PM Images/Getty ImagesThere I was, yet again, scrolling on TikTok before it was banned and then unbanned, and I came across this insane caption."Meet The 17-Year-Old CEO Behind A $12 Million AI-Powered Nutrition App."That's some grade-A clickbait right there, so I clicked! The article claims that Cal AI, a GPT-powered nutrition app, makes calorie tracking easier with AI features like image recognition and barcode scanning.Also: AI isn't the next big thing - here's what isThe app reportedly has over 1 million downloads, $12 million in annual recurring revenue, and a team of 17 full-time employees.The kicker?It's led by 17-year-olds Zach Yadegari and Henry Langmack.Needless to say, my flabbers were gasted! But it got me thinking: if I wanted to start an AI side hustle, how would I do so?So, if you've ever wanted a side hustle using AI, I got you!In this article, we go into detail on:What is a GPT wrapper, and why it might be the easiest way to start building an AI-powered product.What ideas should you consider, and why they could lead to your next big opportunity.How to build and scale your app, and what is the best way to get users?Quick introIf you're new to my work, I'm Lester Mapp, but my friends call me Les. I'm a founder with a successful exit and currently the executive chairman of a group of DTC brands. At my core, I'm an award-winning performance marketer.Coming up with ideas and getting them to market is my thing.Also:3 lucrative side hustles you can start right now with OpenAI's Sora video generatorIf you're into data-driven marketing insights and strategies, check out my free newsletter, No Fluff Just Facts.Now that we have the pleasantries out of the way, kick up your feet and get comfortable.We're about to dive into a mini AI Shark Tank and say yes or no to some business ideas. Before we jump into it, I need to bring you up to speed on what GPT wrappers are and how they can help you build a tech empire.What is a GPT wrapper?I must explain what a GPT wrapper is and how it works. This context is essential to help you see the possibilities.A "GPT wrapper" is a software application, like a web app or mobile app, that acts as a user interface built on top of a GPT (Generative Pre-trained Transformer). It provides additional features and functionality to make it easier for users to interact with the underlying AI.This includes adding context, refining prompts, and presenting results in a more accessible format. Essentially, it "wraps" around the GPT model to enhance usability.Also: Your customers don't want more AI - here's what to invest in insteadA real-world example? Think of when General Motors tells us the Tahoe, Yukon, and Escalade are different cars.Hey GM, are the different cars in the room with us right now?Trolling aside, a GPT wrapper is very similar. The features, price points, and target audiences might differ, but the product's core is GPT.Some real-world examples of GPT wrappers include but are not limited toAI-powered writing assistant that helps create blog posts or marketing copyLanguage learning app that generates personalized practice exercisesCustomer service chatbot that handles complex queriesFrom a technical standpoint, GPT wrappers handle API calls to the language model, implement prompt engineering techniques, and manage conversation context for more coherent interactions.Also: Could your job be at risk due to AI? Do this before it's too lateWhile GPT wrappers are usually built using OpenAI's API, other options include Anthropic's Claude, Google's PaLM, and several emerging players in the AI space.All that said, AI language models are evolving fast, opening up new ways to build cool stuff. Opportunities and pitfalls of building a GPT wrapperBuilding a GPT wrapper comes with its fair share of pros and cons.Let's break it down.What's in it for you?Built-in infrastructure: OpenAI's backend handles all the heavy lifting. You're saving time and skipping the headaches of developing your own AI model.Speed to market: Wrapping an existing GPT lets you launch faster. Why reinvent the wheel when you can improve the ride?Cost efficiency: Developing a proprietary AI model costs a ton. Using GPT as your foundation keeps those development costs way down.What could trip you up?Performance limitations: GPT can only work with what it knows, which means it might fall short on domain-specific accuracy.Scaling struggles: API throttling and rising costs can be a real hurdle when your app grows fast.Limited differentiation: At the end of the day, you're still building on GPT, so standing out from the crowd might take extra effort.Wrapping GPT can open doors, but knowing where those doors might slam shut is just as important.The things that frustrate you about AI, like being wrong, getting stuck in loops, or showing bias, will likely appear in your app.This is something to remember, not a reason not to do it.How to make a GPT wrapperI'm sure you're wondering, what tools can I use to create a GPT wrapper?Grab a pen and paper because one of the best tools you can use to make a GPT wrapper is, ironically, ChatGPT.That said, there are a few other tools worth mentioning. Bubble: A no-code platform that makes building web apps simple.Key featuresNo-code web app platformDrag-and-drop interfacePerfect for non-technical foundersRapid prototyping capabilitiesFlutterFlow: Great for creating mobile apps with a no-code approach.Key featuresMobile app developmentNo-code solutionCross-platform (iOS/Android)Clean, modern UI designLangChain: A popular framework for developers building with LLMs (Large Language Models)Key featuresDeveloper-focused frameworkAdvanced LLM integrationRobust API handlingComplex workflow supportAn honorable mention goes to Replit. I've written a detailed article about it; check it out.If coding isn't your thing, you can hire someone on Upwork or another freelancing platform to help you.Also: The best AI for coding in 2025 (and what not to use)While building your app is important, the real focus should be on what to build and how to get users. Without a solid idea and a plan to attract users, even the best-built tool won't get off the ground.The best Ideas for a GPT businessI have so many ideas, but I don't want to tell you exactly what to do. Instead, I want to teach you how to think about the problem you should be solving.You must solve a problem for which people are willing to pay top dollar. In this case, following your passion isn't great advice. That's more suitable for a hobby, not a sustainable business.Also:No, AI won't revolutionize shopping - but this willThat said, the bigger your ambitions are, the bigger the problem you need to solve. Think painkillers, not vitamins.Before you start building anything, talk to potential users. Ask questions like:What's your problem?What solution are you using to solve it now?Would you pay for a better solution? If so, how much?Your job is to bridge the gap between your solution's value and the amount your users are willing to pay. The biggest mistake founders make is assuming that if they build it, people will come, which isn't true. Talking to potential customers gives you insight into what they actually want. Too many