IT General

Are investors already getting weary of tech's golden goose, artificial intelligence?

On Friday, tech stocks took a hit on Wall Street, and the underlying cause seems to be alarm over record AI infrastructure spending. Microsoft, Amazon, Alphabet, Nvidia, Amazon, Meta, and Oracle were among just some of the companies whose falling shares accounted for $1 trillion in losses from Big Tech stocks, as CNBC reported.

Big tech companies like Amazon and Google have been furiously ramping up capital expenditures to build AI data centers and shifting focus to AI products and services. 

The immediate spark for the Friday sell-off was the Amazon fourth-quarter earnings report. The e-commerce giant projected that its capital expenditures would reach $200 billion in 2026. CNBC reported that Amazon's Capex figure was $50 billion higher than expected, and the stock market reacted accordingly.

Speaking to CNBC, GAM Investments' investment director Paul Markham explained why AI would affect these companies on the stock market.

“Questions over the extent of capex [capital expenditures] as a result of LLM build-outs, the eventual return on that, and the fear of eventual over-expansion of capacity will be persistent,” Markham told CNBC.

However, the cold feet from investors regarding AI seems to be a fairly recent development, at least when it comes to stock market results. Just a few weeks ago, Facebook and Instagram owner Meta announced it planned to allocate an additional 73 percent of its capital spending, or roughly $115 billion to $135 billion, to AI development. Unlike the recent Amazon announcement, Meta's stock went up 10 percent on this news.

There are also reasons to be skeptical of an AI bubble, however.

Also on Friday, NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang insisted that massive increases in capital expenditures are "justified," as the tech leader told CNBC's "Halftime Report" hosts. After making these comments, CNBC reported that NVIDIA shares rose 8 percent.

NVIDIA is often seen as a bellwether for a possible AI bubble, as the company sells the chips used by AI companies like OpenAI, Meta, and Google. At Davos, Huang said that the massive investment in AI seemingly proves it's not a bubble. NVIDIA would be a massive loser if AI did prove to be a bubble, of course.

Still, there were signs that Amazon's stock was rebounding slightly after Huang's comments.

Deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein cultivated a network of powerful tech leaders and executives in the early to mid-2010s, according to Mashable's review of some of the documents contained in the Department of Justice's latest release of Epstein files.

A number of boldface names show up in his inbox during that time, including Bill Gates, Reid Hoffman, Elon Musk, Peter Thiel, Mark Zuckerberg, and Jeff Bezos. None of the individuals have been accused of participating in Epstein's abuse and trafficking of minors.

Based on the reviewed documents and previously reported information, Epstein demonstrated a longstanding interest in not only socializing with the tech elite, but also making influential investments and behind-the-scenes moves to influence technological innovation.

SEE ALSO: Seth Meyers has a blunt response to Elon Musk's email to Epstein

The New York Times reported Thursday that he had access to startups and venture capital funds, and the executives leading them, well after he pleaded guilty for soliciting a minor for prostitution in Florida, in 2008. Epstein was, for example, an early investor in the cryptocurrency startup Coinbase, in 2014, according to the records.

Epstein's unusual deal required him to register as a sex offender, and he ultimately served roughly 13 months in jail.

The charge and Epstein's incarceration weren't secrets; The Daily Beast reported on the financier's deal and criminal behavior in 2010. (Former Daily Beast editor Tina Brown recently recounted Epstein's high-pressure legal campaign against the coverage prior to its publication.)

Still, those revelations didn't stop tech leaders from befriending Epstein as e-commerce, social media, and the beginnings of artificial intelligence reshaped the internet, the economy, and society. Per the documents Mashable was able to review, Epstein had different relationships with big players in tech.

Some appeared to be collaborators or friends, such as Microsoft cofounder Bill Gates, PayPal cofounder Peter Thiel, and LinkedIn cofounder Reid Hoffman. Some, like Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Google cofounder Sergey Brin, were cc'd on emails to numerous tech executives that Epstein also received. Others, including Apple CEO Tim Cook, were mentioned in Epstein's schedule, by his assistant, or in conversation with a third party.

The documents give startling insight into how Epstein operated with tech executives.

Epstein and tech execs: Professional, sometimes friendly and familiar

In Sept. 2012, Epstein emailed Musk to ask about "the Al guy in London that you thought was smart." Musk simply replies, "Demis Hassabis". Hassabis is now the co-founder & CEO of Google Deep Mind. Google acquired Hassabis' company DeepMind Technologies in 2014.

