Here’s how to know whether it’s cause for concern.

Why does my laptop sound like a jet engine?

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Sunday night, users of Meta’s AI assistant Muse started getting a strange error message when they tried to buy goods on Amazon. As spotted by GeekWire, the error message read: “Continued access by an unauthorized AI agent violates Amazon’s Conditions of Use, to which our customers have agreed.”

In other words, Muse isn’t welcome as a shopper — and anyone trying to buy something on Amazon through the AI agent will have to find it somewhere else.

It’s easy to see the block as a tête-à-tête between tech giants. Amazon has its own cohort of foundation models, after all, along with one of the most popular inference platforms on the internet. As long as they’re under no legal obligation to open the doors to Muse, why would they?

But there are also substantive reasons Amazon might not want to be in the agentic commerce business just yet. If Muse makes a bad order, Amazon is going to be the one to clean it up — dealing with both the angry customer and the angry vendor. Muse has one of the lower hallucination rates, as AI models go, but it’s still pretty far from zero. Even if Amazon sees an opportunity in agent-driven commerce, they may want to wait a few more release cycles before rolling anything out.

OPPO has launched the K14 Lite in India, adding a new budget option to its K Series lineup. The smartphone focuses on long battery life, smooth everyday use, and a bright display. It packs a 7,000mAh battery and a 120Hz display, along with the Unisoc T7250 processor. The K14 Lite also brings IP64 protection, reverse charging, and several AI-powered camera features.

OPPO K14 Lite Specifications and Features

Battery life is one of the OPPO K14 Lite’s main highlights. It carries a 7,000mAh battery designed to last through long daily use. OPPO says the battery retains over 80% capacity after 1,800 charging cycles. It can reportedly deliver up to 26.84 hours of YouTube playback. PUBG Mobile gaming can run for 13.19 hours. The phone supports 15W charging and reverse wired charging for other compatible devices. It runs on the Unisoc T7250 octa-core processor with 4GB LPDDR4X RAM. The phone also gets 64GB UFS 2.2 storage and a 13,700 mm² graphite cooling area.

For viewing, the K14 Lite features a 17.15cm HD+ LCD panel with a 120Hz refresh rate. The display reaches up to 900 nits of peak brightness for clearer outdoor viewing. OPPO also adds Splash Touch, Oily-Hand Touch, and Glove Touch support. The device comes with a 13 MP autofocus rear camera and a 5 MP front camera. Users can choose Portrait mode, Night mode, and Time-lapse mode for different photo styles. The phone also has AI Eraser, AI Clear Face, and AI Smart Image Matting 2.0. This phone is splash-proof and dustproof, with an IP64 certification. It also has an attractive Feather Textured Finish.

Price and Availability in India

OPPO has released its new phone, K14 Lite, in India starting at Rs 16,999. This price holds for the 4GB + 64GB storage option. Customers will get an instant discount of Rs 1,000 through the selected banking offers. Thus, the effective price becomes Rs 15,999. The offer includes a 3-month No-Cost EMI. It is available on the OPPO e-store and Flipkart in Stone Brown and Feather Purple.and Flipkart in Stone Brown and Feather Purple.

I was not able to test the AI failure detection, as none of my 30-plus prints failed (aside from a couple of mismeasurements on my end), but I did have occasion to view through the 1080p camera—if you download the free Bambu Handy app, it will store a little time-lapse video of your object being printed, which is fascinating to watch.

In Living Color

The “Combo” in the name refers to the Automatic Material System (AMS) that sits on top of the printer. (You can also buy it separately at $299.) It holds four spools of filament that auto-feed to your project—a game changer if you’re printing something with multiple colors. Without it, a multicolor print would necessitate stopping the print, removing the spool of filament, and installing a new one on the side. For the P2S, the AMS also has the ability to dry the filament—this removes any absorbed ambient moisture that would create steam when heated and mess up your print.

The AMS add-on allows for seamless multicolor prints.

Photograph: Kat Merck

I tested the P2S on the West Coast in late summer, when the humidity was very low, so my filament stayed below 40 percent relative humidity, according to the built-in hygrometer—it didn’t need drying. However, if you live in a humid region, springing for the AMS will be a massive time-saver.

With the P1S, if you needed to swap out a different nozzle, it was something of an ordeal—you basically have to unplug everything and take apart the assembly with screws. On the P2S, the front of the nozzle head is magnetic and pops right off—simply unclip the old nozzle and clip in the new one. Another massive improvement if you find yourself swapping nozzles often.

The P1S’s automatic nozzle cleaning function that “poops” filament blobs out the back of the machine is still in effect on the P2S. I’d been warned, but I was still surprised to see the amount of detritus it left on the floor, especially during multi-color prints. I highly recommend that a “poop chute” or collection basket be one of your first prints. (And there are plenty of fun designs for using the waste filament blobs once they’ve accumulated, from creative games to a “poop Atlas” filament waste world map.)

