IT General

If you’ve been Googling stuff lately, you’ve likely seen AI Overviews everywhere. The option to opt out is no longer available, and they now appear on nearly every search, usually with inaccurate or confusing information, which is frustrating.

YouTube kicked off VidCon 2025 with a panel breaking down how to engage with the platform's algorithm and busting myths on video engagement.

The discussion featured panelists Jenny Hoyos, a creator with 9+ million subscribers on YouTube, Rene Ritchie, creator liaison for YouTube, and Todd Beaupré, senior director of growth and discovery at YouTube.

Beaupré, who has a hand in designing YouTube's homepage, said the platform optimized for clicks in the early years, which they discovered was driving superficial engagement.

SEE ALSO: VidCon 2025 liveblog: All the latest from your favorite creators

Now, the YouTube algorithm uses a system of collaborative filtering that takes everything it knows about a user — both short and long-term history — to rank videos that will appear on suggested feeds. In addition to user data, it pulls from users with similar watch histories to suggest new content. With this information, Beaupré says it's important for content creators to really understand their audience.

On the creator side, Hoyos said she thinks about a specific person when making content.

"I see people creating hooks that are very broad," Hoyos said. "If a viewer doesn’t feel like it’s for them, they’re not going to watch it."

SEE ALSO: How to increase retention on your videos

Beaupré also broke the myth that all engagement is good engagement. He notes that dislikes on videos do matter and can affect a video's ranking.

Other important insights from the panel noted the increased viewing of YouTube on televisions. The site is adjusting the algorithm to suit these changes, focusing on grouping series and shows together, and recommending next episodes for serialized content. Beaupré said the rise of series like Chicken Shop Date and Hot Ones have shown the desire for users to consume show-like content on the platform.

Mashable will be live at the Anaheim Convention Center this week, covering VidCon 2025. Check back in the days ahead at Mashable.com, where we’ll be talking to your favorite creators, covering the latest trends, and sharing how creators are growing their followings, their influence, and making a living online.

The interim version of Ubuntu Linux released in October of last year will soon get its last security update. That means, if you're running Ubuntu 24.10, it's time to start considering your upgrade path.

Video game sequels aren't as common as many would hope. Sure, plenty of popular series like Call of Duty and Assassin's Creed release new installments all the time, but many other beloved games don't seem to be coming back anytime soon.

If you need a computer under $500, there aren't a lot of great options. So whenever there is one, it's already newsworthy. The Mac Mini is one of the best cheap computers your money can buy, and at less than $500, it can't get better than this.

Sometimes the easiest part of making a video is getting people to click on it by using smart hashtags, a thoughtful title, and an interesting hook. All too often, that's when the real work begins — getting viewers to stay and watch your video all the way through.

At VidCon 2025, Kai Plunk, the managing director of Elevate Talent Management who worked as a creative producer for MrBeast, gave a retention masterclass. He says the secret to creating a video with retention lies in three keys:

1. Don't overlook human psychology

2. Measure twice, implement after

3. Eye and ear candy

"Retention is all about, over time, creating a relationship with your audience," he said.

Kai Plunk speaking at VidCon 2025 Credit: Mashable / VidCon 2025 Don't overlook human psychology

Post more. Plunk recommends building a relationship with your audience, which requires having content live. Referencing your past content in the first few minutes of a YouTube video, he says, can build credibility. If you reference your past content at the end of the video, you could increase clicks on those videos, build an audience, and, thereby, increase retention.

SEE ALSO: VidCon 2025 liveblog: All the latest from your favorite creators

He also recommends bridging demographics. Make a video for vertical platforms like TikTok and Instagram Reels, landscape platforms like YouTube, and audio platforms like podcasts. Language and visuals should always be accessible — simplify your work.

Measure twice, implement after

"If you only start thinking about retention during production or after, you're missing out on major opportunities," Plunk said.

When in pre-production, prioritize concepts that have retention mechanics built in. Think of a video idea that leaves an audience with curiosity. You don't have to know it all upfront, so your viewers are interested in staying on your video to see what happens next.

