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Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you're a boss.

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

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for February 18, 2026 Where did Wordle come from?

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

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

What's the best Wordle starting word?

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

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.

Is Wordle getting harder?

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for February 18, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

A tycoon.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no recurring letters.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter M.

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

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

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

MOGUL

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

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

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

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

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

YouTube suffered a global outage on Tuesday, with thousands of people reporting issues with the platform from around 8:00 p.m. ET / 5:00 p.m. PT. Now we know what caused it.

In a statement shared to the official TeamYouTube X account, the company revealed that the outage was due to a problem with the recommendations system. This algorithmic system is responsible for offering you videos it thinks you'll want to watch based on your past viewing habits.

In some ways, maybe this outage is a sign that we should all go outside and touch some grass.

"Update: An issue with our recommendations system prevented videos from appearing across surfaces on YouTube (including the homepage, the YouTube app, YouTube Music and YouTube Kids)," YouTube wrote approximately an hour and a half after the outage began. "The homepage is back, but we're still working on a full fix — more coming soon!"

It provided a further update within the hour: "We're also seeing a small number of reports that some people are unable to login to YouTube TV. This is related to the broader issue across YouTube, and we're also working on a fix here."

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Crowdsourced outage tracker Downdetector received a spike in reports about YouTube on Tuesday evening, with over 1.6 million pouring in over the last 24 hours. (Disclosure: Mashable and Downdetector share the same parent company.) Approximately half of these reports came from the U.S., with users encountering issues with the video sharing platform's app and the website, though people across the globe were impacted.

Mashable was unable to use YouTube in Australia, with attempts to access the website a resulting in a blank black screen adorned only with YouTube's side bar and search bar.

Credit: Amanda Yeo / Mashable

Updated on Tuesday, Feb. 17 at 9:15 p.m. ET — As of this writing, YouTube appears to be working again. So far, Google and YouTube have not announced the cause of the outage, or confirmed that the problems are resolved.

Updated on Tuesday, Feb. 17 at 9.26 p.m. ET — YouTube has revealed the cause of the outage. In a statement on X, the company said it was due to an issue with their recommendations system which stopped videos from appearing. "The homepage is back, but we're still working on a full fix – more coming soon!"

If you can't watch YouTube videos right now, you're not alone. A Tuesday evening YouTube outage affected users across the globe, with problems starting around 8:00 p.m. ET. Early reports are sketchy, but here's what we know.

The platform DownDetector received 837,973 user error reports (and rising) in the U.S. alone, with 46.7 percent of users reporting problems accessing the YouTube app and 21.1 percent reporting problems with the website. Users in Canada, Brazil, the UK, and Germany are also reporting problems. (Disclosure: Mashable and Downdetector share the same parent company.)

Mashable editors in both the U.S. and Australia were unable to access YouTube's website and app. Attempts to access the website resulted in a blank black screen with only YouTube's side bar and search bar appearing.

The YouTube homepage goes dark... Credit: Amanda Yeo / Mashable

YouTube acknowledged the outage on X, urging users to check the Google Support page for more information.

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The initial update from YouTube simply read, "Hi everyone, We’re aware some of you are having issues accessing YouTube right now. Our teams are aware, and we’ll provide updates as soon as we have them."

An additional update from YouTube read, "We are aware of the ongoing issue impacting YouTube homepage, recommendations, search and uploads and are working to fix it. Please follow along in our Community for updates. Our support agents do not have any additional information to share with you at this time."

YouTube is the largest streaming service by far in the U.S.

At this time, the cause of the outage is unknown. Mashable reached out to Google for more information (YouTube is owned by Google), and we'll update this story if we receive more information.

This is a developing story ...

Anthropic has just released its latest Large Language Model (LLM), Claude Sonnett 4.6. The Tuesday release quickly follows the launch of Claude Opus 4.6, the company's premium AI model, on Feb. 5.

According to Anthropic, "Claude Sonnet 4.6 is our most capable Sonnet model yet." The company says Sonnet 4.6 has a 1 million token context window in beta. Crucially, Anthropic reports that Sonnet 4.6 performed well on internal safety tests, showing a low tendency to hallucinate and engage in sycophancy. 

"Sonnet 4.6 brings much-improved coding skills to more of our users," Anthropic said, referring to Claude's popularity among developers who use AI to code.

If you're looking to use Anthropic's latest AI model, the company has made it really easy. Here's how to access Clause Sonnet 4.6.

How to use Claude Sonnet 4.6

For both free and Pro users, Claude Sonnett 4.6 is available now as the default model on claude.ai and Claude Cowork. Anthropic has also rolled the model out through its API and all major cloud platforms.

