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Techradar
Windows 10 update installation failures aren’t rare – but an update that won’t stop installing itself is a new one on me
- Patch KB5048239 for Windows 10 was first deployed in November 2024
- It’s now been installed again as part of Microsoft’s patching for January 2025
- However, this update is reportedly installing itself over and over again, and for quite a number of Windows 10 users it seems
Ever had a Windows 10 (or Windows 11) update that failed to install? That’s a problem I’ve noticed happens relatively often, but a new twist on misfiring updates is a patch that keeps on installing itself, despite being successfully installed in the past.
This is what's apparently happening with Windows 10, and the update in question is patch KB5048239, as Neowin reports.
It’s useful to cover the backstory here, which is that KB5048239 was pushed out to Windows 10 PCs (on 21H2 and 22H2) in November 2024 (among other patches), as a cure for problems with the WinRE (Windows Recovery Environment) which themselves have a lengthy history.
However, last year, KB5048239 failed to install for some people due to them not having enough space in their Windows 10 recovery partition (a minimum of 250MB is necessary).
Microsoft then issued a bunch of advice to affected users and tried to smooth out the update, but it seems that Windows 10 is now trying to deliver KB5048239 again. And again… and again… and (you get the idea).
Dean Wortmier tells us on Microsoft’s help forum, Answer’s.com, that: “This particular update installed successfully for me in November 2024, and is trying to install again today -- over and over and over... -- each time ‘successfully.’”
Another complaint comes from Brian Lofthouse: “Hi to you all. I checked my updates this morning and KB5048239 was waiting to be installed again! I run the troubleshooter and it installed again, I checked ‘View updates’ and it had changed the date from yesterday to today! It is like a Merry-go-round. I can feel a migraine coming on!”
Those two threads have had 353 people click that they ‘have the same question’ to give you an idea of the scale of the impact here (at the time of writing). So, this appears to be an issue affecting a fair few folks running Windows 10.
As to a resolution for the ‘little update that wouldn’t give up,’ the not-so-great news is that there doesn’t appear to be one.
Whatever people are trying to do, such as removing the older version of this update before letting the newest one for January 2025 install, doesn’t make any difference. They are still getting KB5048239 installing over and over. Even those whose WinRE setup is fine (and the partition is large enough) are still being hit by this debacle, as noted on this thread over at the Ask Woody forums.
Does having this patch installed over and over actually matter, though? Will it detrimentally affect your system? Probably not, but even if this isn’t throwing small spanners into the Windows 10 works somewhere, it’s still annoying to see the same update getting downloaded and installed repeatedly. Those who don’t know what’s going on here may assume their PC has some kind of serious bug – or even virus – and maybe waste a fair bit of time trying to diagnose and fathom what’s going on.
Hopefully Microsoft will have an announcement coming, and I’ve reached out to the company to find out (I’ll update this story with any response).
For now, though, about all you can do is grin and bear it (or frown and bear it, more like). One option is to pause Windows 10 updates for as long as you can (with the side effect that you won’t get other updates, of course – which might be bad news in itself). Otherwise, it’s just a matter of waiting for Microsoft to fix this (we've contacted the company for comment), which hopefully will happen fairly soon considering that this is a problem plaguing a non-trivial number of Windows 10 users, from what I can tell.
You may also like...You could start chatting directly with Gemini Live about a YouTube video you're watching very soon
YouTube is prepping new AI features to make passive video watching a lot more interactive, according to unreleased code found by Android Authority. The Talk Live features undergoing testing use Google Gemini's AI models to let you converse about YouTube videos and PDFs.
Imagine you’re watching a video on, say, the history of art movements, and halfway through, you’re scratching your head over what separates Impressionism from Post-Impressionism. Instead of pausing the video to dive into a Google rabbit hole, you could summon Gemini Live to clarify things for you right then and there. With a simple tap on a contextual “chip” that pops up, the AI assistant will be ready to answer questions, provide context, or summarize key points from the video.
The Talk Live PDF feature takes the same premise as the YouTube feature and applies it to PDF documents. You can get Gemini Live to discuss the document with you. That might mean summarizing it, explaining complicated terms, or answering specific questions about sections that don't make sense when you read it. Whether you’re using the YouTube app or a PDF reader, you'll be able to summon Gemini and get all your queries on videos and documents answered.
AI enhancementGoogle has been pushing AI for YouTube for months now. The Talk Live tool fits right in with the likes of YouTube's Brainstorm with Gemini feature for coming up with ideas. The same goes for the the AI tool for removing copyrighted music from your video without taking it down completely, or the one for making new, uncopyrighted music to fit the theme of your video. There's also the useful auto-dubbing feature, which translates and dubs videos into multiple languages.
Still, the idea of remaking YouTube viewing as an engaging conversation on top of the more passive viewing experience is one that might appeal to a lot of people, especially if the video is really long and the viewer is impatient. And everyone from students trying to grasp a lecture, to creators looking to expand their audiences could benefit. It might make people more willing to engage with difficult content. Or, at the very least, the AI will make understanding Impressionism much easier.
You might also likeWhatsApp looks set to get an AI makeover soon – here's what could be coming
WhatsApp is seemingly testing a new look that brings AI front and center to the messaging app, as first discovered byWABetaInfo. The new look, as seen on a beta version of the Android app, gives AI its own tab and is clearly aimed at encouraging users to play with Meta's many AI tools.
The WABetaInfo team found the AI tab lists features such as “Popular AI characters” you can chat with and bots organized by topic, like a bizarre dinner party where everyone’s a robot. There are also AI-generated stickers, images, and a Meta AI-powered search engine.
If these sound familiar, that's because these AI tools already exist in WhatsApp – you just may not have noticed them, because they’re buried under the Chats tab. This redesign looks to make AI more visible and, presumably, more used. Whether that happens is anyone’s guess, but Meta seems to be betting on AI being the next big thing in messaging. The changes also affect the Communities tab, which no longer has its own space and which will instead live within the Chats tab.
