NextLadder Ventures has launched a $1 billion initiative to help support low-income Americans, arming them with AI skills for future employment opportunities.
The initiative was founded by a coalition of major philanthropies, including Ballmer Group, Gates Foundation, Stand Together, Valhalla Foundation and John Overdeck.
It's set to run for 15 years, providing grants, equity and revenue-based financing to nonprofits and for-profits to help support at-risk Americans, with Anthropic joining as its inaugural AI partner offering Claude credits and expert support.
Gates Foundation backs $1 billion AI initiativeThe Gates Foundation described NextLadder Ventures as an "initiative grounded in the belief that every American has the potential to achieve economic prosperity."
"While innovative ideas exist to help low-income Americans overcome obstacles and pursue prosperity, there is insufficient capital available to those serving these populations," its press release says.
The initiative aims to expand economic opportunities for over 90 million low-income Americans, supporting entrepreneurs who want to address job loss, housing instability and health crises. As part of the deal, Anthropic will contribute about $1.5 million annually.
"The Gates Foundation is focused on lifting millions of people out of poverty and onto a path to prosperity," Gates Foundation CEO Mark Suzman commented.
The coalition announced Ryan Rippel as the CEO of NextLadder Ventures. Rippel, who already has a history working with the Gates Foundation, challenged the notion of a one-size-fits-all approach, pledging new and practical pathways. His "design with, not for" stance comes from growing up in a single-parent household in Missouri, where he was able to experience some of the struggles NextLadder Ventures aims to solve.
In a LinkedIn post, Rippel wrote: "Closing this divide means helping the helpers and the people they serve access new, practical pathways to opportunity."
Further details on NextLadder Ventures are limited, but we expect to hear more in the coming weeks.
You might also likeDune Awakening is a survival MMO from the creators of Conan: Exiles. It aims to adapt the iconic series of sci-fi books, giving players the challenge of surviving on Arrakis, the most dangerous planet in the Universe. Currently, it's out on PC, with a console release planned in the future.
In Dune Awakening, you'll awaken as The Sleeper, before you are cast out into the desert with little more than a knife to your name. From there you can gather, craft, and build up your own Guild, fending off giant sandworms and other players as you try to control the flow of Spice on the planet's surface.
It's certainly shaping up to be one of the most exciting upcoming games on console, now that the PC version is out and well-reviewed. We've even played Dune Awakening, and you can read our full verdict in our Dune Awakening review for PC.
Here's what we know about Dune Awakening on console so far, including a look at the story and setting, gameplay, latest trailers, news, and everything else we know right now. As more details are revealed, this page will be updated.
Dune Awakening - cut to the chaseDune Awakening launched June 10, 2025 for PC (Steam). It's also planned to come to PlayStation 5 as well as Xbox Series X|S, currently scheduled for sometime in 2026.
Recently, developer Funcom released a short video over on Steam, detailing how it intends to handle the launch of the game, and its monetization moving forward.
Joel Bylos, Dune: Awakening Creative Director, outlined the plans, stating: "The key things that you need to know about Dune: Awakening's launch are that it will not launch in early access and it will not have a monthly subscription. It will receive regular free updates, including new content, new features, and quality-of-life improvements."
Here are the highlights from the rest of the video:
The latest trailer for Dune Awakening provides a deeper look at open-world exploration on the planet Arrakis. You can view it below:
A trailer for Dune Awakening was released on February 20, 2025. It revealed the game's PC release date, and showed off gameplay. Check it out below:
Another trailer Dune Awakening was aired during Gamescom 2024. It was a massive gameplay deep dive, check it out below:
Another trailer for Dune Awakening was revealed on June 8, 2024, alongside a new developer direct presentation. Check out the story trailer below:
We've included some more Dune Awakening trailers throughout this article, but if you're hungry for more you should visit Funcom's official YouTube channel. The most interesting to look out for are the Shigawire Reels, a series of short videos explaining different aspects of the lore.
Dune Awakening story and settingDune Awakening is an MMO set in the world of Frank Herbert's Dune series. It takes place on the desert planet of Arrakis, where a royal family called House Atreides has settled to take control. After a swift betrayal, the political landscape of Arrakis is sent into chaos, with multiple factions warring over the control of the planet's primary resource, the Spice. Spice grants extrasensory abilities in the world of Dune, allowing pilots to navigate long-term space expeditions and more. It's only found on Arrakis, so has been the source of conflict for millennia.
You play as The Sleeper awakened and forced out into the brutal desert environment. As you progress, you'll set up your own House Minor, and can then align with one of the major powers fighting for control of the region. It's been revealed that you'll meet characters from the books and films during Dune Awakening's story, though for now, we don't know the specifics.
Dune Awakening gameplay(Image credit: Funcom)When you start Dune Awakening, you are cast into the desert, with nothing but a scrap knife at your disposal. Enemy camps can be looted to slowly gather materials to help you survive, as you build up an assortment of tech, weaponry, and survival gear. Arrakis is described as 'the most dangerous planet in the Universe', and it's clear that Dune Awakening aims to focus on survival mechanics to emphasize this.
Water is more valuable than gold on Arrakis, and you'll constantly need to make sure you have enough not only to survive but to thrive as well. Once you start building up your Guild, you will need water for industrial purposes, all with the ultimate goal of capturing and controlling pockets of Spice.
Environmental hazards are plentiful in Dune Awakening, with huge sandstorms constantly raging on the surface of the planet. These are best avoided at first, but once you have a fleet of vehicles and more resources, you can use the storms to your advantage. Ground vehicles include sandbikes and tanks, and then there are aerial vehicles as well. Ornithopters can be used to traverse great distances and to avoid the giant sandworms that can ambush you on the ground.
Combat is referred to as 'Combined Arms', and consists of melee (swords and knives), ranged (guns), vehicular (ground and air vehicles), and abilities (sorcery). These are all used in tandem, and the player can decide what to focus on. Dune Awakening is primarily a PvE game, with multiple players on the same server co-existing and looting separately. There's also a PvP aspect, in that players can attack each other and fight over resources like Spice.
Dune Awakening latest newsConsole release planned for 2026
In a press release celebrating the PC launch of Dune Awakening on PC, developer Funcom revealed that the console versions are expected sometime in 2026 (via IGN).
Dune Awakening delayed to June 10
After feedback from recent beta testers, Funcom has made the decision to delay Dune Awakening to June 10. You can read the full details in this Tweet.
Here's Dune Awakening running with NVIDIA DLSS 4
A new trailer for Dune Awakening was revealed at CES 2024. It shows the game running in 4K on an RTX 5090, and compares versions with and without NVIDIA DLSS 4.
New Dune Awakening Direct details PvP and more
The latest Dune Awakening Direct aired on June 20, 2024. It detailed PvP, safe zones and the game's alternate history timeline. You can watch it here.
The first Dune Awakening: Direct shows off the game's approach to worldbuilding
Funcom has released the very first Dune Awakening: Direct, which shows off new gameplay, and a look at how the games have adapted stories from Frank Herbert's novels. Check out the worldbuilding showcase here (links to YouTube).
A recent proposal by the FCC outlines plans to ‘unleash submarine cable investment’ in order to ‘accelerate the buildout of AI infrastructure’ across the US, whilst also making efforts to, ‘secure cables against foreign adversaries, like China’.
If adopted, this could mean a range of measures would be implemented to protect submarine cables, applying a ‘presumption of denial’ for adversarial state applicants for controlled licenses, and establishing physical and cybersecurity requirements, as well as restricting leasing agreements to these organizations.
Alongside this, the report proposes a ban on the use of ‘covered equipment’ in undersea cable infrastructure - although the report doesn’t give a definition of the term.
Unsung heroesSabotage to submarine cables would be undoubtedly catastrophic, not just to the US, but to pretty much every part of the world.
The cables carry 99% of all internet traffic, handling roughly $10 trillion of daily financial transactions.
Satellite technology, though active, is not yet capable of handling the same volume of traffic. As FCC Chairman Brendan Carr described, undersea cables are the ‘unsung heroes of global communications’.
There is precedent for this type of order, with Huawei and ZTE facing ‘rip and replace’ campaigns back in 2020 in a bid to remove Chinese tech from the infrastructure of rural operators, as part of a larger effort to exclude Chinese vendors from the US market.
