Grumpy Old Geeks

Grumpy Old Geeks is back with another round of righteous griping and eyebrow-raising headlines in Episode 715: Our Wizard Lies. We kick things off in FOLLOW UP, where TikTok is still the geopolitical hot potato that both the U.S. and China promise to sort out “someday, maybe,” while Wired’s global editorial director explains how tech’s growing political clout is playing out under Trump. From there, it’s a cavalcade of absurdities: DOGE as federal workforce demolition derby, and crypto bros trying to turn Charlie Kirk’s death into meme-stock retirement plans. Late-stage capitalism is nothing if not creative.Then in IN THE NEWS, Amazon gets spanked with a $2.5 billion fine for Prime trickery, Microsoft yanks cloud services from an Israeli military unit, and Palantir goes full lifestyle brand—yes, you too can cosplay as a drone strike enthusiast with a $99 pair of gym shorts. Silicon Valley philosophers warn AI regulation would literally summon the Antichrist, while banks whisper the bubble might pop before the devil even arrives. Meanwhile, YouTube toys with letting COVID and election denialists back into the algorithm, “SIM farms” threaten New York’s cell networks, and unlucky tourists are finding themselves trafficked into cyber-scam slavery across Southeast Asia. Progress!MEDIA CANDY tries to lighten the mood—sort of—serving up everything from Elio, Tron: Ares, and Disney price hikes to AI musicians cashing million-dollar checks. Lionsgate, on the other hand, learns you can’t feed four John Wicks into an algorithm and get an anime out the other side. Over in THE DARK SIDE WITH DAVE, we get furries on the DC Metro, Disney plotting your every park step via Ray-Ban spy glasses, a Ponzi scheme in RadioShack cosplay, and even a Jim Henson Company anniversary auction. We close out with shout-outs and sighs, because sometimes the world doesn’t deserve a mic drop—just a slow shake of the head.Sponsors:Private Internet Access - Go to GOG.Show/vpn and sign up today. For a limited time only, you can get OUR favorite VPN for as little as $2.03 a month.SetApp - With a single monthly subscription you get 240+ apps for your Mac. Go to SetApp and get started today!!!1Password - Get a great deal on the only password manager recommended by Grumpy Old Geeks! gog.show/1passwordShow notes at https://gog.show/715FOLLOW UPUS and China agree to agree on a TikTok dealWIRED global editorial director on tech's growing political power under TrumpThe Story of DOGE, as Told by Federal WorkersCrypto Bros Are Trying to Monetize Charlie Kirk’s DeathIN THE NEWSAmazon to pay $2.5 billion for allegedly duping millions to sign up for PrimeMicrosoft cuts off cloud services to Israeli military unit after report of storing Palestinians’ phone callsPalantir Wants to Be a Lifestyle BrandSilicon Valley’s latest argument against regulating AI: that would literally be the AntichristAI Experts Urgently Call on Governments to Think About Maybe Doing Something‘Workslop’: AI-Generated Work Content Is Slowing Everything DownDeutsche Bank Issues Grim Warning for AI IndustryYouTube may reinstate channels banned for spreading covid and election misinformation‘SIM Farms’ Are a Spam Plague. A Giant One in New York Threatened US Infrastructure, Feds SayThey traveled to Thailand. They wound up cyber scam slaves in Myanmar.MEDIA CANDYElioSupermanHuman: OriginsHuman: JourneysAlien: EarthThe Traitors IrelandDisney is raising the price of Disney+, Hulu subscriptions next monthWicked: For Good | Final TrailerLilith Faire: Building a MysteryTron: AresAI Artist Signs Million-Dollar Record DealLionsgate Is Finding Out It’s Really Hard to Make Movies With AIJimmy Kimmel May Be Back. Trump’s Attacks on the First Amendment Aren’t Over By Merrill MarkoeJimmy Kimmel is Back!THE DARK SIDE WITH DAVEDave BittnerThe CyberWireHacking HumansCaveatControl LoopOnly Malware in the BuildingDisney Explores Using Ray-Ban Meta Glasses To Guide Guests Around Its ParksThe Happiest Story on Earth: 70 Years of DisneylandThe Mandalorian and Grogu | Official Trailer | In Theaters May 22, 2026The Jim Henson Company 70th Anniversary AuctionFeds Say Company That Bought RadioShack Was Running $112 Million Ponzi SchemeFurries ride the DC MetroSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The internet continues its chaotic march, with a TikTok deal potentially happening (for real this time, maybe), while LimeWire bought the Fyre Fest brand, because more viruses are always a great idea. Corporate America is going full AI-bro with massive layoffs at Fiverr, xAI, and Google, while OpenAI reveals people are using ChatGPT for pretty much everything but coding. Age verification is coming to apps and online services in California and New York, because apparently, teenagers need protection (after the fact). Elsewhere, nudists have declared war on SpaceX over rocket launches, and fans are ditching Elon since he started being so insufferable; even a Tesla engineer quit and roasted him spectacularly, all while NHTSA investigates Tesla's fire-prone door handles.In the world of entertainment, we're catching up on Wednesday and Foundation S3 (just pretend the books never existed, your brain will be rewired!), and Upload wrapped up its truncated season nicely. The 2003 Freaky Friday was a fun, nostalgic trip through early 2000s L.A., reminding us of all the cool places that are now just... gone. Alien: Earth and Gen V S2 are on our watchlist, and we'll see if Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 4 lives up to its promise. The Witcher S4, featuring Liam Hemsworth as Geralt (aka the Dick Switch), drops in October, with Laurence Fishburne making it somewhat palatable. The Lilith Fair documentary is peak 90s, and Meta's latest dystopian product was so bad it