founders create solutions looking for a problem.My advice? Whatever you build, care enough to stay disciplined through the good and bad days. As my mentor would say:"You won't always be motivated. That's why you need to be disciplined."That said, here are some general ideas:Productivity toolsEducational platformsContent creation systemsResearch and analysis toolsCustomer service solutionsWhatever you decide to build, you need to solve a problem for someone willing to pay for it.The more pressing the problem, the greater your level of success. How to market and grow a GPT wrapper business10 times out of 10, if you find the right problem, there's already a community.These communities exist everywhere. They attend conferences, host meetups, and hang out online. Think about it:Moms hang out on social platforms, sharing tips and tricks and offering emotional support.Formula One fans gather online, discussing the next race or debating who performed best.This also applies in the professional world: CFOs, CMOs, and CEOs all connect in their own spaces, talking about shared problems. Right now, they're discussing a problem you could solve.Also:Could AI make you a billionaire in 2025?Once you've figured out the problem you're solving, start building a community. Ideally, you should build your app and community simultaneously. Some call this "building in public," but the real magic is bringing potential users along for the ride.Take Harrison Hide, for example. He's building Long Lane, a wellness hotel and member club that gives professionals a personalized, all-in-one wellness experience. It focuses on health, nutrition, and mental performance, all in a curated, alcohol-free environment.Harrison isn't creating a tech solution, but he's proving that building a community first works with any idea. Own your audienceI'm a huge fan of newsletters. They're the gift that keeps on giving. What should you include in your newsletter? Everything. Document the highs, the lows, what's next, what you're building, and what you're learning. Harrison does an incredible job with this, and you can, too.I'm not suggesting you ignore platforms like TikTok and Instagram entirely. You can expand to them later, but it's important to choose your priorities in the early stages. You can't do everything alone, so staying focused is crucial.Also:ChatGPT Search could destroy online businesses - how you can stay aheadThis approach is like running a media company first and monetizing through a software solution. And let me tell you, after spending tens of millions of dollars on marketing campaigns, this is by far the best approach.According to a study by Khoros, Airbnb produced 2.5 times more revenue for its member hosts by using its community to drive innovation and product development. This statistic demonstrates the significant impact that a well-managed online community can have on a company's revenue growth. My two centsI know I came at you with a lot today, so here's a quick recap: Do the research: Don't build ish without talking to the people you expect to give you money.Build a community: Preferably a newsletter, but a social channel works too.Understand the problem: Start building your app after you fully grasp the problem and who you're serving.Keep the community engaged: Share updates, "Today we built this," "What do you think of this?" and so on.Stay consistent: Tough times don't last, but tough people do.Launch your app: Keep engaging your audience even after launch. And this is the most important part!When you become a gazillionaire, let me use your yacht when you're out of town!If you're unsure how to market your new SaaS company, please join my free newsletter, No Fluff Just Facts. I share business insights like this, what's working in the world of digital marketing, the latest trends, and the occasional pep talk to keep you inspired. If this sounds like your jam and you wanna be besties forever, click here to sign up. It's totally FREE. Hope this article helps; I'm rooting for you!Featured Editorial standards

Updated Feb. 6 with more details of the update and the unusual way to upgrade to it.When Apple released the most recent iPhone software update, iOS 18.3, it was for every iPhone from the iPhone XS onwards. You can read comprehensive details of whats in it here, and whether you should upgrade to it here. Now, Apple has re-released the software with a new build number, for three iPhones only: iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max. Whats more, to install it, you have to sideload it: you cant just do it the usual way by opening the Settings app, and choosing Software Update.Three Apple iPhones have just been updated again. Getty ImagesIts available for the iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max only at this time. If you want to install it, you have to use a Mac or Windows computer, plug in your device and install it that way through the finder by clicking update, according to Aaron Zollo at YouTube channel Zollotech.Zollotech also says that even if youre updating from earlier software and you choose the over-the-air solution, youll still get the earlier build, not the new one.Apple still hasnt given any details of why the iPhone 11 series is getting this extra version, but a bug issue seems the most likely reason. Some users on Reddit have variously referred to reports of Safari breaking and Mail issues, but neither has been confirmed by Apple.MORE FOR YOUThe original update was released on Monday, Jan. 27 with build number 22D63. But on Monday, Feb. 3, Apple released iOS 18.3 with a new build number, 22D64. You wouldnt need to know this unless you have one of the iPhone 11 series handsets, first released in fall 2019. If you do, and you go to the Settings app and choose Software Update, youll find the option to update to the new version.As to whats in it, Apple hasnt gone into detail. We know whats not in it: the many Apple Intelligence changes that iOS 18.3 brought to the most recent iPhones. Only the iPhone 15 Pro, Pro Max and iPhone 16 series are compatible with Apple Intelligence.So, the new version most likely is there to fix something that didnt quite take in the first release, something that only the iPhone 11 series somehow continued to find a problem.The notes only point to issues other iPhones have seen fixed in the latest update, that is, these three things. First, the Calculator app now repeats the last mathematical operation when you tap the equals sign, something which it used to do before, and now can again. Second, it fixes an issue where the keyboard might disappear when initiating a typed Siri request. And third, the update Resolves an issue where audio playback continues until the song ends, even after closing Apple Music. Sucha weird one, that.If you have an iPhone 11 series, even if you upgraded to iOS 18.3 already, Apple is recommending you install this new version. As the similarity of build numbers suggests, its very close to the last one, only this time itll fix things, lets hope.

Tech teams dont just fill a supporting role in a play that stars a companys profit centers; they also help manage costs and measurably contribute to the bottom line.

