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Parenting can keep you on your toes all day. But if you find it so physically and mentally draining you can't enjoy family time, it may be a sign of burnout. Here's what you can do about it.

A new NPR/Ipsos poll shows growing support for some restrictions on immigration. Still, many elements of President Trump's sweeping crackdown are unpopular with Democrats and independents.

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Twenty years ago, three former PayPal employees activated the domain name "YouTube.com." The first YouTube video followed soon after.

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Captain America: Brave New World has landed in theaters worldwide and I bet you're already wondering when it might debut on Disney Plus. Indeed, Marvel's latest movie has just taken flight in cinemas as of today (February 14), but, if you're not planning to watch it on the biggest screen possible, you'll want to know when it could come to Disney's primary streaming service.

Right now, I can't tell you when it'll be released on one of the world's best streaming services. However, I can use some of its predecessors' Disney Plus launch dates to predict its arrival. Before you continue scrolling, though, read my Captain America: Brave New World review to see if it's worth watching, plus my Captain America: Brave New World hub and Captain America 4 cast and character guide for details on its cast, story, trailers, and more.

When do we think Captain America 4 will debut on Disney Plus?

You won't like us when we're angry, Marvel – especially if a streaming launch date isn't revealed soon (Image credit: Marvel Studios)

As expected, Captain America 4 doesn't have a confirmed Disney Plus release date yet. It's just launched in theaters globally, so it'll be a while before it's available to watch at home. That won't stop me from guessing when it'll join its Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) siblings on the platform, though.

By and large, Marvel movies tend to join Disney Plus' film library three to four months after their initial theatrical launch. For example, Deadpool and Wolverine was released on the service on November 12, 2024. Given it landed in cinemas on July 25 of that year, that means 110 days passed between those two dates. Other recent Marvel films, including The Marvels and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, assembled on Disney Plus within a similar timeframe.

Marvel Unlimited monthly subscription: was $9.99 per month now $4.99 at Marvel
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I'm confident, then, that Cap's next adventure will be added to the streamer's back catalog around 100 days after its February 14 theatrical debut. If I'm right, the superhero movie should land on the platform in late May or early June.

That said, not every MCU film has followed the same release schedule format. Doctor Strange 2 joined Disney Plus just six weeks after it arrived in cinemas. Meanwhile, Black Widow earned a day-and-date release – essentially, it launched simultaneously in theaters and on the streaming giant – in mid-2021 due to the pandemic. It's possible that Brave New World could arrive sooner or later than I've predicted. I suspect, though, that its Disney Plus release will depend on how popular it proves to be among cinemagoers (and how much money it'll make) in its first few weeks on the silver screen.

What is Captain America: Brave New World's runtime?

Me and who running to our local theater to watch Captain America 4 (Image credit: Marvel Studios)

Captain America: Brave New World is one of the shortest MCU movies ever. It clocks in at a zippy 1 hour 58 minutes. That includes the fourth Captain America film's end credits sequence and its mid- and post-credits scenes. Speaking of which...

How does Captain America: Brave New World set up future Marvel movies and TV shows?

Does Sam Wilson's first big-screen outing as Captain America set up any plot threads for Avengers 5? (Image credit: Marvel Studios)

To answer that, allow me to direct you to my Captain America: Brave New World ending explained piece. In it, you'll find out how the Marvel Phase 5 movie ends, and whether its mid- and/or post-credits stingers lay the foundations for what's to come in future MCU projects, including Avengers: Doomsday, which will arrive in theaters in May 2026.

Do I need a Disney Plus account to watch Captain America: Brave New World?

Brave New World is the 35th movie that Marvel Studios has made (Image credit: Marvel Studios)

Yes. You'll need to sign up to Disney Plus to watch Captain America 4 when it's eventually released on the service. Our Disney Plus price guide is full of information on how to sign up and which tier is best for you.

When you sign up, you'll gain access to the best Disney Plus shows and best Disney Plus movies around. Some of the best Marvel movies of all time appear on the latter list, including two of Chris Evans' three Captain America flicks. For more details on those films and the MCU as a whole, be sure to read my guide on how to watch the Marvel movies in order.

For more Marvel coverage, read my guides on forthcoming films and series including Daredevil: Born Again, The Fantastic Four: First Steps, and Spider-Man 4.

