Join the team this week as they unravel the thrilling spy narrative at the heart of the Deel and Rippling battle. Discover Europe’s strategic plans to diversify its tech infrastructure and get the latest scoop on Google Gemini’s exciting new features.

Plus, our Hot Hardware pick is the ASUS Zenbook DUO laptop, a powerhouse with an Intel Core Ultra 9 processor, 32GB of RAM, and stunning dual 14-inch OLED 3K touchscreens.

The team discusses Framework’s latest range of upgradeable, repairable computers, plus Intel’s new CEO and a company promising faster charging and a longer lifespan for lithium-ion batteries. Our Hot Hardware candidate is the ProtoArc Tri-Fold Keyboard and Mouse, a full-sized desktop set that folds away for easy portability.

The team discusses ongoing cases of legal representatives relying on untrustworthy AI citations – while welcoming research suggesting that AI could help “deprogram” cult members and conspiracy theorists. We also look over Apple’s latest iPad, MacBook Air and Mac Studio models, and ponder how we feel about a new technology designed to neutralise regional accents on support calls. Our Hot Hardware candidate is the Ubiquiti UniFi Express 7, a tiny but powerful internet gateway appliance.

The team discusses the “Make It Fair” campaign, which hopes to see strict rules on the use of copyright material to train AI systems. We also explore Amazon’s new Alexa Plus service, HP’s intentionally slow customer support and the removal of Apple’s data-protection tool in the UK. Our Hot Hardware candidate is the Geekom A6, a tiny but powerful desktop PC.

Your quiz: which member of the PC Pro podcast crew became overexcited about Microsoft’s quantum chip? Who was damning about IT mis-spends by government bodies? Which team member thinks the most exciting thing about Apple’s iPhone 16e is its 5G modem? And who was grumpy about it all? As a clue, you have Jon, Barry, Tim and Rois to choose from. Plus, our Hot Hardware of the week is a NAS drive one podcaster bought that now includes 184TB of usable storage. But no prizes for guessing that one.