French President's Special Envoy on AI, Anne Bouverot, prepares for the AI Action Summit at the Quai d'Orsay in Paris.Harry Booth - TIMEBy Harry Booth / ParisFebruary 6, 2025 10:20 AM ESTOne evening early last year, Anne Bouverot was putting the finishing touches on a report when she received an urgent phone call. It was one of French President Emmanuel Macron's aides offering her the role as his special envoy on artificial intelligence. The unpaid position would entail leading the preparations for the France AI Action Summita gathering where heads of state, technology CEOs, and civil society representatives will seek to chart a course for AIs future. Set to take place on Feb. 10 and 11 at the presidential lyse Palace in Paris, it will be the first such gathering since the virtual Seoul AI Summit in Mayand the first in-person meeting since November 2023, when world leaders descended on Bletchley Park for the U.K.s inaugural AI Safety Summit. After weighing the offer, Bouverot, who was at the time the co-chair of France's AI Commission, accepted.But Frances Summit wont be like the others. While the U.K.'s Summit centered on mitigating catastrophic riskssuch as AI aiding would-be terrorists in creating weapons of mass destruction, or future systems escaping human controlFrance has rebranded the event as the 'AI Action Summit,' shifting the conversation towards a wider gamut of risksincluding the disruption of the labor market and the technologys environmental impactwhile also keeping the opportunities front and center. We're broadening the conversation, compared to Bletchley Park, Bouverot says. Attendees expected at the Summit include OpenAI boss Sam Altman, Google chief Sundar Pichai, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance.Some welcome the pivot as a much-needed correction to what they see as hype and hysteria around the technology's dangers. Others, including some of the world's foremost AI scientistsincluding some who helped develop the field's fundamental technologiesworry that safety concerns are being sidelined. The view within the community of people concerned about safety is that it's been downgraded, says Stuart Russell, a professor of electrical engineering and computer sciences at the University of California, Berkeley, and the co-author of the authoritative textbook on AI used at over 1,500 universities.On the face of it, it looks like the downgrading of safety is an attempt to say, we want to charge ahead, we're not going to over-regulate. We're not going to put any obligations on companies if they want to do business in France,"' Russell says.Frances Summit comes at a critical moment in AI development, when the CEOs of top companies believe the technology will match human intelligence within a matter of years. If concerns about catastrophic risks are overblown, then shifting focus to immediate challenges could help prevent real harms while fostering innovation and distributing AIs benefits globally. But if the recent leaps in AI capabilitiesand emerging signs of deceptive behaviorare early warnings of more serious risks, then downplaying these concerns could leave us unprepared for crucial challenges ahead.Bouverot is no stranger to the politics of emerging technology.Bouverot's growing involvement with AI was, in fact, a return to her roots. Long before her involvement in telecommunications, in the early 1990s, Bouverot earned a PhD in AI at the Ecole normale suprieurea top French university that would later produce French AI frontrunner Mistral AI CEO Arthur Mensch. After graduating, Bouverot figured AI was not going to have an impact on society anytime soon, so she shifted her focus. "This is how much of a crystal ball I had," she joked on Washington AI Network's podcast in December, acknowledging the irony of her early skepticism, given AI's impact today.Under Bouverots leadership, safety will remain a feature, but rather than the summits sole focus, it is now one of five core themes. Others include: AIs use for public good, the future of work, innovation and culture, and global governance. Sessions run in parallel, meaning participants will be unable to attend all discussions. And unlike the U.K. summit, Pariss agenda does not mention the possibility that an AI system could escape human control. There's no evidence of that risk today, Bouverot says. She says the U.K. AI Safety Summit occurred at the height of the generative AI frenzy, when new tools like ChatGPT captivated public imagination. There was a bit of a science fiction moment, she says, adding that the global discourse has since shifted.Back in late 2023, as the U.K.s summit approached, signs of a shift in the conversation around AIs risks were already emerging. Critics dismissed the event as alarmist, with headlines calling it a waste of time and a doom-obsessed mess. Researchers, who had studied AIs downsides for years felt that the emphasis on what they saw as speculative concerns drowned out immediate harms like algorithmic bias and disinformation. Sandra Wachter, a professor of technology and regulation at the Oxford Internet Institute, who was present at Bletchley Park, says the focus on existential risk was really problematic.Part of the issue is that the existential risk concern has drowned out a lot of the other types of concerns, says Margaret Mitchell, chief AI ethics scientist at Hugging Face, a popular online platform for sharing open-weight AI models and datasets. I think a lot of the existential harm rhetoric doesn't translate to what policy makers can specifically do now, she adds.On the U.K. Summits opening day, then-U.S. Vice President, Kamala Harris, delivered a speech in London: When a senior is kicked off his health care plan because of a faulty A.I. algorithm, is that not existential for him? she asked, in an effort to highlight the near-term risks of AI over the summits focus on the potential threat to humanity. Recognizing the need to reframe AI discussions, Bouverot says the France Summit will reflect the change in tone. We didn't make that change in the global discourse, Bouverot says, adding that the focus is now squarely on the technologys tangible impacts. We're quite happy that this is actually the conversation that people are having now.One of the actions expected to emerge from Frances Summit is a new yet-to-be-named foundation that will aim to ensure AIs benefits are widely distributed, such as by developing public datasets for underrepresented languages, or scientific databases. Bouverot points to AlphaFold, Google DeepMind's AI model that predicts protein structures with unprecedented precisionpotentially accelerating research and drug discoveryas an example of the value of public datasets. AlphaFold was trained on a large public database to which biologists had meticulously submitted findings for decades. We need to enable more databases like this, Bouverot says. Additionally, the foundation will focus on developing talent and smaller, less computationally intensive models, in regions outside the small group of countries that currently dominate AIs development. The foundation will be funded 50% by partner governments, 25% by industry, and 25% by philanthropic donations, Bouverot says.Her second priority is creating an informal Coalition for Sustainable AI. AI is fueling a boom in data centers, which require energy, and often water for cooling. The coalition will seek to standardize measures for AIs environmental impact, and incentivize the development of more efficient hardware and software through rankings and possibly research prizes. Clearly AI is happening and being developed. We want it to be developed in a sustainable way, Bouverot says. Several companies, including Nvidia, IBM, and Hugging Face, have already thrown their weight behind the initiative.Sasha Luccioni, AI & climate lead at Hugging Face, and a leading voice on AIs climate impact, says she is hopeful that the coalition will promote greater transparency. She says that currently, calculating the AIs emissions is made more challenging because often companies do not share how long a model was trained for, while data center providers do not publish specifics on GPUthe kind of computer chips used for running AIenergy usage. Nobody has all of the numbers, she says, but the coalition may help put the pieces together.Given AIs recent pace of development, some fear severe risks could materialize rapidly. The core concern is that artificial general intelligence, or AGIa system that surpasses humans in most regardscould potentially outmaneuver any constraints designed to control it, perhaps permanently disempowering humanity. Experts disagree about how quicklyif everwe'll reach that technological threshold. But many leaders of the companies seeking to build human-level systems expect to succeed soon. In January, OpenAIs Altman wrote in a blog post: We are now confident we know how to build AGI. Speaking on a panel at Davos last month, Dario Amodei, the CEO of rival AI company, Anthropic, said that AI could surpass human intelligence in almost all things as soon as next year.Those same titans of industry have made no secret of what they believe is at stake. Amodei has previously said he places a 10% to 25% likelihood that AI causes a societal-scale catastrophe. In 2015, months before co-founding OpenAI, Altman said AI will probably most likely lead to the end of the world, but in the meantime, there'll be great companies. More recently, Altman has downplayed AIs risks. Meanwhile, a string of safety staff have departed OpenAI, citing concerns over the companys direction. Over the past years, safety culture and processes have taken a backseat to shiny products, former OpenAI staffer Jan Leike posted to X in May, after resigning. He previously co-led a now defunct team charged with pioneering techniques to keep smarter-than-human AI systems under humanitys control.Predictions of AGIs imminent arrival could prove premature. The tech industry is notorious for bold claims and hype cycles crafted to court investors, and progress could still plateau, leaving AGI a distant prospect. Nevertheless, over the past year, AI models have demonstrated notable advances. At the beginning of 2024, the most capable model scored only 2% on a benchmark consisting of real world software engineering problems; by October, a new model achieved 49%; by December, an astonishing 71.7%. Similar leaps in performance have occurred in competition math and PhD-level science questions, with current state-of-the-art comfortably surpassing 85%. Though benchmarks are imperfect proxies for intelligence, the wider trend is unmistakable. Some observers note that this rapid progress has largely gone unnoticed by the public, perhaps because few people use AI for complex math or science in daily life. Companies including OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google are shifting their focus from user-prompted systems to creating autonomous virtual agents that can operate computers and solve problems independently.This recent rise in intelligence has been accompanied by new deceptive abilities. In December, an experiment conducted by Apollo Research revealed that when confronted with a fictional scenario where the AI was threatened with shutdown, cutting-edge models, including OpenAIs recent o1 and a version of Anthropics Claude, tried (unsuccessfully) to copy themselves to a new server. When researchers asked the models why they had tried to replicate themselves, they sometimes lied to avoid being caughtoften doubling down when confronted with their lies. The same month, a test by Anthropic and the nonprofit Redwood Research, showed a version of Anthropics model, Claude, strategically misleading its creators during training. Exactly the things that people have been writing about for the last 10 years are happening now, Russell says. As the systems are increasing their ability to reason, we see that indeed they can figure out how to escape. They can lie about it while they're doing it, and so on.Yoshua Bengio, founder and scientific director of Mila Quebec AI Institute, and often referred to as one of the three Godfathers of AI for his pioneering work in deep learning, says that while within the business community there is a sense that the conversation has moved on from autonomy risks, recent developments have caused growing concerns within the scientific community. Although expert opinion varies widely on the likelihood, he says the possibility of AI escaping human control can no longer be dismissed as mere science fiction. Bengio led the International AI Safety Report 2025, an initiative modeled after U.N. climate assessments and backed by 30 countries, the U.N., E.U., and the OECD. Published last month, the report synthesizes scientific consensus on the capabilities and risks of frontier AI systems. There's very strong, clear, and simple evidence that we are building systems that have their own goals and that there is a lot of commercial value to continue pushing in that direction, Bengio says. A lot of the recent papers show that these systems have emergent self-preservation goals, which is one of the concerns with respect to the unintentional loss of control risk, he adds.At previous summits, limited but meaningful steps were taken to reduce loss-of-control and other risks. At the U.K. Summit, a handful of companies committed to share priority access to models with governments for safety testing prior to public release. Then, at the Seoul AI Summit, 16 companies, across the U.S., China, France, Canada, and South Korea signed voluntary commitments to identify, assess and manage risks stemming from their AI systems. They did a lot to move the needle in the right direction, Bengio says, but he adds that these measures are not close to sufficient. "In my personal opinion, the magnitude of the potential transformations that are likely to happen once we approach AGI are so radical, Bengio says, that my impression is most people, most governments, underestimate this whole lot.But rather than pushing for new pledges, in Paris the focus will be streamlining existing onesmaking them compatible with existing regulatory frameworks and each other. There's already quite a lot of commitments for AI companies, Bouverot says. This light-touch stance mirrors France's broader AI strategy, where homegrown company Mistral AI has emerged as Europe's leading challenger in the field. Both Mistral and the French government lobbied for softer regulations under the E.U.'s comprehensive AI Act. Frances Summit will feature a business-focused event, hosted across town at Station F, Frances largest start-up hub. "To me, it looks a lot like they're trying to use it to be a French industry fair, says Andrea Miotti, the executive director of Control AI, a non-profit that advocates for guarding against existential risks from AI. They're taking a summit that was focused on safety and turning it away. In the rhetoric, it's very much like: let's stop talking about the risks and start talking about the great innovation that we can do."The tension between safety and competitiveness is playing out elsewhere, including India, which, it was announced last month, will co-chair Frances Summit. In March, India issued an advisory that pushed companies to obtain the governments permission before deploying certain AI models, and take steps to prevent harm. It then swiftly reserved course after receiving sharp criticism from industry. In Californiahome to many of the top AI developersa landmark bill, which mandated that the largest AI developers implement safeguards to mitigate catastrophic risks, garnered support from a wide coalition, including Russell and Bengio, but faced pushback from the open-source community and a number of tech giants including OpenAI, Meta, and Google. In late August, the bill passed both chambers of Californias legislature with strong majorities but in September it was vetoed by governor Gavin Newsom who argued the measures could stifle innovation. In January, President Donald Trump repealed the former President Joe Bidens sweeping Executive Order on artificial intelligence, which had sought to tackle threats posed by the technology. Days later, Trump replaced it with an Executive Order that revokes certain existing AI policies and directives that act as barriers to American AI innovation to secure U.S. leadership over the technology.Markus Anderljung, director of policy and research at AI safety think-tank the Centre for the Governance of AI, says that safety could be woven into the France Summits broader goals. For instance, initiatives to distribute AIs benefits globally might be linked to commitments from recipient countries to uphold safety best practices. He says he would like to see the list of signatories of the Frontier AI Safety Commitments signed in Seoul expanded particularly in China, where only one company, Zhipu, has signed. But Anderljung says that for the commitments to succeed, accountability mechanisms must also be strengthened. "Commitments without follow-ups might just be empty words, he says, they just don't matter unless you know what was committed to actually gets done."A focus on AIs extreme risks does not have to come at the exclusion of other important issues. I know that the organizers of the French summit care a lot about [AIs] positive impact on the global majority, Bengio says. That's a very important mission that I embrace completely. But he argues the potential severity of loss-of-control risks warrant invoking precautionary principlethe idea that we should take preventive measures, even absent scientific consensus. Its a principle that has been invoked by U.N. declarations aimed at protecting