Jensen’s replacement, a 5-star MacBook, and other tech intrigue from PCWorld sister sites | usagoldmines.com

It’s time for PCWorld to flex its friendships. TechCrunch, Macworld, Tech Advisor — they’re all part of Foundry, the same media company that owns PCWorld. Add in CIO, Computerworld, and Foundry’s other business-to-business brands, and we have a bubbling cauldron of curiosity-piquing tech coverage.

Intrigued? I’m the editorial director in charge of Foundry’s consumer coverage, and these are the stories I think you should read this week.

TechCrunch editor-in-chief Connie Loizos wrote a provocative — and self-described “highly unscientific” — list of possible successors to disgraced Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang’s vacated throne. The candidates range from highly unlikely (AMD’s Lisa Su) to Andrew Bell (an Nvidia insider who has the chip pedigree Team Green needs right now). Amanda Silberling also compiled a great timeline of the entire sordid Jensen mess.

BTW, I asked ChatGPT to give me a “gate” descriptor for Jensen’s very public meltdown — I thought it would be ironic to get an answer powered by Nvidia silicon. So, I’m now calling it Leathergate. Let’s make Leathergate happen.

Turning next to Macworld, senior editor Roman Loyola wrote an exhaustive review of the MacBook Pro with PROLED XDR Display, and he liked it to the tune of a very rare 5-star score. Does this make your blood boil, PCWorld reader? Tweet back at Macworld and let Roman know.

And here’s another tantalizing take from the Apple universe: Contributor Mahmoud Itani argues that HomeView is “Apple’s first post-iPhone device.” The central thesis: This odd smart home hub is “built for a future when Apple’s iconic handset doesn’t exist.” Fair enough, Mahmoud. Have your day in court.

Coming in hot from Tech Advisor — the Foundry site that thinks phones are the future — contributor Jon Mundy explains why the Motorola Signature 27 is “the most exciting phone of 2026.” Jon did some deep testing, and found it has some very cool camera tech. And display tech. And tactile design.

CIO is, well, for CIOs, C-Suite. Those guys. But here’s a story I think anyone, who works in any company, can wrap his or her head around: Senior writer Grant Gross published a report on how CEOs aren’t pleased with their companies’ incremental AI rollouts.

One key section really caught my eye: “Nearly two-thirds [of CEOs surveyed by IT advisory services provider Avanade] say AI has not yet delivered returns that justify their investment and effort.” And so sets up the debate between business leaders who want better/faster/stronger AI rollouts, and employees who feel AI has its place, but shouldn’t be shoehorned everywhere just for the sake of saying, “Yeah… but we did AI.”

Finally, let’s end with maybe a bigger mess than Leathergate. Well, at least it’s a mess we all felt directly. Computerworld published a great account of Microsoft’s struggles to correct its big M365 meltdown, which took down Outlook and other services around the world this Thursday.

You felt the pain, right? Or was it more like pleasure? We could all use a bit less Outlook in our lives.