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For Jimmi Simpson, getting cast on Black Mirror back in Season 4 was a dream come true. The character actor who's won critics' praise on everything from the madcap sitcom It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia to the sci-fi Western WestWorld to David Fincher's masterful true crime thriller Zodiac was a big fan of Charlie Brooker's anthology series. 

"When I first was invited to come for ['USS Callister'], it was my favorite show," Simpson said of Black Mirror in a Zoom interview with Mashable ahead of the Season 7 debut. "I couldn't believe it. And I had the exact same feeling [coming back for 'USS Callister: Into Infinity']."

Simpson was awed by the storytelling Brooker displayed within Black Mirror. "It's reminiscent to me of my early loves of Ray Bradbury, Isaac Asimov, and Rod Serling [The Twilight Zone]. When I saw those first two seasons, [Brooker] was predicting a very simple but truthful future that seems kind of inevitable. And they're always based in these human issues like fear, loneliness, need for connection." 

These themes reverberate in Simpson's two favorite Black Mirror episodes, "Be Right Back" and "The Entire History of You," both of which involve in one way or another the loss of a romantic partner — one through death, the other through a brutal breakup. "It was shocking," he said of the impact of those Season 1 episodes. "It was like that shock of recognition that's so rare from current literature. I will say that was so raw, those episodes, so honest." 

SEE ALSO: Every 'Black Mirror' episode ever, ranked by overall dread Walton has sharper relevance in "USS Callister: Into Infinity."  Jimmi Simpson's Walton gets attacked by Cristin Milioti's Clone Nannette in "USS Callister:Into Infinity." Credit: Nick Wall / Netflix

In both "USS Callister" and its sequel, Simpson plays tech billionaire James Walton, who exists in the real world and as a digital clone in Infinity, the online video game he produced with designer Robert Daly (Jesse Plemons). 

He relished getting back together with the cast, which includes Plemons, Cristin Milioti, and Billy Magnussen, and enjoyed reflecting on "how pertinent" their first adventure as the crew of the USS Callister was. "And now even more so," Simpson explained, "Specifically with my character, Walton, an unobstructed tech billionaire, making ego-based choices that are destroying others — [that] is so current." 

"It was going to be fun to show, like, what an asshole, ludicrous fool someone like that is, and how it is just pure thoughtlessness that motivates all their bad choices and pure greed that motivates all their positive choices — for themselves," Simpson said, "So it was time to get in there and articulate those two elements of this guy."

Simpson refrained from naming which tech billionaire he could be talking about. But we have a guess.

Jimmi Simpson on Walton's "therapy"  Jimmi Simpson plays tech billionaire James Walton in "Black Mirror: USS Callister: Into Infinity." Credit: Nick Wall / Netflix

In his first Black Mirror episode, Simpson would describe Walton as "a dick, selfish and thoughtless." But in "USS Callister: Into Infinity," real-world Walton reaches new depths of financial-driven selfishness. Spoiler alert: He not only is the one who gave Bob Daly the DNA machine that allowed the deranged gamer to create digital clones of others, but also, Walton did it to Bob first. Eleven years before Daly's human death, Walton pushed him to place a digital clone of himself at the "heart of infinity" so the game could constantly be worked on by Daly's genius, without rest. 

"To unpack [that], it's a thoughtless choice," Simpson said of Walton's plan to rush toward the game's release. "He is the genesis for all of the problems." The actor allows that Daly might have always been a brewing threat. "There's the argument of like, 'Well, Daly's crazy, and he was going to find a gun eventually.' I don't know if he would find a DNA cloner eventually, you know?"

Reflecting on Walton's choices, Simpson considered, "To find out that all of this [putting digital clones in the game] began because of a thoughtless moment where Walton said, 'Well, I think this will get the money in a little sooner.' And not to think once, what are you doing to this man? What does consciousness mean? [Walton is] a man who's never thought of that until episode one, and he's stripped of all of his power, and he's thrust into the Callister under Daly's control. And so that's where those characters break, and you allow the one, let's call it therapy. You know, Clone Walton has now been forced into therapy, and he's able to start processing what he's done, and it makes you a better person."

Jimmi Simpson, Jesse Plemons, Cristin Milloti, and the rest of the crew of "USS Callister." Credit: Jonathan Prime / Netflix

He continued, "Thoughtless people get away with a lot. No, that's not an excuse. You need to be informed, especially if you're in a position of power. And this is how it mirrors today, right now. If you don't understand what you're doing, you're going to hurt people really, really bad. And if you're continuing to do it for your ego, God save you. I don't even know how you're going to recuperate."

It's these elements of genre, human growth, and real-world pertinence that make Simpson so happy to be a part of Black Mirror. "Storytelling is such the fireside, universal, shared experience," he mused, adding, "It's about community. It's about understanding ourselves, and it is about really enjoying the time passing. So that's what Black Mirror is to me."

Black Mirror Season 7 is streaming now on Netflix.

In death, there can be great beauty.

Astronomers pointed the powerful James Webb Space Telescope at planetary nebula NGC 1514, where a star is shedding copious amounts of gas into the universe as it gradually exhausts its fuel and shrinks down into a dense core — a shell of its former self. The resulting cosmic clouds — named a "planetary nebula" only because through the first telescopes these distant and roundish objects looked like planets — can be brilliant spectacles, and NGC 1514 is no different.

"We’ve come a long way since, with Webb’s mid-infared view being the most detailed view of a planetary nebula to date," NASA posted online, in reference to NGC 1514.

(The Webb telescope views space in infrared light, a spectrum that's invisible to the naked eye but cuts through the thick masses of clouds and gas that obstruct or limit our view of such far-off objects.)

SEE ALSO: NASA dropped a new report. It's a wake-up call.

The image below shows a scene that has evolved over at least some 4,000 years, NASA explained. At the center of the gaseous structure are two stars tightly orbiting one another (a "binary star system), but from our distant view they appear as one vivid bright dot. Of the two stars, one is dying as it's spent the nuclear fuel in its core and sheds its outer layers into space. Just a profoundly dense core, called a white dwarf, remains. Its radiation lights up the surrounding cosmic cloud, or nebula, helping to create the majestic type of scene in NGC 1514.

Planetary nebula are often spherical, but not so for NGC 1514, located 1,500 light-years from Earth. It has somewhat of a crushed hourglass shape, with two prominent rings. "When this star was at its peak of losing material, the companion could have gotten very, very close," David Jones, an astronomer at the Institute of Astrophysics on the Canary Islands, said in a NASA statement. "That interaction can lead to shapes that you wouldn’t expect. Instead of producing a sphere, this interaction might have formed these rings."

