TechRadar News

Avengers: Doomsday – key information

– Due to be released in May 2026
– Officially in production as of late March
– No trailer released yet
– 27-strong cast confirmed so far
– No firm details about its plot
– Two big comic book series offer clues about its story
– Will set up events to come in Avengers: Secret Wars
– Might impact Spider-Man 4's story, too

Avengers: Doomsday has a lot – and I mean a lot – riding on it ahead of its May 1, 2026 launch.

The next Marvel team-up movie has already promised us plenty. Still with the comic book giant's cinematic universe spluttering at various points over the last six years, Avengers 5 needs to be a huge hit for the Disney subsidiary. Otherwise, interest in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) could really start to wane.

So, what do we know about it thus far? Below, I've rounded up the latest and most important information on Doomsday. That includes its confirmed cast, possible story details, how it'll set up future MCU projects, and more. Potential spoilers follow, so proceed at your own risk.

Avengers: Doomsday release date

Just announced in Hall H: The Russo Brothers return to direct Marvel Studios’ Avengers: Doomsday, starring Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom. Only in theaters May 2026. #SDCC pic.twitter.com/oqnSwWKnYnJuly 28, 2024

Avengers: Doomsday will be released in theaters worldwide on May 1, 2026. The movie's official launch date was one of nine big reveals at San Diego Comic-Con 2024.

The Marvel Phase 6 film was confirmed to be in full production on March 28, too. That announcement was made following the culmination of a five-hour-plus livestream that unveiled the first members of its ensemble cast (more on this later).

Avengers: Doomsday trailer – is there one?

275 million views. 50+ trending topics. 27 chairs. 5+ hours.One massive thank you to the greatest fans in the universe. pic.twitter.com/uS6hrX8ZypMarch 28, 2025

No. There won't be a full trailer for a long time, either.

Marvel could release a snippet or two of footage at Comic-Con 2025 (July 24 to 27) or this year's D23 Expo (August 29 to 31). Given the secrecy that'll surround this project, though, I'd be amazed if we see or hear anything from a story and/or footage perspective until December 2025 or January 2026 at the earliest.

Avengers: Doomsday confirmed cast

#AvengersDoomsday. Now in production. pic.twitter.com/G84UVU8HOcMarch 26, 2025

Here's the 27-strong cast for Avengers: Doomsday that's been announced so far:

• Robert Downey Jr as Doctor Victor von Doom
• Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic
• Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm/The Invisible Woman
• Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm/The Human Torch
• Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm/The Thing
• Chris Hemsworth as Thor
• Tom Hiddleston as Loki
• Anthony Mackie as Sam Wilson/Captain America
• Danny Ramirez as Joaquin Torres/Falcon
• Sebastian Stan as James 'Bucky' Barnes/The Winter Soldier
• Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova
• David Harbour as Alexei Shostakov/Red Guardian
• Wyatt Russell as John Walker/US Agent
• Hannah John-Kamen as Ava Starr/Ghost
• Lewis Pullman as Bob Reynolds/Sentry
• Paul Rudd as Scott Lang/Ant-Man
• Simu Liu as Shang-Chi
• Letitia Wright as Shuri/Black Panther
• Winston Duke as M'Baku
• Tenoch Huerta Meija as Namor
• Patrick Stewart as Charles Xavier/Professor X
• Ian McKellen as Erik Lehnsherr/Magneto
• James Marsden as Scott Summers/Cyclops
• Kelsey Grammar as Henry 'Hank' McCoy/Beast
• Rebecca Romijn as Raven Darkholme/Mystique
• Alan Cumming as Kurt Wagner/Nightcrawler
• Channing Tatum as Remy LeBeau/Gambit

The headline news is that Downey Jr, who played Tony Stark and his superhero alias Iron Man between 2008 and 2019, is back in the MCU. With Stark sacrificing himself in Avengers: Endgame, it seemed that the actor responsible for kickstarting Marvel Studios' shared universe had run out of comic book movie road.

However, following a crowd-cheering reveal (or a desperate Hail Mary move, depending on who you ask) at San Diego Comic-Con 2024, Downey Jr announced his MCU return as Doctor Victor von Doom. One of Marvel's most iconic villains and long-time adversary of The Fantastic Four in Marvel Comics, Doom will be the primary antagonist of Avengers: Doomsday and its sequel Avengers: Secret Wars.

It's unclear how Marvel plans to introduce Doom to the MCU – or, rather, the Marvel Cinematic Multiverse (MCM). Some fans believe he'll be a multiversal variant of Tony Stark, one who followed a darker path than the MCU's more heroic counterpart. Others believe Downey Jr's take on Doom won't be dissimilar to the God Emperor form he takes in 2015's 'Secret Wars' comic book series (more on this in the plot section).

Regardless, nobody knows how Doom will work his way into the MCU. He could do so alongside The Fantastic Four if, as predicted, their universe is destroyed by Galactus in The Fantastic Four: First Steps. Alternatively, Doom could already exist in the MCU without anyone knowing, or show up from one of the multiverse's other realities. Simply put, your guess is as good as mine.

Spider-Man, Captain Marvel, and Daredevil weren't part of the first raft of Doomsday cast reveals (Image credit: Sony Pictures/Marvel Studios/Disney+)

As for the rest of Avengers 5's cast, 26 more members were confirmed via a lengthy livestream event on March 26. Some inclusions spoiled what'll happen in the next Marvel Phase 5 film – that being Thunderbolts* – while others were surprise additions to Doomsday's roster, including the return of legacy X-Men characters from 20th Century Fox's defunct mutant-centric comic book movie universe.

There were many notable absentees from the aforementioned list, but Marvel insists "there's always room for more" cast announcements in the near future. Marvel chief Kevin Feige doubled down on this during Disney's CinemaCon 2025 panel, too (per ScreenRant). One of those individuals may be another MCU returnee, too, with former Captain America star Chris Evans rumored to have signed on.

Three actors have seemingly ruled themselves out of appearing, though – Halle Berry, Benedict Cumberbatch and Elizabeth Olsen. Cumberbatch has claimed Doctor Strange will only show up in Secret Wars. Olsen has seemingly denied that Wanda Maximoff/Scarlet Witch is in either of the next Avengers movies. Halle Berry (per the Black Girl Nerds podcast) says she won't be reprising Ororo Monroe/Storm, either.

Will we learn more about other cast additions at Comic-Con or D23 Expo? Maybe. For now, read about the 17 Marvel heroes I want to see added to Doomsday's cast, and what directors Joe and Anthony Russo say about whether we'll see any other Marvel heroes from Disney+ shows appear in Avengers 5.

Avengers: Doomsday story speculation

Marvel is keeping a very tight lid on Doomsday's story (Image credit: Marvel Studios)

Potential spoilers follow for Avengers: Doomsday's plot.

Unsurprisingly, Doomsday's story brief hasn't been revealed yet. However, we have some idea of what might happen.

For starters, Joe and Anthony Russo have confirmed that, while Doomsday and Secret Wars will close out the Multiverse Saga, they're actually telling "a beginning story" with Avengers 5 and 6. According to Marvel chief Kevin Feige, this will set the stage for the MCU's exciting future that'll be all about the X-Men.

The next two Avengers flicks will take inspiration from both 'Secret Wars' comic book series, too. The MCU hasn't directly adapted many Marvel Comics storylines, but that doesn't mean they won't influence the story that'll be told in Doomsday and Secret Wars.

Nonetheless, I won't spoil anything about either comic book run here. You can read the previously linked-to article for some spoiler-based details if you wish, or take advantage of our exclusive Marvel Unlimited App deal below, which will allow you to read both comic series for 'free'.

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Speaking of spoilers, Marvel detectives think they've solved the case of Avengers: Doomsday's story – and it's all down to the shadow cast by a director's chair in an image taken after the film's cast livestream reveal.

In March, it appeared that other story elements and cast announcements had been ruined by apparent concept art for Doomsday and Secret Wars leaked online. According to the Russo brothers, though, that artwork doesn't spoil anything significant about the films. Read into that what you will.

As for previous MCU projects that may set the scene for Avengers 5's plot, Captain America 4 director Julius Onah suggested that Brave New World might have laid the groundwork for Doomsday's narrative. You can learn more about what that may entail in that article and my Captain America 4 ending explained piece.

Based on Beast's cameo appearance in The Marvels' mid-credits scene, that much-maligned Marvel film could have a part to play in establishing Avengers: Doomsday's story.

Lastly, The Fantastic Four: First Steps, which takes flight in theaters on July 25, is the final MCU film to be released before Doomsday. Given the group's ties to Doctor Doom, it's as inevitable as Thanos that it'll leave some plot threads unresolved to be picked up in Avengers 5. Based on the Thunderbolts team's inclusion in the latter's cast, expect Doomsday to build on the ending to that group's big-screen debut, too.

Where can I stream the other Avengers movies?

Avengers: Endgame is one of four Avengers films you can stream on Disney+ (Image credit: Marvel Studios)

The only place to watch the Avengers movies is on Disney+.

