Feed aggregator

People often use the wrong painkiller or take too much too quickly, increasing the risk of side effects, say pharmacists. Here are safer and more effective ways to take drugs like Advil and Tylenol.

(Image credit: Photo illustration by Beck Harlan/NPR)

The week was dominated by news about the Maryland man illegally deported to El Salvador. But there was also concern over tariffs and Robert F. Kennedy's work as Health and Human Services secretary.

(Image credit: Win McNamee)

The agency's annual human rights reports are being purged of references to prison conditions, political corruption and other abuses.

(Image credit: Nicholas Kamm)

To say that the last episode of Yellowjackets season 3 was a killer would be an understatement: it was a highly dramatic, often surprising and very violent end to not just the season, but to some of the key characters too.

Warning: serious spoilers ahead!

If you haven't already seen the entire third season of one of the best Paramount+ shows please don't read on, because there were some important things in the season finale that I want to talk about, and in order to explain them I'm going to have to include some massive spoilers.

Trust me: Spoiling any of the surprises for you is definitely not what the wilderness wants.

Misty's smile was misdirection

(Image credit: Paramount Plus)

One of the most disturbing parts of Yellowjackets' very first episode was what happened immediately after the horrible death of Pit Girl, who of course we now know to be Mari.

There's a lingering moment in the pilot where, post-cannibalism, the camera focuses on Misty and she doesn't seem upset; she seems happy, with what you could describe as either a smirk or a smile.

It turns out that that was misdirection: we were set up to think that Misty was heartless or even evil, and in successive seasons that was reinforced by the animosity between her and Mari. But we now know that Shauna, not Misty, was the person who ensured that Mari would be Pit Girl.

Seeing Misty's smile in context at the end of season 3 showed us the real story: Misty was smiling because she knew her and Nat's plan – getting away to make that phone call on the repaired satellite phone – had worked.

Shauna's crown is hollow

(Image credit: Showtime; Paramount Plus)

In the very final moments we see Shauna become the Antler Queen, which of course you saw. But that coronation is misdirection again, because it's already a hollow victory: the Yellowjackets are turning against Shauna in both timelines because of her shocking actions.

Of course we know she makes it back home in the 1990s timeline, because if she didn't then we wouldn't have the present-day Shauna to be horrified by.

But with Misty and even Tai now lined up against her, I'm really not expecting a happy ending to Shauna's story. Not least because...

Callie is a killer

(Image credit: Paramount Plus)

Among the many revelations of the finale, one of the biggest is the identity of Lottie's killer – Callie. When Misty works it all out, she isn't slow to tell Jeff and Shauna. Jeff realizes that Shauna is, to put it mildly, not the greatest role model Callie could have, and spirits her away.

But something strange happened in the finale when Shauna finds empty closets and no sign of a note: nothing.

After an entire season where Callie and Jeff's characters became really important, their story just stops dead. We're no wiser about where they are or what they're doing than Shauna is.

I think that's a third bit of misdirection. I reckon that we're going to see a lot more of Callie in season four – and that that's not going to be good news for Shauna.

Remember, this is a show all about teens murdering people, and Mari's final words to Shauna were "you deserve all the bad things that are going to happen to you"... are you thinking what I'm thinking?

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Cybercriminals don’t discriminate. They go where the money, data, and opportunities are. And in today's hyper-connected world, engineering firms have become lucrative targets. The recent attacks on companies such as IMI and Smiths Group are a prime example of that. In engineering environments, cybersecurity can’t be just an add-on. Not when complex supply chains, high-value intellectual property, and critical infrastructure are at stake. Not when a single security breach can lead to catastrophic consequences.

Imagine an engineering firm spearheading smart infrastructure projects, embedding sensors into bridges to monitor structural integrity. A cyberattack could manipulate those readings, triggering unnecessary shutdowns, or worse, concealing a real threat. Now scale that risk across an entire industry reliant on smart manufacturing, Industrial IoT (IIoT) devices, and cloud-based systems. Every new digital advancement creates another entry point for hackers.

Yet, despite the dangers, cybersecurity in engineering is often reactive rather than proactive. Many firms treat security as patching vulnerabilities only after an attack has already taken place. So how does that mindset change?

From firefighting to prevention

Cybersecurity used to function like a fire department – teams would rush to put out flames after a breach. But today’s threat landscape demands something different, from continuous network monitoring and early detection to rapid response. This is where Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) comes into play.

