Grumpy Old Geeks

This episode proves that nothing gold can stay, especially your 401k, as we kick things off with the revelation that October saw the worst tech layoffs since 2003, all while "Big Short" genius Michael Burry decided to bet a billion dollars on the inevitable AI bubble bursting. The villains of the week are legion: the FCC is officially making it easier for internet companies to charge us even more hidden fees; Elon Musk not only got his $1 trillion pay package approved—despite Tesla sales collapsing nearly 90% in some countries—but he also teased a flying car, clearly living in his own "Golden Dome" fantasy, which the Pentagon is happily subsidizing; and in a stunning display of entitlement, Mark Zuckerberg opened an illegal school, which is somehow less shocking than Meta’s claim that their massive porn stash was purely for "personal use," not AI training. The bad news doesn't stop there, with Texas suing Roblox over 'pixel pedophiles,' though at least a rural Michigan healthcare system is doing some good by using drones to improve care.Jumping over to Media Candy, since we’re all emotionally scarred by the sheer awful-ness of The Witcher S4—a season so bad it "broke" The Critical Drinker—we need some comfort viewing. We’re deep-diving into the political chess of The Diplomat and escaping into the sheer volume of competitive cooking shows, including the standard Halloween and Holiday Baking Championships, plus the delightfully ridiculous Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking S2; we also took a look at Pluribus, Knife Edge, Black Rabbit, and the trailer for Tron: Ares, while cheering the fact that Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz are set to revive The Mummy franchise for a fourth film. In Apps & Doodads, we’re all mourning the eventual death of simple, good tech as we’re warned to enjoy Apple CarPlay while we still can, but at least the Lego ‘Star Trek’ Set is finally here for our inner child; the real question, though, is why Automattic Inc. thinks they can claim ownership of the actual word 'Automatic.'Finally, The Dark Side with Dave Bittner reminds us that everything old is new again and ripe for monetization, whether it's Miss Piggy potentially bringing back The Muppets to the movies or the sleek, blacked-out remake of the Commodore 64, not to mention that cool Tron Arcade Cabinet Miniature Model. However, the present is still a complete dumpster fire: a Google AI model allegedly accused a senator of sexual assault, and internal documents show that Meta is earning a fortune on a massive deluge of fraudulent ads, proving that the only thing getting healthier is our paranoia, though Dave did throw in a curveball with some special jar lids and seeds for growing organic sprouts. We finish, as always, with the obligatory Closing Shout-Outs because even cynical geeks need validation.Sponsors:MasterClass - Get an additional 15% off any annual membership at MASTERCLASS.com/GRUMPYOLDGEEKSGusto - Try Gusto today at gusto.com/grumpy, and get three months free when you run your first payroll.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/721FOLLOW UPOctober Layoffs Were the Worst Since 2003 and Hit Tech Workers HardIN THE NEWSThe Big Short Guy Just Bet $1 Billion That the AI Bubble PopsTrump's FCC is officially moving to make it easier for internet companies to charge hidden feesPentagon will reportedly award SpaceX a $2 billion contract to help develop the 'Golden Dome'Elon Musk teases a flying car on Joe Rogan's showTesla’s Sales Collapsed Nearly 90 Percent in Some Countries Last MonthTesla shareholder meeting updates: Elon Musk gets his $1 trillion pay packageTexas AG sues Roblox, accusing it of prioritizing 'pixel pedophiles' over child safetyMark Zuckerberg Opened an Illegal School at His Palo Alto Compound. His