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Cesar Cadenas/ZDNET What’s the deal? Lenovo has slashed the price of its 12th-Gen ThinkPad X1 Carbon by nearly 50%. The model housing an Intel Core Ultra 5 135U processor is on sale at a discounted $1,377, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 165U configuration sits at almost $1,920. ZDNET’s key takeaways After making calculated adjustments to last year’s model, Lenovo’s 12th-Gen ThinkPad X1 Carbon offers a more user-friendly experience starting at $1,759 for the 32GB,…

ZDNET’s key takeaways While technically a gaming laptop, the new Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 may actually do more for the professional user than the average gamer. Its long battery life, feature-packed keyboard, and OLED display allow users to tackle the workday with ease and comfort. However, the laptop comes stuffed with bloatware that takes up a lot of storage space, and its operating temperature can run high. What’s the deal? Asus’ ROG Zephyrus G14 has…

Tim Robberts/Getty Images I’m officially convinced we are living in the weirdest timeline. 🤨 Let me explain. A few weeks ago, TikTok was banned and subsequently unbanned, but that isn’t the weird part. The weird part is the reaction to the ban. Apple and Samsung devices with TikTok still installed sold for as much as $58,000 on eBay.  🥴 Also: Why a TikTok ban could collapse the creator economy That’s not a typo, and I’m not…

chrispecoraro/Getty Images Paris-based AI startup Mistral is focusing on providing large language models (LLMs) that understand regional-specific languages and are tailored to grasp the cultural nuances sometimes overlooked in larger, more general-purpose models trained to be versed in multiple languages.  Mistral has released its first “specialized” regional language-focused model, Saba. According to Mistral, the 24-billion-parameter model has been trained on “meticulously curated datasets” from across the Middle East and South Asia to meet a growing customer base in…

Over the past year, there have been many impressive new Windows laptops, from thin and light Copilot+ PCs like Microsoft’s Surface Laptop to powerful business devices like Lenovo’s ThinkPad X1 Carbon. If you’re looking for a new Windows laptop, the amount of choices can be intimidating, to say the least.  With the ever-growing Copilot+ lineup, Windows machines are thinner, lighter, and run cooler than ever. Not to mention the fantastic battery life on devices like…

Floriana/Getty Images In October 2023, former president Joe Biden signed an executive order that included several measures for regulating AI. On his first day in office, President Trump overturned it, replacing it a few days later with his own order on AI in the US. This week, some government agencies that enforce AI regulation were told to halt their work, while the director of the US AI Safety Institute (AISI) stepped down. The National Institute…

While sometimes the occasion calls for blasting music with top-quality speakers, other days you just need a little — or a lot of — peace and quiet — even outside of noise-canceling earbuds. Soundproof curtains can block out distracting sound and light to help you sleep later, become more productive in a home office, and even save money on your energy bill.  The best soundproof curtains have design options worthy of integrating into your home…

Andry Djumantara/Getty Images After reversing a Biden-era executive order on AI regulation and firing staff across several government agencies, the Trump administration is gearing up to make cuts to the US AI Safety Institute (AISI) next.  On Wednesday, Axios reported that probationary employees at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), which houses AISI, are “bracing to be fired imminently.” Sources told Axios they are preparing for 497 roles to be cut, which they…

ZDNET’s key takeaways The Emeet Pico+ webcam is available now on Amazon for $89 With outstanding video quality and a tiny footprint, this is the ideal webcam for on-the-go video meetings To get the best sound from the Pico+, you’ll need to use the Emeet Studio app, which is only available for MacOS and Windows. After almost every Zoom meeting, my first thought is, “That could have been an email.” But some businesses and clients…

Apple/ZDNET On Thursday, Apple unveiled the newest edition to its iPhone lineup, namely the iPhone 16e.  Also: I revisited the iPhone SE in 2025 Initially, many people assumed Apple would christen it with the name iPhone SE 4. But the new moniker makes greater sense given the phone’s more robust features and Apple’s obvious desire to position it in the iPhone 16 family. What’s new with the iPhone 16e? Starting at $600, the iPhone 16e offers…