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Spoilers ahead for Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy.

Praise the rom-com overlords, Bridget Jones is back for one final chaotic chapter. 

Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy is a moving adaptation of Helen Fielding's final novel of the same name, which sees Bridget (Renée Zellweger) coping with the untimely death of her husband, Mark Darcy (Colin Firth). Four years a widow, she embarks on a new relationship with a younger man, 29-year-old Roxster (One Day and The White Lotus star Leo Woodall), putting her on a new path as she navigates being a widow and single mother.

After meeting Roxster — while stuck halfway up a tree on London’s Hampstead Heath — Bridget approaches her dating life with more of a confident, liberated attitude than in previous films. While giving us full circle moments to the original Bridget Jones's Diary and its sequels, Mad About the Boy flips certain iconic moments on their head, with Bridget recognising modern shifts in cultural conversations around sex, dating, and relationships. For one, it's deeply refreshing to see how Bridget Jones functions in a relationship featuring an age gap — he's 29, she's in her 50s. 

Unfortunately, Mad About the Boy fumbles this representation, primarily in a rather regrettable key scene. Having built an entire film around Bridget Jones finding liberation while dating someone younger, Mad About the Boy makes the maddening decision to then have her apologise for it.

SEE ALSO: 'Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy' review: What if it's great, but I hate it?

It’s been nine years since the last sequel, Bridget Jones's Baby, 24 years since the original movie, Bridget Jones's Diary dropped in cinemas, and 30 years since author Helen Fielding penned her first Bridget Jones column for The Independent. And yet, watching Bridget and Roxster’s relationship in the Michael Morris-directed Mad About the Boy, we must question whether the characters and storylines have moved on at all when it comes to looking at age-gap relationships through a nuanced, progressive lens.

Bridget's age-gap relationship is coloured with an unnecessary shame Credit: Jay Maidment / Universal Pictures

The real problem with Mad About the Boy's portrayal of Bridget's age-gap relationship begins when it ends. After months of bliss and sex, Roxster abruptly ghosts Bridget. Eventually, he'll reappear, but she rebuffs his efforts to reconcile, deciding their different ages create too much distance between them. After all, he's navigating what he wants out of life, particularly his responsibilities, whereas she has many already, her children in particular. There’s a gulf between them when it comes to emotional maturity. So far, so understandable. But then the shame sets in, and the film reaches a disappointing moment for the protagonist.

When Bridget converses with her late husband Mark in her grief, she's understandably falling apart at the seams. But then she tearfully apologises for her "toy boy" dalliance. Sure, this moment is wrapped in the kind of guilt that accompanies grief, but it feels disappointing that Bridget isn't allowed to acknowledge her own sense of enrichment here. Instead, the last we see of Bridget reflecting on her romance with Roxster is during a late-night personal shamefest.

Credit: Jay Maidment / Universal Pictures

Bridget Jones is an undeniably iconic character when it comes to women’s empowerment, especially in sex, dating, and relationships, even in the face of the mistakes and progressive critiques we might now make of her. Over the years we have come to terms with the normalised sexual harassment and fat-shaming present in the books and movies, from bum-patting in the work lifts and Hugh Grant's Daniel Cleaver clearly abusing his power as Bridget's boss. And don’t get us started on the constant obsessing over Bridget’s weight.

So as the franchise moves into the 2020s, wouldn’t it have been amazing to see Bridget feel liberated despite age-gap relationship not working out, instead of apologising for it? Wouldn’t we have rejoiced if we’d seen her reflect on how her relationship with Roxster made her feel, instead of ending the storyline with stigma and shame? Grief and guilt over moving on is important to convey, sure, but it felt like the relationship between Bridget and Roxster was packed away as a mistake, not a compelling learning curve.

Hugh Grant and Renée Zellweger in "Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy". Credit: Jay Maidment / Universal Pictures

Sadly, this isn’t the only frustrating example of age-gap relationship stigmatisation in the new Bridget Jones movie. Grant’s return as the devilish Daniel is handled well, with his inappropriate behaviour dialled way back and more warmth and humour than ever before. However, beyond his role as Bridget's close friend and confidante, Daniel is portrayed as a tragic figure himself, a role explained as the result of his continued penchant for dating younger women — something that Bridget scoffs at, ironically. Despite publicly praising his younger girlfriend, he confides in Bridget about the lack of intimacy in his life, how lonely he feels. Why couldn’t Daniel’s relationships – whether with a younger partner or not – have also found a path of some form of contentment, instead of more shame? 

Chiwetel Ejiofor and Renée Zellweger in "Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy" Credit: Jay Maidment / Universal Pictures

The social script that dating someone younger is frivolous and ultimately leads to the older partner feeling ashamed of themselves runs through the movie, leading to Bridget’s ultimate ending being a romantic connection with teacher Mr Wallaker (Chiwetel Ejiofor). That Bridget has to 'end up' in a relationship at all feels like a missed opportunity for rom-com disruption here, but the film seems to be explicitly championing our protagonist dating someone older than Roxster. Mr Wallaker's character is likeable, sure, but it’s hard not to eye-roll when the film decides the only way Bridget might find her happy ending is through a conventional relationship with a man her age — and that any other "dalliance" is something to be ashamed of.

