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At Mobile World Congress 2025 in Barcelona, AI is the hottest topic on people’s lips. From Samsung and Huawei to Intel and Qualcomm, every tech company has something to say about AI - and the more I listen to them, the more concerned I get.

In a private meeting room in the depths of Qualcomm’s massive event stand, I attended a roundtable discussion hosted by Durga Malladi, the SVP and General Manager of Technology Planning and Edge Solutions at Qualcomm. He had a lot to talk about - Qualcomm has been at the forefront of on-device AI hardware for a while now, teaming up with Microsoft at Computex last year to deliver a new generation of Copilot+ AI PCs.

I’ll spare you the reams of business-focused use cases Malladi and the other Qualcomm staffers had to talk about, and get straight to the good stuff: the rise of so-called ‘AI agents’.

AI in your pocket… and your laptop, and your car, and your house

For the uninitiated, ‘agentic’ AI (a term that seems to have mysteriously entered the tech industry parlance without any fanfare) refers to AI-powered natural language tools that essentially act as a sort of personal assistant - capable of carrying out a wide range of tasks that would normally require you to navigate through multiple apps or websites on your device.

'Appless' AI assistants like Rabbit and the ill-fated Humane AI pin have been floated before, with limited success. (Image credit: OpenAI / Rabbit / Humane)

One example Qualcomm gave was its Automotive AI suite (the Snapdragon Ride Elite and Snapdragon Cockpit Elite processors) - your car could soon be able to buy you concert tickets while it drives you to the venue, and then go park itself and pick you up afterward when you text your partner that you’re ready to leave the venue. All of this could stem from a straightforward verbal command.

Yes, this does mean that the AI agent has access to your banking details, and your geographical location data, and your message history, and… the list goes on. Malladi assured me that the agent’s processes are heavily encrypted and stored exclusively on local hardware, to the point where it would take an extremely driven individual to access it (much like your existing encrypted data). But it’s a fundamental operating requirement of AI agents to be able to see everything about you - and Qualcomm’s plan for making users a bit more comfortable with this idea might actually drive me in the opposite direction.

Digital doubles

Your personal AI agent, Malladi explains, is “the equivalent of your digital persona. It is you.” Now, I’m going to sidestep the fact that this is a bit frighteningly close to the plot of the Black Mirror episode ‘White Christmas’, and instead focus on the way we as real-world tech users will engage with such a feature. I’m sure I don’t speak for everyone here, but I don’t want an AI assistant who slowly starts to mimic and predict my actions with better and better accuracy. If anything, I’d be happier with an agent that offers a more distinct and unique personality.

That’s not the only issue I have with this whole process, though. Malladi explains that these agents - in your phone, in your laptop, in your car, and beyond - will be effectively able to replace the entire ecosystem of apps that modern devices have become entirely adapted to. “We’ve been living in this app-centric world for about fifteen years now,” he says. “These apps are silos by themselves”.

Is Google Maps really a tool that needs to be filtered through an AI agent? (Image credit: Future)

He’s not entirely wrong. I can see the appeal: instead of needing to open a maps app, and a restaurant review app, and a search engine, and so on, you can simply ask your AI agent to do all the work, and it’ll do it. “The agent is the first interface, and the only interface,” Malladi explains. “You’re never going to see the apps.”

Never? That feels a bit unlikely. For starters, some apps are borderline non-functional without a proper visual interface. Navigation tools like Google Maps and Waze can provide step-by-step directions that the agent feeds to you, sure, but I don’t know a single person who doesn’t also want the visual map open at the same time. My 24-hour gym requires me to bring up the app to get a QR code for access to the building - can the agent simply pluck that from the app, or do I still need to sign in normally?

The death of apps?

There are other problems with this ‘appless’ vision of the future of tech. The app ecosystem across both the Google Play Store and Apple’s App Store has grown to monstrous proportions over the past decade; Malladi likens the arrival of AI agents to the shift from using websites to using apps, saying: “You can accomplish the same thing by going to a website, but in a dedicated app, the UI - the whole process - is streamlined. This is the next step in this process.”

But I think this is a significantly larger potential shift than that - and if the past is anything to go off, those sorts of massive changes to the established norms risk becoming a turn-off for potential consumers.

And what about free software that relies on in-app ad revenue to turn a profit? Under Qualcomm’s plan for agentic AI, developers of such tools could be cut straight out of the market - after all, nobody wants an AI helper that’s just going to feed them ads from other apps, and no rational advertiser is going to pay to have a bot sit patiently and watch a 30-second ad before proceeding (although it’s a rather amusing thought).

I'm still going to have a tonne of games on my phone, too - AI agents can't replace that. (Image credit: Asus)

Still, Qualcomm is confident that AI agents will become commonplace in the future, even if such a change has to happen gradually. Malladi was keen to emphasize the advancements in both NPU hardware and LLM software that make this possible: just a few years ago, running such an advanced AI model on local hardware simply wasn’t feasible, but with more powerful processors and more efficient models, it’s now easy to install a pre-trained model on a device like a phone or tablet.

I’m reluctant to say outright that I’ll refuse to embrace AI agents if they do become widespread. As a tech journalist, it would be downright foolish of me to refuse to engage with new technologies just because I prefer things the way they are. But I definitely think that we’re a lot further away from universal adoption of agentic AI than Qualcomm would like to believe - although I have to commend the company for wanting to get ahead of the curve, because if this thing does blow up in popularity, Qualcomm will be front and center.

Oh, but promise me the voice commands thing won’t be mandatory, okay? I don’t want to shout at my phone in public.

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Everyone’s favorite music-recognition app, Shazam, just got a new update that comes with a small, but particularly helpful new feature that has improved its integration with Spotify and Apple Music. The latest version of the app (version 18.9), which arrived on March 5, comes with an improved syncing feature that automatically adds your identified songs within the Shazam app to a playlist in your Spotify or Apple Music account. So far, it seems as though it’s available to Spotify and Apple Music users only.

When you use Shazam’s Music Recognition on iPhone and iPad, it will automatically add those songs to a special playlist in your account titled ‘My Shazam Tracks’. Before Apple rolled out the 18.9 version of the app, songs identified manually through the Shazam app itself would be synced to a separate playlist in your Spotify or Apple Music account, but not songs discovered through the Control Center. The new update changes that, and will now add songs to the playlist when identified through Siri and Shortcuts, as well as the Control Center.

The new update will automatically add your Shazam-searched songs to your own 'My Shazam Tracks' playlist in Spotify and Apple Music. (Image credit: Future)

Since joining the Apple family back in 2018, Shazam has evolved into more than a simple music recognition app and has improved the experience of the best music streaming services through its integrations - and its new ability to predict music you'll listen to in the future. According to the iOS App Store description, here’s exactly how you can expect the latest update to further improve your experience:

‘We’ve made syncing songs to Apple Music and Spotify better than ever! Shazam will now include songs found via Music Recognition in Control Centre, Siri, and Shortcuts to your “My Shazam Tracks” playlist in Apple Music or Spotify.

Simply toggle “Sync your songs” off and on in Shazam settings to re-sync all your previously discovered songs from the Shazam app. You may need to reopen Spotify to see the playlist refreshed.

Don’t forget to keep your Shazam History safe and in sync between your devices. To do this, turn on iCloud sync in Shazam Settings’.

For me, Shazam is one of my go-to music app companions, when it comes to song identification and I can’t quite put my finger on what’s currently playing - or even when I like the sound of a song and want to learn more. It also works wonders for when a familiar song starts playing during a movie or TV show. It’s a small, but rather effective new feature, and this is how you can take advantage of it for yourself.