Free users will have limited usage rates that depend on current demand. Limits reset every five hours. For those who need higher limits, Claude Sonnet 4.6 costs the same price rate as the previous model. The Claude Pro plan costs $20 per month or $17 per month if paid annual. If going through the API, Claude Sonnett 4.6 starts at $3 per million input tokens and $15 per million output tokens.

Claude Sonnet 4.6 benchmark performance

According to Anthropic's benchmark tests, Claude Sonnet 4.6 is the company's most powerful model for agentic financial analysis and office tasks, beating out competitors like Google's Gemini 3 Pro and OpenAI's GPT 5.2. 

On those tasks, Claude Sonnet 4.6 also beats out Anthropic's own Opus 4.6, Anthropic's most powerful AI model. 

In its release announcement, Anthropic said that many developers with early access to Claude Sonnet 4.6 preferred the model — not just to its predecessor, Claude Sonnet 4.5, but also Claude Opus 4.5. According to the Sonnet 4.6 system card, the new model improves on key benchmarks like Humanity's Last Exam, though Claude Opus 4.6 scored higher.

Benchmark performance

• GPQA Diamond: 89.9 percent

• ARC-AGI-2: 58.3 percent

• MMMLU: 89.3 percent

• SWE-bench Verified: 79.6 percent

• HLE (Humanity's Last Exam): With tools 49.0 percent, without tools 33.2 percent

AI-powered insurance company Pace told VentureBeat that Sonnet 4.6 scored the best out of any Claude model on its complex insurance computer use benchmark.

These results are notable as Claude Opus models are generally the more intelligent and preferable for complex reasoning.

Claude Sonnet 4.6 is not only more powerful than some Opus models, but more affordable too. As previously mentioned, Claude Sonnet 4.6 is priced at $3/$15, whereas Opus 4.6's rates are $5/$25.

Samsung is adding some more AI image editing tools to its next batch of Galaxy smartphones.

A series of short video teasers released today shows how users will be able to quickly and creatively edit photos with AI.

SEE ALSO: Reserve a new Galaxy device before Samsung Unpacked and get a free $30 credit

The Korean tech giant announced in a quick press blast on Tuesday that "the latest Galaxy smartphone" will have access to a new, unified suite of AI-powered editing tools. While Samsung didn't specifically mention S26 in its announcement, we think it's a safe bet.

The company is widely expected to announce three new Galaxy S26 phones at a Galaxy Unpacked event next week, so this will surely be a flagship feature for the new devices. It makes sense, as Galaxy phones utilize Google Gemini, which is widely regarded as the best generative AI photo editor thanks to Nano Banana.

Based on the teasers, the ability to capture and edit photos and videos will seemingly be combined into one app experience, so users no longer have to switch between multiple apps to do all of their editing. Examples given included turning daytime photos into nighttime shots and merging multiple photos into one.

Perhaps most importantly, Samsung said it will expand upon this feature at Galaxy Unpacked. Otherwise, the press release was pretty short and somewhat vague, so we'll have to wait until then to hear more.

Google has officially set the date for its next big developer showcase.

In a blog post published Tuesday, the company announced that Google I/O 2026 will take place May 19–20 at the Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, California, with a simultaneous online stream at io.google. As usual, Google is promising keynote addresses, product demos, and updates across its ecosystem — with a heavy emphasis on "AI breakthroughs" spanning "Gemini, Android, and more."

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If last year is any indication, "AI breakthroughs" is doing a lot of work in that sentence.

At Google I/O 2025, the company packed nearly two hours of announcements into a keynote that was, in short, AI, AI, and more AI. CEO Sundar Pichai and the company rolled out updates to Gemini 2.5 Pro and Gemini 2.5 Flash, unveiled new generative models like Imagen 4 and Veo 3, and introduced AI-powered features across Search, Gmail, and Chrome. Google also launched AI Mode in Search to U.S. users, expanded its AI Shopping tools, and rebranded Project Starline as Google Beam with real-time translation in Meet.

Even the hardware-adjacent moments were AI-centric, from Android XR headsets to Gemini-powered smart glasses.

In other words, if you’re hoping for a return to the days of pure-Android version numbers, don’t hold your breath. Google I/O has fully transformed into the company’s annual AI roadmap presentation.

I was hooked on Charli XCX and John Cale's song "House" from the very first listen.

SEE ALSO: "Wuthering Heights" review: Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi front a perplexing and provocative romance

The track, which opens Charli XCX's Wuthering Heights album, pulses with a sense of growing dread, building from isolated, creaking strings to a blazing crescendo. (A "Wall of Sound," if you will.) To listen to it is to feel the same sense of confinement and madness present in Emily Brontë's novel. While I had my worries about Emerald Fennell's "Wuthering Heights" going into the theater, I was still excited to see how she deployed "House."

