Technology

The WD Red Plus HDDs have always performed well in our tests - they're not fancy, not especially expensive, and do what most NAS system users will need.

If you're populating a NAS enclosure, this is a straightforward pick, with the WD Red Plus 2TB hard drive currently $155 (was $168) at Newegg.

Built for round-the-clock use, I rarely see these HDDs get any discount at all, so while not massive, a saving is a saving in my book.

Should you buy it?

✅ Buy the WD Red Plus 2TB if...

You're building or expanding a NAS array, you want CMR recording for RAID reliability, or you need a drive rated for continuous operation.

❌ Skip the WD Red Plus 2TB if...

You need higher capacity per dollar (larger Red Plus drives scale better), you're using this in a standard desktop rather than a NAS, or you want faster 7200 RPM performance — look at Red Pro instead.

5400 RPM, 64MB cache, CMR, SATA 6Gb/s, 3-year limited warranty.View Deal

Why we recommend it

We've previously reviewed the 4TB WD Red Plus HDD and awarded it 4 stars in our review. Expect similar performance for this 2TB model, as beyond the capacity, it's pretty much the same.

Red Plus drives run Western Digital's NASware firmware, tuned specifically for multi-bay NAS workloads, along with rotation vibration sensors and dual-plane balance control that help performance and reliability stay steady when several drives are spinning in the same enclosure.

Unlike SMR drives, which can cause slowdowns and rebuild issues in RAID arrays, this is CMR — the safer choice for NAS duty.

Price Context & Historical Value

Generally speaking, NAS drives hold their price. So, at $12.50 off list, this isn't a deep discount — WD Red Plus drives tend to hold their price fairly steady rather than swing wildly in flash sales.

Overall, $154.99 is a solid, dependable price for a drive built specifically for NAS use rather than a one-off promotional gimmick.

If you need greater storage capacity, I'm seeing the 4TB version for $195 at Newegg which also has a combo deal offer bundling two drives and a Ugreen NAS for $570. , and an 8TB version for $355.

The Catch: What to know before you buy

2TB is on the smaller side if you're planning a larger NAS array, and 5400 RPM means it won't match the speed of WD's 7200 RPM Red Pro line. If raw performance matters more than cost per drive, that's worth weighing before you buy.

• See all internal hard drives at Newegg

Dating app Bumble is changing its policy to allow either person to message first, and is extending its response window from 24 to 72 hours.

HP's Omen range of laptops with dedicated graphic cards have always proved well-made mid-range machines for creators and gamers. And right now, the HyperX Omen 16 has dropped to $1400 (was $2000) from HP.

This laptop pairs a high-performance Ryzen 7 chip with RTX 5060 graphics and a color-accurate 165Hz 2K display. This is the base configuration, but HP does let you customize the hard, bumping up processor, memory, storage, and screen resolution.

Should you buy it?

✅ Buy the HP Omen 16 if...

You want a laptop that can also handle content creation and color-sensitive online work. Also worth grabbing if you're comfortable with 16GB RAM as a starting point (it's upgradeable to 32GB).

❌ Skip the HP Omen 16 if...

You want to push settings higher than the RTX 5060 comfortably handles or you need more RAM out of the box for heavier multitasking. It's not thin and light, either, as it's a dedicated creator and gaming laptop, not an ultraportable.

AMD Ryzen 7 8745HX | 16GB DDR5 | 512GB SSD

This 16-inch Windows 11 laptop boasts a dedicated RTX 5060 graphics card, and paired with a 165Hz 2K display, it's a rock-solid mid-range creator and gaming machine.View Deal

Why we recommend it

The Ryzen 7 8745HX is a strong 8-core mobile chip, and paired with the RTX 5060 it's a genuinely capable combination for creative workloads like photo editing and video editing. It might not handle a feature-length film or print-ready artwork, but it's more than enough for portfolios, YouTube channels, and other online work.

What stands out to me here is the display: a 16-inch, 2K panel running at 165Hz, with 100% sRGB coverage and 400 nits brightness — a solid screen compared to lower-brightness FHD IPS panels that usually show up on RTX 5060 laptops at this price. You can upgrade that display up to 2.5K OLED with 100% DCI-P3 if you need total color accuracy.

Add in Wi-Fi 6 and HP's Omen Tempest cooling system, and this is a well-rounded gaming laptop suitable for color-sensitive creative work.

Price Context & Historical Value

There are a host of HP Omen laptop configurations out there, and I generally find it's a case of trading off one key spec for another.

For example, there's a $1400 listing on Amazon that boasts an AMD Ryzen 9 chip, but the screen only hits 144Hz. If that's unimportant, and you'd rather have a laptop well-suited to multi-tasking, go for the Amazon model. Similarly, the Ryzen 9 model with the same 144Hz display but 32GB RAM and 1TB storage is retailing for $1800 at Amazon.

Over at HP, there's an Intel version of the Omen 16 for $1500 - but I recommend skipping it if you're a creator, as it only covers 62.5% sRGB.

What I'm saying is, for the price, it's about what I'd expect to pay. It just depends on where your priorities lie as to which model is right for you.

The Catch: What to know before you buy

16GB of RAM is on the lean side for a laptop at this price — it's upgradeable to 32GB across two slots, but that's an added cost if you go that route. The RTX 5060 is also a mid-tier GPU; it's well-matched to the 2K resolution, but don't expect to max out settings.

At 5.47 lbs, this isn't a laptop you'll want to carry around casually — it's built to stay mostly on a desk. None of that undercuts the core value here: a genuinely good OLED display paired with solid performance, at a price that undercuts most laptops with a comparable screen.

• See all laptop deals at HP

• Navy drones secretly sent signals to China for several months
• Kraken admits it lost confidence in its own drone platform
• Chinese-made camera parts were fitted without proper origin checks

The Royal Navy has stripped internet connectivity from a fleet of K3 Scout surveillance drones after cameras were found sending signals to China.

A routine cyber vulnerability assessment uncovered so-called heartbeat communications passing between the drones' cameras and an IP address located in China.

The vessels, used by the Coastal Forces Squadron and 47 Commando, form part of a £12 million fleet purchased since March 2026.

Cameras kept transmitting despite assurances

Kraken Technology Group, the British defence contractor that supplied the K3 Scout drones, sourced the cameras from a third-party manufacturer based overseas.

The company had reportedly given assurances about the security of those components before they were ever fitted onto the vessels.

