Feed aggregator

Since North Carolina passed a "bathroom" law in 2016, the number of bills has grown and Republicans have used the issue in campaigns. Democrats are still working out how to respond.

(Image credit: Matthew Pearson)

It can be tough to navigate relationships when our friends start having kids. This guide can help both parents and child-free folks figure out how to stay connected in a new life stage.

TechRadar's experts regularly spend hours trying and testing all the most popular VPN services on the market. Our reporters closely follow the industry for the latest news, too, mapping how new online threats are shaping VPN usage.

This work is pivotal in ensuring that we recommend only the best VPN apps available and keep you up to date with new trends across the industry. However, it still doesn't provide the full picture of what our readers actually need from our VPN content.

This is why TechRadar needs you! We're interested to hear from you regardless of what you think about VPNs – even if you don't know what a VPN is or you aren't a fan of the technology. We then invite you to take our quick VPN survey and help us inform the content we create. Don't worry, though – it'll take less than five minutes to complete, and your answers are completely anonymous!

TechRadar needs you! We want to know what you think about the world of VPNs. Whether you're a novice or a VPN pro, we want to hear your thoughts. Don't worry, though, your responses are completely anonymous, and it takes less than five minutes to complete!

To take part, click the link below: https://futurenet.questionpro.eu/tr-vpn

Why more people just want a VPN

A VPN, short for virtual private network (VPN), emerged as a security tool to boost users' online privacy and security.

It does so by both encrypting all internet connections to prevent third-party snooping, then rerouting these via its VPN servers dotted across the world to spoof users' real IP addresses for extra privacy.

Around since the 1990s, VPNs were initially a technology reserved for businesses and IT nerds. As life increasingly moved online, however, the need for everyone to secure their online privacy became more relevant.

Recent statistics show, in fact, that an estimated 1.6 billion people worldwide used VPNs in 2024, with the global VPN market projected to reach $76 billion by 2027.

Do you know?

(Image credit: Future)

NordVPN is currently TechRadar's top recommendation. Our reviewers praised its many security features, great performance, and extensive server network. You can read our full NordVPN review here.

Besides being more private online, VPNs also turned out to be a great tool to bypass geo-restrictions you may find on the internet. That's because VPNs' IP-spoofing capabilities make you look as if you're browsing from a completely different country within a couple of clicks.

More and more people have started using a streaming VPN to unlock foreign libraries enforced on Netflix catalogs and similar platforms.

Likewise, VPNs also enable millions of people worldwide to access a free and uncensored web. As per Proton VPN data, 119 countries saw VPN usage soar in 2024 during times of political crisis, as citizens needed a way to evade government-imposed internet censorship.

As new policies are stifling internet control everywhere across the world, and new tech like AI and quantum computing expose all of us to new threats, we expect to keep seeing the world of VPNs evolving and becoming increasingly relevant.

We want to be the best place to be informed about everything VPNs, so please consider helping us shape our future content. If you want to contribute, please take our VPN survey here today.

You might also like

• Windscribe CEO speaks out against global threats to no-log VPNs
• Is the future of censorship-resistant VPNs, no VPNs?
• VPNs need to be ready for the post-quantum world – here's what's being done

President Trump is yet to broker an end to the war in Gaza. So the first big trip of his second term will focus on big investments instead.

(Image credit: Jim Watson)

Google’s Pixel range comprises some of the best phones on the market right now, but it’s with the A series that the phonemaker really shines. Year on year, the company has produced one of the best affordable premium smartphones, beating out competitors on price while offering exceptional performance where it matters. In 2025, however, I’m feeling less energetic about the beloved handset.

Don’t get me wrong – the Google Pixel 9a is a phenomenal phone and there are legitimately good reasons to buy it. It’s no doubt better than the iPhone 16e where it matters most and more accessible than the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE.

However, it’s only slightly higher specced than the Pixel 8a, and introduces a new design that looks more iPhone-like than anything else.

