This Week in Tech (Audio)

In this lively chat, Louis Maresca, a Microsoft engineer working on Python and Excel Copilot, joins Iain Thomson, a sharp tech reporter from The Register, and Doc Rock, a YouTube creator and partnerships director at Ecamm. They dive into YouTube's domination over traditional TV and the evolving landscape of digital entertainment. They tackle modern parenting challenges with tech, share insights on AI's role in development, and discuss the rise of AI influencers. Humorous anecdotes about robots keep the conversation engaging and light!

Jennifer Pattison Tuohy, a smart home expert at The Verge, shares insights on the quirky Roborock vacuum that occasionally snatches socks—and perhaps pets! Brian McCullough, the Internet historian, discusses the implications of Trump's tariffs on Apple’s manufacturing decisions. Mike Elgan, an AI enthusiast, dives into Microsoft's groundbreaking agentic AI advancements. They also explore the rise of hyper-realistic AI videos, the future of personal privacy in tech, and the decline of CAPTCHAs. It's a tech-infused dialogue brimming with wit and critical reflections!

Wil Harris, who runs Instagram's media partnerships team, joins Devindra Hardawar, a senior editor at Engadget, and Harper Reed, a tech entrepreneur and hacker. They dive into the excitement surrounding the GTA 6 trailer and the controversial AI pivot by Grok. The conversation highlights the implications of copyright changes in AI content, discusses the challenges of deepfakes, and celebrates the remarkable revival of Voyager 1's thrusters. They also explore Montana's new bill for experimental medical treatments and the quirky engineering fixes of duct tape and WD-40.

Joining the discussion are Stacey Higginbotham, a tech journalist and policy fellow at Consumer Reports; Wesley Faulkner, a community builder and tech enthusiast; and Shoshana Weissmann, head of digital media at R Street Institute. They dive into Apple's legal battles and Google's antitrust issues, advocating for comprehensive privacy legislation. The conversation also touches on the FTC's ban on hidden fees and the complex dynamics of AI in society. Expect humor mixed with insights about technology's role in our lives and the ongoing push for accountability in the tech world.

Join Owen Thomas, managing editor at San Francisco Business Times, Iain Thomson, tech reporter at The Register, and Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Gary Rivlin as they tackle the latest in tech. They discuss the alarming government threats to Wikipedia's editorial freedom and the implications for free speech. The trio dives into Apple's antitrust challenges and the rise of AI-fueled misinformation, stressing the importance of ethical journalism. Rivlin shares insights from his book 'AI Valley,' shedding light on the intersection of tech and society.

This week, Abrar Al-Heeti, a tech reporter from CNET, Daniel Rubino, editor of Windows Central, and internet law expert Cathy Gellis dive into high-tech hot topics. They discuss the rapid obsolescence of AI jobs and ethical considerations as AI evolves. The panel debates Google's potential Chrome sale amid antitrust scrutiny while exploring the implications of social media's shift to entertainment-driven content. Plus, they highlight the excitement around the sold-out Nintendo Switch 2 and innovative modular cars disrupting the auto market.

Judge rules Google illegally monopolized ad tech, opening door to potential breakup AI-hallucinated code dependencies become new supply chain risk OpenAI's secret Yap score 4chan, the internet's most infamous forum, is down following an alleged hack FTC v. Meta: the US argued Meta has a monopoly in the "personal social networking" market, which it claims includes only Instagram, WhatsApp, Snapchat, and MeWe Trump Signals Semiconductor Tariffs Are Coming 'Very Soon' Tariffs making it impossible to shop for tech, applicances Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders live on April 24, for real this time; fans still mad at $80 games Is this a Bad Therapist? Real Therapist Reacts to Adolescence Risks to children playing Roblox 'deeply disturbing', say researchers Hacked Crosswalks In Bay Area Play Deepfake-Style Messages From Tech Billionaires China's First Robot Marathon Runners Trip, Emit Smoke, Fall Apart OpenAI is building a social network Leaked: Palantir's Plan to Help ICE Deport People New Jersey Sues Discord for Allegedly Failing to Protect Children Scientists Find Promising Indication of Extraterrestrial Life—124 Light-Years Away Host: Leo Laporte Guests: Georgia Dow, Nicholas De Leon, and Paris Martineau Download or subscribe to This Week in Tech at https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-tech 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: Melissa.com/twit shopify.com/twit kinsta.com/twit oracle.com/twit monarchmoney.com with code TWIT

Sam Abuelsamid, a car expert and VP of research at telemetry, joins Allyn Malventano, an AI and SSD technologist, and Fr. Robert Ballecer, SJ, the Digital Jesuit. They discuss the potential elimination of IP laws and the implications for creativity. Insights on the latest tech dynamics reveal the challenges of tariff impacts on Apple and the automotive industry. They also touch on Microsoft's Recall AI rollout, exploring privacy concerns and the future of digital data management.

In this engaging conversation, angel investor Jason Calacanis and journalist Alex Wilhelm dive into the intersection of tech, politics, and innovation. They discuss the implications of Big Tech's support for Trump and the ongoing delays around TikTok's ban. The duo also explores the rise of humanoid robots and the future of SpaceX's military contracts. With insights on the evolving landscape of trading dynamics and the impact of AI on jobs, they mix humor with critical reflections on the tech industry's role in society.

Alex Kantrowitz, a technology journalist known for exploring tech's societal impacts, joins Iain Thomson, a savvy reporter from The Register, and Jacob Ward, a former NBC journalist and author, to tackle a whirlwind of tech topics. They dive into the fallout from a leaked Signal chat and discuss the complex relationship between AI and traditional animation, particularly focusing on Studio Ghibli. The panel also debates the implications of advanced AI on jobs, privacy, and the evolving landscape of digital journalism.