• Canon has launched a new app aimed at livestreamers
• It lets you control multiple iPhones and iPads from a single app
• Extra effects like graphics and overlays need a monthly subscription

An increasing number of people enjoy creating livestreamed video content, whether that’s hosting cookery lessons, teaching classes to students, unboxing the latest tech goodies, or something else. Doing that can be fiddly, though, especially if it’s just you and you’re trying to work with multiple camera angles at once.

To help, Canon has just launched a new app that it thinks will alleviate some of that hassle and offer a simpler alternative to the likes of OBS (Open Broadcaster Software). Called Live Switcher Mobile, the app for iPhone and iPad lets you manage several aspects of livestreamed content on the go, without needing other apps or equipment.

For example, Live Switcher Mobile lets you set a timer before the stream’s feed automatically switches to a different camera. Canon’s announcement says this helps content creators to create interesting shots “even when they are working alone and cannot manually operate multiple devices.”

If you want to add text or graphics to your stream, you can do that too with Canon’s app, and it will also display comments from viewers and let you directly interact with them. And if you want to stream your device’s screen – say, the game you’re playing on your iPad – and layer the feed from a second camera on top of your gameplay footage, you can do that too.

The full version isn't cheap

(Image credit: Canon)

Livestreamed content has steadily grown in popularity over the last few years, but the barrier to entry has sometimes been high due to the need to have several cameras on the go if you want to shoot content at different angles. As well as that, it can be a fiddly affair as you try to manage all the different wires and connections that are part of your setup. And that’s without even working out which of the best streaming apps you should be using.

The idea with Live Switcher Mobile is that it simplifies the whole process. It’s definitely not a high-end solution – professional video creators will probably want to look elsewhere – but it could be a decent option if you’re just getting started, are working with a tight budget, or want to stick to using iPhones and iPads.

Right now, Live Switcher Mobile only supports video feeds from iPhones and iPads running at least iOS 16 or iPadOS 16, making it a decent option if you already own these devices and don’t want to buy expensive camera equipment to supplement your livestreams. Canon says that the app will also support digital cameras (including its own, of course) in the future.

Live Switcher Mobile is free to download and use from Apple’s App Store, although some features (such as most graphics) require a fee. Paying the subscription also hides ads and Canon’s watermark, allows zooming and image overlays, and more. According to the app’s App Store page, a one-month subscription costs a fairly hefty $17.99 (around £15 / AU$29), but you can trial the features for free for one month.

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Character.AI, the chatbot for conversing with different AI characters, is offering a new activity for those looking to do more than just talk to its virtual personalities. The platform is testing games on its website and mobile app in case you want to play word games with Shakespeare and not just discuss sonnets. Subscribers and a growing number of free users can now play the initial two games, though if they go over well, more will likely be added.

The two games are Speakeasy and War of Words. Both are designed to turn your friendly AI chats into competitive battles of wit and wordplay. In Speakeasy, the goal is to trick your chatbot into saying a specific word without using five banned words. Picture trying to make it say “croissant” without mentioning butter, French, or flaky. It’s part strategy and part luck. Meanwhile, War of Words pits you in a verbal duel against your chosen character, with an impartial AI referee deciding who delivers the better arguments over five rounds. Think rap battles, but make it nerdy.

To keep things neat, Character.AI prompts you to start a new chat for these games so your previous conversations with your favorite bot stay untainted. This means your deep philosophical discussion with the AI version of Aristotle won’t be interrupted by the aftermath of losing a word battle to AI Napoleon. Just remember, most of your favorite copyrighted and trademarked characters aren't around to play with anymore.

AI gamemasters

The aim of the new games appears to be for Character.AI to bill itself as more of an entertainment hub and not just a home for chatbots. Users have already created games of their own, including text-based adventures and chess. Designing its own games gives the company more control and an opportunity to exploit its deeper knowledge of what the AI chatbots can do.

Adding AI games might seem like a small step, but they point to where AI chatbot hubs may go in the future as people get over the initial wonder of basic interactions and look for something more engaging to do with them. Competitive wordplay with AI is much more enticing than just making small talk.

The addition of games might also serve as a subtle shift in the conversation around Character.AI after the company felt compelled to release multiple rounds of new safety features. These safety features were mainly aimed at children, after the platform faced accusations that the AI chatbots were negatively impacting teenager's mental health. Instead of ersatz romance, people can now try to beat an AI in War of Words.

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• OpenAI is launching the o3 mini AI model on ChatGPT and as an API
• The o3 mini is more powerful than the o1 mini but smaller than the o3 model
• The o3 mini boasts superior problem-solving abilities in science and math

OpenAI followed up on its December release of the OpenAI o1 model with the official rollout of its smaller sibling, the OpenAI o3 mini model. CEO Sam Altman broke the news on X, revealing that o3 mini will be available on ChatGPT and as an API for developers. The o3 mini model is an upgrade to the o1 mini model just as the o3 model is to the o1 model released last year. The o3 series is supposed to be smarter, faster, and better in all ways from its predecessors.

The o1 models were designed to spend more time processing queries, taking a longer, harder look at problems most models would give up on. The o3 models take those abilities and further enhance them while also running more quickly and efficiently. That's going to be useful when you use ChatGPT's new Tasks feature, which gives the AI chatbot a more proactive role in reminding you of tasks and events.

The launch of the o3 mini isn’t just about improving reasoning capabilities; it’s about staying ahead in the highly competitive AI landscape. Google, Meta, and others are all working to advance their models and try to dominate the market. ChatGPT and OpenAI can't afford to rest on their laurels, and the company seems to understand that. OpenAI clearly believes users want tools that don’t just follow the rules but also think critically and are flexible in how they assist you. That's where Altman and his team hope the o3 and o3 mini models will shine.

thank you to the external safety researchers who tested o3-mini.we have now finalized a version and are beginning the release process; planning to ship in ~a couple of weeks.also, we heard the feedback: will launch api and chatgpt at the same time!(it's very good.)January 17, 2025

Power in miniature

A bigger question may be, will models like o3 mini actually change how AI is used, or if it's just going to improve the results in small ways. OpenAI obviously hopes these upgrades lead to more people engaging with its AI models. By making its models better at reasoning, the company looks to be targeting those users who need something more sophisticated than the current level of conversational AI.

The o3 mini model looks like it might hit the sweet spot between power and accessibility for ChatGPT users. By offering smarter reasoning in a more compact package, OpenAI could attract users who want cutting-edge AI but don’t need the full heavyweight version just yet.

With burgeoning competition, OpenAI might be thrilled with any improvements it can point to in its latest models, considering the rumors of stalled progress on recent AI models at OpenAI and elsewhere. Even if its sense of humor may still be a work in progress.

