Home Google Is Working on a DeX-like Android Experience – New Competition for Samsung? News Google Is Working on a DeX-like Android Experience – New Competition for Samsung? 5 min read Published: May 16, 2025 Key Takeaways Google’s Android 16 beta build gives us a sneak peek into its latest Android Desktop mode. Similar to Samsung’s DeX, it has taskbars at the bottom and floating windows for multitasking. This will make DeX-like experiences cheaper and increase OEM competition. Google has been, for quite some time, trying to emulate Samsung’s DeX success. Well, there’s finally some development on that initiative with the latest beta build of Android 16. Google is actively working on a new Android desktop mode, very similar to DeX. Whatever limited information has been made publicly available shows a very similar interface to Samsung DeX. There’s an Android taskbar at the bottom with all recent and pinned apps, which also houses the app drawer. Just like Samsung, you’ll get various floating windows that can be used for multitasking. The beta mode shows that you can freely move and resize windows and drag-and-drop content from one app to another, just as you can do on a Windows laptop. Remember, Google had introduced desktop windowing for its Android tablets with the Android 15 release. This allowed users to run multiple apps simultaneously and resize windows on their tablets. However, this worked only on built-in displays. It looks like Google is trying to build on this basic version of windowing to develop a full-fledged desktop UI for Android. The exact launch of the feature cannot be confirmed as of now. However, experts expect it to go live with the Android 17 release next year. The 2025 Android 16 might be too soon for a full feature release. How Can It Affect OEMs and Competition? A positive impact would be that it would make PC experiences more affordable for remote workers, college students, and those on a budget. Currently, only high-end devices from Samsung and Motorola can offer the full desktop user interface experience. Sure, you can get the Samsung Galaxy S8, S9, or S10 for DeX features for around $150-$200. However, all these devices are limited to just 4GB of RAM, which limits desktop performance. You won’t be able to multitask with fluidity and may experience glitchy interfaces. For the best DeX experience, you need something like a Samsung Galaxy S23 FE costing around $230-$260 or the S21 Ultra costing $250+. Now, with the introduction of Android’s native desktop solution, the cost of a DeX-like experience will come down. Budget smartphones offering 8GB of RAM for under $150 may achieve comparable DeX performance to high-end Samsung phones. This will also bring a need for differentiation between OEMs. Till now, they could develop different desktop experiences and market them as their USP, which is something Motorola has done. However, now that we’re on the verge of a unified Android desktop experience, these differentiations might die down, seeing as OEMs might ditch costly custom UIs. Image Credit – Android Authority It’s true that Google is miles behind Samsung when it comes to desktop experiences. However, every technology has a saturation point beyond which new innovations are slow. Ask yourself, what more can Samsung introduce in their DeX features? It’s already a near-complete product. Even if they do introduce something new, the developments will be slow. Image Credit – Samsung Business Insights Google, on the other hand, has a lot to do, which can be achieved at a faster pace compared to Samsung. The technology gap we see now can be closed down quickly in the next 3 to 4 years, beyond which the two providers may be more or less at par. Can Mobile Desktop Experiences Replace Laptops? While we are at it, let’s briefly discuss whether the mobile desktop experience can replace laptops. In a nutshell, we don’t think that’s going to happen anytime soon. Mobiles and laptops are meant for two distinct uses, even though there are several overlaps. Sure, you might be able to do 70% of the work that you do on a laptop by hooking up your mobile with an external screen. For example, you can browse the internet, write an article, send an email, attend a video conference, and so on. However, several uses that require massive computing power may not be handled well by such setups. At least not now. For instance, you cannot edit a professional video or develop new software on DeX. Additionally, there are a lot of software limitations as well. Not every app right now is optimized for the DEX experience. It would require a lot of time and investment to achieve this level of optimization. Next, there’s the issue of form factor. A laptop is a compact, complete product that you can use anywhere on the go. Now, imagine if you only have a desktop UI-enabled phone. You still need a dedicated display, keyboard, and mouse to set up the whole thing, which isn’t half as convenient as using a laptop. Then there’s the cost angle. While a laptop is an all-in-one device, going the desktop-phone route means buying a monitor, keyboard, and mouse separately, which can easily add up. What starts as a budget-friendly idea quickly becomes a piecemeal setup that could cost more than a mid-range laptop, without delivering the same seamless experience. All in all, mobile-enabled desktop experiences have a long way to go before they can come close to replacing laptops. Krishi is a seasoned tech journalist with over four years of experience writing about PC hardware, consumer technology, and artificial intelligence.  Clarity and accessibility are at the core of Krishi’s writing style. He believes technology writing should empower readers—not confuse them—and he’s committed to ensuring his content is always easy to understand without sacrificing accuracy or depth. Over the years, Krishi has contributed to some of the most reputable names in the industry, including Techopedia, TechRadar, and Tom’s Guide. A man of many talents, Krishi has also proven his mettle as a crypto writer, tackling complex topics with both ease and zeal. His work spans various formats—from in-depth explainers and news coverage to feature pieces and buying guides.  Behind the scenes, Krishi operates from a dual-monitor setup (including a 29-inch LG UltraWide) that’s always buzzing with news feeds, technical documentation, and research notes, as well as the occasional gaming sessions that keep him fresh.  Krishi thrives on staying current, always ready to dive into the latest announcements, industry shifts, and their far-reaching impacts.  When he's not deep into research on the latest PC hardware news, Krishi would love to chat with you about day trading and the financial markets—oh! And cricket, as well. View all articles by Krishi Chowdhary Our editorial process The Tech Report editorial policy is centered on providing helpful, accurate content that offers real value to our readers. We only work with experienced writers who have specific knowledge in the topics they cover, including latest developments in technology, online privacy, cryptocurrencies, software, and more. Our editorial policy ensures that each topic is researched and curated by our in-house editors. We maintain rigorous journalistic standards, and every article is 100% written by real authors. More from News View all View all

Captured on Nintendo Switch (Handheld/Undocked)It's possibly becoming a bit of a hard sell these days, the old roguelike dungeon-crawling adventure, replete with retro/pixel visuals. We know it. However, as busy and as overstuffed with pale imitators to the greats as this genre is, it's still well worth keeping an eye out for the odd gem. And here we have an example of said gem. Into the Restless Ruins is a fantastic thing - put simply, a game that takes a whole bunch of mechanics you might think you're tired of, and weaves them together into something entirely fresh and unique. Edinburgh-based Ant Workshop Studios has melded deckbuilding, dungeon-crawling, dungeon-building, a fiendishly moreish memory game, and delightful, Vampire Survivors-esque, auto-combat to beguiling effect in its Switch debut. The delicately judged balance here, in how each of these mechanics is given an equal share of your time, ensures that, from the first dungeon drop to the very last battle of the campaign, you may find yourself immobilised, such is the addictiveness of the core gameplay loops running in tandem. Captured on Nintendo Switch (Handheld/Undocked) Kicking off in a dank catacomb, in a region known as Eorisdale, Into the Restless Ruins sees you take charge of a cloaked protagonist, a Celtic champion, who's on the hunt for the Harvest Maiden. This figure from Scottish folklore, according to the game, can satisfy any heart's greatest desires - in return for a little toil. And so off we pop down some dungeons as we've got a hot tip-off that's where she goes to chill out. This first dungeon gently introduces the flow of the gameplay. Starting a run, you're procedurally-generated a single piece of dungeon, perhaps a crossroads, with a spawn point in the centre. You also have a deck with five cards. Each card has a little part of a dungeon displayed on it, alongside the number of BP (Build Points) you'll need to play it, and a note of any other effects the card may have. An armoury will raise your attack stat, a camp lets you regenerate a little of your torch, whilst faded groves give you a little health regen, and so on through more complex fare. Captured on Nintendo Switch (Docked) You start off from your spawn point and use your cards, choosing a piece of dungeon to fit — in a lovely clicky way — to the piece you're currently on. The aim now is to build and expand, using your given turns and BP, to reach several clouded areas spread around you, some of which contain seals. These seals must be found and broken to advance further to a final boss confrontation. All