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For the “Yellowstone” series finale on Sunday, Dec. 15. (I was one of ‘em!) Season 5’s second-half premiere pulled in 16.4 million viewers across all platforms, but Sunday’s finale is a record high for the Paramount Network and CMT. Talk about going to the train station …
🧬 This is a crazy story: Jenna Gerwatowski, 23, took a DNA test and discovered her grandmother, whom she’s never met, is 100% a murder suspect. A newborn was left to die at a Michigan campground in the 1997 “Baby Garnet” cold case. Investigators matched Jenna and Jenna’s mother’s DNA to the baby and charged Jenna’s grandma, Nancy Gerwatowski, with the child’s murder. I can’t imagine how the family feels.
A scam for the holidays: “Card declined” messages are all over scammy retail sites. It’s a trick to get you to pay twice so they can steal twice the card details. Before you check out, make sure the site’s URL starts with “https” (don’t skip the -s!). My trick: Save more money shopping online with the Upside app. Use promo code KIM so they know I sent ya.
“AI Therapist”: That’s a new job title in the AI world. Kyle Fish’s gig at an AI company (paywall link) is to make sure the AI systems are treated ethically as they evolve so they can be more likely to achieve consciousness. I’ve always said being polite to your bot generates better answers.
Every move you make, every breath you take, I’ll be watching you: The next Walmart greeter you see may be wearing a body cam. The retail giant’s new program will stop thieves and keep workers safe when things get tense. TJX Companies, which owns TJ Maxx and Marshalls, already uses them, but some worry the cams are really spying on employees. Probably all of the above.
💬 Encryption is your BFF: ICYMI, I told you the FBI warned you to use apps with end-to-end encryption for your sensitive convos because of Chinese hackers. But what about 2FA security? Yep, they can be intercepted, too. Your best bet is to use an app like Google Authenticator. While you’re at it, turn on automatic software updates to plug any security holes.
😂 Murphy’s Law states anything that can happen will happen: But are you familiar with Cole’s Law? It’s finely shredded raw cabbage with a salad dressing, commonly either vinaigrette or mayonnaise.
🪦 Where there’s a will, there’s a relative: Jesse Beck, 45, recorded a video “will” four days before he died in a motorcycle crash. It didn’t hold up in court. Why? Estate law (paywall link) is old school, and video or audio recordings don’t cut it. The legal validity of wills from text messages and emails also depends on where you live, but a signed, witnessed and notarized paper doc is still the gold standard.
Face, meet palm: A so-called “misinformation expert” was caught spreading misinformation. Jeff Hancock submitted a doc with fake AI-generated citations. Minnesota’s Attorney General paid him $600 an hour for expert testimony defending a new state law that bans AI-driven voter deception. You can’t make this up … but a bot did.
🎥 “Endorsement for AI”: That’s what Lisa Kudrow is calling Tom Hanks’ new film, “Here.” The Robert Zemeckis-directed flick uses AI to de-age Hanks and Robin Wright into younger versions of themselves. The “Friends” star thinks bots will replace real actors. It’s like she heard my show last week.
That escalated quickly: TikTok Shop is pulling in more customers than retail giants Shein and Sephora. It launched in September of 2023, and 45% of Americans have already bought something through it. Fashion and beauty items pitched by influencers are the most popular.