“As the U.S. builds out the data centers and other infrastructure necessary to lead the world in AI and next-gen technologies, these cables are more important than ever. At the same time, as President Trump has long recognized: ‘economic security is national security,’ says Chairman Carr.
“We have seen submarine cable infrastructure threatened in recent years by foreign adversaries, like China. We are therefore taking action here to guard our submarine cables against foreign adversary ownership, and access as well as cyber and physical threats.”
You might also likeIf you watched the launch of OpenAI’s new ChatGPT Agent, or you’re a Plus, Pro or Teams user who has had a chance to try out the new ‘agent mode’ in the tools drop-down list, it’s hard not to be impressed with the latest AI innovation.
ChatGPT Agent is designed to do complex real-world tasks for you. Think about things like planning a wedding, booking your car in for a service, making an app to solve a problem, or planning and booking a holiday.
Just like OpenAI’s previous agent called Operator, ChatGPT Agent acts like a real person who works for you, performing tasks as if they had their own computer. In fact, you can watch what’s happening on its ‘desktop’ as it performs these tasks - you can see it dragging windows around, and entering data into forms on websites, for example.
The entire concept is a unified agent that can handle the legwork, make informed decisions about which websites to use, and navigate the web independently. ChatGPT Agent can do it all, and you can even watch it work if you want to, but there is a catch...
A new world of threatsIts the powerful abilities of ChatGPT Agent that open you up to a whole new world of security threats:
“As we know, the Internet can be a scary place” said Casey Chu in the ChatGPT Agent launch presentation, “there are all sorts of hackers trying to steal your information, scams, phishing attempts, and Agent isn’t immune to all these things.”
Well, that’s worrying. He went on:
“One particular thing we’re worried about is a new attack called ‘prompt injections’. Agent might stumble upon a malicious website that asks it to enter your credit card information here because it will help you with your task, and Agent, which is trained to be helpful, might decide that’s a good idea. “
It sounds like we’re all going to have to worry not only about ourselves getting phished in the Future, but we’re also going to have to worry about our AIs also getting phished as well!
“We’ve done a lot of work to try to ensure that this doesn’t happen”, continued Chu, “we train our model to ignore suspicious instructions on suspicious websites. We also have layers of monitors that peer over the agent’s shoulder and watch it as it's going and stop the trajectory of anything that looks suspicious.”
My first thought upon hearing this was that I would never give ChatGPT Agent my credit card information anyway, but I definitely would not do it now. I mean, the only reason that my credit card resides with Amazon and Apple is that they seem like secure places to me, so the convenience is worth it, but all it would take would be a hint that they weren’t safe and I, probably along with millions of other people, wouldn’t be storing my credit card information with them.
The OpenAI team launching ChatGPT Agent. (Image credit: OpenAI)Trust is everythingWith online security, trust is everything. The idea that an AI agent, no matter how many background checks it is doing, is autonomously deciding what I spend my money on already fills me with dread. And when you add in the factor that there could be malicious sites out there doing ‘prompt injections’ to try and trick my AI into giving away information, it scares me enough not to want to trust it.
It should be noted that there is a ‘takeover mode’ with ChatGPT Agent where you input the sensitive information directly into the browser yourself, instead of handing it over to ChatGPT Agent to control. That would seem like a better way to use an agent to me. I don’t think I’m quite at the stage yet where I’m ready to give my AI the power to spend my money as it sees fit, and I bet I’m not the only one.
OpenAI seems quite upfront about the risks involved in using ChatGPT Agent with sensitive information, and as CEO Sam Altman said in the presentation, this is emerging technology, and we don’t even know what all the threats will be yet. We’ll just have to see what happens as people start to use it.
But that’s what’s got me the most worried - what happens when people start using AI to beat AI? I’m sure the hackers won’t be shying away from using AI to circumvent our security protocols, and AI will probably come up with a number of attacks we haven't even thought of yet.
You might also likeIf a recent uptick in cybersecurity threats inspired you to tighten your defenses, power to you. Granted, an intention is only half the battle. The trickiest part of the process is settling on which type of software to invest in, especially when you consider the sheer number of options out there.
While the best antivirus software and internet security suites are both viable (and popular) options, each offers a different level of protection. Since this is often an annual commitment, we can’t blame you if you’re worried about making the wrong choice, thus leaving yourself ill-prepared for a cyberthreat.
To put your mind at ease and decide which option will fulfill your needs better, here is a detailed breakdown of antivirus and internet security, their features, and the type of threats they’re effective against.
What is antivirus?An antivirus is software that detects and eliminates malware. Depending on the underlying engine, an antivirus leverages various techniques to recognize harmful programs.
Traditionally, AV products primarily relied on signature-based detection, where they checked if the signature of the file matched the signature of malware in their database. Still, due to the growing sophistication of cyber threats, modern antivirus engines may also employ heuristic-based detection (among other techniques), which is a fancy way to say they analyze programs to see if they exhibit characteristics commonly linked to malware.
Since an antivirus scans files on your device, you can look at it as a sort of local protection, at least for the purpose of clarity. In the past, these programs were limited to local files (i.e., files already on your device), but today’s versions aren’t “offline-only” anymore and employ additional security layers to better shield you from incoming online threats.
What types of threats is antivirus effective against?Although the name may lead you to believe that antivirus software can only remove viruses, it’s actually great when put to work against most types of malware (a broad term for malicious programs).
Malware can come in many forms. For instance, viruses are infamous because they can self-replicate by attaching to other files and programs, thereby infecting a device or a network. On the other hand, worms don’t require any other programs to replicate.
Then, there are the aptly named Trojan horses that pose as legitimate software and can perform their real functions once you execute or install them.
Depending on the type, the damage malware can cause ranges from stealing system resources for crypto mining or sending spam emails, to stealing your sensitive data, spying on you, or simply damaging your system.
Either way, an antivirus will stand its ground against most malware, meaning it should be an integral part of your digital security stack.
What is internet security?In contrast to an antivirus, internet security suites include a wide array of tools aimed at protecting you online by preventing malicious files from finding their way onto your device.
Besides including an antivirus to protect you locally, internet security software also provides continuous monitoring that proactively busts threats while you’re browsing the web. Thus, it may also come packed with essential utilities such as VPN, password managers, parental control features, a comprehensive firewall, and so on.
What types of threats is internet security effective against?For almost any threat you encounter online, there’s a high possibility that a robust internet security program will be able to shield you against it.
Take shady websites, for example. Threat actors can hack sites and use them to infect users with malware to grab hold of their information. Internet security software has up-to-date databases of malicious websites, so when you try to access one of them, you’ll receive a nifty warning that will help you stay out of harm’s way.
Furthermore, due to defenses like a firewall and VPN, internet security suites also address vulnerabilities hackers can exploit to steal your private details by hijacking your session and intercepting your data.
Another huge advantage of internet security programs is that they protect against phishing. Even if you don’t partake in torrenting or streaming movies on shady sites, you may still end up with malware if you fall for a phishing scam (which are sadly also getting more sophisticated).
The most common avenue for phishing is email. Scammers may mimic a legitimate service or an organization and con you into opening a malicious link or downloading a malware-ridden attachment. As these emails are indistinguishable from the real thing, thanks to cybercriminals using ChatGPT and similar AI language models to perfectly imitate company language, there’s always a chance you may fall for the scam.
Fret not. Internet security software can protect your inbox and stop these messages from ever reaching you.
Additionally, this suite may have features like a password manager. This will significantly up your security as it will help generate complex passwords, which you won’t have to remember because password managers have auto-fill capabilities.
Beyond the marketingBefore proceeding, here’s a quick summary of the differences between antivirus and internet security
Vendors are now bundling antivirus and internet security together, so the distinction is pretty much about pricing tiers in the same line of products. Norton Antivirus and Norton 360 are good examples of this tiered approach. The former includes antivirus and basic security options, while the latter expands the offering to include extras like dark web monitoring, cloud backup, parental controls, and so on.
In a sense, it’s more about marketing than anything else, meaning that if you opt for an antivirus, you’ll also receive online protection, as well as the classic local file scans.
Which suite should you choose?There are plenty of antivirus suites with powerful internet security capabilities to select from.
