Say it with me: “It’s a wonderful, tech-tastic Wednesday, friends!” Here’s today’s tech brain teaser. What is the bestselling album of all time? Is it … A) "Thriller" by Michael Jackson, B) "The Dark Side of the Moon" by Pink Floyd, C) "Back in Black" by AC/DC or D) "The Beatles" by The Beatles? You’ll find the answer at the end.

💬 Always wanted to learn a new language? Lucky you! Babbel is our partner in today’s newsletter, and you can save a huge 55% with my special link. Supporting our sponsors supports this free newsletter, so thanks in advance! — Kim

There's a good chance you've been hit with insurance rate hikes — and it's not just you. Within the past year, about one-third of us have been hit with increases to the tune of 17%, on average.

Insurance companies blame it on rising costs and lower availability of car parts — and, of course, more expensive claims.

That’s right: They’re raising rates to keep up with those pricey claims, all while turning a profit. And, not surprisingly, they're using data tracking and AI to make it all happen.

Let’s get into what's really going on and what you can do to cut your insurance costs.

A whole new world

Business Insider dove into the secretive world of the insurance industry — and it's not pretty. Back in the day, your insurance policy was based on simple demographic data points. Think 36-year-old woman in Phoenix. That's it.

With AI tech and more data than ever at their fingertips, insurers now know exactly how much customers are willing to pay.

"Price optimization" feeds consumer data into an algorithm that spits out a personalized price for each customer. It's based on how risky a person is to insure but also considers predicted profits they would deliver for as long as they're a policyholder.

Insurance companies look at many data points, including if you've recently had your roof replaced and what you eat regularly. They can even check your social media posts and know if you're a smoker.

What's that got to do with how well you drive? Not much, to be honest. But it has everything to do with making it harder to find a good deal.

Like they’re in the car with you

Although 68% of Americans oppose using an app that collects driving data, it hasn't stopped insurance companies from forcing it on us.

If you're a high-risk driver, your insurance company might make you use a tracking device to maintain coverage. It's like a health insurer who mandates participation in a corporate wellness program. In both cases, these companies get access to a ton of data on you.

Smart savings tips

There's no clear way to beat your insurance company's AI tracking measures. But these practical savings tips go a long way, even in what feels like an ever-evolving sci‑fi movie:

• Compare quotes from several insurance providers to find the best deal. Some sites do it for you, like Gabi.
• Look at your current policy and drop unnecessary coverages. For example, if you only drive locally, you might not need 24/7 roadside assistance.
• Take advantage of discounts. Many insurance companies offer savings for bundling your homeowner’s or renter’s insurance with your auto coverage.
• Raise your deductible to lower your premium payments. Remember, this also means you'll pay more if you have to file a claim. Only do this if your budget can handle that.

✅ Use the buttons below to share this important info with your family and friends. And while you’re at it, tell them this joke: I just checked my home insurance policy. If my blanket is stolen in the middle of the night, I'm not covered. (Ba‑dum‑tss!)

There are a whole lot of ways to waste time on our phones and computers. What if you used a few of those free minutes to learn a new language?

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From the “Finally!” department: In a new lawsuit, 42 state attorneys general — both Republicans and Democrats — say Facebook and Instagram are purposefully designed to addict kids and keep them online longer. The suit also claims the platforms cause mental health damage and eating disorders through photo filters and likes. This is the first lawsuit that could fundamentally change these sites.

Hack-GPT: Scientists are talking about how AI tools like ChatGPT can be used to launch a massive cyberattack. A layperson can ask it to write strings of malicious code to bring down a network. OpenAI, maker of ChatGPT, says it closed that loophole, so don’t worry about it. From what I’ve seen and read, this major problem is something to worry about.

Remind the kids: Twitch is the go-to hangout for kids to watch gaming legends in action. Nearly 50% of young Twitch users are spilling their real names and locations. Keep an eye on what the kiddos are up to because there are a lot of wackos on the internet.

📺 For your watchlist: “Old Dads” is the No. 1 comedy on Netflix right now, and I’ve heard it’s hilarious. It was written by and stars comedian Bill Burr. He plays one of three 50-something dads who sell their company to a millennial and feel, well, old.

Don’t buy a new Mac yet: Apple’s "Scary Fast" event is Oct. 30 at 8 p.m. EST. It’ll reveal new Macs with a zippier M3 chip. Usually, Apple holds these releases during the day. Looks like cheap programming to me. The Sept. 7 event had 19,006,690 views.

Taboo tablets: A mom went viral showing off a puzzle game full of s*x and violence on her little one’s Amazon Kids tablet. Amazon says, nope, that wasn’t an approved game and a parent must have OK’d it. If your kid has one of these tablets, scan it every so often for anything they shouldn’t have installed on there.

Turoble: Imagine this: Someone shatters every window in your rental car, sticking you with a $35,000 bill. That happened to a California man who rented from the car-sharing company Turo. He declined liability insurance. His insurance and credit card companies say, “Sorry, you’re on your own.” My advice: Get the insurance if you ever rent from Turo.

🦅 Finders keepers: You have to see this video. A Redditor was zooming his drone through Red Rocks country in Utah when — poof! — an eagle stole the drone mid-flight. (The smash-and-grab is 42 seconds in.) The guy says he got a free drone replacement. Bet they’ve never heard that excuse before — but he had the footage to prove it.

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

Choose your platform below to listen:

Google always seems to know just what you want, and it’s not in your head. It tracks every search, click, message and request. Now and then, clear your search history and activity. Here’s how:

• Go to myaccount.google.com and log in.
• Click Data & privacy in the left-hand menu.
• You’ll see checkmarks next to Web & App Activity, Location History and YouTube History. Click each one to adjust your settings. Toggle them Off to stop further tracking if you choose.

Pro tip: You can also set up auto-delete to clear future activity every three, 18 or 36 months. I highly suggest you enable it.

🏃‍♀️ Keep going! 3 more Google privacy settings to change →

You’re the apple of my sockeye.

The answer: Released on Nov. 30, 1982, by Epic Records and produced by Quincy Jones, Michael Jackson's "Thriller" shattered sales records and remains the bestselling album of all time, with well over 100 million copies sold worldwide.

🧟‍♂️ Here’s what AI thinks Michael Jackson would look like if he were alive today. Scary!

Put your time to good use and pick up Dutch, Spanish, Japanese — whatever language you’ve been meaning to learn all these years. Try Babbel and save 55% with my link. Thanks for getting tech-smart with me. It’s a ton of fun! — Kim