If you've worked in cybersecurity for as long as I have, then you'll know there are a couple of things you can count on. First, the threats that are out there never stop evolving. And second, sooner or later, you're going to be in the bullseye.

What makes life so much harder today is that AI and other automated tools have dramatically narrowed the gap between vulnerability discovery and the time it takes to exploit them.

And when this can now be measured in minutes – seconds, even – you know you have a problem. This fundamental change in the way adversaries operate means we no longer have the luxury of time to understand an attack, assess the risk and decide what to do next.

Which means we have to be better prepared and have resiliency for whatever is thrown at us.

Visibility is key

For me, that starts with accepting a simple reality: you cannot defend what you cannot see. And it’s why visibility is one of the most important capabilities an organization can develop.

After all, if you understand what exists within your environment – how those systems interact and what normal looks like – then you're in a much stronger position to identify unusual behavior before it develops into something more serious.

Observability, on the other hand, takes that visibility to the next level. It provides the context security teams need to make informed decisions quickly, especially when time is working against them.

In other words, visibility tells you what is happening, while observability helps you understand why it's happening.

And that’s crucial. Today's organizations operate across on-premises infrastructure, cloud environments, networks, and an increasing number of connected technologies.

As those environments become more distributed, understanding what's happening across them becomes significantly harder.

Without that visibility, it's difficult to understand where your risks are, how systems interact, or where an attacker may be able to exploit a weakness.

Think like a hacker

Which leads me neatly onto my next point. Throughout my career, including my time working in offensive cyber operations in the intelligence community, I've found that the most effective way to understand risk is to think like the adversary.

I start by asking how someone would attack an organization and then work backwards to identify and close gaps.

That’s because attackers don't see organizations in the way that you or I might do. They’re always on the hunt for a toehold in. They look for weaknesses in people, processes and technologies.

They look for the easiest route first to achieve their objective. And then they exploit that weakness.

And it’s an approach I would urge all security leaders to adopt if they want to stay one step ahead.

That means continuously asking where an attacker would start, how they would move through the organization and what controls would slow them down or stop them altogether.

But for this to work, it also requires organizations to design resilience into the way they operate. And that’s something we’ve embedded across our organization.

For instance, we have internal and external teams that conduct continuous product, enterprise, spear-phishing and physical penetration testing.

For us, it's about educating the team across the business to ensure they remain vigilant. But it’s also about inoculating people so that when they see something suspicious online, they have that instinct that something might be wrong and they report it.

We also want to make it easy for people to report events so we can analyze them quickly and better understand the targeting.

Secure by design

We’ve also invested heavily in Secure by Design to ensure that all the products we deliver to customers are as secure as humanly possible. In practice, it means being able to trace every piece of code back to its source and verify its integrity throughout the development process.

It's similar to maintaining a chain of custody for evidence. We want to know exactly where software components come from, how they're verified and how they're protected throughout the entire build process.

More broadly, Secure by Design is increasingly being adopted across our industry as organizations recognize the importance of software integrity, traceability and transparency throughout the development lifecycle.

This is important because, as I said at the beginning, there are two certainties in cybersecurity: threats will continue to evolve, and organizations will continue to be targeted. Businesses across the world must adapt quickly to the grim reality that a cybersecurity incident isn’t a matter of if, but a matter of when. And AI is supercharging the pace at which all this is happening and broadening the blast radius of any attack.

That’s why you need to understand your environment well enough to reduce unnecessary risk, detect malicious activity quickly and limit the blast radius when something does happen. Pair that with a clearly defined and tested plan for recovery and that's what robust cyber resilience looks like in practice.

We've featured the best endpoint protection software.

This article was produced as part of TechRadar Pro Perspectives, our channel to feature the best and brightest minds in the technology industry today.

The views expressed here are those of the author and are not necessarily those of TechRadarPro or Future plc. If you are interested in contributing find out more here: https://www.techradar.com/pro/perspectives-how-to-submit

Defense is operating in an environment where the pace of change continues to increase. Adversaries are adapting quickly and technology development cycles are becoming shorter. The boundaries between physical and digital operations are also becoming harder to define, while military commanders have more information available to them than ever before.

This changes how operational advantage is achieved. The performance of an individual platform or system remains important, but so does its ability to work effectively within the wider operational environment. Information needs to move securely to where it is needed, supporting decisions and action across different domains.

As new technologies are introduced, integration will become an increasingly important part of defense capability. The challenge is making sure innovation can be put to practical use alongside the systems and infrastructure already supporting operations.

Connecting technology across defence

Conversations around defense innovation often focus on AI, autonomous systems, advanced sensors, cyber capability and space assets. Each has a significant role to play, but none operates in isolation.

Information gathered by one system may need to be shared across multiple domains before it supports an operational decision. Networks, data, command systems and people all contribute to that process. The value of any individual technology is linked to how effectively it connects with the wider operational environment.

This principle also applies to the infrastructure supporting military operations. Communications networks, operational facilities and digital systems all contribute to creating an environment where information can move securely and reliably. As these environments evolve, resilience and security must be designed from the outset though approaches such as secure-by-design and zero-trust principles.

Strengthening the foundations of operational capability

AI has become one of the defining topics in defense. Its ability to process information and support decision-making has significant potential, but those capabilities depend on the quality of the data available and the resilience of the infrastructure that carries it.

Reliable communications, trusted data and secure networks remain fundamental to operational effectiveness. If those foundations are unavailable or compromised, the benefits of advanced technologies are reduced.

Therefore, creating decision advantage is not simply a technology challenge. It is an infrastructure and digital challenge and increasingly, a collaboration challenge.

For organizations supporting critical infrastructure, this has become an increasingly familiar challenge. Communications, operational technology, and digital infrastructure must work together to create environments where reliability cannot be compromised.

Keeping people at the heart of automation

Automation is attracting considerable attention across defense as organizations are looking to improve efficiency and increase operational tempo. However, automation should never be viewed as an end.

Its greatest value often comes from reducing routine activity rather than replacing people. Predictive maintenance, autonomous monitoring, automated network management and logistics optimization all help reduce the time spent on repetitive tasks, allowing highly trained personnel to focus on areas where experience and judgement remain essential.

The most effective technologies do not replace human capability - they amplify it.

The infrastructure supporting multi-domain operations

As operations become increasingly integrated across land, sea, air, cyber and space, infrastructure is taking on greater strategic importance. Communications, transport, energy, and digital systems all contribute to operational capability, showing how infrastructure and technology are becoming increasingly interdependent.

The movement of people, information, energy, and capability all contribute to operational readiness. Reliable infrastructure enables those elements to function as a single system, ensuring capability can be delivered when and where it is needed.

One example can be seen in the Falkland Islands, where runway infrastructure forms part of maintaining long-term strategic capability and readiness. It illustrates how infrastructure and operational capability are becoming increasingly interconnected.

Bringing innovation into operational use

The UK benefits from an established community of innovators, with government, industry, academia, SMEs and the Armed Forces all contributing to the development of new ideas and technologies. The opportunity now is to ensure those innovations can be adopted enough to meet operational needs.

Collaboration is still a critical part of this process. Bringing together different perspectives helps ensure technology is developed with practical application in mind and can be integrated more effectively into future capability.

