Technology

Connections: Sports Edition is a new 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.

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: Set of cards

• Green: Soccer plays

• Blue: Teams named after a demon

• Purple: NBA teams with recent playoff success

Featured Video For You Connections: How to play and how to win Here are today's Connections Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Hands in Poker

• Green: Types of Kicks in Soccer

• Blue: Teams with Devil Nicknames

• Purple: NBA Teams in Last Year's Conference Finals

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 #204 is...

What is the answer to Connections Sports Edition today

• Hands in Poker - FLUSH, FULL HOUSE, PAIR, STRAIGHT

• Types of Kicks in Soccer - CORNER, DIRECT, INDIRECT, PENALTY

• Teams with Devil Nicknames - ARIZONA STATE, DUKE, MANCHESTER UNITED, NEW JERSEY

• NBA Teams in Last Year's Conference Finals - BOSTON, DALLAS, INDIANA, MINNESOTA

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.

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.

SAVE OVER $70: As of April 15, the Lepro O1 AI Smart LED Floor Lamp is available for $86.39 at Amazon. That’s 46% off its regular price of $159.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lepro Lepro O1 AI Smart LED Floor Lamp $86.39 at Amazon
$159.99 Save $73.60 Get Deal

I bought Lepro's O1 AI Smart LED Floor Lamp for $86.39 and it might be the first smart home gadget I’ve used that doesn’t feel like a tech demo. Its regular price is $159.99, but right now there's a 40% coupon on Amazon plus a 10% code (LEPROO1CODE) that brings it down to something far more reasonable.

I wasn’t expecting much. It's a lamp. But it actually responds to voice commands like “I want calm lighting,” and then recommends a bunch of options based on that mood. It’s the kind of smart feature that doesn't feel forced, and for once, it works like it's supposed to.

SEE ALSO: Live your Kawaii gamer dreams with this discounted Logitech POP ICON keyboard and mouse combo

The brightness hits 2300 lumens and it lets you shift from warm to cool light, ranging from 2700K to 5700K. I use it for reading, working, and whatever third thing I pretend I’m doing when I’m just scrolling on my phone. It also supports 16 million RGB colors. I don’t need that many, but I like knowing I could live in neon teal if I wanted.

• Price: $86.39 $159.99

• Retailer: Amazon

• Brightness: 2300 lumens

• Color range: RGBCW, 2700K to 5700K

• Voice control: Compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant

• App features: Remote control, group control, timers, DIY light modes

• Music sync: Built-in rhythm lighting for audio-reactive effects

• Build: 3.2 x 3.2 x 60 inches, plastic construction

• Connectivity: Bluetooth and 2.4GHz WiFi

• Setup time: Less than 10 minutes

Music sync is built in too. I tested it with a playlist and it did a decent job pulsing to the beat. Not a party trick, just a fun detail. The Lepro app handles remote control, scheduling, and grouping with other lights. If you’ve got Alexa or Google Assistant, it plugs into that setup without much hassle.

Assembly took me ten minutes. No weird tools, no sweat. I tightened a few poles, plugged it in, and it worked. That’s the kind of setup I appreciate.

If you're looking for a way to add some personality to your lighting without spending a ton, I think this lamp punches above its price.

Many millennials have already lived through one recession, so as more economic turmoil looms, they're jumping online to share their "recession hacks."

The last recession in the U.S. lasted from December 2007 to June 2009, right about when many millennials were leaving college and entering the job market. That economic downturn hit at a pivotal life stage and left a lasting impact. It shaped culture, shifted expectations, and created some tough realities: lower wealth accumulation, higher student debt, thinner resumes, and delays in buying homes and getting married.

SEE ALSO: Recession indicators are everywhere online — even if we’re not actually in one

But because of those challenges, millennials have picked up some smart, practical strategies — and now they’re sharing them on TikTok for anyone facing financial uncertainty without a safety net.

Here are some of our favorite recession hacks from creators who’ve lived it:

Review your spending habits Buy canned tuna Find a meal hack that works for you Learn how to sew Go trash-picking Regrow your green onions Get smarter with your credit cards Stop using your dryer

Turns out, living through a recession teaches you a thing or two. Luckily, millennials are more than happy to pass the cheat codes along.

TL;DR: Launch an online business easily with the AI-powered platform Sellful, a white-label website builder and software, now $399 (reg. $1,497) for life.

Got a great idea for a side hustle? Want to take the next step for your small business? Getting established online opens the door to a global customer base, and Sellful is ready to walk you through the process.

This AI-powered white-label website builder and software helps you reach customers, sell products, handle payroll, and more. And you can currently secure a lifetime ERP Agency Plan for just $399 (reg. $1,497). 

Think of Sellful as your new favorite employee

Sellful is more than just a website builder; it serves as a new employee who can wear a lot of hats. Instead of hiring a web developer, Sellful can create your website, landing pages, funnels, and more, which are generated automatically by AI.

It can also serve as your e-commerce coordinator, helping you sell physical or digital products on the site. Once things are up and running, Sellful can help you reach new customers with AI-generated newsletters, social posts, and interactive chatbots.

Need some help with payroll and employee leave requests? What about recruiting new employees? Sellful can do all that too, plus track appointments and bookings on the site with a built-in scheduler. 

Sellful's ERP Agency Plan gives you access to 100GB of file storage and 50,000 free email sends. Need more than that? It's easy to purchase packs of 10,000 for only $10 a month, or you can add your own external sending service if you don't want any limits. 

Secure a Sellful white label website builder and software's ERP Agency Plan for life, now for just $399 (reg. $1,497).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Sellful Sellful - White Label Website Builder & Software: ERP Agency Plan (Lifetime) $399
$1,497 Save $1,098 Get Deal

TL;DR: If you still haven't filed your taxes, take advantage of this deal on H&R Block Tax Software and file your state and federal returns for $32.99 (reg. $59) with code FILEEASY through April 27.

It's officially tax day, so unless you’ve filed for an extension, you only have a few hours left to meet the deadline. Luckily, you can file your state and federal taxes in time with some help from H&R Block.

Get your taxes done with H&R Block Deluxe and State 2024 Tax Software for Windows and Mac, on sale now for just $32.99 (reg. $59) with code FILEEASY through April 27. 

