Technology

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• Magnetic Fluid Drivers taken from Technics' high-end niche IEMs
• Improved active ANC and even clearer voice calls too
• £259 / €299 / $299 (tbc)

It's a huge day at CES 2025: Technics has announced a follow-up to its superb EAH-AZ80 earbuds. They're called the EAH-AZ100 and they promise to maintain every impressive perk of their predecessors but to improve the sound quality and the noise cancellation too.

There are three key upgrades here. The first is a proprietary Magnetic Fluid Driver that, according to Technics, delivers "ultra-low distortion, hi-res audio and accurate, rich bass".

The second big improvement is called Voice Focus AI, and as the name suggests it's designed to make your voice sound better in calls. It uses multiple mics and a new intelligent algorithm to remove wind noise and other unwanted audio in real time.

And the third is improved active noise cancellation, with Conversation Mode so you can hear people without taking out your buds. Oh, and the units are also 10% smaller and 16% lighter, as a quick look at the image below shows (AZ80 on the left; new AZ100 on the right). This downsizing has been aided by the fact that the feedback mic you can just see on the teardrop-shaped older bud is now situated on the side of the sound tube, thus allowing Technics to make the AZ100's top plate truly spherical.

Spot the difference…  (Image credit: Future) Technics EAH-AZ100: key specs, pricing and availability

The new driver is a miniaturised version of the one in the company's 2019 wired EAH-TZ700 wired IEMs (much lauded, but only launched in Europe), whose recommended retail price is a hefty $1,200. Don't worry, Technics has miniaturised the price as well as the driver.

Interestingly, the “Magnetic Fluid” in that Magnetic Fluid Driver really is "an oil-type liquid filled with magnetic particles that is injected into the space between the driver magnet and voice coil", but again there's no cause for concern – Technics' Headphone Project Manager, Ryan Yu, assures us there's absolutely no chance of any fluid leakage from the earbuds.

The new driver (which is still 10mm in size) promises tight, rich bass with an aluminum diaphragm taking care of the details. The earbuds support Dolby Atmos and Dolby Audio, and this time there's also Bluetooth LE with Auracast, LDAC, LC3 low-latency and Google Fast Pair. Battery life is 10 hours out of the case and 28 with it; that's with ANC enabled, so a big improvement over their predecessors.

This is no small update when you consider that the EAH-AZ80 burst onto the scene as the only product to feature triple-device multipoint and with Technics' own 'concha-fit' design that wowed us under intense review, quickly taking the top spot in our best earbuds buying guide. Suffice to say, we really liked the EAH-AZ80 earbuds, and on paper at least, the EAH-AZ100 are even better. So it'll be really interesting to see how they compare to their direct competitors, the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2024.

And as luck would have it, we've got a pair of Technics EAH-AZ100 and we've been testing them for you. Usually at this point, we'd have to tell you to check back for a full review very soon – but as luck would have it, our Technics EAH-AZ100 review has been permitted to go live at the same time as this missive. (Spoiler alert: it's very good news.)

The new Technics EAH-AZ100 have an MSRP of $299 / £259 / €299 (which would make them around AU$519).

TechRadar will be extensively covering this year's CES, and will bring you all of the big announcements as they happen. Head over to our CES 2025 news page for the latest stories and our hands-on verdicts on everything from 8K TVs and foldable displays to new phones, laptops, smart home gadgets, and the latest in AI.

And don’t forget to follow us on TikTok and WhatsApp for the latest from the CES show floor!

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• Asus has unveiled several new laptops at CES 2025
• The Zenbook A14 is claimed to be the "World's lightest Copilot+ PC"
• New Vivobook and ExpertBook machines debuted too

New Nvidia GPUs might be the big computing announcement at CES 2025, but there’s plenty for non-gamer computing enthusiasts to appreciate at the tech show, not least Asus delivering a quintet of productivity-focused Copilot+ laptops.

Kicking things off is the Zenbook A14, which at under 980g Asus claims is the “World’s lightest Copilot+ PC.” And though those weight savings don’t seem to come with noticeable performance downgrades, as it reportedly boasts a 32-hour battery life under Asus’ own video test, a Snapdragon X Series processor, a 14-inch Full-HD OLED display, and up to 32GB of RAM and 1TB of SSD storage (though the specs on the beefier end may increase the overall weight).

