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Nicole Kidman (Babygirl) finds herself at the heart of an unsettling mystery in the trailer for Holland.
Directed by Mimi Cave (Fresh), Holland introduces us to teacher Nancy Vandergroot (Kidman), who lives an idyllic life alongside her well-respected husband (Matthew Macfadyen) and son (Jude Hill) in the town of Holland, Michigan. The trailer starts with a picture-perfect portrait of the neighborhood, complete with rolling tulip fields, clog dances, and picturesque windmills. But things take a strange turn as Nancy and her colleague (Gael García Bernal) begin to suspect her husband of something sinister. It doesn't help that he obsesses over a small model of Holland!
SEE ALSO: 2025 movie preview: All the films you'll want to know about"You get to make up a story and control everything," he tells his son about the model. "Like directing your own film, but better."
Could he be controlling everyone in the town? Is Holland just a simulation? Whatever the truth is, the trailer is giving off some serious Stepford Wives vibes — and it's not just because Kidman is here.
SAVE $50: The 16-inch Asus ZenScreen portable monitor is on sale at Amazon for just $99, down from the usual price of $149. That's a 34% discount and the lowest we've ever seen at Amazon.
Opens in a new window Credit: Asus Asus ZenScreen portable monitor (16 inch, kickstand) $99.00 at AmazonWorking from home or the cafe with a tiny laptop? We're all in agreement this isn't the best setup, but the freedom of working outside of the office is pretty great for many people. If you work away from the standard office or you travel often for work, check out this nice deal at Amazon that'll dramatically improve your portable work station.
As of Feb. 25 the Asus ZenScreen portable monitor (16 inch, kickstand) is on sale at Amazon for just $99, down from the usual price of $149. That's a 34% discount that takes $50 off the price tag. It's also the lowest we've ever seen at Amazon by quite a big margin.
With a lightweight design, the Asus ZenScreen is ready to accompany your mobile workstation. Maybe it's just to the neighborhood cafe or perhaps you're getting on a plane across the ocean for spring break. The beauty of this incredibly portable monitor is that you can pack it along anywhere.
This model features a kickstand design so it'll prop up on any desktop or table in either landscape or portrait mode. There's also a tripod socket located on the back of the monitor so you can securely mount it to keep it comfortably at eye-level.
SEE ALSO: Hands on with the ultralight Asus Zenbook A14 at CES 2025: MacBook Airs should be scaredThe 15.6-inch monitor features an anti-glare screen that'll be easier for working in bright rooms. Plus, the thin 10.5mm profile is perfect for packing along in your carry on bag or your work briefcase.
Another portable benefit of the Asus ZenScreen is the USB-C power that pulls from your laptop, so you won't need to pack along another power plug. That same USB-C cable serves as the connection to your computer.
If you'll be working away from the office, improve your setup with the ultra portable Asus ZenScreen. Since it's down to just $99, the 16 inch portable monitor is a great way to make working from anywhere easier and more functional.
SPEND $100, GET $30 BACK: As of Feb. 25, get free $30 e-gift cards with all purchases of $100 or more (up to three times) from Chewy with code SPRING.
Opens in a new window Credit: Chewy Chewy spring sale Spend $100, get a $30 e-gift card with code SPRING Shop NowYou can say you're doing a no-buy or low-buy 2025 all you want. But if you have pets, there's going to be some buying involved.
Stocking up during a Chewy sale is one way to save strategically on supplies you'd be spending money on, anyway. Between now and March 2, all orders of $100 or more on Chewy unlock a free $30 e-gift card to use on a later order — which kind of indirectly equates to a savings of 30% on a $100 purchase. Just use code SPRING at checkout.
SEE ALSO: Southern dogs experiencing snow for the first time is super heartwarmingThis event goes far past the expected food, treats, and litter, too. A ton of toys, supplements, beds, carriers, cat trees and scratchers, leashes, bowls, and more are also up for grabs.
If you can topple $100 before even getting halfway through your shopping list, just know that splitting your orders up to get more $30 gift cards is possible. There's a three order-limit per customer, which could add up to $90 worth of free pet stuff. Other limitations include a small list of brands that are excluded from the sale, plus select prescription items.
This Chewy sale is a great opportunity to snag some items to donate to your local animal shelters or independent rescues, too — they're probably overflowing, and kitten season is on the horizon.
GET $60 OFF: As of Feb. 25th, the Corsair M75 Wireless Lightweight RGB Gaming Mouse is on sale for $69.99, saving you 47% or $60.
Opens in a new window Credit: Corsair Corsair M75 Wireless Lightweight RGB Gaming Mouse $69.99 at Best BuyA gaming mouse is the tool that keeps you in control of the action. A top-tier performance mouse provides the edge in fierce competition.
The Corsair M75 Wireless Lightweight RGB Gaming Mouse is currently on sale at Best Buy for $69.99, get it now for 47% off to save $60.
SEE ALSO: I never see Pokémon TCG Obsidian Flames in stock, but Best Buy has them right nowAmbidextrous, this gaming mouse has 6 buttons, with side triggers that can be switched for right or left-handed play. However you use it, its lightweight 89-gram build is all about agility.
A 26,000 DPI sensor gives you immaculate control. The mouse uses 2.4GHz Slipstream Wireless technology for less than 1-Ms connectivity. It can also connect via Bluetooth or wire.
With a built-in rechargeable battery, the wire charges doubles as a charger for the mouse's internal rechargeable battery.
With RGB built right in, the mouse strobes as you play. Connected to the iCUE software, you'll be able to control RGB settings and customize the look of your Corsair.
As of Feb. 25th, get the Corsair M75 Wireless Lightweight RGB Gaming Mouse for $69.99 and save $60, or 47%.
