TechRadar News

• Google makes it easier to join Meet calls on Companion mode
• Laptops listen out for hardware via ultrasound signals
• It only works with Chrome and supported hardware

One of the biggest pain points for Google Meet users joining video conferencing calls could soon be solved after the company by adding a new Companion Mode feature to automatically allow users to join a call.

In a blog post, the company unveiled its new automatic room check-in feature, which uses ultrasound proximity detection to streamline the process of joining meetings in Companion mode.

Users' laptops will leverage the built-in microphone to detect an ultrasound signal from Google Meet hardware, making it even easier to join in with multi-person calls - and hopefully putting an end to annoying or jarring echoes for good.

Google Meet gets even easier in Companion mode

"To simplify joining meetings from a conference room and prevent disruptive audio feedback, Google Meet now intelligently guides you to the best joining option," Google noted.

When a laptop detects nearby Google Meet hardware, it will switch from highlighting 'Join now' to 'Use Companion mode', which allows them to join into a call without duplicating audio or video in a shared room.

Already a useful feature, Companion mode disables the mic and camera by default to prevent audio feedback or echo, allowing users to view presentations, use the in-meeting chat, participate in polls, share their screen and use captions.

"This wayfinding feature helps ensure a seamless, echo-free start to your meeting," Google added.

Proximity-based Room Check-in replaces the manual check-in prompt shown after clicking 'Use Companion mode'.

The tool will be available to all Google Workspace customers with Google Meet hardware, but could take up to 15 days from August 4 to show up for all users. For now, the feature is only supported on Google Meet web via Chrome, together with certified Google Meet peripherals.

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• AMD has announced the Radeon RX 9060 GPU for pre-built gaming PCs
• It will use 8GB of VRAM similar to its 9060 XT counterpart
• It seems as though Team Red isn't giving up on 8GB GPUs

The GPU market has seen a handful of additions recently, mostly from Nvidia and AMD with the RTX 5000 series and Radeon RX 9000 series lineups, respectively – and it looks like Team Red isn't done just yet, perhaps in an unwanted way.

As reported by our friends at Tom's Hardware, AMD announced the Radeon RX 9060 GPU spotted in a new Radeon driver update's patch notes, a new 8GB option for gamers that will only be available via pre-built systems – in other words, the GPU won't be available to purchase separately via retailers.

This appears to be a watered-down version of the 8GB Radeon RX 9060 XT model, which was less favored in comparison to its 16GB model. 8GB GPUs haven't been selling well at retailers, as previously indicated by a German retailer's sales figures.

Recent rumors also suggest that Nvidia and its board partners may be dropping GPU prices due to a lack of sales and oversupply, which likely includes 8GB configurations – and the indication is that PC gamers don't want to pay inflated high prices for mid to high-end GPUs, and a significant portion clearly aren't settling with low-end 8GB cards.

However, it's essential to note that this new GPU appears to be specifically designed for pre-built systems, which should help introduce more affordable gaming PCs, especially for those new to the ecosystem.

Analysis: 12GB of VRAM should be the new standard

(Image credit: Future)

I think it's been stated more than enough at this point that 8GB GPUs just won't cut it for PC gaming today. These GPUs aren't completely useless, as they can still run games at 1080p, but with more poorly-optimized PC games of recent years and games requiring more VRAM, I don't think 8GB of VRAM is the solution for desktop GPUs.

Consumers are clear to voice their satisfaction with 16GB GPUs, so at the very least, I'd like to see Nvidia and AMD follow in Intel's footsteps; it's seemingly abandoned 8GB GPUs entirely, with its latest lineup consisting of 10GB and 12GB GPUs.

There's no doubt that those on a budget may find use in these GPUs, but in terms of longevity, it's the last option that I would recommend for a new GPU.

I was hoping Team Green and Team Red would set the new standard to 12GB, but now I'm left hoping that both take this into consideration for the next generation of graphics cards.

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• The latest iOS 18.6 update comes with two dozen security patches
• That includes a fix for an actively exploited vulnerability
• It’s important to update your iPhone to keep it safe

It’s important to ensure that you update your iPhone as often as possible, and that’s just been demonstrated by Apple’s iOS 18.6 release. That’s because this update comes with a vital security patch that could help keep your iPhone safe from serious threats.

According to Apple’s iOS 18.6 release notes, the update fixes several zero-day flaws that could have compromised your device – including at least one that is known to have been exploited in the wild. Zero-day vulnerabilities are those that are initially unknown to developers and security researchers, making them particularly dangerous if exploited.

The iOS 18.6 update contains 24 separate fixes ranging from accessibility bugs to problems with the WebKit engine that powers the Safari web browser, and it’s the latter that is affected by an actively exploited vulnerability.

Specifically, the bug in question is tracked as CVE-2025-6558 in the CVE system of tracking security breaches. Apple credits its discovery to Clément Lecigne and Vlad Stolyarov of Google’s Threat Analysis Group, which disclosed the existence of the bug on July 15 and noted that “Google is aware that an exploit for CVE-2025-6558 exists in the wild.”

How to update your iPhone

(Image credit: Photo by Jaap Arriens/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

To download the iOS 18.6 update, open the Settings app on your iPhone and navigate to General > Software Update. Allow your iPhone to check for updates, then tap Update Now when prompted. Your phone will then download and install the patch, and it might restart several times during the process.

Apple devices are known for their strong security, but that doesn’t make them invulnerable to attack, as this update shows. The iPhone is one of the best smartphones out there, and the huge popularity of iOS among phone users makes it a ripe target for hackers, who are always looking for new ways to poke holes in Apple’s systems.

While much of the public’s attention is focused on the upcoming iOS 26 public beta release, it remains important to keep your existing devices safe and secure, no matter what operating system they’re running.

Downloading the iOS 18.6 update is one of the best ways you can do that right now to ensure you keep security threats at bay.

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• Clues in Windows 11 previews hint that AI is coming to the taskbar
• This could be in the form of an 'agentic AI' companion
• Exactly what its purpose would be is far from clear at this point

Microsoft could be planning to add an AI element to the taskbar in Windows 11, based on clues in preview builds and theorizing from the rumor mill.

27914 LXP changes. As always, some of these mentions already exist in beta/dev"Taskbar Companion" is mentioned in settingsConfirmation for various disk/partition tasks are now mentioned in settingsNumber and Currency formats mentioned under region1/2July 31, 2025

Windows Latest flagged that well-known leaker Xeno posted on X that they've found a 'Taskbar Companion' feature, which is mentioned in settings (as well as some other bits and pieces, including gaming-related capabilities).

There's no explicit mention of AI here, but Windows Latest notes that it has previously heard Microsoft was thinking about adding AI actions to the taskbar, and that this could be the mentioned companion(s).

The site says that another regular leaker of Windows-related happenings on X, PhantomOfEarth, has pointed out that references to companions were in a Windows Server preview build last month - and that Windows 11 previews have witnessed a mention of 'agentic companions' for the taskbar.