Mere minutes into the movie, I got my answer, and I was underwhelmed.

"House" plays during the opening minutes of "Wuthering Heights," in which young Cathy and Nelly (Charlotte Mellington and Vy Nguyen) attend a frenzied hanging, then tear across the moors back to Wuthering Heights. The song fades as we get our first glimpse of the film's titular estate, a darkened blot against hulking rock crags.

The song remains a banger, especially as the film version incorporates extra orchestrations by Anthony Willis. But while the song establishes a fittingly bleak tone for the rest of the film, its placement is odd. Why is this extremely claustrophobic track being used over a shot of Cathy and Nelly running with wild abandon across the vast moors? Why does this introspective, harrowing song serve as the soundtrack to a rowdy crowd scene? The visuals and song are separately entrancing, but they do not mesh. There's no sense of creeping dread or isolation. It's just Fennell throwing the song's climax at us in the hopes of overloading our senses. Unfortunately, in doing so, Charli XCX and Cale's refrain of "I think I'm gonna die in this house" loses its potency.

It's not like Fennell couldn't have used "House" anywhere else. Cathy worries about wasting away in Wuthering Heights with her ruined father (Martin Clunes) before she meets Edgar Linton (Shazad Latif). Then, once at Thrushcross Grange, she realizes she's in a gilded prison. Not to be too literal, but if you have a song named "House," maybe tie it to a character's relationship to one of the film's two central houses!

(After all, if my new husband painted my room the exact color of my face, mole and all, my reaction would absolutely be, "I think I'm gonna die in this house.")

While Fennell doesn't use "House" to its highest potential, at least TikTok is on the case. The song has become a meme online, used to soundtrack moments of despair or unsettling images.

These videos, while short, perfectly weaponize the unsettling power of "House," albeit with a humorous twist. And I'll take funny over Fennell's underwhelming song placement every time.

Wuthering Heights is now in theaters.

TL;DR: Chorde, a voice email tool that works inside Gmail and Outlook, is offering its lifetime Pro Plan for $39.99, an 80% discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: Luminos Chorde: Voice Email for Gmail & Outlook - Lifetime Subscription $39.99
$199 Save $159.01   Get Deal

Long emails can slow down your day, but Chorde offers a fresh solution for those who prefer talking over typing. This tool lets users record and send voice messages directly from Gmail or Outlook. Right now, the lifetime Pro Plan is on sale for $39.99 (reg. $199), making it easy to see if voice-first email is a fit for your daily routine.

Chorde integrates directly with your inbox, eliminating the need for a separate app. Users record a quick audio message, insert it into an email and send it as a clickable voice note. Recipients can listen instantly, and optional transcripts let them read along or skim when audio isn’t convenient. Automatic playback and a clean interface keep the experience simple for everyone.

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Speed is one of the app’s best features. Speaking a message usually takes far less time than typing, especially for updates, explanations or nuanced feedback. Voice adds tone and clarity that text sometimes misses, which could reduce email back-and-forth. However, voice messages aren’t always ideal for detailed instructions or emails that need to be easily searchable, even with transcripts.

Chorde works well for professionals, entrepreneurs and remote teams who rely on email but want a more conversational way to connect. It’s also a plus for client-facing roles where a personal touch matters, or for quick internal updates that don’t need a lengthy written explanation.

Another plus worth noting is how voice email fits into different work styles. For people who think out loud or struggle to translate tone into text, recording a message can feel more natural and less draining than typing everything out. It can also help reduce misunderstandings, since recipients hear emphasis, pacing, and intent directly from the sender.

Get the Chorde Pro Plan for $39.99 (reg. $199), and you’ll see how easy it is to experiment with voice email.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: The KeySmart SmartCard three-pack, which works with Apple Find My and supports wireless charging, is on sale for $69.97 (reg. $119.97) through Feb. 22 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

Opens in a new window Credit: KeySmart KeySmart® SmartCard - Works With Apple Find My | Wireless Charging (3-Pack) $69.97
$119.97 Save $50   Get Deal

Misplacing a wallet, badge or ID can throw off your day. The KeySmart SmartCard aims to make those moments easier to recover from — and the three-pack is currently on sale for $69.97 from $119.97 through Feb. 22 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

Each card works with the Apple Find My app, letting users locate it nearby by playing a sound or check its last known location on a map using Apple’s Find My network. If it is left behind, notifications can appear on an iPhone, CarPlay or AirPods. Lost Mode adds another layer by displaying contact information for anyone who finds it. All these features help users retrace their steps without needing to manage another app or account.

