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NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for April 30

Mashable - Tue, 04/29/2025 - 22:00

Connections: Sports Edition is a new version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans.

Like the original Connections, the game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for the latest Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections Sports Edition?

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

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Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

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Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

Here's a hint for today's Connections Sports Edition categories

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

  • Yellow: Next in line

  • Green: Seen in Foot Locker

  • Blue: Played in the Windy City

  • Purple: Football teams

Featured Video For You Connections: How to play and how to win Here are today's Connections Sports Edition categories

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

  • Yellow: Second string

  • Green: Sneaker brands

  • Blue: Chicago sports greats

  • Purple: Anagrams of NFL teams

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections Sports Edition #219 is...

What is the answer to Connections Sports Edition today
  • Second string - BACKUP, FILL-IN, RESERVE, SUB

  • Sneaker brands - NEW BALANCE, NIKE, PUMA, REEBOK

  • Chicago sports greats - BANKS, JORDAN, MIKITA, PAYTON

  • Anagrams of NFL teams- JEST, MARS, REPACKS, SABRE

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

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

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

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

NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for April 30, 2025

Mashable - Tue, 04/29/2025 - 22:00

Connections is the one of the most popular New York Times word games that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for today's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections?

The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

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

Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

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

Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for April 30 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

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

  • Yellow: Worn on your feet

  • Green: An arrangement

  • Blue: Recognition or distinction

  • Purple: Feelings of disgust

Featured Video For You Connections: How to play and how to win Here are today's Connections categories

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

  • Yellow: Parts of a shoe

  • Green: Accommodation

  • Blue: Reputation

  • Purple: Ending with synonyms for "Yuck"

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections #689 is...

What is the answer to Connections today
  • Parts of a shoe: HEEL, SOLE, TONGUE, UPPER

  • Accommodation: CAPACITY, CHAIRS, ROOM, SEATING

  • Reputation: FACE, IMAGE, REGARD, STANDING

  • Ending with synonyms for "Yuck": DYNASTY, ENGROSS, GIMMICK, MILDEW

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for April 30

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

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

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

Wordle today: Answer, hints for April 30, 2025

Mashable - Tue, 04/29/2025 - 22:00

Oh hey there! If you're here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we're serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today's answer.

If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections today: Hints and answers for April 30 Where did Wordle come from?

Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once

Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.

What's the best Wordle starting word?

The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.

Is Wordle getting harder?

It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for April 30, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

A lazy person.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no recurring letters.

Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...

Today's Wordle starts with the letter I.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. The Wordle answer today is...

Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

IDLER.

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for April 30

Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.

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

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

Hurdle hints and answers for April 30, 2025

Mashable - Tue, 04/29/2025 - 22:00

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

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

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

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

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

What you do to coffee beans.

SEE ALSO: Apple’s new M3 MacBook Air is $300 off at Amazon. And yes, I’m tempted. Hurdle Word 1 answer

GRIND

Hurdle Word 2 hint

A nook.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for April 30, 2025 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

NICHE

Hurdle Word 3 hint

The opposite of south.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for April 30 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for April 30, 2025 Hurdle Word 3 answer

NORTH

Hurdle Word 4 hint

A state of matter.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for April 29 Hurdle Word 4 answer

SOLID

Final Hurdle hint

An animal that moves slowly.

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

SLOTH

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

Mark Zuckerberg wants AI to do half of Metas coding by 2026

Mashable - Tue, 04/29/2025 - 21:46

Tonight at LlamaCon, Meta's first inaugural AI developer conference, an interview between Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella revealed just how much of their products' code is written by AI.

During the closing keynote for LlamaCon, Zuckerberg asked Nadella how much code within Microsoft is now written by AI. Nadella's response? "Maybe 20 to 30 percent of the code that is inside of our repos today, and some of our projects, are probably all written by [AI] software."

But when Nadella flipped the question back to Zuckerberg, his estimate for Meta's near future was even higher. Zuckerberg said he didn't have the current numbers off the top of his head, but that "our bet is sort of that in the next year... maybe half the development is going to be done by AI as opposed to people, and that will kind of increase from there." Based on the exchange, it's not entirely clear if Zuckerberg was referring to Llama specifically or Meta overall.

Regardless, that sounds like a big number for a technology that still feels very nascent to the public at large. However, in the tech world, the impressive coding abilities of AI models are being aggressively utilized to generate new code for those same AI models.

For context, Google CEO Sundar Pichai recently revealed that AI generates about a quarter of the company's code (per Engadget). Typically, AI is used to increase human programmers' productivity, sometimes dramatically so, rather than replacing humans entirely.

Later, as the conversation turned towards agentic systems automating more of their respective businesses, Zuckerberg predicted "every engineer is effectively gonna end up being more of like a tech lead" where they each have "their own little army of agents that they work with."

