It’s tax season, and scammers are paying to show up first when you search for IRS help.
🔎 NotebookLM is getting an upgrade this week: Until now, you had to manually upload files and links for the AI research assistant. Well, not anymore. A new Discover button (look for the magnifying glass) is coming to the Sources panel. Click it, type in a topic or question and the AI will search the web and return up to 10 links with summaries. Pretty neat.
Over 60% of the time
AI search engines get their sources wrong (paywall link). In a study, chatbots were asked to match news to the correct headline, publisher, date and URL. They almost never admit they’re unsure and just blurt out wrong answers like they’re completely right.
Unlock the Disney+ vault: Just type these secret codes into the search bar. If you’re in the mood for a Marvel trailer, enter 78654. Looking for a good laugh? Try 79008 for some hilarious Star Wars bloopers.
Hot topics: Check Google Trends. Search keywords related to your biz to see what people are chatting about. You can filter by country, time and category. This can help boost your SEO, so your business stays in the know with what folks are googling.
Is Google now irrelevant?
AI is changing how we search, and Google might be too slow to keep up.
No vacancy: Next time you book a hotel, scroll past the random sites you’ve never heard of that pop up first in your search (paywall link). They’re resellers that slap on hundreds in extra fees. Some even look like the real hotel site, so double-check the URL. If you’ve been duped, click here to file an FTC complaint.
🛒 AI add to cart: Amazon is testing “Interests AI,” so you can chat to find things instead of typing in the search bar. Check if you have it by opening the Amazon app > Me tab (person icon) and tapping Interests. Of course, that data will help train Alexa+ with generative AI. Never stops.
📍 Bait and switch: Google found over 10,000 fake listings on Google Maps and is now suing the scammers behind it. People would search for a service (often an emergency one) and get directed to a phony business. Then the scam service would show up and demand way more money than originally quoted. That’s why you need to verify details, folks.
🚘 Safety must-do: Check the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s recall page to see any safety recalls for your vehicle. Just enter your VIN in the search field. If none show up, you’re good to go. You can also download the SaferCar app (iOS & Android) if you’d like that better.
Task, be done! Windows Task Scheduler automates tasks like weekly disk cleanups or sending an email. Type Task Scheduler into your Windows search bar to open the app. Click Create Basic Task and follow the prompts to name your task and define its trigger (like a time, day of the week or when your computer starts). Choose what the task should do and that’s it. Sweetness!
🔄 Want to see which apps need updating on Windows? Open the Search bar, go to Command Prompt, then right-click and select Run as administrator. Next, type “winget upgrade” and hit Enter. You’ll get a list of apps with available updates. It’s also great for finding and deleting apps you haven’t used in a while. Whoa.
📈 What’s hot? Google Trends knows. If you run a business, search for keywords related to what you do to see what’s popular. Use the filters at the top to search by region, time and category to make your content or products match the buzz.
🔍 Google’s testing AI-only search results: The new AI Mode ditches the usual 10 blue links and instead lets Gemini 2.0 take over with web summaries, graphs and shopping data. Think of it as a bigger version of AI Overview, and yes, we all know how spot-on that is. It’s opt-in only for now through Google’s Search Labs, so you can ignore it … for now.
Hide your Facebook: OK, not completely, but you can make it tougher to find. In the FB app, tap the Menu > Settings & Privacy > Settings. Under Audience and Visibility, look for How People Find and Contact You. You’ll see an option to stop search engines from linking to you.
🚨 850K vehicles recalled! Tesla, Ford, Toyota, Maserati, Volkswagen and Rivian are dealing with crash risks, seat belt issues, rearview camera errors and more. If your car is affected, you should receive a notice by mail, but it’s worth calling your dealership to confirm. Own a Tesla? Use your VIN with the search tool to check.
Alexa really is getting smarter: Amazon rolled out the new Alexa+. You’ll be able to search Ring footage and upload docs, like your kid’s soccer schedule. Alexa will put the dates on your cal and snacks on the shopping list. Cost? Free with Prime or $20 a month without.