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Feeling lonely? Having trouble with your love life or lack thereof? Were you hoping the new AI-powered Siri could fill those voids?

Unfortunately, you may have to look elsewhere for companionship. Apple's Senior Vice President of Software Engineering Craig Federighi says Siri is just not that into you – and Apple purposefully designed it that way.

At WWDC this week, Federighi and Apple's Senior Vice President of Worldwide Marketing Greg Joswiak sat down for an interview with Laurie Segall of the tech YouTube channel Mostly Human.

During the interview, Segall pointed out that the features showcased during WWDC focused on Siri AI as a utility and not as a companion.

Federighi responded by explaining that this was a very purposeful move by Apple.

"I think that utility is at the foundation of human creativity and ultimately time for connection, right?" Federighi said. "I think the unlock around all of this is that you get to live the rest of your life and you get to feel really empowered doing it. I guess that's where the sexy part comes in, right? I don't think the sexy part actually belongs in the computer. It belongs in your life and so that's our focus. The idea of AI as a solution for loneliness, I mean loneliness is about a lack of connection to real people, you know, real humans."

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Federighi's discussion around AI as a solution for loneliness is significant. Numerous AI companies have been sued over the past few years due to AI chatbots and assistants attempting to have a human-like relationship, platonic or romantic in nature, and that connection resulting in real-life injury or death.

Apple's view seems to be in stark contrast to the approach of some of these other AI companies.

"Many of the existing chatbots, they're really focused on engagement to a large degree and sycophancy, right?" said Federighi. "They kind of want to pull you in. They might encourage you to reveal things about yourself and then use that as a basis to establish a connection. We view it quite the opposite. The way that we have designed Siri, Siri really wants to say, 'Listen, that's not what I'm here for, right? I'm here to I'm here to help you. I can help you get things done. I can help you learn about the world.' But if you try to engage Siri as a romantic partner, Siri's not up for that. Siri's 100 percent not into that."

So, there you have it. Apple says no funny business with the new Siri. And that seems to be the safe approach.

The World Cup kicked off this week, instantly sorting Netflix subscribers into two camps—those ignoring everything else on the planet for soccer and those dodging the sport entirely—no judgment either way, but we've got a list of soccer shows and movies for people who don't like soccer for anyone on the fence.

The long-awaited foldable iPhone should arrive in 2026; all signs point to a fall or winter 2026 release. Apple kept a very tight lid on its first-ever foldable phone right up until dropping the iOS 27 developer beta, which includes some direct and indirect references to the iPhone Fold (also rumored to be called the iPhone Ultra or iPhone Ultra Fold).

Early adopters already love foldables — and they have plenty of options — but Apple's been notably absent from the genre. However, don't count Apple out. The company has a history of showing up late to the party and then absolutely cornering the market, as it did with AirPods and iPhones.

So, as we await official details, here's everything we know about the first foldable iPhone, including the latest rumors, specifications, release date, and pricing.

When will the iPhone Fold be released?

We think the iPhone Fold will arrive in fall 2026 alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max. Numerous rumors pointed to this over the last year. However, while Apple traditionally releases all of its new iPhones in September, the Fold might not be ready by then.

A tech analyst named Tim Long recently claimed that shipments of the iPhone Fold will begin in December of this year, not September, though Bloomberg's Mark Gurman threw cold water on this rumor. And Gurman seems to have a crystal ball looking right into Apple headquarters these days.

Still, given the ongoing global memory shortage, last-minute delays are always possible, so we'll have to wait and see.

What's the iOS 27 beta telling us about the iPhone Fold?

The iPhone Fold isn't (yet) an official device. We do know a lot about it, but mostly via rumors, whispers, and reports coming out of Apple's supply chain.

But now, with the first iOS 27 developer beta, we have some actual clues about the iPhone Fold's existence. Software researcher M1Astra dug through the code (via Bloomberg), and found code that determines whether a device is folded or unfolded. Strings like “mechanicalAngleDegrees” and “angleDegrees" point to Apple fine-tuning the experience depending on how widely a foldable device is open. Researcher Sam Henri Gold found similar clues in the code.

