Mashable

Made By Google is here, which means smarter phones, fancier watches, and even more AI.

Ahead of the event, Google announced that its AI assistant hit more than one billion monthly users. It's not just brand loyalty either, with more than 100 million of those querists turning to the app from iOS devices. Gemini now generates more than 150 million images every day, according to the company, and more than half of Gemini's users speak directly to their AI helper rather than relying on text.

It's the fastest-growing Google product of all time, according to the tech giant.

SEE ALSO: Everything announced at Made by Google today, including Pixel 11, Pixel Watch 4, and Pixel Tag

So it makes sense that Google would start the event — and spend a majority of host Trevor Noah's time — talking about Gemini Intelligence.

Gemini Intelligence on the Pixel 11

Google is banking on making Gemini a genuinely "useful" AI assistant, what Noah ironically likened to the mass adoption of GLP-1s. "They take things off of your plate," he joked during the event's talk-show format. Later, Noah said that previous iterations of Google's AI were more like a "cool promise" than anything people would use in their everyday life.

Credit: John Nacion/Variety via Getty Images

And Google agreed.

The solution, in the company's eyes, is to upgrade Pixel phones with even more native Gemini Intelligence features. That includes enhanced live translation for podcasts, YouTube videos, and third party apps (the feature was introduced for phone calls last year) and a major AI accessibility upgrade with ASL-to-text.

Google also announced the new Rambler feature, a Pixel phone feature that automatically filters out filler words, cleans up sentences, and "reads" a user's intent to produce a more streamlined speech-to-text experience.

And the company revamped its existing Magic Cue feature into the new Proactive Assistance interface. Proactive Assistance generates automatic context, suggestions, informational windows, and even responses to information found in messages. If your friend recommends a new restaurant, for example, Proactive Assistance will pull up its reviews, menu, and even directions.

Gemini on smartwatches

Many of these features are also integrated into Google's Pixel watch line, including one-tap Proactive Assistance queues and new Google Health Guardian features, including the AI-powered Google Health Coach. Pixel Watch users can also use Gemini directly from their wrist with At a Glance.

The goal, the company said, is to let Gemini do the rote tasks (including texting your friends) so you can step away from the screen. You just have to buy the latest model and keep your phone on you at all times, of course.

Want more Made By Google? Check out Mashable's live coverage and product reviews from our reporters on-the-ground.

Even though Google still has its Made by Google event scheduled for later in the evening, the company still went ahead and announced what it has in store for its Pixel 11 launch.

The livestream itself will serve as a more hands-on, celebrity-sponsored event, mostly as a showcase of what Gemini AI can bring to the hardware itself. In the meantime, if you're curious about exactly what you'll see tonight, we've compiled all the announcements Google revealed at its Pixel 11 launch event.

SEE ALSO: Pixel 11’s Gemini translated my videos and took photos for me

Headlined by a new chip, a reworked camera bar with an ambient light feature, and a heavier-than-usual push into AI-driven "do it for me" tools. Here's a full rundown of what Google announced:

The Pixel 11 Lineup, Overall

Google introduced four new phones — the Pixel 11, Pixel 11 Pro, Pixel 11 Pro XL, and Pixel 11 Pro Fold — all built around a redesigned camera bar that now uses edge-to-edge glass flowing into a metal frame, according to Google's own product materials. Google says the new phones are meant to visually and materially match the rest of its hardware ecosystem, from Pixel Snap chargers to cases to the Pixel Watch.

Google also credits Tensor G6 with a 50 percent increase in TPU compute, which the company ties directly to faster computational photography, quicker Night Sight captures, and more responsive on-device AI. A new Titan M3 security coprocessor ships alongside it, which Google says uses post-quantum cryptography and meets the same certification standard used for SIM and bank cards.

The displays for the lineup get brightness bumps. The standard Pixel 11 uses a 3,000-nit Actua panel, the Pro and Pro XL step up to a 3,600-nit Super Actua display that Google describes as 9 percent brighter and over twice as scratch-resistant as the previous generation, and the Pro Fold's internal screen is rated 20 percent brighter than its predecessor.

Every phone in the series launches with 256GB as the base storage tier — Google confirms this directly, ending the 128GB option that shipped on last year's entry-level models. All four phones also come with 7 years of OS, security, and Pixel Drop updates, matching the support window Google has offered on recent generations.

Features are split along fairly predictable lines. HiLight, the new ambient light built into the camera flash, is exclusive to the Pro models — the Pixel 11 and Pro Fold don't get it. Zoom capability is similarly tiered: the Pro and Pro XL offer Pro Zoom up to 120x, while the Pixel 11 and Pro Fold top out at 30x Super Zoom.

Credit: René Ramos/CNET Group

That said, several new software features are shared across the whole lineup, including Magic Capture (a one-swipe mode that captures both a share-ready photo and video at once), Camera Looks for custom film-style presets, and full support for Gemini Intelligence, which Google is positioning as one of the defining features of this generation. The company says that Gemini can now proactively surface information from a person's apps, draft and clean up messages, and, in the US, handle routine tasks like ordering groceries or booking a ride.

The big caveat is that there is a price increase across the board:

• Pixel 11 — $899

• Pixel 11 Pro — $1,099

• Pixel 11 Pro XL — $1,299

• Pixel 11 Pro Fold — $1,899

Pixel 11 Credit: René Ramos/CNET Group

The Pixel 11 is the entry point to the series, featuring a 6.3-inch Actua display and Google's standard triple rear-camera system.

Pixel 11 Colors

• Frost

• Pistachio

• Hibiscus

• Obsidian

Pixel 11 Specs

• 6.3-inch Actua display

• 1080 x 2424, 60–120Hz, up to 3,000 nits peak brightness

• Gorilla Glass Victus 2; 12GB RAM; 256GB/512GB storage

• Tensor G6 with Titan M3 security chip

• 30+ hour battery (4,985mAh typical); up to 55% wired charge in 30 minutes

Pixel 11 Camera

• 48MP wide (ƒ/1.70)

• 13MP ultrawide (ƒ/2.2)

• 10.8MP 5x telephoto (ƒ/3.1)

• Super Zoom up to 30x

• 10.5MP front camera

Pixel 11 Pro Credit: René Ramos/CNET Group

The Pro trades up to a brighter Super Actua display and a meaningfully stronger camera setup, headlined by 120x Pro Zoom and the new HiLight ambient light on the camera bar — features the standard Pixel 11 doesn't get.

Pixel 11 Pro Colors

• Canyon

• Olive

• Fog

• Matte Obsidian

Pixel 11 Pro Specs

• 6.3-inch Super Actua display

• 1280 x 2856 LTPO OLED, 1–120Hz, up to 3,600 nits peak brightness

• 12GB/16GB RAM; 256GB/512GB/1TB storage

• Tensor G6 with Titan M3

• 30+ hour battery (4,850mAh typical); up to 55% wired charge in 30 minutes

Pixel 11 Pro Camera

• 50MP wide (ƒ/1.68)

• 48MP ultrawide (ƒ/1.7)

• 48MP 5x telephoto (ƒ/2.8)

• Pro Zoom up to 120x

• 8K video via Video Boost

• 42MP front camera

Pixel 11 Pro XL Credit: René Ramos/CNET Group

The Pixel 11 Pro XL is essentially just a larger Pixel 11 Pro. It has the same camera system and color options, but a larger display, a larger battery, and faster wired charging.

Pro XL Colors

• Canyon

• Olive

• Fog

• Matte Obsidian

Pro XL Specs

• 6.8-inch Super Actua display

• 1344 x 2992 LTPO OLED, 1–120Hz, up to 3,600 nits peak brightness

• 12GB/16GB RAM; 256GB/512GB/1TB storage

• Tensor G6 with Titan M3

• 30+ hour battery (5,115mAh typical); up to 75% wired charge in 30 minutes (45W)

Pro XL Camera

• 50MP wide (ƒ/1.68)

• 48MP ultrawide (ƒ/1.7)

• 48MP 5x telephoto (ƒ/2.8)

• Pro Zoom up to 120x

• 8K video via Video Boost

• 42MP front camera

Pixel 11 Pro Fold Credit: René Ramos/CNET Group

The Pixel 11 Pro Fold is the outlier of the group, trading some camera firepower for the folding form factor and shipping in a narrower color selection than the rest of the line.

SEE ALSO: Where to preorder the Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold Pro Fold Colors

• Olive

• Obsidian (Malaysia and Singapore only)

Pro Fold Specs

• 6.5-inch Super Actua external display (up to 3,600 nits peak)

• 8-inch Super Actua Flex internal display (up to 3,600 nits peak)

• 16GB RAM; 256GB/512GB/1TB storage (availability varies by region)

• Tensor G6 with Titan M3

• 24+ hour battery (4,806mAh typical); up to 50% wired charge in 30 minutes

Pro Fold Camera

• 48MP wide (ƒ/1.70)

• 10.5MP ultrawide (ƒ/2.2)

• 10.8MP 5x telephoto (ƒ/3.1)

• Super Zoom up to 30x

• 10MP front camera and 10MP inner camera

• Fold-specific modes: Dual Screen Preview, Rear Camera Selfie

The Pixel Watch 5 Credit: René Ramos/CNET Group

Google's smartwatch update leans heavily into health tracking. According to Google's announcement, the Pixel Watch 5 can track blood pressure patterns and insulin resistance trends over time alongside continued AFib detection, stress tracking, and SpO2/breathing-rate monitoring, all viewable in the Google Health app.

Fitness gets what Google calls its biggest upgrade yet, built around a pre-workout Readiness Score, support for building custom strength and HIIT circuits in the Google Health app, real-time audio and visual coaching cues during workouts, and dual-frequency GPS to maintain a better lock in dense urban environments. A new Key Metrics view is included for post-workout review.

Sleep tracking also expands with a new Sleep Breathing Quality metric that analyzes overnight blood oxygen saturation variability, alongside the existing sleep-stage tracking, Smart Wake Alarms, and a redesigned Morning Brief that summarizes readiness, sleep, and weather in a single view.

Google is also introducing the Google Health Coach, a Gemini-powered coaching feature available through Google Health Premium that builds adaptive fitness plans and provides ongoing feedback based on a person's sleep, fitness, and cycle health data. Buyers get three months of Google Health Premium at no cost. It's also automatically bundled with Google AI Pro and Google AI Ultra subscriptions.

On the hardware side, the Pixel Watch 5 uses a Qualcomm Snapdragon W5 Gen 2 "Accelerated" chip that Google says is 20% faster than the previous generation, an Actua 360 display with scratch-resistant Gorilla Glass, and a rated battery life of up to 30 hours (41mm) or 40 hours (45mm). A new Quick Charge Dock is said to deliver 15 hours of use from a 15-minute charge. Google also confirmed a Special Edition made with Stephen Curry, featuring an exclusive band and custom watch face.

Pixel Watch 5 Colors

• Obsidian

• Fog

• Olive (new Satin Pyrite casing)

• Canyon (41mm band option)

Pixel Watch 5 Specs

• Actua 360 display with scratch-resistant Gorilla Glass

• Qualcomm Snapdragon W5 Gen 2 "Accelerated" chip (20% faster than Pixel Watch 4, per Google)

• Up to 30-hour (41mm) or 40-hour (45mm) battery life

• 15 hours of use from a 15-minute Quick Charge Dock session

• IP68 and 5 ATM water resistance

Gemini Intelligence

Google is positioning Gemini Intelligence as one of the defining features of this generation of Pixels. According to Google, the phones are more "agentic" than ever and can proactively surface information from a person's apps, such as calendar availability when a friend texts asking if they're free. In addition, as a U.S.-only feature, you can hand off routine errands like ordering groceries or booking a ride to Gemini directly.

Google also describes a feature that lets Gemini place phone calls to businesses on a user's behalf, with a live transcript the person can watch and take over at any time. On the input side, Google says new voice-to-text tools can clean up spoken messages in real time and that writing assistance tools can read what's on screen to help draft or rewrite replies in a person's own style.

Google also highlighted an accessibility-focused use of the same underlying technology: a new sign-language translation tool built into the Pixel Camera and Gboard, which converts sign language into text in real time so deaf and hard-of-hearing users can communicate with people who don't know sign language, alongside a redesigned Live Transcribe interface.

Buyers of any Pro or Fold model get six months of Google AI Pro at no cost (a $119 value, according to Google), which includes expanded Gemini usage, 5TB of cloud storage, and Google Health Premium.

Pixel Tag Credit: René Ramos/CNET Group

Google also confirmed its long-rumored item tracker, the Pixel Tag. It works through the Find Hub network on Android 9 and up — pair it, give it a name, and share access with up to 10 people.

Lost items show up on a map in the Find Hub app, and if the tag is nearby, you can trigger its built-in speaker to help track it down. Google says it also uses Ultra-Wideband with Bluetooth Channel Sounding for more precise location data, so a tag tucked into a bag or under furniture is still findable.

