Entertainment
Netflix's Sci-Fi Thriller Accurately Predicted The Real Danger Of ChatGPT
By Jonathan Klotz
| Published
Go to any streaming service’s sci-fi section and, within 10 seconds of browsing, you’ll realize that there are enough evil AI movies that you can watch one every day for a year and still have more to go. The most terrifying one has landed on Netflix.
Though it’s lacking the body count of a M3GAN, or even a Terminator movie, it shows that the real danger of AI isn’t physical, it’s emotional. 2014’sEx Machina is a cerebral thriller that will make you think, and by the time the credits roll, you’ll never look at ChatGPT or Gemini the same way again.
She’s A Robot And That’s Ok
Future Star Wars co-stars Domhnall Gleeson and Oscar Isaac play, respectively, tech employee Caleb and eccentric CEO Nathan. Caleb thinks he’s won a special trip out to Nathan’s compound for a week when he’s quickly informed that Nathan’s developed a new type of AI and wants Caleb to determine if she’s achieved true consciousness. Caleb knows that Ava, Alicia Vikander’s breakout role, isn’t real, but as the two bond over several conversations, he starts to have doubts. Even knowing the truth from the beginning, Caleb becomes enraptured by the feminine robot, and that’s when the real problems start.
Ex Machina hit theaters years before AI chatbots became commonplace. In 2026, there are daily stories about someone becoming obsessed with their AI partner and either cutting off the rest of the world or doing something that they can’t come back from because a machine told them to do it. Turns out that Terminator, Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning, I, Robot, Tau, and countless others missed AI becoming a replacement for human companionship. Her came out a year before Ex Machina, and a decade later, those two are still the gold standards when it comes to the real, emotional cost of dealing with AI.
The Type Of Smart Sci-Fi Studios Left Behind
From the moment it hit theaters, Ex Machina was a success, certified fresh on Rotten Tomatoes with a 92 percent critical rating and 86 percent audience rating. It’s a rare smart sci-fi during an era of visual spectacle. Written and directed by 28 Years Later’s writer Alex Garland, it’s far more visually stunning than a film that’s 90 percent dialogue has any right to be. Audiences couldn’t get enough of the philosophical musings, wild twists, and Oscar Isaac’s dance sequence.
The sparse film was a hard sell in theaters with a limited release and then a rapid rollout nationwide. Earning only $37 million, barely twice its budget of $15 million, without taking marketing or theater cuts into account, Ex Machina was not a blockbuster. Instead, it benefited from word of mouth over the last decade. The rising profile of everyone involved in the film certainly helped it grow over time into, not even a cult classic, but a bona fide hit.
Everyone involved in the film has gone on to further success: Gleeson and Isaac with Star Wars, Vikander with Tomb Raider, and even Sonoya Mizuno, who plays the silent housekeeper Kyoko, has appeared in multiple Garland films since. During that time, Ex Machina has only become more relevant, and as AI becomes more integrated into our daily lives, the siren call of machine companionship will become harder for people to ignore.
Entertainment
NYT Mini crossword answers, hints for February 6, 2026
The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times‘ revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.
With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.
So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player’s flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered.
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Here are the clues and answers to NYT’s The Mini for Friday, Feb. 6, 2026:
Across
BT(W)
TL(C)
NP(R)
L(A)N
T(G)IF
Down
Walked through water
Opera solo
Lead-in to “man,” for a naval title
Pulitzer-winning writer Robert, famous for his four-book series on Lyndon Johnson
Cleaning cloth
If you’re looking for more puzzles, Mashable’s got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today’s Strands.
Not the day you’re after? Here’s the solution to yesterday’s Mini Crossword.
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Mini Crossword
Entertainment
Wordle today: Answer, hints for February 6, 2026
Today’s Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you’re familiar with the courtroom.
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 judge uses one.
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Does today’s Wordle answer have a double letter?
There are no recurring letters.
Today’s Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with…
Today’s Wordle starts with the letter G.
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…
GAVEL
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.
Entertainment
NYT Strands hints, answers for February 6, 2026
Today’s NYT Strands hints are easy if you’re good at reading facial expressions.
Strands, the New York Times‘ elevated word-search game, requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There’s always a theme linking every solution, along with the “spangram,” a special, word or phrase that sums up that day’s theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.
By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.
If you’re feeling stuck or just don’t have 10 or more minutes to figure out today’s puzzle, we’ve got all the NYT Strands hints for today’s puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.
NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Let’s face it
The words are related to the dace.
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Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained
These words describe unique characteristics.
NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?
Today’s NYT Strands spangram is vertical.
NYT Strands spangram answer today
Today’s spangram is Features
NYT Strands word list for February 6
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Brows
-
Cheeks
-
Eyes
-
Mouth
-
Features
-
Hairline
-
Forehead
-
Nose
Looking for other daily online games? Mashable’s Games page has more hints, and 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 Strands.
Winter Florals
February Forecast
