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As the new year draws ever closer, so too does the U.S. TikTok ban. TikTok and its parent company ByteDance have now requested an emergency injunction, attempting to stave off the looming ban after a U.S. court of appeals upheld it on Friday. If this injunction is denied, TikTok will have to shut down in the U.S. by Jan. 19.
In a petition filed to the District of Columbia Court of Appeals on Monday, TikTok asked that the U.S. ban on its video sharing platform not be enforced until the matter is addressed by the Supreme Court. Stating its intention to file an appeal, TikTok argued that it's likely the Supreme Court will opt to review and ultimately reverse Friday's decision.
SEE ALSO: Federal court ruling brings us one step closer to a TikTok ban"[The Court of Appeals'] holding that the Act satisfies strict scrutiny is sure to attract the Supreme Court’s attention," wrote TikTok. "As speech restrictions have survived strict scrutiny only in rare and narrow circumstances, the Supreme Court will want to ensure that this Court’s decision has not diluted that critical standard."
Strict scrutiny is a legal standard which demands that laws which restrict free speech are narrowly tailored to advance a compelling governmental interest. Such laws must also be the least restrictive method of achieving this objective. TikTok has argued that the U.S. government failed this standard by allegedly passing the ban without considering less drastic alternatives.
Tweet may have been deletedIn deciding whether to grant an injunction such as the one TikTok has requested, courts consider elements such as whether the appeal is likely to succeed, as well as if parties will suffer harm if the injunction is not granted.
TikTok's petition claimed that while the ban will cause it to suffer "extreme and irreparable harm," temporarily holding off will pose no danger to the U.S. or its national security. The company further noted that Congress already delayed the ban coming into effect for 270 days, which TikTok said indicated that "the asserted national security threat is not sufficiently imminent to forestall the completion of orderly judicial review."
"[T]he Government’s own defense of the Act at most asserts that China 'could' engage in certain harmful conduct through TikTok, not that China is currently doing so or will soon do so," wrote TikTok.
TikTok has also argued that it is within the public interest to grant a temporary injunction, as it is "one of the most popular speech platforms in America." If the Court of Appeals denies the injunction, Americans will lose TikTok just one day before Donald Trump's presidential inauguration on Jan. 20.
"The Supreme Court has an established historical record of protecting Americans' right to free speech, and we expect they will do just that on this important constitutional issue," TikTok said in a statement responding to Friday's decision. "Unfortunately, the TikTok ban was conceived and pushed through based upon inaccurate, flawed and hypothetical information, resulting in outright censorship of the American people. The TikTok ban, unless stopped, will silence the voices of over 170 million Americans here in the U.S. and around the world on January 19th, 2025."
According to TikTok, a ban on the platform would cause small businesses to lose over $1 billion in revenue within just one month, while creators would suffer $300 million in lost earnings.
TikTok's petition has requested that the Court of Appeals make a decision on the injunction by Dec. 16.
Each year, Google’s Year in Search provides an uncanny snapshot of what captivated, worried, and inspired us. For 2024, the list of trending search terms is a reflection of a world navigating pivotal political moments, breakout cultural phenomena, and a steady stream of viral hits.
The 2024 U.S. presidential election dominated the charts, as former President Donald Trump secured a historic, second non-consecutive term. Love it or loathe it, his return to the Oval Office has reignited intense conversations, debates, and, yes, Google searches. Beyond the political maelstrom, pop culture juggernauts and athletic superstars carved out their own space on the leaderboard, with some of the year’s most defining moments fueled by viral artists, rising sports icons, and buzzy brand phenomena.
For those not inclined to wade through Google’s data dump, we’ve sifted through the noise to highlight the people, moments, and trends that truly shaped 2024’s search history. Here's a closer look at the year that kept our fingers glued to the search bar.
The top searches in the U.S.As expected, the 2024 U.S. presidential election claimed the top spot as the most-searched term in the United States, closely followed by searches for former President Donald Trump, whose historic re-election has been the subject of intense interest and debate.
The buzz wasn’t all political, though. The New York Times' word game Connections grabbed the third spot, proving Americans are still as puzzle-obsessed as ever. Meanwhile, the New York Yankees managed to secure fourth place, primarily fueled by a thrilling playoff run and rumors surrounding their offseason trades. Vice President Kamala Harris grabbed the number five spot after stepping in as the Democratic nominee for president after sitting President Joe Biden stepped down.
The second half of the Top 10 Searches (U.S.) were as follows:
Copa América
Hurricane Milton tracker
Olympic medal count
Toby Keith
Liam Payne
No surprises here: the top four most-searched people in the U.S. in 2024 were dominated by the presidential nominees and their running mates. Donald Trump claimed the top spot, followed by Vice President Kamala Harris, Vice President-elect J.D. Vance, and President Biden. However, the fifth spot offered an unexpected entry — Catherine, Princess of Wales.
The search surge for Princess Kate was likely driven by a dramatic and somber revelation early in the year. In January, Kensington Palace announced she had undergone abdominal surgery, sparking weeks of speculation about her health and whereabouts. It wasn’t until later that the Princess disclosed she had been quietly undergoing chemotherapy— a heavy story, to be sure, but one that captivated attention across the Atlantic.
