Technology

There are many games that don't force you to kill every time you get the chance. Some games actually reward players for holding back from murder, and these can provide a great challenge. If you're into games where pacifism is allowed, there are plenty to choose from.

Tor Browser is designed to bypass internet censorship on the network or internet service provider (ISP) level, but some of its workarounds can be complicated. The Connection Assist feature was intended to fix that, and Tor Browser 14.5 is rolling out with an updated version and the feature’s introduction on Android.

UPDATE: Apr. 16, 2025, 5:35 p.m. EDT This article has been updated to include the official streaming release of "The Brutalist," as well as the latest pricing details.

The best ways to watch 'The Brutalist' at a glance: BEST NON-STREAMING OPTION Rent or buy 'The Brutalist' on Prime Video rent for $5.99, buy for $19.99 Get Deal BEST STREAMING DEAL Max (With Ads) annual subscription $79.99 per year through May 7 (save $20) Get Deal BEST AD-FREE DEAL Max Ad-Free annual subscription $139.99/year through May 7 (save $30) Get Deal WATCH FOR FREE Max (With Ads) for select Cricket customers Free for Cricket customers on the $60/month unlimited plan (save $9.99/month) Learn More WATCH FOR FREE Max with ads Free with DashPass annual plan ($8/month) (save $9.99/month) Get Deal BEST FOR STUDENTS Max Student $4.99 per month for 12 months (save 50%) Get Deal BEST BUNDLE DEAL Max, Hulu, and Disney+ with ads $16.99/month (save $8.98/month) Get Deal

If you haven't seen The Brutalist yet, you can now watch all three-and-a-half hours of it at home from your couch — where you have the ability to pause and return to it as you see fit. Mashable's reviewer Siddhant Adlakha called it a "modern American masterpiece," and we named it one of the best films of 2024.

Set in the aftermath of World War II, director Brady Corbet crafts a deeply moving film about immigrants, architecture, and Jewish identity. It stars Adrien Brody — who nabbed not only the Golden Globe, but also the Academy Award for his role as László Tóth — as well as Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce, and Raffey Cassidy. It was one of the most nominated films at the 2025 Academy Awards, and managed to take home three, including Best Cinematography, Best Original Score, and Best Lead Actor.

You can watch it for yourself at home now that it's officially available at digital-on-demand retailers and will soon make its streaming debut. Here's everything you need to know.

What is The Brutalist about?

Clocking in at three-and-a-half hours long, The Brutalist tells the tale of László Tóth (Brody), a fictitious Jewish Hungarian architect and survivor of the Holocaust, over several decades as he arrives in America post-World War II. "It embodies the kind of American epics no longer really made by Hollywood studios. All the while, the film also explores the fraught corners of post-World War II Jewish identity in the West," Adlakha writes.

Check out the official trailer:

Is The Brutalist worth watching?

The Brutalist clocked in at No. 17 on our list of the best films of 2024. It was also one of the most prominently featured films this awards season. It nabbed the Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture – Drama, Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama for Brody, and Best Director for Corbet. Additionally, it earned 10 Oscars nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director, Lead Actor, Supporting Actor, and Supporting Actress. While it was a favorite to take home the biggest award of the night, it ended up losing out to Anora. Still, it took home the prize in Best Lead Actor, Best Cinematography, and Best Original Score.

Currently, the A24 film has a 93 percent critic rating and an 80 percent audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Mashable's own reviewer writes, "The Brutalist is a towering paean to the American dream, in all its force and folly. Set over several decades, Brady Corbet's post-World War II immigrant saga is — like the architectural achievements of its protagonist — constructed with meticulous consideration, resulting in a work of multifaceted technique and piercing humanity."

Read our full review of The Brutalist.

How to watch The Brutalist at home Credit: A24

There are multiple ways to watch The Brutalist at home: purchasing it via digital video-on-demand, renting it through digital video-on-demand, and of course, streaming. The cheapest option is renting, but it's also the most limiting.

Buy or rent The Brutalist on digital

The Brutalist made its digital debut just shy of two months after its theatrical release. You can purchase the film for your digital collection as of Feb. 18 at online retailers like Prime Video and Apple TV. It's also available to rent at the same digital retailers for 30 days. Just note that once you start watching, you'll only have 48 hours to finish — and it's a 3.5-hour movie.