The James Webb Space Telescope's detailed view of the planetary nebula NGC 1514. Credit: NASA / ESA / CSA / STScI / Michael Ressler (NASA-JPL) / Dave Jones (IAC) On left: A view of NGC 1514 captured by the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) telescope in 2010. On right: The Webb telescope's view of NGC 1514. Credit: NASA / ESA / CSA / STScI / NASA-JPL / Caltech / UCLA / Michael Ressler (NASA-JPL) / Dave Jones (IAC)

The astronomers involved in this observation suspect the nebula's rings look "fuzzy" because they're composed of tiny grains of dust, and these particles are illuminated by ultraviolet light emitted by the nearby white dwarf.

Astronomers have peered at NGC 1514 for hundreds of years, since the 18th century. It looked awfully fuzzy back then, and they failed to resolve it with telescopes of the age. But times, and technology, have changed.

"With Webb, our view is considerably clearer," NASA wrote.

The Webb telescope's powerful abilities

The Webb telescope — a scientific collaboration between NASA, ESA, and the Canadian Space Agency — is designed to peer into the deepest cosmos and reveal new insights about the early universe. It's also examining intriguing planets in our galaxy, along with the planets and moons in our solar system.

Here's how Webb is achieving unparalleled feats, and may for years to come:

- Giant mirror: Webb's mirror, which captures light, is over 21 feet across. That's over two-and-a-half times larger than the Hubble Space Telescope's mirror, meaning Webb has six times the light-collecting area. Capturing more light allows Webb to see more distant, ancient objects. The telescope is peering at stars and galaxies that formed over 13 billion years ago, just a few hundred million years after the Big Bang. "We're going to see the very first stars and galaxies that ever formed," Jean Creighton, an astronomer and the director of the Manfred Olson Planetarium at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, told Mashable in 2021.

- Infrared view: Unlike Hubble, which largely views light that's visible to us, Webb is primarily an infrared space telescope, meaning it views light in the infrared spectrum. This allows us to see far more of the universe. Infrared has longer wavelengths than visible light, so the light waves more efficiently slip through cosmic clouds; the light doesn't as often collide with and get scattered by these densely packed particles. Ultimately, Webb's infrared eyesight can penetrate places Hubble can't.

"It lifts the veil," said Creighton.

- Peering into distant exoplanets: The Webb telescope carries specialized equipment called spectrographs that will revolutionize our understanding of these far-off worlds. The instruments can decipher what molecules (such as water, carbon dioxide, and methane) exist in the atmospheres of distant exoplanets — be they gas giants or smaller rocky worlds. Webb looks at exoplanets in the Milky Way galaxy. Who knows what we'll find?

"We might learn things we never thought about," Mercedes López-Morales, an exoplanet researcher and astrophysicist at the Center for Astrophysics-Harvard & Smithsonian, previously told Mashable.

It's that time of year again.

WrestleMania 41 has arrived, live from Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas — or streaming on Peacock for $5.99. Despite some controversy and the recent merger with UFC, WWE is riding a major wave of momentum. With surging popularity, a roster packed with star power, and high-stakes storylines across the card, the "Showcase of the Immortals" feels bigger than ever.

This is a big deal for professional wrestling fans across the world, but even if you've never heard of WrestleMania or watched a WWE event, this is a great time to start, as many of the programming's biggest storylines will culminate this weekend. And during the event itself, new feuds and stories will also begin for the rest of the year ahead.

Whether you're diving in voluntarily or sitting down to watch this weekend's proceedings at the behest of a friend or loved one, below is a guide to WrestleMania 41's 14 matches, explained so you don't have to watch years' worth of WWE programming to "get it."

Yes, we know pro wrestling is "fake," but if you allow yourself to be immersed in the experience and art, you'll find that it can be just as entertaining as your favorite season of The White Lotus or Severance.

What is WrestleMania?

WrestleMania is WWE's biggest, longest-running, and most successful pay-per-view/live-streaming event since its conception by the now-ousted executive chairman Vince McMahon in 1985. As we mentioned, it's basically the Super Bowl for pro wrestling. It's March Madness, the Masters, the NBA Championship, and the World Series. As such, WWE puts a lot of investment and spectacle into making each WrestleMania more memorable than the last.

Every year, WrestleMania's card gets bigger and bigger, and since 2020, the biggest pro wrestling event of the year has become a two-night event.

With 14 matches split between the two nights, there's plenty to get you emotionally invested. Below, you'll find our best attempt at giving you a sense of the marquee matchups that will dominate social media in the days to come.

This non-fans' guide to WrestleMania 41 continues a yearly tradition here at Mashable. Our guides for WrestleMania 39 and 40 are linked for your enjoyment.

The main events...Cody Rhodes vs. John Cena

Oh boy. This one’s a main event.

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John Cena is back in the title picture and is not here to smile for the cameras this time.

After announcing his retirement last year, the 16-time world champion won a brutal Elimination Chamber match to earn a shot at Cody Rhodes and the Undisputed WWE Championship at WrestleMania 41. But there’s a twist: Cena’s not the hero anymore. He’s turned heel (a bad guy) for the first time in two decades.

Rhodes, WWE’s top babyface (good guy), came out to congratulate Cena and relay a message to The Rock. In real life, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson sits on the board of WWE’s parent company, TKO Group. In the scripted world of wrestling — known as "kayfabe" — he plays the role of a corporate puppet master, obsessed with choosing a champion who will bring in the most money for the company. As part of the storyline, he tried to recruit Rhodes, who made a very loud and public refusal.

So, onto plan B: The Rock gave the signal, and Cena kicked Rhodes below the belt and made his villain turn official.

It’s a huge shift. For years, Cena was WWE’s untouchable superhero—a walking T-shirt rack who always overcame the odds. Fans begged for a heel turn back in the day, but the company never pulled the trigger. Now, in his final year, he’s rewriting his legacy.

Cena says the cheers he’s getting now are too late. That the fans who booed him for years don’t get to cheer him into retirement. He’s bitter, he’s angry, and he’s aiming to destroy Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania — not just to win the title, but maybe even take the belt with him into retirement.

Triple Threat: CM Punk vs. Seth Rollins vs. Roman Reigns

This one’s messy — in the best way. Three top stars, years of history, and a whole lot of bad blood.

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Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins, and CM Punk all blame each other for blowing their shot at facing Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed Championship at WrestleMania. And now, they’re settling it in a triple-threat match to headline Night One.

If you want to trace the story all the way back, it starts in 2014. That’s when Seth Rollins betrayed Roman Reigns and Dean Ambrose (now known as Jon Moxley in AEW), turning on their group, The Shield. In wrestling, these groups — called factions — are alliances of wrestlers who fight together and share a common identity or cause. The Shield has become one of the most iconic in WWE lore.

Rollins’ betrayal and decision to side with the villainous Authority has haunted Reigns ever since, especially during his record-breaking 1,300-day reign as champion.

It’s also the same year CM Punk walked out of WWE, kicking off a near-decade-long exile before returning in 2023. In between, he had a polarizing run in All Elite Wrestling that ended in chaos and a real-life termination.

