Mashable

How we date and who we date will never not be a hot topic on social media. Oversharing our dating lives is the foundation of the internet, but it's also the source of some of the worst takes you'll ever hear.

Because the internet is cyclical, certain ideas and expectations about sex and dating get repeated ad nauseam on TikTok and X. While a lot of it is centered on heterosexual dating norms about first dates and hookup culture, occasionally (re: annually), we're dragged into discourse about dating bisexual men.

SEE ALSO: I'm tired of bi women being the internet's Pride punching bag Discourse about bi men hits the internet (again)

In the past month, TikTok and X are embroiled in takes and reactions and reactions to takes about straight women not wanting to date bi men.

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

Bisexual dating and labels are a conversation we have basically every year. Here's a tweet about it from 2024. Here's a tweet about it from 2020. I'll even throw in a tweet from 2018 about the "bi-lesbian" label discourse. This time, however, it's about bisexual men.

For Zachary Zane, author of Boyslut: A Memoir and Manifesto and sex expert for Velvet Brands, a sex toy manufacturer, the reason this conversation has an annual loop is its complexity. He's also quick to push back on the instinct to label every rejection as biphobic.

"It's a very similar argument every time," Zane told Mashable. "I think it never resolves because it's actually a more complicated question than it seems on the surface. I don't think that if you don't want to date a bi guy, you are automatically extremely biphobic. And I'm saying this as a bi man who's had plenty of people not want to date me because of my (bi)sexuality."

A 2023 meta-analysis in Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity pulled together 61 studies from 1999 to 2022, totaling over 32,000 participants, to figure out who actually holds the most anti-bisexual bias. Across the board, men reported more negative attitudes toward bisexuality than women did, and that gap widened specifically around male bisexuality, meaning straight men, more than straight women, tend to carry the biggest hang-up about bi guys. (Gay men and lesbians, for what it's worth, had similar attitudes about bisexuality.)

So why does the online discourse keep circling back to women specifically?

A separate study on actual willingness to date bi people gets closer to an answer. Researchers surveyed over 1,800 people across sexual orientations and found that straight people and gay/lesbian people were both less willing to date bisexual people than bisexual people were willing to date them. However, the reluctance to date bisexual men specifically was unusually strong. Strong enough that even bisexual women reported hesitation about dating bi men.

Added together, these studies suggest varying conclusions: Men, straight men especially, apparently carry more measurable anti-bisexual bias overall. But when it comes to who bi men are actually trying to date, it's resistance from women — bi and straight alike — that keeps showing up as the real sticking point.

Glamour and YouGov polls from the same general period found similar patterns: Most women surveyed said they either wouldn't date a man with any male sexual history, bi or not, or weren't comfortable with the idea of a bi partner at all.

For Zane, desire isn't something anyone owes a justification for, but he does draw a hard line between someone simply not being interested and someone being cruel about why.

"There's a difference between people, more specifically cis women, who don't want to date a bi man because, 'Ew, that's gross, he sucks dick.' That's clearly homophobic and biphobic."

So where does the fear come from, if the stereotypes don't hold up?

Common stereotypes against bisexuality range from bi men who are "actually" gay and in denial, that they're incapable of monogamy, and that they're at a higher STI risk. These stereotypes seemingly persist because bi men are an easy target for stigma that would be socially unacceptable if aimed at almost any other group.

Zane doesn't pick one so much as point out they're all load-bearing for each other. "These stereotypes are all interconnected," he says. "Being labeled 'secretly gay' fuels the stereotype that bi men pose a greater STI risk, just as the myth that bisexual people are incapable of monogamy reinforces those same STI concerns." Killing one myth, in his telling, barely matters if the other two are still propping it up.

Much of the pushback in this discourse relies on a straw man argument that anyone raising the topic is trying to shame or guilt straight women into finding bi men attractive, as if attraction itself is up for debate.

"I think often, though not always, 'discomfort' is synonymous with insecurity," says Zane. "But a person doesn't want to admit that they're insecure, so instead they use the word discomfort."

Nobody's arguing women should be forced to date bisexual men; the argument is about the reasons some women give for ruling them out categorically — the idea that they're secretly gay, more likely to cheat, or riskier for STIs. It's one thing to have a preference, but another to base that on unfounded assumptions. Plus, treating any pushback on those beliefs as an attempt to "shame" women into attraction lets people avoid actually defending the belief.

