Technology

Here are hints and the answer for today's Wordle No. 1,510 for Aug. 7.

• Google's latest Pixel software update fixes a few high-level security flaws
• It's rolling out now for eligible Pixel phones and tablets
• The update also fixes a glitch with the 'Back Button'

If you have a Google Pixel phone, make sure you’ve downloaded the latest security patch, as it includes several important updates that fix some potentially critical issues with your smartphone that you might not even be aware of.

There are a few high-level security flaws the patch solves, as well as one “critical” System vulnerability. According to Google, this flaw can be executed remotely (in combination with other bugs), and what’s more, it can be activated without any user interaction.

Yikes.

Google didn’t go into specifics about the hack beyond these details, but it doesn’t sound like one it would want to leave unaddressed.

(Image credit: Future)

Beyond security improvements, Google has also seemingly solved a Back Button bug, which saw it not work at times for users.

Here's a demo of the back button randomly not working on Android 16.I grabbed a bug report and submitted it to Google engineering along with this reproduction screencast. Hopefully, they'll figure it out. pic.twitter.com/nEmifqQRvbJune 14, 2025

As you can see in the video above, users would swipe back on their Android 16 Pixel phone and nothing would happen – which isn’t ideal if you want to exit out of an app or conveniently return to a different screen.

It might have taken close to two months, but after beta users got the fix in July, the back button glitch should now be solved on all devices running Android 16’s stable version on their phone.

Are you ready to update?

If you want to upgrade your Pixel device, the patch is rolling out now to all Pixel tablets and phones launched since the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro. Those two phones launched in 2021.

With automatic updates enabled, you might have already updated. However, to find it manually, you can head to your Settings app, then search for System Update and hit the Check for updates button to see if you’re up to date on your software.

If you have the August patch, then you’re all set, though it can take up to a week for updates to be made available to everyone – so if you are still on July’s update and see no option to install August’s, don’t worry, you’ll just have to wait a little longer for a fix.

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• Shanling CD80 II is a small hi-fi CD player costing $359 (about £269 / AU$550)
• 3.5mm and 4.4mm balanced headphone outs delivering up to 850mW/32Ω
• Stream LDAC over Bluetooth from your phone

You've been told a million times about how wonderful vinyl is, but you hear a lot less about CDs – and that's a good thing, because the relative lack of trendiness means that the cost of good-condition CDs is often a fraction of what you'd pay for the same record on vinyl. If, like me, you like saving money as much as you like listening to music, then a CD player is still a smart addition to your system.

Chinese firm Shanling makes some impressive CD players, including ones with integrated amplification. And it's just brought out a new player called the CD80 II (via Darko Audio), with high-powered headphone amplification for wired over-ears and IEMs – and with high-quality Bluetooth streaming so you can play music from your phone, computer or tablet.

(Image credit: Shanling)Shanling CD80 II: key features and pricing

The Shanling CD80 II takes the compact CD80 and delivers a new DAC system and a much improved CD loader too. The 4th-generation CD loader comes from the more advanced CD-S100 model, with an HD450 laser and a familiar tray-style mechanism.

Inside the ESS DAC of the previous model has been replaced by a Cirrus Logic CS43198, and it's teamed with dual SGM8262 headphone amps to drive the 3.5mm and 4.4mm balanced outputs. They deliver 215mW and 850mW into 32 ohms respectively, with an in-ear monitor-friendly output impedance of less than 1 ohm.

Bluetooth input is Bluetooth 5.0 with support for LDAC as well as the familiar AAC and SBC, and there's also a USB input with support for 2TB drives to play files, at hi-res audio quality up to PCM 384kHz and DSD256.

There's a lot going on here, but Shanling has managed to pack it into a very small 28 x 20 x 5cm case, so it's small enough for even the tightest setups.

The new Shanling CD80 II has a US recommended price of $359; other pricing hasn't been announced but in the UK the first-gen model had a typical price of £339.

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• KTC dual-mode 5K display delivers clarity or speed, depending on how you work
• Delta E below 2 and broad color coverage hint at pro-level image accuracy claims
• The 120Hz 2K mode offers smoother visuals for multitasking or low-friction gaming setups

The new KTC H27P3 monitor enters the market with a proposition which is hard to ignore: a 5K-resolution display priced at just $570.

The company is targeting professionals and general users who need a high-resolution panel without the premium price typically associated with 5K monitors.

The monitor is already available for preorder on KTC’s website, with shipping expected to begin in mid-August 2025.

Targeting creators with high specs at a modest price

The H27P3, which we first flagged back in April 2025, offers a 5120×2880 resolution IPS display @60Hz, designed to cater to creative tasks such as photo editing, graphic design, and color-critical work.

It also includes a 2560×1440 mode @120Hz, allowing users to switch between high clarity and smoother motion, depending on their needs.

KTC describes this as a “dual-mode” experience, combining visual precision with responsive performance.

