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I’ve tried quite a few wireless earbuds in the past few months. After my Apple AirPods Pro stopped working, I made it my mission to step outside of the Apple ecosystem to sample more products, and I’ve been pretty impressed with my options. First, I tried the budget-friendly JBL Vibe Beam earbuds, but I quickly fell in love with the surprisingly stellar audio quality of the Samsung Galaxy Buds FE and thought I’d found my winner — until I discovered Bose Ultra Open Earbuds.

I first saw Bose’s new earbuds on TikTok, and while I was instantly head over heels for the innovative open-ear design, the skeptic in me knew to proceed with caution. I’ve tried countless viral products in the past, some that lived up to the hype and others that fell flat, and I was skeptical that the Ultra Open Earbuds could deliver on their promise to leave your ears totally open while still delivering “rich, private sound.” 

So are the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds truly revolutionary? Or are they just another flashy gimmick? I put them to the test, and I was honestly surprised by the results.

SEE ALSO: The best headphones for 2024 (and why they made our list) First impressions of the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds

Straight out of the box, my reaction to the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds echoed what I experienced when I first saw them on TikTok. These tiny little earbuds are unlike anything I’ve ever seen before, and while I’ve tried other “open-ear” audio devices, like the Soundcore Frames audio sunglasses, the new Bose buds pack a surprisingly powerful punch.

Each earbud is designed to fit like an earring cuff, and unlike other open-ear headphones on the market, they don’t actually hook around the top/back of your ear. Instead, they fit more like a piece of jewelry, which makes them look cooler and fit better because they can be worn anywhere from zero to 90 degrees on your ear. It’s hard to describe the form factor of the Ultra Open Earbuds without seeing them, but it’s basically two pieces of plastic (the larger, barrel-shaped battery and the hooked speaker) connected by a soft silicone joint that serves as a flexible — and secure — grip around your ear.

The unique cuff design of the Ultra Open Earbuds work well even with earrings. Credit: RJ Andersen / Mashable Comfort and fit

It might sound uncomfortable, but there’s no pinching involved. The earbuds “nestle” securely around your ear, and they actually fit like a dream. Because there’s so much flex in the joint, it’s easy to find where the earbuds fit best on your anatomy. The Bose companion app also offers a helpful tutorial on how to wear the earbuds.

Even with multiple ear piercings, I had no issues finding the perfect spot to wear the Ultra Open Earbuds, and I was shocked by how comfortable they were even after longer periods of wear. As someone with relatively small ears, I’m not exaggerating when I say that I’ve literally never experienced earbuds that don’t cause some degree of discomfort after longer wear — so much so that it’s hard for me to gauge if earbuds are uncomfortable or if it’s just my super small ears. However, I can truthfully say that this was the first time I’ve ever been able to wear earbuds for several hours straight with zero discomfort — none at all.

After trying them during workouts, I was even more impressed with the fit and comfort. I thought they’d feel loose or bounce while running outdoors, but they stayed perfectly secure — something that rarely happened even with my beloved Apple AirPods Pro. And, with an IPX4 water-resistance rating, the Ultra Open Earbuds should withstand sweat and light rain.

The Bose Ultra Open Earbuds have shockingly good sound quality

When it comes to impressive audio experiences, Bose rarely disappoints. I’ve been a long-time fan of the Bose QuietComfort 45 over-ear headphones, but I didn’t expect the Ultra Open Earbuds to come anywhere close to traditional wireless headphones or earbuds. And, while they definitely weren’t as robust as my QC45s, the OpenAudio technology delivered surprisingly fantastic sound.

Due to the design of these earbuds, the sound quality does vary slightly based on how you wear them. In some orientations, like when I adjusted the earbuds to fit closer to a 45-degree angle on my ear, the sound felt a little more distant than when I wore them lower on my earlobes. However, because these earbuds are so customizable to your ears' anatomy, it’s easy to find the right spot to balance sound quality and comfort.

At lower volumes, I loved being able to listen to music and still experience the world around me. I could hold conversations with people on the street, and — because my ears were completely uncovered — I felt much safer taking my dog on walks or going on solo runs.

At higher volumes, my ability to interact with the world disappeared entirely because these headphones were really loud. I never reached max volume while using the Ultra Open Earbuds, and while the bass definitely isn’t quite as deep or rich as other earbuds I’ve tried, it wasn’t absent either. The sound was well-balanced, and even with my ear completely uncovered, I didn’t notice any issues with the audio sounding distant or muddy. Instead, the Ultra Open Earbuds sounded clear, natural, and pretty lush.

Even better? They were, as Bose puts it, “surprisingly private.” At lower volumes, my partner couldn’t hear anything that I was listening to — even while standing a foot in front of me. At high volumes, it was definitely noticeable, but considering I never maxed out the volume, it wasn’t too big of an issue.

The new Bose earbuds let you create your own bubble of sound. Credit: RJ Andersen What I loved about the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds: Battery life and controls

Incredible comfort and good sound quality aside, I was surprised by how much I loved these earbuds. The battery life is phenomenal — up to 7.5 hours of playtime (less if you’re using Bose’s Immersive Audio feature) or a surprising 48 hours of battery life on standby. The charging case also provides an additional 19.5 hours of battery. Despite using these earbuds almost daily for several weeks, I barely needed to charge the case, and the promised 7.5 hours of playtime ended up being spot on in my testing.

The earbuds feature super convenient shortcuts via the button on the battery barrel. You can play and pause audio with a single press, skip forward with a double press, and skip backward with a triple press. A double press and hold on the left earbud decreases volume, while a double press and hold on the right increases it, and a long hold on either button can be customized in the Bose Music app to perform additional functions like activating your device’s voice assistant or toggling through Immersive Audio modes.

I liked that these earbuds included some of my favorite Bose features via the Bose Music app, including a basic equalizer and optional spatialized sound using Bose Immersive Audio. There's also a new optional feature called “Auto Volume” that dynamically adjusts the volume of your audio based on your surroundings. Finally, I could easily switch between multiple devices, including my Apple iPhone 11 Pro, and I love that they announced which device I was connected to.

What I didn’t love about them: Built-in microphone

Honestly, there was only one thing I didn’t love about my experience: the built-in microphone. For as good as Bose’s audio quality is, the built-in microphone on these earbuds wasn’t the best, especially when I was outdoors. Friends described it as sounding like a “really distant tunnel,” and my indoor microphone tests produced similar results.

Considering these earbuds are designed for all-day wear, it was disappointing to discover the microphone was so lacking. At one point, I even had to disconnect my earbuds entirely to talk to a friend directly through my phone because the ambient noise was so loud. Even at my desk, I tend to switch to other headphones to accept Zoom calls — it’s not that the Bose earbuds don’t work on calls, but the microphone quality is lacking even in quiet indoor environments.

