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When a social media video makes you go “Wow,” pause. That shock factor is a big clue it could be an AI fake.
Tags: Deepfake, download, media, social media, video
Robo-trainer takes the field: Apparently, NFL players now have digital clones. They call it “Digital Athlete,” and it watches every sprint, twist and fall to warn when someone’s about to pull a hamstring. It even flashes red if a player’s overworked (paywall link). It’s basically Fitbit meets Minority Report, except the stakes are million-dollar knees instead of your steps goal.
🛋️ Browsing Facebook Marketplace? You might’ve noticed the algorithm showing items that sold weeks ago. To see what’s actually available, go to Marketplace on desktop, search for what you want, and under Filters, set Date listed to Last 7 days. Oh, and folks, if a profile says it “joined in 2025,” that’s not a seller, it’s a setup.
You look familiar: Ever wanted to ring a doorbell and get your face added to a database? You’re in luck. Amazon’s new Ring cameras can recognize “familiar faces,” but here’s the rub: They scan people’s faces without asking. The EFF says it might break biometric privacy laws in states like Illinois and Texas. Amazon says that’s your problem. Also, the scanning happens in the cloud. Sleep tight.
📱 Free phones aren’t really free: Big carriers hide costs in long contracts that keep you stuck for years. Consumer Cellular keeps it honest with no hidden fees and no long commitments. If you’re over 50, get two unlimited lines for $30 each and save $25 when you switch at ConsumerCellular.com/Kim.
Gen Z’s cash allergy: Cash had a good run, but it’s done. The Fed says Americans only use cash for seven out of 48 monthly payments, and Gen Z’s leading the digital rebellion (paywall link). They’re swiping and tapping like it’s Monopoly money. I was in Fort Lauderdale for the boat show last weekend and stopped by a Marriott hotel lobby to grab a granola bar. The woman behind the counter told me I could charge it to my room. I said I wasn’t staying there and asked if they took Apple Pay. Nope. Cash? Nope. Then she looked at me and said, “You’re a good person. I can tell. Go ahead and take it.” So I walked out with a free granola bar, powered by the kindness of a stranger. 😇
🤖 AI joins the dark side: Add this to your “uh-oh” tech list. Google found the first real case of hackers using AI-powered malware. Two strains, PromptFlux and PromptSteal, can rewrite their own code mid-attack, hide from detection and even chat with hackers through prompts. One’s already been linked to the Russian military. It’s early tech, but a big reminder the bad guys have AI, too.
Siri’s billion-dollar brain donor: Apple did what every proud parent swears they’d never do: asked Google for help. They’re reportedly paying a billion dollars a year to plug Gemini AI into Siri. Yep, $1 billion to stop saying, “I didn’t quite catch that.” Supposedly, she’ll get better at summarizing, planning and pretending to care what you said. Update hits next spring.
🐾 Dog 2.0: Tom Brady said his new dog, Junie, is a clone of his old one. He used a blood sample from his late pitbull mix, Lua, and had a biotech company recreate her. These companies usually charge around $50K to clone a doggo. I mean, I get it, losing a pet wrecks you, but cloning? I’m drawing the line before Jurassic Bark.
Attention, scroll at ease: Remember that old-school Uncle Sam “I Want You” Army poster? The 2025 version is the Army on TikTok. That’s right, they’ve tapped eight soldiers with big followings to show real life in uniform, romanticizing the gym fails, the 4 a.m. wake-ups, even the “mandatory fun days.” Their posts hit 40 million views, but the program’s on pause for an ethics review.
