September 28, 2026
AI facial recognition got a Florida dad wrongfully arrested for a crime 300 miles from home

AI facial recognition got a Florida dad wrongfully arrested for a crime 300 miles from home

The suspect was clean-shaven. Robert Dillon had a full beard. Police arrested him anyway. Here’s his story and how to protect yourself.

September 25, 2026
I put my driver’s license in my phone. Here’s what the bartender, the TSA agent and the cop see, and the one catch nobody mentions.

I put my driver’s license in my phone. Here’s what the bartender, the TSA agent and the cop see, and the one catch nobody mentions.

Fourteen states plus Puerto Rico let you load your license into Apple Wallet, and your passport works in all 50. Before anything leaves your phone, you see exactly what the bouncer is asking for and tap yes or no. The TSA line moves faster. The traffic cop? Still wants the plastic, friend.

September 24, 2026
Robotics companies pay people to film themselves doing dishes and chores

Robotics companies pay people to film themselves doing dishes and chores

A gig staffing app usually known for line cooks is paying people to strap on a camera and do stuff. Robots can’t learn hand movement from the internet, so companies are buying footage of yours instead.

September 10, 2026
The ads were timed on seven streaming services. Here’s who steals the most from your evening and which ad-free upgrade is worth it.

The ads were timed on seven streaming services. Here’s who steals the most from your evening and which ad-free upgrade is worth it.

Prime Video doubled its ad load since launch. HBO Max went up and never announced it. But the service that feels the worst isn’t the one taking most of your time. Here are the stopwatch numbers and the one upgrade worth your $10 a month.

August 29, 2026
A reader’s brother sent $45,000 to “Katy Perry.” The two scams that empty accounts by preying on love and fear, and how to break the spell.

A reader’s brother sent $45,000 to “Katy Perry.” The two scams that empty accounts by preying on love and fear, and how to break the spell.

Americans reported $20.9 billion in scam losses last year. Seniors lost $584 million to romance scams, averaging $38,500 per victim. One reader’s brother is $45,000 deep with a fake pop star. The fix isn’t arguing. It’s a two-minute video call test and knowing the blackmail email is usually a bluff.

August 19, 2026
The tool-belt generation is getting rich, and AI can’t lay a glove on them

The tool-belt generation is getting rich, and AI can’t lay a glove on them

Trades are booming while AI panic spreads. A SpaceX welder’s $28/hr job turned into $880K stock. Electricians building data centers earn up to $260K debt-free. The FAA hired 2,000+ gamers as $144K controllers. No degree needed, just paid apprenticeships.

August 16, 2026
They live in a convent, pray for hours a day and rack up millions of views on TikTok. The “Media Nuns” figured out something the rest of us haven’t.

They live in a convent, pray for hours a day and rack up millions of views on TikTok. The “Media Nuns” figured out something the rest of us haven’t.

A Catholic sister in a full habit has 198,000 TikTok followers, and one convent video pulled 3.4 million views. The twist: Her order has been chasing the newest media for over a century, from printing presses to trending sounds. Meanwhile, monks in the Wyoming mountains run a thriving online coffee business. How the most unplugged people in America mastered the most online thing there is, without letting it master them.

August 15, 2026
More than half of America watches TV with subtitles on. It’s not your hearing. Here’s the free 2-minute fix and the gadgets that finish the job.

More than half of America watches TV with subtitles on. It’s not your hearing. Here’s the free 2-minute fix and the gadgets that finish the job.

Turn it up, now it’s blasting, turn it down, have to rewind, “what did she SAY?” A survey found over half of Americans keep subtitles on, mostly because the audio is muddled. The real culprits: razor-thin TVs with speakers firing at the wall, theater sound mixes crammed into your living room and streaming compression.

August 10, 2026
Consumer Cellular runs on the same towers as the big guys. Here’s what’s different and what it means for your bill.

Consumer Cellular runs on the same towers as the big guys. Here’s what’s different and what it means for your bill.

