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It's time to limber up and prepare to dance along to Peacemaker's new title sequence. Over three years after its first season arrived, the hit HBO Max show is finally set to return to our screens – and I suspect you'll want to know when and where it will.

Below, I'll tell you the date and time it'll premiere on Warner Bros. Discovery's super streamer. I'll also explain where you can watch it where HBO Max isn't available, and run you through a full release schedule for the DC Universe's (DCU) latest project. Here, then, is everything you need to know about Peacemaker season 2's forthcoming launch.

What is the launch date for Peacemaker season 2 episode 1?

We'll be smiling as much as Adrian Chase/Vigilante when Peacemaker 2 is released (Image credit: Jessica Miglio/Max)

Peacemaker's sophomore season is due out on Thursday, August 21 in North and South America. Viewers in Europe, Africa, Asia, and Oceania will need to tune in on Friday, August 22 to stream one of the best HBO Max shows' next entry.

Unsurprisingly, this installment's first chapter – 'The Ties That Grind' – will launch at different times around the world. Here's when it'll be released where you live:

• US – Thursday, August 21 at 6pm PT / 9pm ET
• Canada – Thursday, August 21 at 6pm PT / 9pm ET
• UK – Friday, August 22 at 2am BST
• India – Friday, August 22 at 6:30am IST
• Singapore – Friday, August 22 at 9am SGT
• Australia – Friday, August 22 at 11am AEST
• New Zealand – Friday, August 22 at 1pm NZST

Where can I watch Peacemaker season 2?

Another season, another bar-based bare-knuckles brawl for Emilia Harcout (center) (Image credit: HBO Max)

Peacemaker season 2 comes out on HBO Max in countries where one of the world's best streaming services is available. That includes the US, Australia, and Singapore.

For countries where HBO Max is yet to launch, though, it'll make its bow on other streaming platforms. Read on to learn where you can catch the DCU Chapter One TV series where you live:

• US – HBO Max
• Canada – Crave
• UK – Sky / Now TV
• India – JioHotstar
• Singapore – HBO Max
• Australia – HBO Max
• New Zealand – Neon

When do new episodes of Peacemaker season 2 come out?

You don't need to employ Rick Flag Sr or ARGUS' services to find out when new episodes will be released (Image credit: Jessica Miglio/Max)

New episodes of the John Cena-fronted TV show will arrive every Thursday in North and South America, and Friday everywhere else. If you want to know specific dates that each chapter will air weekly after this week's entry, read on:

• Peacemaker season 2 episode 1 – Thursday, August 21 / Friday, August 22
• Peacemaker season 2 episode 2 – Thursday, August 28 / Friday, August 29
• Peacemaker season 2 episode 3 – Thursday, September 4 / Friday, September 5
• Peacemaker season 2 episode 4 – Thursday, September 11 / Friday, September 12
• Peacemaker season 2 episode 5 – Thursday, September 18 / Friday, September 19
• Peacemaker season 2 episode 6 – Thursday, September 25 / Friday, September 26
• Peacemaker season 2 episode 7 – Thursday, October 2 / Friday, October 3
• Peacemaker season 2 episode 8 – Thursday, October 9 / Friday, October 10

For more on the hit show's return, read my dedicated guide to Peacemaker season 2 and my Peacemaker season 2 review. Then, check out the section below for more exclusive coverage on the DC TV series.

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• Adobe Acrobat Studio announced
• New hubs for managing, understanding, and creating documents
• Platform fuses Acrobat Pro, Adobe Express, new specialized AI assistants

Adobe has unveiled its new Acrobat Studio, which aims to become the nerve center for productivity and creativity tasks - and a life-saver for anyone drowning in documents.

The platform fuses the full Acrobat Pro experience with extra AI tools, Adobe Express, and new spaces that the company says “transforms PDFs into conversational knowledge hubs that enable people to use customizable AI Assistants to unlock and share insights, answers and recommendations.”

That’s business-speak for saying Acrobat Studio’s AI should make it easier to understand document contents. Adobe’s Abhigyan Modi, senior vice president, Document Product Group, gave me a demo of the new tools. Here’s what you need to know…

What is Adobe Acrobat Studio and what’s new?