SIEM operates like a high-tech security nerve center, constantly scanning logins, file access, and network traffic for anomalies. When it detects suspicious activity such as an unauthorized attempt to access sensitive blueprints, it raises an alert before real damage occurs. And if an attack does happen, SIEM doesn’t only just sound the alarm – it provides forensic insights, helping companies understand how the breach occurred, where it spread, and how to prevent it from happening again.

For an industry where security failures can have life-or-death consequences, this kind of proactive defense is non-negotiable.

High-tech meets the human element

The good news is that the time it takes to detect and contain breaches is improving. Thanks to automation, in 2024, the average time dropped to 258 days, the shortest in seven years. But there’s still room for improvement, and AI-driven cybersecurity solutions are stepping up.

For instance, AI processes massive amounts of security data in real-time, identifying patterns in API calls, logins, and system behavior to flag anomalies faster than any human team could. Think of it as a digital watchdog that never sleeps. When combined with SIEM, AI can pinpoint suspicious behavior, like an industrial machine suddenly executing unauthorized commands, before an incident escalates.

And beyond just detection, AI-driven automation reduces breach costs. In fact, research from IBM found that companies leveraging AI in cybersecurity saved an average of $2.22 million per breach compared to those that didn’t.

But even the most advanced systems can’t compensate for basic cybersecurity hygiene. An impressive 22% of last year’s breaches stemmed from avoidable human error – misconfigured settings, weak passwords, or falling for phishing emails. Yet, despite the risks, many companies remain critically understaffed in cybersecurity expertise. In fact, the World Economic Forum found that in 2024, only 14% of organizations felt confident in their ability to fend off cyberattacks.

A balanced approach is the only effective solution. While AI and automation enhance security, organizations still need skilled professionals to interpret threats, make critical decisions, and instill a culture of cyber awareness across their workforce.

Cost vs investment

Data breaches aren’t just technical issues, they can be financial disasters. In 2024, the average cost of a breach surged to $4.88 million, up from $4.45 million the previous year – a whopping 10% spike and the highest increase since the pandemic.

For engineering firms, the stakes are even higher. A single cyberattack on a company developing next-generation electric vehicles could leak years of research to competitors, wiping out its competitive edge overnight. A breach in a transportation infrastructure project could delay completion timelines, inflate costs, and erode public trust.

By embedding SIEM into their cybersecurity framework, engineering companies can ensure that every digital action – whether it’s accessing blueprints, placing procurement orders, or monitoring industrial processes – is continuously protected. The result? Reduced downtime, lower financial risk, and a reputation as a secure and forward-thinking industry leader.

We list the best RFP platform.

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

• Snowflake research finds 93% of UK businesses report efficiency gains from GenAI
• Many are also tweaking LLMs for the best output
• Data and privacy concerns remain widespread, seperate EY report finds

Businesses are now getting to grips with AI and are implementing it with efficacy, marking a shift from the experimentation phase, with as many as 93% of UK businesses now reporting efficiency gains from generative AI (and 88% globally), new research from Snowflake has claimed.

Moreover, a staggering 98% are also training, tuning or augmenting their LLMs for better outcomes, demonstrating that companies know exactly where the tech’s benefits are and how to optimize it.

However, the usual hurdles and challenges remain in place, preventing some organizations from accessing the promised productivity benefits.

Businesses in the UK are pretty au fait with AI

Snowflake found nearly two-thirds (62%) of businesses are using AI in software engineering, with 69% using it for code reviews and debugging – both higher percentages than the global average.

AI technology is also proving popular in customer support (61%) and cybersecurity (69%) use cases, where workers are seeing faster first response times (59%), reduced manual workload (64%) and lower costs (56%).

Separate EY reporting reveals seven in 10 UK respondents have used AI in their daily lives in the past six months, but the findings conflict with Snowflake’s findings – only 44% have used it in a professional setting, lower than the global average of 67%.

Globally, EY says workers are using AI for writing or editing content (31%), learning about topics (30%) and generating new ideas (27%).

“They're not just experimenting – they're building with purpose,” Snowflake VP and UK&I Country Manager James Hall said about UK businesses.

“With smart investments in cloud infrastructure and a focus on actionable use cases, the UK is laying the groundwork to lead the next phase of gen AI transformation.”

The research also highlighted some of the challenges that businesses face when adopting AI at scale, with unstructured data presenting the biggest hurdle according to Snowflake.

EY added that privacy and security are also at the front of UK business leaders’ minds, with security breaches (71%), privacy violations (65%) and the reliability of AI outputs (67%) all cited as major concerns.

Looking ahead, EY UK&I AI Client Strategy Leader Catriona Campbell says that businesses must build worker confidence and demonstrate the value of AI.

