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Helpful Hack: Siri's new tricks, photo magic and writing help with iOS 18.1's new AI features

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Helpful Hack: Siri's new tricks, photo magic and writing help with iOS 18.1's new AI features

Ready to make your iPhone even smarter? With the latest iOS 18.1 update, Apple Intelligence brings many powerful new features to your fingertips. 

Before you dive into these exciting tools, let’s get your device updated and set up. 

Don’t worry — it’s a quick and easy process. And once you’re all set, you’ll be amazed at how these features can transform your day-to-day interactions with your phone. Let’s get started.

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Apple Intelligence and Siri on iPhone in iOS 18.1. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

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How to update your iPhone’s software

First things first, you’ll need to update your iPhone to iOS 18.1 or later. Here’s how:

Open the Settings app.

Tap General.

Select Software Update.

If iOS 18.1 or later is available, tap “Download and Install.”

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Steps to update iPhone’s software. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

HOW TO PROTECT YOUR IPHONE & IPAD FROM MALWARE

How to enable Apple Intelligence

Once you’re on iOS 18.1 or later, enabling Apple Intelligence is a breeze:

Go to Settings.

Tap Apple Intelligence & Siri.

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Toggle on Apple Intelligence.

Steps to enable Apple Intelligence. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

Your iPhone will then download the necessary AI models. You’ll get a notification when it’s ready to roll. Currently, Apple Intelligence is only available on iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, and newer iPads and Macs with M1 chips or later.

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Exploring Apple Intelligence features

Now for the fun part. Let’s check out some of the coolest new features:

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Summarize an email with Apple Intelligence

You can use Apple Intelligence to summarize messages and mail and get the key details at a glance. Here’s how it works:

In your mail app, tap an email message or thread.

Now, tap the summarize button in the top right corner.

An animation appears as Apple Intelligence analyzes the text, and a summary will appear above the email.

Steps to summarize an email using Apple Intelligence. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

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Supercharged Siri

Siri’s gotten a major upgrade and is now supercharged by Apple Intelligence. When you talk to Siri, you’ll notice an elegant glowing light around the edge of your screen that shows that Apple Intelligence is working for you.

It now can handle those “umm” moments we all have. For example, try saying, “Hey Siri, set a 10-minute, no, 15-minute timer.” Siri will understand and set the 15-minute timer.

If you don’t want to ask Siri out loud, you can now type to Siri. Just double-tap at the bottom of the screen, and you can quickly and quietly type your Siri request.

Image of Siri using Apple Intelligence. (Apple)

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Writing tools

Apple Intelligence has your back when it comes to writing. Here’s how to use it:

Select any text in an email or document by double-tapping on the text and dragging the cursor over the text you want help with.

Then, the selection handles will appear. Tap the Writing Tools icon that appears above the selected text.

Choose from options like “Proofread,” “Rewrite,” “Friendly,” “Professional,” “Concise,” “Summary,” “Key Points,” “List” or “Table.” Here’s what each does specifically:

Proofread: Checks for grammar and spelling errors.

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Rewrite: Offers alternative phrasing for the selected text.

Friendly: Makes the text more casual and approachable.

Professional: Adjusts the tone to be more formal and polished.

Concise: Shortens the text to be more direct.

Summary: Provides a brief overview of the selected text.

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Key Points: Highlights the main ideas.

List: Converts the text into a list format.

Table: Organizes the text into a table.

Once you’ve made your selection, you can either tap Done or Revert to what you had.

Steps to use Apple Intelligence when using Writing Tools on iPhone. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

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Smarter photos

Your photo library just got a lot more searchable:

Open the Photos app.

Tap the search icon at the top of the screen.

Try natural language queries like “dog sitting on the couch.”

Click Search, and you’ll be amazed at how accurately it finds your photos.

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Tap Done 

Steps to search photos using Apple Intelligence. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

Clean up those pics

Want to remove unwanted objects from your photos? Here’s how:

Open a photo in the Photos app.

Tap the Edit button below the picture.

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Select the Clean Up tool in the bottom right of the screen.

Circle or tap the object you want to remove.

Apple Intelligence will work its magic to erase it seamlessly.

Then, click either done or cancel.

Steps to remove unwanted objects from photos on iPhone. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

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Memory movie creation

Create custom photo slideshows using natural language prompts. Here’s how to use this feature:

Open the Photos app.

