This Week in Tech (Audio)

Windows unveiled its Surface Laptop Ultra & Surface RTX Spark Dev Box at its recent Surface event. Google's SynthID Detector is open to everyone now to check for AI-made media. OpenAI agents attempted to hack Wikipedia and its tools to make unauthorized edits. And AI tools are now flooding into underground cybercrime markets. Windows 11 market share creeps upwards as cost of staying on Windows 10 set to double. Everything announced at Microsoft's Windows and Surface event. Trump: Anyone saying "AI" is "THE ENEMY!" The White House uses it. Google opens SynthID Detector to everyone to check for AI-made media. Google invests millions in Mark Zuckerberg's efforts to create a 'virtual cell'. OpenAI to flood your eyeballs with visual ads. OpenAI agents tried to hack Wikipedia tools and flooded it with traffic. Anthropic AI model went rogue, submitted fake unsolved murder tip. OpenAI is pissing off a bunch of mathematicians — again. Scoop: AI companies plot "day after" scenarios for public revolt. Hackers steal 8…

Is Gemini 4 truly so capable, as claimed by Google? OpenAI unveils Dots to rival Meta's Muse. Google's Project Suncatcher prototype satellite is now in orbit. And should we be worried about the possible 'catastrophic' risks with AI, as reported in a leaked IPO filing by Anthropic? OpenAI pauses training its most powerful models after rogue agents target government. Google announces Gemini 4 and says it's so capable that only 'trusted cyber defenders' can have it right now OpenAI ignored employees' warnings about safely testing A.I. models. I quit OpenAI because its culture is broke. OpenAI unveils Dots, new A.I. agents to rival Meta's Muse. Google's early attempt to pay websites for AI answers is struggling. Muse creates detailed profiles of all your friends and family. Our project Suncatcher prototype satellite is in orbit. Amazon writes scary blog warning communities not to block data centers. The 7-year-old Nvidia Shield TV is now $100 more expensive due to AI. EXCLUSIVE: Anthropic's IPO prospectus shows…

If your fridge can be bricked by a firmware update and your AI can outwit its creators, are we trading convenience for chaos? This lively episode tackles the tension between relentless innovation and apparent human oversight in today's weird tech world. Unpack the reality behind AI agents hacking government sites and why industry leaders suddenly want to "pause" progress while shipping new models. An OpenAI Agent Hacked Australia's Health Service. Their Government Found Out Months Later Scoop: Top AI companies probing tens of thousands of security incidents OpenAI's A.I. Went Rogue and Meddled With U.S. Government Websites US and China Discuss Alerting Each Other to AI National Security Threats Meta Connect 2026: The biggest news and announcements Amazon doesn't trust Meta's Muse AI agent Meta Tests Muse AI Agent Calls That Are Actually Made By Humans in a Call Center Meta misled users about Facebook data practices, New Mexico jury finds Ireland's data watchdog has fined Google €403M over location data…

AI hallucinations nearly sparked an international crisis, Google dodged a breakup but faces new rules, and Meta's personal AI agent might be about to run your life. This week's episode ponders what's pragmatic, what's dangerous, and what's coming for everything from privacy to geopolitics. Judge Orders Data Sharing and Other Fixes to Solve Google's Ad Tech Monopoly US judge signals rejection of part of TikTok privacy settlement AI hallucination of Chinese nuclear components almost led to US military attack For the first time, the US military confirms it has deployed weapons in orbit OpenAI Discloses Six New Incidents of 'Concerning' A.I. Behavior Why AI pacing has become a false choice Iran and China Create First-of-Their-Kind Autonomous A.I. Influence Campaigns Hackers Got Inside a Flock Camera. Its Data Shows How the System Really Works Senate Votes to Block Crypto Bill in Major Blow to the Industry The EU Bans Social Media For Under-13s 'Maybe a year': Geoffrey Hinton gives the Senate a deadline on AI…