The keynote spanned from the technical, like the current state of agentic AI, to the philosophical, when Nadella called for new ways of measuring AI progress. For instance, he wondered what it would take for AI technology to grow the GDP of the developing world by 10 percent?

SEE ALSO: Meta has finally launched its ChatGPT competitor

As two of the most powerful tech leaders in the world, Zuckerberg and Nadella have strong beliefs in AI's potential and big, global plans to see them through.

Nadella was an interesting choice as the interviewee of the LlamaCon keynote. As the leader of Microsoft, Nadella is heavily intertwined with OpenAI, one of Meta's chief rivals.

Disclosure: Ziff Davis, Mashable’s parent company, in April filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.

Ex-School Athletic Director Gets 4 Months in Jail for Racist Deepfake Recording

NYT Technology - Tue, 04/29/2025 - 17:50
Dazhon Darien, 32, who worked at Pikesville High School in Baltimore County, pleaded guilty to disturbing school operations.

The 5 Nintendo Switch 2 launch titles I cant wait to play (besides Mario Kart World)

Mashable - Tue, 04/29/2025 - 17:38

It's no secret that Mario Kart World is the main reason to get a Nintendo Switch 2 at launch. I even got to play it myself at the Nintendo launch event. But what else will you be able to play if/when you get bored of that game?

Luckily, Nintendo has an extensive list of Switch 2 launch titles available to play on June 5. As is usually the case with new consoles, many of them are ports of older games. However, in this instance, that's not such a bad thing; there are plenty of people out there who only had a Nintendo Switch, meaning they may have missed out big games like Cyberpunk 2077.

Assuming you've got your Switch 2 preorder on deck, here are five of the best Nintendo Switch 2 launch titles to keep in mind ahead of June 5 — besides Mario Kart World.

Opens in a new window Credit: Nintendo Mario Kart World $79.99 at Target
Release Date: June 5, 2025 Pre-order Here The Nintendo Switch 2 launch titles I can't wait to play

Again, a few of these games already came out elsewhere, but they might still be new to Nintendo fans.

Fast Fusion Looks fast. Credit: Shin'en/Nintendo

One of the best latter-day Wii U games was a little futuristic racer called Fast Racing Neo. This, in turn, became one of the best Switch 1 launch titles, in an upgraded form called Fast RMX. Now, developer Shin'en is back with a long-awaited sequel that promises new ideas with the same technical excellence as its predecessors.

Shin'en hasn't said much about Fast Fusion yet, other than that it will be out at launch and will only cost $14.99, making it the anti-Mario Kart in one way. But it looks the part of a futuristic arcade-style racing game with a sharp sense of speed, gorgeous visuals, split-screen and online multiplayer, and a unique car fusion system that should set it apart from the competition. And again, it's just $15.

Opens in a new window Credit: Nintendo Fast Fusion (digital) $14.99 at Nintendo
Release Date: June 5, 2025 Pre-order Here Yakuza 0 Director's Cut Expect a lot of this. Credit: Sega/Nintendo

The first port of an old game on this list can be traced all the way back to the PlayStation 3. Yakuza 0 has been around the block a few times, just never on a Nintendo platform before. Let me tell you, if you're a person who sticks close to Nintendo and hasn't played this one yet: Make it a priority.

The Switch 2 version adds some bonuses, like new English voice acting and a weird-looking multiplayer fighting mode, but Yakuza 0 could've been ported as-is, and that would've been fine. It's an oddball action-adventure game set in a highly period-accurate version of urban, red-light district Japan in the late 1980s. Aside from the very fun and very violent combat, it's also got interactive karaoke, mahjong, and all kinds of other cultural delights for you to take part in on the side.

Yakuza 0 also has a terrific story with two excellent protagonists. If you've ever been curious about the long-running Yakuza series, this is the best place to start.

Opens in a new window Credit: Nintendo Yakuza 0 Director's Cut $49.94 at Amazon
Release Date: June 5, 2025 Pre-order Here Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition All the Keanu your Switch 2 can handle. Credit: CD Projekt Red/Nintendo

The Switch 2 port of Cyberpunk 2077 might be a good litmus test for what the Switch 2 is capable of on a technical level, and that alone makes it compelling, at least to me.

This game famously had to be pulled from the PlayStation store after launch in 2020 because the PS4 version was so terrible, and the Switch 2 is about as powerful as a PS4. Developer CD Projekt Red has had years to sort Cyberpunk out, though, and the game is genuinely in an excellent state these days. Between that and the highly impressive Switch 1 port of The Witcher 3, it's easy to see a world where a lot of people experience Cyberpunk for the first time on Switch 2 and have a perfectly decent time doing so.

