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• The iPhone 17 may not get a chipset upgrade, according to a noted analyst
• But a smaller and more efficient Dynamic Island could be added instead
• Other iPhone 17 models are expected to get chipset upgrades

A noted industry analyst has suggested that the iPhone 17 might not get a processor upgrade, instead launching with the same chipset as the current-generation model.

Jeff Pu, Apple analyst at equity research firm GF Securities, has suggested the next iPhone will skip the usual chipset upgrade and continue to use the A18 chipset found in the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus.

If this tipoff turns out the be true, it’d be Apple’s second time launching a phone without a chipset upgrade. In 2022, the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus launched to mixed reactions when it was revealed that Apple had equipped both phones with the same A15 chipset found in the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini.

As PhoneArena reports, the iPhone 17 could be the only iPhone 17 launch model to come with an A18 chipset – the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are both expected to get the A19 Pro chipset, while the new iPhone 17 Air is tipped to get the A19.

Minor design differences

While the iPhone 17 Pro is tipped to get a design overhaul (Image credit: Front Page Tech / @asherdipps‬)

So, is Apple in for a second round of side-eye from critics and customers? Maybe. If the latest iPhone 17 rumors are to be believed, Apple’s next base-model flagship will be the only one not to get some kind of major redesign with this year’s series.

The iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max are expected to get large camera bars a la the Google Pixel 9, and the iPhone 17 Air is tipped to get a new thin-and-light chassis with a single camera.

That would leave the regular iPhone 17 as the only one of its series without some kind of design update, drawing even more attention to its similarities to last year’s model.

A new Dynamic Island?

The iPhone 17 Pro is tipped to get a smaller Dynamic Island (Image credit: Apple)

Separate rumors suggest that the next vanilla could at least benefit from a Dynamic Island upgrade coming to the entire iPhone 17 lineup.

Prior hints from Jeff Pu pointed to a reduced Dynamic Island using a metalens for Face ID, meaning a lens that compacts the transmitter and receiver into one component. As MacRumors reports, the suggestion was shared in an investor note issued by Pu earlier this month.

However, fellow Apple analyst and well-regarded tipster Ming-Chi Kuo said in January that they don’t expect much of a change when it comes to the size of the Dynamic Island.

We're expecting the iPhone 17 series to launch later this year. Would you buy an iPhone 17 that doesn’t come with an upgraded chipset? Would a smaller Dynamic Island be enough of an update to its design? Let us know in the comments below.

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“They don’t really make life decisions without asking ChatGPT what they should do.” That’s what OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said about Gen Z during a talk at Sequoia Capital’s AI Ascent event recently.

It wasn’t exactly shocking, more like confirmation of something many of us already suspected and what AI research points to. People are using ChatGPT for far more than proofreading emails or brainstorming ideas these days. It’s become a tool for thinking, weighing up options, and sometimes, making deeply personal decisions.

In many ways, this makes sense, especially for Gen Z. This is a generation that grew up online, shaped by climate anxiety, economic instability, and digital intimacy. Turning to an AI tool like ChatGPT for life advice might seem concerning to some of us, but it also tells us something more interesting about how we think, trus,t and make decisions now.

And, while Altman was specifically talking about Gen Z here, they’re not the only ones using ChatGPT this way. His broader point was that ChatGPT usage shifts by age group. Gen Z tends to treat it like “an operating system,” while people in their 20s and 30s use it more like a life advisor. Older users, he said, tend to treat it like a smarter search engine and a replacement for Google.

I’m in my late 30s, and I see plenty of people in my millennial cohort doing exactly this. Asking it to vibe check an email one minute, offer career advice the next, or decode a cryptic text from a date.

So the big question is: should we be using ChatGPT in this way? Is it a sign of democratized support and important self-reflection? Or is it troubling how comfortable we’ve become with outsourcing our most human struggles to a machine trained on the internet? Like most things with AI, I suspect the truth is somewhere in between.

The benefits of asking ChatGPT for advice

Let’s start with the positives, because there are real ones. AI tools like ChatGPT are always available. They don’t judge, interrupt or charge $100 an hour. For people without access to mentors, therapists or career coaches, that kind of always-on advice can feel like a lifeline.

When I looked into the rise of people using ChatGPT for therapy-style support earlier this year, accessibility was a consistent theme. It’s cheap, available 24/7, and crucially, private. You can ask it anything without fear of embarrassment or judgment.

And the value isn’t just in “replacing” a therapist or coach. Sometimes it’s about having a space to think out loud. Want to explore a big move? Test out the idea of quitting your job? Wonder how others have handled long-distance relationships or an ADHD diagnosis? You can prompt, explore, and revise, and no one has to know.

There’s also an unexpected upside when it comes to metacognition, which is the ability to reflect on your own thoughts. ChatGPT can help you do that by summarizing what you’ve said, asking clarifying questions, or suggesting different perspectives. For neurodivergent users, especially those with ADHD or anxiety, that kind of structured reflection can feel incredibly supportive. I’m starting to think that the real value here might not be that it gives you the answer, but that it helps you find your own.

