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Character.AI and Google have settled several lawsuits filed against both companies by parents of children who died by suicide following lengthy conversations with chatbots on the Character.AI platform. Their exchanges allegedly included concerning discussions of the teens' mental health and well-being. Character.AI said it could not comment further on the settlement, the details of which must still be finalized by the court, according to The Guardian. Representatives for the plaintiffs did not r

A new framework from researchers Alexander and Jacob Roman rejects the complexity of current AI tools, offering a synchronous, type-safe alternative designed for reproducibility and cost-conscious science.In the rush to build autonomous AI agents, developers have largely been forced into a binary choice: surrender control to massive, complex ecosystems like LangChain, or lock themselves into single-vendor SDKs from providers like Anthropic or OpenAI. For software engineers, this is an annoyance.

Every now and then, you'll come across a new piece of tech at CES that just immediately clicks, and you'll think to yourself, "This is actually genius."CES 2026 was filled with robotics, AI, and other futuristic tech, yet one of the most impressive things I found was a pair of headphones that turn into speakers called Neo from a company called TDM.TDM's CES 2026 boothCredit: Mashable
Or are they speakers that turn into headphones? TDM is going with the former by calling the Neo headpho

There's a second acronym constantly looming above the floor of any CES: TBD. That's the most info we have about a good chunk of products announced at CES 2026 so far. "Coming soon" could mean next month to some brands and next year to others. Sometimes, we don't even know if these debuted products will ever make it out of the prototype phase.SEE ALSO:CES 2026: This AI bartender called me old, but it makes one hell of a drink
While no one is asking for LG's laundry-folding robot to be sold at Tar

Enterprise security teams are losing ground to AI-enabled attacks — not because defenses are weak, but because the threat model has shifted. As AI agents move into production, attackers are exploiting runtime weaknesses where breakout times are measured in seconds, patch windows in hours, and traditional security has little visibility or control.CrowdStrike's 2025 Global Threat Report documents breakout times as fast as 51 seconds. Attackers are moving from initial access to lateral moveme

LG and SwitchBot can promise chores-doing robots all they want, but robot vacuums are still the most practical way to automate a household task by far. A handful of promising new robot vacuums have been announced at CES 2026 so far, and they're not trying too hard to be fancy like they were in 2025. The emphasis is on more vigorous cleaning power and more flawless navigation around the home — the factors that actually determine whether a robot vacuum can be more reliable than a manual vacu

Disney+ will add vertical videos to its streaming service in an effort to boost engagement, Deadline reported. The company made the announcement at the Tech and Data Showcase at CES.Expect to see various types of content on Disney+'s vertical videos, including original short-form content, repurposed social clips, and scenes from longer Disney+ titles, according to Erin Teague, EVP of product management for Disney Entertainment and ESPN, in an interview with Deadline. SEE ALSO:CES 2026 live updat

UP TO 50% OFF: As of Jan. 9, you can get up to 50% off select items at Nancy, including the Lem clitoral massager and the Pixie remote-controlled panty vibrator. Opens in a new windowCredit: NancySave up to 50% off at Nancy Shop NowIf you haven’t made any New Year’s resolutions yet, here’s an idea: Make a commitment to self-care by snagging yourself a new vibe at Nancy. (Yes, it’s kind of an odd name, but the vibrators are super cute, super powerful, and half off!) P

SAVE $30: Paramount+ has a price hike going into effect on Jan. 15. This is your last chance to sign up for a Paramount+ Essential annual plan for just $59.99 before it jumps to $89.99.Opens in a new windowCredit: Paramount+Paramount+ Essential annual plan$59.99/year (save $30 before the price hike)Get DealOpens in a new windowCredit: Paramount+Paramount+ Premium annual plan$119.99/year (save $20 before price hike)Get DealParamount+ is ringing in 2026 with a good old fashioned price hike. Come J

SAVE $69.71: As of Jan. 9. get the Magic: The Gathering - Final Fantasy Play Booster Box for $139.99, down from its usual price of $209.70, at Amazon. That's a discount of 33%.Opens in a new windowCredit: AmazonMagic: The Gathering - Final Fantasy Play Booster Box$139.99 at Amazon $209.70 Save $69.71 Get DealLooking to collect all of the Final Fantasy cards featured in Magic: The Gathering? You'll have to drop some cash, though thanks to this Amazon deal that gives you a discount on a boost

Google has been sneaking in its AI assistant, Gemini, into Gmail for some time. Now Gmail is apparently "entering the Gemini era" officially with an inbox assistant, according to a blog post by Gmail's VP of product, Blake Barnes, published yesterday. One feature Gmail's launching is AI Overviews, which summarize information in your inbox, apparently building on the already-launched autogenerated email summaries. AI Overview can also be able to answer questions about what's in your inbox, but th

