TechRadar News

• Google has launched Gemini home screen widgets for Android and iOS devices
• The widgets let users access Gemini AI features with a single tap
• The widgets are customizable and allow users to prioritize their most-used Gemini actions

If you like using Google Gemini on your smartphone but find it tedious to tap multiple times to get to the feature you want, Google has you covered. The tech giant has begun rolling out Gemini home screen widgets for both Android and iOS. That means a single tap can launch right into a conversation with Gemini, open the microphone for a voice conversation, share a file with the AI, or even snap a photo with the camera that will go right to Gemini.

The rollout is happening gradually but widely. If you’re running Android 10 or higher, you can already add the Gemini widget by long-pressing on your home screen, tapping “Widgets,” finding Gemini in the list, and dragging it wherever you want it to live. For iOS 17 and up, it’s a similar story: hold your home screen until the icons jiggle, tap the plus button, search for Gemini, and add your widget of choice. You can also customize it by long-pressing it again and swapping out shortcuts or rearranging which actions appear first, such as the microphone for voice chats or the camera button for visual searches.

This update isn't necessarily groundbreaking, but it speaks to the way a lot of people might use Gemini for short activities or tasks but don't want to immerse themselves in it more than necessary.

If you use Gemini every day to ask questions, create funny images, plan trips, or brainstorm emails, this could make accessing the AI a little more convenient. The fact that it is also closer to how Siri and the rapidly dissolving Google Assistant function is probably not a coincidence.

These aren't Gemini's first mobile widgets either. Google released very similar Gemini widgets a couple of months ago for the iPhone lockscreen. Though functionally very similar, they are technically a different form of widget. Google is gradually rolling out the home screen Gemini widget over the next week, so you may only have the lock screen variant available right now.

Widget Gemini

The widgets also offer a glimpse into Google's strategy for infusing Gemini into our daily lives. They want people to think about AI as not just something you call on occasionally, but as a day-to-day tool that is instantly and easily accessible. Instead of lurking in the background, Gemini becomes a part of the interface.

Starting with mobile devices is a smart move for making Gemini feel more like a core service. A lot of people first try out new tech features and products on mobile devices, not on their laptops or desktop computers. If they like it on a mobile device, maybe that will translate to desktop usage. And if you're going to use AI on your phone, it should be quick and casual, like checking the weather or the time.

Gemini’s widgets are fairly basic at the moment, but they set the foundation for more complex widgets to come. Imagine a future widget that surfaces ongoing conversations so you can finish an interrupted project, or one that shows real-time updates from custom topics you follow, or even offers proactive suggestions based on your habits.

All in all, these new widgets are less about bells and whistles and more about removing friction. They aim to give Gemini a faster, more native-feeling way into your daily habits, whether on Android or iPhone. The widget may be the wedge Gemini needs to fulfill every little request an AI assistant can handle.

You might also like

• I tried Google's new AI mode powered by Gemini, and it might be the end of Search as we know it
• Google’s AI Mode can explain what you’re seeing even if you can’t
• Google Gemini could soon get a super-useful 'Power up' button – here's what it does

Star Wars Day 2025 is nearly here, and whether you’re one with the light side or the dark side of the force, you’re likely punching the hyperdrive as we near Sunday, May the 4th.

But here’s some good news: while we’re expecting new product drops and deep discounts on Sunday, you don’t need to wait until then to start shopping.

Whether you’ve been eagerly awaiting the official launch of the latest Star Wars sets from Lego, a deal on a popular video game, a Star Wars Crawl phone case from Caseitfy, or just a Baby Yoda action figure, you can’t go wrong with some of the early drops and deals ahead of Star Wars Day 2025.

This article is in celebration of Star Wars Day. For more tech stories about a galaxy far far away, check out all of our Star Wars coverage for all the latest, including where to stream the iconic movies and TV shows. May the force be with you all!

I’ve been scouring the web across product lists from retailers such as Amazon and brands like Lego, Casetify, Funko, Loungefly, Displate, Hasbro, Ubisoft, and directly from Disney. Below, you can sift through our list of the best deals and entirely new product drops broken up by type, and in some cases by brand.

Most importantly, I hope you manage to watch your favorite Star Wars TV shows or movies. We even have a handy list if you want to watch the entire Skywalker Saga here. May the force be with you!

In the UK? We've also found some truly out of this world deals on Lego Star Wars sets direct from the Disney Store. Seriously, these are making me jealous. Click here to jump to UK deals.

Star Wars Day 2025 deals: Lego

We've already previewed the nine sets that Lego dropped for Star Wars Day 2025, and there are some real stunners. You can see our full list of those there, but we're sharing our favorites of those below as well.

Better, you can find savings from LEGO on Star Wars sets and also from Amazon, which, in some cases, will arrive faster. There is an advantage to ordering directly from the brick-building brand, though – specifically if you're a member of the free LEGO Insiders program.

That's because if you're an Insider member and spend more than $40, you'll get a mini Millennium Falcon build, and if you spend over $160, you'll get a mini Kamino Training set. Both fun!

Is there a more iconic droid than R2-D2? I don't think so, and right now, you can build your own version of the best Astromech droid for just $81.99, a discount from the $99 list price.View Deal

We're all excited for The Mandalorian and Grogu to take to the big screen in May 2026, and while you're waiting, you can build The Mandalorian's Helmet out of 584 Lego pieces. Best of all, it's discounted to $55.99 – an 18% savings.View Deal

Love a pod race? You can build a diorama of the iconic scene from Star Wars: The Phantom Menace out of Lego bricks. Right now, this set is 21% off at $62.99.View Deal

This is a cool entry into the BrickHeadz lineup. You can build Luke Skywalker as a Rebel Pilot, and it's only $9.99.View Deal

I know I've been waiting for this one, but Lego is finally shipping its Star Wars Chopper – C1-10P – Astromech Droid set, and you can order it right now for $99.99 / £99.99.View Deal

The opening crawl to any Star Wars film might be one of the most iconic starts of any film franchise. And now, you can finally build the iconic Star Wars logo out of Lego bricks. The design team also hid some fun details in it.

This fantastic set is up for order now at $59.99 / £59.99 from Lego directly.View Deal

Along with the new Ultimate Collector Series set, you can also build Jango Fett's iconic helmet in this set that's built from 616 pieces. It's up for order now from Lego.View Deal

Is your allegiance to the dark side? Well, you'll likely want to build Kylo Ren's Helmet. View Deal

Similar to the set above, Lego's Kylo Ren's Command Shuttle is an excellent one to display. You'll build Ren's iconic ship out of 386 pieces, and it comes with a stand.View Deal

With this set of five BrickHeadz, you'll build Anakin Skywalker, Padmé Amidala, General Grievous, Emperor Palpatine, and Mace Windu.View Deal

The latest ultimate collector series from Lego is an iconic ship that fans of Jango Fett will instantly recognize. It's up for order now from Lego for $299.99 / £299.99. View Deal

Star Wars Day 2025 deals: Tech Accessories

Casetify has launched an entire bounty, and one of the best new mobile accessories is a magnetic wireless charger fit for an iPhone or Android that supports the magnetic Qi standard. This one has an R2-D2 paint job and is $42.99.View Deal

Starting at $42, you can rock a phone case with the iconic Star Wars opening crawl. All of the films have started with this, the iconic yellow block text over a space background – Casetify selected A New Hope. You can get them for a range of iPhone, Google Pixel, and Samsung Galaxy devices.View Deal

This stand is a perfect gift for yourself or a friend who loves the dark side. It turns your Echo Dot into a Tie Fighter. It's compatible with the fourth- and fifth-generation compact smart speakers. You can order it now for $59.99.View Deal

Now, you can also bundle the Tie Fighter stand with an Amazon Echo Dot in Charcoal, Deep Sea Blue, or Glacier White for $97.98 – a savings of $12. View Deal

Yes, Tamagotchis have made a comeback and this is themed to R2-D2 from Star Wars. It's discounted by 32% to $13.59 on Amazon.View Deal

Fan of Darth Vader and AirPods Pro? Casetify's Darth Vader 3D AirPods Case isn't cheap at $154, but it's a stand for your desk in the shape of the iconic helmet with a button to hear some iconic deep breathing, plus a wrap-around case for your AirPods Pro.View Deal