the environment, and in sensitive scientific domains like human cloning.But for Bouverot, it is a question of balancing competing demands. We don't want to solve everythingwe can't, nobody can, she says, adding that the focus is on making AI more concrete. We want to work from the level of scientific consensus, whatever level of consensus is reached.In mid December, in Frances foreign ministry, Bouverot, faced an unusual dilemma. Across the table, a South Korean official explained his countrys eagerness to join the summit. But days earlier, South Koreas political leadership was thrown into turmoil when President Yoon Suk Yeol, who co-chaired the previous summits leaders session, declared martial law before being swiftly impeached, leaving the question of who will represent the countryand whether officials could attend at allup in the air.There is a great deal of uncertaintynot only over the pace AI will advance, but to what degree governments will be willing to engage. Frances own government collapsed in early December after Prime Minister Michel Barnier was ousted in a no-confidence vote, marking the first such collapse since the 1960s. And, as Trump, long skeptical of international institutions, returns to the oval office, it is yet to be seen how Vice President Vance will approach the Paris meeting.When reflecting on the technologys uncertain future, Bouverot finds wisdom in the words of another French pioneer who grappled with powerful but nascent technology. "I have this quote from Marie Curie, which I really love, Bouverot says. Curie, the first woman to win a Nobel Prize, revolutionized science with her work on radioactivity. She once wrote: Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Curies work ultimately cost her lifeshe died at a relatively young 66 from a rare blood disorder, likely caused by prolonged radiation exposure.More Must-Reads from TIMETrump and Musk Have All of Washington on EdgeWhy AI Safety Researchers Are Worried About DeepSeekBehind the Scenes of The White Lotus Season ThreeWhy, Exactly, Is Alcohol So Bad for You?The Motivational Trick That Makes You Exercise Harder11 New Books to Read in FebruaryHow to Get Better at Doing Things AloneColumn: Trumps Trans Military Ban Betrays Our TroopsContact us at letters@time.com

TL;DR: DJI is at a critical juncture as it faces a potential automatic ban on its products in the US. With less than a year to persuade the Trump administration and US lawmakers to reconsider, the company has made a bold move by announcing the removal of its self-imposed no-fly zones a decision that has raised eyebrows and sparked concerns across the drone industry. The timing of the announcement has been particularly controversial, coming less than a month after a small DJI drone collided with a plane battling the Los Angeles wildfires. Despite the incident, DJI is moving forward with its plan to eliminate restrictions that previously prevented its drones from flying over sensitive areas such as airports, power plants, and even the White House.Meanwhile, a critical deadline looms for the China-based company. Concerned that DJI drones could be used to collect sensitive information and transmit it to China, lawmakers earlier this year proposed the Countering CCP Drones Act, which aimed to add DJI to the FCC's blacklist. While the act was ultimately excluded from the final version of the National Defense Authorization Act this month, the NDAA still includes language with similar provisions.In an extensive interview with The Verge, Adam Welsh, DJI's head of global policy, acknowledged that the company faces an uphill battle in convincing the public that eliminating no-fly zone restrictions is the right move. "Geofencing has been in place for more than 10 years, and we recognize any change to something that's been in place for 10 years can come as a bit of a shock to people," he said.Welsh argued that while geofencing was initially implemented to fill regulatory gaps when consumer drones first entered the market, it was never a foolproof solution.Welsh points out that regulatory agencies have taken alternative approaches to drone safety, prioritizing operator training, airspace permissions, and remote ID technology rather than mandating geofencing. "They have stuck to the basic principle that the operator should be in control of the drone, the airplane, or any other kind of aviation object at all times," Welsh said.Critics argue that removing these restrictions could heighten safety risks. However, DJI contends that geofencing itself comes with significant drawbacks. // Related StoriesWayne Baker, DJI's public safety integration director, highlighted the challenges faced by first responders as an example. "An autistic child that's missing in inclement weather we didn't have the time to go through 'here's our permissions' and all that."The company also cites the growing burden of processing unlock requests as a key factor in its decision. While DJI insists that cost savings were not the primary motivation, Welsh acknowledged that "the burden on our internal resources had been growing exponentially." The company had invested in round-the-clock staffing to handle these requests, aiming to process them within an hour.DJI's decision raises broader questions about balancing operator freedom with public safety. Welsh likened geofencing to a car that prevents its owner from driving to certain places even after receiving permission or that restricts speed in designated areas. "I don't think people would accept it," he argued. Like traditional aircraft pilots, he believes drone operators should be responsible for understanding and adhering to flight restrictions.As the debate unfolds, DJI faces the challenge of persuading regulators and the public that this move enhances rather than compromises safety. The company is banking on improved operator education and existing regulatory frameworks to maintain safe drone operations. With the specter of a US ban looming, DJI's strategy amounts to a high-stakes bet on operator responsibility and regulatory alignment.

Big quote: The last few years have not been kind to Intel. The company has seen its fortunes fall as rivals continue to make great strides, both financially and technologically. In a recent interview, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates shared his thoughts on the situation, stating that Intel has "lost its way." An interview with Gates by the Associated Press notes how the billionaire has a soft spot for Intel. The publication suggesting that his career might have gone down a different path had Team Blue not created the first commercial microprocessor, the Intel 4004 in 1971. It led to more advanced chips that powered personal computers, resulting in the need for software for these PCs.While Microsoft has been on the rise since Satya Nadella became CEO in 2014, Intel has endured its most difficult period in decades. There were delays transitioning from the 14nm to 10nm process, followed by the delay of 7nm. Intel has also constantly lost market share to AMD, faced Apple dropping the company in favor of its own silicon, dealt with security vulnerabilities, struggled with Raptor Lake issues, and lost ground to chip rivals. Financial troubles have also hurt the company, culminating in the ousting of CEO Pat Gelsinger last year."I am stunned that Intel basically lost its way," Gates said. He added that Intel co-founder Gordon Moore "always kept Intel at the state of the art. And now they are kind of behind in terms of chip design and they are kind of behind in chip fabrication."Nvidia, TSMC, and Qualcomm are all ahead of Intel in various areas of chip manufacturing and design, and catching up isn't going to be easy, if not impossible.Gates also highlights how Intel essentially missed the AI chip revolution, though he did have praise for former CEO Pat Gelsinger. // Related Stories"I thought Pat Gelsinger was very brave to say, 'No, I am going to fix the design side, I am going to fix the fab side.' I was hoping for his sake, for the country's sake that he would be successful. I hope Intel recovers, but it looks pretty tough for them at this stage."Related: Intel's takeover dilemma: A Gordian knot of funding and politicsIntel has also been falling behind AMD in the consumer CPU market. Team Red is dominating the Amazon.com processor sales chart while continuing to do well abroad. Intel's only solace could be that more Steam survey participants (63%) still use its CPUs.There have been rumors that Intel could be bought out Broadcom looked like a potential buyer for a while but funding the company's fabs will require tens of billions of dollars and take years to get back on track, making it a less appealing proposition. Given the amount of money the US government has poured into them, shutting down its fabs isn't an option for Intel.

