It’s a tech-tastic Friday, friends! Let’s get right to it with trivia. These famous tech personalities are all college dropouts, except for one. Is it ... Michael Dell, Steve Jobs, Elon Musk or Mark Zuckerberg? You’ll find the answer at the end.

Back in the day, antivirus software was optional. Not anymore. The web is just too dangerous. Right now, save 85% on the award-winning TotalAV. Plus, since you read my newsletter, you can protect up to five devices for just $19 for the first year. You won’t find a better deal anywhere. Thanks, and on to the news! — Kim

This weekend on my national radio show, I’m chatting with Stephen Smith, the co-founder and CEO of StoryFile. I couldn’t wait to tell you more about what they’re doing — and other companies doing something similar.

In a nutshell, StoryFile is using tech to preserve memories. Stephen has an AI version of his mom, who passed away. Thousands of customers have AI versions of their loved ones.

StoryFile and others can bring comfort to the grieving, but they're leaving some people unsettled. I wanted to get a deeper look, and now you can, too.

We are so back

Founded in 2017 (ancient history in tech time), StoryFile offers a couple of options to immortalize loved ones while they're still on Earth.

At the basic level, a laptop and webcam capture their image and likeness in an interview-style fashion — by an actual historian, for an extra fee. StoryFile's AI uses the material to create a digital persona. Today, around 5,000 people have created profiles.

Loved ones can ask the persona a question, then the system sifts through corresponding interview clips to find an intuitive response. Just imagine that for a second about a loved one you miss.

Another company, HereAfter AI, came along in 2019 and added another element: Interactive videos where subjects make eye contact, breathe and blink as they respond to questions. Super lifelike … but also surreal.

Legends live on

You might be thinking, “So, who’s doing this?” Really, it’s folks from all walks of life.

Lynne Nieto, founder of Life Fitness, created a StoryFile before her husband passed away from Lou Gehrig’s disease. She did it mainly for their grandchildren. She watched the file for the first time about six months after he died. Lynne says it was a little hard to view, and it felt a bit raw.

I’m not surprised to hear that. I don’t know exactly how I’d feel about seeing my mom or sad again, but I’m pretty sure it’d be overwhelming.

StoryFile interviewed actor Ed Asner eight weeks before he died in 2021. They sent Ed’s StoryFile to his son, Matt, who couldn't believe his eyes. He says it was like his dad was looking right at him, answering his questions.

Matt played the file at his father’s memorial service. Some people were deeply touched, but he says others were uncomfortable.

AI immortality

Looking to try out this new AI tech for yourself? Here’s how to get started. I bet you’ll be surprised at how affordable they are, too.

• HearAfter AI uses a chatbot to ask questions about loved ones and their life history. Submit audio recordings of the subject talking about memorable moments of their life, along with photos to make things more personal. A 14-day trial is free, then plans start at $3.99 a month.
• StoryFile Life records a video of you or a loved one answering questions. Responses are saved for future generations to interact with. The free trial includes 33 questions. You can add more questions for $1 each or purchase a bundle plan, starting at $49.
• YOV generates an "authentic essence" (they call it a “Versona”) you can communicate with for $19.99 per month.

🤔 I want to know what you think. Would you want a chatbot that sounds like a loved one? What about your family making one of you for after you’re gone? When you rate this newsletter at the very bottom, let me know in the comment section!

Speaking of … Don't challenge death to a pillow fight unless you're prepared for the reaper cushions.

I’ve said it for years — sometimes free isn’t worth the headache. That’s true for antivirus software. The freebie options can’t keep up with how fast cybercriminals move. That’s why I rely on TotalAV.

Right now, add the award-winning antivirus protection to five devices for just $19 for the first year. It works with Windows, Mac, Android and iOS — 100% compatibility across all your devices.

• Real-time protection: Identify and block phishing websites trying to steal your info.
• Antivirus excellence: Detect, block and eliminate malware threats and viruses.
• Performance booster: Remove unwanted applications, clear redundant files and optimize caching.

The end of the website is here: Watch out, news, magazine, medical and other websites — Google’s new AI search tool is here and cannibalizing traffic. It’s already taken up to 75% of pageviews from sites like The Atlantic. Why go to a website anymore for answers when you can just ask AI your questions? And soon, AI will sell you products it recommends, too. I saw this coming a year ago … hence, this newsletter.

Use Dropbox? This is important. Dropbox’s AI may share your files with OpenAI and other third parties. Don’t remember signing up for that? Me, neither. To turn it off, log in to Dropbox, hit your Account icon, go to Settings, find the Third-Party AI tab and toggle the switch to Off. Good thing you get this newsletter so I can alert you to these shenanigans.

Amazon's not just selling everything on Earth: Now, it's beaming the internet from space. Project Kuiper uses lasers to send signals to far-off satellites. The mission is to hook up remote areas (think middle-of-nowhere oceans and airspaces) to broadband. With 3,236 satellites planned, our night sky is getting crowded.

