Robotics

Opera/ZDNETThe team behind the Opera web browser has announced a new AI agent called Browser Operator, capable of performing browsing tasks for users. This new agentic browsing marks a paradigm shift that could mark the next evolution of web browsers. Also: Which AI agent is the best? This new leaderboard can tell youAccording to Krystian Kolondra, EVP at Opera, “For more than 30 years, the browser gave you access to the web, but it has never been able to get stuff done for you. Now it can. This is different from anything we’ve seen or shipped so far.” Kolondra continues, “The Browser Operator we’re presenting today marks the first step toward shifting the role of the browser from a display engine to an application that is agentic and performs tasks for its users.” Key features of AI agentics include: AutonomyPerceptionDecision-makingAction ExecutionLearning and AdaptingMajor efficiency boostVia the AI agentics, the Browser Operator is designed to give the user a major efficiency boost. This is accomplished by allowing the user to explain what they need to do in natural language, and the browser will then perform the necessary tasks. Also: Crawl, then walk, before you run with AI agents, experts recommendFor example, you could ask Browser Operator to buy you a pair of pink running shoes from Nike in a size 8.5. The Browser Operator will then perform the task. As Browser Operator performs the task, the user can see what’s happening at any point in the process, so they are in control the whole time. User-focused ecosystemEssentially, Opera is turning the browser into more of a user-focused ecosystem that uses native client-side solutions to complete tasks while protecting user privacy.Also: How businesses are accelerating time to agentic AI valueThe Browser Operator runs natively inside the browser and uses the DOM Tree and browser layout data to get context. According to Opera, that makes the solution faster because the browser doesn’t need to “see” and understand what’s on the screen from its pixels or navigate with a mouse pointer. Browser Operator can access an entire page at once, without the need to scroll, which means it reduces overhead and time required. And because it all happens natively within the browser, the Browser Operator doesn’t require a virtual machine or cloud server. More

ZDNETPower stations can range in price from a few hundred dollars for a small, portable unit More

MacBook Air M3 Kerry Wan/ZDNETApple is gearing up to launch its lineup of MacBook Air laptops with the M4 chip — and they’re coming this week. Apple CEO Tim Cook posted a short teaser video on X this morning that reads “There’s something in the air.” To seal the deal, the caption simply states “This week.” There’s nothing else in the video to suggest which device will be launching, but speculation has been floating for months that it will be the MacBook Air with the new M4 processor. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reported earlier this month that both the 13-inch and 15-inch configurations are expected to drop at the same time, just like last year’s M3 Air models. The M4-Mac family will be complete The much-anticipated addition of the MacBook Air to the M4 family will round out all of the consumer laptop products with Apple Silicon’s latest in processor technology, as the iMac, Mac Mini, MacBook, and MacBook Pro all launched with it in the fall of 2024. We’ve seen some competitive sale prices on the MacBook Air M3 More

<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways This compact yet powerful power bank features dual USB-C fast charging The 1.3-inch TFT color display does a fantastic job of keeping you in the loop about what the power bank is doing Beast Mode rapid charging is useful, and a 20-minute charge can take the charge from zero to 70%. […] More

Jason Hiner/ZDNETThe Oura RIng 4 may have been ZDNET’s 2024 product of the year, but the market is full of other great fitness and wellness wearables that are perfect investments for those looking for more innovative, faster, and better ways to track their health in 2025. With plenty of options, including smartwatches for Apple and Android users and handy smart rings, you’re sure to find a suitable choice for your lifestyle — it’s just going to cost you. Also: The best Discover Samsung Spring sale deals: Shop Galaxy S25 phones, TVs, and moreThese insightful wellness trackers are not cheap. That’s why when there’s a great deal or offer, ZDNET is here to bring it your way. Right now, during Samsung’s Discover Spring Sale, you can save up to $250 off a new Samsung Galaxy Ring More

ZDNETMicrosoft users who still rely on Skype will soon have to find a different service. On Friday, the company announced that Skype will be retired on May 5 so that it can focus on the free version of Teams. Sign into Teams with your Skype credentialsTo encourage this transition, Microsoft will soon allow users to sign in to the free version of Teams with their Skype username and password. By using the same credentials, users will be able to access their existing chats and contacts if they want to pick up where they left off. Also: Microsoft is testing a free desktop version of Office – but there’s a catchUntil the official retirement, Skype users will still be able to call and chat with people on Teams, and vice versa. If you’re not fond of Teams, you can export your data from Skype, including your chats, contacts, and call history. More

ZDNETAfter all the chaos we have seen in the Kindle world over the last week, I’ve noticed that there tend to be two types of reactions from users.The first reaction is that some people want to move off the Kindle platform as quickly as possible. Their whole interest is setting up a new reading environment where ebook ownership means having all their books’ files on backup media somewhere. The second reaction, fueled by either old Kindle devices or unregistered Kindle devices, is the desire to get a new Kindle. As part of the bulk download process many of us went through before Amazon cut off that ability, my wife realized that although she has three devices, the newest Kindle she owns is a Paperwhite she bought back in 2012. Also: Want free ebooks? These 10 sites offer thousands of optionsHer favorite device, the large-format Kindle DX, can no longer load Kindle books because it lacks connectivity to Amazon. We tried registering an old Kindle Keyboard from 2010. Even though it has Wi-Fi connectivity, the security protocols in that machine are so out of date that it wouldn’t authenticate with Amazon. This article is for those with active Kindle libraries or those who want to get started in the Kindle ecosystem. As it turns out, if you want to buy a new Kindle, there are a number of ways you can save big on the purchase. First, I’ll show you the ways you can save. Then, I’ll build a couple of configurations, and we’ll do some math on the savings. 1. Save 20% with trade-in (plus bonus bucks) Amazon has an offer where you can trade in an old device and get a 20% discount — plus a few bucks for your old device. More

<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways Acer’s Aspire 14 AI is available now at Costco for $699. It has a fantastic battery and some of the latest hardware: all for a very approachable price point. I suggest opting for the OLED, since the low-end display isn’t the best. –> I went hands-on with Acer’s Aspire Go 15 […] More