Do You Really Need One?

Yes, unless you need a dual-nozzle printer or a commercial-grade unit that can also laser cut and engrave—features this printer doesn’t offer. The ability to print and customize useful household and garage objects, art projects, and toys easily and quickly—with minimal fuss—makes the P2S worth every penny. This is doubly so if you have some basic engineering skills, as importing files into Bambu Studio is a cinch.

Bambu Lab-brand filaments start at about $15 a roll with spool. Note that we flagged some app inconsistencies when using non-Bambu filaments with the P1S, but I did not have any non-Bambu filaments on hand to test in the P2S, so I can’t vouch for whether this issue has been fixed.

Adding an electric motor to a kayak, inflatable, canoe, or compact fishing boat can provide powered propulsion without requiring the owner to buy a purpose-built electric vessel. For some boaters, that may mean an easier journey across a lake or less paddling between fishing spots. For others, the added weight, limited runtime, and need to recharge may outweigh the convenience.

The decision depends less on whether electric propulsion is available and more on how the boat is normally used. Short, predictable outings

close to shore present different requirements from long journeys, heavy loads, or trips involving strong currents and changing weather.

That possibility is especially relevant in a boating market filled with existing vessels. Pre-owned boats accounted for 79.7% of U.S. unit sales in 2025, according to figures from the National Marine Manufacturers Association. Many owners considering electric propulsion are therefore deciding whether it can work with a boat they already have.

Small Boats Make Interesting Retrofit Candidates

Compact recreational craft generally require less propulsion than boats intended for high speeds or long-distance travel. An angler moving between nearby fishing spots, for example, has different power needs from someone expecting to travel under motor power for several hours.

Electric motors may be particularly useful when they supplement, rather than replace, the boat’s usual form of propulsion. A kayak owner might paddle for much of an outing and use the motor to cross open stretches of water. On a small inflatable, electric propulsion can provide another option without the need to carry gasoline.

Boats that spend much of their time in storage may also benefit from removable equipment. A detachable motor can be left at home when it is unnecessary and removed before the boat is transported or stored. However, owners still need to consider whether the mounting point, battery, cables, and controls are suitable for their particular craft.

Power Ratings Do Not Tell the Whole Story

Comparing electric and gasoline outboards is not always straightforward. Gas motors are commonly described in horsepower, while electric systems may list watts, kilowatts, voltage, thrust, and battery capacity. None of those figures alone reveals exactly how a motor will perform on a particular boat.

The same motor can behave differently depending on the boat’s total weight, hull design, load distribution, and operating conditions. Wind, waves, and current can increase the amount of power needed, while a

heavily loaded craft may move more slowly or use its available energy faster.

Manufacturers are increasingly designing removable electric systems for compact boats. For example, the Argoseeker electric outboard from LiTime comes in configurations for different sizes of recreational craft, with separate LiFePO₄ battery options and a clamp-on mounting design. Products of this kind illustrate the broader range of retrofit options now available, although buyers still need to match any motor and battery system to the boat’s dimensions, weight limits, mounting arrangement, and expected use.

For that reason, the boat and the planned journey are more useful starting points than an isolated power figure on a product page.

Runtime Requires Realistic Planning

Battery capacity helps estimate how long an electric motor may run, but maximum theoretical runtime rarely reflects a complete day on the water.

Energy consumption changes with motor speed, boat weight, weather, current, and the efficiency of the overall system.

A motor operating below maximum power may run considerably longer than it would at full output. Even so, owners should allow a margin for the return journey and for conditions that could require more power than expected. Manufacturer estimates can provide a starting point, but they should not be treated as a guarantee of range in every situation.

More capacity can extend runtime, but larger batteries also add weight and occupy space. Those compromises become especially noticeable on a kayak, canoe, or compact inflatable, where carrying capacity and available room are limited. A setup that promises a long runtime may be impractical if it makes the boat difficult to balance, launch, transport, or paddle.

Installation Affects Handling

Electrical compatibility is only one part of a successful retrofit. The boat also needs an appropriate mounting point, and the combined weight of the motor, battery, and related equipment must remain within its limits. Owners should follow the boat and motor manufacturers’ guidance rather than assuming a universal mount will suit every hull.

Weight distribution matters on small craft because even a relatively compact battery or motor can change how the boat sits in the water. Concentrating equipment at the bow or stern may affect stability and handling, so the battery’s position should be considered alongside that of the passenger, gear, and motor.

Control placement can influence the layout as well. Some systems use a conventional tiller, while others separate the controls from the motor. The appropriate arrangement depends on where the operator can sit comfortably while maintaining balance and controlling the boat safely.

Charging Becomes Part of Trip Planning

Gasoline-powered outboards can be refueled relatively quickly wherever fuel is available. Electric propulsion introduces a different routine based

on battery capacity, charging time, and access to a suitable power source.

