Good morning! Today we've got a mix of helpful news and a couple of things worth knowing before you start your day.
In today's issue: new hearing-assistance glasses from Meta, a handy free trick for your Alexa speaker, and an important warning about a scary new phone scam making the rounds.
Let's get started.
NEWS
Meta's New Glasses Can Help You Hear Better — No Doctor Visit Needed
Meta (the company behind Facebook and Instagram) just announced a new feature for its AI-powered glasses that works like a hearing aid. It's built into select Ray-Ban and Meta smart glasses, and it's designed for adults with mild to moderate hearing loss.
There's no prescription or audiologist visit required — you set it up yourself at home in a few minutes. It's cleared by the FDA (the government agency that approves medical devices). It will cost $149.99 when it launches in the US later this year, or it's included if you already pay for a Meta subscription.
Meta also showed off a smarter AI assistant for the glasses, called Muse. It can answer questions about whatever you're looking at, just by saying its name out loud.
Takeaway: If you or someone you love struggles to hear conversations clearly, these glasses could be a low-cost, no-hassle option worth trying when they launch later this year.
TRY THIS
Ask Alexa to Tell You the Moment Something You Care About Happens
If you have an Amazon Echo speaker, or just the free Alexa app on your phone, there's a simple new trick worth trying.
Just say, “Alexa, update me when…” and finish the sentence with whatever you're waiting on — a favorite author releasing a new book, a concert going on sale, or a show coming back. Alexa will keep an eye out and let you know the moment it happens, so you don't have to keep checking websites yourself.
This is part of a free update Amazon rolled out on September 1. You can set up as many of these alerts as you like, on anything from a singer's tour dates to a product you've been waiting to come back in stock.
Takeaway: Try asking Alexa to watch for one thing you've been checking on yourself, and let it do the waiting for you.
STAYING SAFE
That “You're Under Arrest” Video Call Is a Scam — Even If It Looks Official
A frightening scam is spreading across the US. Someone calls claiming to be a police officer or federal agent, gets you on a video call, and says you're under arrest for something like money laundering. Scammers sometimes keep people on the line for hours, out of fear.
These scammers are now using AI to fake official-looking arrest warrants or court documents, to make the threat feel more convincing.
Here's the good news: real law enforcement never works this way. A genuine arrest warrant or court order arrives by mail or in person from an actual officer — never over a phone call, video chat, email, or social media message. If you ever get a call like this, hang up immediately. You won't get in trouble for hanging up, and a real officer will never mind that you took time to verify.
Takeaway: If anyone calls or video-calls claiming you're under arrest, hang up — real police never make first contact that way.
— AARP
Until tomorrow,
EZ AI