If you live in New Zealand or the Philippines and would like to join X, formerly Twitter, the service will now cost $1 a year thanks to a new rule that kicked into play yesterday.

The annual subscription plan will start as a test in the two countries, and are said to be part of the platform’s ‘Not a Bot’ program that’s designed to reduce spam and bot activity.

Rumours of subscriptions fees have been whispered about for some time now. However, this latest announcement marks the most significant change in the platform’s set up since the introduction of verification fees.

Want to Like a Post? It’ll Cost You

As well as paying the $1 fee, new users will have to verify their account with a phone number. Following this they’ll then be able to “perform certain actions” on the platform’s web version, such as Liking and Bookmarking posts, and Replying, Reporting or Quoting other accounts.

In a Help Centre post, X said the subscription was developed to “bolster our already significant efforts to reduce spam, manipulation of our platform, and bot activity… [that can] disrupt the experience of other X users.”. 

Those who opt out of a subscription will only be able to make “read-only” actions, such as reading posts, watching videos, and following accounts.

While it’s not specified why New Zealand and the Philippines have been chosen as the countries to test the subscription, it may be down to the rate of bot activity and ease of creating fake accounts in those locations.

According to X owner Elon Musk, the logic behind the move is that bots cost “a fraction of a penny” to set up, so raising the cost of an account to “a few dollars or something”, and requiring scammers to set up a new payment method per account creation, would act as a deterrent.

Localized pricing works out at $1.43 NZD in New Zealand and ₱42.51 PHP in the Philippines. However, the platform has confirmed that existing users in these countries would not be required to pay the fee.

Not The X’s First Move Into Monetization

While this latest move from X is sure to ruffle a few feathers, monetizing the platform isn’t a new concept. 

Earlier this year the X Premium paid-for subscription came into play, with users able to pay $8 a month or $84 a year to get a blue verification checkmark. The introduction of these fees were similarly made in order to prevent scams.

However, this move has not yet stopped scammers on the platform, as accounts displaying the paid-for icon have been used to mislead users and carry out phishing attacks. Those specifically at risk include users who wish to communicate with the bank and airline customer service teams, and are then tricked into sharing bank details.

X Continues With the Controversy

It’s been a busy period for X/Twitter and Musk of late with the introduction of their controversial new privacy policy that Amnesty International claimed “risks violating the right to privacy for millions”, and talk of lay-off negotiations with over 2,000 ex-employees.

However, Musk is keen to press on monetizing the platform, with plans for subscriptions to become half of the company’s overall revenue. It remains to be seen whether this latest $1 fee will help contribute to that goal.

Following hot on the heels of Google’s recent introduction of passkeys, WhatsApp has revealed it too is now rolling out support for passkeys, with Android devices the first to get the new feature on the popular messaging app.

It’s another potential nail in the coffin for the humble password, with passkeys widely being hailed as the future of online account security. Their main advantage is that they’re considerably more user-friendly than traditional password security, which can easily become unmanageable given its increasingly complex demands.

Instead of complicated alphanumeric combinations, passkeys promise to let you log in to your accounts with nothing more than your face, fingerprint, or a physical mobile device. It means you’ll be able to access your messages more quickly than ever, so let’s take a look at how to setup passkeys on WhatsApp for Android. We’ll update this guide to include other platforms as the functionality becomes available.

How To Set Up Passkeys on WhatsApp for Android

WhatsApp, the widely used messaging platform owned by Meta, announced that it was phasing in passkeys on X (formerly Twitter). Independent user reports indicate that the new passwordless security feature is up and running for select users.  If that’s you, or you want to find out if you’ve got support yet, here’s how to setup passkeys on WhatsApp for Android.

1. Ensure you are logged in to your Google account and have a lock screen enabled
2. Open WhatsApp on your Android phone
3. Navigate to Settings > Passkeys
4. Select “Create Passkeys”
5. Follow the instructions to connect your phone’s lock screen to WhatsApp
6. Choose what type of new passkey to create: PIN, fingerprint, or facial recognition

A final caveat that the you’ll need to be using an Android device running Android 9 or above. Your mileage with biometric security will also vary depending on your device, so if you don’t get the option for facial recognition (for example) that’s probably because you don’t have a compatible handset.

WhatsApp adds that it is rolling out passkey support over the coming “weeks and months,” so if you don’t see the option to create a passkey in WhatsApp, don’t worry: your number probably just hasn’t been called yet.

How Do Passkeys on WhatsApp Actually Work?

As we’ve mentioned, passkey security works by utilizing the biometric sensors that are integrated into many current smartphones, or harnessing a preset PIN number on your handset. This data is stored locally (e.g. physically) on your cell or other mobile device, so your authentication is “secured” by the fact you have to be in possession of the hardware to successfully complete the log-in process.

They are an alternative to the long, often absurdly complicated passwords that are required to secure all manner of online accounts and services these days – measures that have now gone so far, they’ve spawned a highly successful spoof in The Password Game.

If you go off the idea, then you can easily revert to using a traditional password on WhatsApp and other platforms that now offer passkey security. However, you might be like us and quite excited about the prospect of a passwordless future, even if we’re not quite ready to announce its total demise just yet.

Are Passkeys the Future of Online Security?

Google and WhatsApp are two of the biggest names to have joined the passwordless revolution, while the likes of Apple and Microsoft have also committed to creating a new online security standard based around passkeys. You may also have encountered the option to setup passkeys on platforms like eBay and Uber.

As such, there’s little doubt that passkeys are part of the future of online security. However, it’s important not to overestimate their promise, as many online accounts will still almost certainly require 2FA (two-factor authentication), especially for work and business users.

Here, passkeys can potentially supplant the password element in two-factor security, while stopping short of replacing the 2FA process entirely. While passkey technology continues to take root, it’s still good general advice to use one of the best password managers if you want to simplify your online security whilst ensuring you stay on right side of best practice.

It’s no surprise that Apple’s new iPhone 15 is the year’s hottest smartphone, but should you actually upgrade? As an iPhone owner since Steve Jobs introduced the iPhone 4 way back in 2010, this is a question I wrestle with on an annual basis, as unlike when you buy an Pad, you just can’t expect a handset to outlast multiple Presidents. Here’s what I’ve learned over the last decade and why I’m roundly rejecting the iPhone 15 in 2023.

Deciding whether or not to upgrade to a new iPhone is a personal question and depends on your individual circumstances. While I’m about to tell you why buying the iPhone 15 right now is a rotten idea for most people, it isn’t for everyone. If you’re still rolling with an iPhone 8, for instance, it may be time to pony up for a new model regardless.

However, if like many iPhone owners you tend to upgrade every two or three years, then you’re no doubt considering the iPhone 15 right now. As a current iPhone 12 Pro owner, that’s the position I find myself in. Sadly, there are just too many issues with the iPhone 15, which is why I categorically won’t be upgrading. More than that, I think it’s the worst new iPhone upgrade in years, possibly ever. Here’s why.

1. iPhone 15 Pro Max Screen Feels the Burn-in

At the top of the iPhone 15 family tree sits the iPhone 15 Pro Max, which will set you back a cool $1,200 if you buy it outright. For that kind of money, you could be forgiven for expecting a pretty flawless product. Unfortunately, that doesn’t seem to be case.

Since its release, owners of the new iPhone 15 Pro Max have flooded social media as well as Reddit and the Apple’s own community forums with numerous reports of screen burn-in on the new device. Burn-in is when a display’s brightness levels “burn-in” through the panel and cause everything on the screen to appear faded, to the point of being usable.

Apple's iPhone 15 Pro Max is reportedly experiencing screen burn-in issues, adding to a growing list of problems for the company this year.#iPhone15Series #iphone15pro #Apple pic.twitter.com/HDsQ0iccHw

— Tarun Vats (@tarunvats33) October 11, 2023

It’s a common problem with OLED display technology, which is what the iPhone 15 Pro Max features. Most electronics manufacturers, including those of OLED TVs that operate at similarly high brightness levels as what Apple’s handset promises, have found a way to mitigate screen burn-in as an issue.

Apple clearly has not, even though iPhone screen burn has been a recurring issue for its handsets and I can remember a smattering of similar reports around the iPhone 11 launch.

However, the iPhone 15 Pro Max is the worst instance yet. As much as anything, screen burn is a problem you expect to develop over time and with prolonged usage at high brightness levels – not a few weeks after launch. It’s a massive red flag for me and one of the biggest reason I’m steering clear of the new models.

2. Overheating Adds to Hot Mess of iPhone 15 Problems

Closely linked to this is another major iPhone 15 problem: overheating.

Anecdotally, new iPhone owners have taken to social media to report that their devices are getting too hot to handle – and not in a good way. Specifically, things like fast-charging and intensive gaming, which are features promised by the iPhone 15 Pro in particular, are apparently leading to the handset overheating.

Jeeez my iPhone 15 Pro Max is almost too hot to touch while fast charging rn…

— Ian Zelbo (@ianzelbo) September 25, 2023

The issue was so bad at launch that Apple rushed out a fix in the form of iOS 17.0.3, which it promised would address the issue. However, the latest thermal testing conducted by outlets such as ZDNet and its sources, shows that the device is still clocking temperatures in excess of 107 degrees (Fahrenheit), even after the update.

Worse still, some iPhone 15 Pro Max owners are reporting that overheating as a problem has only just flared up since they installed the iOS 17.0.3 update.

Pro Max, it’s something todo with the camera, or photos, or videos. It wasn’t happening to me before 17.0.3!

