TechRadar News

• The limited-time PS5 themes will be removed today
• Sony thanks fans for the "fantastic response" to them
• As a result, they will be coming back in future

Sony has confirmed that the limited-time console themes, which allow you to deck out your PS5 UI in an original PlayStation, PS2, PS3, or PS4 aesthetic, will be removed today.

In a recent X / Twitter post, Sony thanked fans for the "fantastic response" to the themes but confirmed that they will be "leaving" today. This is bad news if you were a fan of the unique looks, but there is a silver lining here.

Thanks to the "positive response on these four themes" Sony is now "doing some work behind the scenes" to bring them back in the "months ahead." There's no clear timeframe yet, but this will presumably involve making them a permanent option on PS5 sometime later this year.

In spite of this, Sony also stated that there "aren't plans to create additional themes in future," which is a massive shame. Many PS4 owners loved the ability to personalize their console's home screen, which has a wide range of both free and paid options available inspired by top games. Although it has been a much-requested feature for PS5, it looks like we won't be seeing anything as comprehensive as that old system implemented any time soon.

Given the rather sparse look of the PS5 home screen, I definitely wouldn't mind the ability to spice things up a little bit. At least the future return of these four retro themes is better than nothing.

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• Nvidia’s RTX 5080 and 5090 launch was just as the rumor mill forecast
• Stock was light and sold out very quickly indeed
• There were queues, an inevitable clamor for next-gen GPUs, and even chaotic scenes at one Japanese retailer

Nvidia’s RTX 5080 and 5090 graphics cards sold out in very quick fashion, just as the rumors predicted, on launch day yesterday – and there was a fair bit of chaos and clamor surrounding the release of these first Blackwell GPUs.

At the time of writing, the day after launch, everything remains sold out at the big US and UK retailers I’ve just taken a scout round, at least in terms of standalone graphics cards.

Even the seriously pricey third-party RTX 5080 models at the premium end of the spectrum sold out in the blink of an eye.

Yes, the only option to get a Blackwell GPU currently is to buy a full PC with one of the boards in it, where you’re obviously paying a lot of money for a high-end machine with a big markup.

As for the clamor, there were big lines at some retail stores in the US, with folks queuing for their shot at an RTX 5090 days before launch. As VideoCardz reports, there were somewhat chaotic scenes in Japan where, at a shop called PC Koubou, would-be Nvidia GPU buyers ended up scaling the fence of a kindergarten next door (in an effort to get in and purchase a GPU, presumably).

That was one of the stores in Japan where a lottery system was implemented to try and make buying a Blackwell GPU a fair process, but clearly, it went awry here.

All in all, there are accusations of Nvidia making the RTX 5000 a ‘paper launch’ meaning that there was only a very small amount of inventory available on release day.

As VideoCardz points out, theorizing on Reddit – which we should be particularly careful around – suggests that there were only 250 units of the RTX 5090 at Micro Centers in the US, and just 2,400 or so of the RTX 5080. Certainly, the flagship GPU was predicted to be vanishingly thin on the ground anyway, going by the rumors, but the RTX 5080 was expected to achieve somewhat better stock levels than this rough tally from Reddit suggests.

(Image credit: Future) Analysis: Do not feed the scalpers

As mentioned, the only real shot you have currently of getting a Blackwell GPU is buying a full PC, inevitably a very expensive premium model that’s going to run you a few grand. You could, in theory, then replace the RTX 5000 GPU with your own (that you’re upgrading from), and sell the PC second-hand (as nearly new), but that’s potentially a lot of hassle and headaches, so most people won’t consider that option (I certainly wouldn’t).

The other choice, which again, isn’t really any kind of choice, is to buy an RTX 5090 or 5080 on an auction site from a scalper who has seriously jacked up the price. Don’t do this – do not feed the price gougers, whatever you do, please. It’s interesting to see on the likes of eBay that there are a good many more reasonably priced Blackwell listings which are made just to trap bots, and clearly state that they are only a photo of the GPU in the description. (As well as those trying to sell their in-place pre-orders, of course).

Just the usual chaos around the launch of a thin-on-the-ground new generation of GPUs, then. I’d suggest, for now, that you just try to be patient. (Don’t feed the scalpers, did I say that already? Just imagine the collective sweating going on if those listings don’t shift, and they have to keep dropping and dropping prices).

Keep your eyes peeled on our live blogs where TechRadar is still maintaining a watch on all the major retailers – for RTX 5090 graphics cards, and also RTX 5080 GPUs – and we’ll alert you there if any stock comes back in. But for now, the chances of buying an RTX 5090 or 5080 still seem very remote to say the least.

Of course, the attention will soon turn to the launch of RTX 5070 models next month, and how stock will shake out there. And after that, the eyes of gamers will be fixed on what AMD’s doing with RDNA 4 in March. As we know that some RX 9070 graphics cards are already at retailers, hopefully Team Red should have a much better next-gen launch for stock levels than we witnessed with Nvidia yesterday.

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• A leaker claims the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Flip 7 will have the same storage and RAM amounts as their predecessors
• The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 could get a new Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset
• A previous leak from the same source suggests pricing for these phones will be unchanged

The Samsung Galaxy S25 series was highly anticipated, but with the arguable exception of the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, these phones didn’t get very substantial spec upgrades – and it looks like the same could be true of this year’s Galaxy Z models.

According to leaker @PandaFlashPro (via GSMArena), the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 will have 12GB of RAM, and a choice of 256GB or 512GB of storage, while the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 will also have 12GB of RAM, and come in 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB configurations.

Those are exactly the same specs as the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 and Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 have, so these rumored new phones don’t sound like much of an upgrade.

"Confirmed" Galaxy Z Flip 7 256GB | 512GB | 12GB RAMGalaxy Z Fold 7 256GB | 512GB | 1TB | 12GB RAMPowered by Snapdragon 8Elite World-Wide.January 30, 2025

Bigger screens and more power, but little else

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 might at least have a good chipset, with the source adding that it will use a Snapdragon 8 Elite one globally, just like the Galaxy S25 series. But the Galaxy Z Flip 7 might not even get that, with this source not mentioning its chipset, and a previous leak pointing to a less promising Exynos 2500.

Sadly, a recent GalaxyClub report also claimed that the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 will have the same cameras as its predecessor, namely a 50MP main, 12MP ultra-wide, and 10MP front-facing camera.

So, from what we’ve heard so far, it seems like very little will be upgraded on these phones other than their chipsets. And in the case of the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7, it might not even be the chipset upgrade we want, as Samsung might opt for a less capable option than the top-tier Snapdragon 8 Elite used in its current high-end phones.

Still, one early leak did suggest that the next Galaxy Z models might at least have bigger screens than their predecessors, and thankfully they might not get a price rise either, going by an earlier claim from @PandaFlashPro. So, it’s not all bad news.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 will probably be announced in July, so we should know exactly what they’re capable of then, but stay tuned for further leaks and rumors in the meantime.

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• ExpressVPN study finds 85% of bosses admit to using employee monitoring software
• Employers think it builds trust, morale and productivity
• Workers feel stressed and anxious, faking productivity

New research has revealed a shocking 85% of bosses monitor staff online activity through software.

The figures from online privacy company ExpressVPN relate to all types of workers, with the research following previous data from the company revealing 78% of remote workers are monitored, too.

Bosses are now widely tracking emails, websites, keystrokes and even monitoring screens in real-time to keep an eye on their workers’ productivity, however nearly half of workers are feeling the pressure, and the surveillance could actually be causing them to be less productive.

Employee monitoring software is all too common

Two in five (42%) workers believe that monitoring should be considered unethical, with more than half (51%) willing to quit if they’re being subjected to online monitoring. However, four in five (83%) employers enforce monitoring without the option for employees to opt out.

