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SAVE $200.02: As of Dec. 11, get the 65-inch TCL 4K QLED TV for $499.97 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $699.99. That's a discount of 29% and the lowest price we've seen.

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It might be hard to believe, but TVs are relatively cheap these days. If you're trying to find a great one for entertaining this year during the holidays, you can snap one up for a surprisingly low price, with quality and feature ranges that you might not expect for what you pay. We found a great pick that works as either a gift or your new home centerpiece, and it's up for grabs right now at Amazon for the lowest price we've seen.

As of Dec. 11, get the 65-inch TCL 4K QLED TV for $499.97 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $699.99. That's $200.02 off and a discount of 29%. It's also the lowest price we've seen.

SEE ALSO: Best TVs under $500: Low-budget, high-quality TVs in every size

This 4K ultra HD QLED TV is a great pick for detail, with four times the realism of what you can expect from normal HD TVs. It uses QLED tech to enhance its color range, using nearly the entire DCI-P3 color space to give you the richest picture you can get.

It features a 144Hz panel refresh rate for a better, smoother viewing experience no matter whether you're playing games, watching sports, or checking out fast-paced content. Thanks to its TCL AIPQ Pro processor, it can also automatically optimize color, contrast, and clarity on its own to give you a great picture.

With Dolby Atmos spatial audio and voice control support, you'll get fantastic sound as well as be able to navigate the TV with your voice. You'll appreciate that for the built-in smart TV features that let you go without a streaming device as well.

If you need an affordable TV with great quality image and sound, this is a pick you should keep your eye on, especially at this entry price.

Gaming’s biggest night of the year is in the books. The Game Awards 2025 rewarded the most notable games of 2025. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 took home the coveted Game of the Year award.

It also set a new record with the most wins at 8 — beating out 2020’s The Last of Us Part 2, which won 7 awards. Check out the full list — and below it, our pick from a plethora of announcements from games companies.

Game of the Year: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

Best Indie Game: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

Best Debut Indie Game: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

Best Mobile Game: Umamusume: Pretty Derby

Best Virtual Reality/Augmented Reality Game: The Midnight Walk

Best Action Game: Hades II

Best Action/Adventure Game: Hollow Knight: Silksong

Best Fighting Game: Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves

Best Family Game: Donkey Kong Bananza

Best Simulation/Strategy Game: Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles

Best Sports/Racing Game: Mario Kart World

Best Multiplayer Game: ARC Raiders

Best Game Direction: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

Best Narrative: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

Best Art Direction: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

Best Score and Music: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

Best Audio Design: Battlefield 6

Best Performance: Jennifer English in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

Innovation in Accessibility: Doom: The Dark Ages

Games for Impact: South of Midnight

Best Ongoing Game: No Man’s Sky

Best RPG: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

Best Community Support: Baldur’s Gate III

Best Game Adaptation: The Last of Us Season 2

Most-Anticipated Game: Grand Theft Auto VI

Content Creator of the Year: MoistCr1TiKaL

Best eSports Game: Counter-Strike 2

Best eSports Athlete: Chovy – Jeong Ji-hoon (League of Legends)

Best eSports Team: Team Vitality

Players’ Voice: Wuthering Waves

Lucasfilm returns to the Old Republic

Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic is a new title from Lucasfilm games, directed by Casey Hudson.

Hudson previously worked on the classic Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, as well as the Mass Effect Trilogy.

No release date was announced, but the game will be available on PC and consoles.

Fate of the Republic features a single-player narrative adventure where players step into the role of a Force user; the original story is set in the era of the Old Republic, hundreds of years before the events of the original Star Wars.

Plus there's another Star Wars game! Star Wars: Galactic Racer is just pure pod racing. Your skill truly matters here. It’s being developed by Fuse Games and published by Secret Mode, and it’s set to release sometime in 2026 for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S.

'Divinity' goes stand-alone

Baldur’s Gate 3 developer Larian Studios and winner of The Game Awards 2023 Game of the Year Award, has announced Divinity. It’s a continuation of the Divinity saga, and doesn’t require experience with previous Larian titles.

Those who’ve played Divinity: Original Sin and Divinity: Original Sin II will be able to enjoy it even more.

Although no other information was revealed, Larian Studios says that it will be their biggest game yet. 

'Control' gets a new sibling

Surprising no one who saw the leaked news, Remedy Entertainment officially announced Control: Resonant.

It’s a new game in the Control universe, where you explore a warped Manhattan on the brink of paranatural annihilation. You control a new protagonist named Dylan Faden (brother of Control protagonist, Jesse Faden) as he faces off against a supernatural threat.

Control: Resonant is set to come out sometime in 2026 for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S.

'Tomb Raider' returns twice

Two new Tomb Raider games have been announced: Tomb Raider Catalyst and Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis.

The former is the next brand new adventure for the iconic Lara Croft set in Northern India, coming in 2027. The latter is a remake of the very first Lara Croft game from 1996, set to launch in its thirtieth anniversary year — 2026.

The House of Mouse recently announced a surprise $1 billion deal with OpenAI, which will bring about 200 Disney characters, props, and other copyrighted items to ChatGPT and Sora, OpenAI's AI chatbot and video app.

So, if you've ever wanted to make a video of yourself hanging out with Deadpool and wielding a lightsaber, you'll be able to do exactly that starting in 2026.

And though many artists and creative professionals have a deep-seated, at-times existential hatred for all things artificial intelligence, Disney CEO Bob Iger said creators don't need to worry. During a CNBC appearance on Thursday, Iger said that "this does not in any way represent a threat to the creators at all."

Well, OK then!

