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Welcome to your guide to Pips, the latest game in the New York Times catalogue.

Released in August 2025, Pips puts a unique spin on dominoes, creating a fun single-player experience that could become your next daily gaming habit.

Currently, if you're stuck, the game only offers to reveal the entire puzzle, forcing you to move on to the next difficulty level and start over. However, we have you covered! Below are piecemeal answers that will serve as hints so that you can find your way through each difficulty level.

How to play Pips

If you've ever played dominoes, you'll have a passing familiarity with how Pips is played. As we've shared in our previous hints stories for Pips, the tiles, like dominoes, are placed vertically or horizontally and connect with each other. The main difference between a traditional game of dominoes and Pips is the color-coded conditions you have to address. The touching tiles don't necessarily have to match.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for May 16, 2026

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for May 16, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for May 16 Pips

Less Than (3): Everything in this space must be less than 3. The answer is 2-3, placed vertically.

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

Equal (1): Everything in this space must be equal to 1. The answer is 1-1, placed vertically; 1-5, placed vertically.

Greater Than (10): Everything in this space must be greater than 10. 5-2, placed vertically; 1-5, placed vertically.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for May 16 Pips

Number (6): Everything in this space must add up to 6. The answer is 2-6, placed vertically; 4-1, placed horizontally.

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 4-1, placed horizontally; 1-6, placed horizontally.

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 1-6, placed horizontally; 4-3, placed horizontally; 4-3, placed horizontally.

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

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

Number (11): Everything in this space must add up to 11. The answer is 3-5, placed vertically; 6-5, placed vertically.

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 2-1, placed vertically.

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

Greater Than (5): Everything in this space must be greater than 5. 6-4, placed horizontally.

Less Than (5): Everything in this space must be less than 5. The answer is 6-4, placed horizontally.

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

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

Hard difficulty hints, answers for May 16 Pips

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

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

Number (9): Everything in this space must add up to 9. The answer is 1-4, placed vertically; 5-0, placed vertically.

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

Less Than (2): Everything in this space must be less than 2. The answer is 5-0, placed vertically.

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

Not Equal: Everything in this space must be different. The answer is 3-0, placed vertically; 2-5, placed vertically; 3-4, placed vertically; 6-0, placed vertically.

Less Than (3): Everything in this space must be less than 3. The answer is 4-2, placed vertically.

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

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

Less Than (3): Everything in this space must be less than 3. The answer is 2-6, placed vertically.

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

Equal (0): Everything in this space must be equal to 0. The answer is 3-0, placed vertically; 0-0, placed vertically; 0-2, placed vertically; 6-0, placed vertically; 0-4, placed vertically.

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

Equal (6): Everything in this space must be equal to 6. The answer is 2-6, placed vertically; 6-1, placed vertically.

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 0-2, placed vertically.

Number (1): Everything in this space must add up to 1. The answer is 6-1, placed vertically.

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

Today's Connections: Sports Edition will require some sports and pop culture knowledge.

As we've shared in previous hints stories, this is a version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans.

Like the original Connections, the game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier — so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for the latest Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections: Sports Edition?

The NYT's latest daily word game has launched in association with The Athletic, the New York Times property that provides the publication's sports coverage. The sports Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

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Each puzzle features 16 words, and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake — players get up to four mistakes before the game ends.

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Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. Here's a hint for today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

• Yellow: Located in the New England area

• Green: NBA Champions

• Blue: Blue

• Purple: Green

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Boston Teams

• Green: Last Four NBA Champions

• Blue: "Blue" Teams

• Purple: "Green" Teams and Players

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections: Sports Edition #600 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• Boston Teams: BRUINS, PATRIOTS, RED SOX, REVOLUTION

• Last Four NBA Champions: CELITCS, NUGGETS, THUNDER, WARRIORS

• "Blue" Teams: BLUE DEVILS, BLUE JACKETS, BLUE JAYS, BLUES

• "Green" Teams and Players: DRAYMOND GREEN, GREEN BAY, GREEN WAVE, MEAN GREEN

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new sports Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

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

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Connections.

