Category: Technologies

Another day, another generative AI update.

Google’s AI subsidiary DeepMind has previewed Gemini 1.5 Pro, an upgraded model of Google’s renamed Bard chatbot Gemini. Gemini got its new name less than a week ago along with the release of the premium, paid version, Ultra, which Google called “our largest and most capable state-of-the-art AI model.”

Gemini 1.5 Pro is the latest evolution of Google’s chatbot, which also recently gained the ability to generate images from text.

Gemini 1.5 Pro can ingest video, images, audio and text in order to answer questions, and it boasts multiple advantages over its predecessors — but most of us can’t get our hands on it yet. In a call with press on Wednesday, DeepMind announced it’s giving access to developers and enterprise customers first.

Oriol Vinyals, vice president of research at Google DeepMind and co-lead of Gemini, called this a “research release” for “an audience that understands the technology really well.”

“When you create a new model — and especially when we unlock some new capabilities — I think it makes sense to see what creative minds … can do with the model to understand what will this model [do], how will this matter to users ultimately?” Vinyals added.

DeepMind will “roll it out slowly” to regular Joes and Janes via a wait list.

The limited release of Gemini 1.5 Pro comes amid a flurry of activity in a sector projected to reach $1.3 trillion in revenue by 2032. Meanwhile, ChatGPT maker OpenAI has released its GPT-4 Turbo large language model and allows anyone to create custom AI apps for its app store. Microsoft intends to add a dedicated key on Windows 11 laptops and PCs to launch its AI tool, Copilot.

Better performance, new architecture and a longer context window

Gemini 1.5 Pro is “as capable as” the Gemini 1.0 Ultra model, which Google announced on Feb. 8. The 1.5 Pro model has a win rate — a measurement of how many benchmarks it can outperform — of 87% compared to 1.0 Pro and 55% against 1.0 Ultra. So 1.5 Pro is essentially an upgraded version of the best available model now.

Research advances quickly. “We get these sorts of breakthroughs and new model versions every few months or so,” Vinyals said. “When a model is more capable, what you would then try to [do is] make sure it basically can be a drop-in replacement from the previous generation in the sense that it’s more capable, so hopefully it can do what it was doing already, but better.”

According to Vinyals, 1.5 Pro is also “very efficient” thanks to a unique architecture, which can answer questions by zeroing in on expert sources in that particular subject rather than seeking the answer from all possible sources.

Finally, 1.5 Pro has a long context window, which means it can ingest up to 1 million tokens, which is equal to 1 hour of video or 11 hours of audio, 30,000 lines of code or 700,000 words.

“The longer and the more complex questions and your interactions are, the longer the context gets that the model needs to be able to deal with,” Vinyals said.

Gemini 1.5 Pro in action

So, for example, you can feed 1.5 Pro the Apollo 11 transcript and ask the AI to find funny moments. Or you can share a rudimentary drawing and ask the model to find the moment the sketch depicts, such as Neil Armstrong’s “One small step for man” quote.

“That’s an example of uploading a very long document that you might not have had the time to read and then really interact with it in this very interesting way,” Vinyals said.

Gemini 1.5 Pro users can also ask the model to find specific moments within a video, including silent Buster Keaton films, via text and image.

Finally, Gemini 1.5 Pro can “operate in many languages,” including Spanish.

After feeding 1.5 Pro a grammar book and a dictionary of kalamang, a language from western New Guinea with fewer than 200 speakers, the model was able to translate a sentence to English.

“It takes a few seconds to process and voila, you now have an expert of this language,” Vinyals said.

But Gemini 1.5 Pro is still subject to common challenges like hallucinations.

“The model will sometimes fail and it’s a work in progress for the whole community to get these models better,” Vinyals said. “But, of course, they’re incredibly useful and you just need to understand their limitations.”

What about Ultra 1.0?

Less than a week ago, Google announced Gemini Advanced, a new “experience” that provides access to its Ultra 1.0 AI model for consumers willing to pay $20 a month.

Does that mean Google just made Ultra 1.0 obsolete? Not according to Vinyals. “We are some time away from getting 1.5 Pro out.”

Mobile World Congress sees almost all of the world’s biggest tech companies descend on Barcelona every year to show off the latest and greatest in mobile technology. This year will be no different, with many major brands already teasing their launches ahead of the show’s official opening on Monday, Feb. 26.