The risks of letting AI guide our lives

But this new way of making decisions also comes with some serious concerns.

Firstly, algorithms aren’t wise. ChatGPT can mimic empathy, but it doesn’t feel it. It can sound measured, even thoughtful, but it has no intuition, gut instinc,t or lived experience. It can’t tell when you’re lying to yourself. It doesn’t know when the thing you didn’t say is the most important part.

Then there’s the issue of bias. Large language models like ChatGPT are trained on massive datasets, which means they absorb the internet’s mess of assumptions, blind spots, and cultural biases.

There’s also a clear accountability gap here. If a therapist gives you bad advice, they’re responsible. If a friend leads you astray, at least they care. But if ChatGPT nudges you towards a major life decision that doesn’t work out, then who do you blame?

We already know generative AI can hallucinate, meaning it can make things up that are completely untrue or misleading. It also has a tendency to be overly optimistic and encouraging, which is helpful in some scenarios but not always what you need when you’re grappling with something serious.

Psychologists have also raised concerns about replacing real relationships with AI-driven feedback loops. A chatbot might make you feel “seen” without truly understanding you. It might offer closure you haven’t earned. It might flatter your logic when what you actually need is someone to challenge it.

And we can’t ignore the bigger picture. It’s in OpenAI’s best interest for people to use ChatGPT for everything, especially life advice and emotional support. That’s how it becomes indispensable. And with upgrades like advanced memory, the tool gets better the more it knows about you. But the more it knows, the harder it is to walk away.

The trade-off we don’t always see

It’s not enough to say using ChatGPT for life advice is either good or bad. That flattens a far more complex reality.

Gen Z isn’t turning to AI because they don’t realize ChatGPT lacks lived experience or because they think it’s better than a therapist. I suspect most are doing it because the world feels unstable, overwhelming, and hard to navigate. In that context, a chatbot that’s always available, never tired, and oddly wise-sounding might feel safer than asking a parent, teacher, or boss.

And this isn’t just a Gen Z trend. We’re living through a time when guidance is fragmented, authority is suspect, and certainty is scarce. Of course, people of all ages will increasingly reach for a tool that offers what feels like instant and convenient clarity.

But what are we giving up when we do? I ask that because I’m not immune to this either. I write critically about AI. I regularly talk about its limits, the need for caution, and the risks of over-reliance. And yet I’ve asked ChatGPT questions I probably could have chatted about with someone I know. Did it give me a quicker answer? Maybe. A better one? Probably not. Did I miss an opportunity for real connection? Definitely.

And that’s the deeper issue. It’s easy to criticize this trend from a place of privilege. If you have offline relationships, trusted friends, and a family you can call. But not everyone does. For many, AI is filling a gap left by broken systems, absent support, and rising feelings of loneliness and disconnection.

Used thoughtfully, I do think ChatGPT can be a helpful companion. A way to untangle thoughts, explore perspectives, and even rehearse difficult conversations. That’s why I’d never tell people not to use it for these things. But I would urge them to ask: why am I turning to this now? What might I be avoiding? And who else could I talk to instead? Then again, what do I know? I’m just an elder millennial.

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We're reporting live from Snowflake Summit 2025 in San Francisco to bring you all the key details from the company's keynotes.

First up this evening, a welcome keynote from Snowflake CEO Sridhar Ramaswamy who will begin by exploring how AI has impacted all organizations. He'll be joined by OpenAI Founder and CEO Sam Altman to discuss the future of AI.

Tomorrow, we'll get into what's new for Snowflake, so stay tuned for all the updates as they happen!

It's day one of Snowflake Summit 2025, and our priority is heading over to the registration desks for badge collection. The main event starts tomorrow, but tonight we're being welcomed by Snowflake CEO Sridhar Ramaswamy who will be joined by OpenAI's Sam Altman.

• Microsoft Rus is about to file for bankruptcy, local reports claim
• The company reduced its operations in response to the invasion of Ukraine
• Countless foreign firms did the same already

A key Microsoft subsidiary in Russia is about to file for bankruptcy.

A Reuters report citing “a note published on the official Fedresurs registry” claims, “Microsoft Rus LLC was intending to declare bankruptcy”.

The company has four subsidiaries in the country, according to Tass: Microsoft Rus LLC (primary subsidiary responsible for marketing, localization, and partner relations), Microsoft Development Centre Rus (software development and engineering), Microsoft Mobile Rus (mobile technologies and services), and Microsoft Payments Rus (financial transactions and payment services).

One down, three remaining

Fedresurs, or “Unified Federal Register of Legally Significant Information on the Activities of Legal Entities, Individual Entrepreneurs, and Other Economic Entities”, is Russia's official online registry that serves as a centralized platform for disclosing legally significant information about company and entrepreneurship activities in the country.

Reuters is putting the news in the context of Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine.

The company apparently continued providing key services in the country even after 2022 and major sanctions imposed on the country by Western nations, but in June 2022, it said it would be “significantly scaling down” because of the changes in the economic outlook and the impact it will have.

When it comes to the sanctions, Microsoft participated in a sense, removing Russia Today (RT)’s mobile apps from the Windows App store. It also allegedly banned advertisements on Russian state-sponsored media in the days after the invasion.

