Technologies

Don’t Know What to Watch? Samsung TVs Add AI Assistant Copilot to Help

The friendly Copilot avatar is now available to help answer those burning entertainment questions.

What’s an uplifting rom-com to watch on a rainy day? What are the most popular new horror movies? Is there a Taylor Swift documentary yet? What’s the latest Marvel movie I can watch for free? Don’t strain yourself thinking. Just ask your TV.

Microsoft’s AI assistant Copilot is now available on certain Samsung TVs and monitors, helping viewers select which shows or movies to watch, where to catch up on past episodes and even how to learn more about the actors.

Copilot will be integrated into the 2025 Samsung lineup in the US and select other markets and eventually expanded to more models and regions.

«Copilot on Samsung TVs and monitors brings AI out of your pocket and into the heart of your home,» said David Washington, Microsoft’s partner general manager of AI, in a press release. «It’s there when you and your family want to discover something to watch together, get answers to your questions, plan your weekend, or simply hang out.»

Here’s how it works. Find Copilot in the Samsung Daily-Plus apps menu and click on it. Then press the mic button on your Samsung remote control and ask a question. You can make a very specific query about what to watch, or ask non-TV-related inquiries such as, «What’s the weather going to be this weekend? Who are the (insert your favorite sports team) playing tonight? When does Daylight Saving Time start?»

The Copilot avatar, an anthropomorphic beige blob, will tell you its answer and show you an image to go with it.

Is it useful?

CNET TV expert Ty Pendlebury is taking a wait-and-see approach about the feature.

«Both LG and Samsung announced support for Microsoft Copilot at CES, but whether people actually find having the AI on their TV useful is the big question,» Pendlebury said.

In his review of the LG C5 OLED, Pendlebury did not find Copilot to be as useful as it could be.

«Like any assistant, it’s a little finicky; for example, a search for Severance took me to a 2007 horror movie, while saying ‘Play Severance’ brought up the Apple TV show first,» Pendleton wrote.

For now, Copilot will be integrated onto these 2025 Samsung TVs and monitors in the US and other select markets, at no cost:

Micro RGB
Neo QLED
OLED
The Frame Pro
The Frame
M7, M8, and M9 Smart Monitors

Technologies

Verum Messenger: How to Protect Your Personal Data and Why Choosing a Secure Messenger Matters

A major data leak has been reported involving users of the Russian messenger MAX. Hackers claimed to have obtained the platform’s entire database, which includes 46,203,590 records. To prove their claims, they published part of the stolen data publicly.

According to preliminary information, the attackers gained access to users’ personal details, including contact numbers, chats, IP addresses, and other sensitive data. Cybersecurity experts warn that such incidents can lead to serious consequences — from account takeovers and extortion to large-scale phishing attacks.

Why these leaks happen

The main cause of such breaches is the storage of personal user data on servers without adequate protection or encryption. If attackers gain access to these servers, users’ information becomes fully exposed.

Additionally, many popular messaging apps require users to register with a phone number and provide extra personal information, increasing the amount of data that can be stolen.

How to reduce the risks

The only reliable way to protect your personal messages and data is to use messaging platforms that do not store personal information on their servers and rely on true end-to-end encryption.

One such solution is Verum Messenger — a next-generation app built on the principle of maximum privacy. The platform:

does not store users’ personal data;
uses unique encryption keys generated locally on the user’s device;
does not require a phone number or other personal information to register;
has no access to messages, calls, or files;
provides effective anti-spam and anti-scam protection;
offers private chats and group channels with flexible security settings.

Even in the event of a server breach, attackers would not be able to access message content — because encryption keys simply do not exist on the company’s side.

Freedom of communication without the risk of leaks

In addition to its strong security foundation, Verum Messenger offers a built-in ecosystem of tools — from encrypted email Verum Mail and an integrated VPN for anonymous connections to free crypto mining with Verum Coin and eSIM connectivity in over 150 countries worldwide.

As data breaches become increasingly common, choosing a secure messenger is no longer just about convenience — it’s about personal safety.

Technologies

Today’s NYT Mini Crossword Answers for Monday, Oct. 20

Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for Oct. 20.

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 was a tough one for a change! That 1-Across is going to slyly trick you as to what a mouse is. So if you need the answers, read on. 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: Sound from a mouse
Answer: CLICK

6A clue: Many-headed serpent killed by Hercules
Answer: HYDRA

7A clue: View from a cruise ship window
Answer: OCEAN

8A clue: «See ya later!»
Answer: PEACE

9A clue: Animal whose antlers can grow up to an inch per day
Answer: ELK

Mini down clues and answers

1D clue: Dice, e.g.
Answer: CHOP

2D clue: French for «high school»
Answer: LYCEE

3D clue: 10 out of 10
Answer: IDEAL

4D clue: Sound from a bat
Answer: CRACK

5D clue: «Citizen ___»
Answer: KANE

Technologies

Today’s NYT Connections: Sports Edition Hints and Answers for Oct. 20, #392

Here are hints and the answers for the NYT Connections: Sports Edition puzzle for Oct. 20, No. 392.

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

Today’s Connections: Sports Edition has a category for all the Windy City residents out there. If you’re struggling but still want to solve it, read on for hints and the answers.

Connections: Sports Edition is published by The Athletic, the subscription-based sports journalism site owned by the Times. It doesn’t show up in the NYT Games app but appears in The Athletic’s own app. Or you can play it for free online.

Read more: NYT Connections: Sports Edition Puzzle Comes Out of Beta

Hints for today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups

Here are four hints for the groupings in today’s Connections: Sports Edition puzzle, ranked from the easiest yellow group to the tough (and sometimes bizarre) purple group.

Yellow group hint: Deep-dish pizza, anyone?

Green group hint: Duke it out.

Blue group hint: College division.

Purple group hint: «Go to your ____!»