Mashable

In 2000, my long-suffering mother took my brother and his friends to the local theater for a showing of Pokémon the Movie 2000. The boys were six or seven and had happily been swept up in the burgeoning cultural phenomenon dubbed "Pokémania." My mother, perplexed by the whole affair, read a book in the back row as the boys gaped at fantastical creatures on screen, their legs not yet long enough to reach the floor.

Less than a year before, the Pokémon franchise had cracked open the gaping maw of the United States gaming market by feeding it the same properties that were already enormously successful in its native Japan. Like many other kids his age, my brother collected Pokémon cards and captured the creatures on his Game Boy. We watched the Pokémon TV series together and tossed a life-sized Pokéball around the house. 

The main lawn at Pokémon GO Fest 2024, which took place on Randall's Island in July. Credit: Joe Maldonado Credit: Joe Maldonado

Today, new generations are discovering the franchise as older ones embrace its nostalgia. Nowhere was that clearer than this summer's Pokémon GO Fest, a three-day in-person event celebrating the franchise's mobile game in New York City. There, families in matching outfits bent over their phones together as if saying grace at the dining room table. Babes in strollers clutched stuffed Pokémon toys as their parents discussed capturing new creatures.

Offline, the Pokemon trading card game — which littered early-aughts pavements at recess and became such a distraction that it was banned in some schools — has seen a resurgence. As recently as 2021, a Reddit user shared a photo of a "Pokémon Agreement" hung in their child's classroom, which included rules like "No stealing Pokémon cards!" and "Make fair trades!! [sic]."

Credit: Joe Maldonado Credit: Joe Maldonado

Over the past two years, Pokémon cards have also evolved into a top collecting category for adults. Leading authenticator PSA, which has graded more than 70 million items since 1991, says baseball cards were the most popular item until early 2022, when Pokémon cards became its biggest category by volume. Between 2022 and 2023, PSA saw a 50 percent growth in authentication and grading submissions of Pokémon cards, compared to just a 16 percent increase in baseball cards over the same period. 

"We've seen a major surge in the collectibles industry, specifically Pokémon, due to the rising trend of nostalgia-driven primarily by Millennials and Gen Z," Ryan Hoge, president of PSA, told Mashable. "As the first generation of Pokémon collectors have grown up and had kids, they’ve gravitated back to the nostalgic pieces of their childhood and have resurrected the demand for Pokémon trading cards."

Amy, 37, cosplays as Vaporean, her favorite evolution of the Pokémon Eevee. On her wrist is a homemade bracelet given to her by a stranger at the event. Credit: Joe Maldonado A man who goes by "Uncle Bob" plays Pokémon GO on a split screen on a Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra. Credit: Joe Maldonado

PSA has graded only three subjects more than one million times: Michael Jordan and Pokémon characters Charizard and Pikachu. "Charizard and Pikachu have now had 30-year careers spanning multiple generations," a spokesperson for the company noted.

The same nostalgia fueling Pokémon card collecting is also enlivening a dedicated faction of players of the franchise's Pokémon GO mobile game.

The game became a sensation virtually overnight when it was first released in the U.S. in 2016, capturing the hearts of fans and non-fans alike. It used augmented reality to overlay Pokémon in real-world environments, transforming the player into a Pokémon trainer tasked with collecting as many creatures as possible. A key element of the game was that it required the player to walk outside to find new Pokémon in the wild.

Rose Dinelli-Figueroa and her family travel to Pokémon GO Fests around the world from their native Puerto Rico. Credit: Joe Maldonado

At the time, a New York Times writer captured the phenomenon and its ubiquity, explaining, "I saw people catching Pokémon while ahead of me in line for coffee, pointing their smartphone cameras at their barista, who happened to have a Charmander on her face."

Interest in the game amongst the general public quickly petered out. The craze's metaphorical death knell clanged at a 2016 Virginia rally for then-Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton where, in an attempt to connect with young voters, she told the crowd to "Pokémon GO to the polls." The phrase was swiftly memed and mocked, most notably by then-Republican nominee Donald Trump who posted a Facebook video of a Pokémon GO parody game titled "Crookéd Hillary NO." 

Credit: Joe Maldonado Credit: Joe Maldonado

But devout players never left; by 2019, more than 1 billion people had downloaded the app. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, many more returned to the game to escape quarantine restlessness. Today, some estimates put the number of monthly active players at more than 90 million.

Over three stifling days in July, more than 70,000 of those players descended on New York City for Pokémon GO Fest. Neither the 90-degree temperatures nor dew point of 72 — a level the National Weather Service considers "oppressive" — could deter them from capturing the geo-exclusive Pokémon on offer at Randall's Island, a dollop of land in the East River.

Credit: Joe Maldonado Credit: Joe Maldonado

Many saw their journey to GO Fest as a kind of pilgrimage. For Rose Dinelli-Figueroa, 36, GO Fest has become a family tradition. She has traveled from Puerto Rico to attend Pokémon GO Fests in Seattle, London, and Las Vegas with her husband, parents, and two children. The family's youngest member, 7-year-old Jade, is dressed as Pokémon trainer Misty and was not yet born when her mother began playing Pokémon GO in 2016.

About a 10-minute walk away, on a large lawn, an Illinois man who goes by "Uncle Bob" stands on an oval of astroturf across from a teen named Theo. They stare at their phones, battling each other digitally in the app. Uncle Bob has attended every GO Fest since the first iteration of the event was held in Chicago in 2017. Theo is far from home and reveling in a thrilling change of pace. "There are not as many players in my hometown [of Wiener Neustadt, Austria]," he tells Mashable. Back in Austria, he usually has to pay to join group gaming activities called "remote raids" in cities with more players.

Alex, 32, and Courtney, 31, began dating in 2020, and usually play Pokémon GO together while walking their dogs. Credit: Joe Maldonado

A couple nearby, Amy, 37, and Gary, 38, use the game to stay connected in their long-distance relationship. "He lives about four hours away from me," Amy says, dressed in a blue body suit, cosplaying as Vaporean, her favorite evolution of the Pokémon Eevee. "And there's a feature in the game where you can send each other postcards. So I have a lot of fun sending him postcards when we're away from each other." 

Pokémon GO appears to be a popular pillar of romantic relationships. Niantic, the app's developer, helped organize five marriage proposals during this year's GO Fest. One of the couples, Alex, 32, and Courtney, 31, began dating in 2020 and play Pokémon GO together while walking their dogs. They came down from New Hampshire to attend Pokémon GO Fest last year, even though Courtney was recovering from foot surgery in a walking boot. "We look back at it like, 'That was so much fun.'" says Courtney. "We were showing [people] pictures of it from last year, and we got some of our friends at work to start playing it as well."

Two players battle each other on the Pokémon GO app. Credit: Joe Maldonado

"It's a silly game, but it really does bring people together, as cheesy as that sounds," says Alex, moments after getting down on one knee to propose to Courtney. "It's a great way to just go out and hang out with a friend."

Four friends dressed as Eeveelutions described a more casual relationship to the app. "I love playing. I'm looking at my phone anyway," says Aaron, 33. "It keeps me distracted, it keeps me off Grindr. It gets me out of the house… I was here by myself on Christmas. So I open up Pokémon GO, and I'm like, 'Oh, there's stuff going on.' I was walking all around downtown. I went to Washington Square Park and saw the tree while playing Pokémon GO. It was cute. I wouldn't have seen the tree otherwise."

Credit: Joe Maldonado Credit: Joe Maldonado

Another member of the group, Brayden, 29, notes how much the franchise has expanded since establishing its reputation as a children's game of the early aughts. "My mom is like level whatever; she is intense," he says. "She's better at it than I am." He points at his friends standing nearby. "They'll be like, 'Oh yeah, I raided with your mom.'"

Canadian sisters Tania, 49, and Shelley, 53, are two of the oldest attendees Mashable interviewed at the event. When Pokémon GO first dropped in 2016, Shelley says she "didn't want to be one of those old people that just assume that because I don't understand it, it's not cool." So she asked a young person she worked with to explain it to her. "I don't know anything about Pokémon. I didn't play the game. I didn't grow up with it," says Shelley. "But I downloaded it and was like, 'This is fucking fun.'" Two weeks later, on a family vacation, she got Tania hooked on the game, too.

It seems that the core of Pokémon brand's legacy — what has made it the highest-grossing media franchise on earth and an enduring cultural phenomenon for 25 years — is its ability to bring people together to have a good time.

The sisters point to their bright yellow paper Pikachu hats, which organizers distributed for free to attendees earlier in the day. "We had to get the hat. We were asking little kids, 'Where'd you get your visor?'" Tania laughs. "It's ridiculous, and we love it. You've gotta lean into the fun."

Who is afraid of little old Taylor Swift? After Tuesday night, Republicans should be.

After the presidential debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump on Sept. 10, Swift took to Instagram to publicly endorse Harris. But she didn't stop there. The popstar also added a custom voter registration link to her Instagram story. As of 2 p.m. ET Wednesday, 337,826 people visited that link, the General Services Administration told NBC News.

SEE ALSO: Swifties for Kamala: How Taylor Swift fans are creating a new blueprint for political organizing

The URL takes people to vote.gov, a website with information on how to register to vote and update voter registration. It also details voting rights and answers frequently asked questions.

In her endorsement post Swift wrote, "I will be casting my vote for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz in the 2024 Presidential Election. I’m voting for @kamalaharris because she fights for the rights and causes I believe need a warrior to champion them." Then she encouraged her 284 million followers to do their own research and vote for whoever they'd like to. "Remember that in order to vote, you have to be registered! I also find it’s much easier to vote early. I’ll link where to register and find early voting dates and info in my story," concluded her post which now has over 10 million likes.

She signed off as a "childless cat lady," a reference to Trump's running mate J.D. Vance's disparaging comments about women who choose not to have children. Swift's numbers prove childless cat ladies hold a lot of power in this election.

TL;DR: Enjoy 5 years of privacy, security, and ad-free browsing with AdGuard VPN for $34.97 through September 29.

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SAVE $150: As of September 12, get a refurbished pair of Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones at Bose.

Opens in a new window Credit: Bose Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones (Refurbished) $279.00 at Bose
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Time for a new pair of headphones? You've got tons of options. But if you don't mind spending a bit out of your typical price range, there's one pair that we often come back to recommending time and time again from Bose, because it's a brand that knows what it's doing. And right now, you can get one of our favorite pairs of headphones from Bose at an excellent price.

As of Sep. 12, you can get a pair of refurbished Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones for $279. That's $150 off their normal price of $429. Choose from three colors: Black, Sandstone, and White Smoke. These are Certified Refurbished from Bose itself, which means they've been returned to the company, inspected, tested, and serviced before being sold at a discount. They come with a warranty and are only available in small numbers for a limited time.

According to Mashable's Sam Mangino, Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones are "extremely comfortable" and boast "all-day battery life" even when you choose to leave noise-cancellation on all day. They offer "solid" sound quality with three different noise-canceling modes meant to help you block out the rest of the world or help you remain aware of what's going on around you.

This is an opportunity to save a significant amount of cash on these headphones, so be sure to grab yours before they're out of stock.

SAVE UP TO $24: For a limited time, subscribe to Disney+ Basic with ads for just $1.99 a month for three months. That's $8 off the regular price of $9.99 per month, or $24 in total savings.

Opens in a new window Credit: Disney Disney+ Basic $1.99 at Disney+
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Every few months, it seems like there's a new streaming service to subscribe to. And then every other month, an existing streamer is raising its prices. Right now, that streaming service is Disney+ — they announced in August that they're raising their prices in October, bringing the with-ads plan to $9.99 (up from $7.99), and the ad-free plan to $15.99 (up from $13.99). Luckily, Disney+ has a deal to help you avoid that price hike for a few months.

For a limited time, enjoy Disney+ with ads for $1.99 a month for three months. That's $5.97 for three months rather than $29.97, saving over 80%.

SEE ALSO: Disney+ and Hulu have just gotten pricier. Yes, even with ads.

For new subscribers, this is major savings coming at just the right time. The long awaited follow-up to Wandavision, Agatha All Along, is coming to the streamer on September 18. Plus, the highest grossing movie of 2024, Inside Out 2, is expected to hit the streamer at the end of the month.

It's safe to say this Disney+ deal couldn't have come at a better time. Sign up by September 27 and you'll get Disney+ for two bucks a month through the holidays.

Microsoft users reported lots of issues and outages on Thursday. The issue appeared to lie with its 365 subscription, which can feature popular and necessary services like Outlook, PowerPoint, Word, Excel, and more.

"We're investigating an issue where users may be unable to access multiple Microsoft 365 services," the company posted on X. "Please look for MO888473 in the admin center for more details and further updates."

It appeared there might be issues with the cloud service that provides the 365 services to consumers. A status page from Microsoft noted there was "service degradation" that might prohibit access to one or more 365 services.

The company wrote on X: "We're reviewing network telemetry and recent changes to our networking infrastructure. Additionally, we're working with a third-party ISP to understand the underlying cause."

Reports of problems with Microsoft 365 around 9 a.m. eastern time on on Down Detector, which, full disclosure, is owned by the same parent company as Mashable. The issues appeared to be declining by about 10 a.m. eastern.

This problem comes nearly two months after the massive outages from CrowdStrike and Microsoft that disrupted pretty much the entire world.

Middle-earth may be crawling with orcs, Balrogs, and Dark Wizards, but the worst villain in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power is none other than Kemen (Leon Wadham).

