Around the Web: Five Tech Reads Worth Your Time

Quick answer: AI is saving workers a modest slice of time, you can fence private apps off from Siri AI, the FTC wants input on imposter ads, and a gadget checklist works for hearing aids too.

Too many tabs open, not enough hours? We opened them for you: four outside pages we read and checked, plus one guide from our sister site, each with something you can do before your coffee gets cold.

At a glance

Item	Source	Date	One-line takeaway
AI time savings at work	St. Louis Fed (FRED Blog)	27 Aug 2026	Use is up; self-reported time saved is small but real.
Siri AI privacy setting	Electronic Frontier Foundation	28 Oct 2026	Exclude chosen apps from Siri AI, with trade-offs.
Imposter ads	Federal Trade Commission	2 Nov 2026	FTC weighs new platform duties and wants input.
Family digital safety plan	Electronic Frontier Foundation	29 Oct 2026	Talk first, then tighten settings and passwords.
Hearing aid buying guide	OxB.world (sister site)	8 Nov 2026	Check returns, app needs and warranty first.

AI Is Saving Us Time at Work, Just Not Miracle Amounts

The St. Louis Fed’s data blog charts a quarterly survey of adults aged 18 to 64. Employed people who used generative AI for work in the past week rose from 28.2% in Q3 2024 to 39.2% in Q2 2026. Work hours assisted by AI rose from 4.1% to 6.3%, and hours saved rose from 1.6% to 2.2%. Savings are self-reported, so treat them as ballpark.

Why it matters: A handy reality check next to the hype: use is spreading, but gains arrive gradually.

Try this: For one week, jot down each task where AI helped and whether you then spent time fixing its output. Keep what clearly saves minutes.

How to Keep Your Private Apps Away From Siri AI

EFF says Apple’s iOS 27.2 adds an Exclude Apps setting for Siri AI, meeting one of its requests. The worry is that cloud-processed AI features could pull content out of encrypted messaging apps without you realizing. Excluded apps are off limits to Siri AI, but you lose some features, such as Siri reading or replying to messages if you exclude Messages. EFF adds that Android’s controls are less straightforward.

Why it matters: Your chats are what you may least want an assistant skimming, and per-app control beats an all-or-nothing switch.

Try this: After updating, open Settings, Siri, Excluded Apps, tap Add Apps and pick your private messaging apps. On Android, EFF points to Gemini’s Connected Apps settings.

Fake Ads Pretending to Be Real Brands: The FTC Wants Your Input

Scammers now pay for ads that pose as well-known businesses or government agencies, showing up in social feeds, search results and shopping platforms. The FTC is considering whether platforms should vet advertisers, let people report suspected impersonation ads, and investigate and remove scams. It may update its Impersonation Rule or write a new one, and it wants public comment.

Why it matters: The same targeting tools that serve you sneaker ads can serve a convincing fake, so a polished ad proves nothing.

Try this: If an ad claims to be your bank or an agency, type the real address yourself instead of clicking. To comment, use the Federal Register link on the FTC page and check there whether comments are still open; the page shows a 30 November 2026 deadline and a “comments closed” label.

A Family Digital Safety Plan That Skips the Lecture

EFF’s Digital Parenting Week tips start with open conversations about the apps and games kids use, rather than monitoring every click. It suggests reviewing your own settings first, choosing a messaging app on purpose, checking which apps can reach the camera and location, and agreeing on when to post family photos. It also covers an incident plan, strong unique passwords, a password manager and two-factor authentication.

Why it matters: Even without kids, it doubles as a checklist for shared devices and photos.

Try this: Start small, as EFF suggests: install its Privacy Badger browser extension on each household computer, then spend ten minutes reviewing which apps can see your location.

Hearing Aids Are Gadgets Now: What to Check Before You Buy

Since an FDA rule took effect on 17 October 2022, US adults with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss can buy over-the-counter hearing aids with no prescription or fitting. The guide compares them with prescription models and gives an eight-item checklist: packaging labels, return window, fit, battery, phone or app needs, support, warranty and warning signs that call for a doctor first. It notes Original Medicare does not pay for hearing aids and cites early-2026 Consumer Reports prices of about $100 a pair for some basic over-the-counter models versus roughly $1,500 to $7,000-plus for prescription ones.

Why it matters: The questions are the ones you would ask about any gadget, and they may help if you are shopping for a parent.

Try this: Ask about the return window (the guide says at least 30 days; one expert it quotes suggests 45) and whether the aids need a specific phone. The guide is general information and points to a doctor or audiologist for anything medical.

How we pick

We link only to reputable, mostly primary or institutional sources, and each date was confirmed on the page itself. We open every page before writing about it and re-check links monthly. We do not take payment for links.

Last updated: November 2026. This roundup is general information, not legal, financial or IT-security advice. We link to outside sites we do not control; links were checked on 8 November 2026.