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Ria Cheruvu has been ahead of the curve for most of her life. After graduating from her Arizona high school at just 11, the student deemed prodigy became one of the youngest people to ever graduate from Harvard. Her collegiate record is a marvel to many. 

Following a period studying neurobiology and during the completion of her first computer science degree, Cheruvu was hired for Intel's ethics team — preceding the AI boom that would soon hit mass markets, and years before the phrase became a household utterance. At the time of her hiring, Cheruvu was just 14 years old. In the years since joining the tech giant and graduating from the Ivy League, she's become a go-to voice on responsible AI development, bolstering her resume with multiple AI patents, a Master's Degree in data science from her alma mater after a neuroscience internship at Yale, and multiple teaching credits for digital courses on AI ethics. She's working on a PhD, as well, because… why not?

Today, as one of Intel's AI architects and "evangelists" — yes, that's the real word — the 20-year-old is on the forefront of one of the world's hottest topics: How do we move forward with this technology, and how can it be done in a way that ensures real people remain at its core?

Her presence is a rare thing in an industry now steamrolled by capital investors, commercial interests, and self-proclaimed tech "disruptors." But her age is more of a benefit than a hindrance, as the future of AI will soon be placed in the hands of the next generation of technologists and users — her peers — and many of them are already embracing the complex integration of generative AI in their daily lives. 

Cheruvu spoke to Mashable about her now-established career in the realm of "AI for Good," one of the few young voices with a seat at the table as the world reckons with accelerating change. 

SEE ALSO: How gamification sparked the AI era in tech Mashable: Your accomplishments run through a gamut of scientific fields: Computer science, data science, neuroscience. Why did you turn your attention to AI, and Intel, specifically? 

Cheruvu: After I graduated with my Bachelor's in computer science, I was looking for the next step. It was a turning point: Do I go into neuroscience, or do I get into something that's pure computer and data science related? I had a brief interest in AI.

Both of my parents are software engineers by training and have their Masters in computer applications and technology. At the time, my dad was working at Intel Corporation. I had actually been on a number of field trips in high school to our local campus. I applied, and I interviewed with three different teams in different areas. One was pure math and AI, the other was a little bit on the neuroscience side, and then the last was deep learning and hardware. Eventually, I picked that third team and got accepted. It evolved from there into a six year journey of different roles at Intel.

The industry has had so much turnover, especially in the last couple of years, what has kept you there?

I've been in so many different roles in different areas. Some of them have been pure business or the technology side, others on the pure research side, and then some bridging the two. I was a team lead, and now I am an evangelist and public speaker and architect. I'm gearing back more to technical architect roles. So lots of jumping around the map. But my network and the community has stayed true, which is what encourages me to continue to work at Intel, and continue to work in the AI industry, too. 

I find it really rare to hear of a person as young as yourself being so integrated into AI's ethical development, not just its use. Why this and not a different aspect?

I've been looking at ethical AI for about two to three years now, professionally and personally. From the technical angle, there's a lot of things to be done: technical tooling, analysis, metrics, quality assurance, all of that fun stuff. On a societal aspect, an incredible amount of work needs to be done toward privacy, consent, bias, and algorithmic discrimination. It's been a whirlwind, learning about all of these topics and then trying to understand which are practical versus which just seem to be talked about a lot, and doing honest reevaluations. 

There is an increasing need for younger voices and opportunities for younger generations to be able to step up and to start contributing to these technologies.

My mom did her PhD in metaphysics and philosophy, so we have very deep conversations around AI and humanity. What exactly is our idea of consciousness? How far can AI go in terms of being able to mimic humans? What is our framework for helping each other?

And have these reflections been fruitful? What does "AI for Good" actually look like, then? Right now, the phrase "human centered" is very buzzy but what does that mean for the future?

Folks who are exposed to technology and digital technology are getting exposed to AI at a faster and faster rate. The reason why I gravitate toward "human centered" frameworks is to focus on the fact that the infrastructure, the technology, should be able to empower users. 

According to regulations, and the communities that we're building around them, you should have the right to control the data that you generate. On the technical side, we should be empowering developers and creators to be able to test for bias, and to remove data from models. We're not training data models with data that we don't have consent for. When you're a person in AI, it's assumed you're advocating for AI development. But there's a lot of areas, personally, where I feel that more AI development doesn't make sense. Maybe it's something that needs to be more streamlined or in the hands of creators and artists. 

When we see a lot of these technologies, like robots and self-driving vehicles, starting to pop up, how are they empowering user experiences? How are we building trust into these relationships?

There's a couple leading researchers who are the subject matter experts in this field. I'm thinking of Fei Fei Li and Yejin Choi. It's been really interesting to see how their research and the research coming out of their labs and teams has been connected to bigger advancements or leaps in AI. I have been using that research as a marker to demystify what's coming up next in [the AI industry]. 

Your title is "evangelist," which is an interesting term to use for scientific development, but essentially you're a public communicator. How do you navigate that role amid the onslaught of AI coverage?

There's a lot of pressure, there's a lot of hype, placed on certain topics. It takes a pretty strong will and determination to push through that and say what is important for me, for my community, for the industry, right now. To focus on what is really driving the practical impact I want to communicate and share with folks, things I can inspire them to be optimistic about. I want to be honest about risks and challenges, too. Instead of buttering up the truth, be straightforward about it. As an evangelist, someone who's passionate about public speaking just as much as coding, what does that balance look like?

There has been an emergence, or a boom, of AI experts and evangelists in this space. Not to say anything direct about credentials or anything, but everybody has an opinion about AI. I personally have been listening to perspectives that have been in the industry for longer. That wisdom that's getting passed down is something that I like to tap into, as opposed to, maybe, some of the newer folks who are forming some quick assumptions.

How do you envision your peers getting involved in these conversations?

I think that there is an increasing need for younger voices and opportunities for younger generations to be able to step up and to start contributing to these technologies. Through their usage of it, [the technologies are] getting mastered pretty quickly. 

And it's important to bring a fresh perspective to [AI design]. Not only consuming the technology, but contributing to its development, being able to shape it in ways that are different. Rather than seeing it as a kind of "disruptor" or a "bubble" that needs to be explored and pushed to the limit, we can bring it back to the applications where it can be most useful. 

