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Framework is taking modular computing to the next level. In this presentation from the Next Gen Event 2026, CEO Nirav Patel and the team unveil the highly anticipated Framework Laptop 13 Pro, featuring a complete chassis redesign, with Intel Core Ultra Series 3 processors and a massive leap in battery life (over 20 hours).
If you use Spotify, it's likely already home to your perfectly curated workout playlists. Now, the music streaming app wants to be your gym, too.
In a move that makes its long-term "everything app" ambitions feel a lot more literal, Spotify is officially expanding into fitness, rolling out guided workout experiences directly inside the app. The pitch is simple: If you're already pressing play to get through a workout, why not stay for the workout itself?
At launch, the new fitness hub brings together playlists, instructors, and full classes into one place, making fitness as easy to tap into as a playlist. Both free and Premium users will have access to curated workout playlists and sessions led by creators like Chloe Ting and Kassandra Reinhardt, as well as brands like Sweaty Studio and Pilates Body By Raven.
Credit: SpotifyThe bigger swing, though, comes from Spotify's partnership with Peloton. Premium subscribers in select markets can now access more than 1,400 on-demand classes — spanning strength, cardio, yoga, and meditation — without leaving the app. Instead of building everything from scratch, Spotify is folding an established fitness brand into its own, just as it previously expanded into podcasts and audiobooks.
This isn't happening in a vacuum. Spotify says nearly 70 percent of its Premium users already work out monthly, and there are more than 150 million fitness playlists on the platform globally. In other words, users have been treating Spotify like a workout companion for years, and the company is just formalizing that behavior into a product.
Still, the move raises a familiar question: How far can one app stretch before everything starts to feel the same?
SEE ALSO: I tested the top fitness trackers for running a marathon (by running the NYC marathon)Spotify's framing leans heavily on intentional time spent, positioning workouts alongside music, video podcasts, and audiobooks as part of a broader lifestyle ecosystem. But when your run, your meditation, and your daily listening habits all live in the same interface, the line between utility and content blurs. At this point, Spotify isn't just a listening app; it's your gym, your music library, and your bookstore.
It's not a phenomenon that's unique to Spotify. Platforms across the internet — from ChatGPT to X to Instagram and TikTok — have all made moves to centralize more of users' digital lives in one place. Messaging becomes commerce, entertainment becomes productivity, and increasingly, everything becomes content.
For now, the feature is easy to find: Search "fitness" in the app to open the new hub, where playlists like "Quick Core Workouts" and "Kickstart Your Run" sit alongside full guided sessions.
Whether users stick around for a full class or just hit play on another playlist will determine if this is a natural evolution or just another tab in an increasingly crowded app.
Skincare tech can be a wonderfully luxurious addition to your routine, but part of that luxury tends to be a high price point, especially if you want tech that's going to actually work.
An easy fix? Grabbing that tech on sale, and as of April 27, Therabody's entire TheraFace line is on sale at Amazon, Best Buy , and the Therabody website. Whether you're in the market for an LED light mask, depuffing wand, or LED light wand and massager, TheraFace has a product on sale. (Plus, Mother's Day is coming up, just saying).
SEE ALSO: TheraFace PRO is the ultimate 'it girl' skincare toolCheck out all the available deals below, along with our favorite of the bunch:
Best TheraFace deal Opens in a new window Credit: TheraFace TheraFace Mask Glo $329.99 at AmazonRed light masks can be genuinely effective on your skin, but they do come with a high price of admission. That's why we were thrilled to see TheraFace launch their Mask Glo last October, offering a (slightly) more affordable alternative to their original mask. Unlike other red light masks on the option, Therabody's design doesn't come with any nose or mouth openings, giving this mask a fuller coverage area. Though it's the cheaper model of the two TheraFace masks, it still features 504 LED lights with red, blue, and infrared light. It's also cordless, and comes with a vibrating head strap for a gentle scalp massage.
More TheraFace dealsTheraFace Depuffing Wand — $129.99 $169.99 (save $40)
TheraFace Pro — $319.99 $419.99 (save $100)
TheraFace Mask — $599.99 $649.99 (save $50)
SAVE 23%: As of April 27, you can get the 16-inch Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro 360 Copilot+ Business PC (Intel Core Ultra 7 Processor 258V, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD) for $1,549.99 at Amazon, down from $1,999.99. That's a 23% discount or $450 savings.