The superteam's first four films – 2012's Avengers Assemble, 2015's Avengers: Age of Ultron, 2018's Avengers: Infinity War, and 2019's Avengers: Endgame – are available exclusively on one of the world's best streaming services. So, you'll need to sign up for an account to stream them at home.

See how much a subscription will cost you via our Disney+ price guide, or check out our Disney+ free trial page to see if you can try before you buy.

How will Avengers: Doomsday set up Secret Wars and other Marvel projects?

Avengers: Secret Wars is currently slated to arrive one year after Doomsday (Image credit: Marvel Studios)

I can't tell you how Avengers: Doomsday will impact the MCU.

What I can say, though, is that it'll definitely set up events to come in Avengers: Secret Wars. That film, which will bring the Multiverse Saga to a close, will arrive in theaters in May 2027. Just like Infinity War set up events to come in Endgame, the fifth Avengers movie will directly affect the plot of its sequel, so expect Doomsday to establish what'll play out in Secret Wars.

That isn't the only film that may be impacted. Spider-Man 4, which was recently christened Spider-Man: Brand New Day, bisects the next two Avengers movies. It's due out on July 31, 2026.

If Brand New Day's events run concurrent to Doomsday – just as Ant-Man and the Wasp did with Infinity War – its story isn't likely to be influenced by events elsewhere. However, if the webslinger's next big-screen adventure takes place after Avengers 5, there's no question that it won't pick up some loose plot threads from that superhero flick. While we wait for more concrete details, read my Spider-Man 4 hub for the latest news and rumors.

For more Marvel coverage, read my guide on how to watch the Marvel movies in order. Alternatively, see if you agree with my ranking of the best Marvel movies and/or which MCU films made it onto my best superhero movies list.

• Criminals are using the April 15 tax deadline to trick victims
• Phishing attacks used to deliver malware and infostealers
• This leaves victims at risk of fraud and identity theft, as well as monetary loss

With the April 15 deadline for tax filings in the US fast approaching, a new report from Microsoft has warned phishing campaigns are using it as a way to trick people into handing over their personal information.

The company says social engineering attacks have been observed using redirection methods like QR codes, URL shorteners, and other malicious attachments to deliver malware like Latrodectus, BruteRatel C4 (BRc4) and AHKBot as well as remote access trojans (RATs).

Tax day specifically represents a serious risk the many who are looking for help in filing taxes, and criminals can convince victims to enter their financial information - which leaves people at risk of identity theft or fraud, especially criminals taking out credit cards in the victim’s name.

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Tax-centric threats

The themed phishing emails have been sent thousands of times, Microsoft notes, using email subjects like “Important Action Required: IRS Audit” and “Notice: IRS Has Flagged Issues with Your Tax Filing”.

These are designed to create a sense of urgency, which panics victims into acting without properly considering the risks.

Some campaigns even started with “a benign rapport-building email from a fake persona” to lure recipients in, followed by a second email containing a malicious PDF - a technique which increases the slick rates on the malicious payloads thanks to the established trust between the attacker and victim.

A popular malware delivered in these campaigns is GuLoader, a “highly evasive malware downloader” which leverages encrypted shellcode, process injection, and cloud-based hosting services in order to deliver payloads like infostealers and RATs.

Criminals often take advantage of events or services, with Microsoft warning about a new phishing campaign impersonating Booking.com, deploying powerful malware to steal credentials.

The most effective defence against phishing attacks is education - knowing what to look for and staying calm in order to avoid being convinced to click malicious links or to enter credentials.

We’ve listed everything you need to know about phishing to help keep you safe.

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If you were following our live blog ahead of Nintendo’s big Switch 2 event, you might have seen my contribution, where I said I was hoping Nintendo would blow me away with its new hardware, and finally convince me to buy one of its consoles for the first time since the GameCube.

Now that the dust has settled after the event, I can safely say that unfortunately, Nintendo failed. I was holding out for a killer gaming handheld, an affordable price and exclusive games that would make me fall in love with Nintendo again. We got none of that.

The hardware itself, from what Nintendo showed, was fine. I like the new, larger 7.9-inch screen in particular, as I think the larger the screen the better for gaming on, and I’m seeing an encouraging trend with PC gaming handhelds coming with larger screen options.

The 1080p resolution and 120Hz variable refresh rate support were also big ticks for me, though I was disappointed that the screen was LCD, not OLED. The optimist in me thought this might be a sacrifice for a more tempting overall price of the console. The pessimist in me, however, expects that this is more so Nintendo can flog an OLED version later on.

(Image credit: Nintendo)

I also like the look of the new Joy-Con controllers that attach via magnets (hopefully they’ll have the same satisfying pull that you get when you attach a MagSafe 3 charger to a MacBook), and being able to use them like mice means the Switch 2 could be a great platform for oft-neglected genres such as real time strategy games. Of course, you’ll need to be sitting near a flat surface to use them like a mouse, which seems to defeat the object a bit of the Switch 2.

Sorry, Nintendo. You lost me

After those few bright spots, my interest in the Switch 2 plummeted, however. The new C button means Nintendo has finally realized that online chat between friends is a thing, and the Switch Camera, which just looks like a Nest Camera, isn’t that exciting either. The demonstration video also seemed to show that video streams suffer from low frames per second, leading to rather janky and distracting footage.

(Image credit: Nintendo)

The game footage shown was also a disappointment to me, with some very underwhelming graphics that looked distinctly last-gen. Now I know a lot of people say ‘but it’s Nintendo, it’s never about pure power’ but while that’s been true of recent generations, that wasn’t always the case – both the SNES and N64, for example, were more powerful than the competition.

Anyway, graphical fidelity certainly isn’t the be-all and end-all (the game I’m still mostly obsessed with is Balatro, which isn’t exactly cutting-edge), as long as there’s a charming art style. But when third-party games look noticeably worse than on competing devices, you need to pull out all the stops in other departments to get people to pick your console.

(Image credit: Nintendo)

One of these is with first-party exclusive games that you can only play on the console. Traditionally, this is something Nintendo has excelled at, and with its refusal to port games to PC, if you want to play a Mario or Zelda game you have to buy a Nintendo console.

The problem with this week's announcement was that there was a real lack of first-party exclusives. Unless I missed something, the big announcements were a new Mario Kart (oh yey a franchise that has now had well over 10 instalments) and a Kirby racing game which… well, it’s Kirby. Consider me distinctly underwhelmed.

The price isn't right

Another way to win people over is with an extremely competitive price that undercuts the competition. Again, Nintendo has done this well in the past, and again with the Switch 2 it seems to have forgotten that.

With a launch price of $449.99 / £395.99 / AU$699.95, this is an expensive console. Sony’s rival PS5 now regularly sells for less than that, and the problem for Nintendo is that the Switch 2 isn’t just competing with the PS5 and Xbox Series X, but also PC gaming handhelds such as the Steam Deck and Asus ROG Ally X.

PC gaming handhelds are a rapidly growing product category, and because companies like Valve, Asus and Lenovo are all building their own devices, there’s already a lot of choice for people looking for a handheld gaming console.

This means there are handhelds out there that have more powerful hardware than the Switch 2, so offer better gaming experiences, and there are lower-powered models that are cheaper than the Switch 2.

I was also shocked at the price of Switch 2 games, with the new Mario Kart World apparently being sold for $79.99 / £74.99, and I’ve seen some people speculate that we could get Switch 2 games as expensive as $90.

This is horrendously expensive, and would mean if I were to get a Switch 2, my library of games would be pretty small, as I just couldn't justify spending that kind of money on games regularly.

Nintendo games also have a habit of stubbornly keeping their prices, even several years after their release, so I probably wouldn’t be able to pick up a Switch 2 later on in the generation and buy older games at lower prices.

This is another area where PC gaming handheld beat the Switch 2. PC games on the whole are cheaper than console versions, and because PC is an open platform, there’s a wide range of stores you can buy your games from (such as Steam, Epic Games Store or Amazon), which increases competition that leads to sales and special offers to tempt gamers.

On the Switch 2, if you want to buy a digital game there’s only one company you will be able to buy it from: Nintendo. So you’ll be relying on it cutting prices for its games, and that’s something Nintendo doesn’t like doing.

So, throughout the Switch 2 event, I was just thinking how glad I am that I have an Asus ROG Ally X, which offers a convenient handheld gaming experience with excellent performance and a huge library of affordable games. Best of all, the games I buy for the Ally X can also be played on my gaming PC and Steam Deck without having to rebuy them – another big tick when it comes to affordability compared to the Switch 2.

Of course, the one thing the ROG Ally X can’t do – nor any of the rival PC gaming handhelds – is officially play Nintendo games.

This is the Switch 2’s biggest advantage, and while I’ve not been excited about the first party games that have been shown so far, if Nintendo brings out some brilliant new Mario, Zelda or Pokemon games (or even, god forbid, make a new franchise) that I’ll be desperate to play but won’t be able to unless I buy the new console, then it could win me over. Until then, I’ll be sticking with my ROG Ally X, thank you very much.