Meanwhile, the refreshed dual-screened ASUS Zenbook Duo 2025 boasts twin 14-inch 16:10 3K 120Hz OLED touchscreens, up to the latest Intel Core Ultra 9 processor, and up to 32GB of RAM and 2TB of SSD storage if you want more screen real estate from a portable 14.6mm thick and 1.35kg package.

The Zenbook A14 is available now in the UK and starts at £999 (US and Australia pricing is to be confirmed), with the new Duo dropping later in February starting at £1,699 (again, US and Australia prices are to be confirmed).

(Image credit: Future)

Asus has also announced new models in its Vivobook range: Snapdragon X processor powered 14-inch and 16-inch laptops (I’m counting them as one announcement given there’s just a size difference between them) each with a HD screen, 19 hour battery life, and 16GB of RAM, and up to 1TB of SSD storage. Pricing is yet to be confirmed, but they’ll be landing in February.

Last but not least we have the new ExpertBook B5 and B3, which boast some specific business-centric perks that will appeal to professional users. On top of the robust specs, which include Intel Core Ultra Series 2 processors, these devices have passed 24 military-grade tests for durability, come with a Digital Product Passport to offer more transparent details on their sustainability credentials, and optional smart card readers so they can double as portable point-of-sale systems.

We’ll have to try these new laptops out for ourselves before passing judgement on their performance credentials, but given some solid specs and Asus’ track record we expect they’ll all be impressive machines capable of handling whatever productivity tasks you throw at them.

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Attackers are reportedly using popular VPN applications as a backdoor to inject malware and gain remote control of infected devices.

This is the worrying finding coming from Google's Managed Defense team, which shed light on how malicious actors employ SEO poisoning tactics to spread what's known as Playfulghost malware.

"The malware is bundled with popular applications, like LetsVPN, and distributed through SEO poisoning," wrote the expert. "This involves manipulating search engine results to make the bundled software appear at the top of searches, making it seem like a legitimate download."

Phishing attacks, meaning malicious emails that trick users into clicking on dangerous links to download malware, are another known distribution method.

The dangers of the Playfulghost backdoor

As Google's expert explains in a blog post, Playfulghost is "a backdoor that shares functionality with Gh0st RAT." The latter is a remote administration tool that has been known among the security community since 2008.

Playfulghost, however, has distinct traffic patterns and encryption that differentiate it from the known threat.

Attackers use both phishing and SEO poisoning tactics to trick victims into downloading the malicious software on their devices. In one case, the Google expert explains, the victim was tricked into opening an infected image file to execute Playfulghost from a remote server.

Similarly, SEO poisoning tactics involved using trojanized virtual private network (VPN) apps to download Playfulghost components from a remote server into the victims' devices (see the GIF below).

Playfulghost is a particularly dangerous strain of malware that enables attackers to remotely execute a range of activities once the device is infected. Data mining capabilities include keylogging, screenshot capture, and audio capture. Attackers can also carry on file management activities like opening, deleting, and writing new files, among other things.

You can read all of Playfulghost's technical details in Google's blog post here.

(Image credit: Google)

The Playfulghost malware case is yet another reminder to remain on alert when downloading new software.

Sticking to reputable names, like the best VPN applications, on a search engine isn't enough to stay safe. The same goes for App Stores, unfortunately, as copycat malicious applications may slip through the security checks.

I recommend going through reputable sources, like TechRadar, whenever possible and using the on-page links to download new software – whether this is a new VPN, antivirus, or password manager tool. Heading directly to the provider's official website is another way to ensure your download is a legitimate and secure application.

If you notice your device acting oddly, I suggest looking for applications you don't recognize and running a malware removal service if possible. You should also consider a system reboot to eradicate the potential threat.

Hello, my friend. Stay awhile and play these games.

• Meta has officially discontinued the sale of its Quest Pro headset
• The company announced it would discontinue the sale last year
• It is now suggesting users buy its Quest 3 headset

The Meta Quest Pro mixed reality headset has officially been discontinued and is no longer available to purchase.

That's according to a recent report from Upload VR, which first spotted a new change to the Quest Pro webpage that now confirms that the "Meta Quest Pro is no longer available". It also suggests users "shop Meta Quest 3 for the ultimate mixed reality experience and premium comfort."

