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February 18, 2025

Reddit getting paywalled: That’s when you hit a post online and it’s blocked until you pay a membership fee. It’s coming to Reddit, at least for certain content. Reddit went public last March, so it makes sense they’re looking for more ways to make money.

🚨 Deepfakes going to a new level: TikTok owner ByteDance built an AI tool that makes realistic videos of people talking and singing from a single photo. OmniHuman can take an image (half-body or full-body) and bring it to life. Check out this example of Albert Einstein. Snazzy but scary in the wrong hands. And let’s not forget this is Chinese-owned. I wouldn’t hand over any personal pics.

Miracle drug? Wow, this is big. A clinical trial just confirmed semaglutide (the active drug in Ozempic) helps people drink less alcohol. Folks with moderate alcohol use disorder who took a low dose drank about 40% less and had fewer cravings.

🍏 So long, farewell: We’ll get the full scoop on the next budget iPhone on Feb. 19, but the SE 4 is finally ditching the Home button. Touch ID? That’s gone, too. Face ID is taking over. Lightning charging is out, too, making way for USB-C.

💘 Dating apps are out: My son has been telling me this for years. Folks are still finding love online but through shared interests and hobbies instead. Nate and Jess developed a long-distance relationship playing World of Warcraft. And it’s not just gaming. People are meeting through fitness apps like Strava, too, and social media DMs.

🔪 The short fortune teller who escaped from prison was a small medium at large: A true crime YouTube channel is racking up views, and most people listening don’t realize every “true story” is completely fake. They’re all AI-generated. The channel owner called it “True Crime” because the genre gets the most clicks. Nice ploy, buddy.

✈️ Traveling abroad? Starting Feb. 27, Uber is rolling out a Preferred Currency Pricing feature that quietly tacks on a 1.5% conversion fee. It keeps prices in your home currency, but you’re just paying extra. Here’s how to turn it off: Open the Uber app > Account > Wallet > Preferred Currency > No preferred currency.

20 minutes

Of dancing is just as good as a gym session or jog. Researchers found shaking your booty can get your heart rate up to a health-enhancing level (paywall link). Need a speaker? Here’s a cool one on sale.

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Are noise-canceling headphones bad for your brain? Scientists warn blocking out background noise 24/7 might train your brain to “forget” how to filter sounds naturally. This could lead to auditory processing disorder (APD). Share this with the kids in your life.

I’ve tried so many password managers: I did a deep dive to find the best option on the market right now. My thoroughly tested recommendation and pick, NordPass, uses military-grade encryption. Hit my special link for 52% off.

You’ve got 60 days to dispute bank fraud: A Denver woman’s SoFi account was drained of nearly $7,400 by scammers. The bank refused to reimburse her. She fought back and won. The takeaway? Act fast or they’re not liable.

Chatbot war continues: Perplexity AI just dropped a deep research tool that gives you detailed reports about nearly anything in two to four minutes. Free users get five queries a day, while Pro subscribers ($20 per month) get 500. Want to test it out? It’s live here.

41 views

That’s all the average video on YouTube gets. Over 74% have no comments and 89% have no likes. Research estimates a staggering 14.8 billion total videos on YouTube. Wow.

😨 AI can clone itself now?! Relax. Researchers insist it only happens when instructed by humans. For example, AI could be programmed to clone itself if it senses it’s about to shut down. It’s basically a survival instinct. This is getting pretty scary.

2060

When the world will end, says Sir Isaac Newton. More than 300 years ago, he used math and biblical dates to predict the apocalypse. He believed in the Battle of Armageddon, where good and evil would clash, ushering in the second coming of Christ.

2 million

Number of Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses sold since October 2023. Looks like these are going to make it. Another 10 million are projected to be sold over the next year and a half.