Rounding out the rest of the top 10 were:
Tim Walz
Mike Tyson
Jill Stein
Usher
Imane Khelif
Sadly, 2024 also saw the loss of several prominent figures who left lasting marks on their industries and the lives of many fans. Leading the list was country music legend Toby Keith, whose passing in February prompted an outpouring of tributes and nostalgia for his storied career. Following closely in search interest were former One Direction member Liam Payne, whose death shocked fans worldwide, the polarizing O.J. Simpson, and rapper Rich Homie Quan.
Here's the rest of the top 10:
Thomas Matthew Crooks
Shannen Doherty
Carl Weathers
Richard Simmons
Maggie Smith
Unsurprisingly, the most-searched actors in 2024 reflect a mix of comedic icons, rising stars, and fan favorites dominating both screens and headlines. Topping the list is Katt Williams, whose viral and controversial appearance on Shannon Sharpe's Club Shay Shay podcast landed him back in the spotlight. Jacob Elordi follows at number two, riding high on his breakout performance in 2023's Priscilla and Saltburn.
Glen Powell lands third, bolstered by his charm-filled rom-com streak and action-packed roles. Fourth is Jeremy Allen White, still basking in critical acclaim for The Bear. Shane Gillis rounds out the top five, his rise fueled by a mix of edgy comedy specials and a surprise host spot on Saturday Night Live, years after being fired from the cast.
Here’s the rest of the top 10:
Hugh Jackman
Barry Keoghan
Adam Brody
Ella Purnell
Jodie Foster
The most-searched musicians of 2024 reflect a whirlwind of comebacks, controversies, and clashes. Topping the list is Usher, whose Super Bowl halftime performance, major tour announcement, and Vegas residency catapulted the R&B icon back into the limelight. In second place is Sean "Diddy" Combs, whose name dominated headlines due to a series of disturbing allegations that shook the music industry.
At three and four, Kendrick Lamar and Drake made waves with their fiery and deeply personal rap feud, which became the defining cultural narrative of the summer. Rounding out the top five is Justin Timberlake, whose year took a troubling turn following a high-profile DWI arrest.
Here’s the rest of the top 10:
Ingrid Andress
Sabrina Carpenter
Drake Bell
Chappell Roan
Tracy Chapman
No Year in Search would be complete without diving into the wonderfully weird and oddly specific things people were curious about — and 2024 didn’t disappoint. One of the year’s most popular internet theories was the "burnt toast theory," a whimsical belief that small, seemingly unlucky accidents can lead to fortuitous outcomes. Think: your toast burning made you late to work, which kept you off the highway and out of a major collision. Equal parts philosophical and bizarre, it captured the internet’s imagination.
Parents, meanwhile, struggled to decode Gen Alpha slang. A standout query in the parenting category was, “Why do kids say sigma?" — a reflection of the endless generational battle to keep up with youth culture. On aesthetics, "mob wife" dominated as a top-searched vibe, a nod to bold and glamorous fashion inspired by cinematic crime queens. And when it came to defining trends, "demure" led the way as the U.S.’s top-searched meaning of 2024.
TL;DR: Save 80% on a lifetime subscription to Headway, an app that summarises books into 15-minute summaries. Get this app on sale for £47.06 (reg. £235.30) at the Mashable Shop.
Opens in a new window Credit: GTHW App Limited Headway Premium: Lifetime Subscription £47.06 at the Mashable ShopIs reading trendy? Well, yes — if TikTok’s growing BookTok community and Facebook book club groups have anything to say. If you want to join the conversation but can’t commit to reading full-length books, this is a clever solution.
Headway’s book summary app condenses what would normally be days' worth of reading into only 15 minutes. While you don’t get access to the whole book, you’ll get its key ideas and insights in easy-to-digest summaries. Get lifetime access at the Mashable Shop for £47.06 (reg. £235.30).
How many times have you seen someone share a book online and thought, ‘I should read that,’ but you knew you’d never actually get around to it? Headway changes your mentality completely since you now only need 15 minutes to absorb its message.
As you read or listen to summaries, the app learns what you like or dislike. From that, you’ll get personalised book recommendations, just like you’re in a real book club.
Explore over 1,500 nonfiction book summaries and some fiction ones, too. There’ll be something new to check out whenever you open the app. You may even recognise a lot of these titles from your reading list:
Atomic Habits
Total Recall (Arnold Schwarzenegger’s autobiography)
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck
To Kill a Mockingbird
Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff … and It’s All Small Stuff
The Headway app also motivates you to come back with a daily learning streak, trophies and achievements, and challenges. You might take a 14-day Self-Confidence challenge, listen to the pre-selected books each day, and earn three trophies by the end.
Get a Headway lifetime subscription for £47.06 (reg. £235.30) — an 80% discount from the usual price.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
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 today's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections today: Hints and answers for December 10 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.
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 was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.
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.
SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for December 10 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:A paved outdoor area.
Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?There are no reoccurring letters.
Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...Today's Wordle starts with the letter P.
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 today's Wordle is...
PATIO.
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.
Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.
SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for December 9Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.
If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Wordle.