SEE ALSO: Tom Bombadil's introduction in 'The Rings of Power' is right out of 'Fellowship of the Ring'

Kemen was a somewhat minor presence throughout The Rings of Power Season 1, albeit an unmistakably slimy one. As a rising politician, he worked with his father Ar-Pharazôn (Trystan Gravelle) behind the scenes to turn the people of Númenor against Queen Tar-Míriel (Cynthia Addai-Robinson). He even tried his hand at some sneaky arson in order to stop the Númenorean forces going to Middle-earth.

But now that Pharazôn is king, Kemen is able to operate in the open, with all the authority of Númenor behind him. That kind of unchecked power leads to some seriously nasty, entitled behavior. In just the fifth episode of Season 2, Kemen goes on quite the evil tear, cementing himself as one of the biggest threats to Middle-earth — and the most punchable character in the series.

Kemen's reign of terror begins with a task from his father: Strip the members of the Sea Guard of their ranks. That includes Captain Elendil (Lloyd Owen), whose loyalty to Míriel and faithfulness to the Valar constitute as treason in Kemen's eyes.

SEE ALSO: Did you catch this hint at the Stranger's real name in 'The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power' Season 2?

As Elendil hands in his sword, his former sailors salute him in an "O Captain! My Captain!" moment straight out of Dead Poets Society. Of course, Kemen interrupts the proceedings with the snotty comment, "He's nobody's captain now." Shut up, man! Isn't it enough you've turned Elendil's daughter Eärien (Ema Horvath) against him? Leave the bratty remarks at home!

Leon Wadham and Trystan Gravelle in "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power." Credit: Ross Ferguson / Prime Video

Kemen only gets worse as the episode goes on, waltzing into the oldest shrine to the Valar in Númenor and breaking up a memorial service for the soldiers who died in Middle-earth. Hey, wasn't one of the biggest reasons people hated Míriel because she let soldiers go to Middle-earth in the first place? The hypocrisy is off the charts! The least you could do is let people grieve these losses in peace before you start condemning their shrines.

But Kemen isn't into doing the least evil. He's here to do the absolute most, whether that's pettily smashing a Valar relic, poking at Elendil's strained relationship with Eärien, or smirking like there's no tomorrow. Serious props to Wadham for selling Kemen's infuriating self-satisfaction so hard. He somehow manages to make a seemingly innocuous statement like "It's in the way of the new aqueduct" the most enraging line in the entire show.

SEE ALSO: What does 'Sûza-t' mean in 'The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power' Season 2, episode 4?

Thankfully, Elendil must have heard my pleas for someone to haul back and punch Kemen in the face, because the legend smacks the living daylights out of him. Remember when Tyrion slapped Joffrey in Game of Thrones? Yeah, I felt the exact same levels of hype here.

The ensuing brawl doesn't end well for Elendil's men, but I'd be lying if I said it didn't rock to see Kemen get absolutely bodied by former Sea Guard member Valandil (Alex Tarrant), though he's ultimately too honorable to finish Kemen off. But you know who doesn't have any problem being dishonorable? That's right, Kemen. Númenor's biggest twerp stabs Valandil in the back, and just like that, I need him to get decked in the face again. Too bad Elendil's being thrown in jail; otherwise I know he'd follow through.

Kemen's rage-inducing behavior throughout this episode is not only proof of him being an all-around bad guy — it's also proof of the corruption of Númenor, and the Men who live there. No wonder this episode also focuses on Sauron's (Charlie Vickers) efforts to convince Celebrimbor (Charles Edwards) to make Rings of Power for Men. He knows that people like Kemen exist, and that they'd do anything for power.

Truly, if Kemen ever comes to Middle-earth, he's a prime candidate for one of the nine rings for Men. Lord of the Rings fans know how that would turn out: with ultimate corruption, and transformation into a Ringwraith. According to Pharazôn, Kemen's late mother did prophesy that he would come to an "ill end," and I'd say becoming a Nazgûl falls under that umbrella. (Getting punched again would also qualify, and it would be more than welcome!)

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 2 is now streaming on Prime Video, with a new episode every Thursday.

Spider One's "Little Bites" trailer has dropped, teasing a mother who feeds the monster in her basement in order to protect her daughter.

Stephen Colbert has shared his thoughts on Taylor Swift's Kamala Harris endorsement post, including some clear Easter eggs.

Apple's new iPhones can charge faster than ever — if you plug them in.

This is according to certification from the China Quality Certification Centre, as spotted by ShrimpApplePro and reported by 9to5Mac. All of Apple's new iPhones are capable of 45W charging over USB-C.

SEE ALSO: Apple 'Glowtime' event 2024: iPhone 16, Apple Watch Series 10, AirPods 4, and everything else announced

During its keynote on Monday, Apple did mention that the new iPhone 16 range of devices support faster wireless charging. The official specs sheet says so as well; according to Apple, all of the new phones (the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max) support MagSafe wireless charging up to 25W with a 30W adapter or higher, as well as Qi2 wireless charging up to 15W. Apple also says that the phones are capable of fast charging over wired; according to the specs, you can get up to "50 percent charge in around 30 minutes" with a 20W adapter or higher paired with a USB-C charging cable.

Tweet may have been deleted

What the spec sheet doesn't say is that last year's models could charge at a maximum of 30W, while the new ones can peak at 45W, theoretically enabling even faster charging.

For the end users, this means that they should be able to get their iPhone 16 devices to charge faster than ever if they use a compatible 45W charger. It will take some real-world testing to see which chargers work best, and whether you can get a meaningfully faster charge this way, though.

"The Daily Show" host Jordan Klepper has broken down Trump's reaction to the presidential debate.

This content originally appeared on Mashable for a US audience and has been adapted for the UK audience.

If you like porn but want to make things a bit more interactive, these are some popular dating sites that will help you achieve that. There’s a little something for everyone, whether you’re looking to explore your kinky fantasies, make a lasting romantic connection, search for senior love, hook up, or want to keep things safely socially distanced and just chat.

And if free videos with easy-to-search categories like Pornhub offers are what do it for you, there’s options out there for you. While these sites are by no means perfect and some of them are pretty raunchy, here's the scoop on what you're getting yourself into.

What do you need to know about dating on NSFW sites?

Keep in mind that “dating” on NSFW sites like Grindr and GetItOn is about as subtle as the names of the platforms: Users are there to find a connection for a night, a threesome, or an ongoing sex buddy situation — not a long-term partner.

Also, sites like this don’t operate without mutual consent and boundary-setting (and respecting). When you’re building out your profile, be specific and honest about what you’re looking for and wanting so you can find people who genuinely match up with you and your interests or fetishes.

Should you use a NSFW site for dating?