(Image credit: Adobe)

Adobe Acrobat Studio effectively attempts to solve some of the issues faced by those managing or accessing documents. Namely, file storage, collaborative or communication breakdown, content creation, and information overload.

On the launch of Adobe Acrobat Studio, Modi said: “We’re reinventing PDF for modern work, so whatever you need to get done, you can do that with Acrobat.”

Use-cases highlighted by Adobe include centralizing client insights, creating polished, on-brand proposals, grabbing key metrics for secure sharing, and reviewing resumes. Effectively, if it's a document, Acrobat Studio can probably do something with it.

Acrobat is already home to an AI Assistant, Firefly, and - in an interesting use of the technology - a contract explainer that helpfully summarizes jargon-heavy legal documents. Those constant updates are one of the reasons why I rank it as the best PDF editor around. But Acrobat Studio ramps that integration up to eleven.

• PDF Spaces

(Image credit: Adobe)

PDF Spaces is the headline addition. It’s also the area Modi told me he’s most excited about with this launch, keen to see how users benefit from them.

These are AI-driven hubs for up to 100 files (format support goes way beyond PDF). Upload a file, and PDF Spaces generates what Adobe dubs “an AI-powered workspace,” loading in suggested goals, actionable insights, citations.

It’s a space, Adobe says, where users can use AI to question, compare, and summarize information in documents. A “conversational knowledge hub,” if you like.

• Specialized assistants

(Image credit: Adobe)

One of PDF Spaces’ biggest strengths is that it expands on the familiar AI Assistant already found in Adobe Acrobat for more tailored responses.

Three specialized AI assistants are baked into the workspace, with the option to create a custom one. The Analyst, the Instructor, and the Entertainer each approach information differently in ways that should, in theory, be more helpful to users.

This is a core element, Modi explained, of Adobe’s focus on the needs of different users. Where the Entertainer toys with language and creativity, the Analyst studies and uncovers new thoughts; the Instructor makes complex topics accessible.

• Adobe Express integration

(Image credit: Adobe)

Adobe Express has been getting a lot of attention lately, with an expanded toolset and integration with a host of Creative Cloud apps. So, perhaps it was just a matter of time before it joined fully with Acrobat.

The popular, free online design tool is a core part of Acrobat Studio. With the full-fat Adobe Express Premium tools, users can create (or generate) professional templates, presentations, reports, and social media posts.

The Creative Cloud Pro plan combines over twenty Adobe apps into a single subscription, giving you access to Acrobat, Photoshop, InDesign, Premiere Pro, and more. The plan also includes 4000 monthly credits for Adobe Firefly's generative AI photo and video tools. View Deal

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Trump says there are plans underway for Putin and Zelenskyy to meet to discuss an end to the war between Russia and Ukraine. And, Trump wants to stop states from voting by mail.

(Image credit: Alex Wong)

One way to avoid seeing Google's AI Overviews is to stop using Google.

NPR marks World Photography Day with images of everyday moments of gathering from communities across the U.S. taken by photographers from the network's member stations.

(Image credit: Tyler Russell)

If you’re searching for a network monitoring tool that can keep up with hybrid and cloud-first IT environments, Datadog is likely on your shortlist. We’ve spent weeks researching every major IT platform and Datadog is near the top for its feature-rich approach and impressive integrations. For a broader look at your options, check out our best network monitoring tools list.

Our team at TechRadar has deep experience evaluating IT platforms — using, comparing, and stress-testing them in real-world scenarios. LogicMonitor is our pick for the best network monitoring tool of 2025. Its AI-powered suite automates many day-to-day IT workflows, making it a top choice for organizations wanting proactive, hands-off monitoring.

Still, Datadog’s popularity is no accident. It’s a favorite among IT teams for its real-time visibility, rich analytics, and ability to unify monitoring across multi-cloud, hybrid, and on-premises environments. But is it the right fit for your team? Let’s dive in.

Datadog network monitoring: Features

Datadog is one of the most feature-rich platforms in the network monitoring space. It’s packed with tools for real-time analytics, customizable dashboards, anomaly detection, and integrations with over 850 services and devices.

