👀 You’ll never trust video again

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Welcome to your Thursday, {{first_name | friend}}. Here’s a brain spark to kick things off. Did you know there’s a fancy-sounding hobby where folks collect everyday items you probably toss without a second thought? It’s called being a “phillumenist,” and no, it’s not a secret Hogwarts class. 

⚡️ Can you guess what a phillumenist collects? Is it: A) Beer mats, B) Matchbooks, C) Teddy bears or D) Coins? Find the answer at the end, and no asking a chatbot, that’s cheating! 😉

Goldman Sachs expects gold to hit $4,900 per ounce by December 2026. I own gold, and you should have some, too. Get Goldco’s free kit, The Ultimate Guide to Gold & Silver, and find out how to get started. Today’s newsletter is brought to you by Goldco. — Kim

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I have to tell you about Sora 2. It’s OpenAI’s new video-generating app that’s both mind-blowing and terrifying. 

It’s the first tool from any AI company that lets you give it a prompt, and in literally seconds, you get a full-blown, AI-generated video up to a minute long. The results aren’t perfect, but they’re close. Like Hollywood close.

The lighting, camera motion, facial expressions, it’s all shockingly realistic.

Want to see a golden retriever surfing through Times Square in slow motion? Done. A drone shot of a city being built out of clouds? Easy. 

People are using Sora 2 to generate fake videos of dead celebrities doing things they never did. 

I’m sure you know that under U.S. law, “defaming” someone only applies to living people, not the dead. That means families and estates have no legal recourse when someone uses AI to humiliate or misrepresent their loved one. It’s a free-for-all right now, and no one’s accountable.

Even creepier? 

Sora is also being used for stalking and impersonation. All it takes is a photo, and you can make a video of anyone doing anything. Fake crimes, revenge content, political lies, it’s all possible. I have a warning about that and a fix for you in tomorrow’s newsletter.

OpenAI says you need permission to use a person’s face or voice. Yea, like that’s going to stop someone. 

If the guy who runs OpenAI can’t stop his own face from being misused, what chance do the rest of us have? Right now, you can only get Sora 2 as an iPhone app. You’ll need an OpenAI account, and it’s still invite-only, so most people don’t have access yet. 

Sora 2 is an incredible tool. But it’s being abused, and the guardrails are flimsy at best. So from now on, when a video goes viral, you better assume it’s fake until proven real.

🎏 After that, you need a smile. In every koi pond of four or more, at least one is always fake. You’ve got kois A, B, C, and then the D koi. (lol)

I talk to Joseph Cox, cofounder of 404 Media, who shares troubling information about airlines and your data. Then, AI “workslop” drives your coworkers crazy, and I’ll show you how to be your own data broker and make money. That’s not all: I cover the secret formula behind MrBeast’s empire.

Listen on Komando.com →

🎧 Subscribe on your favorite platform:

🔥 Suspect arrested: A 29-year-old Uber driver named Jonathan Rinderknecht has been arrested for allegedly starting the Palisades Fire that killed 12 and destroyed nearly 7,000 homes in LA. Feds say he started an open flame right after dropping off passengers and used ChatGPT to create images of a “dystopian painting” of a city being burned on one side while “hundreds of thousands of people in poverty are trying to get past a gigantic gate with a big dollar sign on it.” He faces 20 years.

Medicare’s not calling: Open enrollment season almost guarantees you’re going to get more scam calls. Real Medicare won’t call unless they’ve mailed you first. If someone wants your SSN over the phone, they’re shopping for gullible folks. These scammers aren’t sloppy either, they’re international pros who can drain tens of thousands before you notice.

⚠️ Are you protected? I don’t take chances with my identity. NordProtect monitors my info and credit, alerting me instantly if something’s off. It’s like a digital bodyguard, for just $5.22/month. That’s less than a fancy cup of coffee. It even includes ID theft recovery and fraud protection at no extra cost. Perfect.*

AT&T owes you: Two massive data breaches exposed info from 73 million AT&T customers, and the company’s dishing out $177M to make it go away. If your SSN was part of the leak, you could grab up to $7,500. Check if you’re eligible. Go to TelecomDataSettlement.com, enter your Class Member ID (or request one) and submit your claim by Nov. 18, 2025. 

