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For years, streaming services were my go-to choice for music in the car, since they gave me the ability to listen to whatever music I want whenever I want. However, over time, I've also become disillusioned with the fact that I don't actually own any of the music I was listening to. I also realized that I've spent more than $1000 on streaming subscriptions over the years with nothing to show for it.

There’s a particular frustration that hits when you run out of Claude tokens mid-project—and Anthropic is more than happy to sell you a $100 or $200 plan to solve that. But chances are, the problem isn’t that you use Claude more—it’s that you use it inefficiently.

Netflix ended May on a high note with several hit movies that debuted in the streamer's top 10. The Crash, a stunning documentary about a tragic accident, remains the No. 1 movie on the service. For something lighter in tone, try Ladies First, a satirical comedy starring Sacha Baron Cohen and Rosamund Pike.

Excel is packed with shortcuts and automation tools that handle formatting, analysis, and repetitive work in seconds. These beginner-friendly features eliminate tedious spreadsheet tasks so effectively that the results feel almost too good to be true.

Euphoria Season 3 came to a fittingly dramatic close on Sunday, but did we just watch the end of the season, or the end of the show itself?

Given the massive time jump between Seasons 2 and 3, you could be forgiven for thinking that more seasons of writer, director, and creator Sam Levinson's show wouldn't be out of the question in future.

But when asked, the man himself seems pretty definitive with his answer.

SEE ALSO: 'Euphoria' actor has surprisingly funny reaction to being almost completely cut from the show Will there be a Euphoria Season 4?

Levinson appeared on the New York Times' Popcast podcast shortly after the release of the Euphoria finale, and was asked directly whether there would be more episodes.

"In terms of the story that we set out to tell, which is a story about addiction and its consequences, this feels like the end to me," Levinson told NYT reporter Joe Coscarelli and critic Jon Caramanica. "It was such a fulfilling journey in terms of this cast, the crew, what we were able to accomplish...I mean, there's thousands of things that have to go right in order to make something like this, and I'm just immensely proud of the work we did, the story we told, and, you know, it's a tragic one in the end, but it's also the truth."

"This feels like the end" doesn't feel like a definitive answer, but fortunately Coscarelli followed up by asking again if Euphoria ends here.

"Yep," responded Levinson. "I mean what else is there to say?"

Well, that sounds pretty final. HBO reportedly also confirmed Levinson's announcement to Variety, which gives it further weight. Mashable has reached out to HBO for further comment.

Euphoria Season 3 is streaming now on HBO Max.

SAVE OVER $100: As of June 1, the Marshall Monitor III headphones have dropped to their lowest price yet at Amazon, at $229.99. This is $150 off their full price of $379.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Marshall Marshall Monitor III A.N.C. Over-Ear Bluetooth Headphones $229.99 at Amazon
$379.99 Save $150   Get Deal

While we wait for more news on this summer's Prime Day sale, Amazon still has quite a few deals worth checking out. If you've been hoping to save on a new pair of headphones this year, the Marshall Monitor III is currently sitting at its lowest price yet at the retailer. So why not scoop them up now?

As of June 1, the Marshall Monitor III headphones (both in black and cream) are on sale for $229.99 at Amazon. This is a massive $150 discount from their original price of $379.99, which is well worth taking advantage of. We're big fans of them, too, with Mashable's Bethany Allard writing "These retro-designed headphones sound as good as they look" in her review.

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Allard's review continues on to call them a "mid-range contender to be reckoned with," explaining, "Are they perfect headphones? No. But if you don't need class-leading sound and ANC and can make do with both of those being just pretty good instead, the Monitor III headphones pick up the slack in areas where the most popular headphones overlook."

As for where these headphones really stand out? Allard notes that "Their design is unique, but actually functional, their tactile controls are the best I've tried, and their customization is hard to beat." On top of all that, they boast quite a hefty battery life of up to 70 hours with ANC enabled. That can even be pushed to 100 hours without ANC. Yes, you read that correctly.

If they've caught your eye, now is the time to save big on the Marshall Monitor III headphones at Amazon before their price goes back up.

