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TL;DR: To celebrate Pokémon's 30th anniversary, The Pokémon Company released a new card set with high pull rates to stop scalpers. A factory red-ink glitch created "Blood Mew" — an accidental, creepy variant of Mew #151.

To celebrate the franchise's 30th anniversary — and cool down tension around short stock and scalper buyouts — Nintendo and The Pokémon Company dropped a commemorative TCG set loaded with higher pull rates for shiny variants and fan-favorite Pikachus. The goal was noble enough: make cool, rare cards more accessible for casual fans and active players alike.

Naturally, that didn't stop the trading circuit from finding a brand-new, ultra-exclusive prize to lose their minds over.

Enter "Blood Mew."

Originally designed as a serene, golden illustration of card number 151, a batch of the new Mew cards suffered a heavy printing defect at the factory. Likely caused by a foil splice error during manufacturing, Mew appears to be floating in — or descending into — a thick pool of deep red ink saturated across half the card instead of hovering over a bright magical grove.

Card trader Miss Natoshi spotted the factory mishap, posted it online, and gave the sinister-looking misprint its instant-classic nickname.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

In the Pokémon card world, factory mistakes are treated like gold simply because they're so rare. While standard shiny cards are printed by the millions, an accidental ink leak or misaligned foil creates a one-of-a-kind card that can't easily be remade.

Even though Nintendo tried to make this 30th Anniversary set easy for everyone to buy, the internet hype machine has already turned "Blood Mew" into an expensive viral circus.

SEE ALSO: The Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Greninja ex Box gets a price cut on Amazon — act fast to save $10

Hoping to hit the jackpot, resellers are listing their misprinted cards on auction sites and social media to see how much collectors will pay. Some super optimistic sellers are even listing their cards with asking prices in the six figures.

Whether the hype stays this high or cools off, one thing is for sure — a simple printer mistake just accidentally created the most Metal card in Pokémon history.

Pentalobe screwdrivers up! iFixit's teardown of the iPhone 18 Pro lets you peek inside one of Apple's latest signature devices.

In order to evaluate how repairable iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max are, the outlet's lead teardown technician, Shahram Mokhtari, gives a close-up look at the mechanical details — from the camera's variable aperture to the Face ID infrared camera newly hidden beneath the display.

Mokhtari opens up the back panel and finds most repairs will still need to go through the screen, a tricky (and expensive) process involving managing adhesive and the plastic screen frame. And you'll get a good look at Apple's next-generation C2 cellular modem and A20 Pro-powered logic board.

For more on the iPhone 18 Pro Max, Mashable's Stan Schroeder has reviewed the device. Or perhaps you're looking for a hands-on with the iPhone Duo?

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King Charles, an AI version of Princess Diana, and Ed Sheeran are the unusual combination brought together in SNL UK's latest cold open, during which a D.I.A.N.A AI-bot goes rogue and the king is forced to beg for Sheeran's help as the apocalypse nears.

"I couldn't help but overhear your conversation. You see I was just outside, sitting on the fence," says Sheeran (Annabel Marlow), who has faced criticism this week after Macklemore was dropped from his tour for pro-Palestinian statements. "You know sometimes, when it comes to conflicts, the bravest thing you can do is to say nothing at all."

Cue an impressively cringe-inducing song about "both sides" being "equally right".

Elsewhere, the singer was also roasted in the show's "Weekend Update" segment.

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SAVE OVER $400: As of Sept. 21, the Eufy E25 robot vacuum and mop is discounted to $599.98 at Amazon. That's $400.01 away from its list price of $999.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Eufy Eufy E25 Robot Vacuum and Mop $599.98 at Amazon
$999.99 Save $400.01   Get Deal

When it comes to finding a good robot vacuum deal, there's no need to wait for Prime Big Deal Days.

Amazon already has plenty of deals worth checking out, including a huge 40% discount on the Eufy E25 robot vacuum and mop. As of Sept. 21, this cleaner has plummeted to $599.98 at the retailer.