If it wanders out of Bluetooth range entirely, Find Hub can lean on Google's broader network of Android devices — over a billion of them, per Google — to help locate it, and the tag will also alert you if you leave an item behind or if an unfamiliar tag turns up traveling with you. The hardware itself is stainless steel, under two inches long, and rated for about a year of battery life.

It's priced at $29 individually or $99 for a four-pack, with a Nov. 11 release date.

Facebook wants to help creators spend less time deciphering analytics and more time making content. Its solution is, naturally, another app.

On Aug. 12, the company officially rolled out its revamped Creator Studio, a stand-alone app that uses AI to help creators understand their performance, plan their next posts, and respond to followers. The launch follows a limited test that began in June.

Meta describes the new iPhone app as an "AI-powered daily companion for Facebook creators." Its pitch boils down to three tasks: mapping out a creator’s daily priorities, offering personalized tips to grow, and helping them reply to fans with AI.

The app is now available on iOS to Facebook creators in the United States and Canada. An Android version is expected later.

What can creators expect from Creator Studio?

Creator Studio is designed as an integrated workspace for people who manage their accounts through Facebook but inevitably get pulled into Reels, messages, and the feed. When creators open the app, they see a list of daily priorities, which might include reviewing a recent post, checking progress toward a goal, or responding to comments.

At the center of the app is Facebook’s AI creator assistant, which the company first introduced in June. The assistant draws from a creator’s content, performance, audience engagement, and stated goals to offer personalized recommendations.

Instead of digging through analytics dashboards, creators can ask questions like, “When should I post?” or “Why did this Reel perform better than my others?” They can then ask follow-up questions about changes in their audience or ways to improve their next post. The assistant can also suggest formats, trends, and other creators in a similar niche to learn from.

Creator Studio can also help manage the comments section. The app identifies comments that may be worth answering, and drafts replies in what Facebook says is the creator's usual tone. Creators can edit or approve each response before it is published.

Facebook says some early testers have already changed their content strategies based on the app’s recommendations. Food and wellness creator Mymanabites told Facebook that she tried a format suggested through Creator Studio and gained 4,000 followers from one video, with 82 percent of its audience coming from non-followers. Content creator and filmmaker Michael Tushouse said the assistant helped increase his earnings by 144 percent during his first seven days using the strategy.

The pitch is convenient for creators, but it’s also strategic for Meta. TikTok’s AI Outline transforms a prompt or trending search topic into a video title, hook, hashtags, and outline. YouTube’s Ask Studio summarizes comments, explains channel performance, and brainstorms video ideas, while its Inspiration tab suggests topics based on what audiences are watching. Creator Studio brings Facebook versions of these same tools as platforms compete to become the hub where creators plan content, publish it, and grow their businesses.

Creator Studio also joins Meta’s recent parade of stand-alone apps. This year, the company released Forum, a Reddit-like home for Facebook Groups, and tested Instants, an app for sending disappearing photos to Instagram friends. Meta also released Seller, an iPhone app for managing Facebook Marketplace listings and buyer messages, and began testing StoryKit, an AI app that creates personalized children’s stories, in select markets.

The app’s success will depend on whether creators find its advice useful enough to incorporate into their routines. If Meta gets its way, Creator Studio will become the app creators open before they open Facebook.

In the first half of 2026, customers spent $50.3 billion globally on TikTok Shop, according to a report by Tabcut and Momentum Works — a whopping 92 percent increase over the same period last year.

The U.S. and Southeast Asia were the largest markets, with the former spending $11.8 billion, around double the total from last year. The U.S. has 1.35 million stores and 20 million influencers on TikTok Shop.

SEE ALSO: TikTok quickly pauses dating live chat test

Tabcut and Momentum Works estimate that the global gross merchandise value (GMV) will surpass $100 billion for the first time this year and reach $123.5 billion by the end of 2026.

But, as What's Trending reported, the data might be more complicated than it looks. In a May 2026 Harris Poll, 63 percent of Gen Zers said they stopped buying from TikTok Shop. EMARKETER, which published the data, stated that it might be because of increasing dissatisfaction with the marketplace itself. Still, 62 percent said they use TikTok to discover new products, and users ages 25 to 44 are the platform's most active shoppers.

As Mashable reported in Nov. 2025, TikTok Shop was reportedly inundated with 70 million sketchy products, partly due to AI. This year, a gray market of GLP-1 drugs is reportedly growing on the platform.

The pullback amongst young adults could also be due to other factors like no-buy movements. It could also be due to the economy — though, maybe scrolling TikTok Shop and buying a little treat because you can't buy a house is a recession indicator.

For the first time in 27 years, the people of mainland Europe were able to watch the moon pass perfectly in front of the sun and blot out its earthbound rays. That means members of Gen Alpha, and many young Gen Z space enthusiasts, just experienced their very first total solar eclipse.

SEE ALSO: Made By Google: Live updates as new Pixel 11 phones launch

Totality, the moment when the sun is fully obscured by the moon, reached Iceland around 1:49 p.m. ET. The shadow will continue west toward Spain next, which should witness a corona, the glowing solar band surrounding the sun, only visible during totality, around 2:30 p.m. ET.

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People outside of the European mainland — and that is really just Greenland, Iceland, northern Russia, northern Spain, and a portion of Portugal — may be able to glance outside and see what is known as a partial solar eclipse. In this case, a crescent-shaped shadow over the sun for a brief period of time in the afternoon.

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The shadow should be visible in 26 states and Washington, D.C., and the farther north you are, the better the show. Space nerds with FOMO can also tune into NASA's live broadcast, featuring space scientists diving deep into what eclipses can tell us about our own atmosphere and why solar eclipses over Europe are so rare (its all that water!).

The total eclipse captured over the coast of Greenland. Credit: Owen Humphreys - PA Images / Contributor / PA Images via Getty Images The beginning of the solar eclipse over London. Credit: Aaron Chown - PA Images / Contributor / PA Images via Getty Images

But it isn't just the moon's path that makes today's sky special. Those that follow the stars noted that this morning ushered in a perfect alignment of six planets, the beginning of a new moon phase, and a late night meteor shower for those with clear skies. Maybe today is a lucky one.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. Where are our government-issued eclipse glasses?!

You can't have an eclipse without eclipse glasses. Literally. You should not look up at a solar eclipse without protective eye coverings, a fact that often creates a mad dash to local libraries and science institutions. Those who can't snag a free pair have to navigate the wild west of the eclipse glasses online market. Not even an Amazon Prime subscription can save you if you wait too long, so maybe its time our leaders step up?

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. Credit: Henry Nicholls / Contributor/ AFP via Getty Images Solar eclipse hype = fake?

