To most people, words like algebra, algorithms, and computational mathematics may bring back memories of educational struggles. But behind these abstract concepts lies a powerful, life-saving tool: High-Performance Computing (HPC). HPC leverages advanced mathematics and enormous processing power to handle calculations that were once unimaginable, making it indispensable across a range of disciplines, including meteorology.

Without HPC, our ability to predict natural disasters would be vastly diminished. From issuing hurricane warnings that enable mass evacuations to forecasting floods before they reach populated areas, HPC allows meteorologists to transform data into actionable insights that save lives. In a world without HPC, many more lives would be lost to extreme weather.

Mathematics that saves lives

Natural disasters impact nearly every corner of the globe. In 2023, earthquakes in Turkey and Syria led to the highest death toll of any natural disaster that year. Economically, Hurricane Katrina remains one of the world’s most costly disasters, second only to the earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan in 2011 These catastrophic events underscore the importance of accurate and timely forecasting, a feat made possible by the power of HPC.

During my tenure at Red Oak Consulting and my time working within the Met Office, I have seen firsthand the transformative power of High-Performance Computing (HPC) in forecasting and predicting impending weather catastrophes with remarkable accuracy, which is only going to be more vital to society as we progress through the modern world.

Natural disasters on the rise

Climate change is transforming the world’s landscape, fueling extreme weather events that threaten to reshape entire regions. Rising global temperatures drive severe droughts, increase the intensity of storms, and intensify tropical cyclones. The oceans, warmed by climate change, provide ideal conditions for storms to form and strengthen, while rising sea levels and water-saturated air supercharge these events.

With rising sea levels blurring the boundaries between land and ocean, coastal areas that were once considered safe are now at risk of flooding. Climate change redraws the map of risk, leaving previously untouched regions vulnerable to natural disasters. As the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) notes, climate change is a key driver behind the increased frequency and severity of hurricanes, which last longer and reach higher intensities than ever before.

The devastating floods in Spain, which tragically claimed 200 lives, highlight the increasing risks climate change poses to weather patterns and water systems. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change extreme weather events, including floods and droughts, have intensified due to human-induced warming. Rising global temperatures accelerate and destabilize the hydrological cycle, resulting in extreme variations in water availability.

The phenomenon known as DANA (Isolated Depression at High Levels) played a major role, as residual summer heat from the Mediterranean clashed with polar air, creating convective clouds and torrential rains. Warmer sea surfaces and a moisture-laden atmosphere, both driven by climate change, amplify such events, making deadly flash floods more frequent and severe.

Why is HPC crucial to meteorology?

For decades, weather forecasting has relied on complex mathematical equations and vast amounts of data. However, until recently, the computing power needed to process these elements quickly and accurately was limited. HPC has now become a crucial tool, allowing meteorologists to model and forecast extreme weather events with unprecedented precision and speed, giving communities precious time to prepare for what lies ahead.

HPC processes vast datasets from satellites, ocean buoys, radar, aircraft, and ground stations, integrating them to create models that simulate various weather scenarios. These advanced models can predict hurricanes, cyclones, heatwaves, and flash floods by running billions of calculations that reveal how atmospheric conditions may develop. HPC enables these models to be run at an incredibly high resolution, pinpointing likely developments across specific regions and timeframes.

For example, in the case of an approaching hurricane, HPC can forecast its expected path, intensity, wind speeds, and rainfall distribution, allowing meteorologists to issue accurate, targeted warnings well in advance of impact. Without HPC, such precise predictions would be impossible, and communities would be left with much less time to prepare for incoming disasters.

HPC also enables real-time data assimilation, which means it can integrate the latest data into ongoing forecasts, updating predictions minute by minute as conditions change. This capability is particularly vital for rapidly shifting events, like thunderstorms and cyclones, which can be unpredictable and fast-moving. HPC’s speed and scale make it possible to refine forecasts down to highly specific locations, helping authorities make informed decisions on evacuations, shelter locations, and resource deployment.

Future-proofing with climate modelling

While weather forecasting predicts short-term conditions, climate modelling aims to simulate long-term changes, giving us insight into how rising temperatures, greenhouse gases, and other factors will shape our planet’s climate over decades or centuries. HPC is essential for this purpose, allowing scientists to simulate the complex, interconnected systems driving Earth’s climate and to explore possible future scenarios.

At its core, climate modelling is about understanding the intricate dynamics between atmospheric circulation, ocean currents, and land-sea interactions. Models consider variables like greenhouse gas concentrations, solar radiation, cloud formation, and human activities, integrating them to project future climate conditions. Because Earth’s climate system has countless interdependent factors, climate models require immense computational power. HPC enables scientists to run these models and simulate climate interactions with unprecedented detail and accuracy.

HPC-powered climate models provide insights crucial for planning and policymaking. For instance, by running simulations based on different emissions levels, scientists can predict potential outcomes for global temperatures, sea levels, and weather patterns. This data helps inform government policies on climate resilience, infrastructure planning, and disaster preparedness, empowering decision-makers to build defenses against the impacts of climate change.

Furthermore, HPC enables ‘ensemble modelling’, where multiple simulations run in parallel with slight variations to account for uncertainties. This approach yields more reliable, probabilistic forecasts, offering a range of potential outcomes. Ensemble modelling is essential in climate science, as it provides a fuller picture of possible scenarios and equips policymakers with the information needed to make informed, adaptive decisions.

HPC and global aviation

A less visible yet equally vital area where HPC powers forecasting is in global aviation. The skies may seem vast and unpredictable, but behind every transatlantic flight and intercontinental journey lies a finely tuned network of meteorological support. Just two centers worldwide provide real-time aviation forecasts: the World Area Forecast Centers (WAFCs), operated by the UK Met Office and NOAA in the United States.

Tasked with delivering critical weather forecasts for safe flight planning, the WAFCs rely on HPC to generate up-to-the-minute insights that help pilots navigate potential hazards. The Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) oversees these centers, which keep watch on everything from turbulence to icing conditions across global airspace. With HPC enabling rapid data processing, WAFCs can predict hazardous conditions well before a flight reaches them, allowing pilots to adjust routes and ensure passenger safety.

Imagine a transatlantic flight with hundreds of passengers on board, cruising at high altitude over the Atlantic. Without HPC, forecasters would struggle to track storm systems, turbulence, and potential icing hazards in real time. Thanks to HPC, WAFCs monitor vast stretches of atmosphere, predict weather events, and ensure that flight paths are optimized for safety and efficiency. This essential capability keeps global aviation moving smoothly and mitigates the risks posed by unforeseen weather conditions.

Preparing with precision

As the risk of natural disasters grows, high-performance computing stands as a frontline defense, transforming raw data into life-saving forecasts. HPC models simulate hurricanes, wildfires, and floods in astonishing detail, giving communities and emergency responders precise, real-time updates that guide preparations and minimize harm.