AI WhatsAppWABetaInfo also found that Meta is experimenting with custom AI bots that users can design within WhatsApp. By baking this feature into WhatsApp, Meta is making it more convenient than turning to the AI Studio in Instagram, though it’s still unclear how many people actually want to build their own chatbots. They may prefer the pre-built ones provided by the platform or to just chat with actual humans.
The upcoming changes to WhatsApp fit with Meta's efforts to embed AI in all of its platforms, particularly in encouraging the use of the Meta AI assistant. If it can entice even a small portion of the more than two billion WhatsApp users to start engaging with its AI products, Meta will be thrilled.
It does somewhat go against WhatsApp's streamlined and simple style, but that may not matter if people want to use AI for whatever purpose. Still, there’s a fine line between enhancing a platform and overloading it, and Meta is balancing right on that line.
There's no date for the revamp, though the beta-testing suggests a wait of a few months is likely. That said, if the integration of ChatGPT on WhatsApp proves as popular as OpenAI hopes, you might see the AI-focused WhatsApp come out even sooner than that and be copied across Meta's whole ecosystem.
You might also likeSam Altman predicts artificial superintelligence (AGI) will happen this year
- Sam Altman reflects on nine years of OpenAI
- He predicts we will achieve AGI in 2025
- AI Agents will also enter the workforce for the first time
In a long and wistful blog post titled ‘Reflections’ Sam Altman, the mercurial CEO of ChatGPT creators OpenAI, has said that he believes we will achieve AGI (artificial general intelligence, also known as superintelligence) "as we have traditionally understood it" in 2025 with the release of the first AI agents joining the workforce. He says:
“We are now confident we know how to build AGI as we have traditionally understood it. We believe that, in 2025, we may see the first AI agents “join the workforce” and materially change the output of companies. We continue to believe that iteratively putting great tools in the hands of people leads to great, broadly-distributed outcomes."
While that may sound like bad news for people whose jobs it replaces, it would be a big jump forward for the AGI timeline. I previously interviewed Dr Ben Goertzel, who predicted that humanity would develop AGI by 2029.
Alan Thompson, an expert in artificial intelligence and former chairman of Mensa International, runs the Conservative Countdown to AGI web page, and has increased the countdown to achieving AGI as 88% complete in light of Altman’s latest comments, along with the release of Nvidia Cosmos for training humanoid robots.
The rest of Altman’s Reflections blog post describes the highs and lows of the life of a CEO working in an area of cutting edge technology. In particular he remembers being “fired by surprise on a video call” while sitting in a hotel in Vegas, and describes the last few years as “the most rewarding, fun, best, interesting, exhausting, stressful, and - particularly for the last two - unpleasant years of my life so far.”
It’s not all doom and gloom though. OpenAI is only nine years old, and Altman fondly remembers many of the landmark moments over that time, particularly launching the ChatGPT chatbot, which ignited the AI revolution and changed everything almost overnight.
Altman notes that since then, “AI development has taken many twists and turns and we expect more in the future. Some of the twists have been joyful; some have been hard. It’s been fun watching a steady stream of research miracles occur, and a lot of naysayers have become true believers.”
Talking specifically about AGI, Altman goes on to say that the whole focus of OpenAI will move beyond ChatGPT and towards AGI:
“We are beginning to turn our aim beyond that, to superintelligence in the true sense of the word. We love our current products, but we are here for the glorious future. With superintelligence, we can do anything else. Superintelligent tools could massively accelerate scientific discovery and innovation well beyond what we are capable of doing on our own, and in turn massively increase abundance and prosperity.”
You may also likeGrok steps out to mobile with new standalone iOS app
Grok isn't just for X anymore. The AI chatbot built by Elon Musk's xAI company has debuted an iOS mobile app in the US, Australia, India, and several other countries. The app marks xAI’s ambition to compete against AI chatbot rivals with their own standalone apps, including ChatGPT, Google Gemini, and Anthropic's Claude.
The app runs on the same Grok-2 AI model that powers its X-based counterpart. The chatbot can rewrite and summarize text, answer queries, and generate images from text prompts. For those in search of up-to-date information, Grok can access real-time data from both the web and X. Though originally exclusive to X’s paying subscribers, Grok now offers a free tier and became more accessible with the launch of Grok.com as its own website.
Mobile GrokGrok’s image-generation feature is likely to entice plenty of users. xAI has touted Grok's photorealistic rendering skills using the Flux AI model and its ability to analyze photos you upload, explaining whatever objects are captured by your phone's camera. The app may also end up using the Aurora image model that xAI apparently accidentally released very briefly before removing it.
For better or worse, the AI's image creation abilities have also led to some debates around copyright and ownership. Some have gotten in trouble for making copyrighted characters like Mario do things Nintendo doesn't approve of, leading to its copyright infringement hunter Tracer going after them for infringement.
Grok’s launch outside X represents more than just a feature expansion; it’s how xAI aims to take at least some of those paying for ChatGPT and other AI chatbots. The company clearly hopes to make a bigger product ecosystem where people pay for X to get Grok or pay for Grok to get access to X's premium features.
You might also like...TCL has 3 new smart glasses which are all in the running for the best of 2025 already
- TCL unveiled three new smart glasses at CES 2025
- Two boast AR capabilties, the other is for AI and video capture
- No precise price or release date details have been shared yet
As someone who has tested a lot of smart glasses I know first-hand how much variety there is in this sector of tech – despite being under the same umbrella, there’s as much similarity between the Halliday specs, the Ray-Ban Meta glasses, Xreal One Pro AR glasses, as there is between electric cars, bikes and scooters as ‘electric vehicles’ – so usually companies focus on one type at a time. TCL isn’t afraid to tackle smart glasses from all angles however, with it announcing three very different smart specs at CES to suit every type of smart glasses wearer.
The most impressive is the RayNeo X3 Pro. It boasts the same Snapdragon AR1 Gen 1 chipset as the Ray-Ban specs, but goes a step beyond its rival in other areas. The X3 Pro has a dual-camera setup – one for snapping pictures and for AI vision, while the other helps deliver AR features like hand-tracking – and full-color micro-LED screens built into the lenses.
