I hate lines: That’s why I have the TSA app on my phone. Check real-time security wait times, get tips on what you can and can’t bring on board, check delay info, and report security issues. Worth downloading for Android and Apple if you have a trip coming up.
Tech that’s changing the world (not just AI!)
“Kim, what’s coming soon that will change the world?” I get this question a lot. “AI” is a definite answer. But what about life changers that have nothing to do with AI?
Like this one. Infection after surgery occurs in one of every 10 patients. A genius high-schooler created a special suture that changes color when an infection is present. Amazing, right? Here are some others that I bet you’ll want to tell your family and friends about. Shout out to Reader’s Digest for compiling a great list.
Mushmore shelf life: Food preservatives aren’t good for us. A couple of chemists discovered a natural way to preserve food using a mushroom-fiber extract made from shrooms that farmers usually throw away. They extended the shelf life of organic cream cheese from six weeks to 10. Bagel lovers rejoice!
One smart dresser: Imagine a closet full of clothes with only a few pieces. Researchers at MIT made “smart” material that shape-shifts when exposed to water, heat or light. Its 4D clothing can be lengthened, folded, flattened and bent on command. It can also do everything from changing colors to releasing microdoses of medication. Whoa.
Cool as a cucumber: A professor at Purdue created a special white paint that reflects sunlight back into the atmosphere. It reduces a roof’s temperature by up to eight degrees during the day and air conditioner use by 40%. Pretty cool, indeed.
Hazy hydration: Folks living in remote areas have to trek to the closest spring for water … and it might not be that close. In Peru, one man developed a special synthetic resin mesh net that collects water from fog instead and funnels it into collection tanks. Each net collects up to 100 gallons per day. So far, over 3,000 nets have been installed on the Peruvian hillsides, helping to bring relief to the city of Lima during water shortages.
Secret SOS: In South Korea, the Knock Knock campaign is helping domestic violence victims. They can report abuse on the down low by dialing 112 and tapping any number twice. Police get the location through GPS tracking and can even see a livestream through the phone’s camera.
Oceans of love: There are an estimated 171 trillion pieces of plastic in the ocean. TrashBoom is a floating barrier that stretches the width of a river, acting like a net to block trash from heading out to sea. Since April 2021, around 2 million pounds of waste have been stopped from entering the ocean.
🤯 If something on this list blew your mind, share this article with a friend.
Speaking of … The invention of the shovel was groundbreaking, but the invention of the broom swept the nation. (I crack myself up sometimes!)
Tech hack: Make your computer more useful with widgets
I’ve been writing this newsletter for almost a year, and somehow, some way, we’ve never talked about widgets. “Whoa, Kim! Too exciting for a Wednesday!” I know, I know. But trust me, you’ll be glad you spent a few minutes fiddling with your computer to set these up.
No Photoshop skills? No prob. Use AI to edit your photos
All right, let’s dive into the digital realm where your photos hold the power to amaze, inspire, and tell stories that words alone can’t capture.
But here’s the kicker — getting those images to shine and share your vision can often feel like you’re navigating a minefield of technical jargon and complex software. It’s enough to make anyone feel like throwing in the towel.
How to use AI to cut down on legal fees
As a small-business owner, dealing with attorneys means one thing: Spending a lot of money. I’ll never forget the lawyer I met with who charged $999 an hour. I wish I made that!
There’s a lot you need a real-life lawyer for, but there’s a lot you can do on your own with AI before opening your wallet.
Using new software at work? Online learning sites like Coursera, Udemy and LinkedIn Learning can help you get up to speed quickly. YouTube is a solid free option. There are a ton of helpful tutorials out there. You’ll have to watch an ad or two, but that’s no big deal.
Traveling soon? Make a custom Google Map outlining your trip and share it — along with your itinerary and real-time location — with someone back home. Open Google Maps on your computer, then go to Saved > Maps > Create map. Pin each city you’re visiting or each stop on your epic hike.
Is that a library in your pocket? I like the Libby app for borrowing e-books, audiobooks and magazines from your local library, free of charge. Pro tip: If there’s a long wait for a book, look for it in a different format, like an audiobook.
