Technology

Corporate leadership changes rarely come without internal shakeups, reorganizations, and layoffs, and Xbox appears to be going through that right now.

Just a few months after longtime Xbox head Phil Spencer left the company and former AI executive Asha Sharma was put in charge, the gaming world received a duet of news stories from Xbox that paint a bleak picture of the internal state of Microsoft's gaming division. To start, news came on Monday morning that Xbox Game Studios head Craig Duncan and chief of staff Louise O'Connor had departed the company, per The Game Business. Then, a few hours later, Kotaku reported that Compulsion Games, developer of 2025 critical darling South of Midnight, was going through the process of being shut down.

SEE ALSO: The biggest announcements from the June 2026 Nintendo Direct

It should be noted that this is very much a developing situation. Xbox has not officially confirmed the shutdown of Compulsion, and Kotaku reporter Rebekah Valentine noted on social media that studio leadership is in some sort of "negotations" with Microsoft over the fate of the development team. However, at least one Compulsion employee posted on social media today that they are looking for work.

Still, even with as much as we don't know right now, it doesn't feel like speculation to say things are difficult at Xbox right now, despite company leadership painting a more rosy picture publicly in recent months. For example, Xbox has been teasing its next console, dubbed "Project Helix," since March. The device was first hinted at in an interview with Mashable last year, and more recently, Xbox has sent Project Helix merch to some influencers and content creators. Xbox also recently started walking back its policy of allowing some first-party games to release on competing platforms, which could arguably be seen as a way to win the hearts and minds of longtime Xbox devotees.

Those gestures suggest that Microsoft is serious about the future of the Xbox brand, but more layoffs are also widely expected to come in the near future, per Bloomberg. Broadly speaking, Xbox has had a difficult time maintaining a steady cadence of game releases in recent years, and studio closures and layoffs are unlikely to help with that in the short term. There's also the longer-term question of the company's reputation among consumers; between game cancelations, studio closures, and Xbox's prominent place on the BDS boycott list due to Microsoft's relationship with the Israeli military, anecdotally I can say several people I know have sworn off of Xbox products for the time being.

It will be interesting to see if anything that happens over the next year or two can change that trend.

The Toyota Prius arrived in the United States in 2000 and spent the next 25 years becoming the textbook definition of a hybrid car. It was the first mass-produced hybrid most Americans ever saw, and its name became synonymous with fuel efficiency in a way that no other car has matched.

Netflix can sometimes do a really great job at making you feel like there's nothing to watch, even though it has a cavernous library of movies and TV shows to keep you busy scrolling for a lifetime. Unless it's top of the Netflix charts or top of the streaming service's algorithmically-decided offerings—The Four Seasons, the Michael Jackson doc, and Office Romance are in everyone's face, currently—the problem was never too few options; it's finding the right ones.

Manufacturers are frequently reluctant to talk about camouflaged prototype cars, but not Ford. The Blue Oval has launched a 'hidden' website for its $30,000 electric pickup truck that offers a very early glimpse of the affordable EV.

TL;DR: Live stream France vs. Senegal in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free on BBC iPlayer. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is going to be absolutely electric. Most of the drama will be reserved for the knockout rounds, but that doesn't mean we aren't getting huge games in the group stage.

Take France vs. Senegal, for example. It's one of the favorites to win the competition against a special Senegal team that some argue won AFCON earlier this year. Could Senegal turn back the clock and beat France in the group stage like they did in the opening match of the 2002 tournament? What a story that would be.

If you want to watch France vs. Senegal in the 2026 FIFA World Cup from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is France vs. Senegal?

France vs. Senegal in the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off at 3 p.m. ET on June 16. This fixture takes place at the MetLife Stadium.

How to watch France vs. Senegal for free

France vs. Senegal in the 2026 FIFA World Cup is available to live stream for free on BBC iPlayer.

BBC iPlayer is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can unblock BBC iPlayer to live stream the 2026 World Cup for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream France vs. Senegal for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK

4. Visit BBC iPlayer

5. Watch France vs. Senegal for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the 2026 World Cup without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream France vs. Senegal (plus more World Cup fixtures) before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to the best free streaming services from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming live sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for BBC iPlayer?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on BBC iPlayer, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream France vs. Senegal in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Saudi Arabia vs. Uruguay in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free on ITVX. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Group H in the 2026 FIFA World Cup is likely to be dominated by Spain and Uruguay, but don't count out Saudi Arabia. In this expanded tournament, the eight best third-placed teams will progress to the knockouts rounds. That very much opens the door to Saudi Arabia.

