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Priya Kurien, the client strategy and innovation leader of global industries at IBM. IBMPriya Kurien, the client strategy and innovation leader of global industries at IBM, has a fascinating job working with C-suite and senior leaders for IBM's clients across the world, helping them to leverage IBM's technology, particularly with AI.In this interview, we conduct a wide-ranging discussion, going from telecom partnerships to 5G to AI to NASA and even Earth science and medical innovations.Without further ado, let's dive into our interview.ZDNET: Could you share your journey in telecom and what led you to advocate for cross-industry collaboration?Priya Kurien:My journey in telecom began during the e-commerce era, a transformative period when operators were adapting to the shift from landline calls and very limited 2G mobiles to providing internet connections. In the time since, there have been many changes in the industry from traditional infrastructure to modern innovations such as copper to fibre-based communications networks, and the transition from 2G to 5G.Having worked closely with operators during these pivotal changes, I've seen firsthand how telecom lies at the heart of connecting the world and enabling industries.As the industry has continued to evolve, the importance of customer value has become a key differentiator. By adopting cross-industry collaboration, it means we're able to develop partnerships across different sectors to drive innovation and growth for our shared customer base, and the telecoms industry has the ability to help bridge those diverse gaps to create transformative solutions.ZDNET: How can telecom partnerships accelerate advancements in fields like geospatial intelligence and climate science?PK: In many countries around the world, telecom operators are considered critical infrastructure and regulated by their governments. As a result, during extreme weather-related conditions, telecom operators focus on maintaining connectivity for citizens. By partnering with organizations specializing in geospatial intelligence and climate science, we can create richer data sets for all entities involved. For example, this collaborative approach can result in the development of early warning systems for natural disasters, or real-time climate monitoring, enabling those involved to continue improving both on a joint scale, and as individual organizations.We also know that telecom operators themselves have vast IoT and sensor networks that can provide critical on-the-ground data. When combined with satellite imagery, this information can enhance the quality of geospatial data that will improve advancement of this field, with the potential to deliver societal benefits, helping communities prepare for and adapt to climate challenges. ZDNET: Could you walk us through the IBM-NASA collaboration to make Earth science data accessible and its impact on industries outside of space?PK: In an effort to widen access to NASA Earth science data and accelerate climate-related discoveries, IBM and NASA worked together to develop the largest geospatial AI foundation model on Hugging Face. As a result, IBM's watsonx.ai geospatial foundation model -- built from NASA's satellite data, is the first-ever open-source AI foundation model built in collaboration with the organization. By developing open-source technologies, we can accelerate critical areas of discovering for issues including climate change, indicating how collaboration across industries allows us to implement faster and more impactful solutions that will improve our planet. The model -- trained jointly by IBM and NASA on Harmonized Landsat Sentinel-2 satellite data (HLS) over one year across the continental United States and fine-tuned on labelled data for flood and burn scar mapping -- has demonstrated to date a 15 percent improvement over state-of-the-art techniques using half as much labelled data. With additional fine-tuning, the base model can be redeployed for tasks like tracking deforestation, predicting crop yields, or detecting and monitoring greenhouse gasses. ZDNET: How do you see IoT innovations transforming telecom's role in everyday consumer experiences?PK: Consumers are already relying on IoT devices in their day to day lives, from smart home systems, lighting, thermostats, smart meters, voice controllers and robotic vacuum cleaners. Many operators around the world not only sell IoT devices, but some also offer services to set up and manage these devices for their consumers. Often, consumers forget that their daily lives involve IoT, for example the connected car is one of the most sophisticated IoT devices and yet, most people would probably not list this as one of their IoT devices. Telecom operators can also provide personalized plans for consumers based on their IoT devices and data consumption and is another example of how the telecom industry has shown itself to be the backbone of global progress. ZDNET: What are some of the biggest challenges in telecom partnerships, and how can these be overcome?PK: Partnerships require a culture of collaboration as well as the maturity to navigate differences. In our view, these are some of the greatest challenges that the telecom industry faces in partnering for innovation. For example, breaking down silos, cross pollinating ideas and sharing challenges to identify innovative ideas is just a few ways in which we can jointly create enterprise transformation, and at IBM, we can support in developing those collaborations across key technologies including APIs, AI, and security. There is a famous quote [often attributed to Henry Ford] that sums up partnerships well for me: "Coming together is the beginning, keeping together is progress and working together is success." ZDNET: Could you provide examples of success stories where multi-industry partnerships drove transformative change in telecom?PK: There are a number of multi-industry partnerships to drive