Hello to a magnificent Monday, tech friend! Did you know Warren Buffett doesn’t just share financial wisdom in his letters to shareholders? He also sneaks in a few jokes, too. This one is from 2002: "Directors must get rid of a manager who is mediocre or worse, no matter how likable he may be. Directors must react as did the chorus-girl bride of an 85-year-old multimillionaire when he asked whether she would love him if he lost his money. 'Of course,' the young beauty replied, 'I would miss you, but I would still love you.'” You’ll find another Buffett gem at the end.

🧏‍♀️ Hear me out — this is important. Hearing aids aren’t expensive and bulky like they used to be. If you or a loved one needs help, check out these German-engineered hearing aids. There’s no reason not to hear loudly and clearly with today’s affordable tech. You’ll be glad you did, and so will the people around you. On to the news! — Kim

🆕 Today's podcast: Dad takes on website after son's tragic death

⏱️ Daily Tech Update: The problem with influencers

💡 Digital Life Hack: How to find the cheapest time to fly

When ChatGPT launched on Nov. 30, 2022, I knew the web — and the world — would change forever. A week later, I predicted on national radio Google’s days would be numbered. People laughed at me, and I got notes from listeners telling me I was nuts.

Last week, OpenAI made its ChatGPT search engine, SearchGPT, available for paid subscribers. Let me tell you, Google isn’t dead yet, but it’s suffered a mortal wound.

I hate to say it, but I told ya so.

‘What’s the big deal?’

Google Search officially launched on Sept. 4, 1998. It was awesome for a long time, but over the last five to seven years, it’s gotten consistently worse. Results are stuffed with spam and sites rigging the system. Cybercriminals sneak in malware, and scammers aren’t banned from buying ads to dupe people.

Earlier this year, Google added an AI Overview feature within Search, and it’s supposed to be their whiz-bang Gemini solution. I know a few folks in their twenties who worked for the company hired to fix Gemini’s answers. That’s why Gemini often provides responses based on an individual’s agenda, political stance and morals.

Until SearchGPT, ChatGPT’s answers were based on sets of data fed into the platform over time. Now, OpenAI has partnered with providers for news, maps, stocks, weather and sports information. Heads-up: Anything behind a paywall stays off‑limits.

‘What should I use it for?’

Anything you’d search for on Google. It’s a totally different vibe, really. Google Search is loaded with ads, and Bing isn’t much better. On SearchGPT, you get a cleaner experience without all the clutter. Take a look:

Note that it knew I was in Phoenix based on my computer’s IP address. I love that it tells me which TV and radio stations are broadcasting the game, too.

Here’s another example of SearchGPT in use:

All right, that’s nothing groundbreaking, but it gets the job done. What about something else?

Yep, it handled my stock question like a champ. It’s helpful to see the full, easily understandable context about an otherwise complex issue.

‘OK, how do I use ChatGPT's search engine?’

For now, you’ll need a ChatGPT Plus account ($20 per month). It’s coming to free accounts in the next few months. Here's how to use it:

Click the Sources button to view the sites ChatGPT pulled its info from. You can click on any source link to visit it directly.

✅ “Uh, what if I don’t want to pay $20 a month?” Try Perplexity. It’s the best free option I’ve found that’s comparable to ChatGPT and answers all the same questions as in the above examples. The Bears’ schedule was spot on, and Perplexity’s Nvidia stock answer was so-so. For weather, I got the forecast but not the current temps.

When using Perplexity, you’ll see sponsored (paid for by advertisers) answers sprinkled in, along with related questions at the end. Be careful where you click and what you think is gospel.

‘What about privacy?’

OpenAI isn’t in the ad game — yet. That means fewer eyes on your search activity. With that said, everything you ask ChatGPT is logged and saved. There’s an option to turn this off, but I still wouldn’t disclose anything truly private.

😂 Speaking of, never trust a website with purple terms and conditions. They clearly violet your privacy.

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Being left out of the conversation stinks. If you or someone you love keeps repeating, “Huh?” or “What was that?” it’s time to check out hearing aids.

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🚨 China’s powering up: Hackers working for the Communist Chinese government have taken over thousands of TP‑Link routers, plus cameras and other connected devices. They’re using all that computing power to attack Microsoft’s Azure cloud service. Most malware can’t survive a reboot, so it certainly won’t hurt to restart your router, whether it’s from TP‑Link or another manufacturer.

