News - Page 24 of 112

Your bank wants your voice. Just say no.

ID 141901747 © Andreusk | Dreamstime.com

When I told my bank I didn’t want them using my voice as a biometric security measure, they pushed back — hard.

“It’s for your protection,” they insisted.

But here’s the deal: I didn’t ask for it. I didn’t consent to it. And I definitely don’t want a recording of my voice floating in some database I have zero control over.

🧬 Your voice is you

We’ve all seen the headlines. AI voice cloning isn’t some futuristic sci-fi threat. It’s happening right now. You’ve heard my voice a thousand times. It would be nothing to clone it.

But guess what? It’s just as easy to clone yours.

All it takes is 10 seconds of audio. Just enough for a scammer to say, “Hi, I forgot my password,” in your voice. Once you hand over your voiceprint, there’s no taking it back.

🚨 The identity arms race

Here’s what to do, and it’s super simple: Call your bank’s customer service line and ask to opt out of voice authentication.

It takes two minutes. Can’t do it now? Set a reminder. You’ll thank yourself later.

Pro tip: Never Google your bank’s number. Scammers plant fake listings. Use the number on your debit card or go directly to the bank’s official website.

🛡️ Want even better protection?

Continue reading →

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Is Google the next Kodak? Ouch. That’s got to leave a mark. Alphabet’s stock is down 25% from its highs, and most GenZers say they “ChatGPT’d” something instead of “Googled.” I called it 2.5 years ago. Google was on its way out. Some of you laughed. You’re not laughing now.

$13,000/month

What a guy with no college degree makes as a freelance music engineer. He mixes 30 to 40 songs a day on Fiverr for clients around the world. He works from home with a flexible schedule. It’s all about finding your niche.

Better than email: Need to transfer photos, videos and docs from your Android phone to a Windows PC? Forget email. Use Google Share. It’s free and it works great!

🇨🇳 Say it’s not Tso: Obviously, we just don’t care about giving China even more of our data. China’s DeepSeek just passed ChatGPT in new monthly website visits with 524.7 million, compared to ChatGPT’s 500 million. DeepSeek holds 12.12% of the chatbot market, second to ChatGPT. Think about what you hand over to this communist chatbot.

⏰ Don’t be alarmed: Over 170 million Americans use TikTok. Isn’t that nuts? The clock is ticking on the TikTok sale. President Trump says the TikTok deal will happen before this Saturday’s deadline. There are a lot of potential buyers with $100 billion or more to spend, but the president will make the final call. I’d love to be in the room, hearing those conversations.

There are over 1 billion malware programs: Antivirus software scans your system for viruses, ransomware and other threats and removes them before they cause damage. Protect five devices for only $19.

5 seconds

If you can’t balance on one foot for that long, you have a higher fall risk. Try standing on your nondominant leg while brushing your teeth. If you can last for 30 seconds, you’re doing great. Hold onto something if you’re wobbly, though, OK?

🌲 This is tree-mendous: Nearsightedness in kids is exploding because of screens. Get this. In a study, children were placed in a classroom with tree imagery and a sky-like ceiling. After a year, they showed less vision decline than those in a regular room. Time to go outside, kids!

😱 This could be the start of something terrible: Scientists are on the verge of growing spare human bodies for medicine! Seriously. It’d likely be done using stem cells and artificial wombs, and could help with the organ shortage and testing new drugs. These “bodyoids” apparently wouldn’t feel pain or be able to think. Yikes.

Nearly 500 miles

How far Mercedes-Benz’s new CLA EV can go on a single charge. It charges fast, too, getting around 200 miles in just 10 minutes. Or it charges even faster if you listen to AC/DC.

Apple’s revamping the Health app: They’re adding an AI virtual doctor (paywall link). It’ll analyze health data from your devices and give you personalized tips to stay healthy, eat better and improve sleep. ETA: Sometime next year. I see me doing tips on how to remove your data, too.

📦 Remember the iPhone porch pirates? It was a major crime ring (paywall link). Hackers built software to scrape FedEx tracking numbers, then bribed AT&T employees to leak delivery addresses and order details for thousands of phones. Once the package showed up, a runner would grab it. Wild.

Ford wants to bring back stick shift: Yep, they filed a patent to add manual transmissions to EVs. There won’t be real gears. It’s all to make EVs feel more fun to drive. Ironic, considering only 18% of all Americans know how to drive manuals and can’t catch a brake.

🚨 Chrome warning: Watch out for websites offering free file conversions, like .doc to .pdf. Hackers are booby-trapping them with malware that can steal your SSN, banking info and passwords. FYI: These sites are hard to spot, so make sure you’ve got real-time antivirus protection. This is the one I use.

💸 $8.2 million in crypto seized: Give the DOJ a hand for cracking down on romance baiting. You know, scammers promise to love you forever, help you invest in bogus platforms and vanish with your money. One woman lost over $660,000 (her life savings), and the scammer still asked for another $300,000 to “improve her credit score.” Wondering if you’re getting scammed? Ask me here.

$5,750

That’s how much Jeff Bezos’ future wife Lauren Sánchez’s coffee cup costs. Well, sort of. It’s actually a special designer Balenciaga handbag called the “9 AM Clutch.” Dumb.

🎬 Keeping it reel: Gen Z is ditching big-budget TV and movies for social media content. They say it feels more real, more relevant and they trust creators over celebrities. Barry helped produce a feature film over a decade ago (Frontera — Watch it!), and it was tough then. Today? Getting a movie made is like climbing Everest in flip-flops.

Have some free time today? Check out OpenAI’s Academy. It’s loaded with guides, live streams, videos and in-person events. You’ll find everything from how to build custom GPTs to crafting a storyboard. It’s free if you create an account. Check it out. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: AI won’t replace your job. Someone with AI skills will.