change in the industry. For example, in the connected cars arena, Verizon's partnerships with automotive OEMs help to deliver in-car Wi-Fi services, showing how telecom and automotive industries work can together to enhance driver experiences. Another example of how telecom can collaborate is to improve healthcare services. The Medical Drone Delivery project with BT and Skyfarer uses drones for medical deliveries, as a solution born from COVID-era challenges, demonstrating telecom's potential in supporting the future growth of how technology can work to improve the wider healthcare system. What we're seeing in these examples is how we can turn big ideas into tangible outcomes, and that's a really exciting direction to be heading in. ZDNET: What are the unique values that telecom businesses can bring to industries like healthcare and finance through cross-industry collaboration?PK: Health and finance are two key sectors in which improved connectivity can make all the difference. For example, the concept of telehealth is expanding rapidly, driven by several factors including the COVID pandemic, technological advancements, and a consumer demand for convenience. Telehealth can include virtual appointments to remote monitoring devices, allowing patients to consult with healthcare providers, manage chronic conditions, access health information, and receive medical advice without needing to visit a physical healthcare facility. In a drive to bridge the digital divide and improve financial inclusion across Africa, Airtel Africa extended their distribution network in rural and semi-urban areas, providing resilient, far-reaching coverage to enable millions of people to access telecoms and banking services. This new, financial ecosystem allowed the company to offer mobile money services, including digital wallet payments systems, microloans, savings and international money transfers, boosting financial inclusion for residents who were previously excluded. ZDNET: How can telecom companies better leverage AI to unlock greater innovation and efficiency for enterprise clients?PK: There are several ways in which AI can improve efficiency for clients, including productivity gains and new revenue streams. For example, we know that AI is revolutionizing customer care for enterprises by automating routine tasks, improving personalization, and enabling 24/7 support. AI can also support in managing change requests in enterprise sales by streamlining processes when it comes to client modifications or service specifications. AI and automation are also transforming how enterprise connectivity deployment and monitoring can improve efficiency, reduce downtime, and increase proactive management. Efficiency is a necessity for most operators to improve profitability, and having an agile approach will help towards achieving these outcomes. ZDNET: What are some risks associated with cross-industry collaborations in telecom, and how can companies navigate them?PK: Understanding the risks and challenges when it comes to partnerships working is essential for driving the intended transformation. Differences in regulatory compliance is a potential issue, however, establishing compliance frameworks from the beginning ensures that all parties understand their regulatory obligations. Complexities in partnerships can also arise, so it is essential that clear roles and responsibilities are defined ahead of the project. There could also be the risk of cultural mismatch. However, by setting a common goal and having mutual respect and open communication, many of these issues can be swiftly mitigated. ZDNET: How essential is data security in telecom collaborations, particularly with APIs?PK: Data security is critical for telecoms as they work with APIs, as secure APIs lead to good reputation and trust with consumers and enterprises, whilst managing potential risks and ensuring regulatory compliance. Secure API design, encryption of data, security testing, monitoring and logging are vital elements as organizations collaborate through APIs. Alongside this, it is essential to implement an incident response management plan, as transparent and shared communication can ensure successful API integration. ZDNET: In what ways does cross-industry collaboration foster resilience and agility within telecom firms?PK: Cross-industry collaboration enables telecom firms to enhance their resilience and offerings by diversifying expertise and accessing resources outside their usual domain. These partnerships allow firms to tap into broader skill sets and funding opportunities, reducing operational risks and fostering innovation. For example, collaborations often lead to market expansion and access to emerging markets, creating new revenue streams. Additionally, with increased emphasis on data security, these partnerships have the added benefit of reducing risk, ultimately driving agility in telecom operations. ZDNET: What role does enterprise connectivity play in the success of transformative partnerships in telecom?PK: Enterprise connectivity acts as the backbone for successful partnerships, ensuring seamless integration and communication across industries. A key insight from IBM's research looking at telecoms' blindspots highlights that operators often struggle to align with enterprise customers, and are often undervaluing the services of most interest to customers. However, as part of research, we discovered a sub-group of communications service providers that have adopted a more forward-thinking approach in their drive for solutions beyond basic connectivity. We call them the 'In-touch Telecoms', and they're gaining an edge over their peers by employing a more customer-centric focus, a culture of innovation, and a stronger reliance on an ecosystem of business partners. Pursuing digital transformation through technologies such as cloud computing, machine learning, and AI positions leaders in the telecommunications industry to develop new business models both within the