🔊 Say no to Sonos: Last summer, Sonos dropped a redesigned app that bricked half its speakers. Since then, they’ve pushed out 20 updates, their market value has tanked $500 million, and their CEO just got the boot. Somehow, the software is still unstable and key features are missing (paywall link). What a mess.
Larry Ellison, AI and a future right out of ‘1984’
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AI is all over the news and for good reason: Whoever controls AI controls geopolitics and economics. One big player in the AI world is Larry Ellison. He never finished college; he left to start building databases for the CIA. After that, he co-founded Oracle, and now, depending on the day, he’s the fourth-wealthiest person in the world.
Oracle is a $320 billion tech giant powering cloud computing, databases, and AI for businesses, governments and the military. When Larry talks about AI, I listen. His latest prediction? “Citizens will be on their best behavior.”
Uh, what?
During a recent Oracle investor meeting, Larry laid out his vision for AI-powered surveillance. Every cop will be watched at all times, he says. “If there’s a problem, AI will report that problem and report it to the appropriate person. We are constantly recording and reporting everything that’s going on.”
This sure sounds like the telescreens that monitored every move in Orwell’s dystopia. They just happen to be security cameras, drones, doorbell cams, traffic cams, smartphones, smart TVs, store sensors, workplace monitoring systems, biometric scanners, license plate readers, AI-powered self-checkouts and other devices.
400 times every week
A 2020 study estimated the average American was recorded 238 times in a week. That’s 160 times by traffic and dash cams, 40 times at work, 24 times while running errands, and 14 more times from doorbell and home security cams.
Today, I’d say a more accurate estimate is closer to 400 to 500 times per week. That’s 60 to 70 times per day, or about once every 20 minutes while you’re awake.
Drones in high-speed chases?
Larry spoke about drones replacing police cars. “It’s very simple in the age of autonomous drones,” he says. Imagine a future where the next police chase is a swarm of drones locking onto their target.
I’m sure some network exec is already figuring out how to turn this concept into a reality show.
Surveillance is a double-edged sword
73 days
Average length of time it takes to sell your house in the current market. Blame the high 30-year mortgage rate, which is around 7%. Not all is lost, though; rates could fall to 6.5% by the end of the year.
A new way in: “Syncjacking” starts when you install a Chrome extension that secretly logs you into a hacker-controlled Google account. Later, a pop-up (think a fake Zoom update) appears. Hit “Install” and you’re downloading malware.
💰 Modern gold rush: I thought you’d like this interesting analysis from the Wall Street Journal. AI will reshape the world, but the companies behind it need boatloads of cash. Just ask Nvidia, whose stock plunged $600 billion last week thanks to DeepSeek. The WSJ says big bets are now on Digital Realty, Blue Owl and up-and-comer CoreWeave (paywall link). I don’t have any opinions on these stocks, so use your best judgment.
Website owners, beware: There’s a war brewing between the WordPress co-founder and WP Engine, a major managed WordPress hosting provider. What does this mean for you? Fewer updates and security fixes. If your site runs on WordPress, it’s not a bad idea to consider other options. I like Wix and Squarespace.
🚨 Still waiting on that data breach notice? UnitedHealth’s massive hack hit one in every two Americans, and some of us still haven’t been notified. Change Healthcare is offering two years of free credit monitoring if you were affected. Odds are your data was breached, so sign up now at changecybersupport.com.
50 degrees
How warm, in Fahrenheit, a new smart fabric gets after just 10 minutes in the sun. Specialized nanoparticles absorb sunlight and convert it into heat. Even cooler warmer? It has temperature-responsive dyes, so you’ll know when it’s working.
This video is all over social media: It shows Angela Yang and Sean Kay, two of the young figure skaters who died in the Washington, D.C., crash, taking home gold in a November competition. Their excitement and smiles are just heartbreaking, considering what happened. Be sure to have tissues nearby if you watch the video.
Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance Systems (TCAS): This tech detects when two aircraft are about to converge and gives pilots a warning. The alerts are limited at low altitudes, though, to prevent risky maneuvers. That’s why it couldn’t help the jetliner and military helicopter in last week’s crash in Washington, D.C., which killed 67 people (paywall link). The jet and copter were flying somewhere between 200 feet and 400 feet above surface level. So sad.
Watch what you say: Ever chat with Meta AI on WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger? Now, the bot will remember everything. If you say you’re hungry, it’ll suggest your favorite foods by picking up clues. Meta says it’ll only remember things from one-on-one convos, not group chats. Pro tip: Tap the three-dot icon next to the chat to delete your history.
📞 “Hi, it’s Jessica”: No, it’s a scammer pretending they’ve been trying to reach you about your loan application. All they need is to verify a few details … like your bank account and Social Security number. If you’ve actually applied for a loan, hang up and call the company directly.
💰 Apple Watch class-action settlement: The tech giant is coughing up $20 million for selling Apple Watches with batteries that swelled up. You could get up to $50 if you bought a first-gen model or a Series 1, Series 2 or Series 3 Apple Watch between April 24, 2015, and Feb. 6, 2024. Confirm your payment info by April 10.
Even the pros get targeted: An engineer almost fell for a next-level Google phishing scam after a call from “Google” claiming his account was under attack. When he asked for proof, they sent an email from “important.g.co” — a legit Google-owned domain. He still didn’t buy it. PSA: Google will never call you to tell you your account is in jeopardy.
✋ New study out on data-hungry apps: Facebook and Instagram take the crown, sharing a whopping 68.6% of your personal info with third parties. Amazon, YouTube, Candy Crush Saga and Bumble aren’t much better. Now, go check your app permissions, because an alarm clock app doesn’t need to access your contacts.
🐶 Lost and found: Such a great story! Paul Guilbeault’s dog, Damian, ran away while he was moving from Massachusetts to Arizona in 2017. Fast-forward to a couple of weeks ago, when Paul got a text: “Damian’s been found.” The American Kennel Club tracked his chip all those years later! Paul drove 14 hours to Oklahoma City for the reunion. The pup’s cataracts made him a bit slow to recognize him, but, once he did, it was pure joy.
Read all about it: Does your town still have a newspaper? An average of 2.5 newspapers close each week, and 200 U.S. counties are now considered “news deserts.” Facebook groups are stepping in, covering everything from events to weather. Some have almost as many members as their town’s population. Search for your town’s name to see if there’s a group for you.
Ready for takeoff: Before your drone’s next flight, check out B4UFLY. It’s the FAA’s new tool for knowing where you can and can’t fly — airspace restrictions, temporary zones for special events and no-fly zones. The FAA has given the thumbs-up to four companies to use it. Try it on the web or your phone for Android or iOS.
🏥 Your health, at risk: Two patient monitors that track your vitals have gaping security holes. Hackers can snoop on data, mess with settings or even assume total control. The Chinese-built models completely ignore network settings, meaning someone with the right know-how can break in. The only fix hospitals have? Unplug it and keep it off the network.
Update your Apple gear — except your iPhone: Apple dropped updates for new and old devices. Wait a few weeks to update your iPhone, though, because I’m hearing the new update destroys your battery life. On the bright side, the security flaws patched in iPadOS 18.3, macOS Sequoia 15.3, watchOS 11.3, tvOS 18.3 and visionOS 2.3 keep malicious apps from taking full control of your device. Go to Settings > General > Software Update and get it done. Here’s the full list of fixes.