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Generative AI is exacerbating the problem of online child sexual abuse materials (CSAM), as watchdogs report a proliferation of deepfake content featuring real victims' imagery.
Published by the UK's Internet Watch Foundation (IWF), the report documents a significant increase in digitally altered or completely synthetic images featuring children in explicit scenarios, with one forum sharing 3,512 images and videos over a 30 day period. The majority were of young girls. Offenders were also documented sharing advice and even AI models fed by real images with each other.
"Without proper controls, generative AI tools provide a playground for online predators to realize their most perverse and sickening fantasies," wrote IWF CEO Susie Hargreaves OBE. "Even now, the IWF is starting to see more of this type of material being shared and sold on commercial child sexual abuse websites on the internet."
SEE ALSO: X is developing a tool to block links in replies to cut down on spamAccording to the snapshot study, there has been 17 percent increase in online AI-altered CSAM since the fall of 2023, as well as a startling increase in materials showing extreme and explicit sex acts. Materials include adult pornography altered to show a child’s face, as well as existing child sexual abuse content digitally edited with another child's likeness on top.
"The report also underscores how fast the technology is improving in its ability to generate fully synthetic AI videos of CSAM," the IWF writes. "While these types of videos are not yet sophisticated enough to pass for real videos of child sexual abuse, analysts say this is the ‘worst’ that fully synthetic video will ever be. Advances in AI will soon render more lifelike videos in the same way that still images have become photo-realistic."
In a review of 12,000 new AI-generated images posted to a dark web forum over a one month period, 90 percent were realistic enough to be assessed under existing laws for real CSAM, according to IWF analysts.
Another UK watchdog report, published in the Guardian today, alleges that Apple is vastly underreporting the amount of child sexual abuse materials shared via its products, prompting concern over how the company will manage content made with generative AI. In it's investigation, the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) compared official numbers published by Apple to numbers gathered through freedom of information requests.
While Apple made 267 worldwide reports of CSAM to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) in 2023, the NSPCC alleges that the company was implicated in 337 offenses of child abuse images in just England and Wales, alone — and those numbers were just for the period between April 2022 and March 2023.
Apple declined the Guardian's request for comment, pointing the publication to a previous company decision to not scan iCloud photo libraries for CSAM, in an effort to prioritize user security and privacy. Mashable reached out to Apple, as well, and will update this article if they respond.
Under U.S. law, U.S.-based tech companies are required to report cases of CSAM to the NCMEC. Google reported more than 1.47 million cases to the NCMEC in 2023. Facebook, in another example, removed 14.4 million pieces of content for child sexual exploitation between January and March of this year. Over the last five years, the company has also reported a significant decline in the number of posts reported for child nudity and abuse, but watchdogs remain wary.
Online child exploitation is notoriously hard to fight, with child predators frequently exploiting social media platforms, and their conduct loopholes, to continue engaging with minors online. Now with the added power of generative AI in the hands of bad actors, the battle is only intensifying.
Read more of Mashable's reporting on the effects of nonconsensual synthetic imagery:
Explicit deepfakes are traumatic. How to deal with the pain.
Victims of nonconsensual deepfakes arm themselves with copyright law to fight the content's spread
How to stop students from making explicit deepfakes of each other
If you have had intimate images shared without your consent, call the Cyber Civil Rights Initiative’s 24/7 hotline at 844-878-2274 for free, confidential support. The CCRI website also includes helpful information as well as a list of international resources.
Apple Watch Series 10, also called "Apple Watch 10" and "Apple Watch X" among tech enthusiasts, should be fast approaching if the Cupertino-based tech giant follows its usual release schedule. We're expecting it to launch alongside the iPhone 16 in September.
We're not too far from September, so as you can imagine, the leaks, rumors, and spilled beans have been flooding in. From talks of a new blood pressure monitor to whispers about a new sleep apnea sensor, here's everything we know about the Apple Watch 10.
SEE ALSO: Apple Watch Series 9 vs. SE: I tested both for 13 days Apple Watch 10 release dateAs mentioned, the Apple Watch 10 is expected to drop in September 2024. For reference, here are the release dates for some of the previous-generation Apple Watch devices.
