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Last month, the $61.5 billion-valuated AI startup Anthropic set up a gaming livestream on Twitch. Gaming livestreams are nothing new on Twitch, but this one is a little different: Claude, Anthropic's AI model, is attempting to beat Pokémon Red.

We are now one month in, and the livestream is still going. However, Claude has not progressed all that much. And, at this rate, Anthropic's AI agent may possibly never be the very best, like no one ever was.

According to Anthropic, when it first launched the "Claude Plays Pokémon" project, previous versions of its AI agent Claude failed at some very basic tasks. For example, according to Anthropic, Claude 3.5 would try to run away from almost every battle in June 2024.

SEE ALSO: In 2024, Pokémania is evolving

A few months and a few versions of Claude later, Anthropic said there was a stark change. In February 2025, Anthropic gave Claude 3.7 Sonnet a whirl at playing Pokémon. 

"Within hours, Claude defeated Brock. Days later, it trounced Misty," Anthropic said. "Progress that older models had little hope of achieving."

Anthropic said that Claude 3.7 Sonnet could plan ahead, remember objectives, and learn from its mistakes, unlike previous versions of the AI agent. It also built a knowledge base, saw the screen, and simulated button presses.

However, the progress Claude 3.7 Sonnet originally made in the game seems to have stalled.

For example, livestream viewers watched as Clause 3.7 took 78 hours to get through Mt. Moon in the game. On Reddit, gamers estimated that it would typically take a child just a few hours to advance through the same stage.

SEE ALSO: Hands-on with the Claude AI app: It's pleasant to use, but janky

Claude can be seen going in circles, stumbling around the same paths, and often knocking into walls as it tries to get around the game.

The livestream is engaging, especially as a text box lays out Claude's "thinking" as the AI agent tries to figure out what moves to make next.

According to Anthropic engineers in an interview with Ars Technica, Claude has an easier time with aspects of the game which involve text, such as Pokémon battles. However, it struggles with the more visual aspects of the game, such as moving around from town to town on the map.

Claude 3.7 Sonnet has gone much further in the game than previous Claude models, so there's been progress. However, for those warning that AI will soon be able to take over the world, we're nowhere close to that being a reality yet. Claude still has 151 Pokémon to catch.

The Pixel Tablet is still yet to see a successor, but it remains one of the best Android tablets your money can buy. If you don't really want to go for an iPad, you can grab one of these at a record-low price, just for today.

UGREEN's NASync lineup offers exceptional hardware for the price. Still, a discount is much appreciated. The four-bay DXP4800 Plus is currently on sale for $595, its lowest price since launch.

Retro console gaming fans love to extol the virtues of playing on original hardware, but what about retro PC gaming? There's a distinct subculture of people who go out and find old computer parts to build period-accurate computers, so they can enjoy retro PC games as intended.

With so many distractions around, staying focused can be tough, but proper habits can make all the difference. I used to lose a lot of time to constant interruptions, but by adopting better practices, I've become more focused and productive. Here’s how you can achieve the same.

MagSafe products are awesome, and while the technology hasn't seen mass adoption yet on other devices under the Qi 2 umbrella, it's a great improvement to your standard wireless charging experience. If you have an iPhone with MagSafe, this 3-in-1 pad from Belkin is just what you need—and it's heavily discounted, too.

TL;DR: Mashable readers can grab a lifetime device license for Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and more with a one-time purchase of Microsoft Office 2019 for Windows for A$47.

Opens in a new window Credit: Retail King Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 for Windows AU$47 at the Mashable Shop
AU$363 Save AU$316 Get Deal

Your credit card is exhausted from all of today’s subscription fees. While you probably don’t want to cancel your favorite streaming apps or say goodbye to two-day shipping with Prime, you could swap your Microsoft 365 subscription for a Microsoft Office lifetime license.

Instead of spending A$11 monthly (or A$111 yearly), you can pay once and use the apps as much as you’d like. Through 30 March at the Mashable Shop, the Windows software suite is on sale for A$47 — an 86% discount.

What apps are included?

Microsoft Office 2019 isn’t the newest version available, but it’s the cheaper one for people who just need to use the apps and don’t care about what they look like inside. It also has a classic, timeless design and isn't weighted down by unnecessary AI features.

Here's a list of the apps you get:

• Word

• Excel

• PowerPoint

• Outlook

• OneNote

• Publisher

• Access

Differences between Microsoft 365 and a lifetime license

This purchase is a no-brainer if you aren’t taking full advantage of Microsoft 365’s OneDrive storage, mobile app access, and cloud-based backups. Those just wanting the apps should be more than comfortable with a Microsoft Office download.

