Today in Tech

Jana Arbanas, an industry expert in consumer insights and technology trends, discusses the results of a survey on consumer technology trends. Topics include seeking balance between the digital and physical worlds, concerns about securing digital devices, the success of virtual classes for remote learners, the shift towards fitness apps, exploring the metaverse and Gen AI interaction, and the longevity and impact of technology.

Even though widespread deployment isn’t expected until 2030, many wireless industry officials are already discussing 6G wireless and what it could mean for carriers, businesses and consumers. Keith chats with analyst Jack Gold about what obstacles and challenges are ahead for carriers as they look to create better networks through artificial intelligence and provide cutting-edge applications for consumers.

The high-profile hack of MGM Resorts International is shining a light on the latest tactics being used by organized hackers to exploit large companies. What lessons can consumers and other businesses learn from these attacks? Keith chats with Ben Smith, Field CTO of security firm NetWitness, about the fallout from these attacks and how companies can shore up their own security.

In our latest technology news roundup, we chat about how technology often gets hyped to the extreme, and it takes some common sense to bring us back to reality. Keith and Chris discuss this concept around autonomous vehicles, electric cars, cryptocurrency and more. In addition, Meta sees record revenues due to an advertising rebound, while at the same time they get slapped with government lawsuits that say their technology is addicting to kids and teens.

Recent unemployment data in the technology jobs market indicates a growing number of unemployed tech workers. Is generative AI the cause of some companies holding back on entry-level IT positions? Keith discusses the latest data with Computerworld’s Lucas Mearian to see whether this is a small blip or the beginning of a new trend in tech job hiring.

OpenAI integrates current search engine data with ChatGPT to make answers more “new”; Amazon expands its use of robotics and artificial intelligence to make deliveries even faster; and we see the return of the ‘Glasshole’ as Meta Quest headsets begin being used in public situations, irking lots of normal people. Keith and Chris catch up on the latest technology news in this episode.

Cory Hymel, VP of Product and Research at Gigster, discusses the impact of generative AI in software development, including coding, summarizing documentation, and generating code based on prompts. They explore the challenges of training employees and implementing new tools, as well as the potential trough of disillusionment with AI and comparisons to blockchain. The advantages of using generative AI in software development, such as time-saving and improved documentation, are also highlighted.

We are now witnessing the new realities of how news is being delivered (and whether it’s true or misinformation) through social media platforms in the wake of the Hamas attack in Israel and the ensuing war. Europe calls for big platforms such as Meta and X to take down illegal content, and X faces fallout for changes that erode trust in the platform. Keith and Chris discuss the latest developments, along with news about TikTok, AI voice cloning, and whether we’re basically living in a virtual simulation somewhere.

Training employees to spot phishing attempts and raise security awareness is a multi-billion-dollar business, but does it really work? Recent high-profile cyberattacks have shown that it is still relatively easy for attackers to get employees to provide access to computer systems and networks. Keith chats with Kelly Reeves, a cybersecurity expert and researcher, about how companies can improve their security awareness training.

Most tech organizations have a disaster recovery plan in place for traditional events such as hurricanes, earthquakes, blizzards, etc. But what happens when the event itself is unexpected (and immediate)? Keith talks with Tamecka McKay, CIO for the city of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., about how her team responded during a historic rainfall that dropped 25-plus inches of rain in a five-hour period, flooding many buildings and taking out power, email and other tech systems.