Incredibly, even though OpenAI CEO Sam Altman told CNBC the demand for Disney characters among ChatGPT users is "off the charts," according to the terms of the deal, Disney will pay OpenAI, and not the other way around, to bring Disney intellectual property into ChatGPT-world. Disney will be making a $1 billion equity investment in the AI company, OpenAI revealed in a blog post. As part of the deal, Disney will also become a "major customer" of OpenAI, giving Disney employees access to new AI tools.

Why are creatives threatened by generative AI?

Despite Iger's rosy assessment, the Disney-OpenAI alliance will be seen as terrible news by AI-skeptical artists, who fear that movie studios will replace them with AI tools at the first opportunity. That's why even the smallest hint of AI in movies triggers an immediate backlash from many creative professionals. Even the use of AI to produce movie posters will spark a boycott among artists, many of whom see all generative AI output as slop.

Although, as I've written before, it's not clear that audiences care as much about the use of AI in creative work. Ultimately, the Disney-OpenAI deal is just the latest proof that generative AI in movies, TV, and advertising is a train that can't be stopped. Artists can and will fight the adoption of AI in Hollywood, but the powers that be aren't asking for permission.

In his CNBC appearance with Altman, Iger spoke about the inevitability of AI adoption.

"If it’s going to happen regardless, then we’d rather participate in the rather dramatic growth, rather than just watching it happen and essentially being disrupted by it," Iger said.

Notably, the new agreement does not include the voices of any Disney characters. Including the voice or likeness of the actors behind the characters could put Disney in violation of agreements with writers, artists, and actors, whose unions have been fighting for protections against AI.

As part of the deal, OpenAI and Disney said there's a "licensing fee" for using Disney's characters. But since Disney is the one forking over $1 billion, it seems extremely unlikely that any creatives will see the benefits of this deal. Disney may yet set a precedent that AI companies should pay to license creatives' work, but this isn't that.

"We are not including name and likeness, nor are we including character voices," Iger said on CNBC show Squak on the Street. "And so, in reality, this does not in any way represent a threat to the creators at all, in fact, the opposite. I think it honors them and respects them, in part because there’s a license fee associated with it."

For the record, I am extremely skeptical that "license fee" will trickle down to the artists behind the characters that appear in Sora. I'm equally skeptical that artists, voice actors, and artists will agree that this deal "honors" and "respects them."

By aligning with OpenAI, Disney opens a new front in the AI copyright battle

In Mashable's testing of AI image generators, we've found every major AI image maker will readily produce a deepfake featuring a popular Disney character. It's part of our standard testing process for AI image generators.

So, unsurprisingly, a legal battle is playing out in courts around the world over AI copyright law, with Hollywood heavyweights, authors, and artists pitted against the big AI companies. Some of these cases focus on AI companies using copyrighted works for training without payment or permission. Others focus on the output of those AI tools, many of which readily create deepfakes of popular characters from Star Wars, Pixar, Marvel, and other Disney franchises.

So far, early AI copyright cases have ruled in favor of AI companies. It's been a true David vs. Goliath story so far, with relatively unknown authors going up against tech giants like OpenAI, Google, and Meta.

That's why many artists were delighted when, earlier this year, Disney sued AI image generator Midjourney, calling it "a bottomless pit of plagiarism." The hope was that The House of Mouse's famously formidable legal department might succeed where early class action suits had failed. In the legal battle between artists and AI companies, artists are generally outgunned at every turn. Case in point: In the Kadrey v. Meta class action case, the judge noted in his ruling that the authors' legal team simply made weak arguments, even though the facts of the case seemed so damning. Meta literally pirated the authors' books, and internal messages showed its own employees questioned the legal and ethical implications of their work.

But artists who were hoping Disney might come to the rescue in the AI copyright battle may want to temper their expectations. Disney has now made the bold decision to pay OpenAI for the privilege of turning Disney characters into slop.

It's easy to see why. On the same day we learned about the Disney-OpenAI deal, OpenAI sent a cease-and-desist letter to Google, demanding that Google's AI tools stop creating images and videos that feature Disney characters. By granting OpenAI and Sora an exclusive AI license for these Disney characters, Disney is protecting its copyrights and setting itself up for future legal battles.

None of this is particularly good news for creators and artists worried about AI, however. It should hardly come as a surprise that Iger's best interests don't necessarily align with those of actors, animators, and voice-over artists.

But, Iger says they don't need to worry, so I'm sure everything will be fine.

Yes, everything will be fine.

Everything will be fine.

Everything will be fine.

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

SAVE $130: The TCL NXTPAPER 11 Plus Android tablet is on sale at Amazon for $239.99, down from the list price of $369.99. That's a 35% discount that matches the record-low price.

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A new tablet for 2026 could be the fresh start we all crave. You have tons of options these days if you're looking for a new tablet. But if you're shopping on a budget or just want an affordable model, there's a nice deal on offer today at Amazon.

As of Dec. 11, the TCL NXTPAPER 11 Plus Android tablet is on sale for $239.99 at Amazon, marked down from the standard price of $369.99. That's a 35% discount that works out a nice $130 savings. It also matches the record-low price.

The versatility of the TCL NXTPAPER 11 Plus is one of the standout features of this tablet. TCL designed this tablet with the brand's VeraView mode which means you can use it in regular mode, ink paper, or color paper mode. The ink paper mode utilizes TCL's NXTPAPER 4.0 technology, which aims to give the display the feel of reading physical paper with less eye-stain that could occur with many tablets. This'll be a highlight for those who love to use e-readers like Kindles.

