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TL;DR: The VIONTA B5 power bank with a built-in kickstand is $59.99 (reg. $75) right now.

Opens in a new window Credit: Adam Elements VIONTA B5 5000 mAh Solid-State Power Bank with Foldable Stand $59.99
$75 Save $15.01   Get Deal

Running out of battery halfway through the day? We’ve all been there. You need an upgrade that keeps your phone alive without adding bulk.

Right now, the VIONTA B5 5000 mAh Solid-State Power Bank is $59.99 (reg. $75). That’s $15 back in your pocket for something you’ll actually use (and probably more than you’d like to admit).

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This power bank is a compact, identity-friendly model with a solid-state battery that’s more stable and safer than traditional lithium-ion batteries. It’s especially ideal if you travel, commute, or just want to toss it in your bag without worrying about taking up space or feeling like it’s going to be fail on you from daily use.

It supports 20W USB-C fast charging and magnetic wireless charging, so you can plug in, go cable-free, or even juice up two devices at once, keeping your phone and earbuds from dying at the same time.

A stellar feature is the built-in foldable stand with 360° rotation. It lets you prop your phone up while charging, making it useful for streaming, FaceTiming, or keeping an eye on notifications at your desk. It also helps turn a quick charge into something more usable when you’re stationary for a bit.

It has a soft-touch finish for extra grip and an LED indicator, so you’ll always know how much juice you’ve got left.

This charger is certainly a plus if you want a lightweight backup charger for commuting, travel days, or long outings. It stays small enough to slip into a pocket or small bag without thinking twice.

This is a straightforward upgrade over a basic portable charger, with faster charging, safer battery tech, and a more usable design.

At $59.99 (reg. $75), the VIONTA B5 5000 mAh Solid-State Power Bank is an easy add to your daily carry without overthinking it.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

It's a podcast, but make it hosted by two AI-generated hosts talking to each other about the game last night.

Reader, I hate it.

Announced on Tuesday, Alexa Podcasts is Amazon's latest venture for Alexa+, the company's rebooted AI-powered virtual assistant. Described by the company as "AI-generated audio episodes on any topic," these on-demand offerings essentially replace an entire team of human podcast producers and presenters with artificial intelligence — "no documents or prep work needed."

SEE ALSO: AI audiobooks are invading Libby. Here’s how I avoid them.

It's essentially a Big Tech-backed pile of "podslop" or AI-generated podcasts, which are on the rise along with other AI audio formats. A recent analysis by The Podcast Index found that 39 percent of recently uploaded podcasts were probably created using AI, with companies like Inception Point AI churning out the episodes.

Now, Amazon's joining the surge with Alexa Podcasts. Users (anyone with a Prime membership) can ask the AI assistant to cover any topic from news roundups to sports results to the consensus of movie reviews, "and let you adjust the length and direction conversationally." That means you can pick both the AI assistant's personality — these are dubbed "Alexa, Brief, Sweet, Chill, and Sassy" — and its "conversation style" — "from concise and efficient to warm and conversational."

Then, Alexa will generate a short episode with two AI hosts, which will be sent to your Echo device and the Alexa app.

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Without a human research team, where is all this precious information coming from? According to Amazon, over 200 news publications have signed up as sources, including local U.S. newspapers as well as "Associated Press, Reuters, The Washington Post, TIME, Forbes, Business Insider, Politico, USA Today, and and publications from Condé Nast, Hearst, and Vox." Cool cool cool.

Everything about this makes me want to throw my tech in the sea, especially when you listen to...the examples Amazon has provided on Soundcloud (on Soundcloud!). Why listen to painstakingly researched history podcasts like Greg Jenner's You're Dead to Me and Marc Fennell's Stuff The British Stole when you can have two AI voices regurgitating generic Ancient Roman facts at you? Who needs groundbreaking investigative journalism at a time of casual convenience like this? Why be educated by music historians like Cole Cuchna on Dissect when you can have AI tell you what's good? Why listen to actual athletes and sports commentators present their analysis of the game when you can hear it generated?

Featured Video For You Is ChatGPT Changing the Way We Write?

I listen to podcasts for the hosts, whose personalities and production teams cannot be replicated by Alexa's "Sassy conversational" or "Brief efficient" settings — Ira Glass, Trixie and Katya; Hrishikesh Hirway; Kid Fury and Crissle West; Monét X Change and Bob The Drag Queen; Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang; Kara Swisher; Taylor Lorenz; Gabrielle de la Puente and Zarina Muhammad; Keke Palmer; Amy Poehler; Jon Lovett; Linda Holmes, Aisha Harris, Stephen Thompson, and Glen Weldon; Richard Osman and Marina Hyde; Louis Virtel, and so many more, not to mention the enormous amount of human news teams providing daily news podcasts from the BBC to CNN, and my colleagues at Mashable pouring their creativity and energy into the craft.

It's enough platforms like Spotify and Libby are feeling the creep of AI-generated music and audiobooks, now podcasters are two AI chatbots talking to each other? I don't want to, as Amazon suggests, "turn your dinner table conversations into learning opportunities." What, are we gathering 'round the Alexa for an AI-generated podcast on the Apollo 11 mission? I'm out of here.

SAVE OVER $600: As of May 21, the Mammotion Luba 3 is on sale for $2,899 at Amazon. That's a 17% discount on list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Mammotion Mammotion Luba 3 $2,899 at Amazon
$3,508 Save $609   Get Deal

Summer is nearly here, which means lawns are about to need a lot more attention. Rather than wrestling with a heavy mower every weekend, more people are switching to robot mowers that can keep the grass trimmed automatically with barely any effort. If this sounds like a great idea to you, why not check out this latest Amazon deal on the Mammotion Luba 3?

As of May 21, the Mammotion Luba 3 has dropped to its lowest-ever price, now $2,899. That's a saving of more than $600. This price is for the 1.25 acres model with an included garage.

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This is a seriously advanced mowing machine. It uses Tri-Fusion Navigation Technology that includes 360° LiDAR, NetRTK, and dual-camera AI vision to help it successfully navigate around your yard. It also has a rechargeable lithium battery that lasts for up to 215 minutes of runtime with coverage of up to 500m² per hour. That makes this is a great choice if you have a large outdoor space.

It features four motors for all-wheel-drive performance, so it can climb slopes up to 80%, pivot using an omni wheel for turning, and cross thresholds like curbs or uneven ground. The AI processor also helps it detect more than 300 obstacle types and helps it navigate to avoid them.

This robot mower deal is available at Amazon now.

Billy on the Street is back and angrier than ever.

In the clip above actor, comedian and writer Billy Eichner (Bros) returns to his old stomping ground in New York to gleefully confuse passersby, this time yelling at them about his new audio memoir, Billy on Billy.

It's every bit as chaotic and entertaining as you'd hope.

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"Welcome to the Boroughs, where you'll have the time of your life."

That's the tagline for the titular retirement community in Netflix's new series The Boroughs, but it's also how I've been recommending this sci-fi treat to anyone who will listen. 

SEE ALSO: 2026 Summer TV preview: Every TV show you need to know about now

The series draws heavily from Ron Howard's 1985 film Cocoon, as well as Steven Spielberg's Amblin films. That emphasis on '80s nostalgia shouldn't come as a shock, given that The Boroughs is produced by Stranger Things creators the Duffer Brothers. Still, The Boroughs creators Jeffrey Addiss and Will Matthews manage to shake things up from the Stranger Things and Amblin formulas. With the help of a modern setting and a cast of formidable legends, The Boroughs tells a meaningful tale about aging and grieving, all wrapped up in an irresistible adventure.

What is The Boroughs about? Denis O'Hare, Alfred Molina, and Alfre Woodard in "The Boroughs." Credit: Netflix

The Boroughs doesn't hesitate to pay tribute to its inspirations. Its very first scene introduces Grace, a Boroughs resident played by E.T. star Dee Wallace. Unfortunately for E.T. fans, Wallace's character is not long for this world. As night falls over the seemingly idyllic New Mexico retirement community, a spindly legged creature sneaks into her house. Part spider, part human, all terrifying, it spirits Grace away, never to be seen again.

It's a suitably spooky opening sequence, albeit one that may give away too much of The Boroughs' monsters, too fast. (Of all the Spielberg movies for The Boroughs to draw from, Jaws and its monster-hiding tactics don't appear to be at the top of the list.) However, Grace's death also frees up a new house in the Boroughs, making way for grieving widower Sam Cooper (Alfred Molina) to move in.

SEE ALSO: 'The Mandalorian and Grogu' review: If this is the future of Star Wars, I don't want it

Sam was originally meant to move to the Boroughs with his late wife, Lilly (Jane Kaczmarek). Now, just months after her death, there's nothing he wants less than to live alone in the house they were going to spend the rest of their lives in. Despite what his uber-friendly neighbor Jack (Bill Pullman) might tell him, he doesn't view the Boroughs as a new beginning, only a dead end.

However, a shocking encounter with the creature that offed Grace might just be the new beginning Sam was so resistant to. He launches an investigation into what's truly lurking in the Boroughs, and manages to find an unlikely community along the way.