How to sync your Shazam songs to Spotify or Apple Music Go to the Shazam app and tap the settings icon

(Image: © Future)

It can be found in the 'My Music' section of the app when you swipe up on the main song search page. From there, connect your Spotify or Apple Music account to Shazam and enable the 'Sync your songs' toggle.

When you enable the toggle, Shazam should sync all of your identified songs to your Spotify or Apple Music account to create your 'My Shazam Tracks' playlist. If it doesn't sync at first, I got mine to work by turning the toggle on and off a few times.

Head to Spotify or Apple Music to see your newly synced playlist

(Image: © Future)

Once your Shazam-searched songs have synced to your new playlist, listen to your heart's content.

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• YouTube warns users of an ongoing phishing scam
• The scam includes an AI-generated video of its CEO
• Hackers are using stolen accounts to broadcast crypto scams

YouTube is warning its users of a new phishing campaign using an AI-generated video of its CEO Neal Mohan as bait.

In a post on its official community website, the company said it is “aware that phishers have been sharing private videos to send false videos, including an AI generated video of YouTube’s CEO Neal Mohan announcing changes in monetization.”

“YouTube and its employees will never attempt to contact you or share information through a private video. If a video is shared privately with you claiming to be from YouTube, the video is a phishing scam,” YouTube said in the pinned post. “Do not click these links as the videos will likely lead to phishing sites that can install malware or steal your credentials.”

Falling victim

The attack goes like this: scammers used AI to create a deepfake video of the YouTube CEO discussing changes in monetization on the platform. They then shared it as a private video with their targets. In the description of the video is a link that leads the victims to the phishing landing page - studio.youtube-plus[dot]com.

There, they’re prompted to “confirm the updated YouTube Partner Program (YPP) terms”, to continue monetizing their content and accessing YouTube’s features - but obviously, by “confirming” the terms, the victims would just be sharing their credentials with the attackers.

Furthermore, in true phishing fashion, crooks added a false sense of urgency, threatening the victims that their accounts will be restricted for a week if they do not comply with the new rules. That includes the inability to add videos, receive monetization, and more.

Once the victims enter their credentials, the page says the account is under review.

The campaign appears to have been active since late January 2025, and “many creators” have already fallen victim, reporting that their channels had been hijacked and used to broadcast live cryptocurrency scam streams.

Via BleepingComputer

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• Netflix has canceled spy series The Recruit after two seasons.
• The Recruit failed to compete with Netflix's smash hit espionage thriller The Night Agent.
• The news was announced by one of The Recruit cast members on social media.

Netflix has canceled hit spy series The Recruit after two seasons, and I'm pointing the finger at The Night Agent as the reason why it's ended up on the streamer's scrap heap.

The Recruit already faced a tough mission having to compete with the espionage thriller The Night Agent, which is one of Netflix's most-watched shows of all time – and the stakes were raised even higher when the second season of The Recruit was released just one week after The Night Agent season 2.

The Recruit's cancelation comes five weeks after season 2 of the spy dramedy debuted on one of the best streaming services on January 30. Colton Dunn, who played former CIA operative Lester Kitchens on the show, announced the news on Instagram Threads.

He wrote: "The Recruit has been cancelled y’all. Such a bummer. I’ll share some pics and fun memories on IG but just wanted you to hear it from me. Thanks if you watched. I’m AVAILABLE NOW! Hire me for you [sic] tv story!!”

Despite The Recruit season 2 racking up 5.9 million views within its first four days on Netflix, it wasn't enough to compete with The Night Agent, which reclaimed its number one spot with 13.9 million views. Throw in the fact that The Night Agent also amassed a total of 98.2 million views, The Recruit was always facing an uphill battle to get renewed.

What are The Recruit and The Night Agent about?

The Recruit stars Noah Centineo as Owen Hendricks, a CIA lawyer who becomes embroiled in dangerous international conflicts after former asset Max Meladze (Laura Haddock) threatens to expose the agency unless they clear her of a serious crime.

In The Recruit season 2, which consists of six episodes instead of eight for season 1, Owen is thrown into yet another life-or-death situation as he gets involved in a perilous mission in South Korea

While Netflix hasn't officially revealed why The Recruit was canceled, it's usually low viewing figures that are a driving force behind axing's of the best Netflix shows. It's also possible that people got tired of too many spy series going on at once, but for now The Recruit has met the same fate as the Yellowstone-style series Territory and The Sandman.

Based on the novel of the same name by Matthew Quirk, The Night Agent follows low-level FBI agent Peter Sutherland (Gabriel Basso) as he's plunged into a vast conspiracy involving a mole in the highest levels of the US government and embarks on a hunt to find the traitor to save his country.

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• AMD's FSR 4 has dethroned FSR 3 and Nvidia's DLSS CNN model, according to Digital Foundry
• FSR 4 has significantly reduced ghosting and improved image stability, especially at long draw distances
• DLSS 4's transformer model is still the victor over AMD's new upscaling method

AMD has been taking full advantage of its rival Nvidia’s controversial RTX 5000 series launch, with Team Red's new Radeon RX 9070 series GPUs launching today. With affordable pricing and great performance, the new lineup could provide strong competition in the GPU market - and the new-and-improved FSR 4 upscaling method may have a much greater impact than anticipated.

According to Digital Foundry, AMD's FSR 4 offers a significant leap over the previous FSR 3 model, while simultaneously dethroning Nvidia's former DLSS CNN model (in some cases), most notably when compared in their respective ‘performance’ modes as reported by Wccftech. FSR 4 makes outstanding improvements over its predecessor in retaining image stability at longer draw distances, by removing ghosting of objects in motion - this was a big issue in some games for both FSR 3 and Team Green's DLSS 3 when using performance mode.

An important note is that FSR 4's performance mode is slightly slower in terms of frame rates compared to FSR 3's (evident in Digital Foundry's video below) - this was also previously observed in DLSS 4's transformer model, but it only applies in some titles where we see a minor performance drop. FSR 4's frame rate in performance mode is typically 5-10fps slower than FSR 3’s (based on Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart in DF's video), but in my opinion, it’s ultimately a worthwhile tradeoff for such significant image quality improvements.

(Image credit: Digital Foundry) FSR 4 is off to a great start

It's safe to say that DLSS 4's new transformer model still leads as the best upscaling method, and FSR 4 doesn't quite match it. However, the leap over the CNN model may be enough to catch the attention of gamers - especially since with upscaling, the Radeon RX 9070 XT provides fantastic 4K performance at a shockingly affordable $599 / around £510 / AU$870) price. Compared to Nvidia's RTX 5000 series GPUs, which are either hard to find or have absurdly inflated prices, it feels like a no-brainer.

It's also important to note that AMD is at a slight disadvantage - FSR 4 (as of now) is only available on RDNA 4 GPUs, whereas Nvidia's DLSS 4 is available retroactively on all RTX GPUs. But this doesn't matter much if you can't find any older RTX cards that aren't already discontinued or at MSRP (unless overpaying isn’t a big deal for you, but like… come on, don’t do that).

Despite FSR 4's current-gen exclusivity, AMD's midrange GPU focus for this generation is looking great so far, and the RX 9070's price and FSR 4's current image quality capabilities are a strong starting point.

It's time to show AMD love

I must admit, it feels refreshing to congratulate the perennial underdog AMD on its latest GPU efforts, considering Nvidia's total domination of the market over the years. It's obvious that the new Radeon RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT won't compete with the likes of Team Green's RTX 5090 or RTX 5080, but this was never Team Red's intention.

I'm happy to say that AMD has delivered at a time when PC gamers need it most - the RTX 5000 series launch is nothing short of a mess (despite its flagship GPU's admittedly monstrous performance capabilities), and as I've said previously, what good is a Blackwell GPU if you can't find one?

AMD's FSR 4 is another testament to how impressive its RDNA 4 architecture is, since FSR 3 was quite a long way behind DLSS 3's competing CNN model. If there are no supply chain or price inflation issues (though there still could be), I don't see how it isn't a clear win in the midrange space for Team Red over its fiercest rival.

Patience is a virtue, I must admit - you could easily decide to play the waiting game for RTX 5000 series GPU prices to drop, but there is no guarantee that this will happen (the RTX 4090 is a prime example, with prices still over MSRP even now). With this strong showing from AMD, I’m hoping it’ll give Nvidia more to worry about with gamers considering a switch - and competition is good for the consumer, so long may it continue.

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• The first leaked images of Fujifilm's rumored GFX100RF have appeared
• It would be Fujifilm's first fixed lens compact with 100MP medium-format sensor
• It could be unveiled at the Fujifilm X-Summit on March 20

Fujifilm GFX100RF rumors are gathering pace in the build up to the recently announced Fujifilm X-Summit, which takes place in Prague on March 20, where the premium medium-format compact could be revealed.

Most recently, Fujifilm Rumors shared the first image of the would-be GFX100RF, revealing parts of the camera's back and top plate, albeit from an awkward angle. It followed up this post by sharing another image from Fujifilm's X-Summit announcement, brightening up the dark silhouette to reveal a few details of the camera's front.

The expected GFX100RF is one of the most exciting cameras for 2025. Think of it as a high-end Fujifilm X100VI alternative – it would be Fujifilm's first-ever 100MP medium-format camera with a fixed lens – a pricey, premium compact appealing to seasoned reportage and documentary photographers who value image quality above all else.

EXCLUSIVE: First Image of Fujifilm GFX100RFhttps://t.co/98B4ebIzSu pic.twitter.com/mUCx8ijZhQMarch 3, 2025

What can we learn?

So what do the leaked images seemingly reveal? Design-wise, this could be one of the smallest medium-format cameras ever, and that's with a compact-looking fixed lens factored in – impressive stuff.

There's a new aspect ratio dial, which takes a prominent position above the LCD screen. It's a control like in the Lumix LX100 II, and makes sense for a fixed lens camera with plenty of pixels to play with.

On the top is Fujifilm's lovely shutter speed / ISO dial, an exposure compensation dial and hotshoe, while on the back is an AF joystick and pronounced command dial, but no D-pad.

On the front is compact-looking fixed lens – though we can't see focal length or aperture or if it's stabilized – a crop-lever that should make quick work of making the most of the camera's high-resolution sensor (like the 61MP Leica Q3 can), and a viewfinder selector switch like in the X100VI. However, there's no hybrid viewfinder here – only an EVF.

With a medium-format sensor and fixed lens, the GFX100RF sounds like a cross between the GFX100S II and the X100VI.

Personally, I hope the scales were tipped towards the X100VI – that sort of design and handling with hybrid viewfinder, only with the larger sensor. However, the leaked images suggest the rumored GFX100RF will handle more like the GF-mount GFX100S II with its EVF, only with a fixed lens.

Of course, there's still plenty to learn about the camera beyond the leaked image, but with the X-Summit on the horizon, we might not have long to wait to find out more. I expect the GFX100RF to be one of the camera highlights for 2025.

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• Invincible season 3 episode 7 finally reveals which star is voicing Conquest
• Fans have predicted the chosen actor would play Conquest since early 2023
• At the time, Invincible's co-creator denied that the star in question would portray him

The seventh episode of Invincible season 3 has smashed its way onto Prime Video – and it just made good on a wild fan theory that's circulated online for over two years.

Season 3's penultimate chapter, titled 'What Have I Done?', is an entry that may be the most devastating since Invincible's season 1 finale. Amid the scenes of utter carnage and big character deaths – read my Invincible season 3 episode 7 ending explained piece for more on those – that it contains, though, the show's latest episode proves one thing: we were right about who would voice the terrifying Viltrumite warrior known as Conquest.

Full spoilers immediately follow for Invincible's newest installment. Turn back now if you haven't watched it yet.

If Mark Grayson thought he had it bad enough in episode 7, he's seen nothing yet... (Image credit: Prime Video)

Yes, your ears weren't deceiving you. That's none other than Jeffrey Dean Morgan, who's appeared in numerous projects including Zack Snyder's Watchmen movie and Amazon's live-action adaptation of The Boys, who's playing Conquest.

Shocked? If you've frequented these parts and read my never-ending coverage on Prime Video's animated retelling of Invincible, you shouldn't be.

For anyone who doesn't know what I'm on about, let me explain. In January 2023, I reported on the speculation that The Walking Dead alumnus had been cast in Invincible. That rumor was born out of an Instagram post – see below – that Morgan made, which showed him posing with two hefty-looking tomes of Invincible's source material.

A post shared by Jeffrey Dean Morgan (@jeffreydeanmorgan)

A photo posted by on

It didn't take long for Invincible fans to offer their thoughts on which character he could play in one of the best Prime Video shows. Could he be Grand Regent Thragg, the Viltrum Empire's dictatorial ruler? Or, what about Nolan Grayson/Omni-Man in the still-in-development Invincible live-action film?

Those suggestions paled in comparison to another that many, many fans had: Conquest. At the time, I agreed with the majority that Morgan seemed like a perfect fit for the long-lived, battle-scarred, and incredibly powerful world-conqueror. Morgan brought real menace and malice to Negan in AMC's The Walking Dead TV show, and the fan-favorite star since proved his talent for playing complicated antagonists and/or outright villains in many other movies and TV series. It would make sense, then, if he'd been hired to voice Conquest.

The Conquest-Invincible fight is going to have us on the edge of our seats (Image credit: Image Comics)

Prior to Invincible season 2 part 1's release last February, though, it appeared our hopes had been dashed. Speaking to me ahead of last season's launch, Robert Kirkman, co-creator of Invincible's graphic novel series and its TV namesake, responded to those wild Jeffrey Dean Morgan rumors by saying: "I mean – Jeffrey and I know each other. It's possible he was just reading the comic books, which I think will disappoint many people."

I wouldn't want to spoil anything for future seasons

Robert Kirkman, Invincible co-creator (February 2023)

However, there was a sliver of light at the end of the tunnel. Continuing to answer my Morgan-based question, Kirkman added: "...But I wouldn't want to spoil anything for future seasons.

"Jeffrey's on a very long list of The Walking Dead actors that I would love to work with again. Norman Reedus is someone else on that list, as well as Danai Gurira and Andrew Lincoln. It would be great to get them into Invincible in some capacity; it's just a matter of finding the right role for them, so when the right one emerges for Jeffrey, hopefully you'll see him in Invincible. But it's not something I could talk about yet even if I wanted to."

Clearly, Morgan had been lined up to voice Conquest but, at the time, Kirkman couldn't confirm that he had been. Technically, then, Kirkman wasn't lying about the fact that Morgan had been case in Invincible's second season – indeed, he'd been picked to appear in its sequel chapter instead. Spoilers notwithstanding, expect to hear much more of Morgan's Conquest in Invincible's season 3 finale next Thursday (Match 13) on Prime Video, aka one of the world's best streaming services.

