In Brief Posted: 11:02 AM PDT · April 17, 2025 Image Credits:girafchik123 / Getty Images AI benchmarking platform Chatbot Arena forms a new company Chatbot Arena, the crowdsourced benchmarking project major AI labs rely on to test and market their AI models, is forming a company called Arena Intelligence Inc., reports Bloomberg. In a blog post published Thursday, Chatbot Arena said that the company will “give [it] the resources to improve [its platform] significantly over what it is today.” The team also pledged to continue to provide neutral testing grounds for AI not influenced by outside interests. Founded in 2023, Chatbot Arena has become something of an AI industry obsession. Primarily run by UC Berkeley-affiliated researchers, Chatbot Arena has partnered with companies such as OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic to make flagship models available for its community to evaluate. Chatbot Arena was previously funded through a combination of grants and donations, including from Google’s Kaggle data science platform, Andreessen Horowitz, and Together AI. The organization’s fledgling company hasn’t disclosed any potential new backers yet — nor has it decided on a business model. Topics

Since the Trump administration rolled out its first rounds of tariffs in March, sudden announcements and equally quick rollbacks have created an unpredictable market for manufacturers and vendors of sustainable building products like lumber and aluminum. “For supply chain logistics, the quick announcements and quick rollouts are a stress factor for anyone involved in the chain,” said Rick Arrington, production planner at Texas-based custom lumber mill Delta Millworks. “The loggers don’t know, the sawmills don’t know, the distributors don’t know. It’s uncertainty across the board.” So far, lumber imports from Canada have generally been exempted from tariffs, but later this year, the U.S. Department of Commerce is expected to raise countervailing and anti-subsidy duties on Canadian softwood from 14.5 percent to 34.5 percent. New tariffs are disrupting supply chain logistics in the building industry, including at manufacturers such as Delta Millworks. (Sarah Mellet) Manufacturers across industries are now in wait-and-see mode. As things may change from one day to the next, both short- and long-term consequences are difficult to predict, they say. But some have already had to adjust. Price Hikes Delta Millworks, which creates made-to-order products, has already hiked its prices on western red cedar and western hemlock, even though the increased tariffs aren’t in effect yet. The risk for potential additional levies is behind it, Robbie Davis, the lumber mill’s CEO, told AN. “With uncertainty like this, we have to assume the tariffs are already in place based on the supply of these specialty products,” he said. 3form, a materials company out of Salt Lake City, sources its resin from the U.S. but imports some of its other materials. Marketing director Chris Pales said that the company has seen increased prices on some of the materials it sources. Now, he noted, the tariffs have required 3form to consider where to source materials from. The key question here, Pales said, is: “Are there alternative suppliers, whether domestic or international, that can help us maintain the same quality materials and products while also offering a price point that makes sense for everyone?” The cost of aluminum on the global market has gone up in the wake of the 25 percent tariffs on aluminum and steel that went into effect in March. However, Ray Shelton, chief sustainability and communications officer at low-carbon aluminum product manufacturer YKK AP, said he does not believe that price increases will impact supply sources. Most of the aluminum imported to the U.S. comes from Canada, and for nearly a century, there has been an integrated supply chain of the material, explained Duncan Pitchford, president of Hydro Aluminum Metals USA and head of commercial Americas. He added that the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), which went into effect in 2020, stabilized the North American aluminum supply chain. “We would like to see that stability maintained going forward. The current situation, of course, disrupts that,” Pitchford said. Canadian mass timber construction company StructureCraft remains optimistic about the future of the country’s wood industry despite current fluctuations and uncertainty in the market. “We are feeling very confident about the future of our industry. We’re seeing growth in adoption of mass timber across many project types,” said the company’s manager of business development and preconstruction, Gerald Epp. The White House has argued tariffs will bring back manufacturing to the U.S. Whether domestic production of lumber and aluminum goods will increase remains to be seen, however. “I don’t think you could just switch gears and say, ‘Let’s procure low-carbon aluminum in the U.S.’ Whether it’s low-carbon aluminum or normal aluminum, America currently doesn’t have the capacity to supply the demand that America has,” Shelton noted. Mass timber plants keep popping up across the U.S., creating affordable timber products.(Courtesy TimberLab) The European Connection Today’s premier lumber manufacturers also depend on European technology, said Chris Evans, president of Timberlab, an Oregon-based construction company and manufacturer of engineered wood products. Tariffs on things like steel, machinery, and other equipment from Europe could slow the growth of the American lumber industry. Still, mass timber plants keep popping up across the nation, creating affordable timber products, he argued. “That’s translating into better price stability, and then more of these mass timber buildings coming into the market and replacing concrete and steel buildings on commercial projects,” he said. The tariffs, Evans added, could be a good motivator to build up lumber manufacturing in the U.S. at a time when forests are growing crowded; using small-diameter trees to make cross-laminated timber, for example, would thin out forests and reduce wildfire risks. Specialty wood products, like those made by Delta Millworks, can often only be sourced from certain locations in the world, but European thermal and chemical modification technologies required for such products are being introduced in the U.S. to be used on native trees. Delta Millworks currently partners with Finnish manufacturer Lunawood to bring its thermal technology to the U.S. to be used on domestic wood. But this also highlights a benefit domestic manufacturing can reap from open intercontinental trade, said Arrington. “This is a product of the import relationship we have with this European country. I think it’s important to see how it all connects.” Oscar Fock is an award-winning freelance journalist based in New York City, where he reports on climate change, its effects on humans, and how we are responding.

Tom Leighton (previously) is known for highlighting plants’ photosynthesis process by swapping their characteristic greens for otherworldly fluorescent colors. Often focused on the nightlife of specimens found around his Cornwall home, Leighton photographs in a manner that turns common species into extraordinary subjects. His newest series, Spines, expands on this trajectory. The macro images concentrate on the fine fibers cloaking stems and flowers. Water droplets cling to the surfaces as if the plants had just emerged from a heavy downpour. The glistening botanicals capture the surrounding light, while the thick dew drops add a glimmering, skewed view of the lifeforms that reside underneath. Prints of Leighton’s images are available on his website. Keep up with his latest projects on Behance and Instagram. Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $7 per month. The article Water Droplets Cling to Fluorescent Plant Spines in Tom Leighton’s Alluring Photos appeared first on Colossal.

Maksim Kabakou - Fotolia Opinion Collaboration is the best defence against nation-state threats The rise of DeepSeek has prompted the usual well-documented concerns around AI, but also raised worries about its potential links to the Chinese state. The Security Think Tank considers the steps security leaders can take to counter threats posed by nation state industrial espionage? By Stephen McDermid, Okta Published: 17 Apr 2025 Businesses are under attack from all corners of the globe and while many organisations may think that nation-state threat actors would never target or be interested in them, the reality is that no-one is exempt from security threats. Security leaders need to ensure they are staying up to speed on the latest threat intelligence, this can either be through an in-house capability or via third-party threat intel providers. Once they understand the tactics, techniques and procedures (TTPs) deployed by these threat actors, organisations can then ensure they have robust mechanisms in place to digest and act on this information to implement appropriate controls. Organisational culture plays a key role in ensuring everyone is aware of the threats and risks posed to the business. It is vital that leaders educate users on what the most prevalent threats may look like and how to respond, this is a primary defence to protecting their business. Social engineering remains one of the most widely used methods of attack and so implementing processes that are resistant to individual compromise is key. Using phishing resistant authentication methods, ensuring strict identity governance and control, and having a well-tested incident response capability are all crucial steps to preventing and mitigating these types of attacks. Unfortunately, securing your own organisation is not enough and historically nation-state threat actors have taken advantage of weak third-party suppliers and supply chain governance. Having strong supply chain governance and assurance is now one of the top trends across industries and it’s critical businesses understand the dependencies and access that suppliers