IT General

The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times' revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.

With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.

So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player's flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Tuesday, May 20, 2025:

Across"Pink ___ Club" (Chappell Roan hit)

• The answer is Pony.

Instrument that might be made with a comb and wax paper

• The answer is Kazoo.

How bedtime stories are often read

• The answer is Aloud.

On edge

• The answer is Tense.

Short Instagram video

• The answer is Reel.

DownLess colorful

• The answer is Paler.

Layer of the upper atmosphere

• The answer is Ozone.

Totally pointless

• The answer is No use (without a space).

Hit a high note in a high place, perhaps

• The answer is Yodel

Kit ___ bar

• The answer is Kat.

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

Featured Video For You The Wordle Strategy used by the New York Times' Head of Games

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

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

SAVE $140: As of May 20, the Dreame L10s Ultra Robot Vacuum is on sale for $459.99 at Amazon. That's a 23% saving on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: dreame Dreame L10s Ultra Robot Vacuum $459.99 at Amazon
$599.99 Save $140 Get Deal

We're obsessed with great robot vacuum deals here at Mashable, so that's why we need to tell you about the Dreame L10s Ultra robot vacuum. As of May 20, this impressive model is available for just $459.99, saving you $140 on list price.

So, what makes this deal so good? Well it vacuums, mops, empties itself, refills the water, adds cleaning solution, and does all of that automatically. When the vacuum is full of dust and dirt, it'll move the dust into a bag that you only need to empty every couple of months.

SEE ALSO: The 5 best self-emptying robot vacuums for hands-off cleaning in 2025

For making its way around your house, it uses smart navigation and cameras/sensors, allowing it to quickly map out your home, learning what kinds of floors and obstacles you’ve got, and figures out the best way to clean without bumping into everything.

The vacuuming power is strong enough to pull up hair and debris from carpets, and when it’s mopping, it knows to avoid rugs or to lift the mop pads out of the way. The mopping is also pretty thorough, and can lift up even heavy dirt and stains. It scrubs the floors with rotating pads and then cleans and dries those pads when it’s done, so they’re not just sitting there getting wet and gross.

Ready to give up manual vacuuming for good? Grab this great deal at Amazon now.

The best deals this week, hand-picked by Mashable's team of experts

• Roku Ultra 4K Ultimate Streaming Player (2024 Release) — $79.99 (List Price $99.99)

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• Roborock Qrevo Master Robot Vacuum and Mop — $899.99 (List Price $1599.99)

• Peloton Bike — $1,145.00 (List Price $1445.00)

• Apple AirTag (4-Pack) — $79.98 (List Price $99.00)

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.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

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.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

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's The Mini crossword answers for May 20 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: A balance sheet

• Green: Associated with farming

• Blue: Known for solving mysteries

• Purple: Things you sleep on

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

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

• Yellow: Account book

• Green: Seen in a barn

• Blue: Detectives of kid-lit

• Purple: Words before "Bed"

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 #709 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Account book: LEDGER, LOG, RECORD, REGISTER

• Seen in a barn: BALE, HORSE, PITCHFORK, TROUGH

• Detectives of kid-lit: BROWN, DREW, HARDY, HOLMES

• Words before "Bed": CANOPY, DAY, MURPHY, WATER

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 20

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

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.

TL;DR: Scan anything, anywhere, with this lifetime subscription to iScanner, now $24.99 (reg. $199) with code SCAN.

Opens in a new window Credit: BP Mobile iScanner App: Lifetime Subscription $24.99
$199 Save $174.01 with code SCAN Get Deal

Raise your hand if you've ever had to rush to the library to print something. If most of us don't have the space for clunky printers, chances are we also don't keep a scanner at home. That's what iScanner is for.

This iOS app transforms your iPhone or iPad into a handy little scanner that works for basically any document type. It's also only $24.99 (reg. $199) for a lifetime subscription. 

No more wasted desk space

Even if you're one of the few with a physical scanner still in your presence, you can now clear some counter space thanks to iScanner. And while you're at it, you can throw away that dusty old filing cabinet, too. 

iScanner is the number one US-based scanning and document management tool, letting you knock items off your to-do list from anywhere. Need to save a receipt for taxes? Do you have a contract you need to digitize? You can scan any document using just the phone on your iOS device. 

