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OnePlus is holding a new December promotion with many of its products receiving sizable discounts. For a limited time, the OnePlus Pad 3 is on sale for $580, a solid $120 price drop. No special code is required at checkout. It’s instantly applied.

With purchase, you’ll receive two free gifts: the OnePlus Pioneer Shoulder Bag ($39.99) or the OnePlus Pad 3 Folio Case ($49.99). That’s $90 worth of products at no extra cost. Be aware that there’s only one configuration of the tablet available. The OnePlus Pad 3 is available in Storm Blue, features 12GB of RAM, and comes with a 256GB SSD.

Also: I stopped using the Samsung S25 Ultra after battery-testing this surprise Android phone

Through OnePlus’ trade-in program, you can save even more money on the tablet. Trade in any device in any condition and shave off an additional $50, lowering the OnePlus Pad 3’s $580 price tag to $530. So, if you put everything together, you could save up to $260 on the bundle.

The OnePlus Pad 3 has earned its place as one of the most compelling Android tablets of 2025. It houses premium hardware, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, a powerful chipset capable of handling just about anything and everything you throw at it.

Review: OnePlus Pad 3

OnePlus’ device also has a sleek design and a high-resolution 13.2-inch display. It’s not an OLED screen, mind you. But the IPS LCD is still great, boasting a high pixel density of 3,392 x 2,400 for crystal clear images. The 144Hz refresh rate delivers smooth on-screen animations, a perfect speed for both streaming movies and playing games.

Alongside all this hardware is a 12,140mAh battery that lasted over 13 hours straight during our testing. When supported by accessories like the Smart Keyboard and Stylo 2 pen, the OnePlus Pad 3 could outright replace your laptop.

How I rated this deal

$120 off a $700 tablet is a roughly 17% discount. It’s decent by itself; however, you also need to consider the other offers. If you take advantage of OnePlus’ trade-in program and grab two gifts, you’ll actually save a total of $260 on the bundle. Combining all the discounts, I give this deal a perfect score of 5/5, as per ZDNET’s rating system.

This is the best deal that I have seen for the OnePlus Pad 3 in 2025. I highly recommend the device, especially if you’re in the market for a new top-notch Android bundle, but don’t wait too long.

As per OnePlus, this deal will expire on December 31.

Deals are subject to sell out or expire at any time, though ZDNET remains committed to finding, sharing, and updating the best product deals for you to score the best savings. Our team of experts regularly checks in on the deals we share to ensure they are still live and obtainable. We’re sorry if you’ve missed out on this deal, but don’t fret — we’re constantly finding new chances to score savings and sharing them with you at ZDNET.com. 

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We aim to deliver the most accurate advice to help you shop smarter. ZDNET offers 33 years of experience, 30 hands-on product reviewers, and 10,000 square feet of lab space to ensure we bring you the best of tech. 

In 2025, we refined our approach to deals, developing a measurable system for sharing savings with readers like you. Our editor’s deal rating badges are affixed to most of our deal content, making it easy to interpret our expertise to help you make the best purchase decision.

At the core of this approach is a percentage-off-based system to classify savings offered on top-tech products, combined with a sliding-scale system based on our team members’ expertise and several factors like frequency, brand or product recognition, and more. The result? Hand-crafted deals are chosen specifically for ZDNET readers like you, fully backed by our experts. 

Also: How we rate deals at ZDNET in 2025

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ZDNET’s key takeaways

• There are times when you may want to turn off Windows Security.
• I’ll show you how to (temporarily or permanently) disable it on Windows 11 Home and Pro.
• I recommend creating a restore point, and will show you how. 

Windows Security is a highly capable system guardian. In my “Best Antivirus for Windows 11” guide, I made the case that it isn’t just a basic antivirus designed to be a stopgap; it’s a full-blown first-party security suite that monitors downloads, blocks incoming threats, and instantly quarantines malware if it manages to bypass all defenses. 

As a Windows user, all you really need to be protected against online threats is the app, an ad blocker, and a secure browser like Brave.

Also: How to upgrade your ‘incompatible’ Windows 10 PC to Windows 11 for free – today

However, there are times when you may want to disable Windows Security. In this guide, I will show you how to turn off Windows 11’s security suite both temporarily and permanently. I’ll also go over what to keep in mind before messing with these settings, and how to create a System Restore point so you have a safety net in case anything goes wrong.

Why would you want to disable Windows Security?

One common reason a user may want to disable Windows Security is that they need to install third-party software that is blocked by the suite. This can include third-party antivirus programs, niche open-source software, or apps from small developers.

