Purdubik's Cube record of 0.103 seconds is faster than a human brain's reaction time. Credit: Purdue University / Elmore Family School of ECE Get the Popular Science daily newsletter💡 Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent every weekday. Mitsubishi’s bragging rights for designing the world’s fastest Rubik’s cube-solving robot have officially been stolen by a team of undergrads in Indiana. Earlier this month, Purdue University announced four collaborators in its Elmore Family School of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) successfully designed and built a bot that not only set the new Guinness World Record—it absolutely demolished the multinational company’s previous time. Meet Purdubik’s Cube: a machine capable of completing a randomly shuffled Rubik’s cube in just 0.103 seconds. At 1-2 times faster than the blink of a human eye, the feat is difficult to see, much less comprehend. Mitsubishi turned heads (and blocks) in May 2024, after its TOKUFASTbot solved a Rubik’s cube puzzle in just 0.305 seconds. Short for TOKUI Fast Accurate Synchronized Motion Testing Robot TOKUFASTbot shaved 0.075 seconds from the previous all-time record through a combination of compact, high-power, servomotors, a specially designed color-recognition AI algorithm, and sophisticated motion-control technology typically used in the company’s manufacturing plants. It was an impressive accomplishment from a company with vast resources at its disposal. But Matthew Patrohay, Junpei Ota, Aden Hurd, and Alex Berta at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana soon began wondering if there was any room left for improvement. “They said, ‘You know what? I think we can do better,’” ECE head Milind Kulkarni said in the university’s accompanying video. Patrohay and his teammates then managed to conceive their own bot design in a matter of months before building the final Purdubik’s Cube model over a single semester. Their results are not only faster than blinking an eye, says Patrohay. “Human reaction time is 100-200 [milliseconds], as well. So we’re faster than that,” he said. “Basically, before you even realize it’s solved, we’ve solved it. Before you even realize it’s moving, we’ve solved it.” As with TOKUFASTbot, the limitations at this point were less about the robot itself and more about the physical limitations of the puzzle toy. “The cubes themselves just kind of disintegrate. The pieces just snap in half and fall apart,” said Patrohay. To sidestep these problems, the team needed to optimize the mechanical interior of their test Rubik’s cubes. This required a custom built interior replacement core to better hold all the pieces together, as well as adjustments to the individual color blocks. Patrohay expressed hope ahead of Purdubik’s Cube Guinness World Record trial on April 21 that their machine could trim off a few more milliseconds to firmly set their record under a tenth of a second. However, it appears that 0.103 is currently the time to beat moving forward. It’s hard to imagine a robot solving a Rubik’s cube much faster than that, but then again, that’s what most people were saying this time last year.

If you’ve been looking for the most reliable portable charger to charge everything from your phone to your laptop, the INIU 25,000mAh 100W USB-C power bank available on Amazon is the deal you will not want to miss. Right now, you can get it on sale for just $53 (down from $59) but with an additional 10% coupon, you can lower the price even further to an unbelievable $48.50. This is the cheapest price ever for this model, and if you compare any offer or comparison website, you simply won’t find a better deal anywhere. See at Amazon Massive 25,000mAh Capacity INIU is already a well-known brand in smartphone charging with over 40 million users across the globe relying on it for quality. But this power bank is different: With a colossal 25,000mAh capacity, it’s not just intended for phones and tablets but laptops too. With its huge 100W output, you can charge power-hungry devices like MacBooks, high-end Windows laptops and even gaming handhelds like the Steam Deck at full velocity when you’re away. What’s great with the INIU 100W power bank is that the dual USB-C output also allows you to charge two USB-C devices simultaneously, be that your phone and laptop, or your tablet and wireless earbuds. The USB-C port’s not just for output, either—it’s also for fast recharging of the power bank itself with a 65W input filling you up in a flash. This power bank is crafted for travelers: It has a 25,000mAh battery that’s large enough to charge multiple devices all day but remains compact and airplane-approved so you can take it with you in your carry-on on long flights or layovers. If you work remotely or just like to have a backup on a road trip, this charger ensures you will never be low on battery. This INIU charger is the one-and-done charging powerhouse for anyone who expects rock-solid, high-speed power anywhere. At its record-low cost of $48.50 after coupon on Amazon, there’s just no better deal available today. See at Amazon

Explore how climate change, labor exploitation, and fair trade impact the global tea industry this International Tea Day and why sustainable tea matters now.

Published May 20, 2025 4:07pm EDT close 'CyberGuy' offers tips for protecting your genetic data Tech expert Kurt Knutsson discusses how users can keep their genetic data safe amid DNA testing company 23andMe's bankruptcy sale. The state of cybersecurity in the healthcare industry worries me a lot. Healthcare organizations, whether nonprofit or for-profit, collect an enormous amount of data. And it's not just phone numbers, addresses or emails but also sensitive information like medical records, insurance details and more. This data is extremely valuable, which makes it a prime target for hackers.What's worse is that many healthcare institutions often neglect cybersecurity and treat it as an afterthought. In 2024 alone, an industry tracker recorded 1,160 healthcare breaches that exposed 305 million patient records. This marked a 26% increase compared to the previous year.Against this backdrop, Ascension, a Missouri-based Catholic health system with 142 hospitals and 142,000 employees, recently disclosed that a December 2024 breach exposed the personal and medical information of more than 430,000 patients. A hacker at work (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)What you need to knowAccording to Ascension's breach notification letters, the compromise began on Dec. 5, 2024, when the network learned patient data "may have been involved in a potential security incident." By Jan. 21, 2025, its investigators had determined that Ascension had "inadvertently disclosed information to a former business partner," and that attackers likely stole data from that partner via a flaw in its software. In other words, patient records passed from Ascension into a third party's system and were then siphoned off by cybercriminals.The attackers gained a broad array of information. Impacted patients' demographic and financial details, names, mailing addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, dates of birth, race, gender and Social Security numbers were exposed. Even more worryingly, the breach included clinical data from hospital stays, including physician names, admission and discharge dates, diagnosis and procedure codes, medical record numbers and insurance details. This is the very data that criminals can exploit for fraud or identity theft. A healthcare worker typing on a laptop (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)Timeline and involvementAscension reported the breach to regulators via an HHS filing on April 28, 2025, which shows 437,329 patients affected. By comparison, the company had earlier disclosed the impact in state filings. For example, 114,692 Texas patients and 96 Massachusetts residents were individually notified of exposure. In response, Ascension is offering those affected two years of free identity monitoring services (credit monitoring, fraud consultation and identity theft restoration).For scale, Ascension is a major nonprofit health system, one of the largest in the U.S., operating 142 hospitals across North America. The company has not named the third-party partner, but its description fits a vendor whose secure file-transfer software was breached. The timing aligns with a series of recent Cl0p ransomware attacks. Cl0p has publicly claimed responsibility for exploiting a zero-day flaw in Cleo's secure file-transfer products, stealing data from dozens of organizations worldwide. While Ascension itself was not directly hit by ransomware, its data might have ended up in that same attack campaign.Ascension's patients and employees are no strangers to data breaches. In May 2024, a Black Basta ransomware attack compromised Ascension's own network. That incident, traced back to a single employee opening a malicious file, resulted in the exfiltration of data belonging to nearly 5.6 million people.The fallout was severe. Hospitals lost access to digital records, forcing clinicians to record vitals, medications and orders on paper. Elective procedures and some appointments were paused, and emergency services were redirected to unaffected facilities to avoid delays in care.We reached out to Ascension for a comment on our article but did not hear back before our deadline. A man typing on a laptop (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)Ways to protect yourself after the Ascension data breachIf you think you were affected or just want to be cautious, here are some steps you can take right now to stay safe from the Ascension data breach.1) Watch out for phishing scams and use strong antivirus software: With access to your email, phone number or identification documents, Ascension attackers can craft convincing phishing emails pretending to be from healthcare providers or banks. These emails might include malicious links designed to install malware or steal login information. To defend yourself, use a strong antivirus program. Get my picks for the best 2025 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices.2) Scrub