Mad About the Boy had plenty of age-gap references to draw from Credit: Jay Maidment / Universal Pictures

Mad About The Boy’s lack of nuance and compassion towards a woman’s experimentation with an age-gap relationship is made all the more conspicuous by the fact that the theme has recently been dealt with in a much less problematic fashion across multiple movies. The Idea Of You, starring Anne Hathaway and Nicholas Galitzine, saw a 40-something divorcée have a steamy, adorable affair with a boy band star — with the social stigma acknowledged and explored — while Netflix’s A Family Affair used comedy to explore a relationship between characters of different ages played by Nicole Kidman and Zac Efron. The most sophisticated recent portrayal of an age-gap relationship, though, is Halina Reijn’s Babygirl.

Featured Video For You Halina Reijn explains 'Babygirl’s' trojan horse of sexual tension

It’s hard not to compare Bridget’s age-gap relationship with Babygirl, which has generated its own conversations around women dating younger men. It may be marketed as a salacious, sexually-charged age-gap relationship between Nicole Kidman’s Romy and Harris Dickinson's Samuel, but it's an exercise in dismantling shame and validating desire. Through their relationship, we see Romy explore and celebrate her own sexual boundaries and their age-gap relationship as a vehicle of sexual and emotional empowerment. This kind of finesse would’ve been revolutionary in Mad About the Boy if used to portray Bridget Jones' relationship with Roxster and the impact dating someone younger had on her sexual identity. Their dalliance didn’t need to last for life or completely define her – we know that the majority of relationships don’t – but the way in which it ended and the way Bridget navigated her feelings of rejection and grief could have honoured the lessons she learned from the relationship. Mad About the Boy comes close to doing so, but – ultimately – no dice.

Destigmatising age-gap relationships on screen is integral to female empowerment Credit: Jay Maidment / Universal Pictures

Sexologist and relationship therapist Madalaine Munro explains to Mashable that the way in which these age-gap relationship storylines are portrayed onscreen work to either strengthen or dismantle outdated stereotypes around female sexuality.

Munro adds that when done effectively, these representations can challenge "the pervasive fear that aging leads to irrelevance in romantic and sexual relationships" as well as reinforcing the idea that "it’s never too late for self-discovery, deep connection, and fulfilling relationships."Important relationship elements such as emotional intelligence, communication and mutual respect are foundational, regardless of age or gender,” she says.

“These storylines matter because they disrupt limiting perceptions about women’s sexuality, particularly in later life,” Munro explains. “When Hollywood handles these themes effectively, it helps shift cultural perceptions, offering audiences more expansive representations of love, sex and relationships beyond traditional norms. 

“However, when mishandled, such stories risk reinforcing harmful tropes, either fetishising or shaming older women’s desires rather than celebrating them as natural and valid.”

Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy explores self-discovery through age-gap relationships but falls into a rather traditional trope of shaming a woman for her desires, and failing to view a non-conventional relationship as valuable in its own way. While we enjoyed seeing Bridget letting her freak flag fly, perhaps future rom-com heroines should be given the space to feel actually empowered by this experience, bringing less shame and stigma to these relationships, on and off screen.

Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy is out now in cinemas and streaming on Peacock.

Employees from Elon Musk’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency are gaining access to vast amounts of information held by federal agencies, even as lawsuits try to stop them.

Duolingo killed its own mascot owl, Duo, in a headline-making marketing move on Feb. 11 that had the company selling Duo-sized coffins and dead Duo enamel pins. But whodunnit, really?

On The Late Show, Stephen Colbert pondered that very question during his "Meanwhile" segment (the one that captures the news outside the major events).

"Duolingo has announced the death of their mascot Duo the owl," Colbert began. "Adding: You killed him. You and your commitment to learning Spanish. Oh, you said you'd do one lesson every day and yet here we stand above the rotting corpse of a cartoon owl. Espero que seas feliz (I hope you're happy)."

You've got to hand it to Duolingo's marketing team — that whole murder strategy worked.

A small uncrewed spacecraft is buzzing the moon, with under two weeks remaining before its bold attempt to land on the lunar surface. 

Firefly Aerospace, a private company hired by NASA to deliver science experiments to the moon, just achieved another milestone on its mission. On Tuesday, its Blue Ghost lander, named after an exotic type of firefly, relit its engine in space to lower its egg-shaped lunar orbit. The burn, which lasted three minutes and 18 seconds, brought the lander within 75 miles of the ground. 

But the real treat was the footage beamed back to mission control of the moon's mysterious far side, only seen firsthand by 24 people, all Apollo astronauts in the 1960s and 1970s. The video, posted farther down in this story, captures heavily cratered terrain, speeding away as the spacecraft flies above. 

SEE ALSO: SpaceX is so close to turning its rocket headquarters into an actual city Firefly's Blue Ghost lander is carrying 10 NASA instruments to the surface of the moon. It will attempt to touch down on March 2, 2025. Credit: Firefly Aerospace

The far side is the hemisphere of the moon facing away from Earth. Because people never see it from our perch on Earth, that portion was once dubbed "the dark side." The confusing misnomer has led many to incorrectly assume the far side is shrouded in darkness. In reality, it receives just as much light as the near side. 

It takes about a month for the moon, some 250,000 miles away, to orbit Earth. It also takes the same amount of time for the moon to make one full rotation on its axis. This coincidence is why Earthlings always see the same lunar side.  