 IS SMALL the adjective we want here? Or perhaps, “Less well-known”?

Windows Security can also sometimes falsely flag safe programs as dangerous. If you visit GitHub, you’ll find posts from people complaining about how Windows Defender (Windows’ antivirus tool) flags certain project releases as trojans, even though they’re safe.

Also: Don’t skip this crucial PC maintenance step – an expert explains how to do it correctly

It’s not just open-source projects, either, as video games have been stopped by Windows Security. On Reddit, this screenshot **WHICH SCREENSHOT?** of Windows Security quarantining the game “Digital Combat Simulator” shows that this is not an uncommon occurrence.

There are other, more niche reasons for disabling the security tool. IT professionals may want to disable it to prevent conflicts on a network. In fact, Microsoft actually recommends turning off or uninstalling the antivirus in order to “prevent problems caused by having multiple antivirus products installed on a server.”

The above section should be expanded a bit to discuss situations where one might want to disable temporarily vs situations where one might want to disable permanently. That’s not clear now. Related point: one scenario where disabling permanently makes sense would be if the user prefers to run third-party protection in place  of windows security. I think that point needs to be made more clearly as well.

How to temporarily disable Windows Security

Launch the Windows Security app via the search bar. Once open, navigate to Virus & threat protection > Manage settings > Real-time protection. 

Toggle the Real-time protection switch off. You may receive a User Account Control (UAC) prompt asking if you want to allow the change to occur. Select Yes.

When you’re ready to turn system protection back on, return to the same location in Windows Security and re-toggle Real-time protection. The tool will resume scanning your files immediately.

COMPARING THIS TO THE PERMANENTLY DISABLE PROCESS (in WINDOWS 11 PRO) BELOW, IT’S NOT CLEAR WHY ONE IS TEMPORARY AND THE OTHER IS PERMANENT…? (since in each case we describe how to re-enable)

AFAIK, THE SIGNIFICANT BIT ABOUT THE TEMPORARY OPTION IS THAT A REBOOT AUTOMATICALLY TURNS WINDOWS SECURITY BACK ON. WE SHOULD MENTION THAT.

How to permanently disable Windows Security

The process of permanently disabling Windows Security depends on whether you’re running Windows 11 Home or Windows 11 Pro. If you’re unsure which edition you have, open the Settings app, navigate to System > About, then check the Windows specifications. Next to Edition, it will state whether you have Windows 11 Home or Pro.

If you’re using Windows 11 Pro, the safest way to permanently disable Windows Security is to do it via the Local Group Policy Editor.

• Start by pressing Win + R to open the Run command. Alternatively, you can right-click the Windows icon and select Run.
• Type gpedit.msc into the command, then hit Enter to launch the Group Policy Editor.
• Follow this path: Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Microsoft Defender Antivirus.

• Locate Turn off Microsoft Defender Antivirus in the list below.
• Double-click the policy > select Enabled > Apply > OK.
• Restart your computer to apply the changes.

To re-enable Windows Security, return to the same policy settings, select Disabled, click Apply > OK, then restart your computer.

Also: 12 free ways to find and remove viruses on your PC – that actually work

Windows 11 Home doesn’t provide access to the Group Policy Editor by default. It’s safer to disable Windows Security by toggling off Real-time Protection for a momentary pause, but you can disable the tool permanently via the Registry Editor.

***************

reword above to:

Windows 11 Home doesn’t provide access to the Group Policy Editor by default; it’s safer to temporarily disable Windows Security, as described above. However, you can disable the tool permanently via the Registry Editor. 
 ********************

• Start by pressing Win + R to open the Run command. Alternatively, you can right-click the Windows icon and select Run.
• Type gpedit.msc into the command, then hit Enter to launch the Group Policy Editor.
• Copy and paste the following path to the navigation bar at the top:

ComputerHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREPoliciesMicrosoftWindows Defender

• Right-click on an empty area in the right-hand panel, select New in the context menu > DWORD (32-bit) Value > name it “DisableAntiSpyware”.
• Double-click DisableAntiSpyware, set the value data to 1, and click OK.
• Restart your computer to disable Windows Security.

To re-enable the tool via the Registry Editor, return to the same value, set its data to 0, and reboot.

Is it dangerous to permanently disable Windows Security?

As long as you follow these steps, you’ll be fine with permanently disabling Windows Security. That said, it’s not something that you should do lightly. Doing so will allow you to customize the OS to meet your needs, although there are risks involved.

