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I was getting ready for a night out when I spotted a "hey girlie" text from an unknown number flash across my screen.

"I'm Danny's girlfriend and I saw some messages from you on his phone. I was wondering if you could help me?"

My eyes widened as I read the word "girlfriend." I've never opened a message faster.

SEE ALSO: Why social media algorithms hurt after a breakup

Danny (not his real name) and I had been embroiled in a sexting situationship after matching on Hinge. It was just a bit of fun during a particularly busy work period that hadn't left much time for in-person dates. But thinking about the nature of our chats, I feared what messages this poor woman had stumbled across.

I tapped the unfamiliar number and hit call, a wave of nervousness coming over me.

"I am so sorry, I had no idea he had a girlfriend," I blurted out seconds into the call.

"Don't worry, I know. You're actually one of many," his girlfriend responded in a kind tone. She told me that she and Danny were living together, about to get a mortgage together, and that she'd just discovered he'd been texting (and sexting) a web of other women, none of whom were any the wiser about the existence of his girlfriend.

When Danny accidentally synced his iPhone to his girlfriend's laptop, she unearthed scores of screenshots of my messages. I dreaded to think what his girlfriend might have seen in those screenshots.

When she texted me saying she'd confronted him about her conversation with me and that he'd reacted very badly, I decided I didn't want to give this man another opportunity to contact me. I didn't need to say anything to him. Just block and move on with my day. It was a blissful feeling.

Until then, I hadn't been much of a blocker. I'd previously considered blocking a bit harsh, but that was likely due to my inability to set boundaries (which I've thankfully overcome since then). Certain situations in life call for hard boundaries.

So, what exactly are the rules of engagement around blocking people? Are there scenarios when blocking literally is too harsh?

When their behaviour is terrible: block ✅

When someone behaves in an unacceptable or disrespectful way towards you, blocking is always OK. If you fear for your safety, block them. Abuse, harassment, and non-consensual sexual messages or images are all reasonable grounds for blocking. Trust your instincts too: If a person has exhibited behaviours that make you feel uneasy about your safety, you shouldn't feel guilty about blocking them.

SEE ALSO: How to break up with someone in the digital age No contact after a breakup: block ✅

Annabelle Knight, sex and relationship expert at Lovehoney, says blocking someone is simply a digital version of setting boundaries for yourself and that it's pretty common to hit the block button when you're getting over a breakup.

In the immediate aftermath of a breakup, some people find it helpful to go "no contact." This means no phone calls, texts, social media, emails, letters — literally no forms of contact. It means no in-person meet-ups and can also involve not contacting their friends or family, perhaps unfollowing these individuals on social media.

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

"While [blocking] can be seen as an extreme decision, it can help if you feel that urge to initiate contact or take a peek at their profile to see what they're up to — both of which may only prolong the healing or result in emotional hurt," says Knight. "You can block your ex for many reasons: maybe you want to close any direct lines of communication, you don't want to see their content, or you don't want them to see your content. Although many people see it as intense in a digital world, it's really no different to avoiding your ex in person," she adds.

Trying to get a reaction from them: don't block and unblock 🚫

If you feel the urge to unblock someone after blocking them, ask yourself why. Do you want attention? Did you block them to punish them and now you're rethinking it? Perhaps you want them to get in touch with you? Examine the feelings at the root of this desire and whether it's worth breaking this boundary with yourself.

Relationship counsellor Sophie Personne advises against yo-yo-ing between blocking and unblocking individuals, particularly if it's being used as a manipulation tactic. "I have known clients to keep blocking and unblocking each other every time they had an argument," says Personne. "It's counterintuitive and destructive. It is restricting communication and is manipulative and controlling as you are controlling the level of communication."

Avoiding being honest about your feelings: don't block 🚫

Having difficult conversations can be nerve-wracking, and sometimes our urge to avoid conflict can make us bury our heads in the sand. For example, if you're dating someone and want to reject them, it's not cool to block them because you're too afraid to be honest. Similarly, if you make plans to meet up and then change your mind: don't just block them and stand them up (this is a behaviour I call cloaking). Afford the person the courtesy of cancelling the plans and spare them the hassle of showing up for a date that isn't happening.

Using blocking as an ultimatum: don't block 🚫

It's not a good idea to use blocking as a threat. "Blocking also becomes the wrong route to take if you decide to use it as a way to leverage or manipulate your ex; it should never be used as an ultimatum or a threat," says Knight. "Making the decision to block someone should be made on your feelings and your own terms, rather than involving them."

In relationships, healthy communication strategies can be used to bring about positive changes. Ultimatums and threats should be avoided at all costs.