Uruguay will be relying on star names likes Federico Valverde, Manuel Ugarte, Rodrigo Bentancur, and Darwin Nunez. That's the sort of talent that could take Marcelo Bielsa's side into the latter stages.

If you want to watch Saudi Arabia vs. Uruguay in the 2026 FIFA World Cup from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Saudi Arabia vs. Uruguay?

Saudi Arabia vs. Uruguay in the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off at 6 p.m. ET on June 15. This fixture takes place at the Hard Rock Stadium.

How to watch Saudi Arabia vs. Uruguay for free

Saudi Arabia vs. Uruguay in the 2026 FIFA World Cup is available to live stream for free on ITVX.

ITVX is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can unblock ITVX to live stream the 2026 World Cup for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Saudi Arabia vs. Uruguay for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK

4. Visit ITVX

5. Watch Saudi Arabia vs. Uruguay for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the 2026 World Cup without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Saudi Arabia vs. Uruguay (plus more World Cup fixtures) before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to the best free streaming services from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming live sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for ITVX?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on ITVX, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream Saudi Arabia vs. Uruguay in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free with ExpressVPN.

The rising cost of new vehicles is changing the way many buyers shop. What was once considered mainstream transportation now often carries a price tag well into the $30,000 range, prompting more people to explore the used market. For the same money as a brand-new compact SUV, buyers can now access vehicles that originally competed in an entirely different class.

A federal judge has denied Meta's attempt to dismiss a lawsuit claiming it violated copyright law by torrenting (illegally downloading) porn to train its AI.

On June 11, U.S. District Judge Eumi K. Lee filed the order, stating that porn holding company, Strike 3 Holdings, and Counterlife Media (in which Strike 3 has a majority ownership interest), "have plausibly alleged that [Meta] is liable for direct, vicarious, and contributatory copyright infringement based on the torrenting of their films."

SEE ALSO: EU orders Meta to restore free access to AI rivals in WhatsApp

Strike 3 Holdings, which owns several popular porn sites like Blacked, according to 404 Media, first filed the lawsuit in July 2025. Strike 3 Holdings and Counterlife Media alleged that, between 2018 and 2025, Meta infringed on more than 2,300 copyrighted pornographic movies by downloading them to train its AI models. Meta is alleged to have used the popular torrenting program BitTorrent.

IP addresses that trace back to Meta's corporate offices acted "consistently in non-human patterns," the suit states, "involving mass infringement beyond what a human could consume." The companies are seeking damages up to $359 million.

Meta filed the motion to dismiss against the Strike 3 lawsuit in Oct., denying the claims and stating that they were "nonsensical and unsupported" and that the porn downloads were for "personal use." But in the order denying the motion, Lee remarked on the download patterns, such as the IP addresses torrenting similar files with the same name, all in one day, from cartoons to porn. "It strains credulity to suggest that these correlations are mere coincidence and the product of individual human selections," Lee wrote.

Now, the lawsuit can proceed.

Strike 3 and Counterlife Media became aware of Meta's BitTorrent activity through press coverage of the Jan. 2025 lawsuit against Meta. Discovery in that case revealed that the company pirated books for AI training. In June 2025, Meta won the case. However, as Mashable reported at the time, the judge in that case wrote that the plaintiffs may have been successful if they had made different legal arguments, leaving the door open for suits such as this one.

Mashable has reached out to Meta for comment.

A federal judge has denied Meta's attempt to dismiss a lawsuit claiming it violated copyright law by torrenting (illegally downloading) porn to train its AI.

On June 11, U.S. District Judge Eumi K. Lee filed the order, stating that porn holding company, Strike 3 Holdings, and Counterlife Media (in which Strike 3 has a majority ownership interest), "have plausibly alleged that [Meta] is liable for direct, vicarious, and contributatory copyright infringement based on the torrenting of their films."

SEE ALSO: EU orders Meta to restore free access to AI rivals in WhatsApp

Strike 3 Holdings, which owns several popular porn sites like Blacked, according to 404 Media, first filed the lawsuit in July 2025. Strike 3 Holdings and Counterlife Media alleged that, between 2018 and 2025, Meta infringed on more than 2,300 copyrighted pornographic movies by downloading them to train its AI models. Meta is alleged to have used the popular torrenting program BitTorrent.