Impressive battery life, less impressive microphone quality. Credit: RJ Andersen Are the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds worth it?

At $299, the Ultra Open Earbuds are definitely pricey. However, I can’t help but think they’re worth the splurge — especially if you’re looking for a comfortable earbud that gives you the flexibility to listen to music and stay aware of the world around you. When Bose announced these headphones, they described them as the solution to the “one bud phenomenon” — aka needing to pull out one of your earbuds to interact with the world — and I was surprised to find that they lived up to the hype. Not only are the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds cool and functional, but the sound quality is great, the fit is incredible, and the comfort level is off the charts.

As someone who has long struggled to find earbuds that are actually comfortable for long-term wear, I definitely think I’ll be sticking with them — especially for my day-to-day use and outdoor activities like walking, jogging, and biking. While there are definitely more affordable earbuds to consider, these earbuds are in a category of their own. (Hopefully, these open-ear audio devices start a trend.) It’s a cool and unique product offering with a lot of potential, and if you find yourself getting excited about the hype like I was, then they’re definitely worth trying.

However, if you’re looking for a little more privacy to blast your music (like in a quiet office environment), you need Active Noise Cancellation, prefer better microphone quality, or you’re on a budget, then you might want to look elsewhere. These earbuds won’t be the best for everyone, but for the right people, they’re definitely a smart investment.

Opens in a new window Credit: Bose Bose Ultra Open Earbuds $299.00 at Bose
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The wider world — a.k.a. those who came to women's basketball via Caitlin Clark's superstardom at Iowa — was shocked to learn her forthcoming WNBA salary after she was selected No. 1 overall by the Indiana Fever during the league's draft on Monday night. A tweet from the basketball aggregation account @TheDunkCentral went viral as it laid out the (relatively) paltry sum Clark can expect to see for the duration of her rookie contract.

Here's the post.

Tweet may have been deleted

To be fair, the listed salaries are shockingly low for the best college player of her generation. The first year came in at $76,535, with a raise each year, then a fourth-year option for $97,582. And the Indiana Fever will likely pick up that fourth-year option. Because...duh.

Over four years, the contract could be worth around $338,056. Divided up, that's an annual salary well over the American average of $59,540 but, um, not so much for a superstar.

But it's important to note that this is not the Indiana Fever cheapening out on Clark's contract. In most American sports, rookie pay is determined by where you're drafted. The WNBA is no exception. Rookie salaries are, in most cases, defined by the collective bargaining agreement between the players' union and the league. So this was always going to be Clark's pay. She knew that the second she decided to leave Iowa for the league.

Lots of folks online, however, were flabbergasted at the salary. Again, that's understandable considering the size of her stardom and the record-breaking attention she, and others, brought to women's basketball over the past two seasons.

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

Lots of folks pointed out — and it is obvious — that Clark will be very rich regardless of her rookie contract. She already makes millions on endorsement deals and will make even more as a professional athlete.

But to use the endorsements as an apologia for her low salary isn't quite right either. To anyone with a pulse, it's clear Clark is worth more than $76,000 a year. If anything, the fact that Clark can make millions with endorsements proves her salary should be higher.

To better understand what happened here, we've got to go back to that collective bargaining agreement, a.k.a. the CBA, between the players' union and the league. The meat of most CBAs in sports defines how the league and players will split revenue. For the four major male sports — NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL — around half of league revenue goes to the players. (This is a gross simplification but you get the picture.) The league takes half of the pot, and the players get the other half. From there, a CBA will define things like a rookie pay scale, veteran minimum salaries, max salaries, and other such things involving the contract between players and the pro league.

SEE ALSO: March Madness and Caitlin Clark have already given us some great memes

The CBA for the WNBA, however, isn't as generous to the players. A detailed Bloomberg analysis from April 2023 found that base salaries as a share of total revenue stood at just 9.3 percent in the WNBA. As the Bloomberg article pointed out, revenue is also defined differently in the WNBA compared to the NBA. Team revenue — cash from ticket sales, merch, food, local TV deals, etc. — is separate from league revenue, things like national media deals or corporate sponsorship.

Team revenue is used by the 12 WNBA franchises to pay player salaries while league revenue, in theory, could be shared directly with players. I say in theory because that league revenue only becomes available to players if the WNBA hits its aggressive goals, including 20 percent year-over-year revenue growth. It's an incremental-growth revenue-sharing system, in comparison to the NBA's overall revenue-sharing system. Bloomberg noted in its 2023 report that revenue sharing had never been triggered under the WNBA's CBA.

Yet, the WNBA has shown clear signs of growth in recent seasons, even before the expected boon of adding Clark into the mix. It seems clear players deserve more than this CBA is dishing out. The good news for them is that the players' union can opt out of the contract after the 2024 season.

In the wake of Clark's WNBA contract — lots of folks seemed to discover WNBA salary levels via the viral tweet — longtime supporters of the league are a bit annoyed. And with good reason: Sports reporters Jemele Hill and Sarah Spain tweeted out further context regarding the contract and called for fans to simply support the league.

Tweet may have been deleted

As they pointed out, it makes sense that the WNBA, which is only 27 years old, isn't a financial powerhouse like the NBA. The NBA took a long time to become the NBA. Top players are making $50 million per year now, but they weren't always making seven figures. Generation by generation it grew. That's how the WNBA will see a spike in pay.

Not for nothing, but some 18.7 million people watched Clark fall to undefeated South Carolina in the NCAA championship game — that was more than the men's NCAA final. NBA Finals games haven't done numbers like that since 2019. Last year's WNBA finals, however, averaged just 728,000 viewers, which was its highest figure in 20 years.

If Clark, alongside established WNBA stars like A'ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart, can bring a portion of that NCAA crowd to the WNBA, then salaries will increase significantly. In the sports world, when it comes to finances, TV ratings and media rights contracts are all that really matter. Big numbers are undeniable.

So yes, Clark is underpaid. Using the standard of most leagues' revenue-sharing models, her rookie contract should be higher. And yes, she will still be quite rich, no matter her salary.

But what matters from here, for both Clark's bank account and the rest of the league, is seeing if the ratings boom from her college career transfers to the WNBA. And just FYI, WNBA League Pass — where you can stream all the games — is just $35 for the year. Quite the steal to watch the biggest show in basketball over the last two years.

TL;DR: Through April 21, you can get your hands on an open-box unit of My Arcade Atari Game Station Pro for 30% off at $69.99.

