I connected my bank accounts to ChatGPT
Plus: tech prices are climbing, my first ride in the Slate EV, and a faster way through airport security.
Greetings and welcome to another edition of the Rich On Tech Newsletter.
What a wild week. Prime Day came and went, and this year there were actually a lot of really good deals.
According to my data, your top five purchases were this Anker power bank that also charges an Apple Watch, this Kodak film and slide digitizer, the Ring Doorbell, the Amazon Echo, and an older but still very capable iPad for basic needs.
I hope you picked up something you wanted or needed. We certainly did, checking quite a few items off our saved lists. Overall, I thought the deals were some of the best we’ve seen in a while.
Also this week: I went to the World Cup! I wasn’t expecting to, but OpenAI, the makers of ChatGPT, invited me to Thursday night’s match between the U.S. and Turkey. I figured it would be a great opportunity to meet some of their team in person, and it was. Even though the U.S. lost, it was a great experience. Seeing so much American pride in one place was pretty special. Then the stadium played Bon Jovi’s Livin’ on a Prayer, and the entire crowd sang along. As a Jersey kid, imagine the smile on my face.
A couple of other personal notes from this week:
We’re proud foster parents once again to a litter of baby kittens. They are adorable, but wow, are they messy and rambunctious. At one point I even had to give one of them fluids with a syringe. That was definitely a first for me.
The kids love fostering kittens while they’re out of school for the summer, but as you might expect, it’s mostly my wife who ends up doing the hard work of feeding them and keeping their area clean. Funny how that works. The kids get the fun part, and we get the cleanup.
Also this week, my son traded with a friend for a 3D printer. It’s the Bambu Lab A1, and I’ve got to say, I’m immediately impressed. Watching it print is mesmerizing, and it’s such a great creative and engineering-focused hobby for him. In just a few days he’s already printed a fidget ball, a clicker, a basketball holder, a scraper, and a little boat. I’m pretty sure this is just the beginning.
Windows 10 gets another year of security updates
Good news if you’re still running Windows 10.
As I expected, Microsoft quietly extended its Extended Security Updates (ESU) program for another year. The company had been pushing users to upgrade to Windows 11, but not every PC meets the requirements.
The ESU program provides security updates, but no new features or software enhancements. Originally, it was set to end in October 2026. Now, Microsoft has extended coverage through October 12, 2027.
The bottom line: if your Windows 10 PC is enrolled in the ESU program, you can safely keep using it for another year without worrying about buying a new computer.
If you haven’t enrolled yet and you’re still using Windows 10, I recommend doing it.
🔗 Here’s how to check if your PC is enrolled in ESU and how to sign up if it isn’t.
Tech is getting more expensive
The other big story this week: tech prices are heading higher.
Even Apple isn’t immune. This is one of the biggest rounds of price increases I’ve seen in my reporting career on products that were already on store shelves. Much of it is being driven by the AI boom, which has created shortages of key components like memory and storage.
Remember that $599 MacBook Neo I told you about? It’s now $699. MacBook Air models are up by $200, some MacBook Pro models increased by as much as $500, and iPads now cost at least $100 more. HomePods and Apple TVs also saw price hikes.
One bright spot: iPhone prices haven’t changed… yet. But I wouldn’t get too comfortable. I fully expect the next iPhones, likely arriving in September, to carry higher price tags.
When Apple first announced the increases, Amazon was still selling the MacBook Neo at the original $599 price. That deal appears to be gone, but as of this writing, the upgraded model with Touch ID is still available at its previous price. I wouldn’t expect that to last much longer.
It’s not just Apple. Microsoft is also raising prices. Beginning August 1, Xbox consoles will increase by at least $100, on top of higher game prices announced earlier this year. If you’ve been thinking about buying an Xbox, now is probably the time.
Fire TV gets a fresh look
Amazon’s redesigned Fire TV interface is finally rolling out to more devices.
I first saw it at CES 2026, where it was only available on a limited number of Fire TV devices. Now it’s coming to all current-generation Fire TV Sticks, the Fire TV Cube, and Amazon’s new Ember TVs (that’s the new name for its Fire TV lineup).
The redesign doesn’t exactly simplify things. I still think there’s a lot of random stuff begging for attention on the Home Screen. The upside is that it’s noticeably faster. Amazon says you’ll see a 20% to 30% improvement in responsiveness.
The update also adds dedicated navigation tabs for Movies, TV, Sports, News, and Live content. Plus, you can now pin up to 20 favorite apps to the home screen instead of just six.
The update is rolling out automatically to compatible devices. If you don’t want to wait, head to Settings > My Fire TV > About > Check for Updates to see if it’s available.
🔗 See what’s new in Amazon’s redesigned Fire TV experience.
Google Wallet makes airport security easier
If you travel often, Google’s latest update to Wallet is worth knowing about.
If you have TSA PreCheck, you can now enroll in Touchless ID just once through Google Wallet and use it with more than 100 participating airlines across 65 airports. That’s a big improvement over the current system, which requires you to enroll separately through each airline’s app.
If you haven’t already, create a digital ID pass in Google Wallet using your passport. After you check in for your flight and save your boarding pass to Google Wallet, eligible travelers will see a “Get Started” button to enroll in Touchless ID. Once you’re set up, a Touchless ID icon will appear on your boarding pass, letting you know you can use the dedicated security lane.
In my experience, that line is even faster than the regular TSA PreCheck line, which is already pretty quick. Of course, your mileage may vary depending on the airport and time of day.
If you’re an iPhone user, Apple Wallet still doesn’t offer a similar one-time enrollment option. Instead, you’ll need to enroll in Touchless ID separately through each participating airline’s app.