Musk's exchanges with Epstein weren't limited to professional matters. Epstein invited Musk to his infamous Caribbean private island home, where Epstein engaged in the rape and sexual abuse of minors, and provided trafficked minors to other powerful men. Over the course of a year, Musk tried to schedule a visit to the island.

In Nov. 2012, Musk asked, "What day/night will be the wildest party on your island?" He had planned to attend with his wife at the time and suggested on X that, as a result, he didn't anticipate anything "actually shady."

In the months of email exchanges, Musk appears to have had scheduling conflicts that prevented him from visiting. Musk recently said on X that he "declined repeated invitations" from Epstein and had never been to his island or on his private plane.

Musk claims that "nobody has fought harder for full release" of the Epstein files than him.

Epstein also emailed Hoffman directly a number of times between 2013 and 2018. Hoffman acknowledged on social media that he met Epstein at his island home for a "fundraising visit." Hoffman has published on X a list of dates he met with Epstein to discuss a "fundraising relationship" he had with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Epstein contributed $850,000 to MIT between 2002 and 2017. Hoffman said on X that "interacting with Epstein post-conviction is something I deeply regret."

In one email from Dec. 2014, Hoffman wrote Epstein to say that he sent two gifts to his New York City address: "1- ice cream. if you have any interest, you should try — else for the girls." It's unclear who Hoffman is referencing when he mentions "girls." (The dash in Hoffman's writing appeared originally; it is not a redaction.)

Mashable reached out to Hoffman for comment about the identity of the girls he referenced. 

"The victims of Epstein’s abhorrent and vile actions deserve all the information they are seeking, and I continue to call on President Trump to deliver that for them," Hoffman wrote on X.

The nature of their respective relationships with Epstein has become the source of an accusatory back-and-forth between Musk and Hoffman on Musk's social media platform X.

The Epstein files contain 6,500 references to "the girls." Epstein's will did not appear to name any biological dependents or beneficiaries aside from his brother.

Epstein wrote personally about "the girls" in a February 2013 email to a contact, noting that "the girls and i are going to see elon musk at space x tomorrow".

In 2014, an email with redacted correspondents discusses arrangements for "the girls. 

"Can you help?," reads the email addressed to a person named Richard. "As I did not hear back from [redacted] and I think that JE wants me to reach out to the girls regarding their individual spaces." The exchange, which includes more detail, is eventually forwarded to Epstein. 

A 2015 email involving Epstein's assistant details "cleaning" arrangements for the girls and their apartments. The redacted respondent says, "Okey (sic) me and Leo's back to weelkly (sic) cleaning with the girls…We apologize for not cleaning the girls this week but we can clean some girls today if you want…" A 2017 email with redacted respondents goes into detail about a cleaning schedule and anticipating guests for the apartments. 

"Get the girls apartments done and 7J for our guest arriving tonight," the email reads.

A list of tech titans who appear in the Epstein files

An appearance by a major tech executive in the files does not imply or indicate that they participated in illegal or criminal behavior. This list is organized in alphabetical order. The number of appearances can include duplicate documents and references.

1. Jeff Bezos: 194 references

Bezos' name appears in the files relatively infrequently compared to people like Gates and Hoffman. In one 2018 email, a contact of Epstein's asked if he should attend a talk given by Bezos. Epstein replies, "yes you can say hello from me".

In a 2010 email, Bezos is cc'd along with several high-profile tech executives (Brin, Musk, Google cofounder Larry Page) in an email from the literary agent John Brockman related to a book that he'd championed. 

Bezos is also mentioned as a potential dinner party guest in a 2011 email to Epstein from investor and inventor Boris Nikolic. Similarly, a 2018 email involving Epstein's assistant listed Epstein as a guest at a 2014 dinner where the RSVPs included Bezos, Brin, and Page.

In 2016, Epstein received a text message from director Woody Allen, who declared, "I think Jeff Bezos is my idol." Epstein replies, "I was with him yesterday".

Mashable reached out to Amazon for comment. 

2. Sergey Brin: 265 references

Brin shows up in the files as early as 2003, years before Epstein pleaded guilty to prostituting minors. Epstein's co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell met Brin at a TED Conference that year, then reached out via email.

