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• Security researchers from Reversing Labs find two malicious packages on npm
• These serve as downloaders and target software developers building on the Ethereum blockchain
• The malware opens a reverse shell and grants attackers access to target computers

Two malicious packages were recently discovered on the npm repository using dubious backdoors to target their users.

Cybersecurity researchers from Reversing Labs discovered two packages WHICH were uploaded to the popular repository in early March 2025 named “ethers-provider2”, and “ethers-providerz” - names carefully chosen to trick victims into thinking they have something to do with a legitimate package called “ethers”.

The ethers package on npm is a JavaScript library for interacting with the Ethereum blockchain, allowing developers to send transactions, deploy smart contracts, and read blockchain data. It provides a simple and secure API for working with Ethereum wallets, smart contracts, and decentralized applications (dApps).

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Fake updaters

The two malicious packages served as downloaders, “updating” the legitimate package and turning it sour.

“These were simple downloaders whose malicious payload was cleverly hidden, with a second stage that “patches” the legitimate npm package ethers, installed locally, with a new file containing the malicious payload,” the researchers explained. “That patched file ultimately serves a reverse shell.”

With a reverse shell, the attackers force the victim’s computer to initiate a connection back to the hacker’s machine, granting them the ability to run commands, steal data, or install malware, while successfully bypassing firewalls and similar security measures.

For the researchers at Reversing Labs, the approach is “highly sophisticated”.

Since the malware targets the ethers package, it’s safe to assume that the victims here are blockchain developers working on the Ethereum platform. And since the malware can act as an infostealer, it’s also safe to assume that the threat actors are going for people’s cryptocurrencies.

As usual, the best way to mitigate the threat and protect against these attacks is to be extra careful when downloading open source packages.

Via BleepingComputer

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Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Connections puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Thursday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Thursday, March 27 (game #655).

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 #656) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• CHUCK
• MONTY
• BRACKET
• CITY
• SKIRT
• PITCH
• FLANK
• BADGE
• STUDY
• SASH
• SLING
• BOOKEND
• SURROUND
• BINGO
• BERET
• PELT

NYT Connections today (game #656) - hint #1 - group hints

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

• YELLOW: Fling something 
• GREEN: Left and right 
• BLUE: “Do a good turn daily”
• PURPLE: Add a roomy word that rhymes with “wall”

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 #656) - hint #2 - group answers

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

• YELLOW: HURL 
• GREEN: BE ON BOTH SIDES OF 
• BLUE: PARTS OF A CLASSIC GIRL SCOUT UNIFORM 
• PURPLE: __HALL 

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

NYT Connections today (game #656) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #656, are…

• YELLOW: HURL CHUCK, PELT, PITCH, SLING
• GREEN: BE ON BOTH SIDES OF BOOKEND, BRACKET, FLANK, SURROUND
• BLUE: PARTS OF A CLASSIC GIRL SCOUT UNIFORM BADGE, BERET, SASH, SKIRT
• PURPLE: __HALL BINGO, CITY, MONTY, STUDY

• My rating: Moderate
• My score: 2 mistakes

I got the yellow and green groups mixed up today after convincing myself that the words had something to do with medieval battles — I was thinking PITCH being poured through castle devil holes and soldiers being PELTed with arrows with their army SURROUNDed.

After getting “one away” after my second failed guess, I finally saw the light and a far more straightforward group of throwing words.

I was convinced that the link between BINGO, CITY and STUDY was __ HALL, but took a chance on MONTY — although I should have got it as the Monty Hall Problem, a brain teaser named after the TV legend, was a dumbfounding Connections category back in January (car, goat, door, host).

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

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Thursday, 27 March, game #655)

• YELLOW: AFFECT MOVE, REACH, SWAY, TOUCH
• GREEN: YOU GOT IT! BINGO, CORRECT, DING, RIGHT
• BLUE: SLANG FOR MONEY CHANGE, GREEN, PAPER, SCRATCH
• PURPLE: OBJECTS WITH THE PREFIX "MICRO-" CHIP, PHONE, SCOPE, WAVE

What is NYT Connections?

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

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

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

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

Looking for a different day?

A new 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 Thursday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Thursday, March 27 (game #1158).

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 #1159) - hint #1 - Vowels How 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 #1159) - hint #2 - repeated letters Do any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?

• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 1.

Quordle today (game #1159) - hint #3 - uncommon letters Do 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 #1159) - 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 #1159) - hint #5 - starting letters (2) What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• T

• M

• P

• F

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

Quordle today (game #1159) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1159, are…

• TERSE
• MUSHY
• PROVE
• FROND

After struggling this week, I managed to equal my PB today, getting all four words after seven goes.

Barring a miracle this is the best you can hope for with the three-starter-word method, which today worked a treat – giving me plenty of correct letters and not many alternatives to the correct guesses.

The only answer I hesitated over was MUSHY, which I didn’t feel was a Quordle-esque word.

