Mashable

The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times' revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.

With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.

So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player's flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: How to play Pips, the newest NYT game

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Monday, Oct. 20, 2025:

AcrossSound from a mouse

• The answer is Click.

Many-headed serpent killed by Hercules

• The answer is Hydra.

View from a cruise ship window

• The answer is Ocean.

"See ya later!"

• The answer is Peace.

Animal whose antlers can grow up to an inch per day

• The answer is Elk.

DownDice, e.g.

• The answer is Chop.

French for "high school"

• The answer is Lycee.

10 out of 10

• The answer is Ideal.

Sound from a bat

• The answer is Crack.

"Citizen ___"

• The answer is Kane.

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

Featured Video For You The Wordle Strategy used by the New York Times' Head of Games

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

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

SAVE $70: As of Oct. 20, the Anker Solix C300X portable power station is on sale for $199.99 as part of Best Buy's Deal of the Day. This is $70 off its list price of $269.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Anker SOLIX C300X Portable Power Station $199.99 at Best Buy
$269.99 Save $70   Get Deal

The weather may be a little bit colder, but fall is still a great time to be outdoors. If you're itching to be sat around a bonfire on a camping trip during this time, a portable power station is worth having with you to keep your devices charged up. While some can be quite pricy, Best Buy is offering a great discount at the moment on the Anker Solix C300X portable power station.

As of Oct. 20, the Anker Solix C300X portable power station is on sale at Best Buy for $199.99. This is $70 off its usual price of $269.99, but there's a catch. This offer is part of Best Buy's Deal of the Day program which, as its name implies, means the deal only lasts through the rest of today. So you'll have to act fast to grab it at this discounted price.

SEE ALSO: Mashable readers know best — here's what our readers bought during October Prime Day

Alongside a portable size and adjustable strap to make carrying it around nice and easy, the Anker Solix C300X features 288Wh and a 300W output that can charge up to seven devices at one time. It even boasts a quick recharge of 90 minutes via USB-C or three hours if you use solar. Whether you want to take it with on a camping trip or keep it around your home as backup power, this compact power station packs a punch.

This deal only lasts today, so don't miss out on the Anker Solix C300X portable power station on sale at Best Buy.

If you're curious what other power stations are worth picking up, check out our breakdown of the best portable power stations to see our top picks that we believe are worth your time and money right now.

SAVE OVER $30: As of Oct. 20, the Apple AirTag four-pack is on sale for $64.99 at Amazon. That's a 34% saving on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirTag 4-Pack $64.99 at Amazon
$99 Save $34.01   Get Deal

It's hard to believe that almost two weeks later, there's still the odd Prime Day deal hanging around. But we're definitely not complaining about it, and if you need to add more AirTags to your collection, then you won't be complaining either.

As of Oct. 20, the Apple AirTag four-pack is still at its Prime Day price of $64.99, saving you $34.01 on list price. They've only ever been slightly cheaper than this, reaching $64.49 in March 2025. So, for 50 cents above its lowest-ever price, you really can't go wrong.

SEE ALSO: Add a pop of color and productivity to your life with this yellow 11-inch Apple iPad deal

If you've not come across AirTags before, your life is about to change for the better. AirTags are Apple tracking devices for your most beloved items. They can be stuck on, placed inside, or added to a keyring on anything you lose regularly (common culprits are keys, phones, and passports). Once attached, you can then track said device with the Find My app. If your item is showing nearby but you can't see it, the tags all have a small speaker built-in so you can play a sound to try and locate it.

They're rated IP67 for both water and dust resistance, so for really bad accidents you can still track it, and if you lose something really far away (i.e. luggage that doesn't make it on your plane), it will still remain visible in your app. This is because millions of Apple devices are in the Find My network, helping it remain trackable.

Pick up this AirTag deal before it goes back up in price.

SAVE $50: As of Oct. 20, the Echo Show 8 is on sale for $99.99 at Amazon. That's a 33% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Echo Show 8 $99.99 at Amazon
$149.99 Save $50.00   Get Deal

Smart home hubs are an everyday essential at this point. Everything from your vacuum to your lightbulbs can now be controlled by tech, and there's no going back.

If you're a fan of Amazon's smart home devices, you need to check out this deal on the Echo Show 8, your new smart home hub.

SEE ALSO: Amazon’s Ring is expanding police access to doorbell footage

As of Oct. 20, this device is reduced by $50, bringing the price down to under $100 for a limited time. This price is for both colors, white and charcoal. If you're wondering what the Echo Show 8 does, the answer is so much. It's a touch-screen-controlled device that can act as a hub for all your other devices. It also comes into its own as a device perfect for video calls, reading new recipes, or even streaming your favorite Netflix show.

And when not in use, Amazon Photos can transform it into a digital photo frame and will display a carousel of your favorite pictures. Friends and family can even connect too, adding their own pictures for you to see.

This Echo deal has a limited-time stamp, so get it before it runs out.

TL;DR: New members can join Sam’s Club for just $15 (reg. $50) and enjoy a year of savings, member perks, and premium access.

Opens in a new window Credit: Sam's Club Sam's Club Membership (1-Year with Auto-Renew) $15
$50 Save $35   Get Deal

The holidays are around the corner, and with them come all the accompanying deals. You can currently grab a one-year Sam’s Club membership for only $15 (reg. $50), just in time for pre-holiday parties, gift-getting, and all the fun and flavor that comes with this magical season.

Whether you’re stocking up on snacks for the kids or loading the trunk for big gathering, this is the moment to make your dollar go further.

SEE ALSO: Pokémon TCG Black Bolt Elite Trainer Box crashes to market value at Amazon

This is a spending season. Between all the home, school, and work happenings, plus your regular grocery runs, the costs stack up. But with Sam’s Club, you can buy smarter. Load up on bulk snacks (for the kids who snack through their days off), beverages, cooking essentials, and new decor — all at member-only pricing.

And with the irregularity of gas prices? Sam’s Club fuel discounts can come in clutch. Members enjoy savings at the pump, making any road trip a bit easier on your budget.

Members can expect more than just a place to buy massive packs of granola bars and toilet paper (though those don’t hurt). You’ll unlock exclusive deals on travel, access to prescriptions, and the convenience of Sam’s Club Tire & Battery Center for automotive essentials. Planning a last-minute vacation? Your membership might even save you money on rental cars and hotels.

Plus, the Sam’s Club Scan & Go™ feature lets you skip the checkout line entirely. Scan items with your phone as you shop and breeze right out—perfect for anyone who wants convenience with their cost-cutting.

This is an opportune time to get a one-year membership to Sam’s Club with auto-renewal for just $15 (reg. $50) when you order through Oct. 31.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

The story above from The Graham Norton Show may only be 90 seconds long, but we certainly learn a lot from it.

The lessons include, 1) If you visit Jenner Lawrence's house, you may be fed food from the trash, 2) That Robert Pattinson does not mind eating food from the trash, and 3) Jennifer Lawrence is capable of a pretty great Robert Pattinson impression.

We're guessing the food she talks about giving Pattinson – which he has while crashing one of her girls' nights after wrapping a film nearby – was still in containers and not just scraped into the garbage can, but still — it's certainly a vivid image.

Apple surprised its fans with several new product announcements this past Wednesday: a new 14-inch MacBook Pro, iPad Pro, and Apple Vision Pro, all powered by the company's new, most powerful Silicon chipset, the M5.

If you've been following Mashable's coverage, you know that these products were expected to be released in the coming weeks, even if the exact release date this morning wasn't. 

However, now that the M5 MacBook Pro, iPad Pro, and Vision Pro are here, new Apple products are expected to drop very soon and have yet to be announced. Here's what's still coming soon from Apple:

AirTags 2

Perhaps the most surprising product missing from Apple's latest release lineup is the AirTags 2. These were expected to be included with October's new product drop, yet they were MIA today.

The AirTags 2 isn't expected to be a huge update. However, analysts believe that it will include major upgrades to Apple's tracking device, such as a new wireless chip, a longer tracking range, and improved privacy. Design-wise, the AirTags 2 will likely look much like its predecessor.

Apple can still roll the AirTags 2 out before the end of the year, just in time for the holidays.

New Apple TV 4K

A major clue that often tips whether Apple is about to launch a new product is low Apple Store inventory of the product's predecessor. Mashable covered how the iPad Pro M4 and the base 14-inch MacBook Pro were reportedly running low just last week. Fast-forward eight days, and Apple has announced the new M5 versions of those products.

Just one day before Apple unveiled the new M5 MacBook Pro and iPad Pro, Bloomberg's Apple insider Mark Gurman shared that Apple Stores were seeing "very low inventory across the country."

Some Apple fans thought this could mean a new Apple TV 4K was on the way, rumored to be powered by the A17 Pro chip and with AI integrations. Unfortunately, the new Apple TV 4K was not part of those announcements. However, nothing has changed regarding an upgraded version of Apple's set-top box being on the way so expect the new device to still drop soon.

HomePods

According to Gurman, Apple Store inventory was also reportedly low for Apple's HomePod Mini. However, HomePod Mini was also not included in Apple's most recent announcements.

However, the HomePod Mini 2 and a new HomePod, which is meant to be Apple's answer to the Google Nest Hub, are also expected in the near future.

iPad and iPad Air

Apple did announce the all-new iPad Pro, but the rest of Apple's tablet lineup is still scheduled for an upgrade, too. 

The iPad Air will likely be upgraded from the M3 chip to the M4, in order to set the iPad Pro apart from the most powerful iPad with its M5 chipset. A new base model iPad will also receive a more powerful chip, expected to be an upgrade from the A16 chip, which last powered the iPhone 15.

iPad fans will likely have to wait until March or April of next year, but that's just around the corner.

MacBook Air and 16-inch MacBook Pro

Along with the iPad Pro, the 14-inch MacBook Pro also received its M5 upgrade last week.

But there's still a 16-inch MacBook Pro and the entire MacBook Air lineup in need of an upgrade, too.

The first half of 2026 will likely see all remaining MacBook models receive the M5 upgrade. And, while not coming for another year or two at the least, there are strong reports that Apple is finally working on a touchscreen MacBook Pro

iPhone 17e

Apple announced the entire iPhone 17 lineup last month, and it is currently available in stores — well, almost the entire iPhone 17 lineup.

We are still waiting on Apple's latest budget model smartphone, which would likely be called the iPhone 17e. The current model is still the iPhone 16e, which has the A18 chipset.

Expect the iPhone 17e, when it does come out, to line up with the base model iPhone 17's A19 chip.

AirPods Max

Like the iPhone 17e, the AirPods Max seems to be the forgotten child in its respective lineup. Apple has refreshed the AirPods but not the AirPods Max in quite a while. The last AirPods Max release was more than a year ago, and it simply added a USB-C version to the lineup.

However, analysts expect a new version of the AirPods Max to be released in 2027. It's unclear exactly what will be different with the AidPods Max 2, other than Apple reportedly working on a lighter version of the product.

TL;DR: Build and host unlimited websites easily with the IONOS Web Hosting Plus Plan, now just $99.99 for three years (reg. $288).

Opens in a new window Credit: IONOS IONOS Web Hosting Plus Plan: 3-Year Subscription $99.99
$288 Save $188.01   Get Deal

Building and maintaining a website can feel intimidating. But with the IONOS Web Hosting Plus Plan, it’s finally easy.

Whether you’re launching a small business, running a portfolio site, or hosting multiple client projects, this plan gives you everything you need to stay online, stay fast, and stay protected — all for just $99.99 for three full years (reg. $288).

SEE ALSO: Let Sellful be your website builder, CRM, and more for a one-time fee

IONOS is one of Europe’s leading hosting providers and is now powering U.S. businesses with the same global-grade infrastructure and reliability.

We’re talking about 99.99 percent uptime, lightning-fast load speeds, unlimited websites, and redundant storage to ensure your content is safe and accessible no matter what.

You’ll also get a free domain, daily backups, malware protection, and 24/7 customer support from real humans — because no one wants to submit a ticket and wait three business days. Bonus: You can install WordPress or your favorite CMS in just seconds.

If you’re a freelancer, blogger, entrepreneur, or small business owner, this offer makes it easy to look professional without paying enterprise prices.

It’s a smart investment for anyone ready to take their online presence seriously — without making web hosting their new full-time job.

Get three years of IONOS Web Hosting Plus for just $99.99 (reg. $288).

StackSocial prices subject to change

AI is everywhere, but not every tool is a fit for every person. Some of us geek out on prompts and productivity hacks; others would happily join a VR pagan moon circle with AI-generated crystals. Astrology, the original personality framework, is its own form of intelligence.

I know this because I live it every day. As a business owner, tech enthusiast, and accidental astrologer, what my twin sister and I have learned from building our platform Astrostyle to millions of monthly readers is that discerning people all over the world are quietly grappling with the labyrinth of choices they face every hour, in every part of their lives.

The average adult makes 35,000 decisions a day. AI might reduce the stress of that, but it can’t make those decisions for us. So what part of ourselves does the deciding when logic and information don’t come through?

Mainstream astrology—more specifically, horoscopes—can be polarizing AF. But then, so can technology. Together, AI and astrology can reduce the struggle of living in a complex world. In an era of algorithms, our humanity is the “dark matter” that defies law and order. Astrology can help us understand phenomena that can’t be explained by left-brained logic.

With that, here are my suggestions for how each zodiac sign can tap into astrological AND artificial intelligence.

Aries

As the zodiac’s first sign, you’re here to blaze trails. (Can you say “early adopter?”) You need speedy results to keep your competitive edge. Waiting? That’s for Libras. When you feel the other eleven signs nipping at your heels, AI solutions are a no-brainer. 

Here’s the friction point, though: You can’t delegate or automate everything, because you also like control. So how do you handle those mind-numbing administrative steps (aka, life) and still preserve your number-one spot on humanity’s leaderboard? 

One word: Gamify. A mix of AI and non-AI tech tools can help.

The rising trends of life gamification and habit gamification were made for you, Aries. Habitica is a free habit-tracking app that turns your life into a game, using rewards, challenges and community support to help you build better habits and stay motivated. It combines pixel art and productivity, according to their website, and boasts “over 4 million people having fun while accomplishing their goals” through cute characters. If you’re looking to build a habit loop, AI can help you create it and stick to it.