If you’re looking for no-strings-attached sex, or just a sexting or Skype-sexing buddy for the evening, NSFW sites can be ideal for getting your needs met and getting straight to the point. “Dating” here is a very loose term — think of these as sites and apps for hooking up.

SEE ALSO: The best dating sites and apps for women

Users on these apps tend to be fairly direct — don’t expect a dinner invitation before you get asked over to their flat. If that’s not your cup of tea and you need a little more of the getting-to-know-someone before jumping into bed with them, these might not be the right sites for you.

What precautions should you take when using a NSFW dating site?

If you’re on a site where you need to share personal information or choose a username, be careful about the information you’re giving out — and about what kind of information it is. Things like credit card numbers are vulnerable to hackers, and using your real name on platforms like these can compromise your safety if you happen to stumble upon the wrong sort of people on the sites.

Always choose a username that doesn’t have a relationship to your first name, and be careful about the personal information you share (like where you live, etc.).

What else is important to know when using a NSFW dating site?

Besides not giving away any personal information, especially for things like anonymous encounters on cam or sexting sites, know the risks when it comes to sending nude or partially nude photos containing identifying details like your face or tattoos. While it’s against the law in many places to circulate private sexual images, that doesn’t stop people from doing it.

What is the best NSFW dating site?

There are plenty of raunchy dating sites out there that should suit just about everyone, but we get that you probably don't want to spend all day perusing the options (or maybe you do). To help you find the best NSFW dating site for you, we have lined up a standout selection.

We've tried to find something for every type of dater, with popular sites like AdultFriendFinder and GetItOn making the cut. You just need to pick a favourite.

These are the best dating site alternatives to Pornhub in 2024.

Prime Video is the seriously popular on-demand streaming service that hosts literally thousands of movies, shows, and award-winning Prime Originals. Amazon Prime offers one-day delivery, unlimited music, and includes this impressive streaming service.

Amazon Prime Video works out at a similar rate to other streaming video services like Netflix. However, you don't get a delivery service, music streaming, and access to the Kindle library with Netflix. It's for this reason that so many people continue to sign up to Amazon's video streaming service. Amazon Prime Video is available to stream on all the Kindle Fire tablets and more than 600 other devices, including pretty much every computer, smartphone, console, and smart TV you can imagine.

This all sounds great, but imagine for a moment that not everything is perfect. Imagine that everything is not well with the world, because you have signed up to Amazon Prime Video to specifically watch one programme, and it's only shown on the U.S. version of the service. It's a troubling thought and it seems to happen fairly regularly.

Fortunately, there is something you can do to avoid this annoying issue. You can use a VPN to gain access to all of the best American content from the UK.

What is a VPN?

Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) provide online privacy and anonymity by creating a private network from a public internet connection. VPNs hide your real IP address so all of your online activity is untraceable and secure.

Does this make sense? We understand that this sort of technology can be confusing, so it can help to think of a VPN as a tunnel through which all of your online traffic passes. This tunnel is encrypted, meaning that nobody can see into it, and everything inside is protected against online threats like hackers, viruses, and malware.

What are the benefits of using a VPN?

VPNs are used to provide protection for your sensitive information, and this is obviously important. These services are vital for improving you cybersecurity, there is another reason that VPNs are so popular.

These tools can also be used to watch content that is normally blocked in your location by hiding your real IP address and connecting you to a server in another country. This simple process tricks leading streaming sites into thinking you are based in another country, meaning you can watch all of the extra content from global libraries.

VPNs are keys to the online world, granting you access to more of the shows and films you love by bypassing geo-restrictions.

How do you unblock U.S. Prime Video with a VPN?

The process of accessing the American version of Prime Video with a VPN is actually really simple. All you need to do is open up your preferred VPN, select an American server in order to spoof your IP to a U.S. address, and then head to Prime Video.

There is a bit of a cat and mouse situation with streaming sites and VPNs, as sites like Prime Video and Netflix look to detect VPN usage and block servers. This is why you should always try and pick a VPN with a large and diverse network of servers, so you always have plenty of options to bypass restrictions.

You will still need to be subscribed to Prime Video for this trick to work. A VPN is not going to grant access to the streaming site for free. Instead, a VPN provides access to more libraries from around the world, once you're subscribed.

What is the best VPN for Prime Video?

There are plenty of VPNs out there that can bypass online restrictions to unblock Prime Video, which is good and bad. It's great to have options, but with so many VPNs to consider, it can be tough to pick the best option for you. This is where we come in.

We have outlined the best VPNs for the job. If you're looking to unlock more content from anywhere in the world, we recommend checking out ExpressVPN, PureVPN, NordVPN, and the other names in this list. There should be something for everyone and every budget. You just need to weigh up each VPN against your own set of preferences, and pick a favourite.

These are the best VPNs for Prime Video in 2024.

You've probably come across VPNs. These security services protect your data and identity when you're navigating the online world. They are increasingly important in today's world, as the fight against cyberthreats becomes more serious every day. Of course, not everyone uses these services for boosting cybersecurity.

A lot of subscribers sign up to unlock more content from around the world or give themselves an advantage when gaming.

What is a VPN?

A Virtual Private Network, or VPN, is an essential service that secures your internet connection, giving you greater control over how your online activity can be tracked, and providing a combination of security (keeping your computer and data protected) and privacy (keeping your identity protected).

So how does a VPN accomplish this? By creating an encrypted connection between your computer and a server operated by the VPN service, that’s how. When you’re connected to the VPN server, all of your network traffic passes through a safe, protected tunnel that no one else should be able to monitor. That's the theory anyway.

Even the very best VPNs will likely have an impact on your connectivity, though, sometimes to the point where lag gets in the way of your gaming — which is unacceptable, particularly if you’re a first-person shooter fan.

Do you need a VPN for gaming?

First and foremost, VPNs should be used to protect your personal information when you're online, and that doesn't change if you're gaming. It's important to remain anonymous as hackers and other online threats can still access your personal details when you're playing your favourite titles. The best way to ensure that you're data is private is with a VPN.

There is an argument that using VPNs can also increase your chances of success when gaming. With games that use skill-based matchmaking, VPNs can help you find easier lobbies. By connecting to a VPN, you can hide your real IP address and connect to a secure server in another location. This simple process tricks the game into thinking you are based elsewhere. Why is this useful when it comes to games like Call of Duty: Warzone? You can connect to a country with fewer gamers, or connect to a country at a less busy time of the day. This reduces your chances of meeting skilled players.

What is the best VPN for gaming?

So how do you select a VPN when both security and gaming are priorities. You need a VPN that ticks three boxes — speed, ping, and protection — so that when you’re in a virtual life and death situation, lag doesn’t deliver the killer blow.

These are the best VPNs for gaming in 2024.

The chilly period between the beginning of autumn and the start of spring, in which anyone not coupled up finds themselves seeking to be tied down by a serious relationship, is known as cuffing season. It's that time once again.

