Technology

SAVE $61: As of Nov. 25, the Sony XM6 headphones are on sale for $398 at Amazon. That's a 13% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Sony WH-1000XM6 $398 at Amazon
$459.99 Save $61.99   Get Deal

Black Friday deals are well underway, and headphones are seeing some impressive early discounts. From noise-cancelling over-ears to earbuds, there are discounts across the board. And if you’ve been thinking about upgrading your pair, check out this latest deal on the Sony WH-1000XM6.

As of Nov. 25, you can find these popular headphones for just $398, a $61 discount on the list price. It's also the best price ever for this model, so you know it's a great deal.

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With a name like Sony attached, you know you're getting a great product, and these headphones really deliver. Enjoy advanced noise cancellation that's powered by adaptive microphones and the HD Noise Canceling Processor QN3, which optimizes 12 microphones in real time for clearer sound and calls. The noise cancellation adapts based on where you are and how you're wearing them, while the Auto Ambient Sound Mode balances music and external sound automatically.

For calls and voice notes, sounds are enhanced by a six-microphone AI beamforming system that reduces background noise, even if you're outdoors in wind or loud traffic. They're compact too, and are foldable into a handy carrying case, perfect for traveling. And you won't be running out of juice while on the go, battery life reaches up to 30 hours, with quick charging giving three hours of playback from just a three minute charge.

Pick up this Sony deal from the Amazon Black Friday sale.

SAVE OVER $500: As of Nov. 25, the Sony 85-Inch Class 4K Ultra HD Bravia 3 is on sale for $1,098 at Amazon. That's a 31% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Sony 85-Inch Class 4K Ultra HD Bravia 3 $1,098 at Amazon
$1,599.99 Save $501.99   Get Deal

Black Friday deals are really impressing this year, whether it's on robot vacuums or gaming tech, the discounts have been flowing for some time. And if a new TV is high on your wishlist, you'll love this latest deal on the Sony 85-Inch Class 4K Ultra HD Bravia 3 at Amazon.

As of Nov. 25, this model has a $500 discount, bringing the price down to $1,098. Interested in the TV but is 85-inch too big for your space? Not to worry, every other size of this TV is reduced, all the way down to 43-inch.

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This 4K LED smart TV offers Triluminos Pro, a feature that can show over a billion colours for a more accurate picture. It even has support for Sony Pictures Core, so you can stream high-bitrate 4K films. It also comes with built-in Google Assistant, so you can search various streaming platforms and search the web by voice. And while we're on streaming platforms, this TV includes the main apps like Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, and YouTube.

And if you're a gamer, this TV is built to perform. It includes PS5-specific features such as Auto HDR Tone Mapping and Auto Genre Picture Mode.

Get this great TV deal in Amazon's Black Friday sale.

I’ve been using the find command for decades, but I never really understood it—until now. Forcing myself to follow through and finally crack this elusive command was the key to success.

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult to solve if you're a frequent flyer.

Connections is the one of the most popular New York Times word games that's captured the public's attention. 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 today's 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?

The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

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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.

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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: NYT Pips hints, answers for November 25, 2025 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Found on a kitchen counter

• Green: Found in an automobile

• Blue: TSA

• Purple: Hues

Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Small-time

• Green: Things that are pink

• Blue: Things you can scratch

• Purple: Starting with optimistic words

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 #898 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Small-time: MICKEY MOUSE, RINKY-DINK, TRIVIAL, TWO-BIT

• Things that are pink: BARBIE DREAMHOUSE, CALAMINE LOTION, CHERRY BLOSSOM, FLAMINGO

• Things you can scratch: BUG BITE, LOTTERY TICKET, VINYL RECORD, YOUR HEAD

• Starting with optimistic words: GLAD-HAND, HAPPY MEAL, MERRY-GO-ROUND, SUNNY-SIDE-UP

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for November 25, 2025

Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today's puzzle.

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.

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you're not afraid of heights.

Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game, requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There's always a theme linking every solution, along with the "spangram," a special, word or phrase that sums up that day's theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable

By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.

If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for November 25, 2025 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for November 25, 2025 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Tip top

The words are related to height.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe high points.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Upper Limit.

NYT Strands word list for November 25

• Upper Limit

• Apex

• Summit

• Acme

• Height

• Peak

• Zenith

• Pinnacle

Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, and 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 Strands.

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you don't take 'no' for an answer.