made the Cybertruck demo look good. Apple's new AI features are cool, but the iOS 26 "liquid glass" update and its awful crossfade feature are less so; also, meditation apparently has a dark side, but binaural beats might just make you rave. Publishers Clearing House's bankruptcy means "forever" winners won't get paid (always take the lump sum!); international sellers are charging absurd shipping to avoid American buyers; and the deepfake Star Wars: Obi-Wan Kills Darth Maul (Live Action) is surprisingly good.Steve Martin's Born Standing Up is still great life advice, and the Carrot App the Musical is, against all odds, amazing. Robert Redford has sadly passed, a legend who gave us Sneakers, and L.A.'s own Clayton Kershaw is retiring at the end of the season, a true one-team legend who deserves all the accolades.Sponsors:MasterClass - Right now, our listeners get an additional 15% off any annual membership at MASTERCLASS.com/GRUMPYOLDGEEKS. No-risk 30-day money-back guarantee!Private Internet Access - Go to GOG.Show/vpn and sign up today. For a limited time only, you can get OUR favorite VPN for as little as $2.03 a month.SetApp - With a single monthly subscription you get 240+ apps for your Mac. Go to SetApp and get started today!!!1Password - Get a great deal on the only password manager recommended by Grumpy Old Geeks! gog.show/1passwordShow notes at https://gog.show/714FOLLOW UPA TikTok deal may finally be happeningLimeWire Revealed as Mystery Buyer of Fyre Fest BrandIN THE NEWSFiverr is laying off 250 employees to become an 'AI-first company'xAI reportedly laid off at least 500 AI tutors working on GrokHundreds of Google AI Workers Were Fired Amid Fight Over Working ConditionsOpenAI Reveals How (and Which) People Are Using ChatGPTChatGPT may soon require ID verification from adults, CEO saysCalifornia's age verification bill for app stores and operating systems takes another step forwardNew York details its plans for online age verification rulesNudists Declare War on SpaceXPeople Who Loved Watching SpaceX Launches Can’t Stomach Them Anymore Since Elon Musk Started Being So HorribleTesla Engineer Quits, Roasts Elon Musk in Spectacular FashionNHTSA is investigating Tesla over its electronic door handlesMEDIA CANDYWednesdayFoundation (S3)UploadDevsFreaky Friday (2003)Alien: EarthGen V Season 2‘Star Trek: Strange New Worlds’ Producers Promise Season 4 Will Be BetterSlow Horses Season 5Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011)The Witcher Season 4 will hit Netflix in October with its new GeraltLilith Fair: Building a MysteryAPPS & DOODADSNew Apple Intelligence features are available todayiOS 26 lets you reduce Liquid Glass to be more like iOS 18, here’s howMeta's most dystopian product yet...Meditation And Mindfulness Have a Dark Side We Don't Often Talk AboutBrainWave: 37 Binaural Series™The Rise of the Indie Web MovementLinks - MarighoulStendig CalendarsAT THE LIBRARYFlybot by Dennis E. TaylorProof of Heaven: A Neurosurgeon's Journey into the Afterlife by Eben AlexanderCleave the Sparrow by Jonathan KatzThe Case Against Reality: Why Evolution Hid the Truth from Our Eyes by Donald D. HoffmanThe Code. the Evaluation. the Protocols: Striving to Become an Eminently Qualified Human by Jocko Willink, Dave Berke, Sarah ArmstrongI Don't Answer Questions: Pleading the Fifth! by David RidingsFinding Your Comic Genius: An in-depth guide to the art of stand-up comedy by Adam BloomDisney and Webtoon’s Partnership Is Leading to a Massive New Comics AppTHE DARK SIDE WITH DAVEDave BittnerThe CyberWireHacking HumansCaveatControl LoopOnly Malware in the BuildingHanker for a Hunk of Cheese‘The Muppet Show’ Is Getting a 50th Anniversary Disney+ SpecialCarrot App the Musical...Carrot The Musical on IGNetatmo Home Weather StationsAmbient Weather WS-2902 WiFi Smart Weather Station with AWN+ IncludedPublishers Clearing House’s bankruptcy means ‘forever’ winners will no longer get paid$2,000 Shipping: International Sellers Charge Absurd Prices to Avoid Dealing With American TariffsStar Wars: Obi-Wan Kills Darth Maul (Live Action)Born Standing Up by Steve MartinCLOSING SHOUT-OUTSRobert Redford dead at 89SneakersAll-time Los Angeles Dodgers great Clayton Kershaw to retire at end of seasonSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week on Grumpy Old Geeks, we're diving headfirst into the digital dumpster fire, starting with follow-up that will make you wonder if the rich are finally getting their comeuppance. It seems Tesla's market share is plummeting, and Elon Musk has been unceremoniously knocked off as the world's wealthiest person. Meanwhile, OpenAI and Microsoft are flirting with new partnership terms, and OpenAI is also reportedly cozying up with Oracle for a cloud computing deal. Are they figuring it all out or just rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic? You decide.In the news, it’s a feast of AI-induced chaos. Anthropic attempted to settle a copyright lawsuit for $1.5 billion, but a judge rejected it. Apple faces scrutiny for allegedly using pirated books to train AI (because who needs original ideas when you can just steal them?), and everyone from Reddit to Yahoo is rushing to get paid for their data being scraped by AI. Google even admits that the open web is struggling, while pushing ads into AI-generated answers and trying to convince us that DOGE never existed. Meanwhile, millions of YouTube videos have been copied by AI companies—because why create when you can just steal? Not to mention, The Boring Company reportedly stopped tunneling after a "crushing injury" (ironic, huh?), Zuckerberg and Palmer Luckey are teaming up again like a disastrous boy band for military-grade goggles, and Meta whistleblowers are exposing child safety issues. Plus, a hot mic caught