February 24, 2025 • 58 mins
🎙️ JMOR Tech Talk Show – Breaking Tech News You Can’t Miss! 🚀🔥 This week, we're diving into game-changing tech stories shaking up the industry! From Amazon’s massive settlement to Tesla’s Cybertruck controversy, and TikTok's return to U.S. app stores—you need to hear this! Plus, is Apple in trouble in Germany? And what's next for Meta, Intel, and Spotify? Tune in for all the details!📢 Catch the latest episode within 24 hours at The JMOR Tech Talk Show and explore exclusive content at BelieveMeAchieve.com!🔥 Tech Topics We’re Covering Today:1️⃣ Amazon 💰 Settles $4M Driver Tips LawsuitAmazon has agreed to pay $4 million to settle claims that it withheld tips from its Flex drivers. The lawsuit alleged that Amazon misled customers into thinking their tips went directly to drivers when, in reality, the company used a portion to offset wages. This settlement serves as a warning to gig economy platforms about transparency and fair compensation for workers.2️⃣ Spotify 🎵 Tests $5.99 Premium Perks & Ticket SalesSpotify is experimenting with a $5.99 premium tier that offers exclusive content, ticket sales, and additional perks for subscribers. With increasing competition from Apple Music and YouTube Music, this move could reshape how users access concerts and special content. Will this subscription model catch on, or will users push back against yet another streaming fee?3️⃣ Trump 🇺🇸 Says No to Foreign Firms Running Intel FactoriesFormer President Donald Trump has voiced strong opposition to allowing foreign companies to operate Intel’s U.S.-based semiconductor plants. With national security concerns at the forefront, he believes American tech infrastructure should remain under U.S. control. This stance could impact global semiconductor production and U.S. relations with foreign chipmakers.4️⃣ TikTok 📲 Returns to U.S. App Stores as Ban DelayedIn a surprising turn, TikTok has made a comeback in U.S. app stores after its potential ban was postponed. The delay gives ByteDance time to address concerns over data security and national security risks. With millions of users dependent on the platform, this move raises questions about whether TikTok will ever face a permanent ban.5️⃣ Amazon 🔍 Faces €1.2B Tax Evasion Probe in ItalyItalian authorities are investigating Amazon for tax evasion worth an estimated €1.2 billion. The probe centers around allegations that Amazon exploited tax loopholes to avoid paying its fair share. If found guilty, Amazon could face heavy penalties and tighter regulations in Europe. This case highlights the growing scrutiny on tech giants dodging taxes.6️⃣ Tesla 🚗 Cybertruck Crash Raises Autopilot ConcernsA Tesla Cybertruck crash has sparked renewed fears about the company’s Autopilot technology. The incident, which involved a Cybertruck operating with driver-assist features, has raised concerns about the safety of Tesla’s AI-powered driving system. As investigations unfold, many are questioning whether self-driving tech is progressing too quickly for public roads.7️⃣ Apple 🍏 Accused of App Tracking Abuse in GermanyGermany has filed charges against Apple over allegations that the company violated app tracking regulations. Apple, which touts its commitment to privacy, is accused of using data tracking methods that breach European privacy laws. If found guilty, the case could force Apple to make significant changes to its App Store policies across the EU.8️⃣ Meta ⚖️ Fined by EU – Impact on Ad RivalsThe European Union has fined Meta for anti-competitive advertising practices, shaking up the digital ad industry. Rivals argue that Meta’s dominance stifles competition and limits fair pricing for ad space. This fine is part of a larger push by EU regulators to rein in Big Tech’s influence on digital advertising markets.9️⃣ ARM & Meta 🤝 Team Up for New Chip ProjectChip designer ARM is collaborating with Meta on a next-gen processor aimed at powering AI applications. This partnership could lead to breakthroughs in AI e
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:02):
Hi everyone, I'm John Seymour, the host of
the JMOR Tech Talk show and inspirations
for your life.
(00:44):
Hey guys, welcome everyone to The JMOR
Tech Talk show.
Today is Friday February 21st, 2025, and it's
great to be with you here on another
fantastic episode of the JMOR Tech Tech Talk
show.
Looks like my glasses were getting a little
bit in my collar there.
(01:05):
But anyway, it's great to have you here.
For those of you who don't know, this
is series number four and this is actually
show number, yes, it's show number eight.
And our topic for this week's JMOR
Tech Talk show is AI breakthroughs, cybersecurity, shocks,
(01:26):
and game-changing tech.
15 must-know stories this week that I'm
going to share with you.
And incidentally, today is a special day for
me, so I am traveling if you guys
didn't notice and recognize different backgrounds if you're
watching instead of listening only.
Today is a special day for me.
Today is my birthday, so I am recording
(01:47):
this show here today and hoping you're enjoying
the live broadcast of this episode as well
as the others that I put out there.
It's so great to be with you guys.
Now being here, can you believe that we
are in, yes, the series of the fourth
series this year?
I mean, we're already past three.
(02:09):
This is amazing.
So thank you so much for watching the
show and all the great comments that we
get.
Really do appreciate that.
So I am your host, ladies and gentlemen,
John Seymour, a serial entrepreneur, not only a
podcast host, but also a podcast coach.
And I want to welcome you to this
week's episode of The JMOR Tech Talk
(02:29):
show.
Incidentally, if you are hungry and I don't
want you also to be parched, so feel
free to go grab yourself maybe a beverage,
maybe a hot one, a cold one, maybe
something healthy from the fridge, or maybe just
something sweet to eat.
All right.
So this week I'm diving into some of
the game-changing stories that are shaking up
(02:50):
the industry from Amazon's massive settlement to Tesla's
Cybertruck controversy and TikTok's return to U.S.
app stores.
You need to hear all this, trust me.
Plus, is Apple in trouble in Germany?
And what's next for Meta, Intel, and Spotify?
You definitely don't want to miss one beat
(03:11):
of today's show.
So you can always catch the latest episodes
right here.
Or if you missed anything, you can always
go back to believemeachieved.com 24 hours a
day and replay anything that you have all
possibly missed and would like to catch up
on.
So let's just kick right into our very
first story.
I think you guys are going to find
this to be a very, very interesting one.
(03:34):
And that is the Amazon issue.
Yes, Amazon settles a $4 million driver tip
lawsuit.
Amazon has agreed to pay $4 million to
settle claims that it withheld tips from its
flex drivers.
The lawsuit alleged that Amazon misled customers into
thinking their tips went directly to drivers, when
(03:55):
in reality, the company used a portion to
offset wages.
This settlement serves as a warning to gig
economy platforms about transparency and fair compensation for
workers.
I know I had heard about another challenge.
It hasn't been in the news lately, but
it was in the past.
And that was Grubhub.
Grubhub was not being very fair to its
(04:19):
drivers.
So it's not just Amazon, right?
I think the economy and the new type
that we have now, which is this kind
of work at your own pace whenever you
want to work type of thing, it's different.
Of course, it has some rules.
But again, Grubhub and others were, let's say,
(04:43):
misusing the tips.
And so this is really bad because the
weird thing is that the customers want to
do something nice, right?
And then finding out that the tip they
left, they only got six bucks from.
(05:05):
I think that's a big problem.
And I think the companies that are doing
this, whether it's Amazon, Grubhub, whoever you are,
postal work, Postmate, I think they should be
ashamed of themselves because robbing and stealing from
your staff when they're actually risking their lives
to go out and drive for you is
just an atrocity.
(05:26):
So I'm not really very pleased with that.
I lost respect for Amazon a long time
ago, but this Amazon driver lawsuit really takes
the case.
Amazon faced multiple lawsuits from delivery drivers, including
claims about withheld tips, wage violations, and also
working conditions, not to get in there too
(05:48):
much.
But in 2022, the District of Columbia's attorney
generally sued Amazon for allegedly withholding tips from
delivery drivers.
Amazon settled the lawsuit for $3.95 million,
which included penalties and costs.
Amazon also agreed to be more transparent about
how it uses tips.
Amazon previously paid $61.7 million to settle
(06:11):
a similar lawsuit with the Federal Trade Commission.
So I don't know, ladies and gentlemen, I
think these companies are just being a little
bit greedy.
That's probably the best thing.
And now with another class action lawsuit, which
is actually being handled by actually a law
firm that is trying to make people aware
(06:32):
of things that Amazon has done inappropriately, such
as they may have failed to pay minimum
wages for all hours work.
They may have failed to pay expenses like
gas and cell phone usage, failed to pay
overtime rates if you worked over 40 hours
per week, or failed to pay missed meals
and rest breaks.
(06:54):
And this has been brought up on CNN.
This has been brought up on Associated Press.
It's been brought up on ABC News, of
course, Reuters, Bloomberg, Seattle Times, KCBS, Washington Examiner,
Kuro7, International Business Times, KUOW 94.9. The
Amazon Flex Driver lawsuit is only the beginning.
(07:17):
And it's going to get a lot worse
for Amazon unless they decide to really start
being transparent.
I currently don't believe that Amazon is going
to ever be transparent.
I mean, I could be wrong about that.
But everything I've seen with them has always
been a tobacco.
And that's just what I've seen through personal
experience and business experience.
(07:38):
They just seem to play around with games
to waste people's time in the effect that
you're going to get, let's say, annoyed and
just figure, oh, I don't even want to
bother.
So definitely do bother.
And if you are being taken advantage of
by Amazon or another delivery service company, you
know, fight back.
(07:58):
Your rights are important.
And not only does fighting back help you,
but it helps the hundreds of the thousands
of other people that they think it's okay
to exploit.
And number two for this week, Spotify.
So Spotify tests out a new concept, a
$5.99 premium to give perks and ticket
sales.
Spotify is experimenting with this $5.99 premium
(08:21):
tier that offers exclusive content such as ticket
sales and additional perks for subscribers.
With increasing competition from Apple music and YouTube
music, this move could reshape how users access
concerts and special content.
But will the subscription model catch on or
will users push back against another streaming thing?
(08:42):
I don't know.
I mean, I think this is interesting, you
know, what's going on with Spotify.
But will it last?
I mean, that's really the question.
Will it last?
And Spotify premium student with Hulu with ads
is out too.
So trying Spotify premium student free for one
month is okay.
(09:03):
And then it's $5.99 per month after
that.
So the offer currently includes access to Hulu
with ads plan, subject to eligibility, offer available
only to students at an accredited higher institution
for education.
So this is one thing they're doing right
now.
And some people say, why did I get
a charge from Spotify?
(09:23):
Well, this is just an authorization charge to
confirm the payment method is valid.
But in the future, they will be able
to charge you.
So that's why they're doing.
So do you agree with the new, you
know, $5.99 per, I'm going to call
it a perk upgrade fee.
