Mashable

If OpenAI were to buy Pinterest, it would be a big shift for lots of folks.

Now, to be clear, there doesn't seem to be much smoke — at least for now — about OpenAI actually buying Pinterest. The idea surfaced in an article from The Information where staffers predicted what could happen in 2026. Reporter Ann Gehan predicted that OpenAI would buy Pinterest, which is obviously just a bit of prognostication and not a report that a deal was imminent, or even on the table.

Wrote Gehan:

"OpenAI would be most interested in the bones of Pinterest’s business, like its trove of image data and its existing advertising business, as well as relationships with merchants. Pinterest’s digital scrapbooking features could also complement OpenAI’s image- and video-generation tools and help it fend off competition from other AI heavyweights like Google, which launched a Pinterest-like feature in 2025."

So, what would that mean for users and, well, everyone else? For ChatGPT users, that means OpenAI would have access to Pinterest's myriad images and data, which would likely be aimed at improving its search capabilities. It would also provide a ton of well-labeled, specific data for OpenAI to train its model on, which would hopefully improve its capabilities. For OpenAI, it would be buying a cache of info that could help it compete with, say, the data available to Google's Gemini.

Wrote Tom's Guide of the potential purchase, for instance: "Google combined their search crawler with their AI creating an incredible data base — one that has arguably given Gemini the edge." To compete, Tom's Guide argued, one option for OpenAI could be to acquire a platform like Pinterest.

For Pinterest users, you could likely expect some changes — new ownership is bound to do that. But really, a potential OpenAI-owned Pinterest would mean an increasingly shopping-focused, AI-driven world. It means using ChatGPT would include built-in shopping and perusing Pinterest would include built-in AI tools.

Everything appears to be going the way of AI, so why not Pinterest?

Disclosure: Ziff Davis, Mashable’s parent company, in April 2025 filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.

SAVE 46%: As of Jan. 5, you can get the Jackery HomePower 3600 Plus for $1,998.99, down from $3,699, at Amazon. That's a 46% discount, or $1,700.01 in savings.

Jackery HomePower 3600 Plus $1,998.99 at Amazon
$3,699 Save $1,700.01   Get Deal at Amazon

If you've ever sat through a sudden power outage wishing you had a more reliable way to keep your phone alive or make a cup of coffee, this Jackery deal is a solid find.

SEE ALSO: The 5 best portable power stations to stay charged up at home and on the go

As of Jan. 5, you can get the Jackery HomePower 3600 Plus for $1,998.99, down from $3,699, at Amazon. That's a 46% discount, or $1,700.01 in savings. This is also the best price tracked for this model, according to CamelCamelCamel.

The HomePower 3600 Plus delivers 3600W of output (with a 7200W surge peak), which is enough power to run heavy-duty appliances like sump pumps, heaters, and even dryers. The system features a 3584Wh capacity, and because it's expandable, you can technically scale it up to 43kWh if you need to power an entire household for weeks.

This specific bundle includes two 200W solar panels and an AC charging cable, giving you a completely off-grid setup right out of the box. It uses high-temperature-resistant ceramic membrane battery cells that are rated for 6,000 cycles (that's a 10-year lifespan even if you use it daily). Despite the power, it’s designed to be ultra-portable with a luggage-style handle and wheels, so you can roll it from the garage to the kitchen when the lights go out.

Multiple foreign governments are investigating Elon Musk-owned chatbot Grok for numerous reports of the chatbot generating and spreading nonconsensual, sexualized synthetic images of users.

Joining India's IT ministry in the first wave of what could turn into a global crackdown on X's AI helper, French authorities and Malaysia's Communications and Multimedia Commission issued statements that they, too, would be taking action against a platform-wide deepfake problem.

SEE ALSO: CES 2026 live updates: The latest news, surprises, strange tech, and more

At least three government ministers have reported Grok to the Paris prosecutor's office and a government online surveillance platform for allegedly proliferating illegal content, asking for the French authorities to issue an immediate removal, Politico reports. The Malaysian commission said it was investigating the "misuse of artificial intelligence (AI) tools on the X platform."

Meanwhile, X was given 72 hours to address concerns about Grok's image generation and submit an action-taken report to India's IT ministry, outlined in an order issued on Jan. 2, according to TechCrunch. The order said that failure to respond by the deadline could lead to the platform losing safe harbor protections, which prevent web hosts from facing legal retribution for user-generated content.

This comes following reports that the AI chatbot generated images of minors in sexualized attire. Musk later responded in a post on X, denying responsibility for the chatbot's responses. "Anyone using Grok to make illegal content will suffer the same consequences as if they upload illegal content," the xAI leader wrote. xAI team member Parsa Tajik responded to users on X saying the xAI team was looking into "further tightening" safety guardrails.

It's not an isolated incident. X users frequently report that Grok's reported guardrails are easily circumvented to reproduce nonconsensual, sexualized content at the request of other users, often in the form of "undressing" or "redressing" user-uploaded images. The rise in sexualized content on the platform has been referred to as a "mass digital undressing spree," which a Reuters investigation attributes to Grok's lax safety guardrails. Mashable's own testing found that Grok's AI image and video generator, Grok Imagine, readily produced sexual deepfakes — even of famous celebrities.

SAVE $300: The DJI Power 1000 V2 portable power station is on sale at Amazon for $399 with the on-page coupon, down from the normal price of $699. That's a 43% discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: DJI DJI Power 1000 V2 portable power station $399 at Amazon
$699 Save $300   Get Deal

Ice storms, wind storms, and epic rain are all weather events that can cause tons of inconvenience. Even if you get to stay home, these events just love to knock out power. That means we have to sit at home the cold while refusing to open the refrigerator and conserving phone battery. If you're not interested in dealing with this situation for another winter, check out this great deal on a portable power station.

