Of all the resolutions I've made in the past, prioritizing a good night's sleep is the top of my list for 2025. Between work, family and the long to-do lists, by the end of the day sleep often eludes me. So this year, I'm taking the advice of CNET's sleep and wellness managing editor, Nasha Addarich Martnez, and creating a sleep sanctuary. And I'm starting with my bedding. One of CNET's favorite brands is Cozy Earth. Right now, it's having a "we made too much" sale that is bringing discounts by as much as 75% off. Here are the things I'm adding to my cart. See at Cozy Earth First up, this bamboo duvet cover made editor Caroline Igo's list of best duvet covers for 2025 as the best luxury duvet cover. In her review she wrote, "I love how the material of this cover feels like silk on my skin. It's lightweight, and because bamboo is naturally cooling." Though this is a splurgy duvet cover with the full/queen size priced at $323, right now it's 20% off. That brings the price down to $258, a significant savings. In addition some variants are up to 50% off, but stock, color and size are limited on those. Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money.The Cozy Earth Cloud Knit blanket is the perfect layer for any bed or couch. It's super soft and made of 100% bamboo viscose. Available in multiple colors and sizes from baby to throw to king, you can get one for 50% off right now. This makes the queen size blanket $107, marked down from $213.Read more: 7 Simple Ways to Create the Best Environment for Deeper Sleep There are also some great discounts on pillowcases happening. Grab a silk pillowcase for 20% off, or set of Linen Pencil Striped Quilted Shams for 50% off. You can also grab this super soft faux fur sleep mask for 20% off. Read more: Tired of Abandoning Your New Year's Resolutions? Try This Instead. In addition to deluxe bedding, you can pick up plush hand towels at a deep discount and you'll find a number of lounge items such as soft joggers, pajamas and pullovers on sale. Why this deal matters Cozy Earth is a luxury brand so the prices can feel like a big splurge. However, their products are built to last through years of washing and use. Picking an item up at a discount can help soften the blow, but be warned: once you get hooked on this brand, you may never go back to big-box store sheets again. Looking for more ways to create the perfect sleep setup without overspending? Check out our roundup of the best mattress deals happening right now. CNET is always covering a wide array of deals on tech products and much more. Start with the hottest sales and discounts on theCNET Deals page, and sign up for theCNET Deals Textto get daily deals sent straight to your phone. Add the freeCNET Shopping extensionto your browser for real-time price comparisons and cash-back offers. And peruse ourgift guide, which includes a full range of ideas for birthdays, anniversaries and more. See at CNET

Having your data tracked in 2025 seems like an inevitability. Regardless of whether you're using an iPhone or Android phone, your carrier is likely gathering all sorts of data about how, where and when you use your cellphone.Last year T-Mobile quietly began rolling out a new tracking method called "profiling and automated decisions." Spotted by Reddit users and The Mobile Report, the new option is enabled by default. While the company says it isn't using the information it gleans from such tracking today, it could be used later on for "future decisions that produce legal or similarly significant effects about you."Read more:Best Cellphone Plans of 2024But the self-proclaimed "un-carrier" isn't alone. All three major US wireless providers collect data; here's what they gather and how you can turn it off. It's also worth noting that some of this you should want to keep on, particularly identity verification.While we're focusing on the three main wireless carriers that make up a bulk of the US wireless market, it is likely smaller providers and even home internet services are engaging in similar collections. Heading to an account's profile or privacy page should help you figure out what is being collected and how you can adjust it.We recommend checking this regularly just to make sure that you're aware of any changes the carriers may have made or new methods of collection they may have added.Read more: How to Adjust Your Streaming Stick or Smart TV's Privacy SettingsAT&T James Martin/CNETAs we mentioned above, T-Mobile is not the only one collecting data about how you use their services. You can check your AT&T privacy settings by logging into your account and going to Profile followed by Privacy Choices.The carrier has four main privacy toggles:Personalized Plus:This setting "uses data like web browsing and precise location for customization" including for offers and ads. This data includes your precise location, web browsing, viewership history, apps as well as data AT&T collects from advertisers like demographic information, ZIP code and age ranges. The carrier says this data "does not access or use the contents of your texts, emails or calls."Personalized:This option "allows the use of your data for automated decision making" including using AI to generate more customized ads and marketing tailored and "relevant to your interests." It's on by default.Identity Verification: This "allows us to help non-AT&T companies perform identity verification and fraud prevention," such as a bank to "help protect your accounts from fraud, verify your identity and make sure you authorize certain transactions." AT&T says it does not let companies use this verification "for any other purpose than those services." This is on by default.Share or sell my personal information: This lets AT&T "share limited information to create, deliver and measure advertisements for things you might like" including targeted ads. This is on by default.Of the four, you