In partnership with
Happy Wednesday, {{first_name | friend}}. Ever think chatting with AI was all brain power and zero sweat? Turns out your quick convo might be a little thirstier than expected. That back-and-forth with your favorite chatbot has a backstage crew of giant servers huffing, puffing and cooling off with fresh H2O.
💦 How much water are we talkin’ here? A) One teaspoon, B) Two tablespoons, C) A full drinking glass or D) One gallon. The answer is sloshing around at the end!
🚀 New Year’s goals start now: My team of experts and I created ImproveLife GLP-1 Support with clinically studied ingredients that I find help manage cravings, support metabolism and keep my energy steady. Right now you can save up to 30% off, plus free shipping and a free gift. Start strong and set yourself up for your best year yet.**
Is today the lucky day you win a $100, $200 or $500 Amazon gift card? Check the Golden Ticket section below. You never know when it’s your turn. — Kim
📬 Was this forwarded to you? Be the first to know, not the last to hear. Sign up now. It’s free!
TODAY’S DEEP DIVE
🎅 Santa’s revenge
Image: Gemini
The house is full of guests. The kids are trying to stream Elf in 4K. Your uncle is trying to upload 1,000 photos to Facebook. And suddenly, the internet grinds to a halt.
You probably want to blame your internet provider (and usually, I’d agree with you). But before you call customer service to yell at a bot, look at the corner of your living room.
🎄 Oh no, Christmas tree
It’s basic physics you can drop at the dinner table tonight.
1. The “Faraday cage” effect: You know that shiny tinsel or similar decorations you draped all over the branches? They’re made of thin metal foil. In the world of radio waves, metal is a mirror. When your Wi-Fi signal hits the tinsel, it bounces, scatters and fractures.
2. The water problem: If you bought a real pine tree, it’s a living thing full of water. Wi-Fi signals hate water. This is why your signal drops at a crowded party, because humans are big bags of water that absorb it. A thick, watered Douglas fir acts like a giant sponge, absorbing the radio waves before they can reach the TV in the next room.
3. The light interference: Those twinkling lights are pretty, but they generate a weak electromagnetic field. Modern LED strings are better. Older, unshielded lights can create “Repetitive Electrical Impulse Noise.” Go ahead, drop that phrase to sound like a nerd. Anyway, if your router is sitting right next to a blinking strand of lights, it’s trying to shout over digital static.
✅ Quick fixes
You don’t have to go full Grinch and cancel Christmas.
Position the router: If your router is hidden behind the tree, move it. It needs at least 6 feet of clearance from the decorations.
Elevate it: Put the router up on a shelf or table. Wi-Fi signals travel down and out.
Switch bands: If your router allows it, switch devices to the 5GHz band. It’s faster and less prone to interference from holiday electronics than the older 2.4GHz band.
So enjoy the lights and the tinsel, but give your router a little personal space this season. Btw, how can you tell the age of a fake Christmas tree? By the tape rings on the box!
Don’t let your friends blame their internet provider! Forward this story or share this post on social media right now. Let them know the science behind why their Wi-Fi is officially being defeated by a tree.
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IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
A stronger year ahead
This time of year always gets me thinking about momentum. Not those resolutions we forget by January 10th, but real changes that make you feel stronger, clearer, and more in control. It’s that moment when you decide you’re ready to feel good again without waiting for the calendar to catch up.
When I set out to create this wellness line, I wanted something that actually worked. So I teamed up with a Harvard trained doctor, a small group of experts focused on real results, and my son Ian, who makes sure every formula is clean, effective, and made right here in the USA.
GLP-1 Support grew out of that mission. It helps steady your hunger cues, support a healthy metabolism, and keep your energy from tanking so you can stay focused on what matters most.
If you want to start the new year already ahead, now’s the time to jump in. Save up to 30%, get free shipping, and receive a free gift, all backed by a 30 day happiness guarantee. Start strong and feel ready for anything.**
THE KIM KOMANDO SHOW
$11 million crypto heist
Brag about crypto? You invite a robbery. Hear how a fake delivery guy stole $11 million worth of Bitcoin. Also, Amazon is dumping the USPS. Find out what that means for you. Plus, Gemini vs. ChatGPT, Elon’s retirement date and a new tool to catch AI fakes.
