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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.

• Microsoft Edge slipped slightly to 13.29% according to Statcounter’s latest figures for the browser market in April 2025
• Edge has been stuck around the 13% mark for over a year now
• To make progress, Microsoft needs to rethink its strategy, and stop overzealously promoting Edge in Windows 11

Microsoft’s Edge browser appears to be facing a distinctly uphill battle in the browser wars, with its market share having clearly stalled over the past year.

Granted, that percentage share of the browser market has been bobbling up and down a bit as time has passed, going by analytics firm Statcounter’s global figures. But the upshot is Edge doesn’t seem to be making any real headway against Google’s Chrome browser.

As Neowin noticed, with April’s browser stats, Edge is on 13.29% which is a slight loss of 0.08% on March 2025. If we rewind a year, it’s actually up a little bit, but the increase is marginal with a 0.32% gain.

Essentially, Edge has been stuck around the 13% mark for over a year now, and has been unable to break free of the shackles of that particular number.

At the start of 2024, it crept over 13%, then hit 13.8% in August 2024, seeming to make some decent progress – except it dropped back down under 13% towards the end of last year.

Then it rose like a phoenix (ahem) to reach 13.9% in February 2025, again a solid uptick, before dropping back down (like a phoenix somebody turned a fire hose on) to 13.29% this past month.

In short, whenever there’s an increase that makes it look like Edge could get over 14%, the browser appears to shed users again. And given how far away Microsoft’s app is from Chrome – which is way in the lead on 65% – it’s not looking good for the overall campaign to dethrone Google here.

(Image credit: Shutterstock / monticello) Analysis: Drop the promos, Microsoft – or, erm, just buy Chrome

Actually, looking at the entire browser market in recent history, nothing is really doing much – it’s a very static overall picture. All the major browsers have pretty much flatlined, and are maintaining a strict balance of power, with only minor fluctuations from month-to-month.

Chrome holds most of that power, as noted, and Edge is a very distant second, ahead of Safari and Firefox which are a good way behind it (relatively speaking at the low-end). Opera is the other minor player bringing up the rear, but whichever graph you look at, it’s pretty much a straight line through the months for all these browsers, with very slight bobbles.

What is Microsoft getting wrong? Well, I know it’s a well-beaten drum, but I’m convinced part of the problem is the overzealous promotion of Edge in Windows 11 (and 10). These kind of exercises – which have been numerous in recent history – only smack of desperation, and will likely turn off people, rather than persuade them to give Edge a chance.

I know that repeated prompts to make Edge my default browser have annoyed me quite a number of times, cropping up here and there, and I’m sure I am not alone (a quick rifle through some online posts on typical forums like Reddit underlines this).

The crying shame is that Edge is actually a good product. Indeed, it’s rated as the top pick in our roundup of the best web browsers, so it deserves to be a meaningful rival to Chrome, even if it’s not perfect. And Microsoft is working to iron out some of those imperfections, like bloat, slowly but surely.

What does Microsoft need to do to stand a chance of breaking through the 15% barrier, then? Well, keep on the path of streamlining by all means, but just shut up about Edge in Windows 11 (or elsewhere), and try to get a turnaround in the public perception of the browser being overly promoted. Because that only leads to suspicion that Edge needs to be promoted because it’s not all that great – which isn’t true.

Microsoft positioning itself to gain favor and more goodwill from the computing public in this way could stand Edge in good stead, given that the top dog browser is currently navigating some unsteady waters, with Google currently under fire regarding selling off Chrome.

Or there’s an idea: just buy Chrome, Microsoft. Of course, that remote prospect would be highly unlikely to fly with regulators as it’s rather an ‘out of the fire and into the frying pan’ solution.

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Is this the Droid you’ve been looking for? Well, if you’ve been after a pint-sized cargo-carrying droid that you can follow around, Lucasfilm’s latest collaboration with Piaggio Fast Forward just might be the one you’ve been looking for.

Meet G1T4-M1N1, a special edition of Piaggio’s gitamini robot that sticks with the off-the-shelf bright yellow – maybe a lime green – hull of a droid and tosses in custom decals that give it the look of an astromech. You’ll find long arms like those of R2-D2 on the left and right, various gray shapes giving it a shell, and sensors galore all around.

Plus, via the built-in speaker, Piaggio worked with Lucasfilm to design custom Droid sounds, so yes, various beeps and boops, as well as a custom lighting package, round out the Star Wars edition.

(Image credit: Jacob Krol/Future)

Aside from that, it is indeed the classic Gita Mini with a front sensor stack with two cameras that work as a pair and a secondary color CMOS camera. These all work in conjunction with AI models on a device to help the G1T4-M1N1 recognize and lock onto you, so that it can follow you and avoid obstacles.

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!

It also has two main wheels, and the actual hull of the robot balances between them as it glides so effortlessly. I tested it in TechRadar’s office in New York City, which was mostly smooth. How well would it perform on the sandy surface of Tatooine or the icy surface of Hoth? Your guess is as good as mine, but I have a feeling the G1T4-M1N1 would ask that you never tell it the odds.

Piaggio says it tops out at 6 MPH, though. When coworkers spotted it gliding around the office, one might have thought it had punched into hyperspace. Seriously, though, G1T4-M1N1 does pack a punch, and it's pretty compact, measuring just under 19 inches in height.

(Image credit: Jacob Krol/Future)

This robot is not just about good droid looks. It has a purpose. I tucked away Sabine Wren’s lightsaber in the cargo bin, which opens pretty easily from the top. It also locks via the app, so that precious cargo can be stored securely. It can hold up to a 20-pound payload, so it could hold quite a bit of beskar, which is a win.

It’s a cute robot, the result of a collaboration between Piaggio and Lucasfilm that came about quite naturally. Speaking to TechRadar exclusively, Greg Lynn, CEO of Piaggio Fast Forward, told us, “When we first met with Disney on campus and were walking in with a Gita Mini and a Gita Plus robot, it was also one of the best experiences, with people running out of the office building saying, ' They’re here!'”

Feeling the Force

(Image credit: Jacob Krol/Future)

It was evident that Piaggio Fast Forward team were Star Wars fans, and the team at Lucas Film and Star Wars were, as you’d expect, fans of real-life robots and droids. Lynn shared that it was a great partnership working together on ‘developing all kinds of customizations and features” to make a special robot, which came to form as the G1T4-M1N1.

Lynn and the team from Piaggio got to look through the archives at Lucasfilm in search of some early Astro-Mech droids. The Gita Mini already had sensors, and so did the astro-mechs, so it was a pretty perfect pair. You’ll experience custom sounds at various points when using the G1T4-M1N1, including when you start walking and abruptly stop, or change your speed quickly.

Lynn shared his excitement for this launch, and if you’re already sold, the G1T4-M1N1 is available for order now from the Disney Store for $2,875. You’ll also get the Star Wars edition of the droid and special packaging. It’s not a limited edition either, so you should be able to find one of these for a good bit.

The droid you're looking for

The launch also comes ahead of May 4, 2025, also known as Star Wars Day, and this is one of the coolest, albeit more expensive, products to debut. And if you’re after some other items – maybe a new Lego set or a piece of the epic, frosty, Hoth collection – you can carry it in the G1T4-M1N1.

Now, if you want to see the G1T4-M1N1 in action, before purchasing or just want to try it, the Disney Store in Times Square, New York City, will have several of these out and about this weekend – certainly a fun way to celebrate Star Wars Day.

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• Concerns have been raised around the default drive encryption applied with Windows 11 24H2
• This is put in place when setting up new PCs, or with fresh installs of Windows 11 24H2 on existing devices
• The encryption recovery key is tied to a Microsoft account, and if that account is subsequently deleted or otherwise inaccessible, this can mean you lose all your data – and Microsoft doesn’t make this nearly clear enough

Some criticism has been levelled at Microsoft for not making it clear enough that Device Encryption – the lightweight spin on BitLocker for Windows 11 Home – is enabled automatically during setting up Windows 11 24H2 with a Microsoft account. (Albeit there are caveats here, which I’ll return to).

