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Popular VPN provider, ExpressVPN, has just taken a step further in its post-quantum transition, integrating the latest future-proof encryption technology across all its apps.

ML-KEM, one of the three quantum-resistant encryption standards released by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in August last year, has replaced the Kyber algorithm on ExpressVPN's proprietary Lightway VPN protocol.

This move further consolidates the company's commitment to securing users' data against new threats posed by quantum computing. Already one of the best VPN services on the market, ExpressVPN was among the first to add post-quantum protection in October 2023. The new release now makes ExpressVPN an early adopter of the industry standard of post-quantum encryption.

From Kyber to ML-KEM: what's changed?

"Encryption is always evolving, and so are we. When Kyber emerged as a trusted frontrunner in the race to secure the post-quantum world, we integrated it into Lightway to ensure your data stayed ahead of potential threats. Now, with ML-KEM – the newly minted NIST standard – we’re taking that protection even further," said Pete Membrey, Chief Research Officer at ExpressVPN, in the official announcement.

Membrey explains that ML-KEM is built on Kyber's foundation and is now the standard for cryptographic key exchanges, meaning exchanging information across a public network, like VPNs.

The new algorithm results from years of work, designed to defend against future quantum threats. ML-KEM has also managed to amass the consensus of leading cryptographers worldwide during this time. The most important, perhaps, its design integrates seamlessly into Lightway, with ExpressVPN promising that speed and reliability won't be affected.

"Lightway is built to evolve, and ML-KEM represents the next step in its journey," said Membrey, adding that the VPN protocol now uses NIST Security Level 5 key sizes for both TCP and UDP, "ensuring your connection is harder to break."

The next time you read about quantum computing being a threat to cybersecurity in the future, just know that we’ve got your back today and every day after. Find out more about Lightway's upgrade to ML-KEM: https://t.co/JsvvSZnqNr pic.twitter.com/ONSwqV2eRzJanuary 15, 2025

Upgrading to ML-KEM wasn't the only change for ExpressVPN and, well, its Lightway protocol.

ExpressVPN also decided to migrate from the Open Quantum Safe (OQS) team’s implementation of Kyber/ML-KEM to WolfSSL. For the less techie out there, WolfSSL is an open-source library used to secure digital communications between devices, among other things.

WolfSSL introduced a few advantages. For starters, it implements ML-KEM perfectly, Membrey explains, allowing Lightway to deliver solid performances across all platforms. It's also optimized for speed and power efficiency thanks to a lighter and simpler infrastructure. This will enable Lightway to keep delivering low-latency and high-speed connections

"Unlike experimental libraries, WolfSSL provides enterprise-grade support and regular updates, making it the perfect fit for Lightway’s ongoing evolution," Membrey added.

You can now benefit from ExpressVPN's new post-quantum protections simply by upgrading to the latest version of the VPN app. The update has already been rolled out across all major platforms.

The need for quantum-proof VPNs

With quantum computers believed to become fully operational as early as 2030, it's just a matter of time before current encryption methods become obsolete.

Today, VPNs often use RSA-based key exchanges to ensure that your connections remain private between you and the receiver. Quantum computers, however, can process computations that today's computers can't handle within minutes, potentially breaking current encryption protections.

This is where the NIST's quantum-safe standards come in. This work is crucial to support VPN providers, but also messaging apps, encrypted email, and any other tech company integrating some forms of encryption into their products.

While most VPN providers are still figuring out how to implement quantum-resistant algorithms into their software without losing performance, some services like ExpressVPN already offer such protection.

These are Mullvad VPN, Windscribe, and PureVPN. These providers are also in the process of replacing their current quantum-resistant protection with the new NIST standard.

• Garmin has rolled out its ECG feature to more territories
• It can now be used in the EU and Australia
• It works on watches like the Venu 3, Fenix 8, and more

This week, Garmin has rolled out a massive upgrade to all of its best Garmin watches in the EU and Australia, bringing its ECG feature to customers for the first time.

The company announced that the ECG app is now available in the EU and Australia. As you might expect, the ECG app lets you record your heart rhythm to check for signs of atrial fibrillation, which can lead to health complications in later life.

You can view the results immediately or in the Garmin Connect Smartphone app.

ECG finally rolls out to Garmins in the EU and AUS

(Image credit: Future)

ECG functionality has been a mainstay of the best smartwatches on the market for a few years now. The Apple Watch Series 4 popularized the tech back in 2018, with the company shipping an FDA-approved ECG using the device's digital crown. Now you'll find it in all of the best Apple Watch models, as well as offerings like the Galaxy Watch Ultra and Series 7.

As to which Garmins can take advantage of the feature, the company hasn't updated its support page quite yet. However, supported models currently include:

• D2
• Enduro 3
• Epix Pro (Gen 2)
• Fenix 7 Pro
• Fenix 8
• Quatix
• Tactix
• Venu 2 Plus
• Venu 3
• Venu 3S

As noted, you'll need both a compatible Garmin and the Garmin Connect app to use the ECG feature.

Earlier this month the company unveiled its stunning new Garmin Instinct 3, the company's rugged, durable, outdoor smartwatch replete with a flashlight, 24 days of battery life, and a durable outer shell. There's even a Solar version that promises infinite battery life in the right conditions.

Garmin's ECG feature is already available in the US, as well as other countries including Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, and Vietnam.

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The way we talk to our phones will be entirely different in 2025 compared to 2024. At the moment we think about AI on our phones as being a mild curiosity, but that’s about to change. We’ll be able to ask our phones to perform complex tasks for us in a way that’s going to start becoming normal incredibly quickly. It will be like we’ve all got a personal assistant in our pockets that can do pretty much any task we ask it to.

Want it to find you a flight to Hong Kong on Monday evening? No problem. Want it to find you a restaurant that has great vegetarian options for tonight, and email the location to your date? No problem. Want it to send you the top stories from TechRadar every Friday at midday? No problem. (I’m sorry for the shameless self-promotion in that last suggestion, but you get the idea.)

A whole new world

And it's all going to happen very quickly. This January OpenAI has already released ChatGPT tasks. This is still in beta form, so a bit of a work in progress, but is currently available to ChatGPT Plus, Pro, and Teams users, and will let you set reminders for ChatGPT to notify you about things in the future. So, you could ask it to send you a breakdown of the top stories from CNN every Monday morning, for example. It’s only a first step towards the real breakthrough, the autonomous AI agents that ChatGPT has been promising us for what feels like ages now, but still feels significant.

More excitingly Samsung is about to upgrade its AI offering at its Galaxy Unpacked event on 22 January to something really special. The company has already teased what it will be with the release of a video trailer of a busy woman in an office – we know she’s busy because she says she’s “off to her next meeting” – asking her AI assistant to book a pet-friendly Italian restaurant with outdoor seating and email the details to her friend Luka, and put it in her calendar.