A temporary pause for healing: block ✅

If you've ended on good terms with someone but need a break to protect your peace and move on, blocking is totally fine. If you're worried that the other person will be offended or it'll come as a surprise, you could consider dropping them a line beforehand to explain your decision to (temporarily) block. "If you do decide that a block is what you need to heal, a simple conversation with your ex about this change in terms will help; you can still take time and space apart before reconnecting as friends," says Knight.

When it comes to blocking, it can be an important boundary for protecting your physical and emotional safety. It can be an essential part of moving on from someone after a breakup. But it's not a get-out-of-jail-free card to avoid awkward conversations or to manipulate people's feelings. Use with caution.

SAVE UP TO 77%: Shop deals on Amazon Echos ahead of the holidays. Get majors savings on devices like the Amazon Echo Auto. When bundled with one month of Amazon Music Unlimited, receive the device and subscription for just $14.98, saving you $50 for 77% off.

Best Amazon Echo device deals Best Echo deal Amazon Echo Pop $17.99 at Amazon (Save $22) Get Deal Best Echo bundle deal Amazon Echo Auto with one month of Amazon Music Unlimited $14.98 at Amazon (Save $50) Get Deal Best Echo Show deal Amazon Echo Show 5 $44.99 at Amazon (Save $45) Get Deal Best Echo Kids deal Amazon Echo Pop Kids $22.99 at Amazon (Save $27) Get Deal

How is that last-minute holiday shopping going? Have you broken a sweat yet, racing around to stores, trying to find just the right thing for everyone on your list? With a week left to get your holiday shopping done, finding online deals is crucial, since we know time is running out. Plus, if you are online shopping, you want to make sure that your gifts will arrive in time for Christmas.

Sneaking in right under the wire, Amazon is coming in hot with deals on deals on Echo devices. Everything — the Pop, Dot, Spot, and Show — are all on sale ahead of the holidays, swinging back down to their lowest prices we've ever seen.

So if you have someone on your list (including yourself) looking for a smart home upgrade, you can't go wrong with these Amazon Echo deals that are guaranteed to arrive for the holidays.

Best Amazon Echo deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Echo Pop $17.99 at Amazon
$39.99 Save $22.00 Get Deal Why we like it

The Amazon Echo Pop is the smallest of Amazon's smart speakers, but that doesn't mean it isn't powerful. This small but mighty speaker is budget-friendly and responds to voices commands, whether you're asking it to play the latest episode of The Daily or set a timer for whatever you're cooking.

While its list price is already a great value at $39.99, it's back down to its lowest price ever of $17.99. That gives you a great smart speaker for under $20, saving you $22 for $55 off.

Best Amazon Echo bundle deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Echo Auto with one month of Amazon Music Unlimited $14.98 at Amazon
$64.98 Save $50.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Going hands-free in the car is crucial for your safety and the Amazon Echo Auto helps you keep your hands off your phone and on the wheel. With built-in speakers, the Auto plays musics, takes calls, and sends texts at your command.

Ahead of the holidays, Amazon is offering the ultimate savings on the Echo. Right now, when you bundle it with one month free of Amazon Music Unlimited, the device is just $14.98, saving you $50 for 77% off. If you don't need another music subscription we get it, just remember to cancel after your one month free before it renews at $9.99 per month.

More echo deals

• Amazon Echo Dot — $22.99 $49.99 (save $27)

• Amazon Echo Pop Kids — $22.99 $49.99 (save $27)

• Amazon Echo Dot Kids — $27.99 $59.99 (save $32)

• Amazon Echo Spot — $44.99 $79.99 (save $35)

• Amazon Echo Show 5 — $44.99 $89.99 (save $45)

• Amazon Echo — $54.99 $99.99 (save $45)

• Amazon Echo Show 8 — $84.99 $149.99 (save $65)

SAVE $27.98: Get one month of free access to YouTube Premium and 50% off a two-month membership with this Best Buy offer. YouTube Premium typically costs $13.99 per month which means you'll get three months of access for the price of one month.

Opens in a new window Credit: YouTube One free month of YouTube Premium and 50% two months $13.99 at Best Buy
$41.97 Save $27.98 eligible for new subscribers Get Deal

Love streaming videos and music but can't stand wasting time with ads? Life is too short wait around looking at the countdown timer before we can skip ads. Thankfully, Best Buy agrees and has a nice holiday offer in store for everyone.

As of Dec. 16, Best Buy is offering one month of YouTube Premium for free, followed by two months at 50% off. Since YouTube Premium typically costs $13.99 per month, the deal equals a savings of $27.98 over the three months, essentially giving us three months of YouTube Premium for the price of one. You can also opt to cash in on just the one month of free access.