This allows you to see apps and notifications in your field of view, and in my demo, I got to see how the RayNeo X3 Pros could help on my next trip thanks to their real-time translation. My demo with them was short but they seriously impressed me, and kinda put the standard Ray-Ban Meta specs to shame.
Though if you want a simplified, display-less approach you’ll be after the RayNeo V3. They strip out the screens but come equipped with a 12MP Sony IMX681 sensor to facilitate first-person content capture and voice-guided insights – with those being relayed by on-device speakers and three in-built microphones.
What’s most impressive was how thin these glasses look – noticeably slimmer than Meta’s Ray-Bans – and how light they are – just 39g. I’d love to try wearing these for a whole day to verify my suspicions, but they could be the best smart glasses for comfort while still boasting useful tools.
Lastly, you have the entertainment-focused RayNeo Air 3 specs. Like other similar AR smart glasses you connect these to a compatible USB-C device via a cable to have the device’s screen appear as a massive floating window in front of you – a 201-inch virtual screen to be precise.
With in-built speakers to boot these specs are an upgrade on previous RayNeo Air smart specs which offer you a wearable home-cinema setup that is ideal for making your travels fly by. I'll want to test them out further, but if I could I would have never left the demo and spent all day playing Mario Odyssey with them.
We’re still waiting on pricing details on all these glasses in the RayNeo CES 2025 lineup, but TCL says they’ll be revealed closer to their respective launches. The X3 Pro and Air 3 will drop first in “mid-2025” with the V3 landing “later in the year.”
We’re covering all of the latest CES news from the show as it happens. Stick with us for the big stories on everything from 8K TVs and foldable displays to new phones, laptops, smart home gadgets, and the latest in AI.
And don’t forget to follow us on TikTok for the latest from the CES show floor!
You might also likeFed up with Copilot in Windows 11? Microsoft pushing a new keyboard shortcut for the AI isn’t likely to help, and it could mess with your desktop mojo
- Microsoft is nudging folks to use a new keyboard shortcut for Copilot
- The nudge reportedly arrives via a pop-up after updating the Copilot app
- The problem is the key combo used could interfere with the existing workflows of some Windows 11 users
Microsoft is keen to get folks on Windows 11 using its Copilot assistant more, and the software giant is now flagging up a fresh keyboard shortcut to summon the AI to your desktop.
Windows Latest reports that after updating the Copilot app in Windows 11 – remember, the assistant was turned into a standalone app last year, in a separate window, whereas it was previously anchored to the right-hand side of the desktop – the tech site received a pop-up promoting the new shortcut for Copilot.
The pop-up tells the user that they can hit Alt + Space as a keyboard shortcut to fire up the Copilot app. This panel also has a button to click to enable the shortcut, or you can pass on that option and click ‘Not now’ if you prefer.
This was seen last month in testing, where it was introduced to open Copilot’s new ‘quick view’ feature. (The dedicated Copilot key, on PCs that have it, is used to open the assistant in its main view – though this key can be reconfigured).
So, this functionality is seemingly rolling out via an update to the Copilot application, with a fresh prompt to use it.
Okay, then – what’s the big deal here? Well, for some Windows 11 users, this won’t be important. However, others may have Alt + Space set to something else (PowerToys uses it, for one thing), and moreover, by default, it also brings up the context menu for any active window. That’s part of the core Windows 11 interface, and it might be an ability used regularly in the workflows of some folks.
Meaning that Copilot could mess with those workflows, which could lead to some frustrations.
Microsoft previously acknowledged this issue in testing, noting that: “Many apps use this keyboard shortcut [Alt + Space] today. For any apps installed on your PC that might utilize this keyboard shortcut, Windows will register whichever app is launched first on your PC and running in the background as the app that is invoked when using Alt + Space.”
This isn’t exactly clear (to us, anyway), but we take it to mean that with other apps (like the mentioned PowerToys), if you run them first (and not the Copilot app), they will keep the Alt + Space shortcut. However, you won’t be able to use Alt + Space as part of the main Windows 11 interface (meaning to summon the context menu for the active window on the desktop), as this isn’t an app (but part of the core UI as mentioned).
This whole setup might change, Microsoft said last month in its blog post for testers, though it appears that the software giant might be going ahead with the plan at this point. That doesn’t mean this course can’t still be altered, of course, if enough Windows 11 users complain via the Feedback Hub and usual channels.
Windows Latest points out that you can disable (or enable) the Alt + Space shortcut for Copilot in the app’s Settings (accessed via the three-dot menu at the top-right).
You may also like...AI will start subtitling your videos thanks to VLC
AI will start making videos on popular media player VLC more accessible, the company announced at CES. VLC is adding a new feature that uses AI to generate subtitles and translations in real time. No more digging through shady subtitle databases or syncing files. Instead, VLC’s AI will transcribe audio and display it as the video plays, even translating it into any of more than 100 languages.
It's a notable shift from the way you currently have to add subtitles. If your video didn’t come with captions baked in, you had to go hunting for the right file online VLC’s new AI-powered subtitles aim to make that process obsolete. VLC is using open-source AI models for the feature and said that the whole thing will work on your device, meaning you won't need to be online or send any data about what you're watching.
Of course, the AI doesn’t just transcribe; it translates too. Say you’re watching a Korean drama and want to share it with a friend who doesn’t speak the language. VLC’s AI can generate subtitles in English, Spanish, or one of the dozens of other languages.
VLC automatic subtitles generation and translation based on local and open source AI models running on your machine working offline, and supporting numerous languages!Demo can be found on our #CES2025 booth in Eureka Park. pic.twitter.com/UVmgT6K4dsJanuary 8, 2025
Ill communicationVLC's AI plans aren't a perfect solution, of course. Any AI transcription or translation may fall prey to confusion, bad transcription, and awkward translation. Accents, fast-talking, and other elements may make the captions more of a hindrance than you'd like. The feature is also likely to demand some serious processing power. Real-time transcription and translation are no small tasks, and older devices might struggle to keep up. It might be time for an upgrade if you’re still running VLC on a laptop from the pre-HD era.