“We are aware that some third-party, NDAA-compliant cameras had a small number of components originating from outside the UK,” said a Kraken Technology Group spokesman.

“After a full audit by both Kraken and the Royal Navy we are confident no sensitive information has ever been shared outside of intended channels and any potential vulnerabilities have been identified and closed.”

Despite that reassurance, Kraken later admitted that checks on the origin of the components had failed and confidence in the platform had been lost entirely.

The Ministry of Defence maintained that its own networks and systems had not been affected by the discovery in any way.

"A thorough investigation found no evidence of MoD data or systems being compromised," said a spokesman for the Ministry of Defence.

The K3 Scout, designed to carry a 600kg payload and operate continuously for 30 days, has also been bought by the US Special Operations Command.

It has also taken part in a series of Nato trials in the Baltic Sea alongside allied navies from the region.

The drones also formed part of a future defence package offered to help secure movement through the Strait of Hormuz.

Concerns grow over supply chain security

The breach has renewed scrutiny of the Government's drone procurement strategy, which is backed by a £5 billion investment pledge.

The government has promised to make defence purchasing "unashamedly pro-Britain," yet the case shows how deeply Chinese-made components remain embedded in British-labelled military hardware.

British officials argue that sovereignty itself is called into question when the origin of components inside military equipment cannot be fully guaranteed.

“If we cannot say with confidence what is inside our own military equipment, we cannot say it is ours, or that we are sovereign,” said Alicia Kearns, the shadow security minister.

“When cameras built on Chinese parts are found recording our special forces – their faces, training and operations – we should not be surprised, we should be furious that we still haven’t woken up to the realities of the threat we face.”

The episode follows years of warnings about Chinese components inside sensitive British infrastructure, including the eventual removal of Huawei equipment from the 5G network.

However, the Labour Government is trying to rebuild economic and diplomatic ties with Beijing and some ministers even visited Shanghai earlier this year.

Via The Telegraph

Getting ready to head back to school or college? No doubt you've got a shopping list of essentials you need to check off before the semester starts. A good laptop, a decent pair of headphones, or even a new iPad are all great buys.

Of course, such tech comes with a significant outlay, which is why I've been scanning through all the top retailers to find the best discounts this week. Best Buy, Walmart, and Amazon all have 'back-to-school' sales ongoing right now, but with thousands of items on sale, it can be tricky to find the true bargains.

Below, you'll find sections for laptops, headphones, appliances, and other tech. I've focused on college students here (who tend to need the most tech), but there are a few great options here for younger kids too. A Chromebook, for example, is a fantastic low-cost laptop for kids just starting out.

Alongside a selection of this week's best deals, I've also included an overview of today's sales at the relevant retailers, including links. See these below.

Back-to-school sales: quick links

• Amazon: cheap appliances, smart home, stationery, and essentials
• Adorama: education discounts on cameras, monitors, printers
• Apple: up to $150 off MacBooks and iPads
• Best Buy: discounts on laptops, headphones, TVs, and more
• BackMarket: cheap MacBooks, iPads, and tablets
• Dell: cheap laptops with exclusive student discounts
• HP: up to 65% off laptops, desktops, monitors, peripherals
• Lenovo: 10% extra off for students
• Staples: discounts on stationery, office furniture, supplies
• Walmart: essentials, backpacks, headphones, tablets

Back-to-school laptop deals

Processor: Intel Celeron N4500
RAM: 4GB
Storage: 64GB

HP's range of cheap Chromebooks has always been a good option if you're on a small budget. As a Chromebook, you don't need much to get smooth performance, and this 14-inch model is worth checking out if you just want the basics for studying, emails, or streaming. Despite not being a high-end laptop by any means, this is a relatively portable option with plenty of battery life.View Deal

Display - 15.3 inches
Processor - Intel Core 3
RAM - 8GB
Storage - 128GB

This version of the Lenovo Chromebook Plus offers an impressive amount of power for the price. It includes 8GB of RAM and an Intel Core 3 processor, boosting performance, boot times and load times. Storage of 128GB is a bit miserly for the price, but battery life is solid at up to 10 hours on a single charge. That's more than enough to last a full working day. At a little under $400, it's a smart buy for school or college, or just as a home laptop for light use and everyday tasks.View Deal

Display - 15.6 inches
Processor - AMD Ryzen 7
RAM - 16GB
Storage - 1TB

If you want a cheap Windows laptop, then this configuration of the Dell 15 Laptop is an excellent buy and terrific value for money. You get an AMD Ryzen 7 processor, 16GB of RAM, and a large 1TB SSD to ensure good overall performance and enough essential, speedy storage for the price. It's a top buy right now if you're on a budget and need a laptop for general everyday use, admin tasks, light work, or schoolwork.View Deal

Display: 13 inches
Processor: A18 Pro
RAM: 8GB
Storage: 256GB

The MacBook Neo just got a price bump, but students can get it cheaper again thanks to Apple's education discount. The latest MacBook packs a 13-inch Liquid Retina display, an A18 Pro chip, 8GB of RAM, 256GB of storage, and up to 16 hours of battery life, all for under $600, which is fantastic value. Discounts have been better in the past, but I think these will be rarer to see over the coming months and this price likely won't be beaten over Black Friday.View Deal

Display - 13.4 inches
Processor - Intel Core 5
RAM - 8GB
Storage - 512GB

The Dell XPS 13 has regularly been one of our favorite laptops here at TechRadar, and this brand-new version continues that trend. With an Intel Core 5 processor, 8GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD, it has everything you need for solid all-around performance at work or college. Students can also save an extra $100, bringing the price down to a ridiculously low $599.99.View Deal

Graphics card: RTX 5070
Processor: Intel Core 7 Series 2
RAM: 16GB
Storage: 512GB

If you're looking for a high-end gaming laptop, then one of the best options I've seen at Best Buy is this RTX 5070-equipped Acer Nitro V. You usually don't see laptops with such a powerful graphics card at this price point, although you do sacrifice a bigger storage drive and RAM to squeeze such a component in here. Still, in terms of bang for the buck, this is a very strong contender. View Deal

Graphics card: RTX 5060
Processor: Intel Core 7-240H
RAM: 32GB
Storage: 1TB

It's always worth keeping an eye on the official Dell Store for deals on Alienware gaming laptops. Right now, my favorite listing is on this Alienware 15, which is the brand's new entry-level model. It's still a premium laptop, however, and this spec features an RTX 5060 graphics card, 32GB of RAM, and a decent Core 7 chipset, so it's certainly not lacking in terms of performance. View Deal

