TechRadar News

• PlayStation Plus users are now receiving compensation following last month's PSN outage
• After the almost 24-hour outage, Sony promised five additional days of PS Plus to members
• Members should now see the compensation added to their PlayStation accounts

PlayStation Plus subscribers are officially receiving compensation following the PlayStation Network outage last month.

In early February, PSN experienced an almost 24-hour outage, which meant PlayStation users were unable to play games online during this time.

After the issue was resolved, Sony confirmed that this was an "operational issue" with network services. It also announced that all PlayStation Plus members affected would automatically receive an additional five days of service free of charge as compensation, although it didn't say when this was to be issued at the time.

However, according to Push Square, the compensation is now officially rolling out as of March 4.

The publication found that the five days of service have now been added to the expiry date of its last PS Plus Premium payment, meaning other users should now be able to see the same thing on their own accounts.

To check if you've received the free compensation, you'll need to log in to the PS Store and navigate to the 'Subscriptions Management' tab. There you'll be able to see your next payment date and if the date reads five days after your most recent transaction, then the compensation has been added.

The PS Plus lineup for March 2025 has already been announced and includes Sonic Colors: Ultimate, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Cowabunga Collection, as well as one of the biggest role-playing games (RPG) of 2024, Dragon Age: The Veilguard.

Members will be able to claim these games starting today until March 31, 2025.

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• Disney+ has canned its offshoot animation series of The Princess and the Frog due to production costs.
• A shortform project inspired by The Princess and the Frog movie is in early development instead.
• The decision comes as Disney+ shifts away from creating original longform content for streaming and prioritizes theatrical releases.

Disney+ has reportedly axed its animated musical series Tiana, an offshoot of The Princess and the Frog movie, but there's more projects being shelved by the streaming service.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Disney+ is moving away from creating original longform content for streaming and focusing on theatrical releases. A spokesperson confirmed that this business strategy shift will lead to some layoffs in its Vancouver studio.

The offshoot series of the critically acclaimed 2009 movie was first announced in December 2020 and was intended to be a musical with Anika Noni Rose returning as Tiana, Disney's first Black princess. However, sources reportedly said that despite multiple creative team changes, Tiana could not meet production expectations due to costs.

Fans of the Disney Princess movie will understandably be disappointed by this news, but don't stop wishing on a star just yet as Disney is still going to continue Princess Tiana's story in another way. A shortform project inspired by The Princess and the Frog is said to be in early development at the animation studio, which is expected to feature new storytelling based on the film.

What other longform projects have been scrapped by Disney?

The Tiana series isn't the only project to end up on Disney's scrap heap as an unannounced feature-length movie that was set to go straight to Disney+ has also reportedly fell victim to the new business strategy.

The decision to cancel Tiana and the untitled Disney+ movie follows the news that Pixar would no longer prioritize developing longform TV shows after the release of its Inside Out 2 spin-off series Dream Productions and Win or Lose, the animation studio's first ever streaming series.

The reason why both studios are now shifting their focus from small screen animation is because of the huge success they've had with animated movies on the big screen. Moana 2, which was originally planned as a series and reworked into a theatrical release, went on to gross over $1 billion at the global box office. While Moana 2 sets sail for streaming on Disney+ on March 12, Pixar's Inside Out 2 became the biggest movie of 2024, earning $1.7 billion and the title of one of the best Disney+ movies.

From now on, Walt Disney Animation Studios remains committed to releasing one theatrical film per year along with shorts and special projects. There's already a lot in the pipeline with Zootopia 2 set to release on November 26, as well as an unannounced film in November 2026 and Frozen 3 set for November 2027.

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• Reports suggest the Trump administration may have paused cyber offensives against Russia
• However CISA has denied this, and has pledged to continue defending against all cyber threats
• The move would represent a significant change in foreign policy

Following the recent tense and hostile discussion between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, US President Donald Trump, and US Vice President JD Vance, another serious turning point in the Russian war in Ukraine, or at the very least in American involvement, may have just occured.

Reports suggest the Trump administration has publicly indicated it no longer considers Russia an adversary in the cyber arena, and will pause cyber offensives against the state. Speaking to The Guardian, one anonymous worker went as far as to say “Putin is on the inside now”.

But it seems not all agencies are on board. The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) reaffirmed its commitment to defending against all cyber threats, “including from Russia” and claimed that any reports indicating a change of posture are “fake and undermine [our] national security” in a post on X.

Conflicting statements

It should be noted, Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin told TechRadar Pro that these reports are untrue,

“The memo referenced in the Guardian’s ‘reporting’ is not from the Trump Administration, which is quite inconvenient to the Guardian’s preferred narrative. CISA remains committed to addressing all cyber threats to U.S. critical infrastructure, including from Russia. There has been no change in our posture or priority on this front.”

Despite CISA’s protests, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has reportedly issued a pause in offensive cyber operations against Russia, and has ordered US Cyber Command to “stand down from all planning against Russia, including offensive digital actions,” The Record revealed.

The scope and purpose of these orders remain unclear, but the directives indicate an effort from the Trump administration to normalize ties with Russia and a move towards a cooperation with the state as opposed to the previous alliance with Ukraine.

This could prove significant, as earlier in 2025, Russian hacking group Seashell Blizzard turned its focus towards targets in the US and UK, looking to disrupt and damage critical infrastructure and cause chaos.

If true, the US recategorizing Russia would be a serious U-turn in policy, and could signify a complete shift in foreign policy, and could have lasting repercussions not just in the context of the Russian war in Ukraine, but in global politics going forward.

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• Tecno has revealed the world's thinnest slab phone, the 5.75mm Spark Slim
• A new iPhone 17 Air leak suggests Apple will beat this with a 5.44mm chassis
• We're still waiting for any official information about the iPhone 17 Air

Chinese phone maker Tecno has revealed the world’s thinnest slab phone at MWC 2025, but a new leak suggests the much-rumored iPhone 17 Air could be even thinner.

The Tecno Spark Slim measures just 5.75mm thick at its thinnest point, not including the protruding camera bump, and packs an impressive spec sheet into its svelte frame – the Spark Slim sports a 6.78-inch OLED screen with 144Hz refresh rate, dual 50MP main and ultra-wide cameras, and a 5,200mAh battery capacity.

Image 1 of 2

(Image credit: Tecno / GSMArena)Image 2 of 2

(Image credit: Tecno / GSMArena)

However, Tecno may lose the title of world’s thinnest candy-bar phone sooner rather than later if a new iPhone 17 Air leak is to be believed.

Images shared by notable tipster Majin Bu on X (formerly Twitter) appear to show a polymer or resin dummy model of the iPhone 17 Air being measured by a digital caliper, with the readout displaying a thickness of 5.44mm.

iPhone 17 Air it’s thin pic.twitter.com/2UoNP0IaygMarch 3, 2025

As with the Spark Slim, this measurement is taken at the phone’s thinnest point and does not account for the camera bump. The leaked image corroborates previous rumors in suggesting the iPhone 17 Air will sport a long, thin camera bar with a single camera.

In fact, the dummy model looks conspicuously similar to CAD renders previously shared by Majin Bu – there was some debate over the plausibility of these renders at the time due to the massively expanded camera housing on the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max, but images shared since have largely followed the rumored designs.

