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When I caught a glimpse of an orange cat in Alien: Earth's first episode, I thought, "What a precious Easter egg!"

The cat appears during the show's extended opening sequence onboard the Weyland-Yutani deep space research vessel Maginot. The whole sequence pays tribute to Alien, capturing the crew dynamics and atmosphere of Ridley Scott's film. Alien: Earth's cat is just another part of that sequence, echoing the role Jonesy the cat played on the Nostromo in the original film.

SEE ALSO: 'Alien: Earth' review: Xenomorphs get upstaged in this sci-fi treat

Anyone who's seen Alien knows that Jonesy is the film's fuzzy MVP. One of the film's two survivors, alongs with eternal badass Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver), he's the only Alien character who could hiss at a Xenomorph and somehow get away unscathed.

Because Jonesy is such an Alien icon, seeing his doppelgänger pop up in Alien: Earth feels like a sweet piece of fan service. I saw it as series creator Noah Hawley gesturing out to one of the most beloved elements of the franchise, and I believed that, just like Jonesy, no harm would befall the Maginot's cat.

How wrong I was.

In Alien: Earth's first episode, the Maginot crash lands on Earth, which certainly does not bode well for anyone onboard — including sweet cats! However, perishing in a crash landing would be infinitely better than what actually happens to the Maginot's cat.

SEE ALSO: The coolest tech of the 'Alien' universe, from medpods to X-ray torches

Viewers discover the cat's fate in episode 2, when Prodigy Corporation's team of hybrids explores the Maginot wreckage. There, they discover the Maginot's lab, where a familiar feline lurches into view. His meows are gurgled, his fur is caked in blood, and his back paws drag awkwardly behind his body.

The image is horrifying in itself, but any cat owner who's ever shepherded their pet through a medical emergency will feel an extra layer of dread. Aspects of the cat's movement and vocalizations reminded me of my own experience caring for my ill cat. Trust me when I say, from one former cat owner to the many cat owners out there who watch this show, that it's more than okay to take a break here.

Especially since the scene only gets worse.

SEE ALSO: 'Alien: Earth': Did you catch series creator Noah Hawley's sneaky cameo?

The Maginot's cat turns his head and reveals that one of his eyes is unnaturally large. That's because it's not actually its original eye — it's the creature known as T. Ocellus, a parasitic eyeball-octopus hybrid that replaces its hosts' eyes and takes over their brains.

T. Ocellus, recognizing the hybrids as being more advanced hosts, exits the cat's skull in a flood of tentacles and gore, leaving the poor animal well and truly dead. Justice for the Maginot cat!

The sequence doesn't even last a minute, yet it's among Alien: Earth's most disturbing. Obviously, as a cat lover, I'm inclined to be extra scared. But the frights here go beyond the blood and brain matter.

So much of the horror around the Xenomorph is tied to the primal fear of losing bodily autonomy. In the Xenomorph's case, hosts become unwilling parents, "birthing" the chestbursters into the world. T. Ocellus, on the other hand, moves away from reproductive anxieties and instead introduces the fear of having your very movement (really, all your brain functions) being co-opted by some outside force. It's a nightmare, pure and simple, and rendered extra effectively thanks to the death of the Maginot's cat in particular.

Anyone who's watched Alien knows the fear of thinking Jonesy will die, and the overwhelming relief when he survives. Hawley plays with these expectations coming into Alien: Earth, luring us into a false sense of security about the Maginot's cat.

"Surely this is just an Easter egg and won't come to anything," you might think, as I did. "Surely the cat will follow in Jonesy's footsteps and be fine!"

Not in Hawley's house of horrors! He makes an upsetting example of the poor cat, demonstrating both the terror of T. Ocellus and a chilling truth about Alien: Earth. Going forward, no one is safe.

Alien: Earth is now streaming on Hulu, with new episodes premiering Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on Hulu and FX.

Alien: Earth boasts a stacked cast, from Timothy Olyphant as synthetic Kirsh to Sydney Chandler as human-AI hybrid Wendy. But the show welcomes another surprising performer to the fold: series creator Noah Hawley.

Hawley, who's also created series like Fargo and Legion, makes his acting debut in Alien: Earth's first episode, titled "Neverland." He plays Wendy and Joe's (Alex Lawther) father in brief flashbacks.

SEE ALSO: 'Alien: Earth' review: Xenomorphs get upstaged in this sci-fi treat

However, Hawley isn't the only member of his family to star in Alien: Earth. His 12-year-old son, Lev Hawley, plays young Joe in the flashbacks. Like his father, Alien: Earth marks Lev Hawley's acting debut — and his presence in the show is the reason Noah Hawley ended up in front of the camera.

In May, Hawley told Deadline that his son had asked whether there was a role he could play in the show.

"I thought, 'Okay, well, he could play Alex [Lawther] at a young age, but then what am I going to do?' Cast some day players to come in, when [Lev] has never acted before? I figured it would be easier if I did it," Hawley said to Deadline. "I get down on the floor with him and improvise, and I can make him relax. It felt like the best way to direct him."