A clear disconnect has been identified, with 70% of employers believing that monitoring boosts trust, morale and productivity. On the flip side, 46% of workers feel stressed or anxious about it.

Over a third (35%) feel that they lack their employer’s trust, and one in four (26%) feel pressure to do work quickly rather than thoughtfully. Pressure to be active rather than productive and pressure to work longer hours were also identified, raising questions over how effective monitoring tools are at determining productivity, rather than just working hours.

Scheduling emails to send later, logging into communication apps on mobile devices and setting up automated status changes are just some of the ways workers are now using to fool monitoring systems.

Employer observations aren’t just being used to keep tabs on perceived productivity, though – 38% use the data for performance reviews, with 30% of employees facing warnings and 17% facing pay cuts or suspensions as a consequence of misbehavior.

Looking ahead, workers are calling for stronger government regulation to protect their privacy: “The call for regulation reflects a deep-seated desire for accountability, fairness, and respect in a workplace where privacy can often feel like a luxury.”

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Cybercrime is a costly affair, with nearly £11.5 million stolen last Christmas alone, according to the UK's National Cyber Security Centre. That’s £695 on average per victim. With the festive season in full swing, the rush to snag post-Black Friday bargains and buy Christmas gifts online has led to a sharp rise in threat levels. For cybercriminals, this is the perfect opportunity to deploy their latest techniques, targeting unsuspecting shoppers to steal money and personal data.

UK Fraud Minister Lord Hanson issued a stark warning in November on the dangers of holiday scams. However, the sheer volume of online interactions, the sophistication of cyberattacks, and the increasing reliance on digital shopping during the holiday season make it far more challenging to identify a scam at first glance.

AI-Driven Phishing: More Deceptive Than Ever

Phishing has long been one of the most common forms of cybercrime, but the emergence of AI has revolutionized the way these attacks are carried out. Previously, phishing emails were easy to spot, often riddled with spelling mistakes and strange phrasing. However, with AI, cybercriminals can now analyze the communication styles of businesses, studying their marketing emails and messages to replicate the tone, branding, and even the content of legitimate communications.

Attackers can now seamlessly impersonate colleagues, executives, and even customers, making it harder for targets to identify a scam. It has become easier–and cheaper– than ever to undertake these targeted spear-phishing attacks, which are much more likely to succeed.

AI and Human Behavior: Exploiting Vulnerabilities

AI’s ability to analyze human behavior has also made it easier for cybercriminals to exploit psychological triggers. By studying past interactions and identifying patterns in behavior, attackers can craft messages that play on an individual’s emotions. For example, during the busy holiday season, cybercriminals exploit the stress of missed package deliveries. Imagine receiving a seemingly legitimate text from a courier service, urging payment for redelivery. One victim, distracted and eager to resolve the issue, entered card details on a convincing fake site—only to realize later the text came from an unknown mobile number, not the courier. It’s a reminder that vigilance can’t take a holiday.

AI can also be used to time phishing emails or fake social media ads to coincide with busy shopping periods such as Black Friday and Christmas sales. Cybercriminals can also create fake websites offering massive discounts or time-limited offers, hoping to lure in shoppers eager to make a purchase quickly. Under pressure, people are more likely to fall for scams.

In the same way, AI can be used to create fake bank alerts or financial notifications that play on a customer’s fear of fraud or account security issues. These phishing attacks, which often contain urgent warnings or threats, push the recipient into a state of panic, encouraging them to click on a malicious link or provide sensitive details. It can also be very hard to spot when the destination site or notifications look identical to the official source.

In fact, while it may seem simple to check if a website is secure by looking for the HTTPS prefix or a padlock icon, these are no longer foolproof indicators of a secure site. Cybercriminals have become adept at creating fake sites that look identical to trusted brands, making it easy for consumers to be misled.

Deepfake Technology: Social Engineering with a New Face

Alongside phishing, AI is increasingly being used in social engineering attacks, particularly through deepfake technology. Earlier last year, ARUP lost $25 million to fraudsters after an employee was tricked into believing he was carrying out the orders of his CFO. And everyday people aren’t immune either. A kitchen fitter from Brighton was scammed for £76,000 because he believed a deepfake advert purporting to be Martin Lewis, the money-saving expert.

This method is highly effective because it bypasses traditional security measures we rely on, such as email filters, multi-factor authentication, or the ‘sniff test’, which means that something is awry. Deepfakes create a sense of urgency and authority, making it easier to manipulate people into taking actions they would otherwise refuse. And their realism, especially when duplicate social media profiles are concerned, makes such scams harder to detect, even for those with extensive training.

Protecting Against AI-Enhanced Threats

As the sophistication of AI-driven phishing and social engineering attacks grows, it is essential for both businesses and consumers to adopt proactive security measures. For individuals, vigilance is key. Avoid clicking on links in unsolicited and junk emails, texts that claim to come from businesses or government agencies, or even ads seen on social media platforms. Always manually type in the URL of a website, rather than clicking on embedded links, to ensure that you are visiting a legitimate site.

Multi-factor authentication should also be implemented wherever possible, as it adds an additional layer of security beyond traditional login credentials. Password managers can also help users create and store strong, unique passwords for each account, reducing the risk of credential theft. Passkeys, which rely on biometrics and device management, are the next level of protection that is slowly being adopted.

For businesses, investing in advanced threat detection and response systems is essential. These systems can identify and mitigate phishing and social engineering attacks before they cause significant damage. Machine learning algorithms within these systems can detect patterns of malicious activity that traditional security measures might miss. Regular employee training is also crucial, as the human element remains one of the most vulnerable points of attack.

Moreover, businesses should work to ensure that their employees and customers are aware of the risks posed by deepfakes and other forms of AI-driven social engineering. Implementing robust verification processes, such as requiring multiple confirmations for financial transactions, can also help reduce the risk of falling victim to these kinds of scams. Ultimately, staying ahead of evolving AI threats requires collective vigilance and a stronger commitment to safeguarding personal information.

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This article was produced as part of TechRadarPro's Expert Insights channel where we feature the best and brightest minds in the technology industry today. The views expressed here are those of the author and are not necessarily those of TechRadarPro or Future plc. If you are interested in contributing find out more here: https://www.techradar.com/news/submit-your-story-to-techradar-pro

• Nvidia's new RTX 5080 GPU performs better than AMD's Radeon RX 7900 XTX at raw rasterization and ray tracing
• DLSS 4 performance takes it further, while the RX 7900 XTX only has FSR 3 for now
• Scalping could leave many people buying AMD GPUs instead

The best of Nvidia's RTX 5000 series GPUs are finally here, with the RTX 5090 ($1,999 / £1,939 / AU$4,039) and the RTX 5080 ($999 / £939 / AU$2,019) launching yesterday. With comparisons now out in the wild, it's clear to see that the RTX 5080 defeats AMD's Radeon RX 7900 XTX while sitting at the same listed price - although the chances of finding one at that price are slim.

At both raw rasterization and (unsurprisingly) ray tracing performance, Team Green's RTX 5080 comes out on top against its rivals' flagship RX 7000 series GPU in several games as evident in Gamer Meld's comparison on YouTube (available below). Whilst it isn't by a huge margin (at least in raw rasterization), it completes the job the previous generation's RTX 4080 Super set out to do.

Examples of this are notable in Black Myth: Wukong, as the RTX 5080 scored an average frame rate of 42fps versus the RX 7900 XTX's 32fps at 4K max graphics settings with no upscaling or ray tracing, a 27% performance difference. With RT Overdrive enabled in Cyberpunk 2077 at 4K max graphics settings and upscaling on (performance mode for both), the RTX 5080 had an average of 59.84 fps versus the 7900 XTX's 30.02 fps.