Star Wars Day 2025 deals: Collectibles and Figures

In the world of lightsabers you can't get much better than Hasbro's Force FX Elite models (aside from the one Disney Imagineering made). Right now, the Obi-Wan Kenobi saber is discounted to $249.45.View Deal

Thanks to this epic, new-for-Star-Wars-Day-2025 Funko Pop! You can display the iconic message that R2-D2 projected, revealing Leia. Best of all, clip the coupon and score for an all-time low.View Deal

Also new for Star Wars Day 2025 is this excellent-looking Luke Skywalker in his 'Red 5' uniform Funko Pop! It's up for order right now for $12.99 on Amazon.View Deal

Disney Pins are awesome, and this limited-edition one lets you celebrate Star Wars Day 2025 with C-3PO, R2-D2, and the Millennium Falcon. View Deal

Hasbro's The Black Series has a long history of impressive collectibles, and this one is no different. A highly realistic Imperial Death Trooper helmet for $99.99 is up for preorder now at Amazon.View Deal

This Funko Pop! might be brand new, but it's already discounted to $11.99. Best of all, it's an epic figure of Luke Skywalker training with his Lightsaber and learning how to work with the Force.View Deal

Best Star Wars Day 2025 deals in the UK

While the Lego UCS Millennium Falcon normally goes for £734.99, you can get a double discount on this epic set and score it for £599 from the Disney Store in the UK. This is an incredible deal on a very legendary set.View Deal

You can't go wrong with Baby Yoda, and with Lego set you'll build Grogu and the Hover Pram for him to ride in. Score it from the Disney Store in the UK for just £71.99.View Deal

Not a Lego, but equally cool, is the Disney Store exclusive Legacy Darksaber. It's down to just £138.75 right now.View Deal

If you don't want a set as big as the UCS Falcon, consider the mini Star Wars Millennium Falcon Set, which is available for £59.99 at the Disney Store in the UK.View Deal

If you were jealous that Amazon in the US was discounting the Lego R2-D2 set, the Disney Store in the UK has you covered. Right now, this other R2-D2 set is down to £71.99.View Deal

We couldn't share an R2-D2 Lego set without sharing a C-3PO one. Luckily, Disney Store UK is discounting this 1,138-piece set to just £99.99 this Star Wars Day weekend. View Deal

If you enjoyed Skeleton Crew on Disney+, look no further than this Lego set that lets you build the Onyx Cinder.View Deal

• Perplexity AI's new WhatsApp integration offers instant fact-checking without leaving the app
• Perplexity responds with fast, sourced explanations in over 20 languages
• The feature aims to help navigate misleading posts in private group threads

AI conversational search engine Perplexity and its new WhatsApp integration can provide more than just idle conversation. It can help you figure out the truth amid the rumors and half-remembered anecdotes that might appear in a group chat. You can get Perplexity to immediately fact-check your group chats.

Perplexity's real-time provision of truth is easy to get. You just forward any questionable WhatsApp message to Perplexity's number, +1 (833) 436-3285, and the AI will explain in seconds whether the claim holds up or belongs in the digital trash. You can forward screenshots, messages, images with a quote that Einstein definitely said, and any other bit of suspicious information.

Just save the number to your contacts, open WhatsApp, forward the message you want checked, and hit send. The feature works in over 20 languages, and, because it's Perplexity, you'll get links to the sources for the facts, providing you with the receipts to prove to whoever made the claim that they are wrong.

Let’s say your cousin shares a sketchy video about some major global event or celebrity death. You don’t have to leave WhatsApp, open your browser, do a deep search, then return to the group. You can just forward the post to Perplexity’s number and get a result and the quiet moral satisfaction of knowing you're right without needing to launch a full group argument.

Keeping quiet also sidesteps the question of privacy. After all, they may not approve of you sharing their messages and images with an AI chatbot without their permission. Few would feel good about their private messages being used as “factual errors” to train an AI. Meta AI might get away with it through the terms and conditions of WhatsApp, as they are both owned by Meta, but how that works with regard to Perplexity is less clear.

You can now forward any WhatsApp message to Perplexity: +1 (833) 436-3285 and get it fact checked instantly. This is super useful when WhatsApp groups are filled with a ton of forwarded messages which could be misleading. pic.twitter.com/y1C8ZIj7d8May 1, 2025

Perplexity facts

The fact-checking is essentially just a narrower use case for Perplexity and its real-time web search capabilities. But it's a potentially very enticing element of the WhatsApp integration for Perplexity.

Not that the AI developer is stopping with just that feature. The company has hinted at plans to expand beyond one-on-one message forwarding. You might see Perplexity popping up in your WhatsApp group chats like Meta AI does. Perplexity could possibly even be set up to respond automatically when sketchy messages drop.

Placing a fact-checker into WhatsApp won't necessarily convince anyone that they're wrong, but it might help you prove to yourself that you aren't losing your mind when an estranged relative insists that the moon disappeared for a week recently. Of course, there's still the social etiquette to figure out. Will forwarding a relative’s post for fact-checking make Thanksgiving awkward? Possibly. But if they’re circulating “garlic water cures baldness,” maybe that’s a small price to pay.

You might also like

• Forget Meta AI – WhatsApp now lets you talk directly to Perplexity and ChatGPT in the app, here’s how
• Perplexity's voice assistant offers a Siri alternative for iPhones
• Perplexity AI drops new Squid Game-inspired ad that pokes fun at Google starring Lee Jung-jae

• Spotify's new iOS update lets it advertise other payment options
• The change comes in response to a new US App Store ruling
• The app still doesn't offer AirPlay 2 or native HomePod integration

That was quick. Just one day after a US federal judge told Apple to loosen its grip on the App Store, Spotify has issued an app update – already live in the App Store – that'll enable customers to subscribe without going through Apple.

The update was approved by Apple and lets Spotify include details about subscription plans and promotional offers that are available outside the App Store on Spotify's website.

Spotify has been a vocal critic of App Store rules and was in bullish mood following the ruling from a US federal judge. Previously, Apple heavily restricted how much app developers could advertise and link to payment options outside the App Store, where Apple takes a 30% cut from in-app payments.

But the speediness of Spotify's move has got some subscribers asking a question: if Spotify can address this overnight, why hasn't it fixed some of the most annoying missing features for Apple devices?

One potential answer, of course, is that adding non-Apple subscription links makes money and making Spotify play nicer with Apple doesn't.

What Spotify users are still waiting for

Spotify could offer native HomePod integration and AirPlay 2, but so far it's chosen not to (Image credit: Apple)

For Apple listeners, two of the biggest omissions are AirPlay 2 support and native HomePod integration, both of which have been possible for years. Spotify has chosen not to implement them and as a result streaming Spotify on HomePods or to AirPlay devices is a bit of a pain.

The reason multiple streamers – Pandora was here too – didn't embrace HomePods was because when you asked them to play music they would always go to Apple Music. But that was addressed five years ago when Apple enabled you to specify other music apps as your default music player, and Pandora promptly changed its app accordingly.

But by then Spotify was feuding with Apple over App Store fees and in no mood to play nice with its perceived oppressor. It filed its first anti-trust complaint in Europe in 2019.

As subscriber btz1 put it on the Spotify Community site, only having first-gen AirPlay means that "this outdated technology presents several limitations that directly impact our enjoyment".

Those limits include interruptions in the audio, limited bandwidth compared to AirPlay 2 and lack of multi-room support. In a later comment in the same thread, btz1 says "I feel punished for wanting to use Spotify in the Apple ecosystem."

Clearly, Spotify has the resources to make big changes to its app and to make them quickly. So perhaps now it can escape Apple's "app tax" it can put some of them towards improving Apple subscribers' experience with the features they've been asking for for years.

You might also like

• This rotten Apple ruling cracks the reality distortion field – and I don't know if that's what consumers want
• Apple ‘strongly disagrees’ with ruling that could change the App Store – as Fortnite says it could now return to iPhones
• The best music streaming services

• Chuwi’s new CoreBook X features Intel i9-13900HK and 32GB RAM
• No discrete GPU does limit performance for heavier workloads
• Lightweight 2K laptop offers solid specs but lacks graphical punch

Chinese laptop maker Chuwi has announced a new version of its CoreBook X notebook, powered by a 13th gen Intel Core i9-13900HK “Raptor Lake” processor.

This chip was released back in Q1 2023 and has 14-cores and 20-threads and can reach clock speeds of up to 5.4GHz. It comes with integrated Intel Iris Xe Graphics, so will offer reasonable performance for tasks such as content creation, productivity, and light gaming.

