Technology

We have a lot going on these days, and a lot of it causes anxiety and stress. A bright spot for most of us is sitting down to stream our favorite shows and movies. Sometimes the perfect weekend is simply booting up Disney+ and tuning into the classics while relaxing. Sure, you can do this on a TV, but those have size restrictions for most of us. Projectors, on the other hand, can give us a massive screen. We’re talking watching every Lord of the Rings movie on a 120-inch display. While projectors used to be something fancy we only saw in the classroom or the boardroom, we’ve come a long way with projector technology, and now they can replace your home's TV without costing a fortune.

The LG CineBeam Q is a perfect example, coming in at under $1,000. While it does have some drawbacks, I’m thrilled with the CineBeam Q and haven’t used my normal wall-mounted TV since I started testing this projector. I might not go back. 

What’s to love about the LG CineBeam Q 4K projector

Right off the bat, the LG CineBeam Q gives a beautiful display. I’ve powered this thing on hundreds of times, and I still say, “Oh that’s pretty,” every single time, and this checks out when we consider the specs. The LG CineBeam Q is a 4K UHD laser projector with a native resolution of 3840 x 2160. Of course, you can do whatever you’d like, but LG recommends opting for a screen size somewhere between 50 and 120 inches with the CineBeam Q.

Does it get any better than a summer movie night? Credit: Lauren Allain / Mashable

During the month I tested the LG projector, I used it on an Elite Screens Yard Master Plus, which I mostly used indoors, despite the name, but carried outside if the Seattle weather allowed. Since not everyone has a projector screen, I also used the classic substitute of a white sheet. While the Elite Screens offered a noticeably better viewing experience, a backyard movie night would work just fine with the CineBeam Q and a white sheet or inside on a white-ish wall. 

While I absolutely love the portability and overall user-friendliness of the Nebula Capsule 3 Laser projector, the display quality of the LG CineBeam Q is noticeably better in a side-by-side comparison. And that’s to be expected since the Nebula maxes out at 1080p and 300 lumens while the LG boasts a 4K display at 500 lumens.

For those interested, here are some noteworthy details of the LG CineBeam Q 4K projector:

Specs:

• Size: 3.1 in. W x 5.3 in. H x 5.3 in. D

• Weight: 3.3 pounds

• Rated brightness: 500 ANSI lumens

• Native resolution: UHD 4K 3840 x 2160

• Inputs and interface: HDMI, UBS-C (charging and display)

• Warranty: 1 year

A side-table worthy design

We have tons of home appliances and tech that focus on function and forget about looks. Air purifiers tend to stick out, and that set of adjustable dumbbells is not great decor, but the LG design team really made an effort with the CineBeam Q, and it pays off. It’s a great-looking projector, and I wouldn’t hesitate to use it as bookshelf decor or keep it safely on a side table when not in use. It looks modern and high-end with silver housing and an accented pink gold around the projector’s lens. 

Props to the LG design team on this one. Credit: Lauren Allain / Mashable Mostly hands-off focus and screen alignment

Like all good projectors, the CineBeam Q has automatic focus and keystoning. For those unfamiliar with projector jargon, keystoning removes distortion that can occur to provide a perfect rectangular display, instead of one in a wonky shape. If your projector isn’t sitting directly in front of the display area, it would show up in a distorted shape. Keystoning adjusts this to always project in a perfect rectangle. The automatic focus and keystoning on the LG produces a great result, eventually. The process is quick but can take a few attempts, and the remote lacks a button to command the projector to redo it.

An easy-to-store entertainment solution

Given that it weighs only 3.3 pounds, the LG CineBeam Q is great for homes that don’t want or have space for a traditional TV. Maybe you live in an apartment and move often or you only watch TV once a new season of The White Lotus drops. For whatever reason, the LG CineBeam Q makes for a great alternative viewing method if you’re not interested in owning a TV. The sleek and modern design makes the projector quite nice to store on a bookshelf, or its compact size will easily slide into a closet.

Portable in all ways except one

In addition to its compact size, the projector's built-in stand can rotate to the top, serving as a convenient carrying handle. This makes for a super portable projector that would be perfect for outdoor movie nights, camping trips, or even packing along for the holiday season at the in-laws'. However, there’s a glaring flaw in this portability — the LG CineBeam Q does not have a built-in battery and must connect to external power. In more disappointing news, the included adapter is chunky and subtracts from the portability points I so wanted to give the LG CineBeam Q. The good news is that you can charge via USB-C, so I immediately ditched the included adapter and shifted to my laptop and phone charger, the Anker 737 GaNPrime charger.

That's a satisfying handle. Credit: Lauren Allain / Mashable

I love an outdoor movie night, so despite the need for power, I still took the CineBeam Q on field trips to the yard. I powered it up thanks to an Anker Solix C1000 portable power station. If you don’t have that option, you’ll have to go with running an extension cord across the yard. That also means it’s probably not worth packing along on a camping trip unless your site has hookups. 