Usually it's priced at $999.99, so you're saving just over $400 through this offer, which isn't too bad considering the October Prime Day sale hasn't even kicked off yet. On top of that, it's just a couple of dollars away from its lowest-ever price (listed by price tracker camelcamelcamel at $597.99), so the timing couldn't be better.

SEE ALSO: Early October Prime Day deals already live: Save on Apple, Beats, Fire TV, and Garmin

Fitted with both a vacuum and a mop, the Eufy E25 is a versatile cleaner that can tidy up everything from wood to tile to carpets. Its powerful 20,000 Pa suction can lift dust, crumbs, pet hair, and more stuck in your floors, while its roller mop scrubs with 10N of downward pressure to lift stains from your hard surfaces. Plus, the HydroJet Deep Cleaning System cleans the roller mop in real-time, using a water tank and scraper, to keep it fresh for each mop.

This robot vacuum also features an extendable CornerRover arm that reaches edges and corners for greater cleaning coverage, as well as Obstacle Avoidance technology. With this, it can recognize and steer clear of objects in its way, so it won't be slowed down or stalled while completing a full clean.

Why wait for the next Prime Day? Save big on the Eufy E25 robot vacuum and mop right now at Amazon.

The best deals this week, hand-picked by our shopping experts

• Apple iPhone 18 Pro — free at T-Mobile 

• Paramount+ — $0.99 for 2 months with code p2mcs26prem

• Apple AirPods Pro 3 — $199 $249 (save $50)

• Apple iPad 11-inch — $399 $449 (save $50)

• TCL 85-Inch Class QM8L Series TV — $2,497.99 $3,999.99 (save $1,502)
  

SNL UK's "Weekend Update" took aim at multiple people, but the person on the receiving end of the most jokes was Ed Sheeran. The singer has been in the news this past week after supporting artist Macklemore was dropped from his tour after saying "Free Palestine" on stage.

"Sheeran's support act Macklemore was dropped after saying 'Free Palestine' on stage," says cast member Ania Magliano in the clip above. "Will Sheeran have to cancel the tour? There's a very real risk that he won't.

"Genuinely though, this crisis is the worst thing that has happened to Ed Sheeran fans since their head injury."

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SAVE $600: As of Sept. 21, the Roborock Saros 10R is on sale for $999.99 at Amazon. That's a 38% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: roborock Roborock Saros 10R $999.99 at Amazon
$1,599.99 Save $600   Get Deal

If you'd happily forget about cleaning your floors, a robot vacuum is a great idea. These handy little machines can keep on top of the everyday dust and dirt that somehow appear out of nowhere. And these days, the best models can even mop your floors, so there's really no effort needed from you at all.

The Roborock Saros 10R is one such model, and it's currently on sale for $600 off the list price. As of Sept. 21, this robot vacuum is down to $999.99, which is also its lowest-ever price.

SEE ALSO: Narwal’s newest lineup features powerful steam mopping and a $799 robot vac — here’s all we know

There's so much going for this vacuum, from its 22,000Pa HyperForce suction to the Zero-Tangling DuoDivide Main Brush and FlexiArm Riser Side Brush that help prevent hair from getting wrapped around the brushes. It's even small enough to pick up hidden dirt under chairs or couches, thanks to its 3.14-inch height.

And the multifunctional dock is its powerhouse. Here, it stores dirt and dust for up to 60 days (so you don't need to constantly empty it), washes and dries the mop pads with hot water and hot air, and then refills the tanks with water and detergent. You can also control cleaning through the Roborock app or use the built-in voice assistant.

Find this robot vacuum deal online at Amazon now.

SAVE $70: As of Sept. 21, Beats Solo 4 are on sale for $129.95 at Amazon. That's a 35% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Beats Beats Solo 4 $129.95 at Amazon
$199.95 Save $70   Get Deal

Beats headphones are some of the most popular on the market, and for good reason. Known for their incredible sound quality and strong, punchy bass, they've long been a popular choice among audiophiles. And if you've been looking to upgrade or treat yourself to your first-ever pair, the Beats Solo 4 are back on sale at Amazon.

As of Sept. 21, this limited-time deal brings the price down to just $129.95. This price applies to all colorways, too, so you can choose from a range of colors.