Graphics card: RTX 5060
Processor: AMD Ryzen 9 270
RAM: 16GB
Storage: 1TB

Looking for a lightweight laptop that can still provide excellent gaming performance? The Asus Zephyrus G14 is an outstanding candidate. At 14-inches, it's a little smaller than most gaming laptops, but it features a stunning high-end design and 120Hz OLED display. Even though this configuration only features an RTX 5060 graphics card and 16GB of RAM, it's a very versatile machine that's worth checking out if you want a do-it-all laptop for college.View Deal

Back-to-school headphone deals

Best Buy has Apple's AirPods 4 on sale for $99.99. The AirPods 4 feature a new design for all-day comfort and feature Apple's H2 chip, which supports personalized spatial audio and voice isolation. You also get a redesigned case with 30 hours of battery life and support for USB-C for wireless charging.View Deal

Best Buy's back-to-school sale also has the AirPods 4 with active noise cancellation for $149.99, which is the best deal you can find right now. The AirPods 4 feature a new comfortable design, handy controls, and Apple's H2 chip, which supports personalized spatial audio and voice isolation.View Deal

Amazon has dropped Apple's AirPods Pro 3 to $189.99, which is the best deal I've seen on these buds in well over a month. Upgrades to the AirPods Pro 3 include improved Active Noise Cancellation and audio, a new comfortable in-ear design, and new features such as live translation and the ability to track heart rate, workouts, and calories burned.View Deal

The second-generation model has now been revealed, but the original Bose QuietComfort Headphones remain a top choice if you want quality noise-cancelling headphones at a mid-range price. I've been using a pair for a long time now and rate them highly, while our expert testers also scored them an impressive four stars in our review. You get excellent noise cancellation, top-tier audio quality, and 24 hours of battery life in a surprisingly affordable package.View Deal

The fantastic Bose QuestComfort Ultra Headphones have remained available at this price since Prime Day in June, so it's effectively the new standard price for this model. These offer a clear step up in audio compared to other premium cans, with superbly detailed and energetic sound and the best noise cancellation you can get right now, in a light and comfortable design.View Deal

Bose's affordable earbuds offer top-tier active noise cancellation, but without a massive price tag. Just be aware that I have seen them for $20 less than this before. Still, in our 4.5-star Bose QuietComfort Earbuds review, we said they were already "arguably best-in-class value" at full price, so the fact that you can get them for even less makes them hard to beat. We praised their comfort and sound quality as well as the amazing ANC.View Deal

The second-generation version of the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds are some of the manufacturer's best in terms of audio quality and noise cancellation — so good, in fact, that we awarded them the full five stars in our review. This latest model lasts up to 24 hours between both the buds and the case and features new CustomTune technology that adjusts the audio based on your ear shape. The Spatial Audio also makes the listening experience more immersive than ever with the option to swap between listening modes, depending on if you want to lose yourself in audio or stay alert.View Deal

Back-to-school appliance deals

We haven't tested this particular model, but we highly rate Ninja as a brand if you're looking for value for the money. This Single Serve coffee maker from the well-known brand is great for both hot and cold beverages and shouldn't take up too much space on your kitchen countertop. View Deal

The Navigator is one of Shark's cheaper vacuums, but it's great value if you just want something reliable that will yield great results. The lift-away mechanism here means you can easily detach the handle from the base for difficult-to-reach high places. Perfect for both carpets and hard floors, the Navigator also features a HEPA filter and a handy brush attachment for pet hair.View Deal

The Keurig K-Express is a cheap, convenient coffee maker that can quickly brew coffee using your favorite K-Cup Pods. It can brew 8, 10, and 12oz cups depending on your preference. The 42oz reservoir holds enough water to brew up to 5 8oz cups per refill. With $40 off, today's deal is decent - although we're still $10 off the record low from Black Friday late last year.View Deal

The Oral-B iO2 works great as a starter electric toothbrush thanks to its modest price point. It offers three brushing modes, including Super Sensitive, Gentle Clean, and Daily Clean, and a timer that lets you know when you've finished brushing your teeth for the recommended two minutes. It comes with a charger and carrying case, too. Be sure to check the "Apply $3.50 coupon" box underneath the list price to get the full discount.View Deal

Back-to-school other tech

If you're looking for a decent phone on a budget, then the Google Pixel 10a is a great place to start. Today's price cut at Amazon brings it to within $25 of the lowest price I've seen, and there's no doubt you're getting a lot of phone for the money here. The Pixel 10a features the same chipset as the higher-end Pixel 10 with all the latest AI tricks, plus an impressive 30 hours of battery life. View Deal

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 / Fold 8 / Fold 8 Ultra: up to $1,000 off with a trade-in or $200 off without
Samsung's offer on its new Flip and Fold range include trade-in rebates of up to $1,000 for the Fold 8 and up to $400 for the Flip 8 — that's $200 less than the preorder phase. Still, if you don't have a phone to hand over, you can still get a flat $200 in Samsung credit when buying the Fold 8 or $100 with the Flip 8. There are also bundle discounts of up to 15% when buying other accessories at the same time.View Deal

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 / Fold 8 / Fold 8 Ultra: up to $1,200 off with a trade-in or $200 off without
Samsung's offer on its new Flip and Fold range includes trade-in rebates of up to $1,200 for the Fold 8 and up to $600 for the Flip 8. Don't have a phone to hand over? You can get a flat $200 in Samsung credit when buying the Fold 8 or $150 with the Flip 8. There are also bundle discounts of up to 15% when buying other accessories.View Deal

Best Buy has a $30 discount on the already affordable Apple Watch SE 3, making it an excellent bargain at just $219. While the Apple Watch Series 11 currently holds the title of the best smartwatch for most people, the SE 3 is still packed with features, including activity, heart rate, and sleep tracking, plus an impressive 18 hours of battery life.View Deal

Samsung Galaxy Watch 9: included with a new cellular line at T-Mobile
The latest Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 is available to preorder at T-Mobile, and the carrier already has an excellent opening deal. Right now, you can get up to $440 off when you bundle together a device with a new Watch Plan Plus line at the carrier — a discount that's conveniently enough to cover the entire cost of the standard 40mm Samsung Galaxy Watch 9. View Deal

The Blink Mini 2K+ is the ideal camera for keeping an eye on all kinds of things around your home. With crisp 2k video resolution, 4x zoom, and a built-in LED spotlight, it's surprisingly well featured for the money. With a Blink Video Doorbell, you can also use it as a plug-in chime while at all times, you can get notifications when someone walks by, assuming you have a Blink subscription plan.View Deal

