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A new Quordle puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Friday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Friday, August 1 (game #1285).

Quordle was one of the original Wordle alternatives and is still going strong now more than 1,100 games later. It offers a genuine challenge, though, so read on if you need some Quordle hints today – or scroll down further for the answers.

Enjoy playing word games? You can also check out my NYT Connections today and NYT Strands today pages for hints and answers for those puzzles, while Marc's Wordle today column covers the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about Quordle today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 4*.

* Note that by vowel we mean the five standard vowels (A, E, I, O, U), not Y (which is sometimes counted as a vowel too).

• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 1.

• No. None of Q, Z, X or J appear among today's Quordle answers.

• The number of today's Quordle answers starting with the same letter is 0.

If you just want to know the answers at this stage, simply scroll down. If you're not ready yet then here's one more clue to make things a lot easier:

• W

• P

• C

• S

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1286, are…

• WARTY
• PUPAL
• CLEAR
• SLICE

Today was a struggle, but my winning streak continues.

Knowing that the top-left word ended A-R-T-Y and having eliminated the word beginning with a T or a P, I had two possibilities left – one starting with W the other with F. Being sensible I chose WARTY, but the alternative was very tempting. 

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1286, are…

• ANIME
• FRUIT
• START
• DECRY

• Quordle #1285, Friday, 1 August: ACTOR, MEALY, WIDTH, ADOBE
• Quordle #1284, Thursday, 31 July: STYLE, VALET, AGONY, ALLOY
• Quordle #1283, Wednesday, 30 July: DEBAR, ADMIN, FOLIO, USAGE
• Quordle #1282, Tuesday, 29 July: BATCH, TOPIC, MURKY, BUNCH
• Quordle #1281, Monday, 28 July: CANDY, TRYST, SHIRT, FORGO
• Quordle #1280, Sunday, 27 July: TRAWL, BALER, PIANO, MINCE
• Quordle #1279, Saturday, 26 July: MUDDY, SAINT, KINKY, POLAR
• Quordle #1278, Friday, 25 July: BONUS, RESIN, CEDAR, MADAM
• Quordle #1277, Thursday, 24 July: AGONY, VERVE, GLEAN, MINUS
• Quordle #1276, Wednesday, 23 July: OZONE, PENCE, ROOMY, WIDER
• Quordle #1275, Tuesday, 22 July: OPTIC, GIDDY, VOCAL, ADULT
• Quordle #1274, Monday, 21 July: KNEED, SNAIL, PINTO, FEAST
• Quordle #1273, Sunday, 20 July: GRACE, COUNT, EGRET, GIANT
• Quordle #1272, Saturday, 19 July: EARLY, CLICK, TRITE, SPREE
• Quordle #1271, Friday, 18 July: CINCH, FOYER, FUDGE, TAFFY
• Quordle #1270, Thursday, 17 July: CRESS, TABOO, POWER, HATER
• Quordle #1269, Wednesday, 16 July: UNCLE, NADIR, REMIT, BROOM
• Quordle #1268, Tuesday, 15 July: VILLA, FLECK, TIGER, CRANE
• Quordle #1267, Monday, 14 July: SURGE, PIZZA, PAPER, POPPY

During an Executive Briefing session for the board members of a luxury brand last year, one question kept popping up – when will we reach singularity? I designed Executive Briefing sessions to inspire and educate senior executives and board members on the latest disruptive trends and how exponential technologies create opportunities for business and revenue generation.

So, it was not a surprise when these questions arose, as it was the hype of the moment and congesting the media coverage of artificial intelligence (AI). However, this is not the right question to ask, particularly considering companies, and the board members taking part in the session, may not even be around when humanity has to reckon with artificial general intelligence (AGI) – systems with human-like cognitive capabilities to generalize knowledge, learn new things, and adapt to various situations.

Before delving into the possibilities of AGI, it would be prudent to first explore the meaning of intelligence in the human context. In my new book, Artificial Intelligence For Business, I delve into the depths of intelligence and its definition, a topic of debate even among experts . Whether we approach it from a psychological or physiological perspective, the understanding and definition of human intelligence remains challenging because of one fundamental variable – the human subject.