"Just incase (sic) I need to jog your memory as to who I am - I am the crazy girl with short dark hair who flew a Black Hawk in Colombia and a friend of Jeffrey Epstein and [redacted]," she wrote in March 2003.

Brin responded that he traveled to New York City a few times a year and planned to be there in April. Maxwell invited Brin to dinner. The plans ultimately changed locations to Epstein's Manhattan home. "[D]inners at Jeffrey's are always happily casual and relaxed," Maxwell wrote. Brin responded with his availability.

Brin also authored a May 2003 email with the subject line "aircraft carrier" to Maxwell. The body of the message is blank. Similar messages, addressed to Maxwell by Brin but with a blank body, appear in the files.

In a long, heavily redacted letter apparently written by an Epstein survivor, Brin is named as an individual the victim met while on Epstein's island at an unspecified time. The victim does not accuse Brin, who allegedly visited with his then-fiancée, Anne Wojcicki, of any crimes.

Mashable reached out to Google for comment. 

3. Tim Cook: 152 references*

Cook appears in the files because news articles or briefings mention his name in relation to Apple. The documents also contain email messages between Epstein and individuals working to arrange meetings with Cook.

In a Nov. 2012 exchange, someone who meets with Cook tells Epstein that Cook would be "excited" to meet with Epstein but has heard Epstein is forming a company that would require him to decline the invitation.

*Some of Epstein's shipping invoices are addressed to a Tim Cook, care of a yacht harbor in the British Virgin Islands, in the early 2000s. The number of references includes shipping invoices with that Tim Cook's name on them. Mashable has reached out to Apple to determine whether that Tim Cook is the same as the Apple CEO.

4. Bill Gates: 2,527 references

The Microsoft cofounder has admitted, with regret, to a friendly relationship with Epstein. His spokesperson also unequivocally denied salacious allegations contained in the latest batch of files. In two July 2013 emails that Epstein sent to himself, he addresses the messages to Gates and describes a rupture in what he viewed as a close relationship.

Epstein claims that Gates asked him to delete emails "regarding your std, your request that I provide you antibiotics that you can surreptitiously give to Melinda [French Gates], and the description of your penis. You also made it clear to me that I am not to refer to [redacted] as that is another topic that must remain between the two of us."

Epstein also tries to lay out a financial resolution to a business partnership they formed. Gates has said the email was never sent.

"These claims are absolutely absurd and completely false," Gates' spokesperson told NPR. "The only thing these documents demonstrate is Epstein's frustration that he did not have an ongoing relationship with Gates and the lengths he would go to entrap and defame."

Gates' relationship with Epstein reportedly played a role in Melinda French Gate's 2021 divorce from her husband. She told NPR that the new allegations in Epstein's files brought up painful times in her marriage.

"Whatever questions remain there of what — I can't even begin to know all of it — those questions are for those people and for even my ex-husband," French Gates said. "They need to answer to those things, not me."

5. Reid Hoffman: 2,638 references

As much as Hoffman emphasizes his fundraising ties to Epstein, he appears close to him in emails exchanged over several years, and they also set up Skype calls.

In addition to the aforementioned exchanges, Hoffman wished Epstein well in May 2018 and said, "loo= (sic) forward to being in the same area of the world at some point. ☺" He suggested a Skype call to discuss Epstein investing in a fund, to which Epstein replied, "always can make time for a reid skype. :)"

Years earlier, in Jan. 2014, Epstein wrote to Hoffman, "have some inquiries from some interesting people, re a bitcoin type currency, wait until you hear". Hoffman replied with interest.

Mashable reached out to Greylock Partners, where Hoffman is a partner, for comment. 

6. Elon Musk: 1,086 references

Aside from Musk's early 2010s exchanges with Epstein about visiting his island, a number of references to his name are from bulletins or news aggregators that Epstein's email account received, even as recently as last year. Musk is also referred to in passing as a potential event attendee or briefly as a subject of conversation.

7. Larry Page: 293 references

Page appears at roughly the same frequency as his Google cofounder Sergey Brin.

In 2009, for example, Epstein is included in a forwarded email correspondence that attempts to explain Page's thinking about the emergence of general artificial intelligence.