Microsoft is not the only company filing for bankruptcy in Russia, in the wake of the war.

Last year, Pepeliaev Group reported “mass bankruptcies” of foreign companies flooding Russian courts. Google’s local subsidiary filed for bankruptcy in 2022, as well, claiming that the seizure of its bank account made it impossible to operate.

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What if the solutions to some of Earth's biggest problems could be found in some of its smallest creatures? That bet has led a team of researchers to places both remote and — lately — rather familiar.

(Image credit: Ari Daniel/NPR)

If you ever needed a visual representation of how far ChatGPT's AI image generation has come in just a year, then I don’t think there’s a clearer example than the two images I’ve generated and shown here, both from the same basic prompt, but created almost exactly a year apart.

The prompt I used was simply, “Draw a bird”.

As you can see, a year ago, ChatGPT was still creating images out of simple geometric shapes like triangles and circles:

(Image credit: OpenAI)

Now, a year later, when I type in the same prompt, I get this:

(Image credit: OpenAI)

The difference is like night and day, and it's really hard to think that just a year separates these two images.

Free as a bird

One thing that ChatGPT is very good at is keeping a record of all your chats. Recently, I was upgraded to an Enterprise account, and in the process of switching, ChatGPT converted all my existing ChatGPT conversations to the new account, which is why I noticed one of my first interactions with ChatGPT from almost exactly a year ago, when I started my job on TechRadar writing about AI.

One of the first things I asked ChatGPT to do in 2024 was to draw the bird, just to see what it could do.

Of course, this geometric image isn't representative of the state of AI image generation a year ago, by a long way. At the time, Midjourney and others were quite capable of producing photo-realistic AI images, but this was all my free version of ChatGPT could manage.

If I’d had a ChatGPT Plus account, things would have been different. A year ago today, I could have asked ChatGPT Plus to use its built-in DALL-E 3, a powerful AI image generator, to produce a photo-realistic image of a bird. It wouldn't have looked as good as the one ChatGPT can generate today, but it would have looked a lot better.

Access to DALL-E 3 was added to all ChatGPT Plus accounts in October 2023, but at the time, it still wasn’t integrated into the free version of ChatGPT in the same way.

It wasn’t until August 2024 that free ChatGPT users could start generating images in DALL-E, and even then, you were limited to just two image requests a day. When you reached your image limit, you were back to generating images that look like the one shown here.

On trend

The ChatGPT action figure image trend was huge in April 2025. (Image credit: Future)

It seems almost unimaginable these days that ChatGPT ever produced such basic-looking images. Ever since ChatGPT has upped its image generation game with a new native image generation engine, back in March this year, we’ve come to take superb AI image generation from the likes of ChatGPT and Google Gemini for granted.

In fact, it's rare that a week goes by without another ChatGPT-inspired image fad trending on social media. It started with Studio Ghibli-inspired images and went on to include the action figure trend and others.

Thinking about how far we've come in just a year is quite something, and it's got me thinking about where we'll be in another year's time.

In 2026, will anything less than a fully realistic image with automatic video generation, including sound, based on the image be considered an abject failure? Quite possibly, or maybe we'll all be wearing AI glasses by then, and we'll be able to step inside our images, as if they were mini-worlds, and take a look at them from different angles.

Whatever is going to happen, I can't wait to find out.

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• Don't expect major Apple Intelligence upgrades at WWDC 2025
• Apple's upcoming keynote is expected to be a 'letdown' from an AI perspective
• Exciting AI projects are in the works, according to a top insider, but you might need to wait until 2026

WWDC 2025 is just around the corner, but those looking forward to major AI announcements from Apple might need to wait a bit longer.

According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman ($/£), a generally reliable source for Apple info, Apple's AI comeback "probably won’t be happening at this year’s WWDC." In fact, "People within the company believe that the conference may be a letdown from an AI standpoint."

That's disappointing for those who expected Apple to bounce back from its Apple Intelligence woes at this year's WWDC keynote. It's not all doom and gloom, however, as Gurman says we'll see an AI-powered battery management mode, alongside Apple opening up its Foundation Models to third-party developers, which should allow for better AI integration across iOS.

Gurman also says we'll get a "quiet rebrand" of some existing features in Safari and Photos, which will now be called "AI-powered."

If you think that all sounds pretty underwhelming, then I'd be inclined to agree. However, Gurman also reports that Apple is working on some major AI improvements that the company could reveal at WWDC 2026, "when it hopes it can try to convince consumers that it’s an AI innovator."

Here are the four major Apple Intelligence projects Apple is working on:

1. The Siri we've been waiting for

We've discussed LLM Siri numerous times already, but while we had hoped to see the Apple Intelligence-powered Siri that we were promised at WWDC 2024 this year, it appears that this highly anticipated Siri upgrade won't feature in June's keynote.

LLM Siri would give iPhone users a voice assistant on a par with the best, such as Gemini Live and ChatGPT's Advanced Voice Mode. Unfortunately, it looks like we'll have to wait longer than expected, as it's unlikely to be included in iOS 19 (which is set to be renamed iOS 26).