Still, the potential is enormous for more than just casual viewers. People with impaired hearing or who are learning a new language will definitely benefit from immediate and (mostly) accurate transcription and translation. It could be a real boon for students, international travelers, or others who want or need text to accompany their viewing.
While VLC isn't unique in leveraging AI for subtitles, it stands out in terms of ease of use and practicality. Skipping the need for internet connectivity or a subscription service makes it both cheaper and more private than other options. It might not always get things perfect, but for most users, “good enough” will probably feel like a revelation.
You might also likeLook out Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, Xreal is coming for your crown with its new AR specs
- Xreal launches One Pro AR smart glasses at CES 2025
- It also announced a camera module for its One and One Pro glasses
- The glasses are launching in March for $599 / £549
I’m a big fan of Xreal’s AR smart glasses – that’s why they feature on TechRadar’s picks of the best smart glasses overall – thanks to their ability to give you a wearable home cinema experience using just the specs and a compatible USB-C device. And now that experience is about to get even better thanks to two new innovations the company has showcased at CES 2025.
The first is new AR glasses in the form of the Xreal One Pro. A follow-up to the Xreal One, these smart glasses pack a 57-degree field-of-view, 700 nits of brightness, Bose sound, adjustable interpupillary distance, a vibrant Full-HD picture, and Xreal’s own X1 spatial computing chip. All in a package that weighs just 87g
They're impressive-looking glasses based on my hands-on experience with them so far – so impressive that we’ve awarded them a best of CES 2025 award – and we’re excited to test them out further ahead of their March launch. The Xreal One Pro are up for preorder now at $599 / £549.
Let there be sight
Even more impressive than the glasses themselves, however, is the new 12MP camera module that Xreal is launching for both the Xreal One and new One Pro: the Xreal Eye.
This optional attachment gives Xreal’s specs vision capabilities that right now allow for first-person photo and video capture. “Later this year” though, the camera will also offer image-based multimodal AI capabilities – which should be similar to the AI features we’ve seen in the popular Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, including its 'Look and ask' feature.
The Xreal Eye is up for preorder at $99 / £99, and it looks like a solid update to Xreal’s existing specs, and offers a future-forward modular approach which is something I’ve been a fan of in XR for a while, as it gives users the freedom to construct the headset or glasses that best suits their needs and wants.
We’ll have to wait and see how the Eye perform in our full-review when they're released, as while I was able to wear specs with the camera module attached, I wasn’t able to snap a picture with them or see the AI in action during my hands-on time.
We’re covering all of the latest CES news from the show as it happens. Stick with us for the big stories on everything from 8K TVs and foldable displays to new phones, laptops, smart home gadgets, and the latest in AI.
And don’t forget to follow us on TikTok for the latest from the CES show floor!
You might also likeThis haptic vest might be my new favorite Meta Quest 3 accessory
- The bHaptics vest and sleeves let you feel VR
- Compatible with Meta Quest 3, PC VR and PSVR 2
- I've tried them, and I love them
I adore VR and the incredibly immersive experiences it can facilitate through headsets such as the Meta Quest 3. But despite everything VR headsets do well, they’re limited to just sight and sound – with basic haptic rumblings in the controllers (and, in some cases, headset rumble) only doing a little to immerse you via touch. These simple haptics are not properly feeling a VR world, but with bHaptics’ accessories – which I’ve tested at CES – you can unlock a superior experience.
For my demo I was outfitted with three accessories: the TactSuit Pro haptic vest on my chest, a pair of TactSleeve haptic arm guards, and my Meta Quest 3 headset was equipped with the haptic Tact Visor to provide head haptics.
I was then dropped into a custom XR sandbox outfitted with various weapons and items which showcased the bHaptics tech’s capabilities.
Picking up a virtual shotgun, I could feel the kickback in my arm and shoulder, while the electro rifle sent a tingly ripple down my arm and side. I could feel healing drinks in my stomach and gentle waves through my body to signify I was back at max health.
To help showcase the differences, the demo also featured non-haptic versions of every object so I could directly compare them with the haptics – and the haptic versions are huge leap ahead for immersion. I’ll admit that they weren’t perfect all the time in terms of feeling like real life, but I’d score them at an 8 or 9 out of 10, while the non-haptic-accessory controller rumbles are maybe a 2 or 3.
The experience took another step up when feeling the same weapons I fired before being fired at me. Thankfully it wasn’t painful, but I could shoot electro blasts and lasers at a model representing me and feel the attacks – with my actions sending realistic signals through the vest, arm and headset haptics.
It was surprisingly accurate – tracing the laser across my back I could feel differently placed haptic sensors activating as it moved – and gave VR attacks a more tactile oomph than they usually would.
What was perhaps best of all is that these haptic gadgets aren’t some prosumer accessory that only businesses or folks with a lot of cash to splash can enjoy. The vest is priced at $499, the sleeve at $199, and the visor at $149 – which aren’t cheap, but aren’t prohibitively expensive either. Plus they’re compatible with Quest, PSVR 2, and PC experiences across games like Beat Saber, Dungeons of Eternity and Arizona Sunshine 2 to name a few.
The team was also explaining that community members can create their own custom haptic mapping mods for currently unsupported titles on PC – or to augment the haptics in supported titles, so you won’t always have to wait for a developer to incorporate haptics themselves.
I’d love to test them out more, but from my brief demo I was very impressed with what bHaptics has created. If you’re looking to upgrade your VR headset setup, I’d suggest not just looking at a headset strap or carry case, but one of these haptic vests too.
We’re covering all of the latest CES news from the show as it happens. Stick with us for the big stories on everything from 8K TVs and foldable displays to new phones, laptops, smart home gadgets, and the latest in AI.
