No judgment: AI can explain things you might be embarrassed to ask another person. Try prompts like, “Explain this like I’m a fifth grader” or “Give me a plain English breakdown of this.” I used that last one to learn about yield curve inversions. 💅
Protect your data before catastrophe strikes – after is too late
I know you felt it because I did, too. Watching coverage of the Los Angeles fires and, now, the destruction left in their wake, has been heartbreaking. A reader emailed me: “People had very little time to gather anything before they had to leave their houses. I’d appreciate your advice on what to do before a catastrophe.”
I can absolutely help. Let’s focus on what’s hardest to take with you: The files stored on your computer. I hope you never need to rely on these backups. If you do, you’ll be glad you made ‘em.
Mix and match
Start with photos, documents, videos and anything else important in your personal or professional life. Ideally, you want two backups in case something happens to your original files and one of the backups fails.
Make sure both backups are stored remotely. For digital backups, that means in the cloud, not your desktop. For physical backups, I like a fireproof, waterproof safe.
👉 This $240 IslandSafe option can withstand 1,200-degree temps for up to 30 minutes.
What about old-school paper documents? Convert them to digital. Google Drive, Dropbox, Adobe Scan and the Notes app for iPhone all let you scan documents using only your phone’s camera. So easy. Keep the originals in a safety deposit box at your bank (if they still offer that) or with a trusted friend or relative who lives somewhere else.
Sync and save
Plenty of services sync files between the cloud and your computer in real time, so you don’t even need to click “Back up.” Expect to pay a few dollars a month for storage. Google Drive and Dropbox are super popular for this, but there are options built into your computer, too:
- On Windows: Hit Start > Settings > Accounts > OneDrive. Choose what to back up (like Documents and Pictures).
- On macOS: Click the Apple menu > System Settings, select your Apple account name, then hit iCloud. Select any category, like Photos or Notes.
Go external
For your most important digital data, get an external hard drive and set a calendar reminder to copy over your files every 60 days or so.
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DeepSeek told me some weird things
DeepSeek, the blockbuster AI chatbot from Communist China, told me that 95% of global internet traffic flows through undersea cables. That wasn’t surprising, but what came next was:
This is from the state-approved chatbot that’s gone viral for blocking anything Communist China deems inappropriate.
Sky-high car insurance rates? Blame it on all the tech in our cars
My car insurance just went up 32%. Did I have an accident or get a few tickets? Nope. Across the U.S., the average full-coverage car insurance bill went up 25% last year. In some states, it was closer to 40%. Geez.
The main reason? Today’s high-tech vehicles cost way more to repair. You don’t need to own a high-tech car to feel the pinch, though; it’s hitting everyone.
From Ed in Florida: “Kim, I want to get away from Google. If I sign up for StartMail, will it import all my email and contacts?” Yup. You can transfer your entire mailbox, including messages and contacts, with zero downtime and 100% security. Save 60% with my special link.
“Kim, how is EndpointLock different from a VPN?” Lots of you smarties asked! A VPN encrypts your internet connection and hides your web activity. EndpointLock encrypts your keystrokes so no one can copy what you type. It’s a must for me. Hit this link for 10% off.
Wait, wait, don’t tell me! Your sleep score (from an Apple Watch, Fitbit, your smart mattress or other device) can make or break your day. Researchers told people they slept horribly, and they performed worse on tests. If folks were told they slept like a champ, they performed better. Try this: Don’t look at your sleep score until later in the day so you can decide how you feel.
Impress your boss: Download NetSuite’s free knowledge e-book, “The CFO’s Guide to AI and Machine Learning.” No matter what you do, you should know more about AI.
💬 Get a transcript for anything: Let’s say you’re watching a YouTube video that’s packed with helpful info. Cool! Grab the written transcript and save it to read or review later. Hit this site, paste in the YouTube link, and watch the entire script load right there on the page.
If you think it’s annoying when your phone gets brighter or dimmer on its own, turn that off. On iPhone, open Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size and toggle off Auto-Brightness. On Android, you’ll find it under Display settings.
⚡ Find it fast: If this one is new to you, you’re going to be so happy with me. Use Ctrl + F on Windows or Cmd + F on Mac to quickly find words or phrases in any document, webpage or app. I use this every single day.
AI 101: You’ll use this tip all the time. Open ChatGPT or your chatbot of choice the next time you’re struggling to get through a report, long email, research paper or whatever. Copy and paste it in, then say, “Summarize this in three sentences” or “Give me the key takeaways.”
Kim K. uses the FaceTune app: Not me — the other Kim K. She’s one of the many celebs who use it to look great in every photo on social media. It’s free to download, but there are a ton of in-app purchases. Expect to shell out $30 a year for all the editing features and to remove watermarks. More here.
68 to 70 degrees: Your thermostat’s sweet spot during winter to keep you comfy without raising your heating bill. Pro tip: Turn it down by 7 to 10 degrees for the hours you’re at work. You may save up to 10% a year. A smart thermostat makes it easy to maintain a schedule.
We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.
📍 Google Maps pro tip: You don’t need to know the exact name of something to find it. Search Maps for general terms, like “plants and trees,” “frame shop” or “dog park,” and Google will find you spots that match.
Tip tap: Navigate with just your keyboard. On a PC, hit the Windows key + T to highlight the first icon on your taskbar, then use the arrow keys to move through the bar. Press Enter to open an app. On Mac, hold down Cmd + Tab for a list of open apps. Use the arrows to navigate, and release the keys when you reach the one you want.
Big Tech decides what you see: It doesn’t have to be that way. StartMail is my pick for the best privacy-first email. It’s super easy to switch over your contacts and mail, or you can treat it as a fresh inbox for only your VIPs. Save 60% now with my special link.
🔠 All work and no play: Get through your afternoon slump (or teach your kid to spell) by plugging this prompt into any chatbot: “Let’s play hangman. Think of a word, and I’ll guess one letter at a time. I get six wrong guesses before it’s game over. Each wrong answer adds a part to the hangman with ASCII art.” So fun!
3 signs there’s a card skimmer: Criminals put them on ATMs, gas pumps and payment terminals at grocery stores to steal your info. Red flags: 1.) The buttons on the PIN pad are off-center, 2.) They’re hard to push and 3.) Part of the pad is loose. If anything feels off, walk away. Better bet: Use your credit card’s tap-to-pay option, Apple Pay or Google Pay.
Better than holding down the power button: Windows PCs have a hidden emergency restart when nothing will respond. Hold down Ctrl and click the power icon in the Start menu. You’ll get a dramatic-looking message warning you’ll lose any unsaved data. Click OK to restart immediately.