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Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you have a bad sense of direction.

Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game, requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There's always a theme linking every solution, along with the "spangram," a special, word or phrase that sums up that day's theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable

By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.

If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for January 30, 2026 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for January 30, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: We're not lost...

The words are related to directions.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe things that guide.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Find Your Way.

NYT Strands word list for January 30

• Beacon

• Star

• Find Your Way

• Landmark

• Sextant

• Atlas

• Compass

Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, and if you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now!

Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Strands.

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you go big or go home.

If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for January 30, 2026 Where did Wordle come from?

Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once. 

Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.

What's the best Wordle starting word?

The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.

Is Wordle getting harder?

It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for January 30, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Huge.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no recurring letters.

Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...

Today's Wordle starts with the letter J.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. The Wordle answer today is...

Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

JUMBO

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for January 30, 2026

Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.

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

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Wordle.

The encrypted messaging app Signal has become a critical tool for organizers following the actions of immigration agents in Minneapolis. Now that activity is the target of a probe launched personally by FBI Director Kash Patel — one that has Constitutional law experts questioning its merits.

Criticism of the Signal investigation was swift from figures on both the right and left. The libertarian Cato Institute called the investigation an "epic constitutional and legal fail by Patel."

Whether or not courts would accept any action bought by Patel against Signal or its users, the circumstances are at least highly unusual: Patel announced the probe via podcast.

Patel discussed the investigation during Monday's episode of The Benny Show, a podcast hosted by the right-wing commentator Benny Johnson. Patel alleged, without evidence, that participants in the chat might have incited violence, threatened law enforcement, or broke the law.

SEE ALSO: 'Shameful': Tech leaders react to ICE killing of Alex Pretti

Patel said that alleged screenshots from a Signal chat amongst Minneapolis anti-ICE organizers posted to X by the rightwing, self-described independent journalist Cam Higby led to the investigation.

Higby has said he hopes the government conducts a "witch hunt" of the Signal chat participants, who were allegedly sharing information about license plates belonging to cars driven by federal immigration officers.

"We immediately opened up that investigation because that sort of Signal chat being coordinated with individuals, not just locally in Minnesota, but maybe even around the country," Patel said. "If that leads to a break in the federal statute or a violation of some law, then we are going to arrest people."

Signal did not respond to Mashable's request for comment on the investigation. The X accounts belonging to the app and its president, Meredith Whittaker, have remained silent on the investigation.

Here's what you need to know about whether the investigation has merit and how it unfolded:

Does the FBI Signal chat investigation violate Constitutional rights?

Patel insisted that the investigation wouldn't infringe on the public's First Amendment right to express political speech and protest but rather focus on illegal activity.

Yet legal and Constitutional scholars have questioned whether the Signal chat participants were doing anything illegal.

In an interview with the Guardian, First Amendment expert Kevin Goldberg said that his review of Higby's social media posts revealed nothing clearly illegal.

"I got the sense the [Signal chat] group has been organized for purposes that are fully protected by the First Amendment: To observe, to speak, and to alert others of possible dangers," said Goldberg, vice president of the Freedom Forum, a nonpartisan foundation that works on First Amendment issues. "I didn't see anything that impedes or obstructs justice. The claimed 'doxing' of law enforcement is not necessary illegal."

Patrick G. Eddington, senior fellow at the Cato Institute, had a cutting response for the Trump administration and Patel.

"I suppose it was just a matter of time before a Trump administration official would suggest that the use of public key encryption — protected by the First Amendment — to monitor federal agent misconduct was itself allegedly a crime," he wrote in an article on the Cato Institute's website. "This is another epic constitutional and legal fail by Patel."

Eddington added that a decades-old federal court case affirmed citizens' First Amendment right to coordinate peaceful protest activity, and even monitor an agency like ICE for "acts of brutality," using encrypted speech.

On Thursday, Higby alleged on X that he had more material to leak about the Signal chat he infiltrated.

How did the FBI learn about the Signal chat?

When Patel spoke on Johnson's show, he followed an interview with Higby, who alleged on X that he attempted and succeeded in infiltrating the anti-ICE organizers' group Signal chat.

Higby admitted to Johnson that though he isn't a "legal expert," he viewed the Signal exchanges as a "mass conspiracy" to violate federal law because the participants were, in his opinion, "engaging in collusion against federal law enforcement."