You might actually like this license more than the subscription. The apps are downloaded directly onto your PC instead of hosted on the cloud. While this does mean there are no built-in cloud backups, you don’t have to worry about the hassle of trying to work offline.

Plus, now that Microsoft added Copilot’s AI features to Microsoft 365, you might be looking for a way to escape them. Not everyone is crazy about having a virtual robot interfere with their work, and these classic apps won’t ever bug you about it.

The price drop on this lifetime license to Microsoft Office 2019 for Windows ends soon, so get your download for A$47 until 30 March at 11:59 p.m. PT.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

T-Mobile's G4AR Home Internet gateway now supports 5G Standalone (5G SA) service. This 5G SA implementation should provide a decent boost in upload speeds for T-Mobile customers with the correct gateway, and it lays the groundwork for future, more dramatic improvements.

BUY TWO GET ONE FREE: Target is offering a buy two get one free deal on select books, movies, and music during its Circle Week sale, which runs through March 29.

Opens in a new window Credit: Target / Sony Pictures / Macmillan Publishers Buy two get one free select books, movies, and music Get Deal

Book lovers are always looking for ways to get free books. And Target Circle Week is making it a little easier with its buy two get one free deal.

Through March 29, you can get a free book at Target when you buy two other eligible books. The buy two get one free deal also applies to select movies and music, so you can mix and match your haul. Target Circle Week deals are exclusively available to Target Circle members. So, be sure to sign up if you haven't already. Don't worry; it's free.

There are plenty of BookTok favorites and bestsellers included in the sale, including The Housemaid by Freida McFadden, Funny Story by Emily Henry, A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J Maas, The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins, and How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix. Not to mention, most books included in the sale are already discounted significantly. For instance, A Court of Thorns and Roses is down to just $10.05 from $18 (44% off). If you're an old-school reader who prefers a physical book in your hands, you could definitely do some damage during Circle Week.

As far as movies go, you could grab Wicked, Nosferatu, Deadpool Vs. Wolverine, The Wild Robot, and Inside Out 2. Meanwhile, the music selection includes Lady Gaga's Mayhem (Target exclusive vinyl), Sabrina Carpenter's Short N' Sweet (Deluxe vinyl), Wicked: The Soundtrack (Target exclusive vinyl), and so much more. There are 50 pages and thousands of options to choose from. Just be sure to shop before Target Circle Week concludes on March 29 if you want to score a book, movie, or album for free.

For modern audiences, "Mac" and "gaming" are not two words that seem to go together. However, across the history of Apple, the company has experienced highs and lows when it comes to the gaming industry.

After a brutal data breach and a wave of lawsuits, 23andMe filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy — and now, the consumer genetics company is looking for a buyer. On the table are the business, the brand, and the DNA profiles of more than 15 million users.

The bankruptcy filing, submitted on Sunday, March 23, caps off months of turmoil following a major hack in October 2023. That breach exposed the personal and health-related genetic data of at least 7 million customers. The fallout was swift and far-reaching, resulting in more than "50 class action and state court lawsuits" alleging that 23andMe failed to adequately protect its users' most sensitive data.

SEE ALSO: 23andMe files for bankruptcy, CEO steps down

Now, in an attempt to streamline its legal mess, the company has entered Chapter 11 — a move that also opens the door for a potential sale. According to court filings, 23andMe is in debt to a mix of pharmaceutical firms, health insurers, AI startups like Aganitha AI and CoreWeave, marketing agencies, and pharmacies.

Meanwhile, California’s Attorney General Rob Bonta issued a pointed warning to 23andMe users last Friday: don’t wait.

"Given 23andMe’s reported financial distress," he said in a statement, "I remind Californians to consider invoking their rights and directing 23andMe to delete their data and destroy any samples of genetic material held by the company."

How to delete 23andMe data

With 23andMe officially up for sale, there’s no telling who might end up owning the company — or what they’ll want with the genetic data of millions of users. Over the years, 23andMe has repeatedly claimed it takes data privacy seriously. But at that same time, it partnered with pharmaceutical companies and suffered a massive breach.

If you’re thinking about pulling the plug on your data before a potential buyer steps in, you can do that through the 23andMe app:

• Head to the “23andMe Data” section

• Tap “View,” then “23andMe Data”

• Select “Permanently Delete Data”

One odd wrinkle: on the deletion page, 23andMe includes a Q&A that attempts to reassure users. It reads:

“If the company does change ownership in the future, your data will remain protected under the current 23andMe Privacy Policy unless you are presented with materially new terms, with appropriate advanced notice to review those material changes as required by law.”

In other words, your data stays private... until it doesn’t.

Apple's AirPods 4 was one of the company's biggest surprises last year. They pack a similar punch to the AirPods Pro, and yet, they manage to be considerably cheaper. If they weren't cheap enough for you yet, you might want to check out this deal happening right now before it's gone.

