On this week’s episode on The AmberMac Show: We cover the first documented case of a global AI cyberattack, Disney’s unexpected embracing of AI slop, another AI band topping the charts, and OpenAI’s financial fumbling. We’ve also got Helen Hayes, Director of Strategic Development at McGill’s Centre for Media, Technology, and Democracy, talking about Gen(Z)AI; Kate Koplovich, Senior Policy Analyst at C.D. Howe Institute, on Canada’s role in the global energy transition; and tech expert Marc Saltzman with the latest gadgets leading up to this year’s Black Friday/Cyber Monday sales. Finally, on TheOtherMac, Jeff talks about the increasing omnipresence of online sports gambling.Send a voice message to The AmberMac ShowCheck out our guest on social…Helen Hayes – Director of Strategic Development, at McGill’s Centre for Media, Technology, and Democracy: LinkedInKate Koplovich – Senior Policy Analyst at C.D. Howe Institute: LinkedInMarc Saltzman – Tech Expert: X/Twitter | LinkedInBe sure to follow our hosts...Amber Mac: Bluesky | X/TwitterJeff MacArthur: Bluesky | X/Twitter
On this week's episode on The AmberMac Show: We dig into how Facebook, Instagram, and other Meta platforms are raking in billions by scamming online users through deceptive ads and, speaking of scams, Elon Musk is taking his Tesla board for a ride for a cool one trillion dollars - thankfully, not all billionaires are built the same. This week’s guest is billionaire investor Frank McCourt, Executive Chairman of McCourt Global and Founder of Project Liberty, who discusses his bid to buy TikTok and his mission to build a better Internet for all. Finally, in this week’s TheOtherMac, Jeff talks about dating apps, AI, chatbots, and the loneliness epidemic.Send a voice message to The AmberMac ShowCheck out our guest on social…Frank McCourt - Author & Executive Chairman of McCourt Global and Founder of Project Liberty: Book | WebsiteBe sure to follow our hosts...Amber Mac: Bluesky | X/TwitterJeff MacArthur: Bluesky | X/Twitter
On this week’s show, which tech companies are shedding thousands of jobs in the age of AI, why Character.ai is finally banning teens from its chatbot, what are the politics around one of the most popular video doorbells, and why Canadians are stepping up and opening their wallets for a better Facebook. Plus, Jeff unpacks the problem in the promise of personal robots on TheOtherMac; Joan Donovan, Assistant Professor of Journalism and Emerging Media Studies at Boston University, on how much we know about misinformation and how little is being done to stop it; and The Honourable Stephen Lecce, Ontario Minister of Energy and Mines, on Canada’s identity and global leadership in ethical resources.Send a voice message to The AmberMac ShowCheck out our guest on social…Joan Donovan – Assistant Professor of Journalism & Emerging Media Studies at Boston University: LinkedInThe Honourable Stephen Lecce – Ontario’s Minister of Energy & Mines: LinkedInThis is Mining PodcastBe sure to follow our hosts...Amber Mac: Bluesky | X/TwitterJeff MacArthur: Bluesky | X/Twitter
This week on The AmberMac Show, author Cory Doctorow joins us to talk about his new book, why everything is worse, and what we can do about it. We talk with Taylor Owen, founding director of The Centre for Media, Technology & Democracy (and host of Machines Like Us), and Sasha Havlicek, CEO of the Institute for Strategic Dialogue, about how the world’s leading democracies need to chart a new path forward in tech. In The Other Mac, Jeff unpacks what you need to know about Amazon deals. Plus, in this week’s headlines, how an AI metal detector at a school in the U.S. flagged a Doritos bag as a gun, and which Oscar-winning director likened tech bros’ irresponsible A.I. obsession to the blind arrogance of Victor Frankenstein.Send a voice message to The AmberMac ShowCheck out our guest on social…Cory Doctorow – Author of Enshittification: Why Everything Suddenly Got Worse and What to Do About It: Website | BookTaylor Owen – Founding Director at The Centre for Media, Technology, and Democracy + Host of Machines Like Us: LinkedIn | WebsiteSasha Havlicek – CEO at Institute for Strategic Dialogue: LinkedIn | WebsiteBe sure to follow our hosts...Amber Mac: Bluesky | X/TwitterJeff MacArthur: Bluesky | X/Twitter
