Mashable

Grok has been reborn — with AI image generation.

The second version of the AI chatbot integrated into X (formerly Twitter), Grok-2 is now being made available in beta to users who pay for X Premium and Premium+. The slowly ingrained AI model, much touted by X owner Elon Musk, comes in two versions: Grok-2 and Grok-2 mini, the latter being described as "our small but capable model that offers a balance between speed and answer quality."

In a post on its website, Musk's AI company xAI says Grok-2 has been developed with startup Black Forest Labs to incorporate its FLUX.1 model, which specifically creates AI-generated images. As paying users already with early access to Grok-2 have discovered, the image generator will create images of real people, which raises concerns for artists and copyright, and also doctored imagery — something Musk's X is actively promoting.

SEE ALSO: Elon Musk spreads doctored Kamala Harris campaign video on X

Early testers have shared some of their Grok-2 creations on X:

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

Grok can reportedly now generate memes, which have middling results for early testers.

Tweet may have been deleted

xAI also said Grok-2 had been tested on the LMSYS leaderboard — a system for testing large language models (LLMs) — and claimed "it is outperforming both Claude 3.5 Sonnet and GPT-4-Turbo" at the time of writing.

Grok launched in December 2023 after Musk launched xAI in July 2023. And the AI chatbot hasn't been without controversy. In April, the AI chatbot generated a shocking fake headline reading, "Iran Strikes Tel Aviv with Heavy Missiles." The headline was then promoted on the platform's Explore trending news section.

In July, users also discovered X is using your posts to train Grok — you can opt out of this now-default setting.

Features like Grok appear a means to entice users to pay for a monthly $16 Premium+ plan (now fully ad-free) or $8 X Premium plan. X / Twitter's user base has stopped growing under Musk — stares at possible reasons including blatant disinformation, hate speech, conspiracy theories, "social media piracy," and Musk's public political endorsements. But Musk has other distractions, namely the multiple ad boycotts and lawsuits X is facing.

In our first election cycle since Twitter's demise, Instagram is more important than ever. Despite being poised as the more respectable social media platform for candidates in comparison to Elon Musk's X and political target TikTok, Instagram isn't without its problems. According to the Center for Countering Digital Hate, Instagram is failing to protect female politicians from abuse on its platform.

A new study found that one in 25 comments on female politicians' Instagram posts are "highly likely" to be toxic, and Instagram fails to act on 93 percent of reported abusive comments targeting female politicians. The CCDH is urging Instagram to transparently enforce its community guidelines and provide support for female politicians dealing with online abuse, as well as for lawmakers to hold social media companies accountable for the abuse on their platforms.

SEE ALSO: Is it 'Kamala' or 'Harris'? The answer is complicated.

"This sort of abuse can dissuade women from choosing politics and running again. While it doesn't necessarily move elections, it does signal women's place in political life," Imran Ahmed, the CEO and founder of the CCDH, said during a press briefing on Tuesday.  

Researchers at the CCDH selected 10 female incumbents from across the political spectrum running for office in 2024 and collected 560,000 comments on their Instagram posts dating from January to June 2024. Politicians were selected based on high digital engagement and comments studied include those on posts by Vice President Kamala Harris, Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, and Congresswoman Marsha Blackburn.

Utilizing Google's Perspective AI tool, which is trained to identify toxic text, it found over 20,000 "rude, disrespectful, or unreasonable comments." While it's unclear whether or not all 20,000 comments violated Instagram's community agreement, the study went a step further by having two researchers sift through the comments to identify the 1,000 most vile comments and report them on Instagram. A week later, 926 of the reported comments remained on the platform. These comments included sexist and racist remarks, and death and rape threats, all of which clearly violate Instagram's policies. Seventy-seven percent of the comments included gendered abuse such as "bitch," "rape," and "whore."

Instagram boasts that it "removes content that contains credible threats or hate speech" and "content that targets private individuals to degrade or shame them," but its lack of response to the majority of the comments in this study suggests otherwise.