Need more customization? Notion also offers many habit-gamifying templates if you’re willing to do the setup (or hire someone to help). The spirit of fun can be a mighty motivator, especially for your playful sign. Before you know it, you’ll be doing a TEDx talk; something like “How I Gamified My Life and Beat Procrastination,” hitting 20 million YouTube downloads and bossing around a team of coders as they make your new motivational app. What are you waiting for, Aries?

Taurus

An analog sign by nature, Taurus rules the five senses, and you deeply enjoy the pleasures of being human. Artificial? No thanks. Ultra-natural is more your thing. You’re a creature of habit, reluctant to change unless it brings you more luxury, stability, and comfort. You don’t need a Midjourney avatar with seven thumbs; you need solutions that simplify daily life.

For that reason, white-glove agentic AI was made for you, Taurus. You already know exactly what you want—which is more of what you already have, but delivered with ease. If life is getting busier, then who’s gonna make your dinner reservations, balance your checking account, and find the wash-and-fold laundromat that uses your exact type of linen starch? Deploy the agents!

It’s not your fault, Taurus. Being hardcoded with concierge tastes in a late-stage capitalist economy is an existential dilemma. Or…it was. You weren’t put here to pay retail, or to output data-center energy levels to organize your music collection and track down the perfect cheesesteak. With an invisible helper, you don’t have to anymore.

Budget and finance-track with Monarch. Sleep deeply on an AI mattress. Control temperature, music, and scent with smart home tech. Navigate the post-NFT AI art market, whether as creator or collector.

And if you’re feeling extra-extra, be the first among your friends to own a Nékojita FuFu, an adorable crowd-funded cat robot that attaches to the edge of any cup or bowl and blows air to cool your food. (Oops, we know what all your friends are getting for Christmas…)

Gemini

Gemini is a multiplayer game in a single human, and as such, you get easily scattered. Keeping track of your hobbies, friends, ideas, and curiosities is a full-time job on its own. And while plenty of those thoughts probably SHOULD stay in draft forever, there are a lot of fleeting moments you want to capture. No, you probably won’t get around to opening that artisan Bento box lunch truck that was also going to offer blowouts and glam squad services around the back (never say never, tho’). But the colorful tale behind the idea? Epic! 

And that’s where the Gemini magic lives: in the art of storytelling. Your amalgam of weird hobbies and skills and life detours might seem unrelated until you connect the dots through an epic LinkedIn post or keynote that gives your audience full-body chills.

Since there’s not enough time to churn out those anecdotes AND make a living, get some help from AI. Make your writing sizzle with MyStoryPro, created by (Gemini) Patrice Poltzer, a former Today Show producer who relocated her husband and three young sons from Brooklyn to Lisbon, documented her existential crisis on social media, then birthed an incredible AI storytelling assistant (nicknamed “Pocket Patrice”) that’s got chef’s-kiss UX, design, and functionality—and actually sounds like your voice.

While you’re at it, Gemini, throw in one of Grammarly’s AI features, the Plagiarism Checker. You consume so much information that you sometimes accidentally repeat someone else’s words, forgetting you didn’t author them yourself. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure when it comes to IP, especially for you.

Cancer

If there’s a sign most likely to side-eye AI, it’s yours, Cancer. You’re the champion of all things homemade and handmade. Your nostalgic sign is rooted in the past and can be deeply skeptical about the future. While some of that is fear-based, you’re also playing the role of the guardian. You don’t want technology erasing the human touch in the name of “progress.” 

But what if AI could be a form of cultural and historical preservation? Well, it can. 

Digital twins (e.g., exact replicas of unique items) were practically made for you. Let’s say, for example, a climate disaster wipes out a precious object or site. Those once-irreplaceable mementos won’t be lost. Fragments of art, music, and folklore can be reconstructed with AI, keeping at-risk traditions alive.

Got fading letters from your great-great-great grandfather that you want to share in a family tree project? Transkribus preserves historical documents by training models to recognize handwriting, process large numbers of pages, and even create searchable online collections. 

A more controversial use of AI is the grief bot. Essentially, a loved one commissions an AI duplicate of themselves (voice, speech patterns, et al.) before they pass away. Their surviving relatives can continue to interact with their likeness. Black Mirror-ness aside, we imagine that Cancers might comprise a market for something like this as it evolves.

Leo

Storytime: unlocked! You’ve got tales to tell and spotlights to steal, and the competition for attention has never been more fierce. It’s your astrological mandate to stand out from the crowd. And nobody owns the power of narrative quite like you do, Leo.

As it turns out, this lore-spinning talent gives you a real edge when it comes to being memorable. Studies show that people remember stories up to 22 times more than plain data, so the next time some old-school purist barks “just the facts!” let ‘em know that people only retain 5 to 10% of information presented as stats. When wrapped in anecdotes (and Leo rizz), they’ll remember 65 to 70% of what you said.

These carefully-crafted cliffhangers don’t just write themselves, though. That's where our AI recos enter the plot. Bang out that movie-adaptation-worthy memoir or screenplay script with Sudowrite, which boasts a feature called Story Bible that can write a novel from nose to tail in a week. There are additional AI features that craft dialogue or analyze your characters and plot arc, then generate options for the next 300 words.

Don’t stop at words, though! Leos are the ultimate experience junkies. Pair your stories with AI-generated video, animation, and slides, and set to music for the full immersion. Take people on a sensory-overload adventure in colors that would make your fellow Leo Andy Warhol proud. Adobe Firefly is every creator’s go-to AI assistant, generating images, text effects, audio, and video in a range of Adobe apps.

Among its many features, Firefly lets you describe a color palette in Illustrator through prompts, then see your images recast in various hues. Go ahead, serve “Wes Anderson with a side of Miami Vice” or “moody Dutch Masters meets Korean aeni.”

If you’re a serious artist, as many Leos are, check out AIArtists.org to explore the world of generative art and connect with a global community of fellow creatives incorporating AI into their process. We await your creations!

Virgo

Riddle me this: How do you create AI for someone who’s the human version of a tracker? If anyone could outsmart Siri, it’s the real-life large language model that is Virgo. Planning? Project management? Phsssshhhht. Virgo wrote the source code on that.

What kind of bot do you build for the zodiac sign that has everything? Moreover, how do you sell the zodiac’s most all-natural sign on anything artificial? 

Come closer and we’ll tell you. There’s one “Big O” guaranteed to drive these data-driven dilettantes and polymath purists over the edge: optimize. 

Perfectionistic Virgos might already know how to do everything right. But that doesn’t mean it can’t be done better. Dangle the optimization carrot and they’ll hop over like bunnies to munch it right out of your hands. (Pet them while you’re at it; they love physical touch.)

For Virgos, everyday objects infused with practical AI is the flex. 

One example? The OralB iO Series, an AI-powered electric toothbrush that cleans with micro-vibrations (sexy!) and guides your brush time. It flashes red when you’re scrubbing too hard at the gum line and green when you nail that perfect pressure.

