Meta’s new AI image feature was too creepy to last

Plus: the free dictation app that could save you $15 a month and a clear phone case I can confidently recommend.

Greetings, and welcome to another edition of the Rich on Tech newsletter.

This week’s newsletter comes to you from the fine state of New Jersey. I’m back in my home state for what I consider a pilgrimage for any true Jersey native: seeing Bon Jovi in concert.

While I’m not a die-hard fan, I grew up hearing family members play the Slippery When Wet album and figured the concert would make for a fun outing with my mom.

I also learned from a colleague this week that eating at your desk is illegal in France. What a concept!

KTLA Morning News is celebrating 35 years, and to mark the occasion, the station hosted a buffet breakfast for us earlier this week. Tables were set up in the studio, but I took my food back to my desk because I had a busy morning and plenty to get done.

I apologized to my colleagues for skipping the communal feast, and that’s when someone told me about France’s rules. Naturally, I investigated.

It turns out the restriction dates back to a time when the government wanted workers to leave their desks, get some fresh air and reduce the spread of disease.

Anyway, I read a book years ago called Never Eat Alone, and I’ve felt guilty about every solo lunch since. Although the French regulations weren’t necessarily rooted in a broader philosophy of wellness, I think the modern world can appreciate the benefits of stepping away from your desk to eat.

Personally, I can’t imagine U.S. workplaces - with our always-on, productivity-obsessed culture - adopting similar measures, as welcome as they might be.

Then again, most people I see these days are eating with their phones. Maybe the next version of that book should be called Never Eat With Your Phone. :)

Smartphone season starts now

This week brought two major smartphone announcements, both preludes to Apple’s big event in September.

First, Samsung announced that its next Galaxy Unpacked event will take place in London on July 22. The keynote is themed “A New Shape Unfolds,” so expect new foldables, including the clamshell-style Galaxy Z Flip 8 and book-style Galaxy Z Fold 8.

The Fold is expected to get a wider, shorter design, almost like a passport. When opened, that could provide a 16:9 screen that would be fantastic for watching movies. The new shape should also make the outer screen larger and more useful.

My feelings about foldables are mixed. In an ideal world, I would carry one because I love the idea of replacing multiple devices. When I travel, I carry a phone, tablet, laptop and Kindle. A foldable could theoretically replace the phone, tablet and Kindle.

But do I really want to spend even more time on my phone? Sometimes it’s nice to have a separate device dedicated to reading or watching movies. That might not concern everyone, but it matters to me. Still, I would welcome a lighter carry-on.

Google also announced a major event for August 12 in New York City, where it is expected to unveil the Pixel 11 series and Pixel Watch 5.

Pixel phones have excellent software, but their hardware has lagged in recent years, particularly when it comes to processor performance. That isn’t a problem for most people, and I still recommend Pixels, especially the more affordable A-series models.

Still, the competition is getting tougher. Even Apple’s entry-level $800 iPhone 17 offers excellent performance for the price, along with an unmatched ecosystem of apps and accessories. Pixel phones have long been known for excellent photography, but the camera experience has started to feel a little stagnant, and video quality still trails the iPhone.

I’m curious to see whether Google can generate fresh excitement at its New York event.

Both announcements lead up to the year’s biggest smartphone event: Apple’s September launch. We’re expecting new iPhone 18 models, iOS 27 and possibly Apple’s first foldable iPhone.

Apple’s biggest advantage is software. If developers embrace the new form factor and create apps specifically for it, Apple could quickly move ahead of the competition.

Bottom line: If you’re considering a new smartphone, you might want to wait until mid-September. Pricing will be a major factor, though. With the cost of gadgets continuing to rise, I expect many of this year’s new phones to carry higher price tags.

Meta’s new AI image feature was too creepy to last

The other big tech story this week turned into one of the fastest reversals we’ve seen in a while.

Meta launched Muse, a new AI image generator available through Instagram Stories, Meta AI on the web, and the standalone Meta AI app. One feature let people generate AI images by referencing anyone with a public Instagram account, unless that person had opted out.

The backlash was immediate. Users, creators, talent agencies, and even SAG-AFTRA criticized Meta for making the feature opt-out instead of opt-in.

Earlier this week, I shared instructions for disabling it if you weren’t comfortable with your Instagram photos being used to generate AI images.

Just a few days later, Meta admitted the feature had “missed the mark” and pulled it entirely.

