Google’s new Gemini AI model means your future robot butler will still work even without Wi‑Fi

• Google’s new Gemini Robotics On‑Device AI model lets robots run entirely offline
• The model can learn new tasks from just 50 to 100 examples
• It adapts to different robot types, like humanoids or industrial arms, and could be used in rural homes and hospitals

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For years, we've been promised robot butlers capable of folding your laundry, chopping your onions, and essaying a witty bon mot like the ones in our favorite period dramas. One thing those promises never mention is that accidentally unplugging your router might shut down that mechanical Jeeves. Google claims its newest Gemini AI model solves that problem, though.

Google DeepMind has unveiled its new Gemini Robotics On‑Device AI model as a way of keeping robots safe from downed power lines and working in rural areas. Although it's not as powerful as the standard cloud-based Gemini models, its independence means it could be a lot more reliable and useful.

The breakthrough is that the AI, a VLA (vision, language, action) model, can look around, understand what it’s seeing, interpret natural language instructions, and then act on them without needing to look up any words or tasks online. In testing, robots with the model installed completed tasks on unfamiliar objects and in new environments without Googling it.

That might not seem like a huge deal, but the world is full of places with limited internet or no access at all. Robots working in rural hospitals, disaster zones, and underground tunnels can’t afford to lag. Now, not only is the model fast, but Google claims it has an amazing ability to learn and adapt. The developers claim they can teach the AI new tricks with as few as 50 demonstrations, which is practically instantaneous compared to some of the programs currently used for robotic training.

Offline robot AI

That ability to learn and adapt is also evident in the robot's flexible physical design. The model was first designed to run Google’s own dual-arm ALOHA devices, but has since proven capable of working when installed in far more complex machines, like the Apollo humanoid robot from Apptronik.

The idea of machines that learn quickly and act independently obviously raises some red flags. But Google insists it's being cautious. The model comes with built-in safeguards, both in its physical design and in the tasks it will carry out.

You can't run out and buy a robot with this model installed yet, but a future involving a robot with this model or one of its descendants is easy to picture. Let’s say you buy a robot assistant in five years. You want it to do normal things: fold towels, prep meals, keep your toddler from launching Lego bricks down the stairs. But your other child wanted to see how that box with the blinking lights worked, and suddenly those lights stopped blinking. Luckily, the model installed in your robot can still see and understand what those Lego bricks are and that you are asking it to pick them up and put them back in their bucket.

That’s the real promise of Gemini Robotics On‑Device. It’s not just about bringing AI into the physical world. It’s about making it stick around when the lights flicker. Your future robot butler won’t be a cloud-tethered liability. The robots are coming, and they are truly wireless. Hopefully, that's still a good thing.

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I’ve been telling you AR glasses will be awesome, and this real-life ad blocker is yet another reason why I'm right

Ever wish your digital ad blocker could work offline too? This in-development AR glasses software could do just that, and it could be one of the first apps I download when I get a pair.

AR glasses – be they from Snap, Meta, Google and its Android XR partners, or one of the other brands pursuing this field – are increasingly looking like they’ll be the next big thing in tech, but one fear I’ve heard from some is they’ll give our tech a new avenue for blasting ads in front of our faces.

We’ll be bombarded by inescapable banners and pop-ups – a frustrating experience which sounds like prime material for a Futurama episode.

Thankfully, one AR software developer has created a tool that goes in the opposite direction by blocking adverts wherever they appear.

🚫🕶️ I've been building an XR app for a real-world ad blocker using Snap @Spectacles. It uses Gemini to detect and block ads in the environment.It’s still early and experimental, but it’s exciting to imagine a future where you control the physical content you see. pic.twitter.com/ySkFfF6rxSJune 19, 2025

Stijn Spanhove took to social media to show off an “early and experimental” build of the app, but even at this early stage, it already offers some impressive features.

As you’d expect, when switched on, the app can obscure large sign ads, covering them up with a red blocker and a brief description of what’s underneath, such as “Bol. billboard” – but it can also hide adverts in newspapers, and logos on soda cans and cereal boxes.

For now, however, the blocker isn’t perfect.

I’d argue the big red blocker is more distracting than an advertisement, and it can take a moment to appear, though there is some great spatial awareness as the blocker does a good job of floating in place as the AR glasses wearer moves their head around.