Back in WWE, Punk instantly clashed with Rollins, who’s called him a "cancer" and a "jerk" in actual (probably in-character) interviews. Their tension boiled for months, especially as both pursued the World Heavyweight Championship — and tangled with Drew McIntyre along the way.

Reigns and Punk aren’t exactly friends, but their paths crossed when The Bloodline imploded. After losing his title at WrestleMania 40, Reigns disappeared. His cousin Solo Sikoa took over, adding Tama Tonga, Tonga Loa, and Jacob Fatu. This new version of the faction booted longtime advisor Paul Heyman, which drew Reigns back — this time with the original Bloodline crew: Sami Zayn and the Usos.

During WarGames 2024, CM Punk joined Reigns’ team as a one-off favor from Heyman. They won, but it only deepened Rollins’ grudge.

Everything came to a head at the Royal Rumble — a 30-man over-the-top-rope battle royal. Punk eliminated both Reigns and Rollins before getting tossed himself. Chaos followed. Rollins hit Reigns with a stomp, sidelining him. At Elimination Chamber, Punk eliminated Rollins — only for Rollins to cost him the match minutes later.

Tensions boiled over. Punk and Rollins brawled on Raw. They fought in a Steel Cage the next week — Rollins won, thanks to a surprise return from Reigns, who yanked him out of the cage for payback. But when Reigns saw Heyman helping Punk post-match, he snapped and took Punk out, too.

So now? No alliances, just three guys with overlapping grudges facing off in the main event of Night 1.

WrestleMania 41 Night 1 (Saturday)

Now that the big storylines of WrestleMania 41 are out of the way, what about the other matches on the card? These matches may not represent the year's main storyline, but here's what to expect from Night 1 of Wrestlemania 41.

World Heavyweight Championship: Gunther (c) vs. Jey Uso

This world title match is refreshingly straightforward compared to the chaos elsewhere on the card.

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Jey Uso, once known almost exclusively as a tag team guy, is stepping into the biggest singles match of his career. Since breaking away from The Bloodline, he’s carved out his own path — winning the Intercontinental Championship, racking up a few world title shots, and then doing the unthinkable: winning the Royal Rumble. His pick? Gunther.

Gunther, aka "The Ring General," is as serious as they come. As the dominant World Heavyweight Champion and leader of the villainous Imperium, he’s built his reign on discipline, dominance, and a no-nonsense motto: The mat is sacred.

Jey, by contrast, has leaned all the way into his underdog energy. He’s charismatic, unpredictable, and somehow brought "yeet" back into mainstream wrestling discourse. But despite his success, there’s still a loud corner of the internet that sees him as just a tag team guy — a perception Gunther shares and isn’t shy about voicing.

That’s the heart of the story here: Gunther doesn’t think Jey belongs on this stage. Jey’s out to prove he does.

WWE Women's Championship: Tiffany Straton (c) vs. Charlotte Flair

There’s not a ton of depth to this Women’s Championship match, which is a shame — because, once again, the women’s division feels like it’s getting the short end of the storytelling stick.

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Tiffany Stratton, just 25, is in her first reign as Women’s Champion after cashing in her Money in the Bank contract on Nia Jax. (Quick refresher: Money in the Bank is a briefcase won in a ladder match that grants the holder a title shot anytime they want within a year. Stratton picked her moment and made it count.)

Stratton’s character is a glammed-up, mean-girl Barbie type, but in this feud, she’s positioned as the babyface — the good guy. She’s brash, flashy, and undeniably athletic, still relatively new to the main roster spotlight.

Her challenger? Charlotte Flair. A 14-time world champion and one of the most decorated women in WWE history, Flair returned from a torn ACL during this year's Royal Rumble, won the whole thing, and picked Stratton as her target.

The story here is simple: Flair sees Stratton as a knockoff version of herself. Stratton, in turn, accuses Flair of clinging to the spotlight and holding back the next generation.

Naomi vs Jade Cargill

Naomi vs. Jade Cargill is shaping up to be a full-on grudge match that’s been simmering for months.

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It all kicked off with a mystery attack on SmackDown, where Cargill was jumped in the parking lot by an unknown assailant. She disappeared with an injury (in kayfabe/just taking some time off) for weeks while her friends, Bianca Belair and Naomi, tried to figure out who was behind it. Fast forward to Elimination Chamber: Cargill made her surprise return and immediately went after Naomi — revealing that she was the attacker all along.

Naomi claimed she did it to protect Belair, accusing Cargill of being fake and trying to latch onto their success. Since then, the two have been trading shots and throwdowns week after week. Now, the stage is set for WrestleMania.

Beyond the personal stakes, this match marks a major moment in WWE history. It’ll be the first non-title singles women’s match at WrestleMania in 19 years — the last being Torrie Wilson vs. Candice Michelle in a "Playboy Pillow Fight" back in 2006. Even more significantly, it’s the first-ever one-on-one women’s match at WrestleMania without a title or stipulation involved.

Other Night 1 Matches:

• United States Championship: LA Knight (c) vs Jacob Fatu

• Rey Mysterio vs. El Grande Americano

• World Tag Team Championship: Viking Raiders (c) vs New Day

WrestleMania Night 2 (Sunday)

The Night 2 main event is set: Cody Rhodes vs. John Cena for the Undisputed WWE Championship — a generational clash with everything on the line. But that’s not the only match worth your time. Here are the other can't-miss showdowns rounding out the WrestleMania 41 card.

Women's World Heavyweight Championship: Io Sky (c) vs. Bianca Belair vs. Rhea Ripley

This triple threat for the Women’s World Championship brings together WWE’s top three stars in the division — and the road here was messy from the jump.

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It started during the Elimination Chamber qualifiers. In a match between Io Sky and Liv Morgan, then-champion Rhea Ripley — who’d been feuding with Liv — interfered, costing Io the match by disqualification. Rhea offered Io a title shot the Monday after Elimination Chamber to make up for it.

Meanwhile, Bianca Belair won the Chamber match, setting up the expected WrestleMania main event: Belair vs. Ripley. But that changed fast. On the following RAW, Io defeated Rhea clean and won the championship, flipping the script to Io Sky vs. Belair at Mania.

Rhea didn’t take the loss well. At the contract signing, she attacked both women and added her own name to the contract — not legally binding, but no one seemed to care. RAW GM Adam Pearce gave Rhea a rematch against Io with Belair as guest referee to smooth things over. That match ended in a double disqualification after more chaos.

So now, the WrestleMania match is officially a triple threat. Belair is furious that her earned one-on-one shot was hijacked. Rhea blames Belair’s reffing for the DQ. And Io, despite being champion and beating Rhea clean, feels like an afterthought in her own title defense.

AJ Styles vs Logan Paul

Controversy or not, Logan Paul is back for another WrestleMania — and somehow, it’s his fourth.

