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Big Tech's data hunger is even worse for the environment than its main players let on, according to a new investigation by the Guardian. The all-out push for AI (and the necessary processing energy it demands) is only exacerbating the demand.

SEE ALSO: How much is AI hurting the planet? Big tech won't tell us.

The new report analyzed real (or location-based) emissions from Google, Microsoft, Meta, and Apple's company-owned data centers, finding that their total reported emissions are likely more than 7 times (or 662 percent) higher than current reports. The disparity, according to the Guardian, can be attributed to what experts call "creative accounting" of emissions via renewable energy certificates (Recs). Purchased Recs allow companies to offset some of its electricity consumption to renewable energy-generated electricity (basically "cancelling out" its emissions). But these renewable energy sources are often not actually consumed by the company's perpetrating facilities or even those nearby.

Rather than a true estimate of emissions in a specific area, companies are using "market-based" emission figures skewed by Recs. Meta's 2022 location-based carbon dioxide emissions, for example, are 19,000 times higher than its official data center figures. The report also contends that it's "almost impossible" to assess if companies are including third-party emissions in estimates of data centers' environmental impact.

Amazon was notably left out of the 600 percent figure, but for good reason — the company is exponentially more of a polluter than any of the other companies, with Apple, the second-largest emitter, offloading less than half of Amazon's emissions. Amazon, aided by Meta, is also behind an industry push to keep Recs in the emissions accounting process. Google and Microsoft, on the other hand, have or are planning to phase out Recs from their reporting figures.

Globally, AI's environmental impact is still being negotiated, especially as AI outpaces typical cloud-based applications in energy consumption. Google recently revealed that its total greenhouse gas emissions have increased by 48 percent between 2019 and 2023, with the majority of the increase pegged to AI investments beginning in 2022. X CEO Elon Musk recently came under fire for the operation of his Tennessee-based xAI data center (powering the generative AI chatbot Grok), which has allegedly been more than dozen gas-powered turbines without environmental permits. Environmental groups denounced the company for violation of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)'s smog standards.

Prior to the "AI boom," data centers made up around 1-1.5 percent of global electricity consumption, according to the International Energy Agency, but it is expected to double by 2026.

Elon Musk, owner of social media platform X and CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, deleted a post referencing assassinations of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris early Monday morning.

“And no one is even trying to assassinate Biden/Kamala 🤔,” Musk wrote. 

Credit: X / Mashable Screenshot

Musk's now-deleted X post quoted another X user who commented about what the FBI said "appeared to be an attempted assassination” on former President Donald Trump on Sunday. This would mark the second assassination attempt on Trump after a gunman opened fire at one of his rallies over the summer.

Musk was roundly criticized for his post. Some X users questioned why Musk still has security clearance, a privilege provided to him as CEO of SpaceX. 

In follow up posts, Musk initially defended his comment.

"No one has even tried to do so is the point I’m making and no one will," Musk said.

Musk eventually deleted the post. He now claims that the post was a "joke."

Tweet may have been deleted

"Well, one lesson I’ve learned is that just because I say something to a group and they laugh doesn’t mean it’s going to be all that hilarious as a post on 𝕏," Musk posted after deleting his assassination post. 

Tweet may have been deleted

"Turns out that jokes are WAY less funny if people don’t know the context and the delivery is plain text," he continued.

Over the years, Musk has increasingly become seeped into right-wing politics and far right conspiracy theories. He announced his open support for former President Donald Trump after the assassination attempt in July.

While Musk has deleted his own post, he has continued to spread conspiracy theories about the reported Trump assassination attempt. Early Monday morning, after taking his post down, Musk boosted another far right-wing account that questioned why other recent presidents had not experienced assassination attempts.

Check out the best Amazon deals of the day as of Sept. 16: OUR TOP PICK Garmin epix gen 2 smartwatch $499.99 at Amazon (save $400) Get Deal BEST ECHO DEAL Amazon Echo Hub $144.99 at Amazon (save $35) Get Deal BEST SPEAKER DEAL Sony SRS-XE200 Bluetooth speaker $68 at Amazon (save $61.99) Get Deal BEST TABLET DEAL Apple iPad, 9th generation (64GB, WiFi) $199 at Amazon (save $130) Get Deal BEST SMART DISPLAY DEAL Amazon Echo Show 8 $104.99 at Amazon (save $45) Get Deal

With October Prime Day on the horizon, Amazon has unleashed a few deals to get us excited. These aren't considered early Prime Day deals quite yet, but they are almost as good as what we'll likely see on the big day(s). Brands like Garmin, Apple, Sony, and Amazon itself are seeing big price drops on Monday, Sept. 16 and we've rounded up a few standouts for you to shop.

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 throughout the week. We'll be selecting new deals each day.

