Technology

• Pixel phones could soon support themes, according to new code
• It lets customizations be applied more quickly
• The feature may arrive with Android 16

After showcasing the big update at Google I/O 2025 earlier this month, Google is all set to launch Android 16 in the coming days, at least as far as Pixel phones are concerned – and it looks as though Pixel devices are also in line for a major customization upgrade.

The team over at Android Authority has spotted evidence of a Pixel themes feature hidden in the code for the latest Android 16 beta. While the feature hasn't gone live yet, it looks as though it's close to completion.

Many other Android handsets, including the best Samsung Galaxy phones, already offer themes: they let you group together wallpapers, color schemes, and icon packs together in a single bundle, and you can then apply them with a single tap.

It looks as though themes would be available via the current wallpaper and lock screen settings on Pixel phones, available through the Wallpaper and style section in Settings. It would also be quite a prominent option, based on the existing code.

Coming soon?

A new visual language is heading to Android (Image credit: Google)

It's not clear whether you'll be able to view a gallery of themes provided by Google and perhaps other users, as well as creating your own customization combinations. On Samsung phones, there's a large gallery of theme options to pick from.

Another question we have is whether this feature is going to be ready in time for the official, stable Android 16 release: the rumor is that we might see that coming on Tuesday, June 3, though that's yet to be confirmed.

It's possible that Google will wait for a later Android 16 release before pushing out themes and making them available to Pixel owners. Other Android phone makers will then be able to use (or not use) Google's theme code as they see fit.

Upcoming changes we do know about in Android 16 include better battery health monitoring (for newer Pixels), improved security features, and a revamped, more modern look for the interface that's being called Material 3 Expressive.

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• Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei claims major white-collar layoffs are on the horizon
• Unemployment could spike to 20%
• Anthropic develops AI models designed to do tasks traditionally done by humans

The CEO of AI firm Anthropic, creators of ChatGPT rival ‘Claude’, has warned the US Government about the possible ‘mass elimination’ of entry-level jobs across law, technology, finance, and other white-collar fields.

Dario Amodei predicted up to half of all entry-level white-collar jobs could be taken by AI, leading to unemployment of as much as 20% in the next one to five years.

Amodei warned most workers are “unaware” that this job apocalypse is imminent; "It sounds crazy, and people just don't believe it", adding AI has the potential to affect society in positive and negative ways; "Cancer is cured, the economy grows at 10% a year, the budget is balanced — and 20% of people don't have jobs."

Shifting sands

It’s worth noting Anthropic is one of the organisations leading the charge in developing technology designed to replace humans.

The warnings that Amodei and others share about the potential impact on unemployment and short-term economic turmoil come with no mitigation plan; "We, as the producers of this technology, have a duty and an obligation to be honest about what is coming."

Axios outlines that Steve Bannon, long time advisor to President Trump and influential media personality, also envisions a scenario in which entry level positions are “eviscerated,” which correlates with the almost 2% rise in tech sector layoffs seen thanks to AI already in 2025.

"I don't think anyone is taking into consideration how administrative, managerial and tech jobs for people under 30 — entry-level jobs that are so important in your 20s — are going to be eviscerated."

This isn’t necessarily the only outcome long term though, with over 55% of companies in the UK who replaced workers with AI ultimately coming to regret their decision, indicating that perhaps the technology isn’t as potent its marketing suggests.

Via Axios

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• Microsoft is reportedly sidelining its Xbox native handheld in favor of Windows 11 handheld gaming PC optimization
• The 'Project Kennan' handheld collaboration with Asus is still underway
• It appears to be a direct response to Valve's SteamOS success after it became available for non-Steam Deck handhelds

Valve has recently taken the spotlight on handheld gaming PCs, providing SteamOS support for non-Steam Deck handhelds – and as a result, Microsoft has seemingly set aside one of its most-anticipated devices to compete with the Linux-based operating system.

According to an exclusive from our friends at Windows Central, Microsoft has reportedly shelved its Xbox native handheld momentarily, as it will now shift its focus to Windows 11's optimization for third-party handheld gaming PCs – and 'Project Kennan', a new Xbox-themed handheld in collaboration with Asus.

This comes shortly after the launch of a new Lenovo Legion Go S, an officially-licensed SteamOS handheld gaming PC – and it appears as though the revelations of the SteamOS version outperforming the Windows 11 model in gaming may have pushed Microsoft to change its priorities.

Windows 11 is yet to feature a 'handheld' mode or anything that focuses on portability to help streamline the handheld gaming experience. While software like Armoury Crate (alongside tools like Xbox Game Bar) has helped handheld gamers with quick game access and other necessary TDP adjustment settings, it's had a hard time matching up to the SteamOS experience for gamers.

It's not exactly clear whether the codenamed handheld, Project Kennan, will come in the form of a long-awaited Asus ROG Ally successor. However, it's clear that Valve's success has lit a fire under Microsoft to take handheld gaming seriously – and rightly so, as many would argue.

