A blog about Technology, new invention and ways of looking.
Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced screenshot

Our friends at IGN are putting on a show this weekend, and gamers won't want to miss it.

Specifically, IGN Live 2026 is almost upon us. The show takes place on June 6 and 7 at the Magic Box @ The Reef venue in Los Angeles, and you can purchase a ticket to attend if you happen to be in the area this weekend. (You can use the discount code MASHABLE10 to save on tickets.) The annual summer gaming showcase will feature two days' worth of announcements and reveals related to pop culture, with a special focus on video games and movies. You can check out a full run of show on IGN right now, but some of the headliners include Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced, Control Resonant, and Jackass: Best and Last.

Interested in checking it out? Keep reading. And if you can't make it, all of the big events will also be livestreamed on IGN's various social channels.

IGN Live 2026: How to get discount tickets

Luckily, getting access to IGN Live as a spectator is as easy as going to the IGN Live website and clicking on the big blue "BUY TICKETS" button at the upper right-hand corner of the screen. From there, you'll have two options: a one-day ticket or a two-day ticket.

For $25, you can get a ticket for just one of the two days of your choosing, so if the schedule for one day looks especially enticing to you, this is probably the way to go. For $40, however, you can freely attend both days and get a swag bag full of goodies from IGN. And there's good news for Mashable readers: You can use the code MASHABLE10 at checkout to save $10 on any ticket, so a single-day ticket would be $15 and a two-day ticket would be $30.

Got it? Good. Now go and enjoy all the news the pop culture world has to offer this weekend.


Disclosure: IGN Entertainment is a subsidiary of ZiffDavis Inc., which is the parent company of Mashable.



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A blog about Technology, new invention and ways of looking.
OnlyFans creator Justin Jett

What will make young people pay attention to the still-uncured HIV virus? MPact Global Action, an organization working to address the toll of HIV on gay and bisexual men, believes online creators are key to breaking through to Gen Z.

Nearly 50 years after the disease we now call AIDS was first identified, there is still no cure or vaccine. Science has advanced to the point that HIV, which causes AIDS, is a treatable disease. Medications like PrEP, if taken, make it nearly impossible to contract HIV.

And yet even during Pride Month, young people rarely see any information about HIV, or how they can keep themselves safe. That's why MPact has launched the Q Collab, an initiative that aims to enlist adult content creators to change the conversation around LGBTQ health.

More than a dozen creators, with a combined 6 million followers, have committed to creating content about HIV treatment and prevention so far. One cohort of Latin American creators, including Gabriel Antonio, Markin Wolf, and Fabyian Grizzle, gathered in Jan. 2025 in Brazil. A European cohort, with stars like Pablo Bravo, Tony Silver, and Justin Jett, gathered in Barcelona in March 2026.

The stars are currently releasing content on their channels, as well as via MPact, as the campaign gears up for a presentation at the International AIDS Conference in Rio de Janeiro this July.

"Working with Mpact showed me how I can use my platform in the adult industry to encourage open conversations about sexual health, mental health, PrEP and HIV treatment and hopefully make a positive impact," Jett, an OnlyFans creator, said in a statement.

We followed up with Jett to explain why he wanted to get involved.

Why did you want to get involved with MPact’s Q Collab?

For me, getting involved with MPact’s Q Collab felt very natural because I’ve reached a point in my career where I want to use my platform for something bigger than entertainment. Through my work in the adult industry and my connection with the queer community, I’ve seen how many people still struggle with shame, stigma, mental health, loneliness, and even fear around sexual health.

I wanted to be part of something that creates community, encourages honest conversations, and reminds people that taking care of yourself should never be embarrassing.

What are the main messages you want to convey through the initiative?

The biggest message is that sexual health and mental health should be talked about openly and without judgment. I want people to understand that taking PrEP, getting tested, being on treatment, talking about HIV, or simply having conversations about sex, should be normalized. I also want to promote the idea that pleasure, confidence, and health can all exist together.

Another important message for me is community; reminding people they are not alone and that we need to support each other instead of judging each other.

How will you get those messages to your audience?

I think the best way is by being honest and authentic. My audience follows me not only because of the content I create but they also connect with me as a person on a human level.