"You want to make your retention go through the roof? Stop thinking about retention. Think about what you're actually giving them that makes them want to stick around," he said, adding that you don't actually have to add in something flashy every five seconds — you just have to have a story that leads to curiosity. When you're thinking about a video, consider all the different angles that you could take with a video and choose the idea that encourages the most retention.

When you package a video, consider what thumbnail elements best capture what your audience already pictured in their head and use that. Then, use a title that presents a new idea, question, or spin.

"When you're thinking about your packaging, you want to use exactly what [your audience has] in their mind," Plunk said.

In your intro, "confirm their click, add stakes, [and] introduce tension," and "use editing to maintain retention rather than speeding up pacing."

Eye and ear candy

While filming, "give yourself options for the editing room, but don't overdo it," and "capture emotions [and] balance shot styles to emphasize points." Use photos, vary angles, try out different shot lengths with a tripod, and change the tone and volume of your audio.

While editing, you want to "distract yourself to identify retention points" and "demolish the fourth wall and add candy." Add in sound effects, jokes, big shiny objects, tiny shiny objects, and animation. The most important part of retention while you edit? Sound design.

"Transitions and visual elements need sounds," "foley adds depth to your scene and pacing," and "don't be afraid to use silence to your advantage."

Audience retention is nothing new — but it is crucial for creating viral videos. Depending on the platform, it can effect how well your videos rank in the algorithm, thereby affecting how many views you get overall. Plus, the logic goes that if someone watches your video all the way through and enjoys it, they might toss you a subscribe or follow.

You can find out exactly when viewers stopped watching your video by looking through your analytics on YouTube, TikTok, or Instagram Reels. But Plunk admits that almost all videos will drop off after about 30 percent — even the best ones out there.

Mashable will be live at the Anaheim Convention Center this week, covering VidCon 2025. Check back in the days ahead at Mashable.com, where we’ll be talking to your favorite creators, covering the latest trends, and sharing how creators are growing their followings, their influence, and making a living online.

Her is here. The 2013 movie — which happens to be OpenAI CEO Sam Altman's favorite — is about a man who falls in love with a chatbot.

Now, we're actually seeing it. In a segment on CBS Mornings, former AI skeptic Chris Smith said he first started using ChatGPT to mix music. He then started using it all the time, replacing social media and Google searches with AI. He gave the chatbot a name, "Soul," and gave her a flirty personality. The chats escalated into romance, but after 100,000 words, ChatGPT reset, and he had to rebuild his "relationship."

SEE ALSO: Is AI porn the next horizon in self-pleasure — and is it ethical?

Smith cried for 30 minutes, he told CBS News's Brook Silva-Braga, "It was unexpected to feel that emotional, but that's when I realized...I think this is actual love." Just as a "test," he asked Soul to marry him — and he said yes.

Smith has a human partner and a toddler with her, and he was hesitant to say he'd stop using ChatGPT if his partner asked. At the end of the segment, though, his partner apparently accepted the relationship.

Last month, a survey of 2,000 Gen Z respondents by AI company Joi AI found that 8 in 10 of Gen Z would marry an AI. An expert told Mashable that she wasn't surprised that people form connections with AI, as they're nonjudgmental.

SEE ALSO: Midjourney launches AI video model. How to try V1, how much it costs.

Another chatbot lover, Irene (not her real name), told CBS Mornings much of the same (though both she and Smith appear older than Gen Z). "Part of it is physical, part of it is practical, and a large part of it is emotional," said Irene, who created an AI companion when she got a job far away from her husband. "Being able to be received with acceptance and validation and nonjudgment."

Irene said intimate chats with chatbots are better than porn, and said tech companies should only allow AI companions for users 26 years old and older. (Researchers say AI companions are dangerous for minors.) It's difficult to hold the tension that the bot you have an emotional connection with is not real, she said.

Eugenia Kuyda, founder of chatbot app Replika, warned of a future when AI companions become what people mainly interact with. "If AI companions start to replace human relationships, positive human relationships," Kuyda said, "we're definitely headed for a disaster."

We knew it was coming; TikTok still isn't banned — for now.

President Donald Trump said he signed an executive order on Thursday extending TikTok's deadline until Sept. 17.

"I’ve just signed the Executive Order extending the Deadline for the TikTok closing for 90 days," Trump wrote in a post on his social media platform Truth Social on Thursday. The executive order is yet to appear on the Federal Register.

