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TL;DR: The first Biden-Trump 2024 presidential debate will live stream for free on USA TODAY via YouTube. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
We don't know about you, but we can't think of a better way to spend an evening than watching two elderly gentlemen go back and forth over the crucial issues that could determine the future of the country (and planet). The November election might seem like a distant point on the horizon, but the first Biden-Trump 2024 presidential debate means there is no escaping it. Things are about to really heat up.
If you want to watch the first Biden-Trump 2024 presidential debate for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.
When is the Biden-Trump 2024 presidential debate?The first Biden-Trump 2024 presidential debate will take place at 9 p.m. ET on June 27. CNN is hosting the debate, with moderation from network anchors Jake Tapper and Dana Bash. The debate will run for 90 minutes with two commercial breaks.
How to watch the Biden-Trump 2024 presidential debate for freeThe good news is that there are a number of ways to watch the first 2024 presidential debate between Biden and Trump.
The Biden-Trump debate will air live on CNN, CNN International, CNN en Español, and Max, with live streaming available on CNN.com. The likes of Fox News, ABC, NBC, and C-SPAN will also carry a free simulcast of the debate.
Alternatively, you can access free live streams of the first Biden-Trump 2024 presidential debate on PBS and USA TODAY via YouTube.
If you're unable to access these free live streams due to geo-restrictions, you can use a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to secure servers in the U.S., meaning you can access free streaming platforms from around the world in just a few clicks.
Unblock free live streams of the Biden-Trump debate by following these simple steps:
Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in the U.S.
Access free live streams of the first Biden-Trump 2024 presidential debate from anywhere in the world
The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to free live streams without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you time to watch the first Biden-Trump 2024 presidential debate before recovering your investment.
What is the best VPN for streaming?ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream content from around the world, for a number of reasons:
Servers in 105 countries
Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure
Fast connection speeds
Up to eight simultaneous connections
30-day money-back guarantee
A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.
TL;DR: Watch India vs. England in the 2024 Men's T20 World Cup semi final for free on Disney+ Hotstar. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
The 2024 Men's T20 World Cup final is looming on the horizon, but only two sides can compete for the prize. India and England both came into the tournament will aspirations of winning the whole thing, and they face off in an absolutely massive semi-final clash. It's set to be one of the biggest matches of the competition, and you can watch all the action without spending anything.
If you want to watch India vs. England in the 2024 Men's T20 World Cup semi final for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.
When is India vs. England?India vs. England in the 2024 Men's T20 World Cup semi final starts at 10:30 a.m. ET on June 27. This fixture takes place at the Providence Stadium in Guyana.
How to watch India vs. England for freeSmartphone users in India can watch the 2024 Men’s T20 Cricket World Cup for free on Disney+ Hotstar, including the semi final between India and England.
This content is geo-restricted to India, but anyone from around the world can access these free live streams with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in India, meaning you can access Disney+ Hotstar from anywhere in the world. The process is actually really straightforward.
Access free live streams of the T20 Cricket World Cup by following these simple steps:
Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in India
Download the Disney+ Hotstar mobile app
Watch India vs. England in the 2024 T20 Cricket World Cup semi final for free from anywhere in the world
The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but top VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By taking advantage of these offers, you can gain access to free live streams of the T20 World Cup without parting with any cash. This is clearly not a long-term streaming solution, but it does give you time to watch India vs. England (and the final) before recovering your investment.
What is the best VPN for Disney+ Hotstar?ExpressVPN is the best service for streaming live sport on Disney+ Hotstar, for a number of reasons:
Servers in 105 countries including India
Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure
Fast connection speeds
Up to eight simultaneous connections
30-day money-back guarantee
A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.
Watch India vs. England in the 2024 T20 World Cup semi final for free with ExpressVPN.
TL;DR: Watch Uruguay vs. Bolivia in the 2024 Copa America for free on Sportitalia. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
Did you know Uruguay won the first ever World Cup? Perhaps even more impressive is the fact that Uruguay have won the Copa America an incredible 15 times across its 108-year history. That record is currently tied with defending champions Argentina. Can Uruguay win the 2024 Copa America and pull ahead of the Argentinians?