Students, entrepreneurs, educators, and stay-at-home moms alike will all find endless uses for a scanner in your pocket. The AI-powered tools ensure your documents' borders are detected and automatically adjusted while also straightening scan pages and ditching curves and skews. 

Thanks to AI, you can also use iScanner to help you solve complicated math problems.  Or put its OCR technology to the test and let it help you decipher text in up to 20 languages.

Once things are scanned, the app becomes a full PDF editor and file manager. Edit your scans, including signing them, adding text, or auto-filling them with custom templates. Then, use the file manager's folder via drag and drop to keep them safe and organized. 

Scanning something confidential? You can also protect files and folders by locking them with a PIN. 

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Every weekend warrior knows the drill — you sit in front of a computer all week, and when the weekend hits, you bike, hike, and run yourself ragged. Your body feels destroyed on Monday. Repeat.

If this sounds like you — or even if you’re a casual exerciser who wants to walk and bike longer distances without getting tired — the future has arrived. The world’s first-ever outdoor exoskeleton, Hypershell X, can help max out your physical abilities with minimal effort.

Hypershell X is causing a buzz among both outdoorsy types and robotics enthusiasts, and it won the Best of Innovation in Robotics award at CES 2025.

The cyborg-looking device fits like a second skin over your legs and provides up to 800 watts of power, helping you raise your legs and increasing strength up to 40 percent. Whether you’re walking, running, cycling, climbing stairs, or mountaineering, the device’s motor utilizes AI to adapt to your movements in real time, intuitively.

Opens in a new window Credit: Hypershell Hypershell X Series From $999 Get Deal

Basically, you feel like yourself, only stronger. 

Welcome to the future of wearable robotics

The Hypershell X may look like a sci-fi fantasy device, but you’ll barely feel it while you’re wearing it. Just buckle on the "fanny pack", which also houses the removable and rechargeable battery, and the ergonomic hip levers fit down your legs and are secured by soft straps above your knees. Power the device up via the exoskeleton’s one-touch button, and the M-One motor kicks in, reducing your leg’s physical exertion by up to 30 percent.

Credit: Hypershell

The device itself weighs under five pounds and nicely folds up to fit into your backpack. It can go up to almost 11 miles on one charge, works in temperatures as low as minus-4 degrees Fahrenheit, and the exoskeleton is fully adjustable (think of your over-ear headphones, but with more moving parts) and accommodates different body types.

In addition, Hypershell X can offset up to 66 pounds of weight, which is a huge bonus for adventurers who carry packs full of heavy gear.

The AI algorithm syncs to your movements

The Hypershell X uses a combination of AI algorithms, advanced sensors, and robotics to adjust and sync with your movements, so every step feels natural and effortless. The device might even feel different from day to day as it gets to know you, or as you get stronger, which is pretty cool.

Credit: Hypershell

As for the mobile app, you can use it to fine-tune your movement customizations, track your stats, and watch tutorials — or you can just pack your phone away and enjoy the great outdoors, using the exoskeleton’s button to adjust power levels whenever you want.

Like other devices, the Hypershell X also receives firmware updates. One recent update includes multi-user device access, because you know all of your friends are going to want to take it for a spin.

Which Hypershell X is right for you?

The Hypershell X comes in three different models — the Go X, Pro X, and Carbon X — and each model varies in build material, power, battery range, and price.

The least expensive Go X might be a good choice for biking to the park and less demanding activities such as day hikes, as it delivers 400 watts of power at peak output. The Pro X, on the other hand, can deliver twice the power output of the Go X, making it a solid choice for bike commuters, weekend warriors, and moving into your fifth-floor walkup. Last in the Hypershell X lineup, the Carbon X delivers 800 watts of peak power and is the lightest of the three models. It’s a great pick for people who pack in gear such as cameras and camping stoves and want to conquer mountains.

Whether you’re facing gnarly hiking trails, long distances, or just biking around town, the new Hypershell X exoskeleton will boost your leg strength so you can go farther with less effort — and less wear on your body.

TL;DR: Unblock Pornhub from Virginia with a VPN. The best service for unblocking porn sites is ExpressVPN.

The big news in the world of porn is that more than a third of U.S. states have introduced restrictions for online adult content, including Virginia. Millions of users in Virginia are now unable to access popular sites like Pornhub after the introduction of age verification laws. There are complicated reasons for this restriction that we're not going to get into right now, but what's important to note is that there is a workaround for users in these impacted states.