Opens in a new window Credit: CD Projekt Red Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition $69.99 at Amazon
Release Date: June 5, 2025 Pre-order Here Deltarune 'Deltarune' sorta defies explanation. Credit: 8-4/Nintendo

In 2015, indie developer Toby Fox broke the internet with a humble little pixel-based RPG called Undertale. Since then, Fox has been following up on Undertale with Deltarune, an expanded successor with different combat and an episodic release format, but the same off-beat sense of humor and catchy musical direction.

The first two chapters of Deltarune have been out for a while, but chapters 3 and 4 (in a package that includes all of them) are shipping at launch with Switch 2. If you've already been committed to the Deltarune train, why not continue on Switch 2? If not, maybe this is a good place to start, too. These are games that need to be experienced to be understood.

Opens in a new window Credit: Nintendo Deltarune $24.99 at Nintendo
Release Date: June 5, 2025 Pre-order Here Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess One of 2024's most underrated games comes to Switch 2. Credit: Capcom/Nintendo

Our last game is another port, though the original only came out in 2024 and sorta fell under the radar on other consoles.

Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess is a bit of a weird one. It's kind of a third-person hack-and-slash action game, but also kind of a strategic tower defense game. In totality, it's very unique, cool to look at, and fun to play. Capcom has a bit of an under-discussed banger here, so maybe the Switch 2 launch can be a good way for people who missed Kunitsu-Gami the first time around to catch it now.

Opens in a new window Credit: Nintendo Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess $39.99 at Nintendo
Release Date: June 5, 2025 Pre-order Here Honorable Mention: Donkey Kong Bonanza

If none of these games are enough to whet your appetite, Donkey Kong Bananza is a non-launch Switch 2 title to look out for. DK's first starring role in a 3D platformer in 25 years comes alongside a brand new character design for one of Nintendo's oldest heroes, as well as a funky terrain destruction system that lets players destroy the entire level to get where they're trying to go. You'll have to wait a bit for it, but not long, as Bananza is out July 17.

Opens in a new window Credit: Nintendo Donkey Kong Bananza $69.99 at Target
Release Date: July 17, 2025 Pre-order Here Where to preorder Nintendo Switch 2 games

Most retailers are offering Nintendo Switch 2 games for preorder, so your first stop for picking up a new title is one of these retailers. Below, find links to each online storefront where you can shop a repository of Switch 2 games available right now.

More Switch 2 games available for preorder

OpenAI rolls back ChatGPT 4o model for being too much of a suck-up

Mashable - Tue, 04/29/2025 - 17:12

ChatGPT — and generative AI tools like it — have long had a reputation for being a bit too agreeable. It's been clear for a while now that the default ChatGPT experience is designed to nod along with most of what you say. But even that tendency can go too far, apparently.

In a thread on X posted on April 27, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman acknowledged that "GPT-4o updates have made the personality too sycophant-y and annoying." And today, Altman announced on X that the company was fully rolling back the 4o update for paid and free users alike.

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Normally, ChatGPT’s role as your own personal digital hypeman doesn't raise too many eyebrows. But users have started complaining online about the 4o model's overly agreeable personality. In one exchange, a user ran through the classic trolley problem, choosing between saving a toaster or some cows and cats. The AI reassured them they’d made the right call by siding with the toaster.

"In pure utilitarian terms, life usually outweighs objects," ChatGPT responded. "But if the toaster meant more to you… then your action was internally consistent."

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There are plenty more examples showing just how extreme ChatGPT’s sycophancy had gotten — and it was enough for Altman to admit that it "glazes too much" and needed to be fixed.

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

On a more serious note, users also pointed out that there could be a real danger in AI chatbots that agree with everything you say. Sure, posts about people telling ChatGPT they're a religious prophet or simply fishing for an ego boost can be amusing. But it’s not hard to imagine how a "sycophant-y" chatbot could validate genuine delusions and worsen mental health crises.

In his thread on X, Altman said that the company was working on fixes for the 4o model's personality problems. He promised to share more updates "in the coming days."

Disclosure: Ziff Davis, Mashable’s parent company, in April filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.

Elon Musks X lost 11 million users in the EU

Mashable - Tue, 04/29/2025 - 16:55

X's user base in the European Union is now officially lower than it was prior to Elon Musk's acquisition of the company.

And that's according to a new report from Elon Musk's X (formerly Twitter, but you knew that). The social media platform now has a total of 94.8 million monthly active users in the EU.

That's a loss of roughly 11 million European users from X's previous transparency report, as highlighted by Social Media Today.

Mashable previously reported on X's declining user base in the EU last fall. Now, we know that X's European user base has continued to drop. In 2022, before Musk acquired the social media platform, the company had more than 100 million users in Europe.

How do we know X's user base is dropping in the EU?