After checking out with the free one-month offer, Best Buy will email additional redemption info. To grab this deal, you'll need to have a Best Buy account, which is free. You'll also need to be a new subscriber to YouTube Premium.

YouTube Premium is a great program if you often tune into your favorite channels. From gamers to travelers, YouTube is a wealth of information that offers never-ending content options. A Premium account means you'll never have to watch an ad while streaming on both YouTube and YouTube Music.

YouTube Premium also gives you ability to keep a video steaming in the background, while you navigate to other apps on your phone. That same function also allows you to continue streaming from YouTube Music while your screen is off. Plus, you have the ability to download content to watch later. This could be especially useful if you have upcoming holiday travel plans and will be chilling in airplane mode or won't have access to Wi-Fi.

Instead of paying $13.99 per month, take advantage of this Best Buy offer that gives new subscribers three months of YouTube Premium for the price of one. Not only will you go ad free on YouTube with the membership, you'll be able to download content to watch while traveling over the holidays.

OpenAI is making ChatGPT Search available to all users and search in Voice Mode.

Two months ago, ChatGPT Search was launched for ChatGPT Plus users. As of today, it's rolling out to all free users who are logged in. Search with Advanced Voice Mode also now works with ChatGPT Search.

Just an hour before OpenAI's announcement, Google unveiled Veo 2, its next-gen text-to-video model. The two companies haven't been shy about their cutthroat rivalry, often shipping similar products within a day (or in this case hours) of each other. Last week, OpenAI launched its AI video generator Sora, vision for Advanced Voice Mode, and a slew of other minor features. Not to be outdone, Google unveiled its latest model Gemini 2.0, which is touted as an "agentic era" model for handling tasks on the user's behalf.

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By typing a query into the ChatGPT search bar, it will automatically decided whether or not to use the search engine. Search results include previews with images with links, just like you would with traditional search. Within ChatGPT, videos are embedded, so you can watch movie trailers or anything else in the app. Just like Google Search, you can click into search results for more information, without leaving the app.

If you're ready to complete your conversion from Google Search to ChatGPT Search, you can also make make ChatGPT Search your default search engine.

Windows 11 packs many features that you can use to speed up your tasks and save time. From using keyboard shortcuts to pinning apps to the taskbar, there are many things you can do.

A Secret Santa-inspired scam is back again on social media for the holidays. There are many names for it, but it's commonly referred to as the "Secret Sister" or "Secret Santa Dog" gift exchange. It's not all fun and games as the name suggests. In fact, it's illegal.

There are some mysterious flying objects hovering over New Jersey and, days after the first drones were spotted, we still don't know much about what they are, where they're from, and what they're doing up there.

Folks with eyes on New Jersey have been reporting mysterious drone sightings — over houses, military installations, and Trump's Bedminster golf club, to name a few — since mid-November. The FBI, Department of Homeland Security, and Federal Aviation Administration have all investigated the origins but don't yet have any answers for us. The Pentagon says the mystery drones are not military and are probably not foreign. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy and U.S. Sen. Andy Kim have gone on their own drone hunts, too, but have come back empty-handed.

Despite this, Murphy and law enforcement officials say the drones aren't likely a threat to public safety, according to the Associated Press.

"Tonight I met with @NJSP officials and radar technicians at the Regional Operations & Intelligence Center who are surveying the area for unmanned aircraft systems," Murphy posted on X Sunday night. "The public deserves clear answers — we will keep pushing the federal government for more information and resources."

The drones have become such a spectacle that the president-elect weighed in.

"Let the public know, and now," Trump said. "Otherwise, shoot them down!"

It's leading lawmakers to consider stricter rules about flying unmanned aircrafts, the AP reported. But many of the sightings aren't unmanned aircrafts at all — they're stars, planes, or other flying objects like aircrafts coming and going from New Jersey airports.

Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted

Just look at the Friday X post from Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, who says he "personally witnessed" what he believed were "dozens of large drones in the sky above my residence in Davidsonville, Maryland." The video that accompanied the post clearly shows the constellation Orion and the stars Sirius and Procyon.

No matter who — or what — is behind the drones, Harry Direen, an electronic and software engineering expert at DireenTech, told USA Today that the culprits are "clearly ... not being very stealthy."

