AI Voice Scams; Paid Social Media Accounts-Not for Everyone; Qualcomm-Replacing eSIMS with iSIMS in Phones; Ford-Big Increases in EV Production

We’ve all heard about those scams where someone calls a Grandma, and says they need bail money or such, and con the Grandma into sending a bundle…usually by gift card or a non-reversible transfer. Now, there’s a spooky new twist, thanks to artificial intelligence. Digital Trends reports that some scammers are using AI to capture and clone voices, making it even more likely that the scam will work, and fleece the target. Apparently, the AI is good enough that just a sample of a few sentences is enough for the computer to duplicate the voice. Note to my voice colleagues…AI is also being used to copy your voice to record commercials without you being paid…which could run afoul of laws in several states. As always, beware! The Washington Post notes that one pair of elderly Grandparents got scammed out of $15,000. The alleged Grandson needed it for legal bills. They found out later that day about the ripoff when the actual Grandson called to chat. It is thought his voice was cloned off a YouTube Video. Careful out there!

There has been a fair amount of uproar about Twitter charging $8 a month for the blue checkmark, and rumblings that Facebook is going to charge for a verification that few seem to want…or need. According to bigtechnology.com, there is a method behind the platforms’ madness. Apparently, most of us aren’t posting enough, and they are aiming the subscription model more at professional creators and businesses. It seems that social media companies are to an extent, giving up on ‘ordinary users’ for content. The culprit that started this all was the often-reviled TikTok, which started using the algorithm to fill feeds with compelling videos, instead of a follower model. Before Elon Musk took over Twitter, less than 10% of users generated 90% of its content. So relax about worries over paying to use Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter…but brace yourself for more stuff from professional creators and businesses. 

First, we had the relatively large SIM cards, that allowed our phones to work with the carrier systems. Then, the mini-SIMS came along,..same idea, but smaller tray that slides out of the side of the phone. Arstechnica.com notes that Apple then started going to the eSIM, which originally allowed a 2nd line, but later enabled phones to not have a SIM slot at all. Now, Qualcomm has gotten certified with an iSIM by the GSMA, the organization of world cell carriers. This card just lives on the system on a chip in phones, and takes up virtually no extra space…allowing more room for better cameras or bigger batteries. Expect it to take a couple years before the iSIMs become common on smartphones, but it will be a welcome change as these little micro computers in our pockets are expected to do more and more for us. 

Ford has announced that they will be tripling F-150 Lightning production and doubling Mustang Mach-E production this year. According to electrek.co, Ford has already become the 2nd largest US EV maker, behind only Tesla. Dearborn now plans to build some 150,000 F-150 Lightning models this year…after restarting the production March 13th…the line had been shut down due to a now-fixed problem. Ford is planning to build 210,000 Mustang Mach-Es too. This will put Ford’s EV output at around 360,000 for the year. Tesla sold 484,000 new vehicles last year, and is going for more in 2023. General Motors expects to build around a quarter million EVs this year.

I’m Clark Reid, and you’re ‘Technified’ for now.