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OpenAI might bring ads to ChatGPT, emphasis on might.

Chief Financial Officer Sarah Friar told the Financial Times on Monday that the AI company was considering an ad model, adding that it plans to be "thoughtful about when and where we implement them."

However, Friar backtracked a little in a follow-up statement to the outlet, saying "while we’re open to exploring other revenue streams in the future, we have no active plans to pursue advertising."

SEE ALSO: OpenAI's Sam Altman had an AMA on Reddit: 5 takeaways about ChatGPT and more

This is in line with what OpenAI told Mashable when it launched ChatGPT Search at the end of October. When asked whether the company planned on introducing ads to the AI-powered search engine, a spokesperson said, "we don’t have any plans for ads."

That said, OpenAI has been hiring lots of top monetization talent lately. Shivakumar Venkataraman, formerly on Google Search's advertising team, became an OpenAI VP in May, and Chief Product Officer Kevin Weil who led product teams at Instagram and X came on board in June. On Tuesday, OpenAI hired its first Chief Marketing Officer Kate Rouch, who oversaw Coinbase's Super Bowl ads.

OpenAI recently closed a massive funding round of $6 billion, giving the company a valuation of $150 billon. According to the New York Times, OpenAI's revenue projections underpinning the largest VC round of all time expect to bring in $11.6 billion in 2025. This is despite the fact that OpenAI currently operates at a loss of $2.3 billon. So somehow OpenAI has to essentially triple its revenue despite the huge cost of maintaining and developing AI models. That money has to come from somewhere, and upping its premium subscriptions might not be enough.

Of course bringing ads to ChatGPT risks enshittifying the product and alienating users. This could be costly in a highly competitive environment with Anthropic, Perplexity, and Google Gemini developing similar tools.

SAVE OVER 40%: Celebrate National Cookie Day by saving over 40% on baking deals at Amazon including the KitchenAid stand mixer and a great countertop oven from Ninja.

Best baking deals at Amazon Best overall baking deal KitchenAid Artisan Series Stand Mixer (5-quart) $329.95 at Amazon (save $120.04 + get a $16 Amazon credit) Get Deal Best countertop oven deal Ninja Double Stack XL Countertop Oven and Air Fryer $279.99 at Amazon (save $100) Get Deal Best baking accessory KitchenAid Glass Surface Digital Kitchen Scale (black with silver) $15.99 at Amazon (save $11) Get Deal

Holiday sales on Black Friday and Cyber Monday are slowly disappearing, leaving us kinda bummed while we wait for our packages to arrive. Thankfully, there's something worth celebrating today: National Cookie Day. If you'll be embarking on some holiday baking or simply love homemade cookies, Amazon has some great baking deals in store today. Here are some of our favorites to help everyone celebrate National Cookie Day.

Best overall baking deal Opens in a new window Credit: KitchenAid KitchenAid Artisan Series Stand Mixer (5-quart) $329.95 at Amazon
$449.99 Save $120.04 + get a $16 Amazon credit Get Deal Why we like it

A KitchenAid stand mixer has long been a quintessential part of every kitchen. It's perhaps the most important item that makes baking a breeze. If you've ever tried to whip up egg whites by hand or work a tough bread dough, you understand the struggle of baking without a stand mixer.

The ultra durable and reliable KitchenAid Artisan Series stand mixer is on sale at Amazon for $329.95, down from the normal price of $449.99. That means you'll save 27%. You'll also automatically get a $16 Amazon credit added to your account 30 days after the mixer ships.

The KitchenAid stand mixer has a 5-quart capacity, making it ideal for any batch of cookies, cupcakes, or bread dough. The stainless steel bowl is dishwasher safe, and you'll also get a coated dough hook, 6-wire whip, and a coasted flat beater attachment.

Best countertop oven deal Opens in a new window Credit: Ninja Ninja Double Stack XL Countertop Oven and Air Fryer $279.99 at Amazon
$379.99 Save $100.00 Get Deal Why we like it

For plenty of reasons, a countertop oven can be perfect for baking cookies. Not only can countertop ovens be much better for indoor air quality, they're perfect if you feel like baking just a dozen or so cookies and don't feel like heating up the entire range to do so. Countertop models can also be perfect if your apartment or small home doesn't come with a traditional oven.

The super versatile Ninja Double Stack XL Countertop Oven and Air Fryer is a do-it-all machine that's currently on sale at Amazon on National Cookie Day for $279.99, instead of the typical $379.99. For starters, it's an oven and an air fryer, so you'll be able to free up some precious counter space since it's a 2-in-1 model. But the Ninja is so much more than just an oven and an air fryer. The dual model gives you two cooking spaces, so you could bake a tray of chocolate chip cookies on the upper oven and roast a chicken on the lower. The flavors (and smells) stay separate while cooking.

Plus, the oven has a convection bake setting, which is ideal for perfectly browning and evenly baking cookies regardless of if they're baking at the front of the tray or the back. You can also use the easy one-touch pizza button for a quick weeknight meal or use the oven to dehydrate fruit for homemade snacks.

Best baking accessory deal Opens in a new window Credit: KitchenAid KitchenAid Glass Surface Digital Kitchen Scale (black with silver) $15.99 at Amazon
$26.99 Save $11.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Baking isn't quite as forgiving as cooking can be. Add in a bit too much flour or water and your cookies might turn out looking or even tasting wonky. Baking with the accuracy of a kitchen scale can be a super easy (and inexpensive) way to level up your baking skills. On National Cookie Day, Amazon has the KitchenAid Glass Surface Digital Kitchen Scale on sale for just $15.99 in the black and silver model. This deal means you'll be saving $11 off the typical price of $26.99.