— Sam Harman (@sammio2) October 11, 2023

A certain amount of teething problems are to be expected with the latest devices and, more specifically, the new software they run. However, couple with the screen burn-in reports, reports of persistent iPhone overheating and a potentially botched iOS update, suggest to me that Apple has simply packed too much into this device, at the expense of stability.

My trusty iPhone 12 Pro? I’ve got the overheating warning once, by a pool over the summer when it was north of 100 degrees out. That’s the kind of problem you’d expect. What’s going on right now with the iPhone 15 overheating looks much more serious.

3. Is Troublesome Titanium To Blame?

What’s really to blame for the messy launch of the iPhone 15? I’m going to address the software side of things shortly, but according to some Apple experts the real culprit might be Apple’s decision to adopt a new titanium design with its iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max duo.

On the surface, it seems like a no-brainer: a premium new material for Apple’s most premium new phone. However, the problem is that titanium reacts differently to heat. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo notes that Apple made “compromises” in order to give the iPhone 15 Pro a seemingly deluxe new feel, with the reduced weight of titanium coming with a massive trade-off

“The primary cause is more likely the compromises made in the thermal system design to achieve a lighter weight, such as the reduced heat dissipation area and the use of a titanium frame, which negatively impacts thermal efficiency,” Kuo writes on his Medium blog.

For me, this is the biggest proof yet that Apple is valuing style over substance and means Apple fans like myself have to ask themselves an question: have the Android aficionados have been right all along? With rash design decisions like this, that look great on a spec sheet but perform woefully in the real world, they just might be.

4. iOS 17 Issues Are Absolutely Everywhere

You’d think we’d have exhausted the list of iPhone 15 problems by now, but sadly we’re only ready to pivot from its hardware to its software woes.

Chief among these is the fact that, while there are some great new iOS 17 features, the latest iOS 17.0.3 release may have introduced a strange new quirk to the iPhone 15: the smartphone turning itself off overnight.

Among those to report this iOS 17 issue were 9To5Mac writer Zac Hall, who noticed that he was asked to input his passcode as well as Face ID. At first, he thought nothing of it – until he noticed numerous other users experiencing the same issue on Reddit.

This prompted him to investigate his iPhone’s battery data, which clearly showed a four hour or so gap when his new iPhone 15 Pro Max was charging overnight.

We’re all for spooky season, but this one strikes us as especially strange.

It’s not the only iOS 17 problem doing the rounds, either: from Wi-Fi issues to an emergency security patch already being rushed out by Apple, the new operating system looks half-baked at best. The security failings are particularly worrying and you might need to use an iPhone VPN or iPhone password manager to fully protect your device and its data.

https://twitter.com/GanWeaving/status/1707741726117380508

For some, the answer is simple enough: don’t update to iOS 17. The problem is, if you buy a new iPhone 15, you don’t have a choice. Until Apple can prove it has ironed out iOS 17’s many creases, it’s just another reason to stick with your old iPhone for now.

Verdict: Don’t Upgrade To iPhone 15, Get a Better Deal Elsewhere

By now, you probably get the idea: I’m no fan of the iPhone 15 and am content to stick with my slightly archaic iPhone 12 Pro for another year if I have to.

The good news is, that’s not my only option and nor is it yours. Whenever a new iPhone launches, prices of Apple’s older models drop considerably. To use an iPhone 14 as an example, its official price at Apple has dropped by $100 across the board, so down to $699 (from $799) for the entry-level iPhone 14.

Delve further into the Apple back catalogue and you’ll enjoy bigger discounts still. With the spectacle of Black Friday 2023 now looming large, the year’s best iPhone deals are firmly on the horizon, so wait just a couple of weeks to get an iPhone 13 or 14 at a fraction of the price of the new version that’ll burn a hole in your pocket in more ways than one.

Put simply, right now is one of the best times to buy to a new iPhone – just not the iPhone 15.

Short-form video content is king in 2024. As platforms like Instagram Reels and TikTok continue to dominate the social media landscape, more and more businesses are turning to video marketing to connect with audiences – and for good reason.

Due to their bite-sized, bingable format, posts that contain videos receive 48% more views than those without and are also shared twice as much as any other form of content. You don’t have to be a seasoned content creator or social media specialist to compete, either, with recent developments in artificial intelligence ushering in a whole new era of smart, affordable video generators.

Whether you’re looking to convert short-form videos from longer videos, or create them from scratch, this guide outlines the 5 best AI video generators on the market. We also break down how each tool is used, so all you have to do is come up with a unique idea.

Best AI-powered short form video creators:

1. Invideo – Best overall AI video generator
2. Synthesia – Best for videos with custom avatars 
3. Pictory – Most versatile AI video generator
4. VEED – Best video generator for beginners
5. Vidyo – Best for converting longer clips

1. Invideo

• Best overall AI video generator
• Price from: $15 per month

Invideo is a powerful AI generator that is primarily geared toward making explainer videos. Since the platform is a text-to-video generator, you aren’t required to input any video content, which bodes well for users without tons of archival footage to convert. Moreover, like VEED.io and Pictory, Invideo has a shallow learning curve, making it a great pick for newbies to short-form content creation.  

InVideo software screenshot. Source: invideo.io

Here’s how to use Invideo in five simple steps:

1. Select “Black Canvas” when you’re starting a new canvas and then choose your video’s dimensions. 
2. Upload your videos and images, or select content from Invideo’s own stock library and begin creating your video timeline. 
3. Edit your clips and layer your video with additional text and visuals until you’re happy with the result. You can also aminate elements of your video using the right-hand panel. 
4. Now it’s time to manage the audio. You can add personal audio files or bring the text to life using the software’s text-to-speech feature. You can also choose music to add in the background using Invideo’s copyright-free music library.
5. Once you’re happy with the video, choose whether you want to download it in 720p or 1080p and export the file.

2. Synthesia

• Best for making videos with custom avatars 
• Price from: $22.50 per month

Synthesia is a video creation tool that lets you create videos using custom AI avatars. Using its text-to-video function, users can convert mountains of text into polished, engaging videos with over 120 avatars and 65 languages to choose from. Synthesia even lets you build a custom avatar who looks and sounds just like you, to give your videos more of a personal touch.

We break down how to use the platform below:

1. First up, you need to create your video script. This will be the guideline for your video, and its quality will determine your end result. Synthesia offers tons of guides and videos on how to write them, and if you’re really stuck you can always call on AI chatbots like ChatGPT.
2. Now choose who is going to narrate your video from Synthesia’s library of 120+ avatars, and let the app do its magic.
3. Use the platform ‘text-to-speech’ feature to refine your video and to ensure all pronunciations are current. You can also add pauses to emphasize and improve the delivery of the video.
4. Not it’s time to get editing. Use the software to emend the video’s background music, animations, transitions, background videos, GIFS, icons, and more. Once you’re happy with the result, click “Generate video” and view, download, and share your end result.

3. Pictory

• Most versatile AI video generator
• Price from: $19 per month

Pictory is a piece of AI-powered software that lets you create and edit short-form videos. The app has a very low learning curve and doesn’t require a lot of technical know-how to use, making it ideal for users without lots of social media experience. However, Pictory’s finished products aren’t always as polished as videos made by fellow AI video generators like Synthesia and VEED. 

Pictory lets you create short-form videos in four main ways: from scripts, from published articles, from long-form videos, and from visuals. We explain how to use these different methods below:

Script to Video

1. If you’re creating a video from text, you can paste your text directly into the platform’s ‘Script to Video’ option.
2. From here, you can fine-tune your video by auto-highlighting keywords, selecting visuals, and creating different scenes.
3. Then, after selecting a template for your video that aligns with your brand, Pictory will create a video storyboard that you can edit scene by scene.

Pictory text-to-image function. Source: pictory.com

Article to Video

1. If you want to turn a published article, blog, or press release into an article, you can use Pictory’s ‘Article to Video’ function.
2. All you need to do is paste the chosen URL into the search bar, and then the tool distills the content down into different scenes.
3. After you select a template, the AI-creator will create a storyboard which you can add visuals and elements to to create the final result.

Edit Videos using Text

1. If you’re condensing a longer pre-existing video into a short form video, paste the YouTube link or file into Pictory’s Edit Videos Using Text option.
2. Enter the number of speakers in the video, and then edit down the scene-by-scene storyboard created by the app. 

Visuals to Video

1. Finally, if you’re looking to create an original short-form video out of existing images and short videos, you should select Pictory’s Visuals to Video function.
2. Simply upload the files, and arrange them into a sequence of your choice.
3. Then, select a template, assign an aspect ratio, and edit the video to your liking. 

4. VEED.io

• Best AI short video generator for beginners
• Price from $12 per month

VEED.io is a slick AI video editor and creator designed for professionals. Those using the platform can create videos from VEED’s selection of 100+ free stock clips, their own media, and even live webcam recordings with its online screen recorder function. The platform also lets you create tailored content for specific social media channels like Instagram Reels and TikTok. 

VEED.io software screenshot. Source: veed.io

Here’s how to create short-form videos using VEED.io:

1. Once you’ve signed into the platform, select ‘New Project’ on the creator dashboard. Then, record or upload your video footage and wait for a timeline to be created at the bottom of the screen.
2. Now it’s time to edit. You can use VEED.io’s editing toolbar to edit the videos visuals and audio, add subtitles and text, and add on-screen effects like audio visualizers. Using these features is a great way to make your video look polished and to refine it to your liking. 
3. Once you’re happy with the result, you can download your final video by clicking “Export” and “Export Video”. Once your video has finished rendering you’ll be able to copy the link and share it across platforms. 

5. Vidyo.ai

• Best for converting longer videos
• Price from $29.99

Vidyo.ai is a content repurposing tool that lets users transform long-form videos into short-form clips. It’s specifically designed to create sharable, trending content for platforms like Instagram Reels, TikTok, and YouTube Shorts to help creators expand their reach. 