It's worth noting that this is while Team Green's powerhouse GPU was using DLSS 4 and the RX 7900 XTX was using FSR 3 - you could call it an unfair comparison, but Team Red's FSR 4 will only be available for RDNA 4 GPUs (at least for now), and the GPU in question isn't one of them. We will have to wait just a little longer for more information on what the new RX 9070 series offers (especially while using FSR 4), and whether this could stack up to Nvidia's offerings.

Unless you're lucky enough to grab an RTX 5080 FE before scalpers, you likely won't get it at its listed price

Now, this may be a circumstance where I'd recommend sticking with AMD's RX 7900 XTX if you already own the GPU - the RTX 5080 FE would likely be the better option going forward (especially if DLSS 4 is better than FSR 4), but the scalpers will likely be the main obstacle to stop you from purchasing it at reasonable prices.

We've seen this happen on numerous occasions with Nvidia's GPUs and other PC hardware, so expect it to be the same case here. It'll likely be much worse for those chasing the RTX 5090 with its $1,999 / £1,939 / AU$4,039 price (which I frankly don't think is worth it if you already own an RTX 4090).

While Nvidia's RTX 5080 is the stronger GPU, the RX 7900 XTX doesn't stray too far behind in raw rasterization - ray tracing and upscaling are great don't get me wrong, but I've already stated that this shouldn't be the deciding factor for a GPU purchase.

Both GPUs are at the same listed price, with third-party options of the RX 7900 XTX at lower prices (since it's been out for 2 years) so it would be the easy and most affordable option in this case - but once more users catch wind of performance comparisons, you'll likely see the RX 7900 XTX disappear from online retailers too with low stock. A potential purchase of the RTX 5080 is entirely down to whether you own AMD's GPU already or a GPU that's weaker on either Team Red or Team Green's end.

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Traditionally seen as number crunchers handling compliance and bookkeeping, accountants are now evolving into strategic advisers, helping businesses navigate challenges and identify growth opportunities. This shift is being driven by tools like automation, artificial intelligence (AI), financial management software (FMS) and cloud-based systems, which enable accountants to deliver insights and advice far beyond traditional expectations.

According to the 2024 Intuit QuickBooks Accountant Technology Survey, 50% of accounting firms plan to increase their technology investments in the coming year. This demonstrates the growing importance of technology in enhancing efficiency and equipping accountants to meet the increasingly complex needs of businesses.

Financial management systems (FMS) are one of the most transformative tools helping businesses to automate routine tasks, provide real-time financial insights, and empower accountants to move beyond transactional roles, becoming proactive, forward-looking advisers who deliver significant value to their clients.

Here are three ways that FMS enable accountants to provide greater value and become trusted business partners for SMBs:

1. Automating Time-Consuming Tasks

For decades, accountants spent much of their time on routine tasks such as bookkeeping, tax preparation, and data reconciliation. While these activities are critical, they often leave little room for strategic planning or advisory work. Today, automation tools and FMS are transforming this dynamic by taking over repetitive processes, allowing accountants to focus on delivering meaningful value.

Automation reduces the potential for errors while significantly increasing efficiency. With routine tasks streamlined, accountants can spend more time providing timely, actionable insights tailored to their clients’ needs. For SMBs, this access to precise financial data and expert advice is invaluable, enabling them to address unique challenges with confidence outside of simply accounting. This shift allows accountants to dedicate their expertise to areas like profitability analysis and long-term financial planning, cementing their role as proactive advisers.

2. Guiding Clients on Cash Flow Management

Cash flow is the lifeblood of any business, and effective management is often the key to success. Modern FMS tools provide real-time financial insights that empower accountants to help clients monitor their income and expenses more effectively. This capability allows businesses to predict potential cash shortages, plan for upcoming financial needs, and maintain overall stability.

By leveraging real-time data, accountants can identify and address cash flow issues before they become critical. Through close collaboration with their clients, they implement strategies to optimize cash reserves and reduce unnecessary costs. This hands-on approach not only enhances financial stability but also fosters a sense of trust between accountants and the businesses they support. As a result, SMBs are better equipped to navigate day-to-day operations and prepare for growth opportunities.

3. Delivering Insights Beyond Compliance

Gone are the days when accountants were solely focused on ensuring regulatory compliance. With technology adoption, accountants can analyze financial trends, model different scenarios, and offer tailored recommendations that directly impact business performance. These capabilities allow accountants to confidently guide businesses, helping them make informed decisions that drive success.

This evolution from reactive to proactive service delivery has redefined the accountant-client relationship. Accountants are no longer responding to financial events as they occur but are instead anticipating challenges and identifying opportunities. This transformation aligns their services with the strategic priorities of modern businesses and solidifies their role as indispensable partners in growth and innovation.

First Things First: Speak to an Accountant

Despite the clear benefits, some small business owners remain cautious about adopting FMS due to concerns over cost, complexity, and implementation. Speaking with an accountant or financial advisor is an essential first step in overcoming these barriers and ensuring the best tools are chosen for your business goals. These professionals offer expert guidance to help you identify scalable, customizable solutions tailored to your specific business needs.

They simplify the transition process, breaking implementation into manageable steps and providing training to ensure confidence in using the new system. Moreover, they can share real-world success stories and demonstrate how similar businesses have benefited from adopting these tools. This expert support ensures a smoother transition, empowering small businesses to embrace technology to drive growth and efficiency.

The Long-Term Implications of Technology Adoption

The integration of technology into accounting is not just a trend; it’s a necessity for long-term success. Accountants who embrace these tools can deliver high-value services that strengthen client relationships and foster business growth. For SMBs, adopting FMS means achieving operational efficiency, reducing errors, and gaining the insights needed to make confident, strategic decisions. Together, these advancements position both accountants and SMBs to thrive in an increasingly complex financial landscape.

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This article was produced as part of TechRadarPro's Expert Insights channel where we feature the best and brightest minds in the technology industry today. The views expressed here are those of the author and are not necessarily those of TechRadarPro or Future plc. If you are interested in contributing find out more here: https://www.techradar.com/news/submit-your-story-to-techradar-pro

Back in October, I met with a young German start-up CEO who had integrated the open-source approach by DeepSeek into his Mind-Verse platform and made it comply with German data privacy (DSGVO) standards. Since then, many rumors have been circulating that China has chosen a different architectural structure for its foundation model—one that relies not only on open source, but is also much more efficient, requiring neither the same level of training data nor the same compute resources.

When it comes to DeepSeek, this is not a singular “breakthrough moment.” Rather, AI development continues on an exponential trajectory: progress is becoming faster, its impact broader, and with increasing investment and more engineers involved, fundamental breakthroughs in engineering and architecture are just beginning. Contrary to some market spokespeople, investors, and even certain foundation model pioneers, this is not solely about throwing infinite compute at the problem; we are still far from understanding core aspects of reasoning, consciousness, and the “operating model” (or software layers) of the human mind.

Additionally DeepSeek is (was) not a government-sponsored initiative; supposedly, even the prime minister was surprised and visited Hangzhou to understand what was happening. Although Scale AI founder Alexander Wang claims that China already has a significant number of powerful H100 GPUs (about 50,000), yet—based on U.S. export laws—this fact is not publicly acknowledged. DeepSeek is reported to have only about 150 engineers, each earning in the range of $70–100k, which is eight to ten times lower than top engineering salaries in Silicon Valley.

So, regardless of whether they have powerful GPUs or whether $6 million or $150 million was invested, it is nowhere near the billions—or tens of billions—poured into other major AI competitors. This example shows that different engineering and architectural approaches do exist and may be waiting to be uncovered. Most likely, this is not the ultimate approach, but it also challenges the current VC narrative that “it’s all about compute and scale.” Moreover, the open-source mindset behind DeepSeek challenges the typical approach to LLMs and highlights both the advantages and the potential risks.