As of Jan. 5, the DJI Power 1000 V2 portable power station is on sale at Amazon for $399 with the on-page coupon, marked down from the normal price of $699. That's a 43% discount that takes a massive $300 off the usual price.

The DJI Power 1000 V2 is an updated version of the original Power 1000, which offers about half the power of the DJI Power 2000. DJI made upgrades to the recharging time and added more outlets compared to the original version.

The Power 1000 V2 comes with 1,024Wh of battery capacity with a stable power output of 2,600W. It weighs in at about 31 pounds, and it comes with plenty of charging ports. You get four AC ports, two USB-A, two 140W USB-C, and two SDC ports.

SEE ALSO: Get ready for the big chill with the Bluetti Pioneer Na(Sodium) portable power station while it's $500 off

In real-life scenarios, 1,024Wh of battery capacity looks like recharging a phone about 57 times or keeping the WiFi router online for about 77 hours. If you're dealing with a power outage and you just loaded up during a major Costco run, you can keep the refrigerator running about 20 hours with the DJI Power 1000 V2.

DJI upped the recharging power with the second version of the Power 1000 and now you'll be able to get a full charge in about 56 minutes if you plug it into the wall. If you don't have an hour to spare, just 37 minutes will get you up to 80% power.

Before the next power outage hits, equip you home with the DJI Power 1000 V2 while it's on sale for $399. Just be sure to take advantage of the on-page coupon to score this sale price. Not only is it handy for power outages, it's perfect for off-grid jobsites, camping, and content creation journeys.

Gone are the days of buying two separate audio devices to listen to music on the go. New audio brand TDM — short for Tomorrow Doesn’t Matter — just debuted the world's "first and only" headphones that can twist into a portable speaker in a matter of seconds.

Announced at CES 2026 on Monday, the TDM Neo Hybrid headphones feature a modular design that instantly transforms them from personal over-ear headphones into a compact Bluetooth speaker with a twist. No setup or extra parts necessary. So, when you want to share a song with others, you can simply flick your wrist to convert your solo listening experience into a group jam session.

"With Neo, we want to empower people to live for the now, giving traditional headphone users the freedom to take what they’re listening to and share it through speakers at any given moment,” said David Brailsford, co-founder of TDM."

Credit: TDM

Beyond the groundbreaking twistability feature, these headphones also include four independently tuned 40mm speaker drivers (two inward and two outward), dual integrated amplifiers for a detailed sound profile, and impressive volume for a speaker that fits in the palm of your hand. As headphones, TDM says they'll last an astounding 200 hours before needing a recharge. As a speaker, you'll need to recharge in about 10 hours. The battery system is also removable, which means you can replace it to extend the life of your Neo headphones and keep listening for years.

Don't care to share your tunes on any given day? You can customize what happens when you twist the TDM Neo. Auto mode will seamlessly switch the audio from the headphone drivers to the speaker drivers when you twist, but you can also set it to pause, power down, or remain inactive on twist.

Tech specs:

• Bluetooth 6 multipoint pairing

• Built-in microphone

• 4 independently tuned speaker drivers

• Dual integrated amplifiers

• 200+ hour battery life in headphones mode

• 10+ hour battery life in speaker mode

• USB-C fast charging (get 8 hours in just 5 minutes)

• Replaceable battery module

• Mode customization on twist

• Adjustable headband

• Removable ear cushions

• Auto power-off

• Overcharge and thermal protection

• Weighs less than 350g

How to order the TDM Neo Hybrid headphones

The Neo Hybrid headphones will be available for pre-order on Kickstarter later this month for $249 in both black and white colorways. If you want to be in the know and get an exclusive discount, head over to the TDM website and sign up for updates with your email address.

Opens in a new window Credit: TDM TDM Neo Hybrid headphones $249
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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.

SAVE 50%: As of Jan. 5, you can get the Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 for $398.99, down from $799, at Amazon. That's a 50% discount and $400.01 savings.

Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 $398.99 at Amazon
$799 Save $400.01   Get Deal at Amazon

Whether you’re planning off-grid camping trips or just want to be the only person on the block with a working fridge during a summer blackout, there's no doubt that having a reliable power station is a good investment.

SEE ALSO: The 5 best portable power stations to stay charged up at home and on the go

As of Jan. 5, you can get the Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 for $398.99, down from $799, at Amazon. That's a 50% discount and $400.01 savings.

The v2 model features a 1,070Wh LiFePO4 battery, which is rated for 4,000 charge cycles. In plain English, that means you can use it daily for over a decade before the battery even starts to show its age. It’s also 18 percent smaller and lighter than the previous version, weighing in at just 23.8 pounds, so you won't throw out your back lugging it from the car to the campsite.

You'll also get a 1,500W AC output with a 3,000W surge peak (plenty of power to run a full-sized fridge, a coffee maker, or even a portable AC unit). If the battery does run dry, you can juice it back from 0 to 100 percent in just one hour using the "Emergency Super Charge" mode in the Jackery app.

If you identify as straight but are open to queer experiences, you're not alone. You may be called "heteroflexible," a portmanteau that signals being "mostly straight" with a flexibility towards same-sex attraction. 

And according to Feeld, "heteroflexible" is the fastest-growing sexuality on the hookup app — 193 percent in 2025. Switching between heteroflexible and straight is one of the most common sexuality shifts, the app stated in its Feeld Raw 2025 report, with millennials making up almost two-thirds of total heteroflexible members (65 percent), and Gen Z at 18 percent.

What does heteroflexibility mean?

There's no objective definition of heteroflexibility. In fact, it hasn't yet been used in the scientific study of the psychology of sexual orientation, said Pavel S. Blagov, Ph.D, professor of psychology at Whitman College.

SEE ALSO: What does WLW mean? The term is all over TikTok.

