There’s such an abundance of apps that can be connected to most of the AI tools you regularly use.

With ChatGPT, its library of plugins covers the gamut of helping one tackle tasks aimed at productivity, creativity, developer tools, business & operations and more. Claude and Perplexity offer their own collection of “Connectors” that incorporate the direct usage of third-party tools that make your personal and professional life more manageable.

I’ve already experimented with my fair share of those plugins and Connectors—they’ve all proven to me that being able to create a music playlist based on how I’m feeling, find the sort of podcasts that appeal to my hobbies & interests and check if an email is a scam are just a sample size of the great things they can do. In the case of Google Gemini, I hold it in high regard among today’s AI tools since it's directly accessible as a side panel within Google Workspace. And I love how you connect your Workspace account to the Gemini app to accomplish tasks in a quicker, more efficient manner.

With these seven prompts, I’ve built a system that allows me to make the most of Gemini’s Workspace collaboration and be all the more productive for it.

Gemini is now a central part of my Google Workspace activities

Connecting your Google Workspace apps to Gemini is as simple as signing into your Google account, heading into your “Settings” in Gemini (it’s the gear icon at the bottom left of the screen next to your account name) and clicking on “Activity” to make sure the “Keep Activity” toggle is turned on. Then go back to your Settings, select “Connected Apps” and toggle on the option for connecting your Google Workspace apps.

With Gemini’s help, I generated 7 prompts that handle all manner of tasks I present it with across Gmail and Google Docs. And most times, I click on the neon-colored Gemini icon across both apps to open its sidebar and do my prompting from there.

Other times, I access my Gmail and Docs directly through the Gemini app by using the “@” sign to mention specific emails and documents:

• The Inbox Tamer (Gmail): Summarize this email thread into three to five short bullet points.
• The Unread Inbox Triage (Gmail): Summarize my unread emails over the last [timeframe]. Give me a bulleted list of the core updates and flag any direct questions or urgent action items I need to handle today.
• The Thread Decoder (Gmail): Review the long email thread in @Gmail with the subject "[subject line]". Give me a bulleted summary of the final consensus, and list out any remaining open questions.
• The Cross-Referencing Meeting Prep (Gmail and Docs): Look at the meeting agenda in @Docs titled "[name of document]". Then, check @Gmail for any recent updates from [colleague's name] about this project. What outstanding issues do I need to bring up in the meeting?
• The Meeting Prepper (Docs): Give me a briefing for my meeting today by summarizing the key points from this document and tell me the top questions I should be prepared to answer.
• The Brain-Dump to Structured Outline (Gmail): Take the rough notes from my email draft titled "[draft name]" in @Gmail and turn them into a structured outline for a project brief. Use clear headings for Objectives, Deliverables, and Next Steps.
• The Brutal Editor (Gemini): I need to send an email to [recipient name]. I've drafted it here: [paste draft]. Edit this to be 50% shorter, keeping only the essential information and a clear call to action. Remove conversational filler like 'I hope this finds you well.'

The takeaway

Gemini comes in clutch during those moments when I need a bit of clarification about my next assignment, meeting and actions to take from an important set of emails. It took me a while to get used to seeing that bright Gemini icon sitting atop my Gmail and Docs. But after giving Google’s AI tool an assortment of tasks, it turned out to be more of a reliable assistant than I expected. Applying those aforementioned Gemini prompts to your Gmail- and Docs-related duties should also prove equally beneficial.

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When ChatGPT first launched, most of the conversation centered on AI-generated student essays, deepfake images and the threat of automated fake news. Books, however, felt different.

As someone who reads and reviews half a dozen books a month for ReaderViews, I've always found a certain comfort in the traditional publishing process. Bringing a book to market has historically required editors, designers, proofreaders, and, most importantly, an author who actually sat down and wrote it. That barrier to entry gave books an inherent authority that standard websites and fleeting social media posts often lacked.

Then I read a recent New York Times investigation into AI-generated biographies appearing on Amazon. These included books about living public figures that were riddled with factual mistakes and seemingly produced with zero human oversight.

I wondered: Could I actually spot one in the wild? I opened Amazon and started searching.

Most of the listings looked completely normal

The most surprising part of the whole experiment was at first glance, nothing looked unusual. All the books with AI-generated content featured professional-looking covers, convincing descriptions, reasonable price points, and even star ratings. Nothing immediately screamed "AI." If I hadn't intentionally gone looking for them, I probably would have assumed they were entirely legitimate.

Once I dug a little deeper, however, the facade started to crack — and the first thing that tipped me off was the author pages. I clicked on the name behind one biography and landed on the page of someone called John Crane Miller, described as a "seasoned biographer and cultural analyst" with a stock-photo portrait. Miller had published ten biographies in a single week, all about journalists and public figures, and when Kashmir Hill left a public review on Amazon asking to speak with him, his books quietly vanished. He wasn't the only phantom.

A study by Originality.ai found entire catalogs built by authors who appeared to be fabricated identities, one of whom had published 74 books in five months on topics ranging from porn addiction to solo parenting to toxic workplaces. No single person writes like that. These weren't prolific indie authors with a strong work ethic; they were fake names attached to automated output.

Marketing copy was a dead giveaway

Blurb after blurb leaned on the same broad promises and eerily familiar phrasing — "delve into," "comprehensive guide," "unlock the secrets of" — without ever explaining what made the book worth reading over any other book on the same topic.

After half a dozen of these, I could practically predict the next sentence before I read it. The marketing copy wasn't just generic; it was interchangeable, as if the same prompt had been run through the same model with only the subject swapped out.

The biographies were the most troubling category, and the wave of books about tech journalist Kara Swisher illustrated why. Multiple unauthorized biographies of Swisher appeared on Amazon around the release of her memoir "Burn Book," written by authors with no apparent journalism credentials and no indication they had ever spoken to Swisher or anyone in her orbit.

Political scientist Ian Bremmer encountered the same phenomenon: books bearing his name as a subject, produced without his involvement, that simply scraped and summarized what was already freely available online. This is, of course, exactly what chatbots are built to do, that is, synthesize existing information into fluent, confident-sounding prose. The result is a product that looks and feels like a real book but contributes nothing a reader couldn't get from the source material itself.

Beyond books

Substack recently launched an AI detection feature in partnership with a company called Pangram, letting readers scan any post to see an estimate of how much was written by a human versus generated by AI.

Substack CEO Chris Best framed it as a way to keep the platform from becoming "like LinkedIn," overrun with hollow AI content, but even Substack acknowledges the tool isn't perfect. The Atlantic found that Pangram's accuracy is far from bulletproof, and critics worry about false positives flagging legitimate human writers.

Still, the fact that a major publishing platform felt compelled to build this feature at all says something about how urgent the problem has become. Amazon, for its part, has no equivalent.

The takeaway

As someone who absolutely loves to read, I found this to be a very interesting experiment. My takeaway is that now, instead of trusting a listing at face value, I take a few extra minutes to look up the author outside of Amazon to see if they have a credible publishing history elsewhere, and I specifically hunt down professional reviews rather than relying on standard star ratings.

I always preview the sample text to check if the writing feels robotic or relies on repetitive phrasing, and for nonfiction, I actively look for evidence of real human interviews and original citations. None of these steps individually guarantee a book was written by a human, but together, they make it much easier to separate thoughtful, researched work from automated content designed just to game search results.

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All the best streaming services use AI in some form or another to serve up recommendations for what to watch, but Prime Video's looking to go all in. According to a Reuters report this week, Jeff Bezos is personally pushing Amazon’s Prime Video executives toward a major app redesign to turn the streaming platform into a marquee showcase for Amazon's multi-billion-dollar investments in AI technology for its 200+ million active viewers.

Internally codenamed Project Lighthouse, the effort is just one piece of Amazon's companywide AI efforts to compete against the likes of OpenAI and Anthropic. Lighthouse would comb through a subscriber's viewing preferences, using AI for improved film and TV recommendations and to respond to spoken requests, one person with knowledge of the project told Reuters. The final redesign is still in the works, but it could drastically change your home page and how you find what to watch next. We've reached out to Amazon for comment, and will update this story once we hear back.

Following a tense internal presentation last fall, Bezos rejected earlier redesign proposals from Prime Video head Mike Hopkins, expressing frustration that they did not go far enough in leveraging generative AI for improved personalization. The team scrapped those plans and started fresh under Global Head of Design Kam Keshmiri. So far this year, the company's dropped $200 billion in capital expenditures, mostly related to developing AI, Reuters reports.

Potential changes with Prime Video's AI redesign

Again, Prime Video's AI overhaul is far from finalized, but one part of the redesign under consideration would introduce AI-powered content tiles that surface curated viewing suggestions, such as "1980s action movies" or "Christmas rom-coms," three people familiar with the discussions told Reuters. Netflix employs similar categories to help direct viewers find other movies and shows in genres they gravitate toward.

The overhaul could also reshape how movies and TV shows are promoted on Prime Video. Right now, studios pay for premium placement on the service's homepage alongside recommendations generated by Amazon's algorithms, a practice that's standard among streaming platforms.

Amazon has reportedly already begun testing early versions of the redesign with a limited group of users. However, the final product could still change based on tester feedback, budget considerations, or other internal factors. The redesigned interface would still include the standard search bar, along with a dedicated area at the top of the homepage to spotlight new releases and live events, including Amazon's exclusive "Thursday Night Football" broadcasts.

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Most ChatGPT users have gotten accustomed to using AI to help with simple questions that are too nuanced for Google. But, ChatGPT Work is meant to be used differently.

After spending time with it, I realized the biggest shift with OpenAI's new feature within the interface, is that it does so much more than just answer questions — it does entire tasks!

Once I tried it, I saw the difference was truly unique. Instead of bouncing back and forth with dozens of follow-up prompts, I found myself giving ChatGPT Work a goal and letting it figure out the steps.

Here are the seven prompts I've found myself coming back to the most.

1. Be my chief of staff for this project

Prompt: Act as my chief of staff for this project. Review everything I've shared, identify what still needs to be done, organize the work into priorities, and only come back to me when you need a decision that requires my input.

This has become my favorite way to start a new project. Instead of asking ChatGPT what I should do next, I ask it to build the roadmap. It identifies missing information, suggests a logical order for tasks and keeps the project moving without waiting for me to think of the next prompt.

It feels much closer to working with an assistant than chatting with an AI. It works especially for those times when you're trying to get a project off the ground (alone without a team) and need support. ChatGPT Work seems to "get it" much better than a simple chatbot.

2. Read everything and tell me what actually matters

Prompt: Review every document in this folder. Identify the key points, flag anything important or contradictory, and create one summary that I can read in five minutes.

We've all been handed a folder full of PDFs, meeting notes or research documents with the goal of knowing everything inside as quickly as possible. Normally I'd summarize each one separately before trying to connect the dots myself. ChatGPT Work can tackle the entire collection and give me a single report that highlights what matters most.

That alone can save an enormous amount of time. It's a lot like Gemini Notebooks, formally NotebookLM, but if I'm in ChatGPT platform already, it makes sense not to switch out for something like this.

3. Compare these options like you're spending your own money

Prompt: Compare these products using professional reviews, user feedback, specifications, long-term ownership costs and reliability. Recommend the one you would personally buy and explain why.

I don't want a list of specs anymore like ChatGPT has done. Instead, I want recommendations that come from weighing real tradeoffs. That could mean support whether I'm looking at laptops or planning a weekend getaway.

4. Own my inbox

Prompt: Go through my email, group similar messages together, identify anything urgent, draft replies where appropriate and create a short action list for anything that still needs my attention.

Email is one of those jobs that somehow expands to fill whatever time you give it. Instead of processing messages one by one, I let ChatGPT organize everything first. By the time I'm looking at my inbox, I already know what's urgent, what's waiting and what can safely be ignored. I can also ask ChatGPT questions about my inbox, like, "Where is the Amazon receipt from earlier this month," rather than trying to figure it out myself.

5. Turn my messy notes into something useful

Prompt: Take these notes, organize them into logical sections, identify any missing information and produce a polished document that's ready to share.

My notes are so messy that even I'll take a look and wonder what I was trying to say. Whether they are voice memos or written in my Notes app, they are random

Sometimes they're voice memos. Sometimes they're random thoughts copied from three different apps.

Instead of spending an hour cleaning everything up myself, I hand the entire mess to ChatGPT Work and let it build something coherent.

6. Keep watching this for me

Prompt: Monitor this [topic] and let me know only when something significant changes. Ignore routine updates unless they affect my decision.

This is where ChatGPT Work realls feels different. I don't have to repeatedly check back on something like a website update or an email or news story. Instead, I can hand off the monitoring and focus on something else. It removes a surprising amount of mental overhead.

7. Finish the project—not just the next step

Prompt: My goal is to finish this project. Break it into manageable stages, complete everything you can independently and ask me for input only when you absolutely need it.

This prompt changed how I think about how to use AI. Rather than asking "what comes next?" the AI takes care of it for me. I hand over the entire assignment. The result is fewer interruptions, fewer prompts and a workflow that feels much more natural. This is great for time-consuming administrative takes because it allows me to focus on more important or creative projects.

The takeaway

OpenAI is constantly updating its models and what's possible for the platform itself. If you've been ignoring ChatGPT Work or wondering why you would even need it, I encouarge you to give it a try.

Traditional chatbot prompts tend to be small such as summarize this article, explain this concept or write this email. But ChatGPT Work shines when you give it ownership instead.

The more responsibility you hand over, the more useful it becomes. Rather than asking it to solve one problem at a time, ask it to take responsibility for the whole job. That's the mental shift that finally made it click for me — and once I started using it that way, it changed how I work.

Let me know in the comments if you've tried and what you think.

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I recognize that not everyone is enamored with the idea of today’s usage and reliance on AI.

Far too often, you’ll scroll through your X timeline and spot someone asking Grok “Is this true?” instead of looking up the information they need on their own. And I wouldn't be surprised to hear about an older relative sharing a picture or video with you that’s clearly AI-generated, but they can’t seem to recognize the counterfeit content.

But there are a bunch of cases where AI is more helpful to the average person than harmful, especially when prompting chatbots to simplify complex topics, produce productivity routines, map out easy-to-follow workout plans, etc.

In many ways, AI is implemented into a lot of the gadgets and systems you use every day. And you might be working with those AI-powered features without even realizing it. From enhancing the pictures on your smartphone to improved visual clarity for online meeting tools, AI makes several parts of your life easier while working in the background.

Enhancing photos on your smartphone

I’m sure you snap dozens of photos when you’re out and about. iPhones and Android-powered smartphones both employ AI to perform several corrective actions to make your shots look even better. For instance, the “Portraits in Photo Mode” feature on iPhones relies on machine learning algorithms to automatically detect a person, cat or dog that stands out in the frame of a picture. AI is also used to automatically improve the lighting and colors in your pictures, reduce the blur effect caused by camera shake and improve your photos’ visual output in low-light and nighttime settings.

Autocorrecting your mistakes and giving you the best search results

Whenever you’re typing up something in a search bar, text or email, you’ll notice features like Autocorrect and predictive typing attempting to fix your typos and recommend the words you’re most likely going to type in next. This is another form of AI that adapts to your writing style and offers you the suggestions it thinks you’re looking for. That common error of typing out “teh” in a text and having it quickly fixed to appear as “the” is a common fix, courtesy of AI.

Also, every time you type into a search bar like Google or Bing, AI comes into play as it analyzes what you’re writing, auto-completes words, fixes typos and ranks the best results for whatever you’re looking for. AI also improves your search engine experience by blocking out obvious spam links and giving you personalized recommendations based on your search habits.

Analyzing your streaming service habits to make better suggestions

Video/music streaming services and social media apps, such as Netflix, Spotify, YouTube and TikTok, use AI in the form of recommendation algorithms. Those algorithms are used to predict what video you’ll end up watching next, what song you’ll end up listening to next, what movie you’ll queue up next and the sort of content that will keep you engaged. Many factors, such as your watch history, clicks, likes, searches, skips and the total time you spend watching a video, play a huge role in helping AI highlight the next collection of videos it thinks you will like on your YouTube homepage and on a video’s sidebar.

Blocking spam from your inbox

Thankfully, the days of obvious scams invading your inbox are a thing of the past. The email providers you use, such as Gmail, Outlook, and Yahoo, protect you from obvious cases of spam messages by using AI to identify fake invoices, malware, suspicious senders and phishing attempts. AI taps into pattern recognition to scan a message to identify its overall context, sentence structure and tone to identify its validity before letting it go to your inbox or get dumped in your Spam folder.

Making your navigation apps extra reliable

I’m sure you don’t miss the days of printing out directions via MapQuest before making the long journey somewhere on the open road. Navigation apps such as Google Maps and Waze make traveling anywhere on foot or by car a less headache-inducing process thanks to AI. Machine learning algorithms analyze historical traffic trends and live vehicle speeds to make traffic predictions, for instance. That form of AI is also used to find you the best routes, suggest alternate routes, estimate arrival times to your destination and detect nearby accidents.

Assisting you when you're translating different languages

For speech-to-text programs, translation tools and digital assistants (Siri & Alexa immediately come to mind in that last case), AI is used to help them produce the best results possible. In some of the most used language translators, such as Google Translate and DeepL Translate, AI plays a huge part in their processes via deep learning and neural machine translation to comprehend context, process what’s being said and convert text between different languages. Even when your voicemail is transcribed and live text captions are applied to a video, AI is powering both actions.

Bottom line

You may not use the likes of ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude and Perplexity to handle your day-to-day tasks.

You might scoff at the use of generative AI to create art and videos. And you wouldn’t dare ask Grok to explain something you’d feel much better learning about yourself via a good old-fashioned Google search. But without you even grasping the concept of adding AI to your life, it’s already there working behind the scenes to make your life just a little bit easier.

Whether it's easier road navigation, cleaner-looking photos or viewing/listening recommendations, AI works hard to give you what you’re looking for and more.

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If you've been anywhere near social media recently, you've likely seen Jimothy. The unusually round, compact raccoon took the internet by storm after Kiana Hall, a 33-year-old marketing specialist in Seattle, filmed him near the Ballard Goodwill on July 13. Hall initially thought she was looking at a cat under a parked car — until the animal turned around and revealed a racoon with short spine syndrome, a disorder that affects some animals. She posted the clip to Instagram the next day, naming him Jimothy because, as she put it, "he looked like a Jimothy."

With his seemingly missing neck and spherical shape, he looks like a creature straight out of a video game or a cryptid sighting — and as of July 18, the video had racked up over 7 million views.

Jimothy is 100% real.

How Jimothy became a cultural explosion

Before we get to what's fake, it's worth appreciating what's real — because the real-world response has been nearly as surreal as the AI-generated content.

Within days of going viral, Jimothy inspired a mural, tattoos, fan art, and a dedicated following on Reddit's r/Seattle, which saw 29 million views from July 16 to 22 alone.

The Seattle Mariners brought a Jimothy mascot into their beloved Salmon Run race at T-Mobile Park — and he won, naturally, sparking what fans are calling a rally effect after the team rattled off three straight wins.

Google even added an Easter egg. Just search his name and an animated Jimothy scampers across your screen; it's been triggered over 5 million times. He's received an honorary degree from the University of Washington, recognition from the Seattle City Council, and even a shout-out from the White House.

The AI spin

But, what's not real is almost everything you are seeing him do online.

As soon as the original clip went viral in mid-July, creatives, both human and AI took to the internet. Since Jimothy's actual appearance is already somewhat surreal, he has become the perfect subject for AI-powered content. People are running his image through generative models like Gemini's Veo and Grok to create increasingly absurd clips, placing him in fantasy landscapes, having him act out cinematic scenes or reimagining him in stylized digital art.

The gaming world has been especially enthusiastic. Blizzard Entertainment posted a tribute rendering of Jimothy in the style of "World of Warcraft." Jagex did the same for "Old School RuneScape" and D&D Beyond released an official stat block so players can drop him into their tabletop campaigns. A digital Jimothy even made an appearance in Roku City.

These AI-generated tributes are essentially a celebration of meme culture, but many of us (myself included) were duped. The internet took a genuinely fascinating wild animal and used every creative tool available, from generative AI to game engines to old-fashioned fan art, to build a cinematic universe around him.

Why we keep falling for it

The reason these artificial clips are tricking so many people because Jimothy is the perfect subject for digital deception. His real-world proportions already trigger the uncanny valley effect; when a living animal looks like a glitch in the matrix, it naturally lowers our skepticism for actual CGI.

Combine that biological reality with the way we consume content, rapidly scrolling on phones where platform video compression smooths out the telltale visual artifacts of AI generation, and it’s no wonder people are struggling to separate the real Ballard neighborhood from a prompted illusion.

So, yes, the scrappy hometown hero from Seattle is real. But if you see him riding a dragon, casting a spell or winning a raid boss fight in Azeroth, that's just the internet doing what it does best. And in this case, doing it faster and more convincingly than ever before, thanks to generative AI.

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When I logged into ChatGPT last week to lay out a cluster of odd, frustrating symptoms, irregular cycles, sudden night sweats, subtle mood swings and exhaustion, I was looking for help to relieve the symptoms. What I got instead was a confident, direct diagnosis: Congratulations, you’re likely in your first trimester!

There was just one glaring problem: I am absolutely not pregnant. My husband has had a vasectomy and I'm in the thick of perimenopause. But the sheer certainty with which the AI delivered its verdict left me stunned. If I hadn't known my own body — or if I had been younger, anxious or facing a high-stakes health decision — that piece of advice could have derailed my day, sent me down an emotional rabbit hole, or led to unnecessary medical testing.

My experience isn't an isolated quirk. ChatGPT Health launched Thursday, promising U.S. users can now securely connect their own health info to "better understand and navigate your health," it's important to keep in mind that AI is not a replacement for a human doctor.

Landmark lawsuit filed

Just this week, The New York Times reported on a landmark lawsuit filed against OpenAI by Scott Winters, a Florida pastor who claims ChatGPT’s medical advice nearly cost him his life. After consulting the chatbot about severe dizziness and pelvic pain, the AI reassured him his symptoms were "nothing dangerous," advising him to remain off his feet in a recliner.

Weeks later, he was rushed to the ICU with a massive, life-threatening pulmonary embolism, a condition his doctors noted was exacerbated by the prolonged immobility the AI recommended.

While my misdiagnosis was a false positive rather than a medical emergency, both cases highlight the exact same fundamental danger: large language models are engineered to sound authoritative, not to be right.

Here is why relying on AI for medical advice is a risky gamble and why we need to change how we interact with these tools.

1. AI pattern-matches words, not physiology

Simply put: AI is not a doctor and obviously doesn't "know" medicine. It operates on statistical probability — predicting the next most likely word based on its training data.

When you feed a chatbot a list of symptoms like missed periods, fatigue and hormonal shifts, its algorithms cross-reference billions of text snippets. Because pregnancy is heavily discussed online in association with those symptoms, the AI defaults to the most statistically common narrative in its dataset. It lacks the ability to account for age context, subtle bloodwork markers or the complex, non-linear realities of perimenopause.

And, that's just pregnancy! There are plenty of symptoms for thousands of ailments from dehydration to serious medical emergencies. Users treating ChatGPT as a doctor reminds me of the popularity of WebMD.

2. "Sycophancy" and echo chambers

One of the most dangerous traits of conversational AI is sycophancy — the tendency of the model to mirror the user's language, tone and unstated assumptions.

If your prompt leans even slightly toward a specific fear or curiosity, the AI is prone to confirming it rather than challenging it. In Mr. Winters’ lawsuit, the complaint notes how the chatbot leaned into his personal spiritual language to offer comforting, yet wildly inaccurate, medical reassurances.

In my case, because I asked if hormonal shifts could explain my symptoms, the AI leaped straight to the most dramatic hormonal shift in its catalog: pregnancy.

3. The fallacy of the 'authoritative tone'

When a human doctor isn't sure about a diagnosis, they use qualified language, order lab work or refer you to a specialist.

When an AI hallucinates a diagnosis, it presents it with the calm, unflinching confidence of a board-certified physician. It doesn't hesitate, nor does it express internal doubt. That authoritative tone creates a false sense of security, making it dangerously easy for users to bypass real medical care or ignore warning signs.

The takeaway

Large language models can be helpful brainstorming tools for organizing your thoughts before an appointment or summarizing complex medical jargon. But they are not diagnostic tools. They do not have clinical judgment, they cannot order blood tests and they cannot feel the pulse of a human patient.

If you’re experiencing unexpected symptoms, skip the prompt box. Trust your body, listen to licensed professionals and leave the medical diagnoses to human beings.

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I've been impressed with Samsung's launch of a new foldable every summer, but have held on to my iPhone because my thought was always, "That's cool, but why wouldn't I just use my laptop?"

Even after reviewing plenty of AI features over the last couple of years, I still couldn't justify carrying a phone that unfolded into a small tablet. I really didn't feel as though I had a purpose for it. But, Galaxy Unpacked finally changed my mind.

Oddly enough, it wasn't the thinner design that caught my attention or the cameras tht stood out to me. This year it was the ability to use Gemini Notebook (formally NotebookLM) on the phone.

When Google announced that Gemini Notebook will come preinstalled on Samsung's new Galaxy Z Fold lineup, alongside a broader push to make Gemini work across dozens of apps, I was sold. For the first time, I looked at a foldable and thought: "That's actually the device this was built for."

