Feed aggregator

The company also introduced a new tool that helps computer programmers use chatbots when writing code.

TikTok is testing out Footnotes, which is effectively its version of X's Community Notes. The company announced the new feature Wednesday in a blog post on its website.

TikTok is just the latest social media platform to roll out its own version of Community Notes, joining giants like Facebook and Instagram. The idea is that a community of users can help combat misinformation.

In the post announcing the feature, TikTok wrote:

"Footnotes will draw on the collective knowledge of the TikTok community by allowing people to add relevant information to content on our platform. To start, this feature will be tested in the U.S. for short form videos. It will add to our suite of measures that help people understand the reliability of content and access authoritative sources, including our content labels, search banners, our fact-checking program, and more."

U.S. users can apply to become Footnotes contributors but must meet certain requirements, including being on the platform for longer than six months, being 18 or older, and having no recent violations of community guidelines.

Credit: TikTok

The tool will rely on users rating the helpfulness of different Footnotes.

Wrote TikTok:

"Footnotes will use a bridge-based ranking system designed to find agreement between people who usually have different opinions, inspired by the open-sourced system that other platforms use. It works by allowing contributors with differing opinions to leave and vote on the helpfulness of a footnote. Only footnotes that meet the threshold for "helpful" will be visible to the community, at which point the broader community can vote on it, too. The more footnotes get written and rated on different topics, the smarter and more effective the system becomes."

It's not clear when, exactly, Footnotes will launch, but TikTok noted that it'll open access to the tool in the "coming months."

China’s success in artificial intelligence has the Trump administration and lawmakers weighing rules and investigations to slow Beijing’s progress in the industry.

SAVE UP TO 47%: Amazon has hundreds of tech and toy items on sale for up to 47% off that will arrive by Sunday, including Lego sets, Bose speakers, Sony headphones, Echo devices, and National Geographic STEM toys.

Best sprig tech anad toy deals at Amazon Best tech deal Bose SoundLink Flex portable Bluetooth speaker $119 (save $30) Get Deal Best Lego deal Lego Botanicals Mini Orchid Set $24.99 (save $5) Get Deal Best toy deal National Geographic Diamond Painting Solar System Night Light $15.99 (save $4) Get Deal

Since we could all use some treats in 2025, now is a great time to snag some spring fun — especially if you're packing Easter baskets for Sunday, April 20. Even if you're not one to celebrate Easter, it's an excuse to shop some great deals and grab a few things that make you (or the kids in your life) feel good.

Amazon has discounts on plenty of tech, as well as hundreds of toys and games that are great for all ages. If you're shopping for last-minute treats, check out some of our favorites, but be sure to order today (or by tomorrow at the latest) to ensure Sunday arrival.

Best tech deal Opens in a new window Credit: Bose Bose Soundlink Flex portable Bluetooth speaker $119 at Amazon
$149 Save $30 Get Deal Why we like it

The Bose Soundlink Flex is a great summer companion that gets up to 12 hours of battery life on one charge. While it normally sells for $149, it's on sale at Amazon for $119 as of April 16. That's a 20% discount that works out to a savings of $30. Plus, this deal extends to a bunch of colorway options including Alpine Sage, Dust Blue, and Pink Petal.

The included utility loop makes the Bose easy to take on any adventure, and it's also waterproof and dustproof. The silicone-wrapped body of the portables speaker means it's better equipped to handle a tumble. Plus, Bose sound quality is always reliable.

More tech deals

• Amazfit Bip 5 Unity Smart Watch — $49.99 $69.99 (save $20)

• Ninja Fit Compact Personal Blender — $54.99 $69.99 (save $15)

• Amazon Echo Spot — $64.99 $79.99 (save $15)

• Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids Pro tablet (32GB) — $139.99 $189.99 (save $50)

• Bose QuietComfort Headphones — $249.99 $399.99 (save $100)

Best Lego deal Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Botanicals Mini Orchid Set $24.99 at Amazon
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Spring is a wonderful time to celebrate flowers — unless you have pollen allergies. Avoid the runny rose, and go with a Lego floral set. The adorable Lego Botanicals Mini Orchid Set is on sale at Amazon for $24.99, down from the usual price of $29.99.

The Lego building set is perfect for an office, dresser, or an entry-way display. Plus, it never needs watering.

SEE ALSO: 9 of the best air purifiers, according to experts More Lego deals

• Lego Daffodils — $7.99 $14.99 (save $7)

• Lego Minecraft The Pirate Ship Voyage — $9.59 $14.99 (save $5.40)

• Lego Botanicals Lucky Bamboo Set — $23.99 $29.99 (save $6)

• Lego Creator 3 in 1 Adorable Dogs Set — $23.99 $29.99 (save $6)

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• Lego Botanicals Tiny Plants Set — $39.99 $49.99 (save $10)

Best toy deal Opens in a new window Credit: National Geographic National Geographic Diamond Painting Solar System Night Light $15.99 at Amazon
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National Geographic has great toys that find fun ways to introduce STEM topics. For the kids who like to craft, the National Geographic Diamond Painting Solar System Night Light is a ton of fun, and it can become part of their bedroom decor since it functions as a night light with adjustable brightness.