The panel is factory-calibrated with a Delta E of less than 2 and supports 100% sRGB, 99% Adobe RGB, and 99% DCI-P3.

These are specifications that align with the expectations for a monitor for video editing or digital content creation.

HDR400 certification, a 500-nit brightness rating, and a 2000:1 contrast ratio suggest support for high dynamic range content, at least on paper.

(Image credit: IT Home)

In terms of design, the monitor features a thin-bezel frame and an aluminum stand offering tilt, swivel, pivot, and height adjustments.

At 3.75kg and with a compact form factor, it could also serve as a desktop-friendly portable monitor solution for professionals on the move or those working in tight spaces.

The stand is described as minimalist and sturdy, although its visual appeal and desk footprint may divide opinion.

Connectivity is broad, with DisplayPort 1.4, HDMI 2.0, USB-C with 65W charging, and two USB-A ports.

This gives the monitor flexibility to integrate with a wide range of setups, from desktop PCs and laptops to even gaming consoles.

A headphone jack is also included, and KTC ships the unit with the necessary cables and even a screwdriver.

Still, while the feature set is promising, it remains to be seen how the H27P3 performs in real-world scenarios - as specs like HDR400 and 8-bit+FRC can look good in marketing but often fall short in practice.

For now, the H27P3 stands out as an ambitious, budget-friendly business monitor that could appeal to a wide audience, provided it lives up to its claims once in use

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• Report finds humans spot malware with an 88% accuracy rate
• Additional tools like Task Manager can help them identify it even more
• There are still some pretty common misconceptions surrounding certificates

A new report from researchers at the University of Guelph and the University of Waterloo has uncovered a slight improvement in human detection of potential cybersecurity threats, but has warned we're still missing too many signs.

The small study of 36 participants (split equally between basic, intermediate and advanced PC users) had them face six separate software samples, half of which included malware, with varying levels of assistance.

The participants already successfully scored an 88% malware detection accuracy when faced with the potential threats, but this improved even more to 94% with the use of an enhanced Task Manager interface, showing details like CPU usage, network activity and file access.

Humans aren't too bad at detecting malware

Despite relatively strong detection, the researchers observed three key misconceptions.

Users commonly misinterpreted the UAC shield icon as a sign of security while also demonstrating a lack of understanding of digital certificates. They also noted an overthrust in file names and interface aesthetics.

Users' detection techniques varied depending on their experience levels, with basic users relying heavily on superficial cues like icons, typos and aesthetics.

Intermediate users were able to improve their accuracy with additional system data, but advanced users often took a backwards step by over-analyzing threats, leading to false positives.

In this particular test, the researchers were able to identify 25 separate secondary indicators users use to determine whether something is a threat or not, on top of four primary indicators.

One of the paper's limitations mentions the fact that the participants knew they were looking to identify malware – unsuspecting victims downloading files from the web aren't often so lucky to have a heads-up.

Still, the research is especially valuable for developers, who can use the findings to tweak their software "to eradicate misconceptions and improve security related interfaces and notifications."

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• DaVita reveals more on effects of April 2025 ransomware attack
• The Interlock group stole sensitive files on thousands of people
• Affected patients offered free identity theft monitoring

US healthcare company DaVit has revealed it suffered a ransomware attack and a data breach earlier this year which saw patient data stolen.

The company, which specializes in providing kidney care services, filed a new form with the Office of the Washington State Attorney General, in which it confirmed the attack took place between March 24 and April 12, 2025, and saw the criminals take people’s names, Social Security numbers (SSN), driver’s license numbers, Washington ID card numbers, financial and banking information, full dates of birth, health insurance policy or ID numbers, and other medical information.

In Washington state alone, more than 13,000 people were affected, with the full number of victims unknown at this time.

Interlock takes credit

DaVita also shared the data breach notification letter it’s been sending out to the victims, which stated it spotted the attack on April 12, and ousted the infiltrators on the same day. Third-party forensics experts were brought in, and law enforcement was notified.

The data grabbed came from its dialysis labs database and, varying from person to person, could include certain clinical information such as health condition, other treatment information, and certain dialysis lab test results.

“For some individuals, the information included tax identification numbers, and in limited cases images of checks written to DaVita.”

According to Cybernews, the attack was the work of the Interlock ransomware group, which emerged in late 2024, and has since then successfully broken into at least 51 organizations.

While the company says there is no evidence that the data is being misused in the wild, it urged its patients to be wary of incoming emails, especially unsolicited messages claiming to come from DaVita itself. Patients should also review their account statements and monitor their free annual credit reports for suspicious activity and potential errors.

DaVita has offered free identity theft protection, and credit monitoring, through Experian IdentityWorks.