SEE ALSO: Kamala Harris deepfakes are going viral on TikTok and Elon Musk's X

Additionally, those who report comments on Instagram are given very few details on why the platform took action on their reports. "It's not made transparent to the user at all what exactly happens when you file a report... It's not clear to what extent Meta is using machines or humans," said Callum Hood, the head of research at the CCDH. Regardless of the mechanism used around reports, he says it's not working, and more transparency is necessary.

Meta did not immediately respond to Mashable's request for comment.

The CCDH criticizes Instagram's failure to act as it normalizes abuse and leads to repeat offenders — one in five of the 1,000 worst comments were posted by repeat offenders — and urges lawmakers to take action to hold Instagram accountable. Ahmed reiterated that there is no place for hateful abuse in political discourse, and as social media is increasingly central to that discourse, we should increasingly pressure social media companies to act.

It always starts with good intentions. Your toddler is fussy or irritable, and you've seen how the tablet calms them down. Why not hand it over for a few minutes to prevent a tantrum while you get dinner ready?

It's a scene that plays out successfully in many households everyday, but the short-term victory may lead to a major parenting challenge in the future, according to new research.

The study, which appeared in JAMA Pediatrics, found that more tablet use at age three-and-a-half was associated with increased anger a year later. A child's inclination to become angry or frustrated at four-and-a-half was then linked to more tablet time at five-and-a-half.

The findings suggest that providing a toddler with a tablet, especially when they're expressing negative emotions, can eventually backfire, the study's lead author, Dr. Caroline Fitzpatrick, told Mashable.

SEE ALSO: Stop scrolling so much. Try these rituals instead.

"The ability to regulate emotions doesn't happen automatically," said Fitzpatrick, who is a child development researcher at the Université de Sherbrooke in Canada.

Instead, young children commonly develop this skill through supportive interactions with their parents or caregivers, and through play. But when they have a tablet in their hands, those opportunities typically disappear.

Dr. Kathryn Keough, a psychologist with the Child Mind Institute's Anxiety Disorders Center, said the study's results, in addition to similar research on tablet use among young children, make a compelling case for parents to reconsider when and how they provide the device to their kids.

"The big thing is to transition away from tablets as much as possible for preschool-age children and younger, given the research that's come out," Keough said. She noted that even educational apps are unlikely to have as positive an impact on a young child as playing with a parent or sibling, or exploring their surroundings, like a backyard.

The transition away from tablet time may be tough, but Keough offered a step-by-step guide for helping a toddler adjust:

1. Practice self-compassion.

As a psychologist who treats young children for mental health conditions, Keough has seen this scenario plenty of times. She knows why parents rely on tablets and other devices with kids: because it works. In the moment, a screen provides enough stimulation and distraction to help a child quickly move past difficult feelings. "I hope they can give themselves grace," Keough said of parents who've been using tablets in this situation.

Once parents realize the risks of relying on a tablet when their child is frustrated, angry, or sad, they can commit to changing that habit.

2. Set expectations.

If parents don't yet have specific time for tablet use, like after dinnertime, Keough recommends designating one. Ideally, this window would align with the guidelines for two- to five-year-olds created by the American Academy of Pediatrics, which is no more than one hour per day of high-quality programming, viewed with a parent.

Importantly, Fitzpatrick's study found no negative effects on anger for children who followed the recommended one hour or less of tablet time. But every 73 minutes in daily tablet use above that threshold led to significant increases in angry outbursts.

Once children understand they can only use the tablet at a specific time during the day, they'll be better prepared to handle not receiving it on demand, or when they're struggling. For parents of younger children, who may not yet be verbal, Keough said it's possible to keep the tablet out of sight without them remembering that it's an option.

3. Coach your child through difficult feelings.

In general, parents trying to reduce tablet use should focus on emotion regulation strategies with their child, like naming feelings and practicing deep breaths.

For example, saying aloud that the child seems frustrated helps them better understand the emotions they're experiencing. Inviting them to then take a break and breathe deeply or count to 10 demonstrates how they can cope with hard feelings.

