Technology

With Season 4 ending in less than two weeks, now is the perfect time to take advantage of double battle pass XP to clinch out some of the final tiers.

• Foundation season 3 just introduced a character who may be central to its biggest plot twist
• The individual in question appears at a lavish party being thrown on Kalgan
• Fans of Isaac Asimov's book series namesake will know where the story goes from here

Foundation season 3 episode 3 has landed on Apple TV+ – and it introduces a character who seems destined to play a major role in this season's biggest story twist.

This season's latest entry, titled 'When a Book Finds You', sees Han Pritcher (Brandon P Bell), along with Toran and Bayta Mallow (Cody Fern and Synnøve Karlsen), attend a lavish party that's being thrown by The Mule on Kalgan. Remember: Pritcher asked the newly-married Mallows to accompany him as he goes undercover to try and learn more about Foundation season 3's primary villain, and it's during this soiree that we finally meet the individual I'm alluding to.

Full spoilers immediately follow for Foundation season 3's newest episode and Isaac Asimov's book series, which the Apple TV Original is based on. Turn back now if you haven't streamed it yet.

Magnifico Giganticus (right) has more ties to The Mule (left) than you might realize (Image credit: Apple TV+)

Magnifico Giganitcus, a musician who works for The Mule (Pilou Asbaek) – seemingly against his will, given how The Mule treats him – and who's portrayed by Tómas Lemarquis, is the character we're introduced to. Viewers may recognize Lemarquis from by Caliban in X-Men: Apocalypse, the third entry in 20th Century Fox's now-defunct X-Men reboot film franchise.

Despite the fact he's treated unfairly (read: physically abused) by The Mule in Foundation, Magnifico is a key part of the former's inner circle. Indeed, Magnifico 's music not only keeps The Mule calm, but also has an emotionally intoxicating effect on people who aren't used to hearing it. We see as much in this season's third episode, with numerous people hypnotized by his electronic beats on the dance floor.

Anyway, long story short: Magnifico flees Kalgan with Toran and Bayta after the latter convinces him to leave with them. The pair think they can learn more information about The Mule from Magnifico , which could aid The Foundation in its attempts to stop The Mule from becoming the galaxy's new tyrant.

Bayta takes pity on Magnifico and helps him escape Kalgan (Image credit: Apple TV+)

But all is not what it seems, because Magnifico isn't a real person, nor is he someone who actively wants to help The Foundation.

In 'Foundation and Empire', the second novel in Asimov's original 'Foundation' book trilogy, it's eventually revealed that Magnifico is The Mule in disguise. Indeed, it's all a facade so that The Mule can learn the location of Second Foundation, aka the secret collective of Mentalics – essentially, people with psychic abilities like The Mule – that's led (in one of the best Apple TV+ shows, anyway) by Gaal Dornick.

Foundation's TV adaptation looks like it's slightly tweaked this storyline, with Magnifico likely being some sort of holographic projection created by The Mule. That way, the psionic warlord can be in two places at once, with Asbaek playing The Mule and Lemarquis tackling the role of Magnifico.

If Apple's live-action reimagining follows the rest of this storyline as it's outlined in Asimov's literary works, the reveal that Magnifico is actually The Mule will be a hugely shocking moment for anyone who's watching the show but hasn't read the books. Well, it would be if I hadn't just spoiled it – but hey, that's your fault for reading an article that warned you there were big spoilers ahead!

We'll see if The Mule and Magnifico are one and the same as the tech giant's space opera progresses. In the meantime, read more exclusive season 3 coverage below.

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• 'He needs to be a big threat': Foundation season 3 star Pilou Asbaek reveals how The Mule differs from his book series counterpart

The images had been in a "legacy data system" that contained information from more than two years ago, the company says.

• New LG Gram Pro models now available with Intel Core Ultra processors and AI tools
• Ultra lightweight devices come in 16-inch and 17-inch variants, weighing 3.0 and 3.3 pounds respectively
• They feature Intel Core Ultra processors and Nvidia RTX 5050 GPU for enhanced performance

LG has expanded its super lightweight Gram Pro laptop series with two new models, the 16Z90TR and 17Z90TR, featuring refreshed hardware and built-in hybrid AI capabilities.

The 16-inch model weighs just three pounds, while the 17-inch version is among the lightest of its size, at just 3.3 pounds and 0.6 inches thick.

Both laptops use Intel Core Ultra 9 or Ultra 7 processors and include the Nvidia RTX 5050 GPU. The combination is designed for creative tasks, multitasking, and even a spot of immersive gaming.

LG gram AI

The two models come with 32GB of RAM, a 2TB SSD, and Windows 11 Home. LG includes Intel Evo certification and advertises up to 27 hours of battery life when playing video.

On-device and cloud-based AI features are built in - LG's system, known as gram AI, provides local processing through gram chat On-Device and connects to GPT-4o through gram chat Cloud (free for the first year).

The company says this dual approach allows the laptop to adapt to users’ needs. Features like Time Travel enable playback of recently viewed content, while calendar and email integration streamline scheduling and communication.

Another feature, gram Link 2.0, helps users connect their laptop with mobile devices. It supports file transfers between platforms and can also relay phone calls directly to the laptop.

Thermal limits and sustained performance under load have not been fully tested, but the inclusion of newer silicon suggests better efficiency than past models.

Pricing begins at $2,799.99 for the 16-inch model and $2,549.99 for the 17-inch version.