Beyond immediate crises, HPC powers long-term climate models that reveal how rising temperatures and sea levels will shape future risks. Cities use this information to strengthen defenses, plan resilient infrastructure, and adapt to an era of extreme weather. Enhanced by AI, HPC pushes the boundaries of early detection, identifying patterns that signal emerging threats and offering vital insights that help us act with precision.

So, the next time you check a weather forecast, remember the sophisticated systems working behind the scenes-powered by HPC, predicting natural disasters, and preparing us for whatever lies ahead.

We've compiled a list of the best cloud computing services.

This article was produced as part of TechRadarPro's Expert Insights channel where we 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/news/submit-your-story-to-techradar-pro

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When we hear the word “mobile,” the automatic assumption is that we’re talking about iPhones and iPads. However, "mobile" is an umbrella term that extends far beyond just phones and tablets.

Mobility use cases are enabled by infrastructure that affords users the freedom to stay connected while on the move. This ranges from handheld portable electronic and smart wearables to point-of-sale (POS) systems and Apple Vision Pro headsets. This means that most of the critical technologies used by businesses to operate and connect with customers are increasingly provided through mobile solutions.

Many organizations have yet to reach a level of maturity in their mobile programs to reflect the critical role devices play. Such assets can no longer be viewed solely as ‘niche’ by businesses. They are, in fact, ‘mission-critical’ devices that must be treated as first-class assets when developing both security and resilience strategies.

What is meant by ‘mission-critical use’

It’s safe to say that one of the biggest revolutions over the last 30 years, alongside developments like the internet, has been the introduction of mobile devices into the workplace.

What originally started as a “nice to have,” with only certain individuals having access to smartphones and personal digital assistants (PDAs), has evolved to the point where mobiles are a necessity for any successful business.

As a result, we have seen new device form factors join the ‘mission critical’ category. These mobile devices are essential to the operation and running of an organization; if one of these devices fails, the entire business would likely grind to a halt.

Many of these devices are deployed in environments where they might be shared among multiple users or designated for specific functions rather than assigned to an individual.

Given the broad definition, there is a wide spectrum of devices that can count as ‘mission critical,’ each one serving a distinct need within a business. This includes tablets used in healthcare to monitor patient recovery or clinical therapy, as well as systems used in retail environments such as mobile credit card processors, as well as to process payments, manage inventory, or for time tracking on the sales floor.

Even an Apple Vision Pro headset can be considered ‘mission critical’ depending on the use case, with such devices being used in power stations to train technicians and optimize site operations.

Whilst these are three very different examples, each illustrates how vital mobile assets have become for organizations. If they were to fail, it could result in lost revenue for a small business, or, in more serious cases, put patients’ or workers’ lives at risk.

Challenges organizations face with managing ‘mission-critical use’ devices

Maintaining operational uptime on ‘mission-critical use’ devices is essential and this means making them both cyber resilient and operationally resilient.

Mobiles are now a common attack vector for cybercriminals, in part because they often exhibit the worst security standards. For example, 40% of mobile users are running a device with known vulnerabilities. Poor cybersecurity standards mean that the bar to exploit such an asset is extremely low, making it easier for cybercriminals to take them offline and halt the operations of victim organizations.

Businesses tend to focus all their efforts on meeting regulatory checkboxes for compliance, yet they often overlook specific security threats and vulnerabilities that might put the device at risk. It’s also frequently assumed that limited-access devices are safe by default, but this is rarely the case, particularly when work devices are used for personal reasons.

On the other hand, some businesses may have elements of strong cybersecurity but fail to implement practices strategically. For example, automated processes might update all devices with new patches at the same time. If the business doesn’t have backup systems in place, then it could face operational downtime while the update takes place.

Performance is king when it comes to mobile devices, and providing the best possible service to customers means frontline workers having the right tools performing reliably.

For example, you can’t have a mobile device used in a critical scenario run out of power because heavy cumbersome software is placing undo strain on the battery.

While these are two different issues, they stem from the same problem: businesses don’t fully understand how dependent they are on mobiles and lack awareness when examining the security of such devices.

While mobile devices used by workers on the frontline, such as POS systems, are obvious additions to the ‘mission critical’ category, the mobile devices of knowledge workers, are equally important. If an executive loses access to their smartphone, they can’t retrieve essential information or perform their job effectively. This is potentially as disastrous as a frontline system going down; however, it’s often overlooked by IT teams.

Organizations need to understand assess all the mobile devices that are used for work and recognize which ones are ‘mission critical.’ Only then can they start addressing the security challenges they face and make mobiles more resilient. Tackling the problem requires a structured and layered model.

Building resilience in ‘mission critical’ devices

The first stage in assessing an organization's ‘mission critical’ footprint involves a comprehensive asset inventory. This means understanding what assets are deployed, where they are, and what they’re accessing.

The inventory should include a mapping of where there are overlaps between devices and the applications that are also ‘mission critical.’ These are crucial aspects that organizations often overlook. Once a business has an understanding of their ‘mission critical’ assets, they can implement a backup plan for when they go down.

During this phase, it’s also crucial for organizations to know their suppliers, and to understand the control options available for the devices they’ve acquired. This will enable security teams to apply minimum security standards immediately as devices are unboxed, making good security hygiene just as important as application deployments.

Basic cyber hygiene practices, such as implementing Multi-Factor Authentication, enforcing rigorous patching processes, and requiring strong passwords, are essential for improving the security standards of ‘mission criticals’. The majority of breaches can be tied to failures in getting the basics right.

Following the ‘mission critical’ asset inventory, it is imperative to implement threat prevention, this includes Device Management to ensure that devices are monitored and security policies enforced. By implementing such capabilities, organizations can block malicious activity before it reaches the device, helping to maintain operational availability in devices.

Settings are equally important. Limiting non-essential notifications, restricting high-risk applications, and carefully managing access controls can enhance safety on ‘mission critical’ tools. The same approach applies to backup planning.

Finally, organizations should think about connectivity to workloads and backend applications that are operated off the device – for example, connection to a database or running an AI workload in the cloud. It’s important that all data in transit between devices and workloads is protected.

However, cybersecurity strategies and practices must also be aligned with uptime strategies. It’s a wasted effort improving cyber hygiene if a malfunctioning update causes downtime in all ‘mission-critical’ devices at the same time.

For ‘mission critical’ devices, broad updates or general alerts aren’t ideal. A tablet relied on by an airline pilot or surgeon should not receive disruptive updates during essential operations.

Organizations need to either establish a plan to schedule downtime aligned with business requirements or procure backup devices and implement a local protocol to enable immediate device swapping as needed.

Ultimately, mobile devices are now critical to the operations of every business. Therefore, IT teams need to treat them in the same way they would other critical assets. Businesses need to have a clear plan for how they manage ‘mission critical’ devices that ensures they are both secure and operationally resilient. For many, this means the time has come for mobile to assume a first class role in the enterprise, where its impact on business is understood and maintained.