“As AI continues to reshape our daily lives, it is crucial for business leaders to foster trust and transparency, empowering individuals to engage with AI on their own terms,” Campbell added.

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• A full specs list for the Motorola Razr Plus 2025 has leaked
• We know the phone is launching officially on April 24
• Some useful upgrades appear to be on the way for the foldable

We're more than ready for a successor to the Motorola Razr Plus 2024, and we now have a better idea of what the Moto Razr Plus 2025 will bring along with it thanks to an extensive leak of the flip foldable's specs.

The specs have been published by 91mobiles and well-known tipster @OnLeaks, and add to Motorola's official announcement that this phone – which will be known as the Motorola Razr 60 Ultra outside of the US – is going to be unveiled on Thursday, April 24.

It seems we're set for some considerable upgrades: a Snapdragon 8 Elite processor (up from the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3), 16GB of RAM (up from 12GB), and a 4,700 mAh battery (up from 4,000 mAh), with better wired and wireless charging speeds than before.

The main display is tipped to get a slight size bump from 6.9 inches to 7 inches, but the cover display is apparently staying the same size, at 4 inches. We'll get more storage inside, it sounds like: 512GB instead of 256GB.

Cameras and dimensions

The new model might be ever so slightly thicker than the current model, shown here (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

When it comes to cameras, the leak suggests the 50MP wide + 50MP 2x telephoto dual camera setup of the 2024 model will be replaced by a 50MP wide + 50MP ultrawide configuration – not as much zoom, but the option to fit more inside the frame.

If these details are accurate, the Moto Razr Plus 2025 will be a shade taller, thicker, and heavier than its predecessor, though not by much. Overall, it sounds like this is a respectable year-on-year upgrade, though as always the pricing will be crucial.

We've heard quite a few leaks and rumors in the build-up to the official launch later this month. Just a few days ago, benchmarks for the foldable phone appeared online, which also pointed to processor and memory upgrades.

It's likely that a standard Razr 2025 will show up at the same time as the Razr Plus 2025. We're also now looking forward to the launch of the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 flip foldable, which should be making an appearance sometime in July.

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In this edition of StoryCorps, a father remembers his daughter who was among 186 people killed when a federal office building in Oklahoma City was bombed 30 years ago.

The Last of Us season 2 has finally landed on TV screens across the globe – and if you're eager to watch its next episode, you'll need my help to find out when it'll make its debut.

Below, I'll tell you when The Last of Us TV show's latest chapter will be released in the US, UK, and Australia. You'll also learn which of the world's best streaming services it'll be available on. Oh, and I'll give you the details on when new episodes will air every single week.

Here, then, is when you can catch the follow-up to The Last of Us season 2 episode 1.

What time does The Last of Us season 2 episode 2 come out in the US?

Don't look so sad, Joel, episode 2 will be out soon! (Image credit: HBO/Liane Hentscher)

Episode 2 of the sophomore season of The Last of Us will be available to stream in the US on Sunday, April 20 at 6pm PT / 9pm ET. Just like its predecessors, the HBO exclusive's next installment is going to air on the aforementioned cable network and Warner Bros Discovery's super streamer Max.

When can I watch The Last of Us season 2's next episode in the UK?

Abby isn't happy that she has to wait a few more days for season 2's next episode (Image credit: HBO/Liane Hentscher)

The Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey-starring TV adaptation of Naughty Dog's video game series will return in the UK on Monday, April 21 at 2am BST.

As for where you can stream it, Sky Atlantic and Now TV are your friends on British shores.

When will The Last of Us season 2 episode 2 come out in Australia?

We'll be reunited with Toomy soon enough (Image credit: Liane Hentscher/HBO)

Episode 2 of one of the best Max shows will make its debut in Australia on Monday, April 21 at 11am AEST.

As I mentioned in my season 2 episode 1 release date and time article, Foxtel subscribers will be able to watch new episodes of The Last of Us on that platform, too.

The Last of Us season 2 full release schedule

More dangerous adventures await Ellie and Dina in season 2 (Image credit: Liane Hentscher/HBO)

Five more episodes of The Last of Us 2 are set to launch on the aforementioned streamers before the dystopian drama departs once again. You can find out when episode 3 and its follow-ups will arrive by consulting the list below.

