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TL;DR: Through 22 December, this lifetime subscription to FastestVPN covers up to 10 devices and is on sale for just £19.66 (reg. £283.44) at the Mashable Shop.

In today's interconnected digital world, safeguarding your online privacy is a proactive measure that's simply par for the course. And lucky for all of us, there are tools available to make it easy. FastestVPN is a virtual private network (VPN) that creates a secure and anonymous connection over the internet. This week, a lifetime subscription is on sale for just under £20.

When you connect to a VPN server, all data transmitted between your device and the VPN server is encrypted. This encryption prevents unauthorised parties from accessing your data or identifying you, which is especially helpful when traveling and connecting to public networks. FastestVPN has more than 600 servers working in more than 41 countries for your convenience.

FastestVPN uses advanced encryption to keep security tight. It also features an ad-blocker, firewall, and anti-malware software. With a no-logging policy, you can rest assured that even FastestVPN doesn't have access to your information. This is as close as you can get to being truly invisible online.

This service is made for no-buffering while downloading and streaming via its fast P2P-optimised 10Gbps+ servers. The Smart Connect feature instantly connects you to the fastest server available, an ideal feature if you do a lot of streaming.

It's compatible with a huge variety of different systems, including Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Xbox, Apple TV, and more. You get access on up to 10 devices for life with an internet kill switch and round-the-clock tech support. No matter how you access the internet — on your phone, tablet, computer, or all of the above — you can protect yourself with this lifetime membership.

Take control of your digital privacy for life with this limited-time offer for Mashable readers.

A lifetime subscription to FastestVPN that covers up to 10 devices is now on sale for just £19.66 (reg. £283.44) until 22 December at 11:59 p.m. PT.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: FastestVPN FastestVPN: Lifetime Subscription (10 Devices) £19.66 at the Mashable Shop
£283.44 Save £263.78 Get Deal

TL;DR: A wide range of Amazon Web Services courses are available to take for free on edX.

Do you know all about Amazon Web Services? You probably use some aspect of AWS, but do you really know how to harness this technology? If not, you can address this knowledge gap without spending anything.

AWS is the world’s most comprehensive cloud platform, offering storage, databases, analytics, networking, developer tools, management tools, IoT, security services, enterprise applications, and much more to users all around the world. But we're not here to teach you about AWS. We'll leave that to the professionals.

A wide range of online courses from AWS are available to take for free on edX. We recommend taking some time to check everything out, but we've got you started with a standout selection of free online courses from AWS. These are the best free online courses from AWS this month:

• Architecting Solutions on AWS

• AWS Cloud Practitioner Essentials

• AWS Cloud Technical Essentials

• DevOps on AWS: Code, Build, and Test

• Exam Prep: AWS Certified Solutions Architect — Associate

• Getting Started with Data Analytics on AWS

• Hands-on with AWS: Software Development Practices

• Introduction to AWS Cloud Careers

• Introduction to Designing Data Lakes on AWS

• Introduction to Machine Learning on AWS

These courses are totally free, but they don't include things like a certificate of completion. That shouldn't stop you from getting started though, because you can still learn at your own pace with unlimited access to all the video content.

Find the best free AWS courses on edX.

Opens in a new window Credit: edX Free AWS Courses Get Deal

Have you ever skipped doing a proper warm down and stretch after a workout because you just didn't have the time? Hey, we all have. It's the bane of a gym-based life.

That's just the reality of trying to stay fit in amongst the hustle and bustle of everyday life. When you're pushed for time, a warm down — never mind a proper massage — is the first thing to go. What you need are the tools to help you stay on top of both your body and your schedule. That means a massage gun, a must-have tool for pro athletes and average gym members alike.

If you have chronic shoulder, neck, or back pain, the ability to give yourself a deep-tissue massage at home can be life-changing. You'll find there's a range of models to hit the spot of your muscle recovery needs. Not sure if you're ready for the big (massage) guns? Let us get you started with some useful information.

How do massage guns work?

Athletes use deep-tissue massage for quick pain relief and faster recovery times. This is when a professional masseuse delivers forceful, rapid thumps to a specific area of the body to stimulate a specific set of muscles. The percussive therapy offered by massage guns allows individuals perform this same type of penetrative tissue attention on themselves without extra help. These devices are said to provide hours worth of massage benefits in just a couple of minutes.