SAVE $23: Select Amazon accounts are eligible to buy an Amazon Smart Plug for just $1.99 with code PLUG, down from the list price of $24.99. That's a 92% discount. Check the product page to see if your account is eligible.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Smart Plug $1.99 at Amazon
$24.99 Save $23.00 eligible for select Amazon accounts only with checkout code PLUG Get Deal

A smart plug is one of the simplest, yet most convenient additions if you prefer smart home devices. For some lucky Amazon accounts, you can grab a smart plug for an epically low price through the end of the month.

Until Dec. 31, the Amazon Smart Plug is just $1.99 for select Amazon accounts with discount code PLUG, down from the list price of $24.99. That's a 92% discount or a savings of $23.99. To check if you're eligible, head to the product page and look for the exclusive pricing offer.

Perfect for your Christmas tree or holiday lights, the Amazon Smart Plug allows you to turn the plug on or off through the Alexa app on your smartphone. That means you'll no longer have to maneuver behind the Christmas tree to unplug the lights.

The Amazon Smart Plug is also simple to set up, only requiring you to plug it in and open the Alexa app to get going. Amazon recommends using it with lamps, fans, coffee makers, and more.

Through the Alexa app, you can also set schedules for the Smart Plug, programming the Christmas tree lights to turn on at 5 p.m. and off at midnight, for example. Keep in mind it's only for use indoors and it'll need to connect to a 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi network.

The Amazon Smart Plug can also be a great addition if you'll be going away for the holidays. With the plug, control a living room lamp to turn on and off whenever you feel like it, giving the impression someone is home. Kevin really could have used a smart plug when he got left behind at home.

Not all Amazon accounts are eligible for the deal, so you'll need to check the Smart Plug product page to see if it shows up for you. It's also non-transferrable so you won't be able to share the promo code with others. But if you're one of the lucky ones, be sure to jump on this great deal to get an Amazon Smart Plug for only $1.99.

Check out the best Amazon deals of the day as of Dec. 16: OUR TOP PICK Beats Studio Buds $79 (save $70.95)) Get Deal BEST HOME SECURITY DEAL Blink Whole Home Bundle $109.97 (save $90) Get Deal BEST SOUNDBAR DEAL Sonos Ray $169 (save $110) Get Deal BEST SMART GADGET DEAL Amazon Echo Frames $169.99 (save $160) Get Deal BEST OUTDOOR DEAL Yeti Roadie 60 wheeled cooler $337.50 (save $112.50) Get Deal

There's only a little over a week until the big day, or in other words, it's crunch time for holiday shopping. Luckily, there's still plenty of deals at Amazon to help you save on your last-minute gifts. Brands like Beats, Yeti, Sonos, and more are offering discounts up to 48% off as of Dec. 16 — and we've rounded up the best ones.

Here are our top picks for the best Amazon deals of the day. If none of these are your cup of tea, be sure to check back tomorrow for a brand-new list of deals.

Our top pick: Beats Studio Buds Opens in a new window Credit: Beats Beats Studio Buds $79.00 at Amazon
$149.95 Save $70.95 Get Deal

Searching for a solid pair of noise-cancelling earbuds that won't break the bank? The Beats Studio Buds are on sale for just $79 as of Dec. 16 at Amazon. That's 47% in savings and 99 cents cheaper than their Prime Day and Black Friday price. Mashable's Alex Perry called them "Apple's new go-to entry-level earbuds" when they first came out in 2021, boldly stating they "put entry-level AirPods to shame." Some standout perks are powerful bass, 24-hour battery life (with the charging case), transparency mode, spatial audio, and decent ANC. While they're no longer the latest or greatest Beats buds on the market, they still hold up in 2024.

Read our full review of the Beats Studio Buds.

Blink Whole Home Bundle Opens in a new window Credit: Blink Blink Whole Home Bundle $109.97 at Amazon
$199.97 Save $90.00 Get Deal

While you can't put a price tag on peace of mind, you can get pretty close with this $109.97 deal on the Blink Whole Home Bundle. It includes the Blink Outdoor 4, Mini 2, and Video Doorbell system, so you can keep an eye on every part of your home. Using the Blink app, you can see who shows up at your door (even at night) and enjoy live two-way communication with the Video Doorbell. Then, with the Outdoor 4, you can expand your field of view around your home and be alerted to anything out of the ordinary. The Blink Mini 2 handles the inside of your home, day or night, while the Sync Module 2 (included) lets you track all of the action in one place. Slash 45% off as of Dec. 16.

Sonos Ray Opens in a new window Credit: Sonos Sonos Ray $169.00 at Amazon
$279.00 Save $110.00 Get Deal

According to Mashable reviewer Han Schneider, the Sonos Ray "delivers on the bottom line requirement of any speaker: true, quality sound." It's a budget-friendly, low-profile soundbar that happens to be one of our favorites — particularly as a starter soundbar. It doesn't have a ton of fancy features (no Bluetooth connectivity, HDMI hookup, or smart home compatibility), but the price tag and impressive sound quality more than make up for it. It's usually $279, but as of Dec. 16, it's on sale for only $169 at Amazon. That's 39% in savings and just $20 away from its best-ever price from Black Friday.