Do you agree with that?
(09:44):
Or do you think it's garbage?
I mean, that's really the best way to
say it.
I mean, they're trying to make this sound
like it's the best thing, right?
But my question is, is it really as
good as they're saying it is, or are
they not being transparent?
And I think it sounds really good on
(10:07):
the outside.
Like I said, they're supposed to launch this,
they call it music pro service with super
fan.
And it's supposed to give you basically early
access to tickets.
And there's an AI remix tool for just
$5.99 a month.
This is another thing they're doing.
And Spotify's long touted super fan tier appears
to be taking shape and could be launched
(10:28):
sometime this year.
So, you know, the question is, is it
really worth all these benefits?
I mean, this is the question.
Is the $5.99 perk worth it?
Or is it not worth it?
So many people have said they'd be willing
to pay money for it.
(10:48):
Other people said they wouldn't.
Many people want the ability to randomize their
music when they hit the shuffle button.
Sounds like a very simple concept.
But they can't do that right now.
So I think it's getting people to, you
know, realize that there might be other options
(11:09):
out there.
But my question to you is, would you
pay $5.99 more plus additional fees and
taxes?
You know, should we pay more money?
Everyone says if you want the full experience,
then the premium subscription is the way to
go.
But really, is it?
I mean, there's more stuff to stream with
a massive set of audio book libraries, better
(11:30):
audio quality, they say, and offline listening.
But is this enough?
I mean, there's so many places you can
get free content to stream.
And so let's just break this down.
All right.
So Spotify Free gives you a lot of
options.
Okay.
(11:51):
Spotify Premium gives you more options.
So what do you get?
So on Spotify Free, you get a diverse
content library, you get all the features, you
get the ads removed, you get playback control,
so you can go forward, back, stop, etc.
You have the ability to change the sound
(12:13):
quality.
You can also download it so you can
listen later offline without being connected to Wi
Fi or the internet, right?
So I mean, basically, they have something called
Spotify Student Now, which is $4.99 a
month, then they have something called Spotify Premium,
which is $9.99 a month.
Then they have something called Spotify Family, which
is $15.99 a month.
(12:35):
If you ask me, it sounds really, really
confusing.
And I think they're doing this because a
lot of other streaming companies are starting to
do the same exact thing.
And so this is why they're doing it.
I mean, they're willing to give you a
free month.
Yeah, so what?
And Spotify Premium Student claims to allow students
(12:56):
to listen to millions of songs offline and
without ad interruptions, making and sharing your own
playlist, they claim to be very easy.
And so this is going to hopefully attract
more people.
But would you pay another, like I said,
$5.99 a month?
And is this deal going to stop at
(13:17):
$5.99 a month?
Or are they going to find some way
to boost it up?
I don't know.
They're also saying the fact that you're going
to get a higher quality of sound, right?
So again, the individual account, which is $0
for one month, and then it's $11.99
per month.
You get one premium account.
You can cancel any time.
(13:37):
You get 15 hours a month of listening
time from their audiobooks subscriber catalog.
If you do the premium student feature, it's
$0 for the first month and $5.99
for each additional month.
So you get one verified premium account.
You get discount for eligible students.
You get access to Hulu, and you can
cancel any time.
On the duo plan, you get two premium
(13:58):
accounts, cancel any time, 15 hours a month
of listening time from their audiobooks, catalogs, et
cetera.
On the family plan, it's $19.99. You
get up to six premium or kids accounts,
control content marked as explicit, access to Spotify
Kids, cancel any time, and 15 hours a
(14:20):
month of listening time from any of their
audiobooks.
So, you know, I think what they're trying
to do is get people more enticed with
the content they're offering.
But I don't know if people are going
to want to pay for Spotify all the
time when there's so many other free services
(14:41):
that you can actually use online.
All right, number three.
Mr. President Trump in the U.S. says
no to foreign firms running Intel factories, and
this is a problem.
So President Donald Trump has voiced strong opposition
to allowing foreign companies to operate Intel's U
(15:04):
.S.-based semiconductor plants.
I agree with him.
With national security concerns at the forefront, he
believes American tech infrastructure should remain under the
U.S. control.
This stance could impact global semiconductor production and
U.S. relations with foreign chip makers such
as TSMC, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation.
(15:27):
So I think, you know, when the U
.S. owns a building and we don't actually
own the business, and to kind of step
back, what do I mean by this?
So if you've ever been to a business,
whether it's a dry cleaners, whether it's a
restaurant, a lot of times the restaurant or
the dry cleaners or wherever you're visiting doesn't
own the building that they're in.
(15:48):
All they have is their business.
Now, if you spend billions of dollars putting
up a building and then you're going to
potentially lose because you don't own the business
and don't have any say over something that
can be majorly affecting the population of the
United States, I think that's a serious problem.
And I think we, as a country, need
(16:09):
to look at that, not just from, let's
say, the security standpoint, but the fact that,
hey, it might be robbing us from money
that other companies could be getting from other
areas.
And I think that's a big problem.
Number four, TikTok returns to U.S. app
stores as the ban is supposedly delayed.
(16:29):
In a surprising turn, TikTok has made a
comeback in the United States in the app
stores after its potential ban was postponed.
The delay gives ByteDance time to address concerns
over data security and national security risks, which
millions of users dependent on the platform are
concerned about.
And this move raises questions about whether TikTok
will ever face a permanent ban.
(16:52):
This is an interesting question.
Will TikTok ever be banned?
Or is this just going to be this
continuing saga?
I don't know.
And everyone asks me, you know, when will
TikTok get banned?
And I think they're still in this whole
quandary.
So right now, TikTok was delayed by President
(17:14):
Trump's executive order until April 4th, 2025.
That's not too long from now, is it?
The Protecting Americans Procedure from Foreign Adversary Controlled
Applications Act, PAF, actually it's the PAFACA, PAFACA,
that's the Protecting Americans from Adversary Controlled Applications
(17:37):
Act, PAFACA.
It was signed into law by President Biden
in April 2024.
The law gives the government the power to
ban foreign owned apps that it considers a
threat to national security.
The law was upheld by the U.S.
Supreme Court on January 17th, 2025.
TikTok shut down its service for U.S.
users on January 18th, 2025.
(17:58):
Trump issued an executive order on January 19th,
2025, delaying the ban for 75 days.
TikTok restored service in the United States a
little over 12 hours after the ban was
scheduled to effect.
The ban is due to a national security
concern over TikTok's Chinese parent company, ByteDance.
Lawmakers worry that the Chinese government could access
(18:19):
Americans' data through TikTok.
And now Mr. President wants to make it
a financial deal.
So saying that TikTok is worth, what, $200
million?
And so that's with the algorithm, and then
the United States getting $100 million.
But if we don't take the algorithm, it's
$40 million.
So there's a lot to be discussed there.
(18:40):
And we're just going to have to kind
of see.
But I hope people understand the consequences of
reinstating TikTok.
I think it should be under an agreement
where the United States has basically the ability
to police and monitor it and get some
fees for it.
So I think that's a great idea.
And if they do step out of line,
(19:01):
then that means that the entire deal can
be shut down at any time.
Amazon.
Yes, Amazon's up again, and they face a
$1.2 billion pound tax evasion probe in
Italy.
Italian authorities are investing Amazon for their investigation,
I should say, of Amazon for tax evasion
(19:23):
worth an estimated £1.2 billion.
So the probe centers around allegations that Amazon
exploited tax polls to avoid paying its fair
share.
If found guilty, Amazon could face heavy penalties
and tighter regulations in Europe.
This case highlights the growing scrutiny on tech
giants dodging taxes.
So you might say, well, gee, why?
(19:45):
And the question I say is, well, look,
we just talked about the fact that they're
trying to exploit their drivers and steal that
money.
So heck, why wouldn't they not steal money
from the government, right?
And whether it's US or whether it's international,
they don't care.
They don't care who they're robbing.
And I think a tighter scrutiny is something
that is not just something that would be,
(20:06):
I'm going to say, a luxury.
It should be a requirement because too many
of these companies feel that because they've got
so much money, they could just do whatever
they want.
We learned this from Google, right?
Amazon.
I mean, look what's happening.
Google's getting hit with so much, even Apple's
getting hit, right?
All these companies that have so much money,
(20:26):
well, the money can't buy them the fact
that they can do whatever they want at
any time and exploit people or the data
to which belongs to those people.
So number six, ladies and gentlemen, that is
Tesla.
We haven't talked about Tesla in a while,
but the Cybertruck crash raises autopilot concerns.
A Tesla Cybertruck crash has sparked renewed fears
(20:48):
about the company's autopilot technology.
The incident, which involved a Cybertruck operating with
driver assist features, has raised concerns about the
safety of Tesla's AI-powered driving system.
As investigations unfold, many are questioning whether self
-driving tech is progressing too quickly for public
roads.
I have to agree with that.
I think it's like people want to get
(21:11):
this technology out there.
Why?
Because they know it's going to put a
lot of money in their pocket.
But they don't seem to be very concerned
about the wellbeing of the population and the
people in our world.
And it's because money talks, right?
And that's a bad thing.
So we as Americans, as citizens, as people
(21:32):
anywhere in the world, have to make sure
that the technology being rolled out is something
that is going to be safe, whether you're
in a production capacity, whether you're in a
financial capacity and you're the one that would
be loaning money to them, or whether you're
just a consumer, you have a voice and
you definitely have a right to make sure
(21:55):
it gets heard.
So this Tesla Cybertruck crash is, it's unbelievable.
I mean, there was a guy when I
posted something on social media the day said
to me, yeah, but you see how many
planes have crashed?
Well, I'm sorry, you don't compare it to
planes, okay?
(22:16):
So the Tesla Cybertruck has received, they claim
a five-star safety rating from the National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration, but the concerns remain.
So tell me this, explain this to me,
because I don't get this.
How does the Tesla Cybertruck get a five
-star safety rating and then now say there's
some concerns?
Like how do they even like award that
(22:38):
thing?
What do they do?
Just look at it on paper?
Are they even like trying it out themselves?
So the Tesla Cybertruck has energy-absorbing ribs
in the front and rear to dissipate energy
during a crash.
The Cybertruck's front underbody casting is designed to
break into small pieces to reduce occupant impact.
(23:00):
And the safety concerns, the Cybertruck's stiff structure
and sharp design may hurt pedestrians and cyclists.
The Cybertruck's stiff structure may damage other vehicles
on the road.
The Cybertruck's lack of a clear coat leaves
it vulnerable to scratches and corrosion.
Other safety concerns, Tesla CEO Elon Musk has
said that he is highly confident the Cybertruck
(23:21):
will be safer than other trucks for occupants
and pedestrians.