The Boroughs introduces an instantly lovable adventuring crew. Clarke Peters, Alfre Woodard, Alfred Molina, Denis O'Hare, and Geena Davis in "The Boroughs." Credit: Netflix

Played to curmudgeonly perfection by Molina, Sam is one of several irresistible retirees you'll meet in The Boroughs. As a former engineer, he bonds with former doctor Wally (Denis O'Hare) over the science of identifying and perhaps even capturing the creature.

Married couple Judy (Alfre Woodard) and Art (Clarke Peters) have different ways into the case. Once a journalist, Judy is ready to snoop on the suspicious scientific activity coming from Sam's end of their cul-de-sac. Meanwhile, yoga and weed lover Art spends his time on a spiritual quest for life's great meaning, potentially finding it in an unexplained phenomenon in the desert beyond the Boroughs' walls. Rounding out the crew is the Boroughs' community center art teacher Renee (Geena Davis), who's confused as to why her bags of quartz keeps going missing.

SEE ALSO: 'Stranger Things: Tales from '85': Ending explainer

In Stranger Things fashion, each party assembles different pieces of a vast and supernatural puzzle. It's incredibly satisfying to finally watch them come together, but even apart, these amateur sleuths shine. Each performer in this cast of legends is clearly having a blast, whether they're jerry-rigging a weapon out of vintage TVs or getting a chance to do their best Spielberg face of shock and awe. (The latter is accentuated by John Paesano's John Williams inspired-score, which evokes whimsy and adventure in spades.)

The show has that same fun right beside its cast. Even in some of its scariest moments, there's a playfulness, like in a suspenseful shadow play sequence involving a lurking monster. Elsewhere, The Boroughs delights in referencing its cast's prior work. At one point, a car drives off a cliff, Thelma and Louise-style, and yes, Davis is present at the scene.

It's also a joy to watch older characters take on adventures usually reserved for younger characters. The Boroughs' residents are certainly in conversation with groups like the Stranger Things party, Elliott and his friends in E.T., and IT's Losers Club. Yet there's a deeper pathos to their storyline, as Sam and his friends reckon with their nearing mortality, their waning health, and the losses of their friends and family becoming common occurrences.

The Boroughs' frankness about aging will leave you weepy. Alfred Molina and Denis O'Hare in "The Boroughs." Credit: Netflix

Rarely an episode of The Boroughs passed without me getting teary-eyed, especially because of its focus on Sam's grief.

Lilly may already be dead by the time The Boroughs begins, but she's a steady presence in the show. Sam is consistently haunted by memories of their last day together, and what I initially assumed to be clichéd dead wife flashbacks soon morph into something so much more, at once plot-relevant and devastating.

The evolution of Sam's painful memories is one of the many ways in which The Boroughs takes aging and loss seriously. It weaves these elements into its central mystery, right down to its sinister antagonists' anti-aging agenda (and how the monsters play into it).

One of The Boroughs' particularly affecting threads concerns the Manor, a long-term care facility for residents who need more attention. This includes dementia patients, whom the show treats with respect and empathy, even if their cruel caretakers don't. Though The Boroughs teems with spooky creatures and the occasional jump scare, its most unsettling moments are those in which older characters experience the loss of their faculties, or when their caretakers or family members dismiss them.

Between its examination of dementia and its tale of a reclusive retiree finding community, The Boroughs feels like a sci-fi version of another stellar Netflix offering: A Man on the Inside. The Boroughs may have 100 percent more monster attacks, but it also has A Man on the Inside's same compassion when it comes to telling stories of retirees living fulfilling, adventurous lives.

Yes, in terms of pure adventure, The Boroughs establishes itself as the spiritual successor to the best parts of Stranger Things. But it's the show's embrace of its older ensemble, in all their joy and grief, that sets it apart and makes it truly worthy of that Spielberg-style awe its characters experience so often.

The Boroughs is now streaming on Netflix.

TL;DR: Watch Canada vs. Norway in the 2026 Ice Hockey World Championships for free on IIHF.TV. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The 2026 Ice Hockey World Championships are stacked with huge games, but Canada vs. Norway is absolutely one of the biggest on the schedule. Canada have won every game they've played in this competition, but Norway will pose a serious problem.

If you're interested in watching the 2026 Ice Hockey World Championships from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

When is Canada vs. Norway?

Canada vs. Norway in the 2026 IIHF World Championships starts at 10:20 a.m. ET on May 21. This fixture takes place at the BCF Arena in Fribourg.

How to watch Canada vs. Norway for free

Canada vs. Norway in the 2026 Ice Hockey World Championships is available to live stream for free on IIHF.TV.