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SAVE $50: As of June 1, the Garmin Forerunner 165 is on sale for $199.99 at Amazon. That's a 20% discount on the list price.

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$249.99 Save $50   Get Deal

Looking for a fitness tracker to assist your running goals? Look no further than the Garmin Forerunner 165. The Forerunner range is designed for runners, offering options for all running goals and price points. And as of June 1, the 165 is currently $50 off, now priced at $199.

The Forerunner 165 features a bright AMOLED touchscreen display and traditional button controls. It has a battery life of up to 11 days in smartwatch mode and up to 19 hours in GPS mode, making it a great choice for short and long runs.

This watch comes loaded with features that give you personalized daily stats like suggested workouts (adapted based on performance and recovery), HRV, sleep, and more. You'll also be able to see training effect and recovery time. This shows how workouts impact fitness and the main benefit of each session, while recovery time indicates how long to rest before a high-effort workout.

It also includes more than 25 built-in activity profiles, including running, cycling, HIIT, and strength training. It's even water-resistant up to 50 meters.

You can find this Garmin deal available at Amazon now.

Donald Trump is a big fan of pardons — and not always using the Department of Justice's review process — but is he using his presidential power to offer clemency wisely?

As John Oliver explains in the Last Week Tonight video above, the answer appears to be a firm no. In the 30 minute clip, the host breaks down multiple examples of Trump-issued pardons that have been either harmful or questionable, from the president pardoning Jan. 6 rioters who went on to commit further crimes to the same for Binance founder Changpeng Zhao, whose company has since gone on to partner with Trump family crypto venture World Liberty Financial.

Despite Trump claiming to be tough on crime, as Oliver points out, "that toughness is clearly deeply selective.

"He'll happily put violent people and fraudsters right back on the streets to victimise people again just because they support him," the host says.

"I know it is not news that America has a two-tiered justice system, but this is taking it to an absurd extreme. The way we're going right now we may well end up at a point where we don't so much have a system of laws, as much as we just have a guy. And if you're on that guy's team, you basically get to commit crimes. But the thing is, that's just not the social contract any of us signed up for."

Want more of the best of late night? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter.

Take a look at the new Hummer X Pickup & SUV concept cars from GM, during a special tour of the company's Advanced Design Facility in Pasadena.

Microsoft's got a new Surface coming, and it's the most powerful laptop the company's ever made.

Announced at Computex 2026, the Microsoft Surface Ultra comes with an Nvidia RTX Spark, a new all-purpose PC chip from the graphics chip giant.

In a press release, Microsoft called the Ultra all sorts of otherworldly superlatives, calling it a laptop for "world makers," but what that translates to is an extremely powerful workhorse laptop capable of running complex (you guessed it) AI tasks.

On the surface (sorry), the Surface Ultra is a pretty regular 15-inch laptop designed for professionals, with a mini-LED display, a ton of ports, and an extra-large touchpad. It weighs under 4.5 pounds, and has "all-day battery life," says Microsoft, though not all specs are available at this point.

What's inside is what makes this one interesting. First, there's the RTX Spark, Nvidia's new chip for PCs. It appears to be a variant of the GB10 chip, which powers Nvidia's miniature DGX Spark supercomputer announced in January 2025. It comes with 6,144 Blackwell GPU cores, 20 CPU cores, and offers 1 petaflop total of AI performance. You can configure the Ultra with up to 128GB of RAM, making it a portable AI supercomputer (that's also pretty great at regular office and gaming tasks).

In AI terms, the Microsoft Surface Ultra should be able to run 120 billion-parameter models locally. For reference, that's on par with a Mac mini equipped with 128GB of RAM.

There's no word on pricing, and the Surface Ultra isn't arriving until the fall.

SEE ALSO: New Microsoft Defender exploits discovered. How to protect yourself

It's not the only Nvidia RTX Spark computer that's coming, though. For this one, Nvidia has partnered with basically every Windows PC maker under the sun, including Dell, Asus, HP, and Lenovo; those are all also coming this fall.

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you're an avid reader.

Connections is the one of the most popular New York Times word games that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for today's Connections solution. 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 What is Connections?

The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

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Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

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Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for June 1, 2026 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

• Yellow: Four-walled

• Green: Chill vibes

• Blue: Found in literary classics

• Purple: Worn on a finger

Here are today's Connections categories

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

• Yellow: Room features

• Green: Old-timey lounging accessories

• Blue: Subjects in Tennessee Williams titles

• Purple: ___ Ring

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections #1086 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Room features: CEILING, DOOR, WALL, WINDOW

• Old-timey lounging accessories: NEWSPAPER, PIPE, ROBE, SLIPPERS

• Subjects in Tennessee Williams titles: CAT, MEAGERIE, STREETCAR, TATTOO

• ___ Ring: KEY, ONION, TREE, WEDDING

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for June 1, 2026

Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today's puzzle.

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 Connections.

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you have a plant-based diet.

Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game, requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There's always a theme linking every solution, along with the "spangram," a special, word or phrase that sums up that day's theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable

By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.

If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for June 1, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Shall we gather for lunch?

The words are related to food.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe natural foods.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Foraging.

NYT Strands word list for June 1

• Ramp

• Blackberry

• Nettle

• Foraging

• Chicory

• Chestnut

• Morel

Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, and 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 Strands.

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you love spicy foods.

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 June 1, 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 June 1, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

A spicy pepper.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter I appears twice.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter C.

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...

CHILI

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.

SAVE $250: As of June 1, the Google Pixel 10 Pro is on sale for $849 at Amazon. That's a 23% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Google Google Pixel 10 Pro $849
$1,088 Save $239   Get Deal

The Google Pixel 10 Pro has dropped in price at Amazon, and as of June 1, it's at its lowest-ever price. Normally priced at $1,099, you can now take it home for $849. And all colorways are reduced too, meaning you can choose from moonstone, obsidian, porcelain, and jade.

The Google Pixel 10 Pro is a smartphone that features Gemini AI, the Google Tensor G5 chip, and a seriously impressive camera system. It comes unlocked so that it can be used with carriers such as Google Fi, Verizon, T-Mobile, AT&T, and others. It also has a 6.3-inch Super Actua display with up to 3,300-nit peak brightness for visibility in bright conditions.

The camera system is impressive too, designed to perform well in low light and uses advanced Google AI models. You'll also get up to 100x Pro Res Zoom, 50 MP images, and 8K video recording with stabilization.

It's also a robust phone, built with a durable aluminum frame and Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 for scratch and drop resistance, so if you're a habitual phone dropper, this one should survive each mishap.

Find this Google Pixel deal at Amazon.

SAVE $30: As of June 1, the Sonos Era 100 speaker is on sale for $189 at Amazon. This is $30 off its full price of $219.

Opens in a new window Credit: Sonos Sonos Era 100 $189 at Amazon
$219 Save $30   Get Deal

A selection of Sonos products has seen some very nice discounts lately, especially during Memorial Day sales. And while that sale event is over and done with now, some of those offers are still lingering around. The Sonos Era 100 is still on sale at Amazon and is certainly worth making a move on if you've been searching for a speaker upgrade for your home.

As of June 1, both the black and white models of the Sonos Era 100 have dropped to $189. Overall, this saves you $30 off their full list price of $219, but not for long. It's marked as a 'limited time deal', so if this speaker has caught your eye, now is the time to pick it up and save.

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If you're building a sound system in your home, Sonos products like the Sonos Era 100 are always a great choice. Not only do they offer a smart, minimalist design, but they also provide excellent sound quality. This is all thanks to a dual-tweeter acoustic architecture and a 25% larger midwoofer than the Era 100's predecessor, the Sonos One. So, whether you're using it to listen to music or create epic surround sound for your next movie night, the sound comes through crisp and clear.

And speaking of surround sound, the Sonos Era 100 is compact, fitting perfectly behind you on a table or bookshelf. If you buy a couple, you can set them up as rear satellite speakers to help create an immersive sound from every angle around you. What better way to enjoy your favorite movies or shows?