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The SmartCard’s slim form is a major selling point. It’s less than two millimeters thick and about the size of two credit cards, so it fits in most wallets without adding bulk. A built-in lanyard slot makes it convenient for office IDs, security badges or hospital entry cards. The card supports Qi wireless charging, so there’s no proprietary cable to worry about, and a single charge can last up to eight months.

The SmartCard works only within Apple’s ecosystem, so it’s best for iPhone users. Although battery life is longer than in earlier versions, you’ll still need to recharge a few times a year. Wallet space is always at a premium, so adding any extra card could take some getting used to.

This 3-pack of SmartCards is ideal for people who regularly carry IDs, transit passes or access cards and want a slim tracking option that blends seamlessly into their daily routine.

Through Feb. 22 at 11:59 p.m. PT, you can get KeySmart SmartCards for $69.97 (reg. $119.97) , making it a budget-friendly way to track multiple items.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Google just released the first public beta for Android 17, and you can install it now if you have a compatible Pixel device.

Those who consider themselves brave enough to test the waters of an upcoming OS release can now download Android 17's initial beta. The simplest way to do so is via Google's Beta Program. Just go to the Beta Program website, hit the "Opt In" button with a Google account that's tied to a compatible Pixel phone, and you should be good to go. Once that's done, go to the Pixel phone itself and check for software updates in the settings menu. It may not happen instantly, but after a short period of time, the Android 17 beta should appear for you.

SEE ALSO: Apple releases iOS 26.3: New wallpapers, Transfer to Android

Oh, and as for which Pixel phones can download this beta, the easiest way to think of it is that everything from the Pixel 6 forward can do it. This includes Pixel A-series phones and even the Pixel Tablet, which I had forgotten about until right now. If you have any of those devices, you should be all set.

As for what to expect from the beta, don't anticipate any huge changes right now. Per Android Central, the update is mostly focused on small UI changes. For instance, the home screen search bar has been slimmed down, and users can now get rid of the "At a Glance" widget on the home screen. Google will almost certainly expand on what's available in the beta over time, which is why it's a good idea to get in now, if you so desire.

As always, just go in understanding that this is unfinished software and you might run into trouble. Make a pre-beta backup of your Pixel device before diving in, and good luck.

Meta has patented a hypothetical LLM that would continue posting for (and as) you, long after you're dead.

Granted in late December, the patent outlines an AI that would "simulate" a person's social media activity when they've been away from the platform for an extended period of time, including after they've died, according to an exclusive from Business Insider. It was first filed in 2023 by Meta CTO Andrew Bosworth.

A Meta spokesperson told the publication that they no longer have plans to move forward with the LLM concept.

SEE ALSO: Economic strike effort: Quit these tech services

Still, the patent for this type of AI-trained digital clone is now Meta's. In the original filing, the tech giant said it was designed to assist people who have strong social media presences, such as influencers who want to take a break from posting. Such a clone could comment, like, and even simulate video or audio calls with your followers on Meta accounts, in theory. "The impact on the users is much more severe and permanent if that user is deceased and can never return to the social networking platform," the filing reads.

Microsoft patented a similar chatbot model in 2021. The company later scrapped the idea, with leadership saying it was "disturbing." Instead, startups have proliferated in the new AI-powered afterlife industry, including deadbot generators like Replika AI and 2wai.

AI "deadbots," or LLM-powered chatbots that mimic deceased people, have been scrutinized by legal professionals, creatives, and grief experts alike, who question the ethical and social ramifications of popularizing digital versions of deceased individuals.

Celebrities, like Matthew McConaughey, have taken steps to protect their digital likenesses after they die, including trademarking their appearances and voices. And it's not just celebs at risk of AI's misuse, with experts in estate and end-of-life planning urging the general public to set clear parameters for AI in the event of their death, too.

Apple’s cryptic March 4 "special experience" event may not be so mysterious after all.

According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple is gearing up for a busy early-2026 hardware cycle, with a product launch potentially slated for the week of March 2. As Mashable reported, invites have gone out for in-person events in New York, London, and Shanghai, scheduled for 9 a.m. ET on March 4.

Here are the five products that seem most likely take the stage.

iPhone 17e

Gurman reports that Apple is preparing to launch the iPhone 17e, which would replace last year’s 16e and keep its $599 price point while adding the A19 chip and MagSafe.

Macworld, however, suggests the A19 inside may be a "binned" version — meaning slightly fewer GPU cores than the flagship iPhone 17 — alongside 8GB of RAM and potentially upgraded storage.

Bottom line: Expect an iteration, not a revolution.

Entry-level iPad (12th gen)

The base iPad is reportedly moving to the A18 chip, enabling Apple Intelligence features on Apple’s cheapest tablet. Design changes appear unlikely.

iPad Air (8th gen)

Gurman says the iPad Air will get the M4 chip, narrowing the performance gap between Air and Pro and continuing Apple’s push to standardize its silicon lineup.