We've listed the best Mobile Device Management solutions.

This article was produced as part of TechRadarPro's Expert Insights channel where we 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/news/submit-your-story-to-techradar-pro

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• The folding iPhone is apparently another step closer
• Apple may be about to choose a display supplier
• Previously Apple had struggled to find a satisfactory display

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Apple hasn't officially said there's a folding iPhone on the way, but the number of leaks we've come across about such a device make it very likely that it's in development – and there's another rumor to report on today.

Well-known tipster Yeux1122 (via MacRumors) says that Apple is now close to deciding on a manufacturing partner to produce the folding displays for the folding iPhone. That's based on information from sources in Apple's supply chain.

There's not too much more information here, but there is a suggestion that some parts suppliers are now getting close to the standard required by Apple in terms of the folding display and the mechanisms that underpin it.

Previously, we have heard that the foldable iPhone project was on the verge of being cancelled, because Apple couldn't get a bending screen it was happy with. It would seem those obstacles may now have been overcome.

Earlier rumors

Google has now launched two foldable phones (Image credit: Future)

There have been plenty of earlier rumors around a folding iPhone. Back in November, we got news that the device had gone past the concept stage and was actively being worked on as a physical product that would ship to consumers.

More recently, we've heard talk that the folding iPhone would have a 7.6-7.9-inch main display and a smaller 5.3-5.5 inch cover screen. The same source predicted a launch window sometime in 2026 for this long-awaited smartphone.

Other predictions had suggested 2025 could be the year of the foldable phone from Apple, but as we're now into February that seems less likely. Exactly what style of foldable we'll get – book-style or flip-style – remains to be seen.

While Apple hasn't yet launched a folding iPhone, the foldable market has seen plenty of new and high-end devices appear over the last 12 months – including the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6, and the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6.

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When the cops visit Ray Shoesmith’s home in season 2 episode 2 of Mr Inbetween to ask him about threatening one of the other parents at his child’s school, all Ray will say is, “I don’t answer questions”.

He repeats the same phrase in response to any question the police ask him until, utterly bamboozled and getting nowhere, they leave. “It’s just weird”, one officer says to the other as they walk back to the car, completely defeated.

That moment is the quintessence of Mr Inbetween – Ray is a bundle of contradictions that leaves you intrigued, yet never getting the answers you’re looking for, because for you, the viewer, there are no answers. Remember, Mr Inbetween doesn’t answer questions.

Ray Shoesmith is played by the show’s creator and writer Scott Ryan, who gives us probably the finest depiction of an emotionally-repressed, violent-but-likable, anti-hero you’re likely to see since we were first introduced to Tony Soprano in one of the best Max shows The Sopranos. Ray has a job working security for his friend’s night club, but it’s really a cover for his true vocation as a hit man for hire who has to balance his underground criminal activity with the rhythms of daily life, of being a father, a friend, a brother and a lover.

Australian TV shows often take the edge off their male characters with somebody like Bryan Brown playing a version of a laconic Australian male, or go completely over the top in the sort of otherwordly insanity you see in the Mad Max films. Mr Inbetween is neither. Ray feels authentic, almost like someone you might know in your real life, but he’s also somebody who comfortably steps outside of society’s conventions and lives by his own moral code. In Ray’s world actions have consequences, and he’s not afraid to hand out a quick headbutt to anybody who needs one. He has a smile that can go from please-to-meet-you to shark bite in a moment’s notice, but at the same time you can see the abysmal loneliness and repressed emotions buried deep within.

While the original 2005 feature film, The Magician, on which the series is based, offered only the faintest outline sketch of the younger hit man, here we see the fully fleshed-out version of Ray. He’s older, he has a daughter, he has an ex, he has a brother with motor neurone disease and he’s in a relationship. Each episode of Mr Inbetween lifts the cover of Ray’s life and lets us peep inside.

It’s sometimes mundane, sometimes funny, usually shocking, but often heartbreaking and profoundly meaningful. You never quite know where an episode is going to go at any moment, which is why it's one of the best Disney Plus shows in the UK (the series is streaming on Hulu in the US and Binge in Australia).

• Watch Mr Inbetween on Hulu in the US
• Watch Mr Inbetween on Disney Plus in the UK
• Watch Mr Inbetween on Binge in Australia

Ray’s brother Bruce, played in an acting masterclass by Nicholas Cassim, eloquently shows us what the final stages of his illness look like, and how it affects the people who love him. Chika Yasumura’s, Brittany, Ray’s daughter, perfectly captures the moment when you change from being the center of your child’s world to being a mild embarrassment, worthy of only the occasional teenage side-eye. And his girlfriend Ally, played effortlessly by Brooke Satchwell, skillfully shows how Ray’s choice to embrace violence affects the people around him, even if that violence would never be directed at them.

Rarely do we feel such affection for a volcanic personality who isn’t in some Hollywood revenge movie, but Ray is not one of the good guys. If somebody paid him enough to kill you, he’d probably do it, and without asking too many questions, either. But for most of the time the people he kills deserve it. Throughout all three series Ray remains the beating heart of the show. We see his efforts to hang on to those around him despite the danger his occupation frequently puts them in contrast against his efforts to move forward and let go of his terrible past, particularly his unhappy childhood and abusive father. Unlike Tony Soprano, Ray doesn’t enter therapy at any point, but he is sent to anger management class (for bashing a couple of guys, who deserved it), with hilarious results.

Mr Inbetween is perhaps the finest mediation on violence to have graced our TV screens in recent memory. It asks the tough questions like, when is violence acceptable in society? What happens when the legal system fails us and there’s nowhere left to turn? Is anger always a bad thing? But don’t expect any easy answers. Remember, Ray doesn’t answer questions.

I keep recommending Mr Inbetween to friends who have never heard of it before (I'm sure it might be different in the US and Australia, though), only to have them come back a few days later saying they had to binge the whole first series, and now there are only two series left to watch, and what are they going to do with their lives when the show ends?

Oh, and if you’re worried about the ending, particularly given the phenomena of channels canceling TV shows before the story really plays out, then don’t worry – Mr Inbetween has a proper ending, and it’s perhaps one of the better endings of any TV show on the best streaming services you’ll see.

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• Rivian CEO says a hands-free driving system will arrive this year
• Update is planned for R1T and R1S vehicles
• An SAE Level 3 ‘eyes-off’ system could come as early as 2026

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Rivian’s founder and CEO, RJ Scaringe, has revealed that he plans to launch a new Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) that will allow hands-free driving in its vehicles… and it could be here before the end of the year.

The system, which will work much like Tesla’s Full Self-Driving functionality, will effectively allow R1T and R1S owners to take their hands off the wheel (where permitted) while the vehicle navigates pre-mapped routes using a suite of on-board cameras and sensors.

Just last year, Rivian updated its R1T and R1S models with the next generation of its camera technology, improving the resolution and adding in a new sensor suite and processing units to handle more data.