The biggest risk is that it exposes you to just about every type of online threat. I’m talking viruses, ransomware, spyware, phishing attempts, and trojans, just to name a few. Without the defensive software running in the background, you’re only as safe as your habits, and even then, you’re still vulnerable. According to Microsoft, some of the most common vectors of infection include malicious Office macros, infected software, and compromised web pages.

Also: I think I know what’s coming in Windows 12, and you’re not going to like it

I also want to urge caution when venturing into the Registry Editor. The tool grants access to low-level system settings that aren’t accessible through surface-level apps. However, modifying the registry can cause system instability, resulting in random crashes or broken features. 

Reinstalling Windows 11 may resolve this issue, but even Microsoft acknowledges that it cannot guarantee solutions to problems that stem from incorrect use of the Registry Editor. If you’re unsure, I recommend against doing this. 

How to create a restore point

If you still plan on editing the registry, I highly recommend backing up Windows 11 beforehand. You have a couple of options. ZDNET contributing writer Ed Bott has a guide on creating a Windows recovery drive as a handy lifeline in case Windows 11 becomes unstable. I, on the other hand, suggest creating a restore point. It doesn’t require a recovery drive.

SO WE’RE OK WITH OUR CONTRIBUTORS GIVING DIFFERENT ADVICE ON THIS POINT? JUST ASKING

Open Windows Search, type in “Create a restore point,” and select the top result. In the System Protection tab, click the Create button. When prompted, give the restore point a short description, like “Restore Windows 11 to earlier state”. Note that you are limited to 63 characters.

Select Create > [wait for the process to finish, then]  > Close > OK. To restore that earlier point, relaunch the restoring tool, click System Restore > Next > select a restore point > Next > Finish.

Should you ever turn off Windows Security?

There are a few instances where you can, and perhaps should, turn off Windows Security, such as when downloading software from GitHub (that’s when I do it). Even then, you should only do it temporarily whenever possible. Windows Security is a robust defense system that actively protects your PC from dangerous malware. Disabling it increases the likelihood of infections as well as a drop in performance.

If you plan to disable Windows Security, either temporarily or permanently, do so with caution. Follow the steps that I’ve given. Keep a restore point on hand and reactivate the protection as soon as you’re done.

Want more Windows 11 advice? Add ZDNET as a preferred Google source on Chrome and Chromium browsers.

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ZDNET’s key takeaways

• OpenAI launched initiatives to safeguard AI models from abuse.
• AI cyber capabilities assessed through capture-the-flag challenges improved in four months.
• The OpenAI Preparedness Framework may help track the security risks of AI models.

OpenAI is warning that the rapid evolution of cyber capabilities in artificial intelligence (AI) models could result in “high” levels of risk for the cybersecurity industry at large, and so action is being taken now to assist defenders. 

As AI models, including ChatGPT, continue to be developed and released, a problem has emerged. As with many types of technology, AI can be used to benefit others, but it can also be abused — and in the cybersecurity sphere, this includes weaponizing AI to automate brute-force attacks, generate malware or believable phishing content, and refine existing code to make cyberattack chains more efficient. 

(Disclosure: Ziff Davis, ZDNET’s parent company, filed an April 2025 lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.)

In recent months, bad actors have used AI to propagate their scams through indirect prompt injection attacks against AI chatbots and AI summary functions in browsers; researchers have found AI features diverting users to malicious websites, AI assistants are developing backdoors and streamlining cybercriminal workflows, and security experts have warned against trusting AI too much with our data. 

Also: Gartner urges businesses to ‘block all AI browsers’ – what’s behind the dire warning

The dual nature (as Open AI calls it) of AI models, however, means that AI can also be leveraged by defenders to refine protective systems, to develop tools to identify threats, to potentially train or teach human specialists, and to shoulder the task of time-consuming, reptitive tasks such as alert triage, which frees up the time of cybersecurity staff for more valuable projects. 

The current landscape

According to OpenAI, the capabilities of AI systems are advancing at a rapid rate. 

For example, capture-the-flag (CTF) challenges, traditionally used to test cybersecurity capabilities in test environments and aimed at finding hidden “flags,” are now being used to assess the cyber capabilities of AI models. OpenAI said they have improved from 27% success rates on GPT‑5 in August 2025 to 76% on GPT‑5.1-Codex-Max⁠ in November 2025 — a notable increase in a period of only four months. 

Also: AI agents are already causing disasters – and this hidden threat could derail your safe rollout

The minds behind ChatGPT said they expect AI models to continue on this trajectory, which would give them “high” levels of cyber capability. OpenAI said this classification means that models “can either develop working zero-day remote exploits against well-defended systems, or meaningfully assist with complex, stealthy enterprise or industrial intrusion operations aimed at real-world effects.”