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That's not all. Certain widgets, such as Music, News, and Weather, can now be configured to take up the majority of the iPhone's display. Doesn't make a ton of sense on a regular iPhone (you'd probably just want to have the Music app open instead), but on an iPhone Fold, such a widget could occupy one side of the display while you do something else on the other.

Apple seems to be preparing developers to handle a larger variety of form factors. Credit: Apple

Then, at WWDC 2026, Apple's Senior VP of Software Engineering, Craig Federighi, pointed out a developer-specific feature called the Device Hub, which allows developers to simulate their apps in different screen configurations.

Finally, Macworld found references in the code suggesting a device that has both the Dynamic Island and a Touch ID; such a device does not exist today, but the iPhone Fold is rumored to have both.

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The iPhone Fold remains a mystery to some extent, of course, but we do have a very rough idea of what it could offer. Based on all the rumors and leaks, the iPhone Fold will have a wider design than the Pixel 10 Pro Fold, Galaxy Z Fold 7, and the impressive Motorola Fold.

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman predicts that the foldable iPhone will be a book-style foldable with four cameras — two on the back, one on the inside, and one front selfie camera. Gurman also predicted it would use Touch ID like the iPad Air and Pro, even though iPhones typically use Face ID. All the recent leaks back up Gurman's reporting.

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In fact, the smartphone market is already adapting to the expected size of the iPhone Fold, and a Samsung Z Fold 8 Wide model recently leaked. Huawei was the first to market with a wide foldable, though the new Pura X Max is only available overseas.

The iPhone Fold specs could look something like this:

• Displays: 7.8-inch inner OLED display, 5.5-inch outer OLED display

• Thickness: 9.5mm unfolded, 4.5mm when folded

• Security: Touch ID

• Processor: A20 processor

• Cameras: Dual rear cameras (48MP), dual inner/outer front cameras

• Price: $2,399

• Battery: At least 5,088 mAh

We've seen several reports claiming that Apple is committed to making the iPhone Fold's display the best it can possibly be. It should be very durable, super thin, and without a visible crease. Samsung Display is reportedly producing the OLED displays for the iPhone Fold, as Samsung's got the best flexible display tech in the game. There's a reason Samsung released the Galaxy TriFold while the world is still waiting on the first foldable iPhone.

Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reported earlier this year that the iPhone Fold would have a 7.8-inch inner display, a 5.5-inch outer display, and measure in at just 9 to 9.5mm of thickness. We heard another rumor in September 2025, which claimed the iPhone Fold would look like two iPhone Airs put together, with a similar thickness of 5.6mm. Why the discrepancy between the two reports? It could be the difference between the device's thickness when folded and unfolded.

There's also talk about Apple using innovative tech to make the iPhone Fold lighter and more durable than most foldables. These rumors include a report that the company is using liquid metal for the phone's hinge, which should improve durability.

What will the foldable iPhone be called?

Up until now, most of the tech world has simply called the unannounced device the "iPhone Fold." However, since it's not a confirmed product yet, it's very possible that the phone will have a different name at launch. Some outlets, such as 9to5mac, have lately taken to calling it the "iPhone Ultra" or "iPhone Ultra Fold."

While that would be a cool name (and may actually be the name when it comes out), we're going to stick with "iPhone Fold" for now, just for the sake of simplicity.

How much will the iPhone Fold cost, and will people buy it? A hypothetical rendering of the rumored iPhone Fold. Credit: Zain bin Awais / Mashable

The iPhone Fold is likely to be expensive. An early estimate from research analyst Arthur Liao suggested the price tag for the Fold — gulp — could come in around $2,399. That's in line with expectations in a new report from International Data Corporation (IDC). Last year, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said the iPhone Fold is likely to retail between $2,000 and $2,500.

Despite the sizable cost (the flagship Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 is priced at $1,999.99), sales expectations remain high. The IDC report estimated Apple would siphon one-third of the spending in the foldable market in 2026.

"But the real game-changer for the category comes at year-end when Apple enters the foldable space, projected to capture over 22% unit share and a staggering 34% of the foldables market value in its first year, thanks to an expected average price point of $2,400,” read the report.

In March, Mark Gurman claimed that Apple could classify the iPhone Fold as an "Ultra" product, putting it in a higher price tier than other devices in its portfolio alongside other high-end machines like the Apple Watch Ultra. If the phone ends up costing at least $2,000 as expected, this would make sense.