He continued: "There's something nice and metaphorical about being my lead actor's parent."

However, the Hawley family appearance in Alien: Earth may just turn out to be a one-time thing. Hawley warned Deadline, "Don't look out for a lot of me in the show."

Alien: Earth is now streaming on Hulu, with new episodes premiering Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on Hulu and FX.

The White Lotus Season 3 isn't the only major show of 2025 to film in Thailand. Noah Hawley's Alien prequel Alien: Earth shot there as well, with the series taking place in a futuristic version of the country, now called New Siam.

That's not the only overlap the two series share, though! They also share a star, as a White Lotus Season 3 actor pops up in Alien: Earth.

SEE ALSO: 'Alien: Earth' review: Xenomorphs get upstaged in this sci-fi treat

In Alien: Earth's very first episode, Tayme Thapthimthong, who played Gaitok the security guard on the third season of The White Lotus, makes a brief but memorable appearance. He plays Anant, a member of the search and rescue team that's sent to help survivors of the USCSS Maginot's crash in Prodigy City.

Tragically for Anant, this is an Alien project, and that means that most of the people who step foot in that crashed spaceship won't be stepping back out. They'll be fodder for the Xenomorph that's now running rampant in the wreckage — or for the four new alien species that were also part of the Maginot's cargo.

That's the fate that befalls Anant, who's one of the first victims of a gnarly new tick-like alien. It burrows into his flesh and sucks him dry, becoming a distended blood balloon in the process. What a spectacular entrance to the franchise for this new beastie!

While Thapthimthong won't be returning to Alien: Earth — losing all your blood will do that to you! — he does get to join the ranks of other actors who have died spectacular deaths at the hands of the franchise's horrifying extraterrestrials. Those ranks include Alien's John Hurt, the original chestburster victim, and Alien: Romulus' Isabela Merced, who birthed and then fell prey to a nightmarish Xenomorph/human hybrid.

Now that Alien: Earth has unknowingly opened the floodgates to a White Lotus crossover, who's another character from the show you'd want to pit against Alien: Earth's alien foes? The obvious answer, in my mind, is Parker Posey's Victoria Ratliff. Can I imagine Victoria embracing her inner Ripley (Sigourney Weaver)? Not really, but I'd still love to hear her Southern drawl take on Ripley's most quotable line, "Get away from her, you bitch."

New episodes of Alien: Earth premiere Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on Hulu and FX.

If you saw the animated movie franchise Ice Age becoming an integral part of the Alien universe, then you've got some serious soothsaying skills.

As it turns out, the family-friendly films created by screenwriter Michael J. Wilson play a pivotal role in Noah Hawley's FX series Alien: Earth, serving as a crucial connection between two main characters. Here's how it plays out.

Where does Ice Age come up in Alien: Earth? Joe (Alex Lawther) watches "Ice Age" for sad reasons. Credit: FX

First things first, it's not just any old Ice Age — it's Ice Age: Continental Drift.

The fourth movie in the franchise appears in Alien: Earth's first episode, when Prodigy military medic Joe (Alex Lawther) gets home to his apartment in New Siam, Prodigy City. He sits down to watch the film, and it's obvious he's seen it many times before, as he quotes it aloud. (Notably, this movie came out in 2012; given Alien: Earth is set in 2120, it's an 108-year-old weeknight screening Joe's going for here.)

But he's not the only one watching. Joe's sister Marcy (Sydney Chandler), is watching Joe watch Continental Drift through security cameras back on Neverland, Prodigy's secret research facility. The thing is, Joe thinks Marcy is dead — she's not, her consciousness has been transferred into a hybrid called Wendy by Prodigy. But despite her new synthetic body, Marcy remembers watching this film with her brother (there's a flashback), and also quotes the scene aloud.

It's specifically a scene in which mammoth Manny, smilodon Diego, and ground sloth Sid encounter giant ape pirate Captain Gutt. "Surrender your ship or face my fury," says the captain. "Or face your furry what?" replies Sid.

Why is Ice Age: Continental Drift important in Alien: Earth?

Turns out quoting movies is the most human thing you can do in the reality that is Alien: Earth.

Ice Age: Continental Drift comes up again when Joe tries to resign from his post as medic to go to medical school on Mars, while Marcy watches on the cameras. He's rejected by the robot attendant, who says he has seven months left on his Prodigy contract. "Have a heart," Joe says. "Or face my fury."

At this moment, Marcy places her hand on the screen, somehow rewrites the code, and makes the robot attendant say, "Or face your furry what?" In the moment, Joe is stunned not only to hear this corporate robot quoting Continental Drift, but the specific response in Joe and Marcy's favourite scene.

It's a sign, an in-joke sent from Marcy to Joe, that she might not be gone for good. And luckily, they won't have to wait long to watch the whole movie together again.