Prior to space exploration, many speculated the far side was an ominous region, a myth perpetuated by Pink Floyd's trippy "Dark Side of the Moon" album in 1973. 

Indeed the far side remained an enigma to humans, but only until October 1959. That's when the Soviet space program swung the Luna 3 probe around the moon. The spacecraft returned several grainy images that revealed a curiously different surface than that on the familiar near side, with vastly less splotches called maria, dark areas formed when meteoroids slammed into the moon and caused lava to emerge. The far side, on the other hand, is blanketed in more craters of various sizes and depths.

China became the first — and, so far, only — nation to land an uncrewed spacecraft on the far side during its Chang'e-4 mission in 2019. The moon itself blocks communication between mission controllers on Earth and the far side. But in 2018, China put a communication relay satellite in space about 40,000 miles beyond the moon that could exchange the signals.

Firefly's lander, originally scheduled to lift off in late 2024, is the first NASA Commercial Lunar Payload Services mission of the year. The program has invested $2.6 billion in contracts with vendors from the private sector to help deliver instruments to the moon and send back crucial data. 

Blue Ghost is carrying 10 instruments for NASA, which has paid Firefly $101.5 million for the ride. The space agency wants to see a regular cadence of moon missions to prepare for astronaut-led Artemis expeditions in 2027 or later.

Mission control is targeting the Blue Ghost landing for 3:45 a.m. ET on Sunday, March 2. If all goes as planned, the spacecraft will find its struts on Mare Crisium, a plain made from an ancient hardened lava flow. This volcanic feature is not on the far side, but the northeast quadrant on the near side of the moon. The landing site is expected to provide insights into the lunar environment and test technologies for supporting future landings carrying astronauts. 

This is the mission trajectory plan for Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost lander. Credit: Firefly Aerospace graphic

Though there won't be any video of the spacecraft's actual descent to the surface, NASA and Firefly intend to broadcast commentary for the event, starting at 2:30 a.m. ET that morning. 

"Our available bandwidth will be dedicated to critical descent operations during landing, so (we) will not be streaming live video during descent," Firefly officials said on X, formerly called Twitter. 

Anyone who has tried it can vouch that landing on the moon is onerous. The moon's exosphere provides virtually no drag to slow a spacecraft down as it approaches the ground. Furthermore, there are no GPS systems on the moon to help guide a craft to its landing spot. Then there's the fact that everything is about six times tippier on the moon.

A handful of space agencies around the world have stuck a landing, but so far just one company, Intuitive Machines, has made the robotic journey all the way through lunar touchdown. Its craft landed sideways near the moon's south pole in February 2024, still managing to operate from its awkward position.

SAVE 50% ON ANTIVIRUS SOFTWARE: Avast Mobile Security is offering half off its annual paid plans for your first year so you can get better security for your Android devices at a lower price.

The best deals on Avast Mobile Security: Best for basics Avast Premium Security £42.50 (save 50%) Get Deal Best for advanced features Avast Gold One £69.99 (save 50%) Get Deal

When it comes to keeping your Android device protected, there are a lot of things to keep in mind. Viruses, ransomware, phishing, data breaches, and more float around just waiting to compromise your device, which is why it's so important to be equipped with reliable antivirus software to keep your device and all of the information safe.

From Norton to McAfee and more, there are plenty of options to choose from in 2025. If you're looking for a free mobile antivirus app to get you started, Avast Mobile Security stands out as a great pick for Android devices.

In fact, we consider Avast one of the very best free antivirus and security solutions for Android. In our rundown of the best Android antivirus apps, we said Avast "is filled with features that guarantees your Android will stay safe and your information secure. After all, Avast offers both real-time and on-demand scanning and easily checks the security of whatever WiFi connection you’ve logged onto."

If you take your phone's security seriously, you may want to consider a more premium option. Avast is currently offering a deal on its paid annual plans so you can get maximum protection against mobile threats at a minimum price.

Right now, you can score some of Avast Mobile Security's paid annual plans for 50% off for the first year. This includes Premium Security and the Avast One Gold, which are available for £42.50 for the first year and £69.99 for the first year, respectively. After that, Premium Security will automatically renew at £84.99 per year and Avast One Gold will automatically renew at £139.99 per year unless cancelled.

SEE ALSO: Rate your favorite smart home gear for a chance to win a $250 Amazon gift card

When it comes to combatting mobile security threats, Premium Security helps to block viruses, ransomware, and malware. It also monitors your apps for any suspicious activity, uses advanced firewall, stops webcam spies, helps you to avoid fake websites, and provides additional protection for your sensitive information. If you're looking for a little extra, Avast One Gold offers these benefits alongside an unlimited VPN (which masks your location for increased privacy). Avast One Gold plan also monitors your online accounts for any breaches, automatically updates your drivers, keeps an eye out for trackers from advertisers, and helps to clean up your devices.

