Unlike men’s wrestling, the women’s wrestling division has been on a never-ending process of revolution, where the performers constantly battle to make themselves a part of the main event. Their situation started to change for the better during the mid-2010s, when the Divas Revolution began. However, the situation for the women’s locker room was quite […]
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APPLE created an eerily-realistic virtual clone of me using AI in a matter of seconds.
I took a trip to the Apple Park HQ in California where I was able to make a brand new “Persona” – a lifelike simulation of my head and hands that I can use online.
It’s meant to be used for making FaceTime calls or hanging out online while donning the Apple Vision Pro headset.
After all, people I’m calling can’t see my actual face because it’s covered in a great big pair of goggles – so a Persona can mimic my movements instead.
Personas have been around since the headset launched back in February 2024, but Apple has just given them a major upgrade to add way more detail in the new visionOS 26 update.
And when I met with Apple to try it out, it captured every part of my noggin in excruciating detail. But one part is totally faked – can you tell from the clip above?
Right now, the only way to create a Persona is with an Apple Vision Pro.
That’s an expensive “spatial computer” – effectively a mixed-reality headset for playing with apps that float in front of your eyes – that costs about £3,500/$3,500.
You start the process, remove the headset, spin it around, and let it scan your face.
It’ll make you blink, smile, and turn your head from side to side.
And in a matter of seconds, you’ve got a virtual 3D rendering of your face created using AI tech that can mimic your movements while wearing the headset.
It means if someone calls me up on video, they don’t have to stare at a lifeless avatar – and can enjoy my lifelike Persona instead.
The new Persona is infinitely more realistic than the old one. When the new look was announced on stage during Apple’s WWDC 2025 event earlier this week, it got a big reaction from the crowd.
“Taking advantage of industry-leading volumetric rendering and machine learning technology, the all-new Personas now have striking expressivity and sharpness,” Apple said.
“Offering a full side profile view, and remarkable accurate hair, lashes, and complexion.”
It’s genuinely very impressive, and I think it captures my face pretty well.
My colleague Jamie Harris reckons it’s made me look a bit old – but I was pretty jet-lagged, so maybe my Persona was reflecting my tiredness.
In any case, it’s pretty much bang on.
But if you look closely, there are two parts of me that are totally faked.
The first is my glasses, which isn’t a part of my body – so it doesn’t really count.
Instead, you get to pick from a selection of 1,000 different glasses variants.
The second part of me that was faked was…my tongue.
Yes, the tongue you see my sticking out in the video was not mine.
I was curious to try it, as the headset didn’t scan my tongue, so I wondered what would happen if I unleashed it in the name of journalism.
And it turns out that the Apple Vision Pro fills in a vaguely appropriate human tongue.
It knows you’re sticking out your tongue (and the other facial movements you’re making) thanks to internal cameras on the headset.
So you can grin with teeth or without, raise both eyebrows or just one, and shake your head from side to side. I’m totally in control of my Persona – the only “AI” involved is in creating the fake face, but the movements are my own.
The hardware details you're looking for...
Storage: 256GB / 512GB / 1TB
Display: Micro OLED 3D display system (23 million pixels)
Refresh Rates: 90Hz / 96Hz / 100Hz
Processor: 8-core M2 CPU (with 10-core GPU) + R1 coprocessor
Camera:
Sensors:
Audio:
Battery: Up to 2 hours of general use / 2.5 hours of video watching
Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6 / Bluetooth 5.3
Input:
Supported Input Accessories:
Weight: 600 to 650 grams (21.2 to 22.9 ounces)
It’s extremely impressive, but there’s an obvious downside: very few people can make Personas right now.
They’re totally tied to the Apple Vision Pro, which is financially out of reach for most people.
But this is a sign of things to come.
Eventually, these types of headsets won’t cost so much – and won’t be as massive on your face.
Just look at Meta‘s Orion prototype glasses, which I tested out a few weeks ago in London.
They don’t have the same visual quality as an Apple Vision Pro, and they’ll be wildly expensive, but they’re basically only a little larger than a regular pair of glasses.
You can imagine in the not-too-distant-future, these types of lifelike avatars will only become more important.
Think of a future where smartphones are increasingly less common as people switch to “spatial computers” on their faces.
They’ll be able to scan what you see, take pictures wherever you go, and let you make video calls beamed directly to your eyes.
When we get to that point, tech like Personas will become an essential part of video calling.
And if they look this good now, imagine how realistic they’ll be in 10 years.
Here's what you'll pay...
In the United Kingdom:
Apple Vision Pro 256GB / 512GB / 1TB – £3,499 / £3,699 / £3,899
Zeiss Optical Inserts (optional) Readers / Prescription – £99 / £149
AppleCare+ protection – £499
In the United States:
Apple Vision Pro 256GB / 512GB / 1TB – $3,499 / $3,699 / $3,899
Zeiss Optical Inserts (optional) Readers / Prescription – $99 / $149
AppleCare+ protection – $499
A BUDGET-FRIENDLY buy can help to give your bedroom a luxury hotel finish.
This affordable Ikea item is easy to install and will instantly transform your home.
In a viral video, TikTok user Byluinterior used the item to transform her bedroom.
She described the hack as “the easiest, cheapest way to get this luxurious hotel curtain look from Ikea“.
The interior design enthusiast revealed that she used Vidga Gliders and Hooks to level up her window area.
She explained that she used both the glider and hook to give her curtains extra length.
You can pick up a 24-pack of Vidga gliders and hooks for just £3 from Ikea.
These can be installed into your curtain railing, using the hook to attach the netting into the individual gliders.
The hooks and gliders make it easier to move and arrange your curtains.
And according to the experts at Ikea, many pleats “tend to give a more refined and formal expression” while fewer pleats “create a more casual look”.
So you can choose which finish you prefer by adding as many curtain hooks as pleats you want.
Interior design experts have previously discussed the timeless look of full length curtains.
“Sleek and stylish floor-to-ceiling curtains are perfectly befitting in a contemporary aesthetic,” the pros at Spiffy Stools said.
This style can also help to “elongate your room optically”, helping to draw the eye upwards.
For anyone with lower ceilings, this can be a great hack for transforming your space.
According to the TikToker, the end result looks like something straight out of a hotel room.
Her video, which has received more than 1.5 million times, received high praise from her fellow social media users.
They shared their thoughts on the interior design hack in the comments section.
“This is such a good hack! Love it!” wrote one impressed TikTok user.
“I got every item you put up, hope it’s looks exactly the same. Love it,” said another viewer.
“Love this idea, floor to ceiling would look even more high end,” commented a third person.
THE car finance mis-selling scandal is everywhere, with motorists queuing up to claim a share of what could be billions of pounds in compensation.
It’s claimed that dodgy car dealers were pocketing extra cash from high-interest car loans, leaving drivers worse off.
Check if you could claim for mis-sold car finance below
There’s an upcoming court case that will put this to the test. If successful, anyone with a car finance agreement signed between 2007 and 28 January 2021 could make a claim.
Could you be in line for some car loan compensation cash?
In this in-depth article, Sun Motors experts will explain what the car finance misselling scandal is and why it matters to you. We’ll also show you how you can register a claim through trusted provider My Claim Group.
The majority of cars sold in the UK are bought with finance agreements. These loans enable drivers to pay a deposit and then spread the cost of a new vehicle over several years.
It was discovered that car dealers, acting as loan brokers, earned a commission based on the interest rate charged to the buyer for Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) and Hire Purchase agreements. These cover about 40% of all car finance agreements.
The higher the interest rate charged to the consumer, the more commission the dealer made.
Basically, car dealers were incentivised to make loan agreements with higher interest rates.
The practice, known as discretionary commission arrangements (DCAs), has left many drivers paying hundreds and even thousands of pounds more for their vehicles.
The practice was banned by the UK’s money regulator, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in 2021.
The FCA is also exploring where mis-selling took place on non-discretionary finance agreements, where car dealers didn’t set the interest rates. It’s less likely (but not out of the question) that these loans will also be part of this mis-selling scandal.
Check if you could claim for mis-sold car finance below
Here’s a basic timeline of the current car finance misselling legal situation.
Want to make a car finance mis-selling claim? It’s easier with MyClaimGroup. Here’s a step-by-step guide to follow:
…and that’s it.
My Claim Group will take it from here. You’ll receive an update on whether you’re eligible to make a claim, the status of the claim and the outcome.
It’s that simple.
If you have had more than one finance agreement, you can make multiple claims.
If the answer to these questions is yes, then you could be eligible to make a claim for car finance mis-selling.
Just because you bought a car on finance, it doesn’t automatically mean it was sold with a DCA.
Here are some more questions you’ll need to answer to confirm you’re eligible:
If you have the finance paperwork or know who your lender is, you can find out whether you were sold finance with a DCA.
Don’t want the hassle? Contact My Claim Group.
If you’re wondering if all this applies to you, here’s how to find out.
If you bought a car on finance between 2007-2021, you could have a claim.
The easiest and quickest way to check if you’re eligible to apply for compensation is to join one of the group claims against lenders.
My Claim Group is one of the leading Claim Management firms representing thousands of drivers on a no-win, no-fee basis**.
The initial mis-selling scandal emerged after the FCA began investigating Barclays, says Which?.
Some of the companies caught up in the finance scandal include high-street giants Lloyds, Santander and Barclays as well as Close Brothers.
Don’t worry if you don’t know or can’t remember who provides your car loan, My Claim Group can do all this for you.
The finance sector is taking this very seriously, with estimates for the total cost of compensation an eye-watering £16bn, says Which?.
The massive figures represent the fact that DCAs were in place for almost 15 years, and could cover millions of loans.
The situation is changing and there are several possible outcomes.
If the Supreme Court sides with borrowers, the average compensation should be around £1,000**.
However, the precise amount depends on the amount of money borrowed and interest rates, so some could expect much higher payouts.
Compensation could be paid on any loan agreement that has been mis-sold.
This means you may be able to make multiple claims if you have owned cars and paid loans during this period.
Check if you could claim for mis-sold car finance below
The Supreme Court is expected to make a decision on the car finance mis-selling scandal at some point in 2025. We can’t be more precise than that at the moment.
Don’t worry, you won’t miss the announcement. This is likely to be big news for the public (and potentially bad news for the banks)
Yes, it’s important that you register your claim as soon as possible. The sooner you get your claim in, the quicker you could get any compensation that you are due.
The good news is that registering your claim is simple and takes a few minutes.
If you think you’ve been mis-sold car finance, the first step is to contact the company that gave you the finance. If you’re not happy with their final reply, you can take your complaint to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS).
But be aware: you might have to wait a while for that reply. Because of the sheer number of claims, the FCA says companies no longer need to respond within eight weeks.
Now, finance companies don’t have to reply to complaints about commission until 4 December 2025.
If you’re unhappy with the response, or you don’t receive one, you’ll also get more time to take your complaint to the FOS. Normally, you’d have six months after getting a final response. For these complaints, you’ll now have 15 months, or until 29 July 2026, whichever is later.
As we’ve explained above, you can do this all yourself if you’ve got the time and the
MyClaimGroup will ask for some details about you, your name, current address and any previous addresses. This will kick off the claim process. You’ll then be contacted with information on eligibility and how you can join My Claim Group.
Check if you could claim for mis-sold car finance below
Car finance mis-selling wasn’t about the make or model of vehicle, but about how the dealer operated.
Before 2021, car finance really was the Wild West and it’s a complicated situation that’s rapidly changing.
The only way to check if you are the victim of mis-selling is to check your finance agreements, contact your lender, or work with a company like My Claim Group.
No, your age will have no impact on your ability to make a claim and the compensation that you might receive.
Martin Lewis has confirmed that you can make a claim for a deceased relative who bought a car on a finance agreement if they’re eligible.
Making a car-selling compensation claim will have no impact on your credit score. Your credit score will have no impact on the amount of compensation that you could receive.
Good credit or bad credit, you can make a car finance mis-spelling claim if you took out a credit agreement between 2007 and the end of January 2021.
Check if you could claim for mis-sold car finance below
My Claim Group is a trading name of the Claims Protection Agency Ltd, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA No. 836470). *My Claim Group will undertake a free check at no cost to you on your behalf to assess if you may have a vehicle finance claim. *** If you proceed, our panel solicitors work on a no win, no fee basis (subject to exclusions, for full details click on: https://myclaimgroup.co.uk/no-win-no-fee). Solicitor fees are up to 36% inc VAT. We receive a fee after a successful payout or a referral fee from your solicitor and this does not affect the compensation you will receive. You do not need to use a claims management company to make a claim; you can do this yourself for free by contacting the car dealership or finance provider and if that is not successful you can complain to the Financial Ombudsman Service. **See link for the FCA reference, solicitor fee tables & average valuations: https://myclaimgroup.co.uk/dca
