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We heard a lot about the planning by U.S. national security officials for a bombing campaign against Houthi fighters in Yemen, because a journalist was added to their Signal group chat. That bombing campaign is ongoing and we haven't heard much about how it is going or its goals. Our national security correspondent tells us about what the U.S. military is doing in Yemen and how we're getting more information about that from the Houthis than from the Pentagon.

On his first day in office, President Trump used an executive order to hit pause on the TikTok ban for 75 days. Now he's pushing back that deadline.

(Image credit: Matt Slocum)

• ChatGPT-5 is delayed by a few months
• The time will allow OpenAI to better integrate the new model
• New o3 and o4-mini models to come in a couple of weeks

OpenAI has changed its plans and is set to put ChatGPT-5 on hold while releasing new o3 and o4-mini models in the next couple of weeks instead.

The news broke today in a tweet by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, in which he revealed why the plans were changing:

“There are a bunch of reasons for this”, wrote Altman, “but the most exciting one is that we are going to be able to make GPT-5 much better than we originally thought.

"We also found it harder than we thought it was going to be to smoothly integrate everything, and we want to make sure we have enough capacity to support what we expect to be unprecedented demand.”

The mention of 'capacity to support unprecedented demand' is clearly a reference to the recent outages that ChatGPT has been experiencing as millions of new users signed up to try out the new image generation abilities of ChatGPT-4o.

change of plans: we are going to release o3 and o4-mini after all, probably in a couple of weeks, and then do GPT-5 in a few months.there are a bunch of reasons for this, but the most exciting one is that we are going to be able to make GPT-5 much better than we originally…April 4, 2025

The next evolution of AI

ChatGPT-5 is the next big evolution of the popular ChatGPT LLM and will be a major development in the future of AI.

Its simpler name was also supposed to represent an alignment shift in OpenAI’s somewhat confusing product-naming conventions that will now soon feature both an o4 and an 4o model in the line-up simultaneously.

Rather than the user having to decide if they wanted to use a smaller, lighter model, such as 4o-mini or a deeper reasoning model, like o4, for their tasks, ChatGPT-5 will decide for you which type of model to use, based on your query.

So far, OpenAI has confirmed that even users on the free tier will have some access to ChatGPT-5 when it comes out, but users on the Pro and Plus tiers will get more. The only word on a release date we’ve been given before was “soon”.

Now it looks like we’ll have to wait a little bit longer for that integration of everything into one model, with Altman stating that ChatGPT-5 would now appear “in a few months”.

ChatGPT-o3 improvements

Commenting on the new o3 model, Altman also stated that, “We were able to really improve on what we previewed for o3 in many ways; I think people will be happy…”

Replying to a user on X who asked if there would also be an o3 Pro model, Altman gave a one-word reply – “coming!” – which would seem to confirm that a pro version of o3 is also in the works.

As to when we will see the o3 and o4-mini models, Altman stated, “in a couple of weeks, and then do GPT-5 in a few months”.

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• Intel expands its liquid cooling tech to support Nvidia’s future AI chips
• Superfluid cooling tackles 1.5kW heat loads for high-performance systems
• Taiwan partnerships position Intel as cooling leader for next-gen chips

It's no secret that Intel, which recently appointed Lip-Bu Tan as its new CEO, is facing difficult times.

The iconic chipmaker is reportedly considering spinning off its foundry division into a joint venture with TSMC in a bid to turn things around, but separate from those plans, Intel is also looking to change its fortunes by becoming a major player in cooling next-generation AI hardware.

The company’s Superfluid cooling solution is reportedly capable of managing heat output up to 1.5kW per chip, a level of performance that could be essential for cooling Nvidia’s GB300 superchip and also for upcoming rack servers, like those shown off at GTC 2025.

Blowing bubbles

At its event, Nvidia unveiled mock-ups of Kyber-based NVL576 racks featuring Rubin Ultra GPUs.

According to Nvidia's co-founder, president, and CEO Jensen Huang, these systems could draw as much as 600kW, with future racks potentially reaching megawatt-level power demands. As energy requirements grow, advanced cooling solutions like Intel’s Superfluid technology will become increasingly essential.

Superfluid cooling was first introduced by Intel in 2023 and uses microbubble injection to improve coolant flow and heat transfer efficiency.

mashdigi reports the technology draws inspiration from a method used by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, “where bubbles are generated under the hull of ocean-going ships to reduce water resistance and improve propulsion efficiency."

The site goes on to explain that in the case of Superfluid cooling, "a similar approach is applied by generating bubbles in the coolant to increase flow speed and enhance heat removal. This is combined with cold plate designs to further improve thermal conductivity.

