On Wednesday, Microsoft announced a business-friendly version of Bing Chat, so you can use the AI chatbot for work without risking some kind of security breach.
Chatbots like Bing, ChatGPT, and Bard are powerful productivity tools for workers. They can summarize vast amounts of text, generate code, and help brainstorm new ideas. But using AI chatbots for work come with major privacy risks, since the large language models that power the tools potentially use your conversations to improve the model. Chat histories are also saved in the companies’ servers.
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These risks became painfully clear when Samsung workers inadvertently revealed trade secrets by using ChatGPT for debugging code and summarizing notes from private meetings. For this reason, many companies, like financial institutions, Apple, and even Google, have banned or warned the use of ChatGPT for work. In April, OpenAI rolled out the ability to opt out of sharing your chat history with the model to address privacy concerns.
Microsoft touts Bing Chat Enterprise having built-in security features designed to prevent another Samsung debacle. According to the Microsoft announced, chat data within Bing is not saved, is not used to train its models, and Microsoft has “no eyes-on access.”
In the announcement, Microsoft also announced pricing for Copilot, its AI-powered tool that’s integrated across Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams.
For commercial customers, Copilot costs $30 a month per user. That’s on top of the existing Microsoft 365 subscription, so it doesn’t come cheap. But, as the announcement emphasized, Copilot can summarize meetings, create presentations, help tackle your inbox, and more. If time is money (and your company has money), it might be a worthy trade-off.
For LGBTQ youth, social media is a double-edged sword: a digital public space that acts as both an important lifeline for identity-based community and an increasingly dangerous threat to their mental wellbeing.
And a new research brief from nonprofit The Trevor Project documents just how much this dynamic affects the online behavior of LGBTQ young people of color, specifically. According to the organization’s 2023 data — based on a national youth survey of more than 28,000 LGBTQ young people ages 13-24 across the U.S. — these young users are seeking out forms of online community most frequently through popular social platforms like TikTok. Plus, they’re reporting a significantly higher impact of positive online experiences on their mental health.
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“Feeling safe and understood in at least one online space is associated with lower suicide risk and lower rates of recent anxiety for all LGBTQ young people, and for LGBTQ young people of color in particular,” writes the organization.
“Overall, LGBTQ young people who reported feeling safe and understood in at least one online space had 20 percent lower odds of attempting suicide in the past year, compared to LGBTQ young people who reported not feeling safe and understood in any online space.”
According to survey responses, TikTok leads as most respondents’ go-to platform for online comfort and safety, with 53 percent of LGBTQ young people of color reporting feeling safe and understood on the app. The social messaging platform Discord ranked next (42 percent), followed by Instagram (41 percent), and YouTube (33 percent).
Credit: The Trevor Project
The Trevor Project also found that responses and their severity differed greatly between white LGBTQ youth and LGBTQ youth of color, with the latter reporting significantly lower rates of feeling safe and understood on Reddit, Twitch, Steam, Facebook, and dating apps.
“Our research examines the online experiences of LGBTQ young people through an intersectional lens, highlighting the unique factors that race and ethnicity play in determining which social platforms feel safest,”said Wilson Lee, senior machine learning research scientist at The Trevor Project. “These data are especially relevant as federal and state lawmakers are considering legislation that seeks to regulate how young people interact with the internet.
“Online spaces can serve as a protective factor for suicide risk and anxiety for LGBTQ young people who may not feel safe at home or in school, further emphasizing the crucial need to protect access to social platforms that affirm diverse LGBTQ identities.”
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In June, the Anti-Defamation League released its own findings on digital hate and harassment, documenting that more than half of adults and teens have experienced online harassment in their lifetimes. The report pointed to increased reports of harassment on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, WhatsApp, and even TikTok. These numbers were the highest among transgender users, and differed greatly among users of color.
That same month GLAAD issued its updated 2023 Social Media Safety Index, which scores the “Big 5” social media platforms (Twitter, TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook) on their protections for LGBTQ users. The index found that Twitter was the most unsafe for LGBTQ users at risk of hate and harassment, with the four other platforms still receiving failing grades.
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More broadly, research is casting a critical light on unmoderated social media use. In May, the U.S. Surgeon General issued a warning about youth social media use, writing in a national advisory that there isn’t enough evidence to conclude that social media is sufficiently safe for young people to use.