Considering both the Alien and Ice Age franchises are produced by 20th Century Studios (formerly known as 20th Century Fox), it's also extremely convenient IP to drop into the narrative — much like those Disney movies on Boy Kavalier's roof. And honestly, if you haven't seen all the Ice Age films, then doom on you, doom on you, doom on you…

Alien: Earth premieres Aug. 12 at 8 p.m. ET on Hulu and FX with two episodes, with new episodes dropping weekly on Tuesdays.

Alien: Earth takes place before the first Alien movie chronologically, at a time when the globe — and some of space — is ruled by five different corporations.

Some of these are names we've heard before in the Alien universe, while others are brand new. Some appear to be more relevant to the story Alien: Earth is telling than others. To help you keep track, we've broken down the five corporations, and everything we know about them so far.

SEE ALSO: 'Alien: Earth' review: Xenomorphs get upstaged in this sci-fi treat What are the five corporations in Alien: Earth?

Although only three of the corporations have been mentioned so far in the show, the names of all five have been revealed in the official Alien: Earth press release. These are:

• Weyland-Yutani

• Lynch

• Dynamic

• Threshold

• Prodigy

We get a brief glimpse of the people who presumably run these five corporations near the start of episode 1, during an impromptu politics lesson given by Maginot engineer Shmuel (Michael Smiley) to his apprentice Malachite (Jamie Bisping).

What do we know about the corporations?

We know quite a bit about a couple, and basically nothing about some others. The two corporations that have been key to the Alien: Earth story so far are Weyland-Yutani, which owns the USCSS Maginot deep space research vessel that crashes on Earth carrying the alien specimens, and Prodigy, a newer corporation that owns Prodigy City in New Siam, where the ship lands, and the "Neverland" research island where the hybrids are based.

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Prodigy is owned by Boy Kavalier (Samuel Blevin), the "youngest trillionaire ever" who we learn founded the company around a decade ago — Alien: Earth is set in 2120. Prodigy is known for synths and AI, but as we discover in episode 1, they're in the process of pioneering something new: hybrids, which are essentially synths with a downloaded human consciousness.

In terms of the other corporations, we know basically nothing about Lynch and Threshold — these haven't been mentioned in Alien: Earth yet — and the only thing we know about Dynamic is that they control the moon, thanks to a passing comment by Zaveri (Richa Moorjani) in the Maginot canteen. As Shmuel explains further in the scene, Weyland-Yutani has control of both North and South America and Mars and Saturn.

As we already know from the Alien franchise as a whole, Weyland-Yutani has an obsession with Xenomorphs, and acquiring alien species for its own shady purposes (often at the expense of the humans involved with said acquiring). Given the lengths the corporation has already gone to to gather the specimens onboard the Maginot, what lengths might they go to to try and get them back?

Alien: Earth premieres Aug. 12 at 8 p.m. ET on Hulu and FX with two episodes, then weekly on Tuesdays.

Alien: Earth is packed so full of near-sociopathic characters that it's sometimes easy to lose track of whether you're dealing with an AI, a human, or some combination of the two.

The good news is, although there are various artificially intelligent beings in Noah Hawley's Alien universe prequel, the show starts by providing us with a handy guide to remember them all. We've transcribed that opening lore below, along with some more information (and examples) of the different types of being in Alien: Earth, from cyborgs to synths and hybrids.

SEE ALSO: 'Alien: Earth' review: Xenomorphs get upstaged in this sci-fi treat What does the Alien: Earth intro tell us about cyborgs, synths and hybrids?

At the start of episode 1, text appears briefly explaining the difference between three beings: cyborgs, synths, and hybrids. We've transcribed it in full below:

"In the future the race for immortality will come in three guises:

Cybernetically enhanced humans: Cyborgs
Artificially intelligent beings: Synths
Synthetic beings downloaded with human consciousness: Hybrids

Which technology prevails will determine what corporation rules the universe."

Let's break those three down in some more detail.

What are cyborgs? Credit: Patrick Brown / FX

Cyborgs have a rich history in sci-fi, and Alien: Earth is no exception. A cyborg is essentially a human being with some kind of robotic enhancement. We meet our first one fairly early on in the form of Morrow (Babou Ceesay), the head of security onboard Weyland-Yutani's USCSS Maginot, the doomed ship carrying multiple alien species that crash lands into Earth.

Morrow may have a fairly robotic demeanour, but he has the brain of a human. His arm, on the other hand, is pretty much a Swiss Army Knife, complete with a blade and various handy power tool attachments.

What are synths? Credit: Patrick Brown / FX

Remember Ash (Ian Holm) from the original Alien movie? He was a synthetic, which is basically an entirely man-made being with an AI brain. Our main Alien: Earth synth is Kirsh (Timothy Olyphant), a Prodigy employee who works alongside Boy Kavalier (Samuel Blenkin) and his new batch of hybrids (more on those below).

What are hybrids? Credit: FX

Synthetics crossed with humans, hybrids are Prodigy's brand new experiment and the core focus of Alien: Earth. Wendy (Sydney Chandler) is the first of a group of terminally ill children who have their consciousness' transferred into the bodies of synthetics. This means Wendy is capable of super-human speed and strength, but still has the memories and emotions of the little girl she was before her procedure.