have. The Security Think Tank on nation state espionage Mike Gillespie and Ellie Hurst, Advent IM: Will DeepSeek force us to take application security seriously? Elisabeth Mackay, PA Consulting: How CISOs can counter the threat of nation state espionage. Andrew Hodges, Quorum Cyber: Countering nation-state cyber espionage: A CISO field guide. Nick New, Optalysys: DeepSeek will help evolve the conversation around privacy. If prevention fails, lateral movement post-compromise is one of the first actions threat actors will attempt and so endpoint detection and response, and zero-trust solutions that can prevent and detect unauthorised access are also vital. In 2023, 1.9 billion session cookies were stolen from Fortune 1000 employees. With the session token, attackers are bypassing MFA and so it is much harder to detect and respond. Having solutions  in place as part of a zero-trust architecture to detect session token replay attempts can stop these attacks and alert to possible credential or endpoint compromise. Ultimately, collaboration and partnership across organisations and industry will help organisations understand these threats, the risks posed by nation-state actors and more importantly allow them to work together to prevent them. Stephen McDermid is EMEA CSO at Okta   In The Current Issue: What is the impact of US tariffs on datacentre equipment costs? VMware backup: Key decision points if you migrate away from VMware Download Current Issue UK digital identity turns to drama (or farce?) over industry fears and security doubts – Computer Weekly Editors Blog The DEI backlash is over – we are talking a full scale revolt – WITsend View All Blogs

WNBA commissionner Cathy Engelbert (L) welcomes Paige Bueckers as she is the number one pick drafted ... More by the Dallas Wings during the 2025 WNBA Draft at the Shed in New York City on April 14, 2025. (Photo by ANGELA WEISS / AFP) (Photo by ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images)AFP via Getty Images As the top prospects came together for the 2025 WNBA Draft earlier this week, Commissioner Cathy Engelbert announced the formation of a dedicated task force to combat the rampant online harassment plaguing women’s sport. "We want to ensure that the WNBA remains a space where everyone, players, fans and corporate partners, feel safe, valued and empowered," Engelbert stated, addressing what has become one of women's sports' most damaging challenges. The announcement comes amid a time when social media, gambling, and NIL trends are converging to generate the perfect storm for online abuse directed at athletes, particularly women. A recent study published in Performance Enhancement & Health noted that women basketball players receive three times the amount of online abuse compared to their men counterparts, with content of a sexual nature accounting for 18% of all detected abuse, while sexist comments made up 14% and racist content 10%. Hailey Van Lith, who was selected 11th overall by the Chicago Sky, expressed appreciation for the league's proactive approach. "It feels good to join a league that's not only concerned about the level of play, but also how we're functioning as humans," Van Lith said. NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 14: (R-L) Hailey Van Lith poses with WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert ... More after being selected with the 11th overall pick by the Chicago Sky during the 2025 WNBA Draft at The Shed on April 14, 2025 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)Getty Images Understanding The Scale Of The Problem The online harassment of women athletes represents a disturbing intersection of sports fandom, social media visibility, and gender-based discrimination. The disturbing reality of this issue came into sharper focus recently when a comprehensive NCAA study monitored over 3,000 social media accounts belonging to student-athletes, coaches, and officials. Through the use of artificial intelligence, millions of posts were analyzed and uncovered thousands of abusive messages targeting college athletes, with women's basketball players receiving approximately three times more threats than men. "There's no space for hate," Commissioner Engelbert emphasized. "After last year, I think we just really wanted to do something... it was time to put this task force together and really hit it head-on." This urgency stems from a growing recognition that online abuse isn't merely unpleasant but causes real psychological harm. Researchers define "virtual maltreatment" as communication designed to elicit fear, emotional and psychological upset, distress, alarm, or feelings of inferiority. The harmful impacts are particularly severe when abuse is sustained and in one documented case, a single college athlete received over 1,400 abusive messages in less than two weeks. Last season, the issue reached a breaking point when New York Liberty star Breanna Stewart revealed that she and her wife Marta Xargay received threatening homophobic emails during the WNBA