can easily toggle off all settings, though I would recommend keeping identity verification on for all lines on your account.There is also an option for "automated messages" that allows the carrier to contact you "by phone or text with important non-marketing information about your AT&T services like install and repair appointments, billing and account information." It's on by default and I would recommend keeping it on as well.T-Mobile James Martin/CNETT-Mobile's privacy options are a bit more varied. To access the company's Privacy Center, log into your T-Mobile account and then click My account in the upper right corner, followed by Profile. From there scroll all the way to the bottom and select privacy and notifications and privacy dashboard.From there you will see the following:Share data for public and scientific research:T-Mobile says that this option allows it to "help support research initiatives for the public good, such as pandemic response and the development of new technologies." Created last year, the carrier says this program is in response to requests from "outside researchers or researching institutions." T-Mobile says this data will be "de-identified as much as possible before being shared" and will not include personal information such as your name, though it can share location, demographic and usage data. It also says that data shared here won't be given to law enforcement. Analytics and reporting: This takes data from your device, including app usage information such as how often it was opened and zip code and combines it with "self-declared data like age range (e.g., 25 to 34) and gender, to prepare aggregated business and marketing reports," which T-Mobile can then use and share with other companies. The carrier says that these reports do not identify individuals. This is on by default.Advertising options: This is for personalized ads, with the carrier collecting details about apps you download and how long you've used them, combining it with other data it collects such as your location and demographic. As with similar options from other providers and sites, turning this off doesn't stop you from seeing ads but the carrier says that you are "more likely to see ads about things you like" if you keep these options on. This is on by default.Product development: This lets T-Mobile use your personal data, including your precise location, phone numbers you call, apps and websites you use, as well as helping advertisers "make the ads they show you better."Profiling and automated decisions: This is T-Mobile's seemingly latest privacy option that we mentioned above, and while the carrier says it isn't doing anything with this today, it appears to be giving itself the option to do so going forward. On its site it describes this as taking personal data it collects about you "to evaluate, analyze, or predict certain personal aspects about your performance at work, economic situation, health, personal preferences, interests, reliability, behavior, location, or movements." It is on by default.Do not sell or share my personal information:This allows you to tell T-Mobile not to sell or share the data it has about you with other companies. The company notes on its site that it still may share "some personal information with our service providers so you can, for example, receive products and services from us." In an annoying extra step, the carrier notes on its website that you can limit what data third-party advertisers share with T-Mobile through its Magenta Advertising Platform, but to opt out of that you need to download a separate app.Of these options, I would recommend turning all of them off.In addition to the dashboard, T-Mobile's Privacy Center websitedetails something called "phone privacy." T-Mobile says that it uses information gathered from here to "identify offers for T-Mobile calling plans, protect against fraud and respond to emergencies" but that under this policy it is not collecting "your name, address, phone number or the content of your phone calls." It also says it's not sharing this data with other companies so that it could "help them market their stuff."Verizon James Martin/CNETLike T-Mobile, Verizon has a host of different options when it comes to privacy. This can be found by logging in, clicking on account then account overview. From there, select edit profile and settings and choose manage privacy settings.From there you will see the following:Customer Proprietary Network Info:This lets Verizon use the information it has about you to sell you other services beyond whatever you're already paying for. This is on by default.Business and Marketing Insights:This takes information about location, web browsing, "app/feature use" as well as your demographic and then combines that with information Verizon gets from other companies to help Verizon create "insights" like if many people are often traveling to a particular place at a particular time. The carrier says this information is collected "in aggregate" so that it can help it and "others better understand consumer actions." This is on by default.Custom Experience: This takes information about "websites you visit and apps you use" to "help us better understand your interests" such as if you like sports or gaming. Verizon says it does not share or sell this information with others. It's on by default.Custom Experience Plus: This combines the information gathered from the CPNI and Custom Experience sections so that Verizon can "personalize" its marketing and recommendations for you as well as "develop plans, services and offers" that would be "more appealing to you." This is an opt-in and the carrier says that it doesn't sell this data to other companies for their own respective advertising, though opting in here will automatically enable the Business and Marketing Insights.Identity Verification:This shares "certain account, device and profile data" with third parties to help "verify your identity and help protect you against identity theft and account takeover." This is on by default.There is also a Custom Experience tab that lets you reset your Custom Experience and Custom Experience Plus options, and doing so will have Verizon "stop using the web browsing and location data" that it previously collected as part of the program.Of all of Verizon's options, I would recommend turning off all but Identity Verification. That should remain on. I Took 600+ Photos With the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Look at My Favorites See all photos

