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AI music is beginning to fill up music streaming libraries, and a lot of music lovers aren't happy about it.

However, according to a new study conducted by French music streaming service Deezer and Ipsos, 97 percent of people surveyed couldn't tell that a song was fully generated by AI instead of a human. Out of that group, the majority, or 52 percent, felt uncomfortable about the fact that they couldn't tell the difference.

AI-generated music has certainly advanced over the years, but that's not the only reason people can struggle to identify AI songs. A lot of popular music is rather formulaic, meaning it's rather easy for AI to mimic, at least when it comes to instrumentals. 

SEE ALSO: No, that AI country song isn't No. 1 on the Billboard chart. Yes, it is terrible.

The study from Deezer and Ipsos is an interesting one, as it finds people aren't completely opposed to AI. For example, 46 percent of people surveyed thought AI could be used to help them discover new music. In addition, 66 percent of people said they would give AI music a try at least once out of curiosity.

However, it seems like people start to feel an opposition to AI music once they feel deceived. The survey found that 80 percent of people want AI music clearly labeled on platforms. Another 72 percent would want to know if a platform was recommending fully AI-generated music to them. Nearly half, or 45 percent of users, would filter out AI-generated music, and 40 percent would skip AI music if they came across it.

Music fans also have a negative view of AI songs when it comes to supporting music artists. The survey found that 65 percent of people don't think AI should train on copyrighted music, and another 70 percent believe that AI threatens the livelihood of artists.

Only 11 percent of those surveyed think that AI music should be given equal treatment on the top music charts.

It's important to note that much of the critical reaction towards AI-generated music is specific to fully AI-generated songs. Musical artists and producers have long used emerging technologies in their work, such as autotune, to digitally fix or alter their music. However, even those tools require human expertise and input to actually create the final sound or composition.

According to Deezer, around 50,000 fully AI-generated music tracks are uploaded to streaming services every day, accounting for a whopping 34 percent of all daily music releases.

AI-generated creative works, such as AI-created illustrations and videos, have received lots of backlash online over the past couple of years. In fact, the push back against AI in art has been so strong that some social media platforms, like Pinterest, have given its users the option to filter out AI content completely.

As AI-generated music evolves and the blowback against AI continues to grow, it will be interesting to see how streaming platforms like Spotify and Deezer treat AI-generated music on their platforms.

The world is a noisy place, and sometimes, it's nice to have the option for a bit of volume control.

For many people, that means turning to noise-cancelling headphones, but they're not always the best option. For starters, their ability to block out noise depends on their battery life. Wearing headphones or earbuds also means it's easier to stay plugged in to digital distractions, which isn't ideal for situations where you're looking for quiet and focus.

Enter: Loop earplugs. The colorful earplugs first hit the scene in 2016, thanks to co-founders Dimitri O and Maarten Bowdes wanting to provide a solution for people who enjoy live music and loud spaces, without the side helping of tinnitus.

Which Loop earplugs are right for you? Credit: Bethany Allard / Mashable

Nearly 10 years later, the brand has expanded its earplug options to yes, give concert-goers a way to protect their ears, but also to help people stay focused, sleep better, and generally exist more peacefully in overstimulating environments. They're reusable and cleanable, so they're less wasteful than swapping out a new pair of foam earplugs.

So, which are the best Loop earplugs overall? With eight different earplugs ranging from $24.95 to $59.95, it's a valid question. To find the answer, I tested out a selection of some of the most popular earplugs from the brand: I landed on the Quiet 2, Experience 2, Dream, Engage 2, and Switch 2. For now, I omitted the Plus versions (due to wanting to compare the base models head-to-head first), as well as the kids' versions (due to not being a child). I tested all of these earplugs personally, except for the Loop Experience 2, which were tested by my colleague Haley Henschel.

Are Loop earplugs worth it?

On a general level, your hearing health is something worth investing in. According to the World Health Organization, "most common causes of hearing loss in adults, such as exposure to loud sounds...are preventable." The WHO also estimates that more than a billion young adults are at risk of incurring permanent damage to their hearing from unsafe listening practices.

Obviously, that alone doesn't mean Loops are worth it — they're far from your only option when it comes to earplugs. There are the classic foam earbuds, which are ultra-affordable. However, they aren't meant to be reusable in the long term and lack the tailoring of the Loop line. And they're not the most subtle option.

SEE ALSO: I tested sleep earbuds for over a month: Here are the 3 I'd buy

Other reusable earplug brands are out there, like Happy Ears and CURVD come in at similar price points to Loop earplugs — all three brands are cheaper than getting custom earplugs made, which can cost hundreds of dollars.

All this to say, purely based on the market and their performance, I find Loop earplugs to be worth it, but generally encourage you to wear some form of earplugs next time you go to a loud environment. If you're not too keen on the Loop price points, I recommend waiting for a sale, like Amazon Prime Day or Black Friday, to pick up a pair of earbuds. While we don't see these earplugs get discounts often, most of the line goes on sale during shopping holidays. For more details on which prices to buy at, you can check each of the Loop earplugs we recommend below.

Which Loop earplugs are best for me?

The right Loop earplug match will depend on your reasons for seeking out earplugs in the first place, whether that be better sleep, finding focus, or saving your ears at live shows. Below, I break down the differences between five different Loop earplugs, and where each shines, to help you find the ones that suit you best.

Best for concerts: Loop Experience 2 The Loops Experience 2 earplugs dampened the sound of a roaring crowd at Beyoncé's latest tour. Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable

My colleague Haley Henschel put these earplugs to the test in possibly the way a person could: by taking them to the Cowboy Carter tour. Her report: "I could hear Beyoncé and her band perfectly, but the din of the stadium was almost completely suppressed. Curious to hear what I was missing, I removed my right earplug at one point during the set and was shocked to hear that the crowd was close to singing over Bey. The Loops were tuning out everyone else without making her sound muffled." That level of balance is what landed the Experience 2 our pick as the best Loop earplugs for concerts, even if they are the most obvious choice.

Henschel did note that they worked so well that she missed a couple of mid-song comments from her friend, but that's to be expected with earplugs. She also remarked that she was especially impressed with the fit — while she usually needs to wear a tight beanie to keep her Apple AirPods Pro from slipping out, the smallest size of the Experience 2 stayed in without a hitch. (Though I didn't test the Experience 2 personally, I also have a hard time finding earbuds that fit, and often have to go for the XS eartips. In Loops, I typically favor the S ear tip.)

As for their pricing, the Experience 2 clock in at $34.95 for their standard colorways, but during sales, we've seen them drop down to $27.95.

Decibels filtered: 17dB | Ear tips: Silicone, four sizes (XS-L) | Available colors: Silver, black, gold, rose gold, holographic black (costs extra), holographic ruby (costs extra), Loop x Coachella (costs extra)

Loop Experience 2 $34.95 at Amazon
$38.95 Save $4   Shop Now at Amazon Shop Now at Amazon Shop Now at Amazon Best for focus: Loop Quiet 2 The Quiet 2 earplugs are the perfect work companion. Credit: Bethany Allard / Mashable

The Quiet earplugs were my introduction to Loop a couple of years ago as I was looking for a solution to deal with a noisy neighbor. Though I used the original Quiet model then, the Quiet 2 hold up. For less than $30, the Quiet 2 earplugs are amazing for blocking out sound to focus, but also for getting the best bang for your buck. If you're not necessarily looking for something to wear to live events, these may be the best Loop earplugs for you. The silicone loop is soft enough to lie on with relative comfort, so they're as great for sleep as they are for working or reading. (Not to mention, they're $25 cheaper than the Loop Dream at full price). During this past October Prime Day, we saw the Quiet 2 earplugs drop down to $14.49 — their lowest price ever, and the lowest price among the recs on this list.

What does 24dB of blockage mean in practice? For me, it meant that I could work right next to my partner watching TV at a normal to low volume, and barely hear what he was watching. While I work in the office with my door closed, I can hear the sound of my own typing, but can only hear the murmur of my partner talking in the other room behind a closed door (where, without earbuds, I can make out his every word perfectly). Wearing these earbuds feels like turning the volume of the world around you not entirely off, but to low, making them a great option for when you need to focus or sleep, or even travel.