IP addresses that trace back to Meta's corporate offices acted "consistently in non-human patterns," the suit states, "involving mass infringement beyond what a human could consume." The companies are seeking damages up to $359 million.

Meta filed the motion to dismiss against the Strike 3 lawsuit in Oct., denying the claims and stating that they were "nonsensical and unsupported" and that the porn downloads were for "personal use." But in the order denying the motion, Lee remarked on the download patterns, such as the IP addresses torrenting similar files with the same name, all in one day, from cartoons to porn. "It strains credulity to suggest that these correlations are mere coincidence and the product of individual human selections," Lee wrote.

Now, the lawsuit can proceed.

Strike 3 and Counterlife Media became aware of Meta's BitTorrent activity through press coverage of the Jan. 2025 lawsuit against Meta. Discovery in that case revealed that the company pirated books for AI training. In June 2025, Meta won the case. However, as Mashable reported at the time, the judge in that case wrote that the plaintiffs may have been successful if they had made different legal arguments, leaving the door open for suits such as this one.

Mashable has reached out to Meta for comment.

Levi's, the iconic 153-year-old denim brand, is going viral over a bizarre incident at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. FIFA rules forced a cover-up the Levi's logo, which is part of the name and signage of a California stadium, before a World Cup match.

And now Levi's is covering up its logo on its Instagram profile, too. 

Levi's is going all in on the coverup and has covered its logo on its Instagram profile too. Credit: Mashable screenshot

Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California, hosted its first World Cup match between Switzerland and Qatar this past Saturday. However, during the World Cup, it's not known as Levi's Stadium. It's temporarily called the "San Francisco Bay Area Stadium." As part of FIFA's requirements for stadiums hosting the 2026 World Cup matches, Levi's was forced to cover the logo on the 68,000-person venue. FIFA required any brands found in the stadiums to be covered up if they aren't official sponsors of the World Cup.

However, unlike the other 11 NFL stadiums that were required to do the same, Levi's got creative with its forced cover-up.

Unlike, say, MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, which just put up banners over the MetLife logo, Levi's instead wrapped a tight-fitting white tarp over its logo, which is still recognizable even though the name is obscured.

The brand also poked fun at the move in an Instagram Reel.

View this post on Instagram

"Welcoming the world to the beautiful [redacted] stadium!" Levi's said in a Reel posted to their Instagram account on Sunday. The video shows the covered-up Levi's Stadium logo using the viral TikTok audio, "Nobody's Gonna Know."

But Levi's just took it a step further, too. The company has now also digitally covered the Levi's logo in its Instagram profile picture with a white tarp.

So for now, whether it's on Instagram or at the World Cup stadium in Santa Clara, Levi's will go by [redacted], the iconic denim jeans brand that everyone knows.

Levi's, the iconic 153-year-old denim brand, is going viral over a bizarre incident at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. FIFA rules forced a cover-up the Levi's logo, which is part of the name and signage of a California stadium, before a World Cup match.

And now Levi's is covering up its logo on its Instagram profile, too. 

Levi's is going all in on the coverup and has covered its logo on its Instagram profile too. Credit: Mashable screenshot

Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California, hosted its first World Cup match between Switzerland and Qatar this past Saturday. However, during the World Cup, it's not known as Levi's Stadium. It's temporarily called the "San Francisco Bay Area Stadium." As part of FIFA's requirements for stadiums hosting the 2026 World Cup matches, Levi's was forced to cover the logo on the 68,000-person venue. FIFA required any brands found in the stadiums to be covered up if they aren't official sponsors of the World Cup.

However, unlike the other 11 NFL stadiums that were required to do the same, Levi's got creative with its forced cover-up.

Unlike, say, MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, which just put up banners over the MetLife logo, Levi's instead wrapped a tight-fitting white tarp over its logo, which is still recognizable even though the name is obscured.

The brand also poked fun at the move in an Instagram Reel.

View this post on Instagram

"Welcoming the world to the beautiful [redacted] stadium!" Levi's said in a Reel posted to their Instagram account on Sunday. The video shows the covered-up Levi's Stadium logo using the viral TikTok audio, "Nobody's Gonna Know."