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But even with these warnings — and a varied response from tech giants advertising parental controls amid legal action for their reported role in a national mental health crisis — social media isn’t going anywhere, and it’s still serving a positive role for many of its users.
Credit: The Trevor Project
While acknowledging the waning protections for many marginalized users on social media platforms, the Trevor Project also makes the case for the often life-saving role online online spaces play in the lives of young people craving connection and acceptance, hinting at vitally-needed nuance when taking on social media study. It also provides grounds for preferred platforms to step up for their LGBTQ users. “Adults who hope to make recommendations about online spaces to LGBTQ young people of color must consider both their LGBTQ and racial / ethnic identities to provide recommendations that are the most likely to be safe for them, as some spaces may currently be less safe for young people who hold multiple marginalized identities,” writes the organization.
The need for a deeper understanding of individual social media use is shared across the industry and among academics, as technology has become a domineering space for identity-building and social connection. “Experts who work with LGBTQ youth say there are ways to use social media as a lifeline for connection while continuing to guard against the risks,” writes Mashable’s Rebecca Ruiz. “These strategies include being aware of potential harms, asking for help when necessary, noticing personal stress cues, and developing related coping skills.”
Academics and influencers alike suggest educated, mindful social media use combined with a balance of “restorative offline activities” and positive coping practices, Ruiz reports.
Implicitly, LGBTQ youth of color might feel safer on platforms like TikTok and Discord because they enable a kind of identity-centered curation, allowing users to join communities or “customize” their feeds with other, similar users or comfortable topics, one way of easing into social media use. A bigger leap: LGBTQ users can also turn towards LGBTQ-specific sites and avoid platforms with failing safety grades. The Trevor Project hosts its own platform, TrevorSpace, intended to act as an affirming online community for LGBTQ young people exploring their identities, finding peer support, and making friends in moderated communities.
“Overall, these findings underscore the benefits that online spaces may have for LGBTQ young people of color, and identify some of the key online spaces where they feel safe and understood,” The Trevor Project writes. “It is important to note that the landscape of online spaces is ever-changing. Appropriate digital literacy training that teaches LGBTQ young people of color how to responsibly learn, create, and participate in online spaces may be key to ensuring their long-term well-being online.”
If you’re feeling suicidal or experiencing a mental health crisis, please talk to somebody. You can reach the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988; the Trans Lifeline at 877-565-8860; or the Trevor Project at 866-488-7386. Text “START” to Crisis Text Line at 741-741. Contact the NAMI HelpLine at 1-800-950-NAMI, Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. ET, or email info@nami.org. If you don’t like the phone, consider using the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Chat at crisischat.org. Here is a list of international resources.
Live Through This creator Dese’Rae L. Stage gave Mashable the following additional information about crisis and warmlines: “Many of these resources utilize restrictive interventions, like active rescues (wellness or welfare checks) involving law enforcement or emergency services. If this is a concern for you, you can ask if this is a possibility at any point in your conversation. Trans Lifeline does not implement restrictive interventions for suicidal people without express consent. A warmline is also less likely to do this, but you may want to double-check their policies.”
Greta Gerwig’s Barbie movie has been dominating the globe with a sprawling and spectacular marketing campaign that is impossible to ignore. Now that the film is finally coming to theaters, can it possibly live up to the hype of anticipation? It’s complicated.
In some regards, Barbie is exactly what fans online frothing over the Barbie Selfie Generator and those true-to-doll red carpet looks desire. Gerwig – with the assistance of an army of incredible craftspeople – has made Barbieland a marvelous reality of towering dreamhouses, flawless fashion, and violently pink everything. Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling are masterfully paired as “Stereotypical Barbie and Ken,” not only achieving the improbable physical perfection of this iconic duo but also capturing the juvenile whimsy one might assume they possess.
Plus, there’s plenty of daffy humor tied to how kids play with Barbie and some of Mattel’s less glamorous moments. But the plot carefully hidden in the trailers, clips, junket videos, and music videos may throw many for a loop. And that’s pretty incredible in its own right.
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What is Barbie about?
Credit: Warner Bros.