Vidyo.ai software screenshot. Source: vidyo.ai

Vidyo offers a generous free version too, making it ideal for content creators who are just starting out. To create a video with Vidyo.ai, you have to follow the steps below:

1. Import your chosen video to the platform, and select the format for your final product. I.e, would you like the format to be 1:1 for LinkedIn and X, or 9:16 for TikTok and Instagram Reels? 
2. Customize your video with a template of your choice and personalize your video with your YouTube, Instagram, or TikTok handle if desired. 
3. Click through to the next stage and let Vidyo.ai do its magic. The software will now produce a variety of short clips optimized for your selected platform, and you have the option to edit and polish these clips if you choose. 

Want to know more about social media? Read our guide to Social Media Management.

As the education sector continues to use AI to its advantage, British boarding school Cottesmore has appointed an AI chatbot – named Abigail Bailey – as its new “principal headteacher”.

While appointing a robot headteacher might sound dystopian, the exclusive school claims the ChatGPT-like technology isn’t replacing current jobs, and is instead being used to support the needs of Cottesmore’s current headmaster, Tom Rogerson.

But Abigail Bailey won’t be the only chatbot joining Cottesmore’s roster of staff. The school also appointed AI-powered chatbot Jamie Trainer as its head of artificial intelligence – with both tools even adorning their own AI-generated headshots.

UK School Appoints AI Headteacher

Generative AI hasn’t always had a positive impact on education. But one UK school is leveraging the technology to its advantage by hiring an AI chatbot for one of its most senior roles.

Cottensmore’s new AI headteacher, Abigail Bailey, uses deep learning and generative AI in a similar way to OpenAI’s chatbot ChatGPT. However, Bailey’s applications are more targeted as its been programmed to contain specialist knowledge of machine learning and educational management.

The chatbot will essentially be used as a right-hand woman to Cottesmore’s current headmaster, Tom Rogerson, providing guidance on a wide range of issues from drafting school policies to supporting children with ADHD.

“It’s just very calming and reassuring knowing that you don’t have to call anybody up, bother someone, you don’t have to wait around for an answer.” – Tom Rogerson, Headmaster of Cottesmore School

While robot headteachers may sound like something out of a science fiction novel, Cottesmore’s human headmaster Rogerson was quick to note positive experiences with the chatbot.

“It’s nice to think that someone who is unbelievably well trained is there to help you make decisions,” Rogerson shared with the Telegraph, ” you don’t have to wait around for an answer.”

Cottesmore Ramps Up its AI Strategy

Cottesmore, which was named ‘Prep School of the Year’ by UK publication Tatler in 2020, isn’t hiring Bailey in isolation.

The school also decided to appoint an AI chatbot as its “head of AI”, after it was unsuccessful in finding a suitable human candidate.

Rogerson explains it was a “tall order” for human applicants to fulfill these remits, as the successful candidate had to be “highly empathetic”, teach sport, support in lessons, take on multiple activities and hobbies, and have a relevant AI qualification.

Jamie Rainer. Cottesmore’s new Head of AI. Source: telegraph.co.uk

Cottesmore was the first school in the UK to advertise for a head of AI earlier this year, as it works to ramp up it’s broader AI strategy. Pupils in the school have already been assigned personal AI assistants to help them understand their own learning styles.

Rogerson claims the “world-changing technology” is helping the school to step “into the future while preserving the core values of traditional education”.

Teachers: Is AI Coming For Your Job?

With over one-third of teachers currently using AI to assist with workloads, Cottesmore isn’t the only school leveraging the technology in 2023.

Recent polling from the Teacher Tapp revealed that one-third of teachers are using AI for a wide variety of purposes including lesson planning, report writing, responding to emails, and detecting AI plagiarism.

“The introduction of AI is not about replacing our dedicated educators but about augmenting their capabilities and ensuring our students receive the best education possible.” – Tom Rogerson, Headmaster of Cottesmore School

However, despite pessimistic claims made by British education expert Anthony Seldon that robots will replace teachers by 2027, it’s much more likely AI will be used to augment the current capabilities of teachers, helping them to address concerns that have been plaguing the sector for decades.

This view is held by Cottesmore’s headmaster, who explains that despite the deployment of virtual helpers like Bailey and Rainer, AI tools will never be able to replace the soft-skills held by human educators.

Read more about the roles that AI is most likely to impact.

Zelle is a popular digital payment platform that allows direct access to user bank accounts, which means that it is, of course, a prime target for scammers online.

The internet is tragically filled with scammers in the modern era, with bad actors focusing on everything from Google Chat to Geek Squad in hopes of scoring an easy payday.

Unfortunately, Zelle represents a particularly attractive scam candidate, as there is little recourse for scammed individuals to get their money back. So what can you do to keep yourself safe? You can understand what kind of Zelle scams are out there, so you can spot them before it’s too late.

In this guide:

• What Are Zelle Scams?
• How to Spot and Report Zelle Scams
• Frequently Asked Questions

What Are Zelle Scams?

Zelle scams are simply scams that are perpetrated through the Zelle platform. For those that don’t know, Zelle is an online payment service that allows users to send and receive money directly to their bank accounts. Unlike platforms like Venmo and CashApp, Zelle doesn’t have an in-app wallet, but instead facilitates transfers directly into and out of bank accounts for faster payments.

While this feature is understandably quite convenient, it does lend itself to abuse from scammers. Because the funds go immediately into, or in the case of scams out of, you’re bank account, there’s little recourse for getting it back when fraudulent situations arise.

Here are some of the most common Zelle scams to look out:

• Zelle Fake Seller Scams
• Zelle Phishing Scams
• Zelle Charity Scams
• Zelle Fake Job Scams
• Zelle Property Rental Scams

Zelle Fake Purchase Scams

As you can imagine, one of the most prominent scams on Zelle is centered around purchasing and selling products on a variety of marketplace platforms. Facebook Marketplace, in particular, is primed for Zelle scams, as it’s specifically aimed at selling to, and purchasing from, strangers.

In most cases, these scams are pretty straightforward. You reach out to a user on a marketplace platform, and they demand that you pay via Zelle. Once you send over the payment, the user will disappear with no plans to send you the product in question.

Because Zelle transfers are not reversible, there’s little you can do to get your money back, and the scammer is already in the wind due to what is likely a fake name, a fake account, and even a fake product.

How to avoid this scam: Many marketplace platforms require some kind of government-issued identification card to get verified, which means you can ask for this kind of information before committing to a purchase. Otherwise, you better get buddy-buddy with your bank, as that’s the only way to reverse a charge through Zelle.

Zelle Phishing Scams

While straightforward purchase scams on Zelle are common, phishing scams impersonating the financial service company are just as problematic and a little harder to spot.

This scam typically occurs when trying to sell an item on a marketplace platform. The user will reach out to purchase the item and will ask for your email address to send over the Zelle payment.

You’ll then receive the email below, which basically states that you’re not a “business account,” so your Zelle account can’t accept a payment of that size. To remedy this, the email says that you need to send an even larger amount back to the alleged purchaser to “expand” your limit.

The problem? This is not an email from Zelle, individual accounts don’t have limits like this, and you’re going to get scammed if you send the money back to the send. They’ll keep your money, you’ll still have your unsold product, and your Zelle account won’t be expanded (because that’s not a thing).

How to avoid this scam: If you’re selling a product, there’s no reason to ever be sending someone money. If they can’t figure out how to send you the money for a product you’re selling in an easy and comprehensive way, trust us, they’re not the right buyer for you.

Zelle Charity Scams

This scam is typical across the payment service spectrum, but Zelle is a particularly popular option, because again, you don’t have much recourse for a refund.

The scam goes like this: You’re contacted, either via text message, email, or another messaging service, and are told that a particular current tragedy requires donations and that you can help with your Zelle payment. The language is typically a bit off, with spelling errors and grammatical mistakes throughout.

Obviously, the money is not going to the cause in question, but rather directly into the wallet of a potential scammer. And because it’s with Zelle, there is no way for you to get the funds back once they’re on the way.

How to avoid this scam: Always verify whether or not a charity is real before making a donation, particularly with a non-refundable option like Zelle. Even if it seems legit, a cursory glance online can help you make sure your funds are actually going to help the cause they say they are.

Zelle Fake Job Scams

This scam is a bit convoluted, but despite its complexity, it’s quite a common scam to occur, as multiple news sources have reported on first-hand accounts from those that have been scammed.

It starts with a job search, typically for a remote work position. An applicant will receive word that they’ve been granted an interview with a company, but that the interview will be conducted over messaging app, rather than through normal channels like video chat or phone call. After the messaging interview, you’ll learn that you got the job.

As with any job, you need to get set up with hardware to access the company’s database. Your interviewer will explain (see below) that the company will mail you a check, and then you’ll have to purchase a laptop and software through their “trusted vendors.” The check will arrive, you’ll deposit it, and the funds will appear to be available, leading you to believe that buying your work supplies through these Zelle-requiring vendors is all above board.

Because this is a guide to Zelle scams, you probably already know that the check from that company isn’t legitimate. Because banks make funds available to trustworthy accounts before confirming the validity of checks, the user will appear to have the funds available, but after a few days, they will be unavailable to the applicant, leaving them with a smaller bank account and no job to speak of.

How to avoid this scam: For starters, always make sure you actually see the person interviewing you for a job. Beyond that, if you’re ever buying something that is being reimbursed, confirm that the funds are actually available before committing to a purchase, particularly via Zelle.

Read more on how to avoid remote job scams.