The KitchenAid scale easily switches between fluid measurements of ounces and milliliters to dry measurements like grams. Using this precision on recipes that call for dry yeast or baking powder can be especially useful. It can also save you the hassle of searching for measurement conversions if you're using a recipe that measures in grams and milliliters.

More baking deals at Amazon

• Dessert Person by Claire Saffitz — $15.67 $35 (save $19.33)

• Nordic Ware 3 Piece Baker's Delight Set — $35.26 $39.99 (save $4.73)

• USA Pan Bakeware Cookie Sheet (set of 2) — $39.76 $46.99 (save $7.23)

• Calphalon 10-Piece Nonstick Bakeware Set — $67 $131.99 (save $64.99)

• KitchenAid Bread Bowl with Baking Lid — $99.95 $129.99 (save $30.04)

Check out the best Amazon deals of the day as of Dec. 4: OUR TOP PICK Sony ULT Wear headphones $148 (save $51.99) Get Deal BEST TABLET DEAL Amazon Fire Max 11 $139.99 (save $90) Get Deal BEST FITNESS TRACKER DEAL Fitbit Charge 6 $99.95 (save $60) Get Deal BEST TRAVEL DEAL Tile Pro Bluetooth tracker $27.99 (save $7) Get Deal BEST TV DEAL Amazon 55-inch 4-Series Fire TV $379.99 (save $80) Get Deal

It's hard to fathom, but another Cyber Week has come and gone. We saw some incredibly impressive deals for Black Friday and Cyber Monday on tech, kitchen gadgets, outdoor gear, streaming services, and so much more. If you missed out on the biggest sale of the season, no need to fret. Fortunately, Amazon has plenty of lingering discounts you can still grab. We've rounded up a few of our favorites still live on Dec. 4.

Here are our top picks for the best Amazon deals of the day. If none of these are your cup of tea, check back tomorrow for a whole new round of picks.

Our top pick: Sony ULT Wear headphones Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Sony ULT Wear headphones $148.00 at Amazon
$199.99 Save $51.99 Get Deal

"We try not to make sweeping claims in our reviews at Mashable, but these honestly might be my favorite pair of headphones I’ve tried — especially when you consider the price," writes Deputy Shopping and Reviews Editor Miller Kern. The Sony ULT Wear headphones offer multiple bass levels, punchy 360-degree sound, solid noise cancellation, customizable EQs, and intuitive on-ear controls, all for just under $200 on a regular day. Post-Cyber Monday, these babies are still sitting at $148 — a savings of 26% and the lowest price on record.

Check out our full review of the Sony ULT Wear headphones.

Amazon Fire Max 11 tablet Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire Max 11 tablet $139.99 at Amazon
$229.99 Save $90.00 Get Deal

Not only is the Fire Max 11 our favorite budget tablet, but it's also Amazon's best iPad competitor. At full price, it'll run you $229.99, but thanks to a Cyber Monday deal that's still sticking around, it's down to just $139.99. That's a savings of 39% and matches its all-time low. It features a crisp 11-inch display (the largest Fire tablet you can buy), 8MP cameras that support 1080p video, 14-hour battery life, an upgraded octa-core processor, and WiFi 6 compatibility. As Mashable's reviewer noted, it's also "blazing fast, making it a good alternative to pricier tablets for streaming and games."

Check out our full review of the Amazon Fire Max 11 tablet.

Fitbit Charge 6 Opens in a new window Credit: Fitbit Fitbit Charge 6 $99.95 at Amazon
$159.95 Save $60.00 Get Deal

The Fitbit Charge 6 was one of our readers' top purchases this Cyber Week, and we can see why. As far as fitness trackers go, it's one of the best — and it's still sitting at its best-ever price of $99.95 (that's 38% off). With a seven-day battery life, over 40 exercise modes, a heart rate monitor, sleep tracking, a built-in GPS, it'll give you solid insight into your health and habits. It also comes with six months of Fitbit Premium to help you really kickstart your fitness routine.

Tile Pro Bluetooth tracker Opens in a new window Credit: Tile by Life360 Tile Pro (2024) $27.99 at Amazon
$34.99 Save $7.00 Get Deal

If you have holiday travel plans, you may want to grab yourself a Bluetooth tracker before jetting off. The Tile Pro is one of our favorite options (the best AirTag alternative) and the newest iteration is on sale for just $27.99. That's 20% off its usual price. Paired with the Tile app on your phone, you can have constant intel on the whereabouts of your luggage. You can also attach it to your purse, wallet, keys, or practically anything else you want to keep tabs on. Just press a button on your phone and a loud remote chime will alert you to your lost items from hundreds of feet away.

Amazon 55-inch 4-Series Fire TV Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon 55-inch 4-Series Fire TV $379.99 at Amazon
$459.99 Save $80.00 Get Deal

Amazon just dropped a brand-new version of its most popular smart TV last month — the 4-Series. And in true Amazon fashion, it's already on sale for $80 off. The latest 4-Series now features an ultraslim bezel that fades into the background, making your content more immersive. Otherwise, it's largely the same TV Fire TV fans know and love. It supports vivid 4K Ultra HD, HDR10, HLG, and Dolby Digital Plus, comes with the Alexa Voice Remote Enhanced, and features four HDMI inputs to connect all your gaming and audio peripherals. The 55-inch model is priced at $459.99, but it's down to $379.99 post-Cyber Monday.