As part of the EU's Digital Services Act (DSA), tech companies like X are required to provide content moderation transparency reports throughout the year. As a result, X is forced to share internal information, such as its monthly active user base, that it might otherwise keep private.

This week, X published its April DSA transparency report, the first of 2025. The report covers October 2024 through March 2025.

The latest report shows that X's user base in the EU has declined by more than 10.5 percent since its October 2024 report, which covered the previous period between April trough September of that year.

X saw the biggest decline in France with a loss of more than 2.7 million monthly active users, dropping from 20.1 million users to 17.4 million users in between this transparency report and the last. X also lost nearly 2 million users in Poland, close to 1.5 million users in Germany, and more than 1 million users in Spain. As Social Media Today points out, the small countries of Luxembourg and Lithuania each saw a quarter of their X users leave the platform.

X has been shedding users for a while

Last month, Elon Musk's AI company xAI acquired the social media platform at close to the same sum that Musk originally paid for the company in 2022. Since then, Musk and company have attempted to paint a rosy picture of X's performance, which has seen a decline in revenue and repeated controversies since Musk's takeover. 

X did see a jump in traffic and returning advertisers (including big names like Apple) following the election of Donald Trump last November. However, X's traffic spike following the 2024 election proved to be temporary, and analysts projected that Musk's social media platform would continue to lose users this year.

While X is not required to report active user data outside of the EU, a report in the Financial Times last September looked at third-party analytics and determined that X lost nearly one-fifth of its daily active user base in the U.S. and one-third of its daily active user base in the United Kingdom.

And it makes sense, when you consider the global protests against Tesla, which have resulted in Musk's EV company's profits dropping a whopping 71 percent.

White House-Amazon Spat Culminates in Trump Calling Bezos ‘Very Nice’

NYT Technology - Tue, 04/29/2025 - 16:18
The White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, attacked the retail giant over a report that suggested Amazon would highlight tariff-related price increases. Amazon said it was “not going to happen.”

Meta has finally launched its ChatGPT competitor

Mashable - Tue, 04/29/2025 - 14:51

In the thick of Meta’s first-ever AI developer conference, LlamaCon, CEO Mark Zuckerberg hit the launch button on Meta AI — the company’s full-throttle answer to OpenAI’s ChatGPT.

SEE ALSO: Meta's latest dangerous decision: Siding with transphobes

According to Meta’s April 29 press release, the new standalone AI app is built on the company’s latest Llama 4 model. It’s pitched as a hyper-personalized assistant for users already living inside the Meta ecosystem: WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook — you know the drill. In a choice Instagram video, Zuckerberg, framed in a pair of Meta Ray-Ban glasses, pitched the app as a product built for voice-first conversations.

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One standout feature is the Discover feed. It lets you see how your connections use Meta AI, surfacing prompts they’ve tried (with their permission). Meta says you’re in full control over what, if anything, gets shared. Since personalization is at the heart of the experience, it’s worth noting: opting out of having your data scraped to train Meta’s AI is nearly impossible.

The discover feed will also amplify any generative AI trends that pop off. Credit: Meta

The app is also meant to pair with Meta’s Ray-Ban smart glasses. You can kick off a conversation via voice through the glasses, then jump into the app or web interface later to pick up the thread. Other than that, though, the app functions the same as it does on Messenger and IG, just now wrapped in a separate, slick interface accessible from both your phone and desktop.

With LlamaCon underway in California, this standalone launch isn’t just a product drop — it’s a litmus test. Meta needs to show investors and developers that its AI ambitions are alive and accelerating. Back in January, Zuckerberg committed a staggering $60 billion to U.S.-based data centers to power Meta AI.

The launch could also be the nudge OpenAI needs to hit the gas on its own social-facing ChatGPT app. CEO Sam Altman joked about the idea months ago, when Meta first teased its standalone AI app. Now, signs point to OpenAI quietly building something that might make that joke a reality.

Now You See Me: Now You Dont trailer: Jesse Eisenberg recruits a new crew of dazzling magicians

Mashable - Tue, 04/29/2025 - 14:44

In the mood for a magic trick? Then check out the trailer for Lionsgate's Now You See Me: Now You Don't, the third film in the Now You See Me franchise. And guess what? A fourth is already on the way.

SEE ALSO: Summer Movie Preview: What's coming to theaters and streaming?

Now You See Me: Now You Don't reunites the team of thieving magicians known as the Four Horsemen: J. Daniel Atlas (Jesse Eisenberg), Jack Wilder (Dave Franco), Henley Reeves (Isla Fisher), and Merritt McKinney (Woody Harrelson). But they're not alone.

On the advice of a magical tarot card, Atlas has recruited three young magicians to aid him in his next heist, played by Barbie's Ariana Greenblatt, The Holdovers' Dominic Sessa, and I Saw the TV Glow's Justice Smith. Their mission? To take down a criminal family syndicate, led by Rosamund Pike in a villainous role.

