Not a cure for loneliness

Not a cure for loneliness: Big Tech says AI tools like Replika let you create a virtual AI companion. The more you chat and pay per month, the more it adapts its tone to become a friend you think you can trust. Remember, you never know what the developers taught it or will take away in a nanosecond.

Tags: AI (artificial intelligence), Big Tech, developers, Replika


Use AI to plan your next vacation

I’m going to Europe soon, and planning my trip was a breeze. Yes, really! AI did a big chunk of the work for me — and it can help you plan your next getaway, too. Here are a few ways to turn AI into your travel agent. For this, let’s stick with using the big bots:

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Drowning in duplicate photos? Here's how to declutter your digital memories

I remember my parents saying, “Kim, stop wasting the film.” Oh, yes, this was back when we’d put film in a camera, take up to 36 pictures, then wait for the roll to get developed to see if any of the shots were good. Those days are long gone, fortunately.

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One sign your email was hacked? There are messages in your sent folder you definitely didn’t send. Now, check if an unknown device is logged into your account. In Gmail, for instance, click on your account picture, then go to Manage your Google Account > Security > Your Devices > Manage all devices. Look for any devices you don’t recognize and click on them. Sign out when you’re done, and remember to change your password to stay safe.

🧽 No scrubs: Raise your hand if your air fryer is disgusting inside. Try this viral cleaning tip: Instead of scrubbing, squirt in some dish soap, add a little water and run it for about 3 minutes. Voila, all clean!

Android split-screen trick: Did you know you can create a home screen shortcut for apps you use frequently together, like your fave recipe app and Spotify? Just tap the app’s icon > Split screen. Tap between the two apps > Save app pair. Less work, double the apps. Like all things Android, steps may vary on your device.

Cheaper phone bill, please: Not everyone has unlimited data. If you use Chrome on iOS, here’s an easy way to lower your data usage. In the lower right corner of Chrome, tap the three dots > Settings > Bandwidth > Preload Webpages > Only on Wi-Fi. Done!

Channel your inner detective: Every Facebook photo has an ID number that lets you find exactly who posted it. On your computer, right-click on a photo on Facebook, then hit Open in New Tab. In the new tab, look at the address bar, and copy the middle set of numbers in the URL. Then, type https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid= in the address bar and paste in the numbers right after the equal sign. Press Enter and bada-bing.

Search upgrades: This trick works in Google or your favorite search engine. Use an asterisk (*) to fill in for a word you don’t know, like “Midnight * to Georgia.” If there’s a word you want to keep out of your search, put a minus sign (-) in front of it. “Kim tech tips -Kardashian” means you won’t see the other Kim K. in your results.

🛒 Little-known shipping secret: Did you know if you turn an Amazon shipping bag inside out, there’s a strip you can pull to reseal it for returns? Now stop being lazy and send back that itchy sweater.

Too long; didn’t read: Apple Intelligence can now summarize your emails. Just open the Mail app, choose a message and tap the Summarize button at the top of the email chain. In a few seconds, you’ll get a summary. Heads-up: It won’t save, so if you close your email, you’ll need to do this again.