Windows Latest also brings our attention to a string in a recent Windows 11 preview build that's related to controlling 'visibility of agentic companions on the taskbar'.

Consider all this together, and the obvious theory – remembering that it is just speculation which needs to be heavily seasoned at this point – is that the taskbar companion functionality is tied in with agentic AI in some way.

That term refers to an AI agent, or helper, that would be fired up via the taskbar.

Analysis: double agent

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

If you want to get an idea of what might be in store for the taskbar, look no further than the Settings app in Windows 11, which has just got an AI agent (for Copilot+ PCs only). This facilitates an intelligent search to find the options you need to tinker with in Settings, so you can throw out a query such as 'How do I change the speed that my mouse pointer moves at?' and the AI will find that option for you - and maybe even offer a recommended setting in some scenarios.

That's useful, no doubt, but the question is: how might AI functionality such as this work in the taskbar? At this point, your guess is as good as mine, but if you want the latter, it could be tied into managing notifications or the calendar (off the system tray).

Alternatively, as Windows Latest hints, it might power some form of recommendations, like apps you might want to install, or websites you may want to visit, which could be piped to you via the taskbar (Microsoft already has this kind of functionality in the Start menu, of course). I sincerely hope that isn't the case, but this is a concept Microsoft has toyed with a bit for the taskbar in the past.

The worrying thing for me is that I'm struggling to think of something that could be genuinely useful in this theorized AI-infused taskbar scenario (whereas the agent in Settings has some clear value in terms of pepping up search functionality). The concern, then, is that this would be a case of more AI just for the sake of it.

At any rate, we are still in the very early stages of progress here, with only the vaguest clues in the background of Windows 11 that something might be happening with AI agents in the taskbar. So, it's far from clear that Microsoft has any such plans - but then again, the addition of more AI in Windows 11 would hardly be a surprise (perhaps for Copilot+ PCs only, as is the case with the Settings agent).

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• Perplexity seen to be ignoring signals like robot.txt to scrape online sites
• It even found protected and hidden test sites from Cloudflare
• OpenAI adheres to responsible crawling, but Perplexity quiet for now

Cloudflare has accused AI giant Perplexity of scraping websites which explicitly disallowed crawling via robots.txt and other network-level rules by hiding its identity and conducting obfuscated crawling activity.

Researchers from the company said they observed Perplexity using multiple user agents, including one impersonating Google Chrome on macOS, as well as rotating IP addresses and ASNs to evade detection.

Alarmingly, Cloudflare detected millions of daily requests across tens of thousands of domains, highlighting the sheer scale of illegitimate scraping by one of the biggest companies in the space.

Perplexity is scraping sites it shouldn't be

According to Cloudflare's analysis, in many cases, Perplexity ignored or didn't fetch robots.txt files - which are plain-text files placed at the root of a site to tell automated agents (like search engines, AI crawlers and link checkers) which URLs may or may not be fetched.

Tellingly, Perplexity also attempted to access test websites Cloudflare created, even though they were blocked via robots.txt and not publicly discoverable, while using undeclared crawlers that weren't even associated with its official IP range.

"Although Perplexity initially crawls from their declared user agent, when they are presented with a network block, they appear to obscure their crawling identity in an attempt to circumvent the website’s preferences," the researchers write.

In response to its findings, Cloudflare has de-listed Perplexity's bots from its verified bots list. The company has also added new managed rule heuristics to detect and block stealth crawling.

In contrast, OpenAI's crawlers have so far respected robots.txt and block pages, using transparent identifiers and documented behavior to obtain information.

Perplexity denied wrongdoing, calling Cloudflare's post a "sales pitch", adding the identified bots weren't even theirs. TechRadar Pro has asked Perplexity for its comment.

Cloudflare urges bot operators to respect website preferences by being transparent, being well-behaved netizens, serving a clear purpose, using separate bots for separate activities and following rules and signals like robots.txt.

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• Battlefield 6 will be a "gritty and real" experience like earlier entries in the series
• Battlefield Studios UX director Alan Pimm said the game will have a different atmosphere to Battlefield 2042
• The developer also said it's "not a military sim" but "it's got enough of that grit that you feel it's believable"

According to EA, Battlefield 6 will be a modern military shooter inspired by earlier entries in the series and designed to be a "gritty and real" experience for players.

Speaking in an interview with TechRadar Gaming at the Battlefield 6 multiplayer reveal event, Battlefield Studios user experience director Alan Pimm said that the game's return to a modern setting after the futuristic Battlefield 2042 was something that the studio knew players wanted.

"Battlefield 3 and 4 were our strongest muses," Pimm said. "They were the ones that were in that same kind of modern frame, which is what people want. They don't want ultra-modern or futuristic. They want the weapons of today, that was the strong thing that came out of the research."

The developer said the upcoming shooter will look very different from 2042, particularly in terms of color palette and overall atmosphere, and will return "back to the grit" the series is best known for.

(Image credit: EA)

"It's remembering that dirt should be dirty. We're not a pristine, sterile environment anymore. You've got the dust, the particles, the mud... You're not running around in a hero cape," Pimm explained.

"You're not running around in a hero cape. You know you are the soldier on the battlefield with your friends in amongst the muck and the dust and the explosions. The fiber of everything we've done in this is going 'let's make it gritty. Let's make it gritty and real.'

"It's not military sim, that's not where we go, it's fun still, but it's got enough of that grit that you feel it's believable."

Battlefield 6 will launch on October 10, 2025, for PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and PC.

An early access period will begin on August 7-8, followed by open beta weekends on August 9-10 and on August 14-17.

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• A new Linux malware variant offers advanced features and evasion mechanisms
• It has already infected thousands of devices around the world
• Passwords, credit card info, and more, at risk

A brand new Linux malware has been found infecting thousands of computers around the world, stealing people’s login credentials, payment information, and browser cookies, security researchers are warning.

SentinelLabs and Beazley Security issued a joint report detailing the activities of PXA Stealer, a new Python-based infostealer for the Linux platform.

It was first spotted in late 2024, and has since grown into a formidable threat, successfully evading defense tools while wreaking havoc across the globe.

Side-loading

Since its inception, PSA Stealer has seen multiple iterations, with the latest one stealing information from roughly 40 browsers - saved passwords, cookies, personally identifiable information (PII), autofill data, authentication tokens, and more.

It can target browser extensions for various crypto wallets, including Exodus, Magic Eden, Crypto.com, and many others, and can pull data from sites such as Coinbase, Kraken, and PayPal. Finally, it can inject a DLL into running browser instances to bypass encryption mechanisms.

PSA Stealer is apparently being distributed through phishing emails and malicious landing pages. The malicious attachments contain a legitimate program (such as a PDF reader) and a weaponized DLL. The program sideloads the DLL, successfully deploying the malware while not raising any alarms.