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• TikTok wasn't the only Bytedance app to be banned
• CapCut was taken down, and Meta out of nowhere announced Edits
• Edits sounds a lot like CapCut as a free editing tool for smartphones

Update: CapCut, Marvel Snap and other ByteDance apps have returned to the US (at least for now). They may still be banned if a sale doesn't go through again but for the meantime you can enjoy CapCut and forget all about Instagram's upcoiming Edits app. The original story continues below.

Original: TikTok’s short-lived (for now) US ban might have ended but several other apps that were caught in the crossfire are still yet to make a comeback at the time of writing due to their Bytedance affiliation. Marvel Snap was taken out, to everyone’s surprise, popular TikTok alternative Lemon8 was removed, and video-editing software CapCut also got cut. And in completely unrelated news, Meta took the opportunity to announce Edits, its own CapCut clone.

For the uninitiated, CapCut is a free photo and video editor from Bytedance that you can use on your phone, tablet or PC to edit your content. While it’s ideal for cutting together shortform content for platforms like TikTok, you can also use its tools and AI features to create longer-form videos complete with captions and effects. Thouygh it isn't quite one of the best video editing apps out there, or even one of the best free video editing apps.

With that in mind, let's look at the Edits announcement from Adam Mosseri, and Meta’s head of Instagram. Taking to Threads Mosseri calls Edits a free smartphone video editor for Instagram and other platforms – sounds kinda similar right? Well there are a few differences.

For one it sounds like Edits will be entirely focused on the smartphone experience rather than also having a PC launch. For another, Mosseri paints Edits as a place to not only edit content but as a one-stop shop for creatives to draft and store ideas, to capture video using an improved camera app, and to get access to info on trends to help inform your next short.

The TikTok ban affected more than one app (Image credit: Getty Images)

Though to return to the CapCut similarities, just like its rival, Edits isn’t available to download right now either – with the software currently up for preorder on iOS (an Android release is planned too) with a scheduled launch date of March 13, 2025.

It does seem a little suspect that Meta would have this announcement ready to go the day of TikTok and CapCut’s apparent demise, we’re just surprised it didn't take this opportunity to actually roll its rival out – though given the initial issues it had rolling out Threads when Twitter seemed to be on death's door, we aren’t surprised it’s taking things more slowly.

What’s up with other banned apps?

As for Bytedance’s other banned apps, TikTok is steadily making its comeback. You can now access your favorite creators via the app without using one of the best VPNs to spoof your location, though US users are still unable to install the app via app stores.

Marvel Snap will make a comeback soon (Image credit: Nuverse)

It’s unlikely that TikTok will be restored in full until Donald Trump signs the executive order he has promised that will extend the timeline within which TikTok must be sold. While he has vowed that there would be “no liability” for companies that support TikTok, and that he will sign the order on his first day in office, until he signs such an order we expect Apple and Google will hold fire in case he does yet another 180 on whether he wants to ban or save the social media platform.

Marvel Snap, the most surprising ban from over the weekend (even its own creators, Second Dinner, didn’t realize the app would be banned) is looking to return soon too. It’s still down in the US but in a post made on Sunday January 19 at 8:38pm ET / 1:38am GMT Second Dinner says it hopes to "have it back online within 24 hours.” It’s unclear if this is because it’s rejigging things on the backend so they’re no longer associated with Bytedance, or if the unbanning will be as part of the promised Trump unban but hopefully it’ll return soon so players can get back to playing the current Dark Avengers season.

Lemonade is still offline too. We expect it’ll return properly when TikTok does, though given its status in the US as simply a TikTok alternative which users only flocked to in the face of a ban, we expect it’s not Bytedance’s top priority – certainly not as much of a priority as TikTok.

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• Windows 11 24H2 is rolling out automatically to eligible PCs on 22H2 or 23H2
• Persistent bugs like Asus compatibility and camera unresponsiveness may delay updates for affected PCs
• 24H2 brings performance boosts and new features but has had a history of issues for some time

If you’re currently using older versions of Windows 11 (such as 23H2 or 22H2), Microsoft has plans for you, as it has begun automatically updating PCs to the latest version, 24H2. A notification post was added to the “Windows 11, version 24H2 known issues and notifications” document on the Microsoft Learn blog to explain that Microsoft now considers Windows 11 24H2 stable enough to roll out to everyone using eligible Windows 11 PCs.

Those with qualifying PCs will be updated to the latest version of 24H2 and those using devices managed by organizations (such as work laptops) won’t be affected by this.

However, this push to upgrade older versions of Windows 11 to the 24H2 update might not go down too well, as the update itself has had a rocky start, causing problems like games not working properly and malfunctioning HDR (meant to improve colors and brightness on screens).

Because of these well-publicized problems, quite a few people have - understandably - been reluctant to upgrade.

How will this affect you?

As mentioned above, if your PC is eligible and running Windows 11 versions 22H2 or 23H2 (Pro or Home) editions, it’ll be updated automatically to Windows 11 24H2 very soon. If you would rather wait, you can apparently delay the update for up to five weeks, as reported by Tom’s Hardware. You can do this by following these steps:

1. Open the Settings app.

2. Open the Windows Update section, which can be found in the left-hand menu (you may need to scroll down).

3. Find the ‘Pause updates’ option in this section and from the dropdown menu you can select the number of weeks you want to delay updates by (up to 5 weeks).

On the flip side, if you haven’t installed version 24H2 yet and would like to, you can select ‘Check for updates’ on the same Windows Update page as above and click ‘Download & install’ to get the update manually.

(Image credit: Microsoft) Some things to consider and what's on the horizon for Windows 11 24H2 users

If you have one of Microsoft’s new Copilot+ PCs, which are designed to integrate new AI-powered capabilities, then the 24H2 update will bring the hotly discussed (but not as warmly received) Windows Recall feature to all eligible PCs. Recall requires a Copilot+ PC and it’s currently being previewed with members of the Windows Insider Program. Recall is a feature intended to improve productivity for Windows 11 users by capturing snapshots of their PC activity and making them searchable to make finding past information easier. Despite the intended benefits, Recall’s been met with notable controversy due to privacy and security concerns, especially around the possibility of malicious actors getting access to the information stored by Recall.

If you’re not using a Copilot+ PC, 24H2 still promises to bring improved performance and swifter updates going forward for PCs equipped with AMD's Ryzen CPUs and running Windows 11. Those with PCs that have Intel chips will also get some special Windows 11 24H2 patches that will reportedly ensure optimal performance for its Arrow Lake processors (although it seems like this hasn’t led to noticeable improvements for the people who have already updated).