The opening of the film, written by Gerwig and Noah Baumbach, is the hilarious teaser, which parodied 2001: A Space Odyssey. Little girls in sepia-toned desert play dispassionately with baby dolls until Barbie arises like a majestic monolith in her debut swimsuit, and the kids go “ape” for her. A brief intro proposes that Barbie has been an icon, inspiring girls and solving all the problems of sexism — well, as far as the residents of Barbieland, a female-led utopia, know, anyway.
In Barbieland, Barbies are doctors, lawyers, construction workers, Pulitzer prize winners, and the president. Every day is perfect, beginning with a great night’s sleep and a charming morning routine of costume change and heart-shaped waffle and every night ends with a massive dance party, followed by a “girls’ night”— no Kens allowed. (While Barbies do anything and everything, Kens “beach.”) But all of this seeming perfection begins to unravel when Stereotypical Barbie (Robbie) asks abruptly, mid-choreographed group-dance number, “Do you guys ever think about dying?”
Soon, her sleep isn’t so restful. Her breakfast is burnt. Her perfectly arched feet go flat. She seeks counsel from “Weird Barbie” (a perfectly cast Kate McKinnon), who tells her that the girl playing with her in the Real World is in crisis, and it’s up to Barbie to go there and help her. Ken (Gosling) will come along for the ride, whether Barbie likes it or not.
Barbie is a miracle for a studio movie.
Credit: Warner Bros.
Barbie has long been a promise and a pitfall for women. On one hand, she tells girls they can be anything they dream of. On the other hand, she is a standard to which we can never live up to with her unrealistic curves, her unflappable smile, her entirely bespoke wardrobe, and her ability to be absolutely anything — with no impediments of institutionalized prejudice to hold her back.
Incredibly, Barbie tackles a lot of this terrain. Barbieland is an inclusive place, made up of Barbies who are people of color, disabled Barbies with aids like wheelchairs and prosthetic limbs, Barbies of different body types, and a Doctor Barbie played by trans actor/model Hari Nef. It’s a dizzying delight to see all of these women working blissfully together, living our best fantasy lives, where their basic rights aren’t under attack (and everything looks cute).
When Barbie visits the Real World; however, she confronts a rude awakening of catcalls, sexual harassment, and a Mattel boardroom full of businessmen talking down to her. From here, the film becomes direct in its discussion of sexism and the problems of patriarchy. The dialogue on these points ranges from comically broad to personal but generally has a “Feminism 101” vibe to it. While some might be outraged at even this level of discourse on gender politics in a kid-friendly movie, others will likely criticize that Gerwig doesn’t go far enough here. However, it seems Gerwig’s chief focus with Barbie is to give voice to the girls and young women encountering the sexist double standards put upon them by using a doll that’s been a blessing and a curse on that point. It’s a candy-coated intro to feminism.
To one character, Barbie is a symbol of outdated and unfair standards women are shackled by; to another, she’s a radiant symbol of the potential women possess, if only given the chance to shine. This conflict not only propels the plot — and Barbie’s own identity crisis — but also allows for another political paradox in this big-budget studio movie with glossy IP.
It’s easy to be cynical about movies based on toys, as one might rightly assume they’re chiefly produced for merchandising. It’s hard to argue Barbie doesn’t play into that, as Barbie-mania sweeps the globe with a massive array of tie-in products. Even within the movie, specific clothes and dolls get loving, kitschy close-ups. But incredibly, within what is a two-hour commercial for Barbie dolls and all hyper-feminine fashion accessories, Gerwig builds a thread about the evils of consumerism and the problems with Barbie. A politically minded tween (Ariana Greenblatt) goes on a diatribe about the problems with the doll, giving swift voice to many of Barbie’s detractors.
But more powerfully, the third act challenges the concept that our identities are made of what we own. Even in Barbieland, consumerism and the obsession with stuff is called into question, which feels pretty radical for a toy movie.
Barbie has inspirations classic and comical; Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling are perfect.
Credit: Warner Bros.
On the press tour, Gerwig has repeatedly noted she found inspiration in classic Hollywood musicals. And that is clear in Barbieland with its gorgeous hand-painted backdrops, the 2001 parody, the pink brick road (a nod to The Wizard of Oz), and a flashy dance number that recalls Gene Kelly’s dream ballet in An American in Paris. Cinephiles have plenty of reasons to geek out over these details. Yet the tone of Barbie is distinctly modern, favoring a high-energy satire approach that recalls Deborah Kaplan and Harry Elfont’s cult classic Josie and the Pussycats, which also condemned consumerism in pop culture, and a recent comedy gem, Josh Greenbaum’s Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar, which also centers on a charming twosome who love sand and sun.
