15 billion page views

Per month for Wikipedia. Traffic seems to be trending down, but execs say that any decline can’t be traced back to AI just yet. (Yeah, sure.) They are worried AI hallucinations (when bots make stuff up) could spread misinformation at an alarming rate. Not wrong …

Tags: bots, misinformation, spread, traffic


Robo-dog built to defend against drones

The U.S. military is developing a gun-wielding robot dog to protect our forces from aerial drones. The doggo is equipped with an AR-15-type rifle, electro-optical targeting system, infrared/thermal vision and a laser aiming device.

Recall alert for BMW, Chrysler and Toyota: Affected 2019-2020 BMW models have a starter motor issue, the 2023 Dodge Challenger’s rear seat isn’t locking properly, and several 2023-2025 Toyotas have incorrect weight capacity labels. Contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417, Chrysler at 1-800-853-1403 and Toyota at 1-800-444-1074.

🤦🏼‍♀️ Can’t make this up: A Tesla Model S caught fire after a tourist plugged it directly into an illegal power line in Mexico. There are plenty of EV charging stations around Tijuana, but they wanted to save some cash. This dope ended up burning down someone’s house, too.

Get rich quick … never: The FTC is handing out $12 million in refunds to over 25,000 people who fell for a house-flipping scheme. The Zurixx scam lured victims with promises of quick cash and endorsements from HGTV stars like Tarek El Moussa, Hilary Farr and Christina Hall. Basic three-day training courses started at $1,997 and ranged all the way up to $41,297. Oof.

Witch parking – All others will be toad: Scammers are leaving fake parking tickets on windshields. They look like the real deal but have a bogus payment website at the bottom ready and waiting for your credit card details. Always go directly to your city’s or town’s website to pay a parking ticket.

🚨 Fake news: TikTok is sending phony alerts that pop up on-screen. Classics include one about Taylor Swift canceling her Florida tour (she hasn’t) and a “BREAKING” tsunami warning in Japan after an earthquake struck. It’s all AI-generated junk based on what users post. Think before you share or react.

🙏🏻 Let’s say a quick prayer: A mom saw a baby on TikTok who closely resembled hers, diagnosed with a rare terminal illness called Sanfilippo Syndrome. The baby also had the same symptoms as her child: Ear infections, distended belly and sleep issues. Testing confirmed her fears. Sadly, there’s no cure yet.

👀 Insurance spies in the skies: Homeowners insurance companies are using drones to spot potential issues. One guy had his policy canceled because of moss on the roof … that he cleaned up after the drone had already snapped a pic. I warned this was happening back in April. Listen here, in case you missed it.

🎮 Don’t buy a Switch: A new version of the handheld Nintendo console is rumored for early next year (paywall link). The 2017 model is the third-bestselling console of all time, behind the PlayStation 2 and Nintendo DS. Mario is mad at Peach; he caught her going through his Bowser history. 

🇰🇵 Live fast, die Jong: A Nashville man could spend 20 years in prison for helping North Koreans infiltrate U.S. companies. North Korean intelligence used his identity to get remote IT positions, then had company-issued laptops sent to his home. Then the North Koreans logged onto these laptops to spy on U.S. companies.