Hey there, happy Tuesday, friend.Think about the last time you went to the doctor. Got that experience in your mind? I read a study in JAMA Internal Medicine that should make every MD a little nervous. A panel of experts used patient questions to compare answers, half of which were from real doctors, the other half from an AI chatbot. The catch? The panel had no idea who wrote what. They were looking for the most accurate and human responses.
🩺 So who provided the higher quality and more empathetic answers? A) The human doctors, B) The AI chatbot or C) It was a tie. Take a guess, any guess. The answer to who had the best bedside manner is at the end.
🎯 This is the in-between week: The holidays are over, January hasn't started, and this is when cravings and old habits sneak back in. If you want support for appetite control, metabolism and feeling satisfied without injections or extremes, this is it. ImproveLife GLP-1 Support works with real life, not perfect routines. Get up to 30% off, free shipping and a free gift.**
🍪 Know someone who thinks deleting their cookies makes them invisible to the FBI? Do them a favor and forward this. It's the easiest way to make them tech-smarter, and it helps keep this newsletter free for everyone. Thank you! — Kim
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TODAY'S DEEP DIVE
Prep your digital afterlife
Image: Gemini
This is not a happy topic. But it's essential advice whether you're 30 or 90.
If something happened to you tomorrow, could your family get into your digital life? I'm talking about your bank accounts, emails, crypto and a lifetime of memories stored on your phone or computer.
Big Tech and other companies won't hand over your data or passwords, even to a spouse, without a hassle, if at all.
1️⃣ The 10-minute setup
Start with a Legacy Contact. Think of someone you trust who gets access only after you're gone. Who is that? Good.
iPhone: Open Settings > tap [Your Name]. Tap Sign-In & Security > Legacy Contact. Go to Add Legacy Contact and follow the prompts.
Google: Search for Inactive Account Manager in your Google Account settings. Choose how long Google should wait before acting (e.g., three months). Add up to 10 people to be notified, and choose which data (Photos, Drive, Gmail) they can download.
2️⃣ The master key problem
Apple and Google don't help with banking, insurance, investment or other sites or apps. You need a solid password manager that offers emergency access features.
Open your Password Manager and look for Emergency Access.
Add a Digital Heir: Enter the email of a spouse or trusted child.
Set the Safety Delay: Choose a wait period, usually 7 days is the sweet spot.
How it works: If your contact ever requests access, the app sends you an alert. If you're fine, you hit Deny. But if you're incapacitated and can't respond within those seven days, the vault automatically unlocks for them.
Crypto: Without your seed phrases, that money is gone. Store them physically along with any instructions and receipts of you buying crypto with your estate paperwork. If you use a crypto hardware wallet, keep that in a fireproof safe(9% off, $68).
Social media: On Facebook or Instagram, go to Settings > Memorialization. Choose to either have your account deleted or managed by a contact who can post a final tribute.
One more thing. Be sure someone knows the passcode to your phone. That's important for 2FA codes, among other things.
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IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
Carry it into January
This is the week momentum quietly gets decided.
The holidays are winding down, routines are still uneven, and it's easy to tell yourself you'll start fresh later. I didn't want something extreme or demanding. I wanted support that worked with real life, especially in weeks like this.
AI is now in the exam room. Here's how it's changing your doctor's visit. I'll also take you inside Raya, the exclusive dating app for celebrities and CEOs. Plus, the FBI's latest email scam warning and the next generation of big-screen TVs.
🎧 Or listen now wherever you get your podcasts, search for "Komando."
WEB WATERCOOLER
⚠️ Your iPhone and iPad need this: Apple dropped an emergency update for iPhones and iPads to block a terrifying zero-day hack. If you haven't installed iOS 26.2 yet, hackers could hijack your phone from you opening the wrong website. Yes, really. Go to Settings > General > Software Update. Go update. I'll wait. Android folks, carry on.