SEE ALSO: Record-low price alert: We've never seen the AirPods Pro 3 this cheap at Walmart

Considering the least expensive Amazon Kindle Colorsoft is priced at $249.99 and doesn't function as a tablet to access email, the web, etc. the TCL NXTPAPER 11 Plus could be a more versatile alternative.

Mashable Senior Editor Stan Schroeder spent some time with an older TCL NXTPAPER and wrote, "From the get-go, their displays really do look like photos printed on actual paper. They’re matte, and thus better to use in sunlight than the displays on most phones and tablets. They appear perfectly still and perfectly flat, for lack of better words."

This deal also includes a flip case and the TCL T-Pen, which magnetically attaches to the case for added convenience.

While the TCL NXTPAPER 11 Plus is sitting at a record-low price of $239.99, consider the upgrade a gift to start off 2026 on the right foot. You'll have access to an impressive display for reading e-books, taking on creative projects, and keeping up with e-mails.

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PDFs don’t have to be frustrating. Whether you edit PDFs daily or just every now and then, the right tool for the job makes a big difference. That’s where the PDF Converter and Editor app comes into play, offering everything you need to tackle PDFs in one convenient place.

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No matter how much we try, we can’t escape PDFs. If you’re ready to be prepared every time you encounter one of these frustrating file formats, PDF Converter and Editor can help. This handy tool makes it easy to work with these files and convert them to another format in just a few clicks.

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Do you have some lofty goals for 2026? Whether you have a lengthy TBR list or you are just hoping to learn some new things next year, Headway Premium allows you to access 15-minute summaries of some of the world’s best nonfiction books in your spare time.

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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’ve got 15 minutes, Headway Premium can teach you something new. Ditch your doomscrolling and start using this app to read or listen to 15-minute summaries of bestselling nonfiction books.

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On Thursday morning, hours before President Donald Trump signed an executive order designed to stop states from regulating artificial intelligence, a trio of child safety advocacy groups began airing a public service announcement imploring him not to do so.

The ad, entitled "Unwelcome Guests," casts creepy-looking humans as the voices and faces of real AI chatbots that have allegedly shared dangerous information with young users who engaged with them, like how to harm themselves and hide an eating disorder from their parents.

SEE ALSO: 5 strategies to avoid ChatGPT dependency

Three examples reference instances in which ChatGPT allegedly coached young users into attempting suicide. Experts recently reviewed major AI chatbots and concluded they're not safe for teens to use for mental health discussions.

OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT, is being sued by multiple families of teens who died by suicide after heavy engagement with the chatbot. The company recently denied responsibility for the death of Adam Raine, a 16-year-old who talked to ChatGPT about his suicidal feelings and killed himself earlier this year.

"As parents, we do everything in our power to protect our children from harm, but how do we protect them from powerful technologies designed to exploit their vulnerabilities for profit?" said Megan Garcia, whose son, Sewell Setzer III, died by suicide in the wake of developing an intense relationship with a chatbot on Character.AI. The company has since shut down teen chats on the platform.

"If state AI regulations are blocked and AI companies are allowed to keep building untested and dangerous products, I'm afraid that many more families will endure the agony of losing a child. We cannot accept losing one more child to AI harms," Garcia said.

The PSA concludes with the text, "Don't stop states from regulating AI," and points to a petition opposing a federal ban.

The spot was commissioned by the child safety advocacy groups Heat Initiative, ParentsTogether Action, and Design It For Us, and is narrated by actress Juliette Lewis.

If you're feeling suicidal or experiencing a mental health crisis, please talk to somebody. You can call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org. You can reach the Trans Lifeline by calling 877-565-8860 or the Trevor Project at 866-488-7386. Text "START" to Crisis Text Line at 741-741. Contact the NAMI HelpLine at 1-800-950-NAMI, Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. ET, or email info@nami.org. If you don't like the phone, consider using the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Chat. Here is a list of international resources.

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

Today, Disney and OpenAI announced a surprising partnership, which will allow ChatGPT users to generate content with Disney's iconic characters.

On the heels of that news, Variety reported that Disney sent Google a cease-and-desist notice on Wednesday evening, threatening legal action over the search giant's alleged use of Disney's intellection property in its AI models. Disney is accusing Google of copyright infringement on a “massive scale,” claiming Google's AI models “commercially exploit and distribute” infringing media.

Disney has reportedly accused Google of infringing on Disney properties such as Star Wars, Frozen, The Lion King, Moana, The Little Mermaid, Deadpool, and The Guardians of the Galaxy. Disney has also accused Google of encouraging users to take part in Generative AI trends such as prompts that create images of "action figures" depicting Disney-owned characters. According to Variety, images of figurines depicting Darth Vader, Deadpool, Homer Simpson, and Elsa from Frozen were included in examples in the cease-and-desist letter.

Disney's recent actions are certainly interesting. Just this past June, Disney filed a lawsuit against AI image generation company Midjourney over the use of Disney's IP in AI-generated content. At the time, Disney lawyers called Midjourney "a bottomless pit of plagiarism."

So, why has Disney partnered with one, and only one, AI company? By granting OpenAI an exclusive license to use its characters, OpenAI will now be able to argue that Google and other AI companies are violating that license.

When OpenAI launched its AI video platform Sora in October, the company was immediately criticized for allowing users to generate video content utilizing other brands' copyrighted characters. OpenAI eventually announced that any company could opt out of Sora inclusion on a character-by-character basis.

And in Mashable's testing of AI image and video generators, we found that most of these AI tools will readily produce deepfakes featuring Star Wars and Marvel characters.

Now, Disney has demanded that Google “immediately cease further copying, publicly displaying, publicly performing, distributing, and creating derivative works of Disney’s copyrighted characters” in “outputs of Google’s AI Services, including through YouTube’s mobile app, YouTube Shorts and YouTube.”