Keough said that parents should try to model similar behavior. If they spill a cup of coffee, for example, it's a good opportunity for the parent to say aloud that they were rushing, and that mistakes happen. Keough noted that adults tend to cope internally, sometimes because they're embarrassed to acknowledge their own feelings. But doing so out loud can set a powerful example for a young child.

4. Weather the storm.

Parents should fully expect that a toddler or preschooler will have a tantrum when they're accustomed to getting a tablet and don't. Keough said parents who can stay firm with this boundary, even amid an ear-splitting outburst, will eventually see progress. During the tantrum, Keough said parents can calmly remind their child of the times when tablet use is appropriate, and explain that it's now time to calm down.

As soon as the child starts to relax, it's important to affirm them by saying they did a good job calming down. If a parent had their own emotional blowup during the tantrum, Keough said they can acknowledge to their child what happened, and say they're sorry for reacting negatively.

5. Be mindful of your own device use.

When a parent is trying to curb their toddler's tablet use, it's important that they also reflect on their own habits. The goal is to model behavior for their child, which certainly means avoiding picking up a smartphone during stressful moments. But it can also mean restricting device use at meal times so your child experiences family conversation and connection without devices present. To help set these boundaries, Fitzpatrick recommends adopting a family media use plan.

6. Encourage play.

Shifting away from tablet use can give children more time to spend on imaginative or pretend play, which helps them develop key social, emotional, and cognitive skills, Keough said. She suggests that parents also set aside time every day to play with them, even if it's for five minutes. They can encourage pretend play by modeling how to use objects creatively and by acting out characters.

Of course, parents should remember to leave their phone out of reach in order to be fully immersed in playtime.

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This digital age we live in demands the use of visuals for a variety of professionals and even hobbyists. From professional photographers to influences and content creators to marketing professionals and website owners, you catch more flies with something to catch the eye. But what if you're not great at creating the visuals you want or knowing where to start?

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Imagine walking into Apple, except this time, they guide you into a secret back room. Inside, they have MacBooks for less than half of what they usually cost, and the salesperson tells you the only catch is that they’re pre-owned. Are you interested?

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A pioneering NASA robot detected over a thousand quakes on Mars. It also may have revealed a huge reservoir of water.

Planetary scientists used unprecedented data collected by the space agency's InSight lander, which recorded geologic activity on Mars for four years, to reveal that water may exist many miles down in the Martian crust. The research, which invites further investigation, may explain where bounties of the Red Planet's water went as the world dried up, and suggests that Mars may host hospitable environs for life.

On our rocky planet, bounties of water exist in the subsurface. Why not on Mars, too?

"Exactly! We identified the Martian equivalent of deep groundwater on Earth," Michael Manga, a planetary scientist at UC Berkeley who coauthored the new research, told Mashable.

The study recently published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

SEE ALSO: NASA scientist viewed first Voyager images. What he saw gave him chills.

The detected water is nowhere near the Martian surface — which is today 1,000 times drier than the driest desert on Earth. It exists some seven to 13 miles underground (11.5 to 20 kilometers) in cracks and ruptures in the deep Mars crust, as shown in the graphic below.

NASA designed the InSight lander to observe Mars' inner workings, so the craft carried a seismometer, similar to those that measure quakes on Earth. It picked up different types of seismic waves, caused by marsquakes, geologic activity, and meteorites bombarding the surface. Crucially, these waves, which are generated by an impulse like an impact or temblor, provide lots of information about the world below. The speed of a seismic wave depends on what the rock is made of, whether this rock has cracks, and what the cracks are filled with, Manga explained. The researchers then plug these seismic Martian readings (along with subsurface gravity measurements) into programs that simulate what lies below — they're the same computer models geologists use to map water aquifers on Earth or gas resources deep underground.

"A mid-crust whose rocks are cracked and filled with liquid water best explains both seismic and gravity data," Manga said.

