Technology

Stop the insanity 2.0: ’90s icon Susan Powter’s tech comeback

Published

1 week ago

March 4, 2026

Stop the insanity 2.0: ’90s icon Susan Powter’s tech comeback

’90s icon Susan Powter makes digital comeback

Susan Powter, famous in the 1990s for her wellness brand before she fell out of the spotlight, tells Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson’s Beyond Connected podcast how she is using digital platforms to power her comeback.

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There was a time when you could not turn on the TV without seeing Susan Powter. Platinum buzz cut. Barefoot. Fierce. Unfiltered. And that battle cry that still lives in pop culture: “Stop the Insanity!”

In the 1990s, Powter built a massive wellness brand by pushing back on diet culture and talking about real life. Then the spotlight went dark. The part most people missed was brutal: financial collapse, isolation and crushing hopelessness.

Powter says the years after fame were not a quick fall. They were a long grind. She describes driving for Uber Eats for nine years, working “eight to 10 hours every day, seven days a week, trying to make my $80 to $100 a day so I could pay my damn bills.” Then comes the twist that makes this story feel very 2026. Tech did not break her. Tech helped her rebuild.

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Susan Powter attends the “Stop the Insanity: Finding Susan Powter” NYC screening at Village East Cinema on November 21, 2025, in New York City. (Santiago Felipe/Getty Images)

How Susan Powter built her original wellness empire

When Susan Powter sat down with me in my Los Angeles studio for my Beyond Connected podcast, she began by rewinding the story to where it all started. Powter’s story begins far from Hollywood. She took me back to 1982 in Garland, Texas. She had two babies a year apart. After her divorce, she gained more than 130 pounds. She says she didn’t recognize herself physically. She felt financially doomed and emotionally overwhelmed.

Then she figured something out. “I would go to the grocery store, Piggly Wiggly. This is the truth,” she says. Other moms would stop her and tell her she looked great. Powter would answer, “No, no, you don’t understand. I figured out with modification you could be fit,” and she says, “a crowd would gather in the grocery store.”

That moment was not a marketing plan. It was a single mother talking to other women who were struggling too. That voice and that honesty turned into classes, then a studio, then a media machine. Powter never liked the labels people gave her. “They always used to call me a fitness guru. I’ve never used that term,” she says. Her version is simpler and more relatable: “I said, I’m just a housewife who figured it out and started talking to other housewives.”

But the business side got ugly. “It became a monster,” she says. “It started generating so much money, and then they started producing me out of me.”

Why Susan Powter lost her fortune and disappeared

This is where her story hits a nerve for anyone who has ever felt trapped in a system that profits from them. Powter describes management chaos, lawyers and huge legal bills. She says, “My last legal bill was $6.5 million.”

But the real breaking point came the day she decided to walk away. She was living in Beverly Hills when she says she discovered what was happening behind the scenes with unscrupulous management and bad-faith actors. She says that the very empire she built no longer felt like it belonged to her. As a result, her response was swift and absolute. “I sent one paragraph to everyone; Simon & Schuster, Time Warner, all management, literary agents. And I said, so-and-so no longer represents Susan Powter. Stop the Insanity. One paragraph.” That was it. She fired everyone. Then she left. “I moved to Seattle, and I started teaching classes in basements,” she says. “I left it all.”

She also pushes back on the tidy narrative people prefer about her downfall. “I did not go from Hollywood to Harbor Island, which is the welfare hotel that I lived in for far too long in Las Vegas. I didn’t go there in three years. That’s not what happened.”

Instead, she describes years of work, shifting family dynamics and what she calls “quiet poverty.” And she names the part people tend to skip because it makes them uncomfortable: what poverty does to your identity. “It’s soul-sucking, dehumanizing,” she says.

At one point, she recalls walking eight miles in brutal Las Vegas heat. “My dollar store flip-flops literally melted under my feet. It was 120 degrees.” She adds, “That’s when you feel dehumanized.”