A speaker worth ignoring

In testing, I found the built-in speaker on the LG CineBeam Q to be the projector’s greatest downfall. The sound is tinny and outdated, like something you would expect from a projector made for a classroom in the 1990s. Instead, I used a Bluetooth speaker and recommend others do the same. I used my current favorite, the Fender x Teufel Rockster Cross, but go with whatever you have. Another issue in this LG speaker mess is the lack of a 3.5mm audio jack on the projector, which feels like a move Apple would pull on us. That means you won’t be able to connect your home’s sound system to the projector and will be forced to use a Bluetooth connection. Since most people own a speaker capable of Bluetooth, this doesn’t feel like a deal breaker but it seems like an oversight in the otherwise thoughtful design.

SEE ALSO: The Sonos Arc Ultra soundbar is the closest I've gotten to movie theater sound at home An old-school remote doesn’t match the modern vibes

Since it’s essentially functioning as your TV, you’ll want a remote control to use with the projector. LG’s included CineBeam remote has all the usual buttons you’d want, although I’d love an auto-focus addition, as sometimes when moving the projector to center on your screen, it can become quite autofocus-happy and constantly readjust, throwing off your attempts at a perfect fit. The real annoyance here is that this remote operates with a standard IR (infrared) signal and needs to be physically pointed at the receiver on the back of the projector in order to work. Most modern remotes these days operate via Bluetooth, so you don’t have to hold the remote at arm’s length in the air and, in my case, dodge around the Bluetooth speaker sitting behind it, or get up when the projector was sitting on a shelf behind me. While this is a small gripe, it came up more often than expected.

USB-C charging is a major plus with this model. Credit: Lauren Allain / Mashable Perfect for movie nights

If you’re one to watch every Oscar-nominated film during regular movie nights, the CineBeam Q 4K could be awesome. With the rising cost of movie theatre tickets and concessions, watching via a 4K projector at home could save you big bucks in the long run. Plus, there’s something special about watching big-screen movies on an actual big screen, but at home. 

The one thing to keep in mind here is the max 500 ANSI lumens on the CineBeam Q, which make it ideal for watching in dimly lit or dark rooms. If you want to spend the afternoon binge-watching Cheers, you probably want a 4K projector with higher lumens, like up in the thousands. The 500 lumens on a portable projector that weighs close to nothing is still impressive, but you’ll want to make sure that works with your viewing desires.

Is the LG CineBeam Q worth it?

Given that the number one priority of a projector is image quality, the LG CineBeam Q is impressive. The contrast, sharpness, and colors from this 4K resolution have me tempted to not go back to a traditional TV. For a compact projector that weighs about three pounds, the display quality is absurdly good. The design of the projector itself is also really nice, and I don’t mind that it hangs out in my living room. 

LG considers the CineBeam Q to be a portable projector, and that’s mostly true in terms of weight and dimensions, but it needs an external power source. That’s no problem if you’ll be taking it from room to room in your house, but it poses a logistical question if you’re going for an outdoor movie night. But again, the picture is just so damn nice that I didn't mind solving the power issue.

The LG CineBeam Q is well worth the price if you’re considering a 4K projector since most options cost far more. Keep in mind the 500 lumens mean this model is best for dimly lit or dark rooms, and it won’t impress as much if you’re watching mid-day reruns in a bright living room.

LG CineBeam Q 4K projector $746.99 at Amazon
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Raspberry Pis are everywhere. And they are often used as everyday computers as well. This laptop is powered by a Raspberry Pi—and it's cooler than you think.

OpenAI provided new insight this week into just how much people use its signature AI chatbot on a daily basis.

If you guessed that people entered 1 billion prompts into ChatGPT every day, you still wouldn't be close. You'd have to double that figure, and then add a half billion more, to arrive at the true sum.

That's according to an Axios scoop, which revealed that 2.5 billion prompts are made every day in ChatGPT, OpenAI's signature chatbot.

On Monday, Axios published a report detailing OpenAI CEO Sam Altman's plans this week in Washington, D.C., where he'll be lobbying for the AI industry. OpenAI gave Axios some eye-opening numbers about ChatGPT's daily usage statistics in advance of that trip. In addition to 2.5 billion daily prompts (a number that can't be independently verified), the company also claims at least 330 million of those prompts come from U.S. users.

How many people use ChatGPT?

So, how many people use ChatGPT daily? In terms of total users, the company has reported since April that it has 500 million active weekly users, per Forbes.

And according to popular web analytics company SEMRush, ChatGPT is now the fifth-most-visited website in the world, with about 4.6 billion visits in May 2025. In addition, analytics company Backlinko reports that ChatGPT gained 100 million users in its first three months, and it now "accounts for 62.5% of the market share for AI tools" with about 10 million paid subscribers.

SEE ALSO: OpenAI announces ChatGPT agent for web browsing

Axios also reported that a majority of ChatGPT users rely on the free version of the AI chatbot, which shouldn't come as a surprise.

Since its explosive debut, ChatGPT has become a hugely influential tool, and many users now rely on it instead of Google to answer questions and find information online. While AI chatbots like ChatGPT have dedicated true believers, outlets like The Economist also report that "AI is killing the web." On top of that, an article in The Wall Street Journal recently referred to an "AI Armageddon," reporting that "Chatbots are replacing Google’s traditional search, devastating traffic for some publishers."