In one 2010 email, it appears as though Page requested use of Epstein's helicopter through a third party during a trip to St. Barts. A follow-up email from a third party instructs Epstein to disregard the request as Page has chosen to use a boat instead.

In 2014, a redacted sender shared Page's email address to Epstein. Like many of the tech executives, Page is included in guest lists of dinners or events that Epstein might attend, well after his plea deal. Media mentions of Page also account for references to him.

Mashable reached out to Google for comment. 

8. Peter Thiel: 2,273 references

Peter Thiel, a venture capitalist and Republican mega donor, seemed to have a close business relationship with Epstein, according to the documents. 

In July 2025, a Times review of Epstein's estate identified $40 million investments that Epstein made into funds operated by Valar Ventures, a firm backed by Thiel. Epstein also consulted Thiel for investing advice.

His spokesperson told the New York Times that Thiel did not visit Epstein's private island. Thiel has yet to comment on his communication with Epstein. 

According to the newest documents, they appeared to be in frequent contact in the mid- to late 2010s. 

In 2014, Thiel sent a text message to note that he'd just tried calling Epstein. A 2017 message from Epstein's assistant that appears to double as a scheduling alert, simply reads, "August 14, 2017 11:45 AM : Peter Thiel Friday sometime". Other scheduling reminders indicate that Thiel and Epstein met and spoke to each other on the phone with some regularity. They remained in touch, trying to pin down each other's whereabouts, as late as 2019.

9. Mark Zuckerberg: 280 references

In Aug. 2015, an assistant to Epstein sent a message to Zuckerberg's email address noting that the Facebook founder had recently spoken to Epstein at a dinner party hosted by Hoffman and Thiel.

"At the party Mark requested Jeffrey send his contact details to him...could you please pass the below on to Mark?" the assistant wrote, including Epstein's phone number and email address. In a message sent soon after that, Epstein's assistant sent Zuckerberg an hour-long YouTube lecture on the meaning of math.

Zuckerberg appears years earlier in the files, when a contact of Epstein's discusses with his assistant possible meetings in Silicon Valley during a trip in Aug. 2012. Epstein appeared interested in bringing "Woody" along to a meeting with Zuckerberg at Facebook, or for them to meet Zuckerberg at dinner.

It's unclear if the Woody cited is the film director, who communicated often with Epstein and whose name is referenced 7,260 times in the files. 

Mashable reached out to Meta, the parent company of Facebook, for comment.

TL;DR: Microsoft Windows 11 Pro is available for $12.97 (reg. $199), offering a lower-cost upgrade for compatible PCs through March 22 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

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If your PC is starting to feel laggy or your operating system no longer keeps up with current demands, upgrading to Microsoft Windows 11 Pro unlocks a faster, more modern experience. At $12.97 through March 22 at 11:59 p.m. PT, this upgrade is a wallet-friendly way to access the latest features and security enhancements without buying a new device.

Microsoft has announced that support for Office apps — including Word, Excel, and Outlook — on Windows 10 will end in October, making this a timely moment to consider an upgrade. Windows 11 Pro stands out as the logical next step for anyone who wants to keep their system secure and compatible, particularly for those who need a standalone license rather than an update through Windows Update.

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With Windows 11 Pro, you’ll notice a streamlined, contemporary interface and tangible speed gains from day one. Boot times are faster and navigating the system feels more responsive. Features like Snap Layouts and virtual desktops help you organize windows and multitask with ease, while the revamped search function means less time hunting for files, apps, or settings.

Security also gets a notable boost. Windows 11 Pro adds biometric login, TPM 2.0 support, Smart App Control, and BitLocker encryption, all of which are crucial for small businesses, remote workers, and anyone managing sensitive files. For power users and IT professionals, features like Azure AD integration, Hyper-V virtualization, and Windows Sandbox offer more advanced options without complicating everyday use.

There are also productivity and quality-of-life updates. Voice typing, enhanced multitasking tools, and DirectX 12 Ultimate for improved graphics support gaming and creative workloads. Microsoft’s AI assistant, Copilot, is built in to help with tasks like summarizing information and navigating settings, which may be useful for school or professional learning environments.

Windows 11 Pro is intended for users ready to move on from older operating systems and take advantage of Microsoft’s latest platform features. At $12.97, the current deal lowers the cost of upgrading, making it easier to consider the switch before Windows 10 support winds down. Get it at its discounted price through March 22 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Give your kids guilt-free screen time with a lifetime subscription to Pok Pok, on sale for just $44.97 with code PLAY now through Feb. 15.