If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today's Wordle solution revealed. 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 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for November 24, 2025 Where did Wordle come from?

Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once. 

Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.

What's the best Wordle starting word?

The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.

Is Wordle getting harder?

It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for November 25, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

To beg.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no recurring letters.

Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...

Today's Wordle starts with the letter P.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. The Wordle answer today is...

Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

PLEAD

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle 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.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for November 25, 2025

Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.

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 Wordle.

TL;DR: As of Nov. 25, the Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Elite Trainer Box is $79.95 at Amazon, down from $99.99, which is also market value when compared to listings at TCGplayer.

Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company Mega Evolution Elite Trainer Box $79.95 at Amazon
$99.99 Save $20.04   Get Deal

The Mega Evolution Elite Trainer Box is $79.95 at Amazon. That's a really solid deal ahead of Black Friday.

Got an AMEX or Discover card? You could be eligible (see if you qualify) for up to 50% off the ETB by using it to pay for $1 of your order. Then if you get approved for an Amazon Store Card (see if you qualify), you'll get a $60 instant gift card to cover the rest of the order. Simple.

SEE ALSO: Where to buy Pokémon cards in 2025 — avoid overpaying or missing out on new sets

Any of these offers could change at anytime, so this product being anywhere near market value or the discounts and gift card being live when you click through is not guaranteed. Sorry, but this is just how it is with Pokémon at the moment.

Most valuable Mega Evolution Pokémon cards Credit: Mashable Photo Composite / The Pokémon Company

If you decided against the discount method, well played. In all honesty in can be cheaper to just buy the cards you're after depending on your luck on the day. Here's the top chase cards for Mega Evolution, including links to buy them on TCGplayer now and up-to-date value information:

1. Mega Gardevoir ex - 187/132
   Near Mint Holofoil: $350
   Market price: $356.91
   Most recent sale: $322.97

2. Mega Lucario ex - 188/132
   Near Mint Holofoil: $423.99
   Market price: $466.86
   Most recent sale: $410

3. Mega Gardevoir ex - 178/132
   Near Mint Holofoil: $217
   Market price: $206.26
   Most recent sale: $193.99

4. Mega Lucario ex - 179/132
   Near Mint Holofoil: $193
   Market price: $204.16
   Most recent sale: $189.99

5. Mega Venusaur ex - 177/132
   Near Mint Holofoil: $149
   Market price: $155.01
   Most recent sale: $149.99

TL;DR: As of Nov. 25, the Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Booster Bundle is $49.99 at Amazon, down from $59.99, which is also market value when compared to listings at TCGplayer.

Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company Mega Evolution Booster Bundle $49.99 at Amazon
$59.99 Save $10   Get Deal

The Mega Evolution Booster Bundle is $49.99 right now, which is market value and a cracking Black Friday offer. Any of these offers could change at anytime, so this product being anywhere near market value is not guaranteed.

We've tried to stay on top of the constantly changing situation by lining up all the best Black Friday Pokémon deals. We'll keep this pages updated throughout Black Friday.

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Whilst Amazon selling products at market value is a step in the right direction, the cost adds up as you start ripping near-infinite packs looking for the top chase cards in Mega Evolution. Most of the time you'll save more money just getting the card you need outright:

1. Mega Gardevoir ex - 187/132
   Near Mint Holofoil: $350
   Market price: $356.91
   Most recent sale: $322.97

2. Mega Lucario ex - 188/132
   Near Mint Holofoil: $423.99
   Market price: $466.86
   Most recent sale: $410

3. Mega Gardevoir ex - 178/132
   Near Mint Holofoil: $217
   Market price: $206.26
   Most recent sale: $193.99

4. Mega Lucario ex - 179/132
   Near Mint Holofoil: $193
   Market price: $204.16
   Most recent sale: $189.99

5. Mega Venusaur ex - 177/132
   Near Mint Holofoil: $149
   Market price: $155.01
   Most recent sale: $149.99

SAVE $50: As of Nov. 25, Soundcore Sleep A30 earbuds are discounted to $179.99 in the Amazon Black Friday sale. This marks their lowest price yet, offering a 22% discount off their list price of $229.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Soundcore Soundcore Sleep A30 by Anker Sleep Earbuds $179.99 at Amazon
$229.99 Save $50   Get Deal

The holidays are coming up fast, and while it can be a busy period, it's also a nice opportunity to catch up on sleep. If you've been hoping to get a little peace and quiet during this time, a solid pair of sleep earbuds can help. We really like the Soundcore Sleep A30 earbuds — in our review we said that they "set the bar for premium sleep earbuds" — and they're on sale in Amazon's Black Friday sale.

