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You can buy lifetime cloud storage at an all-time low price with our discount code

Mashable - 5 hours 4 min ago

TL;DR: Use our code KOOFR at checkout and get a 1TB cloud storage lifetime subscription from Koofr for £103.14 (reg. £642.81) through 23 February.

Opens in a new window Credit: Koofr Koofr Cloud Storage: Lifetime Subscription (1TB) £103.14 at Mashable Shop
£642.81 Save £539.67 Use code 'KOOFR' Get Deal

Having cloud storage shouldn’t make you feel like you’re Bill Murray in Groundhog Day, with subscription fees charging you over and over, for years or even decades. There’s a new way to protect your files that pays for itself — if you’re willing to spend a little more upfront.

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StackSocial prices subject to change.

NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for February 15, 2025

Mashable - Fri, 02/14/2025 - 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.

Tweet may have been deleted

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.

Tweet may have been deleted

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 February 15 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: To reveal a secret

  • Green: Found on an Apple computer

  • Blue: Terms often abbreviated in music styles

  • Purple: Words that commonly come before "cake" in food names

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: Divulge

  • Green: Words on a Mac Keyboard

  • Blue: Words Shortened in Rock Genres

  • Purple: ___Cake

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 #615 is...

What is the answer to Connections today
  • Divulge: BLAB, DISH, SPILL, TELL

  • Words on a Mac Keyboard: COMMAND, CONTROL, OPTION, RETURN

  • Words Shortened in Rock Genres: ALTERNATIVE, EMOTIONAL, POPULAR, PROGRESSIVE

  • ___Cake: CHEESE, CUP, PAN, SHORT

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 February 15

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 February 15, 2025

Mashable - Fri, 02/14/2025 - 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: 8NYT Connections today: Hints and answers for February 15 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 February 15, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

A bend in a road, or someone dishonest.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter O appears twice.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter C.

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...

CROOK.

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 February 15

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.

NYT Strands hints, answers for February 15

Mashable - Fri, 02/14/2025 - 21:56

If you're reading this, you're looking for a little help playing Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game.

Strands requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There's always a theme linking every solution, along with the "spangram," a special, word or phrase that sums up that day's theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.

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

By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.

If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for February 15 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for February 15 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Will you be my Valentine?

These words are related to goal-oriented groups.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

The words are names.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is vertical.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is HockeyTeam.

Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for February 15
  • Sharks

  • Jets

  • Devils

  • HockeyTeam

  • Avalanche

  • Lightning

  • Wild

Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, and 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 Strands.

NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for February 15

Mashable - Fri, 02/14/2025 - 21:49

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.

Tweet may have been deleted

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.

Tweet may have been deleted

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: Block

  • Green: THPS

  • Blue: High-flying jams

  • Purple: Same second word

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: Try to stop a basketball shot

  • Green: Skateboarding tricks

  • Blue: Two-time NBA Dunk Contest Winners

  • Purple: ___ Line

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 #144 is...

What is the answer to Connections Sports Edition today
  • Try to stop a basketball shot - CHALLENGE, CLOSE OUT, CONTEST, DEFEND

  • Skateboarding tricks - KICKFLIP, MANUAL, MCTWIST, OLLIE

  • Two-time NBA Dunk Contest Winners - LAVINE, MCCLUNG, MINER, RICHARDSON

  • ____ Line - 3-POINT, BLUE, GOAL, MENDOZA

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.

Prominent Cryptocurrency Investor Faces Senate Tax Inquiry

NYT Technology - Fri, 02/14/2025 - 21:02
The Finance Committee’s top Democrat sent a letter last month to Dan Morehead, the founder of Pantera Capital, about the investigation.

With Trump’s Help, Intel Could Hand Control of Chip Plants to TSMC

NYT Technology - Fri, 02/14/2025 - 20:34
The Silicon Valley giant is trying to cut a deal it hopes would help it pull out of a yearslong slump.

iOS 18.4 beta: 5 cool iPhone features that may be coming soon

Mashable - Fri, 02/14/2025 - 17:04

Apple is set to launch a few new products next week. What are they? Well, no one knows for sure. There have been rumors of a new iPhone SE or perhaps something new for the Apple Vision Pro line. 