The Cybertruck's stainless steel exterior is more resistant
to dents and dings than most other vehicles.
So, of course, you can watch all these
great safety videos saying that the Cybertruck is
fantastic, but anybody can position something in the
(23:44):
right light.
You know, let's take computers, for example.
We can say one computer is better than
the other, or we can say one car
is better than the other.
But if we don't specify the criterion for
what makes it better, then better is just
like a moot point as there's no way
to quantify it.
There's no benchmark.
It's better than what because it's faster, because
(24:07):
it's safer, because it's cheaper, because it's more
environmentally friendly.
What are we testing on?
And my big question about these road safeties
is how, and this is a good question,
how do we make sure that Tesla autopilot
is safe?
And I think that's a big concern for
(24:29):
a lot of Americans.
They claim it's designed to be safe when
used responsibly with the driver remaining in control
of the vehicle at all times.
Okay, so you just said you built a
vehicle that is safe, okay?
And then they also claim that the driver
needs to read the owner's manual, and you
(24:50):
need to keep your eyes on the road,
keep your hands on the steering wheel, drive
attentively.
Okay, that's the driver's responsibility.
The autopilot features basically are leading to things
like automatic emergency braking, detecting obstacles and applying
the brake, forward collision warning, alerting you to
potential collisions, lane departure avoidance.
We've seen this for a while, correcting the
(25:10):
steering to keep you in your lane.
Traffic aware cruise control, maintaining a safe distance.
So if you, let's say, are driving up
and let's say it's getting too close, it
automatically slows down or automatically brakes your car.
And of course, there are auto performance issues
like dirty cameras or sensors that can affect
the autopilot performance.
Environmental conditions like rain or faded lane markings
(25:33):
can affect autopilot.
Autopilot may not steer around objects partially in
a lane.
I know on one of my vehicles that's
an SUV, a luxury SUV, the car will
not engage cruise control if the conditions are
bad.
That means it's raining, if it's too foggy,
(25:55):
if it can't get a benchmark within a
few seconds, it will not engage cruise control.
It will just give you an error.
So I think those are good things.
But I think the Tesla is a good
concept on paper, but I feel it needs
a lot of research and development.
And of course, Tesla doesn't want to hear
this because by me saying this and by
(26:16):
other people saying this, it's going to potentially
offset the potential income that they could get.
So of course, they're going to say, oh,
it's fine.
But I made the decision many years ago,
ladies and gentlemen, if I told you this
story, that I had a deposit down on
a Tesla.
This was just around the COVID time, and
they never have any refunds.
Well, I went back to Tesla when I
(26:38):
heard about a friend of mine's best friend
who basically lost his life from smashing a
window to get out of the car because
he was entrapped.
Or how about the lady who was at
one of the drive throughs, I think it
was Chick-fil-A.
She went there and she thought she would
just do the quick update.
(26:58):
It was very hot.
And she's now basically roasting herself because she's
in the car over 60 minutes.
Because if she opens the car any earlier
than she's allowed to, she could potentially damage
the vehicle.
I mean, this is ridiculous.
And I mean, Tesla should not lock you
(27:18):
into a car.
I mean, why can't you do the update
regardless of when the car's doors open?
I mean, come on, guys.
This isn't like the 1800s.
We're in the 2000s.
We're in the technology era.
I think we can do a little better
than that.
I don't know if you know this, but
you can actually update an iPhone if you're
(27:39):
still on the Wi-Fi, and you can
walk around with it up to the point
when it needs to reboot.
Now, you can still walk around with it.
You just can't make and receive phone calls.
So I have to, let's say that this
needs more work.
That's just the best way to put that.
And number seven for the week, Apple is
(28:00):
accused of app tracking abuse in Germany.
This is pretty hot.
Germany has filed charges against Apple over allegations
that the company violated app tracking regulations.
So Apple, which touts its commitment to privacy,
is accused of using data tracking methods that
(28:23):
breach the European privacy laws.
If they are found guilty, the case could
force Apple to make a significant change to
its app store policies across the European Union.
So the question you might be asking is,
why is Germany coming after Apple for tracking
(28:43):
issues?
And to understand this a little deeper, Germany
is taking action against Apple regarding the tracking
issues because the antitrust regulator, the Bungelstort-Demolk,
FCO believes Apple's app tracking transparency, they call
it the ATT framework, gives Apple unfair advantage
(29:06):
by potentially allowing them to apply stricter tracking
rules to third-party apps while giving their
own apps more leeway, which could be considered
self-preferencing and a violation of competition laws.
Essentially, Apple is accused of setting different tracking
standards for its own apps compared to those
of other developers on the app store.
(29:28):
So, you know, this would be like if
you are in, let's say, an industry and
you're getting tickets to go to a concert
and you're getting special privileges to get tickets
because you have friends in the band, fine,
but now Ticketmaster and, let's say, other sites
(29:50):
are preferencing who gets better tickets from the
general public based on the fact of how
much money I spend in tickets sales for
the year or what county I'm from, right,
or what my ethnicity or background is.
(30:14):
That'd be wrong, wouldn't it?
So, I think this is going to be
a very interesting situation.
I don't know if it was done intentionally,
but the app, which they call the App
Tracking Transparency, ATT, this feature on the iOS
allows users to choose whether apps can track
their activity across different platforms, which Apple has
marketed as a privacy-focused initiative.
(30:35):
Concerns about self-preferencing, the German regulator suspects
that Apple suspects might be using ATT to
benefit its own apps by allowing them more
flexibility with tracking while imposing strict limitations on
third-party apps.
They suspect.
They don't even know.
If German investigation finds Apple guilty of this
(30:57):
anti-competitive practice, they could face significant fines
and be required to change their app tracking
policies.
So, we don't know, but it's like, you
probably know this from school, right?
If you're suddenly taking a test and the
test is supposed to end at a certain
time, or you're supposed to have, let's say,
an open book, or you're supposed to have
(31:17):
one, let's say, piece of paper that could
be typed or handwritten both sides, and suddenly
somebody comes in and brings their paper in,
and yours is handwritten, others are typed, but
now somebody else's is typed so small that
it's like size three, and then they bring
a magnifying glass in.
(31:39):
So, now the one student comes back and
says, hey, that's unfair.
Joe gets to bring a cheat sheet in,
like, to go look through stuff.
How come we don't?
Well, you do too.
Yeah, but look what he did.
He made his font to size three, and
then he got a magnifying glass.
Well, you could have done that.
Will you tell us we could?
(31:59):
So, that becomes a tabatha right there, and
I think those are concerns.
Will that affect how well somebody does in
the test?
I don't know, but if, let's say, I
scored more, and I was the one with
that special, very minuscule sheet with the magnifying
glass, everyone in the class is going to
say that it wasn't fair, all right?
(32:23):
Speculation perspective, maybe, but it's still going to
cause some rage.
Number eight, meta.
Yes, fined by the European Union, again, an
impact on ad rivals.
The European Union has fined meta for anti
-competitive advertising practices.
What's new?
(32:43):
Shaking up the digital ad industry, rivals argue
that meta's dominance stifles competition and limits fair
pricing for ad space.
So, this fine is part of a larger
push by the European Union regulators to rein
in big tech's influence on digital advertising markets.
(33:04):
That's a big challenge.
And the question is, is meta going to
be found guilty?
Well, we know in the past that meta
was found guilty on a lot of things,
okay?
And it's funny how they just kind of
ignored them and, you know, swept them right
under the carpet.
Meta Platforms, inks, is prying open its previously
(33:25):
guarded Facebook marketplace platform to a swath of
classified ads rivals in a renewed attempt to
comply with a landmark European Union antitrust order
that was accompanied by 798 million pounds or
829 million.
And again, they're doing this kind of under
(33:46):
their breath, but they really have to, or
they could be in deep trouble with the
courts.
So, all because of the European Union.
The European Union seems to be very smart.
I wish the United States would be as,
let's say, aggressive as they are, but they're
not.
So, all these companies that were like, you
(34:07):
know, wowing and dazzling us, I always knew
that there was a slight potential that they
probably were doing something wrong, or shall we
say illegal or deceptive.
Lots of ways we can frame that, right?
Well, number nine, ARM and Meta team up
(34:30):
for a new chip project.
Yes, the chip designer ARM is collaborating with
Meta on a next generation processor aimed at
powering AI applications.
Now, this partnership could lead to breakthroughs in
AI efficiency, allowing for faster, more powerful machine
learning models with AI at the center of
(34:52):
tech innovation.
This project could shape the future of smart
devices and cloud computing.
What is it going to mean?
Well, only time is going to tell.
And the question is, are they doing something
legal or are they going to get caught?
Well, we all know that if they do
something wrong, we know that they're going to
(35:12):
get burnt.
So, I would hope that they are doing
the right thing this time.
But, you know, your guess and my guess
is all we've got right now.
The plan represents a move away from SoftBank
own group licensing its chip blueprints to firms
such as Apple and Nvidia.
(35:35):
Very, very interesting technology.
The British semiconductor designer ARM is reportedly planning
to launch its own chip this year after
landing Meta as one of its first customers.
The move represents a major overhaul of the
SoftBank's own group's business model of licensing its
chip blueprints to the likes of Apple and
(35:55):
Nvidia.
Rene Haas, ARM's chief executive, is set to
unveil the first in-house chip as early
as this summer.
And this is according to a report that
was speculated in the Financial Times, citing people
familiar with the plans and were aware of
the situation.
Now, more than 300 billion chips based on
ARM's designs have been shipped since the company
(36:17):
was founded in 1990 with almost all the
world's smartphones being based on ARM technology.
Now, moving from designing chips to making its
own complete processor could also put ARM into
competition with some of the biggest customers in
the 500 billion pound semiconductor industry.
ARM, of course, did not want to comment
(36:38):
on this, and I'm sure we're going to
see shares of their stock rising.
The Financial Times also reported that the launch
of ARM's own chip is one step in
a larger plan by SoftBank's founder Masayuki Son
to make more money from its own intellectual
property by moving into AI chip production and
building a vast infrastructure network for artificial intelligence.
(37:02):
So, last month alone, Son unveiled his Stargate
initiative with OpenAI, which will spend an estimated
$400 billion in the building of the AI
infrastructure with Al-Baghdadi State from the fund
of MGX and Oracle, also providing funding and
ARM as a key technology partner alongside Microsoft
(37:24):
and NVIDIA.
So, ARM's chip is expected to be a
central processing unit for servers in large data
centers and customizable for clients, including Meta.
Does this mean that this is going to
rival Intel?
I don't know, but I know that things
are going to change and they're going to
get hot pretty quick.
