Technology

An upcoming biopic about the mysterious creator of Bitcoin, Satoshi Nakamoto, starring both Casey Affleck and Pete Davidson, is causing controversy for its willingness to use artificial intelligence, not only to generate backgrounds and scene locations but also to adjust actor performances.

The film, Killing Satoshi, will be directed by Doug Liman (The Bourne Identity and 2024's Road House) but it was producer Ryan Kavanaugh who has been making headlines when he disclosed in a U.K. casting notice that the filmmakers reserve the right to "adjust" actor performances, including the right to "change, add to, take from, translate, reformat or reprocess" those performances, and that the actors themselves will be performing on a "markerless performative capture stage and not in any locations," according to reporting by Variety. 

These revelations come at a time of heightened anxiety and uncertainty in the film and TV industry, particularly around the use of artificial intelligence to augment, or even fully replace, the work of creative professionals. Labor unions, copyright lawyers, and federal courts are scrambling to come to terms with the implications of generative AI’s incredible ability to repurpose existing creative material.

Consider, for example, this AI-generated encounter between Keanu Reeves’ characters Neo and John Wick and Arnold Schwarzenegger’s iconic Terminator, created using Seedance 2.0, or this AI-generated clip of Jack Black doing a comedic turn as Darth Vader from Star Wars, created using Google’s Veo 4, and you’ll quickly grasp the transformative and disruptive power of these technologies. 

In response to the public anxiety around the choice to lean into AI use in the making of Killing Satoshi, producer Ryan Kavanaugh had this to say to Variety: 

We were very cautious, sensitive and overly protective of our actors to make sure we only use performance capture AI which means that we will not have any AI-generated actors that do not exist. AI is a tool we’re using to make the filmmaking process more efficient while maintaining all department heads’ jobs, all actor jobs and hopefully helping to grow the industry in a positive way.

Though currently still just in production, Killing Satoshi will be one of the first movies to test these boundaries, so anyone interested in the intersection of AI and creative work should pay close attention to its reception.

Romance is in the air, and Valentine's Day weekend has officially arrived. Apple TV celebrated a little early by adding the most enticing fantasy romantic comedy of 2025, Eternity, which enjoyed a moderately successful run in theaters late last year. Eternity is a tale of a woman who must choose between two men to spend her afterlife with. It's surprisingly sweet and clever, but there are plenty of other fantasy rom-coms out there to enjoy if Eternity doesn't fill the quota.

As an experienced coder or a newcomer learning your first programming language, setting up your development environment can be tricky. Let me show you how I put together the perfect Linux programming platform using VS Code and containers.

Welcome to your guide to Pips, the latest game in the New York Times catalogue.

Released in August 2025, the Pips puts a unique spin on dominoes, creating a fun single-player experience that could become your next daily gaming habit.

Currently, if you're stuck, the game only offers to reveal the entire puzzle, forcing you to move onto the next difficulty level and start over. However, we have you covered! Below are piecemeal answers that will serve as hints so that you can find your way through each difficulty level.

How to play Pips

If you've ever played dominoes, you'll have a passing familiarity for how Pips is played. As we've shared in our previous hints stories for Pips, the tiles, like dominoes, are placed vertically or horizontally and connect with each other. The main difference between a traditional game of dominoes and Pips is the color-coded conditions you have to address. The touching tiles don't necessarily have to match.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for February 14, 2026

The conditions you have to meet are specific to the color-coded spaces. For example, if it provides a single number, every side of a tile in that space must add up to the number provided. It is possible – and common – for only half a tile to be within a color-coded space.

Here are common examples you'll run into across the difficulty levels:

• Number: All the pips in this space must add up to the number.

• Equal: Every domino half in this space must be the same number of pips.

• Not Equal: Every domino half in this space must have a completely different number of pips.

• Less than: Every domino half in this space must add up to less than the number.

• Greater than: Every domino half in this space must add up to more than the number.

If an area does not have any color coding, it means there are no conditions on the portions of dominoes within those spaces.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for February 14, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for Feb. 14 Pips

Equal (1): Everything in this purple space must be equal to 1. The answer is 1-1, placed vertically; 1-5, placed vertically.

Number (5): Everything in this orange space must add up to 5. The answer is 3-6, placed vertically; 4-2, placed vertically.

Equal (4): Everything in this purple space must be equal to 4. The answer is 4-2, placed vertically; 5-4, placed vertically.

Number (5): Everything in this red space must add up to 5. The answer is 5-4, placed vertically.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for Feb. 14 Pips

Equal (1): Everything in this space must be equal to 1. The answer is 4-1, placed horizontally; 1-5, placed vertically.

Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 1-5, placed vertically.

Equal (5): Everything in this dark blue space must be equal to 5. The answer is 2-5, placed vertically; 5-5, placed horizontally.

Equal (4): Everything in this orange space must be equal to 4. The answer is 4-4, placed horizontally; 0-4, placed vertically.