Intelligence goes beyond information processing, reasoning and problem-solving. It is the ability to reason, learn from experience, adapt to new situations, and make sense of abstract concepts. More importantly, human intelligence is also guided by our biases, experiences, cultural backgrounds, beliefs, creativity, emotional awareness, and our ability to navigate social dynamics.

These are not just mental capabilities, but are embodied and relational. Our decisions are impacted by goals, value, ethics and intuition formed through lived experiences, making intelligence a complex element that is difficult to define and replicate.

In its current form, artificial intelligence in the most advanced systems, such as large language models or computer vision tools, are common examples of Narrow AI. These are AI systems created to carry out tasks with a high degree of efficiency and operates within predefined rules. It lacks the understanding and adaptability that humans possess. Narrow AI are trained on vast datasets to recognize patterns and generate predictions, but in my view, these systems do not ‘’understand’’ the way humans do.

Intelligent systems do not form context, nor do they possess common sense or emotional insight. It operates based on statistical probabilities and optimizes outputs within boundaries set by the data it is trained on. It simulates intelligence, quickly enough to trick us into believing it is intelligent, but these systems do not experience intelligence. Even the most powerful systems that exist today are simply tools - albeit impressive tools - but are not fully aware of the outputs, goals and implications they create.

Also referred to as Strong AI, AGI represents the pinnacle of artificial intelligence research. AGI can understand and learn intellectual tasks much like a human being and enables machines to apply knowledge and skills across different contexts. This means solving unfamiliar problems without any prior training, transferring knowledge between domains, reasoning in abstract terms, and continuously adapting.

AGI would be able to write a novel, design a marketing campaign, solve an engineering problem, and give emotional advice, all with the nuance and adaptability of a human. It would be capable of reflection, strategy, and perhaps even self-directed learning. In theory, it could outperform humans at virtually any intellectual task. Although we may believe many of the existing systems today offer these capabilities, what we are experiencing is the incredible speed of processing vast data, uncovering patterns in the data, and producing commonly accepted outputs to respond to requests. True AGI would be able to perform any intellectual tasks that a human can, equipped with understanding and reasoning required to navigate a range of different challenges.

The value of AGI can be truly transformative for humanity, and it is no wonder technology leaders seem to be in constant pursuit of this next frontier. It holds a promise of exponential development across industries, and the potential return on investment so enormous, that every technology company wants to hold the key to AGI. But the uncertainty and risks that come with such systems can also be unimaginable.

At the center of AGI is a potent mix of fear, uncertainty, economic potential, ambition and ideology. The promise of AGI is not just another technological milestone, it could be considered a foundational shift that could unlock solutions to humanity’s most urgent challenges and the potential rewards are staggering. AGI supporters view it as a potential force multiplier, able to accelerate scientific discovery, optimise resource distribution, and address climate risks.

Commercial incentives are also compelling. The institution or organization controlling AGI would dominate not only other industries, but also redefine how value is created and destroy its competition in the global market. From a geopolitical dimension, AGI is viewed as a strategic asset and weapon of mass disruption that could set global standards, lead in defense innovation, and control critical infrastructure. Additionally, there is an ideological aspect to consider. Selected leaders in the global technology community genuinely believe AGI could elevate humanity for the better, while others are driven by personal gain and legacy.

From a psychological and societal perspective, AGI forces us to confront the fundamental question of what it means to be human. Can we create machines or systems that can rival our own mind? Can we replicate, and potentially even surpass, the very thing that makes us human? And if machines can learn, create and think like us, what would our role be in this new ecosystem? How could we aspire to govern such systems to ensure human dignity, purpose and autonomy are fully retained? This is a formidable challenge, and in my view, unrealistic in the near future.

For senior leaders and board members contemplating these questions, my advice is to focus on the more pressing question of how current and rapidly-developing AI solutions are impacting industries and businesses. This, in itself, is a reality that is transforming the world as we know it.

We've featured the best AI chatbot for business.

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

Let’s be honest: there are few things more frustrating than standing in a queue – whether you’re a customer or a business owner watching sales slip away. Those long lines are bad for morale, and they’re really bad for business. But a new technology – SoftPOS – is transforming the way retailers tackle this challenge.

SoftPOS, or software point of sale, turns any standard smartphone or tablet into a secure, fully functioning payment terminal. No extra hardware. No cables. Just an app.

