This is Lowpass by Janko Roettgers, a newsletter on the ever-evolving intersection of tech and entertainment, syndicated just for The Verge subscribers once a week.
Technology
What’s next for tech in 2024?
Have you ever wondered what the future will look like? Well, you don’t have to wait too long, because 2024 is going to be a year full of amazing innovations that will blow your mind. Here are seven emerging trends and innovations in tech that will no doubt transform our lives over the next year.
CLICK TO GET KURT’S FREE CYBERGUY NEWSLETTER WITH SECURITY ALERTS, QUICK VIDEO TIPS, TECH REVIEWS, AND EASY HOW-TO’S TO MAKE YOU SMARTER
1) Artificial Intelligence continues to revolutionize our lives
AI is everywhere, from our daily gadgets like smartphones and smart speakers, to our smart homes that can adjust the temperature, lighting, and security according to our preferences. But AI is not just making our lives more convenient and comfortable, it’s also set to revolutionize healthcare and other industries with some groundbreaking innovations.
Neuralink’s revolutionary wireless device
N1 implant (Neuralink) (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
One of the most anticipated and ambitious projects in this field of AI is Neuralink, a brain-computer interface company founded by Elon Musk, the visionary entrepreneur behind Tesla and SpaceX. Neuralink aims to create a wireless device that can be implanted in the brain and connect it to a computer or a smartphone, allowing users to control devices, access information, and communicate with others just by thinking. Imagine controlling prosthetic limbs or enhancing cognitive abilities just by thinking.
MORE: TOP 10 WEIRDEST TECH INNOVATIONS OF 2023
Keep an eye on Kernel
Woman wearing “mind-reading” helmet (Kernel) (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
Neuralink is not the only company working on brain-computer interfaces. Other ones to keep an eye on are Kernel, a neurotech company, which is creating a “mind-reading” helmet that uses sensors and lasers to gain information about the brain’s activity, blood oxygen levels, and more. By collecting detailed data on how the brain works and behaves, the hope is it could lead to new insights and breakthroughs in mental health, aging, cognition, and other aspects of brain health.
THE VERY WORST AND WEAKEST PASSWORDS OF 2023
Meta bets on AI and the Metaverse
Man wearing Meta Quest 3 headset (Meta) (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
Meta, the company formerly known as Facebook, is leading the way with its two long-term bets on the future: AI and the metaverse. These two technologies are not only advancing rapidly, but also converging to create new possibilities for human interaction and creativity.
AI is becoming more accessible and powerful than ever, thanks to Meta’s open-source models like Llama and Llama 2, which have been adopted and improved by millions of developers around the world. AI is also becoming more integrated into the products we use every day, such as Instagram, WhatsApp, and Messenger, where you can generate images, chat with assistants, write better, and edit photos with ease.
The metaverse is also taking shape, with Meta’s Reality Labs developing new devices and platforms that enable immersive and social experiences in virtual and augmented reality. The Ray-Ban Meta glasses were the first step towards a future where AI can see the world from our perspective and help us navigate it.
Ray-Ban Meta glasses (Meta) (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
The Meta AI assistant is a new kind of companion that will be launched in 2024. It can understand and respond to your voice, vision, and gestures. Since Meta is trying to play catch-up with ChatGPT, it hired a couple dozen big-name celebrities to be the look and voice of Meta’s new AI voice assistant. The celebs will embody the AI and play them.
Meta AI assistant (Meta) (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
2) Augmented reality is taking us to new dimensions
Woman wearing Meta Quest 3 headset (Meta) (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
Augmented reality, or AR, is the technology that overlays digital information and images on the real world, creating a mixed reality experience. AR is taking us to new dimensions, as companies like Apple, Meta, Snapchat, and Niantic are creating immersive and engaging experiences that enhance our perception and interaction with the world. But don’t think AR is just for gaming and entertainment, it’s also for education and learning. AR can make learning more fun and interactive, as it can bring subjects and concepts to life.
