This Week in Tech (Audio)

Mike Elgan, a tech writer exploring AI and travel, Daniel Rubino, editor at Windows Central, and automotive analyst Sam Abuelsamid dive into intriguing topics. They dissect the mixed results of Black Friday sales, questioning whether AI shopping assistants genuinely enhance the consumer experience. The panel also debates the growing influence of Chinese open-source AI while addressing the data privacy concerns of connected cars. With humor and insight, they tackle the evolving tech landscape, blending critical analysis with engaging anecdotes.

Fr. Robert Ballecer, SJ, a Jesuit priest and digital tech advocate, joins tech writer Molly White and developer relations expert Wesley Faulkner to discuss pressing tech issues. They explore the controversy over social media age verification, highlighting Roblox's selfie requirement and the potential ethical pitfalls. The Cloudflare outage sparks a debate about internet centralization and accountability. Molly shares insights on ongoing crypto scams, while the group critiques the implications of AI in advertising and Musk's vision of a labor-free future.

Victoria Song, a senior reviewer at The Verge, shares her hands-on insights about Meta's Ray-Ban Display glasses, igniting debates on privacy and wearable tech etiquette. Christina Warren, a GitHub developer advocate and tech journalist, dives into the world of AI and its implications for tech, including DeepMind's training methods. They also tackle corporate responsibility in tech, from Apple's patent disputes to Disney's AI-generated content plans, and the potential of AI shaping entertainment and privacy standards.

Ashley Esketha, a media professional and founder of Rowdy Skeleton, Ian Thompson, a former writer at The Register turned freelancer, and Janko Roettgers, a media and streaming reporter, dive into hot topics like Elon Musk's staggering pay package and Apple's bold F1 streaming deal. They explore the messy landscape of sports streaming, including YouTube TV's conflict with Disney and the challenges of parental oversight in kids' online lives. The discussion highlights the evolving tech and media landscape, filled with both innovation and significant pitfalls.

From AI-powered code generation boosting productivity to adversaries using the same tools to hunt zero-days, the panel exposes the coming wave of AI-fueled cyberattacks—and why most companies aren't ready for it. Cotton blocks Trump-backed effort to make daylight saving time permanent The End of Cybersecurity Amazon says it didn't cut 14,000 people because of money. It cut them because of 'culture' Here's How the AI Crash Happens US government is getting closer to banning TP-Link routers Neato cloud shutdown sees robocleaners robbed of their smarts FCC will vote to scrap telecom cybersecurity requirements Trump FCC Votes To Make It Easier For Your Broadband ISP To Rip You Off Swedish Death Cleaning But for Your Digital Life The F5 Hack is a Big Deal OpenAI Releases Agentic Security Researcher 'Do not trust your eyes': AI generates surge in expense fraud Proton Data Breach Observatory aims to alert you in near real-time Using a Security Key on X? Re-Enroll Now or Your Account Will Be Locked YouTube denies AI was involved with odd removals of tech tutorials 10M people watched a YouTuber shim a lock; the lock company sued him. Bad idea. Samsung's $2000 smart fridges are getting ads - gHacks Tech News ESPN, ABC, and other Disney channels go dark on YouTube TV Host: Leo Laporte Guests: Jill Duffy, Alex Stamos, and Stacey Higginbotham 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: ziprecruiter.com/twit zscaler.com/security miro.com canary.tools/twit - use code: TWIT Melissa.com/twit

In this discussion, Richard Campbell, a veteran technology journalist, and Doc Rock, a popular YouTuber and tech strategist, dive into the fallout from a significant Amazon AWS outage that exposed our over-reliance on cloud services. They explore the implications of this digital fragility and dissect security threats like YouTube videos luring kids into malware traps. They also touch on the impact of TikTok's potential US-China deal and how creators adapt in a fragmented digital landscape. Their insights on future tech trends are both eye-opening and entertaining.

Jacob Ward, an investigative technology journalist, Harper Reed, a noted technologist and entrepreneur, and Abrar Al-Heeti, CNET's senior tech reporter, dive into alarming revelations about satellite data vulnerabilities. They discuss how just $750 can allow attackers to intercept sensitive communications. The conversation shifts to the aging systems that permit these issues and the reality of software scams that have netted criminals $1 billion through social engineering. The trio also explores AI’s impact on society, from job automation to regulatory needs.

Jennifer Pattison Tuohy, a senior reviewer at The Verge, discusses the invasion of ads on Amazon's Echo Show and the implications for smart-home privacy. Cathy Gellis, a tech attorney, delves into the Cox v. Sony case and the risky landscape for ISPs and copyright laws. Pulitzer-recognized journalist Gary Rivlin analyzes AI's economic challenges and ethical concerns, including the disturbing trend of AI-generated deepfakes of deceased celebrities. Together, they explore the pressing issues in tech regulation and the future of household automation.

Joining the discussion are Patrick Beja, an independent podcaster known for his tech insights; Georgia Dow, a therapist and media commentator; and Iain Thomson, an investigative journalist from The Register. They dive into the implications of AI-generated videos, debating whether we face a culture crisis as trust erodes. The panel scrutinizes TikTok's influence on news consumption, and the risks of government control over apps. They also explore how platforms like YouTube are responding to legal pressures while navigating the evolving landscape of creative opportunities.

Brian McCullough, tech journalist and host of Tech Brew Ride Home, Dan Shipper, CEO of Every focused on AI in business, and Ari Paparo, ad-tech expert and host of Markitecture, dive into Nvidia's staggering $100 billion investment in OpenAI. They explore the implications for AI competition, the potential for AI as coworkers, and the hype surrounding large language models. The panel also discusses the challenges Gen Z faces in the job market and critiques recent updates from Meta and Apple's AI initiatives.