Good morning! If you've ever felt like you're arguing with a robot instead of talking to a real person at a company, today's issue is for you.
In today's issue: a new survey on how people really feel about AI customer service (and a simple way to protect yourself), a free trick for reading any menu or sign in another language, and a free tool that erases photobombers from your pictures with one tap.
Let's get started.
NEWS
A New Survey Finds Most People Think AI Customer Service Is Making Things Worse
If you've ever gotten stuck in a frustrating loop with a company's AI chatbot instead of a real person, you're far from alone. A new survey, reported this week by consumer group CHOICE, found that just over half of people say AI has made their customer service experiences worse — and fewer than one in ten think it's made things better.
The survey also found a connection many people feel instinctively: nearly half of respondents said AI is making scams more common, and seven in ten said businesses shouldn't be trusted to use AI however they want. The worry is that the same technology that writes a chatbot's replies can also write a very convincing fake one — a cloned voice, a fake video, or a fake "customer service agent" designed to get your information or your money.
None of this means every chatbot is dangerous — most are simply there to answer simple questions. But it's a good reminder: if an automated message, call, or chat ever asks you to "verify" your account by giving out a password, card number, or one-time code, stop. Call the company back using the number printed on your card or statement — never a number or link the message itself gives you.
Takeaway: If an AI chatbot or automated call asks you to confirm personal or financial information, stop and contact the company directly using a number you already trust — not one the message gives you.
TRY THIS
Point Your Phone's Camera at a Menu or Sign to Translate It Instantly
Traveling somewhere the menu, a sign, or a letter isn't in English? You don't need to type a single word — just point your phone's camera at it.
On an iPhone, open the built-in Translate app, tap the camera icon, and aim it at the text. A translation appears right over the original words on your screen; tap the shutter button if you want to freeze the image and read it more slowly.
On an Android phone, open the Google app, tap the camera-shaped Lens icon inside the search bar, and choose Translate. Point your camera at the text the same way, and the English translation appears right on screen.
Both tools are completely free and already built into your phone (or the free Google app) — no download, no sign-up, no subscription.
Takeaway: Next time you're facing a menu, sign, or letter you can't read, open Translate (iPhone) or Google Lens (Android) and just point your camera at it.
— CyberGuy
TRY THIS
Erase a Photobomber or Trash Can From Your Photos With One Tap
Ever take a perfect picture, only to notice a stranger, a trash can, or a stray elbow sneaking into the background? There's a free tool already sitting in your phone that can fix it.
It's called Magic Eraser, and it lives inside the Google Photos app — the same free app most Android and iPhone users already have for storing photos. Open the photo, tap Edit, then Tools, then Magic Eraser. The tool often highlights the unwanted object automatically; tap it to remove it, or just brush your finger over anything else you want gone.
Tap Done, and Google Photos saves a new copy with the fix — your original photo stays untouched, so there's no risk of losing it.
Google made this feature free for everyone a while back, so there's no subscription or Pixel phone required — just the regular Google Photos app, on either iPhone or Android.
Takeaway: Open any photo in Google Photos, tap Edit > Tools > Magic Eraser, and brush away anything you wish wasn't in the picture.
Until tomorrow,
EZ AI