Good morning! Today’s issue has a real piece of school-privacy news that just took effect, a fun free trick for your Facebook profile picture, and a warning worth passing along before anyone in the family shops for an RV online.
In today’s issue: a new, legally binding privacy standard for schools using Microsoft’s AI tools, how to turn your Facebook profile picture into a little animated video for free, and how to spot an AI-faked RV dealership before you send any money.
Let’s get started.
NEWS
Starting Today, Schools That Use Microsoft’s AI Have to Follow New Privacy Rules
As of today, November 1, a new set of rules officially kicks in for schools that use Microsoft’s technology — things like Teams, Copilot, or other Microsoft AI tools in the classroom. Microsoft worked out the agreement with the American Federation of Teachers, one of the country’s largest teachers’ unions, and it’s now written directly into Microsoft’s contracts with school districts nationwide, which makes it legally enforceable rather than just a promise in a press release.
The rules say Microsoft can’t use students’ or teachers’ information to train its AI systems, can’t sell that data or use it to show ads, and can’t track students without a good safety reason. They also ban “AI companions” — chatbots built to feel like a student’s friend and keep them chatting longer than they should. And they require that a real person, not just an AI program, be involved in any decision that actually affects a student.
If Microsoft breaks these promises, school districts are allowed to cancel their contracts and seek damages — this isn’t a voluntary guideline, it’s a binding deal.
Takeaway: If a grandchild, child, or spouse works or studies at a school that uses Microsoft tools, it’s now fair to ask the school whether it follows this new privacy standard — it’s a real, enforceable protection as of today, not just marketing language.
— Engadget
TRY THIS
Turn Your Facebook Profile Picture Into a Little Animated Video — for Free
Facebook has added a few playful AI tools that are worth trying if you’re on the app, and none of them cost anything. The best-known one lets you turn an ordinary photo into a few seconds of gentle motion for your profile picture — a soft wave, a sprinkle of confetti, or a flutter of hearts.
To try it, pick a clear photo of one person facing the camera — it works best without anything covering the face or hands — then look for the option to animate your profile picture the next time you go to update it. Facebook offers a handful of built-in animation styles to pick from; once you choose one, it posts to your Feed and shows on your profile.
There’s also a second tool called “Restyle” for photos in your Stories or Memories. You either describe how you’d like a photo to look (something like “make it look like a painting”) or pick a ready-made style, and Facebook’s AI changes it for you. Nothing is posted or changed unless you choose to share it.
Takeaway: Next time you update your Facebook profile picture, look for the option to animate it — it’s free, takes seconds, and nothing posts unless you choose to share it.
STAYING SAFE
Shopping for an RV Online? Watch Out for This AI-Boosted Dealer Scam
If you or someone in your family is shopping for an RV, camper, or other big-ticket item through a Facebook ad, the Better Business Bureau has a warning worth knowing. It investigated a company calling itself “Accelerated Motors LLC” that advertised RVs for sale on Facebook and listed a headquarters address in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. When the BBB checked, that address turned out to be an empty parking lot — no RVs, no dealership, nothing there at all.
The company’s website photos appeared to be AI-altered versions of that same real-world address, dressed up to look like an actual dealership lot. The business also wasn’t licensed to sell vehicles in Louisiana, which the state requires of every RV dealer. The case has since been referred to the FTC, the Louisiana Attorney General’s office, and the FBI.
This kind of scam isn’t limited to RVs — the BBB says it has seen the same pattern (a tempting price, AI-polished photos, a real address that doesn’t match what’s actually there) used to sell fake mobile homes, too. Scammers count on a good deal making people move fast instead of checking carefully.
Takeaway: Before paying for any RV, vehicle, or big-ticket item found online, type the seller’s listed address into Google Maps yourself to see what’s really there, and verify the dealer’s license with your state before sending any money.
Until tomorrow,
EZ AI