Neighbors RevoltedMeta Says Porn Stash was for ‘Personal Use,’ Not Training AI ModelsHow a rural Michigan healthcare system is using drones to improve careMEDIA CANDYThe DiplomatHalloween Baking ChampionshipHoliday Baking ChampionshipHarry Potter: Wizards of Baking S2PluribusKnife Edge: Chasing Michelin StarsBlack RabbitTron: AresThe Witcher S4The Witcher Season 4 - A Show So Awful, It Broke Me by The Critical DrinkerBrendan Fraser, Rachel Weisz Set to Revive The Mummy Franchise with Fourth FilmAPPS & DOODADSEnjoy CarPlay While You Still CanThe Lego ‘Star Trek’ Set Is Here, and It’s Exactly What You WantAutomattic Inc. Claims It Owns the Word 'Automatic'THE DARK SIDE WITH DAVEDave BittnerThe CyberWireHacking HumansCaveatControl LoopOnly Malware in the BuildingMiss Piggy May Bring ‘The Muppets’ Back to the MoviesRelive the Commodore 64's glory days with a slimmer, blacked-out remakeShow and Tell: Tron Arcade Cabinet Miniature ModelGoogle removes AI model after it allegedly accused a senator of sexual assaultSprouting Jar Lid (32oz Glass Jars) with 4 Pack Stainless Steel Sprouting Stands for Wide and Wide Mouth Mason Jar for Growing Organic Sprouts, Stainless Steel, 4 PackOrganic Radish Sprout Seeds (16 oz) – Non-GMO, Heirloom Seeds for Sprouting and MicrogreensMeta is earning a fortune on a deluge of fraudulent ads, documents show...See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week’s episode started with the usual existential sigh before tumbling straight into the corporate bloodbath. Amazon chopped 14,000 jobs under the noble banner of “embracing AI,” which CEO Andy Jassy insists isn’t about money—despite swimming Scrooge McDuck–style in profit. GM’s cutting 1,700 workers, YouTube’s dangling “voluntary” buyouts, and economists can’t decide if AI is killing jobs or if the economy’s just trash. Microsoft’s winning either way, sitting pretty on OpenAI’s planned $1 trillion IPO, while Meta stock cratered because Zuckerberg’s still shoveling billions into the AI bonfire instead of quietly burying the metaverse. Meanwhile, Elon managed to cram a week’s worth of disasters into a single news cycle: Tesla’s being probed for its idiotic “Mad Max” mode, recalling thousands more Cybertrucks because they can’t figure out glue, launching Grokipedia (Wikipedia’s evil twin), and turning Truth Social into a crypto casino. Somewhere between the chaos, more people tuned into a fake NVIDIA livestream than the real one, and the only vaguely uplifting story was a grieving family using an AI chatbot to hack a $195K hospital bill down to $33K.In media misery, we soothed our nuclear anxiety with A House of Dynamite, tolerated Welcome to Derry, rolled our eyes at Stranger Things 5, and confirmed Slow Horses still rules. Music listeners, please stop streaming fascism—cancel Spotify. On the tech toy front, Grammarly’s having an identity crisis as “Superhuman,” Affinity caved to the subscription gods, and Apple’s prepping to inject ads into Maps because the world wasn’t already annoying enough. The chaos didn’t stop there: a rogue Goodreads librarian rewrote Trump’s book listings to protest censorship, Cursor 2.0 actually impressed us with a working currency converter, and Enshittification: Why Everything Suddenly Got Worse and What to Do About It turned out to be the perfect title for the entire digital era.