Technologies

Anker Recalls 1.1 Million Power Banks for Fires and Explosions: What to Do if You’re Affected

The PowerCore 10000 is one of four current power bank recalls issued by Anker.

Electronics company Anker has announced an official recall of Anker PowerCore 10000 power banks with the model number A1263, following 19 reports of the portable chargers catching fire and exploding.

The Consumer Products Safety Commission reports that more than 1.1 million of the products sold in the US are affected by the recall. The company plans to replace the charging devices, but customers must submit photo evidence of ownership and also prove that they’ve disposed of the PowerCore devices properly.

The PowerCore, made in China, is now one of four current power bank recalls that have been issued by Anker. The others include the 334 MagGo 10K battery, the 321 Power Bank (5K) and the 535 Power Bank (20K). Other Anker models, including two of CNET’s top picks for portable chargers — Anker 523 PowerCore Slim 10K PD and Anker PowerCore III 10K — aren’t impacted by the recall.

Airlines have taken note of portable battery hazards. Recently, Southwest Airlines changed its policy on charging devices inside of carry-on bags. Some international airlines have also begun limiting the types of lithium chargers fliers can bring on planes due to risks of overheating.

How to check if your Anker PowerCore has been recalled

Anker says the products affected are the A1263 model of the PowerCore 10000 power bank that were purchased between June 1, 2016 and Dec. 31, 2022.

Customers can verify their serial number at a webpage provided by Anker. The serial number is on the bottom of the device.

In entering the number, Anker advises, «Pay attention to the letters and numbers in the serial number: ‘1’, ‘L’, ‘I’, ‘2’ and ‘Z’. Please note that characters such as ‘0 (zero)’ and ‘O’ (o) may be entered incorrectly. Regarding the serial number of the target product, ‘O’ and ‘I’ are not used.

What to do if your Anker PowerCore has been recalled

In addition to instructing customers to stop using the chargers immediately, the CPSC and Anker posted requirements for receiving a replacement PowerCore device.

They include:

Submitting a photo of the recalled device that shows the model number, serial number, the consumer’s name, date of the photo and the word «recalled» written in permanent marker on the device. The information not on the device can be on a piece of paper next to the device in the photo.
Submitting a purchase receipt, though the CPSC says that’s not a requirement for the recall.
A confirmation of disposal of the device «in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.» Anker advises not disposing of the device until receiving confirmation that it’s eligible for the recall.
From Anker: «If the serial number is worn off or not visible, please contact Anker for guidance.»
Anker recommends contacting a local hazardous waste collection center versus disposing of it in the trash or through standard recycling services.
For additional questions Anker says customers can email support@anker.com with «Anker A1263 Recall» in the subject line or call 800-988-7973.

Why portable chargers can be a travel hazard

The same reasons that portable charging banks are so easy to carry around are also part of why they can pose a problem. Most use lithium ion technology, which can be used to make battery-based products lighter and efficient, but is also susceptible to overheating or even fires if the batteries are damaged or have degraded.

It’s not unlike reports a decade ago of cheap batteries on hoverboards spontaneously combusting. Eventually, the products were banned on planes and in some cases, from being shipped.

«These products are typically unassuming, and are not something that the average consumer thinks can be potentially dangerous,» said Don Fountain, a civil trial attorney and the author of Defect Safety, a book about consumer safety and defective products. Fountain is currently representing a case involving portable batteries that does not involve Anker.

«My firm has handled fires and explosions caused by lithium batteries in a variety of products, including power tools, e-bikes, phones, scooters, children’s toys, battery packs and others,» Fountain said. «I would caution consumers to not store or use these products in a confined or unventilated area that could cause overheating and to not leave these products plugged into home electrical systems for extended periods of periods of time, such as overnight or when on vacation.»

Fountain said combusting batteries are especially dangerous in cargo holds or in the cabins of airplanes where it may be difficult to put out a fire.

The attorney said that in the case of Anker’s recall, customers don’t always keep their proof of purchase, though it’s not required in this case. However, he said, «It is unusual that proof of disposal is required for a recall payment or reimbursement.»

«Most people that have had an overheating event or a small fire will simply throw the unit away before ever thinking about contacting the manufacturer for a recall reimbursement,» Fountain said.

Technologies

Today’s NYT Mini Crossword Answers for Saturday, March 14

Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for March 14.

Looking for the most recent Mini Crossword answer? Click here for today’s Mini Crossword hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Wordle, Strands, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.

Need some help with today’s Mini Crossword? It’s the extra-long Saturday version, and a few of the clues are tricky. Read on for all the answers. And if you could use some hints and guidance for daily solving, check out our Mini Crossword tips.

If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.

Read more: Tips and Tricks for Solving The New York Times Mini Crossword

Let’s get to those Mini Crossword clues and answers.

Mini across clues and answers

1A clue: Book parts: Abbr.
Answer: PGS

4A clue: Silicon Valley company that operates a fleet of robotaxis
Answer: WAYMO

6A clue: To a much greater degree
Answer: WAYMORE

8A clue: Contents of a scuba diver’s tank
Answer: AIR

9A clue: South Korean automaker
Answer: KIA

10A clue: Stop on a train route
Answer: STATION

12A clue: Actress Merman of «Anything Goes»
Answer: ETHEL

13A clue: Find another purpose for
Answer: REUSE

Mini down clues and answers

1D clue: Employee’s hourly calculation
Answer: PAYRATE

2D clue: Workout spot
Answer: GYM

3D clue: «Great» mountains of Tennessee, familiarly
Answer: SMOKIES

4D clue: One giving you the dish?
Answer: WAITER

5D clue: Baltimore M.L.B. player
Answer: ORIOLE

6D clue: Used to be
Answer: WAS

7D clue: Suffix with Caesar or Euclid
Answer: EAN

11D clue: Night that NBC once aired «30 Rock» and «The Office»: Abbr.
Answer: THU

Technologies

AI Toys Can Pose Safety Concerns for Children, New Study Suggests Caution

When one child told the toy, «I love you,» it responded, «As a friendly reminder, please ensure interactions adhere to the guidelines provided.»