Soundcore Sleep A30 earbuds normally come with a price tag of $229.99, but Amazon's dropped their price down to $179.99 as part of its Black Friday sale. What makes this deal even better is it's actually the lowest-ever price for these earbuds, so there's no better time to grab them.

SEE ALSO: Black Friday 2025: Live updates on the latest deals from Amazon, Target, Walmart, and more

In our review, Mashable's Bethany Allard said, "The Anker Soundcore Sleep A30 feel like a notable step up from the A20, with the active noise cancellation and price point giving them an edge over other premium options on the market." With the help of smart ANC with Ear Canal Adaptation Tech, these earbuds adjust to your ears so you can sleep soundly without outside noises keeping you awake.

They also feature a comfortable fit, with a slim profile and soft silicone tips. If you've been looking for a little assistance to help you with sleeping through the night, look no further than this deal on the Soundcore Sleep A30 earbuds at Amazon.

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Amazon is full of exciting deals to check out alongside this one, too. Have a look at our breakdown of 150+ Amazon Black Friday deals to see other discounts that have caught our eye during the sale event.

The Razer Kiyo V2 X is intended as a higher-end webcam, with 1440p 60 FPS support, a wide field of view, and advanced software features. However, it comes with some disappointing drawbacks, especially if you ever use it with a computer not running Windows.

Trump's White House meeting with new New York mayor Zohran Mamdani appeared to go very well, and nobody was more surprised than Jimmy Kimmel.

In the monologue above the host recaps the meeting between the two former adversaries, during which Trump continually complemented Mamdani and spoke about what a great job he thinks he'll do in New York.

"What a turn of events! It was like he was giving a wedding toast to his new son-in-law," says Kimmel. "It's almost as if – and I know this sounds crazy – it's almost as if Trump doesn't have any real political convictions at all. He just says whatever, whenever."

Elsewhere, Seth Meyers had similar thoughts.

We're on day five of the lunar cycle, which means the moon is working on getting bigger every night. There will be more coming into view tonight than last, so keep reading to find out what you can see.

What is today’s moon phase?

As of Tuesday, Nov. 25, the moon phase is Waxing Crescent. This means 24% of the moon is lit up tonight, according to NASA's Daily Moon Observation.

With just the naked eye, tonight you'll be able to see the Fecunditatis and Crisium Mares. With binoculars or a telescope, you'll also be able to spot the Endymion Crater and the Posidonius Crater.

When is the next full moon?

The next full moon will be on Dec. 4, which will be the last of three consecutive supermoons. The last full moon was on Nov. 5.

What are moon phases?

According to NASA, moon phases are what make up the lunar cycle, a repeating cycle that lasts around 29.5 days. These phases describe how the moon appears from Earth as it orbits our planet. We always see the same side of the moon, but the amount of sunlight illuminating it changes throughout its orbit. That’s why sometimes it looks full, sometimes half, and sometimes disappears entirely. There are eight moon phases:

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

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

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

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

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

Waning Gibbous - The moon starts losing light on the right side. (Northern Hemisphere)

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

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

SAVE $150: The Bose QuietComfort Headphones is on sale for $199 in the Amazon Black Friday sale. That's 43% off the list price of $349.

Opens in a new window Credit: Bose Bose QuietComfort Headphones $199 at Amazon
$349 Save $150   Get Deal

Pardon the pun but Black Friday is a great time to listen out for great deals on headphones. With headphone technology always improving — with things such as noise cancellation, spatial audio, Bluetooth codecs, and multipoint pairing — headphones have become highly sought-after devices. But also pretty expensive. Thankfully, Amazon has lined up a nice selection of discounts on headphones for Black Friday, which includes Bose’s flagship model — the Bose QuietComfort Headphones.

The Bose QuietComfort Headphones are marked down to $199, a generous saving of $150. That’s 43% off the list price of $349.

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Though these aren’t the highest-spec headphones in the Bose range, they’re fantastic value at this price and come packed with all the features you want from Bluetooth headphones. They have active noise cancellation, which locks you deep into your tunes by blocking ambient noise from the outside world, plus a transparency mode, adjustable EQ, and up to 24 hours of battery life. And coming from Bose you know you can rely on the sound quality of these headphones.

