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TL;DR: Learning can be fun with this lifetime subscription to Pok Pok, on sale now for just $44.97 (reg. $250) through June 14.

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If you have a little one at home, you’re likely navigating the stresses of screen time. It’s a difficult topic to navigate, but Pok Pok makes it a little easier. This award-winning app provides educational games for kids ages 2 to 8, offering a guilt-free and ad-free option.

Right now, a lifetime subscription to Pok Pok is available for $44.97 (reg. $250) until June 14.

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Pok Pok offers parents and caregivers a safe screen-time option for kiddos. It’s a Montessori-inspired learning app that takes a child-centered approach, offering hands-on learning and independence while focusing on a child’s natural development. Early childhood experts also weighed in on the app’s design to ensure the experience is enriching and supportive.

With Pok Pok, kids are in charge. Just open the app, tap a toy, and hand it over — your child can take over from there. There’s no winning or losing, and no rules, levels, or objectives, as it offers curiosity-driven learning that kids can discover on their own.

There are no ads, and Pok Pok was intentionally designed to offer a low-stimulation experience. There are hand-drawn animations, and the sound effects and music are made in-house, so the app offers a calm and gentle environment.

Let your kiddos pick from a playroom of possibilities — from space and dinosaurs to numbers, shapes, and dress-up. The open-ended play setup grows with your child, offering endless learning options for years.

This lifetime subscription includes access to regular updates, so there’s always something new and exciting to explore. You’ll also get family access across your household’s devices with a single account, and a gift will be mailed directly to your door for a fun surprise.

Lock in a lifetime subscription to Pok Pok for just $44.97 (reg. $250) now until June 14.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Brennan Lee Mulligan is a fascinating figure on Dropout because of the comical duality he's cultivated across the subscription streaming platform's shows.

On Dimension 20, a tabletop role-playing show he created, he's the mighty Game Master, in charge of dreaming up the fantasy worlds his intrepid heroes — or, in this case, a gaggle of improv comedians — traverse. In this role, he plays villains, love interests, gods, and an army of NPCs, all to build out the stories of his co-stars in collaborative play. There is no winning or losing. And through his many characters, Mulligan has shown incredible patience and empathy toward everyone, from an angst-ridden tiefling to a grief-stricken candy king to a vampire who sees himself as a superhero.

SEE ALSO: The 'Dimension 20' cast improvises a 'Dungeons and Dragons' character from scratch

However, on Game Changer, where the game changes every episode, Mulligan's competitive side shines like a sword's edge, ready to cut down his competition. As the series enters Season 8, Mashable interviewed Mulligan about his work at Dropout. And when it comes to his role on Game Changer, he explained his on-camera dynamic with host Sam Reich.

"The me I play in Game Changer is most often the Daffy Duck to Sam Reich's Bugs Bunny," Mulligan said. "I don't beat Sam, right? Sam beats me, even in the Brennan revenge episode. Spoilers: Sam wins, right? I know deep down, people, there is no hunger in the world for a Brennan Lee Mulligan victory."

How "Samalamadingdong" could bring a win for Mulligan. Credit: Ian Moore / Mashable

The "Brennan revenge episode" is officially titled "Samalamadingdong." The finale of Game Changer Season 7, this episode saw the contestants turn the tables on Reich, who was pranked with a fake photo shoot, then hauled off to a castle where a variety of puzzles awaited him. The episode featured scads of callbacks to past Game Changer gags, including those tied to Mulligan's wildest moments on the show.

For instance, the episode "Yes or No" from Season 2 had only one rule to discover: Brennan cannot win. Once Mulligan realized this, he unleashed a monologue that included this epic phrase, "The minotaur's escaped, and you're going to get the horns, buddy."

"Samalamadingdong" delivered on this promise, pitching Reich into a complicated labyrinth that culminates in him facing down Mulligan, dressed as a minotaur. And the only way out was for Reich to recall the declaration that Mulligan made in the very first episode of Game Changer, "Lie Detector." There, Mulligan gave a juicy personal confession, then declared, "There is no corner of my heart I would not turn over to the world for five points."

Of course, in the end of "Samalamadingdong," Reich wins, defeating the mighty minotaur that is Mulligan. But Reich, in a separate interview, joked that "Samalamadingdong" could give Mulligan an unexpected victory.