Both are now available at LG’s online store, with broader retail availability expected later in 2025.

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• Netflix's new documentary Storm Area 51 is released on July 29
• It follows what happened when a viral joke went too far and people showed up at the Nevada airbase
• This is the latest installment in Netflix's Trainwreck documentary series

I've been so invested in Trainwreck recently. From the unhinged story of Balloon Boy to the upsetting Astroworld tragedy, this series has taken us on a wild ride.

It's about to get even wilder, too, as we explore one of the biggest viral incidents of the past decade. Storm Area 51 is all about a meme that spiraled out of control, resulting in people responding to an online joke invite and then actually showing up at the base.

The base, of course, is highly classified, so the whole affair was very much a trainwreck as the series' name suggests. Take a look at the Netflix trailer below to see what to expect.

Why I'm excited for Storm Area 51

(Image credit: Netflix)

What isn't there to love about this story? It's as whacky as they come, and I'm excited to get sucked into another incident that shocked the world.

When millions of people responded to the Facebook event invite called "Storm Area 51, They Can't Stop All of Us", the event's creator, Matty Roberts, had just assumed it would be a meme and nothing more.

Joke events happen all the time, whether it's attending a Prime Minister's "leaving drinks" or other topical references, we've all seen our fair share of events on social media that are quite clearly not meant to be taken seriously.

Unfortunately, Roberts didn't expect people would actually show up at the base, but around 150 people did. Thankfully, it wasn't the millions that responded to the event, but it was enough for it to become newsworthy.

Outside of this, people arranged two music festivals called Alienstock and Storm Area 51 Basecamp, building attractions and encouraging people to attend. The entire situation lasted around 96 hours, and there were seven arrests made.

As someone who spends a lot of time online, I'm keen to understand how the situation spiraled so rapidly, and hopefully get some more insight into how things went down from the people who were there.

Trainwreck has been a great documentary series so far, and I do recommend checking out the other titles on Netflix.

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Are you too good for your home? Answer me!

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• AMD reportedly has a high-end RDNA 5 GPU ready to challenge Nvidia's next-gen flagship graphics card
• The leak shows a placeholder name for the GPU, as the 'Radeon RX 10090 XT'
• It comes after AMD's shift away from high-end offerings this generation

AMD and Nvidia's fierce GPU battle this generation has been largely situated in the mid-range market, with AMD reserving its high-end GPU options for the future – and a new leak suggests that future may not be as far away as anticipated.

According to a reputable leaker, Moore's Law Is Dead (MLID), AMD's next-gen RDNA 5 GPU, the 'Radeon RX 10090 XT', is projected to challenge Nvidia's next flagship GPU, the 'Nvidia RTX 6090'. It's expected to use 36GB of GDDR7 VRAM, 154 compute units, on a 384-bit memory bus.

Of course, neither of these GPUs is confirmed, but according to the leak, they're purported to launch between 2026 and 2027. MLID states that the 'Radeon RX 10090 XT' and other Radeon RDNA 5 GPU model names are placeholders, as there's no word on what they'll be called.

The 'AT0' die is supposedly being used for the rumored GPU, with a power consumption of 380W. Again, MLID suggests nothing here is final, so adjustments to the reported 36GB of GDDR7 VRAM clocked at 36 Gbps can change by the time it launches.

We don't know what Nvidia has planned for its next-gen flagship GPU, but based on the specs of the Nvidia RTX 4090 (128 compute units) and the upgrade to the Blackwell RTX 5090 (170 compute units), the jump to an RTX 6090 would likely be a sizeable one.

The Radeon RX 10090 XT's reported specs would put it in pole position to clash with the next flagship GeForce GPU, at the very least challenging it closely enough. More importantly, if this is legitimate, it puts AMD back on the map in battling it out with Team Green in the high-end GPU market.

Analysis: I'm hoping this is true, but I won't hold my breath

While it can be argued that AMD has held up well in its mid-range GPU battle with Nvidia, inflated prices have ultimately ruined the appeal of GPUs like the Radeon RX 9070 XT and RX 9060 XT, as they were considered the best alternative to expensive Nvidia graphics cards.

That's beside the point, though; Nvidia has desperately needed more competition within the GPU market, and I've mentioned this several times before. Even when AMD still had a focus on high-end GPUs, Team Green's flagship GPUs would always lead in power and performance.

Now, if the AMD Radeon RX 10090 XT (for the record, I really hope that's not its name) is planned and has the rumored specifications from MLID, then it's great news. I wouldn't expect it to beat an RTX 6090 card, but at the very least, come close enough to challenge it.

Hopefully, by 2026 or 2027, the market inflation won't be a big issue, and AMD can release a new powerful lineup with affordable pricing. If AMD can't beat Nvidia in terms of hardware on the GPU side, the best solution is to make their GPU prices more approachable. However, who am I kidding? It's wishful thinking after all.

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More new movies and shows are scheduled to be added to HBO Max, and now that the streaming service has revealed its selection of August titles, we're frantically picking out which ones to add to our watchlists.

Last month, HBO Max brought new cinema releases Sinners and A24's Death of a Unicorn to the platform, which is part of Max's nature. If you missed The Legend of Ochi (another recent A24 release) when it was in cinemas, HBO Max is giving you the chance to finally catch it on August 15.

As for TV shows, the upcoming series The Yogurt Shop Murders lands on August 3, and we think it could be one of the best crime series this year so far. In addition to the arrival of Abbott Elementary season 4, Max is stacked for new TV shows just as it is for movies – so get bingeing!