We will be there in person this year, armed with laptops, cameras and a thirst for the next big thing. Also we’ll have tapas and beer, because Barcelona.

Read more: Best Phones to Buy for 2024

So what can we actually expect from the show? Let’s pop our safety hats on and dive into the rumor mill.

Phones, lots of phones

It’s a mobile-focused show, so it’s safe to assume that we’ll see new phones from a whole variety of brands. In typical years we’d see launches from the likes of Nokia, TCL, Honor and a host of others and we’d absolutely expect to see new launches this time round. In fact, Honor has already confirmed the launch of its flagship Magic 6 Pro on Feb. 25.

London-based mobile brand Nothing was rumored to be launching its new phone, the Nothing Phone 2A at MWC, but the company confirmed a launch event on March 5, so this technically falls outside of MWC timings. Still, it’s close enough to deserve a mention on this list.

Mind-bending folding concepts from Motorola

Last year Motorola treated us to an amazing concept phone that featured a rollable display that automatically extended out of the phone. It was an exciting product to be able to see in the flesh, although the company made no comment on whether it would ever actually go on sale.

Back in October, Motorola teased a different sort of bendable device: a phone that can be worn like a bracelet. While the company hasn’t said anything about launching this concept as a real product, we firmly expect it to be shown off in person at MWC and we’re excited to potentially get our hands (well, wrists) on it.

OnePlus concepts and Watch 2

Speaking of concepts, OnePlus has a good track record of showing off quirky concept versions of its devices at the show. Last year we were treated to a liquid-cooled version of its OnePlus 11 flagship. The company hasn’t yet teased any kind of new concept for this year’s show, but we remain hopeful for something unusual to be on display.

We may, however, get an actual product from the company in the form of the OnePlus Watch 2. The company’s first generation wearable launched back in 2021 and didn’t really impress. We don’t know anything about the watch itself, but some rumors suggest it will be unveiled at the show. Stay tuned, watch fans.

Smart rings and mixed reality headsets

Samsung teased its upcoming wearable, the Galaxy Ring, during its Galaxy Unpacked event in January but we’ve so far seen very little of it. It’s possible that Samsung may show off more of the ring — or at least let us put one on — during the show. Or it might continue to keep its cards close to its chest.

Either way, big tech announcements like this have a habit of sparking similar ideas from other players and it’s quite likely we’ll see similar wearables at the show from other brands. Whether these take the form of rings, or if we’ll see a sudden influx of smart necklaces or smart nose piercings, remains to be seen.

But the same is likely to be true of mixed reality or spatial computing headsets. Apple’s Vision Pro is making big waves in the tech world and even managed to impress our very own Scott Stein, who called it “a mind-blowing look at an unfinished future.” While Apple never attends these shows, it’s highly likely that we’ll see competing devices from brands wanting to get in on the headset computing action.

Xiaomi’s new SU7 electric car

Rumors suggest that Xiaomi will be taking the wraps off its latest Xiaomi 14 and 14 Ultra phones, with the latter featuring titanium in order to keep pace with Apple and Samsung. Exciting stuff, for sure, but the company might have an even bigger product to show off.

Xiaomi has been clear since 2021 about its plans to get into the automotive market and at the end of last year it announced its first EV, the Xiaomi SU7. Xiaomi plans to become one of the top five car manufacturers in the world, so we firmly expect this vehicle to appear in some form as part of the company’s 2024 MWC showcase.

OnePlus 12: Powerful Performance With Room to Step Up

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Multiple retailers have launched Presidents Day sales, offering plenty of savings on a variety of popular items, with some discounted by hundreds of dollars. While a lot of people take advantage of mattress deals during the holiday, you can also find discounts on other items, including tech, apparel and home goods at various retailers.

QVC is offering a wide variety of items at deep discounts ahead of the big day, from to pod coffee makers to portable solar power stations. And if you’re new to QVC, you can score $10 off of your first order of $25 or more when you use promo code WELCOME24, $15 off purchases of $35 or more with code FEBRUARY15 or $20 off a purchase of $40 or morewith code HELLO20. We’ve highlighted some of the best QVC Presidents Day deals below.