How could Brennan Lee Mulligan beat Sam Reich at his own game? Sam Reich on the set of Dropout's "Game Changer." Credit: Kate Elliott / Dropout

This Emmy season, Dropout has put forth several episodes of Game Changer and Very Important People for awards consideration. Reich spoke with Mashable about the difficulty of choosing which episodes to send to the nomination committee for consideration.

For Best Game Show, Reich was leaning toward "Rulette," where contestants had to improvise with ever-changing circumstances determined by a giant roulette wheel.

"'Rulette' is a pretty good bet," Reich said, "It's very funny, [a] very well-celebrated episode. It's very in the spirit of our show, despite even feeling a little bit basic for the show. It's like a great introduction to our show, and it's almost traditional enough that your average Emmy voter could look at it and go like, 'Oh, I understand how this is a game show like the game shows I'm used to, and how it's different.'"

In terms of production design, "Rulette" was considered, as was "Fool's Gold." For that Shark Tank parody, Dropout's team produced a string of aspiring viral videos that demanded a lot of creativity and craftsmanship, including the construction of tiny doll shoes for a video where Mulligan claims he's leaving the platform to become a cobbler for American Girl dolls.

"We did make those American Girl doll shoes," Reich noted, "Or is 'Rulette' [a better call] because, like, the big wheel and the Velcro costumes? The overall project feels a little bit more cohesive." 

Then, asked if "Samalamadingdong" might be submitted for consideration, Reich answered, "I think it's such a strong contender in so many categories. On the other hand, if Brennan gets nominated for this Emmy before I do, I am going to lose it. I am going to lose my mind."

Reich then clarified, "The truth is, he's an executive producer on the show as well. So when he wins, I win, and when I win, he wins. I'm just saying metaphorically, in terms of sheer symbolism: If the episode that I had nothing to do with before I showed up on set [wins]?"

Emmy nominations will be announced on July 8.

SAVE $40.05: As of June 11, the Braun IPL Silk·Expert is on sale for $279.94 at Amazon. That's a 13% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Braun Braun IPL Silk·Expert $279.94 at Amazon
$319.99 Save $40.05   Get Deal

Looking to spend less on beauty and salon appointments? An IPL device could be the answer. These at-home devices offer a long-term way to reduce unwanted hair, and a popular option is currently available at a discount on Amazon. As of June 11, it's currently down from its normal price of $319.99 to $279.94, saving you $40. And, with Prime Day around the corner, this has already dropped to its best-ever price.

IPL stands for intense pulsed light, and it uses flashes of light to target hair follicles and gradually reduce hair growth. While it's not the same as laser hair removal, it works similarly by targeting hair pigment. IPL is generally gentler than laser treatments, can be used at home, and offers a long-term solution for reducing unwanted hair.

With this model, you'll be able to use it on all parts of your body, thanks to the Smart Flex Head, which helps maintain coverage across different areas. The device also offers multiple intensity settings and attachments to tailor treatments to different body parts. It includes a skin-tone sensor that automatically adjusts light intensity for each flash.

Head to Amazon to grab this Braun deal.

TL;DR: Live stream South Korea vs. Czechia in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free on ITVX. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is kicking off with a number of really interesting matchups, including South Korea vs. Czechia.

Group A is difficult to predict, with Mexico and South Africa also vying for a spot in the knockout rounds. There's not much to separate these sides on paper, so every team will be desperate to start with a positive result.

If you want to watch South Korea vs. Czechia in the 2026 FIFA World Cup from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is South Korea vs. Czechia?

South Korea vs. Czechia in the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off at 10 p.m. ET on June 11. This fixture takes place at the Akron Stadium.

How to watch South Korea vs. Czechia for free

South Korea vs. Czechia in the 2026 FIFA World Cup is available to live stream for free on ITVX.

ITVX is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can unblock ITVX to live stream the 2026 World Cup for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream South Korea vs. Czechia for free by following these simple steps:

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

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

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

4. Visit ITVX

5. Watch South Korea vs. Czechia for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the 2026 World Cup without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream South Korea vs. Czechia (plus more World Cup fixtures) before recovering your investment.

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

What is the best VPN for ITVX?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on ITVX, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

• 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 free from throttling

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

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

Live stream South Korea vs. Czechia in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free with ExpressVPN.

At The New York Times’s Hard Fork Live event, Mr. Nadella addressed the backlash against artificial intelligence and President Trump’s comments about Americans sharing in the wealth of A.I. companies

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you're good with computers.

