Technology

Communication Service Providers (CSPs) are constantly striving to achieve and maintain network excellence, a constantly evolving challenge as operators must both continue to roll-out the latest technology while also tackling difficult-to-solve connectivity issues in built-up areas and support rural communities.

This task has changed dramatically as customer demands across all areas have evolved in the last decade, with fast, personalized, seamless, and always-on experiences becoming the norm, rather than a luxury.

The keys to unlocking both network excellence and evolving customer demands come from the implementation of various forms of artificial intelligence (AI).

For the telecoms industry the technology is still in its early stages of being deployed and its full potential is yet to be realized, however we can expect to see big changes over the next few years, from supporting customer services and improving traffic management to having an impact on areas such as security.

It’s vital that telecoms companies are able to maintain a bigger picture view to consider the transformative impact it will have if implemented effectively.

Once these benefits are embraced, telecom providers need to ensure they have the correct strategic approach in place to harness AI. Adopting AI-driven solutions and optimizing data infrastructure will lay the foundations for AI to flourish, which will be a key differentiator for businesses in the industry.

Upholding network excellence

AI is already showing promise by optimizing network performance through real-time analysis and automation. Success in the sector is currently increasingly trending towards perfecting networks rather than big coverage area improvements. The issues operators face are therefore getting harder to solve and more numerous. For instance, perfecting network coverage in built-up areas or managing network capacity at sports, music and cultural events, is especially difficult.

This is where AI can help. AI-powered systems can monitor vast amounts of network data, detect inefficiencies, and dynamically adjust resources to ensure optimal performance. By using machine learning algorithms, network congestion can be proactively anticipated, and traffic can be automatically rerouted to prevent slowdowns or disruptions. This results in improved efficiency, reduced latency, and an overall enhanced user experience.

Additionally, AI plays a crucial role in predictive maintenance by identifying potential equipment failures before they occur. Through analysis of historical data and detecting anomalies, AI can forecast when network components might fail, allowing operators to address issues proactively and minimize downtime. Good network coverage is so ubiquitous in today’s world that consumers don’t expect to experience disruptions, no matter how brief, and therefore it is crucial that CSPs don’t allow this to slip.

Optimized deployment of network devices also ensures that infrastructure is utilized effectively, reducing operational costs while maintaining high levels of reliability and performance. A big aspect of this is the ability to optimize capacity planning, by predicting demands on the network in real-time and then allocating resources to ensure this level of capacity is met. This ensures bandwidth remains strong and improves the overall quality of the network service.

Meeting evolving customer demands

Beyond automation, AI also enables proactive customer support by analyzing usage patterns and predicting potential issues before they impact users. AI-driven systems can detect service disruptions, alert customers, and even suggest solutions before they reach out for assistance.

Additionally, AI enhances personalization by analyzing customer preferences and recommending tailored services, ensuring that telecom providers meet the evolving needs of their users. This combination of automation, predictive analytics, and personalization helps telecom companies deliver a seamless and responsive customer experience, ultimately improving retention and loyalty.

Upholding security

When addressing customer expectations, it’s also important to recognize how consumers expect first-class cybersecurity practices from their network providers. Security is the foundation from which trust and loyalty are built, and it is crucial that businesses give consumers confidence that their personal data is safe.

Once again, AI can play a critical role in safeguarding against cyber-attacks and fraudulent activity. This is primarily achieved through proactive monitoring and the detection of anomalies that alert security teams to fraudulent activities, such as spam messages, phishing attacks and fake reviews. For instance, security solutions may redirect suspicious traffic to isolated areas to monitor and analyze potential threats. While AI has potential for self-healing systems, most telecoms operators prefer manual oversight due to trust and reliability concerns.

Facilitating AI and bridging the data gap

The benefits of AI for the telecom sector are multi-faceted and tangible, yet for all of the potential, businesses aren’t capitalizing on it. Lenovo research reveals there has been a 104% increase in expected AI investments in EMEA, which demonstrates the appetite for AI implementation. However, many AI projects are simply not meeting expectations and scaling AI is cited as the biggest reason for this.

As the industry continues its evolution towards an AI-powered future, it has never been more important for telecom providers to have the right data infrastructure in place. AI is only ever as good as the data it uses and unlocking this data requires purpose-built edge-to-cloud AI infrastructure.

AI-optimized solutions will empower service providers to quickly deploy an entire network of high-power computing to drive revolutionary efficiency and intelligence for their own customers and beyond.

An AI-powered future

Telecom providers are seen as crucial infrastructure providers in society, as many critical services operate on a telecom network. They possess data center infrastructure, connectivity, and security while adhering to government regulations, making them well-positioned to lead the deployment of Sovereign AI clouds for governments and enterprises. Connectivity is the cornerstone of what they do, however their value to society goes beyond this too. It is therefore vital that telecom providers harness AI to unlock everything it has to offer.