good. Now, once you've done your planning and played your cards, you hold in 'Y' to drop right down into the dungeon (and it's nice how the game just seamlessly zooms right in for this bit) where the auto-combat battling begins. The combat here will come as no surprise to anyone who's survived vampires: it's all about positioning and timing, avoiding explodey rats and mice, weaving through wizard's spells, and knowing when to press or pull back. Once this part starts, you'll likely quickly realise that you've made some mistakes in the planning (especially if you are us). You see, as your dungeons expand, as you reach a seal and break it and are then faced down by a horde of angry beasties, the importance of dungeon design is fully revealed. Accessibility Features GameplayAssistsControlsVisualAudioFull Accessibility Report Data by Family Gaming Database Campsites, first up, need to be placed along routes with some thought to ensure you can keep your torch lit, because they've only gone and put your light supply on a tightly-timed gauge. Tension has entered the chat! You also have a bar dictating your health, which doesn't take much to empty either, so the positioning of those regenerating faded groves is now of critical import. Once you complete a run you'll be taken back to your deck and another gauge is deployed. This purple addition to the fun shows you how cursed you are, you see. It gets added to with each complete run, and so doing well, not dying, and playing clever will help you keep this bar filling up as slowly as possible. Dying and making a mess, on the other hand, will add some hefty chunks, putting you at risk of being overwhelmed before you manage to break all the seals and beat the boss. Phew! The first dungeon's leisurely pace and straightforward layout gives you a chance to get used to spinning and placing parts of your dungeon onto the map, as well as getting to grips with how you'll need to time everything just so to push on to victory. The combat keeps itself varied by providing new weapons and collectibles, too, as well as giving you new options through a vast selection of upgradeable and changeable cards (116 base varieties, we believe). Captured on Nintendo Switch (Handheld/Undocked) There are further layers provided through build synergies — certain placement patterns provide surprise boons — and there's also a whole bunch of Cantrips to unlock and use, allowing you to add both positive and negative effects to raise or lower the amount of XP you gain in a run, or "harvest" to use the correct lingo. So, lots of moving parts to consider. You've also got a few characters to meet out in these ruins that you've built around yourself, strange NPCs who'll upgrade your cards, duplicate particular faves, and more besides, whilst imparting some folklore upon you. Upgrading here, it has to be said, is also just really cool and satisfying because, besides the usual numbers-going-up, you get new entrances onto your card pieces. So, for example, a long corridor with three doors that you couldn't use because it wouldn't fit, now gets an extra door for you to work with. It's addictive, puzzley-time stuff that just gets better as it gets harder. Captured on Nintendo Switch (Docked) Of course, when a clouded area within any of your dungeons doesn't contain a seal, you've wasted a lot of resources making your way towards it, and this aspect also brings enough tension to your planning time that the building is every bit as enjoyable as the combat. Wandering through dungeons brings the added danger of getting lost, too, as there's no map, so the memory game starts to rear its head as you move onto the later catacombs, which mix things up by spreading the clouds you need to uncover in various directions. This means way more pre-planning is required to avoid coming a cropper to the tight time and health constraints placed on you. Beyond this, you've also got cursed cards that'll be played into your deck once you've been cursed, these add some rough negatives to proceedings if you let them sit in your hand, and so you need to consider when to play them (they cost a BP) in order to do the least amount of damage to your chances and get them out of your deck. These are offset by favour cards you'll get from breaking seals and levelling up, so you could, as an example, play a cursed card that means you can't heal up at groves, but then play a card that gives you +500% damage, so it nullifies the negative somewhat and removes it from your deck. Captured on Nintendo Switch (Docked) There are so many wrinkles here that it could have become very tedious and/or messy, so the best thing is how it's all so effortless and easy to learn, even if you don't really do cards as a regular thing. Every aspect is explained well (there's a tutorial in the menus when you need it), and you can take your time in the planning phase. As the catacombs get harder, things progress along perfectly from relaxing and addictive, to tension-filled and even more bloody addictive. The lovely pixel art style, quick shots of Scottish folklore, and solid soundtrack all work to give you exactly the kind of ambience you need to settle in for the long haul. In terms of negatives, well, the story aspects are light, really, so this one isn't gonna be challenging any of the more narratively bombastic examples of the genre to a straight-up auto-fight in the school playground. We guess, too, that the graphical style is one that's been done quite a bit, but honestly, we're picking for the sake of it now. This is some premium-grade roguelike, in the end - a uniquely fresh take that borrows inspirations from all over its chosen genre, and cobbles them together into a wonderful indie game that's very much its own thing. Just be warned that the 'one more run' factor here is high. Conclusion Into The Restless Ruins has taken us totally by surprise. This is a belting addition to the Switch's lineup of roguelikes that manages to make itself fresh and unique in a category full of bland copycats. The melding of deckbuilding, combat, memory challenges, and construction of dungeons makes for a game that draws you right in every time, robbing you of hours as you work your way through its delightful catacombs. A little more narrative oomph may have taken it even further, but you're still looking at a bit of a must-play here. A wonderfully clever melding of mechanicsCombat is fun with good variety in enemies and weaponsPacing is spot on, with dungeons getting more complex as you goEasy to get to grips with but deep as the darkest dungeon, too Story is very lightPixel art style has been done quite a bit before Excellent 9/10

Ready or not–and despite a spotty safety record–the EV maker is racing to launch a pilot ride service in Austin to show off its self-driving chops. Elon Musk is rolling out a handful of Tesla robotaxis in Austin next month, where up to 20 self-driving electric Model Ys will be unleashed to ferry passengers around the Texas city’s streets. He’s betting the future of Tesla on their success, as the automaker’s electric vehicle revenue tanks thanks to faster-growing Chinese rivals and a political backlash against Musk’s right-wing politics and role as job-slasher-in-chief for the Trump Administration. But there’s a big hitch: Tesla hasn’t proven its self-driving taxis are safe enough to start delivering rides. Given its misleadingly named Autopilot and Full Self-Driving (FSD) software’s deadly track record, Musk’s failure to provide detailed safety and technical data about Tesla’s technology and his determination to rely on cheap cameras instead of more robust sensors to navigate complicated urban environments, the Austin rollout could be a debacle. For the latest in cleantech and sustainability news, sign up here for our Current Climate newsletter. “It's going to fail for sure,” Dan O’Dowd, a long-time critic of Musk’s autonomous driving claims who’s spent his own money on Super Bowl commercials to call out Autopilot and FSD safety flaws, told Forbes. His anti-Tesla initiative, The Dawn Project, tests every update of FSD, a more advanced version of which is powering Musk’s robotaxis in Austin, as soon as they’re available. That update is to roll out to all Tesla drivers who pay a $99 monthly subscription fee. A pre-production Tesla Cybercab at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles.Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. O’Dowd has been putting the current version of FSD through its paces. “We drove it around Santa Barbara for 80 minutes and there were seven failures,” said O’Dowd, whose company Green Hills Software supplies security tech to defense and aerospace industry customers. “If there had not been a driver sitting in the driver's seat, it would’ve hit something.” While the company hasn’t booked a dollar of robotaxi revenue, that hasn’t stopped the world’s wealthiest person from declaring victory. “I don’t see anyone being able to compete with Tesla at present,” Musk said on the company’s April 22 results call. His assessment may be premature.“I was looking for a signal this was ready. I didn't get that.”   The sole public demonstration of Tesla’s robotaxi chops was staged drives of its new “Cybercab” at Warner Brothers Studio in Los Angeles last October. The event included hauling invited Tesla fans around a fake cityscape–free of pedestrians but with lots of Tesla technicians keeping close tabs on vehicles. It struck safety researcher Noah Goodall, who published a technical analysis of Tesla’s safety data, independently from his role with the Virginia Department of Transportation, as more amusement park attraction than real-world test. “It was just operating vehicles on a closed track on a movie lot. It was not impressive at all,” he said. “Navigating a real urban environment with uncertainty, other parties moving around, situations where just braking is not enough, that’s difficult. I was looking for a signal this was ready. I didn't get that.” Autonomy Promises In the decade since Tesla began selling customers its Autopilot and FSD features–for which it currently charges $8,000–the software has been linked to several fatal accidents where human drivers trusted the tech to drive their car, only for it to crash. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has opened multiple probes of Tesla’s Autopilot feature since 2016, including one last year to determine if it needed additional safety features after linking Autopilot to those 13 deaths. Last October, NHTSA also began investigating problems with FSD linked to two fatalities. Despite the names, this software has always been designed to have a human behind the wheel. For the past decade, Musk has repeatedly claimed “full autonomy”–where a car can drive without human assistance–was only months or a year away, repeatedly missing his targets. Now, with Tesla’s EV sales down 13% in the first quarter, the company needs some buzz to reassure investors CEO Musk can turn things around. Robotaxis, as well as AI and humanoid robots, are exactly that, according to Musk. So it’s running extensive tests in downtown Austin. “There’s just always a convoy of Teslas going all over to Austin in circles,” Musk said on the call. But a recent Business Insider story, citing interviews with former Tesla test drivers, doesn’t inspire confidence. The program “feels very forced,” one former worker said. "It's this breakthrough moment for Tesla, but there is also this feeling of so many last-minute details being up in the air.”The downtown Austin skyline.Getty Images Tesla’s program will operate in a very limited area of Austin and rely heavily on remote operators to minimize accidents, according to an executive with another autonomous tech company, based on conversations with Texas officials, who asked not to be identified as the matter isn’t public. To back up the AI driving the vehicles, Tesla has also hired human staff to monitor and assist if they get into jams, taking full control if necessary. “As we iterate on the AI that powers them, we need the ability to access and control them remotely,” the company said in a posting for one such job. Alphabet Inc.’s Waymo, the leader in robotaxi tech, also uses remote operators to assist the vehicles by providing suggested solutions to tricky situations, but those people don’t actually drive them. Lag and latency in cellular networks make remote operations unsafe. Limited Data Along with limited tests, there’s a dearth of trustworthy data about how well Tesla’s self-driving software operates. The company does file occasional safety performance reports about the software, but it’s not peer-reviewed by outside technical experts and it frames the data as positively as possible, according to Goodall, a technical witness in a lawsuit against Tesla over the death of Walther Huang, killed in 2018 when his Model X slammed into a highway divider while running on Autopilot. “With Full Self Driving, when they first started publishing numbers on that, they neglected to share that they’d only rolled the software out to drivers who had a very high safety score of 90 or above,” he said. “So of course the data showed it was safer, as your safest drivers were the only ones that had it.” By contrast, Waymo frequently posts detailed reports on how its robotaxis are performing, claiming the data is peer-reviewed by experts. Tesla also hasn’t yet shared details with the public about where in Austin it will offer its robotaxi service or exactly how it will operate. The city’s police and fire departments told Forbes the company contacted Austin’s Autonomous Vehicle Task Force, which includes their staff, and the city provided Tesla with “maps of schools and school zones; information about traffic control for special events; and information about our fire and police vehicles and procedures.” But a request to see communications between Tesla and the city was denied. “The City of Austin is withholding responsive documents without a ruling from the Attorney General’s office, as permitted by law,” it said in an email. “All responsive information has been withheld due to 3rd party.” The city didn’t respond to a question to confirm Tesla is that third party. The company, Musk and Ashok Elluswamy, head of Tesla’s autonomous vehicle program, didn’t respond to emails about the Austin rollout. NHTSA this week requested details about Tesla’s Austin plans to understand how the vehicles perform in bad weather. It’s been investigating Tesla collisions involving Autopilot and FSD in poor visibility situations since last October. It’s not clear if the company has responded yet. Tesla has had a permit to test autonomous vehicles in California for a decade, which requires companies to share safety data. Numerous competitors, including Waymo, Amazon’s Zoox, which hopes to operate robotaxis this year, Nuro and even Apple, which abandoned its program, have all submitted data on test miles logged including “disengagements”–when a human driver has to take over–as well as accident reports. Tesla hasn’t. Not Just Driving It’s hard to talk about Musk’s robotaxi dreams without comparing his approach to Waymo’s. The Alphabet unit has spent 16 years and billions of dollars trying to master every aspect of what a robotaxi has to do. Long before it gave its first paid rides to customers in Phoenix in 2018, the company tested intensely on public roads, privately at the “Castle,” its test facility at a decommissioned Air Force base in Central California, and with endless miles in virtual simulation to train its AI.A Waymo robotaxi in San Francisco.dpa/picture alliance via Getty Images Recognizing that robotaxis aren’t just a technical challenge, it also recruited people from the airline industry and businesses specializing in customer service. For robotaxis to work, the cars have to be good at doing small things that can be tough to master but are critical, like picking up and dropping off passengers. “We've been working on that for a long time,” said Chris Ludwick, director of Waymo’s product management team. “The first challenge with PUDO (the company’s shorthand for pickup, drop-off) is that when you get there, the on-road scene is going to be somewhat different each time. You may encounter construction or a stopped delivery truck or something like that. This leads to a whole suite of challenges of what do you do when you can't do the exact thing that you said to the rider when they requested the ride.” That includes developing a sophisticated app to guide passengers to the safest, most convenient spots for them and other road users. “You can't just block traffic. That's unacceptable. If you do that the community gets upset,” Ludwick said. “There's just a lot of small details you have to get right.” As far as safety, Waymo has avoided major accidents, injuries and fatalities so far, but its AI-enabled driver isn’t flawless. The company just recalled software in its fleet to fix a flaw that could cause vehicles to hit chains, gates and other barriers, following a NHTSA investigation. Cheaper Robotaxis In all the years Musk has promised autonomous Teslas and a robotaxi service, he hasn’t talked about what it’s doing to master ride-service essentials. But he does talk a big game about Tesla’s cost advantage. “The issue with Waymo’s car is it costs way more money,” the billionaire said on Tesla’s results call. “Their car is very expensive, made in low volume. Teslas probably cost 25% or 20% of what a Waymo costs and are made in very high volume,” last month. A base Model Y with FSD software costs consumers about $55,000 before taxes. While Waymo doesn’t disclose the cost of its modified, electric Jaguar I-PACE robotaxis, the lidar, radar, computers and other sensors mean it’s likely double that of Tesla’s vehicles. Those costs should drop substantially over the next year or so as Waymo shifts to lower-cost sensors and cheaper vehicles, including Hyundai’s Ioniq 5 and a small electric van from China’s Zeekr. Boasts about cheaper Tesla robotaxis will be meaningless if they can’t safely pick up and drop off riders without causing traffic jams, yielding to pedestrians or avoiding collisions. That’s made harder by the fact that Tesla uses eight 5-megapixel cameras as the main sensors for its system–far lower resolution than the 48-megapixel system on Apple’s iPhone 16. They’re inexpensive, but struggle with sunlight glare and low light conditions. Musk denied that was the case on Tesla’s April 22 call, but tests by O’Dowd’s Dawn Project after that found FSD disengages when directly facing the sun.“He thinks having [lidar] does not add enough benefit to outweigh the cost. This is a pretty typical engineering argument in general but incorrect in this particular case.” “We went out and took the car and drove it directly into the setting sun and guess what: it gave up,” O’Dowd said. “It starts flashing and it starts panicking, red lights going, it starts making noises, says put your hands back on the wheel.” By contrast, Waymo uses multiple sensors, including the much more expensive lidar, to ensure its vehicles see all potential road hazards, in daylight or at night, in 3D.Elon Musk attends a Cabinet meeting with President Donald Trump on April 30, 2025.The Washington Post via Getty Images “Musk has repeatedly said lidar is expensive and not needed,” said Missy Cummings, an artificial intelligence expert who advised NHTSA on autonomous vehicles. “He thinks having it does not add enough benefit to outweigh the cost. This is a pretty typical engineering argument in general but incorrect in this particular case.” After the Austin rollout, Musk said last month the goal is to expand to other U.S. markets, China and Europe, “limited only by regulatory approvals.” And one day soon, he envisions every person who owns a Tesla flipping a switch and deploying their car while not in use to a Tesla robotaxi network, helping them make additional cash on the side (as long as they pay Tesla $99 per month).“It’s all lies.” The world’s wealthiest person has achieved remarkable things with Tesla’s EVs, SpaceX rockets and Starlink satellites. But for years he’s also repeatedly failed to deliver big ideas he touted as potential game-changers or massive moneymakers, including battery swapping stations, solar tile roofs, the Hyperloop and high-speed underground transportation networks created by his Boring Co. Whether self-driving vehicles join that list remains to be seen. After repeatedly promising and failing to deliver vehicles that safely drive themselves for the past decade, let alone pick up riders, his track record isn’t looking good. Critics have a harsher interpretation. “It's all lies, everything he says,” said O’Dowd. More from Forbes