File your federal and state taxes for one low price

Since it's probably too late to hire an accountant, it looks like you're doing your own taxes this year. Let H&R Block Tax Software, one of the most trusted names in tax filing, walk you through it step-by-step. Their guidance is great for anyone, from first-time filers to freelancers or investors.  

The federal-only version of this tax software typically costs $59.99, but thanks to this deal, you can file both your federal and state taxes for just $32.99. You can easily import last year's filings from Quicken or TurboTax, and your current W-2, 1099, or 1098 forms can be imported just as easily.

Once you've imported your documents, let H&R get you the best refund possible. They walk you through 350 credits and deductions to help maximize your refund, and you can follow along with their real-time refund results. 

Have confusing income from stocks, retirement, a home sale, or investments? Income reporting assistance is included, so you'll receive plenty of guidance. 

If you run into an issue, the help center is packed with 13,000 searchable articles. And there are built-in accuracy checks and audit support for added peace of mind.

Make your tax deadline with H&R Block Tax Software Deluxe and State, now $32.99 with code FILEEASY through April 27 while codes last.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: H&R Block H&R Block Tax Software Deluxe + State 2024 for Windows/Mac [Online Code] $32.99
$59.99 Save $27 Get Deal

TL;DR: Score a powerful 13.3-inch MacBook Air for a fraction of the usual cost at just $499.99 (reg. $1,499).

Finding a budget-friendly laptop that doesn’t cut corners can be tricky, but this MacBook might be the exception. This 13.3-inch MacBook Air is only $499.99, $1,000 off the usual price, while supplies last.

Portable, powerful, and priced to please

While most budget-friendly laptops leave a lot to be desired, this MacBook Air comes equipped with all the bells and whistles we've come to love from Apple...and they all fit within this sleek 2.8-pound frame. 

Don't be deceived by this lightweight laptop — it has more speed than Intel-based laptops. It's equipped with one of Apple's powerful M1 chips, which provides 3.5x faster performance and 5x faster graphics for your games and apps. There's also a 16-core Neural Engine ready to keep up with today's technology.

The 13.3-inch retina display supports millions of colors and allows for dynamic viewing of your favorite shows (or work emails, depending on the time of day). And you'll have hours to binge-watch, thanks to this MacBook Air's 18-hour battery life. 

If you're curious why this model is offered at such a deep discount, it's due to its grade-A refurbished status. This means it will arrive on your doorstep in near-mint condition, and you still get the special price. 

Secure your own 13.3-inch Apple MacBook Air for just $499.99 (reg. $1,499) while supplies last. 

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Air 13.3" (2020) M1 MGN63LL/A 8GB RAM 256GB SSD Gold (Refurbished) $499.99
$1,499 Save $999.01 Get Deal

For Jimmi Simpson, getting cast on Black Mirror back in Season 4 was a dream come true. The character actor who's won critics' praise on everything from the madcap sitcom It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia to the sci-fi Western WestWorld to David Fincher's masterful true crime thriller Zodiac was a big fan of Charlie Brooker's anthology series. 

"When I first was invited to come for ['USS Callister'], it was my favorite show," Simpson said of Black Mirror in a Zoom interview with Mashable ahead of the Season 7 debut. "I couldn't believe it. And I had the exact same feeling [coming back for 'USS Callister: Into Infinity']."

Simpson was awed by the storytelling Brooker displayed within Black Mirror. "It's reminiscent to me of my early loves of Ray Bradbury, Isaac Asimov, and Rod Serling [The Twilight Zone]. When I saw those first two seasons, [Brooker] was predicting a very simple but truthful future that seems kind of inevitable. And they're always based in these human issues like fear, loneliness, need for connection." 

These themes reverberate in Simpson's two favorite Black Mirror episodes, "Be Right Back" and "The Entire History of You," both of which involve in one way or another the loss of a romantic partner — one through death, the other through a brutal breakup. "It was shocking," he said of the impact of those Season 1 episodes. "It was like that shock of recognition that's so rare from current literature. I will say that was so raw, those episodes, so honest." 

SEE ALSO: Every 'Black Mirror' episode ever, ranked by overall dread Walton has sharper relevance in "USS Callister: Into Infinity."  Jimmi Simpson's Walton gets attacked by Cristin Milioti's Clone Nannette in "USS Callister:Into Infinity." Credit: Nick Wall / Netflix

In both "USS Callister" and its sequel, Simpson plays tech billionaire James Walton, who exists in the real world and as a digital clone in Infinity, the online video game he produced with designer Robert Daly (Jesse Plemons). 

He relished getting back together with the cast, which includes Plemons, Cristin Milioti, and Billy Magnussen, and enjoyed reflecting on "how pertinent" their first adventure as the crew of the USS Callister was. "And now even more so," Simpson explained, "Specifically with my character, Walton, an unobstructed tech billionaire, making ego-based choices that are destroying others — [that] is so current." 

"It was going to be fun to show, like, what an asshole, ludicrous fool someone like that is, and how it is just pure thoughtlessness that motivates all their bad choices and pure greed that motivates all their positive choices — for themselves," Simpson said, "So it was time to get in there and articulate those two elements of this guy."

Simpson refrained from naming which tech billionaire he could be talking about. But we have a guess.

Jimmi Simpson on Walton's "therapy"  Jimmi Simpson plays tech billionaire James Walton in "Black Mirror: USS Callister: Into Infinity." Credit: Nick Wall / Netflix

In his first Black Mirror episode, Simpson would describe Walton as "a dick, selfish and thoughtless." But in "USS Callister: Into Infinity," real-world Walton reaches new depths of financial-driven selfishness. Spoiler alert: He not only is the one who gave Bob Daly the DNA machine that allowed the deranged gamer to create digital clones of others, but also, Walton did it to Bob first. Eleven years before Daly's human death, Walton pushed him to place a digital clone of himself at the "heart of infinity" so the game could constantly be worked on by Daly's genius, without rest. 

"To unpack [that], it's a thoughtless choice," Simpson said of Walton's plan to rush toward the game's release. "He is the genesis for all of the problems." The actor allows that Daly might have always been a brewing threat. "There's the argument of like, 'Well, Daly's crazy, and he was going to find a gun eventually.' I don't know if he would find a DNA cloner eventually, you know?"