We might like to think that we are all deeply complex individuals, but we're actually pretty simple creatures. In the summer, when the sun is shining and temperatures soar, we are more content to remain single. We socialise more, meet new people, and enjoy the feeling of being untethered. However, as we enter the colder months, we yearn for companionship. It’s a fact. It’s science. It’s instinct.

Much like the bear, we naturally want to bunker down and protect ourselves against the oncoming freeze. That means movie marathons, duvet days, and ideally someone to hold. As the cold weather bites, you owe it to yourself to find that special someone, even if what you are really searching for is a human-sized hot water bottle. Either is fine.

Do you actually need to use a dating site?

Dating sites and apps can make finding a compatible potential partner easier, but it's still dating. Not everyone is going to be a match. While apps like Bumble let you display what kind of relationship you're looking for, others don't, so you might end up going out with someone only to realise you're not looking for the same thing.

Having said that, there will be people on dating sites who are looking for the same thing as you. And using a dating app to find them is a lot easier than going up to strangers on the street or in bars and asking if they're looking for a relationship. Apps and dating websites expand your dating pool and allow you to meet people with similar interests you might not run into naturally in your everyday life.

Should you use free dating apps?

There are a lot of free dating sites and apps out there, and the likes of Tinder and Hinge are seriously popular options with massive networks of users. Plus, most of the biggest and best dating sites have free versions with limitations on certain features. So yes, you can easily enter the online dating game without spending anything. There are levels to this game though, and sometimes free apps just don't cut it.

This won't be a surprise to hear, but you get what you pay for with dating sites and apps. For the best experience with the greatest possibility of finding exactly what you're looking for, you are going to have to cough up the cash. We're sorry to break it to you, but the best dating sites don't come cheap.

Why should you consider upgrading to a paid site when there are free services? It all comes down to access to advanced and premium features. You can still find a hookup with a free app, but if you're looking for compatibility tests, chat rooms, videos, and a greater level of control, we recommend upgrading.

What is the best dating site for cuffing season?

We have compared the best dating sites and apps to help you in your journey, so you can make the most of cuffing season this year. We have lined up a selection of your best options for cuffing season, including popular sites like AdultFriendFinder, Match, and eharmony. The choice is all yours.

These are the best dating sites in 2024.

This content originally appeared on Mashable for a US audience and has been adapted for the UK audience.

The online world isn't always the friendliest of places for women, particularly when it comes to trolling and misogyny on social media. From Twitter reply guys, to other forms of online harassment, to straight up cyberstalking, letting women exist in peace seems to be a hard concept to grasp.

When it comes to dating apps specifically — where others often assume that a dating app profile means that one is willfully subjecting themselves to creepy comments — the chance of women enduring such unsettling experiences feels doubled. The onslaught of men grasping at straws for attention with messages saying "think they saw you somewhere" or requesting nudes in their opening line is an online dating specialty.

Is it easier to shoot your shot by simply using a hot selfie on your Instagram story as bait for your crush? That's a classic tactic that'll never die. But unless you and said crush are already in some sort of flirtationship and already follow each other on social media, finding love, a hookup, or someone to grab a drink with could happen a lot faster with the right dating app (as opposed to waiting to meet someone at work or agreeing to a blind date).

SEE ALSO: The best dating sites to help you find a connection

This means not deleting and re-downloading Tinder after every breakup or every time you ghost (or get ghosted by) your current entanglement. Tinder can truly be a great place to meet genuine people who are open to getting serious, to find a reliable friend with benefits, or to get a good-old-fashioned confidence boost from a mutual right swipe. But if you're frustrated with horny users disguising themselves as relationship seekers or relationship seekers who can't handle it when you say you're just looking for a hookup, opting for a dating site more finely-tuned to what you're looking for means you'll spend less time dealing with people who aren't looking for the same thing. 

Maybe you can't stand starting every conversation from scratch. Maybe your biggest fear is ending up on a date with someone who doesn't care about cats. Instead of a lazy bio, dating apps that delve into someone's hobbies, favourite movies, career goals, or political views before even talking to them opens up a wealth of clever ice breakers, and ensures that you aren't going into things blindly. 

What are dating apps doing to make dating safer?

Meeting someone from the internet in person for the first time is nerve-wracking for anyone. But for women, it can dredge up the same fear that occurs when walking alone past a big group of men. 

Match Group is making strides toward a safer dating experience: Tinder was the first to unveil new features coming out of its partnership with Noonlight, a safety app that tracks the location of users and notifies authorities if there are concerns. Before heading out on a date, Tinder users can log info about where they're going and who they're meeting, as well as hit a panic button to alert authorities if there's an emergency.

Match Group plans to roll out the same features for its other apps, like Hinge and OkCupid, later. In March 2021, Tinder announced plans to let users run a background check on their matches.

Should you use free dating apps?

There are plenty of free dating sites and apps out there, and the likes of Tinder and Hinge are popular options with massive networks of users. You can easily enter the online dating game without spending anything, but you get what you pay for with dating sites and apps.

For the best experience with the greatest possibility of finding exactly what you're looking for, you are probably going to need to cough up some cash. The best dating sites don't come cheap, and whilst you can still find a hookup with a free app, you should upgrade is you're looking for compatibility tests, chat rooms, videos, and a greater level of control.

What are the best dating sites for women?

Whether you're looking for a fun time or your next long-term relationship, we have picked out a wide range of apps and sites for different types of daters. So whatever you're looking for, we have you covered with this guide.

We have done the tough stuff, looked at all the facts and figures, and worked out which sites are the best options for every single type of woman out there. We have narrowed it down to the best sites, and reviewed the likes of eharmony, Match, Lumen, and AdultFriendFinder for your consideration.

These are the best dating sites for women in 2024.

Historically, sustainability and tech have not gone hand in hand. The precious metals required to make our electronics often come from conflict areas, with environmental and humanitarian repercussions. However, the tech industry is making strides forward, with Apple pushing toward all its products being carbon-neutral and exclusively using recycled cobalt batteries.

So, for those concerned with being sustainable shoppers, things are getting easier, but they aren't perfect. The most sustainable practice is to use your electronics until their dying breaths, which unfortunately come much sooner than you'd hope, thanks to planned obsolescence. So when you do need to buy a new laptop, what should you do?

Acer is answering the desire of sustainability-minded shoppers with the Aspire Vero 16. This eco-conscious laptop is crafted from paint-free surfaces and uses recycled and ocean-bound plastics, not to mention it ships in 100 percent recyclable packaging. That's a lot of good, but the biggest question remains: How does it actually perform? Well, it does just fine, but it could be better. Here's the full rundown on the Acer Aspire Vero 16.