While the potential is vast, realizing AI’s full benefits requires a strategic approach—one that ensures the right infrastructure is in place to support its deployment at scale. By investing in AI-driven solutions and optimizing data infrastructure, telecom companies can unlock new efficiencies, enhance service quality, and build more secure, resilient networks.

As AI adoption accelerates, telecom providers that successfully harness its capabilities will gain a competitive edge, offering smarter, more responsive, and customer-centric services. The key to success lies in bridging the gap between AI’s potential and its practical implementation. Those who prioritize AI-ready infrastructure and data-driven strategies will be best positioned to lead the industry’s evolution, shaping the future of connectivity in an increasingly digital world.

We've featured the best business phone system.

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

• The ICC has confirmed suffering a cyberattack
• No threat actors claimed responsibility yet for the incident
• However the ICC recently indicted Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has confirmed recently suffering a cyberattack - noting a “new, sophisticated and targeted” attack was spotted through the court’s alert and response mechanism.

Since spotting the attack, the organization claims to have contained it, and is now working to mitigate any effects.

No other details were disclosed, so we don’t know who the threat actors are, what the nature of the attack was, and if it left any consequences.

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Links to Gaza

Established in 2002 and operating independently from the United Nations, the ICC is a tribunal based in The Hague, Netherlands, which prosecutes individuals for the most serious crimes concerning the international community.

That includes war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide, and more, with some media linking this attack to the atrocities happening in Gaza at the moment.

In its report, Cybernews states the ICC has been under “increased scrutiny” for issuing an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

A similar sentiment was reported by Times of Israel, which also stressed that there is a warrant for former Israeli defense minister Yoav Gallat, as well.

Israel rejects the jurisdiction of the court, and argues that the fighting in Gaza complies with international law. US president Donald Trump recently sanctioned chief prosecutor Karim Khan and three other judges because of the warrants, Politico reports.

This isn’t the ICC’s first cyberattack, either, and Khan warned that the organization needs to tighten up on security, since future attacks are likely, as well.

Via Cybernews

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If you think you do not need to worry about the EU's new Data Act and rules around data sovereignty - think again. It is easy to assume that because this legislation applies to EU countries, UK organizations can continue to process and store data in the same way as before. But by ignoring changes in the rules surrounding geographical data location, organizations could find themselves in hot water.

And now, with global politics in flux, data sovereignty is under more scrutiny than ever. This new legislation aims to ensure EU organizations and governments have control over critical data, regulating its collection, processing, and storage. It will reduce reliance on non-EU cloud providers and enable secure data sharing between organizations while maintaining EU oversight.

Crucially, the regulation applies to organizations wherever they are based; and UK companies that process EU citizens’ data must also follow these rules. This is not the first time that EU data regulations have impacted the UK. Perhaps the biggest data privacy law in history, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), came into force in 2018 and applies to every organization that processes data on the 448 million citizens of the EU.

To date, several established brands, including British Airways, Marriott International, and TikTok for example, have fallen foul of GDPR fines, and have been ordered to pay penalties as high as £183 million.

But although UK organizations will be impacted by the new EU legislation, and complying will both carry a financial burden and require investing additional time from staff, it is less difficult than it may seem.

You can stay one step ahead of this legislation by properly governing the data you are generating and processing.

You need to account for whose data is being collected, choose a storage vendor that will allow you to move your data easily, and ensure this data is stored in geographical locations that follow relevant legislation.

We will take a look at this in more detail.

1. Changes to data transfer and storage rules

The EU's new data sovereignty legislation includes stricter rules on where data can be transferred and stored. This means you will need to know where you are storing data you hold on your customers and users, and therefore what national laws apply in that jurisdiction.

You’ll also need to clearly communicate this information, with more granular policies controlling the migration of data, especially if that data involves sensitive or personal information.

2. Increased compliance requirements

EU citizens and organizations must be able to access and view data concerning them, free of charge. They can also authorize a third party to access this data.

Additionally, EU departments and public sector bodies will also have authority to access the data but only if there is an “exceptional need”, for example during a public emergency on the scale of Covid-19, or a natural disaster. Organizations must offer a way to share that data if requested.

3. Cloud and hosting restrictions

Data stored in the cloud must be easy to transfer to and from its location in a way that complies with the Data Act. If your cloud provider does not offer the ability to choose a jurisdiction for your data and is not completely transparent about where it is held at all times, then it may be wise to opt for alternatives that do offer this.

Additionally, for cloud providers, the legislation states they must not make it difficult for their clients to switch company and transfer their data across to a different cloud service.

4. Dual regulatory frameworks

In addition to the EU legislation, the UK has its own laws governing data use, and UK organisations will need to consider both. The Data (Use and Access) Bill was introduced to UK Parliament in October 2024, regulating “the way consumers, businesses and asset owners can safely share data”.

This means UK organizations must navigate a dual regulatory framework: complying with both EU and UK-specific data regulations.

The good news is that UK regulations often align with EU laws, making it easier to meet both sets of requirements. This was evident when the UK adopted its own version of GDPR after Brexit, ensuring regulatory continuity and avoiding major disruptions for cross-border trade.