However, it’s a shame there’s no discrete GPU option for those needing more graphical oomph though.

Reasonably lightweight

The new CoreBook X i9-13900HK has 32GB of DDR4 RAM, upgradable to 96GB, and a 1TB PCIe SSD. You can add a second M.2 2280 SSD if you need more storage.

The laptop measures around 12 x 9 x 0.7 inches and has a 14-inch 2K (2160 x 1440) IPS display with a 3:2 aspect ratio that covers 100% of the sRGB color gamut and offers an 85% screen-to-body ratio. It weighs in at 3.09lb (1.4kg) and has a backlit keyboard and a 5.8-inch touchpad.

CoreBook X i9-13900HK comes with a 46.2Wh battery, which Chuwi says will provide up to 8 hours between charges. Fast-charging support allows it to reach 60% in under an hour. The laptop’s cooling system features dual copper pipes and a dedicated fan to keep the temperature down when under load.

It comes with a full-featured USB-C port, two USB 3.0 Type-A ports, HDMI, a 3.5mm audio jack, and a microSD card slot. Wireless connectivity is Wi-Fi 6, and Bluetooth 5.2.

There’s no word on pricing or availability yet, but the CoreBook X i9-13900HK is expected to launch in the coming months.

You might also like

• These are the best business laptops you can buy right now
• And these are best laptops for gaming and work
• Eurocom's Raptor X18 laptop may have inadvertently broken a few world records

• Many military contracts include provisions that don't allow US Army to repair its own equipment
• This may change thanks to a new transformation strategy
• Both Republicans and Democrats have argued for the right to repair

Shockingly, under past procurement contracts, the US Army hasn’t always held the right to repair its own equipment - but both Democrats and Republicans agree this now has to change.

The US Secretary of the Army, Dan Driscoll and General Randy George, US Army Chief of staff, have issued an announcement confirming a “comprehensive transformation strategy,” which will, “reexamine all requirements and eliminate unnecessary ones, ruthlessly prioritize fighting formations to directly contribute to lethality, and empower leaders at echelon to make hard calls to ensure resources align with strategic objectives.”

The strategy, named the Army Transformation Initiative, has three sides; “deliver critical warfighting capabilities, optimize our force structure, and eliminate waste and obsolete programs.”

A point of contention

This change is part of a broader effort being implemented by current Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, who released a memo encouraging the US to “transform at an accelerated pace by divesting outdated, redundant, and inefficient programs, as well as restructuring headquarters and acquisition systems.”

Hegseth urges the US Army to “Identify and propose contract modifications for right to repair provisions where intellectual property constraints limit the Army's ability to conduct maintenance and access the appropriate maintenance tools, software, and technical data - while preserving the intellectual capital of American industry,” as well as to “seek to include right to repair provisions in all existing contracts and also ensure these provisions are included in all new contracts.

Firms holding government contracts like Lockheed Martin and Boeing often use expensive equipment and installers in order to repair and service broken parts, but this initiative would enable military professionals to print 3D spares in the field and install them more cheaply and quickly.

The Register outlines a nomination hearing in which Senator Elizabeth Warren gave an example of the Army needing a new safety clip cover, which the contracted supplier quoted $20 per clip and months in manufacturing time.

"Now, thankfully, the Army had managed to keep right-to-repair restrictions out of this contract and was able to 3D-print the part in less than an hour for a total cost of 16 cents," Warren confirmed.

You might also like

• Take a look at our picks for the best malware removal software around
• Check out our choice for best antivirus software
• Widespread cyberattack against national infrastructure thwarted, Iranian government claims

• OpenAI has addressed what went wrong with its sycophantic update
• OpenAI is refining core training techniques to avoid sycophancy in the future
• Its Head of Model Behavior suggests ChatGPT could have multiple personalities going forward

OpenAI has addressed the rollback of the most recent update to ChatGPT-4o because of user complaints about its annoying, sycophantic personality. In an April 29 blog post OpenAI states:

“We have rolled back last week’s GPT‑4o update in ChatGPT so people are now using an earlier version with more balanced behavior. The update we removed was overly flattering or agreeable – often described as sycophantic.

We are actively testing new fixes to address the issue. We’re revising how we collect and incorporate feedback to heavily weight long-term user satisfaction and we’re introducing more personalization features, giving users greater control over how ChatGPT behaves.”

The blog post goes into further reasons for why the problem happened, but the crux of the matter is that OpenAI focused too much on short-term feedback, and did not fully account for how users’ interactions with ChatGPT evolve over time.

OpenAI promises to refine its core training techniques and systems prompts to explicitly steer the model away from sycophancy in the future, as well as allow for more user testing before deploying models.

Ask me anything

From reading the blog post, you get the sense that OpenAI feels like it has dropped the ball on this one and is doing all it can to make amends.

As well as issuing the statement, Joanne Jang, its Head of Model Behavior, has just done an ‘ask me anything’ (AMA) on Reddit, to answer any further questions people may have, specifically about ChatGPT’s personality, sycophancy, and future model behavior. Her replies revealed interesting insights into what the future might hold for ChatGPT’s personality:

Reddit user Responsible_Cow2236 asked, “Where do you see the future of model behavior heading? Are we moving toward more customizable personalities, like giving users tools to shape how ChatGPT sounds and interacts with them over time?"

Jang responded by offering the possibility that ChatGPT could come with multiple preset personalities:

“We’ve been working on two things: (1) getting to a default personality that might be palatable for all users to begin with (not feasible but we need to get somewhere) and (2) instead of relying on users to describe / come up with personalities on their own, offering presets that are easier to comprehend (e.g. personality descriptions vs. 30 sliders on traits)", said Jang.

The idea of preset personalities in ChatGPT is an intriguing one and something I could see combining well with the different voices that ChatGPT advanced voice mode already offers.

As for when we can expect the next update to ChatGPT-4o, OpenAI is not saying anything at the moment beyond “We fell short and are working on getting it right.”

You may also like

• Google is working on a Gemini AI app for kids
• ChatGPT's new shopping features get short shrift from Reddit users
• Meta ‘stole’ my book to train its AI – but there’s a bigger problem

• TikTok has been fined €530 million for illegally sending Europeans' data to China
• TikTok now has six months to bring its data processing into compliance or suspend any transfers to China
• TikTok has rejected the EU data regulator's decision and plans to appeal in full

The Irish EU Data Protection Commission (DPC) has fined TikTok a total of €530 million (the equivalent of a bit more than $600 million) for illegally sending Europeans' data to China, where its parent company, ByteDance, is based.

Specifically, TikTok was found in breach of two articles of the EU data protection law, GDPR, for not fulfilling its obligations concerning data transfers to China and transparency. The video streaming app now has six months to bring its data processing into compliance or suspend any transfers to China.

TikTok has firmly rejected the data regulator's decision and plans to appeal in full.

TikTok vs the EU

As the DPC Deputy Commissioner Graham Doyle highlights in an official statement, the GDPR requires that the high level of protection provided within the European Union continues where personal data is transferred to other countries. That's something TikTok seems to have failed to do.

"TikTok’s personal data transfers to China infringed the GDPR because TikTok failed to verify, guarantee, and demonstrate that the personal data of EEA users, remotely accessed by staff in China, was afforded a level of protection essentially equivalent to that guaranteed within the EU," said Doyle.

Specifically, the EU data watchdog found TikTok to have breached two GDPR articles: Article 46(1), which regulates its transfers of EEA User Data to China, and its transparency obligations ruled by Article 13(1)(f). The DPC then issued two administrative fines of €485 million and €45 million, respectively.

Such a failure to fulfill GDPR requirements, Doyle noted, didn't enable the video streaming platform to address potential access by Chinese authorities to EEA personal data under Chinese anti-terrorism, counter-espionage, and other laws.

(Image credit: Shutterstock / Andy.LIU)

The problem for TikTok may not end here, though.

TikTok was also found guilty of giving the DPC erroneous information about where Europeans' data where stored. The company first ensured these were not stored on servers based in China. Yet, this allegation was then contradicted in April 2025 when TikTok admitted to having discovered in February 2025 some limited EEA user data on Chinese servers. The DPC is set to publish a decision on this matter in due course.