Zelle Property Rental Scams

Scams on Zelle are often most prominent when highly priced items are in the mix, and there’s nothing more expensive than property rental. Subsequently, you have to keep your eye out for this scam when looking for a new apartment or even just talking to your “landlord.”

This scam takes advantage of rushed nature of housing with rental listings for units that are either unavailable or simply don’t exist. Supposed landlords will request payment via Zelle for deposits and first month’s rent, banking on the fact that renters won’t need to see the space in advance.

Obviously, the rental property ends up being fraudulent in some way, and the scammer in question is already off to their next target while you still need to find a place to live.

How to avoid this scam: First off, look out for listings with no pictures, that’s an immediate red flag for scams. Additionally, always ask to see a property before making a deposit or paying first month’s rent. As hectic as the housing market is right now, a sight-unseen rental has a good chance of ending up as a scam if you don’t confirm it’s actually on the market in the first place.

How to Spot and Report Zelle Scams

The first step of spotting Zelle scams is understanding how they happened. Fortunately, now that you’ve made it to the end of this guide, you’ve taken your first step to stop these scams in their tracks. The most important thing to remember is that if a stranger wants you to send money through Zelle, for any reason, make sure you have some assurances that you’ll receive what you’re paying for.

If you want to report a Zelle scam, you can always head on over to the platform’s “report a scam” page to fill out a form that will help the company track down the scammer and, hopefully, bring them to justice.

Zelle Scams FAQs

One workplace report has found that a whopping 58% of hybrid workers have “coffee badged” in the past — a term used for employees who show up at a physical office in order to make an appearance, but leave soon afterwards to work the rest of the day remotely.

The term highlights the friction between flexible work schedules and those pushing for a return to the physical office.

Interestingly, the report, out from Owl Labs, found that 62% of coffee badgers were men, compared to just 38% who were women.

Wait, What Is “Coffee Badging” Anyway?

The term coffee badging refers to the practice of showing up at your physical workplace to interact with coworkers just long enough to establish that you showed up, before leaving to get your real work done from home.

The term specifically uses the idea showing up at the office, swiping your badge as proof you’ve been on site, and grabbing a coffee. Afterwards, workers will immediately ditch the office and return home.

It’s a practice that can appeal to hybrid workers who need or wish to show up to work for a few days out of the week, but find they need or vastly prefer working remotely. And, for workplaces that require a set two or three full days out of the week are spent in the office, coffee badging is more than skirting the rules.

No matter whether you support or condemn the idea of coffee badging, there’s no denying that it’s not an ideal situation: It’s essentially working from home but still devoting time and money towards the commute to and from your office building.

Who’s Coffee Badging?

It only makes sense that coffee badging appeals the most to hybrid workers, since they’re regularly commuting anyway, yet have the option to work from home. Of these, the report from Owl Labs, State of Hybrid Work 2023, finds that 62% are men, while 38% are women.

The report doesn’t get into the reasons why men might be more likely to coffee badge than women, but it’s tough to see what the answer could be aside from gendered expectations for what office workers are allowed to get away with. This would align with previous studies of office behavior, like the fact that men have more often felt comfortable attempting to negotiate higher salaries than women have.

Millennials are more likely than other generations to coffee badge, perhaps because older generations aren’t as frequently working from home or have different workplace expectations, while the younger Gen Z isn’t as well established in the workforce.

Percentages of office workers who coffee badge, by generation. Image source: Owl Labs.

Can We Move Past Coffee Badging?

Many CEOs are hoping for a full return to a five-day in-office work week. Meanwhile, we’re still seeing huge amounts of workers remain fully remote or adapting a hybrid work balance. One thing we can all agree on? Coffee badging doesn’t seem worth the effort.

Flexible work policies offer the best of both worlds, allowing workers that find they do their best work fully remote to remain happy while also accommodating those who need to work around others all five days of the week. But rewarding people for showing up and drinking a cup of coffee doesn’t need to be in the mix at all.

Ultimately, coffee badging is a product of work policies that don’t accommodate workers to the degree that they feel works best for them, and your views on how to end the practice might hinge on whether you feel the employer or the employee has or should have the upper hand in their relationship.

Ironically, coffee itself could offer a solution of sorts: According to one study, free hot coffee was the single perk most likely to lure workers back to the office — for good.

36 plaintiffs have joined two others in an existing lawsuit against Apple that accuses the tech giant of negligence for failing to prevent stalkers from abusing its AirTag tracking product.

The lawsuit, filed last December, alleges that Apple dismissed concerns that its $29 AirTag device could increase stalking, despite the device offering ” unparalleled accuracy, ease of use, and affordability.”

The 36 new plaintiffs come from 20 US states, representing a huge increase in scope for the lawsuit.

Why the AirTag Works So Well

The Apple AirTag launched in April 2021, offering a coin-sized tracking device that Apple hoped would help people easily track luggage, laptops, or other valuables via their iPhone or laptop. It works with a Bluetooth signal that is picked up by any Apple devices in the vicinity (called the “FindMe” network).

And, since Apple is a hugely popular tech company, any reasonably populated area in the country is never more than 100 yards from an Apple device, making the AirTag a very useful tracking device compared to any competitors.

The Allegations

The lawsuit says that “immediately” after the AirTag’s release and ever since, reports “have proliferated” of people being stalked through the use of the device, whether finding it in their purses, cars, or sewn into the lining of their clothes.

The sordid stories get worse than this, however, as AirTags have been connected to victims’ deaths as well:

“The consequences have been as severe as possible: multiple murders have occurred in which the murderer used an AirTag to track the victim. Similarly, individuals have been murdered—or murdered others—when using AirTags to track down stolen property and confront the thieves.”

It’s undeniably grim news, and while it may be hard to hear, the lawsuit notes that one in three women and one in six men will be stalked at some point in their lifetime.

Can Further Mitigation Features Help?

Apple says it has taken steps to make the AirTag “stalker-proof” — every device has a unique serial number and must be attached to an Apple ID during setup, adding some measure of identification that can be tracked back to a stalker.

Plus, the company will send an alert saying “AirTag Found Moving With You” to any unfamilar iPhones that the AirTag is nearby for an extended period of time.

The lawsuit dismisses these measures as inadequate, pointing out the many stalking incidents that have still taken place. But the real question is how the lawsuit will resolve in court.

Keep your smartphone handy: Cash transactions around the world are continuing a years-long decline, while instant payment networks are seeing more and more growth.

The latest numbers come from an annual McKinsey report, which found cash use across 2022 to have dropped by nearly 4% from the year before.

Future revenue growth, the firm predicts, will be driven by innovations in instant payments, alongside the rise in digital wallets, at least in certain areas of the world.

Where Is Cash Is Less Common and Why?

Perhaps unsurprisingly, given the market saturation that smartphones are enjoying, instant digital payments are behind the dip in cash transactions.

Around the world, total electronic payment transaction volumes have grown 17% in the last five years, indicating a big shift in the market towards the newer technology. After all, that 17% growth outpaces the mere 6% increase that the entire payments industry grow across that same time period.

So where does cash come in? Here’s how McKinsey explains it:

“These dynamics are also evident in cash displacement. Cash usage declined by nearly four percentage points globally in 2022. Worldwide, the decline in cash usage during the pandemic shows no evidence of being reversed, led downward by the cash-reliant economies of India and Brazil, where the share of cash transactions fell by seven to ten percentage points. Brazil’s cash declines are concurrent with the rapid uptake of the country’s PIX instant-payments network.”

The trend picked up during the pandemic, particularly in India and Brazil, and it doesn’t appear to be going away any time soon.

Nigeria is seeing similar trends: Cash transactions were 95% of all payments in that country in 2019, but just 80% in 2022, all while instant payments leapt from 2% up to 8%.

US and UK Aren’t Seeing Quite as Large a Shift

By 2027, McKinsey forecasts that instant payments in Brazil will account for nearly half of all transactions.

In contrast, the US and UK will see much slower shift, perhaps because these economies were less cash-heavy to begin with. McKinsey still thinks a shift will happen, but there’s less of a trend to indicate that it will.

“Instant payments remain in a nascent stage in the US, where 2022’s cash decline was more muted following 2021’s reduction associated with pandemic restrictions. July 2023’s launch of the Federal Reserve’s FedNow real-time payment rails may prove to be an inflection point, but the effect will be gradual.”

The Winners: Banks and Instant Payment Tools

All this news represents a big opportunity for the banks trying to construct the transaction infrastructure of tomorrow, but it might be a small opportunity for retail stores as well.

Pick a POS system that handles all the most popular digital transactions, and you’ll be well positioned for the steady growth in instant payments. Particularly if you live in Brazil or India.

Tech giant Qualcomm has this week revealed plans to lay off 1,258 roles — around 2.5% of its workforce — in the San Diego and Santa Clara offices. 

According to a filing with the California Employment Development Department, multiple roles, including engineers and those within HR and legal, will be at risk of the scale-back starting on December 13th.

The news follows Google’s recent round of tech layoffs and comes a month after the microchip manufacturer announced a deal to supply Apple with 5G chips until 2026.

Layoffs Include Engineers and VPs

In the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act notices submitted to the California Employment Development Department (CEDD), Qualcomm expressed it was to cut 194 jobs in the Bay Area and 1,064 in San Diego.

CEDD mandates that companies give employees 60 days’ notice before they are let go, and Qualcomm’s were filed this Wednesday.

The layoffs listed include over 150 engineering roles, as well as business analysts, product managers, and high-ranking executives. Eight vice president roles based in San Diego were also included.