Alien: Earth premieres Aug. 12 at 8 p.m. ET on Hulu and FX with two episodes, then weekly on Tuesdays.

James Cameron has never hesitated to give good quotes on anything, so naturally, he has thoughts on generative AI.

The 70-year-old director is the all-time box office GOAT, with an impressive string of hits such as Titanic and the Avatar series. He recently took to a couple of different venues to discuss generative AI, which is impacting movie-making in the same way it's impacting virtually everything else.

In a conversation with Screen Daily, an international film industry publication, Cameron said that artists will need to "master" generative AI so they can harness its potential on their own terms.

“I can’t think of anything coming up that is bigger and more important to us right now than confronting this generative AI issue,” Cameron told Screen Daily. “It is critical that we master it and control it so that it remains an artistic tool and it doesn’t replace artists."

Cameron is known to be as verbose as he is opinionated, and he has consistently been on the cutting edge of visual effects technology. In general, generative AI has been extremely controversial in Hollywood, with even the smallest whiff of generative AI leading to fierce backlash. However, in recent conversations, Cameron staked out a more measured point of view.

"There are some very dangerous things ahead of us right now, but I’ve never been afraid of new technology,” the director said to Screen Daily. “I want to learn it, I want to master it for myself, then use my own best judgment about how I apply it to my personal art.”

SEE ALSO: ChatGPT fans are shredding GPT-5 on Reddit as Sam Altman responds in AMA (updated)

Cameron went on to tell Screen Daily that we're in a sort of "wild west" with AI right now. “We as the artists in movies, in television, have to set the rules for it. Right now, there are no rules. It’s the Wild West.”

And in an appearance on the Boz to the Future podcast, Cameron said that generative AI could be critical for filmmakers trying to drastically lower the costs of making big, effects-heavy films, citing Dune as an example. However, he stressed that doesn't mean taking away work from humans.

"Now that’s not about laying off half the staff and at the effects company," the director said, according to Variety. "That’s about doubling their speed to completion on a given shot, so your cadence is faster and your throughput cycle is faster, and artists get to move on and do other cool things and then other cool things, right? That’s my sort of vision for that."

If you haven't kept up with Cameron throughout his filmmaking career, this is entirely in keeping with his approach for the past few decades. He has consistently advocated for new technologies like CGI (pioneered in Terminator 2) and performance capture and 3D filmmaking, like the kind seen in Avatar. Where this gets tricky is that CGI and performance capture still require a human touch to work properly, while some generative AI advocates believe the technology can be used to write screenplays or make movies without human input at all.

Currently, the use of AI in Hollywood has become a battleground for unions like SAG-AFTRA negotiating with big studios.

U.S. antitrust regulators have been on a roll, and Google may soon be forced to sell its popular Chrome browser, which is by far the leading web browser among Americans.

Now, Google has reportedly received a massive 'longshot' offer from a surprising source: Perplexity AI.

The Wall Street Journal broke the news today that Perplexity AI has reportedly offered Google $34.5 billion to buy Chrome, which is surprising for a few reasons. Most notably, Perplexity itself is only valued at $18 billion, the Journal reports. Second, while the exact valuation of Chrome is not known, some estimates place the web browser's value at either $20 or $50 billion, depending on who's asking.

Perplexity is best known as an AI-powered search engine, but the company recently launched Comet, an agentic AI browser.

SEE ALSO: I’m testing Perplexity’s new AI browser Comet. Here are 3 features I tried right away.

So, how would Perplexity AI fund this offer? According to the Wall Street Journal, Perplexity has the backing of several venture-capital funds and other investors, who would back their offer.

OpenAI has also reportedly expressed interest in buying Google Chrome, though it's unclear if Google would be willing to sell such a popular asset to its chief AI rival.

All of this is unfolding as tech companies brace for the ripple effects of the Department of Justice’s landmark antitrust case against Google. Indeed, Google is unlikely to sell Chrome unless forced to do so.

The antitrust case over Google's monopoly of the search marketplace determined that Google “illegally [monopolized] the search engine and search advertising markets.” Google has already lost that case, and now U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta is weighing potential remedies, one of the most dramatic being a forced sale of Chrome.

At the same time, major tech companies are looking to a post-Google Search web economy and trying to get a head start in the race for AI browser dominance

Many analysts think a sale of Google Chrome is ultimately unlikely, but that hasn’t stopped rivals like Perplexity from moving fast to put their name in the hat. On top of the Chrome question, Judge Mehta could also restrict Google’s ability to pay for default search engine placement on browsers and devices — a move that reportedly had Apple eyeing Perplexity as a potential acquisition target in the first place.

Chrome boasts roughly 3.5 billion users worldwide and commands more than 60 percent of the global browser market — a dominance that makes any talk of a forced sale one of the most consequential antitrust remedies in tech history.