What are the benefits of a massage gun?

Massage guns deliver short-duration pulses to enhance the blood flow, soften knots, and accelerate the repair of muscle fibres, all of which can lead to better-prepared warmups and quicker recovery times. Your mood might see a spike, too. The pressure point relief that massage provides has been linked to decreased levels of cortisol (the stress hormone), an increased production of endorphins (the feel-good chemical), and even a lower heart rate.

We should point out that percussive therapy isn't a fix-all solution. A massage gun can replace pricey massage appointments, but there's literally no substitute for the nutrients you get from a balanced diet, sleep, and getting proper hydration are still crucial to the muscle growth and recovery process.

Percussion massagers vs. vibration massagers — what's the difference?

Percussion massagers mimic the kneading hands of a masseuse, providing pressure that hammers below the top layers and work damaged muscle fibres. Perfect for heavy-duty workouts. Casual exercisers and chronic pain sufferers may prefer surface-level rumblings from a vibration massager, which gives speedy pulses but less "punch".

What features do massage guns have?

Massage guns tend to offer some key features that appear in multiple models:

• Battery life — Many people depend on their massage gun for a rushed cool down in the middle of a busy schedule, and charging after every use is a huge inconvenience. The best massage guns will get up to three hours of battery life while the weaker ones max out at around 40 minutes.

• Massage heads – The first thing you'll notice when buying a massage gun is that they usually come with a selection of heads, each designed to work specific muscle groups in a different way and get different results.

• Noise — No one wants to sit at the gym (or at home with a sleeping baby) using a device that sounds like a pneumatic drill. It's impossible for massage guns to be completely silent, but check the reviews for sound levels.

• Speeds — Look for a gun with different speeds, or revs per minute (RPM. But don't forget that higher speed doesn't always mean vigour. The amplitude (how deep the massage head will push into your body) relies on the amount of force behind each pulse, and heavier force on a slow RPM setting will feel more intense than a faster RPM setting with weaker force. 

Keep these points in mind when shopping around for a massage gun.

What is the best massage gun?

There is a lot to know about massage guns, and it's important to do your research before making a purchase. To make your job a little easier, we have tracked down six of the best guns to cover all muscular bases. We've tried to find something for everyone and every budget. You just need to scroll through the options and pick a favourite. Your muscles will thank you — well, they certainly won't complain as much.

These are the best massage guns in 2024.

Fitness trackers, or general wearable devices, have become part and parcel of everyday life. Chances are you've got one or you're thinking of getting one for the first time. Either way, it's always a good time to shop around and see what fitness trackers are available — not to mention smart watches that are packed with health and fitness features, such as the Apple Watch.

The great thing about fitness trackers is the fact they promote healthy routines and positive lifestyle change, helping with exercise, sleep, vitals, and mindset.

Yes, fitness trackers can do an awful lot for you. The difficult part is choosing one. We all have different lifestyles and fitness goals, which means there's no catch-all solution when it comes to fitness trackers. But don't worry, we've searched the internet and scanned the reviews to pull together a selection of the very best fitness tracker options. First up, here's a quick guide.

Can fitness trackers monitor your heart rate?

Absolutely. In fact, one of the big reasons to get a fitness tracker is how they help with heart health. Most fitness trackers will monitor your heart rate as a basic feature, while more advanced trackers can pick up on irregularities, give you on-demand ECG reports, and alert you to changing heart rate zones as you work out.

How do you choose a fitness tracker?

Before you start shopping for a fitness tracker, there are few things to you might want to consider: 

• Design — Wearables are meant to make our lives easier, yet some can be super clunky and uncomfortable. Invest in a fitness tracker that’s not an eyesore and fits nicely on your wrist. You don’t want to cut off your circulation or have it slip off while you’re on the move. Look for models that come in different colours too, so you can have one that goes with your activewear, casual, and work outfits. 

• Physical activity — What are your daily workout needs? Consider how a fitness tracker can benefit your exercise regimen. If you engage in activities like pilates, yoga, or walking, opt for a basic fitness tracker for heart rate monitoring and sleep data. On the other hand, if high-intensity workouts, including running and swimming, are more of your thing, choose a fitness tracker that can give you vital reads and remember your mileage. 