Samsung’s virtual assistant, called Bixby, is already in its Galaxy phones, but this sort of functionality is beyond what it’s currently capable of, so it looks like Bixby is about to evolve into a true AI virtual assistant before our very eyes. The questions that remain, and that will be answered on the 22nd, are what exactly it will be capable of and what hardware you will need to run it.

This year we're also going to get an important Apple Intelligence update from Apple, which is likely to arrive around March or April. iOS 18.4 will give Siri onscreen awareness, i.e. the ability to look at what’s happening on your phone, so it can take action on what you’re looking at. It will also get personal context knowledge, so it can act more like a personal assistant with direct access to your calendar, email, and messages.

Jarvis is coming

Google has its Gemini AI which is creeping into everything from your browser to your car, but even more importantly, it also has Jarvis AI, its AI assistant, which will be able to do much more. Jarvis can browse the web for you, which means you can ask it to do anything that you can do in a web browser.

Meanwhile, Microsoft is focusing its Microsoft Copilot 365 AI agents on solving our trickiest business problems. Meta will be flooding social media with autonomous AI bots and X won't be far behind.

In fact, it feels like only one big name in the technosphere is absent here, and surprisingly it's one of the early pioneers in the virtual assistant space – Amazon. Despite a strategic collaboration with Anthropic to use its Claude AI, Amazon has been slow off the mark to equip Alexa with AI capabilities. Rohit Prasad, Amazon's AGI team's head scientist recently talked to the FT and acknowledged the delays, but said that Amazon has plans to fully transform Alexa’s brain through a kind of "transplant" to swap out the old question-answering style Alexa for the type of conversational chat you get with generative AI models.

It better hurry up, because with Samsung leading the way next week with Galaxy Unpacked, and the other big names not far behind, Amazon risks Alexa being left in the AI wilderness.

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• Mercedes-Benz is adding Google Cloud’s Automotive AI Agent to its cars.
• The upgrade uses Google Gemini for real-time, personalized help.
• The new MBIX AI will appear first in new CLA models.

Google's dream of making its Gemini AI your road trip pal is becoming more real, at least if you own a Mercedes-Benz. Google Cloud’s Automotive AI Agent is making its debut in Mercedes-Benz’s updated MBUX Virtual Assistant. The assistant is built on Google’s Gemini AI to offer nuanced, conversational support.

The value is easy to understand. If you're on the road and hungry you could just ask your car, “Where’s the best Italian place around here?” Not only would you hear some options, but the AI would take the initiative to add, “The lasagna gets rave reviews, but avoid the tiramisu, it’s a little too soggy.”

The Automotive AI Agent is designed to handle multi-turn conversations and even remember the context of your previous chats. So, if hours after you ask about Italian restaurants, you inquire, "Are any of those places you mentioned before open late?" the AI won’t act like you’re starting from scratch. And the AI does know quite a lot partly because of Gemini's earlier integration with Google Maps. That means the AI can offer live traffic updates, nearby points of interest, and alternate routes. If you're stuck in a traffic jam, the car might suggest a quicker way home that keeps in mind your preference for avoiding toll roads.

MBUX Gemini

Google and Mercedes are betting that the ability of automotive AI agents to process complex queries and provide accurate, context-aware answers will make a difference when people decide what kind of car to buy. By making interactions smoother, more intuitive, and useful, this AI could make your drive easier. No more stopping on the shoulder to Google “nearest gas station,” and no more arguments about whose turn it was to check the directions.

That said, there’s a fine line between helpful and creepy. The assistant remembers conversations, which is great when it’s reminding you about that vegan café your partner wanted to try – but what happens when it casually recalls your midnight McDonald’s run from three weeks ago? The balance between utility and privacy will be a key factor in whether drivers fully embrace this technology.

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• New claims emerge about Apple and Samsung’s rumored super-thin phones
• The devices will reportedly have only a middling battery life
• Battery life could suffer if the thin chassis can’t adequately dissipate heat

There’s been much talk in recent months about the so-called iPhone 17 Air, a seriously slimmed down version of Apple’s flagship phone. And Apple’s not alone, with Samsung reportedly working on a Galaxy S25 Slim phone to rival Apple’s offering. Yet both devices could come with a notable downside, and it’s all thanks to their form factors.

According to leaker Digital Chat Station on Weibo (via Notebookcheck), both the iPhone and the Samsung phone will be around 5-6mm thick. Compare that to 7.8mm for the iPhone 16 and 7.6mm for the Samsung Galaxy S24 and you get an idea of how much thinner the new phones will be.

But all that slimness comes at a cost, says Digital Chat Station. According to its post, that cost will make itself known in the devices’ batteries, which will have capacities of 3,000mAh to 4,000mAh.

On first blush, that might not seem like much of a problem – after all, the batteries in the iPhone 16 and Samsung Galaxy S24 already fall within that range. But the issue here is that the thinner bodies of the upcoming phones could make heat dissipation much trickier.

Heat can negatively affect battery life, so if the super-slim chassis retain more warmth than their regular-sized siblings, it could mean you find yourself reaching for the charging cable a lot more frequently.

Feeling the heat

(Image credit: Future)

Part of the problem is the high-end chips we’re expecting to see inside these phones. The iPhone 17 Air is rumored to get Apple’s A19 chip, while Samsung’s S25 Slim could be outfitted with the Snapdragon 8 Elite. While these chips are incredibly performant (or are expected to be, in the case of the unreleased A19), keeping them cool in such thin devices could prove to be difficult.

That said, both Apple’s chips and their Snapdragon rivals are known to be very efficient and able to output strong performance without getting unreasonably hot, so the battery impact might not be as bad as feared. For one thing, it seems unlikely that Apple would release a phone that doesn’t have what it calls “all-day battery life” such is the prevalence of that phrase at Apple’s recent launches.

Still, we expect that the thinner cases will bring with them all sorts of engineering challenges, including heat dissipation and its impact on battery life, so we’ll have to see whether there’s a noticeable deterioration when the phones launch this year.

And there’s one other interesting outcome we might see from the release of these devices: they could spur other phone makers into boosting their own products’ battery capacities. Digital Chat Station notes that some manufacturers of Android phones are thinking about releasing phones with battery capacities of 5,000mAh and higher. That means if battery life is important to you, it’s worth keeping an eye on phone launches over the next 12 months.

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In the build up to the 2025 Oscar ceremony, Netflix has acquired the streaming rights to Anuja, shortlisted for the Best Live Action Short Film Oscar, which the platform announced by dropping a sneak peak video (see below). Now that awards season is in full swing, I’m slowly checking off all the possible nominees on my watchlist in time for the ceremony on March 2, and Netflix has made my job a lot easier - it's why it remains one of the best streaming services.

