Technology

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 mathematical sequence.

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

TUPLE

Hurdle Word 2 hint

To measure.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for November 13, 2025 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

GAUGE

Hurdle Word 3 hint

To allow.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for November 13 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for November 13, 2025 Hurdle Word 3 answer

GRANT

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Part of the leg.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for November 13 Hurdle Word 4 answer

THIGH

Final Hurdle hint

They rule a courtroom.

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

JUDGE

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

Valve has announced three new pieces of hardware for Steam: The console-like Steam Machine, a new virtual reality headset called Steam Frame, and a brand new version of the Steam Controller. They all run on SteamOS and are set to release sometime in early 2026. Prices have not been revealed yet.

Starting off with the Steam Machine, Valve confirmed that it’s six times more powerful than the Steam Deck and is able to play your entire Steam library, including AAA and indie titles. Games will be noted with a “Steam Machine Verified” tag if they play well on the console, similarly to the “Steam Deck Verified” tag. So, it's not quite a console, but not quite a PC either. According to Valve, "Once you sign in with your Steam account, your entire library will be there waiting for you."

Credit: Valve SEE ALSO: Xbox President Sarah Bond confirms next-gen console will be a premium, high-powered device

As for the size, it’s a 6-inch cube that’s designed to fit under your TV or on your desk. It even has an LED strip to signal system status such as download progress.

The Steam Frame is Valve's new wireless virtual reality gaming headset. It's designed to be “streaming” first and comes with controllers. Valve’s website says it offers “wireless, comfortable, lightweight VR for your Steam library.” Interestingly, Valve also says it can play VR and non VR titles. Just like the Steam Machine and Steam Deck, it’s also going to have its own “Steam Frame Verified” tag. The tag will help you see which games, VR or not, will work on the headset.

The new Valve Steam Frame VR headset. Credit: Valve

There’s a new feature called Foveated Streaming, which optimizes details where your eyes are looking. This feature uses low-latency eye tracking data to move the best quality pixels to align with your eyes, so that you experience better image quality.

Lastly, the brand new Steam Controller has gotten quite an overhaul compared to its 2015 version. It has your standard A,B,X, and Y buttons, along with your thumbsticks and direction pad. But it also features two large trackpads near the grips to simulate how computer mice move.

Credit: Valve SEE ALSO: Playing the Lenovo Legion Go 2 handheld made me yearn for the simplicity of my Switch 2

The thumbsticks use TMR technology to create a more responsive feeling and increase longevity. It also includes haptic feedback for a more immersive experience, as well as a grip-enabled gyro called Grip Sense. Players simply hold and release to toggle off gyro aiming.

It also comes with the Steam Controller Puck, which is a wireless transmitter that acts simultaneously like a charging station and a stable connection to your hardware.

The new Steam Controller. Credit: Valve

In the meantime, the Steam Deck and Steam Deck OLED are still going strong for Valve. The handheld will also be compatible with the new hardware.

You can also watch the full announcement video on YouTube.

You've heard of CPU or GPU bottlenecks, but monitor bottlenecks? Well, when you think about it, your monitor is where the rubber hits the road when it comes to gaming performance. Just like a high-performance car with bad tires, it doesn't matter how good things are under the hood if you can't make it to the finish line.

TL;DR: Turn any space into a theater with the Kodak Flik X20 1080p Smart Projector with Google TV, on sale now for $269.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Kodak Kodak Flik X20 1080p Smart Projector with Google TV $269.99
$299.99 Save $30   Get Deal

Want to make an ordinary night magical? All you need is some popcorn and a Kodak Flik X20 1080p Smart Projector, and you can turn your living room into a fancy movie theater. This projector offers full HD visuals with 4K support, providing a big-screen experience anywhere, and right now it’s on sale for just $269.99.

Tired of paying the extravagant prices at the movie theater? Bring the cinema experience home with some help from the Kodak Flik X20 1080p Smart Projector. This smart projector serves up full HD visuals with 4K support, so it’s not only perfect for movie night, but also for gaming or streaming your favorite shows.

SEE ALSO: Rumor suggests Apple could kill Dynamic Island with under-display camera

The watch parties don’t have to stay at home — the Kodak Flik X20 is compact enough to bring along and take the party anywhere. There are also four projection modes — front, ceiling, rear, and rear ceiling — so you can decide how you’d like to watch. No matter where you choose, you’ll see content in rich colors and stunning clarity.

The Kodak Flik X20 has built-in Google TV, so you’ll have your favorite streaming apps like Netflix right at your fingertips without having to bring any other gadgets along. Just download them from the Google Play store and start watching content in full HD.

This projector comes equipped with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, so you can also share, cast, or stream your content from multiple devices. Setup is a breeze and the controls are straightforward, so it’s easy for everyone to use.

Upgrade your movie night with the Kodak Flik X20 1080p Smart Projector with Google TV, on sale now for $269.99.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Elevate your cybersecurity with this three-year subscription to the Surfshark VPN Starter Plan, now just $67.19 (reg. $430) with code SURF, available for just four more days until Nov. 16.

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

It’s time to start taking your cybersecurity seriously. Whether you’re traveling this holiday season or just want to stay protected during the busiest online shopping time of the year, now’s the perfect time to tighten things up. A VPN is an affordable and easy way to browse the web more safely.

Right now, you can score a three-year subscription to the Surfshark VPN Starter Plan for only $67.19 (reg. $430) with code SURF through Nov. 16.

SEE ALSO: Google issues security alert about malicious VPNs stealing user data

VPNs let you enjoy the internet as it was meant to be browsed, with no geographical limits or online tracking, and no worrying about potential hackers stealing your data. The SurfShark VPN Starter Plan is a great way to surf safer, and this three-year deal lets you test out all the perks a VPN can bring.

Surfshark VPN gives you total privacy, as you can browse the web with military-grade AES-256 encryption. Your online location will be hidden, so you can’t be tracked, and you can rest easy when you log on from anywhere — even sketchy public Wi-Fi networks. You’ll also avoid any geo-restrictions, so you can enjoy total freedom online, no matter where you are.

This three-year subscription also provides access to CleanWeb, offering additional benefits including ad and malware blocking, as well as a faster internet experience. You can also use Surfshark Search, a more private way to browse the web and receive unbiased, organic search results.

This three-year subscription can be used on an unlimited number of devices. You can connect to more than 3,200 servers in over 100 countries, and rest easy knowing Surfshark has a no-log policy.

Browse safer with this three-year subscription to the Surfshark VPN Starter Plan, now for only $67.19 (reg. $430) with code SURF.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Microsoft Word is ubiquitous in the professional world, and its widespread support and capabilities have lead to it becoming one of the most popular word processors today.

I love smart home technology, and I've always dreamed of living in the house of Back to the Future 2 or The Jetsons, but as a grownup with a little more experience of what technology is really like on a day-to-day basis, I have some reservations about what should or should not be "smart". With "smart" these days meaning "connected to the cloud".

There's a new trend on TikTok and everyone hates it.

It's one of those trends you might have found out not because you saw people using it, but because you saw people hating on it — at least that's how it was served up to me, on a plate of disgust.

The trend goes like this: A group of people, typically kids, gives their phone to someone else and asks them to record them doing a dance. They record the dance on the front-facing camera so the dancers can see themselves and at the end of the dance, they move towards the camera and flip it to reveal the person recording them.

SEE ALSO: TikTok Shop reportedly faces deluge of 70 million fake products. AI is to blame.

The trend is a few weeks old, according to Know Your Meme, which reported that it likely started towards the end of October with a video from TikTok creator @jaycrudddy. The video has 1.3 million views.

This might sound like a silly trend with unoffensive consequences, but many people online are labeling it as bullying because the person chosen to record is often someone the dancing kids are trying to make fun of, be it a less popular kid, a person struggling with homelessness, or an elderly person. The punchline of the video is almost always at the expense of the recorders.

Featured Video For You Mashable Rants: Is flirting with AI considered cheating?

In an Instagram post about the trend, user @coquettesvanilla, who has over 41,400 followers, said the trend has "turned into straight up bullying" and saying the trend might seem small but leads to people feeling "insecure" and "like they’re not good enough."

"We shouldn’t be building a whole trend around tearing someone down," @coquettesvanilla wrote. "Bullying isn’t always loud or obvious, sometimes it hides behind 'it’s just for fun.' But if someone gets hurt, then it wasn’t fun to begin with. We can choose to be better. We can choose not to add to the negativity or make people feel ashamed of themselves. Social media doesn’t have to be a place where people get laughed at, it can be a place where we actually respect each other."

Other users have echoed @coquettesvanilla's sentiment.

One user with 14,400 followers on TikTok, @hhyy1037, called the trend "disgusting."

"Nine times out of 10, that person looks like the sweetest, kindest, most innocent human being. You can tell they were just trying to be nice, probably quiet, probably introverted, maybe not even part of that friend group for real," @hhyy1037 said.

Even @Tinx, a creator with 1.5 million followers on TikTok, made a video about the trend calling it out for bullying.

"I'm not a mom but if I found out my kids did that, I would ground them forever. I'm serious I think that is one of the mean- it's not even mean, it's cruel," Tinx said. "It's straight up cruelty. It's so mean-spirited."

Virtual reality headsets have struggled to find a place with consumers, even among gamers, who are not usually shy about spending money on their hobby.

A coalition between Pornhub's parent company Aylo and other adult content producers has come together to create the Adult Studio Alliance (ASA), which aims to standardize safety across the industry with its Code of Conduct.

Safety precautions, such as testing for HIV and other STIs every 14 days, have long been mandatory for professional porn productions in the U.S. However, the ASA's goal isn't to introduce new safety procedures — it's to standardize them in a clear, unified, and structured way, as stated in a press release.

SEE ALSO: 'We're all sinners': the Conservative tradwife who does OnlyFans

Key guidelines of the ASA include:

• Give performers full transparency, like scene details and partners, prior to booking

• Boundary checklists and pre-shoot discussions

• Intimacy coordinator or other liaison available before, during, and after a shoot

• Health and safety protocols — like STI testing every 14 days

• Prohibitions on drugs and alcohol on a shoot, and guidelines about prescription medication

• Requirements for licensing, transparency, and ethical representation

The full Code of Conduct is available on the ASA's website.

"The ASA Code of Conduct sets a benchmark for how adult content should be made," Aylo's VP of brand and community, Alex Kekesi, commented in the press release.

Aylo is one of the founding members of the ASA; it owns Pornhub and also studios such as Brazzers and Sean Cody. The other founding members are Dorcel, ERIKALUST, Gamma Entertainment (which owns sites like Adult Time), Mile High Media, and Ricky’s Room.

"When we protect performers' rights, we foster an empowering work environment and destigmatize porn, ultimately benefiting both our industry and society as we create safer content," Kekesi continued.

"I believe strong production standards are the foundation of a safe and respectful and successful industry, and I've always believed performers deserve nothing less. That's why I'm truly excited to see the launch of the Adult Studio Alliance and to enthusiastically welcome this initiative," said performer Cherie DeVille, who has written for Mashable.

Performer and marketing director for queer porn studio, CrashPadSeries.com, Jiz Lee, told Mashable that much of the groundwork and bullet points of this new Code of Conduct were made in the Adult Performer Advocacy Committee's (APAC) performer bill of rights and code of conduct, which were created by a volunteer-based group of performers over a decade ago.

While it would've been considerate for big studios to credit APAC, Lee said, it's great to see this transparency and effort by major studios. "It shows that performers have power to influence the industry and working conditions," they said. Lee wishes ASA's code of conduct included points on AI, tagging (the marketing language used, especially for BIPOC and LGBTQ performers), and individualized health and performer agency (such as working with HIV-positive performers).

This coalition and Code of Conduct come at a time when the adult industry is under scrutiny. Countries, including the UK and France, as well as around half of the United States, have established age-verification laws that require users to input their personal data to access explicit material.

Despite free speech experts and an initial study suggesting that age-verification doesn't work for its intended purpose — keeping minors off of porn sites — more places are adopting them. It's also causing non-explicit platforms, like Spotify, to start age-verifying as well. Earlier this year, experts in the First Amendment and the internet warned Mashable that these laws can fundamentally change the internet and often require more and more personal data as time goes on.

There's also a conservative push in the United States to outright ban porn entirely. The far-right blueprint for Trump's second presidential term, Project 2025, outlines prohibiting pornography and imprisoning creators. Since Trump's second inauguration in January, a few bills have been introduced to ban porn. The bills haven't moved since they were introduced, however.

Toyota may be the first name that comes to mind when people think of reliability, but another Japanese automaker has been quietly perfecting the formula even further. Known for its precise engineering and attention to detail, this brand consistently produces vehicles that shrug off mileage and age with remarkable ease, often outlasting Toyota’s own offerings in real-world ownership tests.

After months of rumors, Valve has finally revealed the new Steam Machine, a home console that can run PC games. It has the same SteamOS software as the Steam Deck, and it could be a fantastic alternative to an Xbox or PlayStation console.

