💩 Speaking of drones: The “Poopcopter” is an AI drone system that cleans up your doggo’s mess in the backyard. Using real-time computer vision and machine learning, it scans the area to pinpoint the poop, and then it swoops down to scoop it up. It’s in the prototype phase, so you’re still on poop duty. Sorry.
Imagine stepping into an AI-powered doctor’s office - Now you can
When I saw this news, I had to share it with you. In our latest episode of “Black Mirror” comes to life, new AI-powered health care tech just dropped. I did a ton of research, so you know what it is when it pops into your hometown. And this is def a talker around the dinner table.
Inside the so-called CarePod, you can get your blood drawn, a blood pressure reading and a strep throat test … without a real live doctor or nurse present. That’s right. Just you and AI in a room. Say it with me out loud, “Holy mother of robots!”
Paging doctor robot
CarePod is the baby of AI-centric health care company Forward Health. It has facilities across the U.S. that blend AI-powered tech with traditional health care. People say it feels like your doctor’s office collided with an Apple Store.
The first 25 CarePods will launch in cities like Scottsdale, San Francisco, New York, Chicago and Philadelphia. It’s hoping to have 3,200 rob docs up and running within a year. You’ll find CarePods in malls and office buildings if all goes well.
Open the health pod door, Dave
So, how does it work? First, you’ll walk up to the pod’s door and unlock it with your phone. Inside, you’ll find a large touchscreen, a chair and a glowing ring on the floor (that’s the full-body scanner).
On the touchscreen, you’ll see several options like a full body scan, thyroid testing, diabetes screening and much more — a program for every ailment. On the side, a drawer pops open with everything you need for whichever tests you choose.
After your test is complete, you’ll get a diagnosis on the screen. If there’s any follow-up needed, a (human) Forward Health doctor will provide a prescription or additional instructions.
Every CarePod is staffed with a real person who answers questions and tends to the device between users. They won’t hop in the pod with you, though.
Need a blood test? CarePod uses a single-use, needleless collection device. Blood pressure is measured through a wireless arm cuff. CarePod can also check for STDs, but we’re in the dark about how that one happens.
Data diagnosis
Audio deepfakes: How hackers are stealing your voice
By now, you’ve probably seen a deepfake video or two come across your social media feed (hey, that deepfake Tom Cruise is pretty convincing). Did you know that deepfake audio is even easier to mimic?
To show how flawed voice authentication can be, computer scientists figured out a way to fool the technology in just six tries. Keep reading to learn more about how they did it and how to safeguard yourself.
“Poe” now lets you build a chatbot – Is it the real deal?
Is the real destiny of chatbots less job-stealing algorithms and more like helpful pets? Poe (a project from Q-and-A service Quora) makes a strong argument for the fuzzier future, offering tools to design dedicated chatbots.
AI jobs with mind-blowing paychecks of $375K a year
There’s no question that artificial intelligence (AI) is changing our lives. A bot that sounds almost human can author your emails, teach you a new language, book your trips or even be your friend. Check out direct links to try those out here.
Does this toga make my gluteus look maximus? Nearly 2,000 years ago, the Herculaneum papyri scrolls were buried when Mount Vesuvius erupted. The scrolls were too fragile to read — until now. Using AI machine learning and computer vision, researchers can decipher what’s on them without physically unwrapping the delicate material.
⚡️ Not everything can be AI: Microsoft says to advertise as an “AI PC,” computers need three things: Microsoft’s AI assistant, Copilot (how convenient), a special Copilot button on the keyboard (OK, sure) and an NPU (NP‑who?). The NPU, or Neural Processing Unit, is a processor specially designed for machine learning algorithms. Will that make them work better than a regular PC? TBD.
All the best FREE Harvard classes you can take online
Wouldn’t it be fun to tell people that you went to Harvard? Take a class online, and you can.
Score. Dozens of classes are available through edX at no cost. Just make an account and you’re good to go. Note: A verified certificate of completion will cost you. Be prepared to pony up at least $99. Totally not necessary if you’re doing it to learn something new.
Before you panic, it might be an AI voice on the phone and not a relative in danger
Who can you trust in our AI-driven world of deepfakes and automatically-generated messages? “Deepfake” is short for “deep learning and fake,” and some of these projects feel so real that even experts might be fooled.
Need to create a presentation? Try this new AI tool with Google Slides
ChatGPT is an AI-powered chatbot that can write anything from a speech to a fictional TV episode from your favorite series. Heck, there are even ways you can use the tool to make money. Tap or click here to learn how.
Opt-Out Tuesday: Stop Adobe from using your work to improve its AI
Our Opt-Out Tuesday series was created to help you remove yourself from invasive people search sites. The opt-out process isn’t always easy, so we put detailed instructions for the biggest culprits out there. The list has been growing by the week and now includes over 30 entries.
This face search engine anyone can use is amazingly accurate
Facial recognition software, previously only used in science fiction, is now an everyday part of our lives. We use it to unlock our phones, verify our identities online and even get through the airport faster.
Though useful, this tech can be utilized without your permission, as seen in a recent $650 million class-action lawsuit against Facebook. The social network used facial recognition to suggest photo tags, which broke a privacy law. Tap or click here to see if you can expect a settlement check in the mail.
There's a big change coming to the way you update your Windows PC
Microsoft seems to be focusing all its developmental energy on the recently released Windows 11 operating system. The OS has seen several updates since its launch, but it hasn’t been without a few problems. Tap or click here to find out why you have a ton of empty folders on your PC.
Microsoft's new customized news feed is actually great - Here's how to find yours
The quality of news and the type of content shared on social media has come under fire over the last few years. Thanks to the “fake news” moniker, many online users have been vocal about unfounded claims and the veracity of facts.
There's a new setting in Google Docs you should seriously consider changing
Billions of emails are sent out daily, with many being sent to and from Gmail accounts. To make the activity a bit faster (and smarter), Google developed Smart Compose. The feature, which is available in Gmail, can be used for quick replies.
Before you fill out a CAPTCHA form on a website, know a scammer could be behind it
The chances are good that you have come across a human authentication system online. In Google’s version, you are usually asked to point out things like cars, traffic lights or fire hydrants. Other websites might use the popular CAPTCHA test.
Gmail is scanning your emails as you write them - unless you change this setting
AI technology has revolutionized the way we shop, do business, and even receive an education. From chatbots to answer your questions to personalized shopping suggestions, AI technology is all around us. But some retailers are using it in a creepy way to track you. Tap or click here for a list of the offenders.
How to enable celebrity voices like Shaq on your Amazon Echo
Mobile navigation devices like TomTom and Garmin had a host of celebrity voices that could give you directions. As things shifted towards a smartphone-driven society, bulky GPS devices fell out of favor.
But the appetite remained for celebrities to tell you what your day is going to be like and the weather you can expect. To bring the two together, Amazon’s Alexa introduced the voice of actor Samuel L. Jackson in 2019.
Sick of buying junk? Spot duds with this new secure shopping browser
The pandemic played a huge role in introducing online shopping to millions of people who otherwise wouldn’t have used it. By some estimates, there will be 300 million regular online shoppers by 2023.
How do you make sure your purchases, your payment methods, and your info are secure? Tap or click for four ways to make online shopping safer.
Create your own virtual opera with just a few mouse clicks
Every year around this time, Mariah Carey’s classic song “All I Want for Christmas Is You” can be heard playing across the globe. Love it or hate it, the music video has racked up over 675 million views since its release in 2009.