If you want to unblock porn sites like Pornhub for free from Virginia, we have all the information you need.

How to unblock Pornhub for free in Virginia

VPNs are useful tools that can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to secure servers in other locations. This straightforward process bypasses geo-restrictions so you can access sites like Pornhub from anywhere in the world.

Unblock Pornhub by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for a 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 a location that supports access to Pornhub

4. Visit Pornhub

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (2-Year Subscription + 4 Months Free) $139 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for unblocking porn sites are not free, but most do offer free-trial peiods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can unblock porn sites like Pornhub without actually spending anything. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you the opportunity to temporarily retain access to Pornhub before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to sites like Pornhub, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for bypassing content restrictions is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for Pornhub?

ExpressVPN is the top choice for unblocking porn sites like Pornhub, 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 always secure

• Fast streaming speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $139 and includes an extra four months for free — 61% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Unblock Pornhub for free in Virginia with ExpressVPN.

If you're reading this, you're looking for a little help playing Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game.

Strands 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 preferrined pace.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for May 20 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for May 20 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Oh, of course!

The words are dining-related.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words are things you'd order at a restaurant.

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 Fine Dining

Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for May 20

• Salad

• Appetizers

• Dessert

• Fine Dining

• Soup

• Cheese

• Entree

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.

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

If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for 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 today: Hints and answers for May 20 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's The Mini crossword answers for May 20, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Produced.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no recurring letters.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter B.

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...

BORNE.

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.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for May 20

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.

Connections: Sports Edition is a new version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans.

Like the original Connections, 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 the latest 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 Sports Edition?

The NYT's latest daily word game has launched in association with The Athletic, the New York Times property that provides the publication's sports coverage. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

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.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

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

Here's a hint for today's Connections Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: A group

• Green: Found in the Windy City

• Blue: Where a Dominican baseballer has called home

  Purple: Basketball teams

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

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

• Yellow: Team

• Green: Chicago teams

• Blue: Teams Juan Soto has played for

• Purple: NBA teams with the first letter changed

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 Sports Edition #239 is...

What is the answer to Connections Sports Edition today

• Team - CLUB, SIDE, SQUAD, UNIT

• Chicago teams - BEARS, FIRE, SKY, WHITE SOX

• Teams Juan Soto has played for - METS, NATIONALS, PADRES, YANKEES

• NBA teams with the first letter changed - BUNS, GULLS, MEAT, SLIPPERS

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.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

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.

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.

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

What one might call a baby or small animal.

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

CUTIE

Hurdle Word 2 hint

A way to clean a floor.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for May 20, 2025 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

SWEEP

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Remarkable.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for May 20 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for May 20, 2025 Hurdle Word 3 answer

SUPER

Hurdle Word 4 hint

A way to describe a beach.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for May 20 Hurdle Word 4 answer

SANDY

Final Hurdle hint

A type of wood.

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

CEDAR

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 Take It Down Act, a controversial bipartisan bill recently hailed by First Lady Melania Trump as a tool to build a safer internet, is officially law, as President Donald Trump took to the White House Rose Garden today to put ink to legislative paper. It's the first high-profile tech legislation to pass under the new administration.

"With the rise of AI image generation, countless women have been harassed with deepfakes and other explicit images distributed against their will. This is wrong, so horribly wrong, and it’s a very abusive situation,” said Trump at the time of signing. "This will be the first ever federal law to combat the distribution of explicit, imaginary, posted without subject's consent... We've all heard about deepfakes. I have them all the time, but nobody does anything. I ask Pam [Bondi], 'Can you help me Pam?' She says, 'No I'm too busy doing other things. Don't worry you'll survive.' But a lot of people don't survive, that's true and so horrible... Today, we're making it totally illegal."

SEE ALSO: Caring for ourselves amid the Diddy trial and collective trauma exposure

The bill, which criminalizes publishing or threatening to publish nonconsensual intimate imagery, including AI-generated deepfakes and pornography, was passed by the House of Representatives in April, following a successful run through the Senate. It requires social media platforms to remove offending content within 48 hours and prevent users from posting duplicates, and allows the Federal Trade Commission to sue non-compliant platforms. The law also adds protections for victims and clarifies prosecution guidelines for police, according to CNN.