your data from the internet using a personal data removal service: The more exposed your personal information is online, the easier it is for scammers to use it against you. Following the Ascension breach, consider removing your information from public databases and people-search sites.While no service can guarantee the complete removal of your data from the internet, a data removal service is really a smart choice. They aren’t cheap and neither is your privacy. These services do all the work for you by actively monitoring and systematically erasing your personal information from hundreds of websites. It’s what gives me peace of mind and has proven to be the most effective way to erase your personal data from the internet. By limiting the information available, you reduce the risk of scammers cross-referencing data from breaches with information they might find on the dark web, making it harder for them to target you. Check out my top picks for data removal services here.3) Safeguard against identity theft and use identity theft protection: Hackers now have access to high-value information from the Ascension breach, including Social Security numbers and bank information. This makes you a prime target for identity theft. You might want to consider investing in identity theft protection, which can also assist you in freezing your bank and credit card accounts to prevent further unauthorized use by criminals. Signing up for identity theft protection gives you 24/7 monitoring, alerts for unusual activity and support if your identity is stolen. See my tips and best picks on how to protect yourself from identity theft.4) Set up fraud alerts: Requesting fraud alerts notifies creditors that they need extra verification before issuing credit in your name. You can request fraud alerts through any one of the three major credit bureaus; they’ll notify the others. This adds another layer of protection without completely freezing access to credit. 5) Monitor your credit reports: Regularly check your credit reports through AnnualCreditReport.com, where you can access free reports from each bureau once per year or more frequently if you’re concerned about fraud. Spotting unauthorized accounts early can prevent larger financial damage.6) Change passwords and use a password manager: Update passwords on any accounts tied to compromised data. Use unique passwords that are hard to guess and let a password manager do the heavy lifting by generating secure ones for you. Reused passwords are an easy target after breaches. Consider password managers for convenience and security. Get more details about my best expert-reviewed password managers of 2025 here.7) Be wary of social engineering attacks: Hackers may use stolen details like names or birthdates from breaches in phone scams or fake customer service calls designed to trick you into revealing more sensitive info. Never share personal details over unsolicited calls or emails. Social engineering attacks rely on trust, and vigilance is key.Kurt’s key takeawayAttackers have frequently targeted Ascension, but the company does not seem to be learning its lesson. If it were a one-off incident, it might be understandable. But how do you fail to strengthen cybersecurity after experiencing a nationwide blackout? Rather than being an isolated event, this breach feels like part of a larger pattern. The industry relies on complex vendor networks and outdated IT systems, while cybercriminals continue to exploit emerging vulnerabilities.Should hospitals be penalized for neglecting basic cybersecurity practices? Let us know by writing us atCyberguy.com/Contact.For more of my tech tips and security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to Cyberguy.com/Newsletter.Follow Kurt on his social channels:Answers to the most-asked CyberGuy questions:New from Kurt:Copyright 2025 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved. Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist who has a deep love of technology, gear and gadgets that make life better with his contributions for Fox News & FOX Business beginning mornings on "FOX & Friends." Got a tech question? Get Kurt’s free CyberGuy Newsletter, share your voice, a story idea or comment at CyberGuy.com.