(Image credit: Microsoft)

When it comes to the steady stream of issues we’ve seen plague 24H2, it does seem like most of these have been addressed through patches released by Microsoft. Tom’s Hardware went through Microsoft’s bug log in the document listing known issues and confirmed that this seems to be the case.

However, there are apparently still some problems that persist and have yet to be resolved. For example, some Asus PCs can’t install the update, wallpaper apps might play up unexpectedly, and some PCs might experience unresponsiveness from their cameras. If your PC is affected, Microsoft will hold back the update, putting it on a ‘safeguard hold’ until it’s all good to install.

In short, the update should hopefully improve your PC’s performance (and eventually bring new features), but if you’re wary about the automatic update to 24H2, you’ve got a bit of time. If Windows 11 24H2’s track record is anything to go by so far, Microsoft will have to keep its eye on the ball, stay alert for possible issues, and release fixes as soon as it can if there’s going to be an influx of new users upgrading. Also, if you choose to delay updates, you could be opening up your PC to potential risks that go unaddressed and might come up unexpectedly, which is why we always recommend moving to the latest version of software (especially operating systems) as soon as you can.

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• New custom instructions added to ChatGPT
• Responses become more personal to you
• More new features expected in 2025

OpenAI has confirmed via X.com that it has introduced new customization features to ChatGPT. The new features that allow you to customize how the AI chatbot responds to you are rolling out now in the browser-based version of ChatGPT and on desktop on Windows.

The release currently doesn’t cover users in the EU, Norway, Iceland Liechtenstein, and Switzerland, but will be “available soon” according to OpenAI. It’s also not available yet in the Mac app. OpenAI says the new features will be coming to desktop on MacOS ”in the next few weeks.”

We've updated custom instructions to make it easier to customize how ChatGPT responds to you.With the new UI, you can tell ChatGPT the traits you want it to have, how you want it to talk to you, and any rules you want it to follow. pic.twitter.com/BaXaqAw5cEJanuary 17, 2025

Accessing the new features

The update includes two new options in the Customize ChatGPT dialog box (available by clicking on your icon, and then choosing Customize ChatGPT from the menu that appears). The first is ‘What should ChatGPT call you?’ and the second is ‘What do you do?’ which is asking for your occupation.

In the ‘What traits should ChatGPT have?’ box you’ll find new options have been added including ‘Chatty’, ‘Witty’, and ‘Opinionated’.

Below this box is a new ‘What else would you like ChatGPT to know about you?’ box, where you can type in your interests and values.

Once you’ve entered some information in these boxes you’ll find your interactions with ChatGPT are taken to a much more personal level, which can help save you time, since you don’t have to keep asking it to respond in a certain way. It will also tailor information to your profession.

Click on your user account icon in the top right of the screen to access the new customization options. (Image credit: OpenAI/Apple) Much more personal

I've experimented with the options and the effects are immediate. I love the more chatty GPT, for instance. And if you want a bit of fun you can ask to reply in "casual bro talk", or "like you're in a Jane Austen novel". In fact, the possibilities are endless.

The only thing I found a bit limiting was not being able to set up multiple personality profiles. Currently, if you want to turn off your custom settings, or switch easily between two different modes of reply, you have to go back to this menu then edit and save it every time.

While welcome, this update to ChatGPT is fairly minor, and we’re still waiting for some of the more exciting updates we’ve been promised for 2025, most notably an AI Agent from ChatGPT. So far in 2025 OpenAI has added a new tasks feature, which goes some way towards the goal of an AI agent by enabling you to set reminders for certain times using ChatGPT, but is still a fair way off the full autonomous agent experience we’re looking forward to.

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• Amazon's replacing 'Try Before You Buy' with a 'Virtual Try-On.'
• Swapping a physical try-on for a digital one is becoming somewhat of a theme in online retail.
• Virtual Try-On joins other features like AI-powered size recommendations.

Amazon would rather you try clothes on virtually instead of testing their fits at home. The company is officially retiring its “Try Before You Buy” program at the end of January, and in its place, Amazon wants you to trust its AI tools to find your perfect fit.

Try Before You Buy launched in 2017 as Prime Wardrobe and has let buyers get up to six items, try them on at home, and only pay for what they keep while sending back the rest. No dressing room with harsh fluorescent lighting is necessary. It's very popular, but Amazon has decided the program is not good enough.

Amazon believes its AI tools are all you need to find your best look. One might suspect this also has something to do with the company’s increasing investment in AI-driven shopping features. After all, why wait for a box of clothes when an algorithm can tell you which pair of jeans will love you back?

“Given the combination of Try Before You Buy only scaling to a limited number of items and customers increasingly using our new AI-powered features like virtual try-on, personalized size recommendations, review highlights and improved size charts to make sure they find the right fit, we’re phasing out the Try Before You Buy option," Amazon said in a released statement.

AI e-commerce

The tools Amazon points to are a different way of thinking about online shopping for clothes. Virtual try-on is an augmented reality feature that lets you see how shoes, glasses, or lipstick will look without leaving your couch. Meanwhile, the personalized size recommendation system uses your purchase history, return patterns, and feedback from other customers to predict your ideal size.

For a more conversational approach, there’s the Rufus AI chatbot, ready to answer all your questions and suggest products based on your shopping habits.

For fans of Try Before You Buy, this news might sting. The idea of confidently trying on clothes before committing is hard to replace, and AI, no matter how advanced, doesn’t have the tactile joy of slipping into something that just fits. Still, Amazon says that its free return policy will remain intact for most apparel purchases, so you can always fall back on the classic “order three sizes and hope for the best” strategy.

Amazon’s decision to swap physical try-ons for digital solutions isn’t just a company quirk; it’s part of a more significant trend in retail. AI is becoming increasingly popular as an aid to Google and other retailers' online shopping.

Whether shoppers will embrace this new era of virtual assistance or will long for the days of box-filled try-on sessions at home remains to be seen.

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• ChatGPT's use in schoolwork doubled in a year to 26% among U.S. teens
• A majority of teens think using ChatGPT for research is fine
• Far fewer support using ChatGPT to write essays or solve math problems

I'm old enough to remember when teachers said we couldn't use a calculator in tests because we wouldn't always have one in our pockets, and they would check essays that seemed familiar against their entry on the Encarta CD-ROM encyclopedia. Teachers today are faced with the far more sophisticated tools offered by ChatGPT and other AI chatbots, whose popularity has skyrocketed among students, according to a new report from the Pew Research Center. The percentage of teenagers using ChatGPT for schoolwork doubled from 13% in 2023 to 26% a year later.