Thanks to today's sale price at Amazon, the crafting kit is down to just $15.99, which takes 20% off the normal price of $19.99.

More toy deals

• Kalour 72 Count Colored Pencils — $9.99 $12.99 (save $3)

• Play-Doh Rainbow Swirl Ice Cream Playset — $11.28 $19.99 (save $8.71)

• Squishmallows Original Skyler The Skunk — $11.99 $15.99 (save $4)

• Hungry Hungry Hippos Game — $13.29 $19.99 (save $6.70)

• National Geographic Bug Catcher Kit — $16.99 $19.99 (save $3)

• National Geographic Kids Weaving Kit — $18.74 $24.99 (save $3)

UPDATE: Apr. 16, 2025, 2:18 p.m. EDT Now that the OpenAI livestream has ended, this article has been updated with the latest information about the o3 and o4-mini launch.

OpenAI's o3 and o4-mini models for ChatGPT have arrived.

As expected, during a livestream event today, the ChatGPT maker released the newest versions of its reasoning models. OpenAI launched o1, its first reasoning or chain-of-thought model, last summer and skipped over o2 to announce its progress on o3 in late December. While o3 has not been publicly available until today, OpenAI already has a lightweight version, o3-mini, on the market.

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In the livestream, the OpenAI team (sans CEO Sam Altman) described some of the models' capabilities and demoed how users can use o3 and o4-mini. The models have been trained to use tools and can process visuals like charts and images.

"For the first time, our reasoning models can agentically use and combine every tool within ChatGPT—this includes searching the web, analyzing uploaded files and other data with Python, reasoning deeply about visual inputs, and even generating images," read the announcement.

The o3 model is now OpenAI's most advanced reasoning model. The lightweight o4-mini is a smaller model designed to be more cost-efficient, and it's particularly good at math and coding, according to OpenAI. Both perform higher than o1 and o3-mini on benchmarks like AIME and GPQA. They have also improved at visual reasoning, based on multimodal evaluations.

Initially, in an effort to streamline its numerous and somewhat confusing model options, Altman said they wouldn't release o3 and o4-mini as standalone models, and would instead integrate their capabilities into ChatGPT-5. But a few weeks later, the company pivoted and decided to release the two models after all, delaying the ChatGPT-5 launch. Again.

Skeptics say the multiple delays of GPT-5 indicate internal struggles to significantly improve model performance. But Altman says the wait will be worth it. In the meantime, o3 and o4-mini have been deemed strong enough models to exist on their own.

o3 and o4-mini are available today via the API and for ChatGPT Pro, Plus, and Teams subscribers, with Enterprise and Edu access coming next week.

In the lead up to Earth Day on April 22, tech giant Apple announced it's making major headway in its goal to be more environmentally friendly, including cutting global greenhouse gas emissions by 60 percent since 2015.

Apple outlines these initiatives, including recent renewable energy investments, in its newly published Environmental Progress Report. The company says it redirected 600,000 metric tons of waste through its Zero Waste program and explains it surpassed the 99 percent mark for use of recycled rare earth elements in magnetic and battery components. A line of what Apple calls carbon-neutral devices, including the Apple Watch Series 10 and Mac mini, were announced in 2024, as well.

SEE ALSO: Your old phones can help plant new trees with new AT&T trade-in program

Apple aims to reduce its carbon emissions by 75 percent, become fully carbon neutral, and switch to 100 percent renewable energy before the global 2030 climate goal deadline.

"Today, we’re using more clean energy and recycled materials to make our products than ever before, we’re preserving water and preventing waste around the world, and we’re investing big in nature," Lisa Jackson, Apple’s vice president of Environment, Policy, and Social Initiatives. "As we get closer to 2030, the work gets even harder — and we’re meeting the challenge with innovation, collaboration, and urgency."

Apple device owners can also take advantage of a new Earth Day programs, including 10 percent off an Apple accessory when they recycle an eligible item in-store. On Earth Day, Apple Watch and Fitness+ users can earn a limited-edition award by completing a 30 minute workout, as well as access planet-friendly advice in the Tips app.

This week, we're getting a peek behind the scenes at Meta and Facebook as the FTC's antitrust trial against the company begins.

On Monday and Tuesday, Meta founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg took the stand as the U.S. government makes its case that Zuckerberg and company run a social media monopoly. The FTC argues that "Facebook has engaged in a systematic strategy — including its 2012 acquisition of up-and-coming rival Instagram, its 2014 acquisition of the mobile messaging app WhatsApp, and the imposition of anticompetitive conditions on software developers — to eliminate threats to its monopoly."