Acer Aspire Vero 16 specs and price The Acer Aspire Vero 16 is designed like any other laptop but with a thick plastic shell. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

The Acer Aspire Vero 16 is a classic laptop with a clamshell design. It currently costs $749.99 at Acer. Its specs run as follows:

• Intel Core Ultra 5

• Intel Arc graphics

• 16GB of RAM

• 512GB SSD

• 16-inch, 1920 x 1200 resolution display in a 16:10 aspect ratio with a 60 Hz refresh rate

• Two USB-C ports, two USB-A ports, one HDMI port, a Kensington security slot, and a headphone jack

Other Acer Aspire Vero 16 models include 8GB RAM with 512GB SSD or 16GB RAM with 1TB SSD.

Acer Aspire Vero 16 design My MacBook-using self was in heaven with all these ports. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

Design plays a massive role in the Acer Aspire Vero 16, as it's the heart of the laptop's sustainability. The build is a departure from classic metal frames, instead built from PCR (post-consumer recycled) plastics. Plus, the exterior is VOC- and paint-free to further its sustainability, with a touchpad made from ocean-bound plastics.

The exterior instead feels like thick, smooth plastic that reminds me of other recycled plastic materials with its speckled gray color. It is meant to be cement-inspired, which... yeah, that's what it's giving. With the plastic structure, it's highly durable with a MIL-STD-810H military-grade rating. It's a rugged laptop designed to withstand shock from drops or temperatures. So, while it is technically plastic, this isn't a crumbling, cheap Chromebook.

While one might expect the Aspire Vero 16 to weigh less being made from plastic, it's heavier than its metal counterparts. It weighs 3.97 pounds compared to the 15-inch MacBook Air's 3.3 pounds. Even though the difference is slight, it still feels substantial. I felt that weight when carrying it with one hand like I would my 15-inch MacBook Air. The Acer Aspire Vero 16 was far more difficult to carry with a top-heavy, unbalanced feel.

A snapshot of my love hate relationship with the laptop's touchpad. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

The biggest design drawback is the recycled plastic touchpad. It was consistently unresponsive as I guided the mouse around the screen. Clicking right and left takes so much pressure that I often felt like I had to slam my hand down to get a response. After my first hour with the laptop, I gave up and plugged in a USB mouse to feel like I could actually use it successfully.

Luckily, the laptop has an abundance of ports. Maybe it's because I'm usually a MacBook user, but I felt spoiled to have access to multiple USB-A and USB-C ports and an HDMI. When I first saw the plethora, I took a sigh of relief, knowing I wouldn't need the usual adaptors.

Acer Aspire Vero 16 performance and battery The keyboard works just fine on the Acer Aspire Vero 16, but the touchpad was constantly finnicky. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

Using the Acer Aspire Vero 16 wasn't the most thrilling experience. It's a solid performer that lives up to daily tasks; however, it never blew me away. Initially, I thought it was a slow mover, taking a while and several clicks to open apps and windows. However, most of that problem was a result of the touchpad. Once I moved over to using a USB mouse, things went faster, sparking the realization that the computer isn't a slow processor; the touchpad is just poorly designed.

It balances multiple tasks well; I was able to move between various programs while working, juggling word processing, email, Slack, and Spotify. Streaming was mostly seamless. The graphics were disappointing while I was watching YouTube videos or streaming episodes of Survivor. I found the video to look grainier and more pixelated compared to the stellar resolution I'm used to with my MacBook. However, if I weren't so picky, I'd think it looks fine, just a little dull.

Running Geekbench 6, its multi-core test came in at 6,274, middling in range, which I felt occasionally in its performance. After streaming for several hours, I could feel the laptop working harder as it would stall between apps, needing some buffering time to load windows.

Despite the lackluster graphics, I was surprised at the webcam's resolution. When I tuned into a regular video call, I was pleased with how clear my picture was. However, I was alarmed by how orange I looked, finding quite a bit of color distortion. So, while the 1440p QHD webcam will have your picture sharp, you lose color accuracy.

Sure my summer tan was in full swing, but I'm certainly not that orange IRL. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

On the sound front, both the mic and speakers worked as expected. I could listen to music clearly without a busted, tinny sound.

The Acer Aspire Vero 16 struggles the most with its performance in terms of battery life. With daily use, I didn't notice how short the battery life was, as I was primarily using it at my desk with close access to the charger. Since it was so bulky, I didn't really want to haul it around.

I ran a video run-down test to assess the battery, playing Tears of Steel at 1080p on a loop until the battery ran out. The battery life came in at 5 hours 52 minutes, which is outrun by many other laptops we've tested. It won't get you through an entire workday, but that might not be an issue. Its size and heft make it a reasonably stationary laptop, so you may always be close to your charger anyway.

Is the Acer Aspire Vero 16 worth it?

Answering if the Acer Aspire Vero 16 is worth it is a game of priorities. If sustainability and purchasing products with responsibly sourced materials is what you care about most, then the Acer Aspire Vero 16 is certainly a good option. With its thick recycled plastic frame, you can feel good about what it's made of and enjoy the added durability benefits. With its army-grade durability rating, it will take a tumble and not sustain damage. Plus, at $749.99 with 16GB RAM and 512GB SSD, it's a decent value for the specs.

However, if you're just looking for a good, budget-friendly, solid-performing Windows laptop, I would look elsewhere. The Acer Aspire Vero 16 is weak in processing, scoring just 6,274 on the Geekbench 6, and lacks battery life, lasting just under six hours. For about $150 more, you could go for the Lenovo Yoga 7i, which has superior battery life and processing, plus it doubles as a tablet.

Acer Aspire Vero 16 $749.99 at Acer
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2024 is proving a sensational year for the revival of the music biopic. Sure, it started off weak with the bog-standard One Love and the infuriating Back to Black. But summer brought the brazen rebellion of Kneecap, which played like an early Guy Ritchie crime romp. And the Toronto International Film Festival brought the wowing double act of Better Man, which reimagines British pop star Robbie Williams as a literal dancing monkey, and Piece by Piece, in which American rapper/songwriter/producer/fashion designer Pharrell Williams spins his life story into a Lego movie. 

Even when the stories hit familiar beats of a rags-to-riches arc, both of these remarkable reinventions make their material stand out through style. But where Better Man embraces a warts-and-all approach, Pharrell Williams — with the collaboration of heralded documentarian Morgan Neville (20 Feet From Stardom, Won't You Be My Neighbor?) delivers an inspirational animated biopic for all ages. 

SEE ALSO: 42 movies you'll want to see this fall

Glossing over the low points of Williams' journey earned the film mixed reviews out of its debut at Telluride Film Festival. But the more I mulled over what this movie does offer, the more I was won over by its playful, glossy approach. 