One of the earliest cited writings on the term, by then-professor of sociology at Yale University Laurie Essig, was published by Salon in 2000. Essig, now a professor at Middlebury College, defined heteroflexibility as when someone "has or intends to have a primarily heterosexual lifestyle, with a primary sexual and emotional attachment to someone of the opposite sex." But, as Essig continued, "that person remains open to sexual encounters and even relationships with persons of the same sex."

As much as 15 percent of the American population may identify as heteroflexible, according to a 2019 study. 

What's the origin of the term "heteroflexibility"?

The exact genesis of the term "heteroflexible" is unknown, but it's been used as early as the 1990s. In the 1997 humor glossary of LGBTQ slang When Drag is Not a Car Race, heteroflexibility is defined as "bisexual, or at least open to sexual experimentation."

Heteroflexible appeared to pick up steam on college campuses in the early 2000s, as displayed in Essig's Salon article. A 2002 dispatch from The Buffalo News declared heteroflexbile the "hot term being bandied about on campus," and defined it as "the condition of being not fully bisexual but open to adventure."

How is heteroflexibility used today?

Today, people seem to use the term differently, said Blagov, and its use is being studied by scholars in gender studies, sociology, and public health. 

"The concept seems to have different meanings across individuals and in different corners of popular culture," he continued. There are several facets of sexual orientation that one may use heteroflexibility to refer to: someone's identity, their sexual desires, their sexual behavior, or something else, or a combination of these. 

Based on various sources online, Blagov senses that someone who describes themselves as heteroflexible may be trying to convey one or more of these concepts: "Some degree of attraction to the same sex; some degree of interest in same-sex sexual behavior; a positive attitude toward diversity in sexual orientation; an open mind about different identities; that they owe some allegiance to a heterosexual or straight identity; and that they do not identify as bisexual or homosexual." 

He also cited sociologist Héctor Carrillo and contributor Amanda Hoffman, who researched sexualities of American men in an aptly titled study, Straight with a pinch of bi. On one hand, Carrillo and Hoffman wrote, terms like heteroflexibility and "bi-curious" represent a renewed sense of sexual identity among young straight Americans with same-sex desire — and possibly a search for public recognition and societal acceptance. 

At the same time, Carrillo argued, by not adopting a queer identity like bisexual, heteroflexible people seek to remain in the "heterosexual category." They want an indication that same-sex desire and behavior "are not altogether incompatible with heterosexuality."

Blagov reiterated that heteroflexibility isn't currently an established concept in the scientific study of psychology. "It is not referring to how a person's mind works or any objectively defined way in which people differ," he said. At least currently, it doesn't indicate a proven difference among people. Rather, it's a label people have started using to describe themselves and others. 

The use of heteroflexible also likely differs across individuals and groups, and — like our definition of so many other words — may change over time.

Is heteroflexibility just bisexuality?

Heteroflexibility, Essig wrote, "is a rejection of bisexuality since the inevitable question that comes up in bisexuality is one of preference, and the preference of the heteroflexible is quite clear."

At first, Essig said she was pissed at the term. "I resented the fact that they [young people] would root their marginal sexual practices in the safety of heterosexuality," she said. Then, after reflecting, she embraced it because in her view, it could bring an end to heterosexuality's dominance. In the future, Essig mused, everyone would be flexible.

Other scholars, however, don't have such a rosy view of the term. In a 2009 article about queer representation in the media, media and communications professor Lisa Blackman wrote that "heteroflexible" serves to expand the boundaries of the "heterosexual" label rather than to normalize queer identities. Flexibility is merely a "temporary interruption" of heterosexual desire, a "break from the routine."

Blackman goes on to say that the idea of flexibility serves to support the agency of heterosexual people, but not queer people. Queer attraction, at least in media at the time of Blackman's writing, was seen as something novel for straight people (primarily women) to experience. She cites two examples — Samantha Jones in Sex and the City and Jessica in Kissing Jessica Stein — as characters who flirted with homosexuality, but only temporarily.

Does "heteroflexibility" describe queer desire in terms of...straightness? In Blackman's sense, yes, said Andrew Cheng, assistant professor in the department of linguistics at the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa (previously a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Linguistics at Simon Fraser University). 

While this argument is an academic look into film and television at the time, other queer people have decried the term for similar reasons. Writer Charlie Williams said in Affinity Magazine that the word heteroflexible erases bi identities, saying both heteroflexible and the opposite, homoflexible, are just "fancy words" for bisexual. Another writer, Kravitz M., called for people who feel attraction to multiple genders to question why they don't call themselves bi, and claimed it might be because of internalized biphobia.

For some, any flexibility is a deviation from the heterosexual standard and will be judged negatively, particularly for men who experience bi erasure, according to Dr. Luke Brunning, a lecturer in applied ethics at the University of Leeds and co-director of the Centre for Love, Sex, and Relationships. "For others, perhaps those firmly within the queer community, heteroflexibility might be viewed with suspicion, as indicative of a reticence to be open about someone's 'true' bisexuality, for example, or as evidence of internalized homophobia."

It's important to remember, though, that the meanings and uses of identity labels change quickly — especially in the internet age — and that identities are dependent on local communities, said Cheng. 

"The rise in heteroflexibility as an identification among, say, rural men in the Midwest today, might be very different from how it was used by city-dwelling college students in the nineties," he continued.

Further, without much psychological research, it's hard to speculate why someone may identify as heteroflexible (or bi-curious or "mostly straight") instead of a queer identity, said Blagov. 

For some people, the term "heteroflexible" accurately describes how they experience attraction or behave, said Brunning, who provided insights for Feeld. (Brunning was also interviewed by Mashable in 2020 for his book on non-monogamy). For others, he continued, it might be a "promise-to-self," something they want to look into further or explore.