That routine may be easy to accommodate for someone taking a kayak to a nearby lake. The battery can be charged at home, used for intermittent propulsion during the outing, and recharged after the boat returns.

Longer or more remote journeys require greater caution. The operator needs enough usable capacity for the planned route, the return trip, and any unexpected changes in weather or water conditions. Carrying a larger or spare battery may extend the available range, but it also increases weight and takes up space.

Boaters should also check local rules before installing or using a motor. Adding powered propulsion can affect how a craft is classified, registered, or permitted in some locations, even if it was originally designed as a paddle boat.

Usage Determines Whether the Tradeoff Works

Electric retrofits tend to make the most sense for compact boats used over moderate, predictable distances, particularly when the motor supplements paddling or provides occasional assistance. Quiet operation, removable equipment, and the absence of onboard gasoline may add to their appeal for some recreational users.

The tradeoffs become more significant when a boat carries heavy loads, routinely travels long distances, encounters demanding conditions, or spends extended periods away from charging. In those situations, a conventional outboard or another propulsion arrangement may remain more practical.

Retrofitting does not eliminate the need to assess the boat as a complete system. Motor output, battery capacity, weight, mounting, controls, water conditions, and charging access all affect whether electric propulsion will be useful. For the right type of outing, however, an electric motor can add powered assistance to a small boat without fundamentally changing how the owner uses it.

Digital Trends partners with external contributors. All contributor content is reviewed by the Digital Trends editorial staff.

While Silicon Valley is spending billions to make AI agents shop for us, the man who pioneered Apple’s retail stores thinks the industry is overestimating how much of shopping people will hand over to machines — and believes physical stores will continue to thrive.

Ron Johnson, 66, has heard predictions about the demise of physical retail before. He joined Apple in 2000 to build its retail business as online shopping was beginning to take off, and went on to help create a store network that became central to how Apple sells its products and connects with customers.

“AI is a new technology that will improve the online shopping experience,” Johnson said in an interview. “But I don’t know that it’s going to change which way we shop.”

Johnson’s view comes as some of the world’s biggest tech companies are trying to push AI deeper into shopping, betting that agents can automate more of how we find and buy items — a concept commonly called agentic commerce. Google is making that push with its Universal Commerce Protocol, a standard designed to help AI agents take consumers from product discovery to checkout. OpenAI, meanwhile, is turning ChatGPT into a shopping destination where users can research, compare, and, in some cases, even buy products without leaving the chatbot.

Asked whether he could imagine someone letting an agent choose and buy a $1,000 or $2,000 laptop without ever visiting a website or store, Johnson was unequivocal: “Honestly, nobody’s going to do that.”

Buying a laptop, he argued, is too personal a purchase to simply delegate to an AI agent. Buyers want to feel its weight, see the display and decide which size works for them. AI may narrow the choices, Johnson told TechCrunch. He added that many consumers would still want to experience the product themselves before spending that kind of money.

“AI will never be able to have you physically experience a product,” Johnson said. Instead, he expects agents to better inform consumers before they walk into a store. “They’ll just become more informed shoppers when they come to the store.”

Johnson’s conviction stems from a decision Apple made more than two decades ago. Apple’s physical stores, he said, were designed not only as places to buy Macs, but also as places where people could try products, learn how to use them, and return for help when something went wrong.

Some of those bets are revisited in Shop Different: How Retail Revealed Apple’s Genius, Johnson’s new book about building Apple’s retail operations alongside Steve Jobs. Competitors, he said, borrowed Apple’s glass-heavy design, open layouts, and even versions of the Genius Bar, but often missed the people.

“The secret sauce for Apple has always been its people, the people in the store, and how they treat the customer,” Johnson said.

Apple Store employees are not paid on commission, Johnson said, unlike the sales culture common across much of retail. The idea, he said, was to remove the pressure to sell and instead have employees figure out what a customer actually needed.

After leaving Apple, Johnson took over J.C. Penney in 2011 with an ambitious plan to reinvent the struggling department-store chain. He was ousted less than two years later after sales plunged.

Johnson now says he tried to change too much, too quickly, without bringing employees and customers along. Apple’s stores had effectively been a startup that evolved alongside the company’s products. J.C. Penney, on the other hand, was a turnaround that required a different approach.

“I applied a startup mentality to what needed to be a turnaround transformation,” he recalled.

Johnson later returned to the startup world, founding Enjoy Technology, an e-commerce company that brought technology products and setup services directly to customers’ homes. The startup filed for bankruptcy in 2022 and sold substantially all of its assets to Asurion.

For all his skepticism about how AI will reshape shopping, Johnson remains bullish on the technology itself. “I’m a real believer in AI. I’m an AI optimist,” he said.

He believes Jobs would have embraced AI, too, but not as a substitute for human judgment. “There’s no substitute for human intuition,” Johnson said, recalling Jobs’ belief in bringing smart people together to debate problems and find new ways of looking at them.