TechRadar News

• A new ‘Migration’ feature has been found by digging around in the inner workings of Windows 11
• It’s part of the Backup app and allows for a wireless transfer of all your files and settings from an old PC to a new one
• The idea is to use Nearby Sharing, with both PCs in close proximity and on the same Wi-Fi network

Microsoft is apparently working on a way to make it easier for Windows 11 users to make the move from an old PC to a new computer that’s just been purchased (or built).

This is a ‘Migration’ app which is purportedly part of Windows 11’s existing Backup app, and will transfer all your files and settings across wirelessly from the old PC to the new one, providing the devices are in close proximity.

There are a few people to credit for spotting this via a recent Windows 11 preview build, as reported by Windows Latest, who noticed Dongle, an X user, had flagged up the feature in the below post.

Migration app, build 22635.4945 (UI reconstruction)Courtesy of @phantomofearth for discovering the feature and @AhmedWalid605 for providing the decompiler.1/4 pic.twitter.com/XdGRvpdJgdFebruary 17, 2025

Dongle further credits regular leaker PhantomOfEarth on X for digging around and uncovering said feature, and also AhmedWalid605 for providing the decompiler used to reconstruct what this new feature might look like (based on the interface clues found by PhantomOfEarth in the preview build).

The screenshots of the Migration app in the X post are mocked-up by Dongle (a best guess of what it’d look like), but the functionality is correct going by the clues dug up from the inner workings of Windows 11.

As noted, the transfer of files happens wirelessly, and Dongle guesses that the feature might use Nearby Sharing, which is essentially Microsoft’s take on AirDrop, requiring both machines to be on the same Wi-Fi network, and near to each other.

(Image credit: Getty Images) Analysis: A sound and handy alternative to a cloudy path

Remember that what’s presented in this X post is just a mock-up and so the end version of Migration could look (or work) very differently. Indeed, because this is just code buried in Windows 11 and not even enabled in testing yet, it’s possible this is a capability Microsoft is toying with, but may yet abandon. In short, don’t get your hopes up too much.

In theory, though, the Migration feature is a sound idea and plugs a gap in the existing functionality that the Backup app delivers. Backup already provides a way to transfer your old PC data over to a new system, but that’s facilitated via the cloud (files are uploaded to OneDrive to make the backup, which is then extracted from the cloud and onto the new PC at setup).

The trouble is that if you’re looking at a hefty Windows 11 installation, and a ton of files, that could be sluggish to download from the cloud – especially if you don’t have a decent internet connection. Or indeed you may not have enough cloud storage space on OneDrive in the first place.

Clearly, there are scenarios where the cloud is a less-than-ideal solution, so the idea with Migration is to facilitate a local transfer that doesn’t need anything aside from both PCs being next to each other (and being able to connect to the same local Wi-Fi network). That’s going to be a convenient and useful option to have for a good few folks, I’d imagine.

As Window Latest observes, the hope is that Migration might also cater for third-party apps (and not just Microsoft Store apps, as with Backup), which would be a really nifty addition. Fingers crossed on that front, though I wouldn’t place any bets.

There are, of course, other options for migrating your stuff from one PC to another aside from Microsoft’s official methods included in Windows 11.

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• Corsair's CEO suggests Grand Theft Auto 6 could be making its way to PC in early 2026
• Take-Two's CEO Strauss Zelnick also recently teased the PC port for the highly anticipated title
• Fans still await any new information and a new trailer

The wait for Rockstar Games' next installment of its most successful franchise, Grand Theft Auto, has spanned just over a decade now, and its publisher Take-Two Interactive recently reaffirmed that Grand Theft Auto 6's launch is still late 2025 for consoles - and now, new reports suggest PC gamers could also be seeing Grand Theft Auto 6 sooner than expected.

According to Corsair (the PC hardware manufacturer) CEO Andy Paul, GTA 6 could be making its way to PC gamers in early 2026 (as reported by Wccftech) - this comes amid the ongoing concern among fans that the highly anticipated title could face a delay regarding its console release.

While there's still plenty left to be unveiled about what GTA 6 has to offer, Paul suggested "it's going to come out in the fall [of 2025] for console, and then early 2026 for PC", during an investors call - and we've seen a similar case with Take-Two's CEO Strauss Zelnick, who hinted at Rockstar potentially repeating a familiar staggered release pattern for other platforms after the game's console launch.

Despite its first reveal in late 2023, there has been radio silence on Rockstar's end ever since as many anxiously await a second GTA 6 trailer. Based on this, there's no guarantee that the slated late 2025 release date will go as planned, especially if marketing doesn't start soon…

We're so close, but yet so far... (Image credit: Rockstar Games) The wait is exhausting, especially as a PC gamer...

Let me make one thing clear: we've waited a long while for GTA 6, which is arguably the most anticipated game of all time, so surely we can wait a little longer for more information.

That being said, as a PC gamer the wait is painful as there's currently no confirmation of its existence on PC. I know it's clearly going to make its way to the platform at some point (as GTA 5 and Red Dead Redemption 2 did years later after their console debuts), but even so, alongside Corsair CEO's comments, I doubt we will see it any time soon.

I get that it takes time to optimize PC ports - there's been a litany of poorly optimized PC ports at launch recently, and I certainly don't want that for a title this monumental. However, I feel that I'll have no choice but to purchase it on my PS5 and then do the same later down the line on PC - a new entry in Rockstar’s beloved franchise is a once in a lifetime experience, one that I’d hate to have spoiled for myself while waiting for an enhanced PC version.

If cross saves were more common, I'd have less qualms about waiting - but knowing you'll likely have to start from scratch when playing the better version visually (whilst paying twice for the same game), is frustrating to say the least...

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Making sense of priorities in your work calls could soon be a lot more straightforward, thanks to an AI-assisted update coming to Google Meet.

The video conferencing service has announced it will now be using Gemini to create a checklist of "next steps" following the end of every call, collating the key actions that need attention going forward.