During that period, she drew strength from the late Joan Rivers, who had faced her own trials. “She said to me, ‘You hang on, kid. This is a tough game,’” Powter recalls of meeting her earlier in her career. Years later, when her own world unraveled, Susan says she often asked herself, “What would Joan Rivers do?”

‘STOP THE INSANITY’ SUSAN POWTER EXPOSES TRUTH BEHIND FITNESS EMPIRE’S COLLAPSE AND LIFE DRIVING FOR UBER EATS

When 1990s fitness icon Susan Powter sat down in Kurt’s Los Angeles studio for getbeyondconnected.com, she opened up about the collapse few people saw coming. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson )

The moment tech went from a distraction to Susan Powter’s lifeline

Powter does not talk about technology like a cute productivity hack. She talks about it like survival. She used a phone, an app, digital platforms and a decision to use the same tools many of us blame for distraction as a way to climb back. Powter says the internet helped her see a path forward. “I’m internet obsessed, and I’m proud to say it,” she says. She also shows self-awareness about the darker side. “I know the darkness of it. I get it, I get it, but it is such a power.”

Then she says the line that sums up her whole strategy, “I’m going to digitalize everything. I’m going to sell it myself. I’m going to own everything.” That is her new business plan. And it is the part a lot of creators, freelancers and founders will recognize right away: when you stop waiting for permission, you start building assets you control.

How Susan Powter is taking back control with the help of tech

Powter talks about ownership like someone who has learned the cost of not having it. This time, she wants to see everything. “I’ll be checking the bank balance every 12 seconds,” she says. “I’ll be checking the analytics every second.” There is no confusion in her voice. She is not handing control to anyone else again.

For nine years, she drove for Uber Eats, eight to 10 hours a day, chasing $80 to $100 just to cover bills. There was no cushion and no mystery revenue. Everything depended on what she could see and control. After that, data feels like protection.

She calls gig work and the internet “literally life-saving,” and says, “access to what is happening now matters, especially for 68-year-olds.” For anyone who thinks technology belongs to the young, her story argues the opposite. A phone and apps can drain your time. They can also rebuild your life.

Now, Powter is rebuilding on her own terms, using technology to reclaim her voice, her brand and her future. (Obscured Pictures)

How Susan Powter uses Instagram and TikTok today

Powter is not tiptoeing back into the public eye. She is going full speed. She says she is “obsessed with TikTok, Insta,” and she is experimenting with TikTok Shop. Powter also draws a bright line around how she wants to show up.

“I’ll recommend show and tell, not sell what I want to be,” she says. Her style is classic Susan. Big energy. Big honesty. Zero patience for fake polish. At one point, she laughs and describes her approach like this: “It’s kind of like affiliate marketing on acid.”

And she is thinking bigger than social media posts. She talks about doing “vertical actual reality TV,” showing people the brand rebuild in real time, filming gatherings and owning the content. “I’ll film it, I’ll own the content, I’ll put it up live. We’re done,” she says.

The book, the movie and the part that matters most

Powter’s memoir is titled “And Then EM Died: Stop the Insanity, A Memoir,” available on Amazon. She calls it “a letter to my dead dog,” and says, “This is the first product I have owned out of all the products, all the years, all the work, and I get to see every sale.”

The documentary, “Stop the Insanity: Finding Susan Powter,” executive-produced by Jamie Lee Curtis and directed by Zeb Newman, is available on Amazon and Apple TV. But if you take one thing from this conversation, make it this: Powter refuses the tidy inspirational story arc. “The only reason I survived anything… No, I died a million deaths,” she says. Then she says what actually fueled her: “A lot of it was rage. I wasn’t going down like that.”

And yet she does not end there. “It doesn’t matter what happened. To hell with that. My being survived.” That honesty lands because it sounds like real life, not a poster. And maybe that is the real message now. Survival is not always pretty. Sometimes it is loud, messy and powered by the simple refusal to disappear.