Victims of nonconsensual intimate imagery previously had little legal recourse against perpetrators, and lawmakers have been slow to agree on how to address revenge porn broadly, even as it is increasingly exacerbated by advancing tech like AI — previous attempts to create criminal or civil pathways for victims, like the DEFIANCE Act, have failed.

Digital rights organizations have been extremely critical of the new legislation, warning lawmakers that the act's broad takedown provisions and tight timeline may lead online service providers to more actively monitor users' speech and fuel censorship of legal content.

According to the AI overlords, this is the year of agentic AI.

You may have seen Google announce its "agentic era" with a web browsing research assistant and an AI bot that calls nail salons and mechanics for you. OpenAI leadership talked about agentic AI being a "big theme in 2025" and has already introduced a research preview of Operator, an agent that can perform tasks on your behalf, and Deep Research, which "conducts multi-step research on the internet for complex tasks." Microsoft just unveiled Microsoft Discover, an enterprise agentic AI tool for scientists. And your next smartphone could have agentic features that can send custom messages, create calendar events, or pull together information from across different apps.

If you've been nodding and smiling every time one of your tech friends mentions agentic AI, don't be embarrassed. This is a new entry in the AI glossary, but one that can no longer be ignored.

So what exactly is agentic AI?

"Agentic AI refers to a class of artificial intelligence systems designed to operate autonomously, perceive their environment, set goals, plan actions to achieve those goals, and execute those plans without continuous human intervention. These systems can learn and adapt over time based on feedback and new information."

That's according to — what else? — Google's AI chatbot Gemini.

Unlike generative AI, which is essentially a tool for creating some kind of output — code, text, audio, images, videos — agentic AI can autonomously perform tasks on a user's behalf. This is a step up from the standard AI chatbot experience. Instead of generating a response based on its training material, agentic AI can take additional steps, such as conducting internet searches and analyzing the results, consulting additional sources, or completing a task in another app or software.

You may have heard this term used interchangeably with AI agents, but agentic AI is a broader term that encompasses technology that may not be fully autonomous but has some agent-like capabilities. 

So, OpenAI considers Operator an AI agent because it has contextual awareness and can perform tasks for you like sending text messages. And its Deep Research tool is agentic AI because it can autonomously crawl the web and compile a report for the user, though its capabilities pretty much stop there for now.

Agentic AI is powered by more advanced reasoning models like ChatGPT o3 and Gemini 2.5 Pro Preview, which can break down complex tasks and make inferences. This brings large-language models like ChatGPT one step closer to mimicking how the human brain works. Unless you constantly retrain a generative AI model with new information, it can't learn new things, said Karen Panetta, IEEE Fellow and professor of engineering at Tufts University. "This other kind of AI can learn from seeing other examples, and it can be more autonomous in breaking down tasks and helping you with more goal-driven types of activities, versus more exploratory or giving back information."

When combined with computer vision, which is what allows a model to "see" a user's computer screen, we get the agentic AI everyone is so excited about.

Why is everyone talking about agentic AI? Google's new AI shopping experience could utilize agentic AI to make purchases on your behalf. Credit: Google

Agentic AI is not entirely new. Self-driving cars and robot vacuums could both be considered early examples of agentic AI. They're technologies with autonomous properties that rely on advanced sensors and cameras to make sense of their environment and react accordingly.

But agentic AI is having its moment now for a few reasons. Crucially, the latest models have gotten better and more user-friendly (although sometimes too friendly). And as people begin to rely on AI chatbots like ChatGPT, there's a growing interest in using these tools to automate daily tasks like responding to emails. With agentic AI, you don't need to be a computer programmer to use ChatGPT for automation. You can simply tell the chatbot what to do in plain English and have it carry out your instructions. At least, that's the idea.

Companies like OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic are banking on agentic AI because it has the potential to move the technology beyond the novelty chatbot experience. With agentic AI, tools like ChatGPT could become truly indispensable for businesses and individuals alike. Agentic AI tools could order groceries online, browse and buy the best-reviewed espresso machine for you, or even research and book vacations. In fact, Google is already taking steps in this direction with its new AI shopping experience.

In the business world, companies are looking to agentic AI to resolve customer service inquiries and adjust stock trading strategies in real-time.