Delivering the next phase of defense capability

Much of the technology required to support future defense operations already exists. The focus now needs to be on how quickly it can be integrated and put to operational use, giving the Armed Forces the advantage they need as threats and operating environments continue to change. That requires stronger connections across networks, data, platforms, people and infrastructure.

Collaboration between government, industry, academia, SMEs and the Armed Forces will remain central to moving capability from development into deployment. Technologies also need a clearer and faster route beyond demonstrations and pilots, so useful capability reaches operators when it is needed.

The organizations that succeed will be those able to bring people and technology together across the wider defense environment. Doing that securely, reliably and at pace will determine how effectively innovation translates into operational advantage.

We've featured the best AI tool.

This article was produced as part of TechRadar Pro Perspectives, our channel to feature the best and brightest minds in the technology industry today.

The views expressed here are those of the author and are not necessarily those of TechRadarPro or Future plc. If you are interested in contributing find out more here: https://www.techradar.com/pro/perspectives-how-to-submit

• Meta wants to upgrade ex-managers back to managers
• 7,000 workers were moved into the Applied AI org earlier this year
• Company's CTO admitted previous workforce changes were "atrocious"

Meta has reportedly partially reversed its decision to push for flatter, manager-light teams by asking some employees in its Applied AI business to move from individual contributor roles back into managerial positions.

New Business Insider reporting suggests Meta is asking certain workers to volunteer themselves as managers rather than forcing them into it, but without the company sharing comment on the matter, it's unclear how workers who refuse may be impacted.

As for the business itself, it's a pretty new one that was established this year, with around 7,000 employees shifted under the Applied AI umbrella.

Meta wanted fewer managers, now it wants more

Some of the workers who were previously assigned as managers were reassigned as individual contributors when they joined the Applied AI org, with Business Insider previously reporting how many workers felt they'd effectively been "drafted" into the business, highlighting ongoing friction internally.

The manager-light stance comes from CEO Mark Zuckerberg's 'Year of Efficiency' announcement in 2023, when he argued that a flatter organization could be more nimble and better poised for change.

With the company as a whole now on track to spend over $130 billion this year on AI chips and infrastructure, it's possible that a growing Applied AI organization could be behind the need for more traditional management.

Still, Zuckerberg's efficiency-driven, manager-light program seems to remain in force across other areas of the business, with this push for new managers looking to only be affecting Applied AI.

Separately, CTO Andrew Bosworth previously admitted that Meta's rollout of its new AI division was "atrocious" (via Wired), promising better communication for future changes.

"We shook up the management structure that was providing you stability while rapid changes in strategy, including the boom/bust cycle of hiring, left entire teams in the lurch," he admitted.

AI has rewritten the enterprise data playbook. Workflows no longer just create temporary operational data, but vast amounts of high-value assets, from LLM training datasets and model outputs to logs, metadata and archived knowledge that may need to be preserved for years.

As enterprise tech leaders seek to scale infrastructure to meet these demands, storage requirements are undergoing a fundamental shift. Capacity and performance remain critical, but data security has become equally important. Today, long-term data integrity and absolute cyber resilience carry equal weight.

Protecting this data, however, is no longer just about defeating today’s threat vectors. It requires preparing storage infrastructure for a significant shift: the arrival of quantum computing.

Data is a long-term strategic asset, not a short-lived trend

AI is accelerating data growth, but it can also extend the useful life of information. Data recorded today will be harvested for compliance, advanced analytics and model retraining for years to come.

To manage this economically, enterprise architectures rely heavily on high-capacity HDDs. While flash technologies dominate performance-critical hot tiers, HDDs remain the undisputed backbone of large-scale storage, providing the capacity, economics and longevity needed to archive data at scale.

As a result, organizations must consider how to protect not only today's data, but also its future value. After all, if the underlying infrastructure is compromised down the road, the very assets driving future AI innovations become the biggest operational and regulatory liability.

Harvest now, decrypt later

Current encryption technologies remain effective against conventional threats. However, quantum computing is expected to challenge some of the cryptographic methods used for authentication and key exchange.

This has led to concerns around “harvest now, decrypt later” attacks, where encrypted data is collected today with the expectation that future quantum capabilities could potentially decrypt it later.

For organizations storing sensitive intellectual property, research data or AI training datasets, this means security decisions made today could have implications for years to come.

Preparing for that future requires action from security leaders and IT directors now.

Security must be built into the infrastructure

Security is often viewed through the lens of data encryption, and with good reason. Self-encrypting drives (SEDs) provide always-on, hardware-based AES-256 encryption that helps protect data at rest without impacting performance.

But protecting data alone is no longer enough.

Storage devices themselves must be trusted. Firmware, authentication mechanisms, provisioning processes and diagnostic tools all play a role in ensuring a drive operates securely throughout its lifecycle.

If attackers compromise a device's firmware or trust architecture, broader security controls can be undermined regardless of how data is encrypted elsewhere in the system. This makes storage security a critical component of overall cyber resilience.

Implementing quantum-resistant defenses in storage

To counter these emerging attack vectors, the storage industry is actively embedding post-quantum cryptography into hardware architecture of enterprise hard drives. Rather than focusing solely on protecting data, the objective is to protect the trust architecture that underpins the drive itself.

Post quantum cryptography (PQC) technologies are being incorporated into areas such as secure key establishment, firmware authentication, secure provisioning, and trusted diagnostics. These capabilities are designed in alignment with established NIST post-quantum standards and are implemented using hybrid approaches that combine classical cryptography with quantum-resistant algorithms.

In practical terms, this means that the mechanisms responsible for establishing trust, validating firmware integrity and protecting administrative functions can remain resilient against both conventional and future quantum-enabled attacks. With the operational service life of HDDs often spanning 5 years (or more), implementing PQC today helps protect against quantum-based threats that may not materialize for several years, but that we know are coming.

Importantly, HDDs have long incorporated security controls to defend against today's threats. PQC does not replace these protections; it enhances them by adding an additional layer of resilience against emerging attack vectors.

Trust in the AI era

For many years, storage innovation was primarily defined by increases in capacity. Today, the expectations placed on infrastructure are much broader.

Organizations seek storage platforms that can scale with AI-driven data growth, deliver reliable performance, preserve integrity over long retention periods and withstand an increasingly complex threat environment.

PQC represents an important step in that evolution. By extending protection beyond data encryption and into the trust mechanisms that underpin storage devices themselves, PQC-enabled HDDs help organizations prepare for the security challenges of tomorrow while protecting the data they manage today.

As AI continues to elevate the strategic value of enterprise data, security can no longer be a short-term, reactive consideration. Trust must be engineered directly into the hardware layer and built to outlast the threats of today, tomorrow and the quantum era ahead of us.

We've featured the best SSD.

This article was produced as part of TechRadar Pro Perspectives, our channel to feature the best and brightest minds in the technology industry today.

The views expressed here are those of the author and are not necessarily those of TechRadarPro or Future plc. If you are interested in contributing find out more here: https://www.techradar.com/pro/perspectives-how-to-submit

• Qobuz wants you to make a memory-filled playlist, and explain it
• You can win an iFi iDSD GR 2 for your efforts
• World Alzheimer's Month runs through September

Alongside 'Fast songs for the gym' and 'Band 101 for introducing a partner to a band on the eve of going to their gig', remembering moments or periods of your life is one of the most important reasons we make playlists. I still listen to "mix-tapes" (in digital format, mostly) I made while living abroad, road tripping around the outback or preparing for big university parties.