And in order to make sure nothing important gets missed, Google Meet is also making any live captions generated during your calls available for up to 30 minutes after they're created, rather than instantly disappearing when the conversation moves on.

Next steps on Google Meet

(Image credit: Google Workspace)

The "next steps" feature is an expansion to the existing "Take notes for me" tool launched for Google Meet back in August 2024, which aimed to identify key points in the discussion and send a recap email after a call, saving users time.

Now, next steps and follow-up points will be "automatically identified and organized within the meeting notes document," with users able to review and edit as needed, and assign tasks to particular people.

"This latest note-taking enhancement will help ensure important follow-ups aren’t missed and keeps everyone aligned on what happens next after your meeting," a Google Workspace updates blog post announcing the launch noted.

(Image credit: Google Workspace)

Users will also now be able to scroll back through live captions, including translated captions, for up to 30 minutes. Google says this will be particularly helpful if you’ve missed a portion of the conversation or you want to review specific details mentioned earlier in the conversation, with the feature available for all Google Workspace customers, as well as users with personal Google accounts.

Both features are rolling out to rapid release domains now, although the "next steps" feature will take more time to be available for most as Google says it wants to "carefully monitor performance and quality."

Next steps will be available to users on Google Workspace Business Standard and Plus tiers, along with Enterprise Standard and Plus users. It will also be available with the Gemini Education Premium add-on, as well as to anyone who previously purchased the Gemini Enterprise or AI Meetings & Messaging add-ons.

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• Gemini is no longer available in the Google app on iOS
• You'll now only find Google AI in its own dedicated Gemini app
• Gemini is free to download via the App Store

If you're looking to use Google Gemini on iOS you'll find that, as of today, it's no longer accessible through the Google app, where it has lived since its launch on iPhone. Instead, if you don't already have it, you'll need to download the dedicated Gemini app on the App Store to use Google's AI chatbot on the best iPhones and take advantage of everything it has to offer.

Gemini's new 2.0 Flash model goes head to head with ChatGPT, and it's a seriously impressive chatbot that can help you organize your life, create AI images, and even access Gemini Live, one of the most impressive AI voice assistants we've tested so far.

2.0 Flash isn't the only new Gemini addition for 2025, with Google announcing that Deep Research, its research model that can analyze and create reports similar to ChatGPT Deep Research, is also now available on iOS.

While Gemini is free to download from the App Store, you can subscribe to Gemini Advanced for more features via an in-app purchase which costs $18.99 / £18.99 / roughly AU$30. With Gemini Advanced you can take advantage of the aforementioned Deep Research, as well as Gemini integration with other Google apps such as Search, YouTube, Maps, Gmail, just to name a few.

The best place for Gemini

I've been using the Gemini app since it launched in November last year, and it's been excellent. Removing the AI chatbot from the Google search app will make it less convoluted for people to access Google AI, as before the launch of the Gemini app it was often overshadowed, hidden in plain sight. Gemini is a well-designed app with everything Google AI has to offer, and thanks to the AI functionality offered by the iPhone 16's Action button you can seamlessly integrate it into your life instead of, or alongside, Apple's first-party tools.

Gemini might be ruling the roost alongside ChatGPT as the best AI chatbot on iPhone at the time of writing, but Apple Intelligence will give Siri a major upgrade in iOS 18.4 set to launch in the next few months. Siri's major upgrade will bring personal context and on-screen awareness to Apple's voice assistant which should make it more approachable and beneficial to users.

Until then, Gemini is one of the best chatbots for AI right now – you may just need to download a new app in order to access it from now on.

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• Queer is arriving on Max on Friday, March 8
• It joins a great line-up of other A24 titles, making Max the place to be for the studio's movies
• The movie can be rented or bought in other territories like the UK and Australia

If you're an A24 fan, you'll be pleased to hear that Queer is making its streaming debut on Max in the US this March, but sadly other territories will have to wait for a confirmed release date.

The movie has received an impressive 77% Rotten Tomatoes score from the critics so far, so it's worthy of a spot on our best Max movies round-up, joining other popular A24 titles. In my opinion, the studio rarely misses to the point I'm among the minority who actually think that Alex Garland's Men is a good movie. But that's for another article.

As for Queer, it's certainly had an impression on viewers. Director Luca Guadagnino has been having a great time lately, considering the success of Challengers, which is currently one of our best Prime Video movies, and soon, you'll be able to stream his more recent hit Queer when it arrives on Max on Friday, March 8.

Recently, the Queer trailer made TechRadar's Rowan Davies want to stream his favorite forbidden romance movie on Netflix, and funnily enough, it's another Guadagnino movie. So his work is widely available across the best streaming services at the moment and we're happy about that.

What is A24's Queer about?

Guadagnino's Queer follows William Lee (Daniel Craig) who becomes obsessed with a younger man, Eugene Allerton (Drew Starkey) in 1950s Mexico City. The movie is based on the novella of the same name by William S. Burroughs, with Craig playing a fictionalized version of him.

There's a stellar supporting cast here including Jason Schwartzman, Lesley Manville, and Ariel Schulman, the latter of whom I have loved ever since the original Catfish documentary, so it was great to see him among the cast list.

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• NetEase Games has laid off staff in one of its Seattle teams
• This included Marvel Rivals director Thaddeus Sasser
• The company claims that the cuts were made for "organizational reasons"

Last night, Marvel Rivals developer NetEase Games laid off an unspecified number of staff from its Seattle design team.

This included one of the game's directors, Thaddeus Sasser, who posted about the layoffs on his LinkedIn page. "My stellar, talented team just helped deliver an incredibly successful new franchise," he said.

"... and were just laid off!" He then explained his desire to help the affected staff find new jobs, spotlighting the contributions of former level designer Garry McGee.

The layoffs certainly seem unexpected, in no small part thanks to the apparent massive success of Marvel Rivals. It was rated highly in our review, with praise leveled at its impressive roster of varied heroes and overall fun factor. It's been a mainstay of the Steam charts since it launched back on December 6, 2024.