This week on The AmberMac Show, the makers of ChatGPT want to be a new home for erotic content. TechRadar Editor-at-Large Lance Ulanoff joins us to talk about what this means and why it’s so controversial. We also dive into the dangers of embracing crypto and why Pinterest is going to give you the option for less AI in your feeds. In The Other Mac, Jeff delves into how Elon Musk plans to combat the rise of bots on X. Finally, Tony Anscombe, Chief Security Evangelist at ESET, joins the show to discuss cyber resilience in the face of increasing scams and online criminal activity.Send a voice message to The AmberMac ShowCheck out our guest on social…Lance Ulanoff – Editor-at-Large at TechRadar: LinkedInBe sure to follow our hosts...Amber Mac: Bluesky | X/TwitterJeff MacArthur: Bluesky | X/Twitter
This week on The AmberMac Show, we discuss why it should concern you that OpenAI wants ChatGPT to be the new operating system of the internet, plus Sora’s copyright issues, and Jeff dives into OpenAI (and others’) circular financing and related issues that may cause the AI bubble to burst. We also talk about Deloitte’s $300,000 Australian government report that was found to contain levels of AI hallucinations that may surprise you, how sidewalk delivery robots may be coming to a city near you, and why Tesla is once again in the crosshairs for self-driving accidents. We’ve also got a very special guest with Dave Sanderson, the last person off the Miracle on the Hudson plane crash, who joins us to talk about moments that matter and why he launched a new magazine on this topic.Send a voice message to The AmberMac ShowCheck out our guest on social…Dave Sanderson – Leadership & Resilience Keynote Speaker & Author: LinkedInBe sure to follow our hosts...Amber Mac: Bluesky | X/TwitterJeff MacArthur: Bluesky | X/Twitter
On this week’s episode: the latest on OpenAI’s new AI-only TikTok clone (which seems like an AI slop nightmare), the AI actor taking on Hollywood, and the increasing amounts of money President Trump receives from media and tech companies in legal settlements. In The Other Mac, Jeff uncovers how scammers are spending millions on allegedly forbidden Meta ads. Finally, our guests this week include the Director of the Tech Transparency Project, who joins us to discuss how to hold social media companies accountable for their shady actions, plus ESET’s Chief Security Evangelist on how to stay safe from the latest online scams.Send a voice message to The AmberMac ShowCheck out our guest on social…Katie Paul – Director of the Tech Transparency Project: LinkedIn | WebsiteTony Anscombe – Chief Security Evangelist at ESET: LinkedIn | WebsiteBe sure to follow our hosts...Amber Mac: Bluesky | X/TwitterJeff MacArthur: Bluesky | X/Twitter
On this week’s episode, we have a conversation with the Honourable Evan Solomon, Canada’s Minister of AI and Digital Innovation, about why this new government is all in on artificial intelligence. Speaking of AI, we share how this technology is working to keep Indigenous languages alive. Moving south of the border, we unpack why Elon Musk is accusing OpenAI of stealing secrets plus the latest on the DOGE fallout, including data privacy concerns and begging fired workers to come back. On TheOtherMac, Jeff talks about why AI labelling needs to be widely adopted (and why that may not be what Spotify’s new AI rules accomplish).Send a voice message to The AmberMac ShowCheck out our guest online at…Evan Solomon – Canada’s Minister of AI & Digital Innovation: LinkedInBe sure to follow our hosts...Amber Mac: Bluesky | X/TwitterJeff MacArthur: Bluesky | X/Twitter
On this week’s episode, Tesla’s door handles are dumb and dangerous. Amber and Jeff share more on what the car company plans to do about it in the wake of recent investigations. Speaking of dumb and dangerous, OpenAI is trying to make ChatGPT safer for teens, but age-specific accounts are not enough. In TheOtherMac, Jeff unpacks why Ticketmaster is getting sued and what it means for music fans. Our guests this week are Brent Toderian, who shares the truth about the politics of bike lanes, and Rosalie Wyonch, Associate Director of Research at the C.D. Howe Institute, who has some ideas about what we can do in the face of Canada’s healthcare crisis.Send a voice message to The AmberMac ShowCheck out our guest on social…Brent Toderian – City Planner, TODERIAN UrbanWORKS: LinkedIn | X/TwitterRosalie Wyonch – Associate Director of Research at C.D. Howe Institute: LinkedInBe sure to follow our hosts...Amber Mac: Bluesky | X/TwitterJeff MacArthur: Bluesky | X/Twitter
