AI for Everyone–Whether we like it or not!

Artificial intelligence is in vogue and is omnipresent on the web. But does every application bring real added value?

I recently spotted a small, colorful ring icon on WhatsApp. I already had a feeling what was coming—and sure enough, tapping it brought me straight to “Meta AI.” Just a few days earlier, I had kicked Copilot out of office and had disabled “Aria” (Opera’s built-in AI). The fact that my insurance company first routed me to a (rather dumb) chatbot didn’t help my mood either. Is it even possible to avoid AI anymore? 

When the Ad Blocker Suddenly Disappears

Is Google kicking ad blockers out of Chrome? The first step has been taken!

Chrome is the dominant browser—but those who recently opened it often encountered an unpleasant surprise. Many popular extensions, including the widely used uBlock Origin (with over 50 million installations), no longer work. Others have received new versions with limited functionality and fewer customization options. The reason for this is the new Manifest V3 for Chrome extensions, which is currently being rolled out. What does this mean, what are Google's goals, and what alternatives do you have? Find out here!

The return of boot dread

Windows updates are usually routine, but lately, many users have been approaching their PCs with uneasy feelings. Read on to find out why!

Long-time Windows users are familiar with the suspense of system startups: Will the computer boot without hiccups today? Even if you were convinced that you hadn’t changed anything, the screen could stay black or be filled with error messages. This often led to desperation, frustration, time-consuming repair attempts, or even a complete reinstallation. Over the years, I had almost forgotten about all that, but now the suspense is back with a vengeance, bearing names like KB5035853 or KB5035849!

Just a great camera with a bit of phone attached? 4 Weeks with the Google Pixel 8

My new phone needed to be compact, have a good camera, and offer a pure, slim Android experience. Will the Google Pixel 8 convince me?

When battery life starts to wane and security updates stop coming, a phone enters its twilight years—time for something new! My requirements were clear: I didn't want a phone that felt like a brick in my pocket, I wanted an exceptionally good camera, and I wanted a clean operating system without bloatware! This ruled out 90% of phones, which now aim for the size of a chocolate bar or, like many Chinese phones, bug you with ads or unwanted software. So, I checked out the Google Pixel 8, which has dropped to a more reasonable price a few months after its launch. Will it shine where it matters to me?

A 27-inch WQHD display for less than $200 that is suitable for gaming? My review of Koorui 27E1QA

A 27-inch QHD gaming monitor for less than $200–consider my curiosity piqued!

A 27-inch WQHD display for less than $200 that is suitable for gaming?

Recently, I retired my old computer. For 7 years, it had bravely held its own, with only the graphics card being modestly upgraded–and its age gradually starting to show. With the new system, my attention turned to my equally aged monitor. Not only was it unable to display the higher resolutions my new graphics card could display, it also couldn’t handle more than 60 Hz–and had a dead pixel that had been annoying me for quite some time. So, I started looking for a value-oriented replacement and came across the **KOORUI 27-inch QHD** gaming monitor. Wait a second, QHD resolution, 1 ms response time, and 144 Hz for under $200? It was worth a try–and I got to explain a few technical terms along the way!

Recently, I retired my old computer. For 7 years, it had bravely held its own, with only the graphics card being modestly upgraded–and its age gradually starting to show. With the new system, my attention turned to my equally aged monitor. Not only was it unable to display the higher resolutions my new graphics card could display, it also couldn’t handle more than 60 Hz–and had a dead pixel that had been annoying me for quite some time. So, I started looking for a value-oriented replacement and came across the KOORUI 27-inch QHD gaming monitor. Wait a second, QHD resolution, 1 ms response time, and 144 Hz for under $200? It was worth a try–and I got to explain a few technical terms along the way!


5 great browser extensions for ChatGPT

ChatGPT is also a great tool for web surfers. Here are 5 browser extensions I use on a daily basis.

The buzz around [ChatGPT](https://blog.ashampoo.com/en/2023-03-10/chatgpt-chances-and-risks) has subsided. What remains is a quite useful tool to auto-create and process texts. Naturally, blog articles, like the one you're reading, are handcrafted with love–but ChatGPT still helps me to save time and effort in my everyday life. Because, the artificial intelligence can do a lot more if you let it! Browser extensions, also called add-ons, yield better search results, sum up entire pages, and even do my internet research for me every now and then! Here are five decent browser extensions that rely on ChatGPT to provide their services.

The buzz around ChatGPT has subsided. What remains is a quite useful tool to auto-create and process texts. Naturally, blog articles, like the one you're reading, are handcrafted with love–but ChatGPT still helps me to save time and effort in my everyday life. Because, the artificial intelligence can do a lot more if you let it! Browser extensions, also called add-ons, yield better search results, sum up entire pages, and even do my internet research for me every now and then! Here are five decent browser extensions that rely on ChatGPT to provide their services.


Shodan: The eeriest search engine on the web

Shodan is arguably the eeriest search engine one the web because it reveals devices that shouldn’t be there!

Do you use a surveillance camera, fitness tracker, or smart lighting? Are your smoke detectors connected to the internet to send status notifications similar to modern security systems? Today, an assumed **50 billion devices are online** to allow for information sharing as well as easy monitoring and controlling. Doesn't this entail a major security risk? Shodan, *the most controversial search engine* on the planet, will tell you.

Do you use a surveillance camera, fitness tracker, or smart lighting? Are your smoke detectors connected to the internet to send status notifications similar to modern security systems? Today, an assumed 50 billion devices are online to allow for information sharing as well as easy monitoring and controlling. Doesn't this entail a major security risk? Shodan, the most controversial search engine on the planet, will tell you.


ChatGPT - Chances and risks

Welcome to my blog post about ChatGPT, an impressive yet controversial language model from OpenAI!

"Welcome to my blog about ChatGPT - a cutting-edge language model developed by OpenAI! As an AI language model, ChatGPT has been designed to communicate with humans in natural language and provide informative responses to a wide range of queries. With its advanced capabilities in natural language processing and machine learning, ChatGPT has become one of the most sophisticated and powerful language models available today. In this blog, we will explore the features and functionality of ChatGPT, and delve into the ways in which it can be used to enhance communication and improve knowledge sharing. So if you're curious about ChatGPT and want to learn more about how it can help you achieve your goals, be sure to read on!"

&quot;Welcome to my blog about ChatGPT - a cutting-edge language model developed by OpenAI! As an AI language model, ChatGPT has been designed to communicate with humans in natural language and provide informative responses to a wide range of queries. With its advanced capabilities in natural language processing and machine learning, ChatGPT has become one of the most sophisticated and powerful language models available today. In this blog, we will explore the features and functionality of ChatGPT, and delve into the ways in which it can be used to enhance communication and improve knowledge sharing. So if you're curious about ChatGPT and want to learn more about how it can help you achieve your goals, be sure to read on!&quot;


It's been a year, is Windows 11 now worth it?

It's been little more than a year: What's happening with Windows 11 and is it time to switch/update?

I recently had a pleasant chat with an acquaintance of mine about our jobs and related news. He's a chemist and talked about plastics that remain malleable at specific temperatures and are based on renewable raw materials (it sounded more fascinating in person). My topic was somewhat predictable: **Windows 11!** He had only seen a few screenshots and asked me whether the OS was worth picking up. I was getting ready to refer him to a [previous blog post](https://blog.ashampoo.com/en/2021-08-17/joy-sorrow-and-system-requirements-the-new-windows-11) but decided against it since a year of using the new OS had changed my perspective a little. Time for an update!

I recently had a pleasant chat with an acquaintance of mine about our jobs and related news. He's a chemist and talked about plastics that remain malleable at specific temperatures and are based on renewable raw materials (it sounded more fascinating in person). My topic was somewhat predictable: Windows 11! He had only seen a few screenshots and asked me whether the OS was worth picking up. I was getting ready to refer him to a previous blog post but decided against it since a year of using the new OS had changed my perspective a little. Time for an update!


Limited anonymity: What incognito mode does and doesn't do

Incognito mode is the less prominent backroom in Chrome: People don't talk about it, yet it is heavily frequented. So what does it do–and what not?

Incognito mode is a little like **the smoke-filled backroom of Google Chrome**: You know something is happening there but nobody's talking about it. Officially, Google calls it "private browsing", others prefer "skin show", since the mode is frequently used in conjunction with nudity. And then there are those who just won't do avoid the ubiquitous "Hello XY, here is your personal offer" welcome screens. The truth is, *very few know what incognito mode does under the hood*, yet millions rely on it every day! There's currently a pending lawsuit against Google that could result in a billion dollar fine. Why? Because incognito mode does far less than users think!

Incognito mode is a little like the smoke-filled backroom of Google Chrome: You know something is happening there but nobody's talking about it. Officially, Google calls it &quot;private browsing&quot;, others prefer &quot;skin show&quot;, since the mode is frequently used in conjunction with nudity. And then there are those who just won't do avoid the ubiquitous &quot;Hello XY, here is your personal offer&quot; welcome screens. The truth is, very few know what incognito mode does under the hood, yet millions rely on it every day! There's currently a pending lawsuit against Google that could result in a billion dollar fine. Why? Because incognito mode does far less than users think!


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