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 June 10, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Oozing

The words are related via rhymes.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words rhyme with ooze.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is vertical.

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Rhymetime.

NYT Strands word list for June 11

• Fuse

• Blues

• Brews

• Rhymetime

• Shoes

• Choose

• Schmooze

• Cruise

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.

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you're a drama kid.

Connections is the one of the most popular New York Times word games 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 today's Connections solution. 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 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.

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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.

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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.

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for June 10, 2026 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Going to the gym

• Green: Horns

• Blue: Cars

• Purple: Spelled like an app

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Parts of a Workout Routine

• Green: Things with Horns

• Blue: Homophones of SUVs

• Purple: Payment Apps Minus A Letter

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 today's Connections #1096 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Parts of a Workout Routine: BALANCE, CARDIO, STRETCHING, WEIGHTS

• Things with Horns: BRASS BAND, DEVIL, RHINO, VIKING HELMET

• Homophones of SUVs: BRONCHO, FORERUNNER, TROUPER, UCONN

• Payment Apps Minus A Letter: ELLE, PAPAL, STRIP, VENO

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.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for June 10, 2026

Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today's puzzle.

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 Connections.

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you're easily annoyed.

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 June 10, 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 June 10, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Easily annoyed.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter T appears twice.

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

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. 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...

TESTY

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.

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.

Welcome to your guide to Pips, the latest game in the New York Times catalogue.

Released in August 2025, Pips puts a unique spin on dominoes, creating a fun single-player experience that could become your next daily gaming habit.

Currently, if you're stuck, the game only offers to reveal the entire puzzle, forcing you to move on to the next difficulty level and start over. However, we have you covered! Below are piecemeal answers that will serve as hints so that you can find your way through each difficulty level.

How to play Pips

If you've ever played dominoes, you'll have a passing familiarity with how Pips is played. As we've shared in our previous hints stories for Pips, the tiles, like dominoes, are placed vertically or horizontally and connect with each other. The main difference between a traditional game of dominoes and Pips is the color-coded conditions you have to address. The touching tiles don't necessarily have to match.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for June 11, 2026

The conditions you have to meet are specific to the color-coded spaces. For example, if it provides a single number, every side of a tile in that space must add up to the number provided. It is possible — and common — for only half a tile to be within a color-coded space.

Here are common examples you'll run into across the difficulty levels:

• Number: All the pips in this space must add up to the number.

• Equal: Every domino half in this space must be the same number of pips.

• Not Equal: Every domino half in this space must have a completely different number of pips.

• Less than: Every domino half in this space must add up to less than the number.

• Greater than: Every domino half in this space must add up to more than the number.

If an area does not have any color coding, it means there are no conditions on the portions of dominoes within those spaces.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for June 11, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for June 11 Pips

Less Than (6): Everything in this space must be less than 6. The answer is 6-5, placed horizontally.

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 3-6, placed horizontally.

Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 3-3, placed vertically; 3-0, placed horizontally.

Number (8): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 3-0, placed horizontally; 4-4, placed vertically.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for June 11 Pips

Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 3-3, placed vertically; 3-0, placed horizontally.

Number (11): Everything in this space must add up to 11. The answer is 2-4, placed horizontally; 0-3, placed horizontally.

Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 2-4, placed horizontally; 0-3, placed horizontally.

Number (4): Everything in this light blue space must add up to 4. The answer is 5-2, placed horizontally; 2-4, placed horizontally.

Equal (4): Everything in this space must be equal to 4. The answer is 4-6, placed vertically; 4-0, placed vertically; 4-4, placed horizontally; 4-5, placed vertically.

Number (11): Everything in this space must add up to 11. The answer is 2-4, placed horizontally; 0-3, placed horizontally.

Not Equal: Everything in this space must be different. The answer is 3-1, placed vertically; 2-0, placed vertically.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for June 11 Pips

Number (11): Everything in this space must add up to 11. The answer is 4-4, placed horizontally; 3-6, placed vertically.

Number (11): Everything in this space must add up to 11. The answer is 3-6, placed vertically; 5-1, placed vertically.

Number (1): Everything in this space must add up to 1. The answer is 5-1, placed vertically; 1-2, placed horizontally.

Number (1): Everything in this space must add up to 1. The answer is 1-2, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 6-6, placed vertically.

Number (11): Everything in this space must add up to 11. The answer is 6-6, placed vertically; 5-2, placed vertically.