(Image credit: Zachariah Kelly / TechRadar)

The Tensor G4 chip found in the Pixel 9a only offers gentle performance improvements over the G3 in the Pixel 8a. The larger battery only accounts for about two extra hours of battery life in our stress test – worthy of note and praise, but not enough to offset the Tensor’s habit of being a power hog.

And so when collecting my thoughts on the Pixel 9a, a phone I’ve enjoyed using over the past month, I’ve really only been pushed back to the Pixel 8a – a phone I truly loved but scolded for a price bump it received in Australia (where I live) over the 7a. Weighing the differences, it’s tough for me to recommend the Pixel 9a as the phone to buy, when the previous model is now cheaper and technically similar. After all, the main focus of the A series device is to be accessible – so I’m naturally in favor of the less expensive device.

Old vs new

(Image credit: Zachariah Kelly / TechRadar)

The Pixel 8a is much the same beast as the Pixel 9a, but in fairness I think there are legitimate reasons for someone to upgrade. Looking at benchmarks passed through Geekbench and 3DMark, there’s not much of a performance argument to be made here, but there are odd features that may have you wanting the newer device, such as the new editing tools and the higher brightness.

I’m just going to be efficient. Below I’ve listed the areas where the phones actually differ. I’m not listing the price, as they both had the exact same starting cost though retailers are now offering the Pixel 8a cheaper.

Additionally, the Pixel 9a also includes several editing features previously found on the more expensive Pixel 9 devices, such as Add Me, macro focus, auto frame, Reimagine and macro focus video. The charging time figures above were observed by the good folks at Android Authority.

With retailers still offering the Pixel 8a, and often at a steeply discounted price, there’s not really a lot of improvement here that’d make me want the Pixel 9a instead. The screen is nicer and slightly larger, but not as large as the one found on the similarly priced Nothing Phone 3a Pro – a phone that I personally prefer over the Pixel 9a, also.

The Pixel 9a has observably better gaming performance, but I’d argue that, if gaming’s a priority for you, you’d be better off with the iPhone 16 Plus or, hell, the Pixel 9 Pro XL – though obviously these don’t come cheap, and if you’re OK with a smaller display, the 9a might be fine.

(Image credit: Zachariah Kelly / TechRadar)

The battery may be larger in the Pixel 9a than in the Pixel 8a, but that hasn’t really translated to a meaningful difference on testing (or in my day-to-day use). The same can be said of charging times, despite a 5W increase in capacity.

The cameras are brilliant on both devices and I’m not prepared to say one is better than the other – Google’s really good at this specific thing and you’re getting a brilliant snapper either way.

Finally, on the topic of ongoing support, it’s brilliant that phone companies are starting to support their devices for seven years. However I’d argue that, even if shopping for an affordable all-rounder like the Pixel 9a, you’d likely upgrade within that time. You’ll notice quality and battery alike degrade and you’ll probably be looking for the next thing within three or so years – but even if you want to keep your phone around for a while, six years of remaining support isn’t bad at all.

What's worth upgrading for?

(Image credit: Zachariah Kelly / TechRadar)

Don’t take me as pessimistic – there are legitimate reasons for getting the Pixel 9a instead of the 8a.

The brighter screen is a good one. The 700 nits difference in favor of the Pixel 9a is observable, although the 2,000 nits performance of the Pixel 8a still leaves many key competitors (looking at you, iPhone 16e) in the dark.

The stronger IP rating of the Pixel 9a would give me greater peace of mind that it wouldn’t break as easily from contact with water. The same goes for the greater battery life – even if I may argue in the previous section that it’s not that big of a difference, you may personally be shopping for the biggest battery possible, and I can’t argue against that.

There's also those earlier mentioned camera and editing tools that the Pixel 9a has – you might be particularly taken by some of them (Add Me is very cool), and although I don't think any of them are more worthwhile than a saving, you might prefer a more feature-rich handset.

Finally, the phone looks great! I actually love the design – Google’s removal of the camera bar originally had me apprehensive, but I don’t mind what they’ve done with a more neutral shape. It’s more iPhone-like and generally might be preferred among some shoppers.

