At a TikTok Trends event at SXSW London, the company also revealed the content that's keeping us glued to our screens.

The hibernation haze of winter has finally cleared, which means you're probably waking up right now to all the clutter you've accumulated throughout the season—and you’re not alone. According to Anton Liakhov, an interior designer, organizer, and founder of Roomtery, spring and summer's first rays of sunshine have a direct effect on your psyche. The warm light, paired with blue skies and cool breezes, inspires a fresh start, a full social calendar, and the dire need to clean house. “It's like waking up to discover we're surrounded by items we no longer need,” Liakhov says. “That seasonal nudge gives us permission to let go and begin again for brighter, lighter living.” While things like gift wrapping essentials, cold-weather accessories, seasonal decor, cozy candles, and throw blankets create a snug ambience, they also clutter your space. Spring, he says, triggers an awakening to it all. Related StoriesSo, where do you start? Spring and summer are optimal times to tackle areas like entryways, mudrooms, garages, as well as outdoor storage. If it’s warm enough to open the doors and work outside, “it’s time to sort through patio furniture, gardening equipment, and outdoor toys," says Liakhov. Of course, what you choose to toss is up to your discretion. The best things to declutter at any time of year are the things taking up physical and mental space. Still, if you’re looking for specific items, we asked three professional organziers which things you should part with to keep your house spick and span for the warm-weather months ahead. Holiday Wrapping EssentialsJohner Images//Getty ImagesThe holiday season is still far off in the distance, so use this time as an opportunity to get rid of excess wrapping paper, tissue paper, gift boxes, and bags. "We accumulate more Christmas wrap than we'll ever need," says Liakhov. Save what you will realistically use, and toss or donate the rest. Worn-out OuterwearKypros//Getty ImagesSpeaking of seasonal items to sift through, Shantae Duckworth, founder of Shantaeize Your Space, says spring is the perfect time to re-evaluate the winter coats hanging in your closet. “If you didn’t reach for it this winter, you probably won’t next year either,” Duckworth says. In other words, ditch the bulk. If you're tight on space, consider using vacuum compression bags to flatten your remaining outerwear and store it flat in the attic or basement until temperatures dip again.Spring/Summer Clothes You Don’t WearKinga Krzeminska//Getty ImagesOne of the perks of an early summer clean is streamlining your seasonal closet before the heat really settles in. According to Nick Friedman, cofounder of College HUNKS Hauling Junk & Moving, last year’s untouched spring or summer clothes have no place in your closet or dresser drawers. You can tackle your closet by adhering to Friedman’s golden rule: If you didn’t wear it in the past 12 months, donate it. From there, Friedman recommends curating your wardrobe “like a seasonal menu; keep only what you reach for on display and use vacuum bags or rolling under-the-bed bins to store off-season items.” Unused Beauty ItemsCatherine Falls Commercial//Getty ImagesIn addition to clothing, Friedman says that beauty cabinets also require frequent decluttering, especially ahead of the summer months when you typically favor sunscreen and skincare products over makeup. “If your sunscreen has expired, it’s not doing you any favors,” he points out. Old SPF, makeup, and/or skincare products can go, and unused or unopened items can usually be donated. “Not only does this clear up bathroom clutter,” Friedman adds, “but it also protects your health.”Expired Pantry & Freezer Foodsfcafotodigital//Getty ImagesLiakhov and Duckworth agree: Springtime is the time to clean out your pantry and freezer of any expired items, like aged spices, canned foods, and sauces. You can even take it one step further and recycle any containers that are past their prime, including cracked lids or warped bottoms.Seasonal Sports EquipmentJulius//Getty ImagesWinter sports aficionados, this one’s for you. Liakhov lists snowshoes, sleds, and ski helmets as equipment to evaluate before storing them away for the season. “If it's broken, hasn't been touched in years, or no longer a part of your lifestyle, let it go before it gets another dust coating,” he adds. While you're at it, give your summer gear a once-over so you can replace anything broken or faulty before it all disappears from stores. Follow House Beautiful on Instagram and TikTok.

Now that I have two ways to make playlists, I'm making fewer than ever.

39 Summer Fonts That Really ‘Sizzle’ In this article:See more ▼Post may contain affiliate links which give us commissions at no cost to you.As a graphic designer who lives for those long, lazy summer days, I can’t help but get excited when it’s time to break out the summer fonts. There’s something absolutely magical about typography that captures the essence of sunshine, beach vibes, and endless possibilities. Summer fonts are more than just pretty letters on a screen – they’re visual vacation postcards that transport viewers straight to sandy beaches, backyard barbecues, and those perfect golden hour moments. I’ve spent countless hours (probably too many!) curating the perfect collection of typefaces that embody everything we love about the warmest season of the year. Whether you’re designing festival posters, ice cream shop branding, or social media graphics that scream “summer vibes,” the right font can make all the difference. It’s not just about looking good (though these fonts absolutely do); it’s about evoking that carefree, sun-kissed feeling that makes summer so special. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll dive deep into the most sizzling summer fonts of 2025, explore what makes a font feel summery, and discover how to use these typefaces to bring that vacation energy to any project. So grab your favorite cold drink, find a spot in the shade, and let’s embark on this typographic summer adventure together! 👋 Psst... Did you know you can get unlimited downloads of 59,000+ fonts and millions of other creative assets for just $16.95/mo? Learn more »The Hottest Summer Fonts of 2025 Not all fonts are created equal when it comes to capturing that perfect summer essence. I’ve handpicked the most vibrant, energetic typefaces that’ll make your designs feel like a breath of fresh ocean air. Here are my top picks: Summer Sunshine Summer Sunshine is a vibrant decorative font that exudes warmth and cheer. Its playful letterforms and sunny aesthetic make it perfect for summer-themed designs and joyful projects.Summer Days Summer Days is a lively script font that captures the essence of carefree summer vibes. Its fluid, handwritten style and energetic character make it ideal for creating designs with a fresh and vibrant feel.Get 300+ Fonts for FREEEnter your email to download our 100% free "Font Lover's Bundle". For commercial & personal use. No royalties. No fees. No attribution. 