Ralph is saving $875 a year. Marta, $675. Jon, $1,095. Same towers, same 5G signal, way smaller bill. Here’s how Consumer Cellular pulls it off and the two catches to watch for.

August 5, 2026
Your phone is a free appraiser. Point it at the attic before you donate a fortune.

Your phone is a free appraiser. Point it at the attic before you donate a fortune.

A vintage Pyrex dish, the kind sitting in a million cabinets, sold for nearly $6,000. Before you donate that box, photograph the item, let AI identify and price it, then confirm on eBay’s sold listings. Free appraiser, already in your pocket.

July 27, 2026
Those ordinary-looking glasses at the next table? They might be recording you.

Those ordinary-looking glasses at the next table? They might be recording you.

AI smart glasses are the fastest-growing gadget in America, and almost nobody can spot a pair. Learn how to tell when the camera is rolling, what your state allows and three things you can do about it.

July 26, 2026
Archivists set a deadline to save tapes like yours. It was last year.

Archivists set a deadline to save tapes like yours. It was last year.

Magnetic tape lasts 10 to 30 years, and your wedding video is older than that. Worse, the last VCR on Earth was built in 2016. For less than $200, here’s the weekend kit you’ll need to rescue the whole box, including the exact eBay search phrase that finds a working player.

July 24, 2026
Free AI strips the dog, the traffic and the coffee grinder out of your calls in real time

Free AI strips the dog, the traffic and the coffee grinder out of your calls in real time

Krisp strips barking dogs, traffic and coffee shop noise out of your calls in real time, using AI that runs entirely on your device. Works with Zoom, Teams, Meet and Slack. Free tier covers about an hour of noise-free calls a day.

July 19, 2026
Scientists built an AI that can nearly talk to dolphins. Your dog could be next.

Scientists built an AI that can nearly talk to dolphins. Your dog could be next.

Google trained an AI on 40 years of dolphin chatter, and it runs on a cell phone underwater. The wild part? The same tech is coming for your pets.

June 30, 2026
AI can spot if your pet is in pain from one photo. Here’s how to try it tonight.

AI can spot if your pet is in pain from one photo. Here’s how to try it tonight.

Cats and dogs are experts at hiding pain, and even loving owners miss it. Now the AI on your phone can read the tiny signs right off their face. Here’s the free way to try it, plus when to skip the app and call the vet.

June 13, 2026
YouTube can drop you into any video, and strangers can pop into yours

YouTube can drop you into any video, and strangers can pop into yours

Whoa. That’s me up top on the TV, starring in a futuristic sci-fi flick like I trained for it my whole life. (I didn’t. The closest I get to special effects is yelling at Siri.) And I didn’t shoot a single second of it. At Google I/O, the platform quietly switched on AI tools that […]

May 27, 2026
Your Zoom, Teams and Google Meet calls are being transcribed by AI

Your Zoom, Teams and Google Meet calls are being transcribed by AI

Every major video platform has AI built in to record, transcribe and summarize your meetings. Here’s what to check and what actually matters.

May 23, 2026
Memorial Day tech deals are live!

Memorial Day tech deals are live!

Inside: A solar power bank, smart speaker, security cam and weekend project gear on sale right now.

May 16, 2026
Amazon’s secret bargain store has over a million items under $20

Amazon’s secret bargain store has over a million items under $20

Most people don’t know Amazon built its own Temu. It’s called Amazon Haul. The hidden gems of $5-$10 are legit, backed by real Amazon protection.

May 5, 2026
‘Mom. He’s gone.’ A babymoon. A body. An $18,000 wire. And the cry for help wasn’t real.

‘Mom. He’s gone.’ A babymoon. A body. An $18,000 wire. And the cry for help wasn’t real.

A daughter calls sobbing from Mexico. Her husband is dead. She needs cash right away to bring his body home. The voice was perfect. It was AI. Choose the single word that can stop it.