Good morning! Hope you’re having a cozy start to your week.
In today’s issue: a new AI scam warning worth knowing before you shop online this holiday season, a free iPhone trick for shrinking down a long email or text, and a free AI helper already built into Word, Excel, and Outlook.
Let’s get started.
STAYING SAFE
Getting Ready to Shop Online for the Holidays? There’s a New AI Scam Warning Worth Knowing
If you’ll be doing any holiday shopping online this year, it’s worth hearing this: Canada’s national cyber-security agency put out shopping-season guidance this month warning that AI is now being used to build fake online stores, fake product reviews, and fake ads that look every bit as polished and trustworthy as the real thing. The guidance makes an important point worth remembering any time you shop online: AI can’t tell you whether a seller is honest — it can only make a fake one look more convincing. So checking things out yourself still matters, maybe more than ever.
A few simple habits go a long way. Before buying from a store you don’t already know, search its name along with the word “reviews” or “scam.” Make sure the website address starts with “https” and is spelled correctly (scammers love swapping a letter for a similar-looking number). And never pay by gift card, wire transfer, or cryptocurrency — real stores don’t ask for those.
If something does go wrong, call your bank or card company right away, and don’t be embarrassed to tell a family member. Scammers count on people staying quiet out of embarrassment.
Takeaway: Before buying from an online store you don’t already know and trust, look up independent reviews yourself and never pay by gift card, wire transfer, or cryptocurrency — AI can make a fake storefront look real, but it can’t make it safe.
TRY THIS
Try This: Let Your iPhone Shrink Down a Long Email or Text for You
Got a long email from your doctor’s office, a wordy message in a family group chat, or a long article you don’t have time to read closely? Newer iPhones can already shrink it down for you, for free. It’s a built-in feature called Writing Tools, and it works inside the Notes, Mail, and Messages apps, and even on web pages in Safari.
Select the block of text you want help with, wait for the small toolbar to pop up above it, and tap “Writing Tools.” From there, tap “Summarize” for a short paragraph covering just the main points, or “Key Points” for a quick bulleted list instead. There’s also “Proofread,” which quietly catches typos and grammar slips and lets you accept or skip each fix one at a time.
This does require a newer phone — an iPhone 15 Pro, 15 Pro Max, or any iPhone 16 or 17 model, running iOS 18.1 or later — but it costs nothing extra and needs no account or sign-up. If you don’t see “Writing Tools” show up, check Settings, then “Apple Intelligence & Siri,” to make sure it’s turned on.
Takeaway: On a newer iPhone, select any long text, tap “Writing Tools,” then “Summarize” — it’s already built in and completely free, no extra app required.
— Asurion
TRY THIS
Try This: A Free AI Helper Is Already Sitting Inside Word, Excel, and Outlook
If you use Microsoft Word, Excel, or Outlook — on a work computer, a library computer, or your own — there’s a free AI assistant called Copilot Chat already built into those programs, no download required. Open any of those apps and look for a chat icon, usually in the upper right corner or a side panel.
Type a plain-English question, like “summarize this document” or “what are the three main points in this letter,” and it writes you a short answer right there. It can also help check a document for mistakes, explain a confusing spreadsheet, or help you draft a reply to an email — all without leaving the program you’re already in.
Microsoft made this basic chat free for every Microsoft 365 user. You don’t need the paid “Copilot Pro” subscription to use it; that paid version just adds extra features for people who want more.
Takeaway: Open Word, Excel, or Outlook, find the Copilot chat icon, and ask it in plain English to summarize or explain whatever you’re looking at — it’s free and already there.
— PCWorld
Until tomorrow,
EZ AI