Now, streaming service Qobuz has taken time off its war on AI slop to acknowledge the link between music and memory for World Alzheimer's Month, teaming up with hi-fi tech brand iFi Audio to do so.

World Alzheimer's Month runs through September, and during that time, Qobuz and iFi are running a competition to submit a memory-laden playlist, and perhaps win an iFi iDSD GR 2 for your efforts.

Wait, what's the link? Well, it has been shown that musical memory remains well-preserved in Alzheimer's sufferers, and so a song may help with memory recall.

I'm getting this from a study published in the National Library of Medicine, which suggests that music interventions can "delay and decelerate the neurodegeneration in individuals at risk". But my colleague and Audio Editor tells me she has seen music's profound effect on memory recall in a fellow dancer who (even in advanced stages of this progressive disease) could still perform decades-old choreography, if the music were played.

Many non-profits, including Music & Memory or Playlist for Life, exist to help people by providing training, awareness or music-based care, to aid those suffering with various degenerative illnesses.

What about that competition?

Oh yes, the competition.

During September, Qobuz and iFi want you to make a playlist (on the former's hi-res download and streaming platform, of course) full of songs which bring you back to a certain time or important memory.

Then, you need to head over to iFi Audio's competition landing page, which will give you a few steps to complete and fields to fill in.

This page also lets you provide a 'short story' or description of what the playlist means to you. There's no stated word count, but this whole news story could be pasted into the field with without a problem.

Once you've submitted your playlist, you'll be in with a chance to win the iFi iDSD GR 2 DAC (or digital-analog-converter, to level up your music using, say, the USB-C port on your phone, and on to your wired headphones or earbuds), worth $529 / £529 / AU$849. And that's a great prize. We gave the iFi IDSD GR 2 a perfect, 5-star review, praising its sound quality and easy-to-use touch-screen. So good luck!

There's no indication of how the brands will choose a winner; if it'll be based on the description, or tracks, or at random. It's also not clear what will happen to the rest of the playlists; maybe Qobuz will publish some of its favorites for all to see, but perhaps the submission is just for the purposes of the competition. Either way, delving back into old albums and tracks that really take you back to a specific moment will be a cathartic — and sometimes profound — experience. Music's great, isn't it?

Spoilers for The Paper season 2 ending ahead.

Regardless of whether you love or loathe Esmeralda (Sabrina Impacciatore), you can't deny that she's made The Paper season 2 ending incredibly memorable.

While Ned (Domhnall Gleeson) comes to Mare's (Chelsea Frei) rescue at The Cincinnati Chronicle, Esmeralda is on a mission of her own. Distraught by the news that her son has got C on his latest school exam, she undertakes an undercover investigation to get to the bottom of the "injustice."

As Oscar (Oscar Nuñez) tells us, these Esmeralda specials tend to be a regular occurrence. She's donned a fat suit to protest weight restrictions at a local playground, and disguised herself as a balding, older man to work out why those who "aren't attractive" are having problems dating.

This time, Esmeralda's transformation comes in the form of a teenage boy, dressing up in a short brown wig, baggy football jerseys and a backwards cap — much like a member of N*SYNC — to infiltrate Matteo's (Zak Messinger) class, though she's immediately detected.

While Matteo is willing to indulge her ridiculousness (albeit for a short time), the sheer stupidity of it all makes it the best moment in the entire season. But which disguise did Impacciatore find the most uncomfortable?

'I was shocked when I looked in the mirror'

"I had so much fun with that," Impacciatore tells me. "The most uncomfortable was the woman.... but the older man was horrible.

"I felt so shocked looking at myself in the mirror, and that shock remained for a good few days. I didn't recognize myself... just a very shocking experience. It's literally just for a few seconds in the show, but the experience of it lasted."

Personally, I'd enjoy an entire episode dedicated solely to Impacciatore's old man, who tells a group of attractive younger women at a bar that just because he doesn't look like Marlon Brando — already an outdated reference — doesn't mean that he should be ruled out.

While Esmeralda is probably the least predictable character of the bunch, these episode 10 transformations do set her up for future undercover investigations if The Paper season 3 is greenlit.

If her more direct exposé has almost cost Esmeralda her job and status at the Toledo Truth Teller, then why not try alternative methods to do exactly what she wants to? Watch this space, is all I'm saying.

• Marvel has seemingly cast a Gen V alumnus as Angel in its new X-Men movie
• Asa Germann is said to have signed on to play the winged mutant
• For the most part, MCU fans have reacted positively to the news

Marvel has reportedly tapped Asa Germann to play Angel in its new X-Men movie.

The Hollywood Reporter (THR) first broke the news, with the trade publication's sources claiming that the former Gen V star has signed on to play the winged mutant in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).

Interestingly, THR suggests that Germann was a major contender to portray Scott Summer/Cyclops in the forthcoming flick. However, while Marvel decided to hire Kit Connors to play Cyclops in its X-Men reboot, the comic giant's top brass were so impressed by Germann's audition, they offered him the role of Angel instead.

At 28 years old, Germann is on the older side of the Marvel Phase 7 movie's cast, with many of his fellow stars in the 20 to 25 bracket. Nonetheless, Germann fits the bill as an actor under the age of 30 who, as long as he's signed a multi-picture deal, could feature in numerous X-Men and MCU movies over the next decade.

Real name Warren Worthington III, Angel is a founding member of the X-Men in Marvel Comics. As his mutant alias implies, he's defined by a pair of giant, white feathered wings that protrude from his upper back. Unsurprisingly, these allow him to fly, but Angel also boasts the usual superhuman abilities — super-strength, reflexes, stamina, and durability — that keep him in the fight for longer than ordinary people.

Germann won't be the first actor to embody Angel on the big screen. Indeed, Ben Foster portrayed the Marvel character in 2006's X-Men: The Last Stand, while Ben Hardy played the same individual 10 years later in 2016 movie X-Men: Apocalypse. For more on those films and other mutant-led flicks, find out how to watch the X-Men movies in order.

What have Marvel fans said about Asa Germann's casting as Angel in the MCU's first X-Men film?

In the main, MCU fans have lauded Germann's casting. Indeed, threads on r/MarvelStudios, r/MarvelStudiosSpoilers, and the ResetEra forums are filled with comments from people excited to see what Germann will bring to the table as part of his portrayal.

Funnily enough, as one eagle-eyed fan pointed out, Germann's first name actually means 'wing' in Portuguese, too. It's almost as if this was planned, isn't it!

While the vast majority are pleased with this hiring — shout out to long-time MCU casting director Sarah Halley Finn for yet another great pick, by the way — a couple of fans are giving themselves a well-earned pat on the back for previously suggesting that Germann would be their top choice for Angel. Not exactly the proven leaks we're used to, but I'll allow it.

Anyway, what do you think of Germann's casting? Let me know in the comments, and if you want to read more on the first MCU movie he'll star in, find out everything else we know so far about Marvel's new X-Men movie.

• OpenAI for Financial Services comes with built-in premium datasets
• Third-party subscription sharing is also in the works
• GPT-6 promises 100% on the 256-512K Long Context benchmark

OpenAI has lifted the wraps off ChatGPT for Financial Services, its latest industry-specific version of ChatGPT Work designed to give sector professionals access to relevant reasoning and models.