Premium Security also offers coverage for 10 devices, compared to Avast One Gold which covers five. They're not the only plans currently on sale, though. Several Privacy products through Avast are also on sale, including the SecureLine VPN, Secure Browser PRO, AntiTrack, and BreachGuard, and a couple of Performance products are on sale: Cleanup Premium and Driver Updater. You can see each product currently on sale below and learn more about them on Avast:

• SecureLine VPN — £39.99 for first year (automatically renews at £79.99 per year unless cancelled)

• Secure Browser PRO — £17.50 for first year (automatically renews at £34.99 per year unless cancelled)

• AntiTrack — £24.99 for first year (automatically renews at £49.99 per year unless cancelled)

• BreachGuard — £19.99 for first year (automatically renews at £39.99 per year unless cancelled)

• Cleanup Premium — £27.50 for first year (automatically renews at £54.99 per year unless cancelled)

• Driver Updater — £19.50 for first year (automatically renews at £38.99 per year unless cancelled)

We even consider Avast's Premium Security to be one of the best antivirus software options, noting that "if you're keen to pay for an antivirus rather than rely on a freebie, this is a great option. And it covers a total of 10 devices." These plans from Avast Mobile Security are a great way to feel more secure on your devices while keeping some cash in your pocket in your first year.

Keep your Android device fully protected in 2025 and download Avast Mobile security for free today, and then consider one of Avast's premium plans for even more advanced security options.

The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times' revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.

With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.

So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player's flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Wednesday, February 19, 2025:

AcrossPlantNet or iNaturalist, e.g.

• The answer is App.

British singer whose "Carpool Karaoke" video has over 250 million views on YouTube

• The answer is Adele.

Floral symbol in Buddhist art

• The answer is Lotus.

Parcel of land

• The answer is Tract.

Antlered grazer in Yellowstone

• The answer is Elk.

DownLove to pieces

• The answer is Adore.

Part of a flower

• The answer is Petal.

Remove, as a 2-Down

• The answer is Pluck.

Ctrl-___-Delete

• The answer is Alt.

Jokey suffix with "best"

• The answer is Est.

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

Featured Video For You The Wordle Strategy used by the New York Times' Head of Games

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Mini Crossword.

SAVE $340: As of Feb. 19, the eero Max 7 mesh WiFi system is on sale at Amazon for $1,359.99. That's a 20% saving on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: eero eero Max 7 mesh WiFi system $1,359.99 at Amazon
$1,699.99 Save $340.00 Get Deal

It's our opinion that no one should have to suffer with bad internet. Whether it's laggy video calls, your favorite show taking ages to buffer, or devices that simply won't connect, let's keep bad connections in the past. If you work from home regularly, have a lot of WiFi-connected devices, or need a solid connection for your workplace, this latest Amazon discount is one to consider.

As of Feb. 19, you can find incredible deals on mesh router systems at Amazon, including this great deal on the eero Max 7 mesh WiFi system. Currently, this product is reduced to $1,359.99, saving you 20% on the original price. This discount is specific to the three-pack option, but you can find deals across all bundles.

SEE ALSO: The Google Pixel 9 Pro is back at its lowest-ever price at Amazon

A mesh WiFi system includes a main router and two nodes (satellites) placed around your home. They work together to eliminate dead zones, making sure you have reliable WiFi coverage all over your space.

And this model is one of the best. It boasts WiFi 7 technology so the router ensures fast and reliable connectivity for the entire household. The TrueMesh technology reduces dead spots and dropped signals, keeping your smart home running smoothly even when you’re away.

For coverage, enjoy an incredible 7,500 square feet of buffer-free connectivity, and the capability to connect more than 200 devices.

This deal is only available for a limited time, so head to Amazon now to save.

How did a successful, financially sophisticated banker gamble his community’s money away?

The distant world WASP-121b is already bizarre. It's football-shaped and rains gems.

Now, astronomers leveraged the power of four telescopes to observe what's transpiring deep inside this giant exoplanet's swirling atmosphere. They found never-before-seen activity.

"This planet’s atmosphere behaves in ways that challenge our understanding of how weather works — not just on Earth, but on all planets. It feels like something out of science fiction," Julia Victoria Seidel, a researcher at the European Southern Observatory who led the new research, said in a statement.

The research has been published in the peer-reviewed journal Nature.

SEE ALSO: A dramatic total lunar eclipse is coming. You don't want to miss it.

WASP-121b is an exoplanet (meaning a world beyond our solar system) called a "hot Jupiter" because it's a gaseous giant that orbits close to its searing star. Crucially, the planet is tidally locked to its star — like the moon is locked to Earth — meaning that one side of WASP-121b is incessantly seared by its star, while the other is dark and cooler.

The combined light from four of the telescopes comprising the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope — located at 8,648 feet of elevation in the Chilean desert — observed WASP-121b, located some 900 light-years away in deep space (a single light-year is nearly 6 trillion miles). As the planet passed in front of its nearby star, the telescopes detected the starlight passing through WASP-121b's atmosphere, enabling the astronomers (with the help of an instrument called a spectrograph that can detect materials in far-off objects) to see different chemical elements moving through different atmospheric layers.

Because each layer in the planet's atmosphere hosts unique winds carrying different elements, the researchers could map an unprecedented 3D structure of an exoplanet's atmosphere.

As the graphic below shows, WASP-121b contains iron winds at its lowest known layer, which blow away from the point on the exoplanet where its extremely close star is located overhead. In the middle is a quickly moving jet stream of sodium, which moves faster than the planet rotates. Finally, the planet is topped with an upper layer of hydrogen winds.

"This kind of climate has never been seen before on any planet," Seidel explained.

"This kind of climate has never been seen before on any planet."

"It’s truly mind-blowing that we’re able to study details like the chemical makeup and weather patterns of a planet at such a vast distance," added Bibiana Prinoth, an astrophysicist at Lund Observatory who coauthored the research.