Apple Watch Series 9 - Sept. 12, 2023
Apple Watch Series 8 - Sept. 7, 2022
Apple Watch Series 7 - Oct. 18, 2021
Apple Watch Series 6 - Sept. 15, 2020
Save for the Watch Series 7, which was released in October, all the other smartwatches dropped in September, so we're expecting the same for the Apple Watch 10.
Apple Watch 10 priceThere haven't been any credible leaks about pricing, but Apple Watch 10 is expected to have the same starting price as its predecessor: $399. This is because there haven't been many price hikes for the Apple Watch models in recent years, so we're expecting a similar strategy in 2024.
The Apple Watch Series 10 will likely have an unchanged price tag compared to the Series 9. Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / MashableApple Watch Series 10 (41mm, GPS only) - $399
Apple Watch Series 10 (45mm, GPS only) - $429
Apple Watch Series 10 (41mm, GPS + cellular) - $499
Apple Watch Series 10 (45mm, GPS + cellular) - $529
The Watch Series models have had the same starting price of $399 since the Apple Watch Series 3. (The Apple Watch Series 2 was $369 before its successor was bumped up to $399; and it's been the same price ever since.)
Apple Watch 10 designAccording to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, a reputable source with a respectable track record, the Apple Watch 10 will have a bigger display that's nearly as big as the screen found on the Apple Watch Ultra 2.
The Apple Watch 10 is expected to be bigger and thinner than the Watch Series 9 Credit: Stan Schroeder / MashableFor reference, the display size on the Watch Series 9 is somewhere between 1.6 inches and 1.8 inches, depending on the size you get. The Apple Watch Ultra's display is 1.9 inches big. That being said, Gurman is technically claiming that the Watch 10 will offer a new display size that comes closer to the 2-inch mark.
Gurman's claims echoed a report from Ming-Chi Kuo, another respected Apple analyst, who said that the Apple Watch 10 will feature new sizes: 45mm and 49mm (as opposed to 41mm and 45mm).
You may be wondering, "If the Watch 10 display will be closer to the Apple Watch Ultra 2, does it follow that the Watch Ultra 3 will get a redesign, too?" According to Gurman, the next-generation Apple Watch Ultra will not feature any significant design changes. Keep in mind that the Ultra line is relatively new, getting its debut in 2022.
Kuo also claims that Apple may add a new color of a darker hue to the Apple Watch 10, but the specific color is unclear.
Finally, Gurman claims that the Watch 10 will feature a new magnetic mechanism for bands, making it easier to swap them out for other styles.
Apple Watch 10 new featuresAccording to Gurman, here are the following health tools that Apple has been working on for the Apple Watch:
blood-pressure monitor
sleep apnea sensor
glucose monitor
However, according to Gurman, the blood-pressure sensor has been hitting a couple of snags during testing. So unfortunately, while the Cupertino-based tech giant may have planned to add the new health tool to the Apple Watch 10, it may not make it to the final product. As such, it may be postponed until the Apple Watch 11.
Credit: Stan Schroeder / Mashable"There have been particular concerns about the blood-pressure feature working properly with the new Series 10 design," Gurman said. Even if the new blood-pressure monitor does launch on the Apple Watch 10, it won't be a reliable alternative to the blood-pressure cuff. It's not supposed to give an actual reading. Instead, it will determine your baseline and determine whether your blood pressure is high based on that reference point.
The sleep apnea sensor, which depends on user's blood-oxygen levels, is also facing some challenges. After all, the blood-oxygen tool in its Apple Watch devices has been disabled due to a legal dispute with Masimo Corp.
Apple Watch 10 performanceAs expected, the Apple Watch 10 is getting a new chip, according to Gurman.
Credit: Stan Schroeder / MashableThis new processor will lay the groundwork for some AI-powered features in the future, however, don't expect Apple Intelligence, the company's new suite of AI features, to hit the Apple Watch models anytime soon.
