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Breaking news and tips
Meetings now come with surveillance
It doesn’t bother me anymore, but it used to. Maybe it’s happened to you. You’re in a Zoom call, wearing pajama bottoms, and someone casually says, “Oh, my AI assistant is taking notes of everything everyone is saying.”
Wait, what?! There’s a digital stenographer silently documenting every sigh, awkward pause and half-baked idea you mutter?
AI meeting assistants like Otter.ai, Fireflies, Notion and others are the new must-have workplace tool. They can:
- Transcribe every word, so you can focus instead of frantically typing.
- Summarize key points, so you don’t have to rewatch the whole meeting.
- Highlight decisions and deadlines, so you know what matters.
- Assign tasks automatically based on what’s said. No more “Who was supposed to do that?”
- Even integrate with your apps like Slack, Trello or email to keep the ball rolling.
Super helpful, right? But just because you can bring AI into the boardroom doesn’t mean you always should.
🤖 Rule #1: Be up front
If AI is eavesdropping, slip in a casual, “Hey, I’ve got AI taking notes.” Be cool about it. Don’t drop it like a Bond villain mid-meeting: “Ah yes, my transcription robot is always listening.”
📩 Rule #2: Offer the summary
Want to be everyone’s favorite? Share the AI-generated recap.
People love walking away from a meeting with clear notes, even if they were only half-paying attention (you know who you are). Sharing = good karma.
🛑 Rule #3: Respect boundaries
If someone isn’t comfortable being recorded or transcribed, don’t push. Hit pause on the AI. Forcing it makes you look tone-deaf and can even lead to people opting out of the meeting entirely.
Hold the phone
📞 Don’t hang up. Here are cool tools to keep your phone in place.
- Bump your tunes with a speaker & phone stand combo (48% off).
- Take underwater photos with these waterproof pouches (5% off).
- Long flight? Clip this phone holder ($17) to your tray table.
- Shoot smooth videos and pics with a gimbal tripod (20% off).
- This bike mount (38% off) locks down your phone while you ride.
📱 Pop this on: PopSockets’ new magnetic Kick-Out Grip ($40) can finally stand upright. You take video calls or scroll on social media, all hands-free. Plus, it comes with an adapter for Android folks. So wonderful!
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
Memorial Day deals for under $50
Memorial Day is not designed to be a day for special sales and barbecues, although there will be plenty of both. And while we value and appreciate all the veterans and active-duty military, it’s not their day either.
🛡️ Your devices deserve top-tier protection: TotalAV delivers powerful antivirus that won’t slow you down. It blocks threats, cleans junk and keeps your browsing safe. Even I use it! Get TotalAV today for $19 for the first year with my special link!
Protect your privacy without lifting a finger: Tired of your personal data floating around online? Incogni scrubs it from data brokers and people search sites. With my exclusive link, get 60% off unlimited plans. Choose which sites to target, and take back your privacy today!
Is cellphone radiation really safe?
Robert F. Kennedy is catching heat for warning about cellphone radiation. But is he right? Here’s the scoop.
2 years and 182 days
That’s the age of the youngest-ever Mensa member. To qualify, you need an IQ of at least 132, which puts you in the top 2% globally. Joseph said his first word at 7 months and read his first book out loud by 1¾ years. By 5, he’ll be building an AI bot to replace his parents.
🍟 Want fries with that? Different McDonald’s locations set their own prices. McCheapest maps the U.S. so you can see how expensive your local Mickey D’s is.
Carsick from your phone? This iPhone trick can help
If looking at your phone in the car makes you queasy, you’re not alone. Give your brain a break and enjoy the ride.
🚀 The Force encrypts: The CIA apparently ran a fake Star Wars site to secretly talk with spies around the world. It had R2-D2 pics and everything. But behind the scenes? Informants would enter a password in the search bar to open a secret chat with their CIA handler. And yes, it’s been shut down.
There’s a mat for that
🙈 No matter the surface, I’ve got you covered (literally).
- Keep that dirt outside with an all-season doormat (8% off).
- Slippery shower? This bathtub mat (25% off) sticks in place.
- An under-sink mat (15% off) catches any pesky leaks and spills.
- These baking mats (23% off) are oven-safe and reusable.
- Adulting looks like vinyl place mats (5% off) on your table.
⚡ Power up: This mouse pad (20% off) wirelessly charges your tech while you work. No juggling cables.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
Crypto kidnapping: What really happened
A Manhattan crypto investor allegedly kidnapped and tortured an Italian man for his Bitcoin. Lesson: If you own crypto, zip it. Plus, jobs AI might wipe out, what’s next from Apple, and is your Amazon Echo always listening?
40-foot submarine-hunting drone
The “BlueWhale” uses special sensors to spot underwater and surface threats, and can help clear mines. The cool bit? It’s fully autonomous and runs on batteries for weeks. Basically, a Roomba’s scarier cousin with serious military vibes.
🩺 AI at your next doctor visit: I told you about this six months ago, and mainstream media is catching up. Doctors are starting to use ambient listening tech that records your conversations. It filters out small talk, then writes notes and updates medical records. Pretty handy, since paperwork can drop from 90 minutes to under 30 (paywall link). But uh, imagine if that data gets breached.
Quick Android refresh: Hold the power and volume-up buttons simultaneously to do a soft reboot. Think of it as a fast way to end processes and speed up your phone.
Bitcoin millionaire kidnapped in NYC — May 31st, Hour 1
Crypto bragging rights aren’t worth 17 days as a hostage. Plus, LexisNexis data breach, how to spot digital cheaters, and Paul from Missouri wants to turn his 3D-printed puzzle hobby into a hit YouTube channel.
Savings are served
🔥 For when your kitchen’s sizzling and your storage is chill.
- BBQ your favorites anywhere with an indoor/outdoor grill ($100).
- Roll out a warming tray (10% off) to keep your dinner toasty.
- These paper air fryer liners (19% off) make cleaning up a breeze.
- Spin this turntable (23% off) to easily find what’s in your fridge.
- Grab a pack of silicone trays ($37) to save your leftovers for later.
🐶 Treats with benefits: A bag of 12-in-1 chewable multivitamins ($20) supports your pup’s joints, gut and more.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
🔦 Light it up: Your iPhone’s flashlight has more brightness levels than the default sun mode. Hold down the flashlight button and drag the slider up or down. Sweet. Btw, you can also say, “Siri, turn on the flashlight” when you need it (and tell her to turn it off, too).
Rural internet sucks: That’s why states like Louisiana and Nevada are spending millions on satellites instead (paywall link). Fiber is pricey and takes forever to build, so you can bet Starlink and Amazon’s Project Kuiper are smiling ear to ear. The catch? Slower speeds and more outages. But hey, it’s better than nothing.