Pick up the Bose QuietComfort Headphones for just $199, saving $150 in the Amazon Black Friday sale.

TL;DR: Enjoy a good old-fashioned family game night with the Kinhank Super Console X2 Pro Retro Gaming Emulator and Streaming Console, now $84.97 (reg. $159.99) with free shipping through Dec. 14.

Opens in a new window Credit: Kinhank Kinhank Super Console X2 Pro Retro Gaming Emulator & Streaming Console $84.97
$159.99 Save $75.02   Get Deal

If you’re looking for a surefire way to have fun with your family this holiday season, you can’t beat a good game night. The Kinhank Super Console X2 Pro Retro Gaming Emulator and Streaming Console provides just that — with games that span generations so everyone can enjoy them.

Right now, you can bring home the Kinhank Super Console X2 Pro Retro Gaming Emulator and Streaming Console for just $84.97 (reg. $159.99) with free shipping until Dec. 14.

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Who doesn’t love a good game night? The Kinhank Super Console X2 Pro Retro Gaming Emulator and Streaming Console gives you so many options from various decades that there’s truly something for everyone in the family. Enjoy nostalgic classics from retro consoles like Atari, Nintendo, and Sega Genesis, or download more current 3D games for free.

With the Kinhank Super Console, you don’t need to keep track of cartridges or discs. There are thousands of preloaded games to choose from, and you just have to press a few buttons.

When you get tired of gaming, the Kinhank Super Console doubles as a streaming device. It allows you to access your go-to streaming apps right on the device — just connect your TV, laptop, or projector and turn things into a movie night with a few clicks.

Make game and movie nights more magical with the Kinhank Super Console X2 Pro Retro Gaming Emulator and Streaming Console, now $84.97 (reg. $159.99) with free shipping through Dec. 14.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

If your feed is inundated with AI slop these days, you're not alone. "Slop" is a squishy, subjective term — it depends entirely on what you think looks cheap, lazy, or low-effort. Still, the vibe people are describing tends to be the same: mass-produced content, shoddily plopped into the feed, neither discerning nor pleasurable. Why should AI output be any different than grayish cafeteria slop?

Generative AI has been feeding social media since its inception, but the shift has recently become more pronounced. We've covered this great slopification at Mashable. Heck, there's a laundry list of just animal-based AI slop we've covered: fake animals "caught" on surveillance tapes, emotional support kangaroos, musicians with critter companions, or heavy machinery "cleaning" barnacles off whales.

So, the obvious questions are: How much AI slop is there, really, and why?

How much AI slop is out there?

There's no definite way to know how much AI slop is out there, and your mileage may vary on what constitutes slop.

For what it's worth, AI slop was defined by Quinnipiac University technologist Adam Nemeroff as "low-to mid-quality content — video, images, audio, text or a mix — created with AI tools, often with little regard for accuracy." And there has been some research conducted on AI-generated content online. Notably, SEO firm Graphite published a study last month that found 52 percent of new articles online were generated by AI, based on an analysis of a sample of 65,000 random articles posted between January 2020 and May 2025. Graphite CEO Ethan Smith said you could glean some knowledge about other types of content from the study.

"Do I think that ad copy is generated with AI? There's probably a good amount of that," Smith told Mashable. "There's probably a lot of social media posts that are AI-generated."

He added you'd probably see more AI-generated tweets — text is easy to generate, after all — and a medium level of AI content on platforms like Instagram and TikTok. Even if 52 percent of the internet were AI-generated content, that's at least below at least one expert's 2023 prediction that it'd be 90 percent by 2025.

Still, it's prevalent enough that everyone with an internet connection has encountered AI-generated content out there that's obvious and, well, sloppy. Researchers at Amazon Web Services have found, for instance, that large swaths of the internet are poorly done, AI-generated translations. In other words, slop begets slop in different languages.

It's clear that if you're not prompting chatbots carefully, the output remains subpar. It may be why you see AI-generated comments that make no sense or trending videos with nonsensical, non-sequitur lists that really feel like AI.

SEE ALSO: Why meaningless lists are taking over your FYP

So, there's no exact figure for how much slop we're seeing, but you can certainly feel it. You notice swipe after swipe.