Meta confirmed in September 2024 that it planned to discontinue the Quest Pro, the Quest 2, and the 123GB Quest 3 after announcing its Quest 3S headset, a more affordable model that launched in October last year.

The Quest 2 is also currently unavailable after it was completely sold out in July 2024.

At the time of the announcement, Meta told TechCrunch: "With Quest 3S on the shelf, we’re officially winding down sales of Quest 2 and Pro. We’ll be selling our remaining headsets through the end of the year or until they’re gone, whichever comes first.

"If you’d like a carrying case, the Touch Pro controllers, the Quest 2 Active Pack, or any of the other accessories for Quest 2 and Pro, we plan to continue selling those for a bit longer."

The Meta Quest Pro was released in 2022 for a staggering $1599, the company's most expensive model. Right now, users can purchase the 512GB version of the Meta Quest 3 for $650 or the Quest 3S for $299.99, both of which come bundled with a copy of Batman: Arkham Shadow.

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• Levoit Pet Odor & Hair Air Purifier is specifically for pet owners
• It can sense 'key substances' in the air and boost airflow in response
• Motion sensors also enable you to create routines

Levoit just launched an air purifier that's specifically aimed at pet owners, and it's enough to give your dog a complex. The Levoit Pet Odor & Hair Air Purifier is showing at CES 2025, and boasts a number of features I haven't seen elsewhere amongst today's best air purifiers.

(Image credit: Future)

We’re covering all of the latest CES news from the show as it happens. Stick with us for the big stories on everything from 8K TVs and foldable displays to new phones, laptops, smart home gadgets, and the latest in AI.

And don’t forget to follow us on TikTok for the latest from the CES show floor!

Firstly, it's programmed to quickly detect "key substances" like isovaleric acid, ammonia, and hydrogen sulfide. In case you aren't well-versed in scientific terms for bodily functions, I've done some Googling and I believe that roughly translates as sweat, pee, and farts. It'll then adjust fan speeds to clear the air in double-quick time, while a carbon filter helps neutralize the odors. Whether it also works for human smells is unconfirmed.

Second, there's a motion detection system that adjusts settings based on what's going on in the household at the time. This seems to work with the brand's 'Smart Scene technology', which uses AI to create routines. For example, it could boost airflow when you head out to walk your dog, then reduce it when you return, so you come back to a fresh-smelling home. The press information also lists 'behavior anticipation' features, although it doesn't go into any more detail on these.

(Image credit: Levoit)

There's a VeSync companion app that visualizes odor levels and trends in your home, and can (satisfyingly) create a countdown for tracking purification tasks. Here, you'll also be able to view air analysis reports, and see how long you have left before you need to replace your filter (here's more on how air purifiers work, and what air purifiers can help with, if it's helpful).

The standard Pet Odor and Hair Air Purifier is due to go on sale on Amazon in Q2 (so sometime between the start of April until the end of June) and will cost $199 (about £160 / AU$320). There will also be a more advanced self-cleaning model available at major retailers, with a list price of $249 (about £200 / AU$400).

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• Two self-powered models delivering 34W and 50W respectively
• Bluetooth 5.3, USB-C, phono and optical connections; HDMI ARC in the larger model
• $199 / $299, available in Q2 2025

Onkyo is one of the big names in home theater audio, and it's just launched some small footprint speakers for gamers and music fans at CES 2025 – but while the new Onkyo Creator Series speakers may come in relatively small sizes, there's nothing small about their power.

The Creator Series is powered by highly efficient Class D amplifiers and the speakers promise to deliver audio that punches way above their small size. That makes them ideal not just for gaming and general PC audio but for your turntable and other audio sources – and in the case of the larger, HDMI-equipped model, for your TV too.

There are two models in the range: the Onkyo GX10DB and the Onkyo GX30ARC. Both will be available in the second quarter of 2025.

(Image credit: Onkyo) Onkyo Creator Series: key features and pricing

The smaller model, the GX10DB, has a 3-inch woofer and a 3/4-inch tweeter. It delivers 34W per pair and includes 10-degree stands for perfect desktop positioning. There's also an included IR remote for sofa listening. Each speaker is also very compact at just 119mm x 173mm x 149mm (WxHxD).

The powered speakers have USB-C including USB-C Audio, and they also have RCA/Phono, Optical and subwoofer connections. They also have Bluetooth 5.3 for wireless streaming from your phone, tablet or computer.