Games will continue to "default" to violence if we keep buying them, says Fallout co-creator"This is why I tell people to vote with their dollars."Image credit: Bethesda Softworks News by Vikki Blake Contributor Published on Jan. 5, 2025 As Amazon's phenomenal TV adaptation of Fallout begins filming its second series, Fallout co-creator Tim Cain has opened up on why he thinks violence sells when it comes to AAA games, particularly RPGs.Over the New Year, Cain posted a video to YouTube about "why so many AAA RPGs expect and often require the player to do combat" and discussed "whether or not games treat [violence] as the default".Violence As The Default In AAA RPGs.Watch on YouTubeAcknowledging he's had "pushback on similar answers in the past", Cain then summarised his thoughts with: "The TL;DR of it is, companies make games - and, in general, products - that people will buy. That's it"."It means games that sell the most - and I'm not even talking about review the best, just sell the most - will dictate future games."This is obvious. If you have a company and it's trying to make money and there's one game type that sells millions of copies and another one that sells a hundred thousand, which one are you going to do if they both take just as much time and money to develop? This is why I tell people to vote with their dollars," he added.And people who do choose to vote with their wallets won't just be a "drop in the bucket", Cain insisted. If enough people did the same, "those drops become a storm and companies will listen"."Action genres tend to sell very well, and by that I mean, action RPGs kinda outsell classic RPGs, even though both of them are violent," he added. "It's also easier to market those sorts of games. When you watch a trailer and you see people actually doing things - jumping, climbing, shooting, punching - it looks like: 'Whoa! Look at all the things you can do in that game' [...] It's hard to show the other things."How do we show that this game has a really good story? How do we show that it has fantastic dialogue? How do you do that in a trailer that may only be 15 or 30 seconds long?" Cain said (thanks, PC Gamer)."You have to reduce this wonderful narrative, that's super creative and nuanced that has a huge arc, down to a soundbite. And guess what? It's because most people won't watch more than a few seconds of something!"As for that aforementioned Amazon Fallout show? Last month Walton Goggins slipped back into his Ghoulish guise to start filming the second season.

Old Hat"This is why I tell people to vote with their dollars" - Fallout co-creator Tim Cain on "violence as the default" in triple-A RPGs"It means games that sell the most will dictate future games."Image credit: Bethesda News by Oisin Kuhnke Contributor Published on Jan. 5, 2025 Generally most of the best selling games these days have some amount of violence in them, and if you ask Fallout co-creator Tim Cain, that's because we keep buying them.Look, I'm not going to have a big, annoying conversation with you about violence in video games on a Sunday. It's a bit old hat, and there's plenty of room for nuance, I just don't feel like making a judgement call on it right now - another time, maybe. All the same, when someone like the co-creator of Fallout Tim Cain shares his thoughts on video game violence and why games with violence keep getting made, it's probably at least worth a bit of a listen. Cain shared a video right at the start of the year titled "Violence As The Default In AAA RPGs", where he spoke about the simple reason as to "why so many AAA RPGs expect and often require the player to do combat". It's money!To see this content please enable targeting cookies. "The TL;DR of it is, companies make games - and, in general, products - that people will buy. That's it," Cain explained (thanks, PC Gamer). "It means games that sell the most - and I'm not even talking about review the best, just sell the most - will dictate future games. This is obvious. If you have a company and it's trying to make money and there's one game type that sells millions of copies and another one that sells a hundred thousand, which one are you going to do if they both take just as much time and money to develop? This is why I tell people to vote with their dollars."Watch on YouTubeCain also pushed back on the argument that those that abstain from buying such games wouldn't be just a "drop in the bucket," because if enough people came together "those drops become a storm and companies will listen". A big part of this obviously comes down to marketing too, as games with lots of advertising will be more likely to sell better, but Cain also notes that something like an action RPG is easier to sell conceptually than a classic RPG, even if they both have violence, because action RPGs are more dynamic to look at."It's hard to show the other things," Cain notes, continuing, "How do we show that this game has a really good story? How do we show that it has fantastic dialogue? How do you do that in a trailer that may only be 15 or 30 seconds long?" There's probably not really a solution to any of this, games that sell well will likely continue to, but it's always interesting when notable industry veterans try to find some answers all the same.

