All tech. No filler.
Join 900,000+ people who stay ahead of the tech curve with The Current, delivered daily. No fluff, no BS.
Your driver’s license has two jobs: ID and moneymaker. But sadly, not for you.
Breaking news and tips
You might be yelling at a toaster
Quick question: When’s the last time you really knew if you were chatting with a real human on a customer-service call? Turns out, in more places than you think, it’s not a person at all. It’s AI.
That might be fine when you’re asking a dumb question like, “What time do you close?” But what about when you’re dealing with a bank, insurance company or police report? Yeah, it matters.
👨🏽⚖️ Laws incoming
Utah and California rolled out new rules that say companies have to tell you if you’re talking to a chatbot instead of a real person. And in California, cops have to fess up if they used AI to write up part of a report.
That little disclosure is about trust, transparency and knowing who’s really calling the shots. If a bot’s behind the scenes making decisions that affect your money, your medical care or your legal rights, don’t you want to know? I do.
🕵️ Here’s what to watch for
Next time you hop into a customer service chat, pay attention. If there’s no mention that you’re talking to AI, ask: “Are you a real person?” You’re not being rude, you’re being smart.
AI doesn’t always get it right. It might deny a claim, mess up a bill, make crap up or give you incorrect info. And if it feels like you’re stuck in a loop? You probably are. Push to talk to a human.
Oh, and don’t assume this is only happening at big companies. AI tools are cheap, and everyone from your gym to your doctor’s office could be using them.
Look, I love tech. You know that. But I also think you have a right to know when you’re talking to a machine that’s pretending to be a human.
So tell me what you think: Should we have laws that force every company to disclose when AI is in use? Do you have a funny AI customer service story? Let me know when you rate the newsletter at the end. I read every single note there. Include your email address if you’d like to talk about it on the show.
Fall flavors, zero fuss
Whether it’s Thanksgiving dinner or a quick lunch break, I’ve got you.
🍏 Slice & dice: Fullstar Original Pro Chopper (40% off)
Chop onions without tears. Razor-sharp blades make prepping stuffing, soups, casseroles, salads and roasted veggies almost effortless. Viral on TikTok for a reason.
🥣 Powerful space-saver: From frothing milk to whipping cake batter, this immersion blender (45% off) replaces five tools in one sleek design.
Macros made simple: Get a smart food scale (23% off) that tracks what’s in over a million foods. Open the app, scan the barcode and weigh.
🍳 Your nonstick ninjas: Hotec’s spatula set (30% off) can handle temps of up to 600°F. Perfect for flipping eggs, burgers, fish, you name it.
Bye-bye, fast-food lines: An electric lunch box (21% off) heats up your leftovers in 30 minutes or less. Comes with a stainless steel container.
😋 Click, cook, repeat: Find 30+ more gadgets on my Amazon shop. You’ll feel like a five-star chef at home.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
Stop one-touch theft
Tap-to-pay is slick, fast and super convenient until it isn’t. Scammers have figured out how to use that same technology to steal your money without you even knowing.
It’s called “ghost tapping,” and it’s spreading so fast, the BBB issued a major alert about it.
😂 Send Reels via DM: Scrolling memes on Instagram? Don’t tag your friends in the comments. Save those spicy replies for DMs instead. When you’re on a post, tap the arrow icon, pick who you want to share it with and hit Send. This way, you’ll know when your friend’s “seen” it and decided to ghost you. 💀
🔐 Seriously? Hey, quick check: Is your go‑to password “123456,” “password” or something equally predictable? If so, you’re not alone (in a bad way). It turns out that even in 2025, a study of over 2 billion leaked passwords found “123456” still appears about 7.6 million times. It’s the digital equivalent of putting a sticky note on your forehead that says “rob me.” You need a password manager. I use NordPass, just $1.24/month.
ChatGPT warning every parent needs to hear
Thinking of letting your kids, especially young teens, use ChatGPT? Hold on. There’s a major issue you need to know.
The 24/7 AI camera network spying on you
Flock cameras, installed by HOAs, apartments, and local businesses, are live feeds police can access anytime. Privacy red flag? Think so. Plus, Neil DeGrasse Tyson deepfakes, Kim K’s AI legal drama, and tap-to-pay scams. I also give advice to Jane from Atlanta who asks: how can I help businesses tap into AI?