Read our full review of the Sonos Ray.

Amazon Echo Frames Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Echo Frames $169.99 at Amazon
$329.99 Save $160.00 Get Deal

Need a unique gift option that will make it to your door before Christmas? The Amazon Echo Frames check both of those boxes. They're Alexa-equipped sunglasses that allow you to control your smart home devices, ask questions, play music, stream podcasts, and take hands-free calls. No need to whip out a phone or pop in earbuds with these babies on. They last for up to 14 hours on a single charge and come in five unique styles. Plus, they're prescription compatible. Usually $329.99, you can grab a pair on sale for only $169.99 as of Dec. 16. That's 48% in savings and matches their best-ever price.

Yeti Roadie 60 wheeled cooler Opens in a new window Credit: Yeti Yeti Roadie 60 $337.50 at Amazon
$450.00 Save $112.50 Get Deal

Yeti coolers are hard to beat; not only can they keep eyes for days (weeks, even!), but they're also virtually indestructible. I own a Yeti Roadie 24 and my only complaint is that it's pretty dang heavy when it's filled up. The Roadie 60 fixes that problem by adding two puncture-resistant wheels and a periscope handle. It can fit 98 cans, 68 pounds of just ice, or 19 wine bottles — in other words, this thing is massive — making it a great option for camping trips, beach days, weekend getaways, and everything in between. It's usually $450, but you can get the lilac option on sale for $337.50 at Amazon as of Dec. 16. That's a rare 25% in savings.

None of these deals catching your eye? Check out Amazon's daily deals for even more savings.

Google Deepmind has unveiled its next-generation AI tools, Veo 2 and Imagen 3, along with a playful new experiment, Whisk, aimed at remixing visuals in creative ways.

Veo 2 is the newest version of the company's flagship video-generation tool, which according to Google will be capable of higher realism and an improved understanding of movement, physics, and cinematic techniques. In its press release, Google Deepmind states that Veo 2 can generate 4K videos and handle complex prompts — like specific camera lenses or cinematic shots.

SEE ALSO: Veo, Google's Sora competitor, is hyped by Donald Glover

"Veo 2 understands the unique language of cinematography," the press release states, emphasizing its ability to deliver stylistic choices like "low-angle tracking shots" or "shallow depth of field." Further, the company says that, unlike earlier models that often “hallucinate” strange visuals (like extra limbs), Veo 2 reduces these quirks, making results more natural.

Imagen 3, released in August, has gotten some improvements with richer textures, brighter colors, and diverse art styles — from photorealistic landscapes to anime. The upgrade will also stick more faithfully to user prompts.

The most intriguing addition might be Whisk, a tool that allows users to remix images with creative flair. By combining Google’s Imagen 3 and Gemini models, Whisk can turn rough image ideas into digital artworks like "plushies or enamel pins," all while automatically generating descriptive captions.

Veo 2 is rolling out in Google’s VideoFX, Imagen 3 hits ImageFX in over 100 countries, and Whisk is live for U.S. users. You can sign up for the Google Labs waitlist now.

The Crucial MX500 SSD has been used in countless PCs, servers, and other devices, thanks to its years-long production run and great pricing. Sadly, Crucial is discontinuing the drive.

The European Union and the European Space Agency (ESA) have announced project called IRIS², which aims to create satellite-based internet service like Starlink. This has a budget of €10.6 billion ($11.1 billion).

Save $101.99: As of Dec. 16, you can grab the Sony WF-1000XM5 earbuds for $198 at Amazon, saving you $101.99 on their $299.99 retail price. You can also grab the earbuds for a dollar more at Best Buy and Target, with all three deals giving you roughly a 33% discount, and the best prices we've ever seen on these earbuds.

Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Sony WF-1000XM5 earbuds $198.00 at Amazon
$299.99 Save $101.99 Get Deal

If you're currently scrambling for last-minute Christmas gifts and kicking yourself for not shopping during Black Friday, I'd like to remind you that good things come to those who wait.

For example, as of Dec. 16, the Sony WF-1000XM5 earbuds are down to $198 at Amazon, beating their Black Friday and Cyber Monday price by about $30 and marking a new record low price for the earbuds that usually cost $299.99. If you're not a fan of Amazon, you can also find them on sale at Best Buy and Target for $199.99.