As someone who’s spent years at the crossroads of payments and retail tech, I can say with confidence: this development is a huge leap forward.

It’s wild to think that the average Brit spends over a year of their life queuing. In the US, people spend a staggering 37 billion hours annually in line. That time adds up to serious financial leakage and sheer inconvenience for everyone involved.

Every minute a customer waits increases the likelihood of abandonment, complaints, or worse, defection to a more efficient competitor. It means more pressure on in-store teams, it causes unhappy customers to walk out of the door – with the merchant looking forlornly at yet another lost sale. Yet many businesses are still stuck with outdated POS terminals that slow down service.

Our recent research at Tribe revealed that 28% of merchants are using legacy POS systems that can’t even accept modern payment methods like digital wallets or QR codes. That means a huge number of businesses are quite literally turning away sales because their tech can’t keep up with how people want to pay.

And it’s not just about sales. Outdated payments systems contribute to:

• Lost upsell opportunities at the checkout (30% of merchants cite this as their top challenge)
• Costly maintenance and compliance headaches
• A lack of real-time analytics, leaving merchants flying blind when it comes to customer behavior

With SoftPOS, businesses can deploy queue-busting strategies instantly. Think mobile staff roaming the floor, checking stock, cross-selling, and accepting payment on the spot and processed in seconds. Think outdoor venues, market stalls, food trucks, and tradespeople taking payments with a single tap at the point of service. It’s payment anywhere, anytime.

For mobile workers, gig economy sellers, and pop-up vendors, this flexibility is golden. Even in traditional retail environments, it’s a shift in how payments are handled. Instead of relying on one fixed terminal at the counter, you can equip your team to take payments from anywhere in the store.

One of the questions I get asked most often is: “But is it secure?” And the answer is a resounding yes. SoftPOS uses the same PCI DSS-compliant standards and encryption as traditional chip-and-PIN systems.

With tokenization, real-time fraud detection, and standards like PCI MPoC now in play, SoftPOS matches – and in many cases exceeds – the security provided by legacy systems, such as secure PIN-on-glass transactions, making higher-value purchases fully seamless.

SoftPOS isn’t limited to large retailers. It’s arguably even more revolutionary for micro and small and medium business (SMB) owners, who until now faced barriers to entry with traditional POS tech:

• SoftPOS is cheaper. No hardware terminals, no costly software licenses, no hidden maintenance fees.
• It’s faster to deploy. Download the app and go live the same day.
• It’s modular and scalable. Use it standalone or integrate with existing systems without disruption.

Why spend thousands on bulky hardware when your phone can do the job just as well? There are no hardware costs, no installation delays, no lengthy onboarding. Download the app, and you’re ready to start taking payments.

We’re seeing huge take-up from independent traders, personal service providers, and mobile vendors. They love the simplicity, the low cost, and the ability to offer customers a smooth, modern experience.

Beyond cutting queues and costs, SoftPOS opens up a deeper value stream: data. We hear a lot about the desire and need for better customer insight, and SoftPOS delivers. Traditional POS terminals are notoriously bad at providing useful, real-time data. In contrast, SoftPOS integrates directly with customer relationship management (CRM) systems, loyalty platforms, and analytics dashboards.

That integration helps businesses track customer habits, tailor offers and create meaningful personalized experiences. In our research, 63% of merchants said hyper-personalization would help grow their business. SoftPOS puts those capabilities within easy reach.

SoftPOS is also a huge opportunity for acquiring banks (i.e., financial institutions that process payments on behalf of businesses) and payment service providers, or PSPs (i.e., third parties that help merchants accept payments more easily).

SoftPOS solutions like Tap on Phone offer a more agile, lower-cost path to meeting merchant needs for these players – particularly in emerging or underserved markets. As the payments landscape evolves, tools like these are forming the backbone of more responsive and connected merchant services.

Ask yourself:

• How many customers am I losing to slow queues or poor checkout experiences?
• What payment methods am I missing out on?
• Could my team sell more if they weren’t tethered to the till?
• Would troves of new data help me upsell? (The answer here is pretty obvious)

Many of these issues can be addressed with just one app and a phone. That’s the real power of SoftPOS: low-friction payments that fit the way modern businesses operate. Whether it’s through a pilot or gradual rollout, it’s worth exploring how this technology could fit into your operation.