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. Why the discourse cycle repeats

Honestly, part of why this conversation comes back every year has nothing to do with bisexuality specifically — it's just how the internet works now. Writer Daysia Tolentino nailed it when she described online discourse as react-first-think-later, where the goal isn't actually figuring anything out, it's staying mad enough to keep scrolling.

Everything gets treated like the biggest deal ever, so annoyingly classist conversations about bonnets in classrooms and discourse about bi men's dating lives end up hitting your feed with the exact same energy.

One tweet basically called the whole thing out, joking about having to do "the bisexual men and straight women conversation" again next year, and the year after that, forever. It's not even really about bi men at this point — it's just what happens when the internet finds a fight it can have on repeat.

The cost of this is that bi men are obviously the ones affected the most by this discourse. They're still the least likely group in the LGBT community to be out to the people in their lives, by a lot. The Pew Research Center found that only a small fraction of bisexual men were out to most of the important people around them, compared to the large majority of gay men and lesbians who were.

Even Zane, someone who's spent years publicly unpacking this exact discourse, doesn't think the conversation is going anywhere soon. He compares it directly to the equally exhausting, equally cyclical "should straight people go to Pride" debate that resurfaces every June.

"The discourse is undoubtedly exhausting," he admits. "But I think the only way we can move the needle forward is through discourse. It just takes time."

OpenAI wants California to toughen up the AI safety law it helped get across the finish line less than a year ago.

In a post from OpenAI's Global Affairs team on LinkedIn, the company laid out its case for amending SB 53, the Transparency in Frontier Artificial Intelligence Act, which Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law back in Sept. 2025. OpenAI says the law needs new teeth, specifically, requirements that frontier AI models be monitored during training or evaluation for signs that they could bypass a third party's security controls or obtain confidential information they shouldn't have.

The company is also pushing for beefed-up cybersecurity across the entire model development process, aimed at preventing AI systems from circumventing their internal safeguards.

For context, SB 53 was already a pretty significant piece of legislation when it passed. According to the Governor's office, the law requires large frontier AI developers to publish safety frameworks, establishes a formal channel for reporting critical safety incidents to California's Office of Emergency Services, protects whistleblowers, and grants the state Attorney General the authority to levy civil penalties on companies that don't comply.

It also created CalCompute, a public computing consortium meant to give safety and equity research a boost, and it requires the state to revisit the law annually as the tech beneath it shifts. Newsom pitched it at the time as proof that California could protect the public without choking off the AI industry that has become such a huge part of the state's economy. It was also called a stopgap for Washington's inability to pass anything resembling a real federal AI policy.

It makes sense, then, that OpenAI is calling its broader strategy "reverse federalism" — the idea being that while Congress continues to sit on its hands on comprehensive AI legislation, states can move first on compatible safety standards that can eventually be turned into national policy.

The company was careful to frame this as forward-looking rather than reactive, insisting that the ask isn't "to write rules for one particular incident" but to build a framework that catches problems earlier and ensures lessons are shared industry-wide. Such demands are all well and good, and one that conveniently keeps OpenAI in the room to shape what those standards look like.

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.

UPDATE: Aug. 23, 2026, 3:25 p.m. This article was updated to include a statement from Oura.

A class-action lawsuit filed in the Northern District of California alleges that the fitness tracker Oura Ring doesn't actually track one's sleep.

The complaint, filed on Aug. 20, states that Oura can't measure brain electrical activity, eye movements, muscle tone, "and other signals measured through electrodes placed on the scalp, leads on the eyes, and sensors on the chin," and because it doesn't do this, it can't track sleep or sleep cycles.

SEE ALSO: From Oura to Whoop, we tested the best sleep trackers of 2026

"Instead, Oura's AI models are doing guesswork as to what may be happening," it reads, "based on improper inputs, and thus taking advantage of desperate consumers who struggle with their sleep or are concerned for their health by selling faulty AI-based inference as reliable science."

While Oura states in technical materials that it doesn't track brain activity or eye movements, the lawsuit alleges that the company still claims to measure sleep stages and cycles. Clarkson Law Firm and named plaintiff Madison Surber filed the complaint. It states that around May 22, 2025, Surber bought an Oura Ring 4 Gold for $513.68 directly from Oura, and believed the ring could provide accurate data about her sleep.