But Levi's just took it a step further, too. The company has now also digitally covered the Levi's logo in its Instagram profile picture with a white tarp.

So for now, whether it's on Instagram or at the World Cup stadium in Santa Clara, Levi's will go by [redacted], the iconic denim jeans brand that everyone knows.

Most drivers probably don't realize they're missing out on some of the best features of Google Maps. Below that simple surface, though, is a lot of intuitive gestures and features designed to make driving safer, less stressful, and a lot smoother. These are simple, easily accessible interactions built right into the app's core to make your time behind the wheel secure and seamless.

Netflix is rolling out a slew of new movies. Last weekend, the animated stop-motion movie I Am Frankelda premiered to positive reviews. This weekend, Netflix gets back into the rom-com department with Voicemails for Isabelle, starring Zoey Deutch and Nick Robinson.

Most home networks start off easy. A modem, a cable, a router, Wi-Fi, and that's it. Most home networks stay that way, too.

"Staid." That’s how the Washington Post recently described the job market — not specifically in crisis, but the labor force is shrinking, and hiring is relatively anemic compared to the incredible growth seen after the ebbing of COVID. The unemployment rate in the U.S. ticked up from the 3-4 percent range in 2022-2024 and settled at around 4-5 percent in the last few years, with outside shocks like tariffs, wars, and the AI revolution hammering many industries. Silicon Valley has seen over 123,000 layoffs this year, according to Forbes, with generative AI cited as the main reason behind the cuts.

If AI is one of the problems bedeviling the job market, it's also seen by some as a solution. More than half of jobseekers utilize AI to write their resumes and cover letters, according to a LinkedIn survey. Employers are even more keen on using AI to screen candidates, with nearly 90 percent using it to rank or filter resumes, according to the World Economic Forum.

Making your resume and cover letter attractive to AI is much simpler than trying to slip in hidden words or prompts as some jobseekers have done (many employers now have software that catches those tricks, reports the New York Times).

Mashable connected with a handful of career experts on how to (ethically) get your resume to the top of the algorithms' piles. Our first expert, Jasmine Escalera, PhD, is a career coach who advises recruitment companies like Zety and Bold. Escalera said to keep it simple when it comes to your resume — and don't forget that human eyes will eventually be looking at your CV and cover letter.

SEE ALSO: Survey says 99% of executives are 'prepared' for AI layoffs in next two years So many people assume AI is doing the first pass on resumes. Is that true?

It's likely the case. We know the job market is very flooded. We know it’s a very challenging job market. We’ve seen jobs posted on LinkedIn, and within hours, they have hundreds of applicants.

AI, if it’s used by a company, is a first-round filter — to essentially be able to say, out of these hundreds of applicants, which no HR human could really go through on their own, how can we find the applicants that match the position the best?

So, in the second round, humans, individual eyes, can come onto the best talent within this pool and really see who can move forward with the interview process.

So, yes, and I know that can be very frustrating for job seekers, but we also want to understand the recruitment process. Because of the job market and how challenging it’s become, HR and recruiters are using [AI] to really filter through a very large applicant pool.

Is there an argument to be made that AI levels the playing field? Instead of a human sifting through a pile of resumes and seeing someone who went to their alma mater, it’s a computer without those biases.

Well, I remember when I was a jobseeker back in the day, when these kinds of AI tools didn’t necessarily exist — there were applicant tracking systems, but they didn’t work the way they do now. We were told, “Apply for a job on a Monday morning or even a Sunday night, so your application is at the top of the list." Or, "Don’t apply on these particular days." We were trying to come up with workarounds to get ourselves seen.

Now, the inherent bias sort of gets taken out of the occasion. Because every jobseeker now knows they have to get through the [Applicant Tracking System] and is using AI to help support them in resume building, it’s made it that much more complicated because now everybody knows what a keyword is, everyone knows what skills they need to put on a resume, everybody can use AI to help generate the most stellar bullets to stand out with quantifiable metrics. It’s made it much more challenging, and that’s why AI can be most helpful in filtering through this [for HR professionals].

But, ultimately, it is a filter. When you get to that human who’s looking at your resume, they’re likely going to be looking for something completely different than what the AI was looking for. Baseline, [at that point] they know the applicant pool is going to be stellar, that these applicants likely have all of the experience and skillsets they set [the AI to look] for. Now, what they’re looking for is differentiators. What differentiates resumes A, B, C, D, E, F, and G? And those differentiators are typically the things AI can’t create for you.

SEE ALSO: Top tech jobs 2026: 5 of the fastest-growing tech, AI careers Does AI have a bias against resumes created with AI?

It’s very dependent on whatever system the employer is using, and I don’t have enough knowledge to know if these AI systems these employers use have triggers for AI-created resumes. However, there are AI tells.

There are specific ways AI creates resumes that tell whether AI just completely generated this. It’s a lot of amplification of the experience. They have so much jargon there; [the job descriptions make] you sound like you went to the moon. There’s a lot of extra words and verbiage.

So we want to make sure that if you are using AI, and I believe every jobseeker should use AI to support them in resume building — support is the key word — you have to go through and make sure this sounds like a human created it, there’s that human element to it, there’s storytelling involved in it. You can’t create a story-based resume that focuses on why you’re specifically perfect for this mission because, at the age of 10, you were baking cookies and selling them, and now you want to work for the Girl Scouts and sell and market their cookies.

There are so many sites that claim to help jobseekers optimize their resumes for AI. Can those websites be trusted?

It’s really about the research and looking into the different platforms you’re interested in and making sure other jobseekers have used it and had success with it. Just like if you were to purchase any kind of product, you’re going to want to know if that product is going to give you the best bang for your buck. A jobseeker should do the same due diligence when it comes to the platforms that help them build their resumes.

The great things about Claude, ChatGPT, and AI in general, outside of the AI resume builders, are that they can help you create these bullets of experiences and skill sets. Some of these other AI resume builders are really built to help you create the layout, the architecture, the design of the resume. That’s one thing to consider.

Cover letters are even more important now because that’s the opportunity to tell a story. Any tips for making resumes stand out to the algorithms?

The number one thing is to make sure you’re using the job description as the template for your resume. You want to make sure the job description in your resume matches very closely, meaning the term they’re using, you’re using.

If you’re applying for a client success manager position, but you’re using "customer success manager," even that small keyword switch is going to make a difference. Follow the job description to a T. Typically, whatever bullets they have at the beginning of the job description are usually the most high priority items for this position, in terms of experience, knowledge, and showing you’re capable of doing those tasks.

A great thing to do is to take that job description and put it through a Claude or a ChatGPT and ask it specifically, "What are the key words I should make sure are in the resume? What are the top experiences or work tasks this job is asking me to focus on?"

We’re talking about resumes, but one of the biggest things that people often ask me is, “Do you really need a cover letter?” People hate cover letters. And now, because resumes can be so well-crafted and so well-generated with AI, I believe cover letters are even more important because that’s the opportunity to tell a story. That's the opportunity to say why this organization matters to you so much.

You also want to think about those differentiators — what’s going to make me stand out in the resume? Where can I add specific elements that will really connect with this organization’s mission, and how can I use my cover letter to tell my story as well?

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

"Staid." That’s how the Washington Post recently described the job market — not specifically in crisis, but the labor force is shrinking, and hiring is relatively anemic compared to the incredible growth seen after the ebbing of COVID. The unemployment rate in the U.S. ticked up from the 3-4 percent range in 2022-2024 and settled at around 4-5 percent in the last few years, with outside shocks like tariffs, wars, and the AI revolution hammering many industries. Silicon Valley has seen over 123,000 layoffs this year, according to Forbes, with generative AI cited as the main reason behind the cuts.

If AI is one of the problems bedeviling the job market, it's also seen by some as a solution. More than half of jobseekers utilize AI to write their resumes and cover letters, according to a LinkedIn survey. Employers are even more keen on using AI to screen candidates, with nearly 90 percent using it to rank or filter resumes, according to the World Economic Forum.

Making your resume and cover letter attractive to AI is much simpler than trying to slip in hidden words or prompts as some jobseekers have done (many employers now have software that catches those tricks, reports the New York Times).

Mashable connected with a handful of career experts on how to (ethically) get your resume to the top of the algorithms' piles. Our first expert, Jasmine Escalera, PhD, is a career coach who advises recruitment companies like Zety and Bold. Escalera said to keep it simple when it comes to your resume — and don't forget that human eyes will eventually be looking at your CV and cover letter.