Girl wearing a Meta Quest 3 headset to learn to play the piano. (Meta) (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
Augmented reality is bringing shopping to you
Virtual try-on feature uses AR. (Amazon) (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
Another domain where AR is making a big impact is shopping. AR can help you make better and more informed decisions, as it can let you try on products, see how they look or fit, and compare different options. Amazon and Walmart are already leveraging AR to provide immersive shopping experiences with its virtual try-on feature. AR is reshaping our world, and we can expect to see more innovation and adoption in 2024 and beyond.
3) Expect advances in bioprinting artificial tissue and organs
Bioprinting research to create organs (MIT) (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
Another exciting innovation in healthcare is bioprinting, which is the use of 3D printing to create artificial tissue and organs. Bioprinting could potentially solve the problem of organ shortage and transplant rejection, as well as enable personalized medicine and drug testing. Bioprinting is still in its early stages, but some companies and researchers like those at MIT have already made some impressive progress. AI is truly changing medicine as we know it, and we can expect to see more breakthroughs and applications in 2024 and beyond.
4) Autonomous electric taxi service becomes available
Autonomous electric taxi (Zoox) (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
One of the most anticipated technologies in 2024 is the autonomous electric taxi service by Zoox, a subsidiary of Amazon. Their tag line is, “Built for riders – not for drivers.” Zoox has been developing and testing its self-driving vehicles in various cities since 2020, and plans to launch its service in 2024.
Zoox’s vehicles are designed to navigate complex urban environments with four-wheel steering, bidirectional driving, and a spacious cabin that can fit four passengers. Zoox’s taxis can be booked through an app or a kiosk, and offer a flat rate per mile. Zoox aims to provide a safer, more efficient, and more comfortable alternative to conventional taxis, and to reduce traffic and pollution.
5) More drone delivery services in the sky
Amazon’s Mk30 drone (Amazon) (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
The year 2024 is expected to witness significant growth in the use of drone delivery services, especially in urban areas where traffic congestion and pollution are major challenges. Drone delivery services offer a fast, convenient, and eco-friendly way of transporting goods and services to customers, reducing the need for road vehicles and human labor.
One of the leading companies in this field is Amazon, which added a third U.S. city that will soon have the option to get their packages delivered by a drone beginning in late 2024. The company’s Prime Air has been using drones to safely deliver packages weighing up to five pounds in one hour or less, for almost a year. Prime Air is also unveiling the new MK30 drone design, which the company claims is quieter, smaller, and lighter than previous models.
MORE: 5 DRONES EXPERT REVIEWED
6) More 3D-printed houses will go up
3D printed houses (Icon) (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
Forget about hiring an old-fashioned contractor to build your next home. Imagine having a house built by a 3D printer. More and more of these houses are going to be going up in 2024 as a cost-effective and eco-friendly way of constructing houses.
A company called ICON is a leader in 3D printing technology for construction, with a mission to revolutionize the way we build and live. They have developed a robotic system that can print an entire house layer by layer, using a durable material called Lavacrete, which is a type of concrete that can withstand extreme weather conditions and natural disasters while also reducing waste and emissions. ICON has already printed several houses around the world, including the first 3D-printed community in Austin, Texas. ICON’s vision is to make 3D printing accessible to everyone and to create homes that are beautiful, functional, and resilient.
3D robotic printing technology (Icon) (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
MORE: 2023: A YEAR OF INNOVATION AND DISRUPTION IN TECH
7) Increase in electric cars and car-sharing
Cybertruck (Tesla) (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
2024 is going to be an exciting one for electric vehicles. According to some experts, electric vehicles (EVs) will account for more than 40% of new car sales in the US by 2024, thanks to the increasing affordability, performance, and environmental benefits of EVs. Whether you’re looking for a budget-friendly Kia Niro, an all-American Ford F-150 Lightning, a futuristic Tesla Cybertruck, a lavish Rolls-Royce Spectre, or a sleek Hyundai IONIQ 6, there’s an EV for everyone.
