Tech News Weekly (Audio)

Boston Dynamics introduced a new robot that has caught the attention of many people. How is Microsoft's AI Copilot impacting the coding industry? What are TikTok Notes? And what in the heck are Super Apps? Jennifer Pattison Tuohy joins us this episode to discuss Boston Dynamics' introduction of its latest robot, the Atlas, and how it's a vast improvement over its previous robots. Mikah Sargent talks about how Microsoft's AI Copilot is impacting the coding industry by automating coding aspects and saving engineers time. Karissa Bell of Engadget joins the show to talk about TikTok's latest experiment, TikTok Notes, and how it is similar to Meta's Instagram. Finally, Lisa Eadicicco of CNET explains what Super Apps are and why the idea of Super Apps is starting to make news lately. Hosts: Mikah Sargent and Jennifer Pattison Tuohy Guests: Karissa Bell and Lisa Eadicicco 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: YahooFinance.com cachefly.com/twit

Humane's AI pin has arrived! Apple is expanding repair options with support for used genuine parts. The FCC is rolling out 'Consumer Broadband Labels'. And former CEO Marissa Mayer has a new photo app called Sunshine, powered by AI. Amanda Silberling of TechCrunch joins Mikah to talk about Humane's AI Pin, now available for purchase, along with a slew of reviews and hands-on with the device. Mikah Sargent discusses Apple's announcement of expanding repair options for its devices, including support for used genuine Apple parts. Kyle Barr of Gizmodo stops by to discuss the FCC's rollout of 'Consumer Broadband Labels' and where you might be able to find them listed with ISPs. Finally, Reed Albergotti of Semafor chats about Sunshine, the AI-powered photo app started by former CEO Marissa Mayer. Hosts: Mikah Sargent and Amanda Silberling Guests: Kyle Barr 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 Sponsors: wix.com/studio mylio.com/TWIT25

LinkedIn is testing adding TikTok-like videos to its feed. What do alternative app stores on the iPhone look like within the European Union. Business schools are integrating AI more into their coursework. And what to know about the upcoming eclipse if you're fortunate to experience it! Abrar Al-Heeti of CNET talks about LinkedIn testing short-form video content into its feed to lure more users to its services. Mikah Sargent shares some insight into the alternative iPhone app stores in the European Union, such as Setapp and AltStore. Lindsay Ellis of The Wall Street Journal shares how business schools are starting to invest more heavily in AI. Finally, Rod Pyle of space.com and This Week in Space stops by to share some fun facts about the upcoming eclipse and some tips for preparing for the experience if you're fortunate enough to see it. Hosts: Mikah Sargent and Abrar Al-Heeti Guests: Lindsay Ellis and Rod Pyle 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: eufy.com GO.ACILEARNING.COM/TWIT

Tesla has opened its superchargers to non-Tesla vehicles! However, how easy is it to find one that's compatible with one in a big city? Mikah shares a PSA about "MFA Bombing" targeting Apple users. The FTC could sue TikTok over how the company handles its users' privacy and security. What is 'Project Ghostbusters'? And what does one tech reviewer think of the Apple Vision Pro after using it for over a month? Emily Dreibelbis of PCMag joins us for this Tech News Weekly episode! She shares her experience using Tesla's superchargers with a regular EV vehicle and how difficult it is to find a Tesla charger that will work with non-Tesla EVs. Mikah talks about a recent phishing attack targeting Apple users by exploiting a bug in Apple's reset feature called 'MFA bombing.' Karissa Bell of Engadget talks about how TikTok is now facing possible charges from the FTC for handling users' privacy and security within the platform. Lorenzo Franceschi-Bicchierai of TechCrunch discusses how Facebook probed into Snapchat traffic to gain a competitive advantage over its competitors through a secret project dubbed 'Project Ghostbusters.' Finally, Scott Stein of CNET returns to the show to share his thoughts on the Apple Vision Pro after using it for over a month. Hosts: Mikah Sargent and Emily Dreibelbis Guests: Karissa Bell, Lorenzo Franceschi-Bicchierai, and 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: vanta.com/TNW zscaler.com/zerotrustAI wix.com/studio