Eye in the sky: Your next ticket might come from a police drone. Florida cops are using drones to yell at beachgoers after hours. No joke, they even blast a "leave now" recording from above. Around 6,000 police units nationwide have drone programs (paywall link), and some are even issuing fines. Elk Grove, CA, pulled in $300K+ from drone-driven fines on July 4 alone. Looking forward to the next episode of COPS: Sky Edition.
💼 Malcolm out the Middle: Companies are gutting middle management, especially now that AI can schedule meetings, write reports and (badly) simulate empathy. A new global survey says 41% of workers have already seen layers trimmed. And next year? One in five companies may axe half their managers. But many of these roles hold companies together. I know management gets a lot of flak, but it's like ripping out the glue because you found tape.
Find My daughter: A 15-year-old girl in Texas was walking her dog on Christmas Day and vanished. Her dad, worried sick, used iPhone tracking tools to track her. He finds her 2 miles away in a wooded area, trapped in a truck with a half-naked man. She escapes, he calls 911, and now the 23-year-old perp is in jail. Let this be a reminder that built-in parental controls and phone tracking like Apple's Find My can literally save lives.
🤖 Robopocalypse starter kit: Another day, another Terminator cutscene. At GEEKcon in Shanghai, a cybersecurity team hacked a humanoid robot in under a minute. Then they used it to wirelessly infect another robot nearby, which wasn't even online. As a finale? The hacked robot physically hit a mannequin. Cybersecurity experts are calling it a major security breach, but I call it "Assault and Battery." Get it? Tough crowd today!
A homeowner's nightmare in Hawaii: Investigators say two men forged signatures and notary stamps to transfer ownership of more than a dozen properties, including one owned by a deceased woman. Her family had no idea until the paperwork was already recorded at the county office. That's title theft, and once a scammer files it, you're the one proving the house you live in is actually yours. I use Home Title Lock because it monitors my titles 24/7 and alerts me to suspicious activity before it becomes a legal fight. Get 20% off any plan and a free Title History Report.*
DIGITAL LIFE HACK
Tricks for a cheap airport Uber
You've spent thousands on your trip. The last thing you want are sky-high fares. Here's how to get ahead of the surge pricing.
🎧 Or listen now wherever you get your podcasts, search for "Komando."
DEALS OF THE DAY
🥣 Going stir-crazy?
Oops, it's in the bag now:Lanpard Faraday Pouch 2-Pack($15). Here's that handy link that didn't work for some of you yesterday. Sorry about that. Order now to protect yourself.
Now, onto kitchen helpers won't just sit in a drawer.
Old mixer on its last legs? Upgrade to one with digital controls. Nine speeds are strong enough for dough and gentle enough for frosting. Everything snaps into a tidy case.
Image: Yomelo
☕ Morning MVP: The double-wall design on this French press(18% off, $37) keeps drinks hot. Plus, the filtration system prevents stray grounds from sneaking into your cup.
🐶 Mess contained: This silicone pet feeding mat(24% off, $35) has raised edges. Catches spills, splashes and mystery drips before your floor pays the price.
Leftovers, leveled up: These airtight glass storage containers(22% off, $39) seal in the freshness. They come with BPA-free glass lids and protective silicone sleeves.
🔥 Coming in hot:Find 35 more must-haves on my Amazon shop. All smart, practical picks that earn their keep.
DEVICE ADVICE
⚡️ 3-second tech genius: Heading to a New Year's Eve party tomorrow? Don't use AI to write a boring toast. Use it to be the most interesting person in the room.
The Sommelier Hack: Take a photo of a wine or whiskey bottle at the bar and ask ChatGPT or Gemini: "I'm at a party drinking this. Give me three pretentious tasting notes and a fun historical fact I can tell my friends." Suddenly, you're the most sophisticated guest there.
The Icebreaker Generator: If the conversation hits a lull, prompt: "Give me three would you rather questions themed around 2025 tech disasters and 2026 predictions."