The latest iPhone Fold leaks

In December 2025, we saw lots of alleged iPhone Fold renders circulating on social media, which all share a similar design. We'd take these with a grain of salt, of course.

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In February, a leaker known as Instant Digital posted some alleged renders of the iPhone to the Chinese social media site Weibo. Like most leaks, especially the ones pertaining to Apple, we can't confirm their authenticity. However, they line up with earlier reports of the overall look of the phone.

More recently, Apple leaker Sonny Dickson shared another potential iPhone Fold render in March 2026.

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Dickson shared more purported dummy units of the iPhone Fold in April, giving those renders a bit more physicality than they had before.

April has been fairly bounteous in terms of iPhone Fold leaks. Aside from Dickson's dummy units, YouTuber Vincent Zhong got his hands on the newly released (in Asia) Huawei Pura X Max Wide. This Chinese phone is one of the first real "wide foldables" that we've seen hit the market, and its screen dimensions are almost exactly the same as the alleged dimensions of the iPhone Fold.

While the iPhone Fold will almost certainly look different from Huawei's device, Zhong's hands-on video gives us a decent idea of what to expect from the iPhone Fold as a physical object in your hands.

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We've also gotten some interesting dummy photos from tech leaker Majin Bu on X in April. In these photos, the dummy units look very similar to what we've seen in other recent leaks. In other words, it looks like a shorter, more book-style foldable than previous foldables. It looks like it'll also support MagSafe cases.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. What about the cameras and battery?

Instant Digital makes some interesting claims. Most notably, the report says the iPhone Fold will have the largest-ever iPhone battery. (For reference, the iPhone 17 Pro Max is estimated to have a roughly 5,088 mAh battery.)

"The volume buttons are not on the left side," reads a translation of the post. "Instead, they are placed directly on the top of the right-side frame (similar to the volume button layout on the top of the iPad mini). This may take some getting used to for users’ typical phone habits."

The post also stated, "The rear dual camera + right-side microphone + flash are arranged horizontally. The camera module appears to be fully black and does not match the body color. Currently, the only confirmed color is white, but it is expected that Apple will launch two color options."

What else do we know about the iPhone Fold?

Beyond physical design, another recent report suggested you'll be able to run multiple apps side-by-side when the phone is unfolded, sort of like multitasking on iPadOS 26. However, by all accounts, this device will run iOS, not iPadOS, so you won't exactly get a full iPad experience from the iPhone Fold. (Apps that are designed to run natively in iPadOS, for example, would not be compatible.)

SEE ALSO: Samsung Galaxy Z Trifold vs Apple foldable iPhone: Specs and rumors

Finally, even though the iPhone Fold is still in the realm of fantasy, there are already rumors about a follow-up, clamshell-style foldable from Apple, potentially called the iPhone Flip. That one probably isn't coming until next year, though.

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With the vacation season in full swing, it's worth taking a few minutes to get your phone ready before you travel. While modern Android devices already come packed with helpful features for traveling, there are still numerous useful travel settings that need to be enabled or configured manually. If you want your phone to be properly prepared for the trip ahead and avoid running into avoidable issues along the way, here are some things you can do to make your phone travel-ready.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicked off yesterday with an opening match between host country Mexico and South Africa. Mexico was able to pull out the W in front of a fiery home crowd. Fellow host nations United States and Canada start their World Cup campaigns today, June 12. Can they follow Mexico's lead? The pressure is on.

World Cup Matchday 2 is upon us, and live coverage of the tournament starts at 3 p.m. ET today as host country Canada welcomes opponent Bosnia-Herzegovina. With 48 teams in the mix, there's a lot to keep up with. So we've broken down everything you need to know to tune in live on June 12.

FIFA World Cup schedule today: June 12

• Group B: Canada vs. Bosnia-Herzegovina (Toronto Stadium) — kickoff at 3 p.m. ET

• Group D: United States vs. Paraguay (Los Angeles Stadium) — kickoff at 9 p.m. ET

How to livestream FIFA World Cup games todayWatch Canada vs. Bosnia-Herzegovina

Canada, one of the tournament's co-hosts, begins its World Cup campaign in Toronto today against Bosnia and Herzegovina, looking to take advantage of a home crowd. The Group B matchup kicks off at 3 p.m. ET, and live coverage will be on Fox and Fox One. Peacock will carry the live Spanish-language coverage.