That said, with AR glasses still some time away from their consumer debut, there’s plenty of time for these kinks to be worked out.

As Spanhove highlighted, AR glasses will enable us to control the content we see in both the digital and virtual world, and while it’s reasonable to be concerned about how this feature could be abused, it’s always nice to be reminded that plenty of app makers will be responsible with the power AR unlocks.

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Tight layover? United Airlines wants to take the stress out of catching your next flight with AI and maps

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• United Airlines is rolling out a small, but key update that might just help you make your connection
• ConnectionSaver will now give you turn-by-turn directions to make your connecting flight at United's hubs
• It will also show relevant information in real-time in the app

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Let’s be real, having to catch a connecting flight isn't the easiest, especially if the time between your first flight and the second becomes crazy tight as a result of a delay. It can be a very high-stress moment, but now United Airlines is trying to make it a little less stressful.

We’ve already seen United adopt Live Activities on the iPhone to make it easy to view key information without opening the app, and the airline has mapped many airports for easy navigation, as well as rolled out some surprisingly helpful features.

So now in time for peak summer travel season, United is updating its ConnectionSaver technology for those connecting within one of its hubs – Newark, NJ, Chicago, IL, Denver, CO, Houston, TX, Los Angeles, CA, San Francisco, CA, Washington, DC, or Guam – to the effect that you’ll see flight status in real-time, tips, and a prominent notice if United’s ConnectionSaver is activated.

With this, using AI and United’s teams, they can hold the flight at the gate for a bit longer – and provide you with a countdown clock – without delaying the arrival to help you make the flight.

(Image credit: United Airlines)

Even better, though, United will also inform your in-flight crew if that’s the case and also provide turn-by-turn navigation directions. This way, you don’t have to scramble off the aircraft and run out of the gate, not knowing if you need to go left or right. In a shared video previewed by TechRadar, the app will provide turn-by-turn directions and even inform you if you need to take an escalator to a tunnel or hop on a tram to reach the gate.

Speaking to TechRadar, United’s Chief Customer Officer, David Kinzelman, told us that they’ve mapped all their facilities, and “we feel really good about the maps that we have and the times and the distances” to provide accurate real-time navigation.

I’m particularly excited about the real-time navigation paired with ConnectionSaver, as if you're lucky enough to have a stop through a hub with the first flight arriving late, these two features together could help you actually make the connection. That will need to be tested, of course, and you’ll need to be saved with ‘ConnectionSaver’. If the latter doesn’t come through, or if you get to the gate a bit too late, you can rebook via the United Airlines app and access customer service from there as well.

This update is rolling out now, and ConnectionSaver has already been live. If you’re keen to give it a try or at least access the turn-by-turn navigation, be sure to update the United Airlines app on your iPhone or Android device.

And if you’re a fan of the Live Activity on the iPhone, Kinzelman told us that they're exploring integrating this update into that experience and that “we will at some point link the two”.

The other big technology trend for United Airlines thus far in 2025 has been the start of its rollout of Starlink-powered Wi-Fi for gate-to-gate connectivity at no cost for members of its MileagePlus rewards program. It’s already on several United Express regional jets, and the airline says it will be on the entire fleet by the end of the year, with the process of installing it on its larger mainline jets to begin by the end of the year.

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Jurassic World Evolution 3 thankfully won't feature AI-generated character portraits following community backlash

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• Jurassic World Evolution 3 will no longer feature AI generated character portraits
• This was confirmed by the developers via the Steam Forum
• It follows community backlash regarding the inclusion

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The developer of the upcoming dinosaur park management simulator Jurassic World Evolution 3 has announced that the game will no longer feature some AI-generated visual assets following community outrage.

When the next entry in the Jurassic World Evolution series was first revealed at last year's Summer Game Fest, some eagle-eyed fans spotted an AI-generated content disclosure on its Steam page. "Scientists' avatars are created using generative AI," it read, referring to some in-game character portraits.

The disclosure, which is now required by Valve, is intended to increase transparency and allow consumers to decide whether they are comfortable purchasing a product with any generative AI involvement.