Everything new on Max in August 2025

Arriving on August 1

Alien: Covenant (movie)
Barbershop (movie)
Barbershop 2: Back in Business (movie)
Couples Retreat (movie)
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul (movie)
Enter the Warrior’s Gate (movie)
Get a Job (movie)
Gremlins 2: The New Batch (movie)
House Hunters International volume 9, season 203 (TV show)
House Hunters volume 10, season 244 (TV show)
It Happened in Brooklyn (movie)
It's Always Fair Weather (movie)
Jamboree! (movie)
Kung Fu Panda 2 (movie)
Let’s Go Bananas season 1
Lili (movie)
Macao (movie)
Madame Bovary (movie)
Madame Curie (movie)
Marc Maron: Panicked (comedy special)
Martha Marcy May Marlene (movie)
Millie (movie)
Miss Pinkerton (movie)
Mogambo (movie)
Mr. Skeffington (movie)
Mrs. Miniver (movie)
Mrs. Parkington (movie)
My Favorite Wife (movie)
Neptune's Daughter (movie)
New Moon (movie)
Pride and Prejudice (movie)
Quo Vadis (movie)
Random Harvest (movie)
Roughshod (movie)
Rules Don’t Apply (movie)
Smarty (movie)
Stonewall (movie)
Storm over Wyoming (movie)
Survive the Night (movie)
The Last Time I Saw Paris (movie)
The Life of Vergie Winters (movie)
The Long, Long Trailer (movie)
The Nun (movie)
The Peanut Butter Falcon (movie)
The Racket (movie)
The Reluctant Debutante (movie)
The Water Diviner (movie)
Three on a Match (movie)
Till the End of Time (movie)
Two Weeks with Love (movie)
Union Depot (movie)
Unlocked (movie)
War on Everyone (movie)
Waterloo Bridge (movie)
Where Danger Lives (movie)
Yogi Bear (movie)
You Hurt My Feelings (movie)

Arriving on August 2

Deadliest Catch season 21 (TV show)

Arriving on August 3

The Yogurt Shop Murders (TV show)

Arriving on August 4

Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile (movie)
The Great Food Truck Race season 18 (TV show)

Arriving on August 5

Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Buffalo Bills (TV show)
“The Case Against Diddy,” The Whole Story with Anderson Cooper (TV show)
“The Idaho Murders,” The Whole Story with Anderson Cooper (TV show)

Arriving on August 6

Extreme Detailing (TV show)
Red Bull Soapbox Race season 1 (TV show)
See No Evil season 14 (TV show)

Arriving on August 7

Mysteries of the Abandoned: Hidden America season 4 (TV show)

Arriving on August 8

Freaky Tales (movie)

Arriving on August 11

Marooned with Ed Stafford season 3 (TV show)

Arriving on August 12

The Bus Driver: Britain's Cocaine King (TV show)

Arriving on August 13

A Body in the Basement season 2 (TV show)
Chef Grudge Match season 1 (TV show)
The Woman King (movie)

Arriving on August 14

Hop season 1 (TV show)
Marcial Maciel: The Wolf of God (TV show)

Arriving on August 15

Stand Up To Cancer
The Legend of Ochi (movie)
The Prince season 2 (TV show)

Arriving on August 17

Mammals season 1 (TV show)
The House (movie)
The Serial Killer's Apprentice (documentary)

Arriving on August 18

Women Wearing Shoulder Pads season 1 (TV show)

Arriving on August 19

“Climate Change Amplified: Live Music and the Climate Crisis,” The Whole Story with Anderson Cooper (TV show)

Arriving on August 21

Bargain Block season 5 (TV show)
Peacemaker season 2 (TV show)
Peacemaker: The Official Podcast with James Gunn (season 2 companion podcast)

Arriving on August 22

The Heritage season 1 (TV show)

Arriving on August 23

Abbott Elementary season 4 (TV show)
The Cleaning Lady season 4 (TV show)

Arriving on August 24

Toad and Friends season 1 (TV show)

Arriving on August 28

Bitchin' Rides: Road to Ridler season 1 (TV show)

Arriving on August 29

Horses & Hangmen (TV show)
Silly Sundays season 1 (TV show)

Arriving on August 31

Iyanu season 1 (TV show)

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FromSoftware's roguelike gets a two-player mode, solving one of its biggest annoyances.

• Crooks are sending out customized Google Forms notification emails
• The emails bypass filters and land in people's inboxes
• They state victims can claim crypto if only they pay commission fees

Cybersecurity researchers Kaspersky have flagged that Google Forms is being abused in phishing emails targeting cryptocurrency owners.

Google Forms is a free web-based application which allows users to create surveys, quizzes, and forms.

Since it is a Google product, any notifications it generates generally bypass email protections and land into people’s inboxes - and cybercriminals are now exploiting this fact to try and get people to pay for a non-existing crypto transaction.

Fake crypto site

In these attacks, crooks create a questionnaire with a single slot for the email address. They submit the address themselves, after which the victim receives an emailed submission notification.

This notification can also be customized, and the threat actors create it to look like a notification from a crypto transaction service. The email says the recipient has a pending payment that needs to be finalized before it “expires”.

Clicking on the link provided in the email sends the victim to a fake crypto exchange site, where they need to contact “support” and make a “commission” payment to receive the transfer.