There's a lot of opportunities to contribute. Not a lot of them are as recognized as other applications, in terms of priority, coverage in the media, or public interest, but they definitely lead to a much more meaningful impact. There's always bigger projects, and bigger themes — like large language models — but the smaller applications really make a difference, too.

Sorry to use a cliché, but it feels like AI is yet another "global inheritance" we'll be tossing down to younger generations, much like we've done with our current climate crisis. 

I was reading that quote recently about being able to leave the world behind a little bit better than how you found it initially. In a generational context, we need to continue to have conversations about this, especially with the AI algorithms that are close to us, whether it's social media or apps that are writing content for you. You're getting exposed to them on a day to day basis.

In my opinion, many people are uncomfortable with the widespread pressure to use AI in our daily lives, when we don't fully understand what's at stake. They want things to slow down.

I feel like folks who are working on AI and machine learning know that very well, but, for some reason, it doesn't proliferate outside of that bubble. Folks who are working in AI know to be very, very cautious when they see a tool. Cautious in the sense of, "I'm not going to adopt it, or I'm not going to use it, unless I think it's useful." But when it comes to [AI stakeholders] externally, I think it's just a kind of hype. Ironically, that's not what you see in the inner circle. It just gets pushed on us. 

SEE ALSO: "Time is up" to regulate AI, UN advisor says What do current stakeholders or developers owe to the next generation of technologists and users, including yourself?

Human labor disruption is a really big topic, and I'm thinking about talent and folks who want to enter into the AI space. When we talk about AI and these technologies, it's always: fast, rapid innovation, moving forward. These kinds of words and other terminology keep getting added to a pile that makes it even more intimidating for folks to be able to understand and truly grasp [AI]. "AI" itself is one of those words. The field started off with "deep learning" and "machine learning," and it's been a gradual transition. I've seen my job title change from deep learning engineer to AI architect. I'm part of that, too. I think that there might be an opportunity to take AI as a buzzword and break it down — and we can still keep the word, the general feeling around it.

But there's only so much responsibility that a user can take on. Providers and developers and creators of infrastructure also need to be able to shoulder that responsibility. Of course, regulations come in to help protect the rights of the individuals involved to a certain extent. 

A lot of folks may not have the time to sit down and read through the full compendium of what they need to know. I'm valuing content and people who are taking the time to break it down and say, "You've got this. This is something easy. This is how you contribute." It doesn't need to be a fearful topic. It's something you can voice your concerns on.

I've had so many conversations over the past few years with brilliant people on inclusive AI, democratizing AI, AI literacy. There's a lot of different ways to enable that empowerment. For example, there's been a lot of really great efforts on digital readiness programs that I'm honored to have been a part of, going to community colleges or creating AI curriculum for free. Five million or so folks who have been trained as part of Intel's digital readiness programs. We need more accessibility, more tutorials, more content, more one-on-one interaction, saying, "You know, this is easier than you think it is. You can be a professional in this space. It's not hard to get started."

It's time to trust your instincts, close your eyes...and try holding space for "Defying Gravity." Or at least that's what Wicked fans will have you believe after an interview with stars Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo went viral late last week.

SEE ALSO: 'Wicked' review: Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo aspire for movie musical magic

In the video, Tracy E. Gilchrist, an interviewer from Out Magazine who was apparently through with playing by the rules of someone else's game, told Grande and Erivo, "I've seen this week people are taking the lyrics of 'Defying Gravity' and really holding space with that and holding power in that." Erivo replied in a whisper, "Uh, I didn't know that that was happening." They go on to exchange more hushed words in the same vein while Grande takes hold of one of Erivo's fingers.

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It became so popular that Out released an interview with Gilchrist, where she explained the context of her conversation with Erivo. "When I posed the question to Cynthia about people holding space with the lyrics to 'Defying Gravity,' it was two days after the election, and everyone I knew in the LGBTQ+ community was trying to make sense of what we might be facing. I loved her response, and I love that people are having a laugh, because I know I could use one about now," she said.

The combination of the bizarrely sincere tone of the interview and the strange words exchanged inspired many reactions and memes online. On X one user explained, "I can't tell what my favorite part of this video is: the solemnity in announcing people have been 'holding space' for the lyrics of a 20 year old song, Cynthia acting like she personally wrote it, Ariana holding onto Cynthia's index finger, or the reveal of 'a couple of posts.'"

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Others riffed on past memes. One wrote, "Hey! I'm so glad you reached out. I'm actually holding space with the lyrics of Defying Gravity right now, and I don't think I can hold appropriate space for you. Could we connect [later date or time] instead / Do you have someone else you could reach out to?" Another said, "You took the defying gravity lyrics out of context at the holding space apartment complex."

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Needless to say "holding space" has become the phrase du jour on platforms like X and Bluesky, where posters are imagining characters like Carrie Bradshaw to Don Corleon holding space for "Defying Gravity." They are even using it in completely different contexts like, "hey a bunch of us are outside holding space for cigarettes if you wanna join."

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While others focused on the finger grabbing. One user edited the clutched fingers onto the Wicked movie poster, and another edited Grande's delicate grip on Erivo's finger alongside "The Creation of Adam."

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With the video and the memes, you can have all you've ever wanted.

The two sides made their final cases to a federal judge Monday in a trial over the tech giant’s dominance in technology selling ads online.

SAVE $42: Through Dec. 2, get six months of Max with ads for only $2.99 per month instead of $9.99 per month. That's a total of $42 in savings or 70%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Max Max with ads $2.99 per month for six months (save $42) Get Deal

Max's Black Friday 2024 deal is officially live and it's essentially just a copy-paste from last year. That doesn't mean we're disappointed, though; it is a pretty damn good deal.

From Nov. 25 through Dec. 2, new and returning subscribers can get six months of Max with ads for just $2.99 per month instead of the usual $9.99 per month. That's a total of $42 in savings or 70%.

Following in Netflix's footsteps, the Warner Bros. Discovery-owned streaming service is expected to start cracking down on password sharing very soon, so that's all the more reason to sign up for your own Max account.