But we do know of one of Apple's anticipated releases: iOS 18.4 beta, which, according to Bloomberg's Apple insider Mark Gurman, is set to roll out next week.

iOS 18.4 beta is set to bring the iPhone some new features and capabilities. Here are some of the cool things that iPhone users can expect.

New Emojis

Listen, this isn't the most innovative thing coming to the new iOS beta, but let's be honest: It's what users will be utilizing the most.

Credit: Unicode Consortium

Seriously, look at this "tired face with bags under its eyes" emoji. It's very likely you'll be seeing this one everywhere in your late-night iMessage group chats. There's also a harp, shovel, beet-like rootless vegetable, purple ink splatter, and a barren leafless tree that's expected to be on the way, too.

Apple usually includes the newest emojis approved by the Unicode Consortium in its latest iOS releases, so you'll likely see these added, too.

Apple Intelligence: Siri gets smarter

Siri is poised to get an Apple Intelligence upgrade, according to Bloomberg's Gurman.

And that upgrade could very well be coming in the iOS 18.4 beta.

Apple first announced its own set of AI features, Apple Intelligence, last June. Apple was already late to the AI space with the announcement. But, even then, the company took months to officially start rolling them out. On top of all that, quite a few of those Apple Intelligence features still haven't been released more than 8 months later.

SEE ALSO: iOS 18.3 is here. 3 major changes to know

On top of that list of upcoming AI features: A smarter, Apple Intelligence-powered Siri voice assistant.

Some of these Siri features include personal context or the ability for the voice assistant to utilize your own data to answer your questions and queries. Siri could also get an on-screen awareness capability, which would allow Siri to interact based on what you're already doing on your device. Apple also previously said that Siri will have a "richer language understanding, more natural communication" and the "ability to take action in and across apps."

Apple Intelligence: Better news summaries

Here's one feature that was taken away that we're expected to get back: News summaries.

Apple Intelligence was originally launched with a feature that generated news summaries via iPhone notifications. There was one problem, though. AI can often get these types of summaries wrong, and when we're talking about breaking news and current events, getting those summaries wrong could be dangerous.

After pushing out a few blatantly false AI-generated news summaries that went viral, Apple pulled the features for the News & Entertainment category of news and added a warning that the feature "may contain errors" in the settings sections for other news categories.

Apple said the AI news summaries that were disabled would return after the company made improvements. It seems likely that Apple will reintroduce the feature in the iOS 18.4 beta.

Default Map and Translation app

As MacRumors reports, Apple has been required by the EU's Digital Markets Act to allow users to set their own default Map and Translation app instead of using the default one provided by Apple.

Based on the timeline for rolling this out, it seems likely that those settings changes will be coming in the iOS 18.4 beta. Yes, Apple is only required to do this in the EU, and other DMA-required features haven't all rolled out in the U.S. But this one seems like a feature that Apple will bring to all of its users.

Home app updates

Apple's expected robot vacuum support was nowhere to be found in the Home app for the last iOS release. Well, to be clear, as MacRumors points out, it was found somewhere: Hidden in iOS 18.3's code. Yet, the feature didn't go live with iOS 18.3's launch.

Apple still mentions the feature on its website, which allows users to control their robot vacuum cleaner functions and monitor its status. Did Apple still need some more time to fine-tune robot vacuum support in the Home app? There's a good chance you'll be able to finally use Siri to control your robot vacuum very soon, possibly in the upcoming iOS 18.4 beta.

OpenAI Rejects Elon Musk’s Bid to Gain Control of the Company

NYT Technology - Fri, 02/14/2025 - 16:31
Bret Taylor, the chairman of OpenAI’s board, said the artificial intelligence company was “not for sale.” Mr. Musk and other investors had offered $97.4 billion earlier this week.

No, Libs of TikTok, Planned Parenthoods Instagram wasnt hacked

Mashable - Fri, 02/14/2025 - 16:08

Planned Parenthood's official Instagram account went dark on Feb. 13, removing all of its posts and uploading a cryptic Instagram story complete with suspicious eyeball emojis and an "I bet you thought you'd seen the last of me" meme.

