Tech
California greenlights AI safety, data protection, Netflix quiet
California is riding a wave of Big Tech legislation, with the state's leaders signing several technology-related bills in quick succession.
The first, referred to as the Transparency in Frontier Artificial Intelligence Act, made headlines as a history-making state-level law ensuring more robust generative AI safety standards. The safety and transparency bill mandates AI labs disclose potential harm created by the rising technology and disclose their safety protocols as proof that companies are designing AI systems to mitigate catastrophic risk. The requirements are enforced by the state's Office of Emergency Services. It applies to companies that reach a certain threshold of computing power reserved exclusively for model training or those that make at least $500 million in annual revenue.
The bill is designed to keep AI developers accountable to safety standards even when facing competitive pressure and includes protections for potential whistleblowers. California governor Gavin Newsom said in a statement that the legislation proves that stronger safety regulations aren't necessarily an impediment to AI innovation, as many Big Tech leaders have argued.
Many onlookers have called the bill a new national standard.
A few days later, Newsom signed SB 576, a bill that prohibits commercial volume levels from exceeding the viewer's set volume. Importantly, it applies to streaming ads, too, which are widely underregulated. It extends the Commercial Advertisement Loudness Mitigation (CALM) Act passed by Congress in 2010, which established average volume limits for broadcast television commercials and cable operators.
Most recently, the state has given the green light to AB 656, a law that requires social media companies to make it easier to cancel accounts and ensure that all personal account data is immediately deleted. Last year, the FTC announced new Click to Cancel rules, mandating subscription providers make it easier for customers to cancel recurring payments and delete their accounts.
Newsom — while fashioning himself into President Donald Trump's number one nemesis — has led California in passing some of the nation's most advanced tech regulation, child safety laws, and consumer protection acts. But Newsom has also cozied up to many of Big Tech's interests, including vetoing a contentious, sweeping 2024 bill that would have made AI companies liable for harms caused by its technology.
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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.
Hurdle Word 1 hint
A music and film genre.
Hurdle Word 1 answer
INDIE
Hurdle Word 2 hint
A hut.
Hurdle Word 2 Answer
SHACK
Hurdle Word 3 hint
Rough.
Hurdle Word 3 answer
RIGID
Hurdle Word 4 hint
Hereditary material.
Hurdle Word 4 answer
GENES
Final Hurdle hint
A jewelry measurement.
Hurdle Word 5 answer
KARAT
If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
TL;DR: Get a refurbished Apple MacBook Air on sale for $194.97 with free shipping through Nov. 16 (reg. $999). This is a great device for everyday use.
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Yes, you read that right. You can grab one of Apple’s infamous MacBook Airs for under $200, and there’s no catch. Well, inventory is extremely low, so you’ll have to make sure to get yours before they sell out.
But you get the same performance, portability, and quality MacBooks are known for, except you only pay $194.97 vs. the $999 MSRP because of its refurbished status. You’ll also receive free shipping for a limited time.
Powered by a 1.8GHz Intel Core i5 processor and Intel HD Graphics 6000, this MacBook Air breezes through web browsing, email, shopping, streaming, and basic work projects. It’s paired with 128GB of flash storage, giving you plenty of space for documents, photos, and apps, all while keeping things zippy.
And with 12 hours of battery life, you won’t be tethered to an outlet, whether you’re at home, at the office, or camped out at a coffee shop.
The 13.3-inch widescreen display with 1440×900 resolution allows your movies, spreadsheets, and FaceTime calls to look sharp and vibrant. Meanwhile, built-in WiFi and Bluetooth make it easy to stay connected and share files across your devices.
This machine isn’t just affordable; it’s also worry-free. With its Grade A/B refurbished rating, you may notice a tiny scuff or scratch, but inside, you’re getting a fully functional MacBook ready to roll.
At this price, it’s perfect as a primary laptop, a backup machine, or even a dedicated travel computer. Lightweight, reliable, and sleek — it’s the kind of deal that makes sense whether you’re working, learning, or just binge-watching.
Don’t miss this refurbished MacBook Air deal: $194.97 until Nov. 16 at 11:59 p.m. PT, or when inventory runs out (reg. $999).
StackSocial prices subject to change.
TL;DR: Get Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows on sale for $39.97 through Nov. 16 — a one-time purchase for lifelong access (reg. $219.99).
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This is your last chance to ditch Microsoft 365’s subscription fees for good. Until tomorrow, Nov. 16, at midnight, you can grab a lifetime license to Microsoft Office 2021 for 81% less than its usual retail price. Simply pay once, download the full software suite, and never worry about renewals again.
We know what you’re thinking, but rest assured, this isn’t some stripped-down lite version either. It’s the real deal. Whether you’re writing reports, crunching numbers, building presentations, managing emails, or wrangling databases, the lifetime version of Microsoft Office has you covered.
It’s a one-time download for one Windows PC, so once it’s yours, it’s yours. The full pro-level toolkit, minus the stress of a subscription. Plus, with instant license delivery and free customer support, getting started is as painless as your new spreadsheet workflow.
No more “trial expired” pop-ups. No more surprise charges. Just the latest versions of Microsoft’s best apps, ready to support all of your work and personal needs.
Download Microsoft Office for Windows while it’s on sale for $39.97 until Nov. 16 at 11:59 p.m. PT (reg. $219.99). No coupon is needed.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
Hurdle hints and answers for November 16, 2025
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