2. AI-powered Shortcuts app

Gurman also claims Apple is working on a "revamped version of its Shortcuts app," which will add Apple Intelligence into the mix to allow users to create custom actions powered by AI rather than created manually, as in today's version of the app.

He claims this project was initially planned for launch this year, but now, due to delays, it could be pushed to 2026.

3. An AI doctor

Code-named Mulberry, this AI doctor idea is essentially the evolution of Apple's Health app.

Gurman says it's "slated to be released in 2026 as part of a spring update to iOS 26. Expect a kind of chatbot-esque health app that would work similarly to those found in fitness trackers like Whoop or the Oura ring.

This idea has been rumored for a while now, and makes sense considering Apple's focus on health and fitness with the industry-leading wearable, the Apple Watch.

4. Knowledge, a ChatGPT competitor

Last but not least, Apple is said to be working on a ChatGPT competitor that "can pull in data from the open web, which some employees have dubbed 'Knowledge.'"

Gurman reports that this project is being led by Robby Walker, who was working on Siri up until a few weeks ago, when a new project leader, Vision Pro's Mike Rockwell, was put in charge.

Apple would love to be able to compete with the likes of OpenAI and Google in the AI space, although Gurman says, "employees familiar with the work say it’s already been plagued by some of the same problems that delayed the Siri overhaul."

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• Nvidia's rumored gaming laptop SoC is expected to outdo the RTX 4070 in terms of performance
• Rumors now hint at a 65W TDP instead of 80W or 120W
• It could be used in handhelds eventually

While all eyes are locked on the Nintendo Switch 2's June 5 launch and its DLSS-powered custom processor, Nvidia's purported gaming laptop and potential handheld PC chip could surpass its competitors, based on new performance rumors.

As reported by Notebookcheck, Nvidia and MediaTek's rumored gaming laptop SoC (System-on-Chip) is expected to match the RTX 4070's performance, according to a Taiwanese outlet, UDN. It was previously reported to have a TDP (thermal design power rating) between 80 and 120W, but it is now anticipated to use a Blackwell GPU and have a TDP of 65W.

The rumors indicate that the chip may be primarily used for gaming laptops; UDN also mentions that it will be an Arm-based processor, so gaming laptops may benefit from good battery life and efficiency. However, the fresh report of a 65W TDP makes its potential handheld gaming PC use more of a possibility.

It could be Team Green's first big step into the handheld gaming PC market; Nvidia has made mobile processors, notably for its Portable Shield, but this would be the first powerful chip to compete with this new generation of handhelds, spurred by Valve's Steam Deck, if true.

Most devices like the Asus ROG Ally X and the MSI Claw 8 AI+ maintain a maximum TDP of 30W, so the supposed 65W TDP for Nvidia's SoC might be a big stretch for handheld demands (especially in terms of power efficiency) – but it's a lot better than the previously suggested 80 or 120W.

If it isn't used in handhelds and is reserved for laptops alone, it may be a huge opportunity missed by Nvidia to take the portable gaming market by storm – especially in the current climate of bad reception from reviewers like Gamers Nexus.

Analysis: Are handhelds the future of gaming?

(Image credit: Siberian Art / Shutterstock)

Again, there's no mention of handhelds in the rumors regarding Nvidia's unannounced gaming SoC, so this is just an assumption – but if this chip is real and it's eventually used for handhelds, does this mean handhelds are the future of gaming?

At the very least, I can say AMD's APUs and other SoC processors will play a significant part in gaming going forward. We've already seen AMD's Ryzen AI Max+ 395 surpass the RTX 4070 laptop GPU in games like Cyberpunk 2077, eliminating the need for a discrete GPU.

The only issue is that the Ryzen AI Max+ 395 hasn't been used in a handheld yet, likely due to its high TDP, which has me worried that this rumored Nvidia SoC won't be coming to handhelds. With DLSS 3 or 4 for sharper image quality and better game performance available, I'd expect it to outperform AMD and Intel's SoCs currently used in handhelds.

Regardless, it's a step in the right direction, and the closer we can get to handhelds using iGPUs that are closer to the power of discrete GPUs, the better handhelds will be at being a focal point of future gaming.

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• Prime Video has set a launch date for Gen V season 2
• The Boys' highly rated spin-off will return in mid-September
• Its first trailer addresses one of the show's most heart-breaking mysteries

Amazon has finally confirmed when Gen V season 2 will be released on Prime Video.

The Boys' highly rated spin-off, the first season of which currently holds a 97% critical approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, will make its debut on September 17, 2025. The live-action series' launch date was announced at Mexico Comic-Con 2025 (CCXP) on Saturday, May 31.

A post shared by Gen V (@genv)

A photo posted by on

Like many other Amazon TV Originals, Gen V's second season will launch with a three-episode premiere. The remaining five chapters will air weekly after that until its finale on October 22.

