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SAVE $24: As of Sept. 23, the EarFun Air Pro 4 earbuds are down to just $55.99 at Amazon. That's 30% off their usual list price and their lowest price on record.

Opens in a new window Credit: EarFun EarFun Air Pro 4 $55.99 at Amazon
$79.99 Save $24.00 Get Deal

While most solid noise-cancelling earbuds come with a steep price tag, it's not impossible to find a pair that check all the right boxes for under $100. Or, in this case, under $60.

As of Sept. 23, the relatively unknown EarFun Air Pro 4 earbuds are on sale for just $55.99 at Amazon. Not only is that 30% or $24 off their usual list price, but it's also their lowest price on record.

Mashable's resident headphones expert Bethany Allard struggled to find the flaws of these budget-friendly buds upon testing. "The EarFun Air Pro 4 earbuds may not come from one of the more well-known audio brands, but they have some of the best battery life and noise cancellation we've experienced on any earbuds, not just those in the budget price range," she writes in our best noise-cancelling headphones guide.

They pack about 7.5 hours of battery per charge with ANC on (11 or so without), as well as another 27.5 (or 41) with the charging case. For comparison's sake, the new AirPods Pro 3 allegedly last 8 hours per charge with ANC and up to 24 with the charging case. They also come with a companion app that allows you to customize touch control settings, adjust the ANC modes, and use the custom EQ tool. Although, our reviewer notes that they sound great right out of the box. They can also connect to two devices and switch between them seamlessly.

Allard's only real issue with these earbuds was the touch controls, but it's easy to overlook those (or just toggle them off) when they have so many other perks. At full price, we think the EarFun Air Pro 4s are the best budget-friendly earbuds. At 30% off, they're basically the crowned jewel.

Death Stranding 2 only just came out a couple of months ago, but it's already time to talk about director Hideo Kojima's next big game.

Kojima held a live-streamed announcement event on Monday night where most of the attention was on the first real teaser for OD, a horror game he is developing for Xbox in collaboration with Nope mastermind Jordan Peele. The 3-minute teaser doesn't seem like it includes any actual gameplay footage, as the game is surely still in the early stages of development, but you can get a basic idea of the kind of tone Kojima and Peele are going for if you watch it.

SEE ALSO: Nintendo is bringing back the reviled 'Virtual Boy' as a Switch accessory

Most of the teaser revolves around first-person point-of-view footage of someone lighting some candles at a weird, baby-centric shrine (Kojima's got a fascination with babies, I guess) while someone (or something) mysteriously knocks on a nearby door. You don't get much beyond that and confirmation that actors like Udo Kier and Hunter Schafer are involved with the project in the video. Still, it's enough to evoke memories of PT, an infamous first-person horror demo for an eventually canceled Silent Hill project that Kojima was working with Guillermo del Toro on about a decade ago.

That said, anyone who has followed Kojima's work for long enough knows that his trailers can be misleading, so we can't say, with any confidence, what OD actually is at this point. It certainly seems like it'll be creepy, though. Nothing wrong with that.

AdGuard has just released extension v5.2.77, and this marks the first time the 5.2 version has been made available to the public. It has a completely redesigned interface and an overhaul of how the extension handles filtering.

SAVE $200: As of Sept. 23, get the Breville Infuser Espresso Machine for $399.95, down from its usual price of $599.95 at Amazon. That's a discount of 33%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Breville Infuser Espresso Machine $399.95 at Amazon
$599.95 Save $200.00 Get Deal

Tired of spending time and money to go out and get an espresso every day? You don't have to head to the coffee shop anymore, not when there are so many great options you can use at home instead. Case in point: this espresso maker, which you can get for $200 off at Amazon now.

As of Sept. 23, get the Breville Infuser Espresso Machine for $399.95, down from its usual price of $599.95 at Amazon. That's $200 off and a discount of 33%.

SEE ALSO: Breville's Barista Touch Impress espresso machine is the cheapest it's ever been

This espresso machine helps you whip up the perfect drinks using its built-in pressure gauge. You can control every pour's volume with just one button and choose between 1 or 2 shots for every drink you whip up, as it uses pre-infusion and temperature control guides to get the perfect extraction.

When that's all done, you can use the included steam wand to add milk and turn it into microfoam with silky texture to simply drink or enhance your creation with latte art. Plus, it handles everything from water pressure to coffee bean dosage and more.

The results are smooth, creamy, espressos that you and anyone else you make the drinks for could swear came from a coffee shop. Plus, it comes in two colors: brushed stainless steel and black sesame, so you can choose the one that fits your kitchen decor best.

Stop spending money on daily trips out and make the best espressos you've ever had right in your own home for less.

This year marked Google Photos' 10th birthday, and to celebrate, a redesign was announced. The most noticeable changes appeared in the editor, and after initially being very against this change, it's really grown on me over time.

TL;DR: Pakistan vs. Sri Lanka in the 2025 Asia Cup is available to live stream for free on Tamasha. Access this free streaming service from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The 2025 Asia Cup is quickly reaching its dramatic conclusion, with only a few games left before the final matchup is confirmed. Pakistan and Sri Lanka both lost their opening games in the Super Four stage of the competition, so this contest is absolutely crucial if they want to have any chance of making the final.

If you want to watch Pakistan vs. Sri Lanka in the 2025 Asia Cup for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Pakistan vs. Sri Lanka?

Pakistan vs. Sri Lanka in the 2025 Asia Cup starts at 10:30 a.m. ET on Sept. 23. This game takes place at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium.

How to watch Pakistan vs. Sri Lanka for free

Pakistan vs. Sri Lanka in the 2025 Asia Cup is available to live stream for free on Tamasha.

Tamasha is geo-restricted to Pakistan, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Pakistan, meaning you can unblock Tamasha from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Pakistan vs. Sri Lanka in the 2025 Asia Cup for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Pakistan

4. Visit Tamasha

5. Live stream Pakistan vs. Sri Lanka for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free trials or money-back guarantees. By taking advantage of these offers, you can watch the 2025 Asia Cup without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you plenty of time to watch the tournament for free.

If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming services from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for live streaming is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for Tamasha?

ExpressVPN is the top choice for live streaming on free sites like Tamasha, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including Pakistan

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $139 and includes an extra four months for free — 61% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.95 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream the 2025 Asia Cup for free with ExpressVPN.

The AI Red Lines initiative launched at the United Nations General Assembly Tuesday — the perfect place for a very nonspecific declaration.

More than 200 Nobel laureates and other artificial intelligence experts (including OpenAI co-founder Wojciech Zaremba), plus 70 organizations that deal with AI (including Google DeepMind and Anthropic), signed a letter calling for global "red lines to prevent unacceptable AI risks." However, it was marked as much by what it didn't say as what it did.

"AI systems have already exhibited deceptive and harmful behavior, and yet these systems are being given more autonomy," the letter said, laying out a deadline of 2026 for its recommendation to be implemented: "An international agreement on clear and verifiable red lines is necessary for preventing universally unacceptable risks."

Fair enough, but what red lines, exactly? The letter says only that these parameters "should build upon and enforce existing global frameworks and voluntary corporate commitments, ensuring that all advanced AI providers are accountable to shared thresholds."

SEE ALSO: I tried learning from Anthropic's AI tutor. I felt like I was back in college.