SEE ALSO: Survey says 99% of executives are 'prepared' for AI layoffs in next two years So many people assume AI is doing the first pass on resumes. Is that true?

It's likely the case. We know the job market is very flooded. We know it’s a very challenging job market. We’ve seen jobs posted on LinkedIn, and within hours, they have hundreds of applicants.

AI, if it’s used by a company, is a first-round filter — to essentially be able to say, out of these hundreds of applicants, which no HR human could really go through on their own, how can we find the applicants that match the position the best?

So, in the second round, humans, individual eyes, can come onto the best talent within this pool and really see who can move forward with the interview process.

So, yes, and I know that can be very frustrating for job seekers, but we also want to understand the recruitment process. Because of the job market and how challenging it’s become, HR and recruiters are using [AI] to really filter through a very large applicant pool.

Is there an argument to be made that AI levels the playing field? Instead of a human sifting through a pile of resumes and seeing someone who went to their alma mater, it’s a computer without those biases.

Well, I remember when I was a jobseeker back in the day, when these kinds of AI tools didn’t necessarily exist — there were applicant tracking systems, but they didn’t work the way they do now. We were told, “Apply for a job on a Monday morning or even a Sunday night, so your application is at the top of the list." Or, "Don’t apply on these particular days." We were trying to come up with workarounds to get ourselves seen.

Now, the inherent bias sort of gets taken out of the occasion. Because every jobseeker now knows they have to get through the [Applicant Tracking System] and is using AI to help support them in resume building, it’s made it that much more complicated because now everybody knows what a keyword is, everyone knows what skills they need to put on a resume, everybody can use AI to help generate the most stellar bullets to stand out with quantifiable metrics. It’s made it much more challenging, and that’s why AI can be most helpful in filtering through this [for HR professionals].

But, ultimately, it is a filter. When you get to that human who’s looking at your resume, they’re likely going to be looking for something completely different than what the AI was looking for. Baseline, [at that point] they know the applicant pool is going to be stellar, that these applicants likely have all of the experience and skillsets they set [the AI to look] for. Now, what they’re looking for is differentiators. What differentiates resumes A, B, C, D, E, F, and G? And those differentiators are typically the things AI can’t create for you.

SEE ALSO: Top tech jobs 2026: 5 of the fastest-growing tech, AI careers Does AI have a bias against resumes created with AI?

It’s very dependent on whatever system the employer is using, and I don’t have enough knowledge to know if these AI systems these employers use have triggers for AI-created resumes. However, there are AI tells.

There are specific ways AI creates resumes that tell whether AI just completely generated this. It’s a lot of amplification of the experience. They have so much jargon there; [the job descriptions make] you sound like you went to the moon. There’s a lot of extra words and verbiage.

So we want to make sure that if you are using AI, and I believe every jobseeker should use AI to support them in resume building — support is the key word — you have to go through and make sure this sounds like a human created it, there’s that human element to it, there’s storytelling involved in it. You can’t create a story-based resume that focuses on why you’re specifically perfect for this mission because, at the age of 10, you were baking cookies and selling them, and now you want to work for the Girl Scouts and sell and market their cookies.

There are so many sites that claim to help jobseekers optimize their resumes for AI. Can those websites be trusted?

It’s really about the research and looking into the different platforms you’re interested in and making sure other jobseekers have used it and had success with it. Just like if you were to purchase any kind of product, you’re going to want to know if that product is going to give you the best bang for your buck. A jobseeker should do the same due diligence when it comes to the platforms that help them build their resumes.

The great things about Claude, ChatGPT, and AI in general, outside of the AI resume builders, are that they can help you create these bullets of experiences and skill sets. Some of these other AI resume builders are really built to help you create the layout, the architecture, the design of the resume. That’s one thing to consider.

Cover letters are even more important now because that’s the opportunity to tell a story. Any tips for making resumes stand out to the algorithms?

The number one thing is to make sure you’re using the job description as the template for your resume. You want to make sure the job description in your resume matches very closely, meaning the term they’re using, you’re using.

If you’re applying for a client success manager position, but you’re using "customer success manager," even that small keyword switch is going to make a difference. Follow the job description to a T. Typically, whatever bullets they have at the beginning of the job description are usually the most high priority items for this position, in terms of experience, knowledge, and showing you’re capable of doing those tasks.