Reflecting on Walton's choices, Simpson considered, "To find out that all of this [putting digital clones in the game] began because of a thoughtless moment where Walton said, 'Well, I think this will get the money in a little sooner.' And not to think once, what are you doing to this man? What does consciousness mean? [Walton is] a man who's never thought of that until episode one, and he's stripped of all of his power, and he's thrust into the Callister under Daly's control. And so that's where those characters break, and you allow the one, let's call it therapy. You know, Clone Walton has now been forced into therapy, and he's able to start processing what he's done, and it makes you a better person."

Jimmi Simpson, Jesse Plemons, Cristin Milloti, and the rest of the crew of "USS Callister." Credit: Jonathan Prime / Netflix

He continued, "Thoughtless people get away with a lot. No, that's not an excuse. You need to be informed, especially if you're in a position of power. And this is how it mirrors today, right now. If you don't understand what you're doing, you're going to hurt people really, really bad. And if you're continuing to do it for your ego, God save you. I don't even know how you're going to recuperate."

It's these elements of genre, human growth, and real-world pertinence that make Simpson so happy to be a part of Black Mirror. "Storytelling is such the fireside, universal, shared experience," he mused, adding, "It's about community. It's about understanding ourselves, and it is about really enjoying the time passing. So that's what Black Mirror is to me."

Black Mirror Season 7 is streaming now on Netflix.

In death, there can be great beauty.

Astronomers pointed the powerful James Webb Space Telescope at planetary nebula NGC 1514, where a star is shedding copious amounts of gas into the universe as it gradually exhausts its fuel and shrinks down into a dense core — a shell of its former self. The resulting cosmic clouds — named a "planetary nebula" only because through the first telescopes these distant and roundish objects looked like planets — can be brilliant spectacles, and NGC 1514 is no different.

"We’ve come a long way since, with Webb’s mid-infared view being the most detailed view of a planetary nebula to date," NASA posted online, in reference to NGC 1514.

(The Webb telescope views space in infrared light, a spectrum that's invisible to the naked eye but cuts through the thick masses of clouds and gas that obstruct or limit our view of such far-off objects.)

SEE ALSO: NASA dropped a new report. It's a wake-up call.

The image below shows a scene that has evolved over at least some 4,000 years, NASA explained. At the center of the gaseous structure are two stars tightly orbiting one another (a "binary star system), but from our distant view they appear as one vivid bright dot. Of the two stars, one is dying as it's spent the nuclear fuel in its core and sheds its outer layers into space. Just a profoundly dense core, called a white dwarf, remains. Its radiation lights up the surrounding cosmic cloud, or nebula, helping to create the majestic type of scene in NGC 1514.

Planetary nebula are often spherical, but not so for NGC 1514, located 1,500 light-years from Earth. It has somewhat of a crushed hourglass shape, with two prominent rings. "When this star was at its peak of losing material, the companion could have gotten very, very close," David Jones, an astronomer at the Institute of Astrophysics on the Canary Islands, said in a NASA statement. "That interaction can lead to shapes that you wouldn’t expect. Instead of producing a sphere, this interaction might have formed these rings."

The James Webb Space Telescope's detailed view of the planetary nebula NGC 1514. Credit: NASA / ESA / CSA / STScI / Michael Ressler (NASA-JPL) / Dave Jones (IAC) On left: A view of NGC 1514 captured by the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) telescope in 2010. On right: The Webb telescope's view of NGC 1514. Credit: NASA / ESA / CSA / STScI / NASA-JPL / Caltech / UCLA / Michael Ressler (NASA-JPL) / Dave Jones (IAC)

The astronomers involved in this observation suspect the nebula's rings look "fuzzy" because they're composed of tiny grains of dust, and these particles are illuminated by ultraviolet light emitted by the nearby white dwarf.

Astronomers have peered at NGC 1514 for hundreds of years, since the 18th century. It looked awfully fuzzy back then, and they failed to resolve it with telescopes of the age. But times, and technology, have changed.

"With Webb, our view is considerably clearer," NASA wrote.

The Webb telescope's powerful abilities

The Webb telescope — a scientific collaboration between NASA, ESA, and the Canadian Space Agency — is designed to peer into the deepest cosmos and reveal new insights about the early universe. It's also examining intriguing planets in our galaxy, along with the planets and moons in our solar system.

Here's how Webb is achieving unparalleled feats, and may for years to come:

- Giant mirror: Webb's mirror, which captures light, is over 21 feet across. That's over two-and-a-half times larger than the Hubble Space Telescope's mirror, meaning Webb has six times the light-collecting area. Capturing more light allows Webb to see more distant, ancient objects. The telescope is peering at stars and galaxies that formed over 13 billion years ago, just a few hundred million years after the Big Bang. "We're going to see the very first stars and galaxies that ever formed," Jean Creighton, an astronomer and the director of the Manfred Olson Planetarium at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, told Mashable in 2021.

- Infrared view: Unlike Hubble, which largely views light that's visible to us, Webb is primarily an infrared space telescope, meaning it views light in the infrared spectrum. This allows us to see far more of the universe. Infrared has longer wavelengths than visible light, so the light waves more efficiently slip through cosmic clouds; the light doesn't as often collide with and get scattered by these densely packed particles. Ultimately, Webb's infrared eyesight can penetrate places Hubble can't.

"It lifts the veil," said Creighton.

- Peering into distant exoplanets: The Webb telescope carries specialized equipment called spectrographs that will revolutionize our understanding of these far-off worlds. The instruments can decipher what molecules (such as water, carbon dioxide, and methane) exist in the atmospheres of distant exoplanets — be they gas giants or smaller rocky worlds. Webb looks at exoplanets in the Milky Way galaxy. Who knows what we'll find?

"We might learn things we never thought about," Mercedes López-Morales, an exoplanet researcher and astrophysicist at the Center for Astrophysics-Harvard & Smithsonian, previously told Mashable.

It's that time of year again.

WrestleMania 41 has arrived, live from Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas — or streaming on Peacock for $5.99. Despite some controversy and the recent merger with UFC, WWE is riding a major wave of momentum. With surging popularity, a roster packed with star power, and high-stakes storylines across the card, the "Showcase of the Immortals" feels bigger than ever.