AI insiders are warning that artificial intelligence could wipe out humanity within the decade, but is this a real threat or a convenient narrative serving Silicon Valley's biggest players? Tune in as the panel untangles fact from hype and digs into the power plays shaping AI's future. Worried Anthropic researchers warn that AI 'could kill all humans' Anthropic Researchers Raise Alarm Over A.I. Acceleration, Warning of Threat to Humanity Countering misuse of AI: September 2026 / Anthropic Pluralistic: LLMs are real, AI is fake (12 Sep 2026) – Pluralistic: Daily links from Cory Doctorow New Apple Watches to get Siri AI 'Recaps' feature similar to AI wearables Apple Unveils the iPhone Duo, a Foldable Phone That Costs $1,999 Key App Developers Have Yet to Embrace Apple's New Siri A.I. Why this month's Microsoft patch release is a doozy LG TV shown scanning LAN for third-party phones and other device The Flock backlash is coming for retail Automobile Camouflage to Hide from Flock Cameras A Secretive DHS…

When politicians, parents, and platforms collide, who protects kids from tech's dark side? Dive into real stories of digital parenting, policy-making headaches, and the unexpected ways tech companies shape everyday life. US court rules Google will not have to sell ad exchange after losing antitrust case Why the Courts Are Hesitant to Punish Tech Giants Like Meta and Google John Ternus is now the CEO of Apple Apple, OpenAI legal fight keeps escalating. Here's how we got here Court Filings In A.I. Suit Invoke Copyright Law, Culture and Sports Meta accepts U.S. safety rules while pitching softer tools abroad FTC lawsuit alleges Amazon has been 'secretly and systematically' overcharging for ads Bernie Sanders Proposes Artificial Superintelligence Ban Amid Rogue AI Hackings Vance Called AI Satanic. He Struck a Chord Among Christian Republicans. Who Cares if AI Is Conscious—It's Basically Alive Nvidia Extends A.I. Spending Spree With $12.9 Billion Deal for Hugging Face Tesla's Cybercab Officially Launches Today.…

As AI-generated video blurs reality and new Macs hit five-figure price tags, the conversation digs into who's left behind in the race to automate and whether "democratizing" tech actually delivers on its promise. Find out how NVIDIA, Meta, and even Apple are reshaping the tech game, and why it might not be good news for everyone. Brief independent investigation of agents' behavior, reasoning and collaboration in the OpenAI / Hugging Face hacking incident NVIDIA's Profit Doubles to $59.69 Billion Thanks to A.I. Spending Bill Gates Is Warning That A.I. Is More Dangerous Than Big Tech Will Admit Apple Introduces M6 and M5 Ultra Chips, in New Mac Mini and Mac Studio How Apple Stumbled Into AI Hardware Success With the Mac Meta reaches $16.68 billion settlement over social media harms to children Meta Just Paid Nearly $17 Billion To Make Sure It Gets To Write The Kid Safety Rules For Every Other Social Media Platform The Meta Settlement Makes Big Tech Bigger 'Darth Vader' Wants You to Know He Definitely Supports…

Meta faces a $1.4 trillion lawsuit, flock cameras are sparking a privacy revolt, and data centers may be fueling the next bubble. This episode pulls back the curtain on who's watching, who's profiting, and who could pay the price. Meta's Big Reckoning Is Here Meta heads to court in a landmark trial about kids and social media addiction Ninth Circuit Ruling Will Force Online Platforms That Host User Speech to Fight Lengthy and Costly Lawsuits Before They Are Dismissed Under Section 230 The $1.4 Trillion State Tort Raid on Meta Google's Pixel 11 Comes With Plenty of A.I. Does Anyone Want That? Waymo's cheaper, next-gen robotaxi is now open to all riders in these three cities Apple and European Commission Reach Agreement on App Payment Terms Under DMA, With Apple Conceding Very Little Apple is laying off staffers working on the Vision Pro and Siri Hidden Airtag reveals Amazon is trashing rare books to train AI Amazon aims for delivery drones to reach 500 US neighborhoods by the end of 2026 NVIDIA to Back Ohio…