A great thing to do is to take that job description and put it through a Claude or a ChatGPT and ask it specifically, "What are the key words I should make sure are in the resume? What are the top experiences or work tasks this job is asking me to focus on?"

We’re talking about resumes, but one of the biggest things that people often ask me is, “Do you really need a cover letter?” People hate cover letters. And now, because resumes can be so well-crafted and so well-generated with AI, I believe cover letters are even more important because that’s the opportunity to tell a story. That's the opportunity to say why this organization matters to you so much.

You also want to think about those differentiators — what’s going to make me stand out in the resume? Where can I add specific elements that will really connect with this organization’s mission, and how can I use my cover letter to tell my story as well?

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This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Blurry restaurant photos, Amazon case listings, and leaked specs are providing an early look at Samsung’s next foldable phone. While nothing is official yet, the available information is starting to paint a clearer picture of what the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide could bring when it launches.

Prime Day 2026 is nearly upon us — and so is one of the best times to get a deal on a MacBook. I've covered Amazon's flagship summer sale for seven years straight now, and I've noticed that Apple's laptops always fall to extra-low prices as part of the festivities. (If they don't hit record-lows, they at least get close.)

Every current MacBook is already on sale ahead of Prime Day, which runs from June 23 to 26, but I wouldn't recommend grabbing one just yet. Amazon likes to save its best deals for Prime Day proper, meaning their discounts will likely increase once the sale starts next week. We could even get our first big discount on the new budget MacBook Neo; this is its first Prime Day ever.

SEE ALSO: Prime Day is less than 2 weeks away: Here are 20+ early deals to start shopping now

Read on for my predictions for the best Prime Day MacBook deals, from the Neo to the M5 MacBook Air and the M5 MacBook Pros. Now is also a good time to check out my separate MacBook buying guide if you're not sure which model is right for you.

Prime Day MacBook Neo deals to look for

Amazon hasn't been totally resistant to putting the Neo on sale — it's been $9 off for several weeks now — but it doesn't get the same big price cuts as Apple's other laptops. (This is probably because it's already a bargain at full price.) With that in mind, I wouldn't count on Amazon matching Apple's $100 student discount on Prime Day; it's still the best way to buy the Neo if you're eligible. But I could see Amazon dropping the base model to $549, or $50 off, luring back-to-school shoppers who don't quality for Apple's education pricing.

Read our review of the MacBook Neo.

The best early Prime Day MacBook Neo deals for now: Apple MacBook Neo (A18 Pro, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $589.99 (save $9.01) Get Deal Apple MacBook Neo (A18 Pro, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $689.99 (save $9.01) Get Deal Prime Day MacBook Air deals to look for

Last year's 13- and 15-inch M4 MacBook Airs got $150 discounts for Prime Day 2025, but we've already seen the newer M5 models go on sale for $200 off this spring. While those deals weren't still live at the time of writing. I expect Amazon to revive them once Prime Day begins next week. Look for records low of $899 for the 13-inch configuration and $1,099 for its 15-inch sibling.

Read our review of the M5 MacBook Air.

The best early Prime Day MacBook Air deals for now: Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M5, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $949.99 (save $149.01) Get Deal Apple MacBook Air, 15-inch (M5, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $1,149.99 (save $149.01) Get Deal Prime Day MacBook Pro deals to look for

The base 14-inch MacBook Pro features an M5 chip, 16GB of RAM, and a terabyte of storage. Amazon is currently selling it for $1,549, or $150 off, but I wouldn't add it to my cart just yet. It fell to $1,499 earlier this month, and that all-time low will likely return come Prime Day. You might have to be a little patient, though: Last year, an identically configured M4 MacBook Pro didn't get a $200 discount until the fourth (last) day of the sale.

If you need even more power for professional creative or AI work, there's also a 16-inch MacBook Pro that's configurable with the M5 Pro or M5 Max chip. If anything, the starting M5 Max model is a relatively safe buy right now: It's currently on sale at its record-low price of $3,349, or $250 off. (The M5 Pro base model is still $60-ish away from its own record low of $1,983.94, which would save you about $215.) However, its M4 Max counterpart also got much cheaper as Prime Day progressed last year — to the tune of over $400 off. When you're dropping this much cash on a new laptop, I think it's wise to wait and see if prices drop even further.

Read our review of the M5 MacBook Pro.