Max is a treasure trove of excellent content. Not only is it the home of Warner Bros. films, but also new A24 theatrical releases. That means you'll have an epic collection of movies at your fingertips, including Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (as of Dec. 6), MaXXXine, Civil War, Love Lies Bleeding, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, Barbie, The Iron Claw, and Dune: parts One and Two. The streamer also offers its own original series that are worth a watch, like The Last of Us, Station Eleven, and Dune: Prophecy, as well as access to its B/R Sports add-on for an unknown limited time.

Sure, you'll have to deal with a few ad breaks here and there, but for $2.99 per month, we're willing to look past that. After the six-month promotional period runs out, your subscription will renew at the full cost of $9.99 per month, so be sure to cancel ahead of time if you want to avoid that charge.

The HP Omen 17 is designed with minimalists in mind — and I’m here for it. It’s nice to sometimes go crazy with per-key RGB lighting and designs that scream "gaming laptop," but the HP Omen 17 elicits sleek simplicity with just enough customization to keep things fun.

Granted, I wish the chassis was aluminum, not plastic, but that would’ve made this big boy even heavier. Plus, thermal management would be trickier. Its hefty weight is a fair trade for all the delicious internals you’ll find inside, capable of tackling triple-A gaming with ease.

Is it the best gaming laptop Mashable has tested so far? Probably not. With its powerful RTX 4070 GPU and incredible thermal design, it’s definitely a solid contender. But there are some aspects I wasn’t enamored with. Read on for all the juicy details. 

HP Omen 17 price and specs 

The HP Omen 17 configuration I tested retails for $1,799 via B&H, though right now, it’s discounted by $300. For that mid-range price, here are the specs you’ll get:

• AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS CPU

• Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 with 8GB of VRAM

• 32GB RAM

• 1TB of SSD storage

• 17.3-inch, 2560 x 1440-pixel display with a 240Hz refresh rate

Or, if you want to downgrade to an RTX 4050 GPU with 6GB of VRAM, but otherwise keep the same specs, there’s a configuration available for $1,599 via Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable HP Omen 17 $1,799.00 at HP
Get Deal HP Omen 17 design

At first glance, the HP Omen 17 looks quite polished, with a chassis that’s all black with an etched ‘Omen’ logo on the lid. 

Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

When I looked closer, however, I discovered the entire chassis is made of black plastic, which makes it feel kinda cheap. But I understand that plastic is better for heat management.

Despite its plastic construction, the hinges are fairly sturdy and the thermal design functions well.

That said, if the chassis was anything other than plastic, like anodized aluminum, it would’ve been even heavier — and this laptop is already pretty dang heavy, starting at 6.5 pounds.

The internal speaker design and one-zone, RGB-backlit keyboard are the only things that scream ‘gaming laptop,’ which is great if you’re looking for a machine that can double as a work laptop in public and a gaming laptop at home.

Unscrewing the bottom lid reveals swappable RAM sticks and a swappable WLAN module if you need to upgrade down the line. There’s also an extra M2 SSD slot if you wanted to add more storage or experiment with Linux OS.

HP Omen 17 display

The HP Omen 17 comes with a 17.3-inch, 2560 x 1440-pixel IPS display with a 240Hz max refresh rate and a 3ms response time.

Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

I inspected the display by watching the Beetlejuice Beetlejuice trailer on YouTube. Its sharp resolution helped me catch small details, like fine face lines and flyaway hairs, but the colors were a bit muted.

I had a similar experience with the display when playing Helldivers 2. Fighting bugs and bots is an easy feat with crisp resolution and a smooth refresh rate, but I wish the display was just a little bit brighter.

If HP offered an OLED or miniLED display panel (or even just an LED panel with more than 300 nits max brightness), that’d make this display a stunner.

HP Omen 17 ports

The HP Omen 17 has no shortage of ports. You’ll find ports adorning both the left and right sides, as well as along the back edge.

Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

On the left:

• Headset jack

• Gigabit Ethernet port

Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

On the right: 

• USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 port (5 Gbps)

Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

On the back:

• Two USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 ports (10 Gbps)

• USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 port (10 Gbps, DisplayPort 1.4a)

• HDMI 2.1 output port

• DC-in power port

The DC-in power port is conveniently located towards the back edge center, making it easier to maneuver the charging cable (which is extra long, by the way) no matter where your power outlet is. And for connecting wired peripherals, I love that there are three USB-A ports.

HP Omen 17 audio

Laptop speakers generally aren’t great, especially on gaming laptops, but I found the HP Omen 17’s audio setup to be below average.

To test the speakers, I fired up “dancing in the kitchen” by LANY on Spotify. The highs came through tinny and the lows were practically nonexistent, resulting in a complete lack of full-bodied sound. 

I got the same result with Unprocessed’s “Real ft. Polyphia’s Tim Henson & Clay Gober,” a song I test on every set of speakers or headphones I’m reviewing. Bumping up the volume to max made it clear the speakers are very quiet, the icing on a lackluster listening experience.

You’ll definitely want to grab one of the best gaming headsets to pair with the HP Omen 17 if you want immersive, atmospheric sound.

HP Omen 17 keyboard and trackpad

The HP Omen 17’s keyboard isn’t what I’d want in a gaming laptop keyboard. I wouldn’t necessarily call the keys ‘mushy,’ but they’re not as clicky as I’d like them to be (except for the space bar) — and not as satisfying as most other HP keyboards. 

There’s not much travel or responsive feedback with every key press, and the keys are quite small — especially the arrow keys. On a gaming laptop with a full-size keyboard, I’d love to see full-size arrow keys. Trying to call in stratagems on Helldivers 2 missions with those tiny arrow keys was a pain.

Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

The one slight win for the HP Omen 17’s keyboard is its RGB backlighting, but even that comes with a few catches. There’s no per-key RGB lighting and you have to carry out all changes in the Omen Light Hub, even toggling backlighting on and off. Luckily, there’s a quick-access key for the Omen Gaming Hub — and the Light Hub within features a lot of fun effects and colors to play with.

If you’re pounding out some work, responding to emails, or researching something, the keyboard is perfectly acceptable. But for gaming, it’s disappointing. It’d definitely be worth investing in a separate mechanical keyboard to use with the HP Omen 17. Luckily, this laptop features plenty of USB ports to accommodate a wired option.

Similar to the keyboard, the trackpad is acceptable only for non-gaming tasks. It’s quite large (although there looks to be a lot of wasted space above and below it), satisfying to click, and very responsive to gestures. For gaming, however, you’ll definitely want to invest in a mouse.