Will the Apple Watch 10 be worth it?If Apple Watch 10 can pull through with at least one new health tool, like sleep apnea detection and blood-pressure monitoring, it will definitely be more helpful for those who want to keep track of interruptive snoring and hypertension. Plus, the Apple Watch 10 has steep competition, considering that the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 already has these features.
If Apple isn't able to fix the snags it's been reportedly dealing with regarding the new health tools, it may be worth it to wait for the Apple Watch 11.
Keep in mind that there is also the Apple Watch Ultra 3 and potentially a new Apple Watch SE to watch out for, too.
Apple Watch Series 9 $329.00 at AmazonThe fourth-generation iPhone SE is set to bring significant upgrades, according to well-known leaker "Ice Universe." As reported by MacRumors, these changes were posted on Chinese blogging site Weibo, and detailed three major additions to the iPhone SE 4.
SEE ALSO: iPhone SE 4: It reportedly borrows features from iPhone 13, iPhone XR iPhone SE 4: 3 biggest upgradesThese are some big upgrades and big news for those who love Apple devices, but don't want to spend a month's rent on a device.
Face IDThe upcoming iPhone SE 4 is rumored to feature Face ID and USB-C, marking a departure from the Touch ID Home button and Lightning port of previous models. These changes align with broader trends in Apple's product line, emphasizing convenience and compatibility with other devices.
Larger OLED DisplayAnother anticipated addition is a larger 6.06-inch OLED display, up from the current model’s 4.7-inch screen. This would be the first time an iPhone SE model features an OLED panel, promising richer colors and better contrast.
Performance BoostFinally, The iPhone SE 4 is expected to offer up to 8GB of LPDDR5 memory, an A18 chip, and an aluminum chassis. Alongside a single rear 48-megapixel camera, the new generation SE should be able to match the performance of the rumored iPhone 16.
The massive global tech outage that occurred on Friday due to an error in an update from the cybersecurity company CrowdStrike may largely be out of the public's mind today. And that's thanks to IT admins and departments around the world who sprung into action to fix the problem that took down many airlines, hospitals, and banks' Windows-based networks.
However, while things may be all and well for consumers, ITs are actually still dealing with getting their company's computers back up and running. As Mashable previously reported, the faulty CrowdStrike update that went out requires a technical fix and direct access to each individual affected device. So, for big organizations, this will take awhile.
But, ITs now have a major assist thanks to an easier recently released fix from Microsoft.
Microsoft's CrowdStrike recovery toolCrowdStrike issued an updated fix soon after the faulty version went out, but for many computers that had automatically installed the update it was too late. Once installed the fix became a manual process that involved booting the computer in Safe Mode to get around the Windows "Blue Screen of Death" and then deleting the update file.
While this could be a bit technical for the average Windows user, it's not a problem for an IT professional. The issue, though, is that this is a time-consuming process: Boot into Safe Mode. Find the update file. Delete. Repeat. It has to be done for every single affected individual machine.
Microsoft's fix, released over the weekend, speeds things up considerably. Yes, the fix still requires manual work on every single computer. But, the more tedious processes are automated.
The recovery tool by Microsoft utilizes a bootable USB drive that logs into a lightweight version of Windows known as Windows Preinstallation Environment or Windows PE. From there, it automatically deletes the CrowdStrike update file that's causing the issue on the affected computer.
As The Verge points out, this saves time as it "avoids having to boot into Safe Mode or a requirement of admin rights on the machine, because the tool is simply accessing the disk without booting into the local copy of Windows."
While a third-party was responsible, the only affected devices were computers running Microsoft's Windows operating system. So, it appears Microsoft felt compelled to act in order to help out its many affected customers.
Microsoft has also provided detailed steps to fixing the CrowdStrike issue on various versions of Windows computers, including details on the USB tool.
SAVE $20: Grab an Amazon Fire TV Soundbar with DTS Virtual:X and Dolby Audio for $99.99, which is a $20 (or 17%) down from a list price of $119.99.
Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire TV Soundbar $99.99 at AmazonAmazon's Prime Day is over, but there are a ton of deals still ongoing, even on Amazon's own products. If you're a fan of Amazon's ecosystem, and own a few Echo or Fire TV devices already, then this Amazon Fire TV Soundbar might be worth your money.
As of July 22, the Amazon Fire TV Soundbar is back to its lowest price of $99.99. That's a $17% discount, knocking off $20 off the list price of $119.99. Good soundbars are expensive, so this Amazon pick which lands under $100 is a great way to add some zest to your home theatre setup.
The key highlight here is that despite the budget price, this soundbar packs in a ton of features. You get dual speakers, which means proper stereo sound. In addition, this has all the Dolby bells and whistles, including Dolby Atmos for deep, crisp sound. You also get support for DTS Virtual:X, which promises three-dimensional virtual audio. What this means is you can expect clear, booming sound that fills your living room.
Picking a soundbar can be difficult because of the number of options available. The Amazon Fire TV soundbar is an easy pick for those who have Amazon Fire TV, letting you control the two devices with a single remote.
SAVE $50: As of today, the Vitamix Explorian Blender is on sale at Amazon for $329.95. That's 13% off the blender's list price of $379.95.
Opens in a new window Credit: Vitamix Vitamix Explorian Blender $329.95 at AmazonIf your happy place is in the kitchen bringing flavors and feasts to life, then you need kitchen appliances that can keep up and work as hard as you do. This professional-grade Vitamix Blender is one of the best places to start if you're leveling up your cooking equipment.
As of today, July 22, the Vitamix Explorian Blender is on sale at Amazon for 13% off, bringing the price down from $379.95 to $329.95. This limited-time deal saves shoppers $50 and makes the premium blender a bit more affordable.
The 48-ounce Vitamix Explorain Blender is an ace in the kitchen: it can swiftly switch from chopping, blending, grinding, emulsifying, and even making hot soups. With variable speed control and different pulse settings, you can harness the Vitamix's power to suit your cooking needs perfectly. Its formidable blades can tackle even the toughest ingredients thanks to their durability. We also appreciate how easy to clean the Vitamix Explorain Blender: you can put it in the dishwasher for a quick clean.
Take your culinary skills to new heights with the help of the Vitamix Explorain Blender when you score today's limited-time deal.
Amazon Prime Day may be over, but that doesn't mean the deals are. The mega retailer is still dropping deals worth adding to your cart a week later. Whether you missed out on the shopping event or you don't want it to end, we've found a few deals you'll want to know about from brands like Apple, HP, Dash, and more.
Here are our top picks for the best Amazon deals of the day on July 22, a week after the official Prime Day shopping extravaganza.
Our top pick Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods Max $382.70 at AmazonThe AirPods Max dropped 28% to their lowest price on record during Prime Day, making them one of our favorite tech purchases during the two-day shopping event. A week later, they're now even cheaper at $382.70. That's a new record-low price for the fancy Apple headset. "The AirPods Max are stupidly comfy, they sound amazing, look good, and play nice with Apple gadgetry," Senior Editor Stan Schroeder writes. There's just one catch: only the pink pair are down to the all-time low price.
Opens in a new window Credit: Hisense Hisense 65-inch U6HF Series ULED Fire TV $449.99 at AmazonIn the market for a new TV? It's hard to beat this $300 discount on a 65-inch ULED Fire TV. While it's not the lowest price on record, the Hisense 65-inch U6HF ULED Fire TV is a great deal for only $449.99. It features Hisense's version of QLED technology, which incorporates a blend of LED backlighting, local dimming, and quantum dot color enhancement for a richer visual appearance that's still budget friendly. It also packs smooth motion handling for gamers, lots of local dimming zones, a bezel-less design, and a dedicated gaming mode.
Opens in a new window Credit: Tile Tile Mate (2-pack) $34.99 at AmazonA Bluetooth tracker makes a great travel companion — and this deal on a two-pack of Tile Mates comes just in time for your summer getaway. Slip one into your luggage to make sure it goes where you go. Upon testing, we found the Tile Mate to be "a reliable GPS tracker that works equally well for iOS and Android." And we like that you can get notifications when you leave items behind and qualify for item reimbursement if you can't recover lost items (with the paid Tile Premium subscription). Snag a two-pack for only $34.99 and save 27% as of July 22.
Opens in a new window Credit: Dash Dash Tasti-Crisp Air Fryer (2.6-quart) $34.99 at AmazonSome air fryers are unnecessarily complicated and have a hefty learning curve. The Dash Tasti-Crisp makes things easy. Its analog design features just two knobs — one for temperature and one for time. Just select both, pop in your food, and you're good to go. This 2.6-quart version is pretty small, but if you're only cooking for one or two people, it should get the job done. And at only $34.99, it won't set you back too much. That's a savings of 30% with Prime and its lowest price on record.
Opens in a new window Credit: HP HP DeskJet 2855e wireless inkjet printer $49.99 at AmazonI didn't think about the need for a printer until I had multiple Amazon labels I needed to attach to returns with no way of retrieving them. Buying your own definitely pays off in time and energy. You don't need to spend a fortune, either. This HP DeskJet printer is down to a record-low $49.99 and can get the job done. Better yet, it comes with three months of ink to get you started.
None of these deals catching your eye? Check out Amazon's daily deals for even more savings.
It appears that Google is aiming to further expand the Pixel family.
At least, that's if a post from XDA Forums (as spotted by 9to5Google) is to be believed. The post contains leaked photos of what is purported to be a Google Pixel 9 Pro XL, which would be a new addition to the Pixel portfolio. Google plans to show off its latest line of Pixels at an event on Aug. 13.
SEE ALSO: Google reveals Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro Fold in new videosIn the past year or so, Google has released four Pixel phones: The Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro, the Pixel Fold, and the Pixel 8a. We already know for a fact that Google will show off the Pixel 9 Pro and a new Pro version of the Pixel Fold on Aug. 13. That would normally leave just the regular Pixel 9 (a theoretical Pixel 9a wouldn't launch until next year), but if this leak is true, there will also be a Pixel 9 Pro XL for Google to show off.
There isn't a lot else to glean from this leak, unfortunately. The model posted in the leak apparently has 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, as well as a new internal modem courtesy of Samsung, per 9to5Google. It's difficult to tell from the photos without a direct comparison how much bigger it is than the Pixel 9 Pro — or if there are any noteworthy tech spec differences on the inside.
But still, if you've been wanting a bigger Pro Pixel, this might be your year.
GET UP TO 41% OFF: As of July 22, you can get up to 41% off an HP printer at Amazon.
Our top picks: Best deal overall HP DeskJet 2855e $49.99 at Amazon (save $35 ) Get Deal Best runner-up deal HP OfficeJet 8015e $99.99 at Amazon (save $60) Get Deal Best for larger print jobs HP OfficeJet Pro 9125e $199.99 at Amazon (save $89.91 ) Get DealBeing able to print stuff at home is top-tier adulting, and with the back-to-school season right around the corner, the timing couldn't be better for the slew of printer deals currently available on Amazon.
SEE ALSO: The best WFH gear for staying focused, keeping fit, and getting stuff doneSure, you could argue that everything’s digital now, but I never had a syllabus that didn’t require at least a few pages of printing, and I’m sure there are plenty of other documents students need to get on paper — no matter their field or level of study. And having your own printer is way better than running down to the student center or library every time you need something printed.
Right now, tons of HP printers are on sale at Amazon. You can get up to 41% off, and with prices as low as $49.99, these deals are hard to pass up.
Here are our top picks from the sale:
Best deal overall Opens in a new window Credit: HP Our pick: HP DeskJet 2855e $49.99 at AmazonThe HP DeskJet 2855e is an all-in-one color inkjet printer, scanner, and copier, and it comes with three months of ink when you subscribe to HP+ Instant Ink Delivery. (That alone is a steal.) It’s currently 41% off, bringing it to $49.99, and can handle simple tasks like printing letters, financial documents, assignments, and more. It’s also compact (I have this printer in a small sideboard in my apartment) and comes with wireless connectivity, making it ideal for dorm rooms or small spaces.
Best runner-up deal Opens in a new window Credit: HP Our pick: HP OfficeJet 8015e $99.99 at AmazonThe HP OfficeJet 8015e is larger than the model listed above, but it includes six months of ink, can handle two-sided printing, and has an auto document feeder for scanning and copying multi-page documents. With fast print speeds of up to 18 pages per minute in black and white and 10 pages per minute in color, this printer is an affordable option for small businesses or big families.
Best for larger print jobs Opens in a new window Credit: HP Our pick: HP OfficeJet Pro 9125e $199.99 at AmazonThe HP OfficeJet Pro 9125e is a little pricier, but it’s a serious printer with some high-end features. Its crisp output quality can handle brochures, presentations, and flyers, and you'll get up to three months of ink when you sign up for HP+ Instant Ink Delivery. It has a 250-sheet input tray and a 2.7-inch touchscreen for added convenience.
SAVE $84: Snag a Hisense 50-inch Class U6HF Series QLED 4K TV for just $279.99, down from $363.65. That's a discount of 23% and one of the best deals on a QLED TV we've seen.
Opens in a new window Credit: Hisense Hisense 50-Inch Class U6HF Series ULED 4K UHD Smart Fire TV (50U6HF) $279.99 at AmazonPrime Day is long gone, but that doesn't mean the deals are over. You can still get some of the best TV deals right now, if you've somehow missed the shopping holiday and want to find a TV deal now. 4K TV deals are available year-round, but not all are worth getting, and if you're on a budget, you might want to get this one.
As of July 22, the Hisense 50-inch Class U6HF Series QLED 4K TV is on sale for $279.99 at Amazon. That's a discount of 23%, or $84 off.
SEE ALSO: The best time to buy a TV: A guide to the times of year that you'll find the best TV dealsWe've seen 55-inch TVs from Hisense at a lower price than this 50-inch TV deal. However, smaller TV sizes are not too common today, so a 50-inch TV at this price isn't bad, especially if you have a smaller room. This is also the lowest price we've seen on this particular model, which makes it a good time to buy it.
In addition to the smaller size, which means sharper picture at the same resolution, this TV also has QLED technology. What that means is that you get smaller lighting zones with the backlight, leading to better local contrast. So, the dark scenes will look better on this TV.
QLED, or Quantum dot LED TVs are a step up from LED and OLED models. They give a stellar price-to-performance ratio currently, so you're getting better value than an OLED TV. QLED TVs also give you the best picture quality without significant risk of burn-in. This particular model also comes pre-loaded with Amazon's Fire TV, which is an excellent smart TV platform, so you don't have to worry about the UI and app support.
SAVE 23%: Today, July 22, the Refurbished Kindle Scribe (32GB) with Premium Pen is on sale at Amazon for $249.99. This shaves $75 off the list price of $324.99.
Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Refurbished Kindle Scribe (32GB) with Premium Pen $249.99 at AmazonIf you know the joys of reading and writing, you also know it's not always convenient to lug around a hardcopy book and notebook on the side. With the Kindle Scribe, you can tap into the world of imagination and creativity wherever you are without a heavy bag.
As of today, July 22, the Refurbished Kindle Scribe (32GB) with Premium Pen is on sale for $249.99 at Amazon. Normally, the list price is $324.99. Today's sale saves shoppers 23%, or $75.
The Refurbished Kindle Scribe (32GB) with Premium Pen is tested and certified to perform just like a brand-new Kindle Scribe. It even comes with the same warranty protection that new devices are afforded. With a 10.2-inch display screen, the Kindle Scribe has the largest screen out of any other Kindle devices, making it super comfortable for reading, writing, and drawing. You can even convert your handwritten notes to text and share them with others - a helpful feature for students, teachers, and professionals.
Whether you've never used an e-reader before or you need an upgrade, today's Kindle Scribe deal lets you score a 2-in-1 model for less.
Who are the most powerful characters in House of the Dragon?
Of course you've got your obvious ones like the rulers and dragon riders, but there's another MVP in Season 2 who seems to be getting more important by the day: Alys Rivers (Gayle Ranking), the witch messing with Daemon's (Matt Smith's) head in Harrenhal.