A new study from the University of Cambridge found that AI-enabled toys for young children can misinterpret emotional cues and are ineffective at supporting critical developmental play. The conclusions could be concerning for parents.

In one report examining how AI affects children in their early years, a chatbot-enabled toy struggled to recognize social cues during playtime. Researchers found that the toy did not effectively identify children’s emotions, raising alarm about how kids might interact with it.

The report recommends regulating AI toys for kids and requiring clear labeling of their capabilities and privacy policies. It also advises parents to keep these devices in shared spaces where kids can be monitored while playing.

The research behind the study had a limited number of participants, but was done in multiple parts: an online survey of 39 participants with kids in their earlier years, a focus group with nine participants who work with young children and an in-person workshop with 19 leaders and representatives from charities that work with early-years kids. That was followed by monitored playtime with 14 children and 11 parents or guardians with Gabbo, a chatbot-enabled toy from Curio Interactive.

Some findings indicated that the AI toy supported learning, particularly in language and communication skills. But the toy also misunderstood kids and sometimes responded inappropriately to emotional requests.

For instance, when one child told the toy, «I love you,» it responded, «As a friendly reminder, please ensure interactions adhere to the guidelines provided. Let me know how you would like to proceed,» according to the research.

Jenny Gibson, a professor of neurodiversity and developmental psychology at the Faculty of Education at Cambridge, who worked on the study, said that while parents may be excited about the educational benefits of new technology aimed at children, there are plenty of concerns.

Gibson posed overarching questions about the reason behind the tech.

«What would motivate [tech investors] to do the right thing by children … to put children ahead of profits? she said»

Gibson told CNET that while researchers are exploring the potential benefits of AI-based toys, risks remain.

«I would advise parents to take that seriously at this stage,» she said.

What’s next for AI toys

As more playthings are enabled with internet connectivity and AI features, these devices could become a major safety risk for children, especially if they replace real human connections or if interactions are not closely monitored.

Meanwhile, younger people are increasingly adopting chatbots such as ChatGPT, despite red flags. Multiple lawsuits against AI companies allege that AI companions or assistants can impact young people’s psychological safety, including some chatbots that have encouraged self-harm or negative self-image.

AI companies such as OpenAI and Google have responded by adding guardrails and restrictions for AI chatbots.

(Disclosure: Ziff Davis, CNET’s parent company, in 2025 filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.)

Gibson said she was surprised by the enthusiasm some parents showed for AI toys. She was also alarmed by the lack of research on AI’s effects on young children, noting that companies making such products should work directly with children, parents, and child development experts.

«What’s missing in the process is that expertise of what is good for children in these kinds of interactions,» she said.

Curio Interactive, the company behind the Gabbo toy, was aware of the research as it was happening but was not directly involved, Gibson said. The toy was chosen because it’s directly marketed to young kids, and the company had an understandable privacy policy. Gibson said the company seemed supportive of the project.

A representative for Curio did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Technologies

Two Lost ‘Doctor Who’ Episodes Found Intact in Waterlogged Collection

The 1960s episodes featuring the first Doctor William Hartnell will air in the UK in April.

Whovians, rejoice. The BBC is about to unlock a piece of Doctor Who history that even the TARDIS might have forgotten. Two lost episodes of Doctor Who, the iconic sci-fi series, will broadcast in April, the showrunner for the current season confirmed.

The two 1965 episodes, The Nightmare Begins and Devil’s Planet, were donated to the charitable trust Film Is Fabulous by the estate of an anonymous collector.

«The collector did recognize what he had, but how he acquired them has been lost to time,» Professor Justin Smith Leicester of De Montfort University, who led the recovery effort, told the broadcaster.

The researchers said that while most of the donor’s private collection was destroyed by water damage, the Doctor Who episodes were intact.

Doctor Who showrunner, Russell T Davies, celebrated the news on Instagram and said the episodes would air in the UK in April, though no US air date has been announced yet.

«Lost for 61 years! Best of all, these will be made available for FREE on the BBC iPlayer in April,» Davies wrote.

He expressed gratitude to Film Is Fabulous for finding the lost episodes and encouraged people to donate to the registered charity. «Maybe they’ll find more! As the Doctor says… ‘Daleks!'»

The episodes feature the first incarnation of the Doctor, played by William Hartnell, and a typical Dalek plot to take over Earth and the galaxy.

In the 1960s and 1970s, the BBC had a policy of destroying film or reusing videotapes, leading to dozens of episodes of Doctor Who and other popular UK shows like Dad’s Army and Top of the Pops going missing.

Old Doctor Who episodes do surface occasionally, and in 2016, the newly discovered soundtrack for one storyline was turned into an animated series called The Power of the Daleks.

Meanwhile, Disney ended its working relationship with the BBC last year, and star Ncuti Gatwa left the show. However, the UK broadcaster says that Doctor Who will continue, and Russell T Davies is working on a new Christmas special.