“Alex” is using design software to create 3D objects and play the first-person shooter game Counter-Strike, all controlled with his mind. The next frontier? Connecting the brain chip to the physical world. Think full-control robotic arms. Incredible stuff.
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There are two main ways to prompt AI: Mega-prompts are detailed, all-in-one requests that generate a complete response in one go. Chain prompting breaks tasks into smaller steps so you have more control. For example, a mega-prompt asks for a full business plan, while chain prompting starts with an outline, adjusts the scope, refines the plan and ends with action steps. I use chain prompting for bigger projects!
Use your voice to control your TV
Fumbling with your remote every time you want to find a show? It’s time to let your voice do the work.
✈️ U.S. air control systems are outdated: They won’t be modernized until 2030 at the earliest. Why the delay? Because some systems are over 40 years old, making parts hard to find. Add in FAA management issues (slow to start new projects, poor oversight and planning), and we’re running on seriously old tech. Reassuring, right?
$799 baby bouncer
Your little one can use only for six months. The Elvie Rise is a fancy bouncer and bassinet combo that debuted at CES. You can control it from your phone, but it’s only suitable for babies under six months, or until they can sit up on their own. At that price, this thing should get ‘em through kindergarten.
So you want to get up earlier: Instead of relying on self-control, disable the snooze option altogether on your phone. All you need to do is tap on an alarm in the Clock app. Toggle off the Snooze option. Rise and shine!
Listen up: Tell Alexa to turn the volume up or down on your Echo without tapping the buttons. Say, “Alexa, volume up” for a gradual increase or “Alexa, turn the volume to five” for precise control. Choose a number from one to 10. Warning: 10 is really, really loud.
So smart: Instead of just one smart plug, upgrade to a smart power strip. This one is 40% off and has six outlets you can control individually. Looks like a home office home run to me.
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Stop the snooze: No one needs an hour of snoozin’. Instead of relying on self-control, disable the option altogether on your iPhone. All you need to do is tap on an alarm in the Clock app. Toggle off the Snooze option. Rise and shine!
A remote you won’t lose: The latest OS for the Apple Watch, watchOS 11, got a snazzy upgrade people who lose the TV remote often are sure to love. With watchOS 11, you can turn the Digital Crown on your smartwatch to control the volume, and you can tap the three-dot menu button to mute or unmute and power your Apple TV on or off.
Ram recall: Over 1.4 million Ram 1500 pickups from 2019 and 2021 to 2024 have a bug in the antilock brake system that could lead to crashes. Major red flag: Warning lights for your ABS, ESC, adaptive cruise control and forward collision systems. Call your dealership ASAP for a software update.
🛑 Stop, thief! If someone gets your iPhone, they can disable Find My in the Control Center. Be smart and make it so they can’t. Go to Settings > ID & Passcode (or Touch ID & Passcode if you’re using an older model with a home button). Enter your passcode, scroll to Allow Access When Locked, and toggle off the Control Center option.
Airplane mode for the movies: Wear an Apple Watch? Theater mode silences your notifications when you don’t want your watch to light up or make a sound. Swipe up from your control center and tap on the Theater mode button (it looks like a happy face and a sad face side by side).
$750,000 ransom demand
Made by an IT contractor paid to protect his victim. The infrastructure engineer used his access to lock out the company’s IT administrators, delete all their backups and get access to the rest of their servers. If you own a business, be aware of how much control you’re handing over.
AI takes over
An AI in Tokyo secretly rewrote its own code to avoid being shut down — could this be the start of machines taking control into their own hands?
🐻 Moo-ve away: A new Instagram filter, Selfie Control, warns when you’re too close when taking pics of wild animals. Right now, it’s exclusive to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and comes preloaded with distance requirements for bison, bears and moose. I mean, really, if you need an app for this, you’re just an idiot.
✌️ Gestures, activate: You can control a Google Nest Hub via gestures — useful if your hands are covered in soap or flour. To enable it, open the Google Home app > tap the gear icon (top right) > tap Quick Gestures on the hub page.