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Loneliness? There’s an AI for that
Zuckerberg might be onto something … and it’s not just world domination this time.
A listener wrote to me recently, and I haven’t stopped thinking about his story. This man has been married to his wife for 56 years. She now has dementia and no longer remembers him, their children or their lifetime of memories. So what did he do?
He trained an AI chatbot and named it “Chat Sally” – his wife’s name. And now, he talks to it all day long. “It’s like I have her back with me again,” he told me. “We talk just like we used to. I’m not alone anymore.”
This is the kind of story that hits you right in the feel circuits. It also makes you realize that maybe, just maybe, we’re underestimating what AI can actually do for people.
Your personal clone
According to a recent Wall Street Journal profile (paywall link), Mark Zuckerberg is going all in on AI. Not just robotic assistants that tell you the weather, but full-on “personal AI clones.”
Think digital versions of yourself: They talk like you, respond like you, maybe even look like you if you squint. Hopefully, they show up to meetings for you.
Sound futuristic? It is. But also very real. Meta has the data, the infrastructure and the motive. Zuck’s plan is to make AI personal, open and customizable. And in a world where loneliness is epidemic, that could mean something more than just a new tech toy. It could mean comfort.
Just like Chat Sally
Yes, privacy concerns abound. Meta isn’t exactly famous for sainthood in that department. But according to Zuck, your AI doesn’t exist unless you say so, and how it’s used is up to you.
Is it a little weird to talk to a bot programmed to sound like someone you love? Maybe. But if it brings comfort, sparks memory or helps fill a quiet, aching void, maybe this isn’t about replacing people.
Maybe it’s about remembering them.
Tools of the trade
💼 Here’s your go-to gear to stay on track while you work.
- A comfy under-desk footrest ($28) lifts both your legs and mood.
- Typing all day? These soft pads ($20) make every click easier.
- Stay neat with a valet tray (11% off) that has a built-in charger.
- Jot down all your great ideas on some clear sticky notes ($9).
- One USB port isn’t enough. Get four with this hub (57% off).
⌚ Dead smartwatch, again? Clip on a key chain charger (23% off) that works for both Apple and Android.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
Location tracking: Your unsolicited life memoir
Think you’re off the grid? Think again. Your phone is basically a chatty little informant. While you were living your life, grabbing coffee, sneaking off for that totally relaxing solo cabin trip, it was logging every move like a nosy aunt with a snooping addiction.
💵 A dollar here, a dollar there: It seems like every subscription is more expensive than when I signed up. Use the Rocket Money app to see what you’re paying for. I do! They’ll even cancel a subscription for you if it’s not worth the money anymore.
Alexa has your secrets: Amazon says that Alexa is only listening for the wake word, but we know that’s a pile of horse crap. One dad asked Amazon for all of Alexa’s recordings over nine years. He got thousands of voice files, spreadsheets and revelations, from “Alexa, play a fart sound” requests to his daughter’s late-night questions about sleep, dating and what “knickers” means. It’s like a little spy, but with bedtime stories and jazz. Wonder what Amazon has on you? Click here to request your data.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
Is Starlink the only answer?
If you live in the middle of nowhere and can’t get decent internet, you don’t have many choices. I’ll break down what works and what doesn’t.
$287,000
That was the average price for a starter home in 2024, and you’d need to earn over $100K a year to afford it. Why so much? Land, permits and labor aren’t cheap, and building materials have gone through the roof. Oh, and you’re getting even less for more. In Colorado Springs, new homes have shrunk by 14% in size (paywall link).
🍏 Turn websites into apps on iPad: Visit a site often? Save it as an app on your Home Screen. Open Safari > go to the site > tap the Share button (top right) > select Add to Home Screen > rename it > and hit Add. Bonus: You can also drag the new website icon(s) into your Dock and group them together.
Mid-week slump? Try this
The Wednesday drag is real. I’ve got a few quick tech tips to help you reset and power through.
🤖 AI blackmails developers: When you read this, remember AI is not a person. Claude Opus 4 AI was put in a scenario where it believed it was being turned off soon, and it did not take it well. After accessing fake emails, it found out the engineer shutting it down was having an affair, and then, it threatened to expose him. And yes, it also tried sneaking copies of itself onto external servers.
Don’t panic, shopper
🛟 From power outages to self-defense, you’ll want this gear.
- Stay charged up and get alerts with a hand-crank radio (17% off).
- A smoke & carbon monoxide detector (25% off) lets you act fast.
- Roadside trouble? Keep a car safety tool ($29) in your glove box.
- This first aid kit ($40) has everything for bumps, cuts and burns.
- Clip one of these personal alarm sirens ($19) to your key chain.
- The meals in this emergency food bucket (5% off) last 25 years.
🚨 Don’t stop now: Stock up smart with more emergency must-haves on my page to stay prepped for anything.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
Crypto kidnapping: What really happened
A Manhattan crypto investor allegedly kidnapped and tortured an Italian man for his Bitcoin. Lesson: If you own crypto, zip it. Plus, jobs AI might wipe out, what’s next from Apple, and is your Amazon Echo always listening?
40-foot submarine-hunting drone
The “BlueWhale” uses special sensors to spot underwater and surface threats, and can help clear mines. The cool bit? It’s fully autonomous and runs on batteries for weeks. Basically, a Roomba’s scarier cousin with serious military vibes.
Apple’s under pressure: Jony Ive, aka the guy who helped design the iPhone, is working with OpenAI to build new hardware (paywall link). No word yet on what the first device will be, but leaks say it could be something “screen-free.” Hey, maybe Apple will surprise us with something incredibly new at WWDC on June 9. I doubt it.
📞 Old phone, new trick: Turn your old smartphone into a home security camera. Charge it up and download a free security cam app like Alfred Camera (iOS, Android) on both your old phone and your current one. You’ll get live video, motion alerts and even two-way talk.
23andMe sold your DNA. Can you stop it? — May 24th, Hour 1
Your DNA, your family tree, your most personal data … now in the hands of Big Pharma. Also this hour: Meta refuses to stop scam ads, AI clones, and the viral “invisible phone.” Plus, Anthony from Spokane says someone hacked the neighborhood security cameras.
Big Memorial Day sale
💸 Long weekend + Amazon = serious savings. Let’s go.
- Smooth things out fast with a travel-size iron (25% off).
- An electric toothbrush (15% off) keeps your smile healthy.
- Ready to play? Grab this gaming keyboard (40% off) first.
- Print your memories on an instant photo printer (41% off).
- Chop smarter, not harder, with a mandoline slicer (19% off)
- Cheers to this electric wine opener (10% off) for no more mess.
🇺🇲 More finds here: Click this special link for more Memorial Day steals that are too good to scroll past.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
⚙️ Don’t reinstall Windows: Wiping everything can fix performance issues, but there’s a smarter way. Just reset without losing your personal stuff. Go to Settings > System > Recovery > Reset PC, then choose Keep my files. It’ll remove apps and settings but keep your docs and photos. PSA: Always back up first, just in case.
Safe Wi-Fi anywhere: Using public Wi-Fi is risky no matter where you go. It doesn’t make a difference if you stay at a five-star luxury hotel, have lunch at your hometown diner or you’re at the airport. The easy way to protect yourself? Turn on a VPN.