AI expert: ChatGPT prompts you’ll wish you knew sooner

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May 2, 2024

ChatGPT has changed my life — and yours, even if you don’t use it as much as I do.

You’ve probably noticed the new AI search bar in all the Meta apps, including Facebook and Instagram. It won’t be long before all your most-used apps and services integrate chatbots. (Yes, I’m sure the folks at Google are quaking in their search boots.)

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WHAT IS CHATGPT?

Don’t wait to get comfortable with AI. Try out a few of these prompts and flex your chatbot muscles. You’ll see just how easy they are to use.

To save you time

Recently, I uploaded a commercial building’s rent roll, profit and loss statement, and comps for the area. I asked ChatGPT to analyze the data and see if it’s a good investment.

Sure, I know how to do that math myself, but it would have taken 30 minutes. No joke, it took me longer to upload the documents than it did for ChatGPT to come up with the answers — about 30 seconds.

Known as a versatile time-saver, ChatGPT is capable of facilitating a wide array of tasks. (Gabby Jones/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

The best part is it laid out the calculations and reasoning, so I could analyze them myself and double-check its work. If you don’t get that with your answer, you can always ask something like, “How did you make that decision?” or “Tell me how you got that answer.”

To make a decision when you can’t

There’s a term for this: Decision fatigue. Sometimes, you’ve had to pick so many things in one week that you just can’t do it again. Try these:

“I’m having three friends over for dinner tomorrow. One is a vegetarian, and one is allergic to peanuts. What should I make for dinner?”
“My mother-in-law is asking for my help choosing a destination for a family vacation. Last year, we went to Rosemary Beach in Florida, and everyone complained the water was too warm. We live in Houston, and no one wants to fly more than five hours. Can you give me some options?”

To help you do something complex

Say you’re an HR manager and must create an employee guide from scratch. That’s a heck of a lot of work, and you’d likely end up heading to a search engine to see where to begin. A chatbot can do that, too, and even create an outline for you.

MORE DOCTORS USE CHATGPT TO HELP WITH BUSY WORKLOADS, BUT IS AI A RELIABLE ASSISTANT?

This bears emphasis: Do not use an LLM chatbot to create legal documents or anything that really needs a lawyer or other professional’s touch. But as a starting place? Absolutely.

To be an impartial third party

You’re arguing with a friend, your spouse, or a relative. Or maybe you’re in a contentious situation with someone professionally. Before you text or type an angry reply, consult someone without emotion attached to the situation: your chatbot of choice.

Here’s a prompt idea: “My roommate and I are arguing because she keeps leaving her dirty dishes in the sink for days, even though they’re attracting bugs. How can I respectfully make the point that I need her to stop this?”

To analyze information

This is an AI sweet spot. The technology excels at finding patterns and pointing them out. Here are a couple of examples to get started:

“Here’s a 20-page legal document. Summarize the main points for me.”

ChatGPT can be a useful tool for the quick processing and synthesis of information. (Frank Rumpenhorst/picture alliance via Getty Images)

“These are customer reviews. Break them into percentages by negative, neutral and positive.” Like that, you have valuable data and don’t have to spend time parsing it yourself.

To help you find the right words

Say you’re hiring a contractor to build a nice new website for your small business. The problem is you don’t “speak” website and aren’t sure where to begin. AI to the rescue. Find some sites you like — the ones you see and think, “Wow, I want one like this!”

Put all those URLs into your favorite chatbot and ask it for a detailed description of their shared elements and overall design. This can help you communicate what you want much more eloquently.

To do the boring tasks for you

You’re going on vacation. Use your last bit of willpower to finish the work you need to. AI can write your out-of-office email. Remember, the more detail and direction you give, the better.

HERE’S HOW AI WILL EMPOWER CITIZENS AND ENHANCE LIBERTY

“Write an out-of-office email” will give you bland (or totally unusable) results. Try something like: “Write an out-of-office email letting my contacts know I’ll be back to work on Monday. I will have limited access to email and will respond by next Wednesday.”

You’ll get something more polished, professional and conversational than you would have whipped up on your own.

To brainstorm things to do

Let’s stick with the vacation example. Your big trip is in two weeks and you have no clue what to do with the kids in the city you’re visiting. Before you make the travel blog rounds, try a chatbot.

“I’m going on vacation to San Diego with my husband and 11-year-old twins. What are some fun, interesting things I can take everyone to do? I’d like a mix of free and affordable activities. My kids are picky eaters and really enjoy being outside.”

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US lawmakers warn of Iranian crypto miners threatening national security

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May 2, 2024

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US lawmakers warn of Iranian crypto miners threatening national security

According to Senators Elizabeth Warren and Angus King, the Iranian government has used funds from crypto mining to fund terrorist organizations.

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US lawmakers urge SEC to approve Bitcoin options trading

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May 2, 2024

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US lawmakers urge SEC to approve Bitcoin options trading

Representatives Mike Flood and Wiley Nickel urged the SEC’s chair Gary Gensler to stop discriminating against Bitcoin funds in a letter.

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Mpox outbreak in Congo may be a new form of the disease

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May 2, 2024

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Mpox outbreak in Congo may be a new form of the disease

Congo is struggling to contain its biggest mpox outbreak, and scientists say a new form of the disease detected in a mining town might more easily spread among people.

Since January, Congo has reported more than 4,500 suspected mpox cases and nearly 300 deaths, numbers that have roughly tripled from the same period last year, according to the World Health Organization. Congo recently declared the outbreak across the country a health emergency.

An analysis of patients hospitalized between October and January in Kamituga, eastern Congo, suggests recent genetic mutations in mpox are the result of its continued transmission in humans; it’s happening in a town where people have little contact with the wild animals thought to naturally carry the disease.

CDC ISSUES ALERT FOR NEW MPOX (MONKEYPOX) CASES IN CHICAGO

“We’re in a new phase of mpox,” said Dr. Placide Mbala-Kingebeni, the lead researcher of the study, who said it will soon be submitted to a journal for publication. Mbala-Kingebeni heads a lab at Congo’s National Institute of Biomedical Research, which studies the genetics of diseases.

The lesions reported by most patients are milder and on the genitals, Mbala-Kingebeni said, making the disease trickier to diagnose. In previous outbreaks in Africa, lesions were mostly seen on the chest, hands and feet. He also said that the new form seems to have a lower death rate.

A patient shows the rash marks on his hands due to the 1996 to 1997 monkeypox outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. (CDC/Brian W.J. Mahy/Handout via REUTERS)

In a report on the global mpox situation this week, WHO said the new version of the disease might require a new testing strategy to pick up the mutations.

With experts pointing out that fewer than half of people in Congo with mpox are tested, Mbala-Kingebeni said: “The risk is that unless patients themselves come forward, we will have a silent transmission of the disease and nobody will know.”

Mbala-Kingebeni said most people were infected via sex, with about a third of mpox cases found in sex workers. It was not until the 2022 global emergency of mpox that scientists established the disease was spread via sex, with most cases in gay or bisexual men. In November, WHO confirmed sexual transmission of mpox in Congo for the first time.

There are two kinds, or clades, of mpox, which is related to smallpox and endemic to central and west Africa. Clade 1 is more severe and can kill up to 10% of people infected. Clade 2 triggered the 2022 outbreak; more than 99% of people infected survived.

WHAT IS ALASKAPOX? FIRST FATALITY REPORTED FROM ANIMAL-BORNE VIRUS, LIKELY CONTRACTED FROM STRAY CAT

Mbala-Kingebeni and colleagues said they have identified a new form of clade 1 that may be responsible for more than 240 cases and at least three deaths in Kamituga, a region with a significant transient population traveling elsewhere in Africa and beyond.

Dr. Boghuma Titanji, an infectious diseases expert at Emory University who is not connected to the research, said the new mutations are concerning.

“This suggests the virus is adapting to spread efficiently in humans and could cause some pretty consequential outbreaks,” she said.

Although the mpox epidemics in the West were contained with the help of vaccines and treatments, barely any have been available in Congo. Congo’s minister of health has authorized the use of vaccines in high-risk provinces, said Cris Kacita Osako, coordinator of Congo’s Monkeypox Response Committee. He said officials are in talks with donor countries like Japan to help buy the shots.

“Once a sufficient quantity of vaccines is available … vaccination will be implemented as part of the response,” Kacita Osako said.

Dr. Dimie Ogoina, an mpox expert at Niger Delta University, said the new research is an unsettling reminder of an earlier — but different — outbreak.

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“The notable spread among sex workers is reminiscent of the early stages of HIV,” he said, explaining that prejudices attached to treating sexually transmitted infections and the reluctance of people with mpox to come forward were worrying.

WHO’s emergencies chief, Dr. Michael Ryan, said last week that despite the ongoing spread of mpox in Africa and elsewhere, “there has not been a single donor dollar invested.”

‘Mr. 100’ buys the Bitcoin dip for the first time since halving — Is the BTC bottom in?

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May 2, 2024

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‘Mr. 100’ buys the Bitcoin dip for the first time since halving — Is the BTC bottom in?

Mr. 100, an entity previously identified as Upbit, has bought over $147 million worth of Bitcoin for the first time since the halving, suggesting an end to the current retracement.

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Nigerian court postpones money laundering trial of Binance and execs

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May 2, 2024

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Nigerian court postpones money laundering trial of Binance and execs

A judge in Nigeria reportedly adjourned proceedings in a case against Binance and two executives until May 17 to allow lawyers to review certain documents.

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Bitcoin price correction 'very common' if $56K lows hold — Peter Brandt

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May 2, 2024

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Bitcoin price correction 'very common' if K lows hold — Peter Brandt

Bitcoin bulls see signs of the worst being over as a BTC price bounce gathers pace toward $60,000.

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Pregnancy-related deaths back down to pre-pandemic levels, CDC data says

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May 2, 2024

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Pregnancy-related deaths back down to pre-pandemic levels, CDC data says

U.S. pregnancy-related deaths have fallen back to pre-pandemic levels, new government data suggests.

About 680 women died last year during pregnancy or shortly after childbirth, according to provisional CDC data. That’s down from 817 deaths in 2022 and 1,205 in 2021, when it was the highest level in more than 50 years.

COVID-19 seems to be the main explanation for the improvement, said Donna Hoyert, a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention maternal mortality researcher.

US BIRTHS SAW NOTABLE DECREASE IN 2023, MARKING END TO LATE PANDEMIC REBOUND, EXPERTS SAY

The coronavirus can be particularly dangerous to pregnant women. And, in the worst days of the pandemic, burned out physicians may have added to the risk by ignoring pregnant women’s worries, experts say.

Fewer death certificates are mentioning COVID-19 as a contributor to pregnancy-related deaths. The count was over 400 in 2021 but fewer than 10 last year, Hoyert said.

The agency on Thursday released a report detailing the final maternal mortality data for 2022. It also recently released provisional data for 2023. Those numbers are expected to change after further analysis — the final 2022 number was 11% higher than the provisional one. Still, 2023 is expected to end up down from 2022, Hoyert said.

A room in a Mississippi hospital maternity ward is seen on Oct. 11, 2012. In 2023, U.S. pregnancy-related deaths fell back to pre-pandemic levels, according to data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on May 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis, File)

The CDC counts women who die while pregnant, during childbirth and up to 42 days after birth from conditions considered related to pregnancy. Excessive bleeding, blood vessel blockages and infections are leading causes.

There were about 19 maternal deaths for every 100,000 live births in 2023, according to the provisional data. That’s in line with rates seen in 2018 and 2019.

But racial disparities remain: The death rate in Black moms is more than two-and-a-half times higher than that of white and Hispanic mothers.

“In the last five years we’ve really not improved on lowering the maternal death rate in our country, so there’s still a lot of work to do,” said Ashley Stoneburner, the March of Dimes’ director of applied research and analytics.

The advocacy organization this week kicked off an education campaign to get more pregnant women to consider taking low-dose aspirin if they are at risk of preeclempsia — a high blood pressure disorder that can harm both the mother and baby.

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There are other efforts that may be helping to lower deaths and lingering health problems related to pregnancy, including stepped-up efforts to fight infections and address blood loss, said Dr. Laura Riley, a New York City-based obstetrician who handles high-risk pregnancies.

But there’s a risk that those kinds of improvements are being offset by a number of factors that may reduce the ability of women to get medical care before, during and after a birth, she said. Experts say the list includes the closure of rural hospitals and a 2022 U.S. Supreme Court decision that did away with the federally established right to abortion — and contributed to physician burnout by causing doctors to feel constrained about providing care during pregnancy-related medical emergencies.

“I think there’s good news. We’re making strides in certain areas,” said Riley, head OB-GYN at Weill Cornell Medicine. “But the bad news and scary news is … there are these other political and social forces that make this (reducing maternal deaths) difficult.”

How to unlock special features on your iPhone to improve voice search

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May 2, 2024

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Technology is not just built for your convenience. If utilized correctly, it can also improve the functions of your daily life. For those who experience mobility challenges, the iPhone’s accessibility features can improve their quality of life. That’s why we appreciate Michael’s question about how to use voice services on his iPhone.

“I am blind. I am looking for an app I can use on my iPhone so I can verbally ask a question to a search engine and get a verbal answer.” — Michael, Manassas, Virginia

Several iPhone features, including Siri, VoiceOver and Spoken Content, are available. These can be used in tandem to help you search the web verbally and get a verbal response without downloading an additional app. If these native features don’t fit the bill, two apps rose to the top for working with voice commands.