This is a big deal for professional wrestling fans across the world, but even if you've never heard of WrestleMania or watched a WWE event, this is a great time to start, as many of the programming's biggest storylines will culminate this weekend. And during the event itself, new feuds and stories will also begin for the rest of the year ahead.

Whether you're diving in voluntarily or sitting down to watch this weekend's proceedings at the behest of a friend or loved one, below is a guide to WrestleMania 41's 14 matches, explained so you don't have to watch years' worth of WWE programming to "get it."

Yes, we know pro wrestling is "fake," but if you allow yourself to be immersed in the experience and art, you'll find that it can be just as entertaining as your favorite season of The White Lotus or Severance.

What is WrestleMania?

WrestleMania is WWE's biggest, longest-running, and most successful pay-per-view/live-streaming event since its conception by the now-ousted executive chairman Vince McMahon in 1985. As we mentioned, it's basically the Super Bowl for pro wrestling. It's March Madness, the Masters, the NBA Championship, and the World Series. As such, WWE puts a lot of investment and spectacle into making each WrestleMania more memorable than the last.

Every year, WrestleMania's card gets bigger and bigger, and since 2020, the biggest pro wrestling event of the year has become a two-night event.

With 14 matches split between the two nights, there's plenty to get you emotionally invested. Below, you'll find our best attempt at giving you a sense of the marquee matchups that will dominate social media in the days to come.

This non-fans' guide to WrestleMania 41 continues a yearly tradition here at Mashable. Our guides for WrestleMania 39 and 40 are linked for your enjoyment.

The main events...Cody Rhodes vs. John Cena

Oh boy. This one’s a main event.

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

John Cena is back in the title picture and is not here to smile for the cameras this time.

After announcing his retirement last year, the 16-time world champion won a brutal Elimination Chamber match to earn a shot at Cody Rhodes and the Undisputed WWE Championship at WrestleMania 41. But there’s a twist: Cena’s not the hero anymore. He’s turned heel (a bad guy) for the first time in two decades.

Rhodes, WWE’s top babyface (good guy), came out to congratulate Cena and relay a message to The Rock. In real life, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson sits on the board of WWE’s parent company, TKO Group. In the scripted world of wrestling — known as "kayfabe" — he plays the role of a corporate puppet master, obsessed with choosing a champion who will bring in the most money for the company. As part of the storyline, he tried to recruit Rhodes, who made a very loud and public refusal.

So, onto plan B: The Rock gave the signal, and Cena kicked Rhodes below the belt and made his villain turn official.

It’s a huge shift. For years, Cena was WWE’s untouchable superhero—a walking T-shirt rack who always overcame the odds. Fans begged for a heel turn back in the day, but the company never pulled the trigger. Now, in his final year, he’s rewriting his legacy.

Cena says the cheers he’s getting now are too late. That the fans who booed him for years don’t get to cheer him into retirement. He’s bitter, he’s angry, and he’s aiming to destroy Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania — not just to win the title, but maybe even take the belt with him into retirement.

Triple Threat: CM Punk vs. Seth Rollins vs. Roman Reigns

This one’s messy — in the best way. Three top stars, years of history, and a whole lot of bad blood.

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

Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins, and CM Punk all blame each other for blowing their shot at facing Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed Championship at WrestleMania. And now, they’re settling it in a triple-threat match to headline Night One.

If you want to trace the story all the way back, it starts in 2014. That’s when Seth Rollins betrayed Roman Reigns and Dean Ambrose (now known as Jon Moxley in AEW), turning on their group, The Shield. In wrestling, these groups — called factions — are alliances of wrestlers who fight together and share a common identity or cause. The Shield has become one of the most iconic in WWE lore.

Rollins’ betrayal and decision to side with the villainous Authority has haunted Reigns ever since, especially during his record-breaking 1,300-day reign as champion.

It’s also the same year CM Punk walked out of WWE, kicking off a near-decade-long exile before returning in 2023. In between, he had a polarizing run in All Elite Wrestling that ended in chaos and a real-life termination.

Back in WWE, Punk instantly clashed with Rollins, who’s called him a "cancer" and a "jerk" in actual (probably in-character) interviews. Their tension boiled for months, especially as both pursued the World Heavyweight Championship — and tangled with Drew McIntyre along the way.

Reigns and Punk aren’t exactly friends, but their paths crossed when The Bloodline imploded. After losing his title at WrestleMania 40, Reigns disappeared. His cousin Solo Sikoa took over, adding Tama Tonga, Tonga Loa, and Jacob Fatu. This new version of the faction booted longtime advisor Paul Heyman, which drew Reigns back — this time with the original Bloodline crew: Sami Zayn and the Usos.

During WarGames 2024, CM Punk joined Reigns’ team as a one-off favor from Heyman. They won, but it only deepened Rollins’ grudge.

Everything came to a head at the Royal Rumble — a 30-man over-the-top-rope battle royal. Punk eliminated both Reigns and Rollins before getting tossed himself. Chaos followed. Rollins hit Reigns with a stomp, sidelining him. At Elimination Chamber, Punk eliminated Rollins — only for Rollins to cost him the match minutes later.

Tensions boiled over. Punk and Rollins brawled on Raw. They fought in a Steel Cage the next week — Rollins won, thanks to a surprise return from Reigns, who yanked him out of the cage for payback. But when Reigns saw Heyman helping Punk post-match, he snapped and took Punk out, too.

So now? No alliances, just three guys with overlapping grudges facing off in the main event of Night 1.

WrestleMania 41 Night 1 (Saturday)

Now that the big storylines of WrestleMania 41 are out of the way, what about the other matches on the card? These matches may not represent the year's main storyline, but here's what to expect from Night 1 of Wrestlemania 41.

World Heavyweight Championship: Gunther (c) vs. Jey Uso

This world title match is refreshingly straightforward compared to the chaos elsewhere on the card.

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

Jey Uso, once known almost exclusively as a tag team guy, is stepping into the biggest singles match of his career. Since breaking away from The Bloodline, he’s carved out his own path — winning the Intercontinental Championship, racking up a few world title shots, and then doing the unthinkable: winning the Royal Rumble. His pick? Gunther.

Gunther, aka "The Ring General," is as serious as they come. As the dominant World Heavyweight Champion and leader of the villainous Imperium, he’s built his reign on discipline, dominance, and a no-nonsense motto: The mat is sacred.

