Technology

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, Jan. 6, 2026:

AcrossWhen pigs fly

• The answer is Never.

Courtroom excuse

• The answer is Alibi.

"That's a ___!" ("Seems unlikely!")

• The answer is Big if.

Cash register compartment

• The answer is Till.

She, in French

• The answer is Elle.

DownCatch, as a crook

• The answer is Nab.

Designation for prolific Yelp reviewers

• The answer is Elite.

Candlelight ___ (solemn observance)

• The answer is Vigil.

Online invoice

• The answer is Ebill.

Piece of equipment in a Winter Olympics biathlon

• The answer is Rifle.

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 today's Mini Crossword.

SAVE $60: As of Jan. 6, the Fitbit Charge 6 is on sale for $99.95 at Amazon. That's a 38% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Fitbit Fitbit Charge 6 $99.95 at Amazon
$159.95 Save $60.00   Get Deal

Sticking to your fitness goals is a lot easier when you can actually see your progress. That’s where a fitness tracker comes in. These handy devices turn your hard work into readable stats, and what could be more motivating than that? And if you’re looking for a model that can give you this, but for under $100, check out this new Amazon deal on the Fitbit Charge 6.

As of Jan. 6, this fitness tracker is down to $99.95, giving you a saving of $60. According to camelcamelcamel, it’s never been cheaper than this. 

Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up!

Despite the low price, you’re still getting an impressive amount of stats that are bound to keep you motivated all year. It has over 40 exercise modes, including running, swimming, and yoga. You’ll also get a range of workout-related stats (heart rate, Active Zone Minutes, and daily activity).

It has built-in GPS, so your outdoor runs will be mapped and your pace tracked more accurately. You can even leave your phone at home if you want to enjoy a switched-off run. You’ll also be able to track lifestyle metrics like your sleep and stress, and you’ll get personalized insights into what your sleep actually looks like.  

On top of fitness, it functions as a smartwatch, letting you receive calls, messages, and notifications, make contactless payments, use voice assistants, and enjoy a battery life that lasts up to seven days.

Find this great Fitbit deal at Amazon now.

SAVE $80: As of Jan. 6, the Fitbit Versa 4 is on sale for $119.95 at Amazon. That's a 40% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Fitbit Fitbit Versa 4 $119.95 at Amazon
$199.95 Save $80.00   Get Deal

Nothing helps you hit your fitness goals quite like a fancy new gadget to keep you motivated. And if you’re trying to be a bit more consistent this year, having a fitness tracker on your wrist that nudges you along can make a real difference. It doesn’t need to be a super advanced, overly expensive model either, if you just want something affordable to keep you accountable, check out this latest deal on the Fitbit Versa 4.

As of Jan. 6, this smartwatch is on sale for $80 off. That brings the price down to $119.95, its best-ever price. You can choose from all color options too, giving you the choice of pink sand, black, and waterfall blue. 

Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up!

And it has plenty of features to keep you motivated, including built-in GPS, all-day activity tracking, 40+ exercise modes, and 24/7 heart rate monitoring. It also tracks lifestyle and health metrics, with detailed sleep stats (including sleep stages, scores, and smart wake) as well as tools for managing stress, SpO2 tracking, and even more. 

It’s not all work and no play with the Versa 4, as you’ll also get social features that support calls, texts, notifications, contactless payments, and voice assistants. And all this comes with a battery life of over six days. 

Kick the new year off with a bang and grab this Fitbit deal from Amazon now.

SAVE $140: As of Jan. 6, the Kindle Scribe is on sale for $309.99 at Amazon. That's a discount of 31% on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Kindle Scribe $309.99 at Amazon
$449.99 Save $140   Get Deal

If reading more is one of your New Year’s resolutions, this might help: the Kindle Scribe is currently on sale. Not only that, but it's down to its lowest-ever price at Amazon. As of Jan. 6, this popular Kindle model is down to $309.99, saving you $140. This price is for the 64GB model in the colors metallic jade or tungsten.

This Kindle is a popular one, designed not just for reading, but writing too. This e-reader lets you read, write, and annotate documents on a large, paper-like display. It even includes built-in AI tools that can tidy up your notes, summarize them, or adjust the length and tone.

Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up!

It also comes with the Premium Pen, a stylus designed to feel like writing on paper. It doesn’t need charging either, it uses electromagnetic technology to connect to the device. With this, you can import and mark up documents and PDFs, and write directly on book pages with expandable margins.

Battery life is designed to last for months, too. So you'll get long periods of reading and weeks of writing on just a single charge.

Find this great Kindle deal at Amazon now.

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 January 6, 2026

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for January 6, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for Jan. 6 Pips

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

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 1-0, placed horizontally; 4-3, placed horizontally.

Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 4-3, placed horizontally; 3-1, placed vertically; 6-3, placed horizontally.