5. Sanctions for non-compliance

The EU Data Act will be enforced from 12 September 2025, so from this date penalties are expected to be issued for non-compliance. Fines are likely to be dissuasive - aiming to encourage compliance - so they are likely to be hefty.

The legislation says that fines will be set by the nominated data protection authority in the EU member state that raises a claim, so it will vary depending on the member state. Additionally, fines of up to 4% of the organization's worldwide turnover could be imposed, matching the maximum penalty for a breach of GDPR.

Conclusion: meet data governance head on to strengthen your business

Solid data governance has always been a business strength that gives a competitive edge. Now, however, it is no longer optional but mandatory for UK organizations who do business with the EU.

Ultimately, it’s important to remember that, rather than being a new source of regulatory burden, these rules are intended to open up new markets, and organizations may well be able to capitalize on this. The new laws may well encourage controlled, safe data sharing and processing, as well as more competitive cloud hosting.

Organizations with a firm grip on their data will find complying with the new legislation less of an issue than those who leave their data governance to chance. So now is a great time to assess your data storage policies, review your cloud providers, update any relevant agreements, and ensure compliance - before the rules are enforced.

We've featured the best data loss prevention service.

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

Add another level of security to make sure someone pretending to be you doesn't get into your account.

Looking for a different day?

A new Quordle puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Tuesday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Tuesday, July 1 (game #1254).

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

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

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

Quordle today (game #1255) - hint #1 - VowelsHow many different vowels are in Quordle today?

• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 5*.

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

Quordle today (game #1255) - hint #2 - repeated lettersDo any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?

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

Quordle today (game #1255) - hint #3 - uncommon lettersDo the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?

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

Quordle today (game #1255) - hint #4 - starting letters (1)Do any of today's Quordle puzzles start with the same letter?

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

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

Quordle today (game #1255) - hint #5 - starting letters (2)What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• I

• S

• E

• U

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

Quordle today (game #1255) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1255, are…

• INANE
• SCOUR
• ELITE
• ULCER

Two rarities in today’s Quordle – all five vowels in play, plus we had three words beginning with vowels. 

I almost got caught out when my start words provided me with an anagram for ULCER and I first tapped out “cruel” before realizing that I already knew where the U could not be positioned. All those vowels were causing temporary word-blindness.

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

Daily Sequence today (game #1255) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1255, are…

• HEDGE
• PINCH
• LOOSE
• ROUND

Quordle answers: The past 20

• Quordle #1254, Tuesday, 1 July: REBAR, YEARN, FORTH, CROWD
• Quordle #1253, Monday, 30 June: INGOT, INFER, TAPIR, CLUED
• Quordle #1252, Sunday, 29 June: MIRTH, APTLY, SCRUB, SMACK
• Quordle #1251, Saturday, 28 June: AWOKE, SMOKY, DEVIL, SWING
• Quordle #1250, Friday, 27 June: SPEAK, EAGLE, AVERT, SUING
• Quordle #1249, Thursday, 26 June: SLUMP, REBUS, GUAVA, MONEY
• Quordle #1248, Wednesday, 25 June: SOGGY, CLASH, MODEM, SQUAD
• Quordle #1247, Tuesday, 24 June: QUALM, SQUIB, AXIAL, FLACK
• Quordle #1246, Monday, 23 June: PIXEL, FJORD, STEAL, EXIST
• Quordle #1245, Sunday, 22 June: WREST, CRAZE, PAPAL, SCION
• Quordle #1244, Saturday, 21 June: BUDDY, GROUT, BEGIN, MADAM
• Quordle #1243, Friday, 20 June: BRAID, DULLY, HASTE, LURID
• Quordle #1242, Thursday, 19 June: BRUSH, ISLET, FRUIT, PRIVY
• Quordle #1241, Wednesday, 18 June: MEDIA, SHARK, GUPPY, MOURN
• Quordle #1240, Tuesday, 17 June: LEAPT, PRISM, ADMIN, WHINE
• Quordle #1239, Monday, 16 June: RETRY, SCALD, DINGO, FEIGN
• Quordle #1238, Sunday, 15 June: SHOCK, STEIN, BROIL, COVEN
• Quordle #1237, Saturday, 14 June: STICK, FERRY, THESE, IONIC
• Quordle #1236, Friday, 13 June: REPEL, LARGE, SNIDE, CARRY
• Quordle #1235, Thursday, 12 June: SCANT, BATCH, UNDER, PARSE

Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Connections puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Tuesday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Tuesday, July 1 (game #751).

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

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

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

NYT Connections today (game #752) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• OEDIPUS
• REX
• FAKE
• ID
• FRESHWATER
• SOPHOCLES
• JUNIPER
• SENECA
• COPY
• SLIP
• BOOTLEG
• MOBILE
• SHIRT
• PAIN
• DREAMS
• REPLICA

NYT Connections today (game #752) - hint #1 - group hints

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

• YELLOW: Counterfeit
• BLUE: Precede with a letter
• GREEN: Sigmund 
• PURPLE: School starters

Need more clues?

