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Tech giants are locked in an arms race to dominate AI-powered ecommerce. At Google I/O, we saw a preview of AI Mode in Search – a search experience where agents recommend products, populate visual panels, and complete purchases.

Next up is Apple’s WWDC, where the company is expected to provide an update on Apple Intelligence, but is believed to be taking a more incremental approach to AI in contrast to the rapid-fire rollouts from other companies racing to define the future of ecommerce.

These developer conferences, previously intended for insiders and engineers, are now mainstream moments because they’re shaping the future of shopping in real time.

Beneath the product demos and flashy interfaces, there’s a problem: today’s internet was counterintuitively built for humans, not machines.

The web we use today is a patchwork of skimmable layouts and visual cues meant to guide people, not machines, through a shopping experience. AI agents don’t browse like people do, and they need structured metadata with real-time pricing, inventory and clear product attributes.

When the data is inconsistent, unstructured, or breadcrumbed across interactions, AI agents struggle to extract meaning or skip over it entirely. This means that for brands and shoppers products could become harder to find with AI, even if they are the best choice.

As AI-driven search platforms increasingly mediate product discovery, brands are losing visibility, traffic, and the ability to influence how they show up in the customer journey. The internet isn’t being rebuilt for AI, it’s being retrofitted. Many new interfaces look advanced on the surface but are layered over brittle, outdated infrastructure that machines struggle to understand.

We’re already seeing the early signals. Traffic from generative AI sources increased by 1,200% between July 2024 and February 2025, reflecting increased interest from consumers turning to AI tools for product discovery. The wave is arriving, but most brands aren’t yet positioned to take advantage of it because their websites aren’t designed to continue the AI user journey. Interfaces and product data often aren’t structured for agent interactions or optimized for LLM workflows.

Google’s AI Overviews can siphon off up to 64% of organic traffic, depending on the industry. It’s a dramatic shift in how discovery happens. For brands, it means fewer clicks, fewer opportunities for engagement, and far less control over how they're presented in the shopping journey.

As consumers increasingly use AI agents for shopping and product recommendations, they’ll discover a narrower range of brands and products. Those that are optimized will be more easily found because AI models prefer sources that provide clean, well-structured, commerce-ready data like real-time pricing, inventory, and agentic checkout capabilities.

Without that data, AI agents may surface outdated or absent production information, forcing shoppers back into traditional, clunky checkout processes. The brands that proactively become AI-friendly will significantly benefit, making the path forward clear for their shoppers.

Some platforms are starting to recognize the problem. Shopify’s new Catalog API gives agents access to structured product data, making it easier to surface listings in agent-led environments like Perplexity. The API improves visibility, but not interactivity. One way infrastructure allows agents to access existing product data like descriptions and pricing, but the interaction ends there.

Two-way systems enable brands to proactively influence the experience, maybe by offering a discount, surfacing related products or offering free shipping depending on the customer interaction. Without two-way systems, brands will lose out on the control and context they’re accustomed to having.

AI innovation moves too quickly for brands to rely on incremental website updates. New model capabilities and consumer expectations emerge weekly, and without a flexible foundation built for constant adaptation, brands risk permanently falling behind.

Brands depend on search as the backbone of their visibility strategy to reach shoppers. Organic and paid search drove up to 80% of website traffic until Google’s AI overviews launched a year ago. Now, with AI Mode, agents are changing how information is retrieved and displayed, threatening not just traffic but the entire infrastructure of how brands reach, understand, and convert consumers.

This amounts to more than a visibility problem. As AI agents handle more of the customer journey, brands are losing the direct connections they’ve spent years building and the rich data that comes along with it: No more behavioral signals, preference data, or owned loyalty loops. When agents become the interface, the relationship gets rewritten.

Without traffic to their own websites, they forfeit first-party analytics, personalized engagement, and long-term insight into customer behavior. Without clear data connections, they can't optimize experiences, measure ROI, or retain relevance. And without direct visibility, even brand affinity is at risk of erosion. In an AI-mediated internet, consumer choice gets collapsed into a single output. Unless a brand is structurally positioned to appear in that output, it might as well not exist.

This demands intelligent infrastructure. Brands should already be thinking about how they present their product information to make it legible to two important audiences: people and machines. Structured, real-time data is not optimization. It’s the baseline requirement for visibility, participation, and growth in an AI-first ecosystem.