Breaking news as the U.S. Department of Justice sues Apple for illegal smartphone monopoly. Automakers are sharing consumers' driving behaviors with insurance companies. Beeper is back in the news as it refocuses its efforts on delivering an app that brings various chat applications into one singular app. And Microsoft had an event to announce new Surface PCs! Jennifer Pattison Tuohy joins Mikah Sargent this week to talk about 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. Mikah talks about how U.S. automakers share consumers' driving behaviors and practices with insurance companies with detailed reports. Emma Roth of The Verge joins the show to talk about how Beeper is refocusing its efforts after it attempted to bring iMessage to Android users through an app that seeks to combine various chat applications into one singular app. Finally, Zac Bowden of Windows Central discusses Microsoft's unveiling of the new Surface Pro 10 and Surface Laptop 6 computers. Hosts: Mikah Sargent and Jennifer Pattison Tuohy 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 canary.tools/twit - use code: TWIT

The ongoing concerns and legislation around TikTok in the US, the BlackCat ransomware attack on Change Healthcare, the EU's newly passed AI Act, and the current state of Microsoft's Surface Duo folding phone. TikTok's Potential Ban and Creators' Response: TechCrunch's Amanda Silberling shares insights on TikTok's looming ban in the U.S., highlighting creators' mixed reactions, ranging from active lobbying to uncertainty about national security implications. The debate extends to the political theater surrounding the ban, especially in an election year, and the lack of concrete evidence against TikTok's operations in the U.S. Ransomware Attack on Change Healthcare: Mikah Sargent discusses the severe implications of the ransomware attack on Change Healthcare, underlining the vulnerability of the U.S. healthcare system due to centralization. The conversation sheds light on the challenges healthcare providers face, from halted operations to delayed payments, and sparks a discussion on the need for antitrust oversight and comprehensive privacy legislation. EU's AI Regulation Act: Emilia David from The Verge delves into the EU's groundbreaking AI Act, explaining its scope, the amendments it underwent, and its potential as a model for AI regulation worldwide. The act aims to ensure AI systems' safety and ethical use, with provisions for law enforcement exceptions and guidelines for companies operating in the EU. Microsoft Surface Duo's Lack of Updates and Community Efforts to Keep it Alive: Window Central's Zac Bowden brings to the forefront the passionate community working to rejuvenate the Microsoft Surface Duo. He discusses custom developments like Windows on ARM for the Surface Duo and a custom Android ROM, showcasing the device's unique dual-screen productivity advantages and the challenges of maintaining its relevance. Hosts: Mikah Sargent and Amanda Silberling Guest: Emilia David 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: bitwarden.com/twit ecamm.com/twit or use Promo Code TWIT

U.S. lawmakers are once again pushing ByteDance to divest TikTok or face a ban within the country. The Center for Countering Digital Hate published a report on AI images generated being used to create election disinformation. A Microsoft AI engineer warns the FTC about safety concerns with Microsoft's Copilot Designer. And some of the new features & products Apple has announced over the past few weeks! Abrar Al-Heeti joins Mikah this week! She talks about U.S. lawmakers making another push to get ByteDance to divest TikTok or face a ban within the country. Could this push get TikTok banned within the U.S., or at least divest the company? Mikah covers the report published by the Center for Countering Digital Hate, where the organization tested popular AI image tools and how they help contribute to disinformation during election periods. Emma Roth of The Verge stops by to share her coverage of the safety concerns brought up by a Microsoft engineer over Microsoft's Copilot Designer of its safety issues and flaws. And finally, Dan Moren of SixColors.com talks about Apple's announcement of M3 13" & 15" MacBook Airs and the iOS 17.4 update. Hosts: Mikah Sargent and Abrar Al-Heeti Guests: Emma Roth and 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: Melissa.com/twit wix.com/studio

The latest AI controversy with Google's Gemini, President Biden's new executive order restricting the sale of personal data, issues with popular but insecure video doorbell cameras, and more. Google's AI Controversy with Gemini: Reed Albergotti of Semafor discusses the backlash against Google's Gemini AI for generating biased content. Google CEO Sundar Pichai's response and the challenges of correcting AI behavior are explored. Apple's Project Titan Cancelation: Mikah focuses on Apple's decision to cancel its self-driving car project, Project Titan, reallocating resources to its AI division. The market's reaction and the implications for Apple's future in AI are discussed. Biden's Executive Order on Personal Data: Engadget's Karissa Bell explains President Biden's executive order banning the bulk sale of sensitive personal data to certain countries. The geopolitical context and potential impacts on privacy and national security are analyzed. Security Concerns with Video Doorbells: Mikah highlights a Consumer Reports study by TWiT-alumn Stacey Higginbotham that revealed security flaws in popular video doorbells, underscoring the risks of unencrypted personal data and the importance of consumer vigilance in product choices. Host: Mikah Sargent Guests: Reed Albergotti and Karissa Bell 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: ecamm.com/twit or use Promo Code TWIT joindeleteme.com/twit promo code TWIT

What is the Amazon Echo Hub, and how is it different from Amazon's current Echo lineup? If you own a Wyze camera, you may have received a notification of a security incident with the company. A review of Microsoft Copilot Pro. And Apple releases their Sports app and announce that iMessage is getting post-quantum encryption. Jennifer Pattison Tuohy of The Verge joins Mikah to talk about her review of the Amazon Echo Hub and the difference between this device and the overall Echo lineup from Amazon. Wyze announced a security incident with its devices that allowed a very small group of its users to access thumbnail images from other users. Chris Hoffman of The Intelligence & Computerworld chats with Mikah about his review of Microsoft Copilot Pro, the technology behind this offering from Microsoft, and what it can do. Finally, Apple released its very own sports app called Apple Sports, and Mikah explains the idea behind iMessage getting post-quantum encryption and what it means for the app. Host: Mikah Sargent Guests: Jennifer Pattison Tuohy and Chris Hoffman 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: vanta.com/TNW bitwarden.com/twit canary.tools/twit - use code: TWIT wix.com/studio

What's it like seeking love within AI? How web crawlers are suddenly controversial with the rise of AI. Are Meta's Ray-Ban Smart Glasses better than the Apple Vision Pro for what face computers are capable of now? And Amazon has created the largest text-to-speech model that they claim to exhibit "emergent" qualities to speak sentences more naturally. Emily Dreibelbis of PCMag joins the show to talk with Mikah about the AI "dating scene" AI through ChatGPT Plus and AI boyfriends and her somewhat lackluster experience. Mikah talks about the "robots.txt" file that exists within many if not all, websites and how AI is impacting the use of this file. Victoria Song of The Verge stops by to talk about Meta's and Apple's VR offerings and the differences between the two devices. Finally, Amazon researchers have trained a text-to-speech model that they claim exhibits "emergent" qualities that improve its ability to speak sentences more naturally than other text-to-speech models. Host: Mikah Sargent Guests: Emily Dreibelbis and Victoria Song 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 joindeleteme.com/twit promo code TWIT Melissa.com/twit cachefly.com/twit

Amanda Silberling from TechCrunch joins us this week as guest co-host! Amanda talks about how Bluesky is now open for the public to register to this decentralized social network. Did three million smart toothbrushes get infected with malware? What is OnlyFake and these neural networks where you can acquire fake IDs? And how does one reviewer of the Apple Vision Pro feel about the device and its future after a week? Amanda talks about Bluesky and how it's now open for anyone to sign up. Mikah shares how three million smart toothbrushes were NOT used in DDoS attacks as initially reported by several news outlets. Joseph Cox of 404 Media joins the show to talk about a dark web service that is generating very sophisticated fake IDs. And finally, Brian X. Chen of The New York Times talks about his review of the Apple Vision Pro and how he's not as enthusiastic about this first-generation Apple device as other reviewers. Hosts: Mikah Sargent and Amanda Silberling Guests: Joseph Cox and Brian X. Chen 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

Abrar Al-Heeti joins Mikah Sargent as this week's guest co-host! Abrar shares how Amazon Prime Video now has ads unless you pay more for the ad-free viewing experience, mirroring Disney+ and Netflix's decision to interject ads into its lowest-tier service. Amazon backs out of its acquisition of Roomba following opposition from the EU. Scott Stein of CNET shares his review of the Apple Vision Pro headset. And Reed Albergotti talks about data centers that are smack dab in the middle of nowhere! Abrar Al-Heeti shares her story of the week of how Amazon Prime Video now has ads in the basic tier unless you opt to pay 2.99 a month more, following similar moves from Disney+ and Netflix. Mikah talks about Amazon backing out of its Roomba acquisition following EU opposition and its plan to block the acquisition. Scott Stein of CNET joins the show to talk about his review of the Apple Vision Pro and his thoughts on the device from when it was initially announced to now after reviewing it. Finally, Reed Albergotti from Semafor stops by to talk about the mobile data centers, often in remote locations. Hosts: Mikah Sargent and Abrar Al-Heeti Guests: Scott Stein 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

What is Palworld, the most popular video game on Steam and Xbox? Apple announces changes to iOS, Safari, and the App Store in the EU with some snark. Sean Hollister of The Verge reviewed the Framework 16" Laptop. And New York declared social media a public health hazard, the US's first city ever to do so.  Ana Diaz of Polygon talks to Mikah Sargent about Palworld, the history behind the game, and the controversies surrounding the popular title. Apple recently announced changes to iOS, Safari, and the App Store in the European Union to better align with the Digital Markets Act that the EU passed in 2022. Sean Hollister of The Verge joins the show to talk about the Framework Laptop 16" he reviewed and shared what he likes about the laptop and the aspects of the laptop that have him concerned about a product that aims to convince others this is a futureproof platform. Finally, Mikah talks about how New York has declared social media a public health hazard, the first time a city in the US has done so. Host: Mikah Sargent Guests: Sean Hollister and Ana Diaz 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

The continuing saga of the Series 9 & Ultra 2 Apple Watches continues as these watches with blood oxygen features are banned again as of January 18th. What were the smart home trends at CES 2024 this year? How big is the scale of surveillance for each Facebook user on Meta's social platform? And a surprise guest returns to today's Tech News Weekly to discuss what was announced at Samsung's Galaxy Unpacked 2024 event. The sales ban of the Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 in the US has resumed again as of January 18th as the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has denied Apple's request to pause the ban over the watches' blood oxygen features. Jennifer Pattison Tuohy returns to the show to talk about the trends of smart homes at this year's CES 2024 event. A study covered in The Markup that Consumer Reports conducted showcases the amount of data collected by companies and sent to Meta's social media platform, Facebook. And finally, Jason Howell returns to Tech News Weekly! He chats with Mikah about what was unveiled and discussed at Samsung's Galaxy Unpacked 2024. Host: Mikah Sargent Guests: Jennifer Pattison Tuohy 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: meraki.cisco.com/twit cachefly.com/twit

There's a nine-month-long cruise ship that's hosting a plethora of TikTok creators. A company called Rabbit sells its 10,000 unit allotment of its R1 AI companion device. What are the details on the upcoming Apple Vision Pro, now set to launch on February 2nd? And how Generative AI may be helpful in 2024. Amanda Silberling joins the show as a guest co-host! You'll be seeing her every 2nd Thursday, sharing her story of the week and talking with Mikah about his story of the week. We start with how there's a nine-month-long cruise ship that's hosting a large number of TikTok creators. Mikah talks about a company called Rabbit and how they sold out of the 10,000 unit allotment of its R1 AI companion device that works as a "universal controller for apps." Dan Moren of Six Colors joins the show to talk about the Apple Vision Pro device and how the company announced a release date of February 2nd, with pre-orders beginning on Friday, January 19th, starting at 5:00 a.m. Pacific. Finally, Reed Albergotti from Semafor shares how generative AI in 2024 will be implemented more meaningfully to assist us in advancements in different fields. Hosts: Mikah Sargent and Amanda Silberling Guests: Dan Moren 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: lookout.com

LastPass is enforcing a 12-character minimum master password. 23andMe blames victims, saying that it's their fault their data was breached. Which EVs now qualify for the full $7500 tax credit in the US? Roku announces plans for new TVs that use AI to optimize your TV settings. And what could the future be for AI with the NY Times lawsuit against OpenAI? LastPass will be enforcing a 12-character minimum master password following a massive security breach back in 2022. 23andMe is deflecting blame for its security breach from hackers to the victims because of users failing to "update their passwords following past security incidents." Sam Abuelsamid joins the show to talk with Mikah about the updated, shortened list of electric vehicles that now qualify for the US's full $7500 federal tax credit. Florence Ion of Gizmodo swings by to chat about Roku's new lineup of its Pro Series 4k TVs and how it will use AI to optimize your TV's settings. And Mikah talks about the New York Times lawsuit against OpenAI and Mike Masnick's of TechDirt's take on the lawsuit. Host: Mikah Sargent Guests: Sam Abuelsamid and Florence Ion 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: lookout.com