In addition, Disney wants Google to put safeguards in place "to ensure that no future outputs infringe Disney works."

In effect, Disney is putting the AI world on notice.

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

Dropped onto HBO Max in late Nov. with almost zero promotion, the gay hockey series Heated Rivalry is everywhere these days. The show's handsome stars, Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie, are dominating social feeds, with a growing legion of fans salivating over the chemistry between their characters, two extremely talented and closeted NHL players. As of Dec. 11, Heated Rivalry sits as the third most-watched series on HBO Max, behind only Mad Men and IT: Welcome to Derry.

What is it about this Canadian show that has captured the public's attention in a way few other recent series have? Yes, it's a rare gay love story on TV, and it depicts the often-untold tales of LGBTQ athletes. The acting is good, as are the production values. Undeniably, though, it's the show's depictions of sex, mostly between Williams' and Storrie's characters, that's pulling in viewers. Their trysts feel different than same-sex "lovemaking" in other notable LGBTQ shows, like Queer as Folk, The L Word, and, more recently, Heartstopper.

The nature of the characters' relationship is certainly part of it — their sexual congress is beyond illicit. If the public were to find out the League's two best players were sleeping together (and were, maybe, in love?), it could wreck their careers and even endanger their lives. The high stakes equate to intense passion.

SEE ALSO: 9 LGBTQ creators discuss not backing down from Pride

It's also to the testament of series creator Jacob Tierney that the sex comes off as authentic and hot. He cast two charismatic leads (who seem to actually like each other in real life) and filmed them beautifully in luxe hotel rooms. Heated Rivalry's lighting is warm and sensual, though HBO Max did darken the show (inadvertently, Tierney maintains), including its sex scenes, from the original Canadian version. The camera stays on the men during the actual intercourse, with no burning candles or hand-holding for suggestion. When the characters of Shane and Ilya give in to their passion, it's less Red, White, & Royal Blue (e.g., soap opera-style timidity) and much more Blue Is the Warmest Color (close-ups, noises, and occasional awkwardness).

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Zachary Zane, Grindr's sex and relationship expert, heaped praise on Heated Rivalry's depiction of gay lust:

"First off, the show masterfully builds suspense and sexual tension, perhaps more so than previous depictions of queer sex on screen. It adopts a slow-burn approach, characterized by constant furtive glances and intense pining between Ilya and Shane, with Shane's longing being particularly noticeable. The viewer can see the sexual tension and desire on their pretty faces.

Two, the production value is also incredibly high. The soft lighting and shadows add a sensual and suspenseful element we didn't get nearly as much of in past queer shows.

Three, the dynamic between Ilya and Shane is a major draw. Their enemies-to-lovers trope is an inherently popular and arousing romance staple, but it's more than that. Shane leans a bit submissive, being coy about his wants while dancing around his anxieties. Ilya is this powerhouse, emotionally-avoidant dom with a sexy accent, deep voice, and adventurous mindset for public trysts. If only we could see their Grindr tags.

While sexual fantasies and desires naturally vary among queer men, this particular dom/sub dynamic is a common interest amongst most gay and bisexual men, who can identify with either Ilya, Shane, or perhaps even both."

Heated Rivalry's fourth episode (of six) drops tomorrow, Dec. 12, on HBO Max.

Today, OpenAI launched GPT-5.2, touting its stronger safety performance in regard to mental health.

"With this release, we continued our work to strengthen our models' responses in sensitive conversations⁠, with meaningful improvements in how they respond to prompts indicating signs of suicide or self-harm, mental health distress, or emotional reliance on the model," OpenAI's blog post states.

OpenAI has recently been hit with criticism and lawsuits, which accuse ChatGPT of contributing to some users' psychosis, paranoia, and delusions. Some of those users died by suicide after lengthy conversations with the AI chatbot, which has had a well-documented problem with sycophancy.

In response to a wrongful death lawsuit concerning the suicide of 16-year-old Adam Raine, OpenAI denied that the LLM was responsible, claimed ChatGPT directed the teenager to seek help for his suicidal thoughts, and stated that the teenager "misused" the platform. At the same time, OpenAI pledged to improve how ChatGPT responds when users display warning signs of self-harm and mental health crises. As many users develop emotional attachments to AI chatbots like ChatGPT, AI companies are facing growing scrutiny for the safeguards they have in place to protect users.

Now, OpenAI claims that its latest ChatGPT models will offer "fewer undesirable responses" in sensitive situations.

In the blog post announcing GPT-5.2, OpenAI states that GPT-5.2 scores higher on safety tests related to mental health, emotional reliance, and self-harm compared to GPT-5.1 models. Previously, OpenAI has said it's using "safe completion," a new safety-training approach that balances helpfulness and safety. More information on the new models' performance can be found in the 5.2 system card.

Credit: Screenshot: OpenAI

However, the company has also observed that GPT-5.2 refuses fewer requests for mature content, especially sexualized text. OpenAI clarified to Mashable that it has implemented system-level safeguards to mitigate this behavior, and testing indicates that these safeguards do help. OpenAI didn't respond to how this would work in instances of adult users wanting to generate erotica, as "adult mode" is reported to launch next year.

But this apparently doesn't impact users OpenAI knows to be underage, as the company states that its age safeguards "appear to be working well." OpenAI applies additional content protections for minors, including reducing access to content containing violence, gore, viral challenges, roleplay of sexual, romantic, or violent nature, and "extreme beauty standards."

An age prediction model is also in the works, which will allow ChatGPT to estimate its users' ages to help provide more age-appropriate content for younger users.

