Good morning! Hope you're having a relaxing Sunday.
In today's issue: a new AI tool that can look at your bank statements for you, a new federal task force going after AI-related crime, and a free new way to get a show recommendation right from your TV screen.
Let's get started.
NEWS
A New AI Tool Will Look at Your Bank Statements for You — Here's What to Know
You've probably heard of AI chatbots like ChatGPT or Gemini answering questions or writing emails. Now one of them, called Claude (made by a company called Anthropic), has added something new: you can connect your bank and credit card accounts to it, then ask it questions about your own spending.
Here's how it works. You link your accounts using a well-known service called Plaid, which many banking apps already use behind the scenes — Claude never sees your actual bank password. Once it's connected, you can ask things like “How much did I spend on groceries last month?” and it will look through up to two years of your past transactions and give you a plain-English answer, or even a simple chart.
Importantly, this feature can only look — it cannot move your money, pay a bill, or buy anything. This is still a test version, only available in the U.S., and only to people who pay for one of Claude's higher-cost plans. If letting any AI chatbot look at your finances doesn't sit right with you, that's a completely reasonable call — your own bank's app can usually show you the same kind of spending summary for free.
Takeaway: AI tools that can review your spending can be handy for spotting a forgotten subscription or a duplicate charge — but always double-check anything important against your real bank statement, and only use one if you're comfortable with it.
NEWS
The Government Just Formed a New Team to Go After AI-Related Crime
It's easy to feel like scammers and criminals are the only ones using AI for mischief these days. So here's a reassuring bit of news: the U.S. Department of Justice announced a new group called the Super Intelligence Task Force.
In plain terms, this team's job is to organize how federal prosecutors go after people who misuse AI — including foreign criminal groups, and individuals or companies committing fraud using AI tools.
This doesn't change anything you personally need to do — there's no new phone number to call or app to download. But it's a sign that federal law enforcement is paying closer attention to AI-related fraud, the same kinds of scam calls, fake texts, and cloned voices this newsletter often warns about.
Takeaway: No action needed on your part, but it's worth knowing that the federal government has stood up a dedicated team specifically to pursue AI-related fraud and crime.
TRY THIS
Can't Decide What to Watch? Ask Alexa Right From Your TV Screen
If you have a Fire TV device, Amazon is about to make it easier to get a show recommendation without endless scrolling. Starting this November, a new area is rolling out to the Fire TV home screen with ready-made questions you can ask Alexa+, Amazon's AI assistant — things like what to watch based on your recent viewing.
It also remembers conversations you've had with Alexa+ on other devices, like an Echo speaker or the Alexa app on your phone, so you can pick up where you left off right on your TV.
The good news: this is free for anyone with an Amazon Prime membership, no extra subscription needed. It's starting to roll out in the U.S. this month on newer Fire TV devices — if you don't see it on your screen yet, check back in the coming weeks.
Takeaway: If you have a Fire TV device, keep an eye out for a new Alexa+ area on your home screen this month — it's a free way to get a show recommendation just by asking.
Until tomorrow,
EZ AI