For its part, Meta argues that the social media space is still full of healthy competition and that the company grew Instagram and WhatsApp into what they are today.

The antitrust trial is years in the making, with the FTC originally opening the investigation in 2019 during the first Trump administration. Already, the trial has produced revelations about Meta's history and view of the social media industry as a whole. Let's take a look at the standout revelations from the Meta-FTC antitrust trial so far.

Mark Zuckerberg was really worried about Instagram as a competitor

Before acquiring Instagram for $1 billion in 2012, Mark Zuckerberg was really worried about Instagram. So much so that the Facebook founder called the prospect of falling behind Instagram "really scary," according to internal messages from the time.

"Right now they seem to have two things that we don't: a really good camera and a photo centric sharing network," Zuckerberg wrote in an email prior to the acquisition.

Zuckerberg shared in messages that he was concerned by Instagram's rapid growth and the fact that Facebook employees were using the app.

"One concerning trend is that a huge number of people are using Instagram every day…even FB employees -- and they're only uploading some of their photos to FB," Zuckerberg said.

Messages like this show that Zuckerberg viewed Instagram as an existential threat to Facebook's social media dominance. And he wasn't only concerned about Instagram beating Facebook; he was also worried that a larger competitor would scoop up Instagram first.

“If Instagram continues to kick ass on mobile or if Google buys them, then over the next few years they could easily add pieces of their service that copy what we're doing now," Zuckerberg said. "I view this as a big strategic risk for us if we don't completely own the photos space.”

Facebook was building an Instagram competitor  Credit: picture alliance / Getty Images

“Theoretically we could go build this technology, but I’m worried we’re so far behind,” Zuckerberg wrote as he contemplated what an Instagram acquisition would cost the company. 

In fact, Facebook was so concerned about Instagram that it started building a competing product. The company had interns working on building a competitor to the photo-sharing social network before ultimately deciding they were too far behind. According to internal company messages from 2011, Zuckerberg wasn't happy with the progress being made on a Facebook Camera app.

"We might want to consider paying a lot of money for this," Zuckerberg said, speaking of Instagram.

Zuckerberg considered abandoning Instagram after the acquisition

One really damning piece of the FTC's case is a 2012 message from Zuckerberg from just months before Facebook acquired Instagram.

The Facebook founder considered buying Instagram and doing nothing with it. Under this strategy, the sole purpose of the acquisition would be to keep away the competition.

“By not killing their products we prevent everyone from hating us and we make sure we don’t immediately create a hole in the market for someone else to fill but all future development would go towards our core products," Zuckerberg said in February 2012.

Zuckerberg defended himself against the FTC's argument here by pointing out that the company didn't end up utilizing this strategy.

Facebook was also concerned about failed platforms like Google+

One of the FTC's other core arguments is that Facebook maintains a monopoly over platforms that "connect family and friends" specifically.

To bolster that case, the FTC raised Zuckerberg's concerns over now-defunct social media platforms.

Path was a social media app that launched in 2010 with the purpose of only connecting with a user's closest 50 family members and friends.

At the time, Zuckerberg was concerned about the app, and Facebook even considered acquiring it.

Zuckerberg was also worried about the launch of Google+ in 2011, admittedly because it was directly competing as a social network among family and friends.

Years later, in 2013, Zuckerberg would contemplate blocking ads on Facebook for mobile messenger apps like WeChat and Line as he worried about those companies becoming competitors.

Facebook offered $6 billion for Snapchat

Facebook tried to acquire Snapchat way back in 2013 for $3 billion. This was widely covered years ago when that news first leaked.

However, there was another, much higher offer that Snapchat turned down that was just revealed at the Meta antitrust trial.

According to Zuckerberg, after the initial $3 billion offer to acquire Snapchat was turned down in 2013, Facebook went back to the company later that year, offering double the amount. However, Snap CEO Evan Spiegel turned down the $6 billion offer as well.

Zuckerberg worried about Snapchat Stories

Snapchat changed the mobile social networking game when it released Stories shortly after turning down Facebook's acquisition offer.

According to internal messages from 2014, Zuckerberg was concerned about the feature.

“Snapchat is now more of a competitor for Instagram and News Feed than it ever was for messaging," he said. “We need to take this new dynamic seriously, both as a competitive risk and as a product opportunity to add functionality that many people clearly love and want to use daily.”

Instagram would go on to launch its own Stories feature in 2016.

Meta views TikTok, LinkedIn as competition

During the trial, Mark Zuckerberg has conceded that Meta views platforms like TikTok and LinkedIn as competition.

Meta even presented evidence showing that when TikTok went down during the brief period that it was banned in the U.S. earlier this year, Facebook and Instagram traffic surged by 20 percent and 17 percent, respectively.

