AI/Privacy
Meta wants smart-glasses buyers to pay monthly for a feature their glasses already run
Meta is putting monthly usage limits on Conversation Focus, a smart-glasses feature that helps users hear nearby speech more clearly in noisy places
James R. Hood
James R. Hood, an editor and consumer-affairs journalist with more than five decades of experience, has held senior editorial leadership roles at The Associated Press, United Press International, Zapnews and ConsumerAffairs.
AI/Privacy
Meta glasses viewed skeptically over privacy & other concerns
How to spot — and respond to — smart-glasses recordingCamera-equipped glasses can look almost identical to ordinary eyewear, making it difficult to know when someone is taking photographs, recording video or using an AI service to analyze what they see. Look for the recording light Meta’s Ray-Ban glasses
Money
Trump Accounts launched Saturday — $1,000 to every eligible newborn
The $1,000 is intended as a starter account. It could become substantial if parents make consistent annual contributions.
Health
GLP-1 Lawsuit & News Tracker: Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, Zepbound, Trulicity
The GLP-1 family of drugs might be the biggest thing since AI. There have been unexpected benefits and about as many unexpected problems.
Fintech, crypto expose consumers to new risks
Congress moves toward national rules for paycheck-advance appsConsumer advocates warn the bill could weaken state protections and let costly wage-advance products avoid lending lawsConsumerNews.aiJames R. HoodBefore using a paycheck-advance app, ask these questionsEarned wage access apps can be useful in a pinch, but they can also
Bill would ban sale of Americans’ health and location data
A new bill in Congress would bar data brokers from selling or transferring some of the most sensitive information Americans generate every day — including health data, location data and personal information entered into AI systems. The Health and Location Data Protection Act targets the largely unregulated data-broker industry, which
Health
$50 Medicare GLP-1 'bridge' presents a difficult entry process
The GLP-1 "bridge" is confusing to get into and its benefits are questionable given its temporary nature.
Health
Extreme heat can be hard on your eyes, too
Heat waves can worsen dry eye by speeding tear evaporation and increasing dehydration.
AI/Privacy
Meta must face August trial over claims it addicted children to Facebook and Instagram
The case is scheduled for an August trial in Oakland and could shape how far states can go in treating social-media design as a consumer-protection issue.
Recalls
Ford recalls roughly 1 million vehicles in a single day
Ford maintains its solid lead as the most-recalled brand in the automotive world.
Money
iHeart cuts familiar local radio voices as it chases savings, scale and AI
The nation’s biggest radio company is cutting local talent across the country, many who have spent decades with their listeners.
Money
Illinois adopts new rules covering Buy Now Pay Later
New York and California adopted BNPL regulations earlier. Other states are expected to follow.