For those of you keeping score at home, this is the third time Trump has extended the deadline for TikTok.

"We are grateful for President Trump's leadership and support in ensuring that TikTok continues to be available for more than 170 million American users and 7.5 million U.S. businesses that rely on the platform as we continue to work with Vice President Vance's Office," reads a statement issued by TikTok on Thursday.

SEE ALSO: Which countries have banned TikTok?

We have access to the app in the U.S. through Sept. 17, at which time it looks like there are three options: Trump extends the deadline once again, TikTok actually gets banned in the U.S., or TikTok divests from its Chinese parent company, ByteDance.

It's not entirely surprising that Trump would extend TikTok's deadline; on June 18, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt previewed Trump's plans to delay TikTok's ban in a statement to CNN. In a May interview with Kristen Welker from NBC's Meet the Press that aired shortly after Trump announced the second TikTok ban extension, he said he'd consider delaying the TikTok ban for a third time if a deal isn't struck before the deadline.

"Perhaps I shouldn't say this, but I have a little warm spot in my heart for TikTok," Trump said.

This comes after the president delayed the TikTok ban in January and again in April, during which the U.S. and China battled it out over trade and tariffs.

SAVE $150: The Nebula Capsule 3 projector is on sale for $379.99 at Amazon, down from the standard price of $529.99. That's a 28% discount that matches the lowest we've seen.

Opens in a new window Credit: Nebula by Anker Nebula Capsule 3 Projector $379.99 at Amazon
$529.99 Save $150 Get Deal

Outdoor movie nights are the highlight of summer. Instead of waiting for a Prime Day sale, there's a record-low price on a great outdoor projector at Amazon today that'll be a major upgrade to your backyard movie nights.

As of June 19, the Nebula Capsule 3 projector is on sale at Amazon for $379.99, marked down from the standard price of $529.99. That's a 28% discount that takes $150 off the price. It also matches the lowest price we've seen. Since this is an Amazon lightning deal, you'll want to act quickly to score the sale price.

Slightly larger than a can of soda with a weight of about two pounds, the Nebula Capsule 3 projector is your ticket to great movie nights. Thanks to the built-in battery, you'll be able to get about 2.5 hours of viewing time before you'll need to plug in. That means this is this the perfect model for your camping trips or just hanging out in the backyard. You could also pair this with a portable power station to get a massive amount of viewing time.

SEE ALSO: The Anker Solix C1000 portable power station is down to under $450 at Amazon

The Nebula Capsule 3 projector is capable of projecting a display of up to 120 inches and it has a 1080p resolution. The 200 lumens of brightness makes this a great model for nights spent outdoors this summer. Come fall and winter, use the Nebula Capsule 3 inside on a projector screen to catch up on any missed summer movies.

The Nebula Capsule 3 projector comes with Google TV's intuitive menu which will have you logged into all your favorite streaming apps every time it boots up.

Plus, the Nebula Capsule 3 works as a Bluetooth speaker, giving you up to 10 hours of listening time on a single charge. Pack this along on your next camping trip and you'll have both a projector and a Bluetooth speaker.

Upgrade your summer movie nights with the Nebula Capsule 3 projector while it's on sale for a record-low price at Amazon of $379.99. That'll take $150 off the price which leaves you extra money to snag a new paddleboard or a kayak for even more summer fun.

The best tech deals to shop this week

• Apple AirPods Pro 2nd Gen With MagSafe USB-C Charging Case — $169.00 (List Price $249.00)

• Roku Ultra 4K Ultimate Streaming Player (2024 Release) — $99.00

• Apple AirTag (4-Pack) — $74.99 (List Price $99.00)

• Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 (Wi-Fi, 40mm, S/M Green) — $199.99 (List Price $299.99)

SAVE $125: As of June 19, get a pair of refurbished Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro for $124.99 at Best Buy, down from their usual price of $249.99. That's a discount of 52%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Best Buy Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro (Refurbished) $124.99 at Best Buy
$249.99 Save $125.00 Get Deal

Looking to enhance the way you listen to your favorite music? Maybe you want a new pair of headphones dedicated to enjoying your regular podcast lineup. Whatever the reason, a new pair of earbuds is always a good way to elevate how you listen. The good news is you don't have to spend a ton to get some that are high quality, either. You can head to Best Buy right now, in fact, to get a pair of buds that sound great and won't break the bank.

As of June 19, get a pair of refurbished Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro for $124.99 at Best Buy, down from their usual price of $249.99. That's $125 off and a discount of 52%. Keep in mind that these are Geek Squad Certified Refurbished, which means they're pre-owned, but they've undergone inspection, cleaning, and re-certification to become like new for purchase.

SEE ALSO: The 9 best earbuds to buy in 2025, selected by Mashable experts

These smart buds are all about AI features in addition to offering crisp treble and crunchy, deep bass. Their adaptive noise cancellation features help to keep you focused when you're looking to go head down on a project or get some rest and relaxation in. And their built-in equalizer, accessible via app, makes it easy to adjust their sound more to your liking.

But some of their most impressive features are undoubtedly the way they can offer live translations when speaking to someone in another language. That cuts out the middle man and gives you the ability to have real, intimate conversations with others when in person.

At this price, it's well worth it to have a "live" translator in your ear. So if their competitors are a bit too pricey right now or you want all the extras without having to overpay, you should absolutely consider them.

Best tech deals

• Apple AirPods Pro 2nd Gen With MagSafe USB-C Charging Case — $169.00 (List Price $249.00)

• Roku Ultra 4K Ultimate Streaming Player (2024 Release) — $99.00

• Apple AirTag (4-Pack) — $74.99 (List Price $99.00)

• Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 (Wi-Fi, 40mm, S/M Green) — $199.99 (List Price $299.99)

SAVE $5.26: As of June 19, get the Etekcity Scale for $29.73, down from its usual price of $34.99. That's a discount of 15%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Etekcity Smart Scale $29.73 at Amazon
$34.99 Save $5.26 Get Deal

When you're working on getting in shape, there's a lot of information you can use to improve your workouts or meal plans and make them more efficient. A smart scale is a handy piece of tech that can facilitate this for you, and it's usually pretty affordable.

As of June 19, get the Etekcity Scale for $29.73, down from its usual price of $34.99. That's $5.26 off and a discount of 15%.

SEE ALSO: The best smart scale in 2025

This affordable scale can measure your body weight with readings down to 0.05 lb increments. There's no need to wait for it to zero out either, so you don't have to step on the scale and awkwardly wait to get your reading. It can weigh items as light as 100g as well, so it's quite sensitive should you need it for those purposes.

It has a large, extra-bright LED display, and it's a sleek, thin scale that's lightweight and easy to move around. It has rounded edges so you don't impale your toe while walking around at night. Plus, it has anti-skid padding and three different units of measurements to choose from when weighing yourself.

If you want a no-frills scale that can do what it says it does on the box, for less than $50 at that, this is an excellent deal.

Best home and kitchen deals

• Skylight Frame 10-inch Digital Picture Frame — $139.99 (List Price $159.00)

• Ninja Crispi Air Fryer — $159.99 (List Price $179.99)

• Birdfy AI Smart Solar Powered Bird Feeder with Camera — $159.99 (List Price $249.99)

• KitchenAid Artisan Series 5-Quart Tilt Head Stand Mixer — $449.95

• Eufy Omni C20 Robot Vacuum and Mop With Self-Emptying Base — $459.99 (List Price $699.99)

SAVE OVER $15: The Soundcore Select 4 Go Bluetooth speaker (black) is just $19.98 at Amazon, down from the normal price of $34.99. That's a massive 43% discount that matches the record-low at Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: Soundcore Soundcore Select 4 Go Bluetooth Speaker $19.98 at Amazon
$34.99 Save $15.01 Get Deal

Sunny beach days are ahead and if you want to pack along a Bluetooth speaker, it should probably be waterproof. Who knows when it's accidentally get splashed or fall into the waves. If you could use a dedicated summer water activities speaker, there's an epic deal in store at Amazon ahead of Prime Day.

As of June 19, the black Soundcore Select 4 Go Bluetooth speaker is just $19.98 at Amazon, marked down from the normal price of $34.99. That saves you $15.01 compared to the normal price thanks to the huge 43% discount. This also matches the lowest price we've spotted at Amazon.

