👨💼 AI coworkers are here: Bank of New York Mellon is now using “digital workers” alongside staff. They have company logins and handle tasks like coding and payment instruction validation on their own, then report to managers for approval. Next up? Giving them email addresses and Teams access to chat with colleagues.
🏠 Modern home intercom: Still yelling, “Dinner’s ready!” across your house? Amazon Echo speakers, like the Echo Pop ($40), work as an intercom system. Just link them to the same Amazon Household account and Wi-Fi network. Then say, “Alexa, drop in on…” followed by the speaker’s name (kitchen, bedroom or garage).
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YouTube adds AI summaries: If you’re a Premium paying subscriber, you might notice a new layout. At the top, you’ll see a featured video, thumbnails and an AI description. Tap the main one to start watching.
🗑️ Quickly trash it: On Windows, choose a file and hit Ctrl + D to delete and send it to the trash. On a Mac, that’s Cmd + Del. (Bonus: Cmd + D on a Mac duplicates the file.)
👼🏻 Baby- or snoop-proof your iPad: Activate Guided Access. Just triple-click the home button once you’re in the app you wish to lock, then triple-click again to exit and enter your passcode. Now, your kid can play a game or your pal can scroll through photos and nothing else.
Tell me something I don’t know about myself: You might be surprised at ChatGPT’s answer. Try that as a prompt. I got, “People don’t just listen to you because you’re smart. They listen because you’re on their side. If that resonates, you already knew it deep down.” I am and I did. 😊
⚡️ 3-second tech genius: Use your phone’s Notes app (iPhone) or Google Drive (Android) to scan documents.
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🎙️ Missed my show this past weekend? I’m not mad. I’m just disappointed. (Can you tell I’m a mom, too?) The good news is you can listen to it when and where you want. Here’s a one-click link to my show on the most popular podcast players.
▶️ Save your YouTube channel: Back up all your videos, just in case. Head to takeout.google.com and select only YouTube and YouTube Music. Then, follow the prompts to download everything in one swoop. Your future self will thank you.
💸 Old electronics lying around? Costco’s revamped trade-in program lets you swap them for a store gift card, no membership needed. The trade-in values aren’t small potatoes, either; you can get up to $1,080 for an old laptop! Go to this portal for a quote. If you’re cool with their offer, the shipping’s free, and you’ll have your money in under three weeks. PSA: Amazon has a trade-in program, too, so compare both to see which gives you the better price.
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Wi-Fi master: Angry IP Scanner keeps track of everything connected to your network. It scans for IP addresses and other information about the devices connected. It helps troubleshoot tech issues and catch hackers or moochers since it pinpoints unknown or suspicious devices.
Principle of least privilege: Business owners, ask your IT folks if your accounts are set up this way. It means users and systems only get access to what they need to get their tasks done. It’s a simple way to keep your info safe.
⚡️ 3-second tech genius: Use a passphrase instead of a password. “Grape-soda-messy-shark-1973” is easier to remember and way harder to crack than “K1mR0cks!”
🤖 Google’s AI problems: To “help” the publishers it just kneecapped with AI search, Google dropped a new feature: Offerwall. Your website visitors can now pay per article, watch ads or take surveys to get through content gates. Congrats! You’ve unlocked this joke by watching two ads and solving a CAPTCHA shaped like Sundar Pichai’s head.
Biometric bandwagon: Unlock your Amazon app on your phone with your fingerprint or face. On the web, open Amazon account settings, click Login & security, then click Set up next to Passkey.
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📝 Need to brush up? Microsoft offers free online training for its Office programs, including video tutorials, interactive guides and practice exercises.
Finders keepers: Looking for a file? Hit the Windows key and start typing its name. That’s it. On a Mac, hit Cmd + space bar and start typin’. So simple and saves so much time.
🐶 Calm your pup: Leaving an anxious dog at home? Try playing soft, low-volume music. Classical music is best. It helps the space feel less empty and can ease separation anxiety. FYI: Start the habit while you’re home, so they link it with comfort.
Share your location on WhatsApp: Open the chat, tap the Paperclip icon, choose Location, then Share Live Location and hit Send. They’ll get a live-updating map showing where you are.