Mashable

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.

SEE ALSO: NYT Mini crossword answers, hints for July 31, 2025 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: Texas squads

• Green: Baseball offense

• Blue: Footballers

• Purple: Racing branding

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: Houston teams

• Green: Hitting statistics

• Blue: NFL rookie QBs

• Purple: NASCAR Cup Series sponsors, over time

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 #315 is...

What is the answer to Connections Sports Edition today

• Houston teams - ASTROS, DASH, DYNAMO, TEXANS

• Hitting statistics - AVERAGE, HOME RUN, RBI, RUN

• NFL rookie QBs - DART, SANDERS, SHOUGH, WARD

• NASCAR Cup Series sponsors, over time - MONSTER ENERGY, NEXTEL, SPRINT, WINSTON

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.

TL;DR: The DJI Mini 4K drone is available to purchase for $299 on Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon DJI Mini 4K Drone $299 at Amazon
Get Deal

DJI is one of the biggest names in drones, with a strong reputation for creating incredible aerial shots. The DJI product range is the top choice of TikTokers, YouTubers, and filmmakers. That being said, we were surprised to see the DJI Mini 4K drone so near the top of the charts of best-sellers over Prime Day. We knew these drones were popular, but surely not as popular as AirPods?

Then the real reason hit us like a drone to the head.

President Donald Trump has signed two executive orders aimed at helping the U.S. drone industry and shoring up protections against malicious drone activity. The measures don't actually order a full ban on Chinese-made drones (yet), but talk of a ban on DJI drones has been doing the rounds for a while now. That uncertainty is clearly causing an uptick in sales.

SEE ALSO: The DJI Power 2000 portable power station means business, and it’s great for DJI drone owners

The good news for anyone hoping to buy before a potential ban is that you can still find the DJI Mini 4K drone on Amazon, listed for $299 right now. It's being shipped and sold by Fly Image Tech. We don't generally recommend third-party sellers, but Fly Image Tech has a decent track record and times are tough right now. With stock running low, we'll take what we can get.

The DJI Mini 4K is full of helpful features for beginners and advanced users alike. It has one-tap takeoff options and a return to home function. But perhaps most importantly for content creators is the three-axis gimbal and 4K quality, as well as advanced wind resistance and extended battery life. It's a step up from the DJI Neo Mini 4K that we think creators will appreciate.

Get the DJI Mini 4K drone for under $300 at Amazon.

TL;DR: Pay $130 for a 1-year Costco Executive Gold Star Membership and receive a $40 Digital Costco Shop Card* when you redeem online (new members only).

Opens in a new window Credit: Costco Costco 1-Year Executive Gold Star Membership + $40 Digital Costco Shop Card $130
Get Deal

Running errands doesn’t have to feel like…running errands. At Costco, one trip can knock out groceries, tech, clothes, travel planning, and your next eye exam — all in one place.

For $130, you get a 1-year Executive Gold Star Membership — Costco’s highest tier — plus a $40 Digital Costco Shop Card* after online redemption. That includes both the standard $65 membership and the $65 Executive upgrade. It’s only available to new members or those who haven’t had a membership in over 18 months, so be sure to redeem online soon (within 30 days, must be by 12/31/25 to qualify).

Here’s what makes the Executive tier smart for forward-thinkers and number-crunchers: you can earn a 2% annual reward on qualified purchases at Costco, Costco.com, and Costco Travel up to $1,250 per year. You also may see deeper discounts on select Costco Services**, like check printing, and certain auto perks like roadside assistance.

Stretch your budget while streamlining errands, and knocking out everyday tasks in one trip. You’ll also get a free Household Card, access to all 500+ Costco locations worldwide, and the ability to shop online or at the gas station without extra fees.

Once you redeem your membership online (required before heading to a warehouse), your $40 Costco Digital Shop Card* shows up via email within two weeks. This offer is a solid, practical membership designed for people who appreciate value and don’t mind planning ahead to get it.

Purchase a year-long Executive Gold Star Membership for $130 and get a $40 Digital Costco Shop Card* for a limited time.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

*To receive a Digital Costco Shop Card, you must provide a valid email address and set up auto renewal of your Costco membership on a Visa® card at the time of sign-up. If you elect not to enroll in auto renewal at the time of sign-up, incentives will not be emailed.