Sam Altman is rumored to be hosting a “behind-closed-doors” meeting with the Trump administration on January 30th, where he plans to present so-called “PhD-level” AI agents—or super agentic AI. How “super” this will be remains unclear, and it is unlikely there will be any public declaration of achieving AGI. Still, when Mark Zuckerberg suggests Meta will soon publish substantial progress, and Elon Musk hints at new breakthroughs with Groc, DeepSeek is just another “breakthrough” that illustrates how fast the market is moving.

Once agentic AIs come online, they introduce a structural shift: agentic AI is not about merely responding to a prompt, but about pursuing a goal. Through a network of super agents, massive amounts of data are gathered and analyzed, while real products and tasks are delivered autonomously. What is interesting about Sam Altman not making a public appearance and release, his meeting with the U.S. The government hints at potential risks and consequences.

We are at the Verge of Hyper-Efficiency and Hyper-Innovation

What we are seeing is the compound effect of investment and ever-growing teams working on these models, with few signs of a slowdown. Needless to say, any quantum breakthroughs would be the next frontier—essentially “AI on steroids”—where the magnitude of change could increase exponentially. On the positive side, this can unleash innovations in health and medicine like never before in human history.

In the near future, broader access to AI tools will probably benefit infrastructure providers and hyperscalers such as AWS. It is unclear if this will put NVIDIA at a disadvantage or actually benefit it: as “everyone” joins the AI race, there could be more demand for compute, not just from big U.S. tech players like OpenAI. Meanwhile, Anthropic and OpenAI run closed ecosystems, but DeepSeek’s public paper shares many of its core methods.

The greatest risk to the U.S. and its current AI dominance is that China does have talent and the strong work ethic to keep pushing forward. Trade sanctions won’t stop that. As more engineers come together and keep working, the odds of major breakthroughs increase.

The Battle of Distrust

Globally, the U.S. is losing trust. The “don’t trust China” narrative is fading in many parts of the world. While Donald Trump on the surface gains respect, global leaders are quietly looking for alternatives in the background to mitigate. Europe and other Asian nations don’t want to be “hostage” to U.S. technology and will open up to new options.

Technology doesn’t evolve overnight, and we’ve only seen the start of the breakthroughs to be announced by Groc, Meta, and OpenAI. Simultaneously, new capital will continue pouring in, and other regions will join the race, now that it’s clear money alone isn’t everything. The future might not necessarily be bad for NVIDIA, either, since data centers could appear everywhere, enabling a more global roll-out of AI and creating opportunities for many.

From Prompting to Action

There are still numerous smaller AI companies that have received massive funding purely on hope and hype. Yet new approaches to foundation models—via architectural and engineering innovation—can continue to drive progress. And once we “hack” biology or chemistry with AI, we may see entirely new levels of breakthroughs.

Looking toward the rest of 2025, we can expect more “super-agent” breakthroughs, as agentic AI and LQMs (Large Quantitative Models) push generative AI beyond fun language-based tools to genuine human worker replacements. Not only will financial modeling and analysis be optimized, but also execution—the entire cycle of booking, planning, and organizing—could shift to autonomous agents. Over time, these integrated, adaptive agents will replace more and more use cases where humans currently remain in the loop. This might also be one of the biggest threats to society: coping with extreme pressures on market economies under hyper-efficiency and hyper-innovation. In 2025, we are likely to see breakthroughs in education, science, health, consulting, and finance. With multiple compounding effects in play, we’ll likely experience hyper-efficiency and widespread growth.

However, the looming threats are real. Agentic, at-scale AI can still fall victim to hallucinations, and now anyone with a few million dollars can build their own model—potentially for malicious use. While a global, open approach to AI can be positive, many engineering and research challenges remain unsolved, leaving high risks. With the U.S. laser-focused on AI, the race to surpass human-level intelligence is on.

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This article was produced as part of TechRadarPro's Expert Insights channel where we feature the best and brightest minds in the technology industry today. The views expressed here are those of the author and are not necessarily those of TechRadarPro or Future plc. If you are interested in contributing find out more here: https://www.techradar.com/news/submit-your-story-to-techradar-pro

Everyone gets a creative impulse sometimes. Maybe you have a great idea for a novel, want to take up painting as a hobby, write songs with your kids, or just come up with fun rhymes for birthday cards. But inspiration can be elusive, and it can be hard to keep going if you hit a roadblock. Building up those creative muscles can be a lot easier with the help of AI tools, and Google Gemini can be a particularly useful catalyst, pushing your ideas in directions you might not have considered.

Google tends to hype Gemini's productivity angle, but with the right approach, Gemini can be a muse, editor, sounding board, and multimedia collaborator. The AI can help refine, remix, and reimagine your projects. I've assembled five of the best ways you can use Gemini to spark a creative project and make it amazing.

Crucially, these ideas don't replace your efforts with AI; rather, they elevate your creativity and can make the sometimes difficult process a lot more fun.

1. Brainstorm Ideas with AI-Powered Prompts

(Image credit: Created with Google Gemini)

"I want to do something creative" is the first essential thought, but sometimes your mind might feel like an empty field with a tumbleweed blowing across it. If you want to get those creative juices flowing, you don't have to stare at a blank page. You can brainstorm with Google Gemini and come up with ideas based on a favorite genre, medium, mood, or just a random thought.

For instance, say you want to write a short story but have no idea what to write about. You could ask Gemini:

"Give me five unique short story ideas based on the theme of lost time, but make each one a different genre."

Or if you're looking to paint but want to branch out from your usual topics, you might try:

"Suggest three surreal painting concepts that combine natural landscapes with dreamlike elements."

This approach works for almost any creative pursuit. A songwriter stuck on their next piece could ask Gemini for unusual lyrical themes, like:

"Give me three song concepts inspired by the perspective of inanimate objects."

You're never starting from scratch by using Gemini as a brainstorming partner. It’s like bouncing ideas off a digital muse with infinite patience.

2. Generate Outlines

(Image credit: Created with Google Gemini)

That first concept is all some people need to get going, but working out the broad strokes of your creative brilliance is tough. The bigger the project, the more important it is, though. Plenty of novels and screenplays benefit from outlining, and paintings are often better after some practice sketches. A strong outline can prevent you from getting lost in the weeds, and Gemini is excellent at helping break down complex ideas into manageable steps.

Say you’re writing a fantasy novel about a young girl who discovers an ancient, forgotten magic. You might ask Gemini:

"Create a detailed chapter-by-chapter outline for a fantasy novel where a girl accidentally unseals an ancient power and must go on a journey to control it before it destroys her homeland."

The AI will provide a structured framework, but that doesn’t mean you must follow it strictly. It's a cookbook where you can pick recipes you like, modify others that don't fit your preferences, and let others inspire your own take on a meal. Rather than feeling overwhelmed, you’ll have a clear roadmap to follow, making the entire process much smoother.

Similarly, if you're working on a personal essay about an important memory, say for a wedding toast or memorial speech, Gemini can help organize your thoughts:

"Outline an essay about my first time going to the ocean with my grandmother and how it changed my perspective on life."

3. Create AI-Assisted Visuals for Inspiration

(Image credit: Created with Google Gemini)

Creativity isn’t just about words; the right image can spark all kinds of ideas. Gemini can generate AI-assisted images that help bring abstract ideas to life, helping you visualize something you're writing. It also can be an excellent tool for painters, illustrators, and costume designers.