NetEase has commented on the layoffs in a statement to PCGamer, claiming that they were made "to adjust Marvel Rivals’ development team structure for organizational reasons and to optimize development efficiency for the game."

It also stated that the main development team, which is located in China, is still "fully committed to delivering an exceptional experience" with "new super hero characters, maps, features, and content" on the way.

NetEase also made cuts at its other western studios throughout last year. This included stopping funding for the recently-founded Worlds Untold studio, the closure of Jar of Sparks, and major layoffs at Visions of Mana developer Ouka Studios. This could suggest that the company is planning to shift its focus more heavily towards its Chinese developers.

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• Juniper Networks says it found a critical flaw during internal testing
• Session Smart routers bug has a 9.8 severity score and allows full device takeover
• A patch is already available, so update now

Juniper Networks just released a patch for a critical vulnerability that allowed threat actors to take over Session Smart Routers (SSR).

In a security advisory, the company said that during internal testing, it discovered CVE-2025-21589, an authentication bypass vulnerability with a severity score of 9.8/10 (critical). This issue affects Session Smart Router, Session Smart Conductor, and WAN Assurance Managed Router - the affected endpoints include:

Session Smart Router:

from 5.6.7 before 5.6.17,
from 6.0.8,
from 6.1 before 6.1.12-lts,
from 6.2 before 6.2.8-lts,
from 6.3 before 6.3.3-r2;

Session Smart Conductor:

from 5.6.7 before 5.6.17,
from 6.0.8,
from 6.1 before 6.1.12-lts,
from 6.2 before 6.2.8-lts,
from 6.3 before 6.3.3-r2;

WAN Assurance Managed Routers:

from 5.6.7 before 5.6.17,
from 6.0.8,
from 6.1 before 6.1.12-lts,
from 6.2 before 6.2.8-lts,
from 6.3 before 6.3.3-r2.

No workarounds

Juniper said that there are no workarounds for this issue, and that the only way to safeguard the endpoints is to apply the patches: SSR-5.6.17, SSR-6.1.12-lts, SSR-6.2.8-lts, SSR-6.3.3-r2 and subsequent releases.

“In a Conductor-managed deployment, it is sufficient to upgrade only the Conductor nodes and the fix will be applied automatically to all connected routers,” Juniper explained. “As practical, the routers should still be upgraded to a fixed version however they will not be vulnerable once they connect to an upgraded Conductor. Router patching can be confirmed once the router reaches the “running" (on 6.2 and earlier) or “synchronized” (on 6.3+) state on the Conductor".

Devices that operate with WAN Assurance, connected to the Mist Cloud, are automatically updated. The routers should still be upgraded, it was said.

So far, there is no evidence of the flaws being abused in the wild.

Via BleepingComputer

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• The majority of Daredevil: Born Again's release schedule has been revealed
• The Disney+ show's episodic release format differs slightly from other Marvel TV series
• Fans have come up with two big theories about why the change has been made

Daredevil: Born Again's release schedule (most of it, anyway) has been revealed, and it's immediately sparked discussions among fans about its unusual episodic release format.

A direct continuation of the beloved Daredevil TV show that originally ran on Netflix from 2015 to 2018, Born Again is one of the most highly-anticipated Marvel projects in years. And, with its launch is fast approaching – Marvel confirmed Daredevil: Born Again would arrive on March 4 (US) and March 5 (UK and Australia) in October 2024 – fan excitement has stepped up a notch in recent weeks.

That excitement turned to curiosity yesterday (February 18), though, after the release schedule for its first six episodes was revealed. In a Disney press release outlining Disney+'s March 2025 line-up, fans were immediately drawn to the fact that Born Again's fifth and sixth episodes will arrive on the platform on the same day – that being March 25 for US audiences, and March 26 for British and Australian viewers.

Why is Daredevil: Born Again getting a two-episode release midway through its first season?

Born Again will reunite us with Matt Murdock and Wilson Fisk (Image credit: Marvel Studios/Disney Plus)

It's not unusual for Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) shows to receive two-episode premieres on Disney+. Many of its predecessors, including Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man and Agatha All Along similarly launched with dual episode drops on release day. Disney+'s latest press blast confirmed Daredevil: Born Again is getting the same treatment.

This is the first time that a Marvel TV show will get a two-episode drop mid-season, though. It's even more bizarre when you realize that other episodes follow the traditional Marvel TV show weekly release format, too. For example, episodes 3 and 4 will be released on March 11 (US) / March 12 (UK and Australia) and March 18 (US) / March 19 (UK and Australia).

So, why is Marvel experimenting with a dual episode mid-season release here? I have two big theories and, given what I've read online since this information came to light, other MCU fans are thinking along similar lines.

The first hypothesis is a story-based one. Daredevil: Born Again's first season comprises nine episodes and it's possible that, if the narrative playing out across episodes 5 and 6 is essentially a two-parter, it makes sense to release them together. Why make fans wait a week to find out what happens if episode 5 ends on a cliff hanger? Sure, it would generate plenty of discussion post-episode 5's release, but that might not be in the best interests of the story that one of the best Disney+ shows (potentially, anyway) is trying to tell.

Marvel fans think Andor season 2's forthcoming release is also behind Born Again's unusual release schedule (Image credit: Lucasfilm/Disney Plus)

The other and more likely reason, however, is that Disney doesn't want this Marvel Phase 5 production to clash with another eagerly-anticipated series that'll debut on one of the world's best streaming services in the near future. The program in question? Andor season 2, which is one of the best-rated Star Wars projects of the last five years.

Last November, Disney confirmed Andor's second and final season would premiere on April 22. If Daredevil: Born Again followed the usual Marvel TV show release format after its two-episode premiere, its season 1 finale wouldn't land on Disney+ until April 22. That would pit it against the two-episode premiere of Andor's sophomore outing. It would be a baffling movie if Disney released those three episodes on the same day and subsequently cannibalize each series' viewing figures.