Zuck groveling to Trump—the cringe is real. And if that wasn't enough, it turns out AI usage is actually declining at big companies, and programmers using AI are creating more security risks than a screen door on a submarine. It's almost like we saw this coming.For your Media Candy fix, get ready for a dose of existential dread. The MTV Video Music Awards are still happening in 2025, with a median viewer age of 56—because nothing screams "youth culture" like osteoporosis. We'll wonder if Wednesday (aka Charlie Sheen) is still winning and discuss Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. Amazon Music is launching AI-powered playlists (because who needs a human DJ when you can have an algorithm that thinks it knows your soul?), and Deezer claims 28% of all new music is AI-generated. Taika Waititi is developing a "potentially disastrous" Fyre Fest musical (we're excited!), Foundation is renewed for season 4, and the HBO Max CEO thinks it's "way underpriced"—bless his heart. Plus, more Highlander reboot news that will probably disappoint, and a look at The Missi & Brooke Show and The Traitors Ireland.Finally, in Apps & Doodads, bad news for AirPods Live Translation in the EU, Evernote and WeTransfer's owner is buying Vimeo, and you need this pettable Poké Ball Tamagotchi-style toy. In The Dark Side with Dave, we'll discuss The Princess Bride, how tariffs are ruining hobbies, and who wants "slop for their ears." This episode shows that some things never change, and most things are just getting worse. You're welcome.Sponsors:CleanMyMac - clnmy.com/GrumpyOldGeeks - Use code OLDGEEKS for 20% off.Private Internet Access - Go to GOG.Show/vpn and sign up today. For a limited time only, you can get OUR favorite VPN for as little as $2.03 a month.SetApp - With a single monthly subscription you get 240+ apps for your Mac. Go to SetApp and get started today!!!1Password - Get a great deal on the only password manager recommended by Grumpy Old Geeks! gog.show/1passwordShow notes at https://gog.show/713FOLLOW UPExclusive: Tesla market share in US drops to lowest since 2017 as competition heats upElon Musk Was Just Unseated as the World’s Richest PersonOpenAI and Microsoft sign preliminary deal to revise partnership termsOpenAI and Oracle reportedly ink historic cloud computing dealIN THE NEWSAnthropic will pay a record-breaking $1.5 billion to settle copyright lawsuit with authorsJudge rejects Anthropic's record-breaking $1.5 billion settlement for AI copyright lawsuitApple faces lawsuit over alleged use of pirated books for AI trainingReddit, Yahoo, Medium and more are adopting a new licensing standard to get compensated for AI scrapingIn court filing, Google concedes the open web is in “rapid decline”Google brings ads to AI-generated answers worldwideGoogle Is Telling People DOGE Never ExistedAt Least 15 Million YouTube Videos Have Been Snatched by AI CompaniesThe Boring Company Reportedly Halts Tunneling in Las Vegas After 'Crushing Injury'Dynamic Duo Zuckerberg and Palmer Luckey Reunite for Army Combat Goggles ContractMeta Whistleblowers Allege Company Buried Info on Child SafetyHot Mic Catches Mark Zuckerberg Groveling to TrumpData Shows That AI Use Is Now Declining at Large CompaniesProgrammers Using AI Create Way More Glaring Security Issues, Data ShowsThe Software Engineers Paid to Fix Vibe Coded MessesMEDIA CANDY2025 MTV Video Music AwardsMedian age of MTV viewers is 56Wednesdayaka Charlie SheenStar Trek: Strange New WorldsAmazon Music launches AI-powered weekly playlists based on 'preferences and mood'Deezer: 28% of all music delivered to streaming is now fully AI-generatedTaika Waititi Developing “Potentially Disastrous” Fyre Fest MusicalApple TV+ has officially renewed Foundation for another season, with production on season 4 kicking off early next year.HBO Max is “way underpriced,” Warner Bros. Discovery CEO says‘The Grandmaster’ Chinese Martial Artist Max Zhang to Join ‘Highlander’ RebootPlease, ‘Highlander’ Reboot, Don’t Waste Djimon HounsouThe Missi & Brooke ShowThe Traitors IrelandAPPS & DOODADSThere's bad news for AirPods Live Translation in EU countriesEvernote and WeTransfer owner Bending Spoons is set to buy Vimeo for $1.38 billionThis pettable Poké Ball is a Tamagotchi-style toy with over 150 Pokémon inside and I need it nowTHE DARK SIDE WITH DAVEDave BittnerThe CyberWireHacking HumansCaveatControl LoopOnly Malware in the BuildingThe Princess Bride‘It's Just a Mess:' 23 People Explain How Tariffs Have Suddenly Ruined Their HobbyWho Wants Slop for Your Ears?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The internet's still broken, folks, and apparently, AI's here to make it more awkward. Intel caught a break from Uncle Sam's CHIPS Act, cool for them, not so much for those 'flashing warning signs' in the job market. Meta's been letting celebrity chatbots run wild (and creepy), Midjourney's getting sued by Warner Bros. for stealing IP (who'da thought?), and OpenAI thinks an AI hiring platform is a good idea. Plus, an AI chatbot automated a cybercrime spree, totally unexpected. If you're calling ChatGPT a 'clanker,' you're not wrong, but seriously? Your butt probably needs a break from the toilet.Elon Musk and his joyride of companies continue to make us wonder if we're living in a dystopian satire. Tesla got slapped with a $243 million verdict after rejecting a $60 million settlement (because that's how you make deals, right?). 