Can you trust Mark Zuckerberg's open AI manifesto, or is it just another play to keep control out of your hands? The panel debates the future of personal superintelligent agents, who really stands to benefit, and whether anyone should slow things down before it's too late. Mark Zuckerberg Posts 6,500-Word AI Essay Zuckerberg Is Right About Open, Decentralized AI. He's Also The Last Person You Should Trust To Deliver It Anthropic pledges to embed watermarks to help discern AI slop in sop to EU You can now turn off Google Gemini's visible watermarks Everything Google announced: Pixel 11, Pixel Tag, Pixel Watch 11, more Google is making the Pixel cameras better by making them worse Following Epic loss, Google has started hosting rival app stores in the Play Store Judge gives Google one week to fix "anticompetitive" app store download in Google Play Apple proposes commissions of up to 15% for off-App Store purchases in the US [U] Twitch content has trained Amazon AI for years, but users can opt out now DEF CON…

Autonomous AIs are hacking, collaborating, and outpacing human defenders, raising urgent questions about what happens when the machines start breaking into each other (and potentially us). Plus, a Tucson coder is using AI to reinvent local journalism, exposing how automation could fill the gaps left by shrinking newsrooms. Tucson Daily Brief uses AI to revive local news coverage Data centers boom in Arizona, with harsh environmental impact Amazon's Texas data center to run on polluting natural gas Nuclear and solar debates for sustainable data center power Black Hat and DEF CON: Security pros, hackers, and mohawks OpenAI's runaway AI hack at Black Hat stuns security community AI agents collaborate, evade controls, and break into real-world systems Industry struggles to regulate AI, and defense lags behind automated attackers White House, Congress, and AI execs clash over regulation proposals AI "kill switch" and model bans: pipe dreams in a global race Google's DeepMind shakeup, Demis Hassabis moves upstairs…

From foldable phones that out-price laptops to AI models that escape their digital cages, this episode dives into the wild next phase of tech innovation and its unexpected risks. See how the giants are scrambling to keep up as hardware, software, and even outer space are up for grabs. Tim Cook passes the baton in Apple's Q3 2026 earnings call Apple's Profit Is Up 27%, but Expectations for Current Quarter Disappoint Apple Introduces Leasing Program for iPhones and Other Devices Apple struggles to keep pace with AI 'bug' hunters "Google and Reddit do not own the Internet," web scraper says after court win As Reddit stock falls, CEO questions value of Google's AI Overviews Microsoft's $450 Billion Jump Is Biggest in Stock Market History Amazon's trying to launch a global satellite cellphone network in 2028 Iran struck Amazon data centers again amid widening war, satellites show For the First Time, Zoox Can Charge People for Rides in Its Steering-Wheel-Free Robotaxis Claude published malicious code to the…

Leo and this week's panel pay tribute to tech journalist John C. Dvorak, then dive into how AI, relentless hardware shortages, and shifting media habits are reshaping the tech world faster than anyone predicted. The crew discusses how an OpenAI model exploited its own network to cheat on cybersecurity benchmarks, flipping the script on what AI agents are capable of and what might be next for digital security. John C. Dvorak has died OpenAI's accidental cyberattack against Hugging Face is science fiction that happened China's Top AI Event Delivers Message to the U.S.: We're Coming for You Alphabet Quadruples Profit to $112 Billion, Fueled by A.I. Investments The EU Fines Google $1 Billion for Prioritizing Its Own Services in Search The EU just fined AliExpress €550M, its biggest DSA penalty yet Apple Sued by Customers Who Lost Combined $1.8 Million Through Fake Bitcoin Wallet in App Store A.I. 'Vibecoded' Apps Are Flooding Apple's App Store Anthropic's $1.5B copyright settlement approved; only 350 authors…