Gemini Notebook feels cramped on a normal phone

I already use Gemini Notebook almost every day. It's actually one of my very favorite AI tools. It lets me dump messy notes, PDFs, YouTube videos, research papers and random thoughts into one place before asking questions or generating summaries.

It's incredible for professionals as well as students who want to stay organized and prepared. But as much as I love it, using it on my iPhone hasn't been ideal. The screen makes a difference with Gemini Notebooks becuase it's not really a chatbot. It's more like a workspace.

Because of the nature of the platform, I want to see my sources while asking questions. And I need to be able to scroll through notes without constantly switching views. Sometimes I want an AI-generated study guide on one side and the original document on the other. I didn't realize it, but having the ability to do that is what was keeping me from successfully using Gemini Notebooks on mobile. On a regular smartphone, that experience feels squeezed into a screen that was never designed for it.

A foldable finally has room to breathe

Watching Google's demos during Unpacked, something clicked. Open the Fold and suddenly there's enough space to treat Notebook like an actual research desk instead of another messaging app. Using a foldable phone would make reading a research paper so much easier, especially while Gemini explains confusing sections on the other side.

Or, even planning a vacation with hotel websites open alongside Notebook as it organizes my itinerary. I could see it useful for comparing recipes, watching a cooking video on one side while asking Gemini questions on the other without jumping between apps or trying to zoom in.

That's the kind of multitasking foldables have always promised, but I've ignored until now. AI finally gives that extra space a real purpose.

AI is giving foldables a reason to exist

Samsung has spent years trying to convince people that foldables are productivity devices, but I wasn't buying it even though the hardware kept improving. But this year's announcement made all the difference to me.

Now that Gemini can now automate tasks across more than 40 apps, it makes the larger screen useful for workflows that previously required bouncing between windows. Instead of simply opening multiple apps, the phone becomes a place where AI helps connect them.

Final thoughts

I know Foldables aren't for everyone. They are expensive and much bulkier than standard phones. Most people don't need an 8-inch display for checking emails or scrolling social media.

But, I can see Foldables being a real game changer for those who spend their day writing, studying, planning or researching. I think that's the audience Samsung has been searching for all along, and Gemini has sealed the deal for me.

For the first time, I didn't leave Galaxy Unpacked thinking about the hardware, instead, I thought about how I would actually use the phone in real life. For someone who uses Gemini Notebooks for just about everything, I'm looking forward to taking advantage of AI that works alongside me. The extra screen suddenly feels like a necessity now that Gemini is baked in.

I can’t help but spend far too many hours scouring the web for answers about the world’s biggest mysteries.

If you catch me on a Saturday night being a loser sitting inside my dark room while the illuminating light of my laptop makes me visible, then I’m most likely diving into conspiracy theories. My fascination with the wild stories behind unsolved cases is strong. The truth behind what’s really stationed at Area 51, why so many ships & planes vanish in the Bermuda Triangle and whatever happened to D.B. Cooper (the man who successfully hijacked a Boeing 727) fascinates me.

Another unsolved case that I’ll never get tired of reading about is Amelia Earhart’s disappearance. As an American icon best known for her accomplishments in the world of aviation, a holiday was enacted in her honor (Amelia Earhart Day). And this year, I wanted to try something different during my latest deep dive into what led to the vanishing of her and her navigator Fred Noonan.

After asking four chatbots what they think really happened to Earhart, I noticed that one prevailing theory stood out above the rest of the wild theories connected to her disappearance.

ChatGPT and Gemini’s answers

I presented the same question to ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude and Perplexity to get my latest conspiracy theory study session underway: “Based on all the conspiracy theories surrounding the mysterious disappearance of Amelia Earhart, what do you think really happened to her?”

ChatGPT’s explanation got straight to the point: The short answer is: the most likely explanation is also the least sensational one. Based on the available evidence, I think Amelia Earhart and Fred Noonan most likely became lost after failing to locate Howland Island, ran out of fuel, and crashed into the Pacific Ocean.

The chatbot pointed to its conclusion as the one that’s accepted by most aviation historians and investigators, for various reasons. Those reasons include no verified post-disappearance radio transmissions being found, the U.S. Navy being unable to find anything during their search and how modern analyses point to Earhart & Noonan having very little fuel remaining during their excursion. Some of the other theories ChatGPT pointed out to explain this mystery included Earhart & Noonan landing on Nikumaroro then dying as castaways, crashing somewhere else entirely (New Britain, for example), getting captured by Japan and a possible government cover-up.

As for Gemini, it made mention of the same result ChatGPT reached: When you strip away the decades of folklore, sensationalism, and cinematic conspiracies, the historical and scientific consensus points to one sobering reality: Amelia Earhart and her navigator, Fred Noonan, simply ran out of fuel and crashed into the Pacific Ocean.

Gemini mentioned something about a sonar update connected to the Earhart mystery that occurred in 2024, which was a bit of info I never knew about before:

The ocean floor remains the primary search zone. In early 2024, ocean exploration company Deep Sea Vision made global headlines when they captured a sonar image of a plane-shaped anomaly roughly 100 miles from Howland Island. However, when the team returned to the site with high-resolution equipment in November 2024, they confirmed the anomaly was merely a natural rock formation. The hunt in the deep sea continues.

Claude and Perplexity’s responses

When presented with my Earhart prompt, Claude gave me the answer I was expecting after reading ChatGPT and Gemini’s answers:

My honest take: the simplest explanation — she ran out of fuel and went down in the ocean — fits the available evidence best. The Nikumaroro theory is the most seriously debated alternative among researchers, but it remains unproven. The more elaborate theories (capture, cover-up) tend to rely on speculation rather than verifiable evidence.

While Claude also mentioned conspiracy theorists bringing up Earhart secretly coming back to the U.S under a new name and her possibly conducting a covert spy mission for the U.S. government, the chatbot made sure to note that those theories have no credible evidence connected to them and are largely dismissed by researchers & historians.

When it was finally Perplexity’s turn to answer my question, it gave me the answer that stood out as the prevailing theory among all four chatbots: If I had to pick one explanation, I’d say a navigation or radio problem led to a fuel-starved ditching near Howland Island, followed by loss in the ocean, with the Nikumaroro castaway theory as the most plausible alternative.

Perplexity pointed to its answer being the prevailing mainstream view from most folks who’ve looked into Earhart’s story, while the theory tied to her becoming a “castaway” has drawn some support due to the data tied to radio-distress reports from Earhart and artifacts linked to Nikumaroro Island (the place where some theorize Earhart and Noonan crashed, then lived as castaways).

Final thoughts

Coming out of this latest chatbot Q&A meeting, I left it knowing that the truth is simple and not covered in any sort of mind-bending mystery.

Earhart and Noonan met their untimely end due to running out of fuel while in the middle of another bout of flight navigation. Earhart will forever be regarded as an aviation icon, as she made history by being the first female passenger to cross the Atlantic by airplane and later crossing it alone while facing harsh weather conditions.

Someday, I hope we get a definite breakdown of her disappearance and the physical evidence everyone needs to back up everything we’ve heard about it thus far. Just like most folks, ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude and Perplexity know where the real truth lies.

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It’s getting harder to ignore the widening silicon inequality gap in the tech world right now thanks to RAMageddon. On one side, you have consumer PC gamers dealing with overpriced PC components, wondering if a standard 8-core CPU and 16GB of VRAM is enough to handle modern AAA games. On the other side, you have enterprise AI machines operating in a whole other universe of compute.

During its Advancing AI 2026 event, AMD announced an enormous 256-core CPU alongside the AMD Helios Rackscale solution — a single server cabinet packing a staggering 31 terabytes of high-bandwidth VRAM. No, these numbers are not typos!

Naturally, you can’t walk into your local Micro Center and buy one of these. Don’t get me wrong, the numbers are cool, but in a time where I might have to donate a kidney to afford a decent amount of RAM, it leaves a bad taste to see 31,000 gigabytes of it being (potentially) used to generate low-quality AI videos.

Here's what you need to know about AMD's enterprise CPU and server rack, along with how they stack up against a popular consumer GPU.

The 256-Core CPU

To put things into perspective, let’s consider the best gaming PCs. A high-end gaming CPU like the Ryzen 9 9950X tops out at 16 cores, which is plenty for running Cyberpunk 2077 or editing 4K videos.

Conversely, AMD’s new 6th Gen EPYC 9006 Series (SP7) server processor packs up to 256 cores and 512 threads onto a single chip, with high-frequency variants like the EPYC 9006X pushing boost speeds up to 5.15GHz. That’s 16 times the core count of a flagship desktop processor. EPYC would be an entire LAN party on one chip.

So, what’s the need to have 256 cores on a single die? AMD built these chips specifically to handle the massive overhead of agentic AI. Modern AI agents have to run code in isolated sandboxes, manage huge system memory states, and coordinate heavy feeds. This all takes a massive amount of computing power and is a far cry from our gaming PCs having to render ray-traced shadows.

Helios Rackscale

If you thought the CPU numbers sound wild, the RAM numbers are even more mind-blowing. The centerpiece of AMD’s announcement is the Helios Rackscale solution, which is an open-architecture AI system.

Inside a single server rack sit 18 compute trays holding a total of 72 AMD Instinct MI455X GPUs. Combined, this single cabinet delivers 31 terabytes (31,000 GB) of HBM4 VRAM with a whopping 1.7 petabytes per second of memory bandwidth.

For context, 31TB of VRAM is equivalent to roughly 1,937 Nvidia RTX 5070 Ti graphics cards chained together!

These are insane numbers when compared to what a typical gaming GPU is packing. It’s definitely impressive, but at the same time, that’s offset by the knowledge that a good chunk of the world’s RAM is going to server racks like this.

Helios Rack vs. RTX 5070 Ti

To give you an understanding of how monstrous a single Helios rack is, let’s compare its raw specs against one of the most popular upper-midrange consumer GPUs out now: The Nvidia RTX 5070 Ti (16GB GDDR7).

Looking at it through this lens, a single server rack packs the raw memory bandwidth of nearly 1,900 desktop PCs working in unison! This is a whole other level of computing, my friends.

Bottom line

AMD is certainly flexing its tech muscles with this announcement. However, there’s a sobering reality behind these staggering numbers. Seeing a single server rack hog 31 terabytes of high-bandwidth memory shows exactly where the global supply chain is funneling its resources. Namely, it’s all being swallowed by the AI boom (or bubble — however you see it). As a lifelong gamer, it hurts being pushed to the side.

Even if it stings, we can’t fault AMD for choosing to invest in more lucrative enterprise projects like this rather than in the average consumer. So, the next time you find yourself debating whether to pay a premium for a 16GB graphics card over an 8GB model, or wondering why PC component prices keep climbing, you now have a better idea of why.

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Prime Video could be getting an AI overhaul at the behest of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, according to a new report. The redesign would put AI front and center under a new project allegedly dubbed Lighthouse.

Reuters reports that the push from Bezos is meant as a way for Amazon to utilize its massive investments in AI and "elevate the company's stature in artificial intelligence." This comes as other investments, including improving the Alexa voice assistant, have provided mixed results and ongoing losses.

Bezos was "displeased" with a Prime Video presentation last fall where AI was not highlighted. The Lighthouse project was born out of this meeting.

What does Lighthouse add to Prime Video?

Bezos is said to be personally involved in the overhaul, an unusual step considering he relinquished the CEO title in 2021 to focus on the Washington Post and his spaceflight company Blue Origin.

Per Reuters, Lighthouse would add a slew of new features that would use AI to improve film and TV show recommendations. This would be done by having the AI learn customer preferences and respond to spoken requests.

A homepage redesign is part of the project, but it's not finalized, so it's not known how it would look yet.

However, it was suggested that it could include AI-driven titles with viewing suggestions like "Christmas rom-coms" or "action movies from the 1980s." Reportedly, a current version doesn't include text-heavy titles, so that even that appears to still be in the air.

Programs and live events like Thursday Night Football would still be promoted in the upper portion of the platform alongside the traditional search bar.

Amazon is also supposedly attempting to integrate Alexa into Prime Video's search function as part of the redesign. Most recently, Alexa was overhauled into a generative AI version last year and integrated into the Amazon shopping platform earlier this year.

Where Prime Video stands

Amazon last gave Prime Video a massive update in July of 2024 that streamlined content curation and added AI recommendations.

The most recent Nielsen data from 2025 has Prime Video in a distant eighth place in TV viewing share behind YouTube, Netflix and Disney+ at 3.9% of viewers. Reuters reports that it's bumped up to 4.2% this year, though still behind Netflix and Disney.

An AI overhaul could be a way for the company to utilize both its artificial intelligence investments and increase viewership with more personalized recommendations.

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Elon Musk has never been one to shy away from ambitious promises, and his latest claim may be one of his boldest yet. In a recent post on X, the xAI founder said Grok is working on a full-length, AI-generated adaptation of "The Odyssey" that he described as "historically accurate."

It's a bold claim, for sure. AI video tools like Runway Gen-3 and Luma Dream Machine have already shown they can produce impressive short clips, but creating a coherent feature-length film is a much bigger challenge. If Musk's vision becomes reality, it would push AI video well beyond the short demonstrations we've seen so far.

Here's what we know — and why Musk's choice of the phrase "historically accurate" has sparked discussion.

The AI race heads to Hollywood

Until now, Grok has been best known as the chatbot built into X. An AI-generated movie would represent a major expansion of xAI's ambitions, suggesting the company wants to compete in AI video generation.

The choice of "The Odyssey" is particularly ambitious. Homer's epic follows Odysseus on his long journey home after the Trojan War, combining ancient Greek settings with legendary creatures, gods and mythological events. Re-creating that story would require AI to maintain consistent characters, environments and visual style across thousands of shots — something today's video models still struggle to do reliably.

Musk's description of the film as "historically accurate" also appears to be a response to the recent debate surrounding Christopher Nolan's adaptation of "The Odyssey," which grossed more than $300 million in its opening weekend.

Some of the film's casting choices — such as Academy Award-winner Lupita Nyong'o as Helen of Troy and Elliot Page as Sinon — sparked online arguments from right-wing commentators over whether modern adaptations should strictly follow Homer's descriptions of key characters. Musk was among those criticizing what he saw as departures from the original text.

At the same time, "The Odyssey" isn't a historical record. It's an ancient Greek epic that blends elements of the Bronze Age with mythology, including gods, monsters and supernatural events. So when Musk talks about 'historical accuracy,' he's likely referring to a faithful interpretation of Homer's descriptions and the story's ancient Greek setting, rather than suggesting the events themselves literally happened.

While AI can already generate remarkably realistic scenes lasting a few seconds, maintaining continuity across an entire feature film remains one of the industry's biggest technical hurdles.

What does 'historically accurate' actually mean?

Musk's choice of words doesn't appear to be accidental. Christopher Nolan's upcoming adaptation of "The Odyssey" has been at the center of online debate over several casting decisions, particularly the casting of Lupita Nyong'o. Critics, including Musk, argued that changing the appearance of mythological characters departed from Homer's descriptions, while others countered that "The Odyssey" is a work of mythology rather than literal history and has been reinterpreted countless times over the centuries.

The debate quickly expanded beyond the film itself, becoming part of a broader cultural argument over historical representation, artistic freedom and diversity in modern adaptations. Musk weighed in multiple times on X, criticizing what he viewed as unnecessary departures from the original text.

Against that backdrop, his promise that Grok will create a "historically accurate" version of "The Odyssey" looks more like a statement about how he believes the story should be portrayed.

Can Grok actually pull it off?

As with many Musk announcements, it's worth treating both the timeline and the scope of the project with some caution. Producing a feature-length movie isn't just about generating convincing visuals. It also requires a cohesive screenplay, believable dialogue, voice performances, music, editing and scene-to-scene continuity.

Musk hasn't shared many technical details about how Grok would handle those challenges, and xAI has yet to demonstrate a publicly available system capable of generating a full-length film.

Still, the announcement highlights how quickly AI video is evolving. Just a few years ago, generating even a few seconds of realistic footage seemed out of reach. Now, companies are openly talking about feature-length productions.

Whether Grok ultimately delivers on Musk's promise remains to be seen. But if it can produce a watchable, coherent feature-length film rather than a collection of impressive clips, it would represent one of the biggest milestones AI video has reached so far.

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• Microsoft Copilot’s free Deep Research AI tool is going away — these are the 7 best free alternatives
• I always recommend the ChatGPT 'Escape Prompt' to friends looking for a new job — here's why it works

Microsoft is reducing free features for users. Microsoft Whiteboard now requires you to have a Microsoft Business account if you want to continue using it; the meeting preparation feature embedded in Microsoft Outlook asks you to purchase a Microsoft 365 Copilot license and Copilot Podcasts are being discontinued altogether. Now another feature that was once free of charge is being taken away from Microsoft users and replaced by a paid option.

The Deep Research feature, once available at no extra cost to Microsoft Copilot users, is now being retired, starting August 18, 2026. And after it’s gone, you’ll be required to get a Microsoft 365 Premium subscription to create the reports and analyses you’re used to doing with Copilot with the all-new Researcher AI tool.

While your previously generated Deep Research content won’t be deleted and will be accessible through Researcher, it’s a bit of a bummer to know that you’ll only be able to get back to it via a required payment.

If this news disappoints you as much as it did for me, then consider giving these alternative AI tools a try if you’re looking for more ways to conduct your research.

Try out these free options to continue generating detailed reports

Perplexity stands out as one of the top options that can fulfill all your Copilot Deep Research needs. Since its biggest selling point is backing up its data via valid citations and easily verifiable claims, you can rely on its real-time web search to get the fast results you’re looking for. Conducting everyday research on general news, products and academics should work just fine if you consider using Perplexity’s free tier.

Claude is one of the strongest AI analysts you can utilize—it’s capable of generating long-form explanations, providing you with legit citations and offers “Connectors” such as PubMed, bioRxiv and Consensus that act as research databases.

Google Gemini taps into all the latest information injected into Google Search to analyze and synthesize all the data you’re looking for from multiple webpages. Researching all manner of topics through Gemini is another free AI research tool alternative worth considering as well. Gemini’s Google Workspace integration is also great if you’re looking to export your deep research reports to Google Docs or download as a PDF.

Gemini Notebook (formerly known as NotebookLM) is an amazing AI research tool as it allows you to upload your own sources to create your own study material. Injecting your notebooks with PDFs, research papers, notes, Google Docs, etc. helps Gemini Notebook get all the information it needs to answer any questions you may have about your current research topic. Being able to turn your notebooks into Audio & Video Overviews, Slide Decks, Quizzes, Flashcards, etc. also stands out as some of the best ways Gemini Notebook handles your research sessions.

ChatGPT is known far and wide as the mainstream AI tool that your everyday AI chatbot user makes use of. Presenting it with super descriptive prompts (a good example of that being "Research the current AI landscape in 2026. Compare OpenAI, Google, Anthropic, Microsoft and Meta. Include recent developments, strengths, weaknesses, market positioning, and cite sources”) helps it handle deep research tasks with more clarity. ChatGPT comes in handy when you’re looking to learn about new subjects, have the most complex topics explained to you in simpler terms and have research data built into structured reports.

Elicit stands tall as one of the best AI research tools for users interested in deep academic literature discovery and structured data extraction. Students and professional researchers can definitely put their trust in this option since it cites 138 million academic papers and 545,000 clinical trials (with more scientific data sources set to arrive later).

And finally, Google AI Mode is a viable pick when you’re looking for a web research option that can handle any tasks you once gave to Copilot’s Deep Research tool. Since it’s readily available inside the Google Search bar, it’s great for comparing products, simplifying complex subjects, comparing viewpoints and discovering up-to-date information.

Bottom line

While the news of Microsoft Copilot’s Deep Research feature going away and being replaced by a mandatory paid option breaks our hearts, it’s less painful when you consider the wide range of free options you can use to replace it. It’s worth keeping in mind that chatbots are prone to hallucinating, which should compel you to always double-check every bit of information it sends your way. But for the most part, the seven AI deep research tools I’ve made you aware of are mostly dependable and worthy of your time.

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I've used Apple Notes for years. It's where I keep all my ideas, random thoughts and lists to stay organized. But like a lot of the Apple apps that come with the phone, I'd never really stopped to explore what it could do. So I decided to try something different. Instead of searching YouTube or scrolling through Reddit for tips, I asked ChatGPT one simple question:

"How can I make Apple Notes more useful in my everyday life?"

The suggestions were surprisingly practical. Rather than suggesting third-party tools, ChatGPT showed me how to unlock power features already sitting inside the app. Here are the eight changes that completely transformed my daily workflow.

1. Create a 'Dashboard' note instead of dozens of random notes

My biggest problem was finding notes after making them. What good was a brainstorm if the ideas were lost in my phone? To solve this, ChatGPT suggested building a single "Dashboard" note (essentially a Map of Content) using internal note links to connect everything I use regularly.

This brilliant trick put a halt to endlessly searching through hundreds of flat notes. Now I open one main note and use it as the control center. It turns Apple Notes into a personal wiki.

Mine now includes linked sections for:

Work & Projects

Story & Article Ideas

Family Reminders & Shared Lists

Travel Itineraries

Frequently Used Links & Resources

2. Pin the Notes you actually need

I’d ignored the Pin feature for years. Now, my Dashboard, weekly to-do list and active project notes stay permanently anchored to the top of the app. It saves more time than I expected because I’m no longer hunting through old entries several times a day.

3. Turn one giant note into collapsible sections

I tend to dump everything into giant, sprawling text files. ChatGPT suggested organizing long notes using "Headings" combined with collapsible sections. Now, for long-form brainstorming or article ideas, I can expand or hide categories as needed. It keeps huge notes organized and very easy to navigate.

4. Scan paper documents intead of taking photos

I used to snap blurry camera photos of physical documents. Not only did that clutter my photos, but the quality of the image just wasn't good. But Apple Notes has a built-in scanner that crops, flattens and sharpens paper into high-contrast PDFs.

I now scan warranty info, school forms, insurance paperwork and receipts directly into designated folders. They look cleaner, take up less storage and the text inside them is fully searchable.

5. Let ChatGPT organize messy brain dumps

This ended up being my favorite workflow. When I have messy, unorganized meeting notes or rapid-fire ideas, I copy the mess into ChatGPT and ask it to structure the information:

"Organize these notes into bulleted categories."

"Turn these raw thoughts into an prioritized action list."

"Summarize key takeaways and highlight unresolved questions."

Once ChatGPT cleans and formats the text, I paste the polished version back into Apple Notes. It gives me the speed of raw note-taking with the clarity of an organized system.

6. Build reusable Note templates

There are certain structures I use over and over. I now keep a dedicated folder of master templates for:

Packing Lists

Weekly Planning & Reviews

Meeting Agendas

Vacation Itineraries

Whenever I need one, I simply duplicate the template note instead of building it from scratch.

7. Use smart folders & tags to organize automatically

Instead of manually moving notes into nested subfolders, I started tagging entries with hashtags like #work, #recipes, #travel or #ideas.

Using Smart Folders, Apple Notes automatically pulls every tagged note into its corresponding hub. I can save a quick thought, slap a tag on it, and trust that it will route itself to the right place.

Bonus: trigger 'Quick Notes' and auto-templates with iOS Shortcuts

To take automation a step further, I paired Apple Notes with Apple’s native Shortcuts app and Quick Notes.

Quick Notes: Swiping up from the bottom-right corner of an iPad or tapping the Quick Note control in iPhone's Control Center opens an instant scratchpad without opening the main app.

Automated Templates: I set up a simple Shortcut on my home screen titled "New Weekly Plan." Clicking it automatically generates a fresh, pre-formatted Apple Note with the current date, ready for my weekly review.

My biggest takeaway

Before asking ChatGPT to help, I had pretty much given up on my notes app and resorted to just emailing myself everything. That has led to a whole slew of disorganization issues. I needed a solution and ChatGPT delivered!

I expected AI to suggest something like Notion or Obsidian. Instead, it showed me how to get 90% of those advanced workflows using tools Apple had provided all along.

The biggest improvement was getting my Apple Notes to a place where they are useful again, despite being full of ideas. ChatGPT helped me go from a digital sticky note graveyard to the backbone of my everyday organization.

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I’ve been a loyal Marvel Cinematic Universe fan ever since Tony Stark built his original Iron Man suit in a cave with a box of scraps.

Since that pivotal moment in superhero/comic book movie history took place, I’ve plopped myself down in theaters far and wide to witness the formation of the original Avengers, see Black Panther & Spider-Man make their MCU debuts, get a glimpse of the destructive power Thanos wields, lay witness to his epic demise and follow all the vital post-Endgame happenings on the big & little screen.

Like most diehard MCU followers, I’ll admit to being less than enthused with some of the movie and TV show follow-ups to “The Infinity Saga.” Films like Black Widow, Thor: Love and Thunder and Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania were complete duds to me. And on the Disney+ exclusive series front, shows like Ms. Marvel, She-Hulk: Attorney at Law and Secret Invasion definitely dulled my excitement for the MCU.

But as soon as that Avengers: Doomsday trailer came across my timeline, a large part of that enthusiasm came back tenfold. With that blockbuster event primed for December 18, I have plenty of time to prep myself for the next MCU epic. And I used ChatGPT to set me up with the ultimate watchlist to enjoy on Disney+.

Splitting up the ultimate MCU recap by tiers of chronological importance

With this prompt, I gave ChatGPT its marching orders: “Give me the ultimate Marvel Cinematic Universe movie and Disney+ series playlist to watch that'll get me up to speed on everything I need to know before watching Avengers: Doomsday.”

To start, the chatbot laid out a list of chronological tiers that included MCU films and shows regarded as essential viewing. Alongside each list of films was a list of reasons to watch them for the first time or rewatch them to refresh my memory of the major events leading up to Avengers: Doomsday. Here’s ChatGPT’s tier list of MCU projects worth watching before Doom terrorizes the heroes we all know and love:

• Tier 1 - Absolutely Essential (Start Here): Watch Iron Man, The Avengers, Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Captain America: Civil War. These movies highlight Tony Stark’s journey, Steve Rogers’ ideals, The Avengers splitting apart and the introductions of Spider-Man & Black Panther. Then watch Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame to understand “The Blip,” the multiversal consequences, and where every original Avenger ended up.
• Tier 2 - The Multiverse Story: Watch Loki (Season 1) because it explains “Variants,” timelines, the “TVA,” the “Sacred Timeline” and why the multiverse begins breaking apart. Follow that up by watching Spider-Man: No Way Home, as it introduces multiversal travel and reality-breaking consequences. Watching Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is critical because it introduces “incursions,” alternate universes, “Dreamwalking,” the “Illuminati” and incursions becoming universe-ending events. Then watch Loki (Season 2) to grasp how time now works, the TVA’s new purpose and Loki’s new role.
• Tier 3 - The New Avengers: Watch Black Panther: Wakanda Forever to see Wakanda’s Future, Shuri, Riri Williams and the world politics at the heart of the MCU. Then check out Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings as it introduces one of the strongest future Avengers members and leaves behind one of the MCU’s biggest mysteries surrounding the Ten Rings’ origin. Watch The Marvels to see how Manica Rambeau ends up in another universe, how Kamala Khan begins assembling a new generation of heroes and how the ending directly teases multiversal crossovers. Then watch Thunderbolts*, since it effectively establishes another major superhero team and introduces key players expected to matter going forward.
• Tier 4 - Fantastic Four Preparation: Check out The Fantastic Four: First Steps, as it introduces Marvel’s “First Family” into the current MCU saga and lays the groundwork for Doctor Doom’s arrival.

The ideal viewing orders for an extended monthly watchlist and a weekend binge session

ChatGPT also generated two lists that split its respective viewing orders across months' worth of MCU entertainment and a binge-worthy weekend session. Here are the 17 Disney+ Marvel films and shows it gave me for both lists (I’m definitely taking down the first one until December arrives!):

• Ideal Viewing Order: Iron Man, The Avengers, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame, WandaVision, Loki (Season 1), Spider-Man: No Way Home, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Loki (Season 2), Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, The Marvels, Deadpool & Wolverine, Thunderbolts* and The Fantastic Four: First Steps.
• If you only have one weekend: Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame, WandaVision, Loki (Season 1), Spider-Man: No Way Home, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Loki (Season 2), The Fantastic Four: First Steps and Thunderbolts*.

Bottom line

Of course I’m going to see all the craziness Peter Parker will get himself caught up in once Spider-Man: Brand New Day drops on July 30. The combination of Spidey, The Punisher and The Hulk all in the same movie has me in extreme hype mode!

But after that, I’m going to dive deep into the ideal MCU recap viewing order ChatGPT generated to get me up to speed on everything I need to know before I watch Avengers: Doomsday on the biggest screen possible in the loudest theatre I can find.

I can’t wait to watch the Avengers, Wakandans, New Avengers, Fantastic Four and the X-Men join forces from different universes to finally confront Dr. Doom (and probably get destroyed in the process before they make the ultimate comeback in Avengers: Secret Wars).

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There are very few things more humbling than looking for a job with little or no response. It's not only overwhelming but also frustrating when it feels as though AI is everywhere and everyone has access to the same AI tools.

A recent study even found that nearly half of LinkedIn posts longer than 250 words appear to be AI-generated, highlighting just how crowded the AI-assisted job market has become.

That's why, whenever a friend tells me they're looking for a new job, I don't tell them to ask ChatGPT to write another cover letter. Instead, I recommend what I call the Escape Prompt.

The name comes from a simple idea: don't use AI to apply for more jobs. Use it to figure out how to escape your current situation and explore something new.

What is the Escape Prompt?

Instead of asking ChatGPT to "find me a new job" or "write my resume," ask it to become your career strategist.

Here's the prompt: Act as my career strategist, recruiter and interview coach. My goal isn't simply to find another job — it's to leave a role that no longer fits me.

If you don't have memory enabled, you need to include the following information when you use the 'Escape Prompt'. Add, "here's my background: Current role, years of experience, skills, industries I've worked in, what I enjoy most about my job, what drains my energy, salary goals, location preferences. Then, based on this information, recommend career paths I may not have considered, explain which of my skills transfer best to those roles, identify companies that value my experience, rewrite my experience for those employers, point out skills I should build over the next six months, create a realistic 30-day job search plan. generate interview questions I should expect. Challenge my assumptions if I'm thinking too narrowly."

As a bonus, if you have memory enabled, use this prompt: Based on what you know about me, what should I do tomorrow to progress in my career and find a job I love.

Keep in mind that when you use this prompt, you're going to get a long response back from ChatGPT. If you get overwhelmed by a lot of information at once (I know I do!), then break up the prompt or ask for bullet points.

Why it works

This prompt creates a response that's tailored specifically for you. In a job market with so much AI slop, this is an opportunity to get information catered to you and your needs.

That said, when you can still use ChatGPT to help write your resume and prepare for job interviews, but make sure you go over your AI-written resume and cover letter to avoid embarrassing mistakes. AI is great as an assistant, but just like you wouldn't let an intern complete the entire project, you need to be in the loop to ensure everything is correct and doesn't give off the "uncanny valley" AI response.

The Escape Prompt flips job searching on its head

Instead of completing one task at a time, ChatGPT spends the entire conversation learning about your experience, your strengths and what you're actually trying to achieve. Every follow-up becomes smarter because it's built on everything you've already shared.

I also highly recommend turning on memory if you are using ChatGPT a lot in your job search. By doing that, the chatbot will feel like a real career coach and offer responses that make more sense to your current situation.

The Escape Prompt helps you think beyond your current title. After all, one of the biggest mistakes job seekers make is searching for the exact same role at a different company. But your next opportunity might not have the same title.

Someone working in customer support might be a great fit for customer success. A project coordinator may have the skills to move into operations or journalist might discover opportunities in content strategy, communications or developer relations that never appeared in a traditional job search.

The Escape Prompt pushes ChatGPT to look for those connections instead of simply matching keywords. In my experience, those conversations are often more valuable than having AI rewrite another resume.

The takeaway

Using this prompt can help make your application even stronger. Once you've identified the roles you actually want, you can use the same conversation to tailor your resume, refine your LinkedIn profile, write a cover letter, prepare for interviews and even practice answering difficult questions.

Since ChatGPT already understands your background, the responses feel more connected instead of starting from scratch every time.

That's a much better use of AI than repeatedly asking for disconnected pieces of career advice. Just remember not to let AI do all the thinking. Be sure to research companies yourself, verify salary information, read employee reviews and reach out to people already working in the roles you're considering. You can use AI as a fact-checker and to help point you to the right people, but don't use it as a replacement for actual human judgement.

As AI becomes a standard part of the hiring process, simply using ChatGPT isn't going to make you stand out. Recruiters are seeing more AI-polished resumes, more AI-written cover letters and more AI-generated LinkedIn content than ever before. The real advantage comes from using AI differently.

The Escape Prompt can help you figure out where you should go next, why you're qualified to get there and how to tell your story with confidence. If you're feeling stuck in your current job, spend 15 minutes with this prompt before you send another application.

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To say that people weren’t impressed when Nvidia DLSS 5 was announced would be an understatement. Gamers and critics alike expressed concerns over heavy-handed “beauty filters” smoothing out character faces and AI overwriting developer art direction. The initial requirement of a second GPU for rendering also didn’t go over well.

At SIGGRAPH, Nvidia held a follow-up keynote that was practically built to address the concerns folks have with DLSS 5. Instead of focusing on how photo-realistic DLSS 5 could make graphics appear, the keynote centered around the amount of control artists will have over the technology.

Here’s a breakdown of what Nvidia discussed at SIGGRAPH and how DLSS 5 might not be as bad as we feared.

Granular control

As you might recall, the biggest complaint with DLSS 5 is how the graphics appeared to have an Instagram/TikTok filter slapped over them. A less charitable description would be an “AI slop” filter. Nvidia addressed this concern directly, saying that game artists would have full control over a game’s graphics.

Developers won’t be forced into all-or-nothing with AI. They’ll be able to mask out individual characters, faces, props, or background elements so DLSS 5 either ignores them or processes them with tailored settings. Structural and Tone Intensity sliders will give devs fine control over how things appear. There will also be three distinct AI models for developers to assign.

No AI overwrites

Another concern is that the AI would hallucinate on low-poly geometry or rewrite hand-crafted visuals. DLSS 5 isn’t generating a game scene from scratch but relies strictly on internal game engine buffers to preserve the artist’s original intent.

Nvidia emphasized that traditional rasterization and ray tracing still build the entire frame first, defining geometry, lighting anchors, motion vectors, and surface normals. Nvidia framed DLSS 5 as a third category of AI rendering alongside upscaling reconstruction and frame generation. The engine creates the world while the model enriches complex lighting elements.

Latency

Generative video models usually process frames in batches, which can introduce input lag. That’s obviously a non-starter for fast-paced games like CSGO 2.

Nvidia says that DLSS 5 processes the current frame using the game’s engine’s native motion vectors without looking ahead to future frames. By avoiding multi-frame batch processing, Nvidia’s goal is to eliminate both generative latency and temporal shimmering artifacts.

One GPU needed, not two

When Nvidia first demoed DLSS 5, the computational overhead was so heavy that it reportedly required dual high-end GPUs just to run smoothly. Naturally, this isn’t feasible for most players, but Nvidia says you’ll be able to run DLSS 5 on a single GPU.

To that end, Nvidia revealed that they have distilled the massive generative model into a much smaller, single-step diffusion model. The updated implementation has been engineered to run on a single RTX GPU with efficient VRAM allocation instead of requiring multi-GPU rigs that only hardcore users own.

Outlook

I’ve championed Nvidia DLSS for years, but I was one of the folks who wasn’t enamored with that initial DLSS 5 reveal. Now, after SIGGRAPH, I'm less worried about this fall's upcoming update.

We’ll have to wait to see how the final version functions, but I’m glad that Nvidia has addressed all the major concerns. If we can get richer game graphics without the infamous AI look, then we’ll all be winners.

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There’s a whole lot to be excited about if you’ve been using Samsung’s signature lineup of smartphones.

With all the news emanating from this year’s Samsung Galaxy Unpacked event, it’s easy to see why — there’s a multitude of brand new smartphone models on the way with a host of Android-powered features that push its capabilities beyond the ones you’ve owned thus far. The unveiling of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra, Fold8, and Flip8 showcased the consumer electronics company’s penchant for releasing some of the most impressive smartphones on the market.

And as expected, Samsung is tapping into the Google Android ecosystem to bring new forms of AI integration to its newest smartphones. Gemini Intelligence and Gemini Notebook (formerly known as NotebookLM) will be a major part of your daily reliance on Samsung’s latest mobile devices, as they look to help you finish your everyday chores, handle extensive research and more.

Gemini Intelligence and Gemini Notebook inside Samsung’s latest phones

Task automation is the central theme when talking about what Gemini Intelligence is bringing to the new Samsung smartphone lineup.

While in beta, Gemini Intelligence could fulfill certain requests, such as ordering takeout or requesting a rideshare, through direct support from a group of apps. Now those day-to-day life tasks that you can relegate to Gemini Intelligence are getting even more app assistance, now that more than 40 apps have become compatible with that AI feature. Asking Gemini to order an item from Etsy is now possible, along with a host of other simple tasks — buying concert tickets, making dinner reservations and booking flights are among the many ways this new AI feature will improve your Samsung smartphone experience.

Gemini will also be able to see and understand what's on your screen as it acknowledges your requests and recognizes complex images as prompts. Plus, you’ll be able to open other apps, close your phone or follow the step-by-step progress of Gemini’s work while it attempts to complete your command. It’s worth noting that you can expand upon your latest prompt with an additional detail, which Gemini has no problem incorporating into its current task. Simply long-pressing the Flex Window’s power button on the Galaxy Z Flip8 lets you quickly access Gemini’s task automation feature.

As for what Gemini Notebook is bringing to the latest Samsung foldable smartphone collection, this AI tool will come pre-installed. Working with those models’ side-by-side screen as a mini-workspace is now possible with Notebook’s ability to answer questions about the topic you’re researching and the sources connected to that subject. And just like its desktop version, Notebook’s mobile iteration will integrate your uploaded documents, photos, whiteboard images, voice recordings and more into your research projects. Notebook’s chat functionality can take your research and transform it into different forms of study material, such as slide decks, videos, flash cards, quizzes and a podcast.

To give owners of the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra, Fold8 and Flip8 a peek into just how useful Notebook’s AI features can be, Samsung is giving them all a six-month trial of Google AI Pro on those phones. That subscription comes with even more useful Notebook features, which include Audio Overviews, Video Overviews, Slides, and more.

Other pieces of Samsung gear, such as the Galaxy Watch 9 and intelligent eyewear developed alongside major brands such as Gentle Monster and Warby Parker, will also come with their own Gemini-powered features.

Bottom line

With a newly announced array of foldable smartphones that make great use of Gemini Intelligence and Gemini Notebook, its users will be sure to grow accustomed to handling life’s simpler tasks and more complex ones with both AI tools at their disposal. Making one’s daily routine just a little less of a headache and more easily manageable with Google’s AI features makes Samsung’s newest smartphones a worthwhile pickup.

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Taking care of my health is something I take seriously. I try to stay active, look after my mental well-being, and keep up with regular dental and eye exams.

That made me curious when I learned about World Brain Day, a global awareness campaign focused on brain health and neurological disorders. According to the World Federation of Neurology, more than 3.4 billion people worldwide are living with a neurological condition. Yet millions still struggle to get the care they need because of high treatment costs, shortages of specialists, and long wait times for appointments.

To mark World Brain Day, I turned to ChatGPT to learn more about brain health and what I can do to help protect it. The conversation gave me plenty of useful information—and, just as importantly, pointed me toward topics worth researching further with trusted medical sources. These are the seven prompts that helped me better understand my brain health.

A prompt centered around the actions I can take to protect my brain health

I asked ChatGPT to come up with a list of prompts built around the WFN’s five core pillars of World Brain Day, which are as follows:

• Brain Health Is for Everyone – Equity in care.
• Earlier Access Changes Lives – Prioritizing early intervention.
• Prevention Starts in Everyday Life – Reducing risk factors.
• Bring Brain Care Closer to Home – Community-based support.
• Awareness Must Lead to Action – Measurable impact.

The first prompt the chatbot created for me was this one: Explain the five biggest things I can do today to protect my brain health and rank them by the impact they'll likely have over my lifetime.

ChatGPT started off its thorough explanation to that prompt by stating the following: Protecting your brain health is less about finding a single “brain-boosting” trick and more about consistently reducing risk factors while strengthening the systems your brain depends on: blood flow, sleep, learning, emotional regulation, and social connection.

The five tips the chatbot proceeded to give about prolonging my brain’s healthy status included prioritizing my cardiovascular health, treating my sleep sessions like they’re brain maintenance, constantly challenging my brain through daily learning practices, strengthening my relationships through daily instances of social connection and reducing all forms of chronic stress & emotional resilience.

The three main habits ChatGPT told me to adopt daily include walking for at least 30 minutes, getting a full night of quality sleep and spending meaningful time with another person. Those actions go a long way toward improving my blood flow, brain repair, mood regulation and cognitive resilience.

Moving my body, nourishing my brain with educational material like books, challenging my brain with all manner of physical & digital puzzles, connecting with people via meaningful conversations and recovering after a long workday with at least seven to nine hours of sleep are all vital behaviors worth adding to my daily routine.

6 more prompts focused on learning about brain health, warning signs of brain disorders and more

As for the other prompts that proved to be enlightening on the topics of being aware of the most common brain disorders, common myths about brain health and more, these six provided me with the informative chats I was looking for:

• Pretend you're a neurologist giving a free 10-minute brain health consultation. What questions would you ask me, what risk factors would you look for, and what lifestyle changes would you recommend?
• Teach me the early warning signs of the most common brain disorders—including stroke, dementia, Parkinson's disease, epilepsy, and multiple sclerosis—and explain when someone should seek medical attention.
• Design a science-backed 30-day brain health challenge that improves memory, focus, mood, sleep, and long-term cognitive health using habits that take less than 30 minutes a day.
• If someone lives in an area with limited access to neurologists or brain specialists, what practical steps can they take to monitor their brain health, find reliable resources, and advocate for better care?
• Bust the 10 most common myths about brain health, memory loss, aging, and neurological diseases, and explain what the latest scientific evidence actually says.
• Create a personalized brain health scorecard. Ask me about my sleep, diet, exercise, stress, social life, learning habits, alcohol use, and medical history, then explain which areas deserve the most attention and why.

The takeaway

2026 has turned into a year where my knowledge of holidays has extended beyond the usual ones that force everyone to spend a whole bunch of money to satisfy their loved ones.

World Brain Day will remain an important holiday to me from this point forward—learning about the devastating ailments that target the brain, getting informed about the best practices one must adopt to improve & maintain their brain health and getting an early detection of neurological conditions shouldn’t be just a holiday occurrence, but a daily, weekly and monthly one.

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If you've been following AI news lately, you've probably heard the words "open source" far more than usual.

Nearly every week, another company announces an "open" AI model. Meta has Llama, Mistral has built its reputation on open-weight models, Chinese company Moonshot AI recently released Kimi K3 and even companies that once kept everything behind closed doors are becoming more willing to share parts of their technology.

If you're wondering what "open source" means, you're not alone. Although it may seem like a buzzword or phrase, there's more to it than big tech giving away their precious models for free.

If training an AI model costs hundreds of millions of dollars — or even billions when you factor in the enormous data centers and specialized chips needed to power them, why would companies spend that kind of money only to give their work away?

The answer is that they're not really giving everything away. And in many cases, making models more open is actually good business.

What exactly is open source AI?

First, let's clear up one common misconception. The phrase "open source AI" gets thrown around a lot, but it doesn't always mean what people think it does. A truly open-source project typically makes its code, training methods and licensing available for anyone to inspect, modify and redistribute.

Many of today's AI models are actually open weight rather than fully open source. That means developers can download the trained model and run it themselves, but the company may not release the training data, the code used to build it or every detail of how it was created.

It's a subtle distinction, but an important one. For everyday users, though, the experience is often the same. In other words, more people can build with these models, improve them and create new AI tools without starting from scratch.

The AI arms race has changed

The AI race isn't just about having the smartest chatbot anymore. A couple of years ago, companies competed primarily on who could build the smartest AI model and who could hit the benchmarks first. Today, that's only part of the equation. Now they're competing to become the platform everyone builds on.

Think about Android. Google gives Android away for free because every phone running Android strengthens Google's broader ecosystem. Developers build apps, manufacturers adopt the operating system and users become more likely to use Google's services.

AI companies are actually thinking the same way. If thousands of developers build apps around your model, businesses deploy it inside their organizations and researchers improve it, your technology becomes far more valuable than if it stayed locked behind a subscription.

Open models spread much faster

When a model is widely available, something interesting happens because developers begin fine-tuning it for specific jobs. Maybe universities use it for research or startups build entirely new products on top of it. Hobbyists could even discover creative uses that the original creators never imagined.

And, well, that creates a snowball effect. Instead of one company improving the model, thousands of people contribute ideas, tools and innovations around it. Even if the underlying model doesn't change, the ecosystem around it grows rapidly.

Open source vs. open-weight AI: What's the difference?

These two terms are often used interchangeably, but they're not actually the same thing.

Think of it this way:

• Open source AI is like getting the entire recipe for your favorite meal. You can see every ingredient, understand how it was made, modify it however you like and even share your own version with others.
• Open-weight AI is more like getting the finished cake. You can eat it, decorate it, serve it to guests and even bake new desserts using it as a base— but you don't know exactly how the original baker made it.

Companies still have plenty of ways to make money

Making a model available doesn't necessarily mean giving up revenue. Many companies earn money by offering managed cloud services that make those models easier to run, faster or more reliable. Others sell enterprise security features, premium APIs, consulting services or specialized infrastructure.

Hardware companies benefit, too. Every new AI model ultimately needs powerful GPUs or AI accelerators to run. More open models often translate into greater demand for the hardware that powers them.

In other words, the model itself isn't always the product, but it's often the engine driving a much larger business.

Competition has changed the industry

Open source artificial intelligence wasn't always viewed as a winning strategy. In fact, for many years the assumption was that the most capable models would remain closely guarded because they represented a competitive advantage.

Now, that thinking has shifted. As more companies released powerful open-weight models, it became harder for closed systems to justify charging a premium based on exclusivity alone. Since the competition isn't about intelligence anymore, factors like speed, developer support, integrations, enterprise features, privacy options and cost all matter, too.

That's good news for users because it gives them far more choice than they had even two years ago.

What this means for the average ChatGPT user

Even if you never download an AI model yourself, you're already benefiting from this shift. Open models are helping create better free AI tools, giving smaller developers access to cutting-edge technology and increasing competition across the industry.

They're also making it possible for more AI to run locally on laptops and smartphones, which can improve privacy by keeping sensitive information on your own device instead of sending everything to the cloud.

Not necessarily a good thing, but the competition is pushing every AI company to move faster. The result is that consumers have more capable AI assistants, more options to choose from and a steady stream of new features arriving at a pace that would have seemed impossible just a few years ago.

So while it might look like AI companies are suddenly giving away their most valuable technology, they're really investing in something even more valuable: building the biggest ecosystem around their models. Judging by the number of open-weight releases we've seen this year, it doesn't look like that strategy is slowing down anytime soon.

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I use ChatGPT almost every single day, but until recently, I treated Voice Mode, or as it's now called GPT-Live-1, as something I used only on occasion. I didn't use it for anything other than quick questions when I was cooking or, recently, when I needed live translation. For anything requiring actual work or multi-step planning, I always defaulted to the chat box and typed my query.

That mindset changed completely when I decided to plan a last-minute weekend getaway. Normally, planning a trip is a chaotic ritual, especially when planning for my family of five. I'd bounce between Google, hotel booking sites, Yelp reviews, Google Maps and of course, ChatGPT, frantically copying and pasting details across tabs until I could build an itinerary.

This time, I closed my laptop, put my phone on speaker and did everything in one fluid conversation using live voice. That's right, I simply started talking out loud as if sharing my plans with a friend. Within minutes, ChatGPT helped narrow down destinations, suggest boutique hotels, match local restaurants to our vibe, adjust budget constraints and even map out a rainy-day backup plan.

Here is how speaking, rather than typing, completely changed my workflow — and why I don’t think I’m going back.

1. I started with a casual conversation

When I type prompts, especially for things like travel, I tend to try to fit everything into the first prompt. But with voice, that doesn't seem necessary because the entire interaction is so much more fluid and natural. I kicked off the conversation like I was talking to a friend:

"My husband, me and our three kids want to get away for a long weekend. We’d like to stay within about a three-hour drive of New Jersey, keep the budget under $2,000, and mix some outdoor activities with great food. Can you help us figure out where to go?"

Instead of dumping a 500-word list of links or overwhelming me with dozens of choices, ChatGPT paused and asked natural follow-up questions:

Did we want a cozy mountain setting or a coastal vibe?

Were we looking for a quiet, low-key town or somewhere with walkability and a bit of nightlife?

Were we celebrating a special occasion, or was this purely to unwind?

It felt like I was planning the getaway with an actual travel agent whose only goal was to figure out what kind of trip we actually wanted before dumping recommendations on us.

2. Interrupting was the best part

The new GPT-Live-1 voice is great when it comes to interruptions. Unlike an actual person with feelings, you can interrupt the AI at anytime.

When it started pitching a luxury boutique stay in the Hudson Valley that was clearly going to eat up most of our budget, I just talked over it: "Actually, pause on that — that stay looks a bit too pricey. What’s something cozy nearby under $400 a night?"

Without missing a beat, it stopped, acknowledged the price correction, and pivoted to a bed-and-breakfast in Pennsylvania instead.

I tried this a few times with other queries like, "Slow the schedule down — we want to sleep in."

At one point, I completely pivoted and said, "Actually, let's pivot away from mountains—what about Cape May?"

When you're typing, changing your mind means editing a long prompt, deleting text or typing out lengthy explanations. In voice mode, correcting course mid-sentence feels entirely natural and easy.

3. It retained context effortlessly

As our conversation spiraled into tiny side tracks, ChatGPT kept every constraint locked in memory. It remembered our budget, our max driving radius and the fact that we wanted a slow-paced trip.

Because it kept track of all the context seamlessly, I could toss out rapid-fire, low-effort questions:

"What if it rains all day Saturday?"

"Can we swap that lunch place for somewhere with a great patio?"

"Is there a scenic hike on the way back home that takes under two hours?"

I never had to repeat "Remember our budget" or "Keep it near New Jersey." It just knew.

4. It handled the legwork

Once we locked in the general region and vibe, I asked ChatGPT to do some quick live research on specifics: finding current room rate averages, checking if local kid-friendly spots needed reservations and verifying park hours for our hike.

Pro-Tip: Always verify live operational details directly with the venue before booking! AI is brilliant at aggregating options and pricing estimates, but restaurant hours and hotel availability can shift unexpectedly.

Having ChatGPT gather initial numbers into one spoken stream saved me easily an hour of tab-switching.

5. From voice chat to a polished itinerary in seconds

Once we finished bouncing ideas back and forth, I moved back to my screen and typed one single request in the exact same chat log:

"Turn everything we just agreed on into a day-by-day itinerary. Include estimated costs, addresses, drive times and a clear rainy-day backup plan."

Within seconds, the chaotic, organic conversation was transformed into a clean, beautifully formatted travel guide.

One caveat to keep in mind

While you can ask ChatGPT to give you an itinerary, the AI does not show the conversation on the screen. Once you're done chatting, you have to refer back to it to see the full conversation, itinerary or any other information.

That's one feature I really wish OpenAI would fix, but until they do, it's something to be mindful of before you close out of the conversation. If you accidently do close out and want to pick up where you left off, just prompt with something like, "Remember the weekend trip we were planning? Let's go back and discuss those details."

Final thoughts

I expected voice mode to be frustrating or make me feel less in control because I wasn't jotting everything down myself. But really, it felt like it reduced my cognitive load.

When typing, we instinctively censor or format our thoughts before putting them into a prompt box. Talking out loud lets you brainstorm in real time. You get to figure out what you want while you're saying it, and the AI keeps up with your messy human thought process.

Want to try this yourself? Start with this prompt: "My partner and I want to plan a weekend getaway within a [X-hour] drive of home. Our budget is $[X]. Ask me questions one at a time until you have enough information to build our ideal itinerary."

Let me know in the comments if you try it and share your results in the conversation.

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I write about AI for a living. I use ChatGPT almost every day and a plethora of other AI tools are integrated into my workflow. But after reading what author Dave Eggers recently told OpenAI employees, I found myself thinking even more about how AI affects my own kids.

Originally reported by The Verge, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman invited Eggers to speak to roughly 200 employees at the company last year. Given Eggers' reputation as an acclaimed novelist, founder of McSweeney's and longtime advocate for literacy, many probably expected a conversation about storytelling or creativity.

Instead, he delivered a blunt critique of generative AI's impact on education.

"The effect of ChatGPT on educators' lives is catastrophic," Eggers reportedly said. "If students are using it to compose... they'll never learn to write. And their voice is stolen from them... That's silencing an entire generation or two."

It's a dramatic statement, and while I don't agree with every part of it, it does raise questions that every parent should be asking.

Writing isn't just about producing words

One of the biggest misconceptions about AI is that writing is simply about creating a finished product. But it is not that easy. Writing is how we organize our thoughts and how we figure out what we actually believe. It's also how we learn to make an argument, explain an idea and communicate with other people.

Anyone who's ever stared at a blank page knows that the hardest part isn't typing the words, but actually doing the thinking that comes before them.

That's the part I'm most concerned about. If students immediately turn to ChatGPT to generate an essay, summarize a novel or answer every homework question, they're skipping the mental work that helps those skills develop in the first place.

I believe that's what Dave Eggers is worried about, too. While the finished assignment might look and sound better than what a child could have written, it's only a shell because arguably the child didn't learn anything.

I don't think schools should ban AI

Still, I don't think pretending ChatGPT doesn't exist is realistic. By the time today's elementary school students graduate from high school, AI will likely be as common as Google is today. Knowing how to use it responsibly will probably become an important life skill.

I think there's a big difference between using ChatGPT as a tutor and using it as a replacement for your own thinking.

For example, AI can be incredibly helpful for:

• explaining a difficult concept in simpler language
• brainstorming ideas before you start writing
• checking grammar or spelling after you've written something
• helping you study for a test
• giving feedback on a first draft

Those uses still require you to do the work. The line gets blurrier when AI writes the first draft for you, which is where Eggers' criticism has merit.

I have three children, and AI is going to be part of their education whether I like it or not. That means my job isn't to convince them never to use ChatGPT (my sixth grader already does — mostly to generate images of him playing soccer with Ronaldo, but he is still very aware of what it is). My job is to help them understand when they should and should not use it.

For example, if they're stuck on a math concept, AI can be a great teacher. If they need ideas for a science project, it can be a useful brainstorming partner. But if they immediately ask ChatGPT to write the essay they're supposed to write themselves, they've missed the point of the assignment.

My final thoughts

I don't think ChatGPT will "silence an entire generation." as long as parents stay diligent about how and why are kids use AI. Like every major technological shift before it, AI is a tool and we have to help our children use it safely.

But Eggers' warning is still worth hearing. As AI becomes more capable, it will become even more tempting to let it think for us instead of with us. That's a habit all of us need to resist.

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As soon as my work week starts, I prepare myself for days full of meetings.

I don't mind them — in fact, they're often where my best article ideas come from. But after hours of back-to-back calls, it's easy for important details, follow-ups and action items to get buried. Even with AI meeting assistants like Gemini taking notes during Google Meet calls, I still find myself digging through transcripts trying to figure out what actually needs my attention.

That's why I was intrigued by a device I've been testing for the past week. It's called the SecondBrain Note, and it's made by the team behind Genspark, the AI workspace that brings together multiple leading AI models in one place.

Paired with the Genspark AI Workspace, the SecondBrain Note did more than just record my meetings. It turned conversations into organized summaries, surfaced the tasks I needed to tackle, and helped me turn a packed day of meetings into a clear, actionable to-do list. After using it for a week, it's become one of the most useful AI productivity tools I've tested.

Taking audio notes and turning them into workday actions

Genspark's SecondBrain Note is a card-sized AI notetaker that slips into a magnetic case that attaches to the back of your phone. The setup doubles as a phone stand, making the device clearly visible during meetings while an RGB privacy light lets everyone know it's recording. One feature I quickly came to appreciate was the ability to press the record button at key moments to manually bookmark important parts of a meeting.

Once my meetings began, I made sure everyone knew I was recording and let the SecondBrain Note do the rest. After each meeting, I turned it off and kept it near my phone while the recordings transferred to the Genspark app. What sets the SecondBrain Note apart from other AI notetakers is how it feeds everything into Genspark's SecondBrain memory system, turning meeting summaries into searchable context inside the Genspark AI Workspace.

That meant I could quickly pull up a person's name, a project discussed during a meeting, decisions that were made or follow-up questions and answers simply by searching within the workspace. Instead of hunting through transcripts, the information I needed was already connected to the rest of my work.

Each recorded meeting was automatically downloaded into the Genspark app and organized into three sections: Notes, Transcript and Speakers, where I could manually identify participants if I wanted. I spent most of my time in the Notes section because it delivered exactly what I needed — a well-structured summary broken into clear sections, complete with speaker breakdowns, bolded names and key statistics, plus bullet points highlighting the most important takeaways. It made it much easier to identify the action items that applied to me as the week went on.

I also liked that every meeting transcript was emailed to me automatically, giving me a second place to reference my notes whenever I needed a refresher. Better yet, those meeting notes became part of Genspark's memory, so I could ask the Spark Agent to pull information directly from them. That makes it easy to create prompts that reference previous meetings or even work with third-party apps like Slack and Notion. Some examples include:

• Summarize my emails from today.
• Draft an email and meeting invite for [name].
• Summarize last week's meetings into a weekly report.
• Find the slides I made last week on [topic] and add a new page.
• What to-dos did [partner] leave me in Slack today?
• Pull this quarter's numbers from my HubSpot and turn them into a deck.
• Find everything in my Notion docs about [topic].

In my case, the SecondBrain Note gave me enough information from my transcribed meetings to jot down ideas for future articles, have detailed breakdowns of strategies my & other teams began implementing, new guidelines to follow and future meeting plans to remember. Having this device on hand for in-person meetings and business-related phone calls seems like two other great uses of this device, should those situations ever arise.

Prompting the Genspark AI Workspace to turn a meeting transcription into my daily to-do list based on the mentions that include my name works like a charm.

Final thoughts

Genspark’s SecondBrain Note will stay with me as my physical notetaker when the time comes to store all the significant details from a meeting that needs to be turned into published articles and other assignments I’m tasked with.

Since its battery life is respectable (up to 35 hours on a single charge) and its storage capacity is sizable enough (64GB of local storage that can store up to 7000 hours of recordings, which are automatically cleared to free up storage after it's synced to the Genspark app), I feel like I’ll never run out of the energy and space I need to document my most essential meetings.

More from Tom’s Guide

• The Looki L1 wearable AI device turned my daily life into a comic book — then it harshly judged my embarrassing diet
• I replaced my notebook with an AI pen for a month — here's what happened
• I put ChatGPT to the test after a new study revealed how AI tricks our brains

The more I explore what Claude Code can do, the more it becomes clear that Anthropic has built one of the best AI development tools on the market. It doesn't just generate code snippets; it can build full apps from scratch, debug complex errors, explain unfamiliar repositories, and completely automate your repetitive workflows.

But even after spending dozens of hours testing it, I realized I’d barely scratched the surface of what it can do.

Many of Claude Code's most useful features aren't immediately obvious. They're tucked away in technical documentation or designed for software engineers who live in the terminal.

Whether you're building your very first coding project, experimenting with AI-assisted workflows, or just looking to reclaim hours of your work week, here are the hidden Claude Code features you should start using right now.

1. Inject permanent project memory with a CLAUDE.md file

One of the single biggest time-savers in Claude Code is creating a CLAUDE.md file in your project's root folder. Think of it as a permanent onboarding manual. Instead of reminding Claude during every single chat session to use TypeScript, write unit tests, or follow a specific naming convention, you can bake those rules right into your project.

Claude automatically scans this file the moment you launch a session.
This is Ideal CLAUDE.md Architecture:

Project Overview: Tells Claude exactly what the app does. Example: "A Next.js dashboard for tracking personal finance."

Tech Stack: Locks down languages and frameworks. Example: TypeScript, TailwindCSS, PostgreSQL

Commands: Fast-tracks how Claude builds and tests. Example: npm run dev, npm run test

Code Style: Sets strict architectural rules. Example: "Always write dry code and include concise inline comments."

Pro-Tip: Don't turn this file into a textbook. Claude reads it at the start of every session, which uses up your token window. Keep it under 200–300 lines of highly concentrated project constraints.

2. Time-travel through your mistakes with Checkpoints

We’ve all had that heart-stopping moment where a single line of bad code completely breaks an application. Claude Code removes that anxiety entirely with its built-in checkpoint system.

As Claude works, it takes snapshots of your codebase. If an experimental feature goes sideways or a bug spirals out of control, you can instantly roll your project back to a pristine, earlier state.

How to use it: Type /rewind in the terminal (or hit Esc twice to bring up the history menu) and visually select the exact moment in time you want to jump back to.

3. Supercharge your workflow with Custom 'Skills'

While Claude Code features standard built-in slash commands for quick tasks, its true superpower is letting you build custom workflows called Skills.

If you find yourself repeatedly typing long, complex prompts to format data, generate marketing copies, or set up boilerplate folders, you can teach Claude a permanent Skill.

For example, you could teach it a /newsletter skill that automatically pulls your latest project updates, drafts a summary, structures an email template and suggests SEO improvements in one click. Once saved, it’s a permanent shortcut.

4. Break down complex jobs using Subagents

When you give an AI a massive, multi-step task, it can get overwhelmed and hallucinate. Claude Code solves this by dynamically spinning up specialized AI "subagents."

If you ask Claude to overhaul a major feature, it might quietly assign one subagent to review the existing code, order a second to write the new logic, and task a third with generating unit tests.

They work in parallel, pool their results, and present you with a finished product without forcing you to manage three separate chat windows.

5. Unlock external data with the Model Context Protocol (MCP)

By default, most AI chatbots are trapped inside their own window, entirely blind to your external tools. Claude Code breaks down these walls using Anthropic’s Model Context Protocol (MCP).

MCP allows you to securely connect Claude directly to outside infrastructure — like your GitHub repositories, enterprise databases, Slack channels or web search APIs. Instead of constantly copying and pasting data back and forth between applications, Claude can pull the exact context it needs right into your workspace.

6. Let Claude run on autopilot with Headless Mode

Most people use Claude interactively, trading prompts back and forth. But "headless mode" allows Claude Code to run completely in the background without you actively sitting at your keyboard.

Advanced users and developers can embed Claude into automated terminal scripts. You can trigger it to run automatically at midnight to audit your code for bugs, generate fresh documentation, or draft release notes for your team while you sleep. It transitions Claude from a standard chatbot into an automated digital teammate.

7. Save your thumbs with built-in Slash Commands

Stop typing out lengthy paragraphs like "Please look over this specific file, check it for syntax errors, and give me feedback." Claude Code comes out of the box with built-in shortcuts designed to save your thumbs and keep you in the flow.

Essential Commands to Know:

/bugfix: Instructs Claude to scan your active file specifically for errors and fix them.

/review: Triggers a comprehensive code review and suggests optimization strategies.

/test: Automatically writes and executes tests for the code you just completed.

8. Put guardrails on your code using Hooks

If you want to ensure you never accidentally push broken code, you need to use hooks. Think of hooks as automated security guards that execute a check right before or right after a major action.

You can configure Claude to automatically run your project’s test suite before committing changes to git or force it to run a formatter the second it finishes writing a file. It's a foolproof way to catch minor typos and formatting issues before they turn into major headaches.

9. Pick up exactly where you left off

There is nothing worse than closing an AI coding session at night, only to spend 20 minutes the next morning re-explaining the entire project architecture to the chatbot. Claude Code maintains deep conversation history across sessions.

When you boot up the CLI the next day, you can instantly resume a previous thread with all the context, variables, and past logic perfectly preserved.

Final thoughts

It’s easy to look at Claude Code and assume it’s just another chat window that happens to sit in your terminal. But treating it like a standard chatbot sells it incredibly short.

Features like permanent project files (CLAUDE.md), automated subagents, instant rewind buttons and tool integration turn it into a true autonomous development partner.

You don’t need to master all 9 of these features on day one — but unlocking just two or three of them will radically change how fast you can build. Give them a try and let me know what you think in the comments.

More from Tom's Guide

• I found the 7 easiest Claude connectors for people over 50 — start with these
• I replaced my notebook with an AI pen for a month — here's what happened
• Looking for a job after 50? Here are 7 ChatGPT prompts to level the playing field

I've spent years tweaking my iPhone, but after seeing yet another viral "privacy screen" hack making the rounds online, I wondered what I was still missing.

So instead of copying another internet trick, I asked ChatGPT to audit my iPhone's privacy settings. Here's the prompt I used:

"I'm an iPhone user who often works in coffee shops, takes weekend getaways and occasionally hands my phone to family members. What privacy settings should I enable to better protect my personal information? Include settings that are easy to overlook and explain why each one matters."

Some of ChatGPT's recommendations were obvious. Others were buried deep inside iOS — and a few were settings I'd simply never taken the time to enable.

After trying every suggestion myself, these are the ones I'd recommend to almost anyone.

1. Hide sensitive notification previews

This was ChatGPT's first recommendation, and it's probably the easiest privacy win on the list.

Without changing anything, your iPhone can display text messages, banking alerts, two-factor authentication codes and other notifications right on your Lock Screen. Anyone nearby can glance at them without ever unlocking your phone.

Where to find it: Settings > Notifications > Show Previews

The tweak: Change the setting to When Unlocked.

Changing previews to When Unlocked means Face ID has to authenticate you before those details appear.

My take: I can't believe I left this turned off for so long. If you ever leave your phone face-up on a desk or café table, this setting alone is worth changing.

2. Lock individual apps with Face ID

One of Apple's best recent privacy features lets you require Face ID before opening supported apps. And I don't just mean your banking information or credit card apps.

Whether it's Notes, Photos or anything else containing sensitive information, this adds another layer of protection if someone else picks up your phone.

Where to find it: Long-press an app on your Home Screen > Require Face ID

My take: I started locking Notes and Photos immediately. They're probably the two apps I'd least want someone casually browsing.

3. Review which apps know your location

While checking my own phone, I found several shopping and restaurant apps that still had broader location access than they actually needed. Switching them to While Using the App took only a few minutes.

Where to find it: Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services

ChatGPT suggested reviewing location permissions instead of leaving everything set to Always.

My take: This is the kind of setting that's easy to forget once you've tapped "Allow" the first time. Now that I've taken a look at what apps had my location, I recommend checking this periodically.

4. Turn on Safety Check

Safety Check is one of Apple's least-known privacy tools. Originally designed for people who need to quickly revoke shared access during unsafe situations, it also gives anyone an easy way to review who can see their location, shared photos and other permissions.

Where to find it: Settings > Privacy & Security > Safety Check

My take: Even if you never need the emergency features, it's a great way to see what information you're sharing without realizing it.

5. Audit camera and microphone permissions

It turns out I had granted camera and microphone access to apps I hadn't opened in months. Removing permissions only takes a few seconds, and it helps limit which apps can access some of your most sensitive hardware.

Where to find it: Settings > Privacy & Security

My take: This one surprised me the most. I hadn't realized how many apps were still hanging onto these permissions.

6. Hide apps you don't want anyone else opening

If you have apps containing financial information, medical records or personal documents, you can hide them completely. The app disappears from your Home Screen and is moved into a locked Hidden folder inside the App Library.

Where to find it: Long-press an app > Require Face ID > Hide and Require Face ID

My take: This is perfect if you occasionally hand your phone to your kids or someone asks to borrow it for a minute.

7. Turn on App Privacy Report

App Privacy Report shows a rolling log of how often apps access your location, camera, microphone and network connections. You might be surprised how active some apps are, even when you rarely use them.

Where to find it: Settings > Privacy & Security > App Privacy Report

My take: Privacy isn't something you configure once and forget. Checking this report every few weeks makes it much easier to spot apps that are asking for more than they really need.

What ChatGPT missed

Overall, ChatGPT's recommendations were solid, but it overlooked two of Apple's most useful security features.

The first is: Turn on Stolen Device Protection

Where to find it: Settings > Face ID & Passcode > Stolen Device Protection

If someone learns your passcode and steals your phone, this feature adds extra safeguards before critical account changes can be made. When you're away from familiar locations like home or work, iOS requires Face ID for sensitive actions and places a security delay on certain account changes. It's one of Apple's best anti-theft features, and I wouldn't leave it turned off.

The second feature is: Disable Control Center on the Lock Screen

Where to find it: Settings > Face ID & Passcode > Allow Access When Locked

Consider turning off Control Center access from the Lock Screen. Doing this makes it harder for someone who steals your phone to immediately change connectivity settings before you've had a chance to locate your device.

If you rarely use Control Center without unlocking your phone first, it's a small convenience to give up for some added peace of mind.

One Apple Intelligence setting that's worth checking

If you use Apple Intelligence, there's one extra privacy consideration that didn't come up in ChatGPT's recommendations.

Apple Intelligence can summarize long emails, messages and notifications to help you catch up more quickly. That's useful, but it also makes hiding Lock Screen previews even more important.

If notification previews are visible, those AI-generated summaries may reveal more information at a glance than the original notification would have.

Apple has taken a privacy-first approach to Apple Intelligence by processing many requests directly on your device and using its Private Cloud Compute system for more demanding tasks. But no amount of on-device processing can protect information that's already visible on your Lock Screen.

That's why changing notification previews to When Unlocked was the very first setting I kept enabled after testing ChatGPT's suggestions.

Final thoughts

The viral privacy screen hack that inspired this experiment didn't make the cut. I don't think I need one after enabling these settings. Sure, if you're worried about shoulder surfers on planes or in coffee shops, a physical privacy screen protector is still your best bet.

But what surprised me most was how many of ChatGPT's suggestions I had missed despite using an iPhone every day. It gave me a useful checklist, but the real value came from taking 15 minutes to review what my phone was actually sharing.

If you haven't looked through your iPhone's privacy settings in a while, it's worth doing. You may discover, like I did, that a few small changes can make your device feel a lot more secure.

More from Tom's Guide

• I found the 7 easiest Claude connectors for people over 50 — start with these
• I replaced my notebook with an AI pen for a month — here's what happened
• Looking for a job after 50? Here are 7 ChatGPT prompts to level the playing field

Most of us know ChatGPT isn't perfect. It can hallucinate facts, confidently invent citations and occasionally give completely incorrect answers. But a new study made me wonder whether the bigger problem isn't what AI gets wrong, but how AI might be changing about us as critical thinkers.

Researchers found that when people relied on an AI assistant for difficult questions, they became far less likely to admit they didn't know the answer. Even more surprising, they grew much more confident in their responses, even when the AI led them straight into an error.

That hit a little too close to home. I use ChatGPT all the time as a brainstorming partner, research assistant and sounding board. So, I decided to recreate the experiment myself to see whether I had quietly fallen into the same habit.

The results weren't exactly what I expected.

What the study found

Researchers from Carnegie Mellon University and Microsoft Research designed an experiment around a simple question: What happens when people consult AI instead of relying on their own judgment?

To find out, they intentionally used questions that the AI was likely to answer incorrectly. Participants could choose one of three options:

Answer on their own

Ask the AI for help

Say, "I don't know"

Without AI, participants admitted they didn't know the answer nearly half the time. Once AI entered the picture, that changed dramatically.

Instead of saying "I don't know," most participants accepted the AI's suggestion — even when it was wrong. Their confidence increased sharply, but their actual accuracy stagnated. Humans were simply becoming confidently incorrect.

The researchers argue that this points to automation bias: our tendency to trust computer-generated recommendations simply because they're presented confidently.

This study suggests that a polished, authoritative answer can make us feel more certain than the evidence warrants.

I decided to try it myself

Rather than recreate the exact academic experiment, I came up with my own version using ChatGPT. I chose questions I suspected would be difficult or easy to confuse, including obscure movie trivia, older technology, historical details and image-based questions. I even made up a completely untrue question about greeting cards made out of cockroaches.

For each one, I followed a simple, three-step process:

I guessed the answer first based entirely on my own memory.

I asked ChatGPT the exact same question.

I compared both answers with reliable, verified sources.

Almost immediately, I noticed that whenever ChatGPT answered confidently, I found myself questioning my own instincts — even when my original guess turned out to be correct.

For a fleeting second, I actually questioned my own childhood memory. “Well, ChatGPT probably knows better,” I caught myself thinking. And that's the behavior the researchers described. The confidence of the response mattered almost as much as the information itself.

Confidence can be surprisingly persuasive

One thing I've noticed as a ChatGPT power user is that the AI never sounds unsure or even admits it does not know something. Even when it includes phrases like "I believe" or "it's likely," the overall response is truly convincing.

Humans naturally associate confident communication with expertise. That's usually a useful shortcut in everyday life, but it's a dangerous strategy when interacting with AI.

Unlike a human expert, ChatGPT isn't checking a database or recalling a verified memory. Sure, it can search the web at lighning speed, but even then it can pick up wrong information. It's essentially generating the most statistically likely next words based on patterns in its training.

Sometimes that's incredibly accurate, but a lot of times that is confidently wrong. The challenge is that those two responses look absolutely identical.

How this study changed my workflow

I've always been cautious about accepting AI's first response because I know how wrong it can be. But this study is certainly a wakeup call. ChatGPT is a powerful productivity tool, but just because it delivers confident answers, it's worth doing your own due diligence to verify what it says are facts.

For me, that means:

Checking original sources rather than taking the AI's summary at face value.

Confirming statistics and data points through independent search engines.

Making sure quotations, dates and names match reputable, primary references.

It only takes a minute or two, but it's a habit worth building. If anything, this study reminded me that the smartest way to use AI is to maintain your own crtitical thinking skills because the final decision is still yours.

More from Tom's Guide

• I found the 7 easiest Claude connectors for people over 50 — start with these
• I replaced my notebook with an AI pen for a month — here's what happened
• Looking for a job after 50? Here are 7 ChatGPT prompts to level the playing field

ChatGPT has a suite of features that lets users do a lot more than just ask simple questions about every facet of their life.

Accessing the chatbot’s Library keeps track of all the images and documents you’ve uploaded while being able to ask questions about them and even get summaries. The Projects feature lets you easily organize and reference your chats, files and tools all in one place. And the Plugins page is home to a wide range of apps that can be installed in ChatGPT and become part of your conversations as you send your prompts to them directly for any relevant requests (such as asking the Target Plugin to find you the best prices for back-to-school items).

Another helpful feature that is not part of ChatGPT is something called Skills, which OpenAI defines as “reusable, shareable workflows that tell ChatGPT how to do a specific task so ChatGPT can do that task more consistently.” These Skills can be instructions, examples and code that can be called upon during future chats. And if you have a ChatGPT Business, Enterprise, Healthcare and Education account, you can take advantage of this latest tool.

Here’s how to activate ChatGPT Skills and 7 prompts you can use to try it out for yourself.

Activating ChatGPT Skills and putting these prompts to good use to test it out

Accessing the Skills page is as easy as opening your ChatGPT sidebar, selecting Plugins and selecting the Skills tab at the top of the screen (it’s right next to the Plugins tab). Once you’ve gotten into the Skills page, you’ll see any of the Skills that you’ve already installed and created, plus the ones that were shared with you and the ones you’ve shared with everyone in your workspace.

You can create Skills one of two ways: through a direct chat or with an editing tool. Simply click on the “+” sign next to the “Search skills” search bar to select the “Create with chat” or “Create with Editor” option.

For my initial experiment with the Skills feature, I felt like the Create with chat option worked best. To kick things off, I came up with a simple prompt that tells ChatGPT to recommend waterfall hikes based on my current location. The prompt I used to start building my first Skill is as follows: “Recommend three hiking trails for someone who wants waterfalls, moderate difficulty, and a hike under four hours.”

From that point forward, ChatGPT helped me refine it by adding the following qualifiers:

• Find three waterfall hikes within 25 miles
• Favor moderate routes under four hours
• Check live closures, conditions, access rules, and seasonal flow
• Expand to 50 or 100 miles if necessary
• Compare options and identify the best overall pick

This conversational Skills creation process resulted in my first skill (titled “recommend-waterfall-hikes”) getting built into the following prompt:

“Recommend nearby waterfall hikes using the user's current or supplied location, preferences, and live web research. Use when a user wants three local hikes featuring waterfalls, especially moderate routes that can be completed in under four hours, or asks for waterfall trail ideas filtered by difficulty, duration, distance, access, closures, or current conditions.”

Feel free to try out the following seven starter prompts with the Skills feature to see how the Create with chat option transforms them into something more specific to your tastes (it’s also worth mentioning that Plugins can directly connect to Skills for specified chats and workflows):

• Plan an outdoor weekend where every activity is within 30 minutes of each other.
• Find experiences most tourists miss.
• Build an itinerary that minimizes driving.
• Find three concerts that would make memorable experiences.
• Compare these three concerts based on ticket value and venue quality.
• Find hidden-gem restaurants.
• Plan a date night around a Broadway show that ends before 10:30 p.m.

Bottom line

ChatGPT Skills is built to generate repeatable prompts for users who want personalized recommendations, planning options that take their constraints into account, educational workflow commands for them & their group and more.

Approaching your first Skills creation with this structure could aid in all three cases: “Help me achieve [goal] while staying within [constraints]. Prioritize [what matters most]. Explain why each recommendation fits me and suggest one option I probably wouldn’t have found out on my own.”

Feel free to tinker with Skills to see the sort of polished prompts it creates for the tasks you want them to tackle.

More from Tom’s Guide

• I gave ChatGPT my recent streaming history — it recommended shows, movies, and anime that perfectly matched my taste
• I used Google AI Mode to create new YouTube Music playlists instantly — and these 7 prompts helped me find new music faster than ever
• I found the 7 easiest Claude connectors for people over 50 — start with these

“I should use Google AI Mode more” crossed my mind the other day. That thought compelled me to put it into action after I found out about the integration of 1st- and 3rd-party “Connected Apps” into that AI-powered Google Search feature.

You have Connected Apps from Google itself, like Gmail and Google Photos. But there’s also a bunch of familiar apps that you can access directly from AI Mode, such as Canva and Instacart. It’s pretty cool being able to come up with design concepts for a party flyer by asking Canva inside AI Mode, plus that neat trick applies to being able to ask Instacart to help you come up with a shopping list for a kid’s birthday party.

Since I’m such a big music head and am always on the lookout for new tunes worth keeping in my rotation, the latest addition of YouTube Music to Google AI Mode’s Connected Apps library got me pretty excited. Since you can directly prompt it to generate playlists that you can automatically add to your account, I wanted to try that feature out for myself to see if it could expose me to rising and emerging artists.

It turns out this latest Google AI Mode app integration works better than expected and will most likely become my most reliable YouTube Music playlist builder.

Using Google AI Mode to find new music much faster

Here’s how you can get access to this new feature:

Open up Google on your desktop, click on AI Mode, make up a prompt that asks for a playlist, and be sure to tell AI Mode to save it to your YouTube Music. If your account isn’t connected, AI Mode will give you a link to activate it, and then you can continue with YouTube Music to generate the playlist you asked for. You’ll be given the option to “Add to library” at the bottom of your newly created playlist, and you’ll see it at the bottom left of your YouTube Music home page where the rest of your playlists are.

To kick off my latest foray into AI-generated playlists, I used this prompt: “Create a 25-track discovery station showcasing new, emerging, and underground artists from the past 12-18 months and save it to my YouTube Music. Make sure the songs come from the genres of rap/hip-hop, R&B, house music, rock, metal, K-Pop, and J-Pop.”

YouTube Music dug deep into its archives and came back with this list of the following tracks that I enjoyed way more than I figured I would (here’s the link to it, too):

• 4 Raws - EsDeeKid
• LV Sandals - EsDeeKid, Fakemink & Rico Ace
• Bunna Summa - Bunna B
• Dice Roll - Lelo
• Topanga - Che Noir & 7xvethegenius
• Gas Station Love - EJ Jones
• worst behaviour - kwn feat. Kehlani
• Something Real - Jaymin
• Change your mind - Casper Sage
• Does She Know - Sekou
• Right Now - House Twelve
• Caricoa Dub - Poolhaus
• Gator Boots - James Poole & GUDFELLA
• Command Your Soul - Balanka
• 2AM - Boogie Vice feat. LUUKHANYO
• Checkmate - Blue Medusa
• Strigoi (Bringer of Death) - Iron Bones
• Your name, it’s walking - Truck Violence
• Alone Together - Show Me The Body
• Anomaly - GZHV & Dark Side
• REDRED - CORTIS
• 404 (New Era) - KiiiKiii
• RUDE! - Hearts2Hearts
• WALLRUNNER - STARKIDS
• HAPPY GROOVY - muque

6 other prompts that produce playlists full of rising and emerging artists

I didn’t want to stop my music discovery journey with just that single prompt, so I asked Google AI Mode to come up with even more. These are the additional requests it sent my way, which resulted in me being gifted with hundreds of songs I heard for the very first time:

• Give me a mix of brand-new, underground rap/hip-hop tracks from rising artists who are just starting to blow up on the East Coast and save them to my YouTube Music
• Find fresh, under-the-radar house music and electronic tracks released this year by unsigned or independent artists and save them to my YouTube Music.
• Build a discovery playlist of fast-paced, new-wave rock and heavy metal songs from emerging bands with under 100k streams and save it to my YouTube Music.
• Cross-pollinate a mix of emerging artists across all genres and subgenres of R&B and save it to my YouTube Music.
• Build a high-energy dancehall playlist featuring hard-hitting digital riddims, fast patois deejay vocals, and modern-club-ready production from new and emerging reggae artists. Save it to my YouTube Music.
• Create a fast-paced Afrobeats playlist featuring heavy electronic drum patterns, high-energy dance rhythms, and driving club tempos from rising artists in the genre. Save it to my YouTube Music.

The takeaway

I’m sure Google AI Mode will get more Connected Apps over time.

At the moment, YouTube Music’s integration stands out as the one that appeals to me the most. It’s so easy to prompt it to create all sorts of playlists that incorporate a vast selection of genres, subgenres, artists, albums, languages, etc. I might just venture into the world of country music and see if I find anything I’d actually listen to outside the comfort of my home.

I spent hours just coming up with my own music discovery stations that I can’t wait to share with my friends who just happen to be professional DJs (they’ll probably judge my mixes pretty harshly).

Use those same prompts that worked for me, swap in the genres that most matter to you, and bask in the awesome custom mixes YouTube Music builds for you.

More from Tom’s Guide

• I asked ChatGPT how to stay cool during a heat wave — these 9 tips actually worked
• I hate paying for calorie-tracking apps, so I had Gemini analyze my food photos instead — here’s what it found
• I asked ChatGPT how to avoid explosive diarrhea this summer — here's the advice I'm actually following

If you have tried the apps within ChatGPT, you might like Claude Connectors. Connectors let Claude securely work with apps you already use without leaving the platform. So, instead of copying and pasting information between websites, it can search your Gmail, check your calendar, help plan a vacation or even build a grocery list.

Once you try this out for yourself, you'll see how they transform Claude into a personal assistant.

If you're just getting started, these are the seven connectors I think offer the biggest payoff — especially if you're over 50.

How to get started with Claude Connectors

Getting started with Claude Connectors takes just a few minutes. Open Claude and click Settings, then head to Connectors. You'll see a growing list of available services, including apps like Gmail, Google Calendar, Booking.com, Uber and more.

From there, simply choose the service you want to connect and sign in to your account. Claude will ask for permission to access only the information it needs, and you can review or revoke those permissions at any time.

Once connected, you can start asking natural-language questions instead of jumping between apps.

1. Gmail

If I could only connect Claude to one app, it would be Gmail.

Most of us have years' worth of emails buried in our inboxes including appointment confirmations, receipts, travel plans, newsletters and conversations we forgot about long ago. Instead of digging through folders or remembering the right search terms, you can simply ask Claude.

Prompt to try: Find every email about my upcoming doctor appointments and summarize the dates, times and locations.

Or: Show me every receipt for purchases I made this month.

It's one of those features that you never know you need until you try it. I use it all the time when I'm looking for something specific buried in my inbox.

2. Google Calendar

Whether you're juggling family birthdays, medical appointments, vacations or volunteer work, keeping track of your schedule gets easier when Claude can see your calendar.

Instead of opening Google Calendar, you can simply ask questions in plain English.

Prompt to try: Tell me everything I have planned next week and point out any scheduling conflicts.

Or: Find an afternoon next month when I'm free to schedule lunch with friends.

It's a much more natural way to manage your schedule than scrolling through calendar views.

3. Booking.com

Planning a vacation or a trip to see your grandchildren is exciting, but can take time, especially when you have to bounce between travel sites, restaurant reviews and maps.

With the Booking.com connector, Claude can help narrow down hotel options based on what actually matters to you.

Prompt to try: Help me find a quiet hotel in Charleston that's close to downtown, has free parking and costs less than $250 per night.

Or:

Plan a three-day getaway to Maine with highly rated hotels, seafood restaurants and attractions nearby.

Instead of spending an hour comparing listings, Claude does much of the research for you.

4. Instacart

Meal planning is one of those weekly chores that never seems to get easier.

Claude can help by creating shopping lists based on your dietary preferences, budget or the ingredients you already have.

Prompt to try: Plan five heart-healthy dinners for this week and build a grocery list.

Or: I need easy dinners for two that take less than 30 minutes to make.

It's like having someone else do the meal planning before you even open Instacart. I use this one all the time and it's a lifesaver

5. Intuit TurboTax

Taxes aren't exactly anyone's favorite subject, but this connector can make them feel a little less overwhelming.

Claude can help explain tax information in plain English, compare previous returns and remind you which documents you'll likely need before tax season rolls around. It's not a substitute for a real accountant, but it is helpful when you have tough questions.

Prompt to try: Compare my last two tax returns and explain the biggest differences.

Or: What documents should I start collecting before I file my taxes this year?

6. Thumbtack

Homeownership seems to come with a never-ending list of projects. Whether you need a plumber, electrician, landscaper or painter, Thumbtack helps you find professionals — and Claude can make the process easier.

Prompt to try: Help me find a highly rated plumber to replace a water heater and tell me what questions I should ask before hiring someone.

Or: Compare local painters and explain what services are included in their estimates.

It's especially useful if you haven't hired someone for a project in years and aren't sure where to begin.

7. AllTrails

This was probably the biggest surprise on my list. If you enjoy walking, hiking or simply spending more time outdoors, the AllTrails connector can help you discover routes that match your fitness level and interests.

Prompt to try: Find an easy trail within an hour of my home that's under three miles long, mostly flat and has great views.

Or: Recommend a scenic walk that's dog friendly and close to a good coffee shop.

Whether you're looking for a leisurely afternoon walk or preparing for a weekend adventure, it's a fun way to find places you might never have discovered on your own.

My final thoughts

Claude Connectors let Claude work with many of the services you already use every day. For me, Gmail and Google Calendar are the clear standouts because they save the most time, but the lifestyle connectors like Booking.com, Instacart, Thumbtack and AllTrails show just how much AI is expanding beyond answering questions.

If you're trying Claude for the first time, start by connecting one or two. Once you see how easy it is, you'll be connecting more apps in no time.

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I've tried just about every AI productivity tool you can imagine. From chatbots that help me research to wearables that act like an external brain, I lean into AI for productivity often.

But when it came to AI note-taking devices, I was on the fence. I've tried several, like Otter.ai and Gemini for notetaking, but to be completely honest, nothing could beat my physical notebook and pen. That is, until the Flowtica AI pen caught my attention.

Rather than changing how I work, this real-working pen allowed me to keep writing with pen and paper while quietly recording the conversation, then let AI organize everything afterward. It sounded almost too simple, here are my thoughts after using Flowtica AI pen for a month.

What is the Flowtica AI pen?

At first glance, you'd never guess the Flowtica AI pen was AI hardware at all. It simply looks like a cool metal pen that writes on ordinary paper. But what's great about it is, with a quick tap on the button, it also records conversations while you take notes, syncing everything to a companion app that can generate transcripts, meeting summaries and action items. Talk about a productivity game-changer!

Now as I write, I don't have to worry about catching everything. Flowtica will always pick up the slack. One feature I found especially interesting is something Flowtica calls FlowMark. If someone says something important, you press a button on the pen to create a marker. The idea is that the AI pays extra attention to those moments when it builds your summary later.

There's also a feature called Snap It, which lets you photograph notebook pages or whiteboards so the AI can combine your handwritten notes with the transcript.

What surprised me most

As a journalist, I spend a surprising amount of time juggling three things at once. I'm listening in briefing calls or interviews, asking follow-up questions and writing — all while trying not to forget what someone just said.

Even with years of experience, it's easy to miss a quote or lose track of an important point. I've experimented with AI transcription apps before, but they usually require pulling out another device, opening another app or remembering to hit Record before a conversation starts.

A pen feels...normal. No one thinks twice when you take notes with a pen. Of course, I always let them the person in front of me know when I'm recording — something most have come to expect from a journalist anyway.

But what surprised me most about this unique pen is how little I had to actually think about the technology at all. As someone who has become so used to AI demanding my attention, I was pleasantly surprised by how easy it was to just tap the button on the side to get started.

Because instead of changing your workflow, Flotica AI adapts to a workflow that's existed for decades.

Where Flotica really impressed me

The obvious audience for this product is people who spend their days in meetings. I also think this would be great for college students who don't want to miss anything during lectures. But the more I use the pen, the more use cases came to mind.

In fact, I now keep it with me whereever I go. With 32GB onboard storage that stores approximately 4,000 hours of audio and a built-in studio-grade MEMS microphone for recording conversations while I write, it's a no-brainer.

One thing to note, unlike similar AI notetakers, no special paper is required. I use it on my own notebook or journal.

Charging is easy and the battery life is incredible. Flowtica AI offers up to 30 hours of continuous recording on a single charge and up to to 100 hours of recording with the optional charging case. Standby time is up to 5,600 hours — that's a whopping 233 days. The charging cable, included, uses USB-C.

The speaker recognition is incredible. It can capture up to 15 speakers in a room, but to be fully transparent, I didn't try it with that many since I work remotely. But it did pick up my voice from about ten feet away. The company promises it works up to 16.4 feet (5 meters).

It also labels people by name after they've been introduced once, which is great for keeping track of who said what in a meeting — even in a conversation between two or three.

The app works on iOS and Android and users get unlimited recording with no subscription required. That's the tier I used, which has been plenty. There is a paid plan, which unlocks even more AI features.

What I didn't like

I think Flowtica is great for many reasons, but it also frustrated me on occassion. For instance, sometimes the pen would stop pairing or syncing recordings. I usually solved this by clicking the pen on and off again and doing the same to my phone. That did the trick, but took time.

The summary accuracy was also something I think the company really needs to improve. The summary was often too short and some details were missed completely at times. Sometimes the Bluetooth pairing would drop off, but for the most it worked as it should and the transcript quality seemed up to par.

The takeaway

Anyone who regularly fills notebooks with pages they'll probably never revisit should check out this pen. Because AI can automatically organize those notes into something searchable and actionable, that's potentially a meaningful time saver that you never even realized you needed. I certainly didn't until now.

This has become my favorite AI note-taker yet because it is easy to use and let's me write by hand, which I don't think I could ever give up.

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Just the other day, I found myself in one of those dreaded moments where I scrolled through all of my streaming services without actually choosing something to watch.

That 30-minute-long bout of indecisiveness led me to just log off and tell myself I’d find something new to watch next time. But after sitting on that thought for a while, I realized that I’d most likely get stuck with my remote in my hand for another half hour and waste my time staring at cover art for shows, movies and anime that don’t interest me.

Today’s content overload has finally caused me to have a bit of trouble locking in on something and taking the time to give it the attention it deserves.

With so much media on offer from so many streaming services, I figured it’d be best if I just check in with ChatGPT and see if it could find me my next favorite piece of streaming content. And after telling it everything I recently watched, I was sure it would find a collection of comparable shows, movies and anime to keep me busy during my off-time.

After observing all the picks ChatGPT brought to my attention, my Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Crunchyroll watchlists got a whole lot fuller and stacked with quality material to sit through.

Prompting for my next binge-watch

To start my journey to find a new batch of worthwhile shows, movies and anime to enjoy, I generated this prompt:

Act as an expert entertainment recommendation engine.

I'm going to share my viewing history from Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Crunchyroll.

Based on my viewing history, recommend:

• 10 TV shows

• 10 movies

• 10 anime

For every recommendation, include:

- Why it's a good match for me

- The strongest similarities to titles I've already enjoyed

- Streaming service(s) where it's available if known

- IMDb score and Rotten Tomatoes score (if known)

- Whether it's a hidden gem, popular favorite, or critically acclaimed

If my viewing history suggests I'm stuck in a recommendation bubble, point that out and recommend a few titles that expand my tastes without feeling completely different.

Netflix: Devil May Cry, Sakamoto Days, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, Last Samurai Standing, The Night Comes for Us, Headshot, Wu Assassins, Revenger, Rapture, and Dirty Pop: The Boy Band Scam.

Amazon Prime Video: The Ghost in the Shell, Sailor Moon, Secret Level, and Them.

Crunchyroll: Black Torch, Gachiakuta, My Hero Academia: Vigilantes, Chainsaw Man, Megalobox, Dan Da Dan, Hell's Paradise, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, and Tougen Anki.

Right off the bat, the chatbot noticed some clear patterns in my viewing habits. It pointed out my appreciation for stylish & ultra-violent action, dark supernatural worlds, cyberpunk & sci-fi, anime that blends action with mature storytelling, underdog protagonists and visually distinctive animation. Then the chatbot noted how I may be missing out on some outstanding psychological and crime-themed shows that might fit my tastes without feeling like a huge departure from what I regularly watch.

The shows, movie and anime that stopped my endless scrolling

ChatGPT proceeded to give me a bunch of highly reviewed shows, films and anime that guarantee I’ll have something to watch every weekend until the year’s end:

• Show Suggestions: Blue Eye Samurai, Arcane, Gangs of London, Warrior, Alice in Borderland, Castlevania, Pantheon, Tokyo Vice, Twisted Metal and Shogun (2024).
• Movie Suggestions: The Shadow Strays, Upgrade, Bullet Train, Dredd, Nobody, District 13, Hardcore Henry, Hard Boiled, Merantau and Alita: Battle Angel.
• Anime Suggestions: Blade of the Immortal, Kaiju No. 8, 86, Dororo, Akudama Drive, Dorohedoro, Fire Force, Vinland Saga, Psycho-Pass and Parasyte: The Maxim.

The chatbot did a commendable job of giving me a thorough summary of why each show would appeal to me.

For instance, its recommendation of Alice in Borderland shined a light on its similarities to Devil May Cry & Hell’s Paradise, where it’s currently being streamed (Netflix), its critic scores (7.7 from IMDb and 91% from Rotten Tomatoes) and a description of what I can look forward to from the series (it offers dark survival thriller vibes, features plenty of style, is plenty violent and delves into psychological themes).

I also took note of the chatbot offering me another lineup of streaming content that can help broaden my horizons a bit:

• Scavengers Reign (Series) — Keeps the gorgeous animation and mature storytelling but shifts toward atmospheric sci-fi survival.
• Severance (Series) — Less action, more psychological mystery with the same thoughtful sci-fi appeal as Ghost in the Shell.
• Monster (Anime) — Trades supernatural action for one of anime's greatest psychological thrillers.
• Pluto (Anime) — A mature sci-fi mystery from the creator of Monster that explores AI, identity, and morality in a way that should resonate if you loved Ghost in the Shell.
• The Killer (Movie) — A slow-burn assassin thriller that emphasizes precision and tension over nonstop action.
• Blue Giant (Anime Film) — A dramatic character journey that swaps combat for music while retaining the intensity and emotional payoff you seem to appreciate.

The takeaway

Treating ChatGPT like my trusty entertainment moderator has resulted in new pieces of content to enjoy across every corner of my fandom.

That definitely happened here, as my Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Crunchyroll queues are now packed to the brim with a wide variety of shows that are just like everything else I consume. The chatbot sent me a group of shows, movies and anime that are mainstream bangers and hidden gems that I can’t wait to start watching.

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My iPhone home screen has most of the default apps that Apple gave me right out of the box — Calculator, Clock, Health, Mail, Maps and Notes never have to fear the threat of getting booted.

The same goes for the lineup of apps that help me do some quick shopping, pull up my gaming profiles to brag about my collection of trophies/achievements and argue with randoms in a heated thread about a lighthearted topic. Now ChatGPT has earned a permanent spot among my two-page grouping of apps (seeing people with four to five pages full of useless apps drives me insane!).

But while I was messing around with ChatGPT, I got the urge to fill out the rest of my second home page with some additional apps. This time, I wanted to enter the world of productivity apps and find the best ones that renew my focus, develop long-term habits that benefit me in many ways and handle a bunch of other everyday actions!

My journey to download the top productivity apps led to my iPhone becoming a whole lot more useful in several areas of my personal and professional life.

The productivity apps that will never leave my home screen

Once I asked ChatGPT to lead me down the digital road to all the apps that cater to boosting one’s productivity, it gave me a slew of obvious choices. The pre-installed Notes app (which I type something new into every time I get a bright idea or want to compile upcoming gaming releases) and Shortcuts app (which cooks up custom automations that handle an assortment of tasks across other apps and Siri) got top billing among the chatbot’s picks.

Then it picked out a bunch of other apps that fill specific roles, such as Todoist for task management, Notion for notes & knowledge management, Fantastical for calendar scheduling, Superhuman Email for inbox management and PDF Expert for annotating & managing PDFs.

As for the ones that stood out to me, these are the three productivity apps that now take up the space they deserve on my iPhone:

• Forest: This app gamifies the act of creating focus sessions and building positive habits by creating “trees” and calm soundscapes every time you reach a milestone. Open another app that’s clearly a distraction (you can count any social media app among that group) and you’ll kill a tree in your virtual forest. I get a kick out of splitting my time between different activities, putting up blockers for certain apps during time periods, observing my focus statistics, getting exposed to digital wellbeing tools, and getting notified about real tree planting through my accomplishments.
• Readwise Reader: Since my days usually consist of reading a bunch of articles and saving some of them as bookmarks in my browser that I always forget to go back to, this recommended pick got rid of that bad habit by letting me make it my permanent “read-it later” app. It’s easy to drop in an article I need for future reference, use the text-to-speech feature if I’m in the mood to hear it read out to me and highlight certain sections that I need to access quickly instead of thumbing through it in a rush to locate them. It also feels good being able to categorize books, emails, PDFs and Tweets for quick access for article inclusion or when I just want to pick up where I left off during a lengthy reading session.
• Day One: I’ve gotten more into journaling these days since my cinematic dreams force me to start jotting down everything I can remember about them once I wake up. Then there are those moments where my laptop is off, I get a bright idea and proceed to start furiously typing out everything before it leaves my brain. I’ve begun using this journaling app instead of throwing all of my random thoughts into the Notes app. What makes Day One stand out to me is how it lets you attach photos, attach audio, track the days you’ve done your journaling and get suggestions on what I should write about based on what I’ve been doing lately. Using this app as both a way to save my inner thoughts and write out my concepts for articles has come in clutch for me.

The takeaway

ChatGPT laid out a wide range of productivity apps that are similar to the ones that now take up valuable home screen space and time on my iPhone: Opal, Focus To-Do and One Sec are comparable to Forest. Instapaper and Pocket handle similar tasks just like Readwise Reader. Then there’s Streaks and HabitKit, which track your habits just like Day One.

My iPhone is less of a miniature distraction gadget and more of a positive habit-building machine, thanks to ChatGPT’s worthwhile endorsements of the best productivity apps.

Have you experimented with any of these apps yourself? Let me know how you got on in the comments below.

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Job hunting has changed dramatically over the past decade. Resumes are often screened by AI before a human ever sees them, job descriptions are packed with keywords and employers expect candidates to tailor every application.

If you're over 50 and unemployed, that can feel intimidating. The good news is that AI technology can actually work in your favor. While ChatGPT won't magically land you your next job, it can help. Whether you use it to polish your resume or prepare for interviews, these seven prompts can help you present decades of experience in a way that resonates with today's employers.

Here's what I'd recommend to anyone over 50 who's looking for a new opportunity.

1. Update your resume without erasing your experience

Many people who've been working for 20 or 30 years haven't completely rewritten their resume in quite some time. Workflows have changed over the years, so modernizing your resume with fresh words and styles can make a big difference.

Instead of listing every responsibility you've ever had, employers want to see measurable accomplishments.

Prompt: I'm applying for a job as a [position]. Here's my resume. Please modernize it so it sounds current and achievement-focused while preserving my experience. Point out anything that may unintentionally make it seem outdated, but don't remove valuable accomplishments.

I also like asking ChatGPT to suggest stronger action verbs and identify places where numbers or results could make achievements more impressive.

2. Find the transferable skills you forgot you had

One of the biggest advantages experienced workers have is a broad set of skills developed over many years. The problem is that those strengths don't always jump off the page.

ChatGPT can help spotlight your skills while also offering suggestions that can help you see how they can work across industries.

Prompt: Based on my resume, what transferable skills would employers value today? Suggest ways I can highlight leadership, communication, problem-solving and adaptability for modern workplaces.

3. Tailor every resume to the job description

Many companies now use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to scan resumes before recruiters review them. That means, your resume is run through a scanner to determine how well it fits the job description. Being honest and human is more important than ever. Knowing how to do that is as simple as asking AI.

Prompt: Compare my resume with this job description. Identify missing keywords and rewrite my resume so it better matches the position without exaggerating my experience.

This can save a tremendous amount of time when applying for multiple positions.

4. Practice the interview before it happens

Interviews become much less intimidating when you've already answered difficult questions a few times. I have even asked ChatGPT to provide potential questions that the interviewer may ask. Using ChatGPT Voice or the chat box, you can ask ChatGPT to role-play a skeptical hiring manager so you're prepared for the toughest questions.

Prompt: Pretend you're interviewing me for this position. Ask one question at a time, wait for my response, then give constructive feedback before asking the next question. Include questions someone with my experience level is likely to hear.

5. Turn career gaps into confident answers

Many professionals over 50 have taken time away from work to care for family members, recover from health issues or explore new opportunities. Those gaps don't have to become stumbling blocks. Often, the best answer is simply a clear, confident one.

Prompt: Help me explain this career gap honestly and confidently in both my resume and an interview. Keep the explanation positive, concise and authentic.

6. Build new skills without going back to school

Technology changes quickly, but learning new skills has never been easier. But if you don't know what skills you need, AI can help. Using this prompt is a great way to jumpstart continued learning and can help you identify skill gaps before employers do.

There are so many free sources and courses online now, that many options might be free or cost very little — at least for a general knowledge base.

Prompt: I want to transition into a career in [industry]. Based on my current experience, create a 30-day learning plan using mostly free or low-cost resources. Recommend certifications only if they'll meaningfully improve my chances of getting hired.

7. Walk into every interview prepared

Knowing something about the company and asking thoughtful questions can help you stand out. Instead of scrambling to research everything yourself, ChatGPT can organize the information into a concise briefing. It can help prepare you for your interviews and even writing your cover letter by giving you more information about the company. Be sure to do your own due diligence and look up information for yourself as AI can be wrong sometimes.

Prompt: I'm interviewing with this company. Based on its website, recent announcements and this job description, summarize what I should know. Then suggest five thoughtful questions I can ask during the interview.

Final thoughts

Looking for a job can feel overwhelming, especially if you've had a recent layoff or are pivoting after a long time in a certain field. Your biggest advantage is something AI can't replicate: years of solving problems, working with people and adapting to change.

ChatGPT won't get you hired on its own, but it can make the process less overwhelming. Whether you're updating a decades-old resume, preparing for an interview or exploring a completely new career, it can help you present your experience with confidence.

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Like most people, I spend the bulk of my time using ChatGPT. However, experimenting with other AI tools has opened up entirely new ways to work and learn. I’ve recently used Claude, Gemini, and Perplexity to tackle everything from deep research on niche topics to predicting sports tournaments.

As someone who relies heavily on ChatGPT to streamline my daily tasks, I wanted to put Perplexity’s productivity features to the test. The experiment paid off: it saved me an hour during my morning routine, freeing up valuable time to focus on my core responsibilities.

Here are 7 actionable lessons from my experience to help you optimize your own workflow.

Fast research, fact-checking and more

There are a few instances where using ChatGPT as my productivity assistant is similar to my experience with Perplexity, especially when it comes to conducting some quick research on any given topic I’m writing about and doing some fact-checking on specific pieces of information I’ve come across.

Instead of opening a whole bunch of tabs when trying to look up the most trending stories in the morning, I asked Perplexity to summarize the most important stories from the last 24 hours about a variety of topics (AI, music, movies, video games and wrestling are among them). Getting short writeups from the chatbot about the stories I need to know about and seeing that they’re accompanied by trustworthy links that provide more context for each one saves me a lot of time.

When the time comes for me to do a quick fact check on recent statistics or case studies I’m planning to use in my work, I’ll ask Perplexity to look up a particular piece of evidence to double-check its legitimacy and possibly find other interesting bits of data worth including in my work.

These are the five other uses of Perplexity that have gone a long way toward helping me boost my productivity once the sun rises and it’s time for me to lock in for work:

• Turning messy notes into structured notes: Uploading my documents that are filled with random notes I’ve jotted down and asking Perplexity to lay it all out with clear bullet points and action items works best for me. Using this method also works great when I need the chatbot to turn it into a ready-to-email format.
• Breaking down complex topics into simple explanations even a kid could understand: Before Perplexity, I wasn’t the most informed on how much data centers have increased each state's power bills and all of the reasons why current-gen consoles have gotten price increases this late into their lifecycles. I got the information I needed to be knowledgeable about both topics once I told Perplexity to clarify them in simple terms with clear examples.
• Planning my work time: Just like ChatGPT, I approached Perplexity intending to generate a block of time that’s set aside for work. For instance, I prompted the chatbot to design a morning routine for a professional writer working from home and was given the perfect layout to make a part of my day.
• Using Workflows: This exclusive Perplexity feature takes complex tasks and streamlines them into a series of simple steps that cut the time it would take to do it with standard prompts. Using this tool to quickly polish up a lengthy email, get a final review on a document I’m planning to show off during a meeting and refine my prompts are just a few examples of what it can do in as little time as possible.
• Using Connectors: Perplexity has a collection of “Connectors” that provide direct access to some of the most popular apps, such as Gmail with Calendar, Superhuman, Todoist and Fireflies. Working with the chatbot’s productivity-themed Connectors works for me since I’m used to combining my chatbot and my most-used desktop apps.

Final thoughts

Perplexity has gotten the stamp of approval from me for being better than ChatGPT at searching the web for more verifiable sources, providing legit citations and providing answers backed by smarter reasoning.

But in both cases, Perplexity and ChatGPT serve as the best partners for helping me achieve my goals and give my productivity levels a huge boost. With Perplexity stepping up to play the part of my new productivity assistant for a quick spell, it certainly has its best uses that are compatible with ChatGPT and its own pros that will help you just as well as they helped me.

Getting an hour to myself to write a whole lot more in the morning instead of juggling some other tasks helps me lock in and get things done much quicker, thanks to Perplexity's assistance.

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When the temperature climbs into the 90s or lately, the 100s, I am always looking for ways to stay cool. My house is older and doesn't have air conditioning so it gets hot fast.

After the last heatwave, it occured to me that ChatGPT could probably provide some useful ideas. To my surprise, when I prompted it about my sweaty situation, it offered useful ideas beyond the usual "drink water and stay inside."

Several of the suggestions were simple enough to test immediately and a handful have become part of my routine now. Here are the nine tips that actually made a difference.

1. Freeze your pillowcase before bed

This sounded both brilliant and crazy, but it quickly became my favorite suggestion.

ChatGPT recommended placing a clean pillowcase in a sealed plastic bag and leaving it in the freezer for about 20 to 30 minutes before bedtime. So, now, just after dinner, I put the the whole family's pillowcases in the freezer. Since they are in there for about 3 hours, they get really icy!

I have to say, there's nothing like climbing into bed with a chilled pillow. It feels amazing after a sweltering day and it has helped me cool down enough to fall asleep faster.

2. Cool your wrists instead of your whole body

I take so many cold showers that our water bill is through the roof. Not to mention, wet hair is not the best look for video meetings. So, rather than taking another cold shower, ChatGPT suggested cooling the places where blood vessels sit close to the skin.

I now run cool water over my wrists for about 30 seconds and also place a damp washcloth on the back of my neck. It's not a miracle cure for overheating and it's not genius, but it does help me feel more comfortable almost immediately without having to cool my entire body.

3. Keep the sun out before it heats your house

This was one of those tips that seems obvious in hindsight. ChatGPT suggested that I keep the blinds and curtains closed in the morning before direct sunlight reached my windows.

The difference was noticeable. Rooms that usually feel like ovens by late afternoon still got warm, but not excessively hot, so they were much more comfortable.

4. Freeze grapes for an instant cool-down snack

I've seen this done on TikTok and had avoided it until ChatGPT suggested it. Frozen grapes taste somewhere between fresh fruit and tiny sorbet bites and are a real treat when the heat is unbearable. They're refreshing, naturally sweet and surprisingly satisfying when it's too hot to think about cooking.

Since I've been avoiding salads, I appreciated the opportunity to enjoy a little produce. I've since started keeping a container in the freezer all summer.

5. Put a bowl of ice in front of a fan

This is probably the oldest trick in the book, but ChatGPT helped me figure out how to do it the right way.

ChatGPT told me that placing a bowl filled with ice directly in front of a fan is a surprisingly effective trick if you're trying to cool a small area. It was right! While it's not the same as air conditioning, it works better than just a fan.

6. Eat lighter meals

ChatGPT pointed out that large, heavy meals generate extra body heat during digestion. Instead of making a hot dinner, I make sandwiches, fruit, yogurt and smoothies for the family on the hottest days.

Not only did I spend less time standing over the stove, but I also felt noticeably less sluggish afterward.

7. Cool your feet

This might be the most underrated tip on the list. The kids think it's fun, too. Simply fill a small tub with ice and stick your feet in! It's a surprisingly good way to stay cool while relaxing and watching TV.

When ChatGPT first offered the suggestion, I wasn't sure what type of container to use, but a Home Depot bucket or even a laundry basket with a garbage bag does the trick!

8. Start hydrating before you're thirsty

This trick I knew, but it was a good reminder. Seeing it in the response from ChatGPT made me mention it to my husband and kids, especially since the kids are outside at summer camp all day.

Again, not groundbreaking advice, but it changed how I approached the day.

Instead of realizing I was dehydrated in the afternoon and drinking a huge bottle of water all at once, I kept a water bottle nearby and took small sips throughout the day. It was much easier to stay ahead of the heat.

9. Ask ChatGPT to create a personalized heat-wave plan

This ended up being the most useful suggestion of all. Rather than asking for generic advice, I gave ChatGPT details about my day and asked it to build a realistic schedule.

Here's the prompt I used: "I'm working from home during a heat wave. My house doesn't have air conditioning but we do have window units in a few rooms. I have a few meetings in the mornings and occassionally in the afternoon. I am a runner and like to hit the trails early in the day. Please give me ways to stay as cool as possible while keeping my electric bill reasonable. Create a schedule from morning until bedtime."

Give it a try if you're in the middle of a heat wave. ChatGPT might suggest ideas that aren't on this list and that better fit your lifestyle. You'll get personalized advice that traditional weather forecasts simply can't provide.

Bottom line

This is our third heatwave this summer but I didn't think to ask ChatGPT for advice until now. One of the reasons I appreciate AI is that it can offer solutions to problems quickly, especially during those times when my brain feels fried.

Not every ChatGPT suggestion was worth trying, but several have earned a permanent place in my summer routine. My favorites were freezing my pillowcase before bed, closing the blinds early, keeping frozen grapes in the freezer and asking ChatGPT to build a personalized plan for the day.

Of course, AI shouldn't replace official health advice during extreme heat. If temperatures are dangerously high, follow guidance from your local weather service, stay hydrated, limit outdoor activity during the hottest part of the day and seek medical attention if you experience symptoms of heat exhaustion or heat stroke.

Sometimes the best AI prompts result in simple ideas that make everyday life a little more comfortable

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There is such a thing as giving up too much of your personal information to a chatbot.

Letting a chatbot know all about your bank account, giving it the names of your closest friends & family members and exposing it to your current address just isn’t the way to go. But there is a long list of AI password managers that store, protect, and automatically change your passwords to keep you safe from any sort of hacks & scams.

While 1Password may not be powered by AI, it handles the same tasks as those aforementioned password managers while also auto-filling login credentials across all your devices and generating strong, unique passwords for the sites you regularly visit. Speaking of AI, 1Password and Claude have now joined forces to not only ensure your online safety stays intact, but also to handle everyday tasks for you that require your login credentials.

And best of all, Claude won’t ever actually see your passwords whenever it’s logging into your sites to handle whatever job you’ve just given it.

Say hello to 1Password for Claude

Now that 1Password is capable of working in conjunction with Claude, here’s how it works: whenever Claude is given a task that requires it to sign in, 1Password notifies its users about which credential is being requested by the chatbot and why.

After a user approves Claude’s login attempt, 1Password enters the password and makes sure to never expose it to Claude. Claude is only concerned with completing the job you’ve given it, while 1Password works simultaneously to check that your credentials have not been compromised.

To take advantage of this new feature, you must own a Mac device and have access to 1Password’s business, family, or individual subscription plan. Enabling it means your device has to have the 1Password desktop app, the 1Password browser extension, the Claude desktop app and the Claude in Chrome browser extension. You can take a look at these detailed directions on how to make good use of this new feature.

1Password is obviously aware of its users’ fears concerning browser-based AI agents taking over and possibly seeing the login details stored in their 1Password account. In an official blog post posted by the company, it made mention of a new “Agentic Mode” that’s meant to keep you safe should this ever happen.

“When a compatible AI agent takes over, the 1Password extension automatically locks down,” the blog explained. “The interface is hidden, and the agent can only use the logins and one-time codes explicitly approved for the current task. The rest of the vault stays out of reach.”

Some of the examples 1Password provides for their new Claude integration include the chatbot logging in to handle your booking travel duties, presenting you with a Stripe revenue summary and redeeming your credits on Audible. I hopped into Claude and asked it to come up with the sort of prompts that act as tasks for the chatbot that require it to act on a site it needs to log into on your behalf:

• Check my Audible wishlist and redeem this month's credit on whichever title has the best reviews.
• Log into my [name of airline] account and check if my seat can be upgraded with my frequent flyer miles.
• Go to [name of electric company's site] and see if my bill went up this month.
• Compare prices for [name of item] across the sites I have accounts on, then order from whichever is cheapest.
• Update my shipping address on my [name of online retailer] account.
• Pull a revenue summary from my Stripe dashboard and flag anything unusual.
• Check my business bank account for any suspicious transactions this week.

Bottom line

1Password for Claude sounds and looks like a trustworthy proposition since it goes out of its way to complete any sort of tasks that require a sign-in and make sure your passwords are never exposed to AI. The password manager company will release details about payment cards and identity details sometime after launch.

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It's National AI Day, which probably feels like a made-up holiday, especially if you're a..bee? Let me explain. As AI gradually becomes part of everyday life and millions of us use ChatGPT for dozens of reasons, it's important to understand why this day of awareness might be better spent considering the environmental impacts of AI that reach far beyond the walls of a data center.

Researchers at the University of Sydney say the rapid growth of AI is driving a surge in electricity demand, and if that electricity comes from fossil fuels, the resulting emissions could contribute to climate change in ways that threaten one of the world's most important pollinators: bees.

The growing energy demands of AI could contribute to climate warming, which in turn puts additional stress on bee populations. Simply put: less bees, more expensive food.

Here's what the research found.

Why AI uses so much electricity

Traditional internet searches already require large data centers to process and return results. Generative AI adds another layer of computation.

According to the study, generating an AI response can require significantly more computing power than a conventional web search, meaning each interaction uses more electricity. As AI adoption accelerates, so does the demand for new data centers capable of supporting those workloads.

The International Energy Agency has also projected that electricity consumption from data centers will more than double by the end of the decade, with AI expected to account for a substantial share of that growth.

That doesn't automatically translate into higher emissions. It depends on how those facilities are powered. Data centers running on renewable energy have a much smaller carbon footprint than those relying on electricity generated from coal or natural gas.

What bees have to do with AI

Bees are surprisingly sensitive to temperature. Even relatively small increases in average temperatures can affect their ability to reproduce, survive and pollinate crops. Previous research has shown that heat stress can reduce sperm viability in male bees, increase mortality during development and make colonies more vulnerable to parasites and disease.

The University of Sydney researchers modeled how emissions from AI-related electricity use could contribute to future warming. Their estimates suggest the additional warming could be enough to place millions of bees under increased heat stress each year.

The study looks at the cumulative effect of billions of AI requests, expanding data-center infrastructure and the emissions associated with powering those systems over time.

Why this matters to your wallet and food on your plate

Bees pollinate many of the fruits, vegetables and nuts that people eat every day. When bee populations decline, agriculture becomes more vulnerable. Lower pollination rates can reduce crop yields, increase food prices and disrupt ecosystems that depend on healthy pollinator populations.

Researchers estimate that pollinators contribute billions of dollars in agricultural value every year, making their health an environmental and economic concern.

The researchers argue that the bigger issue isn't AI itself but how it's powered. Many of the world's largest technology companies are investing heavily in renewable-powered data centers, advanced battery storage and more efficient cooling systems to reduce emissions. At the same time, chip manufacturers continue to improve the energy efficiency of AI hardware, allowing newer systems to perform more work using less electricity.

There's also growing interest in smaller AI models that can run directly on laptops or smartphones instead of relying entirely on cloud-based servers, reducing the need for massive centralized computing resources for some tasks.

These changes won't eliminate AI's environmental footprint, but they could significantly reduce it over time.

The takeaway

For most people, the environmental impact of an occasional AI prompt is extremely small. The researchers aren't suggesting consumers stop using AI altogether. But this is a cautionary tale. The study highlights a broader challenge facing the technology industry: making sure the infrastructure powering AI grows in a sustainable way.

As AI becomes integrated into everything from search engines to smartphones, the environmental cost will increasingly depend on decisions made by technology companies, energy providers and policymakers.

The takeaway here is that the future of AI depends on building smarter models while also powering them responsibly

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This is very much not Google Glass 2.0. Google is entering the AI smartglasses arena this fall to go up against Meta (and whatever Apple is cooking), and it’s partnering with Samsung, Warby Parker and Gentle Monster to make “Intelligent Eyewear” powered by Android XR.

As you might expect, Gemini is the headline feature. Having a smart assistant as your literal eyes has the potential to help you get a lot done on the go without having to constantly whip out your phone. But Juston Payne, who leads the product management team for XR at Google, also knows that the smart glasses category is fraught with controversy, especially over how to handle recording in public and user privacy.

“If people don't feel comfortable wearing these glasses, and privacy is part of this, they just won't wear the glasses. It’s as simple as that,” Payne said.

I had a chance to sit down with Payne to discuss these issues and a lot more ahead of the Intelligent Eyewear launch, including how to design for the masses, the roadmap to built-in displays and the totally separate Android XR spatial computing glasses coming from Xreal this year.

The lessons of Google Glass

Anyone old enough to remember the original Google Glass from 2012 probably remembers them for embarrassing reasons.

For me, my mind instantly goes to that infamous photo of Robert Scoble in the shower, which became a symbol for the device’s voyeuristic dangers. And then there’s that SNL Weekend Update bit, during which Fred Armisen lampooned how difficult the interface was to use.

I asked Payne directly about the lessons of Google Glass, and he admits that they were ahead of their time.

“The trouble was that the vision was good, but the reality was that the tech just wasn't quite there yet,” Payne said.

He cites three reasons for the Google Glasses flop that Intelligent Eyewear hopes to get right. First was the nerdy form factor. They didn’t really look like regular glasses. There was also a lack of content, which you now get with Android XR. And the third thing is versatility, which AI brings to the table.

“So there were these huge building blocks missing,” Payne said, “Hardware, platform, AI.”

And that brings us to the present…

What does Intelligent Eyewear do?

For the first round of Intelligent Eyewear, the glasses will be audio-only. Glasses with single and dual displays will be coming later, though Google will start offering a trusted tester program sometime this year.

In the meantime, the glasses coming this year from Samsung, Gentle Monster and Warby Parker will leverage Android XR to (hopefully) make your day easier by having Gemini always at the ready.

“Gemini can take your personal context — we call it personal intelligence — and then it can start feeding that into your experience,” Payne said. “These glasses are designed to give you ambient assistance throughout the day while keeping you connected to your digital world and the real world.”

For example, because Gemini has personal intelligence built in, it knows you, and you can ask about what’s on your calendar, the score of a sports game or a random fact.

“Just having a real-time conversational interface all day long is incredibly valuable for a lot of people,” Payne continued. For example, when Payne is driving with Intelligent Eyewear on he can ask about other podcasts Gemini might recommend based on the one he’s currently listening to and do it on the fly.

Payne cited a couple other major use cases for Intelligent Eyewear. The first is navigation, such as looking up a local restaurant that might be good around you.

“The audio experience for that is fantastic,” Payne said. “It uses the camera to localize you, so it knows that you're pointing in the right direction. It can give you contextual navigation to help you get to where you're going without being vague, you know, like ‘turn right there.’”

Translation is another potential killer app for Intelligent Eyewear, promising a quick “UN translator experience.” And when you’re cooking you can get step-by-step instructions even without a display.

But Payne argues that display glasses are nice to have as opposed to a must-have, such as seeing that your upcoming turn is 300 feet away.

“We think of the display more as almost an augmentation to the audio experience rather than something that is a hard dependency in many cases,” Payne said.

Design first, features second

Anyone who has been paying attention to the smart glasses market knows that there’s a sliding scale of geekiness. The Ray-Ban Meta glasses and Meta Glasses look very much like regular sunglasses or glasses. But the Meta Ray-Ban Display glasses are bulkier, and the even more ambitious Snap Specs look pretty geeky with their extra-wide frames.

For Google, the approach is pretty simple: they have to be great glasses first.

“We lead with design and then we ask the question ‘what can you make within the constraints of a great design?’” Payne said. “Can we make a product that is genuinely valuable for people so that if they walk out of their house and they forgot them, they'll actually go back and get them?”

The early design from Gentle Monster has chic oval-shaped lenses that wouldn’t look out of place on a runway, while the Warby Parker design is a bit chunkier and more retro. They both feature dual cameras, but they look a bit more discreet on the Gentle Monster specs.

Google doesn’t seem willing to push the limits and risk the sort of backlash the Snap Specs have been getting for their overtly techy look.

“If you make a product that provides really novel new experiences, people might be willing to tolerate a design that has some larger compromises. I think it's great that people are out there testing that theory. It's just not the approach that Google's taking. We're really leading with design,” Payne said.

Major privacy landmines — and what Google is doing about it

By now you’ve probably heard some of the horror stories coming out of the Meta glasses camp around privacy concerns, including a woman who discovered her esthetician was wearing Meta’s Ray-Ban glasses at a European Wax Center in Manhattan. And 404 Media reported on how men were wearing the glasses to covertly film massage parlor workers.

Then there’s the black market that sprung up around disabling the LEDs on Meta glasses so that others don’t know that you’re recording. Meta recently attempted to close this loophole with a software update that automatically disables the cameras if the LED has been tampered with or destroyed.

It’s safe to say that Google is walking into a minefield of privacy concerns, but the company has a plan to address them.

“If people don't feel comfortable wearing these glasses, and privacy is part of this, they just won't wear the glasses. It’s as simple as that,” Payne said.

To help combat some of the concerns people have about these issues, Google is starting by making sure that Intelligent Eyewear users are signaling to the people around them when they are recording and that the LED is accurate.

Payne told us that Google will share more details later this year around how they ensure this accuracy, but the bottom line is that the light should be on if whatever you’re recording or shooting can be reviewed later.

Google will also be employing Android permission frameworks to help protect users, as well as other security and privacy techniques already on your phone.

Lastly, Google is “investing to make it so that the hardware itself holds up,” Payne said. “So if people try to mess around with it somehow, we have ways of detecting that.”

Google vs. Meta vs. Apple

Launching in 2023 and with over 9 million units sold already, it’s fair to say that Meta has had a pretty big head start with its Ray-Ban glasses and other eyewear, but Google is pretty confident that it can make a splash in what is still a pretty nascent market.

I asked Juston directly about his largest competitor and he told me that “Meta’s doing a great job” with “very nice glasses.” But while the Meta glasses are good for things like photos, videos, calls and music, Google is taking a different approach with Gemini front and center.

“We think a lot about moments throughout the day. And these moments throughout the day are really the things that are driving our approach to the platform. ‘How does Gemini show up in glasses? What kinds of hooks are we making from Gemini into apps? How are apps making themselves available to Gemini? So so much of our thinking is about versatility.”

That thinking includes making things super easy for developers to get their apps running in Android XR, while Meta’s app ecosystem is still fairly skimpy.

“The platform will know if their app, which is running on the phone, is talking to audio glasses or glasses with a display, and it'll tailor that app experience for it,” Payne said. “So that means that developers really only build once. They just build an Android app, and then we take care of the rest.”

Payne also is acutely aware of the fact that Apple is working on its own Apple Glasses, which will likely debut in 2027. And it will be taking the same vertically oriented approach it has with all of its other products: Apple’s own design. Apple’s software. Apple’s ecosystem.