OpenAI has introduced Codex, a cloud-native software engineering agent integrated into ChatGPT, signaling a new era in AI-assisted software development. Unlike traditional coding assistants, Codex is not just a tool for autocompletion—it acts as a cloud-based agent capable of autonomously performing a wide range of programming tasks, from writing and debugging code to running tests and generating pull requests. A Shift Toward Parallel, Agent-Driven Development At the core of Codex is codex-1, a fine-tuned version of OpenAI’s reasoning model, optimized specifically for software engineering workflows. Codex can handle multiple tasks simultaneously, operating inside isolated cloud sandboxes that are preloaded with the user’s codebase. Each request is handled in its own environment, allowing users to delegate different coding operations in parallel without disrupting their local development environment. This architecture introduces a fundamentally new approach to software engineering—developers now interact with an agent that behaves more like a collaborative teammate than a static code tool. You can ask Codex to “fix a bug,” “add logging,” or “refactor this module,” and it will return a verifiable response, including diffs, terminal logs, and test results. If the output looks good, you can copy the patch directly into your repository—or ask for revisions. Embedded Within ChatGPT, Accessible to Teams Codex lives in the ChatGPT interface, currently available to Pro, Team, and Enterprise users, with broader access expected soon. The interface includes a dedicated sidebar where developers can describe what they want in natural language. Codex then interprets the intent and handles the coding behind the scenes, surfacing results for review and feedback. This integration offers a significant boost to developer productivity. As OpenAI notes, Codex is designed to take on many of the repetitive or boilerplate-heavy aspects of coding—allowing developers to focus on architecture, design, and higher-order problem solving. In one case, an OpenAI staffer even “checked in two bug fixes written entirely by Codex,” all while working on unrelated tasks. Codex Understands Your Codebase What makes Codex more than just a smart code generator is its context-awareness. Each instance runs with full access to your project’s file structure, coding conventions, and style. This allows it to write code that aligns with your team’s standards—whether you’re using Flask or FastAPI, React or Vue, or a custom internal framework. Codex’s ability to adapt to a codebase makes it particularly useful for large-scale enterprise teams and open-source maintainers. It supports workflows like branch-based pull request generation, test suite execution, and static analysis—all initiated by simple English prompts. Over time, it learns the nuances of the repository it works in, leading to better suggestions and more accurate code synthesis. Broader Implications: Lowering the Barrier to Software Creation OpenAI frames Codex as a research preview, but its long-term vision is clear: AI will increasingly take over much of the routine work involved in building software. The aim isn’t to replace developers but to democratize software creation, allowing more people—especially non-traditional developers—to build working applications using natural language alone. In this light, Codex is not just a coding tool, but a stepping stone toward a world where software development is collaborative between humans and machines. It brings software creation closer to the realm of design and ideation, and further away from syntax and implementation details. What’s Next? Codex is rolling out gradually, with usage limits in place during the preview phase. OpenAI is gathering feedback to refine the agent’s capabilities, improve safety, and optimize its performance across different environments and languages. Whether you’re a solo developer, part of a DevOps team, or leading an enterprise platform, Codex represents a significant shift in how code is written, tested, and shipped. As AI agents continue to mature, the future of software engineering will be less about writing every line yourself—and more about knowing what to build, and asking the right questions. Check out the Details here. All credit for this research goes to the researchers of this project. Also, feel free to follow us on Twitter and don’t forget to join our 90k+ ML SubReddit. Asif RazzaqWebsite |  + postsBioAsif Razzaq is the CEO of Marktechpost Media Inc.. As a visionary entrepreneur and engineer, Asif is committed to harnessing the potential of Artificial Intelligence for social good. His most recent endeavor is the launch of an Artificial Intelligence Media Platform, Marktechpost, which stands out for its in-depth coverage of machine learning and deep learning news that is both technically sound and easily understandable by a wide audience. The platform boasts of over 2 million monthly views, illustrating its popularity among audiences.Asif Razzaqhttps://www.marktechpost.com/author/6flvq/A Step-by-Step Guide to Build an Automated Knowledge Graph Pipeline Using LangGraph and NetworkXAsif Razzaqhttps://www.marktechpost.com/author/6flvq/Google DeepMind Introduces AlphaEvolve: A Gemini-Powered Coding AI Agent for Algorithm Discovery and Scientific OptimizationAsif Razzaqhttps://www.marktechpost.com/author/6flvq/Rime Introduces Arcana and Rimecaster (Open Source): Practical Voice AI Tools Built on Real-World SpeechAsif Razzaqhttps://www.marktechpost.com/author/6flvq/A Step-by-Step Guide to Build a Fast Semantic Search and RAG QA Engine on Web-Scraped Data Using Together AI Embeddings, FAISS Retrieval, and LangChain

Just in time to make the most of the warmer weather, REI is slashing prices on a bunch of our favorite outdoor gadgets and goods as a part of its annual anniversary sale. Now through May 26th, the outdoor retailer is taking up to 30 percent off a large number of items, from Garmin watches and water filters to stoves, satellite communicators, and one of the best camping / backpacking chairs around.RelatedBelow, we’ve rounded up some of the best deals to help you gear up for your summer adventures. In some instances, other retailers like Amazon are matching REI’s pricing, giving you additional ways to save. Also, keep in mind that REI members can save an additional 20 percent on one REI Outlet item or get 20 percent off on one qualifying full-price item when they use coupon ANNIV2025 at checkout.Garmin Forerunner 265 (42mm)$350$45022% off$350Garmin’s midrange Forerunner watch adds a new OLED display, a week’s worth of battery life, and dual-frequency GPS for better accuracy. Read our review.Many of our favorite Garmin smartwatches are also on sale right now, including the Garmin Forerunner 265, which is our top pick for runners. Normally $450, you can buy the smartwatch in either its 42mm or 46mm sizing at REI and Amazon for $349.99 ($100 off), which matches its best price to date. The 265 features a vibrant OLED display, up to 15 days of battery life, and multi-band GPS for more accurate tracking. It also provides insight into a number of running metrics, including stride length and cadence, while supporting Garmin’s PacePro, Training Readiness, and Race Predictor features.Garmin’s Fenix 8, our top pick for endurance athletes, is available in its 43mm configuration from REI, Amazon, and Garmin starting at $799.99 ($200 off). The platform-agnostic Fenix 8 is an excellent training watch with exceptional battery life that easily surpasses rivals like the Apple Watch Ultra 2. Garmin’s rugged, top-of-the-line wearable also includes a sharp OLED display and a built-in speaker / mic, so you can make calls or carry out voice commands using the onboard voice assistant (you can also connect it to your phone’s voice assistant for more complex queries). That being said, the Fenix 8 doesn’t offer built-in LTE, so your phone will need to stay within Bluetooth range for those features to work. Read our review.Garmin Fenix 8$800$100020% off$800The Garmin Fenix 8 adds smart features like the ability to take calls on the wrist, and an on-board voice assistant.Garmin’s 41mm Venu 3 is currently available for an all-time low of $349.99, down from its regular price of $449.99, at Amazon and REI. The Venu 3 is our favorite Garmin smartwatch, one that offers a mix of smart features and advanced health tracking at an affordable price. You can make and receive calls when paired with your phone, use your phone’s voice assistant via Bluetooth, and pay with contactless payments. It also includes a broad range of health features, including heart rate monitoring, period tracking, abnormal heart rate alerts, fall detection, and more. Just note: there’s no cellular connectivity, so you’ll need your phone nearby for full functionality. Read our review.Garmin inReach Mini 2$300$40025% off$300Garmin’s palm-size inReach Mini 2 satellite communicator provides off-the-grid contact with subscription plans starting at $14.95 a month.If your