Managing and assessing whether AI capabilities will do harm or good, however, is no simple task — but one that OpenAI hopes to tackle with initiatives including the Preparedness Framework (.PDF). 

OpenAI Preparedness Framework

The Preparedness Framework, last updated in April 2025, outlines OpenAI’s approach to balancing AI defense and risk. While it isn’t new, the framework does provide the structure and guide for the organization to follow — and this includes where it invests in threat defense. 

Three categories of risk, and those that could lead to “severe harm,” are currently the primary focus. These are:

• Biological and chemical capabilities: The balance between new, beneficial medical and biological discoveries and those that could lead to biological or chemical weapon development.
• Cybersecurity capabilities: How AI can assist defenders in protecting vulnerable systems, while also creating a new attack surface and malicious tools. 
• AI self-improvement capabilities: How AI could beneficially enhance its own capabilities — or create control challenges for us to face.  

The priority category appears to be cybersecurity at present, or at least the most publicized. In any case, the framework’s purpose is to identify risk factors and maintain a threat model with measurable thresholds that indicate when AI models could cause severe harm. 

Also: How well does ChatGPT know me? This simple prompt revealed a lot – try it for yourself

“We won’t deploy these very capable models until we’ve built safeguards to sufficiently minimize the associated risks of severe harm,” OpenAI said in its framework manifest. “This Framework lays out the kinds of safeguards we expect to need, and how we’ll confirm internally and show externally that the safeguards are sufficient.”

OpenAI’s latest security measures

OpenAI said it is investing heavily in strengthening its models against abuse, as well as making them more useful for defenders. Models are being hardened, dedicated threat intelligence and insider risk programs have been launched, and its systems are being trained to detect and refuse malicious requests. (This, in itself, is a challenge, considering threat actors can act and prompt as defenders to try and generate output later used for criminal activity.)

“Our goal is for our models and products to bring significant advantages for defenders, who are often outnumbered and under-resourced,” OpenAI said. “When activity appears unsafe, we may block output, route prompts to safer or less capable models, or escalate for enforcement.”

The organization is also working with Red Team providers to evaluate and improve its safety measures, and as Red Teams act offensively, it is hoped they can discover defensive weaknesses for remediation — before cybercriminals do.

Also: AI’s scary new trick: Conducting cyberattacks instead of just helping out

OpenAI is set to launch a “trusted access program” that grants a subset of users or partners access to test models with “enhanced capabilities” linked to cyberdefense, but it will be closely controlled.

“We’re still exploring the right boundary of which capabilities we can provide broad access to and which ones require tiered restrictions, which may influence the future design of this program,” the company noted. “We aim for this trusted access program to be a building block towards a resilient ecosystem.”

Furthermore, OpenAI has moved Aardvark, a security researcher agent, into private beta. This will likely be of interest to cybersecurity researchers, as the point of this system is to scan codebases for vulnerabilities and provide patch guidance. According to OpenAI, Aardvark has already identified “novel” CVEs in open source software.

Finally, a new collaborative advisory group will be established in the near future. Dubbed the Frontier Risk Council, this group will include security practitioners and partners who will initially focus on the cybersecurity implications of AI and associated practices and recommendations, but the council will also eventually expand to include the other categories outlined in the OpenAI Preparedness Framework in the future.

What can we expect in the long term?

We have to treat AI with caution, and this includes implementing AI and LLMs not only into our personal lives, but also limiting the exposure of AI-based security risks in business. For example, research firm Gartner recently warned organizations to avoid or block AI browsers entirely due to security concerns, including prompt injection attacks and data exposure.

We need to remember that AI is a tool, albeit a new and exciting one. New technologies all come with risks — as OpenAI clearly knows, considering its focus on the cybersecurity challenges associated with what has become the most popular AI chatbot worldwide — and so any of its applications should be treated in the same way as any other new technological solution: with an assessment of its risks, alongside potential rewards.

Nitecore Carbo 10000 Gen 2

ZDNET’s key takeaways

• Rugged, reliable, IPX8 rated power bank built for adventure
• 30W power output makes it a good choice for tablets and even smaller laptops
• Beware, only one of the two USB-C ports support charging.

View now at Amazon

Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google.

If there’s a “secret” that power bank manufacturers don’t want customers to know, it’s that most power banks are built for a gentle life. When I talk about durability, several companies have told me that power banks are primarily used at in warm, dry air-conditioned homes and offices, on sofas and beds and carpeted floors, not in cold, damp woodlands or icy mountains. 

