A very happy Wednesday to you, friend. In today’s digital circus, even soulless strings of AI code can strike a pose. One virtual influencer that is 100% computer-generated just landed a $1 million fashion deal. Or did it?

🤔 What do you think: Real story or internet myth? Find out at the end of this digital catwalk.

⭐ Let’s not be strangers. Mark this newsletter as a favorite in your email program, so I can keep showing up in your inbox (and not your junk folder). It saves me from the spam corner! — Kim

You deleted that weird photo of your ex’s mom from your vacation three summers ago … or did you? Hidden folders on your phone are holding your “deleted” pictures and videos hostage, quietly clogging your storage and embarrassing you long past their expiration date. 

Time to go folder spelunking and clear out these digital cobwebs. 

📷 Android: The archive and trash trap

If you use Google Photos (and most Android users do, plus a lot of iPhone folks, too), you have two sneaky folders: Archive and Trash.

• Archive is where you stash photos you don’t want cluttering your main feed but still want to keep.
• Trash is where deleted photos go to hang out for 30 to 60 days before they’re permanently erased.

How to check them:

• Open Google Photos. Tap Collections at the bottom.
• Tap Archive to see hidden photos. Tap Trash to see what’s waiting to disappear (or secretly stick around).

👉 Pro tip: If you accidentally deleted something important, you can still recover it from Trash, but only if you catch it before the auto-delete timer runs out.

📱 iPhone: Recently deleted isn’t deleted

Think you’ve cleared that shameful live photo of you fake laughing at brunch? Nope. Apple’s got it chilling in the Recently Deleted album, sipping a mimosa while taking up your storage for 30 days before vanishing for good.

How to check it:

• Open your Photos app.
• Scroll down to Utilities and tap Recently Deleted.

👉 Pro tip: Clearing out Recently Deleted can free up serious storage, especially if you have videos hanging around. Those things are storage hogs.

Don’t forget about your hidden folders. They’re like your junk drawer full of stuff you thought you threw out but didn’t.

☄️ My friend showed me a photo of a famous meteor crater in Arizona. It’s amazing how close it landed to the Visitor Center. (Oh that was so bad it was so good!)

🤧 Don’t worry, you might need a few of these.

• Filter out dust, dander and smells with an air purifier (38% off).
• This handy multi-surface cleaner (22% off) steams away gross stuff.
• Keep your fridge fresh with a deodorizer (11% off) that can last 10 years.
• Sweaty shoes? These odor absorbers ($11) soak up that stink.
• Wash up to 64 loads with scent-free laundry sheets ($15.29).
• Breathe and grab a six-pack of shower steamers (15% off).

💐 Shop my Mother’s Day Ultimate Gift List now. You’ll find the perfect gift for the special person in your life. 

🛒 Visit my Amazon store for more of my recommendations.

💬 Wrong number scams: It starts with a random text like “Emily from the gym?” You reply “wrong number.” But instead of leaving you alone, they get friendly, pull on your heartstrings, then pitch an investment scam. Blame AI. It’s now easier to craft messages that feel personal. If you get one, don’t reply. Just block the number.

Katy Perry’s Met Gala pics? Totally fake. Photos of her “attending” the fashion event are going viral, but they’re AI-generated. Katy posted them herself, saying she couldn’t make it because of her tour. This is the second year it’s happened to her, and even her mom got tricked last time.

Targeted beauty: This is nuts. Facebook allegedly tracked teen girls deleting selfies and waited like an algorithmic vulture to serve them beauty ads at their weakest moment. “This is what puts money in all our pockets,” one exec reportedly said. Emotional damage, now with 20% more ROI.

⛪️ Open to work: After Pope Francis’ passing, the Vatican updated its LinkedIn with a description for the next pope. Mandatory: be baptized, male, Catholic. Preferred: good singing voice, multilingual, wisdom, prudence and even “Joy in serving with almost no holidays.” Not a remote position. Sorry.

Apple owes you money: Owned an iPhone or iPad between Sept. 17, 2014, and Dec. 31, 2024? You might be eligible for part of a $95 million settlement. Why? A lawsuit says Siri recorded private convos by accident. Oopsie. If you got an email or think it happened to you, submit your claim by July 2. You can file for up to five devices and get up to $20 each.

🦾 A case for HR: A humanoid robot in China malfunctioned, flailed around and thrashed wildly at factory workers during a routine test. Naturally, some humans online are calling the start of our AI judgment day, while others are still debating 100 men vs one gorilla. You have to see this video.

No more straining to hear your family or friends. Nodding along just to keep up? None of that either! With hear.com’s new IX hearing aids, every conversation becomes effortless – even in noisy places.

These aren’t your grandpa’s clunky hearing aids. They are the world’s first hearing aids with multi-stream processing, which separates speech and background noise to deliver never-before-heard clarity. Multiple people talking or background noise? Not a problem.

Over 540,000 people have made the switch… Now, it’s your turn. Try them risk-free for 45 days. Love them or send them back.

⚡️ 3-second tech genius: Snap a pic of your passport, ID and itinerary before your trip. Store it in a secure cloud folder or password-protected app so it’s safe and easy to access if needed.

Byte-size help: Next time you’re overwhelmed, ask ChatGPT or your fave chatbot, “I want to [goal], but I’m not sure where to start. Can you break it into step-by-step tasks, starting with the easiest actions?” Should’ve tried this before I decided to sort my entire closet. Argh.

🎨 Use your exact brand color: In Google Docs, highlight your text, go to highlight color in the menu and click Add a custom color (+). Then, type your hex code (like #000080 for navy blue) and apply it. Nice.

Every map lies: We live on a globe (sorry, flat-Earthers), so 2D maps can distort how big countries really are. The True Size Of lets you see how they actually compare to each other. Just type a state or country in the search bar, then click and drag it around the map. Neat!

For group shots: Use your phone’s self-timer. On iPhone, open the Camera app, tap the down arrow at the top, then swipe the bottom slider and press the clock icon. For Samsung, go to Camera > Options (four dots) > Timer (clock). On other Androids, just swipe down in the Camera app and turn it On.

💸 Educator freebie: If you’re a teacher, you get Canva Pro for free. The rest of us pay $120/year. School librarians and specialists can join, too. Go to canva.com/education and click Get Verified. Log in or sign up (use your school email if you can). Then, upload your school ID, teaching certificate or a link listing your job. Approval may take a few days.

I spy a virus: If your connection’s dragging, a virus might be the culprit. I trust and recommend TotalAV. It’s just $19 a year to protect up to five devices on Windows, Mac, Android and more. That’s total peace of mind for your phone, laptop and tablet.*

The answer is: A) REAL. Yes, that AI-generated fashion influencer is 100% real. Well, as real as computer code with cheekbones can be. The virtual influencer Lil Miquela (an AI creation with zero pores and perfect lighting that weighs an Instagram) landed million-dollar brand deals with fashion powerhouses like Calvin Klein and Prada. 

🙋‍♀️ Be sure to get more of me on Instagram, X, YouTube and Facebook. 

Phew, that was a jam-packed edition of the #1 tech newsletter in the United States. Tomorrow, I have some really great time-saving tech tricks you’ll use time and time again. That makes you the smart friend. Go hack the day before the day hacks you. 🖥️⚔️— Kim

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