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

Is Google Gemini free? Yes and no. While there are paid plans for Google AI, aka Gemini, you can access many of its most popular features for free.

As one of the world’s largest tech companies, Google has an advantage over its AI rivals: the company has the money to float the tech while it figures out how to monetize it. On top of that, Google has unparalleled access to a critical AI resource — data.

"The data is their biggest immediate powerhouse," AI researcher and consultant Jack Teitel told Mashable by email. "Competitors like Anthropic and OpenAI have good talent, and can raise lots of capital, and they have the advantage of being earlier to market, making it easier to capture a 'piece of the pie.' However, between YouTube and Google, Google has access to an unmatched repository of data that they are most definitely using to train models."

The end result of these advantages? Google Gemini offers a ton of advanced AI features that are completely free, and while that may change as Google tries to find a way to turn its investment in AI into actual revenue, for now, you can access a range of awesome AI features without paying a cent for the Google AI Pro ($19.99 a month) or Google AI Ultra ($249.99 a month) subscription plans.

That said, it can be confusing to know which Gemini features are free and which ones you have to pay for. Some features, like the groundbreaking Google Veo 3 AI video generator, currently aren’t available for free users. Between the web, the Gemini app, and Android OS 16, here are all the things you can do for free using Google Gemini.

Create images

Gemini can generate images from text prompts with a free account, unlike many other AI services. Just describe what you want to see, and Gemini will create it for you using the Imagen 4 model, Google’s latest-and-greatest image generation model. Now, when we compared the best AI image generators, Gemini didn't make the cut, but it's getting better all the time.

A Gemini image based on the prompt, "Create a sketch of a futuristic Tokyo skyline at sunset, with flying cars, glowing advertisements in Japanese, and Mount Fuji in the background." (AI-generated image) Credit: Gemini

The image generation works pretty well for a free tool. The AI handles different art styles too — specify if you want something photorealistic, cartoon-style, or even painted in the style of a famous artist. Just note that content limitations mean it won’t create images of real people or inappropriate content. The quality isn't quite as good as some AI image generators — I've found OpenAI's GPT-4o to be the best so far — but it's still very capable for most uses.

The main limitation of the free version is that you're capped at a lower rate limit, though Google doesn’t disclose the details of those limits. Basically, you’re more likely to be told you need to wait before creating more images than if you have a paid account. 

Deep Research

Deep Research is one of Gemini's most impressive features, letting you get comprehensive reports on complex topics without having to do all the legwork yourself. You give Gemini a research question, and it'll spend several minutes systematically searching the web, analyzing sources, and compiling everything into a detailed, well-organized report. It’s like having a researcher who can dig through lots of sources in only a few minutes.

Because of how Deep Research works, it’s likely to be more accurate than typical AI searches — though as with anything AI, you’ll want to double-check important information and be on the lookout for hallucinations in the results. 

Deep Research is available to free users, though with limitations. Free users can try Deep Research a few times a month, according to Google, while Gemini Advanced subscribers get significantly more access. Free users also get the basic version powered by Gemini 2.0 Flash, while paid subscribers can access a more powerful version using Gemini 2.5 Pro that produces even more detailed and insightful reports.

Create Gems

Gems are one of Gemini's coolest features — they're custom AI assistants that you can create for specific tasks. They’re basically Google’s version of ChatGPT’s custom GPTs. Gems are free to create and use, without limitations. Google recently rolled them out to all users, putting them ahead of competitors like OpenAI, which charges $20 per month for custom GPTs.

You can start with Google's pre-made Gems, which are worth browsing, or create your own from scratch. Creating a custom Gem is straightforward. Just hit the “Explore Gems” button in the left-hand sidebar, then create a “New Gem.” You’ll give it instructions, upload related files you want it to reference, and then you can use it. Once created, your Gems appear in the sidebar, and you can chat with them just like regular Gemini.

The only limitation is that you can only create and edit Gems on the web, though you can use them on mobile once they're set up. They also don't work with Gemini Live yet, but for most tasks, they're incredibly useful for automating repetitive prompts.

Voice chat with Gemini Credit: Google

Gemini Live turns your phone into a conversational AI companion that you can actually talk to, and it’s also free with the Gemini app on iOS and Android. That includes being able to share live images and video feeds. As of this writing, Google says Gemini Live is "Available to mobile users in 45+ languages and over 150 countries."

Like other AI voice chats, Gemini has been getting a whole lot more natural-feeling. You can interrupt it mid-sentence to ask follow-up questions or change topics, just like you would in a real conversation. Google says people have conversations that are five times longer with Gemini Live compared to text chats, which shows how engaging voice interaction can be.

The free version gives you access to all the core features, including the ability to share your camera or screen during conversations. You can point your phone at something and talk through what you're seeing, whether you need help fixing something, want outfit advice, or need step-by-step guidance. 

