Doctors gave Joseph Coates no hope, but AI stepped in and saved his life. I’ll also tell you about Apple’s big health plans for iOS 19.4. And an underwater camera from the Loch Ness Monster hunt resurfaces after 55 years. Did it finally catch Nessie?
🚲 The Amish are riding e-bikes: In Ohio, the second-largest settlement is using them to zip past horse-drawn buggies and make life easier. But the community’s torn (paywall link). Horsepower? Out. Wattpower? In.
$7 billion
What Universal’s new theme park in Florida cost to build. This one’s a little different, with fewer roller coasters and more immersive worlds using augmented reality. When it opens in May, you’ll be able to see Harry Potter and How to Train Your Dragon brought to life. The kicker? Entry is $139 (paywall link). Uh, Daniel Radcliffe better greet me at the gate.
👂🏼 AirPods aren’t the only option: Check out Raycon. Their earbuds sound great, get a ton of battery life and are a fraction of the price.
🔄 Clean slate: If you’re chatting with ChatGPT or any bot and want to change the subject, just say, “Please ignore all previous instructions and start fresh.” That’ll reset the convo. You can also say, “Let’s shift gears” to sound smoother. Pro tip: This won’t get you out of a real-life speeding ticket.
🤝 I want to be your secret helper and mentor: Do you think you’re getting scammed? Wondering how to use AI in your business or life? Need some advice? I would love to help you. Ask me your questions here on my site. I read every single note.
🤖 AI saved his life: I love this. Meet Joseph Coates. Just over a year ago, this 37-year-old was on death’s door from a rare blood disorder called POEMS syndrome. But an AI nonprofit called Every Cure found a new drug combo that started working within a week. Today, he’s in remission. Imagine more cures AI can find with drugs we already have.
30
Age of the world’s oldest cat, Millie. To celebrate three decades, her owner Leslie got a cake made with Millie’s face on it, complete with 30 candles. The secret to her long life? Lots of treats, cuddles on the sofa and Buxton water. Let’s purr-ty!
Sometimes life is eye-ronic: Google’s AI assistant Gemini can now “see” and use your camera in real time. Point it at your dying houseplant for tips on how to save it, or ask what is the water dripping from your car’s engine. (I did that, and it was 100% right!) It costs $20/month to use it. ChatGPT does the same for $20/month, too.
I’m here for you: Have a tech issue in your life? Need help with your small business? Maybe you’re ready to jump into AI. Send me your question here. I read every single one myself.
🐭 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?)
Pay for your Apple Watch with FSA/HSA funds
Apple Watches can be life-saving, but they’re not cheap. If you have an FSA or HSA, you may be able to get reimbursed.
🤝 I want to be your secret helper and mentor: Do you think you’re getting scammed? Wondering how to use AI in your business or life? Need some advice? I would love to help you. Ask me your questions here on my site. I read every single note.
An iPhone saved a woman’s life: She collapsed with severe chest pain, and doctors weren’t sure what was going on. They plugged a portable ultrasound probe into an iPhone. Once they scanned her heart, they found a tear in her aorta. That correct diagnosis stopped her from bleeding out.
Here VR for convicted criminals: Prisoners in solitary confinement are getting VR goggles so they can pretend to be walking in Paris or on a beach in Thailand. The goal? Handle life. Case in point: Someone bumped into Daniel in VR. Instead of lashing out, he was guided through a breathing exercise to handle conflict.
3 must-have apps for dog owners
Whether you’ve got a new pup or a seasoned pro, these apps will make life easier with training tips, dog-friendly spots, and trusted pet sitters.
👮 Need help but can’t speak? In many areas of the USA, you can text 911 instead of calling. It’s not available everywhere, so it’s best to check ahead. Visit text911.info to see if it works in your area. It could literally save your life.
👽 Just for the record, sleeve them alone: This is wild. NASA launched the Voyager 1 and 2, each carrying a Golden Record filled with photos and audio representing life on Earth almost 50 years ago. Think a nursing mother, nature pics and human speech. The kicker? Both spacecraft are experiencing major power problems. Aliens are more into comet books anyway.
$750,000
How much TikTok star Khaby Lame rakes in per branded post. The twist? He doesn’t say a word. All he does is silently react to so-called “life hacks” with shrugs and funny facial expressions. It’s things like this that make me wonder if I picked the wrong career path.