Whether you're acing tricky skill shots in Fortnite or wading through hordes in Darktide, the impeccable control that this mouse provides will be a boon on the battlefield.
The deals are a bit slim this week, but that doesn't mean they're non-existent. We did a little bit of extra digging at Amazon to pull out a handful of discounts on top brands — like Lenovo and Apple — that we think are worth grabbing. It doesn't need to be a major shopping holiday or savings event to score tech at the lowest prices on record, and today's top deals prove that.
Here are our picks for the best Amazon deals of the day on Feb. 25. If none of these are your cup of tea, be sure to check out our selections from yesterday, Feb. 24. A few of those deals are still live, including $150 off the Samsung ViewFinity S7 monitor.
Our top pick: Apple AirTags (4-pack) Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirTags (4-pack) $67.99 at AmazonWe featured this four-pack of Apple AirTags in our Amazon daily deals roundup just a few days ago, but it's dropped another couple bucks as of Feb. 25. At $67.99, the pack is now 31% off and down to its best price ever. If you're an iPhone user who travels often, it doesn't get much better than AirTags for keeping track of your belongings. Just attach one to whatever you don't want to lose — luggage, instrument, backpack, purse, etc. — and as long as there's an Apple device nearby with FindMy turned on, you'll be able to see precisely where you are in proximity to your stuff.
Eufy Video Smart Lock Opens in a new window Credit: Eufy Eufy Video Smart Lock E330 $167.99 at AmazonPart video doorbell and part smart door lock, the Eufy Video Smart Lock E330's unique hybrid design kills two birds with one stone. You can lock and unlock your door with your voice, fingerprint, app, touchpad, or traditional keys, plus see who's at the door via sharp 2K video, motion sensors and smart motion detection, and local video storage. Our pals at PCMag (also owned by Ziff Davis) dubbed it one of the best smart locks on the market. As of Feb. 25, it's on sale for just $167.99 instead of the usual $279.99. That's 40% in savings.
Tile Mate (4-pack) Opens in a new window Credit: Life360 Tile Mate (4-pack) $55.99 at AmazonWhile AirTags work better to locate lost luggage while traveling, Tile Mate trackers do a better job in your household, as they only have a 350-foot Bluetooth range. Attach them to things like your keys, remote, wallet, or anything else you tend to lose track of at home. Press a button on your phone and you can ring the tracker to locate your stuff. Or, if your phone is the thing that has gone missing, you can press a button on the Tile Mate to ring your phone. Regularly $79.99, a four-pack of Tile Mate trackers is on sale for just $55.99 at Amazon as of Feb. 25. That's 30% off and its best price ever.
Lenovo Tab Plus Opens in a new window Credit: Lenovo Lenovo Tab Plus $239.99 at Amazon"The Lenovo Tab Plus is a purpose-built Android tablet for media consumption that delivers rich audio, above-average battery life, and good performance at a reasonable price," our sister site PCMag writes in their review. While tablets aren't typically known for having rich audio, the Lenovo Tab Plus aims to prove users wrong. It packs eight JBL speakers tuned to Dolby Atmos into its 11.5-inch body, making any movie, music, or YouTube clip you're consuming that much better. It also boasts a long battery life (over 11.5 hours) and features a built-in kickstand. As of Feb. 25, you can scoop the Tab Plus on sale for just $239.99 at Amazon. That's 21% in savings and its best price on record.
None of these deals catching your eye? Check out Amazon's daily deals for even more savings.
SAVE $300: As of Feb. 25, get the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL at Amazon for $799, down from its usual price of $1,099. That's a 27% discount and the lowest price we've seen.
Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Google Pixel 9 Pro XL $799.00 at AmazonIf you're tired of your current smartphone, it might be time to make the jump to something new. You've got options. You don't have to spend over $1,000 for a great new phone that you'll love using. Especially not today, when you can get one of Google's best and brightest at a significant discount.
As of Feb. 25, get the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL for $799 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $1,099. That's $300 off and a 27% discount. It's the lowest price we've seen on this model, too.
Mashable's Kim Gedeon praised this phone for its "shockingly long" battery life, with "rival-beating cameras" and "slick, premium design", awarding the phone 4.5 stars out of 5 in her review. It's powered by the Google Tensor G4 processor, comes with 16GB of RAM, 128GB of storage, and features a 6.8-inch, 1344 x 2992 pixel display.
It feels lightweight yet premium with its Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 matte black frame, and features shiny polished metal features, much like the iPhone 15 line. It's offered in multiple colors, and it's capable of a wide variety of features, from snapping unbelievable photos to boasting several AI features thanks to Google Gemini.
If you're looking for a do-it-all phone that leans heavily into AI features while available for a not-so premium price, this is one Pixel option that you'll be satisfied with, especially since it's $300 off right now. Give it a try, and enjoy that significant amount of money you'll be saving. You can put it toward something else, like a watch to go with it.
SAVE $120: Get the Dyson V8 vacuum for just $349.99, down from $469.99. That saves you $120 for 26% off — the vacuum's lowest price of 2025.
Opens in a new window Credit: Dyson Dyson V8 vacuum $349.99 at AmazonAs we inch closer to warmer weather, it's time for a home refresh. As you prepare for spring cleaning, you need the right tools. After trudging in salt and sand to your home all winter long, your floors are in need of some TLC, and a good vacuum helps you suck it all up. Luckily, the Dyson V8 is down to its lowest price this year.
Right now, get the Dyson V8 for just $349.99, down from $469.99, at Amazon. You'll save $120 for 26% off. While this sale price is short of this vacuum's lowest price ever, it's still the best price we've seen this year.