As for who'll be back on campus for the series' sophomore outing, Jaz Sinclair returns as protagonist Marie Moreau. Lizze Broadway's Emma Meyer, Maddie Phillips' Cate Dunlap, London Thor/Derek Luh's Jordan Li, Asa Germann's Sam Riordan, and Sean Patrick Thomas' Polarity are also set to return.

They'll be joined by Hamish Linklater, who's the first newcomer to be announced for one of the best Prime Video shows' next chapter. The Midnight Mass and Batman: Caped Crusader actor on board as Cipher, aka Goldolkin University's new and morally complicated Dean.

How does Gen V season 2 bridge the gap between The Boys season 4 and its final season?

Major spoilers follow for Gen V season 1.

To answer that query, we'll turn our attention to the first trailer and official plot brief for Gen V season 2.

Let's deal with the trailer first. Surprisingly, it confirms that Marie, Jordan and Emma will be reinstated as students at Godolkin University. As my Gen V season 1 ending explainer, well, explained, the trio were imprisoned by Vought for their part in the chaos that engulfed their Supes-only college in last season's finale.

Before The Boys season 4 aired, I'd predicted that's where they would remain until the titular Supe-bashers broke them out of jail. Given how The Boys season 4 ended, though, that scenario is, at the time of writing, highly unlikely to happen.

So, why has this trio been released, and how does Gen V season 2 tie into events of The Boys' fourth installment? To answer those questions, may I point you in the direction in Gen V 2's story synopsis.

Cipher's (center) new school curriculum will aim to turn its teenage Supes into soldiers for Homelander (Image credit: Amazon MGM Studios)

"In season 2, school is back in session," it reads. "As the rest of America adjusts to Homelander's iron fist, back at Godolkin University, the mysterious new Dean preaches a curriculum that promises to make students more powerful than ever. Cate and Sam are celebrated heroes, while Marie, Jordan, and Emma reluctantly return to college, burdened by months of trauma and loss.

"But, parties and classes are hard to care about with war brewing between Humans and Supes, both on and off campus," it continues. "The gang learns of a secret program that goes back to the founding of Godolkin University that may have larger implications than they realize. And, somehow, Marie is a part of it."

So, Gen V's second season will deal with the fallout from its predecessor and The Boys' fourth installment. It'll address why Andre, aka the high-school Supe played by Chance Perdomo in season 1, won't return as well. Perdomo died in March 2024 following a motorbike accident but, rather than recast Andre, Gen V's creative team tweaked this season's story to explain what happened to Andre off-screen. Based on what the teaser shows, it'll be one of this season's most emotional subplots, too.

Throw in Cipher's plan to create a new army of Supes who'll answer to the tyrannical Homelander, the potential for this so-called secret program to be integral to the main show's final season, and cameos from The Boys – Firecracker makes a brief appearance in season 2's initial trailer – and Gen V season 2 looks like it'll be a highly charged affair ahead of The Boys season 5's eventual launch. With filming on the latter series ongoing, its arrival on one of the world's best streaming services isn't likely to happen until 2026.

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• There's evidence that the One UI 8 beta is expanding
• Support could go back to the Galaxy S22 phones
• A full software launch is expected in July

Samsung's One UI 7 (based on Android 15) has only been widely available for a couple of months, but the beta test program for One UI 8 (based on Android 16) is already up and running – and could soon expand to more Galaxy phones too.

Right now, you need a Samsung Galaxy S25, Galaxy S25 Plus, or Galaxy S25 Ultra to enrol in the One UI 8 beta, but users have spotted preparations being made to allow the Galaxy S23 and the Galaxy S22 access as well.

Samsung hasn't said anything officially about this yet, but it's a strong hint that the One UI 8 beta won't be exclusive to the Galaxy S25 handsets for too much longer. Presumably, the Samsung Galaxy S24 handsets are going to be included in the expansion too.

The One UI 8 beta opened up last week, and you can sign up through the Members app on your Samsung phone. It might be an idea to keep checking the front page of that app if your phone has been tipped to join the beta program soon.

Location locked

Great News !!Galaxy S23 Series: The official One UI 8.0 beta Samsung Community page has been created, but so far only in Germany.It has not yet been found for the US, UK, Korea, India, or Poland pic.twitter.com/MaAPkY9gnhMay 31, 2025

There is a caveat here, which is that the One UI 8 beta program is currently only available to users in the US, the UK, Germany, and South Korea (where Samsung is based). It's not clear if the program will expand beyond those countries.

There might also be problems with capacity, too: as SamMobile reports, the beta program in the US filled up over the weekend, so new users couldn't enrol. However, at the time of writing, new users are now being accepted again.

Samsung has confirmed that One UI 8 is going to be preinstalled on the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and the Galaxy Z Flip 7. Given that those foldables are expected to be unveiled sometime in July, it looks as though this will be quite a short-lived beta.

There's plenty to look forward to in One UI 8. The software update is going to bring with it better multitasking support, improvements to phone security, enhanced file sharing features, tweaks to Samsung Internet and Samsung Reminders, and plenty more.

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• The AV20 and AMP20 deliver 200W per channel, or 400W per channel to six channels
• Designed to work together but also compatible with other Marantz models
• $1,000 cheaper when bought together

As much as I love a good soundbar, my idea of home theater heaven features a high-end AV receiver – and Marantz's new AV20 and AMP20 could be the soundtrack for the home setup of my dreams.