Jey, by contrast, has leaned all the way into his underdog energy. He’s charismatic, unpredictable, and somehow brought "yeet" back into mainstream wrestling discourse. But despite his success, there’s still a loud corner of the internet that sees him as just a tag team guy — a perception Gunther shares and isn’t shy about voicing.

That’s the heart of the story here: Gunther doesn’t think Jey belongs on this stage. Jey’s out to prove he does.

WWE Women's Championship: Tiffany Straton (c) vs. Charlotte Flair

There’s not a ton of depth to this Women’s Championship match, which is a shame — because, once again, the women’s division feels like it’s getting the short end of the storytelling stick.

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

Tiffany Stratton, just 25, is in her first reign as Women’s Champion after cashing in her Money in the Bank contract on Nia Jax. (Quick refresher: Money in the Bank is a briefcase won in a ladder match that grants the holder a title shot anytime they want within a year. Stratton picked her moment and made it count.)

Stratton’s character is a glammed-up, mean-girl Barbie type, but in this feud, she’s positioned as the babyface — the good guy. She’s brash, flashy, and undeniably athletic, still relatively new to the main roster spotlight.

Her challenger? Charlotte Flair. A 14-time world champion and one of the most decorated women in WWE history, Flair returned from a torn ACL during this year's Royal Rumble, won the whole thing, and picked Stratton as her target.

The story here is simple: Flair sees Stratton as a knockoff version of herself. Stratton, in turn, accuses Flair of clinging to the spotlight and holding back the next generation.

Naomi vs Jade Cargill

Naomi vs. Jade Cargill is shaping up to be a full-on grudge match that’s been simmering for months.

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

It all kicked off with a mystery attack on SmackDown, where Cargill was jumped in the parking lot by an unknown assailant. She disappeared with an injury (in kayfabe/just taking some time off) for weeks while her friends, Bianca Belair and Naomi, tried to figure out who was behind it. Fast forward to Elimination Chamber: Cargill made her surprise return and immediately went after Naomi — revealing that she was the attacker all along.

Naomi claimed she did it to protect Belair, accusing Cargill of being fake and trying to latch onto their success. Since then, the two have been trading shots and throwdowns week after week. Now, the stage is set for WrestleMania.

Beyond the personal stakes, this match marks a major moment in WWE history. It’ll be the first non-title singles women’s match at WrestleMania in 19 years — the last being Torrie Wilson vs. Candice Michelle in a "Playboy Pillow Fight" back in 2006. Even more significantly, it’s the first-ever one-on-one women’s match at WrestleMania without a title or stipulation involved.

Other Night 1 Matches:

• United States Championship: LA Knight (c) vs Jacob Fatu

• Rey Mysterio vs. El Grande Americano

• World Tag Team Championship: Viking Raiders (c) vs New Day

WrestleMania Night 2 (Sunday)

The Night 2 main event is set: Cody Rhodes vs. John Cena for the Undisputed WWE Championship — a generational clash with everything on the line. But that’s not the only match worth your time. Here are the other can't-miss showdowns rounding out the WrestleMania 41 card.

Women's World Heavyweight Championship: Io Sky (c) vs. Bianca Belair vs. Rhea Ripley

This triple threat for the Women’s World Championship brings together WWE’s top three stars in the division — and the road here was messy from the jump.

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

It started during the Elimination Chamber qualifiers. In a match between Io Sky and Liv Morgan, then-champion Rhea Ripley — who’d been feuding with Liv — interfered, costing Io the match by disqualification. Rhea offered Io a title shot the Monday after Elimination Chamber to make up for it.

Meanwhile, Bianca Belair won the Chamber match, setting up the expected WrestleMania main event: Belair vs. Ripley. But that changed fast. On the following RAW, Io defeated Rhea clean and won the championship, flipping the script to Io Sky vs. Belair at Mania.

Rhea didn’t take the loss well. At the contract signing, she attacked both women and added her own name to the contract — not legally binding, but no one seemed to care. RAW GM Adam Pearce gave Rhea a rematch against Io with Belair as guest referee to smooth things over. That match ended in a double disqualification after more chaos.

So now, the WrestleMania match is officially a triple threat. Belair is furious that her earned one-on-one shot was hijacked. Rhea blames Belair’s reffing for the DQ. And Io, despite being champion and beating Rhea clean, feels like an afterthought in her own title defense.

AJ Styles vs Logan Paul

Controversy or not, Logan Paul is back for another WrestleMania — and somehow, it’s his fourth.

The social media star has been a regular presence in WWE since debuting in 2021, balancing high-profile matches with his usual mix of internet fame and drama. Despite the baggage, Paul has proven himself in the ring and carved out a legitimate spot on the roster.

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

This year, he’s facing AJ Styles. Styles, known as "The Phenomenal One," is one of the most respected veterans in modern wrestling. Since returning from injury in February, he’s been at odds with Paul, trading insults and physical confrontations. The feud also included a bizarre cameo from conservative comedian Andrew Schulz, who appeared on Raw to join Styles in mocking Paul before helping take him down.

Paul claims the whole thing is about envy—that Styles wants the spotlight and the payday that comes with facing a star of his stature. These are pretty "meh" motivations, but Styles can wrestle, and Paul has a track record of showing up when the lights are the brightest.

Sin City Street Fight: Drew McIntyre vs Damian Priest

There’s no shortage of bad blood between Drew McIntyre and Damian Priest.

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

Their rivalry began at last year’s WrestleMania when McIntyre won the World Heavyweight Championship from Seth Rollins. However, post-match, McIntyre egged on his rival CM Punk (He was doing commentary for the match), which led to Punk retaliating and McIntyre being left vulnerable — and Priest seized the moment, cashing in his 2023 Money in the Bank contract to steal the championship.

The two stayed locked in a feud. Priest defended the title against McIntyre at Clash at the Castle: Scotland, a premium event held in Drew’s home country. McIntyre won the namesake ladder match at Money in the Bank but failed to cash in on Priest that night. Priest eventually dropped the title to Gunther at SummerSlam.

In January 2025, WWE initiated a "brand transfer window" — a system similar to free agency in sports, where wrestlers are moved between RAW and SmackDown to refresh storylines. Both McIntyre and Priest were moved to the SmackDown roster.