You may have heard that My Arcade and Atari have teamed up to develop a handheld gaming console that will give Nintendo Switch a run for its money. The companies are looking to release a portable console that combines Atari's most popular controllers with a library of over 200 classic games. The kicker? The experience has been modernized, so if you're looking for the authentic, tactile Atari experience of yesteryear, you ought to get the My Arcade Atari Game Station Pro instead, on sale for $69.99 for a limited time.

The open-box version of this nostalgia-packed video game console is on sale for 30% off for a limited time, letting you take a trip down memory lane and relive the golden age of gaming for less. Boasting full licensing from Atari, it comes loaded with more than 200 Atari classics and bonus games, all officially licensed and ready to play.

The My Arcade Atari Game Station Pro happens to be the first console to merge Atari 2600, 5200, 7800, and Arcade into a single platform, with dual 2.4GHz wireless joysticks patterned after the original Atari design to boot. Dynamic RGB LED lights are built-in, too, and integrated paddles to make gaming more immersive and enjoyable.

You can expect to get a blast from the past with the games available, including the popular Asteroids, Centipede, Pong, Breakout, Missile Command, and many more. You can connect the console to virtually any TV via HDMI, and you also have the option to save your games so you can continue where you left off at a later time.

It's worth noting that this unit is considered "open-box", meaning it was likely returned or excess inventory, and it's pretty much as good as new. The packaging may be slightly distressed, but the unit itself has been restored to its factory settings and comes with the original accessories. You also get a minimum 90-day warranty.

Game like it's 1980 with the My Arcade Atari Game Station Pro. It normally goes for $99, but this open-box unit is on sale for only $69.99.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

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TL;DR: Through April 21, if you want just one cable for all your devices, get the InCharge® X Max 100W 6-in-1 Charging Cable for $19.97 with code INCHARGE. 

Even if you only use Apple or Android devices, you still might need to carry around multiple cables to keep everything charged. Whether you're sporting a Lightning and a USB-C for your iPhone and iPad or a USB-C and Micro charger for your Android and tablet, it's hard to get away with carrying just one cable. And if you add a computer to the mix, it's all over unless you can find a single cable with each connector you need. 

The InCharge® X Max looks like any old Lightning to USB-A cable, but it has more going on. Each end of the cable folds to reveal another output, but that's not all it can do, and it's only $19.97 when you enter coupon code INCHARGE at checkout.

Compatible with almost any smart device

The InCharge X Max is hiding a few things. In its normal configuration, it connects to USB-A and Lightning devices. Fold either end to reveal a USB-C output. The Micro connector is a little harder to find. It's actually built into the Lightning end of the cable, but you can still plug it into Micro devices.

If you need a fast charge, Flip open the USB-C to USB-C configuration for up to 100W power transfer or 18W for iPhones. Data transfer is pretty quick, too. This cable could reach up to 480Mbps. 

If you're carrying one cable for all your devices, it's a bit more important that it's designed not to break. That's why this one is made from aramid fiber and braided copper wire, and it has TPU cable guards. 

One cable, six configurations

Skip the recharge roll call and carry one cable for practically any smart device. 

You have until April 21 at 11:59 p.m. PT to get the InCharge® X Max 100W 6-in-1 Charging Cable for $19.97 with code INCHARGE. 

StackSocial prices subject to change. 

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TL;DR: Through April 21, save 57% when you get a lifetime subscription to the IdeaAize All-in-One AI Tool Business Plan for just $169.99.

If you own a small business, paying staff for individual roles might not be in the financial cards for you just yet. However, you can't do it all alone. While AI tools have their place, you might need to rely on more than one artificial intelligence platform to get the job done, which isn't very efficient. That's why you may be interested in this offer on the IdeaAize All-in-One AI Tool.

IdeaAize was designed to streamline your workflow and do the job of five AI platforms. A lifetime subscription to the IdeaAize Business Plan is also on sale for just $169.99 (reg. $399) for a limited time.

You can think of IdeaAize as an assistant that can support all of your business efforts. Offering a suite of AI-powered features, from market analysis and data interpretation to automated content creation and customer service enhancements, IdeaAize is designed to support many aspects of your operations.

This tool features a dashboard as your home base of sorts. From there, you can do things like generate text for your next blog post and have it create a professional-looking image to accompany it. You also get the capabilities to convert speech to text and text to speech, create voiceovers for your marketing and social content that sound like real humans, and build smart chatbots to help support your website.

This tool also allows you to streamline and simplify coding tasks and offers templates to simplify things. The Business Plan gets you lifetime access on one device. You'll also have access to around-the-clock customer support.

See how this AI multi-tool can help you become more efficient and more productive.

Pick up a lifetime subscription to the IdeaAize All-in-One AI Tool Business Plan while it's on sale for just $169.99 (reg. $399) for a limited time.

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TL;DR: Through April 21, get lifetime access to microbook summaries of popular non-fiction titles with the 12min Premium Plan for just $34.99.

Finding time for personal development and learning can be a challenge in the hustle and bustle of life. The 12min app offers a groundbreaking solution: a collection of microbooks in text and audio form that you can read in just 12 minutes. A lifetime subscription to the 12min Premium Plan is on sale for just $34.99.

This app breaks down the key aspects of over 2,500 nonfiction titles into summaries that you can fit into about twelve minutes. These condensed versions, called microbooks, are available to 12min subscribers in text or audio form. That means you can get your microbook to read while riding on the train or behind the wheel, or even organizing your closet.

There are twenty-four categories to choose from, including science and tech, personal development, and more. You can even request titles that you'd like summarized, and the pros at 12min will oblige, giving you a shortened microbook version with all the key insights and ideas. That means you can start crossing some titles off your must-read list or go on to pick up the full book version if you really enjoy the microbook.

You'll receive daily recommendations and, at the end of each microbook, have the choice to take a short quiz. You can even use 12min with or without an internet connection, which is convenient for travelers.

With more than 6 million users, this platform supports English, Spanish, and Portuguese. 

Don't let your busy lifestyle deter you from the knowledge you seek.

Get a lifetime subscription to the 12min Premium Plan for just $34.99 and save hundreds when you order through April 21.

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We don’t know how we feel about AI.

Since ChatGPT was released in 2022, the generative AI frenzy has stoked simultaneous fear and hype, leaving the public even more unsure of what to believe.

According to Edelman's annual trust barometer report, Americans have become less trustworthy of tech year over year. A large majority of Americans want transparency and guardrails around the use of AI — but not everyone has even used the tools. People under 40 and college-educated Americans are more aware and more likely to use generative AI, according to a June national poll from BlueLabs reported by Axios. Of course, optimism also falls along political lines: The BlueLabs poll found one in three Republicans believe AI is negatively impacting daily life, compared to one in five Democrats. An Ipsos poll from April came to similar conclusions. 

