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Harvard dropout builds wearable AI companion that hangs around neck

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Harvard dropout builds wearable AI companion that hangs around neck

While artificial intelligence continues to proliferate in our society in many different ways, wearable AI has yet to take off, and a Harvard dropout named Avi Schiffmann is trying to change that. 

He’s hoping his next project, Tab, reaches the masses. 

Tab is an AI necklace potentially intended to intercede with God.

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Avi Schiffmann wearing his AI Tab necklace (Jason Carman via YouTube)

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From dropout to innovator

While the success of Harvard dropouts is legendary, from Bill Gates to Mark Zuckerberg, Avi’s focus is not just on innovation but also on how technology can create solutions through collaboration. Prior to his AI necklace invention, at 17, Ari created a COVID-19 tracking website during the pandemic, which drew tens of millions of people every day.

WHAT IS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI)?

He went on to be a youth ambassador to the U.N. and received a Webby Award. Despite the easy advertising dollars he could have capitalized on, he refused to cloud his website with advertising because he did not want to profit off others during a pandemic. At age 19, he created Ukraine Take Shelter, a website that matched 100,000 displaced Ukrainians with welcoming homes. Now all his efforts are in making Tab a success.

Avi Schiffmann giving a speech (Avi Schiffmann)

MORE: A 12-YEAR-OLD GIRL INVENTS A LIFE-SAVING FIRE DETECTOR

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What is Tab?

Tab is a small, circular pendant that hangs around your neck and listens to you and those around you. With a battery that runs for 30 hours on each charge, it uses a microphone and Bluetooth to transmit the audio it picks up to your phone, which then goes to the cloud, where ChatGPT transcribes these conversations.

Once transcribed, a variety of AI models will glean insights specific to and for you. Tab is supposed to be a combination of therapist, life coach and perhaps even God. The idea is that the transparency between yourself and Tab lacks the subjectivity or judgment that one might face with oneself or other humans — and acts more like the transparency one might face with God.

MORE: NAOMI CAMPBELL ROCKS A SCREENLESS WEARABLE AI PIN WITH A SNEAKY SCI-FI TWIST 

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How the device listens to you and reflects on your actions

Though the user experience (UX) is still under development, the two-way communication between the user and Tab is where the value can be found: you get bits of insights or information when you need them, with or without your prompt. Where therapists or life coaches only hear what patients or customers tell them, the Tab is listening and reflecting on what the wearer is doing most of the time. Therefore, you are getting insights in a consistent and radical way.

You might ask, who would allow themselves and the world around them to be transcribed and deconstructed 24/7? The $100,000 in early units sold at $600 for each Tab, which includes a year of service (at $50 per month) indicates there is a public interest. Despite AI wearables failing to launch or rather reaching a tipping point as a part of the cultural zeitgeist, Ari was able to raise $1.9 million on a valuation of $15 to $20 million for Tab.

MORE: AI WEARABLE CONTRAPTION GIVES YOU SUPERHUMAN STRENGTH

Big brother or best friend? Will privacy be protected?

For those who are already concerned about wearing a device and listening to every potentially embarrassing babble coming out of your mouth, fear not. Ari promises that the company will not store, sell, or share its user data.

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The business model for Tab may shift in the future so that the pendant itself is free of charge and the costs offset by the service subscription. We may finally have the ultimate solution to writer’s block — or maybe even “life” block with an AI friend who is not only always around but also evolves with us one conversation at a time.

How can you get your hands on Tab?

You can preorder Tab and, according to the official website, the device will ship out sometime this year.

Kurt’s key takeaways

Tech companies are scrabbling to create a wearable AI that “sticks.” It seems like a maverick Harvard dropout may have found the perfect blend of usability and portability in Tab. While the concept of being listened to for the majority of one’s day might be a tough pill to swallow for those wary of being under surveillance or unwilling to evolve, Tab’s creator has the intention of empowering each wearer with the power of clarity through AI. The tech world awaits with bated breath as Tab is slated to ship out its preorders in 2024.

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If you can get answers to improve yourself and your life, would you be willing to let your conversations be heard and transcribed by AI? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.