Simply put, Barbie is meticulously crafted, politically daring (for a studio movie), and absolutely hilarious. But the film may not have worked were it not for Robbie and Gosling, who completely understand and embrace Gerwig’s mix of classic and contemporary. Sure, Robbie looks the part of Barbie, on the screen and on the red carpet. However, there’s more to the character than the initial breeziness seen in much of the trailers. As existential dread creeps in, Barbie battles with the social pressure to look endlessly happy, even as her mind is rattled with self-doubt and anxiety. Robbie has to traverse the tricky terrain of making a doll’s existential crisis have stakes, and she does so with tender tears and a smile that shines yet quivers.
Credit: Warner Bros.
Gerwig’s sensational soundtrack gives voice to these feelings as Barbie struggles to find the words. Tracks from Dua Lipa, Billie Eilish, and Lizzo provide poignant and playful commentary, while Ken breaks out into song a couple of times too. Once, he goes into a full musical number with all the Kens in the hilariously indulgent, “I’m Just Ken.” The other time…it’s too good to spoil. It involves a guitar and is the hardest I laughed at this very funny movie. And that’s credit to Gosling.
There are a lot of terrific performances in Barbie, from Will Ferrell as a reliable spoof of an arrogant man in charge, Issa Rae as no-nonsense President Barbie, America Ferrera as Barbie’s passionate human ally, and Michael Cera as the slyly hysterical Allan. However, Gosling is superb. He’s brought plenty of Kenergy to the press tour for this movie. But in Barbie he does so much more. He allows himself to be the clown in a way we haven’t seen since The Nice Guys. He’s unafraid to be absurd, like Jamie Dornan in Barb and Star.And in doing so he becomes the perfect match for Robbie’s radiant yet unraveling Barbie.
In the end, Gerwig has done something ambitious and remarkable. She took what could have been a cheap excuse to sell toys and has made it an accessible political conversation about gender politics, consumerism, and the radical act of self-love. Her incredible crew has built a dream world that looks so real and tangible, you can imagine strutting onto its pink plastic floors and opening its various glossy doors. Her cast has embraced her vision, throwing themselves into the physical comedy, the ardent pathos, and the movie’s most bonkers moments with such abandon that it’s absolutely intoxicating. The result is a summer movie that has more depth than you might expect, and demands to be seen on the big screen to take in every ounce of all the incredible craftsmanship in front of and behind the camera.
If Quordle is a little too challenging today, you’ve come to the right place for hints. There aren’t just hints here, but the whole Quordle solution. Scroll to the bottom of this page, and there it is. But are you sure you need all four answers? Maybe you just need a strategy guide. Either way, scroll down, and you’ll get what you need.
What is Quordle?
Quordle is a five-letter word guessing game similar to Wordle, except each guess applies letters to four words at the same time. You get nine guesses instead of six to correctly guess all four words. It looks like playing four Wordle games at the same time, and that is essentially what it is. But it’s not nearly as intimidating as it sounds.
Is Quordle harder than Wordle?
Yes, though not diabolically so.
Where did Quordle come from?
Amid the Wordle boom of late 2021 and early 2022, when everyone was learning to love free, in-browser, once-a-day word guessing games, creator Freddie Meyer says he took inspiration from one of the first big Wordle variations, Dordle — the one where you essentially play two Wordles at once. He took things up a notch, and released Quordle on January 30. Meyer’s creation was covered in The Guardian six days later, and now, according to Meyer, it attracts millions of daily users. Today, Meyer earns modest revenue from Patreon, where dedicated Quordle fans can donate to keep their favorite puzzle game running.
How is Quordle pronounced?
“Kwordle.” It should rhyme with “Wordle,” and definitely should not be pronounced exactly like “curdle.”
Is Quordle strategy different from Wordle?
Yes and no.
Your starting strategy should be the same as with Wordle. In fact, if you have a favorite Wordle opening word, there’s no reason to change that here. We suggest something rich in vowels, featuring common letters like C, R, and N. But you do you.
After your first guess, however, you’ll notice things getting out of control if you play Quordle exactly like Wordle.
