AI models may be a bit like humans, after all. A new study from the University of Texas at Austin, Texas A&M, and Purdue University shows that large language models fed a diet of popular but low-quality social media content experience a kind of “brain rot” that may be familiar to anyone who has spent…
Consumer Reports found the median annual premium to be just under $1,500, based on a national survey of 40,566 policyholders in 2024. The results showed that about a quarter of people in the U.S. with car insurance have annual premiums between $1,000 and $1,499. And more than 10 percent have annual premiums of $3,000 or…
In a nationally representative January 2023 CR survey (PDF) of 2,088 U.S. adults, 12 percent said that one of the three most important features for them when buying a mattress is whether it comes with a label stating that its materials are not harmful to humans. But labels about chemicals in mattresses can be confusing,…
With the marshals under attack, Kennedy deployed first the Mississippi National Guard and then thousands of federal troops as well. (That military operation, codenamed RAPID ROAD, was actually the first and only time during the Cold War that the military activated and used plans it had developed to quell civil disturbances in the wake of…
The Apple Watch Series 11 is a smartwatch worth upgrading to. It’s the best smartwatch for iPhone owners, and the base price is reasonable. It tends to swing back and forth in cost between its MSRP of $399 and a sale price of $299. Right now, it’s back to a match of that low price,…
To thank our members for your continued support of Consumer Reports, we’ve partnered with 12 brands whose products excel in our tests, to bring you exclusive offers that are not available to the general public. These member-exclusive deals range from 10 to 35 percent off. Below, CR Digital and All Access members can find the…
LG makes some of the best TVs you can buy. Its OLED TVs in particular are perennial favorites at WIRED, with C-series models like the C4 (9/10, WIRED Recommends) providing among the best performance for your dollars on the market. LG is about way more than TVs of course. The Korean brand offers multiple products…
A handheld steam cleaner can’t perform magic, but it should be able to loosen deeply embedded dirt, sanitize surfaces, and get in between grout and around metal grates. Many models come with accessories to remove wrinkles from clothing. I was thrilled to discover that a steam cleaner can even help clean vinyl, plastic, or metal…
I’m already growing hoarse in Golden Gate Park as Charli XCX takes the stage at a San Francisco music festival. The crowd starts jumping as a guitar hook hits, and I reluctantly comply, bouncing around on these aging knees as my chunky Puff necklace almost flies off the chain. During a lull in the set,…
Button it up. If a window was cracked or knocked out in the storm, be sure to cover and seal it tightly to prevent further water intrusion and damage. A tarp and packing tape should do the job. Read up on your insurance policy. “Contact your agent or insurance company and advise them that your vehicle has…