Nilay’s main love language is trolling, and so he sent me this video of Sam Altman talking about note-taking, because he knew it would annoy me.
Technology
I have some notes on Sam Altman’s note-taking advice
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25286459/247024_Pilot_Pen_CVirginia.jpg?ssl=1 "I have some notes on Sam Altman’s note-taking advice")
Now I recognize there is a school of thought which will say something like “Whatever it is that will get you to successfully take notes is correct.” This is true if you are some kind of loser who doesn’t care about pens and paper, in which case, vaya con dios I guess.
Let’s start with what Altman is doing right: physically writing stuff down. I love my colleague David Pierce, but he is hideously wrong about basically every productivity tool because he insists on using a computer. At this point, we have multiple studies showing that writing by hand is better for learning and memory. You want to remember something? Write, don’t type.
And now we will continue with what Altman is doing wrong: most of the rest of it. I am not the world’s biggest fan of spiral-bound notebooks, but if you are going to use them, I recommend a reporter’s notebook. Besides lying flat, a top-bound reporter’s notebook is sized such that you can easily hold it in one hand and write with the other — making it much more convenient and portable than the one Altman is holding, which looks like an A6.
I do not rip pages out of my notebook regularly because I am not deranged
The only real advantage the A6 has is that it might be easier to put in a pocket, which Altman notes as an important quality. I say “might be” because I don’t wear men’s clothes — and women’s pockets are notoriously small or nonexistent. I have spent more time than I care to think about focusing on pockets in my clothing because these fucking phones are too big. But if you can fit a full-size phone in your pocket, I’m pretty sure you can get a reporter’s notebook in there. There is are some other solutions, too. Obviously, a bag. There are also Katherine Hepburn-style trousers, which are in fashion at the moment and have large, capacious pockets. The third possible solution is a shirt jacket, which frequently also feature large pockets.
What Altman is talking about here — writing stuff down, tearing it out of the notebook, crumpling it up when you’re done, and throwing it on the floor so someone else will pick it up — is disposable writing. You can fuss about paper quality when it comes to this type of writing, as he does, but if that’s less important to you, you might consider a stack of index cards held together with a rubber band or binder clip.
The things spiral notebooks have going for them is that they do truly lie flat, and they are fairly cheap. If I am not using a reporter’s notebook, I spring for thread binding, which also lies flat: Leuchtturm1917, either B5 or A5. I do not rip pages out of my notebook regularly because I am not deranged. For those of you who do feel ripping pages out is important, you might consider a notebook with micro-perforations — it’s less mess.
I am not going to fuss too much about high-quality paper because if you are the kind of person who cares about this, you already have strong feelings about Tomoe River vs. Rhodia vs. Clairefontaine. Feel free to get mad that I slighted Midori or whoever in the comments.
If you are doing a lot of hand-writing, you want something that will glide effortlessly on the page
This is all wind-up to the thing Nilay was trying to troll me about: the pens. Altman recommends the Uni-Ball Micro 0.5, which made me hiss. The other Altman recommendation is the “Muji 0.36 or 0.37” in dark blue ink. After some exploration on the Muji site, I think what he means is the Muji Gel Ink Cap Ballpoint Pen in 0.38mm.
Perhaps he simply doesn’t write by hand as much as I do, which is one explanation. (I have spent entire days in courtrooms taking notes by hand, which I expect is not a part of his job brief.) But if you are doing a lot of hand-writing, you want something that will glide effortlessly on the page — otherwise your hand will cramp. This is a Pilot Precise v5 or v7, which is about as good as you can get without moving to a fountain pen.
I am not going to get into the fountain pens question because it, like the paper discussion, is for sickos.
As for the Muji pen: I have not used it, but I am biased against ballpoint pens generally. They are a hand cramp waiting to happen. Ballpoint pens just don’t glide as well, which means you really have to exert effort to get a ballpoint across the page, especially if it’s cheap. That’s what’s making your hand hurt. If you are a lefty and concerned about smears, use something with a quick-drying ink like the Zebra Sarasa. Love yourself. Do not use a biro.
Finally, blue ink is unserious. Use black like an adult.
I do find the video revealing. This is a man who has not carefully considered his tools and expects someone else to pick up after him. That does explain a lot about OpenAI, doesn’t it?
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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.
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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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.
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.
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
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:
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.
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 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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