As PhoneArena notes, the new camera bump could push the maximum thickness of the iPhone 17 Air closer to the rumored 5.84mm thickness of the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge.

A narrow victory

(Image credit: Future)

The Galaxy S25 Edge has only had its design revealed so far – we only have rumors and estimates to base specs on – and the iPhone 17 Air has yet to even be confirmed by Apple, so the apparent race to release a thin flagship is still currently a tense wait at the starting blocks.

Unfortunately for Tecno, the smart-looking Spark Slim is unlikely to make much of an impact due to the brand’s global-focused release strategy and lack of US availability.

As for the iPhone 17 Air and Galaxy S25 Edge, I’m hopeful that Apple and Samsung can get the balance right with these new slim phones, and produce handsets worthy of a place on our list of the best phones.

What do you want to see from the iPhone 17 Air? Are you hopeful that thin phones will take off? Let us know in the comments.

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• Google Password Manager reportedly set to get a ‘delete all’ option
• At the moment users have to delete credentials individually
• The update was spotted months ago in a teardown

Google looks to be experimenting with a new option to delete all data from its password manager tool on Android devices.

Screenshots shared by Android Authority apparently show a new option in the settings menu of Google’s Password Manager interface reading, “Delete all data: From Google Password Manager, including passwords and passkeys.”

The publication seems pretty certain the feature is indeed incoming, after spotting references in a teardown earlier in 2025, noting, “Thankfully, Google will soon add a new “Delete all data” button to its password manager, letting users remove all saved credentials with a tap.”

Google Password Manager ‘delete all’ option

Although this nuclear approach is already possible, it currently requires users to delete their entire browser’s data, including history, cookies and more, so it’s not an ideal approach for users simply looking to remove their credentials.

This is a surprisingly common problem typical of password managers, which tend to make it difficult to delete all passwords in one fell swoop. Instead, they usually rely on users deleting each password individually.

It might only be something that users need to do once or twice in their entire digital life, but we’ve been there and deleting 700 passwords is not for the faint-hearted – Google’s upcoming feature, therefore, is very welcome news.

TechRadar Pro has asked Google to confirm if this feature is on the cards, but we did not receive an immediate response.

The most common reason a user would wish to delete all passwords would be in the case of migration to another password manager – although encryption and other security measures make password storage pretty secure, having credentials stored across multiple locations increases your risk of an attack.

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• Zenless Zone Zero Version 1.6 drops next week
• It introduces three new playable characters, including a furry gunslinger
• This is on top of new gameplay and story content

Zenless Zone Zero Version 1.6, or ‘Among the Forgotten Ruins’, launches next week and will finally let you play as a fan-favorite, previously non-playable, character.

I'm talking about Pulchra Fellini, who was introduced as a non-playable character (NPC) in the Version 1.2 update. Her unique design, which blends an overall cat-like appearance with motorcycle gang elements, quickly caught the attention of players who flooded the internet with fan art and requests to let her join their teams.

It seems as though developer Hoyoverse took notice of this as Fellini will be added as a playable A-rank physical stun agent in Version 1.6. She will be joined by two other new playable characters: Soldier 0 - Anby and Trigger.

Image 1 of 3

The key art for Version 1.6 shows off Soldier 0 - Anby and Trigger side by side (Image credit: Hoyoverse)Image 2 of 3

Soldier 0 - Anby is a new twist on the beloved character (Image credit: Hoyoverse)Image 3 of 3

Trigger is armed with a powerful sniper rifle (Image credit: Hoyoverse)

Soldier 0 - Anby is a new version of Anby in a soldier outfit. As an S-rank electric agent, she wields dual swords that deal rapid electric blows. Her attacks trigger Aftershock and increase the crit damage of allies against the same enemy.

Trigger is a sniper armed with a long-range rifle. She can enter a dedicated sniper mode to easily evade enemy strikes and call in teammates for supporting hits. Her attacks generate Purge which increases Aftershock damage, so it seems like the pair would be a great fit together.

On top of this, Version 1.5 will introduce a new story chapter that focuses on several clashing factions in addition to Anby's past and the military forces of New Eridu.

There will also be loads of new gameplay elements, such as a new Hollow Zero boss and Battlefront Purge difficulty mode. The most exciting addition here is easily Trigger's upcoming TV Schedule, which will introduce third-person shooting in dedicated sniper missions.

Version 1.6 launches on March 12. If you want to try Zenless Zone Zero ahead of the update, the game is available now as a free-to-play title on PC, mobile, and PlayStation 5.

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• Layer 7 Web DDoS attacks are spiking, Radware report claims
• EMEA bore the brunt of Web DDoS attacks
• Financial institutions and transportation services suffered an almost 400% increase in DDoS attack volume

There was a noticeable increase in Web Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks in 2024, largely thanks to Artificial Intelligence (AI) lowering the barrier to entry, experts have claimed.

A report from cybersecurity experts Radware found Layer 7 Web DDoS attacks skyrocketed by 550% in 2024 compared to the previous year.

Layer 7 DDoS attacks are also known as application-layer DDoS attacks, and they target the application layer of the OSI model. Instead of overwhelming network bandwidth like traditional volumetric attacks, these attacks focus on exhausting server resources by mimicking legitimate user requests. They exploit vulnerabilities in web applications, APIs, and services by flooding them with HTTP requests, login attempts, or database queries, making it difficult to distinguish real users from malicious traffic.

More powerful, more disruptive

Radware says that the increase can be attributed to hacktivist groups leveraging AI-enhanced tools to mount more destructive attacks, easier.

“Multiple catalysts drove the threat revolution witnessed in 2024, including geopolitical conflicts, bigger and more complex threat surfaces, and more sophisticated and persistent threats,” said Pascal Geenens, director of threat intelligence at Radware.

“Add to that the impact of AI, which is lowering barriers to entry, multiplying the number of adversaries and enabling even novice actors to successfully launch malicious campaigns, and what you have is a threat landscape that looks very daunting.”

The EMEA region bore the brunt of Web DDoS attacks, the report states, claiming that it accounted for 78% of global incidents. For web application and API attacks, North America was the primary target with 66% of such incidents.

At the same time, financial institutions and transportation services suffered an almost 400% increase in DDoS attack volume, making them among the hardest-hit industries. Hacktivist-driven attacks also grew by 20% globally, with government institutions emerging as the top targets.

Beyond Web DDoS incidents, network-layer DDoS attacks have become more powerful and persistent, Radware explained. The average mitigated attack volume rose by 120% in 2024, while the average duration of attacks increased by 37%. The telecommunications sector absorbed the heaviest impact, facing 43% of global network DDoS attack volume, followed closely by finance at 30%. The financial sector was also the most targeted industry for Layer 7 DNS attacks, accounting for 44% of global activity.

“The escalations in the threat landscape have significant implications for every sector from finance and telecommunications to government and e-commerce and beyond,” Geenens added.

“Organizations are operating in a dynamic environment that demands equally dynamic defense strategies. While bad actors don’t have to do their jobs perfectly to have a major impact, defenders do.”