html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd"Samsung Galaxy S25 PlusMSRP$1,000.00 Score Details The Galaxy S25 Plus is an endurance champion in many ways, but an aging camera stack and fierce competition make it much harder to recommend.ProsExcellent battery lifeSuperfast performancePowerhouse processorFantastic sizeOne UI 7 is Samsung's best yetExcellent software longevity commitmentConsBuild durability is questionableUltrawide and telephoto cameras are very disappointingGalaxy AI features are still fairly limitedQi2 wireless charging not built in Table of ContentsTable of ContentsSpecsSamsung Galaxy S25 Plus: Design and DisplaySamsung Galaxy S25 Plus: Hardware and PerformanceSamsung Galaxy S25 Plus: Software and Galaxy AISamsung Galaxy S25 Plus: Battery and ChargingSamsung Galaxy S25 Plus: CameraSamsung Galaxy S25 Plus: price, availability and competitionThe Galaxy S25 Plus is fine but lacks star appealThe Galaxy S25 Plus is Samsungs latest middle-ground flagship, promising to offer a combination of the size and form factor of the regular Galaxy S25 with some of the features that make the Galaxy S25 Ultra stand out. Samsung has also forged ahead with its best software ever, with even more improvements in Galaxy AI.Recommended VideosIs this the AI phone that youve been waiting for? Ive used the Galaxy S25 Plus for two weeks and like the Galaxy S24 Plus, it has many positives with several caveats that you should be aware of.RelatedSamsung Galaxy S25 PlusSize158.4 x 75.8 x 7.3mm (6.24 x 2.98 x 0.98 inches)Weight190 grams (6.7 ounces)Screen and resolution6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X3,120 x 1,440 pixels (QHD+)1-120HzHDR10+2,600 nits peak brightnessCorning Gorilla Armor 2Operating systemOne UI 7 based on Android 15, supported for seven yearsStorage256GB, 512GBProcessor and RAMQualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen Elite for Galaxy with 12GB of RAMCamerasRear cameras:50MP primary, OIS12MP ultrawide-angle10MP telephoto, 3x optical zoomFront camera: 12MP, f/2.4DurabilityIP68, titanium frame, Gorilla Armor 2 glassBattery and charging4,900mAh45W wired charging15W Wireless charging (Qi2 Ready)Reverse wireless chargingColorsRetail: Navy, Mint, Icy Blue, Silver ShadowOnline Exclusives: Pink Gold, Coral Red, Blue BlackPriceStarting at $1,000Nirave Gondhia / Digital TrendsThe Galaxy S25 Plus looks like the Galaxy S24 Plus and the other Plus phones that came before. Like the Galaxy S25 and Galaxy S25 Ultra, its both thinner and lighter 0.4mm and seven grams respectively than the Galaxy S24 Plus, making for an improved overall in-hand experience. Where the Galaxy S25 Ultra will be slightly too heavy for some people, the Galaxy S25 Plus will likely be perfect.Like many companies who opt for iterative refinements from one phone to another, Samsung is hoping sleek new colors will help the Galaxy S25 Plus stand out. The range of colors this year has improved over previous years, but the glass back has its challenges; mainly, it scratches extremely easily. Within two days of using the hero Navy color, the back gathered scratches due to being used alongside the Titanium Galaxy Ring.Nirave Gondhia / Digital TrendsBeyond those changes, you essentially get the same experience as the Galaxy S24 Plus. Theres a 6.7-inch AMOLED 2X display thats a joy to use, although it lacks the anti-reflective display from the Galaxy S25 Ultra. Like last year, it features a 120Hz dynamic refresh rate and 1,440 x 3,120 pixels resolution. The front and back are both protected by Gorilla Glass Victus 2, although it hasnt protected the rear from scratching easily.Flip the phone over and aside from the different color, the only noticeable change is a tasteful camera ring. There are some concerns these may not be durable long-term, but theres no way to know how theyll hold up yet. Theres IP68 dust and water resistance, and the armor aluminum 2 frame is the same material used in the S24 Plus frame. Overall, you get a nearly identical experience to previous Plus phones, although the thinner build and lighter weight do make it slightly more comfortable in the hand. It also means the phone is more ergonomically friendly when youre using a case.Nirave Gondhia / Digital TrendsThe Galaxy S25 series features the best hardware and performance on a Samsung flagship phone to date, thanks to a combination of software optimizations and outstanding hardware. The Galaxy S25 Plus is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy, a customized version of the Snapdragon 8 Elite processor with a slightly higher clock speed. Both companies have partnered to also pay special attention to the NPU to ensure that it can keep up with all the AI demands, and crucially, many of the tasks that required the cloud previously can now happen completely on-device.The performance is faultless, and while its ultimately the same processor as rival phones like the OnePlus 13, Ive found it feels slightly faster. Ive had no issues playing the best games and even when running the performance mode, it doesnt miss a beat. Theres also a larger vapor chamber and while you often cant notice this, the Galaxy S25 Plus has been surprising in just how cool it remains even under heavy loads.Galaxy S25 Plus in Mint Nirave Gondhia / Digital TrendsUnder the harsh Dubai sun when testing the camera, the Galaxy S25 Plus also remained cooler than the competition. While the iPhone 16 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro, and Galaxy S24 Ultra were too hot to run the camera and the Oppo Find X8 Pro and OnePlus 13 were too hot to touch, but would still load the camera the Galaxy S25 Plus (and S25 Ultra) both continued to be usable despite the warnings about excessive heat.Many of these improvements come from the processor, which is paired with 12GB of RAM and between 128GB and 512GB of storage. However, some are thanks to One UI 7, which is one of the fastest user experiences the company has ever made.Nirave Gondhia / Digital TrendsOne UI 7 is a significant improvement over previous generations of Samsungs software. Unlike past Samsung phones which would often slow with heavy usage, the Galaxy S25 Plus remains as fast as it was on the first day and shows no signs of the sluggishness Ive previously forgiven on Samsung phones. Coupled with outstanding battery life, this is a testament to the vast work put into One UI 7.One UI 7 runs on top of Android 15, and Samsung plans to support the Galaxy S25 Plus with seven years of both major software and security updates. Unlike previous generations where the experience would likely grind to a halt before the end of this period, One UI 7 on the Galaxy S25 Plus offers excellent longevity if you dont plan to change your phone often.Nirave Gondhia / Digital TrendsOne UI 7 now offers a split notification and quick settings pull-down menu which I enjoy far more than the combined menu before. It also comes with a new vertical app drawer activated by sorting apps alphabetically that finally offers parity with every other Android phone, and even most newer iPhones. Its far easier to find the app that youre looking for, and its a more elegant and logical approach to the app drawer.All of Samsungs optimizations have been designed to make One UI 7 the best software that Samsung has offered on a phone, but some of these have also been applied to Galaxy AI itself. Last year saw Samsung kick off the AI trend with a range of Galaxy AI features powered by Google Gemini, but within weeks, these features were available on most Android phones. While there are many this year that will also likely be available on rival