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

GenCast, from the company’s DeepMind division, outperformed the world’s best predictions of deadly storms as well as everyday weather.

Now that you've had time to digest your Spotify Wrapped 2024 results — maybe you even shared your top artists to your Instagram Story or posted your top songs on your FYP — it's time to start thinking ahead. With the arrival of Wrapped comes the inevitable question: When does Spotify Wrapped start tracking for 2025?

SEE ALSO: You can probably guess Spotify's most-streamed artist of 2024

Spotify’s year-end roundup has become a cultural phenomenon. It marks the unofficial end of the year and sparks debates over sound towns, audio auras, and music evolutions. But Wrapped isn’t just a snapshot of your listening habits; it’s also a motivator for the coming year. Knowing when the clock resets can help dedicated users curate their listening habits with the next Wrapped in mind.

When does Spotify Wrapped begin tracking?

Spotify has never confirmed its exact tracking period — sorry! — but it has given us a ballpark estimate.

Molly Holder, the senior director of product for personalization at Spotify, told Mashable at a Wrapped press presentation on Dec. 3, "We start at the beginning of January with all of your listening that begins right then at the beginning of the year, and it goes all the way through collecting data up until a few weeks before we launch the Wrapped product."

Therefore, the tracking period depends on the product's launch date. Spotify has also denied rumors that it stops tracking user data for Wrapped on Oct. 31. This means that the songs and artists you listen to in November are still considered for your annual Wrapped. But the artists and songs you listen to post-Wrapped and before January are free game, so please proceed to listen to your holiday playlists without shame.

"We aim to get as much of your year in listening covered as possible," Holder added. "This is how we can capture as much of your data to make the best personalized recommendations for you."

Looking ahead to Wrapped 2025

If you’re already planning for your next Wrapped, it’s never too early to start curating your playlists and exploring new genres. For those hoping to diversify their Wrapped data next year, Spotify’s Discover Weekly, Release Radar, and curated playlists offer a great way to break out of listening ruts. You can even try making your own playlist using AI...if you're really desperate for new music.

There's also a way to keep embarrassing music off your Wrapped. Say you're a parent who's streamed the Bluey theme song more times than you can count or a dancer learning choreography; Spotify has created a way to remove playlists from your "Taste Profile," which is how the platform defines the music you like and generates Wrapped. Songs and artists on playlists removed from your Taste Profile won't be in your top songs or artists on your Wrapped list, but they will contribute to your total listening time.

But it's important to note that if you listen to the songs outside the playlist, they will still be included in your Taste Profile and could appear in your Wrapped results.

SAVE $16: As of Dec. 4, get a 3-month Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription for $33.99, down from $49.99, at Woot. That's a discount of 32%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Woot Credit: Woot Xbox Game Pass Ultimate (3-Month Subscription) $33.99 at Woot
$49.99 Save $16.00 Get Deal

If you snagged a new Xbox during Black Friday or Cyber Monday, or you're looking to give a loved one a console for the holidays, you're going to need some games to play. But that doesn't mean you should drop a ton of cash on Xbox games to get ahead. Instead, turn to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, one of your best bets when it comes to saving money and having the freedom to try out as many games as you like. You can snag a membership for a great price right now, thanks to Woot.

As of Dec. 4, get a digital code for a 3-month Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription for just $33.99 at Woot. That's $16 off its normal price of $49.99 and a discount of 32%. Plus, these codes are stackable, so if you want to grab a few at a time and stay subscribed longer, that's doable here. And if you're a new Woot member, use code GAMEPASS to get an extra $5 off your code through Dec. 13.

SEE ALSO: I love budget gaming monitors, and this impressive Samsung 4K monitor is a steal at $130 off

An Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription unlocks hundreds of Xbox games so you can play anything on the service that you want for as long as you want, or as long as it remains available. That means you get access to new games on the day they release, like the upcoming Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, without having to buy the game outright. You also get to play games from Xbox Game Studios, Bethesda Softworks, and more without having to commit to a $50 to $70 price tag. The Ultimate tier of Game Pass also grants access to EA Play, so you have those titles to choose from as well.

An Ultimate subscription also lets you try out Xbox Cloud Gaming as well as multiplayer in games that offer it. But even if you only use it to try out a bunch of different games, it's still worth the price. Be sure to grab a code (or two or three) if you're planning on joining the Xbox gang this year.

SAVE UP TO 33%: As of Dec. 4, you can get up to 33% off select Vitamix, Instant Pot, and Keurig appliances at Amazon.

Best kitchen deals as of Dec. 4 Best air fryer deal Instant Pot Vortex Plus 6-Quart Air Fryer $79.95 (save $40.04) Get Deal Best coffee maker deal Keurig K-Café Barista Bar Single Serve Coffee Maker and Frother $99.99 (save $40) Get Deal Best blender deal Vitamix Explorian Blender (E310) $254.99 (save $124.96) Get Deal

We’ve been covering the ongoing Cyber Week sales, and the deals continue to pour in — it’s crazy how many great sales are still available, even a week after Black Friday (but we’re not complaining!).

SEE ALSO: The best Cyber Monday deals still live in 2024

As of Dec. 4, you can still find discounts on some of the most popular kitchen brands, including Vitamix, Instant Pot, Keurig, and more. We’re seeing price cuts on blenders, air fryers, coffee makers, and other small appliances that make great gifts or additions to your own kitchen.