🎧 Or listen now wherever you get your podcasts, search for “Komando.”
WEB WATERCOOLER
📞 Dialed and duped: If you ask Google AI for a support number and call without thinking, you’re in murky waters. Scammers are poisoning legit sites with fake call center info, then AI tools like Google AI Overviews and Perplexity scoop it up and serve it like gospel. Fake Emirates and British Airways numbers have been found in the wild. So yeah, your AI assistant might be recommending fraud, politely and in full sentences and perfect grammar.
Gamed by groceries: Shopping on Instacart? You might want to compare in-store prices. A new Consumer Reports investigation found Instacart uses AI to test different prices on different users. I am sure I get the most expensive prices. One leaked email called it “smart rounding,” where prices are bumped slightly. CR found three-quarters of items had price shifts, up to $2.56 more per item. If your bill feels bloated, it could be less inflation and more algorithm.
Blink for help: Google’s dropping two pairs of AI smart glasses (paywall link) next year. One’s audio-only (you talk to Gemini, it talks back), but the other? Full-blown in-lens display with live translations, directions, the works. They’re working with Samsung, Warby Parker and Gentle Monster to make sure the specs look normal aka surveillance chic. I don’t want to sound paranoid, but if these things start whispering ads while I’m peeing, I’m out.
Amazon issued a massive security alert to 300 million customers: Hackers are using fake emails and texts to steal your log-in credentials, and one compromised password can expose every site where your credit card is saved. I use NordPass to create and secure unique log-ins for everything. Get the ultimate protection I trust for 68% OFF, that’s 95 cents per month! Hey, a little birdie told the price is going up soon so get this deal while you can.*
📱 Brains versus beeps: Can your kid recite memes from 2019 but can’t find his shoes? A four-year study tracked 8,300 kids and found social media use, not TV or gaming, was linked to rising attention issues. Daily use jumped from 30 minutes to 2.5 hours. ADHD symptoms rose alongside. Scientists say it’s the nonstop pings, not pixels, that fry focus. How can you not lose your train of thought when something’s buzzing every 12 seconds?
Big news for bookworms: Amazon dropped its latest Kindle Scribe Colorsoft ($630) and refreshed Kindle Scribe ($500). What’s new? Both are rocking 11-inch screens that are thinner than an iPhone Air. Even the glass was redesigned so your pen glides with that paper-like feel. But don’t wait too long. No preorders this time, so these are bound to fly off the digital shelves.
DIGITAL LIFE HACK
Spot AI images using Google’s new tool
SynthID hides an invisible watermark in AI pics to help you verify reality. Here’s how to use it.
🎧 Or listen now wherever you get your podcasts, search for “Komando.”
BEST GIFT DEALS OF THE DAY
😍 Gifts that hit different
I dug up the gear that actually deserves a spot under your tree.
💇♀️ Waves for days: Automatic curling iron (49% off, $36)
Get salon-level curls in 5-10 minutes. Pop in your hair, hit the button and let the wand work its magic. Rotates fast without frizzing, thanks to the built-in negative ion generator.
Image: Zavarea
😌 Sculpt and soothe: This lymphatic-contour face brush (38% off, $10) helps reduce puffiness and boosts circulation. The ergonomic shape hugs your cheeks and jaw just right.
Grooming, upgraded: Guys, the Philips Norelco OneBlade (20% off, $56) handles stubble, beards and body hair with fewer mishaps. Bonus: 5-in-1 comb for switching lengths.
💤 Dream alignment: Snag a cervical memory foam pillow (22% off, $70) that supports your neck’s natural curve. Great for your back, especially if you toss and turn.
Pretty personal: Customize this makeup bag (25% off, $12) with someone’s initials, like “K” for “Kim,” and make it feel special. Waterproof, stylish and a great stocking stuffer.