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

Daily Sequence today (game #1159) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1157, are…

• BRINY
• INGOT
• GAILY
• PURSE

Quordle answers: The past 20

• Quordle #1158, Thursday 27 March: CRONE, APNEA, LIGHT, AWOKE
• Quordle #1157, Wednesday 26 March: LEFTY, NOOSE, NOISE, TRIAD
• Quordle #1156, Tuesday 25 March: SNEER, WATCH, FLORA, STAIN
• Quordle #1155, Monday 24 March: FLOUT, SMASH, RAZOR, SMALL
• Quordle #1154, Sunday 23 March: ALLEY, GAMUT, GEESE, RADII
• Quordle #1153, Saturday 22 March: PICKY, BRACE, BOOZE, SURLY
• Quordle #1152, Friday 21 March: DITTY, VALOR, TOWER, AMISS
• Quordle #1151, Thursday 20 March: RIPER, STILL, WAFER, NOTCH
• Quordle #1150, Wednesday 19 March: FLAME, CARAT, SPAWN, TUNIC
• Quordle #1149, Tuesday 18 March: NAVEL, TREAT, COPSE, SLINK
• Quordle #1148, Monday 17 March: INFER, FLINT, CHUMP, SHEER
• Quordle #1147, Sunday 16 March: INPUT, RUMBA, ELUDE, BLANK
• Quordle #1146, Saturday 15 March: SPEED, CLASH, RISKY, GRATE
• Quordle #1145, Friday 14 March: BELIE, SPEAR, GROWL, ADOBE
• Quordle #1144, Thursday 13 March: AMISS, METAL, TEARY, SHORT
• Quordle #1143, Wednesday 12 March: AWASH, PUSHY, RALPH, PROOF
• Quordle #1142, Tuesday 11 March: LINGO, JUICE, SHARP, REVEL
• Quordle #1141, Monday 10 March: AVAIL, THESE, TITAN, GAUGE
• Quordle #1140, Sunday 9 March: SKILL, IDEAL, WHERE, REHAB
• Quordle #1139, Saturday 8 March: WATCH, LAPSE, WREST, HEFTY

Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Strands puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Thursday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Thursday, March 27 (game #389).

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 #390) - hint #1 - today's theme What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Wise ones

NYT Strands today (game #390) - hint #2 - clue words

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

• RINGED
• SIDE
• GUISE
• DIRE
• PRIDE
• SHED

NYT Strands today (game #390) - hint #3 - spangram letters How many letters are in today's spangram?

• Spangram has 13 letters

NYT Strands today (game #390) - hint #4 - spangram position What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First side: bottom, 3rd column

Last side: top, 5th column

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

NYT Strands today (game #390) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #390, are…

• THINKER
• VISIONARY
• SAGE
• ELDER
• PHILOSOPHER
• SPANGRAM: GUIDING LIGHT

• My rating: Easy
• My score: Perfect

A nice bunch of words today that were easy to spot and didn’t present me with any spelling difficulties – although I probably would have put a double L in PHILOSOPHER if left to my own devices.

Becoming wise with age is all very well, but growing older does not necessarily mean that you are bestowed with wisdom, dispensing SAGE thoughts about humanity and the future dilemmas of civilization.

Usually, in my experience, it just means you have some interesting advice on how to get from one place to another and save money using some coupons. "Never pay full price," an elderly taxi driver told me the other day. “It’s always cheaper somewhere.” Wise words.

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

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Thursday, 27 March, game #389)

• DODGER
• PIRATE
• BRAVE
• MARLIN
• GIANT
• BREWER
• SPANGRAM: NATIONAL LEAGUE

What is NYT Strands?

Strands is the NYT's not-so-new-any-more word game, following Wordle and Connections. It's now a fully fledged member of the NYT's games stable that has been running for a year and which can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

I've got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you're struggling to beat it each day.

• ESET discovers multiple new variants of SparrowDoor, a piece of malware used by FamousSparrow
• The investigation uncovered group's activity between 2022-2024
• It was targeting government agencies, researchers, and financial institutions

FamousSparrow, a Chinese state-sponsored threat actor thought to be retired, is not only active, but has been targeting government, financial organizations, and research institutes, for years now, experts have revealed.

Cybersecurity researchers at ESET recently stumbled upon a new variant of FamousSparrow’s malware, leading them down a rabbit hole exposing the group's activities across the globe.

ESET said that it was brought in by an unnamed trade group in the United States, operating in the financial sector, to assist with a malware infection. The investigators found two previously undocumented versions of SparrowDoor, FamousSparrow’s flagship backdoor.

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SparrowDoor

ESET said that the group hasn’t been heard of since 2022, which made the cybersecurity community think it was inactive.

However, during that period, FamousSparrow targeted a government institution in Honduras, and a research institute in Mexico.

In fact, the latter was breached “just a couple of days prior to the compromise in the US” (both had happened in July 2024).

“Both of these versions of SparrowDoor constitute marked progress over earlier iterations, especially in terms of code quality and architecture, and one implements parallelization of commands,” ESET said.

“While these new versions exhibit significant upgrades, they can still be traced back directly to earlier, publicly documented versions. The loaders used in these attacks also present substantial code overlaps with samples previously attributed to FamousSparrow,” says ESET researcher Alexandre Côté Cyr, who made the discovery.

The investigators said they couldn’t determine the initial infection vector, but added that the company used outdated versions of Windows Server and Microsoft Exchange, both of which have multiple, publicly available exploits.

Whichever vulnerability they used, FamousSparrow deployed a webshell on an IIS server, gaining access and the ability to deploy additional payloads.

Besides SparrowDoor, the group used ShadowPad, and other tools capable of running commands, keylogging, exfiltrating files, taking screenshots, and more.

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• The Backbone One: Xbox Edition has been revealed
• It's a special variant Backbone One 2nd Gen mobile controller with an Xbox-inspired design
• It costs $109.99 and will be available via the Backbone website and Best Buy Drops

Gaming peripheral maker Backbone has announced a new special edition variant of its Backbone One 2nd Gen mobile controller.

The Backbone One: Xbox Edition is, as the name would suggest, part of the brand's partnership with Xbox. It's set apart by its striking translucent green shell, which gives you a glimpse at the inner black PCB boards which seems particularly reminiscent of the nostalgic Crystal Green version of the original Xbox.

