Mashable

Subscribe to Mashable feed
Mashable is a leading source for news, information & resources for the Connected Generation. Mashable reports on the importance of digital innovation and how it empowers and inspires people around the world. Mashable's 25 million monthly unique visitors and 10 million social media followers have become one of the most engaged online news communities. Founded in 2005, Mashable is headquartered in New York City with an office in San Francisco.
Updated: 39 min 23 sec ago

GTA 6 Netflix extended look: Everything that was revealed

Thu, 08/27/2026 - 18:44

Finally, a real, authorized look at the most anticipated game of the year, Grand Theft Auto VI!

After more than a decade since its predecessor was released, years of wild speculation, postponed release dates, and a leaker posting over a dozen leaked clips, Rockstar Games teamed up with Netflix to provide fans with an official "extended look" at GTA 6.

Despite the extremely high expectations, most fans agree that the extended look delivered.

'Grand Theft Auto VI' for PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X $79.99 at Amazon
  See It at Amazon See It at Best Buy See It at GameStop Grand Theft Auto VI: The characters

Rockstar Games provided the most detailed peek into the GTA 6 storyline yet, which follows the playable criminal duo Jason Duval and Lucia Caminos. Dazed magazine published an exclusive feature on the game yesterday, which described Duval as "an ex-military drug runner" and Lucia as "a fighter fresh out of prison." So, we know the game will have a "“a Bonnie and Clyde-type narrative," with gamers switching back and forth between the two characters.

The footage shown on Netflix gave us some insight into these characters. Jason seems like a man of few words. At one point, he says he's more comfortable using a gun than using his words. Lucia is shown to be a capable fighter and criminal herself.

Grand Theft Auto VI: The plot Credit: Rockstar Games

Mashable has a deep dive into every plot detail that was revealed, if you don't mind spoilers. But the extended look showed what looks like an early mission, as Jason and Lucia are thrust into the world of crime in Vice City.

We follow them on a botched pickup in an apartment tower, where the pair interacts with several characters in a drug den. Trouble begins when the police show up, and a shootout ensues, which Jason and Lucia escape. Presumably, that's just the beginning of the couple's story as they fall deeper into Vice City's criminal enterprises.

Toward the end of the extended look, we also saw Jason and Lucia on another mission, where they acted as the security detail for a wealthy client, who is eventually ambushed by armed kidnappers during a fancy party.

The whole presentation, including the actual gameplay, is very cinematic, which really lends itself to a focus on the game's plot.

Again, we don't want to go too deep into the plot reveals here, so check out our piece specifically laying out the story we know thus far in detail.

The graphics look incredible

The quality of the graphics in this game looks truly elite. The level of fine detail in character clothing, facial expressions, and even NPCs' hair is almost hard to believe, as is the overall environment. This isn't a surprise, exactly, and fans certainly have high expectations for this game. But the Mashable chat was unanimous: the graphics here are deeply impressive.

GTA 6 music Credit: Rockstar Games

What's a Grand Theft Auto game without a killer soundtrack, right?

Cruising around Vice City in your car while scanning the radio dial is as big a part of the game as doing crime. So, what tunes do we have to look forward to hearing in the game?

Previous GTA 6 trailers included Tom Petty's "Love Is a Long Road" and The Pointer Sisters' "Hot Together." Netflix's extended look showed us a soundtrack that extends from Kodak Black to Def Leppard to Phil Collins.

Other artists heard in the Netflix preview include Depeche Mode, Birdman featuring Lil Wayne, Captain & Tennille, Cliff Richard, Prefab Sprout, B one El Productor De Oro, Chimbala, and Omega, Aluna & Jayda G, Elderbrook & Bob Moses, and The Bellamy Brothers.

For a complete list of every song in Netflix's GTA 6 extended look (and songs that have previously been associated with the game), check out Mashable's coverage specifically on the music of GTA 6.

GTA 6 gameplay

There has already been so much content released by the anonymous leaker known as Cyberleek, yet Rockstar Games was still able to deliver huge elements of gameplay that were previously completely unknown.

For example, Mashable reported earlier today on the suspicious lack of any gameplay footage involving Lucia as a playable character. Well, the Netflix exclusive look delivered what Cyberleeks couldn't (or wouldn't for some reason). We saw plenty of gameplay footage with Lucia.

Cyberleek did post footage of gameplay that included a little demon head icon in the corner of the screen, and we now know a little more about that. It appears this is a game mechanic that monitors the morality or honor your character shows (or the lack thereof). It's not clear exactly what it means for the character, or how the game changes with it, but we do know it's there.

Social media also seems to play a role in GTA 6. The extended look showed Lucia stealing a car, only to find someone in the trunk doing "the trunk challenge." Later, we see the same character riding in the trunk and livestreaming as Lucia evades the police and chat messages appear on the screen. So, just like it exists in the real world, social media exists in the game, too. It's unclear if this is related to the honor system or not, but it's clear that social media plays a larger role throughout the game.

Slow-motion aiming mode

In the mission where Jason and Lucia act as security and fight an armed kidnapping crew, we noticed something interesting. While both Jason and Lucia were seen firing weapons with fairly typical aiming mechanics, at one point, the game entered a slow-motion aiming mode. At that point, enemy weak points glowed red.

NPC interactions similar to Red Dead Redemption 2 Credit: Rockstar Games

There also seems to be a new NPC interaction system, which provides players with the ability to perform certain actions with non-playable characters. For example, you can pet a dog.

It appears GTA 6 will have a similar NPC interaction system as Red Dead Redemption II, another popular game from Rockstar.

Racing seems to be a big element

The game showed Jason and Lucia racing in a variety of environments. Based on the Netflix extended look, there's even a dedicated race track in the game. We also got to see Lucia participate in a dirt bike race on a dirt track. Finally, another clip showed drag racing on city streets. For gamers who love racing and car customization, it seems there will be a lot to love in GTA 6.

You can scuba dive and base jump

One of the coolest clips in the extended look featured Lucia base jumping off a skyscraper, pulling her parachute, and gliding over Vice City. In another scene, we learned that players can even go scuba diving.

Eating and drinking are part of the game

From Dazed magazine, we learned that eating and drinking are part of the game, and that Jason and Lucia can gain or lose weight based on their diet and exercise. In the extended look, we see Jason eating food as a heart meter appears on the screen, and we see Lucia lifting weights.

The extended look also showed character actions such as opening a refrigerator and drinking beer, as well as interactive cigar smoking.

Of course, there are just the biggest elements we noticed. The extended look will be available on YouTube starting at 9 p.m. ET, and the game itself comes out Nov. 19.

'Grand Theft Auto VI' Ultimate Edition: PS5 or Xbox $99.99 at PlayStation Store
  See It at PlayStation Store See It at Xbox See It at Rockstar Games

Can Martha Stewart convince you Waymo is a good thing?

Thu, 08/27/2026 - 18:22

Domestic goddess Martha Stewart has given her stamp of approval to Waymo's newest autonomous vehicle, the Ojai.

View this post on Instagram

Stewart partnered with Google-owned Waymo for a spot promoting the Ojai, a roomier alternative to Waymo's increasingly ubiquitous Jaguar I-PACE cars. The Ojai, now available for driverless rides in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Phoenix, features automatic sliding doors, a comfier interior, and three large in-car screens outfitted with (what else?) Gemini AI tech.

Waymo refers to the Ojai as a "living room on wheels." The custom-made Ojai certainly seems like an upgrade from the Jaguars, but it lacks the innovative carriage-style seating offered by Zoox, Amazon's robotaxi company. Zoox allows riders to sit across from each other and the vehicles can drive in either direction seamlessly since they don't have a formal front or rear.