The launch of the AI Opportunities Action Plan shows the UK’s commitment to making AI work for everyone. Powering the tools we use to communicate, the platforms that help us collaborate, and the systems driving vital business decisions, AI’s ability to transform productivity and simplify operations is both significant and proven. Yet, this impact isn’t always felt across the board. For many organizations and individuals, the way AI is being implemented means it often falls short and sometimes outright misses the impact it promises to deliver.

In the push to adopt AI, businesses have often focused on adding tools rather than integrating them. The result is disconnected systems that create unnecessary friction. While 96% of C-Suite executives believe AI drives productivity, 77% of employees find it complicates workflows, only making work harder and falling short of expectations. Too often, AI is treated as an isolated feature or add-on, operating independently of the workflows it’s meant to improve.

The real opportunity lies in rethinking how AI is implemented. In 2025, “productized AI” will take on a defining role in how businesses make the most of this technology – embedding intelligence directly into workflows, systems, and platforms so it operates in alignment with how people already work. It’s not about pre-built or one-size-fits-all solutions – it’s about delivering AI that feels natural, efficient, and fully integrated into everyday processes.

“AI overload” is the new “tool sprawl”

New AI tools are emerging rapidly, offering exciting new ways to rethink how we work. From scheduling meetings and assisting in hiring decisions to analysing datasets and predicting customer behavior, they show just how deeply AI is embedding itself into the workplace. However, simply having the tools in place isn't always enough to drive real change.

We've seen this before with “tool sprawl” – when disconnected technologies pile up across organizations, often doing more to confuse than help. “AI overload” is the next phase of this, where businesses are stacking up AI tools without fully considering how they’ll work together. While more than 80% of businesses now rely on AI as a core part of their operations, only 35% have integrated tools across multiple departments.

The challenge of “AI overload” is both operational and cultural. Employees are left switching between platforms, reconciling data from multiple systems, and navigating interfaces that don’t communicate with each other. Take a marketing team juggling several AI-driven tools: one for customer segmentation, another for campaign automation, and a third for analytics. Each tool performs a specific function, but they often don’t connect, wasting time and increasing the risk of error. This fragmentation stops AI from learning and improving, as it misses the chance to connect the dots and build a complete picture of the customer journey.

As a result, productivity slips, costs creep up, and employees grow frustrated with tools that feel more like obstacles than enablers. Over time, this can break down trust – not just in the tools, but in the broader promise of AI.

What is “productized AI”?

As we know, people adopt products, not technology. To make technology accessible, it must be delivered in a format that feels intuitive and easy to use. When it comes to AI, the key is to embed this new technology into tools and systems that people are already comfortable with. This is what we mean by “productized AI” – it’s about enhancing productivity seamlessly, without forcing teams to switch platforms or learn complicated new processes.

For IT teams, this means prioritizing AI tools with greater interoperability – those designed to complement, rather than compete with, existing systems. This ensures AI’s potential is fully realized without creating additional silos or complexities.

Take project management as an example. Rather than operating as a separate tool, AI can work within current project management platforms to not only flag delays or track deadlines but actively resolve issues. By reallocating resources, automating updates, and suggesting actionable next steps, AI becomes an active participant in workflows, not just an observer.

This approach brings key advantages: contextual intelligence, where AI understands the environment and tailors its recommendations to fit the organization's processes; simplicity, by eliminating the need for yet another tool; and scalability, with AI evolving alongside workflows to stay relevant over time. This is particularly critical as businesses face increasing pressure to do more with less. With stretched teams, tight budgets, and rising expectations, “productized AI” offers a practical solution, providing the efficiency and agility organizations need to compete.

Measuring AI success in real terms

The effectiveness of AI integration and its real-world success ultimately come down to one key factor: measurable impact, not features or algorithms. Does it save time? Reduce manual effort? Make work easier and more intuitive? The conversation needs to shift to how well AI supports people in their work, not how impressive its technical capabilities seem on paper. With 85% of data, analytics, and IT leaders under pressure to quantify the ROI of generative AI, the focus is firmly on proving the measurable value of these investments.

Measuring these outcomes requires a clear, structured framework. Start by defining specific objectives: Which processes is AI optimizing? You can then identify metrics that reflect meaningful impact, such as improvements in efficiency or reductions in errors. Evaluate how AI tools interact with each other across workflows. Are they creating a joined-up experience, or are they introducing friction by operating in isolation? And finally, track these metrics over time to ensure the entire AI ecosystem remains effective and adapts to evolving needs.