SAVE $30: As of Jan. 9, the ASUS ZenScreen portable monitor is on sale for $119 at Amazon. That's a 20% discount from its list price and the lowest price we've seen in months. Opens in a new windowCredit: ASUSASUS ZenScreen 15.6-inch portable monitor$119 at Amazon $149 Save $30 Get DealIf you plan on working more on the move this year, you don't need to be confined to a measly laptop screen. The ASUS ZenScreen portable monitor doubles your screen real estate wherever you are and you can get

Jujutsu Kaisen has entered its Culling Game arc, and its opening sequence makes one thing clear: This is not a game anyone survives unchanged. Released online yesterday alongside the Season 3 premiere, the opening sequence abandons straightforward hype in favor of something more symbolic and, dare I say, disturbing. Set to King Gnu's "Aizo," the opening depicts the Culling Game as a curated gallery of violence and spectacle, where participation is compulsory for jujutsu sorcerers. SEE ALSO:For '

The annual Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nevada, is the biggest tech showcase in the world, and Mashable reporters are on the ground reporting live from the event all week long. Every year at CES, tech giants like Samsung, LG, Sony, and Lenovo preview their latest innovations, as well as futuristic concept products unlike anything you'll find in stores. CES is also a hub for ambitious startups, electric vehicle brands, and robotics companies. You never know what bizarre new gadgets (or

The TV arena at CES 2026 wasn't exactly the battle of RGB TVs like we expected. It was way more fun than that.If you didn't hear the buzz prior to CES, RGB is a newer TV technology that aims to mash up the advantages of mini LED and OLED into one display, without settling for the respective disadvantages of opting for either. Now that all of the big announcements are out, there's still no denying RGB's budding popularity — almost every major TV brand made sure to throw an RGB TV in the rin

SAVE $26: As of Jan. 9, get the DJI Osmo Mobile 7P Gimbal Stabilizer for just $103. That saves you $26 off its list price of $129, saving you 20% off.Opens in a new windowCredit: DJIDJI Osmo Mobile 7P Gimbal Stabilizer$103 at Amazon $129 Save $26 Get DealDJI is probably best known for their drones, but at the end of 2025, the FCC banned foreign drones. Luckily, that's not the only device DJI has to offer. The drone maker also makes stellar vlogging cameras that are pocket-sized and perfect

SAVE $100: As of Jan. 9, get the Google Pixel Watch 4 LTE for $399.99, down from its usual price of $499.99. That's a discount of 50% and the lowest price we've seen. Opens in a new windowCredit: AmazonGoogle Pixel Watch 4 LTE$399.99 at Amazon $499.99 Save $100 Get DealNew year, new you? If you're looking to kick off 2026 on the right foot, one good resolution is getting on track with your fitness journey or planning to be better at organizing your day. One good way to do this is by picking

At this year's CES, automakers focused on showing us the future of cars; not so much the cars themselves.OK, there were exceptions, such as Sony Honda Mobility's AFEELA 1 and the accompanying SUV prototype. Some automakers decided to launch new or refreshed models in the past couple of days, unrelated to CES.SEE ALSO:Best of CES 2026 awards announced: See all the winners and nominees
At the CES 2026 show floor, however, the focus was on artificial intelligence, autonomous driving, safety tech, a

This is one of the most concerning questions for sales teams at the beginning of 2026: are tech giants killing cold outreach? The answer is that we do not know yet, but here is a perspective from someone working in sales. Apple and Google have recently introduced two features that show a clear tendency toward the decline of cold outreach. Apple’s new feature, “Ask Reason for Calling,” is a game changer. It effectively turns cold calling into another form of messaging. No more

SAVE 28%: As of Jan. 9, you can get the Magic: The Gathering Innistrad Remastered Play Booster Box (504 MTG cards) for $181.89, down from $251.64. That's a 28% discount or $69.75 in savings. Magic: The Gathering Innistrad Remastered Play Booster Box (504 MTG cards) $181.89 at Amazon $251.64 Save $69.75 Get Deal at Amazon
If you’re ready to experience one of Magic’s most iconic settings, this is the best time to do it without overpaying for the nostalgia. Since the "Remastered" s

TL;DR: Live stream Cameroon vs. Morocco in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations for free on Channel 4. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.There's a lot of pressure on hosts Morocco in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, but they haven't really been tested yet. We know they only beat Tanzania 1-0 in the last knockout round, but that scoreline doesn't show just how much Morocco dominated that game. Cameroon will not go down so easily, and the likes of Bryan Mbeumo