Does it feel like an eclipse is happening every other month these days? Well, that's not really true (total eclipses are more rare than you think), but you're certainly not alone.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. DIY celestial events

Missed out on the eclipse because you happen to have the joy of living in a warmer climate? Don't worry, you can make your own!

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Yes, I've seen the Ninja Creami video.

On Aug. 11, 25-year-old influencer Arriella Simons posted an update on the Ninja Creami she bought less than two weeks prior. While enjoying her latest Ninja Creami dessert, she found an unexpected mix-in in her ice cream — maggots. The source appears to be the lid of Simons' Creami, where maggots have now taken home.

If there's ever a video to de-influence you to buy something, this seems to be it, as 8.5 million people have now seen Simons' maggot nightmare. Users like Kailey Rousonelos are in the comments saying, "Welp, being broke has saved me yet again 😭😂."

As someone who has tested and highly endorsed the Ninja Creami, obviously, this caught my eye. Turns out, Simons isn't alone in this, as there's a two-year-old Reddit forum with another Creami user posting the same issue.

This is not a case of faulty Ninja Creami makers, but a cleaning and maintenance issue. The lid of the Ninja Creami's outer bowl appears to be the culprit. This lid holds the blade attachment and has quite a few crevices that can hold water. And since flies breed in dark, moist areas... well, that's how you end up with maggots.

If you want to make sure your Creami stays maggot-free, you have to be cleaning it correctly.

How to clean your Ninja Creami The best way to protect against maggots is to properly wash your Creami. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashabe Total Time

• 10 minutes

What You Need

• Ninja Creami
• Dishwasher
• Dish soap and sponge

Step 1: Disassemble your Ninja Creami

After using the Ninja Creami, disassemble all the pieces. This means removing the lid from the outer bowl as well as the pint container from the outer bowl. Pull the tab on the lid of the outer bowl to remove the blade.

Step 2: Place all items in the dishwasher

Besides the motor base, all the Ninja Creami parts are top-rack dishwasher-safe. If you have a dishwasher, you should be using it to clean your Creami. It provides the most thorough clean, plus the high temperatures sanitize all the components.

Step 3: No dishwasher? Hand wash with hot water.

If you don't have a dishwasher, turn the water to hot and scrub all of the components of the Ninja Creami. The most important piece to clean is the outer bowl lid. Remove the blade and scrub its input. Pull the tab while washing to expose all parts. Remove the rubber gasket and scrub that crevice. Let hot water run through the holes on the lid to rinse.

Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

Step 4: Let all pieces dry thoroughly

Moisture is the enemy here, so no matter what, whether you washed the pieces in the dishwasher or by hand, it's important to let all of the Creami components dry. Anything with small spaces or crevices should be dried at a tilt to let water properly drip off.

Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

Do you know where the robots running your home — your Google Nest devices, AI-powered smart assistants, and, especially, your robovacuums — come from? Do you even care? 

Well, the American government certainly wants you to. In a sweeping order from the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) two weeks ago, the Trump administration effectively banned foreign-made "robotic devices" from the U.S. market, including those helpful housekeepers. 

SEE ALSO: What to look for in a robot vacuum: A guide from someone who tests new vacuums every month

The ruling expands the FCC's list of restricted devices under presumed national security concerns, also known as the Covered List. Citing national security concerns, the agency blocked imports and domestic sales of internet-connected devices that navigate independently (like humanoid robots) or carry cameras and microphones (like those terrifying robo dogs). But these traits also apply to the oft-AI-powered vacuum-mop hybrids that roll around your house when you're not home — some of them can even livestream now.

Fortunately, the government won't be knocking down doors and sweeping up Roombas anytime soon — devices already in circulation can remain in homes across the country, and pre-approved robots can stay on the market. 

But it has cast uncertainty on the future of new models and the average consumer's access to them. Here's what you need to know if you're in the market for a high-tech cleaner. 

What robot brands are saying

Companies are still evaluating the potential effect of the FCC's ruling on their manufacturing processes.

Several big players in robo-vacs are headquartered outside the U.S., including Chinese brands Eufy, Roborock, and Dreame. Meanwhile, the U.S.-based iRobot, makers of the Roomba, primarily manufactures its products in China and Vietnam. Like many other consumer tech categories, most robovac companies operate manufacturing lines on foreign soil.

A handful of brands, including Shark and Narwal, have reassured American buyers that they will still be able to get their hands on the latest home cleaner tech under the new rules. In statements provided to Mashable, all but cash-strapped iRobot confirmed they would continue to sell currently available models in the U.S. as they review the new regulations. 

Vacuum leader Shark, which is also headquartered in the U.S., told Mashable it is confident it can still launch new, competitively-priced models in the future despite constraints on foreign manufacturing. "We believe we are well positioned to navigate the process," the company said. 

What experts advise

Industry insiders told Mashable that it's still too early to say how this ruling will impact access to robotics — and whether consumers need to act ASAP.

Most industry observers are looking to other FCC actions — including previous additions to the agency's Covered List, such as foreign drones and routers — for guidance. The FCC's approach so far has been to issue universal, blanket bans on tech deemed a cyber or national security risk. Instead of naming specific companies or brands that may pose a threat, the FCC has taken the tack of banning entire categories of products that could hypothetically pose problems. 

This means individual companies have to appeal directly to the agency and develop manufacturing frameworks that comply with the federal government's new standards to gain approval for every new product line (or even a software update). 

So far, the FCC has moved fairly quickly to approve time-limited extensions for previously approved products, particularly in the case of foreign routers. In May, the FCC extended approval for companies to issue software updates to routers until 2029, not long after issuing exemptions for two notable router companies, Netgear and Eero. Basically, your existing router can still be used for several more years before it is potentially rendered useless.

Similarly, experts explained that following the agency's ban on foreign-made drones, product access remained largely unaffected for the average buyer. However, products manufactured and sold by companies based in China have proven to be an exception, sources told Mashable. Part of wider foreign policy aims, the Trump administration has taken a hard line on Chinese imports, led primarily by the FCC and its leader, Brendan Carr.

Because conversations about select products and manufacturing plans are often happening behind the scenes with the FCC, it's unclear whether these companies are being denied outright or are even asking for access to the U.S. market, market watchers explain.

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While existing market access should stay relatively the same as you see it now, the FCC ruling could still delay new product lines as companies await approval. Companies will also need to evaluate existing lines to ensure they remain in compliance. Many companies expect the FCC to continue adding to the Covered List, which may further impact what products are on the horizon. 

So to sum it up: If your robovacuum is working fine as is, no need to worry. But if you are hoping to upgrade in the future, your options may be limited. 