Casalgrande Padana’s Terrae tiles collection Earthy tones bring a timeless charm to everyday living spaces, and are conducive to a sensation of wellbeing. Casalgrande Padana’s new Terrae collection draws on colour shades offered by the pigments and precious minerals of the earth. Tiles in the Terrae collection are available in six colours (beige, white, caramel, brick, tobacco and taupe grey) and different shapes, including square (200×200mm, 600×600mm, 900×900mm, 1,200×1,200mm) and a range of rectangular options (82×250mm, 300×600mm, 600×1,200mm and 1,200×2,780mm). Different thicknesses, from 6mm to 9mm to 200mm, and finishes are available, including natural and grip surfaces. The aim is to provide a pleasant tactile sensation while meeting a range of technical requirements. A version of the beige, tobacco and taupe grey tiles in 600×600×20mm and 600×1,200×20mm is specially designed for the outdoors, with an anti-slip surface. These tiles can either be laid directly on turf, gravel or sand, or glued on screed or raised supports to allow for the installation of electrical and plumbing systems. Porcelain stoneware is a compact, hard and non-porous ceramic material made from finely ground clays, quartz and other minerals that are fired at high temperatures. Resistant to water and scratches, this durable material is particularly well suited to flooring and wall cladding. In additional to the solid colours, the Terrae collection comprises more decorative tiles with elegant ribbed, gridded and other geometric patterns that make use of several colours in the collection’s earthen palette. These tiles help create attractive visual and tactile effects, with unique colour contrasts that add character and a touch of sophistication to both indoor and outdoor spaces. Suitable for the most challenging design applications, the tiles will maintain their aesthetic and functional characteristics intact over time. The silver-based treatment Bios Antibacterial applied to the tiles guarantees continual protection against micro-organisms, while the tiles are easy to both lay and clean. The durability and outstanding technical performance offer designers an impressive range of creative options, allowing for customised uses in various types of projects, whether adaptive reuse or new builds, and including private homes, civic spaces and commercial interiors. Based in Italy, Casalgrande Padana has been producing advanced ceramic materials since 1960. Carrying out continuous research and experimentation has enabled them to improve their products’ aesthetic and technical features over time. They currently produce 24,000,000m2 of porcelain stoneware tiles per year, entirely made in Italy, and work with 70 countries around the world. To find out more about Casalgrande Padana’s new Terrae collection, please visit casalgrandepadana.com/product/terrae 2025-05-20 AR Editors Share

Image: The Good Smile Company Good Smile Company has announced it will be bringing back a pair of Metroid: Other M figures, which were originally released in 2012 and 2016. This includes figma of 'Samus Aran' and 'Samus Aran: Zero Suit ver'. These listings are only for Japan at the moment and are due to ship early next year in 2026. Here's a look, along with a description of both: Image: The Good Smile Company From 'METROID Other M' comes a rerelease of figma Samus Aran! ・Using the smooth yet poseable joints of figma, you can act out a variety of different scenes. ・A flexible plastic is used which allows proportions to be kept without compromising posability. ・Various extras including the popular 'Morph Ball', two beam effects, and a part to pose her shooting missiles are included. ・Five alternate left hand parts are included, such as an open hand, a gripped hand and the classic 'thumbs-up' hand ・A poseable figma stand is included, which allows various poses to be taken.Image: The Good Smile Company From the popular action game 'Metroid: Other M' comes a figma of the main character with her power suit removed - Samus Aran: Zero Suit ver. ・Using the smooth yet posable joints of figma, you can act out a variety of different scenes. ・A flexible plastic is used for important areas, allowing proportions to be kept without compromising posability. ・She comes with both a calm and collected glaring expression and a gentle smiling expression. ・A variety of interchangeable hand parts including the 'Samus thumbs up' are included. ・Her handgun and Adam's helmet are included as accessories to display with her. ・An alternate head part with short hair is also included, allowing you to display the younger Samus. ・An articulated figma stand is included, which allows various poses to be taken. If we hear any updates about a local re-release, we'll let you know. This follows Nintendo renewing a few Metroid video game trademarks recently. But don't get your hopes up Would you be interested in either or both of these figures? Do you already have them? Let us know in the comments. [source siliconera.com] Related Games See Also Share:0 0 Liam is a news writer and reviewer across Hookshot Media. He's been writing about games for more than 15 years and is a lifelong fan of many iconic video game characters. Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment... Related Articles Nintendo Unveils Diddy Kong's Brand New Design Cap's off Nintendo Switch 2 Final Tech Specs Have Been Confirmed GameChat has a "significant impact on system resources" 12 Switch Games Are Getting Free Switch 2 Upgrades, Here's What You Can Expect Nintendo's free updates arrive next month

