Make AI work smarter
Two years ago, I asked ChatGPT to create emails for me. Generative AI tools have now moved beyond basic text prompts. Take Google’s NotebookLM as an example. This is an experimental “AI research assistant” that allows you to upload not only text but also videos, links, and PDFs. While organizing your original sources and notes, you can provide an overview of your content, answer questions about it, and even create a podcast-like “AI overview” if you like. As AI tools advance, we can expect to see more features like this built into everyday software. All the usual precautions when using AI apply. You are responsible for fact checking.
Free from algorithms
If you’re stuck in a similar music or TV recommendation feedback loop, it’s time to refresh. Some platforms, like Netflix, allow you to delete your viewing history so you can go back (to start over, select Hide All under Viewing Activity). Spotify is even harder to crack. You need to train Spotify to offer you a wider range of choices by diversifying your listening. You can choose a playlist that focuses specifically on new music, or go old school and ask your friends for tips. Use “Private Session” mode or select “Exclude from Preference Profile” to keep your guilty pleasures (or your kids’ nursery rhymes) from influencing future recommendations.
Learn how to spot AI videos
Manipulated videos, or “deepfakes,” may already be old, but as text-to-video tools become mainstream, we can expect to see more videos that are entirely AI-generated. Masu. OpenAI’s Sora and Meta’s Movie Gen continue to be developed with impressive (or worrying, depending on your stance) results. Look for watermarks that indicate the video was generated by AI, and look out for obvious mistakes like incorrect anatomy or weird physics. The most important thing is to use context clues. If something seems particularly shocking, unlikely, or out of place, be alarmed.
Check it out, watch it, and make a backup
So-called ‘snatch thefts’ are on the rise, with more than 200 such robberies occurring every day across England and Wales. Thieves, often riding bicycles or mopeds, steal mobile phones and sell them overseas. There’s not much you can do at this point. The Metropolitan Police advises never to confront thieves. But you can soften the blow a little by making sure everything important on your phone is backed up. Many manufacturers offer to automatically sync all your files to a cloud service. Alternatively, you can find options for specific media in the relevant phone or app settings.
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Work on extracting the technology of ruin
We all have drawers (or cupboards or boxes) filled with discarded devices, broken electronics, and tangled cables filled with precious metals. Make this the year you reclaim space from unwanted e-waste. Many recycling points have electronics banks and shops such as Currys and John Lewis have recycling facilities. Visit recyclenow.com or recycleyourelectricals.org.uk to find your nearest retailer. If your old one is in good condition, you can also sell it or donate it. Don’t forget to wipe any personal data from your laptop or mobile phone by performing a factory reset or removing the hard drive.