(37:44):
Another deal integral to ARM's chip making project
is SoftBank's expected acquisition of Ampere, an Oracle
-backed chip designer of ARM for servers that
could be valued close to 6.5 billion
or 5.15 billion pounds.
Cambridge headquartered ARM has more than doubled in
(38:04):
value to 173 billion since it's listed on
the Nasdaq in 2023.
So, we're going to have to see what
happens.
Are you going to invest in a company
like this or are you going to wait
around?
But I know one thing, if we start
making chips in the United States or at
least in Canada, and Trump had petitioned that
(38:27):
Canada eventually be part of the United States,
that could make things a lot easier for
trade, commerce, and also the fact that they
won't be subject to those really high surcharges
for export.
And number 10, India.
Yes, in steps to the mediation portion of
(38:50):
Samsung's labor dispute, the Indian government is mediating
a labor dispute at Samsung's factories after worker
strikes over unfair wages and poor working conditions.
Now, this move could impact Samsung's production timeline
for upcoming devices, including the next Galaxy series.
If tension escalates enough, Samsung may be forced
(39:12):
to rethink its labor policies in India.
Yeah, I think that's going to be a
serious problem, so we'll have to definitely keep
you aware on that.
And number 11, dating.
Yes, is it really going to face some
troubles?
What's next?
So, major dating apps like Tinder and Bumble
are experiencing a decline in user engagement and
revenue.
Rising concerns over safety, fake profiles, and shifting
(39:36):
social behaviors have left these platforms struggling to
retain users.
The industry must adapt, and could AI-driven
matchmaking be the next big thing?
Yes, but there's something else that everyone's thinking
about, and that's the fact of connecting with
people where there's already a bond made.
Those are on other type of hobby platforms,
things like if you're playing a video game
(39:57):
with someone, or maybe you're taking a class
with someone online in some type of environment.
This might be where future generations, maybe even
some of the previous generations, come to date,
because we all know that dating apps, well,
they could get you in the hot water
and give you a lot more than what
(40:20):
you bargained for.
And the person that you're connecting with, let's
just say, might have very different intentions than
what you're expecting.
So, this is where things are going right
now.
It's dating in a new type of world,
and this world involves using, I'll call it,
these applications.
(40:40):
So, the Generation Z is turning to what
we call hobby-based platforms like gaming, fitness
apps, and even film communities to find friendship,
love, in a more organic, low-pressure way.
Instead of swiping left or right, they're meeting
through shared interest in games like World of
(41:00):
Warcraft, running clubs via Strava, and movie discussions
on Letterboxd, and so many other things.
This is an interesting thing, and this shift
reflects a broader desire for the fact that
people do want authenticity.
I think this is starting to shout out
very loud and very clear that I think
(41:21):
the world has had enough of nonsense and
quote-unquote, no pun there, games of these
apps.
I think the only person that's benefiting from
these quote-unquote dating apps are the people
that actually create them.
If you look at where they're made, they're
not in the United States.
They usually bill you, and whenever you get
(41:43):
billed for them, there's another surcharge.
It's like if they were made here in
the United States and there were problems with
them, there'd be a lot of lawsuits.
Trying to sue an app developer in another
country, well, let's just say that's going down
a river without a paddle to help yourself
back up.
(42:03):
I think the world is tired of dating
apps, and I think now it's about this
authenticity, this truth, and this realism that wasn't
around before.
You don't fake a profile when you create
a game avatar or when you're going for
(42:24):
an online educational course, or maybe you're going
into a movie club.
You put who you are, and when you
connect with, let's say, stories about adventure or
maybe thrill or maybe it's a love story,
those are the kind of people you might
want to hang out with and at least
start being friends with.
(42:45):
Here's an interesting one that I think you're
going to find a little bit different.
Noise-canceling headphones.
Are they affecting young people's hearing?
A new study suggests that excessive use of
noise-canceling headphones may be affecting young people's
hearing by reducing their ability to detect everyday
sounds.
Experts warn that prolonged exposure at high volumes
(43:05):
could contribute to long-term hearing damage.
Should regulations be introduced to limit headphone decibel
levels?
Yes.
Here's the thing.
I use noise-canceling headphones all the time.
I don't have any challenges with them.
I have excellent hearing.
It comes down to the fact that you've
got to respect your hearing.
Whether you've got noise-canceling headphones on or
(43:26):
whether you've got speakers in your car or
wherever you are, it's important that you respect
decibel levels for your While we're on this,
what is the safe sound decibel for hearing?
(43:48):
In general, the louder the sound, the faster
the noise will develop.
Sound is measured in what we call decibels.
Sounds at or below 70 A weighted decibels
are generally safe.
Long or repeat exposure to sounds at 85
decibels can cause hearing loss.
The question when we think about decibels and
(44:11):
we think about noise levels, let's just go
through a couple.
I think this is something that is very
interesting for a lot of us.
A breath is 10 decibels.
Russell of leaves is 20 decibels.
A whisper is 30 decibels.
A refrigerator is 40 decibels.
Rain is 50 decibels.
Chatting is about 60 decibels.
(44:33):
Your car is 70 decibels.
A truck is 80 decibels.
A hairdryer is 90 decibels.
A helicopter is 100 decibels.
A trombone is 110 decibels.
A police siren is 120 decibels.
A jet engine is 130 decibels.
Fireworks are 140 decibels.
I think we need to just realize that
(44:57):
we don't need to have sound that loud.
We really don't.
You see, the closer you are to the
actual sound, the more the decibels are going
to be.
The further away from the sound, guess what?
The less of decibels you're going to hear.
(45:20):
I think it's our responsibility as humans to
take care of our ears.
Do we look in the sun?
No, of course not.
We shouldn't need a law that says we
have to regulate.
I think people just need to take better
care of their hearing.
That's just the bottom line.
Audiologists can say this, and other doctors can
(45:40):
say this, and young people can say this,
and musicians can say this.
At the end of the day, experts suggest
that blocking everyday sounds may weaken the brain's
ability to filter noise naturally.
We need to be that filter.
Noise-canceling headphones help protect ears from loud
sounds, but it doesn't mean that we have
(46:01):
the right to suddenly blast noise so loud
because they're noise-canceling.
They're just as dangerous as hearing sounds in
the world.
In fact, we have got to be a
little more careful because when we got things
so close to our ears, we have to
make sure they're even softer.
Number 13, ladies, YouTube AI, or shall we
call it the drunk dialing of AI.
(46:23):
How a drunk dialing computer unveils YouTube secrets.
Researchers have uncovered surprising insights into YouTube's vast
and secretive ecosystem using a tool that randomly
generates video URLs similar to drunk dialing.
Despite YouTube's dominance, Google remains tight-lipped about
(46:43):
key statistics like the number of videos or
how much content people watch.
By analyzing over 10,000 randomly discovered videos,
researchers estimate YouTube now hosts nearly 15 billion
videos, with most receiving little attention, 4%
have never been watched, and the median video
garners are just 41 views.
(47:04):
Their findings challenge perceptions of YouTube as a
hub for influencers, revealing that the of content
is low production, short, and barely seen, which
is actually pretty sad.
And I don't know if you guys know
this, ladies and gentlemen, but the UK space
firm wins a £127 million satellite system contract.
A UK-based aerospace company has secured a
(47:26):
£127 million contract to develop a next-gen
satellite system, and this project will enhance global
communications and improve disaster response capabilities.
With space tech advancing rapidly, this contract could
position the UK as a major player in
satellite technology.
And Meta launches a new Facebook Marketplace Partner
(47:49):
Program.
Meta has introduced a Facebook Marketplace Partner Program
to help small businesses sell more effectively on
the platform.
The program includes tools for automated listings, AI
-driven recommendations, and expanded reach.
Will this help businesses thrive, or is it
another way for Meta to dominate e-commerce?
I have to say, I've never trusted Meta's
(48:10):
tools in the past.
It feels like every time something works, they
take it down.
They just want people to be putting more
money in the slot machine, as I like
to say.
I'm not a gambler, but they like to
keep putting more money in the slot machine
in the hope that you're going to get
something.
Because every time something works, it seems like
they just take it down.
So that's really a very, very big problem.
(48:33):
And I think the last thing I want
to talk about today, and it's a pretty
interesting thing, and that's the fact that bots
are everywhere.
So bots rule the web, don't they?
It's a serious problem.
Now, a significant portion, nearly half of all
internet activity is generated by bots, whether you
knew that or not, many of which are
powered by AI.
And this surge presents considerable risks, including phishing
(48:54):
attacks, harm to brand reputation, and exploitation of
security weakness.
So to counter these AI threats, it's essential
to implement mitigation strategies, such as multi-factor
authentication and detailed behavioral analysis of web traffic.
So I think these are good things to
think about.
And I think understanding that AI is not
(49:15):
good and AI is not bad.
It's a tool, and how we choose to
use it makes it so.
So when you think about the fact that
you can go online and say, oh, gee,
you can buy all this traffic, think again.
Because not only could you be hurting your
reputation with the platform that you're working with,
(49:36):
whether it's Instagram, Facebook, X, or TikTok, you
could also be creating a fake net of
people, if you don't get banned first.
And that fake net of people is going
to make you think that they're interested, when
(49:56):
really they're not.
I've had friends that have paid money to
get subscribers for their podcasts and stuff, don't
do it.
They get a surge, all of a sudden,
and you know what happens?
It drops right away.
And then when they question, they said, well,
if you tell them you would like to
(50:16):
compensate them based on, let's say, retention, they're
going to walk away.
Because they know that they cannot guarantee you
traffic.
They just blast you out.
And I think that is the worst thing
that anybody could do.
So we've got to be cognizant about these
(50:38):
things.
That is probably the most important thing.
Now, when we think about some of these
things that we talked about today, they're game
changing.
They're absolutely game changing.
I mean, Amazon, the fact that they're exploiting
their drivers, and Spotify now trying to, let's
say, lure you into another $5.99 premium,
(50:59):
so you could probably get some perks or
maybe some early ticket sales, which may or
may not even be worth it.
And I like the fact that Trump wants
to try to go back and regain control,
because I think it's a problem that we
have given away too much of our control
to other countries, because we feel we've had.
I had a situation today, I was actually
(51:20):
in a store, and the thing was, there
was this agreement.
I was actually helping my mom upgrade her
iPhone.
She was getting this free iPhone.
Well, the thing about the iPhone is, the
one she was getting was, it was like
$830.
It was the iPhone 16.
I have the iPhone 16 Pro Max, and
I had just done one from my dad
last month in December.
(51:41):
And so, actually, yeah, December, so two months
ago.
And so, when we're in the store, and
we're going through everything, I wanted the free
phone.
So, you get the free phone.
Here's how it works.
They rebate you the credit of the new
phone.