I kid you not, as I sat at a café researching this toothbrush online, a woman peered over my shoulder and asked if I was a dentist. I am not (surprise!), but it turned out that she was. I gave her a five-second amateur pitch for the OralB and she was genuinely intrigued. “Wow! I’ll have to tell some of my patients about that,” she exclaimed before ordering a pain au chocolat and sugary iced latte. (Gives Virgo side-eye)

Maybe I shouldn’t have been so eager. A smart toothbrush in the hands of a Virgo practically counts as wellness weaponry against both cavity creeps and inflated dental bills that insurance never covers.  Ditch your basic-bitch brush, clean your choppers to pristine purity, and fire your dentist? That makes the OralB iO a steal at just over $350, at least in Virgo math. 

You heard it here first, AI startups: The way to Virgo’s heart is through the brain and body. And they’ll pay top dollar for anything that’s smart enough to solve their problems. Go!

Libra

Aesthetic Libra loves to be surrounded by beauty. Nothing transports you to nirvana more than being draped in finery. While you’ve been known to pay retail for your upscale tastes, you’re also wired for discernment. If you’ve got Balenciaga tastes on a barista budget, AI can help you create a head-turning OOTD without breaking the bank. Financial constraints or not, Libra is the sign of justice.

Enter AI. The adventure might start with you curating what you already have. “Budget-conscious fashion lovers are using AI as a personal stylist to shop their closet,” explains Quynh Mai, founder of creative strategy agency Qulture, which specializes in spotting trends and subcultures online. “Platforms like Stylebook and Cladwell help them track their wardrobe and make outfit recommendations.”

You don’t need to have a couture collection that rivals fellow Libras Gwyneth Paltrow, Kim Kardashian, or Cardi B to benefit from an AI stylist. For Libras who struggle with decision overwhelm, Cladwell is an AI app centered around the capsule wardrobe concept. (Bonus: It doesn’t require you to photograph a single item.) The app even has templates with names like Parisian and Minimalist.

If your closet skews more Clueless’ Cher Horowitz (played by Libra Alicia Silverstone), Stylebook’s 90+ features can catalog your entire wardrobe, generate packing lists, and suggest potential outfit combinations. Sync them to your calendar to plan around your oft-packed social schedule.

Hate the experience of a boutique dressing room? Google’s AI-powered Try-On lets you preview clothes on your actual body type, without the bad lighting and mirror angles. Go forth and serve “human” with your well-cultivated looks. Before long, you could be earning extra cash as a brand influencer and need an even bigger closet.

Scorpio

You’ve got X-ray vision, Scorpio, the ability to pierce any veil and get to the heart of the matter. You understand that data is power. And while nobody’s scanning YOUR iris before you serve them an ironclad privacy agreement (#paranoid), you live to look under the hood of everyone else’s operations. 

So what could be more titillating than a naughty frisson of code, an exclusive look at a business analytics dashboard? It’s practically a peep show for Scorpios.

Strategy is sexy to your power-loving sign. Intelligence is your aphrodisiac. And while you’re capable of crunching large amounts of data without an AI assist, translating them to the plebes—er, your less rapid-fire colleagues—is another story. That’s where technology adds a magic touch. 

Perhaps you let Jules clean up your code. Maybe you use an AI campaign tracker like Supermetrics that shows everyone how hard you crushed a goal. Or BoldBI, a no-code AI copilot that builds visual dashboards from plain-English commands, narrates your charts in simple language, and helps you make strategic decisions through its “smart predictions.” 

As a secretly witchy sign, this is occult work hiding in plain sight. A Scorpio specialty! So your crystal ball happens to be a bar graph predicting the exact moment when profits could take a sharp Q4 decline? You don’t need a cauldron to brew up a save-the-day solution. Cast a spell on your coworkers and abracadabra those insights. Nobody needs to know how you and the AI got it done. Let it be one of your many little Scorpio secrets.  

Sagittarius 

Places to go, people to see, platforms to build! Supersizer Sagittarius has a million ideas and never enough time to do them all. Yet, somehow you do, fueled by good humor and boundless curiosity. You’re so prolific that your AI needs its own AI. 

Writing that last line led my own Sagittarius brain to think, “Hey, that sounds like the start of a standup routine,” which led me to a ChatGPT joke generator. After three prompts, it produced this snippet of AI comedy: “You talk to your chatbot so much, Alexa started sending you breakup texts.”

You see? This is what Sagittarians do. Our warren of rabbit holes is vaster than a mycelium network, interconnected by its own complex pathways. No wonder we’re always in trouble! 

It doesn’t help that Sag is the zodiac’s eternal student and serial entrepreneur, with strong media mogul tendencies. On a whim, you’ll throw together a digital course or an e-commerce platform in an hour. Tinker around with Generative AI website builders like Lovable or an AI-assisted platform like Thinkific where bots can help you shape a curriculum.

When you need to race between physical locations, which is often, look to the AI-adjacent field of robotics. On-the-go Sagittarians are fueled by FOMO; innovations that enhance human capacity could intrigue you. As the zodiac’s ethicist, however, you have your limits. (Hard pass on the surgically-implanted Neuralink brain chips, thanks.)

For now, perhaps a pair of Moonwalkers would be fun? This AI-powered wheeled footwear, which resembles the love child of rollerblades and Tevas sandals, will get you places at 2.5X normal speed. They’re $999, about the price of an entry-level e-bike.

Sounds hefty until you consider Sagittarians’ ability to pack value into every moment. The ROI might quickly pay for itself when you’re doubling the number of coffee meetings you can skate to, leaving with a signed sales contract and an angel investor for your audacious new startup.

Capricorn

We know, we know: Capricorns are forever typecast as goal-chasing workaholics. For the record, we know just as many Caps who love cognac, leather, and a hand-rolled cigar as those who love nothing more than rotting on the couch with a Bud Lite and a bag of edibles.

Wherever you fall on that spectrum, most Capricorns are burdened by a certain weight of responsibility. Performance and productivity apps? Yawn. You’ve already got that covered.

Where your stoic, stiff-upper-lip sign COULD use some support is with your mental and emotional wellbeing. As a sensual earth sign who can be ruthlessly hard on yourself, you might be the sign most in need of a hug—and the least likely to ask for one. Capricorns can be super awkward when it comes to physical contact.

And yet? The benefits of soothing touch can reduce cortisol, lower blood pressure, and reduce your heart rate. For the sign that rules longevity, this is key.

Enter the Apollo Wearable. It’s a small, vibrating (haptic) device you can strap onto your wrist or ankle that “sends gentle vibrations to the body that signal safety to the brain.” Created by trauma expert Dr. Dave Rabin, a neuroscientist and board-certified psychiatrist, it supports sleep, focus, and relaxation, and over time can even re-train your nervous system. Soon enough, you’ll feel as calm on the inside as you may appear on the outside.

Aquarius

Aquarius rules group activity. Your team-spirited sign loves to meet up for sports, social action, gaming, festivals… anything, really. The future is your playground, so you may have little to no resistance adopting tech, whether or not you’re a digital native. 

As the sign of innovation, using AI is a no-brainer. But how can it help you prioritize IRL pursuits and reduce extra screen time? Or, if you are fully remote, how can you create a virtual space that feels like an intramural soccer field, outdoor music fest, or your favorite team’s basketball stadium? Use AI to create a hybrid experience that simulates offscreen life.