But, what do you think? Am I and my fellow Marvel devotees on the right track about Born Again's mid-season dual header? Or have you come up with another theory? Let me know in the comments! Once you have, get the complete lowdown on everything we know about Daredevil's first standalone MCU adventure by reading my dedicated Daredevil: Born Again guide.

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• AMD’s RX 9070 is supposedly set to have reviews aired on March 5
• That’s the same day as Nvidia releases its RTX 5070 GPU
• This further backs up the rumor that the on-sale date for RX 9070 models could be March 6

More evidence has emerged from the rumor mill that AMD is setting up a mid-range GPU showdown between its RX 9070 and Nvidia’s RTX 5070.

VideoCardz brings us what’s purportedly the review embargo date for RX 9070 models, which is March 5, ahead of a theoretical March 6 on-sale date (all AMD has officially said, though, is that these graphics cards will go on sale in early March).

However, as review embargoes tend to fall a day (or maybe two) ahead of the arrival of GPUs on shelves, this does further suggest that the RX 9070 on-sale date might in fact be March 6 as rumored.

What’s also telling about March 5 is that it’s a huge date in Nvidia’s own launch diary – this is the day that RTX 5070 graphics cards officially go on sale.

So, the plan would appear to be for AMD to trigger a flood of reviews of RX 9070 GPUs, no doubt comparing them to the RTX 5070 (which will already have been reviewed at that point). And presumably the hope for Team Red is that this could dampen the enthusiasm for Nvidia’s graphics cards as they hit the shelves.

(Image credit: PowerColor) Analysis: Pricing cards on the table, please, AMD

Of course, all this depends on how these reviews pan out, and the rival graphics cards actually stack up to each other. But thus far, the leaks around the RX 9070 paint a promising picture, and you’ve got to think AMD must be reasonably confident to have set up an (almost) head-to-head launch here.

At any rate, I can’t wait to find out, and obviously I’m not alone there – anyone looking for a good mid-ranger at a (relatively) more affordable price is doubtless as keen as I am to discover where the final performance of these AMD and Nvidia GPUs will lie.

While we know the asking price for Nvidia’s RTX 5070 – which is $549 / £539 – what we don’t know is where AMD is pitching its RX 9070 and 9070 XT. So far, Team Red is playing its pricing cards close to its chest, but I’m hoping we will finally find out the MSRP at the big launch event AMD has planned for February 28.

Another interesting point here is that VideoCardz observes that when the embargo material supposedly provided by AMD talks about that big launch at the end of February, it calls the event an “RX 90x0 announcement” not an RX 9070 affair. That further suggests we will get details on other RDNA 4 desktop graphics cards, perhaps the specs of RX 9060 models, too? Or at least something of a teaser for those more wallet-friendly GPUs.

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• The Thrustmaster SimTask FarmStick X has launched
• It's compatible with Xbox and PC and made for Farming Simulator 25
• It also features Hall effect technology and a huge number of customizable buttons

Attention, virtual farmers. Thrustmaster has just launched the SimTask FarmStick X, a bespoke joystick that's designed with Farming Simulator 25 in mind.

This is a follow-up to last year's SimTask FarmStick which was only compatible with PC. Now, the SimTask FarmStick X has compatibility with Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and PC, bearing the official 'Designed for Xbox' seal of approval.

The Thrustmaster SimTask FarmStick X features the company's H.E.A.R.T. tech (that's short for Hall Effect AccuRate Technology) which is also the selling point of the Thrustmaster Heart controller. This means you can likely expect a drift-resistant and precise thumbstick that won't wear out any time soon.

You're also getting 33 customizable buttons on the stick, including two rocker switches, two triggers, a smaller mini stick, and a thumbwheel. There is also a dedicated 'Combo' button which appears to let you bind multiple inputs to a single button press, though this only seems to work on PC.

On top of all this, it looks like you won't have to worry about any kind of complex setup process, as Thrustmaster assures the SimTask FarmStick X is a "plug and play" device for Farming Simulator 25, meaning it'll work with your game right out of the box. It can also be paired with some of the best racing wheels including the Thrustmaster T248.

The Thrustmaster SimTask FarmStick X is available to buy now for $129.99 / £99.99 (around AU$204). You can pick one up yourself over at Thrustmaster's official website.

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• A research study has suggested mood changes can be detected by your wearable
• This would allow the prediction of mood data, helping you counteract it with advice
• It could be huge for helping manage the symptoms of mental health conditions

We've seen that the best smartwatches can track everything about your physical health, from detecting sleep apnoea to predicting your best marathon times, but the next frontier could be predicting your mental health.

Research published in the journal Nature last year leverages the power of a smartwatch and the data it collects to map out manic and depressive episodes in patients with mood disorders, based on sleep-wake data. Because stress and mood can have an effect on circadian rhythms, the study hypothesized that it's possible to predict upcoming 'mood episodes'.

"Disruptions in sleep and activity patterns have been observed in individuals diagnosed with mood disorders, including major depressive disorder (MDD) and bipolar disorder (BD)," the study's introduction explains.

"To gain a deeper understanding of these mood-related patterns, sensors in smartphones and wearable devices, such as accelerometers, Global Positioning System sensors (GPS), and light sensors, have been employed to noninvasively and passively collect data within individuals’ real-life environments."

"This approach allows for long-term, objective assessment of a patient’s physiological and behavioral status, providing a valuable complement to conventional psychiatric assessments that rely on subjective patient recall through clinical scales or interviews."

Huge impact on mental wellbeing

As per the study, this could make a huge difference to anyone suffering from a mental health condition, and not only major depressive disorder or bipolar disorder.

By tracking this data and mapping it out over an extended period, smartwatches could offer coping strategies to a whole host of people with mental health concerns, from permanent diagnoses such as bipolar disorder, to temporary episodes such as seasonal affective disorder (SAD).