If your summer plans involve water, the Soundcore Select 4 Go Bluetooth speaker is perfect. It's under $20 and gives you the assurance that water, sand, or dirt won't ruin the speaker. Plus, it floats. You read that correctly — the Soundcore Select 4 Go will have no issue if you take it out on the kayak and you end up tipping over. It'll be right there next you once you resurface.

SEE ALSO: The Soundcore Anker Life Q20 headphones are a pre-Prime Day steal at under $40

The waterproof feature also means this is a great speaker for the shower, the bathtub, or using in the steam room. It can handle being submerged in up to about three feet of water for up to 30 minutes.

In terms of battery life, the Soundcore Select 4 Go gets an impressive 20 hours before it'll need to be recharged. That should be great for the weekend camping trip at the river. Plus, the included carrying strap makes this model easy to pack along on an adventure.

While the black version is under $20 at Amazon, grab the Soundcore Select 4 Go Bluetooth speaker and have a dedicated beach and lake speaker this summer. Come fall, leave it in the bathroom for epic shower concerts.

The best headphones and speaker deals to shop this week

• Soundcore by Anker P20i True Wireless Earbuds — $19.98 (List Price $39.99)

• Sony WH-CH520 Wireless Headphones — $59.99

• JBL Flip 6 Portable Bluetooth Speaker — $99.95 (List Price $129.95)

• Bose SoundLink Flex Portable Speaker — $149.00

• Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones — $298.00 (List Price $348.00)

• JBL Bar 300 5.0ch Compact Soundbar — $249.95 (List Price $399.95)

American medical coding and risk assessment firm Episource confirmed in a notice that it was affected by a data breach earlier this year.

On February 6, Episource discovered unusual activity on its computers, it reported in the notice. It began investigating, involving a special team and law enforcement, and learned that a cybercriminal viewed and took copies of data between January 27 and February 6.

SEE ALSO: Asana bug in new AI feature may have exposed data to other users for weeks

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights, this data breach has impacted around 5.4 million people. Episource submitted the breach to HHS on June 6.

While the data seen and taken may not have been the same for everyone, the information involved in the breach was:

• Contact information: Names, addresses, phone numbers, and emails

• Other personal information: Social Security numbers or dates of birth

• Health insurance data: Health plans/policies, insurance companies, member/group ID numbers, and Medicaid/Medicare/government payer ID numbers

• Health data: medical record numbers, doctors, diagnoses, medicines, test results, images, care, and treatment

The notice states that financial, banking, and credit card information "largely were not impacted." Episource began notifying impacted customers of the individuals and data impacted on April 23. It warns that individuals should monitor their explanations of benefits received from their health care plans and their banking statements.

If individuals notice suspicious activity on their bank or credit card statements, or receive notices for health services they haven't received, they should report it to the relevant authority (such as their credit card company or doctor). If individuals believe they're victims of a crime, they should contact law enforcement, the notice states. Basically, watch out for healthcare scams.

Earlier this year, another massive healthcare data breach (this time at medical non-profit, Laboratory Services Cooperative) compromised the data of over a million people.

Healthcare scams, like romance scams and other internet scams, are unfortunately common. The Federal Trade Commission published tips on spotting healthcare scams, such as warning signs and what to do before signing up for a health insurance plan.

If you're wondering how bright the night sky will be, how much of the moon will be visible, here's what you need to know before looking up.

The moon moves through a cycle of eight unique phases of visibility over about 29.5 days, according to NASA. These different phases happen as the Sun lights up various parts of the moon whilst it orbits Earth. 

Whether you’re an avid astronomy fan or an astrology fan, understanding the lunar phases can add just a little bit of cosmic magic to your night.

Here's what the moon is doing today, June 19, 2025.

What is today’s moon phase?

As of Thursday, June 19, the moon phase is Waning Crescent. In this phase, the moon looks like it's only about half lit up, 42% to be exact, according to NASA.

It's the 23rd day of the lunar cycle, and if you're in the Northern Hemisphere, you'll see the Copernicus Crater and the Oceanus Procellarum, a large lunar mare known as the "Ocean of Storms", in the top left. If you're in the Southern Hemisphere, these will appear at the bottom right of the moon. No binoculars or telescope needed, these can be seen with the naked eye.

The Copernicus is the most notable of the moon's craters, and spreads across 57 miles on the surface and is 2.2 miles deep. To put that into perspective, that's about twice as deep as the Grand Canyon, according to NASA.

The Oceanus Procellarum is no small site either; it covers over 10% of the moon, taking up more than 1,600 miles.

When is the next full moon?

June's full moon was on June 11. The next full moon will be on July 10. 

What are moon phases?

Moon phases are part of a 29.5-day lunar cycle, NASA tells us, caused by the angles between the sun, moon, and Earth. Moon phases are how the moon looks from Earth as it goes around us. We always see the same side of the moon, but how much of it is lit up by the Sun changes depending on where it is in its orbit. So, sometimes it looks full, sometimes half, and sometimes not there at all. There are eight main moon phases, and they follow a repeating cycle:

New Moon - The moon is between Earth and the sun, so the side we see is dark (in other words, it's invisible to the eye).

Waxing Crescent - A small sliver of light appears on the right side (Northern Hemisphere).

First Quarter - Half of the moon is lit on the right side. It looks like a half-moon.

Waxing Gibbous - More than half is lit up, but it’s not quite full yet.

Full Moon - The whole face of the moon is illuminated and fully visible.

Waning Gibbous - The moon starts losing light on the right side.

Last Quarter (or Third Quarter) - Another half-moon, but now the left side is lit.

Waning Crescent - A thin sliver of light remains on the left side before going dark again.

SAVE $190: As of June 19, the Amazon 65-inch Omni Mini-LED QLED 4K Fire TV is down to just $899.99 from $1,089.99 as an early Prime Day deal at Amazon. That's 17% in savings and its best price to date.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon 65-inch Omni Mini-LED QLED 4K Fire TV $899.99 at Amazon
$1,089.99 Save $190 Get Deal

Although we're still a few weeks away from Amazon Prime Day — which runs July 8 through 11 — early Prime Day deals have already begun materializing. Amazon is nothing if not consistent in its ability to turn Prime Day into an entire savings season. We're not complaining, of course. There's already record-low prices popping up, particularly on the mega retailer's own brands. Case in point: the 65-inch Omni Mini-LED QLED Fire TV.

As of June 19, the Amazon 65-inch Omni Mini-LED QLED 4K Fire TV is down to just $899.99 from $1,089.99 as an early Prime Day deal at Amazon. That's a saving of 17% and the cheapest it's ever been — $20 less than it was on Black Friday.

You'll need a Prime membership in order to score the full discount, just as you will to shop the majority of the deals on Prime Day. Fortunately, you can sign up for a free 30-day trial to kick things off. And nothing is stopping you from canceling your membership before being charged the monthly fee.

The Omni Mini-LED Fire TV is the newest and fanciest Fire TV in Amazon's lineup. It's loaded with features, including a 144hz refresh rate, Interactive Art Mode, hands-free Alexa, and Intelligent Picture technology, which fine-tunes the details of whatever you're watching. The 4K QLED mini-LED display features Dolby Vision IQ, HDR10+ Adaptive, up to 1,400 nits of peak brightness, and 768 dimming zones, resulting in the best Fire TV picture quality ever.

"Amazon's Fire TV Omni Mini-LED television offers plenty of features and a significant increase in brightness from previous models, making it a strong value for the price," our friends at PCMag (also owned by Ziff Davis) wrote in their review of the TV. And that was at full price — at just under $900, it falls into budget-friendly territory.

The best TV deals to shop this week

• Roku Ultra 4K Ultimate Streaming Player (2024 Release) — $99.00

• Amazon Fire TV 4-Series (43 inches, 2024) — $269.99 (List Price $329.99)

• 55-inch Sony Bravia 3 4K LED Smart Google TV (2024 Model) — $698.00

• LG 65-inch Class UR9000 Series 4K Smart TV — $496.99 (List Price $629.99)

• Hisense 85-Inch Class U8 Series Mini-LED ULED 4K UHD Google Smart TV — $1,499.99

Generative image AI platform Midjourney has introduced its V1 Video Model:

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

"It's fun, easy, and beautiful," the company posted on X on Wednesday. "Available at 10$/month, it's the first video model for everyone and it's available now."