When Johnson asked Higby how he wanted the FBI to respond, Higby made his goal clear. "I want to see a witch hunt January 6th style," Higby said, referencing the federal prosecution of insurrectionists who stormed the U.S. Capitol in 2021.

Patel was literally the next guest on Johnson's show. He said Higby's X post on his alleged infiltration of the Signal chat triggered his decision.

"As soon as Higby put that [X social media] post out, I opened an investigation on it," Patel said. He argued that the practice aligns with the FBI's policy of following publicly-provided tips, leads, and information.

Speaking with Fox News' Sean Hannity, Patel indicated that the FBI would issue subpoenas, collect data, call grand juries, and "find out who broke the law."

What to know about using Signal

Though Signal uses end-to-end encryption, that doesn't mean user messages will be protected from the government.

Signal's website acknowledges it will disclose transcripts of chats when legally compelled by the government or law enforcement agencies.

ICE reportedly also has a contract with the digital forensics company Cellebrite to help officials unlock phones to retrieve all of their data, including apps, location history, and Signal messages, according to the Electronic Frontier Foundation.

It's that most magical time of the year: The White Lotus casting season.

Season 4 of Mike White's hotel-set anthology series begins production in April of 2026, so casting announcements for the show's next set of ultra-rich guests and exasperated staffers have begun to roll in. Not only that, but the season's sure-to-be gorgeous setting has already been revealed.

SEE ALSO: 2026 TV preview: All the TV shows you need to know, and where to stream them

There's still quite a bit of time before the season's release, so we'll have to wait a while for the next batch of White Lotus memes and discourse to obsess over. But until then, here's everything we know about the upcoming season.

Who is in The White Lotus Season 4?

So far, four cast members have been announced for The White Lotus Season 4. In December 2024, AJ Michalka and Alexander Ludwig became the first actors to join the season.

Michalka is one half of the musical duo Aly & AJ, and she has also starred in movies such as Super 8 and The Lovely Bones, as well as TV shows including ABC's The Goldbergs and its spin-off, Schooled. Ludwig rose to fame as Cato in The Hunger Games and has since starred in series like the History Channel's Vikings and MGM+'s Earth Abides.

SEE ALSO: Carrie Coon gleefully reacts to 'White Lotus' memes of her running

On Jan. 16, Variety reported that Steve Coogan and Caleb Jonte Edwards had also checked into Season 4. Comedian Coogan is known for his work as Alan Partridge, as well as projects like The Trip films and Philomena, for which he was nominated for an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Picture (as a producer). A newcomer, Edwards has previously starred in one episode of the Australian crime drama Black Snow.

On Jan. 29, Variety reported that three new cast members would be joining the season: Helena Bonham Carter, Chris Messina, and Marissa Long. Helena Bonham Carter is known for her Emmy– and Oscar–nominated work in TV and film, like The Crown and The King's Speech, while Chris Messina has starred in shows like The Mindy Project and Sharp Objects. The White Lotus is Long's first TV credit.

Prior seasons have featured returning characters such as Tanya (Jennifer Coolidge), Belinda (Natasha Rothwell), and Greg (Jon Gries). Will White bring back another character this season?

Where does The White Lotus Season 4 take place?

Get ready to brush up on your French, because The White Lotus is heading to the French Riviera. On Jan. 9, Variety reported that the season would shoot at the Château de La Messardière, a 19th-century palace-turned-hotel in Saint-Tropez. According to Variety, some scenes were also filmed at a Paris hotel.

Sources also told Variety that the Cannes Film Festival might figure into the storyline, setting up a more film-focused season. The plot of Season 4 is otherwise under wraps.

When is The White Lotus Season 4 coming out?

Variety reported that The White Lotus Season 4 will shoot from the end of April to the end of October, meaning a 2027 release date is likely.

For comparison, principal photography for Season 3 wrapped in Aug. 2024. The season premiered in Feb. 2025, making for a six-month turnaround. If Season 4 follows a similar pattern, we could be looking at a spring 2027 premiere.

The White Lotus is now streaming on HBO.

UPDATE: Jan. 29, 2026, 5:53 p.m. EST This article was originally published on Jan. 17, 2026. It has been updated to include further information about casting.

Robot vacuums are the perfect example of what a smart home device should be. They make your life easier by taking over a tedious task you would otherwise have to do yourself, and with automation, you can make it all happen without having to do a thing. My robot vacuum isn't very smart, but I used Home Assistant to make it smarter.