These features are best suited for IT teams managing complex, hybrid, or cloud-native environments who need granular visibility and automation. Everything comes together pretty well, though some users have asked for easier self-remediation and more transparent pricing, especially as data volumes grow.

At its price point, though, you’re paying for depth and breadth. So, if you need only basic monitoring, there are cheaper options.

Infrastructure monitoring

Datadog’s core component gives you a bird’s eye view of servers, cloud instances, containers, and network devices. It auto-discovers resources and collects data from CPUs, memory, disk, and network performance, all visualized in real time.

Network performance monitoring (NPM)

NPM provides deep visibility into your network traffic, showing you which services are talking to each other, where bottlenecks are, and how traffic flows across your environment. You can drill down to individual connections, monitor bandwidth usage, and set up alerts for unusual activity.

Log management

Datadog automatically ingests, parses, and analyzes logs from across your stack. You can search logs in real time, correlate them with metrics and traces, and set up alerts for error spikes or suspicious activity.

Application performance monitoring (APM)

APM traces requests across distributed systems, helping you spot slowdowns, errors, and performance bottlenecks at the code or service level. It supports major programming languages and frameworks.

Synthetic monitoring

This tool simulates user interactions with your apps and connectors, running tests from locations around the world to measure uptime and performance. It’s useful for catching issues before users notice them.

Real user monitoring (RUM)

RUM tracks the actual experience of your users, measuring load times, errors, and engagement in real time. This is important for teams focused on optimizing user-facing applications.

Security monitoring

Datadog’s security suite includes anomaly detection, threat intelligence, and compliance monitoring, helping you spot vulnerabilities and suspicious behavior as it happens.

Integrations and APIs

With support for 850+ integrations, including AWS, Azure, Kubernetes, Chef, Puppet, and more — Datadog can slot into almost any IT environment, making it easy to unify monitoring across tools and platforms.

(Image credit: Datadog)Datadog network monitoring: Ease of use

Datadog is generally user-friendly, with a modern, intuitive interface and customizable dashboards that make it easy to visualize the metrics that matter most to you. Many users find setup and configuration straightforward, especially compared to older tools like SolarWinds. You can drag and drop widgets, create custom views, and filter data with just a few clicks.

However, the initial setup can feel overwhelming for newcomers. With so many features and integrations, it’s not always clear where to start, and some users report that onboarding documentation could be more beginner-friendly. Once you’re past the learning curve, though, day-to-day use is smooth and efficient.

Datadog also supports accessibility features and offers a REST API for advanced customization and integration with other tools. While the platform is designed to scale with your needs, we’d love to see more guided onboarding for first-time users.

Datadog network monitoring: Pricing

Plan

Starting price (paid annually)

What’s included

Infrastructure Monitoring

$15 per host/month

Core metrics, dashboards, 850+ integrations

APM

$31 per host/month

Distributed tracing, service maps, code profiling

Log Management

$0.10 per GB ingested

Log ingestion, search, analytics

Network Performance

$5 per host/month

Network traffic analysis, flow monitoring, device health

Synthetic Monitoring

$5 per 10,000 API tests

API and browser tests, uptime checks

Real User Monitoring

$2 per 10,000 sessions

End-user experience metrics, session replay

Security Monitoring

$0.20 per GB analyzed

Threat detection, compliance monitoring

Database Monitoring

$21 per host/month

Database performance, query analytics

Continuous Profiler

$8 per host/month

Code profiling, performance optimization

Incident Management

$15 per user/month

Incident tracking, collaboration tools

CI Visibility

$5 per 25,000 test runs

CI/CD pipeline monitoring, job analytics

Datadog’s pricing is modular and can add up quickly as you layer on more features or monitor more hosts. While the entry price for network monitoring is competitive, costs for log ingestion, APM, and other advanced features can become significant for large environments.

The flexibility to pick and choose modules is great, but budgeting can be tricky. Compared to competitors like LogicMonitor, Datadog is often pricier at scale, though it offers more control over what you pay for.

Datadog network monitoring: Customer support

Datadog’s customer support is generally responsive and knowledgeable, with 24/7 availability for most plans. Users can access support via email, chat, or ticketing, and there’s a robust knowledge base and active community forums. Enterprise customers get priority support, including a dedicated account manager and faster response times.