MacBook Pro (M5)

Updated 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros with M5-class chips are also imminent. Gurman notes the supply of current models has tightened — often a signal that refreshes are near.

Low-cost Macbook

The most intriguing potential launch? A new sub-$1,000 MacBook powered by an iPhone-class chip instead of an M-series processor. Gurman reports it will feature an aluminum chassis — not plastic — thanks to a new manufacturing process that lowers production costs.

The display will be slightly under 13 inches, and Apple is said to be testing color options aimed at students and enterprise buyers.

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Even if a couple of these products don't arrive, March 4 could still be Apple’s most hardware-heavy early-year event in recent years.

Snapchat is introducing a new way for creators to earn revenue directly from their audiences.

Beginning Feb. 23, Snap will launch creator subscriptions in alpha testing with select U.S.-based creators, including Jeremiah Brown, Harry Jowsey, and Skai Jackson. The feature allows fans to pay a monthly fee for exclusive access to content and perks within the app.

SEE ALSO: The Mashable 101: The creators shaping the internet in 2025

Creators can set their own subscription prices, with Snap suggesting tier options. Subscribers will unlock exclusive posts, receive priority replies to public Stories, and get ad-free viewing of that creator's Stories — adding both monetization and deeper fan engagement opportunities for creators.

A preview of the new Snap Creator Subscriptions feature coming Feb. 23 to select creators. Credit: Snap

Snap positioned the feature as an expansion of its existing creator revenue tools, including the Unified Monetization Program and Snap Star Collab Studio. Unlike revenue-sharing programs tied to ads, subscriptions give creators more predictable, recurring income and greater ownership over their audience relationships.

The rollout comes as Snap continues to highlight creator growth. The company reported 474 million daily active users and 946 million global monthly active users in Q4 2025, and said the number of U.S. users posting to Spotlight rose 47 percent year over year, signaling increased creator activity on the platform. Even King Kylie herself (aka Kylie Jenner) made a splash by returning to the platform late last year.

The subscription program will expand to Snap Stars in Canada, the UK, and France in the coming weeks.

The move puts Snapchat in more direct competition with Meta's subscription offerings across Instagram and Facebook, as platforms increasingly compete to attract and retain top creators with diversified monetization tools.

Grok, Elon Musk's AI chatbot, has been under investigation in France, California, the UK, India, and Brazil for allegedly creating non-consensual intimate images, including images that depict minors. Now, it's facing yet another investigation, this time in Ireland.

On Tuesday, Ireland's Data Protection Commission (DPC) announced that it had opened an investigation into Musk's X, which hosts Grok, over "potentially harmful, non-consensual intimate and/or sexualised images, containing or otherwise involving the processing of personal data of EU/EEA data subjects, including children, using generative artificial intelligence functionality associated with the Grok large language model within the X platform."

X is already the subject of an EU investigation from French authorities over the actions of Grok during a nearly two-week period that began late last year and went into 2026. Ofcom, the UK's communications regulator, announced its own investigation into Grok last month, with potential fines of up to 10 percent of X's revenue. 

In the midst of these investigations, Grok is also facing potential bans in Malaysia and Indonesia.

When xAI launched Grok Imagine, a new AI image and video generation tool, last August, Mashable's reporting revealed that it lacked basic safety guardrails to prevent sexual deepfakes and non-consensual intimate imagery.

In late December, a harsh spotlight was put on Grok when a critical mass of X users noticed that the chatbot was generating sexualized images of individuals based on requests from other X users. While these nonconsensual images often depicted celebrities or private adults, some users reported finding AI-generated images that depicted minors as well.

A study from the nonprofit watch group Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH) found that over an 11-day period, Grok had generated an estimated 3 million sexualized images, including 23,000 images of children.

Musk originally defended Grok and claimed governments like the UK were just seeking to censor free speech. Eventually, X paywalled some of Grok's image-generating capabilities behind its X Premium subscription. Shortly after, X changed its policies and outright banned the generation of sexualized imagery featuring real-life individuals.

While it does appear that X has now resolved this specific issue involving Grok, the length of time it took for Musk's company to take action, and the sheer number of images that the chatbot created, will likely be at the forefront of the ongoing investigations.

“The DPC has been engaging with XIUC [X Internet Unlimited Company] since media reports first emerged a number of weeks ago concerning the alleged ability of X users to prompt the @Grok account on X to generate sexualised images of real people, including children," said DPC Deputy Commissioner Graham Doyle in a statement. "As the Lead Supervisory Authority for XIUC across the EU/EEA, the DPC has commenced a large-scale inquiry which will examine XIUC’s compliance with some of their fundamental obligations under the GDPR in relation to the matters at hand.”