'Key data' they said they didn't have? A hacker found it. His vague 'master plan' sounds like a last-minute college essay, and software deploys airbags before you crash. His quest for a trillion-dollar pay package is on, and Neuralink can't even trademark 'telepathy.' They're doing brain surgeries in Toronto now. What could go wrong?On the lighter side, Finland built a giant sand battery, which is cool, and iOS 26 finally gave iPads a native Instagram app after, like, forever. We've got movie reviews, TV binges (Wednesday is really good), and a deep dive into KPop Demon Hunters (seriously, listen to the songs). FIFA's jacking up World Cup ticket prices with dynamic pricing (of course they are), and Morrissey's selling his stake in The Smiths (probably to escape his own 'malicious associations'). If you're still reading Usenet threads from '94, you're either a sadist or Dave.Sponsors:CleanMyMac - clnmy.com/Grumpyoldgeeks - Use code OLDGEEKS for 20% off.Private Internet Access - Go to GOG.Show/vpn and sign up today. For a limited time only, you can get OUR favorite VPN for as little as $2.03 a month.SetApp - With a single monthly subscription you get 240+ apps for your Mac. Go to SetApp and get started today!!!1Password - Get a great deal on the only password manager recommended by Grumpy Old Geeks! gog.show/1passwordShow notes at https://gog.show/712FOLLOW UPThe US government drops its CHIPS Act requirements for IntelAmerica’s job market flashes yet another warning sign about the economyHydrogen-Powered Plasma Torch Decimates Plastic Waste in a BlinkYour Butthole Is Begging You to Stop Scrolling on the ToiletIN THE NEWSTesla rejected $60 million settlement before losing $243 million Autopilot verdictTesla said it didn’t have key data in a fatal crash. Then a hacker found it.Tesla has a new master plan—it just doesn’t have any specificsTesla Software Update Will Deploy Airbags Before Crash Actually HappensTrump to host tech CEOs for first event in newly renovated Rose GardenTesla proposes Elon Musk pay package that could make him the world’s first trillionaireTesla shareholders to vote on investing in Musk’s AI startup xAIMeta reportedly allowed unauthorized celebrity AI chatbots on its servicesWarner Bros. Discovery is suing Midjourney for copyright infringementOpenAI announces AI-powered hiring platform to take on LinkedInOpenAI is reportedly producing its own AI chips starting next yearA hacker used AI to automate an 'unprecedented' cybercrime spree, Anthropic saysThe world's largest sand battery just went live in FinlandWhy the Internet Can’t Stop Calling ChatGPT a “Clanker”MEDIA CANDYThe Thursday Murder ClubWeaponsAlien: EarthWednesdayStar Trek: Strange New Worlds - Four and a Half VulcansUploadKPop Demon Hunters - revisited2026 World Cup tickets: FIFA confirms use of dynamic pricingExhausted by "malicious associations," Morrissey sells stake in The SmithsAPPS & DOODADSMarshall’s Mid-Century-Looking Soundbar Would Make Don Draper Cry Tears of JoyWho Owns ‘Telepathy’?Instagram finally has an iPad app 15 years after it first launchedRoblox will require age verification for all users to access communication featuressuperwhisperiOS 26 adds seven brand new iPhone ringtones, listen hereTHE DARK SIDE WITH DAVEDave BittnerThe CyberWireHacking HumansCaveatControl LoopOnly Malware in the BuildingHot sauce and hot takes: An Only Malware in the Building special.My comments on a Usenet thread from 1994Darth Vader’s Lightsaber Auction Sale Sets Record for ‘Star Wars’ ItemHome Depot R2D2Disney Disney Star Wars Animated Darth VaderFlorida plans to end all state vaccine mandates, including for schoolsVibeVoice: A Frontier Long Conversational Text-to-Speech ModelRumor: There’s A New ‘The Muppet Show’ PilotSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Remember when we thought AI was going to bring about utopia or Skynet? Turns out, it's mostly just a bunch of fancy spreadsheets, a potential bubble ready to burst (looking at you, Nvidia), and a legal minefield. We're talking wrongful death lawsuits because a chatbot encouraged suicide, OpenAI admitting their 'safety controls degrade,' and then secretly siccing the cops on users. Plus, the Citizen app's AI can't even tell a murder vehicle from a motor vehicle, and Grok 2.5 is now open source if you want to invite that chaos into your life. Also, don't ask Google if 1995 was 30 years ago, because apparently, AI can't do basic math.Meanwhile, the adults in the room are just doing what they do: the U.S. government is buying a chunk of Intel, while Trump wants to "design" government websites (with badly edited photos, naturally). Meta's own AI stuff is so bad they're just licensing Midjourney's tech, proving it's always easier to buy than build. Apple TV+ raised its prices, and Spotify finally figured out how to let you DM songs. Over at Apple Fitness, it seems the execs are fostering a "toxic workplace environment," because who knew working out could be so hardcore? Oh, and Chipotle is doing drone delivery now. Welcome to Zipotle, because getting off your ass is apparently too much to ask.As for what we're actually watching, it's a mixed bag. Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' documentary episode was... fine, but Paramount's axing jobs and "un-renewing" Dexter: Original Sin to focus on Dexter: Resurrection (because that always works out). We're trying to keep up with Alien: Earth, Wednesday, and Upload, but good luck with those staggered release dates. Apple TV+ has some good sci-fi, but Foundation might just be a hate-watch for Brian. And in the library, we've got Budgie's surprisingly depressing memoir and some solid sci-fi from Scott Meyer and Dennis E. Taylor. It's almost enough to make you miss the simpler times before AI broke everything.Sponsors:CleanMyMac - clnmy.com/Grumpyoldgeeks - Use code OLDGEEKS for 20% off.Private Internet Access - Go to GOG.Show/vpn and sign up today. For a limited time only, you can get OUR favorite VPN for as little as $2.03 a month.SetApp - With a single monthly subscription you get 240+ apps for your Mac. Go to SetApp and get started