Reproductive justice advocates and some of the health organization's major opponents, like extremist hate-peddler Libs of TikTok, quickly jumped to the idea of a possible hack, amid growing concern that major social media platforms are censoring abortion and reproductive justice accounts. Patients and users expressed worry online that the vital resources routinely posted and archived on Planned Parenthood were lost. Conservative commentators suggested the account was shutting its doors as it bowed down to the far right campaign to defund the vital clinic network.

But, the organization confirmed to Mashable that the page wasn't the latest victim of a cybersecurity breach — just a cheeky attempt to "break the internet" in the name of safe, consensual sex.

SEE ALSO: Bookmark these abortion resources now

"Planned Parenthood Federation of America’s Instagram went dark temporarily as we prepared to mark National Condom Week, February 14-21. Organizations and brands sometimes do this to promote something new — it’s a normal thing you’ve seen if you’ve spent any time on Beyoncé’s internet, but it sent some known opponents of Planned Parenthood’s mission spiraling," Planned Parenthood clarified in a statement to Mashable. "As the foremost sexual and reproductive health care provider in the country, Planned Parenthood will never stop working to help people get the information and care — and condoms — they need to have safe and healthy relationships. "

The Instagram page now sports two new posts: A set of tongue-in-cheek Valentine's Day cards and a guide to "flirty ways" to ask your partner to wear a condom. National Condom Week, celebrated from Feb. 14-21, is a national public service campaign encouraging safe sex and the prevention of sexually transmitted infections. "This National Condom Week, Planned Parenthood is celebrating the power of condoms in making sex safer and more fun. Condoms not only protect against STIs and unintended pregnancies, but also help remove stress or worry, allowing you to relax and focus on the fun part," said Julia Bennett, senior director of Digital Education & Learning Strategy at the Planned Parenthood Federation of America.

The organization has confirmed that the page's previous posts will be restored following National Condom Week's close.

TikToks My Emergency Contact trend, explained

Mashable - Fri, 02/14/2025 - 13:14

TikTok is poking fun at the idea of who we choose to be our emergency contacts.

A popular new trend involves folks showing their emergency contact — typically a partner — doing something silly, odd, or even reckless. The joke is basically: Can you believe this person is in charge during an emergency? Can you square the idea that the person doing this is going to get the phone call when something goes wrong for me?

It's mostly a cute trend, with folks showing their loved ones' weird sides, set to the Hannah Montana song "Ordinary Girl." Typically speaking, the posts involve men doing something odd or ill-conceived, but it's presented in a playful manner. These sorts of posts are going super viral online at the moment, racking up millions of views.

For instance, there's this guy shoving his head into the snow.

Or here's Detroit Lion Amon-Ra St. Brown mostly being goofy.

Here's Basement Yard podcaster Joe Santagato.

And, this guy just being a dude.

Some folks noted they switched out their mom as their emergency contact for...someone who is not quite their mom.

Or there's Will Ferrell being Will Ferrell. Imagine having Will Ferrell as your emergency contact.

Will Ferrell's kid aside, this TikTok trend rests on the idea that, at some point, you become the adult. So many people feel like they are perennially the child, or the young person, or the person who's not responsible. And yet, there you are, relying on some goofball as your emergency contact.

YouTube turns 20 years old. Did you know it was originally a dating website?

Mashable - Fri, 02/14/2025 - 12:35

It's February 14, 2025. You know what that means? Yes, Happy Valentine's Day, but there's also something else worth remembering today.

YouTube has officially turned 20 years old.

That's right, the internet's biggest video platform as well as one of the most trafficked websites in the world, was founded on Feb. 14, 2005. 

At least, that's when three former PayPal employees – Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim – got together and decided on a name: YouTube. As Karim later explained in an early re-telling of YouTube's history, "the work began" on YouTube on Feb. 14, 2005. The YouTube dot com domain name was registered 20 years ago on that date. 

However, the video platform you know and love today was certainly not what they had in mind. While the founders have previously shared other reasons behind starting YouTube, such as not being able to find clips of the infamous Justin Timberlake and Janet Jackson Super Bowl halftime show online, the reality is that the first iteration of YouTube was a dating website.

That's right, YouTube was first intended to be an online dating site.