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• The Google Pixel 10 series is rumored to launch with a new photography feature called Camera Coach
• It'll supposedly use AI to analyse images fed through the camera and offer contextual suggestions
• It could come to all Pixel 10 models

The Google Pixel 10 series is just over the horizon – this year’s Made by Google event is scheduled for August 20, and we’re expecting to see full reveals for the long-rumored Google Pixel 10, Google Pixel 10 Pro, Google Pixel 10 Pro XL, and Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold.

There’s been no slowdown in rumors as Google’s hardware showcase gets closer – quite the opposite. As well as getting a good look at the upcoming phones thanks to accidentally shared product images, we’ve been hearing plenty about the new software tools and features potentially coming to Google’s next-gen flagships.

Now, a new rumor suggests that the Google Pixel 10 series could launch with a new photography feature, dubbed Camera Coach, that uses AI to help users take better photos.

According to a report from Android Headlines, the new Camera Coach feature will analyse the image fed through the cameras and offer contextual suggestions, such as holding the camera at a different angle or looking for better lighting.

The Android Headlines report doesn’t name any further sources, but the site has a fairly solid track record with rumors and tip-offs.

The Google Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL already feature on our list of the best camera phones, so adding tools that help users get the most out of their phone’s powerful camera system seems like a no-brainer.

And as a skeptic of generative AI, I like that Camera Coach sounds like it'll be more of an assistive tool, designed to educate and equip users so that they can gain confidence in their own photography later on.

I can see this being especially helpful for newcomers to mobile photography or those who only take a snap every now and then.

However, I’ll reserve my judgements for when I see the final product – this has the potential to be a very useful or somewhat annoying feature, depending on how Camera Coach reacts to your choices and whether there’s a way to scale its advice up or down.

The Android Headlines report also suggests that the Google Pixel 10 series won’t get any major camera sensor upgrades, so software features like Camera Coach could prove important in deciding whether an upgrade is worthwhile.

Until then, be sure to check out our guide to the best Google Pixel phones in preparation for the Google Pixel 10 series reveal on August 20, and let us know if Camera Coach is something you’d use in the comments below.

• The Google Pixel 10 series could introduce a new AI-powered photography assistant
• Camera Coach would use Gemini to give contextual advice about photo angles, lighting, and more
• The same report suggests the Google Pixel 10 series might not get any camera sensor upgrades

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• New Apple TV device still on track for late 2025, says report
• Apple reportedly plans to make it significantly cheaper
• Claimed upgrades appear to be relatively minor and predictable

I've had every generation of Apple TV since the first one, and you'll have to pry my Apple TV 4K from my cold dead hands. So you might expect me to be really excited by the prospect of a brand new model later this year – after all, there have been three years of potential tech improvements since the last one launched in 2022. But I'm feeling pretty underwhelmed by the latest report.

According to MacRumors' "reliable source", Apple is "highly likely" to replace the current Apple TV 4K with a newer model before the end of 2025.

That fits with the usual Apple timetable for its TV streamer; we're not on an iPhone-esque annual upgrade cycle with these devices. But the only thing that sounds really interesting to me about this reported device is that it may be considerably cheaper than the current model. That's great if you don't have one and want one. But what if you're already an Apple TV owner?

tvOS 26 brings some useful changes to existing Apple TV models. (Image credit: Apple)Apple TV 4K 2025: what to expect

The reported improvements are all pretty predictable: Wi-Fi 7 (which many Apple devices don't support; Apple's current MacBook models have 6E), Apple's own design of Bluetooth/Wi-Fi chip, and a newer processor. 8K support is unlikely.

Don't get me wrong. A smoother processor that's even more responsive would be nice, as would passthrough for uncompressed audio (though that feature is claimed to come to existing models too).

But a key part of my lack of excitement is that the Apple TV 4K is already one of the best TV streamers out there and has been for years, and that's more about the software than the hardware – and the things that bug me, such as Siri's frequent inability to understand even very simple voice searches, are software too.

I want my TV streamer to be the least interesting and flashy bit of kit in my home: at the end of a long day, when the kids have finally gone to bed or gone out, I want to press a button, get a bunch of stuff to watch, and hit play. Provided it looks and sounds good – and Apple TV+ on Apple TV 4K does both – that's about all I care about; I get my recommendations from people and publications rather than AI or algorithms, so I'm not really interested in anything AI.

And after years of hearing about how the next Apple TV will be the one that's great for gaming, I'm pretty cynical about that side of it: I've got multiple consoles and handhelds for me and the kids, and we just don't bother with gaming on Apple TV.

That means I'm really struggling to think of a feature that Apple could add that would make me want to upgrade beyond the usual "look at the new shiny!" that I'm often a sucker for.

I hope I'm pleasantly surprised by the new model, but I suspect this update is going to be primarily financial: a cheaper, slightly better version of what we've already got is more about getting new customers than exciting existing ones.

It's not that a new Apple TV would be bad. It's that the current one is already so good.

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It's hard to believe that Foundation season 3 reaches its midway point this week, but here we are.