The GX30ARC has the same connectivity and accessories plus HDMI ARC and a 3.5mm aux in, and the drivers here are 4-inch woofers and 3/4-inch tweeters putting out 50W per pair. To make room for the bigger drivers the GX30ARC are slightly bigger than their sibling speakers: 146mm wide, 220mm high and 170mm deep.

Both sets of speakers will be available in Q2 2025 in a choice of black or white, and the US MSRP is $199 per pair for the GX10DB and $299 per pair for the GX30ARC. Pricing and availability for other markets hasn't yet been announced, but with these specs, they're ripe for consideration in our best stereo speakers guide, if we can get our hands on a set for a thorough review.

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TechRadar will be extensively covering this year's CES, and will bring you all of the big announcements as they happen. Head over to our CES 2025 news page for the latest stories and our hands-on verdicts on everything from 8K TVs and foldable displays to new phones, laptops, smart home gadgets, and the latest in AI.

And don’t forget to follow us on TikTok and WhatsApp for the latest from the CES show floor!

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• Nvidia has detailed some clever new RTX Neural Shaders tech
• This includes Neural Texture Compression to fit more textures into VRAM
• It helps make sense of why Nvidia chose leaner video RAM loadouts with some RTX 5000 GPUs

Nvidia just unveiled its new RTX 5000 GPUs over at CES 2025, but alongside that revelation came a more under-the-radar – but still crucial – announcement about new tech to help speed up the gaming performance of these graphics cards.

Namely RTX Neural Shaders, which Nvidia describes as “small neural networks” (AI) which are being introduced to the programmable shaders on its next-gen GPUs. (A shader simply refers to a small GPU program that runs on a graphics card, not limited to facilitating shading or lighting effects in a game – but that’s the original derivation of the name).

Nvidia explains in a blog post: “RTX Neural Shaders SDK enables developers to train their game data and shader code on an RTX AI PC and accelerate their neural representations and model weights with Nvidia Tensor Cores at runtime.”

RTX Neural Shaders actually powers a trio of new technologies, but the secret weapon for the new RTX 5000 GPUs as far as VRAM is concerned – and there has been plenty of concern about the amount of on-board video memory being rather shaky – is RTX Neural Texture Compression.

In order to get more out of the available VRAM, RTX Neural Texture Compression uses compression (obviously enough) to fit more game textures into the RAM on the graphics card.

Here’s the key boast from Nvidia: “The neurally compressed textures save up to 7x more VRAM or system memory than traditional block compressed textures at the same visual quality.”

As well as this texture compression wizardry, Nvidia is also bringing in RTX Neural Materials. Team Green notes that this uses AI to “compress complex shader code typically reserved for offline materials and built with multiple layers such as porcelain and silk.” The claim is 5x faster material processing which makes it “possible to render film-quality assets at game-ready frame rates.”

Finally, the third piece of the puzzle here is RTX Neural Radiance Cache which is a method of using AI to improve ray tracing performance (specifically it gives gamers “better path traced indirect lighting and performance”).

Analysis: Hair today, RTX Hair tomorrow (and much more besides)

As ever, take any press announcement with a good deal of caution, but the mentioned performance boost with the texture compression trick for RTX 5000 graphics cards is potentially huge.

When the 12GB loadout of video RAM for the RTX 5070, and 16GB configuration for the RTX 5080, were aired via the rumor mill some time back, as well as the stinging sense of disappointment that Nvidia was ‘once again skimping on VRAM,’ there was an undercurrent of speculation that the RTX 5000 series could come with some special sauce to better fit textures into the available memory on the next-gen graphics cards.

And that’s exactly what has happened, meaning that while 12GB sounds like a meager allocation for the RTX 5070, it’ll go a lot further thanks to RTX Neural Texture Compression. The catch, of course, is that game developers must use the technology – and 12GB still looks a little shaky in terms of future-proofing, for me anyway.

We’ll also need to test the performance of this AI-driven texture compression and compare the results to Nvidia’s lofty claims, too – but it sounds very promising indeed. And of course it does help make sense of Nvidia’s VRAM decisions, too.

(Image credit: Nvidia)

All this comes along with a bunch of other fresh tricks for the RTX 5000 generation, including RTX Neural Faces and the RTX Character Rendering SDK for improved face, hair and skin graphics. Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is getting an update delivering RTX Hair (yes, that’s really its name) which uses “Linear-Swept Sphere rendering [to run] faster, with improved image quality, whilst using less VRAM” compared to past hair rendering methods. (Check out the results in the above image).