So, when you give the old one in,
they give you the year 30, but they
give it to you in credit.
So, you're not paying for the phone as
long as you're with them for 36 months.
It used to be one year, then it
(52:02):
was two years.
Now, it's 36 months.
But here's another little thing they do.
When you sign the agreement, they now have
a little clause in there that states that
you're also agreeing to keeping your credit card
on file.
See, it's like they loop you into things.
And the only way that we win is
by filing complaints or by exposing to some
(52:23):
people say, hey, did you see what they
did?
And of course, they're going to say that
they can't do anything.
But when push comes to shove, if you
don't like something, you can go back and
you can challenge it.
It is your right.
Absolutely is your right.
So, we've talked about a lot of artificial
(52:44):
intelligence stuff today.
We've talked about the fact that all these
innovations that are starting to appear around us
from the Cybertruck to things in Germany, the
thing with the arm deal.
I think it just comes back to one
main thing.
Even the UK fines that are hitting these
(53:08):
other companies, right?
Italy possibly fining Amazon.
I think it comes back and saying that
it doesn't matter whether you have 1 million,
1 billion, 1 trillion, 1 zillion or infinite
amounts of money, right?
It doesn't matter.
If you do something wrong, you are going
to pay the piper.
And it might not be today.
It might not be tomorrow.
(53:28):
It might not be this week.
It might not be next week.
It might not be next month.
It might even be this year.
But here's the thing.
Here's the promise.
It's going to come out.
And when it does, the longer it takes
to come out, the more you're probably going
to get hit with charges and fines.
And I know as we talk a lot
(53:49):
about these things that are happening to these
companies, things that you figure, well, nothing can
penetrate these companies.
Well, when you hit them in their pockets,
they don't quite like that.
And we've seen how quiet Facebook has gotten,
right?
When we find them guilty on something, it's
like they just kind of like, you know,
put their head under the covers, like, you
know, like, you know, just like, leave me
alone.
(54:11):
And, you know, when we talk about trouble,
like I said, for the dating apps, I
think that's something that a lot of people
don't want to admit because they want to
know, like, you know, what's the right way
to do this?
Because the way that people have been doing
it for so long has been like a
norm.
But, you know, the fact that things like
(54:33):
World of Warcraft and Connections, I think those
are great ideas.
And I think the point of internet dating
is turning to more or less not application
dating, but hobby dating.
And so hobby dating allows you to pick
(54:54):
different apps.
And these apps allow you to get to
know somebody even before they may or may
not be an interest to you.
But it doesn't mean that you suddenly reveal
every single thing about yourself on the app,
okay, or in the world.
Like, if you go to play a game
of chess with somebody, right, and you're in
(55:16):
a chess club, do you just tell them
everything about you the first day you play
chess?
No.
You probably talk about chess.
How did we get started with chess, right?
Too many of these apps, they get too
personal too fast.
And what I have seen is that the
moment you try to slow them down, like,
hey, you know, let's meet for a cup
of coffee.
(55:37):
Do you know what they do?
They go block.
And sometimes they go report.
Because the people on the apps right now
who's being attracted to these apps, they're not
the people you and I would want to
date.
We think we'd want to date them.
But actually, it's not.
(55:57):
It's actually a facade.
We want to connect with people that know,
like, and trust who they are, and that
are going to respect themselves and respect others.
That might sound like something very common, but
unfortunately, common sense is getting, like, thrown out
the window.
(56:18):
And so the more I ponder about artificial
intelligence, I ponder about apps, I ponder about
the fact of where artificial intelligence is, let's
say, teleporting us, because that's what AI is
doing.
It's teleporting us to a place that's more
advanced.
(56:40):
We're able to take data, we're going to
see things happening with quantum computing, not too
far off in the next, I'm going to
say less than a decade or so away.
And just the whole idea of things coming
full circle, like quantum physics and stuff like
that.
And again, that seems like a really interesting
thing.
(57:00):
But when we cross this pathway, we have
to be very, very careful of what it
is that we are actually paying attention to,
and how we're responding and how we're reacting.
Ladies and gentlemen, I am John C.
Morley, serial entrepreneur.
(57:21):
It's always such a privilege, pleasure and honor
to be with you guys, not just today
on my birthday, February 21st, but every single
day, night and evening that I'm here.
Do check out BelieveMeAchieved.com for more of
my amazing, inspiring creations.
Thank you so much for all of your
great wishes, and for continuing to watch the
show.
And of course, for just taking all this
(57:43):
information in and making the choice to apply
it to your life, so you can become
just a little bit better than you were
before.
Take care, everyone.
And remember, technology is not good, it's not
bad, it's a tool.
It's how we choose to use it that
makes it so.
Hi everyone, I'm John Seymour, the host of
the JMOR Tech Talk show and inspirations
for your life.
(00:44):
Hey guys, welcome everyone to The JMOR
Tech Talk show.
Today is Friday February 21st, 2025, and it's
great to be with you here on another
fantastic episode of the JMOR Tech Tech Talk
show.
Looks like my glasses were getting a little
bit in my collar there.
(01:05):
But anyway, it's great to have you here.
For those of you who don't know, this
is series number four and this is actually
show number, yes, it's show number eight.
And our topic for this week's JMOR
Tech Talk show is AI breakthroughs, cybersecurity, shocks,
(01:26):
and game-changing tech.
15 must-know stories this week that I'm
going to share with you.
And incidentally, today is a special day for
me, so I am traveling if you guys
didn't notice and recognize different backgrounds if you're
watching instead of listening only.
Today is a special day for me.
Today is my birthday, so I am recording
(01:47):
this show here today and hoping you're enjoying
the live broadcast of this episode as well
as the others that I put out there.
It's so great to be with you guys.
Now being here, can you believe that we
are in, yes, the series of the fourth
series this year?
I mean, we're already past three.
(02:09):
This is amazing.
So thank you so much for watching the
show and all the great comments that we
get.
Really do appreciate that.
So I am your host, ladies and gentlemen,
John Seymour, a serial entrepreneur, not only a
podcast host, but also a podcast coach.
And I want to welcome you to this
week's episode of The JMOR Tech Talk
(02:29):
show.
Incidentally, if you are hungry and I don't
want you also to be parched, so feel
free to go grab yourself maybe a beverage,
maybe a hot one, a cold one, maybe
something healthy from the fridge, or maybe just
something sweet to eat.
All right.
So this week I'm diving into some of
the game-changing stories that are shaking up
(02:50):
the industry from Amazon's massive settlement to Tesla's
Cybertruck controversy and TikTok's return to U.S.
app stores.
You need to hear all this, trust me.
Plus, is Apple in trouble in Germany?
And what's next for Meta, Intel, and Spotify?
You definitely don't want to miss one beat
(03:11):
of today's show.
So you can always catch the latest episodes
right here.
Or if you missed anything, you can always
go back to believemeachieved.com 24 hours a
day and replay anything that you have all
possibly missed and would like to catch up
on.
So let's just kick right into our very
first story.
I think you guys are going to find
this to be a very, very interesting one.
(03:34):
And that is the Amazon issue.
Yes, Amazon settles a $4 million driver tip
lawsuit.
Amazon has agreed to pay $4 million to
settle claims that it withheld tips from its
flex drivers.
The lawsuit alleged that Amazon misled customers into
thinking their tips went directly to drivers, when
(03:55):
in reality, the company used a portion to
offset wages.
This settlement serves as a warning to gig
economy platforms about transparency and fair compensation for
workers.
I know I had heard about another challenge.
It hasn't been in the news lately, but
it was in the past.
And that was Grubhub.
Grubhub was not being very fair to its
(04:19):
drivers.
So it's not just Amazon, right?
I think the economy and the new type
that we have now, which is this kind
of work at your own pace whenever you
want to work type of thing, it's different.
Of course, it has some rules.
But again, Grubhub and others were, let's say,
(04:43):
misusing the tips.
And so this is really bad because the
weird thing is that the customers want to
do something nice, right?
And then finding out that the tip they
left, they only got six bucks from.
(05:05):
I think that's a big problem.
And I think the companies that are doing
this, whether it's Amazon, Grubhub, whoever you are,
postal work, Postmate, I think they should be
ashamed of themselves because robbing and stealing from
your staff when they're actually risking their lives
to go out and drive for you is
just an atrocity.
(05:26):
So I'm not really very pleased with that.
I lost respect for Amazon a long time
ago, but this Amazon driver lawsuit really takes
the case.
Amazon faced multiple lawsuits from delivery drivers, including
claims about withheld tips, wage violations, and also
working conditions, not to get in there too
(05:48):
much.
But in 2022, the District of Columbia's attorney
generally sued Amazon for allegedly withholding tips from
delivery drivers.
Amazon settled the lawsuit for $3.95 million,
which included penalties and costs.
Amazon also agreed to be more transparent about
how it uses tips.
Amazon previously paid $61.7 million to settle
(06:11):
a similar lawsuit with the Federal Trade Commission.
So I don't know, ladies and gentlemen, I
think these companies are just being a little
bit greedy.
That's probably the best thing.
And now with another class action lawsuit, which
is actually being handled by actually a law
firm that is trying to make people aware
(06:32):
of things that Amazon has done inappropriately, such
as they may have failed to pay minimum
wages for all hours work.
They may have failed to pay expenses like
gas and cell phone usage, failed to pay
overtime rates if you worked over 40 hours
per week, or failed to pay missed meals
and rest breaks.
(06:54):
And this has been brought up on CNN.
This has been brought up on Associated Press.
It's been brought up on ABC News, of
course, Reuters, Bloomberg, Seattle Times, KCBS, Washington Examiner,
Kuro7, International Business Times, KUOW 94.9. The
Amazon Flex Driver lawsuit is only the beginning.
(07:17):
And it's going to get a lot worse
for Amazon unless they decide to really start
being transparent.
I currently don't believe that Amazon is going
to ever be transparent.
I mean, I could be wrong about that.
But everything I've seen with them has always
been a tobacco.
And that's just what I've seen through personal
experience and business experience.
(07:38):
They just seem to play around with games
to waste people's time in the effect that
you're going to get, let's say, annoyed and
just figure, oh, I don't even want to
bother.
So definitely do bother.
And if you are being taken advantage of
by Amazon or another delivery service company, you
know, fight back.
(07:58):
Your rights are important.
And not only does fighting back help you,
but it helps the hundreds of the thousands
of other people that they think it's okay
to exploit.
And number two for this week, Spotify.
So Spotify tests out a new concept, a
$5.99 premium to give perks and ticket
sales.
Spotify is experimenting with this $5.99 premium
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tier that offers exclusive content such as ticket
sales and additional perks for subscribers.