🔗 Here’s how Google Wallet’s new Touchless ID works.
A quick word from this week’s sponsor
By now you’ve probably heard me talk about Surfshark VPN, and that’s because that’s because it’s become one of the tools I actually use every day.
For years, a VPN was something I’d only turn on when I was traveling or connecting to hotel and airport Wi-Fi. Now I leave Surfshark running on my phone almost all the time.
What I like most is that it’s fast and easy to use. Once it’s connected, I barely notice it’s there.
A VPN encrypts your internet traffic, which helps protect your privacy, especially when you’re using public Wi-Fi. But Surfshark has grown into much more than just a VPN.
One feature I rely on is CleanWeb, which blocks ads, trackers, and many malicious websites before they ever load. It also includes tools like Dark Web Monitoring, which alerts you if your email address or other personal information shows up in a known data breach, plus scam protection features designed to help keep you away from phishing sites.
The best security tools are the ones you don’t have to think about, and that’s why Surfshark has become part of my everyday setup.
If you’ve been meaning to try a VPN, or you’re looking for more complete online protection, now’s a good time. Surfshark is offering Rich On Tech readers a special deal that includes extra months free and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
🔗 Check out my exclusive Surfshark offer.
I connected my bank accounts to ChatGPT
I did something a little different this week: I connected all of my financial accounts to ChatGPT.
I know that probably sounds a little scary, but hear me out.
OpenAI has now made its new Finances feature available to all ChatGPT Plus subscribers and higher, letting you connect your checking, savings, investment, and credit card accounts.
The connection is made through Plaid, the same service used by thousands of financial apps. OpenAI says ChatGPT never sees your bank usernames, passwords, or account numbers. It only receives transaction data, which means it can’t move money, pay bills, or take any actions on your behalf.
So what’s the benefit?
Once ChatGPT understands your finances, you can ask questions like:
Can I afford this vacation?
What’s the fastest way to pay off my debt?
How much am I spending on subscriptions?
How much am I paying in fees or interest each year?
Based on my spending, what’s the best credit card for maximizing rewards?
It could be pretty useful. Instead of manually sorting through statements or spreadsheets, you could simply ask questions and get thoughtful, personalized answers based on your actual spending.
That said, I don’t see it replacing a dedicated finance app like Monarch Money right now. Monarch still does a better job of tracking your overall net worth and assets like your home and vehicles. ChatGPT can work with that information too, but it’s not as polished or automatic.
The way I see it, this gives you access to one of the smartest AI assistants available, now with an understanding of your finances. Whether you’re planning a major purchase, deciding when to retire, paying down debt, or considering a career change, that’s a pretty powerful tool to have.
Now for the privacy question.
OpenAI says your financial data is not used to train its AI models. Only you can access your connected financial information, and your conversations are only used to improve ChatGPT if you’ve opted in (which is on by default).
For extra peace of mind, I recommend turning off ChatGPT’s training setting altogether. Visit chatgpt.com, click your profile in the lower-left corner, choose Settings > Data Controls, and turn off Improve the model for everyone.
Humans are teaching robots how to do chores
Here’s an unexpected new kind of gig.
Thousands of people across the U.S. are getting paid to strap cameras to their heads and record themselves doing everyday tasks like washing dishes, folding laundry, organizing closets, and cleaning.
The footage is being used by robotics companies to train the next generation of AI-powered robots, teaching them how humans move and interact with the world so they can eventually perform those same tasks on their own.
Yes, the irony isn’t lost on me. Humans are getting paid to train the robots that could one day replace some of those jobs.
The apps I actually use every day
One question I get all the time is, “What app do you use for… ?”
On last week’s radio show, I shared the apps that have earned a (semi)-permanent spot on my iPhone and Android phones. My only rule is that, whenever possible, I choose apps that work well on both platforms. The less tied I am to a single ecosystem, the easier it is to switch devices or try something new.
The list includes everything from AI assistants and productivity tools to travel, security, photography, and finance apps. If you’re looking for a new app recommendation, there’s a good chance you’ll find one.
And if there’s a category I missed, just let me know. I’m always happy to share my top picks.
🔗 See my complete list of the apps I actually use in 2026
I got an early ride in the Slate EV
One more cool thing I got to do this week: I took a ride in the new Slate EV.
If you’re not familiar with Slate, it’s a startup building an all-electric pickup truck with a starting price of $24,950. That gets you a two-seat truck with about 205 miles of range, plus a 10-year, 100,000-mile battery and powertrain warranty.
The whole idea behind Slate is that it’s a blank slate. The base model is intentionally bare-bones. There’s a small digital instrument display behind the steering wheel, but no center touchscreen. Instead, you mount your own phone.
From there, you make it your own. Slate plans to offer more than 200 accessories and over 100 wrap colors, letting owners customize everything from the look to the functionality of the vehicle.
We weren’t allowed to drive it, but we did get a ride, and I came away impressed. It felt quick, comfortable, and roomy inside.
Deliveries are expected to begin later this year. It’s definitely a polarizing vehicle. Some people love the back-to-basics approach, while others think there are better values in similarly priced gas-powered vehicles. Reservations are open now with a $300 non-refundable deposit.
Personally, I think it’s a fascinating idea. With a teenager who’s about to start driving, the thought of a simple, modern, two-seat EV with today’s safety features at this price point is pretty appealing.
🔗 What do you think of the Slate EV? Join the conversation on my Facebook page
That’s going to do it for this week’s newsletter. Thanks so much for reading!
Have a great weekend, and don’t forget to tune in to Rich On Tech every Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. PT on KFI AM 640. You can call in with your tech questions at 1-888-RICH-101.
See you next week!
Rich