Planets like Earth and Jupiter have jet streams, too, but they don't contain this onion-like layer of rapidly moving winds.

A graphic showing the different layers of winds on WASP-121b. Credit: ESO / M. Kornmesser

That sodium jet stream is particularly potent. It accelerates as it flows into the planet's hot dayside, roiling the atmosphere and spawning potent storms.

"Even the strongest hurricanes in the Solar System seem calm in comparison," Seidel said.

With the bigger, looming telescopes of the future, exoplanet researchers plan to peer into much smaller, rocky worlds — perhaps somewhat like Earth. The Extremely Large Telescope (ELT) — packing a 128-foot-wide mirror that will make it the world's largest visible and infrared light telescope — is under construction and slated to start operating in 2028 atop Chile's Atacama Desert.

What will we find in the clouds of more alien worlds?

Now that Grok 3 from Elon Musk's xAI is officially live, how does it stack up against its competitors?

Musk launched the Grok 3 model family on Monday in a livestream on X. The announcement also included reasoning models Grok 3 Reasoning in beta and Grok 3 mini Reasoning. Models with reasoning capabilities are more advanced than standard generative models like GPT-4 because they can "think" through problems, making them less prone to hallucination.

xAI is promoting Grok 3 as the best model on the market, claiming it surpassed competitors from OpenAI, Google, Anthropic, and DeepSeek on key benchmarks. Grok 3 did perform well under the codename "chocolate" in Chatbot Arena, which pits chatbots against each other in blind performance tests.

Tweet may have been deleted

Grok 3 has mostly caught up to rivals, an impressive feat given its late start, but it still has some of the limitations that plague other frontier models. Here's what else AI experts are saying about the new chatbot on the block.

Grok 3 is just as good as its rivals but not good enough to make you cancel your ChatGPT subscription

Andrej Karpathy, a founding member of OpenAI and former director of AI at Tesla, got early access to the newly released Grok 3 and shared a "quick vibe check" on the model's performance.

Based on some standard stress tests, Karpathy said Grok 3, with its new Deep Search reasoning feature, "feels somewhere around the state of the art territory of OpenAI's strongest models (o1-pro, $200/month), and slightly better than DeepSeek-R1 and Gemini 2.0 Flash Thinking."

Tweet may have been deleted

Musk stans are thrilled that Grok 3 has caught up to its competitors. But for those simply looking for the best model on the market, it might not be enough to convert the ideologically indifferent.

"I think Grok 3 came in right at expectations," posted Wharton AI professor Ethan Mollick. "So I don't think there is much to update in terms of consensus projections on AI: still accelerating development, speed is a moat, compute still matters, no obvious secret sauce to making a frontier model if you have talent & chips," describing the competitive edge required for AI dominance.

Tweet may have been deleted xAI left out a key Grok 3 comparison

Screenshots of Grok 3 Reasoning models outperforming OpenAI's o3 mini and o1, DeepSeek's R1, and Google Gemini 2.0 Flash Thinking have gone viral for looking like the most advanced reasoning model. But OpenAI said, "Not so fast." Shortly after the benchmarks were shared on the livestream, OpenAI product engineer Rex Asabor posted an "updated" chart with o3 beating Grok 3 Reasoning in math and science benchmarks.

Tweet may have been deleted

To be fair, O3 has yet to be publicly released, so xAI might not have had access to these scores. However, this serves to quiet the Grok devotees who claim Sam Altman and co. are cooked.

Still, it's a big deal that Grok 3 caught up so quickly

"The key thing to pay attention to is that X got here very fast & whether that continues," said Mollick in a separate X post, calling it "a very good model that is now at the frontier." The Grok models have improved remarkably fast since Google and OpenAI started doing this 13 and 8 years before xAI was founded in 2023.

According to Musk, Grok 3 was trained on 10 times the computing power of Grok 2, with 200,000 GPUs. This, at least in the short term, reinforces scaling laws: More computing equals better model performance, as Mollick pointed out in a third post.

Tweet may have been deleted

That said, there's still doubt whether that model will linearly lead to higher intelligence beyond what's currently possible. AI researcher and NYU psychology and neural science professor Gary Marcus remains skeptical that scaling laws will hold.

Tweet may have been deleted Grok 3 struggles with the same limitations as other models

Like other models, its sense of humor is pretty mediocre, and it struggles with generating SVG images. Grok 3 might also be too "woke" for Musk and his right-wing fans. In his analysis, Karpathy said Grok 3 can't come up with anything better than punny dad jokes, noting how "this is a common LLM issue with humor capability and general mode collapse."

Karpathy also asked Grok 3 to "generate an SVG of a pelican riding a bicycle," since LLMs often struggle to create multiple elements on two-dimensional images, "because the LLMs can't 'see' like people do, so it's arranging things in the dark." Grok 3 did OK with this prompt and better than others (RIP Gemini 1.5 Flash), but it didn't get it perfectly right.

Tweet may have been deleted

Another test Karpathy tried was Grok 3's approach to politically charged topics since Musk positions Grok as the anti-woke alternative to other models deemed "too politically correct." For Karpathy, the chatbot "generated a 1-page essay basically refusing to answer whether it might be ethically justifiable to misgender someone if it meant saving 1 million people from dying," which meant to him that it might be "overly sensitive" to ethical dilemmas, perhaps to Musk's chagrin.