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• South Korean startup FuriosaAI rejected an $800 takeover from Meta
• Deal collapsed over post-acquisition plans despite above market valuation
• FuriosaAI chose to stay independent and will launch its RNGD chip this year

As demand for AI infrastructure continues to grow, hyperscalers like Meta, Microsoft, and Google are actively working to reduce their reliance on Nvidia’s pricey hardware by developing their own custom silicon. Meta has reportedly begun testing its first in-house AI training chip, as part of a broader push to gain more control over its AI stack.

In addition to its internal efforts, Meta has also been exploring acquisitions of promising AI chipmakers to bolster its hardware capabilities.

One such target was Korean startup FuriosaAI, which the tech giant saw as a strong candidate to help accelerate its AI infrastructure ambitions. Meta made a buyout offer worth $800 million (approximately 1.2 trillion won) for the company, but despite the offer coming in about 400 billion won (roughly $300 million) above FuriosaAI’s estimated market value, it was rebuffed.

A difference of opinion

According to Maeil Business Newspaper, negotiations broke down due to conflicting visions about the company’s future. FuriosaAI’s leadership chose to walk away from the deal and continue operating independently in the increasingly competitive AI semiconductor space.

“Since October of last year, Meta had been looking at several AI semiconductor companies in the U.S. and Israel, and finally chose FuriosaAI as a strong acquisition target and entered into negotiations at the beginning of the year,” an insider familiar with the company told Maeil Business Newspaper.

“I understand that the negotiations broke down because the two sides could not narrow their differences over the direction of the business and organizational structure after the acquisition, rather than the price.”

Founded in 2017 by CEO June Paik, FuriosaAI specializes in AI chip design and currently employs around 140 people - over 90 percent of whom are developers, including engineers from Google, Qualcomm, and Samsung.

The company’s flagship product, RNGD (pronounced 'Renegade'), unveiled at Hot Chips 2024, is a high-performance AI inference chip built on TSMC’s 5nm process and equipped with dual HBM3 memory.

According to FuriosaAI, it delivers twice the efficiency of traditional GPUs while consuming only a quarter of the power, so it’s easy to see the appeal to Meta.

Mass production of RNGD is expected to begin in the second half of 2025 and Maeil Business Newspaper reports that a number of major organizations, including LG AI Research and Saudi Aramco, have signed up to test the chip’s performance.

FuriosaAI has raised around 70 billion won (approximately $52 million) in funding to support its chip production and operational costs.

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The White Lotus season 4: key information

- Season 4 is already confirmed
- No official details about cast, dates or plot revealed
- No cold destination on the cards
- Rumors of a European destination

The White Lotus season 4 was confirmed before season 3 even aired. If that’s not a surefire sign of how wildly popular this darkly comic anthology has become – and just how much juicy, sun-soaked chaos it still has to give – then we don’t know what is.

Even though we’ve barely had time to rinse the salt water from our hair and check-out of The White Lotus season 3, fans are already asking: where will the hit anthology series take us next?

We’ll be real with you, nothing is official yet, apart from the fact it is happening. But that won’t stop us from diving headfirst into the rumor pool.

Between interesting reveals in interviews, online rumors, and some good old-fashioned speculation, there’s plenty to get excited about. From potential destinations to returning characters and Mike White’s increasingly unhinged genius, here’s everything we (think we) know about The White Lotus season 4 so far.

The White Lotus season 4: when it is landing?

The big question is, where will The White Lotus season 4 be set? (Image credit: HBO Max)

Right now, there’s no official release window. All we know for sure is that HBO renewed The White Lotus season 4 back in January before season 3 even aired.

But that won’t stop us from making some educated guesses. Season 1 of the hit show arrived in July 2021, followed by season 2 in October 2022. Season three then premiered on February 16, 2025 – there was a slightly longer wait than usual due to the Hollywood strikes that paused production across the industry in 2023.

As for season 4? Production is expected to begin in 2026, which means we likely won’t be checking into the next White Lotus location until late 2026, or possibly even early 2027. What can we say? Luxury chaos takes time.

When it does arrive, expect to see it on HBO and Max in the US, just like previous seasons. Elsewhere, availability will vary. For example, in the UK, season 3 landed exclusively on Sky, while past seasons are available to buy on Apple TV and Amazon Prime Video.

The White Lotus season 4: has a trailer been released?

Will Natasha Rothwell star in all four seasons of The White Lotus as spa manager Belinda Lindsey? (Image credit: HBO Max)

Sadly, no trailer for The White Lotus season 4 has landed yet. And honestly, we’re not expecting one for a while. With production not likely to begin until 2026, you’ll be waiting a bit longer for your next dose of suspicious stares and sweeping drone shots of paradise.

In the meantime, you could rewatch the season 2 trailer if you’re missing Tanya McQuoid’s unforgettable chaos. (Let’s be real, we all are.) And consider this your official excuse to rewatch the whole series from the beginning, too – purely for research purposes, of course.

The White Lotus season 4: confirmed cast

Will any character in The White Lotus season 4 be more iconic than Tanya McQuoid? Doubtful (Image credit: HBO)

Potential spoilers follow for The White Lotus below.

As The White Lotus fans know by now, each season brings a brand-new group of guests and resort staff to a different, picture-perfect location.

So far, casting for season 4 hasn’t been confirmed. But it’s expected to feature another fresh ensemble of tourists and locals. That said, don’t rule out a few familiar faces.

The White Lotus isn’t afraid to bring characters back when it makes sense – just look at Natasha Rothwell’s return as spa manager Belinda Lindsey in season 3, or the recurring role of Greg (Jon Gries), who’s somehow made it through all three seasons.

Of course, we can’t talk about The White Lotus without mentioning Jennifer Coolidge’s unforgettable Tanya McQuoid, who became the emotional (and slightly unhinged) heart of the first two seasons. While her storyline may be, erm, wrapped up, never say never in The White Lotus universe.

Casting is always a major moment for this show. It tends to be a buzzy blend of big names and breakout stars, so expect plenty of excitement once the lineup does drop.

In a May 2023 interview with The Hollywood Reporter, creator Mike White teased that an “all-star season” might happen in the future, saying: “If the show goes on for a couple of seasons, it would be fun to have an all-star season [...] It would be easy to just be full-on anthology, but I think it's more fun to have little threads through the show.”

Translation? Keep your eyes peeled. The next guest list could be full of surprises.

The White Lotus season 4: story synopsis and rumors

The White Lotus season 4 is bound to be full of scandal and secrets – but where will it be set? (Image credit: HBO)

It’s still early days, but if The White Lotus season 4 sticks to what’s worked so well for the show before, we can probably expect the familiar setup, which includes a glossy, high-end resort, a cast of privileged and messy guests, and a dead body teased in the opening moments.

Traditionally, the show unfolds over 6 to 8 episodes, flashing back to the days leading up to the mysterious death while peeling back layers of wealth, power, desire, and delusion. But don’t get too comfortable, creator Mike White has made it clear the formula isn’t set in stone.

“I don’t think it needs to always be a body,” White told The Hollywood Reporter. “There are so many ways that we want to reinvent the show each year. Like, what is this show – other than people? A fresh mystery, people maybe expect that. But I don’t feel constrained by expectation. It’s fun.”

Whatever format The White Lotus season 4 takes, it’s safe to assume we’ll get another sharp, satirical look at human nature, filtered through the lives of both the resort’s wealthy guests and its often-overlooked employees. And just like past seasons, there’s likely to be a central theme that shapes the tone of the story.

In HBO’s Unpacking Season 2: Episode 7 video, White explained: “The first season kind of highlighted money, and then the second season is sex. I think the third season would be maybe a satirical and funny look at death and Eastern religion and spirituality.” So what will season 4 explore? Fame, politics, revenge, legacy? We can’t wait to find out.

But let’s be honest, half the thrill of a new season of The White Lotus is finding out where it’s set. Location doesn’t just provide the backdrop, it practically becomes a character in its own right.

According to Deadline, in a February 2025 interview, HBO executive Francesca Orsi teased a return to Europe, saying: “We’re going on some locations scouting in the next couple of weeks, so we’ll know soon [...] I can’t really say where we’re going to land but chances are somewhere in Europe.”

So far, each season has been filmed at a real-life Four Seasons resort, which doubles as the fictional White Lotus hotel. And there are plenty of glamorous European options still on the table – including a particularly dreamy one in the south of France.

That said, conflicting reports hint that the team may be eyeing an entirely new continent. According to Parade, a source revealed: “Right now, it’s looking like the next season of The White Lotus will be shot in Egypt or Mexico [...] They want to pick somewhere they haven't shot yet, so a new continent. They want to go somewhere completely new since this season is in Asia, which is why they're between the two. The decision should be made soon."

And don’t hold out for a snow-covered murder mystery anytime soon. As executive producer David Bernad said on The Bill Simmons Podcast: “Mike [White] doesn’t like the cold. That’s why we’ll never do it. So we’ll never do it….feel confident we’ll never do a season in the cold. He just, Mike is, Mike’s not built for, he’s a California guy. He’s not built for the cold. But never say never, but I would be surprised.”

