Technology
AI jobs that pay $200K or more
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I know that many of you are afraid that AI is going to take your job. And you might be right.
The 2025 Global State of AI at Work report just confirmed what we’re all sensing. AI isn’t the future. It is now. But before you panic, let me offer a new way to look at this.
Instead of fearing what’s coming, maybe it’s time to think outside the box. Nearly three out of five companies say they’re hiring for AI-related roles this year. And most of these jobs don’t require a computer science degree or even coding skills.
So, what are they looking for? Real people with real-world experience. They want folks who can think critically, solve problems and communicate clearly. That might sound a lot like … you.
RUDE CHATGPT PROMPTS, BETTER ANSWERS? WHAT THE DATA SAYS
Generative AI tools can help job seekers make their resumes and applications more visual and get ideas for content. (Jaap Arriens/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Here are some of the highest-paying, fastest-growing AI roles right now. Let’s dig in.
Prompt Engineers
$175K to $250K-plus
These are the “AI whisperers.” Their job is to write the right prompts so tools like ChatGPT give useful, accurate and smart responses. You don’t need to know how to code, but you do need to be a great communicator, logical thinker and problem solver. Bonus: English majors, writers and marketers often pivot into this role.
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AI Trainers (or Evaluators)
$90K to $150K
Ever wonder how chatbots learn to sound polite or helpful? That’s the trainer’s job. They score AI responses, tweak tone and accuracy and help refine what the AI “knows.” This is a great role for detail-oriented folks, even part-timers and remote workers.
A photo taken on October 4, 2023 in Manta, near Turin, shows a smartphone and a laptop displaying the logos of the artificial intelligence OpenAI research company and ChatGPT chatbot. (MARCO BERTORELLO/AFP via Getty Images)
Machine Learning Engineers
$150K to $210K
If you’re the technical type who likes to code, solve complex problems and build the actual brains behind AI, this is where you belong. These jobs are in super high demand, and the pay is great.
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AI Product Managers
$140K to $200K
Not technical? Not a problem. AI PMs are the bridge between engineers and business teams. They guide strategy, make sure projects stay on time and budget and turn AI ideas into real-world results. You’ll need communication skills, curiosity and business smarts.
Generative AI Consultants
$125K to $185K
This is perfect for freelancers or small-business owners. Companies are desperate to figure out how to use AI, and they’ll pay you to show them. You might help build automations, train teams or set up tools like ChatGPT, Jasper or Midjourney.
In this photo illustration, a Midjourney logo appears on a smartphone screen. (Pavlo Gonchar/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Want help getting started?
If you’re nervous about pivoting or don’t know where to start, I’m here to help. Whether you want to become a prompt engineer, a consultant or just to understand how to use AI to boost your current work, I’ve got your back.
Let’s chat. Click here to schedule a time with me. We’ll map out your path together. You’ve got this, and the future is wide open.
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Technology
Silksong is getting a free expansion next year
It’s still hard to believe that Hollow Knight: Silksong actually came out this year, but now, we all have a new thing to wait for: the game is getting a free expansion in 2026, titled Sea of Sorrow. Team Cherry calls it the game’s “first big expansion.”
“New areas, bosses, tools, and more!” Team Cherry says in a blog post. “Hornet’s adventures continue in our nautically themed expansion, coming free for all players next year. We’ll keep further details a secret for now, but expect additional info shortly before Hollow Knight: Silksong – Sea of Sorrow releases.”
More than 7 million people bought Silksong, according to Team Cherry, and “millions more” played on Xbox Game Pass.
The original Hollow Knight is getting updated, too. Team Cherry is working on a Nintendo Switch 2 Edition of the game that “incorporates all the updates and enhancements that Silksong received on the platform: High frame-rate modes, higher resolutions, and many additional graphical effects.” Players who own the Switch version of the game will get the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition as a free update when it’s available in 2026.
Ahead of that launch, Team Cherry says it will be “updating all versions of the original game for current platforms, adding features and fixing bugs.” Those changes include “full 16:10 and 21:9 aspect ratio support for those of you with Steam Decks or ultrawide monitors,” and PC players can try the new updates in public beta.
Technology
Petco confirms major data breach involving customer data
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Petco revealed a data breach that exposed sensitive customer information. The company disclosed the details in state filings after identifying a configuration in one of its software applications that made certain files accessible online. This issue has now been corrected, but the impact is significant.
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THIRD-PARTY BREACH EXPOSES CHATGPT ACCOUNT DETAILS
Petco disclosed a breach that exposed customer data after a software setting left files accessible online. (Photographer: Tiffany Hagler-Geard/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
What Petco says the breach exposed
According to reports filed with the Texas attorney general’s office, the exposed data included names, Social Security numbers, driver’s license numbers, financial account details, credit or debit card numbers and dates of birth. Filings in California, Massachusetts and Montana confirm additional affected residents.
In California, companies must report breaches involving at least 500 state residents. Petco did not disclose the exact number, which suggests the real total is higher. For context, Petco said in 2022 that it served more than 24 million customers.