What Mashable thinks 

Mashable's robot experts, including senior shopping reporter and vacuum tester Leah Stodart, agree that consumers could face slim pickings in the future. But you have a lot of options currently available to you if you want to fill your house with bots.

Here's everything else you need to keep in mind while shopping for a robo vac.

Featured Video For You How well does the Beatbot Sora 70 robot clean your pool?

Additional reporting by Leah Stodart

Andrew Lanxon takes Google's Pixel 11 Pro XL on a street photography test walk through Paris to test its new camera features, including customizable Camera Looks, Magic Capture and 120x Super Res Zoom. Watch as he puts the Tensor G6-powered camera to the test and breaks down whether Google's heavy AI image processing enhances or over-edits your photos.

OpenAI employees apparently have a quick way to reach founder and CEO Sam Altman, Fortune reported.

It's an email address, friction@openai.com, and its purpose is to give employees a place to report company problems that OpenAI's leadership team can triage and handle.

SEE ALSO: What is OpenAI Astra? Everything we know about the new — and possibly dangerous — new model

The friction@ inbox has existed for a while, according to Fortune, but its use widened when Fidji Simo joined OpenAI as CEO of Applications in the fall of 2025. Simo went on a "listening tour" to better understand problems across the company, and formalized the friction@ process. She assigned Irina Kofman, VP of strategic initiatives and operations, to monitor the inbox and ensure that issues were resolved. Simo also established a monthly, company-wide Slack update to track progress, Fortune reported.

Simo has since left OpenAI, but these processes remain. One former OpenAI employee told Fortune that the system gives leadership an effective way to hear employee feedback.

"It's a good thing — literally anybody can complain about big company bullsh*t directly to Sam, and they can act on it," the former employee told Fortune.

Examples Fortune reported include a pilot program to prioritize parking spots for workers with longer commutes to combat full lots, and a more reliable process for granting API credits.

However, a problem brought to friction@ only gets resolved if Altman and OpenAI President Greg Brockman consider it "worthy," another former employee, who led a team at the company, told Fortune. Unlike the other former OpenAI employee, this person said the process created inefficiency.

"The individual who reports the issue probably thinks it's the single most important thing, but to teams like mine that are constantly underwater, under-resourced, and over-leveraged, it’s the single most disruptive thing you could do," they told Fortune.

It's certainly a way for Sam Altman to get internal real-time critique. For external critique, he can go to X, like when he suggested parents make AI podcasts about their children.

Disclosure: Ziff Davis, Mashable’s parent company, in April 2025 filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.

CNET Senior Technology Reporter, Abrar Al-Heeti, gets a first look at the new Gemini intelligence features coming to the Google Pixel 11. In this video, we test out five upcoming capabilities designed to make finding and sharing information easier.

Dimension 20 is the tabletop roleplaying game series that just keeps giving. Already in 2026, Brennan Lee Mulligan's actual play show has offered Dropout subscribers Gladlands and City Council of Darkness. Now, this fall comes Toylight.

The first trailer for Dimension 20: Toylight promises that this season will reteam Mulligan with his Intrepid Heroes: Emily Axford, Ally Beardsley, Brian Murphy, Zac Oyama, Siobhan Thompson, and Lou Wilson.

SEE ALSO: The Dropout lineup that is redefining modern entertainment

These improv comedians have created a cast of characters who are all playthings. Murph is Ol' Clyde Horsey, who seems to be a rocking horse who uses his rails as a bow and arrow. Axford is Cutie Pie, a kewpie doll with a Brooklyn accent. Wilson plays Wyon, a battle axe-wielding lion plushie. Oyama is Tinsley, a toy soldier, while Thompson plays a cracked porcelain doll, and Beardsley is a fluffy bunny named Calypso.

Sounds cute, right? Well, leave it to the cast that turned Candyland meets Game of Thrones into the most gutting season (Crown of Candy) to make Toy Story turned tragi-comedy.

Here's the logline for the new season:

Dimension 20: Toylight follows a band of toys as they rise up to defend the enchanted Toylight, the last flicker of a dying child's imagination.

It's giving Bing Bong. So brace yourselves for being turned inside out emotionally.

Dimension 20: Toylight premieres on Dropout on Sept. 16. The season consists of six episodes that will debut weekly on Wednesdays. 

Talking to your phone has long been a convenient alternative to typing. With the Pixel 11, Google is extending that option to people who communicate through American Sign Language (ASL).

Ahead of its Made by Google event Wednesday evening, Google DeepMind announced SL2T, a new AI model that translates sign language directly into written text. The model powers a sign-to-text feature launching in Gboard and Live Transcribe on the Pixel 11 family.

In practice, the feature allows users to use sign language via their phone’s camera for tasks they would typically use keys to perform. That could mean signing a Google search, drafting a text or email, writing in a document, or asking Gemini a question. In Live Transcribe, a user can sign a response during an in-person conversation instead of typing it out.

The feature initially translates ASL into English. Google says it will come to more devices soon, at no additional cost, with support for additional sign languages planned for the future.

SEE ALSO: Made By Google: Live updates as new Pixel 11 phones launch How does sign-to-text work?

Teaching a phone to understand sign language takes more than showing it a dictionary of hand gestures. ASL is its own language, with distinct grammar and meaning conveyed through movements of the hands, arms, torso, head, and face, sometimes all at once.

That means SL2T has to pay attention to the signer’s entire upper body. An on-device computer vision system tracks 130 points across the person’s face, body, and hands, essentially turning the video into a moving map of geometric coordinates. The raw footage is immediately discarded, while those coordinates are sent to Google’s servers for translation, according to the DeepMind sign language team. Google’s joint impact report adds that the company does not retain logs of what users sign or the text the system produces unless someone explicitly agrees to participate in a model evaluation study.

Once the phone has mapped those movements, SL2T then translates them directly into English. A common approach in sign-language translation has been to first convert signs into written labels known as "glosses" before translating them into text.

The problem with that prior approach, according to the blog post, is that "glosses fail to capture rich, non-linear aspects of sign languages such as non-manual markers and spatial constructions. Translating directly from landmarks removes artificial vocabulary limits." In other words, skipping that word-by-word step allows SL2T to account for facial expressions, physical positioning, and other movements that carry meaning.

Google trained SL2T on more than 100,000 hours of data spanning over 50 sign languages, with roughly one-quarter of the material in ASL. It also trained SL2T to understand one-handed signing, which is useful when someone is holding their phone with the other hand, as well as signing by left-handed users.

Still, Google says SL2T is not a replacement for an interpreter

The first version still has significant limitations. DeepMind’s report says the model can struggle with regional signs, slang, complex ASL grammar, rapid fingerspelling, and meanings conveyed primarily through facial expressions or head movements. It may also generate what Google calls "ghost text," or words the user did not sign, when someone pauses, or another person enters the camera frame.