Thanks to this fact, it is still unclear whether the first generation Rivian vehicles will receive the next generation driver assistance systems, or whether it will only be possible with the aforementioned upgraded sensor suite.

Speaking at the opening of a new Rivian Space in San Francisco last week, the CEO hinted that the recently-updated matrix LED headlights and full-width light bars could also be used to inform fellow road users that the vehicle is operating in an autonomous mode, according to The Verge.

(Image credit: Rivian)

What’s more, Scaringe says that he hopes to expand the offering to a fully SAE Level 3 “eyes-off” system by next year, which would put Rivian on a par with Mercedes-Benz, which remains one of the few manufacturers (BMW is another) to offer motorists the chance undertake side-tasks under extremely strict driving conditions in certain US states and European regions.

Currently, Rivian’s autonomous offering is similar to the most basic Tesla Autopilot package, offering a smart cruise control function that enables the car to automatically speed up and slow down in highway traffic, as well as stay in its lane.

But the recent announcement would crank Rivian's autonomous driving offering up a notch and enable customers to sit back and take hands off the wheel, so long as they are ready to take over driving duties as soon as the vehicle requires it.

However, drivers wouldn’t legally be allowed to read a book, answer emails or take eyes off the road during "hands-off" modes, as this is only reserved for those SAE Level 3 systems that have been legislated for use.

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Analysis: Rivian needs to under-promise and over-deliver

(Image credit: Tesla)

Tesla is currently receiving a lot of flack from its customer base that opted for the “Full Self-Driving package” under the premise that one day, they would be allowed to operate the system without supervision at all times, according to Electrek.

The company has been gradually upgrading its autonomous driving hardware and many of the original FSD customers are worried that the package they paid for (some of the deals date back to 2016) won’t actually work with their older vehicles if and when Musk’s team cracks it.

Disgruntled customers are now calling out for Tesla to transfer any pre-existing Full Self-Driving packages over to the driver, allowing them to transfer it to newer vehicles, rather than tying it to the car. Tesla has previously honored this, but only for limited windows of time.

Promising Full Self-Driving capabilities, as Musk has been doing for years, is just plain wrong, because the vehicles blatantly aren’t capable of doing so.

Instead, Rivian has chosen to play it safer, offering “hands-off” driving capabilities that it knows already exist and are already in use by rival manufacturers. But it will still have to make sure the systems work (and are legal) before thinking of demanding customers hand over money for them - especially where "eyes-off" promises are made.

What’s more, only offering the latest technology to owners of the newest Rivian models is a surefire way of alienating all of those early adopters that bet big and supported the company in the early days.

After all, the dream we are all being sold of the software-defined vehicle states that cars only get better with time. But as we are so often seeing, this is not always the case.

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The White Lotus season 3: key information

- Releasing on Netflix sometime in 2025
- Comprised of six episodes
- No official trailer, but a mid-credit scene drops hints
- Predicted cast, though not confirmed
- Season 3 will be the show’s last
- Hwang Dong-hyuk talks spin-offs and franchise

Squid Game season 3 is coming in 2025 and its arrival will mark the end of the tremendously volatile and thought-provoking Netflix show.

It is, in fact, one of the best Netflix series available to watch on the best streaming service which broke Netflix records by bringing in 1.65 billion viewing hours for Squid Game season 1.

Squid Game invites 456 players to compete for a mouth-watering 4.56 million won prize. To win? Compete in childhood games. Sure, that sounds simple enough, until the players learn about the deadly consequences. Player 456, Gi-hun, won the huge prize pot in season 1, but he was also the only player to leave with their life. So, he returned to play again in Squid Game season 2 to exact revenge by teaming up with fellow players – though we know how that turned out...

Season 3 was always on the cards – way before season 2 even came out – and so the cast and crew shot back-to-back, hence the 2025 release date. We're glad we don't have to wait much longer to see how the events of the season 2 finale unfold, but a wait is a wait regardless.

So, while we ponder the next move, there’s plenty to know about Squid Game season 3 from release date, to expected cast, to plot synopsis news and rumors, and more.

Full spoilers for Squid Game seasons 1 and 2 to follow.

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Squid Game season 3: is there a release date?

The games will never be the same. Have you watched Squid Game Season 2 yet? Season 3 coming in 2025. pic.twitter.com/j8dnDev94iDecember 30, 2024

While viewers had to wait over three years for Squid Game season 2, the wait for season 3 isn't nearly as long. In fact, it’s been confirmed to hit Netflix in 2025. Given that season 2 came out in December 2024, that's a wait of less than a year – we hope.

#SquidGame's director, Hwang Dong-hyuk, reassures fans that they won't have to wait too long for season 3. pic.twitter.com/N9bmbXWrbPJanuary 6, 2025

Thanks to a 2025 Golden Globes red carpet interview in January, Squid Game director and creator Hwang Dong-hyuk revealed to The Hollywood Reporter: “It’s coming. It’s coming. I’m working on it, so it’s coming soon. Sooner than you expect.”

Plus, as reported by Forbes, the Netflix Korea YouTube channel “had a video go live that didn’t just have the 2025 release date, but a specific date, June 27, 2025.” While it was quickly removed, it didn’t go unnoticed, though there’s been no official confirmation from Netflix.

If we were to speculate then, we’d say that with Dong-hyuk's words in mind and considering season 2 came out in late 2024, we’d guess a late summer 2025 release date for season 3.

Squid Game season 3: has Netflix released a trailer?

No trailer yet, but we'll be sure to update here when there is (Image credit: Netflix )

There's no trailer for Squid Game season 3 right now. When there is, we'll be sure to update you here. Given that the season 2 trailer released a month before the show dropped on Netflix, we know it won't be until later this year.

Squid Game season 3: who can we expect to return for the cast?

Front Man's devastating season 2 ending means this character has more to give (Image credit: No Ju-han/Netflix)

Spoilers follow for Squid Game season 2.

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While there’s no official news of the Squid Game season 3 cast, we have a pretty good idea of who's returning – although you never quite know how long any given character will survive. Here's who we expect to return for Squid Game season 3:

• Lee Jung-jae as Seong Gi-hun
• Lee Byung-hun as Hwang In-ho aka Front Man
• Wi Ha-joon as Hwang Jun-ho
• Kang Ha-neul as Dae-ho
• Jo Yu-ri as Kim Jun-hee
• Park Sung-hoon as Hyun-ju
• Park Gyu-young as No-eul
• Lee David as Min-su
• Chae Kook-hee as Seon-nyeo
• Kang Ae-sim as Jang Geum-ja
• Im Si-wan as Lee Myung-gi
• Yang Dong-geun as Park Yong-sik
• Im Si-wan as Lee Myung-gi
• Oh Dal-su as Captain Park
• Roh Jae-won as Nam-gyu

Squid Game season 3: what can we speculate so far about the story?