You would be surprised with the number of messages I receive from people asking for different types of advice.

So, I want to use social media, interviews, collaborations, and everyday conversations to speak openly about these topics in a very human and approachable way. Sometimes, even a simple post saying, "I take care of myself, I get tested, I talk about sex openly" can make someone else feel less ashamed or more empowered to do the same.

There are still some people thinking taking PrEP or doxyPEP is just for "promiscuous" guys. Imagine, slut shaming someone for taking PrEP while the reality is all HIV-negative guys should be taking it and put their health in their own hands, there's nothing more powerful than that.

Do you think creators have a duty to produce content that educates their audience, rather than just entertains them?

I don’t think every creator has an obligation to become an educator, because entertainment is also valuable and important. And not all creators have the same skills for conveying messages or for public speaking and, fortunately, organizations like Mpact can help with developing key messages. But most importantly, the will to do it has to come from within.

But I do think that when you have a public platform and people listen to you, there’s an opportunity to create positive impact. Especially in industries like ours, where audiences often trust creators and relate to them personally, we can help normalize conversations that society still avoids.

If we can entertain people while also helping them feel safer, healthier, more informed, or less alone, then I think that’s something really powerful.



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Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) speaks at a press conference with Congresswoman Summer Lee (D-PA) on the introduction of legislation to abolish Super PACs, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC on May 20, 2026.

Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders announced today that he will introduce legislation to give the American public a direct ownership stake in the country's largest artificial intelligence companies.

Writing in the New York Times, Sanders laid out the case for the American AI Sovereign Wealth Fund Act — a bill that would create a federally managed fund created not with cash, but with stock. Specifically, Sanders proposes a one-time transfer of 50 percent of equity from companies like OpenAI, Anthropic, and xAI to the government. The idea: since AI is built on the accumulated knowledge, creativity, conversations, and labor of the American people — typically without permission or payment — the American people deserve a cut of the profits.

Here's what Sanders is proposing.

What the American AI Sovereign Wealth Fund Act would accomplish

The fund would acquire half the stock of the largest AI companies in the country through a mandated equity transfer — Sanders is explicit that this is not a profits tax. The government would then hold voting shares and receive equal board representation at each company, giving it formal power to block decisions deemed harmful to the public.

Revenue generated by the fund would flow directly to Americans as cash payments, with Sanders indicating that, as the fund grows, proceeds would eventually support broader public goods, including healthcare, education, and housing. He points to Norway's sovereign wealth fund and Alaska's Permanent Fund Dividend as working models of the concept.

Sanders' core argument is that AI models were built on the writing, art, journalism, code, and research produced by millions of people without their consent or compensation. Sanders argues that because the technology is derived from collective human output, the wealth it generates should be shared collectively. As Sanders prepares his legislation, AI industry leaders are prepping for a massive payday when Anthropic, OpenAI, and SpaceX (which recently merged with xAI) go public this year.

Sanders notes that versions of this idea have come from the AI industry itself. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has proposed a public wealth fund tied to AI-driven economic growth. Anthropic has called for national sovereign wealth funds holding AI equity stakes. Musk has advocated for a "universal high income" to offset AI-related job displacement.

Sanders frames these industry positions as validation — though notably, endorsing a concept in the abstract and accepting a 50 percent equity transfer are very different things.

What's still unresolved

Sanders acknowledges the legislation is still being written. Several significant questions still lack answers.

Profitability is one. OpenAI is notoriously not profitable and has operated at a loss for most of its existence. A sovereign wealth fund built on equity in companies that aren't profitable doesn't generate dividends, and Sanders hasn't addressed what the fund looks like if the AI sector's financial trajectory doesn't match analyst projections.

Scope is another. Sanders says applying government ownership to companies where AI is only part of the business is "complicated," without explaining how that would be handled in practice. Microsoft, Google, and Amazon all have major AI operations — it's unclear whether or how they'd fall under the legislation.

Environmental impact gets no mention. AI infrastructure — data centers, energy consumption, water use — carries real costs that fall on communities that don't always benefit from generative AI, and the proposal offers no specific mechanism beyond the general promise of government oversight to address them.

