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The race to put augmented reality smart glasses on your face is heating up. Snap Spectacles are transforming into "Specs" and will launch as lighter and more powerful AR wearables in 2026.

CEO Evan Spiegel announced the all-new Specs on stage at the XR event AWE, promising smart glasses that are smaller, considerably lighter, and "with a ton more capability."

The company didn't spell out a specific time frame or price, but the 2026 launch schedule does put Meta on notice, which is busy prepping its exciting Orion AR glasses for 2027. It appears, Snap Specs will face off with the Samsung/Google Android XR-based Glasses, which are also expected sometime in 2026.

As for what consumers can expect from Specs, Snap is building them on the same Snap OS used in its fifth-generation Spectacles (and likely still using a pair of Qualcomm Snapdragon XR chips). That means all the interface and interaction metaphors, like gesture-based controls, will remain. But there are a significant number of new features and integrations that will start showing up this year, long before Specs arrive, including AI.

Upgrading the platform

(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)

Spiegel explained the updates by first revealing that Snap started working on glasses "before Snapchat" was even a thing and that the company's overarching goal is "making computers more human." He added that "with advances in AI, computers are thinking and acting like humans more than ever before."

Snap's plan with these updates to Snap OS is to bring AI platforms into the real world. They're bringing Gemini and OpenAI models into Snap OS, which means that some multi-model AI capabilities will soon be part of Fifth Generation Spectacles and, eventually, Specs. These tools might be used for on-the-fly text translation and currency conversion.

The updated platform also adds tools for Snap Lenses builders that will integrate with the Spectacles' and Specs' AR waveform-based display capabilities.

A new Snap3D API, for instance, will let developers use GenAI to create 3D objects in lenses.

The updates will include a Depth Module AI, which can read 2D information to create 3D maps that will help anchor virtual objects in a 3D world.

Businesses deploying Spectables (and eventually Specs) may appreciate the new Fleet Management app, which will let developers manage and remotely monitor multiple Specs at once, and the ability to deploy the Specs for guided navigation at, say, a museum.

Later, Snap OS will add WebXR support to build AR and VR experiences within Web browsers.

Let's make it interesting

Spiegel claimed that, through lenses in Snapchat, Snap has the largest AR platform in the world. "People use our AR lenses in our camera 8 billion times a day."

That is a lot, but it's virtually all through smartphones. At the moment, only developers are using the bulky Spectacles and their Lenses capabilities.

The consumer release of Specs could change that. When I tried Spectacles last year, I was impressed with the experience and found them, while not quite as good as Meta Orion glasses (the lack of gaze-tracking stood out for me), full of potential.

A lighter form factor that approaches or surpasses what I found with Orion and have seen in some Samsung Android XR glasses, could vault Snap Specs into the AR Glasses lead. That is, providing they do not cost $2000.

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The Pew report reveals how religious disaffiliation and population growth have influenced the global religious landscape.

(Image credit: Amr Nabil)

Commentary: Last year's developer keynote was loaded with AI updates. This year's focus on design was a breath of fresh – and familiar – air.

Samsung Galaxy Fit 3: One minute review

Samsung isn't a brand I immediately associate with affordable smart tech, but the Galaxy Fit 3 is one of the cheapest proprietary fitness trackers on the market. Even Google's Fitbit Inspire 3 band, which a few years ago seemed like a sensible entry point to the best fitness trackers, is double the price.

Samsung launched the Fit 3 in several territories in early 2024, but its US debut only came this January. It replaces and builds on the Galaxy Fit 2 – a good-looking budget band that we found had questionable heart rate accuracy – with some noticeable improvements to design and tracking.

The Fit 3 has a refined design with a bigger, brighter screen to accommodate wider stats viewing. It can now monitor blood oxygenation levels and also has a decent swim stroke counter. But while the Fit 2 worked with some iPhone models, the Fit 3 does no such thing. This tracker is only compatible with Android 10 or above, which I've already seen complaints about in some online reviews: Samsung doesn't make this super clear when you shop online.

(Image credit: Lauren Scott)

While Apple hasn't focused any effort on serving up its own entry into the best cheap fitness trackers game, it seems Samsung wants to tap into this underserved corner of the market alongside its premium Galaxy Watch range. In short, the Fit 3 records and displays your steps walked, calories burned, heart rate, stress levels, sleep, and more, with just a few swipes and taps on its touchscreen.

As a runner, I was frustrated that the Fit 3 didn't have GPS, but at such a low price, I'm not sure you can expect it to. It's a simple, accessible device that monitors your everyday health data without costing a fortune.

It offers smartwatch-style notifications and music controls, plus weather info and the usual collection of customizable watch faces to choose from on the Samsung Galaxy Wearable app. Navigating through screens is easy and enjoyable thanks to a responsive touchscreen and very clear menu design. As someone used to Garmin's convoluted settings and screens, the Fit 3 was a breath of fresh air.

Samsung says that the battery should last 13 days, and I found I'd get at least 10, while tracking at least three short runs and wearing the band overnight during that time. Having worn many of the more advanced fitness devices on the market, I didn't feel shortchanged by the Fit 3's everyday health metrics, but I did sometimes question the accuracy of its heart rate during intense workouts.

It's simply brilliant value, though, with a lovely screen, clear stats and encouraging insights to help you improve your everyday health. Without on-board GPS, I wouldn't recommend it to anyone serious about running, but if it's your first fitness tracker or you don't have a lot to spend, the Fit 3 is a brilliant option.

Don't look at it if you've got an iPhone – but if you're a Samsung user, I'd still question whether investing all that money in a premium Galaxy Watch would give you greater accuracy and health features.

Samsung Galaxy Fit 3: Price and availability

• Priced at around $59 / £49 / AU$139
• The cheapest Samsung Galaxy fitness device
• Made available in the US from January 2025

The Samsung Galaxy Fit 3 was released in Asia, Europe, and Latin America in early 2024. It didn't launch in the US until January 9, 2025. There are three colors to choose from (Gray, Silver and Pink Gold), all with the same RRP, but the Gray option, which is actually black in real life, gets reduced most often.

The device is easily Samsung's cheapest Galaxy fitness device, costing around $59 / £49 / AU$139, but even less if you pick up a regular Samsung or Amazon deal. Few devices can compete with the Fit 3's super-low price point, aside from the Google Fitbit Inspire 3, HUAWEI Band 9 and all those non-proprietary options on Amazon.

And unlike Fitbit, you don't have to pay for a premium membership to access all of the Galaxy Fit 3's features. Meaning the price you pay upfront is all you'll have to pay. The Samsung Health app is free, although it's worth noting (and I will again) that it only works with Android devices, pushing out the option for Apple users to buy the Fit 3.