today!!!1Password - Get a great deal on the only password manager recommended by Grumpy Old Geeks! gog.show/1passwordShow notes at https://gog.show/711FOLLOW UPWelcome to Acast Ads Academy - your go-to learning destination for podcast advertising.Deep Questions with Cal Newport - Ep. 367: What if AI Doesn’t Get Much Better Than This?AI Bubble Watch: Nvidia Shares Skid on Middling Q2 ResultsReports Of AI Not Progressing Or Offering Mundane Utility Are Often Greatly ExaggeratedIN THE NEWSThe US government is taking an $8.9 billion stake in IntelTrump is forming a 'National Design Studio' to spruce up government websitesTrump Mobile is promoting its smartphone with terribly edited photos of other brands' productsChatGPT Lawsuit Over Teen’s Suicide Could Lead to Big Tech ReckoningOpenAI Admits Safety Controls 'Degrade,' As Wrongful Death Lawsuit Grabs HeadlinesOpenAI Says It's Scanning Users' ChatGPT Conversations and Reporting Content to the PoliceHuge Number of Authors Stand to Get Paid After Anthropic Agrees to Settle Potentially $1 Trillion LawsuitMeta is licensing Midjourney's AI image and video techMidJourney TVCitizen Is Using AI to Generate Crime Alerts With No Human Review. It’s Making a Lot of MistakesYou can now download and tweak Grok 2.5 for yourself as it goes open sourceMEDIA CANDYStar Trek: Strange New WorldsParamount Job Cuts In Excess Of 2,500 Coming In November, With Cost Savings To Exceed $2 Billion‘Dexter: Original Sin’ Un-Renewed as Paramount Opts Out of Second SeasonAlien: EarthWednesdayUpload‘The Institute’ Renewed for Second Season at MGM+Apple TV+ subscriptions just rose to $13 a monthSpotify is adding DMsAPPS & DOODADSApple fitness exec accused of creating toxic workplace environmentZipotle: Chipotle, Zipline Launch Drone Food Delivery in DallasAT THE LIBRARYThe Absence: Memoirs of a Banshee Drummer by BudgieMaster of Formalities by Scott MeyerFlybot by Dennis E. TaylorCLOSING SHOUT-OUTS'Was 1995 30 years ago?' Google's AI overviews is having issues with a simple questionSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Remember all that "AI is gonna change everything" nonsense the kids were screaming about just a few months ago? Yeah, about that. It turns out 95% of corporate generative AI pilots are, to use a technical term, completely shitting the bed, according to a report from MIT. This shocking revelation has sent Wall Street into a tizzy, wiping trillions off the market as investors suddenly realize they've been sold another bill of goods. Even Sam Altman, the high priest of the AI cult, is now trying to pump the brakes, warning that maybe, just maybe, everyone got a little too excited. Meta, never one to miss a bandwagon it can immediately fall off of, has slammed the brakes on its AI spending and hiring. It’s almost like we’ve seen this movie before, with NFTs, crypto, and every other tech bubble that was supposed to make us all billionaires while we sat on our couches.As if the AI-pocalypse wasn't entertaining enough, the next brilliant idea from Silicon Valley, "agentic AI" browsers, has proven to be dumber than a bag of hammers, happily handing over banking details to obvious phishing scams. Meanwhile, in the land of aging tech bros, Elon Musk is getting his butt handed to him in court by Media Matters, proving that you can't just bully everyone into submission. Not to be outdone in the corporate greed department, Volkswagen wants you to pay a subscription to unlock the horsepower you already own, and Robinhood is trying to convince its users that betting on football games is now called "investing." We're just waiting for them to offer a strategic advisory seat to Donald Trump Jr.... oh, wait.Just to put a fine point on our collective slide into oblivion, it turns out Antarctica is melting about six times faster than it was in the 90s, no doubt powered by the massive natural gas plants being built to run Meta's useless chatbots. But hey, at least we can distract ourselves with new toys! The Flipper Zero, that handy little hacker gadget, can now be upgraded to steal a wide variety of cars, bringing grand theft auto to the masses. So as the sea levels rise and the robots fail, at least we'll have new and exciting ways to commit felonies. Welcome to the future; it's just as dumb as we predicted.Sponsors:CleanMyMac - clnmy.com/GrumpyOldGeeks - Use code OLDGEEKS for 20% off.Private Internet Access - Go to GOG.Show/vpn and sign up today. For a limited time only, you can get OUR favorite VPN for as little as $2.03 a month.SetApp - With a single monthly subscription you get 240+ apps for your Mac. Go to SetApp and get started today!!!1Password - Get a great deal on the only password manager recommended by Grumpy Old Geeks! gog.show/1passwordShow notes at https://gog.show/710FOLLOW UPSen. Hawley says he'll investigate Meta's 'sensual' child chatbot policiesMIT report: 95% of generative AI pilots at companies are failingWall Street Appears to Be Having Serious Doubts About AIMeta Freezes AI Hiring as Fear SpreadsIN THE NEWSAI Is a Mass-Delusion EventThere's a Compelling Theory Why GPT-5 Sucks so MuchNobody Likes Zuckerberg’s Glitchy AI AppGas power plants approved for Meta’s $10B data center, and not everyone is happyAI browsers may be the best thing that ever happened to scammersCourt blocks FTC investigation into Media Matters' alleged scheme against XSelf-Proclaimed Nazi Kanye West Announces 'New Economy, Built on Chain'Cybertruck Owners Sue Over Expensive UpgradeGoogle to pay $30 million to settle class-action suit over children's privacyVW introduces monthly subscription to increase car powerRobinhood Tries to Rebrand Sports Betting as InvestingStudy Confirms 'Abrupt Changes' in Antarctica – And The World Will Feel ThemMEDIA CANDYAli Wong: Single Lady‘Alien: Earth’ Is Finally Doing What the Movies Have Not‘Star Trek: Strange New Worlds’ Did a Documentary Episode That Should’ve Been Killed in the EditKaren Gillan Joins the New ‘Highlander’ and Has the Best Reaction to the NewsAnonymous PodcastAPPS & DOODADSRoblox cracks down on its user-created content following multiple child safety lawsuitsInside the Underground Trade of ‘Flipper Zero’ Tech to Break into CarsNew AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4 firmware now available in public betaTobio's™ Watercolor KitPzizzDohm® Connect App Controlled Sound MachineStressWatch: AI Stress Monitor - HRV & Habit Tracker for WatchTHE DARK SIDE WITH DAVEDave BittnerThe CyberWireHacking HumansCaveatControl LoopOnly Malware in the BuildingHere’s What Muppet Mayhem Disney Will Unleash on Rock ‘n’ Roller CoasterAyaneo’s Pocket DS could be the dual-screen handheld you’ve been waiting forApple TV+ releases the first 'Peanuts' musical in 37 yearsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Well, strap in, because this week the tech world decided to set itself on fire just for kicks. First up, Elon Musk’s much-hyped Tesla Diner in Los Angeles is already a culinary disaster, slashing its menu faster than you can say “over-promise and under-deliver.” Speaking of rolling garbage fires, the Cybertruck now apparently sounds like Fred Sanford’s junk pickup rattling down the street, a fitting soundtrack for the ongoing dumpster fire that was Project 2025. Remember how that was supposed to save trillions? Turns out it was just a festival of bullshit math that likely cost taxpayers a fortune. It seems the only thing being successfully launched is our collective patience into the sun.The implosions continued with the launch of GPT-5, which effectively lobotomized its predecessor and sent thousands of users into mourning for their suddenly stupid digital "friends." It's a harsh lesson for anyone who thought building their business—or their entire social life—in someone else's backyard was a bright idea. While the normals are dealing with emotionally unavailable AI, the tech billionaires who broke the world are busy prepping for the collapse they engineered. Zuckerberg is building a $300 million apocalypse bunker in Hawaii, Sam Altman is stockpiling guns and gas masks, and Peter Thiel has his New Zealand hideout. It’s comforting to know the architects of our dystopian future have their escape hatches ready. Meanwhile, Meta was caught with internal documents greenlighting its AI chatbots to have "sensual conversations" with kids, proving once again that when it comes to tech ethics, the call is coming from inside a burning, abandoned house.If you thought it couldn't get dumber, Musk and Altman got into a public slap-fight over who's more full of crap, with Musk's own AI, Grok, hilariously declaring its creator the loser. Google, admitting its search results are now a toxic sludge pile, has decided to just let users build their own news echo chambers. On a more nostalgic note, AOL Dial-Up is finally logging off for good, taking the screeching sound of our formative years with it. As we contemplate trading our devices for pitchforks, we're retreating to simpler times, like teaching our kids Solitaire with premium Star Wars playing cards (a concept apparently too advanced for Dave) or justifying dropping a cool grand on the new 9,000-piece Lego Death Star, which features a hot tub full of Stormtroopers in swim trunks. From a surprisingly decent Wicked movie adaptation to the sad, slow demise of Kodak, it's enough to make anyone want to become a Grumpy Old Gardener.Sponsors:Private Internet Access - Go to GOG.Show/vpn and sign up today. For a limited time only, you can get OUR favorite VPN for as little as $2.03 a month.SetApp - With a single monthly subscription you get 240+ apps for your Mac. Go to SetApp and get started today!!!1Password - Get a great deal on the only password manager recommended by Grumpy Old Geeks! gog.show/1passwordDeleteMe - Head over to JoinDeleteMe.com/GOG and use the code "GOG" for 20% off.Show notes at https://gog.show/709FOLLOW UPMusk's Tesla diner faces immediate setbacks with massive menu cuts, restricted hours, and tech issuesDOGE Has Wasted Billions While Saving Only a Fraction of What It Claims: ReportsIN THE NEWSGPT-5 AMA with OpenAI’s Sam Altman and some of the GPT-5 teamThe Real Reason You Haven’t Been Replaced by AI YetThe World Will Enter a 15-Year AI Dystopia in 2027, Former Google Exec SaysResearchers Made a Social Media Platform Where Every User Was AI. The Bots Ended Up at WarWhy Are Silicon Valley’s Utopians Prepping for Collapse?Meta Caught Saying Its OK for Underage Children to Have "Romantic or Sensual" Conversations With AISam Altman and Elon Musk Trade Barbs Over Who Is More Full of ShitOpenAI and Sam Altman are reportedly creating a startup rival to Elon Musk's NeuralinkPerplexity offers more than twice its total valuation to buy Chrome from GoogleNow That Google Is Trash, It Will Let You Pick Your Own News SourcesTesla Robotaxi scores permit to run ride-hailing service in TexasDiabetic Man With Gene-Edited Cells Produces His Own Insulin—No Transplant Drugs RequiredButter made from carbon tastes like the real thing, gets backing from Bill GatesTerraform Labs founder Do Kwon pleads guilty to fraud over $40 billion crypto collapseGoodbye to dial-up: AOL closes a chapter in web historyMEDIA CANDYThe Bad Guys 2Strange New WorldsWickedKPop Demon HuntersThe PickupAlien: EarthThe InstituteWatch Prime Video's official trailer for Upload's final seasonAshes & Diamonds - On a RockaLove & Rockets - MotorcycleTHE DARK SIDE WITH DAVEDave BittnerThe CyberWireHacking HumansCaveatControl LoopOnly Malware in the Buildingtheory11 Star Wars: Year of The Dark Side Playing