Buying online furniture is not for the faint of heart. Photos lie. Descriptions are vague. And reviews—while occasionally helpful—often read like dramatic short fiction. (One person’s “cloud-like cocoon” is another’s “uncomfortable nightmare.”) Add Amazon to the mix, and things can get even dicier. Can you really find a well-made, good-looking accent chair on a site better known for used books and fast fashion? Surprisingly: yes.Amazon has become a solid source for design-forward furniture, if you know where to look. Between the endless scroll of stock photos and suspiciously affordable listings, you can surface some real gems. We’re talking sherpa-clad statement pieces, curvy velvet shells, and midcentury silhouettes—pieces that make you feel like you finally figured out what your space is missing. And many that even ship within two days.We combed through hundreds of listings to find the standouts. Whether you’re channeling Parisian salon energy or just need a comfy spot to throw your bag, these are the best accent chairs on Amazon to add to your cart.Our Top Picks for the Best Accent Chairs on AmazonBest Swivel Chair: HomePop Barrel Back Swivel Chair, $371Best Sling Style: Zinus Aidan Sling Chair, $139Best Ottoman Set: Colamy Accent Chair With Storage Ottoman, $300 $230Best Armchair: Tov Furniture Marla Velvet Accent Chair, $404Best Living Room Set: Chita Swivel Accent Chair Set, $1,159 $1,099HomePop Barrel Back Swivel ChairSpecsMaterials: Bouclé fabric, woodDimensions: 33.5 x 29.5 x 32 inchesThere’s something satisfyingly sculptural about this chair with a 360° swivel—the barrel shape, the neat tailoring, the continuous curves. But then you get up close and realize it’s also absurdly cozy, thanks to thick cushioning and nubby bouclé fabric for added texture and warmth. Above all, it’s compact enough for city apartments, cozy home offices, or tucking into that weird empty corner that’s just begging for a glow-up.Tov Furniture Marla Velvet Accent ChairSpecsMaterials: Velvet, pine woodDimensions: 28.5 x 29.9 x 28.2 inchesThe Marla chair doesn’t need flashy hardware or oversized proportions to make a point. It’s all about curves, color, and texture. The warm cognac hue seen here adds a touch of earth-toned elegance, playing nicely with neutrals and contrasting beautifully with bold tones. The kiln-dried pine frame also ensures durability, while the plush foam cushioning offers comfort that doesn’t skimp on style.ZINUS Aidan Sling Accent ChairSpecsMaterials: Steel, fabricDimensions: 30.71 x 30.71 x 35.15 inchesThis chair knows how to mix materials without making a scene. With its sleek metal frame and generously stuffed cushions, it offers the perfect blend of industrial lines and cozy comfort. It works beautifully in a minimalist living room, but also shines in a home office or den where you want a seat that feels relaxed, not rigid.Christopher Knight Home Evete Tufted Club ChairSpecsMaterials: Polyester fabric, birchDimensions: 28.75 x 32.00 x 34.50 inchesIf your space could use some tasteful prints, but you’re not quite ready to commit to wallpaper, this chair is a perfect entry point. With its bold black-and-cream buffalo check upholstery, it walks that line with confidence. Tufted details and nailhead trim add additional visual accents, and the turned birch wood legs lend it just the right amount of polish. Place it in an entry hall for immediate impact or use two as conversational anchors flanking a fireplace or bookshelf.CHITA Swivel Accent ChairSpecsMaterials: Velvet, pine wood, metalDimensions: 31.1 x 31.1 x 28.3 inchesWith its graceful silhouette, featuring sloped arms and a curved back, this accent chair offers a modern twist on the classic club chair design. The 360-degree swivel base adds functionality, while the velvet upholstery brings a hint of drama. Think of it as your living room’s new focal point—one that plays well with both natural light and evening mood lighting.Signature Design by Ashley Puckman Leather Accent ChairSpecsMaterials: Leather, metalDimensions: 29 x 32 x 34 inchesWith its black metal frame and rich, tobacco-brown leather cushions, the Puckman Chair strikes a balance between raw industrial edge and classic comfort. Even the arms have been considered, with inset padding wrapped in matching leather for a balanced look and added coziness. We’d use it to ground a minimalist loft space, or to add structure to a more layered, eclectic room.COLAMY Velvet Barrel Chair with Storage OttomanSpecsMaterials: Velvet, rubberwoodDimensions: 25.59 x 29.72 x 29.53 inchesTalk about thoughtful design. Not only can the matching ottoman be tucked under the chair itself, but it also offers the holy grail of small-space living: hidden storage. Better yet, its compact footprint doesn't sacrifice comfort, thanks to the barrel back and padded armrests. Use it in a bedroom corner with a moody floor lamp or float it near a bay window for an afternoon reading perch that doubles as a secret spot for throw blankets.