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/1passwordMasterClass - Get an additional 15% off any annual membership at MASTERCLASS.com/GRUMPYOLDGEEKSCleanMyMac - clnmy.com/GrumpyOldGeeks - Use code OLDGEEKS for 20% off.Show notes at https://gog.show/720FOLLOW UPWhat both sides of America’s polarized divide share: Deep anxieties about the meaning of life and existence itself720° © 1986 Atari Games.IN THE NEWSAmazon cuts its workforce by 14,000 in further embrace of AIIs AI Leading to Layoffs or Does the Economy Just Suck?Amazon CEO Now Says AI Is Not Responsible for Recent LayoffsAmazon Accused of Trapping Drivers in AI PanopticonGM lays off 1,700 workers making EVs and batteries in Michigan, TennesseeTesla Recalls Thousands More Cybertrucks, Is Bad at Gluing ThingsYouTube is offering employees buyouts as part of an AI-focused reorganizationEveryone Is Laying People Off This Week. Researchers Say They’re Going to Regret ItOpenAI completes restructure, solidifying Microsoft as a major shareholderOpenAI lays groundwork for juggernaut IPO at up to $1 trillion valuationMeta Stock Plummets as Investors Horrified at How Much Zuckerberg Is Spending on Misfired AIFederal investigators are looking into Tesla's Mad Max mode, which reportedly defies speed limitsGrokipedia Is the Antithesis of Everything That Makes Wikipedia Good, Useful, and HumanMore people watched a fake NVIDIA livestream than the real thingTrump’s Media Company Set To Roll Out Polymarket-Like Prediction Market on Truth SocialSurprising no one, researchers confirm that AI chatbots are incredibly sycophanticGrieving family uses AI chatbot to cut hospital bill from $195,000 to $33,000 — family says Claude highlighted duplicative charges, improper coding, and other violationsMEDIA CANDYA House of DynamiteWelcome to DerryStranger Things 5 | Official Trailer | NetflixSlow HorsesDon’t Stream Fascism: Cancel SpotifyAPPS & DOODADSGrammarly has rebranded to SuperhumanAffinity’s image-editing apps go “freemium” in first major post-Canva updateApple is reportedly getting ready to introduce ads to its Maps appRogue Goodreads Librarian Edits Site to Expose 'Censorship in Favor of Trump Fascism’Introducing Cursor 2.0 and ComposerEnshittification: Why Everything Suddenly Got Worse and What to Do About It by Cory DoctorowThe Disenshittify ProjectCurrency ConverterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We open with a sobering follow-up: the future is less about AI toast (though Red Dwarf predicted it) and more about a soul-stripping "infrastructure of meaningless" after an AWS outage proved how fragile the internet is. Corporate overlords, like Elon Musk, are taking note: he finally addressed Starlink's use by Asian scam syndicates, but his attention is mostly on superintelligence, which Wozniak, Prince Harry, and 800 others want banned. Meanwhile, Meta, despite pouring $27 billion into data centers, suddenly cut 600 AI jobs, and Amazon is preparing to automate a half-million warehouse positions, offering drivers AR spy glasses and suggesting a new "Help Me Decide" AI tool to automate the exhausting micro-decision of which air fryer to buy. This dystopian fever dream peaked when Suzanne Somers' widower revealed he built a full-on robotic AI twin of the late actress. Predictably, Tesla stock tumbled, and the crypto grift continued with the pardoning of Binance founder Zhao, leaving SBF to ponder his failed check-bounce in jail.Speaking of soul-crushing, Disney's latest nostalgia raid, Tron: Ares, tanked harder than anticipated, proving not every Gen-X intellectual property is a worthy cash cow. But fear not, there's still great TV to be had: we recommend the clever dramas Slow Horses and The Diplomat Season 3, the high-stakes culinary nightmare Knives Edge: Chasing Michelin Stars, and the surprisingly excellent Gen V (which you must watch before the next season of The Boys). We also got our fix with the Pluribus trailer, Bullet Train, Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog, and the deliciously low-stakes reality shows Come Dine With Me, Hotel Costiera, and The Celebrity Traitors UK/Canada. Sadly, we must mourn the end of Food Network’s The Kitchen. Yet, no matter how good the show, you still have to deal with Ticketmaster, which is still lying about "fighting bots" while cornering