Here are just a few of the top deals that are still live:

Best air fryer deal Opens in a new window Credit: Instant Pot Instant Pot Vortex Plus 6-Quart Air Fryer $79.95 at Amazon
$119.99 Save $40.04 Get Deal Why we like it

The Instant Pot Vortex Plus 6-Quart Air Fryer is on sale for $79.95 at Amazon. That’s a 33% discount, or $40.04 off the list price. While it’s not as low as the price we saw for Cyber Monday (when it dropped to $67.99) it’s still a great price for an air fryer that can broil, roast, dehydrate, bake, reheat, and, of course, air fry.

Its EvenCrisp technology promises crispy, golden-brown results every time, and the six-quart capacity can easily handle a full meal or multiple side dishes. With fast pre-heating and multiple one-touch smart programs, this air fryer makes mealtime easier.

Best coffee maker deal Opens in a new window Credit: Keurig Keurig K-Café Barista Bar Single Serve Coffee Maker and Frother $99.99 at Amazon
$139.99 Save $40.00 Get Deal Why we like it

You can get a Keurig K-Café Barista Bar Single Serve Coffee Maker and Frother, which normally goes for $139.99, for $99.99 at Amazon. That’s a $40 price cut and the lowest price we’ve seen for this model.

The K-Café isn’t your typical Keurig coffee machine — this one features a two-ounce coffee shot function and includes a milk frother for whipping up hot or iced lattes, cappuccinos, and more. It can brew up to 12 ounces at a time and has a removable 42-ounce water reservoir for fewer refills.

Best blender deal Opens in a new window Credit: Viatmix Vitamix Explorian Blender (E310) $254.99 at Amazon
$379.95 Save $124.96 Get Deal Why we like it

Vitamix is one of the biggest names in the blender game, which, unfortunately, also means it’s one of the more expensive. But right now, you can buy a Vitamix Explorian Blender (E310) for $254.99, down from $379.95 at Amazon. That’s a 33% discount, or $124.96 off the list price.

The Explorian has 10 variable speeds and a powerful 1,400-watt motor that can blend everything from smoothies to soups to dips and spreads. The Pulse Feature gives you more control over texture (think chunky salsas, hearty soups, and more), and the 48-ounce container makes it ideal for blending for a crowd or meal prepping.

The internet loves Spotify Wrapped while simultaneously loving to poke fun at it. If you use Spotify, you're pretty much obligated to share your Wrapped on social media. Needless to say, Spotify Wrapped Day — which happens to be today, Wednesday, Dec. 4 — is a big day online.

There's lots to check out in 2024's version of Spotify Wrapped. Mashable's Crystal Bell has all the details, but in short, Spotify users got their "music evolution" for the year, details on their top listening streaks, and, most strangely, an AI-generated podcast that sums up their listening habits in audio format.

The internet had lots of jokes, memes, and reactions about it all.

Folks made jokes about, well, nothing really changing.

Tweet may have been deleted

same as ever for me except please please please wormed its way in cuz it rules

[image or embed]

— Tim Marcin (@timmarcin.bsky.social) December 4, 2024 at 9:07 AM Tweet may have been deleted

Lots of people weren't excited with how Wrapped went in 2024.

Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted

There were also the random, weird jokes that the internet makes about, well, anything.

Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted

Spotify Wrapped just dropped. Mine is very “meat and potatoes”

[image or embed]

— ITYSL memes 💦🥩 (@ityslmemes.com) December 4, 2024 at 9:22 AM

It might not be the most exciting year for Wrapped but, as has become a yearly ritual, the internet was still chatting about it all Wednesday.

TikTok's had a fruitful, delicious, and undeniably challenging year, both on and offline.

When the social media platform wasn't bleeding lime green during brat summer, dropping CapCuts of Moo Deng's lettuce hat, looking for a man in finance, or shaping modern language while being very demure, very mindful, the company itself faced (and is facing) a potential U.S. ban in the new year — despite the White House joining the platform.

Books, Sephora tweens, the "Apple" dance, and whole cucumbers ruled TikTok, and we proudly told jerks to "scram!"

But what does TikTok itself see as its biggest trends of the year? The company announced its Year on TikTok 2024 on Wednesday, joining the plethora of Big Tech platforms dropping the data on what we all got up to over the last 12 months.

SEE ALSO: The best internet moments of 2024, from Moo Deng mania to 'brat' summer

TikTok's year in review is separated into several trend topics, which we've breezed through here. But you can check out the full breakdown on TikTok's hub. The summary, the company says, "is based on research comprising in-app and third-party insights focused on TikTok's social, economic, and cultural impact, conducted from January to November 2024."

Year on TikTok 2024: A brief rundown

In the "From moments to movements" section, TikTok highlights some of the biggest trends, from Jools Lebron's "very demure, very mindful" moment to Charli XCX's "brat summer" (including Kelley Heyer's "Apple" dance) and Megan Boni's "Man in Finance" meme.

Animal-wise, there's been a wave of adorable stars trending from Thailand's bratty pygmy hippo Moo Deng to Australia's big fluffy boi penguin Pesto.

SEE ALSO: From Moo Deng to Pesto the Penguin, here are the cutest animals taking over our feeds

For foodies, TikTok highlighted some of the top food-related trends, including Logan Moffitt's cucumber salad, the #sambasandalittleredbag trend started by @maisieisobel_'s, Fix Dessert Chocolatier's chocolate bar, @thespudbrothers' live videos, and Chippy Diva's review of @merchants_fishandchips. (Here are our personal favourite TikTok food trends of the year.)