Let’s start with Avast, which has a capable free tier. In addition to a regular antivirus that detects threats in real time, it also scans for Wi-Fi security features, protects from ransomware, and spots fake sites. Opting for premium tiers unlocks more security tools, like a firewall, VPN, and sandboxing.
Same goes for Bitdefender, which has an excellent antivirus engine, while also blocking phishing emails and zero-day threats even in its free tier. Premium options are much more comprehensive, offering security bells and whistles that include a VPN, password manager, and data breach protection.
Norton Antivirus and its “heavier” version, Norton 360, are both great solutions. Along with AI detection, depending on the plan, you can also receive powerful identity protection services and parental controls, just to name a few.
These are just three examples. Whichever antivirus you go with, you’ll typically also receive internet protection in the basic subscriptions. Naturally, this doesn’t make your choice any easier, as most of these suites have overlapping functionalities, and are, as a rule, pretty good against various incarnations of malware.
Malware tests conducted by AV-Comparatives are a testament to this fact, as the majority of vendors on our list of best antivirus software boast offline and online detection rates that go as high as 99.6% in some cases. Thus, you’ll probably need to decide what features you want to have at your disposal and how much money you’re willing to pay for them. If you don’t care about the more sophisticated capabilities, then the free versions of these antivirus solutions may suffice, depending on your browsing habits.
You can read more about how to choose the best antivirus for you here.
Is a security suite enough?In conclusion, internet security and an antivirus are indispensable tools for those who want to ensure that they’re doing everything in their power to safeguard their data and devices from cyber threats. As luck would have it, you no longer need separate programs as these two are often bundled together, so you can pretty much view them interchangeably.
A word of warning, though. Never let software lull you into a false sense of security. Despite how sophisticated these suites are, they’re not 100% foolproof. So, arm yourself with information on how to stay safe online and keep your eyes open at all times.
Security researchers have uncovered a sophisticated malware-as-a-service (MaaS) operation which exploits public GitHub repositories to compromise its targets.
In a blog post, Cisco Talos said the threat actors evolved their delivery tactics, moving away from traditional phishing methods and into GitHub, which is often whitelisted in enterprise environments.
GitHub is an extremely popular platform in the open source world, and as such is under a constant barrage of attacks. This batch of malicious repositories was removed, just like countless before it.
How to defend against GitHub-borne attacksThe campaign sought to deliver two malware families - Emmenthal and Amadey - mostly to organizations in Ukraine.
Emmenthal is a malware loader that usually drops SmokeLoader, another loader. While a loader loading a loader doesn’t sound logical at first, there is a strategic rationale behind it.
Emmenhtal is designed as a stealthy, multistage downloader that excels at initial infection and evasion. Once a foothold is secured, it hands off the next phase of the attack to SmokeLoader, which is a feature-rich modular loader specializing in post-infection operations.
Amadey, on the other hand, is a botnet that was first spotted around 2018, mostly sold on Russian-speaking cybercrime forums. It acts as a modular downloader and system profiler, capable of delivering a wide range of malware including information stealers and ransomware.
In this campaign, Amadey was hosted on GitHub and disguised in various ways, such as an MP4 file, or embedded in Python scripts like `checkbalance.py’.
To defend against this, and other threats like it, businesses should enforce strict filtering for script-based attachments, keep a close eye on PowerShell execution, and review GitHub policies, wherever possible.
They should also go for defense-in-depth and behavioral monitoring, as these can help spot shady download patterns, or payloads being executed on targeted machines.
You might also likeBy the early 2000s, free antivirus software started offering decent protection for casual users, leading countless people to wonder if paying for an AV was really necessary.
The dilemma got even more pronounced when Microsoft Defender (then Windows Defender) evolved into a full antivirus in the 2010s. Why would someone pay for such an app when Windows already has one built in?
I’m afraid the answer isn’t that straightforward. The issue has evolved over the years, focusing more on added features rather than core protection, no matter how solid it may be at no expense. Plus, freebie antivirus software comes with a fine print of sorts, which is just one point in favor of the best antivirus software.
Free but with strings attachedThere is no shortage of free antivirus software available for both mobile and desktop devices, so you have quite a selection to choose from. However, that in itself is a danger, since the more obscure efforts could pose a serious risk to your privacy and/or security.
For starters, certain vendors engage in what can best be described as problematic practices, such as partnering with other companies, sometimes even adware distributors or low-reputation download portals. This leads to bundled installations of unwanted software like browser toolbars, virtual private networks (VPNs), or third-party apps from sketchy sources.
In some instances, free AVs may use scare tactics, like showing deceptive security warnings by falsely flagging perfectly fine software to push a paid solution. A more benign version is exaggerated threat reports to get you to upgrade, or pushing ever-persistent notifications or ads to switch to “full protection”. These actions aren’t necessarily malicious but are disruptive and not quite trustworthy.
Then, there’s the matter of data collection and user privacy - or lack thereof, to be more precise. It’s common for free antivirus providers to make money off their apps by collecting and selling user data, including browsing history, app usage, device data, and so on. While this is usually anonymized and disclosed in the privacy policy, most users don’t realize what they’re agreeing to.
It’s important to note that not all free antivirus vendors behave this way. Still, the fact remains that the lower barrier to entry and the need to somehow monetize a free product are often the grounds for questionable behavior.
So, the key is to separate the wheat from the chaff and pick a reputable provider. That shouldn’t be a problem as the likes of Avast, AVG, Bitdefender, and others offer a no-cost alternative to their premium offerings.
Once you settle on a freebie, you’ll quickly learn that what you’re dealing with is basic. Yes, you will get a good enough protection for your device or two at no financial cost, but the operative word here is basic because paid apps go far above the essentials.
Typically, you’ll get core malware detection, while advanced features such as integrated firewalls, ransomware protection, and generally more comprehensive web security will require opening up your wallet.
Of course, how much you’ll have to fork over depends on the product range you’re looking at, but there is no denying that a fair share of valuable extras comes packed with premium antivirus apps.
Beyond the basicsThe thing is, paid antivirus solutions have evolved considerably beyond simple virus detection. These days, they are comprehensive security suites designed to grapple with the multifaceted and evolving threat landscape. As such, they offer a layered defense that extends well beyond what their free counterparts are capable of.
A key distinction lies in their comprehensive feature set. While free antivirus often lacks a firewall, paid versions integrate advanced firewalls and network protection as part of their endpoint protection efforts. These act as digital gatekeepers, monitoring and filtering incoming and outgoing network traffic to block external intrusions, thereby complementing the antivirus' primary role of scanning for internal threats.
(Image credit: Norton)Many top-tier security suites also bundle VPNs into their offerings to provide a layer of encrypted privacy and security by masking a user's IP address and web activity. If you’ve ever connected to a public Wi-Fi network that may or may not be secured, you know how crucial a VPN can be.
As part of the package, you’ll routinely find secure browsers engineered for sensitive activities like online banking (e.g., Bitdefender’s excellent Safepay). These operate within an isolated, sandboxed environment, preventing malicious websites or links from infecting the user's device. Each browsing session within this virtual environment is usually deleted upon completion, eliminating any malware encountered during that session.
Furthermore, the inclusion of password managers helps generate, securely store, and manage complex and (preferably) unique passwords that are much needed today. These tools significantly lessen the risk of credential theft, a common initial access point for attackers. For families, some manner of parental controls is often a standard feature, allowing parents to manage children's online content, block inappropriate websites, and implement screen time limits.
Increasingly, premium antivirus vendors have extended protection to identity theft protection, offering dark web and credit monitoring, and identity theft insurance to scan for compromised credentials and provide restoration services.
The bundling of these diverse services reflects the interconnected nature of modern threats and the necessity for a more encompassing security posture, thus safeguarding the majority of attack vectors. This integrated approach offers a holistic defense while simplifying security management at the same time.
Advanced threat protectionWhen it comes to basic virus and malware detection, free versions can be just as effective as paid ones, since they largely utilize the same core scanning engine. That said, arguably the most significant check in the paid antivirus’s pro column lies in its cutting-edge threat defense capabilities.
Through behavioral analysis and AI-driven detection engines that employ machine learning models, these solutions can detect previously unknown malicious patterns at the earliest stages of execution. This is a critical capability for combating zero-day exploits and fileless malware that traditional signature-based detection often misses.
By analyzing real-time process activity, these systems can identify the malicious nature of a program and even roll back changes made by an attack, even if the malicious code is obfuscated. It’s a fundamental shift from reactive detection of known threats to proactive identification of irregular behavior and immediate remediation, where a paid antivirus represents a more intelligent and adaptive defense system capable of countering novel and complex attacks.
Advanced solutions also offer specialized ransomware rollback and recovery mechanisms. Many integrate with extended detection and response (XDR) platforms, which restore encrypted files to a pre-attack state by continuously monitoring and recording file changes. In the worst-case scenario, having this functionality at your disposal is vital for rapid recovery, minimizing downtime, and avoiding the payment of ransoms.
For advanced phishing and deepfake defense, paid antivirus solutions incorporate sophisticated safeguards to shield users from deceptive links and emails. Some leverage AI models and powerful neural processing units (NPUs) within the hardware to analyze streaming audio and video locally, detecting manipulated content in seconds and alerting users. Others use digital signatures, blockchain technology, or maintain catalogs of known deepfakes to verify content authenticity.
The broader implication is that future cybersecurity will increasingly rely on a tighter integration between software and dedicated hardware components for optimal performance and real-time threat mitigation.
Superior supportPerhaps not an obvious factor, but paid antivirus offers better user support and, by proxy, experience (or at the very least, an ad-free one). If something goes sideways, you can actually pick up the phone or jump on a live chat to get help from real people. With free options, you're usually on your own, maybe with just a few FAQs or a web knowledge base to guide you.
Finally, let's talk cost. Paid antivirus isn't always as expensive as you might think, more so if you opt for a longer-term subscription, as the monthly breakdown can be surprisingly low. For a high level of protection, it often works out to just a few dollars a month, which is a pretty small investment for significant peace of mind.
Is paid antivirus really worth it?The appeal of "free" software is undeniable, but those quotation marks are there for a reason. The illusion of no-cost alternatives often masks the true cost of negligence, which can expose you to often unseen risks and, ultimately, far greater financial expenses.
That’s not to say that a good free AV can’t get the job done. If you're truly just looking for the bare essentials, there are enough reputable (there goes that word again) vendors that will meet your needs.
But if you look at the big picture, paying for antivirus makes a lot of sense. It will keep you much safer online, where advanced and extra features can be a huge win for specific, yet everyday scenarios. Plus, getting that kind of protection doesn't have to break the bank, since some of the best paid options out there start at less than a few bucks a month.
Not sure what time the doors open for the theatre show you’re seeing tonight? Are you going to “Google It”? My teenage son and most of his Gen Z cohort certainly wouldn’t. They’ve been “searching it up” for years as they’ve grown up in a world where the definition of search is rapidly expanding. Social platforms like TikTok and Instagram as well as AI tools are starting to crowd Google out of more and more searches, shifting where and how people find information.
Google has long been the dominant consumer destination for discovering products and services. That started changing over the past decade as social media platforms, anchored around image and video content, created more engaging and brand-friendly experiences for users. While the news media wondered aloud if social media, TikTok in particular, might finally rival Google’s dominance, no one was ready for the apparent sea change in search ushered in by Open AI’s launch of ChatGPT.
Consumers were immediately drawn to the conversational user experience. Questions were seamlessly and naturally answered. The search experience felt personal as content generated responses were able to layer in guidance and recommendations. Fully formed answers and insights were served directly to consumers, without even needing to click on a link.
Large language models (LLMs), the core technology powering these AI search experiences, are completely overhauling how consumers access information. Brands now have a unique opportunity to effectively increase discoverability and engage with customers in this new age of search — depending on the strength, accuracy, and adaptability of their digital presence.
The Rise of LLMsYounger generations and tech-savvy users are increasingly gravitating towards LLMs, drawn by their ability to deliver personalized, engaging, and highly interactive responses. Unlike traditional search engines that provide static lists of links, LLMs excel at understanding context, answering complex queries, and even offering creative solutions. Ignite Visibility data showed that almost two thirds (62%) of people now use ChatGPT or Google Gemini to find a product or service.
At the heart of this transformation are advancements in AI and machine learning, which have enabled these new search experiences to index vast amounts of data and leverage semantic understanding of language to dynamically generate responses to questions and prompts from users. For digital natives, LLMs align seamlessly with their preference for intuitive and adaptive technologies, shaping a future where conversational AI becomes the default interface for finding, learning, and deciding.
As LLMs continue to evolve, their impact is poised to redefine the digital experience, influencing everything from consumer habits to how businesses connect with their audiences.
Navigating the Shifting Search LandscapeBrand website traffic continued to decline over the past year, a trend that cannot be solely attributed to the rise of LLMs. Objective queries often pull answers from platforms like Wikipedia or Reddit instead of individual brand websites, resulting in reduced traffic.
However, both Google and tools like ChatGPT are improving their source citation practices for brand-specific questions, which could encourage a renewed interest in direct brand engagement. This shift in search behavior may require brands to rethink how they structure and present their information online.
Although the “zero-click phenomenon” raised concerns among marketers, LLMs should be seen as a transformative force rather than a restrictive one. By directly addressing informational queries, LLMs streamline the pre-conversion research process, enabling users to make faster, more informed decisions.
This shift may result in fewer overall impressions for brands but higher click-through rates for intent-driven queries, emphasizing quality over quantity in user engagement.
Unlike traditional search engines that prioritize their own proprietary algorithm to score brand relevance and prominence, tools like ChatGPT collect insights from a broader range of publishers. This democratization of information presents both challenges and opportunities for marketers: to thrive in this new landscape.
Brands must expand their reach beyond singular platforms and ensure their digital presence is ubiquitous and consistent across diverse channels. It also encourages greater transparency and accuracy in how brands represent themselves.
Brands: ensure your information is accurate, well-structured, and optimized for various digital platforms, from search engines to social media and conversational AI tools. Consistency, authority, and trustworthiness are key to navigating this transformation. Whenever customers encounter your brand, they should be able to find reliable, up-to-date information, regardless of the platform or device.
Preparing for the FutureHow can brands future-proof their strategies by investing in systems that prioritize data integrity and adaptability? The answer lies in knowledge graphs. These powerful tools are essential for helping brands organize and structure the data needed to remain relevant and visible as consumer search behaviors continue to evolve.
By creating and actively managing a graph of structured data, companies have the foundational asset to broadly syndicate brand data across every channel necessary to provide valuable insights that resonate with modern users.
Establishing a knowledge graph and widely syndicating brand data acts to ground content generated by LLMs. This not only prevents AI hallucinations but also ensures your brand’s information is accurate, up-to-date and consistently engaging. Businesses that shift their focus from traditional search optimization to conversational search models today will be the ones leading the way tomorrow.
Leveraging knowledge graphs and embracing AI search platforms and LLMs l positions brands as forward-thinking and competitive, giving them an edge in the rapidly changing digital landscape.
We list the best SEO keyword research tool.
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
After a busy few weeks in the world of streaming, it's been relatively quiet on the new movies and TV shows release front over the past few days.
The world's best streaming services have released some new content for you to enjoy, though, including the return of a big Amazon TV Original and three wildly different shows on Netflix. So, no matter what type of entertainment fare and/or genres you're into, there's something in this week's recommendations article that'll appeal to you. – Tom Power, senior entertainment reporter
The Summer I Turned Pretty season 3 (Prime Video)Prime Video takes centre stage following the release of The Summer I Turned Pretty season 3, aka one of the best Prime Video shows' final season.
If you thought Belly had found her soulmate at the end of season 2, think again, because she's not quite done with the Fisher boys yet. However, while the show is based on showrunner Jenny Han's book series namesake, it's taken some creative liberties that make it diabolically different from the books.
Regardless of the adaptation's differences, the 'will they, won't they' trope is firmly keeping us glued to the screens to see what surprise twists might unfold during this next long vacation. After all, it's not summer until we get to Cousins Beach. – Amelia Schwanke, senior entertainment editor
The Amateur (Hulu/Disney+)A remake of Robert Littell's 1981 novel and its movie namesake that arrived that same year, 20th Century Studios' retelling of The Amateur has finally landed on Hulu (US) and Disney+ (internationally).