Neowin flagged up the post on Reddit which boldly carries the statement ‘BitLocker is now the biggest threat to user data on Windows 11’ in its title.

How does that work exactly? Given that BitLocker is, of course, a security feature which provides encryption for the host drive to protect the data on it (which is definitely a good thing if your PC is stolen, or you lose it).

Well, as the Redditor points out, there’s a broader perspective on security here, which encompasses the availability of data, rather than just its confidentiality (encryption).

The post by a Redditor called MorCJul observes: “In cybersecurity, we talk about the CIA Triad: Confidentiality (keeping data secret), Integrity (keeping data accurate and unaltered), and Availability (making sure data is accessible when needed).

“I’d argue that for the average user, availability of their data matters far more than confidentiality. Losing access to family photos and documents because of unavailability is far more painful than any confidentiality concerns.

“Without mandatory, redundant key backups, BitLocker [Device Encryption] isn’t securing anything – it’s just silently setting users up for catastrophic failure. I’ve seen this happen too often now.”

Essentially, the Redditor is pointing out that if you lose your Microsoft account, that’s your data gone with it – irretrievably. How come? That requires a more in-depth explanation.

(Image credit: Shutterstock) Analysis: The origin of this issue – and what you can do to protect yourself

Let’s rewind a bit here and unpick this. The origin of this controversy is a move made by Microsoft some time ago, with the release of the 24H2 update for Windows 11. With 24H2 the company relaxed the requirements for the hardware needed to facilitate automatic drive encryption, broadening its reach.

What Microsoft did was make it so that when you first set up a new PC that has Windows 11 Home using a Microsoft account, Device Encryption is turned on by default (for the system drive only, I should note – full BitLocker is needed to encrypt other drives on the computer). And the same is true for a clean install of Windows 11 24H2 on an existing PC – although crucially, not with an upgrade.

So, the default enabling of this encryption feature doesn’t apply if you perform an in-place upgrade to Windows 11 24H2, or if you use a local account to install the OS.

The reason the feature is only for users setting up Windows 11 with their Microsoft account is because there’s a recovery key – to undo the encryption – and this is attached to the user’s Microsoft account.

(As a side-note, you may be aware that a Microsoft account is necessary for the Windows 11 installation process anyway, so it isn’t easy to avoid that. There are still workarounds to install the OS with a local account, but Microsoft appears to be busy stamping all these out).

Anyway, the potential disaster scenario runs like this: the user installs Windows 11 24H2 – with a Microsoft account, as the process demands – and goes through setup without realizing that Device Encryption is switched on.

In the future, the user subsequently deletes that Microsoft account (maybe switching to a local account later, or a different Microsoft account). If a problem then occurs which demands the recovery key to access the encrypted data on the system drive, guess what? That recovery key has been thrown in the bin along with the deleted Microsoft account.

Granted, this is a somewhat niche scenario, but the result – the data on the drive is irretrievably lost, family photos and all, as noted above – is a nightmarish prospect.

What the Redditor is arguing is that this potential ‘data time bomb’ is more of a danger than not having your drive encrypted, with the latter only really being an issue in case of theft (which is also a pretty niche scenario, particularly for a desktop PC which never goes anywhere, except maybe a LAN party).

(Image credit: Getty Images)

What’s the solution? Well, don’t delete your Microsoft account springs to mind. The problem is that you can happily do so – oblivious that you’re trashing what could be a critical key contained within that account – and only find out the heavy cost of your actions later.

As the Redditor points out, there should be much more flagging regarding the drive encryption feature applied by default with 24H2. In Windows 11 Home setup, it should be made perfectly clear what’s happening, and the risks-rewards on both sides of the equation with Device Encryption on or off. And a clear warning should be given about the key being tied to the Microsoft account.

Furthermore, when deleting a Microsoft account, if a Device Encryption recovery key is attached, the user should be made very aware of that, and what the results might be if they punt the account off into the abyss, never to be seen again. Currently, no such warning is given upon account deletion, and the Redditor notes they checked when making their post that this is still the case.

Having read, this, though, you’re armed with the knowledge that deleting a Microsoft account is something you should be careful around. And if you want to check whether your Windows 11 Home (24H2) device is running with encryption, you can find out by going to Privacy & security > Device Encryption in the Settings app. At the top of the screen, there’s a slider for the encryption feature, which is either on or off.

Note that you can turn off Device Encryption post-installation of Windows 11 24H2, at any time, simply by using that slider.

To throw in some extra paranoia here, in the past, BitLocker (of which Device Encryption is a ‘lite’ flavor, as mentioned at the outset) has been found to slow down SSDs by an alarming amount. Full BitLocker is only used with Windows 11 Pro (or enterprise versions), and as mentioned, Device Encryption is a slimmed-down take purely for the system drive on Windows 11 Home machines. We've contacted Microsoft for a comment.

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In this article we're going to explore the difference between a fan and an air circulator, and help you figure out which is the best choice for your needs. Both types appear in our best fan roundup, and both have their pros and cons, depending on what you want to achieve.

As you can see from the image above, the two types of fan can look extremely similar at a glance, but they operate in different ways.

An air circulator is designed to circulate air around larger spaces. This type of fan really shines when combined with a cold air source, because it'll ensure the cooler air is distributed quickly and efficiently around the whole space.

In contrast, regular fans use a directed flow of air to enhance the evaporation of sweat, helping you feel cooler. They're great for personal cooling, but they will only have an effect if the air is pointed right at you.

Want to know more? Read on for a closer look at air circulators vs fans.

Air circulator vs fan: what is an air circulator? What is an air circulator?

An air circulator is a type of fan that is designed to circulate air around a whole room, rather than just blowing it in a specific direction.

For this reason, air circulators are especially effective when combined with a cool air source like an air con unit (here's more on air con vs fans). In this setup, an air circulator amplifies the work of the air con unit, helping drop the overall temperature in the room far more efficiently and ensuring the cooling air is evenly distributed.

If you don't have air con, they can still be useful, for example by circulating the breeze from an open window.

Say your bedroom has heated up during a sunny day – if you pop an air circulator next to an open window when night starts to fall and the temperature outside drops, it'll help distribute that cool air around your room in double-quick time, for a cooler sleep. They're also good for improving room ventilation.

Air circulators like the MeacoFan 1056P shift air around large spaces (Image credit: Future) How do air circulators work?

Often air circulators look like pedestal fans or desktop fans, with a fan head sitting atop a pole or on a base. They work by sucking air in through the back of the fan head, and pushing it out though a tight spiral grill and out into the room, where it bounces off the walls and ceiling. Eventually, the air will be bounced back towards the air circulator unit, and the whole process will start again.

The fan head doesn't necessarily need to move around to circulate air effectively. However, sometimes the fan head will rotate – and not just side-to-side like a regular fan, but up-and-down, too.

Air circulator vs fan: what is a fan? What is a fan?

'Fan' is the umbrella term; an air circulator is a type of fan. However, if we're talking about traditional fans (including tower and pedestal fans), they're typically designed to direct a flow of air to a specific area. This is great if you want to cool just one or – if the fan has oscillating capabilities – a few people at a time.

As a general rule, traditional fans aren't designed to circulate air around a whole room. However, fans with wide oscillating properties will help shift air around a fair bit. Some Dyson fans can oscillate a full 360 degrees, for example.

Whether its a tower – like this Dreo 519S – or a pedestal, regular fans offer a directed flow of air (Image credit: Future) How do fans work?

Fans don't actually cool the air; it's the movement of air on your skin that helps you feel cooler by boosting the evaporation of sweat. That means you'll only feel the benefits when you're sitting directly in the airflow path.

Buy an air circulator if... 1. You have an air con unit

Air circulators can be hugely effective at amplifying a source of cool air – for example from an air con unit – and ensuring it reaches the whole room. As a side note, this can help save energy and potentially lower your utility bills by helping your AC work more efficiently.