The AV20 and AMP20 are reference-quality home theater separates, and as you've probably deduced from the names, the AMP20 takes care of the amplification. And it's a lot of amplification: 200W per channel over 12 channels, or 400W per channel to six.

(Image credit: Marantz)Marantz AV20 and AMP20: key features and pricing

The AV20 and AMP20 can deliver a 13.4 channel surround system – so you're probably talking about 9.4.4 channels in practice as the maximum Dolby Atmos configuration. While they've been made to work together, they can also be used separately – so for example, you can invest in the more powerful AMP10 and team it with the AV20.

They're as good to look at as they are to hear: they have Marantz's premium industrial design with its distinctive porthole display and I think they look spectacular.

The AV20 has Audyssey MultEQ XT32 room calibration and Dirac Live (that one's an optional extra) with Dolby Atmos, DTS:X Pro, Auro-3D and IMAX Enhanced. There are seven HDMI 2.1 inputs and three HDMI outputs with 4K 120Hz and 8K 60Hz support.

Both models feature Marantz's distinctive porthole design (Image credit: Marantz)

Naturally it works with Marantz's HEOS system for multi-room, and it also has AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect and plain old Bluetooth.

The Marantz AV20 and AMP20 are priced identically at $6,000 / £4,750 (about AU$9,880) each. But if you buy both together you'll get a big discount: together they're $11,000 / £9,500 (about AU$19,849).

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Senate Republicans return to session with a big task ahead: passing Trump's big, beautiful bill. And, Boulder's Jewish community is concerned after a recent attack.

(Image credit: Kayla Bartkowski)

As you're outside enjoying the sunshine, make sure you protect your eyes and vision health by incorporating these simple habits into your routine.

• Garmin is apparently planning to drop new guided workouts for its Garmin Coach service
• According to the leak, swimming and walking are the two disciplines being focused on
• Coach Swim is likely to have open water-focused classes, while Coach Walking will reportedly offer ‘nature exposure’ and stress management

According to leaks, new workouts focused on swimming and walking are going to be added to some of the best Garmin watches.

Garmin Coach SWIM, as it’s referred to by leak site The5kRunner, is apparently set to complete Garmin’s new triathlon coaching service, and will focus on building good technique (using tools like buoys to ‘refine form’ and focus on kicking efficiency), endurance and stamina, intensity, recovery and race preparations.

Some classes are said to focus on open-water swimming, making them particularly helpful for triathletes. Open water swimming is also becoming increasingly popular with non-triathletes, as wild swimming participants use the activity as an opportunity to connect with nature. There’s an opportunity here for Garmin to serve wild swimmers looking to gently improve, as well as the multi-discipline athletes who are Garmin’s typical target audience.

Garmin Coach WALKING, as the other set of classes are referred, will reportedly offer a more holistic approach to fitness. While endurance and fitness classes are mentioned, presumably offering a variety of interval-style sessions and walk lengths, the leaks describe a greater emphasis on recovery and wellness, mindfulness, and stress management.

‘Breathing awareness’ and ‘nature exposure’ are listed as aspects of some of these walking classes. Like open water swimming, walking in nature (be it a local park or a scenic hike) allows participants to disconnect from screens and reconnect with the natural world, with proven stress management benefits.

It’s not yet known which watches will support these classes, or when they can be expected to land on the Garmin Connect app.

The benefits of 'nature exposure'

A 2021 study from Harvard ‘found evidence for associations between nature exposure and improved cognitive function, brain activity, blood pressure, mental health, physical activity, and sleep’ with positive links between time spent in the natural world, and both mental and physical health.

But you don’t need us to tell you that: advice on lowering blood pressure and boosting mood by spending time in sunlight and near trees has been bandied around for decades. Empowering people to take advantage of the green spaces near them with on-watch guided workouts is a novel way for Garmin to improve its users' health and mood.

These classes will find their niches, but won’t be for everyone. Open water swims aren’t accessible to all, but triathletes and keen wild swimmers will certainly benefit from dedicated Garmin Coach classes. Walking workouts are much more accessible, but may be too sedate for keen runners and cyclists, who will likely prefer to access nature using their more intense chosen disciplines.

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• The Anker Soundcore Boom 3i is highly salt water resistant and designed to float
• It has a self-clearing function, and is washable too
• It has emergency alarm and broadcast features

Anker has launched a brand new version of its fun and bass-heavy Soundcore Boom Bluetooth speaker. The Soundcore Boom 3i promises to do something no other Bluetooth speaker can do, and it also borrows a nifty trick from the Apple Watch.

Let's talk about that industry first first. The Boom 3i promises perfect playback even when it's floating on the water, even if there are waves: the promise is "no distortion, no sinking – just loud, clear audio for kayaking, pool parties and every water adventure". Basically, it's weighted so that it'll float in water, but the speaker grille with point upwards.

