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Sometimes, the Merriam-Webster word of the year is predictable. And 2025 was one of those years.Extremely unsurprisingly, the famous and venerable publisher of dictionaries and other reference materials declared "slop" its word of the year for 2025. According to Merriam-Webster, slop is defined as "digital content of low quality that is produced usually in quantity by means of artificial intelligence," which feels pretty apt if you've been using the internet in the past calendar year. The intern

Look, we all know impossible guys who say they don't need anything. It's why finding Christmas gifts for dads is so notoriously difficult. But here at Mashable, we take gift-giving very seriously, and we're up for the challenge. We've spent the year testing the latest gadgets and reporting on the latest trends, from retro-themed Legos to new flagship noise-cancelling headphones. We've also got some unique gifts for men that probably wouldn't occur to you — one of the benefits of scour

The em dash has emerged as a telltale sign of AI usage, at least in the popular imagination. It even has a name — the "ChatGPT dash." Right or wrong, the Internet is pretty well convinced that the em dash is a warning sign that you're reading something that's been written by generative AI.There's actually a reason for this. AI is trained on basically everything that humans have ever written, and writers in particular use the em dash a lot. (Even presidential candidates have a tendency

Conduent, a business services company that provides healthcare billing, has begun sending notices to people affected by a massive data breach affecting 10.5 million people, making it one of the largest breaches of its kind. At least some of the affected individuals had their names and Social Security numbers exposed to an unknown third party, according to notification letters Conduent shared with state attorneys general.Per The HIPAA Journal, the Conduent data breach would be the eighth-largest

The best streaming deals to watch 'One Battle After Another' at home:Watch nowRent or Buy "One Battle After Another" on Prime Video$19.99 or $24.99Shop NowWatch nowRent or buy on Apple TV$19.99 or $24.99Shop NowWatch as of Dec. 19HBO Max (With Ads)$109.99/year(save $21.89)Get DealWatch as of Dec. 19Max Standard$184.99/year(save $36.89)Get DealWatch as of Dec. 19HBO Max Student$5.49 per month for 12 months(save 50%)Get DealWatch as of Dec. 19HBO Max Basic With AdsFree for Cricket customers on the

SAVE $10.99/MONTH: As of Dec. 15, you can still get HBO Max (with ads) for free when you sign up for the DashPass annual plan. That benefit will disappear after Dec. 16, so be sure to activate your HBO Max account ASAP.Opens in a new windowCredit: DashPass / HBO MaxHBO Max (with ads)free with DashPass annual plan (save $10.99/month)Get DealAside from Black Friday, the best way to score streaming deals is through third parties (see Walmart's Peacock and Paramount+ deal or T-Mobile's Hulu on Us de

SAVE 27%: As of Dec. 15, you can get the Sony Inzone M9 II 27-inch 4K gaming monitor for $698, down from $949.99, at Amazon. That's a 27% discount, or $251.99 in savings.Sony Inzone M9 II 27-inch 4K gaming monitor $177.99 at Best Buy $799.99 Save $622 Get Deal at Best Buy Get Deal at Amazon
If you're looking for a gaming monitor that can handle traditional console and PC games, this Sony deal is exactly what you need. It gives you the best of both worlds: high-speed performance for PC games

SAVE $29.01: A four-pack of Apple AirTags is on sale at Amazon for $69.99, down from the normal price of $99. That's a 29% discount.Opens in a new windowCredit: AppleApple AirTag (4-pack)$69.99 at Amazon $99 Save $29.01 Get DealWe're about to enter one of the busiest travel seasons of the year. If you'll be taking to the sky, there's a tiny item that you really don't want to forget to pack, and that's a Bluetooth tracker. These small devices help you keep tabs on your most important items.

Save $164: The first-generation Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones are on sale for $265 at Best Buy, netting a $38% discount on the usually $429 headphones. The flash deal is only on for Dec. 15, and only applies to the lunar blue colorway.Opens in a new windowCredit: BoseBose QuietComfort Ultra headphones (1st Gen)$265 at Best Buy $429 Save $164 Get DealWhat's better than one great post-Black Friday deal on Bose headphones? Two deals.As of Dec. 15, that's exactly the case as the first gene

GET 4 PHONES FREE: During T-Mobile's holiday sales event, you can get four base Samsung Galaxy S25 phones for free, no trade-ins required. Here's all the details to qualify. Opens in a new windowCredit: SamsungGet 4 Samsung Galaxy S25 phones for freeWhen you switch to T-Mobile's Essentials promo planGet DealUpgrading your phone doesn't have to be expensive — you just have to be strategic about it. For instance, instead of paying $799.99 out of pocket for a new Samsung Galaxy S25, you can b

Fallout fans, your wait to return to the wasteland just got a little shorter.Prime Video announced Monday that Fallout's highly anticipated second season will be premiering a day early. Originally slated for a Dec. 17 release, Fallout's Season 2 premiere will now hit Prime Video on Dec. 16 at 9 p.m. ET.SEE ALSO:'Fallout' Season 2 review: Our introduction to New Vegas is a blast, and more relevant than ever
While Fallout's first season dropped all at once for binge viewing, Prime Video is opting