Look for a sale

(Image credit: Zachariah Kelly / TechRadar)

It’s a safe bet the Pixel 8a will be discounted more and more as time goes on, and I’d encourage you to jump on it when the price suits. The Pixel 9a will also likely see a discount sometime in 2025 from some retailers (likely including Google itself come Pixel 10 season), but we’ll have to wait and see.

I’d really love for Google to reshape its range around the A series – it’s a phenomenal device, but I can’t help but feel that they could make it more appealing. A cheaper variant is at the top of my list, but also a model with a larger screen would be nice – one that brings the fight to other Android phones that may offer larger displays but miss out on all the other great Google features.

For now though, while I’m usually head over heels for new phones, I’ve long been of the mind that Google’s Pixel range should be just a tad more accessible, given a couple of price increases in the past five years. I’d certainly like the Pixel A to be cheaper, and it’s a shame that we can’t call the Pixel 9a ‘budget’. With price drops, however, the Pixel 8a is looking more and more attractive.

You might also like...

• Nothing makes sense: why the company's new 3a Pro is my favorite affordable premium smartphone over the Google Pixel 9a
• From iPhone to Android and (almost) back again – the iPhone 16e failed to lure me back to iOS
• After 3 weeks with Samsung's Galaxy A56, I'm closer than ever to ditching my iPhone for Android

What a week we've had. GTA 6 got a new trailer that looks stunning, Sonos and IKEA sadly ended their audio partnership, and Sony teased its new flagship headphones.

To catch up on all this and more scroll down to see the week's seven biggest tech news stories with quickfire snippets on each and links to the larger story if you're keen to know more.

When you're done be sure to check out seven new movies and TV shows to stream this weekend (May 9).

7. YouTube Premium started seeing double

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

YouTube started to pilot a two-person YouTube Premium membership in select countries this week (namely France, India, Taiwan, and Hong Kong).

It will allow two people to split a subscription at a rate that’s cheaper than two individual plans, or splitting a family plan. In France an individual plan costs €12.99 per month and a family plan is €23.99, while a two-person plan is €19.99 – so we’d expect it to cost around $18.99 / £16.99 / AU$26.99 in the US, UK, and Australia.

Apparently, this plan is part of YouTube’s ongoing experiments that look to find “new ways to provide greater flexibility and value to our YouTube Premium subscribers.” Though it’s yet to be seen if this will make YouTube Premium a better value proposition.

• Read more: YouTube Premium's new two-person tier looks like a good deal – but it's still not enough to get me to pay for YouTube

6. The Netflix homepage got its biggest-ever upgrade

(Image credit: Future)

Netflix is finally acknowledging that it’s not just for movies and TV shows anymore, redesigning its home screen to accommodate live events and gaming in a way that should better connect you to real-time events.

It’s also finally dabbling in generative AI in, perhaps, the smartest way possible: search. Now you can find your next binge using natural language queries.

There are other big changes like labels on top of title images and a general reshuffling of interface elements. It’s too soon to say if everyone is loving the new Netflix.

• Read more: Netflix is redesigning your TV homepage

5. Whoop revealed two new promising wearables

(Image credit: Whoop)

After four years without hardware, Whoop has unveiled not one but two new wearables for 2025. The Whoop 5.0 and Whoop MG are actually one and the same device, the latter a "medical-grade" variant with more intensive health features like ECG, blood pressure, and more. The wearables look great and boast a 14-day battery life, as well as a new design.

Unfortunately, there's also a new pricing structure that means the very best features are reserved for those who pay the highest price. There is now a cheaper option and a more expensive one to the previous offering, but the Whoop 5.0 has some features disabled at the cheapest pricing tier.

It's a tough pill to swallow for users who have waited four years for new Whoop wearables, but with Garmin and others taking subscriptions to another level, it's the direction the industry appears to be heading in with no remorse.

• Read more: Whoop unveils two brand new wearables, but their best features are hidden behind a paywall

4. Sonos and IKEA ended their unlikely audio duet

(Image credit: IKEA)

Earlier this week, Sonos and IKEA announced that they would be parting ways after six years of collaborating on audio homeware tech which includes the popular Symfonisk bookshelf and lamp speakers. In an email sent to The Verge, Sonos spokesperson Erin Pategas broke the news and revealed that Symfonisk’s current inventory of products is being phased out globally at all IKEA locations, with no plans to release future products.