Let’s face it: schoolwork isn’t always the most thrilling part of a teenager’s life. It's not shocking a lot of teens are turning to AI for a little academic assistance. But the details of how ChatGPT is used by students are a little more nuanced. Pew’s research found that a slight majority of 54% of teens are okay with using the AI chatbot for tasks like researching new topics, which is hard to claim is an attempt to cheat. That approval drops to 29% for using ChatGPT to solve math problems, and only 18% of teens think it’s acceptable to get ChatGPT to write essays for them.

ChatGPT's prominence makes it likely to be the most widely used of the many options. Even if all of the respondents were scrupulously honest about whether they used ChatGPT for schoolwork, that doesn't mean they haven't dabbled with Gemini, Claude, Perplexity, Meta AI, Microsoft Copilot, or any of a million apps that serve as a wrapper for ChatGPT's model. The Digital Education Council released a survey in August that pegged the global use by students of some kind of AI at a far higher 86%.

Academic AI

Students who aren't just turning in ChatGPT-written essays may actually be improving their education in creative ways. With the right approach, AI can be a great educational supplement, but never a replacement. Even the best ChatGPT prompt won't replicate the experience of wrestling with an idea until you finally get it. There are already some experiments in that vein, with Arizona State University (ASU) working with OpenAI to incorporate ChatGPT and London’s David Game College running an AI-taught class as part of its new Sabrewing program.

There's reason for concern over students becoming overly reliant on AI and not learning to think critically and solve problems independently. On the other hand, AI in education can mean, if leveraged properly, offering students access to personalized resources they might not otherwise have. That's the tougher but probably best recourse since even the strictest policies are unlikely to stop students from using AI in any context they can. You'd need a school that replaces all homework with oral presentations and requires all research to be done using paper books to prevent it.

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• Rumor of an open collaboration between Samsung and OpenAI on an AI TV
• Google is already integrating Gemini into the Google TV system
• An AI TV could form part of a brand new TV entertainment system

A Korean website is reporting that Samsung and OpenAI are collaborating together on an AI TV. The website describes it as an “open partnership” between the two companies. There's no mention of new hardware, but a software integration with ChatGPT has precedent since ChatGPT has already been integrated into Apple's operating systems as part of Apple Intelligence.

Samsung TVs currently run on the Tizen OS, and the Korean company has already introduced several AI features to them like AI Upscaling and AI Sounds, not to mention its new Vision AI, which was introduced at CES 2025. Vision AI can do things like ‘see’ what dish is on screen and find you the recipes for cooking it, then link to the Samsung food app. It can also do live translation.

Samsung vs Google TV

Samsung integrating ChatGPT into its TV range might sound as if it comes out of the blue, but it makes strategic sense. The move comes as Google is about to add Gemini AI to its Google TV operating system, so that you can talk to your TV without a remote.

Announced at CES 2025, Google TV is a successor to Android TV, but has as cleaner interface, better recommendations for TV programs and also Gemini baked in, so you can activate it with the “Hey Google” voice control, and simply speak your requests, instead of having to use a TV remote.

Next generation Google TV devices aren’t expected to enter the market until towards the end of 2025, so we’d imagine a similar time frame for any OpenAI and Samsung collaboration.

Google TV points the way to the future of entertainment. (Image credit: Future) N

Personally I’d love the ability to talk to my TV, especially if it has something like ChatGPT or Gemini inside. I’d like to be able to ask it questions beyond the usual functional TV operation like asking it to record a program or find something on a streaming service. Recently it was revealed that Gemini could be available as you watch YouTube videos, so you can ask it questions about what you’re watching. Just imagine the ability to be able to ask your TV, “Who is this actor, and what else have I seen him in?” It could settle so many of the debates we have in our household about where we’ve seen so and so before. Not to mention eliminating the time it takes to currently pause the TV program, find our phones, and then look them up. Yes, software like Prime Video's X-ray exists, but it's not nearly as cool.

And that’s not even counting my biggest bug bear with my current AI-less TV experience – losing the remote. Every TV remote seems to be designed to be lost - they’re usually black, for a start, so impossibly hard to locate when the lights are low and you’re watching TV in the evening. Yes, I know there are tracking devices you can stick to your remote to help you locate them with your phone, but then you have to find your phone first!

While having ChatGPT or Gemini in your TV might sound a bit excessive to some people, I can genuinely say that I’d find it useful, and I’m looking forward to finally being able to lose my TV remote control for good.

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• A blog post hinted that the free Windows 11 upgrade might only be available for a limited time
• Microsoft has taken down that blog post
• The software giant clarified in no uncertain terms that the free upgrade does not have any time limit attached

The free upgrade to Windows 11 won’t be canned when Windows 10 runs out of support, as a recent hint dropped by Microsoft seemed to indicate might be a possibility.

This stemmed from a blog post written about the free upgrade to Windows 11, where in the headline, the author had noted that this offer would run “for a limited time only.”

If you recall, I discussed this at length earlier this week, concluding that it seemed unlikely Microsoft would close the door on those who want to move from Windows 10 to Windows 11. But that at the same time, it certainly represented a hint that this could happen, backed up by the fact Microsoft has always had a caveat in place with the freebie upgrade, that it “reserves the right to eventually end support for the free offer.”

Well, it seems that any worries about this were misplaced, as Microsoft has removed the blog post in question.

Windows Latest picked up the ditching of the article, and also heard directly from Microsoft that it was taken down because it contained incorrect information. Indeed, Microsoft clarified that the free upgrade to Windows 11 is “not a limited-time deal” putting any doubt out of the minds of Windows 10 users who aren’t yet ready to make the leap (but are planning to eventually).

Furthermore, this blog post also told us that Microsoft 365 apps would stop working on Windows 10 when its support expired in October 2025, which isn’t true, the software giant separately confirmed.

(Image credit: Shutterstock - Wachiwit) Analysis: A throwaway line in a now-thrown-away post

It seems we can all rest easy about any vague possibility of Microsoft canning the free upgrade, then. Although never say never, I guess, particularly as there is that caveat mentioned above, but if the offer is ever taken off the table, it probably won’t be for a long time yet.

Naturally, Microsoft still wants to push Windows 11 adoption, as the numbers of Windows 10 users migrating across to the newer operating system have been well below what the software giant doubtless expected.

Compared to the pace of Windows 7 and 8 users transferring over to Windows 10, the move from that OS to Windows 11 has been woefully sluggish. (Although gamers have embraced Windows 11 with more enthusiasm, to be fair, and it is actually more popular than Windows 10 now, at least on Steam).

So, what happened with the now-deleted blog post? It seems like a simple mistake, and a possible theory is that it was a throwaway line added at the last minute (maybe by an editor). I say that because there was no mention of any time limit for the Windows 11 free upgrade anywhere in the body text of the article – it was only referred to in the headline, and that always seemed odd.