Here are some quick links to rent or purchase the A24 flick:

• Prime Video — buy it for $19.99, rent it for $5.99

• Apple TV — buy it for $19.99, rent it for $5.99

• Fandango at Home (Vudu) — buy it for $19.99, rent it for $5.99

• Google Play — buy it for $19.99, rent it for $5.99

• YouTube — buy it for $19.99, rent it for $5.99

Opens in a new window Credit: Prime Video Rent or buy 'The Brutalist' on digital $5.99 to rent, $19.99 to buy Get Deal Stream The Brutalist on Max

Thanks to a multi-year output deal between A24 and Warner Bros. Discovery, we knew that The Brutalist would eventually make its streaming debut on Max alongside other recent A24 hits like Babygirl and Queer. The usual window between a digital and streaming release for A24 is about around two-and-a-half months, so we originally thought it would start streaming at the end of April. A24, instead, decided to make us wait a little longer. The Brutalist is finally set to make its streaming debut on Max on May 16.

Max subscriptions start at $9.99 per month, but there are a few ways to save money on your plan. We've rounded up the best Max streaming deals for you below.

The best Max streaming dealsBest for most people: Save 33% on Max with ads annual subscription Opens in a new window Credit: Max Max (with ads) yearly subscription $79.99 per year (save 33%) through May 7 Get Deal

While a Max with ads subscription goes for $9.99 per month, you can knock that price down to just $8.33 per month by signing up for a year in advance. Yes, you'll have to pay $99.99 upfront, but the breakdown monthly ends up saving you 16%.

Better yet, if you sign up before May 7, you'll be able to slash that price even further as annual subscriptions are 20% off their usual cost. That drops the annual plan with ads down to only $79.99 per year or $6.67 broken down monthly. After your initial discounted year is up, the price will revert back to the typical annual plan fee, which is still a very good price.

Best Max deal with no ads: Save up to 32% on a Max Ad-Free annual subscription Opens in a new window Credit: Max Max (No Ads) annual subscription $169.99 per year (save 16%) Get Deal

Similarly, for those who hate ads, you can also save up to 32% through May 7 by committing to a yearly plan of the Max ad-free tiers. You have two tiers to choose from: Max Ad-Free and Max Ultimate Ad-Free. The basic ad-free tier costs either $16.99 per month or $139.99 per year (about $11.67 per month) for a limited time, while the Ultimate tier costs either $20.99 per month or $169.99 per year (about $14.17 per month) for a limited time. The price drop is only valid for your first year of streaming and will revert back to full cost — $169.99 or $209.99 per year — thereafter.

Note: Both tiers offer an ad-free viewing experience, but the Ultimate tier comes with 4K Ultra HD video quality and Dolby Atmos immersive audio.

Best Max deal for Cricket customers: Free Max with ads for customers on the $60/month unlimited plan Opens in a new window Credit: Cricket / Max Max (with ads) Free for Cricket customers on the $60/month plan Get Deal

Cricket customers on the $60 per month unlimited plan get a free Max with ads subscription — no questions asked. That's a $99.99 per year value for zero dollars. If you're already on the $60 per month unlimited plan, just head over to the Max app, choose Cricket as your provider, then enter your Cricket credentials to log in. Boom — you're free to watch whatever you want, whenever you want — including The Brutalist upon its release. Check out the terms and conditions on Cricket's website to learn more.

Best Max deal for DoorDash users: Free Max with ads with DashPass annual plan Opens in a new window Credit: DoorDash / Max Max with ads Free with DashPass annual plan ($8/month) Get Deal

Another way you can get Max for free in 2025 is through DoorDash's annual DashPass plan. A yearly DashPass membership costs $96 per year ($8 per month) and gets you $0 delivery fees and reduced service fees on eligible orders, as well as a Max subscription with ads. You'll just have to activate your Max subscription through your DoorDash account. Then, once you're in, you're in as long as your annual DashPass plan is valid.

Best Max deal for students: Save 50% on Max with ads Opens in a new window Credit: Max Max Student $4.99 per month for 12 months Get Deal

College students can get an entire year of Max with ads for just $4.99 per month instead of $9.99. That's 50% in savings. All you have to do is verify your student status with UNiDAYS to retrieve the unique discount code that will drop the price.