The Apple TV Original's next episode, titled 'Where Tyrants Spend Eternity', will debut on one of the world's best streaming services very soon. So, I suspect you'll want to know when the space opera's latest chapter will be available to watch.

As I have with every episode this season, I'll tell you when I expect Foundation's next entry to land on Apple TV+. A full release schedule for this season can be found at the end of this article, too, for those of you who want to know when future installments will drop.

What is the launch date for Foundation season 3 episode 5?

Cheer up, Magnifico, a new episode is out on Friday! (Image credit: Apple TV+)

The next episode of one of the best Apple TV+ shows will make its bow on Friday, August 8. That's in most nations, anyway, because I suspect it'll arrive a day earlier (August 7) in North and South America due to time zone differences.

As for the exact time Foundation season 3's fifth chapter will be released, I can't say for sure. Apple doesn't publicly disclose when new episodes go live. However, based on when some of this season's entries have landed on the platform, here's my best guess as to when you can stream 'Where Tyrants Spend Eternity' (NB: if your country isn't listed below, just factor in the time difference between where you are and the US ET time to see when it'll be released where you live):

• US – Thursday, August 7 at 9pm PT / Friday, August 8 at 12am ET
• Canada – Thursday, August 7 at 9pm PT / Friday, August 8 at 12am ET
• UK – Friday, August 8 at 5am BST
• India – Friday, August 8 at 9:30am IST
• Singapore – Friday, August 8 at 12pm SGT
• Australia – Friday, August 8 at 2pm AEST
• New Zealand – Friday, August 8 at 4pm NZST

Foundation season 3 full episode release schedule

Raise your hand if you want to know when new chapters will be released (Image credit: Apple TV+)

If you're frequented these parts before, you'll know when new episodes of Foundation season 3 will launch. Newcomers, though, can see when they'll arrive via the list below:

• Foundation season 3 episode 1 – out now
• Foundation season 3 episode 2 – out now
• Foundation season 3 episode 3 – out now
• Foundation season 3 episode 4 – out now
• Foundation season 3 episode 5 – Friday, August 8
• Foundation season 3 episode 6 – Friday, August 15
• Foundation season 3 episode 7 – Friday, August 22
• Foundation season 3 episode 8 – Friday, August 29
• Foundation season 3 episode 9 – Friday, September 5
• Foundation season 3 episode 10 – Friday, September 12

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• Hulu will be “fully integrated” into Disney+ in 2026
• The standalone Hulu app will be shut down
• Bob Iger claims “price elasticity” will help a “better consumer experience”

Disney has reported its third quarter FY25 earnings, but it’s not the company’s figures that have made headlines, with CEO Bob Iger announcing the “full integration” of Hulu and Disney+ set for 2026. In effect, this means the standalone Hulu app will no longer exist, as the platform’s entire back catalog will be moved to Disney+, which already houses some Hulu content.

As Iger himself explained in Disney’s earnings report: “Today we are announcing a major step forward in strengthening our streaming offering by fully integrating Hulu into Disney+. This will create an impressive package of entertainment, pairing the highest-caliber brands and franchises, great general entertainment, family programming, news, and industry-leading live sports content in a single app.”

The statement continues: “By creating a truly differentiated streaming offering, we will be providing subscribers tremendous choice, convenience, quality, and enhanced personalization. This will enhance our ability to continue to grow profitability and margins in our entertainment streaming business through expected higher engagement, lower churn, and advertising revenue potential, as well as operational efficiencies that over time may result in savings that we can reinvest back into the business.”

Of course, the first thing this makes us think of is a potential price hike, with existing Disney+ subscription plans and bundles already increasing by roughly $1-2 every year for the past three years. While no confirmed plans have been announced, Iger also hinted that “price elasticity” would be considered. While we’ve got no clear idea what that means yet, I don’t think we should be too quick to be negative.

Disney+ and Hulu’s merger might not mean a significant price hike next year

Existing Hulu and Disney+ plans. (Image credit: Hulu)

Let’s look at the existing plans as a guide. Disney did announce price increases for standalone subscriptions, Hulu and ESPN+ bundles, this time last year, but the no ads Disney+, Hulu and ESPN premium bundle remained at its regular $19.99 price point in the US. Disney+ prices in Australia went up again in February 2025, but stayed within the $1-2 increase remit that US prices saw in earlier months. But regardless of which bundles hiked the price up and which didn’t, these are all bundles… and Disney won’t be able to sell as many of those now.

Unless Disney takes more of the best streaming services around under its wing, Disney+ can only feasibly be coupled with ESPN+ and HBO Max as bundles if Hulu solely exists within the main app. We can make a pretty sure guess of this as Hulu will be outright replacing the existing Star tile within the app. As Iger explained: “Hulu will also become a global general entertainment brand, and in the fall, it will replace the Star tile on Disney+ internationally. Work is already underway to continue enhancing our technology, and over the coming months, we will be implementing numerous improvements within the Disney+ app, including exciting new features and a more personalized homepage. All of this work will culminate with the unified Disney+ and Hulu streaming app experience that will be available to consumers next year.”