If you’re running Windows 10, and have been putting off upgrading – as opposed to being ruled out of Windows 11 by the steeper hardware requirements – I’d suggest you start getting your house in order regarding the move now. Before you know it, January will be over, and then February, and then… let’s put it this way, you’ll be facing down October 2025 (when Windows 10 support ends) before you know it.

Start the planning now, in terms of finding out what you might have to do (such as enabling TPM 2.0 in the BIOS of your motherboard, which is one of the common hurdles preventing upgrades – but it’s easily overcome with the flick of a switch in the firmware).

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• Hinge is employing AI to help with prompts
• It won't write them for you
• There are different levels of guidance

If the thought of crafting the perfect dating profile fills you with dread, Hinge has an AI solution. The popular dating app has rolled out a new feature called Prompt Feedback that uses AI to coach you in writing better responses to profile prompts. The company thinks AI assistance can make people's responses better for showcasing themselves or at least be less basic and boring.

According to Hinge, Prompts are 47% more likely to lead to dates than photo likes, but over half of surveyed Hinge daters admitted they don’t know how to craft good responses. Prompt Feedback's AI evaluates a dater’s profile responses and offers personalized advice on how to tweak them for maximum impact.

The AI is fine-tuned with insights from Hinge’s team of behavioral scientists. Notably, it doesn't rewrite your answer or make one up for you. It simply suggests ways to think about your answer and how to make it better, more detailed, and more likely to entice potential romantic partners. It's the supportive best friend in a movie who tells you, “Maybe skip the joke about your childhood pet hamster and mention your love of hiking instead.”

AI romance

(Image credit: Hinge)

The feature lives in the settings menu, where users can review feedback privately. Users will receive one of three levels of guidance: a simple “Great Answer” if the response is already on point, “Try a Small Change” for a bit of fine-tuning, or a “Go a Little Deeper,” which is the AI’s polite way of saying, “You can do better than ‘I like long walks on the beach.’”

Hinge isn't unique in applying AI to dating profiles. Tinder uses an AI feature that can help pick out profile photos, while Grindr is developing a digital wingman of its own. Meanwhile, Bumble offers photo help as well as AI to help users design their entire profile and get conversations between users off to a good start.

Writing a good profile takes effort, and dating app fatigue is real. For some users, the idea of AI critiquing their efforts might feel intimidating or unnecessary. For others, this could be the romantic nudge they need. Unlike the harsh criticism you might get from a sibling or brutally honest friend, this feedback is entirely optional. But if you’re open to a little constructive coaching, the tool is there to help.

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• Luma Labs has released the new Ray 2 AI video generator
• Ray 2 turns text prompts into high-quality 5–10 second videos
• Ray 2 is available through the Dream Machine platform

Luma Labs has premiered a powerful, new AI model for generating videos on its Dream Machine platform called Ray 2. The new model can produce an array of realistic video clips of up to 10 seconds, from recreating a bee pollinating flowers to more surreal ideas like the typing anthropomorphic banana seen above.

The beauty of Ray 2 isn’t just its ability to render these wild scenarios but to do so with motion and physics that look shockingly natural. Unlike earlier video generation tools, which often struggled to produce anything faster than a leisurely stroll, you can see people really book it in a run. Ray 2 is capable of this level of production due in part to Luma training it on ten times more computational power than its predecessor, Ray 1. That means more realistic characters, faster rendering, smoother motion, and far fewer glitches.

Ray 2 is available through Luma’s Dream Machine platform, which offers both free and paid subscription tiers. The free plan lets users dabble with 720p resolutions, while paid plans unlock higher-quality 1080p visuals and unlimited usage if you’re willing to drop $66.49 a month.

AI Video Sprint

Surrealism: "a photorealistic anthropomorphic banana man doing taxes" pic.twitter.com/OQCFaSRRWEJanuary 15, 2025

Luma has plans to expand Ray 2’s capabilities with image-to-video, video-to-video, and editing tools. That could mean letting you turn a vacation photo into a short video or remixing a home movie into something cinematic.

The company is also hosting the Ray 2 Awards, offering creators a chance to win up to $7,000 in prizes. There’s a $5,000 prize for the most-viewed Ray 2 video on social media and a $3,000 raffle for anyone who shares their content and engages with Luma’s promotional posts. If nothing else, it’s a good excuse to finally bring your idea for “sloths competing in a high-stakes basketball game” to life.

Ray 2's limits mean it won't quite blow any competition away, however. The time limit makes it less capable than OpenAI's Sora model in some ways. Sora focuses on creating longer-form, cohesive video narratives. Then there's Runway's Gen-2, which brings users tools to tweak lighting, camera angles, and more, and Pika, which regularly drops new features like picture-to-video ability that Luma is still developing.

Still, Ray 2 has its charm and feels a bit like a streamlined alternative for those who prioritize speed and ease of use. The real significance of Ray 2 lies in how it helps lower the barrier to entry for anyone looking to make a video with AI. Even if that’s something as weird as a banana typing a note.

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• Microsoft's Windows 11 24H2 updates continue to affect multiple games on PC, notably Assassin's Creed titles.
• Ubisoft has been forced to fix Origins and Valhalla due to negative feedback from fans
• Odyssey remains unpatched with multiple crashes occurring

Microsoft's Windows 11 24H2 update issues are no secret at this point, affecting PC users across the board - and gamers are continuing to suffer, with Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed Origins and Valhalla only now receiving compatibility fixes.

As discussed in my article on the Asus ROG Ally using with Bazzite installed, Windows 11 24H2 has been a nightmare for gamers. In the case of Ubisoft's titles, Assassin's Creed Odyssey, Valhalla, and Origins have all been facing compatibility issues with constant crashes leaving them almost unplayable. While Ubisoft has released a patch for Origins and Valhalla, Odyssey still hasn't been fixed.

As reported by IGN, fans of the franchise have voiced their frustrations by sharing negative reviews across Ubisoft's games on Steam to force the developer to act, and while it may seem to some people that the fault lies with Ubisoft (especially with the bias of recent controversies surrounding Assassin's Creed Shadows), this isn't the case as the blame is on Microsoft.

Aside from games crashing, using Windows 11 has, for some people, become very frustrating with random bugs leaving audio inactive and the desktop unresponsive - it's getting from bad to worse for Microsoft, and it certainly won't do the company’s desire to get more people to switch to Windows 11 any good the longer it lasts.