Car sharing is also expected to grow significantly in 2024, as more people opt for convenient and cost-effective transportation solutions. Some of the leading car-sharing platforms, such as Zipcar, Turo, and Getaround, will offer more options for EV rentals, as well as innovative features such as peer-to-peer sharing, autonomous driving, and smart charging. With electric cars and car sharing, the future of transportation looks bright and green in 2024.
Zipcar app (Zipcar) (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
Kurt’s key takeaways
As we look ahead to 2024 and beyond, it’s clear that the world of technology is poised for exciting transformations. Artificial Intelligence, augmented reality, bioprinting, autonomous electric taxis, drone delivery services, 3D printed houses, and electric cars are all shaping a future that promises greater convenience, sustainability, and innovation. These advancements are not just changing industries; they’re revolutionizing the way we live, work, and interact with the world. So, fasten your seatbelts, because the journey into the future of tech is bound to have some bumps in the road.
What technology are you most excited to see or experience and why? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.
For more of my tech tips & security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to Cyberguy.com/Newsletter.
Ask Kurt a question or let us know what stories you’d like us to cover.
Answers to the most asked CyberGuy questions:
Ideas for using those Holiday Gift cards
Copyright 2023 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved.
Google is expanding access to its AI videomaking tool. Launched last May, Flow was initially only available to Google AI Pro and AI Ultra subscribers, but now, those with Business, Enterprise, and Education Workspace plans can access it, too.
Flow uses Google’s AI video generation model Veo 3.1 to generate eight-second clips based on a text prompt or images. You can stitch together the clips to create longer scenes, as well as access a bunch of other tools that allow you to change the lighting, adjust the “camera” angle, and insert or remove objects in scenes. Earlier this week, Google added vertical video support inside Flow.
Google brought audio support to more features within Flow late last year, allowing you to generate audio whether you prompt the app based on reference images, ask it to create transitions between scenes, or have the tool extend a clip. The company also integrated its AI-powered image generator Nano Banana Pro into Flow, which you can use to create characters or starting points for your clips.
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Every January, I hear from people who say the same thing: “I just got an email that looked official, and I almost fell for it.” That’s not a coincidence. January is one of the busiest months of the year for scammers. While most of us are focused on taxes, benefits, subscriptions, and getting our finances in order, criminals are doing their own kind of cleanup, refreshing scam lists and going after people with newly updated personal data. If you’ve ever received a message claiming your account needs to be “verified,” your benefits are at risk, or your tax information is incomplete, this article is for you.
Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy Report
Get my best tech tips, urgent security alerts, and exclusive deals delivered straight to your inbox. Plus, you’ll get instant access to my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide — free when you join my CYBERGUY.COM newsletter.
10 SIMPLE CYBERSECURITY RESOLUTIONS FOR A SAFER 2026
Scam messages often look urgent and official, pushing you to act before you have time to think. That pressure is exactly what criminals rely on. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
Why January is prime time for scammers
January is when scammers have everything they need. According to YouMail’s Robocall Index, U.S. consumers received just over 4.7 billion robocalls in January 2025, a roughly 9% increase from December 2024. This year, we can expect the same pattern from scammers.
They know:
But the biggest reason scams spike now? Your personal data is easier to find than you think. Data brokers quietly collect and update profiles year after year. By January, those profiles are often more complete than ever, and scammers know it.
The “account verification” scam you’ll see everywhere
One of the most common January scams looks harmless at first. You get a message saying:
- “Your Social Security account needs verification”
- “Your Medicare information has to be updated”
- “Your benefits could be delayed without action”
The message sounds official. Sometimes it even uses your real name or location. That’s where people get tricked. Government agencies don’t ask for sensitive information through random emails or texts. Scammers rely on urgency and familiarity to push you into reacting before thinking.
