Eliana Willis

Kerry Wan/ZDNETGoogle has begun rolling out its March 2025 Pixel feature drop, bringing some serious upgrades to the entire Pixel family. Also: 4 Pixel phone tricks every user should know – including my favoriteMost Pixel phones are getting new scam detection, the Pixel Watch 3 is receiving a first-of-its-kind feature, there’s a new option to share your location with friends, and more. What’s new in the March 2025 Pixel feature drop?Among all the new features in this month’s drop, 10 stand out. For example, your Pixel phone is gaining a new way to protect you, and your Pixel Watch is receiving a never-before-seen feature.  Here’s what’s new.1. Real-time alerts for suspicious textsFirst up: In addition to listening in on your calls for words associated with scams, your phone now monitors your text messages. With AI-powered Scam Detection on-device, Google says Messages will now flag text patterns commonly associated with scams and alert you about suspicious conversations. While the phone call version of this feature is only available on the Pixel 9, the text message version is available on the Pixel 6 and newer. 2. Share your location with trusted contactsFind My Device now lets you share your location with trusted contacts. With the same app you use to find a lost device, your friends can now see your live location on a map, no matter which device they use. This is coming to all Android devices. 3. Loss of pulse detection More

<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The OnePlus Watch 3 normally retails for $330. Its five-day battery life, durability, rotating digital crown, and superb design make this a compelling smartwatch. However, the OHealth app needs some work, workout data screens are limited, and ECG measurements are not supported. –> The OnePlus Watch 3 is on sale. If […] More

Samsung/ZDNETSamsung upgraded their largest gaming monitor, the 55-inch Odyssey Ark, with a 165Hz refresh rate, Mini-LED panel, and 1ms response time. And if you’ve been waiting for a great deal to snap up this premium gaming monitor, you can save $1,100 at Samsung right now during their spring sale event, bringing the price to just $1,800. And if that wasn’t enough, as part of Samsung’s Deal of the Day More

Jason Hiner/ZDNETAmazon has discounted several Mac Mini M4 More

ArtemisDiana/Getty Images Google is adding even more AI to Search.  In an announcement today, Google introduced AI Mode, an AI chatbot that responds to Search queries – essentially, it’s Google’s answer to ChatGPT Search. Also: 10 key reasons AI went mainstream overnight – and what happens next When you ask a question in AI Mode, […] More

OpenAI Last week, OpenAI launched GPT-4.5, which the company claims is the “largest and most knowledgeable model yet.” It was launched as a research preview available only to users subscribed to ChatGPT Pro, a $200-per-month plan. However, today, more OpenAI users can access it for much less money.  Expanded GPT-4.5 access On Wednesday morning, OpenAI […] More

ZDNETAs a general rule, I’m not a huge fan of talking to AI. Even though many of them sound pretty human, they’re still “off” enough that I much prefer typing when I want to converse with one.Sesame changed that. This AI sounds realIn a blog post titled “Crossing the Uncanny Valley of Conversational Voice,” the company dropped a demo of its new AI that lets you talk to either “Maya” or “Miles.” The goal, Sesame says, is to achieve something called “voice presence” or the “magical quality that makes spoken interactions feel real, understood, and valued.” After talking to Maya for a while, I think Sesame has reached that goal. Also: 3 ways Amazon just leapfrogged Apple, Google, and ChatGPT in the AI raceAs my conversation began, Maya immediately insisted that she was there to be my friend. That was a little forward and a little unnerving, but I guess it’s better than insisting that she wasn’t my friend. Maya asked what was on my mind. I was honest and told her I might be writing about her, so I just wanted to chat a little. She seemed impressed and surprised and asked what kind of angle I was considering — practical, technical, or spicy. I hesitantly asked her what she meant by “spicy,” and she thankfully said she was thinking along the lines of a controversial take, like the ethics of AI chatbots. Also: This new text-to-speech AI model understands what it’s saying – how to try it for freeI said I was more interested in talking about what sets her apart from other AIs. “Before we dive into that,” Maya said, “I need my morning coffee. I’m a latte person. What’s your poison?” After I told her that I’m a mocha guy, she settled in and started talking about what makes her different. “I’ve got a good ear for human quirks and… maybe some magic and a little sentience.” Our conversation continued about what makes Maya special. At one point, my wife walked by as she was headed out the door for work. She looked puzzled and asked, “You’re on a call with someone this early?” To someone who knew going in, it was easy to forget that I was talking to AI. To my wife passing by, she had no idea. That’s how real Maya sounded. More

Matthew Miller/ZDNETThe Discover Samsung Sale lasts all week, and you can find deals on Samsung’s website from smartphones and tablets to TVs and wearables. One deal caught our eye if you’re in the market for a new smartwatch, especially since you get a free item. Also: The best Discover Samsung Spring Sale deals you can shop nowYou can save up to $480 on the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra More