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At a glance

• VLM-based robot planners struggle with long, complex tasks because natural-language plans can be ambiguous, especially when specifying both actions and locations.
• GroundedPlanBench evaluates whether models can plan actions and determine where they should occur across diverse, real-world robot scenarios.
• Video-to-Spatially Grounded Planning (V2GP) is a framework that converts robot demonstration videos into spatially grounded training data, enabling models to learn planning and grounding jointly.
• Grounded planning improves both task success and action accuracy, outperforming decoupled approaches in benchmark and real-world evaluations.

Vision-language models (VLMs) use images and text to plan robot actions, but they still struggle to decide what actions to take and where to take them. Most systems split these decisions into two steps: a VLM generates a plan in natural language, and a separate model translates it into executable actions. This approach often breaks down for long, complex tasks because natural-language plans can be ambiguous or even hallucinated when specifying actions and locations (Figure 1). Because planning and spatial reasoning are handled separately, errors in one stage can propagate to the next. This raises a key question: can a VLM determine both what to do and where to do it simultaneously?

Figure 1. Failures in VLM-based task planners, where ambiguous language leads to non-executable actions. Planning with spatial grounding

To address this problem, we developed GroundedPlanBench (opens in new tab). In our paper, “Spatially Grounded Long-Horizon Task Planning in the Wild,” we describe how this new benchmark evaluates whether VLMs can plan actions and determine where those actions should occur across diverse real-world environments. We also built Video-to-Spatially Grounded Planning (V2GP), a framework that converts robot demonstration videos into training data to help VLMs learn this capability.

Evaluating these with both open- and closed-source VLMs, we found that grounded planning for long, complex tasks is challenging. At the same time, V2GP improves both planning and grounding, with gains validated on our benchmark and in real-world experiments using robots.

How GroundedPlanBench works

To create realistic robot scenarios, we built our benchmark from 308 robot manipulation scenes in the Distributed Robot Interaction Dataset (DROID) (opens in new tab), a large collection of recordings of robots performing tasks. We worked with experts to review each scene and define tasks that a robot could perform. Each task was written in two styles: explicit instructions that clearly describe the actions (e.g., “put a spoon on the white plate”) and implicit instructions that describe the goal more generally (e.g., “tidy up the table”).

For each task, the plan was broken down into four basic actions—grasp, place, open, and close—each tied to a specific location in the image. Grasp, open, and close actions were linked to a box drawn around the target object, while place actions were linked to a box showing where the object should be placed.

Figure 2 illustrates medium- and long-duration tasks, along with their explicit and implicit instructions. In total, GroundedPlanBench contains 1,009 tasks, ranging from 1–4 actions (345 tasks) to 5–8 (381) and 9–26 (283).

Figure 2. Examples of tasks in GroundedPlanBench. How V2GP works

The V2GP framework first detects moments when the robot interacts with objects using the recorded gripper signals. It then generates a text description of the manipulated object with a multimodal language model. Guided by this description, the system tracks the object across the video using Meta’s advanced open-vocabulary image and video segmentation model, SAM3. The system then constructs grounded plans from the tracking results, identifying the object’s location at the moment it is grasped and where it is placed.

This process is illustrated in Figure 3. It yielded 43K grounded plans with varying lengths: 34,646 plans with 1–4 actions, 4,368 with 5–8 actions, and 4,448 with 9–26 actions.

Figure 3. The V2GP framework converts robot videos into spatially grounded plans. Evaluating decoupled versus grounded planning

To evaluate GroundedPlanBench in real-world robotic settings, we used Qwen3-VL (opens in new tab) as our base model. Qwen3-VL is a vision-language model that processes text, images, and video to support multimodal reasoning. It performs well on standard multimodal reasoning benchmarks without additional training. We first evaluated it, along with other proprietary models, on GroundedPlanBench without any task-specific training (Table 1). We then fine-tuned it on V2GP training data and compared it with a decoupled approach, in which planning and grounding are handled separately.

In this setup, a VLM first generated a plan describing what the robot should do. We used GPT-5.2 or Qwen3-VL-4B for this step. The plan was then passed to a spatial grounding model, Embodied-R1 (opens in new tab), which converted the plans into executable signals. Embodied-R1 is a large vision-language model trained for embodied reasoning and pointing, where the model identifies specific locations in the image to guide the robot’s actions. We selected it for spatial grounding because its training targets embodied spatial reasoning and point-based localization, making it well suited for grounding model outputs to specific locations in an image.

Figure 4 highlights a key limitation of this approach: ambiguity in natural language. For example, Qwen3-VL-4B generated grasp actions by referring to “napkin on the table” for all four napkins in the scene, leading Embodied-R1 to ground each action the same napkin. GPT-5.2 produced more descriptive phrases, such as “top-left napkin” or “upper-center napkin,” but these were still too imprecise for the model to reliably distinguish between them and were again grounded to the same object.

Figure 4. Decoupled vs. grounded planning, illustrating how ambiguous language causes actions to be grounded to the wrong objects.

This limitation becomes more pronounced in real-world robot manipulation, where environments are often cluttered and complex. As a result, decoupled approaches struggle to work reliably. In contrast, our approach, grounded planning, performs planning and grounding jointly within a single model and improves both planning and grounding performance.

Table 1 presents evaluation results for open- and closed-source VLMs on GroundedPlanBench. Multi-step planning and handling of implicit instructions were challenging for all models, while training Qwen3-VL-4B and Qwen3-VL-32B with V2GP led to significant improvements in grounded planning.

Table 1. Evaluation results on GroundedPlanBench. Task Success Rate (TSR) measures the percentage of tasks completed correctly, requiring all actions to be both correctly planned and spatially grounded. Action Recall Rate (ARR) measures the proportion of generated actions that match the sub-actions defined in the dataset, regardless of order. The V2GP approach improves performance on both metrics and achieves the best results (shown in bold).

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Watch on-demand Opens in a new tab Implications and looking forward

Integrating planning and grounding within a single model offers a path to more reliable robot manipulation in real-world settings. Rather than relying on separate stages, this approach keeps decisions about what to do and where to act tightly coupled, but models still struggle with longer, multi-step tasks and implicit instructions. Models must reason over longer sequences of actions and maintain consistency across many steps and goals described indirectly, as in everyday language.

Looking ahead, a promising direction combines grounded planning with world models, which enable robots to predict the outcomes of actions before executing them. Together, these capabilities could allow robots to decide what to do, where to act, and what will happen next, bringing us closer to systems that can plan and act reliably in the real world.

Acknowledgements

This research was conducted in collaboration with Korea University, Microsoft Research, University of Wisconsin-Madison, and supported by the Institute of Information & Communications Technology Planning & Evaluation (IITP) grant (No. RS-2025-25439490) funded by the Korea government (MSIT).

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The post GroundedPlanBench: Spatially grounded long-horizon task planning for robot manipulation appeared first on Microsoft Research.

Cheap GPUs, expensive GPUs, they can all struggle and fail for any number of reasons. More often than not, one of the main problems they face is heat. If your GPU is forced to work overtime for years and the conditions are far from ideal, it'll start showing its age a lot sooner than a card that was hardly ever pushed to the limit.

The Samsung Internet Browser has been around for years as the built-in web browser on Galaxy phones and tablets, and Samsung has been working on a Windows version. Now, the desktop browser is finally available for everyone, with a few unique Samsung integrations.

SAVE $19.01: As of March 26, Amazon has the all-new Apple AirPods Max 2 headphones discounted to $529.99 (normally $549) during its Big Spring Sale.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods Max 2 $529.99 at Amazon
$549 Save $19.01 Choose from midnight or starlight Get Deal

That was fast: The new Apple AirPods Max 2 are already on sale one day after their preorders opened. Thank Amazon, which is offering the deal amid its third annual Big Spring Sale, live now through March 31.

The midnight and starlight variants are both marked down to $529.99, which is almost $20 off their normal retail price of $549. (Suffice to say, they've never been cheaper.) They were still stuck at full price at other major retailers like Best Buy, Target, and Walmart.

SEE ALSO: The best AirPods deals to shop in Amazon's Big Spring Sale — AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro 3 on sale

Apple surprise-announced the AirPods Max 2 last week, a small but long-awaited update to its supremely stylish over-ear headphones; they're set for release on April 1. We have yet to test them, but Apple promises that they offer better noise cancellation than the original AirPods Max, which it launched in 2020 and updated with USB-C charging in 2024.

The new AirPods Max 2 also support more smart features, including Adaptive Audio, Conversation Awareness, Voice Isolation, Live Translation, Siri head gestures, and a camera remote. (If you have your camera app pulled up on a paired iPhone or iPad, pressing the AirPods Max 2's Digital Crown takes a picture.) They run on the H2 chip like the AirPods Pro 3.

If you can do without those improvements, note that the first-generation AirPods Max are discounted to $449.99 (in every color) at Amazon, Walmart, and Target this week. They're still not as good a value as other premium noise-canceling headphones from brands like Sony and Bose, but $100 off is $100 off.

Again, this is the first-ever discount for the new AirPods Max 2 headphones, and you can only find this preorder offer at Amazon

Distro-hopping is not for the faint of heart, but for a number of Linux users, it's practically a sport. Not two single Linux distros are equal, and each provides its own advantages, so it's not hard to get into the habit once you've learned how to do it.

A pair of United States senators wants to ban the use of Chinese robotics by the government.

Republican Tom Cotton and Democrat Chuck Schumer apparently plan to introduce a bill called the American Security Robotics Act that would bar the federal government from purchasing or using Chinese robots or "unmanned ground vehicles," Reuters reported. It's not entirely clear how much the U.S. government's buying of Chinese robots is a current, ongoing problem, or if it's just something the senators want to prevent in the future.

SEE ALSO: Jimmy Kimmel roasts Melania Trump over her robot companion

The Chinese robotics industry has been growing in recent years, with frequent flashy demonstrations happening at trade shows and whatnot. Companies like Unitree have made advancements in humanoid robots, but Schumer and Cotton are expressing fears about security in the face of more Chinese robots hitting the market. Whether those fears are legitimate or are an example of U.S. saber-rattling towards China might depend on one's point of view.

"[Chinese robotics companies] are running their standard playbook - this time ​in robotics - trying to ​flood the U.S. ⁠market with their technology, which presents real security risks and threats to Americans' privacy and American research and industry," Schumer said, per Reuters.

Schumer and Cotton aren't alone in this, as Rep. Elise Stefanik from New York plans to release an equivalent bill in the House of Representatives. The U.S.-China robotics rivalry is only going to get more heated from here.

Best Amazon Big Spring Sale Apple iPad deals: Best iPad Air deal Apple iPad Air, 11-inch (M3, WiFi + Cellular, 128GB) $549.99 (save $199.01) Get Deal Best iPad Pro deal Apple iPad Pro, 13-Inch (M4, WiFi, 256GB) $1,099.99 (save $199.01) Get Deal Best budget pick Apple iPad, 11-inch (A16, WiFi, 128GB) $299 (save $50) Get Deal

Amazon's Big Spring Sale is live and kicking, running now through March 31. This particular sale event typically ushers in discounts on a wide range of items, giving you a springtime treat before the major sales events get going later in the year (such as Prime Day). That even includes our favorite Apple products, many of which have fallen to record-low prices this week.

If you’ve been eyeing an iPad, we've spotted discounts of up to $200 across Apple's tablet lineup — even the just-updated M4 iPad Air. (Its predecessor is way cheaper, though.) We’ve pulled together the best live deals to make things easier. Note: Offers marked with a 🔥 have dropped to an all-time low.

Best iPad deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad Air, 11-inch (M3, WiFi + Cellular, 128GB) 🔥 $549.99 at Amazon
$749 Save $199.01   Get Deal Why we like it

We consider the iPad Air to be the best Apple tablet for most people: It's great for everyday activities like streaming and reading, but it's also powerful enough to use like a laptop. You can get an 11-inch M3 model with cellular connectivity for just $549.99 during the Big Spring Sale, or about $200 off — its biggest discount ever. The newer M4 version without cellular is $5 more expensive, and you're only looking at a small gen-over-gen speed boost there.

Read Mashable's full review of the Apple iPad Air (M3).

More iPad deals

• Apple iPad, 11-inch (A16, WiFi, 128GB) — $299 $349 (save $50)

• Apple iPad Air, 11-inch (M4, WiFi, 128GB) — $559 $599 (save $40) 🔥

• Apple iPad mini (A17 Pro, WiFi, 256GB) — $583 $599 (save $16)

• Apple iPad Air, 11-inch (M4, WiFi, 256GB) — $649.99 $699 (save $50) 🔥

• Apple iPad Air, 13-inch (M4, WiFi, 128GB) — $741.50 $799 (save $57.50) 🔥

• Apple iPad Pro, 13-inch (M5, WiFi, 256GB) — $1,199 $1,299 (save $100)

• Apple iPad Pro, 13-Inch (M4, WiFi, 256GB) — $1,099 $1,299.99 (save $199.01)

When was the last time you bought a new phone that actually had a new hardware innovation? I'm not talking about a slightly better camera, bigger screens, or all the AI software these days. Aside from folding phones, not much has changed on the hardware front. Some might say innovation has stalled, but Samsung's new phone just broke that trend.

The best kitchen at the Amazon Big Spring Sale: Best blender deal Ninja Kitchen System $129.99 (save $90) Get Deal Best air fryer deal Our Place Wonder Oven $129 (save $56) Get Deal Best espresso machine Breville Bambino $249.95 (save $50) Get Deal Best ice cream maker deal Ninja Creami bundle $249.98 (save $30) Get Deal Best pizza oven deal Chefman Indoor Pizza Oven $199.95 at Amazon (save $200.02) Get Deal Best eco-friendly kitchen deal Airthereal Revive Electric Kitchen Composter $174.99 at Amazon (save $175) Get Deal

It's spring cleaning season, and Amazon's Big Spring Sale is here to help you refresh any and every room. While you're taking advantage of deals on cleaning supplies like disinfectant sprays and dishwasher pods, we also recommend taking a look at your more permanent appliance lineup.

With the spring sale officially underway, tons of kitchen deals are live at Amazon now. That means you can fill any holes in your kitchen's arsenal (or replace any tools on their last legs) with new Ninja appliances, coffee makers, and trendy bakeware.

SEE ALSO: Amazon Big Spring Sale 2026: Live updates on Apple, Samsung, DJI, Kindle deals

The week-long sale runs through March 31, and there you'll find great deals on Ninja appliances, Breville espresso machines and toaster ovens, Nespressos, pizza ovens, rice cookers, and more. Check out our top picks below:

Best blender deal Opens in a new window Credit: Ninja Ninja Kitchen System $129.99 at Amazon
$219.99 Save $90   Get Deal Why we like it

If you're generally a fan of kitchen multitaskers (and who isn't), this may just be the blender for you. In addition to the full-size pitcher you'll get with most blenders, this model of the Ninja Kitchen System comes with two 18-ounce cups and an eight-cup food processor bowl, so you're sure to be covered for all your motorized chopping and blending needs. Down to $129.99 all the way from $219.99, it's at its lowest price ever — and even cheaper than budget models with fewer attachments.

More blender deals

• Nutribullet Pro — $69.95 $99 (save $29.05)

• Ninja Nutri-Blender Plus — $69.98 $89.99 (save $20.01)

• Chefman Obliterator — $69.99 $149.99 (save $80)

• Braun MultiQuick Immersion blender — $79.95 $109.95 (save $30)

• Ninja Professional Plus blender — $89.99 $119.99 (save $30)

• Vitamix Ascent X3 — $449.95 $649.95 (save $200)

Best air fryer deal Opens in a new window Credit: Our Place Our Place Wonder Oven $129 at Amazon
$185 Save $56   Get Deal Why we like it

Another Spring Sale, another deal on the Our Place Wonder Oven — except this year, the air fryer/countertop oven combo is just $129, beating last year's sale price by $16. Mashable's Samantha Mangino is a big fan of the air fryer, writing in a post about it last year, "While I originally received it as a gift, I would buy it 10 times over with my own money." It's cute and functional, with settings to toast, reheat, bake, broil, and air fry, and comes with three different trays: air fryer basket, baking tray, and toasting rack.

More air fryer and multicooker deals

• Instant Pot Duo Plus (6 quart) — $99.99 $139.99 (save $40)

• Chefman Crispinator (8 quart) — $109.99 $159.99 (save $50)

• Ninja Flip Air Fryer — $149.99 $249.99 (save $100)

• Instant Pot Pro Max WiFi (6 quart) — $189.99 $229.99 (save $40)

• Ninja Foodi Smart XL Grill — $199.99 $279.99 (save $80)

• Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer — $279.95 $349.95 (save $70)

• Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro — $319.95 $399.95 (save $80)

Best ice cream maker deal Ninja Creami bundle $249.98 at Amazon
$279.98 Save $30.00   Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it

Another Ninja deal, but the Ninja Creami is a favorite of ours (and the internet's) for a reason. Easy ice cream at home is an especially welcome treat during the warmer months, so this bundle arrived just in time. Included with the Creami are four family-sized 24-ounce tubs so you can be sure you always have a frozen sweet treat on hand.

Check out our full review of the Ninja Creami.

SEE ALSO: The Mill food recycling bin is the easiest indoor composter alternative, and my all-time favorite appliance Coffee and espresso machine deals

• Mr. Coffee Coffee Maker (12 cups) — $29.99 $53.99 (save $34)

• Keurig K-Express — $69.99 $109.99 (save $40)

• Nespresso Vertuo Pop+ — $99 $129 (save $30)

• Nespresso Vertuo Next — $137 $229.95 (save $92.95)

• Keurig K-Duo — $149.97 $219.99 (save $70.02)

• Breville Bambino — $249.95 $299.95 (save $50)

• Breville Barista Express — $549.95 $679.99 (save $130.04)

• Philips 3300 Series Fully Automatic Espresso Machine — $549.99 $899.99 (save $350)

• De'Longhi La Specialista Touch Espresso Machine — $699.95 $999.95 (save $300)

• Breville Barista Touch — $799.95 $999.95 (save $200)

Mixer deals

• KitchenAid 9-Speed Hand Mixer — $84.99 $114.99 (save $30)

• KitchenAid Tilt Head Stand Mixer (5 quart) — $399.95 $449.99 (save $50.04)

• KitchenAid Bowl-Lift Stand Mixer (7 quart) — $549.95 $649.99 (save $100.04)

Bread makers and pizza ovens

• Chefman Everything Maker and Pizza Oven — $39.99 $59.99 (save $20)

• Neretva Bread Maker — $118.99 $139.99 (save $21)

• Chefman Indoor Pizza Oven — $199.95 $399.99 (save $200.02)

Rice cooker deals

• Cuckoo Micom Rice Cooker (6 cup) — $89.99 $129.99 (save $40)

• Zojirushi Micom Rice Cooker (5.5 cup) — $174.99 $209.99 (save $35)

• Zojirushi Neuro Fuzzy Rice Cooker (5.5 cups) — $191.99 $235 (save $43.01)

• KitchenAid Grain and Rice Cooker with automatic scale (8 cups) — $299.95 $399.99 (save $100.04)

Even more kitchen deals

• Stasher Silicone Reusable Snack and Storage Bags — save up to 35%

• Hamilton Beach Breakfast Sandwich Maker with Egg Cooker — $25.46 $37.95 (save $12.49)

• Old Stone Round Pizza Stone (16 inch) — $29.94 $43.95 (save $14.01)

• Royal Craft Bamboo Wood Cutting Board Set (3 piece) — $32.96 $49.99 (save $17.03)

• Chefman Panini Press Grill — $39.97 $49.99 (save $20.02)

• Breville Juice Fountain — $59.95 $99.95 (save $40)

• KitchenAid Go Cordless Food Chopper — $69.99 $89.99 (save $20)

• Lodge Essential Enamel Cast Iron Dutch Oven (6 quarts) — $69.99 $89.99 (save $20)

• Cuisinart GK-1 Digital Goose Neck Kettle — $79.95 $129.95 (save $50)

• KitchenAid Go Cordless Chopper — $89.95 $99.99 (save $10.04)

• Rubbermaid Brilliance 44-piece food storage containers — $109.99 $129.99 (save $20)

• Airthereal Revive Electric Kitchen Composter — $174.99 $349.99 (save $175)

• KitchenAid Brushed Stainless Steel Pots and Pans Set (10 piece) — $209.99 $279.99 (save $70)

TL;DR: Live stream Turkey vs. Romania in World Cup qualifiers for free on TV8. Access this free streaming site from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

There are some absolutely enormous World Cup qualifiers taking place this week, including Turkey vs. Romania.

This semi-final matchup is hosted by the Tüpraş Stadium in Instabul — expect a seriously passionate home support driving Turkey onto the next round. The winner will meet either Slovakia or Kosovo in the playoff final. It's win or bust at this late stage, with all eyes on this summer's showpiece event. Expect big performances from the likes of Arda Guler, Kenan Yildiz, and Kerem Akturkoglu.

If you want to watch Turkey vs. Romania in World Cup qualifiers for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Turkey vs. Romania?

Turkey vs. Romania in World Cup qualifiers kicks off at 1 p.m. ET on March 26. This fixture takes place at the Tüpraş Stadium.

How to watch Turkey vs. Romania for free

Turkey vs. Romania in World Cup qualifiers is available to live stream for free on TV8.

TV8 is geo-restricted to Turkey, but anyone can access this free streaming service with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Turkey, meaning you can access free live streams on TV8 from anywhere in the world.

Lve stream Turkey vs. Romania for free by following these simple steps:

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

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

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

4. Visit TV8

5. Stream Turkey vs. Romania for free from anywhere in the world

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

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Turkey vs. Romania in World Cup qualifiers without actually spending anything. This clearly isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream select World Cup qualifiers before recovering your investment.

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

What is the best VPN for TV8?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on TV8, 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 so your data is secure

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A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream Turkey vs. Romania in World Cup qualifiers for free with ExpressVPN.

For years, the Amazon Fire TV Stick has been almost singularly defined by how well it streams video. Whether you're catching up on the latest Netflix original, binge-watching Amazon Prime Video, or tuning into live sports, Amazon sells many sticks just to let you stream content.

TL;DR: Amazon sellers have the Pokémon TCG:Mega Evolution Ascended Heroes First Partners Deluxe Pin Collection listed from $69.75 with free shipping, while Walmart has it even lower at $57.95.

Where to buy Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Ascended Heroes Deluxe Pin Collections: Best Amazon Deal Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Ascended Heroes Deluxe Pin Collection $69.75 at Amazon Shop Now Best Walmart Deal Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Ascended Heroes Deluxe Pin Collection $57.95 at Walmart Shop Now

With Amazon’s Big Spring Sale pulling more eyes towards Pokémon TCG deals and gaming deals, the usually expensive Ascended Heroes booster packs are a little more affordable right now.

As of March 26, Amazon has third-party listings for the Pokémon TCG Ascended Heroes First Partners Deluxe Pin Collection starting at $69.75, while the main Amazon listing is sitting at $69.88 against a typical price of $78.99. Walmart, however, has the same First Partners Deluxe Pin Collection listed for $57.95. That puts Walmart about $11.80 below Amazon’s lowest current seller price and well below TCGplayer’s $68.99 listing.

The big value in this collection lies in what you’re getting as a boxed bundle vs. buying packs separately. In the Ascended Heroes First Partners Deluxe Pin Collection, you get three foil promo cards starring Chikorita, Tepig, and Totodile, along with one deluxe enamel pin featuring all three first partner Pokémon and five booster packs from the Mega Evolution set’s expansion. 

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In the trading card market right now, the best retailer to get readily available Pokemon TCG Ascended Heroes booster packs from is Walmart — but still at a high price of $17.89 each, with Amazon's price even higher at $18.88. That means if you wants five packs like in the Partners Deluxe Pin Collection, you’d need to pay at least $90.

With these new prices on the Ascended Heroes First Partners Deluxe Pin Collection, not only are you saving at least $31.50 on the Pokémon booster packs compared to buying them individually, but you’re getting the three promo cards and deluxe pin as an added bonus. 

For more great prices on new Pokémon TCG products, you can also pre-order the Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Perfect Order Elite Trainer Box for as low as $90. If you want to catch up on older expansions as well, the Pokémon TCG Destined Rivals Booster Bundle is under market price. 

A Los Angeles jury has ruled that social media giants Meta and Google-owned Youtube are guilty of negligent platform design that resulted in harm to a young user's mental health.

The ruling came after several days of deliberation in a personal injury lawsuit that industry experts say will have rippling effects on Big Tech.

SEE ALSO: Meta loses major child safety trial, ordered to pay $375 million

The jury agreed with the plaintiff that the platforms' design features were a "substantial factor" in causing mental health-related harms and that company leaders knew their products could be dangerously addictive. The companies were ordered to split compensatory damages of $3 million, with Meta paying 70 percent and YouTube 30 percent.

The jury later announced an additional $3 million in punitive damages. YouTube's lawyer apologized to the plaintiff in court, the New York Times reported, saying: "We are sorry for the things you have suffered. We at YouTube truly hope there have been things at YouTube that have enriched your life and allowed you to express yourself.”

Meta says it is exploring legal options to appeal the decision. "We respectfully disagree with the verdict and will appeal. Teen mental health is profoundly complex and cannot be linked to a single app. We will continue to defend ourselves vigorously as every case is different, and we remain confident in our record of protecting teens online," the company said in a statement to the press.

"Today, a jury saw the truth and held Meta and Google accountable for designing products that addict and harm children," said court-appointed plaintiff counsel Lexi Hazam and Previn Warren, in a statement following the decision. "Top tech executives took the stand, and their own internal documents were put before a jury, revealing that company leadership knew their platforms were hurting kids and repeatedly chose profits over children's safety. This verdict sends an unmistakable message that no company is above accountability when it comes to our children." 

Nonprofit Mothers Against Media Addiction (MAMA) called the decision "long overdue validation" for families of children who had been hurt or died by suicide after engaging with harmful content online. "Now, our elected officials must build on the momentum from this ruling by passing legislation that requires online platforms to be safe by design and ends Big Tech’s efforts to addict kids to their dangerous products," founder and executive director Julie Scelfo wrote.

Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg both testified in front of the jury last month. Other social media platforms were also named in the lawsuit, brought forth by a young user referred to as K.G.M and her mother. K.G.M. accused the platforms of knowingly investing in site features that led to addictive behavior, self-harm, and suicidal thoughts, even after safety warnings were flagged by internal employees — it's the first of a consolidated group of lawsuits filed by more than 1,600 plaintiffs, known as a watershed case. TikTok and Snapchat both settled with K.G.M. prior to the jury trial.

"Social media giants would never have faced trial if they had prioritized kids' safety over engagement. Instead, they buried their own research showing children were being harmed, and used kids and society as guinea pigs in massive, uncontrolled, and wildly profitable experiments," wrote James P. Steyer, founder and CEO of child safety nonprofit Common Sense Media.

Hours before the K.G.M decision was announced, a different jury announced another guilty verdict for Meta, which ordered the tech giant to pay $375 million in damages for misleading users about its platform's safety features and endangering young users. The case was brought forth by New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez, amid a wave of similar state-level lawsuits against social media platforms over the last few years.

In a statement sent to the media following the Los Angeles ruling, Torrez said that the jury recognized Big Tech's ongoing "deception" of the public. "In the next phase of New Mexico’s trial, my number one priority remains changing [Meta]’s longstanding and dangerous practice of prioritizing profits over children’s safety," said Torrez.

UPDATE: Mar. 26, 2026, 10:27 a.m. This story was updated with comment from Meta.

UPDATE: Mar. 25, 2026, 5:14 p.m. This story was updated to include the jury's decision to award punitive damages to K.G.M.

UPDATE: Mar. 25, 2026, 2:37 p.m. This story was updated with additional statements from the New Mexico Attorney General and Mothers Against Media Addiction.

Outlook has a lot of cool features that you can check out for your own email client. One of them comes in the form of a surprisingly powerful automation tool that can greatly save you time.

Got a pile of old filament spools taking up too much space? Before you throw them away, you might want to consider how you can upcycle them so that they don’t go to waste. Here are some ideas.

Last-chance deals on last-gen tech: Apple AirTag (4-Pack) $59.99 (save $39.01) Get Deal Best Amazon Device Deal Amazon Echo Dot $39.99 (save $10) Get Deal Best audio deal Sony WF-1000XM5 Earbuds $248 (save $81.99) Get Deal Best smartwatch deal Apple Watch Ultra 2 (GPS + Cellular, 49mm) $499 (save $300) Get Deal Best tablet deal Apple iPad Air, 11-inch (M3, WiFi + Cellular, 128GB) $549.99 (save $199.01) Get Deal Best e-reader deal Amazon Kindle Scribe (16GB) $249.99 (save $150) Get Deal Best Apple deal Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $949 (save $250) Get Deal Best deal for parents Amazon Fire 7 Kids (16GB) $59.99 (save $40) Get Deal Best robot vacuum deal Eufy X10 Pro Omni $429.99 (save $270) Get Deal Best TV deal Amazon 50-inch Fire TV Omni QLED Series 4K TV $379.99 (save $90) Get Deal

Got spring cleaning on your mind? So does Amazon: The retail giant is putting last-gen tech on sale at deep discounts during the Big Spring Sale (March 25 to 31), its main seasonal savings event, to clear out its remaining inventory.

Older versions of some of our favorite gadgets are currently on sale there for record-low prices (or close to them). The zippy M4 MacBook Air? Up to $150 cheaper than the iterative M5 version Apple announced this month. The superb Sony WF-1000XM5 earbuds? Only $248. Previous-generation Echo devices? Grab the 2022 Echo Dot smart speaker or Echo Show 5 smart display for 20% off. Finally, the first-gen AirTags have literally never been cheaper, and this could be your last chance to grab them now that the AirTag 2 has been released.

SEE ALSO: Amazon Big Spring Sale 2026: Live updates on Apple, Samsung, DJI, Kindle deals

We'll be updating this list of past-gen tech deals with more offers as Amazon's Big Spring Sale continues, so check back soon. In the meantime, this is your opportunity to clean up with last-chance deals on last-gen gadgets.

Amazon Echo deals

• Amazon Echo Dot — $39.99 $49.99 (save $10)

• Amazon Echo Show 5 — $69.99 $89.99 (save $20)

Smartwatch and fitness tracker deals

• Garmin vívoactive 5 — $174.28 $299.99 (save $125.71)

• Google Pixel Watch 3 (WiFi, 45mm) — $179.99 $299.99 (save $120)

• Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 (Bluetooth, 40mm) — $199.99 $249.99 (save $50)

• Garmin Venu 3S — $357.99 $449.99 (save $92)

• Apple Watch Ultra 2 (GPS + Cellular, 49mm) — $499 $799 (save $300)

Headphone and earbud deals

• Sony WF-1000XM5 Earbuds — $248 $329.99 (save $101.99)

• Sony WH-1000XM4 Headphones — $278 $399.99 (save $121.99)

• Apple AirPods Max (1st Gen, USB-C) — $449.99 $549 (save $99.01)

Tablet and e-reader deals

• Amazon Fire 7 Kids (16GB) — $59.99 $99.99 (save $40)

• Amazon Kindle Scribe (16GB) — $249.99 $399.99 (save $150)

• Apple iPad Air, 11-inch (M3, WiFi + Cellular, 128GB) — $549.99 $749 (save $199.01)

• Apple iPad Air, 11-inch (M3, WIFi, 1TB) — $979 $1,099 (save $120)

• Apple iPad Pro, 13-Inch (M4, WiFi, 256GB) — $1,099.99 $1,299 (save $199.01)

Laptop deals

• Apple MacBook Air, 15-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) — $949 $1,199 (save $250)

• Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $949 $1,199 (save $250)

• Apple MacBook Air, 15-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $1,099 $1,299 (save $200)

• Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M4, 24GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $1,149 $1,399 (save $250)

• Apple MacBook Air, 15-inch (M4, 24GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $1,299 $1,599 (save $300)

• Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M4 Pro, 24GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $1,799 $1,999 (save $200)

• Asus ROG Strix G18 (AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX, Nvidia GeForce RTX 5050, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $1,394.99 $1,699.99 (save $305) + free Crimson Desert code

Miscellaneous tech deals

• Apple AirTags (1st Gen, 4-pack) — $59.99 $99 (save $39.01)

• Eufy X10 Pro Omni Robot Vacuum and Mop Combo — $429.99 $699.99 (save $270)

• Amazon 50-inch Fire TV Omni QLED Series 4K TV — $379.99 $469.99 (save $90)

Keep checking back for more Amazon Spring Sale deals on past-gen products. We're still holding out hope that the Sony XM5 headphones will get a more notable price drop. The Mashable shopping team is working overtime to cover this shopping event, so don't miss out!

Want to learn more about getting the best out of your tech? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories and Deals newsletters today.

The impact of halo vehicles on the automotive industry is complex. They generate a lot of buzz for the automaker and can be important marketing tools, serving as a way to get people to walk through the showroom doors. These are the low-volume, high-cost, technology-packed machines that influencers fight to get their hands on to drive more traffic to their channels. Think of machines like the Bugatti Mistral, McLaren W1, and Mercedes-AMG One.

The best Apple AirTag deals from Amazon's Big Spring Sale: Best AirTag Bundle deal Apple AirTag (1st Gen) 4-Pack $59.99 (save $39.01) Get Deal Best AirTag Deal Apple AirTag (1st Gen) $24 (save $5) Get Deal

Amazon’s Big Spring Sale is officially underway, and we’re already seeing some pretty promising price drops across multiple categories, including $300 price cuts on MacBooks and $400 off Apple Watches.

Of course, we’re holding out to see if Amazon’s going to gift us with additional Apple deals (we're looking at you, MacBook Neo), but there’s one in particular that requires fast action: Apple AirTag 4-packs are now down to a new record-low price of $59.99, and they're selling fast. We're seeing this deal go in and out of stock, so please shop accordingly!

Don't forget: Apple recently released a new generation of Apple AirTags, so we don't know how much longer these trackers will be available, especially at this price.

Best deal overall Apple AirTag Tracker (4-Pack) $59.99 at Walmart
$99 Save $39.01   Get Deal at Walmart Get Deal at Amazon Get Deal at Best Buy Why we like it

The updated Apple AirTag 2 is still at full price, but you can get a four-pack of first-gen AirTags for just $59.99 right now, or $15 per tracker.

These little trackers are total lifesavers for anyone who's always misplacing their keys or wants some peace of mind by stashing one in their checked luggage. (I use them to keep tabs on my dogs when I'm visiting my parents.) You can track your stuff directly in the Find My app, and if you’re nearby, your iPhone can lead you straight to the exact cushion your wallet is hiding under.

Note: If these trackers go out of stock at Amazon, you can also find them at this price at Best Buy and Walmart.

The best AirTag deals

• Apple AirTag 1 — $24 $29 (save $5)

• Apple AirTag 1 (4-pack) — $59.99 $99 (save $39.01 at Amazon, Walmart, and Best Buy)

The best Apple AirTag accessory deals

• QyQa Airtag Holder (4-Pack) — $8.48 $9.98 (save $1.50)

• MOLOSLEEVE Airtag Holder Air Tag Case with Keychain (4-Pack) — $9.99 $12.99 (save $3)

• Belkin Apple AirTag Secure Holder with Carabiner — $14.99 $19.99 (save $5)

• SPGUARD AirTag Holder Case with Keychain (4-Pack) — $18.74 $28.99 (save $10.25)

The best Apple AirTag alternative deals

• Ultrabeka Ultra-Thin Wallet Tracker — $15.99 $19.99 (save $4)

• UGREEN FineTrack Tracker Tags (iOS Only) (4-Pack) — $19.99 $25.99 (save $6)

• Samsung Galaxy SmartTag2 — $20.99 $29.99 (save $9)

I tried Waze for the first time back in 2016 during a cross-country road trip, and it saved me from sitting on a shut-down highway for 3 hours because of a major accident. It's not just a map and navigation app, but an invaluable tool that'll get you from point A to B as quickly as possible, avoiding traffic, police, and accidents. I don't plan on ever switching back to Google Maps.

Spring means it’s time for some spring-cleaning, but throwing out old junk cluttering your workspace is only part of the solution. If you work without the right ergonomics, no amount of dusting will put a “spring” back in your step.