For example, in our Dreo TurboPoly 508S review, our tester found this air circulator fan was incredibly efficient at lowering temperatures in her home when paired with her usually ineffective AC unit.

Air circulators like the Dreo 508S help amplify the effects of AC (Image credit: Future) 2. You need to cool a large area

Traditional fans will only cool one or two people at once, whereas an air circulator is designed to create a flow of air around a whole room. That has the added benefit of meaning you could pop your air circulator out of the way, in the corner of a room, and it'll still do its job – whereas a fan would need to be positioned so you're directly in its airflow range. Don't expect powerful individual cooling from an air circulator unless you're adding a source of cool air, though.

3. You want something for year-round use

While a fan is only really helpful in the hot weather, air circulators can also be used alongside a heater in the colder months. While hot air will naturally rise, adding an air circulator will help evenly warm a room. They can also help with room ventilation if you have areas that tend to feel stuffy.

Buy a fan if... 1. You want something for personal cooling

Non-air circulator fans direct a flow of air at an individual, helping them feel cooler by enhancing the evaporation of sweat from their skin. You don't need a source of cold air for this type of fan to help cool you down.

2. You want something to use outside

The effects of an air circulator are going to get lost outside, whereas a fan can help generate a cooling breeze. Misting fans like the Shark FlexBreeze or FlexBreeze HydroGo can be especially effective for outdoor use.

A misting fan like the FlexBreeze HydroGo is a great choice for outdoor use (Image credit: Future) 3. You don't have air con

Air circulators are designed to amplify an existing source of cool air – usually from an air con unit. While an air circulator can still be useful without AC, traditional fans tend to be more efficient at cooling when used on their own.

• Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella believes around a third of the company's code is now AI-written
• Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg believes half of its code will come from AI in a year
• Productivity benefits come at the cost of potential vulnerabilities and job losses

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has revealed nearly one-third of the company's code is now written by AI.

Speaking to fellow tech titan, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, at the company's first-ever "AI innovation" conference, LlamaCon, Nadella added the figure is trending upward, possibly reaching as far as 40%, noting AI is most effective at writing new code rather than modifying old code.

The news comes just months after Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai revealed similar figures, claiming more than quarter of Google's code is now AI-generated.

Microsoft is using more and more AI-generated code

"I'd say maybe 20-30% of the code that is inside of our repos today and some of our projects are probably all written by software," Nadella confirmed.

Despite posing the question, when that same question was asked to Zuckerberg, he claimed not to "have that number off the top of [his] head."

However, Meta's leader did offer an outlook for the company's use of AI: "Our bet is sort of that in the next year... maybe half the development is going to be done by AI as opposed to people, and that will kind of increase from there."

Neither Nadella nor Zuckerberg discussed potential job losses due to AI coding, but there was a brief discussion around evolving roles.

"I tend to think that... every engineer if effectively going to end up being more of a like tech lead in the future that has their own little army of AI agents that they work with," Meta's CEO explained.

Responding to the discussion on the Proton Mail X account, privacy-focused Swiss office software company Proton said: "This is not the flex you think it is, Microsoft."

It's unclear whether that was a dig at potential vulnerabilities that could be introduced through AI-written code, the effects it may have on the workforce, or something else.

TechRadar Pro has sought clarification on this.

Watch the full discussion between the two leaders on Meta's YouTube channel.

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There’s every chance that the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 will be the best foldable phone of the year, as leaks suggest this successor to the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 will be a serious upgrade.

So, if you’re serious about foldables – and have a serious stack of cash to spend on one – then you might want to consider this model. It’s not out yet, but it could be coming soon – and we have a good idea of when.

Below then, you’ll find our predictions of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 announcement date, pre-order date, and shipping date. These predictions are based on a mix of leaks, rumors, and Samsung’s typical timings.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 announcement date predictions

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 (Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)

Our best guess for when the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 will be announced is either July 2 or July 9.

Why those days? Well, the last couple of models were announced in July, so that’s the most likely month. On top of which, South Korean site The JoongAng has said to expect the phone in early July, which likely means in the first couple of weeks.

Add to that the fact that Samsung typically unveils new Z Fold models on a Wednesday, and that leaves us with just July 2 or July 9.

Of course, The JoongAng could be wrong, but the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 was unveiled on July 10 last year, and Samsung has been shifting the announcement dates slightly forward each of the last few years, so if that trend continues then we’d again probably be looking at early July.

We still can’t completely rule out a date later in the month, or a launch on something other than a Wednesday, but all signs are pointing in this direction so far, and at the very least, with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 reportedly entering mass production in May, it should be ready to land in or around July.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 pre-order date predictions

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 (Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)

We can also take a good guess at when Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 pre-orders will open, with our best guess for now once again being either July 2 or July 9.

The reason for that is simply that Samsung usually opens pre-orders on the day it announces new devices. It did this for example with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6, and the Samsung Galaxy S25.

So, while it’s possible Samsung will break from its usual patterns here, we doubt it. If we’re wrong about the pre-order dates it will more likely be because we’re wrong about when the phone is announced, as whenever it’s announced, we’re almost certain you’ll be able to pre-order it that same day.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 shipping date predictions

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 (Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)

Shipping dates are what we’re least sure of, as not only do they depend on our announcement date predictions being right, but Samsung isn’t quite as consistent with when phones ship as when they go up for pre-order.

There is still a rough pattern though, with the last few Samsung Galaxy Z Fold models and many other Samsung handsets shipping approximately two weeks after they’re announced. The exact gap does vary though, typically coming in at between 12 and 16 days.

So, if the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 is announced on July 2, then two weeks later would be July 16, so we could see it ship then – or a day or two either side of that. If it’s unveiled on July 9 then it might instead ship on or around July 23.

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Marvel's Thunderbolts* movie has stormed into theaters worldwide, and, whether or not you plan on seeing it on a big screen near you, I suspect you'll want to know when it'll come to Disney+.

Well, the short answer is that the second Marvel film of 2025 doesn't have a streaming release date yet. That won't stop me speculating on when it might land on Disney's primary streaming platform, though, which I'll do shortly.

That's not all. Below, I'll also provide more information on what you need to know about Thunderbolts*, including its runtime and end-credits scenes. Before you proceed, though, make sure you read my Thunderbolts* review to see if it's worth watching in your local cinema and/or at home.

Does Thunderbolts* have a Disney+ release date yet?

Staring into the *ahem* void while you wait for Thunderbolts* to land on Disney+ like... (Image credit: Marvel Studios)

No. As I mentioned, Thunderbolts* doesn't have a confirmed Disney+ launch date yet, and it'll be a while before the Marvel Phase 5 movie makes its debut on one of the world's best streaming services.

On average, it takes three months for Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) films to be added to the Disney+ movie library. Indeed, at the time of publication, the most recent MCU flick – Captain America: Brave New World, which flew into theaters on February 14 – still isn't out on the service.

With Thunderbolts* only launching in multiplexes and local theaters globally in early May, it'll probably be August before the Florence Pugh-fronted team-up film lands on Disney+. For now, your only option is to watch it on the big screen.

As for my prediction of when it'll be available to enjoy in the comfort of your own home, I think Thunderbolts* will make its Disney+ bow on Wednesday, August 6.

That's a whole week after Ironheart, the final MCU Phase 5 project, will have ended. And, with new Disney+ movies usually releasing on the platform midweek, the aforementioned date seems like a solid guess to me.

What is the runtime of Thunderbolts*?

Thunderbolts* will take around two hours to watch (Image credit: Marvel Studios)

Thunderbolts* has a runtime of two hours and six minutes.

That includes its end credits crawl, which you should definitely sit through to fully appreciate the sheer amount of people who worked on one of the best Marvel movies of the Phase 5 era.

Does Thunderbolts* have a mid- and/or post-credits scene?

Metaphorically speaking, we're always tied to our seats until every Marvel movie's end-credits sequence has ended (Image credit: Marvel Studios)

Yes! Thunderbolts* has a mid-credits scene and a post-credits stinger. Where the MCU's future is concerned, the latter is far more important than the former but, in my view, they're both worth watching for different reasons.