Valid only for new members and those whose memberships (Primary and Household) have expired at least 18 months or more. Valid only for nonmembers for their first year of membership. Not valid for renewal or upgrade of an existing membership. Promotion may not be combined with any other promotion. Digital Costco Shop Card will be emailed to the email address provided by the Primary Member at time of sign-up within 2 weeks to qualifying members. Digital Costco Shop Card is not redeemable for cash, except as required by law. Costco is not liable for incentives not received due to entry of an invalid address during sign-up. Digital Costco Shop Cards are not accepted at U.S. or Canada Food Court. Neither Costco Wholesale Corporation nor its affiliates are responsible for use of the card without your permission. Use the provided single-use promo code when entering your payment information. A Costco Gold Star Membership is $65 a year. An Executive Membership is an additional $65 upgrade fee a year. Each membership includes one free Household Card. May be subject to sales tax. Costco accepts all Visa cards, as well as cash, checks, debit/ATM cards, EBT and Costco Shop Cards. Departments and product selection may vary. (Note: You will see a $0.01 deduction on your membership cost after the promo code is entered. This indicates that your promo code has been successfully applied).

**Services are provided to Costco members by third parties.

TL;DR: For a limited time, you can get a Microsoft Home & Business for Mac 2021 Lifetime License + refurbished MacBook Pro (Intel i5, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) for $419.99 — no renewals, just pure productivity.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Microsoft Home & Business for Mac 2021 Lifetime License + refurbished MacBook Pro (Intel i5, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $419.99
$1,799 Save $1,379.01 Get Deal

There’s a special kind of peace that comes from owning your tools outright — no logins expiring, no renewal emails, no surprise charges. Just gear that works, and keeps working. That’s what this bundle delivers: a MacBook Pro refurb and a lifetime of Microsoft Office — all for $419.99 (MSRP $1,799).

Let’s start with the hardware. This is a 2020, 13.3-inch MacBook Pro in Space Gray, sporting Intel i5, 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD. Translation: it’s fast, has room for all your stuff, and doesn’t flinch at multitasking. The Retina display is bright and color-accurate, and the Magic Keyboard and Touch Bar make it a dream to use. Bonus: it’s got four Thunderbolt 3 ports, so connectivity is covered.

This MacBook Pro is grade-A refurbished, which means it’s in near-mint condition with little to no visible wear — just professionally tested, cleaned, and ready to go. You get premium performance without the premium price tag, and it still looks great on your desk.

Microsoft Office Home & Business 2021 for Mac gives you Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, and Teams. It’s a one-time license tied to your Microsoft account, not your device — meaning you can reinstall anytime without losing access. The best part is, you’ll actually own it. No monthly fees, ever.

Whether you’re freelancing, studying, or running your own business, this bundle sets you up with the tech you need — with no future bills sneaking up on you. Just make sure to redeem your license within seven days of purchase.

This combo of a near-mint refurbished Apple MacBook Pro and Office lifetime license is on sale for 77% off of $1,799, available for $419.99 for a limited time.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Sellful’s ERP Agency Plan gives you lifetime access to a white label AI business platform for $349.97 (MSRP $1,497) through September 7.

Opens in a new window Credit: Sellful Sellful - White Label Website Builder & Software: ERP Agency Plan (Lifetime) $349.97
$1,497 Save $1,147.03 Get Deal

Running an agency means juggling a hundred tools and hoping nothing drops. You’re bouncing between web builders, CRMs, project trackers, POS apps — and somewhere in there, you’re still trying to sleep.

Sellful says no to all that chaos. Through September 7, grab a lifetime subscription on sale for $349.97.

This is one platform that doesn’t play small. The ERP Agency Plan gives you a full white label experience — you can stamp your brand on everything. We’re talking AI website builder, CRM, marketing automations, invoicing, POS, social scheduling, memberships, courses, client portals, even HR and accounting tools. All under your label. You get 10 sites/sub accounts out of the gate, and you can scale like crazy — with no limits on contacts, users, or products.

The AI tools help you whip up websites, funnels, and emails in seconds. Appointment scheduling? Built in. Subscription billing? Yep. Community forums? Also yes. And because Sellful supports over 20 payment gateways (without taking a cut), you actually keep what you earn.

This isn’t a “jack of all trades, master of none” situation — it’s more like the Swiss Army knife of agency life, but with AI, automation, and zero fluff.

It’s available for both new and existing users, includes updates, and it works on desktop and mobile.

Take advantage of this deal on a lifetime subscription to Sellful, on sale for $349.97 (MSRP $1,497) through September 7.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Stop digging for your phone and get all your notifications delivered to your wrist with a refurbished Apple Watch Series 6, now for only $123.99 (reg. $399).

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Refurbished Apple Watch Series 6 (32GB, GPS + Cellular, 44mm) $123.99
$399 Save $275.01 Get Deal

Whether you’re keeping a closer eye on your health or just trying to save time hunting down your phone, an Apple Watch can help make everyday life a little easier.

If you’ve been in the market for one of these game-changing gadgets but don't have hundreds of dollars to spend, this refurbished Apple Watch Series 6 (32GB, GPS + Cellular, 44mm) is now just $123.99 — 68% off the usual $399 price tag.

Let this Apple Watch help make life a little easier

We’ve all been there — you can hear your phone notifications buzzing away, but can’t seem to find where it’s hiding. If you want to get hours of your life back and stop searching the house for your smartphone, just connect your iPhone, and this Apple Watch will deliver all your notifications right to your wrist with a retina display that’s always on.

You don’t even have to raise your wrist; this Apple Watch Series 6 delivers your metrics right on the screen at all times. You can send and receive texts, make calls, and even check your email, all from your wrist.

Hoping to work on your fitness? This Apple Watch can help with that too, by tracking your workouts independently via GPS, with activity rings that encourage you to move more and track your progress each day, and access to Apple Fitness+ that lets you enjoy a more focused workout with help from knowledgeable trainers.

The Apple Watch Series 6 has your back when it comes to health issues, with an ECG app that alerts you to unusually high or low heart rates or irregular rhythms. Fall detection displays an on-screen prompt so you can quickly call for help if needed. And an emergency SOS option also lets you quickly call for help and alert your emergency contacts.

This particular Apple Watch Series 6 model is refurbished with a grade B rating. That means it will arrive on your doorstep with signs of light to normal wear, while you enjoy a deep discount.

Take advantage of major savings and get this Apple Watch Series 6, for just $123.99 (reg. $399).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

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 Monday, August 4, 2025:

AcrossKey above Caps Lock

• The answer is Tab.

Biased sports fan

• The answer is Homer.

What puts the "i" in Silicon Valley?

• The answer is Apple.

Triangular road sign

• The answer is Yield.

Items in a music library, for short

• The answer is CDs.

DownConversation subject

• The answer is Topic.

Pumped up

• The answer is Amped.

"Silver ___" (Christmas classic)

• The answer is Bells.

Farm fodder

• The answer is Hay.

Like pants in the classic Nantucket style

• The answer is Red.

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 today's Mini Crossword.

TL;DR: Put all your AI tools like ChatGPT, Gemini Pro, and Leonardo.AI in one place with a lifetime subscription to 1minAI, an all-in-one AI app, on sale for just $39.99 (reg. $234). 

Opens in a new window Credit: 1minAI 1minAI: Lifetime Subscription $39.99 at The Mashable Shop
$234 Save $194.01 Get Deal

The free version of some AI models like ChatGPT can get the job done, but if you want the good stuff, you should consider opting for a paid subscription.  

1minAI consolidates many of the most popular AI models — like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Meta AI — into one platform where you can use them all seamlessly, whether you need to generate text, images, or even full videos. A lifetime subscription to 1minAI usually costs $234, but you can get one on sale now for $39.99. 

What can you do with 1minAI

1minAI gives you one platform where you can access AI models like ChatGPT, Gemini, Meta AI, Mistral AI, and more. You don't just get the baseline version, either — 1minAI users can chat with GPT-4, GPT-4 Turbo, Gemini Pro 1.5, and Llama 2 or Llama 3. 

Like a ton of other AI platforms, 1minAI has a limit to how much you can generate every month. Unlike other platforms, the limit is incredibly high. Here's what your lifetime subscription gets you every month. 

First, you get a baseline of 1,000,000 credits per month. Then, every day you log in, you get an additional 15,000 free credits. These will roll over if you don't use them all, too. 

In practice, those huge numbers mean you could generate up to 362,500 words, research nearly 2,000 SEO keywords, generate 386 images, upscale 241 images, remove 24 backgrounds, convert text to speech for over 120,000 characters, and generate up to 12 videos. 

Your AI Swiss Army Knife

Put all your go-to AI tools in one place. Get a lifetime subscription to 1minAI for $39.99. 