In the AI internet, new subdomains like ai.brandname.com serve as intelligent storefronts that can serve both human customers and AI agents in one unified experience. Unlike traditional websites, which are updated piecemeal and built for human browsing, AI storefronts are built for speed, natural language, and agent-friendly architecture.

Brands know they’re losing clicks, but the big picture is that they’re losing the ability to participate in the next era of commerce. AI agents are rewriting the script for how discovery and conversion happen; brands that aren’t structurally visible won’t be outcompeted, they’ll be invisible. In the AI internet, visibility is engineered. This starts with rebuilding digital storefronts for humans and machines.

We list the best website monitoring software.

This article was produced as part of TechRadarPro's Expert Insights channel where we feature the best and brightest minds in the technology industry today. The views expressed here are those of the author and are not necessarily those of TechRadarPro or Future plc. If you are interested in contributing find out more here: https://www.techradar.com/news/submit-your-story-to-techradar-pro

• ASAF offers Dolby Atmos-style spatial audio, with more effects
• Available for all Apple platforms bar watchOS
• Focused primarily on Vision Pro

Apple has introduced a new format for head-tracking spatial audio: ASAF. Apple Spatial Audio Format promises "truly immersive audio experiences" and was unveiled quietly at last week's WWDC 2025 event – not in the keynote, but in a session for app developers.

As FlatpanelsHD explains, there are two components here: ASAF, which is used in audio and video production to position audio elements in a three-dimensional space, and APAC (Apple Positional Audio Codec), which is the codec that's used to deliver it.

If you're thinking "not another audio format" you're not alone: Samsung and Google are promoting Eclipsa Audio as a Dolby Atmos rival, too.

However, Apple's both is and isn't a Dolby Atmos rival – FlatpanelsHD reports that Dolby Atmos can be delivered within Apple's new format, which is then able to add some additional spatial audio tricks on top of it. So this appears to be less about replacing Atmos than expanding… though providing an alternative could be a big part of Apple's plan.

That's a very good question, because at the moment ASAF is for Apple devices: tvOS, iOS, iPadOS, macOS and visionOS. The iPhone 16 able to be used to capture ASAF audio, and that ease of capture is probably something to pay attention to.

Initially, according to Apple's presentation, it looks like the focus – pun very much intended – is on the visionOS headset. Apple has mandated the use of APAC with all Immersive Video titles, although the codec can be used as a container for Dolby Atmos data instead of ASAF if the creator is already using that format.

The idea with ASAF's extra 3D skills are that they can alter the spatial sound not just based on your own head tracking and positioning, but also based on the virtual environment you're in, changing elements such as the volume and reverb to make the sound seem like it matches the world you're in. So you can see why it goes beyond Dolby Atmos, which just assume you're sitting still in the center of a virtual theater.

However, a further appeal may be to offer another simple way for smaller creators to offer spatial content. Samsung told us that one of the goals of Eclipsa Audio was in part to ensure that smaller-scale content creators could create and deliver spatial audio videos easily as well, for example.

Apple may be able to offer this too for podcasts and more, in the future: where previously it kept its formats proprietary, it's become more open in recent years and its Apple Lossless Audio Codec dropped its royalty scheme back in 2011. ASAF can apparently be created using industry-standard software and plugins.

The APAC codec reportedly works at bitrates as low as 64kbps and maxes out at 768kbps, which may seem low, is the same maximum bitrate that Apple, Netflix and others use to stream Dolby Atmos at the moment, so it'll match current quality standards.

• Samsung and Google have unveiled their Dolby Atmos rivalTechRadar
• Samsung told me why Dolby Atmos isn't the sole future of spatial audio
• Google TV devices will get 4 great free upgrades this year ...TechRadar

• Scammers are using legitimate website to post their malicious 'tech support' phone numbers
• It's called search parameter injection or reflected input vulnerability
• Attackers modify legitimate URLs with dodgy details

Fake tech support scammers are injecting fake phone numbers into legitimate websites, with major companies like Apple, PayPal and Netflix affected by an emerging type of threat that could put customers' data at risk, experts have warned.