Watch United States vs. Paraguay

The United States is the last of the host nations to kick off its World Cup campaign. The U.S. Men's National Soccer team is hoping for a strong opening against Paraguay in front of a West Coast crowd. The Group D matchup will kick off at 9 p.m. ET at Los Angeles Stadium, and live coverage will be on Fox, Fox One, and Tubi. Peacock will also carry the Spanish-language coverage.

Opens in a new window Credit: Fox One Fox One (3-month subscription) $39.98
$59.97 Save $19.99 only for a limited time Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Tubi Tubi (United States vs. Paraguay only) Watch for free Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Peacock Peacock (Spanish language coverage only) Starting at $10.99/month Get Deal More live streaming optionsLive TV cable replacement

If you'd rather get more bang for your buck, you can sign up for a live TV cable replacement service, like YouTube TV or Hulu + Live TV. These options give you access to 100+ live channels via WiFi connection, including Fox and FS1, for a monthly fee. They can get pretty expensive, but most offer a free trial and introductory rate. Here are a few options to consider:

• YouTube TV — 10-day trial, then $67.99/month for 3 months

• Fubo Sports — 1-day trial, then $45.99/month for 1 month

• Hulu + Live TV — 3-day trial, then $89.99/month

Watch for free on ITVX, BBC iPlayer, and more with a VPN

Don't want to sign up for another streaming service? I don't blame you. Instead, you might consider subscribing to a VPN and streaming the World Cup matches for free on international services like ITVX, BBC iPlayer, NOS, or RTÉ. We recommend ExpressVPN, an Official Tournament Supporter of the FIFA World Cup in the U.S., Canada, and Europe, as our VPN of choice. It offers servers in 105 countries, a user-friendly app available on all major devices, fast connection speeds, up to 10 simultaneous connections, and a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you're a VPN newbie, our global World Cup watch guide will help you nail down the details.

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpresVPN ExpressVPN (1-month plan) $12.99 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

Did you know that NASA has a stacked repository of 3D printing files that you can download and print for free? This includes some of the agency’s most iconic equipment, plus terrain maps and asteroids.

Nothing pairs better than food and football (er, soccer). So, now that the 2026 FIFA World Cup has officially kicked off, why not indulge in some tasty treats to celebrate? Restaurant chains across the country are getting in on the global tournament with special food and drink items and even some deals.

Whether you're a dedicated soccer fan, new to the sport, or just like delicious food deals, here are all the spots you can score some World Cup food specials this summer.

Auntie Anne's

Auntine Anne's launched a Pitch Pack built for game day. Through July 31, customers can match up any two Pretzel Nugget flavors or Mini Dogs, along with two dips. Plus, it comes in a cute soccer-themed snack box.

The chain is also dropping some limited-edition World Cup merch online, called the Nug Cup Collection. Loyalty members can get $3 off plushies and scarves with the code PRETZELFAN.

Buffalo Wild Wings

Sports and wings are built for each other, and Buffalo Wild Wings knows it. Thus, it's serving up a limited-time Matchday menu inspired by global flavors. The lineup includes six new dipping sauces with flavors from around the world: Peri Peri (South Africa), Yuzu Wasabi (Asia), Maple Sweet Chili (Canada), Sweet Curry (Europe), Smoky Elote (Mexico), and Creamy Chimichurri (South America). The chain is also introducing two new signature cocktails (Red Card Punch and Yellow Card Margarita) and Michelob Ultra Beer Towers.

Chipotle

Chipotle released a limited-edition soccer jersey (there are only 53 available) that reward members have a chance to win. You'll have to use 10 of your rewards points for an entry into the raffle between June 10 and 24.

Crumbl

Through June 13, Crumbl is offering new flavors inspired by the international World Cup teams, including: Blue Raspberry Sports Drink Cookie, American Brownie Sundae Cookie, Mexican Tangy Mango Cookie ft. Tajín, Canadian Nanaimo Bar Cookie, Ultimate Peanut Butter Cookie, and Soccer Field Dubai-Style Cheesecake.

Grubhub

Grubhub is loaded with deals this summer in honor of the World Cup.