SEE ALSO: I spent a week using AI tools in my daily life. Here's how it went.

Whether you trust it or not, there is not much of a debate as to whether AI has the potential to be a powerful tool. President Vladimir Putin told Russian students on their first day of school in 2017 that whoever leads the AI race would become the "ruler of the world." Elon Musk quote-tweeted a Verge article that included Putin’s quote, and added that "competition for AI superiority at national level most likely cause of WW3 imo." That was six years ago.

These discussions all drive one imperative question: Is AI good or bad?

It's an important question, but the answer is more complicated than "yes" or "no." There are ways generative AI is used that are promising, could increase efficiency, and could solve some of society's woes. But there are also ways generative AI can be used that are dark, even sinister, and have the potential to increase the wealth gap, destroy jobs, and spread misinformation. 

Ultimately, whether AI is good or bad depends on how it's used and by whom. 

Positive uses of generative AI

The big positive for AI that Big Tech promises is efficiency. AI can automate repetitive tasks in fields like data entry and processing, customer service, inventory management, data analysis, social media management, financial analysis, language translation, content generation, personal assistants, virtual learning, email sorting and filtering, and supply chain optimization, making tedious tasks a bit easier for workers.

You can use AI to make a workout plan or help create a travel itinerary. Some professors use it to clean up their work. For instance, Gloria Washington, an Assistant Professor at Howard University and a member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, uses ChatGPT as a tool to make her life easier where she can. She told Mashable that she uses ChatGPT for two main reasons: to find information quickly and to work differently as an educator. 

"If I am writing an email and I want to appear as if I really know what I'm talking about… I'll run it through ChatGPT to give me some quick little hints and tips on how to improve the way that I say the information in the email or the communication in general," Washington said. "Or if I'm giving a speech, [I'll ask ChatGPT for help with] something really quick that I can easily incorporate into my talking points."

As an educator, it's revolutionizing how she approaches giving homework assignments. She also encourages students to use ChatGPT to help with emails and coding languages. But it's still a relatively new technology, and you can tell. While 80 percent of teachers said they received "formal training about generative AI use policies and procedures," only 28 percent of teachers said "that they have received guidance about how to respond if they suspect a student has used generative AI in ways that are not allowed, such as plagiarism," according to research from the Center for Democracy & Technology.

"In our research last school year, we saw schools struggling to adopt policies surrounding the use of generative AI, and are heartened to see big gains since then," the President and CEO of the Center for Democracy & Technology, Alexandra Reeve Givens, said in a press release. "But the biggest risks of this technology being used in schools are going unaddressed, due to gaps in training and guidance to educators on the responsible use of generative AI and related detection tools. As a result, teachers remain distrustful of students, and more students are getting in trouble."

AI can improve efficiency and reduce human error in manufacturing, logistics, and customer service industries. It can accelerate scientific research by analyzing large datasets, simulating complex systems, and aiding in data-driven discoveries. It can be used to optimize resource consumption, monitor pollution, and develop sustainable solutions to environmental challenges. AI-powered tools can enhance personalized learning experiences and make education more accessible to a broader range of individuals. AI has the potential to revolutionize medical diagnoses, drug discovery, and personalized treatment plans.

The positives are undeniable, but that doesn't mean the negatives are worth ignoring, Camille Carlton, a senior policy manager at the Center for Humane Technology, told Mashable.

"I don't think that these potential future benefits should be driving our decisions to not pay attention and put up guardrails around these technologies today," she said. "Because the potential for these technologies to increase inequality, to increase polarization, to continue to [affect the deterioration of our] mental health, [and] increase systemic bias, are all very real and they're all happening right now."

Negative aspects of generative AI

You might consider anyone who fears negative aspects of generative AI to be a Luddite, and maybe they are — but in a more literal sense than how the word is carried today. Luddites were a group of English workers in the early 1800s who destroyed automated textile manufacturing machines — not because they feared the technology, but because there was nothing in place to ensure their jobs were safe from replacement by the tech. Beyond this, they weren't just economically precarious — they were starving at the hands of the machines. Now, of course, the word is used to derogatorily describe a person who fears or avoids new technology simply because it is new technology.

In reality, there are loads of questionable use cases for generative AI. When we consider healthcare, for instance, there are too many variables to worry about before we can trust AI with our physical and mental well-being. AI can automate repetitive tasks like healthcare diagnostics by analyzing medical images via X-rays and MRIs to help diagnose diseases and identify abnormalities — which can be good, but the majority of Americans are concerned about the increased use of AI in healthcare, according to a survey from Morning Consult. Their fear is reasonable: Training data in medicine is often incomplete, biased, or inaccurate, and the technology is only as good as the data it has, which can lead to incorrect diagnoses, treatment recommendations, or research conclusions. Moreover, medical training data is often not representative of diverse populations which could result in unequal access to accurate diagnoses and treatments — particularly for patients of color.

Generative AI models don't understand medical nuance, can't provide any kind of solid bedside manner, lack accountability, and can be misinterpreted by medical professionals. And it becomes far more difficult to ensure patient privacy when data is being passed through AI, obtaining informed consent, and preventing the misuse of generated content become critical issues.

"The public views it as something that whatever it spits out is like God," Washington said. "And unfortunately it is not true." Washington points out that most generative AI models are created by collecting information from the internet — and not everything on the internet is accurate or free from bias.

The automation potential of AI could also lead to unemployment and economic inequality. In March, Goldman Sachs predicted that AI could eventually replace 300 million full-time jobs globally, affecting nearly one-fifth of employment. AI eliminated nearly 4,000 jobs in May 2023 and more than one-third of business leaders say AI replaced workers last year, according to CNBC. This has led unions in creative industries, like SAG-AFTRA, to fight for more comprehensive protection against AI. OpenAI's new AI video generator Sora makes the threat of job replacement even more real for creative industries with its ability to generate photorealistic videos from a simple prompt.

SEE ALSO: SAG-AFTRA wins AI music protections in new deal

"If we do get to a place where we can find a cure for cancer with AI, does that happen before inequality is so terrible that we have complete social unrest?" Carlton questioned. "Does it happen after polarization continues to increase? Does it happen after we see more democratic decline?"

We don't know. The fear with AI isn't necessarily that the sci-fi movie iRobot will become some kind of documentary, but more that the people who choose to use it might not have the best intentions — or even know the repercussions of their own work.