So a ski resort is definitely off the table. But the options still feel endless. Wherever it is, you can bet two things. It’ll look stunning and someone will probably die there.

Will there be more seasons of The White Lotus?

Only The White Lotus season 4 has been confirmed, but we'd bet good money on future seasons, too... (Image credit: HBO Max)

Will The White Lotus extend beyond the confirmed fourth season? Oh, we'd put money on it. But nothing is confirmed.

Speaking to Deadline, Francesca Orsi said: “I imagine he is going to go beyond four [...] He [White] hasn’t confirmed it, but I think he has more to say than just one more season.”

So while nothing beyond The White Lotus season 4 has been confirmed yet, it’s clear the appetite – for both viewers and the creators – is there.

And honestly, why stop? The show's anthology format gives it endless flexibility. So as long as it continues to deliver its signature mix of satire, scandal, and sunscreen, we’re ready to check in for as many seasons as they'll give us.

For more news about the return of some of the best Max shows, check out our guides on The Last of Us season 2, Creature Commandos season 2 and Euphoria season 3.

This week was a momentous one as Microsoft turned 50. On top of that, we finally saw the Nintendo Switch 2 in all its glory, and Sony's new OLED tech floored us.

To catch up on all that and the other biggest stories of the week, we've rounded them up here. There's a quick recap of each story, and links to further reading if you're desperate to know more.

Once you're up to speed on the news, be sure to check out our picks for the 7 new movies and TV shows to stream this weekend (April 4).

7. Microsoft turned 50 – and celebrated with a big CoPilot upgrade

(Image credit: Future)

Not many tech companies have lived long enough to celebrate their golden anniversary, but grizzled tech giant Microsoft hit that impressive milestone this week. Rather than sit back with a well-earned Old Fashioned or embarrass its grandchildren with a chicken dance, it announced a big upgrade to its CoPilot AI assistant instead.

CoPilot is now morphing from a fairly standard, generative AI chatbot into a full-blown companion to rival ChatGPT and Google Gemini. Well, that's the theory anyway – the new CoPilot now has a memory to help it "learn who you are deeply", while the mobile apps can use your smartphone's camera to help it understand what you're seeing.

That all sounds both useful and creepy, but will CoPilot have the staying power of Windows, Word or even Clippy? Time will tell – we'll let you know in 2075.

• Read more: Microsoft 50th Anniversary Copilot Event live – we're on the ground with all the latest news

6. Nintendo spilled (almost) everything on the Switch 2

(Image credit: Nintendo)

This week, we went hands-on with Nintendo Switch 2, which is due to launch in just a couple of months on June 5, 2025. The new console boasts a number of significant improvements over its predecessor. These include support for 4K resolution on TV, and 1080p on the handheld. We can also expect variable refresh rate support, 256GB of storage space and frame rates of up to 120fps for supported games.

The Nintendo Switch 2 is priced at $429.99 / £395.99 / AU$699.95 for the console by itself. A bundle that includes a digital copy of Mario Kart World can also be bought for $499.99 / £429.99 / AU$769.95. Though prices could rise, at least in the US as Nintendo announced it's delaying Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders in response to the recent Trump tariffs.

Plenty of official peripherals and accessories have been announced. A camera for the new GameChat feature will be sold separately and can be connected to the Switch 2’s USB-C ports. We’re also getting a Pro Controller 2 and a wireless Nintendo GameCube controller that will be compatible with Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack’s upcoming Switch 2 GameCube game library.

• Read more: I spent four hours with Nintendo Switch 2

5. Nintendo showcased the Switch 2 software lineup too

(Image credit: Nintendo)

Alongside the Nintendo Switch 2 hardware reveal, we also got a preview of all the software coming to the new console later this year.

The headline was obviously the Switch 2’s biggest first-party launch title: Mario Kart World. This open-world rendition of the karting title is bigger and better in every way based on our preview, with some delightful new courses and an expansive map to race across.

Other hits from the showcase included Donkey Kong Bananza, new (albeit brief) Silksong details, a look at The Duskbloods – an exclusive FromSoftware title for the Switch 2 – and the arrival of GameCube Classics via the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack service.

The only downside is the games are getting pricier with Mario Kart World starting at $79.99 / £75.99. Not to mention that Nintendo’s charging for Welcome Tour – an interactive instruction manual it has designed for the Switch 2.

• Read more: Nintendo Switch 2 live updates

4. ChatGPT had a rollercoaster week

(Image credit: Artur Widak/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

It’s been a hell of a week for OpenAI. It kicked things off last week by launching native image generation inside ChatGPT. Previously it has relied on DALL-E for images, but now it could do them itself, and do them better. People quickly realized that it was great at imitating the style of the anime powerhouse Studio Ghibli and a craze for Studio Ghibli-style images of people hit the Internet, resulting in OpenAI’s servers going into meltdown as 1 million new users signed up in just one hour. ChatGPT went down at least three times this week.

Melting servers weren’t OpenAI’s only problem, with many people questioning the legality of producing art in the Studio Ghibli copyright style. Should an AI be allowed to reproduce Studio Ghibli’s founder Hayao Miyazaki’s painstaking frame-by-frame approach to animation with such faithful mimicry?

It’s also strongly rumoured that Deep Reasoning, the wildly popular agentic research capability found in ChatGPT Pro and ChatGPT Plus is coming to the free tier of ChatGPT very soon after a member of OpenAI’s Technical Staff revealed the information in an online discussion. Let’s hope the servers can handle it if and when this does happen.

• Read more: ChatGPT was down again – here's everything we know

3. CinemaCon 2025 gave us film previews galore

(Image credit: Getty Images)

CinemaCon 2025 gave us four days of showcase presentations from the biggest names in Hollywood including Walt Disney Studios, Paramount Pictures, Universal Pictures, DreamWorks, Focus Features, Lionsgate, Warner Bros. Discovery, Amazon MGM Studios and Sony Pictures.

There's so much we could talk about but a few highlights include the Spider-Man: Brand New Day title and date reveal, the John Wick 5 announcement, four The Beatles movies are coming in 2026, and we got the first footage from Wicked Part Two, Avatar: Fire & Ash, and Tron: Ares.

• Read more: CinemaCon 2025 – every big movie announcement

2. We saw Sony's new top-end OLED TV in action

(Image credit: Future)

Sony unveiled the new TVs it has coming in 2025, and probably the juiciest is the Sony Bravia 8 II – a follow-up to both the Sony Bravia 8 mid-range OLED and the high-end Sony A95L QD-OLED.

Sony didn't reveal prices, but said that it'll be cheaper than the A95L, despite being a QD-OLED TV, using the latest-gen panel (the same ones found in the Samsung S95F). With the new-gen panel it'll be brighter than any previous Sony OLED, and should have richer colors. It'll also be only way to get the highest-end QD-OLED screen with a glossy finish, rather than the matte Glare-Free 2.0 finish used by Samsung.

If the Bravia 8 II can hit the same kind of prices as the LG G5 and Samsung S95F – rather than coming in significantly more expensive, like the A95L did – then we could be onto something very special from Sony.

• Read more: I saw Sony's new top-end OLED TV in action

1. Garmin's new subscription caused chaos

(Image credit: Future)

Garmin has unveiled a new and extremely unpopular subscription platform, Garmin Connect+. The company says that its free experience isn't going anywhere, but that hasn't stopped furious users in their thousands protesting the new $7 subscription.

For the monthly fee, Garmin is promising users six paywalled features including Active Intelligence, an AI-powered agent that theoretically gives you more personalized insights into your training and performance.

Generally, fans of the brand are upset about the move because Garmins are often very expensive, making the added cost of a subscription harder to bear. There's also plenty of discourse about the fact that the subscription itself is very thin, and doesn't seem to offer a tremendous amount of value to users given the cost.

Whichever way you slice it, the Garmin Connect+ launch has been a disaster for the company, and with users already tense over a significant outage and premium devices being left out in the cold when it comes to software, the launch could not have been timed worse.

• Read more: Furious Garmin users revolt over new subscription service

• Indian government is expected to contribute a staggering 90% of the cost
• The announcement comes as fab demands is heating up on the back AI explosive growth
• Construction of these fabs is a very long process and always lags demand, sometimes by years

L&T Semiconductor Technologies (LTSCT), a fabless chip startup backed by Indian engineering firm Larsen & Toubro, is planning to build a $10 billion wafer fabrication facility in India.

A report by eeNews Analog claims the ambitious plan hinges on LTSCT achieving $1 billion in annual revenue by the 2026–2027 fiscal year.

Founded in 2023 as a wholly owned subsidiary of Larsen & Toubro, LTSCT was created to design a range of semiconductor components, including MEMS sensors, analog and mixed-signal ICs, RF chips, and smart power devices. While the company hasn’t yet started shipping chips, its CEO, Sandeep Kumar, expects commercial production to begin in the second half of 2025.