AT&T customers: save $420 when you bundle phone and internet
Moving out of home? If you're going to be looking for a great option for internet for your new place, then check out this promotion at AT&T. Existing phone customers can currently save an impressive $420 if they bundle together their phone line with one of the carrier's Fiber Home Internet packages. There are also additional discounts for new internet lines right now, including a $200 reward card when you sign up for eligible plans today. View Deal

A truly great, budget mini-LED TV, the TCL QM6K delivers vibrant picture quality along with solid gaming features for a price that won't break the bank. Upgrades here include support for 120Hz refresh rates at 4K resolution, which is perfect for gamers. This deal knocks a decent $250 off the 55-inch model, making it a truly appealing option for those who want a premium display at a mid-range price. View Deal

• Grand Theft Auto 6 fans think Rockstar Games has been revealing the game's loading screens
• They're convinced the promotional character artwork will be featured as loading screen in-game
• The game is said to have "near-instant load times" but loading screens will likely still be present

Grand Theft Auto 6 fans think Rockstar Games has been slowly revealing the game's loading screens for months.

Ever since GTA 6 was announced, Rockstar has been drip-feeding us new information, whether it's a new teaser trailer or a fancy new website filled with details on game features. The studio has also released some artwork along the way, depicting an assortment of characters, including the co-protagonists Lucia and Jason.

Now, fans reckon these promotional pieces could actually be the loading screens we'll see in the game.

"Has Rockstar Been Secretly Revealing GTA 6’s Loading Screens?" a Redditor posted on the game's subreddit along with a collection of the artwork.

Many seem to agree, since previous GTA games typically showcase moving character artwork while loading a save.

"To be fair, their loading screen were always this concept art so yeah," one user replied, "pretty much guaranteed that some of these will be used as the loading screens."

However, another fan suggested that the game may not feature loading screens because the game "leverages the PS5’s ultra-high speed SSD" according to the PlayStation Blog, "enabling you to experience the expansive world of Leonida with near-instant load times."

While load times will certainly be much faster on PS5 compared to GTA 5 on last-gen, they most likely won't be completely absent from the game, considering the game's scale.

Think Marvel's Spider-Man 2; those load times are very short on current-gen, but they're still there, and Spider-Man 2's open world is a lot smaller than GTA 6's,

GTA 6 launches on November 19 for PS5, Xbox Series X, and Series S, but fans can get a new look at the game when 'Grand Theft Auto 6: An Extended Look' premieres on Netflix on August 27. Fingers crossed for a gameplay trailer that really showcases how big the game is.

• Marvel's Wolverine is "fully playable" on a PS5 disc
• Insomniac Games says it encourages players to download the day-one patch when it arrives
• The studio's comments come after Sony shared its plan to quit making discs

Insomniac Games has clarified that Marvel's Wolverine will be "fully playable" on disc following Sony's decision to end physical disc production.

Speaking to Eurogamer, senior project director Jess Reiner-Reed essentially confirmed that the upcoming superhero game will be among the last PS5 games to be fully playable on disc, before they're phased out in January 2028.

"Marvel's Wolverine will come out in digital and physical [versions] and the game will be fully playable on the disc when you purchase it," Reiner-Reed said, but urged players to download the day-one update.

"With that said," the developer said, "we want people or encourage people to download that day-one patch because we are right now working on - or we're continuing over the next few months before release - to work on polish and some bug fixing."

Head of technology Mike Fitzgerald added, "I would say we're perfectionists. We take every minute we can get to just tweak this little thing, make everything a little bit better - we're gonna squeeze as much out of it as we can. And so if players download that patch, they get that little bit of extra time."

Despite the backlash that followed Sony's announcement to quit making physical discs, the company recently committed to its plan. PlayStation fans are still making their feelings known, however, and even descended on the latest Wolverine trailer to share how much they care for physical games.

Eurogamer also asked Insomniac about the situation at the game's preview event, but Fitzgerald said it wanted to focus on the game.

"We have been working on this for so long," he said, "we're so excited to have everyone in the office getting to spend time with the game, and I want to make sure we spend time talking about that."

Marvel's Wolverine launches on PS5 on September 16.

• Someone has ported Word for Windows 1.1a to Windows 11
• It's a fully native port
• It's not easy to get it up and running on your system — should you wish to — but there are other alternatives to the feature-creep of Notepad

Somebody has taken a version of Word from 1990 and created a fully functional port for Windows 11 — and as you might imagine, this is a word processor with an incredibly light footprint.

Tom's Hardware noticed this feat, which was achieved by Justin Marshall, who's the developer behind the 'Microsoft Word for Windows 1.1a' project on GitHub.

As Marshall explains, this is not an emulator or some kind of fudge, rather it's a "fully working native Windows x64 port" of Word for Windows 1.1a which was codenamed 'Opus' back in the day.

This port was possible because Microsoft released the source code for the app (over 10 years ago), and Marshall took that code and ran with it. (As Tom's notes, it's available from the Computer History Museum).

Marshall explains that the project builds on that original Word source code (and complementary resources) with "modern replacements for the 16-bit assembly, segmented-memory, and Win16 platform boundaries".

The result is a very simple word processor that takes the idea of a streamlined app to new levels. Indeed, this modern take on Word for Windows 1.1a can fit in less than 1MB of RAM in Windows 11. How's that for lean? And there's not a drop of AI in sight…

Analysis: Word up

(Image credit: Elnur / Shutterstock)

Can those fed up with Microsoft's feature-creep in Notepad, or other bloat, go and pick up this spin on Word from 1990 for a breath of fresh air in terms of a lightweight word processor? No, unfortunately, as there's no installation package to simply download and fire up.

That's because, as Marshall points out, the "historical source files retain their original Microsoft and third-party copyright notices", which means that commercial use or even sharing copies on the web isn't permitted.

This is why if you want to use Word for Windows 1.1a on your modern PC, you'll need to get it up and running by following the instructions on GitHub. This isn't for the technically faint-of-heart, as you might guess, and you'll need Visual Studio 2022 with Desktop development with C++, a Windows 11 (or 10) SDK installed through Visual Studio, as well as CMake 3.25 (or newer) and PowerShell.

In short, it's unlikely that many people will go to the effort, but it's not surprising that a fair bit of interest has been stoked in this project simply because of not just the novelty — although that's obviously the driving factor — but also as it's an illustration of how far Word can be stripped back, running with such a tiny footprint and resource usage.