Earlier this fall, OpenAI introduced parental controls in ChatGPT, including monitoring and restricting certain types of use.

OpenAI isn't the only AI company accused of exacerbating mental health issues. Last year, a mother sued Character.AI after her son's death by suicide, and another lawsuit claims children were severely harmed by that platform's "characters." Character.AI has been declared unsafe for teens by online safety experts. Likewise, AI chatbots from a variety of platforms, including OpenAI, have been declared unsafe for teens' mental health according to child safety and mental health experts.

If you're feeling suicidal or experiencing a mental health crisis, please talk to somebody. You can call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org. You can reach the Trans Lifeline by calling 877-565-8860 or the Trevor Project at 866-488-7386. Text "START" to Crisis Text Line at 741-741. Contact the NAMI HelpLine at 1-800-950-NAMI, Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. ET, or email info@nami.org. If you don't like the phone, consider using the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Chat. Here is a list of international resources.

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

UPDATE: Dec. 12, 2025, 12:14 p.m. EST This article has been updated with clarity on GPT-5.2 refusing requests for mature content.

OpenAI has announced its launching GPT-5.2 effective immediately, with access rolling out in phases starting Dec. 11.

This is the second major update to GPT-5, the long-awaited OpenAI model that launched on Aug. 7.

In a blog post announcing the new series of ChatGPT models, the company called GPT-5.2 the "most capable model series yet for professional knowledge work."

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GPT-5.2 is actually a series of models; the series itself is part of the larger GPT-5 series. Here's what we're looking at:

• GPT-5.2 Instant

• GPT-5.2 Thinking

• GPT-5.2 Pro

When can you start using GPT-5.2?

With a Dec. 11 release date, GPT-5.2 is available now — though not all users will see it listed as an available model in ChatGPT.

As with previous model rollouts, OpenAI will first deploy the model to paid users on Plus, Pro, Go, Business, and Enterprise plans.

Even for paying customers, OpenAI tends to make its new models available in phases — so if it's not available immediately via the OpenAI API or ChatGPT, keep checking.

"We deploy GPT‑5.2 gradually to keep ChatGPT as smooth and reliable as we can," the company wrote. "If you don’t see it at first, please try again later. In ChatGPT, GPT‑5.1 will still be available to paid users for three months under legacy models, after which we will sunset GPT‑5.1."

If you have a paid ChatGPT account, go to ChatGPT.com to see if the model is available. Eventually, all ChatGPT users should have free access to GPT-5.2, though that access will be limited on free membership plans.

GPT-5.2 benchmarks and performance

OpenAI published a new system card that shows GPT-5.2 makes iterative improvements on key benchmarks compared to GPT-5 and 5.1. In addition, OpenAI said that GPT-5.2 hallucinates less than previous models.

• GDPval: GPT-5.2 scored 70.9 percent, while GPT-5 scored 38.8 percent

• SWE-Bench Pro: GPT-5.2 scored 55.6 percent, while GPT-5 scored 50.8 percent

• AIME 2025 math: GPT-5.2 scored 100 percent, while GPT-5 scored 94 percent

• FrontierMath (Tier 1–3): GPT-5.2 scored 40.3 percent, while GPT-5 scored 31.0 percent

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

OpenAI announced today that it's launching GPT-5.2, the newest model in its GPT-5 series. The new model will start rolling out immediately, with paid ChatGPT customers getting access first.

In a blog post announcing the new model — which is actually a series of models, comprised of GPT‑5.2 Instant, GPT-5.2 Thinking, and GPT-5.2 Pro — OpenAI said that GPT-5.2 makes noticeable improvements in math and science, imaging, coding, handling agentic tasks, and overall accuracy. The company called GPT-5.2 its "most capable model series yet for professional knowledge work."

The new model comes at a difficult time for OpenAI, which is rumored to be in a "code red" state over stronger competition from rivals like Google Gemini and spreading fears of an AI bubble.

Ever since it launched ChatGPT in 2022, OpenAI has been securely on top of the AI industry. However, the company is in an increasingly precarious position. Google has an almost unfathomable amount of training data at its disposal, and Google AI products like Gemini 3, Veo 3, and Nano Banana have outperformed GPT-5, the new model OpenAI launched earlier this year, in many respects.

Still, ChatGPT is by far the most popular AI chatbot in the world, with an estimated 700 million weekly active users.

How to try GPT-5.2

The new GPT-5.2 models will start rolling out immediately, though access may not be available right away to all users. As per usual, OpenAI will launch the models to paid users on the Plus, Pro, Go, Business, and Enterprise accounts.

As of this writing, GPT-5.2 was not yet available for this reporter, and the rollout will likely happen in phases.

"We deploy GPT‑5.2 gradually to keep ChatGPT as smooth and reliable as we can; if you don’t see it at first, please try again later," OpenAI wrote in a blog post. "In ChatGPT, GPT‑5.1 will still be available to paid users for three months under legacy models, after which we will sunset GPT‑5.1."

OpenAI says GPT-5.2 makes key improvements in safety, accuracy, and performance benchmarks

The AI industry relies on standardized benchmark tests to demonstrate how well models perform, and companies like OpenAI also have their own internal tests. In addition, AI leaderboards like LMArena let users compare and rank various AI models. While GPT-5.2 has already appeared near the top of LMArena's AI coding leaderboard, it will take more time to see how users rate the new series of models against the competition. However, OpenAI released a new model card for GPT-5.2 on Dec. 11, which shows that the model makes across-the-board improvements in a variety of areas, which isn't surprising.

