Tech News Weekly (Audio)

Amanda Silberling from TechCrunch joins Mikah Sargent this week! Spotify's latest update gives users more control over their listening experience. Students are using AI more widely to cheat. Microsoft's latest Surface devices still utilize Snapdragon X. And Netflix is rolling out a major UI redesign, which includes algorithmic changes and a TikTok-like feed. Amanda talks about Spotify's rollout of its latest update, which utilizes AI-driven features, including enhanced playlists and "smart shuffle." Mikah shares a New York Magazine article that highlights the increasing use of AI tools by students to complete assignments and the impact the reliance of these tools will have on students' critical thinking skills. Brian Westover of PCMag joins Mikah to talk about Microsoft's latest Surface devices, including a 13-inch Surface Laptop and 12-inch Surface Pro tablet. Mikah chats about Netflix rolling out a significant redesign of its user interface, incorporating algorithmic changes and a feed similar to TikTok, as a way to boost user engagement and keep users hooked in Netflix's ecosystem. Hosts: Mikah Sargent and Amanda Silberling Guest: Brian Westover Download or subscribe to Tech News Weekly at https://twit.tv/shows/tech-news-weekly. Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free shows, a members-only Discord, and behind-the-scenes access. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: zscaler.com/security spaceship.com/twit cachefly.com/twit

In this episode of Tech News Weekly, Mikah Sargent and Abrar Al-Heeti explore the growing role of AI in consumer tech, the latest legal setback for Apple's App Store policies, and two in-depth interviews: Bloomberg's Leah Nylen breaks down the DOJ's proposed remedies in the antitrust case against Google, and Wikimedia's Leila Zia shares the foundation's new AI strategy that centers humans—not machines. ChatGPT Adds Shopping Tools: Abrar Al-Heeti highlights OpenAI's new AI-powered shopping experience in ChatGPT, which personalizes product recommendations and integrates purchase links—all without leaving the chat window. She and Mikah explore the implications for consumer trust, affiliate marketing, and the future of Amazon and Google as default shopping destinations. Apple vs. Epic: Court Strikes Back: Mikah breaks down a dramatic new ruling against Apple, in which a judge found the company in violation of a 2021 injunction and imposed strict limits on how it can control third-party payments. Mikah and Abrar discuss how this could reshape the App Store's fee model and what it means for developers and users alike. Google's Antitrust Remedy Phase: Bloomberg antitrust reporter Leah Nylen returns to unpack the latest in the DOJ's case against Google. She explains the three proposed remedies—including a possible Chrome browser divestiture—and what testimony from tech competitors like DuckDuckGo, Perplexity, and OpenAI revealed about Google's dominance in search and AI. Wikipedia's Human-Centered AI Strategy: Leila Zia, Head of Research at the Wikimedia Foundation, outlines their new AI roadmap, which focuses on supporting Wikipedia's volunteer editors rather than replacing them. She details how AI will assist with moderation, multilingual knowledge expansion, and mentorship—all while upholding values of transparency and human agency. Hosts: Mikah Sargent and Abrar Al-Heeti Guests: Leah Nylen and Leila Zia Download or subscribe to Tech News Weekly at https://twit.tv/shows/tech-news-weekly. Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free shows, a members-only Discord, and behind-the-scenes access. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: joindeleteme.com/twit promo code TWIT drata.com/technews

Abrar-Al Heeti and Emily Forlini are here this week for Tech News Weekly! Is Mark Zuckerberg envious of Instagram's popularity, even after purchasing the company? The first Tesla robotaxis are hitting the road. Apple drops the 'available now' tagline from its Apple Intelligence page. And Motorola RAZR announces a new lineup of its foldable devices, including a $1,300 option! Abrar discusses information that became public during Meta's antitrust trial, highlighting how Meta has sought to reduce Instagram's popularity. Emily wrote a story on Tesla's first robotaxis hitting roadways in Austin and San Francisco. Apple has quietly removed its 'available now' advertising tagline from its Apple Intelligence page following an inquiry from the National Advertising Division. And Mike Sorrentino of CNET joins Abrar to talk about Motorola's recently announced updated RAZR foldable phones, including a premium version called the RAZR Ultra. Hosts: Abrar Al-Heeti and Emily Forlini Guest: Mike Sorrentino Download or subscribe to Tech News Weekly at https://twit.tv/shows/tech-news-weekly. Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free shows, a members-only Discord, and behind-the-scenes access. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: storyblok.com/twittv-25 spaceship.com/twit

Dan Moren, East Coast Bureau Chief of Six Colors and a tech podcast host, breaks down the latest news in tech. He discusses the Department of Justice's win over Google regarding antitrust issues in ad tech. OpenAI's intriguing move to create its own social network is analyzed, pondering its motivations. The episode also touches on Mark Zuckerberg's negotiations with the FTC surrounding Meta's challenges. Additionally, ChatGPT's new AI models perform fascinating 'reverse location searches' using images, showcasing the intersection of tech and privacy.