Though the future of Sonos and IKEA will cease to exist, Sonos has offered reassurance that existing products in its Symfonisk range will still receive software updates despite the discontinuation of the partnership. The news come as quite the surprise since we’ve been very fond of Symfonisk’s speakers, but with the unpredictable future of new tariff laws looming over businesses, this is a measure that Sonos has had to carefully consider.

• Read more: Sonos and IKEA have announced they are parting ways after a six year collaboration

3. Microsoft announced two new Surface devices

(Image credit: Microsoft)

Microsoft expanded its Surface lineup, with the all-new Surface Laptop 13-inch and the Surface Pro 12-inch 2-in-1 device using the Snapdragon X Plus processor. Most importantly, the former is the lightest and thinnest Surface Laptop to date. Battery life has also been upgraded for both, providing that extra time needed while you're away from your desk or power source.

It’s worth noting that these new devices are much cheaper on this occasion; the Surface Laptop 13-inch starts at $899 / £899 / AU$1,699, while the Surface Pro starts at $799 / £799 / AU$1,499 – a huge fall from the previous versions for both, starting at $1,099 / AU$1,899. They’re available for pre-order right now.

• Read more: Here are the 4 key things you need to know about Microsoft's new Surface devices

2. We got a launch date for Sony’s next flagship headphones

(Image credit: Sony)

It’s been three years since Sony debuted its top-end wireless headphones, the WH-1000XM5s. But after numerous leaks, the tech giant has confirmed exactly when we’ll be seeing its successors – on May 15, next week.

What can we expect from them? The rumors so far point to improved noise cancelling and audio processing, plus the return of a hinged design that Sony skipped on the current model. On the downside, there will also likely be a small price hike. But despite that, May 15 (or May 16, if you’re in Australia), is a date for your diary if you’re in the market for some premium, travel-friendly cans.

• Read more: Sony confirms launch date for flagship WH-1000XM6 headphones – here are 6 things to expect

1. GTA 6 got a brand new trailer

GTA 6 broke the internet this week with a brand new trailer focused on Vice City and the game's partners in crime, Jason and Lucia. But story teasers aside, it looks incredible.

We’ve already called it one of the most beautiful games of this generation – it looks leagues ahead of what other studios have achieved – and most staggering of all the trailer was apparently captured entirely on a PS5.

It clearly impressed many others too as the trailer has racked up over 94 million views in three days (at the time of writing) and Spotify streams of the song Hot Together which featured heavily in the trailer surged by 182,000% in the hours after the trailer released.

All we have to do now is wait a little over a year until May 26, 2026 so we can play it for ourselves.

• Read more: Grand Theft Auto 6 looks mind-blowingly beautiful in latest screenshots

You might also like

• Sony will finally launch its first ‘Alpha’ camera phone soon – here’s what that could mean for the Xperia 1 VII
• Samsung can make the Galaxy Z Fold 7 as thin as it likes, I'm not buying a phone with a 22:9 screen
• I compared Google Gemini's new image editing feature to ChatGPT's, and it's much better at sticking to the original

If you had to pick a single feature that's most commonly missing from premium monitors aimed at creative professionals, it's high refresh rate support. Not any more, thanks to the new BenQ PD3226G.

This 32-inch display ticks all the usual premium boxes, including elevated image fidelity from a 4K IPS panel, outstanding connectivity and a broad range of pro-friendly features that creators will appreciate, such as wide color support and Pantone validation. To that it adds 144Hz refresh where 60Hz used to be the norm.

You could argue that high refresh rates are irrelevant to many professional workflows. Largely, that's true. But it is essential for maximising responsiveness for use with some digital art tools, such as drawing tablets. Moreover, high refresh certainly has a major impact when it comes to smooth rendering and an all-round sense of computing slickness. It makes daily computing feel so much snappier.
BenQ also throws in a few unusual extras, including a very nifty IR remote control puck, that serve to sweeten the overall appeal of this gorgeous monitor and ensure that it ranks among the best business monitors. The main snag, however, is the price. At just under $1,300 or £1,100, this is a very expensive display, especially in the context of the entry-level DisplayHDR 400 certification it offers.

