Mashable

Meta is reportedly planning to spin off Meta AI into a standalone app to compete with ChatGPT. OpenAI's Sam Altman immediately responded with a heavy dose of snark.

According to CNBC, Meta plans to make Meta AI — which currently exists as a tool embedded within Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp — into its own app in the second quarter of this year.

This is all part of CEO Mark Zuckerberg's ambition to make Meta AI the go-to AI assistant, aiming to take on competitors like ChatGPT, Google Gemini, and xAI's Grok. "This is going to be the year when a highly intelligent and personalized AI assistant reaches more than 1 billion people, and I expect Meta AI to be that leading AI assistant," said Zuckerberg in a fourth quarter earnings call in January.

In order to do that, Meta has a steep hill to climb. The world hasn't embraced Meta AI as enthusiastically as ChatGPT, which became the fastest growing app of all time shortly after its launch. When Meta hard-launched Meta AI by making it the default search bar on Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, people hated it and soon discovered you can't turn it off. That, plus the fact that it's integrated within Meta's apps, might skew data on use and engagement. Meta CFO Susan Li said in the January earnings call that Meta AI has "more than 700 million monthly actives," but that could be because it's part of the existing apps, and again, cannot be turned off.

By comparison, ChatGPT has over 300 million weekly active users. Altman took notice of the CNBC story and seemed skeptical about Meta AI's ambitious plans. "Ok fine maybe we'll do a social app," he said on X, reposting the CNBC article.

Tweet may have been deleted

Altman added in another somewhat snarky comment, "lol if [F]acebook tries to come at us and we just uno reverse them it would be so funny." Altman is referencing the Uno game card and meme that effectively boils down to beating someone at their own game.

Zuckerberg appears to see Meta AI as the company's golden goose for increasing engagement and monetizing its apps. But it has bungled past efforts to meaningfully engage with users. There was the whole confusing celebrity AI avatars, which was axed after less than a year after failing to gain traction. And then there were the made-up AI characters like Liv the "proud Black queer momma of 2 & truth-teller," that was annihilated for being "digital blackface" and has since been shut down.

On top of that, Meta has made it near impossible to opt out of scraping user data to train Meta AI, which isn't great for fostering trust. That said, Google has similar data gathering practices for Gemini, so maybe it won't be a deal breaker for Meta users.

Your move, Zuck. Hope you know how to play Uno.

Best deals from Bose weekend flash sale Best headphones deal Bose QuietComfort Headphones 249 (Save $100) Get Deal Best speaker deal Bose SoundLink Revolve+ II 229 (Save $70) Get Deal Best soundbar deal Bose Smart Soundbar 449 (Save $50) Get Deal

Bose is one of the best audio brands out there, which is why we think it's important for you to know that the company is having a weekend flash sale that features discounts on some of its most popular products, from headphones, to portable speakers, and beyond. (Yes, the QuietComfort Headphones are on sale.) If you're looking to give your audio arsenal an upgrade but also want to save some cash, look no further. Read on to find our favorite deals from the sale below, and check out the rest of the offerings on their website.

SEE ALSO: The best noise-cancelling headphones for flying make air travel suck a little less Best headphones deal Opens in a new window Credit: Bose Bose QuietComfort Headphones $249.00 at Bose
$349.00 Save $100.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Bose's QuietComfort line of headphones lives up to its reputation. The over-ear headphones boast high-quality noise-cancelation for when you want some peace and quiet, but also have a transparency mode for when you need to be more aware of your surroundings. They also feature up to 24 hours of battery life, adjustable EQ, and a cable for when you want to use a wired connection. They come in a variety of cool colors, and include a convenient carrying case with all the essentials you'll need to take the headphones on the go. Plus, they're super comfortable (it's in the name, after all).

Best speaker deal Opens in a new window Credit: Bose Bose SoundLink Revolve+ II $229.00 at Bose
$299.00 Save $70.00 Get Deal Why we like it

With winter on its way out, it's time to start prepping for the warmer weather. No outdoor hang is complete without a good portable speaker to keep the vibes going, and the Bose SoundLink Revolve+ II is a great option for exactly that. The pint-sized powerhouse features high-end audio quality, a 17-hour battery life, and support for Google and Siri voice commands. Also, it's water resistant, so pool parties are a must.