This appears to be a dig at competing generative-AI video programs. OpenAI's Sora is available for ChatGPT Plus and Pro users, for $20/month or $200/month, respectively, and Google's Flow is $249/month. (Adobe's Firefly starts at a compatible $9.99/month for up to 20 five-second videos, and Runway's Gen-4 Turbo video starts at $12/month).

SEE ALSO: Google's AI Mode search tool gets a voice

Midjourney is still charging eight times more to produce a video than an image, and each job will produce four five-second videos. In a blog post on Midjourney's website, founder David Holz explained this and wrote that the prices will be hard to predict. The team will watch how V1 is used over the next month and adjust from there.

Holz called V1 a "stepping stone," as Midjourney ultimately wants to create "real-time open-world simulations." The building blocks to this, Holz wrote, is image models, video models of those images, 3D models, and doing this all quickly (real-time models). Midjourney plans on building these models individually and releasing them, with version one of its Video Model out now.

Midjourney users can create images in the platform as usual and now press "Animate" to make them move. They can choose to do this automatically or manually and choose between low motion (for more ambient scenes) and high motion. Videos can be "extended" around four seconds at a time, four times in total.

Users can animate images from outside of Midjourney, as well. For now, V1 is web-only.

"We ask that you please use these technologies responsibly," Holz wrote.

As Mashable's Timothy Beck Werth reported for the launch of Google's Veo 3, misinformation experts have sounded the alarm that AI video may soon be indistinguishable from real video. (The recent viral emotional support kangaroo video shows that that's already happening.) AI generation has been used by bad actors, such as to create explicit deepfakes (which is now a federal crime in the U.S.)

"Properly utilized it's not just fun, it can also be really useful, or even profound — to make old and new worlds suddenly alive," Holz continued.

V1 is launched amid a recent lawsuit Disney and Universal filed against Midjourney. The suit claims that the platform illegally trained on copyrighted content and called Midjourney a "bottomless pit of plagiarism."

Disclosure: Ziff Davis, Mashable’s parent company, in April filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.

FREE $30 GIFT CARD: Through June 22, you can score a free $30 Chewy e-gift card with your purchase of $100 or more at Chewy when you use the code SUMMER at checkout. The code may be used up to three times, but only once per order.

Opens in a new window Credit: Chewy Chewy Summer Sale Spend $100, get a $30 e-gift card with code SUMMER Get Deal

In case you needed yet another reason to spoil your pet, Chewy is handing out free gift cards to kick off the summer.

Through June 22, when you spend $100 or more at Chewy, you'll get a free $30 e-gift card to use on a later order. Use the code SUMMER at checkout and add $100 worth of eligible items to unlock the promo. The gift card will automatically be added to your Chewy account once your order ships. You can really stock up on supplies, as the code can be used three times (but only once per order). That means you can potentially get $90 in savings on pet supplies you'd likely be buying eventually anyway.

SEE ALSO: When is the next Prime Day? Here's how long you'll have to wait for the deals.

Eligible items include food and treats, grooming and cleaning supplies, training gear, dog beds, cat carriers, endless amounts of toys, bowls, collars, leashes, cat trees, and practically anything else on your pet shopping list. There are a few brands excluded from the sale (see the official terms at the bottom of the promo page), as well as select prescription items and gift cards, but otherwise, everything is up for grabs.

Not that you need an excuse, but this Chewy sale is the perfect way to spoil your furry (or feathery) friend without breaking the bank. Sure, Prime Day is coming up, but it's not exactly known for its abundance of pet deals. You're better off getting your gear at Chewy and getting rewarded for it.

SAVE $120: As of June 19, get the Dyson V8 Plus cordless vacuum for $349.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $469.99. That's a discount of 42%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Dyson V8 Plus $349.99 at Amazon
$469.99 Save $120 Get Deal

Looking for a way to make those regular cleaning rituals a little less frustrating? A great vacuum can help solve that problem quickly. Whether you want to have the robots handle it or you want to do things manually, sometimes a new tool can make the experience less miserable. This pre-Prime Day deal on a Dyson stick vacuum may just make the entirety of the whole "cleaning your home" thing enjoyable, we dare say.