• Value score: 4.5/5

Samsung Galaxy Fit 3: Specifications

Dimensions

42.9 x 28.8 x 9.9 mm

Weight

18.5 g

Case/bezel

Aluminum

Display

1.6-inch 256 x 402px AMOLED display

GPS

No

Battery life

Up to 13 days

Connection

Bluetooth v5.3

Sensors

Accelerometer, Barometer, Gyro Sensor, Optical Heart Rate Sensor, Light Sensor

Waterproofing

5ATM/IP68

Samsung Galaxy Fit 3: DesignImage 1 of 1

(Image credit: Lauren Scott)

• Responsive 1.6-inch AMOLED display
• Flexible silicone strap
• Water resistant to up to 50 meters

The Samsung Galaxy Fit 3 looks very different to its predecessor. Its 1.6-inch display is 0.5 inches bigger, with a wider, rectangular view in comparison, which allows you to see more stats without having to open your phone. I'd say the Fit 3 looks more like a smartwatch than the long, thin Fit 2, and with a 2.78x higher resolution on the display (now 256 x 402 px), it's a lot crisper too.

You can set up the screen to be always-on (which will drain the battery faster) or to illuminate when you move your wrist upwards. I went for this option to save power, but sometimes had to raise my arm multiple times to turn it on. On the plus side, the screen was easy to see in bright sunlight, and the auto-brightness feature worked well to adapt to different environments.

Where the screen was integrated into the band of the Fit 2, the Fit 3's tracker is easily detachable with a press of a button on the back. I love the ease of customization here. With the old Fit 2, you were stuck with the color of the band. But the 3's design is more similar to the Apple Watch, and you can swap out the silicone strap if you want to change your style.

(Image credit: Lauren Scott)

I think it's vital that fitness trackers are comfortable enough to wear for long periods – ideally overnight if you're going to use the sleep tracking features. At 18.5g, the Fit 3 is lightweight, and half the weight of my usual Garmin running watch, but I found wearing it uncomfortable sometimes.

Because the sensor sticks out from the back of the device, it doesn't sit flush with your skin. When I tightened the strap during workouts to get an accurate heart rate, or when my wrists got hot in warm weather, I'd get a deep imprint and have to take the Fit 3 off to give my skin a breather.

Overall, though, the Fit 3 feels well-made, and durable enough to withstand the elements, sweat and tough workouts. Its 5ATM waterproof rating provided peace of mind when swimming and showering.

The AMOLED screen is big and bright enough for those still wanting a smaller fitness band, and you soon get used to the basic touch gestures for moving across the settings and screens. A swipe-down brings up the home menu and settings, or a hold-down lets you change the watch face. The new button on the side brings you back to the home screen with a press or to the exercise with a double-press.

You'll need the Samsung Galaxy Wearable app and Samsung Health app to use the Fit 3. Once set up, the Wearable app lets you customize the view and order of tiles on the device and add more watch faces. Thankfully, it's also easy and intuitive to use, with fun themes and color coding to make information easy to scan.

• Design score: 4/5

Samsung Galaxy Fit 3: Features

(Image credit: Lauren Scott)

• Music playback and phone notifications
• Tracks over 100 workouts (although not all are useful)
• Records sleep stages

Being a budget tracker, it's no surprise that the Fit 3 omits many of the key features seen in Samsung's watch range. To keep the price down (and presumably battery life up), the Fit 3's smartphone connectivity is based on Bluetooth, and there's no Wi-Fi. The main benefit of Wi-Fi is a longer range for syncing data (helpful if you're exercising outdoors without a phone), but it makes no difference to the experience here.

Where the best Samsung watches offer impressive GPS for runners, the Fit 3 relies on being connected to a phone for route tracking. In short, you can't run (or cycle) phone-free and expect to record a truly accurate distance and pace.

Compared to the previous Galaxy Fit 2, though, the Fit 3 does have notable new features, including blood oxygen and heart rate variability sensors, a route tracker, and a barometer. A new light sensor also enables the optional always-on display mode I mentioned in the Design section.

(Image credit: Lauren Scott)

The Fit 3 doesn't have a built-in speaker or microphone, but you can answer calls directly from the screen and control your music or podcast playback when in range of your phone. The customizable vibration alerts are also useful for setting alarms.

The Fit 3 runs on a simplified FreeRTOS operating system, but you can’t access the Wear OS app store or connect to any third-party apps (such as Strava and Spotify). While the Fit 3 works with phones on Android 10 or later, certain features are only available on the best Samsung phones.

These include snore detection, which uses the phone's microphone to record and analyze audio, plus the ability to trigger the phone's camera with a button on the Fit 3. I used a Google Pixel phone to test the Fit 3, so I wasn't able to try either of these features, but they feel like gimmicks rather than dealbreakers for most enthusiast exercisers.

Given that the Fit 3 is destined for those early on their fitness journey, it makes sense for Samsung to have left out GPS tracking and ECG readings, which would have pushed the price up and perhaps been ignored by beginners anyway. What's left is a feature set worthy of the Fit 3's price tag – albeit too basic for certain users. There are over 100 workouts to choose from, although many of these are nothing more than a calorie counter, which I'll come to next.

• Features score: 3.5/5

Samsung Galaxy Fit 3: Performance

(Image credit: Lauren Scott)

• Sleep scores missed data
• (Mostly) accurate heart rate readings
• Smooth and glitch-free use

This is a tracker designed for simplicity, so I hoped the Fit 3 setup would be straightforward. It comes in a small box with its band already attached, a USB-C charging cable (with no plug, which feels standard in a plastic-saving 2025) and a few booklets I mostly ignored.

First, I discovered I need two apps – Samsung Health and Galaxy Wearable – to set up the Fit 3, but it didn't take longer than five minutes to unbox and connect it to my partner's Pixel rather than my own incompatible iPhone. It took some more faff through permission screens, and another five minutes, to set up a Samsung account, but I suspect this is a step you could skip if you've had a previous Samsung device.

Once set up, I found navigating the tracker was smooth in every situation. Even when I had wet or sweaty hands, the touch response was accurate, which is a great result for a tracker you want to use while swimming and pushing yourself.

The Fit 3's 208mAh battery is around 30% bigger than the Fit 2's, and while I was impressed during testing, I never quite made it to the company’s 13-day maximum. I enabled the always-on display (taking it off during sleep) and got just over 5 full days before it conked out.

Putting the display back to a normal 15-second timer, and recording a 30-minute workout each day, it lasted 8 days. A dull charge took me 68 minutes, which is far shy of the Apple Watch 10 but half the time it takes me to charge up my older Garmin Forerunner 265S. So what? Well, you get much more juice than the majority of smartwatches, which is great if you don't want to be recharging constantly.

(Image credit: Lauren Scott)

The Fit 3 has over 100 workout options, and you can set your favorites so they're easy to find. I certainly didn't test every one, but I did cover the basics – walking, running, swimming – plus some more rogue options like crunches, dancing and burpees. I expected a movement like crunches or bicep curls to capture repetitions, but you get a similarly generic screen to walking with duration, calories and average heart rate. It's not particularly useful.