Don't miss out on this chance to save on the Sonos Era 100 at Amazon.

Want to learn more about getting the best out of your tech? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories and Deals newsletters today.

The first generation of internet creators is entering its legacy era.

Ahead of its 15th anniversary event later this month, VidCon announced the second class of inductees into its Hall of Fame, honoring four creators whose influence helped shape online culture as we know it: Markiplier, Philip DeFranco, Michelle Phan, and Blogilates founder Cassey Ho.

The creators will be formally inducted during VidCon Anaheim's Opening Night Celebration on June 25, the first day of the convention's three-day event.

SEE ALSO: Who is VidCon really for? 3 takeaways that reveal the creator economy's future.

Together, the four inductees represent some of the internet's earliest and most influential creator archetypes — the gamer, the news commentator, the beauty guru, and the fitness creator. Long before creators became billion-dollar businesses and brand deals became an industry unto themselves, each helped establish the playbook for what online influence could look like.

Markiplier's inclusion comes at a moment when creator careers are increasingly extending beyond the internet itself. His self-funded horror film Iron Lung grossed more than $50 million worldwide following its theatrical release earlier this year and its YouTube debut on May 31.

SEE ALSO: BookTok made reading cool again — but it also turned authors into content creators

Meanwhile, Philip DeFranco remains one of the platform's longest-running independent news voices. Since launching his channel in 2006, he has built a loyal audience around fast-paced commentary and analysis, helping define a format that countless creators would later adopt.

Michelle Phan's influence extends far beyond beauty tutorials. After becoming one of YouTube's earliest breakout stars, she co-founded IPSY, helping transform online beauty communities into a major force within the subscription cosmetics industry.

And Cassey Ho, known to millions as Blogilates, turned workout videos into a sprawling lifestyle and product empire built around direct community feedback, a creator-business model that has become increasingly common across the industry.

According to VidCon, this year's inductees were selected by a new Hall of Fame Selection Committee composed of creator economy experts, past inductees, and members of the VidCon Advisory Board.

"We launched the VidCon Hall of Fame to honor the legends who built the foundation of the creator economy, and we are thrilled to continue that tradition in 2026," Sarah Tortoreti, vice president of VidCon, said in a statement.

The ceremony will be open to all VidCon badge holders, and each inductee's custom Hall of Fame jersey will be displayed on the convention floor throughout the event.

Mashable will be on the ground at VidCon 2026, covering the creators, trends, and conversations driving internet culture, from breaking news and creator interviews to industry insights and live updates.

AI is everywhere. AI companies like OpenAI and Anthropic went from unknown to household names in just a few short years. Big Tech companies like Google, Meta, Amazon, and Microsoft keep rolling out their AI models across every product, from search to chatbot assistants and more. And, naturally, companies that manufacture computer chips and GPUs like Nvidia are raking in billions as they create the hardware that powers it all.

But what if consumers don't want to send their data to Big Tech companies or fork over hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars per month to Big AI companies for tokens? While computer hardware companies like Nvidia may be struggling to keep up with demand, everyday users can still find everything they need to build out their own machine – an AI PC – and run AI models locally 

But what exactly is an AI PC? What do you need if you want to build your own, or what should you look for if buying an AI PC pre-made? And how does it differ from other powerful computers built for specific purposes, such as gaming PCs?

To answer these questions, Mashable spoke with an expert who builds PCs for a living, Quoted Tech co-founder and CEO Kevin Jia. Founded in 2023, Quoted Tech is a Canada-based company that builds custom PCs for thousands of customers. Jia and company also provided Mashable with access to one of their prebuilt models, the Quoted One Pro Plus, an entry-level custom prebuilt made-for-AI computer, so we could test out exactly what makes an AI PC an AI PC.

What is an AI PC?

An AI PC is exactly what it says it is: A computer that is built to handle artificial intelligence, machine learning, and large language models (LLMs).

Technically, every PC can utilize AI nowadays, just like one can play games or edit videos on any computer, no gaming PC or video editing workstation required. Just as a gaming PC delivers peak performance and the best gaming experience, an AI PC is built specifically to run AI models. 