From June 29 through July 5, customers can take advantage of the following offers:

• BOGO 2-piece Chicken Combo from KFC, $15 minimum

• BOGO Whopper Jr. from Burger King, $15 minimum

• Free Bacon Cheeseburger from Shake Shack, $25 minimum

• $15 off orders over $50 from Primo Hoagies

From July 6 through 12, there's a new round of deals:

• BOGO 4-piece Signature Chicken or Chicken Sandwich from Popeyes, $15 minimum

• BOGO Personal Pan Pizza from Pizza Hut, $35 minimum

• Free 10-piece wings from Wingstop, $30 minimum

• BOGO Spicy Chicken Sandwich from Wendy’s, $20 minimum

Finally, from July 13 through 19, the offers switch to:

• BOGO Chicken or Cheese Quesadilla from Taco Bell, $20 minimum

• Free 6-inch Tuna, Turkey, Spicy Italian, or Sweet Onion Teriyaki sub from Subway, $20 minimum

Hard Rock Cafe

Hard Rock Cafe is launching a new Messi Legendary Burger, alongside Lionel Messi, which consists of two smashed patties topped with provolone, tomato, chorizo jam, pickles, and roasted pepper aioli. It's only available for a limited time during the World Cup.

Stop in the Rock Shop for special Hard Rock x World Cup merch as well, including jerseys, hoodies, T-shirts, and more.

Insomnia Cookies

In honor of the World Cup, Insomnia Cookies introduced the Goal Game Pack, which gives fans 16 classic cookies for the price of a dozen. The offer is only available through June 30 at participating bakeries nationwide.

Krispy Kreme

Krispy Kreme is keeping the deals rolling after National Donut Day with a new offer for the World Cup. Meet the Matchday Dozen, available between June 11 and June 14 at participating U.S. locations. It includes:

• Kickoff Donuts: unglazed, Cookies and Kreme-filled donut with green cookie dough icing, as well as soccer field lines and a soccer ball piece

• Soccer Rainbow Donuts: Original Glazed donut with vanilla icing, dipped in rainbow sprinkles with a soccer ball piece

• Fan favorites: Original Glazed and Iced Chocolate with sprinkles

Customers can also score a $2 Original Glazed dozen when they purchase another dozen or the 16-count Minis through June 14.

McDonald's

McDonald's launched a FIFA World Cup meal on June 4, which includes limited-edition collectible cups featuring Grimace or any of the following soccer stars: Christian Pulisic, David Beckham, Ronaldinho Gaucho, Thierry Henry, Son Heung-Min, Lamine Yamal, Alphonso Davies, and Santiago Gimenez. The meal costs between $10 and $12, depending on location, and customers can choose between a Big Mac and a 10-piece McNugget box for lunch/dinner or a Sausage Biscuit with egg or a Sausage McMuffin with egg for breakfast.

The chain is also letting kids get in on the action with a Happy Meal version. It includes 23 options of Squishmallow plushies, including World Cup mascots.

Subway

On the days the U.S. plays its Group Stage games (June 12, June 19, June 25), Subway is offering Sub Club members a 40% discount on any footlong if the U.S. wins. The offer will be added to Sub Club accounts the following day.

TGI Fridays

On the longest Friday of the year, June 19, TGI Fridays is offering Matchday Bites starting at $8.99, Matchday Platters starting at $14.99, Red and Yellow Card margaritas, $5 GOOOAL Shooters, $5 drafts, and $20 buckets.

Look on any Home Assistant forum, and you're likely to find a ton of posts from people showing off their intricately detailed dashboards. While many of these dashboards look incredible, packed with controls and graphs, they're not something that I really want. There's only one dashboard that I enjoy using.

USB-C was supposed to be the last cable standard you'd ever need to think about, and the connector itself mostly delivered on that promise. However, what’s wired inside varies wildly from cable to cable, turning simple tasks like fast charging, high-speed data transfers, and video output into a frustrating guessing game.