Zuckerberg even shared that the company views the professional social network LinkedIn and the local social network Nextdoor as competitors. According to Zuckerberg, the reason for this is that Facebook is no longer a social media platform just for family and friends.

While this is interesting, it's also a bit self-serving, too. As previously mentioned, the FTC's argument is built around Meta monopolizing the "friends and family" networking space, which includes Snapchat and even smaller platforms like MeWe. (Zuckerberg admitted to never hearing of MeWe before. Mashable previously covered the platform in 2020 during a brief period when it gained popularity among conservative social media users.)

Platforms like TikTok, despite its broad popularity in the social media space, are not being considered as competition to Facebook in the FTC case. That likely explains why Zuckerberg is content with sharing this information in order to refute the government's argument.

Zuckerberg wanted to reset everyone's Facebook friends, create ad-only feed

Perhaps the weirdest revelation during the trial so far is in regards to some off-the-wall ideas Zuckerberg had for Facebook.

According to internal company emails, Zuckerberg came up with an idea in 2022 to reset every Facebook user's friends to zero and then continue to wipe everyone's social graph annually.

Zuckerberg also admitted that the company once considered creating a feed that only provided users with ads.

The Meta-FTC antitrust trial is ongoing, and there are sure to be more revelations as the case progresses. We'll continue covering this story as it develops. You can also view the FTC's exhibits from the case online via Dropbox.

TL;DR: Replace your monthly Dropbox subscription with a 10TB Internxt Cloud Storage Lifetime Plan on sale for A$449 with code STORAGE20.

Opens in a new window Credit: Internxt Internxt Cloud Storage Lifetime Subscription: 10TB Plan AU$449
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Cloud storage subscriptions are expensive, even if they don't seem like it at first. Dropbox's cheapest plan is A$16 per month for 2TB of cloud storage. It seems cheap, but that's a little under A$192 every year, and you're never actually done paying for it. 

If you want a cheaper alternative to Dropbox, Internxt just dropped the price for a 10TB cloud storage lifetime subscription. Now it's only A$449 with code STORAGE20. 

Pay once for a lifetime of cloud storage

Space isn't the only thing this cloud storage has going for it. Internxt is committed to keeping your data safe. That's why they use end-to-end encryption to secure files during transfer and at rest. Its zero-knowledge architecture means that files are encrypted in a way that Internxt itself cannot access. You're the only one who has access to your files.

You don't even have to manually upload. You can sync all your files and photos across platforms, even Linux. This focus on privacy even extends to its open-source design, so users can inspect the code for transparency and security.

This subscription lasts for life with no recurring payments of any kind. You can access your cloud storage on unlimited devices, too. 

Use code STORAGE20 by April 27 at 11:59 p.m. PT to get an Internxt 10TB Cloud Storage Lifetime Subscription on sale for A$449. 

StackSocial prices subject to change.

If you don't unlock your Android device for three straight days, it will now automatically restart.

Why? Because it will make it harder for bad actors, such as a thief, to break into your device. We believe the feature will also make it harder to sell stolen phones.

In the latest Google Play services v25.14 update released earlier this week, Google rolled out a new feature under Security and Privacy, as first noticed by TechCrunch.

"[It enables] a future optional security feature, which will automatically restart your device if locked for 3 consecutive days," the update reads, while noting that this is a new feature for Android smartphones.

Rebooting your smartphone may not seem like an important security function, but it is. After a user unlocks their device, some encrypted data becomes decrypted and easier to access on subsequent unlocks. In fact, as Mashable previously noted when Apple launched a similar feature called "inactivity reboot" last year, law enforcement often depends on an iPhone being in this state in order to crack into the device for forensic investigations.

However, if a device is turned off and then back on or is simply restarted, the smartphone enters a "Before First Unlock" state. Once in this state, everything on the device is encrypted and the device is much harder to break into without the user's password.

Apple and now Google have good reasons to do this for their customers. Devices in "Before First Unlock" state make it much harder for thieves to resell stolen smartphones on the black market. It also makes it much more difficult for bad actors to steal user data off a stolen device and weaponize it for more nefarious purposes.

As most customers use their smartphones on a daily basis, putting a timeframe on an automatic reboot to get the device back into a "Before First Unlock" state makes sense.

SAVE 66%: As of April 16, you can snag a certified refurbished Bose 550 Dolby Atmos Bluetooth soundbar for just $169.99, down from $499, at Woot. That's a 66% discount and a savings of $329.01.

Opens in a new window Credit: Bose Certified refurbished Bose 550 Dolby Atmos Bluetooth soundbar $169.99 at Woot
$499 Save $329.01 Get Deal

If you haven’t browsed the Woot website yet, I highly recommend checking it out if you’re in the market for new tech. Woot is a discount retailer owned by Amazon where you can find daily deals and limited-time sales on a variety of products, including electronics, home goods, and apparel.