The AirPods Max headphones will turn five years old this year, but they're still a gift that keeps on giving—which is good considering their price point. With a new update, your AirPods Max are now getting a couple of really cool, and useful, additions.

Some users just had their timeline data wiped from Google Maps.

The company told Mashable in a statement that it "briefly experienced a technical issue that caused the deletion of Timeline data for some people." It's unclear how many users were affected.

"Nearly everyone with encrypted Timeline backups will be able to restore their data; unfortunately, those who did not have backups enabled will not be able to recover lost data," Google wrote in its statement. Timeline services have since been restored.

SEE ALSO: Google Maps is adding weather incident reporting

Timeline data is helpful if you want to, say, return to an old location from earlier this week but don't remember the address or want to take a similar route but don't remember the exact turns. As Google said, if you had your backup turned on, you'd be able to restore your data pretty easily, but it's turned off by default.

You'll need to make sure Google Maps is updated to the latest version. Then, navigate to your profile and click "Your Timeline." Then tap the cloud icon and choose backup, which will import your data.

If you didn't have your backup turned on, it looks like that data is gone forever — and Google won't be able to retrieve it for you.

Google has officially released the ARM-compatible version of Google Drive for Windows. This means PCs powered by Snapdragon chips and other ARM hardware can finally synchronize files with Google Drive, without relying on the beta version or third-party tools.

Acura has never attempted to be the most lavish nor the quickest automaker on the market. Instead, they aim to deliver luxury vehicles that offer excellent value for money. They have extended this mission with the launch of the ADX, the most affordable subcompact luxury SUV on the market.

A new monitor purchase isn't something that happens often. It's likely you're going through multiple PCs for each monitor rather than the other way around. So, if you've just bought your first new monitor in a few years, it's easy to forget the things you should do out of the box.

The best Apple deals ahead of Amazon's Big Spring Sale Best MacBook deal Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $949 (Save $50) Get Deal Best AirPods deal Apple AirPods Pro $169.99 (Save $79.01) Get Deal Best iPad deal Apple iPad Air, 11-inch (M3, WiFi, 128GB) $549 (Save $50) Get Deal Best Apple Watch deal Apple Watch Series 10 (GPS, 42mm) $299 (Save $100) Get Deal

If you're looking for discounted Apple products, Amazon is a reliable place to grab them year-round.

However, with the announcement of its Big Spring Sale, running from March 25 to 31, we're keeping our fingers crossed to see even more deals go live. While the sale focuses primarily on "springtime favorites" like outdoor furniture and garden supplies, last year's inaugural BSS did bring some tech deals. Best of all, exempting a few exclusive offers, most deals are available to all customers, regardless of their Prime membership status.

SEE ALSO: 15+ robot vacuums on sale ahead of Amazon's Big Spring Sale

So far, we have spotted deals on new releases like the M3 iPad Air, 11-inch iPad, and M4 MacBook Airs. In addition to iPads, we also found a $400 markdown on the M3 13-inch MacBook Air and $170 price cut on the Beats Studio Pro. Again, while these deals aren't officially tied to the spring sale and can be found at other times of the year, these are still solid prices for any of these items.

We'll continue updating this post as the sale progresses, so check back if you're looking for the best Apple deals ahead of Amazon's Big Spring Sale.

Best MacBook deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $949 at Amazon
$999 Save $50 Get Deal Why we like it

Check out our full review of the M4 MacBook Air.

Apple just dropped the M4 MacBook Air, and even at full price, we think it's a really good deal. In a divergence from last year's Air pricing, Apple started its 13-inch model at just $999 — with an M4 chip and the RAM upgrades Apple gave all its laptops last fall, this is the best value we've ever seen on an Apple laptop. Amazon slashed another $50 off the price, which, while admittedly not a jaw-dropping discount, helps make a great value even better. The biggest downside to this laptop is that it might be a little short on ports for some users, and then it tops out at a 60Hz refresh rate, but if you can work with that, the M4 Air is an excellent deal.

More MacBook and Mac dealsMacBook Air

• Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M3, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $999 $1,299 (save $300)

• Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M3, 24GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $1,099 $1,499 (save $400)

• Apple MacBook Air, 15-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) — $1,149 $1,199 (save $50)

MacBook Pro

• Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $1,399 $1,599 (save $200)

• Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M4 Pro, 24GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $1,779 $1,999 (save $220)

• Apple MacBook Pro, 16-inch (M4 Pro, 24GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $2,229 $1,599 (save $270)

• Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M4 Max, 36GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $2,849 $3,199 (save $350)

• Apple MacBook Pro, 16-inch (M4 Max, 36GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $3,129 $3,499 (save $370)

Mac

• Apple Mac mini (M4, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) — $529 $599 (save $70)

• Apple Mac mini (M4, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $699 $799 (save $100)

• Apple iMac, 24-inch (Two ports, M4, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) — $1,179 $1,299 (save $120)

• Apple iMac, 24-inch (Four ports, M4, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) — $1,349 $1,499 (save $149)

Best AirPods deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods Pro $169.99 at Amazon
$249 Save $79.01 Get Deal Why we like it

Check out our full review of the AirPods Pro.