Hopefully, you already have the Spoken Content feature set up so that you can read this article aloud. If you don’t already have that set up on your device, here is our article on how to get your phone to read articles aloud for step-by-step guidance.

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Side button on iPhone (Apple)

How to use Siri to help search the web

Siri is an excellent tool for helping with almost any task you can do manually on the iPhone. Follow the steps below to use Siri to search the web and verbally provide feedback or answers.

For iPhone 8 and older:

Press and hold the Home button (usually located at the bottom middle of your iPhone)
Say something like “Search the web for how to use Siri to search the web.”
Siri will display a list of search results from the web. You can tap on any results to open them in Safari.
If you want Siri to read the search results aloud, you can say “Read it” or “Read it again” after Siri has displayed the search results.

For iPhone X and newer:

Press and hold the Side button (usually located on the right side of your iPhone) or say, “Hey, Siri” to activate Siri.
Say something like, “Search the web for how to use Siri to search the web.”
Siri will display a list of search results from the web. You can tap on any results to open them in Safari.
If you want Siri to read the search results aloud, you can say “Read it” or “Read it again” after Siri has displayed the search results.

If there are many search results and tapping the results proves to require additional help, please check out how to set up “VoiceOver” below. It will announce whatever you tap on your iPhone screen so you can have the Siri results verbalized to you.

MORE: HOW TO USE SIRI WITHOUT SAYING ‘HEY’

How to use VoiceOver to take Siri to the next level

This begs the next question: once Siri presents you with the search results, how do you select and utilize the previously mentioned read-aloud features? This is where another accessibility feature on the iPhone called “VoiceOver” comes into play.

The great function of this feature is that it speaks aloud to the different options on your screen as you move your fingers over them. So, for instance, even if Siri pulls up your search results based on your verbal question, Siri sometimes has difficulty selecting the articles it has pulled up for you to read.

For those who are visually impaired or blind, there is no point in pulling up search results you can’t navigate once you get them. But because “VoiceOver” speaks out loud what you are grazing your finger over, you can hear the article title or other action you want to take on the iPhone. Then, you can double-tap to select the option you want.

How to turn on VoiceOver on an iPhone

Go to your iPhone’s Home Screen
Tap Settings
Scroll down and tap Accessibility
Tap VoiceOver

Steps to turn on VoiceOver on iPhone (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

Tap the toggle to the right of the “VoiceOver” option
Then the grayed-out button should appear green if it has been turned on.

Steps to turn on VoiceOver on iPhone (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

For example, if you put your finger over the “Accessibility” button or option with VoiceOver on, the iPhone will announce the “Accessibility back button” to let you know that’s the option you are touching. If you then tap twice, it will take you back to the Settings menu.

It takes a little getting used to, but once you get the hang of it, the iPhone becomes much easier to navigate. Visually impaired users can also blend the voice-activated features with the tactile features.

Woman using VoiceOver on iPhone (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

MORE: 8 GREAT IPHONE ACCESSIBILITY TIPS TO MAKE LIFE EASIER

How to use Alexa to navigate verbally

You can also use the Alexa app and Alexa device to unlock voice-activated support when using your iPhone and other smart devices. To utilize these features, go to the device settings on your Alexa app and enable “Alexa Hands-Free mode.”

Much like Siri on iPhones X or later, Alexa will respond to your voice whenever you say “Alexa” when the app is open and in use. To learn more about Alexa’s features, check out four common things Alexa can do better than you.

MORE: IS ALEXA SECRETLY LISTENING TO YOUR PRIVATE CONVERSATIONS?

How to use Google Assistant to navigate verbally

You can also use the Google Assistant app to unlock voice-activated support when using your iPhone or other smart devices. Once you’ve downloaded and configured the app to your liking and specification, there are three ways to interact with Google Assistant:

1. Tap the microphone icon

2. Type your question or command

3. If enabled, say, “Hey Siri, Hey Google.” When using this feature, Siri will open the Google Assistant app with your request and the Google Assistant will respond.

If you already have a Google account and use many of their apps, Google Assistant will help you navigate them fluidly. However, it is important to note that it is not as deeply integrated into the iOS system as Siri.

MORE: UNFORGETTABLE MOTHER’S DAY GIFTS 2024

Kurt’s key takeaways

Advancements in iPhone features can improve the ability of those with visual impairments and other mobility issues to utilize technology to the fullest. Between Siri’s ability to respond to verbal commands (with a simple click of a button or verbal request) and the accessibility features’ ability to help verbally navigate your phone and Siri’s responses, all users can maximize the power of their iPhones.

What additional features would you like to see in future smartphone updates to improve accessibility? 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.

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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.

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