With increasing competition from Apple music and YouTube
music, this move could reshape how users access
concerts and special content.
But will the subscription model catch on or
will users push back against another streaming thing?
(08:42):
I don't know.
I mean, I think this is interesting, you
know, what's going on with Spotify.
But will it last?
I mean, that's really the question.
Will it last?
And Spotify premium student with Hulu with ads
is out too.
So trying Spotify premium student free for one
month is okay.
(09:03):
And then it's $5.99 per month after
that.
So the offer currently includes access to Hulu
with ads plan, subject to eligibility, offer available
only to students at an accredited higher institution
for education.
So this is one thing they're doing right
now.
And some people say, why did I get
a charge from Spotify?
(09:23):
Well, this is just an authorization charge to
confirm the payment method is valid.
But in the future, they will be able
to charge you.
So that's why they're doing.
So do you agree with the new, you
know, $5.99 per, I'm going to call
it a perk upgrade fee.
Do you agree with that?
(09:44):
Or do you think it's garbage?
I mean, that's really the best way to
say it.
I mean, they're trying to make this sound
like it's the best thing, right?
But my question is, is it really as
good as they're saying it is, or are
they not being transparent?
And I think it sounds really good on
(10:07):
the outside.
Like I said, they're supposed to launch this,
they call it music pro service with super
fan.
And it's supposed to give you basically early
access to tickets.
And there's an AI remix tool for just
$5.99 a month.
This is another thing they're doing.
And Spotify's long touted super fan tier appears
to be taking shape and could be launched
(10:28):
sometime this year.
So, you know, the question is, is it
really worth all these benefits?
I mean, this is the question.
Is the $5.99 perk worth it?
Or is it not worth it?
So many people have said they'd be willing
to pay money for it.
(10:48):
Other people said they wouldn't.
Many people want the ability to randomize their
music when they hit the shuffle button.
Sounds like a very simple concept.
But they can't do that right now.
So I think it's getting people to, you
know, realize that there might be other options
(11:09):
out there.
But my question to you is, would you
pay $5.99 more plus additional fees and
taxes?
You know, should we pay more money?
Everyone says if you want the full experience,
then the premium subscription is the way to
go.
But really, is it?
I mean, there's more stuff to stream with
a massive set of audio book libraries, better
(11:30):
audio quality, they say, and offline listening.
But is this enough?
I mean, there's so many places you can
get free content to stream.
And so let's just break this down.
All right.
So Spotify Free gives you a lot of
options.
Okay.
(11:51):
Spotify Premium gives you more options.
So what do you get?
So on Spotify Free, you get a diverse
content library, you get all the features, you
get the ads removed, you get playback control,
so you can go forward, back, stop, etc.
You have the ability to change the sound
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quality.
You can also download it so you can
listen later offline without being connected to Wi
Fi or the internet, right?
So I mean, basically, they have something called
Spotify Student Now, which is $4.99 a
month, then they have something called Spotify Premium,
which is $9.99 a month.
Then they have something called Spotify Family, which
is $15.99 a month.
(12:35):
If you ask me, it sounds really, really
confusing.
And I think they're doing this because a
lot of other streaming companies are starting to
do the same exact thing.
And so this is why they're doing it.
I mean, they're willing to give you a
free month.
Yeah, so what?
And Spotify Premium Student claims to allow students
(12:56):
to listen to millions of songs offline and
without ad interruptions, making and sharing your own
playlist, they claim to be very easy.
And so this is going to hopefully attract
more people.
But would you pay another, like I said,
$5.99 a month?
And is this deal going to stop at
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$5.99 a month?
Or are they going to find some way
to boost it up?
I don't know.
They're also saying the fact that you're going
to get a higher quality of sound, right?
So again, the individual account, which is $0
for one month, and then it's $11.99
per month.
You get one premium account.
You can cancel any time.
(13:37):
You get 15 hours a month of listening
time from their audiobooks subscriber catalog.
If you do the premium student feature, it's
$0 for the first month and $5.99
for each additional month.
So you get one verified premium account.
You get discount for eligible students.
You get access to Hulu, and you can
cancel any time.
On the duo plan, you get two premium
(13:58):
accounts, cancel any time, 15 hours a month
of listening time from their audiobooks, catalogs, et
cetera.
On the family plan, it's $19.99. You
get up to six premium or kids accounts,
control content marked as explicit, access to Spotify
Kids, cancel any time, and 15 hours a
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month of listening time from any of their
audiobooks.
So, you know, I think what they're trying
to do is get people more enticed with
the content they're offering.
But I don't know if people are going
to want to pay for Spotify all the
time when there's so many other free services
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that you can actually use online.
All right, number three.
Mr. President Trump in the U.S. says
no to foreign firms running Intel factories, and
this is a problem.
So President Donald Trump has voiced strong opposition
to allowing foreign companies to operate Intel's U
(15:04):
.S.-based semiconductor plants.
I agree with him.
With national security concerns at the forefront, he
believes American tech infrastructure should remain under the
U.S. control.
This stance could impact global semiconductor production and
U.S. relations with foreign chip makers such
as TSMC, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation.
(15:27):
So I think, you know, when the U
.S. owns a building and we don't actually
own the business, and to kind of step
back, what do I mean by this?
So if you've ever been to a business,
whether it's a dry cleaners, whether it's a
restaurant, a lot of times the restaurant or
the dry cleaners or wherever you're visiting doesn't
own the building that they're in.
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All they have is their business.
Now, if you spend billions of dollars putting
up a building and then you're going to
potentially lose because you don't own the business
and don't have any say over something that
can be majorly affecting the population of the
United States, I think that's a serious problem.
And I think we, as a country, need
(16:09):
to look at that, not just from, let's
say, the security standpoint, but the fact that,
hey, it might be robbing us from money
that other companies could be getting from other
areas.
And I think that's a big problem.
Number four, TikTok returns to U.S. app
stores as the ban is supposedly delayed.
(16:29):
In a surprising turn, TikTok has made a
comeback in the United States in the app
stores after its potential ban was postponed.
The delay gives ByteDance time to address concerns
over data security and national security risks, which
millions of users dependent on the platform are
concerned about.
And this move raises questions about whether TikTok
will ever face a permanent ban.
(16:52):
This is an interesting question.
Will TikTok ever be banned?
Or is this just going to be this
continuing saga?
I don't know.
And everyone asks me, you know, when will
TikTok get banned?
And I think they're still in this whole
quandary.
So right now, TikTok was delayed by President
(17:14):
Trump's executive order until April 4th, 2025.
That's not too long from now, is it?
The Protecting Americans Procedure from Foreign Adversary Controlled
Applications Act, PAF, actually it's the PAFACA, PAFACA,
that's the Protecting Americans from Adversary Controlled Applications
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Act, PAFACA.
It was signed into law by President Biden
in April 2024.
The law gives the government the power to
ban foreign owned apps that it considers a
threat to national security.
The law was upheld by the U.S.
Supreme Court on January 17th, 2025.
TikTok shut down its service for U.S.
users on January 18th, 2025.
(17:58):
Trump issued an executive order on January 19th,
2025, delaying the ban for 75 days.
TikTok restored service in the United States a
little over 12 hours after the ban was
scheduled to effect.
The ban is due to a national security
concern over TikTok's Chinese parent company, ByteDance.
Lawmakers worry that the Chinese government could access
(18:19):
Americans' data through TikTok.
And now Mr. President wants to make it
a financial deal.
So saying that TikTok is worth, what, $200
million?
And so that's with the algorithm, and then
the United States getting $100 million.
But if we don't take the algorithm, it's
$40 million.
So there's a lot to be discussed there.
(18:40):
And we're just going to have to kind
of see.
But I hope people understand the consequences of
reinstating TikTok.
I think it should be under an agreement
where the United States has basically the ability
to police and monitor it and get some
fees for it.
So I think that's a great idea.
And if they do step out of line,
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then that means that the entire deal can
be shut down at any time.
Amazon.
Yes, Amazon's up again, and they face a
$1.2 billion pound tax evasion probe in
Italy.
Italian authorities are investing Amazon for their investigation,
I should say, of Amazon for tax evasion
(19:23):
worth an estimated £1.2 billion.
So the probe centers around allegations that Amazon
exploited tax polls to avoid paying its fair
share.
If found guilty, Amazon could face heavy penalties
and tighter regulations in Europe.
This case highlights the growing scrutiny on tech
giants dodging taxes.
So you might say, well, gee, why?
(19:45):
And the question I say is, well, look,
we just talked about the fact that they're
trying to exploit their drivers and steal that
money.
So heck, why wouldn't they not steal money
from the government, right?
And whether it's US or whether it's international,
they don't care.
They don't care who they're robbing.
And I think a tighter scrutiny is something
that is not just something that would be,
(20:06):
I'm going to say, a luxury.
It should be a requirement because too many
of these companies feel that because they've got
so much money, they could just do whatever
they want.
We learned this from Google, right?
Amazon.
I mean, look what's happening.
Google's getting hit with so much, even Apple's
getting hit, right?
All these companies that have so much money,
(20:26):
well, the money can't buy them the fact
that they can do whatever they want at
any time and exploit people or the data
to which belongs to those people.
So number six, ladies and gentlemen, that is
Tesla.
We haven't talked about Tesla in a while,
but the Cybertruck crash raises autopilot concerns.
A Tesla Cybertruck crash has sparked renewed fears
(20:48):
about the company's autopilot technology.
The incident, which involved a Cybertruck operating with
driver assist features, has raised concerns about the
safety of Tesla's AI-powered driving system.
As investigations unfold, many are questioning whether self
-driving tech is progressing too quickly for public
roads.
I have to agree with that.
I think it's like people want to get
(21:11):
this technology out there.
Why?
Because they know it's going to put a
lot of money in their pocket.
But they don't seem to be very concerned
about the wellbeing of the population and the
people in our world.
And it's because money talks, right?
And that's a bad thing.
So we as Americans, as citizens, as people
(21:32):
anywhere in the world, have to make sure
that the technology being rolled out is something
that is going to be safe, whether you're
in a production capacity, whether you're in a
financial capacity and you're the one that would
be loaning money to them, or whether you're
just a consumer, you have a voice and
you definitely have a right to make sure
(21:55):
it gets heard.
So this Tesla Cybertruck crash is, it's unbelievable.
I mean, there was a guy when I
posted something on social media the day said
to me, yeah, but you see how many
planes have crashed?
Well, I'm sorry, you don't compare it to
planes, okay?
(22:16):
So the Tesla Cybertruck has received, they claim
a five-star safety rating from the National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration, but the concerns remain.
So tell me this, explain this to me,
because I don't get this.
How does the Tesla Cybertruck get a five
-star safety rating and then now say there's
some concerns?