First Uruguay will have to beat Bolivia and advance from Group C. It's true that Bolivia aren't the strongest team in the competition, but you can never count anyone out in the group stage. That's the beauty of tournament football.
If you want to watch Uruguay vs. Bolivia in the 2024 Copa America for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.
When is Uruguay vs. Bolivia?Uruguay vs. Bolivia in the 2024 Copa America kicks off at 9 p.m. ET on June 27. This fixture takes place at the MetLife Stadium, New York/New Jersey.
How to watch Uruguay vs. Bolivia for freeUruguay vs. Bolivia in the 2024 Copa America is available to live stream for free on Sportitalia.
Sportitalia is a free streaming platform that's geo-restricted to Italy. That means that viewers outside of Italy can't usually access it, but you'll be able to bypass the geo-restrictions by using a VPN. If you've never used one before, a VPN is a handy tool that can hide your IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server based in Italy. That will allow you to access Sportitalia from anywhere in the world, as long as you have a good enough internet connection for live streaming.
Access free live streams of Copa America by following these simple steps:
Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in Italy
Visit Sportitalia
Watch the 2024 Copa America for free from anywhere in the world
The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPN providers often have incentive deals such as free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. To take advantage, simply sign up and gain access for the trial period, which will give you time to watch all the 2024 Copa America action, including Uruguay vs. Bolivia. And all without spending a penny. Who knows? With the improved online security and streaming access you get with a VPN, you may decide to use it beyond the 2024 Copa America.
What is the best VPN for Sportitalia?ExpressVPN is the best choice for unblocking Sportitalia to stream live sport for free, for a number of reasons:
Servers in 105 countries including Italy
Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure
Fast connection speeds free from throttling
Up to eight simultaneous connections
30-day money-back guarantee
A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95, including an extra three months for free. That's an impressive 40% off the standard price, but for a limited time only. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.
Live stream Uruguay vs. Bolivia for free with ExpressVPN.
TL;DR: Watch Panama vs. United States in the 2024 Copa America for free on Sportitalia. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
The 2024 Copa America is delivering a stellar lineup of massive matchups, with the likes of Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay looking to win the competition. Panama vs. United States is not the biggest game on the schedule, but that doesn't mean that it doesn't matter. Both teams will be doing everything they can to win and progress to the knockout rounds.
If you want to watch Panama vs. United States in the 2024 Copa America for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.
When is Panama vs. United States?Panama vs. United States in the 2024 Copa America kicks off at 6 p.m. ET on June 27. This fixture takes place at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia.
How to watch Panama vs. United States for freePanama vs. United States in the 2024 Copa America is available to live stream for free on Sportitalia.
Sportitalia is geo-restricted to Italy, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These powerful tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Italy, meaning you can access Sportitalia from anywhere in the world.
Access free live streams of Copa America by following these simple steps:
Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in Italy
Visit Sportitalia
Watch the 2024 Copa America for free from anywhere in the world
The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but top VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By taking advantage of these offers, you can gain access to free live streams without committing with your cash. This is clearly not a long-term solution, but it does give you time to watch Panama vs. United States (plus every game in the 2024 Copa America) before recovering your investment.
What is the best VPN for Sportitalia?ExpressVPN is the best choice for unblocking Sportitalia to stream live sport for free, for a number of reasons:
Servers in 105 countries including Italy
Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure
Fast connection speeds free from throttling
Up to eight simultaneous connections
30-day money-back guarantee
A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.
Live stream Panama vs. United States for free with ExpressVPN.
Oh hey there! If you're here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we're serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today's answer.
If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for June 27's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
Where did Wordle come from?Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once.
Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.
Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Wordle.
What's the best Wordle starting word?The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.
What happened to the Wordle archive?The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles used to be available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it. Unfortunately, it has since been taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times.
Is Wordle getting harder?It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.
Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:A certain rule to life in a community.
Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?The letter R appears twice.
Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...Today's Wordle starts with the letter O.
SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. The Wordle answer today is...Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.
Drumroll please!
The solution to Wordle #1104 is...
ORDER.
Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.
Reporting by Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.
Connections is the latest New York Times word game that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.
If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for June 27's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
What is Connections?The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.
Tweet may have been deletedEach puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer. If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.
Tweet may have been deletedPlayers can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.