Best soundbar deal Opens in a new window Credit: Bose Bose Smart Soundbar $449.00 at Bose
$499.00 Save $50.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Going to the movies is fun and all, but having your own home theater is next-level. Any good home theater needs a great sound system, and starting with a Bose Smart Soundbar will surely get you a positive result. The soundbar is Dolby-Atmos- and Bose-TrueSpace-enabled, and is completely wireless, providing a seamless user experience. It also features personal surround sound and an A.I. dialogue mode for enhancing the dialogue in whatever you're watching. The best part? You can control it all from your smartphone.

Shrek 5's first teaser trailer was released this week, and quite predictably, it has inspired much internet discourse, from outrage over character design choices to the more typical memes and jokes.

For the not terminally online, Shrek has long inspired memes, everything from the absurd, to the silly, to the NSFW. So when the upcoming movie released its first sneak peek, of course, the memes followed.

SEE ALSO: At a Shrek rave in New York City, a meme comes to life

Funnily enough, the teaser itself references Shrek memes — notably the giant, dancing Shrek that temporarily took over TikTok. It also revealed that Zendaya was joining the Shrek universe, voicing Fiona and Shrek's daughter in the fifth film.

SEE ALSO: 'Shrek 5' teaser trailer adds Zendaya to cast, draws on TikTok memes

To the chagrin of Shrek-heads out there, however, the teaser animation also appeared to show a slight change in how Shrek and Donkey look. It's definitely a change, but to my untrained eye, it doesn't feel egregious. Tell that to the internet, which responded with a true barrage of memes and jokes.

Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted

As the internet is known to be, folks online aren't happy. Shrek 5 isn't due for release until Christmas 2026, so they've got plenty of time to rework things should the outrage continue. After all, it worked for Sonic.

Are the Oscars still too prude? How horny is horny enough? Mashable Entertainment Editor, Kristy Puchko takes us down the rabbit hole of horniness at the Oscars and which movies shouldn't have been snubbed. Like, Challengers, Babygirl, Queer and Love Lies Bleeding.

TikTok is officially shuttering its Creator Marketplace on March 1 in favor of its AI-packed TikTok One platform.

According to TechCrunch, creators will no longer be able to create or be invited to new ad campaigns starting Saturday. The marketplace, which connects advertisers with creators for sponsorships and branded content, will shut down altogether on April 1.

SEE ALSO: Every potential TikTok buyer we know about

Instead, users will be redirected TikTok One, a newer platform that replaces Creator Marketplace and also offers a host of generative AI tools for advertisers.

TikTok One launched last May as a "one-stop shop" for brands to "access TikTok creators, production partners, and insights," according to the announcement. In addition to finding creators for ad campaigns, the platform has an assistant called Symphony that uses generative AI to write scripts, translate audio into different languages with AI voice dubbing, and even use AI-generated avatars of creators.

The success of the original Creator Marketplace was a bit of a mixed bag for creators. While it helped influencers monetize their content, some felt it wasn't worth the effort. A Business Insider report said some creators found it exploitative since brands set the rate, which preys on less experienced creators. Some creators found the lowballed rates and offers of gift cards or credit in lieu of cash payment were not "worth the hassle."

The new platform could create even more challenges since creators might be competing with AI-generated avatars in the already competitive landscape. There is also the well-established issue of AI hallucinations, which could impact the quality or credibility of campaigns (even though plenty of people use AI for TikTok videos outside of TikTok's official tools).

Ahead of the Creator Marketplace shutdown, users are advised to migrate their data to TikTok One.

Skype is dead. Long live Skype.

Microsoft, which has been Skype's parent company since 2011, announced in a company blog post that the 22-year-old video calling app will enter its eternal rest on May 5. From that point on, Microsoft's only official video calling software will be Microsoft Teams. Microsoft is offering a service that will let Skype users log into Teams with their Skype accounts, which should automatically migrate their existing chats from one app to the other. Users can also export all of their Skype data to have for themselves, if they choose.