devices, Samsung has also developed a few features in-house that are particularly interesting.Now Brief Nirave Gondhia / Digital TrendsTwo of the new features that wont be coming to other Android phones are Now Brief and the Now Bar, which are both designed to make AI more personal and helpful for you. The Now Brief gives you a summary of your day in the morning, during the day, and in the evening, and is designed to help surface the information that Galaxy AI thinks is pertinent to your day. It includes weather, your calendar and upcoming meetings, navigation, travel reminders, and even health data if youre wearing a Galaxy Ring or Galaxy Watch. However, despite the wealth of information, it isnt essential and ultimately doesnt improve your life in meaningful ways.Nirave Gondhia / Digital TrendsThat said, it also powers the Now Bar which is far more useful. Its inspired by Apples Dynamic Island, but unlike Apples integration which is available even when your phone is unlocked, the Now Bar is limited to a pill at the bottom of the lock screen. Its a shame as its fairly useful at surfacing sports information, timers, music playback, and Notes from Samsungs app. This is something that I expect well more of this year, but as its just launched, it lacks support for third-party apps.The new Circle-to-Search is Shazam on steroids and a feature that every smartphone needsBeyond these two features, there are also a few other Galaxy AI features that I enjoy. The updated Circle to Search has quickly become one of my favorite use cases for AI as it can now recognize phone numbers and addresses in images, and look up locations directly from a photo. It also supports audio meaning you can quickly look up the song playing in a video.Crucially, its a feature that is virtually guaranteed to save you a headache, literally; weve all had those moments when a song is stuck in our head, and the updated Circle to Search also lets you sing or hum the song for it to search for. It works exceptionally well and even works in foreign languages, as I discovered during my recent trip to India. The new Circle to Search is Shazam on steroids and a feature that every smartphone needs.There are two more noteworthy AI features. Whereas the above set of Galaxy AI features is expected to launch on all Android phones, Samsung has developed two features that are seemingly exclusive to its phones as they use Bixby. First, instead of digging through the various settings menus to find a particular option, you can simply search for it using your voice.Nirave Gondhia / Digital TrendsSecond, you can search the contents of photos with your voice, but you need to do so in the Gallery app as the feature uses Bixby, not Gemini. It works fairly well and it shows that Samsung could build useful AI features that complement Google, but I suspect many users will expect it to be available in Google Photos, not Samsungs default Gallery app.Overall, AI is more useful on the Galaxy S25 Plus than the Galaxy S24 Plus, but it comes with the usual caveat over just how useful it is. The Now Bar is super useful but limited, while the Now Brief is a great attempt at personalization that hasnt quite landed for me, at least not yet. Like previous years, Galaxy AI has a long way to go, but beyond this, One UI 7 is Samsungs best software ever and arguably one of the smoothest software experiences on any Android phone.Nirave Gondhia / Digital TrendsOn paper, the Galaxy S24 Plus and Galaxy S25 Plus feature the same battery thanks to the same 4,900 mAh capacity, but as weve seen with other phones, the Snapdragon 8 Elite processor offers outstanding battery life. Although the capacity isnt as large as rival phones like the OnePlus 13 which is arguably more of a competitor to the flagship Galaxy S25 Ultra the Galaxy S25 Plus still offers true all-day battery life with plenty to spare.The Galaxy S25 Plus battery can satisfy even the most demanding usersOn several occasions, it will last for over 24 hours on a single charge with at least six hours of screen-on-time, and 10-20% battery remaining. This is battery life that can compete with most smartphones, and after using it for two weeks, I do not doubt that the Galaxy S25 Pluss battery life can satisfy even the most demanding users. Its also significantly improved over last years Galaxy S24 lineup. Also improved are Samsungs charging speeds, and the Galaxy S25 Plus is better than ever before. It supports 45W charging, although this only happens for a small subset of the charge time. That said, the actual charge time matters more, and its more than enough for most users.Galaxy S25 Plus and OnePlus 13 charging speeds Nirave Gondhia / Digital TrendsRunning low and in a rush? A quick ten-minute top-up will net you around 25%. If you have more time, you can hit 50% in just 25 minutes and 75% in 40 minutes. It takes 54 minutes to achieve 90% and a full charge will take you a little over an hour. Across several tests, the Galaxy S25 Plus averaged one hour and ten minutes for a full charge, but the fastest was just 64 minutes.Its worth noting that this still pales in comparison to rivals like the OnePlus 13 which achieves a full charge in under 40 minutes. The OnePlus 13s 50W magnetic charger can charge that phone at a slightly higher effective speed than the Galaxy S25 Plus when plugged into a 45W fast charger. That said, the Galaxy S25 Plus also supports 15W wireless charging, and it supports Qi2 magnetic charging, although youll need to buy the official magnetic wireless charging cover and it doesnt offer higher speeds, just better alignment and overall efficiency.Nirave Gondhia / Digital TrendsThe Galaxy S25 Plus features identical camera hardware to the Galaxy S24 Plus, and even the Galaxy S23 Plus. If you have a Galaxy S22 Plus and upgrade to this years hardware, theres no difference in the camera hardware, although there will likely be some improvements thanks to the ISP.1 of 6Portrait photo Image used with permission by copyright holder Portrait selfie Image used with permission by copyright holder Food picture Image used with permission by copyright holder Food picture Image used with permission by copyright holder Food picture Image used with permission by copyright holder Image used with permission by copyright holder This means it shouldnt come as a surprise that the Galaxy S25 Plus camera doesnt compare to the competition. You get a 50MP main sensor with f/1.8 aperture and OIS, paired with a 12MP ultrawide sensor and 10MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom. On paper, this is perfectly fine, but in actual use, the aging hardware tells a different story.1. Galaxy S25 Plus 1x2. Galaxy S25 Plus 2x3. Galaxy S25 Plus 3x4. Galaxy S25 Plus 5x5. Galaxy S25 Plus 10x6. Galaxy S25 Plus 30x7. OnePlus 13 1x8. OnePlus 13 2x9. OnePlus 13 3x10. OnePlus 13 6x11. OnePlus 13 10x12. OnePlus 13 30xThe main lens uses pixel binning to combine four pixels into one and capture 12MP photos that are fairly detailed and will compete with most phones. Unfortunately, this is where the competition ends as rivals have higher resolution sensors in the telephoto and ultrawide cameras, which capture more detail and much better overall images.1. Galaxy S25 Plus 1x2. Galaxy S25 Plus 2x3. Galaxy S25 Plus 3x4. Galaxy S25 Plus 5x5. Galaxy S25 Plus 10x6. Galaxy S25 Plus 30x7. OnePlus 13 1x8. OnePlus 13 2x9. OnePlus 13 3x10. OnePlus 13 6x11. OnePlus 13 10x12. OnePlus 13 30xThe challenge isnt that the Galaxy S25 Pluss camera system is inferior to previous years, but rather that the competition is much fiercer. The Galaxy S22 Plus competed against the iPhone 15 Pro, the