FTC to car dealers: The advertised price has to be the real price
If a dealer advertises a car for $29,995, an ordinary customer should actually be able to buy it for $29,995, plus legitimate government charges.
Latest
National Safety Recall, Sept. 15
Gas tanks and "immune boosters" lead the recall rundown.
AI data centers could ignite a new fight over natural gas — and consumers may pay the bill
AI is coming for your electricity and, now, your natural gas too.
How data centers can raise your utility bill — four different ways
The energy grid in the U.S. is under increasing strain and guess who may get stuck with the bill to upgrade it.
Too big to insure - the AI data center insurance dilemma
Not too long ago, we had financial institutions that were deemed too big to fail. Now, it's data centers that have outgrown normal risk profiles.
National Safety Recall - Sept. 14
Some Ford pickups are being recalled because of fuel tank issues.
Study finds younger military veterans have higher PFAS levels than non-vets
The findings suggest younger veterans should consider being screened for elevated PFAS levels.
AI bots move from the pedestal to the whipping post as fears of economic disaster and even extinction take hold
Top AI executives cast themselves as canaries in the cage, warn that their creation may prove deadly.
National Safety Recalls, Sept. 12
It's a good idea for parents to look around the house and see if any of these recalled products are lurking there.
From Ma Bell to the $2,000 iPhone: How the telephone went from regulated utility to luxury product
$1,999 and up for the iPhone Duo? How did telephones get this expensive?
Affordability Watch: What did telephone service actually cost?
Telephones have really gotten expensive -- or have they?
National Safety Recall - Sept. 9
Chicken salad sandwiches and Chryslers sit atop the recall pyramid today.
Money
Five consumer pressure points - from record gas to a new Jeep recall
Gas prices, tariffs up, consumer confidence down, recalls surging
Recalls
National Safety Recall - Sept. 8
Sleep apnea machines, dog supplements and RAM trucks lead the recall list.
Consumer Protection
Has Amazon lost its mind? Customers say grocery delivery is a mess
Amazon grocery customers say the system seems to be having a nervous breakdown.
Consumer Protection
Online grocery delivery: How the major options compare
Amazon's not the only game in town. Here are some other grocery delivery options.
AI/Privacy
AI chatbots may tell patients what they want to hear — even when it’s dangerous
AI can sometimes be a bit too eager to please, researchers caution.
AI/Privacy
How to ask an AI bot a health question without talking it into reassuring you
Facts are one thing, opinions are another. Make sure you know what you're getting.
AI/Privacy
Social media warning labels may actually get young people’s attention
The labels raise awareness but whether they actually discourage usage isn't known.
Recalls
Daily safety recalls: 6.3 million cleaners, Elmo teethers, water-bead toys and dangerous furniture
Children's products, cleaning liquids and replacement airbags lead the recall roster.
Recalls
Deadly replacement airbags have killed 11 — and a recall search may not tell you if your car has one
Replacement airbags may be dangerous even if the car isn't on the recall list.
AI/Privacy
ChatGPT is getting safer for teens. But who is checking OpenAI’s work?
OpenAI says it's making its ChatGPT safer for teens, but is it really?
AI teddy bears are coming for children. Consumer advocates say the safety rules aren’t ready
* AI chatbots are increasingly being built into dolls, stuffed animals and robots marketed as children’s companions * Consumer advocates warn the toys can collect intimate data, give inappropriate answers and encourage children to form emotional attachments * Existing toy-safety rules largely address physical hazards, while privacy law covers only part
Recalls
National Safety Recall - Sept. 3
Today brings a substantial CPSC recall batch plus an important Walmart frozen-fruit recall from FDA.