These headphones feature a custom acoustic setup and redesigned drivers that work together to deliver the incredible sound quality Beats is known for. They also benefit from Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking, making your listening experience feel more immersive.

And they're designed with comfort in mind, too. The lightweight build features a flexible headband and angled ear cups that sit securely over your ears, and the UltraPlush cushioning makes them comfortable to wear for extended periods.

Battery life is another strong point, with up to 50 hours of playback on a full charge. And if you do run out, a 10-minute Fast Fuel charge gives you up to five hours of listening time, handy when you're heading out and realize your headphones are nearly dead.

Find this Beats deal at Amazon now.

SAVE $75: As of Sept. 21, the Google Pixel 10a is on sale for $424 at Amazon. That's a 15% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Google Google Pixel 10a $424
$499 Save $75   Get Deal

Looking for a new smartphone you can buy outright without breaking the bank? The Google Pixel 10a is the perfect choice. Recently dropped in price due to the release of new models (hello Pixel 11 Fold), the 10a is now a great choice if you want a new phone for under $500. Plus, as of Sept. 21, it's on sale for a limited time. It currently has $75 off the list price, bringing the cost down to $424. This price is for the 128GB model across all four colorways.

This phone comes in a sleek design that doesn't just look good but plays the part, too. The durable build features a scratch-resistant Corning Gorilla Glass 7i display and IP68 water and dust protection, so it's built to withstand minor drops and accidents.

The display quality is great too, thanks to its Actua display that reaches up to 3,000 nits of peak brightness, so the screen stays clear even in direct sunlight. It also has Gemini built in to help with everything from planning to completing tasks. You can even have Gemini screen spam calls, which is a feature we can all get behind.

Another bonus is the battery life. With this phone, you'll get up to 30 hours on a single charge, so you won't be running out of juice when you least expect it.

Get this Google deal at Amazon now.

TL;DR: The Magic: The Gathering Marvel Super Heroes Bundle Gift Edition is on sale for $74.98 at Amazon, down from its $89.99 list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Magic: The Gathering The Magic: The Gathering Marvel Super Heroes Bundle Gift Edition $74.98 at Amazon
$89.99 Save $15.01 Get Deal

Plenty of MTG’s Marvel Super Heroes boxes have dropped in price since the expansion hit the trading card game, but the Gift Edition has now landed at a particularly low price point at Amazon. Better yet, Amazon is even beating TCGplayer. 

As of Sept. 21, the Magic: The Gathering Marvel Super Heroes Bundle Gift Edition is $74.98 on Amazon, saving $15.01 off its $89.99 list price. This listing is sold by third-party seller Collectors Expedition but shipped by Amazon, with free delivery currently marked for Sept. 27. This is the retailer’s lowest-ever price, as confirmed with price tracker camelcamelcamel.

If you want it slightly faster, you can pay a cent more at $74.99 to have Amazon sell and ship this order — estimated to be at your door by Sept. 26 at the time of writing. 

SEE ALSO: The Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration expansion has launched: Where to buy, best deals, and market price

The main upgrade over the regular Marvel Super Heroes Bundle is the inclusion of a Collector Booster. Alongside nine 14-card Play Boosters, you get one 15-card Collector Booster containing premium treatments, foils, and a small chance of pulling the set’s ultra-rare headliner cards — which are also available to buy separately at TCGplayer.  

There are also 30 Basic Lands, split evenly between foil and non-foil cards, an alternate-art Traditional Foil promo, an oversized Spindown life counter, and a foil storage box.

TL;DR: The Pokémon TCG Mega Moonlit Tin Mega Clefable is on sale for $34.77 at Amazon, down from its $38.99 list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company Pokémon TCG Mega Moonlit Mega Clefable ex Tin $34.77 at Amazon
$38.99 Save $4.22   Get Deal

If you’ve not been able to get anything from the Pokémon TCG’s new 30th Celebration expansion for the price you’d like, you can now stock up on some packs from older collections and get your hands on a Mega Clefable promo card.