The company warned that analysts regularly spend too much time finding data, checking figures, building models and turning complex analysis into presentation-friendly reports – all things it hopes to be able to tackle with this iteration of ChatGPT Work.

Core to this new product is, of course, GPT-6 Astra, but OpenAI also worked with investment experts from Morgan Stanley and Evercore to guide its development.

ChatGPT for Financial Services

With the launch of ChatGPT for Financial Services, OpenAI has built premium datasets from the likes of Daloopa, PitchBook and LSEG News directly into the tool, so users won't need to negotiate their own external datasets. By hosting and indexing that data itself, OpenAI can ultimately improve performance and latency for end users.

OpenAI also promises to be working with S&P Capital IQ, LSEG, MSCI, Dow Jones Factiva and Moody’s so that users can access their subscription benefits directly through their ChatGPT login to reduce the friction further.

All of this with the benefits of OpenAI's latest frontier model, Astra, which sees marked improvements across the board. The jumps from 91.5% to 100% at 256K-512K and from 73.8% to 96.3% at 512K-1M are especially noteworthy on the Long Context MRCR benchmarks when compared with GPT-5.6 Sol, because finance work often requires handling long documents like annual reports and filings.

The company also advertises a 100% score for the ExploitBench cybersecurity benchmark, which should come as welcome news to this highly-regulated industry.

Only eligible financial institutions will gain access to the tool for now, and they must contact OpenAI for options.

"ChatGPT for Financial Services is one way we serve customers across the industry, but we recognize that it will require a range of solutions to address the needs of the finance industry," the company said in its launch blog post.

"OpenAI has a long history of collaborating with innovators to unlock novel AI solutions. Financial services firms and developers can use our API to build specialized applications for the needs they understand best. OpenAI brings frontier models and the capabilities to put them to work. Financial institutions, data providers, and software partners bring specialized expertise, trusted information, and customer relationships."

Hunting for an iPhone 18 Pro case to go with your shiny new handset? I'm here to help. I've rounded up my favorite cases and covers from some of our favourite brands. Sure, you can get cheaper options if you go for a weird, no-name brand on Amazon, but with a phone this pricey, it really is worth paying a bit more for a case that's going to provide proper protection.

If you want a case with personality, head to CASETiFY — here you can choose your level of impact protection, as well as picking from a massive range of fun designs. Mous is brilliant for premium feeling, streamlined cases, and OtterBox shines when it comes to covers with built-in extras like finger grips and stands. Spigen is great for ultra-rugged protection, and if you want a leather wallet, Snakehive is the brand to look for. Of course, Apple makes a few official options, too. You'll find all these below.

Not bought your phone yet? Here are our iPhone 19 Pro first impressions, and a guide to Apple iPhone 18 Pro preorders.

In the US? Head to my US iPhone 18 Pro case roundup instead

iPhone 19 Pro cases

The vast majority of enterprise leaders are bullish about how ready their organizations are for AI-generated code. However, once that code reaches production, this confidence wavers as incidents arise. This pattern shows up across multiple independent studies in this year alone.

For instance, data published in April 2026 found that monthly production incidents climbed by almost 58% as AI coding tools scaled across engineering teams. A similar study from June found that the same volume of code changes is now producing more than three times the production incidents it did before AI coding tools were introduced en masse.

These findings are echoed in the 2026 State of Code Abundance Report, which surveyed more than 200 enterprise technology leaders and found that 92% expressed confidence in the production readiness of AI-generated code and rated their own AI-code readiness at an average of 84 out of 100.

Yet, the same study found that 81% reported an increase in production issues tied to AI-generated code - indicating a significant gap between confidence and control. While 93% say they have a formal process for reviewing and releasing AI-generated code into production, only 56% report that those processes are always enforced.

Furthermore, 86% of the same respondents report full or high visibility into AI-generated code, signaling a major contradiction - high visibility and rising incidents cannot both be describing the same pipeline.

Understanding the visibility gap

This is a familiar phenomenon in business, where confidence tends to be highest in areas where organizations have the least ability to measure their own performance. These enterprises aren't lying about their trust in AI-generated code, they believe it is production ready. The issue is that belief has out-grown the instrumentation needed to verify it.

We need to remember that AI coding tools are, by most measures, doing exactly what they were built to do: allowing more code to be produced faster and shifting engineering effort from writing code to deciding what should ship. Prior to this, the amount of code an organization could produce was largely tied to the size of its development team, incurring significant constraints for many.

In the agentic era, this barrier has effectively disappeared. What hasn't been adjusted is understanding what that code does once it's live, who wrote it, why it changed, and what broke when it did. Most organizations could stay on top of this governance while code was being written at human speed, but the challenge now is keeping up with the pace of agentic coding.

AI has widened a visibility gap that already existed, at a pace most governance structures were never designed to keep up with. For enterprise leaders right now, the natural instinct is to estimate how much faster AI can make their teams. This thinking leads many organizations to fall into the trap of prioritizing speed over quality, which leads to more errors when code is deployed - causing the process to slow dramatically.

The importance of code governance

Before investing heavily in AI coding tools, the best thing to establish is an idea of how much of your current pipeline you can actually see, measure and attribute. As only 12% of organizations have a dedicated team for governing AI-generated code, the vast majority of enterprises adopting these tools are doing so without a designated owner for the risk they're taking on.

This means that when something goes wrong, there's frequently no clean way to trace it back to a decision, model, or person accountable for the outcome.

This is the part of the pipeline that doesn't get enough attention, because it's less exciting than the productivity headlines. However, it's the part that will determine which organizations actually reap the benefits of agentic coding and which ones spend their time and resources cleaning up after it.

There’s a temptation, which is understandable given the competitive pressure, to treat AI-driven code generation as a race: whoever ships the most, fastest, wins. This is the wrong way to think about it, and the winners will actually be the ones that pause and strengthen their governance before they accelerate.

Control vs playing catch-up

The organizations that will benefit from this shift are the ones building measurement, attribution and oversight into their pipelines ahead of time. That means treating governance as infrastructure rather than paperwork and being able to answer, at any point, which parts of their codebase were AI-generated, who reviewed them, and what production behavior they're responsible for.

Furthermore, budget owners must be able to say what they're actually spending on AI-assisted development, rather than estimating.

None of this slows delivery down in the long term, and if anything, it's what allows delivery to keep accelerating without the incident curve growing alongside it. The gap between how confident enterprises feel about AI-generated code and how much of it they can actually see isn't going to close on its own. It will close because leadership teams decide to build the visibility first.

The organizations that do that now, while the rest of the industry is still counting lines of code shipped, are the ones that will still be standing when the next wave of AI-driven development arrives.

We've featured the best laptop for programming.

This article was produced as part of TechRadar Pro Perspectives, our channel to feature the best and brightest minds in the technology industry today.

The views expressed here are those of the author and are not necessarily those of TechRadarPro or Future plc. If you are interested in contributing find out more here: https://www.techradar.com/pro/perspectives-how-to-submit

• Google’s new Gemini app brings its AI assistant directly to Windows 10 and 11
• Pressing [Alt] + [Space] summons Gemini without interrupting your current workflow
• It’s remarkably convenient, although there's still room for improvement

You can say goodbye to opening a browser every time you want to use Gemini on your PC. Google has just released a Windows version of its Gemini app, and it’s by far the easiest and quickest way to get Google’s AI to answer your questions on Windows.