YouTube in April 2005 as saved by the Internet Archive Credit: Internet Archive

In fact, you can go check it out and confirm it yourself by looking at the earliest archived version of YouTube that's saved in the Internet Archive's Wayback Machine from April 2005. Prominently featured at the top of the page, right below the login section, is an area to input your gender identity, the gender of the type of person you're looking to find, and an age range you're willing to date.

The YouTube dot com domain being registered on Valentine's Day is starting to make sense now, right?

Unfortunately, for Chen, Hurley, and Karim, no one signed up for YouTube, the dating website. The three even posted on Craigslist, looking for women to upload a video for $20, in hopes that would kickstart activity on the website, according to a Vice story from 2015. No one took them up on that offer either, according to the YouTube founders.

The first YouTube video ever

YouTube's co-founders decided to ditch the dating aspect of the site shortly after and opened up YouTube to all types of video uploads. With that pivot, the YouTube founders themselves decided to upload the very first video to the site themselves. On April 23, 2005, Karim uploaded "Me at the zoo," a video featuring the founder talking directly to a camera about elephants while standing in front of the animals at the San Diego Zoo.

YouTube would officially launch in December 2005.

Even though YouTube is now synonymous with online video, it actually wasn't the first video platform on the internet. Vimeo, for example, had launched a whole year prior to YouTube's launch.

However, the same week as YouTube's official launch to the public, Saturday Night Live aired its "Lazy Sunday" sketch by The Lonely Island. An unauthorized upload of the video was published on YouTube and went viral, cementing YouTube early on as the online destination for viral clips.

Less than one year later, in November of 2006, Google would acquire YouTube for $1.65 billion.

Score Super Mario RPG for $30 off and bring some joy to your life

Mashable - Fri, 02/14/2025 - 12:33

SAVE $30: As of Feb. 14, get Super Mario RPG for Nintendo Switch for $29.99, down from its price of $59.99 at Woot. That's a discount of 50%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Super Mario RPG $29.99 at Amazon
$59.99 Save $30.00 Get Deal

Need a little more whimsy in your life right now? We could all use some cheering up for one reason or another lately, and a great Nintendo Switch game starring everyone's favorite plumber is the perfect thing to do it.

As of Feb. 14, you can get a physical copy of Super Mario RPG for Nintendo Switch at Woot for $29.99. That's $30 off its normal price of $59.99, and a discount fo 50%.

Super Mario RPG is a remake of the SNES original Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars. It's a much different adventure for Mario and the gang as it swaps platforming for role-playing as Mario works to track down the Smithy Gang. After crashing into the Mushroom Kingdom and stealing pieces of Star Road, someone has to bring the to justice, and that's going to be Mario, obviously.

Instead of running through level after level smashing question blocks and collecting coins, you'll work with a party of characters as you battle through the game and learn skills while fighting off colorful enemies. It's a challenging and addictive twist on the typical Mario formula, and a fantastic remake at that.

If you're ready to jump in with a fun alternative to Mario's greatest platforming hits, don't miss grabbing this remake. It's a surefire way to put a grin on your face if you're going through dark times.

OpenAI strips warnings from ChatGPT, but its content policy hasnt changed

Mashable - Fri, 02/14/2025 - 12:10

OpenAI has removed the ChatGPT orange warning boxes that indicate whether a user may have violated its content policy.

Model behavior product manager Laurentia Romaniuk shared in a post on X that they "we got rid of 'warnings' (orange boxes sometimes appended to your prompts)."

Romaniuk also put the word out for "other cases of gratuitous / unexplainable denials [users have] come across," regarding ChatGPT's tendency to play it safe with content moderation.

Tweet may have been deleted

Joanne Jang, who leads model behavior, added to this request, asking "has chatgpt ever refused to give you what you want for no good reason? or reasons you disagree with?" This further addresses the issue that ChatGPT would previously stay away from controversial topics, but also flag chats that seemed innocuous, like one Redditor who said their chat was removed for including a swearword in their prompt.

Tweet may have been deleted

Earlier this week, OpenAI overhauled its Model Spec, which details its approach to how the model safely responds to users. Compared to the much shorter earlier version, the new Model Spec is a huge document, outlining its approach to current controversies like denying a request to share copyrighted content and allowing discussion that supports or criticizes politicians.

ChatGPT has been accused of censorship, with President Trump's "AI Czar" David Sacks saying in a 2023 All-In podcast episode that ChatGPT "was programmed to be woke."

