TechStuff

In this enlightening discussion, Jim Ashworth-Beaumont, a prosthetist and researcher who personally navigates life as an upper-limb amputee, shares his journey with advanced prosthetics. He reveals how his clinical background informed his rehabilitation and the limitations of traditional prostheses. Jim dives into osseointegration, programmable myoelectric control, and cutting-edge machine learning technologies that adapt to user movements. His insights on improving patient interactions and the future of prosthetics highlight a transformative medical landscape full of possibilities.

In this engaging discussion, journalist Stephen Witt, author of The Thinking Machine, sheds light on NVIDIA's meteoric rise as a chip giant. He explores how GPUs evolved from gaming to powering AI, unleashing a data center boom. Witt dives into the secrecy surrounding data centers, the intense working conditions, and the potential risks that could threaten NVIDIA's dominance. He also warns of AI's future dangers, including the troubling possibility of self-preserving behaviors and dual-use threats, balancing optimism with caution.

Discover the impact of school cell phone bans, which have unexpectedly led to increased library visits and improved social interactions among students. Explore Europe’s booming defense tech investments driven by global tensions, and learn about innovative military ideas like cockroach sensors. Meet Xania Monet, the first AI artist to hit Billboard charts, and delve into the legal debates surrounding AI music. Plus, hear about Google's ambition to establish solar-powered data centers in space and the thrilling use of DNA databases in solving the Louvre heist.

Joseph Cox, an investigative reporter from 404 Media, dives into the troubling intersection of tech and deportation with host Oz. They discuss ICE's use of advanced surveillance tools like facial recognition and license plate tracking, unpacking the accuracy issues and biases involved. Joseph reveals how these border technologies are spreading across the country, raising concerns about privacy and surveillance. He also touches on the lack of corporate accountability and highlights grassroots efforts resisting this tech-driven deportation machinery.

This week dives into the quirky world of tech mishaps and innovations. Discover how Airbnb's anti-party system aims to foil Halloween gatherings. A high-stakes poker scandal reveals how gadgetry turned into cheating tools with ties to crime families. Tesla's controversial 'Mad Max' mode raises safety alarms for reckless driving. Plus, exciting discussions about AI's potential 'survival instincts' and a review of the clunky AI 'Friend' pendant that’s more anxious than friendly. It's a mix of spooky tech and intriguing debates!

Amanda Hess, a writer for The New York Times and author of *Second Life: Having a Child in the Digital Age*, dives into the complex impact of pregnancy apps on expectant parents. She discusses how these apps can amplify worries rather than alleviate them, and addresses the troubling overlap between technology and eugenics in reproductive health. Amanda also shares her personal experiences with distorted expectations and community support found in online groups, ultimately advocating for cautious engagement with parenting tech.

Malcolm Gladwell sits down with IBM Chairman and CEO Arvind Krishna in a special live episode of Smart Talks with IBM. They discuss the groundbreaking potential of quantum computing, the transformative impact of AI on business, and how Krishna’s visionary predictions from the 90s continue to guide IBM’s innovations. This is a paid advertisement from IBM. The conversations on this podcast don't necessarily represent IBM's positions, strategies or opinions. Visit us at https://www.ibm.com/think/podcasts/smart-talksSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Should facial recognition be available to everybody? This week, Oz shows off his new swag from the company of the moment, Colossal Biosciences, and tells us about his visit to the labs’ responsible for Woolly Mice and Dire Wolves. Then, Oz and Karah unpack how facial recognition is being used by viral sites like Cheaterbuster AI and investigate the Trump family crypto empire. They warn about satellites leaking data, Ubers new gigs within gigs, and a new health tracker that goes in your bowl. And finally, an international Chat and Me that will inspire your green thumb!  Additional Reading:  Viral ‘Cheater Buster’ Sites Use Facial Recognition to Let Anyone Reveal Peoples’ Tinder Profiles  How the Trump companies made $1bn from crypto Satellites Are Leaking the World’s Secrets: Calls, Texts, Military and Corporate Data | WIRED  Uber wants drivers to train AI in their free time  Kohler’s new toilet camera provides health insights based on your bathroom breaks See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, we’re joined by tech analyst and researcher, Dan Wang, to help analyze the evolving relationship between the US and China. In Dan’s new book, Breakneck: China's Quest to Engineer the Future, he introduces a new framework, comparing and contrasting China's “engineering state” to the US’s “lawyerly society”. We also hear Dan’s take on China’s rise as a production superpower, what lessons America can learn from the country and how the current administration's tariff policies (and its ties to tech billionaires like Elon Musk) have shifted the dynamics between these global heavyweights.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, the rise of Christianity in Silicon Valley stirs up fascinating discussions among tech elites. Peter Thiel’s Antichrist lectures spark curiosity about faith’s role in tech. Meanwhile, a bizarre Dutch-China microchip saga unfolds. Space junk is getting out of control, with Starlink satellites crashing back to Earth. AI pranks are causing chaos, as police deal with calls over clever but risky TikTok antics. In dating, ‘chatfishing’ complicates real-life connections with AI-generated texts.