Imagine you’re working on a sci-fi comic and need inspiration for an alien cityscape. You could describe what you’re envisioning and let Gemini generate an AI-assisted concept image:

"Create a concept sketch for a futuristic city that floats above an ocean and is powered by bioluminescent coral."

This works even if you aren’t an artist yourself. Maybe you’re a writer who wants to better visualize a setting before describing it or a filmmaker imagining set designs. Seeing a rough version of what’s in your head can help refine your vision.

Gemini can also help with more personal projects like mood boards. If you’re designing a new wardrobe style, you could ask:

"Generate a mood board of clothing inspired by 18th-century fashion with a cyberpunk twist."

The key here is that AI doesn’t replace human creativity. Instead, it amplifies your imagination by providing starting points you can tweak, remix, and develop further.

4. Overcome Creative Blocks with AI-Driven Reframing

(Image credit: Created with Google Gemini)

Every creative person has hit a roadblock at some point during a project. Maybe your novel’s middle section feels dull, your painting lacks something, but you don’t know what, or your standup set just isn’t flowing. Instead of getting frustrated, you can use Gemini to help you reframe the problem from a different perspective. Sometimes, the problem isn’t that you’re out of ideas, you’re only stuck because you've been looking at your project the same way for too long. Gemini helps you shake things up and see new possibilities.

For instance, if you’re writing a script and feel like a scene isn’t working, you might ask:

"Rewrite this scene, but from the perspective of the antagonist instead of the protagonist."

Or if you’re struggling with a poem’s final stanza, try:

"Give me three alternative last lines for a poem about the end of summer that leave the reader with a bittersweet feeling."

The same goes for visual art. If you’re unsure what’s missing from a digital painting, you could ask:

"Suggest a color scheme that would enhance the contrast and mood of this twilight landscape painting."

5. Mix and Match Different Creative Styles

(Image credit: Created with Google Gemini)

Some of the most interesting creative breakthroughs happen when you blend styles, themes, or influences that wouldn’t normally go together, just look at the million revamped versions of Shakespeare. Gemini can help you explore unexpected combinations and push your work in fresh directions.

If you’re a musician, you might ask:

"Describe what a folk song would sound like if it were composed in the style of 1980s synth-pop."

A writer working on a fairy tale could experiment with genre mashups:

"Rewrite ‘Little Red Riding Hood’ as a cyberpunk thriller with a corporate espionage twist."

Or maybe you’re a filmmaker looking to experiment with storytelling techniques:

"Give me five plot structures inspired by non-linear storytelling, like ‘Memento’ or ‘Pulp Fiction.’"

It's not unusual to get bored with your own ideas and start doubting the value of the whole effort just because you're so close to it. Remixing a style can renew your own interest as much as it can entice others. Working with Gemini is a creative project in its own way, one worth playing with to fuel your own creativity. If you get creative with how you engage with Gemini, you might be amazed at just how imaginative your efforts become.

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• STKP28000400 is a 28TB desktop hard drive from Seagate's popular Expansion family
• It includes Seagate's Data rescue service should the drive fail to work
• Despite its massive capacity, it still features the now-obsolete USB-A port

Best Buy has listed the Seagate STKP28000400 desktop hard drive as part of its well-known Expansion series, featuring an impressive 28TB capacity.

The size of this drive is noteworthy, and though it does support the slightly retrograde USB-A interface, it should be enough for most use cases, ensuring hardware cross-compatibility and high transfer speeds. It is a shame though that there's no plan to have a Type-C connector that wouldn't require a separate power connector.

This is available on preorder only at the time of writing. What you're looking at is the largest hard disk drive currently available for sale, internal or external. At 28TB, it can store more than 1,000 Blu-ray disks.View Deal

Built-in data recovery support

The STKP28000400 includes Seagate’s Rescue Data Recovery Services, offering users an extra layer of security by assisting in recovering data if the drive encounters issues.

Priced at $389.99, the STKP28000400 is currently available from Best Buy and Provantage on preorder. It provides one of the lowest per-terabyte ratios on the market, costing about $14.22 per TB. HDDs from its rivals like the WD Red Pro (24TB) cost $23.75 per TB while the WD My Passport 6TB HDD costs $24.99 per TB.

Seagate has a long history of releasing large-capacity hard drives, and recently unveiled the Exos M, the world’s largest hard drive with a 32TB capacity.

Desktop hard drives are often cheaper than internal HDD at the same capacity and that's because of economies of scale. A lot of DIYer have resorted to shucking external HDDs in order to extract hard drives and use them in NAS devices.

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• New Linux leak may have revealed Intel Battlemage GPUs
• The recent Linux patch had three code numbers
• If true, this could challenge Nvidia's 5000 series GPUs

Intel’s upcoming Arc Battlemage graphics cards have gotten plenty of media attention through rumors, reports, and just recently an official reveal from Intel itself. But a recent Linux leak has revealed several new cards, which could possibly pose a threat to Nvidia’s RTX 5000 series.

According to Tomasz Gawroński, a gaming hardware enthusiast on X, the most recent Linux patch may have revealed at least three new Arc Battlemage cards, which could be the anticipated powerful variants. The listing itself shows three code numbers, with the patch notes stating that it’ll “Add 3 new IDs for BMG.” Gawroński interpreted it as Intel adding three new Battlemage IDs in this patch.

Though there hasn’t been anything concrete in the leaked information establishing that these cards are higher-end models, if they are it could absolutely flip the market on its head. Intel’s graphics cards have been competitively priced since the tech giant first entered the market, with the B580 and B570 models proving as such. If Intel were to launch mid-range and high-end cards with that same mindset, this could strike a critical blow against AMD and especially Nvidia.

Of course, that’s if these code numbers turn out to be anything in the long run. This could all be meaningless in the end, which is why it’s important to take this leak with a healthy pinch of salt.

How this could turn the tables on Nvidia

Nvidia’s RTX 5000 series graphics cards managed to buck the expected trend of prices dramatically increasing every new generation. The flagship RTX 5090, for instance, is only a few or so hundred above the RTX 4090’s launch day MSRP, and the RTX 5070 is one-third of the 4090’s price while nearly matching its performance with the use of DLSS.

But even if the Arc Battlemage cards don’t match the performance of the 5000 series or AMD’s RX 9070, a cheaper price point would allow Team Blue to finally gain traction in the mid-range market as it has in the budget space — after all, there are plenty of gamers looking for cards that better fit their more cost efficient PC builds. We already know that the majority of gamers are still at 1080p, with only a chunk at 1440p as their main monitor resolution.

I, for one, truly hope this is the direction Team Blue goes in. As I’ve been saying for quite some time now, Team Green and Team Red need a fire lit under their backsides in terms of offering truly budget graphics cards. And that fire is clearly the threat of real competition.

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• Lazarus was seen poisoning open source software with infostealers
• The campaign is dubbed Phantom Circuit, and targets mostly European software devs
• Multiple repositories were found poisoned with malware

The notorious North Korean hackers Lazarus have been targeting software developers, particularly those in the Web3 industry, with infostealing malware, grabbing their credentials, authentication tokens, and other valuable data, experts have warned.

Cybersecurity researchers SecurityScorecard released a report detailing the campaign, which included a software supply-chain attack and open-source poisoning.

Lazarus Group, an infamous hacking collective on North Korea’s payroll, was spotted grabbing different open source tools, poisoning them with malicious code, and then returning them to code repositories and platforms such as Gitlab.

Targeting Web3 devs

Developers would then pick up these tools by mistake, and would unknowingly get infected with malware.

The researchers named the operation Phantom Circuit, and apparently ended up compromising more than 1,500 victims. Most of them are based in Europe, with notable additions from India and Brazil.