Commenting on this point, Doyle said: "Whilst TikTok has informed the DPC that the data has now been deleted, we are considering what further regulatory action may be warranted, in consultation with our peer EU Data Protection Authorities."

TikTok said to disagree with the DPC decision and be ready to appeal all charges.

"The decision fails to fully consider Project Clover, our €12 billion industry-leading data security initiative that includes some of the most stringent data protections anywhere. It instead focuses on a select period from years ago, prior to Clover’s 2023 implementation and does not reflect the safeguards now in place," said Christine Grahn, TikTok's Head of Public Policy & Government Relations for Europe, in an official statement.

This isn't, however, the first time TikTok has been fined in Europe for breaching data protection law. In 2023, the DPC issued a €345 million fine against TikTok for violating children's privacy.

TechRadar needs you! We want to know what you think about the world of VPNs. Whether you're a novice or a VPN pro, we want to hear your thoughts. Don't worry, though, your responses are completely anonymous, and it takes less than a minute to complete!

To take part, click the link below: https://futurenet.questionpro.eu/tr-vpn

You might also like

• Grok AI is under investigation in the EU over potential GDPR violations
• Proton Mail hit with blocking order in India
• Beware, another ChatGPT trend threatens your privacy – here's how to stay safe

I've been testing VR headsets for years, but before a recent trip from London to Miami I’d never taken one with me on a flight – and until some key things change, I probably won't take one with me again, based on my experience.

Normally I adore my Meta Quest 3 – I think everyone should own one, or a Meta Quest 3S, given how superb these VR machines are for their price – and having seen stories of Meta's success in offering them as in-flight entertainment on Lufthansa airlines I believed I'd have an excellent time flying with one too.

However, my troubles began before we took off – in fact, they began before I’d even left home.

What would I download?

Checking Meta's app store I was surprised to find no ‘flight-approved’ category that would easily supply me with software recommendations. And searching for movie downloads was much more of a challenge than I expected.

While the Quest supports streaming platforms like Netflix, the browser-based (rather than app-based) reveals displays its faults clearly. In this form it's an online-only service as it's impossible to download content to watch later offline, as you can with the phone app.

Eventually I sourced a digital copy of Avengers: Endgame in 3D, but it wasn't a hassle-free process – far from it. I also found a mixed-reality chess game I thought might be fun, not realizing it was an online-only title until I was in the air.

(Image credit: Meta / Lufthansa)

After my meal had been served and the seat belt sign had been switched off so I could fetch it from my stowed bag, I donned my Quest 3 and dove into the metaverse, armed with my limited entertainment selection.

Avengers: Endgame was superb. Not just the movie itself (I haven’t watched it since the midnight release showing years ago and I’d forgotten how great it was) but the overall experience.

I had installed Bigscreen – a free app which transports you to different cinema screen environments to watch movies in – but ended up just using the Meta TV app in mixed-reality mode.

I could dim my surroundings and enlarge the screen so it felt like I was in my own private movie theatre, but I wasn't shut off from my surroundings, so I could pay attention if a flight attendant walked past with food or drink.

It was leagues ahead of the dinky screen installed in my seat that I'd have had to rely on for entertainment otherwise.

Not being in VR helped during turbulence too. Because I could see the real world shaking thanks to the MR passthrough feed I didn't feel particularly nauseous during the ordeal, something I suspect wouldn’t be the case had I been in VR.

Now for my problems

Software selection woes aside, my next biggest concern was battery life. I was able to watch one hour of Endgame in mixed reality using just under 50% of my Quest 3's battery life.

With a charging cable and power bank I could extend this use time, but relying solely on the Quest 3 as inflight entertainment for a long voyage would clearly be a challenge.

You could mitigate this with an add-on like the one of the Kiwi Design battery straps I've reviewed, but then you’d run into the next problem: bag space.

Baggage space on an airline comes at a premium, and filling your carry on with a fully kitted out VR headset setup is a non starter. So I replaced the bulky battery strap with the more compact (and less functional) elastic strap.

This reduced the space the Quest 3 took up considerably, but it still wasn't compact – especially with the controllers.

(Image credit: Meta)

With these battery and space issues in mind it feels like a VR headset would be ideal for a shorter (sub-four-hour journey) where you’re struggling for baggage space across the hold and cabin so carrying the headset wouldn’t be a problem.

I should also note that I was flying in Virgin Atlantic's premium economy section, rather than standard economy, and the only seat next to me was vacant. Moreover, I was sitting at the front of the section, in a seat with extra leg room, so I had plenty of space to move around.

In a more tightly packed economy seat I could see my arm movements being annoying to any stranger unlucky enough to be sitting next to me, making VR way too impractical (and risky) to be viable outside of more premium classes. Mixed reality would be more practical, but it’s also more of a battery sink, as I discovered.

Despite these issues I could see how close the Meta Quest 3 is to greatness, and how the in-flight experience could be improved with a few upgrades.

(Image credit: Meta/Lufthansa)

More subtle motion controls (like those the Apple Vision Pro uses) would eliminate the risk of whacking an innocent passenger with my arm flails.

A bigger in built battery would be ideal too, as would a simpler way to find and download movies to the headset.

The big-screen movie experience, especially with a 3D movie, was truly fantastic, and it just serves to highlight why Meta and others must do more to improve this aspect of VR as finding even one 3D movie was a major hassle.

And using the headset, even in mixed reality, helped me forget I was on a flight. I'm not an especially nervous flier, but I'll admit to feeling a little tense while in the air, and that tension was noticeably absent when using my Quest 3.

So while I won't be taking my Meta headset on my next long-haul flight, I can see a future where it becomes my go-to travel gadget. For now, though, it'll be staying at home, and I'll take my AR glasses instead.

You might also like

• You might get a free Meta Quest 3 to use on your next flight, but I'm not keen on the advertising it'll serve you
• Meta Quest 3 vs Meta Quest 3S: which Meta headset is right for you?
• The Meta Quest 3S is fantastic, but there’s one big reason to choose the Quest 3 instead

• Samsung is rolling out One UI 7 to all supported Galaxy S and Galaxy Z series phones in the US
• The long-awaited update effectively ends a protracted months-long rollout for the Android 15-based update
• In the months since One UI 7 launched in pre-release form, Android 16 has been confirmed and One UI 8 rumored

Samsung is finally rolling out One UI 7 to older Galaxy phones in the US, following months of delays and ambiguity over the launch of the Korean tech titan’s latest mobile operating system.

As reported by Android Authority, Samsung is now rolling out its most recent OS version update to the full range of supported handsets, after the Galaxy S24 series got the update in April 2025.

The full list of devices included in this latest stage of One UI 7’s long-troubled rollout includes:

• Galaxy S23 FE
• Galaxy S22 series
• Galaxy S21 series
• Galaxy Z Fold 4
• Galaxy Z Fold 3
• Galaxy Z Flip 4
• Galaxy Z Flip 3

As per SamMobile's list of One UI 7-supported devices, this means that once the rollout has completed, One UI 7 will finally be available on all supported Galaxy S and Galaxy Z phones in the US. Presumably, other regions will follow suit soon.

Notably, the Android Authority report doesn’t mention whether this latest release will bring One UI 7 to any Galaxy A series phones – while the recently released Galaxy A26, Galaxy A36, and Galaxy A56 all run One UI 7 out of the box, we’ve not heard so much about previous generations.

The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE (pictured) is among the devices getting One UI 7 (Image credit: Future / Philip Berne)

Samsung has seemingly struggled to get One UI 7 off the ground. The Android 15-based operating system launched with the Samsung Galaxy S25 series in January, though this was officially a pre-release build of the software.

Here at TechRadar, we’ve reported extensively on the various updates and rumors surrounding One UI 7 and its prolonged release through our dedicated Samsung Galaxy phones coverage – but now, it seems like an end is in sight.

However, with Google getting closer to the launch of Android 16, it’s worth asking whether this delay will affect Samsung’s update schedule going forwards.

We recently reported on supposedly leaked images that show an early version of One UI 8 running on a Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6, but there’s no telling when this update might arrive.

Let’s not get too ahead of ourselves, though – this is a great moment for Samsung Galaxy owners, and while I haven't exactly been impressed with the rollout of One UI 7, it is good to see Samsung pull through.

Now that Samsung’s latest software update isn’t limited to only the best Samsung phones, many more users will gain access to its overhauled UI, new Now Bar feature, and reworked notifications system, among other new features. If you’re looking forward to upgrading, let us know in the comments below.