SEE ALSO: I've tested 20+ robot vacuums and these are the best for every budget in 2025When it comes to stick vacuums, we prefer Dysons. While they're pricier than the competition, they're a better value with unbeatable cleaning prowess. The Dyson V8 cordless vacuum combines lightweight design with superior suction. It features two power modes: powerful mode, suited for everyday use, and max mode, made for bigger, high-volume jobs. If you're sweeping up lots of pet (or human) hair, the motorbar cleaner detangles hair as it cleans.
Plus, you can turn it into a handheld vacuum to clean upholstery whether you need to vacuum the car, a mattress, or living room furniture. Not to mention, it's cordless for exceptional portability.
GET $40 OFF: As of Feb. 25th, the Bella Pro 4-Qt. Air Fryer is on sale for $29.99 at Best Buy, saving you 57% or $40.
Opens in a new window Credit: Bella Bella Pro 4-Qt. Air Fryer $29.99 at Best BuyAir fryers are the small appliance of the 2020s. Frying without copious amounts of oil, they'll crisp fries like a restaurant kitchen and quick cook veggies or meats.
Currently, the Bella Pro 4-Qt. Air Fryer is on sale at Best Buy for $29.99, get it now and save $40, or 57%.
SEE ALSO: I’m seeing spaghetti squash recipes all over TikTok — is it the new zoodles?What can't an air fryer fry? Whether you're cooking brussels and walnuts to garnish a salad, preparing glazed salmon to go with your rice, or crisping up some cauliflower to drizzle with your house buffalo sauce, the Bella Air Fryer might just become one of your go-to kitchen tools.
This 4-Qt. air fryer can handle 3.3 pounds of food at a time. It hits temperatures up to 400 degrees. With circular even heat, it's designed to cook food through.
The air fryer doesn't only fry, however, it's also designed to bake, roast, broil, and preheat.
As of Feb. 25th, you can get the Bella Pro 4-Qt. Air Fryer at Best Buy for $29.99 to save $40, or 57%.
Get the Bella Air Fryer and astonish your book club guests with your small bites, whip up dinner for the family quick, and make the tater tots you've always dreamed of being able to make.
SAVE $31.01: A 4-pack of Apple AirTags is on sale at Amazon for just $67.99, down from the usual price of $99. That's a 31% discount — and the lowest we've ever seen at Amazon.
Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirTag (4-pack) $67.99 at AmazonSpring and summer are on their way, which means it's time to book those flights and pack your bags. Just don't forget to pack one tiny essential: a Bluetooth tracker for your luggage (and carry-on and purse and dog, etc.). If you could use a few trackers, Amazon has the perfect deal for you today.
As of Feb. 25, a four-pack of Apple AirTags is on sale at Amazon for only $67.99, down from the standard price of $99 for the bundle. That's a 31% discount that ends up saving you $31.01. This sale price also happens to be the lowest we've ever seen at Amazon.
SEE ALSO: The Apple Watch Series 10 is back down to its lowest-ever priceThese days, traveling without a Bluetooth tracker (or four) is pretty much the same as forgetting to pack socks. A Bluetooth tracker in your checked luggage means you'll be able to check on its whereabouts with a quick glance on your phone. If your phone is an iPhone, the Apple AirTag is likely your best option.
Last week we saw the four-pack drop in price to $69.99, but this week it's gone even lower. That means each AirTag costs only $17. At full price, a singe AirTag is listed at $29.
While Bluetooth trackers are excellent travel accessories, they come in handy while you're at home, too. Plenty of folks attach one to their dog's collar, and it's always a wise idea to keep one on your key ring. People also find them useful slipped into a wallet or attached to the TV's remote control.
With a built-in speaker, you can have your phone sound the alarm on the AirTag attached to your tote bag which is somewhere in the house, hiding in plain sight. If your lost item is far away, Apple will tap into the Find My network to locate your AirTag.
Each AirTag is also water- and dust-resistant, so you won't have to worry about leaving one on your bike during spring rains.
If you tend to misplace items, or you have spring break travel plans, waste no time jumping on this Bluetooth tracker deal. Down to the lowest price ever, a four-pack of Apple AirTags is just $67.99 at Amazon — but there's no telling how long this stellar deal will last.
Adobe has rolled out two new Firefly plans at early-access pricing that creative professionals of all abilities will definitely want to check out.
Both the new Adobe Firefly Standard and Firefly Pro plans give users unlimited access to Firefly imaging and vector features like Text to Image and Generative Fill, plus a tiered capacity for Firefly’s all-new premium video and audio features.
In a nutshell, Firefly’s newest AI capabilities let you turn your text prompts or still images into highly stylized five-second 1080p videos or translate a six-minute video or audio file into over 20 languages with the click of a button.
Early pricing on the Firefly Standard plan includes 2,000 video/audio credits per month and up to 20 video generations for just $9.99. The Firefly Pro plan includes 7,000 video/audio credits per month and up to 70 video generations for $29.99.
Opens in a new window Credit: Adobe Adobe Firefly Enjoy early-access pricing from just $9.99 per month Get DealHere’s a rundown of the new video and audio tools included with the two new Firefly plans.
A Text to Video prompt that’s seriously coolThe Firefly Text to Video prompt works in much the same way as the Text to Image prompt. Just type in a detailed description of the video you want to create — a pink unicorn flying over purple mountain peaks while winking at the camera, for example — and the tool will generate a video in seconds. If you can’t find the words to describe what you want, you can generate a video using still images.
You can also fine-tune your video by adjusting frames per second and aspect ratios, or even by panning the camera left and right until it’s perfect.
Global video and audio translations in a clickIf you’re looking to reach an international audience, you’re in luck. Firefly’s new Translate Video supports translations in over 20 languages and generates voice content with a seamless acoustic match. This is a big bump for creators looking to save time — and money — on audio mixing and translation services.