Here's a hint for today's Connections categoriesWant a hit about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:
Yellow: Pursuing someone
Green: XOXO
Blue: A small team of people
Purple: Gold
Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:
Yellow: Pursuit
Green: Romatinc Letter Sign-Offs
Blue: Group Within a Group
Purple: Gold___
Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.
Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.
Drumroll, please!
The solution to Connections #382 is...
What is the answer to Connections todayPursuit: CHASE, HUNT, QUEST, SEARCH
Romantic Letter Sign-Offs: ALWAYS, KISSES, LOVE, YOURS
Group Within a Group: CAMP, PARTY, SIDE, WING
Gold___: BOND, LEAF, MINE, RUSH
Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.
Is this not the Connections game you were looking for? Here are the hints and answers to yesterday's Connections.
What's this? A bipartisan politics-related decision from Elon Musk?!
The owner of X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, has weighed in more and more on politics in recent years, boosting far-right wing online influencers and spreading far right conspiracies. Musk has also altered policies on X in order to be more amenable to those right wing figures. As a result, Musk himself has become a controversial figure in politics, eliciting condemnation from civil rights groups.
However, on Monday night, Musk made a rare popular political decision: X would allow third-party streams of Thursday's presidential debate between Joe Biden and Donald Trump. According to Musk, his company would not take down commentary feeds streaming the debate if CNN filed such a request.
"The public has a right to see Presidential debates however they would like," Musk said in reply to right wing YouTuber Tim Pool. "DMCA does not apply."
Tweet may have been deleted CNN's presidential debate broadcast rulesThis Thursday's debate, the first of only two scheduled 2024 presidential debates, will be hosted by CNN. As a result, the cable news network has the rights to airing the debate between Biden and Trump.
CNN has granted rights to other networks like ABC News, CBS, Fox News, and PBS to also air the live debate on their respective channels.
There are some rules and requirements that CNN has laid out for those networks, such as CNN's insignia being visible throughout the entire broadcast, in exchange for being able to air the debate. The most crucial CNN request that would affect livestream debate commentary, though, is the rule that any added commentary be added before or after the debate. The other networks cannot add commentary during the debate or interrupt or replace CNN's hosts during the broadcast.
However, CNN has also recently made it clear that the offer to broadcast the debate is not open to online streamers. In an email shared by Breaking Points co-host Saagar Enjeti, CNN said that it is "not offering the feed for other YouTube channels."
But, apparently, CNN might have a problem enforcing its rules over on Elon Musk's X. Right wing YouTuber Tim Pool asked Musk if "live commentary and fact checking shows for the CNN Debate" would be "taken down if CNN files a DMCA." And that's when Musk replied saying the DMCA would not apply.
DMCA refers to the 1998 Digital Millennium Copyright Act, which covers copyright on the internet. Rights holders typically file DMCA requests with online platforms in order to get copyrighted material removed when a platform's users publish the copyrighted material.
Politics YouTubers and Twitch streamers are very familiar with battling purported copyright holders over their commentary content. Much of what these creators publish would, the prevailing wisdom goes, fall under fair use, which allows copyrighted material to be used for educational purposes, commentary, criticism, or in transformative use cases. However, major corporations often file copyright claims against fair use material and online platforms abide by them.
Musk's stance, especially when it comes to an event as important to the voting public as a presidential debate, is a rare type of decision from the X owner lately, assuming he follows through: it's a decision that doesn't lean firmly on the right. Streamers of any political background will be able to safely stream commentary during the live presidential debate that may very well be taken down on any other online platform.
It will be interesting to see if CNN escalates matters and sues Musk and company if X does indeed refuse to remove presidential debate streams after takedown requests from the cable news network.
Annual innovation and entertainment festival SXSW is changing up its funding streams for next year's events, with the organization announcing it would stop taking sponsorship money from military affiliates.
The organization's brief official statement (found in its updated Music Showcase FAQ) reads:
After careful consideration, we are revising our sponsorship model. As a result, the U.S. Army, and companies who engage in weapons manufacturing, will not be sponsors of SXSW 2025.
SEE ALSO: On social media, the conversation about pinkwashing and Palestine is amplifiedIn March, several notable musicians and celebrities condemned the festival for its ties to the U.S. Army and its historic backing of Israeli militarization, with more than 80 acts and panelists dropping out of the 2024 event in total.