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 today's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable 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.
SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for December 9 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: Formally recognize someone
Green: Airplane trip from start to finish
Blue: Looking for something without seeing it
Purple: Misspelled countries
Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:
Yellow: Give a Title To
Green: Parts of a Flight
Blue: Feel Around (For)
Purple: Countries Minus First Letter
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 today's Connections #548 is...
What is the answer to Connections todayGive a Title To: CALL, DUB, LABEL, NAME
Parts of a Flight: CRUISE, TAKEOFF, TAXI, TOUCHDOWN
Feel Around (For): FISH, FUMBLE, ROOT, RUMMAGE
Countries Minus First Letter: INLAND, OLIVIA, RAN, WANDA
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.
SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for December 10Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.
If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Connections.
If you're reading this, you're looking for a little help playing Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game.
Strands requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There's always a theme linking every solution, along with the "spangram," a special, word or phrase that sums up that day's theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.
SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on MashableBy providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.
If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.
SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for December 10 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for December 10 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Something to seeThese words are what you might go watch.
Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explainedWords are related to the film industry.
NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.
NYT Strands spangram answer todayToday's spangram is Cinematic.
Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for December 10Flick
Picture
Talkie
Feature
Short
Movie
Film
Cinematic
Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, and if you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now!
Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Strands.
A new report by Human Rights Watch documents the continued exploitation of webcam models abroad, many of whom operate on popular sites like Chaturbate and are streamed by millions around the world — but aren't protected by either the platforms' Terms of Service or the larger labor movement.
An extensive documentation of webcam studio conditions in Colombia, the international human rights group's report outlines an increasingly abusive environment within webcamming studios hosted in cities like Bogotá, Cali, Medellín, and Palmira. The organization spoke to 55 studio-based webcammers, Colombian authorities, U.S. State Department officials, and anti-trafficking experts.
SEE ALSO: How porn performers feel about Trump, Harris, and Project 2025Many of the models interviewed by Human Rights Watch and Colombian sex worker-led organizations La Liga de Salud Trans and Corporación Calle 7 Colombia recounted being coerced into "abysmal" sanitary and physical working conditions under constant surveillance, for periods of up to 24 hours. Even more recounted having never read or signed the Terms of Service of the platforms their content appeared on, with their accounts being made and overseen by the studios — guidelines that could offer them insight into further wage theft and sexual exploitation. For example, few of the webcam platforms offer protections for models to take breaks during live cam shifts. Studios reportedly pressured models into staying online for extended periods of time, using the threat of docked pay and decreased traffic.
Colombia has decriminalized sex work — a globally supported policy position among sex worker, labor, and human rights activists — and all of the models interviewed had consented to their work, yet adult content platforms, especially those in the webcam industry, continue to slip through the regulatory cracks and threaten the safety of models. “Sex workers deserve the same labor protections as all workers under international human rights law, but the billion-dollar webcam industry has largely avoided scrutiny for abuses in its supply chains,” writes report author and Human Rights Watch researcher Erin Kilbride. "Sexual exploitation is not inherent to webcam modeling, but our research indicates that the risk of exploitation in Colombian studios is extremely high."
Labor violations among webcam studio operators overseeing adult content models are well documented. While streaming platforms take anywhere from 50 to 65 percent of a model's earnings already, Human Rights Watch explains, studios like those documented in Colombia retain as much as 70 percent of what is paid out by the platform, reducing model earnings to meager numbers. In addition, many studios retain ownership of models' accounts, forcing them to stay with the studio or risk losing their followings and living wages. The organization reports that this is also a way for studios to circumvent verification systems that protect minors from entering the platform.
"Webcamming exists at the intersection of feminized labor, anti-sex work stigma, the informal economy, and the platform-mediated gig-economy. This combination makes it a ready site of multiple forms of labor exploitation," Human Rights Watch explains in the report. "Adult webcam platforms have remained largely immune to rebuke for their direct participation in and enabling of the exploitation of studio-based webcam workers."
The holiday travel season is coming up, which means loads of empty homes and packages sitting on porches, ripe for the plucking. All the more reason to gift the people on your list, and yourself, a Ring security device that will shine a spotlight on dark places around the house, alert them to when someone’s lurking, and let them know when packages arrive, all in real time.
Check out these top Ring picks that’ll keep tabs on their space while they’re at grandma’s — and they can uplevel their device’s capabilities with a Ring Home plan.
One of the most highly-anticipated AI-related products has just arrived: OpenAI's AI video generator Sora launched on Monday as part of the company's 12 Days of OpenAI event.
OpenAI has provided sneak peeks at Sora's output in the past. But, how different is it at launch? OpenAI has certainly been hard at work to update and improve its AI video generator in preparation for its public launch.
YouTuber Marques Brownlee had a first look at Sora, releasing his video review of the latest OpenAI product hours before OpenAI even officially announced the launch. What did Brownlee think?
What Sora is good atAccording to Brownlee, his Sora testing found that the AI video generator excels at creating landscapes. AI generated overhead, drone-like shots of nature or famous landscapes look just like real-life stock footage. Of course, as Brownlee points out, if you are specifically well-versed in how the surroundings of a landmark look, one might be able to spot the differences. However, there's not too much that looks distinctly AI-generated in these types of Sora-created clips.