• Power — Most fitness trackers run on batteries or need to be charged regularly. Check the power life of a tracker first before buying it. If it doesn’t last long, skip it and opt for another model. You don’t want to have a tracker that can’t keep up with your physical activity needs. 

• Smartphone compatibility — Your smartphone is probably one of your most important tech devices, so it might be helpful to find a fitness tracker that connects with it. If that’s the case, you can receive call and text notifications when you’re commuting, exercising, or moving around the house. This is a major plus if you're prone to miss phone calls from coworkers, family members, and friends. Plus, some trackers come with smartphone apps, so you can store all your data in one convenient place. 

• Wellness features — A fitness tracker might already monitor heart rate, but what are its other wellness features? Some trackers give you stats on your sleep patterns, daily movement, and distance after workouts. Even though fitness trackers are not meant to cure or prevent any diseases, they can give valuable insights on your physical and mental state. 

What is the best fitness tracker for monitoring heart rate?

Finding the right fitness tracker can be challenging with so many options. You might be an avid athlete or more of an occasional gym rat, but regardless of what your activities are, there is a fitness tracker out there for your health needs.

We've checked out everything on offer from top brands like Fitbit, Garmin, and Apple, and lined up a selection of your best options. It's worth taking some time to properly consider these models, because there is something for everyone and every budget.

These are the best heart rate fitness trackers in 2024.

OpenAI announced numerous new options for developers who use their technology to build products and services, promising the upgrades will "improve performance, flexibility, and cost-efficiency."

In their live announcement today — which suffered from audio problems — the OpenAI team first highlighted changes to OpenAI o1, the company's reasoning model that can "handle complex multi-step tasks," according to the company. Developers can now utilize the model on their highest usage tier; it's currently used by developers to build automated customer service systems, help inform supply chain decisions, and even forecast financial trends.

SEE ALSO: OpenAI makes ChatGPT Search available to everyone starting now

The new o1 model can also connect to external data and APIs (aka Application Programming Interfaces, which is how different software applications communicate with each other). Developers can also use o1 to fine-tune messaging to give their AI applications a specific tone and style; the model also has vision capabilities so it can use images to "unlock many more applications in science, manufacturing, or coding, where visual inputs matter."

Improvement were also announced for OpenAI's Realtime API, which developers utilize for voice assistants, virtual tutors, translation bots, and AI Santa voices. The company's new WebRTC Support will help in real-time voice services, utilizing JavaScript to ostensibly create better audio quality and more helpful responses (e.g., the RealTime API can start formulating responses to a query even while a user is still speaking). OpenAI also announced price reductions for services like WebRTC Support.

Also of note, OpenAI is now offering Preference Fine-Tuning to developers, which customizes the technology to respond better to "subjective tasks where tone, style, and creativity matter" than so-called Supervised Fine-Tuning. Catch the full presentation below.

I'm not a professional video person, but as a YouTuber and someone married to a video pro, my life became a lot easier when I took the time to learn some of the lingo. It won't turn you into Scorsese overnight, but it's a good start!

Apple's Family Sharing feature for its family of devices is an amazing way to simplify the Apple ecosystem in your home, and it can save you a lot of money! However, Family Sharing also has its limits, and there are some things you can't share using this feature. So let's look at what you can share, and perhaps more importantly—what you can't.

2024 was a big year for AI, and not all of it was good. But amidst the ethical dilemmas and growing concerns around the race to integrate the technology anywhere and everywhere, many set out with the goal to harness the power of AI responsibly. Here are 5 projects driven by AI that are genuinely helpful.

The external solid-state drives are excellent for expanding device storage, saving backups, or transferring data. They offer faster data transfer speeds and better reliability than traditional hard disk drives.

The Microsoft desktop apps aren't just for use in the workplace. In fact, you can use them at home to create personalized Christmas paraphernalia, keep yourself organized, and stay in touch with loved ones during the festive period.

Nov. 17th, shop Amazon deals on tablets from Amazon Fire, Samsung, and iPad before the holidays.

