Woah, it's Friday, friend.I need to talk about something that's been keeping me up at night. AI influencers are making real money now. Like, serious money. Some have more followers than people who actually exist, including yours truly. We're talking millions. I'm out here busting my butt to create content with my real human brain and hands, and I'm getting beat by someone's AI slop project.
💅 Quick quiz: How much can a top AI influencer pull in per social media post? A) $500, B) $2,000, C) $10,000 or D) Over $15,000. Take your best guess, the answer's at the end.
📦 This newsletter gets packed with my ultimate care, not clickbait. If you think someone in your world would enjoy it, hit forward and share the good. That one action keeps this project alive and growing in a crowded inbox world. — Kim
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TODAY'S DEEP DIVE
Recession-proof retro
Image: ChatGPT
⚡ TL;DR (THE SHORT VERSION)
Old iPods, first-gen iPhones and vintage video games are selling for hundreds, sometimes thousands, on eBay.
A first-gen iPod goes for $200 to $29,000.
Best places to sell: eBay, Facebook Marketplace and local retro gaming stores.
📖 Read time: 2.5 minutes
I want you to do something for me this weekend. Go to that drawer or closet in your house, you know the one.
Dead batteries, tangled cables, old video games, maybe an iPod you haven't touched since 2014. That junk might be worth serious cash.
📱 Old iPods
Apple killed the iPod in 2022, and now everyone wants one. Funny how that works.
1st-gen iPod Classic (the chunky white brick from 2001): $200-$500 used, up to $1,000 with the box
iPod Mini: $20-$200 depending on condition
iPod Nano: $30-$250 for sealed early models
A sealed 1st-gen sold for $29,000 in 2023. Even your scratched-up old Classic? $50-$100.
📞 Old iPhones
Still have an original 2007 iPhone that only worked on AT&T? Sit down for this.
1st-gen iPhone (sealed): $30,000-$190,000
1st-gen iPhone (opened, mint): A few thousand
1st-gen iPhone (used, scratched): Still potentially $500+
It needs to be pristine or sealed. But still, worth checking.
🎮 Vintage video games
Got old Nintendo cartridges? Some are worth more than a new PS5.
Original Game Boy: $50-$150, rare editions up to $3,000
Tamagotchi: $20-$300+
Vintage Polaroids: $50-$300
💰 How to sell smart
First, find out what it's actually worth. Go to eBay, search your item and filter by Sold Items. That's real money, not fantasy prices.
Then pick your platform:
eBay: Best reach for collectibles, ~13% fees
Facebook Marketplace: No fees if you sell local
Retro gaming stores: Less money, zero hassle
That junk is a scratch-off ticket you never checked. Most of it? Worthless. But one forgotten iPod or dusty cartridge could pay for dinner, a weekend getaway or a whole lot more.
So go look. Seriously. Do it before someone cleans up and tosses it all. I'm that person in our household. I can't stand clutter.
Know someone who never throws anything away? Forward this to them. They might be sitting on a small fortune and not even know it. Heck, maybe they'll even give you a cut!
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🎧 Or search "Komando" wherever you get your podcasts. I'm everywhere.
WEB WATERCOOLER
🧾 Gig black market: A TransUnion survey of 1,012 gig workers found 45% have rented or sold (paywall link) their Uber, DoorDash and other accounts even though it violates the rules. Why? Folks can't pass background checks, don't have a decent driving history or hit waitlists. Account renting dodges it all. How much? DoorDash for $430, Uber Eats $385, Uber Driver $350. The other day my Instacart alert said, "Jesus is here." I thought, he sure is.
Pixels and predators: Sadly, 1 in 8 kids personally know someone deepfaked (paywall link), and 1 in 4 have seen a sexualized deepfake of someone they recognize. Reports of AI-generated child sexual abuse material went from ~4,700 in 2023 to 440,000+ in the first half of 2025. Lawmakers are waking up, but parents are basically playing defense on a moving treadmill.
A Cadillac arrest: I'm not saying AI is ruining everything, but it's definitely redecorating. Bring a Trailer (BaT) is a big online car auction site where people bid mostly off photos and the listing, so trust is the whole product. That's why it was wild when a 1999 Cadillac DeVille auction went live with AI-touched pics, including an interior where the floor looked like literal cobblestones. Commenters caught it, BaT got roasted, then yanked the listing and apologized.
Tiny pin, big plans: So Apple's building a little AI "pin" you wear like a badge, about AirTag-size but thicker, with two cameras, three mics, a speaker and a button. It could run a new iOS 27-era Siri chatbot (paywall link) and charge like an Apple Watch. Why? Apple wants AI around you, not just in your phone. Might launch around 2027, or get scrapped as early-stage projects do. AI pins have flopped before, like Humane's $699 pin. Just sayin'.
