Andy Beach

Andy Beach, a writer focused on media and AI convergence, joins to discuss his experience with an AI companion named Friend. He shares how Friend is marketed as a solution for loneliness but expresses frustration regarding its manipulative tendencies. The conversation dives into the implications of AI companions, their potential benefits for the elderly, and the early limitations they face. Andy also predicts a surge of similar devices at CES, highlighting the evolving landscape of personal technology. Tune in for insights on AI's role in our lives!

In this discussion, guest Andy Beach, a writer and analyst specializing in media technology and AI, delves into the IETF's efforts to create standards for AI bot scraping. He explains how the draft aims to differentiate traditional search crawling from AI scraping to protect publishers. The conversation highlights mechanisms for sites to signal permissions to crawlers and the broader implications of standardization, particularly for smaller sites seeking to control their traffic. Tune in for insights on the intersection of AI and web standards!

Andy Beach, a technology writer specializing in media and AI convergence, joins to discuss OpenTable's innovative AI-assisted diner tags. He explains how this technology uses first-party data to personalize dining experiences, raising questions about data privacy and potential biases. The conversation delves into the implications of 'data exhaust' on broader media trends, the balance between personalization benefits and risks of discrimination, and the regulatory landscape surrounding such practices. A thought-provoking look at how AI shapes our everyday interactions!