Well, Bazzite and Valve's official SteamOS are both looking far more appealing now... (Image credit: Shutterstock) Don't point the finger at Ubisoft this time, it's Microsoft you should be frustrated with

I've always been a harsh critic when it comes to video game developers and poor optimization. Still, it seems Microsoft is responsible this time around - Windows 11 24H2 has caused problems for quite a few PC users, and doesn't look like it will stop any time soon. While a patch could have been released a little sooner by Ubisoft, the same could be said for other games that have been affected like Path of Exile 2.

Fortunately, Valve is bringing SteamOS to multiple handheld gaming PCs (not just its own Steam Deck) - but it isn't exactly clear whether we’ll be able to install the Linux-based gaming-focused operating system on desktop PCs (which would be a pleasant surprise), but Bazzite is already available. Since dual booting (where you choose between operating systems when your PC starts up) is possible it’s a great way to access games that can’t be played on SteamOS like Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and other games that use anti-cheat systems.

There's no word on when we'll finally be rid of Windows 11 24H2's issues, and for many gamers, waiting for Microsoft to fix its latest update (or for developers to issue patches individually for their games) will be a frustrating experience. Installing an alternative operating system that’s less prone to problems and better optimized for gaming will start looking increasingly attractive for those gamers - and that’s something Microsoft should be worried about.

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• Mercedes-Benz is adding Google Cloud’s Automotive AI Agent to its cars.
• The upgrade uses Google Gemini for real-time, personalized help.
• The new MBIX AI will appear first in new CLA models.

Google's dream of making its Gemini AI your road trip pal is becoming more real, at least if you own a Mercedes-Benz. Google Cloud’s Automotive AI Agent is making its debut in Mercedes-Benz’s updated MBUX Virtual Assistant. The assistant is built on Google’s Gemini AI to offer nuanced, conversational support.

The value is easy to understand. If you're on the road and hungry you could just ask your car, “Where’s the best Italian place around here?” Not only would you hear some options, but the AI would take the initiative to add, “The lasagna gets rave reviews, but avoid the tiramisu, it’s a little too soggy.”

The Automotive AI Agent is designed to handle multi-turn conversations and even remember the context of your previous chats. So, if hours after you ask about Italian restaurants, you inquire, "Are any of those places you mentioned before open late?" the AI won’t act like you’re starting from scratch. And the AI does know quite a lot partly because of Gemini's earlier integration with Google Maps. That means the AI can offer live traffic updates, nearby points of interest, and alternate routes. If you're stuck in a traffic jam, the car might suggest a quicker way home that keeps in mind your preference for avoiding toll roads.

MBUX Gemini

Google and Mercedes are betting that the ability of automotive AI agents to process complex queries and provide accurate, context-aware answers will make a difference when people decide what kind of car to buy. By making interactions smoother, more intuitive, and useful, this AI could make your drive easier. No more stopping on the shoulder to Google “nearest gas station,” and no more arguments about whose turn it was to check the directions.

That said, there’s a fine line between helpful and creepy. The assistant remembers conversations, which is great when it’s reminding you about that vegan café your partner wanted to try – but what happens when it casually recalls your midnight McDonald’s run from three weeks ago? The balance between utility and privacy will be a key factor in whether drivers fully embrace this technology.

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• Google Gemini will now offer up-to-date news
• Google has announced a partnership with The Associated Press
• You'll be able to get your daily news fix directly from the Gemini app

Google has announced that one of the world's biggest providers of news will now provide up-to-date bulletins directly in its AI chatbot, Gemini.

The major deal with The Associated Press was announced in a blog post on Wednesday, and is the first time Google has struck an AI news deal with a publisher.

This new addition to Gemini will give users access to AP's journalism right from within the chatbot, allowing you to quickly get news on the go without the need for a fact check.

The Associated Press Chief Revenue Officer, Kristin Heitmann said the deal looks to "provide timely, accurate news and information to global audiences.”

She added, "We are pleased Google recognizes the value of AP’s journalism as well as our commitment to nonpartisan reporting, in the development of its generative AI products,"

Google's blog announcement says "The AP will now deliver a feed of real-time information to help enhance the usefulness of results displayed in the Gemini app."

At the time of writing, when I ask Gemini for the news in its iOS app, the chatbot replies "Unfortunately, I cannot provide you with real-time, up-to-the-minute news updates. My knowledge of current events is limited."

Google hasn't detailed a timeline of when we can expect to see AP news in Gemini, but considering the language of the post, it shouldn't be too long.

A trustworthy news source

(Image credit: Google)

Google says: "For years, we’ve worked with The Associated Press (AP) to provide up-to-date and accurate information for features in Google Search. To build on that collaboration, the AP will now deliver a feed of real-time information to help further enhance the usefulness of results displayed in the Gemini app. This will be particularly helpful to our users looking for up-to-date information."

This major change to Gemini could see more users flocking to the chatbot to get their daily news fix. In the past, I've been disappointed with the lack of trustworthy news sources in AI chatbots like Gemini or OpenAI's chatbot, so the shift to include more publishers allows the end user to read information in these apps without worrying about their validity.

Would you use Gemini to read the news? Let us know in the comments section below.

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• Google Chrome's PermissionsAI test anticipates user permissions.
• PermissionsAI could reduce intrusive pop-ups by analyzing user behavior.
• It is currently in Chrome Canary for early testing now.

Google’s Chrome browser is testing a new feature dubbed PermissionsAI, which is designed to make those pesky pop-ups asking for access to your location or permission to send notifications much quieter.

The tool, first found by Windows Report, uses Google's “Permission Predictions Service” and Gemini Nano v2 to guess whether users are likely to grant a website’s request. If the answer is probably no, the feature tucks the request into a less intrusive UI instead of flashing it front and center like it currently does.

The idea is for Chrome to use AI to make browsing more pleasant by quietly handling the minor annoyances that can pile up when online. PermissionsAI analyzes your previous interactions with similar requests to predict your response. If you’re the kind of person who reflexively denies every notification pop-up, PermissionsAI won’t even bother you with a loud, in-your-face request. Instead, it quietly logs the request in a subtle UI where you can engage with it later.

PermissionsAI is currently being tested in Chrome Canary – the experimental version of the browser – and isn’t available to the public yet. It pairs well with the Safe Browsing security tool, which shields users from harmful websites and malicious downloads, meaning a wrong guess won't wreak havoc on your computer.

Browsing AI

This marks the latest move by Google to embed AI in Chrome. Gemini is now part of many of the browser's features, with the AI organizing open tabs, offering product comparisons, and helping to compose text. PermissionsAI, though, is less flashy than other features and may turn out to be one of the more appreciated improvements simply because it removes a common irritation.

While the concept is straightforward, the details of how PermissionsAI works remain vague. Google hasn’t disclosed exactly how its AI calculates the likelihood of you clicking “Allow” versus “Deny,” but it’s safe to assume the system leans heavily on machine learning.