The best tablet deals on Amazon Best Fire tablet deal Amazon Fire HD 10 $74.99 (Save $65) Get Deal Best Samsung tablet deal Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ Plus 11” $149.00 (Save $70.99) Get Deal Best Apple tablet deal Apple iPad (10th Generation) $279 (Save $70) Get Deal

What's the easiest entry point into the world of technology? Today, that's a tablet. Whether you go for a classic iPad, a Samsung Galaxy Tab, or you score a sweet deal on an Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet, you'll get your hands on a device chock-full of technological capabilities. Stream video, surf the web, play games, and edit photos — all on a responsive screen.

With the holidays so close that we're approaching the end of viable shipping windows, Amazon is offering huge deals on tablets. Amazon Fire Tablets are posting crazy low prices, Samsung Galaxy Tab is plummeting, and even Apple's iPad is on sale.

Don't wait, we don't expect to see category-wide tablet deals like this again anytime soon.

Best Fire tablet deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire HD 10 $74.99 at Amazon
$139.99 Save $65.00 Get Deal Why we like it

A 46% price drop on the newest Fire tablet? That's a pretty sparkly sale price. This affordable tablet packs 32GB of storage and 3GB of memory. Use it as an e-reader to dig into your libraries stacks from home, travel the world on Youtube, or try and beat Tetris yourself.

The ad-supported Amazon Fire HD 10 is available for only $74.99 for a savings of 46%. Get it now and save $65.

Best Samsung tablet deal Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ Plus 11” $149.00 at Amazon
$219.99 Save $70.99 Get Deal Why we like it

The Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ is an attractive 11-incher with a whole 64GB of storage and four powerful speakers. Perfect for video and surfing the web, it offers a rich display. The tablet's large storage makes it a perfect hub for family photos, e-books, and more.

At 32% off ahead of the holidays, now is a great time to invest in a Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+, whether you're buying for a kid, yourself, or work. Get it now and pay just $149.00.

Best Apple tablet deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad (10th Generation) $279.00 at Amazon
$349.00 Save $70.00 Get Deal Why we like it

We all know the iPad. The device that pioneered what a modern tablet is, the iPad offers seamless touch controls and remarkably powerful specs. With an A14 Bionic Chip and 64GB of storage, the iPad is loaded for the price. It also looks impeccable, with Apple's proprietary Liquid Retina Display — a perfect feature, because with two 12MP cameras, you'll want to be looking at some photographs.

Pair this with an Apple Pencil to draw or build virtual worlds in Minecraft. However you use it, now is a great time to invest in a new iPad. The Apple iPad (10th Generation) is currently on sale for 20% off ahead of the holidays, get it now for just $279.00.

More tablet deals on Amazon

• Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids tablet — $69.99 $139.99 (save $70)

• Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite (2024) — $199.99 $268.99 (save $69)

• Amazon Fire HD 8 tablet — $54.99 $99.99 (save $45)

Got a PlayStation fan in your life who’s difficult to shop for? Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered with this PlayStation holiday buying guide.

SAVE 50%: The AeroGarden Harvest 2.0 is just $45 at Amazon, down from the typical list price of $89.99. That's a savings of $44.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: AeroGarden AeroGarden Harvest 2.0 $45.00 at Amazon
$89.99 Save $44.99 Get Deal

Nothing is as delicious or satisfying as making a meal with vegetables you grew yourself. However, winter weather puts a snag in the ability to grow much of anything outside. If someone on your holiday shopping list loves to garden, but pauses during the winter, check out this great deal at Amazon.

As of Dec. 17, the AeroGarden Harvest 2.0 is on sale for just $45, down from the normal price of $89.99. That's an impressive 50% discount that'll save you $44.99. You can choose any of the four colorway options to get the $45 sale price, but if you're hoping for delivery before Dec. 25, your best option is the green colorway.

SEE ALSO: Save $300 on a 65-inch LG C4 at Best Buy and get a $100 gift card for free

The premise of the AeroGarden Harvest 2.0 is pretty simple — it uses a hydroponic watering system and LED lights to grow produce indoors. It also eliminates the use of soil, which can be great for gardening indoors without the mess.

AeroGarden introduced targeted grow lights into the Harvest 2.0 model that aims to provide more light on the plants themselves and less light on your countertop. Each harvest 2.0 can accommodate six plants, and the LED light adjusts up to 12-inches tall to give plants space to grow.