One Redditor commenting on this simply said: "Not all heroes wear capes."

Another observed: "For the curious, Microsoft Office 97 will install and run on Windows 11 with no hassle. I've been using it for years now just for the fun of it."

Bear in mind, of course, that should you take that approach, you'll be lagging behind considerably for supported file formats, and also in the security stakes (that's the main drawback with using apps that haven't been updated in a long time, and lack patches against exploits that have since popped up).

If you are keen on a lightweight alternative to Notepad, then take a look at TinyRetroPad, which is built very much in the same vein as the original Microsoft text editor, and is just as tiny as the name suggests.

Singapore raised its 2026 growth forecast to 4.5%–5.5% as surging AI demand boosts electronics exports and manufacturing.

The post Singapore Raises 2026 Growth Forecast as AI Exports Surge appeared first on TechRepublic.

Humanoid robot shipments surged 272% as Chinese vendors captured 97% of shipments, led by AGIBOT and Unitree amid growing workplace adoption.

The post Humanoid Robot Shipments Surge 272% as Chinese Vendors Capture 97% Share appeared first on TechRepublic.

Mubadala could back Akita’s $12.6 billion AI data center, a project that could add major Japan-based AI capacity if its power plans hold up.

The post Japan’s Akita AI Data Center Now Estimated at $12.6B appeared first on TechRepublic.

UmanWrite gives you a full AI-backed toolbox to transform AI-generated text into human-sounding copy in moments.

The post This Tool Makes AI Copy Sound Human, and It’s Only $79 for Life appeared first on TechRepublic.

The Shards is now streaming on Hulu for US viewers and Disney+ internationally, as it adapts Bret Easton Ellis' novel of the same name.

In my The Shards review, I was pleased to note that it was a welcome return to form for Ryan Murphy. I was also impressed by how well he adapts the source material into a sexy, glamorous yet dangerous TV series.

If you're here, you're wondering when the next episodes will stream. Much like the two episode premiere, we also get two episodes this week.

Here's what you need to know about the release of The Shards episodes 3 and 4.

What time can I watch The Shards episodes 3 and 4 on Hulu?

For US viewers, both The Shards episodes 3 and 4 will drop on Wednesday, August 12 at 6pm PT/ 9pm ET.

Here's when you can stream the new episodes in other countries.

• US – Thursday, August 13 at 6pm PT / 9pm ET
• Canada – Thursday, August 13 at 6pm PT / 9pm ET
• UK – Friday, August 14 at 2am BST
• India – Friday, August 14 at 6:30am IST
• Singapore – Friday, August 14 at 9am SGT
• Australia – Friday, August 14 at 11am AEDT
• New Zealand – Friday, August 14 at 12pm NZDT

When do new episodes of The Shards come out?

(Image credit: Hulu)

After this week's double bill, episodes of The Shards will premiere on a weekly basis until the finale on Wednesday, September 9. We do have another double bill coming up too, which is good news for those who don't like to wait.

For dates as well as the episode titles for the upcoming The Shards releases, take a look below.

• The Shards Episode 1 “Pilot”: Out now
• The Shards Episode 2 “Don’t You Want Me”: Out now
• The Shards Episode 3 “Help Me! Rhonda!”: Wednesday, August 12
• The Shards Episode 4 “Robert’s Party”: Wednesday, August 12
• The Shards Episode 5 “Murder on the Dancefloor”: Wednesday, August 19
• The Shards Episode 6 “Homecoming Part One”: Wednesday, August 26
• The Shards Episode 7 “Homecoming Part Two”: Wednesday, August 26
• The Shards Episode 8 “Hamlet”: Wednesday, September 2
• The Shards Episode 9 “Stairway to Heaven”: Wednesday, September 9

When you ask businesses about how they are innovating their ways of working, one word will come up time and again: Agile. Agile delivery. Agile workflows. Agile everything.

The term has been so overwhelmed by buzzwords, supposed best practice guides, and misguided strategy documents that it has almost lost all meaning.

In fact, if many organizations that believe they’re operating in an Agile manner were to take a step back and take an objective look at their ways of working, they would quickly come to realize they have not moved away from legacy command-and-control structures.

In this fog of misunderstanding, a series of myths has taken hold that have made the role of Agile professionals far less clear-cut, making it harder for organizations to put this invaluable methodology into practice.

One root of these problems lies in a tendency for people to narrow Agile’s scope, approaching it as a tick list of processes to adhere to rather than a fundamental shift in how people work and deliver for a business.

It is critical that Agile professionals equip themselves to fact-check these myths as they come up in their work. Every failed project done in Agile’s name diminishes the luster attached to the methodology, increasing the risk that future businesses will reject this powerful way to improve program and project management.

Myth 1 – “Agile delivery leaders are just administrators”

Agile professionals are often seen principally as bureaucratic note-takers, or schedulers – the people who organize everyone else’s work.

This view misses the point: their real value is as facilitators and protectors from distraction. Good Agile professionals create the space for teams to focus, and align delivery with outcomes rather than just activity.

Myth 2 – “Agile professionals are the scrum police”

Some believe Agile delivery operates within a top-down hierarchy, with Agile professionals in place to enforce frameworks and control how team members spend their time.

This is quite wrong: Agile professionals work with teams, coaching them to make better decisions, remove friction, and build confidence in delivery – without resorting to outdated command-and-control methods.

Myth 3 – “Agile delivery must be technical”

It’s a common assumption that Agile delivery leaders require a deep technical background. Technical awareness can certainly help, supporting a deeper understanding of the team’s tasks and challenges, but it isn’t the core of the job.

The real skill lies in understanding people and processes, then creating the conditions for specialists to succeed. In most projects, the need is for strong communication and facilitation across the entire team rather than strategic decision-making or technical troubleshooting.

Indeed, in some circumstances ‘hands-on’ Agile delivery leaders who think they know best can create conflict within teams, damaging morale and motivation in the process. Think of it like athletics: coaches don’t need to run faster than the athletes; their task is to help the athletes run faster.

Myth 4 – “Certification equals capability”

A certificate may prove that somebody knows about an Agile framework, but it does not demonstrate that they’re capable of applying it in practice.

The best Agile professionals succeed through experience, attitude, and ‘soft’ skills. They know from experience how to adapt Agile values and principles to particular circumstances; when to challenge people, and when to simply step back and get out of their team’s way.