Save 51%: The Bose QuietComfort headphones in the sandstone and moonlight grey colorways are on sale for $170.05 at Amazon as of Dec. 15. That's $178.95 less than their $349.99 list price, marking the lowest price ever for these colorways and putting them just over $10 away from the overall record-low price of these headphones. Bose QuietComfort headphones $170.05 at Amazon $349 Save $178.95 See It at Amazon See It at Best Buy
Just because Black Friday is over doesn't mean some of the best

SAVE 56%: As of Dec. 15, the 3i G10+ robot vacuum and mop combo is $199.99, down from $449.99. That's a 56% discount or $250 in savings.3i G10+ robot vacuum and mop combo $199.99 at Amazon $449.99 Save $250 Get Deal at Amazon
If you've been holding out on buying a robot vacuum because you couldn't stomach the $500+ price tag, this deal is for you. I found a top-notch vacuum-mop combo that our Senior Shopping Reporter (and vacuum expert!), Leah Stodart, calls the "most impressive robot vacuu

The fall from grace is now legally binding: iRobot has finally filed for bankruptcy after years of tanking revenue. Current Roomba owners, who once thought that they owned the pinnacle of robot vacuum, probably have one unanimous follow-up question: Will my Roomba still work?The short answer is yes, but I'd tack "for now" onto the end of that.Usability of the app, future bug fixes, and customer service were all concerns I had in the fall, when it was revealed that Roomba's parent company was in

Users who have switched from Google Assistant to Gemini have a lost a pretty important feature on smart home devices, and they aren't happy about it. As detailed in this Reddit thread, if you're using Gemini on a smart home device such as a smart speaker or display, Continued Conversations no longer work — unless you upgrade to Gemini Home Premium. SEE ALSO:Google is bringing Gemini live translation to your headphones (unless you're using an iPhone, of course)
That means you can't just kee

In the evening of Dec. 14, a large crowd of people gathered on Australia's Bondi Beach to celebrate the first night of Hanukkah, and were instead met with violence, as two gunmen opened fire on the group. As of today, 15 people have been killed. One of the assailants was taken down by bystander Ahmed Al Ahmed, whose brave decision to grapple with the shooter and take over his weapon was captured on video and shared widely across social media platforms. Informed by an epidemic of gun violence tha

SAVE 31%: As of Dec. 15, you can get the ASUS ROG Swift OLED (PG32UCDM) 32-inch gaming monitor for $899, down from $1,299, at Amazon. That's a 31% discount or a $400 price cut. ASUS ROG Swift OLED (PG32UCDM) 32-inch gaming monitor $899 at Amazon $1,299 Save $400 Get Deal at Amazon Get Deal at Walmart Get Deal at Newegg
If you're on a quest to level up your gaming setup, I just found a deal that's too good not to check into. Right now, you can grab the ASUS ROG Swift OLED (PG32UCDM) 32-inch

Sometimes you encounter a technical issue on an iPhone that makes you chuckle more than anything else.That's what's currently happening to some photos in the iOS Photos app, per 9to5mac. Various reports on places like Reddit have confirmed that some photos originally snapped on Android phones are showing up with a horrifying red filter applied to them when you look at them in the Photos app. You won't see the filter until you tap on the image, for some reason, so you can't tell that something is

The UK government wants tech giants like Apple and Google to block nude photographs if there is no age verification from the user. The Financial Times reported (via 9to5 Mac) on the new policy from the British government, which will reportedly ask both Google and Apple to block users on iOS and Android devices from both sharing and accessing nude photos sans age verification. Age verification is a major issue in the tech world right now, and tech giants like Meta are actively lobbying for regula

There is something beautifully ironic about creating an AI companion that looks almost identical to a Tribble.The iconic alien from Star Trek made its television debut in the 1967 episode "The Trouble with Tribbles," in which these tiny, fluffy balls quickly turned from "adorable alien that purrs" into "really annoying invasive nuisance." Nearly six decades later, enter: the Fuzozo. This AI emotional companion that looks remarkably similar to the Star Trek alien is debuting at CES 2026. The Fuzo

SAVE $61.99: As of Dec. 15, the Sony WH-1000XM6 noise-cancelling headphones are down to just $398 at Amazon. That's a 13% drop from their usual list price and matches their Black Friday price.Opens in a new windowCredit: SonySony WH-1000XM6 noise-cancelling headphones$398 at Amazon $459.99 Save $61.99 Get DealWhen Sony dropped its newest WH-1000XM6 noise-cancelling headphones earlier this year, we were a little disappointed in the price increase over their predecessor. Though Mashable's tec

SAVE $92.89: The Meta Quest 3 (512GB) is on sale at Amazon for $407.10, down from the usual price of $499.99. That's 19% discount and it comes with a free $100 digital credit with code QUEST30.Opens in a new windowCredit: MetaMeta Quest 3 (512GB)$407.10 at Amazon $499.99 Save $92.89use code QUEST30 at checkout to get a free $100 digital creditGet DealTis the season to go big. Whether you're shopping for the ultimate holiday gift or looking for an end-of-the-year present for yourself, there are s

