TechRadar News

• Google Pixel 9a phones come with a new Battery health assistance tool
• It will intentionally drop your phone’s maximum battery life every 200 charge cycles
• It turns off after 1,000 charges, and you can’t switch it off before then

The Google Pixel 9a has a new feature that will intentionally reduce your phone’s battery life over time – and there’s nothing you can do about it.

While they’re never the most exciting features, battery health tools are some of the most useful you’ll find on modern smartphones. Following best practices can ensure your phone doesn’t become a massive battery sink after a year or two of use and can extend how long you can go before buying a replacement lithium-ion cell for your handset.

And with its latest Google Pixel 9a release, Google looks to be taking battery health seriously with a new Battery health assistance feature that (at launch) will be exclusive to the new handset.

But rather than giving you a choice on how your phone charges – such as manually setting your device to cut charging off at 80%, or only reaching a full charge just before when your phone expects you to unplug it – according to Google’s official help page Battery health assistance will automatically lower your battery’s maximum charge every 200 charge cycles.

This gradual decline will continue every 200 cycles until your device completes 1,000 cycles.

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

What’s more, while Google has confirmed to 9to5Google that the feature “will be voluntary for any customers using previously launched devices,” (i.e. the other best Google Pixel phones) its help page for the Pixel 9a reveals that for its latest device, “Battery health assistance settings on Pixel 9a aren’t customizable by the user.”

Now, some of you might be worried that this will mean your Google Pixel 9a runs out of battery more quickly than if you could switch this feature off, but the silver lining here is that this feature will probably mean your phone battery lasts longer.

Over time, most batteries degrade anyway, so 100% charge after several months won’t last as long as it did when the phone was brand new.

The hope is that while you’re still losing some battery performance over time, Google’s controlled descent will mean your battery lasts longer per charge than it would if you didn’t use Battery Health assistance.

Though we can understand that the lack of control over how you can manage your device is likely to rub many the wrong way, even if it is an upgrade. It also doesn’t do much to assuage concerns surrounding intentional performance throttling from smartphone manufacturers to encourage you to upgrade your smartphone more regularly.

It’s looking like this feature is an upgrade in disguise, however, and if it’s a success we’ll likely see it appear on other Google smartphones going forward.

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• Google Pixel 9a: five of the biggest upgrades
• The Google Pixel 9a is already available to preorder in the UK - and you can save up to £500
• Older Pixels just got a big performance boost, while the Pixel 9a is lacking a key feature

• Google Pixel 9a phones come with a new Battery health assistance tool
• It will intentionally drop your phone’s maximum battery life every 200 charge cycles
• It turns off after 1,000 charges, and you can’t switch it off before then

The Google Pixel 9a has a new feature that will intentionally reduce your phone’s battery life over time – and there’s nothing you can do about it.

While they’re never the most exciting features, battery health tools are some of the most useful you’ll find on modern smartphones. Following best practices can ensure your phone doesn’t become a massive battery sink after a year or two of use and can extend how long you can go before buying a replacement lithium-ion cell for your handset.

And with its latest Google Pixel 9a release, Google looks to be taking battery health seriously with a new Battery health assistance feature that (at launch) will be exclusive to the new handset.

But rather than giving you a choice on how your phone charges – such as manually setting your device to cut charging off at 80%, or only reaching a full charge just before when your phone expects you to unplug it – according to Google’s official help page Battery health assistance will automatically lower your battery’s maximum charge every 200 charge cycles.

This gradual decline will continue every 200 cycles until your device completes 1,000 cycles.

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

What’s more, while Google has confirmed to 9to5Google that the feature “will be voluntary for any customers using previously launched devices,” (i.e. the other best Google Pixel phones) its help page for the Pixel 9a reveals that for its latest device, “Battery health assistance settings on Pixel 9a aren’t customizable by the user.”

Now, some of you might be worried that this will mean your Google Pixel 9a runs out of battery more quickly than if you could switch this feature off, but the silver lining here is that this feature will probably mean your phone battery lasts longer.

Over time, most batteries degrade anyway, so 100% charge after several months won’t last as long as it did when the phone was brand new.

The hope is that while you’re still losing some battery performance over time, Google’s controlled descent will mean your battery lasts longer per charge than it would if you didn’t use Battery Health assistance.

Though we can understand that the lack of control over how you can manage your device is likely to rub many the wrong way, even if it is an upgrade. It also doesn’t do much to assuage concerns surrounding intentional performance throttling from smartphone manufacturers to encourage you to upgrade your smartphone more regularly.

It’s looking like this feature is an upgrade in disguise, however, and if it’s a success we’ll likely see it appear on other Google smartphones going forward.

You might also like

• Google Pixel 9a: five of the biggest upgrades
• The Google Pixel 9a is already available to preorder in the UK - and you can save up to £500
• Older Pixels just got a big performance boost, while the Pixel 9a is lacking a key feature

• Some iPhone users have seen random apps appear on their devices
• Many apps were previously deleted but others are totally new to the users
• The bug might be caused by updating to iOS 18.4

Every now and then, a strange iOS bug comes along that brings back long-lost items, seemingly from the dead. We’ve seen this kind of behavior before with deleted photos, and now it looks like iOS 18.4 is mysteriously resurrecting old iPhone apps that some users removed many moons ago.

As spotted by MacRumors, the issue has been documented by users posting on Reddit and Apple’s official support forums. There, people have been describing how their iPhones began automatically downloading apps after they were updated to iOS 18.4.

Interestingly, while some users reported that the apps in question had once been on their devices but have since been deleted, other iPhone owners claimed that the apps were entirely new to them.

For example, Reddit user EagleEyedTiger7 stated that their iPhone “randomly” downloaded the Last War game after updating to iOS 18.4. In response, user schulze1 said the same thing had happened to them and that “I’ve never had that app installed before.”

A strange situation

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

On first glance, it might appear that the issue relates to the Automatic Downloads setting in Apple’s App Store. This enables Apple devices to automatically download apps and games that have been installed on other Apple products you own, even if they have never been added to the device you are currently using.

However, several users claimed that their iPhone is the only Apple device they own, meaning the apps could not have been downloaded in this way.

We also do not have many details about whether the bug is only affecting people with certain iPhones, users who are located in specific regions, or people who have taken any other steps. It’s also unclear how widespread the issue is.

For now, the main solution is simply to delete the unwanted apps from your device. Hopefully, Apple will soon roll out a fix that stops random apps from appearing on people’s iPhones, but for now we’ll just have to wait.

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• WordPress.com, Tumblr and WooCommerce owner Automattic is laying off 16%
• Automattic wants to become more agile and responsive
• Long-term financial viability and profitability is also key

Automattic, the company behind WordPress.com, Tumblr and WooCommerce, has confirmed it will be laying off approximately 16% of its workforce.