Petco says the company sent notifications to individuals whose information was involved. The sample notice released by the California attorney general explains that a software setting allowed certain files to be accessible online. Petco says it removed those files, corrected the setting and added new security measures.
The company is offering free credit and identity theft monitoring to victims in California, Massachusetts and Montana. It is not clear if similar support is being offered to affected Texas residents.
We reached out to Petco for comment, and a representative provided CyberGuy with the following statement,
“We recently identified a setting in one of our applications which inadvertently made certain Petco files accessible online. Upon identifying the issue, we took immediate steps to correct the error and began an investigation. We notified individuals whose information was involved and continue to monitor for further issues. We take this incident seriously. To help prevent something like this from happening again, we have taken and will continue to take steps to enhance the security of our network.”
What this breach means for you
A breach that exposes government IDs, financial numbers and birth dates creates long-term risks. Criminals use this mix of information to open accounts, take over existing ones or try to pass identity checks. Even if no fraud happens right away, exposed data can sit in criminal markets for years.
Ways to stay safe after a breach like this
You can take several steps today that help lower your risk and protect your identity going forward.
1) Place a credit freeze
A freeze blocks new credit accounts in your name. It also stops criminals from opening loans or credit cards with your stolen information. You can freeze your credit for free at Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.
2) Add two more freezes
Two additional freezes cover accounts that do not run through the major credit bureaus. Freeze ChexSystems to stop criminals from opening checking or savings accounts. Freeze NCTUE to block fake phone, cable or utility accounts.
3) Turn on account alerts
Set up alerts for banking, credit cards and online shopping accounts. Alerts help you spot suspicious activity fast.
4) Use a password manager
Strong passwords protect you from credential stuffing attacks. This happens when criminals take stolen passwords from one breach and try them on other sites. A password manager creates unique passwords for every account and helps you stop those attacks before they start.
Next, see if your email has been exposed in past breaches. Our #1 password manager (see Cyberguy.com) pick includes a built-in breach scanner that checks whether your email address or passwords have appeared in known leaks. If you discover a match, immediately change any reused passwords and secure those accounts with new, unique credentials.
Check out the best expert-reviewed password managers of 2025 at Cyberguy.com
5) Monitor your identity
If Petco offered you free identity theft monitoring, enroll as soon as possible. It helps you catch fraud that can happen months or years later.
Identity Theft companies can monitor personal information like your Social Security Number (SSN), phone number, and email address, and alert you if it is being sold on the dark web or being used to open an account. They can also assist you in freezing your bank and credit card accounts to prevent further unauthorized use by criminals.
See my tips and best picks on how to protect yourself from identity theft at Cyberguy.com
WHY YOUR HOLIDAY SHOPPING DATA NEEDS A CLEANUP NOW
State filings show Petco customers had Social Security and financial information exposed in the breach. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
6) Remove exposed personal data
Data broker sites collect and share personal details that fuel scams. Removing your information reduces your exposure and makes you a harder target.
While no service can guarantee the complete removal of your data from the internet, a data removal service is really a smart choice. They aren’t cheap, and neither is your privacy. These services do all the work for you by actively monitoring and systematically erasing your personal information from hundreds of websites. It’s what gives me peace of mind and has proven to be the most effective way to erase your personal data from the internet. By limiting the information available, you reduce the risk of scammers cross-referencing data from breaches with information they might find on the dark web, making it harder for them to target you.
Check out my top picks for data removal services and get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web by visiting Cyberguy.com
Get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web: Cyberguy.com
WHY SCAMMERS OPEN BANK ACCOUNTS IN YOUR NAME
Petco says it corrected the software issue and notified individuals whose information was compromised. (Photo by Paul Weaver/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
7) Watch for phishing and use strong antivirus software
Scammers often follow a breach with emails or texts that look real. Slow down and check every message before you click. A strong antivirus helps block malicious links and alerts you when something looks risky.
The best way to safeguard yourself from malicious links that install malware, potentially accessing your private information, is to have strong antivirus software installed on all your devices. This protection can also alert you to phishing emails and ransomware scams, keeping your personal information and digital assets safe.
Get my picks for the best 2025 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android & iOS devices at Cyberguy.com
Kurt’s key takeaways
Data breaches happen often, but this one involves information that can cause lasting harm. You can protect yourself with a few quick steps that reduce the chance of fraud and limit how far criminals can get with your data.
How much trust do you place in companies to protect your personal information? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com
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Technology
Kindle app now answers questions about the book you’re reading
Amazon has launched a new AI feature in the Kindle app that gives spoiler-free answers to questions about the book you’re reading and confirmed that authors can’t opt out from the feature.
The company calls Ask this Book an “expert reading assistant” in its announcement and says that it’s capable of answering questions about “plot details, character relationships, and thematic elements,” all while avoiding spoilers by limiting its answers to content from the pages you’ve read so far. It’s essentially an in-book chatbot, accessible from the book menu or by highlighting a passage of text you want to ask about.
Amazon spokesperson Ale Iraheta told Publishers Lunch that the answers are “non-shareable and non-copyable” and only available to readers who’ve purchased or rented books. Iraheta also said that the feature is always on, noting that “there is no option for authors or publishers to opt titles out.”
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