Number (6): Everything in this space must add up to 6. The answer is 5-2, placed vertically; 4-3, placed horizontally.

Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 4-3, placed horizontally; 0-3, placed vertically.

Number (11): Everything in this space must add up to 11. The answer is 0-5, placed horizontally; 6-2, placed vertically.

Number (1): Everything in this space must add up to 1. The answer is 0-5, placed horizontally; 1-1, placed vertically.

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 4-2, placed horizontally.

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 4-2, placed horizontally.

Number (11): Everything in this space must add up to 11. The answer is 1-1, placed vertically; 5-5, placed vertically.

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

Dario Amodei, CEO and founder of Anthropic, just published an online essay that starts out by comparing AI to the Hobbits in the Lord of the Rings. And that may not be the only piece of fiction in it, if the system card from Anthropic's own Claude Mythos model is to be believed.

"The intersection of AI and our political institutions feels a bit like the Hobbits and Treebeard," Amodei writes — that is, Treebeard the Ent moves so slow that he can't even understand the speedy Hobbits. But then Amodei pivots to a controversial assertion — one that, to continue the Lord of the Rings analogy, would mean that Hobbits are moving exponentially faster all the time.

"AI's scaling laws, which predict an exponential increase in general cognitive capabilities with increasing computing power, now have over a decade of empirical evidence behind them," Amodei claims. "If these scaling laws continue for only a year or two longer, we are likely to get what I've called Powerful AI."

It's hardly a one-off reference; Amodei, who is about to cash in on a bonanza Anthropic IPO, uses the word "exponential" six times in the essay. That includes the title, "Policy on the AI exponential." But is it true?

Let's leave for one moment the dubious 2020 OpenAI paper Amodei links to prove his assertion, or the abundant evidence from other AI experts that the "cognitive capabilities" of most Large Language Models are not growing that fast, if at all. Amodei's essay appears to contradict the word of ... well, Anthropic itself.

SEE ALSO: The AI vibe shift is real: Why the backlash is growing

On the system card for the preview of Claude Mythos [PDF], the model that Amodei hypes up in the essay for the cybersecurity concerns it has caused, you'll find the following statement: "The [intelligence] gains we can identify are confidently attributable to human research, not AI assistance ... early claims of large AI-attributable wins have not held up." [Emphasis ours.]

You might think it can't get more definitive than that — unless you read the system card for Anthropic's other new frontier model, Fable 5. Using a test called the Epoch Capabilities Index, Anthropic researchers specifically set out to see if there was evidence of a feedback loop that would lead to what AI experts have variously called AGI or Digital Superintelligence. And the result couldn't be clearer.

"We do not observe a sustained, AI-attributable 2× acceleration in the pace of our AI progress," the Fable system card [PDF] says.

So, where is Amodei getting his exponential information from? We've reached out to Anthropic for clarification, but the citation the CEO uses is for a 2020 paper called Scaling Laws for Neural Language models, co-authored by Jared Kaplan (then with OpenAI, now a co-founder of Anthropic). The conclusion of that paper has been called into question by another leading AI researcher, Gary Marcus, for the past four years.

"There are serious holes in the scaling argument," Marcus wrote in 2022. "Indeed, we may already be running into scaling limits in deep learning, perhaps already approaching a point of diminishing returns." He cited research on OpenAI's GPT-3 model, which has "shown that scaling starts to falter on some measures, such as toxicity, truthfulness, reasoning, and common sense."

Marcus was pilloried by AI true believers at the time, but has since been vindicated — especially since the release of GPT-5, which was not the Superintelligence some of its users hoped for.

Finding evidence for AI exponential growth since then may be harder than simply walking into Mordor.

Additional reporting provided by Timothy Werth

President Trump touched on what is an increasingly hot topic in Washington: how average Americans can get a piece of the tech industry’s A.I. windfall.

Apple's WWDC officially wraps on Friday, but we learned a lot from the opening keynote on Monday.

In 2026, Mashable and the rest of the CNET Group (ZDNET, PCMag, CNET, and Lifehacker) are hosting the Big Guessing Game: Apple Edition to give our readers a chance to predict the biggest Apple news from events like WWDC. Every correct answer earns you one chance to win the new Apple Watch announced in September. (Read the full content rules.) Round one of the game took place in the weeks leading up to WWDC. If you missed your chance to guess, round two will begin July 7, followed by round three before the September iPhone launch event.