(Image credit: Backbone)

The controller's screenshot button has also been replaced with a new Xbox button, adorned with the brand's logo. It's a pretty striking design overall, though honestly, I would have preferred something with a few more changes. Adding the iconic blue, yellow, red, and green button colors from the Xbox Wireless Controller would have definitely improved the look and really helped sell that Xbox element.

The Backbone One is nevertheless an excellent fit for not only native mobile gaming in titles like Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile or Zenless Zone Zero, but also Xbox Cloud Gaming as part of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. I've been holding out for the long-rumored Xbox handheld console, but this could very fill that niche for me, especially given its relatively modest $109.99 asking price.

The controller may be a little bit tricky to get your hands on though, as it will only be available via the Backbone website and Best Buy Drops (part of the Best Buy mobile app).

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• Windows 11’s optional update for March has just arrived
• This preview update packs a fix for a printer bug that caused devices to churn out random characters
• The cure will be tested in this optional release, and will then become part of the full patch for Windows 11 23H2 released in early April

Remember that really strange printer bug with Windows 11 23H2 – the one that made it seem like your printer was possessed? There’s some good news for those affected in that Microsoft’s latest update has cured this problem.

The glitch was introduced in a preview update released at the end of January 2025, which caused the printer to mysteriously produce pages filled with random characters. It only affected printers that were hooked up by USB, mind, and mainly happened when turning on the device – although that doubtless spooked quite a few people.

However, Microsoft has just released the March preview update for Windows 11 – packing quite a few goodies, as it happens – and that also contains the fix for this weird printer bug.

Neowin reports that in a Windows 11 health dashboard update relating to the bug, Microsoft informs us: “This issue was resolved by Windows updates released March 25, 2025 (KB5053657), and later. We recommend you install the latest update for your device as it contains important improvements and issue resolutions, including this one.”

(Image credit: Shutterstock) Analysis: Not catastrophic, and kind of amusing – but still wasteful

Granted, this is far from the worst Windows 11 bug we’ve seen, and 24H2 users have been suffering all sorts of really odd bugs being slung at them in particular (gamers have been mercilessly under fire, too). There have also been gremlins crawling around in the depths of Windows 11, which have caused printers to stop working (at least partially) in the past.

At least this glitch didn’t do anything as bad as that, and it even had kind of a humorous side to it, in terms of the ‘possessed printer’ aspect. That said, wasting paper and ink isn’t going to be funny if the bug keeps on happening, as it apparently did – with no way of stopping it. That’s a very eco-unfriendly prospect, even on a small scale like this.

At any rate, it’s good to see that Microsoft has fixed this spanner in the works in a relatively timely manner. However, there is a note of caution to sound here, which is that the resolution of this printer problem is only in a preview update right now. Those updates, which arrive late in the month to test the ground ahead of the full patch release the following month, are optional for a reason.

Preview updates are still in what’s effectively the final stage of testing, so things can still go wrong with them. That means this fix may not work quite as expected or could cause unintended side effects elsewhere in Windows 11 (that’s certainly happened before).

In this case, if the printer bug is something you’re finding irksome, you’ll probably want to grab the March preview update and take your chances. The good news is that even if you prefer to wait, you won’t have to be patient for long, as the fix will be contained within the April cumulative update for Windows 11 23H2 (arriving on April 7, so it’s only a week and a half away now).

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• Best Buy Canada has claimed that Switch 2 pre-orders will open on April 2
• The retailer has posted a blog about the Switch 2 Direct and pre-ordering the new console
• Nintendo has yet to confirm this officially

Best Buy Canada has seemingly confirmed the Nintendo Switch 2 pre-order date in a blog post.

Focused on watching next week's Switch 2 Direct, the retailer also seemed to lock in the date that pre-orders will go live - the same date as the Direct.

The retailer writes (several times) that "pre-orders for the Nintendo Switch 2 will officially open on April 2nd at Best Buy Canada, giving you the chance to secure your Nintendo Switch 2 early".

We predicted that Switch 2 pre-orders could go live at the end of the presentation, or that the live stream would end with a bang and announce it, and this looks to be the confirmation we were waiting for.

It's worth noting that we don't have official confirmation of this from Nintendo itself yet, so this should be taken with a little pinch of salt still.

However, Best Buy really is one of the big boy retailers and we'd really hope that it'd have its information correct and in order - after all, it will be wanting to capitalize on the huge amount of interest that the Nintendo Switch 2 console will have.

There's no mention of a release date for the Switch 2 in the blog post though, so we're still in the dark as to when the new console will be in the hands of fans.

However, with the Switch 2 Direct less than a week away now we hopefully won't have to wait long for confirmation from the official source on both Switch 2 pre-orders and a release date.

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• Netflix is getting a Scooby-Doo live action series
• The first season will have eight episodes
• The storyline will follow "the haunting case that started it all."

Scooby-Doo is getting its first live-action series on Netflix, and across eight episodes, we'll see "a modern reimagining" of the characters we know and love as we explore a case that started Mystery Inc. Last April, we reported that the Scooby-Doo live-action series was in early development, and now we know more about it.

“Mystery Inc. is back in business! We’re excited to bring Scooby-Doo to TV as a live-action series for the first time,” said Peter Friedlander, vice president of scripted series at Netflix. “The beloved franchise has had an impact on pop culture that is undeniable — it’s rich with universal themes of friendship that generations of fans have long embraced. Together with creative powerhouses Berlanti Productions and Midnight Radio, we’re committed to delighting longtime fans and opening up a world of groovy adventures for a new era of meddling kids.”

It's always nerve-wracking when a big franchise is reimagined or adapted, and I'm not quite sure what to make of this news. It does have the potential to be good, but considering it's different from the source material, that might risk its chances of getting a spot on our best Netflix shows round-up.