Additionally, the system uses a new type of non-conductive dielectric fluid to prevent damage to submerged servers in the event of a leak.” This approach makes it highly suitable for dense compute environments where traditional cooling methods fall short.

Intel recently showcased its progress at the 2025 Superfluid Advanced Cooling Technology Forum in Taiwan, co-hosted with the Industrial Technology Research Institute.

According to United Daily News Network (UDN), the event drew over 500 attendees and more than ten local suppliers, highlighting strong industry interest. Taiwanese firms, including Maico, YuanShan, Kuenling, and Sun Max Tech, presented hardware built to support Intel’s cooling system, including server racks, liquid-cooled chassis and thermal components.

Intel is reportedly also investing in advanced materials to reduce corrosion and mechanical wear, including liquid metal-based designs and electromagnetic pump systems, in order to improve long-term durability and reduce maintenance for large-scale deployments.

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• Liquid cooling solutions gain momentum as AI workloads turn up the heat
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• Evolving data center cooling for AI workloads

• ChatGPT Plus is going free for a limited time if you're a student
• US & Canadian students can get the AI's upgraded for free for two months
• This tier unlocks better AI tools and higher usage limits for the free-tier AI

ChatGPT Plus – ChatGPT’s premium tier – is going free for students in the US and Canada for a couple of months. Here’s how to apply and what the deal gets you.

The upgraded ChatGPT Plus tier usually costs $20 a month, and opens up access to ChatGPT’s advanced Deep Research model, the upgraded GPT-4.5 preview, and extends the limits imposed on users accessing the free tools (so you can send more prompts and upload more files before you hit your cap).

You’ll also get wider access to ChatGPT’s voice mode and screen-sharing abilities. And these tools can be super handy when studying for your finals this semester.

It's the perfcet time to try ChatGPT (Image credit: ChatGPT)

If you’re not sure why you got a practice question wrong you can show ChatGPT your test and answer and it can help explain how you made the error. The speech mode is useful for practicing languages as you can set the bot to converse with you at your level.

You can also upload your notes to the bot and get it to quiz you on them with custom tests to get you used to having your knowledge challenged in an exam-like environment.

Just remember to not rely solely on the AI.

Even with your course notes it will likely make a few reasoning errors, and when practicing languages it might teach you a phrase that’s technically correct but not one that’s actually used by people speaking the language day-to-day. For example, I’ve recently been watching streamer Ludwig in a YouTube series in which he travels across Japan and one his ChatGPT-taught phrases for “thank you” is equivalent to saying “I thank thee for thine service.”

But if you use ChatGPT’s study tools in conjunction with your own non-AI practice – and regularly check you’re not being taught something wrong – it could be a handy tutor.

Now, how do you get it for free?

The Plus tier gets you access to ChatGPT-4.5 (Image credit: OpenAI) How to apply for the ChatGPT Plus student offer

The offer is available from March 31 until May 31, 2025 and gives you two months of ChatGPT Plus once you claim it.

You’ll need to be a student in the US and Canada with OpenAI explaining it’ll verify your status instantly using the following methods:

• Authoritative Sources: SheerID first checks trusted databases, such as your university’s Office of the Registrar, to instantly verify your student status.
• Single Sign-On (SSO): If necessary, you’ll be prompted to log in securely with your school’s SSO credentials, confirming your affiliation directly through your institution.

It adds that if these methods don’t work you may need to go through a manual review, which requires you to upload “additional documentation.” OpenAI doesn’t outline what these documents are but we expect it’ll be something like an admission letter or student ID card from your college.

OpenAI also explains that not all schools will be supported, though it provides a form for you to request to add your school. It doesn’t promise top accept all requests, but it’s worth trying if you’re desperate to claim this $40 saving.

Lastly, if you’re already a ChatGPT Plus subscriber you’ll get your two free months added to your existing membership.

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Let me preface this by saying, that when I say I don't care about Copilot, I mean it. I've not owned a Windows PC since 2006, and I've never even installed the Copilot app on my Mac, iPhone, or even Android device.

I write about AI for a living, but there are very few AI tools I actually use in my daily life. Usually, I test them for work, come up with article ideas, and write about experiences with AI chatbots like ChatGPT and Gemini - but I rarely use AI in my spare time.

Microsoft's Copilot is an AI tool that I've neglected, not only in my home life but also at work. I rarely cover Copilot, and when I do it's usually just a brief news story here or there.

Anyways, you get the idea Copilot just isn't really an AI chatbot that was on my radar. But after Microsoft's 50th Anniversary Copilot Event, that's all changed.

A complete overhaul

Copilot is often seen as a business tool rather than a consumer product. So much so, in fact, that I fully expected Microsoft's Copilot event to center around business use and barely touch on what that means for a consumer.

