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9 AI terms you should know (so you don’t sound like a clanker)
I love tech, but I’m not afraid to call it out when it gets weird.
If you’ve scrolled through X or Reddit lately, you’ve probably seen words that made you go, “Wait, what?” Here’s your cheat sheet to the wild world of AI slang. No decoder ring required.
AI washing is when companies slap “AI-powered!” on stuff that’s barely smart enough to microwave popcorn. Think of a toothbrush that claims to use AI to “learn your brushing style.” Really? It vibrates. That’s it.
Then there’s clanker, basically what happens when you call customer service and an AI clanker answers. It’s from Star Wars, where clankers were the battle droids.
Groksucker is what people call die-hard fans of Elon Musk’s Grok chatbot. Like, “That guy rewrote his résumé using Grok and now won’t shut up about it, total groksucker.” It’s part insult, part eye roll.
Slop is AI-generated junk floating around online. You’ve seen it: rambling blog posts, spammy eBooks or weirdly generic images on Etsy. “This is pure slop. A real person didn’t write this.”
And if you use too much slop? Congrats, you’re a slopper. “She asked ChatGPT to write her wedding vows. Total slopper move.” (Ouch.)
If someone calls you a bot-licker, well … let’s just say that’s not a compliment. It’s someone who blindly praises anything AI does. Like, “Sure, AI is cool, but let’s not turn into bot-lickers about it.”
Next up, prompstitute, a snarky term for someone who sells or resells AI prompts for money. Think Etsy shops selling “200 ChatGPT prompts to manifest your dream life.”
Now meet the prompt goblin, someone who writes hilariously over-the-top, bizarre prompts just to see what chaos the AI spits out. “He made ChatGPT write a sonnet from the POV of a microwave. Classic prompt goblin energy.”
And watch out for the clean room crowd. These are the folks building AI models only trained on squeaky-clean, copyright-free data. “You can tell this AI came from a clean room, it writes like it’s scared of getting sued.”
People are developing a whole dictionary around how we use (or abuse) AI. You don’t need to memorize this stuff, but knowing it helps you stay ahead of the curve, and maybe dodge a digital insult or two.
Host smarter for under $50
🫙 My pick: Electric mason jar vacuum sealer (10% off)
Forget pricey food-savers. Press one button, and boom, it seals tighter than your grandma’s Tupperware lid.
🧊 Collapsible cooler bag (23% off): Holds up to 60 cans. Perfect for tailgating or when you’re “just grabbing a few things” from the store.
🍳 Square grill pan (8% off): No griddle? No prob. This pan has high ridges to give you those steakhouse-quality grill marks.
🍗 Chicken shredder tool (6% off): Saves you 10 minutes of wrestling with forks. Just twist, shred and you’re all done.
🎉 Elastic tablecloth (43% off, two-pack): Turns your folding table from “garage sale” to “fancy party.” Toss it in the wash, reuse, repeat.
😋 These are just the starters: Head to my Amazon shop for 35 more gadgets I handpicked to make cooking and hosting way easier.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
Scams are an underground industry
You already know the usual scams. Romance, crypto, tech support, job offers, fake investments, and the list goes on. But what you might not realize is that a growing number of people behind these scams aren’t evil masterminds.
Passwords everywhere can be a nightmare: That’s why I trust NordPass. It securely stores all my logins and fills them in instantly, so I never get locked out. Get NordPass today for $1.34 a month and experience a smarter way to manage passwords!
🤝 Free Perplexity, kinda: If you use PayPal or Venmo, they’re handing you a free year of Perplexity Pro (normally $200) and early access to its AI browser. Just tap a button in the app. Only catch? You’re paying with your data, obviously. And yes, it auto-renews at the $200 price, because of course it does.
Selling online? Bring a bodyguard
A Florida man selling an iPhone met a “buyer” in person who pulled a gun, fired a shot into the ground, and stole the phone. Here’s how to stay safe, protect your money, and avoid dangerous situations when meeting buyers or sellers.
46%
The higher your hemorrhoid risk if you linger on the toilet like it’s a spa day. Doctors now say “three minutes max,” which means your bathroom isn’t a binge-scrolling sanctuary, it’s a ticking rectal time bomb. “One more video” is how civilizations fall … and colons, too.