SEE ALSO: 'Are we on fire, dude?' When a Waymo ran over a firework

Zoox, though, is only available to the public in Las Vegas. Besides offering service to nearly a dozen Sun Belt cities (and San Francisco), Waymo plans to launch in places like New York, Chicago, Washington, D.C., and Tokyo, according to its website.

This documentary-only streaming service is $149.99 for life, its lowest-ever price

Thu, 08/27/2026 - 18:00

TL;DR: Get a Curiosity Stream lifetime subscription for $149.99 (reg. $399.99).

Opens in a new window Credit: Curiosity Stream Curiosity Stream Standard Plan: Lifetime Subscription $149.99
$399.99 Save $250   Get Deal

Netflix keeps burying its documentaries under three rows of reality shows. Curiosity Stream doesn’t have that problem because documentaries make up the entire catalog.

A Streamer with no subscription

The large library covers science, history, nature, and technology, with thousands of titles and new ones added on an ongoing basis: ancient Rome, deep space, and wildlife, including a solid lineup of David Attenborough programs. Series like Engineering the Future, Deep Time History, and Into the Jungle each dig into a different corner of how the world actually works, rather than another true-crime rehash.

It streams in HD across phones, tablets, and TVs, and the iPhone and iPad apps let you download episodes ahead to watch later. Search handles general topics well, so chasing a rabbit hole about deep-sea creatures or ancient Rome doesn’t take much digging, and the interface itself stays out of your way.

Bookmarking and resume playback mean you can always get back to what you want to watch, even if you switch devices.

It’s also just a good thing to fall asleep to. Swap out reality TV or a movie you have to actually pay attention to for a low-stakes documentary, and it’s a lot easier to drift off without missing anything that matters. Between that and the actual educational value, it’s a natural fit for anyone who’d rather spend an evening learning something than rewatching a show for the fourth time.

Get Curiosity Stream lifetime access for $149.99 (reg. $399.99).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Get the Fitbit that shares heart rate info with gym equipment while it’s just $135

Thu, 08/27/2026 - 18:00

TL;DR: The Fitbit Charge 6 tracks workouts, heart rate, sleep, stress, and more for $134.99 (reg. $159.95).

Opens in a new window Credit: Google Fitbit Charge 6 $134.99
$159.95 Save $24.96   Get Deal

A fitness tracker becomes more useful when its data follows you into the workout. The Fitbit Charge 6 can link to compatible exercise machines and display your heart rate in real-time for a more connected workout.

Outside the gym, built-in GPS and GLONASS track pace, distance, routes, and outdoor workouts without relying entirely on a phone. More than 40 exercise modes cover activities such as walking, running, cycling, and swimming, while Active Zone Minutes show workout intensity.

The Charge 6 also tracks heart rate around the clock, daily activity, sleep patterns, and stress responses. Its Sleep Score provides personalized insights, while SpO₂ and skin temperature tracking add additional wellness metrics. Compatible ECG and EDA Scan features are available where supported; these are wellness tools, not medical care.

Google integrations make the device more practical between workouts. Maps provides turn-by-turn directions for walks, runs, and rides. Google Wallet handles contactless payments, YouTube Music controls compatible playback, and smart notifications surface calls, messages, app alerts, alarms, and reminders from a compatible smartphone.

The bright AMOLED touchscreen is designed for indoor and outdoor visibility. Up to seven days of battery life reduces charging interruptions, and 50-meter water resistance supports swimming and everyday wear. Small and large silicone bands are included.

This is a focused alternative for someone who wants fitness and wellness data without moving to a larger, more complex smartwatch.

Don’t miss the Fitbit Charge 6 while it’s on sale for $134.99 (reg. $159.95) for a limited time.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Did GTA 6 Extended Look live up to the hype? Fans react after years of waiting

Thu, 08/27/2026 - 17:49

For 26 minutes on a Thursday, the internet collectively stopped to watch a video game.

That video game was Grand Theft Auto VI, the long-awaited next entry in Rockstar Games' (in)famous open-world crime series. Netflix aired a pretty long video showing official gameplay for the first time, after about a week of rampant leaks.

SEE ALSO: 'GTA 6' Netflix extended look: Everything that happened in the 26-minute reveal

After 13 years of waiting and mounting hype, you'd think social media would be ready to tear the game apart, especially after seeing a bunch of out-of-context clips leaked from an older build of the game. However, it turns out that Rockstar evidently did enough to satisfy its fans, judging by their reactions on social media. Even Major League Baseball weighed in.

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. 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.

We'll see if that enthusiasm holds up until Nov. 19, when the game finally comes out.

YouTube creators are using fake Dolly Parton images

Thu, 08/27/2026 - 17:11

Country music legend Dolly Parton died this week, and doctored images of the icon in the hospital are circulating online.

There are no publicly available photos of Dolly Parton hospitalized or wearing a patient gown, but if you go on social media, you might not know that.

On the morning of Aug. 27, Mashable observed at least three YouTube videos with fake, likely AI-generated images of Parton hospitalized in the thumbnails. The videos were surfaced by the YouTube app in sections labeled "Videos on the rise" and "YouTube featured":

Credit: Screenshot: YouTube Credit: Screenshot: YouTube

One thumbnail features Parton in a gown surrounded by tubes in front of, bizarrely, a city background, as if it was generated using images of both Parton and news anchors:

Credit: Screenshot: YouTube

Another thumbnail surfaced in the "YouTube featured" section and featured singer Jelly Roll with a superimposed image of Parton in the clouds:

Credit: YouTube

According to a description in YouTube’s app, the featured section "promotes YouTube features and programs, often using content that YouTube has chosen based on your viewing habits or through manual selections." Below all these videos is the "hyped," label, meaning that viewers tapped the Hype button on the app to boost the video's discoverability.

As of the afternoon of Aug. 27, all four videos remained live. Three displayed a "Made with AI" label when opened, along with a disclaimer in the description stating, "Sounds or visuals were altered or fully generated."

The video about Dolly Parton’s sister, Stella Parton, did not have this label.

A YouTube spokesperson told Mashable, "We are reviewing and will take action against any content or channels found to be in violation of our policies." Mashable has also reached out to the available YouTube channels.

TCL’s 75-inch Mini-LED 4K TV drops to $849.99 at Amazon — act fast to save over $100

Thu, 08/27/2026 - 17:00

SAVE $150: The 75-inch TCL QM64L QLED TV is on sale at Amazon for $849.99, down from the list price of $999.99. That's a 15% discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: TCL 75-inch TCL QM64L QLED TV $849.99 at Amazon
$999.99 Save $150   Get Deal

For plenty of rooms, a 65-inch TV is perfect. But if you have a larger living room or a big bedroom, a 75-inch might be better. The problem with a larger TV is that the price tends to jump significantly between 65 and 75 inches. For that reason, it's worth checking out this Amazon deal.

As of Aug. 27, the 75-inch TCL QM64L QLED TV is on sale at Amazon for $849.99, marked down from the list price of $999.99. That's a 15% discount that saves $150 off the price and gives you extra funds to spend on streaming services.

Ideal for watching games during daylight hours, the TCL's QLED display features 3840x2160 4K resolution. It contains up to 500 local dimming zones, ensuring there's less color bloom and deep blacks. Plus, this is the first TCL model that comes with Alexa+.

SEE ALSO: TCL TV deal alert: Get this stunning 65-inch Mini-LED TV for $602 off at Amazon

If you love gaming on a giant TV, TCL's 144Hz refresh rate and 288 VRR will work well together for a lag-free experience. In addition to these specs, it's worth mentioning that Mashable rates TCL as one of the best TV brands, making budget models that don't cut down on quality.