A graphic showing pockets of water deep inside the Martian crust. Credit: James Tuttle Keane / Aaron Rodriquez A view of the InSight lander's dust-covered seismometer on the Martian surface. Credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech

A temperate Red Planet once hosted great Martian lakes and rivers. Some 3 billion years ago, scientists suspect much of this water was lost to space after Mars gradually lost its insulating atmosphere. Yet colossal amounts of water might have drained into the subsurface, too. It's unclear how much, though this latest water detection suggests a considerable amount of water could lie in the deep Martian crust.

"We knew that the liquid water being buried deep in the subsurface was one possible solution to the question of where Mars' ancient liquid surface water went," Manga said.

"On Earth we find microbial life deep underground where rocks are saturated with water and there is an energy source."

The possible existence of water raises an enticing question. Could something live down there? Our planet provides a clue.

"On Earth we find microbial life deep underground where rocks are saturated with water and there is an energy source," Manga said.

Future Martian explorers won't be able to drill many miles into Martian rock to access or analyze this water. But they might find other places, such as geologically active regions like Cerberus Fossae on Mars, where liquid water could potentially be expelled to the desert floor.

The Martian surface may indeed be a harsh, irradiated place, but it's plausible hardy life could thrive in the deep, watery underworld.

The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times' revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.

With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.

So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player's flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for August 14 SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Here's the answer hints for August 14

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Wednesday, August 14, 2024:

AcrossGet some shut-eye

• The answer is sleep.

Like some difficult running paths

• The answer is hilly.

Kind of chain you might wish to be off

• The answer is email.

"Same here!"

• The answer is ditto.

Late riser, stereotypically

• The answer is teen.

DownRemove, as a layer of snakeskin

• The answer is shed.

Value that a function approaches, in math

• The answer is limit.

Make extremely happy

• The answer is elate.

In the top 1%

• The answer is elite.

End zone marker

• The answer is pylon.

Featured Video For You The Wordle Strategy used by the New York Times' Head of Games

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for August 14 SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Here's the answer hints for August 14

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

NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Honey I'm Home

These words could be where you rest your head.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

The answers are related to types of homes.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Houses.

NYT Strands word list for August 14

• Cabin

• Cottage

• Colonial

• Houses

• Ranch

• Bungalow

• Craftsman

Looking for other daily online games? Find one you might like – or hints for another game you're already playing – on Mashable's Games page.

"The Daily Show" host Desi Lydic has weighed in on Monday night's glitchy X Spaces interview between Donald Trump and Elon Musk.

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Oh hey there! If you're here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we're serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today's answer.

If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for August 14's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

Where did Wordle come from?

Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once. 

Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Wordle.

What's the best Wordle starting word?

The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles used to be available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it. Unfortunately, it has since been taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times.

Is Wordle getting harder?

It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for August 14 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for August 14 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Edge of the sea.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no reoccurring letters.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter S.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. The Wordle answer today is...

Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

SHORE.

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

Reporting by Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.

Connections is the latest New York Times word game that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for August 14's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

What is Connections?

The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

Tweet may have been deleted

Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer. If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

Tweet may have been deleted

Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for August 14 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

Want a hit about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

• Yellow: Messed up

• Green: Types of flowers

• Blue: Bee activities

• Purple: Yankees

Featured Video For You Connections: How to play and how to win Here are today's Connections categories

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

• Yellow: Blunder

• Green: Flowers

• Blue: Things Bees Do

• Purple: First Names of Yankees Legends

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections #430 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Blunder: BOO-BOO, FLUB, GAFFE, GOOF

• Flowers: DAISY, JASMINE, PETUNIA, POPPY

• Things Bees Do: BUZZ, DANCE, POLLINATE, STING

• First Names of Yankees Legends: BABE, LOU, MICKEY, YOGI

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

Is this not the Connections game you were looking for? Here are the hints and answers to yesterday's Connections.

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For the launch of its new Pixel phones, Google looked to YouTube stars to bring the heat. An online After Party breathed new life into the brand's snooze-y "Made by Google" keynote by featuring a who's who of YouTube talent.

