It’s a tech-terrific Tuesday! Let’s start with our trivia. How long did it take for Amazon to have its first profitable quarter after Jeff Bezos launched it in 1995? Was it A) 1 year, B) 3 years, C) 6 years or D) 9 years? You’ll find the answer at the end.

🌐 Every day, I visit at least 35 websites to bring you just the top tech news that matters to your life. Thanks for being here! — Kim

This year, digital ad sales are expected to top $601 billion. That’s enough for No. 23 on the GDP list by countries, edging out Sweden.

Of course, the point of all those ads is to get people to spend money. Using celebrities to push a product is nothing new, but what happens when you can’t tell if an ad is even real?

I have your back

I've warned you Tom Hanks isn’t trying to sell you a dental plan. And YouTuber MrBeast isn’t giving away iPhone 15s. That Meta chatbot advising lifestyle decisions isn’t really Kendall Jenner, either. Oh, and CBS news host Gayle King isn’t recommending a random weight-loss product.

I knew this stage of AI tomfoolery was coming, but it’s still surprising how fast it’s happening. Let’s take a closer look at what’s been going on. This way, you'll know what to watch for.

Celebrities looking sus

Over the past several months, a whole crop of fake AI celebrities has sprung up to trick people with false endorsements. They look and talk exactly like trusted personalities, and they’re usually shilling brands you’ve never heard of. Worse, they’re almost impossible to stop.

Certain AI — including Stable Diffusion apps and some Nvidia tech — can easily mimic “big names” in the celebrity world. Unscrupulous brands, or outright scammers, have no problem taking advantage of this readily available new tech.

Elon Musk, former President Barack Obama, Tom Brady — the list keeps going, and it’s not just about how celebrities look. AI also excels at mimicking famous voices, which is how fans mistook songs by AI mixer Ghostwriter as new releases from Drake and The Weeknd. I don’t blame you if you’re feeling paranoid.

Wait, is this even legal?

It’s a fuzzy spot connected to copyright law and other legal gray areas. As you can imagine, politicians are unhappy about AI versions of themselves getting into viral trouble or cussing out their staff.

U.S. senators have already drafted a bipartisan NO FAKES bill that allows celebrities and everyday peeps to sue if their AI likeness gets used without their consent. The bill has some problematic exceptions, like using AI for satire or “criticism,” but it’s a start.

Keep your guard up

Here’s what social media sites and even Google don’t want you to know: They do a pretty lousy job vetting advertisers. They’re focused on the cash, meaning scammers end up with the real results.

Rules of thumb:

• If you want advice about a product or service, look at reviews or find an expert who’s well-versed and can prove it (hint, hint).
• Buy products from established websites, not through social media ads.
• Google the product and actor in the ad, along with the word “review.” If someone’s getting paid to endorse a product, there’s not just one random ad floating around social media.

✅ On the upside, AI leaves lots of digital breadcrumbs. Later this week in my afternoon Tech Hacks newsletter, I’m going to make you an AI-spotting expert. Be sure you’re on the list to get it.

😀 I wanted to take this moment to say that I endorse podiums. Now that’s a product I can stand behind. (Ba‑dum‑tss!)

✈️ Don’t wing it: People tweeting to airlines about flight delays or cancellations are finally getting replies. The problem? Those replies are from scammers. Because X still hasn't figured out a verification system, make sure you’re always on an official account. Remember, the blue checkmark doesn’t mean much.

Deepfake danger: This is terrifying. Researchers found there will be more deepfake porn videos uploaded to the internet this year than in previous years combined. It’s up to regulators and tech companies to take action to ensure creeps aren't harassing and abusing innocent people — especially women — by making and sharing deepfake adult videos featuring their likenesses.

Google’s gambit: As Congress considers the ambitious Kids Online Safety Act, Google says there’s no way to propose age-verification rules for minors on social media. Google did concede ad targeting for those under 18 shouldn't be allowed. Uh, yeah.

Crypto funding terrorists: Senators are raising the alarm about Hamas' use of cryptocurrency to fund its recent terror attack on Israel. Hamas and its allies have received up to $134 million in digital currency since 2021. The group is still raising funds via crypto donations since it launched the attack on Israel on Oct. 7.

“Rollback” the fakes: Heads up, shoppers. Third-party sellers are using Walmart's e-commerce marketplace to sell bogus products. Walmart says it's working on it, but for now, be especially careful shopping on the website.

Data heist: The recent 23andMe data breach left over a million people's personal data, including their ancestry, in hackers’ hands. Watch out for the data — names, addresses and phone numbers — being used to write more targeted phishing emails or texts. “Dear Kim. We know you are 1% Syrian.” I chalk that up to someone in my Ukrainian gene pool who had a fun weekend.

Printer license, please: New York lawmakers are considering a bill banning people whose criminal history bars them from having a firearm license from buying a 3D printer. Considering how easy it is to download a template and fire up (no pun intended) a printed gun, it makes sense.

🐻 Move over, Garfield: When your home alarm system alerts you to a potential break-in, many possibilities enter your mind. But you're probably not expecting a bear to break into your freezer to take a frozen lasagna. You've gotta check out the video. It's almost too good to be true.

In my no-nonsense, straight-talking podcast, I serve up everything tech in digestible, fun-sized pieces. New to the tech scene? Or maybe you're a pro? Doesn't matter. I’ve got you covered.

👉 Get my podcasts today!

You're out and about and notice your phone's battery dwindling quickly. Yikes! But don't sweat it — I've got a quick, easy tip to stretch that battery life a bit longer.

👉 Try it now, and you'll know how to squeeze the most life out of your battery when it counts. Don't forget to scream to the universe, "Thank you, Kim Komando!" I will hear it.

For iPhone users: Enable Low Power mode

• Open Settings. Scroll and tap Battery, then toggle on Low Power Mode.

That's it! You'll notice the battery icon will turn yellow, telling you the feature is active. This temporarily reduces some background activities to save juice.

For Android users: Turn on Battery Saver

• Open Settings, then tap Battery > Battery Saver and turn it on.

Voila! Your phone will limit some functions and vibrations to conserve energy.

🤏 These low-power mode features are great in a pinch, but remember, they limit some functionalities. Once you're back to a power source to charge, toggle it off.

Every week on the Friday edition of my podcast, Kim Komando Today, I talk tech with Komando Content Queen Allie — and now we have a new voice joining you might recognize.

My friend, Andrew Babinski, is back in the studio with us, adding his dad humor and love of the Arizona Cardinals (among other things) to the Friday pod.

Listen to our latest ep, and I guarantee you’ll laugh. And who doesn’t need a good laugh?

It’s the most wonderful time of fear.

The answer: C) 6 years. When Amazon reported its first profitable quarter in the last stretch of 2001, it made $5 million on over $1 billion in revenue. During the second quarter of 2023 alone, Amazon generated total net sales of approximately $134.38 billion. I think they’re on to something …

😂 What does Jeff Bezos do right before bedtime? He puts his pajama‑zon. (I know, you rolled your eyes. Me, too!)

🥳 Be sure to rate this issue below and share your referral link with fam and friends. Every referral = One entry to win a $1,200 Apple or Windows device. Thanks for being here. Your support keeps me writing this newsletter every day. — Kim