In the meantime, we can tell you how many of our readers correctly guessed some of the biggest moments from the WWDC opening keynote. Incredibly, someone even correctly guessed the name of macOS 27 Golden Gate.

Question 1: Will Apple announce a standalone Siri app at WWDC 2026?

Apple finally announced Siri AI, which will be available as a standalone app in the next generation of Apple operating systems. For this warm-up question, 54 percent of Mashable readers said yes, answering correctly.

Question 2: The codename of MacOS 26 is Tahoe. What California landmark, city, or region will Apple choose for macOS 27?

When our tech editor first saw a Volkswagen bug and trippy visuals of California's psychedelic history appear on screen during the WWDC keynote, he wondered out loud if we were about to get macOS 27 Woodstock. Alas, the correct answer was macOS 27 Golden Gate.

One, and only one, Mashable reader correctly predicted macOS's new name. However, there were lots of other good guesses. The most popular wrong guesses were Redwood and Shasta. We also liked Venice, Big Bear, and Napa.

Question 3: WWDC is primarily a software show, but Apple loves a hardware surprise. Which of these devices will get a stage announcement during the keynote?

For this question, readers could guess from four multiple-choice options: Mac Studio M5 Ultra or Max, a redesigned Apple TV device, a foldable iPhone, or none of the above. Unfortunately, there were no hardware reveals at this particular event, and the 23 percent of our readers who guessed "none of the above" earned another entry for the chance to win an Apple Watch.

SEE ALSO: The latest iPhone Fold leaks, rumors, and renders: Everything we know Question 4: To the nearest minute, how long will the main WWDC 2026 Monday keynote last?

Mashable readers were incredibly accurate in guessing the length of WWDC. The average guess was 75 minutes, and the median guess was 74 minutes. We had people guess 77 minutes as well. Oddly, no one predicted the correct answer to the minute: 76 minutes.

Sorry, folks.

Question 5: In the new watchOS, will ChatGPT be directly available in an app or widget, i.e. not a third-party app or Shortcut?

Mashable readers were pretty evenly split here, with 51 percent guessing in the affirmative and 49 percent in the negative. The pessimists were correct on this one. New watchOS 27 features were barely mentioned during the keynote, but direct ChatGPT access or a dedicated widget are not available.

As a reminder, the next round of Mashable's Big Guessing Game: Apple Edition begins on July 7. Every correct answer will get you another chance at winning the latest Apple Watch released in September. 

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY to enter or win the "CNET Group Big Guessing Game" Giveaway. Open to legal U.S. residents in the 50 U.S. & D.C., 18+ yrs of age. Other restrictions apply. Begins May 19, 2026 at 12:01 pm ET and ends Sept. 1, 2026 at 11:59 pm ET. Void where prohibited. Subject to Official Rules: https://www.mashable.com/article/mashable-big-guessing-game-apple-edition-official-contest-rules/. Sponsor: Ziff Davis, LLC.

Apple is not a sponsor of, affiliated with, or endorser of this sweepstakes. Apple Watch is a trademark of Apple Inc.

Months after Australia banned social media for everyone under 16, the British government is considering new policies to keep children safe online.

Viral streamer and Mashable 101 pick Kai Cenat is returning to the Creatorverse with another round of Streamer University, a launchpad for streamers who want to follow in his footsteps.

SEE ALSO: The Mashable 101: The creators defining the internet in 2026

Cenat announced Streamer University 2026 with a two and half minute long trailer posted to his social media accounts, riffing on his extended streaming hiatus.

It shows Cenat striding through rolling green hills as he approaches what turns out to be an abandoned stone manor — the Streamer University itself, made in the image of an American Hogwarts. Cenat, dressed in burgundy and yellow, learns it's been taken over by owls, the animals tasked with delivering applications, which now sit collecting dust. But don't worry, Cenat is here now to send them himself. And that's where all of us come in.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. What is Streamer University?

Streamer University is Cenat's free, multi-day networking, training, and social event designed to connect up and coming streamers with existing viral content creators. Cenat led the inaugural Streamer University event in May of last year, held at the University of Akron in Ohio.

How do I apply to Streamer University?

People who are interested can apply online now. The "University" is accepting applications for three different tracks: Student, Professor, and Club Director. Students will receive a crash course in being a digital creator, led by Professors with specific "expertise." Club Directors will facilitate event activities.