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Microsoft’s Edge Copilot update uses AI to pull information from across your tabs

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Microsoft’s Edge Copilot update uses AI to pull information from across your tabs

Microsoft Edge is adding a new feature that will allow its Copilot AI chatbot to gather information from all of your open tabs. When you start a conversation with Copilot, you can ask the chatbot questions about what’s in your tabs, compare the products you’re looking at, summarize your open articles, and more.

In its announcement, Microsoft says you can “select which experiences you want or leave off the ones you don’t.” The company is retiring Copilot Mode as well, which could similarly draw information from your tabs but offered some agentic features, like the ability to book a reservation on your behalf. Microsoft has since folded these agentic capabilities into its “Browse with Copilot” tool.

Several other AI features are coming to Edge, including an AI-powered “Study and Learn” mode that can turn the article you’re looking at into a study session or interactive quiz. There’s a new tool that turns your tabs into AI-powered podcasts as well, similar to what you’d find on NotebookLM, and an AI writing assistant that will pop up when you start entering text on a webpage.

You can also give Copilot permission to access your browsing history to provide more “relevant, high-quality answers,” according to Microsoft. Copilot in Edge on desktop and mobile will come with “long-term memory” as well, which can tailor its responses based on your previous conversations. And, when you open up a new tab, you’ll see a redesigned page that combines chat, search, and web navigation, along with the Journeys feature, which uses AI to organize your browsing history into categories that you can revisit.

Meanwhile, an update to Edge’s mobile app will allow you to share your screen with Copilot and talk through the questions about what you’re seeing. Microsoft says you’ll see “clear visual cues” when Copilot is active, “so you know when it’s taking an action, helping, listening, or viewing.”

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Apple’s $250M Siri settlement: Are you owed cash?

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Apple’s 0M Siri settlement: Are you owed cash?

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If you bought a newer iPhone because Apple made Siri sound like it was about to become your personal artificial intelligence sidekick, you may want to pay attention.

Apple has agreed to pay $250 million to settle a class-action lawsuit over claims that it misled customers about new Apple Intelligence and Siri features. The case centers on the iPhone 16 launch and certain iPhone 15 models that were marketed as ready for Apple’s next wave of AI. The settlement still needs court approval, and Apple denies wrongdoing.

The lawsuit argues that Apple promoted a smarter, more personal Siri before those features were actually available. For some buyers, that was a big deal. A new iPhone can cost hundreds of dollars, and many people upgrade only when they think they are getting something meaningfully new.

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WHY IPHONE USERS ARE THE NEW PRIME SCAM TARGETS

U.S. buyers of certain iPhone 16 and iPhone 15 Pro models may qualify for payments if a judge approves Apple’s proposed settlement. (Getty Images)

What Apple is accused of promising

Apple introduced Apple Intelligence in June 2024 and promoted it as a major step forward for iPhone, iPad and Mac. A key part of that pitch was a more personalized Siri that could understand context, work across apps and help with everyday tasks in a more useful way.

The lawsuit claims Apple’s marketing made consumers believe those advanced Siri features would arrive with the iPhone 16 or soon after. Instead, buyers received phones that had some Apple Intelligence tools, but not the full Siri overhaul that many expected.

That gap is the heart of the case. Plaintiffs say customers bought or upgraded devices based on AI features that were not ready. Apple says it has rolled out many Apple Intelligence features and settled the case, so it can stay focused on its products. 

How much money could iPhone owners get?

The proposed settlement creates a $250 million fund. Eligible customers who file approved claims are expected to receive at least $25 per eligible device. That amount could rise to as much as $95 per device, depending on how many people file claims and other settlement factors.

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That means this will not be a huge payday for most people. Still, if you bought one of the covered phones, it may be worth watching for a claim notice. A few minutes of paperwork could put some money back in your pocket.

Which iPhones may qualify?

The proposed settlement covers U.S. buyers who purchased any iPhone 16 model, iPhone 15 Pro or iPhone 15 Pro Max between June 10, 2024, and March 29, 2025.

Covered iPhone 16 models include the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16 Pro Max and iPhone 16e. The settlement also includes the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, but not every iPhone 15 model.

The key details are the device model, the purchase date and whether the phone was bought in the United States.