TL;DR: Watch Slovakia vs. Norway in the 2026 Ice Hockey World Championships for free on IIHF.TV. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The 2026 Ice Hockey World Championships have started with a number of all-action contests, and we're expecting more of the same through the weekend. One of the standout matches is Slovakia vs. Norway, with both teams doing everything they can to start this campaign with a positive result.

If you're interested in watching the 2026 Ice Hockey World Championships from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

When is Slovakia vs. Norway?

Slovakia vs. Norway in the 2026 IIHF World Championships starts at 6:20 a.m. ET on May 16. This fixture takes place at the BCF Arena in Fribourg.

How to watch Slovakia vs. Norway for free

Slovakia vs. Norway in the 2026 Ice Hockey World Championships is available to live stream for free on IIHF.TV.

IIHF.TV is not available in some locations due to regional broadcasting restrictions (blocked locations listed here), but anyone can secure access with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in a location with access, meaning you can stream the 2026 Ice Hockey World Championships for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream the 2026 Ice Hockey World Championships for free by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in a location with access

4. Connect to IIHF.TV

5. Watch the 2026 Ice Hockey World Championships 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 they do tend to offer pretty generous money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch the 2026 Ice Hockey World Championships without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term strategy, but it gives you enough time to stream Slovakia vs. Norway plus every other fixture before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming platforms from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming live sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for the Ice Hockey World Championships?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for streaming live sport on free platforms, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% 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).

Live stream Slovakia vs. Norway in the 2026 Ice Hockey World Championships for free with ExpressVPN.

If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

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If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Hurdle: Everything you need to know to find the answers Hurdle Word 1 hint

A coffee preference.

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

DECAF

Hurdle Word 2 hint

A mass.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for May 16, 2026 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

TUMOR

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Hurdle Word 3 hint

Emotional.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for May 16 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for May 16, 2026 Hurdle Word 3 answer

SAPPY

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Murky water.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

SWAMP

Final Hurdle hint

To long for.

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

CRAVE

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

It's a new lunar phase tonight, and the end of the current lunar cycle. Keep reading to find out what this means.

What is today’s Moon phase?

As of Saturday, May 16, the Moon phase is New Moon. Tonight, 1% of the moon will be be lit up, according to NASA's Daily Moon Guide.

There isn’t enough light or visibility tonight to make out any features on the Moon’s surface.

When is the next Full Moon?

There are two Full Moons in May, with the next due to take place on May 31.

What are Moon phases?

According to NASA, the Moon takes about 29.5 days to complete a full orbit around Earth, moving through eight distinct phases along the way. Although we always see the same side of the Moon, the changing angle of sunlight as it orbits creates the familiar full, half, and crescent shapes. In total, the lunar cycle is made up of eight main phases:

New Moon - The Moon is between Earth and the sun, so the side we see is dark (in other words, it's invisible to the eye).

Waxing Crescent - A small sliver of light appears on the right side (Northern Hemisphere).

First Quarter - Half of the Moon is lit on the right side. It looks like a half-Moon.

Waxing Gibbous - More than half is lit up, but it’s not quite full yet.

Full Moon - The whole face of the Moon is illuminated and fully visible.

Waning Gibbous - The Moon starts losing light on the right side. (Northern Hemisphere)

Third Quarter (or Last Quarter) - Another half-Moon, but now the left side is lit.

Waning Crescent - A thin sliver of light remains on the left side before going dark again.

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you have a good ear.

Connections is the one of the most popular New York Times word games that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for today's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections?

The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

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

Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

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

Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for May 16, 2026 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

• Yellow: Drinkware

• Green: To fool around

• Blue: Musical terms

• Purple: Now

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Vote for your favorite creators today

Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Glassware

• Green: Mess around (with)

• Blue: Music performance directions

• Purple: Ending in synonyms for "ASAP"

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections #1070 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Glassware: COUPE, FLUTE, STEIN, TUMBLER

• Mess around (with): FIDDLE, MESS, PLAY, TINKER

• Music performance directions: ALLEGRO, FORTE, LARGO, PIANO

• Ending in synonyms for "ASAP": BASSOON, BELFAST, NESQUICK, THERMOSTAT

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for May 16, 2026

Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today's puzzle.

