A new study from the BBC has found that four of the world's most popular AI chatbots including ChatGPT are inaccurately summarizing news stories.
The BBC asked ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini, and Perplexity to summarize 100 news stories from the news outlet and then rated each answer to determine just how accurate the AI responses were.
The study found that "51% of all AI answers to questions about the news were judged to have significant issues of some form." and "19% of AI answers which cited BBC content introduced factual errors, such as incorrect factual statements, numbers and dates."
The study showcases multiple examples of inaccuracies that showcased differing information to the news it was summarizing. The examples note that "Gemini incorrectly said the NHS did not recommend vaping as an aid to quit smoking" and "ChatGPT and Copilot said Rishi Sunak and Nicola Sturgeon were still in office even after they had left."
Inaccuracies aside, there's another crucial finding. The report found that AI "struggled to differentiate between opinion and fact, editorialised, and often failed to include essential context."
While these results are unsurprising considering how often we see issues with news summarization tools at the moment, including Apple Intelligence's mix-ups that have led Apple to temporarily remove the feature in iOS 18.3, it's a good reminder not to believe everything you read from AI.
Are you surprised?From the study, the BBC concludes that "Microsoft's Copilot and Google's Gemini had more significant issues than OpenAI's ChatGPT and Perplexity,"
While this research doesn't necessarily give us much more info, it validates the skepticism towards AI summary tools and emphasizes just how important it is to take information from AI chatbots with a pinch of salt. AI is developing rapidly and large language models (LLMs) are released almost weekly at the moment, so it's to be expected that mistakes will happen. That said, from my personal testing I've found inaccuracies and hallucinations to be less frequent now in software like ChatGPT than it was just a few months ago.
Sam Altman said in a blog post yesterday that AI is progressing faster than Moore’s law and that means we'll continue to see constant improvements to software and how it interacts with the world around it. For now, however, it's probably best not to trust AI for your daily news, and if it's tech-based you may as well stick with TechRadar instead.
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All the signs are pointing towards the imminent launch of a new MacBook Air M4 with Apple’s latest M4 chip, and a new clue has just emerged that further cements that idea.
According to MacRumors, a mysterious private account on X (formerly Twitter) recently shared model identifiers for the upcoming MacBook Air. These are the codes that Apple uses to classify its devices and components. In this instance, the source claimed that upcoming models of both the 13-inch MacBook Air and its 15-inch sibling would be equipped with the T8132 chip, which MacRumors believes corresponds to the M4.
MacRumors didn’t share the source, so we’re not able to independently verify what they’ve said. However, there’s been a steady stream of MacBook Air leaks over the past few weeks, with many sources claiming that the laptop will launch soon.
Apple often releases new products in March or April, which could be when we’ll see the M4 MacBook Air.
A modest update? (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)Before you get too excited, this MacBook Air refresh is not expected to be particularly groundbreaking. It’ll get the M4 chip for sure, but there’s precious little else expected. Based on what we’ve seen in the MacBook Pro, the M4 chip will likely bring modest performance improvements rather than anything truly eye-opening.
Apple will almost certainly stick with the same design as the M3 MacBook Air, with its flat edges and slimline chassis. We wouldn’t expect many features from the MacBook Pro to make it across to the MacBook Air either, ruling out new features like the ProMotion dynamic refresh rate and the nano-texture glass option that cuts down on glare and reflections.
However, there could be increased memory bandwidth, which might allow you to connect two external displays without needing to close the laptop’s lid. We also wouldn’t be surprised to see a more efficient Neural Engine to improve artificial intelligence workloads.
If you’ve been considering buying a new MacBook Air, it would be worth holding off just a little longer until the M4 model sees the light of day. Based on the latest news, it looks like that could potentially happen within the next few weeks.
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Cybercriminals are increasingly targeting password managers in an attempt to break into various important digital accounts.
Picus Security detailed its findings in the newly-released Red Report 2025, based on an in-depth analysis of more than a million malware variants collected last year, finding a quarter of all malware (25%) targeted credentials in password stores. This, the researchers claim, represents a three-fold increase compared to the year before.
“For the first time ever, stealing credentials from password stores is in the top 10 techniques listed in the MITRE ATT&CK Framework,” they said. “The report reveals that these top 10 techniques accounted for 93% of all malicious actions in 2024.”
Multi-factor authenticationThe attackers are using all sorts of sophisticated extraction methods in their attacks, Picus Security co-founder and VP of Picus Labs, Dr. Suleyman Ozarslan said, including memory scraping, registry harvesting, and compromising local and cloud-based password stores.
To tackle the threat, Ozarslan added, it is pivotal people use password managers together with multi-factor authentication (MFA). Furthermore, they should never reuse a password, especially for their password manager.