If you have had intimate images shared without your consent, call the Cyber Civil Rights Initiative’s 24/7 hotline at 844-878-2274 for free, confidential support. The CCRI website also includes helpful information as well as a list of international resources.

Could you learn all that you need to know about reading, science, and math in just two hours? Two hours spent staring at a screen, with the help of an AI teacher, that is? 

A small group of students across the country are testing it out. They're the next generation of learners molded and shaped by the tech teaching of Alpha School, the "AI-powered private school" touted by the federal government as a possible future for education. 

SEE ALSO: How Minneapolis used tech to make ICE retreat

In a September visit to an Alpha School campus in Austin, Texas, Department of Education Secretary Linda McMahon said that the school was full of potential, an "exemplary" case of what tech can do for American education. The school's co-founders claim there is strong interest in their learning system, which has gained favor among advocates of expanded school choice and alternative learning. 

But what exactly is Alpha School selling — and should we take its model seriously?

What is Alpha School?

Alpha School was founded in 2014 by educational podcaster and 2 Hour Learning founder MacKenzie Price and software and private equity billionaire Joe Liemandt. It's not new to the scene, and it exists within a plethora of tech-focused alternative school programs sold to families discouraged by public school curriculum. 

AI developers, including OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic, have pushed their way into academia, releasing products designed for classroom instruction, educator support, and general student learning. Meanwhile, educational companies have designed their own products to build on their standard course materials, like specialized chatbots for specific math courses or leveled reading skills.

Alpha School suggests something more extreme. Instead of a helpful supplement to human learning, AI is the students' sole instructor, grader, and academic administrator.  

The K-12 curriculum was designed with assistance from "world-renowned learning scientists, advanced degreed academic experts and researchers," Alpha School says. 

Like other alternative schools, students divide their time between a practical and academic curriculum: Students spend just two hours each day on core subjects, reading and math, "using A.I.-driven software," the New York Times reports. AI-supported practical skill-building — like entrepreneurship, public speaking, and financial literacy — takes up the rest. All of it is tracked on an AI platform that creates highly individualized lesson plans for each student, rather than classes as a whole. Schools do not employ teachers, but rather human "guides" who do not manage grades or curriculum but can offer specialized teaching, like handwriting. Guides don't need postgraduate or educational degrees to work for Alpha. 

"What if your child could crush academics in just 2 hours and spend the rest of their day unlocking limitless potential?" the private school writes on its website. "Your kids can accomplish twice as much if they’re not sitting in a one-size-fits-all classroom for 6 hours."

In a New York Times article from last year, the school reported serving 200 K-8th-grade students and another 50 high school-level students, it expected to expand to dozens of locations by the end of 2025. Tuition ranges from $10,000 to $75,000 a year, reported CNN. 

Is there an Alpha School near me?

Alpha School operates in-person classes – some of which are conducted in leased spaces at existing private schools — in several states around the country, including Los Angeles, New York City, Chicago, and Brownsville, Texas, the SpaceX company town tied to CEO Elon Musk. Many of these locations overlap with major tech hubs, like campuses in Palo Alto and San Francisco. 

Alpha also offers an at-home learning program, Alpha Anywhere, that provides personalized courses, academic support, and professional coaching. 

Does AI-based learning actually work?

Parents who placed their kids in Alpha School years ago say their children had mixed experiences. Many eventually pulled their children from the program, reported CNN in a recent Alpha School investigation. Parents told the publication that they had reservations about relying on apps for learning, with little to no human intervention. They found that the AI instructors had set hard-to-meet goals, forcing students to overwork themselves without the support and flexibility of a human instructor. 

Alpha School's lack of human involvement is particularly worrisome, according to some learning experts.  

"While I do think personalized AI tutors can work well if designed in a way that supports productive struggle, decoupling the human connection from instruction entirely seems very concerning. How can humans play the role of ‘motivators’ if they are not even involved in instruction?" said Hamsa Bastani, associate professor at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School and AI researcher. 

"When you have a school that is strictly A.I., it is violating that core precept of the human endeavor and of education," Randi Weingarten, the president of the American Federation of Teachers, told the Times last year. 

Bastani and her colleagues are open to AI's learning potential, but the science hasn't quite gotten there yet. Bastani was co-author of a 2024 study that found that highly motivated students could benefit from AI-assisted studying — but the tech had little effect on actual test scores. Additional research has shown that AI can have modest positive gains for student learning, in specific scenarios, while other studies have found AI chatbots to hinder learning perception and impede types of thinking. To summarize: There is no scientific consensus on the impact of universally designed chatbots, such as ChatGPT, on learning. 

