TechStuff

David Baszucki is the co-founder and CEO of Roblox, the gaming platform that’s become a digital playground for millions of kids around the world. Baszucki sits down with Oz to talk about how Roblox became one of the most beloved tech platforms for the younger generations, and why he believes gaming is still in its “prehistoric era.” They also dive into one of the platform’s biggest challenges—safety—and what Roblox is doing to protect its users.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, we’re revisiting one of our favorite episodes — all about the Sony Walkman. Jonathan Strickland dives into why Time named the portable device number 47 on a list of the 50 most influential gadgets of all time. How did the Walkman become a thing, and what influence has it had on how we experience music?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Writer and journalist Vauhini Vara has been entangled with the tech world for most of her life — first as a kid in the Seattle suburbs and a college student in the Bay Area, and then as a reporter covering Silicon Valley for The Wall Street Journal. But it wasn’t until she turned to creative writing that Vara began to see just how deeply technology had shaped her own life. Vara sits down with Karah to talk about her new book, Searches: Selfhood in the Digital Age and how she’s learning to use technology as a writing tool, while remaining critical of the industry.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How can you detect AI music? This week in the News Roundup, Oz and Karah unpack the music industry's scramble to build tech that labels AI-generated tracks. And the MIT study that took the internet by storm. On TechSupport, Politico’s Maggie Miller explains how the conflict between Iran and Israel was fought in cyberspace.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When Yasmin Green joined Google almost two decades ago, she knew she wanted to focus on the complex problems facing humanity in a technological world – from violent extremism to political censorship. As the CEO of Jigsaw, a unit within Google that’s dedicated to understanding global challenges and applying technological solutions, she’s been able to do just that. Jigsaw’s most recent project took Green and her team to Bowling Green, Kentucky to figure out how they could use AI to improve a civic cornerstone: the town hall. Green sits down with Oz to talk about the project, What Could BG Be?, and what the role of Jigsaw is in today’s rapidly shifting, revenue-oriented tech landscape.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Reed Albergotti, the Tech editor at Semaphore, brings his insights to the conversation about AI's evolving role in technology. The podcast discusses Google's innovative AI-generated audio summaries that can turn simple queries into lengthy content. A notable experiment from Wikipedia raises concerns among editors about AI use. Albergotti creatively analogizes Big Tech to characters from 'The Wizard of Oz,' giving a whimsical yet insightful view of the competitive AI landscape, highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of major players like OpenAI and Google.

In this engaging discussion, Adam Clark Estes, a senior tech correspondent at Vox known for his insights on technology and health, delves into the implications of biometric data. He explores Amazon's palm scanners and their potential impact on healthcare. Estes shares his firsthand experiment with numerous health trackers, weighing their benefits against privacy risks. The conversation navigates the balance between convenience and security, highlighting ethical concerns in the tech-driven landscape of personal health information.

Jason Koebler of 404 Media joins to dive into the curious realm of airport body scans and the evolving landscape of TSA procedures. He reveals how advanced technologies like virtual reality goggles and haptic feedback gloves might transform the scanning experience. Koebler also discusses the ethical dilemmas surrounding privacy and the pressing need for transparency in AI systems. With a pinch of humor, he critiques how funding in homeland security often lags behind innovation, spotlighting the strange juxtaposition of outdated methods versus cutting-edge tech.

Jake Sullivan, former National Security Advisor under President Biden, dives into the escalating tech rivalry between the US and China. He explains the significance of the CHIPS and Science Act in bolstering the US semiconductor industry and counters China's AI ambitions. Sullivan discusses the role of export controls and global alliances in this strategic landscape while addressing the implications of artificial intelligence and autonomous weapons in modern warfare. His insights underscore the balance between national security, technological advancement, and the future of global relations.

Dexter Thomas, a journalist and host of the Kill Switch podcast, delves into the intriguing history of Nintendo, spotlighting the visionary Gunpei Yokoi. He discusses how Nintendo transformed from a humble card company to a gaming powerhouse. The conversation touches on the impact of the upcoming Switch 2 and the company’s unique philosophy that emphasizes creativity over technology. They also humorously navigate modern challenges like AI’s influence on search and security in tech, intertwining the past and future of gaming culture.