IIHF.TV is not available in some locations due to regional broadcasting restrictions (blocked locations listed here), but anyone can secure access with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in a location with access, meaning you can stream the 2026 Ice Hockey World Championships for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream the 2026 Ice Hockey World Championships for free by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in a location with access

4. Connect to IIHF.TV

5. Watch the 2026 Ice Hockey World Championships for free from anywhere in the world

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

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer pretty generous money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch the 2026 Ice Hockey World Championships without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term strategy, but it gives you enough time to stream Canada vs. Norway plus every other fixture before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming platforms 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 the Ice Hockey World Championships?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for streaming live sport on free platforms, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds

• 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 Canada vs. Norway in the 2026 Ice Hockey World Championships for free with ExpressVPN.

If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

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If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Hurdle: Everything you need to know to find the answers Hurdle Word 1 hint

To multiply.

SEE ALSO: Apple’s new M3 MacBook Air is $300 off at Amazon. And yes, I’m tempted. Hurdle Word 1 answer

BREED

Hurdle Word 2 hint

To burn.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for May 21, 2026 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

STING

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Hurdle Word 3 hint

Feminine.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for May 21 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for May 21, 2026 Hurdle Word 3 answer

SISSY

Hurdle Word 4 hint

From Wales.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

WELSH

Final Hurdle hint

To manage.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Games available on Mashable Hurdle Word 5 answer

TREAT

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

The Moon is still in its Crescent phase, but it's getting more and more illuminated each night as we work through the lunar cycle, the roughly month-long journey of the Moon’s changing phases as it orbits Earth.

What is today’s Moon phase?

As of Thursday, May 21, the Moon phase is Waxing Crescent. Tonight, 27% of the moon will be be lit up, according to NASA's Daily Moon Guide.

Tonight, without any visual aids, you'll be able to spot the Mares Crisium and Fecunditatis. Binoculars or a telescope will also bring the Endymion Crater into view.

When is the next Full Moon?

There are two Full Moons in May, with the next due to take place on May 31.

What are Moon phases?

According to NASA, the Moon takes around 29.5 days to orbit Earth completely, passing through eight phases during that time. While the same side of the Moon always faces Earth, the way sunlight hits its surface changes throughout its orbit, creating the familiar full, half, and crescent appearances we see in the night sky. Altogether, the lunar cycle consists of eight main phases:

New Moon - The Moon is between Earth and the sun, so the side we see is dark (in other words, it's invisible to the eye).

Waxing Crescent - A small sliver of light appears on the right side (Northern Hemisphere).

First Quarter - Half of the Moon is lit on the right side. It looks like a half-Moon.

Waxing Gibbous - More than half is lit up, but it’s not quite full yet.

Full Moon - The whole face of the Moon is illuminated and fully visible.

Waning Gibbous - The Moon starts losing light on the right side. (Northern Hemisphere)

Third Quarter (or Last Quarter) - Another half-Moon, but now the left side is lit.

Waning Crescent - A thin sliver of light remains on the left side before going dark again.

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you love a sweet treat.

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 May 21, 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: Dessert

• Green: Backend

• Blue: Sports words

• Purple: Condiment

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Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Kinds of pies

• Green: Things associated with butts

• Blue: Tennis scoring terms

• Purple: ___ Mustard

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 #1075 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Kinds of pies: CHESS, PECAN, PUMPKIN, SHOOFLY

• Things associated with butts: CABOOSE, CAN, MOON, PEACH

• Tennis scoring terms: ADVANTAGE, DEUCE, FORTY, LOVE

• ___ Mustard: COLONEL, HONEY, HOT, YELLOW

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 May 21, 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 NYT Strands hints are easy if you know how to sew.

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 May 21, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: In a material world

The words are related to cloths.

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Vote for your favorite creators today

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe textiles.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Fabrics.

NYT Strands word list for May 21

• Denim

• Silk

• Cotton

• Velvet

• Fabrics

• Fleece

• Linen

• Satin

• Wool

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

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

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

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

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 May 21, 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 May 21, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

To go along with.

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Vote for your favorite creators today

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter E appears twice.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter A.

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...

AGREE

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.

On a dark day of layoffs at Meta, one employee responded by creating an internal radio station that plays songs about job cuts — generated by artificial intelligence, of course.

The chip maker said its profit in its most recent quarter jumped 211 percent from a year ago thanks to extreme demand from other big technology companies.

Mr. Musk’s rocket and satellite maker disclosed its financial performance for the first time, as it prepares to go public in what is set to be one of the largest offerings to date.