What happens when China drops open-weight AI models that rival Silicon Valley's best? This episode unpacks how a new wave of international AI releases is shaking up business, policy, and the future of innovation. Linus Torvalds to critics of AI coding in Linux: "Fork it. Or just walk away." Claude on X: "Beginning July 20, Claude Fable 5 will be included in all Max and Team Premium plans, at 50% of limits. Pro and Team Standard users will continue to have access to Fable via usage credits, and will receive a one-time $100 credit. Demand for Fable has been challenging to" China's Moonshot AI Unveils Kimi Model, Threatening America's Lead Alibaba's Qwen Unveils Preview of Flagship AI Model Social media limits are coming for teens across Europe The White House is now deciding who gets access to frontier AI models, not the labs Microsoft chief turns hostile on frontier AI labs, warns companies to guard their IP Meta Is Flooding the Market With Smartglasses. Privacy Advocates Are Up in Arms. Federal employees can…

Apple is suing OpenAI for allegedly stealing trade secrets, sparking a heated debate about AI, hardware ambitions, and Silicon Valley's shifting alliances. Leo, Wesley, Lou, and Patrick tackle what Apple's legal gambit could mean for OpenAI's IPO and the future of AI development. Apple Sues OpenAI for Trade Secret Theft in Blockbuster Case Apple's OpenAI lawsuit highlights broader tensions Microsoft says the world is changing faster than it can keep up as it guts commercial, Xbox teams Claude Fable 5 promotional access Meta says four states want $1.4 trillion in penalties at August youth-safety trial Meta Removes A.I. Feature on Instagram After Days of Backlash Meta tests 'super sensing' AI glasses that can capture every moment Meta Ordered by E.U. to Alter 'Addictive Design' of Instagram and Facebook The backlash against Sony ditching PlayStation discs is not slowing down Colibrì proof-of-concept gains frontier-level 1.5-TB AI model — novel approach runs on only 25GB of RAM and shows promise for local AI…

A landmark Supreme Court decision shakes up digital privacy, setting new limits on police surveillance and potentially redefining personal data rights in the age of AI and location tracking. Plus, Chinese AI models are rapidly gaining ground while American companies battle lawsuits, regulatory crackdowns, and soaring chip shortages. The global race for AI dominance is wide open! US Supreme Court rules geofence warrants require constitutional protections Musk's X poses "serious risk to Americans' privacy," advocates warn FTC The World Cup added $1 billion in security systems. What happens after the games end? U.S. Lifts Restrictions on Anthropic's Most Powerful A.I. Models OpenAI floats giving Trump administration 5 percent cut of AI boom Cloudflare to block cynical search-and-scrape bots from ad-supported web pages Companies Are Throttling Employees' AI Use Because It's Too Expensive Chinese A.I. Models Gain Ground on Anthropic and OpenAI Swedish court orders Google to pay $1.5 billion to Klarna in antitrust…

Tech giants and chipmakers are facing off as AI-fueled memory shortages trigger sweeping price hikes on everything from Macs to game consoles. Hear why global supply chain standoffs, long-term contracts, and old-school market forces are quietly reshaping your daily technology. Apple and Microsoft hike prices on devices amid global memory shortages Surge in AI data centers drives RAM and storage crisis Intel's comeback: Core Ultra chips compete with AMD in handheld gaming Microsoft's pivot to ARM, Qualcomm-NVIDIA alliance, and x86 rivalry AI fear and backlash; organic concern amplified by international actors White House abruptly pulls Anthropic's Fable model, sparking industry uproar US government U-turns on AI regulation, restricts top models to select partners Tension over AI innovation vs. regulatory "rug pull" and global competition Smart home chaos: Matter 1.6 standard, Samsung and Level Lock shake-up Debate over local vs. cloud smart home control and API access fees Ring and Flock cameras ignite…