Squid Game season 3 will pick up the pieces of the season 2 finale (Image credit: Netflix)

Full spoilers follow for Squid Game seasons 1 and 2.

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Squid Game season 2 certainly left a lot on the table to pick up in season 3, and considering they filmed both seasons back-to-back, we imagine we'll pick up right where we left off. So, where was that? Gi-hun was planning a coup to reach the people in charge at the top to end the games once and for all. Unfortunately, what he wasn’t aware of, is that Player 001 was in fact Front Man, who after joining him in the games up until the pivotal moment of his plan, returned to his position of control.

And then, he murdered Gi-hun’s friend, Jung-bae, right in front of him. All without him knowing his true identity. As he reeled on the staircase mere moments away from the control room, season 2 ended and so did Gi-hun’s dream of freedom, it seems. But let’s not forget Jun-ho, Front Man’s brother and police officer who spent season 2 hellbent on finding the island and proving its existence to the entire world. And, we presume, exacting justice on his brother's deadly games.

In a show filled with unfortunate moments though, it’s no surprise that Jun-ho’s mission to find the island hasn't been straightforward. In season 2 it appears that the fisherman that saved him from the seas in season 1 and is back to help him with his search has an ulterior motive. While he appears to be helping Jun-ho find the island, one night we see him tampering with the drone that they’re using to search the skies. And, upon being discovered, stabs and throws one of Jun-ho’s crew overboard, undetected. A story thread that most certainly needs investigating.

Everyone say hi to Chul-su 👋 Squid Game 3 coming 2025. pic.twitter.com/hCgNexjJbCJanuary 1, 2025

If you watched through the credits, you will have also seen the teaser (above) featuring the giant robot from Red Light, Green Light - Young-hee - and her robot boyfriend, introduced on Twitter/X as Chul-su. It adds: “Squid Game 3 coming 2025,” as if to suggest Chul-su will star as a new robot in an entirely new game. The bigger tease here though is that there’s more games to be played, which has been one of the biggest allures of Squid Game. It’s in the name, after all.

It appears that season 3 is most definitely a continuation of season 2. Speaking to MSN, director Hwang Dong-hyuk revealed the reason behind splitting season 2 in half, rather than starting a new games: “...as I wrote the story along, it became to be too many episodes and too long of a story because you see Gi-hun's journey where he returns to the game, but also he goes through a revolt, and that is actually the climax of that storyline, where he tries to create an uprising, but then that all goes to failure. And I also saw that aspect of it as yet another game as well, and so I thought that we would divide it into two seasons to have that…”

He added: “And to put a stop there, I thought that would just be the right adequate moment to rest and have it continue on in the further season because after Gi-hun experiences that event, based on the failure, as well as that immense sense of guilt, you're going to get yet another character arc from Gi-hun.”

Jung-bae (Seo-hwan) won't be back for season 3 (Image credit: Netflix)

Viewers have watched as Gi-hun reigned victorious in season 1 and returned full of vigor and fueled by revenge in season 2. But, by the end, he was left entirely depleted by his failed plan and loss of his friend. Hwang Dong-hyuk’s focus on Gi-hun going into season 3 ridden with guilt and failure seems to be the focal point. Though we're also expecting more games and resolve (or demise).

Seo-hwan, who played Gi-hun’s friend Jung-bae in season 2, revealed to RadioTimes.com where he feels season 3 will take Gi-hun next. But, he stipulates: “I know nothing about season 3, but as a viewer and a fan myself, I think there could be three possibilities.”

Expanding on these possibilities, he said: “One would be Gi-hun losing all hope, and the second, him becoming even more vengeful. But the third possibility would be him becoming vengeful towards the players, not the people behind the game.”

While Jung-bae might not know the season 3 plot, returning player Jo Yu-ri, who plays Jun-hee (Player 222) told Cinema Today: “It seems like a lot of people have been predicting the contents of season 3, but it seems like not many of them have gotten it right as I thought. A truly unimaginably brutal and cruel story awaits, so please look forward to it.”

Will Squid Game return after season 3?

(Image credit: Netflix)

No, season 3 has been confirmed as Squid Game’s final season. But, creator Hwang Dong-hyuk has shared his future plans for a Squid Game franchise with The Hollywood Reporter: “One of the ideas I’m tossing around is what happened between season one and two. There’s a three-year gap. So, for example, what was the Front Man doing during those three years?” said Hwang. “What was the Recruiter doing? When I have some downtime, I like to just toss some ideas around and go wild with my imagination. So I guess we can be open to anything.”

And, back in 2022, Deadline reported that Dong-hyuk also had a satirical series based on the creation of Netflix's Squid Game in early development. At time of writing, it was rumored to be called The Best Show on the Planet.

If you're craving more from Squid Game, the franchise has already expanded with Squid Game: The Challenge, a real-world adaptation of the show, which debuted in November 2023 and was subsequently renewed for a second season. Casting of which is now closed, though a release date is still unknown.

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For more Netflix-focused coverage, read our guides on Stranger Things season 5, 3 Body Problem season 2, Arcane season 2, and The Witcher season 4.

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This week was wild. DeepSeek came and changed the AI landscape, but it seems like the full impact of its arrival is still yet to be fully understood. Meanwhile Garmin accidentally bricked many of its devices globally thanks to an errant update, and Android XR broke cover in our first hands-on look at the software.

Al that and more of the otehr big tech news stories you might have missed from the week are recapped below so you can catch up with everything then get on with your day.

If you're looking to catch up on the biggest entertainment of the moment too then chekc out our picks for the 7 new movies and TV shows to stream this weekend (January 31).

7. DeepSeek R1 conquered the AI world

(Image credit: Future)

It’s been a rollercoaster week for the AI industry with the DeepSeek app rocketing to the top of the Apple App Store and beating ChatGPT. DeepSeek is a Chinese startup who claim to have developed their deep reasoning model, R1, for a fraction of the price that US AI companies have invested in their technologies.

It also offers people access to it for free in its chatbot and at a much reduced price as an API compared to OpenAI. The news that a Chinese company can produce an equivalent technology for a fraction of the price caused a complete crash of the share value of US tech companies that are heavily invested in AI. Nvidia came off particularly badly with $600 billion being wiped off their stock value in just one day. Share prices have since recovered, but it doesn’t feel like the AI market will ever be the same again.

• Read more: DeepSeek live – all the latest news

6. But did it cheat to win?

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Questions are already being asked about how DeepSeek managed to produce its AI model so quickly, especially after OpenAI claimed it had evidence of distillation of some of its models. Distillation is a development technique where you piggyback off another model’s learning, but is against the OpenAI terms and conditions of use. To make matters worse for DeepSeek, it appears that when questioned about which AI model is best, DeepSeek will often refer to itself as ChatGPT, which some users think of as a bit of a smoking gun.