More than 4,000 computers were infected with PSA Stealer in 62 countries, the two companies said, suggesting that the campaign is rather successful.

However, the attackers - who seem to be of Vietnamese origin - aren’t interested in using the stolen data themselves, and instead are selling it on the black market - in a Telegram group.

The majority of the victims are located in South Korea, the US, the Netherlands, Hungary, and Austria.

"Initially surfacing in late 2024, this threat has since matured into a highly evasive, multi-stage operation driven by Vietnamese-speaking actors with apparent ties to an organized cybercriminal Telegram-based marketplace that sells stolen victim data," the researchers explained. So far, more than 200,000 were stolen passwords, as well as hundreds of credit card information and more than four million cookies.

Via The Register

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The sweltering dog days of summer will soon be upon us in the northern hemisphere, and that means one thing: staying indoors with the fans blasting, curtains drawn, with one of the best streaming services pulled up on the TV.

While the cost of paying for every single streamer continues to steadily mount, with increased subscriptions biting deep into wallets everywhere, you can of course opt-out. Or, as it's known now; subscription hopping. Instead of holding subscriptions to every platform, pick and choose each month depending on what's available.

To help you figure out at least one of those, I've combed through the listings to see what's hot and what's not, and for August 2025? Hulu is toasty.

Why I want a Hulu subscription in August 2025

(Image credit: NBC)

I love Hulu. It's a platform I tend to keep *most* months due to its relationships with a lot of networks. Lots of current series drop weekly episodes on the platform from the likes of ABC, NBC, Fox, FX, CBS, and AMC and those same networks offer a glut of classic TV series, too.

So, before we're even contemplating the newer offerings for August, I'm happy with comfort watches like 2000s soap opera supreme, Desperate Housewives and classic comedy, Golden Girls.

For this month, Hulu is adding a whopping 104 new movies and 68 TV shows, but for me there is only one.

(Image credit: FX Networks)

Yep, it's Alien: Earth. I've remained cautiously optimistic about this show since it was first announced, even outlining lessons it could learn from Prometheus a few years back. This FX series hails from Fargo's Noah Hawley, and I could not be happier to see the return of the acid-blooded beasties in his hands. While Alien Romulus fell short for me, I hold out hope that this first small-screen foray into the world of Weyland-Yutani will remedy that.

Based on the tidbits released so far, the show takes place almost entirely….on earth, and delves into the history of the corporation behind the cinematic franchise. We'll meet the Yutani side of the business and discover an earth that's ripe with cyborgs, synthetics, and the newly-developed hybrids which combine human consciousness and humanoid robots. Oh, and the xenomorphs, of course. This reworking of the franchise sounds, on the surface, to be purposefully steering away from the Ripley-era of Alien – as the FX chief himself has stated – and focusing on a new cast of characters and environs. While that may be the case, I suspect the show will pack in plenty of easter eggs for die-hards.

The show premieres on Hulu (US) on August 12 and Disney+ (UK and Australia) with a two-episode drop, followed by single episodes each week. I cannot wait. Ahead of its release, you can catch up with the entire Alien film series also on Hulu and see how they stack up in my ranking of the franchise.

(Image credit: Touchstone Pictures / Amazon)

Elsewhere, the streamer boasts a slew of highly-rated movies this month and starts off August strong with quite the volume of feel-good comedy gold. 10 Things I Hate About You, Coyote Ugly (which just turned 25?!), The Devil Wears Prada, Old School, Practical Magic, The Proposal, Raising Arizona… the list goes on. This is the perfect line-up for the end of summer and they're all streaming now.

If you like your comedy bite-sized, then a title deserving of all the rewatches is of course Mike Judge and Greg Daniel's King of The Hill. Not only are all 13 original seasons streaming but the 14th season set in the present day dropped August 4.

As we head toward spooky season, you might want more genre-tinged vibes, and in that case, you're also in luck. August 1 finds Ready or Not joining the lineup as the sequel lands in cinemas next spring. Plenty of horror fans may need a refresher on the Radio Silence original before April. Also dropping at the start of the month are a couple of modern demonic possession flicks that are well worth a rewatch: Fede Alvarez's Evil Dead and The Exorcism of Emily Rose.

On the newer front, is Oz Perkins' blood-splattered The Monkey, which is the best Final Destination movie that's not a Final Destination movie, due to drop August 7. August 29 sees the release of Hell of A Summer, a camp-set slasher directed by and starring Stranger Things' Finn Wolfhard. What's not to be excited for this month?

…and why I'm waving bye bye to Prime Video

Look, it's not dire straits over on Prime Video this month. Among its new line up for August, there lie a few gems. 30 Rock and Hannibal – two of the best TV shows ever made – are joining the roster, but what about NEW titles?

That's my rub with Prime Video. There's seldom any must-see new offerings that warrant a subscription fee. If you didn't catch Wolf Man during its stint on Peacock, maybe hold onto Prime Video? But I'd wait to see if that remains in September, when they might hopefully add some more exciting accompanying titles.

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• The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra might be able to capture 47% more light than the S25 Ultra with its main camera
• This could massively improve low-light photos
• It might also support 60W charging

Two new leaks could spell good news for the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, as they point to improvements to both the main camera and the phone's charging speed.

First up, leaker @UniverseIce claims that the Galaxy S26 Ultra’s primary camera will be able to capture 47% more light than the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra’s, leading to “the biggest improvement in image quality in recent years”.

This is despite the phone reportedly having the same 200MP ISOCELL HP2 sensor as last year; instead, it's tipped to have a wider f/1.4 aperture (presumably thanks to a new lens).

A simple calculation shows that the amount of light entering the camera is increased by 47% compared to the S25 Ultra. https://t.co/YtX7xZ8bWrAugust 4, 2025

A wider aperture allows for more light, and the more light that can hit the sensor, the more detail it can capture – particularly in low-light photos. This should also help reduce noise in low-light shots.

This isn’t a completely new claim from @UniverseIce, but here they’ve gone into more detail than before, saying the exact aperture and increase in light capture. Of course, we’d take this with a pinch of salt until we’ve heard the same from more sources, but this leaker does have a good track record.

Faster charging but the same battery capacity

@UniverseIce also has more to say about the Galaxy S26 Ultra. In a recent post on Weibo (via Android Authority), they claim that the S26 Ultra has a 5,000mAh battery with 60W charging.

That would mean the same battery capacity as the Galaxy S25 Ultra, but charging power would be boosted from 45W. This also isn’t a new claim, but they’ve once again gone into more detail than before, adding that the phone will be capable of charging to 75% or 80% in half an hour.

That doesn’t sound bad, but it also doesn’t sound much, if any, better than the Galaxy S25 Ultra. However, they’ve added in a reply that this is official data, which can be “relatively conservative”, and that actual charging speeds could be closer to 90% in half an hour, which would be a bit faster than last year's best Samsung phone.