To test the Fit 3's fitness and sleep tracking accuracy, I wore it alongside the Garmin Forerunner 265 constantly. When I checked at the end of each day, I found that my steps were different by about 500 steps higher on my Garmin, but over 17,000 steps, that didn't feel unreasonable.

The device came unstuck when I went for a five kilometer run without a phone. Because there's no GPS, the Fit 3 has to estimate your distance (I'd guess) based on height and steps. So after finishing the run, where my Forerunner had recorded 5K (three miles) exactly, the Fit 3 was at 2.81 miles. Of course, this deviance would rack up over longer distances.

My heart rate reading was much closer, with the Fit 3 within about five beats per minute (bpm) of the Forerunner at all times. I'm trying to focus on more Zone 2 training, and love how the Fit 3 displays heart rate zones while running or working out. I also tried out machines at the gym with heart rate monitors to cross-reference the Fit 3's readings. Again, it was within 3-8 bpm of a treadmill and stairmaster machine.

(Image credit: Lauren Scott)

After all that exercise, I wore the Fit 3 to bed over a few weeks to record my sleep times and stages, blood oxygen, and (most importantly) to find out what sleep animal Samsung gave me.

Every morning, I read my sleep score to see how long and well I slept, but unfortunately, I often found it much lower than the relative scores from my Forerunner. On the night before writing this review, I got an actual sleep time of 6 hours 54 minutes, REM sleep 45 minutes on the Fit 3. On my Garmin, it was 8 hours 12, and 2 hours 26 REM.

Digging into any detailed metrics from the Fit 3 requires you to open the Samsung Health App. There, the sleep data is easy to read and attractively presented, with sleep stages on a color-coded scale. Personally, I can't feel confident that the Fit 3 sleep data is accurate, and I stopped wearing it in bed after a week.

Wearables have a long way to go in general when it comes to sleep, and the same goes for women's cycle tracking. I liked being able to log my period in the Samsung app and seeing my predicted fertile window, powered by Natural Cycles, and I suspect the timings would get more accurate the more input you give it. But again, the initial stats felt too much like guesstimates.

If all that sounds negative, it isn't meant to. The Fit 3 never lagged and never failed to log a workout or connect back to the smartphone. Notifications came through instantly, and while sleep tracking could be more reliable, wearables' data gaps tend to improve over time: Samsung's sleep tracking on devices such as the Samsung Galaxy Ring is highly rated.

• Performance score: 4/5

Scorecard

Category

Comment

Score

Value

An impressively low price for the features and ease-of-use.

4.5/5

Design

Loved the bright screen, but found the band less comfortable than other devices.

4/5

Features

Without GPS the device is more limited, but workout tracking is great.

4/5

Performance

Accurate heart rate tracking, a smooth if not basic app and impressive 10-day battery life.

3.5/5

(Image credit: Lauren Scott)Samsung Galaxy Fit 3: Should I buy?Buy it if...

You've got a Samsung Galaxy phone

The most streamlined experience is achieved by pairing the Fit 3 with a Samsung Galaxy device. It's a great budget tracker if that's the case.

You're a general gym-goer

If you want to track calories from gym classes or common exercise machines, the Fit 3 works well.

You're a beginner to fitness tracking

The Fit 3 makes fitness tracking simple and accessible. It doesn't have advanced metrics, but the stats it records paint a useful health picture.

Don't buy it if...

You’re on an Apple device

You can't connect the Fit 3 to an iPhone at all, which will be a disappointment to many Apple users.

You want GPS

You won't be able to record your location data unless the device is connected to a phone, which is no good for phone-free running, walking or cycling.

Also consider

Fitbit Luxe

It's four times more expensive than the Fit 3, but if you're looking for something more stylish, the Luxe has a gorgeous design. Sadly, it also lacks GPS.

Read our full Fitbit Luxe review

Amazfit Active 2

If you want something that looks more like a watch than a tracker, but at a similarly low price, this sub-$99 option offers excellent health tracking and a long battery.

Read our full Amazfit Active 2 review

How I tested the Samsung Galaxy Fit 3Image 1 of 1

(Image credit: Lauren Scott)

I wore the Samsung Galaxy Fit 3 for over two weeks on one wrist, keeping my usual Garmin Forerunner 265S on the other (for stats comparison). It was linked to my partner's Google Pixel 8 Pro as my iPhone wasn't compatible. I wore the device overnight to test the sleep metrics over a sustained period and how well the battery lasted.

I tracked more than 10 workout types, including a few 5 km parkruns, Fiit workouts at home, aerobics, hikes, and even dancing. I logged heart rate and stress measurements at different times of day during testing and set up the female cycle tracking feature on the accompanying Samsung Health app.

Qualcomm's head of XR tells me about its latest processor for glasses and how it will improve cameras, battery life and AI.

• Lies of P's director Jiwon Choi has said new changes for the Overture DLC will be implemented following player feedback
• Choi said Round8 Studio is paying attention to the combat experience
• The developer is reviewing various adjustments, including "difficulty reduction"

Developer Round8 Studio has confirmed that Lies of P: Overture will receive additional difficulty changes based on player feedback.

In a new Director's Letter video following the shadow-drop release of the Overture downloadable content (DLC) at Summer Game Fest, director Jiwon Choi thanked players for their feedback and confirmed that the studio is looking to implement some changes that will mainly target combat and difficulty.

"We're reviewing all of it carefully and are already looking into when to implement some of your suggestions," Choi said. "Among all the feedback, we are paying the closest attention to the combat experience."

Players online have shared their thoughts on Overture, with some stating that the DLC feels more difficult than the base game, even when playing on the game's standard difficulty, Legendary Stalker.

"I’m at level 300 and should not be getting two-shot from basic enemies," one player wrote on Steam(via IGN). "It doesn’t help that the enemy grouping is designed for you to have to deal with multiple at once. This wouldn’t be a problem if even one of those enemies doesn’t take out half your health with one hit."

Choi continued, saying that the game will receive adjustments that will essentially nerf the difficulty.

"We identified areas that did not turn out quite as we intended. Therefore, we are reviewing various adjustments, including difficulty reduction.

"However, combat is one of the most fundamental experiences in Lies of P, so any modifications or changes require meticulous work and thorough testing."

We don't know when the patch will arrive, but we'll keep you updated.

In TechRadar Gaming's Lies of P: Overture review, Hardware Editor Rhys Wood said that DLC is an "expansion that exudes confidence on the part of developer Round8 Studio" and "successfully enriches the entire Lies of P package, with stunning and creative level design and some of the best boss fights in the subgenre as a whole".

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"There are no words to describe the pain, the disbelief and the grief that all of Austria feels right now," said the country's Chancellor Christian Stocker. "Our country has fallen silent in horror."

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Cape Coral is not exactly bursting with internet service provider options, but residents do have fiber, cable and wireless options.

• A security researcher found a way to bypass Google's anti-bot mechanism
• This allowed them to automate guessing the number
• Google fixed the flaw and thanked the researcher

Google has fixed a flaw which was able to expose the phone number associated with any Google account, putting people at different privacy and security risks.

A security researcher with the alias ‘brutecat’ uncovered a way to bypass the anti-bot protection which prevented people from spamming password reset requests on Google accounts.

This allowed them to cycle through every possible combination until they were able to get the correct phone number. Later, they were able to automate the process, resulting in the phone number being guessed in roughly 20 minutes (depending on how many digits the number has).

Risks of exposed numbers

There are multiple privacy and security challenges that stem from an exposed phone number. For one, people who rely on anonymity (such as journalists, political opposition, dissidents, and similar) could be more vulnerable to targeted attacks. Also, exposing a person’s phone number opens them up to SIM-swap attacks, as well as phishing and social engineering. Finally, if an attacker successfully hijacks a phone number, they could reset passwords and gain unauthorized access to linked accounts.

Luckily enough, the issue has been fixed, and so far there have been no reports of the flaw being abused in the wild.

TechCrunch was one of the publications confirming the authenticity of the flaw, after setting up a dummy account with a brand new phone number, and having it “cracked” soon after.

“This issue has been fixed. We’ve always stressed the importance of working with the security research community through our vulnerability rewards program and we want to thank the researcher for flagging this issue,” Google spokesperson Kimberly Samra told TechCrunch.

“Researcher submissions like this are one of the many ways we’re able to quickly find and fix issues for the safety of our users.”

Samra said that the company has seen “no confirmed, direct links to exploits at this time.”

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There's no denying that Apple's Siri digital chatbot didn't exactly hold a place of honor at this year's WWDC 2025 keynote. Apple mentioned it, and reiterated that it was taking longer than it had anticipated to bring everyone the Siri it promised a year ago, saying the full Apple Integration would arrive "in the coming year."

Apple has since confirmed this means 2026. That means we won't be seeing the kind of deep integration that would have let Siri use what it knew about you and your iOS-running iPhone to become a better digital companion in 2025. It won't, as part of the just-announced iOS 26, use app intents to understand what's happening on the screen and take action on your behalf based on that.

I have my theories about the reason for the delay, most of which revolve around the tension between delivering a rich AI experience and Apple's core principles regarding privacy. They often seem at cross purposes. This, though, is guesswork. Only Apple can tell us exactly what's going on – and now they have.

I, along with Tom's Guide Global Editor-in-Chief Mark Spoonauer, sat down shortly after the keynote with Apple's Senior Vice President of Software Engineering Craig Federighi and Apple Global VP of Marketing Greg Joswiak for a wide-ranging podcast discussion about virtually everything Apple unveiled during its 90-minute keynote.

We started by asking Federighi about what Apple delivered regarding Apple Intelligence, as well as the status of Siri, and what iPhone users might expect this year or next. Federighi was surprisingly transparent, offering a window into Apple's strategic thinking when it comes to Apple Intelligence, Siri, and AI.

Far from nothing

Left to right: Lance Ulanoff and Mark Spoonauer chat with Craig Federighi and Greg Josiwak (Image credit: Apple)

(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)

Federighi started by walking us through all that Apple has delivered with Apple Intelligence thus far, and, to be fair, it's a considerable amount

"We were very focused on creating a broad platform for really integrated personal experiences into the OS." recalled Federighi, referring to the original Apple Intelligence announcement at WWDC 2024.

At the time, Apple demonstrated Writing Tools, summarizations, notifications, movie memories, semantic search of the Photos library, and Clean Up for photos. It delivered on all those features, but even as Apple was building those tools, it recognized, Federighi told us, that "we could, on that foundation of large language models on device, private cloud compute as a foundation for even more intelligence, [and] semantic indexing on device to retrieve keep knowledge, build a better Siri."

Over-confidence?

A year ago, Apple's confidence in its ability to build such a Siri led it to demonstrate a platform that could handle more conversational context, mispeaking, Type to Siri, and a significantly redesigned UI. Again, all things Apple delivered.

"We also talked about [...] things like being able to invoke a broader range of actions across your device by app intents being orchestrated by Siri to let it do more things," added Federighi. "We also talked about the ability to use personal knowledge from that semantic index so if you ask for things like, "What's that podcast, that 'Joz' sent me?' that we could find it, whether it was in your messages or in your email, and call it out, and then maybe even act on it using those app intents. That piece is the piece that we have not delivered, yet."

This is known history. Apple overpromised and underdelivered, failing to deliver a vaguely promised end-of-year Apple Intelligence Siri update in 2024 and admitting by spring 2025 that it would not be ready any time soon. As to why it happened, it's been, up to now, a bit of a mystery. Apple is not in the habit of demonstrating technology or products that it does not know for certain that it will be able to deliver on schedule.

Federighi, however, explained in some detail where things went awry, and how Apple progresses from here.

"We found that when we were developing this feature that we had, really, two phases, two versions of the ultimate architecture that we were going to create," he explained. "Version one we had working here at the time that we were getting close to the conference, and had, at the time, high confidence that we could deliver it. We thought by December, and if not, we figured by spring, until we announced it as part of WWDC. Because we knew the world wanted a really complete picture of, 'What's Apple thinking about the implications of Apple intelligence and where is it going?'"

A tale of two architectures

(Image credit: Apple)

As Apple was working on a V1 of the Siri architecture, it was also working on what Federighi called V2, "a deeper end-to-end architecture that we knew was ultimately what we wanted to create, to get to a full set of capabilities that we wanted for Siri."

What everyone saw during WWDC 2024 were videos of that V1 architecture, and that was the foundation for work that began in earnest after the WWDC 2024 reveal, in preparation for the full Apple Intelligence Siri launch.

"We set about for months, making it work better and better across more app intents, better and better for doing search," Federighi added. "But fundamentally, we found that the limitations of the V1 architecture weren't getting us to the quality level that we knew our customers needed and expected. We realized that V1 architecture, you know, we could push and push and push and put in more time, but if we tried to push that out in the state it was going to be in, it would not meet our customer expectations or Apple standards, and that we had to move to the V2 architecture.

"As soon as we realized that, and that was during the spring, we let the world know that we weren't going to be able to put that out, and we were going to keep working on really shifting to the new architecture and releasing something."

We realized that […] If we tried to push that out in the state it was going to be in, it would not meet our customer expectations or Apple standards, and that we had to move to the V2 architecture.

Craig Federighi, Apple

That switch, though, and what Apple learned along the way, meant that Apple would not make the same mistake again, and promise a new Siri for a date that it could not guarantee to hit. Instead. Apple won't "precommunicate a date," explained Federighi, "until we have in-house, the V2 architecture delivering not just in a form that we can demonstrate for you all…"

He then joked that, while, actually, he "could" demonstrate a working V2 model, he was not going to do it. Then he added, more seriously, "We have, you know, the V2 architecture, of course, working in-house, but we're not yet to the point where it's delivering at the quality level that I think makes it a great Apple feature, and so we're not announcing the date for when that's happening. We will announce the date when we're ready to seed it, and you're all ready to be able to experience it."