Want more details on what is shown? My Thunderbolts* ending explained piece is packed with more information about those scenes, as well as plenty of speculation about what the film's end-credits scene means for the next two MCU movies – those being The Fantastic Four: First Steps and Avengers: Doomsday.

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• The highly anticipated Grand Theft Auto 6 has been delayed
• But we do finally have a release date
• It will launch on May 26, 2026

Developer Rockstar Games has finally given us an official release date for Grand Theft Auto 6, though simultaneously revealed that the game has been delayed.

As confirmed in a recent press release, the highly anticipated open-world crime game will now release on "May 26, 2026" - a year after its previously announced 2025 release window.

"Hi everyone," the press release begins. "Grand Theft Auto 6 is now set to release on May 26, 2026."

It goes on to apologize for the delay: "We are very sorry that this is later than you expected. The interest and excitement surrounding a new Grand Theft Auto has been truly humbling for our entire team. We want to thank you for your support and your patience as we work to finish the game."

It also provides a reason for the decision, stating that "With every game we have released, the goal has always been to try and exceed your expectations, and Grand Theft Auto 6 is no exception. We hope you understand that we need this extra time to deliver at the level of quality you expect and deserve."

It concludes by saying that more information will be shared "soon".

The first trailer for Grand Theft Auto 6 was released back in December 4, 2023, and has now been viewed more than 251 million times on YouTube.

The game will take place in the fictionalized US state of Leonida, home of the the iconic Vice City featured in previous games. It follows new protagonist Lucia and her partner as they go on the run from the law.

Industry analysts predict that the game's release will be "one of the biggest entertainment launches in history" and that it could potentially generate more than $1 billion in pre-order sales alone.

It will be available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S.

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• The NotebookLM mobile app listings are now live
• The research app is coming very soon to Android and iOS
• Expect to hear more news at Google I/O 2025 on May 20

Having hinted at the imminent arrival of a NotebookLM app last month, Google has now put the AI research app live on the Google Play Store and Apple App Store for mobile devices. You can't download it yet, but you can pre-order it – and it gives us a good early glimpse of what the promising app looks like.

'Pre-ordering' the app means it will automatically download to your phone when it's launched in full, which according to the Apple App Store listing (via 9to5Google) is May 20 – the same day as Google I/O 2025 starts, where we'll no doubt hear more about this app.

(Image credit: Google)

If you've never come across NotebookLM before, it's an AI-powered resource tool that can collate information across documents, webpages, and more – you can get smart summaries, ask questions about the data, and even produce fake podcasts (which you can interrupt, if you want to).

It looks as though the app is going to include the podcast (or "audio overview") creator, based on the screenshots in these listings. We can also see screens for adding sources, and for the conversation panel where you can chat about the sources with the AI.

An alternative to Gemini

NotebookLM can produce audio podcasts for you (Image credit: Google/Apple)

Google will no doubt give us the full story about this app in a few weeks, but almost all of the web app features seem to have been carried over – including the ability to add notebooks and browse through the notebooks you've created on the web.

NotebookLM is a helpful alternative to Google Gemini for those times when you need AI's help with a specific set of material you've collected – perhaps a science research project or reports on a current industry trend.

Based on my experience with the tool, it's usually more straight-faced and serious than Gemini, and includes citations with all its responses – so you can check if it's made any mistakes. You get higher usage limits and more customization options in NotebookLM if you're subscribed to a Google One AI Premium plan.

It looks as though there's going to be a wealth of AI news coming out of Google I/O 2025 from May 20 – including, perhaps, an update on the AI Mode for search – and we will of course bring you all the announcements as they're made.

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• A third British retailer has been hit with a cyberattack
• The M&S incident is likely a ransomware attack from ScatteredSpider
• Retailers are at risk due to high downtime costs

Luxury department store Harrods has become the third British retailer to be hit by a cyberattack in a matter of days, with the firm restricting internet access at its sites following an attempt to gain access to its systems.

The incident closely follows the confirmation that an earlier attack targeting Marks & Spencer, causing widespread outages in stores and the retailer’s online platform, is allegedly the work of ScatteredSpider hackers.

The third incident, a cyberattack on retail giant Co-Op, forced the supermarket to take down parts of its IT systems and take proactive measures to defend against the attackers.

There are certainly similarities between the reports of the incidents, and in such quick succession it seems likely there may be a link between them, but the extent of the attacks is yet to be seen - here’s what we know so far.

No known link

Despite the timings and the similarities, there’s no official link between the incidents, although it’s likely that all three incidents are ongoing, so more information may be revealed as the attacks unfold.

In the meantime, security teams should be ultra vigilant, and should deploy the best endpoint protection software to keep their organisation safe.

SonicWall’s Executive VP of EMEA, Spencer Starkey explains ransomware, “holds victim organizations' business operations hostage, which uniquely impacts retailers and other organizations that provide daily, direct services to their customers”.

As we’ve seen in the continued disruption of the M&S attack, these incidents can have a devastating effect, with the supermarket’s share price falling 7%, causing millions in lost sales and downtime.

Starkey explains these attacks are particularly harmful to retailers as they directly affect revenue generation, which provides additional leverage for the attackers, and warns that companies should be operating on the presumption that they will inevitably be targeted, so should develop a comprehensive incident response plan.

Not if, but when

Concerns are rising for businesses across the country, and retail attacks have risen sharply since the development of AI tools designed to help cybercriminals send out more frequent and sophisticated attacks.

The head of the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), Dr Richard Horne, has warned that these attacks should serve as a “wake-up call” for all organizations, and urges security leaders to ensure they have “appropriate measures in place to help prevent attacks and respond and recover effectively.”

Ex-NSA cyber chief, Cody Barrow, also warns generative AI is “accelerating the threat landscape,” and that sophisticated attacks like social engineering and adaptive malware campaigns are now available to even low-skilled attackers.

In particular, criminals are able to send out an incredible number of social engineering attacks, that are designed specifically to trick victims into giving attackers access to their networks.

Security best practices recommend using the best antivirus software, best malware removal software, and training all staff to recognise phishing attacks.

These attacks outline just how vulnerable the sector is, and Barrow argues this is “due to the volume of customer data and the high cost of operational downtime”. Although, the reality is that almost all sectors are facing more threats than ever.

“Retailers must assume they are targets. Rehearsed incident response plans, clear communication protocols, and multi-factor authentication for administrative access are now essential. Endpoint detection and response tools should be standard, not optional. For consumers, vigilance is crucial: update passwords, monitor financial activity, and watch for scams exploiting recent breaches.”

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• Amazon’s Alexa+ AI has just hit 100,000 users in the US
• Yet the firm’s CEO has warned agentic technology is still “primitive”
• Alexa+ is rolling out in waves, but is still missing some key features

Like many other Big Tech firms, Amazon jumped on the artificial intelligence (AI) bandwagon by launching its own AI assistant named Alexa+ in February. Now, the company has announced that the tool has been rolled out to 100,000 users.

Right now, Alexa+ focuses on providing a conversational experience with an AI chatbot, although Amazon aims to imbue it with “agentic” abilities in the future. That would enable it to work as an agent on your behalf, interacting with third-party apps in order to carry out the tasks you ask of it.

That little tidbit came from Amazon CEO Andy Jassy during the company’s recent earnings call. There, Jassy explained that “Our intention is for agents to perform wide-ranging complex, multi-step tasks,” and that “there haven't been action-oriented agents like this until Alexa+.”

Yet the most recent update to Alexa+ is missing some of the key features that Amazon demonstrated in February, as pointed out by The Washington Post. It wouldn’t be the first AI to arrive without promised abilities – Apple’s AI-powered Siri has faced numerous delays and disruptions – and it shows how difficult it can be to pull ahead in the ongoing AI arms race.

Even Jassy admitted that Alexa+ was facing challenges. In general, agentic AI tools are still “primitive,” the Amazon CEO noted, with Amazon’s own Nova Act AI model aiming to improve their accuracy from a mere 30% to 60%. Eventually, the goal is to achieve over 90% accuracy, but clearly Alexa+ isn’t there yet.