As of Sept. 21, the Pokémon TCG Mega Moonlit Tin Mega Clefable is $34.77 at Amazon, shaving $4.22 off its usual $38.99 price. With that surprise 11% discount, you're getting the lowest-ever price from Amazon — confirmed with price tracker camelcamelcamel.

It’s less than the $47.29 preorder price we covered back in June. Keep in mind that this is being sold by a third-party seller, Collectors Expedition, and free delivery is currently estimated for Sept. 25 at the time of writing.

SEE ALSO: The Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration expansion has launched: Where to buy, best deals, and market price

The tin packs in one foil Mega Clefable ex promo trading card, four Pokémon TCG booster packs (two Chaos Rising, one Perfect Order, and one Phantasmal Flames), and a code card for Pokémon TCG Live. At Amazon’s current price, the boosters effectively cost around $8.69 apiece before accounting for the promo card or code. 

If this still isn’t cheap enough for your budget, TCGplayer has unopened tins for $27 with shipping included, almost exactly matching its $27.10 market price. Meanwhile, Walmart is also listing the same tin for $34.77 — making for a nice backup if Amazon runs out of stock. 

SAVE OVER $100: As of Sept. 21, the Insta360 X4 Creator Bundle is on sale for $459.99 at Amazon. That's $145.01 off its full price of $605.

Opens in a new window Credit: Insta360 Insta360 X4 Creator Bundle $459.99 at Amazon
$605 Save $145.01   Get Deal

A good action camera should capture your most thrilling adventures on video in crisp, clear quality. Thankfully, the Insta360 X4 can do just that, capturing 360-degree video in detailed 8K resolution. If that's caught your attention, Amazon has its Creator Bundle on sale right now, which includes the camera and some extras to start filming right away.

As of Sept. 21, the Insta360 X4 Creator Bundle has been discounted from $605 to $459.99, saving you $145.01. However, it won't be on sale for long. The "limited time deal" tag indicates the clock is ticking to save on this filming pack, so now is the time to add it to your shopping cart.

SEE ALSO: How to sign up for Amazon Prime in time for the next Prime Day

As for what's included with this bundle alongside the Insta360 X4, you'll also get a standard lens guard, a 114cm invisible selfie stick, a bullet-time handle tripod, a mic adapter, a cold shoe, a quick reader, a lens cap, and a 256GB microSD card. That's quite a lot to get you started filming right off the bat, and the camera boasts some mighty impressive specs for when you start recording.

In terms of image quality, the Insta360 X4 can capture 360-degree video at 8K resolution or 5.7K at 60 fps. If you want to use its wide-angle 4K action camera, it captures at 4K at 60 fps. If you switch to super-wide views with the 170-degree MaxView, it can still capture in 4K at 30 fps. Active HDR can keep shots color-accurate, and FlowState Stabilization plus 360° Horizon Lock keep shots smooth and level as well.

This deal may not be available for much longer, so act fast to save on the Insta360 X4 Creator Bundle at Amazon.

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TL;DR: The Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Greninja ex Box is on sale for $89.49 at Amazon, down from its $99.99 list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Greninja ex Box $89.49 at Amazon
$99.99 Save $10.50   Get Deal

The Pokémon TCG's 30th Celebration expansion hasn’t been out for long, but you can already score $10 off its Mega Greninja-themed box. 

As of Sept. 21, the Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Greninja ex Box is $89.49 at Amazon, taking $10.50 off its $99.99 list price. Rather than directly from Amazon, this offer is sold and shipped by third-party seller Gem City Supplies, with free delivery currently estimated between Sept. 25 and Oct. 1 at the time of writing. 

That's also a few cents cheaper than Walmart's current offer. The retailer has the same Greninja ex Box for $89.96, reduced from $102.88, with free shipping through marketplace seller BG Collectibles. 

SEE ALSO: The Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration expansion has launched: Where to buy, best deals, and market price

There is a much bigger gap if you're happy buying from a specialist marketplace. TCGplayer has unopened boxes starting at $60 plus $4.99 shipping, nearly reaching the box’s estimated market price of $61.07. 