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Want to make learning fun? Pok Pok is a Montessori-inspired app full of entertaining activities for your little ones, in a calm, non-addictive format, so you can feel good about their screen time.

Right now, you can get a lifetime subscription to Pok Pok for only $44.97 with code PLAY through Feb. 15.

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If you want to inspire learning without it feeling like a chore, it’s time to check out Pok Pok. This award-winning app gives kids a gentle introduction to screen time, with low-stimulation, hand-drawn animations, and in-house-made gentle sound effects. It was even made in collaboration with early childhood experts, so you can rest easy knowing every experience has been thoughtfully designed.

Pok Pok is geared toward children ages 2 to 8, offering a Montessori-based teaching style that emphasizes hands-on learning, independence, and natural development. Thanks to this style of learning, kids will be able to navigate the app all on their own while learning STEM concepts, numbers, and language, all without rules, levels, objectives, or winners and losers. They just open the app and tap on a toy to get started.

You don’t have to worry about ads or kids being tricked into making a purchase, as Pok Pok is compliant with COPPA and GDPR regulations. Your lifetime subscription also includes new content, with seasonal and cultural updates, and an exclusive surprise gift mailed directly to your door.

Get a lifetime subscription to Pok Pok, on sale now for just $44.97 with code PLAY through Feb. 15.

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Dropping serious money on a new car is exciting, right up until it starts living at the dealership. If you’re spending $30,000 or more, you want something built on solid bones, with a proven engine, stable tech, and a track record that shows the bugs have already been worked out.

February is here, and, in addition to the anticipated—or dreaded—Day o’ Love festivities, it also brings with it the celebration of Black History Month. In this week’s recommendations, I omit the lovey-dovey stuff and present you with a hearty cultural mix of drama with special interest, action with gritty crime and biker gangs, and fantasy that includes a suspenseful, witchcraft-enhancing tale.

Modern pickup trucks are faster, more powerful, and more technologically advanced than ever, but one key feature has quietly disappeared along the way. Manual transmissions, once a defining part of the pickup truck experience, have been steadily phased out in favor of automatics and complex driver aids. For drivers who grew up shifting their own gears, that change has removed a level of involvement that today’s trucks simply can’t replicate.

It can be a full-time job keeping up with all the latest releases and trending movies and shows bombarding us on the daily. But sometimes you just want to watch a sure thing—something comforting and familiar.

We're all guilty of charging our phones, laptops, and other devices in public spaces. After all, what can you do when you've got no power and that's your only option? But those USB ports, while convenient, can be a danger to your devices.

Bitcoin and other cryptocurrency markets are rebounding on Friday after hitting lows not seen in years.

As of publication, Bitcoin has since soared back over $70,300 following yesterday's crash.

But is the worst really over? Or is the worst yet to come? Despite the recent rebound, one of the experts we talked to warned of further decreases to come.

In a statement provided to Mashable before today's bounceback, early Bitcoin investor Michael Terpin foresaw an uptick in the market before another potential downturn.

"Most likely we will have a bounce back over $80k before the final plunge, exhausting weary ETF investors into capitulation, despite how oversold we are right now," Terpin said. "It would be awesome if we could rip the band-aid off quickly and hit the bottom this week or month, but there is really strong buying resistance at $65k and $60k. If we lose that support, price could drop all the way to $45k."

Other analysts have also predicted that Bitcoin could drop as low as $40k if the current market trends continue.

According to a CryptoQuant analysis, investors should still proceed with caution as crypto whales are currently very active and "account for a disproportionately large share of total deposits."

"This behavior typically signals that whales are aggressively moving funds onto the exchange, a precursor often associated with heavy selling (dumping) or hedging activities," the report says.

Head of Bitfire Research Allen Ding told Mashable in a statement that a rebound in the market is "likely to be constrained by the pace of institutional capital returning and the unwinding of market leverage risks."

With big holders still actively selling, analysts say crypto prices could continue to fluctuate and even start to plunge once again.

The current price range, even after the rebound, also provides a challenge for Bitcoin miners. As CoinDesk reports, the current Bitcoin price is well under the average cost of $87,000 to mine a single Bitcoin. The outlet notes that this has traditionally been one of the signs of a bear market.