Just as alarming, experts say, is Alpha School's lack of open evaluation, which, Bastani explains, is necessary to iterate and improve AI systems. A lack of internal or independent human evaluation "sets the stage for bad AI design broadly," Bastani says. 

Still, the desire for new modes of learning, amid an overburdened and underfunded education system, is strong. The U.S. government and its Big Tech allies, both with their own AI agendas, see the new tech as a solution. But we are still reckoning with the effect of screen time and a new wave of Generative AI tools on young learners. And, as experts say, the science just isn't there yet. 

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, who seems to have a direct line into goings on at Apple HQ, reported today that Apple is working on a trio of new AI wearables — smart glasses, a pendant-style AI device, and AI-powered AirPods.

Gurman reports that all three products would be "linked to Apple's iPhone," be built around Siri, and utilize a "camera system." Other companies have released smart glasses and AI pendants with onboard cameras, but wireless earbuds featuring cameras would be highly unusual. According to Gurman's reporting, the AI pendant and AirPods wouldn't use cameras for photography purposes, but only to power AI features.

In addition, Gurman reports that Apple CEO Tim Cook told employees that Apple will be focusing heavily on AI devices. Of course, there's no guarantee the new AI devices will eventually land on store shelves, though Gurman's Apple reporting is usually rock solid.

Smart glasses come in a variety of form factors, but Apple is rumored to be working on a pair of high-end glasses with a built-in display and camera system. Gurman says the glasses are called N50 internally at Apple, shedding new light on a product that's been rumored since early last year.

SEE ALSO: The best smart glasses we saw at CES 2026

Even though early AI wearables have largely failed to launch, big tech companies like Apple, OpenAI, Meta, Google, and Samsung are all racing to produce new AI wearables and/or smart glasses. Sales of Meta smart glasses reportedly tripled in 2025, and Google is expected to release its Android XR smart glasses by the end of the year. Recent advances in generative AI have made these types of devices more capable, such as by giving users the ability to translate foreign languages in real-time, for example.

However, Apple fans may have to wait longer for AI glasses. As Mashable reported earlier today, market research company Omdi predicts that Apple smart glasses won't arrive until 2028. However, Gurman's report contradicts that forecast, with Bloomberg reporting that Apple AI glasses could go into production this year, ahead of a 2027 release.

Apple has been playing catch-up in the artificial intelligence arms race, and the company recently tapped Google Gemini to power a long-awaited AI revamp of Siri. Even though Apple has fallen behind in developing AI technology, the company is still reporting record sales. On top of that, as competitors ramp up their capital expenditures to never-before-seen levels to build new AI infrastructure, Apple is keeping its new spending flat, putting it in an enviable position in 2026.

Or, as the Motley Fool put it, Apple may be winning the AI race by staying out of it.

SAVE $100: As of Feb. 17, get the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds for $199, down from their usual price of $299 at Amazon. That's a discount of 33%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Bose Ultra Open Earbuds $199 at Amazon
$299 Save $100   Get Deal

When it comes to earbuds, there are tons to choose from. You can go with the tried-and-true AirPods, try great budget options from Nothing, and everything else in between. But if you haven't tried what Bose has to offer with its Ultra Open model, now's the time to do so, especially with the excellent deal going on right now at Amazon.

As of Feb. 17, get the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds for $199, down from their usual price of $299 at Amazon. That's $100 off and a discount of 33%.

SEE ALSO: Sony's new XM6 earbuds are finally here — but you'll want to brace yourself

The Bose Ultra Open Earbuds have an interesting clip-on shape that attaches to your ear to give you a comfortable and secure fit. That way you get open sound to hear everything around you while receiving private audio straight to your ear. They support spatialized sound with Bose Immersive Audio as well, so you can feel like you're right there inside the music.

All you have to do is hook the buds over your ear and they'll stay put, even if you're planning on wearing them to the gym. They boast IPX4 water resistance so they're sweat and waterproof, with acoustic mesh that keeps out moisture and other debris. If you want lengthy listening time, you'll get up to 7 hours of playtime and 4 with Immersive Audio on, as well as up to 48 hours of standby. The included charging case will get you another 2.5 full charges when they're finally worn down.

If you're ready to try something different, this is your chance. Just be sure to get them while they're still on sale.

There are some stories the internet collectively decides to care about.

This week, it's a little monkey named Punch.

Punch — or more colloquially, Punch-kun — is a baby macaque at Ichikawa City Zoo in Chiba, Japan, near Tokyo. Born in July 2025, he was rejected by his mother shortly after birth. In the wild, that would have meant certain death. At the zoo, where Punch was raised through hand-rearing, it meant something else: survival, and a substitute for the one thing zookeepers couldn't provide.

A plush toy.