SEE ALSO: How to try OpenAI's Sora right nowPerhaps the type of video Sora is best able to create, according to Brownlee, are abstract videos. Background or screensaver type abstract art can be made quite well by Sora even with specific instructions.
Brownlee also found that Sora-generated certain types of animated content, like stop-motion or claymation type animation, look passable at times as the sometimes jerky movements that still plague AI video look like stylistic choices.
SEE ALSO: 7 wild Sora videos blowing up social media after its launchMost surprisingly, Brownlee found that Sora was able to handle very specific animated text visuals. Words often show up as garbled text in other AI image and video generation models. With Sora, Brownlee found that as long as the text was specific, say a few words on title card, Sora was able to generate the visual with correct spelling.
Where Sora goes wrongSora, however, still presents many of the same problems that all AI video generators that came before it have struggled with.
SEE ALSO: OpenAI's Sora is officially hereThe first thing Brownlee mentions is object permanence. Sora has issues with displaying, say, a specific object in an individual's hand throughout the runtime of the video. Sometimes the object will move or just suddenly disappear. Just like with AI text, Sora's AI video suffers from hallucinations.
Which brings Brownlee to Sora's biggest problem: Physics in general. Photorealistic video seems to be quite challenging for Sora because it can't just seem to get movement down right. A person simply walking will start slowing down or speeding up in unnatural ways. Body parts or objects will suddenly warp into something completely different at times as well.
And, while Brownlee did mention those improvements with text, unless you are getting very specific, Sora still garbles the spelling of any sort of background text like you might see on buildings or street signs.
Sora is very much an ongoing work, as OpenAI shared during the launch. While it may offer a step up from other AI video generators, it's clear that there are just some areas where all AI video models are going to find challenging.
OpenAI officially launched Sora on Monday, Dec. 9, and people are already testing its capabilities.
The company showed off its AI video generator last year before launching it during its 12 Days of OpenAI series of announcements. It was made available to the U.S. and lots of countries earlier today. Mashable's Cecily Mauran has all the details about the launch.
SEE ALSO: OpenAI's Sora is officially hereThe general idea behind Sora is that, much like a chatbot, you give the AI tool a prompt, and it spits out results. But instead of text or images, you get videos. That is both pretty amazing and quite concerning.
There are already a number of videos created by Sora that are going viral online. Here are seven examples.
1. Here's an AI-generated news clip from Marques Brownlee, the popular tech YouTuber, who got to test Sora early. Tweet may have been deleted 2. Brownlee showed off Sora's impressive ability to create landscape videos. Tweet may have been deleted 3. Here is some fake historical video from Sora. Tweet may have been deleted 4. Here's a pelican on a bike...for some reason. Tweet may have been deleted 5. This person made a quick clip of Plato speaking. Tweet may have been deleted 6. Ever seen flying jellyfish? Tweet may have been deleted 7. The Roman Empire is definitely this dude's Roman Empire. Tweet may have been deletedThe tool from OpenAI just dropped, and there are already a number of videos out there.
Obviously, with time, folks will get the hang of Sora, and there will be more and more AI-generated video on our social feeds. Just be sure to stay on your toes and look out for fakes designed to fool you for nefarious purposes.
SEE ALSO: How to identify AI-generated videosSora is here.
On Monday, Dec. 9, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman announced that users in "most countries" will have access to its AI video generator, Sora — all you have to do is head to Sora.com and use your ChatGPT account.
This was the company's biggest announcement so far in its ongoing 12 Days of OpenAI event, in which it discusses new products every day for the first 12 business days in December.
"This is going live today in most of the world," Altman said during the livestream, adding that it won't actually go live in most of Europe or the UK. "If you have an open AI Plus subscription, you get 50 generations a month. If you have an open AI pro, you get unlimited generations in our sort of slow queue mode and 500 normal faster generations. You can also get fewer generations at the higher resolution. And anybody with any account can enjoy the feed."
The livestream also featured a demo of Sora, showing users how to check out videos made in Sora by scrolling through them in the "Featured" tab, which you can find under "Explore." OpenAI showed off how to prompt video, choose resolutions, length and aspect radio, and took viewers through how to use its new Storyboard feature.
"We're really excited to see what you all will create," Altman said. "We're really excited to see all of the new ways that this new kind of entertainment and tool will be used. You all did incredible work on this. I'm super proud of the team. I love the product."
OpenAI has officially launched Sora.
On Monday, CEO Sam Altman immediately kicked off the livestream by announcing the Sora public release. As of today, Sora will be available today to ChatGPT Plus and Pro users in the U.S. and other countries — excluding the UK and countries within the EU.
SEE ALSO: Sora reportedly shipping as part of '12 Days of OpenAI' livestream marathon Tweet may have been deletedEarly last year, OpenAI introduced the AI video generator. But it has been quietly in development to a select group of testers, until being unleashed to the public today, allowing plenty of hype to build up in between. Early demos of Sora's photorealistic details and advanced sense of physics and accuracy has wowed AI enthusiasts. But it has also drawn controversy over how it got so good. OpenAI hasn't revealed what Sora was trained on, but reportedly transcribed over a million hours of YouTube videos, suggesting the AI video was trained on videos from the web without the credit or compensation of the video creators. Recently, a group of artists working as early testers for Sora leaked the API credentials in protest of what they call "art washing."