More Presidents Day deals at QVC:

• Keurig K-Mini Plus coffee maker: $60 (save $49)
• Bose QuietComfort noise canceling headphones: $249 (save $100)
• HP 15-inch touch laptop (128GB) with Microsoft 365 and mouse: $400 (save $69)
• Our Place 2-pack 10-in-1 ceramic non-stick Always Pans 2.0: $200 (save $42)
• Ninja 7-in-1 Woodfire electric outdoor grill smoker and air fryer: $330 (save $39)
• Serta Power Clean Max Action mattress pad (queen): $30 (save $5)
• Sharper Image cordless handheld vacuum: $90 (save $29)
• Berkshire blanket chunky rope knit throw: $66 (save $34)
• Ninja Foodi 15-in-1 smart dual heat air fry flip oven: $180 (save $119)
• Bose SoundLink Flex Bluetooth wireless speaker: $129 (save $20)
• Clickfree Pro (128GB) photo and video storage device: $80 (save $18)
• HP DeskJet all-in-one printer with 6 months of HP Ink: $60 (save $59)

Be sure to shop the entire sale selection at QVC for even more options. And for other big savings available for the holiday, check out our roundup of the best Presidents Day deals, including meal delivery deals from top brands.

If you’ve looked at arty pictures of waterfalls or rivers then you’ll no doubt have seen those creative long-exposure shots where the water is intentionally blurred but the surroundings — the rocks and trees — remain pin-sharp. It’s a great technique to give the impression of motion in a still image and it used to be something you’d need a DSLR with filters and tripods to take. But a neat feature built right into the iPhone’s camera lets you take shots that look just as good. You don’t even need the latest iPhone 15 Pro or Pro Max to take advantage of this feature. It works on any iPhone launched after the iPhone 6.

Read more: Take Your Best Ever Photos With Your iPhone

The technique uses Live Photos, a feature that turns a still image into a short animation by recording a few seconds of video when you fire the shutter. By analyzing which objects are moving, the iPhone captures the movement and blurs it. It’s also able to recognize what isn’t moving (a rock or a wall, for example) and attempts to keep those objects sharp and in focus. This lets you capture long-exposure images in even bright midday sun without using a tripod or filter. Take that, DSLRs.

Here’s how you can do it.

Know what makes a good long-exposure shot

Not everything works as a long-exposure image. A close-up of a flower blowing in the breeze will just become a blurry mess, while a picture of a static car will remain, well, static.

What you need is a scene where there are both static and moving elements. Waterfalls are common subjects as the rushing water will be blurred while the rocks all around will remain solid. Any body of water, really, would be a good subject to experiment with.

You can also try busy city streets. The long-exposure effect keeps the buildings and roads sharp and fixed in the image, but the people walking all around will be blurred into ghostly figures, which looks atmospheric and dramatic.

Turn on Live Photos

Getting a long-exposure image requires the movement that’s recorded in a Live Photo, so it’s critical that that mode is activated when shooting. It’s located in the top right of the screen in the camera (when held in portrait orientation) or the top left (in landscape orientation). You’ll see an icon of two circles surrounded by a third dotted circle. If there’s no line through it, then Live Photos is activated. If there’s a line through it, tap the icon and you’ll see the message “Live” appear onscreen in a little yellow box.

Keep steady

Although the iPhone doesn’t require a tripod to get a good long-exposure image, you’ll get the best results if you keep the phone as steady as possible while it’s taking the Live image. I suggest resting the phone against a wall or some other fixed surface while shooting. If you have to hold the phone in your hand, I find that tucking my elbows in toward my body and holding my breath helps decrease motion blur while taking the shot.

It’s a good idea to take multiple shots too, hammering the shutter button while you hold the position. This way you’ll increase your chances of capturing at least one image that’s stable enough to produce an attractive long exposure.

Create the long exposure

Once you’ve captured your Live image, it’s time to transform it into the actual long exposure. Start by opening your image in the gallery app. In the top left you’ll see a small icon saying Live with a small downward-pointing arrow next to it. Tap the arrow and you’ll have the option to turn the image into a looping GIF, a bouncing GIF that plays forwards then backwards or, down at the bottom, a long exposure.

It’ll take a second or two, but you’ll quickly see how any motion in your shot has been blurred into the dreamy effect you’re after. You can then zoom in to check that it’s still nice and sharp. Feel free to apply the same effect to other photos you took of the same scene, just in case they worked out better.