Save 40% on Adobe’s Creative Cloud All AppsWhen it’s time to take your content from ideation to production, Adobe’s Creative Cloud All Apps plan gives you access to Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere Pro, After Effects, InDesign, and more. It also includes 1,000 monthly generative credits that you can use towards Firefly’s killer new video and audio tools.
Sign up for a 12-month subscription by March 3, and you’ll even score 40% off your first year.
Start creating, producing, and saving today with Adobe’s new Firefly Standard and Firefly Pro plans. Add in Creative Cloud All Apps and anything is possible.
Elon Musk wants federal workers to tell him what they've been doing recently via email or risk losing their jobs, and his request has resulted in some inevitable trolling. In the Late Show video above, Stephen Colbert gets gleefully in on the action.
"Now obviously the only proper email response to that is: 'What did I do last week? 1. Your mom. 2. Your mom. 3. Your mom. 4. Your mom. and 5. Your mom.'" says Colbert. "But please don't do that, because you know Elon Musk is going to use AI to screen these responses, so you'll want to include keywords like '1. Your mom synergistically, 2. Your mom effectively, 3. Your mom productively, 4. Your mom efficiently, and 5. Your mom, teamwork.'"
Other people, meanwhile, have been coming up with more creative responses.
SAVE OVER $20: As of Feb. 25, the Soundcore V20i open-ear headphones are on sale for $28.49 at Amazon. That's 43% off their list price of $49.99.
Opens in a new window Credit: Soundcore Soundcore V20i by Anker Open-Ear Headphones $28.49 at AmazonWhen looking for new headphones and earbuds, sometimes you just want a reliable pair to get you through the day that won't make a massive dent in your wallet to purchase. If that's what you're currently after, Amazon's offering a nice deal on the Soundcore V20i open-ear headphones that's worth checking out.
These headphones are down to $28.49 at the moment, 43% off their list price of $49.99. It's also their lowest-ever price, according to price tracker camelcamelcamel, which makes the deal even more worth it to jump on. While the black headphones are down to $28.49, you can also score the blue and white pair for a touch more at $29.99 a piece, if they catch your eye. They're marked as a limited-time deal, though, so act fast to get them at this price.
SEE ALSO: For gym rats and picky audiophiles alike, these are the 7 best headphones of 2025Whether you want them for workouts or just hanging out, the Soundcore V20i open-ear headphones offer a comfortable fit that hooks around your ear instead of going in it. Their design allows you to be more aware of the world around you while you're wearing them, too, while still offering punchy sound with Soundcore's BassUp technology.
If you're in need of some new headphones, this deal on the Soundcore V20i open-ear headphones at Amazon is one you definitely don't want to miss.
If you're looking for even more headphone and earbud deals and don't mind spending a little extra cash, Best Buy's offering a $50 discount on the AirPods Max (USB-C) right now. You can also save on the Sennheiser Accentum earbuds there.
SAVE $100: As of Feb. 25, the Sennheiser Accentum True Wireless earbuds are on sale at Best Buy for $99.99. This is 50% off their list price of $199.99.
Opens in a new window Credit: Sennheiser Sennheiser Accentum True Wireless Earbuds $99.99 at Best BuyIf you've had new earbuds on the brain, there are plenty of great deals floating around at the moment. Over at Best Buy, you can score some nice discounts on a variety of earbuds right now, including from big brands like Sennheiser. The Sennheiser Accentum True Wireless earbuds, in particular, are on sale at an excellent price that's worth jumping on.
The Sennheiser Accentum True Wireless earbuds are discounted to $99.99 at Best Buy, $100 off their list price of $199.99. Not to mention, purchasing these earbuds also comes with YouTube Premium for free for three months if you're a new subscriber, so you can kickstart your audio journey with these buds by listening to some music and videos right away on the service.
SEE ALSO: The best noise-cancelling earbuds include the most comfortable buds I've ever testedAlongside that fun bonus offer of YouTube Premium, these earbuds provide excellent sound quality (as one would expect from Sennheiser) with TrueResponse acoustic technology. They also offer Hybrid Active Noise Cancelation so you can feel fully immersed in what you're listening to, no matter where you are. All of this is on top of the fact that these earbuds have a comfortable design and offer up to eight hours of playtime.
Don't miss out on $100 off the Sennheiser Accentum True Wireless earbuds at Best Buy.
If you're curious to see even more earbud and headphone deals, there are a couple more that are worth looking at right now. Also at Best Buy are the Apple AirPods Max (USB-C), which are discounted $50, and if you want to see more from Sennheiser you can also save on the Sennheiser HD 599 headphones at the moment at Amazon.
Jon Stewart gets so animated while monologuing about Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) cuts that he actually smashes his prop mug on his desk.
The Daily Show host is near the end breaking down everything DOGE has been doing so far. He argues they're focusing on things like cuts to research studies when they could be looking at the "$3 billion we give to oil and gas companies that already turned billions in profit" or the "$2 trillion we've given defence contractors to build a fighter jet that blows, when everybody knows that the next war is gonna be fought with drones and blockchain, whatever that is."
"Capitalism is by definition exploitative. That's how it operates. That's fine. But then government's role should be to ease the negative effects on Americans of that exploitation. Not subsidise that treachery with our money," says Stewart. "I want DOGE to work. I want better efficiencies, I want to get rid of the alphabet agencies that don't do enough, make the Pentagon pass an audit, but we are DOGE'ing in the wrong place if we want to really change the system."
The case is this: An Australian driver is accused of using a mobile phone while driving, a violation of Road Rules 2014 (NSW) Reg 300. Their defence: It was not a phone in their hand, but a misidentified juice box. Acting for them is Jeanette Merjane, a senior associate at law firm Lander & Rogers.
Also acting for them is an AI trained on legal documents.