16-inch Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro 360 Copilot+ Business PC (Intel Core Ultra 7 Processor 258V, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $1,549.99 at AmazonMy laptop has to be fast and capable. With thousands of tabs open, multiple CMSs for design projects, and more, it's just got to be good. If your current work computer takes forever to load basic applications or feels like a brick in your backpack, it's definitely time to upgrade.
SEE ALSO: The best laptop backpacks for commuting and travelAs of April 27, you can get the 16-inch Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro 360 Copilot+ Business PC (Intel Core Ultra 7 Processor 258V, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD) for $1,549.99 at Amazon, down from $1,999.99. That's a 23% discount or $450 savings. This is also the lowest price we've seen it go for since its launch.
This laptop was made for doers on the go: it's super lightweight (just 3.72 pounds) and incredibly thin, which is pretty great for a 16-inch laptop. It’s also a 2-in-1, so you can flip the touchscreen around and use the included S Pen for quick sketches or notes. You'll also get built-in Copilot+ AI tools so you can use features like Transcript Assist to automatically summarize your recorded meetings.
SAVE $850: The Eufy E15 robot lawn mower is on sale at Amazon for $949.99, down from the list price of $1,799.99. That's a 50% discount and the lowest price we've seen at Amazon.
Opens in a new window Credit: Eufy Eufy E15 robot lawn mower $949.99 at AmazonYou might already have a robot at home. Plenty of us rely on robot vacuums and mops to make sure our floors stay clean with minimal effort from us. But now that spring is here, there's more underfoot area to maintain — the lawn. If you're looking to offload the lawn-mowing task to a robot, check out this deal.
As of April 27, the Eufy E15 robot lawn mower is on sale at Amazon for $949.99, marked down from the list price of $1,799.99 at Eufy. That's a 50% discount that shaves a massive $850 off. It's also the lowest price we've seen at Amazon.
The Eufy E15 robot lawn mower operates in a similar fashion as the robot vacuums we know. It creates a map of the mowing area, charges up on a dock, and sets off to cut the grass when it's told. From the Eufy app, you'll be able to set a schedule, indicate the desired cutting height, and travel speed.
One of the major benefits of the Eufy E15 robot lawn mower over a traditional gas-powered mower is its quiet operation. Eufy says this model will only reach 56 decibels. Eufy also mentions that a gentle daily trim ensures the lawn cuttings don't leave a huge mess.
SEE ALSO: Regularly $3,699, the Jackery HomePower 3600 Plus is over $1,500 off at Amazon (if you act fast)Also like the robot vacuum, the vacuum lawn mower is designed to detect and avoid obstacles. It won't attempt to run over the flower beds, vegetable garden, the hose, or push around the soccer ball. The Eufy E15 is capable of handling slopes up to 18 degrees, and it has a built-in anti-theft system.
Should the rain appear while the robot is out mowing, it'll automatically head back home. It's also set to head back should low-light conditions set in. In total, the E15 is recommended for yards of up to 0.2 acres or 100 square meters of mowing area.
Before the grass gets out of hand this spring, enlist the help of the Eufy E15 robot lawn mower. It'll save you time, mess, and stress this summer when dealing with yard care.
A number of iPhone 17 and iPhone Air users are reporting a frustrating bug where their phones refuse to turn back on after the battery fully drains. Even after being plugged back in to charge.
The issue has bubbled up across Reddit and other online forums over the past several months, with users describing a nearly identical experience. Phone dies. Gets plugged in. Nothing happens. No charging indicator. No Apple logo. Just a black screen that refuses to cooperate.
9to5Mac's Benjamin Mayo reported experiencing the problem firsthand with his iPhone Air, writing that after his phone died at 11 p.m. and he plugged it back in within seconds, minutes passed with no response, the phone wouldn't turn on, wouldn't show up in Finder when connected to a Mac, and didn't respond to force restarts or multiple USB-C cables.
SEE ALSO: I tested iPhone 17 Pro Max vs Galaxy S26 Ultra camerasThe bug appears to affect the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone Air lines, though it isn't universal. Not every user experiences it, and it doesn't necessarily happen every time a phone's battery hits zero. For some users, it's happened only once; for others, repeatedly.
The leading workaround, crowdsourced from Reddit threads and confirmed by multiple users, including Mayo, is to skip the cable entirely and reach for a MagSafe or wireless charger instead. Leave it on the pad for around 10 to 15 minutes, and the phone should eventually boot back up.
