Down Round

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman made an interesting little announcement this week: the company has mitigated mental health concerns on its platform... and it's ready to let its users generate erotica. Now that might seem a little strange to you. Most of the internet had a similar response, actually. In this episode, we talk more about one of our favourite pet topics — weird parasocial relationships with the computer, and how the various AI labs are treating this problem. (Or should we say opportunity?)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, Down Round is diving into the world of parenting and technology — everything from the various devices and gizmos targeted at parents, through to the algorithm that swamps your feed the moment you become a new parent.  Joining us to help us understand the deep mysteries of the mumgorithm is Humyara Mahbub of the Baby Shoes podcast, who is a world-renowned expert in ads on Instagram for crap you don't need. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The buzz is all about Meta's new AI-only video feed, Vibes, led by Alexandr Wang. It promises a stream of AI-generated clips, raising eyebrows about its market appeal. The hosts dive into the quirky world of low-effort content, dubbed 'slop,' and ponder why AI favors safe, cute themes. They also weigh the implications of AI versus human-created videos and debate whether Vibes is just a trial run or something more long-term. Plus, there’s a glimpse of OpenAI’s upcoming projects on the horizon!

We all know that Meta wants to replace the smartphone with smartglasses, and be the king of the AI device game. Well, they're one step closer to their sci-fi dream with the announcement of the Meta Rayban Display. In this ep, we dive into the announcement, and how things are coming together on the device front for Zuckerberg and Co.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dive into the world of Oracle, a tech giant that just saw its stock soar 40% after a staggering $300 billion deal with OpenAI. Discover its journey from a database powerhouse to navigating the cloud era, albeit a bit late. The conversation touches on the dominance of NVIDIA's GPUs in AI infrastructure and the implications of Oracle's strategy. There's a lively debate about whether the surge in AI spending marks a boom or if it’s just a bubble, revealing the complexities of enterprise lock-in.

Apple have announced their new iPhones — and they sort of stink of desperation. But one of them is orange, which may or may not appeal to you. Plus, a notable absence of Apple Intelligence chat.  The boys are back in the same room after a prolonged interregnum and break it all down for you.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We're dipping into the world of streaming and East Asian cultural dominance today, talking about Netflix's smash hit movie K-Pop Demon Hunters. We talk about the pandemic era deal struck between Sony and Netflix, what this means for the streaming landscape, and whether it would have been as much of a cultural phenomenon if it was a traditional cinematic release.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dive into the lively debate on copyright and AI regulation in Australia, where tech leaders see room for change while creatives feel left behind. Listen to amusing travel tales mixed with serious conversations about how AI is reshaping the music landscape. Discover the urgent need for updated legal frameworks that balance innovation with artists' rights. Plus, explore intriguing thoughts on incentivizing creativity to embrace technological advancements in a shifting industry.

OpenAI's release of GPT-5 sparks mixed reactions, with many users underwhelmed by its performance compared to GPT-4. The hosts delve into emotional attachments users formed with GPT-4 and the frustrations surrounding the new model's quirks. They highlight marketing strategies reminiscent of grand tech announcements, like a tweet featuring the Death Star. The discussion also touches on AI's evolving pricing landscape and the challenges in ensuring large language models perform accurately in basic tasks, revealing a disconnect between user expectations and reality.

In this engaging conversation, tech reporter and author Cam Wilson discusses insights from his book, Conspiracy Nation, which examines the Australian conspiracy community. He explores how online platforms have transformed conspiracy theories, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. The talk also highlights the effects of AI on human connection and mental health. Cam shares thoughts on Australia's teen social media ban and the challenges of navigating digital communication in today's society, making for a thought-provoking and entertaining listen.