The scam is especially deceptive, because it bypasses the usual security checks that savvy Internet users can make like verifying the web address, but injecting malicious phone numbers onto the official sites.

Online advertising spaces are behind the attack vector, with scammers purchasing Google Ads to pose as major brands.

Click on the ad might lead to the official site, but the scammers use malicious URL parameters to modify the content displayed on the site – such as displaying fake phone numbers into support sections. Because the browser shows the legitimate domain, users are less likely to be suspicious.

Researchers at Malwarebytes describe the attack as search parameter injection attack – or reflected input vulnerability.

"Once the number is called, the scammers will pose as the brand with the aim of getting their victim to hand over personal data or card details, or even allow remote access to their computer," the researchers explain.

Other affected sites include HP, Microsoft, Facebook and the Bank of America.

Malwarebytes is urging users to be weary of fake tech support lines by checking if the phone number is embedded into the URL (in which case, it's almost certainly malicious), searching for unusual and high-pressure terms like 'Call Now,' scanning the URL for encoded characters like '%20' (space) and '%2B ('+') and exercising caution if search results are shown before they've entered a search term.

Users can also navigate to the website's official top-level domain (eg www.apple.com) and find their own way to support, rather than trusting ads – companies don't typically purchase online ads to sell tech support.

• Over 16 billion records leaked in "unimaginable" major data breach – here's what we know
• We've listed the best antivirus and best endpoint protection software
• Protect your digital footprint with our list of the best VPNs

• DuckDuckGo is offering enhanced, in-browser scam protections
• Online scams are on the rise, so it wants to keep users safe
• It says Scam Blocker doesn't send tracking information to third-parties

Online scams are on the rise, AI is enabling cybercriminals to send out more frequent scams that are more sophisticated than ever, and financial losses are growing ever more common, with online fraud costing Americans $12.5bn in 2024.

DuckDuckGo is looking to change this, revealing a new edition of its browser with a built-in Scam Blocker tool which helps to guard users against phishing websites, malware, and other online scams.

This now includes fake crypto-currency exchanges sites, fraudulent shopping sites, and ‘scareware’ - a type of malicious software that tries to convince victims that their device has a virus to urge them to buy unnecessary antivirus software.

Save up to 68% on identity theft protection for TechRadar readers!

TechRadar editors praise Aura's upfront pricing and simplicity. Aura also includes a password manager, VPN, and antivirus to make its security solution an even more compelling deal.

Preferred partner (What does this mean?)View Deal

The Scam Blocker is available for free on DuckDuckGo for mobile and for desktop, and Privacy Pro users can enjoy full-device coverage even when using other browsers, as long as they’re logged into the DuckDuckGo VPN.

The tool works by stopping scammy pages from loading if a user accidentally follows a malicious link. A warning message will then allow the user to safely navigate away from the page.

The Scam Blocker also blocks tracker-powered ads before they load, so users are safe from ‘malvertising’ ads that may compromise their systems.

Scam Blocker never tracks searches, and it stops other companies from harvesting data too, with browser protections designed to keep your information private. It protects your anonymity by keeping a ‘dangerous site list’ locally on your device, meaning your browsing data is not sent elsewhere.

“Most browsers use Google tools for phishing and malware blocking, sending browsing data to Google in real time" says Brit Edwards, Senior Communications Manager, DuckDuckGo.

”We don’t. We designed Scam Blocker ourselves, with data from independent cybersecurity company Netcraft. Our scam protections don’t require an account, and we don’t share your browsing data with third parties.”

• Take a look at our picks for the best malware removal software around
• Check out our choice for the best ransomware protection tools
• Identity fraud attacks using AI are fooling biometric security systems

Philips Hue is unquestionably one of the best-known smart lighting brands, and for good reason; after all, it makes some of the best smart lights around. Its quality products and overall market presence have made it immensely popular, so it’s not all that surprising that its prices are at the premium end of the scale

While brands like Nanoleaf may be the first to come to mind for many when considering a Philips Hue alternative, I’m here to sing the praises of another low-cost manufacturer of smart lighting loveliness – Govee.

Founded in 2017, Govee offers a huge range of both fun and functional smart lighting products, and regularly releases exciting new products that leave me wanting to rearrange my lighting setup so that I can incorporate newer pieces without looking like my home belongs in Cyberpunk 2077 (not saying I wouldn’t enjoy that, mind you). Aside from all the pretty lights, Govee produces some other great smart home essentials, including sensors, air purifiers, and fans, too.