You might also like

• Your Android phone is about to look very different – here are 5 design changes that could come with Android 16
• Google Pixel 10 likely to get a display upgrade that makes it kinder on your eyes
• Samsung drops another big hint about the tri-folding 'G Fold' and its 'large-screen experience'

• Jensen Huang's salary was up 59%, overall compensation up 46%
• Other execs got stable salaries but much higher overall compensation packages
• Nvidia's last full-year revenue stood at $130.5 billion, up 114% year-over-year

Despite being the company's CEO since its founding in 1993, Nvidia's CEO Jensen Huang has been drawing the same salary from the company for a number of years - however a recent SEC filing has revealed Huang just got his major first salary increase in a decade.

Rising from $996,514 in 2024 and $996,832 in 2023, Huang received a $1,486,199 salary in fiscal 2025, marking a not-insignificant 49% year-over-year increase.

In reality, various other components make up Huang's total compensation, the biggest being $38.8 million in stock awards in 2025, leaving him with a hefty $49,866,251 package at the end of the year.

Jensen Huang salary increase

Besides the salary increase, rises in other compensation saw the Nvidia leader get nearly $15.7 million more in 2025 compared with 2024, marking an equally healthy 46% jump.

Salaries for CFO Colette M Kress, Worldwide Field Operations SVP Ajay K Puri, Operations EVP Debora Shoquist and General Counsel and Secretary EVP Timothy S Teter remained stable year-over-year, but total compensation of the four Named Executive Officers (NEOs) rose by 59-74%.

It's not just compensations that have rise in the past year, though. In February, Nvidia declared a staggering 114% growth in annual revenue compared with the year before, noting a 78% year-over-year increase to its fourth-quarter revenue alone.

Yearly revenue stood at $130.5 billion, compared with $60.9 billion the year before, and $27.0 billion and $26.9 billion in the two preceding years.

Earlier in 2024, Nvidia's total market cap exceeded $3.5 trillion, making it the world's most valuable company for a short period of time. That now stands at $2.723 trillion, with billions lost to trade war-induced uncertainty and other natural causes.

You might also like

• Want a higher salary? Check out the best job sites and best recruitment platforms
• Microsoft 365 and Azure revenues push company results to another record high
• Access powerful Nvidia chips with the best cloud computing services

We've almost reached the halfway mark of The Last of Us season 2. With only three episodes left after this week's installment, we'll be bidding farewell to the hugely popular show in the near future.

Right now, though, a new entry will be available to enjoy very soon. Indeed, The Last of Us TV show's next chapter in only a few days away, so it's time to find out when and where you can watch it.

In this guide, you'll learn what day and time it'll air in the US, UK, and Australia. There's a full release schedule for the dystopian series' final few episodes later on, too, so you can see when new chapters will be released.

What time can I stream The Last of Us season 2 episode 4 in the US?

The fourth episode of The Last of Us' sophomore season will arrive on Sunday, May 4 at 6pm PT / 9pm ET.

Just like every other installment to date, those who live stateside can watch it on Warner Bros Discovery's (WBD) super streamer Max, as well as cable network HBO.

When will episode 4 of The Last of Us season 2 come out in the UK?

Watch where you're pointing that handgun, Dina! (Image credit: HBO)

Ellie and Dina's quest to find and kill Abby and company will continue in the UK on Monday, May 5 at 2am BST. Yep, it'll be another late night or very early morning for anyone planning to watch it as soon as it's released on British shores.

You've got two places you can stream it, too. Sky Atlantic and Now TV are home to The Last of Us in the UK, so sign up to – or into – either platform to check it out.

Where can I stream The Last of Us season 2's next episode in Australia?

everything hurts. #TheLastOfUs pic.twitter.com/pV4BrdstRBApril 28, 2025

One of the best Max shows is available to watch on, well, Max (aka one of the world's best streaming services) in Australia. The post-apocalyptic survival drama series is also available on Foxtel for those of you who are signed up to that service.

As for when episode 4 will launch Down Under, that'll be on Monday, May 5 at 11am AEST.

The Last of Us season 2 full episode release schedule

Jeffrey Wright's Isaac makes his live-action debut in season 2's next episode (Image credit: HBO)

Want to know when the final three chapters of the Bella Ramsey-fronted TV show will launch where you live? Read on for more details.

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

You might also like

• The Last of Us season 2 cast and character guide: who's playing who in the popular HBO TV show's next chapter?
• The Last of Us season 2 won't be the hugely successful Max TV show's final entry as HBO officially announces its third season
• Get the lowdown on Peacemaker season 2 before its August 2025 release

• Proton has claimed it will lower its prices after a landmark US ruling against Apple
• A US judge found Apple guilty of violating a federal injunction over illegal monopoly and lying under oath
• Fortnite maker Epic Games sued Apple in 2020, challenging the up-to-30% cut the Big Tech provider takes from App Store's purchases

Proton could lower its pricing by up to 30% after a US judge found Apple guilty of violating a federal injunction over illegal monopoly.

Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers ruled that Apple willfully violated her injunction issued in 2021 in the Epic Games case. The Big Tech giant was supposed to halt anti-competitive practices by giving third-party developers more power to redirect users to cheaper non-Apple payment options.

Proton, the provider of one of the best VPN and secure email apps, has welcomed the ruling as a victory against Big Tech. "Proton will finally be allowed to let iOS users purchase subscriptions outside of the App Store. No Apple tax means we will lower prices for users by up to 30%," wrote the company's CEO, Andy Yen, on X.

In response to the recent court ruling in the US against Apple's illegal in-app purchase monopoly, @ProtonPrivacy will finally be allowed to let iOS users purchase subscriptions outside of the app store. No Apple tax means we will lower prices for users by up to 30%.May 1, 2025

Yen also pointed out how such a court decision could help cut inflation in the US, too, "by dropping the price of a significant chunk of digital purchases by 30% overnight".

The Fortnite maker sued Apple in 2020 to challenge the up-to-30% cut the Big Tech provider takes from App Store purchases.

"It's about choice. Apple can charge whatever fee they want for their payment system. But we are now free to offer an alternative option that is up to 30% cheaper. For the first time, the user can decide for themselves (pay Apple 30%, or save 30%)," said Yen.

It's too early to say how this will affect Proton VPN and Proton Mail users in the US and beyond. We approached Proton for clarification, but are still waiting for a response at the time of publication.

Nonetheless, on May 2, 2025, Spotify confirmed that Apple has finally approved an update to allow the music streaming giant to freely show clear pricing information and links to purchase, fostering transparency and choice for US consumers.

"We can now give consumers lower prices, more control, and easier access to the Spotify experience. There is more work to do, but today represents a significant milestone for developers and entrepreneurs everywhere who want to build and compete on a more level playing field," wrote Spotify in its official announcement.

TechRadar needs you! We want to know what you think about the world of VPNs. Whether you're a novice or a VPN pro, we want to hear your thoughts. Don't worry, though, your responses are completely anonymous, and it takes less than a minute to complete!

To take part, click the link below: https://futurenet.questionpro.eu/tr-vpn

Next steps

As mentioned, Judge Gonzalez Rogers found Apple in "willful violation" of the order issued in 2021 and later enforced in 2024, after the Big Tech giant lost the appeal in 2023.

Ways Apple violated the ruling include charging a 27% commission fee to developers when they allow purchases outside the App Store. Other barriers and requirements were also enforced to discourage customers from using competing purchasing platforms, said the Judge as reported by the BBC.

Besides allegedly promoting an illegal in-app purchase monopoly, the company is also facing a criminal contempt investigation as the judge found Apple's vice-president of finance, Alex Roman, "outright lied under oath."

Apple is said to "strongly disagree" with the judge's decision. "We will comply with the court's order and we will appeal," said an Apple spokesperson.

We have contacted Apple for further comments and will update the article when we know more.

You might also like

• Beware, another ChatGPT trend threatens your privacy
• The VPN industry reacts to the EU's plan for end-to-end encryption backdoors
• Proton Mail hit with blocking order in India

• Hacker pleads guilty to accessing confidential Disney files
• Disney's private Slack channels were breached in the attack
• The leak led Disney to switch from Slack to Microsoft Teams

A Santa Clara man who created an AI image generation tool that deployed hidden malware has pleaded guilty to stealing over 1.1 TB of internal company data after illegally accessing Disney’s internal Slack channels.