The attacks are not just growing in volume, but in sophistication, as well. Picus said it’s seen threat actors prioritizing “complex, prolonged, multi-stage attacks” that require a new generation of malware. That malware, infostealers included, comes with increased stealth, persistence, and even automation. The researchers likened this increasing sophistication to “the perfect heist”, since most malware samples come with “more than a dozen malicious actions designed to help attackers evade defenses, increase permissions and exfiltrate data.”
A password manager is a tool that securely stores, generates, and autofills passwords for websites and apps. It helps users create and manage strong, unique passwords without needing to remember them all. It is considered one of the key pillars of good cybersecurity hygiene.
You might also likeSwitchBot attracted plenty of attention and praise with the launch of the K10+, a pint-sized robot vacuum for people who don't have a ton of space at home – but while the dinky bot can get into a lot of nooks and crannies, it can't clean your stairs or your sofa.
To get around this, SwitchBot has now unveiled the K10+ Pro Combo, which takes the latest model of the mini robovac and bundles in a lightweight stick vacuum that attaches to, and auto-empties into, the same dock. Said dock has gained a long chimney-like extension for the purpose, and now looks a little like a futuristic pizza oven.
This robovac scored highly in our SwitchBot K10+ Pro review, and the manual vacuum looks decent too. It promises many of the same features I'd look for in today's best cordless vacuums, including an advanced filtration system, a roller designed not to get tangled with hair, a lie-flat design, and detailing tools for handling different cleaning tasks.
(Image credit: SwitchBot)However, I'm not entirely sold on the new configuration. First, the stick vacuum attaches to the back of the dock, which means you can't position the dock flush to the wall. This is perhaps to ensure that the bot can find its way back (you need to position the dock with clear space to the front and sides), but it does mean that you now have to have your dock sitting away from the wall and taking up more space in the room, if you want to avoid accidentally scraping the stick vacuum down the wall as you dock it.
I'm also not convinced that you'd be saving space compared to having a separate wall-mounted cordless vacuum dock – the kind you get with most Dyson vacuums. Sure, the two docks would be in separate spots, but cumulatively they wouldn't take up much more space than this combination effort.
(Image credit: SwitchBot)If you're wondering why I'm fixating on space here, remember that the SwitchBot robovac's whole USP is that it's small. If you have space for a bigger dock, you'd just buy a regular-sized robot vacuum, and open up a world of other options (here are TechRadar's best robot vacuum picks if you're looking for inspiration).
With a capacity of three liters, the dust cup hidden in the dock is at least large enough to cope with a decent volume of dust, although it has lost a chunk of capacity compared to the standard K10+ Pro dock, which holds four liters.
If you are sold on this idea, now's the time to buy, as there are discounts on the SwitchBot K10+ Pro Combo in both the US and the UK.
Head to Amazon right now and you can get $200 off this new combo cleaner – just check the coupon box to apply the discount. This all-in-one solution combines a pint-sized robot vacuum and a manual stick vacuum, both of which attach to the same streamlined dock, where their dust cups automatically empty. This deal is also available direct from SwitchBot.View Deal
Click the voucher checkbox to apply a £160 discount on the new SwitchBot Combo at Amazon. For £639.99 you get the latest version of the brand's shrunk-down robovac, a stick vacuum with useful detail heads, and a dock that houses both. This offer is also available direct from SwitchBot.View Deal
Analysis: a self-emptying invasion?SwitchBot is not the only vacuum brand to be offering such a setup. Take the Yeedi C12 Combo, for instance, which also combines a stick vacuum (with additional mopping head) and full-sized robovac, and comes with an absolute beast of a dock.
It's also part of an interesting trend for self-emptying manual vacuums. Both of the newest and best Shark vacuums have optional auto-empty docks, for example. I see the appeal with robot vacuums, because the onboard bins are necessarily tiny, and the whole point is to be a hands-off solution. But if you're manually vacuuming in the first place, it's not a whole lot more effort to empty the dust cup yourself.
I've tested out the Shark PowerDetect, and while the auto-empty dock works well, it's bulky and not terribly attractive. Personally, I would choose to empty my own bin over having the dock out in my home, so I'm interested to see if this growing trend takes off.
You might also like...Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick has teased a Grand Theft Auto 6 PC port.
The company has previously confirmed that the highly anticipated open-world game is currently on the way for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S sometime in fall 2025. In an interview with IGN ahead of the company's recent financial results, Zelnick was asked whether the lack of a PC release is a mistake given the platform's prevalence.
"With Civ 7 it's available on console and PC and Switch right away,” he replied, referencing the recent multi-platform release of Sid Meier's Civilization 7. “With regard to others in our lineup, we don't always go across all platforms simultaneously. Historically, Rockstar [Games] has started with some platforms and then historically moved to other platforms.”
In the past, it has taken some time for Rockstar titles to make their way to PC. Grand Theft Auto 5, for example, launched for consoles back in 2013 - two years before it arrived on PC. 2018's Red Dead Redemption 2 was a similar story, staying exclusive to consoles for over a year.