I couldn't have been more wrong. At Microsoft's event today, the company showcased a new vision for Copilot, which it now calls 'Your AI Companion', and I think it's time I take notice.

Today, in celebration of its 50th anniversary, Microsoft highlighted that the company's future is very much counting on software like Copilot, and that's a very exciting thing.

The company announced major upgrades to the AI chatbot including a memory, similar to that found in Gemini and ChatGPT, meaning Copilot will learn important information about you. Microsoft says Copilot can now "learn who you are deeply."

In a blog post announcing the new features, CEO of Microsoft AI Mustafa Suleyman said, "With your permission, Copilot will now remember what you talk about, so it learns your likes and dislikes and details about your life: the name of your dog, that tricky project at work, what keeps you motivated to stick to your new workout routine."

Elsewhere Copilot is getting vision, giving the AI on-screen awareness in Windows and access to your camera in mobile apps similar to Apple's Visual Intelligence or Google's Lens.

Microsoft announced much more at today's event, and you can read about it all in detail here. It's the agentic capabilities called "Actions", however, that really stand out and make me interested in giving Copilot a shot at becoming my daily AI driver.

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(Image credit: Microsoft) The AI personal assistant I've been waiting for?

My dream AI scenario is a personal assistant that does the mundane in my life so I can focus on the things that matter.

Whether it's filling out calendar entries, telling me when to leave for an appointment, or booking my next beard trim, I want AI to alleviate a little bit of the stress of life so I have one less thing to think about.

Apple Intelligence-powered Siri looked like my ideal scenario when it was showcased at WWDC 2024, but with WWDC 2025 fast approaching we've still not seen a tech demo to prove it's actually capable of what's advertised.

Today, Microsoft's Copilot announcement with an emphasis on an AI companion piques my interest and makes me wonder if the company to fulfill my AI want will ultimately be the Seattle tech giant.

It's hard to know for sure, considering I've not tested any of the newly announced Copilot features yet. But you better believe the first thing I'm going to do as soon as Copilot's update is available, is use it in my daily life.

I want to leave you with another quote from the CEO of Microsoft AI. He said, "The important point is that throughout Copilot is more than an AI, it’s yours. It remembers not just what you said, but who you are. Copilot helps you stay organized, think clearly, and learn more intuitively."

I've been burnt before by putting trust in AI marketing campaigns but Microsoft's Copilot announcements today make me excited for the future, and I can't wait to see if it can live up to the billing.

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Boulies Master Rex gaming chair: One-minute review

The Boulies Master Rex is a relaxed gaming chair with an integrated leg rest and various adjustments for improved comfort and versatility.

It’s a good-looking chair, and the Charcoal Grey finish on my review unit made it appear even smarter, although I found the black suede accents a little jarring and unnecessary. Overall, though, this is a relatively understated gaming chair that wouldn’t look out of place in any environment.

I also had the water-repellent fabric finish which was very nice, feeling as good as the finishes on the best gaming chairs around. The rest of the chair is similarly premium, although the head pillow isn’t quite up to the same standards, with a cheaper-feeling material and lacking plushness – but it’s still sufficiently comfortable and supportive.

The seat is quite soft for a gaming chair, providing plenty of cushioning, and is wide enough to comfortably accommodate various frames and sitting styles. The same can be said of the backrest, and I was especially thankful for the very forgiving side bolsters, which cushioned my elbows nicely whenever they made contact.

The Master Rex also features built-in lumbar support, which is adjustable for both height and prominence. I found it comfortable with plenty of support, although I wish it went a little lower, as it doesn’t really get that close to the bottom of the backrest.

What’s more, the two dials on either side for adjusting the lumbar can be awkward to turn while seated and require too many turns to reach their minimum and maximum respective settings, which can make it a chore to set.

I had no such problem when adjusting the armrests on the Master Rex, however. These are very stable and solidly constructed, yet I still found them comfortable to lean on. Again, though, I wish they had a lower minimum height, as well as a more inward bias. However, these are issues I experience with many gaming chairs.

The tilt mechanism was more disappointing, as it failed to easily rock, requiring some force to rock backward, even on its most amenable setting. Yet again, the adjustment dial for it was too laborious to use, owing to the large range between its two extremes.

Worse, however, was the recline mechanism. There’s plenty of range in its angles, but the mechanism itself felt rough and notchy, and I sometimes struggled to lock it in place. I also had similar issues with the Boulies Elite.

The integrated leg rest failed to impress, too. Sliding it in and out wasn’t the smoothest, and there was a fair amount of wobble to it when retracted. It’s well padded, but it’s a shame it only extended as far as my calves – and I’m not a tall person.