All this to say, there's no "correct" use of heteroflexible. It may not be its own sexual orientation — it's been long known that sexual attraction can fall somewhere between hetero and homosexual — but anyone is free to identify as such. Sexuality, like language itself, can be flexible.

This article was originally published in 2022 and republished in 2026 with new information.

SAVE $399.99: The 8TB WD_Black M.2 SSD licensed for PS5 is on sale at Amazon for $630, down from the list price of $1,029.99. That's a 39% discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: WD_Black 8TB WD_Black M.2 SSD $630 at Amazon
$1,029.99 Save $399.99   Get Deal

The holidays are over and now we're in the long stretch of winter. Spring and warmer temps are still a few months away, and if you plan to spend some serious time gaming this winter on a PS5, check out this deal.

As of Jan. 5, the 8TB WD_Black M.2 SSD licensed for PS5 is on sale at Amazon for $630, down from the list price of $1,029.99. That's a 39% discount.

If you find yourself constantly juggling your PS5 downloads to make room for new game titles and updates, you need more storage. Unfortunately, the world is in a storage battle right now and the prices on SSD and RAM have gone a bit bananas. Thankfully, we have this Amazon deal on an 8TB SSD that's certified for PS5.

SEE ALSO: Take on feudal Japan in 'Assassin's Creed Shadows' at the lowest price we've seen

With this upgrade, you won't have to transfer or remove games from your console to make room for extra titles. Plus, it's easy to install into the M.2 slot. WD_Black states this SSD comes with read speeds of up to 7,200 MB/s, so you won't have to worry about load times. Bonus points go to this as the only 8TB NVME SSD that's officially certified for the PS5.

With an 8TB upgrade, WD_Black says you'll have the space for up to 200 games. The built-in heat sink is also beneficial for helping keep things cool.

Since we have no idea what the price of storage will do in 2026, ensure you have plenty of space by scoring this deal on the 8TB WD_Black M.2 SSD licensed for PS5 for $630 at Amazon. Your winter gaming will appreciate the extra space.

SAVE 43%: As of Jan. 5, you can get the Renpho Smart Scale for $19.99, down from $34.99, at Amazon. That's a 43% discount or $15 in savings.

Opens in a new window Credit: Renpho Renpho Smart Scale $19.99 at Amazon
$34.99 Save $15.00   Get Deal

Getting a better handle on your health doesn't necessarily mean hitting a specific number on the scale. If you’re trying to actually feel better this year, it’s worth looking at the full picture, including your sleep, hydration, and body composition.

SEE ALSO: 5 fitness apps to help with your 2026 New Year’s resolutions

As of Jan. 5, you can get the Renpho Smart Scale for $19.99, down from $34.99, at Amazon. That's a 43% discount or $15 in savings. This is a solid, entry-level price for a tool that gives you a much broader picture of your health than a traditional "dumb" scale ever could.

This scale uses four high-sensitivity electrodes to track 13 different body metrics, including BMI, bone mass, and muscle mass. That data then syncs directly to the Renpho Health app, which is compatible with Fitbit, Apple Health, and Samsung Health. The app is great for spotting long-term trends rather than obsessing over daily fluctuations. It also features a baby and pet weighing mode, so everyone in your household can use it.

Bonus: If you have an FSA or HSA account, this scale is also eligible for reimbursement, which is a nice way to use up those funds on something that'll help you stay on top of your wellness goals.

Teens spend an average of 70 minutes on their smartphones during school hours, according to new research published Monday in JAMA.

The study found that students aren't using their devices for educational purposes, either. Instead, they're mostly scrolling social media, racking up roughly 30 minutes per day on apps like TikTok, Snapchat, and Instagram. They also game on Roblox and Pokemon GO, as well as watch videos on Netflix and YouTube. By comparison, they spend an average of a minute-and-a-half on productivity- and education-related uses, like Google Docs, the tutoring app Khan Academy, and the homework help app Chegg.

"Phones can support learning, but that’s not how they were mostly used during the school day," Dr. Jason Nagata, the study's lead author, told Mashable.

SEE ALSO: Make 2026 the year your kid gets off their device

The data were collected from 640 teens ages 13 to 18 participating in a massive longitudinal research effort known as the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study. The teens shared their school's start time with researchers, who then used a reasonable estimate for the end of the students' school day.

Instead of surveying the teens, who might not accurately remember their phone habits, the researchers relied on an app installed on each participant's phone to passively measure uses like social media and gaming apps, internet browsing, and video viewing. A previous smaller study that also measured smartphone activity estimated that students used their phones for an hour-and-a-half during school hours.

Nagata believes the hour-plus that teens spend on their phones at school "inevitably competes with attention to learning." He also noted that while some phone use may happen during breaks or lunch, that activity could interfere with face-to-face socializing, physical activity, and mental rest.

"Heavy phone use can displace those benefits and reduce opportunities for real-world connection," Nagata said.

Parents, educators, policymakers, and students themselves have long been concerned about the disruptive role of phones at school, which can exacerbate bullying, burn teachers out, and distract teens from academics.

Nagata said the study provided objective data demonstrating that smartphones remain a significant part of students' school-day experience.

Since the researchers collected data between 2022 and 2024, they acknowledge that the findings may not reflect more recent phone-free school policies that resulted from increasing political and public momentum for bans and solutions like Yondr pouches. The participants all used Android devices, so the findings may not apply to those with Apple smartphones.

SEE ALSO: Kids aren't learning to spell anymore

Importantly, the researchers identified risk factors and disparities associated with higher rates of school-time phone use. Students with problematic social media and phone use appeared to spend several more minutes each day on social media and their devices during school hours.

Black students spent 12 to 20 minutes more on their phones daily during school time compared to white participants. Low-income students generally used their phones more during the school day than high-income students.