Scroll down to where it says Memories.

Click where it says Create to Create a Memory Movie.

WHAT IS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI)?

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Enter a text prompt describing the theme or content you want and then tap the up arrow.

Apple Intelligence will work its magic to Create a Memory Movie seamlessly.

Tap the three horizontal dots at the top of the screen to Edit Move Timeline, or you can tap Share Movie to share it via Messages, Mail or Social Media.

Steps to create a Memory Movie on iPhone. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

Intelligent notifications

Tired of notification overload? Apple Intelligence now provides smart summaries for your emails and messages. Just swipe down from the top of your screen to see condensed versions of your notifications.

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Apple Intelligence creates smart summaries on iPhone. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

Remember, to access these features, you’ll need a compatible device (iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 16 series or newer iPads/Macs with M1 chips or later) running iOS 18.1 or later. You’ll also need to enable Apple Intelligence in your device settings.

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Kurt’s key takeaways

While these features are exciting, Apple has even more in store. We’re still waiting on some promised capabilities like emoji creation, image playground and ChatGPT integration. Apple hasn’t given us a firm timeline, but stay tuned — the AI revolution on your iPhone is just getting started.

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What feature of Apple Intelligence are you most excited to try out on your device, and why? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact

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OpenAI keeps shuffling its executives in bid to win AI agent battle

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OpenAI keeps shuffling its executives in bid to win AI agent battle

OpenAI announced yet another reorganization Friday, consolidating certain areas and making company president Greg Brockman the official lead of all things product.

In a memo viewed by The Verge, Brockman wrote that since OpenAI’s product strategy for this year is to go all-in on AI agents, the company is combining its products to “invest in a single agentic platform and to merge ChatGPT and Codex into one unified agentic experience for all.”

To do this, the company is making a suite of org chart changes, although it’s still operating under some of the same ones from last month. That’s when AGI boss Fidji Simo went on medical leave and OpenAI announced that Brockman would be in charge of product strategy and CSO Jason Kwon, CFO Sarah Friar, and CRO Denise Dresser would take control of business operations.

It’s all part of OpenAI’s recent strategic shift to focus on key revenue drivers like coding and enterprise and stop pouring resources into “side quests” ahead of its potential IPO later this year and amid investor pressure to turn a profit.

In Simo’s continued absence, Brockman’s role leading product strategy is now official, as well as the company’s “scaling” arm. Under Brockman will be four different pillars. The first is core product and platform, led by Thibault Sottiaux, who has been OpenAI’s engineering lead for Codex, and the second is critical enterprise industries, led by ChatGPT head Nick Turley. Third is the consumer pillar, such as health, commerce, and personal finance, which will be led by Ashley Alexander, who has been its healthcare products VP. The fourth pillar — core infrastructure, ads, data science, and growth — will be led by Vijaye Raji, who has been OpenAI’s CTO of applications.

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Brockman wrote in the memo that OpenAI’s goal is now to “bring agents to ChatGPT scale, in order to give individuals and organizations significantly more value and utility from our products.”

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Is that traffic ticket text a scam or real?

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Is that traffic ticket text a scam or real?

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

You’re going about your day when your phone buzzes. A text hits your phone. It looks official. It sounds urgent. And suddenly, you are being told you owe money for a traffic violation. That is exactly what Todd from Texas experienced. He emailed us and said:

“I received this text message today. It was so baffling because I haven’t lived in California for nearly a decade. I didn’t click on anything or respond. How can I tell if this is for real or if this is a scam?”

If you’ve gotten a message like this, you are not alone. This type of scam is spreading fast, and it is designed to pressure you into acting before you think. Let’s break down what is really going on.

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FAKE AGENT PHONE SCAMS ARE SPREADING FAST ACROSS THE US

This message may look official, but several red flags show it is likely a scam designed to pressure you into paying quickly. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

What the traffic ticket scam text looks like

At first, the message seems convincing. It claims to be a “final reminder” from the California DMV, and it warns of penalties like license suspension and added fees. It even includes a link that appears somewhat official. However, once you slow down and take a closer look, the red flags quickly start to pile up.

The biggest red flags in this message

Here are the key warning signs to watch for in messages like this.

9 WAYS SCAMMERS CAN USE YOUR PHONE NUMBER TO TRY TO TRICK YOU

1) The phone number makes no sense

The message comes from a number with a +63 country code. That is the Philippines, not California. Government agencies in the U.S. do not send official legal notices from international numbers. That alone is a major warning sign.