Its accuracy can also decline in low light, when a signer is partially outside the frame, or when there is not enough contrast between a person’s hands, face, clothing, and surroundings. The model has also not been formally evaluated on people under 18 or extensively tested across signers with motor disabilities.

For those reasons, Google and its AI Sign Language Advisory Committee describe SL2T as "strictly an assistive input tool for low-stakes communication" and does not fulfill legal requirements for reasonable accommodations. It is not designed for medical appointments, legal proceedings, classrooms, job interviews, government hearings, or other settings where an error could carry serious consequences. The report also warns institutions against using the software to replace qualified human interpreters or avoid their accessibility obligations.

Google enlisted Deaf employees, outside testers, advocacy organizations, professional interpreters, and sign language experts to guide the model’s development. The company plans to continue working with its advisory committee as it expands the technology to additional sign languages and, eventually, feature AI that can generate sign language as well.

SL2T is one of several new features arriving alongside Google’s latest hardware. The company’s Made by Google event begins Wednesday at 6 p.m. ET, with Trevor Noah hosting a presentation featuring the Pixel 11 lineup, Pixel Watch 5, and more of Google’s latest product announcements.

Follow along with Mashable’s Made by Google live blog for updates and analysis throughout the event!

Google’s new smartwatch gets a more powerful processor, offline Gemini and potentially lifesaving health features, but some of its best new features may not stay exclusive to the Pixel Watch 5.

Ahead of its Made by Google hardware event on Wednesday, Google has unveiled an Apple AirTag competitor. The all-new Pixel Tag is the company's first-ever Bluetooth tracker.

Just like the AirTag, the Pixel Tag will be sold individually for $29.99 and as a four-pack for $99.99. Google wasn't taking preorders for it at the time of writing, but it already has an official release date of Wednesday, Nov. 11, and a Google Store product page where shoppers can sign up for in-stock alerts. We'll update this story if and when Pixel Tag preorders go live.

Opens in a new window Credit: Google Google Pixel Tag $29.99 at the Google Store
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The Pixel Tag is a thin, two-inch-long elliptical disc made from stainless steel. It's rated IP67 for protection against water and dust, and it comes in one "Fog" colorway with a silvery face and a light blueish back panel. (It perfectly matches the new fog Pixel 11, Pixel 11 Pro, and Pixel Watch 5, which Google also announced today.)

Credit: René Ramos / Mashable

The Pixel Tag has a built-in speaker that plays a sound when you ping its location from your phone. You can view its location on Google's Find Hub app. You can also use the Pixel Tag to find a lost Android phone: Pressing the button on its back panel will make a paired device ring.

The Pixel Tag works with smartphones running Android 9 or newer and can be shared with up to 10 different users. You can also ring it from other Google devices, such as Pixel Watches and Pixel Buds.

Credit: René Ramos / Mashable

The Pixel Tag supports precision finding with distance and directional pointers and a "Left Behind alerts" feature that notifies you if you're about to leave a tagged item behind. You'll also get pinged if an unknown tag is with you.

FREE GIFT CARD WITH PURCHASE: As of August 12, get a Google Pixel 11 smartphone at Best Buy and get a free Best Buy gift card with purchase, up to $350.

Opens in a new window Credit: Best Buy Google Pixel 11 + Free Best Buy Gift Card   Get Deal

The Google Pixel 11 smartphone line is coming, and there are multiple choices to pick up if you're ready to lock one in. If you're going to preorder one of the devices anyway, however, you may as well save some extra money while you're at it. Though the phones won't be here officially until next week, you've got some time to lock one in for yourself right now if you're ready. Head to Best Buy and you'll even get a gift card with purchase to sweeten the deal.

As of August 12, get a Google Pixel 11 smartphone at Best Buy and get a free Best Buy gift card with purchase, up to $350. Choose the Pixel 11 Pro Fold and you'll get a $350 gift card with your purchase, while the Pixel 11 Pro and Pro XL will net you a $200 gift card. The Pixel 11 will get a $100 gift card with purchase. You can't lose, no matter which phone you go with, as this extra cash to spend at Best Buy can go toward accessories or just another shopping trip when you go back.

SEE ALSO: Where to preorder the Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold

The gift card will be delivered digitally via email after you pick up your new phone in-store or have it delivered to your home. You'll need to make sure you confirm your email address to receive it, so be on the lookout for that as you must respond within 60 days to receive the promotional item.

It's a great time to go ahead and choose your new Pixel phone at Best Buy and get a little something back for your time. Several retailers are doing something similar with other Pixel phones and products, so you can choose your own adventure here. All colors and styles are eligible. All you need to do is pick which phone you want to go with and you're good to go. Just be sure to do so before the phones release.

GET A FREE $200 AMAZON GIFT CARD: Preorder the new Google Pixel 11 Pro (256GB) for $1,099 and get a free $200 Amazon gift card. The new Pixels are set for release on Aug. 20.

Opens in a new window Credit: Google / Amazon Google Pixel 11 Pro (256GB) + $200 Amazon gift card $1,099 at Amazon
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It's a big day for Google Pixel fans. The brand has new Pixel phones, a watch, earbuds, and a Bluetooth tracker. Like most major phone and tech announcements, preorders come with great perks. If you're considering making the upgrade to the Google Pixel 11 Pro, check out this Amazon deal.

Preorder the new Google Pixel 11 Pro (256GB) for $1,099 at Amazon and you'll get a free $200 Amazon gift card. The deal also applies to the the larger 512GB and 1TB models of the phone. Amazon notes this deal is valid until Aug. 27.

Starting with 256GB for $1,099, the Google Pixel 11 Pro is slated for launch on Aug. 20. Google has a fresh new feature this year with the Pixel HiLight. When the phone is facing down, an indicator light will gently glow to notify you of a message or call from an important contact. The feature lets you keep the phone down, free from distractions, and only notifies you of contact from a select group of people.

SEE ALSO: Where to preorder the Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold

In terms of upgrades from the previous Pixel model, the new 11 Pro comes in new colorways, has a higher brightness level, and a new Tensor G6 processor for better overall performance.

If you're preordering the new Pixel 11 Pro and you tend to shop at Amazon, it's a win-win to place your order at Amazon and get a free $200 gift card.

TL;DR: The Google Store is offering up to $1,000 back on the Pixel 11 series via trade-in, plus bundled discounts on the Pixel Watch 5, Pixel Buds, and Nest devices.

