Today in Tech

While companies like NVIDIA generate more products to accelerate the usage of artificial intelligence by other companies, AI scientists and other leaders continue to warn about the potential dangers of the technology. Also, why Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard centers around cloud gaming’s future and its most popular game, Call of Duty.

To help raise awareness about the types of tools hackers are using to eavesdrop or break into different systems, we chat with Etay Maor, an adjunct professor of cybersecurity at Boston College and an industry-recognized cybersecurity researcher. Knowing some of these tricks can help consumers and other professionals better secure their homes and offices. Guest:Etay Maor, adjunct professor of cybersecurity at Boston College, and industry-recognized cybersecurity researcher. 

The European Union goes after Facebook parent Meta for its data transfer practices, while TikTok takes on Montana’s ban of the social media service. Keith and Chris also catch up on other technology news of recent weeks, including more AI image foolery.

At the Google I/O event, new artificial intelligence tools take center stage, along with some hardware updates for its phones and tablets. Also: electric vehicles get some good news about electric infrastructure (but are the numbers accurate?); and companies continue to struggle with office space vacancies.

Companies are discovering that technology platforms that supported work-from-home employees are now potentially hindering them as workers move to a hybrid or return-to-the-office environment. Keith chats with Lauren Izaks, COO of All Points PR, about how companies can navigate new workplace challenges with technologies (and which technology to avoid or reconsider). 

Artificial intelligence tools continue to disrupt different facets of life, and it could affect how TV shows and movies in the future are created (and paid for). Keith and Chris discuss the AI influence in the writer’s guild strike, as well as if it has already disrupted Apple’s augmented reality offering before it even was announced. 

New and interesting use cases continue to develop for ChatGPT and other generative AI tools, while one of the early pioneers of artificial intelligence comes out against the technology. Is this a case where future AI will be like the Jedi – having a light and dark side? Keith and Chris discuss the latest developments in AI, as well as other technology news topics.

Looking back at some big technology news in the past week, Keith and Chris discuss the impact of the U.K. rejecting Microsoft’s proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard, how space mishaps may affect future space exploration, and what GM’s decision to end production of the Chevy Bolt will mean for the EV market. 

People using artificial intelligence tools continue to create mischief, such as winning photography contests, imitating famous singers, and generating video from text prompts. As more tools get introduced, are we going to benefit from the results or go down a path where we might inadvertently begin losing our usefulness as humans? Keith chats with Alex Lawrence, an associate professor of business at Weber State University, about the benefits and potential disruptions of generative AI.

The rumor mill around the possibility of an Apple AR/VR (augmented reailty / virtual reality) headset announcement at the June Worldwide Developers’ Conference kicks into high gear. Computerworld’s Ken Mingis and Macworld’s Michael Simon join Keith to discuss the latest potential announcements from Apple.