the secondary market.In the world of Apps & Doodads, OpenAI dropped its "Anti-Web" browser, ChatGPT Atlas (a data mule in disguise), and a new app now fakes your vacation photos (perfect for burned-out users). X is poised to sell "rare" usernames for millions (with a terrible subscription catch), while some clever hacker figured out a $60 mod to disable the privacy light on Meta's Ray-Ban spy glasses. Fellow podcast host Dave Bittner joined us to agree that the new Hall of Presidents format is better without the political posturing and confirmed the joy of old-school, purple-ink-smelling Spirit Duplicators (and we checked out a Star Wars fan film trailer for the AT THE LIBRARY section). Don't forget your Tilly Hat! Finally, R.I.P. Soft Cell's musical force Dave Ball, aged 66; the hits still hit.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/1passwordMasterClass - Get an additional 15% off any annual membership at MASTERCLASS.com/GRUMPYOLDGEEKSCleanMyMac - clnmy.com/GrumpyOldGeeks - Use code OLDGEEKS for 20% off.Show notes at https://gog.show/719FOLLOW UPDoes Anyone Want Any Toast? | Red Dwarf | BBCA Tool That Crushes CreativityIN THE NEWSAmazon's AWS outage knocked services like Alexa, Snapchat, Fortnite, Venmo and more offlineSpaceX disables 2,500 Starlink terminals allegedly used by Asian scam centersYelp is getting more AI, including an upgraded chatbotSteve Wozniak, Prince Harry and 800 others want a ban on AI ‘superintelligence’Suzanne Somers’ Widower Built “AI Twin” of Late ActressMeta Cuts 600 AI Roles From Its Superintelligence Labs After $27 Billion Data Center DealNew report leaks Amazon's proposed mass-automation plansAmazon Rolls Out New AI Tool to Help You Decide What to Buy: The Great Mental Outsourcing continues.Amazon unveils AI-powered augmented reality glasses for delivery driversTesla reports revenue growth after two down quarters. Why the stock is fallingTrump pardons convicted Binance founder Zhao, White House saysCrypto billionaire pardon is insane by CoffeezillaMEDIA CANDY‘Tron: Ares’ Is an Even Bigger Bomb Than We ThoughtTron: LegacyHuman: Into the AmericasHuman: Building EmpiresCome Dine With MeFood Network’s The Kitchen to End After 40 SeasonsKnifes Edge: Chasing Michelin StarsPluribus — Official Trailer | Apple TVBullet TrainDr. Horrible's Sing-Along BlogHotel CostieraSlow HorsesThe Diplomat Season 3The Celebrity Traitors UKTraitors Canada Season 3Ticketmaster Is Going to Have to Do Better Than ThatAPPS & DOODADSOpenAI's AI-powered browser, ChatGPT Atlas, launches on macOS todayChatGPT's Atlas: The Browser That's Anti-Web By Anil DashToo burned out to travel? This new app fakes your summer vacation photos for youX's handle marketplace will sell some 'rare' usernames for millions of dollarsA $60 Mod to Meta’s Ray-Bans Disables Its Privacy-Protecting Recording LightTHE DARK SIDE WITH DAVEDave BittnerThe CyberWireHacking HumansCaveatControl LoopOnly Malware in the BuildingGen VTilly HatsFirefly | The World's Smallest Pro-Audio MicrophoneSpirit Duplicators: Copies Never Smelled So GoodSTAR WARS ENTRENCHED: Fan Film TEASER 2CLOSING SHOUT-OUTSSoft Cell's musical force Dave Ball dies, aged 66See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Donovan Adkisson, an IT professional and guest host, dives into a chaotic tech landscape with Jason DeFilippo. They discuss California's move to regulate AI companion chatbots and the controversial introduction of adult content on ChatGPT. Concerns about Elon Musk's Boring Company racking up environmental violations and Starlink satellites' impact on astronomy take center stage. Donovan highlights innovative drone first responders at Georgia Tech and a peculiar Waymo prank involving 50 robot taxis summoned to a dead end. The conversation wraps up with reflections on AI's limitations in software development.