Best bundle deal: Get Max, Disney+, and Hulu for up to 38% off Opens in a new window Credit: Disney / Hulu / Max Disney+, Hulu, and Max $16.99 per month (with ads), $29.99 per month (no ads) Get Deal

While it won't be the cheapest way to get Max, you can get more bang for your buck if you choose a streaming bundle deal instead of a single service. For only $16.99 per month (reg. $25.97), you can sign up for Max, Hulu, and Disney+ with ads or $29.99 per month (reg. $48.97) without ads. That's up to 38% in savings for access to three full streaming libraries.

Airplane Wi-Fi tends to be overly expensive, and if you're taking transatlantic flights, you know that making hours-long trips with no internet connection at all is a special kind of punishment. Now, it might be about to get a little more bearable. If you're flying American Airlines, at least.

Incognito mode isn’t as private as you might assume. While it prevents your browser from saving your history and cookies, that’s only a tiny part of the tracking it blocks. You're still vulnerable to numerous privacy and security risks. Here are some common threats you should watch out for.

Perhaps more than any other medium, video games are constantly being delayed or abruptly canceled. It’s heartbreaking to see a highly anticipated game miss its original release date, but the development hell that unfolds behind the scenes is even worse.

Casio’s G-SHOCK series has always been known for its durable and stylish designs, but the new G5600BG-5 takes things a step further. This isn't just another tough timepiece, it’s a watch literally made from the pieces of other watches.

If you own an Echo smart speaker, you can set up a Good Morning routine that will do things such as wishing you a good morning and playing you the latest news headlines when you say good morning to Alexa. Whichever smart home system you use, creating a routine that runs first thing in the morning can be a useful way to start your day.

Fans of MrBeast expressed anger and disappointment at a three-night immersive event themed after the YouTube star.

MrBeast, the stage name of James Donaldson, did not appear at the gathering at Las Vegas' Resorts World casino, which officially wrapped on Tuesday. While a flyer promoting the "MrBeast Experience at Resorts World" didn't promise the star's appearance, what really had attendees steaming was the dearth of "activations" at the casino's restaurants and pool, and an underwhelming "mystery bag" delivered to participants' rooms. Guests reportedly paid $1,000 to attend the "experience."

"There should have been like mini-games, and meet and greets, and photo ops, special food and drink things," attendee Theresa Metta told the Las Vegas CBS news affiliate. "Unfortunately, we didn’t get any of that."

Metta said she was told to wait in her room for her advertised mystery package. When the bag finally arrived, it only contained branded chocolates and kids' clothes. Metta said the gifts were not the "exclusive merchandise" attendees were promised, but actually several items listed for clearance on the MrBeast website.

SEE ALSO: So, uh, what was going on with that nightmarish Willy Wonka experience in Glasgow?

A group of disgruntled attendees gathered to demand refunds from Resorts World executives and air their grievances to the casino's CEO, Alex Dixon.

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Instead of refunds, Resorts World officials offered each guest two $50 food and beverage vouchers, according to attendee Desiree Pineda. "This experience has been nothing short of horrible," Pineda told CBS.

It appears Resorts World may have shifted course, however. The Las Vegas Review-Journal reported it issued full refunds Tuesday evening.

MrBeast didn't release a formal apology, but did respond to an attendee's complaint on X, saying this "definitely isn't the experience we hoped they'd deliver" and promised all disappointed guests an invite to his studio (in North Carolina).

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With 385 million subscribers, MrBeast's YouTube channel is the most subscribed on the video streaming site.

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate's "stream your own game" feature now works on Xbox consoles. In effect, you can play games that you've purchased without waiting through a long download or installation process.

Since ChatGPT's AI image generator launched to free users a couple of weeks ago, people online have been toying around with its possibilities. The latest trend involves people anthropomorphizing their pets. Yes, really.

To be clear, we all kind of act like our pets are humans — my perfect dog, Henry, is a good boy who loves deeply like a real person. But folks are now using ChatGPT's image generator to imagine what their pets would actually look like as people. It's both kind of neat and a little creepy. Here's a super viral example from Reddit.

Reddit

If you search around other social platforms, you'll find more examples of people who said they used ChatGPT to transform their pets into humans.

Do not, under any circumstances, ask ChatGPT to show you what your dog would look like as a human. It will haunt you and permanently alter your relationship with your pet.