The Designated Hero Mixologist: Instead of a basic drink list, tell the AI exactly what's on the counter: "I have cranberry juice, ginger ale and some old limes. Give me a fancy-sounding mocktail recipe I can make in 30 seconds."
A fresh start on YouTube: With 2026 almost here, reset your recommendations. Sign into YouTube on your desktop, select History on the left side of the screen, then click Clear all watch history on the right. While you're there, unsubscribe from channels you no longer watch. So long, mukbang videos.
Unlock your Mac with your Apple Watch: Stop typing your password every time. On your Mac, go to System Settings > Touch ID & Password, scroll down and toggle on your Apple Watch. Wear your watch and ensure Bluetooth and Wi-Fi are enabled. Now when your Mac wakes up, it unlocks automatically if your watch is nearby.
🪄 Windows vanishing trick: If your screen is packed with open apps, try the Title bar window shake. Click and hold the top bar of the window you want to focus on, then give it a quick shake with your mouse. Everything else minimizes. Shake it again, and they come back. Not working? Turn it on in Settings > System > Multi-tasking > Title bar window shake.
WHAT THE TECH?
Image: Foundation Future Industries
🪖 GI Joe bot
The U.S. military has always had the coolest toys. Think stealth fighters, Nighthawks and bazookas. But the Pentagon's next big shopping list is different.
A startup called Foundation Future Industries is pitching Uncle Sam on a literal droid army of 50,000 humanoid robots by 2027. Meet Phantom. He's human-size, weighs 175 pounds and can tote 44 pounds of gear without complaining about mess hall food.
Phantom's job? He's the guy who climbs the stairs, kicks in the door first and clears the room while the humans stay back in safety. He can carry a rifle, but for now, he still needs a human to give the thumbs-up before he pulls the trigger.
💰 The kicker: Foundation doesn't want the military to buy these robots. They want to lease them for $100,000 per robot, per year. If they hit their goal of 50,000 droids, that's a $5 billion-a-year subscription service. I'm in the wrong business.
LOGGING OUT …
Coming up tomorrow: The Great Opt-Out. Did you know Big Tech quietly changed the rules while you weren't looking? This past year, Meta, Google and LinkedIn automatically opted you into donating your personal info to train their AI. I'll show you exactly where the hidden toggles are buried to shut down the data-slurping bots for good.
🤖 The answer: B) The AI chatbot. That 2024 study sent shock waves through the stethoscope crowd. GPT-4's (remember that dinosaur?) responses to patient questions were ranked as more accurate, and nearly 10x more empathetic, than those from real-life doctors.
Why does this matter? Because late this year, major players like Microsoft and Google started licensing this "empathy engine" into hospital systems. Which means by 2026, your next "How long will this cough last?" might be answered by a super-sweet-sounding server rack.
One for the road: My doctor diagnosed me with Autocorrect Syndrome. I didn't even know I was I'll. (lol)
⭐ Don't lose momentum now: Stay steady, feel satisfied longer and head into the new year already in control. Get up to 30% off, free shipping and a bonus travel supplement case. The easiest way to start January strong is not slipping at the end of December.**
✌️ Until next time, if your Wi-Fi is acting sluggish, give the router a stern look and a reboot. Sometimes tech just needs to be reminded who pays the electric bill. — Kim
Photo credit(s):Gemini, Yomelo, Foundation Future Industries
Companies and products denoted by an asterisk (*) within this publication are paid sponsors or advertisements. As an Amazon Associate, the publisher earns from qualifying purchases. Statements regarding products denoted by a double asterisk (**) have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration; such products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. This newsletter is provided for informational and entertainment purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, medical, or professional advice of any kind. Readers should consult with a qualified professional before making any decisions based on this content. The publisher disclaims all liability for any loss, damage, or injury resulting from the use of or reliance on the information contained herein.
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