Technology
The Verge’s 2024 Mother’s Day gift guide
Uno Show ‘Em No Mercy
If we’re being honest, you may no longer be your mom’s favorite after you’ve both indulged in a round of Uno Show ’Em No Mercy. The updated version of Mattel’s classic card game sends game-turning betrayals into overdrive with more skips, more draw cards, and new stacking rules that let you pile on a truly absurd number of cards (a punishing Draw 10 included).
Price: $9.49+
Lego Icons Tiny Plants
Why not skip the perennials this year and opt for something that will actually survive beyond Mother’s Day? Lego’s latest botanical set lets you build nine plastic plants — including a mix of arid, tropical, and carnivorous species — all of which are treated to their own desk-friendly terracotta brick planter. Just don’t expect to receive a cutting anytime soon.
Price: $49.49+
Ember Mug 2
If your mom is a coffee lover, how about gifting her something a little snazzier than another “World’s Best Mom” mug? Ember’s latest smart mug is pricey, yes, but the heated receptacle can ensure her morning mood elixir never falls below her preferred temperature. The mug itself can last up to 80 minutes on a single charge or the entire day using the included charging coaster.
Price: $103.99+
Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition
Amazon’s step-up Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition adds wireless charging and an automatic backlight to one of our favorite ebook readers. It’s just as comfortable to hold and easy on the eyes as the standard model, with crisp 300ppi resolution, 32GB of storage, and Bluetooth support so she can listen to her favorite beach read via Audible, rather than, huh, read it.
Price: $189.99
Thermomix TM6
The Thermomix TM6 may be the last kitchen appliance your mom will ever need. It offers a multitude of functions — including the ability to chop, blend, mix, grind, sauté, and steam — and you can even use it to weigh food. The fact that it features a built-in touchscreen so she can browse more than 80,000 tasty recipes is just the proverbial cherry on top.
Price: $1,499
Apple iPad (10th-gen)
If you’re looking to make a big splash this year, you can’t go wrong with an iPad. Apple’s latest entry-level model is still very capable thanks to its reliable battery life and A14 Bionic chipset, which can run most modern apps and games with ease. Plus, with several fun colors to choose from, you’re likely to land on something that fits her style.
Price: $349+
Apple Watch Series 9
The Apple Watch Series 9 is a great gift for someone who already lives inside Apple’s walled garden. It’s a fitness companion, a personal navigator, a notification display, a calendar, and a clock all wrapped into one. The newest model also supports Apple’s new double-tap feature and Precision Finding, allowing your mom to easily locate her phone should she ever lose it.
Price: $299+
Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Light Bulb (two-pack)
A pack of smart bulbs is a terrific gift for smart home newbies. Kasa’s inexpensive RGB bulbs are reliable, easy to use, and decently bright at 800 lumens. They don’t require any hubs or controllers, either; just screw them into your favorite lamp and set the brightness, color, and scene using the Kasa app or a virtual assistant like Amazon Alexa.
Price: $12.99+
Sophie Faux Fur Throw Blanket
It might be getting warmer outside, but that doesn’t mean you can’t snuggle up on a lazy day. Thankfully, Anthropologie’s polyester throw blanket is one of the plushest around — at least according to my cozy Verge colleagues. It’s also available in seven attractive colors, including mint green, cocoa, and a vibrant hot pink shade for those still living their Barbie best.
Price: $98
Tile Mate (2022)
Like AirTags, the Tile Mate can help you keep tabs on your personal belongings. Tile’s Bluetooth trackers are a little more basic than Apple’s, but they work with both Android and iOS devices. That means your mom will be able to see the last known location of whatever she’s looking for and sound an alarm within 250 feet, regardless of whether she’s rocking a new Galaxy S24 Plus or your hand-me-down iPhone.
Price: $19.99
Nixplay 10.1-inch HD Touch Screen Wi-Fi Digital Frame
Nixplay’s photo frames are straightforward, sharp, and bright enough to display family photos in any lighting. The app lets you wirelessly and securely share photos directly to the frame or via Google Photos, and it can regularly cycle through a gallery of images. The 10.1-inch model is available with a variety of muted bezels, too, including an attractive wood grain finish.