[image or embed]

— Thomas Frampton (@tframpton.bsky.social) April 10, 2025 at 8:46 AM

Lmao I asked #chatgpt to make a human version of my dog. Not only did it deliver but turns out he’s a pup either way 😁 #aiart #funny #pet

[image or embed]

— Sindel Sloan | ATX (@sindelsloan.bsky.social) April 14, 2025 at 10:45 AM

It seems some folks found the results cute, while others found it unsettling. TechRadar's John-Anthony Disotto wrote that he wasn't "quite prepared to see a grown man sitting on the yellow armchair [his dog] likes to frequent, and [he] immediately felt a sense of uncanny valley."

The dog-as-human trend is just the latest to emerge from ChatGPT's image generator. Last week, for instance, folks were turning themselves into AI-generated action figures.

SEE ALSO: Want to be an AI action figure? Just give ChatGPT a full-body pic. How to use ChatGPT to turn your pet into a human

While some folks might avoid seeing their pet as a person — myself included — should you want to try it out, it isn't difficult.

First, you have to upload a photo of your pet. Then, the prompt can be simple. You simply ask ChatGPT to turn the pet into a human. The sample from the Reddit post also asked to keep everything else in the photo the same. ChatGPT may ask follow-up questions, but it should be relatively straightforward.

Just be careful: You can't unsee it.

TikTok has already secured its status as Gen Z's ultimate search tool, and now it's dipping its greedy little app toes into reviews.

The social media app hosts plenty of content creators who make a living off showing their audience reviews of tech, restaurants, and clothes they've bought. But now, TechCrunch reported that TikTok has started surfacing reviews for some places — like stores and restaurants — inside the comments section of a video.

Right now, if you see a place you want to visit on your For You Page, you'll need to navigate to Google Maps or Yelp to learn its exact location, reviews, hours, and other information. This new TikTok feature has the potential to circumvent that additional step.

SEE ALSO: For Gen Z, TikTok is more than entertainment. It's a search engine. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

According to TechCrunch, TikTok reviews are currently being tested for select users, who might see a "Reviews" tab on the right of a video's comments. App researcher Jonah Manzano posted a screenshot of his TikTok comments section on Threads, showing that the feature currently only works "on selected videos with a tagged location."

We don't know when, if at all, the feature will be launched publicly, and who knows how users will actually feel about the feature once it launches. Will it be met with annoyance for crowding up the comment section, or glee that the social media giant is slowly morphing into a super app?

Given how much our Windows computers handle, they need some upkeep to run smoothly. Without regular maintenance, performance may dip, security can be at risk, and hardware issues might go unnoticed. Here are some routine tasks you should do to help your computer run without hiccups.

Skullcandy headphones and earbuds have long been a well-known budget option, though not exactly a brand that makes you think "premium sound."

Its latest release might change that. Thanks to a partnership with Bose, the new Skullcandy Method 360 ANC earbuds feature sound powered by Bose's technology. Following a press event with new brand ambassador Tony Hawk on April 15, the earbuds are now available to the public. As Skullcandy ups the sound quality of its earbuds, it's keeping the cost low with a special introductory price of $99.99, which will then be raised to $129.99. At their full price, they'll be the most expensive earbuds from the brand (while tied at their discounted price with the Push ANC Active earbuds).

SEE ALSO: The best Bose headphones we've tested

At this time, a Skullcandy rep was unable to share when the discounted pricing would end, telling Mashable, "We’re laser-focused on delivering premium sound to the people at a highly accessible price point for as long as possible."

For comparison, the cheapest earbuds Bose offers are $179.99, though they occasionally drop down to the $150 range and once hit the record-low price of $129. At the time they hit the market, we deemed those earbuds a solid budget option. Meanwhile, early press information about the Method 360s stated that "sound quality is subjective to user taste, but we're confident they're better than anything at this price point and comparable to many above it," and claimed the earbuds could deliver "audio quality two to three times their price point."

If Skullcandy does deliver, they could pose a real threat to those Bose earbuds. I just received the earbuds myself and haven't tested them yet, so I can't say definitively whether or not they will, but I'll certainly be testing the earbuds side by side with Bose products and reporting back.

Along with Bose-powered sound, the Method 360 earbuds will come with features geared toward a premium experience, including:

• Adjustable four-mic hybrid active noise cancellation

• Nine hours of battery life with ANC per charge and 11 without ANC (23 and 29 hours with case, respectively)

• A unique slider case with an O-ring clip

• Three sizes of ear fins and gel ear tips

• Multipoint pairing

• A companion app with custom and preset EQ modes

• Google Fast Pair

• Bluetooth 5.3 and LE connectivity

As of April 16, you can grab the Method 360 ANC earbuds for $99.99 in five colorways at Skullcandy, Amazon, and Best Buy.

