<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways Asus’ Zenbook S 16 starts at $1,399 and affirms the brand as an industry leader in laptop design. It’s constructed from a unique material that allows it to be lightweight yet durable, while also housing a 3K display and a solid set of hardware. However, the machine has a somewhat middling […] More
Sabrina Ortiz/ZDNETAmazon has been focused on bringing generative AI to Alexa for the past few years, hitting multiple delays in launching new features that the company first announced in September 2023. The delayed Alexa 2.0 was poised for a 2025 release, and Amazon held a late February event where it made big announcements for the artificial intelligence-powered virtual assistant. Amid rumors of Alexa 2.0 shortcomings, Amazon skipped its 2024 Devices and Services event, where the company typically announces new Alexa features and hardware devices. Instead, it unveiled Alexa+ last month, the voice assistant’s generative AI features, and finally put an ETA on its launch. Also: 7 exciting AI features coming with Alexa+ (and what Amazon devices support it)”Up until a couple of years ago, it was pretty difficult to invent with AI, and that changed with the arrival of foundational models and generative AI. This made the technology much more accessible, so people can see the power and magic of what generative AI can do,” Amazon CEO Andy Jassy said. The event, which took place on Feb. 26 in New York City, was Panos Panay’s first since joining the Devices and Services division after his Microsoft exit. In addition to new Alexa features, Amazon also made other announcements. Everything announced at Amazon’s February 2025 event More
<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The Garmin Instinct 3 Solar is available in two sizes and four color variations for $399 (45mm) and $499 (50mm). The unlimited battery life, brilliant integrated flashlight, rugged build, and accurate tracking make this a perfect watch for adventurists. Unfortunately, the display is still monochrome, mapping remains limited, and the watch […] More
<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The Sharge Icemag 2 power bank is available on Amazon now for $50. With a perfect size, a powerful battery, RBG lighting, and a tiny fan to keep things cool, this power bank is ideal for those on the go. The Icemag 2 isn’t exactly the fastest charging power bank on […] More
<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The Roborock Saros 10R is available for $1,600 This new robot vacuum and mop combination navigates complex areas and quietly vacuums, with a good mopping feature that reaches along the edges to not miss a spot The Saros 10R’s mirrored dock looks great, but the water tank is relatively small, lasting […] More
<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways Lenovo’s 10th-Gen Yoga Slim 9i retails for $1,760. It’s a lightweight laptop with a striking design and an even more striking 4K OLED touchscreen. However, some will find its lack of ports limiting and the webcam low-quality. more buying choices One of the things I appreciate about Lenovo is its willingness […] More
Matthew Miller/ZDNETI spent a couple of weeks with the OnePlus Watch 3 More
ZDNETExperts suggest agentic AI will redefine business workflows during the rest of this decade. Consultant Accenture suggests agents — not people — will be the primary users of enterprise digital systems by 2030.As many as 93% of IT leaders intend to introduce AI agents within the next two years. However, despite all the hype around agentic AI, business leaders told ZDNET the path to an agentic transformation is far from straightforward, and many challenges must be overcome. Also: 25% of enterprises using AI will deploy AI agents by 2025Here are four ways your business can get ready for AI agents. 1. Find great use cases James Fleming, CIO at the Francis Crick Institute, said his organization is testing agents and experimenting with Meta’s Llama 3 model. “We’re looking at various data sets to see if there’s any utility we can derive from the technology,” he said, suggesting agents can help with literature synthesis. “The amount of research published globally is astonishing. Staying ahead of your field is a full-time job. Synthesizing the last 25 papers in a discipline into something readable and informative means agents could often be quite good at that activity.” Also: AI agents will significantly improve employee productivityFleming told ZDNET that initial explorations into agents have shown that automation can be challenging, especially in a world-leading research organization. “That issue goes back to scientific rigor. You’ve got to be damn sure it’s doing something useful,” he said. “Otherwise, it’s just another mechanism for generating false leads. So, to get over that hill of ‘this is a genuinely useful tool’ is a high one.” Fleming said the use case is everything. There is a big difference between using agents for diary planning and life-saving research. Humans must be kept in the loop. “That’s not to say there’s no gain with the technology,” he said. “It’s just targeting agents specifically within the research life cycle — and not at the stage where it can supplant human thought and creativity.” More