The 2026 Winter Olympics are underway in the Italian regions of Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo. For the next 17 days, the best athletes in the world will compete in popular winter sports, including skiing, snowboarding, curling, and figure skating. My favorite sport to watch is hockey, which will showcase some of the best NHL players in the world. The last time the United States won the gold medal in men's hockey was in 1980, and now that team is the subject of an incredible Netflix documentary, Miracle: The Boys of '80.

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There's no better way to pregame the Patriots vs. Seahawks game on Sunday than with a puppy palooza. The longest-running call-to-adoption television event is back in 2026 with Puppy Bowl XXII. This year's event includes 150 dogs from 72 shelters across the United States, Puerto Rico, and the British Virgin Islands, which marks a new record.

The reigning champions, Team Fluff's lineup includes Benito, a Siberian Husky-Chihuahua from Puerto Rico, Showgirl, a Chow Chow-Rottweiler, and Chappell Bone, a Pembroke Welsh Corgi. They'll take on Team Ruff, which includes Lobster Roll, a Bulldog-Border Collie, Brûlée, a Boston Terrier-French Bulldog, and Miso, an American Cattle Dog-Beagle, to get their paws on the "Lombarky" trophy. Prepare for adorable puppies, heartwarming adoption stories, and play-by-play commentary from sportscasters Steve Levy and Taylor Rooks. A special halftime exhibition game (new this year) with senior dogs on Team Oldies and Team Goldies will also surely tug at your heartstrings.

If you need some cozy and comforting content before the chaos of the Big Game, here's what you need to know to watch the Puppy Bowl.

When is the 2026 Puppy Bowl?

Puppy Bowl XXII kicks things off on Sunday, Feb. 8 at 2 p.m. ET, making it the perfect pregame for the Big Game at 6:30 p.m. ET. A Puppy Combine pre-show will air just before the 22nd annual adoption awareness event at 1 p.m. ET.

How to watch Puppy Bowl XXII

Got cable? You can watch the 2026 Puppy Bowl on Animal Planet, TBS, or TruTV — take your pick. Those without cable have options as well. The event will simulcast on both HBO Max and Discovery+ streaming services. You can also opt for a live TV cable replacement service, which usually will give you a free trial. We've rounded up the best (and cheapest) ways to watch below.

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Hands down the best option to watch the Puppy Bowl without spending a cent is to sign up for a free seven-day trial to Discovery+, either through Discovery+ directly or as a Prime Video add-on. After your trial, it'll cost you either $5.99 per month with ads or $9.99 per month without ads unless you cancel first.

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If you want to watch both the 2026 Puppy Bowl and the football game, you're going to need a live TV cable alternative. Fortunately, most options offer free trials — including Hulu + Live TV. While you'll only get three days for free, you really only need it for Sunday, Feb. 8, so that's plenty. Just be sure to cancel your subscription before the three-day trial ends, or else you'll be charged full price — *gasp* $89.99 per month. Other options include YouTube TV and DirecTV Stream.

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If you don't qualify for the trials above, or if you just want to commit to HBO Max for more than the Puppy Bowl, we recommend signing up for the annual plan over the monthly plan. The HBO Max Basic plan with ads typically costs $10.99 per month, but if you pay for an entire year upfront, that price drops down to just $9.17. You'll pay $109.99 total for the year, which saves you about 16% compared to paying each month.

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One of the best ways to get HBO Max for free in 2026 is to switch your phone plan to Cricket's $60 per month Supreme Unlimited plan. It includes HBO Max Basic with ads for free — a $10.99 per month value. When you open up the HBO Max app or website, you'll just select Cricket as your provider and use your credentials to log in.

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The Disney+ bundle deal that includes Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max is one of the best deals in streaming. That lineup of streamers would usually cost you $34.97 per month if you paid separately for each, but you can bundle them for only $19.99. If you prefer to watch without ads, the bundle will run you $32.99 per month as opposed to $56.47. That's up to 42% in savings for unlimited access to all three streaming libraries.

Portable SSDs are incredibly convenient, but are they as fast as the ones you can put inside your PC? The short answer is no, which is fine—they have their own use cases. But, if your portable SSD, often worth upwards of $100, is disappointingly slow, the drive itself may not be the cause.