Perhaps, in an indirect response to criticisms that tools like Sora are exploiting and replacing the work of creatives, Flynn emphasized that "Sora is a tool" and an "extension for the creator behind it."
In the livestream, OpenAI product lead Rohan Sahai and product designer Joey Flynn wasted no time in sharing Sora's capabilities. The tool lives on a standalone website, sora.com, with an explore tab for discovering what other users are creating. By clicking into one of the videos, users can see the methods used to the create the video, such as simple text prompt, video or image extension, or Sora's storyboarding tool.
In the library tab, users can get started making their own video with a text prompt or uploading an image. From here, users can select aspect ratio, resolution up to 1080p, duration up to 20 seconds, and multiple variations of the prompt. There are also certain default presets like "stop motion" and "balloon world."
Sora also comes with a more advanced tool called Storyboard, which allows users to shape the video with specific directions. Storyboard bears a similar resemblance to other video editing tools with frame views on the bottom and various editing tools. Each "storyboard card" or frame can be generated from a text prompt or image upload. Users can use the recut feature to shift cards around, the remix feature to describe specific changes to the sequence, the loop tool to play the video on repeat, or blend to create a transition between multiple scenes.
In OpenAI's announcement, the company shared some of its safety measures. All Sora-generated videos come with C2PA invisible watermarks, and visible watermarks by default. Sora will block "damaging forms of abuse, such as child sexual abuse materials and sexual deepfakes," and limits uploads of people.
ChatGPT Plus users get 50 videos a month at 480p (or 720p for less videos) and ChatGPT Pro users get 10 times more usage.
SAVE $25: The rarely on sale Kindle Paperwhite is $25 off at Best Buy and Amazon. Get it now for $134.99 and 16% off.
Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Kindle Paperwhite $134.99 at AmazonAmazon is known for good deals, even on their own products, discounting Fire tablets and Echo devices frequently. However, when it comes to their Kindle e-readers, the deals are few and far between. Unless it's a shopping event like Prime Day or Black Friday, Kindles rarely see discounts, and you're left paying full price. Yet, a week after Cyber Monday, Best Buy is offering a sweet discount on the latest Kindle Paperwhite.
Back in October, Amazon launched its 2024 line-up of Kindles that included the upgraded basic Kindle as well as the Paperwhite and Paperwhite Signature Edition. Luckily, during Black Friday and Cyber Monday, we saw record low prices on the devices. However, as quickly as the deals came, off they went when Cyber Week ended.
The Kindle Paperwhite is my favorite e-reader. It's Amazon's fastest e-reader, turning pages quickly, and not stuttering when switching between books. The screen has a crisp, high-contrast screen with adjustable warmth so you can read at night without any eye strain. Plus, with its Libby integration and Kindle Unlimited, you can read all you want without spending a dime.
As a special holiday treat, Best Buy is offering $25 off the 2024 Kindle Paperwhite. This brings the e-reader down to $134.99, giving you 16% off — this is just $5 more than it's lowest price ever. And since first spotting this deal at Best Buy, Amazon has decided to get in on the savings too, matching Best Buy's price. That gives you the freedom to buy from your preferred retailer.
SAVE $6.98: As of Dec. 9, select Verizon customers can get Netflix and Max (with ads) for just $10 a month, a $6.98 savings.
Opens in a new window Credit: Verizon Netflix & Max (with ads) Get DealIf your subscription services are pinching your wallet, you might be able to save money with the latest Verizon bundle.
As of Dec. 9, select Verizon customers can get Netflix & Max (with ads) for just $10 a month. That’s about $6.98 off per month if you subscribe to Netflix Standard and Max with Ads separately.
To get this deal, you’ll need to be a Verizon Unlimited Ultimate ($65/month), Unlimited Plus ($55/month), or an Unlimited Welcome ($65/month) customer. Verizon customers with 5G Home, LTE Home, and Fios home internet plans are also eligible.
If you’re already on an eligible plan and a current Netflix or Max subscriber, all you have to do is sign into your Verizon account (select “services & perks” or “recommended perks”) and add the bundle. It’ll ask for your login credentials, and you'll be all set.
Lego sets from retailers like Lego, Target, and Amazon for up to 30% off or more on Dec. 9th, ahead of the holidays. Plus, order now and get 2x Lego Insiders points when you buy direct from the Lego webstore.
Best Lego holiday deals Best Lego webstore deal Lego Jade Rabbit $11.99 (Save $8) Get Deal Best Lego Star Wars deal Lego Star Wars Mos Espa Podrace Diorama Build and Display Set 75380 $54.99 (Save $25) Get Deal Best Lego flower deal Lego Icons Poinsettia Building Set $34.99 (Save $15) Get Deal Best Lego Creator deal Lego Creator 3 in 1 Medieval Castle & Dragon Toy Set 31120 $79.99 (Save $20) Get DealThere are a ton of great Lego deals live right now ahead of the holidays. Black Friday came and went but the Lego deals never stopped, and right now major retailers like Target, Amazon, and the Lego webstore are all dropping major sets for sale prices hitting prices up to 30% off or more. It's a great time to nab a Lego gift.