Spotting signs that can contribute to a higher risk of depression, like later bedtimes, and varied day structures, could help users develop coping mechanisms to manage or minimize their symptoms.

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xAI's debut of the Grok 3 AI model allowed CEO Elon Musk and his team to show off the power of the latest iteration of Grok. Slightly lost in the benchmarking fireworks is what happens to the Grok 2 model, though. While Grok 3 is exclusive to Premium+ subscribers on X, Grok 2 will be even more accessible than before as it will shortly be open-source.

Grok 2 has been the default model for every Grok user, but the underlying engine will now have a chance to spread far further. Usually, AI models from big companies are locked down. You get access to them through paid subscriptions, and you can use them, but you can’t really see how they work or modify them to suit your specific needs. Open-sourcing Grok 2 means that developers will be able to dig into its code and customize it for use in entirely new applications.

Just how open the open-source version of Grok 2 will be is unclear, though. Sometimes, companies say open source even when they retain or hold back at least a little of their proprietary work. Still, Grok 2 is likely to have a second life in the hands of an open-source community that can tweak and experiment with it.

Despite its name, OpenAI has moved away from open-source. Its most powerful models remain proprietary. GPT-4, for example, remains locked down, with no open-source version in sight. Musk's deliberate contrast with OpenAI certainly appears, at least somewhat.

After stating his distrust of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman last fall, Musk highlighted his plan to open-source xAI models after completing the next iteration to contrast with ChatGPT's creator.

Worth noting that @xAI has been and will open source its models, including weights and everything, As we create the next version, we open source the prior version, as we did with Grok 1 when Grok 2 was released.October 4, 2024

Open thought

Not that xAI is unique in pursuing the open-source vision. Meta has dabbled with the open-source movement by releasing aspects of its Llama models since they first launched. The sudden superstar of AI, China-based DeepSeek, has also been pushing hard to open-source AI.

The open-sourcing of Grok 2 means they might lead to some intriguing AI tools popping up outside the usual walled gardens. We could see smaller companies and independent developers using it to create custom chatbots and personalized AI assistants, like an AI chatbot trained entirely on classic literature or one that helps indie video game developers generate lore for their worlds. They might prove you don’t need a multi-billion-dollar walled garden to develop something groundbreaking.

Then again, some of those creations will depend on what kind of limitations will be baked into the release. Even if xAI means it when it says Grok 2 will be open source, the company could still have its cake and eat it, too. The company can keep its cutting-edge products exclusive but let people have the older version to generate goodwill, get free innovation from independent developers, and maybe attract more people to sign up for Grok.

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Humane AI Pin's short, bumpy ride is over. HP announced on Tuesday (February 18) that it was acquiring the company and absorbing some employees for $116 million. According to a report in Bloomberg, the Human AI pin will be discontinued.

In a release on the acquisition, HP notes that it will "acquire key AI capabilities from Humane, including their AI-powered platform Cosmos, highly skilled technical talent, and intellectual property with more than 300 patents and patent applications." It makes no mention of hardware.

Humane AI was a fascinating wearable AI computing device that arrived in November 2023. Instead of a screen, the device featured a camera to watch your world and a tiny projector; you held out your hand and could see little messages and information from the pin. You interacted with the platform through voice and gestures. It sounded, at the time, like the future.

Humane AI Pin, though, ran aground in April 2024 when early adopters delivered scathing reviews. YouTube giant Marques Brownlee called it "The worst product I've ever reviewed... for now." That conclusion and a collection of other terrible reviews more or less sealed its fate. Well, that and issues with the batter clip that may have been a fire hazard. Even TechRadar rated it one of the biggest tech flops of 2024.

HP AI gets Humane

HP, though, sounds more than impressed with the system's AI capabilities and plans to weave them (or some form of them) throughout HP products. From the release: Humane's engineers "will help us create an intelligent ecosystem across all HP devices from AI PCs to smart printers and connected conference rooms. This will unlock new levels of functionality for our customers and deliver on the promises of AI."

For HP, which has been comparatively quiet on the AI innovation front, this acquisition could be a real boon to its business. As for the Humane AI team, they have nothing but praise for their new owners. In a release on the Humane website, Bethany Bongiorno and Imran Chaudhri, Co-founders of Humane, wrote, "We’re excited to join HP at such a pivotal moment in the industry and help shape the future of intelligent experiences,” said.

Humane's release also makes no mention of the AI Pin.

This is good news for Humane AI fans and, obviously, less good news for those who paid $699 for the pin. Perhaps HP will offer them, discounts on whatever HP products end up featuring Humane AI.

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• iProov study finds older adults struggle most with deepfakes
• False confidence is widespread among the younger generation
• Social media is a deepfake hotspot, experts warn

As deepfake technology continues to advance, concerns over misinformation, fraud, and identity theft are growing, thanks to literacy in AI tools being at a startling low.

A recent iProov study claims most people struggle to distinguish deepfake content from reality, as it took 2,000 participants from the UK and US being exposed to a mix of real and AI-generated images and videos, finding only 0.1% of participants - two whole people - correctly distinguished between real and deepfake stimuli.

The study found older adults are particularly susceptible to AI-generated deception. Around 30% of those aged 55-64, and 39% of those over 65, had never heard of deepfakes before. While younger participants were more confident in their ability to detect deepfakes, their actual performance in the study did not improve.

Older generations are more vulnerable

Deepfake videos were significantly harder to detect than images, the study added,as participants were 36% less likely to correctly identify a fake video compared to an image, raising concerns about video-based fraud and misinformation.

Social media platforms were highlighted as major sources of deepfake content. Nearly half of the participants (49%) identified Meta platforms, including Facebook and Instagram, as the most common places where deepfakes are found, while 47% pointed to TikTok.

"[This underlines] how vulnerable both organizations and consumers are to the threat of identity fraud in the age of deepfakes," said Andrew Bud, founder and CEO of iProov.

"Criminals are exploiting consumers’ inability to distinguish real from fake imagery, putting personal information and financial security at risk."

