Every week, I write to you about one specific topic to demystify the trickier parts of technology and make your daily life just a little bit easier.
In today’s special edition of the Hotline Herald, I’m going to tell you how we are taking that mission one step further.
But first, let's talk about the biggest buzzword in technology right now. It’s a topic that can sound complex, intimidating, and maybe even a little scary: Artificial Intelligence (AI).
You see AI in sci-fi movies or hear about it in news reports, and it’s easy to think it’s some kind of magic brain.
In real life? It’s much more straightforward—and much more helpful.
Think of AI less like a robot and more like a very enthusiastic librarian. It doesn’t think or feel emotions, and it doesn't "know" things the way you know your neighbor.
Here is what AI is actually good for:
The Golden Rule of AI: You don’t need special computer code. Just talk to it like you would to a friend or helpful neighbor.
This is the part that worries some people. Is it looking things up? Is it a brain?
Here’s the easiest way to picture it:
AI has "read" millions of books, websites, and articles. It didn't memorize them like a human studying for a test. Instead, it learned patterns.
When you ask AI a question, it isn't "thinking" of an answer. It is simply predicting the most likely words to follow your question, based on all the patterns it has seen before.
One big fear people have is privacy. It helps to know exactly what AI cannot do.
AI does NOT:
You are in control. It only responds to what you type in the box.
AI shines when you treat it like a brainstorming partner. It works best when:
It is tireless, polite, and always ready to help.
Because AI is just predicting words, it can sometimes be a "people pleaser." Use AI for ideas and drafts, but if you need to know the exact dosage of a medicine or a specific law, always double-check with a real source. AI is a helper, not a replacement for professional advice.
AI is a tool to serve you. But we know that sometimes, talking to a computer isn't enough.
So much of life now runs through screens. It’s become impossible to pay bills, see the doctor, or just get across town without using technology. While these tools are helpful, they can be overwhelming—especially when every company seems to change their interface right after you finally learn it.
For the past year, the Hotline team has been working on a new service we wished existed for our own parents, relatives, and neighbors.
And today, we’re opening it for the first time! Hotline.net is now live for early customers.
At Hotline, we wanted to take a completely different approach. Hotline uses new technology... but you already know how to use it. All you need to do is:
Simple as that. No new accounts. No new apps. Just a team of experts—including me—ready to give you clear support whenever you need it.
In addition to the tech help I provide, my colleagues are experts in cooking, travel, gardening, and books.
Whether you need help with a stubborn login issue, a question about a recipe, a travel plan, a gardening mystery, or a bookshelf in need of inspiration, the Hotline experts are here to help.
Our goal is simple: make technology feel less like a barrier and more like something that supports your independence, hobbies, and daily routines.
Today, you’re invited to be among the first to try it. We’re starting small with people who already understand what Hotline stands for: clarity, simplicity, and discovery.
If you’d like to be part of this early group, you can visit Hotline.net, or simply reply to this email and we’ll help you get set up.
As always, thank you for reading the Hotline Herald and for letting me pop into your inbox each week. Your curiosity, your questions, and your willingness to learn something new inspired this project from the very start.
Thank you for being part of our first chapter. We’re so excited to invite you to see what’s next.
Wishing you a knowledgeable week,
Steve