As Jia pointed out, though, an AI PC doesn't mean it's a single-purpose machine, as many of the specifications you'd find in an AI PC can be found in a gaming rig or PC built for video processing, too.

"Users don’t need to choose between an 'AI' rig and a 'gaming' rig," Jia explained. "An AI-oriented computer doesn’t have to be a single-purpose machine. It is a workstation that’s fully capable of AI work, but it’s also built to comfortably handle gaming and other professional workloads in one system."

Could I just use my laptop for AI?

Of course, you can use ChatGPT, Claude, Copilot, and Gemini all on your $300 laptop. Cloud models can be run on any machine.

However, if you're trying to run local AI processes, you're going to need a PC built for the task.

"AI needs a lot of GPU processing power, and you need a lot of VRAM, and you need a lot of memory, and you need a decent CPU, and you need to be able to cool all of that in a decent tower," Jia told us. "We've had customers come to us saying, 'Hey, I bought this laptop for AI, and it doesn't work, it just overheats, and it runs slow.'"

Quoted One Pro Plus Credit: Mashable / Matt Binder

To get an idea of what's inside a consumer-level AI PC, here are the specs for Quoted One Pro Plus that we tested out for this piece:

• CPU: Intel Core i5-14600K (14 cores / 20 threads, up to 5.3 GHz) 

• GPU: NVIDIA RTX 5060 (8GB GDDR7) 

• Memory: 32GB DDR5 (2×16GB) Kingston Fury Beast @ 5600 MHz 

• Storage: 1TB Kingston KC3000 NVMe M.2 SSD (up to 7,000 MB/s read speeds) 

• Motherboard: MSI PRO Z790-VC WiFi 

• CPU Cooling: Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 (white, dual-tower air cooler) 

• Power Supply: MSI MAG A650BN 650W, 80+ Bronze (non-modular) 

• Case: Fractal Design North (white with tempered glass side panel) 

• Operating System: Windows 11 Home 

What's the main difference between a PC built for AI and other PC builds?

Traditionally, when one thinks of a high-end PC, at least at the consumer level, they think of a tricked-out gaming PC.

While you can game on an AI PC and vice versa, custom PC builders like Quoted Tech know there's a difference when building a PC for a specific purpose like AI.

One major difference? The emphasis on cooling.

"You can see that there's a ton of airflow," Jia said. "That's going to be a huge non-negotiable for AI-built systems."

Fractal Design's North ventilation Credit: Fractal Design

After spending some time testing out the Quoted One Pro Plus, a "ton of airflow" actually seems like an understatement. For its line of AI computers, Quoted Tech uses Fractal Design's North PC case. 

The first thing you'll notice is that the PC tower is much larger than you'd expect. Of course, they could make it smaller. This isn't a technological limitation. The PC case is big on purpose. North was designed for maximally optimal airflow to cool down your PC. 

"A lot of prebuilt systems out there are designed with a smaller form factor because they're cheaper," Jia says. "We've had people kind of come to us and say, 'I'm running this on a pre-built gaming system, and it's just crashing or slowing down, or it's not performing.' And we tell them how they have the equivalent of a large laptop. That system wasn't designed to be pushed like this."

You can feel a light breeze emanating from the Quoted One Pro Plus when it's running. It's like night and day when compared to my own, much smaller gaming PC. My PC tower could heat up my room if needed during the winter while playing a couple of minutes of Fortnite. In contrast, the airflow felt coming out of Quoted One Pro Plus could cool a small room during the summer.

"When you're gaming, I would hope that most of us are only gaming for a few hours at a time," Jia explained. "A lot of gaming systems, while they're good for airflow, might not be top tier because they weren't designed to be run for 7 or 8 or even 12 hours."

"Whereas with AI, if you're doing LLM work or anything like that, you could be running this thing for 2 or 3 days." he continued. "You need stability. You need workstation-class cooling. You need workstation-class space. Those you cannot trade away."

There also tends to be no limit to how much processing power you can fit into an AI PC. For example, Quoted Tech has built workstations that can host up to 8 GPUs simultaneously.