Opens in a new window Credit: Skullcandy Skullcandy Method 360 ANC $99.99 at Amazon
$129.99 Save $30.00 Get Deal

Elon Musk’s steady mission to erase every trace of Twitter’s former identity continues — and the next feature on the chopping block appears to be Direct Messages. According to rumblings from X employees and independent researchers, the classic DM tab may soon be replaced by something called XChat.

SEE ALSO: Jack Dorsey, Elon Musk call to delete IP laws, but artists are pushing back

The change was first hinted at by Zach Warunek, a software engineer at X, who responded to a user reporting issues with DM message requests. Warunek stated that the page would be “deleted soon." He clarified that the existing DM tab would be removed entirely, not just the requests section.

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App researcher and web dev Nima Owji backed up that theory when he reported on X that XChat is already being used internally by X employees. Based on screenshot leaks from another X user, it seems XChat is being positioned as a full-fledged WhatsApp competitor — complete with encrypted messaging, file sharing (including PDFs), disappearing messages, unread status toggles, message deletion for everyone (not just you), and voice messages (sometime after launch).

If you're curious, Owji also shared a screenshot of XChat, though we can't independently verify that it's genuine. At a glance, the biggest difference we see is the addition of a PIN-verification tab.

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This move aligns with Musk’s broader vision of turning X into an all-in-one platform. Back in February, the X CEO stated that he eventually plans to stop using a phone number altogether, opting to handle all texts and calls exclusively through X.

There’s no official release date for XChat yet, but several employees openly discussing the feature on X suggest its rollout is imminent.

TikTok is testing out Footnotes, which is effectively its version of X's Community Notes. The company announced the new feature Wednesday in a blog post on its website.

TikTok is just the latest social media platform to roll out its own version of Community Notes, joining giants like Facebook and Instagram. The idea is that a community of users can help combat misinformation.

In the post announcing the feature, TikTok wrote:

"Footnotes will draw on the collective knowledge of the TikTok community by allowing people to add relevant information to content on our platform. To start, this feature will be tested in the U.S. for short form videos. It will add to our suite of measures that help people understand the reliability of content and access authoritative sources, including our content labels, search banners, our fact-checking program, and more."

U.S. users can apply to become Footnotes contributors but must meet certain requirements, including being on the platform for longer than six months, being 18 or older, and having no recent violations of community guidelines.

Credit: TikTok

The tool will rely on users rating the helpfulness of different Footnotes.

Wrote TikTok:

"Footnotes will use a bridge-based ranking system designed to find agreement between people who usually have different opinions, inspired by the open-sourced system that other platforms use. It works by allowing contributors with differing opinions to leave and vote on the helpfulness of a footnote. Only footnotes that meet the threshold for "helpful" will be visible to the community, at which point the broader community can vote on it, too. The more footnotes get written and rated on different topics, the smarter and more effective the system becomes."

It's not clear when, exactly, Footnotes will launch, but TikTok noted that it'll open access to the tool in the "coming months."

SAVE UP TO 47%: Amazon has hundreds of tech and toy items on sale for up to 47% off that will arrive by Sunday, including Lego sets, Bose speakers, Sony headphones, Echo devices, and National Geographic STEM toys.

Best sprig tech anad toy deals at Amazon Best tech deal Bose SoundLink Flex portable Bluetooth speaker $119 (save $30) Get Deal Best Lego deal Lego Botanicals Mini Orchid Set $24.99 (save $5) Get Deal Best toy deal National Geographic Diamond Painting Solar System Night Light $15.99 (save $4) Get Deal

Since we could all use some treats in 2025, now is a great time to snag some spring fun — especially if you're packing Easter baskets for Sunday, April 20. Even if you're not one to celebrate Easter, it's an excuse to shop some great deals and grab a few things that make you (or the kids in your life) feel good.

Amazon has discounts on plenty of tech, as well as hundreds of toys and games that are great for all ages. If you're shopping for last-minute treats, check out some of our favorites, but be sure to order today (or by tomorrow at the latest) to ensure Sunday arrival.