If you happen to still be on iOS 14 or older, open the image you’ve settled on in your gallery and swipe up. This will bring up a panel called Effects where you can loop the motion in the video into GIFs. Swipe to the end of the effects panel though and you’ll see one called Long Exposure. Tap it. But you really should update your phone to a more recent version.

Check your library

Before you dash out to find your nearest waterfall, have a look through your library to see if you already have images that would work. The great thing about using the iPhone’s long-exposure tool is that you don’t need to use it while you’re shooting. You can go back and apply it to any Live image you’ve taken up until now.

Perhaps you visited Niagara Falls in New York or Havasu Falls in Arizona a few years ago and you happened to have had Live Photos activated when taking your shots. You can swipe up and activate long exposure on any of those shots. You can even go into your Live Photos album in your gallery to see all the shots you’ve got on your phone that can be transformed into long exposures. My advice? Put a good podcast on, settle into a comfy chair and see what dreamy shots you can dig out of your library.

The iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max’s cameras got a serious boost for video production by being able to shoot high-quality 4K Apple ProRes video in Log color profile. That might sound like a big string of jargon, but what it means is professional-standard, beautiful-looking video footage, right out of your phone.

But what do Log and ProRes mean, how is it better, and crucially, is it something you should use? Here’s what you need to know.

Read more: iPhone 15 Pro: Great Battery Life, Fast Performance

What is ProRes?

ProRes is a video codec created by Apple in 2007 that has been widely adopted by video and cinema professionals. Typically found on high-end video cameras costing many thousands of dollars, ProRes files capture more data when shooting, resulting in better quality footage than you’d typically get from a phone or even some dedicated cameras.

What is Log video?

Log (short for “logarithmic”) is a color profile found on some professional video cameras and which is now also available on the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Log footage preserves image information in the highlights and shadows, allowing for more flexibility in editing colors and contrast in post production.

Why does Log video look gray and washed out?

Log files straight out of the camera look flat and have low contrast and low saturation. The files are designed to be edited in programs like Adobe Premiere or DaVinci Resolve, where colorists will bring back contrast and color tone according to the look they’re trying to achieve, a process called color grading.

The low-contrast look of ungraded footage gives colorists the best starting point to tweak the video image however they want. Log footage always needs to be edited and graded before being used.

How do I edit Log video?

While Apple has yet to implement specific color editing tools for Log footage on the iPhone, you can get some of the way there using some of the exposure tools in the ‘Edit’ options in the Photos app. However, you’ll get your best results by transferring the files to your iPad, Mac or Windows PC and editing in dedicated video production apps.

My favorite is DaVinci Resolve by BlackMagic, which is an industry-standard piece of software used in professional productions and Hollywood films. It’s known for its flexibility with editing color, and I loved using it to see what looks I can achieve from video footage from both the iPhone 15 Pro Max and BlackMagic’s own Pocket Cinema Camera.

Resolve is available on Macs and PCs but there’s also an excellent iPad app version. Best of all, the software is free to use on all platforms, with only some advanced features requiring the paid-for Studio version. But anyone wanting to spice up their footage will find the free version more than capable.

Can my phone shoot ProRes Log video?

Apple introduced the ability to shoot with the ProRes codec on the iPhone 12 Pro, but right now only the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max can also shoot in Log.

I Took 600+ Photos With the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Look at My Favorites

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How do you turn on ProRes and Log video?

On your iPhone 15 Pro or 15 Pro Max, go into Settings, then scroll down and tap Camera. Then tap Formats, and within this sub-menu you’ll see a section for Video Capture. Toggle Apple ProRes to on and below will be the options for ProRes Encoding. Tapping on it will allow you to switch between HDR, SDR or Log.

Bear in mind that while you can toggle ProRes on or off directly in the Camera app, you have to go back to the Settings app if you want to switch from Log to HDR or vice versa. You can shoot 4K footage at 30 frames per second on the phone, but if you want to shoot at 60 frames per second, you’ll need to connect an external SSD drive via USB-C and record directly to that. While you can shoot ProRes footage without Log, you can only shoot Log with ProRes.

Do you have to use the iPhone camera app to shoot ProRes Log video?

No, Apple has opened up this feature to third-party apps. My recommendation is the BlackMagic Camera app, which gives the same level of control over settings as you’d find on the company’s professional cameras. It’s a superb tool for getting the best-looking video out of your phone and, like DaVinci Resolve, it’s free.