The AeroGarden comes with the growing container itself, a detachable 15W grow light, a growing starter kit, power adapter, and a bonus lettuce seed packet. Plus, its compact size means this can be a great gift for all gardeners, regardless of their kitchen size.

If you're shopping for last-minute holiday gifts, the AeroGarden Harvest 2.0 is both useful and thoughtful for anyone who enjoys growing their own veggies or herbs. Plus, you could gain some benefit from gifting the AeroGarden, like enjoying fresh produce when you get invited over for dinner.

Fedora Asahi Remix is the best Linux distro for Apple Silicon-based Mac computers, developed in collaboration between the Fedora and Asahi Linux team. The latest update makes it even better, though it’s still not a perfect experience.

The best streaming deals to watch 'Anora': WATCH NOW Buy 'Anora' on Prime Video $19.99 Get Deal WATCH NOW Buy 'Anora' on Apple TV+ $19.99 Get Deal WATCH NOW Buy 'Anora' on Fandango at Home (Vudu) $19.99 Get Deal WATCH NOW Buy 'Anora' on YouTube $19.99 Get Deal WATCH NOW Buy 'Anora' on Google Play $19.99 Get Deal WATCH LATER Hulu annual subscription $99.99 per year (save 16%) Get Deal

Anora, winner of the Palme d'Or at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, is flooding award nomination lists this season. And we couldn't be more thrilled. A Cinderella story that doesn't quite go the way you'd expect, Anora is our favorite film of the year. It's already secured nominations for Best Picture at the Critics Choice Awards and Golden Globes, and we wouldn't be surprised if it nabbed the Oscar nomination as well.

As of Dec. 17, it's gracing the small screen for all to see. Here's everything you need to know to watch Anora at home.

What is Anora about?

Mikey Madison stars as sex worker Anora — call her Ani — whose professional relationship with her young Russian client Ivan (Mark Eydelshtyen), the son of an oligarch, quickly turns into a wedding in Vegas. Ivan's wealthy parents aren't thrilled with the news and they make a visit to Brooklyn, alongside their cronies, to try to put an end to the marriage. It's up to Ani to fight for what she wants. "To borrow from another 2024 cinematic sex worker — she will not accept a life she does not deserve," Mashable film editor Kristy Puchko summarizes.

Check out the official trailer for a sneak peek:

Is Anora worth watching?

Not only do we think Anora is one of indie writer/director Sean Baker's best films yet, but we also think it's the best movie of 2024. "Anora is magnificently alive. Madison is its shining star, her charisma absolute as she wields a Brooklyn accent like a whip to dazzle with or wreak havoc as she sees fit," Mashable's Kristy Puchko writes in her review, adding that it's "as bold as it is brilliant." Other critics largely agree, with the film earning a glowing 96 percent critic rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 90 percent audience rating.

It's nominated in the major categories at both the Critics Choice Awards and Golden Globes, so it wouldn't be a stretch to say it's an Oscar contender. Get ahead of the hype and watch it before awards season really kicks off — we can't recommend it enough.

Check out our full review of Anora.

How to watch Anora at home Credit: NEON

If you skipped the big screen, you're in luck. Anora is now officially available to watch at home as of Dec. 17. You can purchase it for your digital collection through on demand retailers like Prime Video and Apple TV. It will also be available to rent at a later date. If you'd rather wait and stream the film, keep reading for more information.

Here are some of the platforms where you can purchase the film online:

• Prime Video — $19.99

• Apple TV — $19.99

• Fandango at Home (Vudu) — $19.99

• YouTube — $19.99

• Google Play — $19.99

When is Anora streaming?

There's no official streaming date yet for Anora, but since the indie film distributor Neon has a deal with Hulu, we expect the film to make its streaming debut on the service sometime early next year. Based on the release schedule of previous Neon hits like Cuckoo and Immaculate, we expect that Anora will likely hit Hulu in March — but we'll keep you updated as soon as we know for sure.

You can set yourself up for success by signing up for Hulu ahead of time. It's surprisingly one of the most generous streamers for newbies, as it offers a free 30-day trial. Subscriptions start at $9.99 per month, but we've also rounded up a few different ways you can save on your subscription below.