Limited availability

(Image credit: Amazon)

Amazon has previously stated that it aims to launch Alexa+ in waves, so we should expect to see availability increase in the US over the coming months. There's no news about an international rollout yet.

Of those users who have tried it out so far, few have shared their thoughts or given insights into how well it works. That changed recently, though, when user Pretty2be took to Reddit to answer questions on the AI chatbot.

During the session, Pretty2be stated that Alexa+ is good at interpreting natural speech and is able to avoid interrupting you. Other positive feedback included its speech synthesis capabilities, although the user criticized its tendency to push you towards Amazon Music, even when you try to use Spotify.

We don’t know when Alexa+ will roll out to more users, but it’s clear that there’s still work to be done, judging by both Pretty2be’s feedback and Amazon CEO Jassy’s comments. Hopefully the missing features will arrive before the next 100,000 users sign up.

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• New Microsoft accounts will use passkeys by default, company reveals
• Existing users can also delete their passwords
• The login experience has an updated interface

Microsoft will be making all new accounts passwordless by default in a bid to push users towards more secure authentication methods that revolve around passkeys, push notifications and security keys.

"Microsoft and dozens of other organizations have taken the Passkey Pledge to work toward increasing the implementation and adoption of passkeys over the coming year," Microsoft explained in a blog post.

Naturally, existing users can also opt in to delete their traditional passwords via account settings in favor of more secure options.

Microsoft goes passwordless by default

Claiming that it "helped lay the foundation for an entirely new era of authentication," Microsoft's blog post takes us back ten years to the launch of Microsoft Hello, which allowed users to log into machines with secure biometrics.

"To keep your digital life safe, you need a way to sign into any account without a password," Joy Chik and Vasu Jakkal explained.

But why is it important to move away from less secure simple passwords?

Apparently, Microsoft observed more than 7,000 password attacks per second last year, marking a twofold year-over-year increase.

However, while passkeys make for a more secure account, the company noted that old-style accounts with basic passwords can expect to see even more attack attempts. All the more reason to go passwordless across all accounts – not just your Microsoft account.

They're also speedier, offering a log-in experience eight times quicker compared with the password and MFA combination.

Passkeys for consumer apps like Xbox and Copilot already became available in 2024, and now, more than a million are being registered each day.

Other recent announcements include an updated login user experience, with a simpler style introduced in March 2025 prioritizing passworldess methods, all of which just in time for yesterday's World Password Day.

From now, "new users will have several passwordless options for signing into their account and they’ll never need to enroll a password."

If Microsoft's decision to go passwordless has got you inspired to transition to passkeys across more services, check out the entire list of participators across the FIDO Alliance's Passkey Pledge, including Amazon, Apple, Dashlane, Google and tens more.

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• A complete specs list for the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge has leaked
• This largely lines up with what we've heard before, but includes new details like the presence of wireless charging
• Pricing has also leaked, and as with earlier leaks this puts the S25 Edge between the S25 Plus and Ultra

We’re likely less than two weeks away from the launch of the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge, with May 13 rumored to be the big day. But ahead of that a major leak has tipped almost every spec and feature.

Reputable leaker Roland Quandt writing for WinFuture has claimed that the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge will be just 5.85mm thick, weigh 163g, and have a titanium frame, with Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on the back and Gorilla Glass Ceramic 2 – which is said to be particularly durable – on the front.

Speaking of the front, that apparently holds a 6.7-inch 1440 x 3120 AMOLED screen with a 120Hz refresh rate, and there’s said to be an ultrasonic under-display fingerprint sensor.

Quandt also claims the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge has a Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, 12GB of RAM, and a choice of 256GB or 512GB of storage.

For the cameras, there’s apparently a 200MP f/1.7 main one with optical image stabilization (OIS) and a 12MP f/2.2 ultra-wide with a 120-degree field of view and no OIS. It also apparently has a 12MP f/2.2 front-facing camera.

Rounding out the specs, Quandt claims the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge has a 3,900mAh battery, wireless charging, and an IP68 rating for water and dust resistance.

Image 1 of 3

(Image credit: WinFuture / Roland Quandt)Image 2 of 3

(Image credit: WinFuture / Roland Quandt)Image 3 of 3

(Image credit: WinFuture / Roland Quandt) Similar to what we've heard before

This is mostly stuff we’ve heard before, but there’s a little more detail here than in previous leaks, such as the mention of wireless charging, the exact build materials, and the details beyond megapixels in the camera specs.

Since we have largely heard this before and since it comes from a reputable source it may well be accurate, in which case – as expected – the main compromises Samsung has seemingly made to get the phone so thin include the absence of a telephoto camera, and the low battery capacity.

Despite these compromises, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge likely won’t be cheap, with Quandt claiming it will start at €1,249 (roughly $1,415 / £1,065 / AU$2,205) in Germany, for which you’ll get 256GB of storage, and saying it will rise to €1,369 (around $1,550 / £1,165 / AU$2,415) for 512GB.

The price conversions we’ve included are unlikely to be accurate, but notably that would put it between the price of the Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus and the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra in Germany, which is where we expect it to land globally based on other rumors.

You’ll supposedly be able to choose between Titanium Jet Black, Titanium Icy Blue, and Titanium Silver shades, as you can see in the renders above, and apparently it will ship in Germany around the end of May, which makes sense if it’s announced on May 13.

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• LinkedIn's Wire Program becomes BrandLink
• It focuses on delivering advertisement videos from creators and publishers
• AI, leadership and business advice will be the first topics to be covered

LinkedIn has announced some changes to its ad revenues with the rebrand of Wire Program to LinkedIn BrandLink, which it says is designed to "[help] brands reach their audiences in new ways with video from top creators and publishers."

Product Management VP Lindsey Edwards explained, "BrandLink delivers more relevant video content to members while also allowing advertisers to align with editorial content from trusted publishers and, now, some of the world’s top creator voices."

From launch, content themes will include artificial intelligence, leadership, small businesses, innovation and entrepreneurship.

LinkedIn launches updated BrandLink program

The Microsoft-owned social networking platform says advertisers see 130% higher video completion rate and 23% higher views compared with standard video ads when using BrandLink, adding that members who view those ads are 18% more likely to become a lead for their company.

The news comes after a series of LinkedIn video-related announcements over the past year or so, including full-screen vertical video displays, a refreshed carousel and an updated UI to make it easier for audiences to engage with brands.

Edwards referred to video as "one of the fastest growing formats on LinkedIn," and in February 2025, we learned the medium was growing twice as fast as any other post format.

Some of the early creators to join the program include B2B figures such as Steven Bartlett, Bernard Marr, Allie K. Miller, Rebecca Minkoff, Candace Nelson, Guy Raz, Gary Vaynerchuk, and Shelley Zalis.

The latest announcement highlights how 91% of B2B marketers believe that video will help them accelerate advertising ROI more than any other format.

With BrandLink, advertisers can target specific locations and languages, with LinkedIn boasting it "supports a growing list of global publishers who produce region-specific content."

The tool is available to use now on desktop and mobile applications.

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• AMD is reportedly prioritizing the Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB GPU for retailers
• It corroborates rumors that it may cancel or discontinue the 8GB GPU
• If it's true, it could be a sign that Team Red won't make 8GB GPUs going forward

AMD's Radeon RX 9060 XT GPU is on the horizon (it's projected to launch in May), with 16GB and 8GB variants. However, a new report suggests one of them may not be readily available for consumers at launch.

As reported by Wccftech, AMD could be set to prioritize the Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB variant over the 8GB counterpart in terms of availability for retailers at launch, according to Benchlife. It comes after the rumor that hinted at the 8GB model being cancelled or discontinued, and this new rumor certainly suggests that something is going on with the 8GB model.

Essentially, this means consumers may not see the 9060 XT 8GB available on shelves or online retailers apart from rare occasions. If this is true, it could be a huge indication of AMD's future stance on low VRAM capacity GPUs.