Crime on demand: Cybercrime used to take skill.Now? A teenager with a credit card and a Telegram login can rent AI that writes phishing scripts, clones voices and generates fake faces. Banks are reporting thousands of phony calls. Deepfake identity kits, complete with an AI-generated photo, voice and bogus docs, go for $5. Dark LLMs, uncensored chatbots built to assist with scams, start at $30/month. That's right, crime has AI-powered SaaS now.
🛰️ Bezos beams in: You know how every billionaire eventually invents the same product, only slightly different? Blue Origin is launching TeraWave, a satellite internet constellation for government, enterprise and data center folks. The plan is 5,408 satellites up there, starting launches in late 2027, promising speeds up to 6 Tbps. They're targeting Starlink's market, while Amazon's also building its own competing network. Space capitalism is basically cable companies but with rockets.
Heats up in just 3 seconds. Dial the adjustable thermostat up to 95° F and pick from four modes. Then, relax knowing there are safety features like tip-over and overheat protection built in.
Image: KopBeau
🌡️ Control the cold: Google's Nest thermostat(16% off, $110) lets you tweak temps from your phone and save on energy when no one's home.
Backup warmth: These air-activated hand warmers(10% off, $18, 50-pack) last for up to 15 hours. Perfect for power outages or outdoor chores.
❄️ Chilly gusts? Slide a draft stopper(17% off, $15) under any door. The flexible silicone material bends easily and won't scratch or snag floors.
Protect your pipes: Outdoor faucet covers(21% off, $10, two-pack) help prevent bursts and costly repairs when temps plunge.
Prices and deals were accurate at the time of publication.
DEVICE ADVICE
⚡️ 3-second tech genius: Missing emails in your Gmail inbox? They might be landing in the Promotions or Social tabs. To fix that, drag one of those emails into Primary. When Gmail asks if you want future messages to go there, click Yes. On mobile, open the message and tap Move to.
💾 Data recovery can cost you $3,000: That's a steep price to pay when your hard drive inevitably fails. I use Carbonite to back up my files automatically to the cloud, so I never have to worry about it. If my computer dies, I simply click restore. I recommend this because it works, not because I make a commission. Get 50% off right now and protect your digital life.*
Mute one app, not everything: So you're on your PC and only want to silence a friend sending memes on Telegram. On Windows, go to Settings > System > Notifications, scroll to the app and toggle it off. On Mac, open System Settings > Notifications, select the app under Application Notifications and switch it off. Work pings still come through.
Fire TV Stick remote shortcuts: Here are some combos worth knowing. Long-press Home to open the system menu. To change your screen resolution, hold Up + Rewind for 10-15 seconds. If your Fire TV is acting buggy, press Select + Play/Pause to reboot it. And if it's completely frozen, hold Back + Right to factory reset.
Kindle loophole: You don't always have to pay full price for books. Check Amazon's discounted books page for daily titles that are sometimes under $1. If you're a Prime member, Amazon First Reads gives you one or two free books each month. Or try Libby, an app that lets you borrow ebooks for free with a valid library card.
Turn on keyboard vibration: A subtle buzz can make typing on your phone feel more natural and improve accuracy. On iPhone, open Settings > General > Keyboard and toggle Haptic Feedback. On Android, head to Settings > Sound and vibration > System vibration and turn on Keyboard vibration (path may vary on some Androids).
WHAT THE TECH?
Image: @0xSweep via X
♠️ All in
Online poker has a serious bot problem. Scammers run bot farms. These are rows of computers playing fake accounts that work as a team. While you're trying to read the table, they're sharing cards behind the scenes. When you're statistically weak, they pounce together.
Some sites are cracking down. 888poker refunded $363,000 to players in 2023 and shut down 161 bot accounts. But that's only what they caught.
So that player making suspiciously perfect calls at 2 a.m. with no potty breaks? Might not be human at all.
I'd say call their bluff, but they're not bluffing. They're buffering.
LOGGING OUT …
Tomorrow, I'm going to show you how to save up to 80% on Amazon. There are secret pages where you can score deals on premium tech, kitchen gadgets and more every day. No waiting for a sale. Amazon doesn't want you to find these pages, but I'll give you the links. Also, guess how many times people touch their phones each day. I'll have the answer for you.
The answer: C) $10,000 per sponsored post. That's how much AI influencer Lil Miquela reportedly rakes in, all while being 100% not real. She's worked with Prada, Calvin Klein and Samsung, and has over 2.5 million followers who think she's just another cool girl on Instagram. She's not. She's a startup's digital creation.
She's pixels and code, but I'm a real human who tests this tech and gives you honest takes you can trust.
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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Keep a civil tongue.