Premiering at the HollyShorts Film Festival in August last year, Anuja is set in Delhi, India and follows the life-changing journey of the nine-year old title character played by Sajda Pathan, who works alongside her older sister in a garment factory. When a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for her to attend school presents itself, Anuja has a big decision to make that could affect her sister’s fate as well as her own. While we don't know exactly when Anuja will be released on Netflix, its sneak peak clip promises an inspiring story of resilience and determination - and I can’t wait to add it to my Netflix list.

With Adam J. Graves in the director’s chair, the creative team behind Anuja is made up of some of Hollywood’s most known figures including Mindy Kaling and Guneet Monga Kapoor (from the Oscar-winning short movie The Elephant Whisperers). Additionally, Priyanka Chopra-Jones serves as executive producer. From what started as a short film making waves with audiences in India, Kaling has since expressed her excitement for the short film’s transition to a global platform.

“Anuja is a story that means so much to me—it’s powerful, hopeful, and full of life, just like the incredible young girls it represents,” Kaling stated, adding that “the film brings attention to crucial issues while celebrating resilience, humor, and hope. I’m delighted that, with Netflix joining the team, the conversation will expand as it reaches audiences far and wide”.

Usually, I’m not one to go for a short movie since lengthy feature dramas are more up my alley, but since broadening my streaming options and downloading platforms such as Mubi for the first time, short films have been cropping up more than before. And as someone who gets heavily invested in all things awards season, seeing Anuja’s sneak peak video and place in the Oscars shortlist has opened my eyes to short films as a growing artform, and I have a feeling that more will be added to my watchlist from here on in.

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• Deepfakes and critical infrastructure attacks are the top concerns in Blackberry's Global Threat Intelligence Report
• 600,000 attacks were launched against critical infrastructure between July-September 2024
• 45% of these were against financial institutions

Critical infrastructure attacks continue to dominate the cybersecurity conversation, with Blackberry’s Global Threat Intelligence Report revealing nearly 600,000 attacks were levied against critical infrastructure attacks between July-September 2024.

The finance sector continues to face a huge amount of cyberattacks that could leave it on its knees, and is the target of 45% of these attacks, with healthcare organizations close behind making up 30% of incidents, followed by 17% for Government services. Downtime is costly for these sectors, making them more likely to pay a ransom to restore systems quickly - making them an attractive target.

The rise of AI has inevitably led to a rise in cyberattacks, but also in the particularly predictable rise in deepfake scams. These scams use an AI-generated image, video, or voice to impersonate an executive, or to infiltrate companies. This is projected to lead to a staggering $40 billion loss by just 2027, highlighting it as a growing threat.

Improving threats, improving tools

Deepfakes are eroding trust and present an unprecedented challenge for stakeholders who can no longer be 100% confident in the authenticity of executive communications.

This has outlined the serious need for deepfake regulatory frameworks, like the emerging US No Fraud AI Act and the Canadian legislation regarding non-consensual media.

Unsurprisingly, ransomware groups also shape the threat landscape, with infamous groups like LockBit and ALPHV proving to be ‘silent but deadly’ by evading detection.

“Our attack surface has never been wider, with threat actors and nation states broadening their horizons into cyber espionage attacks, while ransomware groups are becoming more sophisticated in their campaigns,” said Ismael Valenzuela, Vice President of Threat Research & Intelligence at BlackBerry.

“However, we’ve also never been better prepared. We have the tools, technology, and protocols to protect ourselves and mitigate the impact of attacks, and our industry is equipped to keep up with changes in threat actor methodology.”

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• Nintendo Life launches 'Better eShop', an "improved" alternative to Nintendo's online store
• The store features content filters, better discoverability, faster load times, and more
• 'Better eShop' was created following community feedback on Nintendo's eShop

Nintendo Life has officially launched 'Better eShop', an alternative to Nintendo's online store with an improved user experience and discoverability.

'Better eShop' was created after the website asked its community what they would like changed about Nintendo's current eShop, which Switch players have previously expressed frustration with due to its layout and overabundance of games.

"The Nintendo Switch eShop launched with the console back in 2017," the About page reads. "Since then there have been minimal improvements to the eShop interface and the storefront has been flooded with 1000s of new 'games', which could often be described as spam. It is now a chore to use with no signs of change, aside from Switch 2."

With 'Better eShop', Nintendo Life has now implemented many features that improve upon users' issues, including customizable content filters to sort through genres that automatically filter out "spam" games, refined discoverability, and added user reviews.

Load times are also much faster than the eShop's, a dark mode has been added, and has been optimized for mobile. There's also an option to purchase Wii and Wii U music, as well as the ability to add and remove items to a cart, however, "as as a limitation of the actual eShop you will still need to buy each game individually."

Nintendo Life also plans to add wishlist functionality, a way to display screenshots on the game page, display all users' reviews in one play, mute publishers, and add more regions. For now, it's limited to just the US, UK, and the EU.

According to the About page, 'Better eShop' was built in less than a week, and sits on top of the Nintendo Life game database.

"Data has been collected from various sources and is updated daily," it reads. "It's quite possible that Nintendo will start blocking us from gathering the data - but until then, we will continue to build and improve the Better eShop."

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• Dummy units of the iPhone SE 4 have appeared online
• White and black color options are shown
• The handset is expected to look a lot like the iPhone 14

We shouldn't have long to wait now until we see the iPhone SE 4 officially launch – though it might actually be called the iPhone 16E – and freshly-leaked dummy unit images show off the handset's long-awaited redesign.

These images come courtesy of veteran tipster @SonnyDickson, and we can see the back and sides of the phone in both white and black. There's no look at the screen, but with these being dummy units, it wouldn't be an actual working display anyway.

These dummy blocks are made through supply chain sources so that accessory manufacturers – particularly phone case makers – can get their products sized up and ready to go when the devices in question are revealed to the world.

Not only do they give third-party accessory makers something to work with, they can also give us an idea of the shape and dimensions of upcoming handsets – and it looks as though the next iPhone SE will look quite different from its predecessor, which you can read all about in our iPhone SE (2022) review.

A new design

First look at the iPhone SE 4 Dummy pic.twitter.com/qL0COgmPPAJanuary 16, 2025

We've been hearing for several months now that the iPhone SE 4 will finally abandon the old Apple iPhone design, with the thick bezels top and bottom, the home button, and Touch ID for logging into the handset.