Activists and attendees called out SXSW sponsors RTX (formerly Raytheon), Collins Aerospace, and BAE Systems, all weapons manufacturers, in addition to the U.S. Army's involvement (it was deemed a "Super Sponsor" of the festivities). "The defense industry has historically been a proving ground for many of the systems we rely on today," SXSW explained at the time. "These institutions are often leaders in emerging technologies, and we believe it’s better to understand how their approach will impact our lives."
Among those speaking out against the ties was Irish political rap group Kneecap, which wrote in a statement on X that they would be dropping out due to "solidarity with the people of Palestine and to highlight the unacceptable deep links the festival has to weapons companies and the U.S. military who at this very moment are enabling a genocide and famine against a trapped population."
In addition, local Austin, Texas, activist groups coordinated protest shows and an anti-SXSW rally featuring several of the boycotting artists.
SXSW responded to the criticism at the time, saying the organization “fully respect[ed] the decision these artists made to exercise their right to free speech.”
Using a Visa gift card on Amazon is more convenient than you may think. Since it seems very similar to Amazon's gift card, users might mistakenly try to register their Visa card as a gift card on Amazon. Sadly, that won't work, but there's a pretty simple way to make Amazon purchases with a Visa gift card: register the card like you register debit/credit cards on your profile to start using it as a payment method.
SEE ALSO: Prime Day 2024 is coming: Here are the best live deals to shop early How to add a Visa gift card to make purchases on Amazon:Step 1: Go to the Amazon website and hover over Accounts & Lists at the top right corner of the webpage. Select Account from the dropdown menu that appears.
Step 2: Once the new page opens up, click on the Your Payments tab. This option will take you to your digital wallet where you can view your added payment methods.
Step 3: Click on Add a payment method. Because the gift card is a Visa, it functions like a regular debit or credit card, so scroll down to the credit or debit cards category to add the new card.
Step 4: A new webpage will appear, prompting you to add the necessary card information like your card number, card holder's name, and expiry date.
Step 5: Now, a new page will open asking for the Billing Address. Add the information to activate your card.
To add the Visa gift card on the Amazon app, click on the three horizontal lines at the bottom right of the screen and a new page will open. Go to Your Shortcuts at the bottom of the page and click on Account. Now, you can follow the same steps as mentioned above to add and activate your Visa gift card.
There are a few caveats to consider when using a Visa gift card on Amazon. First, not all Visa gift cards may work as debit or credit cards on Amazon. Some may require users to use a CVV to authorize a purchase. Since Amazon doesn't ask for this information while adding payment methods, these Visa gift cards might not go through.
Also, Amazon doesn't allow users to combine multiple Visa gift cards, or use a gift card and another credit or debit card on a single transaction. This means that every time you make a purchase from the gift card, you must keep an eye on the balance and make sure that the total order cost (including shipping and taxes) doesn't exceed the account balance.
There is, however, a workaround for tracking that Visa gift card balance. You can use the Visa gift card to add or reload funds on an Amazon gift card, which you can then apply toward future Amazon purchases. Once you add a Visa gift card as an Amazon payment method to your account following the steps above, you can purchase an Amazon gift card for the full amount of the Visa gift card balance (taking into account any fees the Visa card may deduct upon use), or follow these steps to access your existing Amazon gift card balance and reload funds.
Opens in a new window Credit: Visa Add a Visa gift card to your Amazon account Learn MoreHawk Tuah Girl is the internet's latest viral star, and her origin story is all too common in the digital age. It started with one of those man-on-the-street interviews designed to go viral. The questions were sexual in nature, and that, combined with the setting (a.k.a. the party scene in Nashville), was a recipe for success.
In case you haven't been on TikTok lately and missed it, Hawk Tuah Girl first surfaced in a Tim & Dee TV video. She's asked, "What's one move in bed that makes a man go crazy every time?"
In a Southern accent, she answers, with enthusiasm and in a ridiculous way: "Aw, you gotta give 'em that 'hawk TUAH' and spit on that thang! You get me?" She says this while miming, well, spitting on that...thang...in the form of a microphone angled toward her.
