Less than five years: That’s when Nvidia’s CEO says humanoid robots working 24/7 will be mainstream. They’ll show up in factories first, since the tasks are specific. Renting one could run you about $100,000 a year. So maybe don’t expect one folding your laundry just yet.
Creepy data grab and how to make it stop
This is the kind of thing that makes you wish flip phones were still a thing. The world has moved from marketing to digital profiling. We are being tracked like never before.
Advertising giant Publicis Groupe just released a video bragging that its CoreAI platform tracks a staggering 91% of all adult internet users. Yes, that probably includes you, me and everyone we know.
In the clip, they introduce “Lola.” CoreAI knows:
- What she watches and when
- Everything she purchases
- How inflation affects her shopping choices
- Where she shops in person and online
- What ads she’s seen
- Who she follows on social media
- When she’s vulnerable to switching to a cheaper brand
- Her medical issues
They’re not guessing. This is based on real-world tracking across phones, smart TVs, loyalty cards, public records, app data, cookies and more.
🕵️♀️ You agreed to this
Companies like Publicis, Acxiom and Epsilon aren’t names you see on your apps. They’re behind the curtain, collecting everything they can from:
- Apps you install (especially free ones)
- Websites you visit
- Smart devices in your home
- Retail purchases and loyalty programs
- Location data from your phone
- Even your connected car’s infotainment system
🔐 What you can do about it
Start kicking creeps out of your data trail. PSA: It’s work.
- Review and clear your Google activity history. Google logs every search, site visit, voice command and more.
- Turn off ad personalization on Google, Facebook, Amazon and Instagram. These platforms track you to build ad profiles. Check these settings monthly, they often reset.
- Don’t link your accounts. Logging in with Google or Facebook sounds convenient, but it gives companies more data than you realize.
- Check app permissions. You’d be surprised how many apps have access to your location, contacts, microphone or SMS history.
- Limit location tracking. Disable “precise location” for apps that don’t need it, especially shopping apps, weather apps and games.
🛑 Publicis isn’t just buying data
5 cool tricks for your router
You never hear anyone say, “This router is amazing. It changed my life!” It’s sad because that little guy controls your entire home’s internet. If yours has a USB port (check the back!), you can unlock some surprisingly useful features. You’re gonna love this.
$5.7 million
The world’s most expensive and rarest dog. He’s the first wolf and Caucasian shepherd mix called a “wolfdog.” At 8 months old, he already weighs 165 pounds. Speaking of … I can’t take my dog to the park as all the ducks keep trying to bite her. My fault for getting one that’s pure bread.
Do this to see if you got hacked
I wish that I could wave my magic wand and automatically reinstate all the accounts for anyone who asks me for help because their Facebook account got hacked, their ex knows everywhere they go or they’ve lost access to everything and even money for some reason.
🚀 Trump announced Boeing will build the F-47: It’ll still have a human pilot, but it’s capable of flying autonomously with a swarm of AI-powered drone wingmen. This next-gen jet packs stealth tech, advanced sensors and hypersonic weaponry. China and Russia? Not even close. Watch more here.
🐭 Coming to Disney next year: This is freakin’ awesome. Real Star Wars droids roaming around. They’re working with Google DeepMind and Nvidia’s new Newton model to bring them to life. This will help them walk around the parks, be more expressive and do tricky tasks on their own. What do you call a pirate droid? Arr-2 D2. (Good one, right?)
Scam alert: Google’s new call-scanning feature tells you in real time if you’re getting swindled on the phone. AI analyzes conversations, and if something sketchy happens, you get an audio, vibration and visual warning. It’s for Pixel 9 or later only. Go to the Phone app > Settings > Scan Detection. PSA: Google says they’re not saving your calls. Yea, right.
🎮 Game over, cheaters: You’ll be banned forever if you’re caught selling your Call of Duty account. This is a big problem, so Activision is adding new anti-cheat tech before Season 3 of Black Ops 6 and Warzone starts.
Tasting digital food in virtual reality: Scientists are developing tech that detects taste molecules, converts them into electrical signals and sends them to a mouthpiece that releases chemicals to mimic flavors. They can already transmit these signals from California to Ohio. Penne for your thoughts?
Apple’s shiny new modem: The iPhone 16e is the first iPhone to feature Apple’s own C1 modem, marking a move away from Qualcomm. So how’s it doing? Depends on your carrier. On AT&T and Verizon, the 16e had better download and upload speeds than the regular iPhone 16. But on T-Mobile, the iPhone 16 still had slightly better upload speeds.
Space advertising: Imagine stepping outside to look at the stars … and seeing a giant glowing billboard in the sky. That could soon be a reality, with Russian companies planning to launch swarms of laser-equipped satellites to project light into Earth’s low orbit. The kicker? There’s no global ban on this yet.
🌐 Protecting undersea internet cables: I’m not sure if you know that they carry 95% of the world’s internet traffic and are a known target for sabotage. Now, there’s new tech that can “listen” for vibrations in the cable’s light signals — like if a diver touches it or a ship drags an anchor too close.
🚘 Buy a car, get $2,300: You’ll score that in Amazon gift cards if you shop on Amazon Autos. You can see prices up front and customize your ride right from your couch. When you’re ready, schedule a pickup, sign the paperwork at the dealership and drive off. In about two weeks, you’ll get two emails from Amazon, each with a $1,150 gift card.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
👩⚖️ Hailey Bieber v. haters: You just won’t talk to someone who trolls you on social media. If you’re a Bieber, no way. A viral TikTok video and a YouTube series are calling Hailey Bieber a bully for supposedly liking a mean post about Selena Gomez’s fiancé, Benny Blanco. Now, she’s lawyering up with Lisa Moore, who helped Cardi B win a $4 million defamation case.
Copilot is back: A recent Windows 11 update removed the app from some devices. Microsoft rolled out an emergency update that should reinstall it on your system. Haven’t seen it yet? You can manually install it from the Microsoft Store.
“What’d you say?” If you find yourself asking this more and more, make a change. Today’s tech is so much better than the hearing aids other generations wore. These hearing aids have two tiny processors that analyze the sound around you to make conversations crystal clear. Incredible.
A sound idea: New tech beams sound to a specific spot without speakers or headphones. How? It sends two ultrasonic waves that bend around obstacles, creating a sound bubble only the right person can hear. Imagine walking up to a museum exhibit and getting the narration without wearing headphones or bothering anyone else. Love that!
One of the worst phishing scams: It’s coming for Mac owners, with hackers trying to steal your Apple ID. While you’re browsing in Safari, a fake pop-up appears pretending to be a security alert. What makes it extra sneaky? The page you’re on actually freezes, making it feel like your computer’s locked up. If it happens, don’t click anything. Just restart your browser.