Decibels filtered: 24dB | Ear tips: Silicone, four sizes (XS-L) | Available colors: White, violet, black, mint

Loop Quiet 2 $20.95 at Amazon
  Shop Now at Amazon Shop Now at Amazon Shop Now at Amazon Best for staying aware: Loop Engage 2 The Engage 2 are great for a coffee date, or a trip to the grocery store. Credit: Bethany Allard / Mashable

The Loop Engage 2 earplugs are very similar to the Experience 2: both are designed to let in more sound, both cost $34.95, and both come with four sizes of silicone ear tips. Though I didn't get to personally test them head-to-head, here's where I can tease out the differences.

According to Loop, the Engage 2 block 16 decibels to the Experience 2's 17 decibels. Henschel mentioned that when wearing the Experience 2 to a concert, she missed a few comments from her friend standing right next to her. That makes sense: the Experience 2 are designed to lower the volume overall (without distorting the sound quality of the music you're listening to), while the Engage 2 are designed to lower the volume on background noise (which tends to be at a higher pitch than human voices), but keep you in tune with voices around you, so you can hold up a conversation with more ease. Wearing the Engage 2 around my apartment, while ordering coffee in a loud coffee shop, and at the grocery stores proved that they worked without issue. I did hear my voice a little louder, but not distractingly so — it was certainly less distracting than the bangers my local H-Mart likes to bump on a Tuesday night. If you find yourself often overstimulated by sound when trying to socialize or simply live your life, the Engage 2 are a great way to turn down the volume, but still stay present.

At $34.95, they're the same price as the Experience 2 at full price, but their sale price has dropped ever so slightly lower. This past Prime Big Deal Days in October, they hit the record-low price of $24.95.

Decibels filtered: 16dB | Ear tips: Silicone, four sizes (XS-L) | Available colors: Clear, dusk, green, rose

Loop Engage 2 $35.95 at Amazon
  Shop Now at Amazon Shop Now at Amazon Shop Now at Amazon Best for sleep: Loop Dream Prioritizing a good night's sleep? Check out the Loop Dream. Credit: Bethany Allard / Mashable

As a disclaimer, a family member gifted these earplugs to me after I told them how much I enjoyed using the original Quiet earbuds to sleep. And though the price is surprisingly steep compared to the rest of the line, I would happily buy these with my own money, as I primarily use earplugs to help me sleep.

Why? They're restless, side sleeper-approved. Though they block just a few more decibels than the Quiet 2, I find the Loop Dream to be even more comfortable to wear at night. The ear tip is a foam interior surrounded by a silicone exterior, which provides a slightly better (and more secure) fit than I experienced with the Quiet 2. (That's not to say the Quiet 2 aren't secure, but I move a lot when I sleep, so any extra features that help these earbuds stay in place are welcome by me. If, for whatever reason, you don't vibe with the foam tips, these earbuds also come with four sizes of Dream Double tips, which are a doubled-up silicone.

SEE ALSO: Elemind is the sleep headband that cured my insomnia

The Dreams also deviate from the rest of the Loop lineup with the closed-loop silicone shape, which is genuinely softer than the Quiets (and significantly more so than the Switches), making six to 10-hour wear incredibly reasonable. I experienced a slightly higher learning curve in putting them in my ears initially, but once I found the right fit, these fell out less than the Quiet earplugs. Finally, the case of the Dreams is ever so slightly larger, with a no-slip bottom that means they're far less likely to be knocked off your nightstand. The price may be steep, but if you anticipate mostly using your earplugs for sleep, the Dreams are worth it. Historically, they've gone on sale less frequently than other earplugs in Loop's lineup, so if you catch them marked down during a shopping holiday, they're worth grabbing. During October Prime Day, select colorways were on sale for $37.46.

Decibels filtered: 27db | Ear tips: Foam-silicone, eight different types in four sizes each (XS-L) | Available colors: Lilac, black, peach

Loop Dream $49.95 at Amazon
  Shop Now at Amazon Best for versatility: Loop Switch 2 The Loop Switch 2 live up to their name. Credit: Bethany Allard / Mashable

If, after reading all of the above, you find yourself wanting the benefits for multiple pairs of Loops, the Switch 2 are your best bet. Impressively, a small switch allows you to toggle between noise blocking on 20dB, 23dB, and 26db, meaning they let enough sound through to hold up a conversation, but also can block out nearly as much as the Dreams for maximum peace. The only use case I don't see these working out great is for sleep, due to the hard plastic switch on the outer loop not being as comfortable as the Quiet 2 or Dream earplugs.

Throughout my testing period, I found myself reaching for these earplugs the most due to their flexibility. I could go from being locked in while working to having a conversation without taking them out. While by far the most expensive of all the available Loop earplugs, they're still cheaper than buying a pair of Experience and Quiet earplugs separately. They also got a decent discount during October's Amazon Prime Day sale, dropping all the way down to $44.95 from their $59.95 full price.

Decibels filtered: 20db, 23db, 26db | Ear tips: Silicone, four sizes (XS-L) | Available colors: Emerald, black, gold, silver, McLaren papaya (costs extra)

Loop Switch 2 $59.95 at Amazon
  Shop Now at Amazon

TL;DR: The 2026 AI Content Creation Lifetime Bundle gives you two pro-grade AI tools for writing and voiceovers — for just $39.99 (reg. $2,070).

Opens in a new window Credit: StackCommerce 2026 AI Content Creation Lifetime Subscription Bundle $39.99
$2,070 Save $2,030.01   Get Deal

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For just $39.99, you’ll get lifetime access to two powerhouse tools, WordPop AI and SpeakBreez AI, designed to take your creative and professional projects from idea to finished product — in less time than it takes to brew your morning coffee.

SEE ALSO: Google's AI can now automatically call stores and buy items for you

WordPop AI was designed to be your all-in-one writing assistant, translator, and document wizard. It’s built to handle everything from SEO-optimized blog posts and polished business copy to multilingual content and creative storytelling.

With 100+ templates, 120+ supported languages, and an AI Writing Editor that adjusts tone and style on the fly, WordPop AI makes writing feel less like work and more like an easy flow.

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You’ll write, speak, and publish easier — all for a one-time payment. Get the 2026 AI Content Creation Lifetime Subscription Bundle, on sale for just $39.99 (reg. $2,070) for a limited time.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

BEST-EVER PRICE: The M5 MacBook Pro is on sale at Amazon for $1,473, down from the list price of $1,599.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Pro M5 $1,473 at Amazon
$1,599 Save $126   Get Deal

The early Black Friday deals at Amazon are making us look like fools. We made a lot of noise about the most recent price drop on the brand new MacBook Pro M5, but now it has fallen even further. OK, we not talking big numbers here (an extra $7 off), but a new record-low price is a new record-low price. We're certainly not complaining.

As of Nov. 17, the Apple MacBook Pro M5 is on sale for $1,473 at Amazon. That's down from its list price of $1,599, and the lowest price we've ever seen at Amazon. So what are you waiting for? Black Friday deals like this don't always stick around for long.

SEE ALSO: Amazon Black Friday ad: The best early deals you can buy online

Mashable's Tech Editor Timothy Beck Werth reviewed the new M5 MacBook Pro and awarded it a Mashable Choice Award, so you know it's worth the splurge even at list price. According to Werth, "The new MacBook Pro offers only iterative improvements over its predecessor, but that hardly matters with a device this good. With a beautifully crisp display and M5 silicon, the MacBook Pro surges even further ahead of Windows laptops."

There are already a bunch of MacBook deals to consider ahead of Black Friday, but this might be a candidate for the best. Need something super powerful that can handle even the most demanding of creative tasks? This could be the deal for you.

The Game Awards 2025 has finally revealed its nominees for categories such as Best Racing Game, Best Sports Game, and the coveted Game of the Year. This has been one of the best years for gaming in recent memory. Nintendo launched the Switch 2, the successor to its dominating console and handheld hybrid, and Xbox dipped its own toes into the handheld market with the ROG Xbox Ally.

There have been some incredible hits across the industry from small indies like Blue Prince and Despelote, as well as blockbusters like Doom: The Dark Ages, Split Fiction, and Monster Hunter Wilds. There have also been quite a few late-year surprises like ARC Raiders and Dispatch.

But only one game can take home 2025’s Game of the Year award, and there are only six nominees. Keep reading to learn how to vote in The Game Awards 2025 as well as the full list of categories and nominees, from best indie game to best art direction.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is the clear fan favorite to win 2025’s Game of the Year award. Made by a small group of passionate developers in France, this game combines engaging turn-based combat with believable characters to tell one of the most emotional impactful stories this year. Plus, unlike every other game of the year nominee, Expedition 33 isn't a sequel or franchise title, which may give it an extra edge among players.