The suit alleges Oura engaged in fraudulent advertising, unjust enrichment, breach of express and implied warranties, and violations of California's Unfair Competition Law, False Advertising Law, and Consumers' Legal Remedies Act. Over 100 class members seek monetary compensation totaling more than $5 million.

In a statement to Mashable via email, an Oura spokesperson wrote, "We stand behind our science, research, and accuracy claims." They also added that Oura is "committed to continuing to clearly communicate what Oura measures, what it estimates, and how members should use that information. We dispute the allegations and will defend against them in the appropriate legal forum."

Today's Connections: Sports Edition will be easier if you've watched Celtics basketball.

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.

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 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.

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: 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: Numbers for a RB

• Green: Movies

• Blue: Celtics

• Purple: Ballparks

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Stats for a Running Back

• Green: One-Word Basketball Movies

• Blue: Current Boston Celtics

• Purple: First Word in Names of MLB Home Ballparks

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 #699 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• Stats for a Running Back: ATTEMPTS, FUMBLES, TOUCHDOWNS, YARDS

• One-Word Basketball Movies: AIR, EDDIT, HOOSIERS, HUSTLE

• Current Boston Celtics: GEORGE, PRITCHARD, TATUM, WHITE

• First Word in Names of MLB Home Ballparks: CITIZENS, GLOBE, GREAT, SUTTER

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.

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 August 23, 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 August 22, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for August 23 Pips

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

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

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

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

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

Greater Than (5): Everything in this space must be greater than 6. The answer is 0-6, placed horizontally.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for August 23 Pips

Greater Than (1): Everything in this space must be greater than 1. The answer is 5-2, placed horizontally.

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 5-2, placed horizontally; 0-2, placed horizontally.

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

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 5-4 placed vertically; 3-0, placed horizontally.

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

Equal (1): Everything in this space must be equal to 1. The answer is1-1, placed vertically.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for August 23 Pips

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 4-6, placed horizontally; 5-0, placed horizontally.

Number (8): Everything in this space must add up to 8. The answer is 5-0, placed horizontally; 3-1, placed vertically.

Number (7): Everything in this space must add up to 7. The answer is 4-6, placed horizontally; 1-5, placed vertically.

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

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

Number (12): Everything in this space must add up to 12. The answer is 0-6, placed horizontally; 6-1, placed horizontally.

Number (12): Everything in this space must add up to 12. The answer is 2-0, placed vertically; 6-6, placed vertically.

Number (9): Everything in this space must add up to 9. The answer is 6-1, placed horizontally; 4-4, placed vertically.

Greater Than (2): Everything in this space must be greater than 2. The answer is 4-3, placed horizontally.

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

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

TL;DR: Sign up for a 7-day free trial of Apple TV+ through Prime Video Channels to watch select F1 races for free. Watch the Dutch GP for free with the Prime Video app.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Apple TV Prime Video Channel Watch the Dutch GP for free with a 7-day trial Shop Now

How have you coped during F1's 2026 summer break? Have you retreated to a safe space and restlessly stared at the calendar, counting down the days to the Dutch GP? No? Just me then.

The good news for the F1 obsessed is that it's finally back this weekend. The Dutch GP picks up where the Hungarian GP left off, with so many unanswered questions about where this season is heading. Antonelli still holds a comfortable lead over his rivals, but this season has already thrown out plenty of surprises, and we would be foolish to think that this season is decided. There's a lot of racing still to come.

SEE ALSO: ExpressVPN review: A stylish VPN service with proven privacy and a large U.S. presence

If you want to watch F1 2026 for free from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

When is the Dutch GP?

The Dutch GP is the 12th race of the 2026 F1 season. Here's the full schedule from Zandvoort:

• Practice 1 — 6:30-7:30 a.m. ET on Aug. 21

• Sprint Qualifying — 10:30-11:14 a.m. ET on Aug. 21

• Sprint — 6-7 a.m. ET on Aug. 22

• Qualifying — 10-11 a.m. ET on Aug. 22

• Race — 9 a.m. ET on Aug. 23

Fans can follow all the action from this race weekend without spending anything.