On this week’s episode, Amber and Jeff discuss the rise in hate that’s turning into real-world violence, and what happened online in the wake of the assassination of Charlie Kirk. Plus, what you should know about Apple’s latest devices, including a very cool feature that makes travel more accessible. In TheOtherMac, Jeff talks about the growing power and influence of China, and why it should be a cause for concern. This week’s guest is Douglas Soltys, the Editor-in-Chief of Betakit, who joins Amber to talk about Canada’s AI plans and some startups making a difference in tech.Send a voice message to The AmberMac ShowCheck out our guest on social…Douglas Soltys – Editor-in-Chief of Betakit: LinkedIn | X/TwitterBe sure to follow our hosts...Amber Mac: Bluesky | X/TwitterJeff MacArthur: Bluesky | X/Twitter
In this week’s episode, we discuss the chaos happening in Washington alongside America’s biggest tech leaders. Plus, there’s always a lot of talk about a minimum wage, but in the face of Elon Musk’s $1 trillion pay package, maybe it’s time we have a maximum wage. Rob Breakenridge, a columnist at the Calgary Herald, joins us this week to talk about the politics behind Alberta’s school book ban (and what literary icon Margaret Atwood thinks of it all). Speaking of the next generation, in the face of high youth unemployment, we share which industry is hiring young workers and needs their help.Send a voice message to The AmberMac ShowCheck out our guest on social…Rob Breakenridge – Host/Columnist for The Line Alberta & Columnist for Calgary Herald: LinkedIn | X/TwitterBe sure to follow our hosts...Amber Mac: Bluesky | X/TwitterJeff MacArthur: Bluesky | X/Twitter
On this week’s episode, we discuss why hundreds of Canadians got their Facebook and Instagram accounts disabled without warning, and what Meta is doing to help (spoiler alert: not much). Plus, why a fast food chain in the United States is saying no to AI after a man ordered 18,000 cups of water, and how many public service jobs in Canada might be replaced by artificial intelligence. In this week’s TheOtherMac, Jeff breaks down why OpenAI is being sued after the tragic suicide of a 16-year-old boy. This week’s guest is Rachel Tobac, an ethical hacker and the CEO of SocialProof Security who explains what we need to know about the safety and security of chatbots. Amber also shares a sneak peek of her newest podcast project, which focuses on critical minerals and mining.Send a voice message to The AmberMac ShowCheck out our guests online at…Rachel Tobac – Friendly Hacker & CEO of SocialProof Security: LinkedInBe sure to follow our hosts...Amber Mac: Bluesky | X/TwitterJeff MacArthur: Bluesky | X/Twitter
On this week’s episode, Don Lenihan & Amber discuss the challenge of sovereign AI and why it’s a priority for Canada in the age of Trump. Speaking of the US President, the White House is now on TikTok and Jeff has some news about tariffs. Plus, how Hertz is using AI to charge exorbitant amounts for minor damages, Jeff unpacks AI’s impact on the environment, and Amber shares her list of the best tech for a smooth back-to-school.Send a voice message to The AmberMac ShowCheck out our guest on social…Don Lenihan – President & CEO of Middle Ground Policy Research: LinkedInBe sure to follow our hosts...Amber Mac: Bluesky | X/TwitterJeff MacArthur: Bluesky | X/Twitter
In this week’s episode, Amber and Jeff talk about the technology that’s leading to the biggest wealth creation in modern history, why Meta is in trouble again for its chatbots and their conversations with kids, how Grok’s spicy video setting is making inappropriate deepfakes of Taylor Swift, and more. In TheOtherMac, Jeff unpacks the evolution of self-checkouts and why they’re making shopping worse. Plus, the Co-founder and Clinical Director of NiaHealth on what we can do to use data from wearables to improve the lives of Canadians, and Marc Saltzman shares his back-to-school tech picks.Send a voice message to The AmberMac ShowCheck out our guests online at…Tanya ter Keurs – Nurse Practitioner & Clinical Director of NiaHealth: LinkedIn | NiaHealth.coMarc Saltzman – Tech Expert: LinkedIn | X/TwitterBe sure to follow our hosts...Amber Mac: Bluesky | X/TwitterJeff MacArthur: Bluesky | X/Twitter