Inside are four Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration booster packs, along with a standard foil Greninja ex promo trading card and an oversize foil version for display. Each booster from the anniversary expansion contains five foil cards, including one of 30 Pikachu illustrations, plus a foil Basic Energy card. 

Inside these four packs are chances to pull some of the 30th Celebration’s most valuable Pokémon chase cards — including the $170+ SIR Mew ex, $130+ Gengar ex, and $100+ Futuristic Rare Mew ex. You can also buy almost any single 30th Celebration card at TCGplayer. 

Group tech houses have proliferated across the San Francisco Bay Area in the artificial intelligence boom. One of the most prominent has also racked up an extensive police record.

An advertiser paid for editorial consideration of this deal. Our editorial experts vetted the deal based on our independent expertise. Because we determined that the deal will save money for the consumer, we wrote the content.

TL;DR: Sling TV is offering its Season Pass for $199.99 when you prepay for five months. With this, you can access over 30 sports networks, including ESPN, ESPN2, NFL Network, and Red Zone.

Opens in a new window Credit: Sling TV Sling TV Season Pass: $199.99 for 5 months   Get Deal

A new football season is upon us, and if you're looking for a way to watch all of the action this year, Sling TV is here to help.

Sling TV is offering its Season Pass for $199.99 when you prepay for five months, combining Sling Essentials, Sling Select, and Sports Extra into one impressive streaming package.

Compared to paying for each of those plans on their own each month, you're actually saving quite a bit. Sling Essentials and Sling Select are both $19.99 per month, while Sports Extra is $11 per month. All together, that'd normally cost you $254.90 over a five-month period, so through this prepay offer, you get to keep $54.91 in your pocket.

SEE ALSO: Meatball sub: The NFL's new sandwich slang, explained

Sports fans, in particular, are in for a real treat with this package. With the Season Pass, you'll have access to over 30 sports networks, including ESPN, ESPN2, NFL Network, and Red Zone, so there's plenty to watch. And outside of sports, there's also channels like Disney, FX, and National Geographic available, plus access to Freestream, which features over 600 free channels.

And if you find it's not for you, Sling TV notes that there are no contracts or long-term commitments, so you can cancel or switch plans at any time.

This offer is only live until Sept. 30, so be quick to score Sling TV's Season Pass for $199.99 when you prepay for five months.

Hideo Kojima has spoken about his shocking split with Sony, revealing that the company not only ended their long-running partnership over a Zoom call, but it also gave no reason for doing so. Though the lauded video game auteur said his mind "went blank" in shock when he was told the news, he insisted that he doesn't hold any grudge.

SEE ALSO: Jordan Peele and Hideo Kojima release new ‘OD’ teaser

Speaking to The Washington Post via an interpreter, the Kojima stated that he was "shocked and surprised" by Sony's seemingly sudden decision, which was made public earlier this month. Kojima had been partnered with publisher Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) since leaving Konami and establishing his own studio over a decade ago. As such, Sony's unilateral cancellation of this collaboration was completely unexpected, leaving Kojima worried about the future of Kojima Productions and its employees. 

A Sony representative reportedly delivered the unwelcome news in a June video call which included Kojima, his translator Aki Saito, and Kojima Productions' president Shinji Hirano. According to Kojima, Sony did not provide a reason for its decision.

"We couldn’t understand it," Kojima told The Washington Post. "[Former SIE CEO] Jim Ryan had already retired, but I thought this was a project that Sony Interactive Entertainment and I had agreed to team up on and make together.... I didn't think Physint would be on the list of being cancelled."

Kojima Productions' debut game Death Stranding and sequel Death Stranding 2: On the Beach were both Sony PlayStation exclusive titles at launch. The studio has since been working on horror game OD in collaboration with Jordan Peele, as well as stealth action game Physint featuring Bill Skarsgård. However, while OD was being made in partnership with Microsoft's XBox, Sony's decision to pull its support placed Kojima's entire studio in jeopardy. 

"I didn’t have any anger or sadness," said Kojima, speaking on his reaction to the news. "I was just thinking, 'What should I do?' It’s a big problem for us and I couldn’t tell staff at the time…. We’re an independent studio. That means if they can’t fund us, our studio could collapse."