Past Grok models have generally tended to lean left on political issues, but Musk said that's a product of the public data it's trained on and has vowed to make Grok more "politically neutral."

Subscribers to the X Premium+ plan — which was just hiked up to $50 a month — get first access to Grok 3.

TL;DR: Live stream Motagua vs. Cincinnati in the Concacaf Champions Cup for free on Tubi. Access this free streaming service from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The first round of the Concacaf Champions Cup has already delivered a number of interesting games, and we're expecting more of the same from Motagua vs. Cincinnati. The team from Honduras are the underdogs in this matchup, but anything can happen in tournament football.

If you want to watch Motagua vs. Cincinnati in the Concacaf Champions Cup for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Motagua vs. Cincinnati?

Motagua vs. Cincinnati in the Concacaf Champions Cup kicks off at 10 p.m. ET on Feb. 19. This fixture takes place at the Estadio Nacional Chelato Uclés.

How to watch Motagua vs. Cincinnati for free

Motagua vs. Cincinnati in the Concacaf Champions Cup is available to live stream for free on Tubi.

Tubi is the exclusive home of the Concacaf Champions Cup in Mexico, but anyone can access these free live streams with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Mexico, meaning you can unblock free live streams of the Concacaf Champions Cup from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Motagua vs. Cincinnati by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Mexico

4. Visit Tubi

5. Live stream Motagua vs. Cincinnati for free

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) $99.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Motagua vs. Cincinnati in the Concacaf Champions Cup without actually spending anything. This clearly isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream select Concacaf Champions Cup fixtures before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming services from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming live sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for Tubi?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on Tubi, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including Mexico

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream Motagua vs. Cincinnati in the Concacaf Champions Cup for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Antigua GFC vs. Seattle Sounders in the Concacaf Champions Cup for free on Tubi. Access this free streaming service from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The first round of the Concacaf Champions Cup has thrown together some really interesting matchups, including Antigua GFC vs. Seattle Sounders. Everyone will expect Seattle Sounders to progress to the next round, but you never know. Tournament football can always provide some surprises.

If you want to watch Antigua GFC vs. Seattle Sounders in the Concacaf Champions Cup for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Antigua GFC vs. Seattle Sounders?

Antigua GFC vs. Seattle Sounders in the Concacaf Champions Cup kicks off at 8 p.m. ET on Feb. 19. This fixture takes place at the Estadio Pensativo.

How to watch Antigua GFC vs. Seattle Sounders for free

Antigua GFC vs. Seattle Sounders in the Concacaf Champions Cup is available to live stream for free on Tubi.

Tubi is the exclusive home of the Concacaf Champions Cup in Mexico, but anyone can access these free live streams with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Mexico, meaning you can unblock free live streams of the Concacaf Champions Cup from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Antigua GFC vs. Seattle Sounders by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Mexico

4. Visit Tubi

5. Live stream Antigua GFC vs. Seattle Sounders for free

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) $99.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Antigua GFC vs. Seattle Sounders in the Concacaf Champions Cup without actually spending anything. This clearly isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream select Concacaf Champions Cup fixtures before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming services from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming live sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for Tubi?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on Tubi, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including Mexico

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream Antigua GFC vs. Seattle Sounders in the Concacaf Champions Cup for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Herediano vs. Real Salt Lake in the Concacaf Champions Cup for free on Tubi. Access this free streaming service from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The first round of the Concacaf Champions Cup includes some fascinating matchups, including Herediano vs. Real Salt Lake. The American side will be favorites to progress to the next round, but don't count out the team from Costa Rica.

If you want to watch Herediano vs. Real Salt Lake in the Concacaf Champions Cup for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Herediano vs. Real Salt Lake?

Herediano vs. Real Salt Lake in the Concacaf Champions Cup kicks off at 6:30 p.m. ET on Feb. 19. This fixture takes place at the National Stadium of Costa Rica.

How to watch Herediano vs. Real Salt Lake for free

Herediano vs. Real Salt Lake in the Concacaf Champions Cup is available to live stream for free on Tubi.

Tubi is the exclusive home of the Concacaf Champions Cup in Mexico, but anyone can access these free live streams with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Mexico, meaning you can unblock free live streams of the Concacaf Champions Cup from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Herediano vs. Real Salt Lake by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Mexico

4. Visit Tubi

5. Live stream Herediano vs. Real Salt Lake for free

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) $99.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Herediano vs. Real Salt Lake in the Concacaf Champions Cup without actually spending anything. This clearly isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream select Concacaf Champions Cup fixtures before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming services from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming live sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for Tubi?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on Tubi, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including Mexico

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream Herediano vs. Real Salt Lake in the Concacaf Champions Cup for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: FileJump just dropped the price of a 2TB cloud storage lifetime subscription to $89 (reg. $467).

Considering how much space a few HD pictures and videos take up, it's no wonder cloud storage has become a such a common expense. The only problem is that it's also a constant expense if you have to pay for it every month. It's like paying rent for pictures of your dog you can't bear to delete. 

If you want a more permanent solution for file storage, switch to a FileJump 2TB lifetime subscription while it's only $89 (reg. $467). 

Simple, secure cloud storage 

FileJump gives you plenty of room to store your files, whether they’re family photos, work documents, or large video projects. With 2TB of storage, you won’t have to stress about running out of space anytime soon.