That game will also be one of the many titles to benefit from DLSS 4, which is, of course, a key piece of the software side for RTX 5000 GPUs. It includes DLSS Multi Frame Generation (MFG) to further drive frame rates higher by inserting more artificial frames compared to DLSS 3 Frame Generation. (Also note that Nvidia is bringing in Reflex 2 for more input lag reduction – of up to a claimed 75% now – to go alongside MFG and mitigate any added latency therein).

Nvidia also told us that there will be 75 games and apps supporting DLSS 4’s MFG capability when its Blackwell graphics cards are launched at the end of January (the RTX 5090 and 5080 to begin with), a hefty initial helping for buyers of the new GPUs (RTX 5070 models are to follow in February).

It’s worth noting that RTX 4000 owners also get something here in the form of enhanced DLSS frame generation with boosted performance and reduced memory usage – but this isn’t MFG, which is exclusive to the new Blackwell GPUs.

Via Neowin

TechRadar will be extensively covering this year's CES, and will bring you all of the big announcements as they happen. Head over to our CES 2025 news page for the latest stories and our hands-on verdicts on everything from 8K TVs and foldable displays to new phones, laptops, smart home gadgets, and the latest in AI.

And don’t forget to follow us on TikTok and WhatsApp for the latest from the CES show floor!

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CES is always a brilliant carnival of weird and wonderful fitness tech, and 2025 was no different. From futuristic mirrors to new smart rings, a hotly-anticipated Garmin, and of course, heaps of AI, CES 2025 delivered it all in buckets.

So if you want to know about all the latest and greatest in fitness and health tech from the floor of CES, you've come to the right place.

We've rounded up all our favorite announcements in one place. So whether you're looking for a new outdoor smartwatch, a smart ring, a home gym, or something else, take a look at the very best CES 2025 brought us in health and fitness.

Garmin Instinct 3

(Image credit: Garmin)

The much-anticipated Garmin Instinct 3 is definitely the biggest fitness news of CES 2025. Garmin has brought the third iteration of its popular outdoor smartwatch to bear with new-to-the-range solar technology Garmin says offers five times more battery life than the Instinct 2 Solar.

Available in two sizes, prices start at $449 / £389 / AU$829, and there's also a new cheaper Instinct E priced at $299/£259/AU$549.

Other features to write home about include a more rugged design, a flashlight, up to 24 days of battery life on the non-solar version, and the addition of Garmin Pay.

The new Garmin Instinct 3 will be available to order on January 10.

• Read more: Garmin unveils brand new Instinct 3 with AMOLED display starting at $399

Circular Ring 2

(Image credit: Circular)

Although the Circular Ring was nothing to write home about, the Circular Ring 2 is showing more promise thanks to a couple of really cool features.

First up, the Circular Ring 2 can be sized using a smartphone camera and an app, rather than a plastic sizing kit you might get with the Oura Ring 4 or Samsung Galaxy Ring. That's a big boost and a huge innovation in the sector that other contenders are sure to copy.

Secondly, the Circular Ring 2 features an Atrial Fibrillation detection algorithm that's FDA-approved, a first in the market. It's a crowdfunded effort priced at £80, around £300 or AU$600, with shipping expected to begin in March.

• Read more: Circular Ring 2 unveiled at CES – and it's the end of plastic sizing kits for smart rings

Amp Fitness machine

(Image credit: AMP)

The Amp Fitness machine is an $1,800 (£1,450 / AU$2,900) home gym powered by AI.

It features adjustable cable machine weights, a camera, and a companion app to provide workouts that will adapt in real-time, providing dynamic resistance and more gains as a result.

There are a ton of workouts, as well as challenges, and even a leaderboard if you want to showcase your strength and progress to the rest of the world, too.

Backed by influencers like Chris Heria and Terry Crews, Amp is aiming to become the Peloton of home strength training.

• Read more: This AI-powered strength machine could be Peloton for gym rats, and it looks incredible

Withings Omnia

(Image credit: Withings)

The Withings Omnia is just a concept, but it's an impressive, space-age glimpse into the future of smart health tech.

The Omnia is an AI-powered mirror that complements Withings' ecosystem of other health gadgets to give you a holistic picture of your health.