In a bright lecture hall at the University of Technology, Sydney, SXSW Sydney session "Can AI Win a Court Case?" compares a human lawyer to NexLaw's Legal AI Trial Copilot by having both argue the same case. While Merjane has prepared her arguments the traditional way, Copilot (not to be confused with Microsoft's generative AI chatbot) will be prompted to generate a defence live, which is to be read by a volunteer as though they are representing themselves in court.
SEE ALSO: 5 vital questions to ask yourself before using AI at workFrom a show of hands before the showdown, around two thirds of the audience believe Marjane will make a more convincing argument. Still, there are a few that think the legal AI tool might surprise us.
AI is already changing the practice of law Credit: J. Hazelwood / Mashable Composite; gorodenkoff, iStock / GettyOn the face of it, the legal profession seems like an area where widespread adoption of AI should be enthusiastically embraced.
Legal work is infamous for involving long hours, extensive research, and complicated jargon. Having an AI algorithm automate some of this arduous work would theoretically lower costs and make the legal system more accessible, as well as save lawyers a lot of pain. What's more, legal arguments typically make extensive references to legislation and past cases, all of which could be used to train an AI algorithm.
As such, legal AI may appear to be a promising field. In fact, AI technology is already changing the practice of law across the globe. In November 2023, AI company Luminance automated a contract negotiation "without human intervention" in a demonstration of its legal large language model Autopilot. One month later, a Brazilian lawmaker revealed he had used OpenAI's ChatGPT to write tax legislation which had since passed. Massachusetts State Sen. Barry Finegold even used ChatGPT to help write a bill regulating generative AI, while the American Bar Association has noted that AI can be useful for predicting outcomes and informing legal strategy.
Featured Video For You 4 ways AI can boost your productivity at workEven so, such application of AI is not without issues. Perhaps one of the most high-profile instances of AI meeting law is DoNotPay, a U.S. company which offers online legal services and chatbots, and has claimed to be "the world's first robot lawyer." In 2023, DoNotPay announced plans to use its AI to argue a speeding case, having the chatbot listen to the proceedings via a smartphone and instruct the defendant through an earpiece. The stunt was cancelled after state bar prosecutors warned that CEO Joshua Browder could potentially be charged with unauthorised practice of law were it to go ahead.
Despite the experiment's cancellation, DoNotPay still found itself in hot water amidst the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) crackdown on AI technology last September. Though, according to the FTC, DoNotPay allegedly claimed it would "replace the $200-billion-dollar legal industry with artificial intelligence," the FTC found that its services failed to deliver what they promised, and its outputs could not be substituted for the work of a human lawyer.
"[I]f a client were to interact directly with a generative AI tool that 'gave legal advice,' then the legal entity behind that tool would be purporting to give legal advice," Brenda Tronson told Mashable, speaking generally on the issue of AI and the law. A senior lecturer in Law and Justice at the University of New South Wales as well as a barrister at Level 22 Chambers, Sydney, Tronson specialises in legal ethics and public law.
"If that legal entity was not qualified to give advice, then, in my view, they would be engaging in unqualified legal practice and would be liable for that conduct."
Generative AI chatbots are trying to answer legal questionsLawConnect CEO Christian Beck hadn't heard of DoNotPay when Mashable spoke to him in October. Even so, he didn't seem to be concerned that the company's legal AI chatbot for laypeople would run into the same issues.
"Obviously there's laws that stop non-lawyers claiming to be lawyers giving legal advice," Beck told Mashable. "But if you look at something like ChatGPT, it's answering all the legal questions, right? And they're not bound by that. So what we're doing is we're combining the AI answers with verifications from lawyers that are qualified."
Unveiled last October, LawConnect's AI chatbot aims to answer users' legal questions. Though the AI will provide immediate responses, users can choose to send their inquiries to real human lawyers for verification and potential further action. The chatbot uses OpenAI's API and is trained on publicly available information from the internet, however Beck stressed that lawyers' verified answers are fed back into the AI to make it more likely to provide correct responses to similar questions in the future.
"Just describe your legal issue, and you'll receive a personalised report created by AI with the option to have it reviewed and verified," states LawConnect's website.
SEE ALSO: How to prepare to thrive professionally in an AI-integrated workforceBeck did note that as LawConnect is being made available globally across all areas of law, using OpenAI's AI models for translation when necessary, though the company is "working through all of the issues" surrounding this. Still, he wasn't daunted by this massive and complicated undertaking.
"We're certainly not out there telling [people] we're lawyers when we're not," said Beck. "We are telling them that these are AI answers like they could get from another AI source, but what we are saying is that we're verifying them with lawyers, and we always use qualified lawyers to verify the questions."
A disclaimer at the bottom of LawConnect's website states that its content "is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as a substitute for legal advice." Even so, the tool is a glimpse at what an AI-assisted legal system could look like as companies continue to explore the area.
Hallucinating AI lawyersWhile AI chatbots' instant answers appear to offer convenience, problems such as hallucinations currently limit such tools' usefulness in making the legal system more accessible. A hallucination is false AI-generated content which the algorithm presents as true — a common issue considering that these tools do not actually understand what they generate.
"If a person who is seeking legal assistance uses those tools and does not assess or verify the output, then they might end up in a worse position than if they did not use those tools," Tronson told Mashable.
Yet even seasoned lawyers who should perform such verification have fallen victim to false AI-generated information. There have already been multiple well-publicised cases where lawyers have inappropriately applied generative AI after failing to understand the technology.
Credit: J. Hazelwood / Mashable Composite; gorodenkoff, iStock / GettyIn June 2023, two attorneys were handed $5,000 fines after filing submissions which cited non-existent legal cases. The lawyers admitted to using ChatGPT to do their research, relying on sources that had been completely invented by the AI tool. Judge P. Kevin Castel criticised the pair for continuing to stand by the fabricated cases even after their veracity had been called into question, accusing the lawyers of acting in bad faith.