Finals. Similar incidents have affected countless players across women's sports, with abuse ranging from sexualized comments to explicit death threats, particularly from disgruntled gamblers. NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 14: (R-L) Saniya Rivers poses for a photo with WNBA Commissioner Cathy ... More Engelbert after being selected with the eighth overall pick Connecticut Sun during the 2025 WNBA Draft at The Shed on April 14, 2025 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)Getty Images New Opportunities Create Increased Vulnerability For today’s women athletes, social media presence is no longer optional. Since 2021, when college athletes were first permitted to profit from their name, image, and likeness, building an online brand has become a crucial economic component of an athlete's career. Unfortunately, this dynamic has created a harmful catch-22 and the more successful a woman athlete becomes at building her brand and generating endorsement opportunities, the more exposed she becomes to potential online abuse. Research indicates that increased social media exposure is directly linked to increased risk of harassment. The situation is especially complicated for college athletes who depend on social media engagement for financial compensation. Studies have shown significant gaps in institutional support for athletes navigating the NIL landscape, with many women handling their social media and brand-building entirely independently. This lack of institutional protection and guidance leaves them particularly vulnerable to online abuse. At the WNBA rookie orientation, Van Lith was introduced to one of the league's new protective measures. "At our rookie orientation they showed us an app that they're partnering with that will help filter hate comments off of our channels," she explained. The former TCU guard highlighted a critical motivation for addressing this issue: "I think that's important not only for us as the players to not see that, but also young women and young boys who are following us. They don't want to see that on our page either when they look to us for inspiration."NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 14: The class of potential draftees poses for a photo before the 2025 ... More WNBA Draft at The Shed on April 14, 2025 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)Getty Images The growing sports betting market has introduced additional complexities as a significant portion of online harassment directed at athletes stems from betting-related frustrations. As prop betting (wagers placed on individual player and team performance metrics) has grown in popularity, so has targeted abuse toward specific players. College sports administrators and professional leagues are increasingly advocating for restrictions on certain bet types that create incentives for directly harassing individual athletes. "We don't need to expose them to that," Van Lith emphasized, referring to young fans who look up to WNBA players. "And I think that's what is most important is the next generation that is looking to us as inspiration, they don't need to know that that is something that you go through. And I think that it's amazing that the WNBA is putting support behind it."NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 14: Saniya Rivers arrives prior to the 2025 WNBA Draft at The Shed on ... More April 14, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Cindy Ord/Getty Images) NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.Getty Images The WNBA’s Comprehensive Strategy The WNBA's approach to combat online hate represents one of the most comprehensive strategies undertaken by a professional sports league to date. According to Engelbert, the task force will implement a four-pronged approach: Advanced Monitoring Technology: Using AI and other tools to detect threatening or abusive content across social media and digital platforms. Strengthened Conduct Standards: Implementing more robust policies across WNBA platforms to establish clear expectations and consequences. Enhanced Security Measures: Providing additional protection at both league and team levels. Dedicated Mental Health Support: Making specialized clinicians available to players affected by online harassment. As the 2025 WNBA season approaches, the league’s initiative sends the important message that excellence on the court cannot come at the expense of athletes’ dignity and mental health off of it. For a league that has consistently positioned itself at the forefront of social progress, this task force represents another significant step forward. With the WNBA taking concrete steps to shield its players from such harm, they’re creating a model that other leagues and institutions could emulate. As Van Lith and her fellow rookies prepare to begin their professional careers, they do so with the knowledge that their league is committed not just to their athletic development, but to their holistic wellbeing in an increasingly complex digital landscape.