summer plans involve hiking or backpacking, the Garmin inReach Mini 2 can provide some peace of mind. And right now, it’s available from REI, Amazon, and Garmin for $299.99 ($100 off), which is just $15 shy of its all-time low. The rugged, palm-sized satellite communicator — which requires a monthly subscription — allows you to send texts, share your location, check the weather, and even trigger SOS alerts. It can easily outlast your average smartphone with satellite connectivity, too, so you’re free to enjoy the outdoors without having to worry about running out of power.The Helinox Chair Zero — a personal favorite of several Verge staffers — is on sale at REI and Amazon for $104.98 ($35 off), which is its best price to date. Weighing just a pound, the collapsible backpacking chair is exceptionally lightweight and easy to pack. It’s also built to support up to 265 pounds and is both comfortable and stable, despite its portable design.LifeStraw Peak Series Straw$18$2528% off$18LifeStraw’s basic filter removes unwanted viruses, bacteria, and microplastics as you drink, giving you a safe way to hydrate no matter where you are.LifeStraw’s portable water filters make for helpful travel companions, regardless of whether you’re heading into the backcountry or touring cities with questionable tap water. Thankfully, Verge favorites like the LifeStraw Peak Series Straw are on sale at Amazon and REI starting at $17.58, down from $24.95. The standalone straw is perfect for filtering out bacteria, parasites, and microplastics from streams and rivers. The Peak Series model features an improved flow rate and a more durable design than earlier models as well, and thanks to its versatile build, you can drink directly from a water source, attach it to a water bottle, or connect it to a gravity hose system.If you’re looking for a more convenient, all-in-one solution, the 22-ounce LifeStraw Go Series Water Bottle is also on sale for an all-time low of around $34 ($11 off) at REI and Amazon. The BPA-free bottle features a built-in two-stage filtration system, including a carbon filter that’s designed to reduce odors and improve taste, making it a solid pick for everything from travel to your daily commute.The MSR PocketRocket 2 Stove is on sale for $44.89, down from $55.95, at REI. The single-burner canister stove can boil water in just 3.5 minutes. It’s also lightweight, foldable, and compatible with most isobutane-propane fuel canisters, making it a great pick for backpackers looking to shed weight.Black Diamond Spot 400$37$5026% off$37Black Diamond’s Spot 400 headlamp offers great battery life and simple, easy-to-use controls. Best off all, it’s plenty bright, making it a great option for both indoor and outdoor use.$37 at REIIf you’re looking for a reliable and comfortable headlamp, Black Diamond’s Spot 400 is great for everything from camping to hiking to late-night reading sessions. It’s currently available from REI for $37.39 (about $13 off), which remains one of its better prices to date. The 400-lumen headlamp offers adjustable brightness, a red night vision mode, and an IPX8 waterproof rating, so it can handle rainy nights. It’s also dual-fuel compatible, meaning you can use standard AAA batteries or use it in tandem with Black Diamond’s rechargeable BD 1500 Li-ion battery for more flexibility.The pocket-sized Black Diamond Moji Lantern is down to $18.69 (about $6 off) at REI in multiple colors. The rugged Moji lantern offers 200 lumens of warm, dimmable light and adjustable lightness, along with an IPX4 rating for water resistance. It features a double-hook design, too, so you can use it as a table lantern or hang it up. The JBL Flip 6 is selling for $99.99 at REI and Amazon, down from $129.95 and about $20 shy of its all-time low. The portable Bluetooth speaker delivers powerful, clear sound and an IP67 waterproof and dustproof rating. The Flip 6 also offers up to 12 hours of playtime and features JBL’s PartyBoost feature, which allows you to pair multiple JBL devices together for a more powerful audio experience.Garmin’s Varia RTL515 Radar Taillight is on sale at REI and Amazon for $149.99 ($50 off), nearly matching its lowest price to date. The headlight combines a bright LED light with a rearview radar that, when paired with a compatible device, warns you of cars approaching from behind from up to 153 yards away.Coleman Cascade Classic Camp Stove$97$13025% off$97Coleman’s basic Cascade Classic Camp Stove features enough cooking power for most meals, two burners, and a matchless igniter.$97 at Coleman$97 at REIIf you want a straightforward stove that gets the job done, Coleman’s Cascade Classic Camp Stove is a good option that starts at $96.99 (about $33 off) when purchased directly from Coleman or at REI. The compact stove is pretty basic, but it offers everything you need for simple, reliable camp cooking. It’s got enough cooking power to handle most meals and two burners, so you can cook multiple things at once. It also features a matchless push-button igniter, along with built-in wind guards for better flame control and adjustable heat knobs for more precise cooking. It’s easy to carry and set up as well, with a durable steel cooktop and a removable chrome-plated grate for easy cleanup.You can buy MSR’s TrailShot Pocket-Sized Water Filter for $48.69, down from $64.95, at REI. The squeeze-and-sip filter removes bacteria, protozoa, and particulates, so you can drink directly from natural water sources or refill bottles. The filter is highly portable at just 5.2 ounces, too, and can easily fit in your pocket.The BioLite SolarHome 620 Plus kit is on sale for $139.93, down from $199.95, at REI. The compact, solar-powered system is designed to bring lights, charging, and audio to off-grid locations. Along with a 6W solar panel, it features an integrated FM radio / MP3 player, three hanging 120-lumen LED lights, and a pair of USB ports for charging various devices.See More:

Publisher financials sound a warning for industry growth | Opinion As consumers around the world feel the economic squeeze, gaming's value for money is facing new challenges – and publishers are battening down the hatches Image credit: Ubisoft/Lucasfilm Opinion by Rob Fahey Contributing Editor Published on May 16, 2025 Corporate financials season may not be the most exciting of the year's changing seasons, but it does present a rare opportunity to take the industry's pulse in a more-or-less objective way. It would be an exaggeration to say that financial reports and the statements made on the earnings calls which follow them are free of marketing bluster, but different, stricter rules apply here than at other times. Companies can and do spin the numbers, but the numbers themselves have to be reported honestly – which means that everyone gets a chance to see how everyone else is doing, and adjust their own planning and outlook accordingly. Since this is also usually when we get firm updates on shipment figures for console hardware, that's the story that tends to attract the most focus. So with the launch of Switch 2 fast approaching and the threat of tariff impacts looming, it's no surprise that that's been the case on this occasion as well. Still, while platform holder results do hold special importance for the industry, they are somewhat separate from the reality that most other companies in this business are facing. For the broader picture, we really do need to dig into the stack of reports issued from publishers around the globe. This quarter – and indeed this year, since most firms are reporting full-year figures – a lot of those reports make for somewhat serious reading, even by the dry standards of corporate financials. Looking across the major results released in the past few weeks from companies ranging from Capcom, Square Enix, and Sega, through to Ubisoft, Warner Bros, and Take-Two, there's unsurprisingly a great deal of diversity on display given their very different market positions and product line-ups, but there are nonetheless a few trends that go beyond the travails of a single company and are worth exploring as potential bellwethers for the wider industry. Firstly, and perhaps most concerning – sales are generally down, with most companies reporting a drop in revenues over the past year. This isn't universal, with Capcom being a notable exception as it continued a genuinely impressive years-long winning streak, and Take-Two also managing to report a few percentage points of growth thanks largely to great performance for its sports titles. Overall, though, revenues seem to be in decline right now. The underlying causes differ in each case – you can look across each company and pinpoint the specific decisions or problems each of them suffered – but the broader trend is still meaningful. That's especially the case since this fits with the warning signals that have begun flashing in market data from various territories around the world, suggesting that overall consumer spend on gaming has fallen over the past year, albeit only by a relatively small percentage. In spite of the lower sales numbers most companies are reporting, however, several of these publishers are nonetheless showing improvements in operating income – notably Sega and Square Enix, both of which were more profitable over the past year despite their revenues being lower. This is due in part to restructuring and narrowing the focus of their development efforts, but a major factor is also the strong sales of back catalogue titles, which incur minimal costs and are thus great for a company's bottom line. Image credit: Rockstar Games These long-tail sales are proving crucial to keeping the industry's financials looking healthy (and if we take a broad definition, you could make an argument that transactions in games like GTA Online also comprise a form of long-tail sales for Take-Two, for example), but they may also point to a rising price