While testing headphones and earbuds for Mashable, I tried the Sony WF-1000XM5s, and was blown away by their sound quality and easy pairing, while their active noise cancelling placed them among some of the best noise-cancelling earbuds I've tried. Mashable Shopping Reporter Sam Mangino also named these one of her top picks for the best noise-cancelling earbuds, calling out their "distinct audio" that "pick up on the subtleness of every lyric and beat."

SEE ALSO: The 6 best Bluetooth speakers for basically any situation

What helps make that audio shine is the custom equalizer on the earbuds' companion app. Though the interface can be a bit difficult to navigate, the "Find Your Equalizer" feature makes it easy for audiophiles and non-audiophiles alike to fine tune the settings they most prefer with their music.

Typically, the biggest con of these earbuds is their price point, but at $198, they're near the price of AirPods Pro on sale, and lower than the sale price of our favorite overall noise-cancelling earbuds, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds.

The last thing you want on Christmas Day is for your kids to be unable to play the game console they've waited so long to enjoy. Read on as we highlight why you need to pre-game your console gift-giving experience.

Introducing GraphRAG 1.0

Microsoft debuted (opens in new tab) the pre-release version of GraphRAG (opens in new tab) in July 2024 to advance AI use in complex domains. Since that time, we’ve seen incredible adoption and community engagement (over 20k stars and 2k forks on GitHub as of this writing), with numerous fixes and improvements by the core team and community contributors. We’re deeply grateful for the contributions and feedback we’ve received and are excited to share a number of major ergonomic and structural improvements that culminate in the official release of GraphRAG 1.0. 

Ergonomic refactors Easier setup for new projects

When we first launched GraphRAG, most config was done using environment variables, which could be daunting, given the many options available. We’ve reduced the friction on setup by adding an init command (opens in new tab) that generates a simplified starter settings.yml file with all core required config already set. We recommend developers start here to ensure they get the clearest initial config. With this update, a minimal starting config does not require the user to have expertise with GraphRAG for a quick setup, only an OpenAI API key in their environment. 

New and expanded command line interface

We expanded the functionality and ease of use of the command line interface (opens in new tab) (CLI) and adopted Typer (opens in new tab) to provide better inline documentation and a richer CLI experience. The original CLI was intended as a starter demo for users to try GraphRAG on a sample dataset. We’ve since learned from the community that most people actually want to use this as their primary interaction mode for GraphRAG, so as part of this milestone release, we’ve incorporated enhancements that result in a more streamlined experience. From this work, CLI startup times dropped from an average of 148 seconds to 2 seconds. 

Consolidated API layer

In August 2024 we introduced a standalone API layer to simplify developer usage. The original CLI contained all the code required to instantiate and execute basic indexing and query commands, which users often needed to replicate. The API layer is still considered provisional as we gather feedback, but is intended to be the primary entry point for developers who wish to integrate GraphRAG functionality into their own applications without deep pipeline or query class customization. In fact, the CLI and Accelerator (opens in new tab) are built entirely on top of the API layer, acting as a documented example of how to interact with the API. We have also added examples of how to use this API to our notebook collection (opens in new tab) that we will continue to update as we iterate in future releases. 

Simplified data model

GraphRAG creates several output artifacts to store the indexed knowledge model. The initial model contained a large number of files, fields, and cross-references based on experimental ideas during the early research, which can be overwhelming for both new and routine users. We performed a comprehensive review of the data model and incorporated fixes to add clarity and consistency, remove redundant or unused fields, improve storage space, and simplify the data models. Previously, the output lacked standardization, and relevant outputs could easily be confused with non-critical intermediary output files. Now with GraphRAG 1.0, the output will only include relevant outputs that are easily readable and traceable. 

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Start now Opens in a new tab Streamlined vector stores

Embeddings and their vector stores are some of the primary drivers of  GraphRAG’s storage needs. Our original data model stored all embeddings within the parquet output files after data ingestion and indexing. This made the files portable, which was convenient for early research, but for many users it became unnecessary as they configured their own vector stores and the scale of data ingestion grew. We have updated the GraphRAG pipeline to create a default vector store during indexing, so no post-processing is needed, and the query library shares this configuration for seamless use. The benefit of this change is that those vectors (which can be quite large) no longer need to be loaded when the output files are read from disk, saving read time and memory during every query. Coupled with the simplified data model, this resulted in output parquet disk savings of 80%, and total disk space (including embeddings in the vector store) reduction of 43%. GraphRAG supports LanceDB and Azure AI Search out-of-the-box for vector stores. For simple startup, LanceDB is used as the default, and is written to a local database alongside the knowledge model artifacts. 