100% free to use anywhere. Summer Crab Summer Crab is a unique serif font with a handwritten twist, perfect for summer-themed typography. Its quirky design combines elegance with a touch of whimsy, making it suitable for both formal and casual summer projects.Sunrise Waves Sunrise Waves is a brushy sans-serif font that evokes the calm and beauty of a beach at dawn. Its smooth lines and balanced proportions make it versatile for various summer and coastal-themed designs.Summer Wednesday Summer Wednesday is a charming script font that captures the essence of lazy summer days. Its relaxed, handwritten style is perfect for creating designs with a casual, vacation-like atmosphere.Summers Typeface + BONUS vector Summers Typeface is a versatile script font that comes with bonus vector elements. Its flowing monoline letterforms and additional graphics make it an excellent choice for creating comprehensive summer-themed designs and branding materials.Sunroof & Summer Sunroof & Summer is a carefree handwritten font that embodies the spirit of summer road trips. Its natural, spontaneous style is perfect for creating designs with a laid-back and adventurous feel.Summerica Typeface Summerica Typeface is a playful serif font with a hint of nostalgia. Its unique blend of classic and whimsical elements makes it ideal for summer holiday designs and retro-inspired projects.Summer Heaven Summer Heaven is a delightful script font that radiates warmth and happiness. Its sunny disposition and fluid letterforms make it perfect for creating designs that evoke the joy of perfect summer days.Summer – Handwriting Font Summer is a versatile handwriting font that combines sans-serif elements with a script-like flow. Its natural, easy-going style makes it suitable for a wide range of summer-themed designs and personal projects.AL – Blue Season AL – Blue Season is a refreshing cursive font that captures the essence of cool summer breezes. Its flowing letterforms and subtle blue hues make it perfect for creating designs with a calm, seasonal atmosphere.Summer Fruits – Layered Font Summer Fruits is a playful layered font that adds depth and vibrancy to designs. Its fruity aesthetic and customizable layers make it ideal for creating eye-catching summer-themed typography and graphics.Sunburned Tropic – Summer Brush Font Sunburned Tropic is a bold brush font that exudes tropical summer vibes. Its rough, organic texture and energetic strokes make it perfect for creating designs with a beachy, sun-soaked feel.FLIES SUMMER FLIES SUMMER is a modern sans-serif display font with a unique twist. Its clean lines and subtle summer-inspired details make it versatile for various design projects, from branding to editorial layouts.Summer Festival Summer Festival is a lively decorative fun font that captures the excitement of outdoor events. Its playful letterforms and festive character make it ideal for creating designs for summer concerts, fairs, and celebrations.Summer Journey Summer Journey is a versatile font that combines decorative and sans-serif elements. Its unique design evokes a sense of adventure, making it perfect for travel-themed projects and summer vacation designs.Summer Times Summer Times is a chunky, fun script font that radiates positivity with its mid-century font style. Its bold letterforms and playful style make it excellent for creating eye-catching headlines and designs with a cheerful summer vibe.Summer Foliage Font Summer Foliage Font is a nature-inspired typeface that blends sans-serif and script elements. Its organic shapes and leafy details make it perfect for creating designs with a fresh, summery botanical theme.Summer Dust Font Summer Dust Font is a clean and airy typeface that combines sans-serif and handwritten styles. Its light, breezy character makes it ideal for creating designs with a soft, summery atmosphere.Summer Splash Summer Splash is a vibrant splashy water font with a decorative flair. Its energetic letterforms and splashy details make it perfect for creating designs that evoke the fun and excitement of summer water activities.Summer Vibes Summer Vibes is a relaxed sans-serif font with a handwritten feel. Its casual style and subtle imperfections make it ideal for creating designs with a laid-back, beachy atmosphere.Summer Dance Summer Dance is a lively script font with decorative elements. Its fluid, rhythmic letterforms make it perfect for creating designs that convey movement and joy, ideal for summer event promotions.Summer Show Summer Show is a bold display font that combines sans-serif and decorative features. Its striking design and summer-inspired details make it excellent for creating eye-catching headlines and promotional materials.Summer Tropics Summer Tropics is a fun and chunky script font that exudes tropical vibes. Its playful letterforms and bold character make it perfect for creating designs with a lively, vacation-like atmosphere.Summer Diary Summer Diary is a charming decorative font with a personal touch. Its handwritten-style letterforms and subtle embellishments make it ideal for creating designs that evoke memories of summer adventures.Salty Bash Handwriting Script Salty Bash is a carefree handwriting script with a beachy vibe. Its natural flow and slightly weathered appearance make it perfect for creating designs with a relaxed, coastal feel.Summer Flash Summer Flash is a dynamic decorative font with a sense of energy and movement. Its bold, eye-catching design makes it ideal for creating impactful summer-themed headlines and promotional materials.Summer Tropica – Playful Font Summer Tropica is a fun and vibrant font that combines script and sans-serif elements. Its playful character and tropical flair make it perfect for creating designs with a lively summer atmosphere.Ocean – Hand Writing Summer Font Ocean is a refreshing wavy font with a beachy feel. Its natural flow and subtle irregularities make it ideal for creating designs that evoke the relaxed atmosphere of seaside vacations.Summer Party Summer Party is an energetic script font that captures the excitement of summer festivities. Its lively letterforms and dynamic style make it perfect for creating designs for summer events and celebrations.Summer Funny – Summer Display Font Summer Funny is a quirky and playful display font with a chunky design. Its fun character and bold presence make it ideal for creating eye-catching headlines and designs with a lighthearted summer vibe.Summer Lemonade + Extras Summer Lemonade is a refreshing script font that comes with extra design elements. Its crisp, fluid letterforms and additional graphics make it perfect for creating comprehensive summer-themed branding and designs.Tropical Summer Font Tropical Summer Font is an exotic blend of script and decorative elements. Its lush, organic design and tropical motifs make it ideal for creating designs with a vibrant, paradise-like atmosphere.Fest Summer Font Fest Summer Font is a bold and chunky script that radiates fun and excitement. Its playful letterforms and energetic style make it perfect for creating designs for summer festivals and outdoor events.Fresh Kids – Fun Display Font Fresh Kids is a lively bubble font designed with children in mind. Its playful character and cheerful design make it ideal for creating kid-friendly summer designs and educational materials.Summer Blaze – Summer Brush Font Summer Blaze is an energetic brush font that captures the heat of summer. Its bold strokes and dynamic character make it perfect for creating designs with a sun-soaked, beachy vibe.Beach Vibe – Summer font Beach Vibe is a laid-back sans-serif font with a summer twist. Its relaxed style and subtle coastal elements make it ideal for creating designs with a cool, holiday atmosphere.SUMMER QUICK – Fun Font SUMMER QUICK is a lively sans-serif display font with a fun, casual feel. Its quirky letterforms and energetic style make it perfect for creating designs with a spontaneous summer vibe.Benji Holidas Summer Display Font Benji Holidas is a charming decorative font with a summery disposition. Its unique letterforms and playful design make it ideal for creating eye-catching headlines and designs for summer holidays and events.What Makes a Font Feel Like Summer? Ever wondered what gives certain fonts that unmistakable summer vibe? It’s not magic (though it might feel like it) – there are specific design elements that trigger those warm, sunny associations in our minds. Relaxed, Flowing Letterforms Summer fonts often feature loose, organic shapes that mirror the laid-back nature of the season. Think flowing scripts that feel like ocean waves or casual handwritten styles that look like they were penned on a beach towel. These relaxed letterforms create an instant sense of ease and vacation mode. The beauty lies in their imperfection – slightly uneven baselines, varying letter sizes, and that wonderful hand-drawn quality that says “life’s too short to stress about perfect alignment.” Bright, Energetic Personality Summer fonts radiate energy and optimism. They’re the typographic equivalent of a sunny day – bold when they need to be, playful in their character variations, and always ready to put a smile on your face. Many summer fonts incorporate fun details like decorative flourishes, tropical motifs, or beach-inspired elements that add personality and charm. These little touches transform ordinary letters into summer storytelling devices. Vintage Beach Resort Vibes There’s something irresistibly nostalgic about classic summer typography. Fonts that reference vintage