A quick look at the best robot vacuum deals ahead of Prime Day Best robot vacuum on sale overall Dreame L60 Ultra FE $749.99 at Amazon (save $250 at Amazon) Get Deal Best mid-range robot vacuum deal Eufy C28 $529.99 at Amazon (save $270 at Amazon) Get Deal Best budget robot vacuum deal Roborock Q10 S5+ $329.99 at Amazon (save $270 at Amazon) Get Deal

Don't ask ChatGPT which robot vacuum you should buy on Prime Day — ask the person who has tested nearly 40 robot vacuums in their own home. Most of the best robot vacuums of the past few years, including new 2026 models, will be on sale for Prime Day between June 23 and June 26. But if your floors need automated cleaning earlier than the end of the month, I found a handful of worthwhile robot vacuums on sale to buy ahead of Prime Day.

That doesn't just refer to the models with the biggest discounts. I've further whittled down the list to the robot vacuums with the best ratio of cleaning specs and smart features compared to their sale price.

SEE ALSO: HGTV hive, rise up: The best Shark robot vacuum and cordless stick vacuum just dropped in 4 earth tones

For example, the Roborock Saros 10R that I loved last year is $500 off, now back at its record-low price of $999.99. That sounds like a steal until I remind you that you can get significantly more suction power for $749.99 with the Dreame L60 Ultra FE. The self-emptying Shark Navigator for $246.95 sounds great until you realize that just $30 more can get you mopping and small obstacle avoidance with the Roborock Q10 S5+. (If you're shopping for a really high-end robot vacuum, I'd wait for the Dreame X60 Max Ultra Complete or Narwal Flow 2 to go on sale.)

So, here are the early Prime Day deals on robot vacuums that are worth your time so far:

Best Amazon robot vacuum deal ahead of Prime Day Dreame L60 Ultra FE $749.99 at Amazon
$999.99 Save $250   Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it

Not to rope the Roborock Saros 10R back into it, but it really does make the Dreame L60 Ultra FE's value stand out. This model was just released at the end of April 2026, and its 30,000 Pa suction power isn't too far off from the 35,000 Pa of the most powerful Dreame robot vacuum. With accurate AI obstacle avoidance and heated self-washing mopping pads thrown in, this is a really solid vacuum for less than $800.

I can personally attest to the L60 Ultra FE's cleaning power for the price — it's currently sitting in my living room. I'm a sucker for the corner mopping of a spinning mopping pad, which still squeezes into 90-degree angles better than roller mop robot vacuums that can slide out to clean edges. This Dreame model has done a commendable job with cat litter, crumbs under the kitchen counter, and cat scratcher flecks stuck in the rug.

Deals on robot vacuum mop combos (+ self-washing mopping pads)

• Dreame L10s Ultra Gen 2 — $379.92 $589.99 (save $210.07)

• Mova P10 Pro Ultra Gen 2 — $498.99 $599 (save $100.01)

• Eufy C28 — $529.99 $799.99 (save $270)

• Narwal Freo Z10 — $649.99 $899.99 (save $150)

• Ecovacs Deebot T90 Pro Omni — $699 $899.99 (save $200.99)

• Roborock Qrevo CurvX — $849.99 $1,499.99 (save $650)

• Shark PowerDetect UV Reveal 2-in-1 — $949.99 $1,299.99 (save $350)

Budget robot vacuum and mop deals

• 3i G10+ — $199.99 $249.99 (save $50)

• Roborock Q7 M5+ — $249.99 $359.99 (save $90)

• Roborock Q10 S5+ — $279.99 $549.99 (save $270)

• Shark AI Ultra — $289.99 $599 (save $309.01)

Note: You don't need to be a Prime member to shop these early deals, but that will change come the official Prime Day kickoff on June 23.

While television boasts plenty of brilliantly entertaining shows to watch, comedies have a unique way of capturing the chaos of everyday life from wildly different angles. In addition to making them funny and entertaining, that quality of capturing everyday chaos is also what makes them relatable.

You might not have heard of Nothing before, but you're about to see a lot more of it. Best Buy is now carrying Nothing phones, earbuds, and headphones in over 500 U.S. stores and online, giving the mobile startup its largest-ever American retail presence.

For years, Spotify's New Music Friday has been one of the app's most influential playlists, helping millions of listeners discover new releases every week. But starting today, the platform is making a subtle change to one of its biggest products: It's putting the actual people responsible for curating it front and center.

Listeners in the U.S. will now find short-form videos from Spotify's editorial team embedded directly within New Music Friday. The clips feature editors explaining why they're excited about certain releases, highlighting emerging artists, and sharing the stories behind songs they think listeners should know about.