I asked Federighi if, by V2 architecture, he was talking about a wholesale rebuilding of Siri, but Federighi disabused me of that notion.

"I should say the V2 architecture is not, it wasn't a star-over. The V1 architecture was sort of half of the V2 architecture, and now we extend it across, sort of make it a pure architecture that extends across the entire Siri experience. So we've been very much building up upon what we have been building for V1, but now extending it more completely, and that more homogeneous end-to-end architecture gives us much higher quality and much better capability. And so that's what we're building now."

A different AI strategy

(Image credit: Apple)

Some might view Apple's failure to deliver the full Siri on its original schedule as a strategic stumble. But Apple's approach to AI and product is also utterly different than that of OpenAI or Google Gemini. It does not revolve around a singular product or a powerful chatbot. Siri is not necessarily the centerpiece we all imagined.

Federighi doesn't dispute that "AI is this transformational technology […] All that's growing out of this architecture is going to have decades-long impact across the industry and the economy, and much like the internet, much like mobility, and it's going to touch Apple's products and it's going to touch experiences that are well outside of Apple products."

Apple clearly wants to be part of this revolution, but on its terms and in ways that most benefit its users while, of course, protecting their privacy. Siri, though, was never the end game, as Federighi explained.

AI is this transformational technology [...] and it's going to touch Apple's products and it's going to touch experiences that are well outside of Apple products."

Craig Federighi, Apple

"When we started with Apple Intelligence, we were very clear: this wasn't about just building a chatbot. So, seemingly, when some of these Siri capabilities I mentioned didn't show up, people were like, 'What happened, Apple? I thought you were going to give us your chatbot. That was never the goal, and it remains not our primary goal."

So what is the goal? I think it may be fairly obvious from the WWDC 2025 keynote. Apple is intent on integrating Apple Intelligence across all its platforms. Instead of heading over to a singular app like ChatGPT for your AI needs, Apple's putting it, in a way, everywhere. It's done, Federighi explains, "in a way that meets you where you are, not that you're going off to some chat experience in order to get things done."

Apple understands the allure of conversational bots. "I know a lot of people find it to be a really powerful way to gather their thoughts, brainstorm [...] So, sure, these are great things," Federighi says. "Are they the most important thing for Apple to develop? Well, time will tell where we go there, but that's not the main thing we set out to do at this time."

Check back soon for a link to the TechRadar and Tom's Guide podcast featuring the full interview with Federighi and Joswiak.

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• Microsoft is bringing big changes to its Windows 11 Start menu
• Users can now separate applications into categories or use the traditional grid view
• It's available to try for testers, almost in time for the ROG Xbox Ally handhelds

Microsoft is bringing a handful of changes to its Windows 11 operating system in preparation for the ROG Xbox Ally handhelds. Beta testers are already starting to see improvements to the user interface – and one feature may be a significant aid to navigation.

As reported by The Verge, Microsoft is improving its Windows 11 Start menu, now available for testers, with more customization options to make scrolling and finding applications easier. These can be sorted into separate categories (as evident in the image below) or used in the classic grid view.

While all applications have always been accessible via the Start menu, this improved version makes finding your application much easier. Instead of finding a specific app through its first letter or symbol, you'll simply be able to jump into a 'Games' folder or 'Browsers' folder, eliminating the need to enable desktop icons.

The 'recommended' section can also be disabled, as this would often display recently-opened files or folders to make room for more apps, and now new categories. It's also worth noting that Microsoft states that the Start menu will be bigger, which will vary depending on the screen size or device being used.

These line up perfectly for the new login screen that allows users to enter their PIN using a game controller – and this is likely a preparation for the "full-screen experience" update coming for the new Windows 11 handhelds. However, there's one big benefit that OLED monitor users like me will appreciate, too.

Analysis: Some of my OLED burn-in worries can rest...

(Image credit: Microsoft)

I'll be honest, in all the years I've used Dell's Alienware AW3423DWF OLED monitor, I haven't come across a single issue with burn-in – and that's including moments of complacency, leaving static images on screen. Even so, I'm still paranoid it will happen eventually, and Microsoft's efforts for a better Start menu give me a slight sigh of relief.

Burn-in is one of the biggest dealbreakers for gamers contemplating an OLED purchase, and it's why I would go as far as to recommend a mini-LED monitor in some cases. However, OLED care on monitors is continuously advancing, and while Microsoft may have had other intentions with this tester update, it's worked as a bonus.

While Microsoft is doing this with its OS, I'd love to see the same concept applied to games. Early access or multiplayer games often have a build number in the corner of the screen, and fellow OLED users will be aware of how much of a nightmare this is, as it's essentially an open invitation for burn-in.

Regardless, it's a positive move from Microsoft in the same week that it announced an improved Xbox app. We'll just have to see if it's enough to create strong competition for SteamOS in terms of usability.

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• Apple unveiled its new macOS Tahoe 26 with new gaming features
• MetalFX Frame Interpolation and denoising will be available via macOS Tahoe
• It generates an extra frame between two input frames for better performance

Apple's WWDC 2025 keynote unveiled various improvements coming to Macs in in macOS Tahoe 26 – and the boosts to the Cupertino giant's gaming efforts are certainly noteworthy.

As highlighted in the keynote (streamed on YouTube), Apple's new Metal 4 graphics rendering API will introduce MetalFX Frame Interpolation and MetalFX denoising for macOS Tahoe 26, providing an Nvidia Frame Generation-like gaming experience. The new dedicated gaming app will also introduce a gaming overlay that's very reminiscent of Discord's updated overlay.

This comes at an ideal time with games like Assassin's Creed Shadows already available on the platform, and Pearl Abyss' Crimson Desert on the horizon; if implemented well, frame interpolation should bring a significant enhancement to graphically-demanding games, especially if base frame rates are at a decent standard.

With MetalFX denoising and upscaling, ray-tracing will become a stronger possibility for powerful M-based Macs, with better performance and visual quality than before. The game overlay looks set to provide a more gaming-friendly user interface, especially with the mini social hub for quick communication with friends.

All of the new features may bring Apple's macOS closer to becoming a stronger gaming platform. It's still early days, so there's likely plenty more for Apple to reveal closer to macOS Tahoe 26's launch this fall, but it's a promising start.

Analysis: So Apple, how about that gaming handheld?

(Image credit: Apple)

M3 and M4 MacBooks are all set for improved gaming once macOS Tahoe 26 becomes available. While gaming performance with those M-based chips is great as it stands, the addition of frame generation and denoising technology is a significant upgrade.

Apple's M-based chips are power-efficient thanks to their Arm-based architecture, and as I've mentioned previously, this would be perfect for an Apple gaming handheld. So Apple, I guess it still isn't time for one? I beg to differ, because despite the gaming library, which still needs more growth, I can easily see an M-based handheld being a powerhouse and outshining others.