Shop now to nab Lego Creator sets, Star Wars collaborations, and festive Lego flowers for excellent prices, and until Dec. 10th, when you shop on the Lego webstore, you'll earn 2x Lego Insiders points.
Best Lego webstore deal Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Jade Rabbit $11.99 at LegoNot only is it incredibly cute, but the Lego Jade Rabbit is also 40% off. This small set is one of the best Lego deals we've seen out there this week.
To make a great thing even better, the Lego webstore is currently running a special deal, where direct orders give 2x Lego Insiders points, helping you earn Lego perks even faster. What collector could resist?
Best Lego Star Wars deal Opens in a new window Credit: Lego / Star Wars Lego Star Wars Mos Espa Podrace Diorama Build and Display Set 75380 $54.99 at TargetThere are lots of ways to use Lego. For some, Lego is all about building custom designs. For others, Lego collab-sets are memorabilia: a way to build and commemorate favorite moments from movies. This Lego Star Wars diorama set is the latter.
Star Wars fans will love building this Mos Espa Podrace set. Built for display, this 718 piece Lego set is a perfect decoration to accent a DVD collection or mantle.
Best Lego flower deal Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Icons Poinsettia Building Set $34.99 at AmazonReinventing what it means to have a green thumb, Lego's collection of flowers are vibrant display sets. The Lego Icons Poinsettia Building Set is a perfect holiday gift or home accent.
Poinsettias are classic holiday flowers. This set will bloom year after year, whether you reassemble it every December or display it year round. Best of all, you won't need to water it.
Best Lego Creator deal Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Creator 3 in 1 Medieval Castle & Dragon Toy Set 31120 $79.99 at TargetAt their core, Legos are about building, and Lego Creator sets get to the root of that. This Lego Creator set celebrates classic Lego subject matter: castles and dragons.
The LEGO Creator 3 in 1 Medieval Castle & Dragon Toy Set 31120 comes with a whopping 1,426 pieces. Creators might build this set following instructions, then rebuild it a hundred different ways. If you're looking for a present for a Lego fan that like to dive into creating, then this is a perfect set.
More Lego deals:Lego Hidden Side Wrecked Shrimp Boat 70419 $39.99 $49.99 (save $10)
Lego Dungeons & Dragons minifigures $3.99 $4.99 (save $1)
Lego Porsche 963 $19.99 $24.99 (save $5)
Christmas Tree Toy Building Set 40573 $30.99 $44.99 (save $14)
Reddit is launching an AI search tool to simplify all the instances in which you need to find an answer to a particular problem.
We've all been there before — usually, for me, it's some weird tech issue — where you're in a pickle that seems resolvable only through the collective experience and knowledge of the Reddit hive-mind. The social media company's new AI tool, called Reddit Answers, aims to be the place you go for such searches instead of trawling through Google.
Wrote the company in a blog post announcing the tool:
"With Reddit Answers, redditors can ask questions and receive answers using a new, AI-powered conversational interface. Once a question is asked, curated summaries of relevant conversations and details across Reddit will appear, including links to related communities and posts. Redditors can easily read relevant snippets and answers inline from real redditors, jump into the full conversations, and go deeper in their search with their own or suggested follow-up questions."
With Reddit Answers, you can search a specific problem and, theoretically, have the tool deliver conversational answers with direct links and quotes to actual Reddit posts. The Verge's Jay Peters got an early look at Reddit Answers and wrote they've "liked what [they've] seen" in limited testing.
SEE ALSO: Reddit's traffic is way up – but why? It's Google.If you search Google for Reddit results, of course, it surfaces a bunch of links whereas Reddit Answers, in theory, makes it more digestible via summaries and bullet points. It's worth considering, however, that Reddit's AI tool could publish incorrect or incomplete summaries and answers — pretty much every AI tool has had that issue.
Reddit said it's rolling out Answers to a limited number of users, with English being the only available language for the time being. Interested Redditors can check the company's site to track if it's available in their area.
EA games — maker of the popular Sims, FIFA, and Madden franchises — is investing in more robust game development for people with disabilities.
In honor of International Day of People with Disabilities (Dec. 3), the electronic gaming company announced it will be expanding its Patent Pledge to include dozens more patents for accessible technologies that would put the power of more inclusive design in the hands of game developers. EA's Patent Pledge is a commitment to providing royalty-free IP to the gaming industry at large, and a promise not to enforce EA patent infringements for the accessible technologies the company offers.
SEE ALSO: X got a new AI image generator called AuroraThe 23 new technologies include six audio and sound technologies, as well as a new opensourced photosensitivity analysis plugin for the Unreal Engine 5 builder. The plug-in allows designers to test their games using EA's IRIS tech in real-time — IRIS makes gameplay easier for people with epilepsy or other photosensitivities. The audio patents include tech for improved and simplified speech recognition and more personalized speech options, including text-to-speech in the voice of video game characters and machine-learning powered voice aging. These options make in-game expression more inclusive for gamers.