TL;DR: Live stream Alcaraz vs. Zverev in the 2026 Australian Open for free on 9Now. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The 2026 Australian Open finals are fast approaching. Alcaraz faces off against Zverev in the first semi final of the men's draw. Are we heading towards another showdown between Alcaraz and Sinner? It's looking increasingly likely that these two stars will battle it out again on the biggest stage.

Of course, that's not to say that Zverez doesn't stand a chance of beating Alcaraz. The third seed made last year's final, so he's been here before. The big question is whether or not he can make the leap and actually win a Grand Slam for the first time. The prospect of competing with Alcaraz and Sinner is daunting for even the top players.

If you want to watch Alcaraz vs. Zverev in the 2026 Australian Open for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

How to watch Alcaraz vs. Zverev for free

Alcaraz vs. Zverev in the 2026 Australian Open is available to live stream for free on 9Now.

9Now is geo-restricted to Australia, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Australia, meaning you can unblock 9Now from anywhere in the world.

Access free live streams of the 2026 Australian Open 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 Australia

4. Visit 9Now

5. Watch the 2026 Australian Open 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 leading services do tend to offer deals such as free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these deals, you can live stream Alcaraz vs. Zverev without actually spending anything. This isn't a long-term solution, but it gives you enough time to watch the Australian Open before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for 9Now?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live tennis on 9Now, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including Australia

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• Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $59.88 and includes an extra three months for free — 69% off for a limited time. This plan also includes 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 Alcaraz vs. Zverev in the 2026 Australian Open for free with ExpressVPN.

Match Group, the conglomerate that owns Tinder, Hinge, and other dating apps, is investigating a security incident that exposed user data.

A hacker group called Scattered LAPSUS$ Hunters claimed they stole a mass of Match's internal data, according to 404 Media. 404 Media downloaded the data and reported that it contained some users' unique advertising IDs, corporate receipts, and other internal documents.

SEE ALSO: Hinge's founder is leaving Match to launch Overtone, an AI dating service

A Match spokesperson told Mashable, "We are aware of claims being made online related to a recently identified security incident. Match Group takes the safety and security of our users seriously and acted quickly to terminate the unauthorized access. We continue to investigate with the assistance of external cybersecurity experts."

"There is no indication that user log-in credentials, financial information, or private communications were accessed. We believe the incident affects a limited amount of user data, and we are already in the process of notifying individuals, as appropriate," the spokesperson continued.

A spokesperson for the hacking group told 404 Media that it gained access to Match's documents through a social engineering tactic called vishing. Vishing is like phishing, except it's done over the phone. Scammers impersonate a credible person or company to gain information or money. The hacker told 404 Media that the group vished Match's Okta single-sign-on. Okta is a cybersecurity company that specializes in secure logins for companies. A spokesperson for Okta told 404 Media:

"Okta Threat Intelligence routinely shares threat research to help companies protect against evolving social engineering techniques. These target organizations in all industries and impersonate a range of identity and cryptocurrency providers. While Okta’s platform and services remain secure, Okta is calling attention to these evolving techniques to help raise awareness and support stronger defenses for customers."

Hackers posted that they accessed Match's data from the cloud platform AppsFlyer, but AppsFlyer denied that the incident originated from its app:

"AppsFlyer has confirmed that the incident referenced in recent media reports did not originate from AppsFlyer and did not involve a data breach, security incident, or compromise of AppsFlyer’s systems. AppsFlyer’s infrastructure and security controls were not breached. Any implication that AppsFlyer was the source of the incident, or that data was exposed due to a compromise of AppsFlyer systems, is inaccurate."

Rapidly rising SSD prices are bringing back products that were starting to fade into obscurity. SATA SSDs, pretty much obsolete, are finding some uses again. Similarly, the ongoing RAM shortage makes older versions of consumer RAM, such as DDR3, somewhat usable.

Google just gave Chrome a huge Gemini-powered upgrade that basically allows the AI assistant to complete tasks on the web for users.

In a blog post, Google announced that it was launching a new feature called "auto browse" powered by its most powerful new AI model, Gemini 3. The feature is only available for Chrome on desktop and is currently only rolling out to paying Google AI Pro and AI Ultra subscribers.

What is auto browse? It's a feature that brings an agentic experience directly to Chrome via Gemini. Google's AI assistant Gemini will appear on a right-hand sidebar within Chrome, allowing users to chat and interact directly with websites within the web browser.