Bud added even when people suspect a deepfake, most take no action. Only 20% of respondents said they would report a suspected deepfake if they encountered one online.

With deepfakes becoming increasingly sophisticated, iProov believes that human perception alone is no longer reliable for detection, and Bud emphasized the need for biometric security solutions with liveness detection to combat the threat of ever more convincing deepfake material.

“It’s down to technology companies to protect their customers by implementing robust security measures," he said. "Using facial biometrics with liveness provides a trustworthy authentication factor and prioritizes both security and individual control, ensuring that organizations and users can keep pace with these evolving threats."

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Looking for a different day?

A new Quordle puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Tuesday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Tuesday, February 18 (game #1121).

Quordle was one of the original Wordle alternatives and is still going strong now more than 1,100 games later. It offers a genuine challenge, though, so read on if you need some Quordle hints today – or scroll down further for the answers.

Enjoy playing word games? You can also check out my NYT Connections today and NYT Strands today pages for hints and answers for those puzzles, while Marc's Wordle today column covers the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about Quordle today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

Quordle today (game #1122) - hint #1 - Vowels How many different vowels are in Quordle today?

• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 4*.

* Note that by vowel we mean the five standard vowels (A, E, I, O, U), not Y (which is sometimes counted as a vowel too).

Quordle today (game #1122) - hint #2 - repeated letters Do any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?

• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 2.

Quordle today (game #1122) - hint #3 - uncommon letters Do the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?

• No. None of Q, Z, X or J appear among today's Quordle answers.

Quordle today (game #1122) - hint #4 - starting letters (1) Do any of today's Quordle puzzles start with the same letter?

• The number of today's Quordle answers starting with the same letter is 0.

If you just want to know the answers at this stage, simply scroll down. If you're not ready yet then here's one more clue to make things a lot easier:

Quordle today (game #1122) - hint #5 - starting letters (2) What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• A

• T

• V

• D

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

Quordle today (game #1122) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1122, are…

• ABATE
• TROVE
• VENUE
• DRAPE

Yesterday I tried four start words. I found it quick but risky, so today I used three start words, going for Nymph as a vowel-free attempt. It sort of worked – I certainly felt like I solved the puzzle quicker and there were fewer brain jams – but I still think it was a high-risk tactic. It did, however, make getting DRAPE a good deal easier with the uncommon P making an appearance.

I’m uncertain if any technique heightens the chances of a better finish, though, as it still took me eight attempts, the same result as I’m getting using the Wordle one-word-at-a-time method for the Daily Sequence.

How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.

Daily Sequence today (game #1122) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1122, are…

• ZEBRA
• BILLY
• AUDIO
• SHIRE

Quordle answers: The past 20

• Quordle #1121, Tuesday 18 February: TAMER, SCRUB, BRICK, DRIFT
• Quordle #1120, Monday 17 February: SADLY, WAFER, LITHE, IDIOM
• Quordle #1119, Sunday 16 February: GHOUL, AFIRE, COVEN, FIERY
• Quordle #1118, Saturday 15 February: CREEP, CONDO, GRILL, FANCY
• Quordle #1117, Friday 14 February: MEDIA, ELUDE, THUMB, WIDOW
• Quordle #1116, Thursday 13 February: SCALP, DWELL, AMPLE, TRUNK
• Quordle #1115, Wednesday 12 February: SHOOK, GRADE, POLAR, SEEDY
• Quordle #1114, Tuesday 11 February: HEAVY, CIRCA, PESKY, SCION
• Quordle #1113, Monday 10 February: TWIXT, FRESH, GUISE, TABBY
• Quordle #1112, Sunday 9 February: TAPIR, SHAKE, TOKEN, SEVEN
• Quordle #1111, Saturday 8 February: AFOOT, ALIKE, HUMUS, TOWEL
• Quordle #1110, Friday 7 February: PETAL, ABASE, AMONG, CORER
• Quordle #1109, Thursday 6 February: MADAM, SCAMP, FAUNA, TRACK
• Quordle #1108, Wednesday 5 February: SIXTH, VERVE, BLURB, CACTI
• Quordle #1107, Tuesday 4 February: BIRTH, DRAWN, MILKY, JOIST
• Quordle #1106, Monday 3 February: SLEET, TENSE, SEIZE, SCAMP
• Quordle #1105, Sunday 2 February: LOUSY, PENNE, CHUMP, SALVE
• Quordle #1104, Saturday 1 February: FACET, BLISS, FLUFF, FRANK
• Quordle #1103, Friday 31 January: PARER, SYNOD, BRAWN, BANJO
• Quordle #1102, Thursday 30 January: WEEDY, CHIRP, STALE, SUGAR

Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Strands puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Tuesday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Tuesday, February 18 (game #352).

Strands is the NYT's latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it's great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.

Want more word-based fun? Then check out my NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, and Marc's Wordle today page for the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Strands today (game #353) - hint #1 - today's theme What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Pick your own prefix

NYT Strands today (game #353) - hint #2 - clue words

Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.

• LUCK
• SALE
• CLEAR
• BLUR
• SOLD
• MALE

NYT Strands today (game #353) - hint #3 - spangram What is a hint for today's spangram?

• Small fruits

NYT Strands today (game #353) - hint #4 - spangram position What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First side: left, 5th row

Last side: right, 4th row

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Strands today (game #353) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #353, are…

• ELDER
• STRAW
• HUCKLE
• BLUE
• RASP
• SALMON
• GOLDEN
• BLACK
• SPANGRAM: BERRIES

• My rating: Moderate
• My score: 1 hint

Interestingly, BERRIES is a linguistic invention and many languages other than English do not gather these small fruits into a single food family and instead have unique words for STRAWberry, RASPberry, etc.

The truth is they are not related at all. The word berry comes from the Latin for grape – but we don’t think of grapes as berries – and was just used to describe small fruits. Meanwhile, to add to the confusion what some people think is a HUCKLEberry, other people think of as a BLUEberry.