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• Security researchers HUMAN and partners disrupt BadBox 2.0 botnet
• They removed dozens of malicious apps from the Play Store, and sinkholed multiple domains
• The botnet targeted off-brand, low-cost Android devices

BadBox 2.0, the spiritual successor of the BadBox Android malware, has been disrupted after cybersecurity experts from the HUMAN's Satori Threat Intelligence team, together with multiple partners, removed dozens of malicious apps from the Play Store, banned their developers, and sinkholed communications for hundreds of thousands of infected devices.

“The infected devices are Android Open Source Project devices, not Android TV OS devices or Play Protect certified Android devices. All of these devices are manufactured in mainland China and shipped globally,” the researchers explained.

In total, 24 malicious apps on the Play Store distributing BadBox 2.0 were removed, and the developer accounts that uploaded these apps were banned from the platform. HUMAN then also sinkholed an undisclosed number of domains, effectively cutting off communications between the malware and the C2 servers - so in other words, the devices are still infected, but the malware is non-operational.

Sinkholing the domains

BadBox is a piece of malware that turns infected Android devices into residential proxies. They are used in ad fraud, credential stuffing, and other forms of cybercrime. Apparently, BadBox infected hundreds of thousands of devices, from TV streaming boxes, to smart TVs, and smartphones. No one knows exactly how these devices ended up being infected. Some believe they were compromised in early production, while others claim BadBox was dropped somewhere along the supply chain. In any case, these are overwhelmingly low-price-point, “off-brand”, or uncertified devices.

German authorities recently disrupted the operation within its borders, but that only sidetracked it a little. In the weeks following the operation, BadBox grew to more than a million infected devices (although they were mostly located outside Germany, in countries such as Brazil, the US, and Mexico).

Given its size and resilience, security researchers from HUMAN dubbed it “BadBox 2.0”. Now, together with Google, Trend Micro, The Shadowserver Foundation, and other partners, HUMAN disrupted the new operation in multiple ways.

As usual, the best way to defend against these attacks is to buy hardware and software from reputable sources, keep the assets updated, and monitor for malicious activity.

Via BleepingComputer

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• New unofficial renders hint at a full-width cover screen for the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7
• This contrasts with prior rumors that suggested no major design changes for the rumored phone
• Samsung has yet to announce the Galaxy Z Flip 7 or share any official details

In a recent report, we reported on unofficial renders of the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 that looked almost identical to the current-generation Galaxy Z Flip 6 – but as it turns out, the next Samsung flip foldable could be getting a rather major overhaul.

New renders shared by Android Headlines and OnLeaks and supposedly based on leaked information show the rumored Galaxy Z Flip 7 could sport a full-sized cover display, similar to the one found on the Motorola Razr Plus.

(Image credit: Android Headlines / OnLeaks)

Keen-eyed readers may notice that Android Headlines and OnLeaks also provided the previous set of Galaxy Z Flip 7 renders, the ones that look almost identical to the current model – in a post to X (formerly Twitter), OnLeaks’ Steve H. McFly said “It appears I misinterpreted some data and this actually is the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7”.

OnLeaks has a great track record of accurate leaks and tipoffs, so we can probably give them the benefit of the doubt here, especially as other tipsters have corroborated the addition of a larger display.

For example, tipster Ross Young predicted on X (formerly Twitter) that the screen would measure in at 4.05 inches diagonally, excluding the space lost to the two cameras.

This would be a substantial improvement on the contoured 3.4-inch display found on the Galaxy Z Flip 6, and would even beat the 4 inch cover display found on the Motorola Razr Plus.

If the new renders are to be believed, the rest of the Galaxy Z Flip 7 is largely unchanged from the current generation – though a screen size boost is also tipped for the inner display, expanding from 6.7 to 6.8 inches.

My analysis – a needed improvement

When I saw the recent renders that suggested the Galaxy Z Flip 7 would look nearly identical to the Galaxy Z Flip 6, I will admit I felt a twinge of disappointment.

With the Galaxy S25 series, Samsung has demonstrated that it can issue an impressive iterative product refresh without much of a design overhaul, but I’ve always seen the Z-series folding phones as a testing ground for innovation.

If you ask me, a full-sized cover screen is just the kind of high-impact feature that Samsung needs to keep up with its competitors – spec bumps are nice, but it’s visible stuff like this that sticks in people’s minds.

And, lets face it, a full-sized cover screen is about the only way a flip phone’s outer display can be actually useful. Our Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 review found the phone’s 3.4-inch cover display to be disappointingly small, so I’m hopeful that this rumoured expansion can offer more utility.

Anyhow, the above is mostly based on rumors for now – we’ll have to wait on Samsung for any official information. What do you think? Is the Galaxy Z Flip overdue a cover screen update? Let us know in the comments.

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• PlayStation Direct is now offering PlayStation hardware rentals in the UK
• You can lease products like the PS5, PS5 Pro, and even PS Portal
• The Service is provided by Raylo

If you're keen to get your hands on some PlayStation hardware in the UK but can't stomach the upfront cost, then PS Direct might just have the service for you.

Sony's official storefront is now offering leases on a wide range of PlayStation hardware, giving you access to products for a monthly fee.

The seriously pricey PS5 Pro, for example, is available to lease for £26.99 a month if you select a 12 month term. Other options include a 24 month lease at £20.99 a month, or a 36 month lease at £18.95 a month. These are fixed term contracts, but there is also a monthly rolling option which costs £35.59 and can be cancelled at any time.

The PS5 Slim is up for grabs starting at £11.99 a month for a 36 month lease. That's a total cost of £431.64, a little below the console's £479.99 asking price. Just bear in mind that you won't own the system at the end of your term and will either have to return it, continue to pay a rental fee, or contact the company to discuss purchasing it outright.

It's not just consoles on offer either. The usually pricey PS Portal could be yours from £6.49 a month, while the expensive DualSense Edge starts at £7.49 a month. While I personally wouldn't want to rent a fully-fledged console, these premium accessories are much more tempting. I can imagine leasing the PS Portal for a few months to try it out before making a full purchase.

One last thing to note is that these rentals are provided by third-party tech rental service Raylo and will require a soft credit check for a successful application.

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• The Pixel Camera is getting an update to version 9.8
• Kernel updates for older Pixels are also rolling out
• Extra options and performance upgrades are included

Google has been busy pushing out software updates for its Pixel phones and Pixel watches in recent days, and we've got a couple more updates to report on – including a low-level upgrade that should boost performance on older Pixel handsets.

First though, Google is updating the Pixel Camera app (via 9to5Google), with the latest version 9.8 now arriving on compatible devices – which is all Pixel-branded phones, as well as the Google Pixel Tablet.

Among the new features on offer, we've got the option to turn off the cute animation in astrophotography mode, and support for the raised hand gesture to control timers on the rear camera. Pixel Fold owners can now use Dual Screen Preview in video mode, while the Add Me feature can be used on the external display on the Pixel 9 Pro Fold.

Every phone in the Google Pixel 9 series gets support for remote connected cameras – compatible models include recent GoPro models, as well as other Pixel handsets – which means you're able to use one device for taking the photo and videos, and another for controlling the capturing.

Kernel updates

Phones going back to the 2021 Pixel 6 are getting a kernel update (Image credit: Google)

The second update to talk about affects the Pixel 6, Pixel 7, and Pixel 8 ranges, plus the Pixel Fold and the Pixel Tablet. As noted by Android Authority, these older devices are getting a kernel upgrade to Linux 6.1.

Every Android phone runs on top of Linux, and the kernel is the lowest level of software, effectively enabling everything else to run. While kernel updates aren't always significant, users are reporting improvements in performance and battery life.