We’d take all of this with a pinch of salt, too, though, and we probably won’t know the official numbers for a while yet, as the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is unlikely to land before early 2026.

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• Nvidia and board partners are reportedly set to drop RTX 5000 series GPU prices across online retailers
• This is supposedly due to low sales and oversupply, after months of price inflation
• This comes amid another rumor that suggests Nvidia will soon launch Super GPU models for the Blackwell lineup

Scalpers have been out of the discussion in the GPU market for a long while, since prices for Nvidia and AMD cards were marked up across multiple retailers – but it looks like this may become an issue again, amid good news for Team Green fans.

According to board channels on Chiphell, Nvidia and its board partners are reportedly set to reduce RTX 5000 series GPU prices as early as this month, due to 'low terminal sales' and 'oversupply'. It comes after rumors that Team Green will introduce Super GPU models for the RTX 5000 series later this holiday season.

Nvidia is yet to provide any confirmation on this. Still, there's a mixture of Founders Edition and board partner GPUs available across retailers such as Best Buy in the US and Scan in the UK – and notably, at original retail prices or lower, which lends some credibility to this Chiphell rumor.

It's been a slight contrast to the usual proceedings in the GPU market; typically, consumers are left to battle against scalpers to acquire new GPUs, but since inflation and tariffs have left prices at retailers skyrocketing, demand has been low – but if this report is legitimate, that may quickly change, once scalpers catch wind of lower retail prices.

Fortunately, Nvidia already has a solution to combat scalpers, which is its 'Verified Priority Access' scheme, allowing consumers to purchase new GPUs. However, it's a matter of whether it decides to use it on a wider scale, since it's mostly limited to certain regions.

(Image credit: NVIDIA)Analysis: the Verified Priority Access scheme is Nvidia's one-way ticket to get back in fans' good books

Again, the rumor regarding GPU price drops isn't confirmed, so nothing is set in stone, but if this is true, Nvidia would do best to use the buyer scheme to its full extent. While I don't think there's a way to completely defeat scalpers, I do think this is the ideal method to soften their impact.

The Verified Priority Access scheme allows those who have made an Nvidia account on or before a certain date (recently January 30), to gain a special invitation to purchase a Founders Edition GPU. This won't cover board partner GPUs, but it will at least give more consumers an opportunity for an upgrade.

I have no doubts that scalping will become a widespread issue again, and frankly, I'm surprised it hasn't already begun, since there are plenty of units at retail price available right now.

Fortunately, though, it'll be a great move by Team Green for its fans, as there's been plenty of criticism during its RTX 5000 series launch due to driver issues, missing specs on GPUs (specifically ROPs), and low availability.

It will be interesting to see how things pan out if prices begin to plummet even further, and I'd advise keeping an eye out on online retailers for any sudden developments.

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• ChatGPT is getting new well-being features
• Users will be encouraged to take breaks during long sessions
• OpenAI is consulting with health professionals

AI chatbots are now regularly being used for various types of emotional support – as therapists, for example, or as dating advisors – and OpenAI has announced new changes to its ChatGPT bot that should look after it users' health and well-being.

"To us, helping you thrive means being there when you're struggling, helping you stay in control of your time, and guiding – not deciding – when you face personal challenges," explains OpenAI in a new blog post.

Several new features are being rolled out to encourage healthier interactions, including "gentle reminders" during "long sessions" that will ask if you think it's time to take a break or you'd rather carry on chatting to the AI.

OpenAI also says ChatGPT is going to get better at spotting "signs of mental or emotional distress", and if they are detected, will guide users towards appropriate resources – rather than doing anything to make the situation worse.

High-stakes personal decisions

ChatGPT will now prompt you to take breaks (Image credit: OpenAI)

Users are posing important life questions such as 'should I break up with my boyfriend?' to AI these days – though it's not clear why they would think a Large Language Model would have anything insightful to say on the matter.

When these types of questions about "high-stakes personal decisions" crop up, OpenAI says, ChatGPT will refrain from giving direct answers. Instead, it will help users weigh up the pros and cons and think about what their options are.

In addition, OpenAI says it's speaking to experts in mental and physical health to better understand how to handle chats with people who could be in a vulnerable state of mind while they're interacting with ChatGPT.

These improvements are an ongoing work in progress, the blog post goes on to say, so you might not see all of these tweaks appear right away. In the meantime, we're awaiting the long-rumored launch of GPT-5, which could appear in the next few weeks.

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• Leaked renders show the Pixel 10 and Pixel 10 Pro from numerous angles
• These give us a clear look at the front and sides of these phones
• The Pixel 10 is pictured in a new Frost shade

At this point, we have a fairly good idea of what to expect from the design of the Google Pixel 10 and the Pixel 10 Pro, especially since Google itself has shown off both phones through a combination of intentional teasers and accidental leaks. So far, though, we’ve mostly been seeing the backs of the devices, but a new leak shows the front and sides too.

Android Headlines has shared renders of both the Pixel 10 and the Pixel 10 Pro, in collaboration with @OnLeaks (a leaker with a great track record), some of which you can see below. While there’s little to say about the backs of these phones – since Google has already shown those off – there are some details elsewhere that are worth noting.

You can see, for example, that both devices have a punch-hole camera at the top of their respective flat screens, and that they also both have quite sizable bezels, with even the Pixel 10 Pro appearing to have larger bezels than, for instance, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra.

Image 1 of 2

A leaked render of the Google Pixel 10 (Image credit: Android Headlines / @OnLeaks)Image 2 of 2

A leaker render of the Google Pixel 10 Pro (Image credit: Android Headlines / @OnLeaks)

You can also see that both handsets have power and volume keys on the right edge, and no buttons on the left.

Colors and specs

The Pixel 10 Pro is shown in an Obsidian shade, but Android Headlines claims it will also be sold in Porcelain, Moonstone (a slate blue), and Jade, all of which matches up with previous leaks.

The Pixel 10 is shown in a new Frost shade, and while Android Headlines doesn’t list the other expected colors here, we’ve previously heard that it could additionally be sold in Obsidian, Indigo, and Limoncello (a greenish yellow).

Android Headlines has also included some specs, with the Google Pixel 10 said to have a 6.3-inch screen, a Tensor G5 chipset, 12GB of RAM, up to 256GB of storage, a 48MP main camera, a 12MP ultra-wide, and a 10.8MP telephoto.

The Google Pixel 10 Pro apparently has a Tensor G5 chipset, 16GB of RAM, up to 1TB of storage, and a 4,870mAh battery.

We’ll find out how accurate this all is soon, as Google is set to unveil the entire Pixel 10 line – which is expected to also include the Pixel 10 Pro XL and the Pixel 10 Pro Fold – on August 20.