The company also won’t want to lose any of its subscribers through the integration process. Disney and Hulu combined ended the third quarter on 183 million subscribers, which was up 2.6 million from the second quarter. Disney is predicting a further 10 million new subscribers for the fourth quarter, which can’t be achieved if people begin to begrudge the service for hiking up prices to accommodate a change they potentially didn’t ask for.

For now, we don’t know where this leaves subscribers financially, but let’s not panic just yet. Disney hasn’t given any reason for us to absorb another price increase – if anything, there are fewer reasons for that to be the case. Disney will be launching a new ESPN standalone streaming service on August 21st (that will be separate to ESPN+), which might give us a clearer idea on where prices are heading.

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• Hulu will be “fully integrated” into Disney+ in 2026
• The standalone Hulu app will be shut down
• Bob Iger claims “price elasticity” will help a “better consumer experience”

Disney has reported its third quarter FY25 earnings, but it’s not the company’s figures that have made headlines, with CEO Bob Iger announcing the “full integration” of Hulu and Disney+ set for 2026. In effect, this means the standalone Hulu app will no longer exist, as the platform’s entire back catalog will be moved to Disney+, which already houses some Hulu content.

As Iger himself explained in Disney’s earnings report: “Today we are announcing a major step forward in strengthening our streaming offering by fully integrating Hulu into Disney+. This will create an impressive package of entertainment, pairing the highest-caliber brands and franchises, great general entertainment, family programming, news, and industry-leading live sports content in a single app.”

The statement continues: “By creating a truly differentiated streaming offering, we will be providing subscribers tremendous choice, convenience, quality, and enhanced personalization. This will enhance our ability to continue to grow profitability and margins in our entertainment streaming business through expected higher engagement, lower churn, and advertising revenue potential, as well as operational efficiencies that over time may result in savings that we can reinvest back into the business.”

Of course, the first thing this makes us think of is a potential price hike, with existing Disney+ subscription plans and bundles already increasing by roughly $1-2 every year for the past three years. While no confirmed plans have been announced, Iger also hinted that “price elasticity” would be considered. While we’ve got no clear idea what that means yet, I don’t think we should be too quick to be negative.

Disney+ and Hulu’s merger might not mean a significant price hike next year

Existing Hulu and Disney+ plans. (Image credit: Hulu)

Let’s look at the existing plans as a guide. Disney did announce price increases for standalone subscriptions, Hulu and ESPN+ bundles, this time last year, but the no ads Disney+, Hulu and ESPN premium bundle remained at its regular $19.99 price point in the US. Disney+ prices in Australia went up again in February 2025, but stayed within the $1-2 increase remit that US prices saw in earlier months. But regardless of which bundles hiked the price up and which didn’t, these are all bundles… and Disney won’t be able to sell as many of those now.

Unless Disney takes more of the best streaming services around under its wing, Disney+ can only feasibly be coupled with ESPN+ and HBO Max as bundles if Hulu solely exists within the main app. We can make a pretty sure guess of this as Hulu will be outright replacing the existing Star tile within the app. As Iger explained: “Hulu will also become a global general entertainment brand, and in the fall, it will replace the Star tile on Disney+ internationally. Work is already underway to continue enhancing our technology, and over the coming months, we will be implementing numerous improvements within the Disney+ app, including exciting new features and a more personalized homepage. All of this work will culminate with the unified Disney+ and Hulu streaming app experience that will be available to consumers next year.”

The company also won’t want to lose any of its subscribers through the integration process. Disney and Hulu combined ended the third quarter on 183 million subscribers, which was up 2.6 million from the second quarter. Disney is predicting a further 10 million new subscribers for the fourth quarter, which can’t be achieved if people begin to begrudge the service for hiking up prices to accommodate a change they potentially didn’t ask for.

For now, we don’t know where this leaves subscribers financially, but let’s not panic just yet. Disney hasn’t given any reason for us to absorb another price increase – if anything, there are fewer reasons for that to be the case. Disney will be launching a new ESPN standalone streaming service on August 21st (that will be separate to ESPN+), which might give us a clearer idea on where prices are heading.

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• Microsoft reveals it is developing an AI threat detection tool
• Project Ire has so far scored well in accuracy testing
• The tool has the potential to meet the 'gold standard' for malware classification

Microsoft has introduced a new AI tool it says has the ability to meet the “gold standard” of malware detection, identification, and classification.

While still only a working prototype, Project Ire has shown great promise in its ability to detect and reverse engineer malware without any context of the file’s origin or purpose.

Microsoft plans for Project Ire to be incorporated into Microsoft Defender as a ‘Binary Analyzer’ used to identify malware in memory from any source at first encounter.