Up until recently her mystique has been confined to the castle walls, but in episode 6 Daemon finally asks for her help outright. A few days later Grover Tully, Lord of Riverrun and thorn in the side of Daemon's attempted Riverlands conquest, is dead.
So: did Alys kill him?
SEE ALSO: 'House of the Dragon' Season 2, episode 6: Who is Seasmoke's new rider? What happened to Grover Tully in episode 6?Lord of Riverrun, and the most important figure in swaying the allegiances of the ever-crucial Riverlands, Grover Tully, has been sick throughout Season 2. But in episode 6, we finally get word that he's passed away.
"Lord Grover is dead," Castellan Simon Strong (Simon Russell Beale) tells Daemon at the episode's end. "He'd been ill, of course. Riverrun's maesters have been at their wits' end. Our own healer, Alys Rivers, volunteered her renowned skills — she plied her craft, but there was naught more to be done."
At this, Daemon smiles, as if he suspects there was more to it than that. So was there?
Did Alys Rivers kill Lord Tully?The short answer? Almost certainly yes. Lord Tully was a thorn in Daemon's side because his condition meant that Daemon was unable to approach him directly to ask for his allegiance.
Earlier in the episode, Daemon asks Alys Rivers for her counsel on how to keep the Riverlords in line. In response, she reminds him of how important Lord Tully is.
"Lord Tully is their Lord Paramount," she says. "Without him they will never raise their banners as one."
"Then I can do nothing," responds Daemon.
"You...no," replies Alys.
Moments later, when Daemon finally asks for her help directly, she tells him to do nothing for now.
"In three days' time," she says, "the winds will shift."
The implication? Alys accepted Daemon's request for help, travelled to Riverrun under the guise of trying to help heal Lord Tully, and then finished him off.
New episodes of House of the Dragon air Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and Max.
GET $300 OFF: As of July 22, the Roborock Q5 DuoRoller+ is available for $299.99 at Amazon, down from $599.99. That's a 50% discount, saving you $300.
Opens in a new window Credit: Roborock Our pick: Roborock Q5 DuoRoller+ $299.99 at AmazonPrime Day is just a faint memory now, but we’re pleasantly surprised to find that deals (some even better than Prime Day) are still out there. Just this morning, we realized the Apple AirPods Max hit a new record low price. As we dug deeper into the sales page, we came across another great deal — the Roborock Q5 DuoRoller+ robot vacuum with a self-empty dock is 50% off at Amazon right now.
SEE ALSO: The 6 best robot vacuums for pet hair, tested and reviewedNormally priced at $599.99, the Roborock Q5 DuoRoller+ robot vacuum is now $299.99, a $300 discount. We’re pretty sure this is the most affordable this model has been in a while. According to CamelCamelCamel, it was $399.99 in June.
The Roborock Q5 DuoRoller+ robot vacuum is advertised as a seven-week hands-free cleaning machine thanks to its self-emptying dustbin. It can hold up to 2.5L of dirt before you need to empty the bag. It also features 5500 PaHyperForce suction power for deep cleaning on all floor types and a dual-roller brush designed to pick up pet hair, dirt, and debris.
Its LiDAR navigation system lets you create a quick map of your home, customize room preferences, set no-go and no-mop zones, and control it all using your smartphone. You can also control it via Alexa, Apple Siri, and Google Home using the “magic word.”
GET 30% OFF: As of July 22, the Apple AirPods Max are $382.70 at Amazon, down from $549. That's $166.30 off the listing price and the lowest price we've seen these headphones go for yet.
Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Our pick: Apple AirPods Max $382.70 at AmazonIf you didn’t get the chance to splurge during Prime Day, you might be in luck — Apple’s most-coveted and most expensive noise-cancelling headphones, the Airpods Max, have hit a new record low price on Amazon.
Just in time for back-to-school season, the AirPods Max are currently on sale for $382.70, down from $549. That’s $166.30 off the regular price, making this the lowest price we've ever seen for Apple's premium over-the-ear headphones. During Prime Day, the AirPods Max were discounted to $394.99, but this deal beats that by over $12.