Many Jurassic World Evolution fans reacted negatively to the news, with a huge thread on the Steam forums discussing the move. "Nope, I will not support this," wrote one potential player. "It's a matter of principle," chimed in another.

A few defended the decision: "If using AI to quickly generate images for scientists [...] helps free up time for development on actually-important mechanics, then it is worthwhile to use. Being upset over something that is so inconsequential to the rest of the game is pretty ridiculous."

No matter which side of the AI content debate you fall on, polarising your fanbase like this ahead of a major launch is never a particularly good idea and risks overshadowing all other conversation regarding the game.

This is presumably one of the reasons why developer Frontier Developments has announced that the game will no longer feature the AI-generated assets.

"Thanks for your feedback on this topic," a representative wrote on the Steam forum "We have opted to remove the use of generative AI for scientist portraits within Jurassic World Evolution 3."

The AI-generated content disclosure has now been removed from the Steam page, too, which presumably means that the title will no longer feature any AI-generated content.

Jurassic World Evolution 3 is set to launch on October 21, 2025, for PC, Xbox Series X and Series S, and PlayStation 5.

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New judge’s ruling makes OpenAI keeping a record of all your ChatGPT chats one step closer to reality

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• A federal judge rejected a ChatGPT user's petition against her order that OpenAI preserve all ChatGPT chats
• The order followed a request by The New York Times as part of its lawsuit against OpenAI and Microsoft
• OpenAI plans to continue arguing against the ruling

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OpenAI will be holding onto all of your conversations with ChatGPT and possibly sharing them with a lot of lawyers, even the ones you thought you deleted. That's the upshot of an order from the federal judge overseeing a lawsuit brought against OpenAI by The New York Times over copyright infringement. Judge Ona Wang upheld her earlier order to preserve all ChatGPT conversations for evidence after rejecting a motion by ChatGPT user Aidan Hunt, one of several from ChatGPT users asking her to rescind the order over privacy and other concerns.

Judge Wang told OpenAI to “indefinitely” preserve ChatGPT’s outputs since the Times pointed out that would be a way to tell if the chatbot has illegally recreated articles without paying the original publishers. But finding those examples means hanging onto every intimate, awkward, or just private communication anyone's had with the chatbot. Though what users write isn't part of the order, it's not hard to imagine working out who was conversing with ChatGPT about what personal topic based on what the AI wrote. In fact, the more personal the discussion, the easier it would probably be to identify the user.

Hunt pointed out that he had no warning that this might happen until he saw a report about the order in an online forum. and is now concerned that his conversations with ChatGPT might be disseminated, including “highly sensitive personal and commercial information.” He asked the judge to vacate the order or modify it to leave out especially private content, like conversations conducted in private mode, or when there are medical or legal matters discussed.

According to Hunt, the judge was overstepping her bounds with the order because “this case involves important, novel constitutional questions about the privacy rights incident to artificial intelligence usage – a rapidly developing area of law – and the ability of a magistrate [judge] to institute a nationwide mass surveillance program by means of a discovery order in a civil case.”

Judge Wang rejected his request because they aren't related to the copyright issue at hand. She emphasized that it's about preservation, not disclosure, and that it's hardly unique or uncommon for the courts to tell a private company to hold onto certain records for litigation. That’s technically correct, but, understandably, an everyday person using ChatGPT might not feel that way.

She also seemed to particularly dislike the mass surveillance accusation, quoting that section of Hunt's petition and slamming it with the legal language equivalent of a diss track. Judge Wang added a "[sic]" to the quote from Hunt's filing and a footnote pointing out that the petition "does not explain how a court’s document retention order that directs the preservation, segregation, and retention of certain privately held data by a private company for the limited purposes of litigation is, or could be, a “nationwide mass surveillance program.” It is not. The judiciary is not a law enforcement agency."

That 'sic burn' aside, there's still a chance the order will be rescinded or modified after OpenAI goes to court this week to push back against it as part of the larger paperwork battle around the lawsuit.

Deleted but not gone

Hunt's other concern is that, regardless of how this case goes, OpenAI will now have the ability to retain chats that users believed were deleted and could use them in the future. There are concerns over whether OpenAI will lean into protecting user privacy over legal expedience. OpenAI has so far argued in favor of that privacy and has asked the court for oral arguments to challenge the retention order that will take place this week. The company has said it wants to push back hard on behalf of its users. But in the meantime, your chat logs are in limbo.