Price: $154.99+
Eater Wine Club subscription
Whether your mom considers herself an amateur sommelier or just likes a good Georgian orange, our sister site Eater offers a wine club subscription that automatically delivers a batch of hand-selected wines every month. Each box contains either two or four bottles, depending on the subscription, and is often centered on a particular season, celebration, or notable slice of history.
Price: $70+
Amazon Echo Dot with Clock (fifth-gen)
Amazon’s orb-shaped Echo Dot is a good little Alexa bot, one that can serve double duty on your mom’s nightstand. She can use the clock-equipped smart speaker to hit the lights and begin playing soothing sleep tracks or simply to check the news and take hands-free control of any other smart home gadgets she might have.
Price: $39.99
Stanley Go Everyday Wine Tumbler
If you’re already planning on gifting a bottle of wine this year, pairing it with a quality tumbler isn’t a bad idea. Stanley’s vacuum insulated stainless steel mug can keep drinks hot for up to 1.5 hours or cold for up to 20 hours, depending on how much ice you toss in. It’s simple, effective, and holds up to 10 ounces of the “good stuff,” whatever that might be.
Price: $20
Sony WH-1000XM5
Sony’s latest pair of premium headphones aren’t just a great gift for audiophiles — they’re ideal for anyone who wants a better way to tune out while listening to music or traveling. While expensive, we still consider them the best headphones for most people thanks to their well-balanced sound, superb noise cancellation, and several ambient audio features.
Price: $348+
Roborock Q5 Pro Robot Vacuum and Mop
Picking up after children can be a full-time job, which makes a robot vacuum a cheeky way to thank your mom for the countless days she did it on your behalf. Roborock’s Q5 Pro is one of our favorite models, particularly for pet owners, as it can handle carpet and hardwood floors with relative ease. You can even attach mopping pads for light upkeep and tackling fresh spills.
Price: $299.99
Kombucha Brewing Kit
The Kombucha Shop’s entry-level kit is a terrific starting point for those interested in brewing their own fermented teas. It includes organic kombucha cultures, teas, and cane sugar, all of which are shelf-stable. You’ll also find instructions and equipment in the box, including a gallon jar, pH test strips, and a temperature monitor.
Price: $49.99
Fitbit Inspire 3
The lightweight Fitbit Inspire 3 is a great gift for someone looking to dip their toes into wearables. The throwback fitness band is an affordable way to add heart rate monitoring, smartphone notifications, and sleep / workout tracking to your wrist. It’s basic, sure, but how many other wearables let you wear them as a clip and last up to 10 days on a single charge?
Price: $89+
JLab Go Air Pop
If you’re looking for a cheap pair of earbuds so your mom can listen to her glut of true crime podcasts on the go, JBL’s Go Air Pop cost less than a Mother’s Day mimosa. The reliable earbuds pack decent specs for the price, too, including IPX4 water resistance, three distinct EQ modes, and 32 hours of runtime with the included charging case.
Price: $19.99+
Click and Grow Smart Garden 3
The Click and Grow Smart Garden 3 makes it almost too easy to grow fresh herbs and veggies at home. The small self-watering base fits on a windowsill and holds up to three biodegradable “pods,” each chock-full of seeds and other vital nutrients. Three basil pods are included, but if you want more, you can pick up more than 70 other varieties for about $4 a pop.
Price: $79.95+
Sonos Roam
With the Sonos Roam, versatility is the name of the game. The rugged smart speaker functions like any other Bluetooth speaker when you’re away; however, when at home, it easily slots into a larger Sonos system. It’s light on bass compared to traditional Sonos products, but it still offers great sound, Qi wireless charging, and — unlike newer Sonos speakers — support for both Alexa and Google Assistant.