However, both the previous and current Model Specs say, "OpenAI believes in intellectual freedom which includes the freedom to have, hear, and discuss ideas." Yet removing the warnings raised questions about whether this is related to an implicit change in ChatGPT's responses.

An OpenAI spokesperson said this is not a reflection of the updated Model Spec and the change doesn't impact the model responses. Instead, it was a decision to update how they communicate its content policies to users. Newer models like o3 are more capable of reasoning through a request and therefore hypothetically better at responding to controversial or sensitive topics instead of defaulting to refuse a query.

The spokesperson also said OpenAI will continue to show the warning sign in certain cases that violate its content policy.

Get up to 25% off at FluffCo and experience hotel-level comfort at home

Mashable - Fri, 02/14/2025 - 12:06

SAVE 25%: As of Feb. 14, you can get up to 25% off some of their bestselling sleep essentials. Plus, get an additional 10% off with code WELCOME10.

Opens in a new window Credit: FluffCo Up to 25% off at FluffCo Get an extra 10% off with code WELCOME10 Shop Now

Investing in high-quality bedding is one of the easiest ways to get a better night’s sleep. A quick swap from cheap, scratchy sheets and a pancake pillow set to luxe, hotel-grade linens, and a dreamy, down-filled comforter pillow combo can make all the difference. The only problem? Upgrading your sleep setup can get expensive fast, especially if you're looking to bring home that five-star hotel feel.

Luckily, FluffCo's Presidents’ Day Sale is offering shoppers up to 25% off some of their bestselling sleep essentials, including the ever-popular Down Feather Pillow and Down Blended Comforter. You can also get an additional 10% off with the code WELCOME10. And, if you spend $150, you’ll score a free pair of hotel slippers. (Spending $200 will get you a free linen spray, and $300 scores a free robe.)

SEE ALSO: Sleepmaxxing is TikTok's latest wellness trend, but does it really work?

So, whether you're in the market for a whole new bedding set or want to treat yourself to an extra-cozy pillow, now’s the time to shop.

Here are some of our top picks from the FluffCo Presidents' Day Sale:

Upgrade your smartwatch with an Apple Watch Ultra 2 for the lowest price weve seen

Mashable - Fri, 02/14/2025 - 12:00

SAVE $159.01: As of Feb. 14, get the Apple Watch Ultra 2 for $639.99 at Amazon. That's a 20% discount and its lowest price yet.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Apple Watch Ultra 2 $639.99 at Amazon
$799.00 Save $159.01 Get Deal

If you've been trying to decide on a new smartwatch, now's the time to lock one in. The Apple Watch is a great all-rounder of a pick that works well for just about everyone. But if you're looking for something more rugged and feature-rich that can do just about anything, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 is your best bet, and it's on sale right now for its lowest price yet.

As of Feb. 14, get the Apple Watch Ultra 2 for $639.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $799. That's a discount of 20% and the lowest price we've seen so far. This price applies to the GPS + Cellular model with a Rugged Titanium case and Indigo Alpine Loop band.

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is the perfect companion for active users, thanks to its ability to withstand a variety of conditions while you run, cycle, hike, dive, and get out there and see the world. It has a 3000-nit display and a rugged build that you can take anywhere without having to worry about the repercussions. Bad weather? No problem. It keeps on ticking.

You get a whole suite of advanced tracking features, sleep analysis, and much more in addition to health features like fall detection and ECG monitoring as well. And if you don't want to use it for those things, it's still great for using for making calls, texting, and using your favorite wrist-based apps. And with up to 72 hours of battery life on Low Power Mode? You've got plenty of time to use it.

Time to lock your Ultra 2 in if you want to get it for the cheapest we've seen.

The Lenovo Yoga 7i is on sale — get one of our favorite convertible laptops for $350 off

Mashable - Fri, 02/14/2025 - 11:36

SAVE $350 As of February 14, the Lenovo Yoga 7i is on sale for just $549.99 ($350 off the usual price). It's our favorite Windows laptop under $1,000, so snag this deal while you can.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lenovo Lenovo Yoga 7i (Intel Core Ultra 5 125U, Intel Graphics, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $549.99 at Best Buy
$899.99 Save $350.00 Get Deal

Convertible laptops are the best of both worlds. Why buy a laptop and a tablet separately when you can have both at the same time? Buying one is a no-brainer, in our opinion.