BookTok-wise, the site saw over 1.2 million book-related posts created in the first 10 months of 2024, and a 300 percent increase in #Romantasy posts this year.

TikTok also called out the platform's educational creators, noting the expansion of its educational STEM feed to all users (not just teens) this year. From the U.S. and UK, TikTok's notable knowledge creators included Shelby Lattimore, Chemical Kim, Charlie Engelman, Big.Manny1, Deidre Kelly, Yorkshire Fossils, Doctor Ahmed Ezzat, and the Royal Armouries Museum, who let Gen Z write the script, and astronaut Kellie Gerardi.

Music on TikTok in 2024

But of course, TikTok's music charts have all the eyes on them. TikTok broke down the top artists and tracks on the platform this year. The top 10 songs on TikTok globally saw 8 billion streams on Spotify, with "Gata Only" by FloyyMenor and Cris Mj topping the list. The top song in the U.S. was Tommy Richman’s "MILLION DOLLAR BABY (VHS)" and in the UK it was Tinashe's "Nasty".

Credit: TikTok

As for the top artists globally, Mexico's Yeri Mua was number one, with her track "Linea del Perreo" going viral this year. In the U.S., Sabrina Carpenter topped the list, and in the UK, it was Central Cee.

Credit: TikTok

You can check out the whole list on TikTok's blog. And if you're looking for more end-of-year 2024 wrap-ups, Mashable's got you covered.

The District of Columbia’s attorney general said the company deliberately outsourced Prime member deliveries in certain ZIP codes.

Spotify users look forward to their Wrapped all year long. And for those who could hardly wait, don't fret: Spotify Wrapped 2024 is finally here. The long-awaited feature dropped today, Wednesday, Dec. 4.

What is Spotify Wrapped?

Started in 2016, Spotify Wrapped is exactly what it sounds like: your year in Spotify, neatly wrapped up in a colorful — and uniquely shareable — interactive experience.

Spotify combs through your data and tells you your top artists, songs, albums, and more. For instance, you might find out you were in the Top 1 percent of Selena Gomez listeners. Spotify also creates a playlist of your Top 100 songs of the year.

SEE ALSO: Spotify Wrapped 2024 arrives: 5 new features to check out Tweet may have been deleted When was Spotify Wrapped released in 2024?

Wrapped dropped Wednesday, Dec. 4. Spotify likes to keep the date under wraps while, of course, dropping hints to get everyone excited.

But things in 2024 ended up pretty much matching last year, exactly. In 2023, it came out the Wednesday after Thanksgiving...which is exactly when it came out in 2024.

Tweet may have been deleted How to view your Spotify Wrapped

It's pretty simple to look at your Wrapped. All you have to do is open the app on your phone and click on the correct "Wrapped" icon. Typically speaking, it'll be a little button across a hard-to-miss banner. You can also go to the Wrapped section of the Spotify website.

And, of course, once you do view your Wrapped there's only one thing to do: share it with the internet, as has become obligatory.

For the second year, Taylor Swift is the most-streamed artist on Spotify. The music streaming platform revealed its annual Wrapped campaign on Wednesday (Dec. 4), and with it came a Swiftstorm of data on 2024's most-streamed artists and songs.

SEE ALSO: Spotify Wrapped 2024 is here: How to get yours

She may be Billboard's No. 2 pop star of the 21st century, but with more than 26.6 billion streams globally, Swift is Spotify’s 2024 Global Top Artist. And that has to count for something.

Spotify Wrapped is in its Swiftie era

To celebrate Swift's dominance on the platform, Spotify is adding a gold Wrapped badge to Swift’s Spotify profile — the first-ever distinction of its kind. But that's not all: Swifties can enjoy the fun, too, with an on-platform Easter egg experience. When listening to Swift's music on Spotify, listeners will see custom mini-animations tailored to the eras of her discography, like a flurry of animated sparkles for Fearless (Taylor’s Version), seagulls for 1989 (Taylor's Version), and pink hearts for Lover.

And, of course, there are even Wrapped-branded friendship bracelets you can share exclusively on Snapchat via an AR lens.

Spotify's Most-Streamed Artists Globally:

Following Swift, The Weeknd was the second most-streamed global artist of the year; his song "One Of The Girls (with JENNIE, Lily Rose Depp)" from the ill-fated HBO series The Idol was a huge streaming hit with over 1.4 billion streams. Among the Top 5 are Bad Bunny, Drake, and Billie Eilish, whose 2024 release HIT ME HARD AND SOFT was the second most-streamed album globally — right behind...Taylor Swift.

1. Taylor Swift

2. The Weeknd

3. Bad Bunny

4. Drake

5. Billie Eilish

6. Travis Scott

7. Peso Pluma

8. Kanye West

9. Ariana Grande 

10. Feid

Spotify's Most-Streamed Songs Globally:

As for 2024's most-streamed songs globally, it should be no surprise that Sabrina Carpenter's summer smash "Espresso" scored the top spot. It's been streamed over 1.6 billion times on Spotify, and it had the entire internet singing, "That's that me espresso"

1. “Espresso” by Sabrina Carpenter

2. “Beautiful Things” by Benson Boone

3. “BIRDS OF A FEATHER” by Billie Eilish

4. “Gata Only” by FloyyMenor, Cris Mj 

5. “Lose Control” by Teddy Swims 

6. “End of Beginning” by Djo

7. “Too Sweet” by Hozier

8. “One Of The Girls (with JENNIE, Lily-Rose Depp)” by The Weeknd 

9. “Cruel Summer” by Taylor Swift

10. “Die With A Smile” by Bruno Mars, Lady Gaga

Spotify's Most-Streamed Albums Globally:

Swift and Carpenter weren't the only women who dominated Spotify Wrapped this year. Looking at the list of most-streamed albums globally, 2024 was a standout year for women. In fact, the Top 8 albums of the year were all released by women.

1. THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT: THE ANTHOLOGY by Taylor Swift 

2. HIT ME HARD AND SOFT by Billie Eilish 

3. Short n’ Sweet by Sabrina Carpenter 

4. MAÑANA SERÁ BONITO by KAROL G

5. eternal sunshine by Ariana Grande 

6. 1989 (Taylor’s Version) by Taylor Swift

7. SOS by SZA

8. Lover by Taylor Swift 

9. Fireworks & Rollerblades by Benson Boone

10. Starboy by The Weeknd 

And if you're wondering where 2024's breakout pop star Chappell Roan is, she appears on both the most-streamed songs in the U.S. and most-streamed albums in the U.S. lists, which you can check out in full below.

Spotify's Most-Streamed Songs in the U.S.:

1. “Espresso” by Sabrina Carpenter

2. “Not Like Us” by Kendrick Lamar

3. “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” by Shaboozey 

4. “I Had Some Help (Feat. Morgan Wallen)” by Post Malone 

5. “MILLION DOLLAR BABY” by Tommy Richman

6. “Good Luck, Babe!” by Chappell Roan

7. “Beautiful Things” by Benson Boone

8. “BIRDS OF A FEATHER” by Billie Eilish

9. “I Remember Everything (feat. Kacey Musgraves)” by Zach Bryan 

10. “Stick Season” by Noah Kahan

Spotify's Most-Streamed Albums in the U.S.:

1. THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT: THE ANTHOLOGY by Taylor Swift 

2. One Thing At A Time by Morgan Wallen

3. Short n’ Sweet by Sabrina Carpenter 

4. Stick Season by Noah Kahan

5. The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess by Chappell Roan 

6. HIT ME HARD AND SOFT by Billie Eilish 

7. SOS by SZA

8. Dangerous: The Double Album by Morgan Wallen

9. Zach Bryan by Zach Bryan 

10. 1989 (Taylor’s Version) by Taylor Swift

And that's a wrap on this year's Spotify Wrapped. Now for the important question: What do your top songs say about you?

After much anticipation, Spotify Wrapped dropped this morning, and there's a new feature for 2024: Your Wrapped AI Podcast, a three-minute-long (ish) podcast episode (powered by Google NotebookLM) in which two AI hosts walk you through your year in music. It starts with an oddly unsettling, "Hey there, music lovers," before delving into your top artist, music evolution, and more.

If you're having trouble finding your Wrapped AI Podcast, follow these easy steps.

Total Time

• 1 minute

What You Need

• A Spotify account

Step 1: Start at your Spotify home page and clicked "Wrapped," located at the top of the screen.

You'll see a row of buttons at the top of your screen. On the top left, you'll see your profile photo. To the right of that, you'll see "All," followed by "Wrapped." Click "Wrapped."

Credit: Spotify

Step 2: Click on "Your Wrapped AI Podcast."

This brings you to all of your 2024 Wrapped content, including your personalized playlists and the data Spotify has collected for you. Click on "Your Wrapped AI Podcast."

Credit: Spotify

Step 3: Tap on the "play" button to listen to your Wrapped AI Podcast.

The following screen should read: "Your Wrapped AI podcast is ready. For the first time ever, 2 AI hosts dive into your year in music. Built with Google's NotebookLM."

Credit: Spotify

Step 4: Optional: Tap the "share" button to send it to a friend.

The share button looks like a square or rectangular box with an arrow pointing upwards. Once you click on that, you can share your Wrapped AI Podcast with your friends.

Credit: Spotify

"With this personalized Audio Overview, fans can dive deeper into their year's top songs, artists, and genres, delivered using generative AI by two dynamic hosts," Spotify said in a press release. "This feature will be available in English for eligible Free and Premium users for a limited time across the U.S., the U.K., Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Ireland, and Sweden."

So you better hurry up and listen to your Wrapped AI Podcast before it disappears.

Last year, Spotify unveiled the ability to listen to audiobooks on the app. According to data from Spotify Wrapped 2024, its users flocked to the faeries.

As part of its annual Wrapped feature, Spotify revealed the top-performing audiobook genres in the U.S. were sci-fi and fantasy, followed by romance, fiction and literature, mystery and thriller, and, finally, biography and memoir. And not just any sci-fi and fantasy books either: of the Top 10 audiobooks in the U.S., four are romantasy novels — with Sarah J. Maas, the author of the TikTok famous A Court of Thorns and Roses series, holding three of the most listened-to audiobooks in the U.S. on Spotify in 2024. As such, she earned the inaugural title of Spotify Wrapped 2024's global top author.

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros, also a romantasy book, was the ninth most listened to audiobook in the U.S. this year. Similarly — and yes, I mean similarly, and I will die on this hill — The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien landed in the sixth slot.

SEE ALSO: The 15 best fiction books of 2024, according to BookTok

Here are the full Top 10 lists. As you can see, they're quite similar.