SAVE $100: As of Jan. 9, the Apple iPad Mini (A17 Pro, 128GB, WiFi) is down to just $399 at Amazon and Best Buy, down from $499. That's a savings of 20%.Opens in a new windowCredit: AppleApple iPad Mini (A17 Pro, 128GB, WiFi)$399 at Amazon $499 Save $100 Get DealApple's smallest iPad packs a surprising amount of punch. It may not be the most exciting tablet in the brand's lineup, but we still think it's pretty great — especially when it's on sale for $100 off. As of Jan. 9, you can ge

SAVE $140: As of Jan. 9, get the Eufy 11S Max robot vacuum for $139.99, down from its usual price of $279.99 at Amazon. That's a discount of 50%. Opens in a new windowCredit: AmazonEufy 11S Max robot vacuum$139.99 at Amazon $279.99 Save $140 Get DealIf you're looking to invest in a robot vacuum, you've got tons of options to choose from. As the tech has improved over the years, prices have also lowered, so even a budget robot vacuum can be a pro at cleaning your living room. If you want som

Parts of World Cup 2026 matches will be live-streamed on TikTok, FIFA announced on Thursday. As part of a "first-of-its-kind Preferred Platform agreement," the platform will also feature other original content created specifically for TikTok, as well as curated clips."FIFA's goal is to share the exhilaration of the FIFA World Cup 2026 with as many fans as possible, and we can't think of a better way to further that mission during the biggest event in sports history than to have TikTok as the tou

Parts of World Cup 2026 matches will be live-streamed on TikTok, FIFA announced on Thursday. As part of a "first-of-its-kind Preferred Platform agreement," the platform will also feature other original content created specifically for TikTok, as well as curated clips."FIFA's goal is to share the exhilaration of the FIFA World Cup 2026 with as many fans as possible, and we can't think of a better way to further that mission during the biggest event in sports history than to have TikTok as the tou

Elon Musk's AI tool Grok says it is now restricted to X paid subscribers. The move comes after an outcry over sexualised and violent images reportedly generated by the platform's AI assistant.Earlier this week, news emerged that Grok was digitally removing women's clothes in images without their consent, in response to user requests. X users were also reportedly asking the chatbot to manipulate women's photos to make them appear in swimsuits or even sexual situations.Now, when users who aren't p

SAVE $200: As of Jan. 9, shop the Apple MacBook Air, 15-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) at Amazon for just $999. That saves you $200 off its $1,199 list price.Opens in a new windowCredit: AppleApple MacBook Air, 15-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD)$999 at Amazon $1,199 Save $200 Get DealNew year new...computer? If a new laptop wasn't under the Christmas tree this year, then it's time to take matters into your own hands. If you're an Apple loyalists, our favorite MacBook, the one we think is the

SAVE 46%: As of Jan. 9, you can get the DJI Power 2000 Portable Power Station on sale for $699, down from $1,299, at Amazon. That's a 46% discount or $600 in savings. It's also the best price we've tracked on this model. DJI Power 2000 Portable Power Station $699 at Amazon $1,299 Save $600 Get Deal at Amazon
If you’ve been waiting for a reason to finally set up a home backup system, this DJI deal is definitely worth a look. It’s the kind of practical purchase that you’ll b

"I did not come here to poke at your trauma," is not a thing I, Mashable Entertainment Editor Kristy Puchko, expected to say to anyone, much less Scottish action star Gerard Butler. When we sat down to celebrate the release of Greenland 2: Migration with a game of "Slash or Pass," I'd prepped to talk about disaster movies, having no idea how many actual disaster scenarios Butler has faced off-screen. "My life is a disaster," he laughed while playing the game. But you should watch for yourself to

TL;DR: Battlefield 6 is now 45% off at Amazon, available for only $39.97 for a limited time.The best 'Battlefield 6' deals at a glance:Best PS5 Deal'Battlefield 6'$39.97(save $30.02)Get DealBest XBOX SERIES X Deal'Battlefield 6'$39.97(save $30.02)Get Deal
It’s rare to see newly-released games with strong reviews get big discounts just a couple of months after release, but Battlefield 6 seems to be a delightful exception to the rule.Both for PS5 and Xbox Series X, Battlefield 6 is now avail

TL;DR: Live stream Eintracht Frankfurt vs. Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga for free on BBC iPlayer. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.Can any team catch up and compete with Bayern Munich at the top of the Bundesliga? It's not looking likely, but Borussia Dortmund are leading the race for second place. Next they face off against Eintracht Frankfurt, a team that could move up into the top five with a win here. We're expecting a huge matchup between two exc