A Drop in Microchip Demands is Behind the Cuts

This round of job cuts will be the second major one for the chip manufacturer this year, as back in June the company laid off around 500 workers. It’s said that shrinking revenues are behind the layoffs, and that despite Qualcomm making billions of dollars per year from the design and sale of smartphone chips, a drop in demand has hit profits.

In August, the company seemed to hint more job cuts were to come with filings that stated:

“Given the continued uncertainty in the macroeconomic and demand environment [the company was expected to take] restructuring actions to enable continued investments.”

These actions were presumed to mainly consist of workforce reductions.  The job cuts come at a particularly somber time in the Bay Area, as both tech giants and well-funded startups are making significant layoffs or closing down.

Layoffs Part of a Proactive Cost-Saving Plan

Despite being the supplier for the newly announced Meta Quest 3 and signing a deal with Apple to keep the company in chips until at least 2026, the layoffs seem to be part of a proactive plan to cut company costs.

Chief Financial Officer Akash Palkhiwala had shared with analysts that action needed to take place to mitigate shrinking revenue:

“Given our commitment to operating discipline, we will proactively implement additional cost actions. Until we see sustained signs of improving fundamentals, our operating framework does not assume an immediate recovery.”

A case involving several thousand IBM employees has come to a head this week, when the First District Court of Appeal in San Francisco ruled that the company must reimburse its remote staff for their working from home (WFH) expenses.

While hybrid and home working models have boomed since the pandemic, the number of companies offering remote work has dwindled in 2023, with many scaling back their WFH offering.

IBM initially stated it wasn’t going to compensate employees as it was just following the state’s stay-at-home orders. This ruling, however, means the tech company is liable for 15 months of penalties in the form of back payments to remote working staff.

Californian Court Rejects IBM’s Appeal

When California Gov. Gavin Newsom issued a stay-at-home order in March 2020, most companies (like IBM) pivoted to a remote working model.

As workforces became familiar with this new way of working, the change sparked a period of adjustment. This notably included the need to purchase equipment that allowed everyone to do their jobs just as before, so things like headsets for video calls and office chairs instead of just slumping on living room sofas with a laptop.

IBM were amongst many employers who refused to compensate workers for these expenses, arguing that they were just following the state’s orders and shouldn’t have to pay. Since then, the company has also rolled back its remote working policy, with IBM issuing a return to office mandate back in September.

However, the state appeals court said the issue wasn’t over why there was an order to work from home, but whether the employees’ additional expenses were the result of IBM’s orders. The court then ruled that California law protects workers from “bearing the costs of business expenses that are incurred by workers doing their jobs in service of an employer.”

In a 3-0 ruling Justice Mark Simons wrote that despite following Newsom’s order to shut the office, the work was “performed for the benefit of IBM”. This ruling became final on Wednesday, when the state’s high court rejected IBM’s appeal.

IBM Footing the Bill – but State Keeping 75% of It

Despite the workers joining forces to sue the company for violation of labor laws, this may feel more like a moral victory than anything else. The employee compensation won’t be dollar for dollar, but instead they’ll receive 25% of the financial penalties, with the rest going to the state.

Lawyers working for the IBM employees have estimated that around 3,000 of them could receive as much as $100 every two weeks – broken into $25 for an employee and $75 for the state. This is likely to last the length of time spent working from home, which is 15 months.

Other Employer Suits Still Pending

Simons went on to state that the “work-from-home expenses were inherent to IBM’s business” and “allocates the risk of unexpected expenses to the employer.”

While IBM are still yet to comment on the ruling, it’s known that other suits of a similar nature are pending. However, according to Jason Harrow, a lawyer for the IBM employees, it’s clear that in California “big companies can’t force employees to pay for work expenses and then fail to reimburse them”.

Never one to be left in the dust, Google has just begun testing an AI generation tool that can create images using a text prompt. Here’s how to use Google’s new AI image generation tool.

Set to rival Microsoft’s Bing Chat, the AI-powered Search Generative Experience (SGE) is currently only available to a small number of American users. Testers must have opted into the SGE program via Google Labs and be at least 18 years old, although that’s still no guarantee you’ll be amongst the lucky few able to experiment right now.

Still, the world of AI image generation has just opened up even more beyond tools like OpenAI’s DALL-E 3. Fortunately, it’s all pretty straight forward. Here’s everything you need to know about creating AI images direct in Google.

How To Get Started with Google AI Image Generation

If you’re one of the lucky few who’s got access to Google AI image generation, then getting started couldn’t be easier.  Provided you’re already signed up for Google’s SGE testing program, as mentioned above, all you need to do is:

1. Open up a Google search and enter an image generation prompt

2. Wait a few seconds

3. Take a look at the four image options shared by the SGE 

It’s that simple. If you want to edit the images further, select one of them then amend the description to add more detail.

Google has given the surreal example of a “photorealistic image of a capybara cooking breakfast in the forest” to illustrate how it will work. The example then goes on to show an edited description that changes specific details, like asking for the breakfast to become hash browns instead of bacon, or swapping the background trees to sky. Anyone familiar with entering ChatGPT prompts will be used to the idea, but even if you’re not, you should find the process easy enough.

Are There Any Restrictions on Google AI Image Generation?

Well, it wouldn’t be AI generation without a few restrictions.

The SGE features safeguarding measures that block banned content as outlined in the company’s generative AI policy. This includes anything that creates misinformation, promotes illegal activities, and generates sexually explicit content (if it’s not labelled educational or artistic).

You’ll also find that every AI-generated image will come out with a watermark and ‘metadata labelling’ tag. This is to show everyone that content was made by AI, hopefully deterring the spread of false information.

Along those same preventative lines, Google plans to give all its AI-generated content an ‘About This Image’ description. This will aim to supply context about what a user is looking at, so hopefully nobody can claim the AI-images or text are real.

What Else Should I Know About Google AI Image Generation?

Although not yet confirmed, it’s likely that Google’s AI-image generation will become available outside of Search. As in, you’ll see an option to create an AI picture within Google Images too. This could mean one of the image search results is replaced with a button leading to the generative functionality, which will then pop up in a sub-window.

As mentioned above, the feature is currently only available to American users in English. Nothing about an international release has yet been confirmed. 

Keen to try and give it a go? You’ll have to sign up to the Search Labs waitlist first. Head over to Google Labs to get going.

UK regulators have this week approved Microsoft’s $68.7 billion deal to acquire Activision Blizzard. Following Microsoft’s recent revamp of the deal, which will transfer cloud gaming rights for Activision Blizzard games over to Ubisoft, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) confirmed that it is good to go.

This is sure to be positive news for the tech giant who this week have been tussling with the IRS over a giant tax bill.

CMA Welcomes “More Choice” for Gamers

The CMA was initially concerned that the proposed deal would negatively impact cloud gaming competition, so blocked it back in April. 

Microsoft appealed this decision but the whole process was paused when it began to restructure the deal instead. After addressing the CMA’s concerns and making the transfer of rights over to Ubisoft, the UK regulator has now confirmed it’s happy for the merger to go ahead.

“The CMA has decided to give Microsoft Corporation (Microsoft) consent to acquire Activision Blizzard, Inc. (Activision) (the Parties) excluding Activision’s cloud streaming rights outside of the European Economic Area (EEA) (the Merger) subject to the condition that the sale of Activision’s cloud streaming rights completes prior to completion of the Merger,” – the Competition and Market Authority’s statement

CEO of the CMA, Sarah Cardell, called the restructured deal a “gamechanger that will promote competition” in the cloud gaming market.

“With the sale of Activision’s cloud streaming rights to Ubisoft, we’ve made sure Microsoft can’t have a stranglehold over this important and rapidly developing market. As cloud gaming grows, this intervention will ensure people get more competitive prices, better services and more choice.” – Sarah Cardell, CEO of the CMA. 

In an email to all Activision Blizzard employees, CEO Bobby Kotick shared the news and stated “We’re excited for our next chapter together with Microsoft and the endless possibilities it creates for you and for our players.”

Not Smooth Sailing for Microsoft

The somewhat controversial deal was originally announced back in January 2022, catching the eye – and scrutiny – of regulators across the world. In fact, EU regulators have only just approved it following 20 months of battles resulting in a restructure from Microsoft.

Closer to home, the Federal Trade Commission is waiting on its own appeal – due this December – of its failure for a preliminary injunction to block the Activision Blizzard acquisition. Without the injunction in place, Microsoft looks set to close on the deal ahead of its December deadline. 

Microsoft Vice Chair and President, Brad Smith welcomed the CMA’s decision through a message on X (formerly Twitter) “We’re grateful for the CMA’s thorough review and decision today. We have now crossed the final regulatory hurdle to close this acquisition, which we believe will benefit players and the gaming industry worldwide.”

Gaming Industry’s Biggest-Ever Takeover

Not only does the deal confirm Microsoft’s status as a video game giant, it will no doubt be a blow to rival Sony who actively opposed the acquisition with concerns that popular games could become Xbox exclusives.

Meanwhile, Microsoft is hopeful the takeover will create a surge in demand for Xbox, allowing it to add more titles to the Xbox Game Pass streaming service – a subscription service that allows gamers to access titles from the cloud.

By joining forces with Activision, Microsoft will also now own a studio solely for the creation of mobile games. This is likely highlighting its intent to expand upon the success of titles such as Candy Crush.

The finalization of the acquisition is likely to go through by the end of today, Friday 13 October.

If you applied for a slice of Instagram’s $68.5 million settlement, you’ll have to wait a little longer to receive your payout, as the date of the final approval hearing has been postponed.

The final hearing of the class-action biometric privacy settlement has been pushed back from October 11th to November 21st, with no official explanation given. However, if you’re one of the thousands of Illinois residents who applied to Instagram’s Settlement, here’s everything you need to know.