Gemini carries out tasks via Chrome's auto browse feature. Credit: Google

Using auto browse, Gemini can interact with any web page. Gemini can click, input text, and scroll through the page, all while carrying out the user-requested actions. All a user has to do is input in the Gemini sidebar what they would like the AI agent to carry out, and Gemini will reply, "Task started."

One example provided by Google involves the AI agent being asked to shop for supplies on Etsy for a themed party. The user inputs which website they want Gemini to search, which party to look for, and how much of a budget they have to spend. Gemini goes to Etsy, searches for supplies, adds the relevant ones to the cart, and then informs the user that the checkout cart is ready for them to look over.

Gemini will even look up and add discount codes and, if given permission, will access Google Password Manager to log in to the user's account on the website.

A task completed by the Gemini-powered auto browse feature in Chrome. Credit: Google

Furthermore, there is a "Take over task" button hovering at the top of the web browser window, allowing a user to intervene, just in case Gemini goes rogue.

Google continues to add AI features to its array of internet products. In addition to this announcement, Google also brought Nano Banana to Chrome. And earlier this week, Google added additional AI Mode integration into Google Search's own existing AI product, AI Overviews. And continuing the theme of rewarding users who pay for its AI products, auto browse is currently only available for Google AI Pro and AI Ultra subscribers.

Are you ready for more Raspberry Pi projects to dive into? This weekend, I’m showing you how to track the ISS as it flys around the globe, modify a retro camera with new tech, and make plants scream at you with three more Raspberry Pi projects for you to do this weekend.

SAVE $100: As of Jan. 29, the Beats Studio Pro headphones are on sale for $249.99 at Amazon. This is $100 off their list price of $349.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Beats Beats Studio Pro $249.99 at Amazon
$349.99 Save $100   Get Deal

A good pair of headphones are always worth investing in, no matter if you're often out and about traveling, or just listen to music and podcasts while you're at home. If you've been hoping to grab a new pair for the year ahead, Amazon has quite a few deals on select models to explore. At the moment, this includes the Beats Studio Pro headphones.

As of Jan. 29, the Beats Studio Pro have dropped to $249.99 at Amazon. Normally they're listed for $349.99, so this great deal saves you $100. For a pair of headphones we said are "excellent on most of the levels that matter" in our review, this is a discount well worth your time.

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The Beats Studio Pro certainly check a lot of boxes. These headphones boast two noise-canceling modes — Active Noise Canceling and Transparency — which allow you to either block out sounds around you entirely or let a bit of noise in. They also feature Personalized Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking, which makes the sound feel as if it's coming from all around you, rather than just the drivers positioned over your ears. And the excellent battery life can last up to 40 hours.

Returning to our review, Mashable's Alex Perry also said that they "sound fantastic, last a long time, and support multiple playback styles. Most importantly, Android users don’t get the shaft, with near-parity between iOS and Google’s mobile platform." So regardless of what smartphone or device you use, these headphones are compatible.

If they've caught your eye, now is your chance to save $100 on the Beats Studio Pro at Amazon.

TL;DR: Make your computer feel brand new for just $19.97 with this Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 for Windows license.

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 for Windows $19.97
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You can’t get much for $20 these days, so it’s pretty surprising that that’s all it takes to totally refresh your PC with this Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 for Windows license. This suite of apps gives your computer seven helpful tools to help you get things done, and right now you can get them all for only $19.97 (reg. $229).

Whether you’ve been living without Microsoft Office tools for a while or you’re totally new to these incredible apps, this deal on a Windows license brings them to less than $3 each. And you’ll own all seven of them outright, so there are no subscription fees required.

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The Microsoft Office suite is geared to help you both personally and professionally. Curious which apps are included? You’ll get Word, the go-to app for drafting documents for decades, and PowerPoint, a great tool for creating presentations.

You can manage all your email communications in Outlook, build out a budget in Excel, and upgrade the way you take notes with OneNote. If you need to manage large databases, Access is a great tool, and if your work requires professional documents, Publisher has you covered.

This edition may seem to have an older year attached, but don’t worry. These apps have been redesigned and include enhanced features like new Excel analysis capabilities, new PowerPoint presentation tools, and updated email and contact management in Outlook.

After purchase, you’ll receive an instant delivery and download so you can access the apps permanently and work offline as needed. There’s also free customer service available anytime.

