Apple will “break new ground” on generative AI this year. That’s the word from CEO Tim Cook at the Apple annual shareholders meeting. This is the second time in a month Apple has teased big AI news. The announcements are expected at their World Wide Developers Conference in June. Notoriously tight lipped Apple may actually be able to move the needle significantly with AI due to the tight integration between their operating systems and their own software. 

With the Biden Administration taking aim at Chinese EVs over their software that can track the cars and traffic, and nose around in your connected smartphone, here’s yet another cheap thing to be leery of…video doorbells. According to Consumer Reports, some of the cheapies can be hacked, and the camera can be taken over simply by holding down a button. The consumer watchdog put out research that listed 4 security flaws in cams made by EKEN, out of China. They make the EKEN camera, as well as ones branded Tuck, and several others. Walmart and Temu have pulled the cams after the Consumer Reports study came out, but they remain available on Amazon and Sears, among other places. If you are looking at a $30 doorbell cam, it’s probably one of these easily hacked models…steer clear!

There has been a lot of buzz about legendary tech journalist Kara Swisher’s new book that comes out March 1st. The actual book is titled Burn Book: A Tech Love Story. That said, Mashable.com notes that there is a fleet of wannabe books written by AI showing up on Amazon with either similar names, or with her name on them. An example…Kara Swisher: Silicon Valley’s Bulldog (A Biography), but Jane Coelho. The woman pictured on the cover isn’t even Swisher, but has some resemblance to her. There are at least a dozen of these, so if you want to read Kara’s book….and it should be a great one…look for Burn Book!

If you are over 65, you should go in for a Spring COVID Jab. Arstechnica.com reports that an advisory committee for the CDC voted overwhelmingly in favor of recommending the spring booster dose. And late yesterday afternoon, CDC Director Mandy Cohen signed off on the recommendation, allowing boosting to begin. There will also be a 2024-25 booster in the fall for everybody. People over 65 made up 67% of COVID-19 hospitalizations between October 2023 and January 2024, according to CDC data. They advise getting the spring shot before the end of June.

I’m Clark Reid and you’re ‘Techinfied’ for now.