Withings says its the future of health, a 360-deep health screening tool with a futuristic display able to provide "hyper-personalized" health programs. It uses heart health data, activity tracking, nutrition, body composition, and sleep quality to give you the most comprehensive picture of your health possible. It'll require a lot of other Withings gadgets such as a smartwatch, scale, and more, but it might be the future of smart health tech in your home.

• Read more: The new Withings Omnia smart mirror promises to give you a full-screen scan of your health

Suunto Aqua

(Image credit: Suunto)

The Suunto Aqua might be the best waterproof headphones of 2025, even though we're only one week into the year.

Sporting IP68 waterproofing, 32GB of onboard storage, and 10 hours of battery life, the Suunto Aqua can be used in the pool, ocean, or outdoors for cycling and running.

Under the hood, there's an AI-powered swim coach that can track metrics like stroke posture, head pitch angle, breath frequency, and glide time to help you improve your stroke and work out more efficiently.

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Amazfit Active 2

(Image credit: Amazfit)

We love a cheap smartwatch at TechRadar, and the Amazfit Active 2 is one of the most promising ones we've seen in a while.

The sub-$100 (around £80 / AU$160) smartwatch features a stainless steel body, 10 days of battery life, offline maps, 160 sports modes, and multiple AMOLED display options.

The premium version isn't much more expensive and comes with sapphire glass and an NFC chip for contactless payments (Europe only).

The Amazfit Active 2 features AI Zepp Flow voice command software, which uses speech recognition so that you can update your calendar, control settings, and even respond to messages using nothing but AI and your voice. There are even AI insights for menstrual and hormonal cycles. Available to pre-order in the US now, it'll be available globally in February.

• Read more: Amazfit Active 2 is a super-cheap AI fitness watch that responds to voice commands like Alexa

Ultrahuman Rare

(Image credit: Ultrahuman)

The best smart rings from Samsung and Oura can't hold a candle to this 18K gold and platinum range from Ultrahuman.

The Ultrahuman Rare is a premium smart ring coated in luxury precious metals, with options for gold, rose gold, and platinum.

Available in luxury retail outlets Printemps in Paris and Selfridges in London, but there are other retail locations in the pipeline too. Prices start at £1,499 (around $1,900 / AU$3,000), and aside from its luxurious finish, you can also expect the usual slew of health tracking features you might expect from a smart ring. More specifically, it's closely based on the Ultrahuman Ring Air with features for sleep tracking, exercise and workout monitoring, heart rate data, stress, and more.

• Read more: Think Oura and Samsung's smart rings look good? Ultrahuman just unveiled its Ultrahuman Rare 18K gold and platinum luxury smart rings at CES 2025

Segway Xyber

(Image credit: Segway)

This Segway Xyber e-bike looks like a hardcore, rugged motorcycle, but it's actually an e-bike!

It's a premium e-bike with a dual-crown fork suspension and a 2,880Wh dual battery configuration with a range of up to 112 miles. The single battery configuration is good for 56 miles, with 12 levels of pedal assistance and three throttle-only modes. Acceleration takes you from 0 to 20 mph in just 2.7 seconds and there are hydraulic disk brakes to slow you down again.

The initial model is so powerful it's not actually certified for use on roads or bike paths, but there's a road-legal version on the way later this year.

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With a notebook PC with a screen that rolls, a monitor with directional audio, and the first third-party SteamOS gaming handheld, Lenovo is hitting CES 2025 hard.

(Image credit: Future)

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Robotic pets seem to be making a comeback at CES 2025, and not just because they can be fun sources of entertainment. Compared to last year, I've noticed that there has been a notable increase in the number of new weird and wonderful furry companions being showcased.

Outside of robot companions like Samsung's Ballie or the seemingly countless number of new robovacs (Roborock's now have mechanical arms, for instance, while Dreame's latest model introduces mechanical legs), lawnbots, poolbots and snow-blowerbots, there are a number of pet-like toys filling the halls of the convention spaces here in Las Vegas.

While some are cute like Hengbot's robot dog Sparky, which had some of the most lifelike gestures akin to a real-life pooch thanks to its nimble movement, others seemed to verge more on the side of creepy (although maybe that's just because I've watched some of the best horror movies with scary mechanical toys).