And don’t forget to follow us on TikTok for the latest from the CES show floor!
You might also likeFound code suggests that Google Gemini is coming to Android Auto
- Google Gemini may soon integrate with Android Auto
- Gemini could augment existing tools with natural conversational abilities
- Gemini might make Android Auto more useful during trips
Google is taking Gemini on the road with plans to integrate it into Android Auto, according to unpublished code found by Android Authority. While Google hasn’t officially announced this upgrade, The code revealed hints that Gemini’s integration is on the way, with several notable changes to the interface, including a Gemini Live icon and the option to “Ask Gemini” anything. Even though Gemini won't actually engage through the interface yet, it’s clear the groundwork is being laid out.
Gemini could do a lot for drivers beyond what Google Assistant currently offers, simply by being more conversational and employing AI analysis to issues. Imagine you’re running late to work and need to find the fastest route through traffic. Gemini could not only calculate the best path but also analyze traffic patterns to suggest whether taking a detour for coffee is a smart move. If you’re bored driving alone, Gemini might break the silence with trivia about nearby landmarks like an entertaining human navigator.
Meanwhile, the school run could see Gemini queuing kid-friendly audiobooks or suggesting games to play from the back seat. Or, if your road trip needs more than just directions, Gemini could provide a curated playlist tailored to the mood you want your journey to have, suggest scenic stops along the way, and even find the closest dog-friendly park for a quick stretch.
Gemini could also be genuinely useful in sticky situations with your vehicle. If your check engine light comes on, it might analyze diagnostic data from your car and explain what’s wrong in plain English, complete with recommendations for nearby repair shops.
AI AutomotiveThe Android Auto integration will also likely benefit from Gemini's earlier integration with Google Maps. Gemini offers suggestions for places to visit and smmarizes reviews through the Maps app already. That's why Android Auto's Gemini link will be able to offer travel ideas based on a conversation about what kind of place you want to travel to at the time.
The Ask Gemini option will also be helpful when you have specific questions about a location. Assuming it pulls from the same databases as Google Maps, you'll be able to ask about things like opening times, how people rated their visit and more.
The uncovered interface is only a facet of the whole, but it suggests that Google is ready to expand Gemini into everyone's cars. Will driving be more enjoyable with Gemini, or will it be another underused feature destined to gather digital dust? It's only a pitstop on Google’s journey to throw Gemini into every part of people's lives, but it could herald an acceleration in that effort.
You might also likeSamsung’s new AI Club will let you rent a robot
- Pay a monthly fee to rent the latest AI devices
- The program aims to make cutting-edge tech more accessible
- There are optional maintenance services as part of the subscription
Samsung has a new plan to put AI tech in your hands, though not via drone delivery. Instead, it’s launching the AI Subscription Club, a program that lets you rent the company’s latest AI-powered gadgets for a monthly fee. It’s like leasing a car, but instead of a luxury sedan, you get a Galaxy phone or even the AI companion robot, Ballie, which debuted at CES this year.
On paper, it sounds great. You get shiny new tech, Samsung gets a predictable cash flow, and everyone walks away happy. But will it catch on? That depends on a few things. First, there’s the question of pricing. If the subscription costs rival traditional financing plans or carrier upgrades, it might not feel like much of a deal. Second, there’s the whole “ownership vs. rental” mindset. Some people like knowing their gadgets are truly theirs, even if they’re a few years behind the latest trend.
Despite what “AI Subscription Club” might suggest, this isn’t about subscribing to software features, at least for now, as Galaxy AI tools remain free through the rest of the year. The hardware subscription model lets you rent devices like phones, tablets, and robots. Samsung promises this will make staying on the cutting edge more affordable and accessible while also guaranteeing them a steady revenue stream.
Subscribers who pay a monthly fee get access to some of Samsung’s hardware catalog. It's like leasing a car in some ways. For instance, you can upgrade to new models without selling old devices. If you have an itch for new tech but don't want to pay for it every year or so, it's a good deal. Plus, it comes with optional maintenance services, so if Ballie accidentally rolls off a table or your phone gets an unplanned bath, Samsung has you covered.
It's notable that Samsung is pursuing this business model after similar attempts, such as the failure of the Google Pixel Pass. Still, Samsung may see this as the best way to get people to try its more expensive tech, but who don't want to pay the high price for the new toys. Then, if they like it, they may be more willing to fork over the cash.
AI anticipationSamsung isn’t starting from scratch here. The AI Subscription Club actually began last year as a rental program for home appliances in South Korea. Consumers could subscribe to AI-powered washing machines, refrigerators, and TVs, complete with maintenance services. Expanding this concept to mobile devices and AI gadgets is a natural next step, though it remains to be seen if the same appeal translates to smartphones and tablets.
The subscription model also raises an interesting question: are we moving toward a world where we stop owning our tech altogether? Between this and services like Google’s Chromebook rentals, it’s easy to imagine a future where everything – from our phones to our fridges – is “as-a-service.” For some, that’s exciting. For others, it’s a bit dystopian. Either way, it’s clear Samsung sees subscriptions as part of its future.
For now, the AI Subscription Club is sticking close to home, rolling out in South Korea first. Samsung hasn’t confirmed plans for a global launch, but it’s not hard to imagine this program popping up elsewhere if it gains traction. And with the Galaxy S25 series expected to debut at the Galaxy Unpacked event later this month, this could be Samsung’s way of keeping the buzz alive.
You might also likeMicrosoft is finally fighting back against the rise of SteamOS by overhauling Windows 11 to be better on handhelds
- The Windows 11 gaming user interface is set to become more console-like, taking inspiration from Xbox and simplifying controls
- New design looks to become a more substantial rival to SteamOS and optimize usability
- There will be a focus on enhancing controllers and handheld-specific features for seamless gaming
It looks like Microsoft has finally acknowledged that handheld gaming PCs could be better, primarily when it comes to running Windows 11 on them, and it wants to improve this experience.