SEE ALSO: Spotify's new Reserved feature could make concert ticketing less miserable

The new experience combines New Music Friday with The Drop Weekly, Spotify's editor-led video series that launched last year. According to the company, listeners have responded strongly to those more personal recommendations, generating more than double the engagement through saves and likes.

The move arrives at a moment when music discovery is increasingly shaped by algorithms. Streaming services like Spotify can instantly generate playlists based on listening habits, while AI tools promise increasingly personalized recommendations. According to Spotify's music editors, that's exactly why human perspectives matter more than ever.

"I would argue that they want that more and demand more of that," Alaysia Sierra, Spotify's head of R&B editorial, told Mashable when asked whether listeners still value hearing directly from human curators. "I think there's no better time to remind people that humans are here and still doing the work. Connection is something we're all deeply craving, and that's why humanizing recommendation and discovery feels especially important."

It may also be worth noting that human-curated playlists are less likely to surface AI-generated music, since editors tend to prioritize artists and stories they find meaningful and worth championing.

Featured Video For You How TikTok is Changing the Music Industry

For Spotify's editorial team, the goal is bigger than simply recommending a song. It's providing the context that turns a casual listen into a lasting connection.

"We live in an era where anyone could listen to any song at any moment," said Cecilia Winter, editorial lead for Global Hits. "It's the act of both sifting through and actually finding the great stuff, but also moving into a space where we're sharing more context around it that's really going to create that stickier connection."

That idea came up repeatedly during Mashable's conversations with Spotify's editors. In their view, discovery isn't just about surfacing music; it's about helping listeners understand why a song matters. It's not so much about who you should be listening to but why. That's a role music media has traditionally filled. Publications like Rolling Stone and Pitchfork connect artists to larger cultural conversations and give audiences a framework for understanding what's worth paying attention to and why.

"The context is the discovery in a way," said Carla Turi, Spotify's senior editor for Folk & Indie. "Knowing that a song came out of a specific moment or that an artist was responding to something or someone in their lyrics, I think it completely changes how you experience music."

For Sierra, that work is especially important in R&B, a genre they describe as "cultural and rich and evolving" but one that can still be overlooked in broader music conversations. The challenge, they said, is identifying artists before everyone else catches on. While Spotify's editors have access to listener data and trend signals, Sierra often trusts a simpler metric: whether they can't stop replaying a song herself.

"If I keep going back to the song and wanting to replay it and it's making me feel this way, then I know that—or hope that—other people will feel the same way too," they said.

One of the biggest shifts they're watching right now is the globalization of R&B. Sierra pointed to a growing wave of artists emerging from the UK, including Cleo Sol, Elmiene, Sasha Keable, and Kwn, as evidence of the genre's continued evolution beyond traditional geographic boundaries.

"You just get these constant markers that something is obviously happening," they said. "All of these artists from this space are being loved and received and growing."

The new videos also pull back the curtain on a process most listeners never see. The New Music Friday playlist is assembled through a highly collaborative editorial process. Throughout the week, genre specialists and cultural experts from across Spotify meet to discuss upcoming releases, share songs they're excited about, and debate which should be included on the playlist.

Spotify isn't alone in this approach. Major streaming competitors, including Apple Music and Amazon Music, also employ editorial teams to curate playlists and shape music discovery. These videos offer a rare look at how that process works inside the world's largest music streaming service.

"When it comes to what makes it onto the list, there are many factors we balance," Winter said. "Obviously, we want to reflect the major news stories and moments that will be interesting to a broad audience. But we also want to showcase artists across genres that we’re especially excited about as editors and music experts."

That work extends well beyond listening sessions. Editors track audience behavior on Spotify, follow online communities, attend concerts, and maintain relationships with labels. They also regularly compare notes with colleagues around the world to identify emerging scenes before they reach the mainstream. The approach has more in common with traditional music journalism than the purely data-driven image often associated with streaming platforms.

Turi pointed to conversations with Spotify's international editorial teams as one example. A few years ago, editors in the Nordic region began highlighting a growing underground dream-pop and alt-pop scene emerging from Copenhagen. Before long, those sounds started spreading across markets and influencing artists elsewhere, and Spotify launched Cph+, its own dedicated playlist to the scene.