Right now, they’ve got a solid deal on a certified refurbished Bose 550 Dolby Atmos Bluetooth soundbar. You can get it for just $169.99, down from $499. That’s a 66% discount and a savings of $329.01. But this offer’s only good for 17 more days or until it’s sold out, so act fast if you want to snag this deal.

SEE ALSO: The best speakers in 2025

The Bose 550 soundbar is a compact, all-in-one soundbar that delivers immersive Dolby Atmos sound. You can use it with your TV or stream music via Bluetooth, Apple AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, or Chromecast. It also works with the Bose Music App and comes with a remote.

If you're ready for a serious sound system upgrade, this deal is calling your name.

SAVE UP TO 60% OFF: Happy National Horny Day! As of April 16, you can get up to 60% off sex toys, lingerie, and more at Lovers.

The best of Lovers sale: Best deal overall Le Wand Little Pleasures Set $57.14 (save $91.86) Get Deal Best dildo deal Lovers Loyal 5.5-inch Dildo $48 (save $15 when you spend $100 with code SAVE$15) Get Deal Best vibrator deal Playboy Pleasure Ollo $51.20 (save $12.80 with code VIBE20) Get Deal

Feeling burnt out and desperately needing some self-care? (Because, honestly, same.) If a thousand-dollar vacation isn't realistic right now, I've got a much cheaper (and much more effective?) plan B — and it can be delivered right to your door.

Right now, Lovers is running one of the biggest sales I’ve personally seen, slashing prices by up to 60% on tons of best-selling sex toys and bedroom accessories. The sale includes some of my all-time favorites, so I figured I’d share some of the best picks.

SEE ALSO: Are vibrating sex toys on the way out?

Even stuff not part of the main markdown often has its own deal running. For example, I’m obsessed with the Playboy Pleasure collection, and it's 20% off using code VIBE20. Plus, the newly revamped Lovers Exclusives collection qualifies for their Spend & Save offer, where you get $15 back for every $100 you spend with the code SAVE$15.

Best deal overall Opens in a new window Credit: Le Wand Le Wand Little Pleasures Set $57.14 at Lovers
$149 Save $91.86 Get Deal Why we like it

The best deal overall has to be the Le Wand Little Pleasures Set. It’s on sale for just $57.14. That’s $91.86 off the original price! This little set is the epitome of bougie self-care, and it comes with a super cute box and storage bag, making it feel really special. (It also makes for a great wedding shower gift — I gave my sister one for hers!)

With this set, you’ll get two mini vibrators, a textured silicone ring, an enamel Le Wand pin, and a microsuede travel pouch. Getting all that for under $60 is why it's my top deal pick.

The deal: You save a whopping $91.86 off the original price. No code needed for this one; the $57.14 price reflects the direct markdown.

Best dildo deal Opens in a new window Credit: Lovers Lovers Loyal 5.5-inch Dildo $48 at Lovers
Get Deal Why we like it

Lovers recently revamped its Lovers Exclusive line — they changed the packaging, updated the designs to be more product-focused, and made it more accessible at under $100.

I was lucky enough to receive the entire collection before the launch, and I have to say, I was impressed. The Lovers Loyal 5.5-inch Dildo is hands-down the softest, most lifelike dildo I've ever used. It has a strong suction cup that sticks on any surface, so you can get creative during solo play. And, it comes in three natural-looking shades.

The deal: While not part of the main 60% off sale, this dildo qualifies for the Lovers Spend & Save offer with the code SAVE$15 (get $15 back for every $100 you spend).

Best vibrator deal Opens in a new window Credit: Playboy Pleasure Playboy Pleasure Ollo Vibrator $51.20 at Lovers
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I can’t recommend Playboy Pleasure enough, especially the Ollo Vibrator.

I love it because, unlike most bullet vibes, it has a small ring/handle that makes it incredibly easy to hold and maneuver during solo or couples play. It’s also surprisingly powerful for its size and is perfect for targeting specific spots (clit, nipples, you name it!), thanks partly to its angled tip. (It works outside of clothing, too, just in case you need a midday quickie.)

The deal: Use code VIBE20 to get 20% off the Playboy Pleasure collection, including the Ollo Vibrator.

SAVE $50: As of April 16, get the Blink Outdoor 4 at Amazon for $49.99, down from the original price of $99.99. That's $50 off for a discount of 50%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Blink Outdoor 4 $49.99 at Amazon
$99.99 Save $50.00 Get Deal

The weather's getting warmer, which usually means summer travel, and more time away from your home. A security camera might be a good idea, and you can get one at an affordable price right now.

As of April 16, get the Blink Outdoor 4 security camera at Amazon for $49.99, down from its usual price of $99.99. That's $50 off and a discount of 50%.