Many may have felt that writing into ChatGPT is like talking to a friend who can keep a secret. Perhaps more will now understand that it still acts like a computer program, and the equivalent of your browser history and Google search terms are still in there. At the very least, hopefully, there will be more transparency. Even if it's the courts demanding that AI companies retain sensitive data, users should be notified by the companies. We shouldn't discover it by chance on a web forum.

And if OpenAI really wants to protect its users, it could start offering more granular controls: clear toggles for anonymous mode, stronger deletion guarantees, and alerts when conversations are being preserved for legal reasons. Until then, it might be wise to treat ChatGPT a bit less like a therapist and a bit more like a coworker who might be wearing a wire.

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Forget Starlink – this Chinese satellite internet tech is capable of 1Gbps speeds that are five times faster

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• A team of Chinese researchers has achieved a 1Gbps data transmission from a satellite
• The satellite operates 22,807 miles above Earth, while Starlink satellites are at around 341 miles
• This kind of speed could be revolutionary for internet connections in remote areas on Earth, but also in space

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It's no secret that getting a stable, reasonably fast internet connection in non-urban areas is still a challenge (and even those of us living in cities sometimes struggle). Elon Musk's satellite internet service, Starlink, goes a long way toward making internet more accessible all around the globe – but it just got majorly overshadowed by a small team of Chinese scientists.

This new breakthrough in satellite internet technology (via Interesting Engineering) was achieved by Liu Chao from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Professor Wu Jian of Peking University of Posts and Telecommunications. The scientists developed a new method of combating the biggest hurdle faced by satellite laser connections: atmospheric turbulence.

Combining two already established technologies and using them in synergy resulted in shockingly fast data transmission. But this isn't just about speed (although that's arguably the best part for us, internet users). It's also about the distance to the satellite and the laughably low wattage of the laser used by the Chinese researchers.

Super-fast satellite speeds with a surprisingly low error rate

A key benefit of this method lies in the relatively low error rate during data transmission, increasing the chance of achieving usable signals by nearly 20% (previously 72%, now 91.1%). As we all know, speeds are just one part of the equation when it comes to internet connections, and anyone who's ever had to deal with an unreliable ISP knows that stable is often better than faster.

Still, the Chinese researchers were reportedly able to achieve both through a mix of Adaptive Optics (AO) and Mode Diversity Reception (MDR). The former sharpens distorted light, and the latter captures scattered signals. Only when combined did these two separate methods achieve 1Gbps in data transmission, though, and the scientists praise this method for successfully avoiding drops in communication quality.

(Image credit: T-Mobile)

They carried out the test at the Lijiang observatory in China, using a 5.9-foot telescope that contains hundreds of tiny mirrors – that's the adaptive optics system in play. These mirrors reshape incoming laser light to account for atmospheric turbulence. Speaking of lasers: the team used a two-watt laser for this experiment, which can be compared to a nightlight. Of course, this refers to laser power and not the satellite’s total energy use.

Once processed and extracted, the light splits into eight base-mode channels, and finally, a special algorithm decides which of these channels is the most promising, in real-time. Choosing the top three signals out of eight gave the researchers a major boost in signal strength, all the while dramatically outpacing Starlink’s downlink speeds – especially impressive given the much greater orbital distance.

This could be good news for internet users worldwide (and beyond)

(Image credit: Unsplash / Evgeny Opanasenko)

Comparing this new breakthrough to Starlink reveals a few key differences. First, data transmission speeds reaching up to 1Gbps are not something that Starlink can currently achieve; in our Starlink review, we found that the average for downloads sat at 71Mbps, and Starlink itself promises to deliver between 25 to 100 Mbps on the Standard plan. Second, signal strength and reduced errors in data transmission, despite the massive distance to the satellite, are both promising.

Cutting back on errors and snags in the connection is crucial for users who want to stream videos or send larger files. If this technology is ever made mainstream, we might be able to use the internet even in remote areas without having to compromise on what we can or cannot do. Goodbye, waiting for five minutes for that text to come through – we really wouldn't miss you.