HP Omen 17 benchmarks and performance

To refresh you, the HP Omen 17 is equipped with an AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS CPU, a Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 with 8GB of VRAM, and 32GB of RAM. With those specs, this is a fairly powerful gaming rig that can play most AAA games at native resolution with at least 60 frames per second.

Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

For a real-world test, I hopped into multiple level 6 missions in Helldivers 2 and averaged around 70 frames per second, with the Medium graphics preset and native resolution (2560 x 1440) with no upscaling and no framerate limit. I had a wireless mouse connected, and I probably would’ve played better with a different keyboard connected — the HP Omen 17’s arrow keys are tiny.

In our Cyberpunk 2077 benchmark, which tests performance with DLSS off, the presets notched at High, and the resolution set to 1080p, the HP Omen delivered an average of 98.8 frames per second. Turning DLSS on bumped up the average to 128.9 frames per second. (At native resolution, this benchmark returned frame rate averages of 88.6 and 105.4, respectively.)

These results pale slightly in comparison to the Alienware m16 R2 — sporting an Intel Core Ultra 7 155H CPU and the same 4070 GPU — which delivered 98.7 frames per second with DLSS off and 167.9 frames per second with DLSS on.

Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

On 3DMark’s TimeSpy benchmark, which assesses graphical prowess, the Omen 17 earned a score of 12,105, just nearly matching the m16 R2’s score of 12,224. 

These two laptops also had similar scores for Geekbench 6, which tests CPU performance. On Geekbench 6, the Omen 17 delivered a multi-core score of 12,781, while the m16 R2 beat it slightly with a multi-core score of 12,842.

One thing the HP Omen 17 definitely has going for it performance-wise is a stellar thermal design. The keys below my fingers never got too hot to touch, and even the underside was only a little warm after playing an intense Helldivers 2 mission.

HP Omen 17 battery life

Battery life on gaming laptops is notoriously awful — and the HP Omen 17’s battery life lived up to that. The HP Omen 17 lasted a mere 1 hour and 4 minutes in PCMark10’s gaming battery life test.

This is marginally better than the Alienware m16 R2’s battery life of 59 minutes on the same test, but if you’re looking for a gaming laptop with decent battery life, opt for the HP Victus 16 with an RTX 4060 GPU instead, which lasted 1 hour and 56 minutes.

Since most people probably won’t be gaming unplugged, I also ran our video rundown battery test on this laptop, which involves looping a 1080p video at 50% brightness until it shuts down. The HP Omen 17 lasted 8 hours and 13 minutes on this test, making it at least a viable option to get some work done outside the home or not be tethered to an outlet while answering emails or streaming.

HP Omen 17 webcam

The HP Omen 17 features a 1080p webcam, but I would’ve guessed it had a 720p webcam solely by looking at the selfie I took with it.

Credit: Sarah Chaney / Mashable

Whether I was sitting in front of a window for natural light or only using the overhead light, the camera couldn’t quite pick up on my true complexion and majorly blurred the background. 

If you want a webcam that’s so fuzzy, it acts like a built-in blur filter, hiding blemishes and redness, then this just might be the webcam for you. If you’re looking for a sharp, high-res webcam, you probably won’t find it on a gaming laptop. 

Is the HP Omen 17 worth it?

The HP Omen 17 is more than capable of playing AAA titles at high settings with a smooth refresh rate and practically no retained heat, thanks to an impressively effective thermal design.

That said, this isn’t the laptop you should buy if high-quality, loud speakers or a satisfyingly clicky keyboard are important to you. The Alienware m16 R2 we reviewed, which also sports an RTX 4070 GPU, produced quite tinny sound, but its keyboard was a breath of fresh air.

Its minor flaws and low battery life are easy to overlook if you’re the type of gamer who knows they’ll be connecting headphones, a mouse, and other peripherals for a better experience and won’t play unplugged because it often means sacrificing higher frame rates. 

If all you care about is overall performance and you’d prefer a gaming laptop with a minimalist look (and you don’t mind a plastic chassis), I’d say the HP Omen 17 is worth it.

Opens in a new window Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable HP Omen 17 $1,799.99 at HP
Get Deal

If you feel like you're not seeing many news stories while scrolling X, there might be a simple explanation: The site actively keeps them off your feed.

Elon Musk seemingly suggested that on Nov. 24, when he replied to another user on his social platform X — the website formerly known as Twitter — who claimed the site throttled the performance of posts with links. This would mean you'd likely see fewer articles from actual news sites.

Paul Graham, a popular poster with some 2 million followers, posted that "deprioritization of tweets with links in them is Twitter's biggest flaw" because "what draws me to Twitter is to find out what's going on, and you can't do that without links."

Musk responded, seemingly confirming Graham's point that posts with links get deprioritized.

Wrote Musk in response: "Just write a description in the main post and put the link in the reply. This just stops lazy linking."

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The suggestion from Musk seems like quite the strange way to share info. If you're sharing news, it would make sense — in a vacuum — to provide the link that gives more context. But such a link, of course, takes people off Musk's platform. Basically, he wants you to summarize the news — or anything else that requires a link — while hiding the full context in the replies.

Musk also retweeted a post that suggested posting everything directly to X because sharing links will affect your post's reach. That's another seeming admission that X is throttling posts with links.

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Musk's X deprioritizing links wouldn't be all that surprising. The Washington Post reported last year, for instance, that X slowed links to competitors Musk disliked, such as the New York Times and Facebook.

X, meanwhile, might have a real competitor in Bluesky, which has seen its users skyrocket in the wake of the election and Musk's diehard support for President-elect Donald Trump. Users have reported seeing increased, and better, engagement on Bluesky — and throttling links seemingly wouldn't help X's case.

Sonic x Shadow Generations is a remaster of the original 2011 game, Sonic Generations, and includes new content focusing on Shadow the Hedgehog. The Shadow tie-in contains roughly the same amount of content as the base game, which makes Sonic x Shadow Generations a compelling package.

The remaster also fixes the performance issues of the original Sonic Generations.

'Sonic x Shadow Generations' plot

On the Sonic Generations side, Sonic’s birthday celebration is interrupted by the Time Eater — and he has to team up with his younger self (Sonic Classic) to rescue his friends in White Space.