"[W]e made a good faith mistake in failing to believe that a piece of technology could be making up cases out of whole cloth," their law firm Levidow, Levidow & Oberman said in a statement refuting Castel's characterisation at the time.
Such statements demonstrate a clear misunderstanding of the nature of generative AI, a tool which is specifically designed to create content and is incapable of effectively fact-checking itself.
While AI chatbots' instant answers appear to offer convenience, problems such as hallucinations currently limit such tools' usefulness...Despite examples such as this, lawyers continue to over rely on AI to their own detriment. Later in 2023, another lawyer was reportedly citing fake cases which his client, disbarred former Trump attorney Michael Cohen, had generated using Google Bard. This February, U.S. law firm Morgan & Morgan cautioned its employees against blindly trusting AI after one of its lead attorneys also appeared to cite cases invented by ChatGPT.
"Some legal practitioners are very knowledgeable and are using [AI tools] well, while others still have very limited understanding or awareness of the tools, with most falling somewhere in between," Tronson told Mashable.
While Tronson had not tried out LawConnect or NexLaw's Copilot herself, she did note that such specialised AI systems may already be of more use than tools like ChatGPT.
"The publishers' tools that I have seen demonstrated are trained on a more confined set of information and they do provide sources and links," Tronson told Mashable. "Any tool where those two features apply is generally more useful than ChatGPT, as this limits hallucinations and makes it easier to verify the information. At that point, the tool effectively becomes a search engine which provides text about the results (where that text might not be correct) rather than just a list of results."
This limited benefit calls into question the usefulness of legal AI tools, especially considering the technology's prohibitive environmental cost as well as the potentially dire consequences for erring in law. However, Tronson did acknowledge that such tools may eventually improve to a point where they offer more utility.
"It is possible that we will see an improvement in the tools, or in the reliability or quality of output from the current tools," said Tronson. "If that occurs, and subject to the questions of liability…, then they might contribute to better accessibility. Similarly, if generative AI tools are developed to assist organisations such as Legal Aid and community legal centres, it is possible that those organisations can help a larger number of people, which would also assist with accessibility."
AI as a tool for legal professionalsSXSW Sydney's battle between NexLaw's Copilot and Merjane made no effort to hide who had authored the arguments. Still, it was plainly obvious which defence against the allegations of driving while using a mobile phone had been crafted by a human, and which was from an AI.
Even aside from its stiff language, Copilot made obvious stumbles such as citing incorrect legislation, even referencing laws in the wrong state. Its defence also focused upon the testimony of the defendant's spouse and the type of car they drove, alleging that their Mercedes Benz's Bluetooth and Apple CarPlay capabilities meant they'd have no need to interact with their phone manually.
In contrast, Merjane presented a photograph of the alleged offence, emphasising the inability to positively identify the item in the driver's hand. She also pulled up the defendant's phone records to show that no calls were active at the time the photo was taken, and cited his clean driving record. Merjane was significantly quicker to answer the judge's questions as well.
It was plainly obvious which defence...had been crafted by a human, and which was from an AI.Fortunately, NexLaw's Legal AI Trial Copilot doesn't intend to replace lawyers. As its website states, "Copilot is designed to complement and augment the work of human legal professionals, not replace them."
"I think it's clear that, given the costs of legal representation, there's great potential for AI to assist with improving access to justice," said Professor David Lindsay from UTS’ Faculty of Law, who acted as judge in the exercise.
"But at this stage, and in some respects, this afternoon's presentation presents a false dichotomy. The immediate future will involve trained lawyers working alongside AI systems. So as in almost all contexts, to frame the question as 'humans versus AI' is a distraction from the more important issues involving people working alongside AI systems, and the legal and ethical implications of that."
The ethical implications of legal AI and dehumanising lawAside from the quality of information legal AI algorithms might dispense, such tools also raise ethical issues. Liability and confidentiality are significant concerns surrounding the integration of AI into legal practice.
There are two primary confidentiality concerns with legal AI, according to Tronson. The first is whether the AI system keeps information which is inputted into it (as well as the legal jurisdiction its servers fall under). The second is to what extent such inputs are used in training the AI algorithm, particularly where confidential information may be inadvertently disclosed.
"The first concern can be controlled," Tronson stated, noting that the AI tools' contractual terms are key. "The likelihood of the latter concern arising should be lower, but without knowledge of how a particular system works, this can be difficult or impossible to assess."
The leadership of the courts and professional bodies will be vital in building legal practitioners' understanding of AI tools, Tronson noted. Even so, she believes there are some situations where using AI is likely to be unethical in every circumstance, such as in writing witness statements.
The leadership of the courts and professional bodies will be vital in building legal practitioners' understanding of AI tools.Last October, a New York judge reprimanded an expert witness who used Microsoft's Copilot to generate an assessment of damages in a real estate case.
Understanding of nuance and the limitations of AI is vital to its effective, fair application. Similarly, understanding of nuance in human behaviour and law are vital to the effective, fair application of the legal system. Though AI does have potential to "democratise" the law, the technology carries an equally enormous risk of dehumanising it as well.
"For those who cannot afford a lawyer, AI can help," U.S. Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr. acknowledged in the U.S. Supreme Court's 2023 Year-End Report on the Federal Judiciary. "It drives new, highly accessible tools that provide answers to basic questions, including where to find templates and court forms, how to fill them out, and where to bring them for presentation to the judge…
"But any use of AI requires caution and humility," he continued. "[L]egal determinations often involve gray areas that still require application of human judgment."