I could waffle on for hours about my favorite Govee features, but to save us all some time, I’ve summarised my top three reasons why Govee makes a perfect lower-cost alternative to Philips Hue.

Whether you want to go big and bold with vivid and colorful displays or want practical lighting solutions that you can automate to suit your schedule, their impressive range of products means that Govee will likely have something that ticks your boxes.

One product that’s equal parts fun and functional is the highly rated Govee Table Lamp 2. This RGBICWW lamp boasts over 60 scene presets, a load of customizable settings, and is Matter compatible, too. I have two of these lamps at home, and I love how easily I can switch up the mood with this little light, moving from a brighter, cooler white light for working hours, to mood-brightening colorful scenes for the evening, before finishing the night on a warm-toned white.

Even the reasonably priced Govee RGBIC LED Strip Light has a satisfying amount of customizable features. These include brightness adjustment, AI scene creation, and color palettes that can be applied across the entire strip or fine-tuned segment by segment.

It’s all well and good having a fancy bit of kit capable of impressive lighting effects, but if the companion app is overly complex, clunky, or lacks features, it’d quickly dull any sparkle. Fortunately, the Govee Home app isn’t guilty of any of these; instead, it provides a delightfully straightforward and engaging user experience. It’s simple to navigate between different features, and I really liked that I could streamline the layout by arranging the modes for easy access. Another customizable element I appreciated was the quick action button that sits at the top of the page, giving me easy access to a choice of functions, including color and effect sections, auto-play, and a timer, amongst others.

I think I’ve made it clear already that there are savings to be made when opting for Govee over Philips Hue, but to demonstrate my point, I’m going to lay out a couple of examples of the cost difference between similar products from both brands.

Say you’re thinking of upgrading your ceiling lights, a two-pack of 800 lumen RGBWW smart bulbs from Govee costs around $24.99 / £18.99, whereas the same from Philips Hue could set you back around $89.99 / £84.99. The price difference is pretty vast straight off the bat, and the chasm widens further when you factor in an additional $59.99 / $49.99 for a Philips Hue Bridge, which you’ll need if you want to use the full suite of features, such as controlling your lights away from home, something which Govee offers for free via the Govee Home app.

So, if you’re keen to get started on your smart lighting setup, but have been put off by the cost of building a Philips Hue system, then Govee is well worth considering, not just because their products are more affordable, but because they’re feature-packed and efficient, too.

As a dabbler in the digital arts, I rely on a decent drawing tablet. A mouse and poorly calibrated laptop screen really is no substitute for the accurate color and precision illustration a tablet can offer.

Having tested a broad chunk of mid-range drawing tablets in recent months, there’s been one that’s impressed me more than any other and kept me coming back whenever I fancy a sketch. And no… it’s not a Wacom.

Given it’s the doyen of the drawing tablet market, it is understandable why Wacom’s products are often the first artists think of when looking for a quality sketching slate.

XPPen and Huion are alternate brands worthy of consideration – they’ve absolutely earned their place in our rankings of the best drawing tablets. But, for me, the real unsung hero in this space right now is the Xencelabs Pen Display 16.

Bridging the gap between Wacom’s pro-level artist slates and the mid-market competition, Xencelabs’ products have definitely impressed me with their competitive specs and excellent user experience.

And while I’ve tried out a bunch of rivals over the last six months, it’s always the Xencelabs Pen Display 16 I find myself reaching for when the mood strikes me.

Counting down, here are the five biggest reasons I’m convinced you’ll feel the same way I do about Xencelabs’ creative drawing slate.

The first thing that really impressed me about the Xencelabs Pen Display 16 is the sheer quantity of attachments and extras it comes with. Its standard package is pretty decent, offering two styluses, a stylus case and a carrying case. But it’s the expanded Pen Display 16 Bundle that really ups the ante: it adds the Mobile Easel stand, a wireless Quick Keys shortcut remote, and a USB hub, together with all the cabling to enable you to connect it to HDMI, Display Port and mains power.

There’s really very little you could need that isn’t provided here. And in an era when many gadget brands are becoming increasingly stingy with the accessories they offer, it is nice to know that you can have everything you need to get sketching right from the off.

