High tech porch pirates

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This holiday season, doorbell cameras are capturing more porch pirates, and the thieves are finding new ways to avoid being caught.

Tags: holiday season, tech


Antivirus isn't just for your computer - Here's why you should protect your smartphone, too

You probably know that antivirus software is essential for your computer. Without it, you’re browsing without protection, exposing yourself to ransomware, viruses, Trojans, spyware and countless other threats. But your computer isn’t the only gadget that needs antivirus protection.

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All I want for Christmas is a capybara: No, not me! The semiaquatic rodents that live up to 12 years and weigh up to 150 pounds have stolen the internet’s heart with viral videos. In a Reddit post, a 24-year-old brother asked if he was a jerk for thinking it’s just a TikTok phase his 16-year-old sister will grow out of. Spoiler: She will.

Audio AI Fugatto generates sound from text

🔊 Swiss Army knife for sound: That’s what Nvidia is calling Fugatto, its new AI audio generator. People are, of course, creating bizarre sounds from text prompts, like turning the sound of a train into a string orchestra. Its creators think it could spark new music genres like the electric guitar did. What do you think?

20 drivers stranded

When GPS directions led them to a snowy, unpaved road. Drivers were trying to avoid traffic on an Oregon interstate. It took hours for rescuers to clear a path. Always double-check your GPS directions. I changed my GPS so instead of hearing, “You have reached your destination,” it says, “Whoomp, there it is!”

I’d tell a joke about unemployment, but it doesn’t work: Consulting firm EY is using an AI-powered avatar to prep job-seekers for face-to-face interviews. eVe answers questions about the hiring process and can also help candidates decide whether to take a job offer. I can’t imagine it’s giving unbiased replies.

3.5 days 

Workweek of the future, predicted by JPMorgan Chase & Co.’s CEO. Jamie Dimon says up to 70% of employees’ tasks will be automated by AI, so there’s no need for long hours. Meanwhile, Goldman Sachs predicts about 300 million jobs will evaporate thanks to AI. Embrace the future or you’ll be left in the past.

$3 million in prizes

For ideas to help astronauts recycle on the moon. It costs almost $100,000 to send just one pound to the moon, so NASA is looking for new ways to turn waste into fabrics and building materials. I’m challenging all my engineer lunar-tics to put on your thinking caps and enter the LunaRecycle Challenge.

40 years ago

A Texas father sold his dream car to pay for his newborn son’s diapers. This year, for his dad’s 65th birthday, his son surprised him with a restored version of his dad’s 1967 Chevrolet Camaro — blue with white stripes and all. The video will melt your heart.

🚨 Windows alert: Microsoft is rolling out its nosy Recall feature for Windows 11 Copilot+ PCs. The tool records almost everything on your screen to help you find files or websites you’ve accessed. After backlash over privacy concerns, the data will be encrypted and snapshots of sensitive info won’t be taken — but I still wouldn’t trust it. Recall is opt-in only, so you can skip it … for now.

$125,000

How much 17-year-old Peter Cancro paid for a sandwich shop in 1975. He renamed it to Jersey Mike’s Subs … and just sold it for $8 billion. Guess who gave him the idea to buy it in the first place? Mom!