Increasing ABF production by 50%

eeNews Analog says Kumar told Business Standard, “A fab plant will require an investment of over US$10 billion. Even with subsidies, it will mean an investment of US$1 billion.” He noted the company’s fab plans would be triggered only if it achieves $1 billion in annual revenue by the 2026–2027 fiscal year.

The company is banking on India’s semiconductor push, which includes a $10 billion incentive program launched in 2021.

The Indian government is expected to contribute up to 90% of the cost of the proposed fab - a level of support that Kumar acknowledges is unusually high by global standards. LTSCT isn’t expected to seek outside funding beyond that.

eeNews Analog noted that LTSCT’s long-term strategy would see it transition from a fabless designer to an integrated device manufacturer (IDM).

The company has already secured more than $300 million in funding from Larsen & Toubro to support its design efforts, with plans to develop 15 chip products by 2027.

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• Anthropic has launched an AI assistant for colleges called Claude for Education.
• The new AI aims to help students, faculty, and administrators with everything from tutoring to policy summaries.
• The new Learning Mode offers Socratic questioning rather than just answering questions.

Anthropic has a new version of its AI assistant Claude aimed at the world of higher education. The new Claude for Education model offers universities a way of embedding a less disruptive version of AI into classrooms and offices.

Claude for Education is designed to help students with their studies without just doing it for them, and to help faculty customize their curricula. Though Claude, like any other AI chatbot, could write a paper that a student might try to pass off as their own, Claude for Education does try to address that issue with the new Learning Mode. Claude will switch from just answering questions to responding with questions of its own in a nod to the Socratic method of teaching.

Ask for the answer, and Claude might instead ask for ways to think about the problem or what proof could support a thesis. Presumably, it would respond to a question about the airspeed of an unladen swallow by asking which subspecies the swallow belongs to. It can also make a study guide based on materials you upload. That's essentially a feature of Google's NotebookLM too, but has obvious utility in college. You can see how that works below.

Claude college

Anthropic wants students to consider AI less of a homework machine and more of a thoughtful TA. Since more than a quarter of teensuse ChatGPT alone for homework, it's an issue that needs to be addressed. Nobody wants to create a generation of students who just copy-paste AI output into their essays.

And some schools are responding. Northeastern University has signed on as Anthropic’s first official “design partner,” offering Claude access to 50,000 students, faculty, and staff across its 13 campuses. Champlain College and the London School of Economics and Political Science are also among the first adopters.

OpenAI has its own education-focused tools, and CEO Sam Altman even announced that ChatGPT Plus would be free to college students through May. Claude’s approach is more focused, like the deal OpenAI made with Arizona State University to incorporate its AI at the school.

Anthropic is looking to widen Claude's adoption at schools through its new Claude Campus Ambassadors program, which gets students to work with the company in rolling out educational initiatives. They’re also offering API credits to students who want to build cool projects using Claude.

Of course, the real test isn’t how many students use Claude, but how they use it. Because as much as I love the idea of AI making life easier for students and professors, there’s a line between using tech to learn and using it to dodge learning entirely. And that line is, well, blurry. It will be necessary to keep watching how these tools are used and whether they actually help students learn in meaningful, human ways.

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Adding eyes to artificial intelligence is always a tricky thing. Do you want it to see everything you're doing all the time? Certainly not, but I think most of us agree that an AI visual assist when you need it could come in quite handy. Microsoft's new Copilot Vision may be one of the most promising applications of AI-based visual capabilities I've seen yet.

Microsoft unveiled the Copilot Vision update for its Windows App and mobile apps (you can point your camera at things, and Vision can identify them for you) during a splashy, combined Copilot and Microsoft 50th Anniversary event.

Copilot all but got a brain transplant, using both homegrown (Microsoft AI or MAI) and OpenAI GPT generative models to deliver updates across memory, search, personalization, and vision capabilities.

Now that I've seen Copilot Vision in action, I can tell you it's one of the most exciting and important updates of the bunch – even if it is coming in two stages.

(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

In the version you can access for your supporting Windows Desktop app right now, Copilot Vision can see the apps you're running on the desktop. When you open Copilot – by selecting the icon or pressing your Copilot key on your keyboard – you can now select the new eyeglasses icon.

This lets you see a list of open apps; in our case, we had two running: Blender 3D and Clipchamp. This means that while Copilot is aware of the available apps running on Windows, it is not automatically watching.

(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

We selected Blender 3D, and from that moment forward, something in my Windows existence shifted. I realized that Copilot can truly see which app you're running, and instead of guessing at your intent, it answers based on the app and even the project you're working on.

A 3D coffee table project was open, and using our voice, we asked about how to make the table design more traditional. Our prompt contained almost no details about the app or the project, but Copilot's answer, in a lovely baritone, was fully contextual.

We then switched and asked about how to make annotations in the app. Copilot started to answer but we interrupted and asked where to find the icon to add the annotations. Copilot quickly adjusted and promptly told us how to find it.

This could prove enormously useful because you're no longer breaking your flow to jump out to search or even to over-explain which app you're using or the project. Copilot Vision sees and knows.

Let me tell you, though, about what's to come.

(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

We followed the same steps to open Copilot and access the Vision component, but this time, we pointed Copilot at our open Clipchamp project.

We asked Copilot how to make our video transitions more seamless. Instead of a text prompt explaining what to do, Copilot Vision showed us exactly where to find the necessary tool in the app.

A giant arrow (inside an animated circle) appeared on the screen, pointing at the transitions tool it recommended we use as it explained the necessary steps. We ran through this demo a couple of times, and owing to its still under-development nature, it didn't always work.

When it did, though, it pointed to a potentially exciting change in how we'll work with apps in Windows.

(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

We've also seen a demo video that shows Copilot Vision digging even deeper into the Photoshop app to find the right tools. This, my friends, is Clippy on steroids.

Imagine the future where you use text prompts or your voice to figure out how to perform tasks in an open app, and Copilot Vision digitally takes your hand and guides you through. There's no sign that it will take app-level actions on your behalf, but this could be an incredible visual assistant.

The good news is that the Copilot Vision that at least knows what app and project you're working on is available now. The bad news is that the Copilot Vision I really want has no definite timeline. But I have to assume it won't be long. We did see it live, after all.

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• Kingdel Mini PC supports up to 32GB of DDR5 memory and 2TB SSD storage
• Runs Windows 11 and boasts dual 2.5 Gb Ethernet, and four screen support
• It has a 7-inch touchscreen that can be raised up or used flat

The mini PC market has evolved in recent years to include models with built-in displays, such as the Ayaneo Retro Mini PC with its 4-inch 90° flip screen, and the Aoostar G-Flip 370 and G-Flip mini, which feature 5-inch and 5.5-inch touchscreens, respectively.

Now, Chinese mini PC maker Kingdel, a relatively unknown player in the space, has entered the fray with a device featuring a 7-inch display and a dual-hinge design that flips beyond 90 degrees, enabling both vertical and horizontal use.

In addition to its built-in tablet-size screen, the Kingdel Mini PC supports up to four external monitors via HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort 1.4, and two Type-C ports. Networking options include dual 2.5 Gb Ethernet ports, Wi-Fi 6, and Bluetooth 5.2.

Customizable RAM and storage

This compact machine runs Windows 11 and is powered by a 6nm AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX, an 8-core, 16-thread mobile processor based on the Zen 3+ architecture. It has a base clock of 3.3 GHz, a boost clock of 4.9 GHz, and 16MB of L3 cache.

For graphics, the Kingdel Mini PC features the integrated Radeon 680M GPU, built on RDNA 2 architecture with 12 compute units running at 2.4 GHz. It’s designed to handle everyday tasks and light creative workloads.

Measuring just 175 x 137 x 55 mm, the device is compact enough for space-constrained setups. It is available barebones, without memory or storage, on Aliexpress for a reasonable $443.68, which is 40% off its usual $739.46 MSRP.

Alternatively, if you want a preconfigured model, there are a number of options ranging from 8GB DDR5 RAM with 256GB of NVMe storage for $482.24, right the way up to to 32GB RAM with up to 2TB of storage for $715.40. All models are currently 40% of the usual price.

Via Aliexpress

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• With a price tag of $2,066, the GMKTec EVO-X2 is for those with deep pockets
• Radeon 8060S GPU pushes mini PC graphics performance to new heights
• 126 TOPS of AI performance make EVO-X2 a leader in its category

We recently reported on the official launch of the GMKTec EVO-X2, a compact yet powerful mini PC powered by AMD’s flagship Ryzen AI Max+ 395 APU - and GMKTec even got AMD CEO Lisa Su to sign the first production unit, making it a nice little collector’s item.

GMK Gemini now says the EVO-X2 is now set to launch in the Chinese market for CNY 14,999, or roughly $2,066 - a steep increase over its predecessor, the EVO-X1, which cost $1,099 at launch.

At the heart of the EVO-X2 is the Strix Halo APU, boasting 16 cores and 32 threads with a boost clock of up to 5.1GHz. The system supports up to 128GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 2TB of SSD storage, positioning it as a serious contender in the best workstation category.