The feature is rolling out integration with Google's other apps too, so you can discuss plans and have Gemini automatically create calendar events, or ask about restaurants and get real-time info from Google Maps. That makes it even more useful.

Use NotebookLM

NotebookLM is Google's AI research assistant that uses sources and documents you specify to help you pull up relevant information on a particular topic. Upload PDFs, web articles, or files from Google Drive, and it becomes an instant expert on that material, ready to answer questions with citations back to the original sources.

A standout feature is Audio Overviews, which takes your uploaded documents and turns them into engaging podcast-style conversations between two AI hosts. The hosts actually discuss your material, make connections between ideas, and even banter back and forth. You can download these audio summaries and listen while commuting or working out.

NotebookLM is available for free, though it does have usage limits — you can create up to 100 notebooks, add 50 sources per notebook, and generate 3 Audio Overviews per day. For most people, that's plenty. Upgrading will basically expand on those limits, though even the paid plans still have limits.

Android AI

Android devices come packed with AI features that work behind the scenes, many of which you might not even realize are powered by artificial intelligence. Circle to Search is one of the most useful — just long-press your home button and circle anything on your screen to instantly search for it with Google. It’s particularly helpful for finding items you might want to buy. 

The Circle to Search feature is free for Android users. Credit: Mashable composite: Google / Getty Images

There are other features on Android too, beyond access to Gemini itself. Google Photos has become an AI hub, with new tools added on a regular basis. Magic Eraser lets you remove unwanted objects and people from photos with a simple tap, while Photo Unblur sharpens those frustratingly blurry shots you can't retake. Magic Editor goes even further, using generative AI to help you move objects around in photos or change backgrounds entirely. These features were previously locked behind paid subscriptions but are now available to everyone.

Other AI features work more in the background. Live Caption lets you automatically add subtitles to videos or audio playing on your device, while Smart Reply suggests responses in messaging apps. On Pixel phones, you’ll get perks like Call Screen (where AI answers spam calls for you), Hold for Me (AI waits on hold during customer service calls), and Now Playing (which identifies songs playing around you without you having to ask). Many of these features work offline and don't require any setup — they're just there when you need them.

Gemini Developer API

Does the Google Gemini API have a free pricing tier? Surprisingly, yes. If you have a Google Developer account, you can create a free Google Gemini API key using Google AI Studio (again, if you have access). The Gemini API free tier gives you limited access to the Gemini 2.5 Pro, Gemini 2.5 Flash, and other models. We should note that when you use the free tier, Google says your inputs and outputs can be "used to improve our products."

Even more free Gemini features

Google has integrated free AI tools into all kinds of other services and apps. Here’s are some of the more popular ones:

• Smart Compose in Gmail: Finishes your sentences as you type emails, learning your writing style over time.

• Smart Reply suggestions: Offers quick response options in Gmail and other messaging apps.

• Auto-generated captions: YouTube automatically creates captions for videos, and Google Meet transcribes meetings in real-time.

• Auto-organize in Photos: Automatically creates albums, identifies faces, and groups similar photos without you lifting a finger.

• Translation integration: Instant translation built into Chrome, Google Lens, and other apps.

• Spam filtering: Increasingly sophisticated AI blocks unwanted emails, calls, and messages across Google services.

• Virtually try on clothes: The new Google Shopping "Try on" feature lets you upload a photo of yourself and see how clothes will look on your body.

So what’s not free? A screenshot of an example Veo 3 video created by Google. (AI-generated image) Credit: Google

Google does, of course, charge for some of its more advanced AI features. Here’s a quick list of AI features that you’ll have to pay for with Google.

• Access more advanced models: Paid Gemini subscribers can access Gemini 2.5 Pro with higher usage limits.

• Video creation: Access the Veo 3 video model, along with the Flow video editing tool and Whisk image to video tool.

• Do more with NotebookLM: Get higher usage limits with 20 daily Audio Overviews.

• Project Mariner: Use an AI agent to streamline tasks (in beta, only available in Google AI Ultra)

For most casual users, the free tier offers plenty, but power users, professionals, and developers who need unfettered access to the Google Gemini API will likely find the paid features worth the investment.

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

TerraMaster has officially released the D1 SSD Plus, a brand-new USB4 SSD enclosure that's designed to give anyone working on the go some serious speed and versatility. It turns any NVMe SSD into a high-speed external drive for your laptop, tablet, desktop PC, and other USB-compatible devices.

Google does things a lot differently from most other Android OEMs. And one of the things it does differently is that it's really bad at preventing leaks—and for years I've been sure they do this on purpose. If you thought Google was going to do things differently this year, too bad—the company just couldn't hold the Pixel 10 for a few more weeks.

The Garuda Linux team announced over the weekend changes to several packages that enable hardware support, including for Nvidia cards. It's an update optimizing and further modernizing the Linux distribrution meant for gaming and other performance computer tasks.

Whether you're looking to boost your spreadsheet efficiency, elevate your data analysis capabilities, or improve your career prospects, learning new tricks in Microsoft Excel is sure to help you along the way. So, add these six Excel hacks to your toolkit today.

