Hi there! Today's issue has a mix of a safety tip worth remembering and two handy free tools you may already have on your phone or Echo speaker.
In today's issue: a simple 9-second habit that can help you spot a scam, a smarter free Alexa upgrade for Amazon Prime members, and a quick way to search anything on your phone's screen.
Let's get started.
STAYING SAFE
9 in 10 Americans Have Already Run Into an AI-Powered Scam — Here's a 9-Second Trick That Helps
A new Consumer Reports survey, out this week, found that 90% of Americans have run into some kind of online scam or cyberattack, and about 17% have actually lost money to one. The report says artificial intelligence is a big reason these scams are getting harder to spot.
Instead of the old scam email full of typos, AI now lets criminals write messages that use your real name, mention your actual bank, or even sound like someone you know — all pulled from personal information that's leaked online. One fraud expert said roughly 1 in 5 scams today has this kind of personal touch, and that share is expected to keep growing.
Takeaway: Safety experts recommend a simple habit called “Take9” — before you click a link, call a number back, or reply to any message that feels urgent, stop and count to nine. That short pause is often enough to notice something's off before you act on it.
— CBS News
TRY THIS
If You Have Amazon Prime, a Much Smarter Alexa Is Already Waiting for You
Amazon has rolled out a new, much more conversational version of its voice assistant called Alexa+, and it's included free for anyone with an Amazon Prime membership — no extra charge. Unlike the older Alexa, which mostly answered one question at a time, Alexa+ can hold an ongoing conversation and remember what you told it earlier.
People are using it for everyday things like planning meals for the week, keeping track of family appointments, ordering takeout, or coordinating a home repair, just by talking normally instead of using specific “command” phrases. If you don't have Prime, there's a more limited free version, or a $19.99-a-month option without Prime.
Takeaway: If you're already paying for Amazon Prime, this upgraded Alexa comes at no extra cost — just say “Alexa, upgrade to Alexa+” to an Echo speaker or visit Alexa.com to switch it on.
— Amazon
TRY THIS
See Something On Your Phone Screen You Want to Know More About? Just Circle It
Many Android phones have a free built-in feature called Circle to Search that lets you ask about anything on your screen without leaving the app you're in. Say a family member texts you a photo of a flower, or you're reading a news article with a word you don't recognize — just press and hold the button or bar at the very bottom of your screen, then circle, scribble on, or tap whatever you want to know more about.
A Google search box pops up with an answer right away, and you can go back to what you were doing with a simple swipe. It works on Google Pixel phones (Pixel 6 and newer) and many Samsung Galaxy phones.
Takeaway: Next time you're curious about something you're already looking at on your phone — a photo, a word, a product — try pressing and holding the bottom of the screen and circling it, instead of switching apps to search separately.
Until tomorrow,
EZ AI