Zombieland director Ruben Fleischer helms Now You See Me: Now You Don't, which also sees Morgan Freeman returning as master magician Thaddeus Bradley.

"Eight magicians against a worldwide criminal network. I like our chances," Greenblatt's character says.

Notably missing from the trailer is Mark Ruffalo as Dylan Rhodes, but maybe we just don't see him yet, you know?

Check out the trailer above for more dazzling escapes and sleight of hand, including body swaps, dress changes, and classic card tricks.

Now You See Me: Now You Don't hits theaters Nov. 14.

Wait, did Siris voice just change?

Mashable - Tue, 04/29/2025 - 14:21

Maybe you’ve noticed: Siri doesn’t quite sound like Siri anymore.

It’s not the most dramatic shift. Rather, it's a different lilt to its tone or a slight tonal drift. However, it's just enough to make you pause and ask, "Hey, Siri, did your voice change?"

Occasionally, Google search trends light up with people wondering whether Siri's voice is different — or, rather, whether the voice assistant's many voices are different. Maybe we’re all just spiraling into collective audio gaslighting.

Reddit Reddit Reddit Reddit

Across the internet, users are reporting that Siri’s voice has turned flat, unnatural, stern, and oddly disengaged. Gone is the upbeat, more conversational tone we’re used to. The shift seems to hit hardest with the Australian, Irish, and American voices. So, what’s going on?

There’s no need to panic. The wave of online chatter that kicked off in December points back to one culprit: the iOS 18 update and its new Apple Intelligence features. That subtle tonal shift you’re picking up on? It’s likely tied to how Siri now operates with the latest software updates.

With the iPhone 16 and iOS 18 rollout, Apple quietly tweaked Siri’s voice and natural language processing, particularly in how it meshes with the newly introduced Apple Intelligence. At the time, Apple called it "The start of a new era for Siri." And in the iOS 18 release notes, Apple said, "Siri sounds more natural, expressive, and clear, and is now synthesized entirely on device by Apple Intelligence new language models."

Of course, how Siri's new voice sounds to your ear is very subjective.

As one user put it in a December 2024 Apple Support Community forum thread, "Managed to get original Siri back by disabling Apple intelligence. Will happily go without AI," said user VRBe. Another user replied, "Yep, that worked. I disabled Apple Intelligence, and Siri’s voice is back to the way it was pre iOS 18. I’ll use Apple Intelligence, as soon as you put the voice back to the way it was."

Digging deeper into that thread, two additional users noted that disabling Apple Intelligence (yes, it’s opt-out) brings back the pre-iOS 18 version of Siri’s voice. The December iOS 18.2 update may have also reset Siri’s voice to its default setting: American, Voice 1.

Credit: Screenshot courtesy of Apple Support Community

To shut off Apple Intelligence, head to Settings > Apple Intelligence & Siri > and toggle off Apple Intelligence. Simple as that. Mashable reached out to Apple for clarification on the changes to Siri's voice, but as of now, there has been no official word. In the meantime, that toggle might be your best bet.

Congress passes ‘Take It Down’ Act to fight AI-fueled deepfake pornography

Mashable - Tue, 04/29/2025 - 13:44

Congress has passed a bill that forces tech companies to take action against certain deepfakes and revenge porn posted on their platforms.

In a 409-2 vote on Monday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the "Take It Down" Act, which has received bipartisan support. The bill also received vocal support from celebrities and First Lady Melania Trump. The bill already passed the Senate in a vote last month.

The Take It Down Act will now be sent to President Donald Trump, who is expected to sign it into law.

First introduced by Republican Senator Ted Cruz and Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar in 2024, the Take It Down Act would require that tech companies take quick action against nonconsensual intimate imagery. Platforms would be required to remove such content within 48 hours of a takedown request. The Federal Trade Commission could then sue platforms that do not comply with such requests.

In addition to targeting tech platforms, the Take It Down Act also carves out punishments, which include fines and potential jail time, for those who create and share such imagery. The new law would make it a federal crime to publish — or even threaten to publish — explicit nonconsensual images, which would include revenge porn and deepfake imagery generated with AI.

Digital rights groups have shared their concerns regarding the Take It Down Act. Activists have said that the bill could be weaponized to censor legally protected speech, and that legal content could be inaccurately flagged for removal.

Despite these concerns, the Take It Down Act even received support from the tech platforms it seeks to police, such as Snapchat and Roblox.

Congress isn't finished addressing AI and deepfakes this year either. Both the NO FAKES Act of 2025 and Content Origin Protection and Integrity from Edited and Deepfaked Media Act of 2025 have also been introduced this session. The former seeks to protect individuals from having their voice replicated by AI without their consent, whereas the latter looks to protect original works and require transparency around AI-generated content.