Google previewed new Gemini-powered features coming to Android Auto and Google Built-in at I/O 2026. The updates are designed to make in-car interactions more helpful while keeping drivers focused on the road. Here’s an early look at Google’s expanding AI ambitions in vehicles.

CNET Editor at Large Andrew Lanxon hosts a panel discussion about the latest generative AI demos we saw at Google I/O 2026. Who is this for and why does Google think it's so important?

Google unveiled its Android XR intelligent eyewear at I/O 2026, but major details remain unknown. CNET’s Andrew Lanxon leads a discussion on what Google revealed, what’s still missing, and what consumers can realistically expect from the upcoming glasses.

Sam Altman's OpenAI may be losing money to the tune of $1 billion a month. It may be struggling to convert more than 5% of ChatGPT users to paid customers. And it may be losing ground to rivals like Anthropic (makers of the highly-teased Claude Mythos) and Google (makers of the freshly updated Gemini).

But OpenAI investors still believe they can cash in — perhaps to the tune of $1 trillion — if the company launches on the stock market soon.

And now that Elon Musk's lawsuit (which claimed OpenAI defrauded him during its conversion to a for-profit company) has been dismissed at trial on a technicality, the launch window appears to be opening.

Sources at Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley told reporters at the Wall Street Journal that the OpenAI IPO would be filed with regulators as early as this Friday. And though plans remain "fluid," the Journal warned, that would mean you'll likely see OpenAI shares debut on the NYSE as soon as September.

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SEE ALSO: 'The AI Doc' director says ‘F*ck you’ to AI companies stealing artists’ IP

Musk, meanwhile, says he plans to appeal the trial verdict; a bonanza IPO for a company still nominally governed by a nonprofit board may help bolster his case. Ironically, Musk is currently distracted by his own pending IPO bonanza; SpaceX, fresh off its acquisition of xAI, is also reportedly ready to file paperwork with regulators this week.

So, Altman, increasingly Musk's AI nemesis, may be taking a little of his rival's thunder here. But exactly how much Altman will take home from an OpenAI IPO remains a mystery.

The CEO confirmed in the courtroom what has been an open secret for some time — that Altman does have investments in the company, via a fund at the Silicon Valley incubator he used to run, YCombinator.

In 2023, Altman told the U.S. Senate he had no financial stake in the company, per The Atlantic. He's now the target of a probe led by GOP members of the House Oversight Committee, which is looking into OpenAI's habit of making deals with other companies Altman has investments in.

In other words, Altman's long-documented reputation for telling people what they want to hear may be catching up with him, while the wheels are wobbling a bit on the OpenAI bandwagon. And yet, at the same time, a payday of unknown magnitude approaches.

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Disclosure: Ziff Davis, Mashable’s parent company, in April 2025 filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.

Google I/O 2026 gave us plenty to talk about, but what about the things Google didn't say? Join CNET Editor at Large Andrew Lanxon and a panel of top tech experts as they dig into the biggest missing pieces, delayed features and skipped announcements from this year's keynote.

Kickstarter is walking back recent changes to its content guidelines, which users lambasted as blanket censorship.

Kickstarter announced the new adult-oriented content guidelines last week, prohibiting pornographic imagery, projects and reward tiers tied to sexual pleasure or gratification, and marketing of products designed for "insertion and penetration."

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The changes were made to better reflect policies set by Stripe, the platform's payment processor.

Kickstarter had previously come under fire for similar restrictions on sex toy companies, which were later amended. But as of last week, those policies were back on the table. Indie companies and artists who rely on the crowdfunding site decried the move, arguing that the new guidelines limited creative expression and impacted their businesses. Many suggested moving to competitor sites like Patreon.

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"Honestly? We botched it. The rules didn't land the way we intended, and the response from our community let us know loud and clear that we got it wrong," wrote Kickstarter COO Sean Leow in a May 19 blog post. "The decision we made was an abandonment of the core counterculture, f*ck the establishment spirit of Kickstarter, and it left our community vulnerable."

According to Leow, the new guidelines — which merged existing Kickstarter rules and Stripe prohibitions — were intended to provide a more streamlined experience for users who may eventually face roadblocks in their campaigns due to Stripe's e-commerce constraints. "Over the past several months, we've seen a growing number of campaigns that had already been approved by Kickstarter get suspended by Stripe mid-funding," he wrote.

However, in the face of widespread criticism, Leow said the platform would reverse course, reinstating former policies that simply prohibit pornography and illegal content — but this also means campaigns can once again face suspension at any point in time, Leow explained.

While Kickstarter goes back to the drawing board, users can consult the platform's mature content review guide, which includes an explanation of common suspension triggers and ways to request an exception.