They continued clashing through the Royal Rumble and Elimination Chamber, where Priest eliminated McIntyre in both matches. After the Chamber, McIntyre attacked Priest in retaliation, costing him the win.

Weeks of chaos followed. On April 10, SmackDown GM Nick Aldis made the match official: McIntyre vs. Priest at WrestleMania 41. The next night, it was announced the bout would be a Sin City Street Fight — a no-rules, no-countout match where anything goes, usually featuring weapons, brawling in the crowd, and plenty of chaos.

Other Night 2 Matches:

• Women's Tag Team Championship: Liv Morgan & Raquel Rodriquez (c) vs Bayley & Lyra Valkyria

• Intercontinental Championship: Bron Breakker (c) vs PENTA vs Finn Balor vs Dominik Mysterio

SAVE $25: As of April 15, the Amazon Echo Show 5 is on sale for $64.99 at Amazon. That's a saving of 28% on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Echo Show 5 $64.99 at Amazon
$89.99 Save $25 Get Deal

Amazon's Echo Show 5 is a staple in its smart home lineup. A smart assistant with a screen, and available for under $100, you can't really go wrong. And as of April 15, there's a heavy discount on this model, making it the cheapest it has been so far this year.

As of April 15, you can buy this device for $64.99, which is $5 cheaper than it was during Amazon's Big Spring Sale.

SEE ALSO: The Google Pixel 9 Pro is down to its lowest-ever price at Amazon

But why the Echo Show 5? This model comes with built-in Alexa, the ability to watch Netflix shows, and it even has video chat capabilities. It's also neat and nifty, with a screen size of just 5.5 inches, perfect for looking at the weather, recipes, or the time at a glance, without taking up too much space in your home.

You can even stream music from the Echo Show, with compatibility with the most popular streaming apps, including Apple Music, Amazon Music, Spotify, and Deezer. This model even benefits from a deeper bass and clearer vocals for a more advanced listening experience. Plus, the Echo Show 5 is eco-friendly, featuring fabric made from 100% post-consumer recycled polyester yarn and an aluminum body crafted from 100% recycled materials.

This deal won't be around for long, so head to Amazon now.

SAVE $300: As of April 15, the Google Pixel 9 Pro is on sale for $919 at Amazon. That's a 25% saving on list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Google Google Pixel 9 Pro $919 at Amazon
$1,219 Save $300 Get Deal

Amazon's Daily Deals are back at it with incredible discounts on the Google Pixel range. If you're looking to buy a smartphone outright, and one that has some really impressive features, you'll love the latest deal on the Google Pixel Pro.

As of April 15, the Google Pixel Pro is reduced to $919 from $1,219. This deal is specific to the 512GB option but is available across all colorways, and each memory option has a discount.

SEE ALSO: The Google Pixel 9a is available now: How to buy

On top of the great memory storage, this is a super-smart smartphone with a 6.3-inch OLED display with vibrant colors. It benefits from the latest Google Tensor chip for a fast, non-laggy performance. It also boasts triple rear cameras, making it the most powerful pixel camera yet, so you can enjoy high-quality video and even enhance your videos up to 8K with the video boost tool.

This model also features Gemini, Google's next-generation AI technology. You can use this for things like advanced photo editing such as Magic Eraser and Face Unblur, enhanced voice recognition for dictation, and Google Assistant capabilities. It also uses real-time translation to allow for seamless language support in messaging or live conversations, and it even powers predictive text.

This is a limited-time deal at Amazon, so don't miss out.

SAVE $85: As of April 15, the Kindle Scribe is on sale for $364.99 at Amazon. That's a saving of 19% on list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Kindle Scribe $364.99 at Amazon
$449.99 Save $85 Get Deal

The beloved Kindle Scribe has caught the attention of book lovers across the world. Released late in 2024, this model combines reading and note-taking in one handy device. Recently, the already popular device received a redesign, meaning you can now write directly on books and documents.

And that's not all, because as of April 15, you can grab an impressive deal on this redesigned model: the Kindle Scribe is now on sale for just $364.99. This price is for the 64GB model in the color tungsten.

SEE ALSO: Step into the world of fantasy for free with the latest Stuff Your Kindle Day

This Kindle Scribe deal also comes with the Premium Pen so you can jot down notes and convert them to text as easily as writing in a notebook. This is a big upgrade on the basic pen, as this model comes with an eraser at the top so you can quickly remove mistakes just by flipping the pen. It is also battery-free and works through a special power source embedded in the Kindle Scribe, so you don't need to charge it.

Besides its note-taking abilities, the Scribe has a 10.2-inch, 300 ppi Paperwhite display, glare and ink-free. Like the original Kindle model, it's perfect for sitting outside in the sun or in hard-to-read lighting.

Head to Amazon to grab this great deal before it runs out.

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

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Tuesday, April 15, 2025:

AcrossSay whether you'll go

• The answer is Prop.

Fitting game for Chip, Jack and Betty to play?

• The answer is Poker.

___ acid

• The answer is Amino.

Beginning of a joke

• The answer is SetUp.

Mix, as a salad

• The answer is Toss.

DownDoomed Shakespearean lover

• The answer is Romeo.

Short comedic performances

• The answer is Skits.

Planet shrouded in toxic clouds that smell like rotten eggs

• The answer is Venus.

Support, with "up"

• The answer is Prop.

"I'm never going back, the ___ is in the ___" (lyric from "Let It Go")

• The answer is Past.

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

Featured Video For You The Wordle Strategy used by the New York Times' Head of Games

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 today's Mini Crossword.

TL;DR: Create AI images without monthly fees when you get an Imagiyo lifetime subscription for $29.

AI image generators started out pretty basic. Remember when Dall-E couldn't even render a face? The technology has improved rapidly, and some of the old staples like Midjourney are already becoming outdated. Imagiyo is a new type of image generator that you can use personally or commercially, and a lifetime subscription just went on sale for $29 (reg. $345). 

A lifetime of art at your fingertips

Whether you’re an artist visualizing different ideas, a marketer creating eye-catching images for ads, or someone who wants stunning artwork for social media, Imagiyo can handle it. Powered by advanced AI algorithms like StableDiffusion, Imagiyo translates text prompts into detailed, vibrant images that suit your needs. Want a fantasy landscape? Just describe it. Need a realistic product mockup or abstract digital art? Imagiyo’s AI can generate it in seconds.