SEE ALSO: Microsoft Office has AI now, here’s how to get it

Younger readers may not remember this, but once upon a time, the word "Skype" was synonymous with video calls, much in the same way "FaceTime" and "Zoom" are today. Founded in 2003, Skype became one of the top video calling apps for years, as it repeatedly became acquired and later sold by various companies until landing with Microsoft in 2011. Since then, the prevalence of FaceTime and Zoom made Skype feel like a thing of the past, even as the software continued to exist and be supported until now.

Skype users have until early May to sort out their affairs. Everyone remember to pour one for a real one this weekend.

SAVE $400: As of Feb. 28, get a Dell Inspiron 14 (Intel Core 7, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) laptop for $599.99 at Dell, down from its usual price of $999.99. That's a discount of 43%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Dell Dell Inspiron 14 (Intel Core 7, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $599.99 at Dell
$999.99 Save $400.00 Get Deal

If you're tired of trying to work on a phone or tablet during your morning commute, or you just need a new computer in general, Dell makes a line of great laptops you can count on. And they've had a few decent sales in recent memory, including price cuts and clearance that applies to some of its most popular models. In fact, today you can pick one up at a significant discount.

As of Feb. 28, get the Dell Inspiron 14 (Intel Graphics, Intel Core 7, 16 GB RAM, 1 TB SSD) laptop for $599.99 at Dell, down from its usual price of $999.99. That's a discount of 43%.

SEE ALSO: Need a budget-friendly laptop? The Acer Aspire Vero 16 is $380 at Best Buy.

The Dell Inspiron 14 boasts Intel Graphics with an Intel Core 7 processor, 16GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD. It also has a 14-inch full HD screen with 1920 x 1000 resolution and a 60 HZ refresh rate, complete with 250 nits of brightness. That makes it the perfect on-the-go contender, with its backlit keyboard and lightweight frame that's just under four pounds.

Whether you need to fill out some Excel sheets (don't we all) or you want a go-to desktop replacement that you can browse TikTok or watch your favorite streaming services on, this Dell Inspiron has you covered. And, for under $600, it's well worth splurging on while it's on sale.

If you've been on social media the past few days, you've likely seen a barrage of Instagram infographics urging you to keep your wallet in your pocket on Friday, Feb. 28.

View this post on Instagram View this post on Instagram View this post on Instagram

The People's Union USA spearheaded the national boycott in what it calls an "economic blackout." The grassroots organization is boycotting companies rolling back their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Notably, much of the protest saw huge pushes on social media platforms, including Meta's Instagram, which recently rescinded its DEI initiatives.

These are the rules, according to The People's Union USA's website (it is not very complex):

• Do not make any purchases

• Do not shop online, or in-store

• No Amazon, No Walmart, No Best Buy

• Nowhere!

The blackout encourages people not to spend money on fast food, gas, or any major retailers, and, generally, not to use their credit or debit cards. According to the site, you can shop for necessities, like food, medicine, or emergency supplies. "If you must spend, ONLY support small, local businesses," the site reads. And try to pay in cash where you can.

While it may initially seem impressive, the lack of specific demands and the presence of a planned end date make it challenging to assess whether the boycott was truly successful. Additionally, companies may not feel much financial pressure to participate, as their revenue is likely to rebound within 24 hours. Nonetheless, Brayden King, a professor at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management who studies boycotts and activism, told TODAY.com that this isn’t a "fruitless effort." He explained, "even if it doesn’t force corporate change, it helps build solidarity for future actions." However, without a clear success strategy, the boycott risks losing momentum.

"If activists want real change, they need to focus on particular targets and have clear concessions they’re asking for," he told the news outlet. "Too many targets dilute attention and make the tactic less effective."

This isn't the end of boycotts for The People's Union USA. A second 24-hour economic blackout is planned for March 28, a third for April 18, and four week-long boycotts of specific companies, including Amazon from March 7 to March 14, Nestlé from March 21 to 28, Walmart from April 7 to April 13, and General Mills from April 21 to April 27.