OpenAI released a statement on the matter, stating: “We know that groups in the PRC are actively working to use methods, including what’s known as distillation, to try to replicate advanced U.S. AI models. We are aware of and reviewing indications that DeepSeek may have inappropriately distilled our models, and will share information as we know more. We take aggressive, proactive countermeasures to protect our technology and will continue working closely with the U.S. government to protect the most capable models being built here.”

• Read more: DeepSeek just insisted it's ChatGPT, and I think that's all the proof I need

5. Garmin became the Sonos of wearables

Garmin's blue triangle of death (Image credit: Angela MacAusland)

A tough few months of software quirks boiled over into a massive Garmin outage this week that saw users in their thousands completely lose access to their devices. A rogue GPS file accidentally pushed to Garmins saw user devices plunged into a boot loop dubbed the 'Blue Triangle of Death.' Few customers found they could escape, and even those who did encountered further issues with connectivity and synchronisation.

The outage lasted well over 24 hours and we heard from hundreds of customers, owners of devices like the Forerunner and Epix range, as well as more niche devices like Garmin's dive computers, cycling computers, and Approach Golf Range.

Garmin has since fixed the underlying issue, but lots of customers remain stuck in boot loops and without a device. Plenty have even told us they regret their Garmin purchases or plan to depart for companies like Apple. Garmin has a PR disaster on its hands that has vastly overshadowed the launch of the Instinct 3. The company has lots of work to do, or it risks becoming the Sonos of wearables.

• Read more: Garmin outage FIXED: What to do if your device still isn't working

4. Nvidia’s new RTX 5090 came and went

Nvidia RTX 5090 (Image credit: Future)

Nvidia’s new graphics cards are here and… they’re already gone as stock sold out lightning fast across the internet for these highly sought after GPUs. Some will have been bought by legitimate gamers looking to upgrade their rig – and they’re in for a treat with our RTX 5090 review highlighting how it’s a seriously powerful upgrade that approaches complete overkill performance, and our RTX 5080 review telling us it boasts some solid gains too at a more modest (but still not inexpensive) price.

Unfortunately some Nvidia cards also seem to have been picked up by scalpers taking advantage of the limited availability to flip them for a profit on resale sites by listing the GPUs for several times their MSRP. Resale sites have also been flooded with listings that seem to be selling the new GPUs for prices closer to what they should cost, but when you take a closer look you’ll see they’re promising to send you a picture of the graphics card you desire rather than the real thing.

So our advice is to wait for another official drop so you don’t get tricked by a scammer or pay three or four times more for the GPU you’re after – and you can follow our coverage for updates on when and where these drops will happen.

• Read more: Where to buy Nvidia RTX 5090 GPUs in the US and UK

3. Nothing Phone 3 was teased

Nothing Phone 2 (Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)

Nothing shared a short video of its CEO Carl Pei this week. Normally that wouldn’t be super newsworthy, but as the camera zooms in on his glasses we see the words “Launch 4 March” reflected in the lens. A previous Nothing Phone 3 teaser suggested this would be the announcement date for its next smartphone, but now it’s all but certain.

What’s more interesting is a cut in the middle of the clip that seems to shift from a shot from a wide lens, to one from a telephoto lens – the latter of which is absent from all Nothing phones. We’re taking this as a hint that the Nothing Phone 3 could have a triple-lens camera – with a telephoto camera joining the wide and ultra-wide lens setup found on the Nothing Phone 2.

• Read more: Nothing hints that the Phone 3 could have the camera feature it needed

2. We got our first in-depth look at Android XR

Project Moohan (Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)

Thanks to a hands-on video from Marques Brownlee on his YouTube channel, MKBHD, we got our first look at Android XR and the Project Moohan prototype this week. While many details including price, release, and some specs are still a mystery we did get to see aspects of the headset’s design and software.

It looks a lot like a combination of the Meta Quest Pro and Apple Vision Pro. There’s no over-the-head strap but instead a Meta Quest Pro-like adjustable strap round the back, and the Android XR headset borrows the Quest’s optional light blockers to change between a VR-optimized and MR-optimized design. It also uses an external battery pack like the Vision Pro to help save weight.

As for software, Brownlee’s video predominantly focused on Gemini’s integration – which looks impressive. Though many of the AI features look like they’d be much better suited to a pair of AR glasses – so while we expect Moohan will be impressive, we’re already waiting to see what XR hardware Samsung and Google will launch next.

• Read more: Android XR comes out swinging with our first look at Samsung Project Moohan

1. Our Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man swung in

Spider-Man from Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man (Image credit: Marvel Animation/Disney Plus)

Our favorite wall-crawling superhero is finally back! The latest adaptation of Peter Parker to enter the fray is in Marvel’s new animated series Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man.

The show has a unique release schedule, though, as each week two episodes will be released instead of one – the first two of which debuted on Disney Plus this Wednesday (January 29).

TechRadar’s senior entertainment reporter Tom Power has already seen all 10 episodes and says the show’s “a spectacularly fun ride” in his Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man review.

Which is great news for Spidey fans, because two more seasons have been greenlit and the show’s creator already has “big ideas” for where it could go next.

• Read more: Every Marvel Easter egg and reference in Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man episodes 1 and 2: Nico Minoru, Lonnie Lincoln, and more

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• Nvidia's new RTX 5080 GPU performs better than AMD's Radeon RX 7900 XTX at raw rasterization and ray tracing
• DLSS 4 performance takes it further, while the RX 7900 XTX only has FSR 3 for now
• Scalping could leave many people buying AMD GPUs instead

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The best of Nvidia's RTX 5000 series GPUs are finally here, with the RTX 5090 ($1,999 / £1,939 / AU$4,039) and the RTX 5080 ($999 / £939 / AU$2,019) launching yesterday. With comparisons now out in the wild, it's clear to see that the RTX 5080 defeats AMD's Radeon RX 7900 XTX while sitting at the same listed price - although the chances of finding one at that price are slim.

At both raw rasterization and (unsurprisingly) ray tracing performance, Team Green's RTX 5080 comes out on top against its rivals' flagship RX 7000 series GPU in several games as evident in Gamer Meld's comparison on YouTube (available below). Whilst it isn't by a huge margin (at least in raw rasterization), it completes the job the previous generation's RTX 4080 Super set out to do.

Examples of this are notable in Black Myth: Wukong, as the RTX 5080 scored an average frame rate of 42fps versus the RX 7900 XTX's 32fps at 4K max graphics settings with no upscaling or ray tracing, a 27% performance difference. With RT Overdrive enabled in Cyberpunk 2077 at 4K max graphics settings and upscaling on (performance mode for both), the RTX 5080 had an average of 59.84 fps versus the 7900 XTX's 30.02 fps.

It's worth noting that this is while Team Green's powerhouse GPU was using DLSS 4 and the RX 7900 XTX was using FSR 3 - you could call it an unfair comparison, but Team Red's FSR 4 will only be available for RDNA 4 GPUs (at least for now), and the GPU in question isn't one of them. We will have to wait just a little longer for more information on what the new RX 9070 series offers (especially while using FSR 4), and whether this could stack up to Nvidia's offerings.

