Use your inside voice

June 13, 2024

Use your inside voice: SoftBank Corp. had a big problem, with its customer service employees stressed out from getting yelled at. So, the company created AI that turns angry voices into calm ones. The software lowers the pitch of customers’ voices and slows down angry rambling. The actual words stay the same. Genius.

Tags: AI (artificial intelligence), company, customer service, employees, service, software

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It’s getting hot in here …

22 fastest-growing housing markets in the U.S.

If your late-night Zillow scrolling has gotten more desperate lately, you’re not alone. Home prices are going bonkers. In the past decade, home values shot up 47.1%, beating out the 2010s and 1990s. U.S. home prices are expected to rise another 1.6% over the next year alone. And I found a few markets that are growing nearly five times faster than that.

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Apple Intelligence coming to your phone (maybe)

WWDC: Apple Intelligence, new smarter Siri and lots more

WWDC is Apple’s annual conference during which they talk about all things software. Day 1 is always the biggest, and I watched all hour-and-a-half-plus of the event to update you on what’s new.

Come this fall, you’ll see … a new Passwords app that works across your Apple devices, better iPhone customization options, easier texting with your Android pals, and the ability to reply to all texts and iMessages with emojis. (Can’t wait to reply to Barry with an eye roll. Sorry, honey.)

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Waymo drives on the wrong side to avoid skaters

Last month, a group of skaters in LA captured this video of a Waymo driving on the wrong side of the road to avoid hitting them. Waymo says it was the safest option. How would you feel if Waymo decided a head-on collision with your car was the best decision?

Let’s jump in with some Android operating system trivia. It wasn’t designed for smartphones at the beginning. Did they develop it for … A.) Digital cameras, B.) Smartwatches, C.) Gaming consoles or D.) Home automation systems?

Find the answer here! →

500 catalytic converters

Are stolen every month in Los Angeles County. It was 900 per month a few years ago. Police there are curbing thefts by etching VINs onto catalytic converters, making them easier to track. Give your local police a ring to see if they offer something like this. If not, ask them, “Why not?” I had the converter stolen out of my truck. What a pain.

49% of sales growth

For skincare products is attributed to Gen Alpha. Yep, girls 14 and under already have “aging anxiety” (paywall link), thanks to TikTok. It’s not just bad for kids’ self-esteem; anti-aging products like retinol can actually damage young skin. Talk to your kids.

$3.9 million

For the world’s oldest book. The 104-page “Crosby-Schøyen Codex” dates back to around 300 A.D. (paywall link) and details some of the earliest years of Christianity. How’d it stay so well-preserved? The dry weather in Egypt, its place of origin.

2 hours of TV

Can decrease your odds of healthy aging by 12%. Researchers studied the activity of 45,000 people age 50 and older for 20 years. The data was striking: Replacing just one hour of TV with light physical activity can increase your chance of aging without chronic illness or impairment. So, get off your butt already!

What was the first iPhone with Siri baked in? Was it the … A.) 1st-gen iPhone, B.) iPhone 3GS, C.) iPhone 4S or D.) iPhone 6?

Find the answer here! →

98 years old

The age of the oldest Daytime Emmy winner ever, Dick Van Dyke. He was a guest on “Days of Our Lives.” When asked about the big win, he said, “If I had known I was going to live this long, I would have taken better care of myself!” Love him.