industry and through partnerships with companies in other industries. This optimization of next-generation technologies can support them in navigating different environments -- a key ask of many of our enterprise clients. ZDNET: With digital transformation as a priority, how can telecoms keep pace with industries evolving at different rates?PK: Flexibility and collaboration are crucial qualities telecom companies need to consider in order to keep pace with different industries. This includes the use of standardized APIs that facilitate modular and rapid integration, supporting industries that evolve at varying speeds, innovation hubs that create ****spaces for collaboration and allow telecoms to co-develop solutions with industry-specific partners, and partnerships that include building alliances with other industries to foster shared growth. These initiatives enable telecoms to adapt to the evolving landscape, ensuring they remain relevant in a rapidly changing world. ZDNET: How important are APIs for connecting telecom capabilities with diverse industries, and what new value does this bring?PK: APIs are crucial for enabling telecoms to work with other industries, as they provide a modular, scalable way for integrating rapidly with other industries. IDC is projecting that telecom and network APIs will grow to $6.7 billion by 2028 from $700M in 2023), at a compound annual growth rate of 57.1%, driven by a rise of platform-based commerce and the need to generate new revenues. In September 2024, there was a landmark agreement between some of the world's largest telecom operators announcing a new venture to combine and sell network APIs on a global scale, supporting innovation in digital services. The partner ecosystem will further drive developer experience whilst increasing value creation across the industry. ZDNET: How are telecom firms adapting to meet the needs of advanced medical devices like smart implants and remote monitoring solutions?PK: Telecom firms are leveraging 5G networks to address the low latency requirements of advanced medical devices. These solutions enable real-time monitoring for devices like smart implants and remote monitoring devices, enhancing patient outcomes. Additionally, telecoms are implementing robust security measures to ensure compliance with healthcare regulations when transmitting sensitive patient data -- a critical component to building trust in this health and telecom collaboration. Establishing innovation hubs with healthcare organizations can further support the development of remote monitoring solutions and advanced medical technologies, highlighting the role telecoms can play in the wider healthcare ecosystem. ZDNET: Could you discuss how 5G is enhancing the potential for enterprise-level partnerships across various sectors?PK: Private 5G networks are transforming how enterprises build partnerships across industries to open up new avenues of value creation. For example, at the Port of Tyne, BT and Ericsson are building the UK's first site-wide deployment of 4G and 5G standalone connectivity, driven by a host of planned activity including autonomous vehicles, survey drones, smart surveillance, AI, and XR. In China, Unicom is planning to install 5G networks in more than 100 mines to monitor operations, boost efficiency and reduce safety related risks. We're also seeing this in manufacturing too, with Mercedes-Benz leveraging private 5G with telecommunications company Telefnica Deutschland and network supplier Ericsson to optimize production, enabling automation and IoT integration. These applications demonstrate how 5G fosters collaboration, drives efficiency, and unlocks transformative opportunities across different industries. ZDNET: How do telecom companies balance the need for innovation with their responsibility to maintain stable and secure infrastructure?PK: Telecom firms achieve this balance by adopting a 'security by design' approach, embedding security within their processes, alongside a culture of collaboration. Improving the skillset of the workforce, creating internal cross functional teams, and fostering a mindset of innovation and partnerships, whilst developing a zero-trust architecture for high availability and listening to the customer, are different ways in which telecom companies can balance innovation and maintain stable and secure infrastructure. This focus allows telecom firms to introduce cutting-edge solutions without compromising reliability. ZDNET: How are telecom firms leveraging AI for operational efficiencies within cross-industry collaborations?PK: The telecom industry has some of the most complex customer care requirements in terms of the variety of plans and types of connectivity they support. Traditional AI has been used for over a decade to provide support for customer care and chatbot support, and gen AI has unsurprisingly been adopted by many telecom operators to support the contact centre for agent assist and contact summarization - some have even started to deploy gen AI agents directly with customers. IBM research has also found that gen AI was being used by the telecom industry across customer service, IT, information security, finance, risk and compliance, sales, marketing and HR functions -- highlighting that efficient AI models can streamline workflows, reduce latency, and improve decision-making, driving efficiencies across their business. ZDNET: What trends do you see shaping the future of telecom partnerships, and how might they impact global connectivity?PK: I see a number of emerging trends that have the potential to shape future telecom partnerships, including 5G rollout where there is wider support for smart cities and healthcare, expansion of private 5G networks that leads into innovation in other industries, edge computing for autonomous vehicles, and self-healing networks with AI and automation to further improve connectivity. With the varying partnerships and collaborations we're seeing across different industries, APIs are becoming a source of revenue for operators, alongside digital inclusion policies and initiatives to get to the billion of the world's population that is still unconnected. You can follow my day-to-day project updates on social media. Be sure to subscribe to my weekly update newsletter, and follow me on Twitter/X at @DavidGewirtz, on Facebook at Facebook.com/DavidGewirtz, on Instagram at Instagram.com/DavidGewirtz, on Bluesky at @DavidGewirtz.com, and on YouTube at YouTube.com/DavidGewirtzTV.Featured Editorial standards