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• Meta announces new limited-edition Ray-Ban Meta glasses
• They’re launching sometime in March
• A promo image suggests numbers will be limited to just 3,600 units

Meta has announced that new “limited-edition Ray-Ban Meta glasses” are set to land this month, with promo images suggesting they’ll be transparent just like the previous limited-edition design it launched – but expect them to be even harder to get your hands on.

Beyond a look at the Ray-Ban logo on a clear-ish frame that shows off the hardware inside the smart specs, we know relatively little about the design. The previous clear frames used the Wayfarer frame type, but this new run could get the Skyler or Headliner design, which have more rounded lenses, although our money is on a bold new design like the frames A$AP Rocky – Ray-Ban’s new Creative Director – just unveiled at Milan Fashion Week – which would tally with the “straight from the runway” comment in Meta’s promotional material for the new limited-edition specs.

We also don’t know if these specs will come with the same limited-edition black case as the previous edition, instead of the standard brown, though we hope they do.

Expect a challenge at checkout

Can't get clear pair? The colored translucent options also look great (Image credit: Meta)

Adding to the list of unknown is that Meta has yet to reveal a price. Given that the previous limited model cost $429 – which is about $100 more than the standard translucent frames – we expect this new design will also be pricier than standard Ray-Ban smart glasses, and perhaps even pricier than the previous limited design.

We say that because while Meta’s last limited run consisted of 7,500 pairs, this time it’s only making 3,600 – at least, that’s what '0001/3600' printed on the frames in the promo image on its website is suggesting. Given the even more limited supply, Meta may choose to bump the price up, so if you’re keen to pick up a pair for yourself you’ll want to act fast when they drop.

There's no precise release date to mark on your calendars, though there is a 'Notify me' button on the website if you want to get an update when the glasses go live –just be prepared to go home empty handed.

Scalpers are showing that they’re still in full force in 2025 by ruining limited drops for tech, and there’s a good chance they’ll strike again here. There may also be scammers around looking to take advantage of the hype if stock does run dry – so be careful buying glasses claiming to be the limited edition Ray-Bans from unofficial stores and resellers.

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Apple Intelligence is gaining more features with every beta release across iOS, macOS, and iPadOS, but the company surprised pretty much everyone at the start of February when it released the Apple Invites app.

Less an extension of its various operating systems and more a siloed application, it leans on some Apple Intelligence features but mostly feels like a sort of central point for Apple’s own services.

I tested it out since I needed to plan my son’s sixth birthday party, and while I can’t deny it has that Apple ‘sheen’ to it, I find myself struggling to get all that excited about it.

‘Diminishing Returns’

(Image credit: Apple/Lloyd Coombes)

Apple Invites wasn’t perhaps what we were expecting from the company, but just like the Sports app, it’s another app that can dovetail with multiple Apple services.

It’s essentially a fulcrum that can link to your calendar, photos, and even Apple Music to set the tone for your event.

That’s great, but if you’re not tied into any of those, you’ll see diminishing returns. Apple Invites is perfectly usable by anyone outside of the ecosystem to respond, but naturally you can’t build the perfect playlist or drop in that ideal photo if you’re not tied in with Apple.

It makes sense, of course — Apple isn’t going to go out of its way to integrate Spotify, after all, but it’s worth noting before you start loading up your events.

AI for the rest of us?

(Image credit: Apple/Lloyd Coombes)

My favourite thing about Apple’s new Invites app is just how easy it is to use. If you’ve ever used something like Google Meet or Outlook, you’ll know that trying to populate all the required fields the first time can feel a little awkward, leading to follow-up edits.

Naturally, these aren’t necessarily made for a quick video call and are more for ‘IRL’ events, but I appreciate that Apple has made it so easy to use nonetheless.

As long as you have an iCloud+ subscription, you can add a title, event details, and some snazzy generative AI images (or your own), along with a playlist to capture the vibe, and pretty much get it sent out within a few minutes.

It’s a far cry from the e-vites of yesteryear, and while Apple Intelligence’s slogan of “AI for the rest of us” hasn’t rung true for many, it feels like a smart move to integrate it into an app that’ll be used to send glitzy invites to Apple users and non-Apple users alike.

Outside of the Apple ecosystem? No problem

(Image credit: Apple/Lloyd Coombes)

While you need an iCloud+ account to send your invites, anyone can RSVP regardless of their device of choice.

In my use case, that’s particularly handy — sending an invite to my mother-in-law’s iPhone was easy enough, but my parents have Android phones. I appreciate not needing to adjust either way, too, just sending out a barrage of invites all in one go.

If you are in the Apple ecosystem, Invites is merely a nifty bonus on top of Family Sharing, cloud-based storage, and features like Custom email domains.

But who is it for?

The question I kept coming back to while tooling around with the app was “who is this for?” and I don’t think I’ll be alone in that.

It feels like a proof-of-concept rather than a must-have tool, and while I don’t doubt some families will gravitate toward it in the way Genmoji has become more popular with some users, it just feels like a strange time to introduce an event invite service.

I’m also not sure what the future looks like for the app. I’m not entirely sure what I’d want Apple to add outside of additional integrations, but what’s here feels so focused on a single purpose that it feels an oddity next to Apple’s increasingly malleable (and powerful) in-house apps.

Look how Reminders and Notes have grown over the last few years and it’s hard to plot a similar trajectory for Apple Invites. Does it need one? Perhaps not, but the whole thing just feels like it’s in a weird spot when most people just text each other invitations to events anyway.

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• POLSA announces it suffered a data breach
• Agency says it shut down its IT systems following alert
• Insiders claim incident was due to email compromise

The Polish Space Agency (POLSA) has confirmed it recently suffered a cyberattack which forced it to pull IT infrastructure offline.

The agency confirmed the attack via an X post, in which it said that relevant authorities have already been notified.

“There has been a cybersecurity incident at POLSA,” the machine-translated X post reads. “The relevant services and institutions have been informed. The situation is being analyzed. In order to secure data after the hack, the POLSA network was immediately disconnected from the Internet. We will keep you updated.”

Russia stands accused

Such a short announcement left plenty of room for speculation, and surely enough, some media started discussing if this was a ransomware attack. After all, it is standard practice in ransomware attacks to disconnect affected infrastructure from the internet, to prevent data leaks and quickly sever connections to any persistence mechanisms.

However, an anonymous source told The Register that POLSA’s emails were compromised, and that the staff was told to use phones for communication, instead of emails.

The news was later confirmed by Poland's digitalization minister Krzysztof Gawkowski, who said the Polish government was engaged in "intensive operational activities" to understand who the attackers are. Gawkowski added that POLSA was getting a helping hand from the country’s two computer security incident response teams, CSIRT NASK and CSIRT MON.

The identity of the threat actors, or the goal of the attack, is not known at this time. Reuters reports Warsaw has “repeatedly” accused Moscow of attempting to destabilize Poland because of the military support it is providing to Ukraine, with whom Russia is at war right now.

Russia has denied all allegations, Reuters added.

POLSA supported Poland’s involvement in European Space Agency (ESA) projects, including participation in the ExoMars mission and the development of satellite technologies. POLSA also played a role in launching Poland’s first scientific satellites, such as PW-Sat and BRITE-PL, which focused on space debris mitigation and stellar research.