Amelia Dimoldenberg (of "Chicken Shop Date" fame), drag superstars Trixie Mattel and Monét X Change, Hot Ones' Sean Evans, science guy Mark Rober, and more all showed up and out to hawk the brand's newest phone models and features.

SEE ALSO: Sam Soar just wanted free books. So she became an influencer.

Keke Palmer hosted the affair, making a quick appearance on stage during the keynote (dressed, cleverly, in two-piece Balmain suit that perfectly matched the brand new Peony-colored Pixel 9) to invite viewers to stream the After Show.

The first After Show act was a version of Evans' uber-popular Hot Ones series. Replacing A-list stars in the hot seat was Google SVP Rick Osterloh. Then Dimoldenberg interviewed the Miami Heat's Jimmy Butler, who had jumped on stage during the keynote to demo the Pixel's Add Me feature. Ever the style icon, Butler wore the primary-colored Noogler hat given to new Google employees during their orientation as a rite of passage.

Then came Mattel and X Change, who tried out the Add Me feature over cocktails. Next, Dimoldenberg returned with an interview with tech enthusiast Taylor Lloyd. Google Product Manager Kenny Sulaimon played with puppies in a segment obviously based on Buzzfeed's long-running "Celebs Play With Puppies" series, though the brand was not credited.

And it went on from there: Jimmy Butler and Google Marketing VP Daryl Butler (of no relation) joined Complex's Joe La Puma on his Sneaker Shopping show, another YouTube hit. Back to Dimoldenberg, now interviewing science creator Mark Rober. Actor/influencer Joe Ando of "can I make you a dress" fame made Palmer a canary-yellow dress. The party ended with a performance by The Beaches.

All this transpired in a mere 30 minutes, a tightly orchestrated corporate parade that not only showed off Google's phones but showcased the modern stars and series YouTube would consider its modern greatest hits.

Throughout, Palmer played the perfect host. Clad in another chic two-piece set — this time matching the Pixel 9's Wintergreen hue — Palmer reminded viewers throughout the stream, "This event is sponsored by Google and all participants are paid for their endorsement."

Consumers and investors are sick of AI hype, and Google knows it.

"There have been so many promises, so many 'coming soon's, and not enough real-world helpfulness when it comes to AI," Google senior VP Rick Osterloh said at the "Made by Google" event that unveiled new Pixel phones in Mountain View Tuesday. "Which is why today, we're getting real ... we're going to answer the biggest question people have about AI, what can AI do for me?"

OK, so did Google live up to that promise? When you strip the keynote of all the bells and whistles — the celebrity appearances, the jargon about "Tensor Processing Units," the Pixel phone tech specs, the visions of what Gemini might be able to do in the long run — what was new about the Android experience here? And does any of it qualify as a must-have killer app?

SEE ALSO: Awkward! Google Gemini fails twice during a live demo

Here's a complete list of everything the 90-minute event offered in actual functioning demonstrations. Real-world helpfulness, in other words, as opposed to ads or promises.

1. Gemini can check your Google calendar to see if you're free for a future concert, based on a poster. Thanks, Gemini! Credit: Google

Poor Dave Citron. In the keynote's most awkward moment, this Google product lead had to invoke "the demo spirits" and switch phones before Gemini would actually display an answer to "check my calendar and see if I'm free when she's coming to San Francisco this year" ("she" being the artist Sabrina Carpenter; Citron had just sent Gemini a photo of her concert poster).

"Sabrina Carpenter is coming to San Francisco on November 9, 2024," Gemini eventually responded. "I don't see any events on your calendar during that time."

AI reading the text in an image and understanding the context isn't new. The calendar add is, and that's to Google's advantage. In theory, Apple Intelligence will do the same thing when it debuts.

Citron's next demos showed how Gemini could draft a letter to a landlord about a broken AC unit, or a professor about a class — well-trod ground for all AI assistants.

2. Gemini Live offers 'free-flowing conversation'

Next up, Google VP Jenny Blackburn showed off the Gemini Live voice assistant. They had a chat about science experiments her niece and nephew might like, and after some back-and-forth, settled on making invisible ink. The discussion had a conversational flow.