Credit: Sonic Team / Sega

Shadow Generations takes place concurrently with the events of Sonic Generations and follows Shadow as he is trapped in White Space. While Shadow explores the area, he unlocks new powers and Black Doom threatens to take over the world — and Shadow has to stop him.

Let’s be honest, most of us don’t play Sonic games for the story, but both stories here are serviceable enough to set up what matters the most: gameplay.

'Sonic x Shadow Generations' characters

The interactions between classic Sonic and modern Sonic are amusing, as classic Sonic simply smiles and nods while the rest of the cast discusses the unfolding events, staying completely silent.

Credit: Sonic Team / Sega

The lighthearted cast of Sonic Generations contrasts with the brooding atmosphere of Shadow Generations where Shadow’s edgy personality oozes charm. Again, the story and characters aren’t really the focus of these games, but there’s enough intrigue to keep going.

'Sonic x Shadow Generations' mechanics

While playing as classic Sonic, levels are strictly a 2D affair, similar to the retro Sonic games — and playing the same level as modern Sonic turns them into a mix of both 2D and 3D gameplay.

Credit: Sonic Team / Sega

They remain virtually unchanged from the original 2011 release, and 3D Sonic mechanics didn’t necessarily age well. Modern Sonic can boost his speed, but then that puts Sonic at risk of completely falling off the stage, ruining the fast-paced momentum. It’s hard to gauge in 3D space how far platforms are, so you just have to pray and hope that you end up landing on your feet.

Shadow’s levels still have the 2D and 3D mix of modern Sonic, but are much better designed. The spacing between railings and platforms is tighter, making the levels a blast to speed through. Additionally, the levels are much more cinematic, with reality warping around Shadow like a Doctor Strange movie. Shadow also has an ability to slow down time, which comes in handy to make some tricky platforming jumps.

Shadow’s White Space is also much more fleshed out than Sonic’s. While Sonic’s White Space hub merely divides the levels, Shadow’s hub offers a range of activities, including mini coin-collecting challenges and opportunities to discover collectibles celebrating the franchise’s milestones.

'Sonic x Shadow Generations' graphics

Sonic x Shadow Generations looks great, especially Shadow’s portion.

Credit: Sonic Team / Sega

The blue-and-white color scheme of Sonic is directly contrasted with Shadow’s black and red. The user interface has inklings of Persona 5’s impeccable style, which adds a lot of charm to the game.

'Sonic x Shadow Generations' soundtrack

Shadow’s levels have electrifying tracks, with blaring guitars that keep you excited to play more. The tracks really complements Shadow’s style — and the music selection is on par with Sonic Frontiers as one of the best in the series.

'Sonic x Shadow Generations' difficulty

Playing as classic Sonic is easier due to not having to deal with the iffy 2D and 3D gameplay mix that modern Sonic has, but you’ll need to clear stages with both characters in order to progress through the story.

Credit: Sonic Team / Sega

Thankfully, however, you also don’t need to score high ranks on every single level to see how the story plays out. But for completionists, there’s still plenty of replayability if you want to go for S ranks on all ranks or find all collectibles.

'Sonic x Shadow Generations' performance

The performance in Sonic x Shadow Generations, played on an Xbox Series X, is perfect, which is a big difference compared to the original 2011 version. Load times are reasonable and there weren’t any framerate hiccups.

Is 'Sonic x Shadow Generations' worth getting?

Sonic x Shadow Generations is only $50 and the inclusion of the new Shadow content alone makes this remaster worth it. If you’re a Sonic fan, you’ll definitely find a lot of fun revisiting the Sonic Generations game, even if the modern Sonic controls and levels aren’t the best designed. However, the Shadow levels are a big step in the right direction for future games in the series, as they keep up the speedy momentum that you’d expect from a Sonic game.

SAVE $250: As of Nov. 25, you can get the Hisense 85-inch Class R6 Series 4K UHD Roku Smart TV for $548 at Walmart.

Opens in a new window Credit: Hisense Hisense 85-inch Class R6 Series 4K UHD Roku Smart TV (85R6030N, 2024 Model) $548.00 at Walmart
$798.00 Save $250.00 Get Deal

We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again: Walmart’s early Black Friday deals are insanely good. We’ve seen huge price cuts on everything from headphones to speakers to smart TVs.

Speaking of, as of Nov. 25, you can snag a Hisense 85-inch Class R6 Series 4K UHD Roku Smart TV (85R6030N, 2024 Model) for just $548 — $250 off the list price.

SEE ALSO: Walmart Black Friday ad: The best deals you can buy online

This massive 85-inch smart TV features 4K UltraHD resolution, four times the resolution of standard 1080p HD, and HDR (high dynamic range) technology for improved color, contrast, and brightness. With Roku TV OS, you can stream your favorite shows and movies across a variety of apps or score free channels with Roku's extensive lineup of free content.

Game Mode Plus with VRP and three high-speed HDMI inputs make this TV great for gaming and connecting devices like streaming boxes, cable boxes, consoles, and more.

Walmart is the place to shop for early Black Friday deals, and this Hisense 4K TV is among the best we've seen.

GET $39.99 OFF: As of Nov. 25, you can get Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom for just $30.00. That's 57% off the original price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Nintendo Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom $30.00 at Walmart
$69.99 Save $39.99 Get Deal

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom has been out for about a year and a half, and it’s currently on sale for its best price yet by far ahead of Black Friday. The Great Sky Island is yours. 

The successor to the console-defining Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Tears of the Kingdom sends you into the sky. With crafting dynamics, cooking, and a vast and vertical open world, you’ll want to explore every inch of this vast game world. 

SEE ALSO: Save $75 on the Nintendo Switch OLED 'Mario Kart 8 Deluxe' bundle for Black Friday

Play as Link as he searches for Princess Zelda, battling through a Nintendo Switch world chock full of monsters to stop Ganondorf and save Hyrule. 

As of Nov. 25, Tears of the Kingdom is on sale for $39.99 off. Walmart+ members get access at 12pm EST, while everyone else can grab the sale at 5pm.

Tears of the Kingdom sold 10 million copies in its first three days and has sold more than that again since. Get it now for its best deal yet and glide through the kingdom of Hyrule.