Instead of dropping big money on a 75-inch TV, upgrade to the 75-inch TCL QM64L QLED TV while it's on sale at Amazon for under $850. It'll be a great companion for fall shows and staying cozy indoors come winter.

Twitch users report major outage Thursday

Thu, 08/27/2026 - 16:56

Seemingly right after the big Grand Theft Auto VI trailer aired on Netflix, the internet's home for video game streaming went down.

The two things are probably entirely unrelated, of course, but Twitch did indeed go down for many users on Thursday afternoon. Down Detector shows that people started reporting the outage around 3:30 p.m. ET, again coincidentally, immediately after the GTA video aired. That's poor timing for anyone who wanted to hop on Twitch and talk about it.

Users reported the outage on X, too.

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.

Sorry to anyone who wanted to watch some Twitch this afternoon.

GTA 6 Netflix extended look: Everything we learned about the plot in the 26-minute reveal

Thu, 08/27/2026 - 16:45

Grand Theft Auto VI's protagonists, Jason and Lucia, have many of the qualities of a functional couple. They live together, get ready for parties together, hold hands in public, and help each other escape heavily armed police.

Their relationship sits front and center in Netflix's Grand Theft Auto VI: An Extended Look, the 26-minute presentation Rockstar Games released Aug. 27. Captured entirely from in-game footage on PlayStation 5, it offers the clearest account yet of the game’s storyline and how its two protagonists operate as partners in crime and life.

SEE ALSO: GTA 6 Netflix extended look: 12 details not seen in the Cyberleek videos

Rockstar has previously said that Jason and Lucia become trapped in a criminal conspiracy stretching across Leonida after an easy score goes wrong. The new footage begins to show what that may look like. A botched pickup leads to a deadly police raid, which appears to push the couple toward more experienced criminals, riskier jobs, and a lavish party that ends in another full-scale attack.

The presentation does not reveal the complete plot or necessarily show every scene in chronological order. It does, however, give us enough to begin connecting Jason and Lucia’s path through the game. Here is everything that happened in their story, followed by the new gameplay details and a comparison of the official footage with the recent leaks.

Spoilers for Grand Theft Auto VI: An Extended Look follow.

What happens in the GTA VI Extended Look?

The trouble begins with what should be a routine pickup. Jason and Lucia enter a rundown apartment building while working for Vice City businessman Boobie Ike, searching for a man named Raymond. Right from the start, Rockstar slips in possible clues about the game's larger systems; for example, Jason stops to pet a dog, prompting an angel icon to appear on screen as if he has earned a sort of morality credit.

The couple moves deeper into the building, and they discover people cooking and packaging drugs while Raymond’s associates explain that his partner has gone off the grid. Until they find out what happened, the entire operation is supposed to remain in a holding pattern. But before Jason and Lucia can leave, someone named Ernesto calls with a warning: a task force is on its way. The people inside begin frantically packing up drugs and trying to escape, while the arriving officers appear to have little interest in making arrests.

Instead, police storm the building and begin shooting, giving us the first extended look at GTA VI’s faster, more physical combat. Jason and Lucia fight through cramped rooms with pistols and shotguns before escaping in an elevator. There, Lucia asks whether one of the officers was Menendez, suggesting the couple may already have a history with the task force.

The Grand Theft Auto VI title card then appears. This disastrous pickup is clearly more than just an isolated mission.

Jason and Lucia's bad day begins

From there, we get to Jason and Lucia at their shared home, getting ready for a party. Fake commercials air on television, including an ad for the anxiety medication "Angstipan," a dissociative drug often advertised on billboards in Leonida, and another for a sandwich that contains what appears to be an entire deli counter.

Jason and Lucia later arrive at the party hand in hand, where they meet Brian Heder. Brian is a longtime drug runner who lets Jason live at one of his properties in exchange for helping with local shakedowns, according to Rockstar’s character description. Their conversation makes clear that the couple is in serious trouble and needs Brian to arrange an introduction to someone who may be able to help.

SEE ALSO: 'GTA 6' Netflix extended look: Every song we heard during gameplay

Interspersed throughout the Netflix special are montages highlighting the people, places, and activities that fill GTA VI’s world. They also provide important context about Jason and Lucia’s relationship and their history together.

In the first supercut, the couple robs a diner, holds up a liquor store, steals cars, and fights through several other jobs. The diner sequence appears to be the finished version of the robbery that leaked in unfinished form in 2022.

The Extended Look moves to Jason and Lucia driving to meet a new contact. Lucia feels nervous before they arrive, and she has good reason: the mystery man appears to be Raul Bautista, a seasoned bank robber. Jason is handed a rifle, Lucia gets behind the wheel, and the couple is immediately thrown into another police chase.

This one quickly becomes much larger than the apartment raid. As Lucia speeds through the sunny streets of Vice City, Jason shoots at police vehicles and helicopters from the passenger seat.

By the time the trio escapes, it becomes clear that the mission was also a test. When Lucia asks whether they passed, their contact tells them that they stayed alive and hands over their payment. Jason and Lucia then wonder whether they are officially part of his crew.

A security job goes spectacularly wrong

The answer appears to be yes, and their apparent promotion immediately raises the stakes. The next time we see Jason and Lucia working, they have traded small robberies and casual clothes for formal wear and a private security job protecting a wealthy young man named Andrés de León.

The assignment takes them from Andrés’ private jet to a party celebrating the opening of MegaMundo’s first corporate headquarters on American soil. Inside, Andrés and his associates are doing drugs in a conference room while the company’s chief operating officer, Petra, tries to pull Jason into the larger celebration downstairs.

Naturally, the night ends in yet another shootout. Armed men wearing medical masks (similar to the ones Raymond's crew wore) and white jumpsuits storm the building, separating Jason and Lucia on different floors. The mission then cuts between their simultaneous fights: Jason shoots his way through the attackers while protecting Andrés and briefly slows time to land several precise headshots, suggesting a character-specific ability similar to those used by Michael, Franklin, and Trevor in GTA V.

Lucia, meanwhile, has been separated from her guns and must rely on the hand-to-hand fighting skills Jason mentioned earlier. After being knocked down in a stairwell and strangled by one attacker, she manages to fight him off and take his weapon.

By that point, the larger story is beginning to take shape. Jason and Lucia start out as a couple, committing minor robberies, but a failed pickup sends them looking for help. That search connects them with more experienced criminals, and those relationships pull them into increasingly elaborate and dangerous jobs.

What else can you do in GTA VI?

About the halfway point, Rockstar uses Extended Look to show just how much players can do around Vice City and the wider state of Leonida. Among other things, Jason and Lucia can ride scooters, swim, scuba dive, drive airboats through swamps, work out, go skydiving, race cars, ride motocross bikes, visit strip clubs, practice at shooting ranges, rob stores, and escape police on motorcycles and jet skis.

Unlike the long aerial transitions used to move among the three protagonists in GTA V, the switch appears to take only a few seconds. That suggests players will be able to move between Jason and Lucia almost instantly when the two are near each other.

It is certainly impressive that all of this footage was captured on a standard PlayStation 5. The nighttime lighting, water reflections, crowded interiors, instant character switching, and dense street scenes were not recorded on an upgraded PS5 Pro or high-end PC.

How does the official footage compare with the leaks?

The Extended Look arrives after a person or group calling itself Cyberleek spent more than a week releasing footage from an apparently playable version of GTA VI.