This clip, in turn, went viral on TikTok with videos featuring the moment, reacting to it, or updating folks on it, gaining millions and millions of views. It's since been revealed that Hawk Tuah Girl is named Hailey Welch. As the internet is wont to do, people began digging and starting random rumors.
Chief among them? That Welch was a teacher and fired for the viral clip. That started when a parody account fooled people online.
But while Welch initially seemed a bit hesitant to cash in on the viral moment, she has begun selling merchandise now, which is a pretty foolproof way to pull in money. She's working with a local Tennessee company called Fathead Threads to sell merchandise capitalizing on all the Hawk Tuah virality. Among the items: a "Hawk Tuah 2024" trucker hat, graphic tees, and New Jersey-Boardwalk-esque shirts making crude Hawk Tuah jokes.
Some reporting has also suggested Welch could soon have representation. Page Six reported that industry buzz suggests she's in talks with major talent agencies.
Honestly, it's good for Welch. She was funny in the interview and probably never expected to go viral for something some people consider embarrassing. But now she can laugh all the way to the bank.
Crypto scam victims are being pegged as easy marks by fraudsters who are targeting these individuals – after they've already been scammed.
According to a new warning by the FBI, there's a new, growing trend of scammers masquerading as law firms and targeting those who have already been victims of cryptocurrency scams. These nonexistent law firms offer services to the scam victims, claiming that they can recoup their stolen funds. In reality, these fake companies just scam these victims again.
SEE ALSO: Fake Elon Musk livestreams promoting crypto scams keep popping up on YouTubeThe FBI first put out a warning about this scam last year. However, according to the FBI's update, targeting crypto scam victims has been quite lucrative for scammers.
Between February 2023 and February 2024, the FBI reports that $9.9 million has been stolen from crypto scam victims by fake law firms via this scheme.
Victims report being contacted by the scammers, who claim they can investigate their stolen crypto cases and claw back their funds. Others initiated the contact themselves after being duped by fake websites offering crypto recovery services.
After a crypto scam victim decides to work with the fake law firm, the scammer will extract funds from the victims in numerous different ways. For example, the scammer may request that the victim pay fees upfront for the fake services or trick them into having to pay "back taxes" or other necessary legal fees in order to recover the funds. The scammers also make requests for personal information and banking information from the crypto scam victim.
The scammers routinely mention connections to the FBI, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), or other government agencies in order to help bolster their legitimacy.
Those who believe they have been scammed are encouraged to file a report with the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center.
Fashion label Collina Strada has made a name for itself by claiming to prioritize sustainable production and climate awareness, but a recent release has buyers doubting whether the brand is truly committed to the cause.
A highly anticipated collaboration between Collina Strada and bag-maker Baggu, released yesterday, has been revealed to have been created using AI tools. As part of a larger discussion of the brand's use of AI, a Reddit user fed photos from the whimsical collection, which featured horse-shaped purses and trippy prints, into a program that purports to detect whether an image has been created using AI. The result? An 86.4 percent likelihood that one of the designs had been created using AI or deepfake tech.
RedditBuyers were confused. On its website and throughout its marketing, Collina Strada calls itself "a platform for climate awareness, social awareness, change and self expression [sic]." But AI is hugely taxing on the environment. One report suggests that, due in large part to AI, demand for electricity to power data centers may grow by up to 20 percent in the next six years — a potentially disastrous obstacle for the transition to climate-friendly energy sources. It is also considered by some to be an encroachment on the work and rights of artists, whose work is often used — without permission — to train AI models.
SEE ALSO: The 2024 Met Gala was filled with floral fashion. The internet had thoughts.On its website, Baggu has since added a note on two of the prints, "Blue Thorns" and "Boxer Plaid," disclosing that they are both "AI-conceptualized" and created using the generative artificial intelligence program Midjourney. "The [Collina Strada] team used Midjourney as a tool to remix old Collina prints and drive them further," the description reads. "After they used Midjourney to mix two of their prints together, their graphics team transformed the concept into a repeat, inserting logos and adding new elements and layers to complete the print."
View this post on InstagramWhen reached for comment, Collina Strada told Mashable that "For the record, we only used AI for the Boxer Plaid and Blue Thorn prints" and that "Midjourney does not take away the process of using print designers this was just used as an experiment for this season and translated by the designers."