You must be at least 18 years old and have the ability to travel around the United States. As part of the application process, you must also provide at least one social media account for review and submit a short video showcasing "your personality, content style, and why you want to attend." As the FAQ reads: "Be authentic!"

What do I get if I am accepted into Streamer University?

If you are accepted, you will get free entry to the multi-day event, including classes, activities, and networking opportunities, according to the website. You may also be filmed for content on participant channels.

TL;DR: Live stream Mexico vs. South Africa in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free on ITVX. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

After years of patiently waiting for this day, the 2026 FIFA World Cup is finally here.

The most-watched sporting event in the world starts with an electric matchup between hosts Mexico and South Africa. The Estadio Azteca is going to be incredibly loud as Mexico aim to secure three points and take a step towards qualification from a tricky Group A. South Korea and Czechia will likely offer sterner tests than South Africa, so this opening game is abolutely vital for Javier Aguirre's side.

If you want to watch Mexico vs. South Africa in the 2026 FIFA World Cup from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Mexico vs. South Africa?

Mexico vs. South Africa in the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off at 3 p.m. ET on June 11. This fixture takes place at the Estadio Azteca.

How to watch Mexico vs. South Africa for free

Mexico vs. South Africa in the 2026 FIFA World Cup is available to live stream for free on ITVX.

ITVX is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can unblock ITVX to live stream the 2026 World Cup for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Mexico vs. South Africa for free by following these simple steps:

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

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

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

4. Visit ITVX

5. Watch Mexico vs. South Africa for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the 2026 World Cup without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Mexico vs. South Africa (plus more World Cup fixtures) before recovering your investment.

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

What is the best VPN for ITVX?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on ITVX, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

• 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 free from throttling

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

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

Live stream Mexico vs. South Africa in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free with ExpressVPN.

Google's Gemini AI assistant is currently down for a significant number of users, with outage reports on Downdetector beginning to spike around 6 a.m. ET on Wednesday morning and continuing to build into the early afternoon. Google first acknowledged the issue in an update on its official status page at 8:40 p.m. ET.

Google confirms the disruption began at 6:26 a.m. ET, affecting Gemini across all major platforms — web, macOS, iOS, and Android — as well as Gemini in Chrome. Users are reporting error codes 1099 and 1076, as well as an error message that reads, "Something went wrong."

Google's status page classifies the problem as a "Service disruption" rather than a "Service outage," but Gemini is functionally unavailable for many users.

According to Google, its engineering team has identified a potential mitigation that is currently being worked on, though no estimated resolution time has been provided. The company says it plans to share an update by 3:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday.

The status update also states that no workaround is available at this time for affected users.

We'll update this story as more information becomes available.

iOS 27 may run on devices as far back as the iPhone 11, but Apple's most advanced AI features are reserved for a much shorter list of hardware, the company revealed.

Apple's Craig Federighi, Senior Vice President of Software Engineering, confirmed that a subset of advanced Siri AI and Apple Intelligence features will require more powerful silicon, and therefore won't be available on most iPhones. That means that even relatively new iPhones that do support Siri AI and Apple Intelligence, like the iPhone 16 Pro Max, won't get the full experience when iOS 27 launches this fall.

SEE ALSO: These 29 iPhones are getting iOS 27: Is yours on the list?

In a WWDC presentation (as reported by Macworld and other outlets), Federighi said, "Our most powerful on-device model and the features it enables, like expressive voices and more advanced dictation, will be coming to our most capable iPhone, iPad and Mac systems."

A slide displayed alongside these remarks stated that only a handful of phones will get the full feature set: the iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, and iPhone Air. In addition, these advanced features will be restricted to iPad models with M4 or later (and at least 12GB of unified memory), Mac models with M3 or later (and at least 12GB of unified memory), and Apple Vision Pro with M5.

The features we know for certain are exclusive to that hardware tier include Siri AI's more expressive voices and the upgraded systemwide dictation, which Apple says captures speech as polished, accurately punctuated text with greater precision than before.

If you're on an iPhone 16 or iPhone 15 Pro, you'll still get a meaningfully upgraded Siri AI experience. That's the rebuilt assistant, the dedicated app, Visual Intelligence, writing tools, and more. But the voice customization sliders, dictation overhaul, and other unnamed features are staying on the newer hardware for now.

SEE ALSO: All the foldable iPhone Ultra hints in the iOS 27 beta

If the expressive voice and dictation upgrades are important to you, the iPhone 17 lineup is where those features live.