Our top pick Opens in a new window Credit: Garmin Garmin epix (gen 2) smartwatch $499.99 at Amazon
$899.99 Save $400.00 Get Deal

The Garmin epix (Gen 2) smartwatch is built for fitness fanatics. It goes beyond just tracking your heart rate and caloric burn; it tracks pulse oxygen levels, stress, body battery, respiration, recovery time, real-time stamina, running pace, heart rate variability, and much more. You can even follow along with animated workouts or take advantage of personalized Garmin training plans for your next race right from your wrist. And like any good smartwatch, you can also stay connected through smart notifications, download music, breeze through checkout lines with contactless payments (through participating providers), and get a snapshot of your day. Unlike the poor battery life of the Apple Watch, this thing will last up to 16 days in smartwatch mode and up to 42 hours in GPS mode. As of Sept. 16, it's down to $499.99 at Amazon — that's 44% in savings and a record-low price it's only hit once before.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Echo Hub $144.99 at Amazon
$179.99 Save $35.00 Get Deal

New to the Echo family, the Amazon Echo Hub is essentially the brain to your smart home. It's a full-featured control panel that offers instant access to all of your other smart devices — lights, cameras, switches, doorbells, thermostat, etc. Rather than keeping control locked inside someone's phone, anyone can play music, stream videos, ask Alexa questions, dim the lights, adjust the temperature, or see who's at the door in one central place. It's typically $179.99, but for the second time since its release, it's down to just $144.99 — that's 20% in savings.

Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Sony SRS-XE200 Bluetooth speaker $68.00 at Amazon
$129.99 Save $61.99 Get Deal

While we haven't tested the Sony SRS-XE200 yet for ourselves, we're big fans of Sony's other speakers and headphones. This lightweight Bluetooth speaker includes two x-balanced speakers, a line shape diffuser, and dual passive radiators, meaning it packs quite the punch in a portable package. It will last you up to 16 hours on a single charge, can quick-charge to give you another 70 minutes of playtime in 10 minutes, and offers personalized sound control in the app. The gray option is on sale for just $68 as of Sept. 16 at Amazon — that's 48% in savings and its lowest price on record by 99 cents.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad, 9th gen (64GB, WiFi) $199.00 at Amazon
$329.00 Save $130.00 Get Deal

As a proud owner of the ninth generation Apple iPad, my biggest complaint is that I bought it while it was on sale for $224. It's now back down to its record-low price of $199 for anyone who wants to avoid feeling such regret. While it's not the newest iPad around (it debuted in 2021), it's still our favorite tablet for most people. It features the A13 Bionic chip, a 10.2-inch Retina display, and up to 10 hours of battery life that's more than enough to power through basic tasks. I'm regularly surprised by how solid the battery life is. And for less than $200, you really can't go wrong.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Echo Show 8 (3rd gen) $104.99 at Amazon
$149.99 Save $45.00 Get Deal

In the words of our friends at PCMag (also owned by Ziff Davis), "The third-generation Amazon Echo Show 8 remains the best Alexa smart display for most homes thanks to software-based audio enhancements and other subtle upgrades." Released in 2023, the newest Echo Show 8 improves on its predecessor's features, adding a centered 13MP front camera for clearer calls, a dynamic interface that adjusts based on your distance to the device, and spatial audio for more enjoyable listening. Snag it for $104.99 and save 30% as of Sept. 16.

None of these deals catching your eye? Check out Amazon's daily deals for even more savings.

TikTok is set to begin its fight against a possible ban in the United States. The social media company will have a crucial day in court on Monday, Sept. 16.

A federal appeals court will hear arguments about the law, signed by President Joe Biden in April, that would essentially ban TikTok if its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, doesn't sell the platform. TikTok will have about 15 minutes to make an oral argument, which "could well be the most significant of TikTok's U.S. existence," CNN noted.

That's because the whole process is on a pretty tight timeline. A decision in TikTok v. Garland is likely by December, though the potential for more appeals remains.

SEE ALSO: Here's how the TikTok ban will likely play out in the courts

The government's argument centers on the notion that U.S. citizens are put at risk because it is possible that the Chinese government could compel ByteDance to hand over their data. As The Verge reported in a detailed breakdown of the case, a good portion of the government's case centers on dozens of redacted classified materials—meaning only the government and the panel of judges have seen the apparent evidence. Much of the most seemingly compelling information in the case has been redacted from the public.

There's a bit of irony there, considering the entire case centers on freedom of speech. TikTok, meanwhile, has argued that it doesn't have precise info on users, and U.S. data is stored in the U.S.

The court case centers on whether a potential threat from a foreign nation negates some 170 million U.S. citizens' right to use a platform of expression.