The news is estimated to impact around 280 of its nearly 1,750 employees (via TechCrunch), with CEO Matt Mullenweg confirming HR representatives would be reaching out to affected workers after his email landed in the inboxes of all “Automatticians.”

The usual “financial and support benefits” were promised, with Mullenweg citing profitability as a key driver for the layoffs.

Automattic layoffs

“We have reached an important crossroads,” Mullenweg wrote, illustrating a scenario of continued growth and an equally high competitive market. “We must improve our productivity, profitability, and capacity to invest,” he added.

The leader confirmed that the changes would help the company to become more agile and responsive, break down organizational silos, focus on product quality and ensure long-term financial viability.

More broadly, the layoffs follow a precarious year for both Automattic and Mullenweg personally, after he became embroiled in a battle with WP Engine, likening the WordPress hosting provider to a cancer that takes more than it gives back to the project.

Mullenweg added the redundancy process would be more complex with workers in 90 countries, but as a rule they could expect severance pay and other benefits, including the retention of company laptops and other job placement resources.

“I’m confident we will come out of this situation in a better position… In the coming weeks, we’ll share more about our path forward and how we’ll work together to strengthen our company,” Mullenweg added.

According to layoffs.fyi, Automattic became the 96th tech company to announce layoffs in 2025, but although layoffs continue to plague the tech sector, workers are seemingly a lot more safe than the height of the tech sector layoffs in 2023.

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• The Galaxy S25 Edge has apparently been delayed due to technical issues
• It might now launch in May or June, in line with other recent claims
• But there's seemingly the possibility that it could be canceled entirely

Just yesterday, we heard that the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge has been postponed from a planned launch in mid-April to sometime in May or June, and while sources at the time suggested this was not due to any problems with the phone itself, we’re now hearing that Samsung might be facing technical issues after all.

In a report for WinFuture, reputable leaker Roland Quandt claims that “sources close to Samsung” have confirmed that the delay is due to “technical reasons” and that further testing of the phone is necessary.

They didn’t specify what these technical issues might be, but Quandt seems under the impression that they could be significant, stating that it is “questionable whether Samsung will bring the S25 Edge to market at all.”

(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future) Its prospects aren't promising

Quandt sounded similarly bleak about the phone's prospects across a couple of Bluesky posts, saying in one that they “wonder if Sammy might even decide to cancel it overall” and in another that “the official pics I posted earlier could well be the only ones we'll ever see.”

It would seem surprising for Samsung to cancel the Galaxy S25 Edge at the last minute, especially since the company has already teased the device, but this certainly doesn’t sound promising for the Edge’s prospects.

With the phone still potentially landing within the next few months, we’ll probably hear more soon – and if we don’t, that in itself could be a good sign that the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge has been canceled.

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• Nintendo confirms that some Switch 2 games will only contain a download key
• It explains that games with Game-Key Cards don't feature the full game data
• Players will require an internet connection when first inserting a Game-Key Card

Following the full reveal of the Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo has confirmed that certain physical games will only feature a download key.

The company detailed everything we need to know in a new customer support post after the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct, explaining that its new 'Game-Key Cards' - physical Switch 2 games - will contain a download "key" and don't feature the full game data.

"Game-key cards are different from regular game cards, because they don’t contain the full game data. Instead, the game-key card is your 'key' to downloading the full game to your system via the internet," Nintendo said.

After the game is downloaded, players can play the game by inserting the Game-Key Cards into their console and starting it up like a standard physical game.

Players can identify which Switch 2 physical games will contain a Game-Key Card by a key icon on the front of the game box. When a card is inserted, the HOME Menu will then provide instructions on how to download it for the first time.

Currently, we know games like Bravely Default and Street Fighter 6: Year 1-2 Fighters Edition will only feature a Game-Card Key, while new titles like Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza will offer standard physical game cards like the original Switch.

Many fans are conflicted about Nintendo's new Game-Key Card idea, with some worrying that the company might be moving toward a full digital output. However, it's worth mentioning that keys are quite similar to some PS5 physical games that may require an additional download via the internet, except the PS5 only offers one physical version compared to the Switch 2.

In case you missed it, the Nintendo Switch 2 officially launches on June 5, 2025, for $449.99 / £395.99, with preorders set to begin on April 8.

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• Lenovo has leaked Nvidia’s next GPUs, in theory, in a listing for an incoming desktop PC
• The Lenovo Legion Tower 5i offers options on the as-yet-unannounced RTX 5060 Ti and 5060
• If Lenovo is preparing product listings that mention these GPUs (and accidentally sent one live), this hints that RTX 5060 models are imminent

What could be Nvidia’s next Blackwell GPU models – the RTX 5060, and 5060 Ti – have popped up in the official specs page for a Lenovo desktop PC.

As VideoCardz highlighted, the machine in question is the Lenovo Legion Tower 5i Gen 10 (Intel), which as the name denotes has an Intel processor (actually a mobile flavor, soldered to the motherboard – up to an Intel 285HX CPU, apparently). Note that Lenovo refers to this chip as a ‘Core Ultra i9’ which is incorrect, confusing Intel’s old naming scheme (i9) with the new one (Ultra 9).

It’s the GPU options which are key here, though, and they consist of a choice of the Nvidia RTX 5070 Ti, or the RTX 5060 Ti, or RTX 5060 (the RTX 5070 seems to have been skipped over by Lenovo for this PC).

Of course, the RTX 5060 models don’t officially exist yet, but are rumored to be nearing release. The fact that Lenovo has listed them with this PC is a heavy hint that these graphics cards are indeed imminent, just as the grapevine has suggested multiple times now.

(Image credit: Lenovo) Analysis: Possibly imminent GPUs and pressing concerns about stock

The rumor mill has been alive with chatter about the RTX 5060 graphics cards for some time now, and theories that Nvidia actually intended to launch this next tier in its Blackwell GPUs already – but there have been delays.

Obviously, we need to take that speculation about Nvidia pushing back its plans with a fistful of seasoning, but the latest guess is that the RTX 5060 Ti is possibly delayed to mid-April and the vanilla RTX 5060 to mid-May.

Mind you, if we are looking at mid-April, that’s only a couple of weeks away now, so it makes sense that Lenovo is readying listings for PCs with these GPUs to go live on its site, and has accidentally published this product blurb a little prematurely.

Normally, I’d expect after this sighting was reported, Lenovo would have taken down the listing (or at least removed the mention of the unreleased GPUs here), but at the time of writing, it’s still live (as linked above).

Unfortunately, there are no spec details accompanying the mention of the RTX 5060 GPUs, but as VideoCardz noticed, we do get a glimpse of the graphics card inside the PC, showing it has two fans and a single 8-pin power connector (which backs up existing rumors).