But the implications here are huge, even if you think bigger than just having a reliable connection everywhere. Boosting signal speed, distance, and strength through this method of laser communication could spell great news for satellite navigation. It could even impact the ability to connect with space missions, such as with the ISS, more seamlessly and without delays.

Right now, this is just a proof of concept – an interesting achievement described in the Acta Optica Sinica journal. Let's hope that this picks up and gives Starlink a serious run for its money.

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Google Earth is now an even better time-travel machine thanks to this Street View upgrade – and I might get hooked

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• Google Earth is celebrating is 20th birthday this month
• It's just added a new historical Street View feature for time-traveling
• Pro users will also get AI-powered upgrades to help with urban planning

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Google Earth has just turned 20 years old and the digital globe has picked up a feature that could prove to be an addictive time-sink – historical Street View.

Yes, we've been able to time-travel around our cities and previous homes for years now on Google Maps, but Google Earth feels like a natural home for the feature, given its more immersive 3D views and satellite imagery. And from today, Google Earth now offers Street View with that historical menu bar.

That means you can visit famous buildings and landmarks (like the Vessel building in New York City below) and effectively watch their construction unfold. To do that, find a location in Google Earth, drag the pegman icon (bottom right) onto the street, click 'see more dates', and use the film strip menu to choose the year.

Around major cities and landmarks, Street View images are updated so regularly now that their snapshots are often only months apart, but in most areas they're renewed every one to two years. That opens up some major nostalgia potential, particularly if the shots happen to have frozen someone you know in time.

Bringing history to life

(Image credit: Google)

To celebrate Earth's birthday, Google has also made timelapses of its favorite historical aerial views, which stitch together satellite photos over several decades. This feature became available in the web and mobile versions of Earth last year – to find it, go the the layers icon and turn on the 'historical imagery' toggle.

One fascinating example is the aerial view of the Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral (above), which Google made exclusively for us. It shows the gothic icon from 1943 through to its unfortunate fire in 2019, followed by its recent reconstruction.

But other examples that Google has picked out include a view of Berlin, from its post-war devastation to the Berlin Wall and its modern incarnation, plus the stunning growth of Las Vegas and San Francisco over the decades.

There's a high chance that Google Earth will, once again, send me down a hours-long rabbit hole with these Street View and historical imagery tricks. But it's also giving Pro users some new AI-driven features in "the coming weeks", with features like 'tree canopy coverage' and heatmaps showing land surface temperatures underlining Earth's potential for urban planning.

That perhaps hints at the Gemini-powered treats to come for us non-professional users in the future. But for now, I have more than enough Earth-related treasure hunts to keep me occupied.

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Sony has leaked the Monster Hunter Wilds title update 2 release date via the PS Store, and the patch is coming sooner than you might think

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• The release date for Monster Hunter Wilds Title Update 2 has been leaked by Sony via the PlayStation Store
• It's revealed that the second major patch will arrive on June 30
• The update is also expected to include new events, two "fan-favorite" monsters, and more

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Sony has accidentally leaked the release date for Monster Hunter Wilds Title Update 2.

As reported by IGN, Sony mistakenly updated the game's PlayStation Store page ahead of schedule, revealing that the upcoming patch will be released on June 30.

Although it's now been rolled back, the website also revealed the contents of the update, which will include new events, Leviathan Arch-Tempered Uth Duna, layered weapons, a new armor set, as well as two "fan-favorite" monsters.

One of these monsters is likely Lagiacrus, which was revealed earlier this year, while the other is seemingly going to be Seregios, according to dataminers.

The new event rewards make me feel like an old man... from r/MonsterHunter

Capcom has confirmed that its next Spotlight showcase will air this week on June 26 at 3pm PDT / 11pm BST.

The broadcast will offer new details on Monster Hunter Wilds and Title Update 2, so we can expect the official release date to be announced then.

Last week, game director Yuya Tokuda also shared some additional details about the upcoming patch in Capcom's Director's Letter.

Tokuda revealed that the second major update will bring several quality of life updates, including improved navigation in the Grand Hub, "improved Seikret usability", photo mode adjustments, and the aforementioned layered weapons.