The best Hulu streaming dealsBest Hulu deal for most people: Hulu annual subscription Opens in a new window Credit: Hulu Hulu (with ads) annual subscription $99.99 per year (save 16%) Get Deal

Instead of paying $9.99 per month for Hulu (with ads), which adds up to $119.88 in a year, you can opt for an annual subscription and save 16%. A yearly subscription, paid up front, costs just $99.99, which drops the monthly fee down to just $8.33 per month. It's the best way to keep more money in your pocket in the long run.

Best bundle deal: Get Hulu and Disney+ for 37% off Opens in a new window Credit: Hulu / Disney+ Duo Basic bundle: Hulu and Disney+ with ads $10.99 per month (save 45%) Get Deal

Want the most bang for your buck? Opt for a bundle plan. You can sign up for the Disney Duo Basic bundle and get both Disney+ and Hulu (with ads) for $10.99 per month. That's just $1 more than paying for Hulu alone, or a savings of 45%. If you're a sports fan, you can also throw ESPN+ into the mix for only $16.99 per month total. That's 47% in savings on all three services.

Best for students: Hulu Student Opens in a new window Credit: Hulu Hulu Student $1.99 per month (save 80%) Get Deal

Students looking to stream Anora and other Neon hits can sign up for Hulu for only $1.99 per month. That's 80% off the usual cost of a Hulu with ads plan. The only requirement is that you can verify your college email address using SheerID.

Best for T-Mobile users: Hulu (with ads) included for one year for Go5G Next customers Opens in a new window Credit: T-Mobile / Hulu Hulu (with ads) Free for select T-Mobile customers Get Deal

One of the best ways to get free streaming services, including Hulu, is to switch your phone plan to T-Mobile's Go5G Next plan. Customers on this plan can enjoy Hulu with ads for free (as well as Netflix and Apple TV+). If you're already on the Go5G Next plan, just head over to the T-Mobile promo page and choose "redeem now" to claim your offer. You'll have to enter your T-Mobile number and account details in order to sign up for Hulu.

Note: After your initial 12-month promotional period, you'll also have to take action in order to keep your subscription alive.

Most smartphones now support eSIM, allowing you to sign up for and use mobile networks without switching physical SIM cards. Some carriers now offer free trials via eSIM, which can be incredibly useful during travel in the US.

The challenge of effective prompting

AI is reshaping industries—from education to healthcare—thanks to advancements in large language models (LLMs). These models rely on prompts, carefully crafted inputs that guide them to produce relevant and meaningful outputs. While the impact of prompts is profound, creating prompts that can help with complex tasks is a time-intensive and expertise-heavy process, often involving months of trial and error. 

This challenge grows as new tasks arise and models evolve rapidly, making manual methods for prompt engineering increasingly unsustainable. The question then becomes: How can we make prompt optimization faster, more accessible, and more adaptable across diverse tasks? 

• Download PromptWizard 

To address this challenge, we developed PromptWizard (PW), a research framework that automates and streamlines the process of prompt optimization. We are open sourcing the PromptWizard codebase (opens in new tab) to foster collaboration and innovation within the research and development community.

Introducing PromptWizard

PromptWizard (PW) is designed to automate and simplify prompt optimization. It combines iterative feedback from LLMs with efficient exploration and refinement techniques to create highly effective prompts within minutes.

PromptWizard optimizes both the instruction and the in-context learning examples. Central to PW is its self-evolving and self-adaptive mechanism, where the LLM iteratively generates, critiques, and refines prompts and examples in tandem. This process ensures continuous improvement through feedback and synthesis, achieving a holistic optimization tailored to the specific task at hand. By evolving both instructions and examples simultaneously, PW ensures significant gains in task performance. 

Three key insights behind PromptWizard:

• Feedback-driven refinement: At its core, PW leverages an iterative feedback loop where the LLM generates, critiques, and refines its own prompts and examples. This continuous improvement mechanism ensures that each iteration is better than the last, leading to highly effective prompts and examples. 
• Joint optimization and synthesis of diverse examples: PW generates synthetic examples that are not only robust and diverse but also task-aware. By optimizing prompts and examples together, it ensures they work in tandem to address specific task requirements effectively. 
• Self-generated chain-of-thought (CoT) steps: Incorporating CoT reasoning improves the problem-solving capabilities of the model. By using selected few-shot examples, PW generates a detailed reasoning chain for each example, facilitating nuanced and step-by-step problem-solving approaches.