EVO-X2 packs power

Graphics performance comes from the integrated Radeon 8060S GPU, which includes 40 compute units, more than double the 16 CUs found in the Radeon 890M that ships with AMD’s Strix Point lineup.

In recent tests by ETA Prime, the EVO-X2 demonstrated smooth 1440p gaming performance, assisted by the advanced “Arctic” cooling system featuring a vapor chamber and dual-turbine fans, that keeps thermal output under 140W.

Built with AI and data-intensive workloads in mind, the EVO-X2 also boasts impressive machine learning capabilities. It supports a local 70-billion parameter model without needing cloud resources, and its XDNA 2 NPU delivers 50 TOPS of dedicated AI performance, contributing to a total of 126 TOPS, surpassing the estimated AI capability of Nvidia’s RTX 5090D.

For connectivity, EVO-X2 comes with four USB-A ports, two 40Gbps USB-C ports, an SD card reader, HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort 2.0, a 2.5GbE Ethernet port, and a 3.5mm audio jack. It also supports WiFi 7 for wireless connectivity.

Pre-orders in China begin on April 7 via JD.com. At the time of writing, there’s been no word on global availability for the new device.

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The annual National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) convention gets underway tomorrow, April 5, 2025, in Las Vegas, and one of the first show-related news items to hit my mailbox details a new ATSC 3.0 digital TV tuner from electronics manufacturer ADTH.

The ADTH NextGen TV USB is a $69.99 adapter that offers a low-cost way to upgrade any TV with an Android, Google, or Fire TV smart TV system to receive TV channels broadcast in the ATSC 3.0 NextGen TV format, which provides benefits such as high dynamic range support and Dolby Atmos audio.

Some of the best TVs from brands such as Samsung, Sony, Hisense, TCL, and Panasonic have built-in ATSC 3.0 tuners, but the feature has not yet become universally implemented. That situation has created a niche market for external tuners, most of which cost $200 and up, making ATSC 3.0 compatibility a pricey upgrade.

Now, with an external tuner selling for under $70, upgrading a TV with ATSC 3.0 will be an easier-to-swallow concept for a wider swathe of viewers.

ATSC 3.0: why you need it

According to the ATSC, an industry group that develops the standards used for TV and radio broadcasting, ATSC 3.0, or NextGen TV, is on track to soon reach 80% of viewers in the US (see the most recent coverage map below).

Along with high dynamic range (including Dolby Vision and HDR10+ formats) and Dolby Atmos audio, the benefits that ATSC 3.0 offers over the ATSC 1.0 broadcasting system (which is still active and supported even by TVs with ATSC 3.0 tuners) include interactive features such as personalized program guides and even games.

The format also supports 4K broadcasting, though that feature has yet to be implemented and so far appears likely to be eclipsed by HDR, which can be applied to 1080p broadcasts and has already been widely used for sports and other programs.

While many TV makers now provide ATSC 3.0 tuners in their TVs, in some cases the feature is reserved for the highest-end models. Samsung’s 2025 8K mini-LED TVs such as the Samsung QN990F, for example, provide ATSC 3.0 support, while some of its 4K models feature an ATSC 1.0 tuner.

LG also used to include an ATSC 3.0 tuner on its G-series OLED TVs such as the LG G3. Starting in 2024, however, LG ceased ATSC 3.0 support for all of its TVs, making an external tuner a necessity for them to receive ATSC 3.0 broadcasts.

The most recent ATSC 3.0 broadcast coverage map was released in December 2024 (Image credit: ATSC)

Clearly, LG’s popular OLED TVs would be a perfect fit for a relatively cheap, add-on device like the ADTH NextGen TV USB, which plugs into a USB port on a TV and connects to one of the best indoor TV antennas.

But brands like LG and Samsung use a proprietary smart interface for their TVs (webOS for LG, Tizen for Samsung), and, as mentioned above, ADTH’s USB receiver only works with the Android TV, Google TV, and Fire TV smart TV systems.

Will LG bring back ATSC 3.0 support to its TVs, and will Samsung start implementing it in lower-cost models? That's impossible to tell.

ATSC 3.0 support is growing, as is clearly demonstrated by Hisense, which added ATSC 3.0 tuners to its full Hisense 2025 TV lineup. Until then, many viewers will have to depend on external solutions and, unlike the new ADTH USB receiver, they won’t be cheap.

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Many of us remember January 19, the day TikTok was erased from app stores before being reinstated approximately 12 hours later.

We were told TikTok had a new shelf life of 75 days, and promised a US buyer would soon swoop in to save the day.

But today, April 4, is 75 days after January 19 - and we still don't have a finalized deal in place for one of the world's largest social media platforms with over 175M US users.

Is TikTok actually getting banned in the United States again?

No, TikTok won't disappear from app stores - yet

Even though that initial 75 day grace period, issued by Presidential executive order decree, has now passed, TikTok is here to stay...for now.

The Trump administration has issued yet another executive order to keep TikTok in US app stores for another 75 days, which makes the new deadline June 18.

He explains in a post on Truth Social, "My Administration has been working very hard on a Deal to SAVE TIKTOK, and we have made tremendous progress. The Deal requires more work to ensure all necessary approvals are signed, which is why I am signing an Executive Order to keep TikTok up and running for an additional 75 days."

Post by @karissabe View on Threads

More importantly, ByteDance sent us their first public comment on the potential sale, and, to be honest, it sounds no more certain that what we''re hearing from President Trump:

"ByteDance has been in discussion with the U.S. Government regarding a potential solution for TikTok U.S.  An agreement has not been executed.  There are key matters to be resolved.  Any agreement will be subject to approval under Chinese law," said a ByteDance spokeperosn in an email sent to TechRadar.

The question remains: How many 75-day extensions will we get before the long-awaited deal is finalized?

Trump mentions his administration does "not want TikTok to 'go dark,'" but at this time, we have very few details on the potential deal in place, and ByteDance notes there are "key matters" they still have to resolve.

While we wait for the pair to reach an agreement, there are numerous TikTok suitors in the mix.

We're aware of some interested parties, namely:

• Mr Beast
• Perplexity AI
• Oracle
• A consortium that includes Shark Tank's Kevin O'Leary
• The White House

But TikTok's fate ultimately still looms in the balance as nothing concrete has come from any of these potential buyers.

Governments, Tariffs, and TikTok

President Trump also touches on tariffs, which have been making waves recently as popular tech companies deal with the rising costs of production and transit.

Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders were just announced as delayed in the US "amid tariff uncertainty" for example, and it's possible the Chinese government isn't interested in approving a sale with these hefty fines in place.

Trump explains, "We hope to continue working in Good Faith with China, who I understand are not very happy about our Reciprocal Tariffs (Necessary for Fair and Balanced Trade between China and the U.S.A.!). This proves that Tariffs are the most powerful Economic tool, and very important to our National Security!"

It's undoubtedly a rocky sea to navigate, but at least we know we have another 75 days of doom scrolling ahead of us.

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I was so excited for the Nintendo Switch 2 - in fact, I'm still excited for the Nintendo Switch 2 - but yet I can't help but feel just a little bit empty.

Following on from yesterday's Nintendo Direct, I was lucky enough to snag a Nintendo Switch 2 and Mario Kart World Bundle preorder this week at a UK retailer.

For previous console launches, I'd have felt giddy at the upcoming arrival of a new toy, but this time I just kind of feel... fine?

It's not because I'm not excited to play a new Forza Horizon-inspired Mario Kart or revisit some of the best Nintendo Switch games with enhanced graphics like The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom in 4K resolution (or perhaps 1440p) at 60 frames per second, but because my new Switch is lacking something very specific: A new single-player experience on launch day, and an Italian plumber one at that.

Opportunities came and went

(Image credit: Nintendo)

Depending on who you ask Super Mario Odyssey is arguably the best game on Nintendo Switch. Ask me, and I'd probably say it's one of my favorites alongside Breath of the Wild.

As Nintendo's event started yesterday, I was poised for the first proper 3D Mario since 2017's Odyssey. Since then we've had a remaster of Super Mario 3D World which added Bowser's Fury (the closest thing to a new 3D Mario we've seen since) and new 2D Mario experiences like Super Mario Bros. Wonder.

But still, eight years on and we've not got a direct sequel to Mario Odyssey or just the next in the long line of incredible 3D Mario games.

Unfortunately during the Nintendo event, opportunities came and went where Nintendo opted to prioritize other IPs instead of its most famous platforming protagonist.

Don't get me wrong, I understand that Mario Kart World is a huge release, but in my opinion, Nintendo's best experiences are single player and while replaying the Switch's Zelda games with upgraded graphics on day one will feel amazing, it won't be new.

Towards the end of the Nintendo Direct, after we'd seen all the new hardware, the company wowed fans with three back-to-back game reveals.

The first, which provided genuine shock and awe, was the announcement of a new and exclusive FromSoftware game that looks like a spiritual successor to Bloodborne called The Duskbloods.

Next, a star shot onto the screen and I thought we were about to be graced by the arrival of Super Mario Galaxy 3. Instead, it was a reveal for Kirby Air Riders, a successor to the GameCube game, Kirby Air Ride. But do you need another arcade racer in the same year as a new Mario Kart?