Pixel 7 Pro, and the OnePlus 11. It was already struggling to match those phones two or three years ago, but now the Galaxy S25 Plus has fallen considerably behind.Often differences in camera hardware dont translate to differences in camera performance, but in this case, the Galaxy S25 Plus is inferior to each of its main competitors. The Galaxy S25 Ultra features an upgraded 50MP ultrawide camera and this would have helped the Galaxy S25 Plus somewhat at least. Instead, a lack of a refreshed camera system combined with much better competition who have taken the camera seriously means the Galaxy S25 Plus has gone from being fine in previous years to feeling like a disappointment. A case in point is that the Galaxy S25 Plus was significantly outperformed by the OnePlus 13 in our comparison.Galaxy S25 PlusOnePlus 13 Pixel 9 ProApple iPhone 16 ProMain Camera50MP, f/1.8, 24mm1.0m, dual pixelPDAF, OIS50MP, f/1.6, 23mm1.12m, multi-directional PDAF, OIS50MP, f/1.7, 25mm1.2m, dual pixel PDAF, OIS48MP, f/1.8, 24mm1.22m, dual pixel PDAF, sensor-shift OISUltrawide Camera12MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 1201.4m, Super steady Video50MP, f/2.0, 15mm, 1200.64m, PDAF48MP, f/2.8, 123, dual pixel PDAF48MP, f/2.2, 13mm0.7mm, PDAFTelephoto Camera10MP, f/2.4, 67mmTelephoto, 3x optical zoom1.0m, PDAF, OIS50MP, f/2.6, 73mmPeriscope telephoto, 3x optical zoom0.8m, PDAF, OIS48MP, f/2.8, 113mmPeriscope telephoto, 5x optical zoomdual pixel PDAF, OIS12MP, f/2.8, 120mmPeriscope telephoto, 5x optical zoomdual pixel PDAF, sensor-shift OISSelfie Camera10MP, f/2.4, 67mmTelephoto, 3x optical zoom1.0m, PDAF, OIS50MP, f/2.6, 73mmPeriscope telephoto, 3x optical zoom0.8m, PDAF, OIS42MP, f/2.2, 17mm (ultrawide), PDAF12MP, f/1.9, 23mmPDAF, OISSamsung needed to revamp its cameras this year, but failing to do so means that the Galaxy S25 Plus camera will largely be disappointing if youre upgrading from any recent smartphone and hoping for an upgrade.Nirave Gondhia / Digital TrendsThe Galaxy S25 Plus will be available from February 7. It starts at $1,000 for the 256GB storage model, and you can double the storage for an additional $120. Incidentally, this is the same pricing as the Galaxy S24 Plus in all regions.The Galaxy S25 Plus is available in four main colors: Silver Shadow, Icy Blue, Mint, and the best Galaxy S25 color to buy, Navy. Having seen the propensity to be easily damaged, Id pick the lighter Icy Blue or Mint colors now.Nirave Gondhia / Digital TrendsThe Galaxy S25 Plus also comes in three colors that are exclusive to Samsungs online store: Blue Black, Pink Gold, and Coral Red. By far my favorite is the Coral Red, which has rich red-and-orange hues that stand out from any Samsung phone made recently.The biggest challenge for Samsung remains that while the Galaxy S25 Plus pricing hasnt changed from the Galaxy S24 Plus, there is now far more competition that is available at the same or lower prices. The OnePlus 13 starts at just $900 and is objectively a much better overall phone, while the Pixel 9 Pro starts at the same price and has a better camera. Even the iPhone 16 Pro starts at the same price and has more star appeal than Samsungs Goldilocks-like flagship. Herein lies the ultimate conundrum for this phone.Nirave Gondhia / Digital TrendsHow do I summarize the Galaxy S25 Plus experience? After two weeks, Im still taken back to my first two days with it and the range of emotions I felt. As it turns out, they summarize the entire experience extremely well.At first, I was excited to review the Galaxy S25 Plus as it was my first time using Samsungs middle phone extensively. The feel in the hand, the weight, and the color all felt great and I was excited to dig in. When I did so, the cracks began to appear. First, the durability concerns. Second, the cameras shortcomings. These two combined to make the phone feel somewhat lackluster.The lack of improvement in the camera aside, this is not down to Samsung. The performance is second to none, the battery is outstanding and even the charging is approaching more than acceptable. A commitment to seven years of software updates and a fantastic software experience means this will be a smartphone that should stand the test of time. Yet, the lackluster feeling comes from the competition, or rather, the Galaxy S25 Plus ability to compete with them.The Galaxy S25 Plus in Navy vs the OnePlus 13 in Blue Nirave Gondhia / Digital TrendsFor the same price, you can buy the OnePlus 13, Pixel 9 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro, all three of which offer a better overall experience. For years, Samsung has been able to offer an iterative upgrade that still competed, and while the Galaxy S25 Plus offers a worthwhile upgrade if you have an older Plus phone, its no longer in the conversation for best phones like it once was. Samsungs approach to the Plus has been fairly perfunctory, and the Galaxy S25 Plus shows this in abundance. Its a shame as it is the best-sized Samsung flagship.Editors Recommendations

Settlement payout from the iPhone 7 class action lawsuit against Apple are starting to roll out. Those who participated in the class action lawsuit have started to receive payments, with amounts varying based on whether you spent any money on repairing the iPhone 7 or the iPhone 7 Plus.Some of the co-applicants in the lawsuit have started to receive around $200 as part payment from the $35 million settlement, 9to5Mac reported. While the payout is less than the maximum of $350 initially approved by the court, it should still feel satisfactory to the appellants.Recommended VideosThe report does not clarify if payment terms have been revised, but it was supposed to fall between $50 and $350 for those who paid Apple to get the audio IC defect rectified. Those who notified Apple but didnt pay for repairs were eligible for compensation up to $125. The actual payouts are supposed to be split judiciously between the plaintiffs and after squeezing payments for the class representatives and attorneys from the sum of $35 million.Please enable Javascript to view this contentMembers of the settlement class who have yet to receive their payments can dial 1-833-633-0343 to check the status and the exact amount of the payments. You can also visit the designated contact page to find a mail-in address where you can send your queries or fill a contact form with your details to receive a call-back.Digital TrendsIf you are unsure of whether you qualify for these payouts, we may have some bad news. Thats because the deadline to participate in the ended in July last year. If you missed the window, you are likely not eligible for the payouts, even if you own an iPhone 7 or 7 Plus or did at some time between 2016 and 2023.In case you are unaware why Apple had to part ways with such as high sum of $35 million, it is because of a widespread flaw found on the iPhone 7 and the iPhone 7 Plus. Often referred to as the loop disease or the audio IC defect that led to issues with the speaker and microphone on the specific iPhone models when subjected to pressure. Widespread outrage culminated in a class action lawsuit against Apple, which it decided to settle in 2024.Despite agreeing to settle the class action for $35 million, Apple continues to deny the allegations. For the three-trillion dollar company, that is surely loose change and badgering itself with legal woes would probably cost more.Editors Recommendations

Restrictions will remain in place for now while labor unions pursue a lawsuit over access to payments information.

The Oscar-nominated actor is at the heart of the Cinderella story gone wrong.