AI is secretly boosting the economy

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AI isn’t just changing tech. It’s fueling the economy. Data centers are being built faster than office buildings, creating jobs, driving spending, and boosting growth that few are reporting.

🤖 Cuban’s AI advice: Mark Cuban told his two college kids they probably won’t land jobs at big companies, AI already covers that. Instead, small and midsize businesses need “AI natives” to actually implement tools. His second rule? Your phone is basically a library, mentor and startup incubator all in one. Translation: Forget Fortune 500, small biz wants your ChatGPT brain.

$300,000+

That’s what a signed, working Apple-1 computer could fetch at auction. Only 82 of these relics still exist, and your odds of spotting one in the wild are about the same as Steve Jobs handing you his turtleneck. The auction also includes a pre-founding check signed by Jobs, a prototype iPod and a factory-sealed first-gen iPhone. 

🔐 Principle of least privilege: Business owners, ask your IT team if user accounts are set up this way. It means people and systems only get access to what they need to do their jobs, and nothing more. It’s a simple but effective way to protect your data from security breaches or costly mistakes.

💥 The 1-star shakedown: Scammers are flooding small businesses with fake one-star nasty Google reviews, then demanding big money (paywall link) to take them down. Contractors, movers, roofers, you name it. Victims report losing thousands in jobs while paying bribes. Because in 2025, your biggest threat isn’t a guy named Vinnie, it’s a burner Gmail account.

Tech takes the hit: The Bureau of Labor Statistics just admitted it was off by nearly 1 million jobs last year. That’s not a typo. Tech and information roles saw some of the steepest cuts. AI’s fingerprints are all over the mess, especially in entry-level roles. The robots didn’t just come for your job, they already started clocking in.

Scammers see millennials as easy prey

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Scams aren’t just targeting seniors anymore. Millennials are being hit with fake jobs, debt relief cons, romance tricks, and crypto scams. Here’s how to stay sharp.

AI just put these careers on notice

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Artificial intelligence is creating high paying careers, but it is also eliminating others. From broadcasting to translators and even reporters, many jobs are now at risk. Here is what students and professionals need to know to stay ahead.

Old fashioned job interviews are back

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Gen Z is getting a rude awakening! AI’s taking jobs, remote work’s over, and cheating through interviews won’t cut it. Here’s how to stay ahead.

Deepfake Elon Musk stole her money

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Laura from California fell for a crypto scam you won’t believe. Why Gen Z grads are saying no to Big Tech jobs, Tesla’s 24-hour charging diner, Apple’s foldable iPhone. Plus, a cool tip to get your own voice on Waze.

She ran a spy ring for North Korea

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An Arizona woman helped North Korean IT agents land fake remote jobs at 309 U.S. companies. Plus: you can now pay down national debt with Venmo, Microsoft reveals jobs AI is coming for, and why Mark Cuban reads 700 emails a day.

Layoffs in the name of AI

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Layoffs used to be a corporate embarrassment.  Now, CEOs are proudly slashing jobs as proof they’re all-in on AI.

30%

The share of telescope images now tainted by Starlink’s signal leakage. One out of every three cosmic snapshots gets photobombed by a satellite. Researchers spotted unintentional radiation, using 76 million images from the EDA2 telescope. These signals aren’t even part of the satellites’ jobs, they’re just leaking and contaminating data meant to map the cosmic “dark ages.”

✨ Manifesting, but make it AI: Vision boards are so 2006. Now it’s all about editing yourself into a trailer for your future. AI tools like Freepik and Runway let you simulate dream jobs, podcast guest spots, even private jets, with your own face (paywall link). Does it help? Maybe. Is it a little Black Mirror? Definitely.

AI jobs are exploding: There are 2.1 million listings already this year, and the average salary? $146,000. Roles mentioning generative AI skills pay up to 47% more than similar jobs without them. If you can prompt, code or even just speak AI fluently, you’re in high demand, and if you can’t, it’s time to catch up. Aren’t you glad you get this free newsletter?

How to spot ghost jobs

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Scammers post fake jobs to steal your personal info. Here’s how to spot them and protect yourself before you apply.

AI targets tattoo artist jobs

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A new machine promises faster, cleaner, less painful ink, and it’s heading to a shop near you.

How to start your own newsletter — July 12th, Hour 4

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Super-smart eighth grader Gagan from Washington calls in asking how to start his own tech newsletter for his pals. So cool! I cover a new bitcoin ATM scam, today’s most vulnerable jobs, and how to get cheap tickets on your next flight.

Over 1 million

That’s how many robots are working in Amazon warehouses. They do everything from moving packages to sorting items. The scary part? Robots already help with 75% of deliveries and are on track to outnumber human workers soon. First they take our jobs, then it’s the world. Better be nice to your Roomba.

AI vs. call center workers — July 5th, Hour 3

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AI is changing the voices of call center reps. You may never hear a thick accent again. Plus, criminals mail out ransomware, and Gen Z’s dream jobs. Plus, Kelly in Pennsylvania found details of her parents’ nasty court case online and wants it erased.