Hello Wednesday! Let’s start with a little brain teaser. What unusual feature did the June Oven, released in 2015, boast that differentiated it from other smart ovens? Was it that it … A. Auto-recognized and cooked over 60 foods, B. Used quantum tech to cook meals in under 5 minutes, C. Levitated for safety, or D. Offered a holographic chef to guide recipes? Answer’s at the end!

Buckle up, tech enthusiasts! Get ready for the most electrifying, game-changing tech newsletter orbiting the digital universe. — Kim

In the not-so-distant future, you could walk in on a teddy bear reading a bedtime story to your child. And it wouldn’t be just any story — it’d be a saga tailored to everything the toy knows about your child, including likes, dislikes and even their deepest secrets.

If this all sounds like a "Black Mirror" episode to you, you're not alone. In the 1990s, Furbys were creepy, but they had nothing on the fast-growing world of artificial intelligence (AI)-powered smart toys coming soon.

I wanted to let you know that this holiday season, we're bound to see a slew of AI ChatGPT-powered toys hitting the scene. This way, when the kids start asking for them, you’ll already know it's not all fun and games.

Not your average stuffed animal

Imagine a toy that learns everything about your child. Your child can hold entire conversations with the toy, and the toy will respond in complete sentences. The more your child speaks to the toy, the more “intelligent” the toy becomes.

This is what vTech CEO and toymaker Allan Wong says the company’s future line of AI teddy bears will do. He hopes the interactive plushies will offer parents an alternative to traditional bedtime story rituals.

These AI-powered bears would use chatbot-style technology to create customized tales for their child handlers. They can talk a child down from a temper tantrum, entertain them and teach them lessons. No doubt, your child will form a real bond with this toy.

Going way beyond basic information, these toys may also collect school and home locations and sensitive data about Mom and Dad. 

While the concept is innovative, the same privacy concerns that plague adult smart devices apply to these new kiddie gadgets. Whenever a toy has recording capabilities, the data is often collected, stored and shared with third-party buyers.

Remember the Hello Barbie?

In 2015, this Wi-Fi-enabled doll was the precursor to AI toys. The doll recorded, collected and saved convos it had with children to cloud servers. This significant invasion of privacy and potential security risk was one thing. But there were concerns about how the recorded data could be used for marketing purposes. Its maker, Mattel, got sued and cleaned up its act.

Keeping play private

It's impractical to try to avoid AI toys altogether, as they're quickly becoming a household norm. Disable things like cameras and chat functionalities, if possible. Enable any and all parental controls on the toys. Always read the gadget's privacy policy. And make sure there’s a way to reset the toy to erase its capabilities and memory.

I’d think thrice before buying an AI toy. Maybe it’s not so bad stepping on Legos all the time. Speaking of, this fascinating video explores the history behind those brightly colored toy bricks.

✅ This is a great article to share with family and friends with kids who might ask for AI-powered toys. Use the icons below to share away. Knowledge is power!

🪙 Pocket change: You might be owed some money if you searched with Google between 2006 and 2013. The company's settling a lawsuit over sharing users' search queries with third parties. Of course, they deny it but are still paying up. Apply for a mini payday here.

Texting and driving: Speeding in Washington, D.C.? Expect a text. The District Department of Transportation is now sending texts directly to speedy drivers — attached with copies of previous traffic violations. Let’s hope the culprits don’t get distracted by the DOT’s texts while driving.

🎮 It’s-a not Mario: Nintendo’s Super Mario 3: Mario Forever was released in 2003, but it’s still popular. Hackers know this. They've duped fans with a faux version, bringing Mario — and a nasty side of malware — to Windows. Download it? Get rid of the game and remove the malware. 

Prime’s on sale: You can get an Amazon Prime membership for $2 per week right now, just in time for Prime Days on July 11 and 12. This pricing lasts for a month before you’re kicked back into paying $15 per month, or $139 a year. Sign up here. Make a calendar note to cancel your subscription when the month ends.

🏡 Barbie’s real-life Malibu DreamHouse: You can book it via Airbnb, hosted by Ken himself. Surf, skate and slide from the balcony to the pool deck in this all-pink mansion inspired by the upcoming “Barbie” movie. Hey, did you hear there’s a new Divorce Barbie? It comes with all of Ken’s accessories. 😆

LastPass lockdown: The password manager’s attempt to tighten security after two significant breaches is leaving some users locked out. Customers can’t contact support until June 26. My advice? Ditch LastPass and get my pick, Roboform*, for 50% off or $11.90 annually.

Time for a close-up: No more hiding in video calls. Zoom’s new “Intelligent Director” feature uses AI and machine learning to track your head movements. It’ll make you look alert, even if you’re dozing off. Finally, an AI feature I love!

📺 Watch a burger bot: Restaurant chain Chili’s is making big changes to its menu — and in the kitchen — to boost profits. It’s developed a grilling bot that can cook a burger in two minutes. Take a look at how the robot does here. The burger looks dry to me.

Every morning, brush your teeth to my Daily Tech Update. You get fresh breath and fresh tech know-how in a minute.

Listen to my podcast, Daily Tech Update, here.

I was on Jean Chatzky’s podcast talking about scams and how to avoid getting taken. (She’s fabulous, by the way!) Jean asked me the best way to bank online.

I explained how you should have two laptops or computers. Use one for email, surfing the web, doing work, that sort of thing. The other should be your dedicated financial work computer. You can use an inexpensive Chromebook.

The whole idea is that if you get a phishing email or fall for a scam, the hackers can’t access your financial accounts. Since then, I’ve had a slew of folks asking me which is the best Chromebook for around $200. Here are my picks:

• HP Chromebook ($199): It has a good processor, 4GB of RAM, 32GB of storage, weighs under 3 lbs. and has 14.25 hours of battery life. The 14-inch screen is HD, too.
• Lenovo Chromebook Flex 3 ($223): At 11.6 inches, the Lenovo’s screen size is smaller than the HP, but you’ll get 64GB of storage instead, and the screen flips, which is super handy.

✅ If you want to learn more about using a Chromebook as your exclusive financial computer, I’ve got you covered here on my site.

Have you ever spent an annoying amount of time on the floor searching for a screw or thumbtack that slipped out of your grip? Here's a neat trick: Turn your smartphone into a mini metal detector!

Magnetic field sensors found in most smartphones determine your phone's orientation, but they have another interesting capability — detecting metal objects!

🧲 There’s an app for that

Two of the most popular are Metal Detector by Smart Tools (for Android) and Smart Metal Detector by Netigen (for iOS). Once you've downloaded an app, follow the instructions to calibrate your phone's sensors. Calibration is crucial so the app can accurately detect metallic objects.

Hold your phone close to the surface you want to scan, like the floor or table, and the app will alert you if it senses metal in the vicinity.

This isn't a tool for serious treasure hunting. But when it comes to locating that elusive little screw that rolled under your desk, it's worth a shot!

Feeling like technology is leaving you in the dust? It's time to bridge the digital gap with my podcast.

I make the complex world of tech simple and approachable. From explaining the latest gadgets in plain English to offering easy-to-follow cybersecurity advice, I’ve got you covered. My podcast is easy to listen to at home or on the go — perfect for those quiet moments with a cup of coffee or while taking a walk.

I bet Kermit’s passwords are ribbet-ing.

👩‍🍳 The answer: A. Auto-recognized and cooked over 60 foods. The $1,299 June Oven tried to bake a difference in the kitchen, but it never really took off. Is it that hard to put an oven at the right temperature and set a timer?

🎉 That's a wrap, folks! Remember, sharing is caring. Feel free to spread the word and forward this newsletter to your friends! 👫👭👬 I’ll be back in your inbox tomorrow with more tech-know! — Kim