Assembling the Master Rex proved easy enough solo, although lining up the cushion gaskets when attaching the tilt mechanism to the seat base can be frustrating. Also, the rubber washers for the leg rest poles fell off too easily, and the machining on some screws was subpar. Despite these niggles, though, the Master Rex was easy to put together on the whole.

The Master Rex isn’t what you’d call cheap, but the quality and features on offer here help to make it a more reasonable proposition. It’s still less than the Secretlab Titan Evo 2022, although this is the best gaming chair around as far as we’re concerned. If you really want to save money, though, the Corsair TC100 Relaxed is a great pick for budget hunters.

In the main, the Master Rex has enough comfort, adjustability, and quality to make it a gaming chair worth recommending. A few features fall short of expectations, but not by enough to reject the Master Rex entirely from your consideration.

(Image credit: Future) Boulies Master Rex gaming chair review: Price and availability

• $479.99 / £409.99 (about AU$762)
• Available now
• Cheaper than some rivals

The Master Rex costs $479.99 / £409.99 (about AU$762) and is available now with PU leatherette and water-repellent fabric upholstery options. The former comes in black and brown, while the latter comes in Charcoal Grey, Ash Grey, and Como (green).

While it sits towards the higher end of the market, the Master Rex is still less than the regular Secretlab Titan Evo 2022, which we think is still the best gaming chair overall. That chair doesn’t come with a leg rest, but the brand does make an add-on accessory – although this carries a hefty price tag.

If you want to spend a lot less than either the Master Rex or the Titan, the Corsair TC100 Relaxed is the best budget gaming chair around in our view. It doesn’t quite have the same high build quality as its rivals, and the assembly process isn’t the best, but it’s still a comfortable and well-designed seat.

Boulies Master Rex gaming chair review: Specs Boulies Master Rex gaming chair review: Design and aesthetics

• Solid construction
• Soft, premium fabric
• Integrated lumbar and leg rest

The Master Rex sticks to Boulies’ typical aesthetic, with a more formal approach to traditional gaming chair design. It has a relaxed bucket-style backrest, while the seat base has no bolsters to hem you in – which I’m personally thankful for.

The water-repellent fabric I had on my test unit was smooth to the touch, feeling premium yet durable without the scratchiness that can plague some fabric finishes. Its stitching also appeared executed to a high standard, while the dark grey finish looked smart and sleek. The black suede accents seemed superfluous, though, and didn’t really add much in terms of form or function.

Most aspects of the Master Rex seem very well constructed. The frame and wheelbase are solid yet not too heavy, and the casters glide easily on hard and soft surfaces alike, without any catching on the latter. I was also thankful for the softness of the backrest side bolsters, which made them very comfortable on my elbows.

(Image credit: Future)

The 4D arm rests are another highlight, offering plenty of stability while being easy to operate. They have a hard-wearing surface yet are still comfortable, and are wide enough to accommodate most forearms.

The Master Rex also includes a leg rest that slides out from underneath the seat. However, the mechanism doesn’t retract smoothly, catching slightly as you pull, and there’s a fair amount of wobble when it’s out all the way, which doesn’t exactly inspire confidence. What’s more, the leg rest itself is quite thick, which means that when stowed, it gets in the way if you want to sit with your legs bent underneath you.

The Master Rex also comes with integrated lumbar support, so no back cushion is required. A head pillow is included, although this doesn’t feel as premium as the rest of the chair, owing to cheaper-feeling material and lack of plushness. It doesn’t attach magnetically either, relying on an elastic strap instead.

Boulies Master Rex gaming chair review: Comfort and Adjustability

• Useful adjustments
• Integrated lumbar support
• leg rest issues

I found the Master Rex a comfortable chair to sit in. The seat is soft and generously cushioned, more so than the seat on the Boulies Elite, for instance. It’s also pleasingly wide, allowing for various sitting styles.

Combined with the similarly plush backrest, this helps to make the Master Rex one of the most comfortable gaming chairs. The inbuilt lumbar support also provides sufficient back support, although I wish it went further down, as even on its lowest setting, it sat in the middle of my back more than I would’ve liked.

What’s more, adjustments are awkward to make while seated, owing to the positioning on the dials. Neither dial is labelled either, so you’ll have to refer to the manual and remember which one adjusts which parameter. Worse still, there are far too many rotations between their minimum and maximum settings, which only adds to the difficulty of making adjustments. At least the adjustments they do provide are meaningful.

The recline mechanism of the Master Rex doesn’t fare much better in this regard. As I found with the Boulies Elite, it’s too notchy and rough, and I often struggled to lock into position.