Should I shoot video in ProRes Log?

ProRes footage in Log profile is very specialized. It requires additional time in post production to color grade the footage, and the file sizes are many times larger than regular video files. If you just want to shoot footage of your family gathering or your mates at the beach to upload to Instagram or YouTube, then you don’t need to worry about ProRes or Log.

However if you want to use your iPhone 15 Pro as a professional video production tool and you have the time and resources to color grade and edit your footage, then you should absolutely give it a go. The flexibility of recording allows you to get video out of your iPhone that would give dedicated cinema cameras a run for their money, and it makes the iPhone 15 Pro an exceptionally powerful camera for content creators looking to add some professional flair to their videos.

Whether you’re in need of a new pair of wireless earbuds to pair with your iPhone or you want to upgrade to the best AirPods to use with Apple’s Vision Pro headset, you can’t go wrong with the latest AirPods Pro 2. Not only are they the only earbuds that offer lossless audio support when using Apple’s brand-new mixed reality headset, but right now you can pick a pair up for a low price, too.

Amazon will now sell you a pair of USB-C AirPods Pro 2 earbuds for just $190, a price that saves you $60 without any of those pesky discount codes or on-screen coupons. But the price of these earbuds tends to fluctuate wildly, so make sure to take advantage of this deal now if new AirPods are on your radar.

The AirPods Pro 2 offer some of the best noise-canceling capabilities you’ll find on a pair of earbuds and they have a built-in transparency mode for when you need to be more aware of your surroundings. Plus, they’ll automatically optimize their volume based on your environment. If you use them with an iPhone you’ll get access to exclusive features including personalized spatial audio and hands-free Siri access. And the AirPods Pro 2 boast Qi wireless charging and promise an impressive battery life of up to 30 hours on a single charge (with the charging case). They also instantly pair and switch between Apple devices, making these wireless earbuds a joy to use.

For the Vision Pro specifically, the USB-C AirPods Pro 2 offer support for 20-bit/48 kHz Lossless Audio with “ultralow latency.” Exactly how that will affect your experience remains to be seen, but these are certainly the earbuds to have on hand if you plan on being an early Vision Pro adopter.

Not into Apple’s buds or looking for headphones instead? There are tons of headphone and earbud deals available right now.

It has all the trappings of a beach read turned Hollywood blockbuster: Smitten but shy boy meets girl and uses ChatGPT to supplement his romantic shortcomings. But just as she thinks he’s met The One, she realizes all is not as it seems and must choose between giving the man she thought she knew a second chance or fleeing his betrayal.

Working title: Knight in Shining AI-rmor.

We’ve seen this theme of insecurity-driven subterfuge repeatedly on page and screen, from Cyrano de Bergerac to Lady Glitter Sparkles. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t.

And yet a study from computer security company McAfee found nearly half of men are willing to take the risk: Nearly half (45%) are considering AI to write messages for Valentine’s Day 2024.

There’s an interesting dichotomy: While 69% of respondents said they’ve seen more and better responses from potential love interests when using AI-generated content, 64% distrust anyone who uses said content on their dating profiles—and 57% said they would be hurt or offended if they found out AI wrote their Valentine’s message.

As generative AI has expanded, we’ve used chatbots from OpenAI, Microsoft, Google and more to generate content ideas and to write blog posts, emails, poems and songs. But like using ChatGPT to write a college admissions essay, there are distinct risks to harnessing AI to play matchmaker. Namely: Your target will find out you didn’t really write anything and your efforts will backfire.

So, like Carrie Bradshaw, I couldn’t help but wonder: Is ChatGPT the virtual wingman we never knew we needed? Or are we better off flying solo?

I put the chatbot to the test with a series of Valentine’s Day queries to see if (hu)man or machine is better equipped to play Cupid.

First Query: Help me write a message to my valentine.

ChatGPT:

My Dearest [Valentine’s Name],

As Valentine’s Day dawns upon us, my heart swells with gratitude for the love we share. You are the light of my life, the melody to my soul’s song. In your presence, I find solace, laughter, and unwavering support.

Today, I want to celebrate not just the love we express on this occasion, but the love that permeates every moment we spend together. Your kindness, your understanding, and your affection are the greatest gifts I could ever receive.