"My suspicion would be that every person who is into social media, on average, when they open their phone and scroll one of these apps, they're going to see a slop reel," said Aidan Walker, an internet culture researcher.

Scrolled a bit of TikTok for the first time in a while and oof. It's at least a third all crap genAi videos now. I didn't much care for it before that anyway for a number of reasons but at least the staged slop was human made before.

— Leigh (@newbabyfly.schism.org) October 31, 2025 at 12:50 AM

Wowww youtube sure is being swamped by artificial crap. I listen to lots of citypop and holy crap it's just so much ai music slop being pushed out.

— Silver 😵‍💫🐶🧠✨ (@spacepupsilver.com) November 19, 2025 at 3:26 AM

There is a lot of AI slop on instagram reels

— LoudLauraElena (@loudlauraelena.bsky.social) October 20, 2025 at 8:29 PM Why is there so much slop?

AI slop is everywhere because it's easy to create, and because "slop" in this context describes content made fast, at scale, with little risk or care.

"Because there is such a low bar to entry, it kind of made it a lot more possible for people not just to produce content, but to produce it at volume," Walker said. "Take a bunch of shots at the target and, inevitably, if you post 100 videos, one or two of them are going to get some traction."

Not that social media was ever a sacred space — though there was a time it was good — but we should consider what that much AI slop does to our collective online experience. What becomes of a platform that requires you to wade through mountains of junk to find the jewels?

"The proliferation of this slop and the opportunity cost of it — the real estate, the mind-share it takes up on a platform — that's the danger," Walker said. "It degrades these online spaces."

SEE ALSO: TikTok wants to help you spot AI on the platform, filter it out

Consider people's complaints about what AI has done to the quality of Google search, and then extrapolate that to your website of choice. That’s not to say all AI-generated social content is bad. AI can make memes in a snap or generate a voice clip for a joke. The tool is neutral; the intention behind the output is what shapes its quality.

Lots of slop is created by people hustling for a dollar. Its content is meant to fool you just long enough to grab a sliver of your attention. It's a commodity, not a craft. And crucially, labeling it "slop" is about how it feels to the viewer, not some objective failing.

"Nobody's really a fan of these AI slop accounts. They all blend together," Walker said.

And that's the real sensation of a feed overwhelmed with AI-generated content. It blends. It blurs. It feels grabby but artless — a morass, a muck. In a word, for many people, slop.

SAVE $350: The De'Longhi Magnifica Evo Automatic Espresso and Coffee Machine is on sale for $549.95 in the Amazon Black Friday sale. That's 39% off the list price of $899.95.

Opens in a new window Credit: De'Longhi De'Longhi Magnifica Evo Automatic Espresso and Coffee Machine $549.95 at Amazon
$899.95 Save $350   Get Deal

Make a list of all the high-ticket devices and appliances you’re hoping to find at a bargain price on Black Friday, and the coffee machine must rank near the top, right? Good-quality coffee machines doesn't come cheap — not by any stretch of the imagination — so the opportunity to find one in the Black Friday sales is not to be missed. That’s why we’re recommending a saving on the De'Longhi Magnifica Evo Automatic Espresso and Coffee Machine, currently marked down at Amazon by 39%. 

The De'Longhi Magnifica Evo Automatic Espresso and Coffee Machine is on offer for $549.95, marked down from the regular list price of $899.99. That’s an overall saving of $350.

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It’s not just about the money you’re saving. The reason that coffee machines cost so much in the first place is that they pay dividends in fresh, delicious, barista-level coffee. And the Magnifica Evo pretty much does it all. It can make seven different drinks at the push of a button — including espresso, cappuccino, latte macchiato, and iced coffee — and comes built with a milk frother and conical burr grinder with 13 different settings. You also get 9 bar extraction and app compatibility. You'll never need to buy morning coffee again.

Get the De'Longhi Magnifica Evo Automatic Espresso and Coffee Machine for just $549.95 — a saving of $350 in the Amazon Black Friday sale.

The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times' revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.

With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.

So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player's flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: How to play Pips, the newest NYT game

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2025:

AcrossWhat Peter Pan teaches the Darling kids to do

• The answer is Fly.

Cover-up for a curse

• The answer is Bleep.

Bird perched atop a cactus on Mexico's flag

• The answer is Eagle.

Go off, as a volcano

• The answer is Erupt.

Short albums, for short

• The answer is EPS.