Skeleton CrewDisneyDisney has struggled mightily to get any new Star Wars movie projects off the ground with loads cancelled and others in unclear stages of development. The only definitely happening one is The Mandalorian and Grogu, which of course came from the Disney Plus TV series.But if there is one fixture in the Star Wars universe behind the scenes that should be given their own movie, its none other than Bryce Dallas Howard, the actress-director daughter of actor-director Ron Howard who has consistently put out amazing episodes of Star Wars series that shes been given to direct.That was on full display this week with Skeleton Crews Zero Friends Again, where the plot did not move forward much but Howard did brilliant work with the story available and its easily one of the best episodes of the already-good series.She did the fourth episode of The Mandalorian, Sanctuary, where Mando has to defend a village from raiders in an AT-ST, a thrilling entry.In season 3 of The Mandalorian, she directed Guns for Hire, which focused on Bo-Katan challenging Mandalorian privateers for leadership over the group, uniting the groups to try to go and retake Mandalore.She did episode five of The Book of Boba Fett, one of the only good episodes because it moved away from Boba Fett entirely and brought Mando back for a full episode in between his seasons. Its the episode where he gets beskar armor for Grogu and makes a new ship out of an N-1 Starfighter.LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 13: Bryce Dallas Howard attends the premiere of Disney+'s 'The ... [+] Mandalorian' at El Capitan Theatre on November 13, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images)Getty ImagesShe didnt do any episodes of Obi-Wan Kenobi, Ahsoka, Andor or The Acolyte, but the general consensus among fans is that when Bryce Dallas Howard shows up, its going to be a banger.It seems like a far better idea to give Howard her own Star Wars movie, whatever it might be, rather than bringing in more outside directors like James Mangold or Simon Kinberg, both being ported over from X-Men, of all places. Howard knows Star Wars, and deserves a shot at the big time. If not a movie, give her a series all to herself. Maybe she could make something set in the Old or High Republic work for once.MORE FOR YOUWill this happen? Who knows. She may just keep directing periodic TV episodes, but the only Star Wars show that is even returning is Ahsoka, plus Andor wrapping with season 2, which is already done filming. Skeleton Crew seemed like it may have been on deck to become an ongoing series, but budget versus viewership is a real concern.Disney may be risk-averse when it comes to Star Wars these days, hence why the only thing its making is a Mandalorian movie, but Howard does not seem like a risk, and shes earned a bigger project.Follow me on Twitter, YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.Pick up my sci-fi novels the Herokiller series and The Earthborn Trilogy.

The convergence of cloud, AI and cybersecurity demands a rethinking of fintech architecture.

By MICHAEL LIEDTKE / APJanuary 3, 2025 7:53 AM ESTApple has agreed to pay $95 million to settle a lawsuit accusing the privacy-minded company of deploying its virtual assistant Siri to eavesdrop on people using its iPhone and other trendy devices.The proposed settlement filed Tuesday in an Oakland, California, federal court would resolve a 5-year-old lawsuit revolving around allegations that Apple surreptitiously activated Siri to record conversations through iPhones and other devices equipped with the virtual assistant for more than a decade.The alleged recordings occurred even when people didn't seek to activate the virtual assistant with the trigger words, Hey, Siri." Some of the recorded conversations were then shared with advertisers in an attempt to sell their products to consumers more likely to be interested in the goods and services, the lawsuit asserted.The allegations about a snoopy Siri contradicted Apple's long-running commitment to protect the privacy of its customers a crusade that CEO Tim Cook has often framed as a fight to preserve a fundamental human right.Apple isn't acknowledging any wrongdoing in the settlement, which still must be approved by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey White. Lawyers in the case have proposed scheduling a Feb. 14 court hearing in Oakland to review the terms.If the settlement is approved, tens of millions of consumers who owned iPhones and other Apple devices from Sept. 17, 2014, through the end of last year could file claims. Each consumer could receive up to $20 per Siri-equipped device covered by the settlement, although the payment could be reduced or increased, depending on the volume of claims. Only 3% to 5% of eligible consumers are expected to file claims, according to estimates in court documents.Eligible consumers will be limited to seeking compensation on a maximum of five devices.The settlement represents a sliver of the $705 billion in profits that Apple has pocketed since September 2014. It's also a fraction of the roughly $1.5 billion that the lawyers representing consumers had estimated Apple could been required to pay if the company had been found of violating wiretapping and other privacy laws had the case gone to a trial.The attorneys who filed the lawsuit may seek up to $29.6 million from the settlement fund to cover their fees and other expenses, according to court documents.