Thank you for being my rock, my confidant, and my best friend. With you, every day feels like a journey filled with wonder and possibility. Here’s to many more adventures, to countless memories yet to be made, and to a love that knows no bounds.

Happy Valentine’s Day, my love. May our bond continue to grow stronger with each passing heartbeat.

With all my love,

[Your Name]

Verdict: It’s a little over the top. You may want to pare it down a bit—and point to some specific examples rather than paint such broad strokes, which could be applicable to anyone.

With that in mind…

Second query: Write a Valentine’s Day poem that rhymes. My partner likes Bigfoot, Tottenham Hotspur and tacos.

ChatGPT:

In the forest deep, where legends roam,

Bigfoot whispers secrets, making hearts home.

With Tottenham’s pride, our passions ignite,

In the field of dreams, love takes its flight.

Amidst the trees, where mysteries hide,

Our love like Bigfoot, steadfast, abide.

In the stadium’s roar, where dreams unfold,

Tottenham’s colors, a love story told.

Tacos in hand, we share laughter and cheer,

In each other’s arms, love draws near.

Bigfoot, Spurs, and tacos, our unique blend,

In love’s embrace, our hearts ascend.

So on Valentine’s Day, let’s celebrate,

Our love, like Bigfoot, cannot abate.

With Tottenham’s spirit, and tacos in tow,

Our journey together, continues to grow.

Verdict: Honestly, I love it. Don’t get me wrong—it’s absurd, so please don’t think you can get away with passing this off as your own. Still, I think the fact you made some effort to generate a personalized poem will go over well, provided you can think of three things your valentine really likes and you’re honest about its origins.

Third query: What gift should I give for Valentine’s Day? My partner likes pizza, the Kansas City Chiefs, karate and Panic at the Disco.

ChatGPT:

Considering your partner’s interests, here are some Valentine’s Day gift ideas:

Homemade Pizza Kit: Put together a DIY pizza-making kit with all the ingredients needed to create delicious homemade pizzas. You can include their favorite toppings, sauces, and even a pizza stone if they don’t already have one.

Kansas City Chiefs Merchandise: Look for official merchandise from the Kansas City Chiefs, such as a jersey, cap, or hoodie featuring their favorite players or the team logo. This can be a great way to show support for their favorite football team.

Karate Gear or Class: Consider gifting them high-quality karate gear such as a new gi (uniform), sparring gloves, or a punching bag for home practice. Alternatively, you could enroll them in a karate class if they’ve expressed interest in martial arts.

Panic at the Disco Vinyl or Merch: If they’re a fan of Panic at the Disco, consider getting them a vinyl record of one of their albums or some official band merchandise like a t-shirt or poster.

Customized Gift Basket: Combine their interests by creating a customized gift basket that includes items related to pizza, the Kansas City Chiefs, karate, and Panic at the Disco. You can include snacks, memorabilia, and other thoughtful items that cater to their passions.

Ultimately, the best gift is one that shows you’ve put thought into their interests and preferences. Choose something that resonates with them and reflects your appreciation for who they are.

Verdict: NFL merch for an NFL fan? Inspiring. You may be better off asking outright what your valentine wants—or falling back on old standbys like flowers, chocolate, etc.

Fourth query: Help me update my dating profile for Valentine’s Day. Write a 500-character dating app bio for a single mom who works as a journalist and likes swimming and golden retrievers.

ChatGPT:

Single mom and journalist, diving into life with passion. Love swimming laps and cuddling with golden retrievers. Seeking genuine connections beyond the screen. Let’s share stories, laughter, and sunsets together. Bonus points if you love dogs and enjoy deep conversations. Let’s make our own adventures!

Verdict: Meh. All that’s missing is I like to laugh and—shudder—my love language is physical touch. Granted, I’m a writer, but it wouldn’t take much to blow this out of the water.

And the rose goes to…

With all we hear about generative AI’s content generation skills, I for one was relieved to see the results in three out of four examples. The Valentine’s Day message is too long and flowery, the gift ideas are obvious and the dating profile is generic to a fault. Human creativity still has an edge!

If, however, you’re looking for some creative inspiration for Valentine’s Day, these examples may provide a foundation to build upon.

The poem is the single exception. Given enough time, I could probably write something comparable. But certainly not in three seconds. And so—for now at least—poetry seems ChatGPT’s strong suit.