E-ZPass toll scams are back. What to do if youre targeted.

Mashable - Tue, 04/29/2025 - 13:40

You might've heard of those scam texts about tolls. Heck, at this point, you've likely gotten a text pretending to be from E-ZPass or some such entity.

We covered these scams at Mashable back in January, and they're back, if they ever left at all. The main points remain the same: Do not click any links and do not engage with potential scammers. If you get a text claiming to be from E-ZPass, FasTrak, or some other toll service, be very skeptical, as this has only become a more pervasive scam.

We've got the latest details to keep you up to date.

What are the E-ZPass and FasTrak scam texts, and how do you spot them?

The E-ZPass toll scam has evolved and shifted over time, but the broad strokes remain the same: a text from a random number claiming you have unpaid tolls or fees, and that you have to remedy that fact or face some sort of consequence. That should immediately ring alarm bells — scammers often want you to feel a sense of urgency in order to keep you from thinking through your actions. Usually, this text leads you to a link, which could be used to gather your personal information.

Here's an example of a recent version posted to Reddit that received a spirited response in the comments.

Reddit

Look around online and you'll see lots of folks still posting about the scam texts, some four months after they began surfacing.

Oh no, some guy who calls himself a player is telling me I need to pay my toll

[image or embed]

— yuukasugai.itch.io (@yuukasugai.itch.io) April 23, 2025 at 2:39 PM

This is already coming in handy

[image or embed]

— Craig Calcaterra (@craigcalcaterra.bsky.social) March 26, 2025 at 9:36 AM

Once you're aware of the same, it should be pretty easy to spot. First: Check the sender. At first, these messages often came from a +63 country code, which is for the Philippines. Many of the posts online now indicate the scammers have moved on to random email addresses. Regardless, E-ZPass or other toll services are not sending emails from these sorts of phone numbers or addresses.

Second: Look at the link. DO. NOT. CLICK. THE. LINK. But often the link redirects to an obviously sketchy site.

Third: Know that this is not how E-ZPass, FasTrak, or other toll services operate. They will mail you any bills they owe, and they certainly will not threaten to suspend your driver's license.

What to do if you get an E-ZPass or FasTrak scam text?

Again, let us repeat, if you get a scam text: DO. NOT. CLICK. THE. LINK.

From there, most phones have a delete and report junk option for messages, which is what you should do. If you're concerned that there was a modicum of truth to the text, the Federal Trade Commission recommends contacting your local tolling agency to check if it's legit.

But for the most part, tread carefully with any text from an unknown number. If you have to question if you're being scammed, it's likely a scam.

Have a story to share about a scam or security breach that impacted you? Tell us about it. Email submissions@mashable.com with the subject line "Safety Net" or use this form. Someone from Mashable will get in touch.

OpenAI is fixing a bug that may have let kids talk dirty with ChatGPT

Mashable - Tue, 04/29/2025 - 13:32

OpenAI is working to fix a bug that allowed — and, in some cases, reportedly encouraged — minors to generate erotica on ChatGPT, as TechCrunch reported on Monday, April 28. OpenAI told TechCrunch that the company is "actively deploying a fix," since its policies don't allow its AI chatbot to send responses like this to users under 18 years old.

Young people have been finding ways to access pornography and erotica since the dawn of the internet, so it's not surprising that youngsters would also test the limits of the popular AI chatbot.

An OpenAI spokesperson told Mashable over email that its "model policies don’t allow the kind of responses that happened here, and they shouldn’t have been shown to users."

“Protecting younger users is a top priority, and our Model Spec, which guides model behavior, clearly restricts sensitive content like erotica to narrow contexts such as scientific, historical, or news reporting. In this case, a bug allowed responses outside those guidelines, and we are actively deploying a fix to limit these generations,” the OpenAI statement read.

You must be 13 years old to use ChatGPT — and even then, you need parental consent if you're under 18. But those rules can be skirted pretty easily as long as you have an email account. Anyone can lie about their age online, after all.

In February, OpenAI updated its policies on how ChatGPT approaches sensitive subjects, including erotica. This may have made it easier for underage users pretending to be adults to generate more sexual responses.

Meta's AI chatbot has also been accused of serving up explicit content to minors. According to a report earlier this week from The Wall Street Journal, Meta loosened the guardrails around its chatbots on Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp to make them as engaging as possible. As the WSJ reported, this allowed Meta's AI chatbots to engage in sexual fantasies with young users, although not intentionally. Not only that, but users could even get those fantasies read aloud in the voices of Dame Judi Dench, John Cena, and Kristen Bell. Meta told the outlet that the testing was manipulative and not representative of real-world use.