Autonomous AI malware detection

The tool is still very much in the early stages of development, but in Microsoft’s own real-world scenario testing, Project Ire managed to detect almost 9 out of 10 malicious files correctly in precision tests, but only managed to detect just over one quarter of malware in recall tests. However, in these initial tests, there was a false positive rate of 4%.

“While overall performance was moderate, this combination of accuracy and a low error rate suggests real potential for future deployment,” Microsoft said in a blog post. Additionally, in this testing, the AI tool had no knowledge of nor had it faced any of the 4,000 files it scanned.

The tool generates a report on each potentially malicious file it identifies, summarizing why certain parts of the file could indicate it as malware.

In a separate test against a public dataset of a mix of legitimate and malicious Windows drivers the tool again detected 9 out of 10 malicious files correctly with a false positive rate of 2%. The recall rate was also significantly higher, scoring 0.83 in this test.

Looking ahead, Microsoft will continue to work on improving Project Ire’s ability to detect malware at scale rapidly and precisely, and hopefully include the AI within Microsoft Defender as a threat detection and software classification tool.

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• ESPN is acquiring the NFL Network and other media assets, including the linear rights to the RedZone channel and NFL Fantasy
• The NFL Network will be part of ESPN's new streaming service that's launching on August 21
• DirecTV customers will be able to get the new service's 'Unlimited' plan for no additional cost

Walt Disney's ESPN will soon become the home for NFL coverage, following a landmark deal that sees the sport network acquire the NFL Network and other media assets including he RedZone Channel and NFL Fantasy, so football fans will want to sign up to its new streaming service (not ESPN+) when it arrives.

The new streaming service (simply referred to as ESPN) launches on August 21, and will bring "the full suite of ESPN networks and services within an enhanced ESPN App with new, personalized features and functionality", according to the company.

Thanks to the deal between ESPN and NFL, the new streaming service will also see the NFL Network's content integrated into the platform, making it even more tempting for sports fans.

“By combining these NFL media assets with ESPN’s reach and innovation, we’re creating a premier destination for football fans. Together, ESPN and the NFL are redefining how fans engage with the game – anytime, anywhere," ESPN's chairman Jimmy Pitaro said.

How much will ESPN's subscription service cost?

(Image credit: rafapress / Shutterstock)

At launch, ESPN's streaming service will have two subscription plans to choose from: 'Unlimited' and 'Select'.

The 'Unlimited' plan will include access to 47,000 live events through various ESPN channels, studio shows and more, and will cost $29.99 per month or $299.99 per year. This plan will also be available to bundle with Disney+ and Hulu for $35.99 (ads) or $44.99 (ad-free) per month.

The 'Select' plan, meanwhile, includes over 32,000 live events that are available on ESPN+, studio shows and more, and costs $11.99 per month or $119.99 per year. Again, this can be bundled with Disney+ and Hulu for $16.99 (ads) per month or $26.99 (ad-free).

If you're excited to try out ESPN's new subscription service, then the good news is that you'll be able to for free if you're a DirecTV customer. Those who are subscribed to DirecTV or its 'MySports' package will get access to the new ESPN service at no extra cost when it launches. Meanwhile, if you're a satellite or U-verse customer of DirecTV, you'll have to wait until later in 2025.

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Meta’s move to take a significant stake in Scale AI isn’t just another strategic investment. It’s an admission: human data is the critical infrastructure needed to build better AI, faster.

For years, model architecture and compute have dominated the conversation. But we’re entering a new era, one where the differentiator isn’t how novel your transformer is, but how well your model reflects and responds to real human experience. That demands high-quality, diverse, and continuous human input throughout the development lifecycle.

A vote of confidence in human data

Scale’s primary service—labelling data outputs using human annotators—has long been essential to AI. But it hasn’t always been glamorous. Data preparation was often seen as a backroom task, while shiny model architectures stole the limelight.

Meta’s investment sends a clear message. The training and evaluation of AI models depend on data that is not just abundant, but accurate, representative, and human-validated. It’s a strategic move that gives Meta both privileged access to Scale’s data infrastructure and a highly influential stake in a key player in the data annotation space.

But therein lies a broader concern: when a major tech company takes a significant stake in a service provider, potential conflicts of interest arise. For organizations in the same competitive landscape, this can raise doubts about alignment, priorities, and incentives, making continued reliance on that provider increasingly difficult to justify.

One thing’s for certain: your data partner has never mattered more. We’re entering a period of market shake-up, where diversification of suppliers and specialization in services will become increasingly valuable to AI builders.

Enter the experience era

Beyond the boardroom maneuvers, something much more fundamental is happening in AI development. We’ve entered the era of experience. It’s not enough for models to be technically sophisticated or capable of passing abstract benchmark tests. What matters now is how models perform in the real world, across diverse user groups and tasks. Are they trustworthy? Are they usable? Do they meet people’s expectations?