Spotify's top audiobooks in the U.S.:

1. A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

2. I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy

3. A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas

4. It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover

5. The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene

6. The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien

7. A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas

8. Icebreaker: A Novel by Hannah Grace

9. Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

10. Funny Story by Emily Henry

Spotify's top audiobooks globally:

1. A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

2. The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien

3. I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy

4. A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas

5. It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover

6. The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene

7. A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas

8. A Game of Thrones: A Song of Ice and Fire: Book One by George R. R. Martin

9. Icebreaker: A Novel by Hannah Grace

10. Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

2024: The year of the romantasy genre

There is, of course, a beautiful gendered breakdown of these titles. The Top 3 audiobooks in Premium listened to by men in the U.S. were The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene, The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien, and A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin. If you look closely, you'll see that those are all male authors — and the only male authors on the list of Top 10 audiobooks.

You might not want to see The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene turned into a film (some might say it was already made), but many of these books are lined up for the screen.

"As reflected in this year’s top lists, we’ve seen both new releases and back catalog titles from key authors of every genre garner new audiences on Spotify," Spotify's press release reads. "And in 2024, more than before, we saw a rise in book-to-screen adaptations into various media formats." In fact, 66 percent of Spotify's Top 100 audiobooks in the U.S. in 2024 will be or have already been adapted for the screen.

There's not much personalized data in this year's Wrapped for audiobook listeners, but authors get their own Wrapped, showing off everything from their top titles to rating and listener habits.

If all this data tells us anything, it's that 2024 was the year of Sarah J. Maas and romantasy. What does 2025 have in store?

'Tis the season of colorful graphics, embarrassing stats, and personalized data stories! That's right — Spotify Wrapped has finally landed on your Spotify app. The 2024 edition is chock-full of new features, from a Wrapped AI Podcast that editorializes your year in music to the moods and emotions that captured "Your Music Evolution."

SEE ALSO: Everything you need to know about Spotify Wrapped 2024

The much-anticipated annual event offers fans a glimpse into their most-played tracks, artists, and genres, wrapped in vibrant visuals and shareable stats. It's a nostalgic trip through the soundtrack of your year, and it even boasts stats from the podcasts and audiobooks you listened to.

In 2024, it’s not just about what you heard — it’s about how music shaped your story. Here's what that means for this year's Spotify Wrapped and all the fun surprises you can expect.

Your Music Evolution Credit: Spotify

Listen, we all go through phases. Sometimes you want to be a brat and other times you're an "Otaku Hot Girl." Spotify knows your listening habits can be mercurial, so they're introducing "Your Music Evolution" with this year's Wrapped.

This new data story reveals the musical phases that defined your year. You'll receive up to three musical phases for 2024. For example, I started the year in my "Light Academia Soft Piano Classical" era, but by spring, I re-emerged as a "Roller Skating Pop" princess. (What can I say? The pop girlies were releasing bangers.) And I'm ending the year in my "Hallyu Catwalk K-pop" phase, which sounds right.

Your Music Evolution will also be available in playlist form, found in the Wrapped feed on Home in the Spotify app. Tracks within the playlist include both your go-to favorites and algorithmic picks related to your musical phases throughout the year.

Your Longest Listening Streak

Every superfan wears their "Top Listeners" stat with pride. (The stat reveals the percentile of listeners you're in for your favorite artist. I'm in the top 3 percent of Stray Kids listeners worldwide — what about you?) This year, Spotify is taking it one step further with your "Longest Listening Streak," capturing your journey with the most-played artist in your Top 5.

Your Spotify Wrapped AI Podcast Credit: Spotify

The biggest new feature of this year's Wrapped is the launch of your Spotify Wrapped AI Podcast. Built with Google’s NotebookLM, this personalized pod tells the story of your year in music with colorful commentary from two AI hosts who attempt to make sense of your top songs, artists, and genres.

Per Spotify, this unique feature will be available in English for eligible Free and Premium users for a limited time across the U.S., the U.K., Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Ireland, and Sweden.

Top Audiobooks of 2024 Credit: Spotify

Last year, Spotify gave its Premium users 15 hours of free audiobook listening time per month. Now, with over 300,000 titles in its catalog, Spotify is becoming a destination for avid readers — er, listeners. So it only makes sense that this year's Wrapped data would include the Top Audiobooks of 2024.

SEE ALSO: The 15 best fiction books of 2024, according to BookTok

While there isn't any personalized data on your top audiobooks of the year, there is a separate editorial hub for the year in audiobooks on the app and desktop. Spotify's inaugural top author globally is Sarah J. Maas, whose A Court of Thorns and Roses series went mega-viral across social platforms this year. As such, A Court of Thorns and Roses was also the most-streamed audiobook of 2024. Coming in second and third are The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien and I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy, respectively. Rounding out the Top 5 is A Court of Mist and Fury by Maas at No. 4, and It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover at No. 5.

Authors will also have access to their own Spotify Wrapped for Authors hub, which will show insightful data on the listening habits of their readers.

You can share your Wrapped directly on your FYP Credit: Spotify

Big news for those who like publicly posting their Wrapped results across all social platforms: You can now share your Wrapped directly on TikTok.

Apple's rumored new HomePod, with a built-in smart display, is coming a lot later than originally anticipated.

This is according to Apple sleuth Ming-Chi Kuo, who claims that the device's release has been postponed to the third quarter of 2025.

SEE ALSO: Apple HomePod (2023) review: Big sound for Apple fans

Originally, Kuo claims, the HomePod was supposed to arrive in 2024, but was delayed to the first quarter of 2025, and was now further pushed back until after Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference, which typically takes place in June.