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• EA executive vice president Vince Zampella has confirmed that Battlefield 6 won't work on the Steam Deck
• He says there are other "non-Steam Deck handheld platforms that it will work on"
• There are no current plans to bring the game to Nintendo Switch 2

EA has confirmed that Battlefield 6 won't work on the Steam Deck, but that there are other PC handhelds on which the game will run on.

That's according to EA executive vice president Vince Zampella, who verified the lack of Steam Deck support in an interview with PCGamesN at the Battlefield 6 multiplayer reveal event, when asked about the game potentially running on PC gaming handhelds like Valve's console or the ASUS ROG Ally.

"It does not work on Steam Deck," Zampella said. "I think there are some non-Steam Deck handheld platforms that it will work on, probably, right? But I don't think, you know, it's probably not the best way to play the game."

Although the executive didn't offer a reason why the upcoming first-person shooter won't run on the Steam Deck, it's likely due to EA's anti-cheat software, which is incompatible with Linux.

In terms of the Nintendo Switch 2, Zampella also confirmed that EA doesn't have any current plans to bring Battlefield 6 to the latest console.

"We're not doing Switch yet," he said. "Well, I'm not saying we are. I'm just saying we're not considering it right now."

During the multiplayer reveal event, it was announced that Battlefield 6 will launch on October 10, 2025, for PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and PC.

There will also be an early access period beginning August 7-8, followed by open betas on August 9-10, then again on August 14-17.

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• YouTube is introducing AI age checks in the US to filter inappropriate content
• Machine learning will base decisions on searched videos and categories, among other criteria
• This announcement follows the recent blocking of YouTube in Australia for minors and restrictions on social media in the UK

YouTube has announced the introduction of AI-based checks to determine the age of viewers.

This news comes days after a complete ban on YouTube access for under-16s in Australia, and the introduction of age verification checks in the UK under the Online Safety Act.

Trialing the technology with a sample audience in the US, YouTube plans to expand it across the country, tailoring experiences based on the viewer’s age.

This doesn’t just mean blocking unsuitable content. Personalized advertising will also be disabled for children, while older viewers will be required to provide government-issued ID to confirm their age if the AI gets it wrong.

YouTube’s “built-in protections”

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

In a blog post, Director of Product Management for YouTube Youth, James Beser, wrote that "machine learning age estimation" is being employed to protect teens on YouTube.

Distinguishing the new measures from previous incentives such as YouTube Kids and supervised accounts for teens, Beser explained that the platform would work towards presenting age-appropriate videos.

"Over the next few weeks, we’ll begin to roll out machine learning to a small set of users in the US to estimate their age, so that teens are treated as teens and adults as adults," said Beser.

Machine learning will record the searches and video categories, and the AI will make decisions based on these and other factors, including the age of the account.

"This technology will allow us to infer a user’s age and then use that signal, regardless of the birthday in the account, to deliver our age-appropriate product experiences and protections," Beser adds.

These protections include disabling personalized advertising when children are watching, and switching on digital wellbeing tools. (These currently include break reminders, daily timers, and even a bedtime reminder.) In addition, recommendations will be safeguarded, with blocks on some repeated content.

These measures would seem to be VPN-proof, too. There would be no point any government banning VPNs if the AI-based measures are universal and cannot be circumvented.

What's next?

Over the years, criticism of YouTube’s granular content controls has resulted in a subscription service (YouTube Kids), supervised accounts, and Google Family Link integration.

The timing of this announcement, following the decision to include YouTube in Australia’s under-16s social media ban, cannot be a coincidence.

After all, it looks like this is not just a US-only endeavor. “We are now bringing it to the US, and as we make progress, we’ll roll it out in other markets,” Beser writes.

Considering recent events, the UK would seem to be high on that list of markets, followed by key EU nations imposing age verification measures.

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• Big Sleep AI-powered vulnerability hunter built by DeepMind and Project Zero
• The first batch of 20 vulnerabilities it has spotted have been announced
• Details are under wraps to give devs time to patch them

Google's AI-powered tool designed to find bugs, Big Sleep, has reported its first batch of 20 security vulnerabilities in open source software.

Developed by AI and security teams from Google's DeepMind and Project Zero, the first vulnerabilities were found in the likes of FFmpeg and ImageMagick, however details of those vulnerabilities remain undisclosed until they have been patched.

Google says Big Sleep marks a significant step forward in app security, with AI capable of autonomously uncovering and reporting vulnerabilities more effectively than human security workers.

Big Sleep digs up the dirt on open source software bugs

Each of the 20 bugs was found and reproduced autonomously by Big Sleep, though Google notes that a human expert does review the findings before making reports public - with human review important to temper worries over false positives or hallucinated bugs by ensuring the issues are worthy of being reported to their respective developers.

Finer details like CVE IDs, technical explanations and proofs of concept are withheld for now under Google's 90-day policy to give developers time to patch the vulnerabilities without attackers getting in first.

"By November 2024, Big Sleep was able to find its first real-world security vulnerability, showing the immense potential of AI to plug security holes before they impact users," President of Global Affairs Kent Walker boasted in a blog post.

VP for Security Engineering, Heather Adkins, announced the news in an X post: "Today as part of our commitment to transparency in this space, we are proud to announce that we have reported the first 20 vulnerabilities discovered using our AI-based "Big Sleep" system powered by Gemini."

Google keeps a full list of vulnerabilities, which currently includes the first 20, separated into high, medium and low impact issues.

Google plans a full technical briefing at the upcoming Black Hat USA and DEF CON 33 events, and will donate anonymized training data to the Secure AI Framework so other researchers can benefit from the tech.

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• A limited edition 8BitDo controller celebrating Rare's 40th anniversary has been spotted at Amazon
• The blue/yellow gamepad features emblems from the developer's most iconic titles
• It's revealed shortly after the cancellation of Everwild, which would've been the studio's next big game

It's definitely been a trying year for Rare, but there is at least something to shout about for fans of the legendary Twycross-based developer in the form of a limited edition 8BitDo controller.

This 8BitDo Ultimate controller for Xbox consoles and PC has been spotted over at Amazon (via Eurogamer), and is intended to celebrate the company's 40th anniversary. No release date has been revealed yet, and it seems like it'll only be available to US audiences at present.

It's definitely one of the nicest limited edition 8BitDo controllers to date, featuring a blue and yellow color scheme reminiscent of the developer's logo. It's also emblazoned with iconography from some of its most renowned titles, including Sea of Thieves and Banjo-Kazooie. There's even a banana there as a cheeky nod to the Donkey Kong Country series as well as Donkey Kong 64.

If you're unfamiliar with the 8BitDo controller, it's a bit of a revelation in the third-party gamepad space. It features Hall effect thumbsticks made to combat drift, two remappable buttons for secondary inputs, and a 2.4GHz dongle for wireless connectivity.

The 8BitDo Ultimate also includes a charging dock in the box, for a clever and easy way to keep the pad topped up. I consider it to be one of the best Xbox controllers and best Nintendo Switch controllers on the market today.