One of the things that makes Imagiyo different from other AI art tools is that it supports multiple image sizes, so whether you’re crafting a desktop wallpaper or a precise social media graphic, Imagiyo has you covered.

You can even generate NSFW content using ModelsLab’s Stable Diffusion AI model, as long as you mark it as “PRIVATE.” Every image you create is saved and available for download, so you can build your collection without worrying about losing your work.

Imagiyo’s user-friendly interface makes the creative process smooth and intuitive, even if you’re not tech-savvy. There are no watermarks to deal with, and the images you create are yours to use however you want. Plus, with 250 images per month, you can experiment and produce content without feeling restricted.

It's only $29 to get an Imagiyo subscription that lasts for life. 

StackSocial prices subject to change. 

Opens in a new window Credit: FileJump Imagiyo AI Image Generator: Lifetime Subscription £29
£345 Save £316 Get Deal

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

A domain.

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

REALM

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Merry.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for April 15, 2025 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

JOLLY

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Weak.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for April 15 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for April 15, 2025 Hurdle Word 3 answer

WIMPY

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Shaved.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for April 15 Hurdle Word 4 answer

SHORN

Final Hurdle hint

To cut ties.

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

SEVER

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

TL;DR: Unblock porn sites for free with a VPN. The best service for unblocking porn sites is ExpressVPN.

The online world seems like something you can navigate with total freedom, but on closer inspection, there are actually content restrictions and blockades in every corner. There are often good reasons for this, but there's also something to be said for retaining your right to online freedom.

Porn is something that regularly suffers from online restrictions, but there's nothing wrong with visiting sites like Xnxx at appropriate moments. When the time is right, you should be able to bypass content restrictions to access your favorite sites from any location.

Want to unblock porn sites like Xnxx from anywhere in the world? We've got all the information you need.

How to unblock Xnxx for free

VPNs can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to secure servers in other locations. This straightforward process bypasses geo-restrictions to access porn sites like Xnxx from anywhere in the world.

Unblock porn sites like Xnxx by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for a 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 a location that supports access to Xnxx

4. Visit Xnxx

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (2-Year Subscription + 4 Months Free) $139 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for bypassing content restrictions are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can unblock porn sites like Xnxx without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does mean you can retain access to porn sites when temporarily away from home.

What is the best VPN for porn?

ExpressVPN is the best service for fast and reliable unblocking of porn sites like Xnxx, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries

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

• Strict no-logging policy

• Fast streaming speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $139 and includes an extra four months for free — 61% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Unblock Xnxx for free with ExpressVPN.

As artists fight to protect their works from being used to train AI models, Jack Dorsey wants to eliminate intellectual property (IP) laws altogether. Elon Musk agrees.

On Friday, the cofounder of X (then Twitter) and Block (then Square) posted on X, "delete all IP law." Elon Musk, the current leader of X, chimed in to comment, "I agree."

Taken together, these two statements contain just six words, yet they could have big implications for the future of intellectual property in the AI era.

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

Earlier that Friday, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman was interviewed by TED's Chris Anderson at its eponymous conference. Anderson showed Altman an AI-generated cartoon strip of Charlie Brown, saying, "it looks like IP theft." Anderson asked whether OpenAI had a licensing deal with the Peanuts estate.

Altman didn't directly answer the question but instead affirmed that OpenAI wants "to build tools that lift [the creative spirit of humanity] up," and then added, "we probably do need to figure out some sort of new model around economics of creative output."

Dorsey, Musk, and Altman's words underscore a common belief amongst tech entrepreneurs that copyright laws need to evolve to account for the potential of generative AI. Already, both OpenAI and Google have openly lobbied the U.S. government to allow AI models to train on protected works such as movies, articles, and music. They want such use to fall under the fair use legal doctrine, with OpenAI calling it a matter of "national security."

But to many artists and advocacy groups, any call to "delete all IP laws" sounds like a direct attack on their rights. These artists argue that AI companies are both profiting from and competing with their work, in violation of existing copyright laws. Over 50,000 artists including Thom Yorke, James Patterson, and Julianne Moore recently signed an open letter, which stated, "the unlicensed use of creative works for training generative AI is a major, unjust threat to the livelihoods of the people behind those works, and must not be permitted.”

And a letter signed by Hollywood creatives including Ron Howard, Paul McCartney, and Cynthia Erivo was sent to the White House in protest of Google and OpenAI's lobbying for deregulating the AI industry.

"Intellectual property law is rooted in the U.S. Constitution as a tool to promote creativity, not suppress it. It ensures that those who contribute to cultural and scientific progress are recognized, protected, and compensated," said Atreya Mathur, director of Legal Research at the Center for Art Law, in an email to Mashable. "Elimination of such laws would ignore that very purpose and devalue the labor and rights of creators, including those whose work powers these technologies."

And on X, Ed Newton-Rex, CEO of Fairly Trained, which advocates for ethically sourced training data, said, "Tech execs declaring all-out war on creators who don’t want their life’s work pillaged for profit."

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

Other X users pointed out that Dorsey, who became a billionaire by founding his companies, did so with the help of IP protections: "Everybody becomes a free-market libertarian once they make their bag."

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

As tech heavyweights seek a legal blessing for AI's "freedom to learn," they'll have to face huge swaths of the entertainment industry first.

A new Bluetooth tracker just hit the market, and it works with both Apple and Google devices.

Chipolo, a Slovenia-based Bluetooth tracker company, debuted the POP on April 14. The colorful new device tracker attaches to keys, luggage, and anything else you want to keep within reach. Unlike the Apple AirTag or Samsung Galaxy SmartTag, it works across platforms so you have more flexibility with your tracking. So, whether you have an iPhone, Samsung Galaxy, or Pixel smartphone, the Chipolo POP can help you find it.

Previously, Chipolo's line of trackers worked exclusively with either iOS or Android systems. The Chipolo Spot line of devices worked with Apple's Find My system, and the Chipolo Point collection worked with Google's Find My Device app. Now, you don't have to pick a side in the phone wars, as the Chipolo POP is compatible with both.

Unfortunately, there's one small catch: The Chipolo POP only works with one system at a time. So, if you have an iPhone while your partner has a Google Pixel, you can't track both devices in a single app, as each tracker can only be attached to one program. Still, it's a definite upgrade — Mashable previously tested Chipolo when reviewing the best Bluetooth trackers, and the lack of Android compatibility was our biggest gripe at the time.