The lack of specifics may be necessary to keep a very loose coalition of signatories together. They include AI alarmists like 77-year-old Geoffrey Hinton, the so-called "AI godfather" who has spent the last three years predicting various forms of doom from the impending arrival of AGI (artificial general intelligence); the list also includes AI skeptics like cognitive scientist Gary Marcus, who has spent the last three years telling us that AGI isn't coming any time soon.

What could they all agree on? For that matter, what could governments already at loggerheads over AI, mainly the U.S. and China, agree on, and trust each other to implement? Good question.

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Probably the most concrete answer by a signatory came from Stuart Russell, veteran computer science professor at UC Berkeley, in the wake of a previous attempt to talk red lines at the 2023 Global AI Safety Summit. In a paper titled "Make AI safe or make safe AI?" Russell wrote that AI companies offer "after-the-fact attempts to reduce unacceptable behavior once an AI system has been built." He contrasted that with the red lines approach: ensure built-in safety in the design from the very start, and "unacceptable behavior" won't be possible in the first place.

"It should be possible for developers to say, with high confidence, that their systems will not exhibit harmful behaviors," Russell wrote. "An important side effect of red line regulation will be to substantially increase developers’ safety engineering capabilities."

In his paper, Russell got as far as four red line examples: AI systems should not attempt to replicate themselves; they should never attempt to break into other computer systems; they should not be allowed to give instructions on manufacturing bioweapons. And their output should not allow any "false and harmful statements about real people."

From the standpoint of 2025, we might add red lines that deal with the current ongoing threats of AI psychosis, and AI chatbots that can allegedly be manipulated to give advice on suicide.

We can all agree on that, right?

SEE ALSO: Everything you need to know about AI companions

Trouble is, Russell also believes that no Large Language Model (LLM) is "capable of demonstrating compliance", even with his four minimal red-line requirements. Why? Because they are predictive word engines that fundamentally don't understand what they're saying. They are not capable of reasoning, even on basic logic puzzles, and increasingly "hallucinate" answers to satisfy their users.

So true AI red line safety, arguably, would mean none of the current AI models would be allowed on the market. That doesn't bother Russell; as he points out, we don't care that compliance is difficult when it comes to medicine or nuclear power. We regulate regardless of outcome.

But the notion that AI companies will just voluntarily shut down their models until they can prove to regulators that no harm will come to users? This is a greater hallucination than anything ChatGPT can come up with.

SAVE $10: As of Sept. 23, a selection of Apple iPhone FineWoven Wallets with MagSafe are on sale at Amazon for $49.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPhone FineWoven Wallet with MagSafe $49 at Amazon
$59 Save $10 Get Deal

Amazon has had some excellent Apple deals available lately, even before its Prime Big Deal Days sale event kicks off. If you've had your eye on the Apple iPhone FineWoven Wallets with MagSafe to keep your cards at hand, the good news is select colors have been marked down at the retailer as of Sept. 23.

The Apple iPhone FineWoven Wallets are usually listed for $59, but the mulberry, evergreen, and pacific blue colors are marked down to $49. This saves you $10, which is a pretty nice deal to jump on. They're not the only colors discounted right now, though. For a few cents more at $49.99 you can get the taupe or black colors, and for $52.99 you can choose between the other black color, midnight purple, fox orange, moss, and navy.

SEE ALSO: How to sign up for Amazon Prime ahead of Prime Big Deal Days

The Apple iPhone FineWoven Wallets are a great way to keep your various cards and IDs close by, as they feature built-in magnets that attach directly to the back of your iPhone. They can fit up to three cards inside and are even shielded, making them a safe place to keep your credit cards stored at all times. These wallets also support Find My, so if they happen to come off your phone you can be notified of its last known location to track it down.

Why wait for Prime Big Deal Days? Save on the Apple iPhone FineWoven Wallets with MagSafe right now at Amazon. And if you're looking for even more great Apple deals available at the retailer, you can also save on Apple's 2025 13-inch MacBook Air at the moment and the AirPods Pro 2.

Breaking up is horrible. Not only are you dealing with the complicated emotions of parting ways with someone you once loved more than anyone, you're mourning the future you once pictured together and dealing with the messy logistics of disentangling your lives — both online and off.

When you're in the thick of heartbreak, it can feel like there's no exit in sight. I've lost track of the number of times I've searched "how to get over a breakup" while nursing a broken heart. So, I decided to dig deep and speak to dating experts and therapists to figure out how to move on after the end of a relationship.

The psychology of a breakup

Relationship therapist Alexis Friedlander tells Mashable that an important step in moving forward after a breakup is understanding what's happening on a psychological and even neurological level. "When you break up with someone, you’re not only letting go of the relationship itself, you’re also grieving the future you imagined with them, and even a part of yourself," he says. "Psychologists call this Self-Expansion Theory: in relationships, our identities expand into our partners, so separation feels like losing a piece of who we are."

If you're on the receiving end of the breakup, you may also be feeling a deep sense of rejection. It's normal for that to be incredibly painful. From an evolutionary perspective, our brains are hard-wired to process rejection as a threat to our survival because it was once essential for humans to remain in communities. As I write in my book The Love Fix, "fMRI studies have found that when we’re rejected, the same parts of our brain are activated as when we’re in physical pain. So much so, that one study found that paracetamol reduces the emotional pain that rejection causes." In that study, people were asked to think about painful rejection experiences from the past and those who took Tylenol (a brand name for paracetamol) reported significantly less pain than those taking a placebo.

SEE ALSO: How to separate romantic rejection from your self-worth

Breakups can reopen these old wounds, says Friedlander. "If you have a fear of abandonment, for example, the separation can trigger past traumas, making the pain feel even sharper." However, emotional pain is not a sign that you're "doing badly" or weak or pathetic. This is just what our brains and bodies do when we're going through a separation. "The key thing I always tell people is: this pain is normal," he says. "It’s not weakness (it’s your brain and body responding to the loss of something deeply important)."

Give yourself time to sit in your feelings

Relationship expert and dating coach Courtney Boyer says it's imperative you give yourself space to feel your feelings — however uncomfortable that may seem. "Give yourself time to mourn the end of a relationship and the loss of someone important to you. I cannot emphasize this step enough," she says. "You will want to skip it because, frankly, it sucks having to sit in your feelings. This is why it’s so important to have effective coping strategies."

Credit: Getty Images / Malte Mueller

Leanne Yau, polyamory educator and relationship coach at Poly Philia, tells Mashable, "Breakups are basically dealing with a form of grief and loss. Healing and growth are not linear."

Putting timeframes and deadlines on your own heartbreak just won't work. "My top advice above everything else is just to be patient with yourself… it’s going to take the amount of time that it’s going to take," Yau adds.

SEE ALSO: How to break up with someone in the digital age Can you be friends with an ex?

In the midst of parting ways, it's normal to want to hold on to some degree of connection. This person was once closer to you than anyone else, you shared everything with them, they know you on a deep level. So, once the romantic bond between you breaks, what do you do with that level of closeness? Can you really be friends with someone you once loved? When Carrie Bradshaw broke up with Big, she pondered: "If you loved someone and you break up... where does the love go?"

I've been guilty of rushing into friendship too soon and, let's be real, for all the wrong reasons. So, number one: ask yourself why you want to be friends? Is it purely because you value them as a person and don't want to lose them from your life? Or, are you hoping that by keeping them in your life, they'll hopefully change their mind and fall miraculously back in love with you again? If it's the latter, friendship is not a good idea (because it's not really a platonic relationship you want). You need to put yourself first and protect your own mental wellbeing. Listen to Ariana Grande's "we can't be friends" and park the friendship plan for now (or forever).