Life with kids can be chaotic. Trust me, I know. So when I find something that works, I want to tell everyone about it. As a mom to a toddler and a preschooler, these are the Amazon finds that I use and rely on every single day.

Meta is quickly becoming the forerunner in Big Tech's chorus against "Woke AI," as it announces a collaboration with known conservative influencer Robby Starbuck to ensure its AI tools are free of "ideological bias."

SEE ALSO: Truth Social's new AI search is 'woke' enough to disagree with Trump

Starbuck, to clarify, is not an expert in developing or training AI tools or LLMs. Instead — as explained in an August 8 statement posted to the X accounts of Starbuck and Meta Chief Global Affairs Officer Joe Kaplan — he will provide guidance to the company's developers on how to further "mitigate" political bias in AI tools. Meta's stance is that removing such "DEI bias" makes its models "more accurate." The advisory role is part of a deal struck in a settlement between Meta and Starbuck, who sued the company for $5 million, alleging the company's AI chatbot falsely claimed he was at the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol insurrection.

“We don’t want a future where you’ve got AI putting the thumb on the scale when it comes to politics,” Starbuck said in an interview with CNBC, explaining his goal was "ethical" and "neutral" AI. Starbuck has previously advised the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and head Brendan Carr on eliminating DEI and equal opportunity initiatives in telecommunications, a strategy that includes withholding FCC approvals for companies that don't comply with the Trump administration's mandates.

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The move comes after President Trump announced a new federal AI Action Plan and executive order targeting what conservatives have deemed "Woke AI," or Large Language Models with ideological or political "bias" that promote liberal beliefs, including the concept of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Many considered the move to be a capitulation to Big Tech's leaders, most of whom funded and now advise the Trump administration.

Starbuck, a former music video director, has become a leading figure among conservative social media influencers, gaining popularity for videos that attack companies with diversity initiatives and galvanize his followers to boycott or pressure them to capitulate to right wing demands by removing DEI policies. Like many other conservative influencers, Starbuck often shares alarmist comments about gender affirming healthcare for trans youth, refers to liberal commentators as "mentally challenged" and "lunatics," and has declared DEI policies a "war on men." He's also a visiting fellow at the Heritage Foundation, the conservative think tank behind that crafted the controversial Project 2025 movement.

SEE ALSO: Metadata on U.S. government memos reveals authors linked to Project 2025

Even before the president's sweeping anti-DEI orders, Meta had already struck down its DEI mandates and related policies, including protections for LGBTQ communities, women, and people of color. Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg has been gradually shifting the company's policies and priorities to the right in the name of "free speech" — echoing the sentiments of the current administration — including donating $1 million to the Trump campaign in the company's name.

"Since engaging on these important issues with Robby, Meta has made tremendous strides to improve the accuracy of Meta AI and mitigate ideological and political bias," the company said in a statement.

The AI wars roll on — this time with Anthropic stepping right in behind OpenAI by offering its Claude chatbot to the federal government for the bargain price of just $1 a year.

The San Francisco–based company becomes the latest AI player to pitch its flagship LLM to Washington, a move widely seen as a bid to win favor with President Donald Trump’s administration. The announcement on Tuesday comes less than a week after OpenAI revealed a nearly identical deal, making ChatGPT available to the General Services Administration for the same token fee.

SEE ALSO: Anthropic reportedly cut OpenAI access to Claude

According to the Financial Times, the Claude agreement clearly states that federal agencies aren’t obligated to use the chatbot at all. Even if they do, Claude’s use will be limited to sensitive but unclassified work.

Anthropic, Google, and OpenAI have only recently been cleared to supply their chatbots to the US government. According to the Financial Times, Google is already working on a similar arrangement to offer its Gemini AI to federal agencies at a steeply discounted rate.

Josh Gruenbaum, commissioner of the Federal Acquisition Service — which oversees procurement for US agencies — told the FT that the goal is simple: “get widespread adoption [of AI tools] in the federal government.”

So far, multiple federal agencies have already begun experimenting with AI tools. The Pentagon has awarded $200 million in contracts to Anthropic, Google, OpenAI, and xAI. Wired has also reported on AI being used inside agencies like the GSA and HUD to identify redundant federal regulations, though according to their reporting, the results have been, at best, mixed.

Gruenbaum told the Financial Times that the government has no official preference for one AI provider over another. Still, it’s worth noting that President Trump has made it clear the White House will refuse to do business with what it calls "woke AI" — a label applied to any chatbot it deems to be pushing "partisan bias or ideological agendas."

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

National Public Data — the online background check and fraud prevention service targeted by hackers in what became one of the biggest social security breaches ever — is back. It may still pose a security threat.

SEE ALSO: AOL will pull the plug on dial-up internet, '90s nostalgia ensues

In 2024, the private company announced a malicious actor had gained access to its systems in a Dec. 2023 breach, leaking information for several months to the web's black market. It took National Public Data even longer to disclose details of the breach to the public, which exposed nearly three decades of Social Security records — it was estimated that the hackers accessed hundreds of millions of records. Data included Social Security numbers, full names, addresses, emails, and phone numbers, prompting many to freeze their credit and go on the defense against identity theft.