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

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Connections.

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you have a sweet tooth.

Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game, requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There's always a theme linking every solution, along with the "spangram," a special, word or phrase that sums up that day's theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable

By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.

If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for May 16, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Bon appétit!

The words are related to sweets.

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Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe pastries.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is French Bakery.

NYT Strands word list for May 16

• French Bakery

• Macaron

• Meringue

• Croissant

• Eclair

• Mousse

Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, and if you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now!

Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Strands.

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you're always on the go.

If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for May 16, 2026 Where did Wordle come from?

Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once. 

Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.

What's the best Wordle starting word?

The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.

Is Wordle getting harder?

It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for May 16, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

A belief.

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Vote for your favorite creators today

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no recurring letters.

Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...

Today's Wordle starts with the letter M.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. The Wordle answer today is...

Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

MOVER

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints. Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.

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

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Wordle.

TL;DR: Pok Pok’s lifetime subscription is on sale for $59.99 (reg. $250) and offers Montessori-inspired educational games and activities for kids ages 2 to 8.

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$250 Save $190.01   Get Deal

Not all kids’ apps are created equal. Some are loud, flooded with ads, and designed to keep kids tapping endlessly. Pok Pok is different due to its calmer approach and even offers open-ended educational games inspired by Montessori principles.

You can get a lifetime subscription to Pok Pok for $59.99, discounted from $250.

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Designed for kids ages 2 to 8, Pok Pok is all about learning through play. There are no points, timers, pop-up ads, or “win/lose” mechanics. Instead, kids can freely explore activities focused on numbers, shapes, problem-solving, STEM, language, creativity, and cause-and-effect at their own pace. Child-led learning, where exploration, independence, and hands-on discovery are the focus, rather than competition or rigid instruction.

The app offers a growing collection of interactive digital toys and games with themes such as outer space, dinosaurs, puzzles, music, dress-up, islands, and more. Because everything is open-ended, kids can naturally experiment and discover.

One of the more distinctive parts of Pok Pok is its lower-stimulation design. The app uses soft hand-drawn visuals, gentle sound effects, and calming music to create a quieter experience that may feel less overwhelming than many traditional kids’ games. It also works offline and is COPPA-certified, meaning it follows privacy standards designed to protect children online.

Pok Pok was developed with early childhood experts and designed by parents who wanted healthier tech experiences for little ones. The interface is simple enough for most kids to use on their own, but parents are welcome to join in as well!

All of this makes Pok Pok a great pick for parents who want a more thoughtful screen-time option, whether it’s for travel, quiet time, rainy afternoons, or long car rides. It’s especially nice for younger kids who get overstimulated by fast-paced or overly competitive games.

If you’ve been searching for educational screen time that feels calmer and more creative, the lifetime subscription for Pok Pok is currently available for $59.99 (reg. $250).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Weeks after guru Mel Robbins received backlash for telling women to upload their banking statements to AI (specifically in an ad for Microsoft Copilot), OpenAI today announced a "personal finance experience" within ChatGPT.

The company is releasing a preview of the experience for Pro users in the United States, who can connect their financial accounts to the platform via the fintech software Plaid. Once their accounts are linked, ChatGPT can reason with actual monetary numbers and the user's shared priorities to help them spot patterns and plan for the future, OpenAI stated in its blog post introducing the product.

Users will be able to see a dashboard of their portfolio, spending, and upcoming payments. OpenAI's suggested use cases include financial goal planning, travel spend analysis, investment risk analysis, and subscription review.

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Vote for your favorite creator today!

Credit: OpenAI SEE ALSO: OpenAI may sue Apple over ChatGPT integration

Pro users in the U.S. can start connecting their accounts today on a web browser or iOS, with support from thousands of financial institutions. OpenAI didn't list the institutions, but screenshots of the experience show American Express, Bank of America, Charles Schwab, and Robinhood as examples.

Integration with financial software company Intuit, which runs TurboTax, Credit Karma, and QuickBooks, is coming soon, OpenAI says.

In its announcement, OpenAI claims that 200 million people already use ChatGPT each month for budgeting, investment questions, and financial planning.