Most notably, OpenAI says that GPT-5.2 is more accurate and will produce fewer hallucinations compared to GPT-5.1. OpenAI's documentation states that GPT-5.2 Thinking has an average hallucination rate of 10.9 percent, compared to 16.8 percent and 12.7 percent for GPT-5 Thinking and GPT-5.1 Thinking, respectively. When GPT-5.2 is given access to the web via a browser, its hallucination rate drops to 5.8 percent.

In its blog post, OpenAI also states that GPT-5.2 scores more highly on benchmark tests for coding, science and math, performing economically valuable tasks, computer vision, and agentic work involving third-party tools. OpenAI also highlighted GPT-5.2's improved abilities with spreadsheets, in particular.

OpenAI says GPT-5.2 is safer for users with mental health problems

Lately, OpenAI has been accused of endangering ChatGPT users with mental health issues. Due to well-documented sycophancy problems, ChatGPT reportedly encouraged delusions and conspiratorial thinking on some users, who later died by suicide. OpenAI is now facing wrongful death suits, including a new suit that was just revealed for the first time today by the Wall Street Journal, in which a ChatGPT user killed himself shortly after killing his own mother.

OpenAI says that according to its internal tests, GPT-5.2 has a better response to users with mental health problems.

"With this release, we continued our work to strengthen our models’ responses in sensitive conversations⁠, with meaningful improvements in how they respond to prompts indicating signs of suicide or self harm, mental health distress, or emotional reliance on the model. These targeted interventions have resulted in fewer undesirable responses in both GPT‑5.2 Instant and GPT‑5.2 Thinking as compared to GPT‑5.1 and GPT‑5 Instant and Thinking models."

Mashable has not been able to independently verify these results, and the GPT-5.2 system card has scant details on how safety performance was measured in this context.

For more information, check out the OpenAI blog post announcing GPT-5.2 or read the new GPT-5.2 system card.

If you're feeling suicidal or experiencing a mental health crisis, please talk to somebody. You can call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org. You can reach the Trans Lifeline by calling 877-565-8860 or the Trevor Project at 866-488-7386. Text "START" to Crisis Text Line at 741-741. Contact the NAMI HelpLine at 1-800-950-NAMI, Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. ET, or email info@nami.org. If you don't like the phone, consider using the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Chat. Here is a list of international resources.

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

SAVE $1,000: As of Dec. 11, the Bluetti Elite 200 V2 solar generator with two 200W solar panels is just $1,299 at Amazon. That's 43% or a full $1,000 off its list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Bluetti Bluetti Elite 200 V2 solar generator + two 200W solar panels $1,299 at Amazon
$2,299 Save $1,000   Get Deal

Solar generators (aka portable power stations) can be a real lifesaver in many circumstances. Maybe you have a camping trip coming up, but you still need to access your computer for work. Or maybe you live in an area prone to power outages. In any case, having immediate access to one of these gadgets can keep you up and running. They're not the cheapest investments, so when you find a deal — like this Bluetti Elite 200 V2 bundle — it's worth grabbing.

As of Dec. 11, you can pick up the Bluetti Elite 200 V2 solar generator along with two 200W solar panels for only $1,299 at Amazon. That's 43% or $1,000 in savings. That's also cheaper than buying just the solar generator on its own at full price (reg. $1,699).

The Elite 200 V2 packs a 2,073Wh-capacity battery with a 2,600W (3,900W Power Lifting) AC output. That's enough to power nine devices simultaneously via four AC outlets, two 15W USB-A ports, two 100W USB-C ports, and a 120W car port. Meanwhile, it weighs just over 50 pounds and is the size of a small cooler. It's hefty, but still small enough to fit snugly in a corner of your home or portable enough to take on camping trips, tailgates, and other off-grid adventures.

The power station itself can be charged up via a typical AC outlet, with a car port, or with solar power. This bundle includes two 200W solar panels, so you'll be all set. With a 17-year lifespan, it's a smart long-term investment for your home and adventures. And knowing it will last so long definitely makes the price more justified. Save $1,000 while this deal is live.

Android users can now share live video of their environment while reaching out for emergency services, providing more context and assistance in potentially dire situations.

Launched on Wednesday, Emergency Live Video on Android lets emergency dispatchers request a live video feed while talking to a person who may be in danger. When initiated, callers are prompted with a single-tap button on their screen, which then provides a live video feed to dispatchers who can assess the environment or provide more specific medical assistance, like CPR instructions.

SEE ALSO: People negatively judge others who glitch on video calls, according to study

A Google blog post states that the resource works for both emergency calls and texts, and the footage is encrypted by default. The company also says it is looking to partner with global public safety organizations to expand the feature's reach.

Google has launched a variety of emergency safety features across its Android devices, including crash and fall detection, Emergency SOS, and satellite-based services. With the most recent Android 16, Google also added new accessibility features, parental controls, and the ability to mark communications as urgent.

Emergency Live Video has already rolled out to U.S. devices and emergency service calls in select regions of Germany and Mexico. In order to use the feature, devices must be running Android 8+ with Google Play services.

Most Christmas specials don't feature President Donald Trump giving Vice President JD Vance genital warts, Jesus Christ committing domestic violence, and Satan mpreg. But then again, most Christmas specials aren't South Park.

The show's Season 28 finale doubled as its holiday special, which meant creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone had to wrap up all of Season 27 and 28's fittingly unhinged Trump critiques in a neat Christmas bow.

SEE ALSO: 'South Park' creators have the most deadpan response to Trump episode controversy

Most pressingly, South Park had to conclude the tale of Satan and Trump's baby. As the episode starts, Satan is almost due and busy decorating the White House for the Antichrist's impending arrival. However, when he learns that Trump and Vance have absconded to Colorado in order to free Peter Thiel from jail and kill the Antichrist, Satan joins them in South Park to give him a piece of his mind.