Best Dyson Supersonic dupe deals ahead of Black Friday Best overall deal Laifen Swift $97.99 (Save $42 at Laifen) Get Deal Best under $70 Dreame Gleam hair dryer $69.99 (Save $30 at Amazon) Get Deal Best for minimizing heat damage Zuvi Halo $209 (Save $140 at Zuvi) Get Deal Best for smoothing and attachments Shark SpeedStyle Pro Flex $179 (Save $50.99 at Amazon) Get Deal Best if you also want an Airwrap Dreame Pocket hair dryer $99.99 (Save $60 at Amazon) Get Deal

Black Friday may be a great time of year to pick up the $429 Dyson Supersonic on sale (it is currently down to $329), but as someone who's tested Dyson's beauty tech lineup and the many dupes it's inspired, I wouldn't necessarily recommend going straight for the Supersonic just because it's $100 cheaper.

For starters, the Supersonic does drop down $100 in price over the course of the year, not just Black Friday — if you're willing to wait a few weeks from when you think to buy it, you'll almost certainly be able to score a deal. But maybe more importantly, you can actually save a lot more money if you opt for a dupe — and just a few days out from Black Friday on Nov. 29, each of the top picks I've personally tested for the best Dyson Supersonic dupes are on sale.

SEE ALSO: All the best early Black Friday deals at Amazon, Target, Best Buy, and Walmart

As it stands, Mashable recommends five different hair dryers to serve as worthy Dyson dupes, with each being suited to different needs, whether you want the cheapest dupe on the market (less than $100) or the dupe that'll minimize damage to your hair (infrared light does some heavy lifting here). Below, you'll find more info on each of the five picks on sale.

Best Supersonic dupe deal overall Opens in a new window Credit: Bethany Allard / Mashable Our pick: Laifen Swift $97.99 at Laifen
$139.99 Save $42.00 Get Deal Why we like it

The Laifen Swift is compact, lightweight, dries hair quickly, and looks and sounds like the a Dyson Supersonic. While you won't get the five attachment versatility that you do with the Supersonic, you might find that you prefer the simplicity of the Swift (or that this is a sacrifice you can make for a hair dryer that clocks in under $100 on sale). Attachment-wise, it's maybe a better one-to-one dupe of the Supersonic Origin, but at a much more reasonable price point.

With cheaper dupes, I like to test out their longevity as much as I can — I've used the Swift regularly for just under two years, and haven't seen it show its age at all. Yes, the hottest setting is a little too hot for me and the attachment options are limited, but in my experience, those have been the biggest cons. If you are looking for a diffuser, Laifen also offers a model that includes one for just a few dollars more.

Best Supersonic dupe deal for spending less than $70 Opens in a new window Credit: Bethany Allard / Mashable Our pick: Dreame Gleam hair dryer $69.99 at Amazon
$99.99 Save $30.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Usually, the Dreame Gleam hair dryer is our best Supersonic dupe under $100, but Black Friday upped the ante. If you have a Prime membership, you can grab this hair dryer on sale for just $69.99 at Amazon. If you don't have Prime, you can also pick this dryer up directly from Dreame's website. So what's the $28 difference between the Dreame and the Laifen dryers? To be honest, not a whole ton, but I can't personally attest to how the Dreame holds up over time (I tested it for the first time in Oct. 2024). What I will say is the Gleam doesn't have a diffuser attachment you can bundle, it doesn't sound like a Supersonic, and it is the slightest bit bulkier than the Laifen Swift.

Best Supersonic dupe deal for minimizing hair damage Opens in a new window Credit: Bethany Allard / Mashable Our pick: Zuvi Halo $209.00 at Zuvi
$349.00 Save $140.00 Get Deal Why we like it

The Zuvi Halo certainly isn't the cheapest dupe we recommend, but it's maybe the most unique. Unlike other options, this dryer doesn't try to outright copy Dyson's idea for a heat-minimizing dryer so much as offer an alternative that's just as innovative, thanks to the ring of infrared lights it uses in tandem with its airflow. While I was initially skeptical of how much these lights would actually do anything, I found that the Halo often left my hair feeling soft and shiny, and used noticeably cooler air than either of the above two dupes.

Instead of heat and air settings, the Halo has "care" modes you choose from, which automatically set the heat and intensity of the air you're getting. That might be a bit annoying for someone who craves more customizability, but for set-and-forget types, this feature might just be a godsend. At this sale price of $209, the Halo is still less than half the price of the Supersonic at full price, and $120 cheaper than the Supersonic on sale.

Best Supersonic dupe deal for the smoothest hair possible Opens in a new window Credit: Bethany Allard / Mashable Our pick: Shark SpeedStyle Pro Flex $179.00 at Amazon
$229.99 Save $50.99 Shop Now Why we like it

Shark is known for making some of the best Dyson dupes on the market, and though the SpeedStyle Pro Flex doesn't look anything like a Supersonic, if your goal is smooth hair and a good selection of attachments, this is the hair dryer to get. In addition to a standard drying nozzle, the Pro Flex comes with a QuickSmooth brush, a diffuser, and a FrizzFighter finishing tool. Each of these attachments automatically adjust the heat and speed setting for what Shark would consider the most optimal for each, but unlike the Zuvi, you can easily manually adjust each, too.

As for storage, this configuration of the ProFlex doesn't come with a storage case, but the folding neck does make the hair dryer a slightly less awkward shape to store. At $179, you'll save $50.99 on this hair dryer, grabbing it at the lowest price we've ever seen.

Best Supersonic dupe deal if you also want an Airwrap Opens in a new window Credit: Bethany Allard / Mashable Our pick: Dreame Pocket hair dryer $99.99 at Amazon
$159.99 Save $60.00 Get Deal Why we like it

If you've been eyeing the Dyson Supersonic, there's also a good chance you've checked out the Dyson Airwrap. If the $600 price tag scared you away, fair (though it is now $100 off for Black Friday). Sale price or not, that multistyler is expensive, and for many, the most interesting attachment can be the Coanda-air powered curling wands. With so many dupes on the market these days, this is no longer a Dyson exclusive option, even if you're looking at a more traditional hair dryer.