Gemini has had a macOS app for a while now, and now it has finally been joined by a dedicated Windows version, complete with its own keyboard shortcut. You can summon it from anywhere, no matter what you’re doing on your PC, by pressing [Alt] + [Space].

But here’s the thing: [Alt] + [Space] is already a little crowded on Windows. It traditionally opens the active window’s system menu, and is also the default shortcut for Microsoft’s PowerToys Run utility, a quick launcher for Windows power users that provides instant access to applications, files, calculator functions and system commands.

On my PC

On my PC, installing the Gemini app caused it to take over the [Alt] + [Space] keyboard shortcut, so it now launches Gemini instead. I’ve been using the new app for a few hours, and the shortcut is a great way to access Gemini almost instantly. It saves me from messing around with browser tabs and breaking my workflow. I love it.

The Gemini app can also connect to other Google apps, including Gmail and Drive. Provided you’re in an eligible country, such as the US or Australia, and subscribe to Google AI Pro or Google AI Ultra, you can also hand multi-step tasks over to Gemini Spark, Google’s personal AI agent. Spark is currently not available in the UK.

The app does everything the web version does, so you can create custom images with Nano Banana and even make high-quality videos with Gemini Omni from inside it.

What didn't I like about the app?

However, I’m not a fan of the way the app permanently displays your location at the bottom of the left-hand sidebar. This creates a significant privacy risk, especially if you’re using it at home. I don’t want my home address accidentally ending up in screenshots I take of my desktop, for example.

There’s no obvious way to remove your location either. All you can do is close the sidebar if you don’t want it displayed, and that’s not a great user experience.

The second thing I didn’t like was the lack of a Gemini Live experience in the app, like the one available in the mobile version on both iOS and Android. Live is Gemini’s voice mode, allowing you to talk to it much as you would a person. It can also look through your phone’s camera at the world around you, letting you ask questions about what it sees.

I can imagine that a Gemini Live experience capable of “seeing” what’s on your PC desktop and answering questions about it would be very helpful, but it looks like we’ll have to wait for that. For now you’re limited to taking screenshots, then uploading them to Gemini via the app and asking questions about what’s on them.

Google says more native desktop capabilities will roll out over time. For now, it’s the convenience of combining the Windows app with its keyboard shortcut that wins the day. I hope Google addresses my complaints in a future version, but they’re not enough to stop me choosing the app as my go-to Gemini experience instead of the web version.

If you want to try it, the Gemini app is available globally for Windows 10 and 11 users. You can download it today.

• Spanish GP (September 11-13)
• Sunday's race: 2pm BST / 9am ET
• Free stream: RTBF Auvio (Belgium) / ORF On (Austria) / Mediaset Infinity (Spain)
• Stream safely and securely with NordVPN (try 100% risk-free)

Watch the 2026 Spanish Grand Prix live streams to see F1's newest circuit, Madrid's “Madring,” in action. The Mad-Ring produced 19 red flags across two days of F3 testing last month, with 10 different drivers finding the walls. Why so? Well, the 5.4km circuit has 22 corners – the most on the F1 calendar this season – with plenty of fast, flowing sections, blind spots and walls that leave very little room for error.

And then there's La Monumental. The 270-degree Turn 12 stretches for around 550 meters, its 24% banking the most significant on the F1 calendar. With so many of the track's braking zones at an angle, overtaking is expected to be very difficult – much like at Monaco, qualifying could prove vital.

Kimi Antonelli arrives in Madrid after producing one of the finest drives in F1 history, taking the top step from 19th on the grid to become the first Italian to win at Monza since 1966. George Russell, who started on the front row, finished second, but is now 66 points behind his Mercedes team-mate in the Drivers' Championship.

Elsewhere, Ferrari will be one to watch, particularly after the chaos at Monza. Charles Leclerc pushed Lewis Hamilton wide at Turn 2 on the opening lap before crashing into the barriers at the Parabolica on Lap 2. And despite Ferrari bringing upgrades to its home race, Hamilton could only finish sixth.

Max Verstappen grabbed a podium in Italy but is still waiting for his first win of the season. McLaren, meanwhile, will be hoping to return to the podium as they continue to fight at the top, but reigning champion Lando Norris is 96 points adrift of Antonelli.

Here’s how to watch the Spanish Grand Prix 2026 online from anywhere and potentially for FREE.

Spanish Grand Prix 2026 Schedule

Practice 1: Friday, September 11 | 12:30pm BST / 7:30am ET
Practice 2: Friday, September 11 | 4pm BST / 11am ET
Practice 3: Saturday, September 12 | 11:30am BST / 6:30am ET
Qualifying: Saturday, September 12 | 3pm BST / 10am ET
Spanish Grand Prix: Sunday, September 13 | 2pm BST / 9am ET

How to watch the Spanish Grand Prix 2026 for FREE

The 2026 Spanish Grand Prix isn't available for free in every country. However, in these select destinations lucky F1 fans can catch the practice sessions, qualifying, and the entire race/highlights for FREE.

• Austria – ORF On (free live broadcast)
• Belgium – RTBF Auvio (free live broadcast)
• Luxembourg – RTL Play (free live broadcast)
• Spain – Mediaset Infinity (free live broadcast)
• Australia – 10Play (free highlights)
• Canada – CTV (free highlights)
• UK – Channel 4 (free highlights)
• US – Apple TV (free trial) (free live broadcast of every Practice session)

Traveling abroad during the 2026 Spanish Grand Prix? You can use a VPN to watch all the action free of charge as if you were right at home.

How to watch the Spanish Grand Prix 2026 from anywhere

🌎 ABROAD? The Spanish Grand Prix 2026 is broadcast in many countries around the world but if you're traveling outside your country you should consider using one of the best VPNs to unlock your domestic streaming service provided it does not infringe any terms and conditions.

How to watch the Spanish Grand Prix 2026 in the US

How to watch the Spanish GP 2026 in the UK

How to watch the Spanish Grand Prix 2026 in Australia

How to watch the Spanish Grand Prix 2026 in Canada

Drivers' Championship Standings (after Monza)

1. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) — 267
2. George Russell (Mercedes) — 201
3. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) — 191
4. Lando Norris (McLaren) — 171
5. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) — 155
6. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) — 127
7. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) — 116
8. Isack Hadjar (Red Bull) — 71
9. Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) — 51
10. Pierre Gasly (Alpine) — 41

F1 fans may also enjoy...

• How to watch the 2026/27 Premier League
• How to watch Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness
• The best VPNs right now

We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example:1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service).2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad.We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.

• Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec 2026: Friday September 11: 11:00 (EDT)
• Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal 2026: Sunday September 13: 10:15 (EDT)
• FREE streams: CBC Gem and TVA plus(Canada)
• Use NordVPN to watch from anywhere – over 70% off today

The UCI World Tour heads to Canada for the 15th edition of both the Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec and Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal which are being held just two weeks before the World Championships arrive in the country. With the Worlds using the Montréal circuit special attention will be being paid to this race and thus it has attracted a stellar field including Remco Evenepoel, Thomas Pidcock, Issac del Toro and Paul Seixas.

Read on and we'll show you how to watch a Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec and Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal 2026 live stream from anywhere, and potentially for FREE.