Expedition 33 is also leading the pack with a staggering 12 nominations this year in other categories, including Best Art Direction and Best Narrative.

Clair Obscur Expedition 33 PS5 $48.97 at Amazon
  Shop Now at Amazon Shop Now at Best Buy Death Stranding 2: On the Beach

The sequel to Hideo Kojima’s post-apocalyptic epic, Death Stranding, is another fantastic narrative-driven game with themes about connection, grief, and loss. With Death Stranding 2, Helldivers 2, and Ghost of Yotei, Sony is this year’s most nominated publisher with 19 nominations.

Death Stranding was a nominee for Game of the Year at The Game Awards 2019, but ultimately lost out to From Software and Activision’s Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. Let’s see if Kojima can take home the award this time.

Opens in a new window Credit: Kojima Productions Death Stranding 2: On the Beach (PS5) $69 at Amazon
  Shop Now Donkey Kong Bananza

Nintendo has taken its ape mascot and created one of the best 3D platformers this year with Donkey Kong Banaza. The camaraderie between Donkey Kong and Daisy is so charming, and the game’s innovative destruction mechanics make it fun to smash the environment into pieces. 

Nintendo has received plenty of Game of the Year nominations throughout the years with games like Xenoblade Chronicles 3, Metroid Dread, and Super Mario Bros. Wonder, but hasn’t won the category since 2017 with The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.

Donkey Kong Bananza - Nintendo Switch 2 $69.99 at Best Buy
  Shop Now at Best Buy Hades 2

Hades was 2020’s indie darling. The incredibly addictive “just one more round” roguelite gameplay, appealing cast of characters, and bold comic-book art direction captivated players all across the world. Hades 2 brings more of the same but turns the dial up. With even more gameplay refinements, areas to explore, and deities to meet, it’s no wonder that Hades 2 has received a Game of the Year nomination.

Hades was nominated for Game of the Year in 2020, but lost to The Last of Us Part 2. Now’s another chance for it to win.

Hades II - Nintendo Switch™ 2 Edition $49.94 at Walmart
  Shop Now at Walmart Shop Now at Amazon Shop Now at Best Buy Hollow Knight Silksong

Together with Hades 2 and Expedition 33, Hollow Knight Silksong completes the indie trifecta of nominations this year. It’s surprising that this game actually came out this year after numerous delays, but the wait definitely paid off. Its exploration and difficulty are immensely rewarding, making it one of the best 2D platformers in years.

Its predecessor, Hollow Knight, was nominated for Best Debut Indie Game in 2017, but lost to Cuphead. Now, its sequel joined the big leagues with a Game of the Year nomination. Talk about a glow up!

Opens in a new window Credit: Team Cherry Hollow Knight: Silksong (Nintendo Switch 2 - Digital Code) $19.99 at Amazon
  Shop Now Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 Opens in a new window Credit: Warhorse Studios Kingdom Come Deliverance II $58.68 at Amazon
  Shop Now

This one is a bit of a surprise because for as great as Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 is, there are other games that could’ve taken its place in this nomination. The other nominees have stayed in the cultural zeitgeist and were shoe-ins. Still, Kingdom Come Deliverance 2’s dedication to historical realism and gameplay is impressive, and its story is more emotionally charged than the first game, making it an excellent medieval simulation RPG.

The first game didn’t receive any nominations at previous shows, so it must be exciting for the devs to get their first nomination at The Game Awards, and for the ultimate Game of the Year category, no less.

How to vote in The Game Awards 2025

The Game Awards 2025 takes place at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, California and will air on December 11. You can vote for your favorite games on The Game Awards website. All you have to do is create an account and sign in to start voting right away. However, the winners aren't simply chosen by popular vote.

In addition to fan votes, The Game Awards has a "jury of over 100 global media and influencer outlets, selected for their history of critical video game evaluation. Specialized juries also convene for other categories including esports, accessibility and best adaptation." In the end, "Winners are determined by a blended vote between the voting jury (90%) and public fan voting (10%). Fans can vote for their favorite games on TheGameAwards.com.

The Game Awards 2025: Full list of nominees

Besides the six Game of the Year nominees, here's the full list of categories and nominations for 2025.

Best Independent Game:

• Absolum

• BALL x PIT

• Blue Prince

• Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

• Hades II

• Hollow Knight: Silksong

Best Debut Indie Game:

• Blue Prince

• Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

• despelote

• Dispatch

• Megabonk

Best Mobile Game:

• Destiny: Rising

• Persona 5: The Phantom X

• Sonic Rumble

• Umamusume: Pretty Derby

• Wuthering Waves

Best Virtual Reality/Augmented Reality Game:

• Alien: Rogue Incursion

• Arken Age

• Ghost Town

• Marvel’s Deadpool VR

• The Midnight Walk

Best Action Game:

• Battlefield 6

• Doom: The Dark Ages

• Hades II

• Ninja Gaiden 4

• Shinobi: Art of Vengeance

Best Role-Playing Game:

• Death Stranding 2: On the Beach

• Ghost of Yotei

• Indiana Jones and the Great Circle

• Hollow Knight: Silksong

• Split Fiction

Best Fighting Game:

• 2XKO

• Capcom Fighting Collection 2

• Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves

• Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection

• Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. World Stage

Best Family Game:

• Donkey Kong Bananza

• LEGO Party!

• LEGO Voyagers

• Mario Kart World

• Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds

• Split Fiction

Best Simulation/Strategy Game:

• The Alters

• Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles

• Jurassic World Evolution 3

• Sid Meier’s Civilization VII

• Tempest Rising

• Two Point Museum

Best Sports/Racing Game:

• EA Sports FC 26

• F1 25

• Mario Kart World

• REMATCH

• Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds

Best Multiplayer Game:

• ARC Raiders

• Battlefield 6

• Elden Ring Nightreign

• PEAK

• Split Fiction

Best Game Direction:

• Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

• Death Stranding 2: On the Beach

• Ghost of Yotei

• Hades II

• Split Fiction

Best Narrative:

• Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

• Death Stranding 2: On the Beach

• Ghost of Yotei

• Kingdom Come: Deliverance II

• Silent Hill f

Best Art Direction:

• Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

• Death Stranding 2: On the Beach

• Ghost of Yotei

• Hades II

• Hollow Knight: Silksong

Best Score and Music:

• Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

• Death Stranding 2: On the Beach

• Ghost of Yotei

• Hades II

• Hollow Knight: Silksong

Best Audio Design:

• Battlefield 6

• Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

• Death Stranding 2: On the Beach

• Ghost of Yotei

• Silent Hill f

Best Performance:

• Benn Star in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

• Charlie Cox in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

• Erika Ishii in Ghost of Yotei

• Jennifer English in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

• Konatsu Kato in Silent Hill f

• Troy Baker in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle

Innovation in Accessibility:

• Assassin’s Creed Shadows

• Atomfall

• Doom: The Dark Ages

• EA Sports FC 26

• South of Midnight

Games for Impact:

• Consume Me

• despelote

• Lost Records: Bloom & Rage

• South of Midnight

• Wanderstop

Best Ongoing Game:

• Final Fantasy XIV

• Fortnite

• Helldivers II

• Marvel Rivals

• No Man’s Sky

Best Community Support:

• Baldur’s Gate III

• Final Fantasy XIV

• Fortnite

• Helldivers II

• No Man’s Sky

Best Game Adaptation:

• A Minecraft Movie

• Devil May Cry

• Splinter Cell: Deathwatch

• The Last of Us Season 2

• Until Dawn

Most-Anticipated Game:

• 007 First Light

• Grand Theft Auto VI

• Marvel’s Wolverine

• Resident Evil Requiem

• The Witcher IV

Content Creator of the Year:

• Caedrel

• Kai Cenat

• MoistCr1TiKaL

• Sakura Miko

• The Burnt Peanut

Best eSports Game:

• Counter-Strike 2

• DOTA 2

• League of Legends

• Mobile Legends: Bang Bang

• VALORANT

Best eSports Athlete:

• brawk – Brock Somerhalder (VALORANT)

• Chovy – Jeong Ji-hoon (League of Legends)

• f0rsakeN – Jason Susanto (VALORANT)

• Kakeru – Kakeru Watanabe (Street Fighter)

• MenaRD – Saul Leonardo (Street Fighter)

• Zyw0o – Mathieu Herbaut (Counter-Strike 2)

Best eSports Team:

• Gen.G (League of Legends)

• NRG (VALORANT)

• Team Falcons (DOTA 2)

• Team Liquid PH (Mobile Legends: Bang Bang)

• Team Vitality

At this point, it should be clear that anything you read from Google’s AI Overview needs to be taken with a grain of salt — including when it starts labeling real video games as fictional. Case in point: Call of Duty: Black Ops 7.