In this new financial mode, ChatGPT can't see full account numbers, but it can assess bank balances, transactions, and liabilities. Users can disconnect their financial accounts at any time, delete financial memories (used specifically for these conversations), or use temporary chats that won't appear in users' history.

How to get started with ChatGPT Finance Total Time

• 2 minutes

What You Need

• ChatGPT Pro in the U.S.

Step 1: Open Finances from ChatGPT's sidebar

Step 2: Select "Get started"

Step 3: OR, type "@Finances, connect my accounts" into ChatGPT

Step 4: Sync financial accounts with Plaid

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.

Emoji-obsessed Android users, get ready for Noto 3D emojis to take over your text messages, posts, and more. 

This week, Google announced a design overhaul to the nearly 4,000 unique emojis, which will soon be available on Android devices running the yet-to-be-released Android 17. According to Google, the previous emoji designs "often fall flat" when trying to express emotions online.

So, Google has introduced the new Noto 3D, its new line of 3D emojis. 

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"From our beloved innocent blob emoji of the 2010s to Noto 3D, the new emoji collection we announced today, emoji are the universal language of our digital lives and they’ve never felt more alive," Google said in a post.

The company also previewed what some of the 3D emojis look like in a short video animation, offering a comparison to the 2D designs that they're replacing.

Use the slider in the image to compare the 2D and 3D versions of the emoji:

Left: The new 2D emoji designs for Android. Credit: Google Right: The new 3D emoji designs. Credit: Google

The 3D emojis do have some pop to them, with more detail than the flat 2D designs that they are replacing.

According to Google, the new 3D emojis will first launch on Pixel phones later this year. Following the Pixel rollout, other Android devices will receive the 3D emoji update at a later date.

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Sony’s Project Ace robot has become the first to defeat an elite human table tennis player. Using nine cameras and real-time spin tracking, the system reacts with incredible speed and precision. Here’s how Sony is pushing robotics and AI-driven motion systems forward.

Alienware just dropped the cheapest OLED gaming monitor we’ve seen, but are the savings worth it? Here's our opinion of the 27 240Hz QD-OLED.

Certain Xfinity customers can now claim their portion of a $117.5 million class action lawsuit settled by communications giant Comcast.

Between Oct. 16 and Oct. 19, 2023, a third party accessed personally identifiable information for more than 35.8 million Xfinity customers, exposing usernames, passwords, contact information, and, in some instances, partial social security numbers. Multiple lawsuits against the company were consolidated into a class action case in 2024, alleging Comcast "failed to properly protect personal information" and had "inadequate data security" that led to the criminal cyberattack.

SEE ALSO: Meta AI Incognito Chat makes user conversations private, Zuckerberg says

The company officially settled the lawsuit in April, and a final approval hearing is scheduled for July 7.

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Settlement email: Is it real?

Comcast notified Xfinity customers impacted by the breach via email on December 18, 2023. Anyone who received an email notification at that time is eligible to file a claim (which means not all Xfinity customers can claim the cash).

Affected customers may have received additional notification emails from Kroll Settlement Administration LLC, the court-approved claims administrator. These emails, referencing both reference KSA and the Hasson v. Comcast Cable Communications case, will include individual class member IDs necessary to submit claims on the official settlement page.

If you've received notice via email or mail, but are unsure if its legitimate, call the settlement customer service line at (833) 319-2401 to confirm your eligibility.

How to claim your money

Settlement members have until September 14 to submit a claim online or via mail.

Individuals can receive a $50 fixed payout or request reimbursement for any "documented out-of-pocket losses and lost time, the cost of Identity Defense Services and Restoration Services, and court-approved attorneys’ fees and expenses" up to $10,000, according to the settlement website.

Members have until July 1 to exclude themselves or object to the settlement.

Is Apple's partnership with OpenAI about to fall apart?

According to both Bloomberg's Apple insider Mark Gurman and a new report in the New York Times, AI giant OpenAI is currently considering suing Apple over the companies' agreement to integrate ChatGPT into some Apple Intelligence AI features.