Via The Register

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• The OnePlus Watch 3 was recently unveiled and then delayed by two months
• OnePlus has since confirmed that the new wearable will only receive two years of software support
• The company also confirmed that Wear OS 5 support for the OnePlus Watch 2 is coming in Q3

The OnePlus Watch 3 will only get two years of software support from launch, the company has confirmed – and the news for OnePlus Watch 2 owners isn't much better.

The OnePlus Watch 3 was billed as one of the most exciting smartwatch launches of this year, and a contender for best Android smartwatch thanks to its excellent battery life.

However, the launch was stymied somewhat by an unfortunate 'Meda in China' typo that has seen the release delayed by a full two months. Amongst the hubbub of the bungled launch, the company has now announced two very disappointing pieces of software news concerning the future of its smartwatch line.

As reported by our friends at Android Central, OnePlus says the Watch 3 will only get two OS updates, and two years of bi-monthly security updates. As for OnePlus Watch 2 owners patiently waiting for Wear OS 5, that's coming in Q3, fully one year after leading Android models like the Pixel Watch 3 and Galaxy Watch 7 get the update.

OnePlus Watch 3's disappointing software revelation

(Image credit: Future)

As an Apple Watch veteran, I'm constantly bewildered by the rather fragmented and lacking approach to software on Android smartwatches, and even the best Garmins.

To begin with the latter announcement, OnePlus has essentially confirmed that OnePlus Watch 2 owners will get Wear OS 5 fully one year after it launched on leading models from Samsung and Galaxy. Just to rub it in, Wear OS 6 will likely debut in the meantime.

Perhaps more concerning, the new OnePlus Watch 3 has a confirmed software support cycle of just two years. As Android Central notes, that's a year shy of OnePlus' previous three-year commitment to the OnePlus Watch 2, a lifespan I'd already posit is pretty disappointing for a smartwatch.

The only upside is that, given the OnePlus Watch 3's delay, most people likely haven't bought one yet and so can reconsider their purchase. Both Samsung and Google offer better support in terms of software lifespan, ensuring that their smartwatches last longer and work more effectively thanks to updates, including important security fixes to protect your personal data. Given the price parity in the mainstream smartwatch market, software support of three or even four years drastically improves the value for money of your purchase.

Prospective OnePlus Watch 3 owners who are serial upgraders might be less concerned, but this revelation also indicates that it might be a full year before Wear OS 6 arrives on that model, which is surely another reason to reconsider buying one.

In more positive news, OnePlus has confirmed that a smaller model of the Watch 3, and a version with cellular support, are on the way later this year, although whether that's enough to assuage concerns around software support and longevity is another matter.

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Seemingly channeling his inner Phil Collins, Apple CEO Tim Cook took to X (formerly Twitter) to post the words "This week" alongside a six-second teaser video that features the words "There’s something in the Air" and a thin blue line that cuts through the last word.

To me and my esteemed colleagues here at TechRadar that would point towards a somewhat imminent announcement of a new MacBook Air, like a refreshed version of the current 13-inch and 15-inch Air laptops with the core addition being Apple's latest M4 chip.

Such specualtion is backed up by Bloomberg reporter and accurate Apple tipster Mark Gurman reporting that Apple is set to announce the MacBook Air M4 any day now.

Gurman also noted that the rumored iPad 11 and a next-generation iPad Air “probably won’t come in the next few days.” Which would indicate what Apple may reveal this week are new MacBook Airs.

Of course, I and others don't know this for sure as Apple remains as tight-lipped as ever, so this article will act as a one-stop-shop for the latest rumors, opinion and speculation so far building into what could be a decent-sized Apple announcement on the horizon.

Let's get into it.

Hello. Mobile Computing Managing Editor Roland Moore-Colyer here to take you through the Apple rumors and TechRadar musings so far. I've been covering such Apple announcements and major Apple events for years, so I feel I'm qualified to have a good ol' stab at speculating what we might see from Apple this week.

Thinking differently...

(Image credit: Apple)

In days gone by, Apple would normally have a couple of big events a year with an in-person or live streamed event that would usually see the reveal of a handful of products around specific categories, such as phones, tablets and computers.

But as the crew at Cupertino have started to push out ever-more iterative updates to Apple's product lines, these events have given away to announcements on social media and Apple's own newsroom page. To me this lacks the spectacle but does give us regular Apple announcements to chew over.

The last Apple announcement of the newsroom ilk came in the form of the iPhone 16e reveal. Apple simply posted an information drop on its website and had the phone up for pre-order pretty sharpish.

There was a decent amount of information to chew over but one could argue the announcement lacked Cupertino's normal appetite for showmanship. I expect the announcement this week to be very similar to that of the iPhone 16e's.

Expect M4 chip power

(Image credit: Future)

So what do I and others expect to see from the Apple announcement? Well as discussed it'll very likely be a pair of new MacBook Air laptops.

While the current pair of MacBook Airs are hardly old, having been refreshed last year with the M3 chip, they don't sport the very latest chips; those can be found in the MacBook Pro 14-inch and MacBook Pro 16-inch.

Those models rock the 'Pro' version of the M4 chip, so we can expect to see non-pro version come to refreshed Airs.

As someone still using the MacBook Air M2, which is a fantastic little laptop that's going very strong after two years of consistent use, I'm not overly convinced Apple really needs to refresh the Air lineup on just a specs basis.

But Apple is Apple, and minor refreshes to its products are to be expected... if not exactly desired.

I'd like a new design for the MacBook Air please Apple

The design of the MacBook Air could do with a refresh (Image credit: Apple)

Having said that I love the MacBook Air M2, I'd not mind a few tweaks to the slim laptop's design. A 14-inch display, perhaps facilitated by some narrowing of the display bezels and a trimming down of the display notch, would definitely get my attention.

I love the LCD Retina display on my Air M2, but it can feel a tad cramped at times when I'm trying to get work done on the go and at speed.

But there are no rumors indicating to a reworked MacBook Air design. So I'm not going to hold my breath and expect the display notch to have been given a nip and a tuck.

Equally, one can never be 100% sure when it comes to Apple. And the MacBook Air's design language is a bit long in the tooth for tech standards. So perhaps we could be in for a surprise.

The Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 has a great keyboard that Apple could draw inspiration from. (Image credit: Future)

Other areas for MacBook Air improvement could come in the form of a refreshed keyboard. I love the keyboard on my Air, and my fingers fly across it when I'm writing at speed.

However, there's not the deepest of key travel and sometimes I feel the keyboard lacks the tactile feel of the amazing keyboard on the Microsoft Surface Laptop models; those balanced snappy responses with a decent bit of travel to make for a wonderfully tactile experience; I feel nostalgic for my old Surface Laptop 2.

On the flipside, I'd not want Apple to mess with the Force Touch trackpad, which is basically the best trackpad I've used on any laptop.

It's big, smooth and responsive and I adore it. Force Touch is an odd name however...

Other design changes and upgrades I'd like to see could come in the form of faster charging; the MacBook Air is by no means a slouch when sucking up electrical juice but it's not amazingly quick either.