I can't help but feel bittersweet about the reveal of this controller, though. While Sea of Thieves is a tremendous game and continues to enjoy a dedicated player base, Rare's 40th year hasn't exactly been smooth-sailing.

The developer's next game, Everwild, was recently canceled. This is in spite of comments from Xbox boss Phil Spencer back in February of this year, where he claimed the game's development was progressing. Rare also created the Perfect Dark series, an immersive sim-esque reboot of which was also shuttered along with its developer The Initiative amidst another round of Xbox Game Studios layoffs.

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Marvel Rivals Season 3.5 will launch next week, adding a brand new Hero into the mix, and refreshing Competitive Mode ranks and rewards. We've now had the full reveal on what's set to change, including details on Blade, the new Team Ups, and all incoming buffs and nerfs.

What's new in Marvel Rivals?

(Image credit: NetEase)

Marvel Rivals will be launching into Season 3.5 later this week, and NetEase has shared the full roadmap for the new update. Looks like we'll be getting a new event alongside the launch of Season 3.5, and can look forward to skins for Peni Parker, Scarlet Witch, and Iron Man in the future. For full info on what's set to be added on August 8, visit our Marvel Rivals patch notes guide.

In my Marvel Rivals review, I praised the game's huge suite of Heroes, and the surprising amount of depth found when trying out each one. With Season 3.5, there's set to be another Hero added, as well as an overhaul to the roadmap. Since its launch, Marvel Rivals has changed quite a bit, adding smart changes to Competitive Mode while giving players something to work toward. It's consistent updates like this that make Marvel Rivals a worthy inclusion in our best PC Games of 2025 list.

Here's everything you need to know about the next season of Marvel Rivals, including when the current one ends, and what to expect from the new Heroes that are being added. As release day draws nearer, I'll update this page with all of the latest news and info.

When is the next season of Marvel Rivals?

(Image credit: NetEase)

Marvel Rivals Season 3.5 will launch following downtime that's planned for August 8, 2025. This is according to recent info given by NetEase alongside the full reveal of Season 3.5.

When does the current season of Marvel Rivals end?

(Image credit: NetEase)

Marvel Rivals Season 3 will end on August 8 at 5AM EDT / 2AM PDT / 10AM BST, for a few hours of downtime before the launch of the new season. Keep an eye on the official Marvel Rivals website for any changes.

Marvel Rivals Season 3.5 new Team Up changes

(Image credit: NetEase)

Marvel Rivals Season 3.5 brings in a bunch of new Team Ups, while removing existing ones. The first new one adds Luna Snow and Adam Warlock, unlocking powerful synergistic healing. Here's what changed:

• Duality Dance: Luna Snow, Adam Warlock (NEW)
• Vibrant Vitality: Mantis, Groot, Loki (NEW)
• Ever-Burning Bond: Human Torch, Spider-Man (Balance Changes)
• Atlas Bond: Luna Snow, Iron Fist (Removed)
• Guardian Revival: Adam Warlock, Star Lord, Mantis (Removed)
• Chilling Assault: Luna Snow, Hawkeye, Iron Fist (Iron Fist added)
• Lunar Force: Cloak & Dagger, Moon Knight, Blade (Blade added)
• Ragnarok Rebirth: Hela, Loki, Thor (Loki adjusted)
• Rocket Network: Peni Parker, Rocket Raccoon, Star Lord (Star Lord added)

Marvel Rivals latest Hero balancing changes

In the Developer Vision video you can view above, some general balance updates applied to Marvel Rivals alongside the latest seasonal update are explained in full. We've collected the key points in the list below:

• Hero balancing (buffs): Star Lord, Iron Fist, Spider-Man, Dr Strange, Groot, Thor, Adam Warlock,
• Hero Balancing (nerfs): Black Panther, Wolverine, Magneto, Mantis, Cloak & Dagger
• New Hero schedule: One per month from Season 3 onwards
• New mode: Resource Rumble
• Maps: Throne of Knull
• Competitive Mode: New ranked rewards, increased penalties for quitting, point compensation
• Misc: Voice-Chat monitoring, text chat filtering, shader compilation changes

Marvel Rivals Blade

Blade is the main Hero being added for Marvel Rivals Season 3.5. He's a Duelist that wields a shotgun and a sword. He can use the sword to block incoming damage, and has an arcing leap ability to close the distance. His Ultimate ability deals massive damage over a large area with the sword.

Marvel Rivals next season FAQWho was the last Hero to be added to Marvel Rivals?

Phoenix was the last Hero to be added to Marvel Rivals. She's a ranged Duelist that deals great burst damage with flaming attacks. She has a dash to escape diving enemies, and her Ultimate is great for clearing the battlefield of support items like spider-mines, Loki clones, and Rocket revive hubs.

Who are the next characters coming to Marvel Rivals?

The next Hero that'll be added to Marvel Rivals is Blade. Beyond that we don't know who's set to arrive in Season 4, though we only have a month to wait now.

What season is Marvel Rivals in?

Marvel Rivals is currently in Season 3. This started on July 11, and should run through to August 8. We'll then be in Season 3.5.

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When I first started as an engineer in the semiconductor industry, we worked on pretty boring electronics. Laptops, portable phones, gaming computers – not the most exciting stuff by today’s standards. Then some smart engineer on the U.S. West Coast took a portable mobile phone and a portable computer, stuffed them into each other and called it a smartphone. It’s basically a data display device. And we were super proud of our smartphones.

And when these data display devices were combined with big storage and big compute in the cloud, well that’s what enabled an on-demand world. A world that allows us to order whatever we want with only a couple of clicks.

Now, after decades of technology advancements, we are moving from an on-demand world, to one that anticipates our needs and automates to address them. In this world an ever-growing number of connected systems – cars, smart homes, factory floor sensors, healthcare devices – process data right where it’s captured.

At the intelligent edge, manual devices transform into autonomous and responsible robots. These robots will be powered by engineering innovations, new design processes, and advances in sensors and AI.

What can we expect in this new world? Think about this for a minute. Over the next few decades, our homes will be able to predict maintenance needs, keep our families safe, and even order food for the fridge. Sound more like dream than reality? I am telling you - it is not. And it’s more than just our homes. Driving will be entirely automated too, and cars themselves will be convenience spaces where you can relax or work while you ride.

This intelligent world is closer than you think. But how will we get there?

Creating our digital twins

One of the most important steps toward autonomous and responsible robots has been underway for decades: the creation of digital twins. These are virtual models of physical objects, located within the cloud. For an individual, that might be the state of your health, wealth, and your physical presence. It also applies to homes, businesses, hospitals, and even cars.

But simply digitizing the physical world will only take us so far. We need to enable this digital world to reach out to its physical counterpart. In doing so, these digital twins will be able to connect with each other, optimize and learn from each other. Then, and this is the critical part, they apply that knowledge in the real world. Only once we achieve this, can autonomous robots truly become a reality.