The future of AI lies in how well it integrates, adapts, and enhances the way we already work. When AI feels less like a tool and more like a natural extension of the workplace, that’s when its true value will be realized.

We've compiled a list of the best free project management software.

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

The ruling by a Texas judge against a New York doctor for prescribing abortion pills to a woman near Dallas could test "shield laws" in Democratic-controlled states where abortion is legal.

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Consumers in possession of the coolers are urged to stop using them immediately — and contact Igloo for a free replacement handle.

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Asus ROG Swift PG27UCDM: ONE-MINUTE REVIEW

OLED monitors are becoming widespread, and Asus is among the first manufacturers to release a gaming monitor with the panel technology on a 27-inch 4K display. The result is essentially a smaller, slightly less powerful screen than the company’s larger ROG screens, shedding the ultrawide and curved properties that many gamers (myself included) consider unnecessary – but it’s ROG, so it can’t be that simple, can it?

What we’ve got here is an exceptional piece of technology with a bunch of old gimmicks bolted to the sides.

On the tech side, the panel is gorgeous, pulling off 4K resolution paired with a 240Hz refresh rate and offering a max brightness of 450 nits (1,000 HDR). Its selection of ports on the back is quite generous, including several USB-A ports to keep your cabling situation a bit tidier. The integrated monitor interface is also quite easy to use and provides an amazing level of depth to tailor screen performance to your needs.

On the extras side, like many of Asus’ top-end Swift monitors, you’ll find a downward-facing projector that shoots the Republic of Gamers logo onto your desk in red. This resides in the monitor stand with the lens protruding between the screen’s three feet. The feet extend out quite far from the monitor and are both huge and very over the top. It’s a signature of the ROG Swift range of monitors and it exists to be distinct.

Complementing the projector is a programmable RGB logo on the front of the screen and a larger one on the rear left of the monitor, along with some lighting around the projector housing. These lighting details I’m fine with, I have no axe to grind with RGB provided it’s not over the top, but the accumulation of all of these aesthetic extras has left me with a feeling of ‘why are we doing this?’

And this criticism manifests best when we get to pricing. Despite offering a combination of features that are new and in-demand on the market, slightly older monitors with more impressive specs (like larger screen size) can be picked up for less.

With these things in mind, while I’ll applaud Asus for offering a display with a technology arrangement previously unseen, and likely in demand from at least a subset of PC users, I’m content with the opinion that a 4K, OLED, high refresh rate monitor better appeals to a graphics and visual quality lover – and that such a user likely wouldn’t mind going a size up to 32 inches and pocketing the potential savings.

Asus ROG Swift PG27UCDM: PRICING AND AVAILABILITY

(Image credit: Zachariah Kelly / TechRadar)

• How much does it cost? $1,099 / £1,098 / AU$2,099
• When is it available? Available now
• Where can you get it? Technology retailers in the US, UK and Australia

The ROG Swift 27-inch OLED breaks new ground by offering the gorgeous, darkness-enhancing panel technology at a high refresh rate at a 4K resolution on a screen of this size. This explains the high cost, but the price is driven higher by a combination of things.

Asus’ inclusion of RGB lighting, a unique stand and its iconic (if unnecessary) downward-facing projector add to its appeal, but its great user interface and array of ports are more deserving of praise.

Similar monitors are available from LG, Gigabyte and Alienware, often sporting larger displays at the same price, or the same size at a lower cost. This monitor’s closest competitor is the MSI MPG 272URX, starting at $799.99 / £999.99 / AU$1,799.

Asus ROG Swift PG27UCDM: DESIGN

(Image credit: Zachariah Kelly / TechRadar)

Asus is awesome, not just because it always does top-quality stuff, but also because it’s always doing something interesting. In the display category, the brand has been strapping downward-facing projectors to its premium ‘Swift’ range for a long time, while incorporating a tripod-style stand with three feet extending out from the base of the stand.

This is iconically ROG and… well, getting old. The company has strapped this projector to its top-end screens for some time, all while other gaming peripheral aesthetics have matured. Competitors like Alienware and MSI now look more grown up across their entire product line-ups. Even much of the ROG range looks more charming and less gamer-y.