The big picture: Samsung's 2025 monitor lineup includes AI-powered features, record-breaking refresh rates, and the resurgence of 3D technology. The new products make it clear that the future of visual technology is not only about higher resolutions but also about creating more immersive, intelligent, and personalized viewing experiences. As the tech world gears up for CES 2025, Samsung Electronics has announced a lineup of monitors with features that range from glasses-free 3D displays to AI-powered smart monitors.The Odyssey 3D G90XF is a 3D monitor that doesn't require special glasses. Instead, this 27-inch, 4K display utilizes a lenticular lens attached to the front panel, which, combined with eye-tracking and view mapping technology, creates a 3D experience.The Odyssey 3D also boasts AI capabilities that can convert standard 2D content into 3D in real-time. It appears to have overcome one of the hurdles that hindered previous 3D display technologies: the lack of available 3D content. In the past, 3D displays were limited by the scarcity of native 3D material, which restricted their appeal and utility. By enabling the conversion of standard 2D content, the Odyssey 3D expands the pool of available 3D-viewable material, potentially making the technology more attractive to consumers.For gaming enthusiasts, Samsung is introducing two new Odyssey G-series monitors that push the boundaries of refresh rates. The Odyssey OLED G6 is touted as the world's first OLED panel with a staggering 500Hz refresh rate, albeit at a slightly lower 1440p resolution. Its sibling, the Odyssey OLED G8, offers a 27-inch 4K OLED panel with a 240Hz refresh rate.Both models boast near-instantaneous response times of 0.03ms, support for AMD FreeSync Premium Pro and Nvidia G-Sync-compatible technologies, and HDR 400 True Black certification. // Related StoriesSamsung is also making strides in AI-enhanced displays with the introduction of the Smart Monitor M9. This 32-inch 4K OLED monitor incorporates what the company calls "industry-first" AI features designed to optimize visual experiences across various content types.The M9's AI Picture Optimizer analyzes input signals to determine the type of content being displayed and automatically adjusts settings for optimal viewing. For gamers, it goes a step further by recognizing game genres and fine-tuning picture settings accordingly.Additionally, the 4K AI Upscaling Pro feature uses neural networks to upgrade lower-resolution content to near-4K quality.For professionals and creatives, Samsung has unveiled the ViewFinity S8, a 37-inch 16:9 4K monitor that offers the largest canvas in its class with a screen approximately 34% larger than its predecessor. It boasts 99% sRGB color accuracy and has been certified by TV Rheinland for its ergonomic design.

In a nutshell: Canada is attempting to position itself as a production hub for critical minerals that face supply chain risks. These elements are essential for economic security, attaining net-zero emissions, and maintaining a competitive position in global supply chains. The nation's latest Critical Mineral Strategy Annual Report for 2024 outlines plans to expand domestic mining of more than 30 minerals designated as critical. There's particular emphasis on six of them: lithium, graphite, nickel, cobalt, copper, and rare earth elements.The impetus is both economic and geopolitical. As US-China tensions escalate, there are growing concerns about overreliance on Chinese suppliers for crucial technology inputs like rare earth magnets. At the same time, the global push for clean energy is supercharging demand for battery metals, solar materials, and other strategic resources that Canada apparently has in abundance. The country needs these resources to hit its net-zero target."It is believed Canada has very large quantities of these materials, even if they have not yet begun processing them in significant quantities," James Edmondson, research director at IDTechEx, told EE Times.Edmondson adds that Nechalacho, a rare earth mining project in the Northwest Territories of Canada, aims to be a globally relevant supplier, targeting annual production of at least 5,000 tons of rare earth oxides by 2025.On the battery front, IDTechEx analysts view Canada as a potential leader in nickel production outside of China and Indonesia. Nickel is a key component of the nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) cathodes used in 63% of electric vehicle batteries globally last year.There's no doubt that Canada has substantial mineral resources; however, some industry insiders believe the nation's environmental regulations could hinder the rapid development of new mines, which typically require 10-15 years to get online. They suggest other countries such as the US, China, and Australia may move faster on mineral projects, and that Canada's efforts might already be too late. // Related StoriesThere are also looming technology risks, with the possibility of a game-changing new battery chemistry rendering some of these efforts obsolete.Still, with global rivalry over critical minerals intensifying, most analysts see Canada's strategy as a necessary and overdue move to assert its voice in these strategically vital supply chains.The International Energy Agency predicts that demand for critical minerals could skyrocket over 30-fold by 2040 amid the global energy transition. Lithium demand is expected to see the fastest growth, increasing by more than 40 times by 2040.