Apple recently reached a $250 million settlement in a class action suit over its failure to deliver on its AI promises. (Apple hasn't admitted to any wrongdoing.) Now, OpenAI may serve Apple with a breach of contract notice, the Times reports.

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In 2024, OpenAI and Apple surprised the industry by partnering together on Apple's upcoming AI features known as Apple Intelligence. OpenAI's ChatGPT was expected to be prominently featured in Apple products, such as the iPhone and MacBook, powering Apple Intelligence. 

In addition, OpenAI appeared to be a key technology behind Apple's relaunch of its voice assistant Siri as an AI assistant. 

According to the reports, however, OpenAI is unhappy with how the now two-year-old partnership has panned out so far. The fallout appears to stem from how Apple integrated ChatGPT into its products.

OpenAI reportedly expected that the partnership would encourage Apple users to subscribe to ChatGPT. Instead, OpenAI found that ChatGPT is difficult for users to even find within Apple Intelligence. On top of that, in January, Apple confirmed that it had struck a deal with Google to use Gemini to power Apple Intelligence, including Apple's long-awaited AI relaunch of its voice assistant Siri.

SEE ALSO: Apple picks Google Gemini over ChatGPT to power the new AI Siri

All of these issues have led OpenAI to consider taking legal action against Apple, claiming breach of contract.

We'll see if OpenAI actually follows through with a suit against Apple, or if the company is trying to renegotiate its agreement.

The AI company is currently awaiting the jury's decision regarding its own future following a trial stemming from the lawsuit Elon Musk filed against ChatGPT creator Sam Altman.

SEE ALSO: 'Memes on his phone!' Sam Altman's trial testimony takes a turn

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Google is testing out a change to Gmail that might make the service a little bit less useful for newcomers.

The company confirmed to Android Authority that it is testing a policy shift that would see new Gmail accounts get a mere 5GB of free cloud storage, down from the 15GB that's been guaranteed to Gmail accounts for years. This change wouldn't affect existing accounts that already have 15GB of free storage, but anyone who wants to make a new account would be limited, at least as long as they live in one of the regions where this is being tested.

According to Android Authority, the test is largely limited to African countries right now.

SEE ALSO: Gmail's 'Help me write' will now sound more like you

"We’re testing a new storage policy for new accounts created in select regions that will help us continue to provide a high-quality storage service to our users, while encouraging users to improve their account security and data recovery," Google said in a statement to Android Authority.

The good news is that there is a way around this. Users who want the free 15GB of storage can simply attach a phone number to their account, and the 5GB limit will be lifted. Obviously, there might be security concerns associated with doing such a thing, but a fix is a fix. And, as Google's statement said, attaching a phone number to an account can actually increase its security through two-factor authentication, among other reasons.

Of course, this is only a test, so it may not ever become a global policy. If you don't already have a Gmail account, now might be the time to make one. You can also change your Gmail username, another recent change to long-standing Google policy.

A lot of people took one look at the Spotify app on their phones this week and didn't like what they saw.

Spotify updated the app icon to give it a shiny, disco ball-like appearance. If you aren't prepared for it, it's a pretty jarring shift. See for yourself:

SEE ALSO: Spotify has a new Wrapped-like experience that covers its entire history This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

If you're here, you're probably wondering why Spotify did that, and if it's going to be that way forever. For starters, no, it's not going to stay that way permanently. That's because Spotify did this to celebrate its 20th anniversary as a company (even though the app launched in 2008). This new icon is just a way to celebrate a huge milestone for the popular music streaming service. As a fun bonus, you can also see a bunch of cool data about your music streaming history in Spotify thanks to a Wrapped-like experience built into the app right now. If you want to know the first song you ever streamed, you can do that. Just prepare to cringe a little bit.

The change makes sense once you know all of that, but still, people online were not entirely happy about the jarring shift in aesthetic from Spotify.

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

There's nothing to worry about, though. Just let the company celebrate itself for a little while.

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SAVE 27%: As of May 15, you can get the Bluetti Elite 30 V2 portable power station for $218.98 at Amazon, down from $299. That's a 27% discount.