This shift is being driven by an awakening among model developers: in a competitive landscape, it’s not just about who can build the most advanced model, but whose model people choose to use. The new frontier isn’t measured solely in benchmark scores or inference speed—it’s measured in experience quality.

That means the success of an AI model is increasingly dependent on human input throughout its lifecycle. We’re seeing a surge in demand for real-time, continuous human evaluations across multiple demographics and use cases.

Evaluating models in the lab is no longer enough. The real world, with all its complexity and nuance, is now the benchmark.

Why synthetic data isn’t the answer—at least, not yet

Some may argue that synthetic data will eventually replace the need for human annotators. While synthetic data has a role to play, particularly in cost-efficient scalability or simulating rare edge cases, it falls short in one critical area: representing human experience. Human values, cultural nuances, and unpredictable behavior patterns cannot be easily simulated.

As we grapple with AI safety, bias, and alignment, we need human perspectives to guide us. Human intelligence, in all its diversity, is the only way to meaningfully test whether AI systems behave appropriately in real-world contexts.

That’s why the demand for real-world, high-fidelity human data is accelerating. It’s not a nice-to-have. It’s essential infrastructure for the next wave of AI.

The humans behind AI

If human feedback is the engine powering better AI, then the workforce behind that feedback is its beating heart. The industry must recognize the people providing this essential input as co-creators of AI.

This begins with diversity. If AI is going to serve the world, it must be evaluated by people who reflect the world—the best and the breadth of humanity. That means including people from different cultures, socioeconomic backgrounds, and educational levels. It also means ensuring geographic diversity so models don’t just perform well in Silicon Valley but also in Nairobi, Jakarta, or Birmingham.

Equally important is expertise. As AI becomes more specialized, so too must its human evaluators. Educational AI systems should be evaluated by experienced teachers. Financial tools require scrutiny by economists or accountants. Subject matter experts bring context and domain-specific insight that generic crowd work can’t replicate.

But building this kind of human intelligence layer doesn’t just happen. It requires thoughtful infrastructure, ethical foundations, and a commitment to the people behind the data.

That means fair pay, transparency, and a smooth user experience that gives people easy access to interesting and engaging tasks. When contributors feel respected and empowered, the quality of insight they provide is deeper, richer, and ultimately more valuable. Treating evaluators well leads to better data—and better AI.

A turning point for the market

Meta’s investment in Scale may appear like another play in a long series of tech consolidations, but it’s something more: a signal that the era of human data as critical infrastructure for AI has truly begun.

For model developers, this is a call to action. Relying on one provider—or one type of data—no longer cuts it. Specialization and trust in your human data partners will define the winners in this next phase of AI development.

For the broader industry, this moment is an invitation to rethink how we build and evaluate AI. The technical challenges are no longer the only obstacle. Now we must consider the social contract: How do people experience AI? Do they feel heard, understood, and respected by the systems we build?

And for many, this moment validates the belief that human intelligence is not a constraint on AI progress, but one of its greatest enablers.

Looking ahead

The Meta/Scale deal will likely catalyze further consolidation in the human data space. But it also opens the door for more specialized and transparent providers to shine. We anticipate a surge in demand for high-integrity, experience-focused data partners—those who can provide rich, real-world feedback loops without compromising trust.

Ultimately, this isn’t just about who builds the most powerful model. It’s about who builds the most useful, trusted, and human-centric model. The future of AI is intuitive, inclusive, and deeply human. And that future is already taking shape.

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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

• New probe into DeepSeek has been requested by a group of US Senators
• The Senators cite national security concerns around Chinese firm
• Many US Government departments have already banned the chatbot

The ongoing dispute between China tech firms and the US Government continues, after a group of seven Republican Senators asked the Department of Commerce to evaluate data security risks that models from Chinese companies pose, specifically the AI chatbot DeepSeek.

Chinese tech companies are facing huge barriers to enter the US market due to the tensions between the two countries, but DeepSeek's revolutionary open source model has sent waves through the AI landscape, thanks to the speed and low cost of development.

However, security concerns have been raised, prompting multiple US Government departments to ban the use of the model, with one study even claiming DeepSeek is 11 times more dangerous than competitor AI chatbots.

Secrets at risk

The senators, John Justed, Tedd Budd, John Cornyn, Marsha Blackburn, Bill Cassidy, John Curtis, and Todd Young all signed a letter outlining the need to prioritise home-grown AI models, as well as the ‘deeply troubling allegations’ that DeepSeek feeds sensitive information back to servers with links to the Chinese government.

“DeepSeek’s R1’s model release in late January demonstrated the aptitude of People’s Republic of China (PRC) national AI talent and the progress their home-grown models have made relative to leading U.S. products,“ the letter explains.