In fact, the upcoming handset is rumored to be based very much on the iPhone 14 that launched in 2022 (just like the current iPhone SE). That means Face ID and a display notch, and an increase in screen size – reportedly up to 6.1 inches from 4.7 inches.

There are likely to be plenty of other changes as well. The talk is that the CPU and RAM could match the iPhone 16 – so the A18 chipset and 8GB of RAM – so that the iPhone SE 4 will be able to support the full suite of Apple Intelligence features.

It looks as though we could get an upgraded single-lens rear camera – as shown in this dummy unit leak – and this could also be the first iPhone to feature a Wi-Fi and 5G chipset made by Apple. As for when we can actually get our hands on the phone, a launch date sometime in March is most likely.

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• The ultra-thin "wallpaper TV" is coming back
• Zero Connect wireless technology as seen in the LG M5
• The latest-gen OLED tech is included

Way back in 2017, LG made a TV that was truly breathtaking – only to stop making it in 2020. But a new official image shows that it's coming back, and it's even better than before.

The new TV is the LG W5, and it's the successor to the TV officially called the LG W7 Signature Series but known to everybody as the Wallpaper TV.

The W7 (pictured below) got its nickname because it was so thin you stuck it to the wall like wallpaper, albeit with magnets instead of wallpaper paste; all the electronics were in a separate soundbar. It wasn't cheap – the biggest model was $19,996 (about £16,000 or AU$26,500) – but it was stunning. As we said in our LG Signature OLED W7 review, it was "thinner than we even thought possible".

And now it's back, and it's even smarter thanks to LG's wireless tech.

(Image credit: LG) What we know about the LG W5 OLED TV

LG isn't confirming or denying anything, but the new TV was entered for and won a CES Innovation Award this month – and as FlatpanelsHD spotted, there's a whole page on the CES website about the W5. It says:

"The 4K 77-inch W5 is the culmination of many years of LG technical knowhow. Less than ½” thick, it blends into your wall without visible AV wires. This is achieved without compromise, as the TV offers LG’s best OLED picture quality, featuring a brighter more colorful OLED display capable of gaming (up to 144Hz with VRR). It includes LG’s most advanced α11 AI Processor inside a Zero Connect Box that wireless sends your AV connections to the TV, eliminating clutter and freeing TV placement. The W5 is the perfect TV, offering the best of what is possible in a TV."

The big improvement over the previous model is that the new TV uses the same Zero Connect wireless box as the LG M5, making it even more like part of your home décor as well as making it very flexible: as we've previously said, the wireless box is suitable for gaming as well as home entertainment, and is more flexible than previous versions, because it can now be hidden in a cupboard without spoiling the wireless communication.

It's hard to say why LG didn't show the TV off at CES fully – perhaps there was a problem with its initial units, or perhaps the whole launch needs to be delayed. But I'm happy to see such an iconic design return, because this seems like the ideal use of LG's wireless tech. No doubt it'll be devastatingly expensive compared to the best OLED TVs – but it'll probably be super-desirable anyway.

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• Leaks are teasing new Samsung Galaxy AI tools
• Now Brief looks like a daily personal briefing to help you face the day
• Gemini might be taking a more active role as a Bixby replacement

Samsung's next Galaxy Unpacked showcase is set for January 22, and it’s there that we’ll find out everything there is to know about its 2025 smartphone flagships (perhaps even the much-rumored Samsung Galaxy S25 Slim). We’re expecting a slew of upgrades to the hardware, but also to the phone’s software – specifically in the AI department – and new leaks are teasing just that.

The new details come via Brazilian tech outlet Tecnoblog (translated from Portuguese), which claims to have received official Samsung assets highlighting new Gemini integration and a feature called “Now Brief.” This follows previous Samsung Galaxy S25 teasers which highlighted several impressive AI tricks which could be on the way to the next-gen Samsung devices.

Take the following with a pinch of salt as always, but here are three Samsung Galaxy S25 AI features we could soon have our hands on.

Now Brief

(Image credit: Artur Guarnieri / Tecnoblog)

Now Brief, according to the leaked info, appears to be a sort of personalized morning briefing that your phone’s AI presents to you, containing various handy stats – like today’s weather and your Energy score based on how well rested you are (presumably measured by a smart ring or fitness tracker) – as well as useful reminders for the day ahead. For example, in the leaked image Now Brief is reminding us to use that coupon for coffee before it expires in the next few days.

It also appears that your Now Brief doesn’t have to come in the morning, the final part of the leaked image shows us a recap of the day we’ve just had with “memorable moments” to relive and an overview of how we did achieving our daily activity goal. So whether you’d rather have a retrospective recap or a guide to help you navigate the day ahead it looks like this could be a nifty AI tool.

Bye, bye Bixby?

As we noted on the recent CES special episode of our podcast Samsung has a few too many named AI assistants. There’s the Galaxy AI, classic Bixby, and also Google’s Gemini, which it uses via the Android OS. Another AI leak suggests the new phones will try to simplify things by making Gemini more front and center.

It’s not clear whether Bixby is being phased out, but one leaked image suggests Gemini will at least have a more integrated role on the new Samsung phones – with it suggesting users will be able to more easily call on the Google assistant to help them with tasks across various Android and Galaxy apps (such as YouTube and Samsung Notes).

(Image credit: Artur Guarnieri / Tecnoblog) A smarter, more understanding assistant

That same leak which teased better Gemini integration also hints at Galaxy AI being able to perform tasks across multiple apps with one prompt, and that the new Galaxy AI will have a better understanding of what’s happening on your phone. The teaser image example shows us a request for the AI to save a summary in Samsung Notes of what was said in a YouTube video playing on the phone – highlighting both cross-app integration, and the ability for Gemini to understand it needs to pay attention to on-device media.

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• A new trailer Sniper Elite: Resistance has dropped
• It shows off the game's modes and co-op features
• It's set to launch on January 30

A new trailer has been released for Sniper Elite: Resistance, showing off some of its campaign and other core modes.

Set in occupied France, the game is set alongside the events of the last instalment Sniper Elite 5. You play as series staple Harry Hawker, who served as the second protagonist in Sniper Elite 3 through 5 while playing in co-op modes. In typical Sniper Elite fashion, you’re sent deep into enemy territory to take down a sinister Nazi plot that could turn the tide of the war.

The whole campaign will be playable in both single player and online co-op, which is great news if you want to dive in with a friend. For those with a more competitive streak, the fantastic Invasion Mode from Sniper Elite 5 is also coming back, which allows you to drop into other player’s games as a rival sniper and hunt them down. If you’re not a fan of confrontation, the trailer does state that this can be disabled.

Sniper Elite resistance will also introduce a brand-new Propaganda Mode, which you unlock by finding collectible Propaganda posters throughout the campaign. In this mode you play as a resistance fighter, taking on quick challenges against a strict time limit.