Speaking of Warren Buffett: He just bought a $185 million stake in the HEICO Corporation, an aerospace and electronics giant. The company makes products for spacecraft, defense equipment and telecommunication systems. Yep, it’s a direct SpaceX competitor.

If your teen says this phrase, pay close attention: “Crashing out” means they’re about to flip out or overreact to something minor. The causes behind it are bigger, of course — think anything from hormones and relationships to academic stress or social media drama.

💿 Guess we’ll never see “Biggest Hits (Taylor’s Version)”: In the late ’90s, compilations were hot — The Beatles’ “1,” for instance, sold 7.69 million copies in just 12 months (paywall link). Now, vinyl and CD collections are novelty items for superfans. Open Spotify or Apple Music, and you’ve got instant playlists of any artist’s top tracks.

Left in the dark: A woman went in for a gynecological biopsy, and she wasn’t given any anesthetic. The pain was so intense, she fainted. She posted her experience online, and it’s going viral. I hope she files a complaint with her local medical board.

👽 Hold onto your tinfoil hat: The Pentagon's former chief investigator leaked a new government program to scoop up alien tech if it’s ever shot down. He swears there’s zero evidence of alien spacecraft so far. Meanwhile, a UFO analyst and a missile expert both claim that not only has the U.S. recovered a craft, but they’ve even been inside one.

It’s miles ahead: Toyota’s long-awaited solid-state battery is nearing production. It will go 745 miles on a single charge, tackling “range anxiety” once and for all. They’re also lighter and more compact than lithium-ion batteries, which means more legroom and cargo space. Finally.

🏈 I got a kick out of this: During the Dallas Cowboys game against the Atlanta Falcons yesterday, Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy was caught on camera smashing a tablet on the sidelines after a failed fourth-down play. We’ve all been there, Mike. Here’s the replay.

Amazon Outlet is packed with overstock items at great prices. It’s worth browsing now and then to see if something you need is on sale!

🖼️ Need a headshot? Skip the cropped group pic or obvious selfie. For professional photos, go with a slight smile over your biggest grin. Pro tip: Blur the background so the person viewing your profile can focus on your face. If your phone has Portrait mode, use it!

Quick security tip: Task Manager on a Windows PC and Activity Monitor on a Mac can give you an overview of everything happening on your machine. On a PC, hit Ctrl + Shift + Esc. Click the Processes tab. On a Mac, hit Cmd + spacebar to open Spotlight Search. Then, type Activity Monitor and press Enter. See anything weird? Google it before you panic.

50% off? Yes, please: My home security pick, SimpliSafe, is having a big sale. Right on their site, you can answer a few questions to build the perfect system for your home, apartment or business. Use my link for the deal!*

It just clicks: Hit Shift on your keyboard, then use your mouse wheel. Instead of scrolling up and down, your mouse wheel will scroll left and right. What sounds like a mouse, but much, much louder? A MOUSE.

Their, they’re, there: You have 15 minutes to edit DMs on Instagram. Fix your embarrassing typo by pressing and holding the message, then tapping Edit. You can unsend, too, if your recipient has read the message.

Some sneaky aloha spirit … They black out the unsubscribe link.

From Warren Buffett’s 2006 letter to shareholders: "Our exemplar is the older man who crashed his grocery cart into that of a much younger fellow while both were shopping. The elderly man explained apologetically that he had lost track of his wife and was preoccupied searching for her. His new acquaintance said that, by coincidence, his wife had also wandered off and suggested that it might be more efficient if they jointly looked for the two women. Agreeing, the older man asked his new companion what his wife looked like. 'She’s a gorgeous blonde,' the fellow answered, 'with a body that would cause a bishop to go through a stained glass window, and she’s wearing tight white shorts. How about yours?' The senior citizen wasted no words: 'Forget her, we’ll look for yours.'”

Before you go … Is your hearing not as great as it used to be? Need a hearing aid? Maybe you know someone who does. Stop waiting. Things will just get worse, not better. Check out hear.com right now to see if you qualify for a 45-day free trial! Back in your inbox tomorrow with the best tech newsletter in the USA! — Kim