Tech News Weekly (Audio)

In the first episode of 2025, Mikah and Abrar discuss Meta's plans to add AI bots to their social media platforms, the rise of AI-generated phishing scams, the trend of parents giving their kids retro tech devices to reduce screen time, and the current state and future potential of passkeys for secure logins.

• Meta plans to populate Facebook and Instagram with AI-generated bot accounts that can create content, share posts, and...

A look back at some of our favorite interviews from the past year:

• Emily Forlini of PCMag and her story about the AI "dating scene" AI through ChatGPT Plus and AI boyfriends and her somewhat lackluster experience.
• Jennifer Pattison Tuohy and the breaking news that the U.S. Department of Justice is suing Apple for claims that the company has an illegal monopoly over the smartphone market.
• Amanda Silberlng and her story that...

Nvidia announces a tiny $249 AI supercomputer for AI hobbyists. The company Flipboard has a new social media system that allows you to create your own curated feeds. A look back at this past year's home theater tech with a friend of the network. And a look into sleepwear tech that will help you take a nap - on demand.

• Emily Forlini of PCMag talks about Nvidia's unveiling of a $249 palm-sized supercomputer that can help a vari...

Amanda Silberling of TechCrunch joins us this week! Did OpenAI's Sora video generation model train on gaming and streaming content? A judge ruled that Automattic is to stop blocking WP Engine's access to WordPress.org. And Image Playground, Genmoji, and more generative AI features now available within Apple Intelligence.

• Amanda talks about how OpenAI's Sora video generation model is supposedly training on video games and stre...

Abrar Al-Heeti joins Mikah Sargent on Tech News Weekly this week! Abrar talks about TikTok blocking teenagers from using beauty filters on the platform. There's an AI app that can predict your death. A new competitor enters the mixed-realty headset market. And learn about the data company the FTC recently banned from selling sensitive location data.

• Abrar Al-Heeti talks about TikTok's decision to block teenagers from using be...

Jennifer Pattison Tuohy of The Verge joins Mikah Sargent this week! Amazon announces the new Echo Show 21 and the Echo Show 15 smart displays. Is AI allowing the robotics revolution to come to fruition? Microsoft announces the Windows 365 Link mini desktop PC. And will the DOJ get Google to sell off Chrome following the DOJ's call to divest the company?

• Jennifer Pattison Tuohy talks about Amazon's announcement of the Echo Sho...

Reports are trickling out that Apple plans to expand into different product categories. What to know about Bluesky, the social media network growing in popularity and users following the U.S. elections. And some advancements with ChatGPT and OpenAI that seek to help users out more daily.

• Mark Gurman of Bloomberg joins the show to discuss how Apple is aiming to catch up with the smart home market by releasing a wall-mounted, A...

Emily Forlini is filling in for Mikah Sargent this week! Lyft is entering the robotaxi space as it partners with a robotaxi company. Some of the latest self-driving tech is making its way into vehicles. Is ChatGPT's search feature a worthy rival to Google Search? And what does the feature hold for technology as the US enters a new administration in the coming months?

• Abrar Al-Heeti talks about autonomous vehicles as Lyft part...

Like Google, Amazon has a list of products the tech company discontinued. Is one of your favorites on the list? What Apple announced this past "Mac Week." What GitHub announced at its GitHub Universe 2024 event. And how Apple's Genmoji generator will operate when it's released with the future iOS 18.2 release.

• Mikah Sargent talks about a great article from The Verge highlighting a handful of Amazon Echo products that the tech...