On Computers

The new “Claude Science” from Anthropic uses artificial intelligence to tackle rare genetic disorders and tropical maladies, the kind that are usually ignored because there aren’t enough patients to justify the costs involved in finding a cure. It sounds almost miraculous but it can’t do human testing. So the company is hoping it will be a helpful tool for anyone from giant pharmaceutical companies down to individual researchers.The beta version is available to paid Claude users (currently macOS/Linux) starting at $20 a month. However, the field is ripe with competitors. Insilico Medicine, Recursion, Exscientia and Isomorphic Labs are all involved in AI drug discovery. In July 2026, Insilico launched a Phase III trial for “Rentosertib,” an oral medication for idiopathic […]

Read more

Filed under: AI, gadgets, health, numbers, trends, Windows | Comments Off on SAVING LIVES WITH AI

I have an ugly red blotch on my arm from a recent skin cancer surgery which will soon be on display at a formal wedding. What’s the best concealer? I went to the website TiraMuisu.ai to ask my new beauty bud. This artificially intelligent bot suggested Dermablend “Quick Fix” to make it blend in and setting powder to keep it from smearing when I’m hugging. But according to Google Gemini, by not recommending a third product, TiraMuisu goofed up. “If you put a flesh-toned makeup straight over the concentrated purple-red spot we see in your image,” it said, “the darkness will likely bleed through or turn the makeup gray.” Uh oh. A gray blotch sounds almost as bad as a […]

Read more

Filed under: AI, apps, health, science, video, Windows | Comments Off on AI BEAUTY BUD

When I tried the new Alexa Plus back in March, she seemed dumber than the old Alexa. But after a friend raved about her, I decided to give her another chance. Now I agree. Plus is a plus.  Alexa Plus works with the Echo Dot, Echo Show, Amazon Fire tablet and Fire TV stick or cube, version 2019 or newer. To upgrade, just ask your old Alexa for Alexa Plus. Then try asking any open-ended question, the kind Old Alexa can’t handle. I requested “music as cheery as the Music Man musical.” She gave me “Broadway Classics with a Twist.” Odd, but OK. I also asked Plus if it was true that in the American Revolutionary War, Britain moved a […]

Read more

Filed under: AI, Internuts, Mac, text messaging, Windows | Comments Off on ALEXA GETS A BOOST

After I put soapy water in the blender, which I placed on the stove to get it out of the way, I turned it on to clean it. Foam poured out all over, which I quickly mopped up. Moments later, while sitting at my desk, I smelled something funny. Then I saw smoke. When pressing down to mop up, I’d accidentally turned on the burners. The base of my blender melted while a dish towel smoldered and threw out sparks. The whole place stunk. What ever happened to knobs on stoves? The air was so bad I had to open the doors to my balcony and front door. Thankfully, I’d just bought the AirDoctor 4000 to clean my condo. In […]

Read more

Filed under: AI, environment, Internuts, podcasts, radio, robots, shopping, Windows | Comments Off on AIR DOCTOR

Years ago, my mom put a sign on our door that said: “Back in 30 minutes, come on in.” The thieves loved it. Of course, Mom could have avoided the robbery, including the theft of my class ring, by giving her handyman a code to get in. But smart locks weren’t a thing back then. So I got excited when Nuki sent me their Smart Lock. It didn’t work with my condo’s deadbolt, but my techiest friend was happy to try it out. His door didn’t even have a deadbolt, but he bought one for $16. After installing it, inserting the Nuki was “a piece of cake,” he said. “You could do it.” A smart lock is great for a […]

Read more

Filed under: AI, apps, books, business, gadgets, security, Windows | Comments Off on THE PERFECT LOCK

When I tested a smart watch for kids, it made me feel dumb.  The X6Play watch from Xplora Technologies, $170, couldn’t connect to my 5G WiFi because it’s 4G. So I couldn’t do the required update until I set up a WiFi hotspot on my phone. Naturally, I wasted a lot of time before contacting tech support. The soul of a kid watch is its ability to stop strangers and bullies from harassing your child, while keeping parents in the loop. But I couldn’t set up a “Trusted Contact” list because I couldn’t find “Contacts” in the app settings. Tech support wasn’t any help either, but a techy friend found it after a couple of false starts.  The X6Play has […]

Read more

Filed under: Internuts, kids, robots, security, Windows | Comments Off on SMART WATCHES FOR KIDS KEEP PARENTS IN THE LOOP

When my Pixel 8 phone died in a pool of salad dressing, I sold it to Gazelle. They gave me $52, though it wouldn’t turn on. Besides iPhones, Gazelle also buys used iPads, Macbooks and phones made by Samsung, Google and Motorola. Whatever you send them, it will be carefully repaired, inspected and certified before being sold on their site. I got an instant quote, good for 30 days, and a swift payment. They even sent me a box with a free shipping label. All I had to do was check off options to describe it. I was glad I didn’t have to check the one that said “cracked screen,” though I did check off “won’t turn on.” The company […]

Read more

Filed under: 3D Printing, AI, books, business, gadgets, Internuts, kids, printer, trends, Windows | Comments Off on CASH FOR YOUR STUFF

Most seniors stick to Google, but young people increasingly turn to artificial intelligence. It’s great for financial questions. For example, a relative was interested in a reverse mortgage, but wasn’t sure how it worked. So I clicked the Copilot icon in Windows (also available at copilot.microsoft.com and in a free mobile app.) Then I typed: “How much would a reverse mortgage on a fully-paid-off $400,000 house pay to a 75-year-old New Hampshire man over the next 20 years?” Assuming an average rate of five percent, the estimated annual payout would be $15,000 to $20,000 a year and even more if he waited until he was 78, Copilot said. Next I asked what would happen if he died before getting his […]

Read more

Filed under: AI, Internet, text messaging, Wikipedia, Windows | Comments Off on GETTING FINANCIAL INFO FROM AI

“I am in need of a new Android tablet and Windows laptop,” a reader wrote. “My tablet will only charge to 29% and my laptop has many problems and is almost 10 years old.” “Get one like my HP,” I suggested. I’ve always liked HP, and “HP’s Newest 14 Laptop Ultra-Light for Students and Business” is no exception. It’s $255 on Amazon and comes with 16 gigabytes of RAM, Office 365 for a year and Windows 11s. The “s” means its operating system is fast for a cheapie laptop. It lasts up to 15 hours on a single charge. But this month’s PC Magazine recommends the Acer Aspire 3, $279 on Amazon. For a bigger budget, TechRadar suggests the Microsoft […]

Read more

Filed under: AI, computers, Google, Internuts, robots, web, Windows | Comments Off on DEALS ON PCS AND TABLETS

To get into Chicago’s Adler Planetarium, all I had was a receipt with a barcode on it, sent to me by email. To make it easier to find, I added it to the Google Wallet app on my Android. The equivalent for iPhone users is Apple Wallet. To add it to Google Wallet, I hit the plus sign in the app and was prompted to choose a category. Since it wasn’t a payment card, a transit pass, a loyalty card, a gift card or an ID card, I chose “everything else.” After I was prompted to take a picture of it, Wallet automatically created a pass reading “Adler Planetarium.” Coming soon, Wallet will also create a digital version of your […]

Read more

Filed under: apps, business, cheap calls, gadgets, Google, Internuts, troubleshooting, Windows | Comments Off on GOOGLE WALLET CREATES DIGITAL PASSPORT