StackSocial prices subject to change. 

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

To drench.

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

DOUSE

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Drunk.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for August 4, 2025 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

BOOZY

Hurdle Word 3 hint

An objection.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for August 4 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for August 4, 2025 Hurdle Word 3 answer

DEMUR

Hurdle Word 4 hint

A path.

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

TRAIL

Final Hurdle hint

Opposite of left.

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

RIGHT

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

We're getting closer to this month's full moon, but let's take a look at where we are in the lunar cycle first.

The lunar cycle is a series of eight unique phases of the moon's visibility. The whole cycle takes about 29.5 days, according to NASA, and these different phases happen as the Sun lights up different parts of the moon whilst it orbits Earth. 

So, what's happening with the moon tonight, Aug. 4?

What is today’s moon phase?

As of Monday, Aug. 4, the moon phase is Waxing Gibbous. According to NASA's Daily Moon Observation, the moon will be 77% lit up tonight, the 11th day of the lunar cycle.

With each night we progress through the lunar cycle, there is more visibility for us on Earth. With just your naked eye tonight, you'll be able to spot the Copernicus Crater, the Mare Tranquillitatis, and the Mare Crisium.

Pull out the binoculars to see the Posidonius Crater, the Mare Nectaris, and the Endymion Crater. With a telescope, you can also see the Rima Arladaeus, the Descartes Highlands, and Apollo 12.

When is the next full moon?

The next full moon will be on August 9. The last full moon was on July 10.

What are moon phases?

According to NASA, moon phases are caused by the 29.5-day cycle of the moon’s orbit, which changes the angles between the Sun, Moon, and Earth. Moon phases are how the moon looks from Earth as it goes around us. We always see the same side of the moon, but how much of it is lit up by the Sun changes depending on where it is in its orbit. This is how we get full moons, half moons, and moons that appear completely invisible. There are eight main moon phases, and they follow a repeating cycle:

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

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

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

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

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

Waning Gibbous - The moon starts losing light on the right side.

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

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

It seems OpenAI has been caught with its hands in the proverbial cookie jar. Anthropic has reportedly cut off OpenAI’s access to Anthropic’s APIs over what Anthropic is calling a terms of service breach. 

SEE ALSO: OpenAI pulls ChatGPT feature that let user chats appear in Google Search results

As reported by Wired, multiple sources claim that OpenAI has been cut off from Anthropic’s APIs. Allegedly, OpenAI was using Anthropic’s Claude Code to assist in creating and testing OpenAI’s upcoming GPT-5, which is due to release in August. 

According to these sources, OpenAI was plugging into Claude’s internal tools instead of using the chat interface. From there, they used the API to run tests against GPT-5 to check things like coding and creative writing against Claude to compare performance. OpenAI allegedly also tested safety prompts related to things like CSAM, self-harm, and defamation. This would give OpenAI data that it could then use to fine-tune GPT-5 to make it more competitive against Claude. 

Unfortunately for OpenAI, this violates Anthropic’s commercial terms of service, which ban companies from using Anthropic’s tools to build competitor AI products. 

“Customer may not and must not attempt to access the Services to build a competing product or service, including to train competing AI models or resell the Services except as expressly approved by Anthropic,” the terms read.

OpenAI responded by saying that what the company was doing was an industry standard, as all the AI companies test their models against the competing models. The company then went on to say that it respected Anthropic’s decision but expressed disappointment in having its API access shut off, especially considering that Anthropic’s access to OpenAI’s API remains open. 

A spokesperson told Wired that OpenAI’s access would be reinstated for “benchmarking and safety evaluations.”

It’s not the first time this year that Anthropic has cut off API access. In June, the company cut off Windsurf’s API access after rumors that it was being sold to OpenAI. That deal ultimately fell through, but Anthropic’s cofounder, Jared Kaplan, told TechCrunch at the time that “it would be odd for us to be selling Claude to OpenAI.”

Anthropic has also tweaked its rate limits for Claude, which will take effect in late August, with one of the reasons being that a small number of users are violating the company’s policy by sharing and reselling accounts. 

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.

It’s the end of another quarter, which means it’s time for yet another earnings call with concerning ideas for generating more revenue. This time around, it's Amazon CEO Andy Jassy, who told shareholders on Thursday that there’s “significant financial opportunity” in delivering ads through Alexa+, the company’s new AI-powered voice assistant.

“I think over time, there will be opportunities, you know, as people are engaging in more multi-turn conversations to have advertising play a role — to help people find discovery and also as a lever to drive revenue,” Jassy said, per the investor call transcript.

SEE ALSO: Amazon invests in 'Netflix of AI' startup that lets you make your own shows

Since launching earlier this year, Alexa+ has reportedly reached millions of users. Unlike the original Alexa, which mostly turns off lights and sets timers, Alexa+ is designed to be more conversational, context-aware, and AI-driven. It can help you plan your date night, entertain your kids, and even dabble in basic image and video generation — all under the banner of your $14.99/month Prime subscription.

But so far, Amazon Alexa has been an ad-free experience. It's also more than 10 years old, and it doesn't make money; thus, it's been deemed a "colossal failure" by those within the company.

Of course, Amazon isn’t alone in trying to figure out how to make AI pay for itself. Both Google and OpenAI have explored ad integration in their AI products as a way to generate revenue. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, in particular, has made a notable pivot: once firmly against advertising in his chatbot, he’s since reversed course, possibly opening the door for ads in future versions of ChatGPT.

Whatever the motivation, injecting ads into Alexa+ would mark a major shift in both user experience and Amazon’s strategy, especially given the assistant’s long history of being expensive to maintain and hard to monetize. Ad-supported Alexa+ could be Amazon’s attempt to finally turn its once-money-burning smart assistant into a revenue machine, without hiking the subscription fee (at least for now).

Alexa+ is still new, and what an ad-supported experience would actually look like remains unclear. According to Jassy, the idea is to frame ads as helpful, something to assist customers in discovering products they might be interested in buying.

It’s no secret that Apple is falling behind in the AI space. Other companies like Google have embraced things like AI search, whereas Apple has taken its sweet time tooling around with some AI-powered tools that make up the core of Apple Intelligence. Per Mark Gurman’s latest Power On Newsletter, that may be changing in the future. 

SEE ALSO: Here's one good thing about Apple Intelligence: All iPhones will have more RAM because of it

Apple has apparently been quietly putting together an “Answers, Knowledge, and Information” team, also known as AKI. This AKI team is headed by Robby Walker, a senior director at Apple who reports to John Giannandrea, Apple’s senior vice president of Machine Learning and AI. Robby was moved to the AKI team after a shakeup in the wake of Siri feature delays.

The team's goal is fairly straightforward: to build a “new ChatGPT-like search experience,” says Gurman. 

As Gurman states, the initiative is still in its early days, but Apple already has job listings posted for engineers. Not much else is known. The team is working on the aforementioned system to crawl search results and give answers instead of redirecting people directly to the search results. This “answer engine,” as Gurman calls it, would be able to crawl the web to gather information and respond to questions like ChatGPT does. 

A standalone app and backend infrastructure plans to power everything may be in the works. One of the job listings specifically mentions search algorithms and engine development, so Apple may also be working on search engine stuff. 

It’s no secret that Apple Intelligence can use the help. Response to Apple’s AI-powered tools has been lukewarm, and while Cupertino has studied how to integrate AI into its operating systems more aggressively, it hasn’t been terribly happy with what’s seen so far.

Siri’s AI upgrade is still in the works with an expected release date of spring 2026, so it’s likely that AKI’s work will be directly integrated into Siri and Apple’s other products if they can get it done on time.

SAVE 20% OFF SITE WIDE: From August 3 to 9, score 20% off everything at Owala, including on their FreeSip water bottles.

Opens in a new window Credit: Owala Shop Owala for 20% off sitewide Get Deal

We know Stanley is sort of the hydration It Girl, but we're Owala people here at Mashable. In almost every team meeting, you'll catch one of us drinking from our FreeSip. These bright, colorful water bottles keep water icy cold and offer the flexibility of sipping through a straw or chugging from the spout. And during back-to-school season, Owala is offering 20% off site-wide.

All items at Owala will be marked down from August 3 to 9. The sale kicks off at 10 a.m. MT, and ends at 11:59 p.m. MT on August 9. No code is necessary to access the sale as everything is marked down 20%.

While the FreeSip is our favorite Owala product, the brand has an extensive collection. During the sale, enjoy 20% off the brand's very own 40-ounce tumbler as well as the FreeSip Sway and Twist. All styles come in Owala's signature range of vibrant hues.

Shop now and score savings on a new back-to-school water bottle or tumbler.

The social media ouroboros continues, and this time, YouTube is taking a bite out of Instagram and TikTok. According to a Google employee posting on YouTube Help, the platform is currently testing a new feature that allows creators to tag collaborators directly in videos, making it easier for viewers to discover and follow them.

The move mirrors similar collaboration tools already standard on TikTok and Instagram, where joint posts and tags boost visibility for everyone involved.

SEE ALSO: You can no longer go live on Instagram unless you have 1,000 followers

For now, the feature is being rolled out to a small group of trusted creators, but YouTube reportedly plans to expand it more broadly. As of now, the only known video we've seen using the feature is a recently posted upload from MrBeast in collaboration with creators Mark Rober, Ben Azelart, and the Stoke Twins.

Credit: YouTube Screenshot

The feature appears to function much like its counterparts on Instagram and TikTok: clicking on the main creator’s name opens a pop-up showing all tagged collaborators, each with a subscribe button next to their name. And, just like those platforms, it’s unlikely creators will be able to tag anyone at will — collaborators will probably need to accept an invite before being officially co-authored on the video.

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.

SEE ALSO: NYT Mini crossword answers, hints for July 31, 2025 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: Ways to measure a gap in racing

• Green: Routes

• Blue: All-stars on the mound

• Purple: Upstart 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: Distances, in Horse Racing

• Green: Receiving Routes for a Running Back

• Blue: 2025 MLB All-Star Pitchers

• Purple: Original ABA Teams, In Singular Form

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 #313 is...

What is the answer to Connections Sports Edition today

• Distances, in Horse Racing - FURLONG, LENGTH, MILE, NOSE

• Receiving Routes for a Running Back - ANGLE, FLAT, SWING, WHEEL

• 2025 MLB All-Star Pitchers - CROCHET, FRIED, GORE, SKENES

• Original ABA Teams, In Singular Form - CHAPARRAL, COLONEL, PACER, ROCKET

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.

When people think about the best robot vacuums for pet owners, they're mostly zeroing in on pet hair pickup (i.e. performance on carpet, and maybe the self-emptying aspect for the allergy-havers). But there's another feature showing up on more and more robot vacuums that is a game-changer for pet parents — but it has nothing to do with suction power. It's the ability to check in remotely on your household with a livestream camera on the front of the robot vacuum, and it has become one of my favorite features throughout all the robot vacuums I've tested.

Hello! Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

This really speaks to the middle of the Venn diagram between clean freak pet parents and anxious pet parents — what I can only assume is a pretty populous overlap. If your helicopter pet parent senses start tingling the second you leave the door, such a robot vacuum might be a more comforting purchase than a stick vacuum. The brain behind the cordless vacuum leaves when the person leaves home, but that's not the case with robot vacuums. The ones with a camera can show you a livestream POV of everything the robot vacuum sees as it's cleaning your home, offering a more ambulatory way to keep tabs on the home's goings-on than a stationary pet camera.

My built-in pet sitter. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

Many robot vacuum livestream cameras also have the option for remote control viewing, where the user can use on-screen arrows to point or drive the vacuum in a certain direction. With the Roborock Saros Z70, you could even manually maneuver its robotic arm to pick up obstacles like a claw machine — though that took way too much precision to be practical. However, being able to steer a robot vacuum by hand while it's recording could come in handy to slowly approach a pet who's spooked by a machine whirring around.

Though I spy on my cats nearly every time I'm away, they're never doing anything super interesting. Sometimes I catch them walking around (and coming up to the vacuum like, "Mom, you ain't slick"), but they're usually up on the furniture where the vacuum can't clock them. But if your animal is a known hide-under-the-bed-er, the roving floor-level camera could offer some relieving confirmation about your pet's whereabouts.

Nothing like a glass of wine and spying on your cat from the porch of the beach Airbnb. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

Pets aside, you can also check in with real humans from the robot vac's camera. Most robot vacuum cameras have a built-in video call feature that supports two-way audio, so you can ring anyone who's at home while you're not: house sitters, kids, the dog walker from Rover. The person on the other end of the line doesn't have to "pick up" — the call automatically just starts. I've successfully used it to call my roommate after she missed my calls on her phone because it was on silent.

I've most enjoyed the livestream cameras in flagship Roborock vacuums like the Roborock Saros 10 and Saros 10R. The view is the least grainy I've tried, and the "search for the pet" feature is just plain fun. I could see it coming in handy for pet parents who don't have time to watch the vacuum clean every single room in hopes of spotting the pet.

SEE ALSO: Ruggable launches new collaboration with Jonathan Adler, featuring maximalist pillows and pet beds

However, onboard cameras are no longer fully limited to ultra-premium robot vacs that cost over $1,000. I tested and was wowed by the 3i G10+ budget robot vacuum, particularly by its affordable small obstacle avoidance and remote viewing capabilities.

Can you use a robot vacuum camera for actual security purposes?

I'm a horror movie head, and found footage is my favorite subgenre. You can imagine the pitches I've come up with for a low-budget, very 2020s paranormal short where a robot vacuum camera sees assorted household items moving in the middle of the night. It would get approximately a 14 percent on Rotten Tomatoes.

However, the movie wouldn't work well as a slasher. As disguised and genius as it seems, a robot vacuum camera actually wouldn't do a great job of sneakily catching someone in the act — every time you open live view mode, the vacuum announces "remote viewing activated," and also announces when live viewing is toggled off. Yes, this notification plays out loud even if you've turned the vacuum's smart assistant or dock volume off otherwise.

SEE ALSO: How to make your robot vacuum work better: 3 setup tips to do right now

This also means that the cameras are not recording constantly every time they're out and about, or watching 24/7 from the sidelines while they're charging. All of the robot vacuums with cameras that I've tested also require a PIN code or the draw-to-unlock thing, where you connect dots in a certain pattern. I've had a few friends ask if a random person could spy through your robot vacuum if your phone was stolen, but just like unlocking the phone or something like a smart doorbell, they'd have to also know the passcode. (This can be specific to the robot vacuum app and isn't automatically the same one your phone uses.)

Shop robot vacuums with livestream cameras 3i G10+ robot vacuum and mop $449.99 at Amazon Shop Now Ecovacs Deebot X8 Pro Omni robot vacuum and mop $969.99 at Amazon Shop Now Roborock Saros 10R robot vacuum and mop $1,599.99 at Amazon Shop Now Roborock Saros Z70 robot vacuum and mop $2,599.00 at Amazon Shop Now

TL;DR: The DJI Mini 4K drone is on sale for $249 at Amazon (Prime member discount). Not a member? You can still score this drone for under $300.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon DJI Mini 4K Drone $249 at Amazon
$299 Save $50 Get Deal

DJI is one of the biggest names in drones, with a strong reputation for creating incredible aerial shots. The DJI product range is the top choice of TikTokers, YouTubers, and filmmakers. That being said, we were surprised to see the DJI Mini 4K drone so near the top of the charts of best-sellers over Prime Day. We knew these drones were popular, but surely not as popular as AirPods?

Then the real reason hit us like a drone to the head.

President Donald Trump has signed two executive orders aimed at helping the U.S. drone industry and shoring up protections against malicious drone activity. The measures don't actually order a full ban on Chinese-made drones (yet), but talk of a ban on DJI drones has been doing the rounds for a while now. That uncertainty is clearly causing an uptick in sales.

SEE ALSO: The DJI Power 2000 portable power station means business, and it’s great for DJI drone owners

The good news for anyone hoping to buy before a potential ban is that you can still find the DJI Mini 4K drone on Amazon. In fact, it's on sale for $249 at Amazon for Prime members. It's being shipped and sold by AeroTech Hubs. We don't generally recommend third-party sellers, but AeroTech Hubs has an excellent track record and times are tough right now. With stock running low, we'll take what we can get.

The DJI Mini 4K is full of helpful features for beginners and advanced users alike. It has one-tap takeoff options and a return to home function. But perhaps most importantly for content creators is the three-axis gimbal and 4K quality, as well as advanced wind resistance and extended battery life. It's a step up from the DJI Neo Mini 4K that we think creators will appreciate.

Prime members can get the DJI Mini 4K drone for under $250 at Amazon. Everyone else can still get their hands on this drone for under $300.

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

It's got to the point where what once was a secret is now common knowledge, but for those still in the dark, we want to point out that you can take a wide range of online courses from some of the top educational institutions in the world for absolutely nothing. That's right, you can become a student of somewhere prestigious like Harvard University without actually spending anything (or stepping foot outside).

Harvard University is offering free online courses on popular topics like AI, cybersecurity, game development, personal development, law, and so much more. We have checked out everything on offer and lined up a standout selection of online courses to get you started.

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

• American Government: Constitutional Foundations

• Ancient Masterpieces of World Literature

• Applications of TinyML

• Building Personal Resilience: Managing Anxiety and Mental Health

• Calculus Applied

• Cell Biology: Mitochondria

• Child Protection: Children's Rights in Theory and Practice

• CitiesX: The Past, Present and Future of Urban Life

• Contract Law: From Trust to Promise to Contract

• CS50's Computer Science for Business Professionals

• CS50's Computer Science for Lawyers

• CS50's Introduction to Artificial Intelligence with Python

• CS50's Introduction to Computer Science

• CS50's Introduction to Cybersecurity

• CS50's Introduction to Game Development

• CS50's Introduction to Programming with Python

• CS50's Introduction to Programming with R

• CS50's Introduction to Programming with Scratch

• CS50's Understanding Technology

• CS50's Web Programming with Python and JavaScript

• Data Science: Capstone

• Data Science: Inference and Modelling

• Data Science: Machine Learning

• Data Science: Probability

• Data Science: Productivity Tools

• Data Science: R Basics

• Data Science: Visualization

• Deploying TinyML

• Early Childhood Development: Global Strategies for Implementation

• Electrochemistry

• Energy and Thermodynamics

• Entrepreneurship in Emerging Economies

• Exercising Leadership: Foundational Principles

• Fat Chance: Probability from the Ground Up

• Fundamentals of Neuroscience Part 1

• Fundamentals of Neuroscience, Part 2: Neurons and Networks

• Fundamentals of Neuroscience, Part 3: The Brain

• Fundamentals of TinyML

• High-Dimensional Data Analysis

• Human Anatomy: Musculoskeletal Cases

• Humanitarian Response to Conflict and Disaster

• Improving Your Business Through a Culture of Health

• Introduction to Data Science with Python

• Introduction to Digital Humanities

• Introduction to Probability

• Islam Through Its Scriptures

• Justice

• Justice Today: Money, Markets, and Morals

• Leadership: Creating Public Value

• Leaders of Learning

• Machine Learning and AI with Python

• Managing Happiness

• Masterpieces of World Literature

• MLOps for Scaling TinyML

• Modern Masterpieces of World Literature

• PredictionX: Lost Without Longitude

• Principles of Biochemistry

• Pyramids of Giza: Ancient Egyptian Art and Archaeology

• Remote Work Revolution for Everyone

• Rhetoric: The Art of Persuasive Writing and Public Speaking

• Shakespeare's Life and Work

• Statistics and R

• Structure and Function of Argument: Introduction to Critical Thinking

• Super-Earths and Life

• Technology Entrepreneurship: Lab to Market

• The Architectural Imagination

• The Path to Happiness: What Chinese Philosophy Teaches us about the Good Life

• Using Python for Research

• U.S. Political Institutions: Congress, Presidency, Courts, and Bureaucracy

• U.S. Public Policy: Social, Economic, and Foreign Policies

There's always a catch, and in this case it's that these free courses don't include certificates of completion or graded assignments/exams. But you can still enroll at any time and start learning at your own pace, so we're not complaining.

Find the best free online courses from Harvard University with edX.

Opens in a new window Credit: Harvard University Harvard University Courses Free at edX Learn More

SAVE $80: The Apple Mac mini M4 is on sale for $499 at Costco, down from the list price of $579.99. That's an $80 discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Mac mini M4 $499.99 at Amazon
$579.99 Save $80 Get Deal

The Apple Mac mini is a seriously impressive piece of kit. And even with the super compact size, the Mac mini comes with advanced specs like the new M4 chip for snappy performance for multitasking and switching between apps with no lag.

With that in mind, we're always looking out for opportunities to save on the Mac mini. Deals are sparse, but you can still find the Apple Mac mini M4 for under $500. It's on sale for $499 at Costco, down from the list price of $579.99. That's an $80 discount.

The catch is that this special deal is only live through Aug. 3. There's no need to panic, but this is your last chance to secure this popular item for such a low price.

SEE ALSO: Hurry! Apple AirPods 4 are back under $100 on Amazon.

The Mac mini sports two USB-C front ports and a 35mm headphone jack. On the back, you'll get a port for HDMI and ethernet, and three Thunderbolt 4 ports. If you have an iPhone, you'll be able to view and control what's on your phone from the Mac mini with the iPhone Mirroring feature.

Score the Mac mini M4 for under $500 from Costco.