90% of online content will be AI-generated or manipulated

Just plane dumb: The TSA is rolling out self-checkout lanes. Just scan, step through and hope a hairclip doesn’t send you back. This concept has already cost grocery stores millions in theft. I doubt this one will get off the ground.

Did they think we wouldn’t notice? Someone manning the Samsung Brazil X account posted a Rihanna concert clip to show off the Galaxy S24 Ultra’s zoom and low-light skills. Smart marketing! Wait, nope … The video was filmed on an iPhone 13 Pro Max. Apple couldn’t have planned a better iPhone ad.

RIP, No. 2 pencils: You were No. 1 in my heart. It’s official. The SATs are going digital. Students will take the new version of the college admission test on a laptop or tablet. It’s also an hour shorter and packed with digital tools like highlighters and graphing calculators. It’s not an open-browser test, though; it’ll still be administered under strict watch in test centers and schools.

So much for going green: A study says EVs cough up more toxic emissions than gas vehicles. EVs generally weigh 30% more than standard cars, too, so their tires wear out faster, sending nasty particles into the air at a rate 400 times that of exhaust fumes. And they find this out now?

TikTok videos are getting longer: Why? Money, of course. TikTok’s new Creator Rewards Program is pushing creators to make content over a minute long if they want to see any cash. No more 10-second dance vids for you … and just as I was practicing my sweet moves.

Don’t ask Siri or Google: Think twice before asking your voice assistant to call customer service. Scammers are manipulating search results to make sure their fake numbers are at the top. Imagine paying $125 to a fake United Airlines agent or an $80 “activation fee” for Hulu. Ouch. Always grab numbers from official sites.

Watch this: Roku’s latest terms of service update slaps a big box right over content — unless you hit “Agree.” If and when you do, you’re saying you won’t sue Roku. The real kicker? Opting out requires mailing a letter. So tricky.

One expensive sticker: Think screen protectors are saving your smartphone? Think again. Today’s phones are tougher than a $2 steak, making screen protectors redundant. Worse, those protectors may hurt your display quality and battery life.

Classified love affair: A U.S. Air Force employee with top-secret clearance got seriously catfished on a dating app. In his quest for love, he leaked U.S. secrets about the Ukraine war, including Russian military targets. Now he’s facing up to 10 years in prison. Love hurts.

Update your iPhone: iOS 17.4 includes bug fixes and new features like podcast transcripts and stricter theft protection. Plus … drumroll, please … new emojis (lime, mushroom and a shaking head)! But the biggest change is only for Europeans (insert new shaking-head emoji).