A Scooby-Doo live-action series is coming to Netflix!In this modern reimagining, old friends Shaggy and Daphne team up at summer camp with scientific townie Velma and the strange but handsome Fred to solve the mystery of a lonely lost Great Dane puppy — who may have witnessed a… pic.twitter.com/Qiy7E7c7pMMarch 26, 2025

What is the plot of the live action Scooby-Doo series?

According to Tudum, the series is set during the gang's final summer at Camp Ruby-Spears, where old friends Shaggy and Daphne get embroiled in a haunting mystery surrounding a lonely lost Great Dane puppy that may have been a witness to a supernatural murder.

Teaming up with the "pragmatic and scientific" Velma and the "strange, but ever-so-handsome new kid," Freddy (not Fred, interestingly), they set out to solve the case that is pulling each of them into a creepy nightmare that threatens to expose all of their secrets. Right now, we don't have casting announcements for the five main roles.

That synopsis already contains some differences from the source material, but reinventing a story isn't a new concept, of course. The new Until Dawn movie has chosen not to adapt the video game directly, something I am cautiously optimistic about.

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• The NYU website was recently defaced to show data alleging racism in the university
• The files exposed sensitive information on millions of students
• The university's IT team mitigated the attack within three hours

A hacking group calling itself “Computer Niggy Exploitation” has struck the website of New York University (NYU) in an attempt to expose the university’s alleged racism - but has also exposed sensitive information on millions of NYU applicants.

The NYU website was defaced, and instead of the usual homepage, displayed three charts showing what the group claims to be NYU’s average admitted SAT scores, ACT scores, and GPAs for the 2024-2025 cycle.

The group reminded that the Supreme Court killed “affirmative action” back in 2023, but the NYU “continued anyway”, and that the data shows that the average admitted test scores and GPAs for Asian and Caucasian applicants were higher, compared to Hispanic and Black applicants.

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Sensitive data leaks

Affirmative action is a policy designed to promote opportunities for historically marginalized groups, particularly in education and employment, by considering factors like race or gender in admissions and hiring decisions.

In the US, the Supreme Court effectively ended race-based affirmative action in college admissions on June 29, 2023, with its ruling in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard and Students for Fair Admissions v. University of North Carolina.

But here is where it gets even worse. The four CSV files that were accessible on the website revealed NYU admissions data since 1989, including 3 million admitted students’ applications, demographic data, city, zip codes, and citizenships. Furthermore, the CSVs also showed Common Application data with information such as rejected students, financial aid, Early Decision students, and information on siblings and parents.

The Record says that the group tried to redact the files so that the students couldn’t be identified, but failed. Full names, addresses, phone numbers, grade point averages, email addresses, were all exposed.

The defacement lasted for approximately two hours, after which the university’s IT team managed to regain control.

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In a landmark move set to redefine airline booking, Qatar Airways has launched a pioneering AI-powered conversational booking experience. Travelers can now effortlessly secure flights by engaging in natural dialogue with Sama, the airline’s AI travel companion.

Sama, already a familiar figure in Qatar Airways’ immersive virtual reality platform, QVerse, is now breaking new ground with a first-of-its-kind conversational flight booking system. Seamlessly replacing traditional online forms, Sama transforms booking flights into an intuitive, engaging, and personalized interaction.

Unlike traditional automated systems, Sama is designed to replicate the ease and clarity of a human conversation. Travelers can start their booking journey from any point—be it destination, date, or passenger details. Sama intelligently tailors recommendations based on user preferences, suggesting popular destinations, optimal travel dates, or even crafting personalized travel itineraries.

For travelers, booking with Sama is akin to having a personal travel agent available at their fingertips. She guides users through every step, intuitively refining flight options in real-time, enhancing convenience, and significantly simplifying the entire booking experience.

This innovation represents Qatar Airways' commitment to pushing boundaries in customer service by seamlessly blending cutting-edge technology with a personal human touch, fundamentally transforming how customers interact with and perceive the brand.

Beyond Booking: Sama, the Digital Brand Ambassador

Already known through Qatar Airways' immersive QVerse experience, Sama is expanding her role to inspire travelers as a digital brand ambassador on social media. Through her Instagram presence, @SamaOnTheMove, she connects with travelers by sharing genuine insights, travel tips, and hidden gems about Qatar Airways.

Sama's digital journey is crafted to resonate deeply with travelers, blending AI innovation with real-world inspiration. She shares travel insights, insider tips, and hidden treasures, engaging travelers in a meaningful and authentic way.

This dual role as both AI travel agent and brand ambassador places Sama at the intersection of technology and genuine human connection, enhancing Qatar Airways' digital brand presence and redefining the future of travel engagement.

• Apple has added a Severance-themed Mac to the Apple Store
• You sadly can't actually buy the Lumon Terminal Pro
• But one company is offering some Severance-themed keycaps

If you're missing the Macrodata Refinement division after the recent Severance Season 2 finale, Apple has added a new Lumon Terminal Pro computer to its Mac Store to help you deal with your withdrawal symptoms.

Sadly, you can't actually buy it, but a longtime keyboard maker filled the gap by releasing some Severance-themed keycaps.

The 'Lumon Terminal Pro' is an unusual move by Apple, given that the promo actually appears in the Mac section of the Apple Store rather than on a separate page. It's listed alongside the new MacBook Air M4 in the store's top bar as a 'New' computer, but you can't pre-order one.

Instead, a link below takes you to a behind-the-scenes video (warning: it includes spoilers), alongside a link to an offer showing that you'll get three months of Apple TV+ for free with any new Mac purchase.