I'd also not mind a few more ports. An extra USB-C slot would be appreciated, especially if Apple adds it to the right-hand side where there's seemingly loads of spare space.

And while I doubt Apple will ever do it, I'd love to see a full-sized SD card slot on the next-generation MacBook Air, as that would make transferring photos from my DSLR to macOS far easier than it currently is for me.

A final request for a MacBook Air upgrade would be a move to OLED displays. I feel Apple could thread the line of balancing bolder display tech with energy efficiency.

But if such an upgrade was coming this year I reckon the rumor mill would have been churning it out by now; we've heard no whispers.

When I'm in the office I use a Samsung laptop with an OLED display and adore how rich its colors are, and that deep contrast OLED offers. So there's potential here, but I suspect Apple will keep OLED panels for its MacBook Pros for a good few years still.

(Image credit: Apple)

Dialing in my specualtion, the obvious upgrade for the MacBook Air, and one that I've mentioned earlier, would be an M4 chip.

We've already seen this system-on-a-chip get used in the latest versions of the iPad Pro, Mac mini and iMac, so it makes sense for new MacBook Air models to get it.

I highly doubt Apple will have tweaked the silicon to work any differently for the MacBook Airs than these other devices, though there's sure to be more headroom to push the chipset a little harder in a laptop chassis than in the iPad Pro.

Speaking from my experience with the MacBook Air M2, I'm rather unfussed on the next-generation Air having a dollop more power.

My Air has enough grunt to deal with basically any everyday task I throw at it. I opted for the model with 8GB of RAM and I don't think it's ever felt slow. Sure, it won't churn through the handful of proper PC games macOS supports, but it can run the excellent Baldur's Gate 3 so one might argue what more does one need...

Then again, I'm not a huge user of the AI-powered Apple Intelligence tools, which I suspect will only get more demanding as they advance.

So having M4 power could certainly make a new MacBook Air more futureproof.

(Image credit: Apple)

Speaking of AI, I'd expect Apple announcement to lean hard on talking about Apple Intelligence and its integration into macOS, along with how an M4 chip-equipped Air will be poised perfectly to crunch through onboard AI tasks.

Not sure that'll rock my world but I stand ready to be entertained and informed.

Right, enough chatter about my thoughts on the MacBook Air. Let's take a closer look at the video Tim Cook posted. Check it out below.

This week. pic.twitter.com/uXqQaGNkSkMarch 3, 2025

As I mentioned earlier, the blue line that strikes through the word 'Air' has the look of a MacBook Air when closed, so would point towards a revealed of a new Air models.

Don't expect a new iPad Air this week

(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

But then maybe Apple could go a bit rogue and reveal a new iPad Air.

However, putting aside Gurman's speculation that new iPads won't get revealed this week, I'm not convinced we'll see a new iPad Air this week. The Apple iPad Air 13-inch got launched last year to critical acclaim from TechRadar and others.

That iPad uses the M2 chip, so is arguably due a specs boost. But I'm not sure the iPad Air necessarily need a lot more power. For power-users the M4-equipped iPad Pros exist, albeit at pretty high prices.

Then again, giving a refreshed iPad Air an M3 chip would be one way for Apple to use up any M3 chips it had lying around and give it something else to announce. If that's the case, then I tend to agree with Gruman and don't expect to see a new iPad Air get revealed today; likely Apple will keep such an announcement in its back pocket for a reveal later.

I reckon Apple's announcement will come on Wednesday

(Image credit: Getty Images)

So when do I think Apple will make an announcement? I'm predicting Wednesday.

Historically, Apple has favored Tuesdays for its product launches, but the iPhone 16e was launched on Wednesday, February 20. And my gut instinct tells me Apple could drop its announcement tomorrow, which would be two weeks on from the last announcement.

I feel that makes sense as it give some room for the nws to breathe before we get into the weekend. Of course, I could be totally wrong.

As an FYI, I'm keeping an eye on the Apple Newsroom webpage, just in case Apple suddenly drops its announcement today.

The page for the MacBook Air M3 is still up and running. Usually if there's a product drop that's imminently imminent, then Apple tends to have a message saying its updating the store.

Equally, pre-orders for a new MacBook Air might not go live on the same day as the announcement. Watch this space.

• AMD says its new RDNA 4 GPUs will only support UEFI
• This means compatibility modes on older motherboards are now ruled out
• Only a seriously niche set of gamers with very old PCs will be affected

AMD’s new RDNA 4 graphics cards will only support UEFI officially, which is the modern take on the BIOS, the company has made clear.

As you may be aware, the BIOS is the firmware on your motherboard that’s necessary for your computer to boot up and work, facilitating communication between the hardware components and the software operating system. And as mentioned, the UEFI is just the most recent spin on this (though it should be noted, it has been around for a long time at this point).

AMD tells us: “To fully leverage the benefits of UEFI, only UEFI Mode will be officially supported starting from the AMD RDNA 4 generation of graphics cards (Radeon RX 9000 Series Graphics and later).”

So, in short, your PC will need to be running in full UEFI mode, and not a legacy compatibility mode (known as CSM or Compatibility Support Module) which is an alternative on non-UEFI motherboards that some folks have used to run AMD graphics card on older hardware.

Team Red also outlines the benefits of UEFI firmware compared to ‘legacy’ (pre-UEFI) BIOS firmware, which includes the following boons:

• Greatly improved security
• Fully specified interfaces that ensure interoperability and testability
• Dependable firmware updates from the internet with minimal user interaction
• Support for hard drives larger than 2.2TB
• Support for many new types of PC hardware, including NVMe SSD boot support
• Windows Secure Boot for malware prevention
• Faster shutdown, startup, sleep, and resume times

(Image credit: Shutterstock / DC Studio) Analysis: What does this mean for would-be RX 9070 buyers in practical terms?

If you’re confused at this point, don’t worry. Any modern PC will support UEFI and will be fine with a new RDNA 4 graphics card (the RX 9070 models are about to land, of course). You may, however, need to enable UEFI mode and AMD’s FAQ on this matter provides a full explainer on how to do so.

If you’ve got a Windows 11 PC, it requires UEFI anyway – note the Windows Secure Boot feature AMD mentioned above, well, that’s required for better security on Windows 11 machines. (I should note that while Secure Boot is part of Microsoft’s official Windows 11 system requirements, it’s possible to fudge your way around it, but it’s not recommended).

Those with a PC so old it doesn’t offer a full UEFI mode on the motherboard are not likely to be wanting to run a cutting-edge GPU in the system anyway. There may be some niche cases where this happens, mind you, which is why AMD is issuing this warning – but the vast majority of folks don’t have to worry here. They simply must ensure that they are running full UEFI mode (very likely the case), not a legacy compatibility mode with their motherboard firmware.

Indeed, an RX 9070 GPU may even work with said legacy mode, but as it’s officially unsupported now, you can expect flakiness of all kinds and a generally poor experience (and some key features will certainly be missing, like SAM or Smart Access Memory).

Via VideoCardz

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• BleeqUp has debuted the world's first 4-in-1 AI cycling camera glasses at MWC 2025
• They feature one-tap video editing and record in 1080p
• They also have headphones and a walkie-talkie feature

At MWC 2025 this week, BleeqUp debuted its new 4-in-1 cycling glasses, packed with technology including an AI-powered camera and headphones.