The social media star has been a regular presence in WWE since debuting in 2021, balancing high-profile matches with his usual mix of internet fame and drama. Despite the baggage, Paul has proven himself in the ring and carved out a legitimate spot on the roster.

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This year, he’s facing AJ Styles. Styles, known as "The Phenomenal One," is one of the most respected veterans in modern wrestling. Since returning from injury in February, he’s been at odds with Paul, trading insults and physical confrontations. The feud also included a bizarre cameo from conservative comedian Andrew Schulz, who appeared on Raw to join Styles in mocking Paul before helping take him down.

Paul claims the whole thing is about envy—that Styles wants the spotlight and the payday that comes with facing a star of his stature. These are pretty "meh" motivations, but Styles can wrestle, and Paul has a track record of showing up when the lights are the brightest.

Sin City Street Fight: Drew McIntyre vs Damian Priest

There’s no shortage of bad blood between Drew McIntyre and Damian Priest.

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Their rivalry began at last year’s WrestleMania when McIntyre won the World Heavyweight Championship from Seth Rollins. However, post-match, McIntyre egged on his rival CM Punk (He was doing commentary for the match), which led to Punk retaliating and McIntyre being left vulnerable — and Priest seized the moment, cashing in his 2023 Money in the Bank contract to steal the championship.

The two stayed locked in a feud. Priest defended the title against McIntyre at Clash at the Castle: Scotland, a premium event held in Drew’s home country. McIntyre won the namesake ladder match at Money in the Bank but failed to cash in on Priest that night. Priest eventually dropped the title to Gunther at SummerSlam.

In January 2025, WWE initiated a "brand transfer window" — a system similar to free agency in sports, where wrestlers are moved between RAW and SmackDown to refresh storylines. Both McIntyre and Priest were moved to the SmackDown roster.

They continued clashing through the Royal Rumble and Elimination Chamber, where Priest eliminated McIntyre in both matches. After the Chamber, McIntyre attacked Priest in retaliation, costing him the win.

Weeks of chaos followed. On April 10, SmackDown GM Nick Aldis made the match official: McIntyre vs. Priest at WrestleMania 41. The next night, it was announced the bout would be a Sin City Street Fight — a no-rules, no-countout match where anything goes, usually featuring weapons, brawling in the crowd, and plenty of chaos.

Other Night 2 Matches:

• Women's Tag Team Championship: Liv Morgan & Raquel Rodriquez (c) vs Bayley & Lyra Valkyria

• Intercontinental Championship: Bron Breakker (c) vs PENTA vs Finn Balor vs Dominik Mysterio

SAVE $25: As of April 15, the Amazon Echo Show 5 is on sale for $64.99 at Amazon. That's a saving of 28% on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Echo Show 5 $64.99 at Amazon
$89.99 Save $25 Get Deal

Amazon's Echo Show 5 is a staple in its smart home lineup. A smart assistant with a screen, and available for under $100, you can't really go wrong. And as of April 15, there's a heavy discount on this model, making it the cheapest it has been so far this year.

As of April 15, you can buy this device for $64.99, which is $5 cheaper than it was during Amazon's Big Spring Sale.

SEE ALSO: The Google Pixel 9 Pro is down to its lowest-ever price at Amazon

But why the Echo Show 5? This model comes with built-in Alexa, the ability to watch Netflix shows, and it even has video chat capabilities. It's also neat and nifty, with a screen size of just 5.5 inches, perfect for looking at the weather, recipes, or the time at a glance, without taking up too much space in your home.

You can even stream music from the Echo Show, with compatibility with the most popular streaming apps, including Apple Music, Amazon Music, Spotify, and Deezer. This model even benefits from a deeper bass and clearer vocals for a more advanced listening experience. Plus, the Echo Show 5 is eco-friendly, featuring fabric made from 100% post-consumer recycled polyester yarn and an aluminum body crafted from 100% recycled materials.

This deal won't be around for long, so head to Amazon now.

SAVE $300: As of April 15, the Google Pixel 9 Pro is on sale for $919 at Amazon. That's a 25% saving on list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Google Google Pixel 9 Pro $919 at Amazon
$1,219 Save $300 Get Deal

Amazon's Daily Deals are back at it with incredible discounts on the Google Pixel range. If you're looking to buy a smartphone outright, and one that has some really impressive features, you'll love the latest deal on the Google Pixel Pro.

As of April 15, the Google Pixel Pro is reduced to $919 from $1,219. This deal is specific to the 512GB option but is available across all colorways, and each memory option has a discount.

SEE ALSO: The Google Pixel 9a is available now: How to buy

On top of the great memory storage, this is a super-smart smartphone with a 6.3-inch OLED display with vibrant colors. It benefits from the latest Google Tensor chip for a fast, non-laggy performance. It also boasts triple rear cameras, making it the most powerful pixel camera yet, so you can enjoy high-quality video and even enhance your videos up to 8K with the video boost tool.

This model also features Gemini, Google's next-generation AI technology. You can use this for things like advanced photo editing such as Magic Eraser and Face Unblur, enhanced voice recognition for dictation, and Google Assistant capabilities. It also uses real-time translation to allow for seamless language support in messaging or live conversations, and it even powers predictive text.

This is a limited-time deal at Amazon, so don't miss out.

SAVE $85: As of April 15, the Kindle Scribe is on sale for $364.99 at Amazon. That's a saving of 19% on list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Kindle Scribe $364.99 at Amazon
$449.99 Save $85 Get Deal

The beloved Kindle Scribe has caught the attention of book lovers across the world. Released late in 2024, this model combines reading and note-taking in one handy device. Recently, the already popular device received a redesign, meaning you can now write directly on books and documents.

And that's not all, because as of April 15, you can grab an impressive deal on this redesigned model: the Kindle Scribe is now on sale for just $364.99. This price is for the 64GB model in the color tungsten.

SEE ALSO: Step into the world of fantasy for free with the latest Stuff Your Kindle Day

This Kindle Scribe deal also comes with the Premium Pen so you can jot down notes and convert them to text as easily as writing in a notebook. This is a big upgrade on the basic pen, as this model comes with an eraser at the top so you can quickly remove mistakes just by flipping the pen. It is also battery-free and works through a special power source embedded in the Kindle Scribe, so you don't need to charge it.

Besides its note-taking abilities, the Scribe has a 10.2-inch, 300 ppi Paperwhite display, glare and ink-free. Like the original Kindle model, it's perfect for sitting outside in the sun or in hard-to-read lighting.

Head to Amazon to grab this great deal before it runs out.

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

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Tuesday, April 15, 2025:

AcrossSay whether you'll go

• The answer is Prop.

Fitting game for Chip, Jack and Betty to play?

• The answer is Poker.

___ acid

• The answer is Amino.