The Dutch courts finally did something useful: they told Meta to quit force-feeding algorithmic slop to everyone, so Facebook and Instagram users might actually see posts from friends again—if they can remember who those are. Meanwhile, OpenAI’s Sora 2 rollout is the kind of chaos that makes you wonder if the company replaced QA with a TikTok filter, as outrage videos flood the internet faster than you can say “deepfake meltdown.” Apple banned ICEBlock for being too effective while ICE now wants its own social media surveillance tool—one that OpenAI shut down when Chinese accounts tried to build it. California’s hammering Tesla for its abysmal insurance claims handling, OpenAI is gobbling up chunks of AMD, and consultants got caught using ChatGPT to fake reports before proudly partnering with Anthropic, who just landed Deloitte as its latest “enterprise AI” victim. Elsewhere in this circus: a Florida teen asked ChatGPT how to kill his friend, Taylor Swift fans are furious her new promo video used AI slop (“too rich to be this cheap”), and Apple’s “Find My” led cops to a mountain of smuggled iPhones.In Media Candy, Brian’s stunned The Diplomat scored a third season, The Long Walk is being pitched as Stand By Me meets Squid Game, California finally bans loud streaming commercials, and Amazon censored Bond posters to remove guns because apparently irony is dead. AI “musicians” are signing record deals while Zelda Williams begs people to stop resurrecting her dad with deepfake garbage. In Apps & Doodads, Jony Ive’s OpenAI gadget is delayed (good), Rivian insists we’ll “appreciate” not having CarPlay (we won’t), Spotify and ChatGPT are teaming up to read your soul through playlists, and Jason warns everyone that the Echo Show is basically an ad-spewing parasite. Apple’s now facing a cybercrime probe in France for Siri’s wiretapping habits, and if you’re nostalgic for simpler times, ioquake3 will let you relive Quake III Arena glory on a modern rig. At the Library, Peter Cawdron’s Dark Beauty: First Contact belly-flops as a Slaughterhouse-Five tribute, while Cory Doctorow’s Enshittification nails exactly why everything sucks—even if his fixes are pure science fiction.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/717FOLLOW UPDutch court orders Meta to change its Facebook and Instagram timelinesOpenAI's Sora 2 Already Melting Down Into Outrageous DramaIN THE NEWSApple removes ICEBlock from the App Store after Trump administration's demandICE is planning to create a surveillance team that hunts for leads on social mediaOpenAI has disrupted (more) Chinese accounts using ChatGPT to create social media surveillance toolsCalifornia regulators threaten to revoke Tesla's insurance license for mishandling claimsOpenAI Gobbles Up a Stake in AMD as Its Spending Spree Shows No Sign of StoppingConsultants Forced to Pay Money Back After Getting Caught Using AI for Expensive “Report”Anthropic lands its biggest enterprise deployment ever with Deloitte dealTeen Arrested After Asking ChatGPT How to Kill His Friend, Police SayTaylor Swift Fans Furious as She’s Caught Using Sloppy AI in Video for New AlbumApple’s ‘Find My’ Leads Cops to Cache of Thousands of Smuggled iPhonesMEDIA CANDYThe DiplomatThe Long WalkCalifornia bans loud commercials on streaming platformsAmazon Pulls Censored Bond Posters After Pulling the Guns From ThemMore AI artists are starting to get record dealsRobin Williams' daughter pleads for people to stop sending AI videos of her dadAPPS & DOODADSOpenAI's first device with Jony Ive could be delayed due to 'technical issues'Rivian says ‘customers will appreciate’ lack of CarPlay eventuallySpotify and ChatGPT Team Up for Personalized Music and Podcast RecommendationsDon’t buy an Echo Show (you can have mine)Apple faces cybercrime investigation in France after Siri complaintioquake3AT THE LIBRARYDark Beauty: First Contact by Peter CawdronEnshittification: Why Everything Suddenly Got Worse and What to Do About It by Cory DoctorowSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Dave Bittner, host of The Dark Side and a CyberWire contributor, joins to discuss the chaos in tech, including California's AI safety law that has Nvidia's head worried. They dive into the controversy surrounding Disney's cease-and-desist actions against Character.ai, and the growing presence of bots affecting public sentiment. Bittner also explores the shifting landscape of media pacing, pondering whether classic films stand the test of time for newer audiences. Plus, holiday shopping tips featuring an R2-D2 prop from Home Depot add some festive cheer!

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.