Google’s massive AI search overhaul, $845K spoofing scam & duplicate photo tools (175, May 23, 2026)
Rich On TechShow Notes
• Google’s biggest Search overhaul in 25 years: Google unveiled a major AI-powered redesign of Search and Gemini at Google I/O, turning the search box into a multimodal assistant that can understand text, photos, video, and voice. Rich explained how AI is becoming more proactive, helping users summarize emails, organize tasks, and even recommend products from a simple photo. • AI avatars and deepfakes get eerily realistic: Rich tested Google’s new AI avatar tools that can generate lifelike videos and voice clones from a face scan and a few voice samples. While the technology is impressive for creative projects, it also raises serious concerns about scams, impersonation, and how easy it’s becoming to fake someone’s identity. • AI agents could replace routine digital tasks: Google previewed “agentic AI” tools that can research products, monitor prices, and complete tasks in the background 24/7. Rich discussed how these systems may become cheaper alternatives to human assistants, but many advanced features currently require expensive subscription plans. • Gmail becomes conversational with AI: New AI-powered Gmail features can summarize inboxes, organize travel plans, and answer questions about upcoming trips using information already stored in Google accounts. Rich noted the convenience, but also reminded listeners that AI summaries can still make mistakes. • Scammers are using AI to become more convincing: A new Visa fraud report found scammers increasingly rely on AI-generated voices, fake customer service calls, deepfake videos, and highly personalized phishing attacks. Rich stressed the importance of slowing down, verifying requests independently, and never trusting caller ID alone. • Covina couple loses $845,000 in FBI impersonation scam: Scammers posing as federal agents convinced a retired California couple to liquidate savings, take out loans, and send cryptocurrency over several months. The case highlights how emotional manipulation, spoofed phone numbers, and fake video calls are making scams harder to detect. • Remote access scams continue targeting consumers: A caller shared how scammers pretending to be Apple Pay support tried to convince him to install remote access software. Rich warned listeners that once scammers gain remote access to a device, victims can quickly lose control of accounts and finances. • Google’s AI Search answers may still hallucinate: Guest Connor Jewiss explained why Google’s new AI-generated search results could create problems when incorrect information is presented confidently. He warned that many users trust AI answers without clicking through to verify sources. • Will consumers actually pay for AI subscriptions?: Google’s premium AI plans now bundle features like advanced Gemini tools, YouTube Premium, cloud storage, and AI-powered research assistants. Rich and Connor discussed whether consumers will pay monthly fees for AI tools that automate shopping, apartment hunting, and other tasks. • Cruise internet and international travel connectivity tips: Rich explained how cruise ship Wi-Fi pricing works and why travelers often need to rely on ship internet packages at sea. He also recommended eSIM services like Airalo, Saily, and GigSky for international travel, along with checking whether carriers already include roaming benefits. • T-Mobile launches live AI phone call translation: T-Mobile introduced a beta feature that translates phone calls in real time across more than 50 languages without requiring a separate app. Only one person on the call needs to be a T-Mobile customer for the translation to work. • Samsung phone troubleshooting and phantom touch issues: Rich helped a listener troubleshoot a jumpy Samsung Galaxy A26 screen and failed software updates. He recommended running Samsung diagnostics, reviewing touch sensitivity settings, removing unnecessary apps, and performing a factory reset before pursuing a warranty claim. • Smartwatch glucose monitoring claims remain mis
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Pixel 11 Rambler speeds up replies: Rich says Google’s voice-to-text feature is accurate enough to dictate and format quick email responses on the fly. Meta faces landmark child-safety case: States accuse Meta of designing Instagram and Facebook to keep young users engaged while failing to adequately protect kids. Drone delivery is expanding fast: Amazon plans to bring Prime Air to 500 cities and towns, while Uber Eats and Zipline are also expanding drone delivery. Flock is sending drones to 911 calls: The company’s police drones can reach scenes before officers and may help resolve some calls without dispatching police. Beware Medicare card scams: A caller received a suspicious call asking whether she received a new Medicare card, a reminder to never give personal information to unsolicited callers. Antenna Man explains free TV: A good antenna can deliver dozens of local channels for free, but choosing the right antenna and placement for your location is critical. Check reception before buying an antenna: RabbitEars.info can estimate available stations, signal strength and the type of antenna you may need. International calling requires planning: Check your carrier for an international roaming pass or consider an unlocked-phone eSIM that supports actual voice calls, not just data. Prepare for power outages: A hand-crank emergency radio is an inexpensive backup, while portable power stations from brands like Jackery and EcoFlow can keep larger devices running. YouTube