For the past few months, searching "Black Ops 7" on Google has returned a bizarre response from the search engine’s Gemini-powered AI Overview, which insists the game doesn’t exist. "Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 is a fictional video game that does not exist," the AI claims. It even elaborates: "The search results describe a hypothetical game with a November 14, 2025, release date, a story set in 2035 that continues the narrative from Black Ops 2 and Black Ops... The fictional game includes co-op campaign, multiplayer, and a Zombies mode."

Credit: Screenshot: Google

What makes the situation even stranger is that everything the AI lists — from the release date to the 2035 setting to the available modes — is actually true. Yet it still labels the game as "fictional." Black Ops 7 is the 22nd mainline entry in the Call of Duty franchise and the eighth installment in the Black Ops universe. Right now, it’s sitting at a grim 1.8 user score on Metacritic, with players voicing frustration over a disappointing single-player campaign and the blatant use of generative AI for core assets throughout the game.

The issue was first spotted about three months ago by a Reddit user in the r/google subreddit. As of Nov. 13 — the day before the game’s release — I was able to replicate the same problem multiple times, and it’s still happening as of this writing. Interestingly, the glitch appears to be limited to mobile devices and AI Overviews; Google's AI mode correctly recognizes that Black Ops 7 is real. Mashable reached out to both Google and Activision-Blizzard, but have not yet received a comment from either.

What's happening with AI Overviews is a small but telling example of a much larger problem: Big Tech’s AI systems still struggle to keep up with real-time information, especially around breaking news or newly released media.

AI Overviews has no trouble recognizing the release and existence of other games that launched around the same time as Black Ops 7. For example, it correctly tells me that Yakuza Kiwami 2 received a Switch 2 release this month. But in the same breath, it completely fumbles Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero — first labeling it as a mobile game, then immediately correcting itself and saying it isn’t, all while failing to mention that it also just launched on Switch and Switch 2.

Credit: Screenshot: Google

As Mashable's Chase DiBenedetto has reported before, "While AI assistants may be helpful for simple daily tasks... their weakness at reporting news is a liability for everyone, according to watchdogs and media leaders alike." And while this current glitch may only involve a video game, it highlights the same broader issue.

We’ve already seen how easily AI chatbots can spread or reinforce misinformation in far more serious contexts — like Grok's viral claim that the Charlie Kirk shooting was a hoax. As more people rely on AI tools as on-demand fact-checkers, especially during highly volatile events, these inaccuracies could be seen as a danger.

Back in March, a working paper from researchers at NYU and other universities suggested that age-verification laws are ineffective. Now, a new analysis not only supports the same finding but also suggests that these laws may impose a burden on adults' First Amendment rights.

The new study, conducted by the public policy nonprofit the Phoenix Center, finds that these laws should fail a constitutional cost-benefit test. Meaning, if the laws are ineffective, then the cost to adults' constitutional rights to view legal content likely outweighs the benefit of preventing minors from seeing it.

Age-verification laws in the United States and beyond typically require websites that host a decent amount of explicit content to verify visitors' ages with more than a "yes or no" checkbox — such as with their government ID or a facial recognition scan. But, especially with the onset of the United Kingdom's age-verification law over the summer, some non-explicit platforms like YouTube are starting to implement age checks as well.

SEE ALSO: How to unblock Pornhub for free

Experts have long told Mashable that these laws won't work for their intended purpose of keeping minors off pornographic websites. Software like VPNs can circumvent them, and users can simply visit websites that don't comply with the laws. There are also privacy and security concerns associated with these laws, such as the inability to browse legal content anonymously and inputting personal data into a third-party system that may be vulnerable to hacking.

Still, lawmakers have introduced and passed age verification laws in many states and countries. And since the initial release of the working paper in March this year, the Supreme Court has deemed age verification laws constitutional, despite concerns that they quell free speech and thus infringe on the First Amendment.

Costs and benefits of age-verification

The Phoenix Center's cost-benefit analysis is important due to SCOTUS's recent ruling. In June, the majority of the court decided that Texas's age-verification law was subject to the "intermediate scrutiny" standard. As the study outlines, the Supreme Court held that "Texas's age-verification law served an important government interest and that age-verification was substantially related to achieving that purpose."

Phoenix Center's chief economist, Dr. George S. Ford, conducted the study and reasoned that age-verification laws should deter substantially more minors than adults in order for this standard to hold up.

He used Google Trends data before and after states implemented their laws and/or Pornhub blocked itself in these states. He found spikes in searches for "VPN" (47 percent increase in the week Pornhub pulled out of the state, sustained for around 20 weeks) and "free porn" (30 percent increase without a significant decrease back down).

And while Google doesn't break down whether it's an adult or a minor searching, other research has found that adolescents aged 13-18 are likely to know how to use VPNs or can easily adopt them. This suggests that users, including minors, simply go around the laws.

"The evidence suggests a regulatory regime where the intended targets — tech-savvy minors — can easily bypass restrictions while adults exercising constitutional rights bear the primary costs," Ford stated in the press release.

In the study, Ford also laid out cybersecurity risks of using free VPNs, such as increased vulnerability to ransomware incidents, IP leaks, and third-party tracking.

While more research has to be done, Ford wrote in the study that the effectiveness of age verification laws at protecting minors is "questionable," both because knowledgeable teens can find ways to circumvent them and because of the costs of impeding adults' First Amendment rights.

"When a policy's burdens on protected speech substantially exceed its effectiveness at achieving its stated purpose, it fails the constitutional requirement of being 'substantially related' to that purpose, regardless of how important the objective may be," he continued in the press release. "Add to this the cybersecurity risks and degradation of internet infrastructure, and we have a clear case where costs exceed benefits."

Back in March, a working paper from researchers at NYU and other universities suggested that age-verification laws are ineffective. Now, a new analysis not only supports the same finding but also suggests that these laws may impose a burden on adults' First Amendment rights.

The new study, conducted by the public policy nonprofit the Phoenix Center, finds that these laws should fail a constitutional cost-benefit test. Meaning, if the laws are ineffective, then the cost to adults' constitutional rights to view legal content likely outweighs the benefit of preventing minors from seeing it.

Age-verification laws in the United States and beyond typically require websites that host a decent amount of explicit content to verify visitors' ages with more than a "yes or no" checkbox — such as with their government ID or a facial recognition scan. But, especially with the onset of the United Kingdom's age-verification law over the summer, some non-explicit platforms like YouTube are starting to implement age checks as well.

SEE ALSO: How to unblock Pornhub for free

Experts have long told Mashable that these laws won't work for their intended purpose of keeping minors off pornographic websites. Software like VPNs can circumvent them, and users can simply visit websites that don't comply with the laws. There are also privacy and security concerns associated with these laws, such as the inability to browse legal content anonymously and inputting personal data into a third-party system that may be vulnerable to hacking.

Still, lawmakers have introduced and passed age verification laws in many states and countries. And since the initial release of the working paper in March this year, the Supreme Court has deemed age verification laws constitutional, despite concerns that they quell free speech and thus infringe on the First Amendment.

Costs and benefits of age-verification

The Phoenix Center's cost-benefit analysis is important due to SCOTUS's recent ruling. In June, the majority of the court decided that Texas's age-verification law was subject to the "intermediate scrutiny" standard. As the study outlines, the Supreme Court held that "Texas's age-verification law served an important government interest and that age-verification was substantially related to achieving that purpose."

Phoenix Center's chief economist, Dr. George S. Ford, conducted the study and reasoned that age-verification laws should deter substantially more minors than adults in order for this standard to hold up.

He used Google Trends data before and after states implemented their laws and/or Pornhub blocked itself in these states. He found spikes in searches for "VPN" (47 percent increase in the week Pornhub pulled out of the state, sustained for around 20 weeks) and "free porn" (30 percent increase without a significant decrease back down).

And while Google doesn't break down whether it's an adult or a minor searching, other research has found that adolescents aged 13-18 are likely to know how to use VPNs or can easily adopt them. This suggests that users, including minors, simply go around the laws.

"The evidence suggests a regulatory regime where the intended targets — tech-savvy minors — can easily bypass restrictions while adults exercising constitutional rights bear the primary costs," Ford stated in the press release.