Those leaks appeared to show Jason playing basketball, refueling cars, using a Taser, flying a plane, driving hypercars, stealing vehicles, and attempting to escape police. Other clips fueled speculation about vehicle storage, expanded inventories, a six-star wanted level, police recognizing a suspect’s clothing, and the possible morality system hinted at when Jason pets the dog.

SEE ALSO: GTA 6 Netflix extended look: 12 details not seen in the Cyberleek videos

Rockstar acknowledged that unauthorized gameplay had circulated Aug. 26, calling the experience "heartbreaking for our team." The studio apologized for the long wait, said development was "nearly there" and asked players to wait until Nov. 19 to experience the complete game.

Meanwhile, Rockstar's parent company, Take-Two Interactive, has sought information from Microsoft and Discord as it attempts to identify the people behind the leaks. Cyberleek's repeated attempts to use the footage to promote a cryptocurrency have also made theories that the leaks are a secret Rockstar marketing stunt increasingly difficult to believe.

SEE ALSO: GTA 6 Cyberleek update: Everything leaked so far, what might be next

Even with so much footage already circulating, the official presentation supplied something the leaks could not: context. The leaks showed individual mechanics and disconnected moments. The Extended Look showed the relationship holding all of those moments together.

Grand Theft Auto VI will be released Nov. 19 for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. The Extended Look is available on Netflix and will also be released through Rockstar’s YouTube channel and the official GTA VI website.

There will be plenty of cars to steal, places to rob, and ways to attract police attention. But the real question at the center of GTA VI is what happens to Jason and Lucia as they do all of it together.

GTA 6 Netflix extended look: 12 details not seen in the Cyberleek videos

Thu, 08/27/2026 - 15:56

Rockstar just showed an extended look at Grand Theft Auto VI on Netflix. Let's talk about it.

In a nearly half-hour-long extended gameplay video captured on a PS5, Rockstar gave us our first real idea of what actually playing GTA VI is actually like. Sure, we've all seen a bunch of leaked footage by now, but there was a lot of stuff in the Netflix video that the Cyberleek leaks didn't show. Here's a quick rundown of things that were new in the Netflix trailer.

SEE ALSO: 'GTA 6' Netflix extended look: Every song we heard during gameplay You can pet a dog (and other NPC interactions)

There were some brief glimpses of this in some of the Cyberleek videos, but Rockstar's official trailer confirmed that GTA VI is adopting the NPC interaction system from Red Dead Redemption II. You can seemingly lock onto people in the world and perform contextual actions with them, though the actions you can perform seem to vary pretty wildly from one scenario to the next.

The best one, of course, is that you can pet a dog. The internet will be happy about that.

There's some kind of morality system

At one point in the Rockstar video, you can see what looks like a little demon head icon appear in the corner of the screen after the protagonist Jason does something. This was also sort of present in the Cyberleek videos, but now we have full confirmation that this game seems to have some kind of morality/honor system. It's unclear at this point how exactly it works or what advantages and disadvantages there are to being honorable or dishonorable, but we can say with some confidence that it's in the game.

Social media is a big part of it

Social media has become a much bigger part of our lives since GTA V launched in 2013, and Rockstar is aware of that. At one point in the trailer, protagonist Lucia encounters a guy doing "the trunk challenge" in the trunk of a car she stole, at which point we see a brief clip of her driving dangerously with the guy hanging out of the trunk and an Instagram Live-style chat feed on the right side of the screen.

That could be something you only see in certain missions, or it could be a major part of the game in ways we don't know yet. But rest assured that Rockstar knows about the modern internet.

The missions and story

So far, Cyberleek hasn't posted any clips showing actual missions, as far as we can tell. But toward the end of the extended look, we saw Jason and Lucia acting as a security detail for a wealthy client, then fighting off armed kidnappers.

Yes, Lucia is playable

Frustratingly, the Cyberleek videos seemed to almost completely ignore Lucia, Jason's partner in this Bonnie and Clyde-esque tale. Rockstar did us a solid, though, and showed a lot of Lucia gameplay, confirming that she is very much a protagonist, too.

There were a few little details that I noticed regarding Jason and Lucia. It seemed like there will be a lot of sequences where the two of them travel around and do things together, like gas station robberies and story missions. GTA V had three protagonists, but they rarely interacted with each other, and certainly didn't pal around with each other ambiently in the open world. That's a neat change.

There was one point in the trailer, though, where the player was able to zoom out into the map and switch from Lucia to Jason, who was far away doing something else. So, it seems like they're not always together.

Miscellaneous other things

A few other bits I saw in the video included:

  • The ability to drive airboats in a fake Everglades environment

  • Underwater scuba diving

  • Opening a refrigerator and drinking beer

  • Interactive cigar smoking

  • A voice actor who sure sounded a lot like Stephen Root

  • A slow-motion aiming mode where enemy weak points glow red

  • Lucia base jumping off a skyscraper

Overall, it was a long video with a lot to chew on, but these were all of the details that stood out to me the most as having been largely absent from the Cyberleek videos.

GTA 6 Netflix extended look: Every song we heard during gameplay

Thu, 08/27/2026 - 15:12

One of Grand Theft Auto's greatest pleasures has always been getting into a stolen car and finding out what's on the radio.

So, naturally, we were listening closely during the new 26-minute extended look at Grand Theft Auto VI, which premiered Thursday on Netflix.

The footage gave us our most substantial look yet at Rockstar Games' return to Vice City and the larger state of Leonida, following protagonists Jason Duval and Lucia Caminos as a drug raid explodes into a chaotic shootout. From there, Jason and Lucia go on a romp through Vice City. But amid all the new gameplay details, locations, characters, and general fictional Florida chaos, there was another thing we couldn't stop paying attention to: the music.

Rockstar has been teasing the sound of GTA VI since the game's first trailer arrived in 2023. That trailer was soundtracked by Tom Petty's "Love Is a Long Road," while 2025's second trailer prominently featured The Pointer Sisters' "Hot Together" alongside snippets of songs from Wang Chung, Tammy Wynette, and Haitian konpa band Zenglen.

The extended gameplay reveal gives us even more clues about what we might hear cruising around Leonida.

Here are all the songs we caught during the GTA VI gameplay preview.

"Pop Bottles" — Birdman (feat. Lil Wayne)

"Skrilla" — Kodak Black

"Let Your Love Flow" — The Bellamy Brothers

"Love Bites" — Def Leppard

"People Are People" — Depeche Mode

"But I Think It's a Dream" — Captain & Tennille

"Cars and Girls" — Prefab Sprout

"Devil Woman" — Cliff Richard

"Se Me Nota (Agarrame)" — B one El Productor De Oro, Chimbala, and Omega

"Against All Odds" — Phil Collins

"Mine O' Mine" — Aluna & Jayda G

"Inner Light" — Elderbrook & Bob Moses

What songs have already appeared in GTA VI?

Even before the extended gameplay reveal, Rockstar had already given us a surprisingly eclectic preview of GTA VI's musical world.

The first trailer, released in Dec. 2023, was built around Tom Petty's 1989 track "Love Is a Long Road." The placement introduced millions of people to — or reacquainted them with — the Florida-born rocker's song, sending its streaming numbers soaring after the trailer's release.

Trailer 2 expanded the palette considerably. The Pointer Sisters' sultry 1986 track "Hot Together" serves as its primary soundtrack, but several other songs can be heard playing throughout the world, including Wang Chung's "Everybody Have Fun Tonight," Tammy Wynette's "Talkin' to Myself Again," and "Child Support" by Haitian konpa band Zenglen featuring Reginald Cangé.