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Kurt’s key takeaways

Susan Powter’s story resonates because it feels familiar, even now. First, a public identity collapses. Then private life grows heavier than anyone sees. Yet that is not where her story ends. Instead, she finds leverage where few people think to look: in a phone, in an app, in a platform and in the power to publish without gatekeepers. Of course, she is not pretending technology fixes everything. She sees the darkness. At the same time, she sees the power. Now, she is using that power the way she always has: loudly, honestly and on her own terms.

So here’s the question to sit with: If your life fell apart tomorrow, would your tech habits help you rebuild, or would they pull you deeper? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.

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Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist who has a deep love of technology, gear and gadgets that make life better with his contributions for Fox News & FOX Business beginning mornings on “FOX & Friends.” Got a tech question? Get Kurt’s free CyberGuy Newsletter, share your voice, a story idea or comment at CyberGuy.com.

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Technology

Gemini’s task automation is here and it’s wild

Published

5 hours ago

March 12, 2026

Press Room

Gemini’s task automation is here and it’s wild

A couple of weeks ago, Google and Samsung announced a big Gemini development coming to their newest devices: task automation. Starting with food delivery and rideshare apps, Gemini would be able to use certain apps on your behalf in a virtual window to take care of things like ordering dinner or getting a car to the airport — all based on simple prompts. You know, all the stuff that we’ve been promised for years AI assistants will be able to do. That feature wasn’t live when I first started testing the S26 Ultra, but it just arrived in beta as part of an update. And boy is it weird watching your phone use itself!

The first prompt I gave it was pretty simple: order an Uber to the airport. Gemini asked for clarification to determine which airport (a good question to ask!), then it went through a couple of steps on its own: adding the destination and opting to skip the step where you specify your airline, which doesn’t really matter at my local airport since it’s all in one terminal. As promised, the system stopped before the final step and prompted me to review the details before putting in the request for a car.

A vague and slightly more complicated request to order a coffee and a croissant required a little more input from me — and a lot of time on Gemini’s part scrolling through Starbucks’ hot drink options — but sure enough, it found the flat white on the menu. It also confronted a crucial decision: order the chocolate croissant warmed, or straight out of the pastry case? Without my input, it specified (correctly) that the pastry should be warmed. Pretty impressive for an assistant that just a year ago would argue with me over the details of a flight on my calendar.

I’ve got much more testing to do with this automation feature and I plan to spend the next few days throwing it some curveballs. Still, it’s impressive to see this feature out in the wild working as intended — so far, at least.

Photography by Allison Johnson / The Verge

Technology

Donny Osmond uses AI to sing with his 14-year-old self

Published

6 hours ago

March 12, 2026

Press Room

Donny Osmond uses AI to sing with his 14-year-old self

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Some stars spend their careers protecting the version of themselves that first made them famous. Donny Osmond took the opposite path. He built a career by evolving with the times and then kept going. Today, in his Las Vegas residency at Harrah’s, the legendary entertainer performs a duet with a digital version of his 14-year-old self, the same teenage Donny who captured hearts decades ago with hits like “Puppy Love.”

The moment feels almost surreal on stage. Yet it also reflects something deeper about Osmond’s career. Instead of resisting technology or relying only on nostalgia, he has embraced new tools that allow him to reinterpret his own history in front of a live audience. That willingness to experiment with technology has helped him remain relevant for more than six decades in entertainment.

STOP THE INSANITY 2.0: ’90S ICON SUSAN POWTER’S TECH COMEBACK

Why Donny Osmond still connects with audiences

There is a reason Donny Osmond still matters to multiple generations. Older fans know the teen idol who broke out with songs like “Puppy Love.” Others know him from Donny & Marie. Theater fans remember “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.” Younger audiences may know him as the singing voice of Captain Shang in Disney’s “Mulan.” Then there are reality TV fans who saw him win Dancing With the Stars or meet him again on The Masked Singer.

