Hello there, my tech-knowledge-seeking friend! Let’s get the ball rolling with tech trivia. What did Elon Musk try for two days before he gave up? Was it … eating only carrots, getting his Ph.D., living in a Mars space simulator or saying “good enough” to any project? The answer’s at the end.

🚀 Make life easier with my brand-spanking-new e‑book, “50 Smart Ways to Use AI,” now on Amazon! More info below. 👇 Tech moves fast; luckily, so do I. I’m here to keep you one step ahead. Let's dive in! — Kim

When I saw this video on social media, it stopped me in my tracks. A new, free AI tool can turn a person into someone else with just one click.

Before you panic, let’s take a look at how it works and how you can protect yourself and your identity.

The easiest cloning software yet

Picture an app that, with a few clicks, turns anyone into very convincing video clones of mega-celebrities like Karl Urban (that handsome actor from New Zealand) and Elon Musk.

Deep-Live-Cam was created by a developer called “Hacksider.” He’s released around 70 similar projects since 2016. He says this is a tool for artists and animators to work more efficiently. Like anything tech, it can go bad when the wrong people get their hands on it.

The scariest thing about it is how easy it is to install. Download a zip file, unpack it, run the installer, and you’re ready to be someone else.

A deeper look

Deep-Live-Cam takes two components (a webcam video and a still image of the subject to imitate) to make a single output. These fakes are so good that you’ll have to really analyze them to find a few things AI isn’t so good at replicating:

Now you’ll have better luck spotting fake videos, but what about criminals using your likeness to make one?

Quick security checklist

It’s scary to think about, how anyone can get their hands on tools like this. That’s why it’s up to you to protect yourself.

🔗 Perhaps most importantly, talk to the people in your life about this. Close friends, coworkers and family members are often targets for AI scams, like voice calls and fake videos. Use the buttons below to share on social media or through email.

Have you ever wished you could use AI to make your day-to-day tasks easier? Now you can!

My new e‑book, "50 Smart Ways to Use AI," is your ultimate guide to harnessing AI for everything, from supercharging your work productivity to planning memorable family moments and even crafting a wellness plan that works for you.

Whether you're tackling complex spreadsheets, keeping the kids entertained or just looking for ways to save time, AI is your secret weapon, and this e‑book shows you exactly how to use it.

📚 Grab your copy today on Amazon and start making AI your personal assistant! Your purchase not only helps you master AI but also supports us in creating even more free content. 🙏

🔍 The “private” mode that wasn’t: Google is deleting $5 billion worth of browsing data illegally collected in Incognito mode. Not because they felt like it — as part of a class-action lawsuit. They kept it under the radar that in Incognito mode, internet providers, website hosts and companies can still see what you're doing online.

⚠️ Update ASAP: There’s a nasty zero-day flaw in Google Chrome that could let hackers run malicious code and take control of your computer. Protect yourself now: Go to Settings > About Chrome, download the latest patch and hit Relaunch. You should be on version 128.0.6613.85.

The second Neuralink brain chip patient is doing well: “Alex” is using design software to create 3D objects and play the first-person shooter game Counter‑Strike, all with his mind. The next frontier? Connecting the brain chip to the physical world, such as fully controlled robotic arms. Incredible stuff.

🐔 Chick flicks: Chick-fil-A is dreaming up its own streaming platform. Step 1 is family-friendly content like game shows, followed by original series, animation and other licensed content. If it works, think of all the advertising bucks and data they’ll get their hands on.

It'll only get worse: More companies than just Uber are now on the surge-pricing bandwagon. Wendy’s announced AI-powered digital menus (then walked it back), and Kroger’s got digital price tags that can change grocery prices in real time. They say it's to lower prices during peak hours. Start by discounting items close to expiration dates, and I might believe it.

Sweet dreams are made of cheese, so who am I diss a brie? Imagine being able to watch a video of your dreams. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging scanners, it could happen. We've already linked brain activity to visual experiences during sleep. Collect enough data, train an AI to decode the patterns and, boom, dreamy videos.

🧑‍🚀 All suited up with no space to go: Two NASA astronauts are stranded on the ISS because of ship thruster issues. One return plan was for the pair to hitch a ride on SpaceX's Crew Dragon. Bad news: Their spacesuits aren’t compatible. Even if they were, the Dragon capsule is full with no room to plug in.

This is a list of my newsletter readers' most-loved products. If you didn't pick 'em up, what are you waiting for?

The award for “Best Font for Saving Printer Ink” goes to … Times New Roman! When it comes to ink, you’ll get almost 30% more pages printed with it over Arial. The smaller, the better; use a font size of 10 points or lower if you can read it.

🦄 Two’s company, but three’s a cloud: Duplicate photos eat up so much storage on our phones. They might be exact duplicates or pics so similar, they might as well be. There are built-in ways to clear them out on your iPhone and Android.

Digital piggy bank: Venmo has accounts for teens ages 13 to 17. The best part? Parental controls. You can keep an eye on where their money’s going and how they’re spending it.

Principle of least privilege: Business owners, ask your IT folks if your accounts are set up this way. It means users and systems only get access to what they need to get their tasks done. It’s a simple way to keep your info safe.

Wi‑Fi master: Angry IP Scanner keeps track of everything connected to your network. It scans for IP addresses and other information about the devices connected. It helps troubleshoot tech issues and catch hackers or moochers since it pinpoints unknown or suspicious devices.

Your answers to these short polls help me bring more of what you want to The Current. So, for today, it’s a simple one: Do you have a pet?

James Bond receives a text message on his smartwatch in “The Spy Who Loved Me” (1977).

The answer: Elon Musk dropped out of Stanford University's Ph.D. program in applied physics and materials science after just two days in 1995. In an interview, he said, “I could either do a Ph.D. or watch the internet happen."

That same year, Musk co-founded Zip2, a city guide software company, which he sold to Compaq in 1999 for about $300 million. I don’t think he needed that degree after all …

🚀 Unlock the power of AI with my new e‑book, “50 Smart Ways to Use AI,” now on Amazon! Don't have a Kindle or other e‑reader? No problem — the Kindle app is free! Get it here.

🙏🏻 Thanks for letting me in your inbox. Be sure to forward this email to a few folks. Together, we can make this world a better, safer tech place with the best tech newsletter ever! — Kim