My rule: If you didn’t initiate the request, don’t respond to it. Always go directly to the agency’s official website or phone number, never through a link sent to you.
MAKE 2026 YOUR MOST PRIVATE YEAR YET BY REMOVING BROKER DATA
January is a prime time for fraud because people are dealing with taxes, benefits and account updates. Scammers know these messages feel expected and familiar. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
Fake tax and benefits notices ramp up in January
Another favorite scam this time of year involves taxes and refunds.
You may see:
- Emails claiming you owe back taxes
- Messages saying you’re due a refund
- Notices asking you to “confirm” banking information.
These scams work because they arrive at exactly the moment people expect to hear from tax agencies or benefits programs.
Scammers don’t need much to sound convincing. A name, an email address or an old address is often enough. If you get a tax-related message out of the blue, slow down. Real agencies don’t pressure you to act immediately.
Subscription “problems” that aren’t real
January is also when subscription scams explode. Fake messages claim:
Scammers know most people have subscriptions, so they play the odds. Instead of clicking, open the app or website directly. If there’s a real problem, you’ll see it there.
Why these scams feel so personal
People often tell me, “But they used my name, how did they know?” Here’s the uncomfortable truth: They probably bought it. Data brokers compile massive profiles that include:
- Address histories
- Phone numbers and emails
- Family connections
- Shopping behavior.
That data is sold, shared and leaked. Once scammers have it, they can tailor messages that feel real, because they’re built on real information.
10 WAYS TO PROTECT SENIORS FROM EMAIL SCAMS
The more personal data scammers have, the more convincing their messages become. Removing your information from data broker sites can help reduce targeted scams over time. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
What you should do right now
Before January gets any busier, take these steps to reduce your exposure to scams and fraud:
1) Remove your personal data from broker sites
Deleting emails or blocking numbers helps, but it does not stop scams at the source. Scammers rely on data broker sites that quietly collect, update and sell your personal information. Removing your data from those sites reduces scam calls, phishing emails and targeted texts over time. It also makes it harder for criminals to personalize messages using your real name, address or family connections. You have two ways to do this:
Do it yourself:
You can visit individual data broker websites, search for your profile and submit opt-out requests.This method works, but it takes time. Each site has its own rules, identity verification steps, and response timelines. Many brokers also re-add data later, which means you have to repeat the process regularly.
Use a data removal service:
A data removal service automates the opt-out process by contacting hundreds of data brokers on your behalf and monitoring for re-listings. This option saves time and provides ongoing protection, especially if you want long-term results without constant follow-ups.
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
2) Don’t click links in unexpected messages
If you did not initiate the request, do not click. Scam messages are designed to create urgency, especially around taxes, benefits and account issues. Instead, go directly to the official website by typing the address yourself or using a saved bookmark. This single habit prevents most phishing attacks.
3) Turn on two-factor authentication wherever possible
Two-factor authentication (2FA) adds a critical second layer of protection. Even if someone gets your password, they still cannot access your account without the second verification code. Start with email, financial accounts, social media and government services.
4) Check accounts only through official apps or websites
If you receive a warning about an account problem, do not trust the message itself. Open the official app or website, and check there. If something is wrong, you will see it immediately. If not, you just avoided a scam.
5) Watch for account alerts and login activity
Enable login alerts and security notifications on important accounts. These alerts can warn you if someone tries to sign in from a new device or location. Early warnings give you time to act before real damage occurs.
6) Use strong, unique passwords and a password manager
Reusing passwords makes it easy for scammers to take over multiple accounts at once. If one service is compromised, attackers try the same login on email, banking, and social media accounts. A password manager helps you create and store strong, unique passwords for every account without needing to remember them. Check out the best expert-reviewed password managers of 2026 at Cyberguy.com.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
Kurt’s key takeaways
January scams aren’t random. They’re targeted, timed and fueled by personal data that shouldn’t be public in the first place. The longer your information stays online, the easier it is for scammers to use it against you. If you want a quieter inbox, fewer scam calls and less risk this year, take action early, before criminals finish rebuilding their lists. Protect your data now, and you’ll be safer all year long.