"That would be an awful gaming PC because most games won't be able to utilize more than one GPU effectively," Jie said. "If you said, 'I'm gonna buy a Blackwell card to play computer games,' I would say I think we need to rethink what you're spending the money on because you could probably get 99 percent of the performance [in a gaming PC] for one-third of the budget."

Fractal Design's North PC case Credit: Fractal Design Why an AI PC over Apple's Silicon-powered Macs?

In November 2020, Apple released its first line of Silicon Macs with the new M1 MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, and Mac mini. These Macs provided consumers with options more powerful than similarly priced laptop and desktop PCs.

As Apple has packed more and more processing power in these Silicon chips over the years, they've become popular with users looking to run local AI processes such as the AI assistant OpenClaw.

While these Macs remain good options for certain use cases, Jia explains why PCs remain a top choice for AI.

"Generally, most LLM and AI developers today build on NVIDIA’s CUDA language. That’s really the defining difference," Jia said, referring to Nvidia's proprietary Compute Unified Device Architecture, which requires Nvidia's GPUs and thus can't be run on Macs. 

"Macs and Radeon-based systems simply don’t have the same cohesive CUDA-driven ecosystem for developers to work within," he continued. "For anyone building or experimenting seriously with AI models, that ecosystem matters, it determines what tools you can use, what workflows you can optimize, and how easily you can scale your work."

And, of course, PCs can be continuously upgraded with new hardware whereas consumers cannot upgrade the internals of their Macs.

To compare the two, I ran a generative AI model for images on both. Both completed the tasks based on the assigned prompts. This wasn't surprising. After all, both were built to handle AI processing. 

While the consumer-level hardware I had available wasn't the best way to showcase the difference between PCs and Macs when it comes to processing AI, I did take advantage of having access to my own Mac mini M4 Pro and Quoted Tech's Quoted One Pro Plus. To compare the two, I ran a generative AI model for images on both. Both completed the tasks based on the assigned prompts. This wasn't surprising. After all, both were built to handle AI processing. 

However, the difference in the heat emanating from the Mac mini and the cool air continuing to flow through the Quoted One Pro Plus was hard to miss. It's easy to see how the form factor of a property-built AI PC will give it an advantage over the Mac in terms of performance.

How much is an AI PC going to cost me?

Obviously, there's quite a wide range of pricing, as AI PCs can be built for consumer use or for large enterprise use. Jia informed me that Quoted Tech has built workstations that were priced as high as six figures. But individual users looking to run local AI models obviously don't need to spend anywhere near that much.

Quoted Tech says that those looking to "dabble" in running local AI models could get started on an entry-level AI PC, like the Quoted One Pro Plus, for between $1,500 and $2,500.

TL;DR: These ASUS CM30 Chromebooks are on sale now for $150.

Opens in a new window Credit: 203 Trading LLC ASUS Chromebook CM30 (2024) Detachable Touchscreen 8GB RAM 128GB eMMC (Refurbished) $149.99
$369.99 Save $220   Get Deal

The most expensive computer isn’t always the best computer. If you just need a machine to stay connected and get some light work done, a good Chromebook like this ASUS CM30 is one of the best options, and this one is even on sale now for $149.99 (reg. $369).

The CM30 switches between tablet and laptop in seconds. The detachable keyboard and magnetic stand handle the physical transformation without any fuss, and the USI 2.0 garaged stylus stores directly in the device using a push-pop design so it’s always where you left it and fast-charging when you’re not using it. The 10.5-inch WUXGA touchscreen runs at 1920×1200 with 400 nits of brightness and 118% sRGB color coverage, which basically just means everything on your screen will look crisp and clear whether you’re in laptop or tablet mode. The 16:10 aspect ratio gives a little extra vertical space compared to a standard widescreen panel, which makes a real difference when reading documents or browsing long pages.

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The MediaTek Kompanio 520 processor and 8GB of RAM keep Chrome OS running smoothly across multiple tabs, apps, and calls without slowdown. The 128GB eMMC storage handles apps and files without constantly managing space, and battery life is rated at up to 12 hours, covering a full workday or long travel day without needing to find an outlet.