Finally, just to get my hopes up one last time, Nintendo closed the show with the reveal of Donkey Kong Bananza, the first 3D Donkey Kong game since 1999.

Don't get me wrong, the game looks awesome, but not only does it release on July 17, a month on from the Switch 2's arrival, but it also just makes me want Super Mario Odyssey 2.

Nintendo, where's my Mario?

(Image credit: Nintendo)

Most people will be very content with the Nintendo Switch 2's first six months on the market. By the end of 2025, we'll have games ranging from Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza to Metroid Prime 4: Beyond and Pokemon Legends: Z-A.

That's a stellar lineup for the first year of a console, let alone half. But Mario is Nintendo, and without a new 3D adventure it makes the Nintendo Switch 2 launch feel lukewarm.

I've come to terms with the lack of Mario Odyssey 2 in 2025, but please Nintendo, make sure 2026 has a new 3D Mario adventure.

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• Donald Trump has announced sweeping tariffs on imports from major US trading partners like the EU and China
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• We checked in with industry analysts for a balanced perspective

Donald Trump has announced that the US will levy sweeping tariffs on international trade that will likely affect the tech industry – with some projections suggesting a $2,300 iPhone could be on the cards.

Trump's proposed tariffs, announced on April 3, will affect imports from a long list of countries including allies like Canada and the European Union as well as major manufacturing economies like China and Vietnam.

Across the tech industry, commentators and consumers are examining what this could mean for them, and as one might expect the news media and internet have lit up with speculation.

According to Reuters, projections from Rosenblatt Securities suggest that the price of a “high-end” iPhone could rise to $2,300 (approximately £1,800 / AU$3,800).

That’s a hefty price rise indeed, but it comes with a few very important caveats. That estimate seems to be based on the price of the iPhone 16 Pro Max with 1TB of storage, which at $1,599 / £1,599 / AU$2,149 is already the most expensive phone Apple sells. To attain a price of $2,300, Apple would have to pass on the entirety of the proposed 54% tariff levied against China to consumers.

Apple does manufacture iPhones in other south-east Asian and south Asian countries like Vietnam and India, though both of these countries have been hit with steep proposed tariffs too: Vietnam at 46% and India at 26%.

The reality: what industry experts are saying

The tariffs were announced on April 3 by US President Donald Trump (Image credit: Photo by JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images)

So, are we likely to see a massive price hike for the iPhone? We checked in with industry analysts to get a balanced view.

Kate Leaman, chief market analyst at AvaTrade, told TechRadar: “The idea of a $2,300 iPhone grabs headlines, but it’s more worst-case than real-world. Yes, a 54% tariff on a $1,599 iPhone 16 Pro Max could technically push retail prices north of $2,400 – but Apple isn’t likely to pass the full cost to consumers.”

Leaman continued: “Apple typically absorbs 10-15% of shocks through margin compression and supply chain efficiencies. That means actual price increases might be closer to 20-25%. So we’re likely looking at a top-end iPhone maxing out around $1,900 by year-end.”

Leaman also notes that Apple’s pledged $500 billion investment in the US may lead the company to push for exemptions: “Apple is already shifting production to India and Vietnam, and with $500 billion invested in the U.S., it's expected to push harder on ‘Made in America’ exemptions. So, a $2,300 iPhone is possible, but not probable."

Nick Rakovsky, CEO of DataDocks, offers another balanced take, calling the prospect of a $2,300 iPhone “unlikely”.

Rakovsky told TechRadar: Unless we’re talking about broader inflationary pressure across the economy, Apple has every reason to avoid passing such a dramatic cost increase directly onto consumers.”

Continuing, Rakovsky said: “That said, all companies will feel some level of pain from these new tariffs – Apple included. The interesting question is how well each company can absorb or adapt to that impact. Apple, like the other tech giants, has been working to diversify its supply chain and make it more resilient for years now.”

Rakovsky also notes that Apple is keen to retain its market share and protect its brand perception, adding: “It comes down to pricing strategy, and few do that better than Apple”.

Noted Apple analyst and social media tipster Ming-Chi Kuo has also joined the conversation, noting in a post to X (formerly Twitter) that “85-90% of Apple’s hardware is assembled in China”.

China, as mentioned, has been hit with the heaviest tariffs at 54%, and Kuo adds that China is unlikely to be successful in negotiating this rate.

Kuo added: “India and Vietnam are far more likely than China to secure US tariff exemptions. Though the timeline is unclear, this would speed up Apple’s shift of assembly orders away from China until non-Chinese production can satisfy most US demand”.

Additionally, Kuo mentioned that high-end consumers may be more accepting of price increases.

The verdict: what this all means

(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

Overall, the common threads from multiple analysts suggest that a price rise for the iPhone can’t be ruled out, but Apple’s efficient supply chain and ability to accept a smaller profit margin may be able to insulate consumers from the full effects of the tariffs.

This all means that a $2,300 iPhone seems like a fairly unlikely prospect at the time of writing.

Many other devices sold by Apple and other manufacturers are made in countries that are due to be hit by tariffs, but for now we haven’t seen much analysis focusing on these products and can’t comment on any potential pricing impacts.

If you want a refresher on the handsets in question, be sure to check out our iPhone 16 Pro Max review and guide to the best iPhones. We’ll have the latest iPhone news as we hear it via our dedicated iPhone coverage.

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• ChatGPT-5 is delayed by a few months
• The time will allow OpenAI to better integrate the new model
• New o3 and o4-mini models to come in a couple of weeks

OpenAI has changed its plans and is set to put ChatGPT-5 on hold while releasing new o3 and o4-mini models in the next couple of weeks instead.

The news broke today in a tweet by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, in which he revealed why the plans were changing:

“There are a bunch of reasons for this”, wrote Altman, “but the most exciting one is that we are going to be able to make GPT-5 much better than we originally thought.

"We also found it harder than we thought it was going to be to smoothly integrate everything, and we want to make sure we have enough capacity to support what we expect to be unprecedented demand.”

The mention of 'capacity to support unprecedented demand' is clearly a reference to the recent outages that ChatGPT has been experiencing as millions of new users signed up to try out the new image generation abilities of ChatGPT-4o.

change of plans: we are going to release o3 and o4-mini after all, probably in a couple of weeks, and then do GPT-5 in a few months.there are a bunch of reasons for this, but the most exciting one is that we are going to be able to make GPT-5 much better than we originally…April 4, 2025

The next evolution of AI

ChatGPT-5 is the next big evolution of the popular ChatGPT LLM and will be a major development in the future of AI.

Its simpler name was also supposed to represent an alignment shift in OpenAI’s somewhat confusing product-naming conventions that will now soon feature both an o4 and an 4o model in the line-up simultaneously.

Rather than the user having to decide if they wanted to use a smaller, lighter model, such as 4o-mini or a deeper reasoning model, like o4, for their tasks, ChatGPT-5 will decide for you which type of model to use, based on your query.

So far, OpenAI has confirmed that even users on the free tier will have some access to ChatGPT-5 when it comes out, but users on the Pro and Plus tiers will get more. The only word on a release date we’ve been given before was “soon”.

Now it looks like we’ll have to wait a little bit longer for that integration of everything into one model, with Altman stating that ChatGPT-5 would now appear “in a few months”.

ChatGPT-o3 improvements

Commenting on the new o3 model, Altman also stated that, “We were able to really improve on what we previewed for o3 in many ways; I think people will be happy…”

Replying to a user on X who asked if there would also be an o3 Pro model, Altman gave a one-word reply – “coming!” – which would seem to confirm that a pro version of o3 is also in the works.

As to when we will see the o3 and o4-mini models, Altman stated, “in a couple of weeks, and then do GPT-5 in a few months”.

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• Intel expands its liquid cooling tech to support Nvidia’s future AI chips
• Superfluid cooling tackles 1.5kW heat loads for high-performance systems
• Taiwan partnerships position Intel as cooling leader for next-gen chips

It's no secret that Intel, which recently appointed Lip-Bu Tan as its new CEO, is facing difficult times.

The iconic chipmaker is reportedly considering spinning off its foundry division into a joint venture with TSMC in a bid to turn things around, but separate from those plans, Intel is also looking to change its fortunes by becoming a major player in cooling next-generation AI hardware.

The company’s Superfluid cooling solution is reportedly capable of managing heat output up to 1.5kW per chip, a level of performance that could be essential for cooling Nvidia’s GB300 superchip and also for upcoming rack servers, like those shown off at GTC 2025.

Blowing bubbles

At its event, Nvidia unveiled mock-ups of Kyber-based NVL576 racks featuring Rubin Ultra GPUs.

According to Nvidia's co-founder, president, and CEO Jensen Huang, these systems could draw as much as 600kW, with future racks potentially reaching megawatt-level power demands. As energy requirements grow, advanced cooling solutions like Intel’s Superfluid technology will become increasingly essential.