But, some users have reported mixed experiences, especially with lower-tier plans or complex billing issues. A few customers mention delays in getting detailed technical answers or feeling like their concerns weren’t fully addressed. For mission-critical environments, we recommend opting for enterprise support to ensure the fastest resolution times.

Datadog network monitoring: Alternatives

Datadog is a leader in network monitoring, but it’s not the only option. It’s best suited for mid-sized to large IT teams managing hybrid or cloud-first environments who need deep analytics and extensive integrations. If you’re a smaller business or just need basic monitoring, you might find Datadog’s cost and complexity overkill.

Top competitors include LogicMonitor for its AI-powered automation and intuitive interface, Dynatrace for AI-driven anomaly detection, and Nagios or Zabbix for IT teams who want open-source options. That said, Datadog’s main edge is its unified, cloud-native approach and real-time analytics. But if you value simplicity or lower costs, it’s worth comparing alternatives.

Datadog network monitoring: Final verdict

Datadog brings a powerful, unified approach to network monitoring, with real-time analytics, deep integrations, and customizable dashboards. It’s a top choice for IT teams that need to monitor complex, hybrid, or cloud-native environments and want to correlate network data with logs, traces, and application metrics.

However, cost and complexity can be drawbacks, especially for smaller teams or those new to monitoring platforms. If you need the most advanced features and can invest in setup and training, Datadog is a strong contender. For simpler needs or tighter budgets, other platforms may offer better value.

FAQs

What types of environments can Datadog monitor?

Datadog supports on-premises, cloud, and hybrid environments, with integrations for AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, and more. It’s designed to provide unified visibility across all your infrastructure.

Is Datadog suitable for small businesses?

While Datadog can be used by businesses of any size, its pricing and feature set are best suited for mid-sized to large organizations with complex monitoring needs. Smaller teams may find the cost and learning curve steep.

Can Datadog alert me to network issues in real time?

Yes, Datadog provides real-time alerts for network performance issues, outages, and anomalies. You can customize alert thresholds and receive notifications via email, Slack, PagerDuty, and other channels.

Does Datadog offer a free trial?

Datadog typically offers a 14-day free trial for new users, allowing you to test core features and integrations before committing to a paid plan.

How does Datadog compare to LogicMonitor?

LogicMonitor is our top pick for 2025, thanks to its AI-powered automation and revamped UI. Datadog offers more granular analytics and integrations but can be more expensive and complex to set up. Both are excellent, but LogicMonitor is better for teams wanting automation while Datadog excels in analytics and customization.

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A study in Poland found that doctors appeared less likely to detect abnormalities during colonoscopies on their own after they'd grown used to help from an AI tool.

(Image credit: Sorbetto)

• You can now interact with Excel cells in natural language with =COPILOT
• It doesn't interact with external data from the web... yet
• You can combine it with other Excel functions

Microsoft is rolling out a new Excel AI function directly into cells, so you can leverage generative AI and tap into even more information even more easily than you can strike up a simple formula in its spreadsheet software.

Copilot in Excel cells is rolling out to Microsoft 365 Copilot beta users in the Insider Program and Beta Channel to start off with, the tighter AI integration will be available on Windows (Version 2509+) and Mac (Version 16.101+) before it comes to the web version.

Working like a normal Microsoft Excel function, users can add prompts in quotes and optional cell ranges for even more context, leading results to automatically change when the source data changes.

Excel COPILOT function

"Just enter a natural language prompt in your spreadsheet, reference cell values as needed, and watch Copilot instantly generate AI-powered results," Partner Director Catherine Pidgeon explained in a blog post.

Besides using the AI tool to create new types of prompts or generate formulas that they might not have been able to do without expert knowledge, users can also combine the Excel COPILOT formula with other functions like IF, SWITCH, LAMBDA, or WRAPROWS.

Some examples of =COPILOT's use cases include summarizing customer feedback, categorizing data, integrating external knowledge and formatting.

In its most simple form, a function might look like "=COPILOT(prompt_part1, [context1])" – though context is optional.

Pidgeon noted the =COPILOT function only uses data it was trained on, so it cannot access new data from the web or company documents at this stage.