“The Trump Administration has rightly emphasized winning the AI competition against the PRC, and the development of AI use case applications for businesses and consumers is an important facet of that competition. Ensuring that such applications are secure and not prone to leaking secure information and malign exploitation is paramount.”

The Chinese government has always denied such allegations, and all other accusations of cyber espionage, and reiterated the state has no direct ties to Chinese tech firms operating overseas.

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A new era of intelligent automation is underway. We are seeing digital agents take on responsibilities that once required constant human supervision. Today, these systems, can make independent decisions, implement them, and continuously learn from their experiences.

Simply put, agentic AI listens, learns, and develops strategies capable of revolutionizing how we work, especially in network operations where it shifts from reactive to proactive, improving resilience and security. It can automate network management, real-time threat detection, and traffic optimization, enhancing efficiency, strengthening security, and boosting network performance for seamless and secure operations.

But how can it be implemented, where can it have the biggest benefit, what is the role of human oversight and what lessons can we learn from the introduction of agentic AI? In this article, I’ll cover these key points and give advice to businesses looking to harness its potential.

Competitive advantage through strategic agentic design

The successful implementation of agent-based AI systems requires careful planning.

Firstly, it is important to clearly define goals and key performance indicators for their use. Then, a major challenge is the seamless integration of the solutions into the existing IT network infrastructure. Training and operation of the systems also require the availability of sufficient and high-quality data. Finally, there are ethical considerations of implementing agentic AI that companies need to address from the outset, such as data privacy, protection, governance, human oversight and transparency, to ensure trust is built.

Agentic AI requires guidelines over which data it can access, from where, and whether it is able to share certain data externally. This is imperative to consider within an AI strategy to ensure that your customers and your organization are protected from data and regulatory breaches, such as the EU AI Act.

If your implementation plan takes these considerations into account, nothing stands in the way of the effective use of agentic AI. With digital agents, businesses can streamline their operations, meeting rising customer service expectations. A report by Gartner predicts that by 2029, AI will resolve 80% of common customer service issues without human intervention. These agents analyze customer sentiment in real time and provide tailored responses enhancing customer engagement.

Accelerated operations

Agentic AI is now playing a pivotal role in network infrastructure and cybersecurity, helping organizations move beyond traditional, rule-based systems. Unlike conventional tools that passively monitor and alert, digital agents can actively observe network behavior, identify anomalies in real time, and take autonomous action to resolve emerging threats. This enables a faster response to incidents, reducing downtime, and therefore helps avoid costly disruptions.

Agentic AI is already being embedded across networking and security infrastructure to deliver real-time, measurable value. The NSaaS model (Networking and Security as a Service) is evolving into something more dynamic, where agentic capabilities enable smart routing, adaptive policy enforcement, and predictive resource allocation. These enhancements ensure better performance, greater visibility, and stronger protection for global customers operating in complex conditions.

Meeting demand for adaptive, resilient solutions

There is growing demand for integrated cybersecurity and networking solutions from cloud providers, with many organizations viewing this convergence as essential to enterprise resilience. In this setting, agentic AI offers a unique advantage; it blends machine learning with autonomous decision-making, allowing digital agents to adapt in real time while maintaining stable and efficient network operations. This shift from static systems to intelligent, self-improving agents is reshaping how businesses think about their digital foundations. With this strategic mindset, early adoption of agentic AI gives network providers a chance to get ahead of the curve with smarter services, improved reliability, and a more personalized customer experience.

Unlocking new value

While we are still at the beginning of the AI journey and its potential is yet to be fully realized, McKinsey found that 77% of companies are either using AI or exploring its potential. It has already changed workflows, it still requires a level of human management, but agentic AI enables new possibilities. It can become more than a support tool. It can become an active participant in business operations, freeing up resources and creating greater efficiency. In networking specifically, the benefits are becoming clear. While machine learning has been used for tasks like digital twins and anomaly detection, agentic AI can manage these processes autonomously. This reduces the need for human intervention at every step and enables networks to become more resilient, secure, and adaptive to real-time demands.

Nevertheless, learning and development around AI in the workforce remains a business imperative. Counterintuitively, while flawed data is often tolerated in human decision-making, we don’t have the same leniency with AI. According to Gartner, 30% of generative AI projects are abandoned after the proof-of-concept stage, primarily due to issues related to data quality, risk management or high costs, highlighting the difficulty organizations face in AI initiatives and importance of getting implementation right from the off.

For some companies, agentic AI could mark a shift from promise to performance - where AI becomes not just an experiment, but a business-critical capability aligned to strategic goals.

Looking ahead

As businesses advance their AI capabilities, agentic systems offer a strategic step forward. They enable organizations to align automation with core objectives, turning networks into adaptive ecosystems. For organizations moving from passive AI and aiming to build intelligent, responsive systems, agentic AI is the key enabler. This is not just a technological shift, but a reimagining of what network infrastructure can achieve when paired with AI designed to think, act, and adapt.

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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