In a fast-moving, fiercely competitive retail landscape, success depends on improving efficiency, enabling flexible selling, and gaining real-time customer insight. Our research shows that early adopters of SoftPOS are already seeing results – from shorter queues to smoother, more engaging customer experiences.

Those who act now will be better equipped to adapt, grow, and lead in an increasingly digital market. It’s time to leave clunky terminals behind and embrace a simpler, smarter way to take payments.

We've featured the best mobile payment app.

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

Over a year after season 1 aired, Netflix sci-fi series 3 Body Problem season 2 is now in production. A number of new faces, including The Boys’ Claudia Doumit and Ellie De Lange, are joining season 2 as series regulars, with Alfie Allen, David Yip and Jordan Sunshine appearing in recurring roles. John Bradley, Benedict Wong, Liam Cunningham and Jonathan Pryce led the cast the first time around, and almost all of them are set to return (you’ll know why we’ll be missing a few if you’ve seen the existing episodes).

Based on the hit book series by Liu Cixin, the Netflix series follows a group of scientists known as the ‘Oxford Five’ who each experience some kind of unexplained phenomena that lead them to discover an extraterrestrial threat against the world. On top of this, we also jump back in time to China in the 1960s, where a young astrophysicist figures out how to make contact with ‘out there’, starting the chain of events that plunges the world into unknown chaos. As you might have guessed, there are a lot of moving parts in this mystery series.

In fact, there are so many complicated and intricate parts that there’s not a hope on this earth of remembering them all by the time 3 Body Problem season 2 actually gets released. We still don’t know when that might be, and alongside being a disappointment, that’s an issue. You’d have thought Netflix would learn their lesson from the huge waiting gaps between other hits like Stranger Things season 5 and Wednesday season 2, but this instance might actually be even worse.

Back when I first covered 3 Body Problem in early 2024, I was sent to a screening event to watch the first three episodes before they were released. A few hours later, I emerged from the venue without the first clue what I’d actually sat through, and I feel the same way now over 18 months have passed. I cannot stress how complex the main storyline of the show is, and that’s before we get into the B and C plots (translated, they’re the small stories you see in addition to the big overarching one) that exist in the same universe.

Annoyingly, not even the books can help us here because so much has been changed for the Netflix adaptation. All of this means by the time 3 Body Problem season 2 is actually released, the only way to properly get back into the spirit of things is to rewatch all of season 1 in the weeks leading up to new episodes. This isn’t how I particularly want to spend my time, and I’m sure a lot of other subscribers would feel the same way. The cynic in me thinks that Netflix keeping such laboriously long times in between seasons of hit TV shows is designed to make you rebinge what you’ve already seen, but this doesn’t quite work here.

It’s bad enough that we’ve been waiting three years for something like Stranger Things season 5, but at least it has a cult fandom. We’ve had other things to keep us interested in the franchise in the meantime (such as the West End play The First Shadow) and we continually want to know what’s going on with the show’s cast in their real lives. 3 Body Problem has none of these same hooks, so who’s really going to make the effort to pick up where they left off?

In a best case scenario, we’ll be getting 3 Body Problem season 2 in 2026, but I think there will be some significant damage done that’s now unavoidable. By the time posters start appearing in train stations or ominous TikToks arrive, we’ll vaguely remember the show and once being interested in it, before our attention span moves onto something else. I wouldn’t be surprised if viewing figures take a dive because of it, so fingers crossed Netflix changes its ways well before the already-confirmed season 3.

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• DoubleTrouble malware is now hosted on Discord
• The malware still poses as a European bank, so users beware
• It comes with screen recording, “advanced” keylogging, and new UI overlay capabilities

Infamous Android banking trojan DoubleTrouble is now being distributed through Discord-hosted APKs, researchers have said, warning users of a “disturbing trend” towards social media platforms being used as delivery channels for malware.

DoubleTrouble is a well-known banking trojan, named for its ability to hinder static analysis by assigning “nonsensical two-word combinations” to its methods and class names.

In its early days, the malware was distributed via spoofed websites of European banks, and contained basic functionalities such as overlays to steal banking credentials, the ability to capture lock screen information, and keylogging.

However, new findings from Zimperium’s zLabs security team claim the malware evolved, not just in its infostealing capabilities, but also in how it is being distributed.