All well and good, except that OpenAI demonstrated its GPT-4o voice assistant, with similarly interruptible conversations, back in May. That feature is currently live for a small group of ChatGPT Plus users, but not all. So Google got there first, we guess?

3. Gemini Nano offers on-device summaries of your phone calls

Here's a feature that may be less creepy than it sounds: Call Notes, which "follows up on your phone calls with a completely private summary of the conversation." But don't worry, because it's using Gemini Nano, an AI service that is based entirely on the Pixel 9 phone without requiring cloud access. (The on-device part is not new; Samsung does the same with Galaxy AI.)

4. Screenshots are searchable.

Score one more success for Gemini Nano on what we're calling the most useful AI feature of 2024.

But after that, we got a lot of visual stuff we've seen AI assistants do a dozen times before. To wit: creating a party invite in Pixel Studios, auto-framing in Magic Editor, adding generative AI images to your image, inserting yourself into a family photo or a picture with a celebrity (the new and embarrassingly named "Add Me" feature). Plus stuff that was cute but not AI at all (the "Made You Look" feature that will point your child's attention at the Pixel's rear-facing screen).

So, will this feature set be enough to reverse the skepticism that has set in around the AI bubble? Don't count on Gemini to answer that one any time soon.

Where to pre-order the Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro Best Buy Google Pixel 9 starting at $799 (plus get a $100 Best Buy gift card) Get Deal Best Buy Google Pixel 9 Pro starting at $999 (plus get a free $200 Best Buy gift card) Get Deal Best Buy Google Pixel 9 Pro XL starting at $1,099 (plus get a free $200 Best Buy gift card) Get Deal Amazon Google Pixel 9 $799 at Amazon (plus get a free $100 Amazon gift card) Get Deal Amazon Google Pixel 9 Pro Starting at $999 (plus get a free $200 Amazon gift card) Get Deal Amazon Google Pixel 9 Pro XL Starting at $1,099 (plus get a free $200 Amazon gift card) Get Deal Google Google Pixel 9 Starting at $799 (plus get a free $100 Google credit) Get Deal Google Google Pixel 9 Pro Starting at $999 (plus get a free $999 Google credit) Get Deal Google Google Pixel 9 Pro XL Starting at $1,099 (plus get a free $200 Google credit) Get Deal

Leo season's a big time for Gemini, apparently. Google debuted its latest Pixel 9 smartphones and its Made By Google event on August 13, and they're all infused with enhanced versions of Google's Gemini AI.

The Pixel 9 line has four members: the Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro and Pro XL, and Pixel 9 Pro Fold. As you could probably guess, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold is a whole other beast. But if you're not in the market for a phone that can casually unfold into a tablet, you'll be choosing between the regular Pixel 9 or one of the Pro versions.

SEE ALSO: Gemini Live: I got to use it before you and it's the biggest threat to ChatGPT right now

First, let's start with pricing: The Pixel 9 starts at $799 with shipping starting on August 22. The 6.3-inch Pixel 9 Pro starts at $999 with shipping also starting on Sept. 4, and the 6.8-inch Pixel 9 Pro XL starts at $1,099 with shipping starting on August 22. Both Pro models offer four storage options between 128 GB and 1 TB while the non-Pro only comes in 128 GB and 256 GB.

You can preorder any of them now at Google (groundbreaking), Best Buy, and Amazon, with all three retailers offering between $100 and $200 in gift cards with your purchase — even without trading in. Specific phone carriers like Verizon and AT&T also have Pixel preorders available, though they don't have the sweet gift card situation.

All three phones come in four colors, though Google has reserved the Wintergreen shade and Barbie-esque Peony shade just for the Pixel 9. Note that the price hike between the Pro and Pro XL only has to do with physical screen size. For the first time, Google has made the Pro version available in two different sizes without sacrificing any tech specs for the smaller version.

