Fake pics, real charges: A student was hit with a $9K damage bill after her NYC Airbnb host claimed she cracked furniture and peed the bed. But the “proof”? AI-edited photos. Airbnb initially sided with the host, then backpedaled fast after a newspaper got involved. Full refund issued, host slapped with a warning. PSA: Take inside and outside videos of any rental property.

6 feet

That’s how far we thought standing apart would save us from germs. Turns out, not so much. New research says our beloved 6-foot safety bubble might just be hot air, literally. It seems the typical indoor temps of 72°F to 86°F create a perfect petri dish for those pesky particles to lurk around your face. 

Hide shady content on X: Don’t want NSFW stuff popping up in your feed? Go to Settings > Privacy and safety > Content you see and turn off Display media that may contain sensitive content. Then, under Content you see, tap Search settings and switch on Hide sensitive content.

📝 Free note-taking app: Joplin is like an organized notebook that never runs out of pages. You can write notes, make checklists and even attach multimedia to your work. Coolest part? It works offline and syncs between your phone and computer, so you can take it wherever you go.

📁 Change where Chrome saves downloads: Want your files to land somewhere other than the default folder? Go to Settings > Downloads > Location > Change and pick where they should go. Or if you’d rather choose each time, go to Settings > Downloads and toggle on Ask where to save each file before downloading.

Brighten up your Mac screen: If your display keeps dimming on its own, turn off the auto settings. Go to System Settings > Displays and disable Automatically adjust brightness. Then go to System Settings > Battery > Options and switch off Slightly dim the display on battery.

3-second gadget genius: Tired of your phone autocorrecting a name? When your spelling pops up above the keyboard, tap it. Your phone learns it and stops “fixing” it.

Running a business is tough. Download NetSuite’s free guide, “Navigating Global Trade: Three Insights for Leaders.” It’s packed with smart, no-nonsense tips to help you keep ahead of the game, avoid costly mistakes and spot new opportunities in today’s fast-moving global market.

Crypto in your 401(k) now: Trump just signed an executive order letting your 401(k) party with crypto, private equity and other high-risk “alternative” investments (paywall link), finally dragging retirement savings into the 21st century. The SEC, Labor Department and Treasury now have marching orders to un-gatekeep alt-assets. That’s $9 trillion of nest eggs now potentially YOLOing into Bitcoin.

Still saving passwords in your browser? It’s time to upgrade. NordPass stores your logins securely and fills them in instantly. No more password headaches. Get 52% off and take control of your digital life the smart, safe way! P.S. If you’re using Dashlane for free, they’ve killed the product. This is a great deal.

💬 Fact-check ChatGPT: If ChatGPT or your favorite AI chatbot says something that sounds off, ask, “Why did you say that?” It might give you the source or admit it was wrong. Still in doubt? Use this prompt next: “Are you sure this is correct? Search the web August 2025 to confirm these facts.” You’ll get updated articles.

Save battery on your Apple Watch: Push the Digital Crown, go to Settings > Battery and toggle on Low Power Mode. You can also go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh and turn off the apps you’re not using. FYI: The Apple Watch SE (2nd gen) is 32% off right now. 

📑 Save quotes and jot down ideas on Kindle: Press and hold a word, then drag from the start to the end of the text you want. When the menu pops up, tap Highlight or Note. To view these later, tap the top of the screen while reading and select the Notebook icon. Nice. 

Personalize your Chromebook: Right-click your Desktop and select Set wallpaper and style to change up the look. Pick an accent color, choose a wallpaper or add your own photos. You can also move the shelf. Right-click it, select Shelf position and choose Left, Bottom or Right.

Private chats, public fight: Remember that NYT suing OpenAI story? Now, The New York Times wants to dig through 120 million ChatGPT logs to try to prove OpenAI’s chatbot is a copyright-violating machine. OpenAI’s like, “How about 20 mil?” NYT said nope. Now the court may decide if your “deleted” chats become exhibit A.

🧨 Inside job: Security researchers tricked Google’s Gemini into turning on smart home devices using a Google Calendar invite. When Gemini was asked to “summarize the week,” it unknowingly ran booby-trapped prompts that lit up devices in Tel Aviv. It’s the first known AI attack with physical consequences. 

💪🏻 Your body runs on collagen, so give it the best stuff. NativePath Collagen is clean, pure and backed by science. Just two scoops a day, and I feel the difference. Right now, get 45% off, free shipping and a free frother. That’s a win for your body and your wallet!

$1

What OpenAI is charging the U.S. government to use its special ChatGPT Enterprise plan. Why? To cozy up to lawmakers and help the government work faster with AI. Oh, and Uncle Sam’s been generous, too. Back in June, OpenAI landed a defense contract worth up to $200 million. Pretty sweet trade.

You need a VPN. ExpressVPN keeps your online data safe, blocks trackers and lets you browse without limits. Right now, get four extra months free when you sign up.

📍 Smart ways to use AirTags: I put them on almost everything. If something goes missing, I can find it with the Find My network. Luggage and cars are the obvious picks, but you can also drop one in your kid’s backpack or a toolbox in the shed. Bonus: A four-pack is 19% off right now.