How to watch the Dutch GP for free

An Amazon Prime subscription delivers fast shipping, Prime Day discounts, and access to the Prime Video library. For F1 fans in the U.S., Prime Video is a bit of a hack. Apple TV holds exclusive U.S. broadcasting rights for F1, and you can sign up for a seven-day free trial of Apple TV directly through Prime Video Channels.

That trial gives you full access to stream select races — including this weekend's Dutch Grand Prix — for free. While the subscription rolls over to $12.99 per month after seven days, you can cancel the automatic renewal function in your settings and still stream the entire race weekend for free.

Of course, if you're already paying for Amazon Prime, calling it "completely free" is open to interpretation. But if you don't have an active membership, Amazon offers a 30-day free trial for new users. Stacking that Prime trial with the seven-day Apple TV channel trial means you are genuinely spending nothing to stream the race.

If you've already made use of this sneaky trick, you still have a few solid workarounds:

• Apple TV: New standalone subscribers qualify for a direct seven-day free trial through Apple's app.

• Apple One: If you want more than just streaming, the Apple One tier packages Apple TV alongside Apple Music, Apple Arcade, Apple Fitness+, Apple News+, and 50GB of iCloud storage — and it comes with a full one-month free trial ($19.95 per month after the promotional period).

• Apple: The most generous Apple TV offer is tied to new hardware purchases. Buying an eligible iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple TV grants new subscribers three months of free service. You obviously have to spend money on hardware, but if you were already planning an upgrade, it effectively unlocks a massive chunk of the F1 season for free.

SAVE OVER $59: The Apple AirPods Pro 3 are on sale for $189.99 at Amazon, down from the list price of $249. That's a 24% discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods Pro 3 $189.99 at Amazon
$249 Save $59.01   Get Deal

The opportunity to get any kind of Apple device at a discount price is always a golden one. With the brand's usually stubborn price points, Apple users often have to wait for the likes of Prime Day or Black Friday to roll around before they can get a significant bargain on MacBooks, Apple Watches, or AirPods.

Fortunately, AirPods are having a moment on Amazon, with the whole Airpod range currently discounted. Our pick of the bunch is a 24% discount of the Apple AirPods Pro 3, which are the latest, highest-spec version of Apple's signature earbuds.

As of Aug. 23, the Apple AidPods Pro 3 are currently on sale at Amazon for $189.99, marked down from the usual list price of $249. That's a total saving of $59.01.

SEE ALSO: The Segway Navimow i110N robot lawn mower is down to its best-ever price at Amazon — save $300+

This isn't the absolute lowest these AirPods have been priced at. We've seen them drop to $169, but this remains their lowest price since Prime Day. And it's a super competitive price for earbuds that boast some of the very best ANC (active noise cancellation) technology available and incredible sound quality — not to mention all the slick synchronicity that you get between Apple devices.

There are lots of rumours swirling around about AirPods, such as the AirPods Pro 4 potentially dropping or the prospect of AirPods with cameras. But as it stands these are the best of the best when it comes to AirPods — and right now you'll save almost $60.

Don't miss the Apple AidPods Pro 3 for $189.99 at Amazon — down from $249.

TL;DR: Watch Manchester City vs. Bournemouth in the Premier League for free on CazéTV. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The Premier League is back on our screens, and the opening weekend showcases some really interesting fixtures.

Manchester City vs. Bournemouth is probably not top of most fans' lists, but it's going to be really interesting to see how Enzo Maresca navigates things this season with a team in transition. The pressure is on after a poor performance against Arsenal last weekend. Fans will expect a dominant victory over Bournemouth at the Etihad.

If you're interested in watching Manchester City vs. Bournemouth in the Premier League from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

When is Manchester City vs. Bournemouth?

Manchester City vs. Bournemouth in the Premier League kicks off at 9 a.m. ET on Aug. 23. This fixture takes place at the Etihad Stadium.

How to watch Manchester City vs. Bournemouth for free

Manchester City vs. Bournemouth in the Premier League is available to live stream for free on CazéTV.

CazéTV is geo-restricted to Brazil, 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 Brazil, meaning you can live stream Manchester City vs. Bournemouth for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Manchester City vs. Bournemouth for free by following these simple steps:

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

2. Download the app to your device of choice

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Brazil

4. Visit CazéTV

5. Watch Manchester City vs. Bournemouth 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 generous money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Manchester City vs. Bournemouth without committing your cash. This is obviously not a long-term strategy, but it gives you enough time to stream this fixture (plus additional Premier League action) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for the Premier League?