Get this Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 for Windows license for $19.97 (reg. $229) now.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Welcome back, dearest readers. After nearly a two-year hiatus, Bridgerton season 4 returns to Netflix with four episodes. With charming romances, beautiful costumes, and riveting drama, Bridgerton remains an entertaining and delightful television show. Season 4 will undoubtedly climb to the top of Netflix's weekly Top 10 charts. If you've already watched the new season or want another period piece, Hulu has a satirical comedy that's arguably better than Bridgerton.

Subaru’s symmetrical all-wheel-drive system is seriously impressive. It delivers confident, full-time traction whether you’re in bad weather or pushing performance limits.

Most smart home terminology is pretty self-explanatory, but there are plenty of terms that can catch out newbies who aren’t clued in on the lingo. So here’s a glossary of the most common smart home terms you might encounter, and what they mean.

The popular multi-system emulator MAME just received its first update for 2026. MAME 0.285 has arrived with better support for Apple's first graphical interface computer, the Lisa, along with more arcade emulation options and other changes.

Most of the time, you're locked into just one operating system, and if you switch to a different computer, you can't take your favorite programs with you. That limits what you can do, and if you experience a technical problem, you could be in trouble. One NVMe SSD and an inexpensive USB enclosure changed all of that for me.

Google has launched a new AI experiment called Project Genie, a tool that lets users build their own interactive virtual worlds. Project Genie comes from the Google DeepMind research lab and is now available to Google AI Ultra subscribers in the United States (users must be over the age of 18).

If you're an AI Ultra subscriber — the AI subscription plan is priced at $249.99 — you can start building worlds right away by visiting Google Labs and navigating to Project Genie.

What does Project Genie do?

A video released along with Project Genie shows exactly how users can create custom virtual worlds. Crucially, Project Genie doesn't just create a virtual environment; it also allows the user to create a character to explore and interact with the world. Users can even use prompts to create their own mini-games, using their keyboard's arrow keys to control the character. (One reporter at The Verge quickly realized he could use Project Genie to make Zelda and Super Mario knockoffs.)

Google says Project Genie can generate worlds at 720p resolution and 24 frames per second.

Considering how much time and labor go into creating video games, it's remarkable that Project Genie can create such detailed, interactive environments using AI. That said, Project Genie is primarily a research project, and while it can be entertaining to play with, it doesn't really do anything. (Keep reading to learn about potential future applications.)

The created worlds have realistic physics, and objects in the world react as the user interacts with them. Users can also modify and remix their virtual worlds to their heart's content.

Left: Create a virtual world from scratch. Credit: Google / YouTube Right: Users can also modify the world as desired. Credit: Google / YouTube Project Genie is powered by an experimental 'world model.'

Project Genie is powered by Genie 3, which is a powerful "world model." (Google says that Nano Banana and Gemini are also used to generate worlds.) A world model is an AI program that can generate a virtual world from text, images, and other inputs. Google actually teased Genie 3 back in August 2025, calling it "a key stepping stone on the path to AGI."

The new landing page for Project Genie elaborates: "Genie 3 represents a major leap in capabilities – allowing agents to predict how a world evolves, and how their actions affect it. Genie 3 makes it possible to explore an unlimited range of realistic environments. This is a key stepping stone on the path to AGI – enabling AI agents capable of reasoning, problem solving, and real-world actions."

Artificial general intelligence, or AGI, is a term for a hypothetical AI tool that can perform most tasks as capably (or more so) than the average human. That means it could do your job with little or no monitoring. To achieve true AGI, AI companies need to build models that can make sense of the environment and understand how to interact with it.

Examples of virtual worlds created by Genie 3. Credit: Google

World models are an emerging frontier in AI research, and companies building video models have attracted significant investment over the past year. AI company WorldLabs recently raised $230 million in funding, while video model maker Luma AI raised $900 million.

Besides AGI, what are the practical uses for world models? As one example, car companies could build a world to safely test autonomous vehicles. There are also possible applications for education and video game development.

Again, AI Ultra subscribers in the United States can start using Project Genie right away.

A virtual world created by Project Genie. Credit: Google / YouTube A virtual world created by Project Genie. Credit: Google / YouTube A virtual world created by Project Genie. Credit: Google / YouTube

New car prices are getting ridiculous, often creeping past $50,000. Smart buyers are skipping the showroom and looking for used options that still deliver style and reliability.

You can automate many tasks on your Windows 11 PC using batch files. I’ll explain what a batch file is, how you can create one, and show you some interesting and useful uses of these files.