In terms of sheer numbers, the Xencelabs Pen Display 16 offers fewer pressure levels than some its nearest rivals, topping out at 8,192 compared to the 16,384 offered by the XPPen Artist Pro 19 Gen 2 and Huion Kamvas Pro 19.

Conventional logic would tell you that the higher sensitivity is, the better. But this isn’t necessarily the case: while 16K sounds mighty impressive, in use it’s incredibly hard to tell the difference between it and 8K.

In fact, I would argue that the way the Xencelabs Pen Display 16 handles pressure is actually right on the money. During the months I’ve been using it, I’ve always found that its styluses feel super responsive and the weight of lines always seems to perfectly mirror the force of my hand.

By contrast, I’ve occasionally found some of the displays with 16K pressure levels harder to control – that increased sensitivity can mean even slight wobbles in your hand have more of a pronounced effect, making it harder to maintain consistent pressure for fine lines.

And, like all of the best drawing tablets, the Pen Display 16 offers plenty of ways for you to customize the pressure curves of its styluses. Not only does it offer five preset pressure curves that mimic everything from hard to soft strokes, you can also dial in your own pressure curve, making it far easier for you to precisely control the thickness of lines as you sketch and paint.

Compared to many of the drawing tablets I’ve tested, the Xencelabs Pen Display 16 is a dream to use in a range of contexts. If you want to set it up on your desk, its straightforward configuration means you can connect it to your laptop with just a single cable.

Meanwhile, its ergonomic build makes it comfortable to use for long stretches, while its chunky 1.57 inch / 40mm bezel gives you plenty of space to rest your wrist on while sketching.

However, my favorite thing about the Xencelabs’ build is how easy it is to use it in more casual situations or take it on the go with you. Weighing just 2.67 lbs /1.21kg, it’s staggeringly light and it’s just 0.47 inches / 12mm thick – that’s significantly trimmer than some of the other drawing tablets I’ve tested. As a result, I was often comfortable just sketching with it sat on my lap while on the sofa, making it far more suitable for casual use.

And there’s an added benefit to its light, slight build: it's much easier to take on the move. Packed away in the aforementioned carrying case, it was simple for me to carry it to and from the office – or even on longer journeys. While I’d never consider taking something like the colossal 16.1 lbs (7.3kg) XPPen Artist Pro 24 Gen 2 4K out and about with me, I didn’t think twice about taking the Pen Display 16 on cross country train journeys. That makes it incredibly versatile.

At 170 nits, the Xencelabs Pen Display 16 offers decent typical brightness when using its most minimal cable setup. But plug it into the mains using the provided USB hub and it blazes much brighter, hitting an impressive 300 nits. While this isn’t quite as high as the 400 cd/m2 the professional grade Wacom Cintiq Pro 27 averages at, it’s still seriously impressive for a mid-market tablet.

The Xencelabs is luminous in other ways as well. Colors pack a real punch, thanks to its true 10-bit color and High Color Gamut that covers 1.07 billion colors, 98% Adobe RGB, 98% P3-D65 and 99% sRGB. As a result, you can breathe easy knowing the colors you see are an accurate representation of how your finished artwork will look on other screens.

Speaking of accuracy, the Xencelabs also has a fantastic resolution that makes whatever you’re sketching look deliciously crisp. Not only does it have a spectacularly detailed 4K resolution but this is crammed into a 16-inch screen, giving it an overall pixel density of 275ppi. On top of rendering your artwork at near print quality, this pixel density is significantly higher than many of its best drawing tablet rivals, such as the 226ppi iPad Pro 13-inch, 166pp Wacom Movink and the 163ppi Wacom Cintiq Pro 27.

Above all, it's the astounding value that sets the Xencelabs Pen Display 16 apart. Its list price is $999 / £969 – that’s significantly cheaper than many Wacom drawing tablets, despite its super competitive specs.

Better still, it’s often available for an even lower price: at the time of writing, Xencelabs has dropped its price to $949.05 / £872.10. That new price basically reduces it down to a similar price as the $899.99 / £899.99 XPPen Artist Pro 19 (Gen 2) 4K and the $939 / £879 Huion Kamvas Pro 19, which it comfortably outclasses, thanks to its light build and incredible pixel density.