May 20, 20253 min readIs Your Tech Listening? Apple Settles Claim for Siri EavesdroppingApple is paying $95 million over claims that Siri secretly recorded private chats and fed targeted adsBy Deni Ellis Béchard edited by Dean Visser Artur Widak/NurPhoto via Getty ImagesSex, drug deals and doctor visits: according to allegations, Apple’s Siri eavesdropped on these and much more—on people’s iPhones, HomePods and Apple Watches—and used the content to target advertisements on users’ devices. Despite having denied selling our pillow talk to marketers, Apple just cut a $95-million check to settle a lawsuit in which plaintiffs reported eerie coincidences: discussing Air Jordan sneakers and immediately seeing ads for them; mentioning Olive Garden only to be served pasta commercials; talking privately with a doctor about a surgical procedure before seeing a promo for that very treatment. In early May the settlement administrator opened a claims website, allowing U.S. owners of every Siri-enabled gadget bought between September 2014 and December 2024 (essentially the lifespan of “Hey, Siri”) to request a payout of up to 20 bucks per affected device—enough for a drink and a wary glance at your phone.The lawsuit, Lopez v. Apple, dates back to July 2019, when the Guardian published the allegations of an anonymous whistleblower—an Apple subcontractor whose job was to listen to Siri recordings to determine if the voice-activated assistant was being correctly triggered. The whistleblower claimed that accidental Siri activations routinely captured sensitive audio. Despite Apple’s promises that Siri listens only when invited, background noises (often just the sound of a zipper, according to the whistleblower) could switch it on. The contractor said user location and contact information accompanied recordings.Apple had never explicitly told users that humans might review their Siri requests, and within a week of the Guardian report, the company halted the program. The first Lopez v. Apple complaint was filed in August 2019, and two weeks later Apple issued a public apology in which it promised to make human review opt-in-only and to stop retaining audio by default. That apology was framed to allay customer concerns—not as an admission of wrongdoing. Apple denied all allegations in the lawsuit, which is common in class-action settlements in U.S. courts.On supporting science journalismIf you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.If the situation sounds familiar, your memory works. In 2018 Amazon’s Alexa recorded a married couple’s conversation about hardwood floors and sent it to one of the husband’s employees. Amazon blamed an unlikely chain of misheard cues—basically, it came down to Alexa butt-dialing someone with living room chatter. The following year Bloomberg reported that Amazon had thousands of workers transcribing clips to fine-tune the assistant. Later Google faced similar allegations. The pattern was clear: robots needed to be trained to make sure that they were hearing voice commands correctly, and this training needed to come from humans who, in the process, inevitably heard things they shouldn’t via consumer gadgets. Even TVs were implicated: in 2015 Samsung warned owners not to discuss secrets near its smart sets because voice commands were sent to unnamed third parties, a disclaimer that could have been written by George Orwell.This isn’t tin-foil-hat territory. A 2019 survey found that 55 percent of Americans believe their phones listen to them to collect data for targeted ads, and a 2023 poll pushed the number north of 60 percent. In the U.K., a 2021 poll found two thirds of adults had noticed an ad that they felt was tied to a recent real-life chat. But psychologists say this perception of “conversation-related ad creep” often relies on a feedback loop driven by confirmation bias: we ignore the thousands of ads that form a constant backdrop to our lives but build a campfire legend from the one time we mentioned “fire,” and an app tried to sell us tiki torches. The result is a low-grade cultural fear, with people placing masking tape on device mics and TikTokers begging Siri to stop stalking them. Knowing how ravenous tech companies are for data, people can hardly be blamed for this attitude.As for Apple, which once put “What happens on your iPhone, stays on your iPhone” on a Las Vegas billboard, the settlement doesn’t force it to admit fault—but lands a dent in its titanium halo: If the Cupertino, Calif.–based company can’t keep a lid on hot-mic moments, who can?(Asked for comment by Scientific American, Apple shared information on the settlement and emphasized its commitment to privacy. And Amazon reiterated its commitment to privacy, writing, “Access to internal services is highly controlled, and is only granted to a limited number of employees who require these services to train and improve the service.” Samsung and Google had not responded to requests for comment by the time of publication.)

About ScholarshipOwlScholarshipOwl is the largest scholarship marketplace in the U.S., connecting over 11 million Gen Z students to private scholarships — and to the brands that power them. Our mission is to make education financing fun and accessible, while giving brands a new, consent-driven way to reach the next generation.We help students win more scholarships and help brands win the next generation of customers — all through a personalized, AI-powered platform that matches students to scholarships they can actually win.The RoleWe’re looking for a Senior Product Manager (B2C) who’s ready to take full ownership of our student experience and drive revenue growth through strategic, data-informed product development.You’ll work closely with a cross-functional team — including engineering, design, data science, QA, and marketing — to define, discover, and deliver initiatives that strengthen product-market fit, deepen engagement, and ultimately help students win more scholarships.This is a hands-on, full-stack product role with high autonomy. You’ll be expected to:Collaborate on strategyLead continuous product discoveryScope and ship impactful featuresOwn performance end-to-endYour First 6–12 