Being a beta product, there are still some improvements that Microsoft hopes to make to its Excel AI assistant, including more data sources beyond the LLM training and enabling date formatting per Excel’s date serial format rather than text-only, as is currently the case.

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Digital spend now takes up 35% of sustainability budgets, as businesses leverage IT to achieve environmental goals. The global digital sustainability market is projected to reach $34 billion by 2027, growing about three times faster than the overall technology market. This surge highlights increasing corporate commitment to sustainability, driven by regulatory pressures, rising energy costs and stakeholder expectation.

However, despite these positive trends, we shouldn’t ignore the impact of current technologies in play. Enterprise IT already accounts for 1% of all GHG output, and tech emissions are set to rise to 14% of global totals by 2040. Datacenter expansion and AI investment have seen emissions increase by 150% in three years. Scope 1 and 2 emissions grew by 1.4% since 2024, and gaps remain in Scope 3 reporting. It’s clear that good intentions have not yet translated into tangible reduction of carbon footprints.

To ensure meaningful progress towards net zero targets, businesses must reconcile rising digital demand with environmental responsibilities. Meeting ambitious climate goals will require a systemic transformation of operational strategies. Entrenched behaviors - such as repeating IT procurement practices - hinder progress towards ESG and business goals.

Achieving sustainability targets will require bold changes across the entire technology ecosystem - from IT infrastructure and digital operations to innovation and regulatory alignment.

Making sustainability a business priority

Sustainability is no longer optional; it’s a business imperative driven by environmental, regulatory and market forces. Climate change remains a central issue on the global agenda. While some governments may not prioritize climate initiatives, international frameworks such as the United Nations’ COP, the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement continue to push organizations for meaningful progress.

On the regulatory front, frameworks such as the European Union’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) are raising the bar. New legislation will require detailed disclosures, including Scope 3 reporting – indirect emissions including those from digital infrastructure and IT supply chains. With technology a significant contributor to Scope 2 and Scope 3 emissions, staying ahead of these compliance mandates is crucial for effective risk management.

But regulation is only part of the picture. Sustainability in IT is increasingly tied to business performance. Organizations with strong ESG practices are outperforming peers in profitability and EBITDA metrics. Ultimately, digital transformation efforts that overlook sustainability are missing a key component for long-term value creation. Sustainable IT is central to competitiveness, growth and resilience.

A sustainable IT journey

Building a sustainable IT strategy goes far beyond adopting energy-efficient hardware or migrating to the cloud to cut Scope 2 emissions. It demands a holistic approach to technology sourcing, management and use across its entire lifecycle. To accelerate ESG priorities, organizations should:

1.Assess datacenter sustainability: Where growing data volumes are hosted has a major environmental impact. With cloud adoption more effective than upgrading on-premise infrastructure, prioritizing datacenters powered by renewables is vital. Businesses should seek facilities with strong Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) ratings - lower scores (closer to 1.0) indicate greater efficiency.

2.Scrutinize cloud providers: Sustainability performance varies significantly between cloud providers. While major hyperscalers have faced criticism over environmental practices, some smaller providers offer 100% renewable-powered services and employ energy-saving technologies like virtualization, containerization and AI-driven resource optimization. Opting for suppliers with robust sustainability credentials and able to provide accurate Scope 3 data will deliver immediate impact to decarbonizing supply chains.

3.Leverage Infrastructure-as-a-Service (Iaas): Adopting an IaaS model removes the burden of managing on-premise IT, transferring power and emissions responsibility to the provider. IaaS boosts agility and cost efficiency, while reducing IT estate, hardware refreshes, power costs and equipment waste.

4.Optimize end-user devices: End-user hardware accounts for a large share of IT-related emissions and electronic waste. Minimizing device count, extending hardware lifespan and exploring alternatives like Bring Your Own Device policies can reduce environmental impact and operational costs.

5.Enable remote work: IT is a key enabler of remote work, helping reduce emissions from commuting and office infrastructure. Virtual desktop infrastructure allows users to access powerful computing resources securely while significantly lowering energy consumption compared to traditional desktop setups.