🧠 Nano way! Scientists reversed Alzheimer’s in mice, using nanotech. Instead of just delivering medicine, tiny “smart” particles cut toxic brain proteins in half within an hour. Even more wild? The mice got their memory and cognitive function back. One giant leap for mousekind … and maybe one day, for us.

Tilly Norwood looks like a rising A-lister, but she’s entirely fake. Agents are already pitching her for brand deals, while actors call her a threat to their jobs. Plus: ChatGPT gets apps, and your Wi-Fi can now track your pulse.

Listen on Komando.com →

Weekend getaway coming up? Let’s pack light and keep your style tight.

😴 Travel neck pillow (36% off): Sleep like you’re in first class even in the middle seat. Comes with an eye mask, earplugs and a handy bag.

Hair straightener brush (30% off): Heats up in 30 seconds to straighten, style and add shine all at once.

🧳 Hanging toiletry bag (33% off): No more messy counters. Zips up and hooks on towel racks, doorknobs, you name it, like a mini shelf.

Foldable travel umbrella (32% off): Weighs just over a pound but holds up in 85 mph winds. 4.5 stars and 102K+ reviews.

💕 My favorite earbuds (20% off): 32-hour battery life, fabulous sound, noise cancellation, and since every ear is different (obviously), they come with 6 different-sized gel tips to fit any size.*

⚡️ 3-second tech genius: Need the perfect pet name? Ask a chatbot. Give it the breed, color and personality traits, and it’ll whip up ideas. You can even get some first-time training tips. Because Fluffy deserves better.

⚠️ Check this iPhone setting: In iOS 26, Apple added a default that automatically trusts wired accessories when your phone is unlocked. That means plugging it into a public USB charger could let hackers steal your data. Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Wired Accessories and change Automatically Allow When Unlocked to Always Ask. Smarter move: Use a power bank.

Help out remotely: Next time your mom or dad is stuck on a PC, avoid the phone call nightmare. Install Chrome Remote Desktop on both computers, sign in with Google and connect. You can see your parents’ screen, move the mouse, open files and run programs. All free, streamed online.

🔐 Lock your PC: Want stronger security on Windows 11? A few clicks can make snooping way harder. Go to Settings > Accounts > Account settings > Sign-in options. From there, you can update a weak PIN or Password, or step it up with Facial recognition, Fingerprint sign-in or a physical Security key.

🌡️ Trim your energy bill: A tiny temp change can mean big savings. Use apps like Nest or Ecobee to set your smart thermostat on auto-away or eco mode. Seriously, dropping the heat (or AC) by just 2-3 degrees can shave up to 10% off your energy costs over time.

Why schlep to CVS when Amazon can spit out your meds like a soda?

Starting this December, One Medical clinics will have a pharmacy kiosk. Yep, vending machines for prescriptions. You finish your checkup, and boom, meds in hand before the nurse even says “feel better.”

Get this, 1 in 3 prescriptions never get filled. Amazon’s betting if it makes the process that easy, you’ll actually take your pills, and of course, Amazon will make even more money.

Prime Health is here, whether we like it or not. PSA: A recent study shows that women who carry a few extra pounds tend to live longer than men who mention it.

The answer: B) Matchbooks! Phillumenists collect matchbooks and matchbox labels, those little cardboard billboards that used to be scattered across restaurant tables and hotel counters. The name comes from Greek roots meaning “lover of light,” a nice name for someone who hoards flammable art.

🔥 eBay is so useless. I tried to look up lighters, and all they had was 18,061 matches. (I had to do it.)

✋ With the economy all over the place, I don’t take chances. I protect part of my savings with real gold and silver. It’s smart, it’s stable, and it gives me peace of mind. Right now, Goldco is offering up to 10% back in free silver when you open a qualified account. If you’ve been thinking about making a move, this is a great time to do it.

This is the #1 free tech newsletter in the United States. Tomorrow, I’m diving deeper into the deepfake rabbit hole (it’s not just Sora 2!) and showing how scammers can clone your voice from a TikTok and fake a kidnapping call. 

💪 Strong Wi-Fi. Stronger brain. Keep both on. — Kim

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Photo credit(s): @DrClownPhD on X, @dailysopranosofficial on TikTok, @itsthegthang and @euphanasiamusic on Instagram, Amazon

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This newsletter and its content are intended for informational purposes only. They are provided without warranty of any kind. You shouldn’t construe anything provided here as legal, health, medical, technical, tax, investment, financial or any other kind of advice.

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