For Apple users, the AirPods Pro are an excellent pair of noise-cancelling earbuds, with some of the best noise cancellation and sound quality in the game. As the USB-C Pros near their second year anniversary, we can't say they're without a doubt the best on the market — their battery life could be better, for instance — but their age works in their favor for this price drop down to $169.99, which certainly makes some of their flaws easier to look past. We have seen these earbuds drop to $154 during Black Friday season, but we haven't seen that deal return since, making $170 the next best deal to grab them at.

More AirPods deals

• Apple AirPods 4 (with ANC) — $149.99 $179 (save $29.01)

• Apple AirPods Max (USB-C) — $479.99 $549 (save $69.01)

Best iPad deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad Air, 11-inch (M3, WiFi, 128GB) $549 at Amazon
$599 Save $50 Get Deal Why we like it

The M3 iPad Air just hit the market earlier this month, but you can already grab it for $50 off. At the time of writing, the previous generation Air costs even more on Amazon at $599 (though you can grab it on sale for $499 at Best Buy). Beyond the chip upgrade, this iPad features plenty of Apple Intelligence integration, from the Photos and Notes apps, to the Writing Tools feature that uses ChatGPT. Though we've yet to test this tablet hands-on for ourselves, the M2 Air is our favorite iPad for most people — we imagine the M3 Air will follow suit.

More iPad dealsiPad

• Apple iPad, 10.9-inch (A14 Bionic, WiFi, 64GB) — $269 $349 (save $80)

• Apple iPad, 11-inch (A16, WiFi, 128GB) — $329 $349 (save $20)

iPad Air

• Apple iPad Air, 11-inch (M2, WiFi + cellular, 128GB) — $659 $749 (save $90)

• Apple iPad Air, 13-inch (M3, WiFi, 128GB) — $747 $799 (save $52)

iPad mini

• Apple iPad mini (A17 Pro, WiFi, 128GB) — $399 $499 (save $100)

• Apple iPad mini (A17 Pro, WiFi, 256GB) — $499 $599 (save $100)

• Apple iPad mini (A17 Pro, WiFi, 512GB) — $699 $799 (save $100)

Best Apple Watch deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Watch Series 10 (GPS, 42mm) $299 at Amazon
$399 Save $100 Get Deal Why we like it

Check out our full review of the Apple Watch Series 10.

The Apple Watch Series 10 only came out this past fall, making this $100 off deal especially impressive. Along with its larger wide-angle OLED display, Mashable Senior Editor Stan Schroeder found this smartwatch to be lighter than its predecessors, with an ultra-fast charge time. This watch generation introduced fitness features like a depth gauge, sleep apnea detection, and a Vitals app, but it's worth noting those features aren't exclusive to the Series 10. However, if your Series 6 has been on the fritz for a while, or you've never owned an Apple Watch, $299 is a solid price to grab Apple's latest smartwatch.

More Apple Watch deals

• Apple Watch Series 10 (GPS, 42mm) — $299 $399 (save $100)

• Apple Watch Series 10 (GPS, 46mm) — $329 $429 (save $100)

• Apple Watch Series 10 (GPS + Cellular, 42mm) — $399 $499 (save $100)

• Apple Watch Series 10 (GPS + Cellular, 46mm) — $429 $529 (save $100)

• Apple Watch Series 10, Titanium Case (GPS + Cellular, 42mm) — $599 $699 (save $100)

• Apple Watch Series 10, Titanium Case (GPS + Cellular, 46mm) — $649 $749 (save $100)

Even more Apple deals

• Beats Solo Buds — $59.95 $79.99 (save $20.04)

• Apple AirTag (4-pack) — $69.99 $99 (save $29.01)

• Beats Studio Buds — $99.95 $149.95 (save $50)

• Beats Studio Pro — $179.95 $349.99 (save $170.04)

Microsoft has re-released OneNote so many times that it's hard to keep track. But what you need to know right now is that Microsoft really, really wants you off the OneNote app on Windows 10—and it'll make your life harder while you move off it.

Llama Group, the company that owns the well-known music player Winamp and the music platform Jamendo, has taken legal action against NVIDIA and AI music startup Suno. NVIDIA and Suno are accused of using Jamendo’s music catalog without permission to train their AI models.