Unless you're lucky enough to grab an RTX 5080 FE before scalpers, you likely won't get it at its listed price

Now, this may be a circumstance where I'd recommend sticking with AMD's RX 7900 XTX if you already own the GPU - the RTX 5080 FE would likely be the better option going forward (especially if DLSS 4 is better than FSR 4), but the scalpers will likely be the main obstacle to stop you from purchasing it at reasonable prices.

We've seen this happen on numerous occasions with Nvidia's GPUs and other PC hardware, so expect it to be the same case here. It'll likely be much worse for those chasing the RTX 5090 with its $1,999 / £1,939 / AU$4,039 price (which I frankly don't think is worth it if you already own an RTX 4090).

While Nvidia's RTX 5080 is the stronger GPU, the RX 7900 XTX doesn't stray too far behind in raw rasterization - ray tracing and upscaling are great don't get me wrong, but I've already stated that this shouldn't be the deciding factor for a GPU purchase.

Both GPUs are at the same listed price, with third-party options of the RX 7900 XTX at lower prices (since it's been out for 2 years) so it would be the easy and most affordable option in this case - but once more users catch wind of performance comparisons, you'll likely see the RX 7900 XTX disappear from online retailers too with low stock. A potential purchase of the RTX 5080 is entirely down to whether you own AMD's GPU already or a GPU that's weaker on either Team Red or Team Green's end.

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Back in October, I met with a young German start-up CEO who had integrated the open-source approach by DeepSeek into his Mind-Verse platform and made it comply with German data privacy (DSGVO) standards. Since then, many rumors have been circulating that China has chosen a different architectural structure for its foundation model—one that relies not only on open source, but is also much more efficient, requiring neither the same level of training data nor the same compute resources.

When it comes to DeepSeek, this is not a singular “breakthrough moment.” Rather, AI development continues on an exponential trajectory: progress is becoming faster, its impact broader, and with increasing investment and more engineers involved, fundamental breakthroughs in engineering and architecture are just beginning. Contrary to some market spokespeople, investors, and even certain foundation model pioneers, this is not solely about throwing infinite compute at the problem; we are still far from understanding core aspects of reasoning, consciousness, and the “operating model” (or software layers) of the human mind.

Additionally DeepSeek is (was) not a government-sponsored initiative; supposedly, even the prime minister was surprised and visited Hangzhou to understand what was happening. Although Scale AI founder Alexander Wang claims that China already has a significant number of powerful H100 GPUs (about 50,000), yet—based on U.S. export laws—this fact is not publicly acknowledged. DeepSeek is reported to have only about 150 engineers, each earning in the range of $70–100k, which is eight to ten times lower than top engineering salaries in Silicon Valley.

So, regardless of whether they have powerful GPUs or whether $6 million or $150 million was invested, it is nowhere near the billions—or tens of billions—poured into other major AI competitors. This example shows that different engineering and architectural approaches do exist and may be waiting to be uncovered. Most likely, this is not the ultimate approach, but it also challenges the current VC narrative that “it’s all about compute and scale.” Moreover, the open-source mindset behind DeepSeek challenges the typical approach to LLMs and highlights both the advantages and the potential risks.

Sam Altman is rumored to be hosting a “behind-closed-doors” meeting with the Trump administration on January 30th, where he plans to present so-called “PhD-level” AI agents—or super agentic AI. How “super” this will be remains unclear, and it is unlikely there will be any public declaration of achieving AGI. Still, when Mark Zuckerberg suggests Meta will soon publish substantial progress, and Elon Musk hints at new breakthroughs with Groc, DeepSeek is just another “breakthrough” that illustrates how fast the market is moving.

Once agentic AIs come online, they introduce a structural shift: agentic AI is not about merely responding to a prompt, but about pursuing a goal. Through a network of super agents, massive amounts of data are gathered and analyzed, while real products and tasks are delivered autonomously. What is interesting about Sam Altman not making a public appearance and release, his meeting with the U.S. The government hints at potential risks and consequences.

We are at the Verge of Hyper-Efficiency and Hyper-Innovation

What we are seeing is the compound effect of investment and ever-growing teams working on these models, with few signs of a slowdown. Needless to say, any quantum breakthroughs would be the next frontier—essentially “AI on steroids”—where the magnitude of change could increase exponentially. On the positive side, this can unleash innovations in health and medicine like never before in human history.

In the near future, broader access to AI tools will probably benefit infrastructure providers and hyperscalers such as AWS. It is unclear if this will put NVIDIA at a disadvantage or actually benefit it: as “everyone” joins the AI race, there could be more demand for compute, not just from big U.S. tech players like OpenAI. Meanwhile, Anthropic and OpenAI run closed ecosystems, but DeepSeek’s public paper shares many of its core methods.

The greatest risk to the U.S. and its current AI dominance is that China does have talent and the strong work ethic to keep pushing forward. Trade sanctions won’t stop that. As more engineers come together and keep working, the odds of major breakthroughs increase.

The Battle of Distrust

Globally, the U.S. is losing trust. The “don’t trust China” narrative is fading in many parts of the world. While Donald Trump on the surface gains respect, global leaders are quietly looking for alternatives in the background to mitigate. Europe and other Asian nations don’t want to be “hostage” to U.S. technology and will open up to new options.

Technology doesn’t evolve overnight, and we’ve only seen the start of the breakthroughs to be announced by Groc, Meta, and OpenAI. Simultaneously, new capital will continue pouring in, and other regions will join the race, now that it’s clear money alone isn’t everything. The future might not necessarily be bad for NVIDIA, either, since data centers could appear everywhere, enabling a more global roll-out of AI and creating opportunities for many.

From Prompting to Action

There are still numerous smaller AI companies that have received massive funding purely on hope and hype. Yet new approaches to foundation models—via architectural and engineering innovation—can continue to drive progress. And once we “hack” biology or chemistry with AI, we may see entirely new levels of breakthroughs.

Looking toward the rest of 2025, we can expect more “super-agent” breakthroughs, as agentic AI and LQMs (Large Quantitative Models) push generative AI beyond fun language-based tools to genuine human worker replacements. Not only will financial modeling and analysis be optimized, but also execution—the entire cycle of booking, planning, and organizing—could shift to autonomous agents. Over time, these integrated, adaptive agents will replace more and more use cases where humans currently remain in the loop. This might also be one of the biggest threats to society: coping with extreme pressures on market economies under hyper-efficiency and hyper-innovation. In 2025, we are likely to see breakthroughs in education, science, health, consulting, and finance. With multiple compounding effects in play, we’ll likely experience hyper-efficiency and widespread growth.

However, the looming threats are real. Agentic, at-scale AI can still fall victim to hallucinations, and now anyone with a few million dollars can build their own model—potentially for malicious use. While a global, open approach to AI can be positive, many engineering and research challenges remain unsolved, leaving high risks. With the U.S. laser-focused on AI, the race to surpass human-level intelligence is on.