Equal (0): Everything in this red space must be equal to 0. The answer is 0-4, placed vertically; 0-3, placed horizontally.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for Feb. 14 Pips

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 1-1, placed horizontally.

Number (1): Everything in this space must add up to 1. The answer is 1-4, placed horizontally.

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 1-4, placed horizontally.

Equal (3): Everything in this orange space must be equal to 3. The answer is 3-4, placed vertically; 3-3, placed horizontally.

Equal (2): Everything in this dark blue space must be equal to 2. The answer is 2-2, placed horizontally; 2-5, placed vertically.

Number (6): Everything in this space must add up to 6. The answer is 6-6, placed horizontally.

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 1-5, placed horizontally; 2-5, placed vertically.

Equal (4): Everything in this green space must be equal to 4. The answer is 2-4, placed vertically; 3-4, placed vertically; 4-4, placed horizontally.

Number (1): Everything in this space must add up to 1. The answer is 1-5, placed horizontally; 0-2, placed horizontally; 0-0, placed vertically.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Today's Connections: Sports Edition is know your spot up shooters.

As we've shared in previous hints stories, this is a version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans.

Like the original Connections, the game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier — so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for the latest Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections: Sports Edition?

The NYT's latest daily word game has launched in association with The Athletic, the New York Times property that provides the publication's sports coverage. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

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

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. Here's a hint for today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Ref noises

• Green: NBA Jam

• Blue: Sharpshooters

• Purple: College icons

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Signal for Play to Stop

• Green: Dunks

• Blue: NBA 3-Point Contest Winners

• Purple: College Mascots

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

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

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections: Sports Edition #509 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• Signal for Play to Stop - BUZZER, HORN, SIREN, WHISTLE

• Dunks - 360, BETWEEN-THE-LEGS, REVERSE, WINDMILL

• NBA 3-Point Contest Winners - HERRO, HIELD, LOVE, PIERCE

• College Mascots - BIG AL, BRUTUS, OTTO, RAMESES

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

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Connections.

It’s 2026 and, for some reason, I still have to use third-party tools to access my computers remotely—except for my Raspberry Pi. It seems the cheap single board computers are more technologically advanced than my high-end MacBook Pro or Windows desktops, and I’m not sure why that’s still the case.

Even though modern game consoles demand fast solid state storage for playing games, they can still use external hard drives and SSDs for archive storage and other features. If you have an old drive you’re not using, it might be a great upgrade for your console.

Google Home is one of the big players in the smart home world, offering cross-platform support for a large number of devices at a reasonable price point. Though there are many reasons that you might turn to Google for your smart home needs, there are a few uncomfortable truths that are worth acknowledging.

Android apps are required to ask for permission to access your photos, track your steps, read notifications, and much more. Some Permissions have a bigger impact on your phone’s performance than others. There are three, in particular, that shouldn’t be granted willy-nilly.

Recently I needed to set up a publicly available form. I didn't want to use Google Docs, and I don't have enough web development skills to build my own and deploy it securely. That's why I ended up using an alternative: CryptPad.

This was another busy week in tech, with Discord making everyone upset, Sony's long-awaited WF-1000XM6 earbuds, YouTube TV launching new cheaper plans, and much more. Here are the biggest stories you might have missed.

Bash, and other shells like zsh, support several test operators that you can use to check conditions: whether something is a file, or if one number is larger than another, for example. These tests are very useful and will likely feature in most shell scripts you write.

There have been a lot of heated conversations around Emerald Fennell’s "Wuthering Heights" since it was first announced. Months before the film’s release, behind-the-scenes pictures and later the film’s trailer, outraged the internet, as people complained about Fennel’s casting choices, the anachronistic costumes, and everything that signaled that this wouldn't be the adaptation of Emily Brontë’s Victorian classic fans were expecting.

But what did we expect? And is a good adaptation one that mimics the book, or is there something else that the latest one is missing?

"Wuthering Heights" is out on Feb. 13 in theatres across the U.S. and the UK.

Modern cars are packed with technology that promises to make driving safer, easier, and more convenient. Touchscreens manage climate control, cameras guide parking, and sensors warn us of obstacles we can’t see. Yet despite all this innovation, the most-used and most practical tool in my car didn’t come from a dealership or an electronics store. It came from a supermarket aisle and cost me just two dollars: a simple towel.

Thread is the hot new low-power mesh network in the smart home world, with IKEA recently adopting it for a new range of Matter devices. But even though Thread is the future, Zigbee still gets my personal pick for the present. Let me explain.

TL;DR: Live stream Scotland vs. England in the 2026 Six Nations for free on ITVX. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The Six Nations started in the manner we've come to expect, with big performances from top teams.

England secured a confident victory over Wales in the opening round, but Scotland suffered a disappointing defeat away to Italy. There's a lot of work to be done by Scotland if they want to avoid finishing at the bottom of the standings this year, and that starts with a visit from a confident England side. Most fans will expect England to pick up maximum points here, but Murrayfield has been a tricky prospect for England over the years.