Just like many people close to my age, I spent a lot of time as a kid playing Shareware games on our home PC. Better than a game demo, you could play the first "episode" of a game for free, but then had to pay to get the rest.

It's easy to dismiss basic “dumb” phones in a world obsessed with smartphones, but sometimes, limitations are actually a benefit. What if you just want to make calls, listen to tunes, and not worry about battery life? Enter the HMD 101 4G Dual SIM.

TL;DR: Grab this lifetime content aggregator and get access to millions of free shows, movies, etc., for only A$23 with code BITMAR5.

If you're tired of hopping between streaming platforms to catch your favorite shows, movies, and music, BitMar offers a refreshing alternative. With your one-time payment of A$23 (reg. A$231) with code BITMAR5, you can unlock lifetime access to an all-in-one streaming platform that consolidates content from various sources into a single, easy-to-navigate interface.

What is BitMar?

BitMar isn't just another streaming service — it's a content aggregator powered by AI, similar to Bing's search engine. It scours the web to bring you millions of free, on-demand movies, TV shows, channels, videos, and songs from platforms like YouTube and TV networks. Whether you're in the mood for a classic film, the latest TV episode, or international content, BitMar has you covered.

Check out all the other perks of owning BitMar:

• Massive content library: Access over 200,000 channels and countless movies, TV shows, and music.

• Ad-free viewing: Enjoy your content without pesky interruptions.

• Multi-device support: Stream on up to five devices, including smart TVs, laptops, tablets, and smartphones.

• DMCA-compliant: You'll have peace of mind knowing that all content is legally sourced and compliant with copyright laws.

• No subscriptions: Pay once and enjoy unlimited access without recurring fees.

Why choose BitMar anyway?

With streaming costs on the rise and content spread across multiple platforms (we're looking at you, Netflix), BitMar simplifies your entertainment experience. Instead of managing multiple subscriptions, BitMar consolidates all of the best free content into one platform, saving you time when choosing what to watch and putting extra money back in your wallet.

You have until September 7 at 11:59 p.m. PT to grab this BitMar lifetime subscription for just A$23 — enter code BITMAR5 at checkout to grab it at this low price.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: BitMar BitMar Streaming Content-Finder: Lifetime Subscription AU$23
AU$231 Save AU$208 Get Deal

TL;DR: Sterling Stock Picker has an AI that helps you invest in the stock market, and it's only A$85 for life. 

The stock market has been especially volatile lately, but that doesn't mean you have to wait to invest. A new specialized AI from the creators of ChatGPT has been trained on the stock market to help you invest your money safely, even in a chaotic market. Sterling Stock Picker can help you determine which investments are worth the money, and a lifetime subscription is even on sale for A$85 using code SAVE20 (reg. A$750) through September 7.

How does the AI stock picker work?

Sterling Stock Picker uses AI-driven tools to help simplify the investing process for beginners and experienced investors alike.

At the heart of the platform is Finley, your AI financial coach. You can ask Finley questions about the market, your portfolio, or individual stocks and get real-time insights based on actual data. It’s like having a finance expert on call, without booking an appointment or paying hourly rates.

The software uses a combination of technical, earnings, growth, and risk analysis to generate personalized stock recommendations. It even offers a risk tolerance questionnaire and portfolio builder to help you create a strategy that fits your specific goals. If you're not sure whether to buy, hold, or sell, the platform's North Star system helps clarify what action to take.

For anyone who wants to learn as they go, Sterling Stock Picker also has a suite of educational tools. You’ll get detailed explanations of investing strategies and stock performance, plus access to a community forum where users can share insights and ask questions.

And if you prefer a more hands-off approach, the app still does the heavy lifting by highlighting top-performing stocks and suggesting updates to your portfolio.

It's only A$85 to get a Sterling Stock Picker Lifetime Subscription, but it won't stay that way. Use code SAVE20 through September 7 at 11:59PM PT to get this price.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Sterling Stock Picker Sterling Stock Picker: Lifetime Subscription AU$85
AU$750 Save AU$665 Get Deal

You can grab the ASUS ROG Ally 7" for a low price of just $500 at Best Buy. This saves you a massive $150 off its usual $650 price tag, and you still get a powerful Windows-based PC handheld.

Smart speakers tend to follow a specific template style—it's either an orb or something that otherwise is meant to blend into your table. If you want something that stands out, though, this JBL speaker might be just what you need. And it's currently discounted.

Microsoft is testing an update that brings together all your play history and libraries in the Xbox ecosystem, across your consoles, cloud gaming, and PCs. Even though it's still only a partial view of your PC gaming, it's one step closer to a unified experience across Microsoft's platforms.

Predator: Badlands does what no Predator film has done before: It makes a Predator the protagonist.

That Predator is Yautja warrior Dek (Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi), a runt by his species' standards. (Still large and terrifying by human standards, though.) In order to prove himself to his clan, he'll have to embark on a hunt on one of the universe's deadliest planets. Luckily for him, though, he won't be alone.