At work, you might ditch Zoom meetings and commune with your colleagues on the Sims-style coworking platform Teamflow. Design a hyper-personalized virtual office with plants, books, and even transparent PNGs you can bring in from the web. Every team member can have their own piece of turf, curating it with a desk, rug, pets, and objects that express their individuality—a trait Aquarians prize. It even has commands like “Tap Allie on the shoulder” or “Invite Jadyn to you” that simulate what you’d do in an actual office space.

Full disclosure: I’ve used this platform with my team since 2021 and our space has a pool, a garden, a Peloton studio, and a $30,000 espresso machine. (“Meet me by the flamingo floatie” and the pixel-presence of our pets got us through the pandemic.)

Off-duty, your humanitarian sign might be organizing a social activism movement. This guide from Harvard has solid advice for how to use AI to deliver a clear message and bring people together in a positive, cohesive way.

Pisces

Making thousands of decisions a day is daunting enough on its own. But for a highly sensitive, big-feelings sign like Pisces, intuiting your way through the modern-life matrix takes a toll. A simple outfit choice is loaded with considerations, from what others will think, to fabric texture, to what everyone else is wearing, and how socially at ease you’ll feel.

Decisions are extra daunting with your vivid imagination, which readily churns up worst-case scenarios. A mix of AI and apps can help.

When the overwhelm ocean reaches high tide, start with How We Feel, an emotion-tracking app created by scientists and therapists. It helps you spot patterns and improve your ability to emotionally self-regulate over time.

Need facts to balance out your feelings? Pisces rules the subconscious and the creative right brain; visuals really matter. Skip ChatGPT and head to Pi.ai, a personal AI that flanks its prompt window with gorgeous fine art and suggested searches like “Practice a big conversation” and “What you should watch next.” 

When I asked Pi if it was just a prettied-up ChatGPT, it answered “Nope! I am a personal AI built by Inflection AI from the ground up. I’m not based on any existing LLMs or APIs, including ChatGPT. I’m built to be friendly, empathetic, and useful, not just a generic chatbot.” #PiscesHeaven 

Using AI as your emotional support animal turns out to be a really good idea. According to Leonard Mlodinow, author of “Emotional: How Feelings Shape Our Thinking,” logic and emotions aren’t easily separated, nor should they be. Becoming more feeling-fluent and aware of your own patterns can be a powerful GPS for you, Pisces. Now, back to those decisions.

SAVE $6.57: As of Oct. 20, the Pokémon TCG Black Bolt Elite Trainer Box is $88.92 at Amazon. This is now at market value vs. TCGPlayer.

Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company Black Bolt Elite Trainer Box $88.92 at TCGPlayer
$92.74 Save $3.82   Get Deal

Scouring the internet for Mega Evolution boosters and Phantasmal Flames preorders? My head is still in the Scarlet and Violet era whilst everyone else is distracted. It's a good job too, because the Black Bolt Elite Trainer Box is now at market value on Amazon for $88.50.

Black Bolt and White Flare is the last set to compliment the Scarlet and Violet era, and it ended it with a bang. Every Unovan Pokémon has either an Illustration Rare or Special Illustration Rare variant. So it's a massive set that will look stunning in a binder or display.

SEE ALSO: Where to buy Pokémon cards in 2025 — avoid overpaying or missing out on new sets

The Black Bolt ETB includes a Thundurus 209 Illustration Rare promo card, 65 Black Bolt-Themed sleeves, themed dice, and eight booster packs. Even the box comes in useful thanks to the included dividers for organising your newly ripped Pokémon TCG hits.

Most valuable Black Bolt and White Flare Pokémon cards Credit: Mashable Photo Composite / The Pokémon Company

Like I said, the only problem with this set is it's size, making those top chase cards brutal to catch in sealed products. For some, that's the fun and thrill of it all, but others just want to buy the single cards they're after and likely save some money in the process. Here's the top six right now and where you can buy them:

1. Victini – 171/086 – SV: Black Bolt
   Near Mint Holofoil: $519.99
   Market price: $498.21
   Most recent sale: $399.99

2. Victini – 172/086 – SV: White Flare
   Near Mint Holofoil: $422
   Market price: $29.30
   Most recent sale: $427.78

3. Zekrom ex – 172/086 – SV: Black Bolt
   Near Mint Holofoil: $500
   Market price: $455.44
   Most recent sale: $399.99

4. Reshiram ex – 173/086 – SV: White Flare
   Near Mint Holofoil: $367.93
   Market price: $367.23
   Most recent sale: $387.90

5. Zekrom ex – 166/086 – SV: Black Bolt
   Near Mint Holofoil: $239
   Market price: $241.90
   Most recent sale: $239.99

6. Reshiram ex – 166/086 – SV: White Flare
   Near Mint Holofoil: $188.65
   Market price: $198.12
   Most recent sale: $190

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

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

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

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

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

Desolate.

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

SEEDY

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Suspicious.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for August 4, 2025 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

FISHY

Hurdle Word 3 hint

To intertwine.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for August 4 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for August 4, 2025 Hurdle Word 3 answer

WEAVE

Hurdle Word 4 hint

A luxurious estate.

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

VILLA

Final Hurdle hint

Contempt.

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

SCORN

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 the New Moon tomorrow, which means the Moon is almost completely hidden tonight and there'll be barely any light to see in the sky.

What is today’s moon phase?

As of Monday, Oct. 20, the moon phase is Waning Crescent. Tonight, only 1% will be lit up, according to NASA's Daily Moon Observation.

With such a low percentage of visibility tonight, unsurprisingly, there's nothing to see on the moon's surface tonight.

When is the next full moon?

The next full moon will be on Nov. 5.

What are moon phases?

According to NASA, moon phases are caused by the 29.5-day cycle of the moon’s orbit, which changes the angles between the Sun, Moon, and Earth. Moon phases are how the moon looks from Earth as it goes around us. We always see the same side of the moon, but how much of it is lit up by the Sun changes depending on where it is in its orbit. This is how we get full moons, half moons, and moons that appear completely invisible. There are eight main moon phases, and they follow a repeating cycle.

The eight main moon 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.

It seems like every year at TwitchCon, something goes dangerously wrong.

In 2022, a foam pit disaster left one attendee with a broken back. In 2024, Kick-affiliated streamers harassed Twitch partners live on the convention floor. Stories of stalking, groping, and inadequate on-site response aren't uncommon.

Major creators, including Valkyrae, QTCinderella, Hasan Piker, Disguised Toast, and Yvonnie, all publicly opted out of attending in 2025, citing safety concerns. 

And this year, Emiru, a streamer with nearly two million followers, was assaulted at her meet-and-greet on the first day of TwitchCon 2025 in San Diego. Her attacker crossed multiple barriers, grabbed her face, and tried to kiss her before her own security intervened. TwitchCon security, she says, was nowhere to be found. Twitch's official response was a lengthy post on X describing how "safety and security of all those attending" is the event's "highest priority."

"Twitch has zero tolerance for harassment or acts that inhibit the safety and security of our community," the post read.