SEE ALSO: Get the Amazon Echo Hub for under $130 and stay connected to your smart home

This wireless camera means you can put it just about anywhere you need it to go. It comes with its own mounting kit as well as two AA batteries to keep it powered, which should keep it going for a convenient two years.

You can use the accompanying app to watch five different feeds from your camera with 1080p HD quality, as well as night vision when it gets dark outside. You can use Alexa-enabled devices to view different feeds as well, with voice commands that make it much easier to access your camera's view without a phone in hand.

This is an affordable camera that's well worth adding to your home security stack, so if you're looking for a useful and reliable way to keep an eye out on what's going on outside your house, this is it.

OpenAI has introduced a new image library inside ChatGPT, which gives users quick access to their AI-generated creations in a slick sidebar.

SEE ALSO: Want to be an AI action figure? Just give ChatGPT a full-body pic.

The feature, now rolling out across both web and mobile platforms, is available to all users, paid or not. OpenAI even dropped a short demo on X showing just how seamless it is. If you’ve made images in ChatGPT before, the library should already be visible on the left panel. If not, fire up a prompt, and the feature should appear after reloading the page.

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While modest on the surface, the feature could hint at something bigger. OpenAI may be laying the groundwork for a social platform focused on image creation, according to Mashable’s Cecily Mauran. The goal is apparently greater visibility for its viral image tools and a new stream of real-time user data.

For now, it’s just a library. But in the context of OpenAI’s broader ambitions, it might be the opening move in a much bigger play.

Well, this doesn't really seem like what President Donald Trump would've wanted.

Bloomberg reported on Wednesday that Chinese retailers Temu and Shein have seen a big uptick in sales as people in the United States look to beat Trump's tariffs. The outlet added that shoppers, in particular, stocked "products like makeup brushes and home appliances before tariff-led price increases set in."

SEE ALSO: Whatever Trump decides on tariffs, Apple and Tim Cook lose

Shein reportedly saw a 29 percent increase in revenue in March compared with last year as well as a 38 percent growth through the first 11 days of April. Temu, meanwhile, saw increases of 46 percent and 60 percent, respectively, in the same time period, according to Bloomberg.

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Trump's tariffs have been the source of fear and consternation in the U.S. Prices have already begun to rise as the stock market has taken a steep tumble. It makes sense that folks would attempt to buy items from China ahead of prices getting too high. While Trump may have paused his administration's so-called "reciprocal" tariffs for other nations, China is a major exception. There remains a 145 percent — yes, 145 percent — tariff on Chinese goods. At first, it seemed there may be exceptions for electronics, but Trump has since indicated that may not be the case.

Ngozi Ikonjo Iweala, the World Trade Organization director general, called the "decoupling" of the U.S. and Chinese economies "a phenomenon that is really worrying to me." She said she expected trade to fall between 81 and 91 percent between the two nations. It tracks, then, that folks rushed to Shein and Temu ahead of that fall-off.

With Season 7 of Black Mirror, series superfan Jimmi Simpson returned to reprise the roles of video game billionaire James Walton and his less vicious in-game clone in "USS Callister: Into Infinity." Mashable Entertainment Editor Kristy Puchko sat down with Simpson over Zoom for an interview about what it was like to come back to Black Mirror. And beyond that, what was it like to go full-on Cast Away with a touch of Oldboy?

Sure, Clone Walton was thought to be dead after his heroic self-sacrifice at the end of "USS Callister." However, "Into Infinity" reveals that he'd be respawned on an unpopulated planet in the online MMORPG Infinity. When Clone Nanette (Cristin Milioti) finds him, Clone Walton is basically looking and living like Tom Hanks deep into the stranded-on-a-desert-island movie Cast Away, right down to having an inanimate, spherical buddy with a smiley face drawn on in blood. 

Asked if Simpson watched Cast Away to tap into this mindset, he said, "I saw that movie in the theater when it came out [2000]. I certainly enjoyed it, like everybody else, and I know [the writers, which included Charlie Brooker, William Bridges, Bisha K. Ali, and Bekka Bowling] were going for a Cast Away kind of send-up. It was already there. I didn't need [to revisit]. If I were to re-watch it, I probably would have grabbed specific things, and I don't think it needed that. They set it up. You get what it is."

If anything, Simpson felt his inspiration point came from the movies he loved in his childhood. "There's this late '80s movie Enemy Mine, where Dennis Quaid — he's thrust onto this planet," he said. "It feels like an '80s thing, where the star is now stuck on this other planet to figure out how to live. And I felt like I was just living that thing. I'd watched those movies as a kid forever. So that was like a dream." 

Referring to the scene in Black Mirror where Clone Walton fishes and then bites into an alien species, he continued, "Eating space octopi was like a dream come true. Honestly, [the production team was] like, 'We're sorry if it doesn't taste good.' I'm like, 'I don't care. This is the coolest!'" 