Mr. Robot and James Bond alumnus Rami Malek plays CIA cryptographer Charlie Heller, who takes matters into his own hands after his wife is killed by terrorists and his own agency refuses to help him find those responsible because it'll impact a wider investigation into the criminal network. Laurence Fishburne is among its starry cast,
The Amateur's 61% critical rating on Rotten Tomatoes suggests it shouldn't infiltrate our best Hulu movies and best Disney+ movies lists, but its 88% audience score indicates it might. Keep your eyes and ears out, then, to see if it'll stealth its way onto one or both guides. – TP
Ready to marvel at giant granite cliffs and redwoods from the comfort of your home? Netflix's new murder mystery drama Untamed will take you to the wilds of Yosemite National Park.
The six-episode series sees Eric Bana (Dirty John; Troy) play a ranger/special agent of the National Parks Service who gets swept up in an investigation over a brutal death that ends up leading him down a much darker path that isn't just vistas and pretty scenery.
Creators Mark Smith (The Revenant, American Primeval) and Elle Smith (The Marsh King’s Daughter) are no strangers to gritty dramas, so we can expect this potential addition to our best Netflix shows list to be as gripping as it is beautiful. – AS
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3 (Paramount+)It's time to hop back on board the USS Enterprise as Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3 has launched. One of the best Paramount+ shows was renewed for a fourth season in April, too, so fans can rest assured there's more to come.
This installment in the sci-fi franchise has been met with critical acclaim and has a fresh 85% Rotten Tomatoes score, so this Paramount+ TV Original is a must-watch for Trekkies across the globe.
Anson Mount's Captain Christopher Pike is back to lead weekly adventures throughout the cosmos alongside Ethan Peck's Spock, Jess Bush's Christine Chapel, and the rest of the crew who are on hand to help out. It's both new and comfortingly familiar with outfits, characters, and references that long-term Star Trek fans will adore. – Lucy Buglass, senior entertainment writer
Billy Joel: And So It Goes (HBO Max)HBO Max is sitting down with the Piano Man this weekend, with a two-part documentary exploring the life and career of musician Billy Joel.
Early reviews are very positive indeed and, while there might not be much here for non-fans, it'll be a real treat for those keen to learn more about the singer-songwriter.
Indeed, fans can tune in to an "expansive portrait of the life and music of Billy Joel, exploring the love, loss, and personal struggles that fuel his songwriting". You can expect to see exclusive performances, home movies, and one-on-one interviews in this week's and next week's installments. – LB
Trainwreck: Balloon Boy (Netflix)From Poop Cruise to The Cult of American Apparel, Netflix's Trainwreck docuseries has been beyond unhinged. Even so, Balloon Boy might just have them all beat as it tells the story of 6-year-old Falcon, who was allegedly stuck inside a gas balloon resembling a UFO built by his parents.
Don't panic: the story doesn't have a tragic ending, but rather a completely bizarre one. Falcon's balloon plight turned out to be an elaborate hoax, supposedly the brainchild of parents Richard and Mayumi Heene. The reveal that Balloon Boy is actually a publicity stunt won't spoil your watch – the horror is in the detail of how it came to be. Plus, we're finally getting the full account from the Heenes themselves, which seems to be brilliant news to Falcon. – Jasmine Valentine, entertainment writer
Sakamoto Days season 1 part 2 (Netflix)You thought Taro Sakamoto was done after merely 10 episodes? Taro Sakamoto is never done, even when he says he is.
The hit Netflix anime, which follows a former hitman who ditched his high-profile life to raise a family, and now has his former colleagues are after revenge, took off with its first half earlier this year. It's as endearing as it is exciting, revolving around the idea that family isn't something you're born into, but something you choose.
Sakamoto Days perfectly toes the line of drama and comedy, punching out something heartfelt, high-octane, and genuinely laugh-out-loud with each landed blow. In part 2, we're expecting to see a set of death row inmates freed in order to try and kill Sakamoto, if the manga is anything to go by. – JV
For more streaming suggestions, read our guides on the best Netflix movies, best Disney+ shows, best Prime Video movies, and best HBO Max shows.
A new NYT Strands puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Friday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Friday, July 18 (game #502).
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 #503) - hint #1 - today's themeWhat is the theme of today's NYT Strands?• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Hot enough for ya?
NYT Strands today (game #503) - hint #2 - clue wordsPlay any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.
• Spangram has 13 letters
NYT Strands today (game #503) - hint #4 - spangram positionWhat are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?First side: top, 6th column
Last side: bottom, 1st column
Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.
NYT Strands today (game #503) - the answers(Image credit: New York Times)The answers to today's Strands, game #503, are…
The first word I got was STICKY, so I did momentarily think that today’s search was something to do with cooking spicy food.
After hitting a wall and seeing dozens of non-game words – but zero game words – I took a hint and BALMY set me on my way.
It’s odd how if we live in a cooler climate we spend ages wishing for warmer weather, but then when it arrives – as today’s word search demonstrates – we realize it’s insufferable.
Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Friday, July 18, game #502)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.
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 Friday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Friday, July 18 (game #768).
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 #769) - today's words(Image credit: New York Times)Today's NYT Connections words are…
What are some clues for today's NYT Connections groups?
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 #769) - hint #2 - group answersWhat are the answers for today's NYT Connections groups?
Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.
NYT Connections today (game #769) - the answers(Image credit: New York Times)The answers to today's Connections, game #769, are…
I was at a distinct disadvantage today, knowing nothing about football (of the American kind) or Mutant Ninja Turtles, but that wasn’t the reason why I crashed out.
Like many, I am sure, seeing BRAD and LEO beside each other on the board immediately made me think of Brad Pitt and Leonardo DiCaprio so I spent ages trying to find a group that was something to do with Once Upon A Time in Hollywood – wasting a mistake on a wild guess.
My next three mistakes came before I’d even got a single group correct. Thinking that I was looking for a group of things you could hammer, I selected NAIL, PIN, TACK and SPIKE.
After getting one away I tried SNAP instead of spike and then, possessed by another ‘one away’, SPRING. Ah well, you can’t win them all. Or hammer them all.
Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Friday, July 18 game #768)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.
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 Friday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Friday, July 18 (game #1271).
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 #1272) - hint #1 - VowelsHow many different vowels are in Quordle today?• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 3*.
* 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 #1272) - hint #2 - repeated lettersDo any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 3.
Quordle today (game #1272) - 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 #1272) - 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 #1272) - hint #5 - starting letters (2)What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?• E
• C
• T
• S
Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.
Quordle today (game #1272) - the answers(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)The answers to today's Quordle, game #1272, are…
I changed one of my start words today – “would” instead of “could” – and came close to ending my winning streak.
I’m not sure whether the two are connected, but when it came down to my final guess I used the letter C and it resulted in a last-ditch correct guess.
That’ll teach me to experiment!
Daily Sequence today (game #1272) - the answers(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1272, are…
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 Friday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Friday, July 18 (game #1271).
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 #1272) - hint #1 - VowelsHow many different vowels are in Quordle today?• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 3*.
* 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 #1272) - hint #2 - repeated lettersDo any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 3.
Quordle today (game #1272) - 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 #1272) - 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 #1272) - hint #5 - starting letters (2)What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?• E
• C
• T
• S
Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.
Quordle today (game #1272) - the answers(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)The answers to today's Quordle, game #1272, are…
I changed one of my start words today – “would” instead of “could” – and came close to ending my winning streak.
I’m not sure whether the two are connected, but when it came down to my final guess I used the letter C and it resulted in a last-ditch correct guess.
That’ll teach me to experiment!
Daily Sequence today (game #1272) - the answers(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1272, are…
Hulu is gearing up to release its new wave of titles for August, and buried among those are 104 new movies as well as 68 new TV shows.
Now that we're creeping up to August, that means we're getting even closer to the release of the highly anticipated Alien: Earth on August 12 – the first TV show developed for the franchise and one we've been very excited to watch since it was announced back in 2020. It's been a long time coming, but there's still time to get through some of Hulu's other new arrivals before Alien: Earth arrives.