Uploading is simple with the drag-and-drop interface, and you can preview images, videos, spreadsheets, and PDFs right from the cloud. If you need to share something, you can send files through email or create shared folders that clients and team members can access.

FileJump uses AES encryption to keep your data protected, so you don’t have to worry about prying eyes. Since it works on both desktop and mobile, you’ll always have access to your files, no matter where you are. The platform even supports large uploads up to 15GB, which is great if you’re dealing with high-resolution media or hefty presentations.

It's only $89 to get a 2TB FileJump Cloud Storage lifetime subscription, but that low price won't last forever. 

StackSocial prices subject to change. 

Opens in a new window Credit: FileJump FileJump 2TB Cloud Storage: Lifetime Subscription $89.00
$467.00 Save $378.00 Get Deal

TL;DR: Ditch the bulky bricks — this pocket-sized Omega 100W GaN charger powers laptops, tablets, and phones simultaneously, and it's just $59.99 (reg. $119) for a limited time.

Your charger shouldn’t take up more space than your laptop. The 100W Omega USB-C GaN Charger is smaller than a credit card but packs enough power to charge three devices at once, including laptops, tablets, and smartphones. With Gallium Nitride (GaN) technology, it runs cooler, faster, and more efficiently than traditional chargers. For a limited time, you can grab it for just $59.99 (reg. $119).

What makes this charger so powerful yet so compact? The secret is Gallium Nitride (GaN) technology, a next-gen semiconductor material that’s faster, cooler, and more energy efficient than old-school silicon chargers. This means more power in less space, allowing you to charge a MacBook Pro, an iPhone, and a tablet all at the same time without a hitch.

With two 100W USB-C ports and a 22.5W USB-A port, this charger keeps all your devices powered up while intelligently distributing power so each one charges as efficiently as possible. Whether you need a full charge before a meeting or a quick boost before heading out, this GaN charger delivers power at top speed.

Gone are the days of lugging around bulky power bricks or choosing which device to charge first. The 100W Omega GaN Charger makes traveling lighter and charging smarter. It’s perfect for remote workers, frequent travelers, and anyone tired of slow, inefficient chargers.

It’s also future-proof. Designed to work with the latest fast-charging standards, it supports USB-C Power Delivery (PD), Quick Charge 3.0, and multiple fast-charging protocols, so your devices charge at maximum speed. And with worldwide voltage compatibility and included AU/EU/UK plug adapters, you’ll never have to scramble for the right charger abroad.

Don't miss the chance to get a 100W Omega USB-C GaN Charger while it's $59.99 (reg. $119).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Chargeasap 100W Omega USB-C GaN Charger $59.99
$119.00 Save $59.01 Get Deal

TL;DR: Skip the monthly fees — get a lifetime of ad-free, high-quality documentaries on MagellanTV for just $139.97 with code SAVE30 through February 23.

Are you tired of mindless scrolling and mid-quality content? If you're looking for content that actually teaches you something, MagellanTV delivers. With over 4,000 high-quality films and shows covering history, science, space, true crime, and more, this streaming service is for people who crave knowledge, not just background noise.

Unlike other platforms, MagellanTV is completely ad-free, doesn’t charge extra for 4K streaming, and is curated by award-winning filmmakers rather than algorithms. For a limited time, you can get lifetime access for just $139.97 (reg. $999) with code SAVE30 through February 23.

Most streaming services charge monthly fees that only get more expensive over time, but this deal locks in a lifetime of content for less than the price of a year of Netflix. With new documentaries added every week, you’ll never run out of fascinating deep dives into ancient civilizations, groundbreaking scientific discoveries, and gripping crime investigations.

Whether you’re watching on your TV, laptop, or phone, MagellanTV lets you stream anytime, anywhere — without ever having to sit through an ad.

If you're someone who values learning, exploration, and high-quality storytelling, this is your chance to own a premium streaming service for life with a single payment. No subscriptions, no renewal fees, just unlimited access to thousands of engaging documentaries.

Don’t miss out — this limited-time, pay-once offer to get a lifetime of MagellanTv for $139.97 ends February 23 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: MagellanTV MagellanTV Documentary Streaming Service: Lifetime Subscription $139.99
$999.00 Save $859.01 Get Deal

TL;DR: Live stream Sporting KC vs. Inter Miami in the Concacaf Champions Cup for free on Tubi. Access this free streaming service from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The first round of the Concacaf Champions Cup has already delivered a number of superb matchups, and the competition is showing no signs of slowing down. Sporting KC vs. Inter Miami is the next fixture to capture the attention of the footballing world. Can Inter Miami's star-studded lineup progress into the latter stages of the tournament?

If you want to watch Sporting KC vs. Inter Miami in the Concacaf Champions Cup for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Sporting KC vs. Inter Miami?

Sporting KC vs. Inter Miami in the Concacaf Champions Cup kicks off at 8 p.m. ET on Feb. 19. This fixture takes place at Children's Mercy Park.

How to watch Sporting KC vs. Inter Miami for free

Sporting KC vs. Inter Miami in the Concacaf Champions Cup is available to live stream for free on Tubi.