"This idea that artificial intelligence is going to progress to a point where humans don’t have any work to do or don’t have any purpose has never resonated with me," Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, which launched ChatGPT, said last year. "There will be some people who choose not to work, and I think that’s great. I think that should be a valid choice, and there are a lot of other ways to find meaning in life. But I’ve never seen convincing evidence that what we do with better tools is to work less."

A few more questionable use cases for AI include the following: It can be used for invasive surveillance, data mining, and profiling, posing risks to individual privacy and civil liberties; if not carefully developed, AI systems can inherit biases from their training data, leading to discriminatory outcomes in areas such as hiring, lending, and criminal justice; AI can raise ethical questions, such as the potential for autonomous weapons, decision-making in critical situations, and the rights of AI entities; over-reliance on AI systems could lead to a loss of human control and decision-making, potentially impacting society's ability to understand and address complex issues.

And then there's the disinformation. Don't take my word for it — Altman fears that, too.

"I'm particularly worried that these models could be used for large-scale disinformation," Altman said. "Now that they're getting better at writing computer code, [they] could be used for offensive cyberattacks." For instance, consider the AI voice-generated robocalls created to sound like President Joe Biden.

Generative AI is great at creating misinformation, University of Washington professor Kate Starbird told Axios. The MIT Technology Review even reported that humans are more likely to believe disinformation generated by AI than by other humans.

"Generative AI creates content that sounds reasonable and plausible, but has little regard for accuracy," Starbird said. "In other words, it functions as a [bullshit] generator." Indeed, some studies show AI-generated misinformation to be even more persuasive than false content created by humans.

What does this mean?

"Instead of asking this question about net good or net bad…what is more beneficial for all of us to be asking is, good how?" Carlton said. "What are the costs of these systems to get us to the better place we're trying to get to? And good for who, who is going to experience this better place? How are the benefits going to be distributed to [those] left behind? When do these benefits show up? Do they show up after [the] harms have already happened — a society with worse mental health, worse polarization? And does the direction that we're going in reflect our values? Are we creating the world that we want to live in?"

Governments have caught on to AI's risks and created regulations to mitigate harms. The European Parliament passed a sweeping "AI Act" to protect against high-risk AI applications, and the Biden Administration signed an executive order to address AI concerns in cybersecurity and biometrics.

SEE ALSO: The White House knows the risks of AI being used by federal agencies. Here's how they're handling it.

Generative AI is part of our innate interest in growth and progress, moving ahead as fast as possible in a race to be bigger, better, and more technologically advanced than our neighbors. As Donella Meadows, the environmental scientist and educator who wrote The Limits to Growth and Thinking In Systems: A Primer asks, Why?

"Growth is one of the stupidest purposes ever invented by any culture; we’ve got to have an 'enough,'" Meadows said. "We should always ask 'growth of what, and why, and for whom, and who pays the cost, and how long can it last, and what’s the cost to the planet, and how much is enough?'"

The entire point of generative AI is to recreate human intelligence. But who is deciding that standard? Usually, that answer is wealthy, white elites. And who decided that a lack of human intelligence is a problem at all? Perhaps we need more empathy — something AI can’t compute.

There is nothing quite as thrilling as logging into your Netflix account on a new device.

Airbnb has a smart TV? Log me the heck in. Friend doesn't have an account and I need to yell about Bridgerton? PASS THE REMOTE, BABY. Add it to the iPad, the phone, the game systems... but while taking the joy of Netflix everywhere is a blessing for which we are grateful, there comes a time when everyone must log out to protect their account. That can be a little confusing.

Here's how to do it no matter which device you're using.

SEE ALSO: The 15 best new shows on Netflix How to log out of Netflix on your browser

This one is the easiest, but at this point it's probably where you use Netflix the least.

Total Time

• 2 min

What You Need

• Netflix account
• Web browser

Step 1: Open Netflix in your browser.

Step 2: Click on your profile icon in the top right corner.

Credit: Screenshot: Mashable / Proma Khosla

Step 3: Select "Sign Out of Netflix" from the dropdown.

In-browser Netflix is also the only place you'll find the essential time-saving option of signing out of all your Netflix-connected devices at once. A crucial security feature that kicks everyone using an account back to the sign-in prompt with one click.

Just click "Account" in that same drop-down menu as above and you'll see a "Sign out of all devices" link listed under the Settings section on the next page.

Credit: Screenshot: Mashable How to log out of Netflix on tablets and mobile devices

Signing in and out of Netflix on mobile is easy, and follows much of the same steps as doing so on your browser.

Total Time

• 2 min

What You Need

• Netflix account
• Smartphone or tablet

Step 1: Open the Netflix app on your smartphone or tablet.

Step 2: Click your profile icon to sign in, then click it again in the app.

Credit: Screenshot: Mashable / Netflix

Step 3: Select "Sign Out" from the dropdown menu

On a tablet, this same menu appears under the three lines of the "More" menu.

How to log out of Netflix on smart TVs, app devices, and gaming systems HELP me sign out of this stranger's TV Credit: Mashable / Proma Khosla

Since these are some of the hardest devices to log into Netflix on, it follows that they're the most challenging to sign out of. Here's what you need to know for that immensely stressful moment when you cannot find the sign out option and are about to hand the keys of your account to an Airbnb host who didn't even have salt and pepper: Get help.

Netflix has hidden the sign out option under "Get Help" on most devices because only under extreme stress would someone ever want to disconnect their Netflix account from a TV, right? Simply scroll down to "Get Help" on any profile and then "Sign Out of Netflix." If you click on your profile thumb repeatedly out of frustration, you are not alone.

It's a little less dramatic on the Apple TV side, where recent models allow you to sign out under "Settings." Just scroll down the left side menu on any profile and click through. Makes sense!

For PlayStation, select "O" on your controller, then the gear icon. You'll have the option to sign out there.

It's fine, you'll be back.

Google Maps navigation now has the option to show 3D buildings around you.

The feature seems to have been live for a while, though it was only recently picked up by news outlets which cover Android, after AssembleDebug shared a screenshot on X.

Tweet may have been deleted

The feature has been in testing since at least January, both on mobile and in Android Auto, but now seems to be rolling out more widely. For beta users, it should be available in Google Maps beta 124 or later. It's available under Settings – Navigation – Show 3D buildings.

While this feature is just now arriving to Android phones, it's already available on the iPhone and iPad; see screenshot, taken on my iPhone, below.

3D buildings while navigating are arriving on Android, but they're already live on iOS. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

While the "Show 3D buildings" feature is on by default, there's a small trick to getting it to work. If you start navigation while in Google's standard map view, the 3D buildings will not show up even if the aforementioned feature is on. You need to first tap on the "layers" icon in Google Maps, and hit the "3D" icon. This will enable 3D buildings in normal map view, and they will also keep showing while in navigation mode.