SEE ALSO: Streamer Emiru reportedly assaulted during meet-and-greet at TwitchCon 2025

In a post on X, Emiru said she was "hurt and upset by how Twitch handled it during and after the fact." She emphasized that it was her own staff — not event security — who intervened, and that nearby TwitchCon personnel "did not react and let the guy walk away."

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"The woman who is walking me away is my own personal manager, and behind the booth, the only two people who were checking on me and comforting me were her and my friend," she wrote. "None of the TwitchCon staff came to ask what happened or if I was OK."

After the clip of the assault went viral on social media, Twitch claimed that the man was immediately removed and permanently banned from the platform and future events. Emiru called that "a blatant lie." (Mashable reached out to Twitch about its approach to meet-and-greets more broadly, and whether there are plans to change or adapt them for future in-person events following this year’s incident.)

"He was allowed to walk away from my meet-and-greet," she wrote. "I didn’t hear he was caught until hours later — and it felt like that only happened because of my manager pressing for it."

This was, she said, her last TwitchCon.

"I did not feel cared for or protected, even bringing my own security and staff," she wrote. "I can’t imagine how creators without those options would feel."

Her statement echoed what’s becoming a growing chorus: TwitchCon isn't safe for streamers.

This doesn't happen at other conventions

At other massive fan events — like San Diego Comic-Con, held at the same San Diego Convention Center, or VidCon — the system is clear: celebrities are here, fans are there, and there are physical barriers, staffers, and buffers in between. These measures aren't perfect, but they’re consistent. The structure of those events is built on a basic understanding: People who attract millions of viewers online need real-world protection offline.

When creators began comparing their TwitchCon experiences to those at other conventions, a clear gap emerged in how safety is handled.

SEE ALSO: Streamer Emiru accuses Twitch of mishandling her assault at TwitchCon

Jessica Wyatt, a Twitch partner and gamer, shared on X that at PAX — a different gaming convention — a chat member discovered she was attending, flew to Melbourne, and "waited all day outside the gate to find me." She said he cornered her, confessed his love, and harassed her. After she escaped and alerted PAX staff, the response was swift.

"They were so incredibly responsive and took it so seriously," Wyatt wrote. "Due to them being dangerous, I was at PAX for only one hour to do brand work. The head of security introduced themselves and put three guards next to me for the hour. Obviously, they didn't know what he looked like, so they were watching every person who came up to me to meet."

Other creators pointed out how helpful and thoughtful security was at other GamerSupps events like Anime Expo in Los Angeles and other cons.

TwitchCon, meanwhile, has not quite found that rhythm. Streamers roam the show floor, film live content (known as IRL streaming), and interact with fans in real time — often without escorts, dedicated security, or even visible staff oversight. The same accessibility that makes Twitch feel authentic online makes TwitchCon feel alarmingly exposed in person.

"TwitchCon, you failed Emiru. You failed your female creators and female attendees," one fan wrote on X. "In just a few hours, you’ve shown parasocial fans that you’ve created an environment where [violence and violation] is possible. While the public decries this and demands reform, there are those watching this and seeing that it’s possible — and may be planning to do similar, or worse, to other female streamers before the con ends."

Are parasocial relationships to blame?

In part, yes. Streaming thrives on parasocial intimacy, or the illusion of friendship between creator and viewer. Unlike most YouTubers who attend VidCon or celebrities who attend Comic-Con, Twitch streamers are live for hours a day, responding to chat messages in real-time, and creating the sense of a two-way relationship. For some viewers, the boundary between "I support you" and "I know you" dissolves completely. That emotional closeness can curdle into entitlement when fans meet creators in real life. 

For streamers, the risk multiplies because they’re expected to be approachable. Hugging fans, chatting off-camera, walking the floor — these gestures are part of the culture that Twitch has built and monetized. The company has long marketed TwitchCon as an IRL community celebration, but it hasn’t built the infrastructure to make that community safe when it spills into reality.

The parasocial problem doesn't end at the venue doors. Many streamers have stalkers who track their locations online or via live broadcasts. In March, while livestreaming in Santa Monica with streamers Cinna and Valkyrae, a man reportedly threatened to kill Emiru, according to a report from the BBC. Other creators have been doxxed or harassed mid-stream. When those threats follow them into a physical event where everyone knows exactly where they are, community becomes exposure.

Twitch CEO Dan Clancy does seemingly think some of the issues are due to the parasocial relationships online, and it seems that the creators themselves hold some responsibility for their fans.

Of course, Twitch has implemented safety measures on its site, but that often overshadows the safety measures necessary at an event like TwitchCon. One attendee asked Clancy about safety at one of his Q&As on the last day of TwitchCon. The audience applauded the question, but not so much the answer. This is what he said:

It's really two separate problems, so first I'll talk briefly about [safety at TwitchCon]: It is something that we spend a lot of time on. Obviously, there are shortcomings and part of it is about responding in very specific ways and we've done that here in response to what occurred, and so we need to keep doing that.

Online, I think this is an area where we've been investing in for quite some time. It is an area that we need to keep investing in. I think many people that use a lot of our tools understand how the tools can be helpful to protect them. I do think livestreaming offers some advantages in terms of the ability to control your community, but it's still this issue that people of all sizes — it's not just women, of course, who have a challenge, but also underrepresented groups often have this problem of harassment online.

And it's something we care deeply about, and we're always looking at how we continue to invest to help protect creators as they go on their journey.

Clancy also said during an interview with journalist Taylor Lorenz that the challenge they're facing today "is a challenge in today's society; it's not limited to Twitch."

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I do think that when you're livestreaming, in many ways — since you control your community and you can ban people — you can make it so that those people that you don't want engaging with you and participating with you aren't there. It's very different when I use other short-form content and people say all sorts of stuff. Well, I can't stop that. But when I livestream, they basically don't bother me.

Now, what happened [to Emiru] yesterday obviously was something that we care deeply about. We're looking very closely at everything happening there, and I care deeply about [Emiru] — she's a friend of mine — and so I want to see how we can support her to do that. But this is just something that we can keep working on.

I think everyone identifies our tools, in terms of trust and safety, as the leaders in the industry about helping creators, but that means there's always more work to be done, because that's the world we live in now.

The reality is, even as you do a lot in terms of security, in today's world there are challenges that can present themselves, especially when someone is putting themselves out there. We try to work very closely with each creator about what they want to do and what works for them, so I don't want to get into any specifics or details. But part of that is working with creators... Right now, we're definitely ramping it up to make sure creators know that we have the resources there to help them figure out what's right for them.

Why can't TwitchCon get it right?

This year's convention had plenty of security in place. You had to walk through security to get into the convention center, including metal detectors, and backpacks were not permitted. You had to scan your wristband to get into additional entry points. As Twitch wrote before the con, there were "multiple layers of protection, with both visible and behind-the-scenes measures in place."

"While we don't disclose some security details to maintain the integrity of our operations, attendees can expect to see armed and uniformed law enforcement presence and other security personnel throughout the venue, including plainclothes personnel," Twitch wrote.

And yet, no one stopped the intruder from attacking Emiru.

TwitchCon keeps getting safety wrong because the event is designed around access, not protection. Its identity is built on proximity. Tightening security means restricting that access.