Waymo says its autonomous vehicles are ready to drive its taxi service customers on the freeway.

The Google-backed autonomous vehicle company made the announcement Wednesday. Freeway service will debut first in the San Francisco Bay Area, Phoenix, and Los Angeles.

Waymo previously began testing freeway driving under human supervision in Phoenix in early 2024.

"This has been a long time in the making,” said Waymo co-CEO Dmitri Dolgov, according to NBC News. "Freeway driving is one of those things that's very easy to learn but very hard to master when we’re talking about full autonomy without a human driver as a backup, and at scale. So, it took time to do it properly."

The company said in its announcement of freeway access that it would be available to a "growing number" of riders in the initial cities. Service will also eventually expand to other locations including Austin and Atlanta.

Waymo says its robotaxis are safer than human drivers, according to the company's data. The company claims its cars had far fewer crashes that led to pedestrian, cyclist, and motorcyclist injuries, compared to human drivers.

Waymo has also been the subject of federal safety investigations. The National Highway Traffic Safety administration recently announced that it's reviewing an incident involving a Waymo that passed a fully stopped school bus.

"Safety is our top priority, as we provide hundreds of thousands of fully autonomous paid trips every week in some of the most challenging driving environments in the U.S.," a Waymo spokesperson told Mashable. The spokesperson said that Waymo will continue to work with NHTSA.

In May 2024, NHTSA opened an investigation into Waymo for 22 reported incidents in which its autonomous vehicles collided with objects like gates, chains, and parked vehicles. The cars also appeared to disobey traffic safety control devices.

In November 2024, Waymo voluntarily recalled 1,212 of its self-driving taxis. The recalled cars, which comprised the entirety of the company's fleet at the time, received a software update in November designed to significantly decrease the likelihood that Waymos would collide with stationary objects.

Waymo's reach has grown rapidly in recent months, adding London, Dallas, and Nashville to the list of cities it plans to serve in 2026.

Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried are both taking swings at prestige pics this season with the former starring in the boxing biopic Christy and the latter headlining the religious musical The Testament of Ann Lee. But forget all that, because Paul Feig — helmer of A Simple Favor and Another Simple Favor — has these two leading ladies facing off in what seems to be a totally WTF thriller.

The Housemaid is from Freida McFadden’s global best-selling novel. So readers will likely have some idea of what's going on in this second trailer, which features screaming, blood, and an emotional support sandwich.

Sweeney plays Millie, the eponymous housemaid who's meant to help the lady of the home, wife and mother Nina Winchester, played by Seyfried. But as this trailer teases, their working relationship is anything but healthy.

Per the official plot synopsis:

"But what begins as a dream job quickly unravels into something far more dangerous — a sexy, seductive game of secrets, scandal, and power. Behind the Winchesters’ closed doors lies a world of shocking twists that will leave you guessing until the very end."

The Housemaid opens only in theaters on Dec. 19.

Google's latest Android 16 update for Pixel owners is here. And with it, a special Pixel Feature Drop. 

The November Android 16 update for Pixel users is an important one. There are important fixes and security patches here, and we'll break down all the major updates for you. First, here's how you update your mobile device.

Go to Settings then System. Next, you'll want to select Software updates (or System update), followed by Check for update. If your device still needs the November update, you will be prompted to update.

According to a Nov. 10 Google post:

We have started to roll out the monthly software update for November 2025. All supported Pixel devices running Android 16 will receive these software updates starting today, and the rollout will continue over the next week in phases, depending on carrier and device. You will receive a notification once the system update is available for your device. We encourage you to check your Android version and update to receive the latest software. 

Everything in the November Pixel Feature Drop

Alongside the security updates in the Android 16 November release (more on that shortly), Google has also announced the rollout of a new Pixel Feature Drop. This Feature Drop is packed with new capabilities for Pixel owners, especially when it comes to messages.

The first major feature is Remix in Google Messages. This new feature allows Pixel users to edit or recreate any photo right inside Google Messages using Nano Banana, Google's Gemini image generation and editing model. Google announced that Nano Banana was coming to Google Photos last month, but now it's finally here.

Nano Banana finally arrives in Google Photos on Pixel devices. Credit: Google

Pixel devices will also be able to provide users with notifications consisting of AI summaries of long text messages, group chats, and conversations across messaging apps. In addition to that, family and close friends deemed VIPs will receive message prioritization in Pixel notifications.