Figure 1. Overview of PromptWizard How PromptWizard works

PromptWizard begins with a user input: a problem description, an initial prompt instruction, and a few training examples that serve as a foundation for the task at hand.

Its output is a refined, optimized set of prompt instructions paired with carefully curated in-context few-shot examples. These outputs are enriched with detailed reasoning chains, task intent, and an expert profile that bridges human-like reasoning with the AI’s responses. 

Stage 1: Refinement of prompt instruction

The first stage focuses on refining the task instructions of a prompt. PromptWizard generates multiple candidate instructions, evaluates them using feedback from the LLM, and iteratively synthesizes improved versions. This process balances exploration—trying diverse ideas—and exploitation—refining the most promising ones.

For example, if an initial instruction yields suboptimal results, PW incorporates feedback to identify its shortcomings and generates an improved version. Over three to five iterations, this iterative cycle ensures that the instruction converges to an optimal state. 

Figure 2. Refinement of prompt instruction

Stage 2: Joint optimization of instructions and examples

The refined prompt obtained from Stage 1 is combined with carefully selected examples, and both are optimized together. Through the critique-and-synthesis mechanism, PromptWizard ensures alignment between the prompt and examples, simultaneously synthesizing new examples to enhance task performance.

This structured approach makes PromptWizard highly versatile, adapting to tasks as varied as solving math problems or generating creative content. 

Figure 3. Joint optimization of instructions and examples

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PromptWizard stands out for its feedback-driven refinement and systematic exploration, delivering exceptional results across a wide variety of tasks while maintaining computational efficiency. 

Comprehensive evaluation across tasks

PromptWizard was rigorously evaluated on over 45 tasks, spanning both general and domain-specific challenges. Benchmarked against state-of-the-art techniques—including Instinct, InstructZero, APE, PromptBreeder, EvoPrompt, DSPy, APO, and PromptAgent—PW consistently outperformed competitors in accuracy, efficiency, and adaptability. Please see detailed results in our paper. 

• Accuracy: PW consistently outperformed other methods, maintaining performance close to the best across all tasks. Figure 4 shows the performance profile curve that highlights PW’s reliability, demonstrating how frequently it achieves near-best accuracy compared to other approaches for BigBench Instruction Induction dataset (BBII).
• Efficiency: Beyond accuracy, PW demonstrates its computational efficiency. Unlike many baseline methods that require extensive API calls and computational resources, PW achieves superior results with minimal overhead by striking an effective balance between exploration and exploitation. Table 1 demonstrates PW’s cost-effectiveness, with significantly reduced token usage for input and output while optimizing prompts effectively.

Figure 4. Performance Profile curve on BBII dataset MethodsAPI callsTotal tokensInstinct1730115kPromptBreeder186001488kEvoPrompt5000400kPW6924kTable 1. Cost analysis on BBII dataset

We also have conducted numerous experiments to highlight PromptWizard’s efficacy with limited training data and smaller LLMs. 

Resilience with limited data

Real-world scenarios often lack abundant training data. PW excels in such conditions, requiring as few as five examples to produce effective prompts. Across five diverse datasets, PW demonstrated an average accuracy drop of only 5% when using five examples compared to 25 examples—highlighting its adaptability and efficiency (see Table 2). 

Datasets5 Examples25 ExamplesMMLU80.489.5GSM8k9495.4Ethos86.489.4PubMedQA6878.2MedQA80.482.9Average81.987Table 2. PW’s performance with varying number of examples Leveraging smaller models for optimization

PromptWizard also reduces computational costs by using smaller LLMs for prompt generation, reserving more powerful models for inference. For example, using Llama-70B for prompt generation resulted in negligible performance differences compared to GPT-4, while significantly lowering resource usage (see Table 3).

DatasetPrompt Gen: Llama-70BPrompt Gen: GPT4GSM8k94.695.4Ethos89.289.4Average91.992.4Table 3. Performance with smaller LLMs for prompt generation 

PromptWizard shows that effective prompts combine optimized instructions refined through iterative feedback, thoughtfully chosen in-context examples, and a modular design that incorporates expert knowledge and task-specific intent. This approach enables the framework to handle a broad range of tasks, from simple to highly complex, with exceptional efficiency and flexibility.