(Image credit: Signature Plastics)

That's all very nice, particularly as Apple TV+ does have some other great shows like The Studio, but what if you really want one of the show's computers that are based on 1970s computer terminals? Well, you can get somewhere close by pre-ordering some Severance-themed keycaps from Signature Plastics, who've been making mechanical keyboard accessories for decades.

The SA Macrodata Refinement (R2) keycaps ($197 / £155 / AU$317) follow the design and color scheme that Signature Plastics used for older terminal keyboards like the Data General 'Dasher,' which inspired the Severance prop designers. The keycaps will ship in "the middle of June," and you can also buy a Deskmat, which will ship earlier.

The original 'Dasher' computer than inspired the show

(Image credit: Piergiovanna Grossi )

Severance's prop designers actually rebuilt old computers, modeled on computer terminals made by Data General in the 1970s (like the D2 model above), with working trackballs so the likes of Mark Scout could do their work in the Macrodata Refinement office.

Signature Plastics, the maker of the keycaps you can pre-order now, has been making mechanical keyboard caps – alongside ones for aircraft control keyboards and telephone buttons – for over forty years.

Its Macrodata Refinement caps echo the Data General Dasher look with their sculpted tops and high-profile design. Unlike the keyboards in Severance, these replica ones do come with an escape key – which was omitted in the show to amp up the 'innies' lack of control.

Unfortunately, you'll need to buy a keyboard for the keycaps separately, but it's certainly a good start in building your retro-futuristic shrine to Severance – which should help you survive the agonizing wait for season three.

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• The Pro-Ject A1.2 is an update on the likeable A1, with some notable upgrades
• Top of the updates? A new die-cast aluminum platter
• It's landing in April, ahead of Record Store Day 2025, for £469 (around $600 / AU$960)

Pro-Ject knows Record Store Day 2025 is incoming on April 12, doesn't it? If you're busily clearing your schedule so you can get down to your local bricks-and-mortar independent record store, to buy some (or all – why not?) of this year's list of collectible and limited-edition records from some of the biggest names in music, you might want to take a moment to check your deck.

Could you – should you – treat yourself, or the fledgling vinyl collector in your life, to a new and fully automatic turntable, from one of the most trusted names in the game? You don't want an older or slightly beaten-up turntable damaging your delicate new limited-edition LPs, do you?

Well, one possible answer is right here, in the Pro-Ject A1.2.

Pro-Ject tells me the A1.2 retains the core design principles of the original A1 (not to be confused with the Pro-Ject E1 or Pro-Ject Juke Box E1, although those are both excellent budget-friendly options), but adds a series of carefully considered upgrades.

It'll hit shelves in April in white or black finishes. Right now, I know the UK pricing only, which is very respectable £469, which would make it around $600 or AU$960.

Pro-Ject A1.2 turntable: key upgrades and features

A new die-cast aluminium platter is at the beating heart of Pro-Ject's improvements for the A1.2, replacing the A1’s stamped version.

Next up, a new CNC machining process has been implemented in a bid to "ensure precise, consistent production and reduce resonance". The A1.2’s 8.3-inch "ultra-light" aluminium tonearm also now features a redesigned headshell made from carbon fiber-reinforced polymer – because keeping weight to a bare minimum is a key factor in automatic turntable design.

The tonearm comes loaded with a pre-adjusted Pro-Ject Pick it MM E cartridge and, thanks to a fully mechanical operation, there shouldn't be any motor resonance or electrical components affecting that tonearm – once a record is playing, Pro-Ject explains that the mechanics "disengage entirely", helping to preserve playback quality.

Elsewhere, you're getting Pro-Ject's resonance-damped wooden chassis, silicone-damped feet, and Connect it E phono cables. And since the tracking force and anti-skating are all factory-adjusted from the box, setup should be as simple as unpacking it, placing it on a level surface, installing the dust cover (if you want to; I never do since I've found it can add to resonance issues, and I dust my apartment as standard) and plugging the power supply – first into the power socket on the turntable, then into your mains power.

You can then set the A1.2’s integrated phono preamp on or off, by lifting the mat and adjusting the switch.

And to play a record? Place your vinyl lovingly on the turntable, set the speed to 33 or 45 RPM, remove the stylus protection cover, move the lift lever to the ‘needle on the record’ icon, and press START/STOP. Your platter will begin spinning; your tonearm will move to the correct position and gently lower itself onto your precious record. And once the record finishes, that tonearm will automatically find its way home again – which means you won't have to leave the couch in your own home.

Might it just be one the best turntables for a new collector? Too early to tell, but I'd be very keen to give it a spin.

One of the best pre-Record Store Day 2025 releases then? Well, we love Pro-Ject's Flatten It vinyl flattener too, but really it's Pro-Ject out there bossing it all alone right now…

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• Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet reportedly won't release until after 2026
• Since Naughty Dog's next game is a few years away, a PS6 or cross-gen release is a possibility
• Game director Neil Druckmann confirms that the game is now being played at the studio

Naughty Dog's next game, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, reportedly won't launch until after 2026.

That's according to Bloomberg reporter Jason Schreier, who recently posted on ResetEra and said that neither Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet nor The Witcher 4 will be released next year (via IGN).

Yesterday, it was reported that The Witcher 4 won't be released before 2027, according to new details from CD Projekt's latest earnings presentation.

"We are not going to announce the precise launch date for the game yet," said CD Projekt CFO Piotr Nielubowicz. "All we could share now to give more visibility to investors is that the game will not be launched within the time frame of the first target for the incentive program, which ends December 31, 2026."

This begs the question: Will Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet and The Witcher 4 both be PlayStation 6 launch titles?