On this week’s episode, Amber and Jeff unpack everything you need to know about the latest version of ChatGPT, including how it still does a fair amount of hallucinating and continues to dish out dangerous advice. In The Other Mac, Jeff walks through 5 reasons he thinks today’s Instagram sucks. On the topic of social media, our special guest is Scott Stratten (AKA UnMarketing) who speaks with Amber about how AI is ruining authenticity online and what we can do instead.Send a voice message to The AmberMac ShowCheck out our guest on social…Scott Stratten – UnMarketing: Bluesky | X/TwitterBe sure to follow our hosts...Amber Mac: Bluesky | X/TwitterJeff MacArthur: Bluesky | X/Twitter
For our 25th episode, we've put together a summer special of The AmberMac Show looking back on the first half of 2025 through the lens of Jeff’s TheOtherMac segments. In this episode, learn more about the tricky tech behind online age verification, why we shouldn't trust Zuckerberg's AI friends, the truth about AI lies and slop, how to secure a better digital future for Canada, what Musk wants to do to America, and lots more. PS: Go to AmberMacTalkBack.com to leave an up-to 90-second voice message about your favourite tech-related movies and TV shows for an upcoming episode of The AmberMac Show.Send a voice message to The AmberMac ShowBe sure to follow our hosts...Amber Mac: Bluesky | X/TwitterJeff MacArthur: Bluesky | X/Twitter
Our guest this week is journalist John Vaillant, the bestselling author of Fire Weather, who breaks down what we can learn from an oil town that went up in flames (especially relevant in these hot summer months in a warming world). In tech headlines, Amber and Jeff discuss why President Trump is obsessed with fighting back against “woke AI”, what the CEO of OpenAI thinks of young people turning to chatbots for therapy, how new online safety laws are protecting kids in the U.K., and lots more. Plus, how you can be part of a future episode!Send a voice message to The AmberMac ShowBe sure to follow our hosts...Amber Mac: Bluesky | X/TwitterJeff MacArthur: Bluesky | X/Twitter
In this week’s episode, we talk about the cancellation of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and its connection with Trump’s weaponization of the US legal system, Musk’s juvenile release of a flirty Grok sexbot, DuckDuckGo’s new feature to avoid AI slop, the tech CEO caught cheating on Coldplay’s kiss cam, and how greedy AI is getting for your personal information. Plus, Amber chats with Jar Audio about Canadian podcasting and Jeff gets us up-to-speed on a court case exposing Tesla’s autopilot safety issues.Send a voice message to The AmberMac ShowBe sure to follow our hosts...Amber Mac: Bluesky | X/TwitterJeff MacArthur: Bluesky | X/Twitter
Amber and Jeff share what happened when Elon Musk’s chatbot Grok went rogue (again), including what ChatGPT thinks of all the drama. Plus, the latest digital investigation into the Jeffrey Epstein prison video raises some questions. In The Other Mac, Jeff explains the problem with Elon Musk’s new "America" political party. To round out this week’s show with some Canadian content, our guest is the founder and CEO of Gander, a new social media site launching this fall, built by Canadians and for Canadians. In other words, it might be time for Canadians to say goodbye to Facebook.Send a voice message to The AmberMac ShowCheck out our guest on social…Ben Waldman - Founder & CEO of GanderBe sure to follow our hosts...Amber Mac: Bluesky | X/TwitterJeff MacArthur: Bluesky | X/Twitter
Trump’s trade talk continues to threaten Canada, so Amber speaks to an award-winning economist about what this chaos means for Canadians. Speaking of chaos, Meta is testing out AI chatbots that will message you whether you want them to or not, just to keep you talking. Speaking of chatbots, an Xbox executive suggested that laid-off employees might want to use AI to manage their emotions (and unemployment). In The Other Mac, Jeff shares his thoughts on The Velvet Sundown and the problem with AI music.Check out our guest on social…Daniel Schwanen – Senior Vice President at C.D. Howe Institute: X/Twitter | LinkedInBe sure to follow our hosts...Amber Mac: Bluesky | X/TwitterJeff MacArthur: Bluesky | X/Twitter