Today in Tech

The newest version of Wi-Fi (version 6E) allows for higher capacity and bandwidth with the opening of 6GHz frequency spectrum, but with version 7 likely to occur next year, companies might decide to wait. Keith talks with IDC analyst Brandon Butler about the pros and cons of the latest wireless LAN standards. 

With the costs of large language models and generative AI platforms coming down, companies are beginning to explore highly focused systems that can answer questions to specific, niche topics. We explore the pros and cons of this approach with Lawrence Spracklen, senior technical advisor at Numenta.

Concerns about artificial intelligence cloning actors and their likenesses continue to be raised in the actors’ strike; the FBI warns about hackers using open-source AI tools to create better malware and phishing attacks (along with audio cloning to mimic a victim’s loved ones); and Intel gets a boost in revenue due to AI chip demand.

New research shows that companies involved in a four-day workweek project benefited from improved productivity and better mental health for employees, with the number of hours needed to complete the same amount of work continuing to decline. Lucas Mearian, a senior reporter at Computerworld, talks with us about the latest findings.

Keith and Chris look at the week’s news in our latest episode of ‘Today in Tech,’ including whether Elon Musk changing the Twitter logo from a blue bird to a giant X will have any impact; Threads adds a feed so you can just follow your followers; and TikTok gets into the selling cheap stuff from China game. Also, would you allow yourself to be scanned so a digital avatar could talk with family members after you die?

The OpenWiFi project looks to create open-source options for service providers looking to better support wireless deployments for multi-residential units and hospitality companies. Learn more about the standard in this episode.Follow TECH(talk) for the latest tech news and discussion!

The looming launch of electronic data record exchanges will allow more doctors, hospitals and other health providers to more easily share records amongst each other. This should ease the ability for clinicians to see the entire health history of patients, more so than the current fragmented system. Computerworld’s Val Potter and Rob Mitchell talk about the topic with Keith on this episode. 

A slew of new connected home devices, utilizing the Matter protocol, is about to hit retailers in time for the holidays. Will this standard, which promises easier connectivity and installation for smart home devices like lights, sensors, door locks, cameras and more, revitalize the idea of a connected home? Or better yet, lead us to the part of smart home automation? Keith chats with Skip Ashton, an engineer with Infineon Technologies and representative of the Connectivity Standards Alliance, about the protocol.

A federal judge rules that Microsoft can go forward with its acquisition of Activision Blizzard, striking another blow for the Federal Trade Commission. But then the company also gets hit with news that a bug in its cloud services platform allowed Chinese hackers to infiltrate emails at the Commerce and State departments. Also, the big bad villain in this summer’s hottest movie is artificial intelligence!

Nowhere has artificial intelligence and generative AI tools like ChatGPT disrupted a space more than in education, where teachers and students are debating whether the tools can help or harm them. Jim Chilton, executive vice president of learning platform provider Cengage, chats with Keith about why knowledge workers can take advantage of the tools to help them become smarter and better prepared for an AI future.