HOW YOU CAN GET A SLICE OF APPLE’S $250M IPHONE SETTLEMENT

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Apple has agreed to pay $250 million to settle claims it misled customers about Apple Intelligence and Siri features on newer iPhones. (Michael Nagle/Bloomberg)

How will you file a claim?

You do not need to do anything immediately. The settlement still needs a judge’s approval. Once the claims process opens, eligible customers are expected to receive a notice by email or mail with instructions on how to file through a settlement website.

That notice matters because scammers love moments like this. A real settlement notice should not ask for your Apple ID password, bank login or payment to claim your money. If you receive a message about this settlement, do not click blindly. Go slowly, check the sender and look for the official settlement administrator details once they are available.

Why this case matters beyond one Siri feature

This case hits a bigger nerve. Tech companies are racing to sell AI as the next must-have feature. That creates a problem for shoppers. You are often asked to buy now based on what a company says will arrive later.

That can be frustrating when the feature is the reason you upgraded. A smarter Siri sounds useful. A phone that can understand your personal context, search across apps and help with daily tasks could save time. But if those tools are delayed, limited or missing, the value of the upgrade changes.

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This settlement also sends a message about AI marketing. Companies can talk about future features, but consumers need clear timing and plain explanations. “Coming soon” can mean very different things when you are spending $800, $1,000 or more.

We reached out to Apple for comment, but did not hear back before our deadline.

FIRST 15 THINGS TO DO OR TRY FIRST WHEN YOU GET A NEW IPHONE

Apple denies wrongdoing but agreed to settle claims tied to its marketing of Apple Intelligence and Siri features. (Qilai Shen/Bloomberg)

What this means to you

If you bought a covered iPhone during the settlement period, keep an eye on your email and regular mail. You may qualify for a payment if the court approves the deal.

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You should also keep your receipt or proof of purchase if you have it. Your Apple purchase history, carrier account or retailer receipt may help if the claim process asks for details.

More broadly, this is a reminder to treat AI features like any other big tech promise. Before you upgrade, ask one simple question: Can the feature do what is being advertised today, or is the company asking me to wait?

That question can save you from buying a device for a future feature that may arrive much later than expected.

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Kurt’s key takeaways

Apple has built its brand on making technology feel polished, personal and easy to use. That is why this Siri settlement hits a nerve. People were buying phones they use every day for texts, photos, directions, reminders and everything in between. Many expected AI to make those everyday tasks easier, which is why the delay felt frustrating. The proposed payout may be modest, but the bigger issue is trust. When a company sells AI as a reason to upgrade, customers deserve to know what actually works now and what is still coming later.

Would you still buy a new phone for promised AI features, or would you wait until they actually show up? Let us know by writing to us at CyberGuy.com.

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Instagram hits the copy button again with new disappearing Instants photos

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Instagram hits the copy button again with new disappearing Instants photos

Instagram is once again cribbing from competitors like Snapchat and BeReal with a new photo-sharing format it calls “Instants,” which are ephemeral photos that you can’t edit and that you can only share with your close friends or followers that follow you back. Instants are available globally beginning on Wednesday as a feature in the inbox in the Instagram app and as a separate app that’s now in testing in select countries.

To access Instants from the Instagram app, go to your DM inbox and look in the bottom-right corner for an icon or a stack of photos. After you post a photo, your friends can emoji react to it and send a reply to your DMs, but after they see it, the photo disappears for them. Instants also disappear after 24 hours, and they can’t be captured in screenshots or screen recordings.

However, your Instants will remain in an archive for you for up to a year, and you can reshare them as a recap to your Instagram Stories if you’d like. You can also undo sending an Instant right after you post it or delete it from your archive.

The Instants mobile app, which popped up in Italy and Spain in April, gives you “immediate access to the camera” and only requires an Instagram account, Instagram says. “Instants you share on the separate app will show up for friends on Instagram and vice versa. We’re trying this separate app out to see how our community uses it, and we’ll continue to evolve it as we learn more.”

Instagram, in its testing, has seen that people “tend to use Instants to share much more casual, much more authentic moments about their day,” according to Instagram boss Adam Mosseri. “And we know that this type of sharing of personal moments with friends is a core part of what makes Instagram Instagram, but we also know that a lot of people don’t really share a lot to their profile grids anymore.”

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