The site shut down last year following the scandal, but now it appears that National Public Data is back in the personal information game. PC Mag reports that the domain is once again active and running with a new, unnamed owner. The site, which is operating as a people search engine, appears to still store personal data pulled from publicly available sources, including federal databases.

At the bottom of the homepage, the new National Public Data links to a statement on the 2023 breach. "The security of our users’ data is the most important factor for us. That’s why we protect it by implementing robust encryption protocols, regularly updating our security systems, and complying with all relevant data protection regulations," the site's FAQ reads.

How to opt out of National Public Data's search

Like other people search engines, individuals must request their personal information not be displayed on the site. To do so, users have to fill out the company's Opt Out Form. Individuals will need to first find and copy the link to their personal data profile on the site itself.

Individuals can also use a personal data removal service to scrub their information from multiple sites at once or manually remove their information from search sites like Google.

Elon Musk, as is his way, fired off an accusatory tweet Monday night. The target of his ire? Apple.

He posted on X: "Apple is behaving in a manner that makes it impossible for any AI company besides OpenAI to reach #1 in the App Store, which is an unequivocal antitrust violation. xAI will take immediate legal action."

Unfortunately for Musk, his own social media site quickly fact-checked his statement. Community notes on his post noted that both Deepseek and Perplexity had hit the top of the App Store charts, even after Apple and OpenAI announced a partnership in 2024.

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Still, Musk kept posting about Apple and his belief that it was tamping down on the popularity of xAI and its signature AI chatbot, Grok.

"Unfortunately, what choice do we have?" he posted on X. "Apple didn’t just put their thumb on the scale, they put their whole body!"

Musk has not yet provided evidence that Apple has suppressed his apps. As of this writing, ChatGPT is the top app on the Apple App Store charts; Grok is in the fifth spot, lagging behind Threads.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman didn't take the accusation kindly. He quote-tweeted Musk's post and wrote, "This is a remarkable claim given what I have heard alleged that Elon does to manipulate X to benefit himself and his own companies and harm his competitors and people he doesn't like."

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The conflict this week between Musk, Altman, and Apple is yet another example of the billionaire men running the world getting into petty, public spats. Remember the Musk, Trump feud? Or Zuck and Musk? Or previous Altman vs. Musk fights?

Still, that's not to say there haven't been controversies and troubles on Apple's end regarding its App Store. Epic Games, for instance, has been locked in a years-long legal battle with Apple over listing its popular game Fortnite in the App Store. The judge in the case actually found in May that Apple violated a court order prohibiting the company from engaging in anti-competitive behavior.

It's not clear if Musk will actually take legal action, but it's interesting to see the tech giants going at one another in a public space.

AOL is officially ending its dial-up service after 34 years. How much were users paying for the internet via phone line service with the iconic beep-boop-screeching sound?

According to an announcement last Friday, AOL said it its dial-up service would be discontinued on Sept. 30. For those curious about how much it cost for a paltry 0.056 megabits per second (compared to today's standard of 500 Mbps) we looked into the cost of AOL dial-up.

How much are AOL users paying for dial-up?

At this point, even signing up for AOL dial-up is tricky, and there's not much information about how to get it. According to AOL's dial-up page, the necessary software for their dial-up service to function is only available for Windows Desktop. For an "optimal browsing experience," AOL recommends installing the AOL Dialer, which connects the AOL network and your computer, and the AOL Shield Browser, which is optimized for older operating systems.

The AOL Dialer requires users to purchase an AOL Advantage Plan. Trying to find the cost of the Advantage Plan on the AOL website is a fruitless series of rabbit holes that eventually takes you to a page offering various bundles for customer support and identity theft services, ranging from $11.99 to $16.99 a month.

However, internet comparison site Allconnect says the AOL Advantage Plan costs $9.99 a month. An old CNET article from 2006 (via the Wayback Machine) said AOL increased the cost of its dial-up plan to $25.90 per month in a effort to push customers to its DSL plan, which cost the same at that time. So it looks like the cost came way down as dial-up customers dwindled. According to 2022 US Census data (via Ars Technica) around 175,000 households in the U.S. still used dial-up.

AOL dial-up is dead, but dial-up lives on elsewhere

AOL dial-up might be dead, but there are still providers offering internet through phone lines. For some people in the rural U.S., dial up or WiFi hotspots are the most viable options because of the high cost of an internet subscription or connectivity dead zones. The same Allconnect story lists the pricing for several different dial-up providers. NetZero offers 10 free monthly hours of dial-up, and then charges $11.95 per month. Earthlink's dial-up plan is $9.95 a month for the first three months then $24.95 a month after that.

Compared to the current costs of fiber optic internet plans which range from $50 to $250 a month, these prices are a steal. But you pay for what you get. So the real cost is a frustratingly slow browsing experience.