If you're a Google fan (honestly, even if you're not, these phones are gorg and you should def take a look), Google is offering special offers across its entire lineup right now. You can score bundle deals, trade-in offers, store credits, carrier discounts, free subscription perks, and more directly through the Google Store.

There are a ton of promos going on right now, so I broke it down into digestible chunks based on what you need.

Pixel 11 phone deals

• Pixel 11 Pro Fold: Get up to $1,000 back with an eligible trade-in. Plus, get a free Google Pixel Watch 5 (41mm WiFi) or $350 in Google Store credit.

• Pixel 11 Pro / Pro XL: Get up to $600 back with an eligible trade-in. Plus, choose between $250 off the new Pixel Watch 5 or a $200 Google Store credit for your next purchase.

• Pixel 11 (standard): Get up to $500 back with an eligible trade-in, plus $130 off the Pixel Watch 5 or a $100 Google Store credit.

• Carrier savings (Google Fi Wireless): Switch or join Google Fi to get the Pixel 11 Pro or standard Pixel 11 "on us" (via bill credits), plus $10/month off your phone plan for two years.

Pixel Watch and wearables deals

• Pixel Watch 5: Get up to $400 back with an eligible watch trade-in.

• Free LTE data: Buy any Pixel Watch 5 (LTE) and get two years of smartwatch data included via Google Fi Wireless without changing your current phone carrier.

• Fitbit discounts: Save $50 on the Fitbit Sense 2 ($199.95), $40 on the Fitbit Charge 6 ($119.95), $40 on the Versa 4 ($159.95), or $20 on the Inspire 3 ($79.95).

Pixel Buds and audio savings

• Pixel Buds Pro 2: On sale for $189 (down from $229).

• Pixel Buds 2a: On sale for $99 (down from $129).

Smart home and streaming perks

• Google TV Streamer (4K): Get three months of YouTube Premium on us or save up to $120 over your first six months of YouTube TV.

• Nest Wifi Pro (1-pack): On sale for $149.99 (down from $199.99).

• Nest Cams and doorbells: Get one month of Google Home Premium on us when you purchase a 2nd Gen Outdoor Nest Cam, 3rd Gen Indoor Nest Cam, or 3rd Gen Wired Nest Doorbell.

Preorder the new Google Pixel Watch 5: The google store Google Pixel Watch 5 (41mm, Bluetooth/WiFi) $399.99 Pre-Order Here Best Buy Google Pixel Watch 5 (41mm, Bluetooth/WiFi) $399.99 Pre-Order Here Amazon Google Pixel Watch 5 (41mm, Bluetooth/WiFi) $399.99 Pre-Order Here Amazon Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold (256GB) + free Pixel Watch 5 $1,899 Pre-Order Here

Following some extensive leaks (plus a brief dip in the ocean?), Google's new smartwatch is here. The Pixel Watch 5 was formally announced ahead of the tech giant's annual Made by Google hardware event on Wednesday, alongside some fresh Pixel 11 phones and the new Pixel Tag.

The Pixel Watch 5 starts at $399.99 and is set for release on Aug. 20. It's now up for preorder at the Google Store, Amazon, and Best Buy. (Pro tip: You can get a free Pixel Watch 5 by purchasing the new Pixel 11 Pro Fold through select retailers.)

The Pixel Watch 5 comes in 41mm and 45mm sizes, per usual. Credit: René Ramos / Mashable

The Pixel Watch 5 is $50 more expensive than last year's stellar Pixel Watch 4 and features several upgrades helping to justify its price bump. That includes twice as much storage, an extra gigabyte of RAM, a faster Qualcomm Snapdragon W5 Gen 2 Accelerated chip, and more advanced health and wellness features. To name two, the watch can now track blood pressure patterns and assess the quality of your breathing while you sleep.

The Pixel Watch 5 also lets you create custom watch faces using generative AI, making it super customizable.

The Google Pixel Watch 5, as seen through the camera of the new Pixel 11 Pro Fold. Credit: René Ramos / Mashable

The Pixel Watch 5 comes in 41mm and 45mm sizes with recycled aluminum housing and a bright, always-on 3D Corning Gorilla Glass 5 display. The 45mm one costs $30 extra. Each size is available with optional LTE connectivity for $100 more. They both come in three standard colorways:

• Matte Black Aluminum Case / Obsidian Active Band

• Polished Silver Aluminum Case / Fog Active Band

• Satin Pyrite Aluminum Case / Olive Active Band

The 41mm Pixel Watch 5 is also available in an exclusive Champagne Gold variant with a "Canyon" Active (rubber) Band, while the 45mm size has an additional Special Edition LTE variant designed in partnership with NBA star Stephen Curry. It features a Satin Pyrite case, a Rye Performance Loop (polyester) Band, and an exclusive watch face. It's priced at $579.99.

Curry previously teamed up with Google to tease the new screenless Fitbit Air, which nabbed a Mashable Choice Award earlier this summer.

Opens in a new window Credit: Google Google Pixel Watch 5 (45mm, 4G LTE + Bluetooth/WiFI, Stephen Curry Special Edition) $579.99 at Amazon
  Pre-order Here

Best Boox deals at a glance Best overall deal Boox Palma2 Pro Tappy Bundle with case $404.97 at Amazon (save $50.05) Get Deal Best mid-sized tablet deal Boox Go 7 Tappy Bundle with case $279.59 at Amazon (save $61.38) Get Deal Best large tablet deal Boox Go 10.3 Gen II Lumi Tappy Bundle with case $461.94 at Amazon (save $69.03) Get Deal

It's time to get ready for cozy season. Crisp fall air will be here in just a few weeks. If you have plans to spend the fall and winter catching up on books, sketching, or working on other creative projects, the Boox back-to-school sale could be a savior.

SEE ALSO: A new small but mighty Boox e-reader is on the way

The brand makes some of the most versatile e-ink tablets and e-readers. The sale extends to the brand's own website as well as their Amazon storefront. Plenty of models are included in the sale and most bundle the brand's Tappy Wireless Page Turner. Unlike Kindle, Boox has its very own page-turner device, leaving you without the need to readjust with every page turn.

Keep in mind Boox says these deals will disappear on Aug. 23, so it's best to shop soon to get the best selection.

Best overall deal Opens in a new window Credit: Boox Boox Palma2 Pro Tappy Bundle with case $404.92 at Amazon
$454.97 Save $50.05   Get Deal Why we like it

The Boox Palma2 Pro is a palm-sized e-reader that gives you great portability. The 6-inch display is perfect for travel, evening reading, or for taking back and forth to campus. The Boox Palma2 Pro uses the brand's Kaleido three-color display which doesn't emit blue light. The 128GB storage makes for plenty of room for books, magazines, and other downloaded content. There's also a built-in speaker.