Like any profession, being truly effective at the job requires skill, practical experience, and professional characteristics appropriate for the role. A piece of paper doesn’t make you agile; effectiveness with people and process does.

Myth 5 – “Agile delivery leaders are cheerleaders”

Contrary to popular belief, Agile delivery isn’t principally about arranging team socials or keeping everyone upbeat during stand-ups.

The value lies in keeping people aligned and productive under deadline pressure and/or changing priorities; after all, no plan survives contact with the enemy. Agile delivery leaders are there to create stability within an uncertain environment: they help teams stay focused on what matters, and shield them from distractions so they can maximize time spent ‘in the zone’.

That said, there is value in boosting morale – and championing a team’s achievements is one way to do this. According to the “broaden-and-build” theory of psychologist Barbara Fredrickson, positive emotions broaden our thought-action repertoires, enabling us to develop skills and resources that improve our long-term productivity.

One famous study from the "Journal of Labor Economics" showed that happiness at work leads to improved performance, especially in jobs where creativity and initiative are key.

Myth 6 – “Agile delivery leaders must remove all blockers for their teams”

While impediment removal is without doubt a core responsibility for an Agile delivery leader, the reality is that teams solve most of their own issues – perhaps with the assistance of a little coaching or support.

Nonetheless, sometimes a challenge is too big, distracting or political for them to handle, and Agile delivery leaders must step in – often by representing the team with stakeholders and at governance layers: this can be helpful in reducing the ‘noise’ around the team and the number of distracting interactions that take team members away from the core task.

As captured in the proverb: “Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime,” effective Agile delivery leadership is about enabling, not babysitting.

True Agile

So Agile is a much more subtle and responsive discipline than the stereotypes present – and it must be led by subtle and responsive practitioners. The approach can generate huge benefits – saving time, handling change more elegantly, reducing project failure rates and, above all, creating better products and services that more effectively meet customer needs and objectives.

These goals are achieved by working with people – rather than by tinkering with processes – to surface problems early in the development process, resolve them quickly and with a minimum of fuss, and avoid interfering when the team is already functioning effectively.

High-performing teams depend on trust, accountability and continuous learning. Leaders who foster those qualities are more likely to deliver successful outcomes, creating teams that stay focused, take ownership of their work, and continuously improve how they operate.

This is a role that is all about empowerment; when they’re doing their job well, much of an Agile practitioner’s work occurs out of sight. So how do you know when you’ve got a really great Agile delivery leader? When their team runs perfectly well without them.

This may not sound like the smartest business model for the practitioner, but it’s definitely the best outcome for the client’s own business – and that, ultimately, is what Agile is all about.

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• OpenAI expands Daybreak with Blue and Red tiers for defensive cyber work
• New GPT‑5.6‑Cyber model offers high compliance for authorized vulnerability research
• Access remains restricted due to dual‑use risks and reduced safeguard operation

OpenAI has announced two new tiers for its Daybreak dedicated cybersecurity project, each offering a different model with different levels of compliance. It also used the opportunity to introduce a new security-focused AI model, as well.

Hackers and criminals are increasingly abusing AI to improve and speed up the creation of phishing emails and malicious code, and with the introduction of AI agents, they’ve also used it to automate entire attack processes. The AI community responded by placing strong guardrails, making sure their models do not comply with requests to build malware, or hack other companies.

These guardrails ended up being a two-edged sword, because as they slowed down attackers, they also slowed down the defenders.

What is Daybreak?

To give the cybersecurity community the upper edge, companies like OpenAI started creating dedicated cybersecurity initiatives that provide a vetted list of companies state-of-the-art models, free of guardrails. The company also provided them with pre-trained AI agents, as well as access to a pool of shared knowledge.

Initially launched in June 2026, Daybreak originally included GPT.5-5-Cyber (a model optimized for security work), Codex Security (an agent that can analyze codebases, identify vulnerabilities, validate findings, and help develop patches), Patch the Planet (an initiative with Trail of Bits to find and fix vulnerabilities in open-source software), Daybreak Cyber Partner Program (lets approved cybersecurity companies such as Cloudflare or Cisco integrate OpenAI's cyber capabilities into their own products and services), and Trusted Access for Cyber (the governance/access system for organizations doing authorized cybersecurity work with these capabilities).

Now, OpenAI has expanded Daybreak with two access tiers, Daybreak Blue, and Daybreak Red.

The company says Daybreak Blue is “the recommended starting point for most defenders, supporting vulnerability discovery, secure code review, malware analysis, incident response, and patch validation. Companies opting for this tier can expect access to frontier general-purpose models, including GPT‑5.6 Sol, whose safeguards have been tailored to authorized defensive security work.

Daybreak Red, on the other hand, provides access to OpenAI’s “purpose-trained cybersecurity models for authorized vulnerability research, exploit validation, and security testing.” This tier offers the brand new GPT‑5.6‑Cyber, built on GPT‑5.6 Sol and trained to improve capabilities on several specialized cybersecurity tasks such as finding zero-day vulnerabilities and developing exploit chains.

This model is also more compliant and less likely to refuse certain higher-risk, dual-use cyber tasks.

Complying with "dangerous" requests

Request compliance is the name of the game here. OpenAI says the new model addresses feedback from security researchers who “encountered persistent refusals with the earlier model.” General-purpose GPT-5.6 Sol, for example, will comply with just 1.5% of the requests usually given by cyber-defenders working on codebase analysis or vulnerability identification. This percentage increases to 2.0% with Daybreak Blue access.

GPT-5.6-Cyber, on the other hand, completes 95.0% of requests, OpenAI says, up from 57.3% of the previous model, GPT-5.5-Cyber. We weren’t able to independently verify these claims, though.

While it doesn’t outright say it, OpenAI considers these models relatively dangerous to use, which is why they’re locked behind the Daybreak Cyber Partner Program. However, the program is now expanding, allowing these companies to embed the models behind their own products, managed services, or cybersecurity engagements, and offer them to clients of their own.

Those who wish to be a part of the program directly can do so by applying to join online now.

“Models running with reduced safeguards carry risks beyond standard model usage, whether from misuse or misalignment. Despite these risks, we believe that democratizing access to frontier intelligence for defenders is crucial to accelerating and automating cyber defense,” OpenAI said.

“Daybreak Blue and Daybreak Red access are available for approved individuals⁠ and organizations conducting authorized work. We control access through identity verification, account security, monitoring, approved-use restrictions, and legal attestations.”