How to watch 2026 Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec & Montréal for free

Cycling fans in Canada can watch the Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec and Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal for FREE for free on CBC Gem and on the French Language channel TVA Plus.

Both races will also be available for free in France on la chaine L'Equipe

If you're a resident of Canada or France and you're abroad right now, don't worry about missing the action – all you need to do is download a VPN to re-connect to your home streaming coverage. You’ll find more details below.

Use a VPN to watch any How to watch 2026 Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec & Montréal live stream

The Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec and Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal 2026 are streaming on lots of platforms around the world, but what if you're abroad and don't want to take out a new subscription just to watch the race, or you want your familiar, favorite commentary?

This is where a VPN can help. It's a handy piece of software that can make your device appear to be back home, so you can unlock your usual service or subscription from wherever you find yourself.

The best VPN right now? We recommend NordVPN – it does everything you want it to do at great speeds and an even better price.

How to watch 2026 Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec & Montréal in the US

In the US, the 2026 Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec and Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal will be on HBO Max, which starts at $18.49 USD per month. This is the middle-tier “Standard” subscription that includes live sports.

Abroad? Explore the VPN route set out above, which will help you access your subscriptions from anywhere.

How to watch 22026 Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec & Montréal in the UK

The 2026 Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec & Montréal are on TNT Sports in the UK.

TNT coverage in the UK is on the HBO Max platform. It costs £30.99 per month, though there is a better value £25.99 "saver plan" available if you sign up for a 12-month term.

If you're currently traveling overseas, don't worry as you can use NordVPN to watch your usual service from abroad.

How to watch 2026 Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec & Montréal in Canada

Fans in Canada can watch the 2026 Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec and Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal for FREE in Canada on CBC Gem and on the French language TVA plus

Not at home right now? Use NordVPN or another VPN service to make your device believe you're still in Canada.

How to watch 2026 Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec & Montréal in Australia

FloBikes will show the 2026 Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec & Montréal in Australia.

Not at home right now? Use NordVPN or another VPN service to trick your device into thinking you're still in Australia.

Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec and Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal 2026 - Previews

First up of the brace of races is the Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec, which runs over 206 km on the 12 km city-centre circuit that includes the signature short ascent of Côte de la Montagne. The traditionally attritional race was last year won by Julian Alaphilippe, but the Frenchman won’t be back to defend his crown as he has recently retired. The big names on the start list to keep an eye on read like a who’s who of the current cycling elite, with Remco Evenepoel, Thomas Pidcock, Isaac del Toro and Paul Seixas all down to ride. The key big name missing, of course, is Tadej Pogačar after he crashed out of the Vuelta a España.

Two days later, the same stellar cast will take to the streets of Montreal for a dress rehearsal of the World Championships, which will be held on the same roads on September 27. Covering 214 km over 16 laps, the Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal is the harder of the two races, and each lap features the tough Côte Camilien-Houde. The big names will all want to know the circuit inside out before coming back to fight for the rainbow bands two weeks later, but will they go for the win or keep their cards close to their chest?

Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec Route 2026

Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal 2026 Route

We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example:1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service).2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad.We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.

• Prime Video offers a wide selection of movies, TV shows, and live sports
• ABROAD? Use NordVPN to watch Prime Video from ANYWHERE

Looking to watch Prime Video from outside your home country? If you're visiting the US, UK, Canada, Australia or anywhere else, you can use a VPN – NordVPN works best – to access your home Prime Video library and stream as normal from any location.

Prime Video has a huge entertainment library packed with movies and TV shows, from classics such as The Green Mile, Goodfellas, Before Sunrise, and Pulp Fiction to newer titles like The Drama, Obsession, and Disclosure Day, alongside Amazon Originals and regional productions.

There's tons of stuff for sports fans as well, with Prime Video carrying Champions League and Premier League football, golf, tennis, cricket, NFL, and UFC, although the exact sports and competitions available depend on your location.

However, Prime Video offers different libraries in different locations due to copyright and licensing agreements, meaning your usual catalogue may not be available when you're overseas. If you're travelling or living abroad and still want to access your home Prime Video library, here's a quick guide on how to watch it from anywhere in the world.

How to watch Amazon Prime Video in your location

Watching Prime Video is simple, whether you're using a phone, tablet, computer or smart TV. Just head to the Prime Video website or open the Prime Video app on your device, then sign in with your Amazon account. If you already have an Amazon Prime membership, Prime Video should be included as part of your subscription.

If you don't have Prime, you can sign up for a membership directly through Amazon. Prices vary depending on where you live: $8.99 per month in the US, £8.99 per month in the UK, AU$9.99 per month in Australia, and CA$9.99 per month in Canada.

However, Prime Video's catalogue varies by region, meaning the library available to you at home may not be accessible when you're overseas. Abroad right now? Here's how to unblock Prime Video...

How to watch Prime Video from anywhere

Amazon Prime Video offers different libraries in different locations, which means your usual catalogue won't be available to stream when you're overseas on business or vacation. However, you can always download a VPN to overcome these regional restrictions and access Prime Video as normal when you're outside your home country. You may be surprised how simple it is to do.

Watch Prime Video from anywhere with one of the best VPNs:

• Love TV? Sign up to the weekly How To Watch newsletter

We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example:1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service).2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad.We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.

• Watch Fremantle vs Geelong FREE on 7Plus (Australia)
• Unlock your stream with NordVPN (save 75%)
• Fremantle vs Geelong kick-off: Fri, Sep 11 at 6.10am ET / 11.10am BST / 8.10pm AEST

Watch Fremantle vs Geelong live streams from the Optus Stadium as the minor premiers try to avoid an AFL 2026 exit at the earliest opportunity, against the visiting Cats. The Semi-Final winner goes through to the Preliminary Final next week, the loser is out.

The Dockers had enjoyed a club-record 19 home-and-away wins in the regular season but defeat last weekend by Hawthorn was a stunning first home reverse of the season in Perth. Justin Longmuir's side must now go the long way round to reach a first Preliminary Final since 2015 after the minor premiers lost their third match from four. Josh Treacy endured a bit of a shocker last week – failing to take a mark for just the second time in his 104-game career – but the key forward is determined to prove his elite smarts and bounce back in this crunch clash.

The Cats finished fifth in the ladder and now seek their 12th prelim since coach Chris Scott took the reins in 2011. Geelong are full of experience and last weekend won seven straights games by an average of 35 points. Against the in-form Carlton, last year's runners-up really stepped and they will want to quieten the crowd early in Perth and put pressure on a Fremantle side that seemed to wilt last time out. Captain Patrick Dangerfield is a big-game player, much-needed too as Max Holmes and Jeremy Cameron have fitness concerns.

The winner goes through to face Hawthorn.

Read on as we explain how to watch Fremantle vs Geelong for free in the AFL 2026 Semi-Final.

Can you watch Fremantle vs Geelong for free?

Yes. Fremantle vs Geelong is being shown on free-to-air Channel 7 in Australia, with live streaming available via 7Plus.

Outside of Australia? You can use a VPN to watch Fremantle vs Geelong for free on 7Plus.

How to watch Fremantle vs Geelong from anywhere

A VPN is handy piece of software that can make your device appear as if it's back in your home country, so you can unlock your usual service. The best VPN right now? We recommend NordVPN – it does everything and comes with up to 75% off.

How to watch Fremantle vs Geelong live streams in the US

US viewers can watch live Fremantle vs Geelong coverage on FS2.