Key Takeaways Nvidia has released a new 576.02 driver update, fixing 40 issues, including black and blank screen complaints. This is Nvidia’s largest bug fix ever, solving issues on the RTX 50 series chips as well as those on the 5040 and 5030 series chips. The update is also driver-ready for the new GeForce RTX 5060 Ti GPUs released on April 16. Nvidia has released the GeForce Game Ready Driver version 576.02, which fixes more than 40 general bugs and gaming issues users have been facing on its RTX 40 and 50 series GPUs.  This is one of the most comprehensive lists of fixes we’ve seen with a driver release, including a fix for the notorious black screen. We’ve counted at least 13 such black/blank screen fixes in this update. The ‘black screen’ issue is addressed in the ‘General Bugs’ segment of the official update release, which includes a total of 25 fixes. Some other issues solved include: System hard hangs with 572.16 driver loaded with the RTX 50 series Higher DPC latency Compute Shader ‘error’ failure General system stability issues The update solves 15 gaming bug issues, including random crashes on Fortnite, stuttering when using VSYNC on Overwatch 2, crashing when using Smooth Motion in Hellblade 2: Senua’s Saga and The Last of Us Part 1, and frame generation issues in DLSS 4 games. Problems with the Nvidia RTX 50 Series Ever since their launch in January, the Nvidia RTX 50 series GPUs have been plagued with issues. The most common were the black/blank/blue screen and system crashes. These issues popped up after the introduction of DLSS 4 and the 572 driver series, but this latest update seems to have fixed them.  DisplayPort 2.1 issues were also common with the 50 series, including unstable link rates on certain monitors and blank screens on others.  Using DLSS 4 frame generation and G-SYNC on high refresh rates when playing games also led to random blackouts. However, users could disable G-SYNC to deal with the issue, only a temporary fix. These problems also spilled over to the GTX 40 and GTX 30 GPU versions, which forced users to switch back to older drivers released in December last year. However, Nvidia has finally addressed these issues with the latest 576.02 release. This driver is also game-ready for Nvidia’s newly launched RTX 5060 Ti (both 16GB and 8GB variants). The 5060 Ti is also Nvidia’s cheapest 16GB GPU offering to date and costs $429. However, it doesn’t seem to be ready for the RTX 5060 as of now. A Long Overdue Update It seemed as if Nvidia had put its gaming GPUs on the sidelines with all its focus on AI chips. With issues popping up more frequently than ever, its reputation took a significant hit. It was high time Nvidia returned to its core SKU and resolved the issues plaguing its GPUs. And that’s exactly what it has done.  However, this still doesn’t overshadow the fact that Nvidia seems to be pushing its new RTX 5060 Ti sets, especially the 8GB variants, without proper review exercises and with potentially over-hyped marketing. We’ve seen a lot of tech reviewers who were highly surprised that Nvidia didn’t just opt for 12GB of VRAM instead. That said, the new 576.02 driver update must bring in some relief to gamers and, hopefully, confidence in the 5060 Ti GPUs as well. Fingers crossed! Krishi is a seasoned tech journalist with over four years of experience writing about PC hardware, consumer technology, and artificial intelligence.  Clarity and accessibility are at the core of Krishi’s writing style. He believes technology writing should empower readers—not confuse them—and he’s committed to ensuring his content is always easy to understand without sacrificing accuracy or depth. Over the years, Krishi has contributed to some of the most reputable names in the industry, including Techopedia, TechRadar, and Tom’s Guide.  A man of many talents, Krishi has also proven his mettle as a crypto writer, tackling complex topics with both ease and zeal. His work spans various formats—from in-depth explainers and news coverage to feature pieces and buying guides.  Behind the scenes, Krishi operates from a dual-monitor setup (including a 29-inch LG UltraWide) that’s always buzzing with news feeds, technical documentation, and research notes, as well as the occasional gaming sessions that keep him fresh.  Krishi thrives on staying current, always ready to dive into the latest announcements, industry shifts, and their far-reaching impacts.  When he's not deep into research on the latest PC hardware news, Krishi would love to chat with you about day trading and the financial markets—oh! And cricket, as well. View all articles by Krishi Chowdhary Our editorial process The Tech Report editorial policy is centered on providing helpful, accurate content that offers real value to our readers. We only work with experienced writers who have specific knowledge in the topics they cover, including latest developments in technology, online privacy, cryptocurrencies, software, and more. Our editorial policy ensures that each topic is researched and curated by our in-house editors. We maintain rigorous journalistic standards, and every article is 100% written by real authors.