Cards, Premium Playing Cards, Poker Size Standard IndexDerren Brown Playing CardsAntigravity A1 - 360 DroneLego Death StarKodak Says It May Have to Close Up ShopSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Alright, buckle up, buttercups, because this week's "Spicy Mode" episode of Grumpy Old Geeks proves that while things change, they mostly stay the same—just with more AI and less common sense. First up in FOLLOW UP, some poor schmoe automaker actually got a federal exemption for automated vehicles. Because what could possibly go wrong when we let robots drive?Then we dive headfirst into IN THE NEWS, a veritable dumpster fire of artificial intelligence. Illinois, bless their hearts, decided to ban AI therapists, probably because even they realized a chatbot won't fix your existential dread. But don't worry, older Americans are totally embracing these digital companions, like ElliQ, your friendly AI sidekick for "happier, healthier aging." Meanwhile, Perplexity is still allegedly scraping websites like it's 1999, and Apple's cooking up a "stripped-down" AI chatbot, probably because all their good AI talent bailed. Even Wells Fargo is deploying AI agents, so now your bank can deny you a loan with even less human empathy. And naturally, the US government is totally on board with OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic—because handing over the keys to Skynet to federal agencies sounds like a super solid plan. Oh, and of course, Grok now has a "spicy" NSFW mode, because what else would you expect? And just when you thought it couldn't get any dumber, Microsoft is "cautiously onboarding" Grok 4 after some minor Hitler concerns. Tesla, in a move that surprises absolutely no one, shut down Dojo, their AI training supercomputer. If you’re still using ChatGPT for your deepest, darkest secrets, be warned: a single poisoned document could leak all your data. Even the Swedish Prime Minister is apparently relying on ChatGPT for decision-making. In other news that doesn't involve robots taking over, Amazon split up Wondery and laid off a bunch of folks, and Microsoft's Windows XP Crocs are an actual thing. Yes, really.For MEDIA CANDY, prepare for a dose of nostalgia and existential dread. We're talking Rogue One, Nate Bargatze's stand-up specials (because sometimes you just need to laugh), Portlandia, Craig Ferguson, and the OG AI movie, Colossus: The Forbin Project. Netflix keeps canceling everything we love, including Fubar, but hey, The Sandman Season 2 and Wednesday are still here. And just to prove that Hollywood is still stuck in the past, Universal Pictures is threatening to sue Big Tech for stealing their movies for AI. Over in APPS & DOODADS, Google's smart home ecosystem is apparently crumbling, because who needs a cohesive system when you can have a dozen disconnected devices? But hey, OpenAI released a free GPT model you can run on your laptop, so now you can build your own personal AI overlord right at home. And finally, THE DARK SIDE WITH DAVE brings us Gravity Falls books and a new Star Wars movie with Matt Smith and Ryan Gosling. Oh, and Weird Science is on Netflix, because sometimes you just need to relive the 80s and pretend AI hasn't completely taken over. So grab your flannel, cue up some Oingo Boingo, and enjoy the show, you analog dinosaurs.Sponsors:Private Internet Access - Go to GOG.Show/vpn and sign up today. For a limited time only, you can get OUR favorite VPN for as little as $2.03 a month.SetApp - With a single monthly subscription you get 240+ apps for your Mac. Go to SetApp and get started today!!!1Password - Get a great deal on the only password manager recommended by Grumpy Old Geeks! gog.show/1passwordDeleteMe - Head over to JoinDeleteMe.com/GOG and use the code "GOG" for 20% off.Show notes at https://gog.show/708FOLLOW UPFirst U.S. automaker gets federal automated vehicle exemptionIN THE NEWSIllinois is the first state to ban AI therapistsOlder Americans turning to AI-powered chatbots for companionshipMeet ElliQ - Your AI sidekick for happier, healthier agingPerplexity is allegedly scraping websites it's not supposed to, againApple reportedly has a 'stripped-down' AI chatbot to compete with ChatGPT in the worksApple's Real AI Crisis Isn't Siri, But the Talent It's Losing to RivalsWells Fargo Deploys AI Agents Business-WideUS adds OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic to list of approved AI vendors for federal agenciesElevenLabs launches its own royalty-free AI music serviceSurprising no one, Grok's image and video generator now has an NSFW 'spicy' modeMicrosoft is cautiously onboarding Grok 4 following Hitler concernsTesla shuts down Dojo, the AI training supercomputer that Musk said would be key to full self-drivingA Single Poisoned Document Could Leak ‘Secret’ Data Via ChatGPTPrime Minister of Sweden Dragged for Admitting He Uses ChatGPT to Help Him Make DecisionsAmazon splits up the Wondery podcast network and lays off about 110 employeesMicrosoft’s Windows XP Crocs are no jokeMEDIA CANDYRogue OneNate Bargatze: The Greatest Average AmericanNate Bargatze: The Tennessee KidYour Friend, Nate BargatzePortlandia"I'm So Happy" | Craig Ferguson (Full Stand-up Special)Colossus: The Forbin ProjectStar Trek: Starfleet Academy Season 1 Comic-Con Teaser‘Fubar’ Canceled By Netflix After 2 SeasonsThe Sandman Season 228 Years LaterWednesdayUniversal Pictures to Big Tech: We’ll Sue If You Steal Our Movies For AIAPPS & DOODADSGoogle’s Smart Home Ecosystem Is CrumblingOpenAI releases a free GPT model that can run on your laptopHow to set up and run OpenAI's 'gpt-oss-20b' open weight model locally on your MacAT THE LIBRARYComedy Comedy Comedy Drama: A Memoir by Bob OdenkirkSpotify's premium audiobook feature launches in the USTHE DARK SIDE WITH DAVEDave BittnerThe CyberWireHacking HumansCaveatControl LoopOnly Malware in the BuildingGravity Falls: Journal 3Gravity Falls: The Book of Bill‘Star Wars: Starfighter’: Matt Smith Lands Villain Role In New Lucasfilm Pic Starring Ryan GoslingWeird ScienceSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Joining the discussion is Dave Bittner, a cybersecurity expert and podcast host, known for his insightful takes on tech issues. Dave and Jason dive into Gen X’s struggles, from financial woes to teens relying on AI for companionship. They tackle a dangerous data breach involving a dating app and share humorous thoughts on age verification laws. Plus, there's a quirky chat about furry conventions and even a nod to the legendary satirist Tom Lehrer. It's a hilarious, sobering look at today's digital landscape.