If you have some smart home devices, and you have room for one more button in your Mac's menu bar, you might be interested in the new Itsyhome utility. It can help you control lights, cameras, and other smart home equipment in just a few clicks, with webhooks and Shortcuts support for advanced automations.

Affordable compact cars come and go, but one Japanese model has quietly dominated the reliability conversation for years. The Honda Civic remains a benchmark for durability and trouble-free ownership, even as competitors come and go. Its reputation for needing fewer repairs and delivering long-lasting performance makes it the go-to choice for drivers who want a dependable daily driver without frequent visits to the shop.

There are well over a hundred fonts to choose from when using Microsoft Word. While it's fun to experiment with them, it would take forever to try them all out. That's why I'm picking a handful of the best fonts to use with Word across various use cases, be it academia, design, or even coding.

The internet loves a comeback tour, but it adores one with puppet fleece and impeccable comedic timing. Case in point: The Muppet Show special, which returned to the Muppet Theatre on Feb. 4 for a one-night event on Disney+ and ABC — and promptly took over everyone’s feeds.

Seriously. I didn't know I needed a Rizzo the Rat cover of The Weeknd's "Blinding Lights" until I saw it, and now I don't ever want to live in a world without it.

The Muppet Show originally ran from 1976 to 1981, pioneering the variety format with a blend of vaudeville silliness, celebrity guest spots, and backstage chaos anchored by Kermit the Frog's perpetually frazzled calm. The new special revives that spirit with all the familiar faces, including Kermit, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Gonzo, and Statler and Waldorf, along with a lineup of contemporary guests, from Maya Rudolph and Seth Rogen (who also serve as executive producers) to pop star Sabrina Carpenter.

But it's the clips that have really sent fans and group chats into a frenzy, proof that the Muppets understand how to play the internet better than most human celebrities.

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Leading the pack is a truly unexpected cover: Rizzo belting out The Weeknd's "Blinding Lights" on rat-infested streets. The contrast between the sleek, synth-pop hit and Rizzo's nasally bravado is instant comedy, and social media has embraced it wholeheartedly.

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Then there's Sabrina Carpenter's performance of "Manchild," which has been circulating widely for its playful integration into the Muppet universe. Rather than feeling like a standard guest slot, the performance leans into the show’s absurdity, letting Carpenter spar with the chaos around her — which includes a flock of chickens on backup vocals.

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And then there's the press run. Kermit and Miss Piggy have been popping up together in interviews (including a hilarious episode of Vanity Fair's Lie Detector Test), bantering like a couple who’ve been married, divorced, remarried, and media-trained for decades. Their chemistry feels untouched by time.

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Long before algorithms and engagement metrics, Kermit and company mastered the art of attention. So, really, the Muppets were built for virality long before the concept of virality existed. The internet is just their latest stage.

If you’ve been eyeing one of those pricey mesh systems to improve your Wi-Fi but can’t justify the cost, here's some good news: there’s a good chance you don’t even need one. In many apartments and smaller homes, a single router can already provide all the coverage you could possibly need.

If you’ve lost your job to AI, Briarcliff Entertainment wants to give you a gift: free tickets to see the highly anticipated sci-fi thriller Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die. Because "Who better to see a film about AI’s impact than those already experiencing it firsthand?" as Tom Ortenberg, the company's CEO, noted.

Directed by Gore Verbinski (Pirates of the Caribbean) and written by Matthew Robinson (The Invention of Lying), Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die is set to hit cinemas Feb. 13. It stars Sam Rockwell as a man from the future who comes to warn of impending global doom from an AI apocalypse. It's not too far off from reality, TBH. For some, the AI revolution hits a little too close to home, and Briarcliff Entertainment, in partnership with Fever, wanted to give those folks a little something special.

"If you or someone you know has been quietly replaced, sidelined, or optimized in the name of progress, tell us your story and receive a pair of tickets, on the house," a letter on the movie's social pages states.

The first 1,000 folks to sign up will get two free tickets. Just head to the Fever promotional page, log in or sign up using your email or social accounts, and you'll be directed to a checkout page where you can "Tell your story or share your LinkedIn" to secure the tickets. The promotional period ends on Sunday, Feb. 8, so you'll want to act fast. If you're within the first 1,000 signups, you'll receive your coupon to get two free tickets within two days.