From there, wired charging works normally again. Apple Store technicians, per user reports, have been defaulting to the same fix. One top commenter on Mayo's piece offered a technical explanation: the battery firmware requires a minimum voltage threshold before it can support a reboot, and a fully drained battery may need a few minutes of charge to clear that bar — with wireless charging being more reliable at delivering it in this state.
For users without a wireless charger on hand, some users have reported success with higher-wattage chargers — a 61W MacBook adapter or a 65W third-party USB-C brick — after standard 5W phone chargers failed. Others say they had to wait hours before a wired charger eventually kicked in on its own.
The core frustration, beyond the inconvenience, is the uncertainty. As Mayo put it, what happens if your phone dies while you're out and need navigation? Not everyone carries a MagSafe puck in their pocket.
For now, the move is simple: if your iPhone 17 or Air won't turn back on after dying, put it on a wireless charger and give it at least 15 minutes before you panic.
Want to learn more about getting the best out of your tech? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories and Deals newsletters today.
AI data centers across the pond could emit nearly one million more tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere than previously estimated, according to newly inflated numbers released by the UK's governing body.
SEE ALSO: An OpenAI-linked news outlet appears to be entirely AI-generatedFirst spotted by Politico, UK officials quietly revised an initial range of estimates included in the country's "Compute Roadmap," a policy document outlining the UK's plan to scale its AI infrastructure and build a "world-class compute ecosystem." Previous versions of the document suggested the amount of energy used under current AI data center plans would result in a peak of 0.142 million metric tons (or 142,000 metric tons) of carbon emissions between 2025-2035.
But 2025's numbers, and the country's AI goals, appear to have altered that projection, with the document now listing the top value at 123 million metric tons. That's 100 times more than before, the Guardian reported, and is equivalent to the emissions typically generated by 2.7 million people.
Chi Onwurah, parliament member and chair of the body's science, innovation and technology committee, told Politico that the new numbers were concerning, demanding more transparency from UK leaders about the environmental impact of its AI plans. Multiple parliamentary groups are investigating AI's energy demands and fossil fuel consumption, as the country has pledged to reach net zero emissions by 2050.
Increased energy use by AI data centers in the U.S. have also led to a rise in global emissions, according to recent environmental reports. Domestically, U.S. greenhouse gas emissions went up for the first time in two years following a steady decline.
Concerns over the environmental impact of mass generative AI adoption aren't slowing down. Coalitions of environmental advocacy groups have called for federal moratoriums on data center builds. Communities nationwide have been fighting against local billion-dollar data center projects, even proposing state-level bans. Meanwhile, Big Tech's leaders and major AI investors have attempted to assuage climate concerns with promises to reduce and recycle water, use natural gas as an energy source, and offset energy costs.
Save $149.01: Amazon has the M5 Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) nearly down to its lowest price ever as of April 27. At $949.99, this 14% discount puts it just 99 cents away from the record low of $949, and a good deal cheaper than the $1,099 list price.
Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M5, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $949.99 at AmazonThe MacBook Neo is an incredibly affordable MacBook, but its not necessarily the absolute best value for everyone, especially when a good deal strikes elsewhere.
Mashable's laptop expert Haley Henschel determined the M5 MacBook Air to be a better value, and as of April 27, it's getting the deal treatment at Amazon. Specifically, you can grab the 13-inch M5 MacBook Air with 16GB of RAM and 256GB of SSD for $949.99, putting it nearly back down to its record low price of $949 even. All told, that's $149.01 cheaper than its list price. And the deal is available in all four colorways.
SEE ALSO: We've tested over 30 laptops in the past year. Here are the 12 best for 2026.So what makes the M5 Air such a great value? For starters, Apple bumped the starting storage to 512GB over the 256GB of the M4 Air. Yes, they also bumped up the price of the M5 Air by $100, but its still $100 cheaper than the M4 model with the same amount of storage, actually making the newer model a better value. While Mashable tested the 15-inch version, but Henschel still recommends the 13-inch model as a slightly cheaper, more portable option, with the main trade off being two less speakers and GPU cores.
For most everyday tasks, the M5 chip is more than capable to power you through. Only folks who are doing video editing on the daily might appreciate the fans of the Pro over the fanless Air. The Air also comes equipped with a nice 12MP webcam, and true to its name, plenty of portability. The 60Hz refresh rate is its major con, but if that doesn't bother you too much, this an excellent option for a new MacBook — and is much more futureproof than the cheaper Neo.