Building on these messaging and notification upgrades is the new Scam Detection feature for Pixel 6 phones and newer. This feature will warn users about potential scam texts with a "Likely scam" label affixed to notifications of messages that are deemed suspicious.

Moving on from notifications, there are more AI photo editing updates, also thanks to Nano Banana. Personalized edits in Google Photos will allow users to request photo edits from AI by just selecting a photo in the app and tapping "Help me edit." Users can then explain via text what exactly they want changed in the photo. An example provided by Google includes a user asking to "Remove Riley's sunglasses, open my eyes, make Engel smile and open her eyes.” Photos responds by making the requested changes to the picture. 

Designated VIPs will be prioritized in notifications. Credit: Google Google Maps has a new low-power mode to save your battery. Credit: Google

More features in the November Pixel Feature Drop include a power-saving feature in Google Maps, which strips the app down to a simplified layout to extend battery life, and more timely suggestions from the AI-powered Magic Cue, a feature that keeps track of your personal data across apps and accounts.

And, finally, Pixel users who are fans of the hit Broadway show turned hit movie Wicked can take advantage of the included "Wicked: For Good" theme packs, which come with wallpapers, icons, system sounds, and GIFs from the film.

Glinda and Elphaba are coming to Pixel devices. Credit: Google Everything else in the Android 16 November update

Critically, this Android 16 update includes two important security fixes for issues reported in the Nov. 3 Android Security Bulletin, according to 9to5Google.

What else is included? Most importantly, Google has rolled out a fix for the emergency calling feature that was "causing instability and intermittent problems."

The most visible fix for Android users is related to the camera. Google has patched an issue that was causing a "rainbow like color pattern" in photos taken with the ultrawide and telephoto lenses.

The November update also fixes an audio issue causing "occasional system instability and performance slowdowns," an issue that "prevents some apps from loading," and an error where "webcam mode doesn’t function correctly with connected devices."

In addition, the Android 16 November update provides "general improvements for charging and battery usage" as well.

What devices are eligible for the update?

Google says November Pixel updates are available for the following devices, though some features are only available on Pixel 9 devices and newer. You can see the full list of eligibility requirements at Google's support page.

• Pixel 7a

• Pixel 8, Pixel 8 Pro, Pixel 8a

• Pixel Fold, Pixel Tablet

• Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, Pixel 9 Pro Fold, Pixel 9a

• Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, Pixel 10 Pro XL, Pixel 10 Pro Fold

Popular YouTube speed-dating show Pop the Balloon or Find Love is leveling up as a dating app, creators Arlette Amuli and her husband, Bolia Matundu (who goes by BM), announced.

If you’ve somehow missed the show, which consistently racks up between one and two million views per episode, here’s the premise: singles line up to be judged by other singles, with participants popping the balloons of anyone they don’t feel a spark with. It’s chaotic, painfully honest, and extremely awkward — which is exactly why fans can’t stop watching.

SEE ALSO: 10 free dating apps to try for cuffing season 2025

The app announcement dropped ahead of the show’s 78th episode last week on Amuli’s YouTube channel. BM said the upcoming app will include the usual features, such as chatting, connecting, and matching — along with an extra twist: some contestants from the show will also be featured on it.

View this post on Instagram

There’s no release date yet, but viewers can sign up for early access through a waitlist link shared during the episode. Mashable reached out to the creators for comment, but didn’t receive a response before publication.

The Pop the Balloon universe has already expanded beyond YouTube. A Netflix adaptation premiered back in April with Insecure’s Yvonne Orji as host, and an official UK spinoff is on the way. The Netflix version featured a more "diverse" cast, with some longtime fans upset, since the original series has become a standout Black dating show.

Every so often, a car shows up that doesn’t quite fit in. Most of the time, it doesn’t sell well, and the 2019 Lincoln Continental Coach Door Edition was exactly that kind of car. Sedans haven’t been hot for a while, and this one was rare, limited, and largely overlooked. That doesn’t mean it wasn’t cool—or a smart buy today.

Amazon is rolling out a serious, tough new policy designed to block illegal streaming apps sideloaded onto its Fire TV Stick devices. This is an intense move by Amazon to fight piracy, among other things, but this clampdown is slated to apply to all Fire TV devices and sticks.