Speculation thus far contends that the RTX 5060 will run with 8GB of VRAM, but the RTX 5060 Ti should offer both 8GB and 16GB versions (exactly as is the case with the current RTX 4060 range).

The consistent rumors about the RTX 5060 being likely to suffer from poor levels of supply are also a worry here, but with what we’ve experienced so far from Blackwell launches, this would hardly be a surprise. That might well be tied into the rumored delays, as Nvidia really needs to ensure a more robust level of stock for Blackwell GPUs that are going to be priced more affordably, and therefore be under much greater demand, than the RTX 5070 and above.

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• More signs of ultra wide-band in Find My Device are spotted
• The upgrade could be rolling out imminently
• Devices can be tracked more precisely with the technology

Google's Find My Device platform got a hefty upgrade last year, adding support for offline devices and third-party trackers, and it looks like it's about to get another significant boost – courtesy of ultra wide-band technology (UWB).

This is the precise location tracking protocol that you'll find in everything from the Apple AirTag to the Google Pixel 9 Pro, and the team at Android Authority just found references to it inside the latest Find My Device app for Android.

Phones and other gadgets can already be located via GPS, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi, but UWB adds an extra level of accuracy. Rather than just knowing something is in your house, you'll actually be able to find the sofa cushion it's buried under.

We actually got the first signs of this upgrade last June, which were then followed up by mentions of a 'compass' tool in the Find My Device app. The latest code snippets – which aren't yet live – suggest the feature is now about to be deployed.

Compatible devices

AirTags offer UWB support (Image credit: Apple)

Ultra wide-band isn't just about location tracking: the standard works over short distances using radio waves, and it also has applications in smart home and car tech (letting you wirelessly unlock your vehicle, for example).

For you to be able to find something via UWB, you'll need the tech to be built into the phone you're searching with, and the gadget you're trying to find. You can then find the lost item to an accuracy of just a few centimeters or inches.

Many devices now include UWB, such as the Google Pixel Watch 3, but it's not everywhere – the flagship Google Pixel 9, launched last August, doesn't offer UWB. You will find UWB in some tracking devices, including the Galaxy Smart Tag 2.

We're still waiting for some Google-branded AirTag competitors, and we haven't seen anything to suggest they're launching imminently. If Google were to launch its own trackers soon, it would be the perfect way to showcase UWB support for Find My Device.

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Microsoft is celebrating a very special birthday, and you're all invited. The Microsoft 50th Anniversary Copilot Event takes place tomorrow, and will see the Seattle tech giant unveil its latest AI developments – and, presumably, look back at its vast history.

In the lead-up to the event at 9:30 AM PT / 12:30 PM ET / 5:30 PM BST on April 4, we'll discuss all of our favorite Microsoft moments from the last 50 years and predict what Copilot upgrades we can expect to see.

Whether you're a fan of Windows, Xbox, Copilot, or even the Zune (remember that?), you won't want to miss this birthday bash.

Plus, we'll have reporters on the ground in Seattle ready to cover all the breaking news as it happens, so stay tuned to TechRadar and bookmark this live blog to keep up with everything Microsoft 50th Anniversary and Copilot.

Good morning! John-Anthony Disotto, TechRadar's Senior AI Writer here, ready to kickstart our coverage of the Microsoft 50th Anniversary Copilot event!

Stay tuned – because we've got a while until the event starts tomorrow (April 4), so we'll have plenty time to talk about the best (and worst) Microsoft moments from the last half century.

And of course, we'll also be speculating as to what we expect to see from Copilot, and bringing you any last-minute rumors on that front.

Let's go over the basics first:

The Microsoft 50th Anniversary Copilot Event will be live-streamed on the company's website on April 4 at 9:30 AM PT / 12:30 PM ET / 5:30 PM BST.

We expect to see announcements related to Microsoft AI, but details are pretty scarce at the moment.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

In the lead up to the event, we've asked the TechRadar team to discuss their favorite Microsoft memories from over the years.

Whether that's the launch of Windows 95, Microsoft's venture into games consoles in the early 2000s, or Windows Phone, we've got so much to reminisce about.

(Image credit: Microsoft)

Let's kickstart this time capsule 50 years ago, back in 1975.

It's generally considered that Microsoft was founded on April 4, 1975, but Bill Gates and Paul Allen's journey started in January of that year when the duo spotted the MITS Altair 8800 on the cover of Popular Electronics.

With their creative juices flowing, the duo launched BASIC in February 1975 as the first computer programming language for a PC and sold it to MITS (Micro Instrumentation and Telemetry Systems) of Albuquerque, New Mexico.

The pair then moved to Boston where Microsoft was co-founded as BASIC. By July 1975, BASIC v2 had officially shipped, and the journey had begun.

Microsoft's first logo

(Image credit: Microsoft)

In November 1967, Micro-Soft was registered as a trade name and we got our first glimpse at a Microsoft logo.

It's definitely not as iconic as the colorful Windows logo we've all grown to know and love, but back in the 60s logos were more about practicality than style.

Let's start bringing in some of TechRadar's staff to discuss their favorite Microsoft memories, starting with TechRadar Pro's Managing Editor, Desire Athow.

His favorite Microsoft product of all time is Windows 95, and for many that might be the very first experience you ever had with a computer.

My favorite Microsoft product: Windows 95

Desire said, "Launched almost 30 years ago, Windows 95 remains my favorite Microsoft product of all time. Those of a certain vintage will remember the days of MS-DOS and the joys of text-based operating systems.

The transition from c:\ to GUI (graphics user interface) was a true paradigm shift, opening the world of computing to a much, much wider audience and cementing its status back then as the OS powering the personal computer revolution.

The cursor changed everything, but it's something else, an afterthought, that truly changed the world: Internet Explorer."

"Back in the day, we had bootlegged pirated copies of Microsoft Windows 95 Beta (AKA Chicago), and I vividly remember the hours I spent trying to install it from a CDROM.

Ironically, 30 years later, AI has brought back that same feeling. Gemini, the AI I used the most, is in dark mode by default and text mostly, not unlike the OS of yesteryear. P.S.: if you want to relive Windows 95 in all its glory, have a gander at this site that puts Windows 95 in your browser."

I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for Microsoft (kind of)

Microsoft's impact can't be overestimated, it has truly defined the tech industry, and in turn everyone at TechRadar's careers, in some shape or another.

Computing Managing Editor, Matt Hanson owes a lot of his career to Microsoft, He said "In a way, I owe a lot of my career as a tech journalist to Microsoft, and if it wasn’t for the company - and a rather unpopular version of Windows - I wouldn’t be here typing away about PCs.

Not because I wouldn’t exist at all - thankfully Microsoft had nothing to do with my actual creation, that would be one heck of a family tree to get my head around, but because the very first publication I worked for at Future Publishing was Windows Vista: The Official Magazine."