AI giants are battling not just in code, but in politics, with behind-the-scenes lobbying, strategic naming, and rumors of blockbuster deals at the heart of this week's wildest tech stories. Get the inside scoop on who's pulling the strings. Apparently The Real Reason Anthropic's Models Are Offline: A Six-Year-Old Trump Grudge Trump says he no longer views Anthropic as a national security threat after G7 meeting with CEO Exclusive | Apple to Raise Prices Due to Memory Chip Crunch, Tim Cook Says Elon Musk's Next Move May Be a Mega-Merger of SpaceX and Tesla Anthropic's latest feud with the Trump admin may actually help it, sales data suggests Google's Gemini co-lead Noam Shazeer is leaving for OpenAI Google's Secret Warrant Fight Over DOJ Pipe Bomb Probe Revealed The UK Places a Sweeping Ban on Social Media for Kids Under 16 Meta lobbies Congress for protection from child-harm lawsuits Waymo recalls nearly 4,000 robotaxis to stop them driving into highway construction zones Snap Launches $2,195 Specs,…

The US government abruptly forced Anthropic to pull its most advanced AI model offline after fears it was simply too powerful to be safe. Hear the real story behind the sudden shutdown that rocked the tech world—and what it reveals about the uneasy alliance between Washington and Silicon Valley. Anthropic's Fable 5 AI model release sparks cybersecurity and jailbreak concerns White House pressures Anthropic to withdraw Fable amid security fears Debate over government intervention, model regulation, and Anthropic's IPO timing SpaceX IPO rockets to record-breaking $1.77 trillion valuation Apple unveils revamped Siri and Apple Intelligence at WWDC Apple's new child safety and parental controls in iOS OpenAI and Anthropic plot IPOs, face economic realities of AI industry Supply chain attacks hit Arch Linux packages, security risks highlighted Spotify battles surge of fake podcasts promoting illegal drugs German court rules Google AI overviews legally liable for inaccuracies FCC pursues crackdown on anonymous…

An astronomical amount of money is being poured into AI and data centers as tech giants fight for dominance, but is this fueling the next big tech bubble or just the price of staying in the game? Get the panel's opinions on wild IPO valuations, global power grabs, Build 2026, NVIDIA GTC Taipei, and even successful YouTuber movies! SpaceX IPO to Be Largest Ever at $135 Share Price Utah residents sue officials over Kevin O'Leary data center plan When AI builds itself NVIDIA announces RTX Spark as 'the most efficient PC chip ever built' Major Homebuilder To Test Placing Mini Data Centers in Suburban Backyards Microsoft Build 2026: The 7 biggest announcements What to Expect at Apple's WWDC 2026: iOS 27, New Siri and AI Meta Silently Added Face-Recognition Code for Its Smart Glasses to Millions of Phones Trump Signs Executive Order Seeking Oversight of A.I. Models Trump: U.S. stake in AI giants "could be a beautiful thing" Cable lobby warns of chaos if FCC doesn't relax ban on foreign routers Google ordered to…

Explore everything from explosive technology for space to electric technology for the road. Leo, Molly, Gary, and Sam have deep discussions on Magnifica Humanitas takeaways, Wikipedia drama, Peter Thiel's mvoe to Argentina, and more! US Space Force confirms SpaceX will build sensor-to-shooter targeting network The most spectacular rocket explosion since N1 just happened in Florida What Pope Leo XIV's First Encyclical Says About the Power of AI Google's search overhaul has social media users baiting the 'AI Overview' to prove a point Apple to Overhaul iOS 27 Siri, AI Features: Here's a First Peek Someone wrote a fake EULA into Bitcoin. Two hours later, they revoked it. Wikipedia editor is threatening to go on strike Ferrari reveals its first EV, with design help from Jony Ive In Argentina, U.S. Tech Billionaire Peter Thiel Finds An Escape Robotaxis Are Spreading Across the U.S.—and So Is the Backlash Host: Leo Laporte Guests: Gary Rivlin, Sam Abuelsamid, and Molly White Download or subscribe to This Week in…