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

• Servers in 105 countries, including Brazil

• 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 $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 usually offers a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99.

Live stream Manchester City vs. Bournemouth for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Lego is giving visitors a chance to build and take home a miniature model of the Human-Human Fruit from One Piece for free. These events are running on Aug. 23 from 12-2 p.m. in the U.S. and Canada.

Anime fans and Lego collectors need to clear their schedules this weekend.

Lego is hosting make-and-take events at retail stores across the U.S. and Canada, giving visitors a chance to build and take home a miniature model of the Human-Human Fruit from One Piece — completely free of charge. It's important to note that the Lego Human-Human Fruit model cannot be purchased, so this two-hour window is your only official way to score it. You could head to eBay next week, but you'll be dealing with some serious markups.

The event officially takes place on Sunday, Aug. 23 from 12-2 p.m. local time at participating Lego Stores (check locations here).

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

As with all of Lego's make-and-take events, participation is strictly first-come, first-served while supplies last, with a hard limit of one build per guest. If we know anything about anime enthusiasts, they're bound to move fast. Your best strategy is to double-check your local store's event page online to confirm participation, then arrive 15 to 20 minutes before the doors open so you don't leave empty-handed. Consider yourself warned.

Follow these steps to get your hands on money-can't-buy Lego this weekend.

Folks across North and South America, as well as parts of Europe and Africa, will have a front-row seat to a partial lunar eclipse on Aug. 27, painting the moon the color of a hot fireplace poker. 

Unlike solar eclipses, you don't need specially darkened glasses to protect your eyes. In this case, you can safely stare with the naked eye. And since the next true total lunar eclipse won't happen for most of the Americas until 2029, this is your best chance to catch a major lunar light show for a few years.

But if you're like this reporter and live in an area with perpetual city light pollution — or cloudy weather just happens to crash your viewing party plans — several telescope observatories will be hosting free livestreams to bring the magic to your screen. 

SEE ALSO: NASA reluctantly abandons a space telescope rescue mission

During a lunar eclipse, the Earth slides between the sun and the moon, casting a giant shadow over the lunar surface. This upcoming event is especially thrilling because it is a "deep" partial eclipse. 

At its peak, Earth's dark shadow will swallow almost all of it — over 96 percent of the lunar face. Instead of going completely dark, the moon will catch filtered sunlight from Earth's atmosphere, glowing in coppery orange and red.

A lunar eclipse is sometimes called a blood moon because it reflects light filtered through Earth's atmosphere. Credit: Ernie Wright / NASA's Scientific VIsualization Studio infographic

"It's as if all the world’s sunrises and sunsets are projected onto the Moon," according to NASA. 

If you decide to step outside, grab a pair of binoculars to watch Earth's curved shadow sweep across lunar craters. You might also notice more stars popping out in the night sky as the bright moonlight dims. A regular smartphone can easily snap a souvenir photo.

But if you want a closer look through professional equipment, or you happen to live somewhere outside the eclipse viewing zone, multiple astronomy groups have you covered. Here is a roundup of a few free live broadcasts you can tune into on the night of Aug. 27 and into the early morning of Aug. 28, depending on where in the world you live.

• Griffith Observatory: Broadcasting live from L.A., this observatory kicks off its livestream at 10:25 p.m. ET / 7:25 p.m. PT Aug. 27.

• The Virtual Telescope Project: Watch the moon glow over Tuscany. This feed features high-resolution telescope views starting at 9:30 p.m. ET / 6:30 p.m. PT Aug. 27.

• Timeanddate.com: Catch a real-time telescope feed with expert tracking animations and commentary, starting at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT Aug. 27.

The main event lasts well over an hour, giving you plenty of time to hop between streams and enjoy different telescope angles.

Here's a not-so-novel theory of cultural development that you should be aware of, especially if you're an older person wondering about the behaviors of younger people: When TV and the internet first emerged on the cultural scene, they had a unifying effect on people. After all, there were only a handful of television channels you could watch, so everyone watched The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, M*A*S*H, and All in the Family. Just take a look at IMDB's list of the Most Watched Series Finales Ever, and you'll see it's dominated by shows that first aired in the '70s, '80s, and '90s. 