Nvidia's RTX 5060 Ti recently launched with 16GB and 8GB variants, with the latter receiving a lot of flak; consumers have been expressing displeasure with 8GB graphics cards for a while, and Benchlife claims that this is AMD's reasoning behind the potential case of prioritizing the 16GB GPU.

The Radeon RX 9060 XT series is expected to be unveiled at Computex, with a potential May 21 launch - but apparently, it won't actually go on sale until June (considering AMD's Q2 2025 estimation). Regardless, this puts the GPUs in direct competition with the RTX 5060, expected to launch on May 19. So, we could be in for another fierce battle between these two tech giants.

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler) Please, let this be the end of 8GB GPUs...

If this rumor is legitimate, it suggests to me that Team Red is well aware that PC gamers are increasingly of the opinion that 8GB of video memory is simply not enough for modern games at high resolutions. If there's anything good to come from this, it's that we could soon see the end of 8GB graphics cards.

Triple-A games aren't easy going regarding VRAM usage, and while 8GB of VRAM isn't completely useless, I'd say it's a limitation for those looking for better performance. Gaming at 1080p is still the most popular resolution (according to Steam's hardware survey), but more demanding games with higher graphics settings enabled, like Cyberpunk 2077 or Black Myth Wukong, will end up choking 8GB GPUs.

It's also worth mentioning the cost of GPUs in this current market with inflated pricing; a prime example is the XFX Speedster Radeon RX 7900 XTX, sold at $1,129.99 on Best Buy (it's a three-year-old GPU), despite its $999 launch price. Inflation like this makes other low-end graphics cards seem much less appealing, as they no longer have low prices that justify the compromises made to performance. If you're going to be spending that kind of money on a GPU, you'd be better off looking at more powerful cards.

At the very least, I feel that modern graphics cards should come with 12GB VRAM at a minimum, because anything less just won't suffice in 2025 and onwards...

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• Veeam study find budget increases for cybersecurity aren't enough; businesses need smarter resilience strategies
• Ransomware payments are dropping, but attackers are shifting tactics faster than businesses can adapt
• Declining attack rates don't mean ransomware is beaten

New research has revealed the scale of recent ransomware evolvution, warning it remains a dominant threat to organizations worldwide.

A Veeam study, which gathered insights from 1,300 CISOs, IT leaders, and security professionals across the Americas, Europe, and Australia, found nearly three-quarters of businesses were impacted by ransomware over the past year.

Cybersecurity measures seem to be having some effect, with businesses facing ransomware incidents dropping slightly from 75% to 69% - and ransomware payments are also decreasing, as in 2024, 36% of affected businesses chose not to pay, and 60% of those who did paid less than half of the demanded ransom.

Declining attack rates are no reason for complacency

"Organizations are improving their defenses against cyber-attacks, yet 7 out of 10 still experienced an attack in the past year. And of those attacked, only 10% recovered more than 90% of their data, while 57% recovered less than 50%," said Anand Eswaran, CEO of Veeam.

Still, businesses cannot afford to relax. Major law enforcement actions against groups like LockBit and BlackCat have disrupted large-scale operations, but this has inadvertently led to a surge in smaller, independent attackers.

Companies still need to adopt proactive defenses and use anti-ransomware tools alongside the best endpoint protection solutions.

"As the nature and timing of attacks evolve, it is essential for every organization to transition from reactive security measures to proactive data resilience strategies. By adopting a proactive security approach, investing in strong recovery solutions, and fostering collaboration across departments, organizations can significantly reduce the impact of ransomware attacks," Eswaran added.

The rise in data exfiltration-only attacks, where hackers bypass encryption to steal private data directly, is another alarming trend. In this environment, relying solely on antivirus software may not be enough.

Although 69% of companies say they are prepared for an attack, this confidence drops sharply after an incident. Only 44% have tested backup plans, and just 30% have a formal chain of command in place.

Regular training, cross-team cooperation, and investment in strong recovery frameworks are necessary. Although budgets for cybersecurity and recovery have increased, they remain insufficient.

As a result, Veeam advises companies to implement thorough procedures such as the 3-2-1-1-0 data rule, which ensures multiple immutable backups free of malware before restoration.

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Now that we've reached May, it's time for Disney+ to bring another wave of fresh movies and shows to the service, and if there's one thing we can rely on Disney+ for, it's for a real good bingeable series.

TV shows reign supreme this month on one of the best streaming services, one of them being the new series of Doctor Who whose episodes will come out weekly and will end with its finale on May 31. And let's not forget the abundance of new Star Wars titles landing on May 4 (appropriate), as well as more episodes of one of the best Disney+ shows, Andor.

And it doesn't end there, because at long last, Disney+ subscribers in the US will also finally be able to catch Spiderman: Across the Spider-Verse this month, being one of the movies leaving Netflix in May 2025 and finding its new place in the library of best Disney+ movies.

Everything new on Disney+ in May 2025

Arriving on May 1

Rise Up, Sing Out season 2 (TV show)
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (movie)

Arriving on May 2

Genghis Khan: The Secret History of the Mongols season 1 (TV show)

Arriving on May 3

Doctor Who season 2, episode 4 (TV show)

Arriving on May 4

Star Wars: Tales of the Underworld (TV show)
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge (TV show)
Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance (TV show)

Arriving on May 6

Andor season 2, 3 more episodes (TV show)

Arriving on May 7

Broken Karaoke season 3 (TV show)
Firebuds season 2 (TV show)
Hamster & Gretel season 2 (TV show)
Big City Greens season 4 (TV show)

Arriving on May 9

History’s Greatest of All Time with Peyton Manning season 1 (TV show)
The Toys That Built America season 3 (TV show)
The UnXplained season 7 (TV show)

Arriving on May 10

Doctor Who season 2, episode 5 (TV show)

Arriving on May 13

Andor season 2 finale (TV show)

Arriving on May 17

Doctor Who season 2, episode 6 (TV show)

Arriving on May 19

Tucci in Italy (TV show)

Arriving on May 20

Minnie’s Bow-Toons: Pet Hotel season 1 (TV show)

Arriving on May 24

Doctor Who season 2, episode 7 (TV show)

Arriving on May 28

Me & Winnie the Pooh season 2 (TV show)
Playdate with Winnie the Pooh season 2 (TV show)

Arriving on May 31

How Not to Draw season 3 (TV show)
Doctor Who season 2 season finale (TV show)

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When DeepSeek-R1 launched recently, it immediately captured the attention of the global artificial intelligence community, prompting major players such as OpenAI, Microsoft, and Meta to investigate its seemingly novel approach to model distillation. Yet, beneath the excitement around distillation lies a more nuanced and impactful innovation: DeepSeek's strategic reliance on reinforcement learning (RL).

Traditionally, large language models (LLMs) have been refined through supervised fine-tuning (SFT), an expensive and resource-intensive method. DeepSeek, however, shifted towards reinforcement learning, optimizing its model through iterative feedback loops. This method dramatically reduced costs, up to 90% compared to traditional methods such as those used by ChatGPT, while delivering comparable or even superior performance in various benchmarks.

The Real Revolution: Democratizing AI Knowledge

While model distillation, the method of teaching smaller, efficient models (students) from larger, more complex ones (teachers), isn't new, DeepSeek’s implementation of it is groundbreaking. Its true innovation is transparency. By openly sharing comprehensive details of their methodology, DeepSeek turned a theoretically solid yet practically elusive technique into a widely accessible, practical tool.

This openness accelerated adoption exponentially. Within weeks, the initial 60 distilled models released by DeepSeek multiplied into around 6,000 models hosted by the Hugging Face community. Developers around the globe now have practical blueprints for creating powerful, specialized AI models at significantly reduced scales.

By reducing the barrier to entry, DeepSeek’s open source strategy enables organizations of various sizes and sectors to explore sophisticated AI solutions that previously seemed out of reach. The widespread availability of distilled models means more specialized applications can emerge rapidly, opening doors to innovation in fields such as healthcare, finance, manufacturing, and education.