Instagram Class-Action Settlement Has Been Delayed by a Month

While the deadline for the Instagram settlement lawsuit passed at the end of September, claimants still have plenty of time to kill before they find out the case’s results.

According to a post on the Instagram Privacy Settlement website, the case’s final approval hearing has been pushed back by just over a month from October 11th to November 21st.

The approval hearing will determine whether the settlement is fair, whether it should be approved, and its results. This means that its postponement will delay the amount of time it’ll take for claimants to receive payment information and ultimately, their cash payout.

Why Is Instagram Paying Users Back?

Instagram’s class action lawsuit — otherwise known as Parris v. Meta Platforms Inc — claims that the social media company Meta violated the Biometric Privacy Act (BIPA) in the state of Illinois, after collecting and logging the biometric data of its users.

While Meta has denied any wrongdoing, it agreed to pay a court settlement to Instagram users who were active on the platform between August 10, 2015, and August 16, 2023.

It’s uncertain how much users will receive from this claim, but experts have calculated individual payouts to be around $7. However, the amount you can expect to receive will also be influenced by legal fees, and how long you’ve been using the social media app.

When Will Instagram Users Receive Their Payout?

Originally, claimants were told to expect their payment by January 9th, 2024 — 90 days after the date of the original final hearing.

However, now that this date has been pushed back, it’s more likely Instagram users will be receiving payouts from February 19th onwards. It’s also possible that the final hearing will be postponed again, as the case’s website mentions it’s always possible for court proceedings to move to a different date or time without additional notice.

The US Space Force has temporarily banned its personnel from using certain generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools on government computers, due to concerns over the data security of ChatGPT and similar platforms.

As ChatGPT creator OpenAI comes under fire for its shady data collection practices, the Space Force is just the latest major organization to question its safety – with Apple, Samsung, and Verizon also banning its use among employees.

The Space Force was also quick to recognize AI’s strengths, however, and announced that “strategic pause” will come to an end as soon as they figure out how it can be used in a “responsible and strategic manner”.

AI Prohibition Goes Intergalactic

As the data collection practices of generative AI applications come under increasing scrutiny from the government and private organizations, the US Space Force has decided to stamp out their use altogether until they figure out how to use them safely.

This is according to a recently released memo that was sent to Space Force employees – known within the organization as ‘guardians’ – on September 29.

“A strategic pause on the use of Generative AI and Large Language Models within the U.S. Space Force has been implemented as we determine the best path forward to integrate these capabilities into Guardians’ roles and the USSF mission”, – Air Force spokesperson Tanya Downsworth

According to Lisa Costa, Space Force’s chief technology and innovation officer, the pause will only be temporary, and the military branch has created a generative AI task force with other Pentagon offices to decide how the technology can be used in a “responsible and strategic manner”.

Costa was also quick to point out AI benefits, explaining that despite these current security concerns, artificial intelligence “will undoubtedly revolutionize our workforce and enhance Guardian’s ability to operate at speed.”

The Space Force Isn’t the Only Organization Barring AI

While companies across the US have been quick to leverage AI to their advantage, a number of big names have banned its use outright until they figure out how to work with the technology securely.

Earlier this year, Apple banned OpenAI’s ChatGPT for all its workers, over concerns of the chatbot contributing to a potential data leak. Following this, South Korean tech manufacturer Samsung made a similar crackdown after an employee leaked confidential information on ChatGPT which resulted in a leak of a classified code.

But it’s not just organizations placing restrictions on generative AI. Several countries have decided to ban the AI tool ChatGPT flat out, including Russia, China, Iran, Cuba, and Italy.

From hallucinations and encoded biases to dubious data collection policies, it’s no surprise that powerful companies, military branches, and even governments are thinking twice before trusting the technology completely.

However, if the US Space Force’s account is anything to go by, once these concerns get ironed out generative AI will still take center stage in these organization’s strategies going forward.

Microsoft currently owes the US Treasury $28.9 billion in back taxes, interest, and late payment fees, according to a recent notice from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

In what is on track to become the biggest corporate tax dispute on record, the case revolves around Microsoft’s use of ‘transfer pricing’ between 2004 and 2013 – a tax avoidance practice that other big tech companies like Amazon have also been found guilty of.

Microsoft has been fast to dispute these accusations, launching a formal appeal and claiming it would challenge the IRS in court if necessary. Here’s what we know so far.

IRS Demands Microsoft Coughs Up $28.9 in Back Taxes

Microsoft recently revealed the details of an ongoing tax audit by the IRS, which claims the software company owes the statutory body a total of $28.9 billion in unpaid taxes and fees.

According to Microsoft’s 8-K filing, these debts have been accrued over the period of 2004 to 2013 due to how the company chose to allocate its profits among countries and jurisdictions.

The practice, which is known formally as transfer pricing or ‘cost-sharing’, sees large corporations shift profits to international tax havens to avoid paying the US’s steeper corporate tax rates.

Throughout the years outlined in the filing, Microsoft had been moving billions of dollars in profits to jurisdictions with favorable tax rates, like Puerto Rico, Dublin, and Singapore. However, the company has since restructured its corporate structure to conform to increasingly strict US tax laws implimented during the Trump administration.

Microsoft is Appealing The IRS’s Demands

While Microsoft hasn’t hidden away from its history of cost-sharing – claiming that “many large multinationals” take part in the practice – the software firm flat-out disagrees with the IRS’s latest tax demand.

According to a recent Microsoft blog, the company has “always followed IRS rules” and while issues raised by the IRS are “relevant to the past” they do not reflect their current practices. It also said that $10 billion in taxes that the company has already paid have not been accounted for in the IRS’s proposed adjustments.

“We disagree with the proposed adjustments and will vigorously contest the NOPAs through the IRS’s administrative appeals office and, if necessary, judicial proceedings.” – Microsoft’s recent 8-K filing

For these reasons, Microsoft disagrees with the proposed adjustments and is planning to “work through these issues” through a formal appeal with the IRS. The company is even willing to escalate the matter in court if necessary, in a process that will likely take several years to resolve.

Big Tech’s Big Transfer Pricing Problem

Microsoft’s tussle with the IRS marks the biggest corporate tax avoidance dispute in US history. But the software retailer isn’t the only major company accused of shady transfer pricing practices.

In 2018, the global phone network Vodafone revealed that almost 40% of its profits from 2016 to 2017 were allocated to tax havens like Luxembourg, where the company was only required to pay a tax rate of 0.3%. Similarly, in 2019 Amazon was singled out by the IRS for setting the value of its IP artificially low after it was transferred to Luxembourg in 2005.

And the consequences of these frameworks extend beyond US shores. According to ActionAid International, tech companies’ exploitation of global tax loopholes cost developing nations around $2.8 billion in unpaid taxes in 2020 – with Facebook, Google, and Microsoft all found to contribute to the problem.

But while these tax policies are morally questionable, whether they’re illegal is another matter. US tax loopholes mean that massive companies can often avoid paying federal and global corporate tax without much repercussions, a benefit that Microsoft could be depending on.

Casino giant Caesars has admitted that more than 41,000 of its patrons had their personal information stolen in a major September data breach that pre-dated that month’s blockbuster MGM cyber attack.

While the total number of victims is still be counted, Caesars has now said that 41,397 folks from the state of Maine had their details pilfered by the cybercrime gang responsible for the ransomware attack. A group called Scattered Spider has been judged responsible for the breach.

Shedding further light on the incident, the chain says that its loyalty scheme specifically was compromised and that the pilfered personal data includes the names, driver’s license and ID card details of customers from The Pine Tree State. However, it insists that financial and payment details were not accessed in the attack, even though it is now offering those affected two-year’s worth of cybersecurity and identity fraud insurance on the house

Caesars Still Counting Total Number of Breach Victims

Caesars made the admission in a recent filing with the Maine Attorney General’s office, where it says that the final number of breach victims is still to be determined.

However, in good news for anyone who visited Caesars from Maine last month, Caesars adds in an attached PDF sample letter sent out to affected residents that it had “taken steps to ensure that the stolen data is deleted by the unauthorized actor, although we cannot guarantee this result.”

This could be translated as Caesars quietly copping to paying out the ransom demand of the cybercrime gang behind the attack. According to CNBC, the casino chain negotiated the figure down to $15 million from an initial price of $30 million.

Caesars Allegedly Paid Demand Days Before MGM Breach

What’s interesting here is the timeframe Caesars allegedly paid out the ransom demand. It was apparently only a matter of days after the chain apparently paid up that the same ransomware gang, Scattered Spider (also known as UNC3944 or Roasted 0ktapus), attacked MGM in another major breach of Vegas heavyweights.

This highlight something that virtually all ransomware statistics confirm: companies should never pay ransom demands to cybercriminals, as it only encourages them to execute further attacks on similar targets.

Explaining exactly what happened in the breach, Caesars notes that it was the “victim of a social engineering attack on an outsourced IT support vendor that resulted in unauthorized access (on August 18, 2023) to Caesars’ network and the exfiltration of data (beginning on or about August 23, 2023).”

Scattered Spider Ransomware Hits “Hundreds” of Companies

The casino chain adds in its letter to affected Mainers that it is providing them with two years of identity theft protection through a third-party provider, IDX. The policy includes “credit and dark web monitoring to detect any misuse of your information” as well as coverage of up to $1 million should anyone fall victim to identity theft.

While Caesars and MGM are two high-profile victims claimed recently by Scattered Spider, the actual number of organizations affected by its latest ransomware campaign could number in the hundreds.