Fast forward to the early 2000s, when social media first emerged, and you have a similar effect: everyone had a MySpace or Facebook account because there wasn't really any other game in town. But that unity rapidly gave way to fragmentation. Just as cable TV fragmented into Netflix, Hulu, Apple TV, Amazon TV, etc, so too did social media fragment into smaller, more niche spaces, from Tumblr blogs and subreddits to Discord servers and Twitch chat rooms. 

SEE ALSO: The best hookup apps for 2026: I swiped until my thumb hurt

Driven by the all-powerful algorithm, feeding different people different interests, the younger generations disappeared into siloed parts of the internet, many of which earned nicknames of their own. TikTok is the best example: there's BookTok for users who love to read, FinTok for users who want to learn about investing and compound interest, and of course, FitTok for people who want to learn about compound lifts or receive dieting advice. Crucially, you can spend hundreds of hours in any one of these niche communities without ever learning about the existence of the others. 

Gen Z's entire online experience has been heavily curated by algorithms, so it's no wonder their dating app behavior is different as well. 

Gen Z's retreat from online dating

The numbers started to tell the tale long before the commentators caught on. In 2023, a major Statista survey of online dating behavior found something odd, even trend-breaking: the vast majority (61 percent) of dating app users were between the ages of 30 and 34, while the much larger age group of 18-29 year olds represented just 26 percent of total dating app users. It's even odder when you consider that, since people tend to partner up over time, Gen Z should have many more single people than millennials. 

That realization led to a bevy of headlines ("Gen Z Is Leaving Dating Apps Behind" comes to mind) predicting the death of dating apps, not to mention a 38 percent average decline in the stock price of dating apps, but it doesn't mean Gen Z isn't interested in romance or connection.

In fact, it just means they're taking an entirely different approach to finding love, especially compared to millennials. Whereas single millennials can still be found on the apps, by and large, Gen Z singles are reverting to "hyper-niche" spaces to filter out people before they even reach the swiping stage.

What is a "hyper-niche" space?

Think of hyper-niche spaces as small, value-based communities. If you're a part of FitTok, for example, it's reasonable to assume that everyone else you meet in that space will value working out, eating healthy foods, and self-improvement (aka the grindset mindset). Because these things are such a big part of your life, it's helpful to meet people who already share these values.  

And if this approach is true of fitness communities, it also applies to online communities built around hobbies (reading, playing video games, knitting) or politics or religion. It has even started to apply to the specific app or software people use: X vs BlueSky

This, too, has shown up in the data. A major study of eharmony users found, for example, that 28 percent of Gen Z daters would cancel a date if their prospective partner didn't share their politics, nearly a 10-point increase from millennials and Gen X respondents, with a similar gap showing up for differences in religious belief. 

What does this mean for Gen Z?

On the one hand, these trends are arguably positive. Dating app fatigue is a well-documented phenomenon, and even millennials are suffering burnout. Hyper-niche communities take a lot of the pressure off of finding one compatible person in a sea of incompatible people, pre-selecting for others who share your values and interests. This is a major reason people are returning to IRL dating, where their friends, family, and social circles might introduce them to people, rather than an anonymous algorithm. 

But there's a dark side to this, too, and it comes from becoming too invested in any given silo, too intolerant of people who don't share your values or interests. Another striking finding emerged in the data: 60 percent of Gen Z have gone "no-contact" with a friend or family member in the past year, and 25 percent of those who went no-contact listed a difference in values as the reason. 

Add this to the fact that Gen Z spends an average of five hours a day online, by far the most of any generation, and it's easy to see how their digital existence can overtake their online one, with hyper-niche spaces looking more like bunkers to shelter them from a hostile world rather than real communities that take them out of the digital world and into the real one.

Looking for spoiler-free NYT Connections hints or just wondering why Connections is trending today? We've got what you need to understand the clues for today's puzzle without spoiling any of the answers.

Of course, Mashable has also provided daily hints and answers for Connections, Wordle, and Strands for years, so we can help you if that's also what you need.

While we are focused more on meanings than hints in this story, sometimes learning that many of the words have completely unrelated meanings is a clue in and of itself. Connections frequently includes clues that involve words within words and other visual clues.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for August 23, 2026 Antifreeze meaning

Coolant that stays liquid even in frigid temperatures.