Implications for Businesses

For businesses, this marks a major turning point. The costly IT infrastructure required for traditional LLMs often barred smaller enterprises from adopting cutting-edge AI. DeepSeek’s distilled models promise powerful, tailored AI capabilities at a fraction of previous costs. Organizations can now easily leverage AI optimized specifically for their unique datasets, fostering deeper insights, operational efficiency, and enhanced competitiveness.

Moreover, these distilled models significantly lower the environmental impact associated with AI deployment. With sustainability becoming a central business imperative, companies can now align their AI strategies with broader corporate responsibility goals, reducing their carbon footprint without sacrificing technological capabilities.

Europe's Moment to Lead

Historically trailing behind AI powerhouses like the US and China, Europe is uniquely positioned to capitalize on DeepSeek’s approach. Europe's strength in open source collaboration, exemplified by initiatives like OpenEuroLLM and entities such as Mistral AI, aligns perfectly with DeepSeek’s ethos of openness.

Instead of competing in a costly arms race of extensive GPU infrastructure, European companies can lead by deploying energy-efficient, smaller-scale models. Given Europe’s significantly higher energy costs, this method of distillation presents a strategic advantage: sustainable and efficient AI solutions that are attractive to enterprises, consumers, and regulators alike.

Moreover, Europe’s regulatory landscape, which emphasizes data privacy and consumer protection, is particularly well-suited to smaller, more transparent models. By embracing DeepSeek’s distillation practices, European organizations can not only comply with stringent regulations more easily but also differentiate themselves globally through responsible AI practices.

Challenges and the Road Ahead

Despite its promise, model distillation isn’t without pitfalls. Poor implementation can inadvertently amplify biases or errors present in teacher models. These biases, if unchecked, could lead to unfair outcomes, regulatory scrutiny, or loss of consumer trust. However, with careful attention, rigorous testing, and responsible governance, these risks can be mitigated effectively.

Another challenge lies in ensuring the ongoing quality and consistency of distilled models. As the model pool grows exponentially, maintaining standards becomes more complex. The AI community will need robust verification processes and continual improvements to distillation techniques to sustain quality across thousands of models.

Training expertise is also critical. Despite the democratization of access, skilled personnel are necessary to effectively apply these distilled models to specific use cases. Investment in workforce development, continuous education, and community knowledge-sharing will be essential components in realizing the full potential of DeepSeek’s innovations.

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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

Marvel's Thunderbolts* movie is out now, and it's a film you won't want to miss.

I'm not just talking about how good it is, either (be sure to read my Thunderbolts* review to find out why). Indeed, it's far more important than many people realize, especially when it comes to setting up future Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) projects.

Below, I'll explain how Thunderbolts* lays the foundation for events still to come. I'll also answer your biggest questions about the Marvel Phase 5 film, including the foremost one on everyone's minds prior to its release. That being, what's with the asterisk in its title?

Full spoilers immediately follow for Thunderbolts*. Turn back now if you haven't seen it yet.

What does the asterisk mean in Marvel's Thunderbolts* movie?

Valentina (third left) uses her street smarts and marketing skills to turn the Thunderbolts* into The Avengers 2.0 (Image credit: Marvel Studios)

In short, the group's unofficial name, The Thunderbolts, is replaced with an official moniker, The New Avengers.

So the reason for the asterisk in the title is due to the titular team being renamed in the film's final scene, which is reconfirmed by The New Avengers' logo appearing during the movie's end credits crawl. From that point on, Yelena Belova and company will go by their new team name.

That won't be a huge shock to some MCU devotees. Ever since Marvel added the asterisk to the movie's title, fans have theorized that the ragtag group would be renamed before Thunderbolts* ended.

However, considering that the eponymous team comprises anti-heroes, reformed villains, and superpowered misfits, some observers suggested they'd collectively be called The Dark Avengers. After all, this is the name given to a group of superpowered individuals in Marvel Comics that includes Bob Reynolds/Sentry and John Walker/US Agent, two of the characters who appear in this film.

Yep, you're looking at the latest version of Earth's Mightiest Heroes (Image credit: Marvel Studios)

The New Avengers' moniker is a better fit for the group in the MCU, though.

Indeed, The Avengers haven't existed since they defeated Thanos in 2019's Avengers: Endgame. Sure, Sam Wilson, the second person to adopt the mantle of Captain America, plans to reform Earth's Mightiest Heroes in Captain America: Brave New World, but he's yet to do so before the events of Thunderbolts*.

That delay provides Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine with the perfect opportunity to introduce Belova and company to the world as The New Avengers.

After defeating Sentry's darker half (aka The Void) in his Shadow Realm, The Thunderbolts – a name derived from Belova's childhood soccer team that lost every match it played – find themselves back in New York. Moments after returning to their reality, they spot the power-hungry de Fontaine and quickly pursue her down Main Street.

"Wait... us?" (Image credit: Marvel Studios)

Before they can arrest her for her crimes, though, the group stumbles into a street-based live press conference, which de Fontaine has hastily arranged. There, the CIA's duplicitous overlord tells the assembled press (and those watching the live broadcast) that Belova and company have not only saved the day, but are also a secret project she's been working on.

It's here that de Fontaine rechristens the group as The New Avengers. Confused but seemingly won over, the group accepts the new title, but not before Belova tells de Fontaine, "We own you now".

Essentially, the slippery CIA director has to do as she's told now. Otherwise, Belova and co. will come clean about de Fontaine's actual secret project, which involved Sentry/The Void's creation, her attempts to avoid impeachment, and so many other shady business dealings she made.

How does the titular team defeat The Void?

The Void is the physical representation of the dark part of Bob's split personality disorder (Image credit: Marvel Studios)

Through the power of friendship and hugging!

I joke, of course – I don't mean to belittle the weighty thematic material explored in Thunderbolts*. As someone who's suffered with mental health issues in the past, I applaud its cast and crew for tackling such difficult subject matter, and for telling a story that'll strike an emotional chord with many cinephiles. It certainly did with me.

Anyway, the titular group beat The Void via unconventional means. Bob Reynolds' two superpowered alter-egos are arguably the strongest beings – human race-wise, anyway – in the entire MCU (sorry, Thor and The Hulk). That much is made clear by how easily Sentry deals with the rest of The Thunderbolts during their fight in the Watchtower.

The Void is even more powerful than Sentry. Again, that's evident by the ease with which his Shadow Realm spreads across New York City. (As an aside, I do wonder if Daredevil: Born Again season 2 will reference this event. After all, that Disney+ show is also set in New York, so, unless the series' sophomore season takes place prior to Thunderbolts*, it would be odd if it didn't mention the fact that a giant shadow literally overtook the city.)

Bob was experimented on in Malaysia by de Fontaine's OXE group (Image credit: Marvel Studios)

But I digress! In a bid to stop The Void, Belova – and, some time later, the rest of the team – enter the Shadow Realm, fight their way through their worst memories and traumas, and eventually find Bob, who's hiding in his 'best' worst memory.

Working together, the group eventually finds a memory of Bob's that shows he's not only been experimented on by de Fontaine's OXE research group, but also marked the first time that The Void manifested.

Long story short, The Void overpowers everyone except for Bob, who eventually fights The Void for control of his mind. As Bob pummels his darker self, though, The Void starts to silently overtake his consciousness with its shadow powers – a move that'll wipe Bob out of existence because The Void will have absorbed him into itself.

In a Hail Mary move, Belova – with Red Guardian's help – breaks free of her shackles, parkours her way to Bob, hugs him from behind, and tells him he's not alone. The rest of the team soon follow and silently embrace Bob, too. Overwhelmed by their humanity and comradeship, Bob breaks down and, in doing so, stops physically and mentally beating himself up.

Free of the darkness that consumed them, the group is suddenly transported back to New York. Belova asks Bob if he's okay, to which he responds that he is but has no idea what just happened. From here, we lead into the above section's stuff about de Fontaine, the press conference, and The New Avengers reveal.

