News - Page 63 of 151

Your bank wants your voice. Just say no.

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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?

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The strange and weird things captured on Google Maps

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I love Google Maps. It’s one of those everyday tech tools that actually makes life easier. From finding late-night tacos to dodging traffic like a pro, it’s still the gold standard in navigation. (Sorry, Apple Maps, you’re catching up but not quite there yet.)

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Let’s get physical, physical

🏋️ Get into gear on Amazon’s Big Spring Sale.

Track your steps, heart rate and more with a Fitbit (25% off).
Get a smart scale (37% off) to measure more than pounds.
Recover from sore muscles with a massage gun (45% off).
Grab a nonslip yoga mat (34% off) for support.
If you do Pilates like I do, this bar kit (23% off) is great.
Hop with a cordless jump rope (19% off) that won’t tangle.
This running armband (23% off) holds your phone and earbuds.
Hit the trails with hiking poles (23% off) that fold up quickly.
Protect your skin with SPF 50 sunscreen (33% off).

🥤 Quench your thirst: An insulated flask (15% off) and a hydration backpack (17% off) help you stay cool on the go.

We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.

💸 $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.

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!

🎬 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.

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.

About time: If your teen is using the AI chat app Character.AI, turn on Parental Insights to get a weekly report showing how much time they spend on it, which bots they talk to and for how long. This comes after a heartbreaking case where a Florida mom said her 14-year-old son took his own life after forming a bond with a chatbot on the app. Bottom line: These AI friends aren’t always harmless.

📺 Lost the remote again? If you own a new 2025 Samsung TV and a Galaxy Watch 7 or Watch Ultra, control your TV with a flick of your wrist. Literally. Move the cursor by waving your arm, pinch your fingers to select apps, make a fist to exit or swipe the watch bezel to scroll. Neato!

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🧠 How every zombie movie starts: Scientists recently revived activity in a dead pig’s brain by pumping it full of a special chemical cocktail designed to mimic blood flow. The result? Brain cells started producing proteins and showing signs of life, but it wasn’t conscious. Now they want to try this on a human brain. Personally, I can think of a few better ways to spend science funding that don’t sound like a prequel to The Walking Dead.

Ditch the algorithm junk: Facebook is adding a new Friends tab that only shows posts, stories, Reels and birthdays from people you actually know. No sponsored content, suggested posts or group clutter. Look for it in the navigation bar.

⚠️ Sam’s Club data breach: We don’t know a lot, yet. The Clop ransomware gang listed Sam’s Club on its leak site. All Sam’s Club says is that they’re investigating the matter. Better to be proactive. Watch your credit card statements for fraud.

17 teaspoons

Added sugar most Americans eat or drink each day. Wow! It’s way more than the 9-teaspoon limit for men and 6 for women. But watch out for diet sodas or sugar-free snacks with artificial sweeteners like sucralose. They can make you hungrier. Did you hear the sugar cube took etiquette classes? Now, he’s refined! 🍬

💅 Feel like a spy: Put a smart NFC chip (paywall link) under your manicure. It’s a neat party trick to share social media links, send texts or open apps with just your finger. Here’s one on Amazon, but they don’t always work smoothly. Fun but could use a bit more … polish (I know you laughed).

We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.

Microsoft Excel World Championship: Yup, it’s a real thing. Contestants get a data-loaded spreadsheet and create formulas to solve challenges and rack up points. Want in? Sign up here. For the rest of us, Microsoft’s pushing Copilot in Excel, so you can just tell it what to do and ask for pre-written formulas.

79%

Of people 12 and older have listened to audio online in the past month. That’s about 228 million Americans, a record high. The number jumps to 90% for folks 12 to 34. About 73% listen at least once a week. Yay, you’ll love my weekly podcasts and daily tech update on Apple and Spotify.

👶 Birth rates are declining: If you’re wondering why no one’s settling down anymore, here’s a stat for you: Over half of 18- to 34-year-olds in the U.S. aren’t in a steady relationship. Blame tech. Folks are spending more time on social media, video games and TV than hanging out with each other. Can’t date if you’re glued to a screen!

00Heaven: Meet the big guns producing the next Bond film. Amazon picked Amy Pascal from Spider-Man and David Heyman, who’s behind Harry Potter. This’ll be the first time the Broccoli family won’t take charge since Amazon MGM got the rights from them. Who do you want as the next Bond girl? Sorry, I’m way too busy.