If you don't have the channels on cable, FS2 is carried by Fubo, YouTube TV and Hulu + Live TV, each of which offers a free trial to new users.

Traveling away from the US? Use a VPN while you're abroad to unlock your stream.

How to watch Fremantle vs Geelong live streams in the UK

Fremantle vs Geelong is being shown on TNT Sports 1 in the UK.

You can add TNT Sports to your Sky, Virgin Media or EE TV package, or get an HBO Max plan that includes TNT Sports. Prices start at £25.99/month if you commit to a year.

If you're out of the UK but still want to watch the game on TNT Sports, explore the VPN route set out above, which will help you access your accounts from anywhere.

How to watch Fremantle vs Geelong live streams in Australia

Free-to-air Channel 7 is showing Fremantle vs Geelong in all regions of Australia, with live streaming available via 7Plus.

Just create an account using a valid Australia postcode (e.g. 2042).

Not in Australia right now? You can use a VPN like NordVPN to watch all the action as if you were back home.

How to watch Fremantle vs Geelong live streams in Canada

AFL fans in Canada can watch Fremantle vs Geelong on TSN2.

If you don't have cable, the TSN Plus streaming service costs CA$24.99 a month to access what goes out on regular TSN.

If you're out of Canada but still want to tune in, explore the VPN route set out above, which will help you access your accounts from anywhere.

We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example:1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service).2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad.We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.

• Watch NRL Qualifying and Elimination Finals 2026 FREE on 9Now (AUS)
• Stream on Fox One (US) / Sky Sports (UK)
• Unlock your stream with NordVPN (save up to 75%)
• Rabbitohs vs Knights kick-off: Fri, Sep 11, 5.50am ET / 10.50am BST / 7.50pm AEST

Watch NRL Qualifying and Elimination Finals 2026 as the Finals Series gets underway in the build-up to the Grand Final in October. The teams ranked first to fourth in the ladder (Panthers vs Roosters and Warriors vs Dolphins) meet to decide who advances straight to the Preliminary Finals, while fifth to eighth (Sharks vs Cowboys and Rabbitohs vs Knights) meet in the elimination matches – winners advance to next week's semi-finals, losers are out.

We begin on Friday with the Rabbitohs (6) vs Knights (7) at Sydney's Allianz Stadium. South Sydney are back in the finals for the first time since 2022 and in good form after walloping the Roosters 50-20 with Latrell Mitchell looking good. The Knights have done well to get this far after propping up the ladder last year and Kalyn Ponga, Bradman Best and Fletcher Sharpe have been in fine form.

On Saturday, ladder runners-up the New Zealand Warriors take on the third-place Dolphins in the first Qualifying Final. The Go Media Stadium hosts a first playoffs game since 2023 and Wahs Nation will be all over this.

That's followed by the Sharks (5) vs Cowboys (8) back at Allianz Stadium in an eliminator. Cronulla-Sutherland have lost four of their past five outings, while North Queensland have been inconsistent all season. Braydon Trindall returns as playmaker for the Sharks, while Griffin Neame, Jeremiah Nanai and Zac Laybutt are all fit again for the Cowboys.

On Sunday, we close with minor premiers the Panthers facing the Roosters at CommBank Stadium. Penrith topped the ladder on the final day and welcome back skipper Isaah Yeo to the lineup. The Roosters went down 26-12 to the Dolphins last time out after challenging for the minor title, and lost star man Sam Walker to injury for the rest of the season.

Here's how to watch NRL Qualifying and Elimination Finals 2026 from anywhere in the world.

Can you watch NRL Qualifying and Elimination Finals 2026 for free?

Yes. Every game in the NRL Qualifying and Elimination Finals 2026 is being shown on free-to-air Channel 9 and 9Now in Australia.

Traveling abroad right now? You can use a VPN to watch the NRL Finals Series 2026 for free as if you were right at home.

Use a VPN to watch NRL Qualifying and Elimination Finals 2026 live streams

A VPN is handy piece of software that can make your device appear as if it's back in your home country, so you can unlock your usual service. The best VPN right now? We recommend NordVPN – it does everything and comes with up to 75% off.

How to watch NRL Qualifying and Elimination Finals 2026 live streams in the USA

NRL fans in the US can watch NRL Qualifying and Elimination Finals 2026 on either FS2 or Fox One.

Dedicated streaming service Fox One costs $19.99/month after a 3-day FREE trial.

FS2 is also available through Sling, specifically the Blue plan with the Sports Extra add-on, which starts at $56.99/month.

The channel is carried by several other OTT streaming platforms too, including YouTube TV and Fubo, which each offer new customers a free trial.

Outside of the US? Use a VPN whilst you're traveling away from home to unlock your stream.

How to watch NRL Qualifying and Elimination Finals 2026 live streams in the UK

NRL Qualifying and Elimination Finals 2026 are being shown on Sky Sports in the UK, via the Sky Sports Action channel.

Sky Sports plans start from £35/month or £20 if you're an existing Sky subscriber. Alternatively, grab a Now Sports subscription from £14.99/day or £34.99/month.

Outside the UK right now? Use NordVPN to access your preferred coverage of the NRL Finals 2026.

How to watch NRL Qualifying and Elimination Finals 2026 live streams in Canada

NRL Qualifying and Elimination Finals 2026 coverage is going out on Sportsnet in Canada.

That means you can also watch online thanks to its Sportsnet+ streaming service (from $29.99 a month / $249.99 a year). And the Watch NRL platform will show the fixture.

If you already subscribe to these services but find yourself outside Canada, download a VPN and watch NRL Finals Series 2026 as if you were back at home.

How to watch NRL Qualifying and Elimination Finals 2026 live streams in Australia

In Australia, NRL Qualifying and Elimination Finals 2026 is free-to-air on Channel 9 and via the 9Now streaming service.

All you need is an account. Sign up here!

You can also watch on Fox League via Foxtel. While Kayo Sports is a much more cost-efficient option, with plans starting from $30 a month after you've taken advantage of its first month for $1 offer or 7-day free trial.

If you're out of Australia but still want to tune in, explore the VPN route set out above, which will help you access your accounts from anywhere.

How to watch NRL Qualifying and Elimination Finals 2026 live streams in New Zealand

Sky Sport NZ is the NRL rights holder in New Zealand.

You can access Sky Sport through satellite TV or get a live stream with the Sky Sport Now subscription service starting at $29.99 per day or $54.99 per month.

Overseas? NordVPN will give you access to your home streaming service.

How to watch NRL Qualifying and Elimination Finals 2026 live streams in Rest of World

Every single match of the 2026 NRL Premiership season, including the Qualifying and Elimination Finals, will be shown on the dedicated Watch NRL streaming platform, which is available in all territories except for Australia, New Zealand, the Pacific Islands and other selected sanctioned jurisdictions (e.g. Russia, Belarus, Cuba, Iran, North Korea).

Subscriptions cost $20 per week, $39 per month or $72 for the whole of the Finals Series. Check the website for pricing in your region.

Many countries also show games on TV and online through their domestic broadcasters:

We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example:1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service).2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad.We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.

• Nearly two-thirds of AI users aged 18-28 want clearer instructions from their bosses
• Nearly half of the same cohort have difficulty explaining work completed with the help of AI
• The figures could indicate a brand new challenge to management

“Tell me exactly what you want me to do” – that seems to be the message from older millennial and younger Gen Z workers, who have expressed a need for highly specific instructions from their bosses.