If you want to watch Scotland vs. England in the 2026 Six Nations for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Scotland vs. England?

Scotland vs. England in the 2026 Six Nations starts at 4:40 p.m. GMT on Feb. 14. This fixture takes place at Murrayfield Stadium.

How to watch Scotland vs. England for free

Scotland vs. England in the 2026 Six Nations 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 handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can unblock ITVX from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Scotland vs. England from anywhere in the world 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. Live stream Scotland vs. England for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.99 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 watch Scotland vs. England without committing with your cash. This isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream most of the 2026 Six Nations before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming services to watch the Winter Olympics, the T20 World Cup, and more from anywhere in 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 the 2026 Six Nations?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport, 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 Scotland vs. England in the 2026 Six Nations for free with ExpressVPN.

This weekend I'm going to start using a new distro on the secondary disk drive on my Linux laptop. It's one that had escaped my notice for a long time, but I was pretty sure I'd struck gold when I saw it.

The Google Pixel Buds 2a are a good option if you're looking for budget-friendly earbuds that don't compromise on essential features like sound quality and active noise cancellation (ANC). They don't do anything extraordinary or new, but what they do, they do well.

Sometimes, the anticipation of a hookup is even hotter than the main event. In my experience, sexting is the ultimate form of digital foreplay. It’s the glue that keeps long-distance relationships from falling apart, the spark that stops long-term couples from feeling like roommates, and — for all you singles out there — the safest way to test sexual chemistry before you ever meet up in person.

There's just one problem: You can't (and shouldn't!) trust your most intimate moments to just any app. Sliding into the DMs on a random dating app might feel like spontaneous fun, but in 2026, your digital footprint is forever. If you're going to share that side of yourself, you need to know it stays between you and the recipient.

As Mashable's resident dating app expert, I've spent the last three years testing dozens of platforms to find the best and most discreet apps for the job. My highest priority is always user safety. I also spoke with security expert Gary Orenstein, who stressed that for sharing intimate content, "privacy features cannot be optional — they’re essential." He recommends looking for apps with three key features: end-to-end encryption, disappearing messages, and screenshot detection.

SEE ALSO: A beginner's guide to sexting

After all, if you believe in safe sex, you should practice safe sexting, too. Based on my hands-on testing and these expert criteria, I’ve picked the best sexting apps that will keep your chats private — whether you're messaging a partner, a hookup, or a verified creator.

Recent updates to this guide:

• Confide: I’ve moved this back to the #1 spot. On balance, its specific privacy tools (like screenshot-proofing) just give it the edge over everything else right now.

• Lovense Remote: I added this as the winner for "Group Sexting." It's also the best way for couples (and polyamorous folks) to sync Bluetooth toys for long-distance play.

• FetLife: Added as "Best for Kink." It’s less of a standard app and more of a social network, but it remains the go-to place for finding niche communities.

What about other sexting sites?

You've probably seen other "best of" lists recommending apps I've left off. That's intentional. My goal is to recommend platforms where you can make connections, not just burn cash.

Here's why a few popular names didn't make the cut:

• A note on "paid operator" sites: Many sites marketed for sexting (like InstaBang, Arousr, and SextLocal) don't primarily connect you with other real users. Instead, they often use "chat operators" to keep you talking and paying. While there's nothing wrong with a paid fantasy, I don't consider that mutual sexting. My list focuses on apps for real, user-to-user interaction (with the exception of SextPanther, which connects you with verified adult performers).

• Couple's apps: You also won't find apps like Between on this list. While it's a private messenger for couples, it lacks the specific features that make sexting fun. If you want to level up your digital intimacy, my picks (like We-Vibe and Lovense) are much more interactive.

TL;DR: Live stream Aston Villa vs. Newcastle United in the FA Cup for free on BBC iPlayer. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The latest round of FA Cup fixtures includes some really fascinating matchups, including Aston Villa vs. Newcastle United.

Aston Villa are flying high in the Premier League and will be confident of progressing into the next round. That's not going to be straightforward. Newcastle United have struggled to find form this season, but they have the talent to beat any side on their best day. They just overcame Spurs away from home in the Premier League, so they'll be riding high coming into this fixture.

If you want to watch Aston Villa vs. Newcastle United in the FA Cup for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Aston Villa vs. Newcastle United?

Aston Villa vs. Newcastle United in the FA Cup kicks off at 5:45 p.m. GMT on Feb. 14. This fixture takes place at Villa Park.

How to watch Aston Villa vs. Newcastle United for free

Aston Villa vs. Newcastle United in the FA 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 handy 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 from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Aston Villa vs. Newcastle United 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. Live stream Aston Villa vs. Newcastle United 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 watch Aston Villa vs. Newcastle United without committing with your cash. This isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to live stream select fixtures from the FA Cup before recovering your investment.

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 Aston Villa vs. Newcastle United in the FA Cup for free with ExpressVPN.