It’s the start of a fresh week, friend. You know what makes Mondays better? Solving a five-letter code like your life depends on it. Enter Wordle, and the ongoing drama of your first guess. People (read: data scientists with too much time) analyzed thousands of words to pick the ultimate opener. Their conclusion? Surprisingly logical. Maybe too logical.

🧢 Put on your thinking cap. What is the best starting word to use in Wordle: A) AUDIO, B) SLATE, C) RAISE or D) STARE? The answer is waiting for you at the end!

🎙️ Every week, smart people hit play. The rest? They Google it later.

Don’t fall behind! Catch my latest show now, on-demand, across all the top podcast platforms. One click is all it takes to get tech-smart (and maybe even a little smug). — Kim

I hear from some of you who say, “Kim, I don’t care about AI, it’s not my thing.” I get it. But AI does matter. You’re using it even when you think you’re not. Ever yell, “Speak to a real person”? 

AI is not just here, it’s taking names and unpaid lunch breaks. As much as I love a good time-saving tool, I’ve been watching something play out that you should know about. 

Now, do me a favor.

I want you to read all the way to the end. This way, the next time the whole “AI taking jobs” issue comes up in conversation, you’ll know what to say and sound so incredibly connected and smart. I love that for you.

🤖 One chatbot = 700 people

The CEO of Klarna, a major fintech company, just came out with a warning: AI is already replacing white-collar workers, and if we don’t brace for it, it could trigger a recession. Yep, that’s a really big deal.

Here’s the backstory. Klarna used to have 5,500 employees. Now? Even though the company is experiencing unprecedented growth, they’re down to about 3,000 people because of AI. 

The big hit was in customer service. One chatbot, powered by OpenAI, is doing the work of 700 people. 

It’s not just Klarna. Companies across the globe are doing the same thing.

Klarna’s CEO was excited about the efficiency. Now he’s sounding the alarm about what this means for the economy. He’s not alone. 

The folks behind Anthropic’s Claude (another AI tool like ChatGPT) say we could lose up to half of all entry-level white-collar jobs within five years. I say three years.

😱 Let’s not hit the panic button 

Remember when ATMs were supposed to eliminate bank tellers? Instead, they changed how tellers worked, creating new roles in service and customer relationships. 

Many economists argue AI will augment jobs, not totally destroy them. History shows us automation leads to different jobs, not zero jobs. 

The issue? The speed of AI is on Red Bull. 

We’re not adjusting in decades, we’re adjusting in quarters, or less. If half of all entry-level white-collar jobs are at risk, then even your intern might get replaced before they finish onboarding.

You don’t have to love AI, but you do need to understand it. That’s why I’m here, to break it down, make it real and keep you tech ahead. If you have any questions about AI’s impact on your career, drop me a line. I’d love to help you out.

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Wait a minute: Sam Altman, creator of ChatGPT, went on record to say that he now believes artificial intelligence has surpassed human intelligence. He calls it the “event horizon.” But intelligence is judgment and emotional control. When AI can invent a human being, a real one with a heart, a soul and a messy, beautiful brain, then we’ll talk.

Privacy disaster: Meta’s AI assistant scoops up personal data from Facebook and Instagram to train its models. Even public posts, comments and interactions could be fair game unless you opt out. The catch? Most people don’t even know it’s happening. If you use the app, you really need to read this now.

🪙 Retail crypto grab: Walmart and Amazon are both reportedly exploring launching brand-backed crypto stablecoins. Insiders say it could let them ditch banks (and bank fees), process payments faster and soak up even more of your money. Finally, you can pay for eggs with Jeff Coins™.

Got an old Cloud Cam? Unplug it ASAP. Amazon shut down app support in 2022. If it’s still connected to the internet, hackers could break in and spy on you at home. The worst part? There’s no word yet how long this has been a risk. Appreciate the notice, Amazon … really.

🚘 Waymo’s not cheap: A study in San Francisco found it costs about $10 more than Lyft or Uber during peak hours. The twist? Some people actually prefer it. The quiet, driverless ride and having the car to yourself is enough to win them over. Introverts stay winning.

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⚡️ 3-second tech genius: Cover your laptop webcam with a real cover. Not tape. Sliding covers like this three-pack ($4, 33% off) send the message: “Nice try, hacker.”

📌 Pin your top emojis: No need to scroll to find your faves. On a Mac, press Fn (or Globe key) + E or Edit > Emoji & Symbols to open the Character Viewer. If the viewer is collapsed, click the Expand button (top right). Pick an emoji you love and hit Add to Favorites.

Not now, Microsoft: Don’t let a surprise Windows update crash your workflow. Go to Start > Settings > Windows Update. Then, choose how long you want to pause it. Think carefully, because once that time’s up, it’ll install before letting you pause again.

🍸 Venmoed $40 for cocktails? Everyone on Venmo can see that unless you tweak your settings. To lock it down, go to Settings > Privacy and switch it to Private. That way, only you and the person you’re paying can see it.

▶️ Test for success: Compare up to three thumbnails in YouTube Studio to see which gets the most engagement. Pick a video, click Test & compare under Thumbnail and hit Done. The test starts when your video is public. Wait up to two weeks to see the result: Winner (your best thumbnail), Preferred (good but just by a little) or None (no difference).

Answer: C) RAISE. According to actual Wordle overlords (aka data scientists with spreadsheets and too many whiteboards), RAISE gives you the strongest statistical edge, thanks to its juicy combo of common vowels and high-frequency consonants. 

Of course, some players will swear by words like SLATE or ADIEU. To that, I say, live your truth. 

🧻 What’s the best thing about playing Wordle on the toilet? You can eliminate vowels and your bowels at the same time. (I heard you laugh!)

The #1 tech newsletter in the U.S. wishes you a strong Monday with even stronger coffee. Tomorrow, we’re talking about what to do in terrifying moments of tech panic, Chipotle’s rapid expansion and a very fast sailboat. 

Until next time, feel good knowing you’re never the last to know. 🕶️ — Kim

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