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Thinking about signing up for your insurance company’s driving tracker for a discount? Find out how it monitors your habits, from speed and braking to late-night trips.
😡 In corporate speak, it’s “rightsizing”: A 60-year-old GM worker was laid off after nearly four decades with the company. The shocking news came via an email sent at 5:07 a.m. last Friday as part of a global mass layoff. Stunned, he shared his story on LinkedIn, and it’s since gone viral, with one video racking up over 1.6 million views. So sad how little loyalty means to some companies.
Now we’re talking! If you make YouTube videos, you’ll soon be able to earn more money. They’re rolling out an auto-dubbing tool that translates English videos into eight languages. Right now, only creators who focus on educational content can use it. The rest of us will have it in a few months. I can’t wait to try it!
20 years in the making: Doctors are using a new treatment called histotripsy to fight certain cancer cells. It works by sending ultrasound waves to a precise point, rupturing the cells and killing them instantly. The best part? There’s no incision required, and, unlike radiation, it doesn’t harm the surrounding tissue. The results are promising — two months after treatment, one man’s liver remains cancer-free.
🧬 Gene-ius: 23andMe is in freefall, and the genetic data of its 15 million customers might soon be up for grabs. Imagine insurers using your DNA to hike premiums or advertisers exploiting it for targeted ads without your consent. The kicker: It’s all legal. U.S. courts treat biological samples as corporate property, meaning companies can indeed sell them. If you haven’t already, delete your 23andMe account ASAP. Steps here.
Geek speak: HDMI 2.2 will debut at January’s tech fest, CES 2025. The new standard promises higher resolutions, refresh rates and transmission quality. Think 8K at 120 Hz and even 10K at higher frame rates. For reference, the current HDMI 2.1b standard only supports 8K at 60 Hz.
Never trust a cable that’s not yours: Hackers are leaving ordinary-looking charging cables lying around. Find one and plug it into a computer to charge your phone, and it’ll install malware or steal your data. These cables are fully functional, too. If you’re traveling, get a USB data blocker (4-pack for $10.99; be sure to click the $2 off coupon). It acts as a protective barrier between the cable and your devices.
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🏠 Housing scam spreading: Criminals are using AI to impersonate real estate agents and lenders in home sales. Chatbots create emails with no grammatical errors and a conversational tone that mimics professionals. Just ask Raegan Bartlo (paywall link) — she followed fake instructions and wired a $255,000 down payment straight to a fraudster. Verify everything.
How much time you’re shaving off your life every time you drink a Coke. Throw in a hot dog, and scientists say you’re knocking off another 36 minutes.
💸 Another flop for Harry and Meghan: Their $100 million Netflix deal is on shaky ground. “Polo,” their new series focusing on the world of elite equestrian sports, has been ridiculed by critics as “unintentionally hilarious.” I tried to watch it, but it was so bad. The couple never did the animated series Netflix signed for, either. Meghan’s reputation as being extremely difficult to work with isn’t helping matters, and her cooking show is going up in smoke, too. PSA: Working for a living takes up your whole day.