Jennifer Pattison Tuohy, a smart home device reviewer at The Verge, dives into Samsung's long-awaited Ballie robot, set for release this summer. Amanda Silberling from TechCrunch shares a hilarious story about a Waymo robotaxi getting stuck in a Chick-fil-A drive-through, showcasing the quirks of self-driving tech. They also discuss the revival of Digg.com and lament Apple's struggles with Siri's AI makeover, shedding light on the challenges of tech upgrades and user expectations.

Kyle Orland, a reporter from Ars Technica, shares his insights on the newly unveiled Nintendo Switch 2, discussing its advanced features and pricing strategy. He dives into the challenges of combating scalping and the hype surrounding its game lineup. The conversation also touches on Amazon's bold move to acquire TikTok amid recent legal challenges, while Abrar Al-Heet from CNET provides updates on Amazon's Alexa+ capabilities. Finally, the group explores how AI is transforming the education landscape with tools like ChatGPT-EDU and Claude.

Some alternatives to Teslas. A law in Utah makes app stores rather than companies responsible for age verification. 23andMe files for bankruptcy. And OpenAI is following in the footsteps of its rival, Anthropic. Emily Forlini of PCMag joins Mikah Sargent this week! Emily talks about some alternatives to Teslas that cover various price ranges. Mikah talks about a new law passed in Utah that pushes the responsibility of age verification from tech companies to app stores. Geoffrey Fowler of The Washington Post joins Mikah to talk about 23andMe filing for bankruptcy, why you should swiftly delete your DNA information from the company, and shares how you can delete that information. And OpenAI is following Anthropic in adopting the company's standard for connecting AI models to data. Hosts: Mikah Sargent and Emily Forlini Guest: Geoffrey Fowler Download or subscribe to Tech News Weekly at https://twit.tv/shows/tech-news-weekly. Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free shows, a members-only Discord, and behind-the-scenes access. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: get.stash.com/tnw veeam.com bitwarden.com/twit

Jennifer Pattison Tuohy, a tech journalist from The Verge, shares her take on iRobot's latest Roombas, criticizing their lack of innovation. Jason Howell, a tech expert, dives into the features of the new Google Pixel 9a, highlighting its competitiveness in the mid-range market. They also discuss Amazon's new privacy measures for Alexa devices, addressing growing concerns over data handling. Lastly, the nostalgic revival of Pebble watches garners attention, showcasing their customizable options and potential smart home integration.

Does OpenAI have the capability for creative writing? Would you want to be coached in gaming through AI? What is Apple planning for its possible operating system redesign? And does AI have inconsistencies when providing the correct information to search queries? Amanda Silberling of TechCrunch joins Mikah Sargent this week. Amanda talks about OpenAI and Sam Altman's social media post about how OpenAI is good at creative writing. Mikah talks about Microsoft's plan to launch Xbox Copilot, an AI-powered gaming assistant that can offer tips, guides, and information about the games you are playing. Mark Gurman of Bloomberg stops by to talk about Apple's plans to dramatically overhaul the look of its operating systems with the next iterations of iOS, iPadOS, and Mac OS. And Mikah talks about a study from the Tao Center and how AI systems are frequently providing incorrect information and citations from various sources and news articles. Hosts: Mikah Sargent and Amanda Silberling Guest: Mark Gurman Download or subscribe to Tech News Weekly at https://twit.tv/shows/tech-news-weekly. Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free shows, a members-only Discord, and behind-the-scenes access. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: veeam.com uscloud.com get.stash.com/macbreak zscaler.com/security

There was something in the air for sure as Apple released updates to the iPad and iPad Air, alongside the M4 MacBook Air and Mac Studio with the M4 Max and M4 Ultra chips. Some of the exciting and interesting devices shown at the Mobile World Congress 2025 event. The recent iOS 18.4 beta introduced AI-powered summaries in the App Store. And Prime Video is testing AI-powered dubbing for some of its video content. Dan Moren of SixColors joins Mikah Sargent to talk about the new devices announced throughout the week: the updated iPad and iPad Air, MacBook Air with the M4 chip, and the Mac Studio with the M4 Max and M3 Ultra chips. Patrick Holland of CNET stops by to share with Mikah some of the new and exciting devices that came out of the Mobile World Congress 2025 event, alongside the more interesting concepts and gadgets from the event. Mikah talks about the the latest iOS 18.4 beta that is out now and how it has introduced AI-powered review summaries in the App Store. And continuning the trend of AI-powered features, Amazon's Prime Video is testing AI-powered dubbing for some of its select videos in English and Spanish. Host: Mikah Sargent Guests: Dan Moren and Patrick Holland Download or subscribe to Tech News Weekly at https://twit.tv/shows/tech-news-weekly. Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free shows, a members-only Discord, and behind-the-scenes access. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: joindeleteme.com/twit promo code TWIT bitwarden.com/twit veeam.com cachefly.com/twit