And it just so turns out that one of our favorite convertible laptops is sitting at a deep discount right now — the Lenovo Yoga 7i is just $549.99, which is $350 off the original price. It's one of our favorite budget laptops in general, as well as our top pick for Windows laptops under $1,000, so we definitely recommend snagging this deal while you still can.

SEE ALSO: Best MacBooks 2025: Which model would we buy?

In our review, we highlighted the Yoga 7i's satisfying, responsive keyboard, port variety, and performance for the price. "If you want a convertible laptop that can double as a tablet, handle basic tasks with ease, last a decent while on a single charge, and you don’t mind a dim display or occasionally glitchy trackpad, the Yoga 7i 14 is a great deal at $899. If it’s on sale, it’s a fantastic deal," wrote Mashable Freelancer Sarah Chaney. While the hinges could be stronger and the display could be brighter, they definitely aren't dealbreakers, especially at this price. If you're currently in the market for a new laptop and want the most bang for your buck, the Lenovo Yoga 7i is a great option while it's on sale for just $549.99 ($350 off). Grab yours while the deal is still live.

Pornhubs top pre-Valentines Day searches by state. Check out the map.

Mashable - Fri, 02/14/2025 - 11:18

It's Valentine's Day, and what's more romantic than Pornhub? (Don't answer that.)

The ubiquitous tube site sent Mashable a map of the top relative searches across the U.S. in the week leading up to Love Day. The term is that searched more often in each state than in others.

Credit: Pornhub

In New York, searches wanted more "emotional" videos, and Wyoming was wholesome with "hugging." Contrast that with BDSM in Oregon and strap-on in Georgia.

SEE ALSO: How to unblock Pornhub for free

You'll notice that many states are grayed out. Pornhub blocked 17 U.S. states (so far) due to age-verification laws, which are oftentimes requirements to submit ID to view websites with over a third of explicit content. The Supreme Court recently heard a case about age verification, but we'll have to wait a few months for the verdict.

For now, if Pornhub is blocked in your state, you won't know what terms make your fellow statespeople's hearts flutter, but you can use a VPN to access the site.

Shop Ruggables Presidents Day Sale and get up to 20% off sitewide

Mashable - Fri, 02/14/2025 - 11:18

SAVE 20%: Get up to 20% off sitewide during Ruggable's Presidents' Day Sale. Use the code STARS.

Opens in a new window Credit: Ruggable 20% off sitewide with promo code STARS Ruggable's Presidents' Day Sale Get Deal

As the weekend gets closer, more and more retailers are gearing up for the first big shopping event of the year — Presidents' Day. While this federal holiday is supposed to be a time to reflect on the legacy of America's founding fathers, it’s also become synonymous with some of the biggest sales and discounts of the year (especially on mattresses and other home goods — you can check out our full list of the best Presidents' Day sales).

One sale we were pleasantly surprised to see this year is Ruggable's Presidents' Day sale, where shoppers can get up to 20% off sitewide (select rugs are 15% off) on all of the brand's popular washable and stain-resistant rugs. Just be sure to use the code STARS at checkout to take advantage of the savings.

SEE ALSO: Honest review of Ruggable: Are the washable rugs worth the price?

Shop large area rugs, doormats, runners, and more at a discounted price to refresh your floors just in time for spring.

Rug deals to Shop at Ruggable:

Amazon deal of the day: The durable Apple Watch Ultra 2 is down to its best price ever

Mashable - Fri, 02/14/2025 - 11:14
Check out the best Amazon deals of the day as of Feb. 14: OUR TOP PICK Apple Watch Ultra 2 (GPS + Cellular, 49mm) $639.99 (save $159.01) Get Deal BEST LAPTOP DEAL Samsung 14-inch Galaxy Book4 Pro $699.99 (save $650) Get Deal BEST BLUETOOTH TRACKER DEAL Tile Sticker (2-pack) $33.99 (save $11) Get Deal BEST SOUNDBAR DEAL Roku TV wireless soundbar $99.99 (save $50) Get Deal BEST BEAUTY DEAL Shark FlexStyle HD430 $209.99 (save $90 with on-page coupon) Get Deal

If you love discount shopping, we've got just the thing for you this Valentine's Day. We've rounded up five of the best deals we could find at Amazon, with standouts from top brands like Apple and Samsung. While Valentine's Day isn't exactly known for its great sales, Presidents' Day is. And since it's right around the corner as well, consider these deals a gift.