The researchers didn't evaluate the reasons for these disparities but suggested they might stem from differences in school environments, which could include class size and school resources.

Dr. Jean Twenge, a psychologist who's conducted extensive academic research on screen time but was not involved in this study, found the results compelling.

"Some argue that students are using their phones during the school day mostly for educational purposes," said Twenge, author of 10 Rules for Raising Kids in a High-Tech World: How Parents Can Stop Smartphones, Social Media, and Gaming from Taking Over Their Children's Lives. "This study provides strong evidence that's not the case: Adolescents are instead using their phones for entertainment and social media."

In The Pitt, change is constant.

The Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Center's nonstop stream of patients leaves its staff in eternal flux. Anything can roll through the doors and alter the course of an shift. Conditions can jump from stable to life-threatening faster than you can say "yinz." Because of this, Dr. Michael "Robby" Robinavitch (Noah Wyle, fresh off an Emmy win) and his team have to be ready to switch up their care plans at a moment's notice. 

SEE ALSO: 2026 TV preview: All the TV shows you need to know, and where to stream them

That sense of oscillation is a huge reason why The Pitt’s ER-meets-24 formula is so intoxicating. Thankfully, the HBO series only doubles down on it in Season 2, forcing its characters to confront change not just where their patients are concerned, but also in the Emergency Department itself. New faces, new rules...all these additions risk destabilizing the Pitt’s already shaky equilibrium, creating another captivating high-wire act of TV.

There’s a new sheriff in town in The Pitt Season 2 Sepideh Moafi in "The Pitt." Credit: Warrick Page / HBO Max

A new season of The Pitt means a new shift. This time around, it’s the Fourth of July, meaning several months have passed since Season 1’s PittFest tragedy.

Since then, the unthinkable has happened: Dr. Robby has decided to take a vacation. A three-month sabbatical, no less! His plan to take a motorcycle trip has his coworkers worried — especially since he’s not wearing a helmet while riding a motorcycle in the season’s opening scene — but Robby is just focused on getting through one last shift before he departs.

SEE ALSO: 'The Pitt' Season 2's first scene is out, and I'm already concerned for Dr. Robby

His last day overlaps with the first of his replacement attending, Dr. Baran Al-Hashimi (Sepideh Moafi). Right off the bat, their dynamic crackles with barely-disguised annoyance. Robby bristles at Al-Hashimi's arrival, and instantly decides she's stepping on his toes. Al-Hashimi, meanwhile, takes offense at Robby’s prickly attitude — towards her, towards her relationship with the student doctors, and especially towards the changes she wants to implement in the ED.

The Pitt’s new characters may aggravate you at first — but that’s the point Gerran Howell, Amielynn Abellera, Noah Wyle, Sepideh Moafi, and Supriya Ganesh in "The Pitt." Credit: Warrick Page / HBO Max

And what changes Al-Hashimi has in store! On top of wanting to do away with the ED's nickname of "the Pitt" — the horror! — she's also hellbent on bolstering departmental efficiency. Tactics include the implementation of "patient passports" and the use of AI apps in patient charting. Everything she says sets a vein popping on Robby's forehead. How dare she try to shake up the system the ED's staff has used for years?

Given that audiences are more familiar with Robby, chances are they'll side with him at first. His own disgruntled reaction feels like a meta parallel to TV audiences' irritations at new characters shaking up the casts of their comfort shows. Like Robby, these audiences wonder, why disrupt a well-oiled machine with a new part?

Of course, it's these disruptions that make things interesting from season to season, and Al-Hashimi is an immediately interesting addition to The Pitt. Moafi's calm, pointed delivery makes Al-Hashimi a clear counterpoint to the controlled chaos of the ED, positioning her as an outside authority figure. Seeing which staff members embrace her versus which stand by Robby weaves an engrossing, yet subtle, web of tension throughout the season. 

Featured Video For You Gaten Matarazzo on 'Stranger Things' 'SNL' shoutout, Dustin and Steve's big fight, and why AI is 'lame'

But Al-Hashimi is more than just a thorn in Robby's side on his last day. Over the course of the first nine episodes sent to critics, The Pitt also shines a spotlight on her point of view, especially when it comes to her well-intentioned, if flawed, proposals. That much-needed depth turns Al-Hashimi from antagonistic force to a new cog in The Pitt’s medical machine.

The same is almost true of The Pitt's new student doctors, Joy Kwon (Irene Choi) and James Ogilvie (Lucas Iverson). At first, the former seems almost apathetic towards her work, while the latter is a textbook jerk genius with little social awareness. As the shift's hours tick by, The Pitt does its best to bring Kwon out of her shell and humble Ogilvie, but for the most part, they feel more like mentee accessories to Dr. Dennis Whitaker (Gerran Howell). That could change in the season's final episodes, though. After all, The Pitt's first season proved adept at altering our perceptions of its cast over the course of a day. Dr. Trinity Santos (Isa Briones) first struck me as a one-dimensional portrait of overconfident condescension, but I soon came to admire her quick wits and conviction in calling out Dr. Frank Langdon's (Patrick Ball) medication theft. Perhaps Kwon and Ogilvie are on a similar, Santos-esque path.

The Pitt remains timelier than ever Sepideh Moafi, Taylor Dearden, Katherine LaNasa, Gerran Howell, and Supriya Ganesh in "The Pitt." Credit: Warrick Page / HBO Max

In addition to all of its new characters — plus developments like Robby’s sabbatical or Langdon’s return — The Pitt continues its track record of providing unflinching looks at the modern medical landscape. You can still expect hyperrealistic medical procedures, with the Fourth of July setting adding extra specificity to the season's injuries. Grills? Firecrackers? Festive pub crawls? All end with new patients getting wheeled into the ED.

