AI is a great tool if you know how to use it … But there are some things you shouldn’t say to a bot. Kim has the lowdown on info to keep to yourself.
Your GPS for your tech life, guiding you through the twists and turns: If you have an issue, problem or question about your tech, digital life or business, I’d love to help you out. Ask me your questions here on my site. I read every single note, even if I can’t respond to each one.
Amazon is losing billions on Alexa
Amazon sold Echos below cost, hoping for more Alexa shopping. Spoiler: it didn’t work. Venmo transactions aren’t private, and how your ‘digital twin’ could save your life. Also, Phil from Indiana isn’t happy about his ex-wife FaceTiming their kids at his place.
🚢 “Cruise” into a virtual train ride: VR is coming to a new Royal Caribbean cruise ship. The restaurant is in a digital train car. Passengers sit in fancy booths with simulated sceneries on giant displays that look like windows. Subwoofers in the seats simulate the vibrations of the tracks. The first theme? Western. Giddyup!
Intel launched in 1971, and today, its processors power more than half of all computers. Was the very first Intel processor used in … A.) Televisions, B.) Traffic lights, C.) Digital watches or D.) Calculators?
P*rn passport: Spain is testing a new way to confirm the age of p*rn viewers on websites — digital passports. Once you verify you’re over 18, you’ll get 30 tokens good for 30 days. The Spanish government says it won’t track users’ activity or keep records of their identities. You can bet the U.S. government is keeping an eye on how it goes.
America's drinking water is under attack
Water systems in Kansas, Texas and Pennsylvania have already been hit by hackers in China, Russia and Iran. Plus, clothes that block 5G waves, AI coming to Alexa, and Walmart’s new digital pricing. We also chat with Joseph Cox about his book “Dark Wire,” which is about Anom, the FBI’s secret app used by criminals.
🤝 I want to be your secret helper and mentor: If you have an issue, problem or question about your tech, digital life or business, I would love to help you. Ask me your questions here on my site. I read every single note.
🔑 Use your phone as a digital car key: You can lock, unlock and start your car using your phone if you have a Pixel 6 and later, Samsung Galaxy S21 and later, and some Android devices that run Android 12 and up. You need a compatible car, too. Steps to set it up are here.
🎨 Tell every artist you know: Digital creators are ditching Instagram for good reason. Meta now views public posts as part of its AI training data, and you can’t opt out. One alternative? Cara. It’s just like Insta, but it bans AI posts and training. Try it on iOS or Android.
Copy that: Google Lens can transcribe words in the real world (think a billboard or sign, menu, handwritten note, book page) to digital. Super useful. To try it, open the Google Lens app, point it at the text in question, then select it with your finger. Bam, now you can copy and paste anywhere.
Your digital twin could save your life
You have a digital twin you haven’t met yet — a virtual replica of yourself that can predict health issues and offer personalized advice. Here’s the scoop. Plus, be aware of piano scams, kids and social media addiction, and the risk of falling for phone scams.
Hard pass: Zoom CEO Eric Yuan wants to bring AI clones to the platform. “Digital twins” will attend meetings on your behalf and even make decisions, freeing up your schedule and maybe leading to shorter workweeks. Uh, no. Digital Kim is not making decisions for Real Kim.
Play to pay: At 22, Kyasia Watson is raking in over $100,000 a year from Roblox. Nope, she’s not streaming; she’s a digital fashion designer who collabs with big brands to craft in-game items, clothes and accessories for player avatars. Roblox has 77 million daily active users, btw. Cha‑ching!
Blessing in disguise: Back in 2013, a guy lost access to his digital crypto wallet filled with 43.6 bitcoin. The file with his 20-character password got corrupted, and it seemed like the money was lost forever. Fast-forward to now: Some very smart hired help cracked the code, and the guy’s now sitting on nearly $3 million. Bet he’s really glad he didn’t sell early.
How your "digital twin" could save your life
What if you could know how goods, exercises, or treatments impact you ahead of time? Soon, a personal digital model of your body could let you find out.
👯 #Twinning: At age 66, Devlin Donaldson used a “digital twin” to reverse his Type 2 diabetes. OK, not a literal twin — the Twin Health app, which uses insights from your diet, activity, blood glucose levels and more to give you hyperpersonalized advice. The instant feedback helped Donaldson lose 40 pounds and go off medication. This is why I love tech, folks!
📞 Digital doppelgänger: Truecaller now lets you clone your voice and answer calls with an AI assistant. It’ll screen incoming calls with something like, “Hi there! I’m Digital Kim! May I ask who’s calling?” Wanna try it? Open Settings > Set Up Personal Voice, and follow the instructions. Only $2.99 a month to hand over your voice … No, thanks.
Measure twice, cut once: Researchers are creating 3D models of human hearts and other organs to test treatments before surgery. Pulling in data from medical exams and wearable devices, doctors use these “digital twins” to find the best approach during surgery, all completely risk-free. Imagine the possibilities for conditions like heart disease and cancer (paywall link). Love this.