From manual machines to autonomous robots

We need to enable machines to sense, think, connect, and act in our physical world. And what is most important, we need to make sure they always do so responsibly – with safety and security at the core of everything they do. Because you will never hand over control to a robot that you do not trust.

Largely, building acting machines has been achieved over the past 140 years. These machines have just always required a human to provide input or oversight. More recently, connectivity challenges have been solved in the 1990s and early 2000s. Now our real challenges lie in enabling machines to sense and think.

The automotive industry is a clear example of where we’ve fallen short here so far. Around 2016, everyone thought that self-driving cars were around the corner. Theoretically, we had the technology to make them work. Yet fully autonomous driving still remains out of reach. So, what went wrong?

The gap between the autonomous driving future that was predicted, and today’s reality comes from a fundamental misunderstanding of AI systems. We thought that simply having an AI system that’s trained on how we drive would be enough.

It’s like expecting to be able to hand the keys to your teenager and letting them drive simply because they’d been in the car with you for years. In the real world, people need to train and pass deterministic tests before they are given a driver’s license. That layer of trust, safety, and security is what was missing.

Enabling the brain shift

To get the safety and security part right, today’s AI (the brain of the robot) requires a new approach. And where better to look for inspiration than the human brain itself.

Our brains are largely broken into three areas: the cerebrum facilitates perception, the cerebellum coordinates action and vital functions, and the brain stem regulates real time functions and powers reflexes. For humans, all of these are crucial. But for robots, it depends on their use.

Back to the autonomous car example, the highest priority is function and safety. For this, we need reflexes and coordination in conjunction with sensors. For a self-driving car, that translates at a base level to functional and safe power management and a real-time neural information transportation system.

Or in other words, reliable Power Management Integrated Circuits (PMIC) and processors that can handle all the information that comes in from a vast array of sensors.

Beyond that, you need modular software building blocks. This is because it’s software that defines how autonomous vehicles function. Having pre-built blocks of software also means that production can be adapted even at scale.

If you’ve got building blocks for compute, networking, power management, and more, you can minimize the time spent on basic functionality. With that, you can invest more effort into bringing products to market or solving difficult challenges.

While self-driving cars are the most familiar example today, this brain shift taking place is laying the groundwork for other intelligent machines in the future.

Building on intelligent foundations

Re-engineering the robot brain is important, but it’s not only thing needed for a world that anticipates and automates. We also need ongoing improvements to sensors, along with a common language to enable interoperability across these robots. These are all areas where we are making rapid progress: with high-resolution radar, ultra-wideband signals, and the Matter standard to name just a few innovations.

A better world built around autonomous and proactive robots might feel like a concept from science fiction. But if you look at the advances making our vehicles, our homes and our factories smarter and safer today, it’s clear we’re laying the right foundations.

We have kicked the door open towards a world that anticipates and automates – now industry players, academia, researchers, engineers, and policy makers have the chance to bring this “robot awakening” to reality – and create a truly intelligent and trusted future.

We list the best Robotic Process Automation (RPA) software.

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

The European Accessibility Act (EAA) took effect on June 28, 2025, introducing new legal requirements for digital accessibility across the European Union (EU).

A 2024 WebAIM study found that 97% of the world’s leading websites do not currently meet compliance standards. The EAA applies to companies providing digital products and services in the EU, regardless of where they are based. This means businesses in the US, Asia and elsewhere will also need to ensure compliance.

Many companies are unprepared because accessibility is not seen as a priority. According to a recent Storyblok report, 18.5% of surveyed companies were completely unaware of the EAA, and 16% had not yet started making necessary changes. Even among those that have knowledge of the EAA, only a quarter feel fully prepared.

A lack of resources, technical complexity and low awareness at the leadership level contribute to the slow pace of progress. Accessibility is also often treated as a compliance issue rather than an integral part of digital strategy, which leads to delays in implementation.

Failure to comply

Failing to comply with the EAA comes with financial and operational risks. Fines range from €5,000 to €20,000 per violation, with additional penalties for ongoing non-compliance. Businesses that do not meet the requirements may also face reputational damage, loss of customers and restrictions on selling products or services in the EU.

Putting aside the legal implications, it’s worth remembering that accessibility affects a significant portion of the population, with more than 135 million people in the EU living with some form of disability. Companies that do not address accessibility risk excluding a substantial number of potential customers.

Businesses do not need to overhaul their entire IT infrastructure overnight, but they do need to start making changes. Conducting an accessibility audit is a good first step. Websites and digital products should be tested against Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 standards.

While automated tools like Lighthouse and Axe can help flag common issues, manual testing is also necessary. Involving users who rely on assistive technologies provides valuable insight into usability challenges.

Improving accessibility

A headless content management system (CMS) can also make accessibility improvements easier. Separating content from design allows businesses to implement accessibility features consistently across different platforms without needing to redo everything from scratch. Companies should also prioritize smaller, manageable updates such as adding alternative text to images, improving color contrast and ensuring keyboard navigation works correctly while planning more extensive updates in the long term.

Employee training is critical. Accessibility needs to be embedded into company culture and everyday business processes. Regular training ensures that developers, designers and content creators understand best practices and apply them in their work. Compliance teams should also keep up with regulatory updates, as accessibility requirements will continue to develop.

Beyond compliance

Beyond compliance, accessibility offers a business advantage. Research from Storyblok shows that 69% of companies recognize accessibility as a way to improve customer experience and engagement. Digital products designed with accessibility in mind tend to be more user-friendly for everyone, not just those with disabilities. Investing in accessibility now can also prepare businesses for future technological developments, such as voice search and AI-driven user interfaces, which will benefit from inclusive design.

A common misconception is that improving accessibility means starting from scratch. In reality, small changes can have a big impact. Adding captions to videos, ensuring text descriptions for all non-text content and enabling text resizing without loss of functionality are straightforward but effective adjustments. Keyboard accessibility is another critical aspect, as many users rely on keyboards or alternative input devices to navigate digital interfaces.

Businesses that prioritize accessibility often see direct commercial gains. For example, retailers that optimize their websites for accessibility have reported increased conversions, as customers with disabilities, often an underserved market, find it easier to complete transactions. Financial institutions that improve accessibility features in online banking have seen an increase in customer retention and trust. The demand for inclusive digital experiences is growing and organizations that act now can establish themselves as leaders in this space.

Increasing scrutiny

Regulatory bodies are also increasing scrutiny on compliance. In some countries, lawsuits related to web accessibility have surged, with high-profile cases leading to costly settlements. Large companies have faced legal action for failing to provide accessible digital experiences and these cases are expected to become more common as awareness grows. For multinational businesses, aligning with accessibility standards is not just about meeting the minimum EU requirements but also establishing best practices that will serve them globally.

