This week on Tech News Weekly, host Mikah Sargent is joined by guest co-host Dan Moren to discuss Siri privacy concerns and how Apple could leverage AI to improve the user experience. Jason Hiner of ZDNET.com reports on CES 2025 on the latest TV displays, NVIDIA's AI innovations, and more. Then Imran Ahmed, CEO of the Center for Countering Digital Hate, weighs in on Meta's controversial decision to end fact-checking on its platforms. Dan's latest column explores how Apple could use AI to benefit users by improving spam filtering, search capabilities, and automation. Implementing these features would align with Apple's focus on simplifying technology. Apple released a statement clarifying that Siri recordings are not being used to build ad profiles, despite an ongoing conspiracy theory that devices are always listening. In reality, ad targeting is based on online behavior. At CES 2025, new TV display technologies were announced including brighter OLED panels likely using "tandem OLED" and a new mini-LED backlight system from Hisense for improved color depth. Lenovo showcased an expensive laptop prototype with a screen that rolls up to double in size, though it may have limited practical appeal for now. NVIDIA unveiled COSMOS, an AI framework to generate synthetic training data for robots and self-driving systems, which could accelerate future autonomous innovations. Offbeat CES products included an electric spoon that makes low-sodium foods taste saltier to promote healthier eating, and aggressively priced TVs from TCL. Meta announced it will end fact-checking and rely on community moderation, which CCDH CEO Imran Ahmed argues will amplify the spread of misinformation and cause real-world harms. Hosts: Mikah Sargent and Dan Moren Guests: Jason Hiner and Imran Ahmed Download or subscribe to Tech News Weekly at https://twit.tv/shows/tech-news-weekly. Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: veeam.com uscloud.com Melissa.com/twit

In the first episode of 2025, Mikah and Abrar discuss Meta's plans to add AI bots to their social media platforms, the rise of AI-generated phishing scams, the trend of parents giving their kids retro tech devices to reduce screen time, and the current state and future potential of passkeys for secure logins. Meta plans to populate Facebook and Instagram with AI-generated bot accounts that can create content, share posts, and interact with users, in an effort to drive engagement as user growth stagnates. Abrar and Mikah debate the pros and cons of AI bots on social media. Cybersecurity experts have seen a significant increase in sophisticated phishing scams using AI to generate hyper-personalized messages mimicking people's communication styles, with over 90% of successful cyberattacks now beginning with phishing emails. Abrar and Mikah discuss cybersecurity training and email filtering used by companies to combat this. There's a growing trend of parents gifting their kids retro tech like Walkmans, portable CD players, and MP3 players in an effort to reduce screen time. Mikah and Abrar reflect on the appeal of single-purpose devices and bonding over music. Passkeys, a new login technology aiming to replace passwords, have seen increasing adoption but face usability challenges and inconsistent implementation across sites and devices. Mikah explains how passkeys work and recommends using password managers for now, as both hosts agree passkeys aren't quite ready for mainstream adoption yet. Hosts: Mikah Sargent and Abrar Al-Heeti Download or subscribe to Tech News Weekly at https://twit.tv/shows/tech-news-weekly. Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: zscaler.com/security joindeleteme.com/twit promo code TWIT cachefly.com/twit

Emily Forlini, a PCMag journalist, shares her humorous and lackluster experiences with AI dating apps. Jennifer Pattison Tuohy discusses the Department of Justice's antitrust lawsuit against Apple, raising alarm over monopolistic practices. Abrar Al-Heeti reveals how Harvard students created i-XRAY, an app using smart glasses for real-time data access, prompting privacy concerns. Meanwhile, Nick Steele and David Turner from the FIDO Alliance dive into new standards for passkey portability, emphasizing security in digital authentication.

Scott Wilkinson, a home theater expert from Home Theater Geeks, shares insights on the latest advancements in home theater tech, including OLED displays and ultra short throw projectors. Nasha Addarich Martínez, Managing Editor at CNET, discusses innovative sleepwear technology designed to improve napping experiences. They also explore Nvidia's new affordable AI supercomputer that empowers hobbyists and the launch of Flipboard's Surf Social, a platform for curated content sharing. Tune in for a blend of tech insights and quirky anecdotes!

This week features Jason Howell, a technology expert who gives an insider’s view of Google's Android XR, an innovative operating system designed for augmented and virtual reality. He discusses its advanced capabilities like multimodal controls and eye tracking, showcasing how it redefines user experiences. Amanda Silberling also delves into OpenAI's Sora video generation model, discussing its training on gaming content, while the ongoing legal tussle between Automattic and WP Engine sheds light on the complexities of the tech industry.

Scott Stein, a CNET journalist known for his insights on tech innovations, discusses the innovative Xreal One Smart Glasses, highlighting their augmented reality capabilities. Joseph Cox from 404Media delves into the FTC's crackdown on data companies like Venntel, addressing privacy concerns and the ethical implications of location data sales. The conversation also touches on TikTok's ban on beauty filters for teens, promoting healthier digital self-image, and a controversial AI app that predicts life expectancy, sparking debates on the morality of mortality forecasts.

Joining the discussion are Zac Bowden, a Windows Central contributor, and Leah Nylen, Bloomberg’s antitrust reporter. Chaos is brewing in the tech world as the DOJ pushes Google to sell off Chrome amidst an intense antitrust battle. Zac reveals insights on Microsoft’s exciting Windows 365 Link, a cloud-based mini desktop revolutionizing remote work. The conversation shifts to Amazon’s new Echo Show devices, while the potential of AI driving a robotics revolution raises both optimism and caution. Tune in for a mix of tech innovation and legal drama!

Mark Gurman, a Bloomberg reporter and Apple specialist, reveals exciting developments on Apple's expansion into smart home technology, including a wall-mounted AI display. He discusses the potential of Apple's mixed-reality headsets and AR glasses. The chat turns to Bluesky, a rising social media contender to Twitter, exploring its user-friendly features and moderation practices. Additionally, Gurman highlights advancements with OpenAI, focusing on integrations that enhance productivity and streamline AI interactions for everyday tasks.

Lance Ulanoff, Editor-at-large at TechRadar, and Dan Patterson, Director of Content at Blackbird AI, dive into the future of tech amid changing political landscapes. They discuss Lyft's foray into robotaxis and the implications of new self-driving systems from GM and Ford. Ulanoff shares insights on ChatGPT's search capabilities as a competitor to Google. Patterson analyzes how upcoming regulations may reshape the tech industry, emphasizing the balance between innovation and oversight in a new administration.

Like Google, Amazon has a list of products the tech company discontinued. Is one of your favorites on the list? What Apple announced this past "Mac Week." What GitHub announced at its GitHub Universe 2024 event. And how Apple's Genmoji generator will operate when it's released with the future iOS 18.2 release. Mikah Sargent talks about a great article from The Verge highlighting a handful of Amazon Echo products that the tech company has discontinued over the years. Dan Moren of SixColors joins the show again to discuss the new M4 Mac products that the company announced this past week. Martin Woodward, VP of DevRel for GitHub stops by to talk about some of the new things that GitHub announced at its GibHub Universe 2024 event, including the new GitHub Spark. And Mikah talks about Apple's Genmoji service that is slated to come in iOS 18.2 and some of the things you can and cannot do with it. Host: Mikah Sargent Guests: Dan Moren and Martin Woodward Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/tech-news-weekly. Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: uscloud.com flashpoint.io veeam.com bigid.com/tnw