Speaking of tech specs, all Pixel 9 phones wield Google's new Tensor G4 chip that should make internet browsing, app launching, and photo and video shooting speeds nearly 20% faster than they'd be on a Pixel 8. Google also says that the Pixel 9 line is twice as durable as the previous generation, though the chic new design definitely isn't screaming rugged.

SEE ALSO: Pixel 9 vs. iPhone 15: The winner may surprise you

Also built into this refreshed design is a completely refreshed AI experience. Even if you're not one to have AI write an email for you, Gemini will still come in clutch. Whip up a group photo that everyone likes with the Best Take feature, add yourself to a group picture that you took, pull meeting or party details from that Gmail invitation you just can't find, or find out what's wrong with your dying plant without franticly describing it into the search bar.

Aside from AI, camera quality and screen quality are probably the two biggest wins across all Pixel 9s. The base tier Pixel 9's display gets 35% brighter than its predecessor, which will be necessary for eyeing all the details captured in its new 48 MP ultrawide lens. The Pros get even brighter (including in direct sunlight) and rock Google's best camera system yet, which includes a 42 MP front camera, Super Res Zoom compatibility with video, and improved Night Sight.

When it comes to the new phones, going "Pro" also unlocks a Google One AI Premium Plan with one free year of Gemini Advanced. With this, you'll get 2TB of storage and access to the most interactive Gemini features.

Where to pre-order the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold Google Store Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold Starting at $1,799 Pre-order now Best Buy Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold Starting at $1,799 (Free $350 Best Buy gift card with purchase) Pre-order now Amazon Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold Starting at $1,799 Pre-order now

Google may have leaked the design and some details for its latest foldable phone nearly a month ago, but after Made by Google 2024 it's official: The Pixel 9 Pro Fold is here, and it's looking better than Google's first crack at a foldable.

The phone isn't due to ship out until Sept. 4, but you can pre-order it already at the Google Store, Best Buy, and Amazon at a starting price of $1,799. Mashable's Alex Perry got a hands-on preview of the Pro Fold prior to its launch, and from his initial impression writes Google "has improved the device in almost every way that one could possibly care about," from the Pixel Fold released last year.

SEE ALSO: Pixel 9 Pro Fold vs. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6: Which foldable is best for you?

So what's different? Besides folding the phone into the Pixel 9 line, Google updated a few key design features. For starters, this phone is thin, which isn't exactly a given for a device that houses an internal and external display. Even though Google slimmed down the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, they sized up the displays: 2023's Pixel Fold had a 5.8-inch outer display and a 7.6-inch inner display. The 9 Pro Fold by comparison has a 6.3-inch outer display and an 8-inch inner display with 2,700 nits of peak brightness, a 1-120Hz adaptive refresh rate, and a 2076 x 2152 resolution — and the bezels are narrower than the older model.

The wide screen is a multitasker's dream. Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

That translates to a phone that's less cramped and clunky to use when it's not unfolded, while still feeling lighter than the previous Pixel Fold. In other words, the innovative design is becoming more practical.

Of course, these design upgrades don't mean much if you don't have the software to support them. The 16GB of RAM and Tensor G4 chip help power the host of Gemini AI features, plus help you maximize the experience of having more screen space. For instance, when using the internal display, you can run up to four different video streams in each quadrant of the display — or if that sounds a tad too overstimulating, you can open your texts right next to the YouTube video you're watching. Other features bring together the foldable's external display with AI, including the new "Made You Look" feature which is designed to get the attention of your little ones so you can capture the perfect shot.

If Google's upgrades have you ready to shell out at least $1,799 for a foldable phone, you can grab it in the colors obsidian or porcelain, with either 256GB or 512GB of storage.