However, that's not to say that these pet bots aren't fulfilling very specific needs. Indeed, there was one that changed my complete idea of emotional support robots after seeing how it could help support those who may no longer be able to care for their pets anymore.

Mirumi: a shy, furry robot that clips onto your bag

(Image credit: Future)

Picture this: you're on a train on the way to work when you catch eyes with a furry sloth-like robot that turns its head to look at you. You might immediately question whether it actually moved, but when you see it turn its head back to its owner you'll realise that this is a robot companion like no other.

The robot I'm talking about is Mirumi from Tokyo robotics startup Yukai Engineering, which says Mirumi is designed to "steal glances" at nearby people just like how a baby or toddler might look around. It's pitched as a fun accessory that you can interact with and delight from seeing its furry teddy bear eyes, and from the reactions I've seen online many tech enthusiasts agree that it's adorable.

Indeed, TechRadar's Lance Ulanoff said that this furry clip-on robot is the strangest thing he's seen at CES and I get it. Mirumi completely surprised me with its unusual little face and bizarre motions, so much so I wouldn't say it's the cutest robot from Yukai Engineering – that award would have to go to this teeny cat robot that offers perfect drink management.

Ropet: a next-gen Furby with emotional AI sensors

(Image credit: Future)

If you're a fan of Furby, then you're going to love this new AI robot pet being funded on a Kickstarter. Ropet looks a lot like the interactive toy that was launched back in 1998, but is much smarter thanks to the integration of ChatGPT along with cameras, sensors and microphones.

This lets it offer a more personalized interaction by allowing it to recognize its owner and react differently to your expressions, touch or voice. The idea is that Ropet can show you how it's feeling by displaying different symbols in its eyes or by turning away and moving its arms.

Like Tamagotchi, Ropet needs to be cared for (you have to spend time with it and let it get enough sleep) and if it isn't well loved, it'll show you by moving away from you or displaying an unhappy, sad or angry picture in its LED eyes. I don't know about you, but I couldn't help but think that waking up to an angry Furby staring at me in the face at night might be the stuff of nightmares.

Jennie: a lifelike puppy saved the day

(Image credit: Future)

I may not have been sold by most of the pet robots I saw at CES, but there was one that completely changed my mind. Tombot's Jennie is a stuffed golden retriever with built-in sensors that let it react to your touch and voice.

What's most impressive about Jennie is its hyper-realistic motions and gestures made when you start to stroke it; it'll wag its tail, tilt its head and look at you with big puppy dog eyes that can even open and close. It's incredibly convincing to the point where I found myself scratching its chin like I would any other dog.

Launched by Tom Stevens in 2017 to help those who can no longer practically care for their pets, Jennie is a next-generation service dog that promises to never leave your side. As a dog lover myself who had to once say goodbye to a family pet, I adore this robot pet for how it can help people.

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• The US Treasury Department suffered a cyberattack in late 2024
• CISA has confirmed it does not believe any other agencies were affected
• The hack has been attributed to a Chinese threat actor

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has confirmed that there is currently ‘no indication’ that any other federal government agencies were impacted by the recent suspected state-sponsored hack against the US Treasury Department.

The December 2024 hack was declared a ‘major incident’, as key systems were left vulnerable, with the attack resulting in stolen documents and breached systems, and an initial agency assessment concluding the attack was carried out by a ‘China-based Advanced Persistent Threat Actor’, officials said.

By compromising third-party security provider BeyondTrust, attackers were able to gain remote access used by the vendor to override some Treasury Department systems, but despite BeyondTrust supplying security solutions for multiple agencies such as CISA, NSA, and NIST, the Treasury seems to be the only compromised department.

A combined effort

The breach was short lived, with suspicious activity first spotted on December 2, and the Treasury was notified by BeyondTrust on December 8. The Treasury is required by law to provide an update within 30 days, so more details about the nature of the stolen files is likely to be revealed later this month.

China has of course denied any involvement with the breach, and has confirmed the state ‘consistently opposes all forms of hacking and firmly rejects the dissemination of false information targeting China for political purposes’.

“CISA is working closely with the Treasury Department and BeyondTrust to understand and mitigate the impacts of the recent cybersecurity incident,” the agency confirmed in a statement.

“At this time, there is no indication that any other federal agencies have been impacted by this incident. CISA continues to monitor the situation and coordinate with relevant federal authorities to ensure a comprehensive response.”

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