The hacker, Ryan Mitchell Kramer, who went by the name “NullBulge” was charged with one count of accessing a computer and obtaining information and one count of threatening to damage a protected computer, the US Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California reported.

The incident had wide reaching consequences, with Disney choosing to ditch Slack in favour of Microsoft teams following the breach. Over 10,000 Slack channels were involved in the incident, and confidential data including internal communications and sensitive information like images, source code and credentials were compromised.

A malicious programme

Kramer reportedly accepted a plea deal, pleading guilty to the two felony charges that each carry a statutory maximum sentence of five years in federal prison - but he has not yet been sentenced.

The plea deal outlines that in early 2024, Kramer “posted a computer program on various online platforms, including GitHub, that purported to be computer program that could be used to create A.I.-generated art. In fact, the program contained a malicious file that enabled Kramer to gain access to victims’ computers.”

After the victim downloaded the malicious file, Kramer accessed Disney’s information through the victim’s personal computer, where he stored login credentials for personal and professional accounts.

After the hacker accessed these accounts, he downloaded over 1.1TB of data from Disney, which was then publicly released alongside the victims bank, medical, and personal information.

According to the report, the FBI is currently investigating the possibility of at least two more victims hit by similar attacks by Kramer

You might also like

• Take a look at our picks for the best malware removal software around
• Check out our choice for best antivirus software
• One of the most powerful ransomware hacks around has been cracked using some serious GPU power

For the past year, a new technology has emerged on the horizon: AI agents. These newcomers promise much more than their chatbot predecessors, with more sophisticated conversation capabilities, the ability to perform more complex tasks, and the potential to learn and adapt, improving over time to understand the nuances of the business they are operating in.

It’s not surprising 2025 has already seen the launch of several high profile AI agents, including Manus AI, Oracle AI Agent Studio, and OpenAI Operator. Demand for these new agentic AI solutions is coming from both businesses and consumers.

For businesses, AI agents promise to improve tasks like recruiting employees, contacting potential sales leads, creating marketing content, and managing IT systems - as well as improving customer service and communication, which will in turn benefit customers. 70% of consumers are noticing that AI is improving self-service support, and 60% agree AI has made interactions with brands more efficient.

Many businesses are now looking to AI agents to deliver the return on investment they’ve been hoping to achieve with AI. How can they make this a reality?

Generic agents lead to underwhelming results

Organizations should be wary of blindly throwing AI at whatever issue their teams are facing. This includes implementing generic AI agents that are currently too unreliable and inflexible to be used as a blanket CX solution. The best AI agent for your organization will always be one that’s been designed to operate in your specific industry, and trained to do the specific job you want it to do.

For instance, a specialized ecommerce AI agent can be trained to understand the nuances of sizing charts so they can provide guidance to customers who are unsure about what size or item to choose. Or in the travel industry, a specialized AI agent can understand the complexities of booking policies or cancellation terms.

Generic AI agents will struggle with industry-specific terminology, processes, and regulations. Non-specialized AI agents might even provide incorrect information or send inappropriate responses to a customer. These mistakes massively threaten customer trust and have the opposite effect they are intended for, creating additional work for employees who are left to correct the AI agent’s missteps.

Trust is the ultimate differentiator

Gartner predicts that by 2028, 25% of enterprise breaches will be tied to AI agent abuses. In a world where AI agents are now being entrusted with personal and sensitive information about customers, clients, and patients, it’s essential for organizations to put in place transparent accountability protocols and regular audits.

Trustworthy and reliable industry-specific solutions are particularly crucial in areas like healthcare or financial services, where the stakes are high and agents are tasked with handling medical records, processing financial transactions, and providing recommendations that have a serious impact on users’ health, safety and economic wellbeing.

Organizations that prioritize trust - rather than taking a ‘move fast and break things’ approach - will set themselves apart. This means adopting ethical AI principles, securing robust data privacy measures, and fostering transparency.

Assistants, not free agents

A recent survey found 28% of employees are worried about their roles being replaced by AI. While this is a common concern, it’s far from the truth. AI agents are nowhere near capable of operating autonomously and without human engagement or supervision.

In their current form, AI agents serve best as collaborators or assistants, rather than standalone project managers. By taking routine tasks off employees’ to-do lists, AI agents free up human agents to focus on complex, specialist tasks, or come up with new ideas.

Again on the customer service side, when it comes to handling a new situation they haven’t experienced before - like a complex or emotional customer enquiry - this is also where human-AI teamwork is key. An AI agent doesn’t have the empathy required to handle an interaction like this alone, but it can act as an assistant to a human agent, for example automatically bringing up the customer’s history with the organization, any previous interactions, and any other information to enable the agent to provide the best possible customer support.

Slow and steady wins the AI race

Organizations' AI budgets aren’t likely to decrease any time soon: it’s predicted that by 2028, enterprises will spend $202.2 billion on AI and generative AI solutions worldwide.

Agentic AI offers a huge amount of potential to businesses that are prepared to implement them in the right way. Rather than diving into the deep end and spending lots of resources on the latest, shiniest solution, organizations should remember slow and steady wins the race.

This means getting the basics right first, building a tailored, specialized AI agent that will work for your organization's needs. It also involves testing, refining, and integrating new AI agent solutions into specific workflows, rather than blindly applying them across the whole business.

By combining a custom-built, ethical, and collaborative approach with thorough training across teams, organizations can unlock the benefits of AI agent technology, rather than being swept up by the hype.

We've featured the best AI website builder.

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

It’s been two years since OpenAI shook the world with ChatGPT. Since then, businesses have been racing to monetize AI and seamlessly integrate it into daily operations. Now, in 2025, those ambitions are materializing, giving the world a clearer vision of what an AI-powered business landscape looks like.

In this piece, we’ll explore how AI has moved from niche to normal, examine the key forces reshaping the world of work and try to get a sense of where we’re headed.

What does AI look like in 2025?

In 2025, AI is no longer an experiment. Companies have moved beyond testing and are deploying AI at scale. Agentic AI chatbots can now recommend products and complete transactions autonomously, while AI-powered fraud prevention help detect and prevent scams. AI isn’t just emerging—it’s here.

According to McKinsey, five forces are defining AI in the workplace in 2025: improved intelligence and reasoning, agentic AI enabling autonomous robot workers, multimodality that integrates text, audio, and video, and increased transparency through better reasoning and clearer explanations of its processes.

Workers are using AI to be more creative. A report by Deloitte found that 70% of workers are open to offloading tasks to AI to free up time and boost creativity, yet 28% worry about technology threatening their jobs. AI is both a blessing and a curse—while it reduces mundane work, it also raises concerns about job security.

And better reasoning is giving businesses more confidence in AI models. Looking back on AI’s early days, many remember its tendency toward bias and its ability to confidently present falsehoods. To address this, large language models are increasingly including explanations of their reasoning or cite sources. A notable example is China’s DeepSeek model, which impressed with its whitepaper outlining the importance of reasoning in large language models.

Then there’s the rise of AI-powered tools in Enterprise Content management Systems (ECM), making document management smarter and more intuitive. People are so accustomed to AI in their daily lives—whether it’s Google Maps or Alexa—that they expect similar automation at work. These systems don’t just organize and secure business data; they also streamline tedious processes like onboarding and contract management. By automating routine paperwork, AI is freeing employees to focus on more creative, high-value tasks.

Like all technological change, there’s a lot happening, and this is just scratching the surface, but those who can harness AI stand to gain a lot. According to McKinsey, the long-term opportunity that AI presents in added productivity growth from corporate use cases is around $4.4 trillion.

Supercharged cyber risk

But it’s not all good news. While AI has boosted businesses, it has also made malicious cyber activity more prolific and dangerous. Threat actors are using AI to automate attacks, develop advanced phishing and social engineering tactics, and are leveraging deepfakes and generative AI tech to deceive employees and exploit vulnerabilities more efficiently. In response, businesses in 2025 are locking down their data and investing more heavily in information governance.

This is part of the reason businesses are assessing their records management practices and ECMs. Because cyber attackers are finding increasingly sophisticated ways to exploit data, businesses are locking down the attack surface by securing their data and documents, and ensuring the proper access controls and audit trails are in place. ECMs help organizations centralize digital sensitive documents, providing version control and enhanced security.

