All tech. No filler.
Join 900,000+ people who stay ahead of the tech curve with The Current, delivered daily. No fluff, no BS.
Breaking news and tips
AI-powered home gadgets that lower your bills
Every time my energy bill arrives, I swear it looks more like a ransom note: “$412 or the AC gets it.”
But guess what? Some good (actually smart) tech can help liberate you from this hostage situation, with real savings.
Here’s your Kim-approved guide to the best smart home tech that pays for itself. And before you get all drama on me and whine, “Oh, these are so hard to install,” stop right there. They’re just not.
🌡️ Smart thermostats
If your thermostat isn’t smart yet, you’re literally throwing money out the window. Devices like the Google Nest Thermostat ($239.99, 14% off) or the ecobee SmartThermostat ($129.99) learn your schedule and automatically adjust the temperature when you’re out or asleep.
The average household saves about 10%-15% on heating and cooling bills; that’s up to $145 per year! Pays for itself.
Think of it like a pet that adjusts your AC instead of pooping in your closet.
💡 Smart lighting systems
Still flipping switches? Go smarter. Products like Philips Hue Smart Bulbs ($102.11, 24% off, three-pack) and the affordable Kasa Smart Bulbs ($29.99, 6% off, four-pack) use AI to optimize lighting, significantly cutting down energy use.
The bulbs automatically detect empty rooms and dim themselves, slashing up to $75 annually from your electricity bill.
🚿 Smart water monitors
Did you know a small leak can cost hundreds a year? A gadget like the Flume 2 Smart Water Monitor ($249) detects leaks instantly and tracks your water use in real time. For a cheaper pick, check out YoLink’s Hub Leak Detection Starter Kit ($54.99, 21% off).
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
Prime Day must-haves
🛒 I’ve sifted through the fake reviews. Here are the real winners.
- 🍽️ Chopped price: From veggies to charcuterie, these bamboo cutting boards (29% off, four-pack) got you covered.
- 🫒 Oil be back: Spritz your favorite foods with a sprayer bottle (20% off). No Skynet needed.
- 🫖 Tea-riffic kettle: This electric kettle (15% off) boils fast, is BPA-free and has 4.4 stars and 63,000+ reviews.
- 🔌 You’ve got the power: Playing outlet Tetris? A wall charger (29% off) gives you six outlets and three USB ports.
- 🪛 Just screw it: A pocket-size electric screwdriver (33% off) with a set of 12 metal bits? Yes, please.
- 😁 Show off your smile: This Oral-B electric toothbrush (40% off) has three cleaning modes and a travel case.
- 🧽 Your grill’s clean slate: Scrub off yesterday’s burgers with a griddle cleaning kit (21% off).
- 🪲 Bye-bye, bugs: Finally, some ant & insect spray (44% off) that handles pests without harsh chemicals.
- 🧼 Handy sanitizers: These travel-size Purell bottles (15% off) are TSA-friendly and fragrance-free.
📅 These deals end Friday: Load up your cart before they disappear, and head over to my Amazon storefront for more Prime Day savings.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
Find all those subscriptions you forgot about
July 4th is all about independence, fireworks and maybe reinventing how many hot dogs a stomach can physically hold.
But financial freedom? Nothing says “I’m a prisoner of the bad side of capitalism” like paying for three streaming services just to rewatch The Office on a loop.
💪 Get in shape: MuscleWiki is a free workout tool that shows you exercises for every muscle group. Select Male or Female, then click on a muscle in the body map. You’ll get a list of exercises to choose from, each with a demo video and step-by-step instructions so you know exactly what to do.
🆓 Small-business owner? Download NetSuite’s free guide, “Navigating Global Trade: Three Insights for Leaders,” and find out how to stay ahead, even when the rules keep changing.
Apple fights nudity
The U.S. produces millions of porn videos every year but now Apple’s drawing a digital line.