As you would expect from a Sniper Elite, plenty of fan favorite features are returning including the expansive weapon customization system, the ability to complete missions in a multitude of ways, and plenty of optional side missions. Of course, the trademark Sniper Elite X-ray killcam is coming back, allowing you to obliterate Nazi testicles from a distance in a glorious, gory 360 view.

The game will release on January 30 for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, and PC. It will be part of Xbox Game Pass on day one. A Deluxe Edition is also available, which grants two days of early access to the game in addition to a season pass and some cool bonus weapons.

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• Google is working on a major Wear OS upgrade
• It would let users scan transit passes without opening the Wallet app
• It sounds a lot like the Apple Wallet Express Transit feature

A new Wear OS leak has revealed that the best Android smartwatches on the market might soon feature an upgrade that will make commuting a breeze, and it's a move lifted directly from Apple's playbook.

As it stands, Wear OS smartwatch users who want to scan transit passes need to open the Wallet app and find the pass before tapping it to board their transport method of choice. Now, code uncovered by Android Authority reveals that this could be about to change.

Lines of code found in the 25.02.32 beta of Google Play services reveal references to the changes. Specifically noting "When your watch is unlocked, you can tap to ride without opening Wallet," and "Ride without opening Wallet." So what could this mean for commuters with Android smartwatches?

Apple Express Transit commutes to Android

(Image credit: Future)

The code uncovered in the latest beta is a very clear sign that Google is working on its own version of Apple's Express Transit feature for Wear OS.

Launched in 2019, the feature allows users of the best iPhones and best Apple Watch models to pay for travel without authenticating using Face ID or Touch ID, even working on some iPhones when they've run out of battery.

As it stands, Wear OS users can store and use transit passes on their watch, but to use it they have to open the Wallet app and find the pass before scanning it. Google Wallet for transportation more generally usually requires waking up your phone when using a transport pass, but there is an option to turn off the verification setting for public transit in Google Wallet for payment cards.

While there's no clear rollout timeline or release window for the new feature, it'll be a welcome update for Wear OS transit pass users when it eventually drops.

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• Google Gemini will now offer up-to-date news
• Google has announced a partnership with The Associated Press
• You'll be able to get your daily news fix directly from the Gemini app

Google has announced that one of the world's biggest providers of news will now provide up-to-date bulletins directly in its AI chatbot, Gemini.

The major deal with The Associated Press was announced in a blog post on Wednesday, and is the first time Google has struck an AI news deal with a publisher.

This new addition to Gemini will give users access to AP's journalism right from within the chatbot, allowing you to quickly get news on the go without the need for a fact check.

The Associated Press Chief Revenue Officer, Kristin Heitmann said the deal looks to "provide timely, accurate news and information to global audiences.”

She added, "We are pleased Google recognizes the value of AP’s journalism as well as our commitment to nonpartisan reporting, in the development of its generative AI products,"

Google's blog announcement says "The AP will now deliver a feed of real-time information to help enhance the usefulness of results displayed in the Gemini app."

At the time of writing, when I ask Gemini for the news in its iOS app, the chatbot replies "Unfortunately, I cannot provide you with real-time, up-to-the-minute news updates. My knowledge of current events is limited."

Google hasn't detailed a timeline of when we can expect to see AP news in Gemini, but considering the language of the post, it shouldn't be too long.

A trustworthy news source

(Image credit: Google)

Google says: "For years, we’ve worked with The Associated Press (AP) to provide up-to-date and accurate information for features in Google Search. To build on that collaboration, the AP will now deliver a feed of real-time information to help further enhance the usefulness of results displayed in the Gemini app. This will be particularly helpful to our users looking for up-to-date information."

This major change to Gemini could see more users flocking to the chatbot to get their daily news fix. In the past, I've been disappointed with the lack of trustworthy news sources in AI chatbots like Gemini or OpenAI's chatbot, so the shift to include more publishers allows the end user to read information in these apps without worrying about their validity.

Would you use Gemini to read the news? Let us know in the comments section below.

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• Google Workspace now offers Gemini AI to all Business and Enterprise tier users
• Does away with paying for extra Gemini add-on
• However overall Google Workspace subscription costs will increase slightly

Google has revealed it is bringing its Gemini AI tools to all enterprise users, but they will have to pay a higher subscription fee for the privilege.

The company announced all Gemini features for its Google Workspace suite of office software, including Docs, Sheets, Slides and more, will now be free to use for Workplace Business and Enterprise subscribers, meaning no additional add-ons are needed.

However the price of all Google Workspace tiers will rise as a result, with cost increases coming across the board.

Gemini for all

"We believe AI is foundational to the future of work and its transformative power should be accessible to every business and every employee, at an affordable price," Jerry Dischler, President of Cloud Applications, Google, wrote in a blog post announcing the news.

"That's why today we’ve decided to include the best of Google AI in Workspace Business and Enterprise plans, bringing the latest generative AI capabilities to our business customers without the need to purchase any add-ons."

Google says it has already seen over 100,000 customers use Gemini within their workplace, unlocking "employee productivity, creativity, and innovation".

This includes summarization, drafting, and information search functions across the whole Google Workplace suite, as well as access to Gemini Advanced chat for more complex tasks.

Previously, subscribers had to pay an extra fee for access to Gemini in their Workplace plan, with an add-on costing from $20-30 per month.

The company says that removing the need to pay for these additional services will help organizations of all sizes get to grips with AI, as well as resulting in significant savings - for example, using the Workspace Business Standard plan with a Gemini Business add-on previously cost $32 per user, per month, but will now total $14 per user, per month — only $2 more than was being paid for Workspace without Gemini.

The new pricing structure is effective now for new Google Workspace customers, and for existing customers, monthly subscription pricing will be updated starting March 17, 2025, or at the renewal date of their an Annual/Fixed-term plan, whichever is later.

Google says "very small business customers" are exempt from the changes, and users can start a "no-cost" trial today - more information on pricing can be found on Google's site here.

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• AMD’s RX 9070 GPUs were listed as in stock by a Danish retailer
• Purported photos were also provided from a retailer in Israel
• Release date rumors are pointing strongly towards something happening either on January 23 or 24

AMD’s RX 9070 graphics cards are already in the hands of retailers, if the latest gossip on the RDNA 4 GPUs is correct.

VideoCardz noticed that a Danish retailer (Foniks) actually had both the RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT listed as in stock on its website, although those listings have now been pulled. This was flagged by @momomo_us, a regular leaker on X.