What should I do in Quordle that I don’t do in Wordle?
Solving a Wordle puzzle can famously come down to a series of single letter-change variations. If you’ve narrowed it down to “-IGHT,” you could guess “MIGHT” “NIGHT” “LIGHT” and “SIGHT” and one of those will probably be the solution — though this is also a famous way to end up losing in Wordle, particularly if you play on “hard mode.” In Quordle, however, this sort of single-letter winnowing is a deadly trap, and it hints at the important strategic difference between Wordle and Quordle: In Quordle, you can’t afford to waste guesses unless you’re eliminating as many letters as possible at all times.
Guessing a completely random word that you already know isn’t the solution, just to eliminate three or four possible letters you haven’t tried yet, is thought of as a desperate, latch-ditch move in Wordle. In Quordle, however, it’s a normal part of the player’s strategic toolset.
Is there a way to get the answer faster?
In my experience Quordle can be a slow game, sometimes dragging out longer than it would take to play Wordle four times. But a sort of blunt-force guessing approach can speed things up. The following strategy also works with Wordle if you only want the solution, and don’t care about having the fewest possible guesses:
Try starting with a series of words that puts all the vowels (including Y) on the board, along with some other common letters. We’ve had good luck with the three words: “NOTES,” “ACRID,” and “LUMPY.” YouTuber DougMansLand suggests four words: “CANOE,” “SKIRT,” “PLUMB,” and “FUDGY.”
Most of the alphabet is now eliminated, and you’ll only have the ability to make one or two wrong guesses if you use this strategy. But in most cases you’ll have all the information you need to guess the remaining words without any wrong guesses.
If strategy isn’t helping, and you’re still stumped, here are some hints:
Are there any double or triple letters in today’s Quordle words?
Two words have twice-occurring letters.
Are any rare letters being used in today’s Quordle like Q or Z?
That’s what VanMoof called itself after the independent Netherlands-based e-bike company raised a total of $182 million in a less than 2 year span during the pandemic. The bulk of that funding came as the e-bike industry boomed as workers started looking for ways to commute and avoid packed public transit options as COVID-19 continued to spread.
Now, less than 2 years later, the “most funded e-bike company in the world” has gone bankrupt.
According to a statement from VanMoof’s co-founders as first reported by The Verge, the court of Amsterdam has officially declared the e-bike company and its Dutch legal entities bankrupt.
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“Over the last weeks Ties and I have tried to find a future for VanMoof,” wrote the two brothers, Taco and Ties Carlier, who founded the company in an email sent to staff. “We’re extremely sorry to have to report that despite our best efforts we did not succeed and we have had to file for bankruptcy.”
The bankruptcy was sudden for VanMoof, as it came just one week after a Dutch court ordered a two-month cooling down period for the company after it applied for the suspension of payment provision. The Netherlands provides such an option to companies suffering from financial difficulties in order to protect creditors and give businesses the opportunity to find solutions before filing for bankruptcy. VanMoof’s physical retail stores also shut down at this time.
The Verge reports that trustees have been appointed to the company and the future of VanMoof is currently being assessed. There is a possibility that the company can restart or sell its assets to a third-party without the new entity taking on VanMoof’s debt.
The e-bike industry as a whole, however, continues to grow. Analysts expect the e-bike space to be worth upwards of $90 billion by the end of the decade. So, what happened to VanMoof? One e-bike industry member told TechCrunch that the company focused too much of its funding on marketing. The industry insider also claimed that VanMoof also had inefficient supply chain and unit cost strategies. VanMoof allegedly had large amounts of stock after over-ordering following COVID-induced delays.
The tech industry as a whole has dealt with these same issues regarding the pandemic. Lockdowns, remote work, and other life-altering aspects of the pandemic led consumers to change their lifestyles. Technology that became prevalent during consumers’ new way of life during this time flourished. Social media companies experienced new high levels of traffic. Niche companies that facilitated telecommuting like Zoom quickly became household brand names. Tech giants went on hiring sprees. For example, Meta went from 48,000 employees before the pandemic to 87,000 during the pandemic years.
But, many of these companies didn’t assess for the fact that many of these changes were likely temporary and some aspects of life would resume to how things were before the pandemic.
Earlier this year, Zoom laid off 15 percent of its staff as part of a “reset.” Big tech companies as a whole laid off nearly 200,000 workers in 2022 after a boom in hiring and acquisitions during the pandemic.
It appears VanMoof may have suffered from the same tunnel-vision that many of these other companies did during the pandemic. However, VanMoof ended up paying the ultimate price.
OpenAI is teaming up with the American Journalism Project (AJP) to support local news, a significant move for AI and the future of media.
On Tuesday, OpenAI announced a $5 million partnership with AJP, a venture philanthropy that supports local news organizations. The partnership will fund an “AI studio” that will oversee applications of AI in local newsrooms, offer grants to local news organizations to explore the application of AI-powered tools, and $5 million worth of API credits for AJP and its portfolio of news organizations to use OpenAI’s tools like GPT-4.
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OpenAI and its generative AI tools ChatGPT and DALL-E have raised concerns about proliferation of misinformation, copyright infringement of media, as well as reinforcing biases and use of personal data to train its models. Just last week, it was reported that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) began an investigation of OpenAI, seeking to open up the black box of OpenAI’s technologies and understand the inner workings of how its models are trained and developed.
OpenAI has been publicly open to federal regulation, but behind the scenes, the company has lobbied for softer regulation. Some AI experts suggest OpenAI’s cooperation with regulators is to ensure they have a say in how their business is regulated. The company’s partnership with the Associated Press and now, AJP indicate OpenAI is proactively addressing potential copyright issues by getting out in front of criticisms that ChatGPT and similar applications disseminate content from media outlets outside the scope of fair use.
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Another way of looking at the partnership is that local news, by way of AJP, has an opportunity to influence the way OpenAI’s transformative technology impacts media. “In these early days of generative AI, we have the opportunity to ensure that local news organizations, and their communities, are involved in shaping its implications. With this partnership, we aim to promote ways for AI to enhance — rather than imperil — journalism,” said Sarabeth Berman, CEO of AJP in the announcement. Local news is a critical aspect of civic engagement, and combatting misinformation and biases, but often lacks the funding and resources to thrive, or even survive.
OpenAI’s media partnerships represent a new step into the rapidly-evolving frontier of AI’s relationship with modern society. But what that step means is still uncertain.
Gourmet, quick meals are now possible at home thanks to all sorts of new kitchen technology. If you’re interested in exploring your inner chef, these Ninja deals at Amazon are sure to be a great addition to your kitchen.
Ninja deals at Amazon
Best Juicer
Ninja JC151 NeverClog cold press juicer (opens in a new tab)
$109.95 at Amazon (Save $20.04)
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Best Digital Air Fryer
Ninja Foodi SP101 digital air fry countertop oven (opens in a new tab)
$149.95 at Amazon (Save $70.04)
(opens in a new tab)
Best Indoor Grill
Ninja Foodi AG301 indoor grill (opens in a new tab)
$129.99 at Amazon (Save $40)
(opens in a new tab)
Thanks to these Ninja kitchen devices, it’s easier to whip up healthy, fresh, and quick meals at home. Take a look at our picks of the best Ninja deals at Amazon as of July 18.
Best Juicer
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Credit: Ninja
Our pick: Ninja JC151 NeverClog cold press juicer (opens in a new tab)
$109.95 at Amazon (save $20.04)
(opens in a new tab)
Why we like it
Nothing beats a glass of fresh juice in the morning. The Ninja JC151 NeverClog cold press juicer is a space-saving centrifugal juicer that can press the juice from your favorite fruits and vegetables for a refreshing drink. Its two-mode pulp control lets you choose the texture of your juice, every time. An anti-drip lever prevents messes and waste so you get more juice per session. And its high-torque 150-watt motor rotates the 9-segment auger for fresher juice and zero clogging. But there’s more: all parts of the machine that touch the juice are dishwasher-safe for no-hassle cleaning.
Best digital air fry countertop oven
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Credit: Ninja
Our pick: Ninja Foodi SP101 digital air fry countertop oven (opens in a new tab)
$149.95 at Amazon (save $70.04)
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Why we like it
Air fryers are all the rage for a good reason. They cook food quickly and use less oil while still providing lots of flavor. (It’s that fried taste without the extra fat.) The Ninja SP101 digital air fry countertop oven is an 8-in-1 powerhouse with multiple functions that’s perfect for families, large gatherings, and meal prep. Measuring 19.72 inches in width, you’ll save countertop space and still be able to bake, roast, air fry, toast, or reheat. Its digital control technology maintains consistent heating and airflow for delectable results.