If you find yourself staring at a blank page on Feb. 14 and simply can’t figure out how to express yourself, remember honesty is the best policy. Tell your valentine you struggled to put your feelings into words and sought out some help from AI. Better safe than sorry!

Record 14-time European champions Real Madrid have a tricky encounter in store on Wednesday as they travel to RB Leipzig for the first leg of this last 16 Champions League tie.

Free-scoring Leipzig have hit the back of the net an impressive 13 times over the course of this season’s UCL, and ran defending champs Man City close in the battle to finish top of Group G.

Leipzig are strong at home, and Madrid’s hopes of taking all three points this evening in Germany have been hit by the loss of star midfielder Jude Bellingham, who sustained a sprained ankle in his side’s victory over Girona at the weekend.

Below, we’ll outline the best live TV streaming services for watching every game wherever you are in the world.

RB Leipzig vs. Real Madrid: When and where?

RB Leipzig play Real Madrid at the Red Bull Arena on Tuesday, Feb. 13. Kickoff is set for 9 p.m. CET local time in Leipzig, making it a 8 p.m. GMT kickoff in the UK (3 p.m. ET, 12 p.m. PT in the US and Canada, and 7 a.m. AEDT on Thursday, Feb. 14, in Australia).

How to watch RB Leipzig vs. Real Madrid online from anywhere using a VPN

If you’re unable to view Champions League matches locally, you may need a different way to watch the action; that’s where using a VPN can come in handy. A VPN can stop your ISP from throttling your speeds on game day by encrypting your traffic, and it’s also a great idea if you want an extra layer of privacy for your devices and log-ins while traveling and using various Wi-Fi networks.

With a VPN, you’re able to virtually change your location on your phone, tablet or laptop to access the game. If your internet provider or mobile carrier assigns an IP address that incorrectly shows your location in a blackout zone, a VPN can fix that problem by giving you an IP address in your correct, non-blackout area. Most VPNs, like our Editors’ Choice, ExpressVPN, make it really easy to do this.

Using a VPN to watch or stream sports is legal in any country where VPNs are legal, including the US, UK and Canada, as long as you have a legitimate subscription to the service you’re streaming. Be sure your VPN is set up correctly to prevent leaks: Even where VPNs are legal, the streaming service may terminate the account of anyone it suspects is circumventing correctly applied blackout restrictions.

Looking for other options? Be sure to check out some of the great VPN deals taking place right now.

Livestream RB Leipzig vs. Real Madrid in the US

American soccer fans can stream this season’s tournament via Paramount Plus, which has exclusive live English-language broadcast rights in the US for UEFA Champions League matches.

Livestream RB Leipzig vs. Real Madrid in the UK

TNT Sports (formerly known as BT Sport) has Champions League live broadcast rights in the UK.

Livestream RB Leipzig vs. Real Madrid in Canada

If you want to stream UCL games live in Canada, subscribe to DAZN Canada. The service has exclusive broadcast rights to the Champions League this season.

Livestream RB Leipzig vs. Real Madrid in Australia

Football fans Down Under can watch UCL matches on streaming service Stan Sport, which has exclusive rights to show the Champions League live in Australia this season.

Quick tips for streaming UEFA Champions League matches using a VPN

• With four variables at play (your ISP, browser, video streaming provider and VPN), your experience and success when streaming Champions League games may vary.
• If you don’t see your desired location as a default option for ExpressVPN, try using the “search for city or country” option.
• If you’re having trouble getting the game after you’ve turned on your VPN and set it to the correct viewing area, there are two things you can try for a quick fix. First, log into your streaming service subscription account and make sure the address registered for the account is in the correct viewing area. If not, you may need to change the physical address on file with your account. Second, some smart TVs including Roku don’t have VPN apps you can install directly on the device itself. Instead, you’ll have to install the VPN on your router or the mobile hotspot you’re using (like your phone) so that any device on its Wi-Fi network now appears in the correct viewing location.
• All of the VPN providers we recommend have helpful instructions on their main sites for quickly installing the VPN on your router. In some cases with smart TV services, after you install a cable network’s sports app, you’ll be asked to verify a numeric code or click a link sent to your email address on file for your smart TV. This is where having a VPN on your router will also help since both devices will appear to be in the correct location.
• Remember, browsers can often give away a location despite using a VPN, so be sure you’re using a privacy-first browser to log into your services. We recommend Brave.