The example underscores how Spotify's editorial operation can function as more than a mirror of listener behavior. The company's biggest playlists—including New Music Friday, RapCaviar, mint, and Lorem—have become influential tastemakers in their own right, capable of introducing emerging artists to millions of listeners and helping shape what breaks into the mainstream.

Still, the editors insist there's no shortcut to discovering what's next.

"We're listening to music pretty much all day," Winter said. "There isn't really any shortcut to listening to music all day and identifying, OK, I'm starting to hear a lot of the same trend, or a lot of the same use of an instrument, or the same style in a way that I wasn't hearing six months ago."

The editors are also paying close attention to the next wave of sounds. Turi highlighted the post-hyperpop, alternative scene emerging around artists like 2hollis, MGNA Crrrta, and Ninajirachi, while Sierra said they're excited about the growing role music videos could play in music discovery on Spotify.

As for what they're listening to right now? Sierra recommends the rising artist nomi's "Sweet Talk"; Turi has Chanel Beads' "Song for the Messenger" on repeat; and Winter picked "L.U.C.K.Y" by New York duo Fcukers as one of her songs of the summer.

"It's a really nice song for walking around and feeling like the main character," Winter said.

Adding editor videos to New Music Friday won't fundamentally change how Spotify recommends music. But the feature speaks to something bigger.

More and more, platforms are realizing that people don't just follow recommendations; they follow people. It's why creators matter. It's why newsletters have become more personal. It's why publications increasingly ask reporters to step in front of the camera and build direct relationships with audiences, rather than hide behind the byline.

Spotify's editors aren't all that different. The recommendation itself still matters, but increasingly, so does knowing who's making it. The person behind the playlist becomes part of the discovery experience. And in the age of AI overviews and automated discovery, the value of a recommendation often comes down to the person making it.

As Sierra put it, it's a reminder that there are still humans behind the headphones.

I'm not a huge fan of the usual Home Assistant dashboards. I don't see the benefit in being able to control your smart home from a wall-mounted panel if you have to walk over to it before you can use it. There are plenty of ways you can use Home Assistant dashboards to do other things.

Samsung assumes that most people want to do some level of health and fitness tracking on their Galaxy Watch. Even if that’s true for you, there are a few lesser-known health settings that could be unnecessarily draining your battery. If you’re not checking the data, it makes sense to disable them.

The first time I ever unboxed and set up a 3D printer was all the way back in 2015. My boss had bought one, but hadn't been brave enough to set it up. This was when 3D printers needed a significant amount of assembly out of the box, so the trepidation was understandable.

Dell's revivified XPS 16 is a pricey, premium laptop for well-heeled shoppers. Its sleek chassis, peppy performance, and attractive extras (notably, an OLED touch screen) justify the expense if you're shopping for a high-end desktop replacement.

Did you know that the ESP32 microcontroller can run full operating systems? There are two relatively user-friendly options that include a graphical user interface (GUI) and installable applications, plus a few others that use command lines and emulation.

Netflix loves a twisty sci-fi in which regular folks get suddenly trapped inside their home with no means of escape. Brick blew our minds, and now another mysterious sci-fi snare is set to to arrive in The Last House, with a tense new trailer out today.

Greta Lee and Wagner Moura star in this thriller from director Louis Leterrier (Now You See Me), with the Past Lives and The Secret Agent stars playing couple Ann and Jason, who find themselves and their kids sealed inside their house. Like the Ultrahouse 3000 from The Simpsons, the house appears to have a mind of its own, pushing its inhabitants into survival mode within their own home.

Gabriel Barbosa, Emma Ho, Noah Alexander Sosnowski, and Riley Chung also star.

The Last House is streaming on Netflix on Aug. 7.

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Despite frequently bragging about his health, as Donald Trump nears his 80th birthday he certainly seems to be meeting with a lot of healthcare professionals — and Daily Show host Desi Lydic shared her thoughts on the matter.

"This weekend is his birthday, and he made it to 80 — with a little help," said Lydic during Thursday's show, before throwing to a Washington Post article about Trump reportedly being seen by 22 different medical specialists. "No wonder I can't get a doctor's appointment, half the medical profession is busy duct-taping together the world's healthiest man."

Ouch.

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