That range gives him something rare in entertainment. He does not belong to just one era. He belongs to several. And instead of resisting that, he leans into it. Technology now plays a role in that connection as well.

How Donny Osmond brought his younger self back to the stage

Osmond explained the idea when he sat down with me for my “Beyond Connected” podcast. The concept actually began decades ago when he started imagining what future technology might make possible. “Even when I was a teenager, I thought someday there’s going to be technology where John Wayne could be Obi-Wan Kenobi. And I was right!” Osmond said.

That long-held fascination eventually led him to a simple question. “Why can’t I sing ‘Puppy Love’ with my 14-year-old self on stage?” Osmond said. The answer involved combining several forms of digital production, AI modeling and stage design.

“The face is actually my 14-year-old face taken from pictures, the voice is my voice from interviews when I was 14, and the body is my 14-year-old grandson,” Osmond said. The result is a performance where two versions of Donny Osmond appear to share the stage at the same time.

It is not a hologram, it is something called a hollow box

Many people assume the younger Donny is a hologram. Osmond said that is not the case. “It’s not a projection, like a laser projection. It’s not like a hologram. It’s a totally different technology,” Osmond explained.

Instead, the illusion relies on a piece of stage technology known as a hollow box. The structure is built into the set and designed to look like a vintage recording booth on stage. Inside that space, advanced visual systems combine CGI, AI modeling and stage lighting to create the digital image of the younger Donny so it appears full-size and three-dimensional.

The effect blends archived photos, computer-generated animation and voice samples from Osmond’s early interviews to recreate his teenage likeness. His grandson provides the physical body movement used to animate the performance. Standing just inches away from the illusion, Osmond can look directly at his younger self while singing. From the audience’s perspective, it appears as if the two performers are sharing the stage face-to-face in real time.

Even after performing the sequence night after night, Osmond said the experience still surprises him. “I do it every night, and it never gets old. It’s like looking in the mirror 54 years ago,” Osmond said. For longtime fans, the moment connects the teenage star they remember with the seasoned performer he is today. The visual contrast tells the story of a career that has spanned generations.

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Behind the scenes, Osmond’s grandson performs the body movements used to animate the digital version of the teenage Donny seen in the Las Vegas show. (Donny Osmond)

Donny Osmond has always been fascinated with technology

One of the most surprising parts of my conversation with Donny is that he does not sound like a celebrity who was dragged into modern tech. He sounds like the kid who would have loved being dropped into a maker lab. “Ever since I was a teenager, I’ve always been kind of a geek or nerd about technical things,” Osmond said.

That curiosity still drives him today. He studies the tools behind his stage production and experiments with new ways to keep the show fresh. In many ways, technology has become another creative instrument.

Donny Osmond’s favorite app might surprise you

When I asked Donny which apps he uses the most, the answer revealed a different side of the performer. “I’d have to say, uh, Google Sheets because, uh, I’ve created algorithms,” Osmond said.

He enjoys building detailed spreadsheets and analyzing data. His phone of choice is a foldable device that allows him to view larger spreadsheets easily. Osmond also embraces connected security technology. He said he uses cameras and smart alarm systems to monitor his homes, dressing room and other properties so he always knows what is happening around him.

For someone known around the world as a singer and performer, it is an unexpectedly technical hobby.

Donny Osmond sees both the promise and risks of AI

Artificial intelligence has sparked debate across music, film and media. Some artists worry about misuse or losing control of their voice and likeness. Osmond takes a balanced view. “Any technology put in the wrong hands can turn into nefarious things, but look at the good it can do,” Osmond said.

From medicine to entertainment, he believes AI has the potential to drive major advances. “What a great time to be alive with today’s technology. It’s amazing to watch it all happen in real time,” Osmond said. At the same time, he believes society must stay engaged with technological progress rather than fear it. “If we run away from technology, other countries and other people are going to be way ahead of us,” Osmond said.