Taken together, the choices suggest that Rockstar isn't limiting its return to Vice City to the neon-soaked '80s nostalgia most closely associated with GTA: Vice City. The music we've heard so far spans decades and genres, from rock and country to pop and Haitian konpa, which is fitting for a game set in the sprawling, fictionalized version of modern Florida.

And if there's one thing decades of Grand Theft Auto have taught us, it's that sometimes the song playing while you're driving around causing chaos becomes just as memorable as the chaos itself.

Grand Theft Auto VI arrives Nov. 19 on PlayStation 5 and XBOX Series X|S. Follow all of Mashable's continued GTA coverage here.

Skip $1,000 flagship markups: iRobot’s AI-powered Roomba Plus 575 gets a $100 price cut

Thu, 08/27/2026 - 15:00

SAVE $100: As of Aug. 27, get the iRobot Roomba Plus 575 Robot Vacuum & Mop Combo for $699.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $799.99. That's a discount of 13%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon iRobot Roomba Plus 575 Robot Vacuum & Mop Combo $699.99 at Amazon
$799.99 Save $100   Get Deal

Whether you have kids or pets or you simply exist in your home, it can feel like a never-ending battle to keep the carpets and floors clean. Dirt is going to magically appear, and you're going to have to get rid of it somehow. That might mean vacuuming the carpets or mopping the floors. Why do it manually when you can assign the task to a robot vacuum-and-mop combo?

There's an especially great option on sale right now at Amazon that can help you accomplish more while a robot automates your cleaning schedule. As of Aug. 27, get the iRobot Roomba Plus 575 Robot Vacuum & Mop Combo for $699.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $799.99. That's $100 off, a 13% discount.

SEE ALSO: The best budget robot vacuums to buy in 2026, expert tested at home

This combo unit boasts a strong 25,000Pa suction level, so it can tackle ground-in dirt and debris as well as hair from both humans and pets. It can also fit under furniture and in hard-to-reach areas thanks to its slim chassis, which lets it swoop into smaller spaces to get more cleaning done. It can climb over thresholds up to 35mm and uses automatic mapping to determine where it needs to clean in your home. That takes you out of the equation, so all you have to do is set it up and watch it go.

When it's time to mop, it uses SmartScrub and DualClean mop pads to exert extra pressure to remove tough stains and dried spills. Plus, its spinning mop pads clean with an articulating arm that can extend 35mm to give you better edge coverage. When everything's clean, and the reservoir needs to be emptied and the mop pads cleaned, the dock has you covered as well, with automatic refills and cleaning so you never have to touch a dirty mop pad.

If you're tired of your current cleaning schedule, pick up this combo unit and step into the future. This discount is well worth claiming.

5 of the biggest changes coming to Instagram, Facebook

Thu, 08/27/2026 - 13:41

Mick Tobin, 23, vividly remembers beating himself up as a teen for losing hours of time to social media in one sitting.

He blamed himself for scrolling endlessly. He compared himself to others, felt anxious, and could sense his attention span growing shorter. He blamed himself some more for not knowing how to use social media wisely.

Looking back, Tobin now understands the outsize influence social media companies had in shaping his habits and behavior with what he describes as addictive design features.

SEE ALSO: Meta will pay a whopping $17 billion to states in social media addiction trial

"It's a trillion-dollar company on one side of the screen and a 15-year-old on the other side of the screen," Tobin said. "It's not a fair fight."

That's why Tobin, co-founder and advocacy director at Young People's Alliance, welcomes Meta's new $17 billion settlement with U.S. attorneys general. As part of the agreement, Meta is required to make several significant design changes that should meaningfully affect how teens use Instagram and Facebook.

Notably, Meta will limit daily time spent on Instagram and Facebook to two hours; block access to both platforms overnight and during school hours; give teens the option to create a default non-algorithmic feed; and allow teens to turn off autoplay.

Tobin, who wishes that Meta had admitted guilt in the settlement, believes his teenage years would've looked much different if these measures had been in place several years ago: "I probably would have had much more control over my life."

How will Instagram and Facebook change?

The settlement ends a major lawsuit against Meta filed by dozens of U.S. attorneys general. Meta confirmed to Mashable that the new teen protections will roll out over the next six months.

Meta issued a "call to action" to YouTube and TikTok to adopt what the company describes as a new "industry standard."

"These protections will only be truly effective if we work with our peers — TikTok and YouTube — to put the same measures in place," Meta said in the statement.

Meta, which introduced Teen Accounts in 2024, already has certain safety measures to address some safety and well-being concerns but will expand on those.

Here's what to expect:
  • Time Limit: While Teen Account users on Facebook and Instagram already receive a reminder to leave the app after 60 minutes, Meta will introduce a two-hour cumulative limit across Facebook and Instagram. Once teens reach two hours, they will be locked out of both apps. Only a parent enrolled in parental controls can bypass the limit. If a teen doesn't have parental supervision, there will be no way to request more time.

  • Night Mode: Previously, supervising parents could set daily time limits or breaks, including overnight. Night Mode, however, blocks Instagram and Facebook overnight between midnight and 6 a.m. for all teens.

  • School Mode: Similar to Night Mode, parents can schedule breaks that silence Meta app notifications during set hours. School Mode will do this by default between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m.

  • Algorithmic Feed Control: Teen users can currently tap the Instagram logo at the top of their feed and switch to a "following" feed, which is non-algorithmic. Still, the algorithmic feed remains the default each time a teen user opens the app. As a result of the settlement, teens will have the choice to select a chronological feed as their default. Meta will periodically remind them of the option, and guardians using parental controls can opt their child into a default non-algorithmic feed.

  • Autoplay Control: Teens will be able to turn off autoplay, a setting that wasn't available prior to the settlement. Once autoplay is off, teen users will need to deliberately tap or swipe to view content. Parents will also be able to set this as the default for their teen.

Other measures include banning extreme makeup filters and regular screen time reminders during continuous use.

While Tobin doesn't support time limits for teens because he believes they should decide how long to stay engaged, he does believe the other design changes will help teens avoid becoming glued to their screens in the first place.

Still, Tobin said there's an important caveat: "This, of course, all hinges on Meta actually implementing these design practices effectively."

Ensuring the new measures actually work

Past research on some of Meta's teen safety and well-being features suggests they may not work as well as advertised.

A 2025 report conducted by a Meta whistleblower, for example, found that screen time features and tools to prevent unwanted contact didn't consistently work as expected. Meta said at the time that the report misstated how its safety tools work and misrepresented its efforts "to empower parents and protect teens."

Meta's settlement requires an independent auditor to test and report on Meta's compliance with the agreement annually for five years. No further details were available about how the auditor will conduct their research.

Kris Perry, executive director of Children and Screens: Institute of Digital Media and Child Development, told Mashable in a statement that independent, ongoing evaluations of the settlement changes are essential.

"Success shouldn't be measured simply by the presence of a tool but by its impact, such as sustained decreases in teens' use of platforms overnight or teens reporting less difficulty controlling their own time online, and this requires ongoing, objective research," Perry said.

Tobin said the settlement is a major turning point for teen well-being. Still, he argues that policymakers must finally put youth online safety measures into law and hold social media companies liable for violating them. After all, he noted, the majority of the settlement terms are only required to remain in effect for 10 years.

"I think the permanency is extremely concerning," Tobin said, "because this needs to be something that changes forever, right?"

How to watch out-of-market NFL games: Is NFL Sunday Ticket worth it?

Thu, 08/27/2026 - 13:36

Figuring out how to watch the entire NFL season in 2026 is complicated. But it gets really frustrating when you live in a different region than your favorite team. Watching out-of-market games for any sport is no walk in the park, but for the NFL, it's an excruciating battle — particularly for your wallet.