To stay up to date with all things Monster Hunter Wilds, you can check out our roadmap coverage, which includes release dates, confirmed downloadable content (DLC), what's to come, and more.

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NYT Connections hints and answers for Tuesday, June 24 (game #744)

Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Connections puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Monday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Monday, June 23 (game #743).

Good morning! Let's play Connections, the NYT's clever word game that challenges you to group answers in various categories. It can be tough, so read on if you need Connections hints.

What should you do once you've finished? Why, play some more word games of course. I've also got daily Strands hints and answers and Quordle hints and answers articles if you need help for those too, while Marc's Wordle today page covers the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Connections today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Connections today (game #744) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• SOLID
• POD
• CAST
• STUDIO
• PLANE
• STERN
• HULL
• FIRM
• TITLE
• LINE
• TOUGH
• SHELL
• HUSK
• DIRECTOR
• POINT
• RIGID

NYT Connections today (game #744) - hint #1 - group hints

What are some clues for today's NYT Connections groups?

• YELLOW: Severe, behaviourally
• GREEN: Outer layer
• BLUE: Screen listings
• PURPLE: Geometric stages of being

Need more clues?

We're firmly in spoiler territory now, but read on if you want to know what the four theme answers are for today's NYT Connections puzzles…

NYT Connections today (game #744) - hint #2 - group answers

What are the answers for today's NYT Connections groups?

• YELLOW: STRICT
• GREEN: BOTANICAL COVERINGS
• BLUE: SEEN IN OPENING CREDITS
• PURPLE: OBJECTS IN 0-, 1-, 2- AND 3-DIMENSIONAL SPACE

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Connections today (game #744) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #744, are…

• YELLOW: STRICT FIRM, RIGID, STERN, TOUGH
• GREEN: BOTANICAL COVERINGS HULL, HUSK, POD, SHELL
• BLUE: SEEN IN OPENING CREDITS CAST, DIRECTOR, STUDIO, TITLE
• PURPLE: OBJECTS IN 0-, 1-, 2- AND 3-DIMENSIONAL SPACE LINE, PLANE, POINT, SOLID

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• My rating: Easy
• My score: 2 mistakes

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Although I made a couple of mistakes here, this wasn't a particularly difficult Connections puzzle compared to some.

If you didn't know which color each group was in, you wouldn't necessarily be able to predict which would be yellow and which purple – none were really difficult.

So, how did I make two errors? Simply because the answers for yellow, STRICT, overlapped with a few words from other groups. The eventual solutions were FIRM, RIGID, STERN and TOUGH – but SOLID seemed like it could go with the first couple of those, while STERN and HULL could also have been part of a boat-based grouping.

Anyway, I got there in the end.

How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.

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Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Monday, June 23, game #743)

• YELLOW: KINDS OF JEANS BOYFRIEND, FLARE, MOM, SKINNY
• GREEN: FICTION CATEGORIES HISTORICAL, LITERARY, SPECULATIVE, YOUNG ADULT
• BLUE: WORDS IN HEMINGWAY TITLES BELL, FAREWELL, OLD MAN, SUN
• PURPLE: ___ GLASS GLASSWARE COCKTAIL, COLLINS, OLD FASHIONED, SHOT

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What is NYT Connections?

NYT Connections is one of several increasingly popular word games made by the New York Times. It challenges you to find groups of four items that share something in common, and each group has a different difficulty level: green is easy, yellow a little harder, blue often quite tough and purple usually very difficult.

On the plus side, you don't technically need to solve the final one, as you'll be able to answer that one by a process of elimination. What's more, you can make up to four mistakes, which gives you a little bit of breathing room.

It's a little more involved than something like Wordle, however, and there are plenty of opportunities for the game to trip you up with tricks. For instance, watch out for homophones and other word games that could disguise the answers.

It's playable for free via the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

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NYT Strands hints and answers for Tuesday, June 24 (game #478)

Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Strands puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Monday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Monday, June 23 (game #477).

Strands is the NYT's latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it's great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.

Want more word-based fun? Then check out my NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, and Marc's Wordle today page for the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Strands today (game #478) - hint #1 - today's theme

What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Healthful helpers

NYT Strands today (game #478) - hint #2 - clue words

Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.

