🙏 Can AI predict the next pope? Not really, but they’re giving it a shot. Grok and Gemini picked Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s former number two under Pope Francis. ChatGPT went with Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle. But even the bots will tell you it’s a guessing game. The process is way too secretive for data to crack … for now.
5 minutes
China’s top battery makers have reached five-minute charging speeds for EVs, more or less the time it takes at a gas station. CATL and BYD just flexed batteries that can deliver up to 320+ miles of range off a five-minute charge. Meanwhile, most U.S. EVs take 15 to 30 minutes.
🚗 A parent’s worst nightmare: An Uber driver recently took off with a sleeping 5-year-old daughter still in the back. The mom, Julia, called 911, but Uber refused to call the driver without paperwork. It took Toronto cops over an hour to find the girl safe. Uber’s apology? A $10 future ride credit, because nothing says “sorry, we misplaced your child” like one free quarter-ride to Chili’s.
$550 billion
That’s how much analysts say Google can get for YouTube if forced to sell it. Now the top streaming platform by viewership, YouTube is worth more than Disney, and all it took was 20 years of cat videos and Minecraft speedruns. Fun fact: The YouTube founder sold it to Google for $1.65 billion in 2006.
🧠 New Gen Z term to know: “Locking in.” If someone you know uses that phrase, it means they are cutting out distractions to focus on a personal goal. Think quitting social media, skipping parties and going all-in on fitness or making money. My dad used to call it “a kick in the a$$.”
Cloudy days for ASUS: Update the firmware in your ASUS router. It has a severe vulnerability that lets attackers remotely execute functions. That is, do whatever the heck they want on your network.
⚠️ Flying a drone? Be careful. They’re getting way too close to planes, especially around major U.S. airports. Some have come within 50 to 300 feet of passenger jets mid-flight. Most people don’t even realize they’re flying in restricted zones. The FAA is now testing jammers and lasers to stop it. Yep, it’s that serious.
Hackers can steal your home: With just a forged signature, cybercriminals can take out loans in your name, drain your equity and leave you with the mess. Click here to get a free home title history report, when you sign up using code KIM. You’ll also receive a free 14-day trial of their Million Dollar Triple Lock Protection.
$1 million
A rare photo of Abraham Lincoln might sell for that at auction. The pic was made between 1895 and 1900 using an original negative from 1860. Bidding starts at $250,000 and kicks off today at 10 a.m. ET. I’ll never forget when I told my son to get off his Xbox and said, “When Abraham Lincoln was your age, he used to walk 10 miles every day to get to school.” Ian responded, “Really? Well, when he was your age, he was president.” Kids.
💍 Be smitten, not bitten: Couples are losing thousands to photographers they find on social media. It all seems legit with a digital contract. Then, the shady shutterbugs ask for a cash deposit through Venmo or Zelle. But on the big day? They ghost you or show up and never deliver the photos. Folks, do your homework.
Nintendo Switch 2 update: Preorders are set for April 24, and the price is holding at $449.99. Accessories are getting more expensive. The Joy-Con is $94.99, the Pro Controller is $84.99, and the Switch 2 Camera is $54.99. Launch day’s locked for June 5. By the time I finish buying accessories, Nintendo is legally allowed to claim me as a dependent.
$3.4 million
Price tag of the world’s most accurate clock. The Aether clock OC 020 is as big as two refrigerators and weighs over 440 pounds. Let it tick for 10 billion years, and it would only be off by a second. That’s better than atomic clocks and could help predict earthquakes. No word if it has a snooze button.
🚨 Android alert: Watch out for a fake bank text asking you to call about a suspicious transaction. That’s when they’ll get you to share your card info and install a so-called Reader app. Next, you’re told to tap your bank card to your phone, and just like that, the app steals the card’s chip data with full access to your bank account.
🕵️ Scammers posing as the FBI: The lowest of the low. Scammers claim to be from the Internet Crime Complaint Center and offer to help you recover stolen money, then refer you to another “agent.” That’s when they ask for financial info and money. The real FBI won’t contact you like this or ask for payment.
300
The number of calls a day businessman and talent agent Ari Emanuel makes. He also wakes up at 4 a.m. to work out, then jumps on a call with his buddy Mark Wahlberg (paywall link). Quick math? If each call is two minutes, that’s 600 minutes, or 10 hours a day on the phone. Either he’s got a clone or a Bluetooth headset glued to his head.
📢 Government drone testing is back: The FAA says don’t panic if you see them swarming New Jersey skies. They’re testing over 100 drones through April 25. It’s apparently to improve drone detection and to make sure they don’t mess with aircraft navigation. New Mexico, North Dakota and Mississippi, you’re up next. Don’t worry, it’s just 100 flying robots stress-testing your paranoia.
🗣️ YouTube wants to dub every video: AI tools will soon translate any video into any language (paywall link). It’ll use the creator’s own voice and sync their lips to match. The AI behind this is trained on current videos … and you agreed to it years ago. If you’re a creator, congrats, you’re multilingual now.
2027
That’s the year the world allegedly ends, according to a 12th-century prophecy. The internet is going nuts. After Pope Francis’ sudden death at 88, the so-called Prophecy of the Popes resurfaced with its final line: The next (and last) pope, “Peter the Roman,” will lead during a time of chaos, followed by Judgment Day. Out of the nine front-runners to become the next pope, three are named Peter. No pressure.
About 43.5°F
That’s the average refrigerator temperature in thousands of homes across Europe. The FDA says yours should be at 40°F or colder. Anything warmer, bacteria grows on your ready-to-eat food. So yeah, check your settings. If your cheese grabs you back, maybe turn that dial down.