It’s nearly Christmas! Okay, obviously not – but the week before a big event such as Google I/O feels like that to those of us who live and breathe technology. And there’s plenty to be excited about at Google’s shindig on Wednesday.
Namely: Pixels! And lots of them – we should see the Pixel 7a and Pixel Fold phones, and the Pixel Tablet. Of course we can also expect to hear lots more about Android 14 and all of Google’s many clever apps, such as Google Maps and Assistant. And then of course there’s AI; the launch of Bard was a little muted, but maybe there’ll be some big news around it at I/O.
Speaking of AI, this week saw the next step in the evolution of Microsoft’s Bing AI. The ChatGPT-powered search engine is now open to everyone, and it just got a bunch of new skills – our US Editor in Chief Lance Ulanoff talks you through all the key developments in the story below.
Everyone knew Google would be launching the Pixel Fold, its first foldable phone, at I/O next week – but now it’s official. Google let the cat out of the bag itself in a Star Wars Day-inspired tweet, and shared a video of the phone to further whet the appetite.
Rumor has it that Microsoft is following Apple’s lead by building its own bespoke silicon to power its Surface devices. That's a terrible idea, says our Computing Editor John Loeffler – because down that path lies potential disaster.
There's no longer any waiting list to try out the Bing AI chatbot, Microsoft has announced, while also outlining some of the features heading to the bot in the near future – including the ability to include photos and videos in the generated responses.
Need some suggestions for how to spend your downtime this weekend? From returning royal dramas to twisting sci-fi thrillers, our selection of the best new movies and shows includes picks from all the major streaming services.
In the wake of the Amazon Halo and Fitbit fiascos, is it time to stop buying connected wearables? Our Fitness, Wellness, and Wearables Editor Matt Evans explains why this troubling trend has become an issue of consumer rights.