Well, I want power banks that can survive damp woodlands, icy mountains, and more. Wet and damp and drops are a fact of life when outdoors, and the truth is that most consumer power banks just aren’t built for that kind of abuse. 

Also: This anti-theft tech bag stopped a pickpocketer in real time – how it works

Fortunately there are companies that will fill that need. One of those is Nitecore, and when I hiked part of the Camino Frances in northern Span earlier this month, I took a couple with me to test. One of those was the Nitecore Carbo 10000 Gen 2, and this thing is built for a hard life. 

Like many other Nitecore power banks I’ve tested, this is a minimalist high-energy-density power bank. What I mean by that is that it’s a battery clad in a minimal shell so as not to add unnecessary weight or bulk. This means that the shell needs to be durable, and as such, Nitecore has turned to smooth, sleek, durable space-age carbon fibre, creating a minimalist candy bar-shaped power bank that packs 10,000mAh into as small a space as possible. 

The unit weighs 6 ounces, measures a compact 4.98 x 1.89 x 0.62 inches, and slips unobtrusively into a pocket. 

Well, I said minimalist, but this is more minimalist-ish, as it features some cool hexagon cutouts in the carbon fibre, underneath which are shiny blue or orange polymer accents, depending on which one you buy. While these may appear purely decorative, they serve a practical purpose — it’s a handy way to distinguish between two units. 

Also: Finally, a reliable multitool for under $30 and doesn’t feel like junk

You can have one color, your buddy can have another (and if they lose it, they can’t secretly take yours), or you can carry two and know which is which – for example, one color as a primary and the other as backup. 

The carbon fibre shell features rounded corners, which adds to the strength (more on that shortly) and prevents the unit from bursting through the fabric of a coat pocket or backpack. 

The Carbo 10000 Gen 2 features two USB-C ports (with a combined output of 30W, 15W each when both are used, and one of which supports 30W charging). It also includes an LED charge indicator and a button to activate trickle charging mode. 

Given its compact size, this power bank does get quite warm in use, but that’s normal for these types of units, which need to maximize heat transfer away from the battery and to the shell. It’s nothing to worry about. 

The unit to built to IPX8 standards (it’s completely dustproof and water-resistant to 6 feet) and built to survive a 5-foot drop. I’ve tested a number of robust power banks, but most are clad in a layer of armor, adding to the bulk and weight. The Carbo 10000 Gen 2 is nothing like that and is built for those who want something small and ultralight. 

I tested that quite well when I accidentally fell on it. 

Also: This magical dry bag is the surprise iPhone travel accessory I didn’t know I needed

I had the power bank in a mesh pouch on the shoulder strap of my backpack. As it slipped, the power bank took the brunt of the impact and suffered a few scratches on one corner. 

I’m a big guy, and I was wearing a 30-pound pack, so it took a fair impact and came off better than my wrist did (although that was just cosmetic too, and the swelling subsided after a couple of days). 

This power bank withstood some awful weather and quite cold temperatures, and it never seemed to bother it. This unit is built to withstand whatever Mother Nature can throw at it. 

But how does this one differ from the Nitecore NB Plus that I also took with me? The biggest difference is that this one is slightly larger and heavier, featuring two USB-C ports compared to the USB-C/A combo on the NB Plus. This one is also slightly bigger, and the 30W output is enough to charge a tablet, or at a push a small laptop. 

Also: I’ve yet to find a power bank as durable yet travel-friendly as this one

If you’re going super ultralight and have a smartphone and say a headlamp you’re keeping topped up, the NB Plus is the perfect choice, but for heavier charging duties, where weight doesn’t matter as much, or you prefer two USB-C ports, this edges into the lead — but you are paying a premium for this.

One thing to be aware of is that only one of the USB-C ports will charge the unit. Despite knowing this, I still messed up one evening and left it attempting to charge from the wrong port!

ZDNET’s buying advice

As with most ultralight, ruggedized hiking and trail gear, the Nitecore Carbo 10000 Gen 2 isn’t cheap, coming in at $120 — that’s almost $60 more than the NB Plus. Additionally, you could purchase six of these Ugreen 10,000mAh units for that price, but you wouldn’t expect them to survive days of being rain-soaked and me accidentally falling onto them! Those power banks are for commuting, while this Nitecore unit is designed for the trail. 

Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google.

ZDNET’s key takeaways

• Linux kernel developers are using AI to support project maintenance.
• Writing kernel code with AI remains an open question.
• Copyright and open-source licensing concerns still loom.