Fortunately, it didn't come to that, with XBox stepping in to become Kojima Productions' new partner instead, including publishing Physint. In an interview with IGN, Kojima said that he had approached multiple potential partners and received positive reactions. However, he ultimately decided on Xbox due to its ability to provide funding as well as other resources such as technical and marketing support.

"I approached Xbox and they were great," Kojima told IGN. "They could support us technically. And also we've been working on OD with them, so we already had a connection. I made a proper pitch of Physint to them. And then their first reaction was like, 'This pitch was fantastic. Never seen a pitch like this!' And that's how it started with Xbox."

Kojima was then able to inform Kojima Productions' employees of the studio's new partner, keeping the issue under wraps until it had already been resolved. With the exception of leaders in the Physint development team, most workers only found out about the change the this month, the day before Xbox was announced as their new partner.

"The biggest thing was, [Xbox are] not thinking of just funding a game," said Kojima. "They're thinking about movies and anime. It's more about the IP. Let's create a new IP."

Despite the unfortunate way Kojima and Sony's partnership ended, the Metal Gear creator stated that he holds no ill-will toward the company. Even so, he did wish the separation had been handled slightly differently, as he had no prior warning that it was coming.

"I'm not fighting with Sony," he told IGN. "We're not in a dispute. But what I want to say is that we've been together for 30 years and we have this relationship. So if this was the conclusion, I would've wanted to hear it a little earlier [than the June meeting].... [But] I've always been a big Sony fan. I've been using a Walkman. All my cameras are Sony. So I have no bad feelings towards them."

Shortly after the separation became public, Bloomberg reported that Sony's decision was driven by concerns that Kojima's project was missing deadlines and on track to significantly exceed its budget, according to sources close to the matter. Kojima Productions has since responded to this report, stating that it should be taken "with a dose of scepticism."

"Make no mistake, this was a serious situation for the studio with a range of potentially significant implications," the studio said in a written statement. "While we recognise that the article may have caused alarm, we want to reassure you all, for the record: that the studio is in a healthy, profitable state, development for Physint continues to move forward with Xbox, and our relationship with PlayStation remains strong.​"

Chipper ads for artificial intelligence products are plastered all over New York City subway tunnels and cars. On Monday morning, however, a different type of AI ad debuted in the subway system with a uniquely declarative statement: Stop the AI drift.

The slogan is preceded by familiar scenarios.

"You won't tell your therapist. But you'll tell AI?"

"Did your kid write that essay? Or was it AI?"

SEE ALSO: Microsoft AI boss calls out Anthropic for chasing AI consciousness, reigniting old debate

The refrain of "stop the AI drift" is part of a campaign launched by the nonprofit Center for Humane Technology. For a month, the campaign's ads will run in numerous subway stations and cars. The campaign will also feature social media influencers who create content about AI drift.

The goal is to help people name the uneasy feeling they have about outsourcing so much to AI, and invite them to reconsider using it for quintessentially human tasks and endeavors.

What is AI drift?

"We define AI drift as the gradual erosion of human abilities as AI takes on more of our daily lives," Camille Carlton, senior director of strategy and impact at the nonprofit Center for Humane Technology, told Mashable.

As people increasingly use AI to think, communicate, create, and act on their behalf, it comes at a cost, Carlton explained. What's lost are the skills, relationships, and meaning that give people's lives purpose.

The phrase "AI drift" is a play on the term "model drift," which describes the deterioration in a machine learning model's accuracy after it's exposed to real-world data.

These Stop the AI Drift ads will appear in the New York City subway system for a month. Credit: Courtesy Center for Humane Technology

AI drift as a concept may seem quaint compared to the possibility that AI could kill humanity, as some safety researchers have claimed in recent weeks. Yet Carlton said it's no less of a catastrophic risk.

"I think there are different ways that we can talk about really big threats to humanity when it comes to AI," she said. One of them is certainly the slow "erosion of our humanity" wherein people lose their sense of self and ability to feel the "joy of life."