After a very Hollywood-heavy fourth season, Only Murders in the Building returns firmly to New York in Season 5. And this season, it looks like the podcasting trio of Charles-Haden Savage (Steve Martin), Oliver Putnam (Martin Short), and Mabel Mora (Selena Gomez) are taking on their most New York foes yet: the literal mob.

SEE ALSO: 'Only Murders in the Building' Season 4 ending explained: Who killed Sazz and why?

According to Season 5's first trailer, Charles, Oliver, and Mabel believe that the mob may have had something to do with the murder of the Arconia's doorman Lester (Teddy Coluca) in the Season 4 finale. The mob angle would certainly make sense, given that the Season 4 finale also introduced new player Sofia Caccimelio (Téa Leoni), whose missing husband Nicky — "the dry cleaning king of Brooklyn" — reportedly had ties to the Caputo crime family.

But the crime families of New York aren't the only suspects on display in the trailer. Only Murders in the Building also introduces a trio of billionaires — played by new guest stars Christoph Waltz, Renée Zellweger, and Logan Lerman — who keep sniffing around crime scenes. According to Oliver, they're "the new mob of New York." How are they connected to the "old mob," or to Lester?

Waltz, Zellweger, and Lerman are just a few of the new additions to Only Murders in the Building's star-studded list of guest stars. Bobby Cannavale, Beanie Feldstein, Jermaine Fowler, Keegan-Michael Key, and Dianne Wiest are also joining up. Meanwhile, Meryl Streep returns, alongside Da'Vine Joy Randolph, Richard Kind, Nathan Lane, and Michael Cyril Creighton.

Will the Only Murders in the Building crew solve yet another murder and avenge poor Lester? And how does Nicky Caccimelio's disappearance tie into Lester's demise? We'll just have to wait until Season 5 to find out.

Only Murders in the Building premieres Sept. 9 on Hulu.

TL;DR: Grab Microsoft Office Pro 2021 at just A$76 (reg. A$338) and enjoy lifetime access to essential productivity tools.

Grab Microsoft Office Pro 2021 for Windows at just A$76 (reg. A$338) and enjoy lifetime access to essential productivity tools.

What you get with your purchase

• One-time purchase, lifetime access — no monthly fees, just essential Office apps

• Includes must-have tools like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Access, Teams, and Publisher

• Designed for Windows users — perfect for work, school, and personal projects

• Boost productivity with reliable tools for documents, data management, and communication

• Quick and easy setup that allows you to download it instantly and activate with your product key

• No hidden fees — pay once and use Microsoft Office Professional 2021 forever

Skip the subscription headache — don’t miss this deal and get a lifetime license to Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows for A$76.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows: Lifetime License AU$76
AU$338 Save AU$262 Get Deal

Taylor Swift announced her 12th studio album Tuesday in a clip from a coming episode of Travis Kelce's New Heights podcast, revealing its blurred-out cover art and a title: The Life of a Showgirl. The full episode will drop late Wednesday, marking Swift's first major interview in nearly two years. Long story short, we're so back.

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As a pop music junkie, the clip had me bracing myself for a new, orange-drenched era of lore and easter eggs. (For the non-Swifties, Taylor uses a different color to represent each of her albums; this one got a bright tangerine hue.) But as a shopping reporter who covers tech gadgets, I was also on my detective shit. I couldn't help but wonder: Which wired headphones is Taylor wearing in her New Heights appearance?

A quick reverse Google Images search led me to the $109.99 Sony MDR-7506s, and a rep for Sony confirmed that they're a match. Coincidentally, Amazon currently has them on sale for $10 off. (That's Tayvoodoo in action.)

Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Sony MDR-7506 Professional Stereo Monitor Headphones $99.95
$109.99 Save $10.04 Shop Now

It's worth pointing out that there's a good chance these headphones were provided to Taylor by the podcast or studio where she recorded, and they're not a pair she owns herself. That said, they are different from the ones Travis and his brother/co-host Jason are wearing in the clip.

In any case, the MDR-7506s feature a foldable, closed-ear design with 40mm drivers. Mashable's headphones expert Bethany Allard, who dabbles in podcasting in her free time, hasn't tried them herself but tells me they're quite popular in the audio world.

"They have great sound quality for editing, are comfortable to wear for longer periods of time, and aren't super expensive," Allard said, "so they're accessible to people at all levels of audio." She pointed out that they're mentioned in a 2024 gear guide compiled by Transom, an audio storytelling nonprofit. They've also been name-dropped by one of NPR's former Tiny Desk engineers.

Taylor's full New Heights episode will be available at 7 p.m. ET on Aug. 13. While The Life of a Showgirl doesn't have an official release date yet, her online store notes that it will ship on vinyl before Monday, October 13.

You can watch Swift's New Heights appearance on YouTube or listen to it on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Audible, Pandora, Spotify, and Wondery.

UPDATE: Aug. 13, 2025, 12:45 p.m. EDT This story has been updated to note that the Sony MDR-7506s are now discounted on Amazon.