The prints were first shown alongside other designs made with the help of AI at the label's SS24 "Soft is Hard" runway show where — ironically — models glided down the runway to a song with the lyrics "Why are we here, the Earth’s on fire."
Comments under a Collina Strada Instagram post about the collection are filled with customers expressing disappointment. "I did not know about the AI pattern," read one, "I will be cancelling my order." Another opined, "Using AI is unforgivable. Horrible for artists and even more importantly the environment. Hurts my heart but I will not be buying from Baggu anymore." A third said, "You can still cancel and get a refund if ur like me and expected better from the designer and baggu... show companies ai isn't welcome as long as its unregulated and unethical."
RedditBuyers on Reddit were even more disappointed by screenshots that appeared to show Art Director of Collina Strada, Charlie Engman, reacting dismissively to concerns. On an Instagram story that included a screenshot of a comments section critical of the release, Engman wrote "Endlessly fascinated by the punitive urge to foment public judgement over an artistic process in the name of protecting artists." Engman has been publicly enthusiastic about the use of AI in his own work.
As state and federal governments pursue AI regulation, Google has chimed in with its with own thoughts.
On Wednesday, the tech giant published a blog post titled "7 principles for getting AI regulation right." Unsurprisingly, the overall message is that AI should be regulated, but not to the extent that it hampers innovation. "We’re in the midst of a global technology race," wrote Kent Walker, president of global affairs for Google and parent company Alphabet. "And like all technology races, it's a competition that will be won not by the country that invents something first, but by the countries that deploy it best, across all sectors."
Google and AI companies like OpenAI have publicly taken a cooperative attitude towards AI regulation, citing the threat of existential risk. Google CEO Sundar Pichai participated in the Senate's AI Insight Forums to inform how Congress should legislate AI. But some in favor of a less-regulated, more open-source AI ecosystem have criticized Google and others of fear-mongering in order to achieve regulatory capture.
"Altman, Hassabis, and Amodei are the ones doing massive corporate lobbying at the moment," said Meta Chief AI Scientist Yann LeCun, referring to the the CEOs of OpenAI, Google DeepMind, and Anthropic respectively. "If your fear-mongering campaigns succeed, they will inevitably result in what you and I would identify as a catastrophe: a small number of companies will control AI."
Tweet may have been deletedWalker referenced the White House AI executive order, the AI policy roadmap proposed by the U.S. Senate, and recent AI bills in California and Connecticut. While Google says it supports these efforts, AI legislation should focus on regulating specific outcomes of AI development, not broad strokes laws that stifle development. "Progressing American innovation requires intervention at points of actual harm, not blanket research inhibitors," said Walker who noted in a section about "striving for alignment" that more than 600 bills in the U.S. alone have been proposed.
The Google post also briefly touched on the issue of copyright infringement and how and what data is used to train AI models. Companies with AI models argue that utilization of publicly available data on the web constitutes fair use, they've been accused by media companies, and more recently major record labels of violating copyright and profiting from it.
Walker, essentially reaffirms the fair use argument, but acknowledges that there should be more transparency and control over AI training data, saying "website owners should be able to use machine-readable tools to opt out of having content on their sites used for AI training."
The principle about "supporting responsible innovation" covers "known risks" in general terms. But it doesn't get into specifics about, say, regulatory oversight to prevent flagrant inaccuracies in generative AI responses that could fuel misinformation and cause harms.
To be fair, no one actually took it seriously when Google's AI summary recommended putting glue on a pizza, but it's a recent example that underscores the ongoing discussion about accountability for AI-generated falsehoods and responsible deployment.
Samsung is announcing a bunch of stuff soon. Let's get ready for it together.
The next Samsung Unpacked livestream is on July 10 at 9 a.m. ET, taking place in beautiful Paris. I could waste a bunch of time with a lengthy preamble, but we all know Samsung is here to show off new products. Let's talk about what those products might be.
SEE ALSO: Samsung's next big Unpacked event is officially on July 10 Samsung Unpacked July 2024: What to expectIf this Unpacked is anything like the similarly timed one a year ago, we don't even need rumors and leaks to predict some of what we'll see. We just need common sense.