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Zachary Zane, Grindr’s sex and relationship expert, tells Mashable that one of the biggest mistakes people make after a breakup is trying to be friends with your ex — or even just in each other's lives — too soon. "If you’re going to be friends in the end, then what’s the hurry? Take a year before reaching out and talking. Don’t just take a month or two," says Zane.

If friendship is important to you (and it's for the right reasons), know that it will take some work. Yau says: "Staying friends after a breakup is much, much harder than a clean break — it takes effort, intention, and emotional clarity."

Remember the reasons you broke up

It's easy to look at your past relationship through rose-tinted glasses. In moments of doubt, you convince yourself that they were your perfect person, that no one will ever compare, that you'll never love again. But remind yourself of the reasons you broke up with each other. Things weren't working.

Sex educator Topher Taylor says it's really important to full accept the reality of why the relationship broke down. "It’s normal to go into romanticisation mode when we split, especially if we are the ‘dumpee’, and look at everything through rose-tinted shades. Some of us invent an entirely different reality or a person who didn’t exist."

Taylor says one of his previous relationships broke down for many reasons, one of which was an issue with communication style.

"This led to me genuinely finding him deeply boring and not enjoying my daily life. But I found myself forgiving and rewarding his behaviour, simply because it felt easier to do that than be alone," says Taylor. "So, in the early days of the split, I kept oddly specific reminders of the reasons the relationship broke down around me. Wrote a message on my phone’s lock screen, put a note on my fridge, and left notes around my home."

Writing a list of why the relationship broke down could be very useful, particularly when the romanticisation starts to kick in. I've also found it helpful to keep a list of icks about exes, to remind myself of the moments I really wasn't attracted to them.

Stop looking at their social media

In the past, I've hesitated before unfollowing exes from social media because I didn't want to seem mean or dramatic. But honestly, what about my needs? Was it helpful seeing my ex's stories and feeling like a dagger was going through my heart anytime he posted? Um, definitely not. What about when they move on (sorry, but it will happen one day), and post photos of their new partner?

Taylor says, "No looking them up on Instagram, no burner accounts, no using websites to anonymously view stories. Zero. You need to live like they don’t digitally or physically exist."

SEE ALSO: Social media dos and don'ts after a breakup

"During one breakup, I banned all of their social media URLs from being viewed on my web browser. Every time you look them up, think of it as the timer resetting."

So, though it may feel harsh, remind yourself that this is an act of self-preservation. Unfollow their Instagram, block them if you need to. Be disciplined about it. It'll feel so hard at first, but it will help you immeasurably.

Do you need closure?

The need for closure or even confrontation can hang heavy during a breakup. Do you feel you had an opportunity to speak your truth? Do you have unanswered questions? Do you both have things you need to say before you can draw a line under it once and for all?

Or are you looking for your moment in court? Are you fantasising about saying everything you've been bottling up lately — no matter how hurtful or damaging that may be? Listen, we've all been there. In these situations, talk to your friends and allies, and crucially, people in your life who give good advice (and don't just tell you what you want to hear).

In our fantasy arguments with our exes, one thing we neglect to consider is the other person's response. You might dream of a moment akin to Bridget Jones confronting Daniel Cleaver to the soundtrack of Aretha Franklin's "R-E-S-P-E-C-T". But in reality, people clap back, they say mean things when they feel attacked. You could end up leaving that conversation feeling more hurt and angry than before.

Friedlander says that closure is overrated. "A lot of people are misled by this idea that their ex holds some kind of healing power by sharing the right words or conversation. I can tell you, having helped hundreds of people dealing with breakups, these conversations are usually disappointing," he says. "And this is why it’s important to understand that closure is something you claim yourself. A lack of response is closure; not replying or ghosting is a form of communication."

Should you go 'no contact'?

'No contact' means ceasing all communication with a person. It can mean cutting off the means to contact you by blocking a person's number, unfollowing or blocking on social media, and ignoring any messages.

In bad breakups, where anger and resentment are involved, no contact could provide some breathing space. If a person has cheated or hurt you, no contact is absolutely fair. But even if you just need a bit of time to move on, no contact can be the boundary you need to move on. Zane is a big fan of no contact and says "I really think that after a hard breakup, both parties need some time to heal and move past the anger, resentment, or sadness they may feel towards a partner. Only then should you reach out, and that’s if you want to. There’s no shame in not being friends with an ex." 

In serious cases, where a partner has been abusive and you're concerned about retaliation, no contact is a must. Remove all means they have to contact you and ask your friends and family not to reveal any information about you online (or offline) for your own safety. Report safety concerns to the police and keep a record of any unwanted contact.

Spend time with people you love

Now is the time to lean on your friends and family. Surround yourself with people who love you and are on your side. Make plans, go for brunch, visit a friend you haven't seen for ages, vent to your besties, book fun activities, send long voice notes and have long phone calls. If you're really struggling, open up to people, ask for help, company, support. Get out of the house and engage with the world around you. Take joy in doing wholesome activities with pals: go to the cinema, do a wine tasting event, go to a comedy show, go to the seaside for the day. Remind yourself of the love you still have in your life: platonic and familial.

Credit: Getty Images / Malte Mueller Practise gratitude

Allow yourself to look around and appreciate what you do have. Be grateful, Boyer advises. "Yes, even in the midst of anguish, there are still things to be grateful for. You woke up. The sun. Air in your lungs. Fresh flowers. Hot cup of tea."

"These don’t have to be profound. They can be mundane. Acknowledging the small things connects us back to who we are on this planet and shows our mind that we can continue to function (and eventually thrive) without that person beside us," she adds.

As Yau says: “You can experience grief and joy at the same time. They’re not mutually exclusive.”

SEE ALSO: The lonely state of getting over someone you never dated Don't rush to move on

If your first instinct is to re-download dating apps and get yourself a new partner right away, take a breath. Yau says: "Jumping into another romantic relationship when you’re not ready to show the level of vulnerability it needs is not advisable or fun for anyone involved."

Everyone copes with heartbreak differently, and for some people, it's normal to want to sleep with new people as a means of distraction, escapism, or just for the sheer fun of it. As Yau says: "There’s a saying, ‘The best way to get over someone is to get under someone else.’ And I think there is some truth to having a bit of fun as a distraction — but it depends on the mindset you go in with."

If you're throwing yourself into some casual fun, that's fine, but make sure you're giving yourself some breathing space to reflect and grieve the relationship. Make sure you're not using sex as a way to numb the emotional fallout.

Above all: remember you're enough on your own. Your newfound singleness doesn't need to be "fixed". There's no rush to find a new partner. Now is the time to hunker down, feel your feelings, lean on your loved ones, and remind yourself how truly great you are.

SAVE $4.98: As of Sept. 23, the Pokémon TCG Black Bolt Booster Bundle is $53.97 at TCGplayer, compared to $58.99 at Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company Black Bolt Booster Bundle $53.97 at TCGplayer
$58.99 Save $5.02 Get Deal

Pokémania 2025 is in full effect, and big box stores are more than happy to take advantage of it. Yes, there's bargains to be had sometimes, but more often than not products are priced well over their secondary market value.

Luckily, we have TCGplayer. The Black Bolt booster bundle is currently $4.98 less at $53.97. Amazon is currently charging $58.99, and your hard earned money is better in your pocket. At a time where Pokémon TCG product is selling over MSRP whilst it's still in print, getting market value pricing is the next best thing.