(Image credit: Future)

The tilt mechanism is a further oddity. I found that no matter how much I loosened the dial underneath, it was still too resistant to allow for easy rocking. And as with the lumbar adjustment dials, it requires far too many turns between each end of its extremes. I did, however, like the lever for toggling the tilt lock, as it moves horizontally rather than vertically, which I found more convenient to operate when seated.

On the other hand, the 4D arm rests on the Master Rex are hard to fault. All manner of pivots, rotations, and slides are possible, so most users shouldn’t have a problem getting a comfortable setup. I only wish they went lower and slightly further inwards, but I have this gripe with most gaming chairs I try to some degree; all things considered, they still offer sufficient comfort for extended periods.

The party piece of the Master Rex, though, is the retractable leg rest. I found this comfortable thanks to the amount of padding it provides. It can be adjusted for length, depending on how far you pull it out. However, it doesn’t extend all that far, and I wish it was long enough to rest my heels rather than just my calves, and a little more width wouldn’t have gone amiss either.

What’s more, despite its thickness, it still doesn’t sit level with the seat, meaning your feet dangle below you somewhat. While it’s nice to have, these drawbacks make the leg rest more of a gimmick rather than a feature you’ll want to use regularly.

Boulies Master Rex gaming chair review: Assembly

Putting together the Master Rex was a relatively quick process. I managed to build it by myself without help, although as with many gaming chairs, it can prove difficult and onerous when installing the seat onto the wheelbase, but this was still perfectly manageable.

There were a few other niggles, though. Firstly, when installing the tilt mechanism to the seat base, you’re required to insert small cushion gaskets in between the two before attaching the bolts. These spacers remain completely loose while you do this, which means they’re all too easy to displace and makes the process very fiddly.

In addition, the small rubber washers for the leg rest poles fell out when I took them out of their packaging – so take care not to lose them. Also, some of the screws had some machining damage to them; they were still perfectly functional, but this doesn’t exactly speak highly of Boulies’ quality control.

Ultimately, though, these are small grievances, and the whole process was relatively quick and easy compared to some other gaming chairs I’ve built in the past.

(Image credit: Future) Should I buy the Boulies Master Rex gaming chair? Buy it if...

You want plenty of cushioning
The Master Rex has a very soft seat, which is surprising given the brand’s Elite model is on the firmer side. The backrest is well cushioned with soft bolsters, too.

You want a leg rest
The Master Rex is one of a relatively small number of gaming chairs to include an integrated leg rest.

Don't buy it...

You want rock regularly
The tilt mechanism of the Master Rex is too stiff, even on its loosest setting, so serial rockers might want to look elsewhere.

You want a smooth recline
As with the Elite, the Master Rex suffers from a poor recline mechanism that’s very notchy and hard to lock in place at times.

Boulies Master Rex gaming chair review: Also consider

Here are some alternatives to the Boulies Master Rex:

Secretlab Titan Evo 2022
An erstwhile favorite for many, the Secretlab Titan Evo 2022 is all things to all gamers: it’s comfortable, well made, and versatile. Starting prices aren’t cheap, though, and costs can escalate dramatically depending on the finish and configurations. But there’s a reason it takes our top spot as the best gaming chair around – and we’re hardly alone in this. Read our Secretlab Titan Evo 2022 review.

Corsair TC100 Relaxed
If you want to save your money but still have a comfortable chair for gaming, the price-performance ratio of the TC100 Relaxed is hard to beat. We found it comfortable and stylish, although we could tell savings had been made on some parts. The assembly wasn’t the smoothest, either, but it’s still a good value proposition. Read our Corsair TC100 Relaxed review.

(Image credit: Future) How I tested the Boulies Master Rex gaming chair

• Tested for several days
• Made various adjustments
• Years of gaming chair experience

I tested the Master Rex for several days, and used it for gaming and for working. I used it on hard floors and on a large rug, and made every adjustment I could.

I have been PC gaming for decades, and during that time I’ve owned a variety of chairs, including those made for gaming, such as the Secretlab Titan, and office chairs, such as the Steelcase Leap.

I have reviewed other gaming chairs previously, including another Boulies model, the Elite.

• Read more about how we test
• First reviewed: April 2025

Need affordable and fast internet in the Queen City? Altafiber is your best bet, but there are also other options, picked by our experts.

Over 200,000 pounds of Egg Beaters and Bob Evans products were recalled over potential cleaning solution contamination. The USDA says that health risks are low, but consumers should still steer clear.

• The Duskbloods was originally being developed for the original Switch
• FromSoftware was approached by Nintendo "with talk of Switch 2"
• The Switch 2's new online features also allowed FromSoftware "to stay as true to the original vision as possible"

FromSoftware has revealed that its Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive title, The Duskbloods, was originally being developed as an original Switch game.