html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd" Its been a couple of years since Hisense refreshed its Laser TV ultra short throw projector offerings (although last year we did get new UST projectors in the Laser Cinema line). At CES 2025, though, were getting a new model the L9Q.The redesigned optical light engine will allow for a variable focus range of 100- to 150-inches diagonal. Hisense will offer the the L9Q in five packages that will include ALR (Ambient Light Rejecting) screen sizes at 100, 110, 120, 136, and 150 inches. This gives us far more size variety than 2023s L9H, which was only available in 100- and 120-inch packages. Theres potential that the L9Q will also be available without a screen (the L9H can be bought on its own for an MSRP of $3,000), but theres been no announcement from Hisense about that, as of yet.Recommended VideosThe throw ratio from the L9H to the L9Q has also gone down from 0.25:1 to 0.18:1, meaning the L9Q projector will sit closer to the wall. This is good news, considering that a 150-inch image from a 0.25:1 projector would need to be around 2.5 feet from the wall. With a 0.18:1 throw, the L9Q wont extend to far into the room for the larger screen sizes. It has a new motorized focus motor and dedicated picture settings for different screen sizes to ensure a clear image during setup. Furthermore, the L9Q has auto screen alignment to make sure the image is properly squared off on the screen. Wed still recommend taking the time to get your placement right, as the added processing can usually affect input lag and has the potential to introduce artifacts in the image.Please enable Javascript to view this contentHisense has also improved the TriChroma RGB laser light engine with a 33% increase in claimed output, from 3,000 lumens on the L9H to 4,000 lumens with the new L9Q. That is paired with a 3,000:1 native contrast ratio. Projectors will never compete with the light cannons that mini-LED TVs have become, but that lumens bump is a welcome boost to make the Laser TV have more pop in a room where ambient light cant be easily controlled.RelatedWhere UST projectors (those of the triple laser variety, in particular) are ahead of TVs is in their coverage of the BT.2020 color space. The L9Q boasts coverage of 110%, which is pretty impressive. Now, this is more future-proofing than anything else, as the content we all watch is DCI-P3. The conversion over to BT.2020 will happen at some point, but its still a few years away.Hisense will continue to use a built-in Harman Kardon sound system now with a 6.2.2, 116-watt system (up from 40W). Also included is the Google TV OS.Its all wrapped in a new attractive chassis that eschews the curved body of the L9H for a more angular rectangle shape with a sweeping semicircle indentation in the top where the lens is housed. The front looks to be a metal grille with the back portion of the laser TV in black. Hisense was obviously going for a luxurious look, and we think its achieved it.Editors Recommendations

html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd" Table of ContentsTable of ContentsComputingAVMobileSmart homeCarsWith 2024 behind us, all eyes in tech turn to Las Vegas, where tech monoliths and scrappy startups alike are suiting up to give us a glimpse of the future. What tech trends will set the world afire in 2025? While we wont know all the details until we hit the carpets of the Las Vegas Convention Center, our team of reports and editors have had an ear to the ground for months. And we have a pretty good idea whats headed your way.Heres a sneak peek at all the gizmos, vehicles, technologies, and spectacles we expect to light up Las Vegas next week.Recommended VideosJacob Roach / Digital TrendsCES is going to be huge for the PC world. First off, were expecting some long-awaited GPU announcements from Nvidia and AMD, both of which were rumored to have delayed their products from 2024. With Nvidia having reached new heights of success in 2024 in the AI world, PC gamers have been left wondering in both trepidation and wonder what the RTX 50-series GPUs will bring to their systems. Were all hoping to find out during Nvidias keynote presentation at 6:30 p.m. PT on January 6, where all eyes will be on CEO Jensen Huang.RelatedOf course, AMD, Intel, and Qualcomm will all be present as well, fighting for CPU and GPU dominance in laptops in a horse race that has never been so tight. You can expect the various PC makers to show up strong as well, including Lenovo, HP, Razer, MSI, Gigabyte, and many more, all bringing their latest and greatest laptops to the show, hoping to wow the world with cutting-edge designs, next-level technology, and yes, AI galore. Whether its flashy desktop PCs, sleek business laptops, or powerful gaming laptops, the products that launch at CES will set the tone for the rest of the year, giving us a glimpse at whats ahead.Beyond these high-profile launches, Im personally excited for the more experimental side of computing too. Maybe well get more wacky laptops with foldable screens. Or how about some more advanced 3D displays that dont require glasses? Or