The modified repositories apparently included Codementor, CoinProperty, Web3 E-Store, a Python-based password manager, and “other cryptocurrency-related apps, authentication packages, and web3 technologies”, citing Ryan Sherstobitoff, senior VP of research and threat intelligence at SecurityScorecard.

The researchers did not say if Lazarus used any known infostealer in this campaign, or created new code from scratch. The group is known for using a wide variety of tools in their attacks.

Lazarus often targets cryptocurrency companies. Some researchers are saying the country is engaging in crypto theft to fund its state apparatus, as well as its weapons program. The group is famous for its fake job campaign, called Operation DreamJob, in which it targets Web3 software developers with fake, lucrative job offers.

During the interview stages, the attackers would trick the candidate into downloading and running infostealers, grabbing their tokens, and those of their employers. In one such instance, Lazarus managed to steal roughly $600 million.

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• Following $500 billion Project Stargate launch, Meta is also dolling out the dollars
• Meta's $65 billion is lower than Microsoft's $80 billion commitment
• AWS is set to spend more than $75 billion while Google has yet to say how much it will spend

If you have a few hundred billion dollars burning a hole in your pocket, you’re probably considering spending it on an AI data center or two. US President Donald Trump recently announced OpenAI, SoftBank, and Oracle would launch a new AI infrastructure venture called Project Stargate, investing $500 billion over four years across the US. OpenAI noted that $100 billion would be made available “immediately.”

Elon Musk, no stranger to building AI data centers and perhaps a bit miffed about being left out, claimed that Project Stargate doesn’t actually have the money, stating, “SoftBank has well under $10 billion secured.”

While that was unfolding, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg made an announcement on Facebook, revealing the company is “building a 2GW+ data center so large it would cover a significant part of Manhattan,” while also outlining other AI plans.

A defining year for AI

Zuckerberg's full post reads: “This will be a defining year for AI. In 2025, I expect Meta AI will be the leading assistant, serving more than 1 billion people. Llama 4 will become the leading state-of-the-art model, and we’ll build an AI engineer that will start contributing increasing amounts of code to our R&D efforts. To power this, Meta is building a 2GW+ data center so large it would cover a significant part of Manhattan. We’ll bring online ~1GW of compute in '25 and end the year with more than 1.3 million GPUs. We’re planning to invest $60-65 billion in capex this year while also growing our AI teams significantly, and we have the capital to continue investing in the years ahead. This is a massive effort, and over the coming years, it will drive our core products and business, unlock historic innovation, and extend American technology leadership. Let’s go build!”

$65 billion on capital expenses certainly isn’t nothing, but it pales in comparison to the $80 billion Microsoft plans to invest in fiscal 2025 or the $75 billion-plus AWS intends to spend this year. We don't know how much Google will be pumping into AI infrastructure, but it's going to be a similar figure.

That said, Meta's investment is higher than most would have expected. Reuters points out: “The $60 billion to $65 billion capital spending outlined for 2025 would mark a significant jump from the company's estimated expenditure of $38 billion to $40 billion last year. It is also above analysts' estimates of $50.25 billion for 2025, according to LSEG data.”

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• Vodafone has just passed a major landmark for satellite video calls
• It's demoed a "space video call" using a standard smartphone
• The service will roll out later this year, though there's no pricing yet

Vodafone has announced that it's hit a new milestone in the race to end frustrating cellular 'dead zones' – with what it's calling the "world's first space video call" using a standard mobile phone from "an area of no coverage."

Those qualifiers are important because Starlink and T-Mobile demoed a video call made through X (formerly Twitter) using unmodified phones last year. So Vodafone's claim is specific to making video calls from areas like the remote part of Wales where its demo took place.

Still, it's certainly a significant moment and a big step on Vodafone's path towards adding satellite connectivity to its network by the end of this year in the UK and across Europe "from later in 2025 and 2026."

Rather than replacing existing networks, direct-to-mobile satellite connectivity aims to be a helpful extension that could eliminate "not spots" (or dead zones) in rural areas and also, according to Vodafone, "vast stretches of surrounding sea."

Vodafone claims that its satellite experience "mirrors the experience of existing 4G and 5G mobile networks", although the demo phone call (which you can watch in the video below) certainly showed evidence of lag and low-res footage. We may have to wait for the full roll-out to get a better idea of quality.

The service is provided by BlueBird satellites from Vodafone's partner (and SpaceX rival) AST SpaceMobile. The system is based on five satellites and Vodafone calls it "the first and only mobile broadband network in space" that works directly with standard smartphones.

Rivals systems, like T-Mobile and Starlink's, are currently limited to text messages, although video calls and mobile data are on the roadmap. With AT&T and Verizon also working with AST SpaceMobile to provide a similar service in the US, satellite calling looks ready to take off globally in 2025.

How much will it cost?

The big unknown of Vodafone's satellite connectivity and rival systems is how much they'll cost. Vodafone hasn't yet commented on pricing, only stating that it'll start rolling out the service "following further tests this Spring" (so between March and June).

The need for satellite coverage, particularly video calls, depends greatly on where you live. In the UK, Ofcom has estimated that 9% of the country "lacks good quality 4G coverage from any operator". But those who live in urban areas will also be familiar with phone network "dead zones" caused by interruptions between cell towers.

Apple's iPhones and now Android phones like the Google Pixel 9 series have received free Emergency SOS Satellite features, which can be potential lifesavers. iOS 18 also introduced the ability to text anyone via a satellite connection, plus the option of getting roadside assistance.

It's possible that those services will eventually need a subscription, but Apple hasn't started charging yet. So, the question for mobile networks like Vodafone is how many people will need full mobile broadband via satellite compared to the emergency features that are currently available for free from Apple.

Still, we're not complaining about getting more connectivity options, and competition will hopefully drive the prices of satellite-based services down in the long term.

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The first Samsung Galaxy Unpacked of 2025 has been and gone, and now that we've had time with the new Samsung Galaxy S25 series, we've been chewing over the nuances of these flagship phones.

Though we’re getting a decently refreshed Galaxy S25 Ultra and an entirely new model in the S25 Edge, our hands-on Samsung Galaxy S25 review found that the baseline S25 has received a comparatively smaller update this year than either of its larger siblings.

However, as important as it is to celebrate innovation, I also think it’s worth taking a step back before casting judgment over the new vanilla Galaxy S25, and appreciating that the S25 offers a lot of value for its $799 / £799 / AU$1,399 price tag, even if it is broadly similar to last year’s Samsung Galaxy S24. Indeed, when it comes to one specific camera feature, the S25 is still the only phone of its kind.

The Galaxy S25 is still the only globally available current-gen flagship of its price to come with an optical telephoto zoom lens, and, personally, I think that’s worth raving about. Optical zoom gives users so much more capability and versatility when it comes to taking snaps and videos, offering more consistent quality and enabling the accompanying digital zoom to reach out further.

The Samsung Galaxy S25 has three rear cameras (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

An optical zoom camera is one of those tech features that you don’t know you need until you have it, like a 120Hz display or an under-display fingerprint scanner. While those other two features have found their way to dozens of models at all kinds of price points, telephoto cameras are still typically relegated to only the most premium units.

The S25 has three cameras, but its two main rivals – the iPhone 16 and Google Pixel 9 – both opt for a two-camera system comprising a main and ultra-wide camera. Apple and Google fans need to step up to the pricier iPhone 16 Pro ($999 / £999 / AU$1,799) or Google Pixel 9 Pro ($999 / £999 / AU$1,699) to get their hands on a telephoto zoom.

I’ve been using telephoto-equipped phones for close to six years now, and would go so far as to call optical zoom an essential feature (depending, of course, on your budget). The extended reach is great for concerts and wildlife photography, while the narrower field of view and longer focal distance of telephoto cameras makes them ideal for portraits.