(Image credit: Future)

Hanson adds, "This was back in 2008, and Microsoft had licensed Future to create a magazine to show off its new operating system and help users get the most out of their PCs.

While it was the official magazine, Microsoft was thankfully quite hands-off for the most part, and the magazine was far more than just an advert for Windows Vista. Magazines were still selling well and we had a big team, and we did some really fun features such as renting out cars and using various map websites and SatNavs (remember them?) to see who could get to a random place as fast as possible.

It was genuinely fun, and here I am almost 20 years later still at Future and still writing about PCs.

The only issue was that Windows Vista was a bit, well… crap. I moved publications after a few years, writing for esteemed organs such as PC Plus, PC Format and Linux Format, to name a few. I was also involved in the launch of Windows 8: The Official Magazine, which again was a fun publication, though it had to deal with the fact that Microsoft had somehow made an operating system worse than Windows Vista.

But I’ll always have a soft spot for those less popular versions, as they helped get me to where I am today."

What about the future?

(Image credit: AdriaVidal via Shutterstock)

While it's lovely to talk about the past, what about the future?

The event tomorrow is focused around Copilot, but what could we see Microsoft unveil when it comes to AI?

This week, the company has rolled out Copilot Search in Bing, and it's available for free. Could that be at the core of the event? I'm not convinced

(Image credit: Microsoft (Screenshot by John Loeffler))

I don't think Copilot gets the love it deserves, and my colleague Eric thinks the same.

Earlier this week he wrote about the Copilot app and why you should give it a try.

Read his piece, "I tried Microsoft Copilot's iOS app, and here are 3 reasons why you should too" and maybe you'll be convinced to give Microsoft AI a go.

The good ol' days

(Image credit: Future)

Let's jump to another TechRadar team member's favorite Microsoft memory. This time in the company's gaming division.

Axel Metz, TR's Phones Editor, says "I'm jumping in to nostalgia dump about my beloved Xbox 360.

This picture, taken in November 2013, is the first in my iPhone’s camera roll and shows my modest collection of Xbox games just moments before they were moved onto another shelf to make way for my shiny new PS4 collection.

I happily played those PS4 games for most of the next decade, but my fondest gaming memories relate to my Xbox 360 and the hundreds of hours I spent playing the likes of Halo: Reach, Assassins Creed: Brotherhood, Skate 3, Batman: Arkham City, Red Dead Redemption, Far Cry 3, Just Cause 2, FIFA 13… the list goes on.

The 360 console design was perfect; the controller was perfect; the dashboard was perfect; party chat was perfect – looking back, I can’t believe just how badly Microsoft dropped the ball with the Xbox One (even I, an Xbox lover, was forced to defect to PlayStation), but lest we forget just how much its game-changing 2005 console meant (and still means) to millions of people.

I remember those Xbox 360 days too Axel... What a time to be alive, coming home from school and jumping on Xbox live to play Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2.

I have especially fond memories of the 360 era of video games because of my prowess at wrestling games. My claim to fame is my worldwide ranking in WWE Smackdown! vs. Raw 2007 where I was 11th in the world for steel cage matches.

Nowadays I'm lucky if I can win a game in any online lobby, kid these days are just built different!

(Image credit: Getty Images)

TechRadar's very own Editor At Large, Lance Ulanoff, is in Seattle for the Microsoft event, and he's written an excellent piece on how Gates and co have helped define the tech industry.

Lance has been covering Microsoft since the 1980s, so he's got a wealth of experience and knowledge to share on the evolution of the company throughout the decades.

In his latest article, "I've been covering Microsoft, DOS, and Windows since the 1980s, and Microsoft turning 50 is more important than you think", Lance discusses the company's impact on the industry and the ups and downs of the tech giant over the years.

Here's one of my favorite quotes from the piece:

"I booted up the computer and started playing around in what was then Windows 2.0. It had mouse support and windows, but seemed rigid, and as soon as I discovered there was no font support – a key component for digital publishing. I was out.

What I didn't realize at the time was how our destinies – Microsoft's and mine – would soon be intertwined."

This is an awesome article, go and give it a read!

Hello, I'm a PC

(Image credit: Apple)

Graham Barlow, TechRadar's AI Editor has chimed in with his thoughts on Microsoft's 50th anniversary.

"With Microsoft hitting its 50th anniversary I’m reminded of the old rivalry between PC and Mac.

Back in the early 2000s, I was the editor of MacFormat, the UK’s no.1 Apple magazine, and Microsoft was our sworn enemy. It was just a few years later (2008) that Apple created the “I’m a Mac, and I’m a PC” advertising campaign featuring John Hodgman and Justin Long.

I used to love those adverts and I remember recreating the look and feel of them with the editor of PC Answers at the time, Simon Pickstock, for a magazine feature. We had some fun with that. Of course, I played the Justin Long character and Simon played the John Hodgman character. I made fun of Windows’ inability to survive for five minutes on the Internet without getting some sort of malware infestation and he laughed at the Mac’s inability to get a DIY memory upgrade.

The two iconic characters exemplified everything about Mac and PC owners of the time, and in a way, it’s still true today. Windows and Microsoft have never been ‘cool’ like the Mac has, but it’s a testament to Windows’ enduring popularity that it’s still here today, and still the only real choice for a PC operating system. (Yes, I’ve heard of Linux, thank you).

Of course, the joke was on me when a few years later I was asked to also run Windows Help & Advice magazine in addition to my duties on MacFormat, in a way that made it pretty clear that “no” was not going to be an option. Windows Help & Advice didn’t survive COVID-19 sadly, but at least that meant I got a break from running “How to reinstall Windows” cover features every other month (yes, they were that popular).

Interestingly, MacFormat is still going strong, and it’s one of the few technology magazines that continues to still exist in print.

While the Windows magazine readers may have all migrated online and now exist in the cloud somewhere, it turns out that they were the ones who were more interested in living in a digital world than the Mac owners. Back in 2008, who would have thought that?"

I'm loving all these Microsoft memories, and it's great to learn more about my colleagues' careers. Keep em' coming folks!

(Image credit: Microsoft)

Back to the Copilot event. It's hard to know exactly what Microsoft has up its sleeve for tomorrow's livestream, but you'd hope it's something important considering it's linked to the company's golden anniversary.

Eric Hal Schwartz wrote about the 4 things he wants to see announced at the Copilot event, and I'm in agreement with some of his ideas.

My favorite concept in his list is the return of Clippy, Microsoft's most famous mascot. Could you imagine a Copilot-powered Clippy in Windows 11? Sign me up!

Now, let's go back down memory lane, as Marcus Mears II – TechRadar's Computing Reviews and Buying Guides Editor – looks back on the Xbox 360.