Flatter, clearer code structure

A key initiative on the road to version 1.0 has been to simplify the codebase so it is easier to maintain and more approachable for third-party users. We’ve removed much of the code depth from the organization to make it easier to browse, and co-located more code that our own usage patterns indicate was not required to be in separate functional areas. 

We have also found that very few users need the declarative configuration that the underlying DataShaper (opens in new tab) engine provides, so we collapsed these 88 verbose workflow definitions into a smaller set of 11 workflows that operate in a functional versus composed manner. This makes the pipeline easier to understand and is a step toward an architecture that is better suited for our future research plans and improves performance across the board. By collapsing workflows, we now have fewer unused output artifacts, reduced data duplication, and fewer disk I/O operations. This streamlining has also reduced the in-memory footprint of the pipeline, enabling users to index and analyze larger datasets with GraphRAG.

Incremental ingest

Until now, an evolving dataset needed complete re-indexing every time new information was acquired in order to re-generate the knowledge model. In GraphRAG 1.0 we are including a new update command in the CLI that computes the deltas between an existing index and newly added content and intelligently merges the updates to minimize re-indexing. GraphRAG uses an LLM caching mechanism to save as much cost as possible when re-indexing, so re-runs over a dataset are often significantly faster and cheaper than an initial run. Adding brand new content can alter the community structure such that much of an index needs to be re-computed – the update command (opens in new tab) resolves this while also improving answer quality. 

Availability

GraphRAG version 1.0 is now available on GitHub (opens in new tab), and published to PyPI (opens in new tab). Check out the Getting Started (opens in new tab) guide to use GraphRAG 1.0 today. today. 

Migrating

We recommend users migrate to GraphRAG 1.0, which offers a streamlined experience including multiple improvements for both users and developers. However, because of the breadth of its updates, version 1.0 is not backwards compatible. If you’ve used GraphRAG prior to version 1.0 and have existing indexes, there are a handful of breaking changes that need to be addressed, but this should be a straightforward process. To support the community in this migration, we’ve created a migration guide (opens in new tab) in the repository with more information. 

Future directions

We recently posted about a brand-new approach to GraphRAG called LazyGraphRAG, which performs minimal up-front indexing to avoid LLM usage until user queries are executed. This avoids LLM-based summarization of large volumes of content that may not be interesting to users – and therefore never explored even after expensive processing. This approach shows strong performance at a fraction of the cost of GraphRAG, and will be added to the core GraphRAG codebase in the near future as a new option for users. 

Additionally, Microsoft has been active in exploring how GraphRAG can advance the rate of scientific progress, and is in the process of building relevant GraphRAG capabilities to align with our broader work in AI-enabled scientific discovery (opens in new tab).

We continue to refine the codebase and investigate architectural changes that will enable users to use their own language model APIs, storage providers, and vector stores. We’re excited about this major milestone, and the foundation that this refactoring lays for our continued research in the GraphRAG space.

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The post Moving to GraphRAG 1.0 – Streamlining ergonomics for developers and users appeared first on Microsoft Research.

HDMI 2.2, the new HDMI specification is set to debut in early January.

In an email sent to the press, including Mashable, the HDMI Forum, which oversees the development of HDMI specifications, said HDMI 2.2 will be announced on Jan. 6 in Las Vegas, a day before the official start of CES.

Not much else was shared beyond the details of the press conference at the massive consumer tech conference. But the email did say that the new HDMI 2.2 specifications "will support a wide range of higher resolutions and refresh rates."

As Tom's Guide pointed out, the date of the announcement coincides with scheduled press events from Nvidia and AMD. Both companies are expected to announce new GPUs (GeForce RTX 50 from Nvidia and Radeon RX 8000 from AMD). If this is the case, the launches might be timed to align with the new HDMI standard.

The current HDMI standard, HDMI 2.1, was introduced in 2017. The most recent HDMI 2.1 update supports 48Gbps bandwidth, up to 10K resolution, and has up to 120Hz refresh rate at 4K. So whatever the specs are for HDMI 2.2 should be a significant upgrade from this. Mashable will be on ground at CES covering this, and other tech news.

YouTube is providing more ways to limit your child's access to the unfettered landscape of YouTube content.

Announced on Dec. 13, the platform will now offer an additional parent code feature on the YouTube app for TVs. With the code in place, users will have to input a password to access YouTube, even when signed out of an account with parental controls in place — a common work around to account safety settings. Young watchers will also need the code to access accounts for older members of your household (13 years and up), and to remove accounts on TVs.