Like how do they even like award that
(22:38):
thing?
What do they do?
Just look at it on paper?
Are they even like trying it out themselves?
So the Tesla Cybertruck has energy-absorbing ribs
in the front and rear to dissipate energy
during a crash.
The Cybertruck's front underbody casting is designed to
break into small pieces to reduce occupant impact.
(23:00):
And the safety concerns, the Cybertruck's stiff structure
and sharp design may hurt pedestrians and cyclists.
The Cybertruck's stiff structure may damage other vehicles
on the road.
The Cybertruck's lack of a clear coat leaves
it vulnerable to scratches and corrosion.
Other safety concerns, Tesla CEO Elon Musk has
said that he is highly confident the Cybertruck
(23:21):
will be safer than other trucks for occupants
and pedestrians.
The Cybertruck's stainless steel exterior is more resistant
to dents and dings than most other vehicles.
So, of course, you can watch all these
great safety videos saying that the Cybertruck is
fantastic, but anybody can position something in the
(23:44):
right light.
You know, let's take computers, for example.
We can say one computer is better than
the other, or we can say one car
is better than the other.
But if we don't specify the criterion for
what makes it better, then better is just
like a moot point as there's no way
to quantify it.
There's no benchmark.
It's better than what because it's faster, because
(24:07):
it's safer, because it's cheaper, because it's more
environmentally friendly.
What are we testing on?
And my big question about these road safeties
is how, and this is a good question,
how do we make sure that Tesla autopilot
is safe?
And I think that's a big concern for
(24:29):
a lot of Americans.
They claim it's designed to be safe when
used responsibly with the driver remaining in control
of the vehicle at all times.
Okay, so you just said you built a
vehicle that is safe, okay?
And then they also claim that the driver
needs to read the owner's manual, and you
(24:50):
need to keep your eyes on the road,
keep your hands on the steering wheel, drive
attentively.
Okay, that's the driver's responsibility.
The autopilot features basically are leading to things
like automatic emergency braking, detecting obstacles and applying
the brake, forward collision warning, alerting you to
potential collisions, lane departure avoidance.
We've seen this for a while, correcting the
(25:10):
steering to keep you in your lane.
Traffic aware cruise control, maintaining a safe distance.
So if you, let's say, are driving up
and let's say it's getting too close, it
automatically slows down or automatically brakes your car.
And of course, there are auto performance issues
like dirty cameras or sensors that can affect
the autopilot performance.
Environmental conditions like rain or faded lane markings
(25:33):
can affect autopilot.
Autopilot may not steer around objects partially in
a lane.
I know on one of my vehicles that's
an SUV, a luxury SUV, the car will
not engage cruise control if the conditions are
bad.
That means it's raining, if it's too foggy,
(25:55):
if it can't get a benchmark within a
few seconds, it will not engage cruise control.
It will just give you an error.
So I think those are good things.
But I think the Tesla is a good
concept on paper, but I feel it needs
a lot of research and development.
And of course, Tesla doesn't want to hear
this because by me saying this and by
(26:16):
other people saying this, it's going to potentially
offset the potential income that they could get.
So of course, they're going to say, oh,
it's fine.
But I made the decision many years ago,
ladies and gentlemen, if I told you this
story, that I had a deposit down on
a Tesla.
This was just around the COVID time, and
they never have any refunds.
Well, I went back to Tesla when I
(26:38):
heard about a friend of mine's best friend
who basically lost his life from smashing a
window to get out of the car because
he was entrapped.
Or how about the lady who was at
one of the drive throughs, I think it
was Chick-fil-A.
She went there and she thought she would
just do the quick update.
(26:58):
It was very hot.
And she's now basically roasting herself because she's
in the car over 60 minutes.
Because if she opens the car any earlier
than she's allowed to, she could potentially damage
the vehicle.
I mean, this is ridiculous.
And I mean, Tesla should not lock you
(27:18):
into a car.
I mean, why can't you do the update
regardless of when the car's doors open?
I mean, come on, guys.
This isn't like the 1800s.
We're in the 2000s.
We're in the technology era.
I think we can do a little better
than that.
I don't know if you know this, but
you can actually update an iPhone if you're
(27:39):
still on the Wi-Fi, and you can
walk around with it up to the point
when it needs to reboot.
Now, you can still walk around with it.
You just can't make and receive phone calls.
So I have to, let's say that this
needs more work.
That's just the best way to put that.
And number seven for the week, Apple is
(28:00):
accused of app tracking abuse in Germany.
This is pretty hot.
Germany has filed charges against Apple over allegations
that the company violated app tracking regulations.
So Apple, which touts its commitment to privacy,
is accused of using data tracking methods that
(28:23):
breach the European privacy laws.
If they are found guilty, the case could
force Apple to make a significant change to
its app store policies across the European Union.
So the question you might be asking is,
why is Germany coming after Apple for tracking
(28:43):
issues?
And to understand this a little deeper, Germany
is taking action against Apple regarding the tracking
issues because the antitrust regulator, the Bungelstort-Demolk,
FCO believes Apple's app tracking transparency, they call
it the ATT framework, gives Apple unfair advantage
(29:06):
by potentially allowing them to apply stricter tracking
rules to third-party apps while giving their
own apps more leeway, which could be considered
self-preferencing and a violation of competition laws.
Essentially, Apple is accused of setting different tracking
standards for its own apps compared to those
of other developers on the app store.
(29:28):
So, you know, this would be like if
you are in, let's say, an industry and
you're getting tickets to go to a concert
and you're getting special privileges to get tickets
because you have friends in the band, fine,
but now Ticketmaster and, let's say, other sites
(29:50):
are preferencing who gets better tickets from the
general public based on the fact of how
much money I spend in tickets sales for
the year or what county I'm from, right,
or what my ethnicity or background is.
(30:14):
That'd be wrong, wouldn't it?
So, I think this is going to be
a very interesting situation.
I don't know if it was done intentionally,
but the app, which they call the App
Tracking Transparency, ATT, this feature on the iOS
allows users to choose whether apps can track
their activity across different platforms, which Apple has
marketed as a privacy-focused initiative.
(30:35):
Concerns about self-preferencing, the German regulator suspects
that Apple suspects might be using ATT to
benefit its own apps by allowing them more
flexibility with tracking while imposing strict limitations on
third-party apps.
They suspect.
They don't even know.
If German investigation finds Apple guilty of this
(30:57):
anti-competitive practice, they could face significant fines
and be required to change their app tracking
policies.
So, we don't know, but it's like, you
probably know this from school, right?
If you're suddenly taking a test and the
test is supposed to end at a certain
time, or you're supposed to have, let's say,
an open book, or you're supposed to have
(31:17):
one, let's say, piece of paper that could
be typed or handwritten both sides, and suddenly
somebody comes in and brings their paper in,
and yours is handwritten, others are typed, but
now somebody else's is typed so small that
it's like size three, and then they bring
a magnifying glass in.
(31:39):
So, now the one student comes back and
says, hey, that's unfair.
Joe gets to bring a cheat sheet in,
like, to go look through stuff.
How come we don't?
Well, you do too.
Yeah, but look what he did.
He made his font to size three, and
then he got a magnifying glass.
Well, you could have done that.
Will you tell us we could?
(31:59):
So, that becomes a tabatha right there, and
I think those are concerns.
Will that affect how well somebody does in
the test?
I don't know, but if, let's say, I
scored more, and I was the one with
that special, very minuscule sheet with the magnifying
glass, everyone in the class is going to
say that it wasn't fair, all right?
(32:23):
Speculation perspective, maybe, but it's still going to
cause some rage.
Number eight, meta.
Yes, fined by the European Union, again, an
impact on ad rivals.
The European Union has fined meta for anti
-competitive advertising practices.
What's new?
(32:43):
Shaking up the digital ad industry, rivals argue
that meta's dominance stifles competition and limits fair
pricing for ad space.
So, this fine is part of a larger
push by the European Union regulators to rein
in big tech's influence on digital advertising markets.
(33:04):
That's a big challenge.
And the question is, is meta going to
be found guilty?
Well, we know in the past that meta
was found guilty on a lot of things,
okay?
And it's funny how they just kind of
ignored them and, you know, swept them right
under the carpet.
Meta Platforms, inks, is prying open its previously
(33:25):
guarded Facebook marketplace platform to a swath of
classified ads rivals in a renewed attempt to
comply with a landmark European Union antitrust order
that was accompanied by 798 million pounds or
829 million.
And again, they're doing this kind of under
(33:46):
their breath, but they really have to, or
they could be in deep trouble with the
courts.
So, all because of the European Union.
The European Union seems to be very smart.
I wish the United States would be as,
let's say, aggressive as they are, but they're
not.
So, all these companies that were like, you
(34:07):
know, wowing and dazzling us, I always knew
that there was a slight potential that they
probably were doing something wrong, or shall we
say illegal or deceptive.
Lots of ways we can frame that, right?
Well, number nine, ARM and Meta team up
(34:30):
for a new chip project.
Yes, the chip designer ARM is collaborating with
Meta on a next generation processor aimed at
powering AI applications.
Now, this partnership could lead to breakthroughs in
AI efficiency, allowing for faster, more powerful machine
learning models with AI at the center of
(34:52):
tech innovation.
This project could shape the future of smart
devices and cloud computing.
What is it going to mean?
Well, only time is going to tell.
And the question is, are they doing something
legal or are they going to get caught?
Well, we all know that if they do
something wrong, we know that they're going to
(35:12):
get burnt.
So, I would hope that they are doing
the right thing this time.
But, you know, your guess and my guess
is all we've got right now.
The plan represents a move away from SoftBank
own group licensing its chip blueprints to firms
such as Apple and Nvidia.
(35:35):
Very, very interesting technology.
The British semiconductor designer ARM is reportedly planning
to launch its own chip this year after
landing Meta as one of its first customers.
The move represents a major overhaul of the
SoftBank's own group's business model of licensing its
chip blueprints to the likes of Apple and
(35:55):
Nvidia.
Rene Haas, ARM's chief executive, is set to
unveil the first in-house chip as early
as this summer.
And this is according to a report that
was speculated in the Financial Times, citing people
familiar with the plans and were aware of
the situation.
Now, more than 300 billion chips based on
ARM's designs have been shipped since the company
(36:17):
was founded in 1990 with almost all the
world's smartphones being based on ARM technology.
Now, moving from designing chips to making its
own complete processor could also put ARM into
competition with some of the biggest customers in
the 500 billion pound semiconductor industry.
ARM, of course, did not want to comment
(36:38):
on this, and I'm sure we're going to
see shares of their stock rising.