MonthsScope and deliver key strategic initiatives to grow B2C revenueImprove user engagement, activation, and retention among Gen Z studentsLead continuous discovery to identify initiatives that deepen product-market fitLeverage AI to enhance scholarship matching, essay generation, and strategy toolsIdentify habit-forming opportunities and gamification strategies that drive repeat usageWhat You’ll DoTranslate broad strategic goals into clear product outcomesConduct product discovery using Teresa Torres’ Continuous Discovery frameworkUse Mixpanel (or similar) to analyze user behavior and inform decisionsCollaborate with engineering and design as part of a product trioWork cross-functionally with marketing, growth, support, and operations teamsBalance short-term delivery with long-term product thinkingWhat You’ll Bring5+ years of product management experience, ideally in B2C SaaS or EdTechExperience building AI-powered features and data-rich user experiencesDeep understanding of Gen Z behavior, motivations, and digital expectationsStrong grasp of product discovery and experimentation methodologiesFluency in Mixpanel, spreadsheets, and self-serve data analysisExperience designing habit loops or gamified experiences is a major plusClear communicator who collaborates with transparency and ownershipComfortable working in a lean, fast-paced, and resource-conscious environmentHow We WorkWe’re a remote-first, bootstrapped startup with a bias toward action. We value:Data-driven decisions with clear outcomesOpen, honest communication and mutual trustCustomer obsession and intuitive UXAutonomy with accountability — no micromanagingIterating fast and learning continuouslyWhy Join Us?You’ll help millions of students achieve their dreams without debt — and reshape how brands engage with the next generation. You’ll also:Own high-impact work from day oneShape strategy alongside the VP of ProductWork with a mission-driven, humble, and ambitious teamReady to make education more accessible while helping brands grow through purpose-driven campaigns?Apply now and help us build the future of scholarships.Apply NowLet's start your dream job Apply now Meet JobCopilot: Your Personal AI Job HunterAutomatically Apply to Remote Product JobsJust set your preferences and Job Copilot will do the rest-finding, filtering, and applying while you focus on what matters. Activate JobCopilot

Much like Microsoft’s Build keynote, Google’s kickoff of its annual developer event was a sort of AI-palooza. Unless you’re done with AI, in which case it was probably a snoozefest, and I suggest you skip over to the next post. I’m not sure it’s a good long-term plan, though. From flashy moonshots to real, actionable, useful features that customers will be able to take advantage of almost immediately, there was a little bit of everything. Including things that Apple users will also greatly benefit from. Long-time watchers of Google I/O know that the event marks Google’s annual ritual of cramming as many projects as possible within the boundaries of what an average human bladder can withstand in one sitting. (To be fair, it’s gotten way better over the last few years.) This time around, over the course of about two hours, 139 mentions of AI and 30 mentions of agents (or “agentic”), Google offered a glimpse of how things could have looked if Apple hadn’t missed multiple boats on this technology. Of course, many of Google’s offerings wouldn’t make sense if they came from Cupertino. As interesting as Google Beam might be, it probably wouldn’t work as a FaceTime Ultra device. But then again, some of these announcements, had they been made by Apple, would have been pretty fantastic: 1) Gemini in Chrome This was probably the lowest-hanging fruit of all of Google’s offerings, considering all the other AI products it already had available. But it’s possibly one that will be the most impactful over time. By embedding Gemini directly into the browser, Google is turning it into an easily-accessible smart assistant that understands both the page’s content and the user’s context (Calendar, etc.). Voice support is a welcome plus, especially for users who rely on accessibility features. I know it sounds cliché, but this will probably unlock an interesting new way of browsing the web. At least until the DOJ tells Google to spin off Chrome. 2) Project Astra update Last year we introduced Project Astra, our research prototype of a universal AI assistant. Since then we’ve improved memory, added computer control and enhanced voice output, and are working to bring these new capabilities to Gemini Live and other products. Honestly, the comparison between this video and the entirety of the decades-long Siri blunder speaks for itself. Last year, Siri seemed hopelessly behind. Given recent reports, it seems even further behind the competition, since the competition actually moved forward over the previous twelve months. It is very fair to mention that Project Astra is still considered an experiment. It will probably be a while before it becomes an official, widely accessible feature. But still, I mean… just… yeah. 3) Stitch As with Microsoft’s dev-centric announcements I commented on here, Google I/O also had its share of tools and quality-of-life improvements for developers. One of them was Stitch, a Gemini 2.5 Pro-powered platform that supposedly builds complex UIs, complete with frontend code (which will obviously need human tweaking), from image inputs and user prompts. This is significant because consistently creating beautiful yet practical user interfaces has never been a strong suit of LLMs. If Google actually delivers on this promise, this could yet again advance Apple’s long-stated goal of using Swift, Xcode, and its entire development platform: reducing the entry barriers so more people can express themselves through code. How about you? Did anything catch your eye at Google I/O? Let us know in the comments. Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed.  FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.You’re reading 9to5Mac — experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Don’t know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel