Tech News Weekly (Audio)

Amanda Silberling from TechCrunch joins Mikah Sargent this week! Spotify's latest update gives users more control over their listening experience. Students are using AI more widely to cheat. Microsoft's latest Surface devices still utilize Snapdragon X. And Netflix is rolling out a major UI redesign, which includes algorithmic changes and a TikTok-like feed. Amanda talks about Spotify's rollout of its latest update, which utilizes AI-driven features, including enhanced playlists and "smart shuffle." Mikah shares a New York Magazine article that highlights the increasing use of AI tools by students to complete assignments and the impact the reliance of these tools will have on students' critical thinking skills. Brian Westover of PCMag joins Mikah to talk about Microsoft's latest Surface devices, including a 13-inch Surface Laptop and 12-inch Surface Pro tablet. Mikah chats about Netflix rolling out a significant redesign of its user interface, incorporating algorithmic changes and a feed similar to TikTok, as a way to boost user engagement and keep users hooked in Netflix's ecosystem. Hosts: Mikah Sargent and Amanda Silberling Guest: Brian Westover Download or subscribe to Tech News Weekly at https://twit.tv/shows/tech-news-weekly. Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free shows, a members-only Discord, and behind-the-scenes access. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: zscaler.com/security spaceship.com/twit cachefly.com/twit

Transcribed - Published: 8 May 2025

In this episode of Tech News Weekly, Mikah Sargent and Abrar Al-Heeti explore the growing role of AI in consumer tech, the latest legal setback for Apple's App Store policies, and two in-depth interviews: Bloomberg's Leah Nylen breaks down the DOJ's proposed remedies in the antitrust case against Google, and Wikimedia's Leila Zia shares the foundation's new AI strategy that centers humans—not machines. ChatGPT Adds Shopping Tools: Abrar Al-Heeti highlights OpenAI's new AI-powered shopping experience in ChatGPT, which personalizes product recommendations and integrates purchase links—all without leaving the chat window. She and Mikah explore the implications for consumer trust, affiliate marketing, and the future of Amazon and Google as default shopping destinations. Apple vs. Epic: Court Strikes Back: Mikah breaks down a dramatic new ruling against Apple, in which a judge found the company in violation of a 2021 injunction and imposed strict limits on how it can control third-party payments. Mikah and Abrar discuss how this could reshape the App Store's fee model and what it means for developers and users alike. Google's Antitrust Remedy Phase: Bloomberg antitrust reporter Leah Nylen returns to unpack the latest in the DOJ's case against Google. She explains the three proposed remedies—including a possible Chrome browser divestiture—and what testimony from tech competitors like DuckDuckGo, Perplexity, and OpenAI revealed about Google's dominance in search and AI. Wikipedia's Human-Centered AI Strategy: Leila Zia, Head of Research at the Wikimedia Foundation, outlines their new AI roadmap, which focuses on supporting Wikipedia's volunteer editors rather than replacing them. She details how AI will assist with moderation, multilingual knowledge expansion, and mentorship—all while upholding values of transparency and human agency. Hosts: Mikah Sargent and Abrar Al-Heeti Guests: Leah Nylen and Leila Zia Download or subscribe to Tech News Weekly at https://twit.tv/shows/tech-news-weekly. Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free shows, a members-only Discord, and behind-the-scenes access. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: joindeleteme.com/twit promo code TWIT drata.com/technews

Transcribed - Published: 1 May 2025

In this episode of Tech News Weekly, Mikah Sargent and Abrar Al-Heeti explore the growing role of AI in consumer tech, the latest legal setback for Apple's App Store policies, and two in-depth interviews: Bloomberg's Leah Nylen breaks down the DOJ's proposed remedies in the antitrust case against Google, and Wikimedia's Leila Zia shares the foundation's new AI strategy that centers humans—not machines. ChatGPT Adds Shopping Tools: Abrar Al-Heeti highlights OpenAI's new AI-powered shopping experience in ChatGPT, which personalizes product recommendations and integrates purchase links—all without leaving the chat window. She and Mikah explore the implications for consumer trust, affiliate marketing, and the future of Amazon and Google as default shopping destinations. Apple vs. Epic: Court Strikes Back: Mikah breaks down a dramatic new ruling against Apple, in which a judge found the company in violation of a 2021 injunction and imposed strict limits on how it can control third-party payments. Mikah and Abrar discuss how this could reshape the App Store's fee model and what it means for developers and users alike. Google's Antitrust Remedy Phase: Bloomberg antitrust reporter Leah Nylen returns to unpack the latest in the DOJ's case against Google. She explains the three proposed remedies—including a possible Chrome browser divestiture—and what testimony from tech competitors like DuckDuckGo, Perplexity, and OpenAI revealed about Google's dominance in search and AI. Wikipedia's Human-Centered AI Strategy: Leila Zia, Head of Research at the Wikimedia Foundation, outlines their new AI roadmap, which focuses on supporting Wikipedia's volunteer editors rather than replacing them. She details how AI will assist with moderation, multilingual knowledge expansion, and mentorship—all while upholding values of transparency and human agency. Hosts: Mikah Sargent and Abrar Al-Heeti Guests: Leah Nylen and Leila Zia Download or subscribe to Tech News Weekly at https://twit.tv/shows/tech-news-weekly. Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free shows, a members-only Discord, and behind-the-scenes access. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: joindeleteme.com/twit promo code TWIT drata.com/technews

Transcribed - Published: 1 May 2025

Abrar-Al Heeti and Emily Forlini are here this week for Tech News Weekly! Is Mark Zuckerberg envious of Instagram's popularity, even after purchasing the company? The first Tesla robotaxis are hitting the road. Apple drops the 'available now' tagline from its Apple Intelligence page. And Motorola RAZR announces a new lineup of its foldable devices, including a $1,300 option! Abrar discusses information that became public during Meta's antitrust trial, highlighting how Meta has sought to reduce Instagram's popularity. Emily wrote a story on Tesla's first robotaxis hitting roadways in Austin and San Francisco. Apple has quietly removed its 'available now' advertising tagline from its Apple Intelligence page following an inquiry from the National Advertising Division. And Mike Sorrentino of CNET joins Abrar to talk about Motorola's recently announced updated RAZR foldable phones, including a premium version called the RAZR Ultra. Hosts: Abrar Al-Heeti and Emily Forlini Guest: Mike Sorrentino Download or subscribe to Tech News Weekly at https://twit.tv/shows/tech-news-weekly. Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free shows, a members-only Discord, and behind-the-scenes access. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: storyblok.com/twittv-25 spaceship.com/twit

Transcribed - Published: 24 April 2025

Google's ad business takes a loss against the DoJ. OpenAI is working on its own social network. Inside Zuckerberg's negotiations to end the antitrust case against Meta. And ChatGPT's newest AI models is performing 'reverse location searches' from photos. Breaking news as the Department of Justice finds Google's Ad Tech violates antitrust laws. OpenAI is building a social network that looks to take on other social networks such as Meta and X. But why would OpenAI be interested in a social network? A Wall Street Journal article looks into Mark Zuckerberg's negotiations with the FTC to drop Meta's antitrust case. And ChatGPT's latest AI models, o3 and o4-mini, are being utilized to perform 'reverse location searches' through uploaded photos. Hosts: Mikah Sargent and Dan Moren Download or subscribe to Tech News Weekly at https://twit.tv/shows/tech-news-weekly. Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free shows, a members-only Discord, and behind-the-scenes access. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: threatlocker.com for Tech News Weekly Melissa.com/twit joindeleteme.com/twit promo code TWIT

Transcribed - Published: 17 April 2025

A Waymo robotaxi got stuck in a unique space. A rebooted digg.com launches an early-access community. How Apple fumbled the AI makeover of Siri. Samsung is finally releasing its Ballie device later this summer, which was initially unveiled back in 2020. Amanda Silberling of TechCrunch is here this week! Amanda talks about a Waymo robotaxi that got trapped in a Chick-fil-A drive-through after dropping off a passenger at the fast-food restaurant. Mikah Sargent talks about the rebooted digg.com website launching an early-access community with a $5 fee that gives early adopters insight into the website's rebuilding and other perks. Mikah also talks about a great report from Wayne Ma of The Information about Apple's fumble with Siri's AI makeover. And Jennifer Pattison Tuohy of The Verge stops by to talk about Samsung's Ballie, which is finally getting a release later this summer after being announced back in 2020. Hosts: Mikah Sargent and Amanda Silberling Guest: Jennifer Pattison Tuohy Download or subscribe to Tech News Weekly at https://twit.tv/shows/tech-news-weekly. Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free shows, a members-only Discord, and behind-the-scenes access. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: spaceship.com/twit zscaler.com/security zocdoc.com/tnw cachefly.com/twit

Transcribed - Published: 10 April 2025

Amazon makes a bid for TikTok in the US. What Amazon's new Alexa+ can and cannot do. Nintendo officially unveils the Switch 2 console. And OpenAI & Anthropic are taking on the education market. Abrar Al-Heet of CNET joins Mikah Sargent this week! Abrar talks about Amazon making a bid to purchase TikTok in the US as Bytedance scrambles to divest ownership of the social media app. Mikah talks about Amazon's Alexa+ and some of the features that the service has yet to include following its launch. Kyle Orland of Ars Technica joins the show to talk about Nintendo's new Switch 2 console and some of the positives and negatives of the newly unveiled console. And Mikah rounds things out with OpenAI and Anthropic's push into the education market with new features to support university students. Hosts: Mikah Sargent and Abrar Al-Heeti Guest: Kyle Orland Download or subscribe to Tech News Weekly at https://twit.tv/shows/tech-news-weekly. Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free shows, a members-only Discord, and behind-the-scenes access. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: drata.com/technews joindeleteme.com/twit promo code TWIT

Transcribed - Published: 3 April 2025

Some alternatives to Teslas. A law in Utah makes app stores rather than companies responsible for age verification. 23andMe files for bankruptcy. And OpenAI is following in the footsteps of its rival, Anthropic. Emily Forlini of PCMag joins Mikah Sargent this week! Emily talks about some alternatives to Teslas that cover various price ranges. Mikah talks about a new law passed in Utah that pushes the responsibility of age verification from tech companies to app stores. Geoffrey Fowler of The Washington Post joins Mikah to talk about 23andMe filing for bankruptcy, why you should swiftly delete your DNA information from the company, and shares how you can delete that information. And OpenAI is following Anthropic in adopting the company's standard for connecting AI models to data. Hosts: Mikah Sargent and Emily Forlini Guest: Geoffrey Fowler Download or subscribe to Tech News Weekly at https://twit.tv/shows/tech-news-weekly. Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free shows, a members-only Discord, and behind-the-scenes access. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: get.stash.com/tnw veeam.com bitwarden.com/twit

Transcribed - Published: 27 March 2025

Will iRobot's new Roomba's bring the company back to the forefront of robotic vacuums? What to know about Amazon's change of handling voice recordings through Alexa devices. Two new PebbleOS watches are available for pre-order! And the lowdown on the new Pixel 9a smartphone that Google recently announced. Jennifer Pattison Tuohy of The Verge joins Mikah Sargent this week! Jennifer talks about the new Roombas that iRobot has unveiled but is unimpressed by the lack of innovation in these new robotic vacuums. Do you have Alexa devices in your household? Be aware of some of the new changes Amazon is making to how Echo devices handle voice recordings. Two new Pebble watches are available for pre-order after Google open-sourced PebbleOS in January of this year! And friend of the network, Jason Howell, talks with Mikah about Google's newly announced Pixel 9am phone. Hosts: Mikah Sargent and Jennifer Pattison Tuohy Guest: Jason Howell Download or subscribe to Tech News Weekly at https://twit.tv/shows/tech-news-weekly. Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free shows, a members-only Discord, and behind-the-scenes access. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: threatlocker.com for Tech News Weekly joindeleteme.com/twit promo code TWIT veeam.com Melissa.com/twit

Transcribed - Published: 20 March 2025

Will iRobot's new Roomba's bring the company back to the forefront of robotic vacuums? What to know about Amazon's change of handling voice recordings through Alexa devices. Two new PebbleOS watches are available for pre-order! And the lowdown on the new Pixel 9a smartphone that Google recently announced. Jennifer Pattison Tuohy of The Verge joins Mikah Sargent this week! Jennifer talks about the new Roombas that iRobot has unveiled but is unimpressed by the lack of innovation in these new robotic vacuums. Do you have Alexa devices in your household? Be aware of some of the new changes Amazon is making to how Echo devices handle voice recordings. Two new Pebble watches are available for pre-order after Google open-sourced PebbleOS in January of this year! And friend of the network, Jason Howell, talks with Mikah about Google's newly announced Pixel 9a phone. Hosts: Mikah Sargent and Jennifer Pattison Tuohy Guest: Jason Howell Download or subscribe to Tech News Weekly at https://twit.tv/shows/tech-news-weekly. Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free shows, a members-only Discord, and behind-the-scenes access. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: threatlocker.com for Tech News Weekly joindeleteme.com/twit promo code TWIT veeam.com Melissa.com/twit

Transcribed - Published: 20 March 2025

Does OpenAI have the capability for creative writing? Would you want to be coached in gaming through AI? What is Apple planning for its possible operating system redesign? And does AI have inconsistencies when providing the correct information to search queries? Amanda Silberling of TechCrunch joins Mikah Sargent this week. Amanda talks about OpenAI and Sam Altman's social media post about how OpenAI is good at creative writing. Mikah talks about Microsoft's plan to launch Xbox Copilot, an AI-powered gaming assistant that can offer tips, guides, and information about the games you are playing. Mark Gurman of Bloomberg stops by to talk about Apple's plans to dramatically overhaul the look of its operating systems with the next iterations of iOS, iPadOS, and Mac OS. And Mikah talks about a study from the Tao Center and how AI systems are frequently providing incorrect information and citations from various sources and news articles. Hosts: Mikah Sargent and Amanda Silberling Guest: Mark Gurman Download or subscribe to Tech News Weekly at https://twit.tv/shows/tech-news-weekly. Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free shows, a members-only Discord, and behind-the-scenes access. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: veeam.com uscloud.com get.stash.com/macbreak zscaler.com/security

Transcribed - Published: 13 March 2025

There was something in the air for sure as Apple released updates to the iPad and iPad Air, alongside the M4 MacBook Air and Mac Studio with the M4 Max and M4 Ultra chips. Some of the exciting and interesting devices shown at the Mobile World Congress 2025 event. The recent iOS 18.4 beta introduced AI-powered summaries in the App Store. And Prime Video is testing AI-powered dubbing for some of its video content. Dan Moren of SixColors joins Mikah Sargent to talk about the new devices announced throughout the week: the updated iPad and iPad Air, MacBook Air with the M4 chip, and the Mac Studio with the M4 Max and M3 Ultra chips. Patrick Holland of CNET stops by to share with Mikah some of the new and exciting devices that came out of the Mobile World Congress 2025 event, alongside the more interesting concepts and gadgets from the event. Mikah talks about the the latest iOS 18.4 beta that is out now and how it has introduced AI-powered review summaries in the App Store. And continuning the trend of AI-powered features, Amazon's Prime Video is testing AI-powered dubbing for some of its select videos in English and Spanish. Host: Mikah Sargent Guests: Dan Moren and Patrick Holland Download or subscribe to Tech News Weekly at https://twit.tv/shows/tech-news-weekly. Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free shows, a members-only Discord, and behind-the-scenes access. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: joindeleteme.com/twit promo code TWIT bitwarden.com/twit veeam.com cachefly.com/twit

Transcribed - Published: 6 March 2025

Anthropic's Claude AI is now playing Pokemon through Twitch - albeit slowly. Emily Forlini was at the Amazon event this past week and talks about Alexa+ that was announced at the event. And Framework announced a new desktop PC, but did Framework really need to get into the PC desktop space? Mikah Sargent talks about how Anthropic's Claude AI is being utilized to play Pokemon Red through Twitch. Emily Forlini attended Amazon's February 2025 Devices & Services event in New York and talks about Alexa+ which was announced at the event, and what could possibly happen to Amazon Prime when Alexa+ starts to roll out to users in the coming weeks. And Sean Hollister from The Verge talks about Framework's first foray into a desktop PC. He spent some time with the PC and shares his thoughts on it! Hosts: Mikah Sargent and Emily Forlini Guest: Sean Hollister Download or subscribe to Tech News Weekly at https://twit.tv/shows/tech-news-weekly. Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free shows, a members-only Discord, and behind-the-scenes access. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: veeam.com get.stash.com/tnw zscaler.com/security

Transcribed - Published: 27 February 2025

In this episode, Mikah Sargent is joined by Jennifer Pattison Tuohy of The Verge to discuss NVIDIA's work on an AI platform for American Sign Language and her review of the Skylight Calendar Max. Zac Hall of 9to5Mac talks about the new iPhone 16e, and Scott Stein of CNET discusses the end of the Humane AI Pin. - NVIDIA is collaborating with the American Society for Deaf Children and creative agency Hello Monday to develop Signs, an online platform that uses AI to help people practice and understand American Sign Language. The platform aims to create a validated dataset to account for variations in signing and provide real-time feedback to learners. - Jennifer reviews the Skylight Calendar Max, a 27-inch digital touchscreen display for managing family schedules. She finds the AI-powered Sidekick feature, which can parse various data formats to create calendar events, to be incredibly useful and a potential glimpse into the future of AI in smart home devices. - Zac Hall discusses the newly announced iPhone 16e, which replaces the iPhone SE 3 and iPhone 14. Priced at $599, it offers a modern design with Face ID and an A18 chip for Apple Intelligence features, making it a compelling upgrade for those with older iPhones. - The Humane AI pin is being sold to HP for $116 million, and users will lose access to its services on February 28th, 2025, with no recourse or refunds for most customers. Scott Stein shares his experience reviewing the AI pin, its shortcomings, and his thoughts on the future of AI-augmented devices and their relationship with smartphones. Hosts: Mikah Sargent and Jennifer Pattison Tuohy Guests: Zac Hall and Scott Stein Download or subscribe to Tech News Weekly at https://twit.tv/shows/tech-news-weekly. Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free shows, a members-only Discord, and behind-the-scenes access. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: Melissa.com/twit threatlocker.com for Tech News Weekly uscloud.com joindeleteme.com/twit promo code TWIT

Transcribed - Published: 20 February 2025

It's an AI-filled episode of Tech News Weekly! Is AI making us think less critically than before? Are AI chatbots accurately summarizing news? A BBC study finds that they are not. Google plans to use machine learning to estimate a user's age. Thomson Reuters wins the first major AI copyright case within the US. Amanda Silberling of TechCrunch joins Mikah Sargent this week! Amanda talks about a study on how over-reliance on AI tools can lead to diminished critical thinking skills. Mikah shares a BBC study that looked into AI chatbots and how they performed poorly at summarizing news, with over half of the summarizations containing glaring errors. Emma Roth of The Verge joins the show to discuss Google utilizing machine learning to estimate users' ages based off their browsing history and YouTube activity. And Mikah talks about Thomson Reuters winning the first big US AI copyright case. Hosts: Mikah Sargent and Amanda Silberling Guest: Emma Roth Download or subscribe to Tech News Weekly at https://twit.tv/shows/tech-news-weekly. Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free shows, a members-only Discord, and behind-the-scenes access. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: zscaler.com/security veeam.com cachefly.com/twit

Transcribed - Published: 13 February 2025

In this episode of Tech News Weekly, Mikah Sargent and CNET's Abrar Al-Heeti talk the latest developments in self-driving tech, Sonos' work on a new streaming box, an AI-assisted Beatles song winning a Grammy, and the current state of Meta's Quest platform according to developers. - Uber is expanding its partnership with Waymo, allowing people in Austin to summon a Waymo robo-taxi through the Uber app. Abrar shares her experiences with self-driving cars and discusses the evolving relationship between Uber and Waymo. - Sonos is reportedly working on a new streaming box codenamed "Pinewood," which includes an HDMI switch to address inconsistencies in smart TV firmware and software. The device is expected to cost between $200 and $400, and it aims to provide a full-featured streaming sound setup. - An AI-assisted Beatles track, "Now and Then," won the Grammy for Best Rock Performance, sparking conversations about the role of AI in music and art. The US Copyright Office has stated that AI tools used to assist in the creative process don't undermine the copyright of the work. - Developers are struggling with declining sales and visibility on the Meta Quest app store, despite record revenue for Meta Reality Labs. Meta's focus on its own Horizon Worlds app seems to be at the expense of traditional VR games. Some developers find it more profitable to sell on other platforms like Steam and PlayStation VR. Hosts: Mikah Sargent and Abrar Al-Heeti Download or subscribe to Tech News Weekly at https://twit.tv/shows/tech-news-weekly. Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free shows, a members-only Discord, and behind-the-scenes access. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsor: joindeleteme.com/twit promo code TWIT

Transcribed - Published: 6 February 2025

Bookshop.org is now offering a Kindle alternative. How hackers are hijacking WordPress sets to put out malware. And how people are freaking out about DeepSeek since it made a huge splash this past week. Dan Moren is joining Mikah Sargent this week! Dan talks about how Bookshop.org is now selling e-books, but Dan has concerns about how this could present technological challenges with DRM and app store fees. Mikah shares how hackers are hijacking WordPress sites and using them to push out malware for both Windows and Mac machines. Mikah also talks about how DeepSeek has made a huge splash in the technology world since this past Sunday and what has happened with the technology community and AI as a whole. And Eric Migicovsky, founder of the smartwatch company Pebble, joins Mikah to talk about exciting news with Pebble. Hosts: Mikah Sargent and Dan Moren Guest: Eric Migicovsky Download or subscribe to Tech News Weekly at https://twit.tv/shows/tech-news-weekly. Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free shows, a members-only Discord, and behind-the-scenes access. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: uscloud.com zscaler.com/security veeam.com

Transcribed - Published: 30 January 2025

A massive data breach affected millions of students, parents, and teachers. Someone discovered security flaws within Subaru vehicles. And everything that was announced at Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2025. Emily Forlini is joining Mikah Sargent this week! Emily talks about a massive security incident with software company PowerSchool, in which 62 million students' personal data was stolen, along with parents and teachers. Mikah talks about how a security researcher discovered a security flaw within a Subaru vehicle that gave them access to its location data through web vulnerabilities. And Patrick Holland from CNET joins the show to discuss everything unveiled at Samsung's Galaxy Unpacked event, including the S25 phones. Hosts: Mikah Sargent and Emily Forlini Guest: Patrick Holland Download or subscribe to Tech News Weekly at https://twit.tv/shows/tech-news-weekly. Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: threatlocker.com for Tech News Weekly Melissa.com/twit

Transcribed - Published: 23 January 2025

A whole slew of smart products were unveiled at CES 2025 this year. Could this year be the year of smart home devices? TikTok is inching closer to being shut off in the US in a few days. And following Microsoft's announcement of end of support for Windows 10, the company announced it will no longer support Office apps on Windows 10 after October 14th, 2025. Jennifer Pattison Tuohy has returned from CES 2025! She spent her time at the convention checking out all things smart home devices on the show floor and shares with Mikah Sargent some of her favorite devices she covered for The Verge. Kaya Yurieff of The Information joins Mikah to talk about the latest on the imminent shutdown of TikTok in the US that is scheduled to happen on Sunday, January 19th. And Ben Wilson from Windows Central stops by to talk about Microsoft's announcement that Office apps will no longer be supported on Windows 10 after October 14th, 2025, coinciding with the end of support for the operating system. Hosts: Mikah Sargent and Jennifer Pattison Tuohy Guests: Kaya Yurieff and Ben Wilson Download or subscribe to Tech News Weekly at https://twit.tv/shows/tech-news-weekly. Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: joindeleteme.com/twit promo code TWIT veeam.com zscaler.com/security

Transcribed - Published: 16 January 2025

This week on Tech News Weekly, host Mikah Sargent is joined by guest co-host Dan Moren to discuss Siri privacy concerns and how Apple could leverage AI to improve the user experience. Jason Hiner of ZDNET.com reports on CES 2025 on the latest TV displays, NVIDIA's AI innovations, and more. Then Imran Ahmed, CEO of the Center for Countering Digital Hate, weighs in on Meta's controversial decision to end fact-checking on its platforms. Dan's latest column explores how Apple could use AI to benefit users by improving spam filtering, search capabilities, and automation. Implementing these features would align with Apple's focus on simplifying technology. Apple released a statement clarifying that Siri recordings are not being used to build ad profiles, despite an ongoing conspiracy theory that devices are always listening. In reality, ad targeting is based on online behavior. At CES 2025, new TV display technologies were announced including brighter OLED panels likely using "tandem OLED" and a new mini-LED backlight system from Hisense for improved color depth. Lenovo showcased an expensive laptop prototype with a screen that rolls up to double in size, though it may have limited practical appeal for now. NVIDIA unveiled COSMOS, an AI framework to generate synthetic training data for robots and self-driving systems, which could accelerate future autonomous innovations. Offbeat CES products included an electric spoon that makes low-sodium foods taste saltier to promote healthier eating, and aggressively priced TVs from TCL. Meta announced it will end fact-checking and rely on community moderation, which CCDH CEO Imran Ahmed argues will amplify the spread of misinformation and cause real-world harms. Hosts: Mikah Sargent and Dan Moren Guests: Jason Hiner and Imran Ahmed Download or subscribe to Tech News Weekly at https://twit.tv/shows/tech-news-weekly. Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: veeam.com uscloud.com Melissa.com/twit

Transcribed - Published: 9 January 2025

In the first episode of 2025, Mikah and Abrar discuss Meta's plans to add AI bots to their social media platforms, the rise of AI-generated phishing scams, the trend of parents giving their kids retro tech devices to reduce screen time, and the current state and future potential of passkeys for secure logins. Meta plans to populate Facebook and Instagram with AI-generated bot accounts that can create content, share posts, and interact with users, in an effort to drive engagement as user growth stagnates. Abrar and Mikah debate the pros and cons of AI bots on social media. Cybersecurity experts have seen a significant increase in sophisticated phishing scams using AI to generate hyper-personalized messages mimicking people's communication styles, with over 90% of successful cyberattacks now beginning with phishing emails. Abrar and Mikah discuss cybersecurity training and email filtering used by companies to combat this. There's a growing trend of parents gifting their kids retro tech like Walkmans, portable CD players, and MP3 players in an effort to reduce screen time. Mikah and Abrar reflect on the appeal of single-purpose devices and bonding over music. Passkeys, a new login technology aiming to replace passwords, have seen increasing adoption but face usability challenges and inconsistent implementation across sites and devices. Mikah explains how passkeys work and recommends using password managers for now, as both hosts agree passkeys aren't quite ready for mainstream adoption yet. Hosts: Mikah Sargent and Abrar Al-Heeti Download or subscribe to Tech News Weekly at https://twit.tv/shows/tech-news-weekly. Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit

Transcribed - Published: 2 January 2025

A look back at some of our favorite interviews from the past year: Emily Forlini of PCMag and her story about the AI "dating scene" AI through ChatGPT Plus and AI boyfriends and her somewhat lackluster experience. Jennifer Pattison Tuohy and the breaking news that the U.S. Department of Justice is suing Apple for claims that the company has an illegal monopoly over the smartphone market. Amanda Silberlng and her story that she wrote about how how AI images have entered this year's Met Gala's online discourse through celebrities who "appeared" on the Met Gala carpet. Abrar Al-Heeti and her story about how Harvard students created an app called I-XRAY that uses Meta's Ray-Ban smart glasses and facial recognition to find personal data on people in real-time, raising privacy concerns. Leah Nylen of Bloomberg talks with Mikah about the Google Antitrust Case and The Department of Justice's recommendations that could reshape the tech giant. And Nick Steele and David Turner from the FIDO Alliance join Mikah to discuss the Alliance's new specifications involving passkeys and their portability. Host: Mikah Sargent Download or subscribe to Tech News Weekly at https://twit.tv/shows/tech-news-weekly. Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit

Transcribed - Published: 26 December 2024

Nvidia announces a tiny $249 AI supercomputer for AI hobbyists. The company Flipboard has a new social media system that allows you to create your own curated feeds. A look back at this past year's home theater tech with a friend of the network. And a look into sleepwear tech that will help you take a nap - on demand. Emily Forlini of PCMag talks about Nvidia's unveiling of a $249 palm-sized supercomputer that can help a variety of people with the power of AI to power their passion projects and hobbies. Mikah Sargent talks about Surf Social, a new social media network from Flipboard that allows you to create curated feeds and share them with others Scott Wilkinson of Home Theater Geeks stops by to discuss 2024's home theater tech, what excited Scott the most, and what he looks forward to in the coming year. And Nasha Addarich Martínez of CNET joins the show to talk about new sleepwear tech that can help you take a nap on demand. Hosts: Mikah Sargent and Emily Forlini Guests: Scott Wilkinson and Nasha Addarich Martínez Download or subscribe to Tech News Weekly at https://twit.tv/shows/tech-news-weekly. Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: 1password.com/twit uscloud.com cachefly.com/twit

Transcribed - Published: 19 December 2024

Amanda Silberling of TechCrunch joins us this week! Did OpenAI's Sora video generation model train on gaming and streaming content? A judge ruled that Automattic is to stop blocking WP Engine's access to WordPress.org. And Image Playground, Genmoji, and more generative AI features now available within Apple Intelligence. Amanda talks about how OpenAI's Sora video generation model is supposedly training on video games and streaming content. Mikah shares how WP Engine won an injunction against Automattic, owner of WordPress, and that Automattic must stop blocking WP Engine's access to WordPress.org's resources. Jason Howell stops by to share his time recently with Android XR, Google's new AI-powered OS that brings the augmented, virtual, and mixed reality experience to devices such as headsets and glasses. And Image Playground and Genmoji arrives to Apple Intelligence, and Mikah demonstrates these new features, which are now available to users. Hosts: Mikah Sargent and Amanda Silberling Guest: Jason Howell Download or subscribe to Tech News Weekly at https://twit.tv/shows/tech-news-weekly. Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: INFO.ACILEARNING.COM/TWIT - code TWIT100 bigid.com/tnw shopify.com/twit Melissa.com/twit

Transcribed - Published: 12 December 2024

Abrar Al-Heeti joins Mikah Sargent on Tech News Weekly this week! Abrar talks about TikTok blocking teenagers from using beauty filters on the platform. There's an AI app that can predict your death. A new competitor enters the mixed-realty headset market. And learn about the data company the FTC recently banned from selling sensitive location data. Abrar Al-Heeti talks about TikTok's decision to block teenagers from using beauty filters on its platform and the broader message this decision sends about the digital influence on teens' beauty standards. Mikah Sargent is fascinated by an AI app that predicts when you will die but is a little off-put by the steep price point of the application. Scott Stein of CNET joins Mikah to talk about the Xreal One Smart Glasses, a new competitor in the mixed-reality headset market. And Joseph Cox of 404Media stops by to talk about the FTC taking stronger action against data companies, such as Venntel, signifying the FTC's shift in the regulation of data companies. Hosts: Mikah Sargent and Abrar Al-Heeti Guests: Scott Stein and Joseph Cox Download or subscribe to Tech News Weekly at https://twit.tv/shows/tech-news-weekly. Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: veeam.com e-e.com/twit uscloud.com 1password.com/twit

Transcribed - Published: 5 December 2024

Jennifer Pattison Tuohy of The Verge joins Mikah Sargent this week! Amazon announces the new Echo Show 21 and the Echo Show 15 smart displays. Is AI allowing the robotics revolution to come to fruition? Microsoft announces the Windows 365 Link mini desktop PC. And will the DOJ get Google to sell off Chrome following the DOJ's call to divest the company? Jennifer Pattison Tuohy talks about Amazon's announcement of the Echo Show 21 and Echo Show 15 smart displays. Mikah Sargent talks about how AI is powering a robotics revolution as more organizations are utilizing robots, thanks to AI. Zac Bowden from Windows Central joins the show to talk aobut Microsoft's Windows 365 Link, a mini desktop that runs Windows 11 through the cloud. And Leah Nylen, Antitrust Reporter for Bloomberg, stops by to talk about the Department of Justice and Google and how the DOJ is calling for Google to divest and start with the sale of Chrome. Hosts: Mikah Sargent and Jennifer Pattison Tuohy Guests: Zac Bowden and Leah Nylen Download or subscribe to Tech News Weekly at https://twit.tv/shows/tech-news-weekly. Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: shopify.com/twit 1password.com/twit flashpoint.io veeam.com

Transcribed - Published: 21 November 2024

Reports are trickling out that Apple plans to expand into different product categories. What to know about Bluesky, the social media network growing in popularity and users following the U.S. elections. And some advancements with ChatGPT and OpenAI that seek to help users out more daily. Mark Gurman of Bloomberg joins the show to discuss how Apple is aiming to catch up with the smart home market by releasing a wall-mounted, AI-powered display unit. Mikah Sargent continues the conversation on Apple with the company's push into other markets with glasses, home devices, and mixed-reality headsets. Following the 2024 U.S. elections, there's been more chatter about Bluesky, a social media network alternative to Twitter / X. So, what is Bluesky? And Mikah talks about how ChatGPT is starting to work with other apps on your Mac computers, and OpenAI almost ready to launch a tool to help its users automate tasks. Host: Mikah Sargent Guest: Mark Gurman Download or subscribe to Tech News Weekly at https://twit.tv/shows/tech-news-weekly. Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: threatlocker.com for Tech News Weekly uscloud.com INFO.ACILEARNING.COM/TWIT - code TWIT100 cachefly.com/twit

Transcribed - Published: 14 November 2024

Emily Forlini is filling in for Mikah Sargent this week! Lyft is entering the robotaxi space as it partners with a robotaxi company. Some of the latest self-driving tech is making its way into vehicles. Is ChatGPT's search feature a worthy rival to Google Search? And what does the feature hold for technology as the US enters a new administration in the coming months? Abrar Al-Heeti talks about autonomous vehicles as Lyft partners with robotaxi companies to explore deploying autonomous vehicles within its network and how a company called Zoox seeks to deploy robotaxis in San Francisco and Las Vegas in the coming weeks. Emily Forlini continues the autonomous vehicle discussions about new self-driving systems being utilized in GM and Ford vehicles. Lance Ulanoff of TechRadar stops by to talk about his experience using ChatGPT Search and how it can rival the dominant Google search engine. And Dan Patterson from Blackbird AI chats with Emily about how the upcoming Trump administration could shape the tech industry's future. Hosts: Emily Forlini and Abrar Al-Heeti Guests: Lance Ulanoff and Dan Patterson Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/tech-news-weekly. Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: 1password.com/twit Melissa.com/twit e-e.com/twit uscloud.com

Transcribed - Published: 7 November 2024

Like Google, Amazon has a list of products the tech company discontinued. Is one of your favorites on the list? What Apple announced this past "Mac Week." What GitHub announced at its GitHub Universe 2024 event. And how Apple's Genmoji generator will operate when it's released with the future iOS 18.2 release. Mikah Sargent talks about a great article from The Verge highlighting a handful of Amazon Echo products that the tech company has discontinued over the years. Dan Moren of SixColors joins the show again to discuss the new M4 Mac products that the company announced this past week. Martin Woodward, VP of DevRel for GitHub stops by to talk about some of the new things that GitHub announced at its GibHub Universe 2024 event, including the new GitHub Spark. And Mikah talks about Apple's Genmoji service that is slated to come in iOS 18.2 and some of the things you can and cannot do with it. Host: Mikah Sargent Guests: Dan Moren and Martin Woodward Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/tech-news-weekly. Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: uscloud.com flashpoint.io veeam.com bigid.com/tnw

Transcribed - Published: 31 October 2024

Would you use an AI chatbot in your disagreements with your significant other? A discussion on mental health and the complexities with AI technology and social interactions. The FIDO Alliance published new specs to help promote credential portability. And Apple releases the next wave of upcoming Apple Intelligence features in the latest developer betas of iOS, macOS, and iPadOS. Emily Forlini of PCMag joins Mikah Sargent this week to discuss a humourous story from the subreddit r/AITAH, in which a user's girlfriend consults ChatGPT to help her in their arguments. Mikah shares a tragic case of a 14-year-old who took his own life after periods of interactions with an AI chatbot from Character.AI. Nick Steele and David Turner from the FIDO Alliance join the show to discuss the Alliance's new specifications involving passkeys and their portability. Dan Moren stops by to discuss the new Apple Intelligence features rolled out to the latest developer betas for iOS, iPadOS, and macOS. latest developer betas for iOS, iPadOS, and macOS. Content Warning: One of the following stories discusses the sensitive topic of suicide involving a minor. If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide or self-harm, please contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline - call or text 988 or chat online at chat.988lifeline.org. If you are located outside the United States, please visit findahelpline.com to find a helpline in your country. Hosts: Mikah Sargent and Emily Forlini Guests: Nick Steele and David Turner Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/tech-news-weekly. Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: threatlocker.com for Tech News Weekly shopify.com/twit uscloud.com INFO.ACILEARNING.COM/TWIT - code TWIT100

Transcribed - Published: 24 October 2024

The FTC is making it easier for you to cancel your subscriptions. Apple is celebrating ten years of Apple Pay. Android 15 is rolling out now to Pixel devices. And Amazon announced new Kindle devices, set to be released at the end of October. Fresh off her appearance on This Week in Tech, Jennifer Pattison Tuohy celebrates the FTC's new rule, making canceling a subscription service easier. Mikah Sargent talks about Apple's celebration of 10 years of Apple Pay. Jason Howell stops by to talk about the official release of Android 15 to Pixel devices and when other Android phones, such as Samsung devices, will see Android 15 arriving on those devices. And David Carnoy of CNET got his hands on Amazon's newly announced Kindle devices and shares his thoughts on them. Hosts: Mikah Sargent and Jennifer Pattison Tuohy Guests: Jason Howell and David Carnoy Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/tech-news-weekly. Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: flashpoint.io threatlocker.com for Tech News Weekly 1password.com/twit cachefly.com/twit

Transcribed - Published: 17 October 2024

Apple TV+ can now be accessed through Prime Video. The latest on the Google Antitrust case and what the judge is considering doing with Google. And officials are facing antisemitic attacks on X over the response to Hurricane Helene. Dan Moren joins Mikah Sargent on the podcast this week. Dan talks about Apple and Amazon striking a deal between one another to offer Apple TV+ through Prime Video. Mikah Sargent talks about the Internet Archive being hacked, with 31 million users' data being accessed. Leah Nylen of Bloomberg talks with Mikah about the Google Antitrust Case and The Department of Justice's recommendations that could reshape the tech giant. And finally, Will Oremus of The Washington Post chats about the antisemitic attacks on X that officials are receiving over false narratives presented over the response to Hurricane Helene. Hosts: Mikah Sargent and Dan Moren Guests: Will Oremus and Leah Nylen Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/tech-news-weekly. Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: veeam.com uscloud.com Melissa.com/twit

Transcribed - Published: 10 October 2024

In this episode of Tech News Weekly, hosts Mikah Sargent and Abrar Al-Heeti discuss Meta smart glasses with real-time facial recognition and the ongoing drama between WordPress and WP Engine. Also joining are Daniel Rubino of Windows Central to talk about Microsoft's latest Copilot features and indie developer Christian Selig to discuss his experience with Apple's removal of his Juno app from the App Store. Abrar Al-Heeti shares how Harvard students created an app called I-XRAY that uses Meta's Ray-Ban smart glasses and facial recognition to find personal data on people in real-time, raising privacy concerns Mikah Sargent dives into the ongoing feud between WordPress and WP Engine, with WordPress co-founder Matt Mullenweg calling WP Engine a "cancer" and the two companies exchanging legal threats Daniel Rubino breaks down Microsoft's latest AI Copilot updates, including an improved UI, voice interactions, smart search, and photo/paint features that rely on dedicated neural processing units Christian Selig discusses his short-lived Juno app, which provided a cleaner YouTube experience on Apple's Vision Pro before being pulled due to pressure from Google, sparking debates about app store policies and developer rights Hosts: Mikah Sargent and Abrar Al-Heeti Guests: Daniel Rubino and Christian Selig Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/tech-news-weekly. Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: 1password.com/twit e-e.com/twit flashpoint.io threatlocker.com for Tech News Weekly

Transcribed - Published: 3 October 2024

Emily Dreibelbis joins Mikah Sargent this week on Tech News Weekly! X released its first transparency report since Elon Musk took over the company. Initial impressions of Meta's Orion AR prototype glasses. And Microsoft has released a new tool that can reportedly correct incorrect AI-generated text. Emily Dreibelbis talks about how X has released its first transparency report following Elon Musk's purchase of the social media company. Why did X finally release the report after skipping last year? Scott Stein of CNET is reporting from the Meta campus in Palo Alto! He had the chance to try Meta's new Orion AR glasses prototype and share his initial thoughts. And Mikah Sargent shares a new tool Microsoft has released that can reportedly correct AI-generated text that generates incorrect information. However, the tool has some skepticism about when it attempts to fix it; it can generate more inaccurate information. Hosts: Mikah Sargent and Emily Dreibelbis Guest: Scott Stein Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/tech-news-weekly. Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: shopify.com/twit threatlocker.com for Tech News Weekly

Transcribed - Published: 26 September 2024

Jennifer Pattison Tuohy returned from the IFA consumer electronics show in Berlin, where some new gadgets and tech were unveiled at the show. There's a new social network that has you and only AI bots in it. A review of the iPhone 16 and 16 Pro. And Meta introduces Instgram 'Teen Accounts' to manage safety concerns of teens using the social network service. Jennifer Pattison Tuohy joins Mikah Sargent this week! Jennifer recently returned from the IFA consumer electronics show in Berlin and shares some of the cool tech she saw there. Mikah talks about a new social media network called Social AI, where only AI bots respond to your posts. Patrick Holland of CNET joins the show to talk about his review of the iPhone 16 and 16 Pro, and his thoughts on the device and the new Camera Control button that was introduced to the lineup. And Paris Martineau of The Information and This Week in Google stops by to talk about Meta's new Instagram 'Teen Accounts' and what this new feature aims to do to protect teens while using the service. Hosts: Mikah Sargent and Jennifer Pattison Tuohy Guests: Patrick Holland and Paris Martineau Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/tech-news-weekly. Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: betterhelp.com/TNW 1password.com/twit veeam.com cachefly.com/twit

Transcribed - Published: 19 September 2024

A new baseball team is starting to make waves within the city of Oakland that a startup founder founded. Meta has trained its AI on everything posted on its social websites since 2007. What Apple announced at its "Glowtime" event. And what are the differences behind the PS5 Pro console that Sony announced earlier this week? Amanda Silberling talks about the Oakland Ballers, a new independent baseball organization that started earlier this year, and how the organization is approached like a startup company. Mikah Sargent talks about Meta's admission that it has been training its AI system using data scrapped from its social media services dating back to 2007. Dan Moren of SixColors talks about the new iPhone 16s and Apple Watch Series 10 devices announced at Apple's recent event. And Kyle Orland of Ars Technica joins the show to talk about the PS5 Pro console, the key hardware upgrades within the console that separate it from the regular PS5 console, and how the console's price point compares to other consoles in the market. Hosts: Mikah Sargent and Amanda Silberling Guests: Dan Moren and Kyle Orland Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/tech-news-weekly. Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: flashpoint.io Melissa.com/twit threatlocker.com for Tech News Weekly

Transcribed - Published: 12 September 2024

Regulations have been drafted for operating autonomous trucks in the state of California. The Bluetooth Special Interest Group has released details about the next iteration of Bluetooth, Bluetooth 6.0. What to expect from Apple's upcoming "It's Glowtime" event. And the Internet Archive has lost a major legal battle that could impact the organization and internet preservation. Abrar Al-Heeti joins Mikah Sargent this week! Abrar talks about the regulations drafted in the state of California regarding the operation of autonomous trucks. Mikah Sargent shares details about the next iteration of Bluetooth technology, Bluetooth 6.0, announced by the Bluetooth Special Interest Group. Mark Gurman from Bloomberg joins the show to share what Apple plans to announce at next week's Apple Event on September 9th. And Kate Knibbs, Senior Writer at WIRED, stops by to discuss the landmark ruling against the Internet Archive organization and what this could mean for the future of internet preservation. Hosts: Mikah Sargent and Abrar Al-Heeti Guests: Mark Gurman and Kate Knibbs Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/tech-news-weekly. Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: e-e.com/twit veeam.com 1password.com/twit

Transcribed - Published: 5 September 2024

The smart home company Brilliant is back in business. A review on Dell's take on a Copilot+ laptop. Amazon is officially launching an AI version of its Alexa services. And the California State Assembly passes a sweeping AI safety bill. Brilliant, a smart home company, has been bought by private investors and plans to release the next generation of its smart home control panel later this year. Devindra Hardawar of Engadget reviewed the Dell XPS 13 Copilot+ laptop and recommends whether it is worth purchasing. Caroline O'Donovan of the Washington Post discusses Amazon officially releasing an AI-powered version of Alexa in October. And Mikah discusses the California State Assembly's passing of a sweeping AI safety bill and what the bill aims to do within California. Host: Mikah Sargent Guests: Devindra Hardawar and Caroline O'Donovan Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/tech-news-weekly. Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: threatlocker.com for Tech News Weekly shopify.com/twit

Transcribed - Published: 29 August 2024

Amanda Silberling recounts her time at the White House Creator Economy Conference held earlier this month. Microsoft's Recall AI feature won't be available until later this year. A review of Google's Pixel 9. And what was surprising about Samsung's Galaxy Ring device following a teardown of the device? Amanda Silberling participated in the White House Creator Conference earlier this month and shares her experience and time with President Joe Biden when he made an unannounced stop at the event. Mikah Sargent talks about Microsoft delaying its Recall AI feature to testers until October to continue testing the security changes to the feature following initial security concerns. Lisa Eadicicco of CNET joins Mikah to discuss her review of Google's Pixel 9 phone. And Shahram Mokhtari of iFixit stops by to talk about iFixit's teardown of Samsung's Galaxy Ring,their findings with the device, and how it compares to similar devices such as the Oura Ring Gen3. Hosts: Mikah Sargent and Amanda Silberling Guests: Lisa Eadicicco and Shahram Mokhtari Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/tech-news-weekly. Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: 1password.com/twit betterhelp.com/TNW

Transcribed - Published: 22 August 2024

Apple is forcing Patreon to switch to its App Store billing system, allowing Apple to take 30% of new subscriptions made through its App Store. KOSPA passed in the U.S. Senate recently: what's next for the controversial bill. And Google announced a lot at its Made by Google event, including new Pixel phones and a big push for Gemini AI. Dan Moren of Six Colors joins Mikah this week! Dan talks about Apple forcing Patreon to switch to using its App Store billing system, or Patreon will be removed from the App Store. Mikah Sargent talks about KOSPA being passed recently in the U.S. Senate and what's behind the controversial 'child safety' bill. Jason Howell of Techsploder joins Mikah for the 2nd half of the show! Jason talks about everything Google announced at its recent Made by Google event, including focusing on what its AI can do for its various devices, and announced the Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro Fold, Watch 3, and Pixel Buds Pro 2. Hosts: Mikah Sargent and Dan Moren Guest: Jason Howell Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/tech-news-weekly. Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: Melissa.com/twit cachefly.com/twit

Transcribed - Published: 15 August 2024

Google released a new version of its Nest Learning Thermostat. Google is also looking to enhance the Google smart home experience with Gemini intelligence. A look into the coming that's gathering 'human data' for every major AI company. Mark Gurman reports that the Mac Mini will be updated with the M4 chip and a design change later this year. Jennifer Pattison Tuohy joins Mikah this week to talk about the latest iteration of Google's Nest Thermostat and the new design and features of the device. Jennifer also talks about how Google is bringing its Gemini intelligence to Google Home to join the market of other smart home systems using AI. Reed Albergotti of Semafor stops by to talk about Turing, the company helping major AI companies gather 'human data' for their AI systems. And Mikah talks about a Mark Gurman report that we may see an update to the Mac Mini with M4 chips and a design change later this year. Host: Mikah Sargent Guests: Jennifer Pattison Tuohy and Reed Albergotti Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/tech-news-weekly. Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsor: 1password.com/twit

Transcribed - Published: 8 August 2024

Mikah Sargent is out this week, but Emily Dreibelbis of PCMag is hosting for Mikah! Meta's AI generator is allowing influencers to let their fans message an AI version of themselves. Following the OpenAI controversy with Scarlett Johansson, the company released its 'Advanced Voice Mode' to its alpha users. What is 'White Dudes for Harris'? And inside the health crisis at a town in Texas involved with bitcoin mining. Abrar Al-Heeti is joining the show this week. Abrar talks about Meta's AI Studio and how the company is continuing to expand into creating AIs for its userbase to interact with their favorite creators and allowing select users to generate their own AIs. Emily talks about OpenAI rolling out its 'Advanced Voice Mode' feature to select users,' following the controversy with OpenAI using a voice similar to Scarlett Johansson. Will Oremus of The Washington Post stops by to chat with Emily about 'White Dudes for Harris' and the suspension of its X account following a massive fundraiser for Vice President Kamala Harris's presidential campaign. Finally, Andrew Chow of TIME discusses the health crisis that a town in Texas has been experiencing since the arrival of a Bitcoin mine in the summer of 2022. Hosts: Emily Dreibelbis and Abrar Al-Heeti Guests: Will Oremus and Andrew Chow Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/tech-news-weekly. Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: betterhelp.com/TNW e-e.com/twit

Transcribed - Published: 1 August 2024

What could go wrong with Gemini AI being used in live coverage of the 2024 Paris Olympics? A new study using Fitbit data shows connections between sleep and diseases. What Samsung Galaxy AI features are worth using? And how AI's use in video game development is impacting the industry. The Paris Olympics will feature Google's Gemini AI during NBCUniversal's coverage. Emily Dreibelbis wonders, in Steve Gibson's great words, "What could possibly go wrong?" Mikah Sargent loves a good story about sleep coverage, so it's no surprise that he talks about a study using Fitbit data that uncovered connections between sleep and diseases. Lisa Eadicicco of CNET stops by to discuss Samsung's Galaxy AI features and her favorite ones. And finally, Brian Merchant of WIRED talks about how AI is impacting the video game industry. Hosts: Mikah Sargent and Emily Dreibelbis Guests: Lisa Eadicicco and Brian Merchant Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/tech-news-weekly. Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: Melissa.com/twit 1password.com/twit betterhelp.com/TNW panoptica.app

Transcribed - Published: 25 July 2024

What is the future for Apple's HomePod? Leaked documents show what phones Cellebrite can and can't unlock. The security risks when using stalkerware apps. And initial thoughts on the Samsung Galaxy Ring after some hands-on with the device. Jennifer Pattison Tuohy joins Mikah this week on Tech News Weekly! Jennifer talks about the future for Apple's HomePod following code discovered in the public beta for tvOS 18. Mikah Sargent talks about the Cellebrite leak, which 404 Media obtained and verified, and what devices Cellebrite can and can't unlock. Lorenzo Franceschi-Bicchierai of Techcrunch talks about stalkerware apps and, besides the ethical reasons for using such apps, why using them can present a security risk for users. And finally, Lexy Savvides of CNET got her hands on the Samsung Galaxy Ring and shares her thoughts on it. Hosts: Mikah Sargent and Jennifer Pattison Tuohy Guests: Lorenzo Franceschi-Bicchierai and Lexy Savvides Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/tech-news-weekly. Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsor: cachefly.com/twit

Transcribed - Published: 18 July 2024

The Federal Trade Commission bans an app from being offered to minors. A beloved DVD rental service files for bankruptcy. An old website publication has been resurrected as an 'AI-zombified' website. And what Samsung announced at its latest Galaxy Unpacked event. Amanda Silberling joins Mikah this week on Tech News Weekly! Amanda talks about the FTC banning the app NGL from offering its social app to minors following a ruling that the company tricked users into paying its $9.99 monthly subscription. Mikah talks about Chicken Soup For The Soul Entertainment, the company that owns the DVD rental service Redbox. It is now filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy following a filing of Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection initially. Christina Warren stops by to discuss how a company brought back an old website as an 'AI-zombified' publication, using content pulled from other website publications under the bylines of former authors who wrote for the publication, including Christina herself! And finally, Jason Howell returns to TNW to talk with Mikah about everything Samsung announced at its recent Galaxy Unpacked event, including the Galaxy Watch Ultra and Galaxy Ring devices. Hosts: Mikah Sargent and Amanda Silberling Guests: Christina Warren and Jason Howell Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/tech-news-weekly. Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: lookout.com panoptica.app e-e.com/twit 1password.com/twit

Transcribed - Published: 11 July 2024

Emily Dreibelbis joins us this week on Tech News Weekly! We are starting to see some effects following Elon Musk's decision to lay off the entire Tesla Supercharger team. Which businesses have begun to benefit from the AI Boom that we're in? What Netflix has learned since expanding from streaming video content into the world of video game publication. And the Recording Industry Assocation of America (RIAA) sues Udio and Suno. Emily Dreibelbis talks about the fallout from Elon Musk's firing of Tesla's Supercharger team and how car companies that have agreed to use Tesla's Supercharger are starting to be impacted by the change. Mikah shares an article from The New York Times about businesses profiting from Artificial Intelligence. Netflix is best known for starting out in the DVD rental business and its vast streaming library. Now, it has entered the video game publishing world, and has learned a lot since delving into it. Finally, Kate Knibbs from WIRED joins the show to discuss the Recording Industry Association of America's lawsuit against the AI generative music platforms Suno and Udio. Hosts: Mikah Sargent and Emily Dreibelbis Guest: Kate Knibbs Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/tech-news-weekly. Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: zscaler.com/zerotrustAI wix.com/studio

Transcribed - Published: 27 June 2024

Amanda Silberling of TechCrunch joins Mikah Sargent this week! California is seeking to crack down on smartphone usage in schools. A new social media network has been launched where AI and humans coexist on the platform. Social media influencers are barely getting by. And patient safety issues have increased at Amazon's One Medical primary care service since Amazon acquired the service and shifted care to call center contractors. Mikah Sargent shares his story of the week about how California Governor Gavin Newson is seeking to restrict the usage of smartphones at its schools during the day. Amanda Silberling talks about a new social media network from a former Snap engineer called Butterflies, where humans and AI coexist on the network and can interact with one another. Mikah talks about how social media influencers are barely getting by through sponsorship deals and ad revenue payouts from social networks like YouTube or TikTok. And finally, Caroline O'Donovan from The Washinton Post talks about patient safety issues at Amazon's One Medical service following Amazon's acquisition of the primary care service and shifting support to a call center staffed primarily by contractors. Hosts: Mikah Sargent and Amanda Silberling Guest: Caroline O'Donovan Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/tech-news-weekly. Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsor: panoptica.app

Transcribed - Published: 20 June 2024

Amazon's Alexa could have been in a prime position to dominate AI. Why AI detection tools for detecting AI written content are hurting writers. What was announced at WWDC earlier this week? And how security cameras getting smarter with AI is a good thing. Jennifer Pattison Tuohy talks about how over a dozen employees who worked on Amazon's Alexa had a good chance to dominate the AI space and blew that chance. Mikah Sargent talks about how, with the rise of AI being used to perform writing tasks and tools being utilized to detect AI-generated work, writers are still getting stuck in the crossfire and are losing their jobs due to false accusations. After leading the show last week, Dan Moren stops by again to chat about the major announcements at Apple's WWDC24. And finally, why security cameras getting smarter with AI capabilities is a good thing for households? Hosts: Mikah Sargent and Jennifer Pattison Tuohy Guest: Dan Moren Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/tech-news-weekly. Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: wix.com/studio cachefly.com/twit

Transcribed - Published: 13 June 2024

Dan Moren of Six Colors hosts the show with Abrar Al-Heeti while Mikah Sargent is out this week! Facebook is seeing a surge of young adults using its service. Zoom CEO Eric Yaun wants AI to attend meetings for you. What can we expect to be announced at WWDC24 on June 10th? And Microsoft's newly announced Windows Recall feature is severely insecure, according to a security researcher. Abrar Al-Heeti shares a report from Meta that Facebook has seen the highest number of young adult users within the last three years. Dan Moren is fascinated by an interview given by Zoom CEO Eric Yaun about how he envisions how AI can be used to attend Zoom meetings for you through a deepfake and allow you to place your attention on other things. Ryan Christoffel of 9to5Mac joins the show to discuss what we can expect from Apple's upcoming Worldwide Developers Conference and the expected focus on AI. Finally, Zac Bowden from Windows Central returns to the show to talk about the security issue facing Microsoft's upcoming feature, Windows Recall, and how the data this feature stores locally on your machine isn't well secured at all. Hosts: Dan Moren and Abrar Al-Heeti Guests: Ryan Christoffel and Zac Bowden Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/tech-news-weekly. Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: lookout.com mylio.com/twit eufy.com

Transcribed - Published: 6 June 2024

Can you debunk misinformation before it gets out to the public? A massive leak of Google's search algorithm made its way online. What is the /e/OS mobile operating system? And OpenAI is working with Apple to train Siri, and it is making Microsoft concerned about their relationship. Will Oremus from The Washington Post joins Mikah Sargent to talk about misinformation and the practice of 'prebunking' as a way to educate voters in upcoming elections so that they are as informed as possible when casting their votes. Mikah talks about a recent leak of Google's search algorithm and the company's acknowledgement of the leak. Senior Writer Scott Gilbertson of Wired stops by the show to discuss /e/OS and its differences from the stock Google Android operating system. Finally, Mikah talks about OpenAI helping Apple fix its digital assistant, Siri, and how that working relationship is making Microsoft very concerned. Host: Mikah Sargent Guests: Will Oremus and Scott Gilbertson Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/tech-news-weekly. Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: zscaler.com/zerotrustAI IntouchCX.com/twit

Transcribed - Published: 30 May 2024