You’ll get a removable crumb tray and sheet pan that lets you prepare up to six chicken breasts at a time for crowd-pleasing and nutritious meals. Best of all, you’ll save $70.04 on this versatile countertop air fryer. Simply set the temperature using the digital controls, and presto.
Best indoor grill
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Credit: Ninja
Our pick: Ninja Foodi AG301 indoor grill (opens in a new tab)
$129.99 at Amazon (save $40)
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Why we like it
The Ninja Foodi AG301 indoor grill makes it possible for you to have smoky dishes even if you have no backyard. And even if you do have outdoor space, this grill allows you to cook indoors without having to start a fire and stand over the hot, hot grill. Win-win. It’s 14.9 inches wide and 11.02 inches high, so you save valuable counter space. The Ninja Foodi AG301 is equipped with cyclonic grilling technology that reaches a temperature of 500 degrees Fahrenheit so you can char your food to taste. You’ll even be able to cook certain frozen meals in under 25 minutes (just look in the recipe book for ideas). A smoke control system lets you breathe easy, plus the AG301 includes a grill grate, cooking pot, and crisper basket so you can explore your meal options. These accessories are all dishwasher-safe for no-fuss cleaning.
Keeping your home clean and fresh is a challenge, but the results are always worth it. That’s why it makes perfect sense to invest in quality gadgets that will get the job done. You can find deals on Shark robot vacuums, vacuums, and air purifiers at Amazon as of July 18. We’ve compiled a list of the best deals to help you find the Shark device that best suits your needs.
Shark Deals at Amazon
Best Air Purifier
Shark HE402 air purifier 4 (opens in a new tab)
$199.99 at Amazon (Save $150)
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Best Cordless Stick Vacuum
Shark WS633 WANDVAC System (opens in a new tab)
$169.99 at Amazon (Save $72.50)
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Best Robot Vacuum
Shark ION robot vacuum AV751 (opens in a new tab)
$169.99 at Amazon (Save $60)
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Keeping a tidy home no longer has to be a chore thanks to these Shark device deals at Amazon as of July 18.
Best air purifier
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Credit: Shark
Shark HE402 air purifier 4 (opens in a new tab)
$199.99 at Amazon (save $150)
(opens in a new tab)
Why we like it
The Shark HE402 air purifier 4 can purify the air in spaces up to 1000 square feet. It’s powered by four micro fans that evenly diffuse air so you can breathe more easily. Plus, it’s designed to be quiet in case you’d like to use it at night. The Shark HE402 is equipped with True HEPA and is capable of filtering through up to 99.98% of small particles. Not only will the air in your home be fresh and clean, but kitchen and pet odors will be no match against this powerful air purifier.
If you need a cordless stick vacuum packed with features, the Shark WS633 WANDVAC System is an excellent choice. Weighing only 2.1 pounds, you’ll be able to use this vacuum on floors, carpets, and above-floor surfaces thanks to this vacuum’s potent suction. Its PowerFins technology ensures constant contact and its brush roll automatically cleans itself to prevent hair from getting tangled. Quickly convert the WS633 WANDVAC into a handheld vacuum you can use on your sofa or your car. The kit includes a pet multi-tool, charger, and mini-MHT so no corner is left behind as you vacuum. When you’re finished, simply press a button to empty the dust cup.
With three types of brushes and a runtime of up to 120 minutes, it’s hard to believe the Shark ION robot vacuum AV751 costs only $169.99—that’s $60 off its usual cost of $229.99. This Shark robot vacuum was designed to avoid stairways and ledges so you won’t have to worry about it falling over or bumping into furniture. You’ll also be able to sync it to Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant for voice-control options. Plus, the SharkClean app lets you control the robot vacuum from your phone so you can schedule cleanings to your liking.
More robot vacuum deals
Shark IQ robot vacuum AV992 — $249.99 $399.99 (save $150)
Shark IQ robot vacuum AV1002AE — $299.99 $549 (save $249.01)
On TikTok, life is really is a simulation. Look no further than the NPC trend going viral on TikTok Live.
TikTok creators have been taking to the app’s Live feature to mimic NPCs or “non-playable characters”: the characters in video games that have been pre-programmed and cannot be controlled by players.