"Among other things, these patented accessibility technologies could be used to improve the gameplay experience of players who have speech disability or who prefer or need assistance with verbally expressing themselves," explained EA. "They could make it possible for those players’ speech to be more effectively recognized and reflected in-game in a way that is representative of their age, emotion, language and speaking style."
The video game titan has introduced several other accessibility patents, including personalized music and sound settings for those with specific hearing needs, haptic and touch screen technologies, and a tool known as Fonttik, which ensures visual fields and on-screen text are accessible to those with low vision. The offerings are part of EA's larger accessibility efforts.
"By making this technology available to others royalty-free, we want to encourage the industry to work together to make video games more inclusive by removing unintended barriers to access," wrote EA senior vice president Kerry Hopkins.
Only a little over two weeks separate us from Christmas, which means its crunch time for securing gifts for those on your list. If you missed out on shopping during Cyber Week, all hope is not lost for scoring a deal. In fact, plenty of Black Friday prices are live once again at Amazon. We've helped you out by rounding up a few of the best deals we think are worth adding to your cart on Monday, Dec. 9.
Here are our top picks for the best Amazon deals of the day. If none of these catch your eye, be sure to check back each day this week for brand new selections.
Our top pick: Sonos Move 2 Opens in a new window Credit: Sonos Sonos Move 2 $359.00 at AmazonOne of our favorite Bluetooth speakers, particularly for smart homes, is back on sale at its Black Friday price of $359 (reg. $449). It's not exactly the most portable option for a Bluetooth speaker, but what it lacks in portability, it makes up for in impressive stereo sound, 24-hour battery life, and dynamic smart features. Plus it looks sleek and comes in both black and white options. As Mashable's Stan Schroeder writes in his review: "This speaker is one of the best in class, and the quality of sound it produces is reason enough to consider it."
Check out our full review of the Sonos Move 2.
Amazon Echo Buds with ANC Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Echo Buds with active noise cancellation $34.99 at AmazonIf you're looking for budget earbuds that can quiet the world around you, the Amazon Echo Buds with active noise cancellation are basically a no brainer. Originally released in 2021, they feature a comfortable build, effective noise cancellation, solid sound quality, and average battery life. "I'd call them a steal for anyone who wants to dip their toes into the world of ANC without setting their wallet on fire," writes Mashable's Alex Perry in his review of the buds. And that was at their full price of $119.99. As of Dec. 9, they're back down to their best-ever price of $34.99 — that's 71% in savings.
Check out our full review of the Amazon Echo Buds with ANC.
Garmin vivofit jr. 3 Opens in a new window Credit: Garmin Garmin vivofit jr. 3 $69.99 at AmazonThe Garmin vivofit jr. 3 is designed to get kids excited about moving their bodies. This particular model uses Disney princesses to motivate kids to achieve active minute goals and unlock entertaining app adventures, games, and icons. The parent-controlled app is also a bonus for moms and dads who want to keep their kids safe. It can be used to assign tasks, schedule alerts and alarms, and reward kids for good behavior. Usually $89.99, it's on sale for just $69.99 as of Dec. 9. That's a savings of 22%. Not a Disney fan? There's also a more simplistic model (also on sale) that features a "Garmin world tour" instead of the magical kingdom.
Amazon Fire HD 8 Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire HD 8 $54.99 at AmazonAmazon quietly released a new Fire HD 8 tablet in October and it's seen numerous discounts since. As of Dec. 9, it's back down to its best-ever price of $54.99 — that's 45% in savings. Compared to the 2022 model, the latest Fire HD 8 includes 50 percent more RAM for boosted performance (3GB instead of 2GB), a better camera (5MP vs. 2MP), new generative AI-powered features, and a better price. It also didn't fix what wasn't broken; it packs the same display, storage options, and battery life as its predecessor.
Roku Ultra Opens in a new window Credit: Roku Roku Ultra $79.00 at AmazonOur favorite Roku streaming device, the Roku Ultra, is on sale once again. Usually $100, it's down to just $79 on Dec. 9, which is a savings of 21%. More powerful than the Roku Express 4K Plus, Roku's premium streaming device features a quad-core processor that offers smooth HD, 4K, and HDR streaming on a zippy interface. It comes with Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision support, a microSD slot for storing and streaming external media, an Ethernet port, and the Roku Voice Remote Pro with customizable shortcut keys.
None of these deals catching your eye? Check out Amazon's daily deals for even more savings.
When it comes to J.R.R. Tolkien adaptations, Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings trilogy is a tough act to follow. Look no further than the Hobbit movies, which floundered in their efforts to capture the original films' success. Then there's The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, whose attempts to cram everything we love about Middle-earth into too-short seasons make for unwieldy (if still fun) TV.
Enter The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim, an anime prequel from director Kenji Kamiyama (Blade Runner: Black Lotus) that centers on the legendary kingdom of Rohan, 183 years before The Lord of the Rings. While certainly indebted to Jackson's Lord of the Rings trilogy, The War of the Rohirrim doesn't just seek to replicate its predecessors' formula. Instead, it plays with tone and structure to forge a path that is far bleaker. That path starts with the medium of anime, which offers a new angle into Tolkien on a visual and thematic level.