Vacuum meaning

A tool used for cleaning.

Baking soda meaning

A substance used in baking or to combat odor.

Volcano meaning

A geologic feature from which magma is pushed to the surface of the earth as lava.

Vinegar meaning

An acidic fermented liquid used as an ingredient or flavoring

Vodka meaning

A form of alcohol often distilled from potatoes.

Tinderbox meaning

A container for materials used to start fires.

Potato battery meaning

An experiment which uses potatoes to generate and conduct small amounts of electricity.

Skiing meaning

Navigating down a snow-covered hill or across a body of water using skis.

Home fries meaning

A fried potato dish.

Club soda meaning

A carbonated, mineral-infused water.

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

Powder keg meaning

A container filled with black powder and a phrase used to describe volatile situations.

Hydrogen peroxide meaning

A bleaching substance that has a variety of household uses (always read the safety label).

Bazaar meaning

A type of market where various goods can be purchased.

Vischyssoise

A soup that includes pureed leaks and potatoes.

Time bomb meaning

An explosive with a timed detonator.

Have you learned the meanings and still want the things? Check out the hints and answers for today's NYT Connections puzzle.

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

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

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 Frosinone vs. Juventus in Serie A for free on SportyNet. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Serie A is back this weekend, and as usual, Juventus will get a lot of attention. Last season, they finished in sixth place. That's obviously not good enough for a club with the history of Juventus, and they'll be desperate to start with a confident victory over new boys Frosinone.

If you're interested in watching Frosinone vs. Juventus in Serie A from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

When is Frosinone vs. Juventus?

Frosinone vs. Juventus in Serie A kicks off at 12:30 p.m. ET on Aug. 23. This fixture takes place at the Stadio Benito Stirpe.

How to watch Frosinone vs. Juventus for free

Frosinone vs. Juventus in Serie A is available to live stream for free on SportyNet.

SportyNet is geo-restricted to Brazil, 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 Brazil, meaning you can live stream Frosinone vs. Juventus for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Frosinone vs. Juventus for free by following these simple steps:

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

2. Download the app to your device of choice

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Brazil

4. Visit SportyNet

5. Watch Frosinone vs. Juventus 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 generous money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Frosinone vs. Juventus without committing your cash. This is obviously not a long-term strategy, but it gives you enough time to stream this fixture (plus additional Premier League action) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for Serie A?

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

• Servers in 105 countries, including Brazil

• 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 $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 usually offers a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99.

Live stream Frosinone vs. Juventus for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The Moon is getting closer to the Full Moon, with more than half of its surface illuminated tonight. It's still in its Waxing Gibbous phase, so there's plenty to see as the Moon continues to get brighter each night.

What is today’s Moon phase?

As of Sunday, Aug. 23, NASA's Daily Moon Guide tracker tells us the Moon is in its Waxing Gibbous phase, with 79% of its surface visible.

Without any visual aids, tonight you can see the Mares Crisium and Imbrium, and the Tycho Crater. If you want to see even more, use binoculars to bring the Clavius and Endymion Craters into view, as well as the Apennine Mountains. Plus, if you have a telescope, you'll also be able to see the Apollo 15 landing spot, the Rupes Altai, and the Descartes Highlands.

When is the next Full Moon?

The next Full Moon will take place on August 28.

What are Moon phases?

The Moon goes through a series of phases that cause its appearance to change as seen from Earth. As the Moon orbits Earth, it goes through a lunar cycle that takes about 29.5 days to complete, according to NASA. The positions of the Sun, Earth, and Moon determine how much of the Moon’s illuminated side is visible from Earth, creating its different phases. Throughout the cycle, the Moon changes from a thin crescent to a half Moon, then a Full Moon, before repeating the cycle once more.

The eight phases are:

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 love your vegetables.

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 August 23, 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: They erupt

• Green: Long sounds

• Blue: Full of starch

• Purple: Quick cleanup

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Potentially explosive things

• Green: Double vowels

• Blue: Made with potatoes

• Purple: Household stain removers

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 #1169 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Potentially explosive things: POWDER KEG, TIME BOMB, TINDERBOX, VOLCANO

• Double vowels: ANTIFREEZE, BAZAAR, SKIIING, VACUUM

• Made with potatoes: HOME FRIES, POTATO BATTERY, VISCHYSSOISE, VODKA

• Household stain removers: BAKING SODA, CLUB SODA, HYDROGEN PEROXIDE, VINEGAR

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for August 23, 2026

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

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

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 for avid readers.