sensitivity among consumers who are showing more willingness to buy competitively priced older games rather than forking out for full-price releases in some cases. Again, if that is the case, it fits with broader economic trends; we know that consumers in a lot of territories are feeling a serious squeeze on their discretionary expenditure, and seeking competitively priced alternatives is a natural response in that case. If that's impacting the games industry's top line, then this could potentially mean that the industry is facing its first actual recession (not counting the mean reversion that we saw after the massive industry growth recorded in the first couple of years of the pandemic). There's a long-standing piece of conventional wisdom which says that although individual sectors may suffer, the games business overall is well-insulated against recessions (we used to say "recession-proof" a couple of decades ago, but I don't know anyone who'd care to make a wager on that statement these days). This is because games offer tremendous value for money compared to most other discretionary expenditures – such that consumers who have slashed their spending on travel, going out, and other expensive hobbies and pursuits may actually end up modestly increasing their gaming expenditure to fill the resulting free time. Even by the games industry's usual standards of franchise obsession, that lack of focus on new IP creation or expansion stands out as unusual That logic has been strongly challenged in recent years by the existence of things like subscription video services, which offer hours-per-dollar of entertainment easily comparable with any game, or free-to-play games. Not to mention the other free alternative preferred by many consumers: doomscrolling your way through hours of brain-rot. Moreover, there's an especially tricky calculus at work right now, because the strong possibility of widespread belt-tightening by consumers is coming right as gaming is in the midst of trying to increase prices for many of its top-line products. The reasons for that are well and good, but the timing is horrible, and in these results we may be seeing the first signs that some groups of consumers are actually noping out of paying higher price points for premium games. It's not just competitively priced back catalogue titles that seem to be over-performing relative to other segments. We're also seeing very strong performance from games (such as EA's Split Fiction, and indie title Clair Obscur: Expedition 33) which chose to launch at $50 price points. Their success is a data point worth bearing in mind at a moment when several publishers are trying to push past $70 and establish $80 as a new regular price level. The fact that things like remasters of back catalogue titles sit comfortably at lower price points may well be part of their appeal, both to consumers and to publishers. The restructuring of development efforts that many publishers are currently undertaking is always described in terms of streamlining and improving, but generally looks a lot like strategic de-risking – focusing in on sure-fire bets and a small number of core franchises. Image credit: Sega/Atlus In fact, one common point across every company that has reported results in the past couple of weeks is that they're all quite open about being tightly focused on three or four core IPs. The only company in the bunch with anything really positive to say about a non-core or original IP was Sega's reference to the strong performance of Metaphor: ReFantazio. Even by the games industry's usual standards of franchise obsession, that lack of focus on new IP creation or expansion stands out as unusual – and even in the companies that are doing very well, like the aforementioned Capcom, it's notable that remakes, remasters, re-imaginings and re-visitings describe pretty much the entire software pipeline. The overall sense is clear: publishers are in battening-down-hatches mode right now. In that respect, assuming the economic situation is going to worsen, this approach probably makes sense. Companies facing a market in which consumers are feeling financially precarious need to focus on relatively sure bets for their headline titles, and fill in the gaps with lower-cost games, for which digging into the back catalogue is ideal. In the medium to long term, though, we have to hope against hope that publishers who are narrowing their focus to tentpole franchises right now have some strategy for getting back to building new IPs eventually. Franchise exhaustion is also a very real concern, and growth, ultimately, has to come through creative innovation. No company can run forever just by finding increasingly aggressive ways to flog the same dying horses.

PROS: High-quality display Expandable storage via micro-SD card NFC for contactless payment Excellent battery life CONS: No wireless charging Underwhelming zoom camera performance Mediocre ultra-wide camera RATINGS: AESTHETICSERGONOMICSPERFORMANCESUSTAINABILITY / REPAIRABILITYVALUE FOR MONEYEDITOR'S QUOTE:While most budget devices settle for generic designs and modest features, CMF doubles down on personality, usability, and thoughtful design. Smartphones under the $300 mark often blur together: plastic builds, uninspired aesthetics, and safe, forgettable designs. But CMF, the design-focused sub-brand of Nothing, broke that mold with the original Phone 1. Now, it’s raising the bar even further with the CMF Phone 2 Pro. From the moment you pick it up, it’s clear that CMF isn’t just chasing specs on a budget. It’s bringing back personality, purpose, and a sense of play to the affordable smartphone space. Building on the modular concept introduced with the Phone 1 and its swappable back panels, the CMF Phone 2 Pro embraces customizability and visual flair in a category that usually plays it safe. With its bold design, vibrant display, and user-focused features, it’s a refreshing reminder that budget-friendly doesn’t have to mean boring. But bold claims and striking aesthetics only go so far; what really matters is how the phone performs in everyday use. So, does the CMF Phone 2 Pro live up to the promise of offering both style and substance on a budget? Let’s dive into the details. Designer: CMF by Nothing Aesthetics The most talked-about design element of the CMF Phone 1 was its removable back panel, secured by visible screws. This immediately set it apart in a smartphone market filled with similar-looking devices. The modularity was not just for appearance. CMF offered swappable back panels, and functional accessories such as a kickstand, lanyard, and card case that could be attached using the “Accessory Point,” a screw, at the right bottom corner, which is covered with the circular element. CMF also provided CAD data, allowing users to design and create their own back panels and accessories. The CMF Phone 2 Pro retains some design cues from its predecessor, such as the plastic back panel and exposed screws, but the modular concept has been reworked. Instead of the fully removable back panel from the Phone 1, the Phone 2 Pro now features an add-on back panel with a MagSafe-like magnetic attachment (though it lacks wireless charging). Unfortunately, this means that custom back panels from the Phone 1 are not compatible with the Phone 2 Pro, which may disappoint users who valued the original’s modularity. If you’re looking for the MagSafe-like feature and don’t mind adding a bit of thickness to the device, you can opt for a magnetic case that easily snaps on and off. In contrast, the add-on back panel requires screws for attachment, making it less convenient for those who prefer quick swaps. While it lacks the same level of customization as its predecessor, the CMF Phone 2 Pro still includes the Attachment Point in the lower right corner, which is compatible with accessories like the kickstand and lanyard from the previous model. This keeps some of the continuity in terms of accessories, even if the modularity has been dialed back. The camera layout has been updated as well. Each lens is now housed in its own circular aluminum enclosure, and a third camera has been added, offering more versatility compared to the dual-camera setup on the Phone 1. With the new add-on back panel, users can attach optional macro or fisheye lenses to the main camera, expanding their creative photography options. Another new feature on the CMF Phone 2 Pro is the Essential Key, a dedicated button that allows for quick screenshot capture. These screenshots are automatically stored in the Essential Space (more on that feature later), making it easier to organize and access your media. The CMF Phone 2 Pro comes in White, Black, Light Green, and Orange. The White and Orange models feature a two-tone finish that adds extra visual interest. The Light Green variant we received has a matte reflective surface. It is a soft and pleasant shade that gives the device a clean, fresh look. Ergonomics Weighing just 185 grams and measuring only 7.8 millimeters thick, the CMF Phone 2 Pro offers a perfect balance between lightness and solid construction. The phone feels surprisingly light in hand, which I really appreciate. Its flat side frame and fully flat display contribute to a clean, modern aesthetic while enhancing ergonomics. It sits comfortably in the hand, making one-handed use easy for most users. Although the CMF Phone 2 Pro features a plastic back panel, it feels more premium than its price suggests. The attention to detail in its finish and the thoughtful design of the hardware set it apart from many other budget devices, which often compromise on materials and build quality. The matte finish of the back panel is particularly noteworthy, as it resists fingerprints and smudges, keeping the phone looking clean. As for the in-display fingerprint scanner, it’s located near the bottom edge of the screen. While it works reliably and unlocks the