The best early Prime Day MacBook Pro deals for now: Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M5, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $1,549 (save $150) Get Deal Apple MacBook Pro, 16-inch (M5 Pro, 24GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $2,045 (save $154) Get Deal Apple MacBook Pro, 16-inch (M5 Max, 36GB RAM, 2TB SSD) $3,349 (save $250) Get Deal

Prime Day 2026 is nearly upon us — and so is one of the best times to get a deal on a MacBook. I've covered Amazon's flagship summer sale for seven years straight now, and I've noticed that Apple's laptops always fall to extra-low prices as part of the festivities. (If they don't hit record-lows, they at least get close.)

Every current MacBook is already on sale ahead of Prime Day, which runs from June 23 to 26, but I wouldn't recommend grabbing one just yet. Amazon likes to save its best deals for Prime Day proper, meaning their discounts will likely increase once the sale starts next week. We could even get our first big discount on the new budget MacBook Neo; this is its first Prime Day ever.

SEE ALSO: Prime Day is less than 2 weeks away: Here are 20+ early deals to start shopping now

Read on for my predictions for the best Prime Day MacBook deals, from the Neo to the M5 MacBook Air and the M5 MacBook Pros. Now is also a good time to check out my separate MacBook buying guide if you're not sure which model is right for you.

Prime Day MacBook Neo deals to look for

Amazon hasn't been totally resistant to putting the Neo on sale — it's been $9 off for several weeks now — but it doesn't get the same big price cuts as Apple's other laptops. (This is probably because it's already a bargain at full price.) With that in mind, I wouldn't count on Amazon matching Apple's $100 student discount on Prime Day; it's still the best way to buy the Neo if you're eligible. But I could see Amazon dropping the base model to $549, or $50 off, luring back-to-school shoppers who don't quality for Apple's education pricing.

Read our review of the MacBook Neo.

The best early Prime Day MacBook Neo deals for now: Apple MacBook Neo (A18 Pro, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $589.99 (save $9.01) Get Deal Apple MacBook Neo (A18 Pro, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $689.99 (save $9.01) Get Deal Prime Day MacBook Air deals to look for

Last year's 13- and 15-inch M4 MacBook Airs got $150 discounts for Prime Day 2025, but we've already seen the newer M5 models go on sale for $200 off this spring. While those deals weren't still live at the time of writing. I expect Amazon to revive them once Prime Day begins next week. Look for records low of $899 for the 13-inch configuration and $1,099 for its 15-inch sibling.

Read our review of the M5 MacBook Air.

The best early Prime Day MacBook Air deals for now: Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M5, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $949.99 (save $149.01) Get Deal Apple MacBook Air, 15-inch (M5, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $1,149.99 (save $149.01) Get Deal Prime Day MacBook Pro deals to look for

The base 14-inch MacBook Pro features an M5 chip, 16GB of RAM, and a terabyte of storage. Amazon is currently selling it for $1,549, or $150 off, but I wouldn't add it to my cart just yet. It fell to $1,499 earlier this month, and that all-time low will likely return come Prime Day. You might have to be a little patient, though: Last year, an identically configured M4 MacBook Pro didn't get a $200 discount until the fourth (last) day of the sale.

If you need even more power for professional creative or AI work, there's also a 16-inch MacBook Pro that's configurable with the M5 Pro or M5 Max chip. If anything, the starting M5 Max model is a relatively safe buy right now: It's currently on sale at its record-low price of $3,349, or $250 off. (The M5 Pro base model is still $60-ish away from its own record low of $1,983.94, which would save you about $215.) However, its M4 Max counterpart also got much cheaper as Prime Day progressed last year — to the tune of over $400 off. When you're dropping this much cash on a new laptop, I think it's wise to wait and see if prices drop even further.

Read our review of the M5 MacBook Pro.

The best early Prime Day MacBook Pro deals for now: Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M5, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $1,549 (save $150) Get Deal Apple MacBook Pro, 16-inch (M5 Pro, 24GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $2,045 (save $154) Get Deal Apple MacBook Pro, 16-inch (M5 Max, 36GB RAM, 2TB SSD) $3,349 (save $250) Get Deal

The RTX Spark laptop platform is a big deal for AI developers and power users working with giant models on Windows, but its impact on the PC market will be longer-term. PCMag's John Burek explains.