This puts the older Pixel phones on Tensor G3 and newer processors to the same kernel version as the new Pixel 9 handsets that launched in the middle of last year. It's something Google actually promised more than a year ago, back in January 2024 – but the updates are only now reaching phones.

You shouldn't have to do anything to get these updates: they should appear on your Pixel device automatically, with a prompt when they're ready to install. If you want to run a manual check for updates, choose System > Software update from Settings.

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• Second-gen Galaxy Buds FE are in "advanced" development
• Launching "Summer 2025", expected to cost $99 / £99 / AU$149
• Sony's next budget ANC buds could launch at the same time

This could be a good year for buyers looking for the best budget wireless earbuds: the next generation of Sony's budget ANC earbuds appears to be coming soon, and now a new report says Samsung is working on the second-gen Galaxy Buds FE.

We had mixed feelings about the Samsung Galaxy Buds FE, giving them three out of five stars in our review, but they sound good and they offer great active noise cancellation. But of course there's always room for improvement, especially in the super-competitive world of earbuds: the Buds FE will be two years old this year and rivals haven't been sitting still.

What we know about the Galaxy Buds FE 2

The news comes via German site GalaxyClub (via NeoWin), which reports that Samsung's SM-R410 headphones, which are currently in advanced development, are the Buds FE 2.

The report speculates that the launch could be as soon as this summer (perhaps during the same even that we expect Samsung next folding phones), and that the price could be the same as the originals. T

heir launch price was $99 / £99 / AU$149, but within two months the going rate had already dropped to $70 / £75 / AU$135. Even with a post-launch price drop that would make the Buds FE 2 considerably more expensive than our current budget ANC pick, the EarFun Air Pro 3, but around the same price as the Nothing Ear (a), which are our favorite $100 model among the best earbuds.

The report doesn't give us any hints about possible improvements or details of any key features, so we're very much in the dark right now. But if Samsung is going to go into the ring with the likes of Sony it'll be going up against some significantly upgraded earbuds with better battery life, better Bluetooth and presumably better ANC too – we gave the Sony WF-C700N five stars, so we expect their successor to be equally impressive.

The Sony C710N are expected to cost around $100 / £100 (probably a little over at launch) and they too are expected to launch soon – some rumors suggest May 2025.

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Finance has always prided itself on innovating to problem-solve. From stock markets to electronic banking; spend management platforms to AI. One recent example is JPMorganChase deploying AI to analyze commercial loan agreements – reducing 360,000 hours of lawyer time to mere seconds, in the process.

However, when we look beyond finance corporations to finance teams and functions, this level of AI adoption and automation is far from the standard. Pleo research from last year even showed how only barely more than a quarter (27%) of decision makers were confident about AI’s role in finance. While a recent Gartner survey highlighted how almost a fifth (19%) of finance functions have no planned implementation of AI.

The danger for finance teams comes from an ever-widening chasm between those using AI tools and those who are not; one defined by increased productivity, prioritized work and unrivalled data insights. So, ahead of a year when AI capabilities are set to evolve even more, how can finance teams make up ground in the AI race?

What finance (and businesses) stand to lose by not embracing AI

AI may have evolved at a rapid rate, but the same cannot be said for the stereotypes holding back implementation. But while there are valid concerns around security, bias and ethics, these are all easily navigable. Further, right now is a pivotal moment in the economic, business and technology landscape and firms cannot afford to delay optimizing operations, productivity and efficiency in the digital economy.

This is about more than just increased operations, productivity and efficiency though. Those finance teams that don't embrace AI will miss out on the ability to treat their data as a product. Ten years ago, finance teams talked about data like it was the new oil; a priceless commodity that they can use to understand their customers and cash flow far better. But without AI they’re incapable of drilling down far enough or even knowing where to dig.

The biggest blockers standing in the way of AI innovation

To explore how finance teams can change their AI mindset, I unpack three of the biggest blockers to finance AI and offer practical advice on how to overcome them.

A growing skills gap

AI can be transformative for businesses but over a third (38%) of decision-makers don’t think that their CFO and finance team should have a comprehensive understanding of the technology. This is not only an outdated perspective but could potentially stop finance leaders from getting hands-on with the technology.

Today’s AI models are user-friendly, but training is still needed around best practice and safety. Plus, even those finance teams that are using AI today must continue to learn and experiment with the technology in a safe environment to ensure their innovation with it tomorrow.

For instance, prompt engineering is one area finance teams need to master so they can use AI to better analyze data, critique strategy and break down complex problems or topics for a non-finance audience. Clear instructions help and, just like talking to humans, the more specific you are, the better the output. But first they first need a solid understanding of how to use the technology in their role – something that won’t happen without the backing of the business leaders.

The assumption that AI isn’t safe

The problem with pooling multiple technologies under “AI” is that the good gets mixed up with the bad and horror stories related to shadow AI taint the effectiveness of enterprise-grade AI solutions. This is a particular issue for businesses, where maintaining trust and control with employees and customers alike is paramount. Caution is critical for finance, but it shouldn't unfairly hold back innovation.

Businesses should turn this caution or hesitation into an opportunity to build their own policies and determine how it’s used in-house and in relation to their customers. AI’s rapid evolution has been characterized by personalization, and it’s easier than ever for businesses to put guardrails in place and even build their own GPT models that keep customer data, and trust, safe. Plus, humans should rely on their own guardrails and check AI’s working as they would an eager new hire. For example, asking where the data has been sourced from and why it was used to formulate the answer.

The idea that AI has to be “perfect”

If companies are waiting for the “perfect” AI they’ll be waiting a long time. The technology is moving at pace, but AI shouldn’t be perfect. If you ask a GPT model the same question twice, not getting the same answer is a good thing. That’s because it is there to be our sparring partner to challenge how we think; not to stop us thinking altogether.

When planning how AI can change their business, finance leaders should return to why they are using it in the first place. Based on AI’s current capabilities, it should be being used to save time and money. This means taking the handbrake off their teams and automating manual admin tasks so that they can focus on more strategic work. It also means revolutionizing how they work with data and, as a result, how they prioritize customer centricity.

Gaining ground in the year ahead

Finance teams may have made a slow start in the AI race, but they are more than capable of catching up with the right strategy and, crucially, the right AI.

The time for cautious observation has passed and the next 12 months will likely determine which finance teams emerge as leaders in the AI-enabled future. Those who act now, with clear strategy and purpose, will find themselves not just participating in the AI race, but helping to define its course.

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This article was produced as part of TechRadarPro's Expert Insights channel where we feature the best and brightest minds in the technology industry today. The views expressed here are those of the author and are not necessarily those of TechRadarPro or Future plc. If you are interested in contributing find out more here: https://www.techradar.com/news/submit-your-story-to-techradar-pro

• Chinese threat actor Silk Typhoon spotted targeting common IT apps
• Microsoft's Threat Intelligence has identified new tactics from the group
• Silk Typhoon was allegedly behind recent US Treasury hack

A new report from Microsoft’s Threat Intelligence has identified a move from Chinese threat actor Silk Typhoon towards targeting “common IT solutions” such as cloud applications and remote management tools in order to gain access to victim’s systems.

The group has been observed attacking a wide range of sectors, including IT services and infrastructure, remote monitoring and management (RMM) companies, healthcare, legal services, defense, government agencies, and many more.

By exploiting zero-day vulnerabilities in edge devices and showcasing technical efficiency, the group has established itself as one of the Chinese threat actors with the “largest targeting footprints,” Microsoft says.