You need to have the 3D layer on in Google Maps and the "Show 3D buildings" setting on in Navigation setttings for this to work. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

The 3D buildings sound like they could be a distraction, but they're shown as semi-transparent outlines on the map, ideally making it easier to find your way around, especially in big cities with lots of tall structures.

Sesame Street's writers have unanimously voted to go on strike, with picketing to begin as early as next week. It seems the air on the famous Manhattan street isn't quite as sweet as we've been led to believe.

All 35 of Sesame Street's writers authorised a strike in a vote held by the Writers Guild of America (WGA), without a single one abstaining. Negotiations between the writers' union and Sesame Street's management have been ongoing since Feb. 13, as their current contract is set to expire on Apr. 19. Unfortunately, they've reached an impasse. 

The writers will now begin picketing Sesame Workshop's New York offices from Apr. 24, unless a deal is reached beforehand. Sesame Workshop is the non-profit organisation which produces Sesame Street, alongside other children's shows such as Bea's Block, Esme & Roy, and Ghostwriter.

SEE ALSO: 'Abbott Elementary's Quinta Brunson teaches Cookie Monster about kindness in sweet 'Sesame Street' clip Tweet may have been deleted

The union outlined its demands in a press release shared by both the Writers Guild of America East (WGAE) and Writers Guild of America West (WGAW). It stated that Sesame Street's writers are pushing for a deal which includes "industry standard annual raises, improvements to residuals, and union coverage for Sesame Workshop’s popular animation and social media segments."

"Our demands would be extremely meaningful for the affected writers, particularly those in animation who are currently being excluded from basic union benefits and protections like pension and healthcare," said the WGA Sesame Workshop Negotiating Committee. "We hope for a speedy and amicable resolution to these negotiations so that we can continue to do the work of helping the next generation grow smarter, stronger and kinder."

"Our writers are integral members of our creative team, and we are engaged in good faith negotiations with the WGA," a Sesame Workshop spokesperson told Mashable. "We’re still hopeful that we’ll come to an agreement in advance of the expiration."

Mashable has reached out to WGAW for comment. WGAE declined to comment further.

Tweet may have been deleted

First airing on PBS in 1969, Sesame Street has become a beloved children's television stalwart across the world, and still brings comfort to viewers even after they've aged out of its target demographic. A Twitter/X post from Sesame Street cast member Elmo went viral earlier this year after the furry red four-year-old's inquiry about people's wellbeing sparked a mass online trauma dump.

"No one wants to see a picket line on Sesame Street," said WGAE President Lisa Takeuchi Cullen. "Millions of parents and families around the world are going to have a lot of questions. They might ask why the bosses at Sesame Workshop are ignoring their company's own messages of kindness and fairness."

If there's one thing the U.S. entertainment industry has learnt over the past year, it's that you should never underestimate writers. Hollywood ground to a halt in 2023 after the entire WGA went on strike, setting down their pens for almost six months as they negotiated a new agreement with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP). The historic industrial action ended with the WGA securing a deal that ensured better streaming residuals, minimum staffing requirements for TV writers' rooms, and a prohibition on the use of AI for generating source material.

It seems unlikely the Sesame Street strike will last as long, assuming it does end up going ahead. But unless a new contract is negotiated within the next few days, it may still be a while before any writers are around to tell you how to get to Sesame Street.

UPDATE: Apr. 18, 2024, 11:14 a.m. AEST This article has been updated with comment from Sesame Workshop.

The best managers are good listeners, and the best listeners exude empathy. And despite what you may think, empathy is a skill that you can practice and develop. Here are some ways to build the muscle. First, try “looping”: When you ask your employee a question, listen carefully to their answer, then paraphrase it back […]

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TL;DR: A wide range of online courses from the University of Michigan are available to take for free on edX.

Another week, another batch of free online courses from one of the most respected educational institutions in the world. We've already made stops at MIT, Stanford, and Harvard, and now it's the turn of the University of Michigan.

You can find online courses from the University of Michigan on Python programming, JavaScript, and so much more, and you don't have to pay anything to enroll. We have checked out everything on offer and lined up a standout selection of courses to get you started.

These are the best free online courses from the University of Michigan this month:

• Advanced Literature Searching in the Health Sciences

• Building Web Applications in Django

• Community Engagement: Collaborating for Change

• Database Design and Basic SQL in PostgreSQL

• Data Science Ethics

• Django Features and Libraries

• Finance for Everyone: Smart Tools for Decision-Making

• Grant Writing and Crowdfunding for Public Libraries

• Intermediate PostgreSQL

• Introduction to Data Analytics for Managers

• JSON and Natural Language Processing in PostgreSQL

• Leading Change: Go Beyond Gamification with Gameful Learning

• Programming for Everybody (Getting Started with Python)

• Public Library Marketing and Public Relations

• Python Data Structures

• Storytelling for Social Change

• Successful Negotiation: Essential Strategies and Skills

• Using JavaScript and JSON in Django

• Web Application Technologies and Django

The catch is that these free courses do not come with a certificate of completion, but you can still learn at your own pace with unrestricted access to all the course materials. It's also worth noting that a lot of the courses featured are not exactly beginner friendly.

Find the best free online courses from the University of Michigan on edX.

Opens in a new window Credit: University of Michigan University of Michigan Online Courses Free at edX Get Deal

TL;DR: A lifetime subscription to a Matt's Flights Premium Plan is on sale for £64.26, saving you 95% on list price.

If you’re planning a spring holiday, make sure to get your tickets early. Every year, travellers end up snatching up a ton of tickets, and finding affordable airfare isn’t easy to begin with. You may be able to lighten the load of planning if you let Matt’s Flights show you where the deals are. This premium flight finder service scans ticket prices every day looking for the best deals, then immediately emails them to you, and a lifetime subscription is only £64.26. 

Skip the stress of finding cheap flights. Matt’s Flights could find them for you, and all you have to do is select your departing airport or location and check your inbox. Every week, you’ll get three or more notifications of flights leaving your chosen airport for domestic and international locations. 

It doesn’t happen too often, but sometimes an airline will post a ticket for the wrong price. Those mistake fares can end up being way cheaper than they should be. If you can buy it before the airline notices and corrects the mistake, you may be able to secure a much cheaper flight. Normally, you’d have to scour the web looking for mistake fares, but Matt’s Flights sends any relevant ones it finds to your inbox automatically. 