BenQ PD3226G: Design & features Image 1 of 5

(Image credit: BenQ // Future)Image 2 of 5

(Image credit: BenQ // Future)Image 3 of 5

(Image credit: BenQ // Future)Image 4 of 5

(Image credit: BenQ // Future)Image 5 of 5

(Image credit: BenQ // Future)

• Minimalist, slim-bezel design
• Comprehensive connectivity
• Wireless IR remote

Specs

Panel size: 32-inch

Panel type: IPS

Resolution: 3,840 by 2,160

Brightness: 400 cd/m2

Contrast: 1,200:1

Pixel response: 1ms GtG

Refresh rate: 144Hz

Colour coverage: 95% DCI-P3

HDR: VESA DisplayHDR 400

Vesa: 100mm x 100mm (bracket included)

Inputs: DisplayPort 1.4, HDMI 2.0 x1, Thunderbolt 4 / USB-C in with 90W PD

Other: Thunderbolt 4 / USB-C out USB-C hub, USB-C x2 in, USB-A x3, 3.5mm audio

BenQ's latest 32-inch 4K panel for creatives sticks with the company's typically slick and minimalist design vibe, including slim bezels on three sides of its IPS panel. The lower chin bezel is a little chunky. But overall, it's a well-built display and sits securely on a metal stand that offers a full array of adjustability, ensuring strong ergonomics.

Speaking of which, the main array of ports sit flush on the rear of the chassis, as opposed to being situated underneath and pointing downwards, making power, peripheral and display inputs super-simple to get at and plug in. You also get additional ports, including a USB-C data port, plus a USB-A hub and 3.5mm audio jack, situated on the bottom surface of the lower bezel.

While we're on the subject of connectivity, that's definitely a significant highlight of the BenQ PD3226G. For starters, there's Thunderbolt 4 support that offers sideways compatibility with USB-C for single-cable connectivity to a wide range of devices, most obviously laptops. That means you can both drive the display and charge your device with one cable, with power delivery up to 90W.

The Thunderbolt 4 aspect also means you can daisy chain a second monitor from the BenQ PD3226G, though support for that does depend on your computing device. By way of example, Apple's entry-level M1 and M2 chips as found in previous generation Apple Silicon MacBook Air models, only support a single external display and so can't exploit the PD3226G's daisy chaining ability.

To all that you can add KVM switch functionality and therefore support for connecting two computers to this display and sharing a single keyboard and mouse. Rounding out the main physical features is BenQ's third-gen control puck. This time around, it's wireless via IR and powered by a pair of triple-A batteries.

That's a real benefit compared to previous wired iterations of the control puck and helps keep desk clutter to a minimum. The puck itself is extremely slick and sports a tactile metal dial plus shortcut buttons. The dial can be set to control brightness, volume or contrast, while a range of other functions and presets can be accessed in a flash via the shortcut buttons. It's a very nice little extra.

BenQ PD3226G: Performance Image 1 of 5

(Image credit: BenQ // Future)Image 2 of 5

(Image credit: BenQ // Future)Image 3 of 5

(Image credit: BenQ // Future)Image 4 of 5

(Image credit: BenQ // Future)Image 5 of 5

(Image credit: BenQ // Future)

• Good factory calibration
• Excellent all-round image quality
• Only entry-level HDR support

Much of the BenQ PD3226G's specifications and therefore performance are pretty familiar. The 32-inch IPS panel delivers excellent all-round image quality, including 95% coverage of the DCI-P3 color space and factory calibration with Delta Es well below two.

Generally, it's a very sweet IPS panel that offers all the usual advantages of the 4K resolution, including plenty of desktop working space and decent pixel density for precise fonts and sharp image quality. It's not a true pro-grade panel for video production, for instance. But it is very well calibrated from the factory and makes for a super nice all-round monitor for creative workflows.