The Upside Down has infiltrated McDonald's.
To celebrate the release of the animated series Stranger Things: Tales from '85, Netflix teamed up with McDonald's to create a themed Happy Meal. Here's what's in it, and when you can get it.
SEE ALSO: 'Stranger Things: Tales From '85' review: This baffling prequel won't cure the Season 5 hatred What's in the Stranger Things Happy Meal?The Stranger Things: Tales from '85 Happy Meal includes several pieces of Stranger Things swag. Each meal comes with a custom Happy Meal box covered in artwork of the mutating Upside Down vines that wreak havoc in the series. Inside, fans will find a Stranger Things activity book and one of 12 collectible character toys. Promotional art for the collaboration reveals six of the toys: Stranger Things mainstays Lucas, Mike, Eleven, Dustin, Max, and Will. The other six options haven't been released yet, although they could range from Tales from '85 newcomer Nikki Baxter to figurines of the monsters the squad faces.
Credit: NetflixThe Happy Meal also comes with a QR code that unlocks a game that brings fans into the fight to save the town of Hawkins, Indiana. Through this digital experience, they can help protect the town and McDonald's from a new horde of Upside Down monsters.
When can you get the Stranger Things Happy Meal?The Stranger Things: Tales from '85 Happy Meal is rolling out globally starting Apr. 28 in Canada, Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Colombia, Panama, Peru, and Slovenia.
The Happy Meal hits the United States on May 5, and is available for a limited time while supplies last. For a full list of rollout dates and participating countries, visit the Netflix website.
Stranger Things: Tales From '85 is now streaming on Netflix.
SAVE 44%: As of April 27, you can get the 27-inch LG Ultragear OLED gaming monitor (27GS93QE) for $499.99 at Amazon, down from $899.99. That's a 44% discount, or $400 in savings.
27-inch LG Ultragear OLED gaming monitor (27GS93QE) $499.99 at AmazonThere's a pretty noticeable difference between playing a fast-paced game like Valorant or Apex Legends on a standard 60Hz screen versus a 240Hz display. If your current monitor is lagging behind your reflexes, it's definitely time for an upgrade — especially since one of LG's top-tier OLED displays just hit a record-low price.
SEE ALSO: The best gaming laptops of 2026: Check out our top picksAs of April 27, you can get the 27-inch LG Ultragear OLED gaming monitor (27GS93QE) for $499.99 at Amazon, down from $899.99. That's a 44% discount, or $400 in savings. It's also the lowest price we've seen this model go for.
This monitor features a 240Hz refresh rate and a nearly instantaneous 0.03ms response time. Plus, it's officially validated for NVIDIA G-Sync and equipped with AMD FreeSync Premium Pro to keep the action smooth and tear-free.
You'll also get vibrant, rich colors with up to 98.5 percent coverage of the DCI-P3 color spectrum, deep blacks thanks to the VESA DisplayHDR True Black 400 certification, and an anti-glare screen.
SAVE $700: The 75-inch Hisense U7 ULED 4K TV is on sale at Amazon for $1,299.99, down from the list price of $1,999.99. That's a 35% discount and the lowest price we've ever spotted at Amazon.
Opens in a new window Credit: Hisense 75-inch Hisense U7 ULED 4K TV (75USSG, 2026 model) $1,299.99 at AmazonFew appliances in our homes get as much use as the TV. They're also among the top contenders for bringing us the most joy. The TV is a clear winner over the microwave, for example. Because of its importance, you deserve something grand with a high-quality display. If your current TV is not up to par, check out this deal.
As of April 27, 75-inch Hisense U7 ULED 4K TV is on sale at Amazon for $1,299.99, down from the list price of $1,999.99. That's a 35% discount and the lowest price we've ever spotted at Amazon.
The 2026 model of the Hisense U7 Mini-LED UHD does not mess around with stats. For one, it comes with a 165Hz native refresh rate which means it's up for gaming. Consider what gaming on a 75-inch TV will do for morale over summer break. In addition, it has an anti-reflection and glare-free display which means it'll do better when viewing during bright summer afternoons.
SEE ALSO: Stop squinting and snag this 34-inch Alienware curved gaming monitor while it's under $300Hisense announced this new, upgraded TV at CES in January. The brand went with a unibody slim design for a modern look. The display gets up to 3,000 nits of peak brightness, and Hisense says this model offers 30% more color compared to an ordinary LED TV. It achieves this thanks to Hi-QLED color.
The Hisense 75-inch 75USSG model comes with Google TV built in so you won't need a separate streaming dongle. Instead, you'll have Google TV already equipped to keep your favorite streaming apps neatly in order.
Before this sale price vanishes, upgrade to the 75-inch Hisense U7 ULED 4K TV while it's $700 off at Amazon. It's the latest model and 75 inches should be excellent for a larger living room or ultimate gaming setup.
The House of the Dragon Season 3 teaser may be full of fire, but watching it still gave me chills.
I can't pinpoint what, exactly, triggered the goosebumps. Was it the shots of the long-teased Battle of the Gullet? The return of House Stark, who made a brief cameo in the Season 2 premiere? Or maybe it was Vhagar landing in Harrenhal? (Fire and Blood readers, if you know, you know.)
SEE ALSO: 'House of the Dragon' Season 3 teaser gives fiery glimpse of the Battle of the GulletEither way, the teaser sets a fiery stage for what's to come in Season 3. Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D'Arcy) continues her fight for the Iron Throne, with the help of allies like her uncle-husband Daemon (Matt Smith) and Sea Snake Corlys Velaryon (Steve Toussaint). Meanwhile, her half-brother and Prince Regent Aemond (Ewan Mitchell) holds King's Landing. His brother, King Aegon II (Tom Glynn-Carney), has fled the Red Keep following Aemond's murder attempt, and he now seeks revenge.
Throughout all this Targaryen in-fighting, Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke) hopes to appeal to Rhaenyra following her offer of a truce in the Season 2 finale. Will these old friends turned foes find a way to put a stop to the war for good? Or will all of Westeros burn?
Based on the teaser, which is brimming with flames, draconic destruction, and every Targaryen and their mother letting out anguished cries, the latter option seems more likely at this point. For a smidgen of comfort amidst this civil war, might I suggest whistling along to the Knight of the Seven Kingdoms soundtrack? It's as close to Westerosi comfort as we'll get for the next few months.
House of the Dragon premieres June 21 at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max.
Samsung's newest foldable is feeling more and more real as time goes on.
No, not the Galaxy Z TriFold, which launched and was then discontinued so fast that it feels like it never happened at all. I'm talking about the new "Wide" foldable that's rumored to launch this summer alongside the follow-ups to last year's Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Galaxy Z Flip 7 phones.
Leaker Sonny Dickson took to X (via 9to5google) to post some alleged dummy models of Samsung's foldable lineup for this summer, which includes both the Fold 8 and Flip 8, as well as the new Wide phone.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. SEE ALSO: Samsung is selling refurbished Galaxy Z Fold 7 phones for more than new onesIn the photos, you can clearly see a device with a significantly different form factor from the other two currently existing phones. The Fold 8 and Flip 8 models look pretty similar to last year, but the Wide one is more squat and, well, wide when unfolded, making it almost reminiscent of Google's first Pixel Fold. Its inner display is said to have a 4:3 aspect ratio, making it distinct from other available foldables right now.
I say "right now" because many people expect the Samsung Wide model to compete with the heavily rumored iPhone Fold, said to launch later this year. Apple's long-gestating foldable is thought to be shorter and wider than something like a Z Fold 7, so it's possible and perhaps even likely that Samsung wants to pre-empt that device with one of its own. A recent leak suggested Samsung's next batch of foldables will be announced in July, so we don't have to wait long to find out, at any rate.
SAVE $35: The Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition (32GB) is on sale for $164.99 at Amazon, down from the standard price of $199.99. That's an 18% discount and it comes with three months of free access to Kindle Unlimited.
Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition (32GB) $164.99 at AmazonWe're in a mellow time in terms of sales. The next major event will happen over Memorial Day weekend and the next big Amazon sale is Prime Day in either June or July. It's not often we see discount on Amazon's own devices outside of major sale times, but we're all in for a little treat today.
As of April 27, the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition (32GB) is on sale for $164.99 at Amazon, marked down from the list price of $199.99. That's an 18% discount that shaves $35 off the normal price.
Over the years, Amazon has expanded its lineup of Kindle e-readers, but the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition remains Mashable's favorite for those who read often. It comes with a handful of upgrades that frequent readers will find well worth the added price.