Now is the time to step up

The path to business sustainability is well defined - the technologies, frameworks and partners to drive improvements are available. What’s needed now is momentum from organizations to drive meaningful change.

Sustainable IT is more than a reporting checkbox for regulatory compliance; it’s a critical pillar of long-term business success. Forward-thinking leaders are increasingly recognizing that doing ‘just enough’ is a risky strategy, which can result in poor technology investments and leave firms exposed as contexts change and competitors seize an advantage.

Embedding sustainability into corporate agendas is essential for driving growth, strengthening stakeholder confidence and meeting environmental commitments. Leaders should act now and make smarter IT choices to transform their operations for the better. Future success – for their business and the planet - depends on it.

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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

• Netflix renews Dept. Q for second season less than three months after season 1 wrapped
• Main characters are set to return
• Plot details are being kept under wraps

Almost three months after the release of its first season, Netflix has confirmed that Dept. Q season 2 is officially going ahead. Executive producer Rob Bullock of Left Bank Pictures said in a press statement: “We are going downstairs to Dept. Q for a second season. We at Left Bank Pictures nervously await what Scott has in store for his alter-ego Carl Morck, and the other enabling members of team do-lally. We salute Netflix’s courage to let them loose once again.”

Co-creator Scott Frank added: “I’m grateful to the folks at Netflix, as well as our shining cast and crew, for once more risking their careers to enable my folly.” Season 1 drew in 222 million hours of viewing worldwide on one of the best streaming services, spending six weeks in Netflix’s top 10 chart.

Thankfully, we’ve already got a fairly clear idea of where new episodes will head next, with Moira (Kate Dickie) telling Hardy (Jamie Sives) at the end of the first season that she has a brand-new case for him to look at. All of our other season 1 plotlines were neatly solved, so there’s a chance we could see some unexpected format shakeups down the line.

However, the promise of a new cold case isn’t quite enough for me on its own. If we want the 2026 streaming calendar to be truly exciting (assuming Netflix doesn’t do its old trick of waiting a million years to put out another series), why not coincide the release of Dept Q. season 2 with the HBO Max show that rivalled season 1 only a few months ago?

Netflix should pit Dept. Q season 2 against HBO Max giant The Pitt (pun intended)

What’s struck me most about the Dept Q. season 2 renewal news is how many fans (see the Reddit comment above as example) loved watching season 1 alongside medical drama The Pitt. Neither show is one where you can easily catch your breath, even though they are each polar opposites of each other (Dept. Q follows cold cases, The Pitt follows a shift in a manic ER department). Earlier in the year, we had the tail end of The Pitt season 1 overlap with the debut of Dept Q., and it turned out to be the best binge-worthy partnership we’ve had in ages.

So, what if Netflix and HBO Max do it again, whether that’s facing off as rivals or teaming up to give viewers exactly what they want? We already know The Pitt season 2 will definitely premiere in January 2026, picking up ten months after season 1 during a hectic fourth of July weekend. If Dept. Q got its skates on and released a new season in May 2026, we’d get the same delicious streaming crossover we had this year.

From the team’s press statements, it’s difficult to tell how far into the development process they are for the second season. On the one hand, Netflix is notorious for taking its time between seasons, as Stranger Things, Wednesday and Squid Game have all shown. However, Dept. Q has a much smaller production scale than any of the bigger IPs, hopefully meaning shooting wouldn’t take as long anyway.

But who knows? It’s all speculation at this point. We have no idea what’s waiting for Hardy in the basement, and the team could literally be taken anywhere. As Frank told Collider after season 1 was released, “This is based on a series of books. The second book in the series is quite good, so I’ve got a great idea for a second season. It is another cold case and also a current case, at the same time, that they’re looking into. So, I would do that. I don’t know that I would necessarily do nine episodes. I might just do six next time. We’ll see. But I do know what I want to do next. I do have the story in mind for the next season.”

As long as I can offset it with Dr. Robbie (Noah Wyle) crying in a slump on the floor in a Pittsburgh hospital, I’ll be one happy subscriber.

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• Peacemaker season 2 will explore the 11th Street Kids in more detail
• The group's various dynamics will be examined in depth
• Its cast has teased what fans can expect to see and hear in the HBO Max show's next entry

The cast of Peacemaker season 2 has tentatively revealed what's next for the 11th Street Kids after their world-saving exploits in the show's debut installment.