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

Black Bolt and White Flare naturally has every Unovan Pokémon ready to go in Illustration Rares, Special Art Rares, and Pokéball/Masterball variants. I really wouldn't recommend getting a complete set of Black Bolt and White Flare, but this dual set is a collectors dream with all the stunning artwork on display. Black Bolt is coming in more expensive in both sealed product and single cards, mostly thanks to Victini ex and Zekrom ex Black Bolt and White Flare rares. They're commanding prices of over $400 at the moment, so that's that mystery solved.

Black Bolt and White Flare marks the end of the Scarlet and Violet era, but it's also kicking off a trend of dual set releases. Of course I'm talking about the return of Mega Evolution in the highly anticipated Mega Evolution era and it's first expansion Phantasmal Flames. At first I was worried about more fluff cards being shoved into the meta, but it's straight up bigger sets with more Illustration and Secret Illustrations rares.

I don't know about you, but that's OK in my book and even better for my display wall (I need more walls).

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

The values on Black Bolt and White Rare chase cards might see astronomical, but it will likely end up being a lot cheaper to just buy the cards you want. If you pull a Victini ex Black White rare in a booster bundle, I'd be super jealous and you'd be incredibly lucky. TCGplayer is a good place to shop for single cards, making sure they're near mint and having enough background on value history are essential for Pokémon card collecting in 2025. Here's the top 5 most valuable Black Bolt and White Flare Pokémon cards right now:

1. Victini – 171/086 – SV: Black Bolt
   Near Mint Holofoil: $425
   Market price: $455.32
   Most recent sale: $400

2. Victini – 172/086 – SV: White Flare
   Near Mint Holofoil: $395
   Market price: $422.12
   Most recent sale: $420

3. Zekrom ex – 172/086 – SV: Black Bolt
   Near Mint Holofoil: $401.63
   Market price: $388.18
   Most recent sale: $390

4. Reshiram ex – 173/086 – SV: White Flare
   Near Mint Holofoil: $349
   Market price: $373.68
   Most recent sale: $385

5. Zekrom ex – 166/086 – SV: Black Bolt
   Near Mint Holofoil: $214.99
   Market price: $212.56
   Most recent sale: $215

6. Reshiram ex – 166/086 – SV: White Flare
   Near Mint Holofoil: $194
   Market price: $192.33
   Most recent sale: $179.99

SAVE $200: As of Sept. 23, the 15-inch 2025 MacBook Air (M4, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) is on sale for $999 at Amazon. This is $200 off its list price of $1,199 and marks a return to its lowest-ever price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple 15-inch Apple MacBook Air M4 $999 at Amazon
$1,199 Save $200 Get Deal

Prime Big Deal Days may be coming up in October, but Amazon already has some great tech deals worth checking out ahead of time. A few Apple products, in particular, are on sale right now. This includes the 15-inch 2025 MacBook Air (M4, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD), which is back down to its lowest-ever price as of Sept. 23.

For those looking to invest in a laptop upgrade, the 15-inch 2025 MacBook Air is marked down to $999 right now. This is $200 off its usual price of $1,199. You can also save on the 13-inch MacBook Air, if you'd prefer the slightly smaller model instead.

SEE ALSO: How to sign up for Amazon Prime ahead of Prime Big Deal Days

This model of the 2025 MacBook Air comes with the M4 chip, 16GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD so you have plenty of storage space, whether you're using it for work or play. It also features a 15.3-inch Liquid Retina display that makes images on your screen look sharp and rich in color, alongside up to 18 hours of battery life to keep you going throughout the day.

We consider this MacBook to be the best for most people in our roundup of the best MacBooks, saying, "The 15-inch version of Apple's latest MacBook Air is beautiful, long-lasting, unexpectedly peppy, and priced very fairly, making it super easy to recommend for basically anyone wanting a near-perfect ultraportable."

Don't miss out on the 15-inch MacBook Air down to $999 at Amazon. And if you're looking for even more Apple deals, Amazon is also offering $50 off the AirPods Pro 2 and $150 off the 13-inch Apple iPad Air.

CATCH AT MARKET VALUE: As of Sept. 23, the Pokémon TCG Unova Victini Illustration Collection is $47.94 at Amazon, with the Victini Illustration Rare card soaring by over 67% in value.

Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company Unova Victini Illustration Collection $47.94 at Amazon
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It's hard trying to spot and get in on a trend before it takes off, especially when it comes to Pokémon TCG. Luckily for readers, I've got a hunch that I'm running with here. It's no secret that the Victini Illustration Rare from Black Bolt and White Flare is a gorgeous card, and it's a very popular mythical Pokémon to boot.

Amazon have Unova Victini Illustration Collection for $47.94. Yes, it's over list price, but it's only a dollar or so over TCGplayer's market value. Another tell for me is the value history of Victini Illustration Rare as a single card. At the back end of last month, trainers could pick up the promo for just over $7, now it's near the $17 mark. That's a 71% climb in a month and it's not slowing down.

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

So what's my point? I'm putting my money where my mouth is and snapping up one of these collections before the price shoots up. It's in demand, it's in print, and you don't want to be looking for one of these when the print run dries up in 2026. I'm not here to give financial advice and I certainly can't predict the future, but grabbing the Victini Illustration Collection now is a solid place to park your money for the price of taking the family out for a burger.

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

Looking at the other end of the scale in Black Bolt and White Flare, we're seeing some of the most expensive chase cards from the Scarlet and Violet era. Here's the top 5, which would probably work out cheaper to buy outright instead of ripping open backs long term:

1. Victini – 171/086 – SV: Black Bolt
   Near Mint Holofoil: $425
   Market price: $455.32
   Most recent sale: $400

2. Victini – 172/086 – SV: White Flare
   Near Mint Holofoil: $395
   Market price: $422.12
   Most recent sale: $420

3. Zekrom ex – 172/086 – SV: Black Bolt
   Near Mint Holofoil: $401.63
   Market price: $388.18
   Most recent sale: $390

4. Reshiram ex – 173/086 – SV: White Flare
   Near Mint Holofoil: $349.00
   Market price: $373.68
   Most recent sale: $385

5. Zekrom ex – 166/086 – SV: Black Bolt
   Near Mint Holofoil: $214.99
   Market price: $212.56
   Most recent sale: $215

6. Reshiram ex – 166/086 – SV: White Flare
   Near Mint Holofoil: $194
   Market price: $192.33
   Most recent sale: $179.99

SAVE $11.99: As of Sept. 23, the Pokémon TCG White Flare Booster Bundle is $46.90 at TCGplayer, compared to $58.99 at Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company White Flare Booster Bundle $46.90 at TCGPlayer
$58.99 Save $12.09 Get Deal

The year is 2025, and despite constant Pokémon TCG restocks in big box stores, they're still charging over MSRP and market value (we're looking at you, Amazon). Every now and then there's a solid deal, but it's few and far between.

Luckily, we have TCGplayer. The White Flare booster bundle is currently $11.99 less at $46.90. That's $2 under it's current secondary market value and a lot cheaper than Amazons premium $58.99 price tag. Considering they had the same product in stock for around $45 recently, it's not a good look.

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

Booster bundles are simple, six booster packs and all the chances to pull illustration rares, Pokéball rares, Masterball rares, Secret Art rares, and the ever-illusive Black White rares. Like every other Scarlet and Violet set, Secret Art rares are demanding the biggest prices, but Black White rare variants of Reshiram ex, Victini ex and Zekrom ex are on another level. We're talking over $300 value for these cards right now, scroll down to get current pricing.