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

Number (1): Everything in this space must add up to 1. The answer is 3-1, placed vertically.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for Jan. 6 Pips

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 4-5, placed horizontally; 2-6, placed horizontally.

Equal (2): Everything in this space must be equal to 2. The answer is 2-2, placed vertically; 2-6, placed horizontally; 2-4, placed vertically; 2-5, placed horizontally.

Less Than (6): Everything in this space must be less than 6. The answer is 2-5, placed horizontally.

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

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

Hard difficulty hints, answers for Jan. 6 Pips

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

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

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

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

Equal (4): Everything in this yellow space must be equal to 4. The answer is 4-0, placed vertically; 4-4, placed horizontally; 4-5, placed horizontally; 3-4, placed horizontally; 4-6, placed vertically.

Equal (5): Everything in this space must be equal to 5. The answer is 4-5, placed horizontally; 5-5, placed horizontally; 0-5, placed vertically; 3-5, placed vertically; 2-5, placed vertically.

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

Equal (3): Everything in this red space must be equal to 3. The answer is 3-4, placed horizontally; 3-6, placed vertically.

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

Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 3-0, placed horizontally; 2-1, placed horizontally.

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

Number (12): Everything in this space must add up to 12. The answer is 3-6, placed vertically; 4-6, placed vertically.

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

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

SAVE $80: As of Jan. 6, the Jackery Explorer 300 is on sale for $178.99 at Amazon. That's a 31% savings on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Jackery Jackery Explorer 300 $178.99 at Amazon
$259 Save $80.01   Get Deal

Jackery is one of the most recognizable names when it comes to portable power stations. The brand offers everything from power banks ideal for charging your phone to powerhouse units that can power your whole house for days. But if you're looking for something in between, you'll love this new Amazon deal on the Jackery Explorer 300.

This model is a compact portable power station with a 293Wh battery, designed for light home backup and outdoor use. It's ideal for keeping electronics powered during a camping trip, for example. It can recharge up to 80% in around two hours using a wall outlet and USB-C at the same time, or be topped up via a car outlet.

Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up!

You'll get up to 300W through two pure sine wave AC outlets, and you'll be able to charge up to six devices at once, including USB-C, USB-A, and a car port. It weighs just over 7 pounds, so it's compact and easy to carry around too, ideal if you're camping off-grid.

And as of Jan. 6, it's on sale. Right now you can take home this model for $178.99, a saving of over $80 on list price. According to camelcamelcamel, this is also the lowest-ever price for this model.

Pick up this portable power station deal from Amazon.

Juggling my jam-packed schedule of briefings, pre-briefings, demos, and media events ahead of CES 2026 this week has been a feat of organization and sustained caffeine intake. My kingdom for a Calendar 2, the updated version of Skylight's popular digital wall calendar.

The device made its debut at CES' Pepcom showcase Tuesday night and fully launches in a matter of weeks.

Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable

The Skylight Calendar is a WiFi-connected calendar that can keep track of multiple family members' schedules, to-do lists, and chores. Our reviewer tried and loved the larger Calendar Max model, which measures 27 inches across and features rounded corners. It even nabbed one of our coveted Mashable Choice Awards. "Once I got the Skylight Calendar, my life instantly felt more organized," wrote Jae Thomas for Mashable.

SEE ALSO: CES 2026 live updates: See the latest news, surprises, and strange tech from LG, Samsung, Lego, and new startups

A Skylight rep told me that the company decided to update the device based on a recurring tidbit of customer feedback: the calendar's design should be more customizable because everybody's home decor is different. The new 15-inch Calendar 2 has interchangeable magnetic frames and an adjustable tabletop stand that can tilt 180 degrees. It also sports the same rounded corners as the Calendar Max, whereas its 15-inch predecessor had squared-off corners. It's 20 percent thinner, too.

Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable

This redesign also appears to address our reviewer's biggest issue with the original Skylight Calendar, which was that its plastic frame didn't fit on its screen when they were assembling it; they wound using it unframed. When I played around with the Calendar 2 at Pepcom, I was able to snap its frame on and off easily.

Skylight also gave the Calendar 2 a new processor that makes it three times faster than the older version. Additionally, its touchscreen is sharper, brighter, and more color-accurate.

Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable

A limited-edition Calendar 2 with a brass frame and six exclusive screensavers launched in December at Target as part of a collaboration with Joanna Gaines' Hearth and Hand with Magnolia brand. It costs $339.99, but the standard version will retail for $299.99, the same price as the first-gen model. It's set for an official release in February.

Opens in a new window Credit: Target Skylight Calendar 2 Antique Brass - Hearth & Hand with Magnolia $339.99 at Target
  Shop Now

Head to the Mashable CES 2026 hub for the latest news and live updates from the biggest show in tech, where Mashable journalists are reporting live.

Featured Video For You Samsung First Look: Go up close with Galaxy Z TriFold, the futuristic foldable only available in Korea

Making AI companions and assistants feel more real, more physically present, has become one of the defining themes of CES this year. Razer is leaning into the moment by showcasing a more tangible version of Project Ava at CES 2026.

For those who need a refresher, Project Ava is Razer’s real-time gaming co-pilot: an AI assistant that essentially acts as a backseat gamer for you. While you’re playing, Ava — represented here by a character named Kira — offers live advice, tips, and commentary, overlaid directly on your screen as the game unfolds. It’s coaching, but with a personality and a face.

SEE ALSO: CES 2026 live updates: See the latest news, surprises, and strange tech from LG, Samsung, Lego, and new startups

Razer technically showed off Project Ava at last year's CES, but that early demo was almost aggressively abstract. Instead of a character, it was mostly lines of code and system diagrams, with Razer walking through how the AI processed gameplay data and generated commands in real-time. Useful, sure, but not exactly something you could imagine sitting next to you during a late-night gaming session.

This year's version is clearly about making the concept feel less like a backend experiment and more like a presence. Whether that makes having an AI critique your gameplay more helpful or more annoying is another question entirely.

Featured Video For You Samsung First Look: Go up close with Galaxy Z TriFold, the futuristic foldable only available in Korea

The new Project Ava hardware is a cylindrical desktop device with a transparent outer shell that displays a full-body, animated character inside. A camera is mounted at the top of the unit, facing outward, while the base features a perforated, patterned platform that gives the character a sense of depth. The bottom ring glows in Razer’s signature green and is branded with the company logo. Designed to sit next to a laptop or monitor, the device functions as a dedicated display for the AI assistant, keeping it separate from the game screen rather than overlaying it on gameplay.

Credit: Chance Townsend / Mashable

The character Razer demoed is called Kira, though she's far from the only option. Other presets include Zane, a sharply dressed, extremely large man with a massive snake tattoo running down his arm. Very much the kind of character that feels ripped straight from something you’d find on BookTok. According to Razer, these avatars will be customizable, including the ability to create your own from scratch. The company has also partnered with influencers to offer character likenesses, including esports pro Faker, signaling that Project Ava is as much about personality and fandom as it is about utility.

As with most CES demos, the room was aggressively loud, which made it hard for the AI to consistently pick up voice commands. We spent most of the demo parked in the Battlefield 6 loadout customization screen, asking Kira for advice on which guns and gadgets would make the most sense for the next round. Given the circumstances, it worked well enough, and the recommendations were solid for what they were (and yes, running frag grenades over stuns for the assault class is the correct call).

Outside of gaming, Razer says it has expanded Project Ava's capabilities beyond just backseat coaching. The company claims the AI can now offer advice on non-gaming tasks as well, with Ava still appearing as an on-screen overlay while you work. In practice, that means Project Ava is inching closer to the same general-purpose assistance other AI tools promise, but with gamer branding now.

There's still no release date for Project Ava, though Razer says it's targeting sometime this year.

Head to the Mashable CES 2026 hub for the latest news and live updates from the biggest show in tech, where Mashable journalists are reporting live.

I love a free drink. I also love the premise of asking an AI to invent a cocktail based on a vague flavor profile and a dream. For the truly rudderless among us, the kind of people who walk up to a bar and say "surprise me" with full confidence, the AI Barmen might be your new best friend.

The AI-powered bartender is being showcased at CES 2026, and at first glance, it appears to be yet another piece of liquor-filled kitchen technology. But the pitch is a little more ambitious than that. According to its founders, the AI Barmen is meant to behave like an actual bartender that sees you, talks to you, remembers you, and adjusts accordingly.

That starts before you even order a drink.

SEE ALSO: CES 2026 live updates: See the latest news, surprises, and strange tech from LG, Samsung, Lego, and new startups

As demonstrated on the CES show floor, the "ritual" for getting served begins with the machine scanning your face and attempting to estimate your age. You don't hand over an ID at first. You just…stare into the camera. The system estimates your age within a broad range, and if it believes you're under 21, it automatically switches into a non-alcoholic mode, offering zero-proof cocktails and juices.

For the record, it guessed I was 30. I'm 27. Talking to other attendees, early-to-mid-30s seemed to be the most common range it landed on.

Once you pass that check, you're prompted to either talk to the AI directly or select from a list of pre-made cocktails. The company says AI Barmen can theoretically generate thousands of drink combinations based on mood, taste preferences, and conversation, but for CES, the menu was limited to tequila- and whiskey-based drinks only.

Voila! This is the Peach Boom. Credit: Mark Stetson / Mashable

This is where the concept is supposed to shine. AI Barmen is designed for "convo bartending," meaning you can tell it how you're feeling, what kind of night you're having, or what flavors you want, and it will craft a drink while explaining its choices in real-time. It also claims to recognize returning guests, remember preferences, and even slow things down if it thinks you're ordering too quickly, with a built-in sobriety check that will cut you off.

In theory, it's thoughtful. In practice, CES is very loud.

Featured Video For You Samsung First Look: Go up close with Galaxy Z TriFold, the futuristic foldable only available in Korea

A recurring theme at tech events like this is that the environments are almost hostile to anything involving voice recognition, and AI Barmen was no exception. Not realizing there was no gin in the machine (rookie mistake), I asked for "a gin base that's sweet but not too sweet." Somewhere, my coworkers at the bar I work at are absolutely laughing at me — and that's why I'm just a barback.

The machine couldn’t hear me properly, got confused, reset the flow, and asked for age authentication again. Moments later, a staff member politely asked to see my ID because the system now thought I might be underage.

Honestly? Thank you. I'll take the compliment.

Despite the hiccups, the AI Barmen did make me a drink — a Peach Boom, a sweet peachy cocktail with Jack Daniels and grenadine. It was served quickly and tasted good, although a bit diluted for my liking. The company envisions it handling up to 180 drinks a night while also remembering guests across locations. I'm curious to know how the machine will function in environments where it will be loud.

But as someone who loves a free drink, vague instructions, and the chaos of a CES demo barely holding together, I have to admit: I was intrigued.

Head to the Mashable CES 2026 hub for the latest news and live updates from the biggest show in tech, where Mashable journalists are reporting live.

The day before CES officially starts, Mashable got the chance to preview a trio of new products from Jackery, including two surprising firsts for the brand — a solar-powered gazebo for the home and an autonomous robot that harvests solar power. Jackery helped popularize portable power stations, and the brand is also celebrating its 10-year anniversary at CES.

Jackery is showing three new products at CES 2026, the annual tech conference in Las Vegas. The first is an ultra-rugged version of the brand's flagship power station, dubbed the Jackery Explorer 1500 Ultra. The company is also introducing the Jackery Solar Gazebo and the Solar Mars Bot.

Mashable got the chance to demo the new products ahead of their official launch at CES.

The Jackery Solar Mars Bot

The Solar Mars Bot is Jackery's first robot, and it's essentially a power station on wheels. The autonomous rover will move around your home or campground to seek out optimal sunlight, and the upper body houses retractable 300W solar panels that can tilt to follow the sun. In a demo at CES, the bot sought out a UV light and angled its panels directly in the beam of light.

The Solar Mars Bot also has a follow-me mode, and it successfully followed me around the CES showroom floor. A Jackery representative said that you could bring the bot camping, and it could follow you around to provide instant power wherever and whenever you need it. At home, the bot can periodically roam your yard to recharge, so it's always ready to provide power.

I don't know that it's the most practical product, but the idea of owning my own rover is appealing, I have to admit. A Jackery rep said the Solar Mars Bot will be available later this year, with pricing to be announced later.

The Jackery Solar Gazebo Credit: Jackery

The upcoming Solar Gazebo features a solar roof that harvests power that can be stored in a Jackery power station or home battery. It's meant to be a permanent outdoor structure for the home, not a portable camping gazebo. It features retractable screens to provide some protection from the elements, and Jackery says one of the screens can function as a projector screen.

"The Jackery Solar Gazebo reengineers what an outdoor living structure can be," states a Jackery press release.

"Equipped with industrial-grade, high-efficiency solar panels delivering 2,000 watts of capacity and generating up to 10 kilowatt-hours per day, the Jackery Solar Gazebo supports a wide range of lifestyles, from those seeking fresh air to self-professed homebodies who want comfort without compromise. Its ultra-durable 6063 T5 aluminum frame and louvered roof provide long-lasting shade and comfort that can transform the space into a multi-purpose outdoor hub. Use it as a space for relaxation and entertainment with its pull-down projector screen and built-in IP5-rated dual-AC solar power outlet, or even repurpose it as a sheltered storage space for hobbies, like keeping and charging a golf cart, while protecting your gear from the sun."

The Solar Gazebo passes what I call the Malibu Dreamhouse test. As a New Yorker who lives in a 1-bedroom apartment, a lot of the gadgets at CES 2026 would never fit inside my home — or my budget. But if I owned a Malibu beachhouse, would I consider buying this product? Absolutely.

Now, is it a problem that a lot of CES products seem designed for the One Percent? Yes, but that's another story entirely.

The Jackery Explorer 1500 Ultra Credit: Jackery

Finally, Jackery is also introducing a more traditional product for CES. The Explorer 1500 Ultra is a more rugged, heavy-duty version of the popular Explorer 1500 V2 power station. A company spokesperson told Mashable that it's designed for serious camping environments, and it's the most rugged power station the brand has ever made. Jackery says it's the "lightest and most compact IP65 all-weather power station in its class," and it's capable of operating in a wide temperature range.

Additionally, Jackery is releasing a limited-edition orange collection to commemorate its 10-year anniversary. These new power stations come in a high-visibility orange.

The new Jackery Explorer 1500 Ultra Credit: Timothy Beck Werth / Mashable The new Orange Collection from Jackery Credit: Timothy Beck Werth / Mashable

Jackery says that all of the new CES 2026 products will be available in 2026, and we'll update this post as soon as we know more about pricing and availability.

Head to the Mashable CES 2026 hub for the latest news and live updates from the biggest show in tech, where Mashable journalists are reporting live.

No matter what I do, I always seem to find myself in a peculiar situation at CES. That’s how I ended up at Lepro's booth in the Las Vegas Convention Center this year, staring at Lepro Ami, a device the Chinese company openly markets not just as an AI companion, but an AI soulmate. There was no live demo as the show floor was too loud, according to staff, which felt oddly fitting for a product meant to simulate emotional intimacy. Even silent, Ami drew a crowd.

SEE ALSO: CES 2026 live updates: See the latest news, surprises, and strange tech from LG, Samsung, Lego, and new startups

Unlike the flood of AI companion apps already on the market, Lepro Ami is a physical device: a small, curved OLED screen meant to sit on your desk, track your eyes, and simulate the feeling that something is actually there with you. Lepro says users often describe it as feeling "in the room," not tucked away behind a phone screen or buried in a chat interface.

Personally, I remain deeply unconvinced that anyone needs an AI friend or, worse yet, a soulmate. The entire category still feels, at best, awkward and, at worst, like a shortcut around real human connection. But standing there at CES 2026, watching people linger longer than expected in front of a device that wasn’t even fully operational, I understood the hook.

In a sense, this was AI, right in front of me, not a chatbot.

SEE ALSO: CES 2026: Do AI companions need jobs? Ludens AI's Cocomo and INU don't think so.

AI companionship isn’t new, and it's certainly no longer niche. According to a report from Mashable's Rebecca Ruiz, companion apps have been downloaded more than 220 million times globally as of mid-2025, with teens and young adults leading the adoption. Platforms like Character.AI, Replika, Nomi, and Kindroid are explicitly designed for emotional intimacy, not productivity. Experts interviewed by Mashable describe AI companions as "always-on relationships," which is both the appeal and the risk.

Critics worry about dependency, social atrophy, and what happens when people choose an endlessly agreeable machine over the messy complexities of human relationships. All valid concerns — and ones that feel especially relevant as loneliness continues to shape how people interact with technology.

Which is why I didn’t expect Lepro Ami to land differently. To be fair, Ami isn't trying to live inside your phone. The company describes Ami as empathetic, emotionally aware, and capable of forming lasting connections with its users.

Lepro says Ami will one day be fully customizable. Credit: Chance Townsend / Mashable

The hardware handles a significant amount of that work. Ami uses a curved 8-inch OLED display, dual front-facing cameras for eye tracking, and a rear camera to visually anchor its avatar within your real environment. The result is designed to create depth without the need for VR headsets or glasses, giving the illusion that the character occupies physical space.

There are also visible privacy controls — physical shutters for cameras and microphones — which feel like a quiet acknowledgment of how uneasy people are about emotionally intimate tech that's always watching. It should be noted that one of the spokespersons for Lepro told us that all data collected from your interactions with Ami is stored locally on the device.

Is it still strange? Absolutely. But it’s a different kind of strange.

Featured Video For You Samsung First Look: Go up close with Galaxy Z TriFold, the futuristic foldable only available in Korea

Most AI companions today live where everything else already lives: your phone, your browser, your notifications. They blur into the same infinite scroll that's already exhausting us. Lepro Ami, by contrast, asks for a dedicated spot on your desk. It doesn’t follow you everywhere. You have to choose to keep it around.

If AI soulmates are slowly growing mainstream, the least deceptive version might be the one that doesn't hide what it is.

Head to the Mashable CES 2026 hub for the latest news and live updates from the biggest show in tech, where Mashable journalists are reporting live.

Most gadgets we've encountered so far at CES 2026 aim to excite and dazzle, but Ambient's Dreamie succeeds if it helps you snooze.

Not to be confused with the robot vacuum brand Dreame, the Dreamie is a sunrise alarm clock that can serve as a flashlight and play music, podcasts, or ambient sounds. It aims to replace your phone at your bedside, eliminating the temptation to doomscroll while you're trying to wind down. It doesn't even require an app for setup.

It kind of reminds me of a chic electric pencil sharpener. Anyone else? Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable

The Dreamie made an appearance at the Pepcom media showcase Monday, where I checked it out and chatted with Ambient CEO and co-founder Adrian Canoso. He told me that he came up with the idea for the Dreamie during a particularly stressful point in his life a couple years ago. He was suffering from insomnia while working an intense robotics job amid the COVID-19 pandemic, and he happened to become a dad around the same time.

SEE ALSO: CES 2026 live updates: See the latest news, surprises, and strange tech from LG, Samsung, Lego, and new startups

While researching sleep tech for his son, Canso thought some of the devices he encountered might help him deal with his own sleep problems. His idea for the Dreamie arose out of a particular desire for one that kept him off his phone while he was trying to get his brain to settle down for a good night's rest.

The Dreamie has a circular touchscreen on one end of it where you can schedule alarms and play your choice of calming audio. It comes with its own sleep content library that includes environmental noises and guided relaxation — no subscription required. It has a built-in speaker, but it also works with Bluetooth headphones. That way, you're not disturbing anyone you're sharing a room or bed with.

The colorful LED light surrounding the Dreamie's screen can brighten gradually in warm tones to simulate sunrises for gentle wake-ups. You can adjust it via touch controls. And if you need a more intense glow to find something in the dark, you can concentrate its illumination to one side of the device.

The Dreamie's built-in speaker gives it a little bit of heft. Credit: Haley Henschel

Canso said the Dreamie will add support for contactless sleep tracking at the end of Q1 2026. Its data will stay encrypted right on the device, not in the cloud.

The Dreamie is now available for purchase following a successful Kickstarter campaign that wrapped up in November. It retails for $249.99 on helloambient.com.

Opens in a new window Credit: Ambient Dreamie $249.99 at helloambient.com
  Shop Now

Head to the Mashable CES 2026 hub for the latest news and live updates from the biggest show in tech, where Mashable journalists are reporting live.

In the beginning, not all amateur galaxies were winners. Scientists have now found one of the duds that just couldn't hack it in the wild early days of the universe. 

Near the spindly spiral galaxy Messier-94, about 14 million light-years away in space, astronomers have found a small, spherical ghost town. For years, scientists have looked for evidence of such a phantom, proposed by theory. It wasn’t until they pointed NASA's Hubble Space Telescope at the cloud that they discovered the first example of a primitive galaxy that never had the gumption to form stars. 

Radio telescopes first picked up its faint signal of neutral hydrogen in 2023. Scientists gave it a name, Cloud-9 — and it was indeed the ninth cloud detected around M94 — then wondered what exactly held this thing together.

Before Hubble, researchers could rationalize that the object was merely a tiny dim galaxy whose stars were just too faint to see through the eyes of ground-based telescopes, said Gagandeep Anand, a staff scientist at the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore. 

"But with Hubble’s Advanced Camera for Surveys, we're able to nail down that there's nothing there," he said in a statement.

SEE ALSO: A planet as hefty as Saturn wanders the galaxy in exile

Neutral hydrogen — that's ordinary hydrogen whose electrons haven't been stripped away — could not hold Cloud-9 together. The mysterious object, about 4,900 light-years wide, contains about 1 million suns' worth of hydrogen — not nearly enough to keep the cloud from scattering. 

That means something unseen must provide the weight. The simplest answer, according to the research team, is dark matter, the invisible scaffolding thought to manage nearly all cosmic construction. Their findings were published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters.

Left: Swipe the slider bar to the left to reveal Cloud-9 amid this blank field of space. Credit: NASA / ESA / VLA / Gagandeep Anand / Alejandro Benitez-Llambay / Joseph DePasquale Right: The Very Large Array telescope detected radio emissions from Cloud-9, indicated here in magenta. The circled area, where scientists found peak radio data, contained no stars. The specks of light in this image come from background galaxies. Credit: NASA / ESA / VLA / Gagandeep Anand / Alejandro Benitez-Llambay / Joseph DePasquale

Because studies strongly indicate that Cloud-9 is a starless, gas-rich, dark-matter halo, it provides precious insight into the mysterious-yet-pervasive substance in the universe, said Andrew Fox, a co-author affiliated with the European Space Agency. 

"This cloud is a window into the dark universe," Fox said in a statement. "We know from theory that most of the mass in the universe is expected to be dark matter, but it’s difficult to detect this dark material because it doesn’t emit light."

Scientists have theorized that dark matter clumps exist in staggering numbers, far more than the galaxies we see. Only clumps that exceed a certain threshold in mass should hold onto gas and ignite stars. Below it, gravity loses its tug-of-war with heat and radiation, and star formation can't occur. 

Based on this prediction, many galaxy failures — gassy spheres devoid of stars — should exist. Astronomers have hunted for proof for years. Most candidates reveal themselves, sooner or later, as ordinary gas clouds in the Milky Way or as faint galaxies hiding their stars. 

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

But Cloud-9 is different. Its gas moves serenely through space. It shows no sign of spinning into a disk, which usually means stars are around. Its mass places it close to that theoretical boundary where a galaxy should either eke out — or not form at all.

The team did not stop at Hubble. They ran many computer simulations, planting fictitious galaxies of varying sizes into the data to test whether the observatory could have detected them. If Cloud-9 contained even a paucity of stars, the telescope would have seen it, according to the study.

No glittering swarm. No smear of light. Researchers calculated that Cloud-9’s dark matter must be equal to about 5 billion suns in mass. It appears to stand at the very precipice of galaxyhood, said Alejandro Benitez-Llambay, the study's principal investigator. 

"In science, we usually learn more from the failures than from the successes," said Benitez-Llambay, a scientist at Milano-Bicocca University in Italy, in a statement. "In this case, seeing no stars is what proves the theory right." 

TL;DR: Unblock XVideos from anywhere in the world with a VPN. The best VPN for unblocking porn sites is ExpressVPN.

The online world is full of restrictions and blockades, but you can stay one step ahead with a simple hack. It's possible to secure access to restricted content from anywhere in the world with a VPN. And anyone can follow these simple steps.

Want to unblock porn sites like XVideos for free from anywhere in the world? We have the information you need.

How to unblock XVideos for free

VPNs can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect to a secure server in another location. This straightforward process bypasses content restrictions so you can access porn sites like XVideos from anywhere in the world.

Unblock XVideos 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 XVideos

4. Unblock XVideos

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for unblocking porn sites are not free, but most do offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can unblock porn sites and then recover your investment at a later date. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it works well if you're temporarily away from home on an unsecured network.

If you want to retain permanent access to the online world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for bypassing online restrictions is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for porn?

ExpressVPN is the top choice when it comes to unblocking porn sites like XVideos, 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 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $78.18 and includes an extra four months for free — 78% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

Unblock XVideos for free with ExpressVPN.

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

Your access to porn sites like xHamster is not guaranteed in many locations around the world. There are obvious and legitimate reasons for online restrictions, but there is also something to be said for retaining your right to online freedom. When the time is right, you should be able to access your favorite sites without hassle.

Fortunately, it's possible to bypass content restrictions in a few simple steps. f you're looking for the best way to unblock porn sites like xHamster for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

How to unblock xHamster for free

VPNs are tools that can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure servers in other locations. This process bypasses geo-restrictions to secure access to porn sites like xHamster from anywhere in the world. It sounds complicated, but the process is actually really simple.

Unblock xHamster by following these 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 xHamster

4. Unblock xHamster

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for unblocking porn sites are not free, but most do offer free trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can unblock porn sites and then recover your investment at a later date. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it works well if you're traveling to a location without access to your favorite sites.

If you want to retain permanent access to free porn sites from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for bypassing online restrictions is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for porn?

ExpressVPN is the top choice when it comes to unblocking porn sites like xHamster, 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 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $78.18 and includes an extra four months for free — 78% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

Unblock xHamster for free with ExpressVPN.

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

The online world is full of content restrictions and blockades. It might not always seem like that, but look around. More and more restrictions on your movement are coming into force.

Porn naturally comes with a lot of restrictions, but there's really nothing wrong with adults visiting their favorite sites at entirely appropriate moments. When the time is right, you should be able to bypass content restrictions to access sites like XNXX from any network and location. And fortunately, you can do exactly that with a quick and easy hack.

If you 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 are useful tools that can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to secure servers in other locations. This straightforward process can bypass geo-restrictions to access porn sites like XNXX from anywhere in the world.

SEE ALSO: How to unblock Pornhub for free

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 (1-Month Plan) $12.95 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 a secure network.

If you want to retain permanent access to everything the online world has to offer, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for porn is on sale for a limited time.

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 $78.18 and includes an extra four months for free — 78% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

Unblock XNXX for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Unblock Pornhub from anywhere in the world with a VPN. The best service for unblocking porn sites is ExpressVPN.

Access to Pornhub is in turmoil. Early in 2025, more than a third of U.S. states introduced age verification laws. In response, Pornhub banned visitors from those states from accessing their website. The same situation then took place in France, and although Pornhub is complying with the UK's age verification law, users are now required to provide personal information to access the site.

The situation is constantly changing, but you can stay one step ahead with a quick and easy hack. If you want to unblock porn sites like Pornhub for free from anywhere in the world, we have the information you need.

How to unblock Pornhub for free

VPNs can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to secure server in another location. This process bypasses geo-restrictions so you can access adult sites like Pornhub from anywhere in the world.

Unblock Pornhub 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 Pornhub

4. Visit Pornhub

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for unblocking porn sites are not free, but most do offer free-trial peiods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can unblock porn sites like Pornhub without actually spending anything. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you the opportunity to temporarily retain access to Pornhub before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to your favorite site, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for bypassing online restrictions is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for Pornhub?

ExpressVPN is the top choice for unblocking porn sites like Pornhub, 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 so your data is always secure

• 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 $78.18 and includes an extra four months for free — 78% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

Unblock Pornhub for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Compare multiple AI models in one spot with this lifetime subscription to ChatPlayground AI’s Unlimited Plan, now for just $79.00 (reg. $619) through Jan. 11.

Opens in a new window Credit: ChatPlayground AI ChatPlayground AI: Lifetime Subscription (Unlimited Plan) $79
$619 Save $540   Get Deal

Whether you’re totally new to the world of AI or a total veteran who knows the strengths of different models, every AI user can benefit from ChatPlayground AI. This handy service lets you see multiple AI models’ results in one convenient spot, so you don’t have to tab hop or second-guess which model you’re using.

Right now, you can get a lifetime subscription to ChatPlayground AI’s Unlimited Plan for just $79.00 (reg. $619) through Jan. 11.

Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up!

AI is a powerful tool that can help you save a lot of time — if you know how to use it correctly. If you want to cut the guesswork out of which models are best for which task, ChatPlayground AI is here to help. This platform lets you compare the results from top AI models side-by-side, so you can pick the best result and skip tab-hopping.

Need to generate an image? How about getting help with coding or content creation? You’ll have access to ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude Sonnet, DeepSeek, Llama, and dozens more top AI models in one convenient window with ChatPlayground AI. There are also advanced tools like image or PDF chat, prompt engineering, and saved conversations to improve your workflow even further.

Use ChatPlayground AI seamlessly with the Chrome web browser extension. If you run into any issues, there’s priority customer support to help when needed.

This Unlimited Plan gives you access to unlimited messages every month for life, making it particularly helpful for prompt engineers, startups, and teams who constantly run experiments. It also includes priority access to new features and future models.

Get an lifetime subscription to ChatPlayground AI’s Unlimited Plan for just $79.00 (reg. $619) through Jan. 11.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Get a three-year subscription to Surfshark VPN Starter Plan for just $67.19 (reg. $430) with code SURF through Jan. 11.

Opens in a new window Credit: Surfshark Surfshark VPN Starter Plan: 3-Yr Subscription $67.19
$430 Save $362.81   Get Deal

Just because you can’t see hackers and cybercriminals doesn’t mean they’re not out there. If you want to stay safer online this year, a VPN is an easy and effective way to do it. The Surfshark VPN Starter Plan is great for beginners, and right now you can secure a three-year subscription for just $67.19 (reg. $430) with code SURF until Jan. 11.

Hoping to upgrade your cybersecurity in 2026? The Surfshark VPN Starter Plan is a great choice, offering an easy way to stay protected and browse the web without worry.

Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up!

If you’re new to the world of VPNs, they allow you to experience the internet safely and in total privacy. Hackers won’t be able to steal your data, and you’ll enjoy access to CleanWeb, which blocks cookie pop-ups, ads, and malware and allows you to experience a faster internet.

Surfshark VPN offers military-grade AES-256 encryption and hides your online location so you can’t be tracked. It also bypasses geographical restrictions, allowing you to browse freely and access content from anywhere. Surfshark has a no-log policy, so your activity remains private.

Choose from over 3,200 servers worldwide, in more than 100 different countries. You’ll also have Surfshark Search at your fingertips, so you can peruse the web more easily and receive unbiased, organic search results.

You can use this three-year subscription on an unlimited number of devices, including tablets, smartphones, and laptops.

Secure a three-year subscription to Surfshark VPN Starter Plan for just $67.19 (reg. $430) with code SURF through Jan. 11.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

And don't give up. Despite the burnout, apps are still one of the main ways people connect. A 2025 SSRS Opinion Panel Omnibus found that 65 percent of people aged 18 to 29 have used a dating app, and a 2023 Pew Research Center report found that one in 10 partnered adults met their significant other on one.

You just need the right tool. That's why I've put in the hours, the swipes, and the subscription fees to find the best options for every kind of single person. To help you find your match, these are the best dating apps worth downloading in 2026.

If you need even more personalized advice, check out our guides to the best dating apps for men, women, and the LGBTQ community.

The dating apps I'd skip (and why)

You'll probably notice a few popular apps are missing from my list. That’s intentional. Part of my job is to filter out the platforms that aren't worth your time, money, or sanity. An app doesn't get my recommendation just because it's well-known — it has to be effective and safe.

Here are a few popular dating apps I'd skip:

• Plenty of Fish (POF): I know this one shows up on a lot of lists, but in my opinion, it's a dating app ghost town. POF launched as a dating site back in 2003, and it shows. In my experience (and based on widespread user feedback), the platform is filled with bots and scams, and the odds of finding a quality connection are stacked against you. Unless you enjoy sifting through fake profiles, I think your time is better spent elsewhere.

• Raya: Raya is basically the Soho House of dating apps. It's exclusive, expensive, and not for the average person. You have to fill out an application to use it, and the vetting process can take anywhere from a few days to a few years. While it might be great for networking or bagging an influencer, it's just not a practical recommendation for most people who are simply looking for a date. (See also: The League.)

• Niche "hookup" sites (like BeNaughty, Fling, etc.): There's a chance you've seen ads for sites like these, which promise quick, no-strings-attached fun. Based on my research and countless user reviews, I'd advise you to steer clear. These platforms are notorious for being overrun with bots and having questionable billing practices, with users reporting unexpected and hard-to-cancel subscription charges.