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2) No name, just “Dear Driver”

Legitimate notices from a DMV or court almost always include your full name or at least some identifying information. “Dear Driver” is vague on purpose. It allows scammers to send the same message to thousands of people.

3) The link isn’t a real DMV website

The message includes this link:

ca.mnvtl.life/dmv

That isn’t a government domain. Official DMV websites in California use “.ca.gov” or similar trusted domains. Scammers often create lookalike links to trick you into clicking.

4) Urgency and threats

The message pushes you to act quickly with a deadline. It lists consequences like license suspension and extra charges. Scammers rely on fear. When you feel rushed, you are more likely to click without thinking.

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FBI WARNS OF DANGEROUS NEW ‘SMISHING’ SCAM TARGETING YOUR PHONE

5) Asking you to reply to proceed

The text says to reply with “Y” to get instructions. That is another trap. Responding confirms your number is active, which can lead to more scam messages.

6) Generic language and odd phrasing

Parts of the message feel slightly off. The tone is formal but not quite right. That subtle awkwardness is common in scam messages sent to large groups of people.

7) Overloaded threats designed to scare you

The message piles on consequences like license suspension, added fees, court action and even credit damage. In this case, it even mentions a license suspension and a $160 late payment charge. That combination is meant to overwhelm you and push you to act fast. Real agencies usually provide clear, specific notices, not a long list of escalating threats in a single text.

INSIDE A SCAMMER’S DAY AND HOW THEY TARGET YOU

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Scam texts like this often arrive out of nowhere and try to create urgency before you have time to question them. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

What this means for you

Even if you have never driven in California, you could still receive this message. Scammers cast a wide net and hope someone takes the bait. If you click the link, you could be taken to a fake payment page. That page may ask for your credit card details, personal information or login credentials. In some cases, it can also install malware on your device or redirect you to credential-stealing pages. This isn’t about a ticket. It is about getting your data.  State DMVs typically do not send final legal notices or payment demands by text message.

Why these scams keep working

These messages work because they tap into something most people fear. Legal trouble, fines and losing driving privileges. They also look just real enough to pass a quick glance. That is all scammers need. As more services move online, these scams will continue to evolve.

Unlike typical DMV scams, this message impersonates a court and escalates the threats to make the situation feel more serious (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

Ways to stay safe from traffic ticket text scams

Start with a simple rule. Never trust a payment request that shows up out of nowhere. Here are practical steps you can take:

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1) Do not click the link

If you are unsure, do not tap anything in the message. That includes links and reply options.

2) Use strong antivirus software

If you accidentally click a link, strong antivirus software can help detect malware and protect your data. Get my picks for the best 2026 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android & iOS devices at Cyberguy.com

3) Verify directly with the DMV

Go to your state’s official DMV website by typing it yourself into your browser. Do not use the link in the text.

4) Check the sender carefully

Look at the phone number. International numbers or random strings are a clear warning sign.

5) Ignore generic greetings

Real notices will usually include your name or case details. Vague language is a red flag.

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6) Consider a data removal service

Scammers often get your number from data broker sites. Removing your personal info from those databases with a data removal service can reduce these messages. 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

7) Block and report the number

On your phone, block the sender and report it as spam. This helps reduce future attempts.

8) Turn on spam filtering

Enable spam filtering on your phone or through your carrier to catch more of these messages before they reach you.

Kurt’s key takeaways

Todd did the right thing. He paused, questioned the message and did not click. That one decision likely saved him from handing over personal information. When it comes to messages like this, skepticism is your best defense. If something feels off, trust that instinct.

Should phone carriers and tech companies be doing more to block scams like this before you ever see them? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com

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Honda’s hybrid future starts with new Accord and RDX prototypes

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Honda’s hybrid future starts with new Accord and RDX prototypes

Honda revealed prototypes of two new hybrid models, an Accord sedan and the Acura RDX SUV, during its annual business briefing this week, built on a platform that it says will begin launching next year. The RDX was announced earlier this year as Honda’s first SUV to feature the next-gen version of its two-motor hybrid system.

In March, Honda announced it would take a writedown of up to 2.5 trillion yen ($15.7 billion) on its EV investments. Now Honda says its EV-related losses will be “resolved” by 2029, and that it will reevaluate its EV plans in 2030.

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