The One Thing No Xbox Owner Wanted to See

It's not too often we get omens in the world of tech and gaming (well, not counting HP). But there's one symbol synonymous with the Xbox 360 - and its creator, Microsoft - that certainly fits the bill. The infamous "Red Ring of Death" would rear its ugly head to tell you "this Xbox's time is up. Repair or replace, but go no further!"

A number of flashing red lights would appear around your 360's power button, alerting you of one or more critical hardware errors going on under the hood. But did you know that depending on how many lights were shown, and in what positions they populated, your Xbox was giving different and specific cries for help?

If you saw one red light in the bottom right of the ring, you were looking at some form of acute hardware failure, and typically it was followed up with an error code on your display. If two red lights appeared, your Xbox was overheating and needed some time to cool off.

Three red lights was the unfortunate star of the show, the Red Ring of Death, and it meant your Xbox 360 had critical hardware errors preventing it from running normally. Your display wouldn't show an error code, and you were left clutching your console in your hands, thinking back on all the good times you had together (or more likely using some choice words while trying to get it to work again).

After several years of Microsoft-fueled fun, my own 360 went the way of the Red Ring. Getting rid of your favorite tech is never fun, but thinking back on it certainly can be. 50 years in the game is a long time, and there's bound to be ups as well as downs. Leave it to Microsoft to make the downsides an iconic walk down memory lane.

With announcements flooding in on all sides from Nintendo Direct, it's easy to get caught up in the excitement and miss some important details.

One of which isn't all Mario Sunshine and daisies: unfortunately, you won't be able to play all of your Switch 1 games on the Switch 2.

This is due to how Nintendo built the Switch 2 as, interestingly, it "doesn't contain any Switch hardware."

That doesn't mean you won't be able to move any of your favorite titles over to the new system, but it does mean you won't see the same kind of compatibility you saw between the DS and 3DS.

Here's what you need to know.

The Switch 2 focuses on "enhancing its performance as hardware"

Dohta (left) and Kawamoto (right) discuss the launch of the upcoming Switch 2 (Image credit: Nintendo)

Now, the incompatibility between some Switch games and the new Nintendo Switch 2 does come with a reasonable explanation.

In Vol. 16 of Nintendo's Ask the Developer conference, Kouichi Kawamoto (Producer, Entertainment Planning & Development Department), Takuhiro Dohta (Senior Director, Entertainment Planning & Development Department), and Tetsuya Sasaki (General Manager, Technology Development Division) accepted questions on the development of Nintendo's new handheld console.

When asked if the team had "already decide[d] on this functionality when [they] were first planning the development of a new dedicated game system," the team highlighted that compatibility was indeed a consideration. Even so, it wasn't as simple as porting Wii games to the Wii U.

The foremost focus with the Switch 2 was instead "on enhancing its performance as hardware, namely, expanding its capacity. So, compatibility was a lower priority."

This meant creating a revamped system with no original Switch hardware under the hood. Sasaki comments, "It's tricky to explain... Maybe the easiest way to understand it is that the methods used to achieve compatibility between Nintendo DS and Nintendo 3DS, and between Switch and Switch 2, are completely different."

Kawamoto adds to that: "Simply put, those systems were compatible because Nintendo 3DS contained Nintendo DS hardware, and Wii U contained Wii hardware. However, Switch 2 doesn't contain any Switch hardware."

If you're brave enough to check whether your favorite game made the journey, Nintendo published and continues to update a comprehensive list of Switch games that are not compatible with the Switch 2.

It's not all gloom and doom, though

That's not to say the Switch 2 won't run any games from the OG Switch. Most of your favorites run just fine thanks to what Dohta explains is "something that’s somewhere in between a software emulator and hardware compatibility."

It's also important to note that almost all first-party Nintendo titles are available on the new Switch 2 (save for Fitness Boxing).

Sasaki continues, "There are some games that ran well due to the Switch system's hardware configuration. Switch 2, on the other hand, has increased processing capabilities and an expanded memory capacity, which could theoretically cause some of those games to stop working. We weren't so confident at first, but as we tested games one by one, we found out that some issues could be solved by making improvements. This process helped us build confidence that, while we might not be able to solve everything, we can work it out for many games."

In fact, thanks to the Switch 2's new and improved hardware, some of your go-to games may even run better. The team mentioned seeing shorter load times and more stable gameplay in some instances.

You'll also see the arrival of some new features like GameChat, which lets you voice chat and screen share with up to 12 players at a time. This could be a home run for party games, ultimately enhancing the experience of hanging out with your Switch- 2-wielding friends.

Overall, it's worth checking the list of games that will run on the Switch 2 to make sure your favorites aren't on the red light list. The good news is that the majority of Switch titles will run on the Switch 2, which launches June 5 and will be available for preorder starting April 9.

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• Pump-and-dump schemes dominate crypto markets, driven by 438 manipulative masterminds
• Telegram’s ease of communication fuels the rise of crypto manipulations
• Advanced tools like Perseus expose crypto scammers, but regulation remains essential

As cybersecurity faces challenges with common internet scams like phishing, advanced fee fraud, and fake lotteries, cryptocurrency pump-and-dump schemes have emerged as a significant issue.

A recent study from researchers at University College London revealed just 438 masterminds are responsible for the majority of pump-and-dump crypto schemes worldwide.

These masterminds manipulate crypto coins by inflating prices through misleading hype, selling them once enough buyers are lured, collectively accounting for $3.2 trillion in artificial trading and earning $250 million annually. According to Google, such "cloaking" scams are the most damaging scams around.

Telegram is the preferred platform for manipulation

The researchers found popular encrypted messaging app Telegram is the primary tool used by crypto coin masterminds to spread false information, with manipulators using channels and chats to create artificial demand for coins.

"On the app, chats are used to communicate between potential buyers and sellers," the researchers note.

With easy communication and limited regulation, manipulators convince others to buy into the hype, leaving many victims unaware of the risks and devastated by the schemes.

As the research team pointed out, the simplicity of executing these scams "should be of concern to those attempting to make money off crypto coin investing."

To track these schemes, the researchers developed Perseus, a tool capable of analyzing the coordination efforts behind these manipulations.

Similar to AI-powered scam detectors like the one developed by McAfee, which stops scammers before they can reach potential victims, Perseus helps identify the masterminds behind the scams and measure their impact.

Perseus consists of three components: a real-time fetcher, a temporal attributed graph generator, and a mastermind detector. These technologies work together to uncover and track the key figures orchestrating these scams.

The researchers suggest that tools like Perseus, along with other scam detection technologies, could be crucial in recognizing harmful schemes within the largely unregulated crypto space.

"At some point, some form of regulation is going to be needed to keep the system running," they concluded.

As cryptocurrencies grow in popularity, the prevalence of scams raises concerns about market stability, with the lack of regulations leaving investors vulnerable to manipulations.