One of the biggest surprises of the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct was, without a doubt, the announcement of The Duskbloods. It's not launching until 2026, but a new Creator’s Voice interview with director Hidetaka Miyazaki has offered new insight about the game and how it became a Nintendo exclusive in the first place.

According to Miyazaki, the multiplayer game was being made by a small team for the Switch before it eventually shifted to being developed for the Switch 2, allowing the studio to take advantage of the console's new hardware.

"A while back, we had the opportunity to meet with Nintendo to discuss ideas, and during this discussion, we presented a rough outline for The Duskbloods," Miyazaki said.

"It was still very bare-bones at the time—more a loose string of ideas than a proper presentation. The concept itself was different from anything we had done before, and Nintendo seemed very interested in helping make it a reality. So that’s when the project kicked off."

"At first it was being worked on by a small team as a title for Nintendo Switch," he continued. "However just as the game started to take shape, we were approached by Nintendo with talk of Switch 2, which led us to revamp our development path with this new hardware in mind."

Miyazaki added that Switch 2's new online features also allowed FromSoftware "to stay as true to the original vision as possible, which was very good news for us."

The Nintendo Switch 2 will be released on June 5, 2025, for $449.99 / £395.99, with preorders scheduled to open on April 8.

It was also announced that Elden Ring will be coming to the console this year alongside some new Switch 2 exclusive titles like Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza.

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• The Nintendo Switch 2 will feature DLSS and ray tracing, but we don't know which games support it

• Microsoft has upgraded Copilot to make the AI assistant a proactive AI companion
• Announced as part of Microsoft's 50th Anniversary Copilot Event, these new features will start rolling out today
• Features include chatbot memory, a research tool, and on-screen awareness to name just a few

Microsoft Copilot is taking the leap, transforming from a mere generative AI chatbot to a full-blown AI companion. At least, that's what Microsoft is promising in one of the most significant Copilot updates to date.

The changes, which add a wide array of new capabilities and enhance some existing ones, were announced on Friday, April 4, as part of Microsoft's Copilot/50th Anniversary celebration.

Granted, many of these features will be familiar to those running Google's Gemini and OpenAI's ChatGPT. In fact, there's a solid chance that some of these enhancements come directly from Microsoft's partnership with OpenAI, which gives it access to many of the AI company's best generative models.

Copilot is, after all, built on the foundation of OpenAI's GPT models.

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Among the changes Copilot fans will find on Windows (and the iOS and Android apps) is, finally, a memory. The current version of Copilot on Windows 11 can hold onto previous conversations, but it has no recollection of what you discussed. A new prompt asking about a recipe or a trip you were planning with Copilot's help days or weeks ago, would draw a digital blank stare from the generative AI.

That changes with this update. As you chat it up, Copilot will (with permission, of course) collect key bits of info about you that indicate not just facts but preferences. Microsoft claims the new Copilot will build "richer user profiles." It now has the potential to "learn who you are deeply." While that might sound invasive, Microsoft says you can control exactly what you want Copilot to learn and retain.

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Personalization and memory are significant benefits but they might be outstripped by Copilot's new agentic capabilities that Microsoft calls "Actions." Where the previous Copilot might help you grab concert tickets and get a ride to the big show, or find a new apartment and even movers to help you lug your stuff from one place to the next, Copilot Actions can take a prompt about renting an apartment or booking storage and do all the legwork to make it happen. You're just entering a prompt.

Of course, it's not that simple. Copilot's Action capabilities are not ubiquitous. Microsoft has a small collection of launch partners that includes, OpenTable, Priceline, Vrbo, Viator, Kayak, Expedia, TripAdvisor, Skyscanner, Booking.com, and 1-800-Flowers. It seems that, for now, Actions will only work if you want it to take actions through those apps and services.

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The update is also making Copilot on Windows and mobile apps more aware. While the current version can look at photos and screenshots uploaded to the AI, the new version can use your mobile phone camera to see what you're seeing (it'll look at photos or live video).

Perhaps more interesting is that the Copilot's Windows app will be able to see onscreen activity within apps. It'll finally live up to its name, acting as a copilot on file management, Windows settings, and working on projects. It's the kind of system awareness Apple's been promising from Apple Intelligence and Siri for almost a year but has yet to deliver. It'll be interesting to see if what Microsoft delivers here with Copilot is as good as they're advertising.

The new Pages capabilities can take disparate project files and organize them into a single Canvas. But Pages appears to be more than an organizer, it can help you brainstorm ideas and then alter and incorporate them into your own projects.