• TIDE
• FAXES
• SEED
• PLUM
• CLAIM
• STOP

NYT Strands today (game #478) - hint #3 - spangram letters

How many letters are in today's spangram?

• Spangram has 11 letters

NYT Strands today (game #478) - hint #4 - spangram position

What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First side: top, 4th column

Last side: bottom, 3rd column

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Strands today (game #478) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #478, are…

• FLAXSEED
• PROBIOTIC
• CALCIUM
• ZINC
• MAGNESIUM
• SPANGRAM: SUPPLEMENTS

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• My rating: Easy
• My score: Perfect

---

This was a bit of a mixed bag, with the selection of SUPPLEMENTS combining vitamins, live microorganisms and seeds into a group that could be labelled 'Things that you get in foods you buy to make you more healthy'.

I don't generally take any supplements, mostly because I seem to be incapable of actually looking after myself health-wise. I know that CALCIUM is important for bones, and PROBIOTICS can help the gut, but I don't entirely know what MAGNESIUM, ZINC and FLAXSEED do.

Still, I didn't need to know that in order to solve today's Strands, which was rather simple once I'd found FLAXSEED in the top left of the grid.

How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.

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Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Monday, June 23, game #477)

• CHEAP
• TRICK
• TALKING
• HEADS
• SMASHING
• PUMPKINS
• SPANGRAM: ROCK GROUPS

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What is NYT Strands?

Strands is the NYT's not-so-new-any-more word game, following Wordle and Connections. It's now a fully fledged member of the NYT's games stable that has been running for a year and which can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

I've got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you're struggling to beat it each day.

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Latest Battlefield 6 leak gives us our first look at the campaign – and I'm already hooked

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• Footage purportedly showing the campaign of the next Battlefield game has leaked
• It shows a firefight on a massive dam and some dramatic destruction
• The video was allegedly found in the Battlefield Labs client

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A reliable dataminer has leaked footage that purportedly shows part of a mission from the upcoming Battlefield 6 campaign.

In an earnings call bac in February this year, we learned that the next Battlefield title will be released before March 31, 2026. Judging by this timeframe, a reveal is likely set for this summer, and testing is currently underway as part of the ongoing Battlefield Labs initiative.

Described by publisher Electronic Arts (EA) as the “most ambitious community development collaboration ever,” the program allows select players to try parts of the next game and influence its development through feedback.

As you might expect, this means that there has been a steady stream of leaks from those either playing these early builds or combing through them for data.

The latest snippet of info comes from X / Twitter user 'temporyal', who has a strong track record as a leaker, and concerns the game's campaign. It takes the form of a short video file, purportedly found in the Battlefield Labs client.

Here's a short clip from the Battlefield 6 singleplayer campaign in the latest BF Labs update.This work-in-progress footage shows the explosive finale of a mission to destroy a dam in Tajikistan. pic.twitter.com/n9ikBpUrmQJune 19, 2025

In it, we see what appears to be a brief segment from the campaign in which the player boards a military truck in the shadow of a huge dam. Fire is exchanged briefly with some oncoming enemies before the scene reaches a climax as the dam dramatically explodes while the player flees in the back of the truck.

It's the kind of showstopping destruction that you would want from a Battlefield and reminds me of some of the classic set-piece moments from older titles like Battlefield 4. Considering the fact that the latest entry in the series, Battlefield 2042, didn't even come with a single-player campaign component, this already seems like a massive improvement, and I can't wait to see more.

The footage is obviously from a very early build of the game, though, as textures, lighting, and character animation are clearly unfinished. Still, it's easy to imagine how the scene might look in the finished product.

Of course, you should bear in mind that there is no guarantee that anything shown in this leak will appear in the final game - or that it's even from the campaign in the first place. Games can change a lot throughout development, so we'll have to wait for some official details from EA for more concrete information.

The leaker does go on to share some interesting titbits, though, including the fact that the campaign may comprise of a prologue and eight separate missions. These will allegedly take place in a range of global locations, including Egypt, Tajikistan, the US, and Gibraltar.

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Forget about SEO - Adobe already has an LLM Optimizer to help businesses rank on ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude

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• Adobe wants to help decide how your brand shows up inside ChatGPT and other AI bots
• LLM Optimizer promises SEO-like results in an internet where search engines no longer rule
• Your FAQ page could now influence what AI chatbots say about your brand to customers

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Popular AI tools such as ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude are increasingly replacing traditional search engines in how people discover content and make purchasing decisions.