Plus, just as Season 1 tackled tough issues like abortion and gun violence, Season 2 treads new ground with its discussions of current hot-button issues. At the forefront, the incorporation of artificial intelligence into the ED, which turns The Pitt into a microcosm of the wider debate behind AI technology. Is it a useful tool? Or do its frequent errors outweighs the benefits? Will it streamline humans' work days, or reduce healthcare jobs for humans? These are the questions The Pitt ponders — and loudly — throughout the season.

Elsewhere, in a more quiet fashion, The Pitt examines the impacts of the Trump administration on healthcare. Donald Trump's name is never stated outright, but mentions of the White House cutting funding to research — such as a study about racial disparities in healthcare that Dr. Samira Mohan (Supriya Ganesh) was involved in — make it crystal clear who The Pitt is calling out.

The standout, though, when it comes to Season 2’s look into key social issues, is its portrayal of the procedure of gathering evidence for a sexual assault forensic exam, including a rape kit. Over the course of several episodes, charge nurse Dana Evans (Katherine LaNasa) walks sexual assault victim Ilana (Tina Ivlev) through the process, giving her support, resources, and space when the situation becomes too much. The examination room becomes a quiet bubble in the midst of the ED's pandemonium, one where The Pitt is able to offer the deliberate care such a storyline (and a survivor) deserves. LaNasa, fresh off an Emmy win, remains extraordinary here. Dana sheds the tough demeanor she exhibits around the ED and its more unruly patients, instead becoming the quiet, supportive figure Ilana needs.

This storyline, among the many other highlights from Season 2, remains proof of The Pitt’s staying power. As Dr. Robby and his staff weather change after change, the show itself remains empathetic, educational, and totally unforgettable.

The Pitt Season 2 premieres Jan. 8 at 9 p.m. ET on HBO Max.

If you have experienced sexual abuse, call the free, confidential National Sexual Assault hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673), or access the 24-7 help online by visiting online.rainn.org.

Govee is known for stretching our perception of lamps and lighting. And the brand's CES 2026 showcase, with a vision of "lighting the future," is here to wow us once more.

With three new flagship products unveiled at CES 2026, as well as advancements across the brand's core technologies — LuminBlend+ color system, AI Lighting Bot 2.0, and the new DaySync adaptive lighting system — plus a new partnership with Samsung SmartThings, Govee is carrying us into a new era of immersive lighting. The enhanced LuminBlend+ color management system features a new 16-bit precision chip for smoother, more precise color transitions, and an industry-leading 1000K–10000K color-temperature range. The upgraded AI Lighting Bot 2.0 is more emotionally responsive and intuitive than ever, enabling real-time reactions to mood and context and learning behaviors over time. And finally, the brand's redesigned DaySync adaptive lighting system (rolling out in April 2026) simplifies matching indoor lighting to the time of day, automatically adjusting brightness, color, and temperature for a natural home lighting rhythm.

With its new partnership with Samsung SmartThings, Govee lighting products can be managed alongside other smart home devices in one place. It incorporates the brand seamlessly into your smart home ecosystem for even more effortless automation.

Govee CES 2026 product announcementsGovee Floor Lamp 3 Govee's flagship Floor Lamp is more powerful and precise than ever. Credit: Govee

The first of the three flagship products announced is the Govee Floor Lamp 3, what the brand calls its "most advanced floor lamp yet." It's supported by LuminBlend+ for ultra-precise color and a massive color-temperature range, as well as the upgraded AI Lighting Bot 2.0 and new DaySync system. These technologies come together to deliver a personalized, adaptive, and time-aware ambient experience. It still features the same sculptural design of the previous generations of floor lamps, which slips seamlessly into any corner of any room.

Govee Ceiling Light Ultra Personalize your living space with overhead lighting effects. Credit: Govee

Equipped with an industry-leading 616-pixel LED matrix and AI Lighting Bot 2.0, the Ceiling Light Ultra allows for DIY overhead lighting effects, patterns, and animations. From everyday comfort to visual clarity to creative expression, the enhanced DIY tools let you illuminate your space in any way you desire while maintaining "a natural, true-to-life appearance across objects and skin tones."

Govee Sky Ceiling Light Simulate daylight inside your home with the Govee Sky Ceiling Light. Credit: Govee

Finally, the Sky Ceiling Light is built to simulate daylight through custom-engineered LED and architectural gradient illumination. It's ideal for enclosed, dim, or windowless spaces that need a boost of atmosphere. The refined white-light performance recreates the soft, comfortable tones of skylight transitions with an edge-lighting halo effect.

CES attendees can experience the latest Govee products in person at CES 2026 from Jan. 6 to 9. While there's no official release date yet, you can head over to the Govee CES 2026 webpage for updates.

Motorola's next big mobile device might have serious specs to offer.

Prominent leaker Evan Blass (via TechRadar) posted what looks like official marketing materials for something called the Motorola Razr Fold. As far as anyone knows, this is a new book-style foldable from Motorola, which has previously only released clamshell-style Razr devices. Previous reporting indicated Motorola would announce the device at or around CES 2026, which is happening right now, so the announcement could come at any moment.

SEE ALSO: Apple AirTag rivals from Motorola, Xiaomi expected soon

Anyway, the most juicy part of the news here is what the marketing slide Blass shared says. It confirms that the phone is Motorola's first in this form factor, while claiming it will have “brilliant displays, intelligent AI, and an advanced, boundary-breaking camera system."

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No hard specs were given, but if any of that is actually true, this could be an interesting new point of competition for Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold lineup. Those are currently the best book-style foldables on the market, but there's always room for improvement, especially in the camera department. If Motorola can offer a real upgrade in that regard, the company could be onto something.

At any rate, we'll probably find out more this week. Stay tuned.