Product no: GV-R9070XTGAMING OC-16GDEAN: 4719331355524https://t.co/7qZHBB1QrH pic.twitter.com/lLKb364MtiJanuary 15, 2025

The tech site also pointed to a Reddit thread where a staff member at a shop in Israel provided purported photos of both the RX 9070 and its 9070 XT sibling (as ever, skeptical hat on, but they look genuine enough).

Those pics have now been removed from Reddit, but the thread remains (at the time of writing), and VideoCardz saved and published them.

Further to that, a German price comparison site, Geizhals, also listed the RX 9070 XT with a release date of January 24, and so the spillage around these GPUs is coming pretty thick and fast now.

(Image credit: Shutterstock) Analysis: Strong signs of an imminent RDNA 4 launch

What’s interesting here is that as someone else (CrateDane) noticed on the Reddit thread, Foniks had the RX 9070 listed as ‘In stock’ briefly, but then that was changed to ‘Ordered, expected in stock by January 23’ before the listings were taken down completely.

So, we have a mention of both January 23 and 24 here, as the potential launch date, which backs up other recent rumors. B&H Photo has previously accidentally listed the RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT with a pre-order date of January 23, and XFX, a graphics card maker, also dropped a hint on social media that something big relating to Navi 48 (AMD’s chip in the RX 9070, as per rumors) is happening on January 24.

At this point, then, we’d be surprised if something doesn’t happen on January 24 (or 23), whether that’s the full announcement of RX 9070 models, or these graphics cards actually going on sale.

If you’re thinking – weren’t these RDNA 4 GPUs announced at CES 2025? – yes, they were, but barely, with hardly any details revealed. AMD wants to debut the RX 9070 boards with their own showcase, and by all accounts, also wanted to see Nvidia’s big RTX 5000 unveiling and pricing, before deciding on its own price tags – which will be suitably compelling, we’re told.

As far as what AMD has officially said in terms of dates, though, all we have is a release timeframe of Q1 2025. Frank Azor, AMD’s head of consumer and gaming marketing, previously said there will be a dedicated RDNA 4 launch event, and VideoCardz also noticed that another Team Red exec, Donny Woligroski, a senior marketing manager, backed this up, but without providing any firm date. Apparently it’ll be soon, though – likely a week away, maybe, or even sooner, if all these hints that have been dropped aren’t hopelessly errant. (Or, if AMD changes its mind again over the next week – though that seems unlikely).

Why wait until late in January, you might be thinking? Well, this gives AMD a suitable distance from the noise and hype around CES 2025 revelations, and of course, a chance to run interference with Nvidia’s RTX 5080 and 5090 launch which happens on January 30 (though reviews are likely to come out a bit before that, going by rumors).

Frank Azor previously underlined that there’s certainly no delay around RDNA 4, and that isn’t an issue here, as the apparent appearance of RX 9070 models at retailers indicates.

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• Tech layoffs have reduced the number of IT jobs available, report claims
• SMBs are most likely to hire highly skilled IT workers
• AI and cybersecurity skills remain in hot demand

Almost 71,000 IT positions were lost across 2023 and 2024 as the industry continues to grapple with tough economic conditions, geopolitical tensions and ongoing skills shortages, new research has claimed.

A report by Janco notes how although the trend is slowly improving, with 48,600 jobs lost in 2023 compared with 22,300 in 2024, the reality appears to be that IT jobs remain increasingly difficult to acquire and retain.

The news reflects a broader trend of tech industry layoffs, which were amplified by post-pandemic budget cuts and shifts in working routines, including return-to-office mandates marking the end of flexible working.

IT jobs are hard to come by

Just two weeks into 2025 and layoffs.fyi has tracked nearly 1,400 redundancies in the sector. The good news is that signs of recovery are being seen – 152,000 IT roles were eliminated in 2024, compared with 264,000 in 2023. Note that layoffs.fyi tracks redundancies, not the total job losses that Janco’s report details.

Despite the growing need for developers who can handle artificial intelligence models, the technology has also slimmed down many workforces due to its ability to handle mundane, repetitive tasks, threatening knowledge workers across the globe.

It seems that smaller and mid-sized companies are now leading the way in terms of hiring efforts, primarily seeking workers with AI and cybersecurity skills.

It’s not necessarily all bad news for the tech sector, though. CompTIA recently reported that December 2024 tech unemployment rates had dropped to 2%, the lowest in 13 months. That compares with the US average across all sectors of 4.1%.

Network support specialists, tech support specialists and computer programmers were found to be the most in-demand without requirements for extensive college degrees.

Looking ahead, these are among a growing list of studies and reports confirming that the skills landscape is evolving, with AI and cybersecurity continuing to lead the way. Workers looking to futureproof their careers should consider upskilling in these areas for their best chances of survival.

Via The Register

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• Marvel sleuths think Daredevil: Born Again's first trailer contains a Spider-Man reference
• Fans have long clamored for an MCU team-up between the two superheroes
• Some aren't convinced that the show's teaser has a Spider-Man Easter egg, though

Marvel fans have dreamed of a Daredevil and Spider-Man team up in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) – and now some are more convinced than ever that it'll happen sooner rather than later.

Yesterday (January 16), the first trailer for Daredevil: Born Again was finally released to the public. And, while there was a lot to unpack from the forthcoming show's two-minute-long teaser, there's one supposedly hidden detail that's got fans excited.

So, what is it? Some viewers believe that, right before the trailer ends, Spider-Man's iconic 'thwip' sound can be heard. And, when I say the very end of the teaser, I mean it, because fans think they can hear the sound of Spidey's webslinging cue right as the Disney Plus logo appears on the screen – you'll need to scroll all the way to the 2:04 mark to hear it.

Upon first viewing, I noticed that something was a little... different about the normal 'click' sound that accompanies the Disney Plus logo's appearance at the end of trailers for one of the streamer's new projects. I'll readily admit, though, that I couldn't work out why it sounded unusual, and it wasn't until I started scouring the internet for clues that I saw what other fans were saying.

what if we get a spider-man cameo toward the end of DD Born Again pic.twitter.com/KIxnEr8KiGJanuary 15, 2025

Long story short: there are a fair few people who've turned detective and claim that Spider-Man will appear in Daredevil: Born Again. On the ResetEra Etcetera forum, users including Miles Iz Ded, RayCharlizard are convinced that Spidey is loosing one of his webs as the trailer ends.

Unsurprisingly, that's sparked a revival of the conversations fans have had about Tom Holland's wallcrawler appearing in a Daredevil project or vice-versa. ResetEra user Gotchaforce said "[A] grounded Spidey movie [with Daredevil] vs [Wilson] Fisk... would be Avengers-level awesome". Similar sentiments were expressed on Reddit, with YNWA1616, Vekastu, and pseudoveritas all stating their desire to see the duo join forces to take down a common foe.