This isn't the only significant carveout Apple announced, either. Siri AI will launch in the fall as a public beta, but it won't be available in the European Union or China at launch.

The best early Prime Day smart glasses deal Best Overall Early Prime Day Smart Glasses Deal Ray-Ban Meta (Gen 1) Smart Glasses $277.69 (Save $21.31) Get Deal Best Early Prime Day Splurge Smart Glasses Deal Viture Beast XR/AR Glasses $549 (Save $140) Get Deal Best Early Prime Day Budget Smart Glasses Deal BooaBei AI Smart Glasses $169.99 (Save $80) Get Deal

Smart glasses are one of the buzzier gadget categories going into Prime Day, so it's a good idea to start watching and tracking how low prices will go. Right now, in these early days of the sale, the discounts are still pretty modest, which is good news if you've been on the fence about buying in.

A few pairs, like the first-gen Ray-Ban Meta glasses, have dipped a little. So there are already discounts to shop if you're ready to buy. For everyone else, this is a great moment to lock in what you want now and pounce the second deeper discounts make their debut.

Mashable's team of shopping experts is keeping a close eye on the best early Prime Day smart glasses deals as they roll in. We'll keep updating this page with additional discounts as we find them.

Best overall smart glasses deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Ray-Ban Meta (Gen 1) Smart Glasses $277.69 at Amazon
$299 Save $21.31   Get Deal Why we like it

If you're just now getting into the smart glasses game, you're in luck: the most popular pair is on sale right now. You can get a pair of first-generation Ray-Ban Meta glasses to try out and see what all the fuss is about. They let you take photos and videos, listen to music, make calls, or even ask Meta AI questions while you're wearing them. They feature an ultra-wide 12MP camera with a five-mic system so you can also livestream what you're seeing, all hands-free. They even offer live translation, so you can take part in conversations even when Wi-Fi isn't available. It's all about convenience, and if you're dipping your toes in the world of smart glasses, this is the best place to start.

Best splurge smart glasses deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Viture Beast XR/AR Glasses $549 at Amazon
$689 Save $140   Get Deal Why we like it

These glasses are all about giving you the biggest, brightest display you can get from a pair of XR/AR glasses. They offer a 174-inch display with a 58-inch FOV, with a brightness of 1250 nits and powered by Sony micro-OLED. You can pin, resize, and lock the massive screen as if you were standing in front of it, to make whatever you decide to watch, whether it's a meeting or a movie, feel larger than life. It has a 120Hz refresh rate, 9-level dimming, and auto-transparency as well, with deep, satisfying bass and the ability to turn any 2D content into 3D. These are the glasses you get if you're serious about what you're watching, and you can save a bit of cash on them thanks to Prime Day.

Best budget smart glasses deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon BooaBei AI Smart Glasses $169.99 at Amazon
$249.99 Save $80   Get Deal Why we like it

These glasses may not come from Ray-Ban and Meta, but they're still worth a look. They offer an 8MP HD camera with 2K footage recording as well as connectivity with ChatGPT, so you can ask questions and get things done on the go. They also feature AI photo recognition and real-time translation as well as dual-mic noise cancellation and beamforming technology for taking calls or streaming on the go.

A matter of weeks after Steam Deck devices got a massive price increase, Valve is taking another difficult measure that will make things slightly less convenient for players.

The owner of the biggest digital storefront for PC games announced this week (via SteamDB) that it will no longer manufacture or sell physical Steam gift cards at retail stores. The reason, of course, is that scammers use these cards for all sorts of malicious behaviors, and Valve has admitted that it can't come up with a surefire, ironclad way to stop bad actors short of just ceasing gift card production altogether.

SEE ALSO: Steam Deck OLED gets huge price increase amid RAM shortage This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

"As we have continued to put more and more restrictions in place, scammers have adapted," Valve said. "They continue to have an impact on Steam customers and other unsuspecting individuals."

The good news is that digital gift cards, which can be purchased and gifted directly at the account level, will remain an option for Steam users. Valve noted that it added guest checkout as a feature last year, making it easier for people to buy one without having their own account.

Still, considering how long the little rack of video game marketplace gift cards has adorned retail checkout lines, this does feel like the beginning of the end of an era, to some extent.

Antonio Gracias, an investor who has built a $65 billion stake in the company, exemplifies the economic upside of being Mr. Musk’s ally.