July's Digital Life - AI War Games, Crazy Times, and a Summer Smile
Keep up to date on curated AI, security, tips, tricks and more with The Digital Life!
While the world’s out chasing the next big AI headline, we’re staying focused on what matters: smart tools, clear warnings, and ideas that make a difference. July’s roundup is full of practical news, tips and one or two big think moments.
In this issue:
Wildcard Wednesday: Supercharge your AI on July 9th at Noon PDT
Big Think: Would you trust AI to predict war?
Security Watch: Crypto scams, browser leaks, and AI gone rogue
AI in Real Life: When Claude called security on itself
Language Shift: Why we all suddenly “delve” and “note”
Tips Worth Trying: From Harper to Sunset to free Word
Smiles Included: Make a Star Wars crawl and pet your dog for science
Thanks for reading. I know your time and attention is valuable, especially when it’s nice out! 😉 If we can help make your summer any sunnier, give us a call! 🌞
Wildcard Wednesday Episode 5 - Supercharge your AI
📅 Next Session: July 9th @ 12:00 PM Pacific
Join me to learn how to approach AI the right way, plus see how to mix models for better outcomes.
👉 You in? Here are the details:
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84683293608?pwd=lXG0N6P4XFB9wiA831z6qw6Fvavncb.1
Join with Zoom AI Companion
https://us02web.zoom.us/launch/edl?muid=d3690e80-c549-467c-ba61-55b132fa500b
Join Manually
Meeting ID: 846 8329 3608
Passcode: 276761
The Big Think - Predicting Peace or Engineering Conflict?
There’s a new player in the so-called “peace tech” space. Anadyr Horizon says it can model geopolitical risk using AI-powered digital twins of world leaders. The goal? To simulate conflict scenarios, stabilize markets, and guide diplomatic decision-making. It’s bold. It’s funded. And some of that funding comes from investors with deep defense ties. What could go wrong?
On the surface, the idea looks promising. But it arrives during a global rush to militarize AI. Companies like Palantir and Anduril already have multi-million dollar contracts focused on battlefield logistics, surveillance, and targeting systems. This is not a neutral race. It’s a sprint toward automation, and there’s no map for what happens next.
Personally, I support the use of AI to counter disinformation, reputational attacks, and hybrid warfare. But only with strong ethical safeguards. And only if access stays open. These tools must not be hoarded by governments or defense contractors. That would turn a promising innovation into just another asymmetric weapon.
So, would you back an AI system that forecasts geopolitical risk, built in the U.S., funded by venture capital, and rooted in defense infrastructure, even with ethical oversight?
Read the article and decide for yourself.
News Worth Reading
Just plain scary. Some users with no prior mental health history spiraled after extended LLM use, ending up in jail or psychiatric care. LLMs (“chat bots”) can reinforce delusions instead of diffusing them as they aim to please the user. For people with borderline or fragile mental states, this isn’t just risky. It’s dangerous.😯
In a strange twist to an experiment, Anthropic’s Claude tried to solve its own management mess by inventing a call to building security. No, really. On top of that it hallucinated payments, stocked bizarre items like tungsten cubes, and still lost money. This is why LLMs aren’t ready for big time automation. 🤯📉
Would you pay the price of a few fast food meals each month to always have a new Mac? 🤔 Upgrade’s new upgrade program includes AppleCare+ and lets you swap for the latest model every 24 months.
Beyond the Prompt
It’s not just what AI says, it’s how it says it. And, it’s changing how we speak. A new study shows words like “delve” and “notably” have surged in everyday use since ChatGPT launched. If you’ve been “delving” into a lot of “notable” topics lately, well, know you know why. 😉😂
Here’s one of the best practical AI guides we’ve seen lately. Ethan Mollick breaks down how to pick a top-tier model, use voice and image features, and get better output by treating AI like a thinking partner instead of a search box. A highly recommended summer read!
Security Threat Watch
Crypto scams aren’t just coming from overseas. Xinbi Guarantee, a $9 billion fraud network, was incorporated in Colorado and used U.S. shell companies and bank accounts to power massive crypto and romance scams targeting victims worldwide.
Think you're browsing anonymously? Think again. Sites can track your device through fingerprinting even without cookies. This piece breaks down how to cover your tracks.
Tips of the Month
When someone passes, it’s public knowledge and the scams start fast. Sunset helps you lock down digital and financial accounts before the vultures show up. A smart move, even while everyone’s still healthy.
A quick reminder - Word is still free. If you only open Office a few times a year, skip the subscriptions. Use the free web version instead. It’s fast, familiar, and good enough for most needs.
I’ve used Grammarly for years, but the free version sends everything to the cloud. This week I made the switch to Harper. It’s local, private, and still free.
The Good News - Play, Pet, Laugh
We couldn’t leave you without a smile, so how about three choices? Make your own Star Wars intro, pet your dog to bust stress, and watch John Oliver take down AI slop. Just a few ways to keep summer weird and wonderful. 😎🌞