For starters, it's Amazon's fastest Paperwhite and it comes with an auto-adjusting front light. It also comes with 32GB of storage which is double what the largest standard Kindle Paperwhite offers. Mashable Shopping Reporter Samantha Mangino's in-depth review of the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition mentions its wireless charging is also a big step up, as is the excellent battery life.
SEE ALSO: The Kindle Paperwhite has dropped to its best price in 2026 — act fast to save $25"With a 7-inch screen, the SE got a slight size increase, while the resolution of 300 ppi and maximum brightness of 94 nits remain the same between generations," explained Mangino. "That being said, the display on this generation looks higher contrast, making it sharper and easier to read. Plus, it remains waterproof, perfect for taking along to the bathtub, beach, or pool."
The Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition is also an ad-free experience and as a bonus, Amazon is tossing in three months of access to Kindle Unlimited for free. The service gives readers access to over five million e-books which ordinarily comes with a price of $11.99 per month.
With summer vacation coming up quickly, make sure you have an e-reader that'll help you get through that reading list. Snag the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition (32GB) while it's on sale at a rare discount that'll save you $35. Happy reading!
SAVE 17%: As of April 27, you can get the 34-inch Alienware 34 curved gaming monitor for $289.99 at Amazon, down from $349.99. That's a 17% discount or $60 savings.
34-inch Alienware 34 curved gaming monitor $289.99 at AmazonIf you're upgrading your PC gaming setup, it pays to do a little research. To get the most out of visually rich games like Cyberpunk 2077 or Elden Ring, you'll want a monitor that makes you feel immersed (i.e., a curved ultrawide screen), has a fast refresh rate so nothing blurs, and doesn't cost a total fortune.
SEE ALSO: The best gaming laptops of 2026: Check out our top picksRight now, you can get all of those features at Amazon for under $300. As of April 27, the Alienware 34-inch curved gaming monitor is on sale for $289.99, down from $349.99. That's a 17% discount or $60 savings. It's also just $20 more than its all-time low price.
This monitor has a 34-inch ultrawide display with a 1500R curve, which basically wraps the game around you so you don't miss any details. It also features a 180Hz refresh rate and a 1ms response time. It even comes with a matte screen to reduce glare and hardware-based low blue light tech to save your eyes during those longer marathon sessions.
Not long ago, creating a solid presentation, a clean infographic, or a sharp data visualization meant you either knew your way around design software or you paid someone who did. That has changed, though. There's now a slew of AI-powered tools that let pretty much anyone put together professional-looking visuals and interactive graphics in minutes.
Obviously, these tools are still rolling out, but there's a range of options out there you can play with right now. Here's a guide to some of the best visual AI tools.
Why would you want to use visual AI tools?The goal of visual AI tools is largely to help you with the technical side of things, so you can focus on the vision for how they should look — and describe that vision in natural language.
In terms of what people actually use them for, a few areas stand out. Turning raw data or statistics into infographics is a big one — instead of manually placing numbers, icons, and text blocks yourself, you feed a tool your data and get back something structured and visual. Flowcharts and process diagrams are another great way to use these tools, particularly when you're mapping out a complicated workflow and really don't want to spend an hour dragging connector lines around.
The biggest time-saver might be building full presentations from raw text. You can take a rough outline or a messy block of notes and end up with a multi-slide deck in only a few minutes. Beyond that, these tools handle tasks such as creating custom background graphics, generating data visualizations and charts, and even creating video content for courses. Even something straightforward, like adding visual elements to documents to improve engagement and accessibility, gets a lot faster when AI is making layout and styling decisions.
None of this means the tools nail everything, but when it comes to speed and ease of use, they can be pretty helpful.
Design and presentation platformsWhen you need to build presentations, diagrams, or infographics without staring at a blank canvas, there are a handful of consumer-friendly platforms with AI features that handle most of the heavy lifting. You'll also find AI tools in familiar software suites. If you're working in Word or PowerPoint, take advantage of Microsoft Copilot. If you prefer the Google Workspace suite, Gemini can quickly generate slides, charts, graphs, and more.