The Linux developer community has rapidly shifted from debating how to use AI to quietly embedding it deeply into the Linux kernel engineering workflows. Indeed, Linus Torvalds now describes himself as “a huge believer” in AI as a maintenance tool.

At the same time, kernel developers meeting in Tokyo for Open Source Summit (OSS) Japan, Linux Kernel Maintainer Summit, and Linux Plumbers were formalizing how large language models (LLMs) will fit into long-term processes such as stable backporting, Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) triage, and tooling policy.

Also: Why AI agents failed to take over in 2025 – it’s ‘a story as old as time,’ says Deloitte

As Torvalds said in his OSS Japan keynote, AI has finally reached the point where it is genuinely helpful for Linux maintainers, rather than just hype around code generation. He emphasized that his interest lies in AI systems that pre-screen patches and merges, surfacing issues before they reach his inbox, rather than in tools that attempt to write complex kernel code outright. AI is not ready for that yet.

Before the conferences, Sasha Levin, an NVIDIA distinguished engineer and stable-kernel maintainer, had spelled out where the Linux kernel maintainers and developers already had agreement on AI’s use: Human accountability is non-negotiable; some form of disclosure is needed when AI is used; and maintainers will decide for themselves how to use AI tools.

The maintainers still haven’t reached consensus on some issues. For example, does AI make fundamentally different kinds of errors than humans? Should AI work be held to a different standard than human-produced code? And what are the legal ramifications of introducing AI code into the kernel?

Also: This new Linux platform will let you update your next car at home – as soon as 2027

This last is a hot-button issue. How copyright and AI mix hasn’t been settled yet. Major lawsuits are still making their way through the courts. Complicating matters, it’s well-known that AI coding tools were largely trained on open-source code under a variety of different open-source licenses.

Using LLMs on thankless jobs

Earlier this year, Levin revealed he’d already wired LLMs into two of the most thankless jobs in the project: identifying backports and security fixes. For AUTOSEL, the system that identifies kernel patches for backporting to stable releases, Levin rebuilt the selection engine around embeddings, treating each commit as a point in a semantic space and asking LLMs to find patches similar to past backports. The system distributes queries to multiple models, lets them “vote,” and then hands shortlisted candidates to human maintainers, effectively acting as an extra stable maintainer that never forgets historical decisions.

The same infrastructure now underpins Linux’s in-house CVE workflow, which took on responsibility for assigning its own CVE numbers in early 2024. The CVE team replaced brittle shell scripts with Rust tooling largely drafted with LLM help. Levin used AI both to generate code and to help classify which commits are likely to be security-relevant. Levin argues that these tools do not replace human judgment but make an otherwise unscalable, seven-days-a-week triage process doable as the kernel patch volume continues to grow. Linux maintainer burnout is a known, serious concern. It’s a thankless job.

Also: The fix for messy AI agent ecosystems might finally be here – and it’s open source

Levin also said a patch merged for Linux 6.15, credited to him but entirely generated by AI, with changelog and tests included. The patch, a small but non-trivial hash-table change, demonstrated, in his view, what AI does well: narrowly scoped, mechanical transformations in which the model can reason about bit-fields. He added that AI tests more patiently than a tired human. A separate AI-generated git-resolve script, added for 6.16 to resolve ambiguous commit IDs and shipped with unusually thorough self-tests and documentation, is now used daily by kernel developers.

But the AI-written hash patch also contained a subtle mistake: it dropped a __read_mostly attribute, a performance hint that should have been preserved, prompting a wave of criticism once the omission was dissected in the LWN’s comment threads. Commenters also argued that undisclosed AI authorship violates the Developer’s Certificate of Origin and community expectations of honesty and review.

Torvalds himself later said he would have scrutinized the change more carefully had he known it was 100% tool-generated. This is why there will be an explicit tag or disclosure required when programmers turn in AI-derived code patches.

At OSS Japan, Torvalds said he believes LLMs should be treated as the next step in the evolution of compilers rather than as human replacements. He compared their adoption to the shift from assembly to higher-level languages: initially controversial, but eventually accepted as a way to free developers from drudge work such as writing boilerplate or meticulously drafting commit messages in a second language. In practice, developers are already using LLMs as powerful linters and summarizers for both code and email.