SEE ALSO: Holiday tech gifts for kids: 5 things to know

YouTube is gradually changing the way young users access its platform, parental controls or not. Last week, YouTube unveiled its newly revamped YouTube Kids app, originally launched in 2015. Compared to its previously simplistic design, the new YouTube Kids looks more like it's enticing adult version, but with far more safety controls for young viewers. YouTube removed its standalone YouTube Kids app for TVs earlier this year, instead integrating the child version into the general YouTube app, accessible through a child's profile — other media sites, including streaming platforms, have moved in a similar direction.

The new parent code is a response to user concerns about children having access to the adult platform following the introduction of integrated profiles on TVs.

"We hope this change gives you added comfort in knowing kids cannot use accounts and features on your smart TV that aren’t meant for them," the company wrote, "while also making recommendations in your profile more relevant to your interests rather than what you previously watched together as a family."

On Dec. 16th, get up to 50% off on Govee smart lights and smart bulbs at Amazon.

The appeal of Govee is simple, these smart lights provide endless color variations. Simply replacing a couple of bulbs in your room could entirely change the feel of your apartment, allowing you to sculpt variation of hues. However, Govee’s selection of lights goes far beyond smart bulbs. Govee also offers outdoor rope lights that snake color through your yard, floor lamps, Christmas tree strands, and customizable LED panels.

Just ahead of the holidays, Govee is throwing down with a massive sale across their products on Amazon. Shop the sale to find Prime-member coupons hitting up to 50% off, overall price cuts, and more. Since the sale is on Amazon, if you shop now, you’ll still be able to get these before holiday go-time. Here are our favorites:

The best outdoor light deal Opens in a new window Credit: Govee Govee Outdoor Neon Rope Lights $120.00 at Amazon
$199.99 Save $79.99 Get 40% off with on-page coupon Get Deal Why we like it

Snaking along the side of your walk, winding through the limbs of a crepe myrtle tree, or outlining the eaves of your home, Govee Outdoor Neon Rope Lights provide premium outdoor lighting that's fully customizable and weatherproof enough to survive the elements.

At 32.8 feet, this rope light has enough length to highlight roof lines on the entire front façade of a home, or line two sides of a walk. An IP67 ingress protection rating certifies that it's weatherproof enough to withstand rain and sand. A perfect something special to throw into the mix with your Christmas lights, now is a fantastic time to spring for Govee Neon Rope Lights. Order now and sign in to your Prime account to take advantage of the on-page coupon and get 40% off.

The best smart bulb deal Opens in a new window Credit: Govee Govee Smart Light Bulbs $24.99 at Amazon
$34.99 Save $10.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Govee's smart light bulbs screw into regular light sockets then connect to the Govee app to revolutionize what your lamp can be. With a vast array of colors, temperatures, and brightness levels, a few bulbs will paint your space in color. Set one bulb to a warm orange and another to a cool purple, or simply tune your bulbs to your ideal temperature of white.

I switched to Govee Smart Light Bulbs this summer, and while I mostly keep them set to my preferred warm off-white settings, they've drastically improved the feel of my room. When I want to watch a show, I open the app and tap my preset for dim orange. On an especially bright morning, I might switch one lamp to a pale pink to create the feeling of a spring dawn.

Whatever your color preference, Govee smart bulbs will oblige. At 29% off, this four pack is terrific value.

The best wall light deal Opens in a new window Credit: Govee Govee Glide Wall Lights $49.99 at Amazon
$69.99 Save $20.00 Get $20 off with on-page coupon Get Deal Why we like it

Whether you want to add strips of light over your doors, or you'd like to offset the TV with a geometric pattern, the Govee Glide Wall Lights are designed to make it happen. This pack comes with six lights calibrated to attach one to the next, that will create two light panels.

Millions of colors adapt to different scene settings and even sync to your musical selections to create a pulsing multimedia vibe. Order the Govee Glide Wall Lights now and take advantage of a $20 on-page coupon.

More Govee smart light deals

Govee Icicle Lights — $69.99 $139.99 (save 50%)

Govee Envisual TV LED Backlight T2 with Dual Cameras — $89.99 $139.99 (save 36%)

Govee Smart Outdoor String Lights H7021 — $57.99 $99.99 (save 42%)

Recently, I saw a reader comment that they're not going to bother learning a new Excel function because Copilot can do the work for them. This made me wonder, "Do we still need Excel skills in today's AI world?" After some thought, the answer was a resounding "YES!" Here's why.

From working in construction to helping labour shortages and performing surgeries, robots have been keeping busy this year. In no particular order, here are the mechanical creatures that impressed, excited and, well, freaked us out a little, in 2024.