If you know what Crunchyroll is, then you’re clearly an avid anime fan, as the streaming service is considered to be the Netflix of all things relating to Japanese animation.

However, last year the Sony-owned platform was put under the microscope, after it was accused of violating user’s privacy rights, by sharing data with third parties.

As a result of these allegations, the company has now agreed to pay Crunchyroll customers around $30 each. Here’s how to get your share.

Why is Crunchyroll Paying its Customers?

In September 2022, legal action was taken against Sony and Crunchyroll, alleging that it had shared personal customer data with third parties including Facebook, Google, Adobe and others. . The case is Beltran, et al. v. Sony Pictures Entertainment, Inc. d/b/a Crunchyroll; Case No.: 1:22-cv-04858.

Sony/Crunchyroll has denied the allegations throughout the process, stating that it has not violated any law, and while the court has not sided with either party, the streaming service has agreed to a settlement payment.

As a result, around $16 million has been earmarked for payments, with each recipient expected to receive around $30 each, provided they meet the criteria.

How to Claim Your Crunchyroll Settlement Compensation

The claims process is now open, and you can make your settlement claim here.

However, before you can make a claim, you must make sure that you fit both of the below conditions:

• You were a registered user of an online website, mobile app, or any video-on-demand service or app owned, controlled, and/or operated by Crunchyroll, and,
• You viewed videos on an online website, mobile app, or any video-on-demand service or app owned, controlled, and/or operated by Crunchyroll during the Class Period.

The important bit is the date that the settlement covers. You must have been a Crunchyroll customer between September 8, 2022, and September 20, 2023.

When Is the Deadline to Apply for the Crunchyroll Settlement?

Customers have until December 12th, 2023 to file their claim.

The process involved filling out the form on the settlement website, but your reward for that should be around $30. However, it’s worth noting that this is an estimate, and that final payments can fluctuate slightly.

As for when you’ll get your cash, the final approval date is December 19th, 2023, and successful claimants are expected to receive their money within a 90-day period after this.

Google account holders will now be prompted to create and use passkeys when they sign into their accounts, which the tech giant says is a “simpler and more secure way to sign into your accounts online” compared to regular password security.

Google initially launched support for passkeys in May 2023, and after positive feedback, it has been upgraded to the default sign-in method.

Passwords aren’t going to disappear tomorrow, nor is multi-factor authentication. However, moves like this take us further toward a passwordless future, one step at a time.

What Is a Passkey?

A Passkey allows users to harness biometric sensors like face scans and fingerprints – or a preset PIN – to log in, rather than relying on a long, complicated password. It is stored on your computer or phone.

Passkeys are made secure via “public key cryptography”. Proof that a given credential is yours is only provided when you unlock your phone with your biometric data or PIN – the passkey itself is never actually revealed to the server, rather, it just confirms that you have it.

How To Set Up and Use Google Passkeys

As previously mentioned, if you’re a Google account holder, you’ll now be prompted to use a passkey when you sign into your Gmail or Google account.

All you’ll have to do is follow the instructions and choose what kind of passkey you’d like, something that will be constrained to an extent by your device’s capabilities. If you have an iPhone, for instance, you could make your passkey your fingerprint – although you may not be able to do this on a laptop (but you could use a PIN). Either way, it only takes a couple of minutes.

You can also head over to your Google account settings and toggle on a “skip password when possible” option. If you choose to set up a passkey upon sign-in, however, this will be changed for you automatically.

Don’t worry – it’s possible to opt-out at a later time if you try out the feature and decide you’d like to revert back to using your passwords to log in.

Other Tech Giants Switch to Passkeys

Google might be the first big name to try and push passkeys as the default way to sign into accounts, but they’re not the only big tech company sold on the idea of a passwordless future.

In May 2022, Apple and Microsoft joined Google in committing to expanding support for a new standard for sing-in created by the FIDO (Fast IDentity Online) alliance. Uber and eBay now also provide passkey-based sign-in options.

“While password managers and legacy forms of two-factor authentication offer incremental improvements,” FIDO says, “industry-wide collaboration to create sign-in technology that is more convenient and more secure” is leading us into a new era of account security.

Is this the End for Passwords?

“While [passkeys are] a big step forward, we know that new technologies take time to catch on,” Google admits. “So passwords may be around for a little while.”

However, options like passkeys are certainly going to give them a run for their money sooner rather than later.

“Passkeys will replace passwords,” reads a recent post by Eben Carle on Google’s “The Keyword”. “It’s even broader than that. I’d say our vision for passkeys is to not only get rid of passwords but also eliminate all the Band-Aids the industry has designed to make up for the fact that passwords are so vulnerable.”

In 2024, only sufficiently long, complex, and unique passwords are considered secure – and even then, they can still be extracted during a data breach.

It will take cyber criminals just seconds to crack a password that doesn’t satisfy these crucial conditions, which is why it’s also important to have multi-factor authentication activated wherever you can.

The best password managers that deploy zero-trust infrastructures are, of course, still more secure than simply re-using a password across multiple accounts. However, recent high-profile cyberattacks that have hit LastPass have called the tech’s security credentials into question.

For Google, password managers are just another “Band-Aid” staving off the inevitable. Passwords becoming a thing of the past isn’t a matter of if – it’s a matter of when.

Consumers, rejoice: Mozilla Firefox is testing a feature that will detect and identify fake reviews left on products on ecommerce sites like Amazon, and automatically re-adjust scores after their exclusion.

The feature has been in the works for some time, too – Mozilla acquired the website and browser extension Fakespot, which utilizes AI to spot fraudulent and fake reviews, back in May of this year.

Now, online shoppers using Firefox will be able to purchase goods with more confidence, safe in the knowledge that they’ve been informed by product reviews from real people.

Firefox Focuses on Flushing Out Fakes

In a boon for consumers, product review lists on websites visited using the Firefox browser will soon be given an A-F grading that will signal precisely how legitimate they are.

Product pages graded A or B are considered to have reliable reviews, while a C grade denotes mixed reviews. Anything below C signals that the reviews are likely to be unreliable. The new feature will also sift out what it considers to be unreliable reviews and automatically re-adjust the star ratings of products, as seen in screenshots published by MsPowerUser.

FakeSpot – launched in 2016 and officially acquired by Mozilla several months ago – can already spot fake reviews listed on Yelp, eBay, Amazon, and Trip Advisor.

The majority of users won’t have to wait long for the new feature to be released – reports suggest it will be packaged into Firefox version 120, which is scheduled for release in November 2023.

Others won’t have to wait at all – the feature has already been rolled out to a limited audience in the United States.

How FakeSpot Spots Fakes, and Why It’s Important

Although AI tools like ChatGPT can be harnessed to generate fake product reviews with ease, FakeSpot applies similar machine learning principles to identify patterns between different reviews left by “users”.

This is crucial for online shoppers, as good product reviews will send signals to Google that it’s worth surfacing a given product for related keywords users type in. In theory, the best-reviewed product is the most “useful” result users could be looking for.

Along with actually attempting to dupe users into purchases once they reach a given product page, this fact about Google’s recommendation algorithm is why fake reviews are deployed so often.

Sometimes, it can be pretty easy to spot whether a review is fake – especially if it’s the only one left on an account with no prior activity. But shady sellers’ tactics are getting more and more sophisticated and AI is so widely used now that a little helping hand won’t go amiss.

How to Use FireFox’s Fake Review Detector

Once it’s been widely rolled out, you’ll be able to use the fake review detector by simply heading over to your favorite ecommerce platform where you’d usually make online purchases.

In Firefox 120, you’ll have a small price tag icon on the right-hand side of the address bar located at the top of your screen. If you select “yes” after Firefox asks you if you’d like to try it, the review checker will be activated.

All in all, it looks incredibly easy to use, yet it might just save your skin the next time you’re looking for something online.

Conditions like anxiety, depression, and worker burnout have been trending upward for years in the US. But while the price of traditional therapy deters many from taking action, mental health apps offer affordable and accessible ways for people to track and manage their emotional well-being.

Whether you want to meditate more, break bad habits, or talk it out with a professional – there’s an app out there that can help. The field is pretty saturated though, so we’ve compiled a list of the best solutions on the app stores based on their price point, customer reviews, and reliance on evidence-based therapies.

If you’re serious about making self-care a priority in 2023 read on to discover our top picks, or jump to a specific app using our links below:

9 Mental Health apps that are worth considering:

1. Headspace: Best for Mindfulness  
2. BetterHelp: Best for Digital Therapy
3. Calm: Best for Sleep
4. Yu Life: Best for Corporate Wellness 
5. Sanvello: Best for CBT Therapy
6. MoodKit: Best Budget Mood-Booster
7. Mindshift CBT: Best for Tackling Teen Anxiety
8. I Am Sober: Best for Quitting Alcohol
9. Happify: Best for Lowering Stress 

1. Headspace: Best for Mindfulness 

• Price: from $12.99 per month
• App Store rating: 4.8/5
• Google Play rating: 4.5/5

Headspace is an app that helps users manage their thoughts and feelings through guided meditations and mindfulness practices.

Its Headspace Library is home to 500+ podcasts, short videos, and exercise tutorial videos, and its content is broken down into useful categories too – providing targeted support for those looking to improve their general well-being, sleep, focus, energy, and more.

Headspace caters excellently to beginners and advanced users, and its daily courses are a useful way to make mindfulness a part of your routine. Headspace even offers a ‘Headspace for Work’ platform, which offers employees and their families access to coaching within 2 minutes and therapy and psychiatry services within 2 days.

The platform doesn’t offer a free version, however, making it less suitable for users on a tight budget. But there is a free seven-day trial.