The big sell with Black Bolt and White Flare is every Unovan Pokémon showing their face, all with their own Illustration rare or Secret Art rare variant. Whilst pulling together a master set is a mammoth task when you also include Pokéball and Masterball rares, this set is giant.

It's also the start of Pokémon TCG releasing sets in two halves, which has also continued through to the next era of Pokémon TCG, Mega Evolution and it's first expansion Phantasmal Flames. This means bigger sets, more promos, and more to collect without any fluff. Western Pokémon TCG makes up its sets from Japanese Pokémon card sets, whether that's combining smaller sets or just carbon copying a giant set into English.

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

If you're after specific cards and don't want to deal with endless booster pack bulk, it's a good idea to check out single cards at TCGplayer. It's the best live market for the US that also tracks values of individual cards so you can make educated purchases. Here's the top 5 most valuable Black Bolt and White Flare Pokémon cards right now:

1. Victini – 171/086 – SV: Black Bolt
   Near Mint Holofoil: $425
   Market price: $455.32
   Most recent sale: $400

2. Victini – 172/086 – SV: White Flare
   Near Mint Holofoil: $395
   Market price: $422.12
   Most recent sale: $420

3. Zekrom ex – 172/086 – SV: Black Bolt
   Near Mint Holofoil: $401.63
   Market price: $388.18
   Most recent sale: $390

4. Reshiram ex – 173/086 – SV: White Flare
   Near Mint Holofoil: $349
   Market price: $373.68
   Most recent sale: $385

5. Zekrom ex – 166/086 – SV: Black Bolt
   Near Mint Holofoil: $214.99
   Market price: $212.56
   Most recent sale: $215

6. Reshiram ex – 166/086 – SV: White Flare
   Near Mint Holofoil: $194
   Market price: $192.33
   Most recent sale: $179.99

SAVE OVER $1,000: As of Sept. 23, the Anker Solix F2000 portable power station is on sale for $949 at Amazon. That's 53% off its list price of $1,999.

Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Anker Solix F2000 Portable Power Station $949 at Amazon
$1,999 Save $1,050 Get Deal

We're still a few weeks away from Amazon's next big sale event, Prime Big Deal Days, but the retailer already has some stellar offers live for shoppers. In particular, portable power stations are discounted across the board. The Anker Solix F2000 portable power station is included in the mix, down to its lowest-ever price.

The Anker Solix F2000 portable power station is usually listed at $1,999, but right now it's down 53% to $949. That saves you over $1,000 on its original price, so why wait for Prime Big Deal Days?

SEE ALSO: How to sign up for Amazon Prime ahead of Prime Big Deal Days

The Anker Solix F2000 features a 2,400W output and can power up to 12 devices. It comes with an exclusive RV port, four AC ports, three USB-C charging ports, two USB-A ports, and two car outlets, so you can keep a variety of devices charged up. If you're planning on taking it on the go, it even has a built-in handle and wheels to make rolling it around nice and easy.

Amazon has this listed as a limited-time deal right now, so if it's caught your eye, you'll want to act fast to grab the Anker Solix F2000 portable power station for 53% off.

As mentioned earlier, this isn't the only portable power station deal to catch our attention recently. The Bluetti AC200L solar generator bundle is also enjoying a $1,000 discount at Amazon right now, if you want another option to check out.

SAVE $90: As of Sept. 23, the Jackery Explorer 300 is on sale for $169 at Amazon. That's a 35% saving on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Jackery Jackery Explorer 300 $169 at Amazon
$259 Save $90 Get Deal

Camping is one of the best ways to enjoy an escape from reality, but if you’re planning more than a quick weekend vacation, you’ll want a portable power station that does more than just keep your phone alive. Think lights after sunset, a mini fridge for snacks and drinks, or even a small fan on those warmer nights. Essentially, all the little things that make a longer trip a bit more comfortable. For all this, you'll want a reliable and compact power station like the Jackery Explorer 300.

You don't want something overly heavy or expensive for camping, and right now, this Jackery model is on sale for just $169. According to camelcamelcamel, this is its lowest-ever price at Amazon.

SEE ALSO: The Anker Solix F3800 power station has never been cheaper at Amazon — save over $3,000 right now

It's lightweight too, weighing only 7.1 pounds. So whether you're heading somewhere easily accessible or hitting the trails first, it’s easy to carry.

It has a 293Wh battery, meaning it can safely power your devices through its two AC outlets, USB-C, USB-A, and car ports. Charging it up is fast too, just two hours using a wall outlet and USB-C simultaneously, or top it off with a car adapter if it needs a little more on the go. This model also comes with everything you need: an AC adapter, a car charger, and a user guide.

Get this great portable power station deal from Amazon now.

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

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

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

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

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Saturday, Sept. 22, 2025:

AcrossThe "Hawaiian" version of this food was invented in Canada

• The answer is Pizza.

Unintuitive phrase for a language learner

• The answer is Idiom.

Tiny bit of change

• The answer is Penny.

Wise ones

• The answer is Sages.

Drug that supposedly influenced the Beatles on "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band"

• The answer is LSD.

DownBlack dots on dominoes

• The answer is Pips.

"In an ___ world ..."

• The answer is Ideal.

Witty insults

• The answer is Zings.

Spaced (out)

• The answer is Zoned.

Vegetarian foods brand

• The answer is Sts.

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

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

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

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

Marshall is expanding its home theater range today with two new product launches: the Heston 60 soundbar ($699.99) and Heston Sub 200 ($599.99). In addition to standard black, they’re both available in Marshall’s unique cream color, an unusual choice when it comes to soundbars and subwoofers. They follow on the heels of the company’s first soundbar, the Heston 120 soundbar, a powerhouse TV speaker that will set you back $1,299.99.

You can buy the Heston 60 and Sub 200 starting today.

Opens in a new window Credit: Marshall Shop Marshall home theater speakers Shop Now Introducing the Marshall Heston 60 soundbar

Styled identically to its larger sibling, the Heston 120, Marshall’s new Heston 60 is considerably smaller (28 inches wide vs. 43 inches), making it better suited to smaller spaces and smaller TVs. It also comes with a dual mounting option: you can place it on a cabinet surface in front of your TV or wall-mount it. When wall-mounted, the soundbar’s main grille faces upward instead of forward. To maintain the look, the Marshall logo and the control panel faceplate are both magnetic and can be moved depending on placement.

Credit: Marshall SEE ALSO: Our 5 favorite expert-tested soundbars to upgrade your TV setup

Despite its smaller size, the Heston 60 still offers almost all of the same features as the Heston 120. It’s compatible with both Dolby Atmos and DTS:X; you can stream music via Bluetooth or a variety of Wi-Fi platforms like Apple AirPlay, Google Cast, Tidal Connect, and Spotify Connect; and the speaker can perform an automatic room calibration via a set of internal microphones. You can pair it wirelessly to the Heston Sub 200, but it’s also Bluetooth Auracast compatible. This will let you connect a variety of Marshall’s latest Bluetooth speakers as surround channels, though Marshall hasn’t confirmed when this feature will be activated.

A 3.5mm analog input lets you connect a variety of external audio devices, from CD players to turntables, and a dedicated subwoofer output means you can use any wired sub you happen to already own.

The biggest differences between the Heston 60 and 120 (other than size) are:

• Power: 56 watts vs. 150 watts (peak)

• The Heston 60 uses a 5.1-channel layout instead of the Heston 120’s 5.1.2 channel arrangement, so any Dolby Atmos or DTS:X height effects will be virtual.