Price: $179+
DJI Osmo Pocket 3
The DJI Osmo Pocket 3 could be the ideal vlogging camera for moms hoping to capture their kids growing up, newfound empty nesters looking for a hobby, or truly anyone looking to shoot 4K/120fps video. It’s small, (relatively) affordable, and lightweight like a smartphone but offers better video quality with unrivaled stability thanks to a built-in mechanical gimbal.
Price: $519+
Yankee Candle (22-ounce)
They might be the most cliché gift on our list, but aromatic gifts can also be some of the best. Yankee’s 22-ounce jars come in a smorgasbord of classic and less than classic scents, from lavender and birch to vanilla and… stargazing? Either way, each candle offers 110 hours of burn time, which is exceptional considering the reasonable cost.
Price: $16.88+
Eve Smart Plug & Power Meter
If your mom’s smart home experience stopped at bulbs, try introducing her to the Eve Smart Plug & Power Meter. She can use it to remotely turn on or schedule a routine for anything plugged into it, which makes it great for automating an old coffee maker or an oil diffuser. Eve’s latest smart plugs also support the new Matter standard, meaning they’ll work across smart home platforms.
Price: $37.99+
Houdini Electric Corkscrew
Uncorking a nice bottle of wine doesn’t have to be a painful experience. Houdini’s electric corkscrew can remove it with ease at the touch of a button. It’s made of a mix of stainless steel and black polycarbonate plastic, and it can uncork quite a few bottles (at least a dozen or more) before the battery needs changing.
Price: $19.99
Burt’s Bees Tips and Toes Kit
Aging might be a fact of life, but a little self-care can go a long way in preserving healthy skin. Thankfully, Burt’s Bees Tips and Toes Kit opts for coconut, honey, grapeseed, and other natural ingredients over parabens, which have shown to impact the body’s hormone levels. The six-piece kit consists of several distinct pieces, too, including creams, butters, lip balms, and salves.
Price: $11.99
Nutribullet Pro 900
Your mom can skip her weekly trip to Jamba Juice and make her own concoction at home with the Nutribullet Pro 900. Its stainless steel blades are strong enough to pulverize produce and thicker fruit, and it comes with two sleek 32-ounce jars with matching lids and handles. The latter makes it easy to bring smoothies on the move, regardless of where she goes.
Price: $79.99+
ESR Magnetic Car Phone Mount (HaloLock)
A phone mount is an essential piece of kit for road warriors who use their phones as a heads-up display, whether for navigation or to cycle through the latest Beyoncé tracks. If you use an iPhone 12 or later, you can clip ESR’s adjustable MagSafe mount to your air vent and attach your phone — that is, without fiddling with pesky latches or buttons.
Price: $17.99+
The Appreciation Sugarwish
Sugarwish is a great gifting service if you need something delivered. You can drum up a personalized card and choose from one of several boxes, which allow your mom to select her own mix of sweets, candles, savory snacks, and even wine. The Appreciation box offers a wide variety of choices and starts at just $25, letting her indulge her sweet tooth even if you can’t be around.
Price: $25+
Baseus Airpow Power Bank 20W 10000mAh
Baseus’ Airpow Power Bank is an affordable pick if you want a 10,000mAh battery pack with both USB-A and USB-C Power Delivery capabilities. It lets you juice smartphones, tablets, and other devices at moderate speeds, yet it’s slim enough you can tuck it pretty much anywhere before heading out the door.
Price: $17.99+
Furbo 360° Dog Camera
Dog moms might squeal when they see the Furbo. The interactive 1080p camera features a remote treat dispenser and two-way audio, allowing her to keep an eye on her pup and sling treats while she’s away. The newest model also sits on a swiveling 360-degree base and provides real-time barking alerts, though, the latter requires a monthly Dog Nanny subscription.
Price: $168+
Technology
Defense secretary Pete Hegseth designates Anthropic a supply chain risk
This week, Anthropic delivered a master class in arrogance and betrayal as well as a textbook case of how not to do business with the United States Government or the Pentagon.
Our position has never wavered and will never waver: the Department of War must have full, unrestricted access to Anthropic’s models for every LAWFUL purpose in defense of the Republic.