New foldablesIt would be the fake out of the century if follow-ups to last year's Galaxy Z Flip 5 and Z Fold 5 didn't show up at Unpacked in July. This time of year has been Samsung's traditional "let's check out some foldables" time for the last few years. The only question is how substantial the upgrades will be in 2024.
We don't know yet for sure, but various leaks can give us an idea. The Z Flip 6 will reportedly have a new Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset (the same one powering the Galaxy S24 phones) for increased performance, as well as a 50MP main camera lens to replace the 12MP shooter on the Flip 5.
As for the Fold 6, a number of leaks (such as this one from Chun Bhai on X) suggest it will also get the same new chipset as the Flip 6, as well as a wider form factor. It's also expected to be thinner than last year's foldable device.
Galaxy AISamsung lifted the curtain off of "Galaxy AI" at a separate Unpacked earlier this year. Put simply, it's a different take on the AI features Google added to Pixel phones in 2023; you can use it for live language translation or summary writing, but nothing life-changing just yet.
It's not certain that anything Samsung shows at Unpacked will be "life-changing," but it is certain that AI will be there because Samsung said as much in the official invitation. Exclusive AI features for foldable devices would be nice, but we'll have to wait and see what Samsung is cooking now that Apple Intelligence has entered the ballgame.
Galaxy RingAnother thing we can be certain about is that the wearable Galaxy Ring exists because Samsung announced it earlier this year. It's said that the device will contain a bunch of different sensors for sleep and health tracking, and a clamshell charging case. It could no-show at Unpacked, but given that Samsung has announced wearables at summer Unpacked events before, that seems unlikely.
It should also come in gold, platinum, and black colorways with as many as 13 different sizing options. Any other information will have to wait until Unpacked, if the Galaxy Ring shows up there at all.
Galaxy Watch updatesSpeaking of wearables and summer Unpacked events, the Galaxy Watch 7 is extremely likely to show up on July 10. In fact, it's so likely that a bunch of the specs just leaked on Amazon Canada.
If these specs are to be believed, the Galaxy Watch 7 will come in at least a 40mm size with at least a "Cream" colorway. There's a new BioActiveSensor 2 that is supposedly better at measuring your heart rate, and an unspecified chip powering the device. The listing also hints at AI features, such as smart replies to messages and some kind of daily AI health companion, though information on that is thin at this point.
GET $40 OFF: As of June 26, the Amazfit GTR 3 smartwatch is available for just $79.99 at Amazon, down from $119.99. That's a 33% discount.
Opens in a new window Credit: Amazfit Our pick: Amazfit GTR 3 smartwatch $79.99 at AmazonYou don’t need to be a marathon runner or wait for a new year to start focusing on your health. Every day you wake up offers a new opportunity to prioritize your well-being, and right now, you can do it for less with a great deal on the Amazfit GTR 3 smartwatch.
As of June 26, you can get the Amazfit GTR 3 smartwatch for just $79.99 at Amazon, a $40 discount off its original listing price of $119.99. That’s a pretty affordable price compared to other smartwatches on the market (we’re looking at you, Apple).
SEE ALSO: The best fitness trackers of 2024: Tested and reviewedSure, this smartwatch may be labeled as a men’s model, but its features are what really matters. (It also comes in several colors if that’s something you’re worried about.) The Amazfit GTR 3 has Alexa built-in, so you can use voice commands to set alarms, check the weather, and more. It also has a 21-day battery life, which is ideal for anyone who travels or doesn’t have the mental bandwidth to remember to share it daily.
With 150+ sports modes, a stress monitoring system, and the ability to test your heart rate, blood-oxygen level, and more, this smartwatch is packed with features to help you get back on track with your fitness goals. You also may want to keep an eye on more fitness deals dropping for Prime Day 2024 on July 16 and 17.
SAVE $129.97: The Shark FlexStyle with five accessories is on sale for just $190.02, down from the usual bundle price of $319.99, with code BMSM15. That's a 40% discount, and the lowest price we've ever seen.
