Tech News Weekly (Audio)

Eric Migicovsky, founder of Pebble, dives into the exciting open-sourcing of Pebble OS and plans for sustainable new hardware. Leah Nylen, antitrust reporter, breaks down the DOJ's case against Google, discussing potential remedies and competitor insights. Leila Zia from the Wikimedia Foundation shares how AI supports volunteer editors while prioritizing transparency. Scott Stein reviews the Nintendo Switch 2's features, highlighting live camera integrations and multiplayer modes. Lastly, Derek Kravitz reveals surprising pricing tactics from Instacart that could impact consumers significantly.

Jennifer Pattison Tuohy, known as 'Smart Home Mama,' shares her insights on the evolving landscape of smart home devices, celebrating innovations like IKEA's new Thread-supported tech while lamenting iRobot's recent struggles. Joining her is Allison Johnson, who delves into the progression of AI image generators from quirky outputs to more realistic images, emphasizing the balance between creativity and commercial aesthetics. Together, they explore the exciting yet challenging future of smart technology and AI in everyday life.

Derek Kravitz, an investigative journalist at Consumer Reports, delves into a fascinating investigation revealing how Instacart leverages AI to implement variable pricing on groceries. He shares insights on the study's methodology, which involved 437 participants uncovering price discrepancies of up to 23% on identical products. Discussion includes the implications of dynamic pricing, how consumer behavior affects costs, and future regulatory considerations. It's a deep dive into transparency in grocery shopping that every consumer should consider!

Rita Omokha, a journalist focused on AI companionship, discusses how women are increasingly turning to chatbots for relationship advice, highlighting their nonjudgmental nature. Adam Rogers, a seasoned science and culture reporter, shares insights into California Senator Scott Wiener’s legislative efforts on AI regulation and housing, revealing the complexities and political pressures involved. They also explore the implications of OpenAI's 'code red' for ChatGPT and Samsung's innovative tri-fold phone that could redefine mobile technology.

Dan Moren, a seasoned technology journalist at Six Colors, joins Sabrina Ortiz from ZDNet and Elissa Welle from The Verge for a lively discussion. They delve into the expansion of Apple Wallet's digital ID feature and the potential dangers of AI-powered toys like the FoloToy. Sabrina highlights Google's Gemini 3 rollout and its sleek features, while Elissa shares her firsthand experience with a viral AI pen that promises academic advantages, but ultimately falls short due to poor accuracy and impracticality in real-world use.

Zac Bowden, a Senior Windows reporter at Windows Central, discusses the backlash against Microsoft's 'agentic OS' concept that aims to leverage AI more effectively. Meanwhile, Scott Stein, a Senior hardware journalist at CNET, shares exciting first-hand impressions of Valve's upcoming Steam hardware. He describes the innovative Steam Frame and its multi-mode controller designed for an immersive gaming experience, along with impressive features like foveated streaming. The duo dives into user concerns about AI priorities and the potential of this new tech in the gaming landscape.

Ryan Whitwam, a technology journalist at Ars Technica, dives into the significant changes coming to Google Play Store following the Epic Games settlement. He explains the implications of lower fees for developers and the introduction of third-party app stores. Additionally, there's talk about Apple's innovative plans to integrate Google's Gemini AI with Siri and the development of a new AI-powered smart ring. The episode also covers the irony of ransomware negotiators turning to extortion themselves, raising questions about cybersecurity ethics.

Join artist Joe Esposito, a creative force at Adobe, as he unravels the exciting highlights from Adobe Max. He dives into Firefly, Adobe's latest AI-powered tools for image, audio, and video creation. The conversation explores the challenges of identifying fake videos and the implications of deepfakes on creators. Joe shares insights on integrating AI while maintaining control and addresses privacy concerns for creators. Discover how Project Moonlight's conversational AI might reshape creativity, stimulating both excitement and skepticism.

Join tech journalist Jason Howell as he shares his hands-on impressions of Samsung's innovative Galaxy XR headset, priced at $1,799 and aimed squarely at Apple's Vision Pro. He reveals the exciting integration of Gemini AI, enhancing the headset's capabilities. He also foresees a future where lightweight smart glasses might surpass bulky headsets in popularity. Meanwhile, discussions touch on Amazon's new AR glasses for delivery drivers that boost efficiency and safety with hands-free navigation and automatic proof-of-delivery.

Jennifer Pattison Tuohy, a senior writer at The Verge specializing in smart home tech, discusses the iPad Pro's exciting new Thread support, which could elevate it to a smart home controller. Dan Moren, a technology journalist focused on Apple, highlights incremental updates from the M5 processor affecting the iPad Pro, MacBook Pro, and Vision Pro. The conversation also touches on California's new social media law requiring health warnings for teens, sparking a debate about its impact on youth and parental education.