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In photos and videos that have now spread across X and Instagram, Punch rarely lets go of his stuffed orangutan doll. He clings to it while he sleeps. He carries it on his back. When he’s frightened or overwhelmed, he presses his face into it, as if trying to disappear. Unfortunately, the other monkeys in the enclosure haven't taken to Punch as warmly as the internet has, though he is making some strides.

SEE ALSO: Why we’re all in love with a little hippo named Moo Deng

The images are almost unbearably tender. And online, people are responding in kind with adoring posts, support, and fan art of little Punch-kun and his stuffed toy.

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While little Punch has tugged on the internet's heartstrings, according to the Ichikawa City Zoo's social media accounts, he's still gradually being accepted by the other monkeys.

"He's getting groomed, playfully poking at others, getting scolded, and having all sorts of experiences every day, steadily learning how to live as a monkey within the troop!" the zoo posted on Feb. 6. And his popularity in Japan is only growing, as hundreds of visitors flock to Ichikawa City for a glimpse of Punch and his stuffed orangutan (aka Oran Mama).

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If you can't get enough of Punch, you can follow the hashtag #がんばれパンチ, which roughly translates to "#HangInTherePunch," for more updates on the little guy.

But Punch's story is easy to understand without translation. In his tiny arms wrapped around a stuffed animal, people recognize something of their own — and the possibility that he, like them, will be OK.

SAVE $750: As of Feb. 17, a refurbished Apple MacBook Air (M1, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD) is on sale at Best Buy for just $499.99, normally $1,249.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M1, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD), Geek Squad Certified Refurbished $499.99 at Best Buy
$1,249.99 Save $750   Get Deal

Rumor has it that Apple is launching a new low-cost MacBook this year — potentially as soon as March 4, when it's hosting a "special experience" in select cities. The new MacBook will reportedly run on an iPhone chipset, come in several fun colors, and retail for around $600 to $700, a price point usually reserved for nice Chromebooks. But if that's even pushing your budget, I found an Apple laptop on sale for even cheaper right now.

Best Buy has a preowned 13-inch M1 MacBook Air marked down to $499.99 as of mid-February. That's a whopping 60% off its suggested retail price of $1,249.99. It comes in a silver finish and features 512GB of storage, which is double the capacity of the base model. (Walmart usually sells that one for $649, though it's currently sold out there.)

As a "Geek Squad Certified Refurbished" unit, this MacBook is used but fixed up to work good as new. It's covered by a 90-day parts and labor warranty.

SEE ALSO: We've tested all the latest MacBooks. Here are the five to buy in 2026.

Until the new cheap MacBook (probably) launches, I'm still recommending the M1 Air as the best budget MacBook for most people. It's a late 2020 model that lacks the nice webcam, long battery life, and powerful performance of its successors, but its overall build quality is stellar, and it's plenty fast for basic tasks like web browsing. In our CPU benchmark that tests for multitasking prowess, it outperformed almost every other laptop we've tried in the $450 to $800 range.

If this M1 MacBook Air ticks the right boxes on your laptop specs wishlist, I wouldn't wait too long to add it to your cart. A refurbished 256GB base model that Best Buy was selling for only $410 (or $290 off) sold out there while I was writing this story.

SAVE $30: As of Feb. 17, get the Anker Prime 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Station for $119.99, down from its usual price of $149.99. That's a discount of 20%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Anker Prime 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Station $119.99 at Amazon
$149.99 Save $30.00   Get Deal

If you're the type of person who always finds yourself dealing with half-charged phones and earbuds before you go out, you might just need a tech upgrade. Keep all your devices in one spot and make sure they're ready to go with a charger that lets you keep everything at the ready for you, built especially for iOS users.

As of Feb. 17, get the Anker Prime 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Station for $119.99, down from its usual price of $149.99. That's a discount of 20%.

SEE ALSO: Grab the 14-in-1 Anker Prime docking station for under $250 at Amazon — save $60 right now

You can charge your iPhone, Apple Watch, and Apple AirPods all at once with this device using 25W ultra-fast MagSafe charging. That means you can just place your devices on each magnetic post and use the charger as a stand while it delivers all the power you need to be ready. It uses quiet active cooling to be sure it doesn't overheat while getting the job done.

Further, it's extremely compact and travel-ready. You can fold it up and take it with you, as it weighs about the same as an iPhone 17 Pro Max. That means you can slide it just about anywhere and be ready to go. That helps you eliminate extra tech you'd otherwise have to carry around, and you don't even have to tote around multiple cables. It's a win-win if you're using all three gadgets regularly.

If you need a charger and don't want to spend an arm and a leg, be sure to catch this deal and be one of the people who can proudly boast you're charged and ready every day.