The bundle includes a magnetic case as well as the new Boox Tappy Remote Wireless Page Turner.

Following in the footsteps of Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar and Romy and Michele's High School Reunion, writer/director Dylan Meyer's The Wrong Girls is a sublimely stupid buddy comedy. And thank the movie gods!

When it comes to male-fronted buddy comedies, there's no shortage of cinema celebrating loyalty alongside the giddy pleasure of acting really, truly idiotic with your friends. Beyond movies like the Cornetto Trilogy, practically every Kevin Smith movie, or any Will Ferrell comedy, there are also several franchises in this vein, sparked by Dumb and Dumber, Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure, and Wayne's World.

Female-fronted buddy comedies are fewer and farther between in general, and even more so when it comes to movies that allow the actresses at their center to truly embrace their inner bozo. Sure, in Clueless and Bridesmaids, the heroines make silly mistakes. But they're ultimately relatable and even enviable figures, thanks to their coveted wardrobes, flawless beauty, and dream-guy-secured happy endings.

Cheers then to Meyer, who, for her directorial debut, looked at celebrated actresses Alia Shawkat and Kristen Stewart (Meyer's real-life wife), and saw what terrific dum-dums they could be.

The Wrong Girls embraces dirtbag girlhood. Kristen Stewart and Alia Shawkat co-star in "The Wrong Girls." Credit: NEON

Stewart and Shawkat star as Frankie and Molly, two best friends who share a home, two cats, a bong, and an utter lack of ambition. Frankie (Stewart) is a Stanford dropout with an engineering background and a survival job with a DoorDash-like delivery company. Molly (Shawkat) does data entry, while her successful boyfriend Josh (Zack Fox) rubs her feet — and urges her to move in with him. But Molly's real passion is for concocting unexpected food combinations, like weed brownies with blue cheese baked in.

Living in an apartment decked out with cat-themed art, these besties are pretty blissful, despite the occasional pressure to scramble for rent money or a student loan payment. That is, until a case of mistaken identities lands these roomies with a mysterious suitcase, the contents of which have them stalked by dangerous goons. (See also: Drive-Away Dolls.) Frankie and Molly decide the strange glowing liquid inside must be party drugs — perfect for selling for some quick cash. But of course, it'd be irresponsible not to try it first.

Turns out, this hotly sought psychedelic gives them the power to communicate telepathically with each other — and their cats Dio (voiced by an irate Seth Rogen) and GG (voiced by a skittish Kumail Nanjiani). So, high out of their minds and chaotically superpowered, they have to evade the Danish thugs who want the drugs, and team up with a hot but huffy mercenary (LaKeith Stanfield).

Over the course of their adventure, these two will curse, bicker, get dangerously stoned, crash parties while wearing dresses made of black garbage bags, squat in the street to piss, and generally reek of a party gone very foul. They frequently have food caked to their faces or large sticks stuck in their hair, with scratcher tattoos littering their limbs. They casually favor tacky fashion, like an oversized t-shirt illustrated with big fake boobs bursting out of an Elvira-like deep-V neckline.

While their look is very different from the middle-age core of Barb and Star's culottes or Romy and Michele's girl-pop verve, there's nonetheless a gleeful defiance in this dirtbag aesthetic. Like these foremothers of kooky comedy, they don't dress for the male gaze or even to appease the mean girls of the world. They dress in whatever jumble of fabric and trash makes them happy.

With The Wrong Girls, Meyer takes two inarguably beautiful women who can pull off a high-fashion look as a red carpet might demand, and gives them the gender parity of being goofy and gross in ways often denied to women onscreen.

Kristen Stewart is hilarious as a fried fuck-up. LaKeith Stanfield and Kate McKinnon co-star in "The Wrong Girls." Credit: NEON

Though most often revered for her dramatic roles like Princess Diana in Spencer, Stewart has done comedy in Charlie's Angels and Happiest Season, and on Saturday Night Live. Here, however, Meyer offers a sandbox to get weird and explore a sense of humor that itches at the uncomfortable.

In its The Man Who Knew Too Little setup, The Wrong Girls allows Stewart to play a "weirdo bimbo," as a smug Stanford alum (Tony Hale) dubs her. Then, Stewart also plays Frances, a young woman who looks shockingly like Frankie — if she wore cat-eye glasses and had a clean girl aesthetic and her shit together.

This running bit of doppelgänger rivalry allows Stewart to showcase her range, simply and silly. Where Frances is sharp and poised, Frankie is a storm of flung limbs, shocked sneers, and emotional outbursts. Under Meyer's direction, Stewart is able to embrace the buffoonery that she didn't seem to settle into in her Day Drinking With Seth segment. There she seemed to bristle at the doofiest bits, as if she feared being the butt of the joke. Here, she is loose, funny, and even unhinged.

Props to Shawkat, a storied actor in the offbeat comedy space since Arrested Development. With a dazed smile and wide eyes, she makes Molly the perfect partner to absorb Frankie's frantic energy. Where Stewart scores laughs in her intensity, Shawkat's silliness is softer, stretching out in clownish physical comedy and bewildered reactions. She's the Lloyd to Stewart's Harry, in terms of Dumb and Dumber dynamics.

Danish thugs use hand sanitizer in "The Wrong Girls." Credit: NEON

Together, they click terrifically, creating a comedy duo as challenging as it is hilarious. Admittedly, this movie is a little slow to start, as Meyer lingers on some backstory that is more laborious than strictly necessary. But once these "professional bozos" are rolling into Act 2 with their moronic master plan, they're bolstered by sensational supporting turns from not only Rogen, Nanjiani, Hale, and Stanfield, but also Kate McKinnon and Geena Davis.

All of this grooves into a climax that is equal parts, exciting, subversive, and — I cannot stress enough — stupid. Meyer strategically sets up familiar mistaken-identity markers, including a showdown wherein the average joe (or jane) faces a sneering, evil minion in a sharp-pressed suit. These familiar beats actually make the mayhem between them all the funnier, as if The Wrong Girls is trying to be a traditional action-comedy, but its heroines will not be contained! And that gremlin energy culminates in a climactic dance number, which is not as fantastical as those in Barb and Star or as magically choreographed as the one in Romy and Michele. But that wouldn't make sense for these two friends. This is the dance they deserve.

As a Céline Dion track plays unabashedly, theirs is a dance that laughs in the face of cringe. They are free, but not graceful. They are united, not in sync. They are the wrong girls. And if loving them is wrong, then being right is really stupid.

The Wrong Girls opens in theaters on Aug. 14.