Free privacy tool: See what your CAR collects about you
A new car has over 1,400 microchips and runs on 100 million lines of code. Because it is connected, it can also collect a lot of data about you.
Your car is like your phone, computer or tablet now — always listening. What is your vehicle collecting? Way more than we’d all like to think.
Inside Perplexity AI, the search chatbot that could beat Google
For years now, I’ve predicted that someday, somehow, someone would create a search tool that would rival Google. Some say it’s already happened with ChatGPT. But it’s loaded with problems.
I’m betting that history is about to repeat itself with a small AI search website with only 40 employees operating out of a small shared office in San Francisco … kinda like the early days of Google.
Win the house-hunting game with foreclosure-finding apps
In my spare time, I am a bit of a horse trader in real estate. I have purchased and sold over 20 commercial buildings and homes at all price points. I’ve used realtors and sold properties myself. I’ve bought foreclosures and short sales. I’ve remodeled homes and purchased spec homes. I just completed building a new home on a lot that I eyeballed for 10 years. It’s my hobby.
Before you use the Flip app, know these downsides
Savvy internet surfers like us ignore those obnoxious “Claim Now” pop-up ads that promise free gift cards. We’re better than that. But there’s a new shopping app that I have been getting a slew of questions about whether it’s a good way to make some extra cash. So, I decided to check it out for you.
Life after death: AI chatbots bringing lost loved ones back
This weekend on my national radio show, I’m chatting with the co-founder and CEO of a company called StoryFile Life, Stephen Smith. I couldn’t wait to tell you more about what they’re doing — and the other companies doing something similar.
Google's new Gemini-powered Bard raises privacy eyebrows
It’s been about a year since OpenAI launched ChatGPT. Now, everyone’s in a race to make their AI tech bigger and better. This week, Google announced significant developments in its Bard chatbot and it’s coming in guns blazing.
Trust winter forecasts again with the top 4 most accurate weather apps
Over the weekend, 10 million Americans across 11 states were under winter weather alerts. Yep, it’s that time of year already.
If your weather “forecasts” — quotation marks intentional — feel useless, I’ve got something you should know: Weather apps pull information from different data networks, and those networks vary in quality as reported by orgs like ForecastAdvisor. Some even vary by region of the U.S. I’ll show you the best to use depending on where you live.
Temu class-action lawsuit: Is the cheap shopping app worth downloading? (No!)
I saw this coming. I’ve been warning about the shopping app Temu since April when its sister app, Pinduoduo, was caught planting malware. It was spying on other apps, reading notifications and messages, and even changing settings.
Guide: How to use AI to create your own website in a few minutes
Does thinking of creating your own website conjure visions of tech jargon and coding mysteries? Well, fear not because the future of website building is here.
So many of you have called or emailed me asking for help getting your business, side hustle or hobby online. Let’s look at the AI website builder Hostinger so I can show you how easy it is these days. Seriously, the example site I whipped up took under 10 minutes.
ChatGPT pro tips: How to get better-branded copy, social media posts and marketing materials
I read a stat that blew me away. HubSpot surveyed marketers and 78% say the industry changed more in the past three years than in the last five decades.
I agree, and it’s even more challenging to stay up to date with how much there is on all our plates. That’s where AI comes in.
One-click cleanup: This free app deletes your digital history
Asking all the companies you interact with to protect your data sounds like a never-ending game of Whac-A-Mole. Who has that kind of time or energy? Thankfully, a new app will do it for ya.
The Permission Slip app was created by Consumer Reports (so you know it’s good!). It contacts companies on your behalf to ensure your personal info isn’t sold to third parties, aka anyone willing to pay for it. They can even get your data erased for you.
AI fakes are everywhere – How to spot them
Tom Hanks isn’t trying to sell you a dental plan. YouTuber MrBeast won’t give you an iPhone 15. CBS News host Gayle King isn’t recommending a weight-loss product.
I knew this stage of AI tomfoolery was coming, but it’s still surprising how fast it’s happening. Let’s take a closer look at how free and cheap tools fuel fraud — and the signs to watch for.