Speaking of technology, Osmond says his music may already have made it into space. During our conversation, he said one of his songs was reportedly used to test the sound system on a spacecraft capsule. “They actually used my song ‘Start Again’ from my latest album to test the sound system on one of the capsules,” Osmond said.

He then mentioned another story he has heard many times over the years. “When they went to the moon in the Apollo missions, and we did go to the moon, by the way, they took a tape of music with them. And on that music is Andy Williams singing ‘Aquarius.’ I’m singing background vocals on that song. They left the tape on the moon. My voice is sitting on the moon.”

APPLE TAPS GOOGLE GEMINI TO POWER APPLE INTELLIGENCE

Donny Osmond headlines his long-running residency at Harrah’s Las Vegas, where the show now features an AI-powered duet with his teenage self. (Donny Osmond)

Social media would have changed the early Donny Osmond years

Osmond also reflected on how today’s digital platforms might have changed his early career. “Can you imagine what I could have done during the ‘Puppy Love’ years with social media?” Osmond said.

At the height of his teen idol fame, fans lined up outside television studios and concerts hoping to catch a glimpse of him. Today, that kind of connection often happens through social platforms and digital communities. It is one more example of how technology has reshaped the entertainment industry.

A career that continues to evolve

Donny Osmond first rose to fame performing with his brothers as part of the Osmonds. The family group became a television sensation in the late 1960s and early 1970s with appearances on shows like “The Andy Williams Show.” Soon after, his sister Marie stepped into the spotlight, and the two became household names with their hit variety series “Donny & Marie.” Decades later, the siblings reunited for a highly successful Las Vegas residency that ran for more than a decade.

Over the years, Osmond has released dozens of albums, starred in television shows, performed on Broadway and built a long-running Las Vegas career. Today, he headlines his own residency at Harrah’s Las Vegas, where he performs several nights a week. The show has been extended through May 2026, a testament to its continued popularity with audiences. Many younger fans now discover Osmond through social media clips, streaming platforms and live performances in Las Vegas.

Technology now plays a role in how he connects with fans as well. Osmond keeps fans connected through the Donny app (donnyosmondapp.com), which brings together news, videos, tour updates and a timeline of his career in one place. Fans can also find tickets, show information and updates at Donny.com, the official website he referenced during our interview. By blending nostalgia with modern technology, Osmond continues to reach fans across generations while pushing his show into new territory.

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Kurt’s key takeaways

Donny Osmond’s career is proof that curiosity can keep an artist moving forward. Instead of resisting change, he continues exploring the technology that’s shaping our world today. From AI stage performances to data-driven apps and smart home systems, Osmond approaches technology with the same enthusiasm he brings to performing. Be sure to listen to or watch the “Beyond Connected” conversation with Donny Osmond to hear more about how he blends entertainment and technology.

If you could use AI to meet a younger version of yourself, what would you ask them? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.

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Technology

One of Grammarly’s ‘experts’ is suing the company over its identity-stealing AI feature

Published

17 hours ago

March 12, 2026

Press Room

One of Grammarly’s ‘experts’ is suing the company over its identity-stealing AI feature

For months, Grammarly has been using the identities of real people (including us) for its “Expert Review” AI suggestions without getting their permission, and now it’s facing a lawsuit from one of the journalists included, as previously reported by Wired. The class-action complaint filed by journalist Julia Angwin on Wednesday alleges that Superhuman violated the “experts’” privacy and publicity rights by breaking laws against using someone’s identity for commercial purposes without their consent.

Angwin says she found out her identity was used by way of Casey Newton, who is also one of the experts that The Verge uncovered being used by Grammarly when we tested the feature this week. Several current Verge staff members popped up attached to Grammarly’s AI-generated suggestions, too, including editor-in-chief Nilay Patel.

CEO Shishir Mehrotra says that “the agent was designed to help users discover influential perspectives and scholarship relevant to their work, while also providing meaningful ways for experts to build deeper relationships with their fans. We hear the feedback and recognize we fell short on this. I want to apologize and acknowledge that we’ll rethink our approach going forward.”