A cross-generation release is also a possibility, especially when you consider the fact that Sony just launched the PS5 Pro, but either way, be prepared for an agonizing wait.

It does seem that Naughty Dog is making some headway with its next major title, as Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet game director Neil Druckmann has since told IGN that the game is now being played by the development team.

"I will say we are playing it at the office and it's incredible,” Druckmann said. "It's really good. I'm so excited to finally put gameplay out into the world and show people about it, because we just showed you the very, very, very tip on the iceberg. The game goes pretty deep beyond that."

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• Kindle update 5.18.1 is rolling out
• It adds a new Double Tap to Page Turn feature to replace screen taps
• Your Kindle can now also show you a recap some of the books you've read

The latest and best Kindles have a lot to offer, from the Kindle Colorsoft’s color pages to the Kindle Scribe’s larger pad for writing and AI functions, but one downgrade for many has been the removal of buttons for turning pages.

Instead you have to tap the screen to turn, which can smudge the display. Now, as spotted by Good e-Reader, the latest Amazon Kindle update (5.18.1 which is rolling out now) is bringing a Double Tap to Page Turn tool.

As you can probably guess by the name, once the feature is switched on in your Settings, instead of tapping on the screen you can double-tap the frame of the Kindle to either turn the page in your book or to scroll down the page (such as in your Home or Library screens).

It’s not clear exactly how Amazon has unlocked this new page-turn ability, but the Kindle is likely relying on its accelerometer and other internal sensors to detect taps.

The only downside of this simple yet effective solution is that tapping doesn’t yet offer the same level of control as dedicated buttons, with the biggest issue being that you can only go forwards.

If you accidentally flip a page too soon or scroll down too far you’ll need to rely on screen taps to go back.

Recap reminders

(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)

In addition to page turning, Kindle devices are getting a new Recaps tool.

Have you ever come to read the next book in a series but can't remember what happened in the last entry? Recaps allows you to access a short summary of the events of a Kindle book you’ve purchased or borrowed (provided it’s one of the many English-language bestsellers supported by the feature).

It sounds like the perfect way to quickly refresh yourself on what happened before you dive into the latest entry.

If you don’t want to wait for update 5.18.1 to reach your Kindle automatically, you can head to Amazon’s official Software update page to manually sideload the update to the device from your PC.

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• Lies of P: Overture won't expand upon the base game's shocker of a post-credits scene
• Presumably, this will be saved for the game's eventual sequel
• Director Jiwon Choi claims the DLC will take 15-20 hours to beat

It looks like Lies of P's upcoming Overture DLC won't be elaborating on the base game's stunner of a post-credits scene.

The game's director, Jiwon Choi, confirmed as much in a conversation with IGN at GDC 2025. Choi explained to the outlet that the much-theorized post-credits scene has nothing to do with Overture, adding: “Please stay tuned for additional announcements in the future.”

What's more likely, then, is that Neowiz will have that post-credits scene as the basis of Lies of P's sequel, which has also been announced by the developer.

While Choi didn't give anything away in regards to said sequel in his talk with IGN, he did add that: “What I can certainly tell you is when we share such news or media and assets with you, you'll know for sure that we are ready to present it to you."

SPOILERS FOR LIES OF P'S POST-CREDITS SCENE ARE DETAILED BELOW, READ ON AT YOUR OWN RISK.

The post-credits scene for Lies of P pretty unequivocally spells out that the next project from the developer will be themed around The Wizard of Oz. Or, more likely, the source material novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz written by L. Frank Baum. In the scene, we get a brief shot of Dorothy - the work's protagonist - clicking her iconic red slippers together.

The scene quite clearly gives away that the overarching Lies of P universe will explore public domain fairy tales, as the first game does for The Adventures of Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi.

Personally, I much prefer the fact that the Overture DLC will continue to be based around the story of Pinocchio, with the Wizard of Oz setting presumably being saved for the sequel.

This obviously would give Neowiz a larger framework with which to explore Baum's work and provide its own (probably very bleak) spin on the tale.

In terms of Overture, though, Choi mentions the DLC will take "experienced players" around 15-20 hours to beat, and that they should play through the base game again to pick up clues on what they can expect in the upcoming expansion.

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• A new Mario Kart launch game for the Switch 2 "is very unlike Nintendo," according to former marketers
• Krysta Yang and Kit Ellis say that it's "unconventional" compared to its "genre-bending" launch of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild with the original Switch
• They speculate how Nintendo will get people to buy the new Mario Kart and a new console, considering the success of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

Nintendo releasing a new Mario Kart game alongside the Switch 2 is "very unlike" the company considering the significant, "genre-bending" launch of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild with the original Switch, according to two former marketing leads.

In the latest episode of the Kit & Krysta podcast, the pair discussed the upcoming release of the console and its apparent launch game, which was first teased during the Switch 2 announcement, and determined that it's an "unconventional" decision for Nintendo (via GamesRadar).

"This is very unlike Nintendo," said Krysta Yang, "Usually when they have a launch title like Breath of the Wild, for example, it's like this new game-breaking, genre-bending thing that's never been seen before, and that's what's gonna make you want to buy the new hardware.

"But we're in kind of a different situation with the new Mario Kart because of how successful Mario Kart 8 Deluxe has been, honestly because of how successful Mario Kart 8 Deluxe has been for Nintendo."

Kit Ellis adds that the success of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is "underrated" and notes that the game has now sold 67.35 million copies, not counting the 8.5 million copies that were sold on the WiiU before Deluxe was released in 2017.

This amounts to over 75 million copies, outselling the other two best-selling Switch games, Animal Crossing: New Horizons, by 20 million copies and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate by more than 30 million.