Right now, Windows 11 simply isn’t great on these devices; it feels clunky and complicated, probably because Windows 11 is largely designed for desktops and larger devices in general, not compact handhelds without keyboards. This is all the more apparent when compared to the smooth interfaces of Xbox consoles or Valve’s SteamOS, which were specifically designed for their respective devices.
Now, Microsoft wants to bring the Xbox experience to Windows PCs, combining the two systems and elevating the handheld gaming Windows experience. This was hinted at during a roundtable discussion at the recent AMD and Lenovo “The Future of Gaming Handhelds” event by Microsoft VP of “Next Generation” (presumably the Next Generation of Windows handheld gaming PCs) Jason Ronald, which was held during the CES 2025 event in Las Vegas.
Microsoft’s goal appears to be to take the user-friendly, console-like features of Xbox like quick access to games and simple navigation, and integrate them into Windows for handhelds. This would make it easier to use Windows gaming handheld devices more intuitively, allowing you to pick up your device and play without fiddling with complicated settings or dealing with desktop-style menus.
Microsoft’s VP of “Next Generation,” Jason Ronald, hinted that they’re actively working on this and that we’ll see some big improvements this year. It’s not about building a brand-new Xbox operating system for PCs but rather improving Windows 11 itself to feel more like an Xbox when you’re gaming. The big idea? To make handheld Windows gaming as easy and enjoyable as playing on an Xbox, while still allowing you to tap into the flexibility of Windows if you need it.
When speaking to The Verge, Ronald elaborated on this by explaining that this will go beyond the current state of things where there are compact modes for Xbox apps in Windows 11, becoming a simplified experience similar to what you’d use on a games console. This includes tackling aspects like making Windows 11 work better with gaming controllers and designing Windows 11 to make better use of handheld gaming hardware.
This news is very welcome, as I know many people are very vocal about the fact that Windows 11 is the weakest part many gaming handheld PCs, including the Lenovo Legion Go, Asus ROG Ally X, and MSI Claw 8. The PC gaming handhelds that run Windows 11 will often use a proxy user interface to manage and run your games, but this can make for a slower and less-than-ideal experience overall. Furthermore, Windows 11 has SteamOS (a Linux-based operating system) to contend with, as we are beginning to see devices come in a version running SteamOS as well as Windows 11, like the Lenovo Legion S.
SteamOS is an operating system specifically designed to run games, has an easy-to-use dedicated user interface, and none of the baggage and bloat of Windows 11.
The roundtable conversation didn’t clarify if this will mean a special version of Windows for gaming handhelds or if Windows 11 will have additions made to it that make gaming on handheld PCs better. Ronald says his team is working on ‘fundamental interaction models’ that work regardless of what operating system is used by a device, and ensure that users get a solid gaming experience regardless.
It sounds like Ronald and his team perhaps have more in store, however, than just layering software on top of Windows 11 for gaming handhelds. We’ll have to see how this new system looks, performs, and feels, but it sounds pretty promising, especially as handheld gaming PC devices appear to be a booming market.
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE...- Lenovo's new Legion Go S gaming handheld might finally be the one to take down the Steam Deck
- Phil Spencer confirms Xbox handheld prototypes are now being worked on, but a console is years away
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CES 2025 is an AI inflection point and I can't wait to see what comes next
The ubiquity of artificial intelligence across the CES 2025 landscape is just as impressive and commanding as the already iconic Sphere. It's a clarion call of intention from innumerable tech companies all promising to make AI the center of your known digital universe.
Unlike other CES trends – think VR and 3D TV – that are more marketing than utility, there is some inescapable logic here. AI's inherent power, versatility, and unprecedented exponential growth make it almost unlike any technology we've encountered before.
What companies like Delta, BMW, LG, Hisense, Samsung, and others have recognized is that the data their systems have been collecting and moving among their once disparate digital systems can be pulled together by AI into an almost organic whole that proactively operates at your behest.
TechRadar will be extensively covering this year's CES, and will bring you all of the big announcements as they happen. Head over to our CES 2025 news page for the latest stories and our hands-on verdicts on everything from 8K TVs and foldable displays to new phones, laptops, smart home gadgets, and the latest in AI.
And don’t forget to follow us on TikTok and WhatsApp for the latest from the CES show floor!
Delta, for instance, turns 100 this year, which means it's had a century-long intimate relationship with our travel needs, which naturally tie to us as people. We travel for work, fun, family connection – the best and worst and most mundane moments of our lives – where we go and what we do doesn't just start and end on the flight. It begins the minute we start thinking about a trip, planning it, packing for it, getting there, arriving at a destination, and then turning around to come back home. Companies like Delta that provide services of connection also have a vast treasure trove of data about what we do and that's the life's blood of powerful AI.
And so, a Delta concierge that eventually ties that all together and proactively guides and assists you through the journey makes sense.
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Similarly, Samsung's been trying for years to interest consumers in its SmartThings smart home platform but this year the effort was transformed into Home AI and SmartThings everywhere. The backbone of connection is data, cross-product, and cross-category communication, and AI helps stitch it all together so that the results make sense for everyday consumers. Even Bixby, a somewhat forgotten digital assistant, appears to be getting an intelligence upgrade that finally makes it a useful part of the whole.
If there's one thing that's consistent across most of the AI-related announcements I've seen thus far it's their boldness. BMW isn't just polishing its existing iDrive system like an aging "Beamer", adding one new screen, or an app-based assistant. Instead, it's reimagining the interior of almost all its new cars. The dash is not just a bunch of disparate readouts, it's a system, a window into the heart of your driving experience and needs that extend far beyond the car interior.
Again, AI is emboldening companies to try and connect more broadly to your life experience. Naturally, as one company tries to engage you in the home while another is marching to your doorstep, there may be odd collisions, and we may soon question just how much AI we need in our lives.
But the reality is if all this AI works, it'll be transparent. We'll notice that apps and screens are becoming hyper-customized, recalling our preferences, schedules, and connections in a way that seems useful, transformative, and not forced.