Instead, @AnthropicAI and its CEO @DarioAmodei, have chosen duplicity. Cloaked in the sanctimonious rhetoric of “effective altruism,” they have attempted to strong-arm the United States military into submission – a cowardly act of corporate virtue-signaling that places Silicon Valley ideology above American lives.
The Terms of Service of Anthropic’s defective altruism will never outweigh the safety, the readiness, or the lives of American troops on the battlefield.
Their true objective is unmistakable: to seize veto power over the operational decisions of the United States military. That is unacceptable.
As President Trump stated on Truth Social, the Commander-in-Chief and the American people alone will determine the destiny of our armed forces, not unelected tech executives.
Anthropic’s stance is fundamentally incompatible with American principles. Their relationship with the United States Armed Forces and the Federal Government has therefore been permanently altered.
In conjunction with the President’s directive for the Federal Government to cease all use of Anthropic’s technology, I am directing the Department of War to designate Anthropic a Supply-Chain Risk to National Security. Effective immediately, no contractor, supplier, or partner that does business with the United States military may conduct any commercial activity with Anthropic. Anthropic will continue to provide the Department of War its services for a period of no more than six months to allow for a seamless transition to a better and more patriotic service.
America’s warfighters will never be held hostage by the ideological whims of Big Tech. This decision is final.
Technology
What Trump’s ‘ratepayer protection pledge’ means for you
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When you open a chatbot, stream a show or back up photos to the cloud, you are tapping into a vast network of data centers. These facilities power artificial intelligence, search engines and online services we use every day. Now there is a growing debate over who should pay for the electricity those data centers consume.
During President Trump’s State of the Union address this week, he introduced a new initiative called the “ratepayer protection pledge” to shift AI-driven electricity costs away from consumers. The core idea is simple.
Tech companies that run energy-intensive AI data centers should cover the cost of the extra electricity they require rather than passing those costs on to everyday customers through higher utility rates.
It sounds simple. The hard part is what happens next.
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At the State of the Union address Feb. 24, 2026, President Trump unveiled the “ratepayer protection pledge” aimed at shielding consumers from rising electricity costs tied to AI data centers. (Nathan Posner/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Why AI is driving a surge in electricity demand
AI systems require enormous computing power. That computing power requires enormous electricity. Today’s data centers can consume as much power as a small city. As AI tools expand across business, healthcare, finance and consumer apps, energy demand has risen sharply in certain regions.
Utilities have warned that the current grid in many parts of the country was not built for this level of concentrated demand. Upgrading substations, transmission lines and generation capacity costs money. Traditionally, those costs can influence rates paid by homes and small businesses. That is where the pledge comes in.
What the ratepayer protection pledge is designed to do
Under the ratepayer protection pledge, large technology companies would:
- Cover the full cost of additional electricity tied to their data centers
- Build their own on-site power generation to reduce strain on the public grid
Supporters say this approach separates residential energy costs from large-scale AI expansion. In other words, your household bill should not rise simply because a new AI data center opens nearby. So far, Anthropic is the clearest public backer. CyberGuy reached out to Anthropic for a comment on its role in the pledge. A company spokesperson referred us to a tweet from Anthropic Head of External Affairs Sarah Heck.
“American families shouldn’t pick up the tab for AI,” Heck wrote in a post on X. “In support of the White House ratepayer protection pledge, Anthropic has committed to covering 100% of electricity price increases that consumers face from our data centers.”
That makes Anthropic one of the first major AI companies to publicly state it will absorb consumer electricity price increases tied to its data center operations. Other major firms may be close behind. The White House reportedly plans to host Microsoft, Meta and Anthropic in early March to discuss formalizing a broader deal, though attendance and final terms have not been confirmed publicly.
Microsoft also expressed support for the initiative.
“The ratepayer protection pledge is an important step,” Brad Smith, Microsoft vice chair and president, said in a statement to CyberGuy. “We appreciate the administration’s work to ensure that data centers don’t contribute to higher electricity prices for consumers.”