• Wix launches Symphony, a standalone AI agent platform designed for SMBs
• AI agents work to understand your business, then complete essential tasks on your behalf
• Symphony comes with a built-in quality layer, helping ensure trust.

Wix, one of the world’s biggest website builders, has today launched Symphony, a new platform which aims to provide SMBs with a proactive team of AI agents that are built around their specific business needs, goals, and workflows.

The company says Symphony will allow business owners to move away from working alone to operating with a tailored AI team in just minutes.

What is Symphony?

Wix claims Symphony has been built on the experience and unique data it has accumulated while supporting hundreds of millions of businesses worldwide.

The company highlights how, unlike typical AI tools that simply act on instructions, Symphony learns the business, taking the time to understand its unique needs rather than offering a one-size-fits-all solution.

At the center is Maestro, Symphony’s central AI agent. Maestro understands what is happening across the business, identifies what needs attention next, and coordinates the right agent for each job.

Operating much like a team of humans, Symphony’s AI agents work across approved workflows, executing tasks and connecting to the tools that the business already uses. It then reports back, offering updates, analytics, and flagging key actions for approvals.

Each day your agents will also have a ‘morning meeting’, providing a summary through a simple app of work completed, highlighting what still needs to be completed, and identifying new opportunities based on business activity, customer behavior, and current trends.

Symphony also provides a built-in quality review layer, with a separate agent checking work before it is presented, helping support accuracy.

According to Wix, Symphony is available through a tiered subscription model.

“We built Symphony to be the go-to AI agent orchestrator for SMBs,” said Ronny Elkayam, COO of Wix.

“It is purpose-built for how small businesses operate, combining Wix’s two decades of SMB expertise with a coordinated multi-agent system that can learn how a business works, take action and help owners grow with more speed and confidence. With Symphony, any business owner can have the team they need to scale.”

"I big, I punch," is probably the most effective and concise way of summing up the last three seasons of Reacher on Prime Video. Alan Ritchson's titular hero has slammed, drop-kicked, and battered his way through three separate stories to date, but Reacher season 4 has something new to offer.

Instead of honing in on Reacher's past or personal vendettas, our eight new episodes are ones of political espionage. Adapting the Lee Child novel Gone Tomorrow, he instead becomes embroiled in a CIA conspiracy after suspecting a woman on a New York City subway train is actually a suicide bomber. It's drama that makes you think, for the first time ever in this franchise.

It's a big tonal swing, and probably a risk that the crime drama needed to take four seasons in — but that doesn't mean it's completely paid off. In a nutshell, getting to the bottom of a big city political scandal has never made me yearn for the small-town days of seasons gone by more.

Clearly, this is part of Reacher's big-picture thinking. Seasons 1 and 3 were based in more rural locations, with seasons 2 and 4 respectively based in New York and Philadelphia. We already know that Reacher season 5 will be set in Oklahoma (like the novel Make Me), and I'm desperate to get there.

Does Reacher really have the chops to dig deeper into its punchy action? Probably not. I doubt we'll see the show stray back into these waters again, and there's good reason why.

Jack Reacher isn't the right action hero to lead a political espionage investigation

If the line "Oh no, I got it wrong!" is your signal to the audience that a dramatic twist is about to take place, then you're likely in over your head. This dialogue passes Reacher's lips halfway through season 4, with our bullish hero a fish out of water, scrambling through a plot that's much bigger than he could ever properly cope with.

On the one hand, I like that this level of insecurity humanizes Reacher more. There's always been more to him than just being muscle and meat hooks in a T-shirt, but now he's able to put his money where his mouth is. Selflessness, understanding, and the ability to be vulnerable flow out of Reacher abundantly in a way it never could have before, and I appreciate that.

However, let's not do this kind of storyline again. Our overarching threat is simultaneously too complicated to fully sink your teeth into and too mundane to actually bother caring about it. The armchair detectives among us will work out who is the 'villain' underpinning Reacher's latest disaster in a matter of seconds, and between season 4's beginning and end, you'll need a notepad and pen to keep up.

I think that an obstacle hidden in plain sight is the fact that Reacher himself doesn't have the same gravitas in a city as he does in a town. Plop him in the centre of Georgia, and he'll obviously scare the crap out of everyone around him. But in New York and Washington, D.C., he's a mere fly in the ointment. Add in a subpar storyline, and Reacher season 4 isn't exactly making its mark in an already oversaturated genre.

However, this might be Reacher's best supporting cast to date

(Image credit: Prime Video)

But let's stop being a Debbie Downer... It's clobbering time! For surface-level viewing, Reacher season 4 is ticking every box you'd expect after its last three seasons, and that makes for some satisfying weekly viewing.

The secret weapon, however, is its supporting cast, which may just be my favorite of all we've had to date. New additions Tamara Green (Sydelle Noel), Jacob Merrick (Christopher Rodriguez-Marquette), and Russell Plum (Kevin Weisman) are Reacher's unlikely gang of allies, and the uneasy friendships that develop between them are the relationships that you're really rooting for.

Together, the awesome foursome drive the excitement of the piece, and help us paper over anything that isn't really gelling together in the story itself. We're desperate for them to break the rules and stick two metaphorical fingers up at authority, and they routinely indulge us. Best of all, our trio of newcomers pulls out all of Reacher's caring traits that we're desperate to see, even if they all make a few bad decisions along the way.

Without giving anything away, there are definitely some distasteful tones bubbling underneath the surface, particularly around how the story approaches sex work and, well, women in general. But hey, who cares when Reacher is going to punch something and take his shirt off, huh?

Reacher season 4 begins airing on Prime Video from August 12.

• Spotify is introducing AI Persona tags in mid-September
• The platform aims to improve user transparency by differentiating real artists from AI-generated ones
• Spotify only reviews an artist's profile and images, and not the music itself

Spotify has fallen short on the AI transparency front compared to some of the other best music streaming services, with users pining for a fix — and now the platform is taking its biggest step yet towards combatting AI slop.

The streaming giant announced today (August 11) the arrival of new AI Persona tags, which are designed to differentiate human artists from ones that are AI-generated. Spotify says these tags will roll out to mobile in mid-September, and will appear in an artist’s profile banner, ‘About’ section, in Search, and in song rows in playlists.

Once they become available, users can be safe in the knowledge that the artists they’re listening to haven’t been generated by AI. Spotify added that artists with AI Persona tags will be excluded from all personalized recommendations by default, ensuring that your music-discovery regime remains uninfected by slop.

