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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.
Savings are served
🔥 For when your kitchen’s sizzling and your storage is chill.
- BBQ your favorites anywhere with an indoor/outdoor grill ($100).
- Roll out a warming tray (10% off) to keep your dinner toasty.
- These paper air fryer liners (19% off) make cleaning up a breeze.
- Spin this turntable (23% off) to easily find what’s in your fridge.
- Grab a pack of silicone trays ($37) to save your leftovers for later.
🐶 Treats with benefits: A bag of 12-in-1 chewable multivitamins ($20) supports your pup’s joints, gut and more.
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.
⚡️ 3-second tech genius: On Windows, hit Win + Shift + S to launch Snip & Sketch, the fastest way to grab a screenshot.
🚨 Fake customer support: Scammers are planting bogus phone numbers online for banks, airlines and retailers. You might find one through a Google search, or they’ll slide into your DMs after you post a complaint. Cue being tricked into installing remote access software so they can “help.” Stick to official sites for contact info, folks.
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.
50 years
That’s how long it’s been since we got a brand-new antibiotic that works this differently. Meet zosurabalpin: not just a mouthful, but a microscopic wrecking ball. It blocks the bacterial equivalent of armor construction, leaving the bad bugs bare and vulnerable.
💵 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.
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.
Ford recall: Over 1 million vehicles are being recalled due to glitchy rearview cameras freezing up or going blank. It affects several models made between 2021 and 2024 (full list here). You’ll get a fix with an over-the-air update or by visiting your local dealer.
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.
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.
📹 T-Mobile’s recording you: T-Mobile quietly flipped on screen recording in its T-Life app, by default. It claims it’s just “app activity,” not your personal data, and you can turn it off. But still, no opt-in? Bold move. Everyone’s phone just became a reality show, but no one got a casting call.
🍏 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.
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.
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.
📞 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.
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.