The Dreame Pocket hair dryer is super compact, with a neck that folds down and up, meaning you can use it as you would any hair dryer, fold it down for storing, or fold it up to use the curling nozzle (it also comes with a smoothing nozzle). While it does only go in one direction, it still gives a pretty, bouncy blowout — it didn't really curl my hair, but neither does the Airwrap curling wands, as both are more targeted at providing wavy blowout than true curls. The pocket also comes with a convenient storage bag that fits everything into a surprisingly compact package. I recommend it at full price, which makes it even easier to say its worth giving a go at $99.99.

SAVE $50: As of Nov. 25, you can score a pair of JLab JBuds Lux ANC headphones for just $29 at Walmart. That's a savings of $50 and a crazy good deal.

Opens in a new window Credit: JLab JLab JBuds Lux ANC headphones $29.00 at Walmart
$79.99 Save $50.99 Get Deal

Looking to score a wicked deal on noise-cancelling headphones? Walmart’s early Black Friday sale has tons of deals on headphones, including the JLab JBuds Lux ANC headphones.

As of Nov. 25, you can snag these babies for just $29 — that’s an insanely good deal for a pair of headphones that typically retail for around $79.99. The lowest price we’ve ever seen on these is $46.99 (Amazon’s current price), so this $29 sale price is an absolute steal. Note: This deal is only available online.

SEE ALSO: Walmart Black Friday ad: The best deals you can buy online

The JLab JBuds Lux ANC headphones feature 40mm drivers and active noise cancellation technology to help block out background noise, whether you're on a noisy flight, in the office, or just trying to focus at home. With the ANC on, you can get 40 hours of playtime. With ANC off, that jumps up to 70 hours.

There’s also a “Be Aware” mode that lets you hear your surroundings while listening to music or podcasts, so you can stay safe when walking or biking. You can adjust this setting, get software updates, and more with the JLab App.

With Bluetooth connectivity and a built-in mic, you can take hands-free calls and control your music playback from the headphones. Plus, the Cloud Foam ear cushions are super soft and comfortable. We’d definitely recommend hopping on this deal before it’s gone.

SAVE $45.95: As of Nov. 25, you can snag an OtterBox Defender Series Pro case for your iPhone 16 Pro for just $19 at Walmart. That's a savings of $45.95.

Opens in a new window Credit: OtterBox OtterBox Defender Series Pro iPhone 16 Pro case $19.00 at Walmart
$54.00 Save $35.00 Get Deal

We’re just a few days from Black Friday, but Walmart’s website is overflowing with deals you can take advantage of right now. From headphones to mobile accessories, Walmart’s impressing us with its pre-Black Friday sales.

As of Nov. 25, you can grab an OtterBox Defender Series Pro phone case for the iPhone 16 Pro for just $19 at Walmart. That’s $45.95 off the list price and a really good deal for a tough-as-nails phone case.

SEE ALSO: All the best early Black Friday deals at Amazon, Target, Best Buy, and Walmart

Remember, this deal is available to Walmart+ members at noon ET and non-members at 5 p.m. ET. If you want to hop on it early, you’ll need to sign up for a Walmart Plus membership right now, which is half-off for new members through Dec. 2.

The OtterBox Defender Series Pro Case for MagSafe iPhone 16 Pro is a multi-layered case that provides heavy-duty protection. It features DROP+ technology, which safeguards your phone from five times more drops than the military standard, and raised edges to protect your camera, screen, and port openings from dust and dirt.

JUST $178: As of Nov. 25, Walmart shoppers can get a 55-inch Hisense 4K TV for just $178 ahead of Black Friday. Note that this deal goes live at 12PM ET on Nov. 25 for Walmart+ members exclusively, and then will be open to everyone starting at 5PM ET.

Opens in a new window Credit: Hisense Hisense 55-inch Class R6 Series 4K UHD Roku Smart TV $178.00 at Walmart
Get Deal

Black Friday is hands-down one of the best times to get a new TV — tons of can't-miss deals tend to go live before the main event officially starts, and 2024 is looking like it's going to follow suit.

If you're looking for a new 4K TV but don't have a huge budget this holiday shopping season, this deal from Walmart should absolutely be on your radar: The retailer is offering a 55-inch Hisense 4K TV for just $178. It's one of the cheapest 55-inch 4K TVs we've seen leading up to Black Friday and is bound to sell out quickly, so make sure you don't miss out.

SEE ALSO: Early Black Friday TV deals at Best Buy and Walmart absolutely school Amazon's

There is one catch, though. This deal will only be available to Walmart+ members for a short period of time before being released to the general public. So if you're not a member, you'll want to act fast when the deal goes live for you, because you'll be shopping the leftover stock. The deal will become redeemable for Walmart+ members starting at 12PM ET on Nov. 25, and then will be available to all other shoppers starting at 5PM ET on the same day.

GET $20 OFF: As of Nov. 25, you can get a set of Nintendo Joy-Cons (L/R) - Left Neon Red/ Right Neon Blue Controllers for just $59.00. That's 25% off the original price or $20 off.

Opens in a new window Credit: Nintendo Nintendo Switch Joy-Con (L/R) - Left Neon Red/ Right Neon Blue Controllers $59.00 at Walmart
$79.00 Save $20.00 Get Deal

It’s the time of year for huge discounts, but even so, our eyebrows shot up when we saw that Nintendo Joy-Cons are on sale today for $20 off. The Switch system remains immensely popular — consequently Joy-Cons rarely ever get significant discounts.

Whether you’re a cozy gamer doing dealings with Animal Crossing’s Tom Nook, or you’re battling your friends in Super Smash Bros, Joy-Cons are your point of entry to the action. The Nintendo Switch’s signature is its ability to transition from handheld system to TV and Joy-Cons make this happen.

SEE ALSO: Save $75 on the Nintendo Switch OLED 'Mario Kart 8 Deluxe' bundle for Black Friday

Attached to a Switch, they control the action on the Switch’s main screen. Unattached to the screen, they connect with a Joy-Con Grip to make one large controller or function as two individual controllers. As individual controllers, each contains a separate accelerometer and gyro-sensor.

As of Nov. 25 you can get a set of Nintendo Joy-Cons (L/R) - Left Neon Red/ Right Neon Blue Controllers for $59.00 and save 25%.