Certainly, CES keynoter Nvida believes this. The company is almost singlehandedly driving the backbone of the AI revolution with ever more powerful silicon that can run ever larger models. The energy costs are a big question, but I'm almost certain that will be solved in tandem with AI's growth, or perhaps it will be solved by Artificial General Intelligence which may be right around the corner.
There is, of course, an element of oversell with companies like Hisense promising to "AI your life." I mean, they're not necessarily wrong, but there might be a better way to phrase it. Samsung likes to say "AI for All," which is true but maybe too much like a rallying cry. LG offered "Affectionate Intelligence," which sounds nice but also creepy. AI has no real emotion – and I'd rather it didn't try to fake affection.
I also saw some companies confusing proactivity with invasiveness. LG's in-car AI solution seemed to be watching everything you do and would then offer suggestions related to your most minute emotional or physical prompts. No one wants to feel like they're being watched. The good news is that customer distaste will quickly stamp out that kind of AI "innovation" and less weird and more helpful AI will take its place.
@lanceulanoff ♬ original sound - LanceUlanoffYes, CES is overstuffed with AI but I also think that even the smallest companies that are embracing it here are doing so for long-term gains and not short-term goals or notoriety. I saw one sexual health company that is encouraging customers to opt into a beta program where they can share intimate but anonymized data so the AI model can learn and ultimately improve the product for all users.
CES has always been about technology's potential to change our lives. AI ubiquity at the massive event doesn't change that, it just does it at scale.
You might also likeIf you're waiting for Windows 12 I have bad news: Microsoft is seemingly focused on cramming even more AI into Windows 11 instead
- Microsoft is focused on AI-powered Windows 11 and Copilot+ PCs for the foreseeable future
- October 14, 2025 is still Windows 10’s deprecation date, pushing users toward Windows 11 or newer PCs
- Microsoft's deep AI integration in Copilot+ PCs aims to redefine how we interact with our PCs but raises concerns
At CES 2025, we’ve seemingly just had confirmation that Microsoft is not releasing the next generation of Windows, which many of us assume will be called Windows 12, just yet. Instead, Microsoft is pushing ahead with its vision of AI-powered PCs (which it calls Copilot+ PCs) and intends to continue to integrate artificial intelligence into Windows 11.
Microsoft, eager to capitalize on AI buzz, is betting big on tools like ChatGPT and its own AI assistant, Copilot, which is accessible directly from the taskbar, becoming an everyday part of our digital work and personal lives.
According to Windows Latest, Microsoft claims that Copilot+ PCs are up to 50% faster than an M3 MacBook. From the Copilot+ PCs we’ve reviewed so far, such as the Surface Laptop 7, we’ve certainly been impressed with their performance, though the jury is still out on whether the AI features are all that useful.
There is also an emphasis on future versions of Windows 11 because Windows 10 is nearing its end-of-support date, which is on October 14, 2025. Yusuf Mehdi, Microsoft’s Executive Vice President and consumer Chief Marketing Officer, reinforced this at CES 2025, stating that Windows 10 is still on track to be deprecated on this date.
When October 14 rolls around, Microsoft will stop releasing regular updates (including security updates) for Windows 10 and after that, you’ll either have to buy a newer Windows 11 PC or pay for extra security updates for a limited time (and it’s clear that Microsoft would rather all Windows 10 users upgrade to Windows 11).
So, it looks like Windows 12 won’t be coming in the foreseeable future as Microsoft is focusing on getting its users to upgrade to Windows 11. It’s also focusing on winning over people with its Copilot+ PCs, offering a pretty bold vision of what these devices will be capable of and how much they’ll change how we interact with our PCs. Windows Latest points out that Windows 11 came out during the pandemic when people were buying new PCs and Microsoft saw an opportunity for a PC sales push, and that it’ll wait for another opportunity like this to launch Windows 12 (though hopefully not another global pandemic).
I can see why some people are perhaps disappointed that we’re not getting a bold new operating system, or reluctant to move on from Windows 10, which is still very much Microsoft’s most popular operating system. I also think that Microsoft has a long way to go to actually convincing people that its AI improvements are worth people’s time, as so far, features like Copilot and Recall, have been shown to be somewhat lackluster or just outright risky in terms of aspects like security. I don’t think it’s impossible for Microsoft to pull off its ambitions, but that ends up being so will depend to innovations that it has yet to show.
I do think Microsoft has a chance here to experiment with integrating AI-powered software and tools into Windows 11, and there's certainly huge potential for artificial intelligence to redefine how we interact with PCs.
However, experiments come with risks, and Microsoft would be remiss not to learn from this venture and it should pay attention closely to feedback from its users. If its involvement with AI doesn't succeed (or at least not immediately), I think it should consider designing Windows 12 with an option to operate without heavy AI integration, using Windows 12 as a clean break should its AI gamble not pay off.
In the meantime, I'm glad that Microsoft doesn't appear to be distracted with making Windows 12 whilst there's still a lot of work to be done with Windows 11 to make it more popular - especially as there will soon be a lot of Windows 10 users looking to upgrade.
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE...A secret project, a stubborn developer, and a lot of glossy icons: here's the story behind macOS’s Dock as it turns 25
- The macOS Dock debuted 25 years ago, becoming an iconic and user-friendly design feature
- Developer James Thomson shaped the Dock’s origins, drawing inspiration from his DragThing app
- The Dock inspired industry-wide innovations, shaping Microsoft’s taskbar and modern desktop interfaces
If you’ve ever used a Mac, you can’t have failed to notice the row of app icons that runs along the bottom of the screen.
As every regular macOS user knows, this is the Dock, a now iconic (although pretty subtle) feature that keeps essential apps at the ready, just a click away, as well as any you want to add - and it’s now officially 25 years old. It’s become a core element that macOS users have come to expect in every new edition of the operating system, and it has an interesting backstory.
