Eliana Willis

ZDNETFor years, we’ve been able to freely use all the features in Windows apps like Notepad and Paint. But those days seem to be gone. Yes, the core features are still freely accessible, but the latest AI skills? Not so much.Also: How to remove Copilot from your Microsoft 365 planA Windows forum post published Thursday described the ways that Microsoft has added AI to Notepad and Paint in Windows 11. In Notepad, you can request a rewrite of the text and even specify whether you want it shorter, longer, more formal, more casual, or more humorous. In Paint, you’re able to generate images with the AI-powered Image Creator and tweak the background. There’s a price to AI, both for Microsoft and its usersThe company needs to pay for its ongoing research and work on AI, as the forum post points out. It wants to encourage people to subscribe to Microsoft 365 and other apps by adding AI. And the freemium model has been expanding beyond the mobile landscape into desktop software. Also: How to use Microsoft’s Copilot AI on LinuxFor Microsoft, passing the cost along to the consumer is the obvious way to address all those goals. That’s why the company has essentially placed the AI skills for otherwise free Windows apps behind a subscription paywall.So how does this play out? Again, you can use all of the non-AI features of Notepad and Paint for free, just as always. But try to request a rewrite in Notepad or an image in Paint, and you’ll be told that you need a subscription to Microsoft 365. More

ZDNETIf you’ve been on the fence about picking up a PlayStation 5 console, now is your chance to snag a great bundle from QVC for $110 off. It includes a Slim digital console, two DualSense controllers, a controller charger, a headset, a controller sleeve, and a voucher for MightySkins to personalize your console and controllers. You can save another $10 with the code WELCOME10 and an additional $20 if you sign up for a QCard.The PlayStation 5 Slim Digital console is built with a 1TB SSD storage drive and 16GB of RAM for faster loading times than the PS4. It also supports Wi-Fi 6 for faster, more reliable wireless internet connectivity, which is crucial for online multiplayer matches. Along with the controllers and accessories, the console comes with Astro’s Playroom preloaded, so you can start playing games right out of the box.Also: How to add extra storage to your PS5The DualSense controllers feature haptic feedback, offering resistance, enhanced rumble, and improved motion sensing for better immersion across various game genres. With two USB and a USB-C port, you can connect external storage drives for offloading large download files and older games and charge controllers or connect headsets and microphones for in-game chat. And if you’re looking to get the most out of your PS5, it has exclusive features compatible with Sony TVs More

gremlin/Getty Images AI agents are poised to transform consumer search and discovery, according to ARK, an investment management firm in St. Petersburg, Fla. Embedded in the operating systems of consumer hardware, AI agents empower consumers to delegate all discovery and research to AI — a massive time-saver. Curated AI results will contextualize digital ad impressions.  […] More

Screenshot by Lance Whitney/ZDNETX’s new Grok 3 AI-powered chatbot is now free for anyone to use. Launched earlier this week, the latest flavor of Grok initially required a paid subscription, but that restriction has now been lifted, according to a new post from xAI, the AI company created by Elon Musk.Beyond the usual AI chat features, Grok 3 offers a DeepSearch mode. Similar to the Deep Research option from ChatGPT Pro, Gemini Advanced, and Perplexity AI, this capability uses a virtual agent to search the web on your behalf and present a detailed report about your topic. The latest version of Grok also provides a mode called Think, which uses a reasoning model to tackle challenging problems in math, science, and coding.Also: Yikes: Jailbroken Grok 3 can be made to say and reveal just about anythingThough the new AI is free for all X users, paid subscribers will still enjoy some advantages. X Premium+ and SuperGrok subscribers will score increased access to Grok and advanced features like Voice Mode. Due to be officially rolled out soon, Voice Mode will let the AI speak using different voices, transcribe audio, and share the transcriptions if you wish. But these subscriptions won’t come cheap.This week, X bumped the cost of X Premium+ More

<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The Blackview Tab 90 WiFi (2025) is on sale now for $110 on Amazon. It punches above its price point in terms of hardware. Expanded memory does need to be pushed to the max to get the best performance. –> Blackview, a brand primarily recognized for its rugged smartphones, has also […] More

Matthew Busch for The Washington Post via Getty Images Some people think tens of millions of dead people are collecting Social Security checks. That’s not true. What’s really going on is people don’t understand its old, underlying technology.  The saga of 150-year-old Social Security recipients is a tale that intertwines aging technology, government systems, and modern […] More

<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The Withings Scanwatch Nova is available for pre-order now, starting at $599. It’s an elegant smartwatch with a one-month battery, water resistance up to 10ATM, and various health-tracking metrics. A $10/month subscription is required for some advanced metrics, and the watch is only available in one 42mm diameter. –> Healthy heart […] More