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Are there risks involved with unleashing autonomous bots in the wild? Why, yes.

With an agent operating on your behalf, there's always a risk of it sending a sensitive email to the wrong person or accidentally making a huge purchase. And then there's the question of liability. "Am I going to be sued because I went and had my agent do something?" Panetta wondered. "Say I'm working as an officer of something, and I use an AI agent to make a decision, to help us do our planning, and then you lose that organization money." 

The major AI players have put safeguards in place to prevent AI agents from going rogue, such as requiring human supervision or approval for sensitive tasks. OpenAI says Operator won't take screenshots when it's in human override mode, and it doesn't currently allow its agent to make banking transactions.

But what about when the technology becomes more commonplace? As we become more comfortable with agentic AI, will we become more passive and lax about oversight? Earlier in this article, we used Google Gemini to help define agentic AI. If we become dependent on AI tools for even simple learning, will human beings get dumber?

Then there's the extensive data access we have to give agents. Sure, it would be convenient for ChatGPT to automatically filter, sort, or even delete emails. But do you want to give an AI company full access to every email you've ever sent or received?

And what about bad actors that don't have such safeguards in place? Panetta warns of increasingly sophisticated cyberattacks utilizing agentic AI. 

"Because the access to powerful computing now is so cheap, that means that the bad actors have access to it," she said. "They can be running simulations and being able to come up with sophisticated schemes to break into your systems or connive you into taking out this equity loan." 

AI has always been a double-edged sword, with equally potent harms and benefits. And with agentic AI getting ready for primetime deployment, the stakes are getting higher.

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

Memorial Day marks the unofficial start of summer, which means barbecues, extended vacations, and lots of time outside. Get in gear with our top picks for everything you need to have the best time ever. Think of these as your summertime essentials: All the best tools, gadgets, and seasonal upgrades for your home, yard, and beyond.

23andMe had all the signs of a success story. The unicorn brand became synonymous with consumer-facing genetic testing, went public, and was once valued at $6 billion.

But then, it all came tumbling down. Sales for 23AndMe kits began to fall, attempts to raise new funds hit a wall, the company struggled to find a product that would bring in recurring revenue, and it was still dealing with the fallout from a major data breach.

23andMe filed for bankruptcy and put its assets up for sale in March 2025. But, more concerning than the success or failure of a particular company, was this question: What would happen to 23andMe's vast trove of highly personal customer data? We aren't just talking about usernames and birthdays. 23andMe has DNA profiles for millions of users.

Well, now we know who bought 23andMe and, most importantly, now owns all the DNA data from the company's customers.

Meet Regeneron Pharmaceuticals

On Monday, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals announced that it would acquire most of 23andMe's assets for $256 million. According to Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, the acquisition includes 23andMe's Personal Genome Service, Total Health and Research Services business lines, and the trove of customers' DNA samples and genetic data. 

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Regeneron Pharmaceuticals will not, however, be acquiring 23andMe's online doctor and telehealth service known as Lemonaid Health, which will be shuttered.

Based in Tarrytown, NY, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals is a biotechnology company that researches and develops medicines for cancer, cardiovascular disease, and other diseases. The company is currently valued at more than $64 billion.

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals placed a bid for 23andMe as part of a court-supervised sales process. The bid requires Regeneron Pharmaceuticals to comply with the company's existing privacy policies and applicable laws.

Conspiracy-minded consumers might revolt at the idea of a big pharma brand acquiring their DNA profile. However, in a press release, Regeneron has promised "to comply with the Company’s privacy policies" and "process all customer personal data in accordance with the consents, privacy policies and statements, terms of service, and notices currently in effect." Further, the company assured customers it has "a proven track record of safeguarding personal genetic data, and we assure 23andMe customers that we will apply our high standards for safety and integrity to their data." A court-appointed expert will also submit a report about potential privacy and security impacts to the court by June 10.

If the name "Regeneron" sounds familiar, it may be because the company received mainstream attention in 2020 after the company created an experimental treatment for COVID-19 called REGN-COV2. President Donald Trump was treated with the drug when he was infected with COVID-19 in October of that year.

While 23andMe's demise is certainly notable, a most lasting debate will undoubtedly be had regarding the sale of 15 million customers' genetic data.