Successful operations

The report outlines a number of detected threats from Silk Typhoon, including using stolen API keys and credentials used for privilege access management, cloud providers, and cloud management firms - these allowed the group to access the downstream customer environments of the targeted company.

“Silk Typhoon has shown proficiency in understanding how cloud environments are deployed and configured, allowing them to successfully move laterally, maintain persistence, and exfiltrate data quickly within victim environments,” the report said.

“Since Microsoft Threat Intelligence began tracking this threat actor in 2020, Silk Typhoon has used a myriad of web shells that allow them to execute commands, maintain persistence, and exfiltrate data from victim environments.”

Silk Typhoon is said to be the group behind the US Treasury hack, a ‘major incident’ in which third party cybersecurity partner BeyondTrust, a remote access software provider was compromised, allowing the attackers access to key systems.

China has always strenuously denied any ties to the group, or to any cyberattackers, and has called on the US to stop spreading “disinformation” about the state’s alleged ties to the threat actors.

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• TCA report claims eSIM shipments show a 35% year-on-year increase
• eSIM profile downloads surged by 56%
• Despite eSIM growth, traditional SIM cards remain stable at 3.7 billion units

New figures have claimed eSIM shipments hit 503 million units in 2024, marking a 35% year-on-year increase.

The report from TCA says the growing availability of eSIMs for international travel drove consumer adoption, leading to a 56% rise in eSIM profile downloads.

Regionally, North America saw the biggest consumer adoption of eSIMs due to operators pursuing 'digital-first' strategies and eSIM-only devices readily available in the market. Meanwhile, eSIMs for Asia saw a double uptake in profile downloads while Europe also experienced an increased demand.

eSIM market growth

The data also suggests an improved economic landscape in 2024 boosted demand for smartphones and mobile subscriptions, positively impacting eSIM growth.

“Our latest data offers the clearest demonstration yet of the extent to which eSIM technology is now being harnessed across the global digital economy, delivering flexible connectivity, advanced security and enhanced experiences, said Bertrand Moussel, Chair of the TCA Board.

The recommended 5G SIM/eSIM market also grew by 68% percent, with North America and Europe leading deployments. While there was an uptake in eSIM adoption in North America and Europe, the traditional SIM card market remains stable.

"As the eSIM ecosystem continues to expand to encompass an array of emerging use-cases, so too does the importance of industry-wide collaboration to ensure all deployments are underpinned by a strong foundation of trust, consistency and reliability," Moussel added.

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• Naughty Dog studio head Neil Druckmann says "don't be on" a third The Last of Us game
• Druckmann doesn't know if there will be more, adding "This could be it"
• The Last of Us director has previously revealed he had a "concept" for a third game that there could be "one more chapter to this story"

The Last of Us Part 3 might never happen, according to Naughty Dog co-president Neil Druckmann.

Speaking in a recent interview with Variety ahead of the premiere of HBO's The Last of Us Season 2, Druckmann was asked about the possibility of there ever being another installment in the beloved franchise.

"I was waiting for this question," Druckmann said, sighing. "I guess the only thing I would say is don’t bet on there being more of 'Last of Us.' This could be it."

The director's latest statement on the future of The Last of Us contradicts what he's previously said about the potential of there being "one more chapter to this story".

At the end of the Grounded 2: Making of The Last of Us Part 2 documentary, which was released last year, Druckmann spoke on the series finality, saying, "If we never get to do it again, this is a fine ending point. Last bite of the apple, the story's done."

However, he did mention that he has a "concept" that could be "as exciting" as both The Last of Us games.

"I've been just thinking about it, 'is there a concept there?' And for now years, I haven't been able to find that concept," he said at the time.

"But recently, that's changed, and I don't have a story, but I do have that concept that to me is as exciting as 1, as exciting as 2, is its own thing, and yet has this throughline for all three. So it does feel like there's probably one more chapter to this story."

Right now, Naughty Dog is working on Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, the first single-player in a new franchise in development for PlayStation 5.

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• Assassin's Creed Shadows' global release timings have been revealed
• It's also available to preload now on Xbox Series X|S
• The game will take up roughly 107GB of space on console

Ubisoft has revealed the global release times for Assassin's Creed Shadows and, if you have the game pre-ordered, you're now able to preload it ahead of launch if you're on Xbox Series X|S.

The official Assassin's Creed account on X / Twitter uploaded the upcoming game's global release timings as a handy image, and while it shows that preloading is available now on Xbox consoles, folks on other systems will need to wait a bit. For PS5, it'll be March 18 at midnight (local time), and on PC, players can begin preloading on March 17 at 4pm UTC.

(Image credit: Ubisoft)

In the US, Shadows will be available to play from March 19 at 9pm PDT / March 20 at 12am EDT on Steam. For consoles, it's March 20 at 12am PDT / 12am EDT, meaning folks on the East Coast should be able to play it a little earlier on Xbox and PS5.

For the UK, it's March 20 at 4am GMT on Steam and midnight GMT on consoles. But if you're planning on burning that midnight oil, it'll actually be available via Ubisoft Connect on PC slightly earlier on March 19 at 10pm GMT.

Lastly, if you're preloading Assassin's Creed Shadows today on Xbox Series consoles, make sure you've got a hefty chunk of space reserved either on the system or on one of the best Xbox Series X hard drives and SSDs. That's because it's going to take up around 107.77GB (thanks, Eurogamer). But hey, if your download speeds aren't the best, at least there's plenty of time to get it prepped and ready to go on your console for day one.

We're definitely keen to check out the full game for ourselves this month. TRG's managing editor, Rob Dwiar, recently spent six hours with Assassin's Creed Shadows and came away with very positive impressions.

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• Google’s AI Overview is now powered by Gemini 2.0
• Google’s new experimental AI Mode offers reasoning and follow-up responses in search
• Unlike traditional search, AI Mode actively synthesizes information from multiple sources

Google is doubling down on bring AI to Search with an expansion to its AI Overviews and new experimental AI Mode. In Google's ideal world, you would basically never leave the search engine and it would handle a lot of that pesky thinking on your behalf. On the other hand, there would be fewer open tabs giving you anxiety.

Overviewing AI

AI Overviews have already become a familiar sight for many users, appearing at the top of search results with neatly summarized answers to big questions. Now, with Gemini 2.0 behind the wheel, Google claims these overviews will be faster, more detailed, and capable of handling trickier queries in areas like coding, advanced math, and multimodal reasoning. In other words, if you were relying on Reddit and Stack Overflow to explain why your Python script keeps throwing an error, Google wants you to ask it instead.

Google claims there are a lot of fans who want to see AI even more embedded in their online searches. That's what led to the creation of AI Mode. Currently in an experimental mode in Labs. AI Mode aims to bring better reasoning and more immediate analysis to your online time. AI Mode won’t just spit out a quick answer to your query. It will actively break down complex topics, compare multiple options, and pull from online sources to provide more nuanced responses. AI Mode should help prevent you from going from a simple search for a new toothpaste to spending 30 minutes on Wikipedia learning about the history of medieval dentistry.

Let’s say you’re trying to figure out the best way to track your eating habits. A regular Google search might give you a mix of ads, product reviews, and a few scientific studies buried somewhere on page two. AI Mode, on the other hand, can analyze the pros and cons of different apps, smart wearables, and AI-enhanced scales in a single response, summarizing the key features and limitations; even pulling in fresh user reviews. If you need more details, you can ask a follow-up question like, “How does eating late at night impact heart rate?” and get an instant, well-researched answer without having to piece it together from five different websites.