However, a well-structured sovereign wealth fund could distribute some AI wealth downward, in theory. Government board representation could also create some accountability for a powerful and fast-growing new industry. The populist proposal is far bolder than anything else in the current policy conversation.

Until the senator drops the actual legislation, what we have is a premise that's hard to argue with and a plan that's still very much a sketch.



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A blog about Technology, new invention and ways of looking.
Hurdle game on a smartphone

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.

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

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

Hurdle Word 1 hint

Hawaiian hello.

Hurdle Word 1 answer

ALOHA

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Lives under the bridge.

Hurdle Word 2 Answer

TROLL

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Gooey.

Hurdle Word 3 answer

SLIMY

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Upper body.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

CHEST

Final Hurdle hint

Number.

Hurdle Word 5 answer

DIGIT

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



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a woman typing on the dell xps 13

Dell finally announced its new XPS 13 laptop at Computex 2026 in Taiwan on Monday, almost five months after teasing it at CES. With a premium CNC aluminum build and a launch price of just $599 for students, the device is poised to aggressively compete with Apple's budget bombshell, the MacBook Neo.

On that battlefront, Dell is coming out swinging. "I'll give [Apple] credit, it's a good product...The difference is, we built something better," Dell COO Jeff Clarke told reporters during a briefing ahead of Computex.

Dell XPS 13 specs

both colors of the dell xps 13
The XPS 13 will come in sky and storm finishes (left and right, respectively). Credit: Dell

The XPS 13 will be the thinnest and lightest XPS laptop Dell has ever made. It's just as slim as the Neo but half a pound lighter, weighing in at just 2.2 pounds. It will come equipped with a 2.5K touchscreen, keyboard backlighting, and WiFi 7, three features the Neo lacks.

The XPS 13's display will offer up to 500 nits of brightness and full DCI-P3 color coverage, so it should look very crisp and vibrant. It will also support a variable 120Hz refresh rate that can drop to just 30Hz when it's displaying static content, maximizing its battery life.

the front of the dell xps 13
The XPS 13 doesn't have a lattice-style keyboard or a seamless touchpad, two signature features of Dell's XPS 14 and 16 laptops. Credit: Dell

Dell's XPS 13 is rated for up to 17 hours of video streaming per charge. If that holds up in testing, it'll beat the Neo's battery life by just over two hours.

The XPS 13 will launch sometime later this month in a silvery "sky" finish with Intel's new entry-level Core Series 3 chips ("Wildcat Lake"). The base configuration comes with 8GB of RAM and 512GB of storage, and until Nov. 2, students ages 16 and up can buy it for just $599. Everyone else pays $699 (the same price as an identically configured Neo).

Later this summer, Dell will add a second "storm" finish and scaled-up variants with the flagship Intel Core Ultra Series 3 chips ("Panther Lake"). Those upgraded models will have two Thunderbolt 4 ports, while the cheaper Wildcat Lake versions will have two USB-C ports. None will have a headphone jack, so there's one point on the Neo's side.

A cheap XPS laptop? In this economy?

the front and back of the dell xps 13
The XPS 13 is half a pound lighter than the MacBook Neo. Credit: Dell / Mashable composite

The Neo's arrival this spring sent many PC makers scrambling, but Clarke said it didn't affect Dell's planned features for the XPS 13, which was developed over the course of "around 30 weeks." The company first hinted at its existence at CES in January, describing it in a blog post as "our most accessible XPS price point yet."

Dell previously sold an XPS 13 laptop from 2012 to 2024. But it was basically just a compact version of its XPS 14 and 16 laptops, not a budget machine targeting a whole different user base.

The new XPS 13's cheap price tag is quite the feat amid the global RAM shortage that's forced most PC makers to raise their prices — Dell included. Last month, select configurations of its latest XPS 14 got up to 31 percent more expensive. And its new entry-level Alienware 15 gaming laptop debuted at a higher price than expected.

Dell delivered a premium-feeling budget laptop in the current market to fulfill the accessibility commitment it made at CES, Clarke said, though it also took "a change in mindset and attitude."

"We had this belief that XPS was this incredible premium product, which it is, and it couldn't go below a certain floor," he explained. "We put our minds to it, making the XPS experience more affordable. We wanted to share that experience with a broader range of consumers."