SAVE 24%: The Bluetti Apex 300 power station bundle with two 350W solar panels and two expandable batteries is on sale at Amazon for $4,699, down from the list price of $6,199. That's a savings of $1,500 and the lowest price Amazon has ever offered.

Opens in a new window Credit: Bluetti Bluetti Apex 300 power station bundle with two 350W solar panels and two expandable batteries (B300K) $4,699 at Amazon
$6,199 Save $1,500 Get Deal

Power outages are no one's idea of a good time. From worrying about your phone going dead to finishing that work project before the deadline, a power outage can really throw life out of whack. If you live in an area that's prone to storms, or you live off-grid, Bluetti has a power solution in mind. Freshly launched at the beginning of August, Amazon already has the latest Bluetti in a massive bundle on sale for a great price.

As of Aug. 12, the Bluetti Apex 300 bundle with two 350W solar panels and two expandable batteries (B300K) is on sale at Amazon for $4,699, down from the list price of $6,199. That's a savings of $1,500 and the lowest price Amazon has ever offered.

A portable power station is truly awesome for a weekend at the campground, but the Bluetti Apex 300 goes so far above what most power stations can achieve. This beast can power up your entire home, off-grid living set-up, or your RV. We're taking powering your refrigerator, the A/C unit, clothes dryer, water heater, or even recharging your electric car.

SEE ALSO: The Anker 521 Portable Power Station is back at its lowest-ever price at Amazon

Come fall and winter storms, the Bluetti Apex 300 bundle ensures your home can stay functioning, from the coffee maker to your CPAP to the kids' school laptops. Plus, the Bluetti can be recharged via the included solar panels, standard wall power, or a gas generator. If you typically get through power outages with a loud gas generator, the Bluetti Apex 300 will relieve you from that annoying generator hum.

If you're looking for big-time power backup, the Bluetti Apex 300 with expandable batteries and solar panels is a great bet. Be sure to snag this bundle while it's on sale for the best price we've ever seen at Amazon and before the storm actually hits.

SAVE $21: Through Aug. 21, a Starz streaming subscription is just $3.99 per month for three months as an add-on through Prime Video. Typically $10.99 per month, you'll save $7 per month, or $21 total.

Opens in a new window Credit: Starz Starz monthly plan (Prime Video add-on) $11.97
$32.97 Save $21 $3.99/month for 3 months (save $7/month) Get Deal

Diversifying your streaming lineup can get really expensive. But this Starz streaming deal will only cost you $12 for three months.

Through Aug. 21, a Starz streaming subscription is only $3.99 per month for three months as an add-on on through Prime Video. Typically $10.99 per month, that saves you $7 per month, or $21 total. If you don't have Prime Video, you can still sign up for Starz at a discount, but it'll cost you $4.99 per month for three months instead.

SEE ALSO: The 10 best TV shows of 2025 (so far), and where to stream them

Starz isn't exactly the most popular streaming service, but it is packed with plenty of content worth watching, with originals like the historical drama Outlander and the female serial killer tale Sweetpea, as well as recent flicks like Hunger Games: Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, The Strangers: Chapter 1, and The Exorcist: Believer. In the coming months, new theatrical releases will be making their way to the streamer as well, including From the World of John Wick: Ballerina and The Unbreakable Boy.

If you're looking for something a little different, and you're getting sick of the Netflix and Hulu lineups, adding more to your entertainment lineup doesn't have to cost a fortune. Add Starz on to your Prime Video subscription for the next few months for only $12 total. For what it's worth, that's less than a single month of Netflix without ads.

SAVE $40: As of Aug. 12, get the Sonos Roam 2 portable speaker for $139 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $179. That's a discount of 22%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Sonos Roam 2 $139 at Amazon
$179 Save $40 Get Deal

A portable speaker is a fun addition to just about anyone's audio arsenal. You can take entire albums with you and play them with your friends, liven up an event, and more. And you don't have to spend an entire paycheck on one to get audio that not only sounds good, but lasts and lasts. Case in point: the Sonos Roam 2 speaker, which is on sale for a great price right now.

As of Aug. 12, get the Sonos Roam 2 portable speaker for $139 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $179. That's 40 off and a discount of 22%.

SEE ALSO: Bring the boom wherever you go with $50 off the Soundcore Boom 2 speaker

This rugged speaker is built to go with you, no matter where it is you, well, roam, as the name implies. It's compact, lightweight, and fits into your bag or backpack to come along on whatever journey you take. Beyond that, it's waterproof and dustproof, plus rated IP67, so it's good for beach trips, camping, or whatever else you find yourself doing that requires a soundtrack.

The rechargeable battery nets you up to 10 hours of listening time per charge, so you won't be caught having to juice it back up while the party is still going. Plus, it offers Sonos Voice Control and Alexa support so you can control it without the need of a companion app. That means you just have to worry about what kind of music you're about to DJ instead.

If you're ready to soak up the last few weeks of summer listening to your favorite music anywhere you go, this excellent-sounding speaker is one surefire way to get a good bang for your buck.