Facebook's Selfie Tracking, AI in NYC, and Apple Watch Lifesaver | Kim Komando Show

Tech News and Trends

• 💡 A new study reveals that many Roomba owners form strong attachments to their robotic vacuums, even naming and dressing them up.
• 🤖 AI cameras are being deployed by the New York MTA to predict and prevent violent or dangerous behavior in subways, focusing on actions rather than facial recognition.
• 💔 In a unique courtroom event, a family used AI to recreate the voice and likeness of a road rage victim for a powerful impact statement, which moved the judge to issue the maximum sentence.

Facebook's Alleged Data Practices

• 📱 A former Facebook executive claims the company tracked when teen girls deleted selfies and then targeted them with beauty ads at moments of perceived low self-worth.
• ⚠️ The executive's book also details tools built to identify users expressing feelings of worthlessness, anxiety, or stupidity.
• 🚫 Facebook has denied these allegations.

Automotive Tech and User Preferences

• 🚗 While drivers appreciate new car technology like wireless charging and assisted driving, 90% dislike touchscreen controls for essential functions.
• 🎛️ Automakers like Volkswagen are responding by reintroducing physical buttons for common controls like volume and climate.

Pope Qualifications and Digital Privacy

• 🇻🇦 The Vatican posted job qualifications for a Pope on LinkedIn, including being a baptized Catholic male, sound mind, and eligible for ordination, with preferred skills like fluency in Latin and Italian.
• 🔒 Incogn is highlighted as a tool for online privacy, helping to remove personal data from search sites and data brokers through its new unlimited plan.

Life-Saving Technology and Scams

• ⌚ Ken from Ohio shared how his Apple Watch alerted him to dangerously low blood oxygen levels, leading to the discovery of significant blood clots and likely saving his life.
• 📞 Wrong number scams are on the rise, with initial contact often leading to fake crypto investment pitches; the advice is to not reply to suspicious texts.
• 💻 A listener shared success using User Interviews for paid research studies, earning over $500 in a month by participating in short online sessions.
• 🔒 Tips for securing security cameras include changing default passwords, enabling two-factor authentication, and keeping firmware updated to prevent unauthorized access.
• 💾 VeraCrypt is recommended as free, open-source software to create secure, self-destructing vaults on USB drives for enhanced data protection.