For over two thousand years, scientists were baffled by where billions of birds disappeared to each year—until African arrows found in European storks proved they were traveling thousands of miles back and forth across the planet. Modern technology like GPS tracking devices and data networks now let researchers watch bird journeys almost in real time, revealing migration routes and helping scientists understand why some species are struggling and others thriving. You can support bird conservation by protecting local wetlands and green spaces, or by checking websites like eBird where citizen scientists report bird sightings that help researchers track population changes.
OpenAI's ChatGPT extension for Chrome can now look at the web pages you have open in different tabs and use that information to help you with tasks like comparing prices, summarizing content, or answering questions about what you're reading. This is handy if you're researching something across several websites—instead of copying and pasting information back and forth, you can ask ChatGPT to pull together what it sees and do the work for you. You can try this by installing the ChatGPT extension from Chrome's web store, opening a few related tabs, and asking ChatGPT a question about the content across those pages.
Google has built a smarter search tool for Gmail that understands what you're actually looking for, rather than just matching exact words—it's now available to people who pay for Google's AI subscription service. If you get dozens of emails a day and struggle to find that one message about your doctor's appointment or your grandchild's school event, this could save you real time and frustration. Worth knowing: you'll need to pay for a Google AI subscription (called Gemini Advanced) to use this feature, so check if the cost makes sense for how much you use email.
Withings, a company that makes health-tracking devices like smart scales and watches, now wants new customers to pay $100 per year if they want their health data to sync automatically with Apple's Health app. For older adults who use both Withings devices and Apple products, this means an extra subscription cost just to keep everything connected—something that used to be free. Worth knowing: if you're considering a Withings device, ask whether you're a new or existing customer, since this fee only applies to people signing up for the first time.
OpenAI has updated its ChatGPT tool so it can now look at the webpages you currently have open in your Chrome browser, letting you ask it questions about those pages without copying and pasting content back and forth. This means you could ask ChatGPT to compare information across multiple websites or help you summarize what you're reading—handy if you're researching something like comparing prices or reading several news stories on the same topic. Worth knowing: if you use the ChatGPT Chrome extension, you'll need to give it permission to see your open tabs, so check your privacy settings if you'd rather keep your browsing private.
E Ink has created a new type of screen that shows colors more naturally and updates faster than older e-readers, making them feel more like reading a real printed book. If you enjoy reading e-books but have been frustrated by dull colors or slow page-turning, this technology could finally make color e-readers worth considering. Worth knowing: when shopping for your next e-reader, look for models using the newest E Ink technology, as they'll give you a noticeably better reading experience than older versions.
Amazon's new Alexa Tablet 12 Pro is a large, capable tablet that costs less than iPad equivalents while doing most of the same tasks well. If you enjoy reading, watching shows, video calling with family, or using Alexa voice commands, this device gives you plenty of screen real estate without breaking the bank. Worth knowing: while the tablet itself is solid, some apps designed for phones don't display beautifully on the larger screen, so test it in a store first if that matters to you.
Some people are now using AI chatbots to help them with online dating—whether that's writing better opening messages, getting advice on what to say, or getting tips on how to present themselves to potential partners. This matters because AI is becoming a real part of how people meet and connect, and it's worth understanding how it's changing the dating experience for people of all ages. You can think about whether you'd feel comfortable using an AI tool to draft a message before sending it, or simply stay curious about how this technology might be reshaping romance in the digital age.
Meta's new AI assistant called Muse is designed to collect data not just about you, but about everyone around you—your friends, family, dates, and acquaintances—without asking their permission first. For people over 50 who value privacy and trust in relationships, this kind of data collection raises serious concerns about who controls information about you and how it might be used down the line. Worth knowing: before downloading any new "assistant" app that promises to organize your life, check what permissions it's asking for and think twice about whether you're comfortable sharing details about the people close to you.
Google is adding labels to songs on YouTube Music so you can see which ones were created using artificial intelligence tools rather than by human musicians. People increasingly want transparency about whether the music they're hearing came from a real artist or was generated by a computer program, and Google is responding to that demand. You can start looking for these AI labels when you're browsing YouTube Music, which will help you choose whether you prefer human-made or AI-assisted music.
Google has launched a new shopping tool called Universal Cart that lets you add items from different stores to a single cart and check out all at once, rather than visiting each store's website separately. This saves time and hassle when you're shopping for multiple things across different retailers, and it works right within Google Search and Google's Gemini app. Worth knowing: look for the Universal Cart option when you're browsing products on Google Search, and you can start combining items from your favourite shops into one basket.
Someone created a fake photo of actress Mia Goth using AI technology and posted it to a fake Instagram account that looked official, tricking many people into thinking it was real. This matters because as AI gets better at creating convincing fake images and videos of famous people, it becomes harder to know what's genuine, and the same technology could be used to create embarrassing or harmful content about anyone. Worth knowing: if you see a surprising post from a celebrity on social media, it's worth checking their official website or verified accounts directly before sharing it, and be cautious about images that seem out of character for the person.
