The technology landscape is undergoing significant transformations as major players unveil groundbreaking products, artificial intelligence (AI) reshapes industries, and legacy devices face obsolescence. Here’s a comprehensive look at the pivotal developments shaping the tech world this week.
Samsung Unveils Ultra-Thin Galaxy S25 Edge
Samsung has officially announced the Galaxy S25 Edge, set for a full reveal on May 12. This ultrathin smartphone boasts a mere 5.85 mm profile, a 200MP main camera, and Corning’s Gorilla Glass Ceramic 2 for enhanced durability. Despite its sleek design, concerns arise over its likely small battery, potentially affecting battery life. Additionally, Samsung Wallet is introducing peer-to-peer payments, allowing users to tap phones to transfer money across wallet platforms via NFC. WIRED
Meta and Tech Giants Embrace AI-Driven Development
At the recent Stripe Sessions conference, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg highlighted AI’s transformative impact on software development. He noted that modern startups can leverage AI to streamline operations, enabling small, talent-dense teams to build high-quality products more efficiently. Zuckerberg predicted that by 2025, AI could function as a mid-level engineer, capable of writing code. Other tech leaders echoed similar sentiments. Y Combinator CEO Garry Tan highlighted the emergence of “vibe coding,” enabled by large language models, reducing the need for large developer teams. Shopify CEO Tobi Lütke and Anthropic’s Dario Amodei similarly asserted AI’s potential to perform or replace human coding tasks. Google CEO Sundar Pichai revealed that over 25% of new code at Google is AI-generated, enhancing productivity. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman forecasted that software engineering would look very different by the end of 2025. Business Insider
Nintendo Switch 2 Set to Launch in June
Nintendo has announced that the Nintendo Switch 2 will be released on June 5, 2025. This next-generation hybrid console features a 7.9-inch LCD screen with 1080p resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate in handheld mode, and supports up to 4K at 60Hz when docked. Powered by a custom Nvidia Tegra T239 processor, it offers 12 GB of LPDDR5X memory and 256 GB of UFS 3.1 storage. The Switch 2 maintains backward compatibility with select Switch games and introduces new “Game-Key Cards” for game distribution. Nintendo’s promotional efforts include a nostalgic commercial featuring actor Paul Rudd, connecting past and present gaming experiences. Wikipedia
AI Enhances Law Enforcement in Ireland
The Garda Síochána, Ireland’s national police service, is planning to implement AI technologies to enhance its crime-solving capabilities. Rather than using facial recognition in public settings, Gardaí aim to use AI retrospectively to search for identifiable items like specific clothing, cars, or bags to locate persons of interest. This approach avoids using AI to track facial identities in public and instead focuses on object-based searches derived from existing footage. Legislation authorizing the use of body-worn cameras and AI is being developed alongside trials in five garda stations. Early results suggest the introduction of cameras reduces public order offences and encourages guilty pleas. The Garda is also creating a centralized digital evidence system to store immense volumes of video data, enabling public uploads of evidence during investigations. The Times
Legacy Devices Face Obsolescence
Several popular tech gadgets are reaching their end-of-support or functionality in 2025, affecting users’ ability to use them safely and efficiently. Notably, Google is discontinuing support for certain Nest Thermostat models on October 25, rendering them unable to connect with Google Home or Assistant apps, thus stripping their “smart” features. Similarly, the tool to convert Google Stadia controllers into Bluetooth devices ends on December 31, potentially rendering unused controllers ineffective. Microsoft will also stop support for Windows 10 on October 14, making computers vulnerable to security threats without future patches. LG is shutting down its smartphone update servers on June 30, discontinuing Android and security updates. Skype, the long-standing chat app, is being officially discontinued on May 5, though users can migrate their accounts to Microsoft Teams. Lastly, Apple has added the iPhone 6S to its “vintage” list, limiting repair options and cutting off software updates, urging users to upgrade to newer models for continued support and security. The Scottish Sun