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    How to turn off ACR on your TV (and why it makes such a big difference)

    Kerry Wan/ZDNETDid you know that whenever you turn on your smart TV, you invite an unseen guest to watch it with you? These days, most popular TV models utilize automatic content recognition (ACR), a form of ad surveillance technology that gathers information about everything you watch and transmits it to a centralized database. Manufacturers then use your data to identify your viewing preferences, enabling them to deliver highly targeted ads.Also: Your TV’s USB port is seriously underutilized: 5 features you’re not taking advantage ofWhat’s the incentive behind this invasive technology? According to market research firm eMarketer, in 2022, advertisers spent an estimated $18.6 billion on smart TV ads, and those numbers are only going up.To understand how ACR works, imagine a constant, real-time Shazam-like service running in the background while your TV is on. It identifies content displayed on your screen, including programs from cable TV boxes, streaming services, or gaming consoles. ACR does this by capturing continuous screenshots and cross-referencing them with a vast database of media content and advertisements. More

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    PayPal’s AI-powered scam alert system might intercept your transactions now – here’s why

    Getty Images / SOPA Images / Contributor Cybersecurity is a cat-and-mouse game, with new technologies providing more sophisticated protections — and threats. That has only accelerated with generative AI, which has led to even more advanced attacks, but PayPal is now leveraging it to stay ahead. PayPal, which also owns the digital payment platform Venmo, […] More

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    A million customer conversations with AI agents yielded this surprising lesson

    Mykyta Atamanchuk/Getty Images Salesforce has had over one million AI agent-customer conversations. The company launched AI agents on its Salesforce Help site in October 2024, a full-screen experience that makes getting support simpler and more intuitive. With more than 60 million visits each year, Salesforce Help offers a wide range of product content through organized directories, search, and […] More

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    Best Prime Day laptop deals 2025: Discounts on MacBooks, Windows, and more

    When is Amazon Prime Day 2025? This year, Prime Day starts on Tuesday, July 8, and goes through Friday, July 11. Are laptops really cheaper on Prime Day? Manufacturers know consumers are on the lookout for deals during Prime Day, so yes, quite a few of the laptop sales have significantly steeper discounts than during regular sales throughout the year. How did we choose these Prime Day deals?Our team of reviewers at ZDNET only write about deals we personally can vouch for and would personally recommend. We scour the deals for sale prices that are at least 20% off, or are hardly ever on sale, using established price comparison tools and trackers to determine how frequently it drops. We also looked over customer reviews to find out what matters to real people who already own and use the deals we’re recommending. Our recommendations may also be based on our own testing — in addition to extensive research and comparison shopping. The goal is to deliver the most accurate advice to help you shop smarter.  More