Best tech deal Opens in a new window Credit: Bose Bose Soundlink Flex portable Bluetooth speaker $119 at Amazon
$149 Save $30 Get Deal Why we like it

The Bose Soundlink Flex is a great summer companion that gets up to 12 hours of battery life on one charge. While it normally sells for $149, it's on sale at Amazon for $119 as of April 16. That's a 20% discount that works out to a savings of $30. Plus, this deal extends to a bunch of colorway options including Alpine Sage, Dust Blue, and Pink Petal.

The included utility loop makes the Bose easy to take on any adventure, and it's also waterproof and dustproof. The silicone-wrapped body of the portables speaker means it's better equipped to handle a tumble. Plus, Bose sound quality is always reliable.

More tech deals

• Amazfit Bip 5 Unity Smart Watch — $49.99 $69.99 (save $20)

• Ninja Fit Compact Personal Blender — $54.99 $69.99 (save $15)

• Amazon Echo Spot — $64.99 $79.99 (save $15)

• Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids Pro tablet (32GB) — $139.99 $189.99 (save $50)

• Bose QuietComfort Headphones — $249.99 $399.99 (save $100)

Best Lego deal Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Botanicals Mini Orchid Set $24.99 at Amazon
$29.99 Save $5 Get Deal Why we like it

Spring is a wonderful time to celebrate flowers — unless you have pollen allergies. Avoid the runny rose, and go with a Lego floral set. The adorable Lego Botanicals Mini Orchid Set is on sale at Amazon for $24.99, down from the usual price of $29.99.

The Lego building set is perfect for an office, dresser, or an entry-way display. Plus, it never needs watering.

SEE ALSO: 9 of the best air purifiers, according to experts More Lego deals

• Lego Daffodils — $7.99 $14.99 (save $7)

• Lego Minecraft The Pirate Ship Voyage — $9.59 $14.99 (save $5.40)

• Lego Botanicals Lucky Bamboo Set — $23.99 $29.99 (save $6)

• Lego Creator 3 in 1 Adorable Dogs Set — $23.99 $29.99 (save $6)

• Lego Creator 3 in 1 Wild Animals Panda Family — $31.99 $39.99 (save $8)

• Lego Botanicals Tiny Plants Set — $39.99 $49.99 (save $10)

Best toy deal Opens in a new window Credit: National Geographic National Geographic Diamond Painting Solar System Night Light $15.99 at Amazon
$19.99 Save $4.00 Get Deal Why we like it

National Geographic has great toys that find fun ways to introduce STEM topics. For the kids who like to craft, the National Geographic Diamond Painting Solar System Night Light is a ton of fun, and it can become part of their bedroom decor since it functions as a night light with adjustable brightness.

Thanks to today's sale price at Amazon, the crafting kit is down to just $15.99, which takes 20% off the normal price of $19.99.

More toy deals

• Kalour 72 Count Colored Pencils — $9.99 $12.99 (save $3)

• Play-Doh Rainbow Swirl Ice Cream Playset — $11.28 $19.99 (save $8.71)

• Squishmallows Original Skyler The Skunk — $11.99 $15.99 (save $4)

• Hungry Hungry Hippos Game — $13.29 $19.99 (save $6.70)

• National Geographic Bug Catcher Kit — $16.99 $19.99 (save $3)

• National Geographic Kids Weaving Kit — $18.74 $24.99 (save $3)

UPDATE: Apr. 16, 2025, 2:18 p.m. EDT Now that the OpenAI livestream has ended, this article has been updated with the latest information about the o3 and o4-mini launch.

OpenAI's o3 and o4-mini models for ChatGPT have arrived.

As expected, during a livestream event today, the ChatGPT maker released the newest versions of its reasoning models. OpenAI launched o1, its first reasoning or chain-of-thought model, last summer and skipped over o2 to announce its progress on o3 in late December. While o3 has not been publicly available until today, OpenAI already has a lightweight version, o3-mini, on the market.

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In the livestream, the OpenAI team (sans CEO Sam Altman) described some of the models' capabilities and demoed how users can use o3 and o4-mini. The models have been trained to use tools and can process visuals like charts and images.

"For the first time, our reasoning models can agentically use and combine every tool within ChatGPT—this includes searching the web, analyzing uploaded files and other data with Python, reasoning deeply about visual inputs, and even generating images," read the announcement.

The o3 model is now OpenAI's most advanced reasoning model. The lightweight o4-mini is a smaller model designed to be more cost-efficient, and it's particularly good at math and coding, according to OpenAI. Both perform higher than o1 and o3-mini on benchmarks like AIME and GPQA. They have also improved at visual reasoning, based on multimodal evaluations.