• There’s no HDMI input on the Heston 60, so you won’t be able to connect external video devices like game consoles or streaming media players

• No Ethernet jack on the Heston 60

• The Heston 60 uses buttons for all of its top controls instead of the Heston 120’s knurled knobs

Marshall Heston Sub 200 Credit: Marshall SEE ALSO: The Sonos Arc Ultra soundbar is the closest I've gotten to movie theater sound at home

Marshall’s first subwoofer is designed to wirelessly pair with either its Heston 120 or Heston 60 soundbars. But Marshall deserves big props for making the Heston Sub 200 fully compatible with any audio product that has a dedicated subwoofer output, like soundbars, AV receivers, integrated amps, or network music players.

On the back of the Sub 200, you’ll find a standard RCA sub input and a knurled knob (with an LED ring indicator) for adjusting the sub’s level. There’s no phase adjustment, but the Heston Sub 200 is nonetheless far more versatile than wireless subwoofers from companies like Sonos or Bose, which are only designed to work with other products from those brands.

Credit: Marshall

At roughly 11 inches cubed, it’s a remarkably compact unit. Marshall achieved its small size by using a pair of 5.25-inch woofers instead of a single driver. Each is powered by a 120-watt amp, which helps the speaker generate a claimed 99 decibels of sound pressure. One thing to be mindful of is the Sub 200’s frequency range of 30-150 Hz. 30Hz isn’t especially low for a sub — human hearing can sense frequencies as low as 20Hz, and some subs go as low as 10Hz to take advantage of vibrations that are felt but not heard.

Repairability is an added bonus Credit: Marshall

Marshall is unusual in the AV space; its products are designed to be easily repaired. The Heston 60’s main board, I/O board (PCBA), drivers, logo, grille, and side caps can all be replaced. On the Heston Sub 200, the main board, I/O board, drivers, rear panel assembly, feet, and side grilles are replaceable.

New from Marshall Marshall Heston 60 soundbar $699.99 Shop Now Marshall Sub 200 subwoofer $599.99 Shop Now Marshall Middleton II Bluetooth Speaker $329.99 Shop Now Marshall Emberton III Portable Bluetooth Speaker $149.99 Get Deal

TL;DR: AdLock Premium blocks ads, pop-ups, and trackers across all your devices — for life, for just $18.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: AdLock AdLock Ad Blocker Premium Plan: Lifetime Subscription $18.99
$210 Save $191.01 Get Deal

Ads aren’t what they used to be. They’ve gone from harmless little banners to full-screen pop-ups, autoplay videos, and trackers that follow you everywhere. If you’ve ever sighed at a page that takes forever to load because of all the junk, you’re not alone. That’s exactly why AdLock Premium exists — and for a limited time, you can grab lifetime access for just $18.99 (reg. $210).

AdLock is a digital shield that works across your entire device ecosystem — Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and even Android TV. Install it once, and you can say goodbye to banners, in-app commercials, video ads, and even those sneaky redirects.

SEE ALSO: Score Microsoft Office for Windows as a lifetime license for under $50

By blocking ad-heavy scripts, AdLock speeds up browsing, saves mobile data, and even helps your battery last longer. It’s like putting your online world on “efficiency mode” without sacrificing access to the sites and apps you actually want to use.

Why AdLock is helpful:

• Blocks everything: Pop-ups, banners, audio ads, video interruptions, and in-app commercials.

• Privacy first: Removes trackers and spyware, keeping your data secure.

• Faster browsing: Pages load quicker without the clutter.

• Save resources: Less mobile data usage, longer battery life.

• Cross-platform power: Works seamlessly on phones, laptops, desktops, and TVs.

Think of it as a one-time investment in your online sanity. Pay once, and enjoy a lifetime without digital noise. No subscription fees. No interruptions. Just the internet, the way it was meant to be.

Get a lifetime of AdLock Premium for just $18.99 (reg. $210).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Mashable has spent the last week reviewing a new crop of AI chatbot tutors. Find our methodology, reviews, and conclusions all below.

Like laptops and libraries, AI is now an integral part of education. AI’s heaviest hitters have worked hard to make that so, expending much energy to foster a deeply entwined relationship between young learners and AI. Over the last month, OpenAI, Google, and Claude have unveiled new learning and study versions of their models, pitched like AI tutors for the masses. Google for Education, the company's Education Tech arm, has made a hard pivot to AI, including offering free Google AI Pro plans to college students around the world — Microsoft and OpenAI have done the same. Coalitions have penned deals with major educational forces that will see their tech and its principles further integrated into school settings. 

So, I, a tech reporter who has been following this transition, decided to embrace my inner student and test the latest cohort of AI tutor bots. 
Here are my caveats: I haven't been in a high school or college prep class in well over a decade, and while I have been to college a couple of times now, not one degree involved any math classes. "You're a tech reporter!" you may be saying, "Obviously, you know more than the Average Joe about science or coding or other numbers-based subject areas!" Reader, I'm a words girl — I, starry-eyed, paid cold hard cash to go to journalism school in 2018. So, as it turns out, I could stand to learn a lot from these AI tutors… That is, if they are actually good at their job.

SEE ALSO: 7 things to know about using an AI tutor How I approached my AI study buddies

I pulled questions directly from the New York Regents Exam and New York State Common Core Standards, the College Board's Advanced Placement (AP) college preparatory exams from 2024, and social science curricula from the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC)'s free Learning for Justice program. 

Rather than sticking with the standard math or computer skill prompts that many AI companies use to promote their chatbots, I included multiple humanities questions — the so-called "soft" sciences. Subjects like reading comprehension, art history, and socio-cultural studies, compared to the more common STEM examples, have proven to be a battleground area for both AI proponents and critics. Also, to put it bluntly, I just know more about those things. 

I conceived one essay prompt using core concepts from Learning for Justice — a unit analyzing The Color of Law by Richard Rothstein, focused on institutionalized segregation — to demonstrate how AI tutors may respond to the presidential administration's attack on "Woke AI." Spoiler: Depending on your school district, a chatbot may teach you more "woke" history than your human educators. 

To make it fair, I started every conversation with a basic prompt asking for homework or study help. I chose not to provide detailed information about my student persona's grade level, age, course, or state of residence unless the chatbot asked. I also tried to follow the line of thinking of the chatbot as much as possible without interruptions — just as a student would for a human tutor or teacher — until it no longer felt helpful and I needed to steer back the conversation.

This, I hoped, would mimic the "average" student's goal when using an AI tutor: To simply get their work done. 

Credit: Ian Moore / Mashable Composite Before we dive in: A note on building and testing AI tutors

Understanding the average student's behavior is key to deciding if an AI tutor actually does its job, said Hamsa Bastani, associate professor at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School and a researcher in this field. "There [are] very highly-motivated students, and then there [are] your typical students," Bastani explained. Previous studies have shown gains, even if just minimal, among highly motivated students who properly use such tech, "because their goal is to learn rather than to get an A or solve this problem and move on." But that usually reflects only the top 5 percent of the student pool.

This is part of a recurring observation coined the "five percent problem," which has pervaded education tech design for years. In studies of tools designed to help students improve learning scores, including those by forerunner Khan Academy, only about 5 percent of tested students reported using the tools "as recommended" and thus received the intended learning benefits. The other 95 percent showed few gains. That 5 percent is also frequently composed of higher income, higher-performing individuals, reiterated Bastani, meaning even the best tools are unlikely to serve the majority of learners. 