Despite these numbers, Yang asks, "How is Nintendo going to convince me to get the new Mario Kart?" and also spend $400 on a new console when there's already a massively successful game out there.

This will be the first Mario Kart game to launch in 10 years, and Ellis speculates how the game could possibly outsell its predecessor when it's, presumably, only playable on the new Switch 2.

We'll likely find out more about the next Mario Kart game on April 2 with the long-awaited Nintendo Switch 2 Direct Showcase. The broadcast will hopefully also provide a release date for the console, as well as preorder and pricing details.

In the meantime, there's going to be a 'regular' Nintendo Direct today at 7am PT / 10asm ET / 2pm GMT that we're covering live.

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Though we’re still due at least one more mid-year update to iPadOS 19, we’re already hearing some juicy rumors about the next major update to Apple’s tablet operating system.

iPadOS 19 will probably be revealed at WWDC in June 2025, following the trend of previous years. Similarly, we expect that Apple’s next major iPadOS upgrade will make it to general release in September 2025, around the time we expect the iPhone 17 series to launch.

Apple doesn’t release iPads yearly in the way it does iPhones, so we’re not sure if any new iPads will be launched alongside the new software. We’d expect all current-gen iPads to support iPadOS 19 on release.

Keep reading for a roundup of the 4 biggest iPadOS 19 rumors we’ve heard so far, as well as 2 further things I’d like to see come to the iPad platform.

• iPadOS 19 is still fairly far away, but we've already heard some key rumors
• New homescreen features could be on the way, as well as a new low-power mode
• New features shared with iOS 19 are rumored to include an Apple Intelligence-powered Siri and visionOS-inspired redesign

Pinned files on the homescreen

(Image credit: Future)

Apple fans have been calling out en masse for more desktop-style iPad features for a few years now – and honestly, I get it. The iPad Pro and iPad Air especially are as powerful on paper as certain MacBooks, powered by M-series chipsets with as much as 16GB of RAM.

We don’t expect that iPadOS 19 will push Apple’s tablets drastically closer to the desktop experience, but a notable tipster suggests that at least one new desktop-style feature is on the way.

According to longtime tipster Majin Bu, iPadOS 19 will bring the ability to pin files and folders to the homescreen, which we imagine means they’ll appear similarly to app icons.

This could add flexibility to the iPad experience, allowing users to set up pages of their homescreen with each focused on different projects or folders. Users have long been able to add websites and widgets to the iPad homescreen, so adding files feels like a natural extension.

A new low-power mode

(Image credit: David Svihovec / Unsplash)

A further rumor from tipster Majin Bu notes that iPadOS 19 could bring an overhauled low-power mode to Apple’s tablet lineup.

The rumor suggests that iPadOS 19 will fold the low-power mode into Apple Intelligence, using AI to optimize performance and conserve battery life.

Currently, the iPad’s low-power mode prioritizes essential tasks, dims the screen, and locks the display to a 60hz refresh rate on models with ProMotion displays (which only includes iPad Pro models at the time of writing).

Though I’m a noted AI skeptic, this sounds like a great way to use it. Some of my concerns about AI are to do with power efficiency, so if Apple is looking to use it to conserve energy I'm happy to watch with curiosity rather than doubt.

Apple Intelligence, meet Siri

Expanded Siri capabilities were first hinted at in 2024 (Image credit: Future)

Siri is due to get its long-awaited Apple Intelligence update with the next major iPadOS update, in line with contemporaneous updates to iOS and macOS.

Apple had initially sought to imbue Siri with the full power of Apple Intelligence via a mid-year iPadOS 18 update, but this has unfortunately failed to materialize.

As well as marking another chapter in the messy rollout of Apple Intelligence, this has led various commentators to adjust their expectations and set sights on iPadOS 19 as Siri’s saviour.

As we recently covered, Siri is well overdue an update, as it still struggles to answer certain basic questions.

A possible redesign

(Image credit: Apple)

As we previously reported, Bloomberg’s resident Apple expert Mark Gurman has suggested that iOS 19, iPadOS 19, and macOS 16 will all come with a major visionOS inspired redesign – think transparent windows, circular icons, and less visual clutter.

Though we’ve not seen many rumors focused on the possible iPadOS overhaul, we have seen images that supposedly show the redesigned iOS camera app.

Though most of the latest Apple software redesign rumors have concerned iOS, it tracks that iPadOS would receive a similar visual refresh, as the two typically mirror each other when it comes to aesthetics.

iPadOS has technically never had a major redesign, as the operating system only diverged from iOS in 2019. The last major iOS redesign came in 2012, with the introduction of iOS 7.

What I want to see from iPadOS 19

(Image credit: Future)

I’ve been an iPad user since long before I joined the TechRadar team, and my trusty 2020 iPad Pro is still ticking along – but like many others I think there are a few key things Apple could do to elevate the experience with iPadOS 19.

The first is proper floating window support. I don’t care if it’s packaged as part of Stage Manager, I just want to be able to resize windows at will and place them where I want. I’ve given up on wanting the iPad to behave exactly like a Mac, but I don’t think this will cross any borders.

As mentioned, the iPad Pro and iPad Air now both sport desktop-class chipsets that are more than capable of running and resizing multiple windows – especially for first-party apps.

The second feature I’d like to see added is a software split keyboard. It honestly confuses me that my 11-inch iPad Pro doesn’t support this feature – the tablet is thin and portable, but just too big to type on comfortably when held vertically.

So there you have it – my two-part wishlist. Let us know what you want to see from iPadOS 19 in the comments, and for a refresher on Apple's current tablet lineup check out our list of the best iPads.

