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...

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 ...

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 Austra...

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 settleme...

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...

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 l...

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 / H...

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 an...

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
• Anthr...

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 enviro...

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 Int...

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 ha...

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 Standa...

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 changin...

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...

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 ...

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
• Exc...

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 F...

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'Lear...