What does space octopus taste like? "It was like a slightly sweet blue dye flavor."

Black Mirror Season 7 is streaming now on Netflix.

Google's use of AI to combat harmful ads has resulted in the suspension 39.2 million fraudulent accounts.

On Wednesday, the tech giant published its 2024 Ads Safety Report, highlighting its use of advanced LLMs (Large Language Models) to detect and enforce advertiser fraud. Since 2023, Google has added "50 enhancements" to its LLMs that "need only a fraction of the information earlier models needed to quickly recognize emerging threats, identify patterns of abuse, and distinguish legitimate businesses from scams." Indicators of abuse that can be detected by Google's AI tool include business impersonation and illegal payment details.

SEE ALSO: Google invented new ways to alter movies with AI for The Sphere. It's sure to be controversial.

As a result, Google blocked or removed 5.1 billion ads last year. The majority of those ads Google stopped were due to "abusing the ad network," meaning methods of circumventing Google's review process by tricking users with bait-and-switch ads or using malware. Other ads caught in the sweep involved trademark violations as well as personalized ads that violate Google's policies by targeting users or promoting products based on sensitive topics like personal hardships, identify and belief, and sexual interests.

Google is also using AI to fight the increase of bad actors leveraging AI for scams. Deepfakes have become more pervasive and convincing. Last year, actor Tom Hanks' likeness was used to shill medical hoaxes. Scarlett Johansson took legal action against an app for deepfaking her image and voice to promote it. Google went after "bad actors using AI-generated imagery or audio to imply an affiliation with a celebrity to promote a scam" by suspending over 700,000 advertiser accounts, which led to a 90 percent decrease in reports. Overall, it blocked or removed 415 million scam ads.

Google's ad safety team said they shut down the majority of scammy accounts before users were ever served an ad. Given the present volume of offensive of harmful stuff on the internet, we shudder to think of the ads that never saw the light of day.

There's a big problem with Microsoft Outlook Classic right now, and the main way for regular people to fix it will require a bit of old-school computing.

The tech giant confirmed on its support website that CPU usage on a Windows machine can jump by as much as 50 percent when simply typing a message in Outlook Classic in the current build of the email app.

That's a startling figure, to be sure, and you can confirm if it's happening to you by opening Task Manager while using Outlook. However, you probably won't need to do that because you'll probably also notice your PC moving noticeably slower or even freezing when it happens.

SEE ALSO: Apple, Dell, and Microsoft among tech companies rushing product shipments ahead of tariff deadline, report says

According to Microsoft, there is a fix for this...sort of. It's more of a temporary workaround, really. There are detailed instructions online for enterprise Outlook managers, but for the average person using Outlook at home, you'll need to become familiar with Command Prompt. Find the app under that name in your Start menu, and once the classic black text field is on your screen, there are a couple steps to take to get around the problem:

1. Paste "​​​​​​​reg add HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\office\16.0\common\officeupdate /v updatebranch /t REG_SZ /d SemiAnnual" into the Command Prompt window and press Enter

2. Open Outlook

3. Select File > Office Account > Update Options > Update Now

Doing all of that will switch you to a different release build of Outlook, which doesn't suffer from the same problem. Ideally, Microsoft will just fix the problem at some point and you won't have to worry about that anymore. But for now, that's the fix.

SAVE $26.94: As of April 16, get the Lexar 1TB microSD Express Card for $173.05 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $199.99. That's a discount of 13%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Lexar 1TB microSD Express Card $173.05 at Amazon
$199.99 Save $26.94 Get Deal

If you're thinking about picking up a Nintendo Switch 2, you're going to need to consider how much storage space you might need. Nintendo recently confirmed that the Switch 2 will only support the microSD Express card in terms of expandable options. That means regular microSD cards aren't a viable storage method for your new system, and if the Switch 2 is indeed up for preorder anytime soon, you might be in for a long wait if you don't snag some microSD Express cards now. And it's a good time to do so, thanks to a deal at Amazon.

As of April 16, get the Lexar 1TB microSD Express Card for $173.05 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $199.99. That's $26.94 off, or a discount of 13%.

SEE ALSO: Nintendo Switch 2 preorder date just days away, per leak

If you want to download more games than the Switch's 256GB internal storage can handle, this Lexar card will have your back. It's about four times faster than normal microSD cards, with faster loading and boot times. It offers up to 600 MB/s write speeds and read speeds up to 900MB/s. The 1TB version means you should have more than plenty of space for multiple games, screenshots, and saved games, too.

If you're not interested in getting a Switch 2, these cards are also compatible with your Steam Deck, Asus ROG Ally, and other portable gaming handhelds. You've got options here, but the most important part is gearing up with these cards before you need them so you're not caught without one. Picking one up on sale is your best bet while you wait for the new Switch, and you'll be ready to go when it finally arrives.