Matt’s Flights automatically sends you any enticing ticket deal they find leaving your airport, but you can talk about a specific destination you have in mind by accessing your personal one-on-one travel planning support that’s available 24 hours a day. A premium membership gets you three to five times more deals than the basic members instantly. If you don’t see your airport on the supported list, all it takes is an email to get it added for custom searches. 

Planning a holiday? Take some of the stress off and get a lifetime subscription to Matt’s Flights Premium Plan for £64.26.

Opens in a new window Credit: Matt's Flights Matt's Flights Premium Plan (Lifetime Subscription) £64.26 at the Mashable Shop Get Deal

TL;DR: Watch Gujarat Titans vs. Delhi Capitals in the IPL for free on JioCinema. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Another day, another exciting round of the IPL.

Starting in March, the new season is now well and truly underway, with the Gujarat Titans and Delhi Capitals gearing up to compete. The spotlight will be on team captains Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant as they prepare to go head-to-head.

If you want to watch Gujarat Titans vs. Delhi Capitals for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Gujarat Titans vs. Delhi Capitals?

Gujarat Titans vs. Delhi Capitals starts at 3 p.m. BST on April 17. Wednesday's match takes place at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, India.

How to watch Gujarat Titans vs. Delhi Capitals for free

JioCinema is offering free live streams of every IPL cricket match this season in 4K resolution on its app.

JioCinema is geo-restricted to India, but anyone can unblock 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 India, meaning you can access JioCinema from anywhere in the world.

Unblock JioCinema to stream the IPL 2024 by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for 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 India

4. Visit JioCinema (you will need an Indian phone number to subscribe)

5. Watch Gujarat Titans vs. Delhi Capitals for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) £82.82 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

Most of the best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer free trials or money-back guarantees. By taking advantage of these offers, you can watch IPL live streams without committing with your cash. This is clearly not a long-term solution, but it does mean you can watch select IPL fixtures for free.

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

What is the best VPN for JioCinema?

ExpressVPN is the best service for unblocking JioCinema, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including India

• 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

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for £82.82 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Stream the IPL for free with ExpressVPN.

Connections is the latest New York Times word game that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for April 17's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

What is Connections?

The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

Tweet may have been deleted

Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer. If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

Tweet may have been deleted

Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

Want a hit about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

• Yellow: Structural beams

• Green: Being obedient to rules

• Blue: A given amount

• Purple: Confidential documents

Featured Video For You Connections: How to play and how to win Here are today's Connections categories

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

• Yellow: Upright Support

• Green: Heed, As Rules

• Blue: Allotment

• Purple: Gathered by Spies

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to Connections #311 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Upright Support: COLUMN, PILLAR, POLE, POST

• Heed, As Rules: FOLLOW, MIND, OBSERVE, REGARD

• Allotment: INTEREST, PERCENTAGE, SHARE, STAKE

• Gathered by Spies: DIRT, INFORMATION, INTELLIGENCE, SECRETS

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

Is this not the Connections game you were looking for? Here are the hints and answers to yesterday's Connections.

Oh hey there! If you're here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we're serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today's answer.

If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for April 17's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

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.

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

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 used to be available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it. Unfortunately, it has since been taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times.

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.

Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

A small monetary gift given to the church.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter T appears twice.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter T.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. What's the answer to Wordle today?

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 Wordle #1033 is...

TITHE.

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.

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

How to watch 'The Sympathizer' at a glance: BEST MAX DEAL FOR MOST PEOPLE Max (With Ads) annual subscription $99.99/year (save 17%) Get Deal BEST MAX DEAL WITH NO ADS Max (No Ads) annual subscription $149.99/year through April 9 (save 22%) Get Deal BEST FOR CRICKET CUSTOMERS Max (With Ads) Free for Cricket customers on the $60/month unlimited plan (save $9.99/month) Get Deal

The Sympathizer, one of our most anticipated shows of 2024, is now streaming. The new limited series from legendary filmmaker Park Chan-wook (Decision to Leave, The Handmaiden, Oldboy) brings Robert Downey Jr. to the small screen following his Oscar win for Oppenheimer. In The Sympathizer, Downey Jr. plays not one, not two, but four different roles. The series also stars Hoa Xuande, Fred Nguyen Khan, Toan Le, Nguyen Cao Ky Duyen, and the lovely Sandra Oh.

HBO and A24's take on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel is already seeing a flood of excellent reviews pouring in (including our own). If you want a taste of it for yourself, here's everything you need to know about how to watch The Sympathizer online.

What is The Sympathizer about?

Adapted from Viet Thanh Nguyen's novel of the same name, The Sympathizer follows a half-French, half-Vietnamese communist spy in the final days of the Vietnam War, as well as his new life as a refugee in the United States. It mixes classic espionage thrills with dark comedy and cross-culture satire, making for a story that blends multiple genres.

"Our narrator, simply known as "the Captain" (Hoa Xuande), struggles under duress to recall the events of his life as clearly as possible. The purpose of this recollection? A confession he's writing in a Vietnamese reeducation camp, where any lapse in memory or particularly clear detail could mean the difference between life and death," Mashable's Belen Edwards writes in her review of the series. "Given the confession's context, The Sympathizer is never far from a brutal reminder of the stakes at play. Tragedy haunts its blend of satire and espionage thriller throughout, resulting in challenging, can't-miss TV magic."

Read our full review of The Sympathizer.

Here's the official trailer:

When is The Sympathizer streaming?

The first episode of The Sympathizer premiered on HBO and Max simultaneously on April 14, 2024 at 9 p.m. ET. The seven-part series will air new episodes weekly on Sundays, with the season finale falling on May 26.

Is there a Max free trial?

Sadly, there's no active Max free trial through HBO directly or through third-parties like Prime Video or Hulu. Keep an eye out, though, as we've seen free trials pop up sporadically (then disappear just as quickly). However, Max does offer free episodes through its Watch Free portal. There are tons of HBO originals included on the platform, including White Lotus, Succession, The Last of Us, and Euphoria, so you can test the waters with a single episode of each before committing to a subscription.

The best Max streaming deals

Before you sign up for a Max subscription, make sure to double check that you don't already have access to Max through a previous subscription, a third party, or a cable, internet, or wireless provider. If you do still need to sign up for access, check out the two streaming deals below.

Best Max deal for most people: Save up to 20% on an annual plan Opens in a new window Credit: Max Max annual subscriptions Save up to 22% on Max Watch Now

Rather than paying a monthly fee, you can sign up for a Max annual plan and save up to 22%. The Max with ads monthly subscription will run you $9.99 per month, which adds up to about $119.88. With an annual plan, you'll pay just $99.99 per year — that's 17% in savings. The Ad-Free annual plan goes for $149.99 per year (reg. $191.88), which saves you 22% (the biggest savings of all three plans), and the Ultimate plan is $199.99 per year (reg. $239.88), which saves you about 17%.

