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“I was just trying to remember who I was”

— Austin Butler, who hired a dialect coach to get him back to his old self after playing Elvis. He’s all shook up.

Top Story

Portrait of woman using mobile phone while lying on bed

The Rise of Deepfake Porn

The Story

Viral AI fakes of Taylor Swift are putting the spotlight on deepfake porn.

What is deepfake porn?

Exactly what it sounds like. In recent years, dozens of websites have reportedly grown to host more than 200,000 nonconsensual deepfake porn videos using people’s images. It’s an issue that’s only accelerated as AI continues to become more mainstream, with face-swapping and so-called undressing apps on the rise. Last year, deepfake porn videos reportedly reached an estimated 4.2 billion views. Researchers think the vast majority — over 90% — target women and are nonconsensual.

What can we do?

That’s the question. A handful of states — including California, New York, Virginia, and Minnesota — have laws against the distribution of deepfakes or give victims the right to file civil suits. But there’s currently no federal law banning deepfake porn, something some senators are trying to change. It’s far from the only sexually exploitative issue online: the FBI last week warned that sextortion is on the rise. With revenge porn and AI’s tendency toward racism and sexism, many experts say there's reason to be concerned.

theSkimm

Social media leaders and lawmakers are playing catch up with emerging tech. In the meantime, if one of the world’s most influential figures can’t protect her digital image, it leaves many wondering: what hope is there for everyone else?

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And Also...This

What people are talking about…

Alabama. Yesterday, it became the first state in the country to carry out an execution using nitrogen gas. Kenneth Eugene Smith, who was convicted in 1989 for the murder-for-hire of Elizabeth Sennett, died 22 minutes after breathing in pure nitrogen gas through a mask. His death comes after the Supreme Court denied two requests to stop the execution, with Smith’s lawyers arguing it could violate the Constitution's ban on cruel and unusual punishment. Alabama is one of three states that's approved nitrogen hypoxia as an execution method, as some states face a national shortage of lethal injections. In a final statement, Smith said Alabama caused “humanity to take a step backwards.” Sennett's son reportedly said Smith had “to pay for what he’s done.”

What’s expected to issue a ruling…

The International Court of Justice. Today, the UN’s top court will respond to South Africa’s demand for Israel to “immediately suspend its military operations in and against Gaza.” Earlier this month, South Africa also accused Israel of committing genocide, an accusation Israel rejects as “grossly distorted.” The ICJ’s response will not include a verdict on South Africa’s accusation of genocide — this part of the case could take years. While the court’s rulings are binding, it has no power to enforce them.

What may not be the norm for many parents…

Being empty nesters. A new report found that more than half of adults between 18 and 24 live with a parent. That's as 59% of parents said they've helped foot the bill on some of their adult children's expenses. It comes as many young adults are carrying student loan debt and dealing with a high-cost of living.

...Oh and speaking of the economy, it beat expectations, growing by 3.3% in Q4. On the up and up.

What ended its mission…

Ingenuity. Yesterday, NASA said the little helicopter on Mars can no longer fly after suffering damage to its rotor blades. In 2021, Ingenuity became the first aircraft to make a powered, controlled flight on a different planet. It carried out 72 flights on Mars in nearly three years.

Who's got people looking up lyrics...

Megan Thee Stallion and Ice Spice.

While JLo could be asking ‘can we fix it?’...

Sofia Richie Grainge is expecting a special delivery.

Who might be the next skincare influencer…

Michael Cera.

Keep an eye on...

Your inbox this weekend. Starting tomorrow, the Daily Skimm will take a new approach to our Saturday and Sunday newsletters. We won’t say much more now, except that we worked hard and think it’s really good. We hope you will, too.

MONEY LIFE LESSONS

Together with

Q: What’s the most meaningful financial advice you’ve ever received?

Julie Kelly: First, remove catastrophic risk by having enough life insurance, an emergency fund, and proper legal documents in place to protect your wealth. Then, max out your retirement savings to take advantage of compounding interest. Many people think they’re contributing enough because they are putting in the max that their firm matches, but (if possible) you want to contribute the IRS' maximum allowable amount.*

Featured Expert

Julie Kelly

Financial Advisor and Enterprise Learning Principal at Edward Jones. Her answer has been edited for length and clarity. Find more financial insights here.

*This content was paid for by Edward Jones.

Skimm Picks

Here are today’s recs to help you live a smarter life…

1. Clever products to solve annoying problems.

A red wine stain on your new sweater? A lukewarm cup of coffee? There's a hack for all of that.

Fix it

2. Our favorite home decor that's surprisingly inexpensive.

Start with this wavy ribbed candle and some fancy linen napkins. The best part? Almost all the stuff we love costs under $100.

Shop our picks

3. Products to get you in a better headspace.

From a heated acupressure pillow to wearable wellness patches, these tools can help you press reset on those days that feel blah.

Chill out

4. The prettiest new Dutch ovens from Great Jones.

The coquette trend has entered the cookware chat. These limited-edition Dutch ovens from Great Jones feature hand-printed flower and ribbon designs. Perfect for cooking a romantic dinner.

Get cooking

Psst…love our recs? Follow @skimmshopping on Instagram for more products, gifts, and services that are actually worth the hype (and the price tag).

On Our Vision Board

A revived social life. Making new friends can be hard. Especially as an adult. So we gathered our top tips and recs for anyone looking to get back out there.

Skimm'rs

We like to celebrate the wins, big and small. Let us know how your friends, neighbors, coworkers (and yes, even you) are making career moves, checking off goals, or making an impact in the community.

Bookworm…Charlotte B (NJ). After working in publishing for almost two years, she recently got promoted to a management position.

(Some) Birthdays…Dylan Lazarus (CA), Harrie Bakst (NY), Chelsea Wheeler (NY), Whitney Yount (MD), Mille Davis Alderman (AR), Maridee Charlton (CA), Montana Blackley (TN), Allyssa Darling (NY), Rhonda Corbett (SC), Alden Gilligan (NM), Natasha Galperin (NV), Jennifer Jones (PA), Rachel Cisto (NJ), Sherri Zirlin (IL), Alicia Brown (NY)

PS: Paging all members of theSkimm. Reach out here for a chance to be featured.