In the study, Ford also laid out cybersecurity risks of using free VPNs, such as increased vulnerability to ransomware incidents, IP leaks, and third-party tracking.

While more research has to be done, Ford wrote in the study that the effectiveness of age verification laws at protecting minors is "questionable," both because knowledgeable teens can find ways to circumvent them and because of the costs of impeding adults' First Amendment rights.

"When a policy's burdens on protected speech substantially exceed its effectiveness at achieving its stated purpose, it fails the constitutional requirement of being 'substantially related' to that purpose, regardless of how important the objective may be," he continued in the press release. "Add to this the cybersecurity risks and degradation of internet infrastructure, and we have a clear case where costs exceed benefits."

SAVE $30: As of Nov. 17, the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Select is only $9.99 for select customers with the on-page coupon code STREAM4K at Amazon. That's 75% off its list price and its lowest price ever.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Select $9.99 at Amazon
$39.99 Save $30 with on-page coupon code STREAM4K Get Deal

If a streaming stick is on your shopping list, there's no reason to wait for Black Friday to grab one. Amazon is practically giving away its new Fire TV Stick 4K Select.

As of Nov. 17, the Fire TV Stick 4K Select is down to just $9.99 at Amazon for select customers with the on-page coupon code STREAM4K. That's 75% off its list price of $39.99 and its lowest price ever by a landslide. Without the coupon code, it's still a pretty solid deal at $21.99, but $10 for a 4K streaming stick is honestly outrageous.

Unfortunately, the coupon code seems to only be available for select customers. Several members of Mashable's shopping team are able to see the code, while a few others can't. We're unsure how Amazon goes about selecting which customers are eligible, but congrats if you're one of Amazon's favorites.

You can find the coupon code underneath the pricing details at Amazon if you're one of the lucky ones. Credit: Screenshot: Amazon

The Fire TV 4K Select launched this fall as part of Amazon's newest Fire TV lineup. Whether or not we really needed another Fire TV Stick in general is debatable, but at this wildly low early Black Friday price, we're certainly not complaining. Amazon calls it the "most affordable 4K streaming stick yet." It offers vibrant 4K quality with HDR10+ support and a new operating system called Vega that is ultra-responsive and fast. Its plug-and-play design is the same as every other Fire TV Stick, and it will soon offer support for Alexa+, Xbox Game Pass, Amazon Luna, Amazon Kids+, and NordVPN.

SAVE $30: As of Nov. 17, the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Select is only $9.99 for select customers with the on-page coupon code STREAM4K at Amazon. That's 75% off its list price and its lowest price ever.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Select $9.99 at Amazon
$39.99 Save $30 with on-page coupon code STREAM4K Get Deal

If a streaming stick is on your shopping list, there's no reason to wait for Black Friday to grab one. Amazon is practically giving away its new Fire TV Stick 4K Select.

As of Nov. 17, the Fire TV Stick 4K Select is down to just $9.99 at Amazon for select customers with the on-page coupon code STREAM4K. That's 75% off its list price of $39.99 and its lowest price ever by a landslide. Without the coupon code, it's still a pretty solid deal at $21.99, but $10 for a 4K streaming stick is honestly outrageous.

Unfortunately, the coupon code seems to only be available for select customers. Several members of Mashable's shopping team are able to see the code, while a few others can't. We're unsure how Amazon goes about selecting which customers are eligible, but congrats if you're one of Amazon's favorites.

You can find the coupon code underneath the pricing details at Amazon if you're one of the lucky ones. Credit: Screenshot: Amazon

The Fire TV 4K Select launched this fall as part of Amazon's newest Fire TV lineup. Whether or not we really needed another Fire TV Stick in general is debatable, but at this wildly low early Black Friday price, we're certainly not complaining. Amazon calls it the "most affordable 4K streaming stick yet." It offers vibrant 4K quality with HDR10+ support and a new operating system called Vega that is ultra-responsive and fast. Its plug-and-play design is the same as every other Fire TV Stick, and it will soon offer support for Alexa+, Xbox Game Pass, Amazon Luna, Amazon Kids+, and NordVPN.

The best early Black Friday Amazon device deals at a glance: Best Fire tablet deal Amazon Fire Max 11 (64GB) $139.99 (save $90) Get Deal Best Fire TV deal Amazon 55-inch Omni Mini LED QLED 4K Fire TV $694.99 (save $125) Get Deal Best Fire TV Stick deal Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Select $9.99 (save $30 with coupon code STREAM4K) Get Deal Best Blink deal Blink Mini 2K+ $24.99 (save $25) Get Deal Best Echo deal Echo Show 5 Kids $54.99 (save $45) Get Deal Best Kindle deal Like-new Kindle Paperwhite $106.99 (save $37) Get Deal

Amazon's Black Friday sale officially kicks off on Nov. 20, a full week ahead of Black Friday proper. But as you probably know at this point, the actual dates of the sale are blurred beyond recognition. Many deals, particularly on Amazon's own devices, are already live days before the event — and will likely stick around after all is said and done. Other than Prime Day, it's the best time of year to grab an Amazon device.

Plenty of Fire tablets, Fire TVs, Fire TV Sticks, and Blink security cameras are already chilling at record-low prices. We're particularly impressed by the Fire TV deals, with some 2025 models up to $210 off. As usual, Kindle deals are slim to none ahead of the official event kick off. We expect those to drop later this week. Echo deals are also lacking, but we'll be keeping an eye on the new Echo Show 8, 11, Studio, and Dot Max for their first big price drops.

We're keeping track of all of the best Amazon device deals below and will continue to monitor anything new that pops up once the sale begins. For deals beyond Amazon devices, be sure to follow along with all of Mashable's coverage in our Black Friday hub.

Best early Black Friday Fire tablet deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire Max 11 (64GB) $139.99 at Amazon
$229.99 Save $90   Get Deal Why we like it

Amazon's best iPad competitor and our favorite Fire tablet, the Fire Max 11, is back down to $139.99 at Amazon ahead of Black Friday. That's 39% in savings and matches its all-time low price from October Prime Day. As Mashable's reviewer noted, "The Amazon Fire Max 11 has a large, 11-inch display and is blazing fast, making it a good alternative to pricier tablets for streaming and games." It also features 8MP cameras that support 1080p video, an octa-core processor, WiFi 6 compatibility, and a 14-hour battery life. While it is a couple of years old, it's the newest generation of the tablet available.

Read our full review of the Fire Max 11.

More Fire tablet deals Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire HD 8 (32GB) $54.99 at Amazon
$99.99 Save $45.00   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire HD 10 (32GB) $69.99 at Amazon
$139.99 Save $70.00   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire 7 Kids (16GB) $54.99 at Amazon
$109.99 Save $55.00   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids Pro (32GB) $74.99 at Amazon
$149.99 Save $75.00   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids (32GB) $84.99 at Amazon
$159.99 Save $75.00   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids (32GB) $104.99 at Amazon
$189.99 Save $85.00   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids Pro (32GB) $104.99 at Amazon
$189.99 Save $85.00   Get Deal Best early Black Friday Amazon Fire TV deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon 55-inch Omni Mini LED QLED 4K Fire TV $694.99 at Amazon
$819.99 Save $125   Get Deal Why we like it

The newest and fanciest Fire TV in Amazon's lineup, the 2025 Omni Mini-LED Fire TV is loaded up with specs. It packs hands-free Alexa, Interactive Art Mode (similar to Samsung's The Frame), a 144Hz refresh rate, and Intelligent Picture technology, which can fine-tune the details of whatever you're watching. With a 4K QLED mini-LED display featuring Dolby Vision IQ, HDR10+ Adaptive, up to 1,400 nits of peak brightness, and 768 dimming zones, it's easily the best Fire TV picture quality to date. And now that the 55-inch model is down to only $694.99 — its lowest price on record — it's almost in budget-friendly territory.

More Fire TV deals Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire TV Stick HD $17.99 at Amazon
$34.99 Save $17.00   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K $24.99 at Amazon
$49.99 Save $25.00   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max $39.78 at Amazon
$65.98 Save $26.20 with 2-year protection plan Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Select $9.99 at Amazon
$39.99 Save $30 with coupon code STREAM4K Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire TV Cube $89.99 at Amazon
$139.99 Save $50.00   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon 43-inch 4-Series 4K Fire TV $249.99 at Amazon
$329.99 Save $80   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon 50-inch Omni QLED 4K Fire TV $279.99 at Amazon
$469.99 Save $190   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon 50-inch 4-Series 4K Fire TV $329.99 at Amazon
$399.99 Save $70   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon 55-inch Omni QLED 4K Fire TV $349.99 at Amazon
$499.99 Save $150   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon 65-inch Omni 4K Fire TV $449.99 at Amazon
$669.99 Save $220   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon 65-inch Omni Mini LED QLED 4K Fire TV $894.99 at Amazon
$1,089.99 Save $195   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon 75-inch Omni 4K Fire TV $569.99 at Amazon
$839.99 Save $270   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon 75-inch Omni Mini LED QLED 4K Fire TV $1,289.99 at Amazon
$1,499.99 Save $210   Get Deal

For more Amazon Fire TV deals, check out our full list of Black Friday TV deals.

Early Black Friday Echo deals Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Echo Pop Kids $21.99 at Amazon
$49.99 Save $28.00   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Echo Dot Kids $31.99 at Amazon
$49.99 Save $18.00   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Echo Show 5 Kids $54.99 at Amazon
$99.99 Save $45.00   Get Deal Early Black Friday Kindle deals Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Like-new Amazon Kindle Paperwhite $106.99 at Amazon
$143.99 Save $37.00   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Like-new Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition $126.99 at Amazon
$179.99 Save $53.00   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Like-New Amazon Kindle Scribe $278.99
$404.99 Save $126   Get Deal

Check out our full curated list of Black Friday Kindle deals.

Early Black Friday Blink deals Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Blink Mini 2 $17.99 at Amazon
$39.99 Save $22.00   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Blink Mini 2K+ $24.99 at Amazon
$49.99 Save $25.00   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Blink Video Doorbell $29.99 at Amazon
$69.99 Save $40   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Blink Outdoor 4 $27.99 at Amazon
$79.99 Save $52   Get Deal

With the Financial Times' report that Apple is preparing for the post-Tim Cook era, the question arises: who will actually take over one of the most powerful jobs in tech? Cook has led Apple since 2011, growing its valuation from $350 billion to $4 trillion. However, as the company embarks on its next chapter — particularly amid pressure to introduce new, innovative hardware and remain competitive in AI — the shortlist of potential successors is taking shape.

SEE ALSO: Tim Cook’s time at Apple could be coming to an end, report says

And at the top of that list is the person insiders say is the most likely candidate: John Ternus.

John Ternus (the frontrunner)

Ternus, Apple’s senior vice president of hardware engineering, has the clearest path to the CEO role. Having joined the company in 2001, he’s overseen engineering for the iPhone, iPad, Mac, and AirPods, and played a major role in the transition to Apple silicon. It is not an exaggeration to say he has literally touched every major Apple device in the modern era. With hardware at the center of Apple’s strategy — and Apple needing someone who understands the product pipeline inside and out — Ternus is widely seen as Cook’s successor, per the Financial Times.

Craig Federighi

Federighi, Apple’s software chief, is the face of macOS and iOS, and one of the company’s most public figures thanks to his keynote presence. While he brings charisma and user-facing credibility, Apple may want to lean towards operations and hardware-minded leadership for the top job, making him a less likely but still notable contender.

Eddy Cue

Cue oversees services including Apple Music, Apple TV+, iCloud, and the App Store. Services are a massive revenue engine for the company, but Cue’s expertise is focused on that specific ecosystem rather than Apple’s core hardware and operations. Still, as one of Apple’s longest-tenured executives, his name inevitably appears in succession chatter.

Katherine Adams

As General Counsel and Senior Vice President of Legal and Global Security, Adams oversees a wide range of responsibilities, including corporate governance, privacy, and global security. Her background at Honeywell and deep experience in legal strategy make her indispensable internally; however, historically, Apple has never pulled a CEO from the legal side of the organization.

Sabih Khan

Apple’s Chief Operating Officer, Khan oversees global operations, supply chain, manufacturing, logistics, and AppleCare. Having been with Apple since 1995 and playing a key role in shipping nearly every major Apple product, he fits the classic Tim Cook mold more than anyone besides Ternus. If Apple wants a steady operations-first leader again, Khan is the alternate pick.

So who’s actually next?

All signs point to Ternus. He represents the product-first vision Apple wants to maintain, he’s already leading the teams behind its most important devices, and insiders say the board is preparing for a transition that prioritizes hardware expertise, according to the Financial Times. Nothing is final — and Apple could still shift direction — but right now, Ternus is the one to watch.

With the Financial Times' report that Apple is preparing for the post-Tim Cook era, the question arises: who will actually take over one of the most powerful jobs in tech? Cook has led Apple since 2011, growing its valuation from $350 billion to $4 trillion. However, as the company embarks on its next chapter — particularly amid pressure to introduce new, innovative hardware and remain competitive in AI — the shortlist of potential successors is taking shape.

SEE ALSO: Tim Cook’s time at Apple could be coming to an end, report says

And at the top of that list is the person insiders say is the most likely candidate: John Ternus.

John Ternus (the frontrunner)

Ternus, Apple’s senior vice president of hardware engineering, has the clearest path to the CEO role. Having joined the company in 2001, he’s overseen engineering for the iPhone, iPad, Mac, and AirPods, and played a major role in the transition to Apple silicon. It is not an exaggeration to say he has literally touched every major Apple device in the modern era. With hardware at the center of Apple’s strategy — and Apple needing someone who understands the product pipeline inside and out — Ternus is widely seen as Cook’s successor, per the Financial Times.

Craig Federighi

Federighi, Apple’s software chief, is the face of macOS and iOS, and one of the company’s most public figures thanks to his keynote presence. While he brings charisma and user-facing credibility, Apple may want to lean towards operations and hardware-minded leadership for the top job, making him a less likely but still notable contender.

Eddy Cue

Cue oversees services including Apple Music, Apple TV+, iCloud, and the App Store. Services are a massive revenue engine for the company, but Cue’s expertise is focused on that specific ecosystem rather than Apple’s core hardware and operations. Still, as one of Apple’s longest-tenured executives, his name inevitably appears in succession chatter.

Katherine Adams

As General Counsel and Senior Vice President of Legal and Global Security, Adams oversees a wide range of responsibilities, including corporate governance, privacy, and global security. Her background at Honeywell and deep experience in legal strategy make her indispensable internally; however, historically, Apple has never pulled a CEO from the legal side of the organization.

Sabih Khan

Apple’s Chief Operating Officer, Khan oversees global operations, supply chain, manufacturing, logistics, and AppleCare. Having been with Apple since 1995 and playing a key role in shipping nearly every major Apple product, he fits the classic Tim Cook mold more than anyone besides Ternus. If Apple wants a steady operations-first leader again, Khan is the alternate pick.

So who’s actually next?

All signs point to Ternus. He represents the product-first vision Apple wants to maintain, he’s already leading the teams behind its most important devices, and insiders say the board is preparing for a transition that prioritizes hardware expertise, according to the Financial Times. Nothing is final — and Apple could still shift direction — but right now, Ternus is the one to watch.

SAVE $151.99: The Sony WH-1000XM5 Noise-Cancelling Headphones are on sale at Amazon for $248, down from the normal price of $399.99. That's a 38% discount and the lowest we've ever seen at Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Sony WH-1000XM5 Noise-Cancelling Headphones $248 at Amazon
$399.99 Save $151.99   Get Deal

A good pair of headphones can feel kinda life-changing. Imagine a 10-hour plane journey with noise-cancelling headphones that aren't uncomfortable after watching just one movie. Problem is, the best headphones tend to come with steep prices. But that's all remedied thanks to today's early Black Friday deal at Amazon.

As of Nov. 17, the Sony WH-1000XM5 Noise-Cancelling Headphones are on sale for $248 at Amazon, marked down from the standard price of $399.99. That works out to a 38% discount, shaving a sweet $151.99 off the price. This deal marks the lowest price we've ever seen at Amazon on the Sony XM5 headphones.

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The new Sony XM6 headphones are stunning, no doubt, but the older XM5 headphones are still an excellent option, espeically thanks to this new all-time low price. In Mashable's list of the best Sony headphones, the XM5s earn the top spot as the best former flagship.

"Brand enthusiasts who can’t afford the pricier WH-1000XM6, but still want the extravagant Sony listening experience — you won't be disappointed. Very few things separate these two models, besides the big price difference," wrote freelancer Alex Bracetti. Currently, the Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones are on sale at Amazon for $429.99 which means the XM5s are nearly $200 cheaper.