Headspace app screenshots. Source: headspace.com

Headspace features

• Over 40 themed meditation topics
• Dozens of one-off mindfulness exercises
• Headspace for Work package for employees
• Headspace For Kids package for younger users
• The Wake Up for starting your day
• Focus Mode to help you stay focused throughout the day
• Mindfulness videos
• Hundreds of mindfulness articles

Headspace pricing

The app costs $12.99 per month when paid monthly, with a seven day free trial, or $69.99 per year for an annual subscription, with a 14-day free trial.

2. BetterHelp: Best for Digital Therapy

• Price: from $240 per month
• App Store rating: 4.8/5
• Google Play rating: 4.6/5

You probably already recognize the service from your favorite YouTuber’s ad reads, but for those of you who aren’t familiar, BetterHelp is an online therapy platform that connects users to over 30,000 licensed therapists throughout the US.

Users that opt for its monthly subscription are able to send an unlimited number of messages to their counselor, and schedule a 30-minute weekly chat through whichever channel they’re most comfortable with: be it live message, phone, or video call. The app lets you choose your own therapist too, depending on your location, personal preferences, and which type of therapy you’d like to pursue.

Better Help app screenshots. Source: betterhelp.com

Costs for BetterHelp range anywhere between $60 to $90 a week, making its price point a lot steeper than other mental health apps in this list. However, with in-person therapy which can cost anywhere between $100 to $200 a session, the service is still heaps more affordable than traditional options.

BetterHelp features

• Instant messaging with a professional therapist
• Live phone sessions
• Live video sessions
• 20 live interactive weekly group seminars
• Online journaling tools

BetterHelp pricing

BetterHelp’s standard package costs anywhere from $240 to $360 a month, depending on the user’s needs. However, if you’re eligible for financial aid you can receive the service at a discounted price.

3. Calm: Best for Sleep

• Price: from $14.99 per month
• App Store rating: 4.8/5
• Google Play rating: 4.5/5

Calm is a meditation and mindfulness app designed to help users stress less and sleep more. Through its library of over a hundred calming meditations, soundscapes, stories, breathing exercises, and more, Calm offers versatile ways to relax the mind.

Just like Headspace, mindfulness lies at the heart of its practices. But contrary to our frontrunner, Calm is generally more geared toward relaxation and sleep than general meditation.

Calm app screenshots. Source: calm.com

Calm relies on evidence-based solutions, and all of its practices are informed by research from its very own Calm Science team. And aside from its evidence-based practices, the app also offers a raft of unique features, like sleep stories narrated by big names like Matthew McConaughey and LeBron James.

If you’re after a corporate wellness solution for your business, the app also has a business offering, Calm Business, which has been designed to improve the general well-being, workplace engagement, and productivity of employees.

Calm features

• Mindfulness lessons
• Guided meditations
• Sleep stories
• Breathing exercises
• Movement practices
• Ambient soundscapes
• Calm for Business package for employees

Calm pricing

Calm’s Premium plan costs $69.99 per year or $14.99 per month. Both options include access to a 7-day free trial.

4. YuLife: Best for Corporate Wellness

• Price: from $14.99 per month
• App Store rating: 4.8/5

If you’re looking for a corporate wellness app that’s been designed with employees in mind – YuLife is for you. YuLife is primarily a group insurance application, but also offers a range of health and well-being benefits with the ultimate aim of helping workers ‘live their best lives’.

For instance, YuLife’s employee-focused app encourages healthy habits by rewarding workers for taking walks and practicing meditation. Aside from these wellness rewards the app also provides health benefits to workers through its ‘YuDoctor’ and a confidential EAP service called ‘YuMatter’.

The YuLife app also clearly displays employee insurance benefits, including types of coverage and policy IDs for full transparency.

YuLife features

• 24/7 GP access to employees
• EAP service for employees
• Wellbeing rewards
• Life insurance options
• Group income protection
• Group critical illness support

YuLife pricing

Businesses need to reach out to YuLife for pricing information.

5. Sanvello: Best for CBT Therapy

• Price: from $14.99 per month
• App Store rating: 4.9/5
• Google Play rating: 4.5/5

Sanvello is a versatile mental health app designed to aid a range of conditions including anxiety, depression, and stress. Guided by the principles of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), the app self-care package offers a wide variety of resources including guided meditations, journals, goal trackers, and community boards.

Sanvello app screenshots. Source: sanvello.com

Aside from its self-care toolkit, Sanvello also connects its Premium users to mental health coaches experienced in the fields of healthcare, wellness, or mental health. The app also offers appointments with licensed therapists, but these services are charged on a per-meeting basis.

Sanvello features

• Guided meditations
• Journaling prompts
• Community boards and peer support
• Goal trackers
• Coaching and therapy

Sanvello pricing

Sanvello’s self-care and peer support package costs $8.99 per month or $53.99 per year. If you opt for coaching services on top, this will cost you $50 per month.

Therapy sessions with licensed professionals are priced at $140 for initial appointments and $85 for follow-up appointments.

6. MoodKit: Best Budget Mood-Booster

• Price: $4.99
• App Store rating: 4/5

MoodKit is an app that harnesses CBT principles to improve the mood and overall well-being of its users. The app was developed by two clinical psychologists and offers more than 200 activities tailored to the specific goals of its users.

MoodKit app screenshots. Source: apps.apple.com

The app is broken down into four main sections: Activities, Thoughts, Mood, and Journal. Each section has a number of different tasks users can complete to further their goals, on a timeline that suits them.

Applications of MoodKit are diverse: the app can be used to work on a wide range of practices including physical fitness, time management, mindfulness, social skills, and nutrition. The app is user-friendly and intuitive to use, and at $4.99 is a great wallet-friendly alternative to other general mental health apps like Calm and Sanvello.

Unfortunately, MoodKit is only available as an iOS app making it inaccessible to Android users.

MoodKit features

• Mood tracker
• Thought checker
• Journaling
• Sharable notes
• Guided meditations
• Productivity tools

MoodKit pricing

MoodKit costs $4.99 for lifelong support and doesn’t charge extra for in-app purchases. This makes it much more reasonably priced than other mental health apps on our list.

7. MindShift CBT: Best for Tackling Teen Anxiety

• Price: Free
• Google Play Rating: 3.8/5 

MindShift is a free mental health app targeted at tackling specific types of anxiety. Developed by The Anxiety Disorders Association of British Columbia, MindShift is primarily targeted towards adolescents and uses CBT in a similar way to Sanvello and Moodkit.

The app lets you track your mood with Daily Check-Ins, encourages healthy thought behaviors with its Journal feature, and lets you access positive affirmations with its Coping Cards. MindShift offers nine different meditation recordings too, helping users combat fears around specific situations like public speaking and text anxiety.

Screenshots of Mindshift app. Source: Mindshift.com

Mental health awareness is also at the heart of MindShift’s strategy. The app offers a wealth of educational articles about common anxiety triggers and coping mechanisms. MindShift doesn’t include any video or audio content like Headspace, but given it’s free price tag this shouldn’t come as a major surprise.

MindShift CBT features

• Guided meditations
• Educational articles and resources
• Daily affirmations
• Thought journal
• Daily check-ins
• Anxiety questionnaire to pinpoint problem areas

MindShift CBT pricing

MindShift is completely free to use.

8. I Am Sober: Best for Quitting Alcohol

• Price from: Free
• App Store rating: 4.9/5
• Google Play Rating: 4.8/5 

I Am Sober is an addiction support app designed to help users build new habits. The app caters to a wide range of addictions – including sex, drugs, and alcohol – and is able to be customized to fit each users personal sobriety journey.

I Am Sober lets users track their sobriety down to the minute, stay inspired with personalized motivation packs, and track progress with customizable metrics like calories or money saved. The app also lets users connect to other members through its “Community” tab – providing them with additional avenues of support.

I Am Sober app screenshots. Source: iamsober.com

I Am Sober even boasts an integration with the digital therapy platform Better Help, although this service does come at a premium.

I Am Sober features

• Granular sobriety tracker
• Community message boards
• Progress tracker
• Motivational packs
• Integration with Better Help

I Am Sober pricing

I Am Sober offers a generous ad-free plan that doesn’t cost a dime. However, if you want to unlock additional workbook activities, motivational packages, and challenges you’ll have to pay extra for I Am Sober’s Plus Subscription, at $9.99 per month or $119.88 per annum.

9. Happify: Best for Lowering Stress

• Price from: Free
• App Store rating: 4.5/5
• Google Play Rating: 3.5/5 

Happify is a user-friendly mental health app that lets users improve their general wellbeing through the applications of CBT and positive psychology.

After asking you to complete a self assessment, Happify works out which areas of life you most require support. The app then administers exercises based on these goals, relating to a range of different categories including health, relationships, work and money, mindfulness and personal growth.

Screenshots of Happify app. Source happify.com

The app offers three to four activities each day, which take around ten minutes each to complete. These activities are fun and engaging, but lack a clear overarching structure, making it hard for users to gauge their process.

All in all, Happify is an user-friendly and visually stimulating app for people new to CBT. However, if you’re looking for a versatile mental health solution with clear practical applications, we’d recommend choosing an app like Sanvello instead.

Happify features

• Guided meditations
• Focused self-development activities
• Thought journals
• Educational tracks
• Mental health webinars

Happify pricing

Happify offers a quality free version with access to 18 of the 100+ learning “Tracks”, limited guided meditations, and a variety of in-app games and activities.

Happify also offers a Plus plan with unlimited access to learning “Tracks”, guided meditations and findings from your “Happiness Index”, costing $14.99 per month or $139.99 per annum. Happiness Plus can also be purchased for life for a one time fee of $449.95.