As usual, the first day of Hulu's monthly list will be packed with a slew of new and exciting blockbusters, and there's quite a focus on movies with a comedy touch, starting with action-comedy Kick-Ass (2010), and not forgetting one of my ultimate comfort comedy-dramas The Devil Wears Prada (2006).
Everything new on Hulu in August 2025Arriving on August 1
Foundation Forward season 1 (TV show)
Kids Diana Show: Greatest Playtime Adventures season 1 (TV show)
Floribama Shore seasons 1-2 (TV show)
Survivor seasons 23-24 (TV show)
Undercover Boss seasons 7 and 11 (TV show)
10 Things I Hate About You (movie)
28 Days (movie)
28 Days En Espanol (movie)
A Simple Favor (movie)
The Beach (movie)
Black Knight (movie)
The Brothers McMullen (movie)
Click (movie)
Click En Espanol (movie)
Coyote Ugly (movie)
Date Night (movie)
Devil in a Blue Dress (movie)
Devil in a Blue Dress En Espanol (movie)
The Devil Wears Prada (movie)
The Diary of a Teenage Girl (movie)
The Diary Of A Teenage Girl En Espanol (movie)
Did You Hear About The Morgans? (movie)
Did You Hear About the Morgans? En Espanol (movie)
District 9 (movie)
District 9 En Espanol (movie)
Equity (movie)
Equity En Espanol (movie)
Evil Dead (movie)
Evil Dead En Espanol (movie)
The Exorcism of Emily Rose (movie)
The Exorcism Of Emily Rose En Espanol (movie)
Father Of The Bride (movie)
Father Of The Bride Part II (movie)
Forrest Gump (movie)
Forrest Gump En Espanol (movie)
The Full Monty (movie)
The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy (movie)
Ice Age (movie)
Ice Age 2: The Meltdown (movie)
Ice Age: Continental Drift (movie)
Ice Age: Dawn Of The Dinosaurs (movie)
Ice Age: The Great Egg-scapade (movie)
It's Complicated (movie)
Kick-Ass (movie)
Old School (movie)
Old School En Espanol (movie)
One Hour Photo (movie)
The Other Woman (movie)
Night Shift (movie)
Practical Magic (movie)
Pretty Woman (movie)
The Proposal (movie)
Raising Arizona (movie)
Ready Or Not (movie)
Resident Evil: Extinction (movie)
Resident Evil: Extinction En Espanol (movie)
Rio (movie)
Robots (movie)
Scarface (movie)
The Sessions (movie)
Simply Irresistible (movie)
Stay (movie)
Super 8 (movie)
Super 8 En Espanol (movie)
Take Shelter (movie)
Take Shelter En Espanol (movie)
Taken (movie)
Thank You For Smoking (movie)
Thirteen (movie)
Under The Tuscan Sun (movie)
Weekend At Bernie's (movie)
Win Win (movie)
Arriving on August 2
Alone: The Beast season 1 (TV show)
Alone: The Skills Challenge season 1 (TV show)
Body Cam seasons 8-9 (TV show)
Evil Lives Here season 16 (TV show)
Mary J. Blige's Family Affair (movie)
Vanished in Death Valley (movie)
The Marksman (movie)
Searching for a Serial Killer: The Regina Smith Story (movie)
Terror Comes Knocking: The Marcela Borges Story (movie)
William Tell (movie)
Arriving on August 4
King of the Hill season 14 (TV show)
Arriving on August 5
Capturing Their Killer: The Girls on the High Bridge (TV show)
Bob Trevino Likes It (movie)
Arriving on August 7
Ted Bundy: Dialogue with the Devil (TV show)
Find My Country House season 2 (TV show)
Fixer Upper season 6 (TV show)
The Flip Off season 1 (TV show)
Why the Heck Did I Buy This House? seasons 1-2 (TV show)
Zombie House Flipping season 6 (TV show)
The Monkey (movie)
Arriving on August 8
Ralph Barbosa: Planet Bosa (TV show)
FX's Necaxa (TV show)
Journey to Bethlehem (movie)
Journey to Bethlehem En Espanol (movie)
Shanghai Knights (movie)
Shanghai Noon (movie)
Arriving on August 9
American Picker season 26 (TV show)
The Challenge seasons 13 and 19 (TV show)
Expedition Unknown seasons 7-8 (TV show)
Moonshiners season 14 (TV show)
Take My Tumor season 1 (TV show)
Arriving on August 10
The Lost City (movie)
Arriving on August 11
Copshop (movie)
Arriving on August 12
FX's Alien: Earth (TV show)
Sharp Corner (movie)
Arriving on August 14
The Dangers in My Heart seasons 1-2 (TV show)
Mysteries Unearthed with Danny Trejo season 1 (TV show)
Road Wars season 4 (TV show)
Hollywood Demons season 1 (TV show)
Little Boy Lost: An ID Mystery season 1 (TV show)
See No Evil season 7 (TV show)
Tales From Oak Island season 1 (TV show)
The UnBelievable with Dan Aykroyd season 2 (TV show)
Bringing Down The House (movie)
Cheaper By The Dozen (movie)
Like Mike (movie)
Stuck On You (movie)
Arriving on August 15
Blippi's Ultimate Playdate part 2 season 1 (TV show)
Stand Up To Cancer 2025: Livestream (TV show)
YAIBA: Samurai Legend season 1 (TV show)
YAIBA: Samurai Legend (Spanish) season 1 (TV show)
The Host (movie)
It Feeds (movie)
John Wick (movie)
John Wick 2 (movie)
John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum (movie)
John Wick: Chapter 4 (movie)
Killer Elite (movie)
LOL Live with Devon Walker (TV show)
LOL Live with Sydnee Washington (TV show)
Arriving on August 16
Interrogation Raw season 3 (TV show)
Cold Case Files: Murder in the Bayou season 1 (TV show)
The Curious Case of…: season 1 (TV show)
My Evil Sister season 1 (TV show)
See No Evil seasons 5-6 (TV show)
Waco: Madman or Messiah season 1 (TV show)
Arriving on August 17
Thanksgiving (movie)
Arriving on August 19
Stalking Samantha: 13 Years of Terror (TV show)
High Country season 1 (TV show)
Levels (movie)
Arriving on August 20
The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox (TV show)
Arriving on August 21
Alone season 4 (TV show)
Call of the Night season 1 (TV show)
Farming Life In Another World season 1 (TV show)
Naked and Afraid seasons 9 and 11 (TV show)
Naked and Afraid XL season 4 (TV show)
Naked and Afraid: Last One Standing season 3 (TV show)
Oshi No Ko season 2 (TV show)
The Bayou (movie)
Money Monster (movie)
Money Monster En Espanol (movie)
Arriving on August 22
Eenie Meanie (movie)
Arriving on August 23
Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives seasons 3-4 (TV show)
Expedition Files season 1 (TV show)
Restaurant: Impossible season 2 (TV show)
The Great Food Truck Race season 15 (TV show)
Worst Cooks in America season 28 (TV show)
Arriving on August 24
Total Drama Island: Reloaded season 2 (TV show)
Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (movie)
Arriving on August 25
Yu-Gi-Oh! Go Rush!! season 1 (TV show)
Arriving on August 26
Ruby Red Handed: Stealing America's Most Famous Pair of Shoes (TV show)
Little Bites (movie)
Arriving on August 27
Love Thy Nader season 1 (TV show)
Arriving on August 28
Bewitched (TV show)
Customer Wars season 3 (TV show)
Storage Wars season 12 (TV show)
Thomas Jefferson season 1 (TV show)
Imported (documentary)
Arriving on August 29
Hell of a Summer (movie)
Sisu (movie)
Trail of Vengeance (movie)
Hulu is gearing up to release its new wave of titles for August, and buried among those are 104 new movies as well as 68 new TV shows.
Now that we're creeping up to August, that means we're getting even closer to the release of the highly anticipated Alien: Earth on August 12 – the first TV show developed for the franchise and one we've been very excited to watch since it was announced back in 2020. It's been a long time coming, but there's still time to get through some of Hulu's other new arrivals before Alien: Earth arrives.
As usual, the first day of Hulu's monthly list will be packed with a slew of new and exciting blockbusters, and there's quite a focus on movies with a comedy touch, starting with action-comedy Kick-Ass (2010), and not forgetting one of my ultimate comfort comedy-dramas The Devil Wears Prada (2006).