Also: Gemini’s command line tool is a productivity game changer, and it’s free – how I use it

Some maintainers also told me that AI-driven preselection can reduce a day’s worth of patch triage to minutes. For those of you who don’t know, the Linux kernel development pipeline runs on mailing lists, specifically the Linux Kernel Mailing List (LKML). This is an enormous saving of time and energy. Shuah Khan, a Linux Foundation fellow, agreed that AI has proven very useful for us in reviewing and improving productivity.

Beyond developer tooling, the broader Linux ecosystem is also moving toward AI workloads and AI-assisted operations. Hardware vendors are racing to expose accelerators and NPUs to Linux. At the same time, storage and filesystems are being tuned to feed GPU pipelines at scale. In parallel, projects outside the kernel, from academic experiments like Code-Survey to commercial offerings, are exploring how LLMs can map large codebases, track feature lifecycles, and uncover bug-dense subsystems by mining commits and mailing lists.

Not everyone is convinced

Despite glowing reports, not everyone is convinced about AI yet. One senior maintainer said, while most people’s “experience with AI felt falsely positive. We heard concerns and are working to bring AI into our processes responsibly. It’s something that can definitely help reduce the burden on maintainers and developers. On the other hand, we need to be very careful about bringing something this new and that’s currently proprietary into our workflow.”

Also: I’ve tested free vs. paid AI coding tools – here’s which one I’d actually use

Jonathan Corbet, senior kernel developer and editor-in-chief of LWN, added he was concerned about maintainers “depending on proprietary tools. If we become dependent on this for our review process, we really risk repeating the BitKeeper disaster of 20 years ago.” BitKeeper was the first Source Control Management (SCM) system used to track Linux’s code. Its creator changed its license so it could no longer be used for Linux. The result, while wonderful in the long run — it caused Torvalds to create Git — was extremely upsetting at the time.

Another concern shared by Shuah and Dan Williams, an Intel senior principal engineer and kernel maintainer, is how to ensure new developers actually understand what they’re doing. Williams said, “I do career talks at high schools, and I tell them the most important thing you can learn in school, and you will use it, is to ‘show your work.’ And I feel like AI is the ultimate, ‘I don’t have to show my work because the AI told me it is correct.'” That’s not helpful.

Also: Bad vibes: How an AI agent coded its way to disaster

This is a real problem both for people learning how to code and for people who want to move from being entry-level coders to mature programmers. As Stefania Druga, research scientist at Sakana AI and former AI research scientist at Google DeepMind, said in an OSS Japan presentation, AI tools are automating many of the junior tasks that once served as stepping stones for newcomers. 

“We need experience to get a job, and a job to get that experience,” she said. “If AI is going to automate these entry-level tasks, how are real people supposed to learn these skills?” Good question, and one that students, employers, and Linux kernel developers must all address.

That’s a future problem.

Questions remain

For today, the trends are converging on the same conclusion: AI is becoming part of Linux’s plumbing rather than a bolt-on gimmick. For now, the focus is squarely on augmenting maintainers under crushing patch loads, automating the most tedious parts of stable and security work, and capturing the benefits of pattern-matching machines.

Also: Why people keep flocking to Linux in 2025 (and it’s not just to escape Windows)

Will AI eventually write substantial parts of Linux’s code? Stay tuned. That question remains unanswered, and its resolution may end up depending more on copyright law than on technical expertise.

Today Google is finally revamping Google Translate, infusing it with Gemini capabilities in order to improve translations, especially on phrases with nuanced meanings like idioms, local expressions, or slang.

This, Google says, is state-of-the-art translation quality, and you can find it in Google Search and in the Translate app on iOS and Android. The update is rolling out in the US and India today translating between English and “nearly 20 languages” including Spanish, Hindi, Chinese, Japanese, and German.

There’s also a new beta experience that lets you hear real-time translations in your headphones. This preserves the tone, emphasis and cadence of each speaker to create more natural translations and make it easier to follow along. Just put on your headphones, open the Translate app, and tap Live translate.

This beta is now rolling out in the Translate app on Android in the US, Mexico, and India. More than 70 languages are supported. It will land in more places and on iOS in 2026.

Finally, the language learning tools in Translate come with improved feedback – tips based on your speaking practice. There’s also a way to challenge yourself and reach your learning goals by tracking how many days in a row you’ve been learning.

The learning tools are also expanding to “nearly 20 new countries” and territories including Germany, India, Sweden, and Taiwan.

Source

Apple has found itself in the crosshairs of the European Commission many times over the past few years, and now it’s also being investigated by the Swiss Competition Commission (SCC).

This has to do with access to NFC on iPhones. Apple started to allow third-party access to the NFC chip last year, following an initial opening up in the EU. But if you want to use the iPhone’s NFC chip, you need to enter into a commercial agreement with Apple and pay the fees it requests, and that is precisely what the SCC is investigating.