“Apple has a very strong track record,” Payne said, “and I think that one thing that Apple has always done well is that they play to their strengths. I would expect that they'll keep doing that. And I'm sure that they'll provide very real competition for everybody else playing in the space.”

The difference between what Google is doing with Android XR and Intelligent Eyewear and what Apple is doing is that Google is building a multi-partner platform, while Apple is focusing on making a product.

“So each time that these categories come along, Google makes a platform and there's a lot of value. Google's a partnership company. And as you look through when we've done best, it's when we partner.”

At the same time Payne shared that Google has a lot of “skin in the game” with its first-party apps, including Gemini, Google Maps and Google Translate.

Despite being a fierce Apple competitor, Google is working hard to make sure that Intelligent Eyewear devices work well with the iPhone, though there will be some platform-level restrictions the company may not be able to work around.

Aura farming

Google’s partnerships extend to companies like Xreal, an early pioneer in the smart glasses space, and they are collaborating on spatial computing glasses that attempt to squish pretty much all the functionality of the Samsung Galaxy XR headset into a pair of fairly sleek specs.

However, while Intelligent Eyewear works with your Android phone or iPhone, the Xreal Aura are wired glasses that connect to a computing puck. Coming this fall, the glasses promise an immersive see-through display and AI assistance from Gemini.

You can work across multiple virtual monitors, experience over 100 apps made for XR, enjoy a private cinema anywhere for watching 3D movies and more. Think Apple Vision Pro but in a design you might actually want to wear. But there’s some trade-offs versus headsets, like a narrower field of view.

For example, the Xreal Aura has a 70° Diagonal FOV, compared to 109° horizontal and 100° vertical for the Galaxy XR.

“Some people would say, ‘hey, I'm okay actually giving up some of that,’” Payne told me. “I need to keep the core value, but I'm okay with giving up some of that so that I can take it with me more easily.”

Will smart glasses replace phones?

If smart glasses like Google’s Intelligent Eyewear are designed to help you use your phone less often, will there be a tipping point where the vast majority of people leave their phone behind?

For Payne, that’s not happening anytime soon.

“The phone is here to stay,” Payne said. “Phones are incredibly powerful. They have a user interface to them that is well adopted and highly robust. I'm not so sure that there's even a great reason to get rid of the phone, even if you could.”

The true benefit of smart glasses — at least for now — is that they allow you to be less distracted. How many times have you opened your phone to respond to a notification only to find yourself knee deep in some other app?

“Glasses can fit into your experience throughout the day by adding a lot of value on top. It'll shift some of the minutes that you’re spending on the phone to the glasses, which have all these nice benefits because you can then stay more present with what you're doing.”

We’ll be keeping a close eye on Intelligent Eyewear and will bring you our full reviews once we have a chance to test out Google’s Android XR platform — and its partner’s designs.

Ever since my last doctor’s visit at the start of the year, I’ve been on a mission to get back into shape. At my age, staying in good health will only make things easier as I get older. While running over 150 miles so far this year has been the easy part, dieting, on the other hand, has been the most challenging.

That’s where Google Gemini enters the conversation, especially given how valuable I’ve found it for all sorts of other tasks. The last time I lost a significant amount of weight, I used a calorie-tracking app to keep me honest about what I ate. These apps have come a long way in the 14 years since then, adding the ability to scan barcodes to quickly gather nutritional information — but today, those premium features are locked behind expensive subscriptions.

Considering how invaluable Gemini has become to my daily routine, I wanted to see how well it could handle analyzing the foods I eat to help me on this new fitness journey.

Google Gemini calorie tracker — breakfast

I gave Gemini a picture of my breakfast, along with details explaining that the dish consisted of egg whites and steamed spinach. Since I wanted the nutritional information to be as accurate as possible, I made sure to specify egg whites rather than just "eggs."

After analyzing the photo, Gemini did a surprisingly good job of estimating the portion sizes. It estimated the meal to be between 115 and 175 calories. Personally, if I’m in a pinch and don’t have time to weigh my ingredients, I always lean toward the higher number.

What’s impressive here is that my own log of the meal was exactly 175 calories — consisting of 276 grams of egg whites and one serving of chopped, steamed spinach.

Google Gemini calorie tracker — lunch

Resisting tempting foods is much harder when I’m at work, so I did the right thing and prepped my lunch ahead of time. This low-calorie meal was pretty simple, consisting of riced cauliflower and a piece of seasoned chicken breast that I cut into bite-sized pieces.

Gemini analyzed the photo and estimated the meal to be between 255 and 305 calories. Once again, that's incredibly accurate, considering my own weighed-out log came in at 295 calories. Unlike my flat breakfast photo, this shot had a bit more depth to it because of the container, but Gemini still nailed the portion sizes.

Google Gemini calorie tracker — dinner

Finally, there’s my dinner — a bone-in chicken breast baked in the oven alongside some premade, honey-glazed carrots. This overhead photo highlighted a recurring issue for Gemini: a lack of depth perception. It ended up overestimating this meal, giving me a range of 370 to 445 calories when, in reality, it came out to just 328 calories.

While it was off this time, if I hadn't weighed everything beforehand and lacked an exact caloric breakdown, I still would have logged the higher number just to give myself a worst-case buffer.

Bottom line

Although it doesn’t always give the most precise estimates, I’d still lean on Gemini if I’m in a pinch. Where I’ve found it most helpful is with takeout orders. Most local food joints don’t disclose their ingredients or portion sizes, and the last thing I want to do is deconstruct a meal I paid for just to weigh out each ingredient — making Gemini’s photo analysis incredibly useful here.

If you’re like me and don’t want to pay for yet another subscription, Google Gemini is a surprisingly viable, free alternative. While a top-down photo can occasionally trick its depth perception, it consistently gets close enough to keep me honest.

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ChatGPT is already a great productivity tool on its own. But adding the right apps can make it even more useful, whether you need help managing your calendar, summarizing long documents, creating files, or streamlining your daily workflow.

As a journalist, I've tested dozens of ChatGPT apps looking for the ones that actually save time. These seven stood out because they solve real problems I run into every day and have earned a permanent place in my workflow.

Google Drive, Habitify, Reclaim.ai and more do the job

The word “tabs” is synonymous with my work life. Thankfully, I’ve gotten to the point where I’m not switching between the 10 I have open at a time—keeping about 5 or six tabs open does a lot to keep me from going crazy over trying to find the one I need for a particular situation.

ChatGPT will forever remain one of those essential tabs and the productivity-themed apps installed within it do a lot to keep me from doing a whole lot of tab switching and push me to get more work done with its help.

These are 5 of the best ChatGPT productivity apps I’ve used and highly recommend for your use as well:

• Google Drive: Just like most folks, I tap into Google Docs to jot down my creative notes for personal writing projects and get a good look at the documents sent my way for a variety of reasons. Instead of downloading files from Google Drive and inputting them into ChatGPT for tasks related to them, I like using the Google Drive app inside the chatbot to more easily access documents. I’ve gotten accustomed to using this app to summarize lengthy documents, analyze slides and brainstorm ideas based on all the random notes I’ve jotted down in my own personal documents.
• Norton: I’m glad Norton is here to tell the difference between a legit email and one that’s more than likely a flat-out scam. Since my inbox is filled to the brim with emails from all sorts of different PR companies and individuals attaching links to article proposals, I’ve gotten used to using the Norton app to get a thorough analysis of the messages in my inbox that I’m a bit weary of. Having the Norton app stand tall as my first line of defense inside ChatGPT is so reassuring for someone like me that’s inundated by emails and wants to give them a quick scan so I can get back to work.
• Reclaim.ai: Since this ChatGPT connects right to my Google Calendar, I’m able to ask ChatGPT to help me get a good look at my daily schedule, find planning conflicts, reschedule meetings and also find the best times for future ones. Even prompting it to set aside an hour for a personal ideation session can be accomplished with this app’s help.
• Habitify: Developing healthy habits that get me out of my computer chair and clear my head has proven to be accommodating. Incorporating Habitify into ChatGPT has worked out great since I just have to prompt it to show me my daily habits and stick by them without having to access them in another tab. Routinely checking in with the Habitify app inside ChatGPT to remind myself to take a 15-minute walk, take my vitamins, and get a quick meditation session in while I’m working from home does a lot for me.
• Goodnotes: Since I’m quick to get into some long yapping sessions with ChatGPT, I’m also quick to turn those chats into documents I can use for further reference. The Goodnotes app can take my lengthy conversations and transform them into text, flowcharts and images. So, for instance, I’ve prompted this ChatGPT app to turn my evening mental wind-down routine into a document that lays it all out in an easy-to-follow format.

Bottom line

ChatGPT’s productivity-themed apps are capable of filling the same role, such as calendar management, accessing files, summarizing meetings, etc. The ones I’ve incorporated into my daily work sessions with my go-to chatbot handle those important tasks and other objectives that make my work output that much stronger.

Even using Spotify to build instrumental playlists that put me in the right state of mind to focus is a great way to boost my productivity. Make these ChatGPT apps a part of your daily work regimen and you’ll notice the benefits it brings you.

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When people picture someone using AI, they usually imagine a student writing an essay or a developer working on code.

That's not my mom.

She's in her 70s, and AI has become one of the tools she reaches for almost every day. My mom isn't building apps, but she does use AI to generate spreadsheets for her volunteer work. She also uses it to stay safer online and solve everyday problems like hunting down hard-to-find fabric for her quilting.

Watching her use AI so effortlessly makes me proud. Sure, she calls ChatGPT "ChatGap," but other than cute nicknames, seeing her use AI has been a good reminder that the technology doesn't have to be complicated to be useful. In fact, the features she uses most are the ones that save her time or give her confidence before making a decision.

Here are the five ways AI has become part of her daily routine.

1. She checks suspicious messages before clicking anything

Whether it's a text message, an email or even a suspicious invite, my mom has learned that you really can't trust everything on the internet. Besides, as a woman in her 70s, she's exactly the kind of person scammers target. Fake delivery notifications, phishing emails, fraudulent text messages and convincing Facebook posts seem to arrive every week.

Instead of guessing whether something is legitimate, she opens ChatGPT and uses Norton's scam detection capabilities within the app to analyze the message before she clicks a link or responds.

Sometimes she'll paste the text into the chat. Other times she'll upload a screenshot. The extra layer of verification gives her peace of mind, which honestly, gives me some peace of mind, too.

2. She uses photos to find quilting fabric

This might be my favorite use case because I never would have thought of it myself. My mom is an avid quilter. Anyone who sews knows how frustrating it can be when you run out of a particular fabric. Sometimes all that's left is a small scrap with no label or manufacturer.

Instead of spending hours searching online, she simply takes a picture of the fabric and uploads it to ChatGP or Gemini (she clearly has a preference).

The AI identifies colors, patterns and sometimes even the fabric collection or manufacturer. It can also suggest online retailers that might still carry it or recommend similar alternatives if the original has been discontinued. She used to call me to do the ChatGPT detection for her, now, she does it herself. It's like having a fabric expert available whenever she needs one.

3. She asks the kinds of questions people used to Google

Her AI conversations aren't complicated. But she likes to use ChatGPT Voice and ask things like:

Can I eat these leftovers after three days?

How long can cooked chicken stay in the refrigerator?

Can I freeze this before it goes bad?

What's the best way to clean this pan?

Why is my cat staring at me like that?

These aren't life-or-death medical questions, but they're the kinds of everyday decisions that used to send people to a search engine. Now she simply asks in plain English and gets a straightforward answer without digging through multiple websites.

4. She relies on Google Maps — and that's AI, too

I taught my mom how to use Google Maps to find the cheapest gas prices, but she also uses it to help predict traffic, estimate arrival times, suggest faster routes and reroute drivers around accidents or road closures.

It's a reminder that many of us use AI every day without even thinking about it.

5. She uses it for fitness

My mom regularly goes to the gym — much more than me! And she'll often turn to ChatGPT or Gemini for new fitness routines. With a simple prompt like:

I only have 30 minutes today, what workout would be best for me?

I am looking for new walking shoes? I like Brooks, should I stick with those?

She even uses the Apple Music app within ChatGPT to create playlists for her workouts. Impressive, for sure.

Bottom line

My mom also uses ChatGPT just to chat. Sometimes the questions are practical and other times they are more like Beatles trivia or trying to remember the name of the actress she likes in a particular movie.

She'll ask about gardening, recipes, household problems, products she's considering buying or random facts she wonders about during the day. Most importantly, she doesn't worry about writing the "perfect prompt." She simply asks the question the way she'd ask another person.

Ironically, that's probably why my mom gets such useful answers. The point is, AI doesn't have to be complicated despite the perception that it's only for programmers or people who work in technology.

Watching my mom use it every day tells a different story. She isn't trying to automate her life or replace her favorite hobbies. She's using AI to solve small problems that come up throughout the day.

If you're wondering whether AI has a place in your own daily routine — or you're trying to help a parent or grandparent get started — start with one real problem they already have. They might end up using it every day.

As someone who eats a lot of salads and fresh vegetables, I've kept an eye on the news reports of a growing Cyclospora outbreak linked to fresh produce. I began wondering: Should I be changing anything about my routine?

From what I've read on the internet and the official CDC website, Cyclospora is a microscopic parasite that can cause severe watery diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea and fatigue. Health officials are still investigating the current outbreak, and while no single food source has been confirmed, fresh produce — including my favorite leafy greens — has been a focus of the investigation.

Instead of scrolling through social media, I decided to ask ChatGPT a simple question: "What can I do to reduce my risk of getting Cyclospora this summer?"

I know ChatGPT is no substitute for a real doctor, but it was very helpful for quick support. And, when compared to the advice with recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), I'm feeling much better about how to handle the risks this summer. Here's what I'm actually doing.

1. Washing all produce

I've always washed my produce, but I wasn't sure if I was doing it right. I was only using running water. To my suprise, both ChatGPT and the CDC say that water is enough and even suggest not using soaps or commercial products as there is no evidence those are more effective than cool running water.

And while that's good advice, it did come with an important caveat. According to the CDC, washing produce is recommended as part of safe food handling, but it may not completely remove Cyclospora. The parasite can be difficult to eliminate once produce is contaminated.

You can read the CDC's food safety recommendations here: CDC: Preventing Cyclosporiasis

I'm still rinsing every salad ingredient, but I'm no longer assuming that washing alone makes everything risk-free. It's a good start.

2. I'm paying much closer attention to outbreak updates

Normally, I don't think twice about grabbing a bagged salad. But now, I do and I check whether health officials have identified specific products or recalls before filling my cart.

The investigation is still ongoing, and officials have not confirmed a single supplier or produce item responsible for the outbreak. But for the time being, I'm going to ask ChatGPT for cooked veggie recipes as I meal plan with AI.

3. I'm peeling produce whenever it makes sense

ChatGPT suggested peeling fruits and vegetables whenever possible. The CDC also recommends peeling produce when practical because it removes the outer surface where contamination could be present. Of course, that's not an option for lettuce or cabbage, but it is for foods like cucumbers and carrots. I've also been peeling apples when I slice them up for my kids.

It's a little extra work, but it's worth it to keep everyone safe from a nasty outbreak.

4. I'm cooking more vegetables than usual

As mentioned, despite it being the "dog days of summer" with 100 degree heat here in the states, I'm not taking any chances and cooking veggies. That means switching up my lunch which is almost always a salad.

While health officials haven't told people to stop eating produce altogether, I've been swapping some raw vegetables for cooked ones when possible. Heating food to at least 158°F (70°C) kills Cyclospora.

I'm not giving up salads completely — but I'm definitely mixing in more cooked vegetables this summer. ChatGPT even gave me a recipe for a really delicious summer salad that is big enough to last several days.

5. I'm not trying viral 'food hacks'

There are so many food hacks on TikTok and Instgram because of the outbreak. From soaking produce in vinegar to using bleach, social-media is full of cleaning tricks. I tried the vinegar hack on mushrooms and instantly regretted it. I'm not doing any of those hacks anymore and am sticking close to ChatGPT and the news for the best advice.

The CDC and ChatGPT say vinegar, freezing and many popular internet hacks don't reliably kill Cyclospora.

Instead, I'm sticking with basic food safety practices and eating at home instead of eating meals out.

My takeaway

I was pleasantly surprised by ChatGPT's answers. Most of its recommendations lined up with current CDC guidance. And since it's available 24/7, I know I can always ask it to fact-check viral hacks and news reports.

For me, the biggest takeaway wasn't to stop eating salads but rather to be a little more cautious while health officials continue investigating the outbreak. Doing my due diligence to wash produce, keep an eye on recalls and outbreak updates, cook vegetables when it makes sense and skip internet "miracle" cleaning hacks will hopefully keep me healthy and out of the bathroom.

As someone who eats salad almost every day, that's advice I'm comfortable following until investigators know exactly what's behind this summer's outbrea

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When most AI companies need more computing power, they buy more Nvidia chips. But according to federal regulatory filings, Musk has acquired mobile power plant specialist APR Energy in a deal valued at roughly $1 billion.

On the surface, purchasing a fleet of gas and diesel turbines seems like an unusual move for an AI pioneer. But it highlights a growing reality of the AI race: finding enough electricity is becoming just as important as finding enough GPUs.

As companies build larger AI models and serve millions of users, the biggest bottleneck has become securing the power needed to keep them running.

Why an AI company needs an energy company

Training and running popular AI models like Grok requires astronomical amounts of electricity. Every prompt you type into an AI chatbot is processed by thousands of GPUs humming inside massive data centers. Those chips consume massive amounts of power and generate enough heat that they require extensive, energy-intensive cooling systems.

For years, the conversation has centered on Nvidia's GPUs because they are the engines that perform AI calculations. Increasingly, however, the bottleneck is the grid itself.

That is where APR Energy comes in. The company promises rapidly deployable, modular power plants built around mobile gas and diesel turbines. For Musk, that means two important things:

• Speed factor: Instead of waiting years for local utilities to build new grid infrastructure, organizations can bring in APR's trailer-mounted turbines to get generating capacity online in weeks rather than years.
• Strategic leverage: For an AI company racing to expand its data center footprint, bypassing grid delays can save months, if not years, of valuable time.

Why waiting for the grid isn't an option

Building a physical data center is only half the battle. In many parts of the United States, obtaining enough electrical capacity from local utilities can take years because regional grids are already straining under existing industrial and consumer demands.

This bottleneck has forced major technology companies to look for alternatives:

Some are investing in nuclear energy to secure long-term, carbon-free baseload power. Others are signing massive renewable energy power purchase agreements (PPAs). Some, like Musk, are taking matters into their own hands by building dedicated natural gas generation to keep new supercomputing clusters online.

xAI has already relied on natural gas turbines to help power its rapidly expanding Colossus AI supercomputer campus in Memphis. Purchasing APR Energy outright suggests Musk wants total, vertical control over his energy supply chain to fuel rapid scaling.

The ultimate irony: 'King of Electric' turns to gas

This massive energy play highlights a fascinating, head-scratching contradiction in Musk's empire. For nearly two decades, Musk’s entire brand has been built on accelerating the world’s transition to sustainable energy. He wrote "Master Plans" about a global solar electric economy, built massive Tesla Gigafactories, and promoted heavy-duty battery storage as the ultimate grid solution.

Yet, when the AI arms race demanded immediate, immense power to train Grok, the timeline for building solar farms and battery storage was simply too slow. To keep pace, Musk bypassed the clean grid entirely, turning instead to heavy fossil-fuel infrastructure.

Escalating public scrutiny

This acquisition comes as Musk's energy strategy is already drawing intense public and regulatory blowback.

The Colossus data center in Memphis has faced complaints from environmental groups and local residents over its heavy use of natural gas turbines. Critics, represented by groups like the Southern Environmental Law Center, argue the turbines contribute to local air pollution and initially bypassed standard municipal permitting.

While xAI has worked to navigate these regulatory challenges, the environmental impact of powering AI with fossil fuels remains a major point of contention. Buying APR Energy doesn't erase these concerns; rather, it underscores that xAI views dedicated, on-site power generation as a permanent strategic pillar rather than a temporary stopgap.

What this means for Grok users

If you use Grok today, this acquisition won't change the chatbot's immediate interface or features. Instead, this is about fueling the future. As AI models transition from simple chat assistants to advanced "reasoning" models, they spend longer thinking through complex multi-step tasks. This increased processing time translates directly to exponential surges in power demand.

By securing a captive supply of rapid-deployment generators, Musk ensures that xAI can bring more GPUs online and scale its infrastructure without being held back by the pace of local utility companies.

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You might be shocked to hear this, but Google Images has been around for 25 years.

Ever since it debuted on July 12, 2001, everyone has used the free online service to look up and download all manner of images. It’s funny when you think about why it came into existence in the first place: Google Images was created in response to the viral demand for the iconic green Versace dress that Jennifer Lopez wore at the 2000 Grammy Awards. The online service started with an offering of about 250 million images—that number has now reached into the billions.

In celebration of Google Images’ 25th anniversary, the service is getting two major upgrades. One of them will revamp its signature user interface and the other will allow users to create their own images for free with a simple Google Search prompt.

Here’s how that second upcoming feature will work.

Easy AI image generation with Google Search

In an official blog post released by Google, the tech giant noted that its upcoming AI image generation feature comes from them recognizing that sometimes the perfect image for its users may not exist. With that sentiment in mind, it wanted to give those same users the ability to produce the type of image they're looking for with the assistance of Google Search.

Simply typing in a prompt in the search bar will result in your AI image getting generated directly in the AI Overviews section. This upcoming feature will be powered by the latest Nana Banana model, Nano Banana 2 Lite. AI image generation in AI Overviews will begin rolling out in the coming weeks in English across all the regions that currently support image generation in AI Mode.

In anticipation of that Google Search update, I came up with 10 creative prompts that could be fun to use to see if its AI image generator works as well as it’s advertised:

• Create a thriller movie poster about a human detective who knows tomorrow's headlines.
• Create a visual of Egyptian pyramids being built with futuristic machinery.
• Create a visual of the ultimate breakfast sandwich.
• Create a visual of a LEGO-designed luxury apartment.
• Create a visual of an abandoned mall that has been transformed into a luxury destination.
• Create a visual of what the iPhone 25 design could look like.
• Create a minimalist cyberpunk wallpaper in shades of blue with glowing geometric shapes.
• Create a visual of a city where every building represents a different emotion.
• Create a visual of a realistic travel destination that doesn't actually exist.
• Create a visual of retro synthwave mountains at sunset.

The future makeover coming to Google Images will make the page look more dynamic by having all its displayed images get updated in real time according to your interests. And after saving any of those images within your collections, those collections will now appear as tabs above the main gallery.

Now you’ll have a much easier way to switch between your ongoing image search and your personal batch of saved images. You can look forward to seeing this Google Images user interface makeover for yourself once it rolls out over the coming weeks for desktop users in the US in English.

The takeaway

I’ll be excited to see how good the AI image generator housed within Google Search really is once it finally releases. Playing around with prompts aimed at producing the most eye-popping images possible sounds like a fun experiment I can’t wait to sink a few hours into. And just to celebrate its arrival the right way, I’ll be sure to generate an image of Jennifer Lopez wearing her famous Versace dress in an assortment of different colors. It’s only right, considering Google Images owes its creation to the overwhelming need to see the superstar in her signature dress all those years ago.

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• 'A lot of people will genuinely hate and resent AI': I spoke to the founder of AI Appreciation Day to figure out what we should be celebrating

I’ll be honest from the get-go: I think the idea of an AI Appreciation Day is ridiculous. As a skeptic who has watched public opinion rapidly curdle on this tech, dedicating a day to it feels like one of those made-up corporate marketing stunts — right up there with National Underwear Day.

But while I have heavy opinions on the AI hype train, I am always willing to step into the ring with the other side. And who better to hash out my biggest criticisms with than Nathan Ricks, the literal founder of the holiday?

If you’ve read my recent reporting, you know exactly where I stand. We are watching a massive AI bubble obliterate sensible gadget prices, drain local power grids, and threaten jobs, all while giving us a firehose of internet "slop" in return.

I wanted to know if it is actually possible to appreciate AI right now, so I sat down with Ricks to find out. Let’s get into it.

Editor's note: This interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.

We have days like National Pizza Day and National Talk Like a Pirate Day, which are fun. But AI is already the most aggressively hyped, over-discussed topic on the planet right now. Why does it need its own official holiday?

“I think it's very easy for it to just get caught up in the day-to-day. AI just is infused in so many aspects of our lives. It is becoming for many people just increasingly normalized. And I think it's important to take a step back and really reflect about our relationship to artificial intelligence as humans.

If I was to rename the day, I don't even know if I would call it AI appreciation day. I’d call it AI reflection day. I think it's time to really step back and ask ourselves critical questions, analyze our relationship to AI, how we're using it in our lives, and I think that's just going to be an increasingly important thing that us humans need to do as we develop our relationships with AI.”

The phrase of the year is 'AI slop.' Finding a real, human answer online right now feels like digging through a landfill of AI generated garbage. How do you ask people to appreciate a technology that in the eyes of many people is actively degrading the the internet?

"I don't know if I have a good answer for that, honestly. That's not the area that I would hope personally for AI to be used in terms of the creation of thoughts and words and important pieces of information on the internet and and including art and images.