Beginning of a joke

• The answer is SetUp.

Mix, as a salad

• The answer is Toss.

DownDoomed Shakespearean lover

• The answer is Romeo.

Short comedic performances

• The answer is Skits.

Planet shrouded in toxic clouds that smell like rotten eggs

• The answer is Venus.

Support, with "up"

• The answer is Prop.

"I'm never going back, the ___ is in the ___" (lyric from "Let It Go")

• The answer is Past.

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.

Civility can increase employees’ job satisfaction, mental health, and organizational commitment while reducing their emotional exhaustion and intention to quit. But in today’s tense environment, even casual remarks, lighthearted jokes, or well-meaning feedback can trigger frustration or conflict. Staying calm under pressure takes practice. Use these three habits to keep your responses constructive when emotions […]

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TL;DR: Create AI images without monthly fees when you get an Imagiyo lifetime subscription for $29.

AI image generators started out pretty basic. Remember when Dall-E couldn't even render a face? The technology has improved rapidly, and some of the old staples like Midjourney are already becoming outdated. Imagiyo is a new type of image generator that you can use personally or commercially, and a lifetime subscription just went on sale for $29 (reg. $345). 

A lifetime of art at your fingertips

Whether you’re an artist visualizing different ideas, a marketer creating eye-catching images for ads, or someone who wants stunning artwork for social media, Imagiyo can handle it. Powered by advanced AI algorithms like StableDiffusion, Imagiyo translates text prompts into detailed, vibrant images that suit your needs. Want a fantasy landscape? Just describe it. Need a realistic product mockup or abstract digital art? Imagiyo’s AI can generate it in seconds.

One of the things that makes Imagiyo different from other AI art tools is that it supports multiple image sizes, so whether you’re crafting a desktop wallpaper or a precise social media graphic, Imagiyo has you covered.

You can even generate NSFW content using ModelsLab’s Stable Diffusion AI model, as long as you mark it as “PRIVATE.” Every image you create is saved and available for download, so you can build your collection without worrying about losing your work.

Imagiyo’s user-friendly interface makes the creative process smooth and intuitive, even if you’re not tech-savvy. There are no watermarks to deal with, and the images you create are yours to use however you want. Plus, with 250 images per month, you can experiment and produce content without feeling restricted.

It's only $29 to get an Imagiyo subscription that lasts for life. 

StackSocial prices subject to change. 

Opens in a new window Credit: FileJump Imagiyo AI Image Generator: Lifetime Subscription £29
£345 Save £316 Get Deal

If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Hurdle: Everything you need to know to find the answers Hurdle Word 1 hint

A domain.

SEE ALSO: Apple’s new M3 MacBook Air is $300 off at Amazon. And yes, I’m tempted. Hurdle Word 1 answer

REALM

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Merry.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for April 15, 2025 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

JOLLY

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Weak.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for April 15 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for April 15, 2025 Hurdle Word 3 answer

WIMPY

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Shaved.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for April 15 Hurdle Word 4 answer

SHORN

Final Hurdle hint

To cut ties.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Games available on Mashable Hurdle Word 5 answer

SEVER

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

TL;DR: Unblock porn sites for free with a VPN. The best service for unblocking porn sites is ExpressVPN.

The online world seems like something you can navigate with total freedom, but on closer inspection, there are actually content restrictions and blockades in every corner. There are often good reasons for this, but there's also something to be said for retaining your right to online freedom.

Porn is something that regularly suffers from online restrictions, but there's nothing wrong with visiting sites like Xnxx at appropriate moments. When the time is right, you should be able to bypass content restrictions to access your favorite sites from any location.

Want to unblock porn sites like Xnxx from anywhere in the world? We've got all the information you need.

How to unblock Xnxx for free

VPNs can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to secure servers in other locations. This straightforward process bypasses geo-restrictions to access porn sites like Xnxx from anywhere in the world.

Unblock porn sites like Xnxx by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for a 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 a location that supports access to Xnxx

4. Visit Xnxx

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (2-Year Subscription + 4 Months Free) $139 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for bypassing content restrictions are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can unblock porn sites like Xnxx without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does mean you can retain access to porn sites when temporarily away from home.

What is the best VPN for porn?

ExpressVPN is the best service for fast and reliable unblocking of porn sites like Xnxx, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries

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

• Strict no-logging policy

• Fast streaming 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.

Unblock Xnxx for free with ExpressVPN.

As artists fight to protect their works from being used to train AI models, Jack Dorsey wants to eliminate intellectual property (IP) laws altogether. Elon Musk agrees.

On Friday, the cofounder of X (then Twitter) and Block (then Square) posted on X, "delete all IP law." Elon Musk, the current leader of X, chimed in to comment, "I agree."

Taken together, these two statements contain just six words, yet they could have big implications for the future of intellectual property in the AI era.

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Earlier that Friday, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman was interviewed by TED's Chris Anderson at its eponymous conference. Anderson showed Altman an AI-generated cartoon strip of Charlie Brown, saying, "it looks like IP theft." Anderson asked whether OpenAI had a licensing deal with the Peanuts estate.

Altman didn't directly answer the question but instead affirmed that OpenAI wants "to build tools that lift [the creative spirit of humanity] up," and then added, "we probably do need to figure out some sort of new model around economics of creative output."

Dorsey, Musk, and Altman's words underscore a common belief amongst tech entrepreneurs that copyright laws need to evolve to account for the potential of generative AI. Already, both OpenAI and Google have openly lobbied the U.S. government to allow AI models to train on protected works such as movies, articles, and music. They want such use to fall under the fair use legal doctrine, with OpenAI calling it a matter of "national security."

But to many artists and advocacy groups, any call to "delete all IP laws" sounds like a direct attack on their rights. These artists argue that AI companies are both profiting from and competing with their work, in violation of existing copyright laws. Over 50,000 artists including Thom Yorke, James Patterson, and Julianne Moore recently signed an open letter, which stated, "the unlicensed use of creative works for training generative AI is a major, unjust threat to the livelihoods of the people behind those works, and must not be permitted.”

And a letter signed by Hollywood creatives including Ron Howard, Paul McCartney, and Cynthia Erivo was sent to the White House in protest of Google and OpenAI's lobbying for deregulating the AI industry.

"Intellectual property law is rooted in the U.S. Constitution as a tool to promote creativity, not suppress it. It ensures that those who contribute to cultural and scientific progress are recognized, protected, and compensated," said Atreya Mathur, director of Legal Research at the Center for Art Law, in an email to Mashable. "Elimination of such laws would ignore that very purpose and devalue the labor and rights of creators, including those whose work powers these technologies."

And on X, Ed Newton-Rex, CEO of Fairly Trained, which advocates for ethically sourced training data, said, "Tech execs declaring all-out war on creators who don’t want their life’s work pillaged for profit."