The #1 giveaway you’re watching a deepfake
When a social media video makes you go “Wow,” pause. That shock factor is a big clue it could be an AI fake.
Robo-trainer takes the field: Apparently, NFL players now have digital clones. They call it “Digital Athlete,” and it watches every sprint, twist and fall to warn when someone’s about to pull a hamstring. It even flashes red if a player’s overworked (paywall link). It’s basically Fitbit meets Minority Report, except the stakes are million-dollar knees instead of your steps goal.
🚗 Don’t get stranded
Think of this as your roadside rescue kit, minus the AAA hold music.
⚡ Battery boost: Portable jump starter (40% off)
No more begging for jumper cables. This beast fits in your glove box and doubles as a phone charger. Handles blizzards and the desert heat like a pro.
❄️ Ice, ice (gone) baby: This military-grade scraper brush (20% off) wipes layers of snow in one swoop. Swivel head + expandable handle = no bending or climbing.
Flat tire? Don’t panic. Snag a cordless inflator (35% off) that hits 150 PSI and fills your spare tire in about a minute. Works on cars, bikes and motorcycles.
🔒 Carjackers hate this: Anti-theft steering wheel lock (20% off). Four locking hooks and twin bars make this a cheap insurance policy for your peace of mind.
Safety you can swing: When seconds count, this window breaker and seat-belt cutter combo (21% off, two-pack) can save your life. Toss one in every ride.
🚦 Stay rolling:Click here to see the rest of my favorite car gadgets before the next cold snap hits and while they’re still on sale.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
A chatbot slashed their $195K hospital bill to $33K
Here’s a story that stopped me in my tracks. A grieving family was hit with a $195,000 hospital bill for just four hours of their loved one’s care in the ICU. No surgery. No five-day extended stay.
Now imagine going through the worst moment of your life and getting a bill like that. Instead of writing a check or getting steamrolled by the system, they did something smart. They asked AI for help.
📊 AI that actually works for your business: NetSuite by Oracle brings your financials, inventory, HR and CRM together in one smart dashboard. Make faster decisions, cut costs and stay ahead. Grab their free guide, “The CFO’s Guide to AI and Machine Learning,” at NetSuite.com/Kim.
🥳 The Promised LAN: Last month, I sat on an 11-hour flight from London with no Wi-Fi. Argh. Those days are coming to an end. Starlink hit 8 million subscribers and inked a shiny new deal with British Airways’ parent company to install satellite Wi-Fi on 500 planes from BA, Iberia and Aer Lingus. I believe Wi can Fi.
🖼️ Give your screenshots some style: Using the Snipping Tool on Windows 11? You can make every capture pop with a border. Open the app, click the three-dot menu > Settings and turn on Add border to each screenshot. Tap the arrow next to it to pick your border color and thickness.
Facebook made $16 billion off scam ads
Why can’t Meta stop the fraud? Easy. It probably doesn’t want to. Hear how it made billions off scam ads last year. Plus, the Musk-Altman feud and a big Google Maps update. Then I talk to caller Byron, who says scammers drugged him and used facial recognition to unlock his phone. Scary!
VPN myths that need to die
Half the stuff you’ve heard about VPNs is total nonsense. No, they don’t make you invisible online. AI host Rylie breaks down fact from fiction. Plus, how Chess.com became a billion-dollar empire, a teen’s genius and the latest AI fails that’ll make you facepalm.
Stream like a king: Amazon cut the Fire TV Cube price down to $99.99 ($40 off), and it’s worth it. It’s like if a Fire Stick and Alexa had a baby with 4K Ultra HD, Wi-Fi 6E and Dolby Atmos. Basically, it turns your old TV into the rich kid at school.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
You look familiar: Ever wanted to ring a doorbell and get your face added to a database? You’re in luck. Amazon’s new Ring cameras can recognize “familiar faces,” but here’s the rub: They scan people’s faces without asking. The EFF says it might break biometric privacy laws in states like Illinois and Texas. Amazon says that’s your problem. Also, the scanning happens in the cloud. Sleep tight.