Bluetti Elite 30 V2 $218.98 at Amazon
$299 Save $80.02   Get Deal at Amazon

Hurricane season is basically here, which means it's a good time to figure out a backup power plan before you're sitting in the dark.

Gas generators are loud, and buying a giant battery pack is hard to justify if you only need to keep a few small things running. If you just want something compact that won't cost a fortune, Amazon is running a Lightning Deal on the Bluetti Elite 30 V2. You just have to move fast, because the discount expires on May 15.

SEE ALSO: Forget dead batteries — these Bluetti power stations are game-changers for the outdoors and power outages

As of May 15, you can get the Bluetti Elite 30 V2 portable power station for $218.98 at Amazon, down from $299. That's a 27% discount or $80.02 savings. Over 1,000 people have picked one up in the last month, and it currently has a 4.5-star rating from more than 500 reviews.

It only weighs 9.4 pounds, so it's easy to toss in the car for a camping trip. You get a 288Wh capacity and 600W of continuous output, plus a Power Lifting Mode that can handle surges up to 1500W if you need to run a small kettle or toaster. If you're keeping it at home for emergencies, the 10ms UPS switch keeps more important items, like a CPAP machine or router, running even if the power cuts out.

Plus, you can plug it into a wall outlet and charge it from zero to 100 percent in just 70 minutes.

SAVE 11%: As of May 15, you can get the 55-inch LG Class OLED AI 4K B5 Series Smart TV for $799.99 at Amazon, down from $896.99. That's an 11% discount or $97 savings.

55-inch LG Class OLED AI 4K B5 Series Smart TV $799.99 at Amazon
$896.99 Save $97   Get Deal at Amazon

Most decent OLED TVs will run you well over a thousand dollars, but you don't have to spend a grand to get a great screen. Amazon currently has a 55-inch LG marked down to $800 — and they're even throwing in a free month of Xbox Game Pass for new users.

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Right now, you can get the 55-inch LG Class OLED AI 4K B5 Series Smart TV for $799.99 at Amazon, down from $896.99. That's an 11% discount or $97 savings. More than 300 people have bought it in the last month alone, and it has a 4.6-star rating.

The screen uses more than 8.3 million self-lit pixels to give you true blacks and accurate colors, so everything looks crisp. It also has Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, and Filmmaker Mode built in. Gamers will also appreciate the 120Hz refresh rate, 0.1ms response time, and four HDMI 2.1 inputs.

Summer is coming, which means booking flights and getting passports ready for travel. The ubiquitous gay hookup app, Grindr, just launched Season 3 of its show Host or Travel and revealed the top gay travel destinations of the year. Any guesses?

Host or Travel explored "gayborhoods" in cities like Los Angeles and Rio de Janeiro in the past. This season, Grindr explores the likes of Sydney, Australia, Austin, Texas, and more, including the number one destination for gay travelers in 2026: Paris, according to new global Grindr data.

SEE ALSO: The great Grindr glossary: all terms and acronyms explained

Grindr analyzed global in-app behavior to find where its users are going, chatting with, and connecting the most, and the French capital shot up to the top, according to a press release shared with Mashable. Rio de Janeiro, New York City, Bangkok, São Paulo, and Berlin are the other most-frequently visited cities among Grindr users.

"Grindr is the digital home for the community, and Host or Travel was created from the understanding that for gay travelers, finding your people in a new city isn't just a nice-to-have, it's crucial," Grindr's CMO, Tristan Pineiro, stated in the press release.

Featured Video For You My awkward first date with an AI companion

Pineiro said that the app built this series to celebrate how the gay community finds strength in numbers. Grindr users aren't just looking for dates, but they're using the app to curate adventures, find safe spaces, and experience the world through the eyes of locals.

And it's not just the aforementioned cities that are hot spots for gay visitors. Grindr found that use of its "Right Now" feature (aka who is free to meet...right now) is highest in Taiwan, the Philippines, Lima, Buenos Aires, and Medellín. Meanwhile, lots of late-night chats occur in Manila, Taipei, and Buenos Aires, while San Salvador, Colombo, and Kathmandu are most active in the early morning.

We'll be taking notes, especially as we plan our Pride Month travel.