This Week in Tech (Audio)

Tech innovator Harper Reed, known for his work at 2389.ai, joins futurist Amy Webb to delve into the complexities of digital regulations. They discuss Australia and the UK's age verification measures and the implications of stablecoins in the U.S. financial landscape. The conversation shifts to deepfakes, highlighting Denmark's copyright regulations. A quirky segment on a viral $100,000 stapler incident adds humor as they explore tech's unexpected intersections with culture and community. A lively mix of serious issues and entertaining anecdotes!

Cathy Gellis, an attorney specializing in IP law and Supreme Court contributor, joins Nicholas De Leon, a senior electronics reporter at Consumer Reports. They dive into the alarming rise of YouTube piracy, revealing over 9,000 pirated films with 250M+ views. The conversation navigates recent Supreme Court cases impacting digital free speech, the complex world of copyright laws affecting creators, and the significant ramifications of AI on cybersecurity. Intriguing insights into the tech industry's challenges and legal implications make for a thought-provoking discussion.

Join Dan Patterson, a content director and misinformation expert, gaming aficionado Patrick Beja, and Daniel Rubino, editor of Windows Central, as they unpack the latest in gaming and tech. They dive into Microsoft's shift towards inclusivity in gaming, the evolving landscape of PCs versus consoles, and the intriguing rise of ARM technology. The trio also discusses Apple’s advertising strategies and the ethical implications of AI in law enforcement, weaving humor and insight into the fabric of digital narratives and user privacy.

Jason Calacanis, an angel investor known for his tech insights, joins Fr. Robert Ballecer, a Catholic priest engaged in tech discussions, and Amanda Silberling, a culture writer at TechCrunch. They dive into the ethical implications of AI on job displacement and the need for a socially responsible approach. The conversation shifts to the influence of streaming on news consumption and the evolving landscape of media. They also tackle the surveillance issues stemming from internet-connected devices, raising critical questions about privacy.

In this engaging discussion, technology reporters Jason Snell, Jason Hiner, and Harry McCracken dive into Apple's exciting design evolution, particularly its innovative liquid glass aesthetic. They also unpack Apple's intriguing progress on AI upgrades and the revamped iPad features, designed to enhance professionalism. The conversation shifts towards advancements in quantum computing, especially IBM's ambitious plans, while also touching on Android 16's new capabilities. Plus, don’t miss the light-hearted banter on an experimental dating site using browser histories!

Sam Abuelsamid, an automotive expert and VP at Telemetry, Cathy Gellis, a tech-savvy attorney at TechDirt, and Larry Magid, CEO of ConnectSafely.org, dive into the latest tech news. They reflect on the legacy of computing pioneer Bill Atkinson and discuss the legal intricacies of AI privacy issues. The trio also tackles the complexities of parental controls for online safety and explores how recent tax code changes are impacting tech layoffs. They provide insights into the evolving landscape of technology, law, and the importance of user privacy.

In this engaging discussion, guests Louis Maresca, a Microsoft engineering manager, Doc Rock, a YouTube strategist, and Iain Thomson, a tech reporter, dive into YouTube's dominance over traditional TV and the challenges families face navigating children's screen time. They tackle the ethical implications of AI, from coding to surveillance, while sharing anecdotes about the impact of tech on aging brains. The conversation also touches on NASA's funding issues and the commercialization of space, making it a tech-savvy and entertaining listen.

Joining the discussion are Jennifer Pattison Tuohy, a smart home reviewer from The Verge, Brian McCullough, host of the Tech Meme Ride Home podcast, and Mike Elgan, AI and tech blogger. They delve into Apple's predicament with potential tariffs on iPhones, which could reshape manufacturing in the U.S. The episode also showcases Microsoft's revolutionary AI breakthroughs, including a vacuum that picks up socks, sparking a fun debate on home automation. They further explore the future implications of AI in content creation and personal privacy.

GTA 6 trailer 2 and anticipation Grok Pivots From 'White Genocide' to Being 'Skeptical' About the Holocaust Elon Musk's apparent power play at the Copyright Office completely backfired Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella Explains How He's Making Himself Obsolete With AI How Finland's district heating systems are harvesting heat from data centers; Microsoft's project in Kirkkonummi will be the largest in the world when completed OpenAI launches Codex, an AI coding agent, in ChatGPT China begins assembling its supercomputer in space NASA engineers revive Voyager 1's dead thrusters from 15 billion miles away 25% of steam playeres play Blue Prince Jamie Lee Curtis publicly shamed Mark Zuckerberg to remove a deepfaked ad Fortnite players can speak with Darth Vader through a James Earl Jones-voiced AI Epic Games says Apple is blocking Fortnite from the US and EU App Stores Epic wants the court to compel Apple to approve Fortnite's return to the US App Store Nextcloud accuses Google of "Big Tech gatekeeping" over Android app permissions Samsung's Galaxy S25 Edge starts off the super thin phone era Square's $399 Handheld accepts tap-to-pay at your table Montana Becomes First State To Close the Law Enforcement Data Broker Loophole - Slashdot Republicans Try to Cram Ban on AI Regulation Into Budget Reconciliation Bill The first US hub for experimental medical treatments is coming The US Army is getting in on right-to-repair They're just giving up and calling it HBO Max again Host: Leo Laporte Guests: Wil Harris, Devindra Hardawar, and Harper Reed Download or subscribe to This Week in Tech at https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-tech Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free shows, a members-only Discord, and behind-the-scenes access. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: oracle.com/twit ziprecruiter.com/twit drata.com/weekintech monarchmoney.com with code TWIT Melissa.com/twit

Stacey Higginbotham, a tech journalist focused on IoT policies, Wesley Faulkner, a community builder in tech, and Shoshana Weissmann, head of digital media at R Street Institute, dive deep into the implications of recent FTC regulations. They discuss Apple's legal battles over App Store rules and Google's antitrust challenges, highlighting the tension between big tech and user privacy. The conversation also covers AI's environmental impact and the need for coherent privacy legislation, while balancing the lightheartedness of personal anecdotes.