The Meta chief executive testified for a third day in a landmark antitrust trial accusing his company of quashing competition through acquisitions.

Check out the best Amazon deals of the day as of April 16: OUR TOP PICK Eufy X10 Pro Omni robot vacuum and mop $549.99 (save $350) Get Deal BEST HEADPHONES DEAL Sony ULT Wear headphones $148 (save $51.99) Get Deal BEST SMARTWATCH DEAL Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic (43mm) $199 (save $200.99) Get Deal BEST BEAUTY DEAL Shark FlexStyle $249.99 (save $70) Get Deal BEST SUBSCRIPTION DEAL Audible Premium Plus $2.97 (save $41.88 on 3-month subscription) Get Deal

Looking for tech on sale? Amazon is always flooded with deals on everything from noise-cancelling headphones to robot vacuums. You just might have to do a little digging to find the ones that are worth it. Fortunately, we've done the hard part for you.

Here are a few of our top picks for the best Amazon deals of the day on April 16. None of these catching your eye? Be sure to check out our selections from April 14 and April 15. Many of those deals are still live, including nearly 30% off the Amazon Echo Hub and just shy of 20% off the new Kindle Scribe.

Our top pick: Eufy X10 Pro Omni Robot Vacuum and Mop Opens in a new window Credit: Eufy Eufy X10 Pro Omni robot vacuum and mop $549.99 at Amazon
$899.99 Save $350 Get Deal

Once again, the powerful Eufy X10 Pro Omni robot vacuum and mop combo is down to just $549.99 at Amazon — 39% off its list price and the same record-low it hit during the Big Spring Sale. Not only does this robovac empty itself, but it also washes and dries its own mopping pads, which Mashable's robot vacuum expert Leah Stodart says it's a pretty hard feature to find for under $1,000. It also packs 8,000 Pa suction power, which is impressive for its price, scrubs with two spinning mopping pads rather than a single stationary one, and has small obstacle avoidance technology. Just note that this is a Lightning deal, so once it's 100% claimed, the discount will disappear.

Read our full review of the Eufy X10 Pro Omni.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic (43mm) $199 at Amazon
$399.99 Save $200.99 Get Deal

Now's as good of a day as any for a half-price Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic. The 43mm version is typically $399.99, but as of April 16, it's down to only $199 — a new record low. More akin to a traditional timepiece than the regular Watch 6, the Classic model features a rotating bezel, a stainless steel case, and a Hybrid Eco-Leather Band. Otherwise, it's largely the same as the Galaxy Watch 6, which we were big fans of when it was released in 2023. Though it's not the latest and greatest Galaxy Watch any longer, the sixth generation is still a very good smartwatch. It includes a nuanced breakdown of your sleep habits, personalized heart rate zones, irregular heart rate notifications, a large always-on display, and a large suite of fitness and health features.

Read our full review of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6.

Audible Premium Plus Opens in a new window Credit: Audible Audible Premium Plus 3-month subscription $2.97 at Amazon
$44.85 Save $41.88 Get Deal

Through April 30, Amazon is offering Audible Premium Plus memberships for just 99 cents per month for your first three months. Considering it usually costs $14.95 per month, that's a ridiculous amount of savings ($41.88 total, to be exact). A Premium Plus membership gets you discounted or free prices on the Audible Plus catalog of audiobooks, including Audible Originals and podcasts. Plus, you'll get one free title from the Audible premium selection per month, as well as exclusive member sales and discounts on all additional purchases. If you want to up the number of books you read this year, this is an affordable way to do so.

Shark FlexStyle Opens in a new window Credit: Shark Shark FlexStyle $249.99 at Amazon
$319.99 Save $70 Get Deal

More than just a Dyson Airwrap dupe, we actually prefer the Shark FlexStyle to the outrageously overpriced hot air multistyler. Usually $319.99, you can get it on sale for only $249.99 instead at Amazon. That's 22% in savings. This model is designed for all hair types and includes six different attachments: two auto-wrap curlers, oval brush, paddle brush, curl-defining diffuser, and styling concentrator. For damage-free drying and styling, it's hard to beat the FlexStyle — especially when it's on sale.

Sony ULT Wear headphones Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Sony ULT Wear noise-cancelling headphones $148 at Amazon
$199.99 Save $51.99 Get Deal

"We try not to make sweeping claims in our reviews at Mashable, but these honestly might be my favorite pair of headphones I’ve tried — especially when you consider the price," writes Deputy Shopping and Reviews Editor Miller Kern of the Sony ULT Wear noise-cancelling headphones. They feature multiple bass levels, impressive 360-degree sound, solid noise cancellation, customizable EQs, and intuitive on-ear controls, all for just shy of $200 on a regular day. As of April 16, however, you can grab a pair for only $148. That's a savings of 26%.

Check out our full review of the Sony ULT Wear headphones.

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