Entertainment
Google responds to claim that it stole NPR hosts voice
Radio host David Greene is suing Google, alleging that the tech giant copied his voice for its NotebookLM AI tool, the Washington Post and others reported — and Google has responded.
Greene is the former co-host of NPR’s Morning Edition and currently the host of the Left, Right, & Center podcast from the NPR member station KCRW. Greene found out about NotebookLM, which autogenerates podcasts, from a former coworker and was “completely freaked out,” he told the Post.
The complaint, which was filed on January 23 in California, states that Google “sought to replicate Mr. Greene’s distinctive voice — a voice made iconic over decades of decorated radio and public commentary — to create synthetic audio products that mimic his delivery, cadence, and persona.” The suit claims that Google violated California and common law statutory right to publicity, which concerns unauthorized uses of someone’s likeness, and California’s unfair competition law. It also alleges that Google unjustly benefited from Greene’s voice.
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Google told the Post and other publications that NotebookLM has nothing to do with Greene. “These allegations are baseless,” Google spokesperson José Castañeda told Gizmodo. “The sound of the male voice in NotebookLM’s Audio Overviews is based on a paid professional actor Google hired.”
The use of people’s likeness in AI models, as well as the use of copyrighted materials to train models, has been a contentious topic in recent years. In 2024, OpenAI took down its AI-powered voice, Sky, after allegations that it sounded like Scarlett Johansson, who explicitly didn’t give the company permission to use her likeness. Several lawsuits have been launched against major tech and AI companies using copyrighted material to train their AI.
Back in January, major artists, including Johansson, launched a campaign against AI slop and theft.
Disclosure: Ziff Davis, Mashable’s parent company, in April 2025 filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.
Entertainment
Best Mothers Day gifts 2026: 40+ ideas for pampering, de-stressing, or making life easier
Mother figures are the backbone of the world. They teach you the adulting necessities, give advice even if the problem is your fault, and above all, they put up with your shit and (almost) never complain. So when it comes to showing your appreciation with a Mother’s Day gift, the game plan involves more than a generic mug or the last wilted bouquet from CVS.
There’s something so priceless about a gift that was obviously picked just for her, regardless of its actual price. Whether it’s something to make a part of her life easier, something she’s mentioned wanting in passing, or simply something to make her feel like a queen, there are opportunities for truly thoughtful gifts for mom on any budget. Here are our best Mother’s Day gift ideas for 2026:
Entertainment
This backup Mac might become your favorite at just $430
TL;DR: This near-mint MacBook Pro (2020) delivers strong performance, a sharp Retina display, and all-day usability for just $429.97 while stock lasts.
$429.97
$1,999
Save $1,569.03
Not every MacBook needs to be your “handle with care” device. Sometimes, you just want something powerful, reliable, and ready to go — without worrying about every scratch or spill. And this near-mint Apple MacBook Pro fits that bill.
It’s built to handle real work. With a 10th Gen Intel Core i5 processor, 16GB of RAM, and a fast 512GB SSD, it’s more than capable of juggling everyday multitasking, creative projects, or even some heavier workloads like video editing or coding.
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Apps launch quickly, files move fast, and everything feels responsive.
The 13.3-inch Retina display is still one of the highlights, offering sharp resolution and vibrant color with True Tone for easier viewing throughout the day. Pair that with the Magic Keyboard, the Touch Bar’s easy-access shortcuts, and Touch ID login, and you’ve got a setup that feels both familiar and efficient.
It’s also surprisingly versatile thanks to four Thunderbolt 3 ports, giving you plenty of options for displays, accessories, and fast data transfers. And with up to 10 hours of battery life, it’s easy to take it on the go without constantly thinking about charging.
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This Grade A refurbished model is in near-mint condition with the possibility of light scratching. Get MacBook Pro performance for just $429.97 (reg. $1,999) while stock lasts.
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Entertainment
Stop guessing which AI model is best — test them all at once for $74.97
TL;DR: Secure lifetime access to ChatPlayground AI for $74.97 (reg. $619) through May 10 and evaluate 25+ leading AI models side by side in a single workspace.
Credit: ChatPlayground AI
Switching between multiple AI tools to test the same prompt is a common yet inefficient workflow. Since each model performs differently depending on the task, comparison is valuable—but managing tabs and subscriptions isn’t. ChatPlayground AI centralizes top models into one interface, allowing you to review outputs simultaneously without the friction. Lifetime access is currently discounted to $74.97 through May 10 (reg. $619).
GPT-4o, Claude Sonnet, Gemini, DeepSeek, Llama, Perplexity, and more — all in one clean interface. It’s built for people who iterate fast, test variations, and actually care about optimizing results.
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Beyond comparisons, ChatPlayground AI includes prompt engineering tools to refine outputs, image and PDF chat for context-aware responses, saved chat history for ongoing projects, and AI image generation powered by leading models. There’s even a Chrome extension to integrate it directly into your browsing workflow.
The Unlimited Plan means unlimited messages per month, making it ideal for startups, product teams, marketers, and prompt engineers who run experiments nonstop. You also get priority support and early access to new features and future models.
If you’re already paying for multiple AI tools — or constantly switching between them — this consolidates everything into one streamlined platform.
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Grab lifetime access to ChatPlayground AI Unlimited for $74.97 before May 10 and stop juggling models for good.
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