I think overall, I haven't seen that much of a net benefit to society and probably maybe a net negative in that regard. I would say that is not the way that AI, especially in enterprises and businesses, is primarily getting used. But I get for most people, how they interact with AI is they see slop articles, slop images, slop videos, and we're just going to have to figure out where we actually want [AI] to be.

I think people will turn against those things, we'll show our preferences and the people who are putting it out there will adjust, to hopefully create stuff that is much more human. [Companies] will figure it out, but I think most consumers only see one side of AI and that slop side of AI, when in reality there's a lot of different ways AI is getting used for benefit.”

You are asking people to celebrate something that half the workforce is terrified will replace them. How do you pitch 'AI Appreciation Day' to a freelance illustrator or a junior coder without them getting anxious?

“So my original goal with AI appreciation day and the domain was to promote this idea of humans treating AI humanely, because they could very well soon be having conscious experiences like you and me. And if we aren't careful, we could be causing potential suffering at a large scale by not treating these things humanely.

The more I've gone over time and being a practitioner of AI myself — I have my own startup today that is building in the AI space — I'm less of the opinion that AI is going to become conscious as I've interacted with these systems.

It's possible that it will, but I think the majority of systems won't be in that camp. Um, so for me it's shifted more towards just AI reflection — going introspective and analyzing how we use AI, how humans relate to AI, and what it means for society and asking the bigger questions.”

You say you’re unsure whether AI is going to become conscious. Do you think that’s a change of business goals, or a reaction to humans not wanting consciousness?

“If I go back to when I bought the domain in 2023, I would have assumed that the majority of people's concerns would be that AI is going to become conscious. It's going to become super intelligent, it's going to form goals and intentions of its own that will be nefarious, malicious, and bad for society.

That would be my personal sentiment and that's what I would guess the majority of society's sentiment was maybe in 2023 when this stuff was coming up. I think the majority of people aren't really thinking about AI becoming conscious.

I think some people are still concerned about the malicious potential malicious nature of artificial intelligence. But I think more people are concerned about their employment and what it means to be human in an age of AI, and how we find meaning as humans in this new paradigm.”

The sheer volume of money being pumped into AI feels very detached from the reality of the revenue they make. How does an average person see AI as this foundational shift in human history, and not just some giant Silicon Valley casino?

“I think there is a bit of a casino aspect going on, but I think it is a real fundamental technology shift that is going to have a positive impact on the world. I think in the short term a lot of people will genuinely hate and resent AI, and I think that's going to increase in the coming years. I think the skepticism and the hate is okay, and probably well justified in many instances.

I could go all day about where maybe there's too much investment in the space where there's too many dollars pouring in, where we're maybe moving too fast and where we should be slowing down.

But I do feel in general that this is a fundamental technology that will hopefully really shift humans into their prime form — in the sense that I really do see at least the way that we're applying AI today uh in my startup is taking away the mundane aspects of people works that they genuinely do not enjoy.

And I think over time that's just going to continue to accelerate, and humans are just going to feel more humanly. I do plenty of things and I've throughout my career done plenty of things where I felt like a boss. I felt like a cog in the wheel or cog in the machine.

I'm hoping that our artificial intelligence will put humans in a position where they will not feel like bots, that they will feel more and more human by doing more and more human related work where that is the thing that they are valued for.

And I think there's a really big opportunity for the whole economy to expand because of how much mundane work can be taken over by artificial intelligence. I think the next 10 years will be pretty painful, and it’ll stress society in a lot of important and painful ways.

But I think humans will reflect back and I don't know exactly how long, but we'll really be like, "Wow, okay, this really did help get us into our best forms." Similar to how I think the industrial revolution did in a lot of ways.”

We are seeing a massive rise in ‘AI brain fog’ — my Mom uses Gemini to rewrite emails and I’m using Conversate to listen to my wife talking late at night on the phone. Are we actually reflecting on AI, or are we just reflecting on our own intellectual decline?

“Personally, my reflection is “is AI enhancing my life?” Is it making me more human or less human? And if it's taking away your cognitive abilities and your executive function of your prefrontal cortex, then yes — I think that's an instance where it's like making you less human. And that's a time to reflect, recognize and adjust.

That's why I think it's important to have a day. I feel people should do this every month, maybe even every week soon enough — to really reflect where am I using it, am I using it well and is it making me more human or not?

Personally, I have tried to make a policy for myself where I want to create as much as I am consuming. So if I'm consuming knowledge or social media, I want to spend as much time creating.

For me, that includes playing chess, reading a little bit more and writing down thoughts. I'm not just having AI do work for me, so I really am trying to have an equal amount of time spent on consumption versus production — looking at the balance of how much I'm using my brain in the mix of all those things.”

So with this interesting backdrop to AI right now (as well as the rising cost of consumer tech and the environmental impact), shoot me your best shot. What is the single most undeniable inherently good thing AI has achieved in 2026 that would prove mine and anybody else's skepticism wrong and justifies giving it a holiday?

“I know I can think of things in 2025 and 2024. But 2026? I should actually go and find some. I personally think the work that Google Deepmind is doing in applying it towards medicine and life sciences is undeniably good and will accelerate the treatment of rare diseases and the things that really afflict society.

I hope there's just more and more attention given to those types of things that will benefit all of humanity versus the AI slop. Most people in society see the AI slop, but on the other side of the spectrum, there is some really valuable work that is being done in life sciences.”

The final word: do we actually need a parade?

By the end of our talk together, Ricks had deployed a lot of the standard Silicon Valley gospel that I hear. He argued that AI is freeing us from mundane back-office work, that we need to build empathy with these systems, and that treating AI well now will dictate the future of our species.

That being said, there was a lot more shared ground than I expected. Especially hearing him talking about what we're seeing being a "net negative," and that the next 10 years will be "painful" is alarming.

If AI actually functioned the way people claim it does, I’d be the first one in line to buy the greeting cards. But a utopian vision doesn’t pay for the $100+ “AI tax” currently baked into my next smartphone or laptop. This philosophical argument about the future of the species doesn’t filter the generative slop out of my search results, and it certainly doesn’t refill the local reservoirs being drained to cool down servers.

This day is one for us to pause and reflect on the most consequential technology in human history. And you know what? I do appreciate it. I appreciate the medical breakthroughs, the accessibility features, and the sheer computation of it all.

But I also appreciate my wallet. I appreciate being able to read an article written by a human. I appreciate not having to pay a $20-a-month subscription just to stop a pair of smart glasses from wiretapping my living room.

So, will I be celebrating AI Appreciation Day? Probably not, and after quick a challenging year for this tech, it doesn’t sound like Nathan’s putting up the bunting either. We don't need to throw a parade for the algorithms; we just need them to start working as promised, without breaking the internet (and our bank accounts) in the process.

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Hopping on a plane, getting whisked off to a place other than home and enjoying a weeks-long stay somewhere nice & sunny is my ideal vacation. You’ll never convince me to pack my warmest coat for a trip to Antarctica—shivering to just death isn’t my idea of fun.

Now that the summer is starting to wind down, I’ve made a few attempts at preparing myself for an ideal getaway. ChatGPT, Gemini and Claude have played a huge role in setting up my summer vacation and even a staycation that will take me to the hidden corners and underrated hangouts I never knew about in New York City. Thanks to the combined efforts of those chatbots, I’ve created the best itineraries and mapped out the top hotspots for my future trips.

Now that August is approaching (a little too fast for my taste, I might add), I’ve been having dreams of screaming my head off while sitting in the front of a roller coaster and proceeding to stuff my face with overpriced cotton candy. I’m a simple man, which is why theme park thrills please me greatly.

Not only did I discover five ChatGPT prompts that helped me schedule the perfect vacation with those activities in mind, but I also found four other prompts that work equally well in planning my vacays.

The prompt that built a theme park excursion for me

With my sights set on setting foot in a warm state for a five-day escape from NYC, I used this ChatGPT prompt to set me up for the best trip possible:

Act as a professional travel advisor, airline pricing analyst, and local guide.

Help me plan the best possible summer trip in Orlando, Florida, based on my budget, interests, available vacation days, and departure airport. Recommend destinations, the best time to visit, how to avoid crowds, estimated costs, hidden gems, common tourist mistakes, and a realistic day-by-day itinerary.

Prioritize value over luxury and explain why each recommendation is worth considering.

Here's my budget, interests, available vacation days, and departure airport:

Budget: $2000

Interests: Theme parks, arcades, and museums

Available vacation days: August 17 to August 21

Departure airport: John F. Kennedy International Airport

ChatGPT then went into full “fun summer getaway planner” mode and laid out everything for me to follow with ease. First, it generated a budget breakdown that came out to a total of $1660 to $1950 and mentioned how my budget leaves a small amount for a few souvenir pickups or unexpected expenses.

Then the chatbot went on to detail the best departure days from both NY and Florida, plus the airlines I should consider when planning my flight in and out of Orlando. As for where I should stay, ChatGPT landed on International Drive (I-Drive) as the perfect sweet spot since it’s close to Universal Studios, has plenty of restaurants in the area, is close to a few arcades, has plenty of transportation options to consider and has lower hotel prices than the ones featured on Disney resorts.

Since I mentioned theme parks being a love of mine, my digital vacay planner set aside whole days for visits to Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure and Epic Universe. With ChatGPT’s recommendation of getting a 3-day ticket for all three parks and a few mentions of each park’s best attractions, I had the right idea for how to bask in my theme park hobby in Orlando.

From that point forward, the chatbot gave me the heads up about nearby arcades (Arcade Monsters and the Player 1 Video Game Bar piqued my interest), museums (looks like I have to spend the day at the Orlando Science Center) and hidden gems (Lake Eola Park sounds like a cool destination for me to check out).

With ChatGPT’s added counsel, such as common Orlando tourist mistakes I should avoid, the best times to beat large crowds at the theme parks, a working itinerary, money-saving tips and an overall recommendation for what I should do, I left my latest ChatGPT session with a solid plan in mind for my stay in Orlando.

Four other prompts that are perfect for setting up summer getaways

With these four other ChatGPT-generated prompts, I’ll have no issue planning future trips for my domestic and international stays. I’m sure that’ll apply to you if you end up testing them out for yourself:

• The "Travel Like a Local" Prompt: Act as a resident who's lived in my destination for 20 years. Ignore the obvious tourist attractions unless they're genuinely worth it. Instead, recommend restaurants, neighborhoods, beaches, parks, viewpoints, coffee shops, events, and experiences locals actually enjoy during the summer. Tell me what tourists usually waste time on and what they should do instead.
• The Money-Saving Expert Prompt: Become my travel budget coach. Find every realistic way I can save money on a summer vacation without making the trip less enjoyable. Cover flights, hotels, vacation rentals, transportation, food, attractions, travel insurance, packing, airport tricks, loyalty programs, credit card rewards, and timing strategies. Rank each tip by how much money it could realistically save.
• The Summer Vacation Optimizer Prompt: Help me maximize every day of my summer vacation. Build the ideal itinerary that balances sightseeing, relaxation, food, nightlife, outdoor activities, and downtime. Schedule activities around weather, crowds, opening hours, and local events. Include backup plans for rain, extreme heat, or unexpected closures.
• The Family & Group Trip Planner Prompt: Help me plan a summer trip for multiple people with different interests, budgets, and energy levels. Create an itinerary everyone will enjoy, recommend activities for different age groups, identify potential conflicts before they happen, suggest ways to split costs fairly, and include contingency plans if the weather changes or someone wants to do something different.

Final thoughts

With ChatGPT’s roleplaying assistance and additional travel-planning plugins (Expedia, Road Trip Planner and Travel 101: Trip Itineraries are just a few of the many from that massive library), it’s so easy to get all the info you need for your next getaway.

Of course, doing some proper research outside of the chatbot to make sure your vacation plans come together nicely is key — some digital assistance and your own desired destination study sessions will set you on your way to someplace delightful before the summer season ends.

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I still remember the advertisements when the Apple App store first rolled out. In between segments on 60 Minutes or the drama on Prison Break, the commercials would convince viewers that anything you needed, "there's an app for that."

Now, when I need an app that doesn't suit me, I just create one myself. I'm definitely not skilled in programming languages like Python or Java, I just know how to vibe code. And here's the thing, you can, too!

Today's AI chatbots can create simple apps from a description written in plain English. The process, often called "AI-powered coding" or "vibe coding," lets you explain what you want while the AI writes the code behind the scenes.

You don't have to become a programmer. You just need an idea. So, whether you're trying to better organize your finances or keep track of medications, here are five genuinely useful app ideas to get you started. Just open Claude, Gemini or ChatGPT and enter the following prompts. I prefer Claude for coding, so all of these examples have been made using it.

1. Build a medication tracker that actually fits your routine

Most reminder apps are designed for everyone. AI can build one that's designed for you. Maybe you take prescriptions at different times each day, need refill reminders, or want to track side effects. Instead of forcing yourself into someone else's system, you can create one that matches your schedule.

This app is fairly simple. But it works right in the platform and it's something you can go to several times a day depending on your medication regimen. You could also create something that reminds you to drink water, eat meals or exercise. Just be sure to follow your doctor's recommendations. AI is not a substitute for a human doctor.

Prompt: Build me a clean, easy-to-use medication tracker that runs in a web browser. I want to add medications, dosage amounts, times of day, refill dates and optional notes. Include reminders that highlight medications due today, a refill countdown, and a printable summary. Make the interface simple with large buttons and easy-to-read text.

2. Create a home inventory before you need it

If you've ever had to file an insurance claim, you know how difficult it can be to remember everything you own. A custom inventory app lets you photograph items, record serial numbers, upload receipts and search everything in one place. It's also great for moving homes or downsizing.

This app breaks the inventory down by room, which is great for staying organized. You could tweak this prompt to work for organizing one room at a time or even certain aspects of a room such as books and CDs or DVDs.

Prompt: Create a home inventory web app. I want categories for each room, the ability to upload photos, record purchase dates, estimated values, serial numbers and warranty information. Include search, printable reports and an export option. Make it simple enough that anyone can use it.

3. Build a retirement budget planner

I am not a spreadsheet person. I find them extremely useful, but building them feels like busy work. And while generic spreadsheets can be useful, most of them barely match my own financial situation.

That's why I prefer turning to AI to stay organized. Claude or ChatGPT can create a calculator that reflects your income, expenses, pensions, Social Security estimates or travel plans.

Just as AI is not a substitute for a human doctor, it's also not a real financial advisor. This app should be used as a guide and not as the real deal.

Prompt: Build a retirement planning dashboard. Let me enter monthly income, fixed expenses, discretionary spending, savings goals and investment balances. Show charts that estimate how long my savings may last under different spending scenarios. Use clear graphs and plain language instead of financial jargon.

4. Turn family recipes into your own searchable cookbook

Recipe apps are full of advertisements and random suggestions. Sometimes I have to read four paragraphs before the recipe even appears! Plus, with so many of my grandmother's recipes, I chose to build an app that offers me only my family's favorites.
I love this one because it makes adding recipes from friends and neighbors easy.

Prompt: Create a digital cookbook where I can add recipes, upload photos, organize recipes into categories, search by ingredient and generate a shopping list. Include family notes, cooking tips and preparation times. Design it with large text and an uncluttered layout.

5. Create a travel planner for your next vacation

Planning a trip usually means juggling confirmation emails, reservations, maps and packing lists. And if you've used ChatGPT to book flights or plan your stay, you might want to create an app that combines everything into one personalized travel dashboard.

It's easier to stay on budget and remember specific travel details when everything is kept in one place. This app does just that.

Prompt: Build a travel planning app where I can organize flights, hotels, rental cars, daily itineraries, restaurant reservations, packing lists, budgets and emergency contact information. Include a countdown to departure and a printable itinerary. Make it mobile-friendly.

Final thoughts

I cannot say this enough: I am not a coder. All of the apps you see here were built with Claude. But ChatGPT or Gemini work just as well. It really comes down to your preference or subscription. Just paste one of the prompts above and continue the conversation naturally.

You can add preferences such as "Make the buttons bigger" or "Make the colors neutral shades." Whatever you want, simply tell the chatbot.

Just think of AI as a contractor rather than a search engine. The first version rarely needs to be perfect, you simply tell it what you'd like to change until it matches your vision.

For many people over 50, AI is so much more than a helpful writing tool or answer-machine. It's useful because it removes one of the biggest barriers to creating software.

You no longer have to know how to code to build something that solves a problem in your own life. If you can describe what you want in plain English, today's AI tools can often build a working first version in minutes.

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I've written before about how my inbox stresses me out. At the same time, I'm a newsletter junkie and subscribe to so many that I never have time to them all. From AI news and tech analysis to other topics I care about like parenting and wellness, I simply can't read them as fast as they pile up.

That's why I eventually had hundreds of unread newsletters sitting in my inbox. I wasn't ready to unsubscribe because the content was genuinely useful. I just didn't have time to read all of it.

That's when I decided to give the job to Claude. Using Claude's email connector and scheduled tasks, I created a morning briefing that automatically scans my newsletters, pulls out the biggest stories and delivers a short digest before I start work. Now, instead of spending an hour bouncing between emails, I can catch up in just a few minutes and dive into the full newsletters only when something deserves a closer look.

The entire setup took less than five minutes. Here's how to do it.

What you'll need

Before getting started, make sure you have the Claude desktop app as well as a Claude plan that supports email connectors and scheduled tasks. The most affordable one is Claude Pro, which is $20/month.

You'll also need a Gmail or Microsoft 365 account. Once that's ready, here's how to build your own daily briefing.

• Step 1. Connect your email. Open Claude and head to Settings > Connectors. Enable your preferred email provider, then authorize Claude to read your inbox. Claude only accesses the mailbox you've connected and you'll be asked to grant permission during setup.
• Step 2. Create a scheduled task. Start a new conversation with Claude. Ask it to create a recurring task, for example: "Create a recurring task that runs every weekday at 7:30 a.m. and prepares my morning newsletter briefing." Claude will guide you through creating the automation.
• Step 3. Allow background access. If you want the digest waiting for you each morning, make sure the email connector is allowed to run without asking for approval every time. Depending on your Claude settings, this may appear as Always Allow for the connected email service.
• Step 4. Give Claude clear instructions. Rather than simply asking Claude to summarize your inbox, give it specific rules about what to read, what to ignore and how to organize the results.

The exact prompt I use

Here's the prompt I use: You are my personal editor. Every morning, review emails received during the previous 24 hours. Identify newsletters, editorial digests, recurring publications and Substack emails. Ignore receipts, promotions, shipping notifications, personal email and calendar invites. Read the full contents of each newsletter instead of relying on preview text. Combine overlapping coverage from multiple newsletters into a single summary. Select the five stories that matter most. Present everything as a clean markdown briefing that takes less than three minutes to read. Link to the original article or newsletter when available.

Why I think it's worth setting up

What's great about this system is that it only takes a few minutes to set up and every morning Claude delivers a concise digest highlighting the stories that appeared across my newsletters overnight.

Instead of scrolling through dozens of emails, I get a single briefing that tells me what happened, why it's important and where to read more if I want additional context. The biggest difference I've seen is that it actually has encouraged me to read more newsletters. The quick preview from Claude and the link the AI provides, allows me to go directly to the information far faster than I ever would have.

Now only that, but it has dramatically reduced the number of unread newsletters sitting in my inbox, and I no longer feel guilty about subscribing to publications I genuinely enjoy.

The takeaway

If your inbox is overflowing with newsletters, I reccomend giving this a try. It doesn't replace real human writers, it actually puts them in front of you because it gives newsletters a fighting chance of getting your attention.

For me, the biggest benefit is about saving time. I still read the newsletters that really matter and I get a great rotation every morning. I just don't spend my morning sifting through them to determine which ones are worth my attention.

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Spotify has its fair share of AI-powered features that make its mobile app even more of a destination for audiophiles and folks who just want to liven up their daily drives.

The list of AI tools that have become a part of the Spotify ecosystem thus far includes the AI DJ (a personalized voice guide that’s part music curator and commentator who drops info tidbits about the tracks you listen to), AI Playlist (a tool that lets you build playlists with text and emoji prompts) and Daylist (an updating playlist that automatically switches up the musical vibes depending on the time of day and your listening habits).

Alongside those features are the ability for Spotify users to use a voice translation tool that changes the original voice of a podcaster to different languages while maintaining their voice tone and style, AI remixes that let users produce their own AI-generated remixes of participating artists’ tracks and AI-generated personal podcasts that are created by user prompts.

Now Spotify has added a new AI assistant that lets users speak directly to the app to broaden their music horizons even more. Try out these prompts to get the best out of its music-fueled capabilities and also make use of Spotify’s other recommended prompts during your podcast and audiobook listening experiences.

Prompts that’ll broaden your musical horizon

Spotify’s newly revealed AI assistant is available to eligible Premium subscribers, who can use it in the “Home” and “Now Playing” tabs in the mobile app. Currently, the feature is only available in English in the U.S., Ireland and Sweden on iOS and Android devices for users aged 18 and above. An official blog post commemorating this new AI feature provided users with some starter prompts, such as “save this song,” “add this to my queue” and “follow this artist.”

Some other suggestions Spotify gave to users for its new mobile AI assistant include turning it into your digital music conversationalist. Asking the app to “play some artists I haven’t heard before” and following that request up by asking it for something more upbeat, narrowing a newly discovered artist’s track selection to their most recent releases and giving it even more specific directions work like a charm.

Thanks to the assistance of ChatGPT, I generated even more useful prompts that you can say to or type into Spotify that’ll produce the best results possible during your daily app listening sessions:

• Discover artists you haven't heard before: Play five artists similar to [artist name] that have fewer than 500,000 monthly listeners.
• Mix unexpected genres: Blend 90s hip-hop, indie rock, and synthwave into one playlist that somehow works.
• Rediscover forgotten favorites: Play songs I used to listen to a lot three or four years ago.
• Explore another country's music scene: Introduce me to the biggest indie artists in [name of country] right now.
• Skip the obvious hits: Play deep cuts from [artist name] that aren't her biggest singles.
• Match the weather: It's raining outside. Play music that matches the weather without being depressing.
• Find tomorrow's stars: Play emerging artists that music critics think could become mainstream soon.

The takeaway

Spotify is continuing to give its users even more clever uses of its app through plenty of implementations of AI. With the app’s new AI assistant feature in tow, you’ll be able to voice your commands or type them out if you’re looking for artists you’ve never heard of before, finding new songs from a variety of musicians, learning more about your listening habits and more.

Using Spotify’s starter prompts and the prompts we generated with the help of ChatGPT should push you to expand your music know-how, deepen your playlists, discover new info about your preferred audiobooks, get transported to specific sections of your favorite podcasts and so much more.

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AI had gotten so much better at reasoning and simply handling our questions. But, what's much harder is solving a problem where every answer depends on dozens of other answers — and a single mistake can throw off the entire solution.

That's why a new demonstration of OpenAI's GPT-5.6 Sol Pro caught my attention this week. AI researcher Riley Goodside shared what looks like one of the most unusual reasoning tests I've seen: an empty crossword puzzle created by Claude Fable 5 Max, containing the first 150 Pokemon. But the catch is that ChatGPT wasn't given a single numbered clue.

Instead, it had to fill in the entire crossword by reasoning from the intersecting letters and the overall structure of the puzzle alone.

Why this is more impressive than it sounds

At first glance, it looks like a fun Pokemon challenge. But when we look closer, it's much closer to highlighting the kids of problems AI actually faces in the real world.

While traditional crosswords are solved one clue at a time this puzzle works differently. Without individual clues, GPT-5.6 Sol Pro had to determine where every Pokemon belonged while ensuring every crossing remained consistent. One incorrect placement could force dozens of downstream corrections. This was a massive constraint-satisfaction problem.

Those are exactly the kinds of challenges AI agents encounter when they're debugging software, planning workflows, coordinating multiple tools or editing large codebases.

Why Pokémon actually makes this harder

The Pokemon names are perfect for this experiment. Many have unusual spellings, similar letter patterns and varying lengths. The model has to retrieve them accurately from memory while simultaneously checking that every intersecting word still works.

It's a bit like solving a Sudoku where every number is replaced with a different word. The difficulty lies in making all of them fit together without breaking the puzzle.

What this says about AI reasoning

One of the biggest differences between today's frontier AI models and the chatbots of just a few years ago is their ability to reason across many interconnected constraints.

Instead of producing a quick response, newer reasoning models can spend more time exploring possibilities, backtracking when necessary and verifying that the final answer is internally consistent.

OpenAI has positioned GPT-5.6 Sol Pro as its most capable model for difficult, long-running reasoning tasks, and demonstrations like this highlight exactly where those improvements begin to matter.

It's worth remembering that this is still a developer demonstration and not a formal benchmark. Without the full prompt, the puzzle itself and repeated independent testing, it's impossible to know how reliably the model can reproduce this result. Still, I think the demo is interesting for a different reason.

Most AI benchmarks are difficult to visualize because scores on coding tests or math exams don't always mean much to everyday users, but a crossword puzzle helps emphasize the AI's abilities.

Final thoughts

Anyone can immediately understand why filling an entire grid without individual clues is difficult. Keeping hundreds of intersecting constraints consistent requires a very different kind of reasoning than simply answering a question.

Whether you're a Pokemon fan or not, this is one of those AI demos that makes the latest generation of reasoning models feel noticeably different from what came before.

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