Muse is still available, but the ability to generate AI images using someone else’s public Instagram account as a reference is gone.

made with Meta Muse AI

I actually think Muse is a pretty good image generator. The presets are fun, image creation is fast, and the photo restoration feature is especially impressive. It also makes sense for Meta to build AI tools into Instagram and Facebook since that’s where billions of people already share photos and videos.

The problem wasn’t the technology. It was the assumption that your public photos should be fair game unless you said otherwise.

AI image tools can be entertaining. Who wouldn’t want to see friends dressed as astronauts, beekeepers, or dropped into some outrageous scene? But your face and likeness shouldn’t become part of someone else’s AI experiment without your permission.

Meta deserves some credit for listening and reversing course so quickly. Hopefully it’s also a reminder to every AI company that consent should be the default, not an afterthought.

This free AI dictation app is a game changer

If you’ve listened to me on the radio or seen me on TV, you know I’m a big fan of AI voice-to-text tools. You dictate what you want to say, and they do more than transcribe your words. They also clean up the writing, remove filler words and fix mistakes along the way.

One of my favorites, and one of the originals, is Wispr Flow. I’ve dictated more than 560,000 words since installing it on my computer, iPhone and, eventually, Android. Tools like this typically cost about $15 a month.

Here’s the twist: Speechify, best known for reading articles aloud, now offers its own voice typing app for free.

It’s available for Mac, Windows and iPhone. Android isn’t supported yet, although Android already has excellent built-in voice typing.

The wild part is that Speechify’s app appears to be completely free, with no obvious usage limits. The quality is also very good. In fact, I’ve used it to dictate this entire newsletter.

If you’ve been holding off on trying an AI voice-to-text tool because of the price tag, this is the one to download. Once it’s installed, just hold down the Function key on a Mac or the Alt key on Windows and start talking. Your polished text appears in whatever app or text field you’re using.

It’s a game changer for getting through email and writing just about anything faster.

Protect your privacy with Surfshark

Sponsored by Surfshark

This week’s newsletter is sponsored by Surfshark. If you’ve been wondering whether you should get a VPN, my answer is yes.

A VPN makes your web browsing more private. It’s also useful when traveling internationally because you can connect to a server back home, helping websites and apps work more like they normally do.

I’ve been using Surfshark VPN, and there’s a lot to like. I haven’t noticed any impact on the speed of my devices, and I keep it connected on my phone almost all the time.

Surfshark also includes some useful extras:

• Alternative ID creates an alternate email address that forwards messages to your real inbox. It can also generate a complete online persona, including a name and date of birth, for websites where you would rather not share your personal information.

• Data leak alerts show whether your information has appeared in a breach. I especially like that Surfshark displays the actual exposed information, which can include your address, date of birth and even old passwords.

• Content blocking lets you block categories such as malware, phishing and gambling.

• CleanWeb blocks ads and trackers while the VPN is connected.

Add it all up, and Surfshark is a useful privacy and security tool for all your devices.

For a limited time, get Surfshark starting at just $2.49 per month, plus three extra months.

Flighty just made layovers a lot less stressful

One of my favorite travel apps just got even better. If you fly regularly, Flighty is one of those apps that’s easy to recommend. It tracks your flights, alerts you to delays before the airline sometimes does, and presents everything about your trip in a clean, easy-to-read interface.

Its newest feature, Connection Assistant, helps answer one of the biggest travel questions: Am I actually going to make my connection?

Courtesy Flighty

The app rates your connection as Risky, Minimum, Normal, or Relaxed, then gives step-by-step guidance for your transfer, including where you’ll deplane, which direction to walk, and even the signs to follow to reach your next gate.

The only thing missing? I’d love to see this information before booking a flight. There is a workaround: manually enter the itinerary you’re considering into Flighty and let the app evaluate the connection before you buy your ticket.

Flighty continues to add features that make frequent travel easier, even as airlines improve their own apps. If you only fly once or twice a year, you probably don’t need it. But if you’re a regular traveler, it’s one of those apps that can easily pay for itself.

Many of Flighty’s best features require a paid subscription, which costs $60 per year or $300 for a lifetime. Some core features are free.

My biggest complaint is that Flighty is still iPhone only. The developer has talked about bringing it to Android for years and even has a waiting list, but there’s still no release date. If you’re on Android, ByAir is probably the closest alternative for now.

Clever charging gadgets worth checking out

On TV this week, I featured a couple of charging gadgets that instantly made my wishlist.

One is a portable power bank with built-in wall prongs and a retractable USB-C cable, so you never have to pack a charging brick or separate cord. I also found rechargeable AA and AAA batteries that plug directly into USB-C, making them good for remotes, mice, and other everyday devices.