Disclosure: Ziff Davis, Mashable’s parent company, in April filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.

UPDATE: Apr. 29, 2025, 1:47 p.m. EDT This article has been updated with a response from OpenAI.

Learn to code and get the Microsoft software to do it with this A$87 bundle

Mashable - Tue, 04/29/2025 - 13:00

TL;DR: This Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2022 and The Premium Learn to Code Certification Bundle teaches you how to code and gives you the software to do it for just A$87 (reg. A$3,129).

Still don't know how to code? It's time, and you can consider this well-rounded bundle to be your sign.

This Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2022 and The Premium Learn to Code Certification Bundle not only gives you the tools you need right from tech giant Microsoft but also offers an education in coding geared toward total beginners — all for A$87. 

Teach yourself how to code for A$87

Who doesn't love a one-stop shop? If you're finally ready to conquer coding, this bundle gives you the tools you'll need to make a career change. You can take the first step toward being a front-end or back-end developer, a data scientist, a DevOps engineer, or an app developer; the possibilities are nearly endless. 

First things first, you're going to need to learn how to code. The Premium Learn to Code Certification bundle of classes offers 15 online courses geared toward doing just that.

These courses are great for beginners and cover building websites with Python, JavaScript, HTML, CSS, C++, and more. If you're hoping to build an app, there are courses for that, too, and you have access to all of them for life so that you can go at your own pace. 

Once you've built a foundation in coding, it's time to boot up Microsoft Visual Studio Pro. This trusted platform helps you write, edit, and debug code with ease. Plus, you can work across multiple languages to put your new skills to the test.

With data storytelling on the rise, be at the forefront with your coding background and help from Microsoft Visual Studio Pro, which lets you build data-driven apps or dashboards to bring stories to life so you can thrive in this field. 

Start your coding journey today with the Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2022 and The Premium Learn to Code Certification Bundle, now only A$87 (a A$3,129 value). 

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: InterPlein Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2022 + The Premium Learn to Code Certification Bundle AU$87
AU$3,129 Save AU$3,042 Get Deal

Stay connected easily while traveling this summer

Mashable - Tue, 04/29/2025 - 12:49

No one wants to go through the inconvenience of traveling without a functional smartphone. Give us the maps, the quick connection to friends and family at home, and, yes, even the ability to check in with work when we need to. 

Unfortunately, roaming on your usual plan can quickly get expensive, adding unnecessary travel costs that could be better spent on memorable experiences. If you’re looking for a better solution, Global eSIMs from Nomad are about to become your favorite travel companion. 

Opens in a new window Credit: Nomad Nomad Global-EX eSIM, 10GB 180-day validity $22.50
$30 Save $7.50 Use discount code NOMMASHABLE25 Get Deal

eSIM stands for embedded SIM, and it allows you to connect anywhere, at any time. They work just like a traditional SIM card, but there’s no need to purchase a physical SIM card. Just jump online, choose your plan, and follow the setup instructions. 

Nomad offers affordable, reliable eSIMs with a range of durations and coverage options available. Check out all the perks and plan details below, and use the code NOMMASHABLE25 to get 25% off your Nomad eSIM plan until the end of the month.

Long-term plans for frequent travelers

Digital nomads, travelers on sabbatical, and frequent business trip-takers can tap into Nomad’s unique Global-EX eSIM for long-term value. These 180-day and 365-day plans offer coverage for 54 or 82 countries, with most high-traffic destinations covered. 

By zeroing in on the most relevant locations, Nomad manages to keep their plans impressively cost-effective compared to competitors — a 20GB eSIM, valid over 365 days, comes in at just $50. Plus, you can top up your plan or expand your data limits in real time if your travel plans and data needs change.

New users get a free trial

If you like to try before you buy, take advantage of Nomad's free 24-hour 500MB eSIM data plan, available in 47 popular destinations around the world. There’s no credit card required to sign up, and you can have it installed in five minutes.  

Whether you’re working, vacationing, or a little bit of both, you can rely on fast, stable 4G/5G mobile data and hotspot tethering with this 24-hour free plan.

Give the gift of connection 

Bon voyage gifts can be tricky. You don’t want to give something physical, because you’ll just add to their luggage, and an experience at the destination can be lovely but difficult to organize without giving the secret away. 

An eSIM is the perfect alternative. It can be sent via email and gives your loved ones an easy way to connect with friends and family back home. You can choose any Nomad eSIM to gift; just enter your giftee’s email address when checking out in the Nomad iOS or Android app. Here's how you can gift a Nomad Travel eSIM.

Hotspot your heart out

If you’re on vacation, data on your phone might be enough to get you by, but digital nomads, business travelers, and Millennials who know some emails are simply laptop-only emails might be looking for more.

Thankfully, Nomad’s eSIM plans allow tethering, so you can share the data allowance via a hotspot. 