Usually, there are tons of leaks and rumors before Apple officially unveils surprises, so I didn't expect to see a handheld at WWDC 2025 – but I'm still keeping my fingers crossed that we'll see one at next year's keynote.

Wishful thinking? Probably, but I think Apple is missing out on easy win, as the handheld gaming market is arguably blooming more than ever before right now.

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• The day one patch for MindsEye has been delayed for Xbox "due to varied certification"
• The update can now be installed for PS5 and PC
• Build A Rocket Boy said the patch for Xbox Series X and Series S will arrive "as soon as possible"

Developer Build A Rocket Boy has informed MindsEye players that the day one patch for Xbox has been delayed.

In case you missed it, the dystopian action-adventure game published by IO Interactive launched today and is now available across PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and PC.

Like many games nowadays, Build A Rocket Boy has confirmed that a day one update, which it's calling Update 2, is now available to download and features "key final refinements" that include gameplay improvements, visual polish, stability fixes, and performance tuning.

The studio "highly recommends" installing Update 2 "to ensure MindsEye plays as we intended." PS5 and PC players can go ahead and download the patch right now, however, Xbox players will need to wait a little bit longer.

According to a post on the game's subreddit, the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S patch has been delayed "due to varied certification" and will be made available "as soon as possible".

The patch on PS5 is 8GB, but will be double that at 16GB on PC and Xbox.

In terms of what's next for MindsEye, the studio has said its post-launch plans are "already in motion" and that players can expect more updates and refinements "coming shortly after release" with more to come down the road.

"We want MindsEye to be a game that continues to grow with its players, and we’ll be listening closely to your feedback as we go," Build A Rocket Boy announced.

"Expect updates, refinements, and adjustments - based on what you’re telling us. Launch may be the milestone, but it’s far from the final word."

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• When SentinelLABS was targeted, the researchers set out looking for more victims
• They found 75 organizations around the world, in different industries
• The researchers believe China may be positioning for conflict, in cyberspace or elsewhere

Chinese hackers have been targeting companies across the world for roughly a year now, and have managed to compromise at least 75 organizations - although the actual number of victims could be a lot bigger.

Cybersecurity researchers at SentinelLABS were alerted to the campaign after their own infrastructure was targeted, and in an analysis, explained that after spotting this failed breach attempt, they started looking for more victims, tried to identify the attackers, and set out to determine when the campaign started.

They concluded that the earliest evidence of the campaign was in June 2024, which means that the attacks were going on for approximately a year.

Preparing for war

They attributed the attacks to three China-linked threat actor collectives: APT15 (AKA Ke3Chang or Nylon Typhoon), UNC5174, and APT41.

The former is known for targeting telcos, IT services, and government sectors, and UNC5174 is known to have ties to China’s Ministry of State Security.

Apparently, it has been involved in global espionage and resale campaigns in the past, as well. Finally, APT41 was previously seen using ShadowPad - a piece of malware spotted in these attacks, as well.

The cyberespionage campaign targeted a wide range of victims, including an IT services and logistics company that manages hardware needs for SentinelOne employees, a leading European media organization (targeted for intelligence gathering, apparently), and a South Asian government entity providing IT services and infrastructure across multiple sectors.

SentinelLABS says most of the victims are operating in manufacturing, government, finance, telecommunications, and research sectors - all essential, critical infrastructure organizations.

This led the researchers to conclude that the attackers were most likely positioning for potential conflict, either cyber-related, or military.

"They might be going after government organizations for more direct espionage," SentinelOne threat researcher Tom Hegel told The Register.

"And then major global media organizations — maybe it's silencing certain topics or disrupting them for reporting on certain things. If they are sitting on their adversaries' networks — media organizations, or government entities or their defense companies — they are able to flip a switch if conflict were to occur."

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• Nintendo has announced a new Splatoon spin-off game called Splatoon Raiders
• The game is launching exclusively for Nintendo Switch 2 but doesn't have a release date yet
• Splatoon 3 is also getting a free update for Switch and Switch 2, with the latter getting some visual improvements

Nintendo has announced Splatoon Raiders, the first-ever spin-off game in the Splatoon series, and it's releasing exclusively for the Nintendo Switch 2.

The surprise game reveal didn't come from a new Nintendo Direct showcase, but rather a 'Research Report from Squid Research Lab' YouTube video.

Not much was shown in the announcement aside from a brief teaser trailer and a glimpse of gameplay that shows the player's Inkling exploring a new setting called the Spirhalite Islands.

Nintendo has also offered a brief description of the game via its official website, which reads, "in the role of a mechanic, players will go on an adventure in the mysterious Spirhalite Islands alongside the splat-tacular Deep Cut trio."

Splatoon Raiders is still in development, and there's no release date yet. Hopefully, we'll hear more about the game during the next Nintendo Direct, whenever that might be.

In addition the reveal of the new game, Nintendo has confirmed that a free update for Splatoon 3 is coming to Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 this week on June 12.

The update will feature the Splatlands collection, consisting of 30 new weapon kits from the Barazushi and Emberz brands. These new additions, which are based on previous weapons, offer fresh looks with different sub and special weapons.

The Urchin Underpass stage from the original Splatoon game on Wii U is also returning and will be added to the stage rotation.

All weapon Freshness caps will be raised with the update, too, and players can earn new in-game Badges.

A new stat will also be added for Anarchy Battle (Series) called Series Weapon Power, which tracks players' effectiveness per weapon based on their win/loss ratio in battles, and then matches them with players of a similar power.

"This makes it possible for players to try new weapons without being disadvantaged and push the limits their favorite weapons," Nintendo explained.

While all these features will be added across both Switch and Switch 2, Switch 2 players can also expect a performance update that will offer detailed visuals and a smoother appearance in locations like Splatsville and the Grand Festival Grounds.

With Splatoon 3's Switch 2 update, Nintendo has also confirmed that players can play together across Switch and the new console.

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Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping: key information

- Coming to theaters on November 20, 2026
- Fifth installment of the Hunger Games franchise
- Plot will follow Suzanne Collins's novel of the same name
- No official trailer released yet
- Ralph Fiennes, Elle Fanning and Jesse Plemons all set to star
- Unclear whether more prequel novels will be written

Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping is coming on November 20, 2026. The newest movie adaptation of Suzanne Collins's famed franchise will follow her latest novel, which arrived in bookstores in March.

And it shouldn't be all that surprising that the movie is already on the way, since Lionsgate ordered it before the novel was even released. While 2025 marked the return of Suzanne Collins's infamous franchise, it comes five years after The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes and ten years after the main timeline Hunger Games trilogy.

For the fifth installment, it's time to travel back to the 50th Annual Games in Panem, also famously known as the Second Quarter Quell, where Haymitch Abernathy (played by Woody Harrelson in the trilogy) competed. Here's everything we know so far about Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping from release date, to confirmed cast, plot, rumours and more.