Gemini can analyze and visualize data for you. Credit: Google Use Gemini to turn Google Sheets data into charts and graphs. Credit: GoogleCanva is another widely used tool in this space. It used to be a more manual visual builder, but over the past few years, it has developed its Magic Studio suite, which can generate full presentations from a single text prompt. All you have to do is describe what your presentation is about, and Canva puts together a structured deck that you can then tweak to your liking. There's also Magic Write, which taps into a large language model to expand, refine, and summarize written content. For people who've never opened design software in their lives, the fact that Canva handles both the visual layout and the writing makes it one of the most complete options out there.
FigJam AI, which lives within the Figma ecosystem, offers a slightly different angle. It's especially good at automated diagram generation. You give it text inputs, and it converts them into flowcharts, mind maps, organizational diagrams, and so on. FigJam can automatically reorganize and categorize content, too — you can just dump a pile of unstructured ideas into it, and it'll sort them into logical groupings with visual structure. That's useful when you're trying to make sense of complex information before turning it into a formal presentation.
Venngage is more specialized, zeroing in on infographics and visual content designed specifically for educational materials. If you're a teacher looking to convert lesson plans or data sets into visually engaging handouts, Venngage was built with exactly that workflow in mind.
Custom image and graphics generationBy now, most major AI services have image generation baked in somewhere. Anthropic is one of the few exceptions, but the AI company just rolled out a new design tool specifically to help make charts, graphs, and documents. So, no matter which AI chatbot you prefer, it can probably help you with your next presentation.
If you prefer working in ChatGPT, the popular AI chatbot excels at image generation and data visualization. You can even create custom, interactive visualizations that demonstrate a particular scientific principle or data set.
There are also a number of AI image generator models that are used in professional tools. These include the likes of Midjourney, which launched in 2022 and quickly built a reputation for producing highly detailed, aesthetically impressive images from text prompts. Adobe Firefly is Adobe's consumer-facing take on generative visuals, and its big advantage is tight integration with Adobe's broader creative suite. Stable Diffusion takes the open-source route, which appeals to more technical users who want deeper control over how generation works or who'd prefer not to depend on a subscription service.
Practically speaking, these tools all let you do similar things. The quality gap between AI-generated images and traditional stock photography has closed a lot, though it hasn't vanished completely — AI images still occasionally produce weird artifacts or inconsistencies that a trained eye will spot.
SEE ALSO: ChatGPT can now generate visuals for math and science lessons Video and animation toolsVideo production has always been one of the most time-consuming and expensive forms of content creation. AI is starting to shift that, especially for educational and training content.
Synthesia is the standout consumer-facing tool here. It generates realistic, animated videos and voiceovers entirely from text. You write a script, pick an AI-generated presenter (or build a custom one), and the platform produces a video that looks surprisingly close to a traditional talking-head setup. What's also nice is how easy it makes updating content; if you need to change a line in your script or update a statistic, you just regenerate the video instead of reshooting the whole thing.
This is particularly valuable for creating course materials and educational content when you don't have the luxury of traditional production timelines. Think about an online course creator who needs 30 lesson videos, or a company rolling out training materials across multiple languages. That said, while the tech has gotten dramatically better, AI-generated presenters still often land in uncanny valley territory. The movements and expressions can feel off, which may affect how viewers receive the content. For a lot of use cases, the speed and cost trade-off is worth it, but it's not a perfect stand-in for a real person on camera in every situation.
Don't forget to check your workBefore you go all-in on AI-generated visuals, there are a few practical realities worth considering. Quality and accuracy concerns are probably at the top of the list. AI-generated images can contain errors, inconsistencies, or visual representations that are misleading. You will need to verify that charts, graphs, and infographics accurately represent the information they're supposed to convey. On top of that, generated designs can come across as generic or cookie-cutter if you don't put time into customizing the output.
There's also a learning curve that's easy to underestimate. These tools get marketed as effortless, but using them well still requires knowing how to write good prompts and having at least a basic understanding of design principles. Of course, the cost of these tools also matters. Plenty of platforms have free tiers, but those tend to come with limitations. Getting to the premium features usually means a subscription or usage-based pricing, and those costs stack up fast if you're bouncing between multiple tools across different categories. Educational or enterprise discounts sometimes exist, but they're not always easy to find.
And finally, you will want to disclose that you used AI. There's a growing expectation around being upfront when visuals are AI-generated. Using fully AI-produced graphics in educational or professional settings without acknowledging it raises ethical questions about transparency. As norms and rules in this space continue to take shape, leaning toward disclosure is generally both the safer and more responsible call.