Ahead of the popular show's return, I sat down with Danielle Brooks, Freddie Stroma, and Steve Agee to learn more about their individual and collective character arcs in the HBO Max Original's sophomore entry. Full spoilers follow for Peacemaker season 1, so proceed with caution.

Leota Adebayo becomes the 11th Street Kids' figurative surrogate mom this season (Image credit: Jessica Miglio/Max)

Peacemaker's first season ended with the 11th Street Kids stopping an alien invasion. However, despite the strong albeit dysfunctional bonds they formed last season, the group – John Cena's Chris Smith/Peacemaker, Jennifer Holland's Emilia Harcourt, Brooks' Leota Adebayo, Stroma's Adrian Chase/Vigilante, and Agee's John Economos – largely went their separate ways after thwarting the aforementioned hostile takeover.

Unsurprisingly, season 2 opens with each individual doing their own thing. Sure, there's the occasional check-in between certain characters but it's only when the plot progresses that the quintet are pulled back into each other's orbit. By and large, though, each person is dealing with their own issues and/or pursuing their own dreams in the DC Universe (DCU) TV show's second season.

For Adebayo, that means having the freedom to start her life anew without her mother – Amanda Waller, who was ousted as the director of ARGUS in last season's finale by her daughter blowing the whistle on Waller's nefarious schemes – dictating her every move. But, even as Adebayo navigates other personal problems and desires with her newfound sense of freedom, helping her friends is still her number one priority.

Jon Economos finds himself torn between his job and his friends this season (Image credit: Curtis Bonds Baker/Max)

"In a way, she's been imprisoned physically and mentally by her mom," Brooks said. "When she decides to rat our her mom, she finally breaks her mom's hold on her.

"We get to witness that transition and more of the optimistic person she is in season two," Brooks added. "Adebayo immediately gets to work making things happen [for herself], but that comes with sacrifices, as we'll see with her wife this season. But, even with those marital issues, she finds time to lift up the rest of the 11th Street Kids and become that encouraging voice as they deal with their struggles. She almost becomes this motherly figure to everyone else, which may be a reaction to what she never had with her own mom."

Such problems loom large over Smith and Harcourt's season 2 arcs, but Chase and Economos aren't immune from facing similar inter- and intra-personal issues. Indeed, whether it's the feelings of fraternal alienation Chase feels amid the regression of his friendship with Smith or Economos' split loyalties to his friends and job at ARGUS, the duo are similarly plagued by difficulties in the DCU Chapter One project's latest installment.

Adrian Chase looks to the rest of the gang for emotional support throughout season 2 (Image credit: Jessica Miglio/Max)

"He definitely looks to Peacemaker for that support," Stroma said, "So, his feelings are hurt when he's not being invited to things or only being called upon when he's needed. He needs to fill that void, and you'll see in episode one how Adrian's focus shifts to other members of the 11th Street Kids, because all he really wants is to have friends. After season one, he's nudged his way [into this group] and maybe thinks 'I've finally found my tribe'. When you see them having a big party on the roof [as Peacemaker season 2's red band trailer teased], it's everything he's ever wanted."

"Economos is a creature of habit," Agee admitted. "He's great at his job and being this tech guru. That's his routine and, for someone like him, it's really hard to up-end those patterns, which is why he's still at ARGUS at the start of this season.

"He's really reluctant to do some of the stuff that's asked of him, but he also doesn't want to lose his job because he can use it to help his friends and, without spoiling much, stay one step ahead of ARGUS. I think if you have him an ultimatum to choose his friends and keep them safe, or continue working for ARGUS, I think he'd pick the former. Having friends is new to him, but he really needs the 11th Street Kids, and I think that showed in season one and will do so again in season two."

Peacemaker season 2 premieres on August 21 in North and South America, and August 22 everywhere else. Before it does, read my ultimate guide on Peacemaker season 2 for more on its cast, plot, and trailers, plus my Peacemaker season 2 review to see what I thought of its first five episodes.

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For years, research has shown a digital divide when it comes to schools teaching about new technologies. Educators worry that this could leave some students behind in an AI-powered economy.