In the examples below, I effectively took the same photo with the S25’s 3x telephoto camera and the iPhone 15 at 3x digital zoom. Feel free to draw your own conclusions and let me know in the comments section, but if you ask me, the S25 wins thanks to its richer detail and bolder lighting.

iPhone 15 camera samples: 3x digital zoom Image 1 of 3

(Image credit: Jamie Richards / Future)Image 2 of 3

(Image credit: Jamie Richards / Future)Image 3 of 3

(Image credit: Jamie Richards / Future) Samsung Galaxy S25 camera samples: 3x optical zoom Image 1 of 3

(Image credit: Jamie Richards / Future)Image 2 of 3

(Image credit: Jamie Richards / Future)Image 3 of 3

(Image credit: Jamie Richards / Future)

I previously voiced my distaste for ultra-wide cameras, but my appreciation of the S25’s camera system is more than just the flip side of this long-standing annoyance.

As well as giving users more options for photography, the continued inclusion of the 3x camera symbolizes what I see as Samsung’s genuine commitment to equipping users with higher-quality hardware. In fact, the Galaxy S25 overall is probably the most technically advanced phone in its price bracket, sporting a chunky 12GB of RAM and the class-leading Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, as well as its well-furnished camera system.

So, can we hope to see Apple and Google catch up any time soon? I’m not so sure. The baseline iPhone generally inherits features from the Pro models one, two, or three years after they debut, but telephoto cameras have remained the preserve of the very best iPhones since the iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max. It's the same story for Google's Pixel phones, with telephoto cameras still exclusive to the XL, Pro, and Pro XL models. It seems like Samsung’s lead is pretty safe, then.

It's worth mentioning here that there are cheaper telephoto-equipped phones available from phone makers like Xiaomi, Oppo, and even Samsung itself (see the Galaxy S24 FE), but these aren't globally available and don't match the S25 in hardware power.

Additionally, you can currently pick up last year's telephoto-sporting OnePlus 12 for $799 / £799, though with the OnePlus 13 now out in the wild, this isn't part of the same generation as the S25.

Samsung's baseline flagship, then, remains one-of-a-kind.

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Wix, one of the best website builders, wants to help you start your next business, and to that end has released Business Launcher, a new tool powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI). Business Launcher is now available in English, with free access and optional premium upgrades for additional features.

In a press release shared with TechRadar Pro earlier this week, Wix said that Business Launcher is designed to help entrepreneurs create new business initiatives, from concept to execution. It will guide the user through various steps of building a business, and offer personalized ideas, actionable plans, and key tools needed to make the idea a reality.

Since everything is AI-powered, the process starts with the user answering a few questions about their background. Alternatively, they can simply upload their resume, and thus create a comprehensive profile based on experience, skills, and interests.

"Personal business assistant"

After that, the tool will ask about business goals (side hustle, new career path, new business venture, etc.). Once all the information is provided, Business Launcher will present a full breakdown of different ideas, how they align with the skills, an overall analysis of the market size, monetization avenues, SEO analysis, and more.

If a user selects any of the suggested business ideas, they will get a comprehensive launch kit consisting of a custom business name, a personalized website, a logo, a domain name suggestion, and various marketing tools. Wix will also suggest its AI Website Builder, to help the user generate a website easier.

Finally, they will be provided with a site dashboard where they can manage the tools necessary to execute the new business endeavor.

“We designed the Business Launcher to function like a personal business assistant, guiding users from the initial spark of an idea all the way to full business execution,” said Yaya Aaronsohn, Head of Brand Maker and Business Launcher at Wix. “By combining users’ work experience and interests with Wix’s extensive market research, the Business Launcher offers personalized ideas supported by detailed market analysis, SEO strategies, and revenue planning. It equips users with everything they need, from a custom website to marketing tools, ensuring they can confidently launch their business.”

Comment from the expert

I love seeing website builders such as Wix find new ways to support entrepreneurs and businesses. Learning about this latest update really excited me, so I logged into my Wix account and took it for a spin as soon as I could.

The Wix AI interface is easy to navigate and it keeps its questions short and to the point. I asked it to help me with a side hustle idea, something to do with my hobby (Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ)). After answering a few questions, it offered 3 ideas all surrounding teaching BJJ.

From there it made further suggestions such as a brand name and automatically created a website outline. All of these were a good starting point, but like with all AI website builders, it didn't exactly hit the mark in terms of content. In fact, it provided images of people using nunchucks and practicing high kicks - neither of which are legal in BJJ (unfortunately).

I suspect at least a few hours of editing will be needed to get the site up to scratch. My manager can breathe a sigh of relief - I won't be handing in my notice today.

Overall, I was impressed with Wix's latest tool. It appears to be a great launch pad for entrepreneurial individuals who need a nudge in the right direction. But if you think you'll answer a few questions and have everything you need to launch a business in a couple of minutes, you'll probably be disappointed.

In many ways, this new tool is similar in terms of outcomes to GoDaddy's Airo tool that launched just under a year ago. But where GoDaddy starts with a business idea, I really like how Wix brings this back a step earlier, using your experience and skills to help find the perfect business concept.

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• An annoyed Samsung user has started a petition to restore Bluetooth to the S Pen
• Samsung removed connectivity with the S25 Ultra, disabling remote camera control and gestures
• The petition has over 3,000 signatures so far

An annoyed Samsung specialist has started a petition on Change.org to “demand Samsung Mobile to reintroduce [the] Bluetooth S Pen for Galaxy S26 Ultra”, after Samsung removed Bluetooth capabilities from the new Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra’s stylus.

Jeff Springer, who owns and runs the specialist Samsung news site SammyGuru, has launched a Change.org petition in response to Samsung’s decision to remove Bluetooth from the S25 Ultra’s S Pen, which previously enabled remote control of the UI and camera.

The petition has already gained some traction, with more than 3,200 signatures at the time of writing.

In the petition’s description, Springer writes of his annoyance at Samsung’s decision: “For me, and for numerous others, this feature was not just a novelty – it was a functional, important tool that differentiated the Samsung Galaxy from other smartphones on the market [...] We implore Samsung Mobile to listen to their user base and incorporate beneficial feedback into their product development process.”

As we previously reported, it did seem that Samsung would be changing course on the S Pen decision. A footnote in an official Samsung blog suggested the company would be selling Bluetooth-enabled S Pens separately, but this turned out to be a mistake.

Change.org petitions have no legal or official impact in any territory, but can be useful tools in putting pressure on organizations and companies to change course.

Bluetooth S Pens – a cause worth fighting for?

The S25 retains the iconic S Pen, but only as a writing and drawing tool (Image credit: Peter Hoffmann)

A central reason that Bluetooth was cut from the S25 Ultra’s S Pen is, according to Samsung, a lack of popularity with the user base, which suggests most users won’t miss the feature.

However, it's undeniably disappointing to see Samsung’s highest-tier phone losing features – as our Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra review finds, this is otherwise the absolute apex of Samsung’s smartphone production powers, so any perceived dent in that image can feel like a real blow. From that perspective, I can genuinely sympathize with Springer and the petition’s other signatories.

However, if the Bluetooth capabilities of the S Pen really were unpopular, then it may have been worthwhile to cut this lesser-used capability in order to reallocate resources to the new 50-megapixel ultra-wide camera and class-leading Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, which the wider user base will get far more use out of.

In any case, while the lack of S Pen connectivity may keep the S25 Ultra out of the hands of these 3,200 petitioners, it’s unlikely to stop Samsung’s latest premium flagship from taking a spot on our list of the best Samsung phones, best camera phones, and best phones overall.