AI internet

This shift isn’t happening in a vacuum. AI-powered search has been heating up, with OpenAI’s ChatGPT Search and Perplexity AI both offering their own takes on AI-assisted browsing. ChatGPT Search integrates OpenAI’s conversational abilities with web access, but it can still struggle with sourcing real-time information. Perplexity AI, meanwhile, prides itself on transparency, always citing sources alongside its answers. Google, being Google, wants to combine deep AI reasoning with its long history of crawling and ranking the web.

Of course, any time AI takes a bigger role in search, there are questions. Will AI Mode and AI Overviews make it harder for small content creators to get traffic if Google keeps more users within its own ecosystem? What biases will even more complex synthesized answers introduce? Google insists that human oversight and ranking systems are still in play, but the company also acknowledges that AI is a work in progress. There’s a fine line between an AI-powered search assistant and an all-knowing gatekeeper that decides what’s “true” before you even click a link.

Beyond the potential pitfalls, AI Mode represents a shift in online research from passive to dynamic. It moves the burden of crafting the right query, clicking through results, and assembling information from different sources from you to the AI. Faster answers, smarter suggestions, and less time wasted on irrelevant links is a tempting proposition. But how good can it actually be compared to you putting little thought into it? AI Mode may as well be called Lazy Mode. Will you still bother clicking through to the long-form articles, deep-dive blog posts, or thoughtful articles on tech news websites for context and nuance beyond an AI summary at this level?

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Full spoilers follow for Invincible season 3 episode 7.

Well, I warned you that Invincible season 3 episode 6's mid-credits scene confirmed that what would follow was an absolute bloodbath.

To be frank, I'm a long-time Invincible fan, so I knew what was coming long before season 3's penultimate episode, titled 'What I Have Done?', which arrived today (March 6). Nevertheless, the show's depiction of The Invincible War, aka the near-world-ending event that's been teased since Invincible season 3 started on February 6, is even more soul-shattering than its comic-book counterpart. And, as we sift through the wreckage of this destruction-laden entry, I suspect you've got questions about what transpired.

Want to know who voices Conquest? Need more information about those enigmatic figures working with Angstrom Levy? Or are you hoping against hope that those two characters didn't actually die? I'll answer those queries and more in this article, so make sure you're caught up as full spoilers immediately follow for episode 7.

How do Rex Splode and Darkwing die in Invincible season 3 episode 7?

Redemption for Darkwing! (Image credit: Prime Video)

There are plenty of heroes who die in this episode. After all, Angstrom Levy unleashes 18 multiversal variants of Mark Grayson/Invincible on the Earth that the titular character – from now on, I'll call him Invincible Prime to spare any confusion – inhabits. They're all as powerful, not to mention more cruel, than Invincible Prime, too, so they quickly lay waste to his home world. Remember, Angstrom promised that, in return for them decimating Invincible Prime's planet and ruining Mark's life, he'd help these variants to conquer other universes, which is why they agree to aid Mark's arch-nemesis.

There are two major character deaths that matter more than most in 'What Have I Done?', though. Darkwing is the first of those, with the Batman-inspired hero sacrificing himself to save his fellow Guardians of the Globe by stranding one of Invincible's variants – and himself – in the Shadow-Verse. This realm is not only devoid of light, but also inhabited by terrifying creatures who prey on anything that enters their domain. It's safe to assume, then, that Darkwing and this version of Invincible are no more.

I'm not crying, you are... *sniff* (Image credit: Prime Video)

Episode 7's most soul-destroying demise, however, is reserved for one of the best Prime Video shows' most developed characters: Rex Splode.

I already knew he wasn't long for this world. Indeed, Invincible season 3 episode 5's sweet scene between Rex and Rae foreshadowed this (nobody in Invincible can have nice things!). At least Rex's sacrifice was a noble one, with the kinetic energy-based superhero using his own skeleton in a Hail Mary move to kill the Invincible variant who attacks the Teen Team's base and almost murders Rudy/Robot, Monster Girl, and Bulletproof.

It's the same way that Rex bows out in the source material, but Amazon's adaptation makes his death even more heart-breaking. He's enjoyed more airtime and character growth in Invincible's TV adaptation than he does in the graphic novels. Rex's character evolution from a wisecracking womanizer to heroic martyr in the hit animated series, then, has been one of its biggest triumphs. It's just incredibly sad that we'll never see him, nor hear Jason Mantzoukas' terrific take on the character, again. *sniff*

Who is Conquest? And who voices him in Invincible season 3?

Wait, is that Jeffrey Dean Morgan's voice!? (Image credit: Prime Video)

I'll answer the latter first as it's the easiest question to, well, answer: it's Jeffrey Dean Morgan.

The Walking Dead alumnus was first linked with a role in Invincible in early 2023. However, ahead of Invincible season 2 part 1's release, Robert Kirkman, co-creator of Invincible's comic book series and its TV namesake, told me that he was "going to disappoint people" by saying Morgan wouldn't voice someone in season 2. It's now clear that he was going to play Conquest in season 3, so I guess Kirkman can say he didn't actually lie to our faces.

Anyway, who is Conquest? In the comics, he's not only a high-ranking Viltrum Empire warrior, but also the second-most powerful of them all. The superpowered humanoid race's autocratic leader Grand Regent Thragg is the only one who's more formidable than Conquest, which means the latter is even scarier than Nolan Grayson/Omni-Man. Oh, and he's been sent to Earth to see if Mark/Invincible Prime is ready to perform his Viltrumite duties and prepare his planet to be taken over by the highly-advanced, dictatorial species.

I won't say much else about Conquest's role in Invincible because, you know, spoilers for future seasons. You'll definitely want to prepare yourself for a cataclysmic and incredibly tense season 3 finale, though!

What happens to the remaining multiversal Invincible variants?

"Angstroooooom!" (Image credit: Prime Video)

After their three-day-long, catastrophic attack on Invincible Prime's homeworld, the remaining eight multiversal variants – the other 10 have been killed by Mark and his fellow heroes – regroup at Mark's home at Angstrom's behest. However, when Angstrom says he wants them to bring Invincible Prime to him, they refuse because that wasn't part of the original deal. Cue the octet turning on Angstrom.

Knowing that he's physically outmatched by one Invincible, let alone eight, Angstrom reacts by activating his plan's fail-safe. Opening a portal behind each variant, he uses their spherical drones to push them through said multiversal doorways and maroons them on the desolate version of planet Earth that Angstrom and Invincible Prime fought on in Invincible season 2 part 2's finale. Hey, he says he was going to betray them anyway, so he might as well do so now...

Invincible season 3 episode 7's other heroes explained: Wolf-Man, Brit, Best Tiger, Tech Jacket, and more

'What Have I Done?' is full of Image Comic superhero cameos, such as Wolf-Man (Image credit: Prime Video)

I'll readily admit that I didn't recognize every hero that Global Defence Agency (GDA) chief Cecil Stedman calls on to defend Earth from the 18-strong group of multiversal Invincibles in Invincible season 3's penultimate episode. There are a few, though, that I recognize from the source material, and I'm sure that my fellow Invincible devotees will be delighted by their inclusion in Prime Video's adaptation.

The first – and perhaps most crowd-pleasing – is Wolf Man, who battles one of the variants in what appears to be New York City and winds up winning the contest. Wolf Man is the star of Invincible spin-off comic series The Astounding Wolf-Man, which is another of Image Comics series, and the eponymous hero's real name is Gary Hampton, who was the wealthy CEO of a record company until he was attacked by a werewolf during a family vacation. Now, he uses his abilities to do good, all the while trying to suppress his new-found animalistic instincts.