The recently observed variants also come with screen recording, “advanced” keylogging, and new UI overlay capabilities designed to steal credentials and manipulate infected devices.

As for delivery, DoubleTrouble still runs bogus websites, but the malware itself is hosted within Discord channels.

Once the app is installed, it deploys the actual malware in the form of an extension, or an add-on. It also uses the Google Play icon to hide in plain sight and appear trustworthy.

The final step is to ask for Accessibility Services permissions, which grants it the ability to steal all the necessary information. This is also the usual red flag for Android-borne malware and should always raise suspicion with users.

“As attackers shift to mobile-first strategies and use dynamic delivery methods like Discord to evade traditional defenses, organizations need real-time, on-device protection,” said Kern Smith, VP of Solutions Engineering at Zimperium.

“DoubleTrouble is a stark reminder that mobile threats are growing more evasive and more dangerous, targeting everything from banking credentials to cryptocurrency wallets.”

As usual, the best way to defend against this type of attacks is to only download apps from official repositories, and to keep the device protected with Play Protect and Android security solutions.

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• Foundation season 3 is digging deeper into Demerzel's backstory and current motivations
• The actor portraying her has discussed on the sudden existential crisis she's suffering from
• Demerzel has started unloading her thoughts, feelings, and history to a close confidante

Foundation actor Laura Birn has lifted the lid on the inner turmoil that's gripped Demerzel so far this season.

Speaking to TechRadar ahead of Foundation season 3's launch in early July, Birn explained how events in the Apple TV Original's fourth chapter, as well as what's happened in prior seasons, are causing a crisis of confidence for Empire's usually unflappable robot advisor.

Full spoilers immediately follow for Foundation's story so far, up to and including its most recent entry. turn back now if you're not caught up.

As we've learned throughout the Apple TV+ sci-fi epic's run, Demerzel is the galaxy's last surviving robot. The rest of her race was wiped out after the failed Robot Uprising, which took place centuries before the show's main plot. That defeat also led to Demerzel being reprogrammed by Empire's first ruler Cleon I and forced to serve him, plus his many clones that would follow, as Empire's majordomo.

Foundation's third season has shed further light on one of its most complicated and duplicitous characters. Indeed, during her therapy session-style chats with Zephyr Vorellis (Rebecca Ineson), Demerzel has revealed more about her backstory and even confessed about having a hand in shocking events that we've born witness to in one of the best Apple TV+ shows. Among those revelations are the three rules that all robots originally lived by and Demerzel being the culprit behind the destruction of Trantor's Space Bridge – and the death of countless people – in season 1.

That's not all. After Demerzel came into possession of the Prime Radiant in Foundation's season 2 finale, she's spent the 152 years between seasons learning about psychohistory and how it could stave off Empire's predicted fall. As we learned in Foundation season 3's premiere, though, The Mule's arrival has thrown Hari Seldon's calculations into disarray. Long story short: not only is Empire's race about to be run but, unless The Mule can be stopped, humanity will cease to exist in just four months.

For an android designed to protect the Cleonic Dynasty and ensure Empire's survival, it's easy to see why Demerzel has spent much of this season worrying about what the future holds for her if Empire is no more. After all, she's preconditioned to prevent its ruination. Couple the aforementioned life-threatening issues with the ones I outlined two paragraphs ago, and it's little wonder she's suffering an existential crisis and seeks out a sympathetic ear to gets things off her chest.

"It's a heavy season for," Birn told me. "Her programming has been very straightforward for her until now but, having possession of the Prime Radiant, which offers so much new information, it also makes her question what her programming means and what kind of decision she is able to make. Is there always only one right choice, or are there actually several [she can choose from]?

"She's also carrying all of that baggage by herself," Birn continued. "There's no one in the palace who sees or listens to her, or who's able to empathize with her. There's no one in the galaxy who could because she's the only one left of her species, so it's kind of like she's spiraling inwards. She's felt like she can only try and process this internally, which can be very restricting as an actor.

"That's why she needs to have someone," Birn added. "She needs Vorellis to be someone she can share some of this with and try to unravel the paradox twisting inside her. Will it eventually consume her? You'll have to see."

Foundation season 3's first four episodes are out now on Apple TV+. New chapters will air weekly on one of the world's best streaming services.

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