A look back at some of our favorite interviews from the past year: Stu Tartarone, a veteran of AT&T, who helped develop the first cell phone network and make the first cell phone call back in 1983. Stephen Shankland of CNET talks about how 500+ cables that carry 400 terabits of data per second are running across our ocean floor. Joseph Cox of 404 Media (formerly of Vice) about AI voices and the future of it when a computer can replicate another person's voice, especially without their permission. Christian Selig, developer of the Apollo Reddit app, about Reddit's changes to its API and whether Reddit will make any changes or reverse its API update. Amanda Silberling from TechCrunch about the Senate hearing with Ticketmaster and the ticketing fiasco with Taylor Swift concert tickets being sold through Ticketmaster's platform. Heather Kelly of The Washington Post and her guide on teens, smartphones, and social media following the Surgeon General's advisory about social media's effect on the youth's mental health. Amanda Silberling again about the plethora of new social media services since Elon Musk's acquisition of Twitter last year. And finally, J.D. Capelouto of Semafor about OpenAI's announcement of Chat GPT-4. Hosts: Mikah Sargent 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

Xfinity was a victim of a recent hack that affected 36 million customers. Microsoft Copilot will allow you to generate music via Suno AI's integration. Did Matter deliver on its promise to help create a better, more connected smart home? And how much of that photo you're viewing online was altered using AI?  Mikah shares two stories for the week. First, Comcast has reported that Xfinity has suffered a hack that affected 36 million Xfinity customers. Microsoft Copilot has a new integration through Suno AI that allows you to generate your own music. Listen to a possible new theme song for Tech News Weekly made through Suno AI. Jennifer Pattison Tuohy of The Verge joins the show to talk about the past year for smart homes and whether Matter lived up to its promise of helping to create a more connected smart home. Mark Gurman of Bloomberg stops by to talk about Apple's decision to stop the sale of its Series 9 & Ultra 2 watches in the US and what led to this decision. Finally, Stephen Shankland of CNET returns to talk about photos in the age of AI and how much of it is altered through AI. Host: Mikah Sargent Guests: Jennifer Pattison Tuohy, Mark Gurman, and Stephen Shankland 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

The UK is allowing ChatGPT and other AI tools to be used in legal rulings. Why did Tesla recall over 2 million of their vehicles? What led to E3 being canceled? And the fears of chatbots being used to help students cheat in their studies were overblown per a new research. If you're in the UK, you may have robots starting to help in determining your legal fate. Thomas Germain of Gizmodo talks about the UK Judicial Office allowing AI tools to help write legal rulings and be utilized in other tasks. Sam Abuelsamid joins us to talk about Tesla's recalling over 2 million vehicles due to US auto-safety regulators determining Tesla's Autopilot feature doesn't do enough to protect its drivers. Mikah talks about what led to E3, the yearly gaming trade event, being finally shut down. And Mikah shares a study that shows that cheating fears with the use of chatbots and other AI tools were overblown. Host: Mikah Sargent Guests: Thomas Germain and Sam Abuelsamid 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: GO.ACILEARNING.COM/TWIT wix.com/studio for This Week in Tech

Some college students are becoming subjected to tracking "opportunities" during their daily lives on campus. How Beeper Mini works in light of news that Beeper has brought iMessage to Android phones. And Apple has confirmed that governments are spying on people's phones through push notifications. Tara García Mathewson from The Markup joins the show to talk about her article detailing a college students' day as they are subjected to a plethora of software tracking one's data on computers, how it's being shared with colleges, and the general privacy implications of being a college student. Beeper has announced an app called Beeper Mini that brings iMessage to Android phones. Eric Migicovsky, co-founder of Beeper, stops by to discuss the app. Mikah Sargent shares his story of the week about how Apple has confirmed that governments are spying on people's phones through push notifications that we regularly get. And Jason Howell shares some big news at the end of the show. Hosts: Mikah Sargent and Jason Howell Guests: Tara García Mathewson and Eric Migicovsky 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: bitwarden.com/twit mylio.com/TWIT25 Melissa.com/twit