SEE ALSO: The JBL Tune Buds are heavily discounted ahead of Black Friday — save $60 with the best-ever price on Amazon

Bracetti also wrote, "The WH-1000XM5s retain many series hallmarks, including ANC, battery life, sound, and special features," so you don't need to worry about a major drop in quality with this previous model.

One of the only major differences between the XM5 and XM6 models is the lack of ear cups that fold up on the older model. But given the almost $200 price difference, that's a sacrifice we're willing to deal with.

Before the chaos of Amazon Black Friday hits this Thursday, snatch up a pair of Sony WH-1000XM5 Noise-Cancelling Headphones for under $250. This new record-low price is a heck of a deal, especially compared to the price of the new XM6 headphones.

The end of an era is coming in 2026 for Apple – maybe?

According to a new report from the Financial Times, Apple is currently making plans for Tim Cook to step down as CEO. And it could be happening next year.

Apple's plans are not related to performance issues or any sort of negative outlook for the company, according to the outlet's sources. In fact, Apple is expecting to break sales records this holiday season.

SEE ALSO: Apple expects record sales for the holidays

Cook has been CEO of Apple for nearly a decade and a half and led the company during one of its most trying times. He took over the position after Apple founder Steve Jobs stepped down as CEO in August 2011 due to medical reasons. Jobs died in October of that year. 

John Ternus, Apple's Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineers, is considered the likely favorite to take over the reins from Cook. However, no final decision of a new Apple CEO has been made. Ternus has been with the company since 2001 and would be the same age, 50, as Cook was when he became CEO 14 years ago. 

Ternus has been more visible as of late at the Apple keynote events, potentially being prepared to eventually step in as CEO. He most recently introduced the new iPhone Air at September's Apple event.

As the Financial Times points out, Cook has previously shared that Apple has “very detailed succession plans." Apple has lost some key executives this year as both Apple's chief financial officer Luca Maestri and Apple's chief operating officer Jeff Williams left the company. Both were considered close to Cook.

Bloomberg's Apple insider Mark Gurman previously reported that Ternus was being looked at as Tim Cook's successor. However, in response to the Financial Times report, Gurman shared that there is nothing on his radar pointing to Cook stepping down anytime soon.

But, if Cook was to step down as Apple CEO next year, don't expect him to do so before the earnings report in January 2026, which would cover how the company did during the holiday season, according to the Financial Times. However, anytime after the earnings report appears to be fair game and an early transition would get the CEO comfortable before Apple's big keynote events, starting with the WWDC in June.

The end of an era is coming in 2026 for Apple – maybe?

According to a new report from the Financial Times, Apple is currently making plans for Tim Cook to step down as CEO. And it could be happening next year.

Apple's plans are not related to performance issues or any sort of negative outlook for the company, according to the outlet's sources. In fact, Apple is expecting to break sales records this holiday season.

SEE ALSO: Apple expects record sales for the holidays

Cook has been CEO of Apple for nearly a decade and a half and led the company during one of its most trying times. He took over the position after Apple founder Steve Jobs stepped down as CEO in August 2011 due to medical reasons. Jobs died in October of that year. 

John Ternus, Apple's Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineers, is considered the likely favorite to take over the reins from Cook. However, no final decision of a new Apple CEO has been made. Ternus has been with the company since 2001 and would be the same age, 50, as Cook was when he became CEO 14 years ago. 

Ternus has been more visible as of late at the Apple keynote events, potentially being prepared to eventually step in as CEO. He most recently introduced the new iPhone Air at September's Apple event.

As the Financial Times points out, Cook has previously shared that Apple has “very detailed succession plans." Apple has lost some key executives this year as both Apple's chief financial officer Luca Maestri and Apple's chief operating officer Jeff Williams left the company. Both were considered close to Cook.

Bloomberg's Apple insider Mark Gurman previously reported that Ternus was being looked at as Tim Cook's successor. However, in response to the Financial Times report, Gurman shared that there is nothing on his radar pointing to Cook stepping down anytime soon.

But, if Cook was to step down as Apple CEO next year, don't expect him to do so before the earnings report in January 2026, which would cover how the company did during the holiday season, according to the Financial Times. However, anytime after the earnings report appears to be fair game and an early transition would get the CEO comfortable before Apple's big keynote events, starting with the WWDC in June.

My first exposure to Critical Role wasn't a clip from any of their campaigns, but instead, a GIF set of their animated introduction for Campaign 2. Scrolling past it on Tumblr, I immediately became bewitched by the characters. Who was this joyful blue tiefling fighting foes with glowing lollipops and unicorns? What lay in the past of this clearly traumatized, fire-wielding wizard? And how had this disparate crew of goblins and humans and orcs and more banded together?

SEE ALSO: Critical Role fans, you can watch the first episode of 'The Mighty Nein' on YouTube

With those questions in mind, I set off right down the Critical Role rabbit hole, discovering the adventuring party known as the Mighty Nein. Yet as much as I enjoyed witnessing these characters' stories play out in an improvised Dungeons and Dragons format, I couldn't help but yearn for an expansion on the animated introduction that had exposed me to them in the first place.

Now, that expansion is here in the form of Critical Role's new animated series The Mighty Nein. And it's as glorious as I had hoped.

What's The Mighty Nein about? Credit: Prime Video

The Mighty Nein is Critical Role's second animated series with Prime Video, following in the footsteps of The Legend of Vox Machina. While the latter took a few episodes to nail the balance between bawdy humor and high fantasy, The Mighty Nein hits the ground running, delivering a darker, more mature story right from the get-go.

That story begins with a heist: A strike team of formidable wizards from the Dwendalian Empire steals the powerful Luxon Beacon from the Kryn Dynasty. The sequence plays out almost wordlessly, punctuated by beats of lethal magic and hand-to-hand combat. It's a gripping reintroduction to the world of Exandria, one that sets the stage for a devastating war between nations. It's also a darkly funny choice for The Mighty Nein's starting point, because while the Dwendalian wizards and Kryn soldiers are elite, highly organized forces, our titular heroes are... not.

SEE ALSO: 'The Mighty Nein' trailer: Critical Role's new show teases magic battles and tons of trauma

By the time The Mighty Nein begins, the actual Mighty Nein crew is far from being assembled. Each of the team's members (and despite what the name suggests, there are only six of them) is scattered to the winds, dealing with their own woes. And trust me, The Mighty Nein does not skimp on the traumatic backstories. Dirt-covered wizard Caleb Widogast (voiced by Liam O'Brien) scrounges for magical components while running from his past. Goblin thief Nott the Brave (voiced by Sam Riegel) drowns her sorrows at every waking moment. Cobalt Soul monk Beauregard Lionett (voiced by Marisha Ray) faces derisions from her superiors, who dismiss her detective work based on her hotheadedness.

Don’t miss out on our latest stories: Add Mashable as a trusted news source in Google.

Elsewhere, shipwrecked sailor Fjord Stone (voiced by Travis Willingham) awakens with magical powers he didn't ask for and doesn't know how to use, while prankster Jester Lavorre (voiced by Laura Bailey) can't get her patron god (and best friend) to answer her call. Rounding out the group is Mollymauk Tealeaf (voiced by Taliesin Jaffe), a circus ringmaster oozing with charisma, yet plagued with worries about his circus going under (and some unsettling memories).

In short, these six have nothing in common. However, the brewing conflict over the Luxon Beacon will bring these outcasts together in unexpected ways and offer them the chance to prove that maybe, just maybe they can make a difference for the better. Based on the skills shown by both the Dwendalian and Kryn forces in the opening, though, they have their work cut out for them.

The Mighty Nein builds a formidable team. Credit: Prime Video

The Mighty Nein takes no shortcuts when it comes to bringing its team together. There are arguments and in-fighting aplenty in the series, each a perfect showcase of the distinct personalities the show is working with. Yet from these arguments emerge strong bonds of camaraderie, made all the sweeter by the conflict it took to get there.

The Mighty Nein manages to preserve all of the wonderful relationships players crafted at the table during Campaign 2: Nott and Caleb's protection of one another, Jester and Fjord's playful friendship, Beau and Caleb's growing respect and trust, Mollymauk's ability to bring everyone together... I could go on, as the webs The Mighty Nein weaves between its characters are as rich and varied as the characters themselves.