Before you pull the trigger on any pay TV provider or streaming service, you may want to check to see what games are considered in-market and out-of-market for your region. You don't want to drop $90 on an annual Paramount+ plan or splurge on the $199 Fox One annual subscription only to find out the games you want to watch are blacked out.

What are in-market vs. out-of-market NFL games?

In-market games are basically your home team broadcasts, or the games geographically closest to you. These are the games you'll regularly find on CBS and Fox on Sunday afternoons. Out-of-market games are those only available outside of the designated broadcast region you are in. These games are blacked out (unless they are national broadcasts) in favor of in-market games. For instance, I am a Baltimore Ravens fan living in Nashville, Tenn. The Tennessee Titans are my local team, which means their games are in-market for me on Sundays. If both the Titans and Ravens are playing in the 1:00 p.m. time slot on Sunday, I will only be able to watch the Titans. The Ravens will be blacked out, as they are considered out-of-market.

To find out which games are in your local market each week, check out 506sports.com.

How to watch out-of-market NFL games

So, you live in a different region than the team(s) you want to watch. That means the usual streaming services that broadcast NFL games — ESPN, Paramount+, YouTube TV, etc. — aren't going to work for you. With those subscriptions, you'll only be able to watch in-market teams and national broadcasts. Womp womp.

In this case, the only legal way you can watch out-of-market games is via NFL Sunday Ticket. Sure, there are plenty of bootleg broadcasts floating around the internet, but we can't in good conscience recommend those. Plus, spending your Sundays chasing bootleg broadcasts that actually work is a full-time job. NFL Sunday Ticket is the league's own premium sports package that broadcasts NFL regular season games that are unavailable on your local channels. It carries regional Sunday afternoon games on Fox and CBS, specifically. You can get NFL Sunday Ticket as an individual channel on YouTube or as an add-on to YouTube TV.

How much does NFL Sunday Ticket cost?

I won't sugarcoat it for you: NFL Sunday Ticket is outrageously expensive unless you're brand new to the service. Through Oct. 29, newbies can score NFL Sunday Ticket as an individual channel on YouTube or as a YouTube TV add-on for $240 total for the regular season (eight payments of $30). For what it's worth, that's $36 more than last year's new subscriber offer. For returning customers, it'll cost — gulp — $480 total as an individual channel (8 payments of $60) or $378 total as a YouTube TV add-on (8 payments of $47.25). Students, military personnel, first responders, medical professionals, and teachers can all get discounted rates (see below).

A season pass gives you access to NFL Sunday Ticket from the first Sunday regular season game on Sept. 13 until the final Sunday regular season game in January. Starting in September, there will also be month-to-month plans available. While no pricing is listed just yet, it'll likely cost the same as last season. For new users, it was $85 per month on the monthly plan, while returning customers paid $115 per month for the YouTube TV add-on and $145 per month for the individual channel.

Here's a breakdown for you:

Season pass (8 monthly installments)

Month-to-month

  • $85 per month for new users

  • $115 per month for returning users bundled with YouTube TV

  • $145 per month for returning users without YouTube TV

How to sign up for NFL Sunday Ticket

To get NFL Sunday Ticket, head over to YouTube.com/NFL and a prompt will pop up with the details to sign up. If you don't see the prompt, just click on "get NFL Sunday Ticket" to the right of the NFL logo. You'll see options to sign up for both YouTube TV and NFL Sunday Ticket, NFL Sunday Ticket only, or the Student Plan. If you want to sign up for the military, first responder, medical professional, or teacher rate, you'll have to go through ID.me.

Is NFL Sunday Ticket worth it?

If you're sick of not being able to watch your favorite NFL team because games are blacked out in your region, then yes, NFL Sunday Ticket is absolutely worth it. Is it affordable? Not at all, unless you're brand new to the service. But if you're a dedicated fan, it's one of your only real options for watching live out-of-market games.

I can't stress this enough: Be sure to read the fine print before you drop hundreds on an NFL Sunday Ticket plan. NFL Sunday Ticket only includes out-of-market regular season Sunday afternoon games. It does not include in-market games, preseason, postseason, digital exclusive, locally televised, or national games. If you're looking for the best ways to watch the NFL season as a whole, I did a deep dive into which streaming services you'll need and the cheapest ways to sign up. We've also rounded up ways to use a VPN and bypass geo-restrictions in order to watch live NFL games. The good news is you have a ton of options, but the bad news is, it'll cost you no matter what you choose.

Looking for an off switch? Apple offers no way to remove ads from Maps

Thu, 08/27/2026 - 13:15

The next time Apple Maps suggests a nearby restaurant, take a closer look, because that recommendation may have paid to be there.

Yes, Apple Maps officially has ads now, and they are beginning to appear alongside the ordinary listings people use to decide where to eat, shop, and go. If your immediate response is to dig through Settings for an off switch, however, don’t bother: There isn’t one.

Users currently have no way to turn off ads in Apple Maps. Paying for iCloud+, Apple One, or another Apple subscription does not remove them either, so customers who already send Apple money every month will see the same sponsored listings as everyone else.

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

As Mashable reported on Aug. 26, Apple began rolling out the ads this week after announcing the move in March. They are currently available to users in the U.S. and Canada, with rollout expected to reach everyone in those markets over the coming weeks.

Ads can appear in two places in Apple Maps. Before you search, one may appear at the top of the Suggested Places list. After you search, one may appear at the top of the results if it is relevant to what you entered, according to Apple's guide for advertisers.

Ads can include three images, one image, or only text. Each carries an "Ad" label and a different place icon, though it otherwise resembles the surrounding recommendations.

You also may not see an ad in every search. CNET, for example, did not consistently encounter them while testing Maps in cities such as New York and San Francisco, and the app does not currently show sponsored pins like Google Maps does.

For now, then, the change is relatively subtle. (Though subtle is not the same as optional.)

SEE ALSO: Apple Maps ads are live. Here's what they look like No, turning off personalized ads will not help

Apple allows users to disable personalized advertising by going to Settings > Privacy & Security > Apple Advertising. Unfortunately, flipping that switch will not remove Maps ads or even change the way Maps chooses them.

That is because Apple says Maps does not support personalized ads in the first place. Instead, it serves contextual ads based on what is happening during your current session. That can include your search terms, the section of the map you are viewing, your device’s approximate location, its language and operating-system version, and the time of day.

In other words, searching for "bagels" can surface a nearby bagel shop without Apple building a broader advertising profile around your lifelong relationship with carbohydrates.

Apple also says your location and ad interactions are not connected to your identity or Apple Account. Ad activity is instead associated with a random identifier that changes several times per hour, and personal data is not shared with advertisers or third parties. Apple Pay transactions and information from the Health and Home apps are also excluded from the system.

If you want to know why a particular ad found you, tapping its blue "Ad" label will show the information used to select it. You can also turn off precise location access for Maps, but that only limits location-based targeting. It does not make the ads disappear and could interfere with useful features such as turn-by-turn navigation.

The arrival of Maps ads is not happening in isolation. Apple already sells advertising across the App Store, Apple News, and Stocks, as well as sponsorships tied to its sports programming.

Maps is an especially valuable — and logical — addition because people typically open it when they are ready to do something: find dinner, locate a store, or choose where to spend the afternoon. That gives advertisers a chance to reach potential customers just as they are deciding where to go.

The rollout is tied to Apple Business, the company’s new platform for businesses to manage devices and promote themselves across Apple services. Businesses can claim their locations, upload images and promotional text, set a monthly budget, and pay for a better chance of appearing in search results for nearby users.

That may be appealing to restaurant and shop owners. For Maps users, however, it means paid placement is now mixed into the recommendations they rely on to make real-world decisions.