Could an AI chatbot replace your lawyer? Credit: J. Hazelwood / Mashable Composite; gorodenkoff, iStock / GettyThe experiment at SXSW Sydney clearly demonstrated that legal AI chatbots still have some way to go before they can compete with human lawyers. As NexLaw asserts, these tools are currently intended to assist human legal professionals rather than supplant them. Yet even as AI advances, completely replacing lawyers will continue to remain a dangerous prospect.
A widely circulated quote attributed to a 1979 IBM presentation declared: "A computer can never be held accountable, therefore a computer must never make a management decision." Similarly, replacing lawyers with AI raises issues of who might be accountable when things go wrong. Considering the state of generative AI as well as the widespread misunderstanding of the technology, things are bound to go wrong.
"From my point of view, the most important thing is for lawyers to remember that the tools do not 'think,' and that a practitioner must always exercise their own judgment and critical thinking in relation to how they use any output," said Tronson. "As long as a practitioner applies critical thinking and their own judgment, there are appropriate uses for generative AI."
Unlike creatives such as artists, writers, and musicians, fewer people are likely to mourn lawyers should the profession fall to automation. Even so, such a death would fundamentally change the legal system, impacting not only those who work within it, but anyone who has any cause to interact with it — which is everyone.
SAVE $70: As of Feb. 25, the Apple Watch Series 10 (GPS, 46mm) is on sale at Amazon for $359. That's 16% off its list price of $429.
Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Watch Series 10 $359.00 at AmazonIf you're an Apple user who has been looking to jump into its world of smartwatches, you're in luck. Amazon's offering a very nice discount on the Apple Watch Series 10 (GPS, 46mm) today — dropping it back down to its lowest-ever price, according to price tracker camelcamelcamel — making now a great time to scoop it up for less.
The Apple Watch Series 10 (GPS, 46mm) is currently down to $359, 16% off its list price of $429. This lets you pocket $70, which is a very nice deal to take advantage of while it's still live. The Apple Watch Series 10 boasts plenty of great features that make it worth the investment, too.
SEE ALSO: The best smartwatch for every wristAlongside a bigger display than its predecessors and a comfortable fit, the Apple Watch Series 10 has a variety of health and safety features to give you a helpful look into your lifestyle and activities. This includes a heart rate monitor, sleep tracker (including the ability to detect for signs of sleep apnea), activity rings for your workouts, Fall Detection, Crash Detection, Emergency SOS, and more. In our review, Mashable's Stan Schroeder came to the conclusion that, "if you've never owned an Apple Watch and want to dive in now, the Series 10 is a good place to start."
Don't miss out on the Apple Watch Series 10 (GPS, 46mm) at its lowest-ever price at Amazon.
This isn't the only Apple deal floating around right now, though. At the moment, you can also save on the Apple AirPods Max (USB-C) at Best Buy and the AirPods Pro 2 are discounted at Amazon.
Getting your finances in order can be challenging. There are bills to pay, taxes to do, and the utter confusion of figuring out how and where to invest.
But spend enough time scrolling online, and you're bound to come across finance influencers. TikTok creators are covering nearly every financial topic you can think of.
SEE ALSO: As TikTok faces a ban, creators brace for an uncertain futureTikTok can be a valuable resource for your financial goals, but it comes with a caveat. As you might expect, many people online promote get-rich-quick schemes, bad advice, scams, or some combination of the three. Known as FinTok, finance TikTok attracts all kinds of voices — both well-meaning and not-so-reliable.
With that in mind, we've rounded up four finance influencers who seem to offer solid advice and useful information. Just remember, not every influencer or piece of advice will apply to your specific situation. Always do your own research before making any major financial decisions.
1. @BreakYourBudgetMichela Allocca posts mostly about ways to save money and different methods for doing so. Her account might work for folks who want to reconsider their relationship with money and their saving efforts.
Allocca told USA Today in a 2023 interview that she tries to guide folks to be responsible with money but not guide them toward specific investments, which seems like a healthy way to offer online finance advice.
"I generally ebb away from talking too much in-depth about investments," she told the paper. "I don't know your life, so for me to say, you should go invest in this or that ETF, I can't really do that in good conscience."
2. @YourRichBFFVivian Tu is a well-known finance creator on TikTok who typically posts about "wealth hacks" — aka money facts you might not have known. Tu, who used to work on Wall Street, has racked up nearly 3 million followers with short videos about finance, taxes, and other money issues.
3. @humphreytalkHumphrey Yang is a TikTok creator who focuses on investing and personal finance, and he seems to have his followers' best financial interests in mind. The Australian Financial Review (AFR) noted he was a good FinTok personality to follow. You might've seen his viral videos explaining just how much a billion dollars is.
Yang provides some stock-related content but also offers extensive information about retirement accounts and how to make them work for you. It's intel many regular folks could use that.
4. @herfirst100kTori Dunlap runs Her First 100k, a financial TikTok account and company that helps young women navigate their finances. She focuses on helping people manage their money and build wealth.
Dunlap has taken off, with more than 2 million followers on TikTok, a successful podcast, and a book deal. AFR also recommended her.
Once you start looking around, you'll notice plenty of other creators on FinTok, but remember to always be careful with your money.
TL;DR: Play golf at home with your own clubs using the advanced Phigolf Golf Simulator, now only $89.97 (reg. $199.99) until March 30 at the Mashable Shop.
Love golf? You might be surprised how easy it is to take your favorite game home with you. Quality golf simulators used to be pretty expensive and take up a whole room in your house, but now you can hit 18 holes on your own TV with Phigolf.
This home golf simulator has more than 38,000 courses to play, and you never have to worry about bad weather cancelling your tee time. You even have the option to play with your own clubs or the retractable Swing Stick. It feels like the real thing and even simulates the feeling of hitting a real ball. Instead of dropping $199 for this home golf similator, you can get Phigolf for just $89.97 for a limited time.