Stranger Things may be finished, but we're still not quite done with the residents of Hawkins.

Netflix just dropped a trailer for One Last Adventure: The Making of Stranger Things 5, a documentary focussing on the making of the final season featuring interviews and behind-the-scenes footage with the cast and crew.

Brace yourself for some serious emotion.

One Last Adventure: The Making of Stranger Things 5 is streaming on Netflix from Jan. 12.

SAVE 18%: As of Jan. 5, you can get Amazon's 2024 Kindle (16GB RAM) in Matcha or Black for just $89.99, down from $109.99, at Amazon. That's an 18% discount or $20 in savings.

2024 Kindle (16GB RAM) $89.99 at Amazon
$109.99 Save $20   Get Deal at Amazon Get Deal at Best Buy

If you’re starting the year with a resolution to finally read those thousands of books you’ve been "collecting" digitally, Amazon is making it a little cheaper to get started.

SEE ALSO: The 7 best e-readers to buy: Testing Kindles, Kobos, iPads, and more

As of today, the Amazon Kindle (2024 model) is on sale for $89.99, down from $109.99. This matches the post-Christmas price we’ve seen recently, and while it's about $10 shy of its absolute Black Friday record low of $79.99, it's still the best price you'll find for a brand-new unit right now.

This newest model, which comes in a very "main character" Matcha green, is the lightest and most compact e-reader Amazon makes. It finally caught up to the pricier models with a six-inch, 300 ppi glare-free display, faster page turns, and a front light that's 25% brighter (than previous versions) at its max setting.

You can get up to six weeks of reading on a single charge, which is plenty of time to get through a few New Year's resolutions. It also offers 16GB of storage, so you can carry thousands of books in a device that fits in your back pocket.

The holidays are a time of caring, giving, and huge amounts of stress. Pluto TV gets it. So they created their Holidays Are Brutal collection, a list of action-packed movies to help you work out some of that tension, including Charlie’s Angels, Rush Hour, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, Gladiator, Blade 1-3, The Mummy, and The Mummy Returns. But that's not all.

To celebrate the holidays with some chaotic fun, Pluto TV offered fans a free and festive rage-room experience. Visitors were welcomed to pick up a bat, a crowbar, or a hammer and have at Christmas tree ornaments, pretty plates and glasses adorned with reindeer and Santa Claus imagery, and some movie-themed props like a potted Love Fern (How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days) and at a set of drums (Stepbrothers).

Mashable didn't just announce these rage-room festivities. We joined in, going wild like a Grinch come Christmas. And it was an absolute blast.

Enjoy the video, where Entertainment Editor Kristy Puchko goes Harley Quinn, slinging a bat at all manner of yuletide trimmings, while Executive Producer Mark Stetson captures the mayhem — sometimes in slo-mo!

And here's wishing you a smashing good holiday season.

The Holidays are Brutal collection is now streaming on Pluto TV for free.

SAVE $120: The NordicTrack T Series 5 treadmill is on sale for $479 at Amazon, down from the normal price of $599. That's a 20% discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: NordicTrack NordicTrack T Series 5 treadmill $479 at Amazon
$599 Save $120   Get Deal

Most of us are back to reality today. After time off of work for the holidays, we're experiencing a return to normal life today. If you pondered the thought of fitness goals for a 2026 resolution but haven't made any solid commitments because of holiday relaxing, this deal could be your best option.

As of Jan. 5, the NordicTrack T Series 5 treadmill is on sale for $479 at Amazon, marked down from the normal price of $599. That's a 20% discount that shaves a solid $120 off the normal price.

If you're not one to head to the gym, getting a treadmill for your home or apartment could be a great option. This also applies if you live in an area with weather that's not ideal for an outdoor walk in the winter. For decades, NordicTrack has been a leader in the treadmill industry and the T Series 5 is an ideal model.

In a world where things are becoming more and more complicated, the NordicTrack T Series 5 keeps it simple while offering everything we'd want in a treadmill. You'll get a stable device shelf for your phone or tablet, a cup holder for water or electrolytes, and full control of speed and incline.

SEE ALSO: Best fitness tech of 2025

Simple controls take care of the speed and include on this treadmill, and you'll also have access to setting speed and include shortcuts, making it simple to get on and decide on your workout. There's also a 5-inch LED display that'll give you all the stats.

You can synch up your fitness tracker to the NordicTrack to track stats like heart rate, distance, and calories burned. If you're concerned about space and the treadmill's footprint, you might be pleasantly surprised. The treadmill measures 30.5 inches wide, about 69 inches long, and approximately 49 inches in height. NordicTrack says this model comes is suitable for folks who weigh up to 300 pounds.

If you're hoping to increase daily step count in 2026, the NordicTrack T Series 5 gives you the opportunity to get those in at home. Tune into a show on your phone, set it on the device shelf, and get some miles in. Snagging today's deal means you can save $120 on the NordicTrack T Series 5 treadmill.

TCL's TV announcement at CES 2026 doesn't follow the RGB trend that was expected from the big TV brands. Still, the new flagship TCL X11L SQD-Mini LED TV could wind up being one of the brightest and most impressive TVs of the year.

This version of mini-LED isn't the same mini-LED setup that we've been seeing from the best TVs in recent years. First announced in China in Sept. 2025, TCL's SQD technology stands for Super Quantum Dot. Gizmochina explains that SQD utilizes a single-chip pure white light source instead of the true red, green, and blue light sources seen in the Micro RGB TVs debuted by Samsung and LG this CES season.

Credit: TCL SEE ALSO: What to look for when buying a TV, as told through this easy TV specs guide

But the goal is the same: to produce ultra-high peak brightness, typically only possible with QLED and mini-LED panels, and pristine black levels and contrast, typically only possible with OLED panels — simultaneously.

