📍 Bait and switch: Google found over 10,000 fake listings on Google Maps and is now suing the scammers behind it. People would search for a service (often an emergency one) and get directed to a phony business. Then the scam service would show up and demand way more money than originally quoted. That’s why you need to verify details, folks.
$1 million
Jerry Hall’s dress that inspired Princess Diana’s wedding gown is listed on eBay. Diana was in awe when she saw Jerry wear it at a royal birthday party. When Diana got engaged, she hit up its then-unknown designers, David and Elizabeth Emanuel, to create her now iconic gown with a 25-foot train and 10,000 pearls. It was stunning!
💪 “Granny Guns”: That’s what fans call 68-year-old weight lifting star Marlene Flowers. After a scare hospitalized her 10 years ago, she changed her life, and her son started sharing her workouts on TikTok. Now, over 2 million followers watch her flex her big biceps. Love her. It’s never too late to feel strong and confident.
Zoom’s AI is getting smarter: By the end of the month, Zoom’s AI Companion will identify and perform tasks for you. Think scheduling follow-ups, generating documents from meetings and creating video clips. If you’re a Workplace user, you’ll find it under a new Tasks tab. Bonus: It won’t cost you extra, yet.
Over 60% of the time
AI search engines get their sources wrong (paywall link). In a study, chatbots were asked to match news to the correct headline, publisher, date and URL. They almost never admit they’re unsure and just blurt out wrong answers like they’re completely right.
☁️Save a cloud-load: Want to cut your cloud costs in half? See if your company qualifies to get Oracle’s Cloud Infrastructure for 50% off now at Oracle.com/kim.
Nvidia’s dropping personal AI computers: This is something. The DGX PCs are built for researchers, developers, robotics engineers, data scientists and students. The big perk? You can tune AI models locally instead of relying on expensive cloud services. They’re not cheap. Prices start at $4,000! Reserve yours here.
🚨 Cybertruck recall: Tesla is recalling nearly all Cybertrucks to fix an exterior panel that could just fly off while driving. Own one? Head to a Tesla service center for a free fix before your truck starts shedding parts on the highway.
Meta doesn’t want you to read this: A new memoir by Facebook’s former director of public policy, Sarah Wynn-Williams, alleges how Zuck buddied up to China, refused to take meetings before noon, wanted her to plan a mob for his arrival in China, and exposes other Meta execs. Meta denies everything. But Careless People has already sold 60,000 copies in its first week and is a top 10 Amazon bestseller.
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📨 Don’t ignore this email: If you’re still using Windows 10, check your inbox. Microsoft’s reminding you to upgrade to Windows 11 before security support ends on Oct. 14. They’ll tell you if your computer can update or if you need a new one. Hackers are waiting in the wings to target you if you don’t.
14% decrease
That’s how much less money the “Tooth Fairy” is giving out these days. A survey of 1,000 parents shows payouts dropped from an average of $5.84 to $5.01. Brace yourselves, I was lucky if I got a quarter! What do tooth fairies have on their phones? Bluetooth! (Share this one with the kiddos!)
$65 a night
What it’ll cost you to skip the hotel and stay in a convent run by sisters in Rome. Rooms come with the basics like a single bed, drawers and a sink (paywall link). Plus, there’s a simple buffet-style breakfast waiting for you every morning at 7 a.m. Blessings included, obviously. Remember to leave some Rome in your suitcase for souvenirs. (Oh, it’s a good one!)
The future of robotics: A Swedish startup just built “Luna,” a robot dog that adapts like a human — no preprogrammed data, no training simulations. Instead, it’s one of the first examples of physical agentic AI, meaning it can think, make decisions and act on its own. Since it learns through experience, they’re going to hire a dog trainer to teach it. Wild. Watch it here.
State of inn-ertia: This is nuts. A woman found a deal on Expedia and got a message from the hotel asking her to cancel because the rate was “too low.” Expedia reassured her that as long as she didn’t cancel, the hotel had to honor it. But the hotel threatened to cancel the room unless she backed out.
117 years old
The remarkable age Maria Branyas Morera reached before passing away last August. Scientists discovered her secret: genes that kept her cells acting 17 years younger and gut bacteria as healthy as an infant’s. Longevity goals, anyone?
🚂 Thieves’ loco motives: I never thought of this crime. Gangs hitting railroads jumped 40%, costing over $100 million. Around $4 million of that comes from the BNSF railroad in California. They’re using bolt cutters to break into shipping containers to steal electronics, sneakers and toys.
👔 Verify your LinkedIn profile: LinkedIn has verified over 55 million accounts. The platform says verified profiles are seeing 60% more views, 30% more connection requests and a 50% boost in post engagement. Bonus: If you’re hiring, use the hashtag #Hiring on your profile photo, and here’s my special link for a free job posting. Nice.
SpellRing can translate sign language: This is something. Researchers developed a ring for your thumb, and as you sign, it sends out sound waves. A microphone picks them up, AI analyzes them and gestures become letters on a screen. It’s already 82% to 92% accurate.
The FTC is coming for Click Profit: The company scammed customers out of at least $14 million, promising their AI supercomputer picks the best products to sell on Amazon. All you had to do was hand over tens of thousands of dollars. It was all bogus. Folks made little to no money and were stuck with unsold inventory.