Initially, in an effort to streamline its numerous and somewhat confusing model options, Altman said they wouldn't release o3 and o4-mini as standalone models, and would instead integrate their capabilities into ChatGPT-5. But a few weeks later, the company pivoted and decided to release the two models after all, delaying the ChatGPT-5 launch. Again.

Skeptics say the multiple delays of GPT-5 indicate internal struggles to significantly improve model performance. But Altman says the wait will be worth it. In the meantime, o3 and o4-mini have been deemed strong enough models to exist on their own.

o3 and o4-mini are available today via the API and for ChatGPT Pro, Plus, and Teams subscribers, with Enterprise and Edu access coming next week.

In the lead up to Earth Day on April 22, tech giant Apple announced it's making major headway in its goal to be more environmentally friendly, including cutting global greenhouse gas emissions by 60 percent since 2015.

Apple outlines these initiatives, including recent renewable energy investments, in its newly published Environmental Progress Report. The company says it redirected 600,000 metric tons of waste through its Zero Waste program and explains it surpassed the 99 percent mark for use of recycled rare earth elements in magnetic and battery components. A line of what Apple calls carbon-neutral devices, including the Apple Watch Series 10 and Mac mini, were announced in 2024, as well.

SEE ALSO: Your old phones can help plant new trees with new AT&T trade-in program

Apple aims to reduce its carbon emissions by 75 percent, become fully carbon neutral, and switch to 100 percent renewable energy before the global 2030 climate goal deadline.

"Today, we’re using more clean energy and recycled materials to make our products than ever before, we’re preserving water and preventing waste around the world, and we’re investing big in nature," Lisa Jackson, Apple’s vice president of Environment, Policy, and Social Initiatives. "As we get closer to 2030, the work gets even harder — and we’re meeting the challenge with innovation, collaboration, and urgency."

Apple device owners can also take advantage of a new Earth Day programs, including 10 percent off an Apple accessory when they recycle an eligible item in-store. On Earth Day, Apple Watch and Fitness+ users can earn a limited-edition award by completing a 30 minute workout, as well as access planet-friendly advice in the Tips app.

This week, we're getting a peek behind the scenes at Meta and Facebook as the FTC's antitrust trial against the company begins.

On Monday and Tuesday, Meta founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg took the stand as the U.S. government makes its case that Zuckerberg and company run a social media monopoly. The FTC argues that "Facebook has engaged in a systematic strategy — including its 2012 acquisition of up-and-coming rival Instagram, its 2014 acquisition of the mobile messaging app WhatsApp, and the imposition of anticompetitive conditions on software developers — to eliminate threats to its monopoly."

For its part, Meta argues that the social media space is still full of healthy competition and that the company grew Instagram and WhatsApp into what they are today.

The antitrust trial is years in the making, with the FTC originally opening the investigation in 2019 during the first Trump administration. Already, the trial has produced revelations about Meta's history and view of the social media industry as a whole. Let's take a look at the standout revelations from the Meta-FTC antitrust trial so far.

Mark Zuckerberg was really worried about Instagram as a competitor

Before acquiring Instagram for $1 billion in 2012, Mark Zuckerberg was really worried about Instagram. So much so that the Facebook founder called the prospect of falling behind Instagram "really scary," according to internal messages from the time.

"Right now they seem to have two things that we don't: a really good camera and a photo centric sharing network," Zuckerberg wrote in an email prior to the acquisition.

Zuckerberg shared in messages that he was concerned by Instagram's rapid growth and the fact that Facebook employees were using the app.

"One concerning trend is that a huge number of people are using Instagram every day…even FB employees -- and they're only uploading some of their photos to FB," Zuckerberg said.

Messages like this show that Zuckerberg viewed Instagram as an existential threat to Facebook's social media dominance. And he wasn't only concerned about Instagram beating Facebook; he was also worried that a larger competitor would scoop up Instagram first.

“If Instagram continues to kick ass on mobile or if Google buys them, then over the next few years they could easily add pieces of their service that copy what we're doing now," Zuckerberg said. "I view this as a big strategic risk for us if we don't completely own the photos space.”

Facebook was building an Instagram competitor  Credit: picture alliance / Getty Images

“Theoretically we could go build this technology, but I’m worried we’re so far behind,” Zuckerberg wrote as he contemplated what an Instagram acquisition would cost the company. 