Where it separates itself from many similar displays aimed at creative pros, however, involves refresh rate. Instead of the usual 60Hz, you get 144Hz over both HDMI and DisplayPort, the latter including DisplayPort alt mode over the Thunderbolt 4 interface.

Now, 144Hz isn't directly relevant for most creative workflows. It's not required for image editing, nor the vast, vast majority of video editing. But for certain digital artwork tasks, notably those involving drawing tablets, high refresh really helps with visual responsiveness and accuracy.

It's also just a very nice thing to have, day-to-day. Once you're used to the slickness of 144Hz when scrolling web pages or just moving application windows around, you won't want to go back to 60Hz.

BenQ has also fitted the PD3226G out with lots of well-calibrated color space presets, including the core triumvirate of DCI-P3, sRGB and M-Book mode. The latter is a mode that's designed to match the factory calibration of Apple's MacBook laptops, though it's unclear how that differs from the standard P3 gamut that MacBooks run by default and is also offered separately by this BenQ.

As if that's not enough, this monitor is also Pantone Validated and Claman verified. So, it can be calibrated to an even higher precision for those workflows that demand it. Where it isn't so impressive is with HDR content.

You do get HDR400 support, but that's the most basic of HDR capability. There's no local dimming and the brightness peaks at a modest 400 nits. In other words, it's not a true HDR display and if you're looking for a screen to use in really bright ambient conditions, the PD3226G isn't the best choice.

BenQ PD3226G: Final verdict Image 1 of 5

(Image credit: BenQ // Future)Image 2 of 5

(Image credit: BenQ // Future)Image 3 of 5

(Image credit: BenQ // Future)Image 4 of 5

(Image credit: BenQ // Future)Image 5 of 5

(Image credit: BenQ // Future)

Do not dismiss the new BenQ PD3226G as a routine update to the brand's already very appealing range of displays for creative pros. This one is a little different.

For starters, it gets an upgrade to 144Hz refresh. Admittedly, that's not of direct benefit for most creative workflows. But it's a genuine upgrade for all-round responsiveness and day-to-day usability. Once you're used to high refresh, you won't want to go back to 60Hz. It's also a clear advantage for certain digital art workflows, notable in concert with drawing devices like tablets.

BenQ has also upgraded its control puck with this generation from wired to IR wireless. It sounds like a small change, but it makes for a much more usable and ergonomic remote control. Once again, if you've gotten used to BenQ's IR remote, it's a chore to return to fiddly little buttons under the screen bezel.

On top of all that, BenQ has included plenty of features that creative pros will love, including a wide range of color space presets and excellent factory calibration. This is a really nice IPS 4K display with lovely image quality.

Connectivity is another very strong point thanks to Thunderbolt 4 connectivity, plus daisy chain and KVM switch functionality. Really the only obvious weak point of the BenQ PD3226G involves HDR support. The DisplayHDR400 certification is very much entry level and means you're not getting a true HDR experience.

That latter point would be fine save for the notably premium price point. This is an extremely expensive display given that it's ultimately limited to SDR visuals. Of course, if HDR doesn't factor in any of your workflows, that won't be a deal breaker. But at this price point, local dimming and a bit more backlight punch probably wouldn't go amiss. That aside, BenQ is onto a winner with the new PD3226G.

For more displays for creative professionals, we've rounded up the best monitors for photo editing, the best monitors for graphic design, and the best monitors for video editing.

The incarcerated former Silicon Valley star is advising her partner on a new health tech startup. Holmes was convicted of defrauding investors in her blood-testing company Theranos.

(Image credit: Philip Pacheco)

Pakistan said most of the missiles were intercepted and that retaliatory strikes were underway. It's an escalation in a conflict triggered by a massacre last month that India blames on Pakistan.

(Image credit: Anjum Naveed)

As the Department of Veterans Affairs tries to meet President Trump's goal of cutting 15% of staff, vets are concerned there won't be enough doctors and nurses.

(Image credit: Katya Mendoza)

Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for May 10.