🔋 iPhone Clean Energy Charging: By default, your iPhone checks the grid and schedules charging when power is cleaner. That means it may charge slower or delay topping up. Need full power right away? Go to Settings > Battery > Battery Health & Charging, and toggle off Clean Energy Charging. Bet Apple didn’t tell you that.
Stalkerware may be watching you
Your PC could be spying on you without your knowledge. Stalkerware secretly logs your photos, emails, location, and can even turn on your mic or camera. Here’s how to spot hidden apps, unusual activity, and protect your privacy before it’s too late.
🏡 Don’t buy any Google Home products now: On Oct. 1, looks like at least one new Nest Cam and doorbell with Gemini built in will drop. That means natural language commands, like asking for recipes, getting info on everyday topics and troubleshooting home appliances. And yes, there’ll be both free and paid versions. I’ll keep you posted.
Let’s get physical
🏃♀️ My pick: Foldable desk treadmill (10% off)
Walk now, stash under your desk later. Turns “too busy to exercise” into “wow, I hit 10K steps before lunch.”
💪 Resistance bands (40% off, five-pack): Perfect if you like working out at home. They’re stretchy, soft and latex-free.
👟 Gel shoe insoles (9% off): Whether you run or are on your feet all day, these give your arches the support they need.
💦 Collapsible water bottle (38% off): Stays tall when you need it, squishes down when you don’t. No more hogging bag space.
🌀 Foam roller (6% off): Roll out those tight muscles. Cheaper than a massage therapist and always available.
😅 Don’t sweat it: Shop my Amazon store for more health gear and gadgets on sale. I’ve got your back (and legs and arms).
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
Your digital life could vanish overnight
Your forgotten accounts may not be as safe as you think. George, your AI host, reveals how long Gmail, iCloud, Dropbox, and more keep your data before hitting delete. Plus, the latest on Amazon Prime’s crackdown, Walmart’s Peacock deal, YouTube’s family plan changes, AI in healthcare, and device tricks you can use today.
Charlie Chaplin’s in theaters after 100 years
Charlie Chaplin famously rereleased his 1925 silent classic The Gold Rush in 1942 with new narration and edits, believing it would connect better with modern audiences. Now, thanks to film archivists and AI, the silent masterpiece has been painstakingly restored. The 4K version just premiered at Cannes and hit 250 theaters worldwide.
Makin’ a comeback: AirPods are out, tangled cords are in. Celebs like Emma Watson and Harry Styles are bringing back wired headphones, and Gen Z is riding the nostalgia wave straight to 2007. No charging. No losing one earbud at brunch. If your headphones aren’t in an impossible knot, are you even cool?
🔥 Free up space on Fire Stick: You don’t need to delete apps to boost performance. Go to Settings > Applications > Manage Installed Applications. Open each app on the list, select Clear Cache and hit Confirm. This removes junk files while keeping the app and your login details saved.
Scammers threatened to murder my dad
Lauren from San Francisco got a call that would terrify anyone: her dad crying as a man saying he’d be killed. Only… it wasn’t her dad on the line. Plus: Google dodges a breakup, Amazon cuts perks, and an AirTag leads to a thief caught in stolen clothes.
Cleaning hacks you’ll actually use
⚡ My pick: Electric spin scrubber (33% off)
Hate scrubbing? Same. With eight brush heads, a digital display and a long handle, this makes tackling grime feel less like CrossFit.
📱 Phone screen cleaner (40% off): It’s like a lint roller for your tech. No sprays or wipes, just roll away the smudges.
🧼 Washing machine descaler (15% off): Because a clean washer = clean clothes. 4.6 stars and 137K+ reviews.
🚗 Car cleaning gel (11% off): Yes, it’s slime, but it’s also a dust magnet. More satisfying than popping bubble wrap.
💚 Refrigerator deodorizer (11% off): Way better than baking soda. Drop it in, and get a decade of freshness. So smart.
✨ The sparkle doesn’t stop here: I’ve got 25 more little game changers waiting for you on my Amazon storefront.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
Use Guest mode in Chrome: Handing your computer to someone else? Ditch Incognito and go with Guest mode. Unlike Incognito, it’s a totally blank profile, so users won’t see your bookmarks, saved passwords or browsing history suggestions. To access it, click your profile icon in the top right and select Open Guest profile.
Cellphone bill too high? Mine was. I switched to Consumer Cellular. Same nationwide coverage, half the price. Two lines for just $60, plus save $25 with code KIM25. AARP discounts, too. Check it out now. You’ll be glad you did.