Obviously, there is no support, no commission, and no transfer - the money they give away goes straight to the scammers and is lost forever.

"This campaign demonstrates a cunning exploitation of a trusted and widely used platform to deliver scam attacks on cryptocurrency users,” said Andrey Kovtun, Email Threats Protection Group Manager at Kaspersky.

“By crafting fraudulent submission confirmation emails that mimic legitimate notifications from crypto exchanges, attackers used the platform’s credibility to bypass email filters, and also the victim’s unfamiliarity with its format to lure them into divulging sensitive wallet credentials. There is a critical need for users to verify email sources, scrutinize links and adopt robust security measures to protect their digital assets.”

With phishing emails, an old adage still stands - if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

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• VPN demand soared in the UK starting from Friday, July 25, 2025
• Proton VPN recorded a +1400% hourly increase in signups over the baseline, starting from midnight
• All platforms displaying adult content and potentially harmful materials must now enforce robust age checks for all users

VPN demand is soaring in the UK as Britons get ready to work around new age verification checks.

One of the best VPN services on the market, Proton VPN, confirmed to TechRadar an hourly increase in sign-ups of over 1,400% starting from Friday, July 25, 2025.

This coincides with new age verification requirements under the Online Safety Act, which force all platforms displaying adult content and potentially harmful materials to ensure users are over 18 via robust identity checks.

A Proton VPN spokesperson told TechRadar that a rise in sign-ups began immediately at midnight on Friday, with a second spike starting from 9 am (see graph below).

"We expect to see further increases over the coming days," Proton said.

Other VPN services are also likely to have recorded a similar surge in demand. Data from Google Trends shows that the search for the term 'VPN' has skyrocketed across the country since.

Proton VPN's signups have spiked in the wake of new age verification checks in the UK (Image credit: Proton)

Ofcom, the UK's regulator responsible for enforcing the new age requirements, however, is suggesting against using a VPN.

Talking to the BBC, the regulator said that it will be illegal for platforms to encourage the use of VPNs, while warning parents that their children won't benefit from these protections when using a VPN.

Nonetheless, according to Proton, such a spike in VPN usage rather suggests that Britons are worried about the privacy implications that these requirements could have.

"This clearly shows that adults are concerned about the impact universal age verification laws will have on their privacy," a Proton spokesperson told TechRadar.

Some digital rights experts have indeed raised concerns about how new age verification requirements could negatively impact people's privacy and their data security.

Age verification isn't just for adult-only content websites, either. These requirements are set to change how people in the UK will interact with their social media, gaming, and dating apps, among others.

Privacy and VPN experts previously told TechRadar their concerns about getting rid of anonymity on social media, warning that invasive identity checks may lead to higher surveillance, censorship, and data breaches.

What's certain is that mandatory proof of age checks are now a reality for people in the UK, with the likes of Reddit, Bluesky, X, and Grindr having already introduced age verification for users in the UK. More services are now expected to follow suit.

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The race to put a humanoid robot in every home is accelerating, and the $5,900 Unitree R1 robot might just sprint to the front of the pack.

Unitree unveiled the pint-sized but "powerful" android on Friday with a new YouTube video and then followed with more details on an official product page on their website.

In the video, the Unitree R1 Intelligent Companion showcases its remarkable movement skills, which include cartwheels, handstands, boxing, kickboxing moves, and even running down a hill.

The robot comes equipped with binocular vision backed by LLM image and voice identification capabilities. None of that, though, was on display in the video, which focused on movement. In fact, there's a brief message at the end of the clip that says, "Movement first, tasks as well (A diversity of movement is the foundation for completing tasks)".

(Image credit: Unitree)

Unitree is well-known for producing versatile humanoid bots. I've seen a few in person, including the tiny but agile G1 and the taller and somewhat more frightening H1. G1 lists for $16,000, and the H1 lists for $90,000. Pricing under $ 6,000 is unheard of for Unitree and humanoid offerings in general. Figure AI's Figure 02, for instance, will likely list for over $30,000.

As for what $5,900 might get you, the R1 is about four feet tall and weighs roughly 55 lbs, so it's the size of a child. It features the aforementioned binocular camera, a 4-microphone array, speakers, an 8-core CPU and GPU (no word on whose silicon, but Unitree has been partnering with Nvidia), 26 joints, and hands that look as if they may be permanently fixed into fists. There's a removable battery that promises one hour of activity.

There are, however, some significant caveats to consider. Unitree warns that the final robot may look different than what's currently on display. At the bottom of the product page are some more dire (and often confusing) warnings, including:

"Currently, the global humanoid robot industry is in the early stages of exploration. Individual users are strongly advised to thoroughly understand the limitations of humanoid robots before making a purchase."

and

"The humanoid robot has a complex structure and extremely powerful power. Users are asked to keep a sufficient safe distance between the humanoid robot and the humanoid robot. Please use with caution."

(Image credit: Unitree)

So while the Unitree R1 might be pitched as a home helper robot, it's hardly ready to be in anyone's home.

The R1's level of intelligence and autonomy, despite the built-in AI, remains a mystery. Most of the Unitree robots I've witnessed at CES have been either been remotely controlled or running through a set of previously scripted movements. To be useful in any home, they must marry all the sensors with awareness and enough intelligence to help and not harm their human owners.

Still, less than $6,000 for a robot with these advertised skills is something of a humanoid robotics breakthrough. I wonder if we can get one into the labs.

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• Foundation season 3 episode 3 reveals an unexpected alliance between two characters
• This week's entry builds on the surprise-laced final scene of its forebear
• Some of the Apple TV Original's cast have teased what's next for this unlikely dynamic

Two members of Foundation season 3's cast have lifted the lid on their characters' unexpected alliance in the Apple sci-fi series.

This season's third episode, titled 'When a Book Finds You', builds on the cliff-hanger ending of its forebear 'Shadows in the Math'. Indeed, fans of the Apple TV+ show were surprised by what they saw in season 3 episode 2's final scene, but, according to two of its stars, there could be even more shocking events to come as part of the burgeoning 'frenemy' bond between their characters.

Full spoilers immediately follow for Foundation season 3 episodes 2 and 3. Turn back now if you haven't seen them.

From enemies to allies? (Image credit: Apple TV+)

The final shot of 'Shadows in the Math' reveals that this season's Brother Dawn (Cassian Bilton), i.e. one of Empire's three rulers, has been secretly conversing with none other than Gaal Dornick (Lou Llobell). As we learn, the pair have held numerous covert holographic calls as these former foes try to find a way to work together to combat the growing threat posed by The Mule.

Dawn and Gaal have been in cahoots for a while, too. Indeed, the opening scene of 'When a Book Finds You' shows Dawn visiting the Empire's library to seek out Hari Seldon's original texts about psychohistory. He's become more curious about Seldon's scientific studies ever since he first learned about them via the Prime Radiant, i.e. the object that contains Seldon's various predictions for humanity.

Long story short: Dawn's interest in psychohistory eventually leads to a meeting with Gaal at a restaurant, which takes place three years before season 3's first episode, on the Empire's stronghold planet of Trantor. It's here where two of Foundation's primary characters tentatively agree to stay in touch, and collaborate on a plan to tackle The Mule because he poses a big threat to Empire and The Foundation. And, while Gaal has been "ready to take on" this all-consuming quest since last season, she'll need all the help she can get, including from Empire. After all, the enemy of my enemy is my friend, right?

Dawn has been holding secret meetings with Gaal via holographic calls (Image credit: Apple TV+)

That doesn't mean there won't be moments of tension and mistrust between Dawn and Gaal. The Foundation and Empire have been foes for centuries at this point, and, according to Llobell and Bilton, it's not a foregone conclusion that they'll continue to get on in one of the best Apple TV+ shows' third season.

"You see them [Empire and The Foundation] trying to come together to take on The Mule," Llobell told me. "But, there's still tension. They're not sure they can trust each other – ultimately, I don't think they can.

"But, it's still incredibly satisfying to see these characters together again in the same scene [NB: Dawn and Gaal last appeared on the screen together in the season 1 premiere]," Llobell continued. "They're coming to a point where their goals align, and I'm really excited for fans to see where things go from here."

Despite agreeing to collaborate, there are still tensions between the duo (Image credit: Apple TV+)

"Previously, it's been Empire against The Foundation, but this season is more interpersonal," Bilton said.

"What's interesting about Dawn and Gaal's relationship is that there's two things going on. They're both ambassadors for their side's way of perceiving the future, so you have these ideals about how the galaxy should be shaped constantly butting heads, so their first in-person meeting becomes this cat-and-mouse game as they size up the other party.

"At the same time, you've got two young people who are trying to make an impact," Bilton added. "What does it mean to be someone with the spotlight trained on them when everything's starting to fall apart? And how can they ensure a legacy that'll endure and allow history to look back kindly upon them? So, while it's a game of poker and the relationship between them is a cagey one, a kind of friendship blossoms because they have to trust each other."

Do you think Dawn and Gaal's 'frenemy' dynamic will hold strong, or is it doomed to fail? Let me know in the comments.

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• More affordable models will be based on existing Model 3 and Model Y
• Cost-cutting will include stripped-down interiors and reduced tech
• The move is a bid to drum up sales, which have slumped in recent months

During a shareholders’ call that followed Tesla’s recent quarterly earnings announcement, Elon Musk "let the cat out of the bag" (as he put it) by stating that the much-hyped affordable Tesla will simply be a trimmed-down Model Y.

The divisive CEO didn’t go into any further detail, only that production is slated for August or September, but it is understood that the cheaper Model Y will be offered at a lower price thanks to a reduction of interior tech, the use of less expensive materials and a number of more affordable exterior flourishes.

While many sectors of the Tesla-buying community have been eagerly awaiting an all-new affordable model, which was once tipped to be a $25,000 Tesla that was rumored to be based on the Cybercab "unboxed" platform, Musk believes that making the Model Y more accessible will help buoy sales.

In the very same earnings call, Musk warned shareholders of a "few rough quarters to come", commenting on the fact that the Trump administration had removed a number of initiatives and incentives that had previously proven a rich revenue stream for the company.

These include the regulatory credits that the company sold to more polluting rivals to help offset their carbon emissions.

To compound matters, The Guardian reported that figures published by the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) revealed that sales of Tesla vehicles in Europe slumped by 33% to 110,000 in the first half of 2025, compared with 165,000 in the first half of 2024.

Elon Musk has been attempting to soften the blow to investors by stating that the company’s future lies in its Robotaxi and autonomous driving solutions, boldly claiming on the earnings call that “half of the population of the US will be covered by Tesla’s Robotaxi by the end of the year.”

This is despite the fact that his "paid-for" service is still limited to a number of select invitees, all of whom will have to share the ride with a Tesla safety operative and can only travel in a strictly geo-fenced area of Austin, Texas.

Tesla data suggests Autopilot is getting worse

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

While Elon Musk is still banging the drum for his autonomous driving systems, Tesla revealed an Autopilot safety report that suggests its camera-only autonomous driving technology has regressed in 2025.

The data highlights miles driven between crashes for Tesla vehicles with Autopilot features turned on, comparing that to the US average of miles driven between crashes.

Electrek has been reporting on this subject for years and clearly points out the many holes in Tesla’s cherry-picked data. But even when factoring in the various biases and discrepancies, the numbers clearly show that there were fewer miles driven between crashes in Q1 2025 than there were in the same quarter last year.

It is worth point out that this only relates to Autopilot, which is an inferior technology to Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) system.

But it’s still not a good look, especially when the CEO is boasting that customers will soon be able to use FSD without supervision – in other words, fully hands-off/eyes-off driving in a variety of driving conditions that very few manufacturers have managed to successfully crack.

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• For the first time ever, the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 will be used in GPD's new handheld gaming PC
• Its currently AMD's most powerful mobile processor
• The GPD Win 5 is expected to be fully unveiled at Chinajoy 2025

Handheld gaming is expanding with new devices like the MSI Claw A8 and ROG Xbox Ally on the horizon, but pricing has been a significant concern for many. However, a handheld that could easily eclipse other handheld PCs has been teased – and it will likely launch with a hefty price tag.

As reported by our friends at Tom's Hardware, GPD has teased a new handheld gaming PC on X, the GPD Win 5, powered by AMD's most powerful mobile 'Strix Halo' processor, the Ryzen AI Max+ 395. It's expected to be unveiled at Chinajoy 2025, which begins on August 1.

In the video (which you can find below), the GPD Win 5 is running Black Myth Wukong, and achieving up to 200 fps. Now, it's too early to make performance comparisons, as we don't know what graphics settings are enabled or if frame generation is being used (which I would assume it is).

However, we know that the Ryzen AI Max+ 395 gets very close to an RTX 4070 laptop GPU in terms of performance – and that's quite possibly the best feat achieved by any AMD APU or SoC. It can run Cyberpunk 2077 at an average of 77 fps at 1440p on high graphics settings, with FSR 3 quality enabled, as highlighted in this benchmark test by AMD APU Gaming on YouTube.

Breaking news! The GPD WIN 5 is expected to make its debut at Chinajoy 2025 pic.twitter.com/G6cwqajspJJuly 24, 2025

Analysis: This niche handheld gaming PC is the only one with the right to be priced above $1,000

Don't get it twisted, this is still a handheld device, and I'd find it very hard to spend a fortune on one personally, but this GPD Win 5 is likely the only device to warrant a hefty price tag.

Its Strix Halo APU is the best gift that any portable device and even small form factor desktop PCs could ask for. The Cyberpunk 2077 benchmarks alone should be a strong indication of that, but it's just a matter of how well the processor is utilized within a handheld chassis.

With power equipped for high-level performance (TDP hitting 58W), it introduces concerns about battery life and adequate cooling in a small portable device. If it isn't a watered-down version of the Ryzen AI Max+ 395 we know of, then the GPD Win 5 handheld would essentially wield the power of a gaming laptop that sits right behind an RTX 4070 model.

One thing is clear though; this will almost certainly cost a fortune, and while I've been critical of mainstream handhelds being too costly, this is a perfect fit for a niche device – and a purchase I could get behind if one wanted a handheld to last years without needing an upgrade.

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• OpenAI brings Agent mode to its Mac app
• Agent mode is accessible from the toolbar menu
• Now you can leave long tasks running in the background while you work on something else

OpenAI has added its new Agent mode to its ChatGPT macOS app, and it’s available right now, if you’re a Plus subscriber. When you use ChatGPT through the Mac app, you’ll see Agent as one of the options in the toolbar that lives under the prompt window. Select it, and now you’re in Agent mode.

OpenAI launched Agent mode, or ChatGPT Agent, as it is also called, last week, and it’s a way to combine all the power of Deep Research with the agentic properties of its previous agent, called Operator.

During the launch event, Sam Altman and co showed off several uses for Agent, such as planning big events, like a wedding, or producing a presentation based on a wide range of data it has to go off and find.

OpenAI describes ChatGPT Agent as "ChatGPT that can think and act, proactively choosing from a toolbox of agentic skills to complete tasks for you using its own computer."

(Image credit: OpenAI)Alternative access

OpenAI also makes a version of its app for Windows users, but this hasn’t had Agent mode added yet.

We have noticed that some people don’t see the new Agent icon in their toolbar on the Mac app yet.

Presumably, this will be fixed as the change rolls out, but if you are using the Mac app and you don’t see an Agent button at the bottom of your interface, then don’t worry, you can still access Agent mode.

Simply type a / and a list of options will appear, one of which is 'Agent mode'.

(Image credit: OpenAI)

The desktop app version of ChatGPT is more integrated into the operating system than simply using ChatGPT in a web browser.

For example, you can launch ChatGPT from any screen on your desktop with a keyboard shortcut. Use Option + Space on macOS or Alt + Space on Windows.

The Desktop version of the ChatGPT app also features Advanced Voice Mode, so you can chat with ChatGPT in real time using the microphone.

While we welcome the new ChatGPT Agent mode, it does open up your Mac to more vulnerabilities. This was something that the OpenAI team addressed at the launch, and Sam Altman said that there could be a new wave of threats that target AI agents who are simply trying to be helpful.

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• Hackers seen targeting misconfigured JuypterLab instances
• They host malware in polyglot files on image sharing sites
• The Koske malware mines different crypto tokens

Security researchers recently discovered a new Linux malware hiding in pictures of cute animals.

Cybersecurity experts from AquaSec recently found a piece of malware called Koske circulating around the web. It relies on polyglot files - documents that can be read and processed differently, depending on the type of program running them.

The threat actors were apparently targeting JupyterLab instances exposed to the internet, and misconfigured in a way that allows remote command execution. After finding and accessing such endpoints, the attackers would pull .JPEG files from legitimate image hosting services such as OVH images, freeimage, or postimage. The pictures were of AI-generated panda bears, innocuous at first sight.

Serbian hackers?

Through a script interpreter, the images are turned into a CPU and GPU-optimized cryptocurrency miners, using the server’s resources to generate more than 18 types of crypto tokens.

Cryptocurrency “mining” is essentially a process of supporting a blockchain network. In exchange for lending electricity, internet, and computing power to support the grid, users are given cryptocurrency tokens whose value depends on different things such as the number of users, the number of tokens in circulation, and the cost of mining.

Mining crypto this way generates relatively little profit for the attackers, some researchers said, while raking up huge costs for the victims - cloud compute power and electricity are often quite expensive.

AquaSec could not attribute the malware to a specific group definitively, but it did say that it found Serbia-based IP addresses used in the attacks, Serbian phrases in the scripts, and Slovak language in the GitHub repository hosting the miners.

In that context, the name of the malware would make some sense, since the word “Koske” in colloquial or dialectal form means “bones”.

The researchers believe that besides the image, the malware itself was written with the help of large language models (LLM) or automation frameworks.

Via BleepingComputer

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There’s no doubt that AI can offer businesses significant opportunities to enhance efficiency, unlock insights and improve their operations. However, making the leap from concept to effective execution remains a complex journey for many. Organizations are often overly optimistic about how easy AI will be to implement, but quickly find that generating real impact through scalable systems relies on more than ambition alone.

Unfortunately, all too often, promising AI initiatives remain stuck in "proof of concept purgatory", failing to move into production due to integration issues, particularly with back-end data. The truth is that AI will not succeed if the underlying processes and data are disorganized. AI thrives in environments where data is structured, connected, and easily navigable - by both machines and people. It must be embedded into workflows, not added as an afterthought. This is particularly crucial in high-stakes sectors, where the success of AI depends entirely on the quality and accessibility of information.

Beyond the basics

As automation and AI adoption accelerates, the challenge is no longer whether to adopt AI - but how to do it well. That means moving beyond the low-hanging fruit and prioritizing strategic implementation supported by data readiness and solutions that enable seamless integration.

Terms such as ‘Generative AI’, ‘Agentic AI’, ‘LLMs’ or even more broadly ‘intelligent automation’ have certainly created a buzz in recent years, but unfortunately, many implementations are falling short of their true potential. In many cases, what businesses are actually deploying are advanced chatbots or deterministic systems that don’t fully leverage AI’s potential. For example, a lot of businesses are still at the stage where they are using AI for simple tasks like content generation, speech-to-text, or at most - the automation of simple processes. Whilst using AI for tasks such as these is certainly a valuable step to support productivity and free up employees, these straightforward processes are only just scratching the surface on what AI has to offer.

What does innovative AI look like?

True AI innovation often involves handling probabilistic tasks, where uncertainty and variability in data demand more advanced AI systems to guide decisions. To drive impact from AI, it’s time for organizations to move beyond the basic applications and start thinking about how AI can augment and support human decision-making and improve outcomes across a variety of channels.

This isn’t about replacing human workers, but supporting them with real-time insights. For those in contact center roles, effectively integrated AI can provide next-best-action recommendations and contextualized guidance during customer interactions. A significant shift from traditional rule-based systems to intelligent, adaptive support that empowers teams to make faster, more accurate decisions. Moreover, by automating routine and repetitive tasks - such as identifying intent or retrieving customer history - AI can help reduce friction in the customer journey. This not only improves operational efficiency but also elevates customer satisfaction, eliminating the need for customers to repeat themselves across touchpoints.

The integration dilemma

Unfortunately, for many sectors, the biggest roadblock to impactful AI adoption comes from the complexity surrounding its integration with legacy systems. Whilst using an AI bot to automate content generation or customer service tasks is fairly straight forward, getting that system to access and interact with real customer data – such as CRM systems, product databases, or service records, can become a monumental challenge. For example, many public sector organizations have hundreds of different systems concurrently, each managing different aspects of customer service or data collection. The real challenge lies in making sure all these systems talk to each other effectively and that AI can access the relevant data from across the organisation securely.

Without seamless integration, AI cannot function optimally, and its promise of transforming business operations becomes much harder to achieve. After all, AI can only be as effective as the data it relies on. If data is disjointed or stored in silos across different systems it will struggle to deliver meaningful insights, or guide decisions effectively. To overcome this, organizations need to look at their processes and workflows holistically, ensuring data within these systems is well-organized, consistent and accessible.

This may require the reorganization of data and making bold decisions around whether the underlying, legacy technology is still right for the business’s needs. This is where process mapping is an essential starting point. Process mapping is the practice of creating a detailed map of all workflows scattered across the entire business and visualizing them to understand the direct and indirect impact one process may have on another.