SEE ALSO: 'Alien: Earth' trailer: What happens when Xenomorphs crash land on our planet?

Accompanying him is Thia (Elle Fanning), a synthetic created by the Alien franchise's sinister Weyland-Yutani Corporation. That's right, we're getting another Alien-Predator crossover! (Between this and FX's Alien: Earth, it's a great year to be an Alien fan.) However, instead of pitting Xenomorphs and Yautja against one another in the vein of Alien vs. Predator, Predator: Badlands makes Dek and Thia unlikely allies. She's a chipper construct who's able to survive even after being cut in half, he's an angsty alien seeking his father's approval. Now that's one odd couple I can't wait to see in action.

The trailer for Predator: Badlands gives us a taste of its synthetic-Yautja team-up, including the sight gag of Dek carrying around Thia's torso like a backpack. Also building up the hype are teases of a massive mech — Aliens, anyone? — facing off against Dek's seemingly unkillable prey, along with flashes of Dek speaking in the Yautja language, complete with subtitles.

But perhaps the most exciting element of Predator: Badlands is that it comes to us courtesy of Dan Trachtenberg, who brought us 2022's Prey, a damn-near perfect Predator prequel. Trachtenberg is also behind 2025's animated anthology film Predator: Killer of Killers, another banger of an entry in the series. With that kind of track record, expect Predator: Badlands to rock.

Predator: Badlands hits theaters Nov. 7.

OpenAI announced its unreleased reasoning model won the gold at the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO), igniting fierce drama in the world of competitive math.

While most high schoolers blissfully enjoy a break from school and homework, top math students from around the world brought their A-game to the IMO, considered the most prestigious math competition. AI labs also competed with their LLMs, and an unreleased model from OpenAI achieved a high-enough score to earn a gold medal, according to researcher Alexander Wei who shared the news on X.

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The OpenAI model got five out the six problems correct, earning a gold medal-worthy score of 35 out of 42 points. "For each problem, three former IMO medalists independently graded the model’s submitted proof, with scores finalized after unanimous consensus," according to Wei. The problems are algebra and pre-calculus challenges that require creative thinking on the competitor's part. So for LLMs to be able to reason their way through long, complex proofs is an impressive achievement.

However, the timing of the announcement is being criticized for overshadowing the human competitors' results. The IMO reportedly asked the AI labs officially working with the organization verifying the results to wait a week before making any announcements, to avoid stealing the kids' thunder. That's according to an X post from Mikhail Samin, who runs the AI Governance and Safety Institute nonprofit. OpenAI said they didn't formally cooperate with the IMO to verify their results and instead worked with individual mathematicians to independently verify its scores, and so it wasn't beholden to any kind of agreement. Mashable sent a direct message to Samin on X for comment.

But the gossip is that this rubbed organizers the wrong way, who thought it was "rude" and "inappropriate" for OpenAI to do this. This is all hearsay, based on rumors from Samin, who also posted a screenshot of a similar comment from someone named Joseph Myers, presumably the two-time IMO gold medalist. Mashable contacted Myers for comment, but he has not publicly confirmed the authenticity of the screenshot.

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In response, OpenAI researcher Noam Brown said they posted the results after the IMO closing ceremony, honoring an IMO organizer's request.

In a follow-up post, Brown clarified that the IMO reached out to OpenAI two months earlier for participating in a different version of the test called Lean. OpenAI declined, because they were "focused on general reasoning in natural language without the constraints of Lean," and Brown said they "were never approached about a natural language math option."

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Meanwhile, Google DeepMind reportedly did cooperate with the IMO, and announced this afternoon that an "advanced version of Gemini with Deep Think officially achieve[d] gold-medal standard at the International Mathematical Olympiad." According to the announcement, DeepMind's model was "officially graded and certified by IMO coordinators using the same criteria as for student solutions." Read into that statement as much or as little as you want, but the timing is hardly coincidental.

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Others may follow the Real Housewives, but the proper decorum of elite math competitions is the high drama we live for.

UPDATE: Jul. 22, 2025, 11:28 a.m. EDT This story has been updated with an additional information from a statement by OpenAI researcher Noam Brown.

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

On July 15, during a Coldplay concert at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, Astronomer CEO Andy Byron appeared on the kiss cam, embracing Kristin Cabot, the company’s head of HR. It would have been a cute candid moment if not for the fact that the pair immediately tried their absolute best to hide from the camera.

SEE ALSO: The Coldplay CEO cheating scandal makes memes out of misery

Within hours, the footage was online. Within a day, internet sleuths had identified both parties. By July 19, Byron was out of a job. What happened in between was a modern-day morality play starring a lot of doxxing, corporate statements, and the unrelenting content machine of online drama.

Yes, cheating is bad. However, the internet gets very, very weird about cheaters, and in this particular case, the social internet is gleefully making memes out of misery. Still, it’s hard to look away. And as someone who couldn't look away, here’s a full breakdown of how it started, how it spiraled, and where it stands now.

