YouTube is adding an AI helper that lets you describe what kind of videos you'd like to watch, and it automatically creates a custom feed just for you—like asking for "relaxing gardening videos" or "cooking shows from the 1970s." This means you won't have to scroll endlessly through recommendations that don't match your mood or interests, and you can save these custom feeds so they're always ready when you want them. You can try this new feature right now if you use YouTube on your phone or computer in the US—just look for the "Your custom feed" option at the top of your homepage and type in what you're in the mood for.
Samsung is working with doctors to test whether their smartwatch can help people on weight-loss medications like Ozempic keep their muscles strong as they slim down. When people lose weight quickly with these drugs, they sometimes lose muscle along with fat, which can make them weaker and more prone to falls—a real concern as we age. You can watch for updates on this research, and if you're taking a GLP-1 medication, it's worth asking your doctor whether activity tracking could complement any exercise plan they recommend.
# Google's AI Spelling Problem
Google's artificial intelligence systems are surprisingly bad at spelling words correctly, even simple ones like "Google" itself, which is causing real problems with how the AI answers people's questions. For older adults relying on AI assistants for accurate information—whether you're asking about health, finances, or recipes—spelling mistakes can lead to confusion or worse, following incorrect instructions. Worth knowing: if you're using Google's AI chatbot and something looks misspelled or odd, double-check important information through another source before acting on it.
A company called Bayesian Health has created an artificial intelligence system that watches hospital patients around the clock to catch sepsis—a life-threatening blood infection—early, and it's just received official approval from the FDA to be used. Sepsis kills thousands of people every year, so catching it faster means doctors can treat patients sooner and save more lives, plus the system reduces false alarms that waste doctors' time. Worth knowing: if you or a loved one ends up in the hospital, ask whether the facility uses this kind of continuous monitoring technology, as it's becoming available in more hospitals.
A man is filming himself doing ordinary things around the house—washing dishes, folding laundry, making coffee—and selling those videos to companies training artificial intelligence robots. AI companies need thousands of hours of real human movement to teach robots how to handle everyday tasks safely and naturally, which is why they're now paying ordinary people to provide this footage. Worth knowing: if you're comfortable on camera and have some spare time, you could potentially earn money by recording yourself doing household chores and uploading them to these emerging marketplaces.
Some websites have found a sneaky new way to track what you're doing online by measuring how fast your computer's storage drive responds to requests—a technique that lets them figure out what other sites you visit and which apps you have open. For anyone who values privacy, this matters because it's yet another invisible tracking method that works even when you think you've taken steps to protect yourself, like using private browsing mode. Worth knowing: if you're concerned about this, keeping your browser and operating system up to date gives you the best protection, since security patches are the main defense against these kinds of technical tricks.
Roku has redesigned its smart TV menu system and made advertisements much more prominent—they now occupy a large, permanent section right on the home screen where you'd typically see your favorite shows and apps. For Roku TV owners, this means you'll see ads every time you turn on your television, even before you start watching anything, which some people find annoying on a device they've already paid for. You can check if your Roku TV is affected by visiting Settings to see if the new layout has rolled out to your model, and consider whether this change influences your satisfaction with the device going forward.
A company running a visa application website accidentally left thousands of people's passport photos, selfies, and location information visible to anyone on the internet, but when researchers tried to alert them to the problem, the company's lawyers threatened them instead of fixing it. For anyone who's applied for a UK visa, this means your private documents may have been exposed and potentially seen by strangers. Worth knowing: if you've recently applied for a UK visa, keep an eye on your email and financial accounts for any suspicious activity, and consider checking your credit report through a free service like Clearscore.
Meta is charging people money to use ad-free versions of Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp, and they're planning even more subscription options that include artificial intelligence features. If you use these apps regularly, you'll soon need to decide whether to pay for a cleaner experience without ads or stick with the free version that shows advertisements. Worth knowing: check your app settings over the coming months, as Meta will likely prompt you about these options, and you don't have to subscribe unless you want to.
YouTube is now automatically detecting videos created with AI tools and labeling them more prominently, rather than relying on creators to admit they used artificial intelligence. As AI video generators become eerily realistic—no longer producing the obvious glitches that once gave them away—it's getting harder to spot fake content, making these labels genuinely useful for viewers like you who want to know what's real. You can look for YouTube's new AI labels on videos to stay informed about what you're watching, and it's worth being skeptical of dramatic or newsworthy videos that lack such a label.
# Wired Internet Without the Cables
New adapters now let you send internet signals through your home's existing electrical wiring, giving you the speed and reliability of a wired connection without drilling holes or running cables everywhere. For anyone tired of Wi-Fi dropouts or slow streaming, this means more stable video calls, faster downloads, and no more dead zones in your home. You can ask your internet provider whether they support this "powerline adapter" technology, or check online retailers to see what's available in your area at a reasonable cost.
Robinhood is letting people set up AI assistants that can automatically buy and sell stocks on their behalf, without needing human approval for each trade. This could save time for investors who want computers to handle routine decisions like rebalancing their portfolio, but Robinhood is being clear that AI-driven trading can fail dramatically and cost you everything you put in. Worth knowing: if you're curious about this feature, start with a very small amount of money you can afford to lose completely, and keep a close eye on what your AI agent is actually doing.
