Remember the era of the ‘chatbot’? It feels like ancient history. For years, AI was something you spoke to, you asked it a question, and it gave you a polished, if slightly robotic, answer. That was Version 1.0. In 2025, we’re living in Version 3.0, and Google has been the driving force behind a profound change: the Agentic Shift. Google’s AI is no longer interested in just talking; it’s designed for doing.

AI has completely taken over the spotlight lately and if you’ve been following the headlines, you might assume it’s an expensive club to join. Everywhere you look, there’s another subscription shouting for £20, £50 or even £100 a month just to “unlock” the full experience. The best free versions of today’s generative AI apps can easily handle most of what you need, whether you’re writing, designing, researching or just trying to claw back some time in your workday.

This Christmas, I decided to test a theory rather than doom-scroll gift guides. If AI is capable of writing essays, planning itineraries and building shopping lists... could it actually choose the perfect gifts for real people in my life?

Investing no longer feels like something reserved for stockbrokers in sharp suits or people glued to multiple computer screens. Thanks to apps like Trading 212, anyone with a smartphone and curiosity about the stock market can get started in minutes. But is it really a way to grow your income, and what risks should you be aware of before jumping in? Let’s break it down.

This week brought a cluster of exciting developments in AI and tech gadgets, from futuristic wearables to new tools that'll change the developer workflow. If you're into smart devices, creative automation, or AI-powered edge tech, here are the top five stories that caught our attention.