When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. I doubled my laptop's battery life in a single click. This week in Smart Mode, we look at Microsoft's ways to save power within Windows and keep your laptop up and running for longer. It's not often that I come across a productivity tip so good that it amazes even me. And that's what happened when I started testing Windows' hidden "energy recommendations" to extend laptop battery life.

When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. RAM and SSD prices are soaring. Here's how to buy a PC without overpaying If you're buying a PC, here's where to spend, where to save, and what to skip. Do you need a new computer? Unfortunately, the market is currently experiencing high prices and uncertainty due to the massive wave of investment in AI.

McDonald's has been using artificial intelligence to dynamically price menu items in the US and some global markets, according to a report by Reuters. This involves finding the "optimal price" to match what a particular store's patrons would be willing to pay. This fluctuates according to location, and even stores in the same city can have different cost amounts for the same exact items, according to information reviewed by Reuters. This is basically surge pricing, like with ride-share platforms, but for hockey puck burgers that have been sitting under a hot lamp. Reuters got a look at the interface that franchisees use to access this technology and it's pretty creepy. Messages show stuff like "your restaurant is showing MEDIUM SENSITIVITY to price" based on "customer willingness to pay in your area."

Ever since AI agents came along, people have been trying to turn them into personal assistants that do things like book travel. Now, a new AI Assistant called Lola backed by Booking.com It will offer "personalized recommendations, live availability and pricing, direct booking, preferred rates and benefits," the company said in its launch release. It can recommend and reserve a hotel, restaurant, events, activities or entire trips. The company's launch partners include ResX, CLEAR, BLADE, Aero, SeatGeek, GetYourGuide, Nuitee and Ten Group, plus Booking's own brands Booking.com,

Mashable's Best: E-readers, robovacs, laptops, earbuds, smart home and more AI at School Mashable Selects Look Up Say More Safety Net Versus Creator Playbook In My Bag Trending Now Back to School Good Connection: Uplifting stories for a digital age All Series Blackpink's Lisa gives Meta's AI smart glasses a major high-fashion makeover -- where to buy K-pop icon and global fashion powerhouse Lisa partners with Meta on a high-fashion smart glasses drop that blends runway style with hands-free AI. Soumya is a deals writer who covers consumer tech, shopping deals, and the products people use every day. With experience writing about everything from AI tools and software to smartphones and home gadgets, she enjoys breaking down product research into clear, useful recommendations. When she's not tracking deals, she's usually comparing products, digging through reviews, and figuring out what actually makes a purchase worth it. All products featured here are independently selected by our editors and writers.

With AI models from major companies all recently breaking out of their constraints, California's governor proposed creating a "kill switch" as part of a comprehensive solution. In an executive order signed by Gavin Newsom on Friday, California will convene national experts to create new recommendations for AI safety during a two-month time frame. "We're going to speed up our work on substantial and responsible AI oversight before it's too late," Newsom said in a press release. "We're going to do this thoughtfully but with urgent velocity; the stakes are too high to wait or delay action." The panel of experts will be tasked with submitting recommendations to Newsom's office, which would then update state laws surrounding AI safety.

The Oversight Board is once again pushing Meta to address the flood of AI-generated content on its platform. The group published its two latest decisions dealing with the social media company's handling of AI content. The cases show that Meta's rules are "consistently and fundamentally inadequate to address the rapid rise of AI-generated content on its platforms," the board said in a statement. Both cases were related to posts with AI-generated videos. One depicted a Scottish politician saying "refugees are welcome here, even if they rape our women, because white people do that too."

To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Three people have died and two others taken to hospital after a news helicopter crashed in suburban Los Angeles while reporting on a deadly bus crash, authorities have said. During emotional live coverage on NBC4, news anchor Colleen Williams confirmed it was the local news station's helicopter that crashed. We knew we'd lost contact with our people out there, and we've just received confirmation, Williams said. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will lead the investigation into the incident.

To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. A runaway horse was chased by police on motorbikes in Santa Fe, New Mexico, when it escaped before a parade on 13 September. The unharmed horse was eventually cornered by police, before being lassoed. Police officers followed and cornered the horse on motorbikes, before it was wrangled by a lasso-carrying cowboy. The horse was given a drink of water before being walked back to the start of the Desfile de la Gente parade, Santa Fe Police Department said in a post on Facebook.

Warning of space arms race as US confirms weapons in Earth's orbit To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Warning of space arms race as US confirms weapons in Earth's orbit Close The US has confirmed it deployed a space weapon in Earth's orbit, the first time it has acknowledged such offensive capabilities. Russia and China responded by warning of an arms race in space. However, according to the BBC's Defence correspondent Jonathan Beale, this is already happening. Details of how the weapon operates have not been disclosed by US officials.