Analysis: Gamers, this is exactly why voicing your frustrations matters

(Image credit: Microsoft)

If there's anything Microsoft's reported actions highlight, it's that voicing your complaints and frustrations does indeed work. I say this because I can almost guarantee that without the praise of SteamOS and the recent criticisms of Windows 11, Microsoft wouldn't lift a finger.

The same case applies to the sudden rise of game prices. I'm still very concerned and adamant about shooting down $80 game prices, since Nintendo kick-started it. Instead of just 'accepting it' and letting it become a precedent, let your displeasure about it be known as much as possible.

Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo are all more than capable of doing better and being reasonable with consumers, and the only thing I've ever seen work is protesting against measures that are out of line.

I could go on about Sony's PS Plus and Microsoft's subscription services, just for console gamers having access to multiplayer, and just how absurd that truly is – but ultimately, it's an example of what happens when we let things slide or become normalized.

Regardless, I'm pleased to hear that Valve has essentially been a catalyst for Microsoft to take handheld gaming and Windows 11 optimization more seriously, because it's been needed for a very long time now.

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As demand for AI and cloud computing soars, pundits are suggesting that the world is teetering on the edge of a potential data center crunch—where capacity can’t keep up with the digital load. Concerns and the hype have led to plummeting vacancy rates: in Northern Virginia, the world's largest data center market, for example, vacancy rates have fallen below 1%.

Echoing past fears of "peak oil" and "peak food," the spotlight now turns to "peak data." But rather than stall, the industry is evolving—adopting modular builds, renewable energy, and AI-optimized systems to redefine how tomorrow’s data centers will power an increasingly digital world.

1. Shift Toward Modular and Edge Data Centers

Future data centers will increasingly move away from massive centralized facilities alone, embracing smaller, modular, and edge-based data centers. The sector is already splitting out in hyperscale data centers one end and smaller, edge-oriented facilities on the other.

Smaller, modular and edge data centers can be built in a few months and tend to be located closer to end users to reduce latency. Unlike the huge campuses of hyperscale with facilities often covering millions of square feet these smaller data centers are sometimes built into repurposed buildings such as abandoned shopping malls, empty office towers, and factories in disuse, helping requalify ex-industrial brownfield areas.

Leaner centers can be rapidly deployed, located closer to end users for reduced latency, and tailored to specific workloads such as autonomous vehicles and AR.

2. Integration with Renewable and On-Site Power Sources

To address energy demands and grid constraints, future data centers will increasingly be co-located with power generation facilities, such as nuclear or renewable plants. This reduces reliance on strained grid infrastructure and improves energy stability. Some companies are investing in nuclear power. Nuclear power provides massive, always-on power that is also free of carbon emissions. Modular reactors are being considered to overcome grid bottlenecks, long wait times for power delivery, and local utility limits.

Similarly, they will be increasingly built in areas where the climate reduces operational strain. Lower cooling costs and access to water enables the use of energy-efficient liquid-cooling systems instead of air-cooling. We will be seeing more data centers pop up in places like Scandinavia and the Pacific Northwest.

3. Operational Optimization

Artificial intelligence will play a major role in managing and optimizing data center operations, particularly for cooling and energy use. For instance, reinforcement learning algorithms are being used to cut energy use by optimizing cooling systems, achieving up to 21% energy savings.

Similarly, fixes like replacing legacy servers with more energy-efficient machines, with newer chips or thermal design, can significantly expand compute capacity, without requiring new premises.

4. Hardware Density and Efficiency Improvements

Instead of only building new facilities, future capacity will be expanded by refreshing hardware with newer, denser, and more energy-efficient servers. This allows for more compute power in the same footprint, enabling quick scaling to meet surges in demand, particularly for AI workloads. These power-hungry centers are also putting a strain on electricity grids.

Future data centers will leverage new solutions such as load shifting to optimize energy efficiency. Google is already partnering with PJM Interconnection, the largest electrical grid operator in North America, to leverage AI to automate tasks such as viability assessments of connection applications, thus enhancing grid efficiency.

Issues are typically not due to lack of energy but insufficient transmission capacity.

In addition to this, fortunately, data centers are usually running well below full capacity specifically to accommodate future growth. This added capacity will prove useful as facilities accommodate unexpected traffic spikes, and rapid scaling needs without requiring new constructions.

5. Geographically and Politically Responsive Siting

Future data center locations will be chosen based on climate efficiency, grid access, and political zoning policies but also availability of AI-skilled workforce. Data centers aren’t server rooms—they’re among the most complex IT infrastructure projects in existence, requiring seamless power, cooling, high-speed networking, and top-tier security.

Building them involves a wide range of experts, from engineers to logistics teams, coordinating everything from semiconductors to industrial HVAC systems. Data centers will thus drive up the demand for high-performance networking, thermal, power redundancy, and advanced cooling engineers.

Looking to the future

It’s clear that the recent surge in infrastructure demand to power GPUs and high-performance computing, for example, is being driven primarily by AI. In fact, training massive models like OpenAI’s GPT-4 or Google’s Gemini requires immense computational resources, consuming GPU cycles at an astonishing rate. These training runs often last weeks and involve thousands of specialized chips, drawing on power and cooling infrastructure.

But the story doesn’t end there: even when a model is trained, running these models in real-time to generate responses, make predictions, or process user inputs (so-called AI inference) adds a new layer of energy demand. While not as intense as training, inference must happen at scale and with low latency, which means it’s placing a steady, ongoing load on cloud infrastructure.

However, here’s a nuance that’s frequently glossed over in much of the hype: AI workloads don’t scale in a straight-forward, linear fashion: doubling the number of GPUs or increasing the size of a model will not always lead to proportionally better results. Experience has shown that as models grow in size, the performance gains actually may taper off or introduce new challenges, such as brittleness, hallucination, or the need for more careful fine-tuning.

In short

In short, the current AI boom is real, but it may not be boundless. Understanding the limitations of scale and the nonlinear nature of progress is crucial for policymakers, investors, and businesses alike as they plan for data center demand that is shaped by AI exponential growth.

The data center industry therefore stands at a pivotal crossroads. Far from buckling under the weight of AI tools and cloud-driven demand, however, it’s adapting at speed through smarter design, greener power, and more efficient hardware.

From modular builds in repurposed buildings to AI-optimized cooling systems and co-location with power plants, the future of data infrastructure will be leaner, more distributed, and strategically sited. As data becomes the world’s most valuable resource, the facilities that store, process, and protect it are becoming smarter, greener, and more essential than ever.

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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

Artificial Intelligence (AI)’s role in web hosting is set to redefine the tech industry over the next twelve months, but not in the way you might expect. While current AI web hosting tools are largely focused on front-end solutions like marketing features, such advancements only scratch the surface of what AI can really offer the industry. These AI tools automate basic tasks and provide quick fixes, making them popular, despite failing to address the real challenges.

The real potential of AI in web hosting lies in solving deeper, backend challenges that directly impact a website’s stability, performance and security. In this article, I’ll explore AI’s shift in web hosting from front-end features to backend solutions, that drive real improvements in these areas.

Why AI in web hosting is missing the mark

The race is on to adopt AI – the problem is, in a bid to win, some companies have taken shortcuts to the finish line, adopting only surface level integrations. Let’s take an AI customer chatbot for example. Yes, AI chatbots provide customers with an instance service and can improve customer satisfaction, however they’re rendered useless if your website takes fifteen seconds to load.

According to Cloudways’ research, 60% of UK online shoppers will abandon a purchase if a website takes too long to load or has minor errors, with 27% of shoppers facing such problems in the last 12-months. Customers are facing real problems with slow loading times, and complicated checkout processes.

By only focusing on flashy, front-end solutions, small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) – which make up 99.8% of the UK business population – are missing a huge opportunity to improve the overarching website experience, fundamental to the customer.

How AI can be used to solve real challenges for SMBs

The majority of SMBs don’t have dedicated website experts; websites are instead managed by a member of the team as a bolt-on to their day job. This setup works fine—until something goes wrong. When issues arise, troubleshooting can take days or even weeks for complex problems, potentially impacting sales. On the other hand, AI can proactively detect, diagnose, resolve, and even prevent website issues from occurring with minimal human intervention.

Modern hosting environments must navigate complex challenges like database optimization, traffic spikes, security threats and bot activity. By leveraging AI-driven analytics and machine learning models, hosting providers can predict potential failures, automatically allocate resources, and mitigate risks before they impact performance. Integrating AI into the process can enable predictive maintenance, reducing server downtime by 30% or greater enhancing the reliability of web hosting services.

AI can also be integrated into intelligent monitoring systems, proactively detecting and resolving technical issues before they impact users. By analysing real-time data, AI can predict server strain, automatically scale resources, and optimize database performance, all without manual intervention. This ensures websites remain fast and reliable, even during high-demand events like product launches or ticket sales. AI tackles the behind-the-scenes challenges customers don’t see, but businesses spend hours trying to fix.

These examples of integrations aren’t flashy front-end solutions but solve real business challenges. They integrate AI to deliver customers with a seamless, reliable experience.

The human-AI partnership: the key to unlocking the future of web hosting

The future of successful web hosting will be shaped by the integration of AI and human expertise. In my opinion, AI should be used to enhance, not replace, human skills, with technical professionals still playing a key role in strategic decision-making and solving complex problems.

The human touch will always be essential for building relationships and understanding unique business needs.

With 80% of businesses in Europe expected to integrate AI-powered software by next year, SMBs will increasingly demand hosting solutions that simplify complexity through intelligent automation. The most successful businesses in the coming months will blend AI efficiency with human insight, allowing time and money to focus on growth and innovation while AI handles day-to-day operations. The industry is evolving from reactive problem-solving to predictive, proactive hosting management.

AI’s true potential in web hosting over the next twelve months lies in tackling fundamental technical challenges rather than just offering surface-level features. Businesses should focus on AI hosting capabilities that deliver measurable improvements in performance, security and reliability. The future of web hosting will be defined by providers who successfully blend AI automation with human expertise, ensuring both the technical side and customer relationships are prioritized.

Organizations should seek hosting partners who use AI to solve real business challenges, rather than simply following technology trends, ensuring they stay ahead in a competitive digital landscape.

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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

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