It started with a TikTok: July 15-17

On July 15, Byron and Cabot attended a Coldplay concert at Gillette Stadium, where they appeared on the kiss cam and quickly tried to scurry away after their alleged affair was revealed to the crowd. Coldplay frontman Chris Martin laughed and remarked, "Either they’re having an affair or they’re just very shy." The camera then cut to a red-faced woman standing beside them, visibly squirming with discomfort.

Internet sleuths quickly put the pieces together. By July 17, the video had blown up on TikTok, with 10.4 million likes and over a million shares. A new pop culture moment was born, which meant a lot of memes and floating talking heads breaking down the situation. The worst of which involved AI deepfakes of the CEO lashing out at the crowd for catching him cheating.

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Exactly how the internet identified Byron and Cabot isn’t clear, but according to 404 Media, it likely involved a mix of publicly available facial recognition tools and social media research. In the days after the 15-second clip went viral, the names of Byron, Cabot, and their spouses (or ex-husband in Cabot's case) spread across TikTok, Reddit, X, and — perhaps most awkwardly — LinkedIn.

For context: Byron was the CEO (now former) of Astronomer, a New York–based data analytics company that specializes in AI. Cabot was the company’s "Chief People Officer," which is just a corporate euphemism for Head of HR. While Astronomer wasn't widely known, until now, the company has previously been granted unofficial unicorn status, meaning it's a tech startup valued at $1 billion or more.

A phony apology: July 17

Over the weekend, social media voyeurs traded screenshots of an alleged apology statement issued by Byron on July 17. However, according to a report in The New York Post, this apology is fake, and Astronomer would later issue a statement denying its legitimacy.

The widely shared "apology" struck a regretful tone and ended in a cheesy Coldplay lyric (“As a friend once sang: ‘Lights will guide you home, and ignite your bones, and I will try to fix you.’”). In short, it was the kind of story that was too good not to share, even if it turned out to be completely false.

The Coldplay kiss cam moment achieves peak virality: July 18-present

In the days that followed, the discourse turned increasingly toxic. Social media's pursuit of justice often brings out its worst instincts. That’s not to defend or condemn Byron or Cabot, but platforms like X quickly devolved into a mess of misinformation, including fake statements attributed to Byron and even a rumor that he planned to sue Coldplay.

Some accounts even tried to drag the third person seen in the video — the visibly uncomfortable woman standing next to Byron and Cabot — into the mess. In doing so, they ended up falsely identifying and shaming an entirely unrelated woman, adding another layer of reckless collateral damage.

Other corporate entities even joined in on the fun, including NEON, the Philadelphia Phillies, and, somehow, the most tone-deaf of them all: the NYC Department of Sanitation. "Cameras are everywhere," the account said.

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As their messy private lives became painfully public, bettors at Polymarket found a new obsession. On July 18, trades began popping up with titles like "Andy Byron out as Astronomer CEO by next Friday?" and the "Astronomer Divorce Parlay" — a multi-leg trade requiring all outcomes to hit for a payout. In this case, it hinged on both Byron and Cabot getting divorced. The odds peaked at 21 percent after Byron’s wife removed his last name from her LinkedIn profile, before settling around 14 percent at the time of this writing.

This brings us to July 19, and hopefully, the end of this mess. Around midday, Astronomer’s official LinkedIn account posted a statement apologizing to clients for the media chaos Byron triggered and confirming his resignation as CEO.

"Before this week, we were known as a pioneer in the DataOps space, helping data teams power everything from modern analytics to production AI," the statement read. "While awareness of our company may have changed overnight, our product and our work for our customers have not."

It’s easy to write this off as just another viral cheating story, but it also says a lot about how quickly the internet can turn real people into punchlines, tabloid bait, or worse — prop bets. The machine doesn’t really care who’s right or wrong. It just wants something new to chew on. Here's hoping next month's pop culture moment is a little less dystopian.

The best Apple deals you can shop this week Best MacBook deal Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $849 (save $150) Get Deal Best AirPods deal Apple AirPods Pro 2 $169 (save $80) Get Deal Best iPad deal Apple iPad, 11-inch (A16, WiFi, 128GB) $299 (save $50) Get Deal

Prime Day was crazy this year. There were so many great deals on Apple products (I was genuinely surprised by the number of record lows we saw). If you're feeling a little FOMO because you missed out, don't worry — you still have a second chance. Plenty of post-Prime Day deals are still live at retailers like Amazon and Best Buy, just in time for back-to-school shopping.

From MacBooks to iPads, here are the best Apple deals we could find for the week of July 21.

Best MacBook deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $849 at Amazon
$999 Save $150 Get Deal Why we like it

The Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) is still at its Prime Day price. It’s on sale for $849 (saving you $150) at Amazon and Best Buy. That’s a damn good deal for a MacBook, even if it is an Air. With an M4 chip, 16GB unified memory, and 256GB SSD storage, it’s ideal for students, commuters, or anyone else who’s on the go and needs a laptop that can keep up.