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 August 23, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: An epic journey

The words are adjectives related to ancient Greece.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe a classic novel.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is The Odyssey.

NYT Strands word list for August 23

• Sirens

• Cyclops

• Ship

• King

• The Odyssey

• Suitors

• Underworld

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

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 miss the good ole days.

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 August 23, 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 August 23, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Ancient.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no recurring letters.

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter P.

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...

OLDEN

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.

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

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.

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.

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

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

Quick.

Hurdle Word 1 answer

BRIEF

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Unwarranted.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for August 23, 2026 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

UNDUE

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Russian prison.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for August 23, 2026 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Meanings for each word for Aug. 23, 2026 Hurdle Word 3 answer

GULAG

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Mush.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

SLUSH

Final Hurdle hint

Smelly drain.

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

SEWER

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

Grand Theft Auto VI is being plagued by more leaks than a sinking ship, beginning with the trailer three years ago, and continuing into this week with a gameplay release that sees the protagonist, Jason Duval, robbing a gas station convenience store, escaping in a car, suffering a slow-motion car crash, and then escaping into a strip club.

SEE ALSO: 'GTA 6' file size: How large will the game be?

Some of these gameplay elements will definitely be familiar to long-time fans of the series, but the slow-motion camera interrupting the regular game speed is definitely a novelty, and probably something Rockstar Games wanted to keep secret, given that Rockstar still hasn't revealed actual gameplay.

In fact, they've been saving the biggest reveal for a Netflix launch on Thursday, Aug. 27th at 3 p.m. ET, which is itself an unprecedented move for a game release.

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

Behind the scenes, Rockstar Games and parent company Take-Two are working hard to discover the source of the leaks, reportedly even having been granted subpoenas for GitHub, Microsoft, and Discord server records by a federal court, which they allege will help them uncover the culprits. 

Even Xbox CTO Scott Van Vliet has weighed in on the issue, promising to support efforts to stop the theft, saying in a post on X that "[Xbox] are working closely with Take-Two and Rockstar Games to support efforts to protect creative works and intellectual property."

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

The main leaker, using the alias Cyberleeks, is so confident in his IP theft that he's now charging up to $165,000 (in cryptocurrency) to anyone wanting to advertise in his leaked footage, according to Yahoo Tech. 

While these leaks are definitely sucks for the developers at Rockstar Games, they're also probably doing even more to hype up what promises to be the biggest game launch of all time.

Earlier this month, we reported on the disturbing trend of AI companies using and then destroying physical copies of books to train their agentic AI, in a practice so eerily reminiscent of book burning that it's spooking even devotees of artificial intelligence.

Well, according to Axios, the FTC is now being urged to investigate the practice, not, as we might like, for crimes against humanity, but for violations of antitrust law, since every book destroyed is one less book available for competing AI agents to use. 

SEE ALSO: AI companies keep destroying old books. Here's why.

Axios reports that "[m]ore than a dozen civil society groups," including Demand Progress Education Fund, the Consumer Federation of America, and the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, are urging the FTC to investigate these practices, particularly those involving rare books. In their letter, they "urge the FTC to view this practice not in isolation but rather as the latest escalation in a documented pattern of anticompetitive conduct designed to create an insurmountable systemic moat around AI incumbents." 

The problem is all the more acute because these companies are allegedly targeting older books — especially those published before 2022 — since those books are guaranteed not to have been written by AI and are far more likely to have been well edited.

The letter continues:

"Unlike a standard data acquisition strategy, this hoard-and-destroy practice could serve as yet another structural mechanism to raise rival companies' costs and deny start-ups and fledgling competitors a key source material essential to competing in the AI marketplace."

Recall OpenAI CEO Sam Altman's description of knowledge as a utility that could be sold to you "like electricity and water"? That business proposition looks a lot less wholesome when it involves the wholesale destruction of books, our first and still-unsurpassed repository for human knowledge, most of which can still be acquired cheaply or freely loaned from a local library.

Sadder still is the fact that our best practical defense against this modern book burning isn't an ethical one but a legal one: that it would be bad for other businesses.