The Dock's origin story goes something like this: Back in the late 1990s, Apple was building a new operating system, Mac OS X, to replace its older system, Mac OS 9. One of the standout features was the Dock, which was introduced in Mac OS X 10.0 Cheetah. The Dock didn’t always look the way it does now; at first, it was just a row of plain square icons. The polished, glossy design we recognize today came later, thanks to a designer’s prototype, and it was Apple developer James Thomson’s job to turn those ideas into real, working code.
James Thomson is known for creating a popular calculator app called PCalc and he had also previously designed a Mac app called DragThing. This app worked like an early version of the Dock, letting users keep shortcuts to apps and files visible and more easily accessible on their desktops. It was actually his work on DragThing that landed him a job at Apple, where he was asked to help build the Dock.
The project, code-named “Überbar,” was top secret. Thomson recalls in musings on his blog about strict measures to keep things under wraps, including rumors that leaked screenshots could be traced back to specific computers.
Thomson lived in Ireland while working for Apple, but Steve Jobs apparently wasn’t thrilled about a key developer being so far from the company’s headquarters in Cupertino, California (where Apple still resides today). Jobs insisted that Thomson relocate permanently to the U.S. — or else. Thomson refused and ultimately quit his job before the Mac OS X Dock was completed. Another engineer rewrote it for the final release of Mac OS X.
Even though Thomson didn’t stay at Apple, the experience helped him revive DragThing for Mac OS X, and PCalc continues to thrive today. The Dock, of course, has become a signature feature of macOS, and it’s a testament to how simple, user-friendly design can stand the test of time.
How macOS set the stage for modern interface designThe macOS Dock significantly influenced the design evolution of Microsoft’s taskbar, particularly with the introduction of Windows 7 in 2009. Before this, the Windows taskbar was primarily a space for open program windows and the Start button (which itself turns 31 this year!), but Apple’s Dock demonstrated how combining app shortcuts with live, interactive icons could make using an operating system easier and more intuitive.
Inspired by the Dock’s ability to merge app launching and multitasking, Microsoft revamped the taskbar in Windows 7 to include pinned apps, allowing users to keep frequently used programs accessible at all times - a feature that still exists in Windows 11 today, and is unlikely to go anywhere anytime soon.
For all the (well-documented) failings of Windows 7, this shift not only modernized Windows’ interface but also showcased how innovation by one company can drive user-centric design improvements that everyone in the industry adopts. After all, the interface of virtually every Android phone on the market today is very clearly ‘inspired’ by the original iPhone’s tile-based UI - because it just works.
The macOS Dock’s 25-year journey is a testament to how thoughtful design can leave a lasting mark, not just on its own platform but across the wider tech landscape. From influencing Microsoft’s taskbar to shaping how we interact with our devices daily, the Dock remains an iconic piece of digital history. As technology continues to evolve, I’m excited to see how companies, including Apple, build on these foundations, creating new features that redefine how we interact with our devices and the software on them for years to come.
If you’re interested in learning more about how the Dock was developed, I would really recommend reading James Thomson’s retellings on his blog.
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE...Google fires back as Microsoft is accused of 'tricking' people into using Bing
- Microsoft has been accused of using an underhand trick to drive Bing traffic
- In certain situations, searching for ‘Google’ in Bing will produce a results page that looks a lot like Google's home page
- Critics argue this might lead to people searching via Bing rather than Google without knowing
Microsoft’s been accused of using underhand tricks that push the use of the Bing search engine at the expense of Google – and the outcry has prompted a senior Google employee to speak out.
According to Windows Latest, people who searched for Google using either Edge or Chrome web browsers with Bing set as their default search engine would get a results page that looked a lot like Google's home page, rather than the usual Bing results page.
When Bing returns the search results, Microsoft has apparently made a change so that the Bing search bar – normally found at the top of the list of results – has had an image added to it, rather like a Google doodle.
This has led to some on the internet accusing Microsoft of making it look like the Google home page has loaded, and even suggesting that the web page is loaded in such a way that the ‘Microsoft Bing’ logo and bar at the very top are hidden away.
This could make users go ahead and run a search, using the Bing bar, while thinking they are using Google.
The backlash has been swift and vocal, with even a senior employee at Google weighing in.
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but Microsoft spoofing the Google homepage is another tactic in its long history of tricks to confuse users & limit choice. New year; new low @Microsoft https://t.co/LKSNNKB7HyJanuary 6, 2025
This is a major intervention – and a surprising one at that. Parisa Tabriz is VP of Chrome at Google, and she's making some bold accusations, even going as far as to tag Microsoft. We don't often see such senior employees getting involved in accusations that (as far as we can tell) are far from substantiated.
The fact that Tabriz has commented on this, likely with senior Google staff knowing about it, suggests that Google is not happy about this. However, we shouldn't rush to judgment, and Google should be careful about amplifying accusations against a major rival (and one that Google frequently collaborates with).
Neither Google nor Microsoft come out of this particularly well. There's no denying that the results page for 'Google' using Bing does look a lot like Google's home page (we've tried it here ourselves), and the usual Bing branding is indeed obscured as the page loads slightly scrolled down. Perhaps the most damning aspect is that this only happens when you search for 'Google'. Other searches (we tried 'hats') gives you the default Bing page.
Microsoft's past attempts to get people to use its services means many people are reluctant to give it the benefit of the doubt – but regardless of your opinion of the company, we have to bear in mind that there's no evidence that this is a deliberate ploy to trick users into using Bing over Google.
This makes Tabriz's comment all the more risky, especially as due to her position in the company, many people might assume her comments reflect the views of Google – and that opens it up to accusations of hypocrisy.
Google's rise to the top of the search engine and browser markets has led to accusations of limiting choice for users with tactics that some describe as unfair.
So, while Microsoft's motivations should definitely be interrogated, Google should also be careful about throwing too many stones from its own glass house. We've reached out to both Microsoft and Google for their responses to these accusations and we'll update this story when we hear back.
As for users who just want to search the internet in peace – this is a reminder that like most things you do on the internet, you should always make sure you're using the website or service that you trust by double-checking before you enter in any information.
Via 9 to 5 Google
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