Piece By Piece turns America's biggest hip-hop stars into mini-figs.  Pharrell Williams and Gwen Stefani in "Piece by Piece." Credit: Courtesy of Focus Features

To find the arc of Williams' story, Neville interviewed the multi-hyphenate star, his wife Helen Lasichanh, and a dazzling array of collaborators and colleagues, including Snoop Dogg, Missy Elliott, Jay-Z, The Neptunes' Chad Hugo, Gwen Stefani, and many more. In an interview with Mashable, Williams revealed many of these interviewees had no idea their contribution would be filtered through a Lego lens, and only discovered they'd been transformed into mini-figs when the first trailer hit. 

Neville's visual translation of these interviews includes amusing flourishes, like turning Snoop Dog into a Lego Doberman, and making metaphors about bakeries literal, with Lego Pharrell selling sweet treats the way he sold hit beats. In one instance, the idea of blowing one's mind with a sick bit of music is illustrated by having a smiling mini-fig’s head pop right off its base in amazement. These choices bring a playfulness into the film that not only is sure to delight fans of The Lego Movie and The Lego Batman Movie, but also reflects the tone of Williams' hits, like "Happy" and "Get Lucky." 

More than this however, by turning himself into a plaything, Piece by Piece gives Williams a creative distance to reflect on his own life as if it is one of his many media projects. Through warm narration, he opens up about his childhood in the Atlantis Apartments in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The colorful blocks not only reconstruct his humble home but also a more fantastical version of Atlantis, where an Afro-wearing baby Pharrell swims about with a giant goldfish as Poseidon looks on. This charming spectacle showcases Pharrell's imagination manifesting big, surreal scenarios, which becomes a recurring theme — down to dreaming up a Lego music biopic. 

Piece by Piece is a Little Engine That Could tale that kids will relish. Credit: Courtesy of Focus Features

After this whimsical dip into brick-made oceans, Williams admits he was considered an oddball by others, confessing, "It broke my spirit." But weird kids out there (or the weird adults they became) might find solace as little Pharrell finds his crew, each of whom also revels in making music. From there, Piece by Piece becomes a story of succeeding by staying true to yourself and putting in the work to build your dream, brick by brick. Along the way, Neville laces various hits that Pharrell has contributed to, from "Hot in Herre" and "Shake Ya Ass" to "Hollaback Girl" and "Blurred Lines." (Parents, don't fret. Some of the racier lyrics have been delicately plucked out.) 

While it's initially fun to indulge in the nostalgia as Neville recreates iconic music videos with mini-figs, this device begins to get old as the story of his rise makes for a lot of name- and track-dropping. Pardon the pun, but things get a bit one-note. Then when it comes to a low point — a necessity for any biopic or story for that matter — Williams pulls back. 

Piece by Piece can't commit to its big swing.  Credit: Courtesy of Focus Features

Rosy memories of childhood troubles is one thing, but sharing why his career took a dip is a Lego bridge too far. Instead of probing questions, Neville paves a path with platitudes about how his subject's greatest weakness is he has too many ideas. Colleagues speak vaguely about some business missteps or shameless yes-men who gave Williams bad advice, and these unnamed negative influences are imagined as a trio of gray-skinned ghouls wearing smiles and business suits. 

Here the film suffers. Even with the mask of the mini-fig, Williams can't let his audience into the dark moments. (On the other hand, this is where Better Man positively thrives.) Swiftly, Williams has reconnected with his pure inspiration, and the third act becomes a rousing celebration of song, dance, and Lego bits humorous and heartfelt. But this fumbled beat undercuts the movie's message. Being true to yourself isn't a one-time battle; it's ongoing. But with a community — like the mini-fig friends and family in Piece by Piece — one might get their block knocked off and still rebuild. 

Even with help from an on-screen avatar, can Williams not admit the ugly truths of his own story? Or did he and Neville fear self-doubt in anything but the briefest mention might bring down the joy of their movie? To that, I'd point to the other Lego movies, where the Lego universe and Lego Gotham are brought to the brink of utter destruction without us losing faith in their mini-fig heroes. Heck, The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part even made the dark side of its happy hero the mini-fig villain! 

This wobble aside, Piece by Piece is a winsome reinvention of the music biopic. Animation is enthusiastically employed to bring the audience into the experience of being Pharrell Williams. The colorful blocks not only allow the construction of musical beats to become a physical act rather than an abstract idea, but also give a Ratatouille-like understanding of how this art form affects its hero. His synesthesia is showcased in waves of color as the beat bounces. 

While this colorful concept means Piece by Piece can be a hit with kids, it's easy to wish the movie dared to delve a bit more into the problems of being a grown-up. But all in all, Piece by Piece is a delight that could well have audiences dancing in the aisles. 

Piece by Piece was reviewed out of its International Premiere at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival. The movie will hit theaters Oct. 11.

SAVE $60: The Shark Pet cordless stick vacuum is on sale for just $199.99 instead of $259.99 at Target for Circle members. That's 23% in savings through Sept. 14.

Opens in a new window Credit: Shark Shark Pet cordless stick vacuum $199.99 at Target
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Light enough to control with one hand, yet powerful enough to crush pet hair, stick vacuums untether you from the outlets of yesteryear. And when it comes to cordless vacuums, Shark is one of the best brands you can reach for.

Through Sept. 14, the Shark Pet IX141H cordless stick vacuum is on sale for just $199 at Target for Circle members — that's $60 off its MSRP and a 23% discount overall. It may not be the lowest price we've ever seen on this model, but it's currently the best discount across retailers besides Shark itself where it's sitting at the same price (it's currently $229.99 at Amazon and full price at Best Buy).

Not yet a Target Circle member? It's super easy — and free — to sign up. Just enter your name, email, and other basic information to become a member. Once you're officially part of the Target Circle club, head over to the deal page for the Shark Pet stick vacuum and the savings should be reflected. The deal will then auto-apply when you add it to your cart.

The Shark Pet IX141H is a mid-level stick vacuum with an anti-allergen complete seal, which makes it a great choice for pet parents. It's also super maneuverable, has a large 0.83-quart dust bin, runs for up to 40 minutes on a full charge, and comes with a crevice tool to tackle tough corners and cracks. Plus, it has built-in LED headlights to illuminate all that dust and debris your naked eye misses.

The race in artificial intelligence has many lanes, with chatbots being among the most recognizable. However, experts have found these familiar AI models often have significant flaws, including biases. One pervasive issue is racial bias, where AI systems struggle to address questions related to communities of color accurately. Enter ChatBlackGPT, a culturally informed chatbot designed to challenge and address AI bias.

Launched on June 19, widely known as Juneteenth, a federal holiday commemorating the emancipation of enslaved people in the U.S., ChatBlackGPT aims to create a more inclusive AI experience.

SEE ALSO: The ultimate AI glossary to help you navigate our changing world

Nearly three months after launching the culturally inclusive chatbot, CEO and founder Erin Reddick, 30, spoke with Mashable about the platform and her journey in the tech world.

Mashable: What is ChatBlackGPT?