phone quickly, the placement may require some adjustment, especially for users with larger hands. Despite this minor quirk, the fingerprint scanner remains a convenient and functional feature overall. Performance The CMF Phone 2 features a 6.77-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 1080 x 2392 and a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate. It supports 10-bit color and HDR10+, and reaches a peak brightness of up to 3,000 nits, with a typical brightness of 800 nits. The display also has symmetrical bezels, which is a design detail rarely seen at this price point. This contributes to a more balanced and premium look. The screen is vibrant and remains clearly visible even in bright outdoor conditions. While the phone lacks stereo speakers, this is to be expected at its price range. Under the hood, the CMF Phone 2 is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7300 chipset. It comes with 8 GB of RAM and offers either 128 GB or 256 GB of storage. Storage is expandable via microSD card up to 2 TB, a flexible and cost-effective solution for users seeking to enhance their device’s capabilities without significant investment. Another welcome addition is NFC, which enhances convenience for contactless payments and device pairing. On the other hand, the lack of eSIM support may be a drawback for some users. The phone runs Nothing OS 3.2 based on Android 15 right out of the box. As expected from Nothing OS, it offers a clean interface with a wide range of customization options. A useful addition is the Smart (Beta) app drawer, which automatically categorizes and organizes apps into logical groups. Always-on display is now supported as well, adding to the phone’s usability. A standout new feature is Essential Space, which first debuted on the Nothing Phone 3a series and now makes its way to CMF. It is an AI-powered hub where you can store screenshots, photos, voice memos, notes, and reminders. The AI intelligently analyzes and organizes this content, surfacing key information so you can easily access everything in one place. The CMF Phone 2 Pro features a triple-camera setup on the back, consisting of a 50 MP main camera, a 50 MP telephoto camera, and an 8 MP ultra-wide camera. It’s impressive to see a triple-camera configuration at this price point. However, the camera performance doesn’t quite live up to expectations, with the results being somewhat underwhelming. The 24mm equivalent main camera features a 1/1.57-inch sensor and an f/1.88 aperture. It captures decent photos across different lighting conditions, with a good dynamic range, though the color temperature tends to lean towards warm undertones. While the details could be sharper, the overall image quality is acceptable. In bright daylight, the shutter speed is quick, but in low-light conditions, it slows down, even when not using night mode. The 50mm equivalent 2x telephoto camera is equipped with a 1/2.88-inch sensor and an f/1.85 aperture. While it can zoom up to 20x, image quality significantly drops beyond 2x, with noticeable loss of detail. The telephoto lens struggles with color consistency and focus, even in well-lit conditions. As for the 15mm equivalent ultra-wide camera, it underperforms, but that’s to be expected at this price point. The portrait mode on the CMF Phone 2 Pro delivers surprisingly good results. It offers four different focal lengths (1x, 2x, 3x, and 4x), giving you flexibility in framing your subject. The background blur is smooth, and edge detection is fairly accurate, making for more natural-looking portraits. While it may not rival flagship devices in terms of detail and precision, the results are still impressive, with pleasing contrast and sharpness. The CMF Phone 2 Pro supports video recording up to 4K at 30 FPS with stabilization on both the main and telephoto cameras. The ultra-wide camera, however, is limited to 1080p at 60 FPS. Video quality in good lighting conditions is generally solid, but in low light, footage can appear jittery. The 16 MP front-facing camera records at up to 1080p at 60 FPS. With a robust 5,000 mAh battery, the CMF Phone 2 Pro delivers excellent battery life, easily lasting a full day of use. The 33W wired charging isn’t the fastest on the market, but it’s efficient and gets the job done. While the absence of wireless charging is understandable at this price point, the phone compensates with a handy 5W reverse charging feature via USB-C, allowing you to top up other devices when needed. Overall, the battery performance is solid and practical for everyday use. Sustainability The Panda Glass display improves durability by resisting scratches, helping the phone last longer. With an IP54 rating, it can handle light splashes and dust, which is solid for this price range, though not as durable as higher-end devices with IP68 or IP69 ratings. The battery retains over 90% of its capacity after 1,200 charging cycles, ensuring the phone lasts for years without significant degradation and reducing the need for replacements. CMF also offers three years of Android updates and six years of security updates for long-term software support. However, the removable back panel from the CMF Phone 1 has been replaced with a more traditional design, limiting repairability. While this improves the phone’s structural integrity, it sacrifices some of the modularity that was a key feature of the Phone 1. It’s also worth noting that while the Phone 1 had a non-replaceable battery, its modular design allowed for some flexibility in the phone’s upkeep. Overall, while the CMF Phone 2 Pro is built with durable materials and has a long-lasting battery, it lacks the deep eco-friendly focus and modularity seen in its predecessor. Value Priced starting at 249 GBP, the CMF Phone 2 Pro offers excellent value with its unique design, solid performance, and long battery life, making it an appealing option for budget-conscious consumers looking for a distinctive smartphone experience. While the camera may not match the capabilities of high-end devices, the overall package delivers impressive quality for its price. One downside is that the CMF Phone 2 Pro is currently only available in the U.S. through Nothing’s “US Beta Program,” similar to the CMF Phone 1. Additionally, only the 8GB/256GB version is available in the U.S., priced at $279, which may limit options for those looking for a more affordable configuration. Despite these limitations, the CMF Phone 2 Pro remains a solid choice for users seeking a distinctive smartphone experience at an affordable price. Verdict The CMF Phone 2 Pro is a rare standout in the crowded sub-$300 smartphone space. While most budget devices settle for generic designs and modest features, CMF doubles down on personality, usability, and thoughtful design. With its optional magnetic back panel, Essential Space, and vibrant AMOLED display, it offers a user experience that feels far more premium than its price tag suggests. Performance is reliable, battery life is excellent, and the playful hardware customization, while dialed back from the original, still adds charm and utility. Camera performance is a mixed bag, especially in low light, but that’s a common compromise at this price point. The phone’s build quality, ergonomic design, and extended software support make it an even more compelling choice. For users who value both form and function on a budget, the CMF Phone 2 Pro proves that affordable doesn’t have to mean ordinary. It’s not perfect, but it’s refreshingly different, and that counts for a lot. The post CMF Phone 2 Pro Review: Affordable Innovation with Style and Substance Under $300 first appeared on Yanko Design.

OpenAI launched a research preview on Friday of what it’s calling its most capable AI coding agent yet. Codex, a cloud-based software engineering agent, can write features, answer questions about a codebase, fix bugs, and propose pull requests for review. Several tasks can run simultaneously, and users retain full access to their computers while the agent takes anywhere from one to 30 minutes to complete a task. Since it’s still in research preview, the tool remains in early development. The company said in a blog post that it “currently lacks features like image inputs for front-end work, and the ability to course-correct the agent while it’s working. Additionally, delegating to a remote agent takes longer than interactive editing, which can take some getting used to.” Over time, however, the company said using the service will feel more like asynchronous collaboration with colleagues. Codex is available to ChatGPT Pro, Enterprise, and Team subscribers. Users will have “generous access at no additional cost” for a few weeks, after which OpenAI plans to introduce pricing options and rate-limited access. Friday’s launch comes as part of a broader rise of AI tools for software engineers that are meant to handle repetitive, boring tasks rather than take over the whole gamut. “We imagine a future where developers drive the work they want to own and delegate the rest to agents—moving faster and being more productive with AI,” OpenAI said. Companies in the AI coding space are seeing massive revenues and high valuations. Anysphere, the startup behind coding platform Cursor, reportedly raised $900 million at a $9 billion valuation. Major tech companies are also racing to stake their claim. OpenAI competitor Anthropic released an agentic coding tool in February. In April, Google added new features to its AI coding agent, and Microsoft has been active in the space as well. In addition to Codex, OpenAI is reportedly in talks to acquire Windsurf, a maker of AI coding tools, for around $3 billion—potentially its largest acquisition to date. Investor confidence in OpenAI appears strong. In March, the company announced it had raised $40 billion at a $300 billion post-money valuation, making it one of the most valuable companies in the world.