“Your DNA and your family health history should not be a corporate asset,"  said J.B. Branch, Big Tech accountability advocate for the consumer rights advocacy group Public Citizen, in a statement. "Of course, Regeneron will promise to ‘respect consent’ and ‘uphold privacy policies.’ Those are bare minimal legal requirements. But time and again these companies fail consumers."

Connections: Sports Edition is a new version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans.

Like the original Connections, 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 the latest 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 Sports Edition?

The NYT's latest daily word game has launched in association with The Athletic, the New York Times property that provides the publication's sports coverage. 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.

Here's a hint for today's Connections Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: To show off

• Green: Areas to watch the game

• Blue: They wear blue and orange jerseys

  Purple: They share the second half of the word

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

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

• Yellow: Boast

• Green: Stadium seating sections

• Blue: New York Knicks

• Purple: ___Stop

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 Sports Edition #238 is...

What is the answer to Connections Sports Edition today

• Boast - CROW, GLOAT, GRANDSTAND, SHOWBOAT

• Stadium seating sections - BLEACHER, LOGE, SUITES, UPPER DESK

• New York Knicks - BRIDGES, HART, MCBRIDE, TOWNS

• ___Stop - BACK, JUMP, PIT, SHORT

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.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

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 today's Connections.

There's a lot to love about ASUS' ROG gaming line, but its laptops are especially good, and the Zephyrus line tends to be a standout. The G14, in particular, is really, really good, and it just got refreshed with 2025 specs.

Microsoft’s Build 2025 conference revealed a major update for its Edge browser. The company is adding a new feature to break down language barriers through built-in PDF translation. This feature should run much better than competitors thanks to taking context into account.

UPDATE: May. 19, 2025, 1:36 p.m. EDT This article has been updated with new information from 'The Android Event,' the Android-focused mini I/O event held on Tuesday, May 13.

The latest news from Google-land is all Gemini, Gemini, Gemini. And with Google I/O 2025 less than a day away, we expect more of the same.

A year after its last big event, Google is back with an even deeper dive into AI. So deep, in fact, that Android was shuffled off into its own separate event entirely. On Tuesday, May 13, Google hosted "The Android Show," a mini I/O-style event focused on the latest Android 16 developments.

So, is Google clearing the decks for major announcements at Google I/O tomorrow? All signs point to yes.

Ahead of I/O 2025, Google dropped a developer preview of Gemini 2.5 Pro, its latest generative AI model. Translation: this year’s keynote isn’t just about flashy hardware or Android updates — it’s about code, algorithms, and the general direction of Google’s artificial intelligence goals.

Whether you're a developer, a die-hard Android fan, a casual Gmail user, or just here for the spectacle, here’s what to expect from Google I/O 2025.

When is the Google I/O 2025 keynote?

The big keynote for Google I/O is scheduled for Tuesday, May 20, 2025, at 10 a.m. PT. Here’s when it will be happening around the globe:

• New York: 1 p.m.

• Chicago: 12 p.m.

• London: 6 p.m.

• Honolulu: 7 a.m.

• Dubai: 9 p.m.

• Paris: 7 p.m.

• Mumbai: 11:30 p.m.

What to expectAgentic AI

Have you been hearing the phrase agentic AI a lot lately? We sure have, most recently at Microsoft Build 2025. Agentic AI features were a big focus during the opening Microsoft Build keynote, and OpenAI has been rolling out more and more agentic capabilities with its AI chatbot ChatGPT. And since we expect Gemini to be the primary focus of Google I/O 2025, we also expect announcements related to new agentic tools in Gemini.

AI Mode

With ChatGPT siphoning away searchers from Google (particularly young searchers), Google has gone all-in on AI search, first with AI Overviews, and more recently with AI Mode. And last week, Google began quietly testing AI Mode on its homepage and on search results pages for select users, as Mashable reported. It certainly seems like Google is readying AI Mode for primetime, and Google I/O would be the perfect time to announce this launch.

AI Mode uses the Gemini chatbot to give searchers information instead of the standard blue links you get with Google Search. And if AI Mode is getting a wider launch, it's further proof that the era of Google Search is over, and the era of AI search has officially begun.