The reaction has been predictably chilly. As Mashable previously noted, hundreds of commenters in an r/Apple thread argued that the move eliminates one of Apple Maps’ clearest advantages over Google Maps. Others questioned why people paying premium prices for Apple hardware and subscriptions should still be shown ads. As one X user put it, "Apple has officially killed the last clean interface on your iPhone."

The ads may be limited, privacy-conscious, and clearly labeled. But there are still ads — and even Apple’s paying customers cannot take a different route.

Hugging Face launches Microduck, a $399 open-source robot duck

Thu, 08/27/2026 - 13:11

The ongoing AI revolution has finally given us something everyone can get behind: a tiny robot duck on roller skates. Yes, really.

On Aug. 27, AI platform Hugging Face unveiled Microduck, a 9.8-inch-tall bipedal robot that waddles, sits, kicks a ball, picks up objects with its beak, and gets back on its feet after falling over. Add the optional wheels, and it can even roller-skate.

Microduck is available to preorder now for an introductory price of $399 before taxes and shipping, with the first deliveries expected before Christmas 2026. It is currently launching in North America, Europe, and the UK. The product was developed by Pollen Robotics, the French robotics company that Hugging Face acquired in 2025.

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

The duck comes with seven trained moves and a game controller, so owners can start bossing it around without writing a line of code. It can also follow a laser pointer, react to its surroundings, and trigger movements using NFC tags. Four color options are available at launch: Cream, Graphite, Lavender, and Sky.

But Microduck is more than a very, very elaborate desk toy. Hugging Face CEO Clem Delangue described it as an "open-source robot you can teach new tricks with reinforcement learning," a process in which an AI system learns behaviors through trial and error.

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

"The behaviors shipping with Microduck are not meant to define what the robot can do forever," Pollen Robotics explained in a blog post. "They are a starting point."

Developers can train those behaviors inside a physics simulation before transferring them to the physical robot. From there, they can adjust the simulation, retrain the behavior, and deploy it again without repeatedly sending their very real $399 duck tumbling across the room.

Credit: Hugging Face

Its duck-like appearance was not simply an effort to make a robot as cute as possible. According to Pollen Robotics, the character grew naturally out of Microduck’s proportions, articulated beak, and waddling gait. The company kept it because the design made the robot feel approachable without disguising the machinery underneath.

Microduck even has its own voice, although it will not chat with you like an AI assistant. Instead, it communicates through creature-like noises. Each robot receives its own permanent audio identity when it is turned on for the first time, meaning your duck will keep the same voice for its entire life.

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

Microduck’s software development kit, simulation environment, and reinforcement-learning tools are available on GitHub under an open-source license, allowing developers to inspect, modify, and share what they build. However, Pollen Robotics clarifies in its press materials that only the software stack is open source; the robot’s mechanical and electronic design files are not.

The company hopes developers will eventually share new physical behaviors much like people already share AI models. That could include everything from new walking styles and recovery techniques to classroom experiments and routines involving multiple Microducks.

Inside its very small body, Microduck has 15 motors, a front-facing camera, a microphone and speaker, LiDAR, and two motion sensors. It also has 1GB of RAM, 32GB of storage, WiFi, Bluetooth, and two NFC antennas. A light modeled after a classic recording indicator lets people know when the camera is in use.

Its removable battery lasts around one hour, depending on what the duck is doing, so it will probably need a rest before you do.

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

The robot arrives with a battery, USB-C cable, and game controller. The accessories that make some of its more charming tricks possible cost extra: A $39 pack includes two rollers, a ball, a laser pointer, and NFC tags. Pollen is also selling additional batteries and development supplies separately.

Credit: Hugging Face / Pollen Robotics

Microduck is the latest step in Hugging Face’s broader push to bring open-source AI into the physical world. The company launched LeRobot, a collection of AI models, datasets, and development tools for robotics, in 2024. It later released the programmable SO-101 robotic arm and, in May 2025, introduced two humanoid robots: HopeJR and Reachy Mini.

HopeJR is a full-size humanoid with 66 independent movements, including the ability to walk and move its arms. Reachy Mini, meanwhile, is an expressive desktop robot built for coding, conversational AI, and human-robot interaction. It can see, listen, speak, and run AI applications.

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

Pollen Robotics says more than 10,000 Reachy Mini robots have made their way to people around the world. But while Reachy Mini is designed for AI that interacts, Pollen Robotics says Microduck is built for AI that acts, moving through physical spaces, carrying objects, and recovering from falls. The company also said its admittedly "very unscientific" testing found that Microduck is about 10 times more fun in a group, opening the door to robot races, soccer matches, and other multi-robot experiments.

Credit: Hugging Face

Delangue added that the launch the beginning of an "era of affordable open-source robots." Whether Microduck ultimately becomes an accessible platform for physical AI or simply the most technically advanced way to kick a tiny ball across your living room will depend on what its owners teach it.

Either way, the robot uprising apparently waddles now.

You can preorder the Microduck at the Pollen Robotics website.

GTA 6 leaks: 7 things we haven’t seen in Cyberleek footage yet

Thu, 08/27/2026 - 12:49

The Grand Theft Auto VI leaker known as Cyberleek has been dropping near-daily footage showcasing gameplay from the upcoming game. 

On Wednesday, Cyberleek ventured into new territory, which crossed the line for some gamers: The leaker posted four and a half minutes of footage spoiling part of the GTA 6 storyline for the first time. The clip covers the game's prologue and features one of the two playable characters, Lucia Caminos.

However, lots of gamers are talking about what Cyberleek hasn't leaked yet, as well as speculation as to why. It seems that the leaker isn't just leaking stolen footage but is actively clipping the material themself, which leads fans to believe that Cyberleek has a playable build of the game. But, the footage that's been posted by Cyberleek so far suggests that they may have a restricted build of the game.

Looking over what's missing from Cyberleek's leaks, you'll find that there's also quite a few trademark elements of a GTA game that they haven't been seen yet. Here's what we found — or should we say, here's what we haven't found — in the leaked footage so far:

No Lucia gameplay

GTA 6 will feature a playable Bonnie and Clyde-esque duo named Jason Duval and Lucia Caminos, as Dazed magazine revealed this week. Yet, all the leaks that Cyberleek has posted so far feature Jason as the playable character.

Cyberleek just posted the prologue that features Lucia, but still hasn't posted any Lucia gameplay, despite teasing more Lucia-focused content.

No first-person view footage

Over on Reddit, gamers have been sharing concerns over the lack of any first-person POV footage in the leaks. GTA 6 is primarily played in third-person view, and all of the footage is from that viewpoint.

However, GTA 6 is an extremely complex game, and many elements may be best experienced in the first-person view. For example, customization options of vehicles are extremely detailed, and a first-person view is often required to truly appreciate the little details.

First-person view is very likely in GTA 6; we just haven't seen Cyberleek leak footage of it yet.

Limited exploration of the map

Cyberleek started by leaking the map of the world of GTA 6, which is set in a Florida and Miami-inspired fictional state called Leonida. In fact, GTA fans who are part of a community mapping project confirmed that it's very likely legitimate, as it lines up with their own findings.

However, knowing what exists on the map in GTA has also shed light on how little the leaker has shown us. In the leaked gameplay footage, there is very little exploration of the massive interactive world.

No clothing or car customization

Speaking of customization, there are two major customizable features we haven't seen yet in the leaked footage: Clothing and car customization.

The leakers have yet to post anything showcasing what will likely be a massive array of detailed customization options for your character's style and rides.