maybe even a major step forward in XR headsets and VR? You just never know what company will show up taking a leap into the future. Thats exactly what keeps us coming back every year. Luke LarsenHisense Americans and Hisense USA president David Gold at CES 2024. Phil Nickinson / Digital TrendsCES 2025 has its work cut out for it if its to one-up CES 2024s TV exhibition, but we expect some pretty huge announcements literally.CES 2024 teased the biggest and brightest consumer TVs ever to come to market. While previous years have seen plenty of so-called vapor-ware TVs the sort of ambitious prototypes never to appear on store shelves Hisense managed to bring its massively bright and beautiful 110-inch UX TV to market, while, not to be outdone, TCL put a gargantuan 115-inch QM891G into some lucky customers homes. And we got to review both.At CES 2025, we expect to see a similar game of one-upmanship play out between Hisense and TCL, with TVs even larger and brighter than before if only by a few inches and nits. More generally speaking, screen sizes 98 inches and up are bound to be featured prominently, as larger screen sizes surge in sales globally.But TVs wont just get bigger and brighter. At least one major brand will take a stab at innovating mini-LED backlight technology for LCD TVs. OLED TV should see impressive if incremental improvements in brightness and color reproduction. We also expect to see dramatic increases in refresh rates, challenging PC monitors for high-end gaming performance.While larger, brighter, faster TVs will take center stage, dont yet count out projectors. Ultra short throw aka UST projectors will see significant improvements in brightness capabilities and color gamut, bringing large-screen options to folks who could never hope to fit a large-screen TV up their stairwells or through their doorways.As for micro-LED technology, we expect to see plenty on display, both of the conventional and transparent variety, though we remain somewhat cool on whether micro-LED TVs will come down in size and price enough to see their way to electronics retailers.All told it should be an exciting year for TV technology, and we look forward to bringing you up close and personal to all the latest and greatest both from the top brands you know and a few up-and-comers we expect to break into the market this year. Caleb DenisonOnePlus 13 colors in China OnePlusWhile the days of Samsung and Apple launching new phones at CES may be long gone, thats not to say mobile is dead at the tech trade show. It may not be as prevalent as it once was, but theres still plenty of interesting mobile tech to see. You have to look a bit harder than you used to, but thats precisely why were headed to Vegas so we can find CES 2025s coolest mobile tech and share it with you.AI gadgets like the Rabbit R1 and Humane AI Pin were big talking points of CES 2024. Expect more AI gizmos at CES 2025, whether that be AI-equipped smart glasses, smartwatches, or other form factors. There werent many success stories for AI hardware in 2024, but that hasnt stopped new devices from being released, and we should see plenty more at this years CES.Beyond the AI craze, expect new releases from smaller smartphone and wearable brands. TCL is a regular guest at CES and often has new phones and tablets to showcase. Its recently had a large focus on mobile devices with special Nxtpaper screens, and its safe to say well see more of that.On the wearable front, we should see plenty of smart rings from a myriad of brands. Amazfit made waves at CES 2024 with its Helio Ring announcement, as did Movano with its Evie Ring. The smart ring market had a breakout year in 2024, and CES 2025 is the perfect place to see where its headed next in the new year.Finally, while OnePlus isnt part of CES 2025, it is making one of the biggest mobile announcements during the same week. The OnePlus 13 and 13R are both set to be revealed on January 7, and if theyre anything like their predecessors, theyll be two of the years biggest smartphone releases. Joe MaringRoborockThe past 12 months brought us heaps of cool smart home gadgets from the overpowered Roborock Qrevo Curv to the premium Ring Battery Doorbell Pro, the segment made big strides in 2024. Were looking forward to even more innovation at CES 2025, where todays biggest players will show off all the smart home tech we can look forward to in the coming year.Robot vacuums are constantly evolving, and were expecting CES 2025 to be a pivotal moment for the automated assistants. Last years Qrevo Curv was capable of climbing thresholds up to 4cm, and were expecting robot vacuums to become even more athletic in 2025. While its unlikely well get something that can truly climb stairs, itd be great to see movement in that direction. Of course, youll also get the usual assortment of enhanced suction power, better sensors, and quieter base stations. And since brands like Ecovacs, Roborock, and Narwal are always testing out new concepts, dont be surprised if we see some strange new capabilities on the robot vacuums debuted in Las Vegas.CES 2025 could also bring updates for long-awaited