You can learn more about sharing data through a hotspot on this page.

Specific country plans for popular destinations

If you’re heading abroad for a vacation and looking for a single-country plan, Nomad eSIM has you covered with highly-rated country plans. 

There are flexible, affordable options for specific destinations, and many 30-day plans come in at under $10. You can also choose to build your own plan, selecting a specific number of days at 1GB per day.

These plans are available for top-rated destinations including Greece, Paris, Thailand, Canada, France, Spain, and many more. Check out and learn more about Nomad’s country plans, and find where your next destination is.

Top-rated and highly trusted eSIMs for every type of traveler Opens in a new window Credit: Nomad Nomad Global-EX eSIM, 20GB 365-day validity $37.50
$50 Save $12.50 Use discount code NOMMASHABLE25 Get Deal

Most travelers would rather spend their planning time finding the best food to eat, things to see, and places to stay than on logistics like data plans. With Nomad eSIM, you don’t have to go far to see that you’re getting a top-rated and highly trusted data provider for tons of popular travel destinations.

Use the code NOMMASHABLE25 to get 25% off any Nomad eSIM plan. Offer ends May 30, 2025. Plans must be activated within 60 days upon purchase. This code cannot be used for add-on data, sale plans, Day Plans, or plans under $5.

Spruce up your PC with $120 off this 27-inch Samsung Odyssey gaming monitor

Mashable - Tue, 04/29/2025 - 12:39

SAVE $120: As of April 29, get the 27-inch Samsung Odyssey Curved Gaming Monitor for $179.99 at Samsung. That's a 43% discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Odyssey Curved Gaming Monitor $179.99 at Samsung
$299.99 Save $120 Get Deal

If you're looking to add a new display to your PC setup and you enjoy gaming, a curved gaming monitor is always a good idea. Samsung has several models in its repertoire that make for excellent additions, and one of them is on sale right now, straight from the source. You can get one for nearly half off if you head to the Samsung digital storefront, in fact.

As of April 29, get the 27-inch Samsung Odyssey Curved Gaming Monitor for $179.99 at Samsung. That's $120 off and a 43% discount.

This display offers 1.7 times the pixel density of a full HD display, with QHD resolution, a 165Hz refresh rate, and a 1ms response time. That means you can expect much smoother gameplay, without screen tearing, and you won't have to miss a frame when dealing with those twitch-based, fast-paced games.

The 1000R of curvature also makes you feel more like you're actually in the game itself, so you see parts of the environment on both sides of your face. Combned with HDR10 that gives you darker contrast with brighter colors, you get a much more exciting experience than run-of-the-mill monitors. And if you spend a lot of time at your PC, you can use Eye Saver Mode to help cut down on eye strain.

Serious about getting your game on? Or just need a new screen to improve your setup? Grab this monitor and you'll see a difference when it comes to your favorite game worlds.

Our fave Bluetooth speaker for bass lovers is down to its best price ever

Mashable - Tue, 04/29/2025 - 12:23

SAVE $41.99: As of April 29, the Sony ULT Field 1 is down to just $88 at Amazon. That's 32% in savings and matches the Bluetooth speaker's best price ever.

Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Sony ULT Field 1 $88 at Amazon
$129.99 Save $41.99 Get Deal

Not every Bluetooth speaker is created equal. That's why we test a ton and round up the ones we deem worthy of a place on our list of the best. The Sony ULT Field 1 has earned one of those spots — and it happens to be on sale for its best price ever.

As of April 29, the Sony ULT Field 1 Bluetooth speaker is on sale for just $88 at Amazon, down from $129.99. That's 32% in savings and matches its lowest price on record, which is hit just once before around the holiday season.

SEE ALSO: Grab the JBL Go 3 Eco speaker for 25% off

Mashable's Shopping and Reviews Editor Miller Kern took the Sony ULT Field 1 for a test drive when it launched last year and was pretty impressed, giving it a glowing 4.5 out of 5 stars. The battery life is just so-so at around 12 hours, but everything else about the speaker is top-notch. Kern specifically praised its sound quality, customizable EQ levels, low-profile design, and bass-thumping ULT setting. While the speaker already offers impressive bass by default, you can press the "ULT" button on the speaker and amplify it even more. And don't worry, it won't sound blown out or fuzzy.

The ULT Field 1 is also waterproof, dustproof, rustproof, and shockproof to make it just as outdoor-friendly as it is indoor. Not to mention, this baby gets loud. "I can’t imagine ever playing music at full volume in my apartment. This speaker would be amazing for beach days or barbecues, though," Kern writes in her review, adding that she could see it becoming her new go-to outdoor speaker.

At only $88, it's an excellent value. Plus, you can choose from four different shades, including a vibrant orange — all of which are on sale.

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