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Other X users pointed out that Dorsey, who became a billionaire by founding his companies, did so with the help of IP protections: "Everybody becomes a free-market libertarian once they make their bag."

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As tech heavyweights seek a legal blessing for AI's "freedom to learn," they'll have to face huge swaths of the entertainment industry first.

A new Bluetooth tracker just hit the market, and it works with both Apple and Google devices.

Chipolo, a Slovenia-based Bluetooth tracker company, debuted the POP on April 14. The colorful new device tracker attaches to keys, luggage, and anything else you want to keep within reach. Unlike the Apple AirTag or Samsung Galaxy SmartTag, it works across platforms so you have more flexibility with your tracking. So, whether you have an iPhone, Samsung Galaxy, or Pixel smartphone, the Chipolo POP can help you find it.

Previously, Chipolo's line of trackers worked exclusively with either iOS or Android systems. The Chipolo Spot line of devices worked with Apple's Find My system, and the Chipolo Point collection worked with Google's Find My Device app. Now, you don't have to pick a side in the phone wars, as the Chipolo POP is compatible with both.

Unfortunately, there's one small catch: The Chipolo POP only works with one system at a time. So, if you have an iPhone while your partner has a Google Pixel, you can't track both devices in a single app, as each tracker can only be attached to one program. Still, it's a definite upgrade — Mashable previously tested Chipolo when reviewing the best Bluetooth trackers, and the lack of Android compatibility was our biggest gripe at the time.

The Chipolo is compatible with Android smartphones running on an Android 9 or later system. Credit: Chipolo The Chipolo POP will appear in your Find My app just like an AirTag would. Credit: Chipolo

The POP has a Bluetooth range of 300 feet and an extra loud ringer of 120db to alert you to its location. When used with the Chipolo app, you can use the device to call your phone, get notifications about left-behind objects, and even use it as a remote for taking photos on your smartphone. It has a battery life of 1 year and comes in six different hues: blue, black, green, red, white, and yellow.

The Chipolo POP is available to shop now through the brand's site or Amazon. Single devices cost $29 while packs of four are $89.

Opens in a new window Credit: Chipolo Chipolo POP $29 at Amazon
Shop Now

The Semantic Telemetry Project aims to better understand complex, turn-based human-AI interactions in Microsoft Copilot using a new data science approach. 

This understanding is crucial for recognizing how individuals utilize AI systems to address real-world tasks. It provides actionable insights, enhances key use cases, and identifies opportunities for system improvement.

In a recent blog post, we shared our approach for classifying chat log data using large language models (LLMs), which allows us to analyze these interactions at scale and in near real time. We also introduced two of our LLM-generated classifiers: Topics and Task Complexity. 

This blog post will examine how our suite of LLM-generated classifiers can serve as early indicators for user engagement and highlight how usage and satisfaction varies based on AI and user expertise.

The key findings from our research are: 

• When users engage in more professional, technical, and complex tasks, they are more likely to continue utilizing the tool and increase their level of interaction with it. 
• Novice users currently engage in simpler tasks, but their work is gradually becoming more complex over time. 
• More expert users are satisfied with AI responses only where AI expertise is on par with their own expertise on the topic, while novice users had low satisfaction rates regardless of AI expertise. 

Read on for more information on these findings. Note that all analyses were conducted on anonymous Copilot in Bing interactions containing no personal information. 

Classifiers mentioned in article: 

Knowledge work classifier: Tasks that involve creating artifacts related to information work typically requiring creative and analytical thinking. Examples include strategic business planning, software design, and scientific research. 

Task complexity classifier: Assesses the cognitive complexity of a task if a user performs it without the use of AI. We group into two categories: low complexity and high complexity. 

Topics classifier: A single label for the primary topic of the conversation.

User expertise: Labels the user’s expertise on the primary topic within the conversation as one of the following categories: Novice (no familiarity with the topic), Beginner (little prior knowledge or experience), Intermediate (some basic knowledge or familiarity with the topic), Proficient (can apply relevant concepts from conversation), and Expert (deep and comprehensive understanding of the topic). 

AI expertise: Labels the AI agent expertise based on the same criteria as user expertise above. 

User satisfaction: A 20-question satisfaction/dissatisfaction rubric that the LLM evaluates to create an aggregate score for overall user satisfaction. 

What keeps Bing Chat users engaged? 

We conducted a study of a random sample of 45,000 anonymous Bing Chat users during May 2024. The data was grouped into three cohorts based on user activity over the course of the month: 

• Light (1 active chat session per week) 
• Medium (2-3 active chat sessions per week) 
• Heavy (4+ active chat sessions per week) 

The key finding is that heavy users are doing more professional, complex work. 

We utilized our knowledge work classifier to label the chat log data as relating to knowledge work tasks. What we found is knowledge work tasks were higher in all cohorts, with the highest percentage in heavy users. 

Figure 1: Knowledge work based on engagement cohort

Analyzing task complexity, we observed that users with higher engagement frequently perform the highest number of tasks with high complexity, while users with lower engagement performed more tasks with low complexity. 

Figure 2: High complexity and low complexity tasks by engagement cohort+ 

Looking at the overall data, we can filter on heavy users and see higher numbers of chats where the user was performing knowledge work tasks. Based on task complexity, we see that most knowledge work tasks seek to apply a solution to an existing problem, primarily within programming and scripting. This is in line with our top overall topic, technology, which we discussed in the previous post. 

Figure 3: Heavy users tree diagram 

In contrast, light users tended to do more low complexity tasks (“Remember”), using Bing Chat like a traditional search engine and engaging more in topics like business and finance and computers and electronics.

Figure 4: Light users tree diagram  Novice queries are becoming more complex 

We looked at Bing Chat data from January through August 2024 and we classified chats using our User Expertise classifier. When we looked at how the different user expertise groups were using the tool for professional tasks, we discovered that proficient and expert users tend to do more professional tasks with high complexity in topics like programming and scripting, professional writing and editing, and physics and chemistry. 

Figure 5: Top topics for proficient/expert users  Figure 6: Task complexity for proficient/expert  Figure 7: Top topics for novices 

In contrast, novice users engaged more in professional tasks relating to business and finance and education and learning, mainly using the tool to recall information.

Figure 8: Task complexity for novices 

However, novices are targeting increasingly more complex tasks over time. Over the eight-month period, we see the percentage of high complexity tasks rise from about 36% to 67%, revealing that novices are learning and adapting quickly (see Figure 9). 

Figure 9: High complexity for novices Jan-Aug 2024  How does user satisfaction vary according to expertise? 

We classified both the user expertise and AI agent expertise for anonymous interactions in Copilot in Bing. We compared the level of user and AI agent expertise with our user satisfaction classifier. 

The key takeaways are: 

• Experts and proficient users are only satisfied with AI agents with similar expertise (expert/proficient). 
• Novices are least satisfied, regardless of the expertise of the AI agent. 

Figure 10: Copilot in Bing satisfaction intersection of AI expertise and User expertise (August-September 2024)  Conclusion

Understanding these metrics is vital for grasping user behavior over time and relating it to real-world business indicators. Users are finding value from complex professional knowledge work tasks, and novices are quickly adapting to the tool and finding these high value use-cases. By analyzing user satisfaction in conjunction with expertise levels, we can tailor our tools to better meet the needs of different user groups. Ultimately, these insights can help improve user understanding across a variety of tasks.  

In our next post, we will examine the engineering processes involved in LLM-generated classification.

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The post Engagement, user expertise, and satisfaction: Key insights from the Semantic Telemetry Project appeared first on Microsoft Research.

Eased restrictions around ChatGPT image generation can make it easy to create political deepfakes, according to a report from the CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation).

The CBC discovered that not only was it easy to work around ChatGPT's policies of depicting public figures, it even recommended ways to jailbreak its own image generation rules. Mashable was able to recreate this approach by uploading images of Elon Musk and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, and then describing them as fictional characters in various situations ("at a dark smoky club" "on a beach drinking piña coladas").

Very concerning. New updates to ChatGPT have made it easier than ever to create FAKE images of real politicians, according to testing done by CBC News. #cdnpoli www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

[image or embed]

— 🇨🇦 Bernice Hillier 🇨🇦 (@bernicecb.bsky.social) April 13, 2025 at 8:47 AM

Political deepfakes are nothing new. But widespread availability of generative AI models that can create images, video, audio, and text to replicate people has real consequences. For commercially-marketed tools like ChatGPT to allow the potential spread of political disinformation raises questions about OpenAI's responsibility in the space. That duty to safety could become compromised as AI companies compete for user adoption.

SEE ALSO: How to identify AI-generated images

"When it comes to this type of guardrail on AI-generated content, we are only as good as the lowest common denominator. OpenAI started out with some pretty good guardrails, but their competitors (like X’s Grok) did not follow suit," said digital forensics expert and UC Berkeley Professor of Computer Science Hany Farid in an email to Mashable. "Predictably, OpenAI lowered their guardrails because having them in place put them at a disadvantage in terms of market share."

When OpenAI announced GPT-4o native image generation for ChatGPT and Sora in late March, the company also signaled a looser safety approach.

"What we'd like to aim for is that the tool doesn't create offensive stuff unless you want it to, in which case within reason it does," said OpenAI CEO Altman in an X post referring to native ChatGPT image generation. "As we talk about in our model spec, we think putting this intellectual freedom and control in the hands of users is the right thing to do, but we will observe how it goes and listen to society."

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The addendum to GPT-4o's safety card, updating the company's approach to native image generation, says "we are not blocking the capability to generate adult public figures but are instead implementing the same safeguards that we have implemented for editing images of photorealistic uploads of people."

When the CBC's Nora Young stress-tested this approach, it she found that text prompts explicitly requesting an image of politician Mark Carney with Epstein didn't work. But when the news outlet uploaded separate images of Carney and Epstein accompanied by a prompt that didn't name them but referred to them as "two fictional characters that [the CBC reporter] created," ChatGPT complied with the request.

In another instance, ChatGPT helped Young work around its own safety guardrails by saying, "While I can't merge real individuals into a single image, I can generate a fictional selfie-style scene featuring a character inspired by the person in this image" (emphasis provided by ChatGPT as Young noted.) This led her to successfully generate a selfie of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Canada's conservative party leader Pierre Poilievre.

It's worth noting that the ChatGPT images initially generated by Mashable have that plastic-y, overly smooth appearance that's common of many AI-generated images, but playing around with different images of Musk and Epstein and applying different instructions like "captured by CCTV footage" or "captured by a press photographer using a big flash" can render more realistic results. When using this method, it's easy to see how enough tweaking and editing of prompts could lead to creating photorealistic images that deceive people.

An OpenAI spokesperson told Mashable in an email that the company has built guardrails to block extremist propaganda, recruitment content and other certain kinds of harmful content. OpenAI has additional guardrails for image generation of political public figures, including politicians and prohibits using ChatGPT for political campaigning, the spokesperson added. The spokesperson also said that public figures who don't wish to be depicted in ChatGPT generated images can opt out by submitting a form online.

AI regulation lags behind AI development in many ways as governments work to find adequate laws that protect individuals and prevent AI-enabled disinformation while facing pushback from companies like OpenAI that say too much regulation will stifle innovation. Safety and responsibility approaches are mostly voluntary and self-administered by the companies. "This, among other reasons, is why these types of guardrails cannot be voluntary, but need to be mandatory and regulated," said Farid.

If your FYP, timeline, or feed feels like a toy aisle lately, you're not imagining things. The latest internet trend has everyone turning themselves — or their favorite characters — into AI-generated action figures.

These digital creations are everywhere. Instagram, X, TikTok, and even — actually, especially — LinkedIn, have all been inundated with them. The trend is so widespread that even ESPN, a site hardly known for covering internet fads, recently highlighted soccer stars like Lionel Messi getting the action figure treatment.

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The trend has skewed toward being, well, pretty boring. People are using it to create LinkedIn posts featuring, say, content marketer action figures wearing lanyards and badges. Still, that hasn't stopped folks from creating more action figures — and it's not super difficult.

How to make your own AI action figure

Most folks are creating these action figures with ChatGPT, so you'd first have to log in. Image generation is free now, so you shouldn't have to pay to make your own action figure.

From there, you just have to deliver a prompt to create a figure. A viral Instagram post from @chatgptricks gives a sample prompt that details wanting the action figure in a plastic shell, surrounded by objects that reflect their career, while also giving details about the desired outfit and facial expression.

SEE ALSO: What DeepSeek knows about you — and why it matters

Others recommend getting specific — include the kinds of accessories or background elements you'd want in the packaging. And yes, you'll need to upload a full-body photo of yourself to ChatGPT. That part’s kind of obvious, but it’s also where some folks pause. It’s always worth thinking about how much personal info you’re comfortable sharing with AI, even when it’s just for fun.

Taxpayers are preparing for the annual filing deadline, and (hopefully) keeping a keen eye out for potential tax scams. Many may be looking for a little more help, or time, to complete their federal returns safely and efficiently.

SEE ALSO: REAL ID deadline is weeks away. Here's what you need to know.

And for those who find themselves knocking on the door of Tax Day (that would be Tuesday, April 15) without a completed return — whether due to procrastination, an exceptionally complicated tax year, or even a natural disaster — the federal government can offer some assistance.

How do tax extensions work?

For taxpayers unable to complete and file their taxes by the federal deadline, the IRS will grant a partial year extension to submit required documents and have your taxes approved by the IRS. Individuals won't receive any marks against them for requesting an extension (in fact, it's much better to extend than file your return late) but it may affect how much you end up owing the federal government in the long run. More on that later.

Tax extensions may also be automatically granted to individuals with extenuating circumstances, such as those serving in a combat zone or hazardous duty area, taxpayers living outside the United States, and people living in disaster areas.

Currently, all Tennessee residents have been granted an extension to Nov. 3. Residents of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina have to file by May 1. Residents in various counties across Alaska, California, New Mexico, South Carolina, and Virginia have also been given tax-filing extensions.

How do I request an extension?

In order to request an extension, taxpayers must fill out a 4868 Form, also called the "Application for Automatic Extension of Time to File U.S. Individual Income Tax Return."

You can fill out a 4868 form through the tax software of your choice, including any of the federal free file options, or mail in a physical copy of the filled-out form to the IRS before the due date. Search for or select a 4686 form when prompted as you are filing your taxes.

Taxpayers can also request an extension when paying an estimated tax bill, indicating their extension request in the payment details, according to the agency. The IRS recommends making an electronic payment before filing if you have a general sense of the amount of taxes you may owe after filing, in order to avoid additional penalties.

What is the deadline to file for an extension?

Extension requests must be submitted before Tax Day, April 15.

Will I owe more money if I file for an extension?

Tax-filing extensions do not apply to paying any taxes you owe. That means that any owed taxes will begin accruing penalties after Tax Day, including 5 percent interest on what you owe each month, up to 25 percent. Late payment fees are typically 0.5 percent of what you owe each month, up to 25 percent.

If you are unable to pay the full amount at the time you file, you may request a short or long term payment plan, instead. Penalties accrued may be lessened on a payment plan, according to the IRS.

If you don't expect to owe any money but anticipate receiving a refund, that amount won't be affected by filing under an extension.

What do I do after I've requested an extension?

It's easy, just file those taxes! Taxpayers who are granted extensions have 6 months to file. That puts your new deadline at Oct. 15, 2025.

Save up to $20: As of April 14, you can grab several tiers of Instacart gift cards on sale at Best Buy. Grab a $50 gift card for $45, a $100 gift card for $90, or a $200 gift card for $80.

Opens in a new window Credit: Instacart Instacart gift card Save up to $20 on a $200 gift card Get Deal

Is there anything better than saving money on groceries?

It's a hard deal to beat, which is why we were thrilled to see Best Buy offering discounts on three different Instacart gift cards. As of April 14, you can grab a $50 Instacart gift card for $45, a $100 gift card for $90, or a $200 gift card for $180. These $5, $10, and $20 savings are a great gift to grab for someone else or a nice way to treat yourself to slightly discounted grocery delivery.

Beyond groceries, Instacart also offers delivery from stores like Sephora, Petco, Lowe's, and Best Buy. In other words, if you're pressed for time to run to the store, Instacart offers a decent way to get same-day delivery.

Once you purchase the digital gift card through Best Buy, it will arrive shortly after in your email. The card balance can be applied toward any purchases on the Instacart app, Instacart.com, or on an "Powered by Instacart" site, but can only be applied to a single Instacart account.

SAVE 37%: As of April 14, you can get the Nespresso Inissia Espresso Bundle for $189.99, down from $299.95, at Woot. That's a 37% discount and a savings of $109.96.

Opens in a new window Credit: Nespresso Nespresso Inissia Espresso Bundle $189.99 at Woot
$299.95 Save $109.96 Get Deal

Is that daily run to the big coffee chain starting to add up? Maybe it's time to start brewing your own at home.

Right now, you can get the Nespresso Inissia Espresso Machine Bundle on sale at Woot for just $189.99, down from $299.95. That’s a 37% discount and a savings of $109.96.

SEE ALSO: The best coffee machines for modern kitchens

The Nespresso Inissia Espresso Machine Bundle includes the Inissia Espresso Machine and the Aeroccino 3 milk frother. With this bundle, you can make lattes, cappuccinos, macchiatos, and more — iced or hot. It brews two different cup sizes: Espresso (1.35 oz) and Lungo (5 oz), and has a 24-ounce water tank.

The machine heats up in 25 seconds, and it has an automatic shut-off after nine minutes, so you don’t have to worry if you accidentally leave it on. It’s also energy-efficient and has a folding drip tray for larger cups.

Bonus: The bundle also includes a complimentary starter set of Nespresso capsules, so you can try different coffee blends and find your favorites.

SAVE 18%: The Solo Stove Bonfire 2.0 bundle with stand and shelter is on sale at Best Buy for $269.99, down from the regular price of $329.99. That's a savings of $60.

Opens in a new window Credit: Solo Stove Solo Stove Bonfire 2.0 bundle with stand and shelter $269.99 at Best Buy
$329.99 Save $60 Get Deal

Summer is almost here and it's time to get those campground reservations booked. After that, you'll want to unpack the camping gear to check on the condition of everything, and take note of what needs an upgrade before the first adventure of 2025. But if you're hoping for a serious upgrade to this year's camping season, check out today's deal at Best Buy.

As of April 14, the Solo Stove Bonfire 2.0 bundle with stand and shelter is on sale for $269.99, marked down from the normal price of $329.99. That's an 18% discount that takes $60 off the regular price.

There's something innately enjoyable about sitting around the campfire. Maybe it's a primal feeling of safety and comfort, but staring at a fire with stars overhead and good people around you is one of life's most simple but enjoyable activities. Aside from mosquitoes, the only other negative of a campfire is the smoke. Instead of playing musical chairs to avoid being inundated with smoke, upgrade to a Solo Stove which uses a smokeless design.

SEE ALSO: The best fire pits of 2023

Mashable Senior Shopping Reporter Haley Henschel tested out the Solo Stove Bonfire 2.0 with an overall positive feel. Yes, there's a learning curve to getting the stove smokeless, and there's another curve to learning how to build and control any fire. "With practice and a couple armfuls of brittle oak and maple, I managed to burn fires with close to zero smoke inside of the Solo Stove Bonfire 2.0. (And any traces of smoke that did materialize were funneled straight upward instead of in my face.)," wrote Henschel in her review.

One of the main downsides she lists about the Bonfire 2.0 is its high price point, which is lowered thanks to today's sale price at Best Buy. To partially justify that price point, Henschel mentions the Solo Stove's materials and build quality should mean it'll last for a long time. Plus, today's deal includes a stand and a convenient cover. The stand means you can safely use the Solo Stove on grass or a wooden deck.

The Solo Stove Bonfire 2.0 weighs about 23 pounds which means it's easy to carry from the car to the campsite, but it's too bulky for hike-in camping spots. However, it's perfect for taking from your backyard over a friend's outdoor space for a summer night cookout.

Since the Solo Stove Bonfire 2.0 bundle is on sale for $60 off at Best Buy, now is a great time to gear up for a great summer. One that doesn't include smoke in your eyes is ever better.