A golf simulator everyone can enjoyPhigolf World Tour Edition is part game, part training tool. The Smart Motion Sensor and 3D Data-Analysis System capture every detail of your swing, from tempo to club path, and provide real-time feedback. Whether you're practicing your drive, chipping onto the green, or fine-tuning your putts, this simulator could really help you improve. You can even analyze your swing with slow-motion playback to spot areas for adjustment.
If you’re feeling competitive, Phigolf lets you take on golfers from around the world. Play solo or go head-to-head in online matches and tournaments. You might even recognize some of the courses you get to play on.
March 30 at 11:59 p.m. PT is the deadline to get a Phigolf Home Golf Simulator on sale for $89.97 (reg. $199.99) — a 55% discount for Mashable readers.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
Opens in a new window Credit: Phigolf Phigolf Home Golf Game Simulator Sensor & Generic Swing Stick Set (Open Box) $89.97It seems like everything you see online these days is a recession indicator. A new White Chicks movie? An addition to the Scary Movie franchise? Blondes going brunette? Screenshots with "fail" stamped on top? According to the internet, these are all recession indicators.
But are we actually in a recession? And can an increase in Y2K content predict one? Or are we just doomposting?
Tweet may have been deleted Real recession indicatorsThere are actual, measurable recession indicators, of course. According to Morningstar, an investment research and management services firm, these include:
Inflation
Stock market decline
Credit spreads
An inverted yield curve
A decrease in real GDP
High unemployment
A decline in business spending
Investors flocking to gold
Decreased home sales and housing prices
But then there are the internet-defined recession indicators — things that feel like a throwback to another era of economic distress:
They all hark back to the early aughts — the last time the U.S. faced a full economic recession. This trend of linking any Y2K revival to a recession makes sense. After all, it's easier for us to see the connection of Zooey Deschanel with a Bumpit to economic hardship than it is to fully understand how real GDP affects us. These comparisons may seem reminiscent from the so-called lipstick index — the theory that, during an economic crisis, consumers are more likely to splurge on inexpensive luxury items, like lipstick, rather than big-ticket items, like diamond necklaces. Sounds reasonable enough, right?
But as The Economist pointed out in 2009, there’s no clear correlation between lipstick sales and economic distress. Take another popular theory, the "stripper index" — which suggests that a dip in stripper tips or fewer high-income visitors signals a recession. The validity of that indicator is also up for debate. So, while these nostalgic trends may seem to point to economic downturns, they may not necessarily be a sign of one.
Waiting for a recessionEvery year, it seems like we’re anxiously anticipating a recession, since economic downturns tend to occur every decade or so. But we didn’t get one in 2023, and we didn't see one in 2024 — and if JP Morgan's 35 percent recession probability is rooted in truth, we might not see one this year either.
"Even with the pace of growth slowing, the economy remains fairly robust, and it still looks like companies are positioned to grow earnings at double-digit levels in 2025 and 2026," Rob Haworth, a senior investment strategy director with U.S. Bank Asset Management, said in a press release dated Jan. 31, 2025.
So, while the return of Lady Gaga's dance-pop music or models eating burgers in bikinis in Super Bowl ads might not indicate that we're ushering in a recession, they do reflect a collective anxiety about the economy. Cultural trends like these appear out of nowhere; they're often shaped by our current economic and political realities.
As creator Caitlyn Clark explained in a TikTok video, which has garnered more than 13,000 views, there's a connection between the resurgence of dance music in 2024 (think: Charli XCX's culture-shifting album Brat) and the collective dissociation people felt after the pandemic's economic impact. It's an interesting correlation that highlights how our cultural output via memes and trends often mirrors economic and social shifts.
While we aren't currently in a recession, that doesn't mean it doesn't feel like it. The wealth gap is widening and racial wealth divide remains. The cost of living has surged while wages have remained stagnant. Over the past 30 years, the wealthiest Americans have seen their net worth soar, while the poorest have plunged into "negative wealth" — where their debts outweigh their assets, according to data from the National Bureau of Economic Research. As NBC reports, the average age of homebuyers in 2024 was 56 years old — a record high.
We might not be in a recession, and most of the recession indicator jokes are just that — jokes. But we still can't afford to buy eggs. It's no wonder we're all posting through it.
TL;DR: Raise your monitor and augment your workspace with the Mobile Pixels Aluminum Monitor Riser and 8-Port Docking Hub on sale for $129.99 with code POWER20.
It's hard to pay attention to your posture when you're focused on work, but it's important. The only problem is it's kind of hard to sit up straight when your monitor sits so low on your desk. The solution isn't to get a taller desk. Mobile Pixels makes an aluminum Monitor Riser with a built-in 8-port docking hub. And instead of paying $149.99, Mashable readers can get one of these Monitor Risers on sale for $129.99, but supply is limited.
Level up your workspace, literallyThe Mobile Pixels Monitor Riser lifts your display to a more comfortable viewing height, reducing neck strain and helping you maintain better posture throughout the day. No more turtling down into your shoulders just to look at your screen.
The raised monitor is nice, but that's just the beginning of what this monitor stand brings to the table. Instead of letting your mouse, monitor, and keyboard compete for port real estate, just plug them into the 8-port docking hub built into your monitor stand.
The Mobile Pixels stand has three USB-A 3.0 ports for quick data transfers, a USB-C port, a mini HDMI port that supports 4K resolution, and an Ethernet port for a stable wired connection. There’s even a PD port with up to 100W power delivery, so you can keep your devices charged while you work.
Use code POWER20 at the Mashable Shop by March 30 at 11:59 p.m. PT to get this Aluminum Monitor Riser Docking Hub on sale for $129.99.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
Opens in a new window Credit: Mobile Pixels Aluminum Monitor Riser with 8-Port Docking Hub $129.99
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