There’s a classic theft tactic making the rounds once again. If someone approaches you with an “emergency” and asks to borrow your phone, don’t do it. I’ll explain why.
How to trust what you read online and tell if it's AI or human
I got this note from Ben in Texas. “Hi there, Kim. I love your podcast. You were talking about AI and I got to thinking. When I read a story online at some website, how can I tell if a human wrote it or some bot?”
Ask USA Today. Last week, a bunch of mysterious bylines (WashPo, paywall link) with stories suddenly appeared on its site. Did these writers have a pulse?
Staff writers at Reviewed spoke out that management published stories written by AI under the names of non-existent humans. They couldn’t find these writers with any other bylines or social media profiles, not even on LinkedIn. Of course, the parent company, Gannett, denies it all.
AI lies
When reading something online, especially at a big site, you want to trust that what you get is the truth. But AI makes things up. Did you hear about the law professor who was accused of sexual harassment? AI made up the whole story.
Humans code AI algorithms, folks, and we’re all full of opinions and biases. When you read an AI-generated article or social media post, remember that you’re actually getting a spoonful of someone else’s viewpoint. It’s like a game of digital telephone, and sometimes, you only hear one side of the story.
I know it’s a lot to think about. Let’s start with identifying what’s AI-generated and what’s not. I’ve got your back with the telltale signs a chatbot made that article or webpage.
It wants to sound important
Remember back in school when you were trying to fill a word or page count? You see the same information repeated over and over … and over, with only slight changes in the phrasing.
Keep an eye out for vocab words that are unnecessary and eye-rolling transitions like “Moreover,” “Consequently” and “Furthermore.” That’s not a kid at his first journalism job — it’s a telltale sign of a bot in the bytes.
Chatbots don’t do analysis
AI can state facts, but it cannot talk about how that impacts real life. A human-written celebrity gossip piece would end with something like, “Kim Kardashian dieting for months to squeeze her butt into the 60-year-old Marilyn Monroe dress proves she’ll do what she must to get attention on social media.”
🔒 Use Facebook or Instagram? Meta changed its two-factor authentication rules to automatically “trust” any devices you’ve regularly used its apps on over the last two years. Disable this. Log in to either platform, then go to your Settings and click Account Center > Password and Security. Tap or click Two-factor Authentication to turn it off.
How to get cheap flights with expert Clark Howard
Money-saving guru Clark Howard is here, sharing his top-secret strategies to land the cheapest flights imaginable — and trust me, the airlines do not want you knowing these tricks. We talk about clever booking hacks, algorithms, hidden deals, and the perfect time to strike.
Many parents trust AI over doctors: Researchers asked parents to rate advice on topics like infant sleep and nutrition, and most found AI’s answers more reliable than actual health care pros. It’s always good to get a second opinion but remember — AI’s known to “hallucinate,” aka make crap up.
$2.4 to $15 million
Cost for your very own apartment on a luxury yacht that travels the world. Luxury liner “The World” will never call itself a cruise ship, trust me. It’s made up of 165 privately owned apartments, ranging in size from 290-square-foot studios to a 3,240-square-foot four-bedroom pad. Would you live on this?
Deepfake 'endorsements'
Don’t believe everything you see on the internet. It’s easier than ever to fake famous faces.
💩 Shame for fame: A Brazilian model is going viral for an antiaging “hack” — spreading her own poop on her face. I’m not linking the video, because trust me — you don’t want to see it. This crap (sorry) is so popular on social, experts are stepping up to warn against the dangers of exposing yourself to bacteria and parasites. Just … don’t.
🗞️ Trust fall: Science says you’re more likely to believe fake news from an acquaintance than your best friend. That’s why so many scammers pose as long-lost classmates or distant relatives. Focusing instead on who’s sharing — not what’s being shared — could be the best way to stop fake news.
Self-driving cars do not drive themselves
Can you really trust your car’s self-driving mode? Turns out, study after study shows it’s not as safe as you might think.
10- to 20-minute “fart walk”
For happy digestion. That’s the funny name for a jaunt to kickstart digestion and help with bloating and gas. Science supports this. Btw, I learned an important lesson while hiking Machu Picchu: Never trust a fart.
Researchers prove it: Our brains can distinguish deepfaked voices from real ones. The brain’s reward system, called the nucleus accumbens, is less active when you hear a fake voice. Your auditory cortex hears the difference, too. Next time you get a call and the voice feels “off,” trust your instincts.
Get a dashcam, trust me
The Fourth of July is just around the corner, and AAA says about 71 million people will be traveling over 50 miles that week. Make sure you’re prepared for anything that might happen on the road.
$745 million
The price for a top-secret Air Force B‑21 Raider. The U.S. nuclear bomber came out of stealth for its first flight test in late May 2024. It’s designed to be “virtually invisible” to enemy radar, and it pretty much looks like a UFO with wings. Trust me, you’re gonna wanna see this.
Don’t waste your money: Meta’s now pitching its built-in AI features that help you create full ad campaigns on Facebook and Instagram. That includes image and text generation. I wouldn’t trust it, but watch your ads and spending very carefully if you do.
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