Even if the projector didn’t leave a poor taste in my mouth, I’d still be disappointed in the stand. It spans a far greater space across my desk than it has any right to, and its footprint limits my ability to push the display further from me without it falling off the back of the desk. Though this wouldn’t be a problem for users mounting the display elsewhere, as it’s VESA wall-mount compatible. On the default stand, it also allows a 90º pivot (allowing for a uniform portrait orientation) and 110mm height adjustment, along with 30º of swivel.

A programmable RGB light on the rear left side gives a nice illumination against the wall, and lights on the monitor stand itself look quite good when viewing the screen from the back, but many users likely won’t engage with these. The ROG logo on the front, the stand lights and the projector light can’t be changed from red, which might be disappointing to folks fond of a particular color.

In terms of interaction, hidden behind the ROG logo on the front of the monitor is a handy set of buttons: two on the left and right, and a joystick nub in the middle that's perfect for adjusting display settings.

Asus ROG Swift PG27UCDM: FEATURES

(Image credit: Zachariah Kelly / TechRadar)

The ROG Swift 27-inch monitor is one of the few screens of such a size operating a 4K resolution on an OLED panel – a feature in itself worthy of praise and certainly appealing to some users. It offers this combination of features with a tiny 0.03ms response time and a whopping 240Hz refresh rate, combined with a maximum brightness of 450 nits (1,000 nits HDR).

Dolby Vision HDR is also available, but I elected to disable this and switched to standard HDR, as it kept turning my display off and on again when entering different programs.

ROG Swift OLED PG27UCDM Key Specs

Screen size: 27-inch
Resolution: 3,840 x 2,160
Brightness: 250 nits full screen, 1,000 nits max HDR
Color coverage: 99%
Response time: 0.03ms
Refresh rate: 240Hz
HDR: DisplayHDR True Black400, HDR10, DolbyVision
Features: FreeSync Premium Pro, NVIDIA G-Sync, KVM Switch, 2 x HDMI 2.1, 1 x DisplayPort 2.1, 1 x Headphone out, 1 x USB-B upstream, 3 x USB-A downstream, 1 x USB-C (90W Power Delivery)

The screen itself is slightly glossy and the in-built monitor software gives the user quite a lot of control over its performance. A single nub behind the ROG logo on the front of the screen allows you to adjust quick settings, including superfluous things like enabling an FPS counter, a persistent crosshair or even a stopwatch or timer. This software is generally more useful for selecting your preferred HDR calibration, adjusting brightness, and tailoring the screen’s performance to your needs.

Obviously because it’s an OLED panel, there is worry of burn-in occurring, and Asus’ solution is quaint. Simply by pressing the button on the left (beside the nub) you can activate the company’s OLED Care program, which refreshes the pixels to avoid damage. The program runs for about six minutes and it’s recommended that you perform this action often to increase the longevity of your device. The monitor will remind you every eight hours or so by default to run the program, but you can disable this pop-up in the on-device settings.

The ports on offer with this display are also very accommodating. A USB-B port running to and from the monitor and your computer allows the three integrated USB-A 3.2 ports to communicate with your PC, cutting down on cable clutter. There’s also a USB-C port with 90W power delivery (great for charging a phone or even a laptop), a DisplayPort 2.1 and two HDMI 2.1 ports.

Finally, bringing the panel's main range of features back into range (4K, 240Hz), it’s worth considering this as a monitor for an already particularly dedicated enthusiast. Operating a 4K monitor at a high frame rate in most new games is going to require a fairly competent (and expensive) gaming rig, though most competitive games (think League of Legends and Valorant) that run smoothly on a broad range of computers will typically complement this monitor well – so perhaps it’s more a screen for gamers looking to compete online.

Asus ROG Swift PG27UCDM: PERFORMANCE

(Image credit: Zachariah Kelly / TechRadar)

The ROG Swift OLED 27-inch is perfect for making gorgeous games look amazing. An upgrade to an OLED screen continues to be the best way to upgrade your gaming visual experience in a single purchase – you can upgrade your computer’s internal components, sure, but the output monitor’s better handling of darkness and contrast will always be more noticeable than slightly higher graphics fidelity.