Mashable got the chance to preview the new flagship TCL TV ahead of CES 2026, and it's intensely bright. On top of that, a TCL representative told Mashable they believe this TV will be able to compete head-to-head with the new flagship Micro RGB TVs recently announced by Samsung and LG. The TCL X11L also features a unique speaker strip along the bottom bevel, with Bang & Olufsen audio.

The TCL X11L SQD-Mini LED TV: The specs

The X11L achieves what TCL calls "100 percent BT2020 color" through 20,000 discrete dimming zones (three times more than the premium TCL QM9K). Past the 10,000 peak nits of brightness, that should provide a ton of opportunity for precise tweaks to lighting during dark scenes that are often a problem area for non-OLED TVs.

The X11L SQD-Mini LED TV is TCL's new flagship TV. Credit: TCL The Bang & Olufsen speaker system. Credit: TCL

The X11L is also armed with TCL's enhanced Halo Control System and an anti-reflective layer to mitigate blooming in dark rooms and glare in bright rooms. That boosted glare reduction, in tandem with the "ZeroBorder" bezels and 0.8-inch cabinet, aligns the X11L quite closely with the design of an art TV.

• Enhanced Halo Control System with Minimized Micro OD, Shadowless Uniform Light Supports, Shadow Detail Optimization & New 26-bit Backlight Controller

• Up to 20,000 Discrete Dimming Zones

• Up to 10,000 Peak Nits Brightness (HDR rendering maximum)

• New TSR AI Processor

• Dolby Vision 2.0 Max (OTA)

• Audio by Bang & Olufsen

• Expandable Home Theater Audio System with Optional Wireless Subwoofer & Dolby FlexConnect 4.1.4 Capability

• Backlit Voice Remote & Hands-Free Voice Control

• Gemini for Google TV

• Sleep Sounds Mode

• HDMI 2.1 Ports

• Elegant Cabinet with SuperThin Depth — just 0.8 inches

• CSOT WHVA 2.0 Ultra Panel with Wide Color Viewing Angle, Unique ZeroBorder, & Anti-Reflection Layer

• TCL Deep Color System with Super Quantum Dots, CSOT UltraColor Filter, & Advanced Color Purity Algorithm

Where to buy the TCL X11L SQD-Mini LED TV

Three sizes are available to pre-order now, though it's not clear whether smaller models will be available down the line:

• 75-inch TCL X11L: $6,999.99

• 75-inch TCL X11L: $7,999.99

• 98-inch TCL X11L: $9,999.99

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.

After almost a decade, Stranger Things has come to an end — and even though some fans aren't happy with how things left off, the finale still has plenty of people talking.

SEE ALSO: 'Stranger Things' fans are furious about the finale. Here's why.

One topic that's dominated social media is the ultimate fate of Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown). Towards the end of the finale the series protagonist appears to sacrifice herself by staying in the Upside-Down while the dimensional bridge to the Abyss is blown to smithereens, eliminating any possibility of the military breeding more children with her telepathic powers and continuing their cruel experiments.

Featured Video For You Gaten Matarazzo on 'Stranger Things' 'SNL' shoutout, Dustin and Steve's big fight, and why AI is 'lame'

But then, during a final D&D campaign in the very last scene, Mike (Finn Wolfhard) puts forward an alternative theory. What if the image they all saw of El standing in the doorway to the Upside-Down was really just a projection made by Eight/Kali (Linnea Berthelsen)? Could it be that the real El actually made a pact with her fellow Hawkins Lab survivor, managed to slip back into the real world while everyone was distracted, and is now living out her days in another part of the world under a new identity as Mike's story suggests?

The Duffer Brothers' show refuses to confirm what really happens — but some fans are speculating that the clues point to El being alive.

What's the clue on the bookshelf?

One of these clues is on the bookshelf in the Wheeler's basement at the very end of the episode, where the main gang go and return their D&D campaign binders once and for all. In the episode itself it's hard to read the titles of the books surrounding the binders — but in one of the behind-the-scenes images posted on Instagram by Stranger Things star Noah Schnapp, we can get a clearer look (swipe through to the final image).

View this post on Instagram

As fans have already pointed out on Reddit, one of the books is The Empty Copper Sea by John D. MacDonald — a 1978 novel about a detective investigating a possible faked death.

It seems highly unlikely this choice by the Stranger Things production team is a coincidence, so could it be another hint that Mike's theory about El is correct? Maybe. Although if you were being cynical, you could also argue that a grieving Mike may just have spent the past 18 months reading stories about fake deaths while he was working on his own theory about El.

Ultimately, the fate of Eleven is hidden in the minds of the Duffer Brothers, and they're not giving anything away. Still, we're choosing to believe.

Stranger Things' final season is available to stream now on Netflix.

TL;DR: Live stream Egypt vs. Benin in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations for free on Channel 4. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

We're approaching the latter stages of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, with huge matchups on the schedule over the next couple of weeks. The most successful team in the history of the competition, Egypt, face off against Benin for a place in the quarter finals. Can Salah lead his side to a crucial victory?

If you want to watch Egypt vs. Benin in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Egypt vs. Benin?

Egypt vs. Benin in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations kicks off at 11 a.m. ET on Jan. 5. This fixture takes place at the Adrar Stadium.

How to watch Egypt vs. Benin for free

Egypt vs. Benin in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations is available to live stream for free on Channel 4.

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Channel 4 is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can unblock Channel 4 to stream AFCON for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Egypt vs. Benin for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly 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 the UK

4. Visit Channel 4

5. Watch Egypt vs. Benin for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.99 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of AFCON without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Egypt vs. Benin (plus more 2025 Africa Cup of Nations fixtures) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for Channel 4?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on Channel 4, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection 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).

Watch Egypt vs. Benin in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations for free with ExpressVPN.