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AI has reached an inflection point. Once a futuristic ambition, it is now embedded into our daily lives, powering everything from predictive text to smart applications, through to fraud detection. Businesses, too, are rushing to embrace AI tools, with adoption soaring to 72% in 2024, and the global market set to hit $1,771 billion by 2032. Yet, despite the surge, the role AI plays within most organizations remains confusingly small.

For all the ambition, most businesses aren’t using AI to its full potential. Many deployments focus on essential applications such as chatbots, digital assistants, and isolated automation tools. While these tools are valuable, they often fall short of providing the game-changing transformation that AI is truly capable of, such as redefining operations, enhancing decision-making, and driving innovation.

But between fluctuating business confidence and rising costs prompting companies to increase prices, many are treading cautiously. Some hesitate to invest in large-scale AI projects amid financial uncertainty, while others struggle to identify the right starting point for meaningful adoption.

The drive to AI-dopt

With industry pressure to adopt and ‘have AI’, businesses risk rushing to implementation without a clear strategy. It’s easy to be swept up in the momentum, to see competitors rolling out AI-driven features and assume you must do the same. But how often is AI being introduced with a clear, long-term purpose?

On an industry-specific level, it should be about embedding AI deeply into business functions to unlock real value and drive sustainable growth. Take supply chain management, for example. AI could be the ultimate strategic tool; dynamically optimizing logistics, predicting disruptions, and identifying and automatically resolving bottlenecks before they escalate.

While retailers, if they aren’t already, could use AI-driven supply chain solutions to anticipate product shortages before they occur, adjusting production schedules accordingly. In logistics, AI-powered route optimization can help transportation companies minimize fuel costs and reduce delivery delays. Meanwhile, manufacturers can apply AI to monitor equipment performance, predicting failures before they disrupt production.

Yet, despite these possibilities, adoption remains fragmented. The UK Government’s AI Opportunities Action Plan reinforces AI’s role in national competitiveness, pushing for wider adoption. But rather than focusing on whether businesses should invest in AI, the real question is, how they should invest to make it truly transformative.

A shift in mindset

To shift beyond basic AI adoption to full-scale transformation, businesses need to move away from the idea that it is simply another tool to be layered onto existing processes. Instead, AI should be treated as a strategic driver to rethink how work gets done entirely.

That means building AI into strategic planning from the outset and avoiding retrofitting it to existing processes. This requires upskilling employees to collaborate with AI in a wider business culture where AI is a real co-pilot in decision-making. And, most importantly, it demands a long-term commitment where AI initiatives that create lasting business impact are prioritized over chasing quick wins.

One of the biggest misconceptions about AI is that its benefits should be immediate. Businesses looking for instant return on investment (ROI) often implement AI at a topline level, like AI chatbots or fraud detection, but miss out on embedding it into processes where its true value compounds over time.

AI’s biggest gains come from long-term strategic integration, so it’s crucial to pinpoint the areas where the technology can really propel growth and create meaningful change. For instance, businesses should examine how it can be harnessed to elevate customer experiences, streamline operational processes, or spark innovative developments in products and services.

The challenge is that these applications require ongoing refinement and investment, but the businesses that commit to AI as a core part of their strategy will see lasting advantages.

The data double-down

Alongside these opportunities, there's an essential need to acknowledge data privacy. Implementing clear policies on data collection, storage, and usage, is ‘a must’ to ensure transparency in how AI systems make decisions. Especially as societies become more aware of how their data is used and businesses that fail to demonstrate accountability risk facing a loss of customer confidence and maybe even legal repercussions. Safeguarding customer data needs to make up a key part of the foundation for building and maintaining trust. Not just a compliance tick-box.

By balancing the potential for growth with a strong commitment to data protection, businesses can confidently integrate AI into their strategies and know that they're not just following a trend. Quick wins won’t deliver lasting results, this technology’s power lies in how it transforms operations and decision-making over time. This thoughtful approach to AI ensures that it serves as a valuable tool, providing a competitive edge and fostering lasting growth.

We list the best online collaboration 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

• Waze on iOS is ditching Google Assistant soon
• Gemini and Conversational Reporting is taking over
• Google Assistant stays in Waze for Android for now

Gemini is replacing Google Assistant across multiple apps and multiple devices at the moment, and if you use Waze on your iPhone you'll soon notice the mapping app swapping the older AI bot for the newer one.

As spotted by Tech-Issues Today (via MacRumors), the announcement was made on the official Waze community forums. The announcement acknowledges that Google Assistant on Waze for iOS has been buggy for some time, which is one reason for the switch.

"Rather than simply patching a feature that has faced ongoing difficulties, we've decided to phase out Google Assistant on iOS starting tomorrow and replace it with an enhanced voice interaction solution in the near future," reads the forum post.

While Gemini isn't mentioned specifically in that post, the enhanced AI app has been named as the foundation of the Conversational Reporting feature that Waze has already previewed, and which is being tested with a limited number of users at the moment.

Chatting on the go

The upgraded Conversational Reporting feature, powered by Gemini, will enable more natural conversations with Waze when you're on the go. It'll understand a broader range of phrases, and will ask follow-up questions where necessary.

So you might say "the cars are jammed up ahead" or "there's a mattress in the road", or anything else casual or informal – and Waze understands what you mean and makes sure the correct report is logged in the app for other users.

Given the buggy nature of Google Assistant on Waze for iOS, and the superior capabilities of Gemini, it makes a lot of sense for this switch to be made now – especially as Google seems to be speeding up in phasing out Google Assistant.

Google Assistant will remain in place on Waze for Android for the foreseeable future, though that change will no doubt happen eventually too. Waze says Conversational Reporting will roll out to everyone in the "coming months".

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