Defending European champions Manchester City will look to continue their superb recent domestic form as they travel to Denmark to face FC Copenhagen in this round of 16, first leg tie.

After an uncharacteristic dip in form at the tail end of last year, Pep Guardiola’s men have regrouped to put together a run of 10 straight wins across all competitions, and have been boosted by the return of star striker Erling Haaland from injury.

Copenhagen are appearing in the knockout stage of the UEFA Champions League for the first time since the 2010-11 season, having finishing ahead of both Man United and Galatasaray in Group A. Despite that achievement, the odds of them overcoming a City side that appears to be once again firing on all cylinders over two legs appears unlikely.

Below, we’ll outline the best live TV streaming services for watching every game wherever you are in the world.

FC Copenhagen vs. Manchester City: When and where?

FC Copenhagen play Manchester City at Parken Stadium on Tuesday, Feb. 13. Kickoff is set for 9 p.m. CET local time in Denmark, making it a 8 p.m. GMT kickoff in the UK (3 p.m. ET, 12 p.m. PT in the US and Canada, and 7 a.m. AEDT on Thursday, Feb. 14, in Australia).

How to watch FC Copenhagen vs. Man City online from anywhere using a VPN

If you’re unable to view Champions League matches locally, you may need a different way to watch the action; that’s where using a VPN can come in handy. A VPN can stop your ISP from throttling your speeds on game day by encrypting your traffic, and it’s also a great idea if you want an extra layer of privacy for your devices and log-ins while traveling and using various Wi-Fi networks.

With a VPN, you’re able to virtually change your location on your phone, tablet or laptop to access the game. If your internet provider or mobile carrier assigns an IP address that incorrectly shows your location in a blackout zone, a VPN can fix that problem by giving you an IP address in your correct, non-blackout area. Most VPNs, like our Editors’ Choice, ExpressVPN, make it really easy to do this.

Using a VPN to watch or stream sports is legal in any country where VPNs are legal, including the US, UK and Canada, as long as you have a legitimate subscription to the service you’re streaming. Be sure your VPN is set up correctly to prevent leaks: Even where VPNs are legal, the streaming service may terminate the account of anyone it suspects is circumventing correctly applied blackout restrictions.

Looking for other options? Be sure to check out some of the great VPN deals taking place right now.

Livestream FC Copenhagen vs. Man City in the US

American soccer fans can stream this season’s tournament via Paramount Plus, which has exclusive live English-language broadcast rights in the US for UEFA Champions League matches.

Livestream FC Copenhagen vs. Man City in the UK

TNT Sports (formerly known as BT Sport) has Champions League live broadcast rights in the UK.

Livestream FC Copenhagen vs. Man City

If you want to stream UCL games live in Canada, subscribe to DAZN Canada. The service has exclusive broadcast rights to the Champions League this season.

Livestream FC Copenhagen vs. Man City in Australia

Football fans Down Under can watch UCL matches on streaming service Stan Sport, which has exclusive rights to show the Champions League live in Australia this season.

Quick tips for streaming UEFA Champions League matches using a VPN

• With four variables at play (your ISP, browser, video streaming provider and VPN), your experience and success when streaming Champions League games may vary.
• If you don’t see your desired location as a default option for ExpressVPN, try using the “search for city or country” option.
• If you’re having trouble getting the game after you’ve turned on your VPN and set it to the correct viewing area, there are two things you can try for a quick fix. First, log into your streaming service subscription account and make sure the address registered for the account is in the correct viewing area. If not, you may need to change the physical address on file with your account. Second, some smart TVs including Roku don’t have VPN apps you can install directly on the device itself. Instead, you’ll have to install the VPN on your router or the mobile hotspot you’re using (like your phone) so that any device on its Wi-Fi network now appears in the correct viewing location.
• All of the VPN providers we recommend have helpful instructions on their main sites for quickly installing the VPN on your router. In some cases with smart TV services, after you install a cable network’s sports app, you’ll be asked to verify a numeric code or click a link sent to your email address on file for your smart TV. This is where having a VPN on your router will also help since both devices will appear to be in the correct location.
• Remember, browsers can often give away a location despite using a VPN, so be sure you’re using a privacy-first browser to log into your services. We recommend Brave.