Take PinkyDoll, a TikToker with skyrocketing views, who is now known for her NPC streaming performances on the app. Often using the catchphrases, “Ice cream so good” and “Yes, yes, yes!”, there is a meticulously curated, eerily lifeless repetition to PinkyDoll’s movements and glitching words, much like NPCs might do awaiting interaction in a game. Often, her character does randomly nonsensical things like using a hair straightener to heat popcorn kernels.
SEE ALSO:
Person freezes mid-stride in TikTok video. Is simulation theory real?
Needless to say, the internet has become equally mesmerized and confused by these videos. It’s almost like cosplay, as the New York Times‘ Madison Malone Kircher writes in a profile of PinkyDoll. The 27-year-old Montreal-resident, whose real name is Fedha Sinon, told the NYT that she starting streaming on TikTok as a way to make money.
And it turns out PinkyDoll’s streams, and those of other NPC performing creators, have paid off, thanks to a TikTok Live feature that allows users to pass on “gifts” that turn into monetary rewards. TikTok users can send these little virtual coins — which come in various forms like dinosaurs, ice cream cones, and roses – to creators while watching livestreams, and they can be redeemed for payment. One TikTok coin is worth around $0.01. PinkyDoll reportedly makes anything from $2,000 to 3,000 per stream, and counts Timbaland as one of her biggest supporters.
Creator natuecoco, who boasts 1.5 million followers on TikTok, has been credited with starting the NPC performance trend. There are other streamers, like Jay Monique and Regena, each with hundreds and thousands of followers, who have jumped onto the trend since PinkyDoll’s recent rise. Both released videos discussing PinkyDoll’s virality but have since have decided to give it a try on their own accounts, largely because of the money PinkyDoll reigned in.
While NPC has now been transformed by creators into a trend, the term has gone through a history of its own. In 2018, for example, 4chan and Reddit boards were flooded with the use of “NPC” as a right-wing slur for liberals. On Twitter, too, hundreds of accounts were banned for posing as NPCs and liberal activists, creating fake content.
The TikTok trend has so far escaped any kind of large controversy, but it does sort of illustrate a growing desire for mindless content. The creators cosplaying as NPCs are almost AI-like, and watching the videos feels like a concrete shift from reality. But as PinkyDoll told Vice, she doesn’t care what people think. TikTok loves her.
TL;DR: As of July 18, you can get a lifetime license for Microsoft Office Home and Business for Mac 2021 or Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows for only $39.99 instead of $219.99 — that’s a savings of 81%.
Microsoft Office has long been ingrained in our day-to-day work lives. Need to write up a huge document? MS Word has got your back. Need to analyze a large set of numbers? MS Excel is there. Need to pitch an important presentation? Few programs build presentations better than MS PowerPoint.
The only downside is Microsoft Office costs a pretty penny, with annual subscriptions setting you back hundreds. But with this deal, you can score a Microsoft Office 2021 Professional lifetime license for either your Mac or Windows computer at the discounted price of only $39.99.
Developed with the modern professional in mind, the Microsoft Office Professional 2021 suite punches above class in terms of productivity. It comes packed with apps commonly used in the workplace, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, OneNote, Publisher, and Access. It’s also equipped with a litany of features that encourages efficiency, so you can accomplish more at work in less time.
Each of the programs included in the subscription can be installed on a Windows or Mac computer for use at home or work. Upon purchase, you instantly receive access to your software license keys and download links via email, so you can install them right away and get to work. And if, for any reason, any of the apps aren’t functioning the way they should, you have access to free customer service that can do proper troubleshooting.
A small caveat: These Microsoft Office 2021 licenses require that you update your Mac to Version 11 Big Sur or your Windows computer to either Windows 10 or Windows 11, so the programs will run as expected.
Lifetime licenses to Microsoft Office normally cost $219, but for a limited time, you can score one on sale for under $40 with no coupon needed:
Microsoft Office Home and Business for Mac 2021, on sale for $39.99 (reg. $219)
Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows, on sale for $39.99 (reg. $219)
Prices subject to change.
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Microsoft Office Home and Business for Mac 2021 (opens in a new tab)
$39.99 at the Mashable Shop
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Credit: Microsoft
Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows (opens in a new tab)