Everything new on Hulu in August 2025Arriving on August 1
Foundation Forward season 1 (TV show)
Kids Diana Show: Greatest Playtime Adventures season 1 (TV show)
Floribama Shore seasons 1-2 (TV show)
Survivor seasons 23-24 (TV show)
Undercover Boss seasons 7 and 11 (TV show)
10 Things I Hate About You (movie)
28 Days (movie)
28 Days En Espanol (movie)
A Simple Favor (movie)
The Beach (movie)
Black Knight (movie)
The Brothers McMullen (movie)
Click (movie)
Click En Espanol (movie)
Coyote Ugly (movie)
Date Night (movie)
Devil in a Blue Dress (movie)
Devil in a Blue Dress En Espanol (movie)
The Devil Wears Prada (movie)
The Diary of a Teenage Girl (movie)
The Diary Of A Teenage Girl En Espanol (movie)
Did You Hear About The Morgans? (movie)
Did You Hear About the Morgans? En Espanol (movie)
District 9 (movie)
District 9 En Espanol (movie)
Equity (movie)
Equity En Espanol (movie)
Evil Dead (movie)
Evil Dead En Espanol (movie)
The Exorcism of Emily Rose (movie)
The Exorcism Of Emily Rose En Espanol (movie)
Father Of The Bride (movie)
Father Of The Bride Part II (movie)
Forrest Gump (movie)
Forrest Gump En Espanol (movie)
The Full Monty (movie)
The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy (movie)
Ice Age (movie)
Ice Age 2: The Meltdown (movie)
Ice Age: Continental Drift (movie)
Ice Age: Dawn Of The Dinosaurs (movie)
Ice Age: The Great Egg-scapade (movie)
It's Complicated (movie)
Kick-Ass (movie)
Old School (movie)
Old School En Espanol (movie)
One Hour Photo (movie)
The Other Woman (movie)
Night Shift (movie)
Practical Magic (movie)
Pretty Woman (movie)
The Proposal (movie)
Raising Arizona (movie)
Ready Or Not (movie)
Resident Evil: Extinction (movie)
Resident Evil: Extinction En Espanol (movie)
Rio (movie)
Robots (movie)
Scarface (movie)
The Sessions (movie)
Simply Irresistible (movie)
Stay (movie)
Super 8 (movie)
Super 8 En Espanol (movie)
Take Shelter (movie)
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Searching for a Serial Killer: The Regina Smith Story (movie)
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King of the Hill season 14 (TV show)
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Find My Country House season 2 (TV show)
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Netflix used AI-generated visual effects for the first time in a TV show or movie this year, and co-CEO Ted Sarandos is pretty pleased with the result.
Speaking to investors on Thursday (July 18), Sarandos revealed Argentinian sci-fi show, The Eternaut, is the first Netflix production to use AI to generate a VFX (visual effects) sequence.
He said: "The creators were thrilled with the result. We were thrilled with the result," he said. "And more importantly, the audience was thrilled with the result. So, I think these tools are helping creators expand the possibilities of storytelling on screen, and that is endlessly exciting."
The scene in question shows a building collapse in Buenos Aires after coming into contact with toxic snowfall, and according to Sarandos, given the budget of the show, the scale of the effects needed to pull off the scene wouldn't have been possible without the use of AI.
In fact, Sarandos even confirmed that using AI was not only a cost-saver, but incredibly efficient too. "That VFX sequence was completed 10 times faster than it could have been completed with visual, traditional VFX tools and workflows," he said.
Considering just how happy Netflix's head honcho and the creators behind The Eternaut are with the results, the Argentinian-made TV series could be the pioneer in AI-generated Netflix effects, opening up opportunities for other productions to follow suit.
Just the beginningHollywood's disdain towards AI couldn't be more evident. After all, the technology was a huge point of contention in the Hollywood actors' and writers' strikes that plagued the entertainment industry in 2023.
Now, two years on, we're starting to see AI find its feet in the world of TV and movie production, and despite the negative connotations of the word, it might end up being a good thing for creators working on a smaller budget.
Sarandos said: "This is real people doing real work with better tools. Our creators are already seeing the benefits in production through pre-visualisation and shot planning work, and certainly visual effects. I think these tools are helping creators expand the possibilities of storytelling on screen, and that is endlessly exciting.”
Netflix reported a successful quarter, with over $11 billion in revenue, up nearly 20% compared to the previous year. I might be skeptical, but I'd expect this trial of using AI to generate scenes could spawn into a bigger beast if the profit margins are high enough to ride out any backlash.
Using AI monitored by the creators of a show for a scene is one thing, but at what point does it cross the line? And when it does, will companies like Netflix scale back or go full steam ahead, implementing AI into all the best TV shows and movies?
You might also likeNetflix used AI-generated visual effects for the first time in a TV show or movie this year, and co-CEO Ted Sarandos is pretty pleased with the result.
Speaking to investors on Thursday (July 18), Sarandos revealed Argentinian sci-fi show, The Eternaut, is the first Netflix production to use AI to generate a VFX (visual effects) sequence.
He said: "The creators were thrilled with the result. We were thrilled with the result," he said. "And more importantly, the audience was thrilled with the result. So, I think these tools are helping creators expand the possibilities of storytelling on screen, and that is endlessly exciting."
The scene in question shows a building collapse in Buenos Aires after coming into contact with toxic snowfall, and according to Sarandos, given the budget of the show, the scale of the effects needed to pull off the scene wouldn't have been possible without the use of AI.
In fact, Sarandos even confirmed that using AI was not only a cost-saver, but incredibly efficient too. "That VFX sequence was completed 10 times faster than it could have been completed with visual, traditional VFX tools and workflows," he said.
Considering just how happy Netflix's head honcho and the creators behind The Eternaut are with the results, the Argentinian-made TV series could be the pioneer in AI-generated Netflix effects, opening up opportunities for other productions to follow suit.
Just the beginningHollywood's disdain towards AI couldn't be more evident. After all, the technology was a huge point of contention in the Hollywood actors' and writers' strikes that plagued the entertainment industry in 2023.
Now, two years on, we're starting to see AI find its feet in the world of TV and movie production, and despite the negative connotations of the word, it might end up being a good thing for creators working on a smaller budget.
Sarandos said: "This is real people doing real work with better tools. Our creators are already seeing the benefits in production through pre-visualisation and shot planning work, and certainly visual effects. I think these tools are helping creators expand the possibilities of storytelling on screen, and that is endlessly exciting.”
Netflix reported a successful quarter, with over $11 billion in revenue, up nearly 20% compared to the previous year. I might be skeptical, but I'd expect this trial of using AI to generate scenes could spawn into a bigger beast if the profit margins are high enough to ride out any backlash.
Using AI monitored by the creators of a show for a scene is one thing, but at what point does it cross the line? And when it does, will companies like Netflix scale back or go full steam ahead, implementing AI into all the best TV shows and movies?
You might also likeFoundation actor Jared Harris has opened up on the huge yet "satisfying" decision that Hari Seldon makes in season 3's second episode.
Speaking to TechRadar, Harris admitted that the crucial choice that one of his characters makes in Foundation season 3 episode 2, aka 'Shadows in the Math', needed to happen so Hari and Gaal could "move on" from the teacher-student dynamic that's defined them since the Apple TV Original's first-ever entry.
Full spoilers immediately follow for this season's second chapter. Turn back if you haven't watched it yet.
You're looking a bit old now, Hari (Image credit: Apple TV+)'Shadows in the Math' sees Hari renege on Gaal's plan for the pair to enter and exit cryosleep for a few weeks every year to prepare the Ignis-based Second Foundation's population for The Mule's arrival.
A few years into this plan, the duo realize they're running out of time to provide the Mentalics – humans who possess psychic and telepathic abilities – with the necessary tools to defeat Foundation season 3's primary villain. It's at this point that Hari reveals he'll stop entering cryosleep to accelerate the Mentalics' understanding of psychohistory and ensure they're ready for the battle to come.
However, despite promising to continue waking Gaal annually, Hari leaves her in cryosleep for the next 146 years. When Gaal is finally woken once more, 152 years have passed since Foundation season 2 ended and, while Second Foundation is far more prepared than it would've been to try and stop The Mule, Hari is now a frail, old man.