No heists

Cyberleek has leaked plenty of footage of GTA 6 robberies and carjackings, featuring free-roaming stick-ups and holding up gas stations for cash.

But GTA is known for more than basic robbery. There are also complex, multi-part heists and criminal missions. Yet, we haven't seen any missions like that from Cyberleeks yet. The lack of this footage is odd, as one would think this would be among the most visually appealing for viewers.

No use of items aside from weapons

GTA is more than just guns. Yet, when it comes to the game's other items, Cyberleek hasn't shown them yet. We haven't even seen the use of the in-game mobile phone, which has been a major element of previous GTA games. An early Cyberleek clip showed Jason shooting a basketball, but that's it.

In fact, we haven't seen the leaker utilize the Items tab in the menu at all during gameplay footage.

Will Cyberleek drop more footage that includes any of these missing GTA elements? Or maybe Netflix's upcoming exclusive look at the game will show us what we've been missing so far.

Elon Musks SpacexAI faces another lawsuit from child sexual abuse survivor

Thu, 08/27/2026 - 12:47

Elon Musk's SpacexAI (formerly xAI) is facing another lawsuit over Grok's nonconsensual deepfake features.

The proposed nationwide class action lawsuit, filed today, alleges that the AI company trained its chatbot on data sets containing child sexual abuse materials (CSAM) featuring real children. SpacexAI did not adequately "block explicit content, prevent nonconsensual sexualized deepfakes of real people, and filter abusive material out of their training datasets," the lawsuit claims.

The lead plaintiff, a victim of childhood sexual violence and CSAM referred to as Jane Doe, claims images depicting her assault were used to train Grok and that the chatbot generated new sexually explicit images of her based on the material. It also claims her likeness inspired other digitally-generated images of minors.

SEE ALSO: Meta will pay a whopping $17 billion to states in social media addiction trial

"Our client has lived for nearly two decades knowing that images of the worst thing that ever happened to her are circulating among predators online, and that they can resurface at any moment," Sarah London, counsel for Doe, said in a statement. "xAI must be held responsible for knowingly training its models on images of the horrific abuse she suffered, and on the abuse images of every other survivor in this class."  

CSAM is verified and stored by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) as part of ongoing cases and to prevent further dissemination. Images are converted into unique digital signatures, or fingerprints, and stored on what is known as a Hash List. Hash lists are used by internet service providers to automatically detect CSAM without needing to reference original materials.

This is one of several class action lawsuits brought against the company for the chatbot's controversial "nudify" features and alleged role in generating CSAM, following an international child exploitation scandal that led several countries to temporarily suspend access to the AI tool.

In January, a woman filed a proposed class action lawsuit citing emotional distress caused by X users who used Grok to digitally alter photos of her into sexually revealing outfits. The lawsuit alleges SpacexAI created "a generative artificial intelligence chatbot that humiliates and sexually exploits women and girls by undressing them and posing them in sexual positions in deepfake images publicly posted on X."

In March, three teenagers sued the company for Grok's role in generating thousands of sexually explicit images of them as minors, after being notified of the images by law enforcement. That lawsuit was expanded earlier this month, adding two additional plaintiffs in an updated claim that SpacexAI did not effectively report instances of CSAM to NCMEC, which is mandated by law. The lawsuit also mentions Stability AI, the makers of the popular text-to-image model Stable Diffusion, as an additional defendant.

Jackery just launched the HomePower 1000 Plus V2 power station with 3,600W peak surge and quick recharging

Thu, 08/27/2026 - 12:00

The world of portable power stations expanded today with Jackery's announcement of the new HomePower 1000 Plus V2. The new model is designed for home use when we need it most, like during power outages, home improvement projects, or keeping everything running smoothy in the home office. But just because it falls under the Jackery HomePower lineup doesn't mean it won't be an excellent camping companion or great for content creators.

The Jackery HomePower 1000 Plus V2 comes in both black and white and is already available for purchase at Amazon and Jackery. Both colorways are on sale from launch until Sept. 3. Keep in mind the white version is $20 more than the black, but that could be well worth the extra if you prefer the cleaner look.

(If your main concern is keeping the refrigerator cooling during a power outage, I still recommend checking out the Jackery FridgeGuard.)

Opens in a new window Credit: Jackery Jackery HomePower 1000 Plus V2 (Black) $619 at Amazon
$749 Save $130   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Jackery Jackery HomePower 1000 Plus V2 (White) $639 at Amazon
$759 Save $120   Get Deal Highlights of the new Jackery HomePower 1000 Plus V2

The Jackery HomePower 1000 Plus V2 is a 1,024Wh power station that's rated for a 1,800W output and a peak surge of 3,600W, making it capable of operating high-power items like the chainsaw, hammer drill, or other demanding tools. But while it packs in the power, it doesn't weigh much, coming in at just under 24 pounds. Given its weight and relatively small dimensions, it's easy to carry around the house or take from the trunk to the campsite.

Combine the Jackery HP 1000 Plus V2 with up to five expansion batteries. Credit: Jackery

Another huge benefit of the new HP 1000 Plus V2 is its massive expansion ability. You can connect the new model to up to five 2,000Wh expansion batteries for a total capacity of 11,000Wh. That'll be excellent if you're using the setup for home backup during an outage or when creating content in the studio.

If you do use this model when creating content, the quiet 30-decibel noise level will make it possible to record video or audio with the power station nearby. Using it at home during an outage, with its 10-millisecond uninterrupted power supply, means your electronics won't have time to power down should grid power fail before the Jackery takes over.

Expect a recharging time of under an hour when using standard AC wall power. Credit: Jackery

Recharge the Jackery with standard AC wall power, and you're looking at about 50 minutes. You can also connect up to 400W of solar to achieve a recharge time of about three hours. Using a gas generator to recharge is also an option, which should take about 50 minutes.

How to buy the Jackery HomePower 1000 Plus V2

The Jackery HomePower 1000 Plus V2 is already available to purchase online at Amazon and Jackery. The brand is rewarding early orders by taking $130 off the black and $140 off the white until Sept. 3.

Owala is launching new fall colors that scream cozy — get ready to swap out your bottle

Thu, 08/27/2026 - 12:00

TL;DR: Owala is rolling out seven new fall colors and patterns — desert smoke, plaid and simple, blue steel, woodland boho, joshua tree, toile be home, and bold move — across its full range of bottles and tumblers starting Aug. 27.

Fall is (almost) here, and Owala's getting ready for it with a fresh drop of colors and patterns.

Owala built its following starting with the FreeSip, the bottle known for a lid that lets you sip through a built-in straw and chug through a spout. The insulation holds up too — Mashable's review noted ice was still intact a full 24 hours after filling it up. The locking top doubles as a carry handle, and the lid components are dishwasher-safe, though the body is better hand-washed.

Credit: Owala

The FreeSip comes in three sizes — 24, 32, and 40 ounces — but the two bigger options don't fit in a cup holder, so anyone who wants something more travel-friendly usually reaches for the 24-ounce size.

Since then, the brand has expanded well beyond the original FreeSip to include tumblers and slimmer styles like the FreeSip Twist. Fall's getting the same treatment: seven new colors and patterns drop across Owala's full range of bottles and tumblers:

  • Desert Smoke — a metallic mauve-rose finish

  • Plaid and Simple — a brown-and-cream plaid check

  • Blue Steel — a solid navy blue

  • Woodland Boho — a rust-and-cream floral print

  • Joshua Tree — a sage green tumbler

  • Toile Be Home — a cream toile print with a blue floral pattern

  • Bold Move — a metallic gold-olive finish

Credit: Owala

Set a reminder now, because these won't stay in stock for long once they go live on Owala.

Pages