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This article was produced as part of TechRadarPro's Expert Insights channel where we 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/news/submit-your-story-to-techradar-pro

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• The Now Bar in One UI 7 displays live information from apps
• As promised, Google Maps support has now been added
• The first Galaxy S25 preorders are being shipped out to customers

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As our Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra review will tell you, Samsung's latest flagship phones come packed with AI features, such as the useful Now Bar that gives you live updates from apps in real time – and that feature has just got Google Maps support.

The new Google Maps support was spotted by early adopters including @theonecid (via Neowin), and means you'll be able to see how far you are from your destination and the directions you need to take, even if you're using another app.

Samsung has only just started sending out the first preordered Galaxy S25 handsets to customers, but if and when you get your hands on one, make sure you're running the latest version of Android and the latest version of Google Maps to see the live activities.

We had previously heard that Google Maps support would be on the way at the Samsung Galaxy S25 launch event, so it's pleasing to see that Google and Samsung have rolled out a compatibility update so quickly – and let's hope many more apps follow suit, to make full use of the Now Bar's potential.

Looks familiar

BREAKING ‼️Google Maps now works on Now BarUpdate Google Maps 25.05.01.719889437 pic.twitter.com/SZZxhVA2hyJanuary 29, 2025

The Now Bar is part of the One UI 7 update that Samsung has been working on, which is based on Android 15. Having launched alongside the Galaxy S25 phones, the software should be made available for older handsets in the coming months (it's already available in beta form for other Galaxy phones).

It's quite an obvious copy of the Live Activities feature added to iPhones back in 2022 with iOS 16, and in some respects the Now Bar mimics the same functionality you get from the Dynamic Island on the latest Apple smartphones.

Even if it's not the most original of features, it's still helpful to have. Other apps the Now Bar works with right now include Bixby, Clock, Emergency Sharing, Google (for sports cores), Interpreter, Samsung Health, Samsung Notes, and Voice Recorder.

The Now Bar also works with the lock screen and the always-on display, which means you can get constant updates from Google Maps – which are currently shown in a persistent notification on Android that's not quite as easy to access.

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The rise of Generative AI, from tools like ChatGPT to a new wave of AI tools, is reshaping technology demands, driving a surge in the need for advanced CPUs and GPUs. These powerful processors, with ever-increasing thermal design power (TDP)—like Nvidia’s GB200 Grace Blackwell superchip consuming 1,200W per GPU with racks powering 120kW—are pushing power and cooling requirements to unprecedented levels, making traditional air cooling solutions insufficient.

Enter liquid cooling. With adoption projected to grow at a 45% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) from 2023 to 2028, direct-to-chip liquid cooling solutions, powered by coolant distribution units (CDUs), are transforming how data centers handle the heat generated by high-performance AI workloads. Cooling efficiency isn’t just a consideration—it’s a necessity as AI processors continue to push power and density boundaries.

This article examines how CDUs are supporting thermal heat management, enabling operators to meet the relentless cooling demands of AI and high-performance computing while paving the way for the next generation of data center efficiency.

What is a Coolant Distribution Unit (CDU)?

A CDU is the heartbeat of a liquid cooling system, carefully regulating coolant temperature and flow rates to maintain optimal cooling efficiency. By managing the coolant flow to IT equipment and returning the IT heat to the facility’s water for re-cooling, CDUs help stabilize temperatures and minimize the risk of overheating. In direct liquid cooling, the CDU plays a vital role by allowing for temperature conditioning to prevent condensation and by isolating the IT equipment from harsher facility water, which may contain mineral deposits, particulates, and other impurities that could damage cooling systems or reduce efficiency.

CDUs are also pivotal for increasing system longevity. According to a recent Uptime Institute study, over 70% of unplanned downtime in data centers is linked to power and cooling system failures. With advanced CDUs, operators can reduce such risks, ensuring reliable operations even under heavy workloads.

Different Types of CDUs: Liquid-to-Liquid vs Liquid-to-Air

Liquid-to-Liquid and Liquid-to-Air CDUs both serve the essential function of cooling IT equipment but are suited for different environments based on their cooling mechanisms and efficiency levels. Liquid-to-Liquid CDUs are ideal for facilities with access to facility water, offering high cooling capacity and efficiency due to the superior thermal conductivity of water.

These systems transfer heat from the IT equipment’s coolant loop to the facility’s water loop using a heat exchanger, which is well-suited for high-density environments. In contrast, Liquid-to-Air CDUs use air-cooled radiators and fan systems to dissipate heat into the surrounding air, making them a better choice for locations without access to facility water, though they typically offer lower overall cooling capacity and efficiency.

While both systems include similar components needed to run (such as pumps, temperature control systems, and filtration), the key difference lies in how they transfer heat. Liquid-to-liquid CDUs rely on primary and secondary pumps to circulate coolant and water, while Liquid-to-Air CDUs depend on fans to move air over radiators. Maintenance for both systems is essential, though Liquid-to-Air CDUs may require more frequent attention to air filters and fan components.

In contrast, liquid-to-liquid systems require monitoring the water loop and its cleanliness. Ultimately, the choice between a Liquid-to-Liquid or Liquid-to-Air CDU depends on the available infrastructure and specific cooling and efficiency goals, with Liquid-to-Liquid systems excelling in high-density environments and Liquid-to-Air systems offering flexibility where water access is limited.

Industry Trends and Future Directions

The adoption of liquid cooling is on a sharp upward trajectory. In 2023, only 10% of data centers used liquid cooling, but this figure is expected to reach 50% by 2030. Driving this shift are the increasing thermal demands of AI and HPC and environmental considerations. Traditional air cooling can consume up to 40% of a data center’s energy, with goals for advanced cooling to reduce energy expenditures to as little as 5% of total IT load. This is a significant factor in reducing overall Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE).

CDUs are also addressing water conservation challenges. Records obtained by the Financial Times reveal that data center water consumption has spiked by nearly two-thirds since 2019, with over 1.85 billion gallons consumed in 2023 compared to 1.13 billion gallons in 2019. Technologies that eliminate reliance on evaporative cooling are becoming indispensable. Eco-friendly coolants and closed-loop systems are gaining traction, helping operators reduce their environmental footprint.

Conclusion

As AI and HPC workloads intensify, data centers must adopt cutting-edge solutions like CDUs to stay ahead. By enabling efficient, scalable cooling, CDUs not only support operational demands but also align with sustainability goals. With liquid cooling expected to dominate the market by 2030 and the data center cooling market set to exceed $20 billion by 2028, the time to embrace these technologies is now. CDUs are not just a tool for cooling—they are the foundation for a sustainable, high-performance future.

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This article was produced as part of TechRadarPro's Expert Insights channel where we 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/news/submit-your-story-to-techradar-pro

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