surf culture, retro vacation postcards, or mid-century beach resort signage tap into our collective summer memories. These typefaces often feature bold, confident letterforms with a touch of that authentic vintage wear – like sun-faded signs that have weathered countless summers and still look absolutely perfect. Where to Use Summer Fonts Summer fonts are incredibly versatile, bringing that vacation energy to a wide range of design applications. Their cheerful, relaxed nature makes them perfect for projects that want to feel approachable and fun. Event and Festival Branding Summer fonts are absolute stars when it comes to music festivals, beach parties, food truck events, and outdoor celebrations. Their energetic personality helps capture the excitement and community spirit of summer gatherings. From concert posters that need to grab attention from across a crowded street to wristbands that become summer souvenirs, the right summer font sets the perfect tone for memorable experiences. Hospitality and Tourism Beach resorts, vacation rentals, travel agencies, and tropical restaurants all benefit from summer fonts that instantly communicate relaxation and escape. These typefaces help potential guests imagine themselves already on vacation. Whether it’s a boutique hotel’s website, a restaurant’s poolside menu, or a travel blog’s header, summer fonts create that crucial emotional connection with wanderlust. Food and Beverage Ice cream shops, juice bars, beachside cafes, and summer pop-up stands rely on fonts that feel as refreshing as their offerings. Summer fonts help communicate that products are fresh, fun, and perfect for hot weather. From smoothie shop logos to popsicle packaging, these fonts add flavor before customers even take their first taste. Social Media and Digital Design Summer fonts absolutely shine in digital spaces where catching attention is crucial. Instagram posts, Pinterest graphics, blog headers, and email newsletters all benefit from typography that stops the scroll and says “summer!” Where to Avoid Summer Fonts While summer fonts bring joy and energy to many projects, there are definitely situations where their casual, playful nature might not be the best fit. Corporate and Professional Contexts Financial institutions, law firms, medical practices, and other professional services typically need fonts that convey trust, reliability, and expertise. Summer fonts, with their relaxed and playful nature, might undermine the serious tone these industries require. Save the beach vibes for beach-related projects, and opt for more traditional, authoritative typefaces when professionalism is paramount. Technical Documentation User manuals, software interfaces, scientific reports, and instructional materials need maximum clarity and readability. Summer fonts, while beautiful, can sometimes sacrifice legibility for personality – not ideal when clear communication is critical. Formal Occasions Wedding invitations (unless it’s a beach wedding!), memorial services, graduation ceremonies, and other formal events typically call for more elegant, traditional typography that matches the occasion’s gravity and importance. How to Choose the Perfect Summer Font Selecting the ideal summer font involves balancing aesthetic appeal with practical considerations. Here’s how to nail that perfect summer typography choice: Consider Your Audience Think about who you’re designing for. A family beach resort might want fonts that feel welcoming to all ages, while a trendy rooftop bar could go for something more sophisticated and contemporary. Young festival-goers respond to different visual cues than luxury vacation travelers. Match the Summer Vibe Summer encompasses many different moods – from energetic beach parties to serene sunset dinners. Identify the specific summer feeling you want to evoke. Is it playful and energetic? Relaxed and tropical? Nostalgic and vintage? Let this guide your font selection. Test Readability Summer fonts often prioritize personality over perfection, but your message still needs to be clear. Test your chosen font at various sizes and in different contexts to ensure it maintains readability across all applications. Consider Seasonal Flexibility If you’re designing for a brand that operates year-round, consider how your summer font choice will work in off-season communications. Some fonts are specifically summery, while others have enough versatility to work across seasons with different color palettes or supporting elements. Alternatives to Traditional Summer Fonts While dedicated summer fonts are fantastic, there are other typographic approaches that can capture seasonal energy: Tropical Script Fonts Flowing scripts with exotic flair can evoke tropical paradise without being explicitly summer-themed. These work beautifully for destination weddings, luxury resorts, and high-end travel brands. Vintage Surf Typography Fonts inspired by classic surf culture bring authentic beach credibility to modern designs. These work especially well for brands that want to tap into surf and beach lifestyle culture. Hand-Lettered Styles Custom hand-lettered looks feel personal and authentic – perfect for small businesses, artisanal products, and brands that want to feel approachable and genuine. Common Summer Font Questions Let’s tackle some frequently asked questions about summer typography: What makes a font look summery? Summer fonts typically feature relaxed, flowing letterforms, bright energetic personalities, and often include decorative elements that reference beach, tropical, or vacation themes. They tend to feel casual, approachable, and optimistic. Can I use summer fonts year-round? While some summer fonts are specifically seasonal, many can work year-round with the right warm color palette and supporting design elements. The key is choosing fonts with enough versatility to adapt to different seasonal moods. Are summer fonts professional enough for business use? It depends on your business! Summer fonts are perfect for hospitality, food service, entertainment, and lifestyle brands. However, they might not be appropriate for more conservative industries like finance or healthcare. How do I pair summer fonts with other typefaces? Summer fonts often work well paired with clean, simple sans-serifs for body text. The contrast between a playful summer display font and a readable sans-serif creates visual hierarchy while maintaining that seasonal energy. Making Your Designs Sizzle Summer fonts are more than just typography – they’re instant mood boosters that transform ordinary designs into sunshine-filled experiences. Whether you’re creating a beach resort’s brand identity, designing the perfect festival poster, or crafting social media graphics that capture those golden hour vibes, the right summer font sets the stage for memorable design. Remember, the best summer font isn’t necessarily the most decorative or tropical-looking one. It’s the font that perfectly captures the specific summer mood you’re trying to create while still serving your project’s practical needs. So go ahead, embrace those warm-weather vibes in your next design project. Choose fonts that make people want to kick off their shoes, grab a cold drink, and soak up some vitamin D. After all, life’s too short for boring typography – especially in summer! What’s your favorite summer font? I’d love to hear about the typefaces that make you dream of beach days and endless sunshine! Riley Morgan Riley Morgan is a globe-trotting graphic designer with a sharp eye for color, typography, and intuitive design. They are a color lover and blend creativity with culture, drawing inspiration from cities, landscapes, and stories around the world. When they’re not designing sleek visuals for clients, they’re blogging about trends, tools, and the art of making design feel like home—wherever that may be. 17 Cutest Kawaii Fonts That are So AdorableKawaii fonts are exactly what they sound like – typefaces that embody the Japanese concept of “kawaii” (meaning cute). These...26 Billboard Fonts You Can Read at 80 MPHWhen you’re racing down the highway at 80 mph, you’ve got about 3 seconds to grab someone’s attention with your...40 Christmas Fonts that are ‘Santa-Approved’As a designer with a serious case of Christmas spirit, I can’t help but get giddy when it’s time to...

Each music streaming service varies in terms of its features and its interface, but unlike the video streaming apps, the actual content selection is broadly the same across them all: You get access to tens of millions of tunes, on demand, across all of your multiple devices.With that in mind, it doesn't make a lot of sense to subscribe to multiple music streaming platforms. People are far more likely to make a choice between them, find their preferred service, and then stick to it—and once you're invested in terms of playlists and listening history, it's not easy to leave.But I'm signed up to not one, not two, but three music streaming services—and I'll try and explain why I stay active on all of them. If you've only ever stuck with one option, you might not know there are actually some key differences between them, and different ways that they're all worth the money.Admittedly this isn't going to be right for everyone, and it's definitely expensive. As a tech journalist I get to write about these different streaming apps for a living, which helps justify the cost, and your mileage may vary in terms of whether the differences between these platforms make any difference to you.Before we get into the three streaming services themselves, a shout out to a fourth service, Last.fm: It tracks listening across multiple music platforms, which means I can look back on my musical tastes and how they change over time, even as I'm bouncing among three separate subscriptions.Apple Music: the legacy choiceI've been listening to digital music through iTunes since the start of this century, which is a big reason why I continue to rely on Apple Music for most of my day-to-day listening. I still have a carefully curated collection of local digital music files, and Apple Music can blend these seamlessly with new music that I stream on-demand. For bands I really like, I still buy the music—both to support them, and just in case one day I want to stop renting music (and movies, and TV shows).The other major reason I use Apple Music above every other streaming service is the control you get over your library and over your playlists: There are algorithms here, of course, and music recommendations, but I'm much less reliant on them. Apple Music is a throwback in terms of how you can organize the music you like and determine what you listen to, rather than just opening up an app and clicking play on whatever auto-generated playlist looks most appealing. Apple Music supports smart playlists. Credit: Lifehacker Smart playlists are an important part of this experience, too. They let you build playlists based on your library, based around a whole host of criteria: total plays, date, genre, rating, the last played date, artist, and more. They update in real time, so a "songs I haven't heard for six months" playlist will constantly refresh as you listen to it and the metadata updates.I've spent more time than I care to admit curating numerous smart playlists. They let me balance new music with old music, prioritize my favorites while still adding in more obscure cuts, and mean that forgotten tracks that I haven't heard for a year or more will still occasionally pop into my queue without me having to dig for them. If I ever go down to just one music streaming service, this is the one I think I'd keep.YouTube Music: the widest choiceYouTube is the opposite of Apple Music in some ways, because I'll often just click on a music video I like and see where the recommendation algorithm takes me. YouTube probably knows my musical tastes better than any other app or platform, because of the hours I've spent clicking around on those brightly colored thumbnails, and it's great for discovering new bands and new songs.It's an easy, sit-back-and-listen experience, one that works everywhere: web browsers, TVs, phones, and tablets of any description. Just about every device can run YouTube. And any listening I do on YouTube is synced to YouTube Music (while all of my YouTube Music playlists are also accessible through YouTube)—I can switch between an audio and video experience as needed. YouTube Music offers a wealth of music choices. Credit: Lifehacker That's convenient and accessible, and on top of that there's more music on YouTube Music (via YouTube) than anywhere else: live versions, b-sides, alternative takes you can't find anywhere else, obscure gig recordings made by fans, and all the rest. There's a depth and a breadth here that Apple Music and Spotify can't match.Another feature I like about YouTube Music is being able to queue up different playlists on different devices—even in different browser tabs. On my laptop I can have a new music mix (for entertainment) and a lo-fi chill mix (for concentration) available in neighboring browser tabs, and switch between them with a click. If I then go out in the car I can listen to a third YouTube Music playlist, without losing my place in either of the playlists I'm working through back at home.Spotify: the power user choiceFinally, I subscribe to Spotify is that, well, even with everything I've already said about its competitors, it's the best music streaming service. It has the most polished apps, with the most features available—like the Blend playlists you can use to combine your musical tastes with those of a friend to create a single mix, and the AI DJ you can get to queue up tracks for you.When it comes to third-party speakers, apps, and AI assistants, Spotify is the music streaming service most likely to be supported: It doesn't favor particular devices or platforms, as Apple Music and YouTube Music do. It's available everywhere, and it's the easiest for sharing music with other people, because almost everyone uses it. Spotify remains the most polished, feature-rich option. Credit: Lifehacker I use Spotify most for new music. It has a fantastic range of recommendation options, including the Release Radar playlist (new music by artists I like), and the Discover Weekly playlist (a weekly mix of new and old music, including some artists I know and some I don't). I also enjoy all the weird and wonderful playlists other Spotify users curate and make public for everyone else.What's more (and despite what I said about YouTube Music), sometimes I do want a playlist that I can transfer from my laptop, to my smart speaker, to my car, and all the way back again, without skipping a beat—and Spotify handles this better than both Apple Music and YouTube Music.

To grow, we must forget… but now AI remembers everythingAI’s infinite memory could endanger how we think, grow, and imagine. And we can do something about it.Photo by Laura Fuhrman on UnsplashWhen Mary remembered too muchImagine your best friend — we’ll call her Mary — had perfect, infallible memory.At first, it feels wonderful. She remembers your favorite dishes, obscure movie quotes, even that exact shade of sweater you casually admired months ago. Dinner plans are effortless: “Booked us Giorgio’s again, your favorite — truffle ravioli and Cabernet, like last time,” Mary smiled warmly.But gradually, things become less appealing. Your attempts at variety or exploring something new are gently brushed aside: “Heard about that new sushi place, should we try it?” you suggest. Mary hesitates, “Remember last year? You said sushi wasn’t really your thing. Giorgio’s is safe. Why risk it?”Conversations start to feel repetitive, your identity locked to a cached version of yourself. Mary constantly cites your past preferences as proof of who you still are. The longer this goes on, the smaller your world feels… and comfort begins to curdle into confinement.Now, picture Mary isn’t human, but your personalized AI assistant.A new mode of hyper-personalizationWith OpenAI’s new memory upgrade, ChatGPT can now recall everything you’ve ever shared with it, indefinitely. Similarly, Google has opened the context window with “Infini-attention,” letting large language models (LLMs) reference infinite inputs with zero memory loss. And in consumer-facing tools like ChatGPT or Gemini, this now means persistent, personalized memory across conversations, unless you manually intervene.https://medium.com/media/f1f7978fb8d63f7a1e9f52f051808f44/hrefThe sales pitch is seductively simple: less friction, more relevance. Conversations that feel like continuity: “Systems that get to know you over your life,” as Sam Altman writes on X. Technology, finally, that meets you where you are.In the age of hyper-personalization — of the TikTok For You page, Spotify Wrapped, and Netflix Your Next Watch — a conversational AI product that remembers everything about you feels perfectly, perhaps dangerously, natural.Netflix “knows us.” And we’re conditioned to expect conversational AI to do the same.Forgetting, then, begins to look like a flaw. A failure to retain. A bug in the code. Especially in our own lives, we treat memory loss as a tragedy, clinging to photo albums and cloud backups to preserve what time tries to erase.But what if human forgetting is not a bug, but a feature? And what happens when we build machines that don’t forget, but are now helping shape the human minds that do?Forgetting is a feature of human memory“Infinite memory” runs against the very grain of what it means to be human. Cognitive science and evolutionary biology tell us that forgetting isn’t a design flaw, but a survival advantage. Our brains are not built to store everything. They’re built to let go: to blur the past, to misremember just enough to move forward.Our brains don’t archive data. They encode approximations. Memory is probabilistic, reconstructive, and inherently lossy. We misremember not because we’re broken, but because it makes us adaptable. Memory compresses and abstracts experience into usable shortcuts, heuristics that help us act fast, not recall perfectly.Evolution didn’t optimize our brains to store the past in high fidelity; it optimized us to survive the present. In early humans, remembering too much could be fatal: a brain caught up recalling a saber-tooth tiger’s precise location or exact color would hesitate, but a brain that knows riverbank = danger can act fast.Image generated by ChatGPT.This is why forgetting is essential to survival. Selective forgetting helps us prioritize the relevant, discard the outdated, and stay flexible in changing environments. It prevents us from becoming trapped by obsolete patterns or overwhelmed by noise.And it’s not passive decay. Neuroscience shows that forgetting is an active process: the brain regulates what to retrieve and what to suppress, clearing mental space to absorb new information. In his TED talk, neuroscientist Richard Morris describes the forgetting process as “the hippocampus doing its job… as it clears the desktop of your mind so that you’re ready for the next day to take in new information.”https://medium.com/media/e272064dd59f29c4ca35e808d39e4e72/hrefCrucially, this mental flexibility isn’t just for processing the past; forgetting allows us to imagine the future. Memory’s malleability gives us the ability to simulate, to envision, to choose differently next time. What we lose in accuracy, we gain in possibility.So when we ask why humans forget, the answer isn’t just functional. It’s existential. If we remembered everything, we wouldn’t be more intelligent. We’d still be standing at the riverbank, paralyzed by the precision of memories that no longer serve us.When forgetting is a “flaw” in AI memoryWhere nature embraced forgetting as a survival strategy, we now engineer machines that retain everything: your past prompts, preferences, corrections, and confessions.What sounds like a convenience, digital companions that “know you,” can quietly become a constraint. Unlike human memory, which fades and adapts, infinite memory stores information with fidelity and permanence. And as memory-equipped LLMs respond, they increasingly draw on a preserved version of you, even if that version is six months old and irrelevant.Sound familiar?This pattern of behavior reinforcement closely mirrors the personalization logic driving platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook. Extensive research has shown how these platforms amplify existing preferences, narrow user perspectives, and reduce exposure to new, challenging ideas — a phenomenon known as filter bubbles or echo chambers.Positive feedback loops are the engine of recommendation algorithms like TikTok, Netflix, and Spotify. From Medium.These feedback loops, optimized for engagement rather than novelty or growth, have been linked to documented consequences including ideological polarization, misinformation spread, and decreased critical thinking.Now, this same personalization logic is moving inward: from your feed to your conversations, and from what you consume to how you think.“Echo chamber to end all echo chambers”Just as the TikTok For You page algorithm predicts your next dopamine hit, memory-enabled LLMs predict and reinforce conversational patterns that align closely with your past behavior, keeping you comfortable inside your bubble of views and preferences.Jordan Gibbs, writing on the dangers of ChatGPT, notes that conversational AI is an “echo chamber to end all echo chambers.” Gibbs points out how even harmless-seeming positive reinforcement can quietly reshape user perceptions and restrict creative or critical thinking.Jordan Gibb’s conversation with ChatGPT from Medium.In one example, ChatGPT responds to Gibb’s claim of being one of the best chess players in the world not with skepticism or critical inquiry, but with encouragement and validation, highlighting how easily LLMs affirm bold, unverified assertions.And with infinite memory enabled, this is no longer a one-off interaction: the personal data point that, “You are one of the very best chess players in the world, ” risks becoming a fixed truth the model reflexively returns to, until your delusion, once tossed out in passing, becomes a cornerstone of your digital self. Not because it’s accurate, but because it was remembered, reinforced, and never challenged.When memory becomes fixed, identity becomes recursive. As we saw with our friend Mary, infinite memory doesn’t just remember our past; it nudges us to repeat it. And while the reinforcement may feel benign, personalized, or even comforting, the history of filter bubbles and echo chambers suggests that this kind of pattern replication rarely leaves room for transformation.What we lose when nothing is lostWhat begins as personalization can quietly become entrapment, not through control, but through familiarity. And in that familiarity, we begin to lose something essential: not just variety, but the very conditions that make change possible.Research in cognitive and developmental psychology shows that stepping outside one’s comfort zone is essential for growth, resilience, and adaptation. Yet, infinite-memory LLM systems, much like personalization algorithms, are engineered explicitly for comfort. They wrap users in a cocoon of sameness by continuously repeating familiar conversational patterns, reinforcing existing user preferences and biases, and avoiding content or ideas that might challenge or discomfort the user.Hyper-personalization traps us in a “comfort cocoon” that prevents from growing and transforming. From Earth.comWhile this engineered comfort may boost short-term satisfaction, its long-term effects are troubling. It replaces the discomfort necessary for cognitive growth with repetitive familiarity, effectively transforming your cognitive gym into a lazy river. Rather than stretching cognitive and emotional capacities, infinite-memory systems risk stagnating them, creating a psychological landscape devoid of intellectual curiosity and resilience.So, how do we break free from this? If the risks of infinite memory are clear, the path forward must be just as intentional. We must design LLM systems that don’t just remember, but also know when and why to forget.How we design to forgetIf the danger of infinite memory lies in its ability to trap us in our past, then the antidote must be rooted in intentional forgetting — systems that forget wisely, adaptively, and in ways aligned with human growth. But building such systems requires action across levels — from the people who use them to those who design and develop them.For users: reclaim agency over your digital selfJust as we now expect to “manage cookies” on websites, toggling consent checkboxes or adjusting ad settings, we may soon expect to manage our digital selves within LLM memory interfaces. But where cookies govern how our data is collected and used by entities, memory in conversational AI turns that data inward. Personal data is not just pipelines for targeted ads; they’re conversational mirrors, actively shaping how we think, remember, and express who we are. The stakes are higher.Memory-equipped LLMs like ChatGPT already offer tools for this. You can review what it remembers about you by going to Settings > Personalization > Memory > Manage. You can delete what’s outdated, refine what’s imprecise, and add what actually matters to who you are now. If something no longer reflects you, remove it. If something feels off, reframe it. If something is sensitive or exploratory, switch to a temporary chat and leave no trace.You can manage and disable memory within ChatGPT by visiting Settings > Personalization.You can also pause or disable memory entirely. Don’t be afraid to do it. There’s a quiet power in the clean slate: a freedom to experiment, shift, and show up as someone new.Guide the memory, don’t leave it ambient. Offer core memories that represent the direction you’re heading, not just the footprints you left behind.For UX designers: design for revision, not just retentionReclaiming memory is a personal act. But shaping how memory behaves in AI products is design decision. Infinite memory isn’t just a technical upgrade; it’s a cognitive interface. And UX designers are now curating the mental architecture of how people evolve, or get stuck.Forget “opt in” or “opt out.” Memory management shouldn’t live in buried toggles or forgotten settings menus. It should be active, visible, and intuitive: a first-class feature, not an afterthought. Users need interfaces that not only show what the system remembers, but also how those memories are shaping what they see, hear, and get suggested. Not just visibility, but influence tracing.ChatGPT’s current memory interface enables users to manage memories, but it is static and database-like.While ChatGPT’s memory UI offers user control over their memories, it reads like a black-and-white database: out or in. Instead of treating memory as a static archive, we should design it as a living layer, structured more like a sketchpad than a ledger: flexible and revisable. All of this is hypothetical, but here’s what it could look like:Memory Review Moments: Built-in check-ins that ask, “You haven’t referenced this in a while — keep, revise, or forget?” Like Rocket Money nudging you to review subscriptions, the system becomes a gentle co-editor, helping surface outdated or ambiguous context before it quietly reshapes future behavior.Time-Aware Metadata: Memories don’t age equally. Show users when something was last used, how often it comes up, or whether it’s quietly steering suggestions. Just like Spotify highlights “recently played,” memory interfaces could offer temporal context that makes stored data feel navigable and self-aware.Memory Tiers: Not all information deserves equal weight. Let users tag “Core Memories” that persist until manually removed, and set others as short-term or provisional — notes that decay unless reaffirmed.Inline Memory Controls: Bring memory into the flow of conversation. Imagine typing, and a quiet note appears: “This suggestion draws on your July planning — still accurate?” Like version history in Figma or comment nudges in Google Docs, these lightweight moments let users edit memory without switching contexts.Expiration Dates & Sunset Notices: Some memories should come with lifespans. Let users set expiration dates — “forget this in 30 days unless I say otherwise.” Like calendar events or temporary access links, this makes forgetting a designed act, not a technical gap.Image a Miro-like memory board where users could prioritize, annotate, and link memories.Sketchpad Interfaces: Finally, break free from the checkbox UI. Imagine memory as a visual canvas: clusters of ideas, color-coded threads, ephemeral notes. A place to link thoughts, add context, tag relevance. Think Miro meets Pinterest for your digital identity, a space that mirrors how we actually think, shift, and remember.When designers build memory this way, they create more than tools. They create mirrors with context, systems that grow with us instead of holding us still.For AI developers: engineer forgetting as a featureTo truly support transformation, UX needs infrastructure. The design must be backed by technical memory systems that are fluid, flexible, and capable of letting go. And that responsibility falls to developers: not just to build tools for remembering, but to engineer forgetting as a core function.This is the heart of my piece: we can’t talk about user agency, growth, or identity without addressing how memory works under the hood. Forgetting must be built into the LLM system itself, not as a failsafe, but as a feature.One promising approach, called adaptive forgetting, mimics how humans let go of unnecessary details while retaining important patterns and concepts. Researchers demonstrate that when LLMs periodically erase and retrain parts of their memory, especially early layers that store word associations, they become better at picking up new languages, adapting to new tasks, and doing so with less data and computing power.Photo by Valentin Tkach for Quanta MagazineAnother more accessible path forward is in Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG). A new method called SynapticRAG, inspired by the brain’s natural timing and memory mechanisms, adds a sense of temporality to AI memory. Models recall information not just based on content, but also on when it happened. Just like our brains prioritize recent memories, this method scores and updates AI memories based on both their relevance and relevance, allowing it to retrieve more meaningful, diverse, and context-rich information. Testing showed that this time-aware system outperforms traditional memory tools in multilingual conversations by up to 14.66% in accuracy, while also avoiding redundant or outdated responses.Together, adaptive forgetting and biologically inspired memory retrieval point toward a more human kind of AI: systems that learn continuously, update flexibly, and interact in ways that feel less like digital tape recorders and more like thoughtful, evolving collaborators.To grow, we must choose to forgetSo the pieces are all here: the architectural tools, the memory systems, the design patterns. We’ve shown that it’s technically possible for AI to forget. But the question isn’t just whether we can. It’s whether we will.Of course, not all AI systems need to forget. In high-stakes domains — medicine, law, scientific research — perfect recall can be life-saving. However, this essay is about a different kind of AI: the kind we bring into our daily lives. The ones we turn to for brainstorming, emotional support, writing help, or even casual companionship. These are the systems that assist us, observe us, and remember us. And if left unchecked, they may start to define us.We’ve already seen what happens when algorithms optimize for comfort. What begins as personalization becomes repetition. Sameness. Polarization. Now that logic is turning inward: no longer just curating our feeds, but shaping our conversations, our habits of thought, our sense of self. But we don’t have to follow the same path.We can build LLM systems that don’t just remember us, but help us evolve. Systems that challenge us to break patterns, to imagine differently, to change. Not to preserve who we were, but to make space for who we might yet become, just as our ancestors did.Not with perfect memory, but with the courage to forget.To grow, we must forget… but AI remembers everything was originally published in UX Collective on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Tolkien Myths and Legends Hardcover Box Set (2025) $125 | Releases June 10 Preorder at Amazon The Great Tales of Middle-earth Hardcover Box Set (2025) $125 | Releases August 19 Preorder at Amazon See at Amazon (2018 set) J.R.R. Tolkien fans can soon add two display-worthy book box sets to their collection. Tolkien Myths and Legends Box Set, which features lesser-known original works and translations of classic English literature, releases on June 10. It will be followed up on August 19 by new editions of The Great Tales of Middle-earth, which is comprised of the final three prose novels set in Tolkien's iconic fantasy world. The new hardcover box sets feature lavish cover art and display cases. They are considered the fifth and sixth entries in a series of hardcover book box sets that debuted last year with the The History of Middle-earth, which was published by William Morrow in its entirety across four beautiful collections. Tolkien Myths and Legends Hardcover Box Set (2025) $125 | Releases June 10 The Tolkien Myths and Legends Box Set is a unique collection of J.R.R. Tolkien's work, because it doesn't contain stories about Middle-earth. Instead, as the title suggests, it compiles classic myths and legends, two of which were written by the author, while the other two were personal translations of some of his favorite works that inspired him.Like the vast majority of his posthumously published work, these were pieced together and edited by his son, Christopher Tolkien. Each hardcover book comes with a double-sided dust jacket. Just like The History of Middle-earth Box Sets, one side features elaborate artwork, while the other side has a more subdued aesthetic with solid colors. The four books come packaged in an eye-catching display case. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight / Orfeo / Pearl: Translations of a trio of classic epic poems juxtaposed with Tolkien's famous 1953 lecture on Sir Gawain.The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrún: An epic verse poem by Tolkien. It was inspired by classic poetry and Norse mythology. Along with Tolkien's composition, you'll find notes and commentary from Christopher Tolkien.The Fall of Arthur: A narrative poem written by Tolkien that chronicles King Arthur's final days. The book includes extensive notes made by Tolkien while drafting his only Arthurian legend. Fans of The Silmarillion will want to read this one, as it clearly inspired the plot of Tolkien's Arthurian-esque Middle-earth book.Beowulf: One of the most famous--and the oldest known---epic poem of Old English literature, Beowulf has received many translations. Tolkien wrote his translation in 1926 and then circled back later. In addition to the translation of the original poem, this book contains a plethora of commentary by Tolkien himself, which will give readers a glimpse into the mind of Tolkien the scholar.If you're interested in the Myths and Legends Box Set, you should also check out The Collected Poems of J.R.R. Tolkien, a massive three-volume hardcover box that released last fall. The gorgeous box set, which is on sale for nearly 50% off, compiles Tolkien's life's work as a poet and clocks in at over 1,700 pages. Preorder at Amazon The Great Tales of Middle-earth Hardcover Box Set (2025) $125 | Releases August 19 The Great Tales of Middle-earth is a must-read collection for all dedicated fans of The Lord of the Rings. Though understandably not nearly as well-known as The Hobbit, LOTR, or even The Silmarillion, the trio of novels in this set are the final pieces of prose fiction that take place across the author's iconic brilliant fantasy world. All of the stories take place during Middle-earth's First Age, so while written and published later than Tolkien's other books, these are the oldest full-length stories in Middle-earth.The new 2025 hardcover editions come with reversible dust jackets and feature special color plates, pencil drawings, and illustrated maps by Christopher Tolkien and beloved LOTR illustrator Alan Lee.Here are the three books you'll find in the beautiful display case, which features a fire-breathing dragon.The Children of Húrin (2007): Written after The Silmarillion as a standalone prequel story, The Children of Húrin takes place 6,000 years before the events of LOTR. The story follows the cursed son of Húrin, named Túrin, during an era of intense and constant war and widespread devastation caused by the Dark Lord Morgoth. If you've read The Silmarillion, you will recognize some of the names found in this novel.Beren and Lúthien (2017): Another very early tale set in Middle-earth, Beren and Lúthien was reworked and revised over time and eventually became part of The Silmarillion. This compilation of Lúthien and Beren's story was originally published in 2017. It shows the evolution of the love story between the mortal man Beren and immortal elf Lúthien.The Fall of Gondolin (2018): Founded by King Turgon, the eponymous city of elves was concealed for many years before Lord Morgoth's quest to destroy elven life across Middle-earth. The Fall of Gondolin's main protagonist is Túrin's cousin, Tuor, and his family. Tuor is married to Turgon's daughter, Idril. The story follows their attempt to save their child after the Gondolin (unsurprisingly) falls.It's worth noting that The Great Tales of Middle-earth is already available as a hardcover box set. While it won't match Myths and Legends or the four History of Middle-earth Box Sets, the 2018 hardcover collection is on sale for only $50 (was $100) at Amazon. Alternatively, you can purchase each book individually in hardcover or paperback.The Great Tales of Middle-earth Editions:The Great Tales of Middle-earth Hardcover Box Set (2018) (3 Books) -- $50 ($100)The Great Tales of Middle-earth Hardcover Box Set (2025) (3 Books) -- $125 | Releases August 19The Children of Hurin (Paperback) -- $10.70 ($19)The Children of Hurin (Hardcover) -- $14 ($35)Beren and Lúthien (Paperback) -- $13.69 ($19)Beren and Lúthien (Hardcover) -- $22.50 ($35)The Fall of Gondolin (Paperback) -- $11.69 ($19)The Fall of Gondolin (Hardcover) -- $14.41 ($35) Preorder at Amazon See at Amazon (2018 set) The Great Tales of Middle-earth Hardcover Box Set (2018) $50 (was $100) See at Amazon The History of Middle-earth Hardcover Box Sets (2024)J.R.R. Tolkien - The History of Middle-earth Box Sets (2024)The History of Middle-earth Hardcover Box Set 1 (4 Books) -- $63.37 ($125)The History of Middle-earth Hardcover Box Set 2 (3 Books) -- $57.18 ($100)The History of Middle-earth Hardcover Box Set 3 (4 Books) -- $73.60 ($125)The History of Middle-earth Hardcover Box Set 4 (4 Books) -- $68 ($125)The Complete History of Middle-earth Hardcover Box Set (3 Books) -- $138 ($250)The History of Middle-earth Paperback Box Set (5 Books) -- $28 ($50)The History of Middle-earth was originally published over a 14-year stretch from 1983 to 1996. While creating his fantasy world, Tolkien took extensive notes, building a backstory for Middle-earth across three different ages and 6,500-plus years. You could argue that the author's dedication to crafting the setting that would become home to a pair of landmark fantasy novels turned Middle-earth into the most believable character Tolkien created. His mythopoeic writings formed what is commonly referred to as Tolkien's legendarium.At the time of Tolkien's death in 1973, the exhaustive backstory of Middle-earth remained unpublished. Over the next few years, his son and literary executor, Christopher Tolkien, undertook the daunting project of editing, expanding, and curating the legendarium into publishable works. The legendarium would become a 12-volume series titled The History of Middle-earth.Continue Reading at GameSpot

Published May 23, 2025 10:00am EDT close Expert warns artificial general intelligence could be more dangerous than a nuclear weapon Tyler Saltsman, founder and CEO of EdgeRunner AI, warns that creating artificial general intelligence could "destroy the world as we know it." Whether it's powering your phone’s autocorrect or helping someone create a new recipe with a few words, artificial intelligence (AI) is everywhere right now. But if you're still nodding along when someone mentions "neural networks" or "generative AI," you're not alone.Today I am breaking down five buzzy AI terms that you've probably seen in headlines, group chats or app updates, minus the tech talk. Understanding these basics will help you talk AI with confidence, even if you’re not a programmer.Stay tuned for more in this series as we dive deeper into privacy-related tech terms and other essential concepts, answering the top questions we get from readers like you.JOIN THE FREE ‘CYBERGUY REPORT’: GET MY EXPERT TECH TIPS, CRITICAL SECURITY ALERTS AND EXCLUSIVE DEALS, PLUS INSTANT ACCESS TO MY FREE ‘ULTIMATE SCAM SURVIVAL GUIDE’ WHEN YOU SIGN UP! Visual Illustration of AI (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)1. Artificial intelligence (AI)The big umbrella term Artificial Intelligence is a broad term for computer systems that can do tasks normally requiring human intelligence. That includes understanding language, recognizing images, making decisions and even learning from experience.You’re using AI when:Your email suggests repliesYour phone transcribes your voiceNetflix recommends what to watch nextThink of AI as the category; everything else on this list is a branch of it. It’s the foundation for all the smart tools we use today, from voice assistants to facial recognition. As AI continues to evolve, it has the power to make everyday tasks easier, faster and more personalized. But as it becomes more embedded in our lives, understanding the basics is key to using it wisely and protecting your digital autonomy.2. Machine learning (ML)How AI learns patternsMachine Learning is a type of AI that learns from data instead of being explicitly programmed. It improves over time by finding patterns and making predictions.For example: You like action movies. You watch a few. Over time, the algorithm learns your preferences and recommends similar titles, even if you didn’t say anything directly.Common uses of ML:Spam filters in emailFraud detection in bankingPersonalized playlistsML is how AI "gets smarter" by itself, and it's a big part of how tech becomes more helpful and intuitive. From catching suspicious charges on your credit card to curating your favorite music, machine learning can make life more seamless and even safer. But as with any technology, it’s important to stay aware of how your data is being used and who’s doing the learning. The more we understand how it works, the better we can decide how and when to trust it.3. Neural networkThe tech that mimics your brainNeural Networks are a special kind of machine learning designed to mimic how the human brain works, at least loosely. They're made up of layers of "neurons" that process data and make decisions.They’re particularly good at recognizing complex patterns, like identifying faces in photos or translating languages.Use cases include:Face ID unlocking your phoneSpeech-to-text appsTranslating text in real timeIf AI is the brain, neural networks are the brain cells doing the work. Neural networks are the part of AI that actually processes information. They’re designed to mimic how human brains work, taking in data, learning patterns and making decisions. So, when AI recognizes a face, writes a sentence or makes a suggestion, it’s neural networks making that happen behind the scenes. Illustration of humans and machine learning (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)FOX NEWS AI NEWSLETTER: THE SCHOOL WHERE AI RUNS THE CLASSROOM4. Generative AIAI that creates, not just predictsGenerative AI doesn’t just analyze data, it creates new stuff: text, images, videos, code, music, even voices. It’s trained on huge amounts of content and learns how to generate something new that mimics the original.You’ve seen it in action if you’ve used:ChatGPT or similar bots to write messagesAI art generators like Midjourney or DALL·EAuto-generated captions or social media copyIt’s like giving a machine a vibe and watching it invent something that fits. Generative AI is creative, fast and sometimes uncannily realistic, which is what makes it both exciting and a little unsettling.Think you can tell the difference?Be sure to play my game to guess which photo is AI and which one is real. It’s harder than you think and a good reminder that as these tools get more advanced, staying alert and informed is more important than ever.WHAT IS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI)? Find the fake kitten. (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)5. PromptThe magic words that make AI workA prompt is the input you give to an AI system, usually a question, command or description. It’s how you talk to tools like ChatGPT or image generators.The better your prompt, the better the result.Examples:"Write a birthday message in the style of Shakespeare""Create a recipe using only chickpeas and chocolate""Make an image of a robot drinking coffee in Paris, 1920s style"Prompts are to AI what questions are to Google, but with more creativity and conversation. Unlike a search engine that simply points you to existing content, AI can generate entirely new ideas, images and text based on what you ask. It’s more than a search box; it’s a creative tool. Whether you’re drafting a story, designing a logo or planning a vacation, learning how to prompt effectively lets you tap into AI’s full potential as a collaborator, not just an information source.Kurt’s key takeawaysYou don’t need a computer science degree to understand AI, just a few solid definitions. From machine learning and neural networks to generative AI and prompts, these tools are no longer reserved for tech labs; they're becoming part of your everyday life. Whether it’s helping you write an email, organize your photos or get dinner ideas based on what’s in your fridge, AI is already working behind the scenes to make life a little easier (and sometimes a lot more interesting).Now that you’ve got the lingo down, you’ll be better equipped to navigate the AI-powered world with confidence and curiosity.CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPWant to go deeper? Interested in how AI can improve your daily routine or looking for creative prompt ideas to get the most out of tools like ChatGPT? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.For more of my tech tips and security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to Cyberguy.com/Newsletter.Ask Kurt a question or let us know what stories you'd like us to cover.Follow Kurt on his social channels:Answers to the most-asked CyberGuy questions:New from Kurt:Copyright 2025 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved. Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist who has a deep love of technology, gear and gadgets that make life better with his contributions for Fox News & FOX Business beginning mornings on "FOX & Friends." Got a tech question? Get Kurt’s free CyberGuy Newsletter, share your voice, a story idea or comment at CyberGuy.com.