Adobe is attempting to stay ahead of the curve by launching LLM Optimizer, which it claims can help businesses improve visibility across generative AI interfaces by monitoring how brand content is used and providing actionable recommendations.

The tool even claims to assign a monetary value to potential traffic gains, allowing users to prioritize optimizations.

Shift from search engines to AI interfaces

(Image credit: Adobe)

With a reported 3,500% increase in generative AI-driven traffic to U.S. retail sites and a 3,200% spike to travel sites between July 2024 and May 2025, Adobe argues that conversational interfaces are no longer a trend but a transformation in consumer behavior.

“Generative AI interfaces are becoming go-to tools for how customers discover, engage and make purchase decisions, across every stage of their journey,” said Loni Stark, vice president of strategy and product at Adobe Experience Cloud.

The core of Adobe LLM Optimizer lies in its monitoring and benchmarking capabilities, as it claims to give businesses a “real-time pulse on how their brand is showing up across browsers and chat services.”

The tool can help teams identify the most relevant queries for their sector and understand how their offerings are presented, as well as enabling comparison with competitors for high-value keywords and uses this data to refine content strategies.

A recommendation engine detects gaps in brand visibility across websites, FAQs, and even external platforms like Wikipedia.

It suggests both technical fixes and content improvements based on attributes that LLMs prioritize, such as accuracy, authority, and informativeness.

These changes can be implemented “with a single click,” including code or content updates, which suggests an effort to reduce dependency on lengthy development cycles.

It is clear the best SEO tool tactics may need to adapt, especially as AI chat interfaces do not operate with the same crawling and ranking logic as standard web browsers.

For users who already rely on the best browser for private browsing or privacy tools to avoid data profiling, the idea that businesses are now optimizing to appear inside chatbots could raise questions about how content is sourced and attributed.

Adobe insists that the tool supports “enterprise-ready frameworks” and has integration pathways for agencies and third-party systems, though the wider implications for transparency and digital content ethics remain to be seen.

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NYT Strands hints and answers for Monday, June 23 (game #477)

Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Strands puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Sunday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Sunday, June 22 (game #476).

Strands is the NYT's latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it's great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.

Want more word-based fun? Then check out my NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, and Marc's Wordle today page for the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Strands today (game #477) - hint #1 - today's theme

What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Breaking up the band

NYT Strands today (game #477) - hint #2 - clue words

Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.

• PAGE
• TICK
• SPLAT
• PRAM
• SACK
• SCAM

NYT Strands today (game #477) - hint #3 - spangram letters

How many letters are in today's spangram?

• Spangram has 10 letters

NYT Strands today (game #477) - hint #4 - spangram position

What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First side: left, 5th row

Last side: right, 5th row

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Strands today (game #477) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #477, are…

• CHEAP
• TRICK
• TALKING
• HEADS
• SMASHING
• PUMPKINS
• SPANGRAM: ROCK GROUPS

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• My rating: Easy
• My score: Perfect

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Today's Strands took me to my happy place, given that I was a music journalist for years in the 2000s and spend a lot of time at concerts or on Spotify in my free time.

All three of the 'broken up' bands here have made it on to playlists of mine; I never got to see TALKING HEADS, but have seen David Byrne live, playing their songs, and can recommend that anyone who gets the chance does the same thing.

SMASHING PUMPKINS also play a part in one of the greatest of all Simpsons episodes, Homerpalooza, in which the band's frontman introduces himself with the words 'Billy Corgan, Smashing Pumpkins' and Homer replies 'Homer Simpson, smiling politely.' It works better in context, honest.

How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.

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Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Sunday, June 22, game #476)

• SMELLY
• PUNGENT
• REEKING
• FOUL
• RANK
• MALODOROUS
• SPANGRAM: THAT STINKS

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What is NYT Strands?

Strands is the NYT's not-so-new-any-more word game, following Wordle and Connections. It's now a fully fledged member of the NYT's games stable that has been running for a year and which can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

I've got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you're struggling to beat it each day.

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