One More RoundIf you can put Balatro down for half a second, the lead dev behind it has recommended some other stunning indies with a very low-key awards ceremony of their ownTheir top spot is a "true masterpiece."Image credit: Billy Basso News by Oisin Kuhnke Contributor Published on Jan. 5, 2025 Balatro is obviously one of the best games from 2024, and now the dev behind it has shared what they think are the top titles from last year.If you want to just kind of lie about it, 2024 was a quieter year than 2023 on the video game front, except it wasn't because there were a ton of good titles that came out, they just couldn't all afford expensive advertisements like the triple-A ones could. Our own team highlighted some of our favourites, but we weren't the only ones to do so. One of the biggest surprises from 2024 was easily Balatro, a clever little roguelike poker game that's all about making number go big, and a title that many of us sunk way too many hours into. So, to spread some of that indie love around, Balatro developer LocalThunk took the time to outline their own favourites from 2024.To see this content please enable targeting cookies. Taking the number one spot with LocalThunk's own "very prestigious Golden Thunk award for Game of the Year 2024" is Animal Well, a metroidvania that definitely stands out on its own merit, though admittedly one you might know best as being the first game that that horse V-tuber or whatever he is Videogamedunkey published under his new company Bigmode. "Animal Well was an engrossing experience," wrote LocalThunk. "Dripping with style, secrets, and making me feel like an imposter in this industry as a dev, Billy Basso created a true masterpiece." To see this content please enable targeting cookies.The love didn't stop there though, as there were some runner-ups too, like Dungeons and Degenerate Gamblers, which LocalThunk said: "People mistakenly wrote this off as a Balatro clone but this was announced before my game ever was. A beautifully synergistic and strategic deckbuilder I have sunk dozens of hours into." Arco, Nova Drift, and Ballionaire got some nods too, alongside Mouthwashing, one of my favourite games from 2024, with LocalThunk saying, "I didn't even know this was a horror game when I started playing it at 11pm one fateful night. I was hooked instantly, and both the world it created and the poignant message woven into the game stick with me vividly months later.

Prakhar Khanna/ZDNETZDNET's key takeawaysThe Even Realities G1 smart glasses sport an excellent micro-LED optical engine projector for display.These glasses can help you navigate, translate, and use them as a teleprompter.The G1 are expensive at $599 and costs further add up if you opt for a prescription lens.I've had the Even Realities G1 Smart Glasses for a couple of months now. While I haven't been able to wear them every day consecutively, I've worn them for about 30 days. My friends say these are very stylish and "don't look like a gadget," which is their biggest win.So far, we've seen several takes on smart glasses, including the camera-enabled AI Meta Ray-Bans, Bose glasses speakers, and TCL RayNeo AR glasses, but the Even Realities G1 are none of those. They have a display and microphones but no speaker or camera. The G1 is a smart amalgamation of a minimalist feature set that feels just right, where tech takes a backseat and lifestyle sits in the front.The Even Realities G1 Smart Glasses need more polish, but from what I've experienced over the past few months, they're improving with each upgrade. You might not want to spend $600 on a pair of smart spectacles, but these are very tempting. details View at Evenrealities The future is hereThe Even Realities G1 feature a Holistic Adaptive Optical System (HAOS), which is fancy wording for two tiny displays. As shown in the title image and by contrast in the image above, the two rectangles on both lenses responsible for displaying information can be seen only at an angle. These aren't usually visible to others.Also:Why Meta's Ray-Ban Smart Glasses are my favorite tech purchase this yearWhen you tilt your head upwards, the micro-LED optical engine projector displays green digital text at 640 x 200-pixel resolution. The resolution might not sound impressive to the smartphone spec sheet-obsessed brain, but this is an excellent display. It's clearly visible in daylight, and you can make out details easily. Prakhar Khanna/ZDNETYou can adjust the angle for the glance-up feature within the app. For example, I've set it at 20 degrees, so whenever the glasses detect my head tilting at 20 degrees, they display the screen. The dashboard shows the time, notes, notification count, and more. It might seem like this could interfere with real-life vision, but it doesn't because you're consciously triggering the display instead of it being perpetually present.Even Realities have bonded two lenses to create the digital lens, but these don't feel any heavier than my regular glasses. Unlike other bulky smart glasses, the G1 are comfortable. I love my Meta Ray-Bans, but even they are heavier than my regular pair of sunglasses. However, I haven't experienced nose pad fatigue during my review process. The weight distribution leans more on the arms than the frame. As a result, the G1 are very comfortable. You can also get prescription lenses (costing $150 extra) and use them as regular specs like me. Prakhar Khanna/ZDNETThe rest of the hardware includes the battery, gesture pads, screwless hinges, microphones, and antennae for interacting with the phone app over Bluetooth. Originally launched in a round design, they've since added another option -- the Even G1 B -- with rectangular frames. The frame features a matte finish and is made of solid magnesium, while the temples are coated in silicon for better grip.These sit in a case resembling a regular glasses case, which can charge them up to 2.5 times. However, it's been finicky for me. On more than one occasion, I found the glasses not charged to 100%, despite the case previously charging them only once.What the Even Realities G1 Smart Glasses can doThe Even Realities G1 have six key features. Here's how they perform and how I'd want them to improve.1. NotificationsWhen connected to the phone (almost always), the G1 displays a notification count on the dashboard. You can access these notifications by tilting your head up for a temporary look or using gestures on the touchpad if you want to view them later.It's a neat trick, but two things are missing. You can't reply to notifications. I'd love for the Even AI to help me reply by dictating a message. Second, notifications need to be cleared manually. They aren't cleared even after you've viewed them on your phone, which creates friction in the user experience. Prakhar Khanna/ZDNET2. TranslateThis feature is handy when traveling to a place where you don't speak the language. I tested it with my limited French and Spanish, and it was accurate. You choose one of the 13 supported languages, and when a person speaks in that language, the glasses display the translation on-screen.However, this feature is one-sided. You can translate what the other person is saying, but you can't hold a conversation unless they also have a translation device. A potential solution could involve the glasses translating their language and your smartphone translating yours into theirs.3. QuickNoteI've enjoyed adding reminders with QuickNote on the G1. When you press and hold the right touchpad, the glasses display "Quick Note Recording." I've used it to jot down tasks and ideas throughout the day.Also:How these $400 XR glasses cured my Apple Vision Pro FOMOCurrently, notes are displayed on the dashboard when you glance up next. I'd love to have the ability to choose which notes appear on the dashboard via the app. Sometimes, I jot down ideas for later, while other times, I need reminders for tasks to complete before the day ends. Prakhar Khanna/ZDNET4. NavigationIf you enjoy cycling, you'll love this. The G1 can display turn-by-turn navigation without needing to check your phone. It's not distracting, as the navigation is always present instead of being triggered by a glance. It's great for walking and cycling. The catch? You need to set your destination through the Even Realities app.I'd prefer integration with Google or Apple Maps and the ability to ask the glasses to navigate. With built-in microphones, this seems feasible.5. TelepromptThe G1 doubles as a teleprompter for presentations. The audience won't notice you're reading from a screen. Simply add your script to the app, and it appears on the projector screen, bolding words in real time. This is one of the most polished features.6. Even AIPowered by Perplexity, the Even AI can perform simple tasks like calculations and unit conversions. However, it needs to be quicker. I'd rather use my smartphone than wait for a query to be completed. This feature is still in beta.They're promising but expensiveLike every other first-gen product, the Even Realities G1 suffer from being less accessible. These glasses are expensive at $599, with additional costs for prescription lenses ($150) or clip-ons ($100) to double as sunglasses. Moreover, most features need more polish. Prakhar Khanna/ZDNETThe Even Realities G1 hardware is brilliant, and the glasses last an entire day easily. I charge them every night before bed. Over time, they've only improved with each update. I see the vision and am on board if Even Realities continues refining the feature set. Features like dashboard customization, Google Maps integration, and voice-activated navigation would make the G1 even better.These are promising smart glasses that I don't want to put down.CES 2025

Marvel RivalsNetEaseWhile we still dont have a precise release date, Marvel Rivals season 1 will arrive next week, and previews begin tomorrow with the first official trailer. However, we have some new leaks previewing whats going to be shown off, not just in the trailer, but more general information about the season.From the so-far reliable Marvel Rivals leaker X0XLEAK, we have information on which heroes are getting buffed and nerfed, and how the upcoming quartet of heroes are being doled out. We have:Hela NerfHawkeye NerfStorm BuffWolverine BuffCloak and Dagger BuffCaptain America Movement BuffVenom Movement BuffMarvel RivalsNetEaseNo specifics on these past this basic information about who is getting a pass. In addition to that, theres word that there will be two heroes that arrive at launch, and two that arrive mid-season, which should be around a month and a half from now. No information about which two are paired between Mr. Fantastic, The Thing, The Invisible Woman and Human Torch. Thing is believed to be a Vanguard, Torch a Duelist, Invisible Woman a Strategist. There is some debate about whether Mr. Fantastic will be a Vanguard or Strategist, but the general consensus is the game currently need more Strategists, so two would be welcome.In addition, the season is called Eternal Night as the story (story) is about the Fantastic Four defending New York (which is the new map coming) against Dracula. This seems like it should be a lead-in for the leaked Blade, but it seems like he will probably not arrive until next season rather than a full five characters arriving for season 1 here. Players also believe Ultron is supposed to be coming soon, but we just dont know any confirmed timing on either and again, both seem unlikely for season 1 at this point.MORE FOR YOUThere are additional leaks about the exact timing of trailers, featurettes on heroes, blog posts detailing the nerfs and buffs, but Im not sure those times are accurate, so Im going to wait for something more official on that front. The only thing we know for absolute certain is that Rivals will show off the season 1 trailer tomorrow, Monday, January 6 at 8 AM PST, 11 AM EST. That may not have any details about the above yet minus the overall story and in-action look at the Fantastic Four, but more information should be out soon including the season launch day and time.Follow me on Twitter, YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.Pick up my sci-fi novels the Herokiller series and The Earthborn Trilogy.

The Future of Work We Predicted for 2025gettyBack in 2011, we envisioned a bold new world of work for 2025.The vision was ambitious: physical offices would become obsolete, hierarchies would give way to dynamic networks, and borderless talent would fuel innovation.Now, 2025 has arrived. Did reality live up to the promiseor did the future take a different path?This question was at the heart of a future of work project at Intel in 2011: What will it feel like to work in 2025? At the time, work revolved around physical offices, clear hierarchies, and an ownership-based approach to managing talent. Smartphones, wireless connectivity, and cloud computing were beginning to hint at new possibilities, but their transformative impact was far from realized.Now, 2025 is here, offering a moment to reflect on the Future of Work we predicted and where it stands today. Some elements of the 2025 vision have come to life, while others remain works in progress or distant aspirations. Heres how the workplace has evolved across the three pillars of Everywhere, Everything, Everyone and what is still Future in Progress.MORE FOR YOUEverywhere is the New LocationIn 2011, the workplace was still synonymous with physical offices. Most employees commuted to wired office spaces equipped with desktops, landlines, and meeting rooms. Telecommuting was emerging but not widely trusted, and while smartphones, wireless networks, and cloud platforms had started to decouple work from specific locations, these tools were not yet utilized to their full potential. For most, work was a place you went.The Future of Work vision for 2025 foresaw a world where physical offices would no longer be central. Offices were expected to evolve into hubs for collaboration rather than daily destinations. Advances in immersive technologies like virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR) were predicted to enable seamless remote collaboration, recreating the experience of being in the same room. Autonomous vehicles and smart transportation systems were expected to alleviate commuting challenges, making location less relevant.Today, the workplace has indeed become more untethered. The pandemic accelerated the shift to hybrid work, with employees working part-time or fully remotely in ways once considered unfeasible. Offices have been reimagined as spaces for connection and creativity, while cloud-based platforms like Google Workspace, Microsoft Teams, and Zoom have become indispensable. However, immersive VR/AR technologies remain niche, and autonomous transportation systems are still far from transforming commutes.The trends toward untethering work are clear, but the pace of adoption for immersive collaboration tools and smart transportation systems remains slower than anticipated. While these shifts are still on track, they require further technological development and cultural integration to become mainstream.Everything is the New WorkIn 2011, work was structured around fixed roles, rigid hierarchies, and clearly defined job titles. Success was measured by climbing the corporate ladder, and the gig economy was in its infancy. Freelancers were outliers, and organizational systems prioritized stability and predictability. Work was defined by tasks and roles rather than outcomes or adaptability.The vision for 2025 imagined a radical shift. Work would become more dynamic, with project-based networks replacing hierarchies. The gig economy and freelancing were seen as major disruptors, creating a vast and flexible talent pool. Smart systems and artificial intelligence (AI) were forecasted to automate routine tasks, enabling humans to focus on creativity, strategy, and purpose-driven work.Today, elements of this vision are evident. The gig economy has grown significantly, empowering individuals to work independently on platforms like Upwork and Fiverr. Self-employment and portfolio careers are increasingly common as professionals blend freelancing, entrepreneurial ventures, and part-time roles. Some organizations are experimenting with flatter structures, forming cross-functional teams around projects rather than rigid departments.Yet traditional models persist. Full-time employment remains the dominant structure, and hierarchies continue to offer stability and control. AI has made strides in automating repetitive tasks but is only beginning to show its potential as a creative collaborator. The evolution toward fluid and dynamic work structures is progressing, though unevenly. Dynamic team models and AI partnerships are gaining momentum, but they have not yet fundamentally disrupted traditional work models.Everyone is the New TalentIn 2011, the workforce was defined by ownership models. Companies built full-time teams, often sourced locally, and focused on developing and retaining talent within the organization. Workers were viewed as assets to manage rather than partners to collaborate with, as reflected in terms like workers, human resources, and human capital.The vision for 2025 imagined a workforce untethered from traditional employment relationships. Companies would collaborate with freelancers, contractors, and gig workers, sourcing talent dynamically through global platforms. The workforce was expected to span five generations, with older workers remaining active into their 70s and 80s.Today, these shifts are evident in the rise of alternative work arrangements and the rise of independents and multi-role professionals. Many companies now rely on freelancers and gig workers for specialized projects, while global talent marketplaces have broken geographic barriers, enabling access to skills worldwide. Workers increasingly blend roles, often switching between organizations or pursuing entrepreneurial ventures alongside traditional employment.However, this transformation remains incomplete. Full-time employment still dominates, and regulatory and cultural constraints limit the seamless integration of global talent. Retirement norms and societal expectations have also slowed the inclusion of older workers in the mainstream workforce. While the trends toward more fluid and collaborative talent models are advancing, the vision of fully borderless and multigenerational talent ecosystems remains a longer-term aspiration.The Journey from 2011 to 2025and BeyondMuch of what was envisioned in 2011 for 2025 has materialized: hybrid work is now a standard practice, the gig economy is thriving, and AI is reshaping how tasks are approached. Yet some aspirationslike immersive virtual collaboration, seamless global talent ecosystems, and the full inclusion of older workersremain on the horizon, evolving more slowly than anticipated.The workplace of tomorrow will continue to evolve along the principles of Everywhere, Everything, Everyoneblurring work-life boundaries, redefining roles and hierarchies, and expanding the global reach of talent. Understanding this journey helps illuminate not only where weve been but also what is possible.Perhaps its time to embrace that we dont have the future of work fully figured out and ask anew: What will it feel like to work in 2040?

Through the looking glass: Artificial intelligence has demonstrated remarkable capabilities, but could it replicate an entire personality after just a two-hour interview? According to researchers, the answer is yes. Yet, such advancements raise serious ethical questions and concerns about potential misuse. Researchers from Google and Stanford University have demonstrated that just a two-hour conversation with an AI model can create a strikingly accurate replica of an individual's personality. Published on November 15 in the preprint database arXiv, the study introduces "simulation agents" AI models designed to mimic human behavior with remarkable precision.Led by Joon Sung Park, a doctoral student in computer science at Stanford, the research involved in-depth interviews with 1,052 participants. These interviews covered personal stories, values, and opinions on societal issues, forming the dataset for training the generative AI models. The participant pool was intentionally diverse in age, gender, race, region, education, and political ideology, ensuring a wide representation of human experiences.To assess accuracy, participants completed two rounds of personality tests, social surveys, and logic games, repeating the process after a two-week gap. The AI replicas then took the same tests, mirroring their human counterparts' responses with an astonishing 85 percent accuracy."If you can have a bunch of small 'yous' running around and actually making the decisions that you would have made - that, I think, is ultimately the future," Park told MIT Technology Review.The researchers envision these AI models revolutionizing research by simulating human behavior in controlled environments. Applications could range from evaluating public health policies to gauging responses to societal events or product launches. Such simulations, they argue, offer a way to test interventions and theories without the ethical and logistical complexities of using human participants.However, these findings should be approached with a healthy dose of skepticism. While the AI clones excelled in replicating responses to personality surveys and social attitudes, they were notably less accurate in predicting behaviors during interactive economic decision-making games. This discrepancy underscores AI's ongoing challenges with tasks that require understanding complex social dynamics and contextual nuances.The evaluation methods used to test the AI agents' accuracy were also relatively rudimentary. Tools like the General Social Survey and assessments of the Big Five personality traits, while standard in social science research, may not fully capture the intricate layers of human personality and behavior. // Related StoriesEthical concerns further complicate the technology's implications. In an era where AI and "deepfake" technologies are already being used for manipulation and deception, the introduction of highly personalized AI replicas raises alarm. Such tools could potentially be weaponized, amplifying risks to privacy and trust.Despite these reservations, the study introduces compelling possibilities for future research, notes John Horton, an associate professor at MIT Sloan School of Management. "This paper is showing how you can do a kind of hybrid: use real humans to generate personas which can then be used programmatically/in-simulation in ways you could not with real humans," he said.The efficiency of the interview process in capturing individual nuances is particularly striking. Park emphasized the depth of insight a two-hour conversation can provide, drawing from his experience with podcast interviews. "Imagine somebody just had cancer but was finally cured last year. That's very unique information about you that says a lot about how you might behave and think about things," he said.This innovation has piqued the interest of companies already developing digital twin technology. Hassaan Raza, CEO of Tavus a company specializing in creating AI replicas from customer data expressed enthusiasm for this streamlined approach. "How about you just talk to an AI interviewer for 30 minutes today, 30 minutes tomorrow? And then we use that to construct this digital twin of you."

Cutting corners: Floridians are turning to VPNs to bypass blocks brought about by the state's new age verification requirements for accessing online porn. Data from Google Trends shows that searches for "free VPN" have skyrocketed in Florida over the past few days. The law officially went into effect on January 1, making Florida one of 17 states mostly in the South enforcing such regulations. However, many adult sites are either blocking access in the state altogether or simply ignoring the law. In response, users are turning to VPNs to bypass the restrictions while also masking their real IP addresses and locations.The trends don't lie. As reported by Newsweek, VPN queries hit the roof right as the new year rolled in, scoring a perfect 100 on Google's scale on January 2. This was a big jump over the 37 score on December 30. Floridians were also firing off searches for specific VPN brands as well as "internet pornography" and the puzzling "computer virus" during that window.Currently, when Floridians attempt to visit Pornhub, they are no longer greeted with the usual adult content. Instead, they see a PSA from adult star Cherie DeVille explaining the situation.Imagine her disappointment"As you may know, your elected officials in Florida are requiring us to verify your age before allowing you access to our website. While safety and compliance are at the forefront of our mission, giving your ID card every time you want to visit an adult platform is not the most effective solution for protecting our users, and in fact, will put children and your privacy at risk," she says. // Related StoriesUnsurprisingly, Pornhub reports that its traffic from Florida has already plunged by 80% since the law took effect. However, there's a good chance that many users are simply switching to VPNs or turning to other platforms.For now, Pornhub has voluntarily blocked itself across nearly all states with these age verification laws. Louisiana is an exception though and the site is still allowing access there through its "LA Wallet" digital ID system.While the regulation may sound promising in theory, civil liberty groups warn of serious privacy risks, especially considering the role of data brokers. Just last year, a Florida-based firm leaked 2.9 billion records, including names and Social Security numbers, in a massive data breach.That hasn't stopped Georgia, though, which is set to set to become the 18th state mandating age checks for porn sites starting in July. Child safety advocates are hopeful more states will follow suit.