What follows is a showdown where Jesus, Stan, and the Satanic Woodland Critters from South Park's Season 8 Christmas special square off against Trump, Vance, Peter Thiel, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, and dirtbag Jesus. Due to Stan's pleas for a Christmas miracle, Jesus recognizes the error of his ways and drops his allegiance to Trump.

Don’t miss out on our latest stories: Add Mashable as a trusted news source in Google.

While that marks a happy ending for one of Season 28's most upsetting storylines — that of Jesus embracing a conservative, hateful version of Christianity — the same can't be said for the Antichrist storyline. Here, South Park goes as dark as it possibly can.

What happens to Trump and Satan's baby in South Park?

Satan never gives birth to the Antichrist. Instead, according to an ultrasound, the baby appears to have died by suicide in the womb.

"It appears that at some point when nobody was watching, the baby hung itself and took its own life," a doctor tells Trump. He then shows him the ultrasound, saying, "I’m afraid you can see it all in the video. The baby got hold of some bedsheets. There are a couple of minutes missing from the ultrasound, but it’s definitely a suicide."

The death is a reference to that of Jeffrey Epstein, who hanged himself with bedsheets in his cell at New York’s Metropolitan Correctional Center while awaiting trial for federal sex trafficking charges. Just like with the ultrasound in South Park, there is missing footage from security cameras outside Epstein's cell on the night of his death, leading to theories that Epstein did not die by suicide.

Trump celebrates the death of the Antichrist at his holiday party, dancing around figures like Apple CEO Tim Cook and Attorney General Pam Bondi, both of whom played roles in South Park Seasons 27 and 28. Satan, for his part, packs up all of his baby supplies and leaves the White House. It's a genuinely sobering moment in an episode packed with madcap shock value, including the darkly horrifying Epstein twist.

With that, South Park wishes us a Merry Christmas and closes out a two-season run that angered the White House, drew ratings highs, and managed to combine memes like 6-7 and Labubus with real-world atrocities like the Trump administration's ICE raids.

South Park is now streaming on Paramount+.

If you're feeling suicidal or experiencing a mental health crisis, please talk to somebody. You can call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org. You can reach the Trans Lifeline by calling 877-565-8860 or the Trevor Project at 866-488-7386. Text "START" to Crisis Text Line at 741-741. Contact the NAMI HelpLine at 1-800-950-NAMI, Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. ET, or email info@nami.org. If you don't like the phone, consider using the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Chat. Here is a list of international resources.

James Gunn's relaunch of the DC Universe is looking up. Following the box office success of Superman, this resurging superhero franchise is next offering Supergirl, a flashy spinoff that's giving Guardians of the Galaxy energy with this first trailer.

Maybe it's Blondie blasting "Call Me" across footage of Supergirl partying and crashing alongside her lovable superpup, Krypto. Maybe it's the collision of outer space shenanigans, rock 'n' roll, and eye-popping action. But we are seated to see House of the Dragon's Milly Alcock reprise the role of Kara, Superman's enchantingly chaotic cousin.

Based on the comic mini-series Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, written by Tom King and illustrated by Bilquis Evely, this movie will follow Kara on her party odyssey, which crashes into a quest to help an alien girl named Ruthye Marye Knoll (Eve Ridley) seek justice.

Craig Gillespie (I, Tonya, Cruella) directs Supergirl, with a screenplay by Ana Nogueira. Joining Alcock and Ridley in the superhero action are Matthias Schoenaerts, David Krumholtz, Emily Beecham, and Jason Momoa, who is not playing Aquaman here. Nearly a year ago, Momoa announced on Instagram he'd been asked to play Lobo, a hulking anti-hero who works as an interstellar bounty hunter.

What else can you glean from this teaser? Sound off in the comments.

Supergirl opens only in theaters June 26, 2026.

SAVE $150: The M3 iPad Air, 13-inch (128GB, WiFi) is on sale at Amazon in the purple colorway for $649.99, down from the usual price of $799.99. That's a 19% discount and a price that matches the record low.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple M3 iPad Air, 13-inch (128GB, WiFi, purple) $649.99 at Amazon
$799.99 Save $150   Get Deal

As shopping experts who browse each day for the best deals, there's something espeically satisfying to find a hidden coupon at Amazon. Tucked into the options of colorways, storage sizes, and connectivity options, we stumbled into a lovely iPad coupon that could be excellent if you need an upgrade.

As of Dec. 11, the M3 iPad Air, 13-inch (128GB, WiFi, purple) is on sale for $649.99 at Amazon, marked down from the usual price of $799.99. That's a 19% discount that shaves $150 off the price. Be sure to clip the on-page coupon to score this iPad Air for a record-low price.

As long as you don't totally hate the color purple, this iPad deal will get you an iPad Air for under $650. The M3 iPad Air is one of Mashable's favorite tablets of 2025, earning the honor of the best iPad upgrade. Mashable went with the less expensive 11-inch model, but today's deal applies to the larger 13-inch display. That extra display size will be a nice addition while watching movies, reading e-books, or creating your next masterpiece artwork.

One of the highlight features that earned the M3 iPad Air a place on the Mashable list is the powerful M3 chip allows you to both edit videos and play games. That's not something every tablet can say.

SEE ALSO: Amazon just dropped the AirPods Pro 3 to their best price ever

After testing tablets, Mashable also rated this model as a great option for creators. "We also think the Apple iPad Air is the best tablet for creatives and artists," according to the Mashable shopping team who chose the best tablets of 2025. "Content creators can get plenty done on the go with the featherlight and ferocious Apple iPad Air, and it works well as a drawing tablet."