Like mushrooms, berries are an area you have to be careful if foraging in the wild. Many varieties, including ELDER, will give you a very upset stomach, while some, including Virginia Creeper Berries, can be fatal to humans. Perhaps it would be a good idea to not give them a name that includes the same suffix as things that are delicious.

How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Tuesday, 18 February, game #352)

• JELLYFISH
• SPORPION
• HORNET
• PLATYPUS
• BUMBLEBEE
• SPANGRAM: STINGERS

What is NYT Strands?

Strands is the NYT's new word game, following Wordle and Connections. It's now out of beta so is a fully fledged member of the NYT's games stable and can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

I've got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you're struggling to beat it each day.

Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Connections puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Tuesday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Tuesday, February 18 (game #618).

Good morning! Let's play Connections, the NYT's clever word game that challenges you to group answers in various categories. It can be tough, so read on if you need Connections hints.

What should you do once you've finished? Why, play some more word games of course. I've also got daily Strands hints and answers and Quordle hints and answers articles if you need help for those too, while Marc's Wordle today page covers the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Connections today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Connections today (game #619) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• TICK
• TOCK
• DING
• DOCK
• NICK
• COCK
• PONY
• МОСК
• CHIME
• PIG
• WHARF
• SCRATCH
• LIGHTHOUSE
• CUCKOO
• DENT
• BOARDWALK

NYT Connections today (game #619) - hint #1 - group hints

What are some clues for today's NYT Connections groups?

• YELLOW: Beachside architecture
• GREEN: Little accidents
• BLUE: Birdy clock 
• PURPLE: Add a word that wags

Need more clues?

We're firmly in spoiler territory now, but read on if you want to know what the four theme answers are for today's NYT Connections puzzles…

NYT Connections today (game #619) - hint #2 - group answers

What are the answers for today's NYT Connections groups?

• YELLOW: STRUCTURES BY THE SHORE 
• GREEN: SMALL IMPERFECTION 
• BLUE: SOUNDS A CUCKOO CLOCK MAKES 
• PURPLE: _ TAIL 

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Connections today (game #619) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #619, are…

• YELLOW: STRUCTURES BY THE SHORE BOARDWALK, DOCK, LIGHTHOUSE, WHARF
• GREEN: SMALL IMPERFECTION DENT, DING, NICK, SCRATCH
• BLUE: SOUNDS A CUCKOO CLOCK MAKES CHIME, CUCKOO, TICK, TOCK
• PURPLE: _ TAIL COCK, MOCK, PIG, PONY

• My rating: Moderate
• My score: 1 mistake

I get bamboozled when there’s lots of small rhyming words. Today, I wasted time thinking we were looking for a group of words connected to a nursery rhyme, but the answer was the much more straightforward SOUNDS A CUCKOO CLOCK MAKES.

In fact all the groups were much less challenging than my initial hunches – DENT, DING, NICK and SCRATCH I was thinking were results of vehicle accidents (when really they were just SMALL IMPERFECTIONs) and BOARDWALK, DOCK, LIGHTHOUSE and WHARF I thought could be unique to a particular city (rather than merely STRUCTURES BY THE SHORE).

The lesson I’m taking is not to overlook the obvious.

How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Tuesday, 18 February, game #618)

• YELLOW: CRATER CAVITY, HOLE, HOLLOW, PIT
• GREEN: ACCESSIBLE AVAILABLE, HANDY, NEARBY, READY
• BLUE: SUBSTANTIAL, AS A MEAL FILLING, HEARTY, SOLID, SQUARE
• PURPLE: BRITISHISMS BUTTY, CHIPPY, FOOTY, TELLY

What is NYT Connections?

NYT Connections is one of several increasingly popular word games made by the New York Times. It challenges you to find groups of four items that share something in common, and each group has a different difficulty level: green is easy, yellow a little harder, blue often quite tough and purple usually very difficult.

On the plus side, you don't technically need to solve the final one, as you'll be able to answer that one by a process of elimination. What's more, you can make up to four mistakes, which gives you a little bit of breathing room.

It's a little more involved than something like Wordle, however, and there are plenty of opportunities for the game to trip you up with tricks. For instance, watch out for homophones and other word games that could disguise the answers.

It's playable for free via the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

• JapanNext challenges high-end market with affordable 5K monitor
• VESA compatibility, adjustable stand, and multiple connectivity options
• Multitasking is made easier with PIP and PBP modes, it doesn't support Wi-Fi or Bluetooth

French startup JapanNext has introduced one of the most affordable true 5K monitors on the market.

Priced at €650 (approximately $680), the snappily named JN-IPS275K-HSPC9 (originally in French) business monitor supports Picture-in-Picture (PIP) and Picture-by-Picture (PBP) modes, allowing users to view content from multiple sources at the same time.

"It is truly a pride to release this type of monitor exclusively in Europe," said Victor HUON, Japannext Europe's Chief Marketing Officer in a translation from French. "It is a real alternative to all those looking for a 5K monitor offered by other brands at much higher prices."

A new player in the 5K monitor market

The monitor features a 27-inch IPS panel with a 5120 x 2880 resolution, while supporting 100% sRGB and DCI-P3 color coverage, along with 178-degree viewing angles, minimizing color distortion.

A 2000:1 contrast ratio, 350 nits brightness, a matte finish, support for 1.07 billion colors, and HDR compatibility enhance contrast and color depth. And to get that perfect angle, the monitor features height adjustment (110mm), tilt (-5° to 20°), rotation (15° dual), and pivot (90°).

It features multiple ports, including DisplayPort 1.4 and USB-C 3.1, both capable of delivering 5K resolution at 60Hz. An HDMI 2.0 port is also available, though it's limited to outputting 5K at 30Hz. USB-A and USB-B ports are included for peripherals, along with audio output and built-in 3W speakers.

It's also VESA-compatible (100x100mm), allowing users to mount it on a stand or wall.