👉 Promo code of the day: Use SHOPBOP10 for an extra 10% off these cardigans and sweaters.
Don’t stop now: Head over to Amazon’s Holiday Shop for all the top gifts before they sell out.
DEVICE ADVICE
⚡️ 3-second tech genius: You don’t have to scroll through an entire Google Doc to find that one line you wrote earlier. Press Ctrl + F (Windows) or Cmd + F (Mac) and type any phrase you remember. Then hit Enter to go through every match. Bonus: Hit Ctrl + / or Cmd + / to open a list of more keyboard shortcuts.
Use two apps at once on Android: It’s the easiest way to multitask. Open Recent apps, tap the app icon at the top of the first one, and select Open in split screen view. A menu will pop up to pick your second app. Drag the slider in the middle to resize them. Now you can reply to your friends while doomscrolling.
🍏 Customize your Mac: Just like on iPhone, macOS 26 lets you change how that new liquid-glass look appears. Open System Settings > Appearance > Icon & widget style. Default is the normal theme. Dark is, well, dark. Clear adds the glassy effect, and Tinted lets you choose any color you like.
🔈 Can’t hear what they’re saying? You’re not imagining it. Sound mixing really has gotten worse. On Amazon Prime, open the Audio menu and choose Dialogue Boost to make voices clearer without raising background noise. On Apple TV, go to Settings > Video and Audio and turn on Reduce Loud Sounds. Whispers up, explosions down.
📁 Add folders to the Start Menu: On Windows, you can pin shortcuts like Downloads, Documents, Settings and File Explorer right beside the Power button. Go to Settings > Personalization > Start > Folders and toggle on the ones you want. Open the Start Menu, and those mini icons are a click away. Bravo!
📺 Quick favor that really helps me: YouTube rolled out a new discovery boost for channels my size, and I’m only a few subscribers away from unlocking it. Watch one of my videos, like this short one on holiday Amazon scams and then tap the Subscribe button right next to the video. If you’re not logged in, YouTube will ask you to sign in or create a free account so your subscription counts. A tiny tap from you gives my channel a huge boost. Thank you!!!
WHAT THE TECH?
Image: Reddit/Shellnanigans
😱 Dystopian terror
A woman drove herself to the ER after her Samsung smart fridge displayed an Apple TV ad reading, “We’re sorry we upset you, Carol.”
She has schizophrenia. Her name is Carol. So, yeah, she thought she was losing her grip. Two days under observation later, her sister discovered the truth on Facebook. The message was a Pluribus promo featuring a fictional Carol. Case solved.
Family Hub fridges ship with ads default enabled. If you can navigate the Rubik’s Cube menus, disable the ads in Settings.
LOGGING OUT …
The answer: C) A full drinking glass. That’s how much water it takes to cool the data centers powering only one minute of your AI chatbot convo. Next time you ask, “What’s the meaning of life?” know some server somewhere is sweating buckets. Ahem, maybe they’d get better results using spring water.
✨ A stronger year starts here: It’s been amazing to hear how GLP-1 Support is helping so many of you feel more energized and confident. As we head into a new year, this is the perfect time to save up to 30% off with free shipping and a free gift. Here’s to a new year filled with health, strength and momentum.**
This is the #1 tech newsletter in the U.S. Tomorrow, I’m talking about how your rental car might be collecting more information about you than you can imagine.
👉 Approach today like autocorrect. Boldly wrong but always confident. — Kim
Tell the world: Send your friends to GetKim.com. Thanks for that!
Photo credit(s): Gemini, Zavarea, Reddit/Shellnanigans
Companies and products denoted by an asterisk (*) within this publication are paid sponsors or advertisements. As an Amazon Associate, the publisher earns from qualifying purchases. Statements regarding products denoted by a double asterisk (**) have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration; such products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. This newsletter is provided for informational and entertainment purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, medical, or professional advice of any kind. Readers should consult with a qualified professional before making any decisions based on this content. The publisher disclaims all liability for any loss, damage, or injury resulting from the use of or reliance on the information contained herein.