📞 Party like it’s 1999: A crew of Seattle parents just made a pact: no smartphones for their kids. Instead? A single landline they all share between houses. If your friend’s not home, tough. You’ll survive. Next thing you know, they’ll be making mix tapes.
The post Party like it’s 1999 appeared first on Komando.com.
⚠️ Check this iPhone setting: In iOS 26, Apple added a default that automatically trusts wired accessories when your phone is unlocked. That means plugging it into a public USB charger could let hackers steal your data. Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Wired Accessories and change Automatically Allow When Unlocked to Always Ask. Smarter move: Use a power bank.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.The post Check this iPhone setting appeared first on Komando.com.
⚠️ Are you protected? I don’t take chances with my identity. NordProtect monitors my info and credit, alerting me instantly if something’s off. It’s like a digital bodyguard, for just $5.22/month. That’s less than a fancy cup of coffee. It even includes ID theft recovery and fraud protection at no extra cost. Perfect.
The post Are you protected? appeared first on Komando.com.
⚡️ 3-second tech genius: Need the perfect pet name? Ask a chatbot. Give it the breed, color and personality traits, and it’ll whip up ideas. You can even get some first-time training tips. Because Fluffy deserves better.
The post 3-second tech genius appeared first on Komando.com.
Medicare’s not calling: Open enrollment season almost guarantees you’re going to get more scam calls. Real Medicare won’t call unless they’ve mailed you first. If someone wants your SSN over the phone, they’re shopping for gullible folks. These scammers aren’t sloppy either, they’re international pros who can drain tens of thousands before you notice.
The post Medicare’s not calling appeared first on Komando.com.
Weekend getaway coming up? Let’s pack light and keep your style tight.
👱♀️ Hair straightener brush (30% off): Heats up in 30 seconds to straighten, style and add shine all at once.
Obagi facial moisturizer (20% off): Small tube, big impact. Packed with shea butter, avocado oil and Tara seed extract.
💕 My favorite earbuds (20% off): 32-hour battery life, fabulous sound, noise cancellation, and since every ear is different (obviously), they come with 6 different-sized gel tips to fit any size.*
Body measuring tape (29% off): Ordering outfits online? This helps nail your size, so everything fits when they arrive.
😌 Face towelettes (20% off): From makeup removal to quick refreshes, these gentle cloths are great for sensitive skin.
🧳 Travel organizer case (20% off): Sort and protect all your cables and chargers, so you can find what you need, fast.
Promo code of the day: Use BEAUTY5 for an extra 5% off these beauty brands. Hurry, redemptions are limited!
✈️ Ready for takeoff? Head to my Amazon shop for more smart little lifesavers that make life smooth sailing.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.The post Little luxuries that go the distance appeared first on Komando.com.
🔥 Suspect arrested: A 29-year-old Uber driver named Jonathan Rinderknecht has been arrested for allegedly starting the Palisades Fire that killed 12 and destroyed nearly 7,000 homes in LA. Feds say he started an open flame right after dropping off passengers and used ChatGPT to create images of a “dystopian painting” of a city being burned on one side while “hundreds of thousands of people in poverty are trying to get past a gigantic gate with a big dollar sign on it.” He faces 20 years.
The post Suspect arrested appeared first on Komando.com.
I have to tell you about Sora 2. It’s OpenAI’s new video-generating app that’s both mind-blowing and terrifying.
It’s the first tool from any AI company that lets you give it a prompt, and in literally seconds, you get a full-blown, AI-generated video up to a minute long. The results aren’t perfect, but they’re close. Like Hollywood close.
The lighting, camera motion, facial expressions, it’s all shockingly realistic.
Want to see a golden retriever surfing through Times Square in slow motion? Done. A drone shot of a city being built out of clouds? Easy.
🎭 Dead celebrities
People are using Sora 2 to generate fake videos of dead celebrities doing things they never did.
JFK is deepfaked into a WWE superstar.👉 Watch it on TikTok
Tupac appears with Mr. Rogers talking about respect.👉 Watch it on Instagram
Stephen Hawking is attacked in the UFC. Warning: I knew this was all AI, but it was still upsetting to watch. Weird, right?👉 Watch it on X
Even Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, is shoplifting GPUs from Target.👉 Watch it on Instagram
I’m sure you know that under U.S. law, “defaming” someone only applies to living people, not the dead. That means families and estates have no legal recourse when someone uses AI to humiliate or misrepresent their loved one. It’s a free-for-all right now, and no one’s accountable.
Even creepier?
Sora is also being used for stalking and impersonation. All it takes is a photo, and you can make a video of anyone doing anything. Fake crimes, revenge content, political lies, it’s all possible. I have a warning about that and a fix for you in tomorrow’s newsletter.
😱 Zero guardrails
OpenAI says you need permission to use a person’s face or voice. Yea, like that’s going to stop someone.
If the guy who runs OpenAI can’t stop his own face from being misused, what chance do the rest of us have? Right now, you can only get Sora 2 as an iPhone app. You’ll need an OpenAI account, and it’s still invite-only, so most people don’t have access yet.
Sora 2 is an incredible tool. But it’s being abused, and the guardrails are flimsy at best. So from now on, when a video goes viral, you better assume it’s fake until proven real.
🎏 After that, you need a smile. In every koi pond of four or more, at least one is always fake. You’ve got kois A, B, C, and then the D koi. (lol)
The post Sora 2: The AI video tool that’s already out of control appeared first on Komando.com.