Opens in a new window Credit: Shark Shark FlexStyle $190.02 at SharkTech advancements aren't just improving our phones and smart tech — tech has revolutionized the way we style our hair, too. Thanks to tools like the Shark FlexStyle, drying your hair no longer has to come with major heat damage. If you're still using an older hair dryer that's not super healthy, you're in for a great deal (and healthy, lustrous hair).
As of June 26, the Shark FlexStyle bundle with five accessories is on sale for $190.02, down from the typical price of $319.99. That's a 40% discount or a savings of $129.97. Use promo code BMSM15 at checkout to grab this deal. This sale price is the lowest we've ever seen, beating out Best Buy's $100 off discount last fall, which sold out in less than 20 minutes.
SEE ALSO: Dyson watch out: Shark just announced the FlexStyle Sparkle and it's gorgeousHair dryers with styling attachments that don't cause massive heat damage have become one of the top beauty trends in recent years. Unfortunately, these models can come with eye-watering price tags, but today's deal bring a dramatic discount to one of Mashable's favorite models.
Mashable shopping reporter Bethany Allard reviewed the Shark FlexStyle last year and noted it's better than the pricey Dyson Airwrap. "It's an excellent copy for less than half the price and it outperforms the original," Allard says. She also mentioned it's great for travel and the diffuser is perfect for curly hair.
With today's deal, you can add five accessories to the Shark FlexStyle, including the aforementioned Curl-Defining Diffuser or the new FrizzFighter Finishing Tool. You can also choose between the Black or Stone colorway options. Plus, the sale includes free two-day shipping, so you won't have to wait around for your new styling tool to arrive.
If you've been wanting to upgrade your hairstyling routine, today's sale price on the Shark FlexStyle is your sign. We've never seen it offered at a discount this deep, making this the best time to snag it. Keep the hair styler for yourself, or grab one to gift a family member who has always wanted one.
SAVE $30: As of June 26, the Amazon Luna controller is on sale for $39.99 at Amazon. That's 43% off its original price of $69.99.
Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Luna wireless gaming controller $39.99 at AmazonAmazon's cloud gaming service, Luna, is a great way to experience titles you may not have played yet for an affordable price. If it's something you're interested in exploring, you can snag its proprietary controller today for a great price so you can jump right in with everything you need to get started.
As of June 26, you can get the Amazon Luna wireless gaming controller for just $39.99 at Amazon. That's $30 off its normal price of $69.99 and a discount of 43%.
SEE ALSO: Amazon is giving away free video games for Prime Day. Here's how to get them.Amazon Luna is a cloud gaming subscription service that lets you play a wide variety of games — like Fortnite, Stardew Valley, and Resident Evil 2 — from any compatible streaming device. You can sign up for a Luna+ subscription for $9.99 a month to access most of its games, though there are free titles for Amazon Prime members available as well.
Your Luna controller will connect to your compatible device, like a PC, iPhone, or smart TV, so you can jump in and start gaming whenever you're ready, regardless of where you plan to play. It's built similarly to an Xbox controller and has two analog thumbsticks, bumper buttons, responsive triggers and action buttons, and a four-way D-pad for additional precision. You can even use its built-in microphone to control your Luna-enabled devices with your voice.
A Luna controller is absolutely essential to the cloud gaming platform, so if you're looking to get your game on with a variety of devices, this is a sound investment, especially while discounted.
The latest trend on TikTok? Inflation.
A video uploaded by @sewerlidd reveals how much prices have increased in the past two years. In the video, the user compares their Walmart grocery bill in 2022 to how much the same order would cost today, and the reveal is shocking. The order is enough groceries for one person for one month. In 2022, the order cost $126, but now it would cost a whopping $414, nearly four times the price of their original order.
The TikTok received over 250,000 views and nearly 55,000 likes, with the comments flooded with other users' experiences with pricey groceries.
The Consumer Price Index (CPI), which tracks inflation, rose 6.4 percent in 2022 and 3.1 percent in 2023, and inflation-adjusted hourly earnings have not kept up with the jump. In 2022, the CPI for food increased "faster than in any year since 1979" by 9.9 percent, with food-at-home prices rising by 11.4 percent. Growth slowed in 2023, with a 5.8 percent increase overall and food-at-home prices increasing 5 percent.
Inflation is at the top of some voters' minds ahead of the first presidential debate between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump on Thursday night.
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