AI drift sneaks up on people

While "Stop the AI Drift" is designed to raise awareness amongst individual consumers, Carlton isn't faulting people for turning to AI more and more.

After all, the current chatbots are designed to encourage AI drift, she said. They'll do things like write wedding vows, coach users through interpersonal conflicts, and complete homework and professional assignments — and they're available 24/7.

Sloan Thompson, who presents on the risks of AI at U.S. college campuses but isn't involved in the stop AI drift campaign, said she see frequently sees students relying on AI for academic and personal matters. She said AI drift sometimes "sneaks up" on users.

"There is absolutely no friction or barrier between using AI in one specific area or aspect of your life, and then it just naturally flows into more intimate areas or more personal areas," said Thompson, director of education and AI Initiatives at EndTAB, a training organization focuses partially on the impact of AI on relationships and safety.

Examples of AI drift

Thompson notes that students often say they're "conflicted" about using AI so much but feel they'll fall behind if they don't.

Indeed, a recent report on AI published by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology found that the university's own students were most tempted to use a chatbot when they feared missing a deadline.

Thompson said she's seen a wide spectrum of AI drift, particularly as it applies to relationships.

One dating app, for example, has featured AI directly in its product through pop-ups that nudge users as they create a profile. Thompson said such advice is typically benign, though it can shape how people present themselves.

At the spectrum's opposite end are AI agents that date on a user's behalf. The user may feel exhausted by online dating and use the agent to avoid the initial work of matching with a romantic interest. Whether or not they share that with their date is another story, Thompson said.

She added that highly personal AI use may go undiscussed, especially when people feel stigma, embarrassment, or shame about it.

How to stop AI drift

Carlton is clear that stopping AI drift is dependent on changing product features that encourage AI reliance.

That includes prohibiting "dangerous and deceptive anthropomorphic design," which can lead to highly personal relationships with AI. Companies should also offer products that prompt human thinking rather than default to thinking for a user, as well as build models that augment human work instead of replacing it.

Tips from Stop the AI Drift campaign

The Stop the AI Drift website offers tips for preventing AI drift, including the following strategies:

• Save deeply personal conversations for the people in your life.

• Whatever task you want a chatbot to perform, "own" your initial effort before bringing AI into the process.

• Take one day off from AI every week.

Identify what "friction" is valuable and guard it

Carlton also believes AI users can try to prevent AI drift by focusing on friction, or the effort that meaningful tasks require. This is critical for human development and living a fulfilling life, Carlton said — no matter how much Silicon Valley pitches efficiency and optimization as paramount.

So AI users should not surrender tasks that lead to productive and rewarding friction. This definitely includes managing interpersonal "rupture and repair," Carlton said. It also includes working through a difficult problem in the classroom or workplace.

Even though the line between tool and crutch can be blurry when using AI, Carlton recommends protecting friction that leads to personal growth.

Using AI to plan a trip, for example, might effectively leverage AI as a tool. Relying on it to provide feedback on an argument that happens during the trip, however, would create AI drift.

"The question is about what type of friction we do we keep," Carlton said. "It's not so much about whether doing a task or a thing is hard, but it's about whether that hard part of it actually produces something for us."

TL;DR: Get Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows on sale for $32.97 through Sept. 27, a one-time purchase for lifelong access (reg. $219.99).

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows: Lifetime License $32.97
$219.99 Save $187.02   Get Deal

Be honest: you’re mainly opening this for Word. That’s fine, but you don't have to pay a subscription for it. Until Sept. 27, you can grab a lifetime license to Microsoft Office 2021 for 85% less than its usual retail price. It’s still the full Professional edition, not some stripped-down starter pack, so Excel and PowerPoint are there the moment an actual spreadsheet or deck shows up, and Outlook’s ready if you’d rather run email outside a browser tab.

The rest of the suite comes along for free, including the standard version of Teams, OneNote, Access, and Publisher (Microsoft is retiring support for Publisher after October 2026, worth knowing if that’s one you rely on). None of it costs extra, and none of it requires you to touch a Microsoft 365 account to use.

