook InkPoster we saw at CES 2025. It also uses E-Ink Spectra6 technology, and its accompanying app offers a vast library of images.

When we wrote about it in January, there was no mention of AI image generation. We also don't know about their ability to support IKEA frames.

(Image credit: Arpobot) Load and lock-in

Images can be sideloaded through the Bloomin8's integrated SD slot, which I know is a rather retro function. In the years before connected devices, many of the original photo frames relied on SD cards for their photo libraries. However, Bloomin8 also accepts image updates from its dedicated app on your smartphone (iOS or Android).

Even so, since it's not connected to the cloud and doesn't need the Internet for its photos, the Bloomin8 E-Ink Canvas does not draw power while displaying an image. That's the benefit of E-Ink; once the image is drawn, it stays visible on the display even without additional power.

Image 1 of 4

(Image credit: Arpobot)Image 2 of 4

(Image credit: Arpobot)Image 3 of 4

(Image credit: Arpobot)Image 4 of 4

(Image credit: Arpobot)

The matte images we've seen thus far look quite good, though it does take a few moments for the E-Ink to fully resolve and saturate the image. It's also worth remembering that E-Ink is a reflective technology and, like a painting or a photo, is only illuminated if you cast light on it. We don't yet know how well the imagery will hold up in all lighting situations.

If you don't have any art or photos you want to use or have something completely else in mind, the Bloomin8 app can generate AI imagery that you can upload to one of the canvases.

The Bloomin8 panels come in three sizes: 7.3 inches ($167), 133 inches ($349), and 28.5 inches ($999), which means you have many options for mixing up your living room photo collage wall. These are all Kickstarter prices, and retail will be more expensive.

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