Author: Admin

There are many enduring mysteries to the human condition: Why are we here? Who made the universe? And, most importantly, could the Mona Lisa rap?

Microsoft has announced a new artificial intelligence technology called VASA-1, which can turn a photo of someone’s face and a short clip of their voice into a lifelike computer-powered video. And thanks to this breakthrough, the company was able to create a lifelike video of Leonardo da Vinci’s famed painting, the Mona Lisa, performing actress Anne Hathaway’s viral 2011 rap, Paparazzi.

Microsoft’s video is the latest example of the rapid advances that tech companies are making with AI tools, though a rapping Mona Lisa arguably straddles the line between quirky and creepy.

The software giant’s new technology is far from the only use of AI to interpret and experience art, or the broader world of media. Microsoft partner startup OpenAI, for instance, has created similarly eye-catching videos through its text-to-video model, Sora, which can create ultra-realistic videos from text prompts. Google has a similar tool called Lumiere.

Those tools are in limited availability. As for AI tools you can use every day, be sure to check out CNET’s hands-on reviews of the image generators in Adobe Firefly, OpenAI’s Dall-E 3 and Google’s ImageFX, along with reviews of chatbots including ChatGPT, Gemini and Claude.

From deepfake to reality

Microsoft’s technology may seem like nothing new. Researchers have been showing off shockingly lifelike video manipulations for years, often calling them deepfakes. Some of the most impressive deepfakes have included the one from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, which in 2019 used AI technology to make President Richard Nixon appear to give a speech he’d never actually delivered.

Experts have expressed increasing concern that deepfakes could be used to spread disinformation.

Those concerns haven’t stopped app developers from providing effectively a basic version of what Microsoft has developed. Such apps have become so popular that cybersecurity researchers warn that photographs people upload may be used to help advance the technology without the owner or subject’s consent.

Microsoft is hopeful these technologies could do more good than harm.

“While acknowledging the possibility of misuse, it’s imperative to recognize the substantial positive potential of our technique,” the company wrote in a blog post announcing VASA-1. “The benefits – such as enhancing educational equity, improving accessibility for individuals with communication challenges, offering companionship or therapeutic support to those in need, among many others – underscore the importance of our research and other related explorations.”

Microsoft added that it is “dedicated to developing AI responsibly, with the goal of advancing human well-being.”

Editors’ note: CNET used an AI engine to help create several dozen stories, which are labeled accordingly. The note you’re reading is attached to articles that deal substantively with the topic of AI but are created entirely by our expert editors and writers. For more, see our AI policy.

Just because you have a set phone plan and have had your phone for a certain amount of time doesn’t mean you can’t change your number. If you’re looking to get your phone number changed to a different one, whether to dodge spam calls, update your area code, or whatever other reason, you have a few ways to get it updated. Some of these solutions will be the same regardless of your carrier, and some you will need to reach out to your specific provider to implement.

How to Change Your Phone Number

Your number and all of your service is connected to your provider through something called a SIM card. Depending on the age and make of your phone you may have a physical SIM card. If you do, you can order a new one and replace the one in your phone once you receive the new one. Many newer phones have done away with physical cards and replaced them with eSIMs. For example, iPhones have been doing this since the iPhone 14. In this case, you will need to go through your service provider.

Each service provider has their own process for contacting them about changing your number. We have outlined the process of some of the most popular providers. It is important to know your voicemails may not be able to be transferred to your new number, so make sure to get them saved before switching.

Changing Your AT&T Number

To get your number changed at AT&T there is a $36 fee unless you’ve activated your service within the last 30 days. You can change your number online by logging into your account. Once you’re logged in select ‘Manage wireless’ to select your phone. Within the menu for your phone, you’ll need to open the ‘My wireless device options’ menu to get to ‘Change my number’. If you would like someone to do it for you, you can always contact AT&T customer service and have them change it for you.

Changing Your Google Fi Number

Before you can begin a number change with Google Fi, you will need to make sure your account doesn’t have any balance but there aren’t any fees for your number change at any time. Once you’re all paid up, you can reach out to the Google Fi Wireless Help team online and ask to change your number. It’s worth keeping in mind that your old number will be given to someone else in this case and you aren’t guaranteed to get your same area code.

Changing Your Mint Mobile Number

With Mint Mobile, you will need to reach out to their help center to change your number. You can either chat with them online or call 800-683-7392 between 5 a.m. and 7 p.m. PST. When calling you will want to select the technical issue option followed by help with service. An eSIM can be used for $15/month more in place of the physical SIM and a new number can be activated with this as long as your phone is compatible. Otherwise, there are no fees to change your number.

Changing Your TextNow Number

If you’re a TextNow customer, changing your number is very easy. All you have to do is open the TextNow app and go into settings. Under ‘Account’ you will find ‘TextNow Number’ where you select the three dots on the top right and ‘Release Number’. They have a video on YouTube outlining their process. Be sure you’re ready to change your number as you cannot get your old one back.

Changing Your T-Mobile Number

Although it isn’t free all the time, T-Mobile does allow customers to change their number once per year for free. After the first change, it is $15 per change. Your old number will be held anywhere between 45 and 90 days, then will be released for a new user. To get the number switched with this service provider, you have to call the General Customer Care & Technical Support line at 1-800-937-8997 from a different phone so they can switch your number over while you’re on the line.

Changing Your Verizon Number

Verizon has made changing your phone number easy through their My Verizon app that comes on all of their devices. You will have to be the account owner or manager to complete the change. Once you’re logged into the app, select the phone you want to change the number on and select to either get a completely new number or transfer an old one. You will enter your ZIP code or city and state and a drop-down will allow you to select the first six digits of your number and an effective date. After making your selections, you will be able to choose the last four digits as well and submit. Then it will be your new number on the effective date you selected.

No matter what company you have as a service provider iPhone users will want to make sure to sync their Apple ID to the new number. If looking at changing your number doesn’t seem like enough, you could always change your service provider or get a new phone instead.

It was a good weekend for the home teams in the first games of the NBA playoffs. All eight home teams took their respective Game 1s, and most in relatively easy fashion. On Sunday, only the nightcap’s Pelicans-Thunder matchup came down to the wire, with the top-seeded Oklahoma City narrowly holding off New Orleans.

Monday brings three more contests, with Game 2s coming up for the Cavs-Magic, Knicks-Sixers and Nuggets-Lakers.

Here’s everything you need to know to watch or stream the NBA playoffs.

What is the playoff schedule for today?

Here’s the schedule for today’s remaining games, and for the next few days (all times ET):

Monday, April 22

• Magic vs. Cavaliers, 7 p.m. on NBA TV (Cavaliers lead series 1-0)
• 76ers vs. Knicks, 7:30 p.m. on TNT (Knicks lead series 1-0)
• Lakers vs. Nuggets, 10 p.m. on TNT (Nuggets lead series 1-0)

Tuesday, April 23

• Suns vs. Timberwolves, 7:30 p.m. on TNT (Timberwolves lead series 1-0)
• Pacers vs. Bucks, 8:30 p.m. on NBA TV (Bucks lead series 1-0)
• Mavericks vs. Clippers, 10 p.m. on TNT (Clippers lead series 1-0)

Wednesday, April 24

• Heat vs. Celtics, 7 p.m. on TNT (Celtics lead series 1-0)
• Pelicans vs. Thunder, 9:30 p.m. on TNT (Thunder lead series 1-0)

What does the NBA playoff bracket look like?

The Boston Celtics earned the top spot in the East, and the Oklahoma City Thunder edged the defending champion Denver Nuggets for the top seed in the West. Here’s what the matchups look like for the 2024 NBA playoffs, which began today:

Eastern Conference

• No. 1 Boston Celtics vs. No. 8 Miami Heat
• No. 2 New York Knicks vs. No. 7 Philadelphia 76ers
• No. 3 Milwaukee Bucks vs. No. 6 Indiana Pacers
• No. 4 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. No. 5 Orlando Magic

Western Conference

• No. 1 Oklahoma City Thunder vs. No. 8 New Orleans Pelicans
• No. 2 Denver Nuggets vs. No. 7 Los Angeles Lakers
• No. 3 Minnesota Timberwolves vs. No. 6 Phoenix Suns
• No. 4 Los Angeles Clippers vs. No. 5 Dallas Mavericks

How to watch the NBA playoffs

The NBA playoffs will be shown across four channels: ABC, ESPN, TNT and NBA TV. You can watch the games with a cable subscription or a live TV streaming service.

Three of the five major services offer all four channels. Hulu with Live TV lacks NBA TV, which will show only a handful of playoff games. Fubo lacks TNT, which shows a big portion of the NBA playoffs, making Fubo a poor choice for hoops fans. You can also watch TNT broadcasts of playoff games with Max.

All the live TV streaming services above offer free trials, allow you to cancel anytime, and require a solid internet connection. Looking for more information? Check out our live TV streaming services guide.

Google’s latest flagship may now be the Pixel 8 Pro, but the Pixel 7 Pro is still an excellent phone for those in the market for a new device, especially when you can find one at a good price. Right now Amazon is offering a brand-new 256GB Pixel 7 Pro for $530 rather than the $999 it usually goes for. That’s a whopping $469 discount. There’s no set expiration date for this deal, so it could disappear at any time. We’d recommend placing your order sooner rather than later to avoid disappointment.

The Pixel 7 Pro formerly appeared on our list of best phones to buy in 2023, and for good reason. It has a sleek design and a lot of power under the hood with its Tensor G2 chip that puts it on par with something like the Samsung S22 Ultra in terms of performance. That means you get a smooth experience out of using it, especially with the latest Android software, which the Pixel 7 Pro is optimized to use given that Google makes Android.

You also get three excellent cameras: a 50-megapixel main camera, a 48-megapixel telephoto lens and a 12-megapixel ultrawide camera. There’s also a lot more AI in the imaging software this time around and even includes a photo unblur tool which is useful in a lot of scenarios. You’ll also get to see all your pics on a gorgeous 6.7-inch screen that’s running a 3,120×1,440-pixel resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate, the latter of which makes for a snappy experience and is what you’d want to see on a flagship phone.

The Pixel 7 Pro continues to be an impressive phone in 2024 for those that don’t necessarily need the latest advancements, especially when you consider the discounted price. Or, if you’d rather go for something else entirely, check out our roundup of the best phone deals available right now.

Foldable smartphones have become increasingly popular, which makes sense since they are a really cool piece of tech. The last few years have seen foldable tech go from something quite gimmicky to being a valid piece of technology. For example, the concept of a foldable phone like the Motorola Razr Plus, where you only have a small screen on the front, means that you’re less likely to start browsing or doom scrolling when replying to a message.

There are some pretty good deals on foldable phones right now, and this deal on the Motorola Razr caught our eye. While it usually retails closer to $1,000, you can grab a new model from Woot for just $533. Also, it’s an unlocked version, so you aren’t tied to a specific carrier. Keep in mind that although the device is new, it is being sold as an open-box product.

There are plenty of reasons why the Motorla Razr Plus has been so well received by those who’ve used one. The list starts with the 6.9-inch internal foldable display and continues with the 3.6-inch external one, which can be used for reading messages, checking notifications and more.

This phone can be used on all of the major US carriers, with T-Mobile and Verizon offering 5G connectivity. It’s speedy on the inside too, thanks to the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 chip. The whole device is water-repellent and will survive a splash of rain just fine. All things considered, this is a great way to dip your toe in the world of foldables at a price that won’t break the bank.

Don’t worry if the Motorola Razr Plus isn’t for you — we have tons more phone deals just waiting for you to take advantage of, too.

The Galaxy Z Fold 5 is currently Samsung’s most cutting-edge foldable phone. It features a new, gapless hinge and a speedier processor, yet keeps the same $1,800 price tag as 2022’s model, the Galaxy Z Fold 4.

The Galaxy Z Fold 5, launched last July, comes in the lighter and slimmer design teased by T.M. Roh, the president of Samsung’s mobile division. The Z Fold 5 weighs 253 grams (8.92 ounces), which represents a 10-gram decrease from last year’s Z Fold 4 and an 18-gram decrease from the Galaxy Z Fold 3.

The Z Fold 5 is measures 13.46 mm thick when folded closed, meaning it’s 2.44 mm skinnier than the Z Fold 4 in that same position. The key to the Fold 5’s more portable design is what Samsung calls the flex hinge, which allows for a more streamlined construction with fewer moving parts. The new hinge also makes way for both displays to fold completely flat.

Despite Samsung’s progress, the world’s thinnest foldable phone is the Honor V2, made by Huawei’s former subsidiary Honor. The Magic V2 is 9.9 mm thick when in phone mode, which is markedly skinnier, and it launched globally this year.