The agreement settles several claims Texas made against the search giant in 2022 related to geolocation, incognito searches and biometric data.

(Image credit: Jeff Chiu)

One revolutionized first-person shooters on consoles, another taught us how to care for a virtual pet, but they all deserve a spot in history.

As the Trump administration moves to quickly expand immigration detention space, a series of standoffs have emerged between city officials and the private prison companies.

(Image credit: Zane Irwin)

Hints and answers for the NYT Connections: Sports Edition puzzle, No. 229, for Saturday, May 10.

'/>

Michael Gonzales, the ambassador to Zambia, announced at an emotional press conference that the U.S. would cut $50 million in aid due to theft of medications.

(Image credit: U.S. Embassy Zambia)

Hints and answers for Connections for May 10, #699.

This season's Islanders haven't been announced, but there is a premiere date set.

DA POPE'/>

The likelihood that the newly elected pope has consumed a Chicago style hot dog is not zero. And that means something.

(Image credit: TIZIANA FABI/AFP via Getty Images)

Someday, hopefully not soon, I'll shed this mortal coil and in short order be forgotten. Unless someone makes an AI Lance Ulanoff.

In short, please don't.

I had this epiphany and realized the need for a public statement that might one day protect my likeness from appearing after my demise after reading about the tragic case of an Arizona man and road rage victim whose AI avatar delivered a short and, I must admit, moving speech to a judge who was considering the sentence of the man who, according to the ruling, killed him.

It's a terrible and sad case, and in the video, Christopher Pelkey appears to deliver forgiveness and even some humor. It's not a perfect rendering. The voice sometimes sounds robotic, and the video is a bit stiff, but the overall effect is quite a thing.

There's no getting around the tragedy of the court case, but the decision by Pelkey's family to bring him to life as an AI-generated avatar is problematic. While Pelkey appears to be delivering the impassioned words, they're actually written by his sister. I assume she knew her brother well, but I doubt she can know exactly what he would have said in the event of his death.

There's no stopping this now

This slippery slope we're standing over is crumbling underfoot, and we are about to slide down into a very weird and uncanny valley. That this technology was used in a court of law and done without, it appears, the assistance of a major corporation or significant funds, means that more and more people will consider not only trying to bring dead relatives back to digital life but also enabling real-world and sometimes important interactions for them.

Pelkey's appearance is an extreme case, for now, but will likely not be an outlier. I expect others to start putting long-lost relatives to work as AI avatars in all sorts of cases, from class action suits to civil divorce proceedings.

I'm sure many family members will think they're acting in your best interest when they digitally resurrect you. Just this week, we saw the family of legendary NBA broadcaster Jim Fagan okay the AI recreation of his voice for future NBA games (mostly promos and not, it seems, any play-by-play). I'm sure that a full-bodied AI Fagan isn't far behind.

Pelkey, though, was not a celebrity, and businesses will likely crop up to help anyone digital revive Grandma, a brother, Sis, Aunt June, anyone you've lost and desperately miss.

Just don't

I understand the intention and, to be honest, I don't know if I would reject a chance to "bring back a loved one." Of course, you're not bringing back anyone. The AI avatar will only look and sound like the deceased, though I guess it could go further than that.

Last year, I wrote about Silicon Intelligence, a Chinese company that wants to use photos and videos to build a digital persona that can even respond in ways that the original, living relative might have done.

The technology necessary to make fully functioning digital replicas of anyone living or dead is here now, which is why I'm encouraging everyone to declare publicly whether or not they approve of this for their corporeal presence.

I understand that with the hours and hours of videos and thousands of photos available online depicting me blathering on about technology, I'm an easy target for this. My family may not be interested in resurrecting me, but I worry any enterprising techy could build their own Lance Ulanoff and then spend hours teasing it about all the times the real Lance Ulanoff was wrong.

You might also like

• The best steak I've ever had was made by an AI robot grill
• Google and NBC are using AI to try and stick the landing at the Paris Olympics
• The AI That Cried AAAAAAHHH!
• I tried the most realistic AI voice companion ever created - if ChatGPT or Gemini ever gets this good, reality is in trouble