Robert Woo was paralyzed from the chest down in a terrible construction accident in 2007, but has since become a key tester for exoskeletons—wearable robotic suits that help people walk again by supporting their legs and doing the heavy lifting for them. His feedback and determination over the years have directly shaped how companies design these suits to actually work for real people in everyday life, not just in laboratories. You can learn more about exoskeletons by searching for "Wandercraft exoskeleton" or asking your doctor if clinical trials for mobility devices are available in your area, as these technologies are becoming more accessible.
Meta's new smartglasses have a built-in camera and AI assistant (voiced by Judi Dench) that can describe what you're looking at and answer questions throughout your day. While they're clever and fun for some uses, the camera feature makes many people uncomfortable because you could be recording others without their knowledge—earning them the nickname "pervert glasses" in some circles. Worth knowing: if you encounter someone wearing these glasses, be aware they might be recording video or taking photos without you realizing it.
The city of Milpitas in California is giving away free doorbell cameras to residents so that police can access video footage if crimes happen in their neighborhood. Homeowners who want one can sign up to receive a camera and choose to share any recordings with local law enforcement to help keep their community safer.
Apple has updated its CarPlay system so you can now talk to ChatGPT hands-free while driving, just by speaking your questions out loud instead of typing them. This new feature works like having a helpful AI assistant in your car that you can chat with through voice commands, making it safer and easier to get information or answers while keeping your eyes on the road.
Google is launching a new wristband (a type of fitness tracker) that basketball star Steph Curry has helped design, which will monitor your health and wellness in some new way that hasn't been fully revealed yet. For people your age, this kind of wearable could become another tool to track daily activity, sleep, and heart health alongside devices you might already use like smartwatches or fitness bands. Worth knowing: Google hasn't officially announced the product yet, so wait for the full details before deciding if it's worth trying—and remember that wristbands work best when you actually wear them consistently.
You can now order food from Uber Eats and Grubhub by simply talking to your Alexa device, much like you'd chat with a restaurant server or order at a drive-thru window. This makes getting a meal delivered as easy as saying what you want out loud, without typing or scrolling through an app on your phone.
Worth knowing: This feature works best if you already use Uber Eats or Grubhub, so check which restaurants near you are available on those apps before relying on voice ordering.
Google has finally let everyone in the US change the first part of their Gmail address—the bit before the @—if you've been stuck with an embarrassing or outdated email for years. All your old emails stay put, and your previous address still works too, so friends can reach you either way.
You can make this change once a year by going to your Google Account settings and looking for the "Change Google Account email" option, though it may take a moment to appear on your account.
Amazon has made ordering food from Grubhub and Uber Eats through Alexa much easier by letting you chat with it naturally, like you're talking to a restaurant staff member—you can change your mind about items or add things mid-conversation without waiting for Alexa to finish speaking. This new feature is designed to feel like a real conversation rather than the stiff back-and-forth you might be used to with voice assistants, where you ask a question and then wait for a complete response.
Ring is expanding beyond simple doorbell cameras by creating an app store where developers can build new tools for things like checking on elderly relatives or managing small businesses. For people in your age group, this could mean Ring devices become more useful around the house—helping you stay connected with family or manage your home in new ways without needing multiple separate gadgets. Worth knowing: keep an eye on what new Ring apps become available, as some might genuinely simplify your daily routine while others may simply ask for unnecessary access to your home.
Scientists are building microscopic robots made from DNA that could travel inside your body to deliver medicine directly where it's needed and fight off viruses. These tiny machines work by folding DNA into specific shapes that can move and respond to signals like light or magnetic fields, much like remote-controlled devices but on an invisible scale.
States are spending millions of dollars with companies like Deloitte to update their computer systems that determine who qualifies for Medicaid and food assistance, because a new law will make it harder for poor Americans to keep these benefits. These expensive system updates are designed to remove millions of people from health coverage and food aid programs, even though the companies being paid have a track record of making errors that wrongly cut off benefits to people who actually qualify.
A company called Jimini Health has created an AI chatbot named Sage that helps mental health professionals care for patients by having ongoing conversations with them between therapy sessions. Rather than replacing therapists, this tool works under a real clinician's supervision to provide extra support and monitoring, and the company just raised $17 million to bring it to hospitals and mental health organizations.
