About this episode
AI used to create fake receipts: Expense-report fraud is rising as employees use AI to generate realistic receipts. Companies report millions in fake submissions. Glasses that block facial recognition: Zenni Optical’s new ID Guard coating reflects infrared light, preventing facial recognition systems from identifying wearers. It also disables phone Face ID and Windows Hello while worn. NVIDIA hits $5 trillion valuation: The AI chipmaker briefly became the world’s most valuable company, surpassing Apple and Microsoft. Analysts warn valuations may be inflated by investor speculation around AI demand. Microsoft cloud outage causes global issues: A configuration error in Microsoft’s Azure cloud service caused an 8-hour outage affecting airlines, banks, and governments. Rich explains why reliance on a few cloud providers remains a risk. Humanoid robot for home chores: 1X's Neo robot can load dishwashers, fold laundry, and wipe counters—but only with a remote human operator wearing a VR headset. Deliveries are expected in 2026 for $20K or $500/month. Caller question – best portable phone chargers: Belkin’s 20,000 mAh power bank with USB-C charging was recommended as a reliable, travel-friendly option. Gadget of the week – Santa’s Magic Telephone: This $100 Wi-Fi-connected rotary phone from Mr. Christmas lets kids talk to an AI Santa that remembers their name and wish list. Rich calls it “surprisingly good and fast.” iPhone software update confusion: A caller saw iOS 26 listed alongside iOS 18.7.1; Rich clarified Apple now separates full updates from security-only versions, letting users choose stability or new features. Outlook email frustration: A listener struggled sorting by subject in the new Outlook. Rich confirmed the option is missing compared with Classic Outlook and suggested checking IT restrictions or reverting temporarily. Samsung’s tri-fold phone prototype: Unveiled in South Korea, the device folds twice to expand into a 10-inch screen. Expected to cost over $2,000 and compete with future foldables from Apple. YouTube TV vs Disney dispute: Disney channels including ESPN, FX, and ABC are dark as the companies negotiate fees. Rich suggests trying short free trials from competing services or DirecTV Stream’s 5-day pass. Fixing Google Contacts on Chrome: A caller’s contacts wouldn’t open after search. Rich advised clearing Chrome cache and cookies, updating the browser, disabling extensions, or testing in Edge. Samsung notification bubbles fix: For Galaxy users annoye