The devil's in the details

Some fans don't believe Born Again's trailer is hinting at a Spider-Man cameo (Image credit: Marvel Studios/Disney Plus)

Other fans, though, are baffled by suggestions that Spider-Man will show up in Daredevil's standalone MCU TV show.

For starters, ResetEra member Pai Pai Master appeared to pore cold water on the claims that Spidey's 'thwip' sound can be heard at the end of the Marvel Phase 5 show's first trailer. Indeed, they suggest that it's Daredevil's billy clubs, which can be joined together by a cable that extends and retracts, are what's making the noise, which makes far more sense to me.

Other users are similarly unconvinced about Spider-Man's potential appearance, but for a whole different reason. Roxas and Nacho took to ResetEra to opine that Sony Pictures, which owns the rights to the webslinger, wouldn't allow him to appear in a Marvel TV series. Sure, we don't know the ins and outs of the deal that allows Holland's wallcrawler to appear in the MCU, but I'd be very surprised if Sony allowed him to appear any live-action MCU TV project. Holland has starred in TV shows, such as The Crowded Room on Apple TV Plus, so it's not as if he'd turn down the opportunity to pop up in a small-screen production. Nevertheless, Sony has a big say in where Spidey will appear, and I just can't see it happening here.

Some people don't believe Tom Holland's webslinger will show up in Born Again (Image credit: Marvel Studios/Sony)

Crowd-pleasing as it would be for me to see Daredevil and Spider-Man team up in Born Again, there is the odd fan or two who bizarrely don't want it to happen. Admittedly, ResetEra users like Uzzy are in the minority about this, but there are clearly people who either want a team-up to happen in a Marvel film, such as Spider-Man 4, or not at all.

Do you think Spider-Man will stun us all and actually appear in Born Again? Let me know in TechRadar's recently-reintroduced comments section below! Alternatively, get the complete lowdown on everything we know about the series by reading my Daredevil: Born Again hub.

Daredevil: Born Again arrives on Disney Plus, aka one of the world's best streaming services, on March 4 (US) and March 5 (UK and Australia).

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Nintendo Switch 2 leaks, rumors and speculation have been rampant over the last few months, but it's looking like we could get our first official announcement today (January 16). This comes from sources such as The Verge's Tom Warren, who teased a potential reveal this week.

In terms of concrete information from Nintendo itself, there is precious little. However, we do know that the console is to be revealed before the end of Nintendo's fiscal year, as stated by company president Shuntaro Furukawa. That gives us a hard deadline of March 31, 2025. There's still every chance Nintendo could play the waiting game a bit further, but signs are pointing to a debut announcement today.

As it stands, all unofficial information on Nintendo Switch 2 should be taken with a huge pinch of salt. That includes renders from accessory maker Genki at CES 2025, as well as the apparent logo for the console which leaked a few days prior.

In the run-up to any potential announcement today, we're bringing you all the latest Nintendo Switch 2 coverage. This will include official information from Nintendo itself, as well as the most prominent points of speculation and our own predictions and wishes.

What we know so far

(Image credit: Shutterstock/Wachiwit)

In terms of official Nintendo Switch 2 information, there isn't a whole lot to talk about. However, as mentioned in the intro, we do know that Nintendo “will make an announcement about the successor to [the] Nintendo Switch within the fiscal year” as per company president Shuntaro Furukawa.

Also confirmed by Nintendo is that the Switch 2 will be backwards compatible with original Switch games. Furukawa stated: “at today's Corporate Management Policy Briefing, we announced that Nintendo Switch software will also be playable on the successor to Nintendo Switch.”

Furukawa then added that the Nintendo Switch Online "will be available on the successor to Nintendo Switch as well," so it's reasonable to expect your Nintendo account will also carry over to the new console.

What time should we expect?

(Image credit: Nintendo)

We're expecting the Nintendo Switch 2 to be revealed at some point today, but what time should you get ready for? Although there's obviously no word on an official reveal window, we can make an educated guess as to when it might be.

A lot of it depends on the current time in Japan, which is 9 hours ahead of coordinated universal time (UTC). At the time of writing it's almost 8PM, so we might even see some news in the next few hours before Japanese Nintendo fans head to bed.

That said, we suspect that that the reveal will be a bit later than that, potentially even tomorrow morning in Japan. 7AM Japan time would be about 5PM EST in the US, which would allow the news to reach two large audiences at once. Fingers crossed!

How will Nintendo reveal the Switch 2?

(Image credit: Nintendo)

The way in which Nintendo will reveal the Switch 2 remains a mystery even today, as we've still heard nothing in regards to what we can expect from that first reveal.

For the original Nintendo Switch console, we got a fairly comprehensive reveal teaser that showed the Switch's use cases. It demonstrated its docked and handheld mode capabilities while also showing off a number of unannounced titles like Super Mario Odyssey and a port of The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim. This was shortly followed by a full in-person presentation detailing specs, pricing and game announcements.

If Nintendo doesn't reveal anything concrete today, then an announcement of an announcement would be the next best thing - perhaps a social media post telling us exactly when a potential reveal will happen. We are still expecting a teaser video, potentially followed by a more in-depth Nintendo Direct presentation for the hardware.

Similarly, we don't expect Nintendo to just shadow drop a Switch 2 video or presentation. As with any Nintendo Direct, we do anticipate there will at least be some lead-up to the event itself.

What color will the Nintendo Switch 2 be?

(Image credit: Nintendo)

One of our biggest questions is of course what color the Nintendo Switch 2 is going to be. Based on recent leaks, we actually have a pretty concrete idea of how it might look.

Like the original Nintendo Switch we think that it will come in two colorways, one plainer black option for all the boring gamers out there and something more adventurous for those who love a bit of whimsy.

We suspect that the latter will be a striking combination of black, orange, and blue. The orange and blue elements will likely come into play most on the refreshed Joy-con, with colored rings around the thumbsticks and a bright rail where it attaches to the system.

What new Nintendo Switch 2 features should we expect?

(Image credit: Future)

As ever, Nintendo hasn't revealed anything official for Switch 2 features as of yet, but some leaks have given us things to speculate over.

First up is the mysterious 'C' button which surfaced in a Nintendo Switch 2 rumors Discord server (via Game Rant). It's suggested that this could stand for 'Campus', a feature that had been previously datamined. We're still not exactly sure what Campus could be, but folks are speculating it to be a new social feature that's potentially similar to the Wii U's excellently charming Miiverse.

As for the hardware itself, it's heavily rumored that the Switch 2 Joy-Con will feature magnetic connectivity, as opposed to the current Switch's rail attachment system. This should make the Joy-Con easier to disconnect and reattach while in handheld mode.