Via Techxplore

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While the Nintendo Direct about the Switch 2 was only about an hour long, the accompanying deep dives released offer even more information and peeks at the much-anticipated console, which launches on June 5, 2025.

Now, as spotted in “Ask the Developer Vol. 16, Nintendo Switch 2 – Chapter 4,” we’re getting our first look at the redesigned Nintendo eShop. It not only looks much sleeker and well organized, but it should also allow for better curation of titles and for you to more easily find titles that interest you.

Similar to the Switch 2’s interface compared to that of the original, Lite, and OLED, it’s not night and day with the shop. You’ll still find your primary sidebar on the left-hand side, but it has new options. I’ll list those out below, but what’s catching my eye is the central portion next to it titled “Game Finds For You.”

(Image credit: Nintendo)

The shared image reads, “Hey there, Sarah! Looking to find some games? We’ve got recommendations!” Seemingly, Nintendo will be doing some personalized curation based on your preferences, and it will be refreshed weekly, on Saturdays, in this case.

Kouichi Kawamoto, Producer, Entertainment Planning and Development Department at Nintendo, says in the post “there's a feature on Nintendo eShop called For You, which lets you quickly see screenshots and watch introduction videos for games.” The team believes this will let you more easily find something you like within a title, and decide if you’d like to get it or not.

Additionally, the Nintendo eShop has been optimized and improved to run on the Switch 2’s larger 7.9-inch display. The post details that Nintendo thinks it’s just as important that the browsing experience here for deciding what to play is as good as a game.

The new sidebar for the eShop, reads as:

• Featured Titles
• Product Search
• Game Finds For You
• Wish List
• Great Deals
• Bestselling Software
• Recent Releases
• Coming Soon
• Nintendo Switch Online
• Enter Code

While it’s not a complete redesign, the optimizations shown off here seem to up the fidelity and enhance the recommendation engine a bit further for the eShop. It’s unclear as of yet if there are more changes or if this new look might trickle down to the Switch Lite, Switch, or Switch OLED.

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• Tinder’s new Game Game feature lets users practice flirting with AI personas
• The voice-based encounters provide real-time feedback on your charm
• Users are rated on a three-flame scale to gamify the experience

I'm very happily married, but the memories of excruciating anxiety in attempts to flirt are carved into my brain forever. Just getting up the nerve to start a conversation felt like a victory. Perhaps it would have felt less intense after practicing with someone who has absolutely no chance of rejecting me, like, say, an AI character. That's what Tinder thinks. The dating app has released an AI-powered experiment called 'The Game Game,' which produces artificial conversational partners and fictional situations for you to practice those pick-up lines.

Despite the April 1st release, The Game Game is a no-fooling real voice-based feature built into Tinder’s iOS app. Using OpenAI’s GPT-4o AI model, the feature lets you practice flirting with AI characters. Play out a scenario like you’re at an airport, and your AI-generated love interest has accidentally picked up your identical suitcase. Sparks fly. You charm them. Or at least, you try.

You access it by tapping the Tinder logo in the corner of the app, where you're dealt a stack of virtual cards. Each one contains a random persona, albeit one based on your age and other preferences. That persona is matched to an often cheesy meet-cute scenario in a random location. Whatever it is, the AI initiates the conversation, and you respond with your voice.

And the voices are all different, with accents, cadences, and tones that are unique. You actually talk out loud to your phone, interrupting each other and talking about the scenario as if you're casually bantering with a charming stranger in real life. You can see a couple examples of the scenarios and the 'people' I talked to below.

(Image credit: Tinder Screenshot)

(Image credit: Tinder Screenshot) Flirting AI

I’ll admit, I went in skeptical, but it was actually a pretty smooth interaction that didn't feel stilted at all. I could imagine attempting to work on my initial conversational gambits with it. The real-time feedback doesn’t just tell you whether you “won” the scenario; it nudges you. If you’re too sarcastic, the AI might suggest you dial it down. If your answers are a little flat, it might prompt you to open up. Based on how you handle yourself, the AI scores your "date" using a three-flame rating system, a flirtatious Michelin rating.

That gamification is likely a major draw for some who like the idea of a somewhat objective rating. Of course, the AI isn't perfect. Sometimes, the responses felt canned, repetitive, or just a little off. There are guardrails in place so users can’t veer into wildly inappropriate territory, which might be overly limiting sometimes, though it does keep the vibe light and weird in the right way.

I don't think The Game Game will be universally loved, as it comes off as a somewhat gimmicky concept. And some people may worry it’s another step toward outsourcing genuine human interaction. But I think most people know it's just a simulation with sophisticated technology that lets you rehearse for real people.

The Game Game is only available for a limited time on iOS in the U.S., but I wouldn't be surprised if Tinder brings it back and expands access should it prove popular. Whether the practice translates to real-life success, well let's just say puns are a hit-or-miss tactic with both AI and real people.

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• Semimetals promise more efficient conductivity, outperforming copper in energy use
• Copper’s limitations drive the search for semimetals like niobium phosphide
• Niobium phosphide conducts electricity better, even at nanometer thicknesses

For nearly two centuries, copper has been the standard for electrical conductivity, used in wiring, microelectronics, and computing - but as electronic devices become portable power stations, it's clear that copper is reaching its physical limits.

To that end, recent research at Stanford University has shown niobium phosphide can outperform copper in ultra-thin films, making it a promising candidate for nanoscale electronics.

Researchers are exploring semimetals as a potential alternative because these materials possess unique electronic properties that could enhance efficiency, minimize energy loss, and improve performance in next-generation technology.

Unlocking new possibilities in conductivity

Unlike traditional metals, semimetals such as niobium phosphide exhibit distinctive band structures and topological properties, allowing for improved electron transport.

Niobium phosphide (NbP) thin films exhibit much lower resistivity than copper at nanometer scales. As the film thickness decreases, the resistivity of NbP decreases as well, reaching just one-sixth of copper's resistivity at a similar thickness.

At approximately 1.5 nanometers, NbP has a resistivity of about 34 microohm-centimeters at room temperature, significantly outperforming copper’s resistivity of around 100 microohm-centimeters at similar scales.

“Better materials could help us spend less energy in small wires and more energy actually doing computation,” said Eric Pop, a professor at Stanford’s School of Engineering.

The problem with copper is that it becomes less effective as it gets thinner, particularly below 50 nanometers, and struggles to handle rapid electrical signals, resulting in energy loss as heat, yet the Stanford team discovered that NbP, even at just five nanometers thick, conducts electricity more efficiently than copper due to its topological nature, where the material’s outer surface is more conductive than its core.

“Now we have another class of materials – these topological semimetals – that could potentially act as a way to reduce energy usage in electronics,” said Akash Ramdas, a doctoral researcher involved in the study.