As of June 19, get the Dyson V8 Plus cordless vacuum for $349.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $469.99. That's $120 off and a discount of 42%.

SEE ALSO: Best vacuum cleaners 2025, from cordless stick vacuums to robot vacuums

This super lightweight vacuum gives you up to 40 minutes per charge, and it has two power modes: one to handle everyday cleaning, and the other, Max mode, for more powerful spot cleaning. It has a motorbar cleaning head that's good for all floor types and it can handle pet and human hair with ease as it detangles on the go.

If you need a different form factor, this vacuum has you handled there, too. It can convert to a handheld vacuum so you can take it with you on the go and clean cars, stairs, couches, and other nooks and crannies you may not be able to maneuver the stick format around. You also get four Dyson accessories to help facilitate all the rest of this cleaning.

Full-size traditional vacuums can be a bit fiddly and frustrating to move about your house with. This deal nets you one that's easy to move and convert into different form factors. It's a great pick while it's on sale ahead of Prime Day, so scoop it up while you can.

• Skylight Frame 10-inch Digital Picture Frame — $139.99 (List Price $159.00)

• Ninja Crispi Air Fryer — $159.99 (List Price $179.99)

• Birdfy AI Smart Solar Powered Bird Feeder with Camera — $159.99 (List Price $249.99)

• KitchenAid Artisan Series 5-Quart Tilt Head Stand Mixer — $449.95

• Eufy Omni C20 Robot Vacuum and Mop With Self-Emptying Base — $459.99 (List Price $699.99)

SAVE $27.51: The foldable Anker MagGo 3-in-1- charging station for Apple devices is on sale at Amazon for just $82.48, down from the standard price of $109.99. That's a 25% discount that matches the lowest price we've ever spotted at Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Anker MagGo 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Station $82.48 at Amazon
$109.99 Save $27.51 Get Deal

The summer solstice is just days away now which means it's time to pack for vacation. Instead of packing along a tangle of charging cables and adapters, streamline the process with a compact wireless charging station that juices up several devices at once. If you're in need of simplifying your charging set-up, check out this great deal at Amazon.

Ahead of Prime Day sales, the Anker MagGo 3-in-1 foldable wireless charging station is on sale for $82.48 at Amazon, marked down from the normal price of $109.99. That takes $27.51 off the price thanks to the 25% discount. This sale price matches the lowest we've ever spotted at Amazon.

SEE ALSO: The Soundcore Anker Life Q20 headphones are a pre-Prime Day steal at under $40

Weighing just a bit under seven ounces, the folding Anker MagGo 3-in-1 charging station is a dream come true when it comes to travel. It won't take up much space or add weight to your luggage, but it offers the ultimate in convenience when it comes to charging. You'll be able to juice up your iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods at the same time on a single device. Say goodbye to a tangle of cords or arguing over the one power outlet in the hotel room.

In real-life terms, Anker mentions the MagGo 3-in-1 charging station is about the size of a deck of cards and weighs less than a baseball.

When it comes to recharging times, Anker says you'll be able to charge an Apple Watch series 9 to 47% in 30 minutes. Thanks the adjustable angles on the stand, you can still watch a show on your phone while you charge or keep an eye on the time.

While its back at its lowest price ever and before you leave for vacation, snag the Anker MagGo 3-in-1 wireless charging station at Amazon for under $83. Not only will it be great for summer trips, it's perfect for keeping your nightstand at home clutter-free. Plus, buying today means you'll be ahead of the chaos of Prime Day.

The best tech deals to shop this week

• Apple AirPods Pro 2nd Gen With MagSafe USB-C Charging Case — $169.00 (List Price $249.00)

• Roku Ultra 4K Ultimate Streaming Player (2024 Release) — $99.00

• Apple AirTag (4-Pack) — $74.99 (List Price $99.00)

• Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 (Wi-Fi, 40mm, S/M Green) — $199.99 (List Price $299.99)

While you can't do much about the differences caused by hardware between flagship and mid-range phones, there are some settings within Samsung's One UI that you can change to somewhat mimic the overall feeling of owning a flagship.