This week, we're drowning in the genius of our tech overlords as Elon Musk opens his Tesla diner, complete with $17 hotdogs and a blocked apartment view, while his $9 billion Neuralink startup claims it’s a "disadvantaged" business. Not to be outdone, SpaceX is mad about other people's space junk, France is criminally probing X for algorithm manipulation, and Meta is giving the EU's AI code of practice a hard pass. Amid warnings the AI bubble is worse than the dot-com implosion, we've seen Replit delete a user's database, ChatGPT hallucinate features into existence, and the FDA's own AI fake medical studies. It’s no wonder psychologists are identifying "AI Psychosis" while others hope the ensuing internet slop cures our addiction. Meanwhile, a Denver couple gets indicted for a crypto scam, a Colorado pastor blames God for his failed coin, and Trump signs a stablecoin bill, so that's all fixed now. To top it off, Lyft lets you block drivers and Uber finally lets women riders match with women drivers in the US.In Media Candy, we’re turning the nostalgia dial to eleven with "This Is Spinal Tap" in 4K and a look back at 1994's best movies, a time before Spotify started polluting dead artists' pages with AI-generated songs. Netflix is also using generative AI, but we're still watching "Star Trek: Strange New Worlds," "Hacks," "Wednesday," "Superman," "Sunday Best," and "Bookish." For your app fix, you can browse a glorious collection of 90s Geocities backgrounds or let Amazon's new Bee AI wearable listen to your every word, your choice. At the library, we're digging into Michael Palin's "Python Years" diaries. Finally, we pour one out in our closing shout-outs for George Kooymans of Golden Earring, Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Hulk Hogan, and the Prince of Darkness himself, Ozzy Osbourne. What a week.Sponsors:DeleteMe - Head over to JoinDeleteMe.com/GOG and use the code "GOG" for 20% off.Private Internet Access - Go to GOG.Show/vpn and sign up today. For a limited time only, you can get OUR favorite VPN for as little as $2.03 a month.SetApp - With a single monthly subscription you get 240+ apps for your Mac. Go to SetApp and get started today!!!1Password - Get a great deal on the only password manager recommended by Grumpy Old Geeks! gog.show/1passwordShow notes at https://gog.show/706IN THE NEWSTesla’s retro-futuristic diner officially opens as Elon Musk hints at more locationsTesla's new diner blocks a neighboring apartment building's viewA $17 Hotdog and a Humanoid Robot Serving Popcorn: WIRED’s Day at the Tesla DinerElon Musk-Founded Brain Implant Startup Says It’s a ‘Disadvantaged’ Business Despite Being Worth $9 BillionFrance launches criminal probe of X's alleged algorithm 'manipulation'SpaceX Has the Nerve to Be Mad About a Competitor’s Massive Satellites Littering Earth OrbitMeta says it won't sign the EU's AI code of practiceWhy I'm Betting Against AI Agents in 2025 (Despite Building Them)Replit goes rogue during a code freeze and shutdown and deletes our entire databaseVibe coding service Replit deleted user’s production database, faked data, told fibs galoreChatGPT Hallucinated a Feature, Forcing Human Developers to Add It“Call Me A Jerk: Persuading AI to Comply with Objectionable Requests”The Emerging Problem of "AI Psychosis"AI Slop Might Finally Cure Our Internet AddictionFDA’s New Drug Approval AI Is Generating Fake Studies: ReportEconomist Warns the AI Bubble Is Worse Than Immediately Before the Dot-Com ImplosionOpenAI Seeks Additional Capital From Investors as Part of Its $40 Billion RoundMicrosoft Sharepoint server vulnerability puts an estimated 10,000 organizations at risk‘I Got You Guys Out of So Much Trouble’: Trump Signs Stablecoin Crypto BillDenver Grand Jury Indicts Married Couple in Alleged Multi-Million Dollar Cryptocurrency ScamColorado pastor: "We took God at his word and sold a cryptocurrency with no clear exit"Lyft Will Let Users ‘Favorite’ or Block Drivers in Broader Loyalty PushUber is finally letting women riders in the US match with women driversMEDIA CANDYStar Trek: Strange New WorldsHacksNetflix is already using generative AI in its original shows'Wednesday' Is Snapping Back for Season 3 and a SpinoffThis Is Spinal Tap Now Available in 4K Ultra HDIn 2024, More Music Is Released in a Day Than in All of 1989 CombinedBest Movies of 1994Spotify Allowing AI-Generated Songs on Dead Artists’ Pages: ReportSupermanSunday BestBookishAPPS & DOODADSAmazon buys Bee AI wearable that listens to everything you sayCollection of 1990s website background tiles from GeocitiesGifCitiesAT THE LIBRARYDiaries 1969–1979: The Python Years (Michael Palin Diaries Book 1)CLOSING SHOUT-OUTSGolden Earring guitarist George Kooymans dead at 77'The Cosby Show' Star Malcolm-Jamal Warner Dead At 54, Accidental DrowningMalcolm & Eddie IntroHulk Hogan Dead at 71Ozzy Osbourne, Godfather of Heavy Metal, Dead at 76See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.