There is no time to waste. The transition period before enforcement is running out and businesses that wait until the last-minute risk rushed implementations that may still fall short of compliance. Accessibility should be viewed as an ongoing process rather than a one-time fix. Regular audits, user testing and engagement with accessibility experts can help companies stay on track and adapt to future regulations.

Technology also continues to develop and businesses that embed web accessibility into their digital strategies will be better positioned for emerging innovations. AI-driven accessibility tools, voice interfaces and adaptive design techniques are transforming how users interact with digital content. Organizations that invest in accessibility now will be better prepared for these shifts making digital services easier to use across a wider range of users and devices.

Investing in accessibility

Organizations that take a structured approach - starting with audits, implementing incremental improvements and investing in accessibility training will be in a stronger position to comply with regulations and serve a wider audience.

Accessibility should be treated like any other core compliance risk: it needs clear ownership, regular reporting, and cross-functional collaboration. Working closely with developers, designers, and legal teams will help surface issues early and prevent gaps in future projects. Waiting until next year is likely to mean rushed fixes and greater exposure. Building the right internal processes now will reduce that risk and make ongoing compliance more manageable.

Compliance professionals must act decisively. The EAA is a fundamental shift in how digital services must be designed and delivered. Failing to act in time could expose organizations to legal scrutiny, increased litigation risks and potential exclusion from key markets. Regulators will not view accessibility failures as minor oversights but as breaches of consumer rights.

Key Takeaways

Compliance teams should take a proactive approach, conducting thorough risk assessments to identify where their digital services fall short. Establishing internal policies and governance frameworks will be critical, ensuring accessibility is embedded into all future development work. Training employees, integrating accessibility checks into procurement processes and working closely with IT and legal teams will help organizations maintain compliance beyond the 2025 deadline.

Meeting accessibility standards requires sustained effort. Ongoing updates, oversight and accountability are essential to remain compliant over time. Businesses that prioritize it now will meet regulatory demands but, more importantly, position themselves as leaders in ethical and responsible digital practices.

Key Takeaways:

1.Businesses operating in the EU must comply, regardless of where they are based.

2.A lack of awareness, technical challenges, and limited resources are common barriers.

3.Non-compliance carries financial penalties and reputational risks. It can also limit market access within the EU.

4.Practical steps, such as accessibility audits, CMS updates and staff training, can help businesses meet requirements.

5.Improving accessibility benefits all users and makes digital platforms more user-friendly. It is a long-term investment, not just a compliance issue.

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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

Security operations are under pressure from all sides. Threats are faster, attack surfaces are expanding, and demands on people and tools continue to grow. At the center of it all, one constant holds: Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) remains a cornerstone of the modern SOC. According to a recent 2025 Security Operations Insights Report, nine in ten security and IT leaders still consider SIEM essential to safeguarding their organizations.

This underscores a core truth: SIEM isn’t outdated. It’s indispensable. But like any critical system, it must adapt to meet today’s realities and tomorrow’s risks.

The future of SIEM isn’t about ripping and replacing the industry itself. It’s about reimagining how it can better serve security teams, moving from static log aggregation and reactive alerts to intelligent automation, real-time insight, and proactive defense. The shift is already underway with AI as the catalyst. It’s changing not only what SIEM platforms can do, but how teams interact with them day to day.

The limitations of traditional SIEM

SIEM emerged in response to the industry demand for centralized visibility and log correlation across digital environments, enabling teams to sift through overwhelming event data and generate alerts in early-generation SOCs. And while first-generation SIEM delivered many improvements to SecOps, it has long struggled with more sophisticated capabilities like real-time analysis and alert accuracy.

Over time, these shortcomings have intensified. Security teams receive thousands of alerts per day across countless services, and nearly half of those alerts remain uninvestigated due to their volume and talent scarcity. Workflows are fragmented, triage is time-consuming, and teams are forced to manually gather context across disparate tools.

These daily pressures are contributing to widespread burnout and fatigue across the cybersecurity workforce, costing U.S. enterprises over $600 million in lost productivity each year. The result is slower detection, delayed response, and greater risk exposure.

This points to a growing disconnect between what SIEM delivers and what organizations need. While the core concept behind SIEM remains essential, most tools today fall short of delivering the speed, scalability and intelligence required to defend today’s digital environments. The Security Operations Insights Report also found that, of the security and IT leaders that view SIEM as relevant, three-fourths are actively considering alternatives.

The case for Intelligent SecOps

The growing strain on security teams has made one thing clear: SIEM platforms have an opportunity to evolve into a service that realistically supports the needs and environments that teams work in today. Intelligent SecOps represents this shift: a model where the core principles of SIEM are preserved, but transformed through AI, automation and cloud-native scale.

According to the same survey, 90% of security leaders see AI as an extremely or very important factor in their decision to adopt a new security solution. These leaders are looking for tools that not only collect data, but help them act on it – faster, smarter, and with greater context.

1. Smarter Triage: Less Noise, More Signal

AI models help reduce false positives by continuously learning from threat intelligence, analyst feedback and environmental patterns. By enriching and prioritizing alerts, these systems elevate the most actionable signals, helping teams focus on the threats that truly matter.

2. Automated Investigations and Contextual Enrichment

Modern SIEM platforms powered by AI offer more than detection. Rather, they automate early-stage investigations by enriching alerts with context, mapping related events and visualizing likely attack paths. Assistive tools like AI copilots can surface key insights instantly, reducing manual work and accelerating decision-making.

3. Proactive Threat Detection with Behavioral Analytics

AI tools enable behavior-based detection that goes beyond static rules or known indicators. By identifying deviations from normal patterns across users, endpoints and applications, these systems surface stealthy or evolving threats. Integrated frameworks like MITRE ATT&CK help contextualize behaviors and link them to known adversary tactics.

4. Accelerated Response Through Automation

With enriched alerts and intelligent correlation, teams can move faster from detection to containment. AI-powered workflows and playbooks enable automated responses, such as isolating hosts or disabling credentials, reducing the window of exposure and freeing analysts to focus on strategic analysis.

5. Cross-Environment Correlation and Real-Time Normalization

As digital environments stretch across cloud, on-prem and SaaS, AI helps normalize and correlate telemetry in real-time, surfacing threats that span infrastructure boundaries. This eliminates blind spots and supports unified investigation across an increasingly complex attack surface.

SIEM as a strategic partner

As threats grow more dynamic and resources remain constrained, the tools security teams rely on must become more than just dashboards. They must become intelligent partners. The evolution toward Intelligent SecOps is not just a technology upgrade. It’s a shift in how teams work, how they scale and how they think about risk. It reflects a broader change in mindset, away from reactive firefighting and toward resilient, intelligence-led operations.

The SOCs of tomorrow will not be defined by how many alerts they generate, but by how intelligently and efficiently they respond. AI-powered SIEM is at the heart of that move towards Intelligent SecOps, bringing clarity to chaos and action to insight.

We've listed the best Robotic Process Automation (RPA) software.

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