home bots like Amazon Astro and Samsung Ballie. Enabots also launched a quirky home bot in 2024, and while it wasnt perfect, it laid the groundwork for what could become a great addition to any household. Home bots are one of the most exciting parts of a smart home, and a look at where theyre heading is bound to be a highlight of this years show.As for what else will be on display? Pretty much everything. Were not quite sure what will steal the spotlight this year, but its always exciting to see what Ring, Nest, LG, and Eufy are cooking up. Along with products arriving later this year, CES is a great place to showcase where were heading so theres a good chance well get sneak peeks at futuristic smart home tech thats just over the horizon. Jon BitnerXpengHeadlines may have fretted over declining EV sales in 2024 and the impact of evaporating EV rebates, but dont expect todays market hiccups to dampen tomorrows dreams. The future is unabashedly electric.Honda will return to CES with a pair of 0 Series EVs similar to the ones it showed off last year, which it has already teased in a photo. One is unmistakably an evolution of the Saloon, an already-iconic design that looks straight out of Cyberpunk 2077. The other has a more SUV-ish stature, which may make it smaller than last years Space Hub Concept. And for the third year in a row, well get another peek at the Afeela, a joint lovechild of Honda and Sony that promises to be a theater on wheels.Speaking of screens, sprawling in-car screens have been a staple of CES for years, and this year the trend continues ever larger. BMW will show off the first-ever BMW Panoramic iDrive display, and Hyundai Mobis (partmaker for its better-known corporate parent) will demonstrate its Full Windshield Holographic Display, which we hope to see in the flesh for ourselves.Not all innovations will come as cars. Suzuki will crash CES for its first time ever, with a slate of autonomous mobility concepts from snow removal drones to delivery vehicles.And since CES wouldnt be complete without something totally wild, roll your eyes skyward for XPengs Land Aircraft Carrier, or LAC. The six-wheeled EV serves as a launch pad for a two-seat EVTOL Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing vehicle which also recharges from the Mothership. Absurd as it may seem, weve already seen several real-life EVTOL demo flights at CES, and XPeng has already flown this thing in China. Nick MokeyEditors Recommendations

html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd" Nvidias RTX 50-series is right around the corner, and now, one of the most prominent GPU leakers just confirmed that we can also look forward to a new version of Deep Learning Super Sampling (DLSS). According to kopite7kimi on X (Twitter), Nvidia will launch DLSS 4 alongside some of its best graphics cards. Still, that just leaves us with even more unanswered questions.The main question that comes to mind is whether DLSS 4 will be an RTX 50-series exclusive or not. DLSS 3, with its impressive frame generation, was only available in the RTX 40-series. Its not out of the realm of possibility that Nvidia might, once again, introduce some kind of a major improvement for DLSS 4 that would be locked to next-gen cards. In fact, with some of the GPUs rumored to deliver minor performance increases, DLSS 4 could be a big deal for Nvidias RTX 50-series marketing.Recommended VideosThe other question is just what DLSS 4 might be able to provide that the previous iterations dont. VideoCardz cites Inno3D, one of Nvidias partners, as it claims that DLSS 4 might change how graphics are processed and displayed. There are also mentions of neural rendering capabilities. Meanwhile, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang spoke about things such as generating entire textures and objects and even characters but its unclear whether thatd be part of DLSS, let alone DLSS 4. The ability to generate and upscale in-game content to that extent would certainly be a selling point for the RTX 50-series.Get your weekly teardown of the tech behind PC gaming Speaking of selling points, an early leaked listing of the RTX 5080 is how this confirmation came about. Kopite7kimi responded to a post by GawronskiIT on X, which showed the RTX 5080 priced at a whopping 1,699 euros (roughly $1,750). The listing mentions DLSS 4 in the title, to which kopite7kimi confirmed that its coming.RelatedRTX 5080 1699euro Asus price ~1349$ (no vat/tax) pic.twitter.com/ui24JcWqNQ Tomasz Gawroski (@GawroskiT) January 2, 2025Thats a pretty steep price for the RTX 5080, which weve already seen listed at really high prices before. It really is starting to look like the recommended list price (MSRP) for the RTX 5080 might be similar to what the RTX 4080 initially launched at, meaning $1,200 for the Founders Edition card. Meanwhile, Nvidias partners may list overclocked cards at several hundred dollars more, such as the Asus model seen in this screenshot.It wont be long before we know for sure. Stay tuned for our CES 2025 coverage, where we will talk about everything that Nvidia announces on January 6.Editors Recommendations