Another factor driving businesses toward ECM is data integrity. AI is only as powerful as the data it’s trained on, yet 67% of organizations admit they don’t fully trust their own data for decision-making. Proper data indexing not only improves AI performance today but also lays the foundation for future scalability. These systems allow for automated document management, ensuring data remains structured and accessible.

Human-centered tech is the future

AI in 2025 is a lot like hybrid work: by balancing automation with human oversight, businesses and workers can reap the benefits of efficiency while reducing mundane tasks.

Certainly, there are some risks. While AI is freeing employees from routine tasks and enabling more strategic work, some roles are shifting toward refinement and review of AI output—raising concerns that critical thinking skills could erode in the process. At the same time, some businesses that have made big bets on AI aren’t yet seeing the expected returns. This is because we’re only just exiting the pilot phase. Almost 90% of business leaders anticipate that AI will drive revenue growth in the next three years.

Businesses that automate their business processes using tools like ECMs — which can support the quick rollout of automated solutions with drag-and-drop tools or prebuilt templates — have more time to train their staff. According to a report by IBM, 62% of organizations are already using AI to personalize learning content for employees, leading to a more engaging and effective training experience, keeps their critical thinking skills sharp and ensuring they’re ready for further digital transformation.

McKinsey’s report highlights the immense potential of AI, but businesses must be agile to truly capitalize on it. The technology is advancing so quickly that the best opportunities could emerge from various areas—talent, new business models, or competitive products. Organizations must also invest in workers who can drive this transition.

Interestingly, Millennials—the largest generational cohort in the workforce—are among AI’s most vocal champions. As they take on more leadership roles, they are becoming natural overseers of AI adoption. But regardless of generation, businesses that prioritize employee training and equip their teams with the skills to leverage AI effectively will come out ahead. And that’s already proving true in 2025.

We've featured the best online learning platform.

This article was produced as part of TechRadarPro's Expert Insights channel where we feature the best and brightest minds in the technology industry today. The views expressed here are those of the author and are not necessarily those of TechRadarPro or Future plc. If you are interested in contributing find out more here: https://www.techradar.com/news/submit-your-story-to-techradar-pro

It's time to settle down after a long week of work (or school/college/university studies) and enjoy one of the many new movies and TV shows that have been released recently.

I'm going to be heading to my local IMAX cinema to watch Marvel's Thunderbolts* movie again (read my Thunderbolts* review if you want to know what I thought of Marvel's latest big-screen offering). But, if you fancy a quiet night in, there's plenty more to watch at home on the world's best streaming services.

So, without further ado, here's what you'll want to sit down to stream over the next few days. – Tom Power, senior entertainment reporter

The Four Seasons (Netflix)

If you're like me and love a TV show that makes you feel like you're on holiday, then this new Netflix comedy-romance series sounds like it'll be just the ticket.

Like HBO's The White Lotus, the eight-episode series, which is a remake of its movie namesake, centers around a group of friends going on vacation, which is why many have made the comparison between the two series.

Created, written, and produced by Tina Fey, the show sees the actor team up with Date Night co-star Steve Carell again for a romantic holiday. However, not everything is as rosy as it seems when one of the three couples on vacation split up. This has the making to be one of the best Netflix shows but, as always, the proof will be in the pudding. – Amelia Schwanke, senior entertainment editor

• Watch The Four Seasons on Netflix

Another Simple Favor (Prime Video)

I'm a huge fan of the A Simple Favor, so I'm intrigued to see where its Prime Video sequel goes. Judging by the trailer, it's going to be just as stylish and mysterious as the first, and it's bringing all the sunshine and glamor of an Italian wedding too.

Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick are back, of course, and I'm so excited to see what happens in the Amazon Movie Original, especially since Kendrick's character agrees to be maid of honor for Lively's character. It's a scenario that reminds me a lot of one of my favorite Black Mirror episodes, aka 'Nosedive', and I have a feeling this wedding will be just as chaotic.

It's also got Severance season 2 composer Theodore Shapiro's music, so you know it's going to sound great, but will it popular enough to earn a spot on our best Prime Video movies guide? – Lucy Buglass, senior entertainment writer

• Watch Another Simple Favor on Prime Video

Star Wars: Tales of the Underworld (Disney+)

It's almost time to celebrate the existence of Lucasfilm's iconic galaxy far, far away. Indeed, this Sunday (May 4) marks the annually observed tradition of Star Wars Day, which takes place every year on the same date (you know, May the Fourth Be With You and all that!).

What better way to honor the legendary sci-fi universe, then, than with the release of a new Disney+ show? Tales of the Underworld is the third animated miniseries to shine a light on two franchise characters who deserve a bit more screentime. So, who'll star in this four-part installment? Cad Bane and Asajj Ventress, the former being a bounty hunter and the latter a Nightsister-turned-assassin.

Will one of 2025's new Star Wars TV shows be received as well as 2022's Tales of the Jedi and deserve a spot on our best Disney+ shows? Or will it fall victim to the Dark Side are earn less stellar reviews like Tales of the Empire? Time will tell! – TP

• Watch Star Wars: Tales of the Underworld on Disney+

Careme (Apple TV+)

Cuisine is at the heart of any good streaming platform. Now, Apple TV+ is shining a spotlight on the world's first celebrity chef, Antonin Carême.

We're no stranger to celebrity chefs in the modern era – I'm someone who spends half my life watching Kitchen Nightmares – but this is a very different story.

Set in Napoleon's Europe, Carême's talent attracts the attention of politicians who use him as a spy for France, so you can expect intrigue as a side order to your usual culinary delights. I'm already hooked by this Apple TV Original's premise and I suspect it'll soon find its way onto our best Apple TV+ shows list. – LB

• Watch Careme on Apple TV+

A Complete Unknown (Disney+)

Those streaming services they are a-changing, so make sure to check in on one of May's new Disney+ movies because it's finally adding the Bob Dylan biographical drama, aka A Complete Unknown, just over a month after it made its Hulu debut stateside.

In this fictionalized take on the protest singer-songwriter’s life, director James Mangold (Ford vs Ferrari; Walk The Line) takes us back to a fresh-faced Dylan arriving at Greenwich Village in the early 60s, guiding us through a new reimagining of his rise to fame.

Don't let its Oscar snub dissuade you from streaming this one and getting to hear the original soundtrack from Timothée Chalamet. Indeed, it's one of the best Disney+ movies you'll watch this month. – AS

• Watch A Complete Unknown on Disney+

The Eternaut (Netflix)

Sci-fi is one of my favorite genres, so I'm very excited that the genre is growing over on Netflix with the addition of The Eternaut.

In this intriguing series, which is based on an Argentinian graphic novel, we follow a group of survivors following a deadly snowfall. If that wasn't stressful enough, the incident was powered by an alien invasion.

With six hour-long episodes to dive into, it sounds like it'll a great weekend binge watch. Based on its largely positive Rotten Tomatoes critical and audiences scores, this is one series you'll want to get snowed in for so you can stream it ASAP. – LB

• Watch The Eternaut on Netflix

100 Foot Wave season 3 (Max)

Garrett McNamara returns to Max in a brand new season of the two time Emmy-winning 100 Foot Wave docuseries.

The first season chronicled McNamara's journey to becoming the world record holder for the largest wave ever surfed in Nazaré, Portugal, and has since expanded to follow the highs and lows of other renowned big wave surfers. Season 3 will see the athlete travel to stunning new locations, including O’ahu, Hawaii for the rarely held Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational.

The five-part third season is set to be another heart-pounding, awe-inspiring watch filled with even more stunning big wave footage of these deaths-dying surfers. One to add to our best Max shows? Maybe! – AS

• Watch 100 Foot Wave season 3 on Max

For more streaming recommendations, read our guides on best Hulu movies, best Prime Video shows, best Paramount+ movies, and best Max movies.

Looking for a different day?

A new Quordle puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Friday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Friday, May 2 (game #1194).

Quordle was one of the original Wordle alternatives and is still going strong now more than 1,100 games later. It offers a genuine challenge, though, so read on if you need some Quordle hints today – or scroll down further for the answers.

Enjoy playing word games? You can also check out my NYT Connections today and NYT Strands today pages for hints and answers for those puzzles, while Marc's Wordle today column covers the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about Quordle today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

Quordle today (game #1195) - hint #1 - Vowels How many different vowels are in Quordle today?

• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 3*.

