Don’t download these apps — or any that look or sound like one of these examples.
Crypto scam red flags: No, Elon Musk isn't trying to help you make money in crypto
Entrepreneur and eccentric billionaire Elon Musk is far too busy negotiating a new buyout deal with Twitter’s board to promote cryptocurrency. How do we know that? The latest video is a deepfake and is easy to spot.
But this isn’t the first time Musk’s likeness appeared in online advertising for cryptocurrency. Earlier this month, scammers spliced together clips of Musk, Twitter’s founder Jack Dorsey and investor Cathie Wood to promote a crypto scam.
Read on for the latest attempt to steal your money and what to look for so that you don’t become a victim.
Here’s the backstory
Deepfake videos are becoming more convincing. This is due to advancing technology allowing scammers to create photos and videos of people using footage from different scenarios. Now, a video widely shared online hopes you will look past the (not so) subtle clues that something is amiss.
Here’s the video. See if you can pick up on the signs of it being a fake.
What you can do about it
As you probably noticed, the sound is terrible. This is because the scammers tried to use deepfake technology to mimic Musk’s mouth. But the technique is relatively complicated to get right and needs advanced knowledge to work.
However, there have been some very convincing deepfakes over the years. Even Disney used deepfakes in “The Mandalorian” to inject a young Luke Skywalker into the show.
But from the video above, you can instantly hear that the speech is choppy. Also, it’s relatively easy to spot the dodgy editing, voices seemingly fading unnaturally, and the lips don’t exactly match up to the speech.
Here are some tips to avoid falling victim to crypto scams and how to spot deepfake videos:
Review: An all-in-one portable projector
The age-old (okay, not really) question: buy a TV with a really big screen, or save some cash and get a projector that throws an even bigger picture. Which do you choose?
For me, it’s been a projector paired with a 100-inch screen for the past eight years and doing so saved me thousands of dollars, even as TV prices have decreased. The trade-off is that the projector is not as bright as a TV and the picture isn’t quite as sharp.
🫡 Greetings, colleague: Dreading writing an email for work? Open ChatGPT or your favorite AI chatbot. Give it a headstart by typing who you are, your recipient and what the email needs to communicate. If the first draft is awful, give feedback (e.g., “Make it sound more conversational” or “Be more confident”) until it’s ready for your edits.
How to make money in podcasting
We talk with Rob Walch from Libsyn about the current state of podcasting and get his top tips for starting your own podcast. Plus, X makes your ‘likes’ private, SoftBank uses AI to make angry customers sound calm, and nobody likes being called a bot.
Return of the Sith: James Earl Jones signed over the AI voice rights to his Darth Vader character before he died. At 91, he was ready to step back from the role. AI company Respeecher cloned his voice using sound bites he’d recorded over the years. As it turns out, this tech was already used in the 2022 “Obi-Wan Kenobi” miniseries.
Which word is most frequently corrected for typos by Microsoft Word’s spellchecker? Is it … A.) Accommodate, B.) Definitely, C.) Separate or D.) Receive?
27.9% of fingerprints
Chinese and U.S. researchers can recreate more than one-fourth of fingerprint biometric scans by sound alone. No kidding, your fingerprints make sounds when you swipe your touchscreens.
Can you hear me now? Apple will fix iPhones with sound issues
You may have experienced high-end audio at a movie theater or music festival. Think about sounds coming from different directions. The right settings can make a few speakers sound like a dozen speakers with a small home setup.
Dropped your phone in water? Forget the bowl of rice. The collective internet is going bonkers over this video. It uses low sound frequencies to literally pull the liquid out of speakers. Caveats: It won’t help with water trapped in the USB port or SIM card slot, and you’ll need to turn your phone on for this to work. Let it dry out for 24 hours before you try.
📧 Write a hard email in the right tone: This AI tool can transform it for you. Choose from professional, emotional, to the point, easier to read and lots more. FYI, you can do the same thing with any of the AI chatbots, including ChatGPT. Just say, “Rewrite this to sound more …” followed by whatever you need.
“Hey, it’s-a-me, Mario!” Here’s how to set a custom ringtone for a contact so you know who’s calling before you pick up:
- iPhone: Head to Contacts, select the contact and then tap Edit > Ringtone. Choose your custom sound and tap Done.
- Android: Under Contacts, select your contact and tap the “i” icon > three-dot icon > Edit > Change ringtone/vibration > Ringtone. Select your sound and tap Save.
Recall alert: Over 900,000 Hatch Rest first-generation baby sound machine adapters are being recalled, because the adapter housing can come off, exposing power prongs. If yours has model number CYAP05-050100U stamped on it, get a free replacement here.
Have a YouTube channel? Check out the awesome eraser tool. It uses AI to detect and remove copyrighted music without affecting dialogue or sound effects. It’s not perfect (the tool might struggle if the song is “hard” to remove), but it beats losing money because your video got flagged.
🤖 Glimpse into the future: AI has replaced 52% of copywriters, but there’s a new role to fill: Making content sound more human. ChatGPT and others generally sound too formal, choose odd words and invent facts. Writers, all is not lost!
What inspired the iconic ding sound that welcomes you when booting up a Mac computer? Was it a … A.) Tibetan singing bowl, B.) Beatles’ song, C.) Cash register opening or D.) Classical piano key note?
Affordable, quality tech: You don’t have to spend $200 or more for high-quality earbuds. Raycons have studio-quality sound, noise cancellation, 32 hours of battery life, and they fit comfortably in every ear with precise fittings. They also pair with two devices so you can share them. Grab ‘em for 20% off (and free shipping!) right now at BuyRaycon.com/kim.
A cold-brew cup of Joe is made by steeping the grounds in cold water, a process that takes between 12 and 24 hours. But Australian scientists say they’ve gotten that down to 3 minutes using what technology? Is it … A.) Ultraviolet waves, B.) Ultrasound waves, C.) Radio waves or D.) X‑rays?
Echo sound muffled? You’ll know — it’s like your smart speaker is underwater. To fix this, unplug the Echo, wait 30 seconds, then plug it back in. The magic restart trick! Yep, it works.
PSA: When you use Bluetooth to take a phone call in the car, the sound leaks like crazy. Before you say something really embarrassing while sitting in a parking lot (“Doctor, this rash is all over my …”), turn the volume way down.