SEE ALSO: 'The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim' trailer teases an epic battle for the fate of RohanKamiyama and screenwriters Phoebe Gittins and Arty Papageorgiou frame The War of the Rohirrim as a historical tale told by The Lord of the Rings' Éowyn (Miranda Otto, returning in voiceover). Her voice acts as a bridge between the medium of live action and anime, with anime acting as a vehicle for live-action Éowyn's storytelling. While we never see any live action scenes, the hint of them becomes the film's baseline reality. Anime, with its heightened, stylized qualities, serves as a representation of legend.
And truly, there is no one better to tell this legend than Éowyn, as War of the Rohirrim's heroine Héra (voiced by Gaia Wise) is essentially Éowyn from 183 years in the past.
The War of the Rohirrim is what you'd get if you Éowyn had a solo film. Héra in "The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim." Credit: Courtesy of Warner Bros. PicturesThe War of the Rohirrim is based on a short section of Tolkien's appendices, in which Héra is but an unnamed daughter. However, in fleshing her out, the film is able to add new depth to the story, all while making sure Héra is the kind of person Éowyn would actually be telling a story about.
Like Éowyn, Héra is the daughter of a king of Rohan: the formidable Helm Hammerhand (voiced by Succession's Brian Cox). She's also a headstrong rider and fierce fighter, one who aspires to be just like the shieldmaidens of old. It's not hard to see Éowyn looking up to her and using her story to inspire the next generation of shieldmaidens, years down the line.
That story kicks off in earnest when the Dunlending lord Freca (voiced by Shaun Dooley) proposes that Héra marry his son (and her childhood friend) Wulf (voiced by Luke Pasqualino). Yet that marriage is the last thing both Héra and Helm want. In fact, Helm sees the proposal as such an affront that he challenges Freca to a fight. Here, we see another benefit of incorporating Héra further into the story. Her presence and development add new layers to Helm, as we get a better sense of his relationship to his family. His protectiveness of Héra carries shades of Théoden's own protectiveness over Éowyn, but he has an added element of bloodthirsty bravado that carries over into his brawl with Freca.
SEE ALSO: The 'Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power' cast debates whether Sauron is "brat"That fight is the first of many skirmishes The War of the Rohirrim has to offer, and it's as uncompromising as one might expect when a man named "Hammerhand" is involved. All it takes is one mighty punch for Helm to kill Freca outright, but the feud between Helm's family and Freca's is far from over. Wulf, in his grief, vows revenge.
And revenge he'll get! Years later, Wulf has amassed enough of an army that he can march on Rohan. In the war that follows, Helm, Héra, and the Rohirrim must retreat to the Hornburg stronghold, where they'll make one last stand to save their people.
Sound familiar? That's because the story of Helm Hammerhand is basically the prototype for The Two Towers' Battle of Helm's Deep. After all, he's the reason the Hornburg comes to be known as Helm's Deep! Yet The War of the Rohirrim is no Helm's Deep retread. It's a brutal, lengthy siege that pushes everyone involved to new, desperate limits.
The War of the Rohirrim's siege sequence isn't just Helm's Deep 2.0. Helm Hammerhand in "The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim." Credit: Courtesy of Warner Bros. PicturesWhile the battles in the Lord of the Rings trilogy are gargantuan undertakings, and unquestionably the best fantasy set pieces put to screen, they aren't particularly lengthy affairs. The Battle of Helm's Deep takes place over the course of one night, whereas the Siege of Gondor and the Battle of Pelennor Fields last a few days. The siege in The War of the Rohirrim lasts an entire winter, and the film makes sure you feel the impact of every one of those months spent in the cold.
Within the walls of the Hornburg, the remaining people of Rohan are confronted day in, day out with their impending doom — especially as Wulf's army constructs a siege tower that could break their last defense. Things are hardly better outside the walls, though. Wulf's encampment bears the brunt of the snowy elements, forcing his own people to consider whether this siege is really worth it. Of course, there's no question for Wulf, who remains resolute in his snarling, single-minded quest to tear Helm apart. But for everyone else involved (including the audience), The War of the Rohirrim's siege sequence is a tightly wound coil of dread. One side has to break — but which will it be?
These psychological tensions only continue to rise when rumors spread of a ghostly figure tearing through Wulf's camp. Here, The War of the Rohirrim takes a turn into Gothic horror, with the hallowed halls of the Hornburg perhaps being home to some greater supernatural forces. The result is deliciously frightening for a time, then surprisingly sweet in its payoff.
The same is true for the rest of The War of the Rohirrim, which takes us from the depths of Rohan's despair to the heights of Héra's hope for the future. Her fervent belief that some good can still prosper in even the darkest of times is unmistakably Tolkien in nature, linking The War of the Rohirrim to the Jackson films through more than repeated locations and Easter eggs (some more heavy-handed than others). However, it's the ways in which The War of the Rohirrim stands out from Jackson's films — like the use of anime and the psychologically-focused siege sequence — that allows The War of the Rohirrim to truly carve out its own space in onscreen portrayals of Middle-earth.
The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim opens in theaters Dec. 13.
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