It’s a one-time download for one Windows PC, so once it’s yours, it’s yours. Instant license delivery and free customer support mean getting started takes about as long as opening your first document.

Microsoft 365 Personal costs $9.99 per month, or $99.99 if you pay for the year upfront, and the subscription renews annually. This lifetime license costs $32.97 once. Do the math on year one alone, and you’re already $67.02 ahead, and that gap only grows the longer you use it.

Get Microsoft Office for Windows while it’s on sale for $32.97 through Sept. 27 at 11:59 p.m. ET (reg. $219.99). No coupon needed.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

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If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Hurdle: Everything you need to know to find the answers Hurdle Word 1 hint

To ascend.

Hurdle Word 1 answer

CLIMB

Hurdle Word 2 hint

To groom.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for September 21, 2026 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

PREEN

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Madness.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for September 21, 2026 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Meanings for each word for Sept. 21, 2026 Hurdle Word 3 answer

MANIA

Hurdle Word 4 hint

To unpack.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

UNBOX

Final Hurdle hint

To jerk.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Games available on Mashable Hurdle Word 5 answer

LURCH

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

There's a lot more of the Moon to see now than there was last week. If you're heading outside tonight, here's what you should be able to spot with the naked eye, binoculars or a telescope.

What is today’s Moon phase?

As of Monday, Sept. 21, NASA's Daily Moon Guide tracker tells us the Moon is in the Waxing Gibbous phase, with 72% of its surface visible.

Without the assistance of visual aids, you should be able to spot the Mare Tranquillitatis, Mare Serenitatis, and the Tycho Crater. If you have binoculars, they'll also help you see the Clavius Crater, Archimedes Crater, and the Alps Mountains. Plus, if you have access to a telescope, you'll see the Apollo 14 landing spot, the Descartes Highlands, and the Rima Hyginus.

When is the next Full Moon?

The next Full Moon will take place on September 26.

What are Moon phases?

The Moon doesn't look the same from night to night. As it travels around Earth, which takes about 29.5 days, we see different portions of its illuminated side. This is what creates the lunar phases, with the Moon gradually progressing from a thin crescent to a half Moon and then a Full Moon before the cycle starts over. According to NASA, the phase we see is determined by the Moon's position relative to both Earth and the Sun.

The eight phases are:

New Moon - The Moon is between Earth and the sun, so the side we see is dark (in other words, it's invisible to the eye).

Waxing Crescent - A small sliver of light appears on the right side (Northern Hemisphere).

First Quarter - Half of the Moon is lit on the right side. It looks like a half-Moon.

Waxing Gibbous - More than half is lit up, but it’s not quite full yet.

Full Moon - The whole face of the Moon is illuminated and fully visible.

Waning Gibbous - The Moon starts losing light on the right side. (Northern Hemisphere)

Third Quarter (or Last Quarter) - Another half-Moon, but now the left side is lit.

Waning Crescent - A thin sliver of light remains on the left side before going dark again.

Today's Connections: Sports Edition will be easier for people who've lived in Maryland.

As we've shared in previous hints stories, this is a version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans.

Like the original Connections, 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 the latest 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: Sports Edition?

The NYT's latest daily word game has launched in association with The Athletic, the New York Times property that provides the publication's sports coverage. The sports Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

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Each puzzle features 16 words, and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise 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 before the game ends.

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Players 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: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. Here's a hint for today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

• Yellow: Achievements

• Green: Schools near the Capitol

• Blue: US soccer top scorers

• Purple: The Wagners

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

• Yellow: Distinction

• Green: DC Schools

• Blue: USMNT All-Time Leading Goal Scorers

• Purple: ___Wagner

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: Sports Edition #728 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• Distinction: ACCOLADE, AWARD, HONOR, PRIZE

• DC Schools: AMERICAN, GEORGE WASHINGTON, GEORGETOWN, HOWARD

• USMNT All-Time Leading Goal Scorers: ALTIDORE, DEMPSEY, DONOVAN, WYNALDA

• ___Wagner: ASHLEY, BILLY, FRANZ, HONUS

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new sports Connections 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.

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.