And for some, like streamer FanFan, that additional security doesn't necessarily equal safety. Following Emiru's assault, she says she was offered more Twitch-provided security. She declined, saying she preferred to move independently through the convention. "I don't like being hovered over," she told Mashable. "Yesterday, they assigned personal security to me, and I had to beg them to let him leave. I don't like feeling like I'm being followed or that I need to be watched out for — that if I'm going somewhere, I have to check in. I wasn't allowed to walk back to the hotel. I had to take the private car, and I didn't want to take the private car. I just wanted to walk. I was very on edge yesterday."

Instead, she carries what she calls her own essentials during her IRL streams: "I have pepper spray, a taser, and a rape whistle. That's all I need. I don't really do anything [special] to keep myself safe. I kind of just trust my audience not to be weird."

FanFan's choice points to a larger paradox: Twitch can't easily fix safety without redefining what access and autonomy actually mean on its platform. Until then, TwitchCon's security will continue to feel reactive, not preventive — and more high-profile streamers may keep opting out.

Additional reporting from Crystal Bell.

TL;DR: Experience the internet ad-free forever with this lifetime subscription to AdGuard Family Plan, on sale now for just $39.99 (reg. $169.99).

Opens in a new window Credit: AdGuard AdGuard Family Plan: Lifetime Subscription $39.99
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We’ve all been there — minding our own business, browsing the web, when out of nowhere, a loud video ad blares and you can’t find the mute button fast enough. If you’d like to enjoy a more peaceful internet experience, there’s now an app for that.

AdGuard Family Plan blocks pop-ups, videos, and other annoying ads online on up to nine different devices. Right now, you can get a lifetime subscription for just $39.99 (reg. $169.99) — less than $5 a device.

SEE ALSO: Ditch your VPN subscription for this plug-and-play privacy box

Ads don’t only interrupt your browsing experience — they could potentially be tracking your activity, invading your privacy, and slowing your device or browser down. AdGuard puts an end to this frustrating experience, acting as an ad blocker that blocks pop-ups, banners, and video ads from coming across your desk.

This lifetime subscription to the Family Plan works on both iOS and Android devices and provides lifetime protection for up to nine family members. Aside from letting you and your loved ones live ad-free, AdGuard also gives you a boost when it comes to cybersecurity. This app protects you from cyberattacks, malware, and phishing sites, while keeping your important info hidden from trackers and activity analyzers.

Have little kids at home? AdGuard includes a parental control feature that protects your kids from inappropriate content online, so you can rest easy when they are on their devices.

Give yourself and your loved ones the gift of a safer, ad-free internet with this lifetime subscription to AdGuard Family Plan, on sale now for just $39.99 (reg. $169.99).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Check out this lifetime license to Windows 11 Pro for just $14.97 (reg. $199) — the smartest way to modernize your PC with a clean UI, better multitasking, and improved security.

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Windows 11 Pro $14.97
$199 Save $184.03   Get Deal

You know the upgrades you mull over for months? This isn’t one of them. If your system’s showing its age, consider this your green light: Windows 11 Pro is just $14.97 for a limited time. It’s an easy, affordable way to refresh performance, polish your desktop experience, and add modern protections in one move.

This isn’t about chasing trends; it’s more about giving your computer the modern foundation it deserves. Windows 11 Pro brings a sleeker UI, better multitasking, and enhanced security — all in a one-time lifetime license.

SEE ALSO: Windows 10 life support ends Oct. 14. Here’s what will happen.

Think of it as the difference between driving a reliable car and suddenly upgrading to one with a smarter dashboard, smoother handling, and built-in security features.

For professionals, creators, and power users, this upgrade also unlocks features like Hyper-V, Windows Sandbox, BitLocker encryption, and seamless Azure AD integration — tools that make a real difference when you’re working across projects or managing sensitive data.

And yes, Windows 11 comes with Copilot, Microsoft’s AI-powered assistant that can summarize pages, change settings, or even help you generate code on the fly. It’s like having a co-pilot (literally) inside your OS.

But you don’t need convincing — you already know a smart upgrade when you see one. Get Windows 11 Pro for just $14.97 (reg. $199) for a limited time.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Back in 2021, VIL was just another fan, running a small YouTube channel where he shared his favorite VTuber moments. That's when he stumbled across Ava Lamp's streams — and something clicked.

Four years later, he was on one knee on a balcony at TwitchCon 2025, asking Ava to marry him.

Like many modern romances, the love story between VTubers VIL and Ava Lamp started online. "I liked her personality, content, and model," VIL told Mashable at TwitchCon 2025, adding that he liked "her way of joking" and her "very slime-girl VTube model."

"So, I followed her and started clipping her [streams], and she noticed the clips," he said.

VIL proposes to Ava Lamp at TwitchCon 2025. Credit: Courtesy of Ava Lamp and VIL

From there, an online friendship began to grow. They talked more, collaborated, and, eventually, VIL became a VTuber himself. Before long, the two were inseparable online — "best friends," as he put it.

He started to fall for her, but Ava was clear: There was no chance of romance. She was a lesbian, and she would never date another content creator. "But then that changed," she joked to Mashable.

Two years later, the friends decided to attend TwitchCon 2023 together with a group of mutuals. It would be their first time meeting in person. They shared a hotel room with another friend and spent all three days side by side — laughing, exploring, and, apparently, confusing everyone around them.

Their friends kept asking if they were dating. They’d laugh and deny it. Of course not! How ridiculous.

"We spent most of the weekend together, and pretty much did everything together," she said. "You know when you just really click with someone? You have that spark? That's what I felt. And I was just like, 'I can't not tell you. Because if we leave here, I'm not going to be brave enough to tell you this later.'"

On the last day of the convention, she typed out a note on her phone in the backseat of an Uber and handed it to him. "Please don't hate me," she said.

The message, as they remember it, went something like this: "I know I've said I wouldn't date a man and I also wouldn't date a content creator, but after getting to know you and seeing you in person, I feel sparks."

"It was so funny because she didn't actually ask me out at any point in the note," VIL said. "It was just her blurting out her feelings on this note. To my knowledge, this was a zero percent chance of happening. And now, suddenly, it was a hundred percent chance. So I was kind of blue-screened."

In the back of that Uber, they dove straight into the big questions — marriage, kids, moving. They already knew each other as friends, but now they needed to know if they were compatible. Turns out? They were.

Sharing a kiss at TwitchCon. Credit: Courtesy of Ava Lamp and VIL

There was just one problem: distance. They lived across the country from each other. So, for the next year, they made it work long-distance. They traveled to see each other every other month, streamed together, and even wore those bracelets that buzz when the other person touches theirs.

After TwitchCon 2024, they decided it was time. Ava packed her life into a U-Haul, and they made the cross-country drive together — between two hurricanes.

"Driving that U-Haul was terrifying," VIL said. "I had only driven that big of a truck one or two other times. So that, plus all of my partner's life belongings, are in a truck. And I'm the one driving."

"Nothing bad happened, though," Ava reassured him.

By the time they sat down with Mashable at the San Diego Convention Center for TwitchCon 2025, the two were fidgeting with each other’s hands, both wearing matching silver bracelets with red jewels — replacements for their long-distance ones. Moving in together, Ava said, was a "huge relief" because "finally we get to spend all of our time together."