Have you noticed more scam emails, texts or calls since the new year started? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.
Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy Report. Get my best tech tips, urgent security alerts, and exclusive deals delivered straight to your inbox. Plus, you’ll get instant access to my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide — free when you join my CYBERGUY.COM newsletter.
Copyright 2026 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved.
Last month, Netflix made the surprising decision to kill off a key feature: With no prior warning, the company removed the ability to cast videos from its mobile apps to a wide range of smart TVs and streaming devices. Casting is now only supported on older Chromecast streaming adapters that didn’t ship with a remote, Nest Hub smart displays, and select Vizio and Compal smart TVs.
That’s a stunning departure for the company. Prior to those changes, Netflix allowed casting to a wide range of devices that officially supported Google’s casting technology, including Android TVs made by companies like Philips, Polaroid, Sharp, Skyworth, Soniq, Sony, Toshiba, and Vizio, according to an archived version of Netflix’s website.
But the streaming service didn’t stop there. Prior to last month’s changes, Netflix also offered what the company called “Netflix 2nd Screen” casting functionality on a wide range of additional devices, including Sony’s PlayStation, TVs made by LG and Samsung, Roku TVs and streaming adapters, and many other devices. Basically, if a smart TV or streaming device was running the Netflix app, it most likely also supported casting.
That’s because Netflix actually laid the groundwork for this technology 15 years ago. Back in 2011, some of the company’s engineers were exploring ways to more tightly integrate people’s phones with their TVs. “At about the same time, we learned that the YouTube team was interested in much the same thing — they had already started to do some work on [second] screen use cases,” said Scott Mirer, director of product management at Netflix at the time, in 2013.
The two companies started to collaborate and enlist help from TV makers like Sony and Samsung. The result was DIAL (short for “Discovery and Launch”) — an open second-screen protocol that formalized casting.
In 2012, Netflix was the first major streaming service to add a casting feature to its mobile app, which at the time allowed PlayStation 3 owners to launch video playback from their phones. A year later, Google launched its very first Chromecast dongle, which took ideas from DIAL and incorporated them into Google’s own proprietary casting technology.
For a while, casting was extremely popular. Google sold over 100 million Chromecast adapters, and Vizio even built a whole TV around casting, which shipped with a tablet instead of a remote. (It flopped. Turns out people still love physical remotes.)
But as smart TVs became more capable, and streaming services invested more heavily into native apps on those TVs, the need for casting gradually decreased. At CES, a streaming service operator told me that casting used to be absolutely essential for his service. Nowadays, even among the service’s Android users, only about 10 percent are casting.
As for Netflix, it’s unlikely the company will change its tune on casting. Netflix declined to comment when asked about discontinuing the feature. My best guess is that casting was sacrificed in favor of new features like cloud gaming and interactive voting. Gaming in particular already involves multidevice connectivity, as Netflix uses phones as game controllers. Adding casting to that mix simply might have proven too complex.
However, not everyone has given up on casting. In fact, the technology is still gaining new supporters. Last month, Apple added Google Cast support to its Apple TV app on Android for the first time. And over the past two years, both Samsung and LG incorporated Google’s casting tech into some of their TV sets.
“Google Cast continues to be a key experience that we’re invested in — bringing the convenience of seamless content sharing from phones to TVs, whether you’re at home or staying in a hotel,” says Google’s Android platform PM Neha Dixit. “Stay tuned for more to come this year.”
Google’s efforts are getting some competition from the Connectivity Standards Alliance, the group behind the Matter smart home standard, which developed its own Matter Casting protocol. Matter Casting promises to be a more open approach toward casting and in theory allows streaming services and device makers to bring second-screen use cases to their apps and devices without having to strike deals with Google.