This teen built a wearable that watches your back

Also on TV this week, I introduced you to 17-year-old Cavon Hajimiri, who spent the last four years inventing Hindsight, a wearable that uses radar and machine learning to detect cars, cyclists, and pedestrians approaching from behind and alert you before they get too close.

A clear phone case I can confidently recommend

I test a lot of phone accessories, and it takes a lot for me to recommend a case. But after trying dozens over the years, I’ve found a new clear one I love: the RhinoShield ClearX.

RhinoShield has sent me cases over the years, but I’m pretty selective about the products I recommend. If something doesn’t stand out, I don’t mention it. The ClearX hasn’t left my phone since I put it on.

I love the combination of slimness and protection. The sides are super thin, so it feels almost like you’re holding the phone without a case, while the reinforced corners and slightly thicker top and bottom add protection where it matters most. And yes, my phone did slip out of my pocket and onto the concrete and I was happy to have this case on.

The raised camera lip adds extra protection, it’s fully MagSafe compatible, and RhinoShield backs it with a lifetime anti-yellowing guarantee.

At $55, it’s definitely a premium case, but if you’re looking for a slim, grippy, protective clear case that lets your phone shine through, this is the one I’d recommend.

Tech Tidbits

• ChatGPT Voice gets better: OpenAI has rolled out a major upgrade to ChatGPT’s Voice Mode. It interrupts less, sounds more natural, and does a better job following longer conversations without cutting you off.

• DuckDuckGo blocks YouTube ads: The privacy-focused DuckDuckGo browser now blocks many YouTube ads by using its built-in video player, giving you a cleaner viewing experience without extra extensions.

• What’s slowing down your Wi-Fi? The BBC spoke with one of the pioneers of Wi-Fi technology, who explains how everyday household items like microwaves, baby monitors, Bluetooth devices, and even fish tanks can interfere with your wireless signal.

• A simpler iPhone: Wired highlights Apple’s Assistive Access feature, which dramatically simplifies the iPhone interface with larger buttons and fewer distractions. It’s designed for people with cognitive disabilities but can also be a great option for kids or anyone who wants a much simpler phone experience.

• Smart pepper spray: A new smart pepper spray automatically alerts your emergency contacts and shares your live GPS location the moment it’s deployed, adding another layer of protection in an emergency.

• HDMI cables from Caleb Denison: Friend of the show and TV reviewer Caleb Denison has launched his own HDMI cable brand, CableRated. After years of testing TVs and home theater gear, he says he created the cables to offer dependable performance without the high prices or exaggerated marketing claims common in the category.

Q&A: Gmail Gone Rogue

Bruce in Brooklyn, NY listening on 710 WOR writes:

Q: Rich, my Gmail account was hacked after I accepted what looked like an official invitation from someone I know. My account started forwarding emails to my contacts without me doing anything, and Gmail even warned that I’d exceeded its 500-email daily sending limit, even though I’d only sent about five emails myself. I’ve changed my password several times, but I’m still worried someone may have access to my account. How do I make sure they’re completely out, and who should I report this to?

A: It definitely sounds like your account was compromised, and this is a common tactic scammers use. Changing your password is a good first step, but you’ll want to do a full security check to make sure they haven’t left any backdoors.

Start with Google’s Security Checkup, which will show your signed-in devices, recent security activity, and connected apps. In Gmail on the web, scroll to the bottom right corner and click Details under Last account activity to review where your account is signed in and log out of any devices you don’t recognize.

Next, check your Gmail forwarding settings and filters to make sure nothing is automatically redirecting your messages. Also confirm that your recovery email, phone number, and any third-party apps connected to your Google account are ones you recognize.

Finally, report the incident to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). While they may not investigate every individual case, the reports help track larger fraud campaigns.

Feedbag

Jim, Denver, CO writes:

I also wanted to let you know I look forward to your podcast every week. Sometimes I run out of new episodes by the end of the week, so I go back and listen to older ones. They’re all good, no matter which one I pick.

Love to hear that, Jim! If you’re not already subscribed, you can grab the link here.

That’s it for this week. Thanks, as always, for reading.

If you have a tech question, don't forget my radio show is live every Saturday from 11 AM to 2 PM Pacific on KFI AM 640. Give me a call at 1-888-RICH-101 (1-888-742-4101).

Can’t listen live? You can catch the replay Sunday evenings on 710 WOR in New York, subscribe to the podcast and listen anytime on demand.

Rich