One of the key advantages of niobium phosphide is its compatibility with existing semiconductor technologies, as it can be deposited at just 400°C, a temperature low enough to avoid damaging silicon chips. This means it could be integrated into current manufacturing processes without requiring expensive redesigns.

The Stanford team is now exploring other topological semimetals that could further improve performance and efficiency.

“This kind of breakthrough in non-crystalline materials could help address power and energy challenges in both current and future electronics,” Pop explained.

However, there are challenges in making NbP a viable commercial material, such as maintaining the correct layer tolerances during production, as variations in the thickness of the seed Nb layer can impact the resistivity and quality of the NbP film.

As the demand for smaller, faster, and more energy-efficient devices grows, semimetals could play a crucial role in shaping the future of microelectronics. If research continues to advance, nanometer-thick semimetal conductors may soon replace copper in high-performance computing, setting a new standard for electrical conductivity.

Via IEEE Spectrum

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Following the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct, we've got our first glimpse at how Nintendo might make use of its new top-mounted USB-C port.

When Nintendo unveiled the new Switch 2, the secondary USB-C port caught my attention. No, not because I want a more convenient charging port for playing in tabletop mode or because I use wired controllers and can't be bothered to re-plug them into the dock's USB-C ports.

Instead, I was mostly excited by what this new port could represent for the Switch 2's future accessories, and Nintendo delivered with its new Nintendo Switch 2 Camera.

(Image credit: Nintendo)

As part of its latest livestream, Nintendo unveiled GameChat, which utilizes the new Camera for video calls, in-game AR features, and emotes. It'll be available at launch – June 5, 2025 – for $49.99 / £49.99.

As of this writing, we haven't seen any single-player games use the camera, but in time, you may be able to use it for motion-capture games like the good old heyday of EyeToy and Kinect gaming.

My hope, however, is that the Camera is only the beginning. I'd love to see the likes of the Super Scope 6, the Game Boy Camera and Pocket Printer, or even the Wii's Balance Board.

In an otherwise slightly underwhelming Direct with no major first-party launch titles to catch my eye beyond Mario Kart World, this second USB-C port and its peripheral potential remains one of the most interesting developments in the console.

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The Nintendo Switch 2 Direct has been a rollercoaster of emotions with highs like the GameCube game announcements for Switch Online and the Mario Kart World showcase, and then lows like the eye-wateringly high prices.

The Nintendo Switch 2 will cost $449.99 in the US or £395.99 in the UK (AU pricing is TBC), games like Mario Kart will set you back $79.99 / £74.99, and that cute Welcome Tour title that will explain the console’s features to you? You'll have to pay for that as well.

Cue the Michael Scott reaction:

That can’t be true, you must be thinking. I thought the same, but the official Nintendo of Europe account on Twitter – complete with Gold verification checkmark – described it as a “a paid downloadable launch title for Nintendo Switch 2.” There’s no more solid confirmation than hearing it from Nintendo itself.

Discover all the secrets inside your new console with #NintendoSwitch2 Welcome Tour, a paid downloadable launch title for Nintendo Switch 2. pic.twitter.com/X4SqIPDRtJApril 2, 2025

When the Direct’s Welcome Tour trailer showed us a handful of minigames and digital information desks detailing overly in-depth information on the magnets in the new Joy-Cons my initial reaction was that it looks like a harmless interactive manual and eventual bloatware – the sort of software we’ll hop into for a few minutes while we wait for our actual games to finish installing and eventually delete when we run out of Switch 2 storage.

It didn’t once cross my mind that Nintendo would charge anyone to 'play' Welcome Tour. Pricing has yet to be confirmed, but frankly even $1 / £1 feels too high.

I know this title would have taken time to develop and to fill with demos and info, but surely its cost could have been eaten up by the high Switch 2 price? Right?

I was cautiously excited for the Nintendo Switch 2, and the Direct mostly morphed that into true anticipation. June 5, 2025 was marked on my calendar, and as hype grows I could see myself putting in a preorder despite my promise to myself that a new Mario Kart wouldn’t be enough of a draw.

Now, with this Welcome Tour announcement, and several other missteps, I’m just feeling deflated by the whole launch. Hopefully my frustrations will mellow out in the coming days, but in the Switch 2 vs Steam Deck battle, in my mind the Nintendo console is in a losing position for now.

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• MediaTek challenges Broadcom in Google's evolving AI hardware strategy
• Next-gen TPU aims for better AI processing and lower costs
• Google diversifies AI chip supply, reducing reliance on Broadcom

MediaTek and Google will collaborate to develop the next-gen tensor processing units (TPUs), a move which means Google will likely be reducing its reliance on Broadcom in its AI tools hardware business strategy.

The aim of this collaboration is to design an affordable and energy-efficient TPU, produced by TSMC and will likely launch as part of Google’s 7th-gen TPU series.

While Google will lead the overall design, MediaTek will handle input/output modules to facilitate communication between the processor and peripherals, marking a shift from Broadcom’s previous role in TPU core development, though Google is not cutting ties with Broadcom entirely.

Developing more efficient AI processors

Google’s TPUs, designed for demanding AI computations and essential for training the best LLMs, will reportedly see improved efficiency and performance, addressing the increasing demand for powerful AI processing.

Google has been developing its own AI server chips for internal use and cloud services to reduce reliance on external providers like Nvidia, whose dominance in AI hardware contrasts with Google’s push for a more self-sufficient ecosystem through TPU investments.

Meanwhile, Mediatek has been expanding its presence in AI chip development, including partnerships in AI supercomputers.

Ine arly 2025, the company announced an AI supercomputer project collaboration, with its latest partnership with Google aligning with its broader strategy to strengthen its position in the AI industry.

If this collaboration is successful, it may influence the development of the best LLM models by making AI processing more efficient.

Via UDN

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If you’ve got your eyes on the Nintendo Switch 2 and are in the US, Best Buy might be your best place to secure the hybrid console.

That’s because Best Buy will open at midnight ET / 9pm PT on launch day so that those who secure a pre-order can pick up the console as soon as possible on June 5.

The pre-orders are set to start on Wednesday, April 9, and to be in the best position to get the Switch 2 as soon as possible, you’ll want to pre-order through the BestBuy.com website or the Best Buy Mobile App.

Best Buy is one of the best places to pre-order gaming gear, and we envisage it being the same for the Nintendo Switch 2 - it should have plenty of stock, too, we hope. All you can do at the minute, though, is register your interest

“There are some moments gamers don’t forget, and one of those is the excitement and anticipation that comes with being one of the first to get the hot new console on launch night,” said Patrick McGinnis, chief merchandising officer at Best Buy. “We can’t wait to bring that moment to life with the Nintendo Switch 2, and help customers level up their gaming experience.”