🍪 How the cookie crumbles: Come Jan. 4, Google is killing third-party tracking cookies for 30 million Chrome users. Spot an eyeball icon in your URL bar? You're already part of the 1% on the new standard. Is Google changing? Nope. Instead of letting other websites in on tracking and storing data, it’ll just be Google.

When 5 stars feel like 2 IRL: Businesses like hotels are forcing customers into leaving glowing reviews with tactics like guilt trips and bribes. Until the FTC cracks down, keep your guard up. Look for detailed feedback and check user profiles. If all they’ve posted is one glowing review, that’s a red flag. A little skepticism goes a long way.

🤑 Lotto lowdown: Edwin Castro hit the jackpot with a whopping $2 billion Powerball win. Instead of flaunting it, he opted for a Fiji getaway with pals and wiped his social media. Why? All the crazies in the world. He also has a team of bodyguards now. I’d still work if I won the lottery. Would you?

Drunk-driver tech coming: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration wants drunk-busting tech in new cars. Think breath sensors that detect alcohol levels, touch sensors to monitor drivers’ alertness and eye-tracking cameras to spot signs of impairment. In 2021, 13,384 lives were lost to drunk driving. Yes, we need to fix the problem, but invasive tech for all drivers isn’t the answer.

Bargain bin bonanza: Across the U.S., bin stores are the newest goldmines for deal seekers. They're packed with all the stuff folks returned to Amazon and Walmart at crazy-low prices. It's like Black Friday but every day! This is so fascinating to me that I’ll be covering how to tap into these deals in this Sunday’s newsletter.

Your aunt’s sweet potato casserole or uncle’s glazed ham — oh, and who could forget your grandma’s famous Christmas Eve cake? Don’t lose those recipes in a mountain of paper. Digitize them for generations to come.

Storing recipes online is much more convenient than relying on stained and torn hard copies, and it’s easier than you’d think.

• Option 1: Use your tablet or phone to snap pics of handwritten recipes. Label the recipes by name and pop them in a folder called “Family Cookbook.” It'll be ready to print when you need to pull out your favorite turkey stuffing recipe.
• Option 2: Use a note-taking app like Evernote or the built-in Notes app on an iPhone. This is nice because you can access your cookbook from any device once you sign in.
• Great gift idea: Use the photos to lay out a hardcover cookbook at Blurb, Mixbook or Shutterfly.

📒 Did you know Stephen Hawking wrote a cookbook? It's called “A Brief History of Thyme.”

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

👉 Get my podcasts today!

Easy listening: Crossfade transitions tracks from one into the next instead of an abrupt change. On Spotify, go to Settings > Playback > Crossfade. In Apple Music: Settings > Apple Music > Crossfade.

📼 When you don’t know what to watch: Hit up moviewiser.com. Type in the mood you’re going for, and it’ll spit out a list of movies that fit the bill. I typed in “festive comedy for the family.” Options included “Elf,” “Home Alone,” “A Christmas Story,” “Polar Express” and “Jingle All the Way.” Nailed it.

Side biz at your main gig: Amazon is using small businesses as delivery partners — think local coffee joints, florists or yoga studios. They say you can make up to $27,000 a year. Apply here.

🤳 Pic pick-me-up: Open your phone’s (or tablet’s) Photos app and search for terms like “selfies,” “dogs,” “sunsets” or even emotions like “happy” to find pictures fitting those descriptions.

For the site you always check: Ahem, like mine. Right-click on a tab in your browser and select Pin. This will shrink it down to a small icon that’s always there.

• I bought this electronic measuring tape for Barry so he could stop asking me to read the regular one for him.
• Stop losing the screws! A magnetic wristband is sweet.
• Flashlight gloves can help them better see under the sink or car — or wherever.
• This 12-in-1 multitool for the outdoorsy person includes needle nose pliers, a pocket knife, a keychain, a bottle opener and more.
• For a less intense multitool option, this one is a pen, ruler, screwdriver, bottle opener, stylus, level and LED flashlight.

🛍️ Stuck? Here are 50 gifts for the hard-to-please people in your life.

A bridge near my house broke last year. I still can’t get over it.

The answer: Elon Musk, who received a Bachelor of Science in Physics and a Bachelor of Science in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business. As for the others, Apple founder Steve Jobs dropped out of Reed College at age 19; Dell’s founder, Michael Dell, dropped out of the University of Texas at Austin at 19; and Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook founder, dropped out of Harvard at age 20.

Did you know back then, before Tesla, Elon Musk was just Lon Musk? (OK, I made that part up.)

🙏 Friends, we did it. You’re tech-smarter. Before you go, do yourself a favor and save 85% right now on TotalAV. It could save you a massive headache down the road if you click a bad link or download something fishy. Appreciate you, and see ya back here tomorrow with the best newsletter in the USA! — Kim