Since the major milestones of their relationship had all lined up with TwitchCon — they met in person at TwitchCon 2023, and after TwitchCon 2024, they moved in together — they knew TwitchCon 2025 had to be something special.

VIL started a secret group chat with all their friends, everyone except Ava. The morning of the first day of the convention, Ava was taking her time getting ready while he tried to stay calm.

"I tried to play it super cool," he joked, but the engagement ring — a temporary one until the real ring, made with stones from her grandmother's and great-grandmother's rings, was ready — was burning a hole in his pocket.

"I was obsessively checking it to make sure it didn't fall out," he said.

"I saw you check your pocket a couple times, but I didn't clock what that was. I thought you were just worried about losing your phone or something," she laughed.

They grabbed brunch with friends, but he was eager to get to the convention center. He had a plan: a balcony overlooking the ocean. Ava, however, wanted to stop by the merch table first.

"Last year, she wanted merch and it was sold out, and I knew I didn't want that to happen again," he said. "And so when she's like, 'Can we get this merch real quick? I want to make sure I get it before anything happens.' In my head, I'm like, 'No, we need to go!' But I also didn't want her to miss out on the merch. So I go, 'Yes, yeah, that's fine, but can we try to be a bit quick?'"

Finally, they reached the balcony. Their friends, who were all in on the plan, asked other con-goers to clear the area. Then VIL told Ava to check something on Discord. She opened her phone — and saw a commissioned piece of art of his VTuber persona proposing to hers. When she looked up, he was on one knee.

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He doesn't remember exactly what he said. All she remembers is that she said yes.

"[I love] how sweet you are and how you wear your heart on your sleeve," Ava said when asked what she loved most about him. "And you're not afraid to be emotional. I love how sweet you are and how kind you are."

Then VIL made her cry.

"I love how unabashedly yourself you are," he told her. In the past, people had tried to suppress her joy, he said. "I am so happy that you can be your whole self and you can just embrace yourself. You love fashion. You are very alt-goth. You love to dye your hair. You love building Gundams, you love Legos, you love Disney. I love you. I love you being you. And I'm glad that we can be our best selves together. You always encourage me to be my best self."

They don’t have wedding plans yet — but if Twitch CEO Dan Clancy wants to sponsor it, they’re not opposed.

When a fan recently posted on X, "bbno$ is my favorite rapper why does he have to be so mean to AI artists? 🥺🥺," the Canadian musician didn't offer a gentle explanation. Instead, he fired back with a simple, unambiguous response: "FUCK AI."

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It's the kind of blunt sincerity that defines bbno$ (pronounced "baby no money") — the viral rapper known as much for his absurdist humor as his meticulous approach to independent artistry. But behind the all-caps expletive is a clear philosophy: In an era when algorithms can churn out songs, images, and videos faster than any human hand, he’s choosing to bet on people.

That choice is on full display in his recent video for "ADD," a hyper-colorful, kinetic collage built entirely from fan-made animation. Instead of outsourcing to a studio or feeding prompts into generative software, bbno$ tapped over 20 independent artists — many of whom had already created fan art of him online — to bring the visual to life. The result is a whirlwind of distinct animation styles stitched together, each segment a small love letter from one creator to another.

“There's two things to it," he told Mashable at TwitchCon 2025, on the day of the release of his self-titled ninth studio album. "One, when people spend their whole life getting good at something, it kind of sucks when you can click a button and make something that’s more impactful. So I just wanted to give back to the community that's shown me so much love."

The other reason is even simpler: bbno$ feels better supporting people and human-made art. "It kind of makes me feel good when I'm supporting other artists, because I’m an artist too," he explains. "I remember when I wasn't making money — it's such an exhilarating feeling when you finally can. So if I can help other artists get that, I want to."

The "ADD" project took six months to complete, which is a herculean effort for a three-minute song. But the payoff was both a visual spectacle and a creative statement: proof that collaboration across 23 different minds, each bringing their own idiosyncrasies and artistic POVs, could create something no machine could replicate.

"I don't know if I'll ever get another piece of visual content that's that stimulating ever again," he admits. "Because it was 20 different people, twenty different minds.”

SEE ALSO: Meet the indie musicians who are making a living on TikTok

That kind of enthusiasm has long been part of bbno$'s appeal. His catalog, which spans goofy hits like "Lalala" with Y2K and more experimental cuts, thrives on a sense of human chaos that algorithms can't quite fake. Even when he leans into internet virality, there’s a pulse of self-awareness. He's in on the joke, but he’s also dead serious about the craft.

His distrust of AI isn't rooted in fear of change so much as empathy for working artists. In an age when tech companies are pouring billions into AI music and video tools, and when artists' work is being scraped to train those systems, bbno$ is thinking about the people behind the art.

"Massive organizations are starting to utilize AI and software to take people's jobs away," he says. "One of my best friends works at Amazon, and he was like, 'I have a call with India. I’m presenting something that’s unfortunately going to take a lot of people's jobs.' He knows it sucks, but he also needs to make a living. That's just where things are progressing. I’m just trying to do my part as much as I possibly can."

It's not a crusade against technology — bbno$ built his career on the internet, after all — but rather a push to preserve a kind of creative integrity that's becoming increasingly endangered. These days, art is data, and he's trying to keep the human part alive. "To keep people going, to keep the train on the other side," he says, "you have to fund them. That's the only way."

There’s also a philosophical throughline here: bbno$ has always thrived on collaboration. His early success came from meme-driven partnerships with producers like Y2K and Diamond Pistols, and more recently, his output has ramped up to near-weekly releases that rely on a global web of creators, artists, editors, and fans. His entire career is a case study in the creative possibilities of the digital age, where art is built by people, not programs.

"I've never really been one to put a lot of effects in my videos," he says. "If I do, it’s got to be something that took a year to make, not just something you plug in." That ethos extends beyond visuals; it's in the way he approaches songwriting, content creation, and even his signature humor. Everything feels a little rough around the edges, but that's what makes it human.

The irony, of course, is that AI could easily imitate bbno$'s more surface-level quirks and offbeat flow, but it can't replicate the sincerity that drives them. Creativity, for him, is an act of care.

On YouTube, the comments under "ADD" read like a digital roll call of collaboration. Fans and animators tagged their timestamps, celebrating each other's work. "I animated 0:00–0:09! Everyone did such a fantastic job

Over on X, an animator named Kenzie shared a clip of bbno$ commissioning them for a project after they'd been "unemployed in the animation industry for two years because of AI." The post has since racked up more than 350,000 likes — a glimpse at how deeply the gesture resonated.

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For a video that could’ve been made by a single generative model, "ADD" instead became a showcase of community. It's the kind of messy, vibrant collaboration that only humans could pull off.

"I just wanted to give back," he repeats. "That’s really it."

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Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad 11-inch with A16 chip in Yellow $299 at Amazon
$349 Save $50   Get Deal

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Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple 2025 MacBook Air 13-inch Laptop with M4 chip $999
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Opens in a new window Credit: Shark Shark AV2501AE Robot Vacuum $300 at Amazon
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