TL;DR: Live stream Mali vs. Senegal in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations for free on Channel 4. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.We've reached the quarter-final stage of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, with Mali vs. Senegal kicking things off in style. This is a particularly difficult fixture to predict. Both teams are stacked with talent and will be confident of progressing to the next round. The likes of Sadio Mané and Yves Bissouma will be key

Sir Idris Elba may have been on Late Night to promote Season 2 of Apple TV show Hijack, but that didn't mean he was going to miss a key Premier League game.The actor came out holding an iPad as he sat down opposite Seth Meyers, explaining that even though he was excited to be there, Arsenal were also 70 minutes into their crucial clash against Liverpool.Meyers positioned the iPad on the desk so they could both watch, but soon the host was back to asking his pesky questions.Elba's response? "Are

Spotify's ICE recruitment ads no longer run on the platform, following months of backlash and boycotts.Confirmed to Variety and verified by Mashable, Spotify is not running any more advertisements encouraging Americans to sign up as deportation agents for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The news comes in the wake of the killing of 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good by an ICE agent in Minneapolis on Wednesday."There are currently no ICE ads running on Spotify," a Spotify spokesperson t

Xreal, the augmented reality brand behind some of the leading smart glasses, is dealing with a lot of new competition at CES 2026. Smart glasses have been a big draw among the throngs of attendees on CES' packed convention floor this year, and I’ve probably tried on 12 different smart glasses since arriving in Las Vegas. Earlier at the event, I was impressed by the TCL RayNeo Air 4 Pro (especially by its price). So, how does Xreal respond to a more crowded playing field? By bringing out th

SAVE OVER $30: As of Jan. 9, the Samsung Galaxy Buds FE are on sale for $68.99 at Amazon. This is $31 off their list price of $99.99.Opens in a new windowCredit: SamsungSamsung Galaxy Buds FE$68.99 at Amazon $99.99 Save $31 Get DealAmazon is offering a sweet deal on the Samsung Galaxy Buds FE for a limited time, dropping their price to $68.99. For those who have been hoping to pick up some new earbuds to take into the new year, but don't want to splash out on anything too expensive, these a

The late night hosts have all responded to the Trump administration's reaction to ICE fatally shooting Renee Good on Wednesday, with Jimmy Kimmel, Stephen Colbert and The Daily Show's Ronny Chieng condemning them for painting the 37-year-old mother as a "domestic terrorist" despite the video evidence.In the Late Night video above, Seth Meyers weighs in too, finishing his "A Closer Look" segment with a sober address to camera."A 37-year-old mother in a Honda Pilot was shot dead on a residential s

TL;DR: The Silent Hill 2 remake is now only $27.39 at Amazon. That's 45% off its original list price at Amazon. Opens in a new windowCredit: Konami'Silent Hill 2' (PS5)$27.39 at Amazon $49.99 Save $22.60 Get DealWith Silent Hill f one of the best games of 2025, the long-running horror franchise has been enjoying a renaissance following the success of the 2024 Silent Hill 2 remake on PS5 — one of the best games of 2024. If you’ve been saving yourself to jump back in, you can now

CES 2026 has been full of big announcements — advances in the chips that power AI, major product launches, and more — but the Vegas tech convention is also known as a haven for weird tech. We here at Mashable are lovers of weird tech and odd gadgets, and, thankfully, CES 2026 has not disappointed thus far. We've got folks on the ground in Vegas scoping out everything odd on the showroom floor — here are six of the weirdest and most fun things we've seen. Check out the full list

SAVE $30: As of Jan. 9, the Apple Watch SE 3 (GPS, 40mm) has dropped to $219 at Amazon. This deal saves you $30 on list price.Opens in a new windowCredit: AppleApple Watch SE 3 [GPS 40mm] Smartwatch$219 at Amazon $249 Save $30 Get DealOur favorite smartwatch for most people, the Apple Watch SE 3, has dropped to $219 at Amazon. If you're an Apple user and a smartwatch has been on your radar for the year ahead, this is a deal well worth checking out.Overall, this discount saves you $30 on the

Posting content on OnlyFans is far from easy money, as several creators told Mashable last year, and the average creator only raked in around $1,300 in 2023. That being said, there are high earners on the platform — like Tiffany Wisconsin, who only started shooting adult content five years ago. Wisconsin (who goes by either Tiffany Wisconsin or Wisconsin Tiffany) typically earns upwards of $100,000 per month on OnlyFans (and supplied a screenshot of her November 2025 earnings to Masha