Go deep

(Image credit: Microsoft)

If Pages isn't getting your project there, you might appreciate the new Deep Research. I know, everyone is calling the research portion of their generative AI platforms "Deep [something]". This one appears to work similarly in that it can help you accomplish multi-step research, acting as a sort of very intelligent research assistant.

Copilot is even delving into podcasts. Similar to what we've seen with Spotify generative AI podcasts and Google NotebookLM, it can generate podcasts based on topics of interest or other discussions you've had with the AI. Microsoft claims the podcast can play even as you continue to feed Copilot new prompts. It sounds a bit confusing, but also powerful and intriguing.

(Image credit: Microsoft)

There's also a shopping update, turning Copilot into a proactive personal shopper that can watch for deals, do product research, and even handle purchasing.

Finally, Copilot is taking Bing Search in what might best be described as a Google AI Overviews direction, but in a subtle and maybe more palatable way. From the looks of things, Bing search results will offer the option to take a generative deep dive inside traditional search results. It looks pretty good in the demo video, but we're anxious to see how it works on live Bing search results.

Not all of these updates will show up at once across Windows, iOS, and Android, but many are starting to roll out today. If you already have Windows 11 running Copilot, you may want to download the latest update and give your Copilot a radical AI Companion upgrade.

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A trip to the grocery or liquor store is about to become even more expensive, economists say. From seafood to olive oil, these items will likely cost more under President Trump's tariffs.

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A majority of NEH employees received an email placing them on immediate leave. The news comes just days after many humanities councils across the country were told their grants would be terminated.

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• Ivanti recently patched a critical severity flaw in Connect Secure VPN
• Mandiant says the bug is being used in the wild by Chinese actors
• Two new malware strains were discovered

Ivanti has recently patched a critical severity vulnerability found in its Connect Secure (ICS) VPN appliances which was allegedly being abused in the wild by Chinese state-sponsored actors.

Researchers at Mandiant published a new security advisory stating Ivanti discovered and fixed a buffer overflow vulnerability in ICS 9.X (unsupported) and 22.7R2.5 and earlier versions. The vulnerability is tracked as CVE-2025-22457, and carries a severity score of 9.0/10 (critical).

At first, no one was aware of the bug’s disruptive potential, Mandiant explained, but later - evidence of remote code execution (RCE) attacks were discovered.

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Cyber-espionage

In these attacks, allegedly conducted by a threat actor tracked as UNC5221, two new malware variants were used: TRAILBLAZE, and BUSHFIRE.

The former is an in-memory only dropper, while the latter is a passive backdoor. Furthermore, the researchers saw cybercriminals dropping malware from the SPAWN ecosystem, as well.

UNC5221 is a known, China-nexus espionage actor that was observed, on multiple occasions, targeting vulnerable Ivanti instances. For example, in early January this year, Ivanti said it saw two flaws - CVE-2025-0282 and CVE-2025-0283 - being abused by this threat actor. Both were impacting Ivanti Connect Secure VPN appliances.

In these attacks, SPAWN variants were also used.

Mandiant says that this CVE was probably first used in mid-March 2025, a month after the patch was released.

“We assess it is likely the threat actor studied the patch for the vulnerability in ICS 22.7R2.6 and uncovered through a complicated process, it was possible to exploit 22.7R2.5 and earlier to achieve remote code execution,” the researchers said.

Ivanti has released fixes for the exploited vulnerabilities and its customers are advised to upgrade their endpoints without hesitation, since the flaws are being actively targeted.

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A win for Die Roten at WWK Arena today would see them go 9 points clear at the top of the league.

• The State Bar of Texas is warning members about a data breach
• It is offering free credit and identity theft monitoring
• INC ransomware claimed responsibility for the attack

The State Bar of Texas, the official regulatory authority for lawyers in the US state, has confirmed suffering a data breach that resulted in the theft of sensitive member data.

“On February 12, 2025, the State Bar of Texas identified suspicious activity on its network and moved quickly to secure its environment,” a data breach notification letter sent to affected individuals reads.”Through the investigation, we determined that there was unauthorized access to our network between January 28, 2025 and February 9, 2025.”

The Texas State Bar is responsible for licensing, ethics enforcement, and professional development. Its members are mostly licensed attorneys, and it also provides legal resources for the public and supports the legal profession through education and advocacy.

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INC ransomware

While the organization did not detail the type of information stolen, or the identity of the attackers, ransomware operators called INC ransomware claimed responsibility for the breach. In fact, the group already leaked samples of the data on the dark web, which include full member names and some legal case documents.

While the authenticity of the data is yet to be determined, the State Bar of Texas has already offered free credit and identity theft monitoring service through Experian, until July 31 2025.