In fact, Facebook was so concerned about Instagram that it started building a competing product. The company had interns working on building a competitor to the photo-sharing social network before ultimately deciding they were too far behind. According to internal company messages from 2011, Zuckerberg wasn't happy with the progress being made on a Facebook Camera app.

"We might want to consider paying a lot of money for this," Zuckerberg said, speaking of Instagram.

Zuckerberg considered abandoning Instagram after the acquisition

One really damning piece of the FTC's case is a 2012 message from Zuckerberg from just months before Facebook acquired Instagram.

The Facebook founder considered buying Instagram and doing nothing with it. Under this strategy, the sole purpose of the acquisition would be to keep away the competition.

“By not killing their products we prevent everyone from hating us and we make sure we don’t immediately create a hole in the market for someone else to fill but all future development would go towards our core products," Zuckerberg said in February 2012.

Zuckerberg defended himself against the FTC's argument here by pointing out that the company didn't end up utilizing this strategy.

Facebook was also concerned about failed platforms like Google+

One of the FTC's other core arguments is that Facebook maintains a monopoly over platforms that "connect family and friends" specifically.

To bolster that case, the FTC raised Zuckerberg's concerns over now-defunct social media platforms.

Path was a social media app that launched in 2010 with the purpose of only connecting with a user's closest 50 family members and friends.

At the time, Zuckerberg was concerned about the app, and Facebook even considered acquiring it.

Zuckerberg was also worried about the launch of Google+ in 2011, admittedly because it was directly competing as a social network among family and friends.

Years later, in 2013, Zuckerberg would contemplate blocking ads on Facebook for mobile messenger apps like WeChat and Line as he worried about those companies becoming competitors.

Facebook offered $6 billion for Snapchat

Facebook tried to acquire Snapchat way back in 2013 for $3 billion. This was widely covered years ago when that news first leaked.

However, there was another, much higher offer that Snapchat turned down that was just revealed at the Meta antitrust trial.

According to Zuckerberg, after the initial $3 billion offer to acquire Snapchat was turned down in 2013, Facebook went back to the company later that year, offering double the amount. However, Snap CEO Evan Spiegel turned down the $6 billion offer as well.

Zuckerberg worried about Snapchat Stories

Snapchat changed the mobile social networking game when it released Stories shortly after turning down Facebook's acquisition offer.

According to internal messages from 2014, Zuckerberg was concerned about the feature.

“Snapchat is now more of a competitor for Instagram and News Feed than it ever was for messaging," he said. “We need to take this new dynamic seriously, both as a competitive risk and as a product opportunity to add functionality that many people clearly love and want to use daily.”

Instagram would go on to launch its own Stories feature in 2016.

Meta views TikTok, LinkedIn as competition

During the trial, Mark Zuckerberg has conceded that Meta views platforms like TikTok and LinkedIn as competition.

Meta even presented evidence showing that when TikTok went down during the brief period that it was banned in the U.S. earlier this year, Facebook and Instagram traffic surged by 20 percent and 17 percent, respectively.

Zuckerberg even shared that the company views the professional social network LinkedIn and the local social network Nextdoor as competitors. According to Zuckerberg, the reason for this is that Facebook is no longer a social media platform just for family and friends.

While this is interesting, it's also a bit self-serving, too. As previously mentioned, the FTC's argument is built around Meta monopolizing the "friends and family" networking space, which includes Snapchat and even smaller platforms like MeWe. (Zuckerberg admitted to never hearing of MeWe before. Mashable previously covered the platform in 2020 during a brief period when it gained popularity among conservative social media users.)

Platforms like TikTok, despite its broad popularity in the social media space, are not being considered as competition to Facebook in the FTC case. That likely explains why Zuckerberg is content with sharing this information in order to refute the government's argument.

Zuckerberg wanted to reset everyone's Facebook friends, create ad-only feed

Perhaps the weirdest revelation during the trial so far is in regards to some off-the-wall ideas Zuckerberg had for Facebook.

According to internal company emails, Zuckerberg came up with an idea in 2022 to reset every Facebook user's friends to zero and then continue to wipe everyone's social graph annually.

Zuckerberg also admitted that the company once considered creating a feed that only provided users with ads.

The Meta-FTC antitrust trial is ongoing, and there are sure to be more revelations as the case progresses. We'll continue covering this story as it develops. You can also view the FTC's exhibits from the case online via Dropbox.