So far, Acer is the only other major PC maker to announce a Wildcat Lake-powered budget laptop with U.S availability. (Out this August, the new Acer Swift Air 14 also starts at $699.) Other models launched in China last month.

Want to learn more about getting the best out of your tech? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories and Deals newsletters today.



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Tinder logo

Everybody gets the thirst for a hookup once in a while, and you certainly don't need to worry about justifyng that thirst to us — or anybody else for that matter. The heart (and body) wants what it wants.

What you do need to worry about though is your online privacy — particularly if you're using dating sites and apps that are geared towards sex and NSFW content.

If you want to protect your privacy or at least keep a low profile while you swipe through sexy singles in your area, there are a few different things you can do. Here's some general guidance that works across all apps and sites, plus some more targeted advice depending on the service you're using.

General tips for browsing hookup apps discreetly

The following tips work well across all hookup sites. Think of them as general guidelines for limiting your exposure:

  • Sign up using an alternative email address. Not only does this spare you in the event of a data breach (and trust us when we say they can be more common than you would think), it also means that if somebody does catch a glance at your inbox they won't be able to see what sites you frequent.

  • Anonymize your photos as far as possible. You don't have to blur your face, but neither should you be taking photos of yourself that reveal where you live, where you work, or where you hang out. Additionally, ensure you leave out any identifying marks, such as unique tattoos, from any of your profile photos.  

  • Don't link your social media in your profile. Too many people share their Instagram pages or TikTok handles in their profiles, but doing so dramatically increases your exposure, since every image and story you post there could inadvertently contain identifying information about you, such as who your friends are or where you're from. 

  • Take advantage of gift cards or prepaid credit cards. If you purchase a premium membership to a hookup app or site, you'll leave a paper trail that links to your bank account or credit card. To maintain your anonymity, you can use a prepaid card or purchase a gift card instead of using your main credit or debit card when you register your membership. 

App-specific tips to retain your anonymity

Feeld

For the privacy-conscious dater, Feeld’s Incognito mode is a game-changer: You can scout the Discover feed without leaving a digital footprint, remaining invisible to anyone you haven't explicitly "liked." The app also supports private photo vaults that only unlock for confirmed connections.

Tinder

Tinder offers a few unique features that can help you lower your profile, even as you swipe away. First, consider turning off Discovery mode when you're trying to keep a low profile. This will make it impossible for new people to find your profile in search. Meanwhile, you can still chat to people you're already matched with.

If you really want to take things up a notch and you already have a Tinder Plus, Gold or Platinum membership, you can use Passport Mode to browse singles in a nearby city, or a place you're travelling to for work or on a vacation. This is a great way to prevent your local friends and family from accidentally stumbling across your profile. 

You can also block phone numbers if you really don't want certain individuals to find you — your boss, neighbor, or sibling, for instance.

Grindr

The first line of defence on Grindr is a relatively new feature called Profile Hide that works on one user at a time. Say, for example, you come across a co-worker on the app, and don't want them to know you're also using it. Simply click on their profile and find the Hide icon. If you tap this, your profile will become invisible to them and their profile will become invisible to you, like magic.

If you want to take things up a notch, you'll need a Grindr Unlimited membership, which unlocks a really useful privacy feature called Incignito mode, which essentially allows you to use the service in total secrecy, without anyone knowing you're there until you initiate an interaction. 

AdultFriendFinder

AdultFriendFinder is like the Wild West of hookup sites, a place where seemingly anything goes, but that carefree attitude can also be a privacy nightmare. We strongly recommend you limit the amount of identifiable information you put on your profile. That includes being very selective about which photos you choose to share.

One good way to strike a balance between total anonymity and a modicum of privacy is to take advantage of AFF's many photo features, specifically their photo permissions options. You can make your main profile photo something reasonably discrete, such as a full-length picture of you wearing a hat or a photo shot from a distance or even a photo with your face blurred out, but then you can create a photo album of more identifiable, personal photos that you choose to share only with friends. 

That way, you can be super selective about whom you share your photos with.



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Wordle game on a smartphone

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

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.

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.

Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

A piece of music.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter E appears twice.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter E.

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...

ETUDE

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints. Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.

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

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



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