“We are a longtime advocate of using open technology standards to give customers more choice when it comes to using their devices and services,” says Amazon Device Software & Services VP Tapas Roy, whose company is a major backer of Matter and its casting tech. “We welcome and support media developers that want to build to an open standard with the implementation of Matter Casting.”
Thus far, support has been limited though. Fire TVs and Echo Show displays remain the only devices to support Matter Casting, and Amazon’s own apps were long the only ones to make use of the feature. Last month, Tubi jumped on board as well by incorporating Matter Casting into its mobile apps.
Connectivity Standards Alliance technology strategist Christopher LaPré acknowledges that Matter Casting has yet to turn into a breakthrough hit. “To be honest, I have Fire TVs, and I’ve never used it,” he says.
Besides a lack of available content, LaPré also believes Matter Casting is a victim of brand confusion. The problem: TV makers have begun to incorporate Matter into their devices to let consumers control smart lights and thermostats from the couch. Because of that, a TV that dons the Matter logo doesn’t necessarily support Matter Casting.
However, LaPré also believes that Matter Casting could get a boost from two new developments: Matter recently added support for cameras, which adds a new kind of homegrown content people may want to cast. And the consortium is also still working on taking casting beyond screens.
“Audio casting is something that we’re working on,” LaPré confirms. “A lot of speaker companies are interested in that.” The plan is to launch Matter audio casting later this year, at which point device makers, publishers, and consumers could also give video casting another look.
Follow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.
Milwaukee, WI5 minutes ago
King Community Center celebrates 50 years of service with annual MLK Day event
Atlanta, GA11 minutes ago
Douglas County residents fed up with illegal dumping
Minneapolis, MN17 minutes ago
Judge rules feds in Minneapolis operation can’t detain or tear gas peaceful protesters
Indianapolis, IN23 minutes ago
Colts Moving Training Camp to Indianapolis in 2027
Pittsburg, PA29 minutes ago
Pirates fans should brace for the most likely free agent fix at third base
Florida1 year ago
Florida High School Football Rankings: Top 25 teams – Oct. 21
Connecticut2 years ago
Cleary's 21 help Le Moyne down Central Connecticut State 69-64 in OT
Oregon2 years ago
How old is Bo Nix? What to know about Oregon quarterback ahead of 2024 NFL Draft
Virginia1 year ago
99th annual Pony Swim held in Virginia
Education2 years ago
Video: ‘It Didn’t Have to Happen This Way:’ U.Va. Faculty Call for Review of Police Response to Protests
News7 hours ago
Video: Will the ICE Agent Who Shot Renee Good Be Prosecuted?
Politics8 hours ago
Trump says no need to invoke Insurrection Act ‘right now’ amid anti-ICE unrest in Minnesota
World9 hours ago
European Commission urges heavy industry to back 'Made in Europe' manufacturing – leak
News9 hours ago
Trump threatens military action in Minneapolis. And, inside his healthcare plan
News19 hours ago
Video: Video Analysis of ICE Shooting Sheds Light on Contested Moments
-
Montana6 days agoService door of Crans-Montana bar where 40 died in fire was locked from inside, owner says
-
Delaware1 week agoMERR responds to dead humpback whale washed up near Bethany Beach
-
Dallas, TX1 week agoAnti-ICE protest outside Dallas City Hall follows deadly shooting in Minneapolis
-
Virginia6 days agoVirginia Tech gains commitment from ACC transfer QB
-
Montana7 days ago‘It was apocalyptic’, woman tells Crans-Montana memorial service, as bar owner detained
-
Minnesota6 days agoICE arrests in Minnesota surge include numerous convicted child rapists, killers
-
Oklahoma5 days agoMissing 12-year-old Oklahoma boy found safe
-
Lifestyle2 days agoJulio Iglesias accused of sexual assault as Spanish prosecutors study the allegations