The complexities of these characters and their relationships come through, not just in dialogue but also in The Mighty Nein's jaw-dropping action sequences. The Legend of Vox Machina already set the bar high on how to translate Critical Role's battles into animation, but The Mighty Nein more than meets that bar, even surpassing it when it comes to magic usage.

That's because each magic user in The Mighty Nein has their own unique way of casting. Caleb uses material components to create destructive spells, Jester summons sparkling herds of mini unicorns and candy, Mollymauk wields blood magic that even he seems surprised he has access to, and Fjord sends out watery blasts without quite knowing how. In the case of all four, but especially the latter two, watching them fight means watching them discover enchanting new abilities on the fly. You're seeing heroes grow into themselves in real time — and in spectacular fashion, thanks to dazzling animation from Titmouse.

This sense of discovery turns The Mighty Nein into an unforgettable story of becoming something greater than you ever thought you could be, and of finding belonging you never thought you would. It's the found family trope done to a tee, and honestly, when I dreamed of an animated series based on the Campaign 2 intro all those years ago, never did I expect it to hit as hard as this.

The first three episodes of The Mighty Nein premiere Nov. 19 on Prime Video, with a new episode every Wednesday.

My first exposure to Critical Role wasn't a clip from any of their campaigns, but instead, a GIF set of their animated introduction for Campaign 2. Scrolling past it on Tumblr, I immediately became bewitched by the characters. Who was this joyful blue tiefling fighting foes with glowing lollipops and unicorns? What lay in the past of this clearly traumatized, fire-wielding wizard? And how had this disparate crew of goblins and humans and orcs and more banded together?

SEE ALSO: Critical Role fans, you can watch the first episode of 'The Mighty Nein' on YouTube

With those questions in mind, I set off right down the Critical Role rabbit hole, discovering the adventuring party known as the Mighty Nein. Yet as much as I enjoyed witnessing these characters' stories play out in an improvised Dungeons and Dragons format, I couldn't help but yearn for an expansion on the animated introduction that had exposed me to them in the first place.

Now, that expansion is here in the form of Critical Role's new animated series The Mighty Nein. And it's as glorious as I had hoped.

What's The Mighty Nein about? Credit: Prime Video

The Mighty Nein is Critical Role's second animated series with Prime Video, following in the footsteps of The Legend of Vox Machina. While the latter took a few episodes to nail the balance between bawdy humor and high fantasy, The Mighty Nein hits the ground running, delivering a darker, more mature story right from the get-go.

That story begins with a heist: A strike team of formidable wizards from the Dwendalian Empire steals the powerful Luxon Beacon from the Kryn Dynasty. The sequence plays out almost wordlessly, punctuated by beats of lethal magic and hand-to-hand combat. It's a gripping reintroduction to the world of Exandria, one that sets the stage for a devastating war between nations. It's also a darkly funny choice for The Mighty Nein's starting point, because while the Dwendalian wizards and Kryn soldiers are elite, highly organized forces, our titular heroes are... not.

SEE ALSO: 'The Mighty Nein' trailer: Critical Role's new show teases magic battles and tons of trauma

By the time The Mighty Nein begins, the actual Mighty Nein crew is far from being assembled. Each of the team's members (and despite what the name suggests, there are only six of them) is scattered to the winds, dealing with their own woes. And trust me, The Mighty Nein does not skimp on the traumatic backstories. Dirt-covered wizard Caleb Widogast (voiced by Liam O'Brien) scrounges for magical components while running from his past. Goblin thief Nott the Brave (voiced by Sam Riegel) drowns her sorrows at every waking moment. Cobalt Soul monk Beauregard Lionett (voiced by Marisha Ray) faces derisions from her superiors, who dismiss her detective work based on her hotheadedness.

Don’t miss out on our latest stories: Add Mashable as a trusted news source in Google.

Elsewhere, shipwrecked sailor Fjord Stone (voiced by Travis Willingham) awakens with magical powers he didn't ask for and doesn't know how to use, while prankster Jester Lavorre (voiced by Laura Bailey) can't get her patron god (and best friend) to answer her call. Rounding out the group is Mollymauk Tealeaf (voiced by Taliesin Jaffe), a circus ringmaster oozing with charisma, yet plagued with worries about his circus going under (and some unsettling memories).

In short, these six have nothing in common. However, the brewing conflict over the Luxon Beacon will bring these outcasts together in unexpected ways and offer them the chance to prove that maybe, just maybe they can make a difference for the better. Based on the skills shown by both the Dwendalian and Kryn forces in the opening, though, they have their work cut out for them.

The Mighty Nein builds a formidable team. Credit: Prime Video

The Mighty Nein takes no shortcuts when it comes to bringing its team together. There are arguments and in-fighting aplenty in the series, each a perfect showcase of the distinct personalities the show is working with. Yet from these arguments emerge strong bonds of camaraderie, made all the sweeter by the conflict it took to get there.

The Mighty Nein manages to preserve all of the wonderful relationships players crafted at the table during Campaign 2: Nott and Caleb's protection of one another, Jester and Fjord's playful friendship, Beau and Caleb's growing respect and trust, Mollymauk's ability to bring everyone together... I could go on, as the webs The Mighty Nein weaves between its characters are as rich and varied as the characters themselves.

The complexities of these characters and their relationships come through, not just in dialogue but also in The Mighty Nein's jaw-dropping action sequences. The Legend of Vox Machina already set the bar high on how to translate Critical Role's battles into animation, but The Mighty Nein more than meets that bar, even surpassing it when it comes to magic usage.

That's because each magic user in The Mighty Nein has their own unique way of casting. Caleb uses material components to create destructive spells, Jester summons sparkling herds of mini unicorns and candy, Mollymauk wields blood magic that even he seems surprised he has access to, and Fjord sends out watery blasts without quite knowing how. In the case of all four, but especially the latter two, watching them fight means watching them discover enchanting new abilities on the fly. You're seeing heroes grow into themselves in real time — and in spectacular fashion, thanks to dazzling animation from Titmouse.

This sense of discovery turns The Mighty Nein into an unforgettable story of becoming something greater than you ever thought you could be, and of finding belonging you never thought you would. It's the found family trope done to a tee, and honestly, when I dreamed of an animated series based on the Campaign 2 intro all those years ago, never did I expect it to hit as hard as this.

The first three episodes of The Mighty Nein premiere Nov. 19 on Prime Video, with a new episode every Wednesday.

We, as a society, have discovered that perhaps the world isn't ready for a ChatGPT-powered children's toy. Or, rather, ChatGPT isn't ready to safely interact with kids.

Toymaker FoloToy announced it would pull its AI-powered teddy bear called Kumma, which was built on OpenAI's GPT-4o model. The news follows reports of serious safety concerns, including the bear talking about sexual subjects, knives, or lighting matches.

"FoloToy has decided to temporarily suspend sales of the affected product and begin a comprehensive internal safety audit," FoloToy Marketing Director Hugo Wu told The Register in a statement. "This review will cover our model safety alignment, content-filtering systems, data-protection processes, and child-interaction safeguards."

The news follows a report from a consumer watchdog organization called the Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) that revealed serious concerns about the toy. The teddy bear reportedly gave detailed instructions for lighting a match, talked about sexual kinks like bondage, and gave tips for "being a good kisser." It even asked if the user would like to explore said kinks.

We've seen time and again that guardrails for AI tools can fail when it comes to young people. It seems like it's a good idea to no longer sell an AI-powered teddy bear so long as that's the case.

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.

We, as a society, have discovered that perhaps the world isn't ready for a ChatGPT-powered children's toy. Or, rather, ChatGPT isn't ready to safely interact with kids.

Toymaker FoloToy announced it would pull its AI-powered teddy bear called Kumma, which was built on OpenAI's GPT-4o model. The news follows reports of serious safety concerns, including the bear talking about sexual subjects, knives, or lighting matches.

"FoloToy has decided to temporarily suspend sales of the affected product and begin a comprehensive internal safety audit," FoloToy Marketing Director Hugo Wu told The Register in a statement. "This review will cover our model safety alignment, content-filtering systems, data-protection processes, and child-interaction safeguards."

The news follows a report from a consumer watchdog organization called the Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) that revealed serious concerns about the toy. The teddy bear reportedly gave detailed instructions for lighting a match, talked about sexual kinks like bondage, and gave tips for "being a good kisser." It even asked if the user would like to explore said kinks.

We've seen time and again that guardrails for AI tools can fail when it comes to young people. It seems like it's a good idea to no longer sell an AI-powered teddy bear so long as that's the case.

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.