When I went online to track a UPS package, a virtual assistant popped up with this message, “Hello, I’m the UPS Virtual Assistant. I see you tracked a package. Let me know how I can help. By chatting, you consent to the chats being recorded,… Read More »The folly of virtual assistants
As one who’s traveled internationally decades for business, I’ve always taken control of my trips and managed the details. But recently when planning a vacation trip to Argentina, I tried an entirely different approach- I used a local Argentinian travel company to do most everything.… Read More »
In a high tech version of biting the hand that feeds you, an investigation by New York Times technology reporter Kashmir Hill, uncovered who General Motors is tracking the driving habits of their customers and selling the data to LexisNexis Risk Solutions and Verisk, who… Read More »Biting the hand that feeds you
No, not the trail of Donald Trump, but that new tech product that was such a huge rage last year when it was announced at a TED conference. As I wrote in my column at the time, the product, called the AI Pin, was going… Read More »The Verdict is in
(Note: This article about the state of sound quality was co-written with Neil Young and originally appeared at NeilYoungArchives.com.) There’s a lot of happening in the world of music that bodes well for better audio quality. We’ve come a long way from the days of… Read More »The state of sound quality in 2024
I received an email from a local chef who operates four nice restaurants in San Diego. They’re pricey, have generally good food, although not the very best in the area. I had thought the email was an April Fools joke, but it was only May… Read More »Loyalty programs off the rails
If you read some of the press you’d might think the interest in electric cars has peaked. Some of the press, especially on the right (Wall St. Journal, The Hill), are already predicting the demise of EVs. But that’s all mostly political and bears nothing… Read More »What’s happening with electric cars? It’s not what you think.
I received an email from my brother Andrew this week from Cape Town, South Africa, his first stop of a two-week vacation, telling me his iPhone was stolen. He was pickpocketed in downtown Cape Town. It was the second day of his visit to the… Read More »A cautionary tale for travelers
I love Apple products. They’re some of the best designed consumer devices ever produced. They look great, work great, and are easier to use than the alternatives. I also love Apple’s support system that makes it easy to get help by phone or in one… Read More »Apple sued by DOJ on antitrust charges
I received an email from my brother Andrew this week from Cape Town, South Africa, where he is on his first stop of a two-week vacation, telling me his iPhone was stolen. It was picked from his pocket in downtown Cape Town. It was the… Read More »A traveler’s nightmare