* Note that by vowel we mean the five standard vowels (A, E, I, O, U), not Y (which is sometimes counted as a vowel too).

Quordle today (game #1195) - hint #2 - repeated letters Do any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?

• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 2.

Quordle today (game #1195) - hint #3 - uncommon letters Do the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?

• No. None of Q, Z, X or J appear among today's Quordle answers.

Quordle today (game #1195) - hint #4 - starting letters (1) Do any of today's Quordle puzzles start with the same letter?

• The number of today's Quordle answers starting with the same letter is 0.

If you just want to know the answers at this stage, simply scroll down. If you're not ready yet then here's one more clue to make things a lot easier:

Quordle today (game #1195) - hint #5 - starting letters (2) What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• P

• V

• W

• C

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

Quordle today (game #1195) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1195, are…

• PLUSH
• VERGE
• WROTE
• CONDO

A tricky one for me today. My start words did deliver me a word with three letters in the correct place and another letter in the wrong position, but I still managed to get it wrong, guessing TROVE instead of WROTE. 

Fortunately, this error – and using the letter V with my incorrect guess – helped me find the tricky VERGE.

How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.

Daily Sequence today (game #1195) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1195, are…

• GLOOM
• ATTIC
• ABOVE
• SPOIL

Quordle answers: The past 20

• Quordle #1194, Friday, 2 May: CAUSE, RISEN, MACAW, SMELT
• Quordle #1193, Thursday, 1 May: IDIOM, EXILE, SPOOF, DRAPE
• Quordle #1192, Wednesday, 30 April: BATON, TORSO, ANNEX, DROWN
• Quordle #1191, Tuesday, 29 April: HOVER, HENCE, OCTAL, COPSE
• Quordle #1190, Monday, 28 April: JAUNT, ALLOW, FRUIT, BURNT
• Quordle #1189, Sunday, 27 April: PRIOR, YOUTH, CREDO, CHIDE
• Quordle #1188, Saturday, 26 April: LINGO, LOCUS, THROW, CLICK
• Quordle #1187, Friday, 25 April: SHALT, WRATH, MAMBO, HUMPH
• Quordle #1186, Thursday, 24 April: CHOKE, COLOR, FRAME, CAIRN
• Quordle #1185, Wednesday, 23 April: VALET, PUPAL, CREEP, DRIFT
• Quordle #1184, Tuesday, 22 April: POUTY, CHEST, BROOM, TEPEE
• Quordle #1183, Monday, 21 April: SHARD, PRINT, SUMAC, LEACH
• Quordle #1182, Sunday, 20 April: DINER, HORDE, SHONE, FUGUE
• Quordle #1181, Saturday, 19 April: GRADE, LAUGH, RAINY, EXULT
• Quordle #1180, Friday, 18 April: DEBUT, GLADE, BASTE, PESTO
• Quordle #1179, Thursday, 17 April: SPRAY, RAMEN, SHELF, COURT
• Quordle #1178, Wednesday 16 April: STUMP, GRAFT, CHORD, INPUT
• Quordle #1177, Tuesday 15 April: SLEET, MERIT, HARSH, FORAY
• Quordle #1176, Monday 14 April: DRAWL, CROOK, ACTOR, LANCE
• Quordle #1175, Sunday 13 April: SHALE, KINKY, SHORN, WHOOP

Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Connections puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Friday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Friday, May 2 (game #691).

Good morning! Let's play Connections, the NYT's clever word game that challenges you to group answers in various categories. It can be tough, so read on if you need Connections hints.

What should you do once you've finished? Why, play some more word games of course. I've also got daily Strands hints and answers and Quordle hints and answers articles if you need help for those too, while Marc's Wordle today page covers the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Connections today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Connections today (game #692) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• SMOKE
• SHELL
• FIRE
• MILK
• CREAM
• COMP
• HELL
• LIT
• SICK
• LICK
• PASTE
• NETI
• ORGO
• ILL
• WELL
• DOPE

NYT Connections today (game #692) - hint #1 - group hints

What are some clues for today's NYT Connections groups?

• YELLOW: Amazing
• GREEN: Well beaten 
• BLUE: Drop the last two letters for link
• PURPLE: Drop the last letter for link

Need more clues?

We're firmly in spoiler territory now, but read on if you want to know what the four theme answers are for today's NYT Connections puzzles…

NYT Connections today (game #692) - hint #2 - group answers

What are the answers for today's NYT Connections groups?

• YELLOW: AWESOME 
• GREEN: DEFEAT SOUNDLY 
• BLUE: "WILL" CONTRACTIONS WITHOUT THE APOSTROPHE
• PURPLE: URL ENDINGS PLUS A LETTER 

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Connections today (game #692) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #692, are…

• YELLOW: AWESOME DOPE, FIRE, LIT, SICK
• GREEN: DEFEAT SOUNDLY CREAM, LICK, PASTE, SMOKE
• BLUE: "WILL" CONTRACTIONS WITHOUT THE APOSTROPHE
• HELL, ILL, SHELL, WELL
• PURPLE: URL ENDINGS PLUS A LETTER COMP, MILK, NETI, ORGO

• My rating: Hard
• My score: 3 mistakes

My mistakes today came in thinking that there was a cooking group. I was trying to think of some kind of food preparation that involved SHELLing, CREAMing, turning into a PASTE. To make some sauces you make a WELL in flour, so I included that. I had MILK for another guess and FIRE in another.

Fortunately, I saw sense and more importantly the various slang words for AWESOME and DEFEAT SOUNDLY.

I see the “WILL CONTRACTIONS WITHOUT THE APOSTROPHE" (He’ll, I’ll, She’ll, We’ll) now, but in truth I put them together because they all ended LL.

How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Friday, May 2, game #691)

• YELLOW: KINDS OF CARVINGS BUST, RELIEF, STATUE, TORSO
• GREEN: PILLAR BRACE, POST, PROP, SUPPORT
• BLUE: BBQ OFFERING DOG, LINK, RIB, WING
• PURPLE: __NECK BOTTLE, BREAK, GOOSE, TURTLE

What is NYT Connections?

NYT Connections is one of several increasingly popular word games made by the New York Times. It challenges you to find groups of four items that share something in common, and each group has a different difficulty level: green is easy, yellow a little harder, blue often quite tough and purple usually very difficult.

On the plus side, you don't technically need to solve the final one, as you'll be able to answer that one by a process of elimination. What's more, you can make up to four mistakes, which gives you a little bit of breathing room.

It's a little more involved than something like Wordle, however, and there are plenty of opportunities for the game to trip you up with tricks. For instance, watch out for homophones and other word games that could disguise the answers.

It's playable for free via the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Strands puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Friday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Friday, May 2 (game #425).

Strands is the NYT's latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it's great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.

Want more word-based fun? Then check out my NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, and Marc's Wordle today page for the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Strands today (game #426) - hint #1 - today's theme What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Say "ah"

NYT Strands today (game #426) - hint #2 - clue words

Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.

• SOOTY
• ROPES
• STING
• RING
• SEEP
• ROOST

NYT Strands today (game #426) - hint #3 - spangram letters How many letters are in today's spangram?

• Spangram has 10 letters

NYT Strands today (game #426) - hint #4 - spangram position What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First side: top, 3rd column

Last side: bottom, 5th column

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Strands today (game #426) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #426, are…

• GAUZE
• TAPE
• SYRINGE
• STETHOSCOPE
• THERMOMETER
• SPANGRAM: DOCTORS KIT

• My rating: Hard
• My score: 2 hints

After a run of easy editions today’s Strands presented a challenge – well, it did for me at least.

I had to resort to a couple of hints to complete the puzzle and was presented with two piles of letters that ended up being STETHOSCOPE and THERMOMETER. They should have gone all the way and included a sphygmomanometer.

Today’s theme did, of course, trigger memories of pretending to be badly injured so that my daughters could rush me to their cardboard ER and perform a variety of experimental surgical procedures on me with their plastic DOCTOR’S KIT. Fortunately, I survived without too many scars.

How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Friday, May 2, game #425)

• WARBLER
• LARK
• SPARROW
• WREN
• CARDINAL
• CHICKADEE
• SPANGRAM: SONGBIRDS

What is NYT Strands?

Strands is the NYT's not-so-new-any-more word game, following Wordle and Connections. It's now a fully fledged member of the NYT's games stable that has been running for a year and which can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

I've got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you're struggling to beat it each day.