Spoilers to follow for the four previous Hunger Games instalments.

Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping: release date?

Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping will arrive in theaters on November 20, 2026. Yes, that may feel like a long way off, but considering Suzanne Collins's novel was only released in March, it's actually an incredibly fast turnaround. Much quicker than the four years between the first Hunger Games novel's publication and the movie adaptation's release.

The release date was officially announced in a teaser clip from Lionsgate (featured above) depicting the songbirds and snakes readying for another battle. And, at the end of the teaser, Woody Harrelson's voice chillingly says: "I think these games are gonna be different."

And it's been confirmed that the cast and crew will be filming later this year, as revealed by director Frances Lawrence in an exclusive interview with Collider back in February: "We've sort of got a research phase of prep. After London, I'm going to go on a scout and then we start prepping in April, and we shoot this year."

With the previous films in the Hunger Games franchise available to stream on Max in the US, and Netflix in the UK and Australia, we can definitely expect Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping to get a streaming release – although whether it will be on the same services is still not confirmed.

Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping: has a trailer been released?

No official Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping trailer yet (Image credit: Lionsgate)

There's no official Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping trailer just yet. Given the movie's scheduled November 2026 release date, I imagine we won't see one until nearer the time. When it does appear, I'll be sure to update and share it here.

Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping: confirmed cast

A post shared by The Hunger Games (@thehungergames)

A photo posted by on

The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping cast is already filling up with some big names taking on the younger versions of characters from the main franchise, as well as introducing new ones. Here's who is confirmed so far:

• Joseph Zada as Haymitch Abernathy
• Whitney Peak as Lenore Dove
• Ralph Fiennes as President Coriolanus Snow
• Elle Fanning as Effie Trinket
• Jesse Plemons as Plutarch Heavensbee
• Kieran Culkin as Caesar Flickerman
• Maya Hawke as Wiress
• Mckenna Grace as Maysilee Donner
• Kelvin Harrison Jr. as Beetee Latier
• Lili Taylor as Mags Flanagan
• Ben Wang as Wyatt Callow
• Molly McCann as Louella McCoy
• Iona Bell as Lou Lou

For Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, as a prequel, there's a lot of roles from the main trilogy that will now be played by different actors entirely. Take Jesse Plemons as a young Plutarch Heavensbee, previously played by the late Philip Seymour Hoffman, or Elle Fanning as Effie Trinket, previously played by Elizabeth Baths.

But, according to director Frances Lawrence, finding young Haymitch was a huge task, finding an actor to take on the role that Woody Harrelson so famously played. Lawrence told ComicBook: "It’s not somebody that just looks like him, or is going to study Woody Harrelson and just act like him. When Tom Blythe played Donald Sutherland, he wasn’t doing an impersonation. We had to find somebody that was believable that you could be like, ‘Oh, okay, I see how this guy over 70 years could turn into Donald.'" And that person is Australian actor, Joseph Zada.

Of course, not every cast member is a returning character from the previous Hunger Games novels. There's numerous tributes joining for the 50th Hunger Games, as well as mentors to star in the prequel.

Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping: story synopsis and rumors

Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping is based on Collins' latest novel (Image credit: Lionsgate)

Full spoilers for previous Hunger Games movies and Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping to follow.

Set 24 years before The Hunger Games, Collins's latest novel is, of course, the basis for the entire movie, much like all of her previous novels were.

For anyone who has already read the novel, you'll know what happens. For anyone who hasn't, we won't spoil it.

What we can say is that Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping follows a young Haymitch Abernathy during his time competing in the 50th Hunger Games, known as the Second Quarter Quell.

It's an infamous piece of The Hunger Games history as it saw two boys and two girls picked from each District to compete. Twice as many as any other games.

As per the book's official synopsis: "He's torn from his family and his love, shuttled to the Capitol with the three other District 12 tributes: a young friend who's nearly a sister to him, a compulsive oddsmaker, and the most stuck-up girl in town."

It's also clear, from the confirmed cast list above, that there will be returning characters from the main Hunger Games timeline including President Snow, Effie Trinket and Caesar Flickerman.

Unlike the other movies in the Hunger Games franchise though, we already know that Haymitch is going to survive with Woody Harrelson has so fantastically demonstrating in the trilogy.

But, speaking to TheMovieReport.com at CinemaCon in April, director Francis Lawrence revealed there's so much more to Haymitch's story: "This is one of these books and stories where you get to see a character we all love, that's one of the icons of these movies, and to see what they've gone through. And to see how it ties into, not just the original series, but also the last movie. So, it's this great sort of puzzle piece for everything."

And speaking to Scholastic, Collins revealed how she's used this story to explore profound concepts: "With Sunrise on the Reaping, I was inspired by David Hume’s idea of implicit submission and, in his words, ‘the easiness with which the many are governed by the few.’

"The story also lent itself to a deeper dive into the use of propaganda and the power of those who control the narrative. The question ‘Real or not real?’ seems more pressing to me every day.”

If you're too eager to wait to find out more, then reading the novel is the perfect antidote. But, if you're a 'watch the movie before reading it' kind of Hunger Games fan, then you'll just have to sing Rue's whistle over and over again until November 20, 2026.

Will there be more Hunger Games movies?

Will Finnick's prequel tale ever be told? (Image credit: Lionsgate)

The answer to this question lies in the asking of another – is Suzanne Collins writing any more Hunger Games novels?

Unfortunately, we're not sure. In an interview with Variety, Collins' longtime editor and publisher David Levithan said: "As for the future... I genuinely have no idea."

Fans have been eager for a Haymitch prequel story, but there's other Hunger Games characters' prequel tales, like Finnick Odair's, that there's still hope for.

Director Frances Lawrence himself told Entertainment Weekly before Sunrise on the Reaping's release: "If Suzanne has another thematic idea that she feels fits into the world of Panem — whether that's with new people [or] familiar characters [like] Finnick, Haymitch, whoever — I'd be really interested in looking at it and being a part of it.

"But I don't have any pull of just going, 'I would love to do Finnick's games.' He's a great character, but what's the thematic underpinnings that make it worth telling and relevant?"

When it comes to the main Hunger Games series though, Levithan did make one conclusion: "I believe the end of 'Mockingjay' is the ending of the series."

He also divulged that Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping has been in the works since 2020, but it was only announced to the public in 2024. So, if they are silently working away on another prequel and igniting the hopes of another movie adaptation, I doubt we'll be hearing about it anytime soon.

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• The Phone Link panel attached to the Start menu is getting a new feature
• It’ll allow Windows 11 users to start screen mirroring with a single click
• It’s in testing ahead of a full rollout that could begin soon

Microsoft is bringing in a new trick with Windows 11 for those who use the Phone Link app, allowing for quickly and easily mirroring the screen of an Android smartphone on the desktop.