The UK government just announced £187 million for the TechFirst initiative to embed digital and AI skills in classrooms and communities. It's a smart move that will pay dividends in the long run. But here's the problem — we can't wait 10 years for today's secondary school students to join the workforce.

Right now, businesses are grappling with AI disruption and cybersecurity threats that demand immediate attention. Our research shows that while 44% of professionals report their organizations have invested in AI, many employees lack adequate skills to use these tools effectively. That's a recipe for wasted investment and security vulnerabilities.

The gap becomes particularly dangerous when you consider how threats are evolving. Many office workers don't know that advanced AI can impersonate anyone's voice, putting companies at serious risk from social engineering attacks. At this point, nearly one in three security and IT professionals have no documented strategy for managing generative AI risks.

Starting in schools is absolutely the right foundation. But we need to build on that foundation with programs that reach everyone from recent graduates to senior executives.

Getting current workers up to speed

The TechFirst initiative includes four strands — youth, graduate, expert and local. That's encouraging because it acknowledges we need different approaches for different groups. But the real test will be how well these programs connect with each other and with what businesses are already doing.

Companies can't outsource digital skills development to government programs alone. They need to take ownership of getting their teams ready for an AI-powered workplace. This means practical training that goes further than basic digital literacy, addressing real security risks and productivity opportunities.

It’s far too common for organizations to rush to implement new AI tools without considering whether their people know how to use them appropriately. The result is often disappointing returns on technology investments and unnecessary exposure to cyber threats.

Making education relevant to work

To make an impact, skills programs must connect classroom learning with actual business challenges. Students need exposure to real workplace scenarios, not just theoretical concepts. This means tech companies should work directly with schools and universities to provide hands-on experience opportunities.

However, we also need to consider regional differences. Digital literacy levels vary significantly across the UK, and a program that works in London might not be right for smaller cities or rural areas. The TechFirst initiative's local strand recognizes this reality, but success will depend on strong partnerships between government, education and local businesses.

Industry networks can help tailor programs to what companies actually need. Too often, educational qualifications don't match up with workplace requirements because there's no ongoing dialogue between educators and employers.

Cultivating skills that last

As AI automates routine tasks, workers need to develop capabilities that complement rather than compete with technology. Critical thinking, complex problem-solving and the ability to work alongside AI systems are emerging as more valuable than the ability to memorize technical procedures.

This requires a different approach to professional development. Instead of occasional training courses, organizations need cultures where people continuously update their skills. The pace of change in AI and cybersecurity means what you learned six months ago might already be outdated.

Different people learn differently, too. Some thrive with online courses, others need hands-on projects or peer mentoring. The best upskilling programs offer multiple ways to build competence and confidence with new technologies.

Connecting the dots

Fragmentation is arguably the biggest risk with any large-scale skills initiative. Government programs, university courses and corporate training often operate independently, creating gaps and duplicated effort. Coordination between all these moving parts is a critical part of ensuring success.

This means sharing resources, aligning what gets taught and ensuring smooth transitions between different types of learning. A student who develops AI skills through TechYouth should be able to build on that foundation in university and then in their first job without starting from scratch each time.

Companies should also recognize their role in making these connections work. Hiring managers need to understand what different qualifications actually mean. Training departments should build on skills people already have rather than ignoring previous learning.

What success looks like

Getting this right means creating learning pathways that support people throughout their careers, not just at specific points. It means businesses that can confidently deploy new technologies because their teams understand both the opportunities and the risks.

Most importantly, it means a UK workforce that can compete globally in an increasingly digital economy. The £187 million TechFirst investment provides a strong starting point, but realizing its potential requires recognizing that skills development doesn't end when people leave school.

We need programs that work for 16-year-olds choosing their A-levels, 25-year-olds starting their careers, 40-year-olds managing teams and 55-year-olds adapting to new technologies. Only by addressing skills gaps across all these groups can we build the digitally resilient economy Britain needs.

Taking a comprehensive approach — supporting both future and current workers — can multiply the impact of this investment. With cyber threats evolving daily and AI capabilities advancing monthly, connecting these efforts across all age groups delivers much stronger returns.

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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