Megan Ellis, Tech Valkyrie

This NotebookLM feature can make the chatbot lie about its sources You can also get it to cover your tracks.

While NotebookLM is a great tool, the lack of transparency around the use of personas on public notebooks can be used to mislead people. I was easily able to get the chatbot to lie about its sources, then lie about the fact that it was lying...

www.xda-developers.com/notebooklm-p...

Honor says it won’t use AI as an excuse not to invest in hardware At the launch of the X9d, the smartphone with the largest battery in South Africa, Honor representatives reiterated the company’s commitment to hardware innovation.

With iterative hardware updates becoming the norm for smartphone launches, as brands use AI hype to gloss over this trend, I asked Honor South Africa's reps about the company's commitment to innovation at the launch of the X9d

meggwrites.com/2026/02/22/h...

Relooted: the South African video game where players take back artefacts from western museums Creators say they’re offering Africans a ‘hopeful, utopian feeling’ of retrieving objects looted by colonial armies

This sounds awesome. Great work @nyamakop.co.za , can't wait to try it out some day.

www.theguardian.com/games/2026/f...

@nafisa.co.za Hey Nafisa, wanted to ask you something regarding a device review. I was wondering if there's somewhere I can pop you a message? Thanks!

Really interesting story from @meganellis.bsky.social on how productivity apps can actually get it in way, especially when you're dealing with medical conditions or chronic illnesses too.

Google won’t stop replacing our news headlines with terrible AI “This feature performs well for user satisfaction,” claims Google.

Today in "why we can't rely on Google anymore and really hope you can support our work": www.theverge.com/tech/865168/...

Finally, social media can be an important way to connect for vulnerable and marginalized teens, especially those who live in communities where their identity is a minority.

For some, it's a lifeline. We don't need to get rid of social media, we need to regulate it and hold companies accountable.

I'd also add, that it doesn't help teens prepare for the online world. Everyone, adults included, need to be able to discern rage bait and misinformation from reality. They need to be able to recognize and avoid echo chambers. Social media bans just kick the can down the road.

I research the harm that can come to teenagers on social media. I don’t support a ban The appeal of a ban lies in its simplicity. But complex social problems rarely yield to simple technological solutions.

This is the kind of take I agree with. A blanket ban on social media for teens isn't feasible, and won't solve the problems they face: theconversation.com/i-research-t...

Decided I'm going to try re-engage with social media again because I miss having conversations with people on topics that are important to me. And seeing pictures of cats.

Legit loving the IT series. Haven't watched the latest Stranger Things though.

A screenshot of a Google Discover article, with an image of a cat as a TV screensaver.

Love seeing my cat pop up in Google Discover 😂

I've got to wake up in 7 hours, so of course it's the perfect time for an existential crisis to hit 🫠

Was so sure I was going to be productive today, but woke up feeling like the earth was trying to claw me back into it

Yellowjackets is making me realize that we're probably only years away from "Sugar We're Going Down" being used nostalgically in a movie or show soundtrack.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 review: I wanted to dislike this foldable, but fell in love instead My skepticism melted away when I spent time with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7.

My review for the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 is up! Despite my usual skepticism, I actually fell in love with this device: meggwrites.com/2025/10/01/s...

I totally get what you mean! It was so frustrating. It would be better if there was a way to reset certain lessons without having to delete the course, but there currently isn't a way to do that AFAIK. I've started trying out LingoDeer instead, but it has limited free lessons

Techathon: Starting September 27, 2025 Charity livestream by the tech community, supporting Doctors without Borders (Médecins Sans Frontières).

Doing a livestream with some fellow tech people in support of Doctors Without Borders. You can check out the site and schedule here: techathon.live

Anyone got recommendations on an affordable cordless vacuum? Current one is packing up and keeps getting blocked with pet hair. Needs decent run time and the ability to handle pet hair. I'm in South Africa

I think it is, but I'll have to check their shipping policy. The problem is we get high import taxes on electronics. The Ajazz brand looked promising with good reviews, but very limited stock locally

Looking for something around the R1000/$50 mark. A friend recommended Ajazz but they have really limited stock in South Africa

Anyone got recommendations for budget mechanical keyboard and headset brands that still deliver quality? My current keyboard and headset are falling apart but really limited with budget because of medical costs 🥲

GUIDE: Africa Check’s tips for spotting AI-generated images and videos In this guide, we’ve taken it back to basics to explain how to identify images and videos where not everything is as it appears to be.

AfricaCheck does this in Africa, especially with stuff spread through WhatsApp and on social media. They also have a guide on checking for AI generated content, but I imagine it should be updated for the latest tools: africacheck.org/fact-checks/...

Honor launches 400 series in South Africa, aiming for Samsung’s crown Honor has launched two new devices in South Africa as part of its ambitions to take the top spot for smartphone market share in the country.

Honor has launched two new devices in South Africa as part of its ambitions to take the top spot for smartphone market share in the country.

meggwrites.com/2025/06/23/h...

How was the movie?

Honor X9c review: A mid-range series that continues to impress me Honor’s mid-range smartphones give me hope for the future of mobile devices in South Africa.

Honor's mid-range phones give me hope for the future of more affordable devices in South Africa. You can check out my review of the X9c here:

meggwrites.com/2025/04/14/h...

Yup, started watching tonight!

Ooo didn't know it was out. Gonna see if it's on my streaming services. Currently watching Black Mirror Season 7

Black Mirror Season 7 Episode 1, "Common People" hit hard for me as a person living with chronic illness and invisible disabilities #blackmirror

Nintendo Switch 2 coming to South Africa on 5 June: Here’s how much it will cost The Nintendo Switch 2 is launching in South Africa on 5 June 2025. But how much will it cost?

The South African pricing for the Nintendo Switch 2 has been announced: meggwrites.com/2025/04/07/n...