Premium is adding Peacock: YouTube Premium subscribers are expected to get the ad-supported Peacock Premium plan in early 2027. California DROP removes broker data: California residents can use the state’s free DROP system to request removal of their personal information from registered data brokers. Google can remove personal info from search: Results About You alerts you when Google finds your phone number, address or other personal information and lets you request removal from search results. Scammers are getting better with AI: Scamicide founder Steve Weisman says AI is improving phishing messages, voice clones and other scams, making independent verification more important than ever. Secure your home router: Change default passwords, install firmware updates and consider replacing older routers that no longer receive automatic security patches. Don’t trust customer-service numbers from search: Scammers can buy ads or manipulate search results, so get support numbers from a company’s official website, app or bill. Instagram is adding major teen restrictions: Meta’s teen-safety changes include daily time limits, overnight restrictions, muted school-hour notifications and hidden like counts. Samsung satellite service depends on phone and plan: Satellite connectivity requires compatible hardware and carrier support, so not every Galaxy phone or T-Mobile plan will qualify. Don’t hide your Wi-Fi router: Putting a router or mesh node inside a cabinet can weaken the signal and undermine the benefits of a mesh system. WiFiman can diagnose weak Wi-Fi: Ubiquiti’s WiFiman app can help visualize signal strength around the house and identify dead zones. Spotify adds coached running workouts: Running Mode creates personalized workouts with music, cadence targets and coaching prompts for Premium subscribers on iPhone. Aviate brings Flighty-style tracking to Android: The app tracks flights, boarding information and trip progress with live updates for Android users. Ask T-Mobile for an outage credit: Customers affected by the recent outage may be able to get a bill credit by contacting customer service. Samsung Messages has an unofficial replacement: Messages by Ozark’s Made recreates the Samsung Messages experience, though users should be cautious about trusting third-party messaging apps with sensitive data. Accessibility features can help everyone: Shelly Brisbin highlighted tools including Live Listen, Dark Mode, AssistiveTouch and voice controls th
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AI gets more useful and more concerning: Rich says to use AI and understand it, but question its answers rather than blindly trusting it. AI can provide emotional support: Caller Bonnie used ChatGPT to help process the loss of her dog, while Bridget Todd explained why emotional connections with AI are becoming more common. Meta Muse is a personal AI assistant: Rich likes Meta’s new Muse app, which can connect to email, calendars, reminders and tasks to help get things done. iPhone 18 Pro is great, but not a must-upgrade: Better battery life, cooler operation and a variable-aperture camera stand out, but recent iPhone owners can probably wait. Siri finally gets much smarter: Siri can privately index messages, emails, photos and other personal information so you can ask questions about your own life. Spectrum Mobile could save a caller $1,500: Rich says the free-year offer could be worthwhile, but check Verizon coverage where you live and work before switching. Watch for government impersonation scams: If someone claiming to be with the government or law enforcement demands immediate payment, hang up and independently verify the claim. Restart first when an app stops working: A caller with Gmail trouble was reminded that a simple phone restart should be the first troubleshooting step. Stop Samsung Wi-Fi from turning itself back on: Disable "Turn Wi-Fi on automatically" under Intelligent Wi-Fi if you want full control over the connection. Facebook lockout workaround: If normal account recovery fails, a paid Meta support plan may provide access to a real person who can help. How the Apple Store was created: Former Apple retail chief Ron Johnson shared how he and Steve Jobs built the stores around service, hands-on experiences and the Genius Bar. You can completely turn off Siri: iOS 27 adds an option under Settings > Siri to disable Siri entirely. You can't remove data from the dark web: After a breach, focus on protecting yourself by limiting shared personal information and freezing your credit when appropriate. Amazon Prime Big Deal Days are October 6 and 7: Add items you want to your cart ahead of time so it's easier to spot real price drops. Fix missing email on an iPhone: Go to Settings > Apps > Mail > Mail Accounts and try reconnecting, or remove and re-add the affected account. Apple Watch finally shows steps on the watch face: Series 12 and Ultra 4 can display near-real-time step counts without a third-party app. Portable hotspots won't work at sea: Cellular hotspots need a cellular signal, so they won't replace cruise ship Wi-Fi when you're offshore. AirPods microphone acting up? Clean them first: Carefully clean the earbuds and microphone areas before assuming the hardware needs replacing. Chrome pop-ups may come from rogue extensions: Remove extensions you don't recognize, check notification permissions and clear browser data. Skip questionable streaming black boxes: Rich recommends legitimate streaming services over devices that can bring legal, privacy, security and reliability concerns. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.