Research has found that 62% of the 18-28 age group who regularly use AI want their bosses to give them the same sort of clear steps and parameters as one might give an LLM chatbot.

While a cohort of workers who are attentive to the needs of the business might sound good, deeper investigation may prompt you to think again. The study by Use.AI implies a deeper-seated issue that points to a management challenge unlike anything seen before on this scale.

Detailed steps

Use.AI surveyed 11,742 adults based in United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, the European Union, Australia and Latin America, finding 62% of the 18-28 age group familiar with the AI use are accompanied by 41% of those aged 40 and older who also want more detail about tasks from their line managers.

Why do younger users need clearer, more detailed steps? It could be a simple matter of judgement, with the 18-28 age group requiring more experience in making their own decisions. But with the presence of AI in their working lives, could they be fearful of being replaced?

The report also explores a slightly different dimension. Within the 18-28 age group, 44% say they have had difficulty to explain work created with AI assistance. This raises a key concern: does the employee even know what their tasks are supposed to achieve? For that matter, does the business?

Sound judgement

AI has changed businesses considerably, and made an impact that doesn’t only improve productivity. As Ihor Herasymov, Co-Founder & CEO of Use.AI, observes, “AI is exposing which parts of work were never really about producing the answer. When a model can generate the output in seconds, the value of some tasks shifts to whether the person can make a sound judgment and stand behind it.”

Other results from the survey support this. With 57% of the 18-28 age group of regular AI users stating that they are less likely to memorize information that can be collected via AI, and 53% of the same group frustrated by “ordinary” tasks that could be completed by a chatbot, a whole new workplace dynamic is being quietly established.

Herasymov concludes, “Managers now have to be much clearer about whether they need the result or whether the task itself is meant to develop the employee.”

While the major headlines from Apple’s September event were understandably on the iPhone Duo foldable, one of the standout announcements for me concerns the AirPods 5.

Apple’s non-Pro series of earbuds are once again available in two flavours, with a few, admittedly useful, features separating the two. Perhaps the biggest shock, however, is that both the AirPods 5 and AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case (that name will eventually become annoying to type out) cost less than the previous AirPods 4 with ANC.

The two-year-old model launched at AU$299. The new AirPods 5 models can be yours for AU$219 and AU$249. Given the fact that Apple has been no stranger to price hikes in recent times, it’s quite remarkable that the popular AirPods got a price cut.

More impressive still, both models introduce notable upgrades over their predecessors. Apple is claiming industry-leading ANC for an open-ear design, alongside a richer, more detailed sound, with support for Personalised Spatial Audio. Apple also claims they’re more durable than before, and you also gain access to Live Translation (previously a Pro-only feature), Adaptive EQ and up to five hours of playtime with ANC on.

The AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case not only get a wireless charging case (shock) but also on-stem volume control. Take it from me as an AirPods Pro 3 user, this feature alone is worth its weight in gold — it’s so intuitive to use!

The Apple AirPods 5 and AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case (yep, still annoying to type) will be available from September 18, and you can preorder them today from the following retailers. Amazon would be my top choice, as you can save a couple of dollars on RRP.

AirPods 5 deals in Australia

• Amazon: preorder for AU$217
• The Good Guys: preorder for AU$219
• JB Hi-Fi: preorder for AU$219
• Apple: preorder for AU$219 with free engraving

AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case deals in Australia

• Amazon: preorder for AU$247
• The Good Guys: preorder for AU$249
• JB Hi-Fi: preorder for AU$249
• Apple: preorder for AU$249 with free engraving

While the pricing of the AirPods 5 is commendable, I also have to bring your attention to the AirPods Pro 3, which are available for AU$347 at the time of writing at Amazon.

The past few months have been an exciting time for tech journalists and enthusiasts alike, thanks to a barrageflagship phone launches. From Samsung’s Z-series foldables to the Google Pixel 11 lineup and more recently, the new iPhone 18 Pro lineup (and the new iPhone Duo foldable).

While they may be some of the most exciting phone launches in recent memory — and it’s great that the foldable iPhone has finally seen the light of day — the biggest takeaway, is that every single new handset is more expensive than ever.This is clearly indicative of the ongoing RAM and storage shortages — even older phones have quietly received price hikes — and will likely make the latest smartphone releases too expensive for many consumers.

Thankfully, you don’t have to settle for a previous year's flagship device to save, and you only have to look back to a release from a few months ago to score a bargain. The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra — my pick for the best Android phone — is currently 23% off on Amazon, now AU$1,685.

Featuring a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, 12GB of RAM, four rear cameras and a new built-in Privacy Display screen, there’s a lot to love with the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, and it can easily hold up for years to come, especially with up to 7 years of Android updates and security support.

I especially loved the Privacy Display screen, which marked a major hardware innovation amid a sea of similar-looking phones in 2026. Super Steady Horizontal Lock for shooting video makes the S26 Ultra great for action shots (and a neat party trick, too!), while the included S Pen stylus remains a nice bonus that most handsets don’t offer.

One great plus of buying the Galaxy S26 Ultra now is the stable release of One UI 9, which is built on Android 17 and features a redesigned quick settings menu, customisable Control Centre, My FanCam and improved multitasking controls.

Personally, you really can’t go wrong with the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra if you’re prioritising raw power and smarts in an Android phone, and this discount makes the handset a great pick during a time of component shortages.

• Alien Deathstorm producer Martin Willingham says the game is "not another corridor shooter"
• Head of design Ben Fisher says it's a "dynamically generated" survival horror game
• The Rebellion developers say it's a 360-degree sandbox experience

Rebellion Developments has said players can't expect its upcoming first-person survival horror game, Alien Deathstorm, to be another linear corridor shooter, calling it a "rare beast."

Alien Deathstorm was revealed earlier this year by the developers behind the Sniper Elite series and Atomfall and is described as a "visceral first-person action horror experience, where second-to-second survival hinges on responding to a monstrous, constantly shifting threat on a storm-blasted off-world colony."

TechRadar Gaming recently went hands-on with the game at Gamescom and then later caught up with some Rebellion developers, who talked more about it at length, including the concept and design influences, replayability, and player freedom.

While Alien Deathstorm may look like your run-of-the-mill survival shooter with typical survival horror features, the team considers it a "dynamic" experience with sandbox elements where the player's actions can affect unscripted enemy encounters.

Producer Martin Willingham said this means, "the horror, the tension, can happen at any time in different ways between playthroughs and between difficulty camps as well.

"For me, that's one of the most exciting parts of the game because in horror games the experience is typically kind of very, very choreographed because it has to be to build up that anticipation set of those jump scares. But it means you can only play it once."

He continued, saying the team values replayability and sandbox freedom, which means "we had to do something dynamic," and "building the encounters around the player and the player's activities means it's a different experience."

Ben Fisher, head of design, called the game "dynamically generated," where levels are played sequentially, and each has its own sandbox, adding that "It's a rare beast."

"It's not another corridor shooter," Willingham added later. "You're in that sandbox. It's 360 degrees. The action could be coming from anywhere, rather than just at the end of that corridor."

Alien Deathstorm doesn't have a release date yet, but you'll be able to play it in Spring 2027 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Series S, and PC.