A 27-inch sized screen is fairly common among gaming PC setups, though a 4K resolution can be difficult to cater for as games become more demanding as quality scales up – though this will certainly appeal to gamers craving beautiful visuals. The panel performed exceptionally well in every game that I played, and the deep blacks were particularly welcome in games like The Headliners, Helldivers 2 and Ghost of Tsushima, where darkness is a big part of the gameplay.

TV shows look awesome too. Invincible, Severance and For All Mankind in particular looked great, with the color clarity up to scratch, but the experience would have been made better by integrated speakers. Built-in sound isn’t a top feature request for monitor shoppers but it’s nice to have when it’s there, for convenience at least.

And it’s not all about gaming – the monitor is also a more-than-capable productivity monitor, and I didn’t notice any text fringing when using Google Docs or Google Keep. Its dealing with apps in dark mode is splendid, and I liked the inclusion of a KVM switch, allowing you to quickly switch between your connected computers. The USB-A ports aren’t difficult to access in the back of the monitor, so you won’t be spending much time pulling cables and dongles out of your actual PC if you don’t want to.

Maximum brightness of 450 nits – or 1,000 nits with HDR enabled – was also notable as it’s easy to find similar monitors with slightly higher HDR brightness. Nevertheless, it’s serviceable and hardly an issue.

Should I buy the Asus ROG Swift PG27UCDM? ROG Swift 4K OLED 27-INCH: Report Card Buy it if...

You want a high-end, 27-inch OLED monitor

A 4K resolution with a 240Hz refresh rate on an OLED panel isn’t particularly common – yet.

You like ROG aesthetics

It doesn’t get much more gamer-y than ROG, and the downward-facing projector is certainly a… choice.

DON’T BUY IT IF…

You’re looking to save money

This monitor is surrounded by alternatives that are either larger (for the same cost) or cheaper for the same size.

You can’t stand over-the-top aesthetics

The gamer projector is not for everyone, nor is all the lighting or the huge stand.

Also consider

LG 32GS95UE-B

Though it originally launched at a higher price, the LG 32GS95UE-B can be picked up for a much lower cost than the ROG Swift OLED PG27UCDM – with 4K, a 240Hz refresh rate and a low response time to boot, along with a 32-inch panel.

Read our full LG 32GS95UE-B review

MSI MPG 271QRX

Cheaper, though only offering a 2K resolution rather than 4K, MSI's MPG 271QRX is a much more affordable OLED solution.

Read our full MSI MPG 271QRX review

MSI MPG 272URX

Offering similar specs at a significantly lower price, this MSI monitor is a much more accessible OLED gaming solution than Asus’ offering.

HOW I TESTED THE ROG Swift 4K OLED 27-INCH

From the moment I received the ROG Swift 4K OLED 27-inch for testing, I got to work setting it up and optimizing it for gameplay and productivity tasks. I quickly assembled it and replaced my monitor with it at home, using it over a three-week period. I used it every day that I was home over this time, whether it was for watching YouTube videos, Twitch streams, TV shows or playing videogames.

Most of my time with the monitor was spent playing videogames. Marvel Rivals, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, The Headliners, Helldivers 2, Ghost of Tsushima, Car Manufacture and FlyKnight were among the games I tested the monitor with. I used the monitor with a variety of settings enabled and disabled, and used a DisplayPort connection.

Read more about how we test

[First reviewed February 2025]

The order allowing funds to flow again applies to existing contracts before Trump issued his Jan. 20 executive order declaring a freeze on foreign assistance.

(Image credit: Manuel Balce Ceneta)

• Microsoft’s Copilot Voice has been upgraded with 40 new languages
• The AI has also improved its real-time responses
• Microsoft wants to encourage people to engage with Copilot in their everyday lives

Microsoft Copilot Voice has become a lot more cosmopolitan. The AI assistant has added support for 40 new languages and improved its real-time responses in a bid to make conversations feel more natural and comfortable for users.

Copilot Voice debuted in October, adding a vocal component to the AI, but with more power than the previous standard form of voice assistant. It can handle multi-turn conversations, recognize interruptions, and even adjust its tone based on emotional cues. It’s also free, which is a pretty big selling point in a world where AI subscriptions are becoming the norm. OpenAI has Advanced Voice Mode for ChatGPT, while Google’s Gemini Live offers its vocal interface.

The expanded language support is a big deal, especially for users outside of English-speaking markets. Whether you’re switching between languages or simply want an assistant who understands your native tongue better, this is a welcome change. This also points to Microsoft's strategy for making Copilot more of an international AI assistant through the Voice feature.

Speedy speech

You've got a lot *in* your hands, so let me help! Just get real-time updates with Copilot Voice pic.twitter.com/lF8B8UkQYJFebruary 13, 2025

Another key improvement is in real-time information retrieval. Voice assistants have always had a slight lag when pulling information from the web, often leaving users waiting while the AI “thinks.” With this update, Copilot Voice is now much faster and more responsive when answering questions, making interactions feel smoother and more natural. No more awkward pauses while you wait for an answer to a simple question.

The update also highlights Microsoft's efforts to enhance Copilot's place as a digital assistant, not just a glorified search engine. Copilot Voice might succeed after the failure of Cortana as Microsoft's AI voice assistant. The gap between what people expect from an AI assistant and what they actually get is closing, and voice AI tools will likely be a major facet.

You might also like...

• OpenAI’s Sora AI video generator set to launch as company announces '12 days of OpenAI
• Happy 2nd birthday, ChatGPT! Here are 5 ways you've already changed the world
• ChatGPT o1-preview can solve riddles faster than me and I kind of hate it for it

Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for Feb. 14.

• AI features on the 2024 Kindle Scribe were only available to US customers
• Latest firmware with AI features is now rolling out to users in the UK, Canada and Australia
• These features are now also available on the 2022 Kindle Scribe

When the Amazon Kindle Scribe (2024) was released in December last year, I was rather miffed that the promised AI features weren't part of the package for users outside of the US. At the time, Amazon had no comment to make as to when the AI Summary and handwriting recognition features would be rolled out more widely, but that's now happened.

The latest firmware update (version 5.17.3) is now available to download on both the 2024 and 2022 Kindle Scribe models in the US, UK, Canada and Australia, meaning even the older model is now a far better note-taking device than before.

I've checked both the 2022 and 2024 models that I have but, at the time of publication, neither had the latest firmware available for download. However, Amazon has already listed it on its Help and Customer Service page in Australia where I am based, so it's only a matter of time before it gets pushed out to the devices itself. You can, of course, download the software package from the Amazon site in your region if you don't want to wait, but you will need to use the Send To Kindle service or email it to your Kindle to update your device.

Once installed, you should be able to see a star-like icon in your notebooks. Tapping this will give you two options: to 'Summarize' a note or to 'Refine writing'.

(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar) Read on, there's more

This firmware update also includes a new feature called Side Panel Margin. As the name suggests, this adds a side panel where you can write notes when you're reading an ebook. This feature is also part of the latest firmware rolling out to more users outside the US and is available for both the Scribe models.

The side panel feature is in addition to Active Canvas, which only adds a box for your handwritten note while also reformatting the page. The side panel is quite literally that: a full-length panel for your thoughts, with the ability to alter the width as much as you like.

(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar) A better note-taking tablet

This new update means the Kindle Scribe is now a far better e-paper tablet than it was, especially the 2022 original model. The promised rollout of the AI features brings the older Scribe on par with its successor and, given it's now cheaper to buy, it represents better value. I'm still partial to Kobo's Advanced Notebooks though, but I'm thrilled to see Amazon making an effort to make the Scribes more competitive.

The only bone I have to pick with Amazon now – only because I'm Aussie – is that none of the new Kindles now have Audible support Down Under. How about it then, Amazon?

You might also like...

• Find more ereader options in my dedicated best ereader list
• Not interested in the Scribe? Take a look what what I think is the best Kindle right now
• Find out more about the Kindle Scribe's Active Canvas feature
• Need more writing e-paper tablet options? Check out my Onyx Boox Go 10.3 review or my Kobo Elipsa 2E review

CDC employees can no longer publish documents without review by the executive branch, and must withdraw their names from external papers pending publication.

(Image credit: Hapabapa)

The move reportedly comes after US attorney general Pam Bondi reassured Apple and Google they would not be fined for hosting TikTok.

When you're a Jet you're a Jet all the way … till the Jets decide you're not coming back next season.

(Image credit: Seth Wenig)

Like many others, I was an early adopter of ChatGPT and enjoyed exploring what it could do. When OpenAI debuted the ChatGPT Plus subscription, I was skeptical about whether I needed the greater access and additional features it promised. However, as the subscription option arrived, many of us using the free version started to encounter slower responses, unexpected usage caps, and other frustrations.