Potentially affected individuals are also recommended activating a credit freeze, or placing a fraud alert on their credit files to make sure the attack does not escalate further.

If the organization is added to a leak site, and samples are available to download, then it’s safe to assume that the negotiations between the attackers and the victim are ongoing.

If the archives get removed, then the organization likely paid the ransom demand. If the entire data gets put up for sale (or dumped), then the negotiations most likely broke down.

Law enforcement agencies advise against paying the ransom demand.

Via BleepingComputer

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National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day is on April 30. To celebrate, NPR wants to know how your pet has changed your life. We would also love to see photos of your purr-fect fur-ever friend.

(Image credit: MLADEN ANTONOV/AFP via Getty Images)

The Switch 2 launch is still happening on June 5, and preorders outside the US seem unchanged.

OpenAI has opened up access to its ChatGPT Plus service to all US and Canada college students at degree-granting schools. The offer lasts through May 31.

• Motorola has revealed the Motorola Edge 60 Fusion, with a unique canvas-like texture on one model
• A spokesperson from Motorola told TechRadar about a bit of "world-first" display tech in the new phone
• The Edge 60 Fusion is out now and costs £299.99 in the UK - a US release is not expected

Motorola has announced a new cheap phone with a unique canvas finish, and what it calls the “world’s first quad-curve edge display”.

The Motorola Edge 60 Fusion comes equipped with a 6.67-inch quad-curved display that continues the company’s partnership with Pantone by offering Pantone-validated color profile.

At a starting price of £299.99, the Edge 60 Fusion takes on the role of Motorola’s new cheap slab handset – we expect it will soon be joined by the Edge 60 Pro, the rumored details of which we recently covered.

We don’t yet have a price for Australia, and the phone won’t launch at all in the US.

As well as the supposed “world’s first” in its display tech (more on that later), the Edge 60 Fusion is probably most likely to turn heads with its design and construction.

Thought the Motorola Edge 60 Fusion has four camera rings, two are occupied by a flash and light sensor (Image credit: Motorola)

Motorola has also collaborated with Pantone on the phone’s design, with three stylish colors to choose from: Pantone Zephyr, Pantone Slipstream, and Pantone Amazonite – that’s pink, blue, and teal in everyday parlance.

Build-wise, the phone comes in a pleasant vegan leather in the Zephyr and Slipstream colors, while the Amazonite model features a synthetic material that emulates the feeling of canvas. If you ever wanted your phone to feel like a tote bag, Motorola’s got you covered.

That unique material conveys no loss in resistance to the elements – the phone is rated at up to IP69, the highest possible rating for dust and water resistance.

Let’s talk hardware: the Edge 60 Fusion sports the mid-range MediaTek Dimensity 7300 chipset and 8GB of RAM, which should offer a respectable level of hardware power for the phone’s low price.

The phone also comes with up to 256GB of storage, offering plenty of room for photographs and videos taken with its dual-camera system.

Alongside a main 50MP camera with optical image stabilization, the Edge 60 Fusion comes equipped with an ultra-wide lens with in-built macro abilities, with a minimum focal length of 3cm.

A handful of software shooting modes – some assisted by Motorola’s proprietary Moto AI toolkit – allow for more flexibility, such as Action Shot and Adaptive Stabilization.

That same Moto AI suite pops up elsewhere, too – the phone comes with AI features that are fast becoming standard for smartphones, such as transcription, note taking, and image generation.

World’s first?

(Image credit: Motorola)

As I write this, I have the Motorola Edge 60 Fusion to hand, and while I’m impressed by its display quality and light construction, I can’t quite see what makes it a “world first”.

A spokesperson from Motorola told TechRadar: "In a world first, we are excited to launch Motorola Edge 60 Fusion with the quad-curve edge for our tech-savvy fans. Not only has the device been crafted with Pantone Validated Colours, the unique all-around curved display transitions seamlessly from the screen to the back.

"What sets the device apart from competitors is the 'endless edge' concept where the curve is more intense and pronounced, wrapping over the edges to create a waterfall effect for a more immersive device experience.”

Granted, the display does wrap around in all four directions, but most prominently on the long sides of the phone. I’ve also used other phones that curve on all sides, like the Oppo Find X8 Pro, and while the long edges of the Motorola Edge 60 Fusion are definitely more pronounced, I’m not sure the same applies to the top and bottom of the display.

In any case, the Edge 60 Fusion looks like good enough value to not have to rely on somewhat tenuous “world’s-first” claims – I can see it contending for a spot on our list of the UK’s best cheap phones. Let us know what you think of the Motorola Edge 60 Fusion in the comments below.

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