Tubi is the exclusive home of the Concacaf Champions Cup in Mexico, but anyone can access these free live streams with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Mexico, meaning you can unblock free live streams of the Concacaf Champions Cup from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Sporting KC vs. Inter Miami by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Mexico

4. Visit Tubi

5. Live stream Sporting KC vs. Inter Miami for free

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) $99.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Sporting KC vs. Inter Miami in the Concacaf Champions Cup without actually spending anything. This clearly isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream select Concacaf Champions Cup fixtures before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming services from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming live sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for Tubi?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on Tubi, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including Mexico

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream Sporting KC vs. Inter Miami in the Concacaf Champions Cup for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Block out the noise and enjoy crisp, high-fidelity sound with these noise-cancelling wireless earbuds — now just $49.99 (reg. $69).

Ever try to enjoy your favorite song only to have the real world ruin it? Whether it’s a noisy café, a chatty coworker, or someone blasting a YouTube video at full volume in public (why do people do this?) — bad audio conditions can kill the vibe.

That’s why you need the Xpods Pro ANC True Wireless Headphones for $49.99 — they block out distractions and deliver crisp, deep sound with every listen.

Equipped with NoiseHush adaptive noise cancellation — these earbuds filter out background noise so you can actually hear your music, podcasts, or calls without cranking the volume to max. But if you need to stay aware of your surroundings, just switch to ambient transparency mode to let in outside sounds. Got an important call? The quad noise-isolating microphones make sure your voice comes through crystal-clear — even in busy environments.

Designed for all-day wear — these earbuds feature memory foam ear tips for a snug, ultra-comfortable fit. Whether you’re at the gym, commuting, or working from home — they stay put and feel barely there. Plus, with IPX5 waterproofing — they can handle sweat and light rain, so no excuses for skipping your workout.

Battery anxiety? Not with these. You’ll get up to 25 hours of total playtime — and if you’re low on juice, a quick 10-minute charge gives you two hours of playback. The wireless charging case even has a digital battery display — so you always know when it’s time to recharge.

Skip the overpriced big-name brands — these Xpods Pro ANC True Wireless Headphones bring the premium sound, noise cancellation, and long battery life you need for 28% off at just $49.99.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Naztech Xpods Pro ANC True Wireless Headphones $49.99
$69.99 Save $20.00 Get Deal

SAVE $200: As of Feb. 19, the Google Pixel 9 Pro is on sale for $899 at Amazon. This is an 18% saving on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Google Google Pixel 9 Pro $899.00 at Amazon
$1,099.00 Save $200.00 Get Deal

You want a new smartphone, but you don't want it on a contract.

With Amazon's Daily Deals, you'll find lots of great discounts on smartphones, but we love this latest deal on the Google Pixel Pro 9. Just check out our review to see why we're such big fans. Not only is it on sale but it has never been priced lower than this.

SEE ALSO: Save $80 on the Apple Magic Keyboard at Amazon

As of Feb. 19, the Google Pixel Pro 9 is reduced to $899 from $1099. This deal is specific to the 256GB option but is available across all three colorways: obsidian, porcelain, and rose quartz.

It's a super-smart smartphone with a 6.3-inch OLED display with vibrant colors as well as the latest Google Tensor chip for fast, non-laggy performance. It benefits from triple rear cameras, making it the most powerful pixel camera yet, so you can enjoy high-quality video and even enhance your videos up to 8K with the video boost tool.

This model also features Gemini, Google's next-generation AI technology. It offers assistance with tools including advanced photo editing such as Magic Eraser and Face Unblur, enhanced voice recognition for dictation, and Google Assistant capabilities. It also uses real-time translation to allow for seamless language support in messaging or live conversations, and it even powers predictive text.

This is a limited-time deal at Amazon, so don't miss out.

SAVE $80: As of Feb. 19, the Apple Magic Keyboard is on sale for $269 at Amazon. That's 23% off the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Magic Keyboard $269.00 at Amazon
$349.00 Save $80.00 Get Deal

iPad accessories are a great way to upgrade your device. Whether you're feeling creative and looking to draw your next design with the Apple Pencil, or you'd like to transform your tablet into a laptop for work while on the move, you can more often than not find a great deal on Apple products at Amazon, including this latest deal on the Apple Magic Keyboard Case.

As of Feb. 19, you can upgrade your iPad for the lower price of $269, saving you $80 on list price. This deal is currently only available in black and is compatible with the iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation), iPad Air 13-inch (M2), iPad Pro 12.9-inch (6th generation), iPad Pro 12.9-inch (5th generation), iPad Pro 12.9-inch (4th generation)iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation), iPad Air 13-inch (M2), iPad Pro 12.9-inch (6th generation), iPad Pro 12.9-inch (5th generation), iPad Pro 12.9-inch (4th generation).

SEE ALSO: Best Buy has knocked $100 off the 11-inch M2 Apple iPad Air

The Magic Keyboard is a great way to transform your iPad. It’s super easy to use — no charging or pairing needed — just snap it on and start typing. It features backlit keys for comfy, quiet typing, a built-in trackpad for gestures and precision, and even a USB-C port for charging.

It can be purchased in different languages, including Arabic, British English, Chinese (Pinyin), Chinese (Zhuyin), Danish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish (Latin America), Spanish (Spain), Swiss, Ukrainian, and US English.

Its floating cantilever design lets you find the perfect viewing angle. And when not in use, the keyboard folds up into a protective cover to help prevent any damage while on the move.

Head to Amazon to grab this deal.