As a gift, Joy-Cons open up multiplayer gaming for a Switch owner. The clear choice as a part gaming system Nintendo Switch is a great choice for multiplayer gaming, and a gift of Joy-Cons brings even more friends into the action.

GET $50 OFF: As of Nov. 25 at 12PM EST, Lego Ideas The Office US TV Show Series Dunder Mifflin Scranton Model Building Set is on sale for $70, save $50 at Walmart.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Ideas The Office US TV Show Series Dunder Mifflin Scranton Model Building Set, 21336 $70.00 at Walmart
$120.00 Save $50.00 Get Deal

Resurrected from the Schrute Farms compost bin, The Office Dunder Mifflin Scranton Model Building Set brings the classic Scranton comedy to life. The set was recently retired by Lego; if you were eyeing the set and missed out, this is your notice that it's back now. Get it on sale for Black Friday week at Walmart.

SEE ALSO: 15+ of the best Lego Black Friday deals you can shop early

With 15 mini-figures that you’ll recognize from Dunder Mifflin HQ, you’ll be able to call a meeting in the boardroom, banish Michael Scott to sulk in his office, or give Pam an engagement ring. The set even comes with Dwight’s secret stash of weapons and Michael’s "World's Best Boss" mug.

As of Nov. 25 at noon EST, The Office Lego Building Set is on sale for $70 for a total savings of $50.

Made for adult fans of The Office, this collector’s set comes with an illustrated book about The Office and the set’s creators.

If you’ve been following this Lego Ideas set you might have thought it was gone for good. Don’t wait, because it might not come out of retirement again. As Michael says, “Fool me once, strike one. But fool me twice... strike three.”

SAVE $150: As of Nov. 25, you can snag the JBL Partybox 110 at Walmart for $199. That's a 43% discount or $150.95 off the list price. Note: The Walmart MSRP price is slightly inflated, so we're basing this off the actual MSRP.

Opens in a new window Credit: JBL JBL Partybox 110 $199.00 at Walmart
$399.95 Save $200.95 Get Deal

If you’ve been looking for a speaker that doubles as a karaoke machine, we’ve found just the product — and it’s on sale.

As of Nov. 25, you can get the JBL Partybox 110 for just $199 at Walmart. (Walmart+ shoppers can snag it at this price at noon; non-members will have to wait until 5 p.m. ET.) That’s a $150.95 discount and a record-low price for this speaker. It looks like Amazon, Best Buy, and the JBL website are selling it for a mere 95 to 99 cents more, so if Walmart sells out, you can still grab it elsewhere for a great price.

SEE ALSO: Black Friday store hours: What time do Walmart, Best Buy, Target and more open their doors?

The JBL Partybox 110 is a fun, portable party speaker that can fill a room with that signature JBL Original Pro Sound. It’s IPX4 splashproof (take it to the pool or the beach) and has a mic and guitar input, so you can use it as an amp or host karaoke nights.

With the PartyBox App, you can control your music, update settings, and customize the colors and patterns of the lights — perfect for setting the mood at any event. You'll get up to 12 hours of battery life on a single charge.

Daisy Harris, an A.I.-generated English granny, has been stymying scammers with meandering, time-wasting conversations. But can she actually make a dent in the flood of fraud?

Dictionary.com's word of the year is demure, a nod to the "very mindful, very demure" social media trend started by TikTokker Jools Lebron.

Demure beat out brainrot, brat (inspired by the Charli XCX album of the same name), extreme weather, midwest nice, and weird. Dictionary.com defines demure as "characterized by shyness or modesty; reserved," but its announcement acknowledged that the use popularized by Jools changes the word's meaning.

SEE ALSO: 'Pookie' is more than a pet name. TikTok's new favorite word is rooted in a rich cultural history.

Online, it's come to mean anything from self-aware, sophisticated, and restrained to good and praiseworthy. But as is the case with any viral word, it's also come to mean nothing.

Jools first posted how to be mindful and demure in early August. "You see how I do my makeup for work? Very demure. Very mindful," she said in the now-viral video. "I don't come to work with a green-cut crease. I don't look like a clown when I go to work. I don't do too much. I'm very mindful while I'm at work."

SEE ALSO: 'Very demure' demonstrates TikTok's ability to shape modern language

The word quickly caught on and was inescapable online. Dictionary.com saw 200 times more searches for the word than it did on dates preceding August.

The ruling by a federal judge, Leonie Brinkema, in an antitrust case over Google’s advertising technology could add to the internet company’s woes.

SAVE 75%: Through Dec. 2, new and returning Peacock subscribers can score a year of ad-supported Peacock Premium for either $1.99/month for six months (reg. $7.99/month) or $19.99 an entire year (reg. $79.99/year) using the codes REALDEALMONTHLY or REALDEAL, respectively.

Opens in a new window Credit: Peacock Peacock Premium $1.99/month for six months or $19.99/year (save 75%) Get Deal

Peacock has consistently dropped one of the most impressive Black Friday deals for multiple years in a row. Thankfully, this year is no different.

From Nov. 25 through Dec. 2, new and returning subscribers can sign up for Peacock Premium (the ad-supported tier) for either $1.99/month for six months with the code REALDEALMONTHLY or $19.99/year with the code REALDEAL. That's 75% off the usual streaming cost either way you slice it. At a glance, this basically mirrors Peacock's Black Friday deal from last year, but since the streamer raised its prices back in July — now $7.99/month or $79.99/year (up from $5.99/month or $59.99/year) — it's actually a much bigger discount.

If you've never checked out Peacock, Mashable's film editor found that it's a subscription worth your while — even at full price. At $19.99 for an entire year, it's a complete no-brainer. Peacock is home to popular shows like The Office, New Girl, Law & Order: SVU, and Yellowstone, as well as new theatrical releases like Twisters, The Fall Guy, and Abigail. For reality TV junkies, it's also the home of all of your favorites from Bravo. Don't sleep on Peacock Originals like Poker Face and Mrs. Davis either. Check out our watch guides for the best shows on Peacock, the most binge-worthy shows on Peacock, the best horror movies on Peacock, and more if you need more convincing.

With a Premium subscription, you'll have to sit through some ads, but with this Black Friday deal, it's kind of hard to complain. Just think of those ads as built-in snack and bathroom breaks. If you want to avoid paying full price, be sure to cancel your subscription before the promotional period is up.