By studying patterns in user behavior, Chrome could cut down on interruptions and make life a little easier for web developers who hear complaints about their pop-ups annoying people.

It’s worth asking whether PermissionsAI and other Gemini-powered features will strike the right balance between helpful and intrusive. While reducing the noise of pop-ups is universally appealing, AI-powered predictions aren’t infallible.

What happens if PermissionsAI incorrectly predicts that you wouldn’t want to approve a request and you miss an important pop-up entirely? Still, if PermissionsAI can reliably filter out the noise while giving users control over important decisions, it could become one of Chrome’s most welcome features yet.

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• Analyst firm Context has shared sales data for Q4 2024
• Copilot+ PCs didn’t see much growth, despite price cuts
• More affordable Arm-based Copilot+ PCs are likely to help Microsoft’s cause in 2025

Microsoft and its manufacturing partners reportedly dropped prices for Copilot+ PCs substantially at the tail-end of last year, but the cuts didn’t stimulate sales, according to an analyst firm – which could be a worry indeed for the future.

The Register highlighted the move seemingly made in the final quarter of 2024, in which these AI laptops were reduced by 10% - going by the average distributor sale price in Europe.

Marie-Christine Pygott, a senior analyst at Context, told The Register: “While price reductions helped stimulate some interest in Q4, the value proposition of these devices [Copilot+ PCs] still needs to be communicated more effectively to users.”

On a more positive note, Pygott added: “As the concept matures, awareness grows, and a greater range of price points is being addressed, we expect adoption rates to increase in 2025.”

The analyst tells us that more broadly, PC sales in Europe (for desktop computers and tablets, as well as laptops) witnessed some solid growth in the final quarter of last year, and sales for December were up 7% year-on-year, in fact.

During the quarter, AI-capable laptops saw their adoption rate grow to 32%, up from 22% in Q3 – but despite the upward movement, that didn’t match some forecasts (of 40% growth).

However, the definition of an AI-capable laptop is any device with an NPU to pep up AI workloads, no matter how strong that NPU is. Copilot+ PCs are a separate category within that, calling for a powerful NPU of at least 40 TOPS, and in that subdivision, growth was much weaker – it went from 3% to only 5%, according to Context.

Pygott told The Register that the leading notebooks in the world of AI PCs were Apple MacBooks (in Europe and the UK), but Lenovo and HP were making strong headway for market share (based on distributor sell-through data, we should note, not retailer sales).

Whereas Microsoft’s Surface devices are in pole position among the subcategory of Copilot+ PCs, unsurprisingly given how good these laptops are (the latest Surface Laptop is not just a great Copilot+ device, but also our best laptop overall, in fact).

(Image credit: Future) Analysis: Pricing and perception

We must be cautious around a single set of analyst figures, but the sales picture presented here does look rather weak. What to do, then, for Microsoft and its big Copilot+ PC project?

As Pygott points out, there are two obvious problems. Firstly, these devices were too costly at launch, and secondly, people don’t really understand what the AI in an ‘AI PC’ adds to the whole experience (with good reason, and we’ll come back to that).

As Pygott observes: “These [Copilot+ PCs] are currently in the premium price range, but their value add is not always clear to users. We believe this will change as it becomes clearer to users what these PCs can do, and how the way they use a PC will change with AI, but it will take some time.”

As to the issues around cost, as Pygott tells us, a “greater range of price points is being addressed,” which refers to the progress made in bringing in cheaper Snapdragon X chips. This will facilitate the release of more affordable Arm-based Copilot+ PCs (and Arm CPUs are still the majority for these devices).

First off, we had the Snapdragon X Plus 8-core processor arrive in September 2024 ushering in more affordable Copilot+ PCs around the $800 level. Then, the new vanilla Snapdragon X was revealed at CES 2025, and this promises to reduce the cost of these AI laptops to around the $600 mark.

The evolutions of these Arm-based notebooks may cut down the Snapdragon CPU, but crucially they do not mess with the powerful integrated NPU – it’s the same as in higher-tier Snapdragon chips – so they still fully qualify as Copilot+ PCs, just models in truly affordable territory (come Black Friday or the like, we might see $500 price tags). And that should go a long way to helping stoke sales, which, after all, have been predicted to really take off this year (and going forward into the rest of the decade).

The other sticking point of getting folks to realize the benefits of an AI-focused laptop is a trickier proposition, involving Microsoft bolstering the AI tricks infused in Windows 11, and particularly the Copilot+ PC exclusive features, naturally – such as Recall.

That’ll be the first order of the day – getting Recall out of testing, and working well so the feature sheds its controversial reputation (if indeed that is possible, at this stage of the game). But it feels like a tall order for Microsoft to have its suite of AI capabilities make a real impact on public perception, at least in 2025, anyway.

The danger is that if it takes a lot longer for that to happen, the Copilot+ PC project is going to be saddled with a sense of confusion and pointlessness around these devices, which won’t do the brand any favors.

On a more positive note, it’s not like good things aren’t being done with this category of devices – they certainly are. As noted, Microsoft’s latest Surface devices seriously impressed us here at TechRadar, and a Copilot+ PC from Asus was one of the most promising laptops we saw at CES 2025 recently. But while these might be great machines in many respects, the idea of where AI fits, and why it’s such a key aspect – when it isn’t really, not yet – remains the thorny issue.

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• A Microsoft blog post has been written about the free Windows 11 upgrade
• It mentions that the upgrade is for a ‘limited time only’
• This could be read as a hint that Microsoft will drop the free offer when Windows 10 expires later this year

In an interesting turn of events, perhaps in an effort to increase the pressure on Windows 10 users to upgrade, Microsoft has issued a vague suggestion that the free upgrade to Windows 11 might expire, possibly at the same time support runs out for the older OS.

Neowin noticed that Microsoft has penned a blog post which advises Windows 10 users that they need to carefully mull their options considering that support is discontinued on October 14, 2025. And naturally, one of those choices is to upgrade to Windows 11 (another is to pay for an extended program of updates for a year, an option that’s not been available to consumers in the past, just businesses).

At any rate, the key point is the title of the post, which is: “Free Upgrade to Windows 11 (For a Limited Time Only).”

Now, this is interesting, because as far as we’re aware, Microsoft has never specifically mentioned that the free upgrade to Windows 11 has a time limit on it.

One way you could read this title, then, is that there is indeed an expiry date for the offer, which would presumably be when Windows 10 support finishes – which is the hint imparted here, given the subject of the blog post.

(Image credit: Microsoft) Analysis: Would Microsoft really do this?