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

NYT Connections today (game #752) - hint #2 - group answers

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

• YELLOW: KNOCKOFF 
• BLUE: WORDS AFTER "T-" 
• GREEN: ASSOCIATED WITH FREUD 
• PURPLE: STARTING WITH HIGH SCHOOL/COLLEGE ABBREVIATIONS

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

NYT Connections today (game #752) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #752, are…

• YELLOW: KNOCKOFF BOOTLEG, COPY, FAKE, REPLICA
• BLUE: WORDS AFTER "T-" MOBILE, PAIN, REX, SHIRT
• GREEN: ASSOCIATED WITH FREUD DREAMS, ID, OEDIPUS, SLIP
• PURPLE: STARTING WITH HIGH SCHOOL/COLLEGE ABBREVIATIONS FRESHWATER, JUNIPER, SENECA, SOPHOCLES

• My rating: Hard
• My score: Fail

Back in the day when I was a music journalist, someone used my name to blag free gig tickets and they were going out having much more fun than I was. I only found out when I turned up at a concert once and was refused entry. I mention this because a KNOCKOFF is not always easy to spot – unlike today’s yellow group, which was a doddle.

The rest of today’s Connections were really tough. I thought I’d cracked the code when I got WORDS AFTER “T-”, but the last two groups destroyed me.

Thinking that there must be a group connected by philosophy, I tried OEDIPUS, SENECA, and SOPHOCLES and added JUNIPER out of ignorance.

This gave me a “one away”, but I used up all my remaining guesses trying to complete a non-existent group. What Freud would have to say about that I don’t know, but I suspect it’d be something to do with my dreams of my mother doing crosswords.

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

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Tuesday, July 1, game #751)

• YELLOW: STEAL NICK, PALM, PINCH, POCKET
• GREEN: DAPPER NEAT, SHARP, SMART, TIDY
• BLUE: DO SOME GROOMING BRUSH, DRESS, SHAVE, SHOWER
• PURPLE: ___STONE BIRTH, KEY, MILE, TOUCH

What is NYT Connections?

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

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

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

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

Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Strands puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Tuesday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Tuesday, July 1 (game #485).

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 #486) - hint #1 - today's themeWhat is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… ... This is for the birds

NYT Strands today (game #486) - hint #2 - clue words

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

• WING
• MEAT
• STARS
• FINAL
• MASS
• GREAT

NYT Strands today (game #486) - hint #3 - spangram lettersHow many letters are in today's spangram?

• Spangram has 15 letters

NYT Strands today (game #486) - hint #4 - spangram positionWhat are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First side: right, 3rd row

Last side: bottom, 3rd column

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

NYT Strands today (game #486) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #486, are…

• FEATHER
• TWIG
• WOOL
• GRASS
• LEAF
• FLUFF
• MOSS
• SPANGRAM: NESTING MATERIAL

• My rating: Easy
• My score: Perfect

After immediately seeing the word “wing” in the grid, I thought that we were searching for bird parts. And despite it being wrong the first word I found – FEATHER – still had me believing that was the case, not that I could think of anything beyond beak.

After getting TWIG I realized what we were really looking for, but I didn’t get the spangram until the end, even though the word “nest” was hiding in plain sight.

I didn’t realize that you could buy NESTING MATERIAL until I googled it, but some people put balls of wool in their bird feeders in the spring to give our feathered friends a helping hand. With bird population under threat from habitat loss, it seems like the least we can do.

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

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Tuesday, July 1, game #485)

• SLIDE
• CAROUSEL
• TRAIN
• FUNHOUSE
• SCRAMBLER
• SPANGRAM: AMUSEMENT PARK

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.

The app that tells you how to reword that awkward phrase could be eyeing a bigger claim on your workspace.

These are the best laptops that my colleagues and I have gotten our hands on in the past year, spanning all types, sizes and prices.

• Amazon CEO Andy Jassy again says AI could replace some workers
• The company will continue to reduce headcount, but hire in some areas
• Many businesses are replacing human workers with AI

Amazon CEO Andy Jassy has once again repeated that AI could soon replace some workers at Amazon.

AI could soon have “fewer people doing some of the jobs”, Jassy said.

Luckily, according to Jassy, “there’s going to be other jobs” and AI will help free people from “rote work” which will “make all our jobs more interesting.”

AI will replace some workers

“Like with every technical transformation, there will be fewer people doing some of the jobs that the technology actually starts to automate,” the Amazon CEO told CNBC’s Jim Cramer in an interview.

Jassy added Amazon will continue to hire in areas such as AI and robotics, despite the company steadily reducing its headcount for the past few years, with just over 27,000 jobs cut since 2022. Jassy confirmed in June 2025 that this trend will likely continue for the next few years.

Improving internet efficiency while cutting headcounts isn’t a unique trend, with many top companies following suit. Salesforce CEO Mark Benioff claimed that AI was now doing 30% to 50% of the work at the company.

Many workers are still not wholly convinced of the benefits of AI, especially if those benefits can only be reaped if their job is replaced. The latest arrivals into the workforce are particularly concerned about how bosses are implementing AI into their jobs.

A recent survey also found some workers are seeing the benefits of the technology, but are suffering from workplace stress over the fear that they could be replaced.

There have also been calls for the work week to be cut from 5 days to 4 if the productivity increases that many companies are boasting are to be believed, but that will be a difficult one to swing with boards looking to cut costs, improve productivity, and boost efficiency.

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What's the next PS5 exclusive planned for 2025?

(Image credit: Sucker Punch)

The next PS5 exclusive planned for a 2025 release is Lost Soul Aside, which launches August 29, 2025. Then there's Ghost of Yotei, the sequel to Ghost of Tsushima. Those are the two big exclusives for this year, with Saros, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, and Marvel's Wolverine still not having release windows.

Upcoming PS5 exclusives include AAA first-party games, as well as Sony's future slate of multiplayer titles, something slightly newer that the publisher seems to be pushing quite hard. Regardless of what kind of games you like to play, there are plenty of exclusives coming to PS5, many of which already have release dates or broad release windows.

In terms of upcoming games, the next year or so of PS5 exclusives look set to be an extremely strong lineup. That's before you consider the juggernaut that is Ghost of Yōtei, as well as unannounced games that's sure to follow towards the end of the year. Many of these will be further enhanced on Sony's newest console too, so be sure to check out our best PS5 Pro games list to see what's worth playing.

Here are the upcoming PS5 exclusives to look forward to in 2025 and beyond. We'll only be covering games that have been officially confirmed for release, many of which already have solid release dates locked in. In terms of what games we've chosen to include here, these are either only coming to PS5, or are console exclusives, meaning they are also set to launch on PC. We'll indicate where each game sits with regard to these release platforms as we go.

Upcoming PS5 exclusives

(Image credit: Housemarque / PlayStation Studios)

There are currently quite a few major PS5 exclusives planned and confirmed for future release on the PlayStation 5 console. We've listed them below, alongside their release dates where available.

In terms of what games we've chosen to include here, these are either only coming to PS5, or are console exclusives; the latter meaning they are also set to launch on PC. We'll make that clear with each entry below too so you have a clear picture of what's what.

• Lost Soul Aside - August 29, 2025
• Ghost of Yotei - October 2, 2025
• Ballad of Antara - TBC 2025
• Where Winds Meet - TBC 2025
• Phantom Blade 0 - TBC
• Saros - 2026
• Marvel's Wolverine - TBC
• Sword of the Sea - TBC
• Fairgame$ - TBC
• Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet - TBC

Lost Soul Aside

(Image credit: Sony)

Lost Soul Aside is a brand new action RPG that'lll launch on PS5 and PC. You’ll traverse landscapes that feel alive: sunlit plains, mysterious ancient ruins, and alternate dimensions that buzz with energy. This world is filled with secrets, monsters, and unpredictable events that keep you interested. Beneath the flashy moves, there’s depth for players who love to experiment. You can customize loadouts, chain synergistic combos, and strategize with Arena, Kaser’s dragon-like companion.

Lost Soul Aside launches August 29, 2025 for PS5 and PC, following a delay.

Ghost of Yotei

(Image credit: Sucker Punch)

Ghost of Yōtei is the latest game from Sucker Punch, and follows Ghost of Tsushima. Protagonist Atsu’s journey takes place in 1603, more than 300 years after the events of Ghost of Tsushima. While we don't know how the two are connected, if at all, expect the same mix of stealth and sword-fighting as you make your way across a gorgeous Feudal Japan setting. So far, we've received two trailers, and it's looking very pretty indeed.

Ghost of Yōtei will launch October 2, 2025, exclusively for PS5.

Saros

(Image credit: Housemarque)

Saros was revealed during a State of Play event that aired in February 2025. It's the latest from Housemarque, and is being described as a game that builds upon the third-person action systems showcased in Returnal. A key gameplay distinction between Saros and Returnal is permanent resources and progression making every death valuable. After every death you will face a changed world, but in Saros you will be able to choose and permanently upgrade your loadout from an evolving set of weapons and suit upgrades to “come back stronger” to overcome the challenges you face on Carcosa.

Saros will launch on PS5 in 2026.

Ballad of Antara

(Image credit: Infoldgames)

Ballad of Antara is an action-RPG with multiple playable characters. These characters possess the power to traverse the two worlds of normalcy and unimaginable. The devs are calling them “Emissaries”. Each Emissary has their own unique class, gameplay capabilities, and their own enticing, mysterious stories. So far, we have seen a lengthy trailer, which you can check out as part of this blog post.

Ballad of Antara is currently slated for release sometime in 2025. At present, it's only confirmed for PS5.

Where Winds Meet

(Image credit: Everstone Studio)

Where Winds Meet is an epic Wuxia open-world action-adventure RPG game, that was recently confirmed to be launching on PS5. At first, we only knew about a PC release, but after a State of Play event last May, we know it's coming to PlayStation. For now, it's only got a release window of 2025, so stay tuned for more info on a specific release date. If you'd like to read more about the game, check out the PlayStation blog.

Marvel's Wolverine

(Image credit: Sony)

Marvel's Wolverine is coming from the folks over at Insomniac, the team responsible for the Spider-Man PS4 and PS5 games. As such, expectations are very high indeed, and because we've not seen much on it so far, things are still very much up in the air. Only a brief cinematic trailer has been revealed so far, showing Logan sitting at a bar after what looks to have been a very bloody brawl.

At present, Wolverine is only slated for a PS5 release.

Fairgame$

Fairgame$ is a competitive heist game where you join an underground movement to rob the ultra-rich and rebalance the scales. We've not seen any gameplay yet, nor do we have a release window or release date.

What we do know is that it'll launch on PS5 and PC.

Phantom Blade Zero

(Image credit: S-Game)

Phantom Blade Zero was revealed during a PlayStation Showcase event in 2023. It looks set to blend fast-paced action with cinematic quick-time gameplay. There are epic boss battles, and plenty of parrying as you make your way across a fractured land, looking to seek revenge on those that have mortally wounded you.

Phantom Blade Zero has been confirmed to be in development for PS5 and PC, and it currently has no release date. You can check out our hands-on Phantom Blade Zero preview to read what we thought of the upcoming game.

Sword of the Sea

(Image credit: Giant Squid)

Sword of the Sea takes place in an abandoned realm where the terrain flows in waves. You'll make use of a traversal vehicle called the Hoversword. The Hoversword controls like a snowboard, skateboard, and hoverboard all in one. Build momentum to achieve great speeds and catch big air as you explore skatepark-like ruins, uncovering an ancient mystery as you go.

At present, Sword of the Sea is announced for PS5 and PC.

Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet

(Image credit: Naughty Dog/Sony)

Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet was a surprise reveal that closed out The Game Awards 2024. It's the new game from Naughty Dog, and looks to be a sci-fi epic, with a retro-futuristic vibe. We don't know too much about the game yet, except that it's being developed exclusively for PS5 consoles. From the official announcement blog post:

"Intergalactic stars our newest protagonist, Jordan A. Mun, a dangerous bounty hunter who ends up stranded on Sempiria – a distant planet whose communication with the outside universe went dark hundreds of years ago. In fact, anyone who’s flown to it hoping to unravel its mysterious past was never heard from again. Jordan will have to use all her skills and wits if she hopes to be the first person in over 600 years to leave its orbit."

At present, we have no release window for Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, so we'll mark it down as TBC.

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While we wait for the streaming release of Marvel's Thunderbolts* movie on Disney+, there's some good news for fans of buying or renting movies: the digital release comes with a bunch of bonus extras that enable you to spend "a bit of quality time with the cast and crew".

If you haven't already seen the movie, we'd really recommend it. In our Thunderbolts* review we said that "its incredibly touching tale, relatable characters, and likable cast – all of whom are firing on all cylinders – set it apart from its MCU brethren... [it] is an expectation-defying, incredibly moving MCU entry that unashamedly wears its heart on its sleeve".

What to expect from Thunderbolts* for home viewing

In the US, there will be a Walmart-exclusive pop-up edition of the Thunderbolts* Blu-ray (Image credit: Disney)

There's an extensive list of bonus features as part of Thunderbolts* digital release (with the disclaimer that the features may vary by product and retailer), including deleted scenes that didn't make the final cut: 'Door Is Unliftable' and 'Gary Announcement', the latter of which features Congressman Gary from The Falcon and The Winter Soldier making an announcement about Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, aka Contessa.

There's also 'Assembling a Team to Remember', which delivers the promised quality time as the cast and crew divulge how the film's team of misfits and mavericks was assembled; 'Around the World and Back Again', which focuses on the eclectic locations and "astounding" production design, including a visit to the sprawling sets in Kuala Lumpur where Florence Pugh performs stunts on some of Earth's tallest buildings; and 'All About Bob, Sentry & The Void', which is a deep dive into the making of Lewis Pullman's trio of characters.

In addition to these features there's also a director's commentary by Jake Schrier, and a gag reel of outtakes.

The digital release hits Prime Video, the Sky Store, Apple TV and Google TV today, July 1, and the 4K UHD, Blu-ray and DVD releases come out on July 29 in the US and a week later in the UK. There will also be a collectors' edition SteelBook release of the 4K UHD edition and a Walmart exclusive pop-up Blu-ray too.

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• Ransomware operators Sarcoma recently breached Radix
• As a result, Swiss government files were posted on the dark web
• Radix claims it retained intact backups

Multiple agencies of the Swiss federal government were affected by a supply chain attack that trickled down from Radix, a non-profit organization in the health promotion sector.

A short announcement published on the Swiss government website noted, “various administrative units of the Federal Administration” were among Radix’s customers.

It was further explained the company fell prey to a ransomware cyberattack in which attackers stole and encrypted data before publishing it on the dark web. After the fallout, Radix notified the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), which kicked off an investigation to determine exactly what type of data was affected, and who the victims were.

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Sarcoma diagnosis

“As Radix has no direct access to Federal Administration systems, the attackers did not gain entry to these systems at any time,” the government explained.

Radix also issued a statement on its own website, detailing what had happened.

“Unfortunately, we must confirm that despite high security standards and professional support, we have become the victim of a cyberattack,” the machine-translated notification reads. “On June 29, 2025, the hacker group Sarcoma published the stolen data on a leak site.”

Radix further explained the affected people were already notified, and stressed that the data from partner organizations were not compromised.

“Access to the affected data was immediately revoked after the attack was discovered. There was a confirmed data leak, and various data were encrypted. However, RADIX retains all data in an intact state on backups. The exact method of the attack is currently under investigation.”

Claiming all of the data was left intact on backups suggests the company is not interested in paying the ransom demand. This would make sense, since the attackers allegedly already leaked the spoils on the dark web.

Via BleepingComputer

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• Zuckerberg has created a new group called Meta Superintelligence Labs
• The goal of the group is to create AI superintelligence
• New hires from OpenAI will form the team headed up by Alexandr Wang from Scale AI

Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, has heated up the race towards AI superintelligence by restructuring the company’s artificial intelligence division with the main aim being to develop artificial superintelligence, that is, intelligence that is far beyond what humans are capable of.

Superintelligence could mean exponential leaps in medicine, science, and technology that dramatically change the course of humanity, but it doesn't come without risks.

In an memo to employees, Zuckerberg said he is creating a new group called Meta Superintelligence Labs, lead by Alexandr Wang, former CEO of data-labeling startup Scale AI, which Meta has recently acquired for $14.3 billion.

A new era for humanity

As reported by Bloomberg, the memo sent by Zuckerberg reads: “As the pace of AI progress accelerates, developing superintelligence is coming into sight. I believe this will be the beginning of a new era for humanity, and I am fully committed to doing what it takes for Meta to lead the way.”

The memo goes on to list 11 recent hires to the new division, which include ex-employees of OpenAI who worked on the last 12 months of OpenAI products, along with employees from Anthropic and Google.

The list includes Trapit Bansal, who pioneered RL on chain of thought and co-creator of o-series models at OpenAI, Shuchao Bi, co-creator of GPT-4o voice mode and o4-mini, and Huiwen Chang, co-creator of GPT-4o's image generation, who previously invented MaskIT and Muse text-to-image architectures at Google Research.

(Image credit: OpenAI & Meta)OpenAI vs Meta

Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, the makers of ChatGPT, has repeatedly posted about achieving superintelligence being the goal for his company on his blog.

As recently as June, he wrote, “We are past the event horizon; the takeoff has started. Humanity is close to building digital superintelligence, and at least so far it’s much less weird than it seems like it should be.”

However, it appears that Zuckerberg wants Meta to be the company that first claims to have achieved superintelligence, and he is certainly throwing an awful lot of money at this project, which has led some to question whether this is really the right approach and if achieving superintelligence is even possible.

Mark Zuckerberg paid $14.3 billion for Scale AI just to hire Alexandr Wang, and has even been offering OpenAI employees $100 million to join Meta, according to a report in the New York Times.

Zuckerberg’s new push towards superintelligence comes after Meta’s own Chief AI Scientist, Yann Le Cun, talking about superintelligence said publicly last month that “It’s not going to happen within the next two years, there is no way in hell”, and cast doubt upon the whole idea of scaling up existing LLM models, like Meta AI or ChatGPT, to achieve superintelligence, which is the approach that companies like OpenAI seem to be following.

Meta AI is currently available inside all the Meta social media apps, like Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram, and can also be used within the new Meta AI app.

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If you're looking for a reason to get a Nintendo Switch 2, this game has a peel.

• Nintendo has revealed that Donkey Kong Bananza is developed by the team behind Super Mario Odyssey
• This was confirmed by a representative at a hands-on preview event
• The representative would not confirm the game's director, or any other details

To no one's surprise, Nintendo has finally officially confirmed that the upcoming action platformer Donkey Kong Bananza is developed by the same team as Super Mario Odyssey.

The information comes from a recent hands-on preview event at Nintendo's UK office, where a representative explained that this is the case.

Interestingly, the representative would not indicate whether Odyssey director Kenta Motokura was also taking on a similar role this time around, or provide any other information about the team.

Many online commentators have speculated on the Donkey Kong Bananza development team since the game was first revealed, with many predicting that it is the same team responsible for Odyssey, given the apparent similarities between the two.

Having now spent a few hours with the game, I can confirm that there is a lot of Odyssey DNA apparent in what I've tried of Donkey Kong Bananza so far. Structurally, the two games seem almost identical - with the same focus on free-form exploration and collectible hunting within open-ended levels.

Many features, like the ability to buy outfits in shops using currency that is specific to each region, return, albeit augmented via new additions such as a skill tree and unique buffs associated with each item of clothing.

Donkey Kong Bananza is set to launch on July 17, 2025, and will be exclusive to the Nintendo Switch 2. For an in-depth look at the game, be sure to read our new Donkey Kong Bananza preview.

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• Nintendo is raising the price of the original Switch, Switch OLED, and Switch Lite in Canada
• Accessories, physical and digital games, and Switch Online memberships will also be affected, but the cost of the Switch 2 will remain the same
• Nintendo explains that the pricing update is "based on market conditions"

Nintendo has announced that it will be increasing the prices of some of its products in Canada.

As reported by IGN, the company said that a "pricing update" will be implemented soon in Canada for certain Nintendo products, namely the original Switch, the Switch OLED, and the Switch Lite.

Notably, the cost of the new Nintendo Switch 2, which launched early last month, will not be impacted, and pricing will remain the same.

It also confirmed that physical and digital games will be affected, which will likely impact Switch 2 owners since most games are backwards compatible, as well as accessories, and Nintendo Switch Online memberships.

As for the reason for the sudden price hike, Nintendo explained that the pricing adjustments are "based on market conditions", but didn't offer any further details.

Nintendo of Canada issued an advisory warning that stated that the full details of adjusted prices will be revealed later today (July 1), which will be reflected on the official Nintendo Canada store.

We can't say for certain how much each product will increase by, but we'll keep you updated.

Switch 2 pre-orders were delayed in Canada in April, following the delays in the US, which were made so Nintendo could assess the impact of tariffs imposed by the Trump Administration.

If you're hoping to get your hands on the new console, you can check out our live coverage of Nintendo Switch 2 restocks for the US and UK.

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• A new scam text is impersonating UPS and warning people of missed deliveries
• If you reply, you’re sent to a fake website that steals your personal data
• You can stay safe by deleting the message if you’re at all suspicious

If you’ve recently received a text message from UPS, be careful: it could be a scam. You need to be especially wary if the message has come out of the blue or if you’re not expecting a parcel, as phishers and scammers are on the hunt for your private info. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to keep yourself safe.

Specifically, the UPS text message warns that you’ve missed a supposed parcel delivery and that if you don’t respond, the package will be returned to the sender. In reality, there is no parcel – something given away by the lack of delivery number in the message. In other words, the scammers are sending out blanket texts without any specifics in an attempt to trick any users they possibly can.

The deception becomes more suspicious the closer you look. The messages in question contain a link that goes to a fraudulent website, but because the texts come from an unknown sender, many of the best phones will disable the link. In iOS, for example, links are not tappable if they come from new senders.

However, as soon as you reply to a message, the link is re-enabled. To prompt this, the scammers sending the UPS messages encourage you to reply with the letter Y – when done, this activates the link. The messages also tell you to copy and paste the link into a web browser, just in case. Replying not only re-enables the link – it also tells the scammer that your number is active, potentially opening you up to further targeting.

What the scammers are really after is your personal information, as they urge you to enter your details into their website. This can then be used for identity theft and other criminal activity. Needless to say, if you receive this message or are suspicious about its intentions, you shouldn’t reply or follow its embedded links. Instead, just delete it and report it as spam.

How to stay safe

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Regardless of whether you’re expecting a UPS parcel, you should not respond to messages like this. Instead, go to the official UPS website and check the status of your parcel there using your provided tracking number.

Telltale signs of a scam message are the lack of any identifying information (such as a parcel number or your name and address), and a disabled link to a website with a suspicious address, such as one that contains an unusual domain extension (like .pro or .xyz), misspelled words, or extra characters like hyphens that are not found in the official web address. If any of these elements are present, delete the message and report it as spam. You can also report it at the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center by going to ic3.gov.

Scam messages will often try to rush you into a decision by applying pressure and including threats. They might tell you that you will be fined or will lose the supposed package if you don’t respond. This is intended to get you to act too quickly and not think your decision through. If a message contains anything like this, take a moment to read it again and think clearly about whether it is likely to be genuine.

Both iOS and Android have tools to help you combat scam messages. Aside from reporting them as spam, both Apple’s Messages app and Google Messages now come with built-in spam detection, which can automatically banish fraudulent texts so that they never reach you. The latest iOS 26 update also has a Call Screening feature that requires unknown callers to identify themselves before they can ring you, and this is something that also exists in Android.

Vigilance is key to avoiding text scams, as despite the best efforts of companies like Apple and Google, there are bound to be some messages that slip through the net. If you get a suspicious text, check your gut feeling – does the text ask you to activate a weird-looking link? Is it overly vague with no identifying details like tracking numbers? Don’t panic if it threatens you – instead, take a breath and ask yourself if it feels off. If it does, exile it to the spam folder.

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The Galaxy Z Fold 7 could bring major changes, alongside two Z Flip phones and new watches. Here's everything I expect from Samsung's July Galaxy Unpacked.