Hi there! Another day, another batch of AI news worth knowing about — some of it protective, some of it just plain useful.
In today’s issue: a weight-loss scam using fake celebrity videos, a brand-new Fitbit with an AI health coach, and a free tool that reads your confusing documents out loud.
Let’s get started.
STAYING SAFE
That Weight-Loss Video With Oprah’s “Endorsement”? It’s Probably Fake
The Better Business Bureau has been tracking a wave of complaints — more than 170 in just two months, from people in 35 states — about a weight-loss supplement called LipoMax, sold under the viral “pink salt trick” name.
Several people said they bought it after seeing an online video that appeared to show someone like Oprah Winfrey, or a doctor, personally recommending it. Those videos were AI-generated fakes. Oprah never endorsed the product, and the company behind LipoMax says it doesn’t create or control the ads — it blames outside affiliate marketers.
After paying as much as $300 for a starter supply, some buyers said a “coach” then pressured them to spend hundreds more on extra supplements. Others ran into billing problems, nonexistent customer service, or supplements that simply didn’t work.
Takeaway: If an online ad shows a celebrity enthusiastically backing a miracle weight-loss product, assume it could be an AI fake until you’ve looked the company up yourself on bbb.org.
NEWS
Google’s New Fitness Tracker Has an AI “Coach” That Explains Your Health Changes
On October 12, Google introduced a new fitness tracker called the Fitbit Edge. It has a bigger, brighter screen than Google’s earlier wrist trackers, costs $179.99, and starts shipping October 27.
The headline feature is something Google calls Health Coach — a built-in AI assistant that looks at your heart rate, sleep, and activity patterns over time and explains, in plain language, what’s changed and why. It can also help you get ready for a doctor’s visit by summing up your recent health trends so you have something concrete to talk about.
One important thing to know: Google says Health Coach is meant for general wellness, not for diagnosing anything — the device itself is “not intended for medical purposes,” so it’s a helpful extra, not a replacement for your doctor. To use it, you’ll need a reasonably recent iPhone or Android phone, a free Google account, and the Google Health app; the full Health Coach experience also requires a Google Health Premium subscription, though new buyers get three months free.
Takeaway: If you or someone you love is a longtime Fitbit fan, this new $179.99 tracker’s big draw is an AI assistant that explains your health trends in plain English — just know the full coaching features need a paid subscription after the three-month free trial.
TRY THIS
Turn a Confusing Letter or Document Into a Podcast You Can Listen To
Have you ever gotten a letter from your insurance company, a lease, or a doctor’s after-visit summary that was so dense you gave up halfway through? Google has a free tool that can turn that document into a spoken conversation explaining it to you — almost like a podcast.
The tool is called Gemini Notebook (it was recently renamed from its old name, NotebookLM, so you may still see that name around). Here’s how to use it: go to notebooklm.google.com on your phone or computer’s web browser and sign in with a free Google account — the same kind you’d use for Gmail. Upload the document, or just paste in the text, then look for a button labeled “Audio Overview” and tap it.
After a few minutes, you’ll get an audio recording of two AI voices discussing your document together in a relaxed, back-and-forth conversation, hitting the key points and explaining anything confusing. One caveat: it’s free to use, but Google notes the AI conversation can occasionally get a detail wrong, so treat it as a helpful starting point — not the final word, especially for anything medical, legal, or financial.
Takeaway: Next time a letter or document has you stumped, paste it into notebooklm.google.com and tap “Audio Overview” — in a few minutes you’ll have an easy-to-follow conversation explaining it back to you.
Until tomorrow,
EZ AI