Tech how-to: Turn off built-in AI on your computer and phone
Ever feel like your apps are trying a little too hard to be helpful? Maybe they’re suggesting cringy replies, summarizing things you actually wanted to read, or just getting way too pushy.
Let’s dive into how to turn off those AI features that just aren’t working for you.
Egg prices got you scrambling?
Rent a chicken. Seriously. Rent The Chicken lets you “borrow” hens for fresh eggs at home. For about $140 a month, you’ll get two hens, a portable coop, feed and instructions to keep them happy. Expect one to two dozen eggs per week.
Fill ’er up: The free Upside app gives you cash back on gas, groceries and dining out. Download Upside and use promo code Kim to get an extra $0.25 back for every gallon on your first tank of gas.
Once a week
How often the NSA says you should turn off your phone. Turn off your phone, wait 10 seconds, then turn it back on. This works to combat zero-click exploits where a hacker can get in simply by sending you the right code.
Get the $200/month ChatGPT subscription for free: Just for my Windows friends. Open the Copilot app on Windows or go to copilot.microsoft.com and sign in with your Microsoft account. Make sure Think Deeper is toggled on to use OpenAI’s fancy-schmancy new o1 model. It “thinks” for about 30 seconds before spitting out an answer.
Lease on life: If you buy a new Android phone, it could last up to eight years. The catch? Only pricey phones like the OnePlus 13 and Samsung Galaxy S25 with upgraded chips get this long life. The iPhone 16 may be supported until 2036, and the almost 7-year-old iPhone XS is still getting security updates.
61%
Of folks who cancel Netflix come back within a year. They’re better at luring back subs than all the other streaming options (paywall link). That’s my strategy, btw. Cancel when your show ends and come back when something new pulls you in. Psst, I use Rocket Money to find subscriptions I’m paying for and cancel them.
$539
Lost to the average deepfake call. Criminals use AI to impersonate Medicare workers, politicians, Amazon reps, insurance agents, you name it. When in doubt, hang up.
I told you about this weeks ago: Now it’s hitting mainstream news sites. Google secretly installed an app on Android phones called SafetyCore. It scans all your photos, theoretically to provide Sensitive Content warnings. Hit this link on your Android and hit uninstall if you don’t want it eating up 2GB of space.