Android 16

A week before Google I/O, Google pulled back the curtain on Android 16. The headline here is a fresh evolution of Google's design language, shifting from Material 3 to the more vibrant and customizable Material 3 Expressive. (Google, true to form, self-leaked the details in a now-deleted blog post.) You can get all the details at the Google blog, but we'll save you a click: Material 3 Expressive does away with clean design and Corporate Memphis art and is embracing more active animations, colors, and rounded designs.

A preview of Material 3 Expressive in Android 16. Credit: Google SEE ALSO: Everything we learned at 'The Android Show' event from Google

We also learned that Google is transforming its Find My Device app into the "Find Hub," which will let users track devices, of course, but also people, belongings, and even luggage. New Bluetooth tracker tags and smart luggage will soon be released and integrate directly with the new Find Hub.

As for what Android 16 will bring, the beta has already given us a sneak peek. Features like Auracast support hint at smoother Bluetooth switching, while visual tweaks, quality-of-life upgrades, and the introduction of “summarized notifications” suggest a more streamlined, user-friendly experience across the board.

Leaks suggest a Q2 launch, sometime around June.

WearOS

Wear OS fans, this one's (almost) for you. Wear OS 5.1 quietly dropped in March, delivering some relatively minor improvements like better step tracking and revamped media controls. However, in a pleasant surprise, Google revealed Wear OS 6 during The Android Show event. We now know that Wear OS 6 will be getting a big visual update, new Gemini AI features, and a 10% battery life boost.

Android XR

Fourth time’s the charm — at least, that’s what Google hopes.

After the quiet burial of Google Glass, the slow fade of Daydream, and the DIY novelty of Cardboard, Google is once again diving headfirst into immersive tech with Android XR. Built from the ground up with Gemini AI in mind, this new operating system is aimed squarely at powering the next wave of AR and VR wearables.

Things may be different now with Google's collaboration with Samsung on Project Moohan — a pair of XR glasses using Google’s OS. Details are sparse, and it’s unclear whether Moohan will make a cameo at I/O 2025, but you can bet Android XR will get some stage time. Expect Google to name names when it comes to new partners and paint a picture of an XR ecosystem that might have staying power.

Google Workspace changes

Google regularly rolls out new tools, updates, and features for its Workspace suite of tools, including Google Docs, Gmail, Sheets, and Slides. During the Google I/O 2025 keynote, look for a ton of announcements related to new Workspace tools. You don't have to be a psychic to know that Gemini and artificial intelligence will be the driving force behind most of these changes.

Project Astra

What is Project Astra? The project is part of Google DeepMind, the company's AI skunkworks lab. It's the name for Google's research prototype for a universal AI. Also on deck is a mobile version of NotebookLM, Google’s AI-powered research assistant. We're not sure if we'll get updates about this at Google I/O 2025, but fingers crossed.

Project Moohan

Project Moohan is actually a joint venture between Google and Samsung. It's the code name for Samsung's first augmented reality glasses, powered by Google Gemini. We know that Samsung is working on new display technology for AR glasses, and we're hoping to get more updates on this project soon. Unfortunately, Google I/O doesn't usually include many hardware announcements, but if we're lucky, we'll get some teasers on this upcoming product launch. We got a good look at this technology during the Galaxy Unpacked event earlier this year, so perhaps Google I/O will give us our next preview.

More AI, AI, AI

Google is an AI company now, full stop. And I/O 2025 is shaping up to be less about what Google makes and more about how much smarter it can make everything.

At the center of it all is Gemini. With version 2.5 Pro already in developers’ hands, expect Google to go deep on performance gains, real-world integrations, and new ways Gemini is flexing across platforms. (As of this writing, Gemini 2.5 Pro tops AI leaderboards.)

Google is bringing AI to everything, so expect announcements on a bunch of AI-related features: cars, smartwatches, earbuds, even your toaster, probably. Context-aware assistants, predictive interfaces, and on-device models will dominate the demos. It's either thrilling or exhausting, depending on how many times you’ve heard the phrase "AI-first strategy."

ASUS has sold many Chromebooks over the years, including some of the best models, and the company is continuing that trend at Computex 2025. ASUS just revealed four budget Chromebooks with 14 and 15.6-inch screens, as well as a 14-inch Chromebook Plus model.

With their whimsical worlds and breathtaking storytelling, Ghibli set the golden standard for animated films. But you should know, not every enchanting animation comes from the legendary studio.