Namely, the SCC is trying to ascertain whether Apple’s terms and conditions for granting this access could raise competition law concerns in Switzerland. The SCC says “it seeks to clarify whether other providers of mobile payments apps can effectively compete with Apple Pay for contactless payments with iOS devices in shops”.

Interestingly, the SCC says that Apple’s terms and conditions for granting access to NFC to third parties “differ from those applicable in the European Economic Area (EEA)”. This is just a preliminary investigation, however, and it’s unclear how long it will take. We’ll let you know when we find out more.

Source

ZTE has introduced a new tablet in Europe, specifically in the Polish market for now – but it might spread to other countries as well soon. Meet the ZTE Pad X1102N.

It comes with an 11-inch 1920×1200 LCD touchscreen with a 90Hz refresh rate, a 13 MP rear camera, a 5 MP front camera, and a 7,670 mAh battery with support for 21W wired charging. That battery size is anything but impressive today when mainstream smartphones regularly push above that capacity.

Anyway, the Pad X1102N is powered by the Unisoc T8100 SoC, paired with 6GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. It has 5G support, four speakers, and a 3.5mm headphone jack.

ZTE Pad X1102N

The tablet measures 257 x 168 x 7.65 mm and weighs 522g. It runs Android 15. It’s offered by Polish carriers Orange and Plus, for very cheap on long-term plans (with a three-year Plus plan you’re paying PLN 27.17 per month or approximately $7.54 for both the tablet and the service). If you want to purchase one outright it will set you back PLN 899 ($250).

Thanks for the tip!

Source (in Polish) | Via (in Polish)

Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for Dec. 13.

CNET editor Gael Fashingbauer Cooper, a journalist and pop-culture junkie, is co-author of “Whatever Happened to Pudding Pops? The Lost Toys, Tastes and Trends of the ’70s and ’80s,” as well as “The Totally Sweet ’90s.” She’s been a journalist since 1989, working at Mpls.St.Paul Magazine, Twin Cities Sidewalk, the Minneapolis Star Tribune, and NBC News Digital. She’s Gen X in birthdate, word and deed. If Marathon candy bars ever come back, she’ll be first in line.

Expertise Breaking news, entertainment, lifestyle, travel, food, shopping and deals, product reviews, money and finance, video games, pets, history, books, technology history, and generational studies Credentials

• Co-author of two Gen X pop-culture encyclopedia for Penguin Books. Won “Headline Writer of the Year”​ award for 2017, 2014 and 2013 from the American Copy Editors Society. Won first place in headline writing from the 2013 Society for Features Journalism.

Looking for the most recent Mini Crossword answer? Click here for today’s Mini Crossword hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Wordle, Strands, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.

Need some help with today’s Mini Crossword? It’s so long, it’s almost not a mini version today. Read on for the answers. And if you could use some hints and guidance for daily solving, check out our Mini Crossword tips.

If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.

Read more: Tips and Tricks for Solving The New York Times Mini Crossword

Let’s get to those Mini Crossword clues and answers.

Mini across clues and answers

1A clue: Field trip vehicle
Answer: BUS

4A clue: Peter’s antagonist, in a musical tale
Answer: WOLF

8A clue: “Keep me posted,” in texts
Answer: LMK

9A clue: Opera solo
Answer: ARIA

10A clue: ___Pen (emergency device)
Answer: EPI

11A clue: With 12-Across, gets in order
Answer: SETS

12A clue: With 14-Across, what a tennis champ might win a match in
Answer: STRAIGHT

14A clue: See 12-Across
Answer: SETS

15A clue: “A long time ___ in a galaxy far, far away …”
Answer: AGO

16A clue: Shy and gentle
Answer: MEEK

17A clue: Prefix with apology or answer
Answer: NON

18A clue: Comes to a close
Answer: ENDS

19A clue: Have to pay
Answer: OWE

Mini down clues and answers

1D clue: “Goodness gracious!”
Answer: BLESSME

2D clue: Indefinitely many, informally
Answer: UMPTEEN

3D clue: Avoided, as an issue
Answer: SKIRTED

4D clue: “Now, where ___?”
Answer: WASI

5D clue: Green topping at a pizza parlor
Answer: OREGANO

6D clue: John who played Churchill on “The Crown”
Answer: LITHGOW

7D clue: Sneaky trick to “pull”
Answer: FASTONE

13D clue: Doesn’t just assume one has permission
Answer: ASKS

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