Oklahoma and Alabama now have AI-powered vending machines that don’t dispense snacks; they sell bullets. American Rounds says their facial-scanning tech can verify the age of a buyer. I’m sure it’ll be able to detect if someone’s wearing a mask or a ton of makeup, too, right?
Use the NewsBreak app? Delete it. Here’s why
My husband, Barry, is a total news junkie. He has all the major news apps on his phone. That’s why this story stopped me in my tracks. NewsBreak, the most downloaded news app in the U.S., with more than 50 million readers per month, has strong ties to Communist China.
A Reuters investigation shows the NewsBreak app is also packed with inaccurate stories (including some that appear to be totally made up by AI), content stolen from legit sources and fake bylines. This is bad, people.
Join the party
NewsBreak is a privately owned company with offices in Mountain View, California, along with Beijing and Shanghai. It bills itself as “all things local” for American readers, but one of its primary backers is Beijing-based IDG Capital.
Never heard of it? Let me catch you up. In February, the Pentagon added IDG Capital to a list of Chinese companies said to be working directly with Beijing’s military.
Def not the write stuff
NewsBreak republishes news from sources like Reuters, Fox, the Associated Press and CNN. They used to republish my content and let me tell you, the traffic from it to my website was huge. NewsBreak stopped sharing my stuff when I started writing negatively about apps with ties to China. Coincidence? I don’t think so.
The rest of NewsBreak’s content is “written” by AI, with facts scraped from press releases and sites around the web. All this happens where half their staff works (about 200 people) — in their China-based offices. Their algorithm isn’t just choosing what stories make it in the app, by the way; it’s also influencing the angles of the coverage.
That’s a huge problem. When the parent company has a political agenda (i.e., China wants to destroy our commerce and influence votes), that trickles down into what you read.
When news is the money machine
Like most apps, NewsBreak makes bank by showing you ads. The more often you use the app, the more ads you’ll see — and the more money they make. That means the whole goal is to publish stories that keep you coming back.
That’s where things get messy. Take a story they published in December: “Christmas Day Tragedy Strikes Bridgeton, New Jersey Amid Rising Gun Violence in Small Towns.” Wow, I bet most of us would click on that. The problem? The shooting never happened.
Automakers want to get rid of AM radio
When I was growing up, my dad worked for United Airlines, and I traveled a lot. I would always sneak a portable AM radio in my backpack, and as the plane crisscrossed the country, I would tune into various stations along the way. Never would I have imagined what that little hobby would become for me.
Alexa can update you on your favorite teams: In the Alexa app, open Settings > Sports Update. Add your teams (you’ll find all the major American sports), and then say, “Alexa, give me my sports update” for scores and schedule info.
Every American's Social Security number could be up for grabs
Hackers leaked 2.7 billion records from National Public Data, including SSNs. What does this mean for you? Plus, dynamic pricing at grocery stores, Google’s new game-changing updates, and Ford’s latest ‘do not drive’ alert.
“He’s replaced me with ChatGPT”: A 25-year-old said her dad, a first-generation Chinese American, has replaced her with AI. Dad now uses AI instead of asking her for help translating, composing emails and keeping all his dad jokes in a dad-abase.
With the two astronauts stuck on the ISS, how long was the longest spaceflight ever taken by an American astronaut? In days, was it … A.) 371, B.) 665, C.) 204 or D.) 225?
200 cookies
What the average American eats each year. A 50-state survey showed one in six Americans, or a little over 16%, eats dessert daily. That percentage is highest in Tennessee, at 25%. On average, sweets cravings hit hardest at 2:30 p.m. For the record, Newman-O’s are my favorite cookie.
We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.
Over 2 million American teens vape: “This is Quitting” is a free texting program that offers clinically proven advice from experts and other young people who’ve quit. It’s effective, too — 35% of kids who enrolled were more likely to give up the habit after seven months. Pass it on: Text DITCHVAPE to 88709.
📝 Writing checks is dead: The average American writes just one check per year. Get ready for instant payments, where money transfers with zero delays and no charge — different from wire transfers, ACH and apps like PayPal. Last year, instant payments made up only 1.5% of all payments in the U.S., compared to 84% in India.
🔥 A laptop caught fire on an American Airlines flight: When the plane left the San Francisco gate on its way to Miami, chaos ensued, as folks grabbed their bags before jumping down the emergency exit slide. Panic turned into pushing, then minor injuries. When I flew Hawaiian Airlines a few weeks ago, they announced they had fireproof laptop bags on board. So smart.
We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.
🔫 Change is inevitable, except from vending machines: Several grocery stores in four states, including Oklahoma and Alabama, now have AI-powered vending machines that don’t dispense snacks; they sell bullets. American Rounds says their facial-scanning tech can verify the age of a buyer. I’m sure it’ll be able to detect if someone is wearing a mask or a ton of makeup, too, right?
American tourists are big targets abroad: You can thank Hollywood stereotypes that paint us all as wealthy. In some countries, you could be robbed, drugged or worse. If you’re traveling, keep your voice down (everyone knows an American accent), ditch USA-branded clothes and if something feels off, get outta there.
Burglars, life is short – don’t make it shorter: Keep an eye out for hidden cameras in your front yard, folks. South American gangs are placing them in bushes, disguising them in leaf-covered camouflage, to see your comings and goings. Trim your foliage and get a security system. My pick is SimpliSafe.
What a trip: An American Airlines passenger’s lost suitcase turned up in a Hollywood homeless encampment. After flying from Dallas, her AirTag tracked the bag’s detour to Denver, back to Dallas, then to Burbank and somehow into central L.A. How it happened is still a mystery. Her friend recovered the bag by paying off a local, who had the woman’s lost belongings in a shopping cart.
34.6% and 34.4%
U.S. shoppers who purchase at least one thing a month on Shein and Temu, respectively. The Chinese retailers have more American repeat shoppers than eBay and Etsy. Stay away, folks. The stuff is cheap, and you never know how much data they’re collecting.
Which musical artist used an American flag as the backdrop for their 1984 album, “Born in the U.S.A.”?
Keep your eyes peeled: Southern Californian residents got a creepy surprise: A camera, disguised with camouflage tape and leaves, spying on a whole street. Scary setup, right? Cops think it’s the work of South American theft rings scouting for their next break-in. Check your yard.
Tomfoolery: Don’t waste your time falling for “Olympics Has Fallen,” a fake documentary narrated by a phony Tom Cruise. It’s actually Russian disinformation about the Paris Olympics, loaded with AI tricks and a Netflix soundalike intro. Creative, but there are tells throughout, with “Tom” using non-American lingo like “hockey match” instead of “hockey game.”
Do you know what you spend every year on your phone, TV and internet bills? If not, put on your guessing hat. How much does the average American spend annually on all three services combined? Is it … A.) $1,500, B.) $2,500, C.) $3,000 or D.) $4,000?