• Episode 1 – out now
• Episode 2 – April 20 (US); April 21 (UK and Australia)
• Episode 3 – April 27 (US); April 28 (UK and Australia)
• Episode 4 – May 4 (US); May 5 (UK and Australia)
• Episode 5 – May 11 (US); May 12 (UK and Australia)
• Episode 6 – May 18 (US); May 19 (UK and Australia)
• Episode 7 – May 25 (US); May 26 (UK and Australia)

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Bird Buddy Smart Bird Feeder Pro: one-minute review

The Bird Buddy Smart Bird Feeder Pro uses the same Bird Buddy Smart Bird Feeder housing that features in our Best Bird Feeder Cameras round-up, but the camera has been upgraded to a new 'Nature Cam' unit.

Being the same size as its predecessor, the new camera unit simply slots into the housing and is held in place with a magnet. Installation and set-up proved easy and I was up and running in minutes. The new camera is noticeably better, offering an improved dynamic range and color, but most importantly it is now 2K in resolution which can be activated with a Bird Buddy Premium subscription.

There is a good level of control over the notifications you receive, with the options to receive every possible visit to your feeder, or just the smart notifications of the visits that may be of interest, such as new bird species. Within the app, visits, or 'Postcards' as they are called, are saved to Collections, where you can go in and see all of the different birds (and other animals) that have stopped by. You can also see other Postcards that users around the world have chosen to share.

(Image credit: Future)

The overall Bird Buddy system is very design-oriented and full of nice touches, from the way that the optional solar panel roof can be fitted, to the food hatch on the rear, the bright yellow or blue color of the feeder and the neat but stylish packaging and app design; everything has been thought out with a purpose.

There is a range of additional accessories for the Bird Buddy, including the solar panel roof. This neatly slots into position, and as long as it is angled into sunlight for a part of the day, it should provide enough power that you don't need to remove the camera for charging, especially during the summer. Other accessories include a 3-in-1 Nutrition kit, which provides a water bottle, a fruit spike and a 'Jelly Tray', each designed to meet different birds' nutritional needs.

One area that could be seen as lacking are the additional features that other cameras offer. For example, the Birdfy range is effectively repackaged home security cameras, with all the capabilities such cameras provide, such as built-in lights and alarm systems - both of which can also be used (usually unsuccessfully) to scare away squirrels. If you are looking for a birdfeeder camera that doubles up as a security camera for your garden, then Bird Buddy won't be the camera for you, it doesn't have those features.

For those who purely want to enjoy the avian visitors to their garden and share those images with family and friends on social media, the beautifully designed Bird Buddy app and high-quality photos and video footage will provide hours of pleasure. There is still the buzz of excitement when you get a notification of a new bird species stopping at your feeder.

Bird Buddy Smart Bird Feeder Pro: price and availability

• Available now, lsit price $279/ £160
• There are plenty of optional accessories
• You'll need a premium subscription to unlock the best features

The Bird Buddy Smart Feeder Pro cost $279 / £219 but is currently reduced by 35% from its original price and can be had for $189 / £160.77 at the time of writing.

If you want the Solar Roof version, it is priced at a reasonable $219 / £186.29. The Bird Buddy can be purchased directly from the Bird Buddy website, which has US and EU store options. It is also available on Amazon via their Global Store, so it should be available worldwide. It can also be purchased from John Lewis and Curry's in the UK.

The optional add-ons are the Perch Extender ($24), Solar Roof ($59), 3-in-1 Nutrition Set ($39), Wall Mount ($29), and Suet Ball Holder ($14). Again, each of these is available via the Bird Buddy website or Amazon, depending on your location. Prices are converted to GBP.

There are two optional Premium subscription services available in Individual and Family versions. As detailed, these provide a range of new features, most importantly 2K Ultra video resolution and unlimited online storage of footage. The Family option allows you to grant family members access to the live feed from your camera. To find out more about the differences in the plans, see Bird Buddy Plans.

Bird Buddy Smart Bird Feeder Pro: specs Bird Buddy Smart Bird Feeder Pro: design

• Compact All-In-One design
• Great design touches to keep everything neat and tidy
• Solar Roof reduces the need to remove and recharge the camera

Setting up the Bird Buddy Smart Feeder Pro was straightforward. After reviewing the previous version of the camera, I already had the app installed, so installation was as simple as selecting "add a new Bird Buddy" in the app menu and following the on-screen instructions. The instructions are very clear and have a human feel to them. Setup is simple, and you don't need previous experience to easily pair the camera to your phone and then your Wi-Fi system.

As Bird Buddy sent me the new Nature Cam to install in my existing Bird Buddy feeder, I simply removed the cable linking the original camera to the Solar Roof and pulled out the camera, which is held in a recess with a strong magnet. Fitting the new camera was the reverse procedure, with the magnet reassuringly ensuring the camera was locked in tight. Again, the USB-C charging port was connected to the Solar Roof.

As supplied by Bird Buddy, the feeder has a mount that can be connected to a post, or it comes with a rope for hanging from a tree or feeding pole. I opted to hang the feeder from a branch of a tree and tried to position it so that the solar panel was oriented to get as much sunlight as possible.

The feeder itself is made from strong plastic. It has a small panel at the top of the rear that can be opened to pour in bird feed. In fact, the feeder comes with a Feed Scoop. It can be a little bit fiddly given I had to climb a ladder, with the feeder is swinging from a tree, but it is quite a neat solution. There is an optional Wall Mount that allows you to swivel the feeder around for easy access to the rear for loading food.

(Image credit: Future)

The feeder was placed around 12m from the nearest Wi-Fi access point, which was in my house and through a glass window. I had no problems connecting to the camera when wanting to view, although there was a short delay while I had to wait for the live view to appear on my phone. In reality, this was no longer than if I tried to connect to view my Ring camera live view.

If you have followed any of my previous bird feeder reviews, you will know I have an issue with squirrels raiding the feeders in my garden. The Bird Buddy has no Squirrel deterrents like the Birdfy feeder cameras. However, the good news is that little damage has been done to the housing despite it being scratched and chewed by squirrels, over the course of a year and a half hanging in my garden.

Having the feeder hanging rather than strapped or mounted to the tree has made it more difficult for the squirrels to get to it, but they still find ways of jumping and climbing to reach the food. At least the feeder is still intact.

The other thing worth noting is both Individual and Family subscriptions are possible. The primary reason for a subscription is to unlock the Ultra 2K resolution, which has noticeably better, less compressed image quality.

The subscription also adds the Remote Feeder Unlock to see feeders from around the world, Unlimited Cloud storage of your photos and video, the Name That Bird feature, which allows you to give a nickname to a specific bird individual bird, Bird Care which will alert you about injured or sick birds and offer advice on how to keep your birds healthy, and finally Bird Buddy Experiments which give the user access to new features that may be trialled.

Although you can add family and friends to your account to see video clips from your feeder, the Family Premium subscription allows friends and family to log in and see the live view from your feeder.

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(Image credit: Future) Bird Buddy Smart Bird Feeder Pro: performance

• 2K video available via a subscription only

The image quality from the Nature Cam is noticeably better than that of the original camera if you fork out for a subscription which unlocks 2K resolution. Do so, and images have more fine detail, and the HDR image brings out more colour and detail.

There are limitations; the camera sensor is still 1/2.7", which is about on par with a smartphone camera. However, the low resolution offers reasonable dynamic range performance, which can be seen in shadow details.

Highlights are easily blown out, as you would expect, and direct sunlight can cause lens flares, so it is important to position the feeder, and therefore the camera, at an angle where these will be minimized, or at least at times of day when you are most likely to get footage from the camera.

Light is everything when it comes to photography, and the placement of the camera in relation to the sun can make a big difference in the images you get from the camera.

It should be noted that the Bird Buddy creates portrait-orientation videos, which are perfect for viewing on a smartphone. However, if you eventually want to view them on a TV screen or computer, you might want to look elsewhere for the best viewing experience.

Compared to other bird feeder cameras I have tested, there is more of a delay in receiving notifications, so you won't always catch the bird on the live stream. However, the Postcards you receive are a nice touch. You can turn notifications off entirely and check in on the app occasionally to catch up the action you have missed.

The camera focuses well on smaller birds, with plenty of room on the feeder for them to perch and pick at the feed. However, larger birds struggle to land and also to balance on my hanging feeder. The optional perch add-on would be a great addition for most users. It allows larger birds to land and their heads to be further from focus. If you want to capture larger birds clearly, I would recommend getting the perch as an accessory.

I have had the original Bird Buddy Smart Feeder hanging outside in my garden for over a year. It has seen bright sunshine and freezing snow, and the recyclable plastic structure is in tact, although the color has faded slightly from the UV light. I had the new Nature Cam installed for a few months for testing, and it has also seen heavy rain, freezing conditions, and bright sunshine. It is in great condition, and it is still performing perfectly.

The Solar Roof has been a great accessory, and in the winter months, the camera doesn't need to be taken in and charged despite the lower light levels. In the summer, I know I might have to reposition it to avoid foliage casting shadows on the roof, but this may be negated by the fact that there will be more daylight hours.

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(Image credit: Future) Should you buy the Bird Buddy Smart Bird Feeder Pro? Buy it if...

You love garden tech

If you love gadgets, the Bird Buddy Smart Bird Feeder Pro is a great addition to your garden. If you have the premium subscription it is possible to link to Alexa to get a summary of daily visits, with more features on the way. However, I struggled to get this feature to work.

You love birds and wildlife

This one is obvious, but if you love the wildlife in your garden, the Bird Buddy Smart Feeder is great. You can collect the Postcards from birds that have visited almost like they are Pokémon, with a daily round-up of the number of different species and visits you have had each day. The small AI generated information about the birds is also a great way to learn and engage with the nature in your garden.

You want a stylish feeder cam

Of all the bird feeder cameras available, I think the Bird Buddy Smart Bird Feeder Pro is the most neat and stylish both in the physical design of the feeder and also the app.

Don't buy it if...

You want to view on TV

The video quality is good, however, as it is recorded vertically, it is better for viewing on a smartphone and sharing on social media. If you want to watch footage on a television it may not be the best choice.

You have squirrels

I have tested quite a feeder feeders and squirrels have fed from all of them. And despite the design and materials of the Bird Buddy withstanding damage from squirrels, it doesn't have the squirrel deterrents like some other feeders.

You don't want to buy accessories

For the best experience I would recommened that you buy the Solar Roof and the Perch for the Bird Buddy; the solar roof virtually elimates the need to charge the camera, the perch addition makes a better experience for larger birds to land - resulting in better photos and video.

How I tested the Bird Buddy Smart Bird Feeder Pro

• I hung the feeder in a tree for 6 months
• It was connected to my home Wi-Fi
• I monitored the birds visiting daily via the Bird Buddy app

I tested the Bird Buddy Smart Bird Feeder Pro by hanging it from a tree in my garden that birds (and squirrels) regularly visit. The feeder was strapped to the tree, and the camera was set up using an iPhone and the Bird Buddy app.

I left the feeder up there for months through all weather conditions. During that time, I monitored the birds visiting via the app in real-time and reviewed photos and videos that had been captured.

I have also looked at AI recognition and the various capabilities of the app.

• First reviewed April 2025

Artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping workplaces at lightning speed—but nearly a third of employees don’t know how to use it effectively. Instead of unlocking AI’s potential, many companies are watching productivity stall as workers struggle to adapt. The problem isn’t the AI itself; it’s a failure to prepare employees for collaboration with AI rather than competition against it.

So, how can companies turn this around?

The AI Knowledge Gap: A Threat to Workplace Innovation

Despite the widespread adoption of AI tools, many employees feel left behind. The Corndel 2025 Workplace Training report revealed that:

• 49% of employees believe AI is outpacing their company’s ability to train them, creating a skills gap that threatens productivity.
• 54% of workers report that they lack clear guidelines on AI usage, leading to inconsistent adoption.
• 65% of employees want ethical AI training, highlighting concerns about responsible AI use.
• 31% of UK small businesses hesitate to adopt AI due to a lack of understanding and support.

Employees aren’t just unsure about AI—they feel left behind. Without structured L&D strategies that encourage AI collaboration, organizations risk falling behind as competitors fully integrate AI-driven efficiencies.

Shifting L&D to Enable AI Collaboration

Traditional workplace training focuses on developing human-only skills. However, in an AI-powered workplace, employees must learn how to work alongside AI—not against it.

Here’s how L&D departments can adapt:

1. AI Literacy for All Employees

Organizations must introduce foundational AI training to demystify the technology and show employees how to incorporate it into daily tasks. This includes:

• Understanding the basics of machine learning and AI capabilities.
• Identifying which workplace tasks AI can enhance or automate.
• Recognizing the ethical implications of AI in decision-making.

2. Role-Specific AI Training

Not all employees need the same AI training. L&D teams should tailor programs to specific job functions:

• Marketing teams: Training on AI-powered analytics and content automation.
• HR teams: Understanding AI-driven recruitment tools and employee sentiment analysis.
• Customer service teams: Leveraging AI chatbots and automation for better customer interactions.

3. Ethical and Responsible AI

Training Ethical AI use must be a core component of workplace training. This includes:

• Teaching employees how to detect AI bias.
• Implementing decision-making frameworks to ensure AI aligns with company values.
• Conducting interactive workshops where employees assess real-world AI dilemmas.

4. Hands-On AI Learning and Experimentation

Many employees are hesitant to use AI simply because they have never tried it. L&D teams should:

• Set up AI “sandboxes” where employees can test AI tools without risk.
• Provide guided workshops on AI-powered applications like ChatGPT, Midjourney, or automation software.
• Offer continuous learning resources that evolve alongside AI advancements.
• Highlight case studies, such as IBM’s AI mentorship programs and Walmart’s AI-driven virtual reality (VR) training simulations.

5. Cross-Functional AI Collaboration

AI training should not be siloed within specific departments. Instead, organizations should foster cross-functional AI collaboration by:

• Encouraging teams to share AI use cases and best practices.
• Hosting AI-driven hackathons or innovation challenges.
• Creating AI mentor programs where tech-savvy employees guide others.

The Future of AI in L&D: What’s Next?

Looking ahead, AI will continue to revolutionise L&D through:

• Personalized Learning Paths: AI-powered learning platforms can tailor training based on an employee’s progress, strengths, and learning style.
• AI-Powered Virtual Coaches: Chatbots and AI assistants will offer real-time feedback and guidance during training exercises.
• Predictive Skill Gap Analysis: AI can forecast emerging skills employees need, helping companies proactively train their workforce.
• Immersive AI-Driven Learning: Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) will create hands-on AI training experiences that simulate real-world applications.

Invest today for long-term gain

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Commentary: I was skeptical of the Apple Watch when it launched. But a decade later, I don't want to be without it.

Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for April 18.

If you’re a Star Wars fan and haven’t been jealous of not being at Star Wars Celebration 2025 in Japan as of yet, prepare to be. The same applies if you have an Apple Vision Pro instead of a Meta Quest.

Why? Well, Industrial Light & Magic and Lucasfilm are finally sharing more on their next Star Wars mixed and virtual reality experience that’s set to arrive on the Meta Quest 3 and Meta Quest 3S headsets at some point in the future, and boy oh boy does it look stunning.

Star Wars: Beyond Victory - A Mixed Reality Playset is set during the events of Solo: A Star Wars Story and has three modes of play: Adventure, Arcade, and Playset. You can see the full trailer below, along with some select screenshots. It's a full-immersive experience that can place you in the Star Wars universe or overlay elements in your own space.

Adventure is more of a classic, immersive experience, similar to other titles like Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge – a personal favorite I’ve played on the PSVR, as I’m a fan of the Disney Parks – and Vader Immortal: A Star Wars VR Series. Here you’ll follow the story of an aspiring podracer, Volo, who goes on a journey courtesy of a mentorship with Sebulba.

(Image credit: Lucasfilm)

This one might be the neatest, though – Arcade places a holotable in your space through mixed or augmented reality, and you can seemingly get up close and personal with Star Wars action, including a podracing course.

And if you’re at Star Wars Celebration 2025 in Japan, you can play a demo that combines the Adventure and Arcade modes at Booth #20-5 in Hall 4 of the Makuhari Messe convention Center. Instant jealousy from me!

(Image credit: Lucasfilm)

Alyssa Finley, the executive producer of the title, shared, “We're calling this a Playset because it isn't just a game; it's an entirely new way to experience the Star Wars galaxy and the worlds we create at ILM.”

This new mixed reality experience blends the physical and digital worlds in a way that's unlike anything we've done before

She continued, “This new mixed reality experience blends the physical and digital worlds in a way that's unlike anything we've done before,” which certainly ups the excitement and hype for the title. It’s almost similar to another project that Industrial Light & Magic worked on for the Apple Vision Pro – that’s What If…? – An Immersive Story, and it had times where it fully placed you elsewhere or overlaid battles in your own space.

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Adding to this is the playset mode, which promises to let you have your own “Star Wars' moments in mixed reality, allowing you to view and interact with vehicles from the universe and action figures.

While Star Wars: Beyond Victory - A Mixed Reality Playset is still in development, it’s undoubtedly one of the most ambitious titles from Industrial Light & Magic and Lucasfilm yet. Whenever it’s ready for prime time, it will launch for the Meta Quest 3 and 3S, so we’ll be waiting for further news on a release date.

If you have a Vision Pro, maybe we can petition Apple, ILM, and Lucasfilm to also bring it to the $3,500 spatial computer. And if you're at home, check out all the new Star Wars sets that Lego announced here.

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• Google has made Gemini Live’s screen and camera sharing features free for all Android users.
• The release reverses the previous subscriber-only option.
• The feature lets Gemini respond to real-time visual input from your screen or camera.

In a surprise twist and a reversal of its earlier paywalled plans, Google has announced that Gemini Live’s screen and camera sharing features are now rolling out for free to all Android users. No subscription or Pixel ownership necessary, just Gemini Live, accessible to anyone with the Gemini app on Android.

This update means your AI assistant can now see what’s on your screen or through your camera lens and react to it in real time. Gemini Live with screen sharing lets you show Gemini a webpage, a spreadsheet, or a tangled mess of app settings and ask for help. Or you can point your camera at a real-world object, like a product label, a chessboard, or a confusing IKEA manual, and let Gemini identify and explain what you're looking at.

The feature first debuted earlier this month, but only for Gemini Advanced subscribers and only for certain phones, such as the Pixel 9 and Samsung Galaxy S25. At the time, Google said the visual capabilities would eventually expand, but even then, only to other subscribers. Google apparently had a change of heart, or at least it claims to have decided to open up access because of how much people seem to like the feature. Now, it’s rolling out to every Android over the next few weeks.

We’ve been hearing great feedback on Gemini Live with camera and screen share, so we decided to bring it to more people ✨Starting today and over the coming weeks, we're rolling it out to *all* @Android users with the Gemini app. Enjoy!PS If you don’t have the app yet,… https://t.co/dTsxLZLxNIApril 16, 2025

AI eyes

The idea for the feature is to make Gemini more flexible as an assistant. Instead of just answering questions you type or speak, it’s interpreting the world around you visually. The move also coincides with Microsoft announcing that Copilot Vision, its own version of AI eyes, is now available for free in the Edge browser. That might be a coincidence, though probably only in the way that you running into your crush outside their class in high school is a coincidence.

But while Microsoft’s Copilot lives in the browser, Gemini’s advantage is its integration straight into the Android ecosystem. No need to fire up Edge or download a separate tool. Gemini Live is baked into the same system that already runs your device.

The new ability fits with many of the other additions and upgrades Gemini has added in recent months. The AI assistant now comes with real-time voice chat, a new overlay so you can summon Gemini on top of other apps, and the inclusion of the long report writing tool Deep Research.

Once the new feature is live, you’ll see the option to “share screen” or “use camera” in certain Gemini prompts on Android devices. And because Google is giving this away for free, it sets a new bar. If Gemini can watch your screen and your camera without charging you for the privilege, what happens to the idea of “premium” AI access? The developers are probably hotly debating what AI features are worth paying for and how much to charge, when, at least for now, all of these tools become free relatively quickly.

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• Meta will soon start training its AI models with EU users' data
• Meta AI will be trained with all users' interactions and public content posted on Meta's social platforms
• The Big Tech giant resumes its AI training plan, after pausing the launch amid EU data regulators' concerns

Meta has resumed its plan to train its AI models with EU users' data, the company announced on Monday, April 14, 2025.

All public posts and comments shared by adults across Meta's social platforms will soon be used to train Meta AI, alongside all interactions users directly exchange with the chatbot.

This comes as the Big Tech giant successfully launched Meta AI in the EU in March, almost a year after the firm paused the launch amid growing concerns among EU data regulators.

What's Meta AI training and how to opt out

"We believe we have a responsibility to build AI that’s not just available to Europeans, but is built for them. That’s why it’s so important for our generative AI models to be trained on a variety of data so they can understand the incredible and diverse nuances and complexities that make up European communities," wrote Meta in the official announcement.

This kind of training, the company notes, it's not unique to Meta or Europe. Meta AI collects and processes the same information, in fact, across all regions where it's available.

As mentioned earlier, Meta AI will be trained with all public posts and interactions' data from adult users. Public data from the accounts of people in the EU under the age of 18 won't be used for training purposes.

Meta also promises that no people's private messages shared on iMessage and WhatsApp will ever be used for AI training purposes, too.

(Image credit: Meta / Future)

Beginning this week, all Meta users in the EU will start receiving notifications about the terms of the new AI training, either via app or email.

These notifications will include a link to a form where people can withdraw their consent for their data to be used for training Meta AI.

"We have made this objection form easy to find, read, and use, and we’ll honor all objection forms we have already received, as well as newly submitted ones," explains the provider.

It's crucial to understand that once fed into an LLM database, you will be completely losing control over your data, as these systems make it very hard (if not impossible) to exercise the GDPR's right to be forgotten.

This is why privacy experts like Proton, the provider behind one of the best VPN and encrypted email apps, are urging people in Europe concerned about their privacy to opt out of Meta AI training.

"We recommend filling out this form when it's sent to you to protect your privacy. It's hard to predict what this data might be used for in the future – better to be safe than sorry," Proton wrote on a LinkedIn post.

Meta's announcement comes at the same time that the Irish data regulators have opened an investigation into X's Grok AI. Specifically, the enquiry seeks to determine whether Elon Musk's platform uses publicly-accessible X posts to train its generative AI models in compliance with GDPR rules.

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