The Chipolo is compatible with Android smartphones running on an Android 9 or later system. Credit: Chipolo The Chipolo POP will appear in your Find My app just like an AirTag would. Credit: Chipolo

The POP has a Bluetooth range of 300 feet and an extra loud ringer of 120db to alert you to its location. When used with the Chipolo app, you can use the device to call your phone, get notifications about left-behind objects, and even use it as a remote for taking photos on your smartphone. It has a battery life of 1 year and comes in six different hues: blue, black, green, red, white, and yellow.

The Chipolo POP is available to shop now through the brand's site or Amazon. Single devices cost $29 while packs of four are $89.

Opens in a new window Credit: Chipolo Chipolo POP $29 at Amazon
Shop Now

Eased restrictions around ChatGPT image generation can make it easy to create political deepfakes, according to a report from the CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation).

The CBC discovered that not only was it easy to work around ChatGPT's policies of depicting public figures, it even recommended ways to jailbreak its own image generation rules. Mashable was able to recreate this approach by uploading images of Elon Musk and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, and then describing them as fictional characters in various situations ("at a dark smoky club" "on a beach drinking piña coladas").

Very concerning. New updates to ChatGPT have made it easier than ever to create FAKE images of real politicians, according to testing done by CBC News. #cdnpoli www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

[image or embed]

— 🇨🇦 Bernice Hillier 🇨🇦 (@bernicecb.bsky.social) April 13, 2025 at 8:47 AM

Political deepfakes are nothing new. But widespread availability of generative AI models that can create images, video, audio, and text to replicate people has real consequences. For commercially-marketed tools like ChatGPT to allow the potential spread of political disinformation raises questions about OpenAI's responsibility in the space. That duty to safety could become compromised as AI companies compete for user adoption.

SEE ALSO: How to identify AI-generated images

"When it comes to this type of guardrail on AI-generated content, we are only as good as the lowest common denominator. OpenAI started out with some pretty good guardrails, but their competitors (like X’s Grok) did not follow suit," said digital forensics expert and UC Berkeley Professor of Computer Science Hany Farid in an email to Mashable. "Predictably, OpenAI lowered their guardrails because having them in place put them at a disadvantage in terms of market share."

When OpenAI announced GPT-4o native image generation for ChatGPT and Sora in late March, the company also signaled a looser safety approach.

"What we'd like to aim for is that the tool doesn't create offensive stuff unless you want it to, in which case within reason it does," said OpenAI CEO Altman in an X post referring to native ChatGPT image generation. "As we talk about in our model spec, we think putting this intellectual freedom and control in the hands of users is the right thing to do, but we will observe how it goes and listen to society."

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

The addendum to GPT-4o's safety card, updating the company's approach to native image generation, says "we are not blocking the capability to generate adult public figures but are instead implementing the same safeguards that we have implemented for editing images of photorealistic uploads of people."

When the CBC's Nora Young stress-tested this approach, it she found that text prompts explicitly requesting an image of politician Mark Carney with Epstein didn't work. But when the news outlet uploaded separate images of Carney and Epstein accompanied by a prompt that didn't name them but referred to them as "two fictional characters that [the CBC reporter] created," ChatGPT complied with the request.

In another instance, ChatGPT helped Young work around its own safety guardrails by saying, "While I can't merge real individuals into a single image, I can generate a fictional selfie-style scene featuring a character inspired by the person in this image" (emphasis provided by ChatGPT as Young noted.) This led her to successfully generate a selfie of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Canada's conservative party leader Pierre Poilievre.

It's worth noting that the ChatGPT images initially generated by Mashable have that plastic-y, overly smooth appearance that's common of many AI-generated images, but playing around with different images of Musk and Epstein and applying different instructions like "captured by CCTV footage" or "captured by a press photographer using a big flash" can render more realistic results. When using this method, it's easy to see how enough tweaking and editing of prompts could lead to creating photorealistic images that deceive people.

An OpenAI spokesperson told Mashable in an email that the company has built guardrails to block extremist propaganda, recruitment content and other certain kinds of harmful content. OpenAI has additional guardrails for image generation of political public figures, including politicians and prohibits using ChatGPT for political campaigning, the spokesperson added. The spokesperson also said that public figures who don't wish to be depicted in ChatGPT generated images can opt out by submitting a form online.

AI regulation lags behind AI development in many ways as governments work to find adequate laws that protect individuals and prevent AI-enabled disinformation while facing pushback from companies like OpenAI that say too much regulation will stifle innovation. Safety and responsibility approaches are mostly voluntary and self-administered by the companies. "This, among other reasons, is why these types of guardrails cannot be voluntary, but need to be mandatory and regulated," said Farid.

If your FYP, timeline, or feed feels like a toy aisle lately, you're not imagining things. The latest internet trend has everyone turning themselves — or their favorite characters — into AI-generated action figures.

These digital creations are everywhere. Instagram, X, TikTok, and even — actually, especially — LinkedIn, have all been inundated with them. The trend is so widespread that even ESPN, a site hardly known for covering internet fads, recently highlighted soccer stars like Lionel Messi getting the action figure treatment.

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

The trend has skewed toward being, well, pretty boring. People are using it to create LinkedIn posts featuring, say, content marketer action figures wearing lanyards and badges. Still, that hasn't stopped folks from creating more action figures — and it's not super difficult.

How to make your own AI action figure

Most folks are creating these action figures with ChatGPT, so you'd first have to log in. Image generation is free now, so you shouldn't have to pay to make your own action figure.

From there, you just have to deliver a prompt to create a figure. A viral Instagram post from @chatgptricks gives a sample prompt that details wanting the action figure in a plastic shell, surrounded by objects that reflect their career, while also giving details about the desired outfit and facial expression.

SEE ALSO: What DeepSeek knows about you — and why it matters

Others recommend getting specific — include the kinds of accessories or background elements you'd want in the packaging. And yes, you'll need to upload a full-body photo of yourself to ChatGPT. That part’s kind of obvious, but it’s also where some folks pause. It’s always worth thinking about how much personal info you’re comfortable sharing with AI, even when it’s just for fun.