Superfluid cooling was first introduced by Intel in 2023 and uses microbubble injection to improve coolant flow and heat transfer efficiency.

mashdigi reports the technology draws inspiration from a method used by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, “where bubbles are generated under the hull of ocean-going ships to reduce water resistance and improve propulsion efficiency."

The site goes on to explain that in the case of Superfluid cooling, "a similar approach is applied by generating bubbles in the coolant to increase flow speed and enhance heat removal. This is combined with cold plate designs to further improve thermal conductivity.

Additionally, the system uses a new type of non-conductive dielectric fluid to prevent damage to submerged servers in the event of a leak.” This approach makes it highly suitable for dense compute environments where traditional cooling methods fall short.

Intel recently showcased its progress at the 2025 Superfluid Advanced Cooling Technology Forum in Taiwan, co-hosted with the Industrial Technology Research Institute.

According to United Daily News Network (UDN), the event drew over 500 attendees and more than ten local suppliers, highlighting strong industry interest. Taiwanese firms, including Maico, YuanShan, Kuenling, and Sun Max Tech, presented hardware built to support Intel’s cooling system, including server racks, liquid-cooled chassis and thermal components.

Intel is reportedly also investing in advanced materials to reduce corrosion and mechanical wear, including liquid metal-based designs and electromagnetic pump systems, in order to improve long-term durability and reduce maintenance for large-scale deployments.

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• ChatGPT Plus is going free for a limited time if you're a student
• US & Canadian students can get the AI's upgraded for free for two months
• This tier unlocks better AI tools and higher usage limits for the free-tier AI

ChatGPT Plus – ChatGPT’s premium tier – is going free for students in the US and Canada for a couple of months. Here’s how to apply and what the deal gets you.

The upgraded ChatGPT Plus tier usually costs $20 a month, and opens up access to ChatGPT’s advanced Deep Research model, the upgraded GPT-4.5 preview, and extends the limits imposed on users accessing the free tools (so you can send more prompts and upload more files before you hit your cap).

You’ll also get wider access to ChatGPT’s voice mode and screen-sharing abilities. And these tools can be super handy when studying for your finals this semester.

It's the perfcet time to try ChatGPT (Image credit: ChatGPT)

If you’re not sure why you got a practice question wrong you can show ChatGPT your test and answer and it can help explain how you made the error. The speech mode is useful for practicing languages as you can set the bot to converse with you at your level.

You can also upload your notes to the bot and get it to quiz you on them with custom tests to get you used to having your knowledge challenged in an exam-like environment.

Just remember to not rely solely on the AI.

Even with your course notes it will likely make a few reasoning errors, and when practicing languages it might teach you a phrase that’s technically correct but not one that’s actually used by people speaking the language day-to-day. For example, I’ve recently been watching streamer Ludwig in a YouTube series in which he travels across Japan and one his ChatGPT-taught phrases for “thank you” is equivalent to saying “I thank thee for thine service.”

But if you use ChatGPT’s study tools in conjunction with your own non-AI practice – and regularly check you’re not being taught something wrong – it could be a handy tutor.

Now, how do you get it for free?

The Plus tier gets you access to ChatGPT-4.5 (Image credit: OpenAI) How to apply for the ChatGPT Plus student offer

The offer is available from March 31 until May 31, 2025 and gives you two months of ChatGPT Plus once you claim it.

You’ll need to be a student in the US and Canada with OpenAI explaining it’ll verify your status instantly using the following methods:

• Authoritative Sources: SheerID first checks trusted databases, such as your university’s Office of the Registrar, to instantly verify your student status.
• Single Sign-On (SSO): If necessary, you’ll be prompted to log in securely with your school’s SSO credentials, confirming your affiliation directly through your institution.

It adds that if these methods don’t work you may need to go through a manual review, which requires you to upload “additional documentation.” OpenAI doesn’t outline what these documents are but we expect it’ll be something like an admission letter or student ID card from your college.

OpenAI also explains that not all schools will be supported, though it provides a form for you to request to add your school. It doesn’t promise top accept all requests, but it’s worth trying if you’re desperate to claim this $40 saving.

Lastly, if you’re already a ChatGPT Plus subscriber you’ll get your two free months added to your existing membership.

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Let me preface this by saying, that when I say I don't care about Copilot, I mean it. I've not owned a Windows PC since 2006, and I've never even installed the Copilot app on my Mac, iPhone, or even Android device.

I write about AI for a living, but there are very few AI tools I actually use in my daily life. Usually, I test them for work, come up with article ideas, and write about experiences with AI chatbots like ChatGPT and Gemini - but I rarely use AI in my spare time.

Microsoft's Copilot is an AI tool that I've neglected, not only in my home life but also at work. I rarely cover Copilot, and when I do it's usually just a brief news story here or there.

Anyways, you get the idea Copilot just isn't really an AI chatbot that was on my radar. But after Microsoft's 50th Anniversary Copilot Event, that's all changed.

A complete overhaul

Copilot is often seen as a business tool rather than a consumer product. So much so, in fact, that I fully expected Microsoft's Copilot event to center around business use and barely touch on what that means for a consumer.

I couldn't have been more wrong. At Microsoft's event today, the company showcased a new vision for Copilot, which it now calls 'Your AI Companion', and I think it's time I take notice.

Today, in celebration of its 50th anniversary, Microsoft highlighted that the company's future is very much counting on software like Copilot, and that's a very exciting thing.

The company announced major upgrades to the AI chatbot including a memory, similar to that found in Gemini and ChatGPT, meaning Copilot will learn important information about you. Microsoft says Copilot can now "learn who you are deeply."

In a blog post announcing the new features, CEO of Microsoft AI Mustafa Suleyman said, "With your permission, Copilot will now remember what you talk about, so it learns your likes and dislikes and details about your life: the name of your dog, that tricky project at work, what keeps you motivated to stick to your new workout routine."

Elsewhere Copilot is getting vision, giving the AI on-screen awareness in Windows and access to your camera in mobile apps similar to Apple's Visual Intelligence or Google's Lens.

Microsoft announced much more at today's event, and you can read about it all in detail here. It's the agentic capabilities called "Actions", however, that really stand out and make me interested in giving Copilot a shot at becoming my daily AI driver.

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(Image credit: Microsoft) The AI personal assistant I've been waiting for?

My dream AI scenario is a personal assistant that does the mundane in my life so I can focus on the things that matter.

Whether it's filling out calendar entries, telling me when to leave for an appointment, or booking my next beard trim, I want AI to alleviate a little bit of the stress of life so I have one less thing to think about.

Apple Intelligence-powered Siri looked like my ideal scenario when it was showcased at WWDC 2024, but with WWDC 2025 fast approaching we've still not seen a tech demo to prove it's actually capable of what's advertised.

Today, Microsoft's Copilot announcement with an emphasis on an AI companion piques my interest and makes me wonder if the company to fulfill my AI want will ultimately be the Seattle tech giant.

It's hard to know for sure, considering I've not tested any of the newly announced Copilot features yet. But you better believe the first thing I'm going to do as soon as Copilot's update is available, is use it in my daily life.

I want to leave you with another quote from the CEO of Microsoft AI. He said, "The important point is that throughout Copilot is more than an AI, it’s yours. It remembers not just what you said, but who you are. Copilot helps you stay organized, think clearly, and learn more intuitively."

I've been burnt before by putting trust in AI marketing campaigns but Microsoft's Copilot announcements today make me excited for the future, and I can't wait to see if it can live up to the billing.

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• The Duskbloods was originally being developed for the original Switch
• FromSoftware was approached by Nintendo "with talk of Switch 2"
• The Switch 2's new online features also allowed FromSoftware "to stay as true to the original vision as possible"

FromSoftware has revealed that its Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive title, The Duskbloods, was originally being developed as an original Switch game.

One of the biggest surprises of the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct was, without a doubt, the announcement of The Duskbloods. It's not launching until 2026, but a new Creator’s Voice interview with director Hidetaka Miyazaki has offered new insight about the game and how it became a Nintendo exclusive in the first place.

According to Miyazaki, the multiplayer game was being made by a small team for the Switch before it eventually shifted to being developed for the Switch 2, allowing the studio to take advantage of the console's new hardware.

"A while back, we had the opportunity to meet with Nintendo to discuss ideas, and during this discussion, we presented a rough outline for The Duskbloods," Miyazaki said.

"It was still very bare-bones at the time—more a loose string of ideas than a proper presentation. The concept itself was different from anything we had done before, and Nintendo seemed very interested in helping make it a reality. So that’s when the project kicked off."

"At first it was being worked on by a small team as a title for Nintendo Switch," he continued. "However just as the game started to take shape, we were approached by Nintendo with talk of Switch 2, which led us to revamp our development path with this new hardware in mind."

Miyazaki added that Switch 2's new online features also allowed FromSoftware "to stay as true to the original vision as possible, which was very good news for us."

The Nintendo Switch 2 will be released on June 5, 2025, for $449.99 / £395.99, with preorders scheduled to open on April 8.

It was also announced that Elden Ring will be coming to the console this year alongside some new Switch 2 exclusive titles like Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza.

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