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• Max is debuting a new multiview feature for the first time
• The experience will be limited to NASCAR but puts you in the driver seat
• It will be available for all major races this season

Max subscribers, start your engines. Just a few days after moving the main navigation menu from the top to the left side panel of its homepage, the streaming service is making another move – its first-ever multiview experience. Meaning that for one program, you’ll have four separate views.

Max's first multiview experience is being dubbed NASCAR Driver Cam, and it should be a significant win for racing fans. It’ll debut with the Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray on February 2, 2025, so just in a few short days, and will let you get the view from every driver in the race.

The idea is that your stream will be split into four different views, allowing you to see from inside four different driver's cars, along with core stats like speed, gear, RPM, and the position and location of the course. Considering there will be up to 40 drivers to choose from, Max will help you with any indecision by offering two multiview presets, but you can also pick a single driver, and watch that view in full, individually.

(Image credit: Max)

You’ll also get individual controls for each driver cam, allowing you to pause, rewind, snap back to live, and hear the individual team audio. Max notes the view will be 1080p for the driver cams with a custom audio mix pairing car noise with team radios.

It’s certainly a unique view, and it was previously unavailable unless the TV production decided to cut to it. Max, TNT Sports, and NASCAR are putting more of the control in your hands, and if you’re a racing fan, this is pretty darn exciting.

Further, it’s not just for the Cook Out Clash. Max will offer NASCAR Driver Cam for the 38 race weeks as part of the Sprint Cup Series, meaning you can use this view for the playoffs, tournaments, and the Daytona 500. For each of these, there will be preset views as well as fan-selected ones – pretty neat.

It’s a pretty impressive tech feat that Max is pulling off. While they are not the first streamer to offer multi-view, there is a lot of customization here. Considering that Max is spinning this up for NASCAR and that there are other sports courtesy of TNT Sports on the platform, we could see this rollout replicated in the future.

(Image credit: Max)

I hope that Max will, at minimum, allow you to create your own multiview setup and pick the four views you want rather than preset or fan-selected ones based on the most popular driver cams.

Could it be a potential play for TV shows or movies? That’s a bit harder to tell, for instance, viewing four different episodes of a show like Curb Your Enthusiasm or House of the Dragon might be jarring, but what if there are more immersive views, or you can decide the cut or what you’re looking at? It’s an interesting thought, kind of like choosing your own adventure, but Max hasn’t committed to anything like this.

For now, Max is ushering in multiview for NASCAR, and from the shared images, it looks like a pretty compelling experience that will put fans closer to the racers they want to win and, ultimately, closer to the action.

Further, it doesn’t come with a price increase … as of yet, I just hope they don’t copy Netflix in the future. Check out our list of the best shows and movies to watch on Max here.

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• BioWare is being downsized as it focuses its attention on Mass Effect 5
• General manager Gary McKay says "We don’t require support from the full studio"
• Many long-time Dragon Age developers have been laid off

EA has announced it is restructuring BioWare as it shifts its full attention to Mass Effect 5.

In a blog post published on January 29, Bioware general manager Gary McKay explained that it will be downsizing the studio and moving an unspecified number of developers to other teams within EA, while others will be focused entirely on the next Mass Effect game.

"Now that Dragon Age: The Veilguard has been released, a core team at BioWare is developing the next Mass Effect game under the leadership of veterans from the original trilogy, including Mike Gamble, Preston Watamaniuk, Derek Watts, Parrish Ley, and others," McKay said.

"In keeping with our fierce commitment to innovating during the development and delivery of Mass Effect, we have challenged ourselves to think deeply about delivering the best experience to our fans. We are taking this opportunity between full development cycles to reimagine how we work at BioWare."

McKay continued, saying, "Given this stage of development, we don’t require support from the full studio. We have incredible talent here at BioWare, and so we have worked diligently over the past few months to match many of our colleagues with other teams at EA that had open roles that were a strong fit."

Amid the downsizing, it also appears that several, long-time BioWare veterans have also been laid off, with IGN reporting that "a smaller number" of Dragon Age team members had seen their roles terminated, and been given time to apply for new positions within the company if they choose.

Over on BlueSky, narrative designer Trick Weekes shared that they are now looking for a new position after working 20 years at BioWare. Weekes served as a writer on Mass Effect and Mass Effect 2, then later as a senior writer for Mass Effect 3 and many of the series' downloadable content (DLC).

They also wrote for Dragon Age: Inquisition and, most recently, worked as the lead writer on Dragon Age: The Veilguard.

"I'm now looking for a new writing/narrative position," Weekes said. "It's been a privilege to work with so many amazing devs over my 20 years at BioWare, and I will cherish the memories of the wonderful folks in the community I've met along the way. Thank you all."

Editor, Karin West-Weekes, also announced that she is looking for work, as well as narrative designer Ryan Cormier, producer Jen Cheverie, and more.

"Today’s news will see BioWare become a more agile, focused studio that produces unforgettable RPGs. We appreciate your support as we build a new future for BioWare," McKay added.

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• Microsoft has announced that DeepSeek R1 is coming to Copilot+ machines
• It'll run on-device, so will be less powerful than other versions of the model
• DeepSeek R1 will have three Copilot+ versions that will roll out over time

DeepSeek has seriously shaken up the AI world with an LLM that is seemingly cheaper to train, more power-efficient, and yet equally intelligent compared to its rivals. While Meta, Google, Open AI and others scramble to decipher how DeepSeek’s R1 model got so impressive out of nowhere – with OpenAI even claiming it copied ChatGPT to get there – Microsoft is taking the ‘if you can’t beat them, join them’ approach instead.

Microsoft has announced that, following the arrival of DeepSeek R1 on Azure AI Foundry, you'll soon be able to run an NPU-optimized version of DeepSeek’s AI on your Copilot+ PC. This feature will roll out first to Qualcomm Snapdragon X machines, followed by Intel Core Ultra 200V laptops, and AMD AI chipsets.

It’ll start by making the DeepSeek-R1-Distill-Qwen-1.5B available on Microsoft AI Tookit for developers, before later unlocking the more powerful 7B and 14B versions. While these aren’t as impressive as the 32B and 70B variants also at its disposal, the 14B and lower versions of DeepSeek can run on-device.

This mitigates one of the main concerns with DeepSeek – that data shared with the AI could end up on unsecured foreign servers – with Microsoft adding that “DeepSeek R1 has undergone rigorous red teaming and safety evaluations” to further reduce possible security risks.

How to get DeepSeek R1 on Copilot+

(Image credit: Microsoft)

To start using DeepSeek’s on-device Copilot+ build once its available, you’ll need an Azure account – you can sign up on Microsoft's official website if you don't already have one. Your next step will be to boot up Azure AI Foundry and search for DeepSeek R1. Then hit 'Check out model' on the Introducing DeepSeek R1 card, before clicking on 'Deploy' then 'Deploy' again in the window that pops up.

After a few moments the Chat Playground option should open up, and you can start chatting away with DeepSeek on-device.

If you haven’t yet used DeepSeek, two big advantages you’ll find when you install it are that it’s currently free (at least for now), and that it shows you its ‘thinking’ as it develops its responses. Other AI, like ChatGPT, go through the same thought process but they don’t show it to you, meaning you have to refine your prompts through a process of trial and error until you get what you want. Because you can see its process, and where it might have gone off on the wrong track, you can more easily and precisely tweak your DeepSeek prompts to achieve your goals.

As 7B and 14B variants unlock, you should see DeepSeek R1’s Azure model improve, though if you want to test it out you might want to do so sooner rather than later. Given Microsoft’s serious partnership with OpenAI, we expect it won’t treat this emerging rival well if it turns out that DeepSeek was indeed copied from ChatGPT – potentially removing it from Azure, which it may not have a choice about if the AI faces a ban in the US, Italy and other regions.

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