In context: Discord has proven popular among both gamers and general users, but it's not without its flaws. The messaging and social platform has previously been accused of exposing children to abuse and graphic content by not adequately protecting underage users from predators. This has prompted the company to implement stricter terms of service regarding CSAM and other sensitive content. Discord is currently running a limited test involving age verification through facial scanning technologies. The company confirmed that the test aims to "age-gate access" to specific spaces or features, while also disclosing how personal data is shared with third-party vendors. Privacy preservation appears to be a priority, according to Discord, with the test primarily targeting younger users attempting to access sensitive or potentially unlawful content on the platform. The company stated that the data used to verify a user's age is only processed once and is not stored on Discord's servers. Age verification can be conducted either via biometric technology or through ID verification. The face-scanning solution used in the test operates locally on the device, meaning no biometric data should be collected or sent through the network. ID verification, on the other hand, involves scanning an official ID document using the phone's camera. According to Discord, the scanned ID is deleted after the user's age is confirmed. The test is currently underway in the United Kingdom and Australia, both of which have become increasingly active in the fields of age verification and biometric identification. In recent years, UK authorities have been working to integrate age verification technologies into online platforms and adult websites. Meanwhile, Australia has opted for a stricter approach, planning to ban users under 16 from accessing social media altogether – a measure expected to take effect by the end of 2025. According to the BBC, these types of restrictive age-verification laws are not isolated measures, but part of a broader shift in digital regulation. Social media expert Matt Navarra points out that regulatory bodies are actively seeking effective methods to identify underage users online, with facial recognition emerging as one of the fastest solutions. // Related Stories At the same time, Australia's approach appears to be favoring platforms based on their perceived value to younger audiences. Services like YouTube, which may offer educational benefits, are likely to be exempt from the forthcoming age restrictions. Critics – including competing platforms such as TikTok – argue that Australian authorities are arbitrarily deciding which services to exclude from the ban.

Narwal Freo Z10 review: the best for less MSRP $1,100.00 Score Details “The Narwal Freo Z10 takes all the best features of the Freo Z Ultra, then drops its price by $400 -- making it one of the best robot vacuums of 2025.” Pros Unique side brush design Excellent mopping performance 120-day base station emptying Anti-tangle vacuum system Cons Competitors have more suction Lacks self-cleaning of Freo Z Ultra Table of Contents Table of Contents An affordable Freo Z Ultra Daily cleanings, obstacle navigation, and automated maintenance Verdict Narwal is one of the most popular robot vacuum manufacturers, having sold around 2 million units since its inception in 2016. Products like the Narwal Freo Z Ultra and Freo X Ultra offer innovative features not found on much of the competition — but instead of reinventing the wheel with the new Freo Z10, Narwal is taking its predecessor’s best features and bundling them into an affordable new footprint. Recommended Videos To be clear, the Freo Z10 isn’t an entry-level model. And it’s not exactly cheap. But $1,100 is an excellent price for everything offered by the latest Narwal robot vacuum. Along with incredible mopping skills, you’re getting a powerful base station that handles most maintenance, 15,000Pa of suction, and cool design tweaks that prevent tangles. A few corners had to be cut to hit the new price — but if you’re seeking a premium robot vacuum that saves you hundreds of dollars and frees up your time, the Narwal Freo Z10 is hard to beat. Related Narwal Comparisons between the old Freo Z Ultra and the new Freo Z10 are difficult to avoid. The Freo Z Ultra is still the flagship of the Narwal lineup, as it features a unique baseboard cleaning system for a superior clean and an electrolyzed water system that aids in sterilizing its base station. But beyond that, there’s a lot of common ground between the two. Shared features include a 2.5L dustbin for up to 120 days of automated dust removal, a mop that can lift 12mm when traveling on carpet, tri-laser structure light obstacle detection, and support