This week, Samsung not solely debuted its new Galaxy S25 collection smartphones (together with a shock Galaxy S25 Edge reveal), however we noticed a slew of main tech information tales that you simply may need missed.
OpenAI teased its Operator agent, Netflix raised its costs (once more), and TikTok was banned and unbanned – however its destiny nonetheless hangs within the steadiness as its rivals transfer in. You possibly can make amends for all this and extra by scrolling down.
As soon as you’ve got wrapped up this week’s ICYMI, try our picks for the 7 new films and TV exhibits to stream this weekend (January 24).
7. Samsung Galaxy Unpacked showcased the S25 collection…
One other yr, one other Samsung Galaxy Unpacked to unpack (sorry!). This newest version noticed the Korean big launch the Samsung Galaxy S25, Galaxy S25 Plus, and Galaxy S25 Extremely. On the similar time, a fourth machine – the Galaxy S25 Edge – was teased on the finish of the presentation as ‘coming quickly.’
So, what’s new? All three new smartphones boast the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, 12GB RAM, and a bunch of recent Galaxy AI options, together with Now Temporary and Audio Eraser. The Extremely has loved an iPhone-like redesign, and Samsung has added Galaxy Z Fold 6-style digicam rings to each mannequin within the lineup. The Galaxy S25 Edge, in the meantime, might be a brilliant slim model of (we expect) the 6.2-inch Galaxy S25, however Samsung hasn’t shared any official particulars about that cellphone simply but (aside from its title).
We had been on the bottom at Galaxy Unpacked and have already dealt with all three new S25 gadgets, so try our hands-on Samsung Galaxy S25 overview, hands-on Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus overview, and hands-on Samsung Galaxy S25 Extremely overview for our first impressions.
6. … and recreation us new Galaxy AI goodies
The launch of the S25 vary was actually all about Galaxy AI, Samsung’s overarching title for all of the AI options packed into these new, slim, futuristic telephones. By detailing all of the AI capabilities earlier than the telephones, Samsung appears to suppose that the AI options are extra essential than the precise cellphone specs, so what’s the Korean firm getting so enthusiastic about?
Now Temporary and Now Bar are the 2 standout options of Galaxy AI, and so they’re basically like super-powered notifications. As a result of they hyperlink into all the opposite apps in your cellphone, to not point out all of your different Samsung gadgets, you’ll discover they will begin suggesting issues try to be doing earlier than they have to be finished or stuff you would possibly want to concentrate on, like heavy site visitors on the best way house.
Safety is clearly an enormous challenge with AI and Samsung is eager to emphasise the brand new Private Knowledge Engine. This retains all of your private knowledge in your machine when AI is working its magic with it, so that you don’t want to fret about it leaking out on the cloud.
5. Fitbit issued a warning about its batteries
A troublesome 2024 for Fitbit has paved the best way for an much more beleaguered begin to 2025. Whilst you’d have hoped your greatest Fitbit might assist energy you thru your New 12 months’s resolutions to kickstart January, the corporate is definitely firefighting a critical battery overheating challenge.
The corporate warned customers that the Fitbit Sense and Versa 3 are each in danger and will pose a possible danger to customers. The replace is already rolling out, nevertheless it’s not all excellent news. Clients are being inspired to examine their machine eligibility and can obtain a notification telling them to replace their firmware.
The replace will cut back the danger of affected batteries overheating however comes at the price of diminished capability, that means your machine will have to be charged extra usually.
It is not splendid, and Fitbit is providing $50 to affected prospects as compensation. With Google sunsetting Fitbit in favor of the Pixel Watch line, possibly they need to spend that cash on a brand new smartwatch.
4. TikTok and different apps went darkish, and returned
TikTok went offline for a day earlier than being allowed to return to the US due to an govt order signed by Donald Trump, although questions stay on how lengthy it’ll be sticking round. Plus, it wasn’t the one service to go darkish.
Marvel Snap and CapCut went darkish – alongside different ByteDance-owned ventures – regardless of some (like Marvel Snap’s personal builders) believing their software program can be exempt from the ban. This prompted a wave of reactions from the apps and their rivals – Marvel Snap is looking for a brand new writer, and Instagram introduced Edits (its personal CapCut rival).
There’s nonetheless a query about what TikTok’s destiny might be, nevertheless it appears loads are getting ready for it to get banned within the US once more if a sale doesn’t undergo, so that you would possibly wish to prepare for that too.
3. Netflix acquired a worth hike – once more
Right here we go once more: Netflix is getting a worth hike within the US efficient instantly – yippee…
The usual plan with advertisements goes up $1 from $6.99 to $7.99 a month, the usual (no advertisements) plan is leaping to $17.99 from $15.49, and the premium plan will set you again $24.99 a month as a substitute of $22.99.
Netflix mentioned it “will often ask our members to pay somewhat extra in order that we will re-invest to additional enhance Netflix” as a technique to wave away criticism. Whereas the rise isn’t large (and hasn’t but made its technique to the UK or Australia), these gradual and regular will increase have made the service significantly extra expensive over time, and it’s main us to ask if we must always simply ditch the streaming service as soon as and for all.
2. OpenAI’s first AI Agent arrived
AI Brokers are going to be an enormous pattern in 2025, and OpenAI is formally transport its first one, dubbed ‘Operator’ as of January 23, 2025, as a analysis preview for ChatGPT Professional Subscribes. The gist right here is that it’s Laptop Utilizing Agent, principally an AI that may full internet duties for you because it lives inside a browser. It makes use of GPT-4o’s visible with superior reasoning to let it browse the online and perceive numerous parts.
Basically, as seen in a shared demo, it could actually fill out varieties for you, discover a restaurant, after which guide it for you on OpenTable. OpenAI even says that it could actually self-correct, although we’ll have to see what that appears like in follow. It’s early days, however Operator is thrilling and OpenAI can be engaged on different AI Brokers.
1. Oscar nominations obtained AI backlash
The Brutalist – up for 10 Oscars – and Netflix’s Emilia Pérez – up for a record-breaking 13 Oscars, probably the most for a international movie ever – got here beneath fireplace this week over their use of Respeecher, an AI voice-changing software.
It was used to make The Brutalist actors akin to Adrien Brody and Felicity Jones sound extra genuinely Hungarian and to extend the singing vary of the Emilia Pérez lead’s Karla Sofìa Gascón by combining her voice with French pop star Camille.
The movies’ inventive groups have argued that AI merely augments the unbelievable performances of those actors in the identical method that conventional modifying does and that whereas the AI was used to assist velocity up the modifying course of, it nonetheless required the care and a focus of human editors. Nevertheless, it’s left a bitter style in many individuals’s mouths, particularly after the key 2023 Hollywood strike, which rebelled towards AI’s use in movies – with some calling for these movies to be disqualified as a result of they used AI.