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• US military agencies and defense contractors hit by infostealer malware
• The malware can exfiltrate victim's data
• Researchers discovered thousands of infected devices

Despite their multi-billion dollar budgets, US agencies have been infected by Infostealer malware, and have had credentials and information stolen from official devices.

A report from Hudson Rock has revealed for as little as $10 per computer, criminals can ‘purchase stolen data from employees who work in classified defense and military sectors’.

Infostealers are a type of malware that has developed as a crucial tool for cybercriminals. As the name suggests, they gather sensitive information stored on a victim’s device, usually to leverage in identity theft, extortion, or financial fraud - but in this case, it’s likely to be confidential or classified data, potentially relating to national security.

Infostealers don’t rely on brute-force attacks, but instead prey upon human error - here’s what we know so far.

Supply chain compromise

Researchers found infected users from six contractors; Lockheed Martin, BAE systems, Boeing, Honeywell, L3Harris, and Leidos. These defense contractors work on seriously advanced military technology, including warships, F-35 jets, and more - Lockheed Martin alone was awarded $5.1 billion worth of contracts by the Department of Defence in 2024.

In total, 472 third-party corporate credentials were exposed, including Cisco, SAP Integrations, and Microsoft from contractors. Businesses, organizations, and even government departments are increasingly interdependent, and supply chain vendors have been frequently utilized in attacks- “if an adversary wanted to infiltrate a defense contractor’s supply chain, this would be their golden ticket,” the report confirms.

The report outlined an example of how Honeywell’s infrastructure was compromised - including its internal intranet, an Active Directory Federation Services login, and an Identity and Access Management system. Researchers discovered 398 infected employees and 18,527 infected users for Honeywell systems over the years, and just one compromised employee held 56 corporate credentials for Honeywell’s infrastructure, as well as 45 additional third-party credentials - showing the scale of the risk.

But contractors weren’t the only victims, with infections found in US Army, US Navy, FBI, and Government Accountability Office (GAO) systems too, with local authentication data for OWA, Confluence, Citrix, and FTP found, which ‘suggests an adversary could move laterally inside military systems’.

Third-party data breaches have become a major security concern, and emerging threats have found that almost all (98%) of European companies have experienced a third-party breach in the last year.

In late 2024, the US Treasury Department declared a ‘major incident’ after experiencing a breach through its vendor ‘BeyondTrust’ - so these threats are not just hypothetical. There are real dangers associated with national security if third-party vendors are compromised, especially if the vendors hold classified information.

Infostealer risks

How serious is this? Well, it’s not great. As the report points out, “if Infostealers can breach Lockheed, Boeing, the U.S. Army, and the FBI, they can breach anyone”. These breaches reinforce the idea that any organization, no matter how good their cyber hygiene is, or how strong their cybersecurity defenses, can be compromised.

The most common infostealers are Lumma Stealer, Vidar, RedLine, and Medusa - and these can exfiltrate your data in under a minute, so here are some tips to stay safe.

Unfortunately, there’s no one way to avoid Infostealers, it’s mostly about keeping good cyber hygiene. Infostealers primarily rely on user error, like accidentally downloading an infected PDF, pirated software crack, or clicking a malicious link.

Much like with social engineering attacks, the best defense is being aware and staying vigilant. Don’t click on links you don’t trust, don’t visit unverified sites, and if you work in an industry like defense, security, or a government agency - it’s probably best to stick strictly to official sites.

Infostealers are a type of malware, so deploying the best malware removal software can make sure there’s no lingering threat - but to dodge the threat, you need to be on the ball.

Make sure you have a strong password and use unique credentials for each login - it’s a faff, but it keeps you protected. If one password is compromised, then all others can be if you reuse your passwords.

Organizations should be sure to run regular and thorough cybersecurity training sessions for all employees at every level, so that everyone understands the risks and the severity of a breach.

Assessing the security posture of software suppliers and vendors can save you from a critical breach, and with breaches often costing millions of dollars and damaging an organization's reputation, this can be a crucial safety policy for your company.

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Humanoid robots are the hot new thing and no longer the purview of science fiction, but instead a growing fact of life. Even though most are still in the lab or a handful of factories, their skills are more human-like by the minute. These robots walk, run, assist, converse thanks to AI, hang out, dance, and sometimes suffer unfortunate levels of abuse.

One of the more remarkable humanoid bots is Unitree G1, a pint-sized "humanoid agent AI avatar" featuring dozens of joins and motors. I've seen the G1 in person at CES, and it's an impressive feat of engineering. Despite its mobility and dexterity, G1's capabilities are largely a product of remote control and canned or pre-programmed movements.

Even so, the $16,000 (to start) Unitree G1 can maintain balance and precision in the face of unforeseen obstacles. Unitree recently demonstrated this skill in a new video that shows off not only Unitree G1's remarkable dancing skills but also its perseverance in the face of – ahem – adversity. Unitree notes that the skills demonstrated in the video are new and have not yet been rolled out to all customers.

Watching the short video, it's hard not to feel for the G1 as a developer pokes, pushes, and whacks the robot with a stick. In one remarkable moment, the robot throws up its hands and appears to block a blow. Naturally, I silently cheered the robot's efforts. But I think I may be celebrating the wrong thing.

This is not a video about a poor, defenseless robot trying to protect itself. Unitree G1, even with its integrated AI, has no feelings. It literally can not even feel the blows. It's not upset that someone is hitting it. Instead, the robot's program is for dancing and staying upright.

What's impressive here is that nothing, not even these blows, stops Unitree G1; it just keeps on bopping.

Resilient robots are a crucial part of the humanoid robotics development timeline. Such bots will be of little use to us if, when we accidentally bump into them, they fall over and are then stuck on their backs, flailing their arms and legs like Kafka-esque beetles.

As many times as I wince when I see someone "abusing" a robot, I have to remind myself that this is the way. There can be no robot revolution without such "sacrifice'.

A dancing robot is fun. A robot that can stay upright in the face of an attack is a game-changer.

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