The question this throws up is: will Windows 11 no longer be free when Windows 10 hits End of Life? Well, we shouldn’t get carried away here, that’s for sure, as it’s notable that the only mentioned of ‘limited time’ is in the headline, and there’s no reference to this anywhere else in the article. You’d expect it to be clarified somewhere, after all, so perhaps it’s just a throwaway comment of sorts.

That said, this feels like some kind of a hint being dropped, and the official stance on the freebie offer, as outlined by Microsoft in the FAQ for the ‘How to get Windows 11’ portal is as follows: “The free upgrade offer does not have a specific end date for eligible systems. However, Microsoft reserves the right to eventually end support for the free offer.”

No one has ever taken that second sentence all that seriously, and it’s been regarded as just part of the usual clauses and embellishments that can be added by companies in a ‘just in case’ kind of fashion. However, perhaps Microsoft will actually exercise that right when Windows 10 shuffles off its mortal coil later this year. It’s far from unthinkable.

While we can envisage such a future, there remains a pressing concern for Microsoft – Windows 11 adoption has been painfully slow. And ultimately, the software giant still wants people to make the move to Windows 11, so ditching the free offer would work against that.

Or, perhaps more to the point, if the freebie upgrade is officially canned come October 2025, Microsoft might still leave loopholes open that allow folks to step up to Windows 11 free of charge. Just as happened with Windows 10 when Microsoft ended the free upgrade there, which was only supposed to be good for a year, but was left available for a long, long time after that period had expired.

It’s my feeling this is likely a move by Microsoft to help persuade fence-sitters to get on with it and upgrade to Windows 11, which, to be fair, at this point they should be doing anyway. Overall, I’m not convinced there’s any real teeth to the very vague threat aired here, but I could of course be wrong.

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• ChatGPT's new Tasks feature can schedule recurring reminders and alerts.
• ChatGPT can use tasks to suggest alerts and notifications proactively.
• Tasks is only available to ChatGPT Plus, Team, and Pro subscribers for now.

ChatGPT has begun testing a new feature that will make the AI chatbot much more effective as a digital secretary. The Tasks tool, now in beta testing, augments ChatGPT's responses with a schedule. That means you can set up regular reminders, alerts, and other notifications.

You can even get a daily weather report at 7 a.m. to decide whether to bring an umbrella, a monthly reminder to renew your library books, and all those birthdays for your coworkers you keep forgetting.

This is a major step for ChatGPT as a proactive assistant. Not only will the AI maintain your list of reminders, but it will even suggest some based on your conversations. For example, if you casually mention in a chat that you’re planning a trip, it might remind you to pack your passport, book a dog sitter, or double-check if your Airbnb has an ocean view. Of course, these suggestions only happen if you approve them.

Nobody wants their AI assistant jumping the gun and scheduling a romantic dinner for you and your ex. All this scheduling power is managed through a dedicated Tasks section in the ChatGPT web interface, for now.

Notifications for completed tasks show up across devices, whether you’re on your laptop or your phone and there is a limit of 10 active tasks at a time. You can modify or cancel tasks as needed, though.

Task AI

For now, Tasks is exclusive to people paying for ChatGPT Plus or ChatGPT Pro. Free-tier users will have to wait to see if this feature becomes available after the beta testing since OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has hinted at looking to up the prices for existing subscription tiers even before this new feature came out.

Still, it's notable how this feature moves ChatGPT toward more of the "agent" model, where it's less reactive and more able to anticipate your needs. Of course, that depends on ChatGPT matching what OpenAI claims it can do without fumbling the job.

Other AI assistants sometimes have a checkered history, misunderstood reminders, or confusion about the date. And even if it is accurate, the draw of Tasks is still unknown. Proactive is, by definition, intrusive.

Not everyone is comfortable with an AI telling you things without you starting the conversation, even if it's just to remind you to floss every night.

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• When the new Alexa arrives the hope is it will be used for more than just basic tasks.

Amazon has spent years extolling Alexa's abilities as a voice assistant, even though it seems most people use it mainly to set timers and check the weather.

Even so, that hasn't stopped Amazon from plotting a far bigger place for Alexa in your life. Amazon wants Alexa to graduate from her relatively simple life of timers and trivia into the AI big leagues as a true personal concierge by leveraging the latest AI models, as Amazon's artificial general intelligence (AGI) leader Rohit Prasad explained to the FT.

Prasad and Amazon want to fully transform Alexa’s brain through a kind of 'transplant' to swap out the old question-answering engine for generative AI models. If all goes according to Amazon’s ambitious plan, Alexa 2.0 will be the digital butler constantly promised, rather than an audio stopwatch and remote control. Prasad admitted it won't be easy, though he is confident Amazon can defeat the obstacles in the way.

If he isn't having hallucinations, Alexa needs to eliminate any hallucinations of its own created by the AI. An assistant that fabricates responses that sound plausible but are completely wrong isn't going to get a lot of use. When you’re asking about the best route to the airport, “plausible but wrong” isn’t going to cut it. Further, Alexa needs to be reliable if people ask it to do more than just play their favorite music. The wrong song is no big deal, but if you request it to book a table for dinner, adjust your lights, and double-check your babysitter’s arrival time, you need to be confident it won't get anything wrong.

At the same time, caution about mirages can't slow down responses. According to Prasad, while Alexa responds pretty quickly now, the new AI brain is a bit slower, sometimes taking up to ten seconds to answer a query. The company will need to bring the new Alexa up to speed to make it attractive to users.

Ambitious Alexa AI

One thing Amazon is particularly keen on is keeping Alexa’s personality intact. Prasad said Amazon is hiring experts to fine-tune her voice, diction, and overall personality to make the transition to a more conversational AI. That said, generative AI is probabilistic, meaning it predicts responses based on patterns rather than absolute truths. That makes it great for casual conversations but a bit dicey for high-stakes tasks like managing smart homes or relaying emergency alerts. The stakes are high, and any misstep could hurt Alexa’s reputation.

No matter how good the new Alexa is at helping users, there's a very obvious issue facing Amazon's plans to make Alexa the ultimate digital concierge. Microsoft, OpenAI, Google, Meta, and others are working toward many of the same goals. In particular, Google has all but overwritten Google Assistant with Gemini across the board. Amazon had a major lead over its rivals regarding smart speakers and smart displays. However, that may not matter if no one thinks to use Alexa when they can turn to Gemini, ChatGPT, or other assistants with similar abilities.

Still, Amazon has some assets that could make up any existing gap. The company recently debuted the Nova AI models, which were built in-house and designed specifically for Alexa. Amazon has also deepened its partnership with Claude AI developer Anthropic, bolstered by $8 billion in investment funds.

Whether this is enough to leapfrog the competition remains to be seen, but time will certainly tell.

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