While the AirPods Max may not be everyone’s cup of tea, given their high price tag, they are some of the best noise-cancelling headphones on the market. They have remarkable sound quality, effective active noise cancellation, and a sleek design in a variety of color options. According to Mashable’s review, the AirPods Max “check off almost all the boxes for what makes an excellent pair of headphones: great sound quality, ideal battery life, easy controls, and a stylish design."
SAVE $33: As of today, July 22, the Ninja Creami Deluxe ice cream maker is on sale at Amazon for $216.99. That's 13% off the regular list price of $249.99.
Opens in a new window Credit: Ninja Ninja Creami Deluxe ice cream maker $216.99 at AmazonIf you missed out on Prime Day this year, all is not lost. You can still score the TikTok-craze Ninja Creami Deluxe ice cream maker at a reduced price at Amazon.
In a limited-time deal, the Ninja Creami Deluxe ice cream maker is on sale for 13% off today at Amazon, taking the price down from $249.99 to $216.99 (saving you $33.) While we saw a better deal over Prime Day that brought the dessert maker down to just $199.99, today's sale is still a good opportunity for anyone who doesn't want to pay full price.
Celebrated for its ability to turn any base into thick, creamy ice cream, the Ninja Creami Deluxe gives you the ultimate creative power in your kitchen, choosing your ingredients and consistency for the perfect treat. The Ninja Creami Deluxe has 11 different settings, including those beloved by users of the standard Ninja Creami (smoothies, gelato, and ice cream) plus new additions that include Italian ice, frozen yogurt, and slushis. The Deluxe also has a larger capacity, holding 50% more ice cream than the original version.
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It's easy to forget, but Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke) actually has four children in House of the Dragon. Just take a look at the Targaryen family tree: We have Aegon II (Tom Glynn-Carney), Aemond (Ewan Mitchell) and Helaena (Phia Saban), of course, but there's also another son who's never appeared in the show: Daeron.
You could be forgiven for thinking this spare kid was all but cut out, but after episode 6 it looks like he might finally be getting a look in.
So who exactly is Daeron, where is he, and how might he feature in the rest of Season 2?
SEE ALSO: 'House of the Dragon' cinematographer talks dragons, 'Succession' inspiration, and more Who is Daeron?Alicent's third son isn't in the show because, unlike his brothers and sister, he doesn't reside in the Red Keep. Daeron was sent to ward at Old Town when he was young, where he's been raised with the rest of the Hightower clan.
He's been mentioned in passing before – and he features in the book, Fire & Blood – but it's not until episode 6 that we really learn all that much about him.
What do we learn about Daeron in episode 6?When Alicent says goodbye to her brother, Ser Gwayne (Freddie Fox), she asks him about Daeron. We learn from Gwayne that he's sixteen years old, before the knight gives Alicent's third son the following, fairly glowing review.
Credit: Ollie Upton/HBO"He's stalwart," Gwayne says. "Clever. As adept with his lute as he is with his sword. And a feature in the fancies of many a young lady, I'd wager. He's kind."
This final tidbit is the one Alicent latches onto. "That's good," she replies. "Kindness is a quality I've found lacking in his brothers."
Could Daeron be important later on in Season 2?Judging by the trailer that's just been released for episode 7, it seems the answer might be yes. He only gets a brief mention, but it's a significant one.
"Prince Daeron's dragon has taken to wing," says a voice in the preview, while we see shots of Aemond looking concerned at a Small Council meeting. "The Hightower host will be unstoppable."
So we know Daeron has a dragon, which already makes him kind of a big deal — but why does a mention of the Hightowers have the Small Council looking worried? They're on the same side after all, aren't they?
On paper, yes, but don't forget Aegon II recently banished his grandfather and former Hand, Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans), from the Red Keep — and that Otto hasn't been returning Alicent's letters. Is it possible that he and his other grandson, Daeron, have been plotting something from Old Town?
We'll have to wait and see, but it is worth noting that Daeron definitely won't be appearing on screen this season. As showrunner Ryan Condal confirmed to Variety, he hasn't been cast yet.
New episodes of House of the Dragon air Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and Max.
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