Best Max deal for Cricket customers: Free Max with ads for customers on the $60/month unlimited plan Opens in a new window Credit: Cricket / Max Max With Ads Free for Cricket customers on the $60/month plan Watch Now

Being a Cricket Wireless customer certainly has its perks. If you're on the $60 per month unlimited plan through Cricket, you get Max With Ads for free (as long as your account remains in good standing). Just head over to the Max app or navigate to Max on a browser, then sign in with Cricket as your provider. Your Cricket credentials will then unlock full access to Max With Ads (typically a $99.99 per year value) without you having to pay any extra money. If you're a Cricket customer on a different plan, you can upgrade or switch over to secure the deal at any time. Check the terms and conditions on the Cricket website to learn more.

What are the different Max subscription tiers?

Similar to the former HBO Max streaming tiers, Max offers three different subscription plans: With Ads, Ad-Free, and Ultimate Ad-Free. Here's a breakdown of the differences between each tier.

Max With Ads — The most affordable option includes two concurrent streams, 1080p resolution, and 5.1 surround sound quality. There are no offline downloads and only light ads for $9.99 per month (or $99.99 per year).

Opens in a new window Credit: Max Max With Ads $9.99 per month or $99.99 per year Watch Now

Max Ad-Free — As the name suggest, this option cuts out the ads and offers two concurrent streams, 1080p resolution, 5.1 surround sound quality, and 30 offline downloads. It costs $15.99 per month (or $149.9 per year).

Opens in a new window Credit: Max Max Ad-Free $15.99 per month or $149.99 per year Watch Now

Max Ultimate Ad-Free — The most expensive of the tiers, this option includes four concurrent streams, up to 4K UHD resolution, Dolby Atmos sound quality, and 100 offline downloads. It'll cost you $19.99 per month (or $199.99 per year).

Opens in a new window Credit: Max Max Ultimate Ad-Free $19.99 per month or $199.99 per year Watch Now

2024 has not been good to Tesla so far. 

EV sales are on the decline, which led to the Elon Musk-led company laying off 10 percent of its workforce on Monday. Now there's a major problem with Tesla's newest vehicle, the Cybertruck, which has apparently forced the company to halt production, sales, and deliveries.

SEE ALSO: Tesla to cut more than 10% of workforce, report claims

While Tesla has yet to confirm the problem, some Tesla Cybertruck owners have reported on social media that they have experienced a major safety issue in which the accelerator pedal gets stuck when it's being pressed down.

Tweet may have been deleted

Tesla customers who had ordered the Cybertruck have posted on the internet that their deliveries have been suspended due to either a recall or a "stop-sale."

A well-known Elon Musk fan account on X, which usually reports on Tesla news, also reported that the company has stopped Cybertruck deliveries due to the accelerator issue.

One Cybertruck owner uploaded a video on TikTok to demonstrate what's going on with the accelerator. It appears a pedal cover is coming loose and sliding up the pedal. It can then reportedly get wedged in an indent on the floor of the Cybertruck. This issue happens when the accelerator is pushed all the way down causing the vehicle to go "full throttle," as the Cybertruck owner in the video puts it. The individual says he was able to stop the vehicle by holding down the brake pedal, which overrides the acceleration pedal, but the Cybertruck would immediately accelerate again if he took his foot off the brake.

Tesla's long-awaited Cybertruck was first delivered to customers who had preordered the vehicle late last year. However, since the very beginning, Cybertruck has been plagued with complaints from customers about a variety of issues.

As Tom's Guide reports, Cybertruck owners have blasted the car over everything from shoddy build quality issues to braking and accelerating at random.

"My truck has been in service longer than I've owned it," said one Cybertruck owner on X who has faced numerous issues with his brand new vehicle.

The previously mentioned Musk fan account said the delivery halt was for seven days, but it's unclear exactly when Tesla will fulfill Cybertruck deliveries again. It's also unclear what the company is doing about what appears to be a major design flaw with its accelerator pedal given that such an issue could potentially have fatal consequences.

Sony is gearing up for the launch of the PlayStation 5 Pro and encouraging developers to optimize their games for the new console.

Aiming to overcome the original PS5's limitations, the PS5 Pro focuses on enhanced ray tracing performance, which has been a challenge for the base model. The Verge reports that the upcoming PS5 Pro will dramatically improve how games handle ray-traced graphics, aiming for stable frame rates and higher fidelity — in stark contrast to the current model's performance.

When ray tracing isn't on point, the result can be glitchy or unnatural light or reflections — including stutters or low frame rates — which can break your feeling of immersion. 

SEE ALSO: Sony PlayStation 5 Pro leak: New PS5 Pro console may arrive for the 2024 holiday season

Developers are being prompted to prepare not only new games but also to update existing titles under the "Trinity Enhanced" label, after the console’s codename. This label assures players of enhanced features such as superior ray tracing, higher resolutions, and better overall performance.

According to leaks, the PS5 Pro will boast a significant speed advantage, approximately 45 percent faster than its predecessor, with enhanced titles supporting better resolution and frame rate. This upgrade mirrors the enhancement strategy seen in Xbox Series X and Series S games, although Sony’s focus appears to be meant for native PS5 games only.

The necessity of these upgrades is evident, as even high-profile PS5 games like Dragon's Dogma 2 and Final Fantasy 16 have struggled with performance issues on the original PS5. With the introduction of the PS5 Pro, Sony aims to not only address these issues but also to enhance the gaming experience significantly, making it an exciting prospect for gamers looking to upgrade.

We still haven't seen the iPhone 16, but we keep learning more about it every week.

This week's revelation is that the cameras on the iPhone 16 Pro might feature a small, but meaningful, improvement over last year's models. According to an aggregator called "yeux1122" on the Korean news platform Naver (as spotted by MacRumors), Apple is using advanced manufacturing techniques to improve future iPhone cameras.

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To be more specific, Apple is reportedly looking into using atomic layer deposition (or ALD) equipment for making iPhone cameras. In layman's terms, that would allow Apple to put anti-reflective coatings on its cameras. This would theoretically fix iPhone camera issues like lens flare and ghosting, which can happen when shooting directly at or behind a bright light source.

In other words, Apple would be killing a couple birds with one stone at the hardware level. This may not be a flashy feature to be advertised in press releases or trailers, but it's a small improvement that iPhone photographers would probably enjoy. However, as MacRumors pointed out, this could potentially be something Apple introduces next year instead of with the iPhone 16.

We'll find out in September.