Industry groups also point to companies such as Google and utilities including Duke Energy and Georgia Power as making consumer-focused commitments tied to data center growth. However, enforcement mechanisms and long-term regulatory details remain unclear.
CHINA VS SPACEX IN RACE FOR SPACE AI DATA CENTERS
The White House plans talks with Microsoft, Meta and Anthropic about shifting AI energy costs away from consumers. (Eli Hiller/For The Washington Post via Getty Images)
How this could change the economics of AI
AI infrastructure is already one of the most expensive technology buildouts in history. Companies are investing billions in chips, servers and real estate. If firms must also finance dedicated power plants or pay premium rates for grid upgrades, the cost of running AI systems increases further. That could lead to:
- Slower expansion in some markets
- Greater investment in renewable energy and storage
- More partnerships between tech firms and utilities
Energy strategy may become just as important as computing strategy. For consumers, this shift signals that electricity is now a central part of the AI conversation. AI is no longer only about software. It is also about infrastructure.
The bigger consumer tech picture
AI is becoming embedded in smartphones, search engines, office software and home devices. As adoption grows, so does the hidden infrastructure supporting it. Energy is now part of the conversation around everyday technology. Every AI-generated image, voice command or cloud backup depends on a power-hungry network of servers.
By asking companies to account more directly for their electricity use, policymakers are acknowledging a new reality. The digital world runs on very physical resources. For you, that shift could mean more transparency. It also raises new questions about sustainability, local impact and long-term costs.
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE HELPS FUEL NEW ENERGY SOURCES
As AI expansion strains the grid, a new proposal would require tech firms to fund their own power needs. (Sameer Al-Doumy/AFP via Getty Images)
What this means for you
If you are a homeowner or renter, the practical question is simple. Will this protect my electric bill? In theory, separating data center energy costs from residential rates could reduce the risk of price spikes tied to AI growth. If companies fund their own generation or grid upgrades, utilities may have less reason to spread those costs among all customers.
That said, utility pricing is complex. It depends on state regulators, long-term planning and local energy markets.
Here is what you can watch for in your area:
- New data center construction announcements
- Utility filings that mention large commercial load growth
- Public service commission decisions on rate adjustments
Even if you rarely use AI tools, your community could feel the effects of a nearby data center. The pledge is intended to keep those large-scale power demands from showing up in your monthly bill.
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Kurt’s key takeaways
The ratepayer protection pledge highlights an important turning point. AI is no longer only about innovation and speed. It is also about energy and accountability. If tech companies truly absorb the cost of their expanding power needs, households may avoid some of the financial strain tied to rapid AI growth. If not, utility bills could become an unexpected front line in the AI era.
As AI tools become part of daily life, how much extra power are you willing to support to keep them running? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.
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Technology
Here’s your first look at Kratos in Amazon’s God of War show
Amazon has slowly been teasing out casting details for its live-action adaptation of God of War, and now we have our first look at the show. It’s a single image but a notable one showing protagonist Kratos and his son Atreus. The characters are played by Ryan Hurst and Callum Vinson, respectively, and they look relatively close to their video game counterparts.
There aren’t a lot of other details about the show just yet, but this is Amazon’s official description:
The God of War series storyline follows father and son Kratos and Atreus as they embark on a journey to spread the ashes of their wife and mother, Faye. Through their adventures, Kratos tries to teach his son to be a better god, while Atreus tries to teach his father how to be a better human.
That sounds a lot like the recent soft reboot of the franchise, which started with 2018’s God of War and continued through Ragnarök in 2022. For the Amazon series, Ronald D. Moore, best-known for his work on For All Mankind and Battlestar Galactica, will serve as showrunner. The rest of the cast includes: Mandy Patinkin (Odin), Ed Skrein (Baldur), Max Parker (Heimdall), Ólafur Darri Ólafsson (Thor), Teresa Palmer (Sif), Alastair Duncan (Mimir), Jeff Gulka (Sindri), and Danny Woodburn (Brok).
While production is underway on the God of War series, there’s no word on when it might start streaming.
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