Apart from this, the Galaxy Z Fold 5 received a series of incremental improvements such as the newest Snapdragon processor and a brighter internal screen (1,750 nits). It’s the brightest screen on any Z Fold. There’s also support for three SIMs, and the upgraded hinge. For more specifics, check out the details in CNET’s specs chart below for a side-by-side comparison.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 Flexes Its Foldable Beauty

+19 More

See all photos

After teasing us on Super Bowl Sunday with a snapshot of Deadpool and Wolverine’s buddy action flick, Marvel dropped a new trailer for the upcoming movie. It opens with a back-and-forth between the pair that sees the Merc with a Mouth hurl a sassy insult at the beloved — and ever-grumpy — X-Men hero.

While the teaser ad broke Spider-Man’s record as the most-viewed movie trailer of all time, according to Disney, this one gets raunchier, bloodier and gives clues about what to expect in the film.

Set to the tune of Madonna’s 1989 hit, Like a Prayer, this trailer gives us a peek at Cassandra Nova, known in X-Men canon as a supervillain and Charles Xavier’s sister. Considered the “dark twin” of Professor X, she has a track record of wreaking havoc with her telepathy. In one scene, she pins Wolverine to the ground with his own claws.

We already know there will be time travel with the Time Variance Authority involved, as they’ve recruited a Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds) variant for a mission. And by the looks of it, they plucked this version of Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine from a different timeline, too. For diehard Marvel fans, one of the biggest Easter eggs was seeing Wolverine sporting his sleeveless bodysuit — a nod to the X-Men comic book tradition.

In another blink-and-miss moment, Ant-Man’s big body is now a home base for baddies, and there’s a moment in the trailer where a group of them are standing in front of it. Did you spot who? It looks like Lady Deathstrike and Azazel are rolling up for the villains’ rave too, undoubtedly to help Cassandra with some sort of wannabe mutant takeover. This movie is setting up to be a major segue for Marvel’s new X-Men film.

Closing the trailer out, the dysfunctional duo hop through a portal made of sparks, hinting that maybe Doctor Strange — or Wong — could show up at some point in the movie.

Deadpool 3 will arrive in theaters July 26. The film is directed by Shawn Levy, who also worked with Reynolds on Free Guy and The Adam Project. Additional cast members include Morena Baccarin, Emma Corrin, Matthew Macfadyen and Jennifer Garner as Elektra. Though we still don’t know for sure whether Taylor Swift will cameo as the Dazzler, rumor has it that Tony Stark — aka Iron Man — will also make an appearance.

Earth Day has arrived and plenty of brands are celebrating this day of environmental consciousness and sustainability by offering exceptional deals on eco-friendly products to help you save some green while you contribute to saving our planet. Small changes can make a big difference, and that includes shifting your shopping habits. Shopping sustainably is a good habit to partake in year-round, and these Earth Day offers are a nice reminder.

Top Earth Day sales at a glance:

• Best Buy: 20% off Logitech products when you recycle any used PC or PC gaming accessory
• eBay: Extra 15% off refurbished products with code SHOPGREEN
• Blueair: Save up to 30% through April 30
• Avocado: Up to $1,650 off Green and Luxury mattresses and up to 60% other bed accessories
• Nimble: Save up to 40% on eco-friendly tech accessories

• Amazon: Shop Climate Pledge-friendly brands
• Lowe’s: SpringFest savings through April 26
• Target: Earth Day savings on household essentials

We’ve rounded up several of our favorite Earth Day deals for 2024 below, and we’ll continue to update this page with more offers as they crop up.

Read more: Go Green Without Going Broke: 9 Eco-Friendly Hacks That Also Save Me Money

Earth Day tech deals

More Earth Day tech deals:

• Nest Learning Thermostat $199 (save $50)
• Amazon: 10% back on select preowned electronics with Prime card
• eBay: 15% off refurbished products with code SHOPGREEN
• Anker: Save up to 40% on eco-friendly chargers, hubs and cables
• Zendure: Up to $2,398 off portable power stations
• JLab: Save 30% when you recycle old electronics
• Goal Zero: Discounted solar generator bundles
• Segway F30 electric kick scooter: $410 (save $240)
• Amazon: Trade in an old device and get 20% off a qualifying Fire tablet

• Samsung: Get trade-in credit for your old appliances when you buy an eligible Energy Star-certified appliance

Earth Day home and kitchen deals

More Earth Day home and kitchen deals:

• Awara: Up to 50% off select mattresses
• Birch: 20% off sitewide and 2 free Eco-Rest pillows with mattress purchase
• Amerisleep: $450 off any mattress with code AS450
• Essentia: 20% off organic and vegan mattresses with code
• Ikea: Extra 25% off as-is products
• Outer: 15% off overstock savings and 5% off in-stock items
• Sabai: Up to 25% off all furniture
• Kaiyo: Up to $250 off secondhand furniture
• Truly Free: Save 20% sitewide with code EARTH20
• 360Cookware: 22% off cookware and bakeware with code EARTH22
• Buffy bedding: Save 15% sitewide

• West Paw: 20% off with code EARTH24
• Rumpl: 25% off national parks collection
• Reencle Home Composter: $429 (save $70)
• Blueland: 20% off one-time or 30% off first subscription order of $65+
• Greenpan: 40% off sitewide with code EARTH40
• Bio Bidet: Up to 45% off
• EcoFlow Delta Pro solar generator: $3,299 (save $1,499)
• Rezip: 20% off sitewide with code EARTHMONTH20
• Fast Growing Trees: Up to 60% off and buy one, get one promotions
• PackageFree: Save up to 33% on bundles and kits
• SodaStream: Up to $60 off sparkling-water makers
• Bruvi: Get a brewer for $148 when you purchase any three boxes of Bruvi B-Pods

Earth Day fashion and beauty deals

More Earth Day fashion and beauty deals:

• Citizen Watch: 25% off sitewide
• Thayers: Up to 25% off all toners

• Moon Juice: Donating 2% of all purchases to environmental causes
• ThredUp: Up to 70% off plus free shipping with code PLANET

• Bite Toothpaste Bits: 40% off select sets

• DSW: Earth Day shoe donation offer — $10 off same-day purchase

As demand for more sustainable and environmentally friendly products goes mainstream, a large number of organizations and innovations are sprouting up to combat pollution. One of these nonprofit organizations is The Ocean Cleanup, which has been developing a number of technologies to stop the flow of plastic pollution into our oceans.

Since 2013, the Netherlands based team of engineers and scientists, led by inventor, founder and CEO Boyan Slat, have been testing and deploying debris-catching barriers, autonomous River Interceptors and — probably its most famous plastic-catching device — the Ocean Cleanup System.

The Ocean Cleanup’s System 03 is the latest iteration of its oceangoing plastic-catching technology. It’s currently operating in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, located hundreds of miles offshore between California and Hawaii. We spoke with The Ocean Cleanup’s Boyan Slat, who gave us an update on the mission and an overview of how the new clean-up System 03 works to pick up floating plastic debris in the Pacific Ocean.

“Our cleanup system is comprised of two parts. On one end you have the hardware, the actual physical system that is out in the ocean. And then secondly, you have the software, which are the computer models that guide us to where and how we tow the system through the patch,” Boyan told CNET’s Senior Video Producer Stephen Beacham.

“On the hardware side we have this two-and-a-half kilometer, U-shaped barrier that is towed by two ships, which funnels the plastic from the ocean’s surface into a collection bag called the retention zone,” Boyan continued. “The plastic gets retained and then periodically, once that’s full, we take that retention zone on the deck of one of the ships and empty it, and then return it to sea so we can keep collecting while we do the sorting on the ship.”

System 03 is The Ocean Cleanup’s fourth-gen cleanup system, preceded by System 001, System 001/B and System 002. System 03 is the organization’s largest and most effective ocean-cleaning device. To date, The Ocean Cleanup has extracted 353,520 kilograms of plastic waste from the Pacific Ocean, according to the ocean system dashboard on the organization’s website.

The Ocean Cleanup plans to scale up its cleaning operation after testing of System 03 concludes. It hopes to deploy as many as 10 ocean cleanup systems at a time, its end goal being to rid the Pacific Ocean of most or all of the floating plastic pollution over a 10-year span.

“Since we started with System 002 in 2021, we’ve seen a steady increase. The first expedition we did we caught, I think, about 7 tons of plastic,” Boyan said. “In late 2023 … we went up to 45 tons in a single trip. This year we hope to do even better than that. The magical number that we’re aiming for is 100 kilos per hour. If we hit that with a decently sized fleet of cleanup systems, we can actually clean up the patch within 10 years.”

Watch the full interview with Boyan Slat and see The Ocean Cleanup System 03 in action in CNET’s latest video about the mission to rid the world’s oceans of plastic pollution.