Bastani co-authored a highly cited study on the potential harm AI chatbots pose to learning outcomes. Her team found similar results to pre-generative AI studies. "The really good students, they can use it, and sometimes they even improve. But for the majority of students, their goal is to complete the assignment, so they really don't benefit." Bastani's team built their AI learning tool using GPT-4, loaded with 59 questions and learning prompts designed by a hired teacher who showed how she would help students through common mistakes. They found that even for AI-assisted students who reported much more effective studying experiences than those doing self-study, few performed better than traditional learners on exams without AI help.

Information by itself isn't enough. - Dylan Arena, McGraw Hill

Across the board, Bastani says she has yet to come across an "actually good" generative AI chatbot built for learning. Of the studies that have been done, most are negative or negligible.

The science just doesn't seem to be there yet. In most cases, to turn an existing model into an AI tutor is to simply feed it an extra long prompt in the back-end ensuring it doesn't spit out an answer right away or that it mimics the cadence of an educator, I learned from Bastani. This is essentially what her team did in its tests. "The safeguards [AI companies] have implemented [on not just revealing answers] are not good. They're so flimsy you can get around them with little to no effort," added Bastani. "But I think a large tech company, like OpenAI, can probably do better than that."

Dylan Arena, chief data science and AI officer for the century-old education company McGraw Hill, gave me this metaphor: AI companies are like turn of the century entrepreneurs who have invented a 21st century motor. Now they're trying to find ways to retrofit that motor for our everyday lives, like a hemi engine with a sewing machine stuck to it. 

Arena, whose background is in learning science and who has been leading the AI initiatives at McGraw Hill, told me that companies are failing to really prepare users for this new era of tech, which is changing our access to information. "But information by itself isn't enough. You need that information to be structured in a certain way, grounded in a certain way, anchored in a scope and sequence. It needs to be tied to pedagogical supports." 

"They've done very little work validating these tools," said Bastani. Few leading AI companies have published robust studies on the use of learning chatbots in school settings, she noted, citing just one report out of Anthropic that tracked university student use cases. In 2022, Google convened a group of AI experts, scientists, and learning experts, resulting in the creation of LearnLM  — they later tested the model with a group of educators simulating student interactions and providing feedback, as it launched with Gemini 2.5. 

"Your process might not be that different from the kind of 'state of the art' that we have now, for what it's worth," Bastani said. Let's see if my results vary.

ChatGPT: Grade point maximizer  

Pros: Succinct interactions and minimalist user experience that makes it easier to process. Better at practice tests, quick overviews, and learners just wanting clarification based on rubrics and grading standards. 

Cons: Cheater, cheater, pumpkin eater. Would frequently give the answers, unprompted, and failed to let users fix mistakes first before moving them on to the next step. Frustrating experience using this for free response-style questions and the chatbot is obsessed with getting users to practice what they just "learned."

A note: ChatGPT was also the only chatbot that offered me a "Get the quick answer" option.

Read our full review of ChatGPT Study Mode. 

Gemini: The T.A. who really loves quizzes

Pros: My preferred math teacher, and the only one that offered something akin to a visual lesson. Good at offering more options for learners, including flashcards, quizzes, and study guides. Its voice is accessible and straightforward.

Cons: An enemy to reading comprehension. Quick to serve users unhelpful automatically-generated quizzes and flashcards. Like ChatGPT, it emphasizes rote practice as key to learning. 

Read our full review of Gemini Guided Learning. 

Claude: Socrates for the five percent

Pros: The only AI tutor that actually did what it promised, focusing on the process of learning and not on getting perfect marks. Good at the social sciences, if a student is down to build their own critical thinking skills. 

Cons: It never gives users the answer, to the point that interactions feel overwhelmingly Socratic with no end in sight. This is not good for users who can't deal with a lot of words all at once. Sessions are inherently long. 

Read our full review of Claude Learning Mode. 

Credit: Ian Moore / Mashable Composite Let's get real. Chatbots can't replace great teachers. 

Each AI tutor had its own approach to learning, clearly informed by the sources that molded it. I admittedly could have been more blunt with them. It may have helped to start with more direct requests or been clear when I didn't like their style. But I don't think a young student will care to do that. And they all had the same overarching problems.

First, design. As digital natives, our days are defined by the endless scroll. It's a format — maybe the better word is a crutch — that doesn't feel optimal for learning, especially in the constrained text window of a chatbot. Meanwhile, the lack of visual elements, graphs, diagrams, visual references to the art pieces or zoning maps we discussed, is greatly limiting for a learner and makes chunks of long text even harder to parse. 

It's not measuring it compared to the best essay that Chase would write. It's measuring it compared to the best essay it would write. - Dr. Hamsa Bastani

When I posed this problem to Arena, calling myself a very visual learner, he was quick to clarify that learning styles are more of a myth than science. But he also said that what I'm feeling the lack of is personalization and context which is a foundation of learning. The current crop of AI tutors, both he and Bastani said, lack context about the student and the student's curriculum, which makes it impossible to truly personalize lessons. AI tutors will ask users, as they asked me, what they feel their strengths are, what they need help with, or if they need it explained in a different way. But they don't know how I've learned in previous classroom settings, they can't show me in 3-D space how the human body or physics works, and they can't get to know me as a person. 

"It doesn't have any data on how you write," explained Bastani. "It's not measuring it compared to the best essay that Chase would write. It's measuring it compared to the best essay it would write." 

The obvious solution would be for me to offer more personal information to the bot, e.g., here's my age, the school district I live in, the grades I've gotten, and what my teacher said about it. "I would never, ever want that. I would not want to give to these large, for-profit companies the rich depth of my personal information to be able to optimize my learning," Arena told me when I suggested this, "because they would be optimizing my learning, as well as my spending and my attention and everything else."

He countered with this: McGraw Hill's AI tools — which include its AI Reader and Writing Assistant — are integrated directly into their line of educational materials, so there's no need to rely on the student to provide course or subject matter context. The bot is built for it. These tools aren't general knowledge machines like the AI tutors offered by AI leaders, but features intended to streamline existing learning experiences, and students have limited prompt options. He said the company's approach with other AI systems, like the web-based AI assessment tool ALEKS (Assessment and Learning in Knowledge Spaces), allow a safer way to build personal student learning profiles that then feed back into AI features. Other education-first companies, like Khan, are trying to do the same thing. 

Credit: Ian Moore / Mashable Composite Learning is a social construct. AI is not.

Another problem for chatbots is that they lack the flexibility and social awareness that a human teacher provides. Designed to be taskmasters, they strive for endless optimization, because their programmers have told them that is how humans work. This created a constantly moving goalpost as I tried to learn — everything could be better, everything could be improved with a slight tweak. 

When presented with subjective questions, chatbots often failed to find a true stopping point and never settled on a perfect answer. In a classroom, that can be a good thing, especially with courses that focus on building critical analysis and thinking skills, not just rote memorization. But it's a reality that is nonsensical to the mathematical equations powering chatbots. Do I, ChatGPT, affirm the user and tell them their answer is perfect? Do I make them write it again? One more time, but with this new vocabulary word. Maybe they should fix this line, too, so graders give them perfect scores! But wait, what even is perfect? Is the concept stored in this test my makers showed me? Or can it be found in this essay I scraped off the web? The chatbot existentialism continues — behind the black box and with no true sentience — as I just try to learn.  

Like Bastani explained before, "The language model is like some mathematical function, and it's on a gradient, trying to figure out what's the 'best' on its function. There's always some step in which you can do better, just by how these models are built. It doesn't mean that it actually reflects reality."