$23.8 billion
That’s how much Americans are expected to drop during Amazon Prime Day this week. The sale runs four days, twice as long as last year, and Adobe says spending will jump 24%. It’s basically Black Friday in July, only with better delivery windows and fewer family arguments.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
👁️ Look ’em in the eye: On iPhone video calls, eye contact’s tricky since you’re looking at the screen, not the camera. Apple’s Eye Contact feature uses AI to adjust your gaze automatically. Turn it on in Settings > FaceTime > Eye Contact. Cue the staring contest.
Watch out for shady supplements
A lot of popular creatine gummies on Amazon are missing the real dose. Here’s how to spot the good ones before you buy.
Gen Z wants out: Nearly 50% of Gen Z says they’d rather live in a world without the internet, according to a recent survey. Not less of it, none. The vibe? They’re not Luddites, they’re nostalgic for a weirder, less curated life where friendships weren’t content and the boredom felt more human.
Happy ‘Prime Day’
🛍️ I did the hard work for you. Not everything you see on Amazon is real deal. These are the best ones you definitely need to check out.
- Breeze through summer: A quiet oscillating tower fan (15% off) sends chill air up to 25 feet. Love it!
- Shut your garage door? Stop wondering with a smart garage door opener (20% off) that syncs with Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri.
- All juiced up: A smart power strip (39% off) with four built-in USB-C ports controls all your tech with a tap.
- One appliance, nine tricks: Cook fast and evenly with a 6-quart air fryer (25% off). No greasy mess.
- Smoothies on the go: Ninja’s portable blender (36% off) is cordless, USB-C rechargeable and ready to roll.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
The 9-to-5 is dead
Microsoft says late-night meetings are up 16%. Burnout much? I also talk to an Uber driver almost tricked into trafficking stolen goods. Plus: Trump Org’s new phone biz, Bible stories on TikTok, and a smart way to check your internet speed.
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.
🧪 GPT-5 is coming: OpenAI says it’s done juggling 5 billion models. GPT-5 will unite its smartest (the “O” series) with its most extra (GPT-4o) into one huge robot brain. Expect it within a month, with sharper reasoning, more senses and fewer tabs making your laptop beg for mercy.
Google Maps trick: You don’t need the exact name of a place to find it. Just type a general phrase like “walking trails,” “live music” or “shoe repair,” and Google will pull up local results. Perfect for those “I can’t remember the name, but I know what I need” moments.
Trump’s crypto push — July 5th, Hour 1
Will the U.S. be the world’s crypto capital? Here’s what to know before you invest. Plus, streaming fails, Taylor Swift vanity phone numbers, and a viral airport theory. Holly from Phoenix says her brother lost $400K to a Jennifer Aniston deepfake scam.
’Twas the night before ‘Prime Day’
🌃 And all through Amazon, the deals were already dropping.
- 📱 Your phone’s lifeguard: These waterproof cases (41% off, two-pack) have 4.5 stars and 21,000+ reviews.
- 🏷️ Stick with it: An ink-free label maker (52% off) is pure organizing bliss. Type, tap, done.
- 💡 Glow and behold: The sleekest LED floor lamp (10% off) you’ll ever plug in. Yep, it doubles as a bookshelf.
- 🐦 Flyby footage: Bird-watch in HD with this smart bird feeder (30% off). Bonus: color night vision.
- 🧳 Luggage mishap, aborted: A digital luggage scale (16% off) saves me from paying overweight fees.
- ⚡ Your tech will thank you: This cleaning kit (20% off) tackles gunky ports and even bad connections.
👉 More early deals? Just one click away on my Amazon storefront and this handy page.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
✍🏻 Need to concentrate? Windows 11 has a focus mode that hides notifications and those red dots on your task bar. Go to Settings > System > Focus, choose how long you want, then click Start focus session. A timer from the Clock app will pop up. Taking a break? Hit Pause.
Phones keep vanishing: TSA bins are the Bermuda Triangle for your electronics. A travel pro’s now-viral advice? Never put your phone straight into the tray. Thieves can (and do) swipe them while you’re still retying your shoes. Instead, zip your tech into a bag pocket unless an agent tells you otherwise.