Before they part ways, Hari shows all of the Prime Radiant's secrets to Gaal (Image credit: Apple TV+)After a heartfelt reunion, Hari once again makes a promise to Gaal: this time, he'll still be around to see her next day. However, later that night, he's greeted by Kalle, aka the individual who previously resurrected Hari via mysterious means on a planet called Oona's World in Foundation season 2 episode 3. Remember, in Foundation season 1 episode 2, Hari was murdered by his adopted son Raych, which we learn was part of Hari's grand plan later on in the Apple TV+ show's sophomore season.
Long story short, Kalle tells Hari that his race has been run. Somewhat reluctant to depart but also accepting his fate, Hari steps through a portal to Oona's World with Kalle and isn't seen again.
The insinuation, of course, is that Hari has died for a second time. Harris' time on one of the best Apple TV+ shows isn't over, though – indeed, he also plays Doctor Seldon, a digital version of Hari's consciousness that permanently exists in The Vault.
Nevertheless, Harris explained why 'Shadows in the Math' was the right time for Hari to step aside and let Gaal takes the reins, though he stopped short of saying if we'd ever see Hari in future installments.
A post shared by Apple TV (@appletv)
A photo posted by on
"There wasn't a discussion [about Hari seemingly dying again]," Harris told me. "I felt like they [Foundation's writing team] didn't know what to do with Hari and Gaal's relationship and it was becoming a tired, regurgitation of similar things from past seasons.
"Personally, I wanted to see that relationship move on," Harris continued. "One of the changes made to that episode was that it [Hari walking away] was a decision that he and Gaal made together, rather than one he made in secret that would blindside her.
"As a consumer of this show, I also felt more satisfied that Gaal's storyline was no longer defined by her relationship with my character. She's fully inhabiting her story – and this is her story because, from the very beginning, she's the narrator of this show. So, it's important that Hari moves on from this, and Gaal discovers her own agency and isn't held back by anyone else."
Hari and Gaal's relationship... was becoming a tired, regurgitation of similar things from past seasons
Jared Harris, Foundation actor
That's not to say that, if this is the end of the line for Hari Seldon, Harris won't miss portraying this version of the character.
"I found that version [Hari] far more interesting to play because he's human," Harris added. "The other [Doctor Seldon] is this digitized consciousness that allows for some cheats in the storytelling, because he knows everything, so it wasn't interesting to play.
"But, what is interesting about Doctor Seldon, and this is something the writers adjusted after I spoke to them during season two, is that Doctor Seldon discovers his consciousness has been edited. That's a fairly significant thing for him, because he always believed he was writing his own story and knew everything, but he's actually just a pawn in someone else's game. That creates an existential crisis that's been fascinating to explore."
You might also likeFoundation actor Jared Harris has opened up on the huge yet "satisfying" decision that Hari Seldon makes in season 3's second episode.
Speaking to TechRadar, Harris admitted that the crucial choice that one of his characters makes in Foundation season 3 episode 2, aka 'Shadows in the Math', needed to happen so Hari and Gaal could "move on" from the teacher-student dynamic that's defined them since the Apple TV Original's first-ever entry.
Full spoilers immediately follow for this season's second chapter. Turn back if you haven't watched it yet.
You're looking a bit old now, Hari (Image credit: Apple TV+)'Shadows in the Math' sees Hari renege on Gaal's plan for the pair to enter and exit cryosleep for a few weeks every year to prepare the Ignis-based Second Foundation's population for The Mule's arrival.
A few years into this plan, the duo realize they're running out of time to provide the Mentalics – humans who possess psychic and telepathic abilities – with the necessary tools to defeat Foundation season 3's primary villain. It's at this point that Hari reveals he'll stop entering cryosleep to accelerate the Mentalics' understanding of psychohistory and ensure they're ready for the battle to come.
However, despite promising to continue waking Gaal annually, Hari leaves her in cryosleep for the next 146 years. When Gaal is finally woken once more, 152 years have passed since Foundation season 2 ended and, while Second Foundation is far more prepared than it would've been to try and stop The Mule, Hari is now a frail, old man.
Before they part ways, Hari shows all of the Prime Radiant's secrets to Gaal (Image credit: Apple TV+)After a heartfelt reunion, Hari once again makes a promise to Gaal: this time, he'll still be around to see her next day. However, later that night, he's greeted by Kalle, aka the individual who previously resurrected Hari via mysterious means on a planet called Oona's World in Foundation season 2 episode 3. Remember, in Foundation season 1 episode 2, Hari was murdered by his adopted son Raych, which we learn was part of Hari's grand plan later on in the Apple TV+ show's sophomore season.
Long story short, Kalle tells Hari that his race has been run. Somewhat reluctant to depart but also accepting his fate, Hari steps through a portal to Oona's World with Kalle and isn't seen again.
The insinuation, of course, is that Hari has died for a second time. Harris' time on one of the best Apple TV+ shows isn't over, though – indeed, he also plays Doctor Seldon, a digital version of Hari's consciousness that permanently exists in The Vault.
Nevertheless, Harris explained why 'Shadows in the Math' was the right time for Hari to step aside and let Gaal takes the reins, though he stopped short of saying if we'd ever see Hari in future installments.
A post shared by Apple TV (@appletv)
A photo posted by on
"There wasn't a discussion [about Hari seemingly dying again]," Harris told me. "I felt like they [Foundation's writing team] didn't know what to do with Hari and Gaal's relationship and it was becoming a tired, regurgitation of similar things from past seasons.
"Personally, I wanted to see that relationship move on," Harris continued. "One of the changes made to that episode was that it [Hari walking away] was a decision that he and Gaal made together, rather than one he made in secret that would blindside her.
"As a consumer of this show, I also felt more satisfied that Gaal's storyline was no longer defined by her relationship with my character. She's fully inhabiting her story – and this is her story because, from the very beginning, she's the narrator of this show. So, it's important that Hari moves on from this, and Gaal discovers her own agency and isn't held back by anyone else."
Hari and Gaal's relationship... was becoming a tired, regurgitation of similar things from past seasons
Jared Harris, Foundation actor
That's not to say that, if this is the end of the line for Hari Seldon, Harris won't miss portraying this version of the character.
"I found that version [Hari] far more interesting to play because he's human," Harris added. "The other [Doctor Seldon] is this digitized consciousness that allows for some cheats in the storytelling, because he knows everything, so it wasn't interesting to play.
"But, what is interesting about Doctor Seldon, and this is something the writers adjusted after I spoke to them during season two, is that Doctor Seldon discovers his consciousness has been edited. That's a fairly significant thing for him, because he always believed he was writing his own story and knew everything, but he's actually just a pawn in someone else's game. That creates an existential crisis that's been fascinating to explore."
You might also likeMicrosoft has confirmed a series of welcome updates which will see older versions of its Exchange Server and Skype for Business retain support for a little longer, to give customers time to continue to migrate to newer options.
Exchange Server 2016 and 2019, and Skype for Business 2015 and 2019, will both lose support on October 14, 2025 – the same day that Windows 10 also loses support – but a new Extended Security Update (ESU) will be offered in its place.
Unlike operating system ESUs, Exchange and Skype will only be available with a one-time, six-month ESU program covering critical and important rated security updates, but it's still a welcome move for those in need of some extra time.
Microsoft offers a six-month ESU on Exchange and SkypeThe ESU period will run from October 14, 2025, to April 14, 2026, with no further extensions possible.
Customers can contact Microsoft from August 1 to get pricing and purchase details, as ESUs will not be available via Windows Update or public downloads – just to those who have enrolled in the program.
"This ESU is not an 'extension of the support lifecycle'," Microsoft added. "This ESU is a way for customers who might not be able to finalize their migrations to Exchange SE before October 14, 2025." Redmond made the same comments for Skype in another post.
As such, the company is urging customers to complete migrations to Exchange Subscription Edition (SE) or Skype for Business SE ahead of the end of support.
It's unclear how many users remain on older, soon-to-be-unsupported versions of Exchange of Skype, but if the Windows 11 migration is anything to go by, it could be a lot. It was only in June 2025 that the number of Windows 10 and Windows 11 installations reached near-parity – before then, the number of people running Windows 10 was far higher.
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