If your Christmas present this year is watching Stranger Things Season 5, Volume 2 right when it drops, you're in luck. Netflix has dropped a trailer for the show's next three episodes, making for a pre-Christmas gift you can watch (and theorize over) for the next 10 days.The trailer picks up in the aftermath of Vecna's (Jamie Campbell Bower) attack on the Hawkins MAC-Z. Despite Will (Noah Schnapp) going full sorcerer on a Demogorgon army and saving his friends' lives, our Hawkins heroes still f

SAVE $30: As of Dec. 15, the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Select is back down to its $9.99 Black Friday price when you use the coupon code HOLFTV4K at checkout. That's $30 or 75% off its list price.Opens in a new windowCredit: AmazonAmazon Fire TV Stick 4K Select$9.99 at Amazon $39.99 Save $30with coupon code HOLFTV4KGet DealIf you missed out on the best streaming device deal from Black Friday, it's back, baby.As of Dec. 15, the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Select is back down to just $9.99 when you

BEST PRICE: As of Dec. 15, the Magic: The Gathering Avatar The Last Airbender Play Booster Box is on sale for $124.99 on Amazon. That's the lowest-ever price at Amazon.Opens in a new windowCredit: The Magic: The Gathering StoreMagic: The Gathering Avatar The Last Airbender Play Booster Box$124.99 at Amazon $209.70 Save $84.71 Get DealThe trading card market is still absolutely wild. We're really trying to stay on top of the Pokémon and Magic: The Gathering situation as we creep towar

TL;DR: Ben & Jerry's is launching Ice Cream Bars. More than 150 Scoop Shops are handing out free Cookie Dough bars on Dec. 17.We're coming at you with a double dose of good news. First, you should know that Ben & Jerry's is officially launching Ice Cream Bars. This exciting new product line features five delicious flavors arriving as soon as January 2026. We're getting Cookie Dough, Strawberry Cheesecake, Chocolate Fudge Brownie, Peanut Butter Pretzel, and Caramel Blondie in handy-on-the

TL;DR: The Pokémon TCG Mega Venusaur ex Premium Collection Box is on sale for $69.81 at Amazon. That's 12% off the list price.Opens in a new windowCredit: The Pokémon CompanyPokémon TCG Mega Venusaur ex Premium Collection Box$69.81 at Amazon $78.99 Save $9.18 Get DealThe Pokémon TCG Mega Venusaur ex Premium Collection Box was finally released on Dec. 5, offering one foil promo card featuring Mega Venusaur ex, one oversize lenticular promo card featuring Mega Venu

SAVE $600: The DJI Power 2000 is on sale at Amazon for $699, down from the list price of $1,299. That's a 46% discount that matches the lowest we've ever seen at Amazon.Opens in a new windowCredit: DJIDJI Power 2000 portable power station$699 at Amazon $1,299 Save $600 Get DealWe're in the thick of unstable weather these days. Our social media and news feeds are filled with weather warnings of atmospheric rivers, wind advisories, and cold snaps. That means power outages are plentiful. If yo

SAVE OVER $10: As of Dec. 15, the Lego Icons Dried Flower Centerpiece is on sale for $31.99 at Amazon. This is $18 off its list price of $49.99.Opens in a new windowCredit: LegoLego Icons Dried Flower Centerpiece Building Set 10314$31.99 at Amazon $49.99 Save $18.00 Get DealLego is a great gift to give over the holidays. If you're shopping for an adult fan right now, there are quite a few deals worth checking out at places like Amazon. Among them is the Lego Icons Dried Flower Centerpiece (

SAVE OVER $30: As of Dec. 15, the Echo Spot is back to its lowest-ever price of $44.99 at Amazon. This is $35 off its list price of $79.99.Opens in a new windowCredit: AmazonEcho Spot$44.99 at Amazon $79.99 Save $35.00 Get DealAhead of the holidays, Amazon has been dropping some great discounts on some of its own devices. The Echo Spot is one that's on sale right now, but what's even better is it's currently back to its lowest-ever price of $44.99. This is the same price we saw over Black F

It's not been long since the news broke that director Rob Reiner and his wife Michele were found dead at their home in LA, but the tributes from Hollywood have already started to pour in.SEE ALSO:'This Is Spinal Tap' re-release trailer cranks it up to 11
Reiner had a long career in Hollywood, starting as an actor before moving on to direct some of the best known films of all time. Stand By Me, When Harry Met Sally, The Princess Bride, Misery, This is Spinal Tap and A Few Good Men are among his m

Well, Carol, you did it.Apple TV has announced that Pluribus is its most watched series ever, reportedly surpassing the company's wildly popular shows like Severance and Ted Lasso.Breaking Bad creator Vince Gilligan's dystopian mystery series, which sees Earth's humans united as a hive mind excepting 12 people, is now Apple's streaming service's top show — an announcement you should take with a grain of salt considering Apple does not release viewership numbers on specific shows (Ben Still