The new glasses, which the company says are the world's first 4-in-1 AI cycling glasses, offer some serious eye protection for cyclists. They've got a UV400 rating for use in sunlight, anti-fog design, Zeiss lenses, and a wraparound design reminiscent of brands like Oakley.

They're also IP54 rated and compatible with prescription lenses by way of clip-on inserts, and are crafted from lightweight, durable TR90 plastic.

They certainly look the part, but they sound even more impressive under the hood.

BleeqUp Ranger: On paper

(Image credit: BleeQup)

The rather strange name aside, BleeqUp's Ranger glasses boast several tech features that cyclists will love. Specifically, they come with an action camera that can record an hour of 1080p video on a single charge. You can get four more hours of content with an additional helmet-mountable battery pack, but suffice to say they're perfect for recording trail runs, stunts, or of course, road-rage incidents.

There's no need to sift through hours of footage either, as BleeqUp says AI-powered video editing can highlight important moments including "scenic vistas, tense instants, and sudden braking emergencies," overlaid with trip details including your time and route. All of that video can be edited into a single highlight reel with just one tap.

An on-board algorithm also ensures that the video looks like your POV, rather than having the slightly elevated perspective of the action camera, which is a nice touch.

Other features include built-in open-ear headphones that feature walkie-talkie functionality. They probably aren't going to challenge the specialist audio of the best bone-conduction headphones on the market, but it's a nice touch nonetheless, leaving your ears open to ensure maximum awareness while you ride.

There are also hands-free voice controls, a Bluetooth handlebar-mounted remote, and even onboard navigation provided by Google Maps in the US. You don't get a display, but all of the on-board party pieces are powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon W5 chipset.

Launched on Kickstarter in March, BleeqUp's Ranger prices start at $349, with $50 discounts available for early birds.

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• Wasabi report claims 49% of cloud storage spend could just be fees
• Three in five overspent on their cloud budgets in 2024
• Customers are staying because of cost, not what matters to them

Half of UK businesses are overspending on cloud storage because they’re being discouraged from exiting with high egress fees, new research has claimed.

Figures from Wasabi say this is leading to a misalignment between companies’ planned costs and their actual costs, leading firms to go overbudget.

Now, more than two-fifths (44%) of UK businesses are adopting a hybrid approach to storage, combining cloud and on-prem solutions, to control costs.

Cloud storage billing practices continue to be criticized

Although the survey’s findings aren’t particularly shocking (we already know about high egress fees and technical limitations that discourage migrating data between providers), antitrust bodies including the European Commission have already sought to deal with these issues to encourage competition.

Wasabi’s research shows these trends are clearly continuing despite Microsoft’s months-long turmoil in settling on an agreement to enable its users to switch.

Alarmingly, the research revealed almost half (49%) of a typical organization’s cloud storage bill is exclusively spent on fees, with the remaining 51% being allocated to the actual storage capacity. This has led to three in five (62%) either massively or slightly exceeding their public cloud storage budgets within the past 12 months, up from 53% last year – only one in three (33%) were able to align spend with budget, with a tiny 6% spending less than anticipated.

"If you’re familiar with the legacy billing models of cloud object storage services, or IaaS in general, this finding will not be surprising," noted Wasabi Director of Strategy and Market Intelligence, Andrew Smith.

Moreover, Wasabi found despite the priority given to data protection, security, performance, scalability and sustainability when selecting a cloud provider, many organizations are actually citing pricing as the key reason that they’re staying with their current provider.

Wasabi’s VP & GM for EMEA, Kevin Dunn, summarized: “Organisations are being unfairly penalised for using and moving their data by anti-competitive practices like high egress fees and complex pricing models. This is consequently stifling innovation, as data is the lifeblood for unlocking full growth potential.”

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For businesses, data is their one constant. In the age of AI, data itself has not changed, but how it is delivered, and what companies can do with it has. Think of the arrival of Netflix and its effect on Blockbuster. The core product remained the same, but the way it was delivered and consumed was completely new, and that meant Blockbuster ceased to exist.

Data is becoming a key tool for businesses hoping to weather today’s tough economic climate and overcome common industry challenges, from inflation to supply chain issues. Those who have not yet got to grips with their data are more at risk from economic difficulties, as data, underpinned by a robust data strategy and paired with artificial intelligence (AI), can deliver the insight and foresight needed to remain competitive and manage market fluctuations. Companies that fail to engage with their data or those that implement AI ineffectively may face the same fate as Blockbuster.

Building the foundations

Data is as valuable to a company as any other asset on a balance sheet. Organizations cannot be valued by revenue alone, but also by the data they own and the impact it has on the business. All companies have data at their fingertips, but to turn that into business value, it has to be correlated, analyzed and used correctly. Organizations can’t make the most of their data if it is sitting in siloes.

Businesses must have a strong data foundation in place: this is the jumping-off point for data exploration and analysis. Once organizations have onboarded onto a modern data platform to serve as this foundation, it’s time for leaders to think carefully about what sort of AI they want to use. As a first step, they should consider enterprise AI tools, which can be applied to organizations to enhance various business functions. To enable this, businesses need to build a consolidated and open data strategy to run these AI models.

Generative AI (genAI) excels at creating new content based on inputs, often fueled by huge data models. While it has many uses, the vastness of the data required can result in issues within an organization's data foundation if they are unable to ingest and analyze such quantities of data. While there is mass excitement around genAI, companies should avoid rushing into implementation, as the models will not be properly trained on all the data available. This can result in inaccuracies and hallucinations, turning AI investments sour and leading business leaders to cut back on spend.

Enterprise AI should instead be the first port of call for businesses, as it is based on smaller data sets, for a certain purpose or benefit as opposed to having potentially infinite uses. For example, since building an enterprise data foundation, Zoom has built enterprise-grade AI applications for everyone within the company, enabling smarter business decisions as teams have access to the right data at the right time.

Now, anyone within the business can chat with their data in natural language to glean key business insights and increase productivity. Enterprise AI is also more energy efficient, using AI for purpose and leveraging the technology where it makes the most sense. While GenAI will see more mainstream use, the two are not mutually exclusive and businesses will likely need to consider both on their AI journey.

The right culture

Technology, by its very nature, is disruptive and aims to drive automation within an organization. This can have a big impact on people, but business leaders need to minimize any uncertainty around AI as much as possible and work to dispel the natural fear that the technology might herald an era of job losses. The latest research from PwC shows that the opposite will happen: AI will bring an era of gradual job growth, helping to ensure there are enough workers so that organizations can find the people they need. What will change are the skills required by workers.

Traditional skills are already disappearing from job adverts, and new skills are appearing, with this change happening 25% faster in roles where AI automation is having an impact. Businesses need to consider the right people for the job and hire them into roles where they can develop their existing skills while giving them learning opportunities to gain new skills.

Culture is hugely important when it comes to implementing technologies such as AI. Business leaders need to first ensure they have access to education and resources so they can get to grips with the technology themselves. Then and only then should they aim to educate their workforce on the benefits of the technology and the skills they will need to engage with it.