The chassis is military-grade aluminum built to MIL-STD 810H standards, using 30% recycled materials, so it can take some real punishment. At 0.61kg in tablet mode and 1kg with the keyboard attached, it carries easily without adding much weight to a bag.

This model is refurbished and in near-mint condition, so the only real difference you may notice is the price.

Buying something like a MacBook when you just need a computer for basic productivity is like using a hydraulic press to put a nail in the wall. Sure, it would work, but it’s overkill.

Instead, get an ASUS Chromebook while they’re on sale for $149.99.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Protect all your devices with a 3-year Surfshark VPN plan on sale for $67.20 with code VPN20.

Opens in a new window Credit: Surfshark Surfshark VPN Starter Plan: 3-Yr Subscription $67.20
$430 Save $362.80   Get Deal

Your ISP can see everything you do online. Public WiFi networks have no obligation to protect your traffic. Advertisers track your location and browsing history across every site you visit. Surfshark VPN blocks all of it, and a three-year plan is on sale for $67.20 right now (reg. $430).

Surfshark routes your connection through its own servers, masking your IP address and encrypting traffic with AES-256 encryption so your activity stays private regardless of the network you’re on. CleanWeb blocks ads, trackers, and malware before they load, speeds up browsing, and strips cookie consent pop-ups automatically. Kill Switch cuts your internet connection at the system level if the VPN drops unexpectedly, so your real IP address is never accidentally exposed. Bypasser lets specific apps or websites skip the VPN entirely, which is useful for banking apps that flag VPN connections as suspicious.

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The network covers 3,200-plus servers across 100 countries, with 10 Gbps server upgrades for faster, less congested connections. MultiHop routes traffic through two servers instead of one for an extra layer of privacy. Private DNS on every server and IPv6 leak protection cover the technical gaps that cheaper VPNs often miss. WireGuard, IKEv2, and OpenVPN are all supported, so you can choose the protocol that fits your setup.

Surfshark is based in the British Virgin Islands and operates under a strict no-logs policy, meaning no record of your browsing activity is stored after a session ends. It’s not based in a 14 Eyes country, which matters for anyone concerned about government data-sharing agreements.

One subscription covers unlimited devices simultaneously with unlimited data and bandwidth.

Use code VPN20 to get a Surfshark VPN Starter Plan three-year subscription for $67.20.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: PoddyHost uses AI to create the podcast you’ve always wanted to host, and it’s only $99 for life.

Opens in a new window Credit: Archieboy Holdings PoddyHost AI Podcast Generator - Starter Plan: Lifetime Subscription $99
$540 Save $441   Get Deal

Recording a podcast takes equipment, editing software, time, and the willingness to listen to yourself talk for hours. PoddyHost skips all of that. It’s an AI podcast platform that researches keywords, writes scripts, narrates episodes using studio-grade AI voices, generates cover art, and publishes directly to Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon Music without you ever hitting record. A lifetime Starter Plan is on sale for $99 right now (reg. $540).

All those times you’ve had a great idea for a podcast, now you can actually follow through.

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PoddyHost gives you a complete podcasting pipeline that runs on its own. It’s like having a podcast partner that actually pulls their weight. Auto Mode handles daily or monthly publishing on a schedule you set, so content goes out consistently without requiring ongoing effort. Just select a topic and watch the AI create the podcast you’ve been dying to listen to.

The platform generates 30 AI episodes per month, narrated by any of 50-plus lifelike voices across 10-plus supported languages, which means international reach without recording in multiple languages yourself. Every episode gets custom AI-generated cover art, and the built-in keyword research and clustering tools help new episodes surface in search rather than disappear into the catalog.

Distribution goes through an integrated RSS feed with one-click submission helpers for major platforms and submission-status tracking so you know where each episode stands. The Starter Plan includes one podcast blog with a full RSS feed, batch scheduling tools, and Podcast Index submission support.

Get a PoddyHost AI Podcast Generator Lifetime Subscription for $99.

StackSocial prices subject to change.