It's extremely saltwater resistant and has been drop-tested to 1m, although it's unclear whether it's also shark-proof. However it does have an emergency 96dB alarm feature you can use to get help if you're having a Jaws moment, or if you're lost in the wilderness and just need someone to be able to find you without being able to see you.

And you can also use the speaker to amplify your voice for your fellow travelers to hear from a distance, for example "aaaagh aaaagh aaagh I'm being attacked by a shark."

(Image credit: Anker)Soundcore Boom 3i: key features and pricing

The Soundcore Boom 3i has what Anker calls Buzz Clean, and it gets rid of dry sand on the speaker by vibrating the drivers powerfully, in much the same way that the Apple Watch ejects water from its speakers using vibrations. And because the 3i is very water resistant, you can run it under the tap or dunk it in water if the Buzz Clean feature doesn't get rid of it all.

Power output is 50W, with a bass boost that goes down to 56Hz, and battery life is a promised 16 hours. And in addition to soundtracking a pool party, it can light it up too, thanks to its rhythm-synced lights.

We really liked the Boom 2, and while we wouldn't exactly describe it as an audiophile experience, it's a powerful, punchy speaker that makes a lot of noise from a surprisingly lightweight speaker. The 3i looks like it’s a worthwhile upgrade to an already fun formula for people who want a real outdoors speaker.

So far, the Soundcore Boom 3i is available in Canada for an introductory price of CA$189 (about $138 / £101 / AU$212). Pricing and availability for other countries hasn't been announced just yet, but we're looking forward to throwing this one around.

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• Notepad is getting light text formatting abilities but only in testing
• These allow you to use bold and italics, headings, and lists
• Some folks appreciate those formatting extras, while others see them as further bloat – though in this case, the functionality can be turned off

Notepad is getting light text formatting abilities in testing, in yet another move to extend the feature set of the app which has proved predictably divisive.

Microsoft wrote a blog post describing the changes which have started to roll out to Windows 11 testers in the Canary and Dev channels via an update to the Notepad app (version 11.2504.50.0).

The formatting capabilities are a light sprinkling of support for bolding and italics, hyperlinks, as well as headings (in a more prominent font) and basic lists (using bullet points and the like).

Microsoft explains that the ‘markdown’ formatting syntax is used, meaning that this keeps the implementation simple and streamlined. Furthermore, this formatting support can be turned off in Notepad settings if you’re not going to use it, and don’t want it hanging around.

Analysis: Light (formatting) and shade

(Image credit: Microsoft)

This sounds like a straightforward enough potentially useful move, so why is it divisive as I indicated at the outset? If you peruse a few Reddit threads on this addition for Notepad, while you’ll see there are some users who approve of this plan, it won’t be long before you come across someone who isn’t pleased about the introduction of text formatting here.

The reason some folks have beef with what Microsoft is doing with Notepad, in terms of adding more and more features – which has been the case for a while now – is that it’s supposed to be a lightweight, quick to load and responsive text editor. The fear is that unnecessary bloat is going to encumber the app and slow it down.

In this case, though, the added formatting options are going to be quite useful for some (especially those folks who miss WordPad, the other more fleshed-out text editor that Microsoft canned a while back). And as they’re implemented in markdown, as noted, any performance impact should be minimal (or hopefully non-existent). On top of that, with it being possible to turn off the formatting, this isn’t a feature that should be contributing to any worries around bloat.

AI-powered extras, on the other hand, well, that might be a different kettle of fish, but it’s clear enough that Microsoft is set on continuing to travel down the road of providing fresh functionality for Notepad.

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As the quest for AI’s breakthrough use case is ongoing, the ubiquity of AI tools is already clear—embedded in our personal devices and set to transform all aspects of our lives. Yet this rise collides with the stark reality the computing sector faces: exponential energy demands that global energy production cannot keep up with.

The computing power needed for AI is doubling every 100 days, while computational capacity is reaching an “extinction event” curtailed by the energy supply that will eventually force a plateau in computational growth. In response, big tech companies are turning to nuclear energy to power rapidly growing AI systems.

The slowdown of Moore’s Law further exacerbates this crisis as conventional device scaling approaches physical limits. Unless we build innovative technology that allows energy-efficient computing, the growth of computing power will inevitably stagnate. Instead of focusing solely on incremental optimizations of current architectures, breakthrough innovation sourcing from different technology sectors will be needed to maintain sustainable progress.

Convergence of Technologies as a Path Forward

The solution lies in the convergence of technologies, particularly new computing paradigms from unconventional areas like biology, chemistry, and optics. As we move further into the 21st century, we increasingly recognize the power of biology and the inspiration we can draw from it for radical technological innovation.

This year’s Nobel Prize in physics underlined this importance by awarding it to inventions and discoveries enabling AI that were fundamentally inspired by the brain's structure.

The next generation of computing

As we continue to explore biologically inspired architectures, we should note that the human brain’s efficiency per unit of power when performing cognitive tasks is 10,000 times greater than that of generative AI. On a molecular scale, this is driven by complex cellular architectures and biochemical reactions that surpass silicon-based operations in energy efficiency while also being massively parallel.