However, while anyone would be tempted by this bargain price, I’m actually going to argue that you should spend more. The reason? The Xencelabs Pen Display 16 Bundle. At $1,249 / £1,199, it certainly costs a decent chunk more but it also represents enormous value: on top of the Essential edition’s twin styluses, stylus case and carrying case, you’ll get all of the additional accessories mentioned above. Given the amount of use I get out of the Quick Keys shortcut remote and Mobile Easel stand, I personally wouldn’t hesitate to invest that extra spend, as you’ll really appreciate it long term.

Ultimately, if you’re looking for a drawing tablet in this kind of price range, I really don’t think you’ll be disappointed with the Xencelabs Pen Display 16. But we all have priorities and preferences when it comes to our creative equipment. Whether you’re a diehard Wacom adherent, prefer XPPen’s products or are a Huion devotee, each brand has its own flagship products that are worthy of consideration. So make sure you check out our guide to the best drawing tablets if you want to weigh up which is best for your needs.

For me, the Pen Display 16 is an impressive product and definitely merits a place on your shortlist. I’ve never regretted powering it up and I think you’ll similarly find it a powerful, flexible drawing tablet that can happily compete with any other mid-range drawing tablet out there.

• Want further advice on picking your perfect slate? Read our guide on how to choose a drawing tablet for graphic design
• If you're wanting to pick up great apps to use on your new drawing tablet, check out our guide to the best digital art and drawing software

• US text message scam claims that unpaid toll fees are owed
• Messages include a malicious link to steal payment information
• FBI warns users to delete and report messages from unknown senders

The FBI has warned of a new phishing scam sweeping smartphones in the US. The con is targeting drivers with convincing fake texts which claim to be from the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). It’s part of a growing trend of SMS toll scams designed to trick recipients into clicking malicious links and handing over their credit card information.

As reported by local Memphis TV station WREG and later picked up by Men’s Journal, the FBI has issued a warning to anyone who receives a suspicious SMS. The bureau has urged smartphone users not to click on links from unknown sources and to delete these text messages immediately.

Speaking to WREG, FBI Supervisory Special Agent David Palmer described the scam as a “copycat” of the widespread toll scams which surfaced earlier this year. Those attacks also used fake unpaid toll notices to lure victims into handing over sensitive personal details.

What makes these toll scams so dangerous is the ease with which they can be distributed, as well as what they can gather. “It costs next to nothing for them to…send these messages and calls out,” Palmer told WREG. “In return, they can…go in and steal information from your device, or collect your payment information.”

While some scam text messages are surprisingly polished, there are several common signs to watch out for:

• Generic greetings with no personal details

• Urgent or threatening language such as “your account will be suspended”

• Unusual links or email addresses, often ending in strange domains or unrelated names

• Obvious mistakes including typos or formatting errors

• Unknown senders, such as random numbers or clearly fake email handles

Most toll scam texts follow a similar format. The message usually claims that you have outstanding toll charges and urges you to follow a link to settle the balance. The link typically leads to a fake payment site designed to steal your information. This will be a convincing replica of a real government website, using similar fonts, colors and logos, all of which appear to be official.

Most messages include the threat of late fees or legal action if you don’t act quickly. This is intended to create a sense of urgency and panic, triggering an emotional response which may cause the recipient to overlook inconsistencies and act without verifying whether the message is legitimate.

Palmer reportedly received one of the fake texts himself – and quickly spotted several red flags. “A couple of things that I noticed immediately…the text message I received said it was from the North Tennessee Department of Motor Vehicles,” he said. “Obviously, there is no North or South Tennessee.”

Inconsistencies like these are a clear hallmark of a message which is trying to dupe you. So are sender details which don’t add up. Agent Palmer gave an example: “The message I received was from email address @catlover.com, obviously that is not a government address.”

Other signs to watch out for include spelling and grammatical errors, as well as generic greetings that don’t reference your name or license plate. If you’re uncertain, don’t engage with the message. Instead, contact the relevant agency directly for clarification. Or as Palmer put it: “If you don’t know who it’s from, don’t click the link.”

Suspicious messages should be deleted immediately. You can also report them to the FTC and the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center.

• A massive SMS toll fee scam is sweeping the US – here’s how to stay safe, according to the FBI
• Text spammers are getting creative and trying to play on your emotional needs – don't fall for it
• ‘Smishing’: the new SMS fraud

• An act passed by Congress requires security review by December
• DJI says it's willing to co-operate, but no agency has started the process
• If the audit is not completed, a ban on DJI drones will come into force

DJI drones are the most popular flying cameras in the US. Both its consumer and professional quadcopters sell in huge numbers, and they also rank among the best drones you can buy. Yet a huge question mark still looms over their immediate future. By the end of 2025, DJI drones could be banned in the US – and that's prompted the Chinese giant to raise the alarm bells about the obstacles it's flying into.

We have reached out to the relevant agencies to fulfill this obligation set out by Congress. However, more than six months have passed, and that process still hasn’t begun.

DJI spokesperson

Talk of a ban on DJI drones has been circulating for more than year, as the Countering CCP Drones Act made its way through the halls of US Congress. It’s motivated by national security concerns and specifically targets drones made by Chinese companies, including DJI.

The risk of a ban came closer to reality late last year, when Congress passed an act which legally mandated a review of DJI drones. If that fails to happen by December 2025, customers in the US might no longer be able to buy the best DJI drones. How likely is that? We’ve unpacked DJI's latest statement on the subject and all of the details below.

At the center of the issue is the FY25 National Defense Authorisation Act (NDAA), passed by Congress in December 2024. Section 1709 requires an “appropriate national security agency” to assess whether drones manufactured in China – which includes drones made by DJI – pose an “unacceptable risk” to US national security. This must be completed within a year.

Crucially, the legislation doesn’t specify which agency must undertake the required assessment. If no agency takes up the mantle and completes that audit by the end of 2025, DJI drones could be added to the FCC’s “Covered List”. This would automatically restrict future DJI product approvals in the US.

In practical terms, that could mean:

• No new DJI drones sold in the US
• No FCC certification for updated models
• Potential disruption to support for existing customers.

And so far, more than six months since the act was passed, no agency has started the review.

DJI has become increasingly vocal on the issue, warning that the clock is ticking to avoid a US ban on DJI drones.

In an official statement shared with TechRadar, the company said: “DJI has repeatedly said publicly that we welcome and embrace the opportunity to demonstrate our privacy controls and security features. We stand ready to cooperate with any rulemaking processes or investigations.”

The statement continues, “We have also reached out to the relevant agencies to fulfill this obligation set out by Congress. However, more than six months have passed, and that process still hasn’t begun.”

On 13 June 2025, six months until the NDAA deadline, DJI published a blog post calling for action on the “overdue security review”. The post states that “America’s drone community deserves due process” and called on DJI operators to speak up.

It issued a rallying cry to the “thousands of businesses, public safety officials, farmers, entrepreneurs, and others” who “use DJI technology to serve your community, protect lives, grow your business, or deliver essential services.”

The post echoed an earlier article shared in December 2024, when the NDAA was first approved, which emphasized the risk that “DJI would be prevented from launching new products in the U.S. market through no fault of its own, but simply because no agency chose to take on the work of studying our products.”

For the time being, DJI drones are still legal to buy and fly in the US. But if no national security agency initiates and completes the audit required by law, expect to see a ban on new models in late 2025. Existing owners might still be able to use their drones, but support and future updates could be cut off.

The impact of that would be huge, both for DJI and its customers. Speaking to Rest Of World, Elsa Kania, a researcher at the Center for a New American Security, said “Among the downsides of a ban are the near-term impacts on a range of users and consumers, considering DJI’s comparative advantage relative to most competitors in price and performance.”

So the threat isn’t imaginary. Whether it comes to pass depends entirely on bureaucratic follow-through. With no guarantee of that happening, US drone users may need to advocate for action if they want to continue buying and flying DJI drones.

That’s exactly why DJI is asking its users to petition their elected representatives, via coalitions like the Drone Advocacy Alliance. But clock's ticking is now getting louder and time is running out ahead of DJI's potential US ban.

• Worried about the DJI drone ban? Fear not – here are the four best DJI alternatives
• DJI says it ‘welcomes’ imminent US drone ban review – here’s why
• Best DJI drone 2025: the finest flying cameras from its impressive range