During a recent earnings call (courtesy of IGN), Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick said that he was “reasonably sure” that the company wouldn’t be affected by the US tariffs on imported goods. He attributed this to the fact that there has been quite a bit of confusion owing to the tariffs being issued and then withdrawn. Despite this confusion, however, he said that the fiscal guidance for Take-Two Interactive has been decided for the coming year. He also noted that, despite the tariffs, Take-Two already has a solid base of customers on all platforms except for the Nintendo Switch 2, which is slated for launch on June 5. Taking this into account, the company will likely not be affected by any changes to tariffs, according to Zelnick. “Our guide is for the next ten months, essentially, that’s the part of the fiscal year that hasn’t elapsed yet, and it’s very difficult to predict where tariffs will land, given how things have bumped around so far,” said Zelnick when asked about the tariffs. “We feel reasonably confident that our guide wouldn’t be meaningfully affected, unless tariffs ran off in a very different direction than we currently expect. In any case, there’s already a very substantial install base for all of our target platforms except Nintendo Switch 2, which is pre-launch. So we have, I think, enough insight that we wouldn’t be affected by any changes.” In its earnings report, the company has reaffirmed that it will be releasing a host of games on different platforms, such as Borderlands 4 on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch 2, and Mafia: The Old Country on PC and current consoles. There are also games that are slated for release that don’t have confirmed platforms yet, including NBA 2K26 and WWE 2K26. With this in mind, it can be easy to see why Zelnick isn’t too concerned about the tariffs affecting the publisher. Leading up to the release of the Nintendo Switch 2, Zelnick said that he was feeling “great optimism” about Take-Two’s relationship with Nintendo. In the same earnings call, Zelnick mentioned how well Nintendo has been supporting third-party publishers to ensure that the Switch 2 has a strong line-up of games. “We’re launching four titles with Nintendo Switch 2, and that’s I think a bigger array of releases than we’ve ever offered before with a new Nintendo platform,” said Zelnick. “Historically, being a third party in the Nintendo business has been a bit challenging. I think Nintendo has been very forthcoming in addressing that. And we’re stepping up too, because we have great optimism for the platform.” In an interview with IGN right before the earnings call, Zelnick also spoke about how the decision to push the release of Grand Theft Auto 6 back from Fall 2025 to May 26, 2026 pained him, but that it will ultimately be worth it to give developer Rockstar Games more time to work on the game. “I feel really good about how fiscal 26 looks sitting here today,” he said. “And while of course, delays pain me — how could they not? — the most important thing to do is to support your teams in their search for perfection.”

By Matt Novak Published May 16, 2025 | Comments (0) | Elon Musk waves as he arrives for a state dinner at the Lusail Palace on May 14, 2025, in Doha, Qatar. © Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence tool Grok went haywire on Wednesday, responding to innocuous questions on X with information about “white genocide” in South Africa. It was a confusing and sometimes hilarious glitch, but we now have some answers about what happened from xAI. And frankly, they just leave us with more questions. xAI posted a tweet Thursday night laying out its explanation, including the exact time that changes were made to Grok that made it pump out sentences about “white genocide” no matter what users asked. “On May 14 at approximately 3:15 AM PST, an unauthorized modification was made to the Grok response bot’s prompt on X,” xAI wrote. “This change, which directed Grok to provide a specific response on a political topic, violated xAI’s internal policies and core values. We have conducted a thorough investigation and are implementing measures to enhance Grok’s transparency and reliability.” You’ll notice that xAI, which is owned by Elon Musk, strongly suggests there was an internal actor who made this “unauthorized modification” but doesn’t use the language you’d expect if it was an employee at the company. And we’re guessing that might have something to do with the fact that it wasn’t an employee necessarily, but the owner. Musk has long been obsessed with the “white genocide” conspiracy theory, the idea that white people are being killed around the world by nonwhite people. The conspiracy theory often includes elements of anti-semitism and is similar to the so-called Great Replacement conspiracy theory, which claims global elites are trying to replace white people with other races in wealthy countries around the world. Musk is particularly interested in the supposed “white genocide” that’s happening in South Africa, the country where he was born and raised before emigrating to Canada and then eventually the U.S., and has shared tweets where he insists white farmers are being slaughtered for their race. The day before Grok started acting oddly, Musk quote-tweeted a post about South Africa that contained misinformation. The person Musk was quote-tweeting posted video that showed a street in South Africa where hundreds of white crosses had been placed on each side. The poster claimed that each cross represented a white farmer who had been murdered. “Each cross represents a white farmer who was murdered in South Africa,” the account Dr. Maalof wrote. “And some people still deny that white South Africans/Boers are persecuted and say they don’t deserve asylum because they are white.” Musk shared the tweet with “So many crosses,” and naturally a bunch of X users asked Grok if this was true. Grok responded that the crosses were called Witkruis Monument and each cross actually represents farmers of any race who’ve been killed. The next day, people started to notice that Grok was acting weird, responding to unrelated queries with information about white genocide. Changes were made to Grok at 3:15 a.m. PT (6:15 a.m. ET), which led to jokes Thursday night about how late Musk stays up each night. The billionaire frequently tweets at all hours, but you don’t need to assume Musk was up late to think he may have been behind the change to Grok. The billionaire oligarch is currently in the Middle East with President Donald Trump, meeting with world leaders. Qatar’s timezone is 10 hours ahead of Pacific Time, meaning it was 1:15 p.m. in Qatar when the tinkering was taking place. Elon’s Jet, the social media account that tracks Musk’s plane and has been banned from X, shows the billionaire was soon to be landing in Doha when all of this was happening. Landed in Doha, Ad-Dawhah Municipality, Qatar. Apx. flt. time 16 min. [image or embed] — Elon Musk’s Jet Tracking (@elonjet.net) May 14, 2025 at 5:06 AM To be clear, we don’t have proof that Musk was involved. It’s entirely possible that some workers at xAI saw Musk getting fact-checked by Grok about white genocide and wanted to tilt the AI tool in their boss’s favor. But Musk is notorious for tinkering with his products to suit his needs and make himself feel better. There’s an infamous story, first reported by Platformer in 2023, where Musk became extremely upset about President Joe Biden’s Super Bowl tweet getting more likes and views than Musk’s. Biden’s tweet about the Super Bowl received 29 million impressions and Musk’s just 9 million, prompting Musk to fly back to Twitter’s headquarters in San Francisco to demand changes to the algorithm. Those changes made it so that users on X were seeing an absolute flood of Musk tweets. It wasn’t subtle. We’re guessing something similar happened here. xAI wrote on Thursday night it would start publishing system prompts to Github in an effort to be more transparent and “putting in place a 24/7 monitoring team to respond to incidents with Grok’s answers that are not caught by automated systems, so we can respond faster if all other measures fail.” This, of course, makes it sound like this was a problem of automation rather than an insecure man-child tinkering with his multimillion dollar toy to make himself feel better. But whatever they have to tell themselves. The long and the short of it? These systems are inherently biased by the way they’re trained. And they’re also incredibly difficult to manipulate with precision, given the way large language models work. Grok is essentially just a fancy predictive text machine. And as long as Musk has control of tools to shape public opinion, he’s going to use them—unfortunately, for fascist purposes. Daily Newsletter You May Also Like By Isaiah Colbert Published May 16, 2025 By Lucas Ropek Published May 16, 2025 By Matt Novak Published May 16, 2025 By Lucas Ropek Published May 15, 2025 By Matt Novak Published May 15, 2025 By Vanessa Taylor Published May 15, 2025