(Image credit: Spotify)

Though AI Persona tags won’t roll out for another month or so, Spotify says artists can already disclose if their profile is AI-generated. If an artist declares this, a tag reading ‘AI Persona’ will appear next to their name. ‘We hope artists will be transparent, so we are giving them the opportunity to disclose,’ the service shared in its announcement — but it’s not putting all its trust into self-disclosure.

Instead, Spotify says it will take matters into its own hands if need be, and will conduct reviews of profiles where it thinks an artist’s images have been created using generative AI to imitate a lifelike persona. If Spotify detects that an artist profile might be AI-generated, it will display a tag that reads ‘Likely AI Persona’, and the artist will be notified and given the option to self-disclose or appeal.

It’s taken Spotify a long time to catch up to the likes of Deezer when it comes to improving its transparency on AI-generated music. Deezer was the first major audio streaming service to roll out tags that explicitly say if a track has been AI-generated, and recently its Head of Research told us why we need AI filters more than ever.

Spotify’s own AI Persona tags mark a big shift for the platform, and will certainly improve the user experience by giving listeners more peace of mind. However, Spotify’s feature comes with an important caveat.

It reviews the profile only, not the music

(Image credit: Spotify)

AI Persona tags are just one of the ways Spotify has been working towards improving transparency for users. Verified by Spotify was launched a few months back — this is a certification feature that shows if an artist is legitimate, but it’s not as watertight as we’d hoped it would be.

Additionally, Spotify’s SongDNA gives listeners a comprehensive overview of the creatives behind their favorite songs, while AI Credits give artists the opportunity to share where and how they’ve used AI in their music production. It’s not as upfront as Deezer’s methods, but the measures are in place nonetheless, and AI Persona tags are the cherry on top.

That said, AI Persona tags target an artist’s public image, not how the music was made, which could present some issues, as it still leaves room for AI-generated music to slip its way onto the platform.

If Spotify detects that an artist is human-presenting, how are we to know that artist won’t upload AI-generated music to their profile? There’s nothing stopping that artist from publishing slop, because Spotify reviews their name, imagery, and public identity, not the music they upload.

It’s a tricky one, because while Spotify has measures in place that evaluate music and artist image respectively, it doesn’t have a comprehensive tool that reviews both components simultaneously, which again isn’t as upfront as Deezer.

As far as AI-generated content in Spotify goes, I’ve been one of the lucky ones who hasn’t encountered this issue. Because my love for physical media and radio impacts what I listen to on Spotify, I suspect that my algorithm has been trained enough to push AI slop out of my recommendations.

I do think that on top of my streaming habits, Spotify’s anti-AI music measures have helped to keep the fence up and block out unwanted songs to a certain extent — I just wish its approach to tagging was a bit more robust.

• Spotify is introducing AI Persona tags in mid-September
• The platform aims to improve user transparency by differentiating real artists from AI-generated ones
• Spotify only reviews an artist's profile and images, and not the music itself

Spotify has fallen short on the AI transparency front compared to some of the other best music streaming services, with users pining for a fix — and now the platform is taking its biggest step yet towards combatting AI slop.

The streaming giant announced today (August 11) the arrival of new AI Persona tags, which are designed to differentiate human artists from ones that are AI-generated. Spotify says these tags will roll out to mobile in mid-September, and will appear in an artist’s profile banner, ‘About’ section, in Search, and in song rows in playlists.

Once they become available, users can be safe in the knowledge that the artists they’re listening to haven’t been generated by AI. Spotify added that artists with AI Persona tags will be excluded from all personalized recommendations by default, ensuring that your music-discovery regime remains uninfected by slop.

(Image credit: Spotify)

Though AI Persona tags won’t roll out for another month or so, Spotify says artists can already disclose if their profile is AI-generated. If an artist declares this, a tag reading ‘AI Persona’ will appear next to their name. ‘We hope artists will be transparent, so we are giving them the opportunity to disclose,’ the service shared in its announcement — but it’s not putting all its trust into self-disclosure.

Instead, Spotify says it will take matters into its own hands if need be, and will conduct reviews of profiles where it thinks an artist’s images have been created using generative AI to imitate a lifelike persona. If Spotify detects that an artist profile might be AI-generated, it will display a tag that reads ‘Likely AI Persona’, and the artist will be notified and given the option to self-disclose or appeal.

It’s taken Spotify a long time to catch up to the likes of Deezer when it comes to improving its transparency on AI-generated music. Deezer was the first major audio streaming service to roll out tags that explicitly say if a track has been AI-generated, and recently its Head of Research told us why we need AI filters more than ever.

Spotify’s own AI Persona tags mark a big shift for the platform, and will certainly improve the user experience by giving listeners more peace of mind. However, Spotify’s feature comes with an important caveat.

It reviews the profile only, not the music

(Image credit: Spotify)

AI Persona tags are just one of the ways Spotify has been working towards improving transparency for users. Verified by Spotify was launched a few months back — this is a certification feature that shows if an artist is legitimate, but it’s not as watertight as we’d hoped it would be.

Additionally, Spotify’s SongDNA gives listeners a comprehensive overview of the creatives behind their favorite songs, while AI Credits give artists the opportunity to share where and how they’ve used AI in their music production. It’s not as upfront as Deezer’s methods, but the measures are in place nonetheless, and AI Persona tags are the cherry on top.

That said, AI Persona tags target an artist’s public image, not how the music was made, which could present some issues, as it still leaves room for AI-generated music to slip its way onto the platform.

If Spotify detects that an artist is human-presenting, how are we to know that artist won’t upload AI-generated music to their profile? There’s nothing stopping that artist from publishing slop, because Spotify reviews their name, imagery, and public identity, not the music they upload.

It’s a tricky one, because while Spotify has measures in place that evaluate music and artist image respectively, it doesn’t have a comprehensive tool that reviews both components simultaneously, which again isn’t as upfront as Deezer.

As far as AI-generated content in Spotify goes, I’ve been one of the lucky ones who hasn’t encountered this issue. Because my love for physical media and radio impacts what I listen to on Spotify, I suspect that my algorithm has been trained enough to push AI slop out of my recommendations.

I do think that on top of my streaming habits, Spotify’s anti-AI music measures have helped to keep the fence up and block out unwanted songs to a certain extent — I just wish its approach to tagging was a bit more robust.

Stamped on artist profiles, it’ll help listeners figure out who’s an AI musician, and who isn’t.