This was likely just because of the growing popularity of ChatGPT, though when particularly annoyed, I did speculate about a dark conspiracy. Either way, $20 a month started to seem reasonable, especially since testing out new ChatGPT features has been a professional need as much as something I personally want to do. I hesitated for a little while. If I had a dollar for every time I almost upgraded, I’d have had enough to pay for ChatGPT Plus for several years. Still, within a few weeks, I clicked on upgrade, and I can say I haven't regretted it at all.

Plus access

Since signing up, I've employed ChatGPT Plus, and its benefits have been extensive in my personal life. I can use it to come up with dinner ideas, entertain children, make New Year's Resolutions, and perform many other tasks. A lot of those would be more difficult or impossible without ChatGPT Plus.

When you sign up, the first and most obvious difference you'll note is that you have access to the ChatGPT models in beta. Currently, the default model is GPT-4o, but with a subscription, you can try the logic-heavy o1 model, the o3-mini model, which is even faster at advanced logic and reasoning, and the o3-mini-high model, which goes even further. I can always tell, even without looking, when a response uses the ChatGPT Plus-only models. The responses are sharper and more insightful, and they often feel like they have been run through an actual human editor.

If I stick to GPT-4o, I still benefit from subscribing to ChatGPT Plus. Those dreaded message limits disappear, which, if you’ve ever had ChatGPT cut you off just when a conversation was getting interesting, is very frustrating. If you hit the limit, the free tier sends you down to the GPT-4o-mini model. That model is fine, but it feels threadbare compared to the richer experience of GPT-4o. Similarly, the limits on uploading files and making and analyzing images also disappear when you subscribe. You might still hit a cap, but you'd have to really work at it.

Plus features

There are also options for GPT-4o exclusive to ChatGPT Plus. You can converse with ChatGPT in both standard and advanced voice modes. You can also play with customizing ChatGPT's abilities by making custom GPTs. The Tasks feature for ChatGPT that lets you schedule out missions for the AI in the future is also only available if you have a subscription to ChatGPT Plus, as it's currently in beta testing.

There is a laundry list of other ChatGPT features that were on the same list but have since migrated to the free tier. ChatGPT Plus subscribers were once the only ones able to use the editable Canvas page, the latest DALL-E image-making model, the web browsing function, and several other tools. Even the GPT-4o-mini model is a huge step up from earlier free-tier models, closing the quality gap significantly.

A fair argument against ChatGPT Plus is that those exclusive perks don't stay exclusive. So, if you’re the type of person who likes waiting for features to trickle down, maybe Plus isn’t necessary. But if you’re someone who wants to be that early adopter and play with the latest models and features immediately, then the subscription still holds a lot of value. It’s not just about what features exist; it's about when you get them and how smoothly they work.

Plus more

If you’re a casual user who just wants ChatGPT for quick questions, occasional brainstorming, or settling silly debates (like whether pineapple belongs on pizza), you’re probably fine sticking with the free tier. It’s gotten much better over time, and OpenAI keeps pushing updates that make it a pretty robust option.

But if you rely on ChatGPT every day for any number of projects at work or home, I'd say that ChatGPT Plus is absolutely worth it. The speed, model quality, unlimited access, and extra tools make a noticeable difference.

When I want a cute image to go with a hand-written greeting card, I don't want to worry about hitting a cap on DALL-E use. And if I want to know if the confusing array of parking signs beside my car say my car won't be towed in the next hour, I want the most powerful and logical AI model available.

If you like using ChatGPT, the real question is how much you use it and whether you’re willing to wait for features to roll out to everyone. If you’re someone who wants the best AI experience right now, ChatGPT Plus is a no-brainer. If you don’t mind waiting for features to trickle down, the free version will probably get there.

Just to be sure, I asked ChatGPT's most advanced model if the subscription was worth it, and ChatGPT declared that if it were human, it would happily pay.

You might also like

• Our predictions for AI in 2025 – what next for ChatGPT, Apple Intelligence and more
• If Sam Altman thinks OpenAI needs to raise ChatGPT prices, I might have to cancel my Plus membership
• Top 3 things you have to try with the new ChatGPT search

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