Google Pixel Watch 3 preorders Google Google Pixel Watch 3 starting at $349.99 Pre-Order Here Best Buy Google Pixel Watch 3 (41mm, WiFi) $349.99 Pre-Order Here Best Buy Google Pixel Watch 3 (45mm, WiFi) $399.99 Pre-Order Here Best Buy Google Pixel Watch 3 (41mm, LTE) $449.99 Pre-Order Here Best Buy Google Pixel Watch 3 (45mm, LTE) $499.99 Pre-Order Here Amazon Google Pixel Watch 3 starting at $349.99 Pre-Order Here

Now that Made by Google 2024 is officially wrapped up, you know what time it is: preorder time. The company announced the arrival of the brand-new Pixel 9 smartphones, Pixel Buds Pro 2, and the Pixel Watch 3 — all of which are now available for preorder. At the time of writing, the Google Pixel Watch 3 is available at the Google Store, Best Buy, and Amazon. Once your preorder is placed, your new bling should ship out by its release date on Sept. 10.

SEE ALSO: Pixel Watch 3 vs. Pixel Watch 2: What are the differences?

There's a lot that's new when it comes to the Pixel Watch 3, and the most obvious is that there's a new 45mm size that contains a bigger display, longer battery life, and better power efficiency than the 41mm version. Both can be purchased with WiFi or LTE configurations, but if you're an avid smartwatch user, we'd say just spring for the data so you can use your tech wherever you find yourself. You'll also have the ability to use maps while offline, take notes on the Recorder app, and use Call Assist, which answers and holds phone calls for you while you find a quiet place to talk.

The watch comes in a 41mm and 45mm size. Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

The fitness tracker capabilities have also gotten a decent upgrade, including more accurate heart rate tracking and advanced running features like form adjustments thanks to Fitbit's proprietary built-in tech. And speaking of heart rate tracking, the Google Pixel Watch 3 also introduces loss of pulse detection, which is exactly what it sounds like: If the watch detects a loss of pulse, it'll ask if you're OK. If you don't answer, it'll alert the proper emergency services to get you the help you need. So yeah, your Pixel Watch can now possibly save your life.

Where to pre-order the Pixel 9 Pro XL Google Store Google Pixel 9 Pro XL Starting at $1,099 Pre-order now Best Buy Google Pixel 9 Pro XL Starting at $1,099 (Free $200 Best Buy gift card with purchase) Pre-order now Amazon Google Pixel 9 Pro XL Starting at $1,099 Pre-order now

Fans of big phones, rejoice: Following the leaks, Google confirmed at Made by Google 2024 on Aug. 13 that the Pixel Pro is getting a size upgrade in the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL.

The XL is nearly identical to the regular Pro, offering two main differences: a 6.8-inch display compared to the regular Pro's 6.3-inch display and a slightly larger battery. It'll run you $100 more, but if those two upgrades suit your phone preferences, you can already place your preorder for the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL with 128GB of storage starting at $1,099 at the Google Store, Best Buy, and Amazon. The phone is due to ship out in just over a week on Aug. 22.

SEE ALSO: Google Pixel 9 Pro vs. Pixel 9 Pro XL

The Pixel 9 Pro XL is the brand's first extra-large phone, but it's actually not all that bigger than the Pixel 8 Pro. Google downsized the standard Google Pixel 9 Pro to a 6.3-inch display compared to the Google Pixel 8 Pro's 6.7-inch display. Yes, that means that the Pixel 9 Pro XL only offers 0.1 inches more display than the Pixel 8 Pro.

So how does this translate to the actual experience of using the display? The aspect ratio, peak brightness, and refresh rate are all the same, with the main difference lying in the resolution: the Pixel 9 Pro has a resolution of 1280 x 2856 while the Pixel 9 Pro XL sits at 1344 x 2992.

SEE ALSO: Awkward! Google Gemini fails twice during a live demo

Other than that, both phones offer the same 16GB of RAM (for those in between a Pro XL and an iPhone 15 Pro Max, the latter only offers 8GB RAM), a Tensor G4 chip, and options of 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB of storage space. (The Pro Max starts at 256GB). The Pixel 9 Pro and Pro XL also both offer the best cameras you can find in the Pixel 9 line, with a 50-megapixel rear-wide lens and 42-megapixel selfie camera.

And as with the entire Pixel 9 line, you'll get access to a whole host of Gemini AI features.

If you're ready to live large with your display, you can pre-order the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL in obsidian, hazel, rose quartz, or porcelain.