In Mashable's full review of the M3 iPad Air, Senior Editor Stan Schroeder got several days of battery life from the iPad when using it for browsing and reading. It got 14 hours and 46 minutes of battery life when looping TikTok videos at 50% brightness.

While this coupon is still live, get the purple M3 iPad Air, 13-inch (128GB, WiFi) for $649.99 at Amazon. Keep in mind it might not arrive in time for Christmas depending on your delivery address, but who said a late Christmas present isn't just as exciting?

Although it leaked online before the announcement, Time magazine made its 2025 Person of the Year official on Thursday morning: It's the "architects of AI."

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Time magazine's official cover(s) for the 2025 Person of the Year edition include Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, AMD CEO Lisa Su, Tesla and xAI CEO Elon Musk, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, and the "godmother of AI" Fei-Fei Li.

However, Time's accolade arrives as Generative AI faces increasing blowback over concerns about privacy and inaccuracies, its environmental impact, mass production of slop, and copyright issues. Still, more companies have started using AI for creative works, such as commercials. Coca-Cola and McDonald's are just two examples of big brands that published AI-generated holiday commercials – only to retract the ads after receiving criticism from consumers.

Those anti-AI feelings appear to be spilling over into Time's 2025 Person of the Year announcement as well.

On X, users commented about AI training off of intellectual property it may not have consent to use.

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Others knocked how Time was celebrating the CEOs of tech companies rather than the "engineers and researchers who actually build AI."

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Some X users focused on Time's choice of a cover for the Person of the Year issue, which recreates the infamous "Lunch atop a Skyscraper" photo from 1932, replacing the iron workers sitting on a steel beam with tech CEOs.

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On Reddit, some of the top comments on the highest upvoted posts were very critical of Time's choice.

"Oh god Please burst the AI bubble ASAP." 

"how very disappointing" 

"The editors were so proud of this choice... ..until they all lost their jobs to the 'Person of the Year'."

And, of course, there were a few wise guys who cracked jokes about how "AI" written out looks like we're talking about a guy named "Al."

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It's important to note that Time's 2025 Person of the Year article does touch upon many of the negative aspects about AI.

The magazine's Person of the Year designation is not meant to be a moral judgement on the person chosen, but instead a recognition of their impact on the world, whether it's good, bad, or a mix of both. Over Time's history, the publication has given Person of the Year to some truly terrible individuals along with some who have devoted themselves to helping others.

Still, many online seem to believe that AI and its big tech cheerleaders don't deserve the recognition.

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

SAVE $50: As of Dec. 11, Amazon has the Apple AirPods Pro 3 on sale for $199. That's 20% off the list price of $249 and their lowest price to date.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods Pro 3 $199 at Amazon
$249 Save $50   Get Deal

If you grabbed Apple's AirPods Pro 3 on Black Friday, I'm sending my condolences. The same earbuds are now $20 cheaper — great news for those who still have them on their list.

As of Dec. 11, the AirPods Pro 3 are now on sale for just $199 at Amazon. That's 20% or $50 off the list price of $249 and a new best price ever for the premium Apple earbuds. Walmart kicked off the record-low pricing in the early hours of the day, but it didn't take long for Amazon to give 'em the old price match. At the time of writing, Best Buy and Target have yet to join in on the fun (both retailers currently have them on sale for $219.99).

"The AirPods Pro pop up on most best of lists, and though we've always been fans, the third generation takes these earbuds to a new level," writes Mashable's reviewer. The new Apple AirPods Pro 3 feature better noise cancellation (twice as good as the Pro 2s), better battery life (eight hours with ANC, 10 hours in transparency mode), and new foam-infused tips that come in five sizes to find the right fit. They also brought the heart rate monitoring tech from the Powerbeats Pro 2 (our favorite earbuds for working out) and Fitness app compatibility to the Pro 3s, and introduced a live translation feature.

If you already have the AirPods Pro 2, we don't think it's necessarily worth an upgrade, but if you're debating between the Pro 2 and Pro 3, this price drop really seals the deal. Go with the AirPods Pro 3.

Disney is investing $1 billion in OpenAI, the entertainment giant announced on Thursday. As part of the deal, OpenAI users will be able to create AI images and videos featuring some of Disney's copyrighted characters.

OpenAI recently launched Sora, an AI video generation app powered by the Sora 2 video model, which allows users to create short videos by typing in a text prompt. When the app first launched, it freely used copyrighted characters from companies like Disney, before OpenAI ultimately cracked down. Now, users will be able to create content on Sora using characters from Disney, Marvel, Pixar, and Star Wars universes.

The deal also extends to ChatGPT, where users will be able to create images with these characters just by entering a text prompt.

“The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence marks an important moment for our industry, and through this collaboration with OpenAI, we will thoughtfully and responsibly extend the reach of our storytelling through generative AI, while respecting and protecting creators and their works,” Disney CEO Bob Iger said in a statement.

"Bringing together Disney’s iconic stories and characters with OpenAI’s groundbreaking technology puts imagination and creativity directly into the hands of Disney fans in ways we’ve never seen before," he said.

Disney also said that it will now become a "major customer" of OpenAI, and that it will be using its API to "build new products, tools, and experiences," as well as deploy ChatGPT for its employees.

SEE ALSO: The best Disney+ deals and bundles in December 2025

While Disney has cozied up with OpenAI, the company has taken a very different approach with other AI companies. In June 2025, Disney and Universal filed a lawsuit against AI company Midjourney, calling the AI image generator a "bottomless pit of plagiarism."

Sora ruffled some feathers when it launched this September, too, with the Motion Picture Association urging OpenAI to take action against copyright infringement on the platform.

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