for Alexa, Google, and Siri voice assistants. Better yet, you’ll get an extra 3,000 Pa of suction on the Z10 compared to the Z Ultra — a big win despite its lower price. Jon Bitner / Digital Trends There are a few other differences between the two robots — including different dirt detection systems and mopping systems — but nothing that makes too big of an impact on daily performance. The Z10 picks up new MopExtend & Corner Reverse features for improved mopping, but mopping pressure drops from 12N on the Z Ultra to just 8N on the Z10. Still, testing showed the Freo Z10 to be a workhorse when tackling hard floors, removing dried stains and soaking up spills with ease. It’s even fun to watch the robot work, as it wiggles its way across your floors, twisting to better reach corners and clear up difficult messes. It’s a similar story for carpet cleanings. Low pile carpets are the best fit for the Freo Z10, as 12mm mop lifting isn’t quite enough for super plush floors. And while 15,000 Pa is great for a Narwal robot vacuum, it lags behind some of the competition that’s now pushing 20,000 Pa. Narwal At the end of the day, the point of a robot vacuum is to provide you with a clean house without much manual input. In that regard, the Narwal Freo Z10 is a success. Though its base station isn’t quite as sophisticated as the premium Freo Z Ultra, it still handles all the self-maintenance tasks you’d expect for a product over $1,000. For one, the dustbin is large enough to hold up to 120 days of debris. That’s a huge win over the competition, which usually only lasts a few months. The Z10 also benefits from adaptive hot water mop washing, hot air drying, auto-detergent dispensing, and a cleaning cycle that washes out the base station after the mops have been dealt with (ensuring no gunk is left lingering in the base). Dirty water is then transferred to a dirty water reservoir, while clean water is siphoned from a clean water reservoir. These will need to be filled and emptied on a regular basis, but the frequency depends on how often you run the device and how big your home is. If you only run it a few times a week and live in a small studio or cozy home, expect to go weeks without any manual input. Jon Bitner / Digital Trends The base station is a big selling point for the Freo Z10, but the robot itself might be even more enticing. An array of sensors can recognize objects as low as 1cm in height, can clean within 5mm of walls and furniture, and can generate a map of new spaces in less than 10 minutes. You can also optimize its performance using the Narwal mobile app. However, I’ve found its onboard AI to be highly accurate — so instead of tinkering with settings, I simply let it decide what power settings were required to tackle the current dirt level in my home. Compared to some other robot vacuums I’ve tested, the Narwal Freo Z10 works pretty fast. It’s often finished with cleanings around 10 minutes ahead of products like the Roborock Saros 10 — though the Saros 10 certainly offers a deeper clean (which is expected, given its hefty price tag). But for a product right around $1,000, the Narwal is near the top of its class. Its vacuum also excels at eliminating tangles. Along with a unique main brush design, its side brushes are collapsible — so if they get tangled, the two prongs will collapse together, pivot toward the main brush, and automatically remove the tangle. Like pretty much all robot vacuums, the Narwal Freo Z10 still has trouble navigating around cables, cords, and other small objects. I never had to rescue the robot from getting stuck on furniture — thanks to its accurate sensors — but I found myself detangling cables from its main brush more than a few times. So if you have an office with charging cables lurking under your desk, be sure to set a Restricted Zone or pick them up before starting your cleaning cycle. The Narwal Freo Z10 takes the best features of Narwal’s previous releases, cuts the fluff, and gives you a price tag that’s a bit easier on the wallet. It’s still not cheap, but for a fully automated clean that doesn’t skimp on premium features, this is the robot to get. There’s plenty of competition on the market nowadays, but the Freo Z10 holds its own with a sleek design, great mapping technology, intelligent onboard AI, and a mopping setup that rivals the flagship Freo Z Ultra. If you’re seeking a robot vacuum around $1,000, the Freo Z10 is an easy recommendation. Editors’ Recommendations

TSMC struck an upbeat note after posting strong earnings, but tariffs and the trade war loom large.

Bowen Yang, Kelly Marie Tran, Lily Gladstone, Han Gi-chan and Youn Yuh-jung star in a sentimental remake of Ang Lee’s 1993 comedy about tangled relationships and a green-card marriage.