Zelnick's words suggest that GTA 6 will follow this pattern. It's reasonable to assume that it will be available on PC a year or so after its release, so sometime in late 2026.
Of course, this is only a hint and we'll have to wait and see what Take-Two has in store.
You might also like...Marvel Rivals is set to add The Thing and Human Torch, bringing the total number of Heroes up to 37. They join their other Fantastic Four cohorts, rounding out Season One in style. So far, the new characters have yet to be fully detailed, but we do know their release dates.
Alongside the arrival of these two new Heroes, there will also be new rewards to earn in Marvel Rivals ranked mode. The game's high quality of competitive modes definitely makes it stand out from its competitors and is one of the main reasons it's already landed on our best crossplay games list.
Here's when The Thing and Human Torch are being added to Marvel Rivals. As we're waiting for each to be fully revealed, you'll find our predictions for how each one will play below.
Marvel Rivals The Thing and Human Torch release date (Image credit: NetEase)The Thing and Human Torch will be added to Marvel Rivals on February 21, 2025. This is when the game will receive its midseason update, which promises to shake up the battlefield. We're still waiting on precise timings, so stay tuned for updates to this page.
Marvel Rivals The Thing and Human Torch predictionsMarvel Rivals will receive a brand new update this month (February 2025), adding two new Heroes: The Thing and Human Torch. Of course, these two are members of The Fantastic Four and have some pretty unique powers and abilities. The game's developer NetEase has yet to show off the two characters, besides some character art that you can see elsewhere in this article. So until we hear more, here are our predictions for The Thing and Human Torch.
Let's start with The Thing. In terms of class, we expect The Thing to serve as a Vanguard. This is largely because of the fact that he's a giant, rock man. There's also the fact that there are only eight Vanguards currently in the game, compared to 23 Duelists. Interestingly, there are only eight Strategists, so it could be a nice twist to go against what's expected and place The Thing as a Support character.
As a Vanguard, The Thing's primary goal will be to tank damage and position themselves near the objective. We don't think The Thing will be a dive tank, so will probably be closer to someone like Magneto, rather than Venom or Captain America. A rock shield wall could be great, similar to how Groot's works. The Ultimate? It's Clobberin' Time.
Over to Human Torch, who we hope will be able to fly, at least sometimes. As a living supernova, it'd be cool to have Human Torch equipped with a heat meter, which would climb over time. At a certain point, the character should have access to new abilities and an Ultimate that damages every player in its proximity, via heat damage. This would suit a Duelist or Vanguard role. Given that Mr. Fantastic is a Duelist, and Invisible Woman is a strategist, this would fit nicely.
Marvel Rivals The Thing and Human Torch FAQs (Image credit: Marvel Games) Is the Human Torch in Marvel Rivals yet?Human Torch is not currently available in Marvel Rivals. This is set to change on February 21, 2025, with the arrival of the midseason update.
Will The Thing and Human Torch be free?So far, every Hero in Marvel Rivals has been free to play. We don't expect this to change for The Things and Human Torch. It's also worth noting that at the beginning of Season One, Mr Fantastic, and Invisible Woman were added immediately for all players. If this pattern continues, expect to load up the game after the midseason update on February 21, 2025, and be able to select The Thing and Human Torch.
You Might Also Like...Even though investments in AI continue to grow, only 4% of occupations use AI for 75% or more of their tasks, highlighting just how far there is to go to fully engrain the tech within our workflows, new reports have claimed.
It might not be heavily relied upon, but plenty of workers have tried AI, with more than a third (36%) of occupations incorporating the technology for at least 25% of their tasks.
The figures come from a paper published by Anthropic’s researchers, who analyze over four million Claude.ai conversations.
Not many workers use AI too muchMore specifically, Anthropic’s researchers break down exactly how AI tools are currently being used, revealing that nearly two in five (37%) AI users work in software engineering roles.
Two in five (43%) use cases proved to be for automation, but the researchers observed the remaining three-fifths (57%) of AI requests augmenting human capabilities, or in other words, boosting efficiency. This finding directly challenges earlier concerns that AI might replace human workers, and is just one of a growing number of studies supporting the pro-human argument for AI.
Artificial intelligence usage is also more prevalent in mid- and high-paying jobs, where many knowledge workers find themselves. Both salary extremes, such as manual and physical labor, and highly skilled workers like physicians, used AI less.
A separate Microsoft study added that workers who are more confident with a task are among the most likely to apply critical thinking to GenAI’s output, compared with workers who might be less familiar with the task, confirming AI’s power as a human aid and not a replacer.
However, we could be on the cusp of major change. The researchers concluded: “As AI systems expand beyond text to handle video, speech, and physical actions through robotics, and as AI agents become more capable of carrying out extended tasks autonomously, the nature of human-AI collaboration is poised to transform dramatically.”
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