Opens in a new window Credit: Briarcliff Entertainment Get 2 free tickets to 'Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die'   Learn More

The movie doesn't hit theaters until next week, but check out the trailer for a glimpse into the bonkers comedy. Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die also stars Haley Lu Richardson, Michael Peña, Zazie Beetz, Asim Chaudhry, and Juno Temple.

Fans of HBO's Industry know that Sweetpea Golightly (Miriam Petche) has a bit of a detective streak.

In Season 3, she leveraged her wide web of connections to figure out that Pierpoint & Co. was on the verge of collapse, well before anyone else on the trading floor. Now, in Season 4, she and her colleagues at SternTao are pursuing a new lead: the potential fraudulence of fintech company Tender.

SEE ALSO: 'Industry's Sagar Radia dishes on Rishi's literal downfall

Sweetpea, in particular, is tenacious in her desire to take Tender down. There's a personal angle to this drive: Tender served as a payment processor for adult sites like OnlyFans and the fictional Siren. Sweetpea's anonymous account on those sites got leaked, making her the target of further scrutiny and harassment in the finance world.

Since then, Industry has presented sex work, especially Sweetpea's, in a new light. In Season 3, they highlighted it as empowering. ("I love a woman who doesn't leave money on the table," Harper Stern (Myha'la) says of it in the season 3 finale.) But in Season 4, Industry ponders the exploitative side of Sweetpea's work as well, coinciding with her exposure and her subsequent focus on taking Tender down.

"She feels that this is the most defining thing for her," Petche told Mashable in a video interview. "[She thinks,] 'If I get this right, how bad can it be? If I make myself indispensable at work, then the worst situation can't happen.' She's driven by this desperate need to prove herself, to prove that she's okay and good at what she's doing."

SEE ALSO: 'Industry' Season 4 tackles age verification and OnlyFans — and it's just getting started

That need to prove herself brings Sweetpea center stage in Season 4, episode 5, "Eyes Without A Face," which sees her and co-worker Kwabena Bannerman (Toheeb Jimoh) heading to Accra to investigate Tender's workings in Ghana. In Sweetpea's words, what they find is "a feedback loop of fakery." Tender, and its cash and clients, is nothing, but it's passing itself off as something quite valuable.

Sweetpea is on fire on the path towards this discovery, embracing her inner Erin Brockovich as she pins down Tender's fraud and even secures a potential whistleblower.

"The things that are compasses to her are her intelligence and her curiosity, and when her curiosity and intelligence are stimulated, it's like a thread that pulls her, and she cannot turn away from it," Petche said.

Miriam Petche in "Industry." Credit: Simon Ridgway / HBO

Yet as fulfilling as pulling on that thread is, this episode also puts Sweetpea through hell. She's violently attacked in a bathroom, with the perpetrator smashing her head into a mirror and breaking her nose in hopes of warning her off the investigation. It doesn't work, and Sweetpea sports a bruised face throughout the rest of the episode, even removing her sunglasses to show it off like a badge of honor.

For Petche, so much of Sweetpea is about how she weaponizes her hyper-competent work persona. "She's someone who has to perform that she's great all the time, and perform that she's productive and of value," Petche said.

However, in "Eyes Without A Face," audiences see Sweetpea's armor slip. Upon arriving home, Sweetpea sits silently by herself before breaking down, all the events and adrenaline of the past episode catching up to her.

"This is someone who believes they have to handle everything on their own," Petche explained. "When things are great, she'll handle it on her own, and when things are bad, I think she thinks that it's her own fault. So that moment was everything unraveling."

The scene is one of the rare moments when audiences see Sweetpea alone, and the effect is sobering. Gone is the usual self-assured clip of one-liners and financial savvy, replaced with gut-wrenching sobs.

Sweetpea's breakdown is made all the worse by the fact that just moments ago, she turned away Harper's offer to comfort her. On top of that, she pushed Harper away further, reminding her of their employer-employee boundary before letting her know that she and Kwabena hooked up in Ghana.

According to Petche, the move comes from a place of Sweetpea wanting to protect herself, but it might not be the right one in the long run.

"She only feels truly safe when she's alone," Petche said. "She has an offer from someone else to come and sit with her, and she says, 'No, please don't.' That might be what she thinks she needs, but what she needs is to be held when she's not performing. That really stuck with me."

New episodes of Industry Season 4 premiere Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max.