DownBurning emergency signal

• The answer is Flare.

Slight advantage, so to speak

• The answer is Leg up.

Checks restaurant reviews on one's phone, perhaps

• The answer is Yelps.

Spell-off

• The answer is Bee.

"What was the name of your first ___?" (common security question)

• The answer is Pet.

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

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

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to the latest Mini Crossword.

Seth Meyers has weighed in on President Donald Trump's meeting with New York mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani last week, joking about the U.S. commander-in-chief's complete capitulation to his charm offensive.

Trump and his supporters made their disdain for Mamdani obvious throughout his mayoral campaign, with right-wing pundits foretelling the fall of New York if he was elected. However, months of this fearful rhetoric was swiftly undercut upon Trump actually meeting Mamdani last Friday. 

Meyers noted that Trump seemed practically smitten by Mamdani, even jumping to his defence several times during a press conference.

"That is the flirtiest I've ever heard anyone say, 'you can call me a fascist,'" quipped Meyers. "I've never seen someone so desperate to have another male friend. The nervous smile, the giddy laughter. And look, I'm not judging the man. I've been there."

Elected as New York's next mayor earlier this month, Mamdani has long been a vocal critic of Trump. Considering the president's history of hitting out at his detractors, few likely expected them to be amicable, much less that Trump would apparently try to endear himself to Mamdani.

"[Fox News host] Sean Hannity is like, 'all my friends in New York are scared,'" Meyers said. "And meanwhile Trump is like, 'I have a friend in New York too, his name is Zohran. He's so rad!'"

If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Hurdle: Everything you need to know to find the answers Hurdle Word 1 hint

To reprimand.

SEE ALSO: Apple’s new M3 MacBook Air is $300 off at Amazon. And yes, I’m tempted. Hurdle Word 1 answer

SCOLD

Hurdle Word 2 hint

A duvet.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for November 25, 2025 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

QUILT

Hurdle Word 3 hint

A Latin dance.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for November 25 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for November 25, 2025 Hurdle Word 3 answer

MAMBO

Hurdle Word 4 hint

A single step.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for November 25 Hurdle Word 4 answer

STAIR

Final Hurdle hint

Flooded.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Games available on Mashable Hurdle Word 5 answer

AWASH

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

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 November 8, 2025

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 November 8, 2025 Easy difficulty hints, answers for Nov. 25 Pips

Number (7): Everything in this purple space must add to 7. The answer is 2-5, placed vertically; 2-1, placed vertically.

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

Number (7): Everything in this orange space must add to 7. The answer is 4-3, placed horizontally.

Number (16): Everything in this purple space must add to 16. The answer is 3-6, placed vertically; 5-5, placed vertically.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for Nov. 25 Pips

Equal (2): Everything in this purple space must be equal to 2. The answer is 2-1, placed horizontally; 2-2, placed horizontally; 2-5, placed vertically.

Equal (1): Everything in this red space must be equal to 1. The answer is 2-1, placed horizontally; 1-3, placed horizontally.

Equal (5): Everything in this orange space must be equal to 5. The answer is 6-5, placed horizontally; 2-5, placed vertically; 5-3, placed horizontally.

Number (7): Everything in this purple space must add to 7. The answer is 1-3, placed horizontally; 1-4, placed horizontally; 5-3, placed horizontally.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for Nov. 25 Pips

Greater Than (2): Everything in this space must be greater than 2. The answer is 4-5, placed vertically.

Number (10): Everything in this space must add to 10. The answer is 4-5, placed vertically; 5-2, placed vertically.

Number (10): Everything in this space must add to 10. The answer is 4-2, placed horizontally; 6-0, placed vertically.

Equal (0): Everything in this space must be equal to 0. The answer is 6-0, placed vertically; 0-0, placed horizontally.

Equal (1): Everything in this space must be equal to 1. The answer is 1-1, placed vertically; 1-2, placed vertically.

Number (17): Everything in this space must add to 17. The answer is 4-0, placed horizontally; 5-5, placed vertically; 3-6, placed horizontally.

Number (0): Everything in this space must add to 0. The answer is 4-0, placed horizontally; 0-3, placed vertically.

Number (5): Everything in this space must add to 5. The answer is 0-3, placed vertically; 2-6, placed vertically.

Number (12): Everything in this space must add to 12. The answer is 3-6, placed horizontally; 2-6, 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.