This will help establish an open dialogue for employees and leaders to discuss AI use within a company and its purpose, resulting in an increased appetite for engaging with the technology. Businesses can then assess the right tools, policies and data processes and how they will use AI.

Data and survival

Today, the goal for many businesses is to implement AI and reap its rewards. While AI is the current destination, it’ll become a stepping stone to the next destination that all companies are vying to reach. This is a cycle all industries go through, some organizations survive, and some don’t. To be one of the companies that thrive in the age of AI, leaders need to steer their organizations in the right direction, and ensure there is a strong foundation in place to support a consolidated data strategy, enabling them to differentiate themselves from the competition and deliver for customers.

Doing so requires careful planning, and a shift away from siloed approaches, as well as a step change in company culture. By building this foundation, and avoiding the pitfalls of adopting AI too rapidly, business leaders can build companies fit to grow into an AI-powered future.

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

• Polaroid's Now instant cameras get a refresh with new third-gen models
• Now+ model can connect to Polaroid's app for wireless control
• Available from March 4 in new colors and made from 40% recycled materials

Polaroid has refreshed its Now instant camera series with third-gen Now 3 and Now 3+ models. They are the latest in the line of low-cost instant cameras that shoot onto Polaroid's gorgeous (and largest) square film, like the premium I-2 does. Consider them super-sized Polaroid Go's.

Little changed between the original Now and Now+ from 2020 and second-gen models that came two-years later and, truth be told, these latest models are pretty familiar too.

That's no bad thing, we really rate the Now+ and it has featured in our best instant cameras buying guide for several years. But what exactly is new in the Now 3 and Now 3+?

New features are neatly summarized by Polaroid, who describes its latest Now 3 and Now 3+ as, "a refined instant camera with an upgraded two-lens autofocus system, improved ranging sensor, and better light metering for sharper images, even on the sunniest days."

In other words, upgraders should expect sharper focusing and better-exposed prints, whatever the weather, wherever you are.

What's also new is that both cameras are made with 40% recycled materials – kudos Polaroid for that – and come in a range of new colorways. They are available immediately (from March 4, 2025) at the Polaroid website and select retailers, with prices starting from $119.99 / £119.99 for the Now 3 and $139.99 / £139.99 for the Now 3+ (Australia pricing TBC).

Image 1 of 2

(Image credit: Polaroid)Image 2 of 2

(Image credit: Polaroid) + = ?

There has always been two coexisting Polaroid Now models; the regular Now and the Now +. So what's the difference between the two versions? Well, they are identical in every way save for one thing; the Now+ version can connect to your smart device for wireless control.

The Now 3+ can be controlled through the Polaroid app, with creative tools such as double exposure, remote timer and an aperture priority mode. Combine those skills with colored lens filters (available separately and in various bundles), and there's much creative fun to be had.

It's also possible to scan and share prints through the app. Naturally, the plus model costs a little extra, but not by much and we think it's worth the extra outlay over the standard version.

As cameras, both are excellent value, but when considering an instant camera you need to factor in the running costs of buying film, and Polaroid's premium film is costlier than Instax (and with good reason – it's stunning).

We are yet to get our hands on the new versions, but we'll conduct a full review when we do. Our expectations are tempered – we don't expect to see much difference between the Now+ and Now 3+ but, again, that's no bad thing. We'll let you know soon.

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A key challenge in conservation and decarbonization today is gaining real-time, verifiable insights into environmental impact from the first-mile. This is the origin point for commodities like agriculture, timber, and minerals— and often where the most significant environmental and ecological risks exist, yet it has traditionally been the most opaque.

AI is transforming this by making massive datasets—satellite imagery, IoT sensors, and environmental risk models—actionable in near real time. With the ability to analyze everything from land-use changes to methane emissions, AI enables companies and regulators to detect deforestation, illegal activities, and sustainability risks with unprecedented accuracy.

Beyond monitoring, AI plays a role in risk forecasting and compliance. It can model climate risks—such as drought, wildfires, or extreme weather—and help organizations proactively adapt their operations and sourcing strategies. As regulations like the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) become more stringent, businesses will increasingly rely on AI-powered analysis to ensure compliance and mitigate supply chain vulnerabilities.

How does AI technology improve the accuracy and reliability of carbon offset measurements compared to traditional methods?

Historically, carbon markets have relied on manual verification and estimates based on projections rather than real-world impact. This has led to concerns about credibility and market integrity.

AI and remote sensing technologies revolutionize this process by enabling near real-time measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV). For example, AI can detect deforestation and land-use changes, ensuring that credits for forest conservation are genuinely additional and permanent. Advanced models can quantify carbon tracking - such as methane emissions and reductions - particularly in agriculture and landfill projects. AI-powered analysis of soil carbon sequestration ensures that carbon farming and regenerative agriculture credits are measurable and defensible.

This milestone-based approach, where credits are issued based on verified progress rather than speculative claims, is helping shift the market toward greater transparency and trust.

What are the biggest challenges in applying AI and machine learning to forest conservation and carbon credit verification, and how can these be addressed?

One of the biggest challenges is data integrity. AI models are only as good as the data they are trained on, and for environmental applications, gaps in first-mile data have historically led to inefficiencies and unverifiable claims.

To address this, there is a growing emphasis on combining multiple data sources – satellite imagery, LiDAR scans, ground-truth observations, and machine learning models – to ensure that carbon sequestration, deforestation, and biodiversity impacts are measured accurately.

Another challenge is the time and cost of project verification. Traditional methods can take years for a carbon credit project to be audited and approved. AI-powered automation is now reducing project registration times from multiple years to just weeks, significantly accelerating climate action.

Regulation is also catching up. Emerging policies are increasingly requiring verifiable, high-resolution environmental data to ensure that credits issued in the market represent real, additional carbon reductions.

How will AI shape the fight against climate change over the next 5-10 years?

AI tools are already proving its value in climate risk management and emissions reduction, and over the next decade, its impact will only expand.

For example, AI will improve carbon tracking, particularly for Scope 3 emissions, which remain the hardest to quantify and manage. It will also optimize nature-based solutions, such as regenerative agriculture and reforestation projects, ensuring they deliver measurable carbon benefits. AI can also enhance climate risk forecasting, helping businesses and governments anticipate disruptions and adapt before crises hit.

We are also seeing a growing intersection of AI and blockchain in sustainability. By integrating AI-powered measurement and monitoring with immutable records on blockchain, businesses can create auditable, tamper-proof sustainability claims – critical for regulatory compliance and investor confidence.

How has technology directly contributed to more effective decarbonization efforts or improved sustainability practices?

Transparency has long been a challenge in sustainability efforts. While satellites and AI can provide visibility into environmental impact, the real issue is verification and accountability.

Historically, registering and verifying a carbon project – whether a reforestation effort or a methane reduction initiative – was an expensive, slow process. But with AI and blockchain-backed registries, project validation timelines have been cut from multiple years to just a few months.

This acceleration is critical because it increases the speed at which capital can flow into high-impact climate projects. Whether it’s reducing emissions from land use, improving soil carbon storage, or transitioning to regenerative supply chains, technology is making it possible to measure, verify, and scale these efforts faster than ever before.