It's potentially going to be a bigger handheld, too, with rumors stating the Switch 2's display will be around 8 inches. That's slightly larger than the Nintendo Switch OLED's 7.2-inch display. That could be a great thing for overall image clarity, but will likely mean the device will be a bit less portable-friendly overall.

Nintendo Switch 2 is going to be backwards compatible

(Image credit: Nintendo)

One of the very few pieces of concrete information we have about the Nintendo Switch 2 is that it will be backwards compatible with Nintendo Switch software. This was confirmed in an X / Twitter post by a Nintendo corporate account on November 6 last year.

What does this mean? Well, you won't have to worry about your existing library of Nintendo Switch games not working on the new console. The company has also stated that Nintendo Switch Online will be available on the Nintendo Switch 2, too, so you should be able to carry over your save data via the cloud.

You can see the company's full statement below.

This is Furukawa. At today's Corporate Management Policy Briefing, we announced that Nintendo Switch software will also be playable on the successor to Nintendo Switch. Nintendo Switch Online will be available on the successor to Nintendo Switch as well. Further information about…November 6, 2024

Will there be any Nintendo Switch 2 launch deals?

(Image credit: Future)

Unfortunately, it's very unlikely that we'll see any substantial Nintendo Switch 2 deals for the launch or pre-order phase. Nintendo will likely offer bundles with at least one major launch game included but this will almost certainly be at full price.

Your best chance to get a saving will be to trade in your current Nintendo Switch (or any other existing console) and put that towards an upgrade to the Switch 2.

As we saw with the recently released PS5 Pro, this was one of the better ways to get the console for less. In the UK, the phone network EE bumped up its trade-in rebate for the original PS5 by £30 to £260 when you also bought a PS5 Pro, making it one of the largest discounts from all retailers.

It's best to expect something similar to that trade-in discount whenever the Nintendo Switch 2 is up for sale – at least until the major end-of-year sales get underway in November for Black Friday.

Nintendo unveils its Switch successor

Nintendo has officially unveiled its Nintendo Switch successor, officially called the Nintendo Switch 2, via a new trailer posted to YouTube.

In the trailer we see the console showed off for the first time and it looks... almost exactly how we predicted! You can see it for yourself below.

Organizations increasingly depend on accurate insights from their data to drive decisions, fuel innovation and maintain their competitive edge. Yet, the ability to extract meaningful, high-quality insights from this data is dependent on effective data governance.

Implementing data governance is critical, but like all data initiatives, it requires internal adoption and organizational fit. Generative AI is emerging to transform the way organizations streamline data management processes.

Data governance and its challenges

Effective data governance is the backbone of data-driven decision-making, but it is more than just a process. It is a strategic framework that ensures data is accessible, secure and aligned with organizational goals.

Data governance relies on four core pillars for success. The first is having people to define and execute the policies and standards. Secondly, the process outlines the workflows for managing data while the third pillar, technology, provides the tools for tasks like ingestion, integration, security and compliance. Finally, standards ensure data consistency and interoperability across the organization, enabling effective collaboration and decision-making to maintain the quality and usability of data assets.

However, data governance is not a simple task and requires coordination and collaboration among stakeholders, such as business users, data teams and IT departments, along with the technical expertise and tools to implement, manage and monitor it. Managing data sources across platforms, applications and business departments requires a governance policy that is tailored to the complexity of the organization's structure.

Organizations face two primary challenges: the complexity of managing diverse data sources, and how to encourage widespread adoption of governance practices among users.

Organizations are required to handle data from various sources, such as customer databases, web traffic, or after acquisition, which can be formatted in many ways from structured and semi-structured to unstructured. This diversity, along with the growing volume of data, makes integration, management and effective use difficult.

However, data is only useful if it is being utilized to serve business initiatives, and yet many enterprises continue to wrestle with the fact that user adoption remains a challenge. Business users often see governance as a burden, rather than a benefit, limiting their access to data access and therefore ability to use it effectively.

They may also lack the skills to follow data governance policies. This can lead to non-compliance and the creation of data silos or shadow IT systems that compromise data quality and security.

How generative AI accelerates data governance

Leveraging generative AI helps organizations take a new approach to data governance. By automating, optimizing and simplifying core functions, generative AI enables them to realize the full potential of their data assets. Adopting techniques like deep learning and natural language processing, generative AI can also create relevant and accessible outputs including text, audio, and images.

It can transform data governance in several ways. By automating labor-intensive data management tasks such as ingestion, cleansing, classification and profiling to ensure data accuracy, it helps data teams efficiently scale data management. It also aids data discovery by providing metadata, lineage and context information, generating natural language summaries for all data assets to make it easier for users and businesses to understand data value.

This accessibility fosters a more inclusive data culture across a business and transforms data governance in several ways to achieve operational benefits. By providing natural language recommendations or suggestions alongside analysis results, Generative AI makes insights accessible to both technical and non-technical users, helping users optimize the impact of the data and ensure that it is effectively leveraged for decision-making and innovation.

By enabling users to interact with data effectively, generative AI can ultimately increase the adoption of governance practices, and foster a data-driven culture across the organization. This not only enhances data quality but also strengthens security and promotes seamless integration across systems.

Data trust and its role in governance

Data trust is the mission-critical consequence of effective data governance. In an environment where data is increasingly shared across departments and even external partners, ensuring trust in data for all purposes is essential. Trust is built through the transparency in data management practices, clear policies on data access and robust security protocols.

Generative AI can play a significant role in enhancing data trust by providing continuous transparent monitoring, automated auditing, and anomaly detection to ensure data integrity and compliance with standards. AI-powered insights can validate the data’s accuracy which helps to maintain trust as the data moves across different systems and teams.

Gen AI in decentralized data governance

As organizations adopt modern IT paradigms like data mesh and data fabric, data governance models are shifting from centralized to decentralized or federated frameworks.

In decentralized models, individual business units retain autonomy while following governance principles. Federated models strike a balance, with a central data team providing guidelines and decentralized teams managing data at the local level.

Generative AI is particularly well-suited for these frameworks, acting as a bridge between central governance bodies and decentralized teams. It facilitates communication, ensures alignment of goals, and provides localised, tailored insights while adhering to enterprise-wide standards.

Effective data governance is essential for unlocking the full potential of an organization's data, but managing complexity and encouraging user adoption remain significant challenges. Generative AI is a powerful tool for data teams to bring value from their organization's data to the business users efficiently and accessibly.

Generative AI bridges the gap between oversight and autonomy by ensuring data quality, bolstering security and supporting robust, bespoke data governance models. Embracing this technology enables organizations to overcome common governance challenges, drive innovation, and maximize the value of their data assets to ensure continued business competitiveness.

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