Jonathan Banks voices Brit in Invincible's TV adaptation (Image credit: Prime Video)

The next most recognizable face is Brit, who's voiced by one of nine new, big-name cast additions for season 3 in Jonathan Banks, who famously portrayed Mike Ehrmantraut in Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul.

Another Image Comics creation, Brit is a long-time friend of Cecil's who, per the source material, was born sometime before World War One. His abilities include superhuman strength, agility, and reflexes, and decelerated aging. He's also virtually indestructible – indeed, as noted in Invincible's graphic novels and other Image supplementary materials, Brit is immune to all forms of damage and disease. You'd wonder why he's not been used as one of the GDA's first lines of defence before now, then...

Well, this is a deep-cut Image Comics reference! Say hello to Best Tiger, everyone (Image credit: Prime Video)

Three other heroes – two of whom we first saw in Invincible season 2 episode 8 – also appear in 'What Have I Done?'. Kid Thor and Knock-Out are the aforementioned duo, and they're joined by Bolt, another Batman-esque individual who acquired his superhuman abilities after being hit by a lightning bolt, hence his superhero name. The trio appear at the prison where Invincible Prime is fighting Mohawk-vincible, mistake Invincible Prime for one of his multiversal variants, and attack him before they realize the errors of their ways.

But wait, there's more. The biggest deep-cut character in 'What Have I Done?' is arguably Best Tiger. A China-born superhuman, he's essentially Daredevil with guns (he's also not blind – he just covers his eyes with a bandana for the challenge). He possesses superhuman agility, enhanced agility, and is an expert martial artist. He's also an elite marksman so, really, he's a cross between Daredevil and one of his most notorious foes in Bullseye.

Holy crap, it's Tech Jacket! (Image credit: Prime Video)

Last but not least, this episode marks the debut of another key Invincible hero in Tech Jacket. I believe he's the individual who fights one of the Invincibles in space. If I'm right, that means Tech Jacket has actually appeared in Invincible's TV show earlier than he does in the comics.

Anyway, for the uninitiated: Tech Jacket is another Image Comics brand that stars Zack Thompson. One day, the ordinary high-school kid comes across a dying member of the highly-intelligent but physically weak alien race called the Geldarians. To make up for their lack of physicality, each Geldarian is given a Tech Jacket, a technologically-advanced vest that not only turns into a suit of armor when its user is attacked, but also grants the wearer near-invulnerability, super-strength, and the ability to fly and fire lasers.

Knowing its crashed spaceship will kill them both, the dying Geldarian gives its Tech Jacket to Thompson to save his life. Now permanently bound to one of the most powerful devices in the known universe, Thompson becomes a hero in his own right and is soon recruited by The Coalition of Planets to help them in their quest to bring down the Viltrum Empire.

Who are the Technicians in Invincible season 3?

Well, aren't you guys the definition of creepy... (Image credit: Prime Video)

The Technicians are introduced in the first scene of 'What Have I Done?', which takes place in the immediate aftermath of Mark's near-fatal beatdown of Angstrom from season 2 episode 8.

As he does in the comics, Angstrom somehow summons the strength to open one of his portals to the Technicians' laboratory and, after getting their attention, is pulled into their dimension. Despite his absolutely mushed-up face, he tells the Technicians to "fix him", which they duly do.

Alright, but who are they? Again, I'm not going to reveal too much because they continue to play a role in the graphic novels and, by extension, will appear in the show again at some point. All you need to know for now is that the Technicians are cybernetically-enhanced humanoids who hail from another dimension and specialize in the art of body modifications.

After patching up Angstrom, they make a deal with him for reasons I won't ruin here. As Angstrom finds out, it's also best to stay on their good side, too. Indeed, when Angstrom returns after his latest bout with Mark and tells the Technicians to replace the arm he lost – the one that was severed by one of Angstrom's portals when Mark grabbed it as the gateway closed – the trio initially refuse to aid him. He hasn't fulfilled his side of the bargain so, in light of needing their services again, they tell him that he works for them now. I guess Angstrom's one-man crusade against Mark will have to wait!

Invincible's long-running Ka-Hor joke explained

Maybe you'll escape one day, Ka-Hor... (Image credit: Prime Video)

A new season of Invincible wouldn't be complete without a check-in with Ka-Hor, and the R-rated series' latest chapter obliges. Wait, you don't remember who Ka-Hor is? Alright, allow me to explain.

A completely original character for Invincible's animated adaptation, Ka-Hor is a Egyptian mummy who's permanently bound to the tomb he was laid to rest in because of an unknown curse. The only way he can escape is if he binds his soul to a living, male host.

So close, yet so far (Image credit: Prime Video)

Three seasons in and Ka-Hor hasn't been able to leave his crypt. He was almost freed by a present-day worshipper called Zaiem in season 1, but Mark/Invincible accidentally prevented Ka-Hor's escape when he inadvertently caused a sandstorm near Ka-Hor's tomb and trapped Zaiem inside.

In season 2, Ka-Hor's attempts to break out are dealt a blow when the next two individuals to find his tomb are women. Once again, Mark traps them all inside Ka-Hor's burial chamber with another accidental sandstorm.

That brings us onto season 3. During a battle between Immortal and one of the multiversal Invincibles, Ka-Hor's tomb is dealt significant damage when one of Mark's variants crashes into it. Sensing an opportunity to escape, Ka-Hor tries to bind to said Invincible.

Unfortunately for him, he's not strong enough to overpower his potential new host. To make things worse, Immortal and his adversary take their fight elsewhere soon after, which humorously leaves Ka-Hor without another host body. Oh, and the two women he encountered in season 2 finally escape his crypt, too. At least somebody got what they wanted.

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• UK CMA was worried about Microsoft’s involvement in OpenAI
• “OpenAI does not qualify for investigation,” says Authority
• Critics worried about government pressure on CMA

The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has ended its investigation into Microsoft’s partnership with OpenAI and its multibillion-dollar investment into the company behind ChatGPT.

Despite Microsoft investing heavily in the AI startup and having exclusive use of some of its AI products, the CMA has now concluded the partnership has not been problematic.

The watchdog also considered how the companies’ relationship changed during the short period that CEO Sam Altman was fired, then rehired.

UK CMA deems Microsoft-OpenAI partnership healthy

The CMA said yesterday: “The CMA has decided that Microsoft’s partnership with OpenAI does not qualify for investigation under the merger provisions of the Enterprise Act 2002.”

Expanding on its conclusion in a phase one summary, the CMA noted that “no relevant merger situation ha[d] been created,” therefore it did “not ha[ve] to conclude on whether the other criteria for establishing a relevant merger situation [were] met.”

The Authority initiated the probe back in December 2023 because of Microsoft’s involvement in bringing Sam Altman back to OpenAI, but despite Microsoft’s “high level of material influence” over OpenAI, it doesn’t have full control over the company.

The official decision came just one day after the merger inquiry was launched, and critics have argued that political changes and government pressure on regulators to focus on economic growth may have guided the CMA’s conclusion.

Foxglove co-executive director Rosa Curling told the BBC: “This is a bad sign that Big Tech has successfully convinced the prime minister to defang our competition regulator and let Big Tech gobble up the current generation of cutting-edge tech – just like they did the last one.”

Microsoft welcomed the outcome: “Our OpenAI partnership and its continued evolution promote competition, innovation, and responsible AI development, and we welcome the CMA's conclusion, after careful and prudent consideration of the commercial realities, to close its investigation.”

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