From concept to impact

Shifting the dial on AI from concept to meaningful impact, requires organizations to take a pragmatic and outcome-focused approach. AI should be incorporated intelligently, and is often most successful when it augments existing systems. Platform-based AI tools which combine low-code capabilities can offer organizations a great solution to this by breaking down the barriers to development and removing the need to rip and replace solutions.

Adopting a more systematic and intelligent approach to implementation is equally as important. AI should only be applied where it clearly adds value. Gaining visibility into workflows and identifying process bottlenecks is key to this - helping to ensure AI is targeted to areas that deliver measurable improvements.

By focusing on augmentation over replacement, adopting platform-based AI tools that support integration, and aligning AI initiatives with business needs, organizations can unlock scalable, sustainable AI outcomes that go far beyond the proof-of-concept stage.

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As personalized and user-centric offerings become a necessity for modern organizations, utilizing data is a critical component to understanding customer and stakeholder needs. From public sector bodies and healthcare providers to financial institutions and software suppliers, it is now imperative for organizations to collect, store and organize data effectively.

Yet, unfortunately, many organizations are struggling to maintain clean, actionable data. In fact, a recent survey found that two-fifths (39%) of organizations have little to no data governance frameworks1. Years of inconsistent data practices and working in silos have left many departments with ‘dirty’, inadequate data that cannot be actioned.

This ongoing lack of effective data governance has resulted in organizations missing the valuable insights that would otherwise help them become better service providers.

Organizations, across sectors, as well as public sector bodies, urgently need to take decisive action to mitigate against any further damage their current data collecting practices may be having. In addition, they must instill values that make data governance a priority. This would ensure the information they collect, and store, is not only clean but also actionable.

How has this happened?

The manifestation of ‘dirty’, disorganized, data stems from a multitude of factors. From collecting duplicate and incomplete records to a lack of integration, too many organizations have unfortunately failed to manage data effectively. According to 2024 research, 44% of financial firms struggle to manage data stored across multiple locations2. This has hit their bottom line, with many incurring inflated costs. However, where, and how data is stored is not the only problem.

In organizations where data governance remains a concern, data is often fragmented and inconsistent across departments. Instead of having integrated systems that deliver a single, dependable, database, teams are working in data silos. For instance, separate sales and marketing teams at a digital bank may want to reach out to the same customers, or prospects, but have their own isolated data sets. In a borough council, the social housing and waste collection teams may need to contact the same residents, yet they do not share their citizens’ records.

This disjointed approach causes ‘dirty’ data that is not only difficult to use because the information is incorrect but also challenging to clean and then maintain. What’s more, ‘dirty’ data leads to conflicting insights, impacting decision-making, customer experience and overall business efficiency.

Commercial organizations risk falling behind competitors who can adjust their product lines in accordance with customer and market demands. Meanwhile, public sector bodies may not be delivering crucial services to the right citizens.

Who is responsible for ‘dirty’ data?

Poor data management comes in many forms, but perhaps the most prominent reason for ‘dirty’ data revolves around ownership. While many heads of departments perceive data governance as a responsibility of an organization's IT team, it is their department colleagues who actually use data on a day-to-day basis. An IT team can offer support by ensuring software and systems are working properly, but they are not the ones utilizing information to interact with customers and stakeholders.

After all, it is the departments, such as finance, sales and marketing, that need customer and stakeholder engagement to succeed and that benefit from clean, actionable data. The same can be said for local authorities. For example, the social care and education teams need clean data to ensure they can identify the residents that qualify for their services. With this in mind, it is then reasonable to suggest that the prime beneficiaries of clean data should be the ones managing it. Fostering a culture of data responsibility, driven by a desire to create a single view of customer or citizen information, while investing in staff training, is the first step to resolving the human aspect of effective data governance.

Keeping data clean

The technical aspect involves adopting appropriate solutions to help with the initial clean up and then maintaining data accuracy. While having the right intentions is fundamental to establishing effective data governance, introducing appropriate technology allows departments to put their drive for change into practice.

The sheer volume of data that organizations need to collect, store and process has led to legacy, or rules-based, software being no longer fit for purpose. Instead, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning, have been developed to notice patterns and inconsistencies in data. Newer tools can handle larger volumes, so they are deployed to irradicate data duplication and are even at the stage to offer predictive data modelling.

These technologies maintain clean data and support the generation of actionable insights so organizations can accommodate customers’ and/or citizens’ present and future needs. Successful adoption will happen gradually but once this is achieved, automated data cleansing will boost productivity. By automating the manual processes that eroded people’s time, organizations can empower humans to prioritize and fulfil the tasks they do best.

Benefit from actionable insights

The responsibility for data governance cannot rest solely with IT teams. It must be a shared priority across departments, where those who rely most on data take an active role in ensuring its quality.

The benefits of clean data go beyond having the easily accessible information that is always in the right place, at the right time. Breaking down data silos allows better cohesion and collaboration, which then in turn helps deliver actionable insights. From personalized marketing campaigns and optimizing supply chains to issuing council tax bills and allocating social care budgets, clean data allows organizations to run more efficiently.

By investing in both technology, such as AI-powered automation tools, and a more responsible, and proactive, culture, companies can develop robust data management practices. Ultimately, the organizations that thrive will be those that treat data not as a by-product, but as a strategic asset.

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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