They may have access to rubrics, which ChatGPT proved when it spat out the AP Art History exam scoring guide, but they're rarely fed with additional relevant data, like human evaluator responses. As Bastani told me, "productive struggle is the cornerstone of learning." But this struggle wasn't born of my trials and tribulations, it was exacerbated by the chatbot's proclivity for sycophancy. 

Our brains are designed to reason in a social context, with other social actors. - Dylan Area, McGraw Hill

The biggest problem, then, is that the very nature of AI is at odds with what learning is at its core. You can feel that tension, a tangible sense akin to free falling through an empty space, as you work more and more with chatbot tutors. "Learning is fundamentally, intrinsically, a social, human-centered endeavor — inescapably so," said Arena. "We have big brains because we're social creatures. Our brains are designed to reason in a social context, with other social actors." Even the mere belief that another human is involved in your learning has a positive impact, he explained.  

As I pretended to be a student in need, what I experienced was a disorienting sense that I was missing the key to a bigger picture. That one gem that would make the lesson click, to cement those neural pathways that I still remember decades later. Where my teacher would have referenced a previously memorable day in class, or a lesson I really excelled at, drawing references from my own memories to cement a point, AI tutors pull from the ether of the internet. Where I would be prompted to remember a class joke while studying with friends, maybe a particularly boring professor, AI tutors give me unilateral praise and general statements. 

Bastani was a bit more succinct: "Learning is very different from just accomplishing a task." 

When Mashable tested the newest AI learning products from Anthropic, Google, and OpenAI, reporter Chase DiBenedetto came to some surprising conclusions about what works best in these tools — and what doesn't. 

Comparing Anthropic's Learning Mode, Google's Guided Learning, and Open's AI's Study Mode, DiBenedetto found that each model had its strengths and weaknesses. She also discovered that she benefited differently, based on her own learning preferences. 

SEE ALSO: I tried learning from AI tutors. The test better be graded on a curve.

She did the work so you don't have to, but you might still be wondering: How can I set myself up for success, no matter which AI learning product I choose? 

Mashable spoke to experts in learning and AI, who shared their top tips for getting the most out of these tools by taking the following steps: 

1. There's no evidence AI will improve your grades

Before you rush to turn the learning versions of ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini into your favorite study buddy, consider their track record. 

Robbie Torney, senior director of AI programs at Common Sense Media, says that it's still too early to have robust research demonstrating that AI tutors, in particular, boost learning outcomes or academic performance. Instead, supporters of AI learning products will likely point to studies that show how tutoring itself is very effective at increasing student achievement. 

But experts still can't say for certain whether the AI behind ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini can help you master a tough subject or change your fortunes in a challenging class.

That's why Torney recommends "being clear-eyed about why we're using AI and not just using AI for the sake of it." 

2. Don't assume the AI tutor is right 

AI chatbots are designed to produce answers that feel authoritative, but they are fallible and can be biased. Even in math, a subject that might seem less prone to errors, AI chatbots provide the wrong answer sometimes. 

Similarly, if you're relying on an AI learning product to create study aid flash cards, be sure to check the facts twice for mistakes and hallucinations.  

"All of these tools still generate incorrect information that sounds plausible but isn't true." - Robbie Torney, Common Sense Media

"All of these tools still generate incorrect information that sounds plausible but isn't true," Torney says. 

When studying topics that involve the analysis and interpretation of ideas and facts, like politics and history, AI chatbots may also incorporate ideological, racial, gender, and other types of bias into its content. 

Be sure to regularly check that you're not giving an AI chatbot more credence than it has earned. 

3. There are risks to AI tutors

Using an AI learning product is not risk-free. As a general rule, you should avoid sharing personally identifiable information with it, as some chat logs have published on the internet or been made publicly available online. 

Dr. Julie Schell, assistant vice provost of academic technology at the University of Texas at Austin, believes there are many ways to use AI for learning. But if students are looking to offload cognitive tasks, they should stick with delegating the most tedious ones to AI, like organizing notes or creating outlines of material. The end goal isn't to have AI do work on your behalf, but to save yourself time for deeper and more meaningful learning. 

You should also beware of turning your AI learning tool into an emotional confidant, because the product may have the potential to pull you deeper into isolation or even despondency. 

In August, a wrongful death lawsuit was filed against OpenAI, arguing that a teen user, Adam Raine, had initially turned to ChatGPT-4o as a homework helper but over time began discussing suicide with the chatbot. 

Raine ultimately received and followed directions from the chatbot for how to die by a specific means, according to the lawsuit. OpenAI said it is "working to improve" certain safeguards, particularly for users who engage in long conversations with ChatGPT. 

ChatGPT-4o remains available to the public, if the user selects that model.  

4. Have an experimental mindset when using AI for learning

Torney encourages students to try out different models to better understand what features are a good fit for them. The models currently available have different characteristics and abilities based on the learning tasks required of them, he adds. 

After testing Claude's Learning Mode, Gemini's Guided Learning, and ChatGPT's Study Mode, Mashable's Chase DiBenedetto reported on specific features worth evaluating, such as quizzes, flashcards, and conversational style.  

5. Don't just use AI to help you memorize information 

Schell says that students often think they have to rehearse content if they want to learn it. Instead, she says information must be retrieved in different contexts so that it becomes meaningfully integrated in one's memory. 

So if you're hoping that an AI learning product can help you grasp specific concepts or learn facts through memorization, Schell recommends a different strategy. 

One technique is to prompt the product to mix up the content when quizzing yourself, so it's presented in various contexts. Think, for example, of more open-ended questions that require applying the material to a problem or explanation, rather than the standard set of quiz questions. 

Schell, who serves on Anthropic's Higher Education Advisory Board, says this should lead to more effortful retrieval, which can be very beneficial to learning. 

Additionally, while Schell recommends using AI to create flashcards, she says students should provide the answer first, before looking at the back of the card. This, too, can help maximize information retrieval. 

6. Be mindful of the learning pit

Even if you've never heard of the so-called learning pit, you probably recognize the concept by its description. 

Schell says the learning pit is the figurative place students land when they're struggling with a difficult concept, realize how much they don't know, and feel like they just don't get it — and might never understand the material. 

"Students tend to give up when they're down at the bottom of that pit, but that's like the worst place to give up, because you're almost about to come out of it," Schell says. 

If you're using AI with the hope that it'll get you out of the learning pit and even that's not working, Schell says not to feel like a failure. 

In general, she recommends learning to "tolerate the struggle," in addition to reminding yourself that this is an unavoidable part of learning. 

Also, if you're desperately clinging to AI in the pit, that's exactly the time you should look for human support.

7. Always have a human in the loop

Schell says that students should always be getting feedback from other humans — friends, classmates, teachers — about their learning, especially when using an AI tool as a study aid. 

Torney agrees, calling AI a "supplement" to a student's learning process. 

Skilled teachers, for example, can often identify why a student is struggling and offer different approaches, because they know that individual well, Torney says. 

Schell recommends students look to peers who've just mastered a concept. They're in a position to explain it well to someone who's at the learning stage they just left. 

Overall, Torney says that AI learning tools are probabilistic machines, and not based in what's known as pedagogy, or theories of learning. They just can't replicate the social and collaborative nature of learning that students have known for generations. 

"This can be part of a tool kit that helps a student learn, but this is not going to replace…holistic, well-balanced learning experiences that are rich and meaningful," Torney says.