Here are our top picks for the best Amazon deals of the day on Feb. 14. Be sure to take a peek at our picks from Feb. 12 and Feb. 13 as well — many of those are still live, including a $38 pair of Sony wireless headphones and 23% off the Apple Pencil Pro.

Our top pick: Apple Watch Ultra 2 Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Watch Ultra 2 (GPS + Cellular, 49mm) $639.99 at Amazon
$799.00 Save $159.01 Get Deal

While it may not be the best choice for everyone, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 is better than the basic Series 9 (and the Series 10, for that matter) in every way. It features a more durable titanium case, a programmable action button on the side, built-in LTE, a depth gauge and water temperature sensor, an emergency siren, and twice the battery life at up to 36 hours (up to 72 in low power mode). If you're a hiker, runner, swimmer, or diver, it packs advanced features the other Apple Watches lack. Snag the 49mm version on sale for just $639.99 at Amazon as of Feb. 14. That's 20% off and its lowest price on record.

Samsung 14-inch Galaxy Book4 Pro Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung 14-inch Galaxy Book4 Pro (Intel Core Ultra 5, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $699.99 at Amazon
$1,349.99 Save $650.00 Get Deal

If you're in the market for a new laptop, you could do a lot worse than the Samsung Galaxy Book4 Pro. It packs an Intel Core Ultra 5 processor with Intel Arc Graphics, a 3K AMOLED 2x touchscreen, AKG Quad speaker, a new Knox security chip, and up to 18 hours of battery life. The 14-inch model weighs only 2.71 pounds and packs 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage — all for a grand total of $1,349.99. If you pick it up at Amazon as of Feb. 14, however, you'll pay just $699.99. That's 48% off and its best price to date. You'll also get Assassin's Creed for free.

Tile Sticker (2-pack) Opens in a new window Credit: Life360 Tile Stick (2-pack) $33.99 at Amazon
$44.99 Save $11.00 Get Deal

Tile's smallest Bluetooth trackers are best for finding household objects like your remote, glasses, keys, and other stuff that regularly goes missing. It sticks onto items (hence the name) to allow you to keep tabs on things around the house. Connect your device to the app and tap the tracking button to locate your lost items. Your Tile Sticker will sound off a loud ring when it's within Bluetooth range (up to 250 feet) or show you its most recent location on a map when it's outside that range. As of Feb. 14, you can grab a two-pack of these helpful trackers for only $33.99. That's 24% in savings and the lowest price on record.

Roku TV wireless soundbar Opens in a new window Credit: Roku Roku TV wireless soundbar $99.99 at Amazon
$149.99 Save $50.00 Get Deal

Pair this Roku soundbar with your Roku TV sans cables and "drastically improve the sound," as our friends at PCMag (also owned by Ziff Davis) put it in their review. While it's not hefty on extra features, it's inexpensive and can add big, mostly balanced sound to your cinematic setup. There are even simple sound settings that lower loud commercials, boost voices, and optimize night listening. Already pretty affordable at $149.99, it's on sale at Amazon for just $99.99 as of Feb. 14. That's 33% in savings.

Shark FlexStyle HD430 Opens in a new window Credit: Shark Shark FlexStyle HD430 $209.99 at Amazon
$299.99 Save $90.00 with on-page coupon Get Deal

The Shark FlexStyle is our favorite dupe of the ultra-expensive Dyson Airwrap. Mashable Shopping Reporter Bethany Allard found that it offered a nearly one-to-one experience with the Airwrap, noting that she couldn't imagine a reason why you'd choose Dyson's more expensive option instead. The HD430 system includes the auto-wrap curlers, a styling concentrator, an oval brush, and a paddle brush, making it ideal for straight and wavy hair. It's usually $299.99, but thanks to an on-page coupon, it's on sale for just $209.99. Just be sure to apply the coupon to get the discount.

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

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