 Whether you are a researcher addressing cutting-edge challenges or an organization looking to streamline workflows, PromptWizard provides a practical, scalable, and impactful solution for enhancing model performance.

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Apple's Home app is about to get more handy.

At least, that's according to the first developer beta for iOS 18.3. Per Aaron Perris on X (via 9to5Mac) Apple launched the first beta for the next iOS build this week, which notably features support for robot vacuums in the Home app. In case you don't know, that's Apple's all-in-one mobile app for controlling supported smart home devices, whether they were made by Apple or come from an authorized third-party.

SEE ALSO: Apple is finally getting serious about foldable devices, reports say

If this does indeed come to pass when iOS 18.3 theoretically launches early next year, expect to be able to control and monitor your robot vacuum from an iPhone. Apple says you will be able to control its power and cleaning functions through the app, as well as give requests via Siri. There's no real info about which robot vacuums will be included, though. It should be noted that Apple doesn't currently make one of its own, so all the supported options will have to be third-party devices.

But at least you'll potentially be able to control the one you have from the same app that you use to control all your other smart home devices soon.

SAVE $40: Snag the Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Kids for just $149.99 ahead of Christmas. That saves $40 for 21% off.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Kids $149.99 at Amazon
$189.99 Save $40.00 Get Deal

With the holidays creeping up, it's time to kick things into high gear and find last minute gifts guaranteed to arrive in time for Christmas. If you're buying for a kid in your life, and stumped on the hot ticket items, look to the Kindle Paperwhite Kids. It's no secret that Kindles are our favorite e-readers, and if you're purchasing for a kid, the Paperwhite Kids is the best option.

Compared to the standard Kindle Paperwhite, the Paperwhite Kids is heftier, weighing 11.6 oz compared to the Paperwhite's 7.4 oz. The extra weight gives it a sturdier build that can stand up to the antics of a kids rough and tumble lifestyle. It's ad-free, so no ads or games will distract young readers from their books.

It comes with built-in parental controls so you can monitor what your kiddo is reading. However, the Kindle Paperwhite Kids comes with six months of Amazon Kids+ that provides access to a library of age-appropriate books.

Ahead of the holidays, you can find the Kindle Paperwhite Kids for just $149.99, saving $40 for 21% off. And the best news? It will arrive in time for Christmas.

SAVE $17: As of Dec. 17, get Super Mario Bros. Wonder for Nintendo Switch for just $42.99 at Woot, down from its usual price of $59.99. That's a discount of 28%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Woot 'Super Mario Bros. Wonder' $42.99 at Woot
$59.99 Save $17.00 Get Deal

'Tis the season to buy and play more video games. Whether you're planning on gifting a console to someone this year or you want to stock up on some new games as a gift to yourself, saving money is never a bad idea. You can get one of the Nintendo Switch's best Mario games right now at a great price at Woot.

As of Dec. 17, you can get Super Mario Bros. Wonder for Nintendo Switch for just $42.99, down from its usual price of $59.99. That's $17 off, or a discount of 28%. This price is for the physical copy of the game, not a digital code, so you'll have to wait for it to be shipped to you.

SEE ALSO: Looking for a solid gaming TV deal? The LG B4 55-inch OLED TV is $400 off.

This Mario adventure is one of the most exciting games to be added to the long list of platformers starring everyone's favorite plumber. You'll explore the Flower Kingdom in this outing, all while collecting Wonder Flowers that give Mario and friends exciting and unique abilities. They might bring pipes to life, send enemies charging through stages, or make things, well, trippy. You'll have to see it to believe it, really.

You don't have to play as just Mario, though. The whole crew's along for the ride, including Luigi, Peach, Daisy, Yoshi, and others. And this time around, there's also a new power-up to use, like the Elephant Fruit. It's exactly what you probably think it is: it transforms Mario and the gang into elephants for some unique puzzles involving trunks, water, and other elephant-like shenanigans.

It's a blast, especially with other people. If you haven't yet tried it out, or just want to add a new Switch game to your collection, it's worth the entry price – and it also makes a great last-minute gift for the gamers in your life.