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

Interest in AI agents that can peruse the internet on your behalf has ticked up of late, partly thanks to OpenAI's Operator, along with Browser Use and the recently released Proxy 1.0. Popular browser provider Opera has joined in to offer a tool that will actively do tasks on the web for you. If this catches on, the way we interact with the internet might never be the same, especially if it's baked right into the browser like Opera's is.

The idea for the Operator is that, instead of just answering questions or giving you information like Opera's Aria AI assistant, it can go out onto the web and do things on your behalf. You can tell it to buy concert tickets, book a hotel, track down the best deals on a gadget, or research a topic, and it will navigate sites, fill out forms, and complete tasks for you while keeping you updated.

You’re still in control, but now you have a digital errand runner handling the tedious stuff. And that could change a lot about how we use the internet. Here are five ways it could shake things up.

Shop for me

(Image credit: Opera)

Online shopping could become radically simpler with Opera's Operator. Right now, finding the perfect item can require having ten tabs full of reviews, price comparisons, and shipping data. With the Browser Operator, you could just say, “Find me the best-rated wireless earbuds under $150 and order them to my address.”

Instead of doom-scrolling product pages for an hour, you’d get a curated recommendation, approve it, and be done in seconds. Imagine never dealing with sketchy third-party sellers again because your AI assistant already weeded them out for you.

Trip AI

The Operator could make planning travel actually fun instead of stressful. A simple weekend trip requires juggling flight options, hotel rates, rental car bookings, and activity reservations, all while praying you don’t accidentally book a 10-hour layover.

With the Browser Operator, you could say, “Plan a weekend getaway to Chicago with a hotel near downtown and a rental car,” and it would handle the legwork, presenting you with an itinerary to approve. No more agonizing over which travel site has the best deals or whether that budget hotel actually has walls. The AI would be able to do the tedious searching; you just decide what sounds good.

Subscribe AI

Managing subscriptions and online accounts could stop being a nightmare using AI. These days, half of our digital lives are spent trying to remember where we signed up for what, why we’re still being charged for something we don’t use, and how to cancel a subscription before it renews for another year. Normally, you have to dig through emails, track down obscure account settings, and fight a desperate battle with “Are you sure you want to cancel?” pop-ups.

With the Browser Operator, you could say, “Find all my active subscriptions and show me what I should cancel.” It could even handle the cancellations for you, sparing you from guilt-tripping retention prompts. Suddenly, your bank account isn’t a graveyard of forgotten free trials turned full-priced commitments.

Bills to pay

(Image credit: Opera)

Even the most mundane online tasks could become hands-free with the Operator's help. Paying bills, managing subscriptions, downloading bank statements are all the little things that chip away at your day. The annoyance of having to remember which day you need to log in, navigate a website, and remember your passwords is just part of life.

However, you can set up the Browser Operator to handle routine tasks automatically. Imagine just getting a notification that your phone bill has been paid instead of remembering to do it yourself. That’s not just convenience but fewer minor annoyances cluttering your brain.

Information filter

Keeping up with the internet’s relentless firehose of content might actually become manageable using the AI Operator. Staying informed today means subscribing to newsletters, following a bunch of blogs, and hoping the algorithm decides to show you nothing but cat videos. But the Browser Operator could act as your own personal news curator.

You could tell it, “Keep me updated on the latest breakthroughs in space exploration,” and it would regularly collect and summarize the most relevant articles. Instead of wading through an endless news feed, you’d get just what matters to you, neatly packaged. That way, you can stay informed without feeling like the internet’s infinite scroll has hijacked your entire day.

Operator opening

The internet has always required us to be the operators; clicking, searching, navigating, managing. But with AI tools like this, that might be changing. Opera’s Browser Operator takes the first real step toward making the browser an active participant instead of a passive tool. It doesn’t just give you a new way to browse; it changes what browsing is. Sure, this could make everything more efficient, but it also raises questions about what happens when we offload so much of our online activity to AI. If the internet can browse itself for us, how much do we really need to engage with it? Will we still know how to search for things manually in a few years, or will that start to feel as outdated as dialing a rotary phone?

For now, though, it’s hard not to be excited. This is the kind of innovation that makes you wonder how we ever lived without it. If AI can start handling the tedious parts of the internet, maybe we’ll finally have time for the things we actually enjoy. Or, more realistically, maybe we’ll just use that extra time to doom-scroll even more efficiently. Either way, the future of browsing just got a lot more interesting.

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• Lego debuted its first Steamboat building set at Toy Fair
• It's filled with details and is quite large at 27 inches
• The River Steamboat made its debut alongside a new Jurassic Park set

Lego Ideas sets are some of the most fun to shop for and build simply because fellow fans think of and then vote on them in hopes of making these models real. The River Steamboat is the next set to arrive in a port from Lego Ideas and looks incredible.

While Lego has made all sorts of vessels – a massive model of the Titanic and a submarine included – this is the brand's first steamboat. It’s done right, at least from our early look at Toy Fair 2025. The River Steamboat is constructed from over 4,000 pieces – 4,090 to be exact, stretches over 27 inches in length and stands 15 inches tall at its highest point.

The Lego Ideas River Steamboat will run you $329.99 / £289.99 / AUS $499.99 when it launches on April 10, 2025, but Lego Insiders – a free rewards program – can purchase it early on April 7. It’s expected to also be available on Amazon at launch.

(Image credit: Lego)

As you might expect with a steamboat model, you’ll be building a range of features across the interior and the exterior of the steamboat. On the rear, you’ll build a large, vibrant red paddle to push this vessel down a river or even up one. Like most other Lego boats, though, this one will not float.

While not visible once the set is fully built, you’ll also make the steam engine, which connects to the steamboat's tall standing plumes. It’s quite impressive, and while not a Technic set, some significant details are included here, and you’ll find some working gears.

Of course, you’ll also build various quarters for the staff, including the captain and for guests. There’s a “Texas deck,” a restaurant, and even a music deck. You can remove each deck to let you explore each one after the build is complete. That makes this set for display and play.

(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)

This Lego Ideas set was created by fan Aaron Hall, who’s from Illinois in the United States, and thanks to reaching the needed number of community votes, Lego made it into a real set. It’s a really neat program that Lego offers, and some other sets, including Jaws, the Polaroid OneStep SX-70 Camera, and countless others have come for this program.

While Lego isn’t taking preorders for the Ideas River Steamboat, it’ll go on sale on April 10 for everyone and April 7 for Insiders members on its online store for $329.99 / £289.99 / AUS $499.99.

@techradar

♬ Rock and Roll Session - Canal Records JP

Also unveiled at the New York Toy Fair was the Dinosaur Fossils: Tyrannosaurus rex set from the Jurassic Park and Jurassic World universes. While a T-Rex will undoubtedly be in the upcoming film, this set includes two Minifigures from the 1993 Jurassic Park movie.

This Tyrannosaurus rex is massive, even longer than the Steamboat, with a posable tail and limbs. You can, of course, simulate a chomp by moving the mouth of the T-Rex. This set launches on March 15, 2025 for $249.99 / £219.99 / AUS$399.99..

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