Erin Reddick: ChatBlackGPT is a culturally informed AI. It's [a] generative AI that's rooted in the acknowledgment of social, economic, and systemic racism — and the diaspora of Black and brown people in America. It's an opportunity for people of color to have relatable conversations with AI.

What was your experience with AI and tech prior to founding ChatBlackGPT?

[It's been] all together, about five years. Between Amazon, Microsoft, and AWS...it's been an amazing journey. It's always been inspiring to work around the most brilliant people out there, and it's true that it can be quite isolating. You need to have thick skin and know who you are to succeed in the space. But it's built me into the person I am today, who can own their own narrative in the technology space and feel confident doing so.

Why did you decide to make ChatBlackGPT, and how did you go about creating it?

I always like to say one word: racism. Honestly. Because if it didn't exist, there wouldn't be a need for what I do, and it wouldn't be celebrated and appreciated the way that it is.

For example, if you ask prominent leaders today how they feel about the technology, a lot of them say that it's low risk. But it's not low risk, in reality, for Black and brown people because the biases that persist are affecting our daily lives, inside and outside of the work environment. It is a high-risk technology for us, and I want to build something so that we don't get stuck waiting for a policy to force companies to mitigate risk and have to suffer in the meantime.

Can you unpack the role of bias in AI?

Bias is everywhere, and it's impossible to fully be rid of it. If you were to ask a usual chatbot, and I have, "What is a Black job?" It answered that it was under-the-table work, drug trafficking un-taxed, with no benefits. But when you ask, "What is a white job?" It says, usually educated, insured, legal, tax-paying. While that might not outwardly appear as a bias, what it does is, it reaffirms a bias that a lot of people who hold racist or superiority complexes, and views — it confirms their bias against Black people. It is offensive because we are Black people who work any job that there is, not just the jobs that AI describes. 

What is "responsible AI?"

I would describe it as having a clean diverse data set. Something that helps mitigate risk or is responsible in the way that it functions without hurting people, and is fair and doesn't produce the ability to be destructive.

It is developed with red teaming and bad actors in mind so that you can make sure that people who are going to take advantage of it in a negative way aren't able to. Building it responsibly to have an inclusive design. Using it responsibly is, first of all, not taking it at face value and trusting it right away. Also, make sure that you check what you're looking at, and then do not put your personal information into these systems just to understand how powerful it is, and also ask, "How many shortcomings can it have?"  

How has ChatBlackGPT performed since its launch on Juneteenth?

It's done great. We have our beta on Open AI's Customizable store, and we've gone from 1,000 users to 5,000 since the launch. We have a 4.6 rating, which I think is great for having no customizable proprietary data within. Our standalone app is also doing well — we have about 2,000 people who have access to the tool, and we are currently developing it with proprietary information, working with historians and other experts to make sure that it reflects correctly in our society today and in a useful way.

What are the benefits of having a personalized AI experience, or at least one more specific to one's culture?

When people learn about a culture, it's really important that it's not diluted and told from the perspective of a fragile mindset or the erasure of the realities of true history in any culture. It's so important to respect that history lives on in how our systems play out, in how people are treated in society, and [shows] why things are the way that they are. Things like critical race theory exist for a reason.

So you can imagine that having an AI that acknowledges the state of today in relation with culture and history is really important. A lot of the feedback that I get is that people had in the past prompted AI over and over and over again to get a response that actually fit what they were looking for. Even if they were just generating content for diverse audiences, like diversity doesn't just mean LGBTQ, and deaf [people], or something like that. It also just means that when I'm looking to create advertising on this hair product, it understands porosities and curl patterns, and all of that relevant [information] being automatically built into an AI creates psychological safety within the technology.

How is ChatBlackGPT different from other culturally sensitive or aware AI products?

Firstly, there aren't very many out there. But what makes us different is that we're not just focused on the history being told. We're also capturing the current-day, modern, Black history so that we aren't leaving it up to God knows who to write a book and rewrite history. However, we're looking to solidify history now with our voices to influence policy, influence risk, mitigation and the degradation of Black and brown people in AI.

We also want to ensure that it represents the community [with a] true, inclusive design. We don't just have a bunch of people working in the background that you never meet, and you never see unless they're stealthy. But we actually invite people to contribute, and they can see themselves reflected in what we're doing.

Why did you choose to name your product ChatBlackGPT?

It's like chatting with a group of black people instead of the Eurocentric, typical GPT that you run into most commonly. It's obvious what it is, and nobody gets confused. 

When did the idea for ChatBlackGPT come about and how has it evolved since launch?

The idea came about after I got laid off; I was looking to take charge of my relationship with technology. I really wanted not to let whether or not I had a job at a big fancy tech company determine whether or not I was a Black woman in tech. So, I reclaimed my identity by studying AI and placing myself around some of the best people who are experts in it. 

But before that I had just done my regular research and noticed a lot of articles popping up about AI erasing Black history. Then I delved into the fact that AI has been in a lot of products and producing and creating a lot of harm for the Black community for a long time, and that was so saddening for me. And then the third part that got me into it was Black people, realizing how bad it's been, and how bad it is. So I wrote a really strong algorithm that reflects and is able to produce answers with the relevant context for our community.

Why did you think it was important to focus solely on the Black community versus, more broadly, communities of color?

Because I'm a subject matter expert. That's the only lived experience that I can personally validate, and in order to test a product, I think you need experts dedicated to doing that. So for me, that is what I felt most confident I could make the most impact doing. We are expanding to other cultures and looking to involve different communities and culture consensus committees to build that representation out for as many cultures as possible.

How do you train this AI for ChatBlackGPT?

You can't claim to represent a community you don't talk to. 

Do you have any partnerships for ChatBlackGPT? 

We partner with anybody willing to learn more about why this work is important. For example, 11 Labs is sponsoring our AI voiceover content. I am a responsible AI lecturer at the University of Washington, as well as Emerson.

Why is it important to partner with HBCUs? And what do those partnerships consist of? 

I'm currently scheduled to speak at the White House National HBCU conference. And we're looking to get interns who are hopefully sponsored to come in and help us develop this product. I would love for them to produce a white paper just on the experience, and how they can use it on their resume is endless. They can use it to get into jobs or work in AI. But [I want] to give people a chance to contribute to something that they can't easily get their hands on but can see the effects of their contribution immediately.

What are some of the next steps for ChatBlackGPT?

We're continuing to have in-person activations where we can listen to the community and make sure that our voices are heard. We'll continue showing up at different conferences and spreading the word as well as working to make sure the product can stay in the hands of people that need it.

Is there anything else you want to add? 

People should try it! ChatBlackGPT beta is available on the Open AI customizable store, you just search GPTs and then our tool is ChatBlackGPT.ai. So you can use both, but the point is that it's made for us — and it's by us. I want them to use it to their advantage and enjoy it.