There’s more good stuff, too, if you’re a My Best Buy Plus or My Best Buy Total member. For every $150 spent on Nintendo hardware, accessories, and games, you can get a $20 Best Buy certificate, ramping up to $100 worth. There’s a caveat: This offer is only valid from April 2 to August 3.

While I expect the Switch 2 to be offered by a whole range of the big US retailers, I’d cautiously suggest that Best Buy might be one of the best places to go to in order to secure the new Nintendo console; the retailer tends to be one the the companies that has healthy amounts of stock for such devices.

Given the massive success of the original Nintendo Switch, if you’re super-keen on the Switch 2, I’d suggest you be prepared to get a pre-order in so that you’re not left disappointed on its release day.

And as a reminder, the Switch 2 on its own will be $449.99 or $499.99 with a download code for Mario Kart World.

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• GameCube Classics are headed to the Nintendo Switch 2
• The first three titles are The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker, Soul Caliber 2, and F-Zero GX, coming on June 5, 2025
• Other games like Pokémon Colosseum, Luigi's Mansion, and Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness

Nintendo’s major Nintendo Switch 2 Direct event was brimming with game releases, but forget about Mario Kart World, FromSoftware’s new The Duskbloods and that sweet five seconds of Silksong footage for a minute and join me in celebrating the two actual biggest announcements: Pokémon Colosseum and Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness are hitting the new console (alongside other GameCube games).

With limited opportunities to capture and train your Pokémon companions adding some real challenge compared to the core series, combined with some incredible music and a unique plot, these spinoffs are my favorites in the whole Pokémon series.

And after misplacing my copy of Gale of Darkness (which is very costly to replace on the secondary market) I’m beyond excited to be able to replay both of these titles again soon.

They’re being released via a new GameCube addition to the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack. This expanded version of the Online subscription includes access to DLC and exclusive classic console game libraries (including the N64 and GameBoy Advance) for $49.99 / £34.99 / AU$59.95 a year.

The only downside for Pokémon fans is that while these two best-in-class spinoffs have been confirmed to be launching on the service at some point they won’t be available at the new console’s launch.

Instead, The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker, Soul Caliber 2, and F-Zero GX will be the first trio of GameCube titles to hit the service on the Switch 2’s launch date.

One thing to note is that it appears that Nintendo Switch original players with a Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack won’t be able to access these GameCube titles. Instead, the GameCube expansion will be exclusive to Nintendo’s latest console.

Complete the GameCube setup

(Image credit: Nintendo)

To capture the authentic GameCube experience, Nintendo announced it’s releasing a wireless GameCube controller (complete with the new C button) for £58.99 (likely around $75 based on exchange rates; Nintendo has yet to confirm a US price).

It’ll only be available through the MyNintendo online store, and – to make things more frustrating – you’ll only be able to preorder one if you’re a Nintendo Switch Online member, and initially it will “only be offered to those invited to pre-order a Nintendo Switch 2 console” according to the MyNintendo UK store.

This is presumably a move to prevent scalpers from sucking up all the stock before anyone else can react, so just be prepared to jump through some hoops if you’re keen to get this Switch 2 GameCube accessory.

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Vibe coding—creating and editing software simply by giving instructions to AI—enables businesses and individuals to unleash their creativity without requiring a developer. Some worry that vibe coding will replace developers, but that’s not the case. This trend proves that programming is evolving, and those who adapt will find more opportunities, not fewer.

The evolution of AI coding

AI-powered coding assistants have been around for a while. They started as “autocomplete” tools, similar to how your phone predicts the next word when you text.

GitHub Copilot, Cursor, and similar tools boosted developer productivity by helping them finish lines of code, detect mistakes, and suggest improvements.

In fact, software engineering is the field where AI is most commonly applied. To put things in perspective, over 37% of all queries sent to Claude cover tasks like software modification, code debugging, and network troubleshooting.

Even major tech companies, such as Google, now rely on AI for coding—more than a quarter of their new code is AI-generated.

But vibe coding takes this concept even further. Instead of merely assisting developers, tools like Hostinger Horizons, Lovable, or Bolt.new can now generate complete applications based on user prompts.

People with no coding knowledge are creating personal web apps, automating tasks, and even building successful SaaS businesses.

This marks a fundamental shift: AI is no longer just assisting developers—it’s taking on entire development tasks.

While vibe coding is impressive, it comes with notable limitations that make human oversight essential. However, with research advancing rapidly, AI’s coding capabilities will continue to improve. AI already outperforms humans in creative tasks, decision-making, and some other tasks, so similar progress in software development is inevitable.

What AI currently can and can’t do

Basically, current large language models (LLMs) are advanced text predictors. They analyze patterns and generate outputs based on training data, but unlike humans, they can’t comprehend the meaning of what they generate.

AI's lack of true understanding causes several significant limitations:

1. AI can’t think out of the box to find better solutions on its own. It simply generates code based on given instructions and examples from the training data.
2. AI hallucinates and makes errors. In some cases, a subtle mistake or oversight can require extensive efforts to correct later on.
3. To create a large, complex application, users must clearly explain the app's logic to the AI because it’s unlikely to come up with that structure on its own.

In other words, current vibe coding tools are similar to junior software developers. They help non-developers bring their software ideas to life with minimal effort.

That said, complex projects still require more time, deeper expertise, and often the involvement of a professional developer.

The new role of developers

Vibe coding tools are evolving rapidly. In just a few months, we could see significant improvements—bringing them closer to the expertise of mid-level or even senior developers.

Nevertheless, AI will need humans to guide it, test, and refine the outputs. This is where the future developers will step in, ensuring AI-generated code is reliable and secure, managing and integrating different AI solutions, and solving complex and unique challenges.

AI isn’t a threat but rather a tool to solve tedious, repetitive tasks, allowing developers to focus on new, unique challenges, and create innovations.

That’s what we see in our business today. AI fully solves more than half of all client queries, allowing our Customer Success experts to focus more on advanced technical issues.

Adapt or step back

As AI becomes an integral part of software development, the skill set required for developers is evolving. Future-proof developers will need to master AI literacy, prompt engineering, code analysis, debugging, and problem-solving to stay ahead in the job market.

This shift also necessitates changes in education. Schools and universities must integrate AI-powered tools into their curricula to ensure graduates are relevant and competitive in the job market.

Yet, this transformation is not limited to programming. With 400 million weekly ChatGPT users, it’s hard to imagine any industry without AI, at least in terms of intellectual work.

However, rather than replacing human ingenuity, AI helps people be more productive and efficient. Businesses will always need smart people for strategic thinking, decisive action, and driving innovation.

The future of coding isn’t about choosing between AI and human developers—it’s about collaboration. The best developers will be those who know how to harness AI effectively.

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