The delay is "mainly due to software development," Kuo said.

Featured Video For You Unboxing the 2024 iPad Pro and iPad Air

The new HomePod will reportedly be a huge upgrade compared to the current model, which came out in 2023. Kuo claims it will feature a six to seven-inch display, Apple's A18 chip, and support for Apple Intelligence. It will also be repositioned more as a smart home accessory than a pure speaker.

One interesting feature that the new HomePod will have is the ability to display the feed from Apple's upcoming smart home IP camera, which Kuo previously said is arriving sometime in 2026.

According to previous reports, Apple also plans to expand its smart home lineup with a smart display with a robotic arm, and (perhaps) a cheaper variant down the line.

General Motors and other foreign automakers are selling fewer cars and losing lots of money in China, where domestic electric and hybrid cars have taken off.

Cameo is making room for more than celebrity greetings, expanding its personalised messaging service to let anyone sign up to make custom videos for money.

Announced in a blog post on Tuesday, the platform has officially launched its CameoX initiative, which began a pilot program last May as a "strategic decision to allow just about anyone with a passion for engaging with fans to join the Cameo community."

Cameo has made millions through its celebrity video message offerings, seeing actors, athletes, musicians, influencers, multiple disgraced U.S. Congressmen, and racist far-right British politicians personalise greetings for varying rates — it was a particularly lucrative move for celebs during the COVID-19 pandemic and the SAG-AFTRA strike. In 2021, Cameo was valued at $1 billion. But celebrities have since reportedly left the platform in droves, for reasons including but not limited to pro-Russia propagandists tricking celebrities into spreading misinformation. Plus, Cameo had a run-in with the Federal Trade Commission for violating celebrity endorsement disclosures this year, which was not cheap.

SEE ALSO: Matt Gaetz joins Cameo like disgraced congressman before him

So, Cameo is pivoting to embrace more avenues of content creation and monetisation. Now, anyone can join Cameo through the company's revamped onboarding process, which no longer focuses on Cameo team outreach or follower thresholds.

"We realized we had missed out on thousands of talented individuals who could have made meaningful contributions to the marketplace,” said Cameo CEO Steven Galanis in a press statement.

"We missed SAG-AFTRA actors who had applied before landing breakout roles in hit Netflix shows. We missed emerging artists before releasing chart-topping singles. We missed creators before their viral moments on TikTok. And we missed pro athletes who applied while in college, prior to NIL rule changes that allowed them to monetize their talent. With CameoX, those days are over."

Featured Video For You Unboxing the 2024 iPad Pro and iPad Air

The company says CameoX has already been successful, seeing 31,000 "self-enrolled creators" sign up since the pilot began in May 2023. The company is pitching the platform as "an alternative earning stream for talent" for creators, including those who might already have a following on other sites like Twitch, YouTube, and TikTok — and who might have previously applied to join Cameo but were not allowed in. Now, Cameo says the onboarding process has been made easier for people to pass the test.

"Historically, talent could join the marketplace in three ways: 1) through outreach from the Cameo team, 2) via referral from another talent or talent manager, or 3) by applying directly. In the past three years alone, Cameo received over 100,000 applications from talent who did not meet the marketplace’s thresholds," reads the post.

"The issue: Cameo was missing a new wave of emerging creators who could benefit from the platform but weren’t allowed on. CameoX removes those barriers and allows talent to become part of the Cameo family in a matter of minutes...This change in policy is more in line with models like Twitch and YouTube, where anyone can join for free and begin to monetize their personas instantly."

Creators wanting to join CameoX can do so through the app or the website and complete an identity verification process. Cameo celebrities set their own prices, so creators will be able to do the same; creators get 75 percent of the booking price and can use the earnings calculator to see what numbers they're looking at.

Seth Meyers appeared on The Late Show recently and followed in the footsteps of Billie Eilish, Nicolas Cage, and Michelle Obama when he took Stephen Colbert's always-crytpic "Questionert".

In the clip above the Late Night host answers questions on everything from his favourite sandwich ("chicken parm") to his least favourite smell ("chlorine pool").

Cue plenty of bickering mixed in with a few touching moments.

Max said it would happen, but now we know when, exactly: the Warner Bros. Discovery-owned HBO streaming service is about to start its password sharing crackdown next week.

This is according to CEO JB Perrette (via TheWrap), who announced the news at a conference hosted by Wells Fargo on Tuesday.

"We will kick off literally in about a week, some very early, gentle messaging," he told press.

Not only will said messaging be "gentle," it will also start happening only to people whom the company deems to be in the "higher tier of usage."

SEE ALSO: The 20 best TV shows streaming on Max

Perrette also admitted that figuring out who's sharing their passwords, and who's only using their account outside their home on a vacation, isn't easy, which is why the company will start gradually until it can figure out. But when it does, the filters will get "tighter and tighter."

That phase can apparently be expected in the second half of 2025 and into 2026.

We don't mind the careful approach, especially when it comes to weeding out actual password sharing from fair usage (I'm looking at you Netflix, and your constant prompts to log in again).

To get your mind off all this unpleasant password sharing crackdown business, Perretti also spilled the beans on launch dates for some upcoming HBO shows. For example, the third season of The White Lotus is about to kick off in February; The Last of Us Season 2 will premiere in the spring of 2025, and the A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms (a Game of Thrones prequel) will launch in 2025. Finally, Euphoria Season 3 is coming a little later than anticipated: sometime in 2026.