Windows Latest reports that the new feature is currently rolling out to Windows 11 testers, and is part of the Phone Link panel that’s attached to the Start menu (indeed, the rollout of said panel began relatively recently, too, and I’ll come back to that later).

For the uninitiated, the Phone Link panel is off to the right-hand side of the Start menu and offers easy access to your messages, calls, plus the recent activity on your phone, and shows various status details (like battery life).

To access the new feature, all you have to do is click on the icon for your smartphone – at the top of the panel – and it’ll fire up a screen mirroring session.

You don’t need to start the Phone Link app, or do anything else; just click the icon and Windows 11 will mirror your Android phone screen on the desktop there and then (well, given a few seconds to load and sync).

Analysis: Being patient with the rollout

(Image credit: Microsoft)

Windows Latest tested the feature on several Samsung Galaxy smartphones and observes that it works well, and that OneUI, the interface for Samsung mobiles, is implemented quite seamlessly on the PC desktop.

Of course, only certain Android devices work with the Phone Link app’s screen-mirroring feature (and this new feature). That includes Samsung Galaxy models, and also phones from Asus (ROG-branded), Honor, OnePlus, Oppo, Surface Duo, Vivo, and Xiaomi (here’s the full list of compatible phones).

As mentioned, the new quick access for screen mirroring via the Start menu side panel is in testing now, but it should be rolling out to the release version of Windows 11 in June, Windows Latest says. That might even mean from today (June 10), given that a new cumulative update for Windows 11 is due later on today.

Even so, the rollout of this new feature is likely to be limited to begin with, because not everyone has the Phone Link panel for the Start menu yet. Officially, the rollout of the panel kicked off in April for those on Windows 11 23H2 and 24H2, but wider availability didn’t happen until May, and from what I can tell from reports on some online forums, some folks are still waiting for this to come through.

It should be imminent at this point, though, even if this new shortcut for screen mirroring may not arrive for a while longer yet (you can pretty much bet on that).

In short, Phone Link users with compatible devices just need to stay patient for now, and all these goodies will turn up in time. Microsoft is looking towards considerably deeper integration with Windows 11 and mobiles, too, given apparent plans for resuming the use of apps across your PC and phone in a seamless manner, much like Apple's Handoff capability.

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(Image credit: Li Ying)

AI is often seen as a tool for efficiency, but its role in content generation and brand-building is still evolving. The rise of AI website builders has sparked debate: Can an algorithm create something that feels personal, unique, and authentic to a brand’s identity?

We’re entering a new chapter in digital creativity, one in which AI is not just executing tasks faster, but helping to shape tone of voice and brand narrative. However, that shift comes with both promise and responsibility.

The creative tension between automation and authenticity

At its core, design is about storytelling and creating experiences that connect emotionally, not just functionally. Great stories rarely come from cookie-cutter templates. Yet for many early AI-powered tools, speed has been the primary objective, resulting in content that feels overly generic or misaligned with a user's brand or message.

This trade-off between automation and authenticity is one of the defining tension points of AI-assisted design. It’s also the area where the most interesting progress is happening. The best emerging tools are now capable of far more than just populating placeholder text and inserting stock imagery. They’re learning to synthesize brand inputs, design preferences, and user prompts into something closer to a creative brief that adjusts dynamically in real time.

This evolution matters. In today’s digital economy, a brand’s website is more than just a storefront, it’s a reflection of personality and trustworthiness. The ones that feel personal and genuine are the ones that truly stand out. Today’s consumers are looking for more than just products or services.

They’re drawn to stories and experiences they can connect with. By expressing a unique and consistent voice, brands can foster deeper emotional connections with their customers, building trust and long-term loyalty. For entrepreneurs and small businesses trying to break through the noise, every pixel has to carry weight.

The rise of AI fluency as a creative skill

As AI becomes more accessible and powerful, a new form of literacy is needed for all creatives: AI fluency. Knowing how to speak to an algorithm – crafting the right prompts, steering creative direction, and refining outputs – is becoming just as important as traditional design skills. However, the future of design doesn’t lie in replacing creative vision with algorithmic output, but in building systems where human taste and expertise remain critical and shine through.

Unlike earlier waves of automation that aimed to remove friction at all costs, a new generation of AI design tools is being shaped not just by engineers but by artists, brand experts, and product designers. This shift prioritizes art direction and intentionality over brute-force automation. In practice, it means packaging the nuanced expertise of experienced designers into a format that can scale without flattening individuality or sacrificing taste and composition.

The real innovation isn’t just the generative model itself, but the ways it can be shaped by human judgment and intent. When guided and curated by humans, these tools don’t replace designers, they empower them. Their creativity becomes embedded into the tool itself, ensuring output that feels on-brand.

This reframing of AI as a creative partner, not a replacement, presents an opportunity to reimagine how design work happens. Rather than threatening creative roles, it elevates the value of creative judgment, turning style and storytelling into skills that help steer AI systems. The result? More empowered creators, more unique brand identities, and more space for human expression in the age of automation.

This shift is democratizing web design. Professional-grade websites once required hours of manual work, but can now be created by individuals with a vision and a few minutes to spare. It’s also changing behavior: more users are publishing earlier in their website journey, and fewer are spending time replacing stock images or tweaking default templates. These signals suggest that the technology is finally catching up to users’ creative expectations.

Personalization, not homogenization

Still, speed isn’t the endgame. If all AI-generated sites start to look and sound the same, we haven’t solved the real problem; we’ve just automated it.

One of AI’s greatest promises is personalization at scale: building systems that offer billions of possible combinations in layout, imagery, tone, structure, fonts, and more. The goal isn’t to replicate what a human designer would do, it’s to offer something that feels equally thoughtful and branded.

True personalization, however, isn’t about token customization; it’s about channeling human nuance, taste, and storytelling into design outcomes that feel unmistakably “you”. The tools that are getting this right don’t just churn out content, they reflect brand personality and the specifically individualized taste of the ones creating it.

When personalization is art-directed by human expertise, it transcends templates and starts to feel like a genuine extension of the user’s voice. The best tools honor that voice, guiding and accelerating the process, while preserving creative control so the end result stays true to the user’s vision.

Toward human-centered AI

The real promise of AI in design isn’t just about what it can do. It’s about what it can enable people to do. That’s the true measure of progress in this instance: are we making it easier for people to express themselves creatively, or are we simply optimizing them out of the process?

For now, the outlook is hopeful. AI can be a powerful accelerant for entrepreneurship, a creative collaborator for designers, and a tool for expression for anyone with a story to tell. But realizing that vision requires more than smart algorithms. It takes thoughtful engineering, ethical design, and a relentless focus on user empowerment.

Systems that prioritize human-centered design don’t just speed things up, they make space for better ideas to emerge faster, supporting entrepreneurs, small businesses, and creators in building high-quality digital presences with fewer barriers.

We’re not just automating websites, we’re redefining how people bring their ideas and identities to life online. And in that mission, technology should always serve creativity, not the other way around.

We've compiled a list of the best website builder services.

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