For example, a modern supercomputer can perform approximately one quintillion operations per second. A human cell performs approximately 1 billion biochemical reactions per second, with trillions of cells in the body. This scales to a sextillion reactions per second. Despite these staggering numbers, the energy needed to sustain a human body is orders of magnitude lower than that needed to power a supercomputer.

While this comparison is not computationally equivalent, it underscores the remarkable complexity and energy efficiency of biological systems, which inspire the development of emerging technologies like biological and neuromorphic computing.

More practically, biological computing can utilize synthetic DNA as a medium for storage and computation. DNA offers massive data storage density—the volume of a sugar cube could store the entire Library of Congress—and long-term durability, potentially reducing the need for energy-intensive cooling systems. Computing on DNA can use various breakthroughs that allow assembling, manipulating, storing, and reading the DNA, which the biotechnology industry is continuing to improve rapidly.

Other breakthrough technologies, such as neuromorphic computing, organoid intelligence, and photonic computing, hold similar promise. Neuromorphic systems are silicon-based and designed to mimic the brain’s architecture, achieving highly energy-efficient processing by replicating synaptic connections.

Organoid (a simplified version of an organ grown in the lab) intelligence—a field still in its infancy—also seeks to leverage the brain’s architecture parallel processing capabilities with entirely new biological hardware made from cerebral organoids.

Photonic computing, on the other hand, utilizes light to perform faster, lower-power operations than electronic counterparts. All these approaches are still in their early stages and face technical challenges that need to be overcome. Still, they provide routes to sustainable computing that move beyond the energy limitations of traditional architecture and highlight the importance of early-stage research and development.

In contrast to incremental improvements in existing systems, they offer the potential for a step-change in energy efficiency that could facilitate a Cambrian explosion in applications for the next generation of AI.

Overcoming Challenges To Convergence

Despite its potential, technology convergence faces challenges, including technological maturity of its components, economic feasibility, potential regulatory and human factors.

For new technologies to achieve large-scale adoption, they must demonstrate maturity along with clear value propositions that are financially viable to implement. Organizations may hesitate to fundamentally be rethinking their process due to cost of hiring, training, and investments in new infrastructure, especially if the initial market is too small.

Additionally, some emerging technologies, like organoid intelligence, may raise ethical considerations. In these cases, educating the public and ensuring transparency around ongoing research can help mitigate concerns. For instance, in DNA computing, proactive measures such as screening DNA sequences for biosafety not only addresses potential regulatory concerns but also builds trust in this emerging innovation.

A Vision for the Future

To truly harness the potential of technological convergence, innovation must move beyond simply optimizing existing systems and focus on building entirely new architectures that are both scalable and energy efficient.

These new systems should not be expected to replace or surpass current technologies immediately. Nor should they be viewed as comprehensive in their computational operations. After all, the semiconductor industry has had decades to innovate and optimize existing technologies. Instead, they should be viewed as complementary, finding initial applications in specialized domains that offer unique advantages and can be tested at scale.

The energy crisis in computing presents a daunting challenge, but it also creates a pivotal opportunity for transformative innovation. By prioritizing convergence and breakthrough architectures, we can achieve scalable, sustainable AI and computing solutions.

The next era of computing will be driven by innovation, not incremental improvements. The path forward lies in radical shifts that leverage the synergies of multiple fields, ensuring that the digital age continues to evolve in harmony with our planet's energy realities.

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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

• The UK Government is investing in cyber defences and capabilities
• £1 billion investment includes a new Cyber and Electromagnetic Command
• “Digital Targeting Web” looks to bolster cyber defences and national security

The UK Government has announced plans to invest over £1 billion into a new pioneering “Digital Targeting Web” to bolster cyber defences and national security.

Alongside this, a new Cyber and Electromagnetic Command will aim to ”put the UK at the forefront of cyber operations,” with enhanced targeting capabilities and digital defences.

The investments will look to “spearhead battlefield engagements” by applying lessons learnt from Ukraine to the UK’s weapons systems, enabling faster and more accurate battlefield decisions and better connected military weapons systems.

Digital capabilities

Cybersecurity and defence is a key priority for this administration, with Prime Minister Kier Starmer committing to an increase in defence spending to 2.5% of GDP, “recognising the critical importance of military readiness in an era of heightened global uncertainty.”

In 2024, the UK announced the establishment of a laboratory dedicated to security research, and invited its allies to collaborate to combat the “new AI arms race” - investing millions into improving cybersecurity capabilities.

The new Command wants to give the British military the upper hand in the race for military advantage by degrading command and control, jamming signals to missiles or drones, and intercepting enemy communications, for example.

The Government warns that cyberattacks are threatening the foundations of the economy and daily life, and with critical infrastructure sustaining 13 cyberattacks per second, the dangers are certainly apparent.

“The hard-fought lessons from Putin’s illegal war in Ukraine leave us under no illusions that future conflicts will be won through forces that are better connected, better equipped and innovating faster than their adversaries,” warns Defence Secretary John Healey.

“We will give our Armed Forces the ability to act at speeds never seen before - connecting ships, aircraft, tanks and operators so they can share vital information instantly and strike further and faster.”

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