More MacBook deals

• Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $1,049 $1,199 (save $150)

• Apple MacBook Air, 15-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $1,245.12 $1,399 (save $153.88)

• Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $1,399 $1,599 (save $200)

• Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $1,589 $1,799 (save $210)

Best AirPods deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods Pro 2 $169 at Amazon
$249 Save $80 Get Deal Why we like it

The Apple AirPods Pro 2 are miraculously still on sale for $169 at Amazon (Best Buy isn’t matching this price). If you’re going on a flight or public transportation, these are the earbuds you want. With up to twice the active noise cancellation (ANC) of the previous generation, and an adaptive audio feature that allows you to blend outside noise with your music, you can tune in or out however you like.

More AirPods deals

• Apple AirPods 4 — $119 $129 (save $10)

• Apple AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation — $168.99 $179 (save $10.01)

Best iPad deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad, 11-inch (A16, WiFi, 128GB) $299 at Amazon
$349 Save $50 Get Deal Why we like it

You can still get your hands on the Apple iPad 11-inch (A16, WiFi, 128GB) for $299 at Amazon. But there is a catch: This price is only for the pink, silver, and yellow 128GB model. If you want the blue version, it’s going to cost you an extra $20. Still, it’s a pretty good deal for an iPad, especially if you’re open to bright colors.

More iPad deals

• Apple iPad Air, 11-inch (M3, WiFi, 128GB) — $499 $599 (save $100)

• Apple iPad Air, 11-inch (M3, WiFi, 256GB) — $599 $699 (save $100)

Deals on Apple accessories and more

• Apple AirTag — $22.98 $29 (save $6.02)

• Apple Pencil (USB-C) — $69 $79 (save $10)

• Apple Pencil (1st Generation) — $78.91 $99 (save $20.09)

• Apple AirTag (4-Pack) — $79.98 $99 (save $19.02)

• Apple Pencil Pro — $99 $129 (save $30)

• Apple Pencil (2nd Generation) — $99 $129 (save $30)

• Apple Magic Keyboard and Case (iPad Pro 11-inch) — $261.73 $299 (save $37.27)

• Apple Magic Keyboard and Case (iPad Air 13-inch) — $287.09 $319 (save $31.91)

Samsung's latest tablet-style foldable phone is full of possibilities.

The Galaxy Z Fold 7 is finally here, and I think it's the best foldable Samsung has produced yet. Samsung made this year's edition of its more expensive foldable the thinnest and lightest it's ever been, with two huge displays and lots of versatility in what you can do with them.

Although a new CNET survey says the majority of people are not interested in owning a foldable phone, you still naturally may be wondering what sets this phone apart from something more conventional, like a Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra or an iPhone 16. Allow me to explain. While some of these features have been available on foldables for some time and aren't new this year, they still showcase what a Z Fold can do for you that most other devices can't.

SEE ALSO: Review: The incredibly thin Galaxy Z Fold 7 is my favorite Samsung foldable yet 3 things you can do with a Z Fold 7 that you can't do with an ordinary phone

Of course, there are more than three unique things you can do with a Z Fold 7, but these three in particular are worth highlighting.

Read books and watch videos much more comfortably

The biggest Z Fold 7 selling point for me, if I were a person with $2,000 to drop on a new phone, would be the immense amount of screen real-estate on the 8-inch unfolded inner display. Unfolding this phone turns it into a miniature tablet, which winds up being more comfortable to hold than just about any regular tablet I've ever used. It's almost exactly the right size, and thanks to the new lighter weight of the Z Fold 7, it's not laborious to hold at all.

Obviously, this comes with some big advantages. Personally, for me, I find it immensely useful for watching YouTube videos and anything else that's similar on the go. The display is just so much bigger than my iPhone 16 that it's not even really worth comparing the two. I love sitting in bed and watching stuff on the Fold 7. While I'm admittedly not as literary as I should be, it's also great for reading books, as you can imagine. I've also heard the same for reading digital comic books, but that's pretty far afield of my interests, so I can't confirm that.

Go hands-free

Samsung's foldables have featured something called "Flex Mode" for years, which is what happens when you bend the foldable display between 75 and 115 degrees, causing whichever apps you're using to adapt to that angle. The end result is that you can use or look at the phone in a hands-free way while it sits on a flat surface in front of you.

The use cases for this are numerous and readily apparent. If you want to sit back and watch a video, you can do so using just the top half of the inner display. If you want to take a hands-free photo and you have a flat surface at the ready, just go for it, player. You definitely can't do this with a regular phone.

SEE ALSO: Why I’d consider a Galaxy Z Flip 7 over an iPhone 17 this year Go split-screen

Last but certainly not least is a feature that's also been part of the Galaxy Fold family for years: Split-screen view for multitasking.

It's as simple as it sounds, as you just open two apps at once and watch as they occupy the unfolded inner display at the same time. The increased screen real estate of a tablet-style foldable opens up tons of usability opportunities related to split-screen view. Dragging and dropping files between apps is eminently useful, for example, and one new feature of the Z Fold 7 in particular is the ability to generate AI creations in one app and drag and drop them to another in split-screen view.

Like I said, there are more things you can do with these phones, but these are the three most immediate benefits you get from purchasing a Z Fold 7 over something more conventional.