ByteDance must sell by Jan. 19, so you can expect some movement on the case in the months to come.

GET $40 OFF: As of Sept 16, you can score a pair of Apple AirPods (3rd gen) for just $129.99. That's a $40 discount and only $10 away from the all-time lowest price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Our pick: Apple AirPods (3rd gen) $129.99 at Amazon
$169.99 Save $40.00 Get Deal

I hate to admit it, but I’ve become dependent on my devices. My AirPods, MacBook, and iPhone are practically extensions of my body at this point.

Whether you’re chronically online (like me) or you need a new pair of earbuds without spending a fortune, the Apple AirPods (3rd gen) have dropped to their second-lowest price ever.

SEE ALSO: AirPods 4 review: I flew 3,319 miles on a plane with active noise cancellation, but was it good?

As of Sept. 16, you can get the Apple AirPods (3rd gen) wireless buds for just $129.99 at Amazon and Target. That’s $10 away from the lowest price they've ever hit, which happened during July’s Prime Day sale, according to CamelCamelCamel. (Best Buy has them at $139.99 — My Best Buy Plus members can get an additional $7 off, but that’s still not as good a deal.)

The third-generation AirPods are sweat- and water-resistant, with an IPX4 rating. They feature spatial audio with dynamic head tracking, so the soundstage moves with your head for a better experience when you’re on the move or working out. You can get up to six hours of listening time on a single charge and up to 30 hours with the Lightning Charging Case (included).

GET 30%+ OFF: As of Sept 16, you can score 30% (or more) off an Amazon Echo device. Shop Echo Show and Dot models for less.

Our top picks: Best Echo Show deal Echo Show 8 (3rd gen, 2023 release) $104.99 at Amazon (save $45 ) Get Deal Best Echo deal Echo (4th gen) with Sengled Smart Color Bulb $64.99 at Amazon (save $54.99 ) Get Deal Best Echo Dot deal Echo Dot (5th gen, 2022 release) Kids $39.99 at Amazon (save $20 ) Get Deal

Prime Day ~fall edition~ is just around the corner, and with it comes hundreds of deals on everything from home appliances to electronics.

While the annual sales event isn’t until October, Amazon’s already gifting us some sweet deals on Echo devices. (Whether or not these deals will be even better come Prime Day isn’t a question we can answer, but it might be a good idea to take advantage of them now, just in case.)

Here are some of the best Echo device deals you can snag right now:

Best Echo Show deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Our pick: Echo Show 8 (3rd gen, 2023 release) $104.99 at Amazon
$149.99 Save $45.00 Get Deal Why we like it

The Echo Show 10 is one of our favorite Echo devices, but it’s usually pretty pricey at $249.99. But you can get the Echo Show 8 (3rd gen, 2023 release) for just $104.99, down from $149.99.

The Echo Show 8 (3rd gen) has an eight-inch screen, so you can video chat with friends and family, watch videos, stream your favorite shows, and view your security cameras right on the display. It’s compatible with Zigbeen Matter and Thread smart home devices, so you can control your compatible lights, locks, and other gadgets without springing for an extra hub.

SEE ALSO: Amazon Echo Show 5 vs. Echo Show 8 (2nd gen): Which one should you buy on Prime Day?

You can also set it to auto-rotate through your photos (like a live picture frame), see the weather and news, add things to your to-do list with a button, or just ask Alexa.

Best Echo deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Our pick: Echo (4th gen) with Sengled Smart Color Bulb $64.99 at Amazon
$119.98 Save $54.99 Get Deal Why we like it

You can snag an Echo (4th gen) with Sengled Smart Color Bulb bundle for $64.99. That’s a great price for the Echo and around $48 less than buying the devices separately.

The Echo (4th gen) is an entry-level smart speaker that lasts for years (I’ve had mine forever). You can play music, listen to podcasts, set reminders, control smart home devices, and more. Plus, with this deal, you’ll also get a smart bulb that you can control with your voice or through the Alexa app.

Best Echo Dot deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Our pick: Echo Dot (5th gen, 2022 release) Kids $39.99 at Amazon
$59.99 Save $20.00 Get Deal Why we like it

The Echo Dot (5th gen, 2022 release) Kids is on sale for $39.99, down from $59.99. Yes, this device is specifically for children, but it's a great value and a super cute addition to any smart home setup.

The Echo Dot Kids has the same capabilities as the regular Echo Dot, but it’s clad in fun, kid-friendly designs and has parental controls to filter explicit content. You’ll also get one year of Amazon Kids+, which unlocks tons of age-appropriate content, games, and Alexa skills.

If you have kids in the house, this Echo Dot deal is a no-brainer.

Natasha Rothwell talks about her inspiration for creating the series 'How to Die Alone' and how she has always created spaces and characters where she feels represented.