Who dies in Thunderbolts*?

Taskmaster's time in the MCU was short and not very sweet (Image credit: Marvel Studios)

There's only one major character death in Thunderbolts* and it's one that was foreseen by fans many months before the film's release.

While appearing in Thunderbolts* first trailer and initial slate of press images last August, Olga Kurylenko's Antonia Dreykov/Taskmaster has been conspicuous by her absence in promotional materials ever since. In fact, in the weeks leading up to one of May 2025's new movies arriving in theaters, Taskmaster has been completely MIA.

Inevitably, that led MCU devotees to suspect she wasn't long for this world – and that proves to be the case. During the four-way fight between Belova, Walker, Ava Starr, and Dreykov in the film's first act, Taskmaster is shot in the head and killed by Starr. It's an unceremonious way for her to bow out of the MCU and, based on some early fan reactions following the launch of Thunderbolts*, it's a death that's not gone down well with some.

Are there any Marvel cameos in Thunderbolts*?

Anthony Mackie's Captain America is referenced, but he doesn't physically appear (Image credit: Marvel Studios)

No. Unlike Bucky Barnes' surprise cameo in Captain America 4, there are no unexpected appearances from new or returning MCU characters in Thunderbolts*.

There's the odd reference or two to those who populate Marvel's cinematic juggernaut. Wilson is namechecked a couple of times. Meanwhile, former US President Thaddeus 'Thunderbolt' Ross is briefly mentioned by de Fontaine during her Senate hearing; the CIA director reminding the assembled elected individuals of Ross Hulk-ing out in Brave New World.

Those rare occurrences aside, you won't see other Marvel characters at any point. Well, unless you count the appearance of a certain group by way of a space vessel, but I'm getting ahead of myself.

Is Geraldine Viswanathan's Thunderbolts* character Mel going to become Songbird in the MCU?

There may be more to Mel (left) than meets the eye (Image credit: Marvel Studios)

Geraldine Viswanathan's Mel, aka de Fontaine's assistant, might not seem like the superhero type. In fact, to the average viewer, one of the primary supporting characters in Thunderbolts* will be seen as nothing more than de Fontaine's diligent albeit emotionally torn lackey.

Diehard Marvel fans, though, may pick up on the fact that Mel isn't just a simple background character. If you were paying attention, you'll have noticed Mel wears a gold necklace – one that has a gold bird sitting in a ring – throughout the film. Hmm, I wonder where we've seen that before...

Alright, enough teasing. Some fans believe Viswanathan is another Marvel hero hiding in plain sight. That's because, in Marvel Comics, there's a superhero called Songbird whose civilian identity is – wait for it – Melissa Gold.

Songbird's powerset includes the ability to create supersonic soundwaves, fly, and use echolocation (Image credit: Marvel Comics)

Now, this could be nothing more than a curious case of misdirection on Marvel Studios' part. That said, the fact that there's a character called Mel who wears a gold necklace with a songbird hanging at the end of it is too much of a coincidence in my and many other viewers' eyes.

It might not be a coincidence, either. In a January 2025 chat with ScreenRant, Viswanathan danced around a question about whether she's playing Songbird in the MCU.

Asked if she considers herself to be a songbird, she replied: "I have no idea what you're talking about. Never in my life have I heard something like that...Oh, look what you've done. Now, I'm all nervous."

Don't be surprised, then, if Viswanathan isn't just confirmed to be playing Songbird in the MCU at some point, but that she'll also return in the next Avengers movie as part of a yet-to-be-revealed second round of Avengers: Doomsday cast reveals. Sure, Doomsday may already have 27 confirmed characters, but there's always room for more!

Does Thunderbolts* have a mid-credits scene?

MCU fans won't want to leave their seats early for this Marvel movie (Image credit: Marvel Studios)

There is – and it's a call-back to a humorous line of dialogue Alexei Shoshtakov/Red Guardian utters around the film's midpoint.

The scene opens with Shoshtakov loitering in the cereal aisle of a grocery store. Striking up a conversation with a fellow shopper, he tries to convince her to buy a box of Wheaties, which is adorned with images of The New Avengers. He even poses next to the box, hoping that she'll recognize him (FYI, it doesn't work).

Earlier in the film, Shoshtakov jokes that, if The Thunderbolts save the day by putting a stop to de Fontaine's nefarious plans, they could not only end up on the front of Wheaties cereal boxes, but also be the "little kiddie toy" that children find among the cereal itself.

Despite appearing to convince his fellow cereal enthusiast to buy a box of Wheaties, though, Red Guardian doesn't realize that the person puts it back on a different shelf when he's not looking. Clearly, he put them off with his over-the-top persuasive tone!

What is the Thunderbolts* post-credit scene? And how does it set up The Fantastic Four: First Steps?

The Fantastic Four are seen – well, their starship is – in Thunderbolts* end credits stinger (Image credit: Marvel Studios)

Thunderbolts' end credits stinger takes place 14 months after the film's primary narrative.

Initially, it reunites us with Bucky Barnes, Belova, Walker, and Starr, who have returned to The New Avengers' headquarters – they might be stationed in The Watchtower, aka the building formerly known as Avengers Tower, but it's hard to tell. The quartet is sporting new costumes that look a bit corny (I'm hoping this is down to the corporate or commercial nature of The New Avengers, rather than the suits they actually decided to wear!).

Anyway, as they enter the main room of their HQ, they discuss the fact that Wilson/Cap 2.0 is suing them for trademark infringement. Wilson is upset they've snatched the Avengers moniker from under his nose. Despite Bucky meeting Wilson to smooth things over, Bucky reveals the conversation "went poorly".

As the conversation continues, Belova mentions some form of "space crisis," but, before we learn more, Shoshtakov interrupts to say he's fashioned a new, garish-looking tracksuit they can all wear. It's littered with sponsors, such as Tide, and has a giant 'New AvengerZ' logo on the front, which Shoshtakov suggests can circumvent Wilson's attempts to sue them for the team's new name.

Will we see The New Avengers greet The Fantastic Four in one of First Steps' likely end credits scenes? (Image credit: Marvel Studios)

Bob is also present, but he hasn't – and doesn't want to – use his powers to fight anyone (if it comes to that) because he's worried The Void will return. He says he "did the dishes", though, so at least he's of some use.

Suddenly, a data pad held by Belova lights up. Moments earlier, Bucky told Belova to use Earth's satellite system to learn more about these "space anomalies" they've been made aware of. Lo and behold, Bucky's idea works – and it's here that Thunderbolts* reveals its ties to The Fantastic Four: First Steps, which arrives in theaters on July 25.

The data pad alerts the group that a mysterious space vessel has appeared above Earth-616 via a multidimensional portal. Belova pulls up the footage on her tablet and, as a short motif of The Fantastic Four's MCU theme plays, we see the group's futuristic-looking rocket ship, complete with a huge 'F4' logo on it, barreling towards Earth.

Downey Jr's Doctor Doom will be the Multiverse Saga's primary antagonist (Image credit: Walt Disney Studios/Marvel Studios)

So, how does this film's post-credits scene set up what'll happen in The Fantastic Four's latest big-screen reboot?

The short answer is: I'm not sure, but we know First Steps is set in an alternate reality. That much was made clear last April when Marvel teased some key story details about the film and then released a poster that confirmed to fans that it wouldn't be set in the MCU. So, Marvel's First Family will exist in another universe for much of First Steps' runtime.

"For much of" are the key words here. Again, we've no idea about how First Steps, aka the first Marvel Phase 6 movie will end, but fans have speculated that the titular team will be forced to flee their universe – because First Steps' main villain Galactus destroys it, Robert Downey Jr's Victor von Doom (who'll be the Big Bad of Avengers: Doomsday and its sequel Secret Wars) casts them out, or for some other reason.

Regardless, Thunderbolts* confirms The Fantastic Four will find themselves in the MCU by the time First Steps' story ends. The *ahem* steps taken to get there, though, are still up for debate.

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