Pitches for AI assistants that can help you send emails or craft pitch decks may be feeling stale, but what about one designed to help new immigrants navigate the U.S.? How about a digital helper that can connect someone to pressing social services or just help them feel supported in a foreign environment? That's what ALMA, a new virtual assistant designed by the nonprofit International Rescue Committee (IRC), is designed to do.

ALMA, which stands for "AI for Life Mapping Assistance," was built in-house by multiple IRC teams and their clients, modeled after a digital learning tool known as aprendIA. It pulls from a vast library of IRC resources — standard client materials, staff training resources, and information offered by trusted external organizations — to provide specialized assistance to refugees, special immigrant visa holders, and others.

SEE ALSO: Can AI help nonprofits do more with less?

Most notably, ALMA is based on WhatsApp, one of the leading communication platforms for immigrant communities nationwide, including those served by the IRC. It's also a growing site for non-English alternative news resources and local organizing. Individuals in need just have to text ALMA's number (+1 619-658-5100) to get instant help. 

"We wanted to make sure that clients had a way to get reliable answers and resources 24/7," said Tara Catanach, ALMA's designer and IRC's project director for virtual reception and placement. Catanach explained that, unlike popular chatbot companions marketed by the field's major players, ALMA isn't designed to continuously engage with a client — the kind of chatbot codependency currently prompting concern among mental health professionals. 

SEE ALSO: Explaining the phenomenon known as 'AI psychosis'

Instead, ALMA is designed as an emergency response tool with very specific use cases in mind: An individual new to the U.S. needs assistance finding their benefits or nearby social services. They want to know how to apply for housing or the best way to talk to their landlord. They may ask to roleplay a typical job interview or get an overview of their rights. 

"It's easy to refer to ALMA as a virtual caseworker, but ALMA doesn't replace any of the work our offices do," said Catanach.

ALMA uses LLMs not for any core content, IRC explains, but for personalizing responses. For now, it harnesses OpenAI's GPT 4.1 and GPT 4.1 mini, but the organization explains ALMA can run on any model. It's also structured with safeguards that direct conversations about mental health, abuse, or domestic violence to other organizations or escalate them to IRC staff. 

ALMA can also access the internet if an individual's requests are outside its scope, but it defaults to what Catanach describes as static pools of information, evergreen resources that are unlikely to promulgate misinformation or hallucinatory facts, like other AI-powered search engines. 

Unlike a service like ChatGPT, for example, "ALMA knows who our users are," said Catanach. "They're English language learners. They're new to the U.S. The client doesn't have to do any coaching to get the information they need."

Across the U.S., immigrant and refugee populations have been forced to navigate an increasingly convoluted and hostile political environment. The Trump administration has taken a hard line on immigration, including striking out at special visa statuses and suspending the Refugee Admissions Program. Many fear detention, deportation, and surveillance as guidelines on entry are rewritten by federal leaders. 

Meanwhile, social platforms and Big Tech's leaders have cozied up to the administration, including WhatsApp parent company Meta. Recent changes to the platform's advertising policy sounded alarm bells among privacy experts, as well as investigations that found Trump officials, including ICE agents, used the app for surveillance operations. WhatsApp has been known to exacerbate misinformation when circulating rumors go unchecked. 

Still, ALMA is hosted on WhatsApp because it's where the people in need actually are, and where they already have support systems in place, instead of a separate website or app.

WhatsApp has also recently vowed to alert users to government spyware. User messages are end-to-end encrypted by default, but ALMA does collect phone numbers and other WhatsApp profile information for IRC research, Catanach told Mashable. The AI is instructed to tell users not to share identifiable information, like personal addresses, or even their immigration status, unless they're comfortable. Legal advice — including questions about green cards or constantly evolving visa policies —  is also a no-go for the virtual caseworker assistant, which directs users to outside sources if they need help with their case. 

ALMA launched first in Dari/Farsi, English, Spanish, and Swahili, the most used languages among IRC's clients. Catanach says they're testing ALMA's capabilities in 10 more languages for future updates, and are looking to add new topics like healthcare and schooling to ALMA's knowledge base. She'll hopefully get an accessibility upgrade, too, like the option to send voice notes. 

IRC is hoping to reach 100,000 users in ALMA's first year. "Our goal is to get ALMA in the hands of those who could use its support."

Linux users love to talk about how much faster their systems are compared to Windows, and you might wonder what kind of performance boosts they're actually talking about. I decided to do a few of my own tests to get some answers.