The Financial Times also reported that the launch
of ARM's own chip is one step in
a larger plan by SoftBank's founder Masayuki Son
to make more money from its own intellectual
property by moving into AI chip production and
building a vast infrastructure network for artificial intelligence.
(37:02):
So, last month alone, Son unveiled his Stargate
initiative with OpenAI, which will spend an estimated
$400 billion in the building of the AI
infrastructure with Al-Baghdadi State from the fund
of MGX and Oracle, also providing funding and
ARM as a key technology partner alongside Microsoft
(37:24):
and NVIDIA.
So, ARM's chip is expected to be a
central processing unit for servers in large data
centers and customizable for clients, including Meta.
Does this mean that this is going to
rival Intel?
I don't know, but I know that things
are going to change and they're going to
get hot pretty quick.
(37:44):
Another deal integral to ARM's chip making project
is SoftBank's expected acquisition of Ampere, an Oracle
-backed chip designer of ARM for servers that
could be valued close to 6.5 billion
or 5.15 billion pounds.
Cambridge headquartered ARM has more than doubled in
(38:04):
value to 173 billion since it's listed on
the Nasdaq in 2023.
So, we're going to have to see what
happens.
Are you going to invest in a company
like this or are you going to wait
around?
But I know one thing, if we start
making chips in the United States or at
least in Canada, and Trump had petitioned that
(38:27):
Canada eventually be part of the United States,
that could make things a lot easier for
trade, commerce, and also the fact that they
won't be subject to those really high surcharges
for export.
And number 10, India.
Yes, in steps to the mediation portion of
(38:50):
Samsung's labor dispute, the Indian government is mediating
a labor dispute at Samsung's factories after worker
strikes over unfair wages and poor working conditions.
Now, this move could impact Samsung's production timeline
for upcoming devices, including the next Galaxy series.
If tension escalates enough, Samsung may be forced
(39:12):
to rethink its labor policies in India.
Yeah, I think that's going to be a
serious problem, so we'll have to definitely keep
you aware on that.
And number 11, dating.
Yes, is it really going to face some
troubles?
What's next?
So, major dating apps like Tinder and Bumble
are experiencing a decline in user engagement and
revenue.
Rising concerns over safety, fake profiles, and shifting
(39:36):
social behaviors have left these platforms struggling to
retain users.
The industry must adapt, and could AI-driven
matchmaking be the next big thing?
Yes, but there's something else that everyone's thinking
about, and that's the fact of connecting with
people where there's already a bond made.
Those are on other type of hobby platforms,
things like if you're playing a video game
(39:57):
with someone, or maybe you're taking a class
with someone online in some type of environment.
This might be where future generations, maybe even
some of the previous generations, come to date,
because we all know that dating apps, well,
they could get you in the hot water
and give you a lot more than what
(40:20):
you bargained for.
And the person that you're connecting with, let's
just say, might have very different intentions than
what you're expecting.
So, this is where things are going right
now.
It's dating in a new type of world,
and this world involves using, I'll call it,
these applications.
(40:40):
So, the Generation Z is turning to what
we call hobby-based platforms like gaming, fitness
apps, and even film communities to find friendship,
love, in a more organic, low-pressure way.
Instead of swiping left or right, they're meeting
through shared interest in games like World of
(41:00):
Warcraft, running clubs via Strava, and movie discussions
on Letterboxd, and so many other things.
This is an interesting thing, and this shift
reflects a broader desire for the fact that
people do want authenticity.
I think this is starting to shout out
very loud and very clear that I think
(41:21):
the world has had enough of nonsense and
quote-unquote, no pun there, games of these
apps.
I think the only person that's benefiting from
these quote-unquote dating apps are the people
that actually create them.
If you look at where they're made, they're
not in the United States.
They usually bill you, and whenever you get
(41:43):
billed for them, there's another surcharge.
It's like if they were made here in
the United States and there were problems with
them, there'd be a lot of lawsuits.
Trying to sue an app developer in another
country, well, let's just say that's going down
a river without a paddle to help yourself
back up.
(42:03):
I think the world is tired of dating
apps, and I think now it's about this
authenticity, this truth, and this realism that wasn't
around before.
You don't fake a profile when you create
a game avatar or when you're going for
(42:24):
an online educational course, or maybe you're going
into a movie club.
You put who you are, and when you
connect with, let's say, stories about adventure or
maybe thrill or maybe it's a love story,
those are the kind of people you might
want to hang out with and at least
start being friends with.
(42:45):
Here's an interesting one that I think you're
going to find a little bit different.
Noise-canceling headphones.
Are they affecting young people's hearing?
A new study suggests that excessive use of
noise-canceling headphones may be affecting young people's
hearing by reducing their ability to detect everyday
sounds.
Experts warn that prolonged exposure at high volumes
(43:05):
could contribute to long-term hearing damage.
Should regulations be introduced to limit headphone decibel
levels?
Yes.
Here's the thing.
I use noise-canceling headphones all the time.
I don't have any challenges with them.
I have excellent hearing.
It comes down to the fact that you've
got to respect your hearing.
Whether you've got noise-canceling headphones on or
(43:26):
whether you've got speakers in your car or
wherever you are, it's important that you respect
decibel levels for your While we're on this,
what is the safe sound decibel for hearing?
(43:48):
In general, the louder the sound, the faster
the noise will develop.
Sound is measured in what we call decibels.
Sounds at or below 70 A weighted decibels
are generally safe.
Long or repeat exposure to sounds at 85
decibels can cause hearing loss.
The question when we think about decibels and
(44:11):
we think about noise levels, let's just go
through a couple.
I think this is something that is very
interesting for a lot of us.
A breath is 10 decibels.
Russell of leaves is 20 decibels.
A whisper is 30 decibels.
A refrigerator is 40 decibels.
Rain is 50 decibels.
Chatting is about 60 decibels.
(44:33):
Your car is 70 decibels.
A truck is 80 decibels.
A hairdryer is 90 decibels.
A helicopter is 100 decibels.
A trombone is 110 decibels.
A police siren is 120 decibels.
A jet engine is 130 decibels.
Fireworks are 140 decibels.
I think we need to just realize that
(44:57):
we don't need to have sound that loud.
We really don't.
You see, the closer you are to the
actual sound, the more the decibels are going
to be.
The further away from the sound, guess what?
The less of decibels you're going to hear.
(45:20):
I think it's our responsibility as humans to
take care of our ears.
Do we look in the sun?
No, of course not.
We shouldn't need a law that says we
have to regulate.
I think people just need to take better
care of their hearing.
That's just the bottom line.
Audiologists can say this, and other doctors can
(45:40):
say this, and young people can say this,
and musicians can say this.
At the end of the day, experts suggest
that blocking everyday sounds may weaken the brain's
ability to filter noise naturally.
We need to be that filter.
Noise-canceling headphones help protect ears from loud
sounds, but it doesn't mean that we have
(46:01):
the right to suddenly blast noise so loud
because they're noise-canceling.
They're just as dangerous as hearing sounds in
the world.
In fact, we have got to be a
little more careful because when we got things
so close to our ears, we have to
make sure they're even softer.
Number 13, ladies, YouTube AI, or shall we
call it the drunk dialing of AI.
(46:23):
How a drunk dialing computer unveils YouTube secrets.
Researchers have uncovered surprising insights into YouTube's vast
and secretive ecosystem using a tool that randomly
generates video URLs similar to drunk dialing.
Despite YouTube's dominance, Google remains tight-lipped about
(46:43):
key statistics like the number of videos or
how much content people watch.
By analyzing over 10,000 randomly discovered videos,
researchers estimate YouTube now hosts nearly 15 billion
videos, with most receiving little attention, 4%
have never been watched, and the median video
garners are just 41 views.
(47:04):
Their findings challenge perceptions of YouTube as a
hub for influencers, revealing that the of content
is low production, short, and barely seen, which
is actually pretty sad.
And I don't know if you guys know
this, ladies and gentlemen, but the UK space
firm wins a £127 million satellite system contract.
A UK-based aerospace company has secured a
(47:26):
£127 million contract to develop a next-gen
satellite system, and this project will enhance global
communications and improve disaster response capabilities.
With space tech advancing rapidly, this contract could
position the UK as a major player in
satellite technology.
And Meta launches a new Facebook Marketplace Partner
(47:49):
Program.
Meta has introduced a Facebook Marketplace Partner Program
to help small businesses sell more effectively on
the platform.
The program includes tools for automated listings, AI
-driven recommendations, and expanded reach.
Will this help businesses thrive, or is it
another way for Meta to dominate e-commerce?
I have to say, I've never trusted Meta's
(48:10):
tools in the past.
It feels like every time something works, they
take it down.
They just want people to be putting more
money in the slot machine, as I like
to say.
I'm not a gambler, but they like to
keep putting more money in the slot machine
in the hope that you're going to get
something.
Because every time something works, it seems like
they just take it down.
So that's really a very, very big problem.
(48:33):
And I think the last thing I want
to talk about today, and it's a pretty
interesting thing, and that's the fact that bots
are everywhere.
So bots rule the web, don't they?
It's a serious problem.
Now, a significant portion, nearly half of all
internet activity is generated by bots, whether you
knew that or not, many of which are
powered by AI.
And this surge presents considerable risks, including phishing
(48:54):
attacks, harm to brand reputation, and exploitation of
security weakness.
So to counter these AI threats, it's essential
to implement mitigation strategies, such as multi-factor
authentication and detailed behavioral analysis of web traffic.
So I think these are good things to
think about.
And I think understanding that AI is not
(49:15):
good and AI is not bad.
It's a tool, and how we choose to
use it makes it so.
So when you think about the fact that
you can go online and say, oh, gee,
you can buy all this traffic, think again.
Because not only could you be hurting your
reputation with the platform that you're working with,
(49:36):
whether it's Instagram, Facebook, X, or TikTok, you
could also be creating a fake net of
people, if you don't get banned first.
And that fake net of people is going
to make you think that they're interested, when
(49:56):
really they're not.
I've had friends that have paid money to
get subscribers for their podcasts and stuff, don't
do it.
They get a surge, all of a sudden,
and you know what happens?
It drops right away.
And then when they question, they said, well,
if you tell them you would like to
(50:16):
compensate them based on, let's say, retention, they're
going to walk away.
Because they know that they cannot guarantee you
traffic.
They just blast you out.
And I think that is the worst thing
that anybody could do.
So we've got to be cognizant about these
(50:38):
things.
That is probably the most important thing.
Now, when we think about some of these
things that we talked about today, they're game
changing.
They're absolutely game changing.
I mean, Amazon, the fact that they're exploiting
their drivers, and Spotify now trying to, let's
say, lure you into another $5.99 premium,
(50:59):
so you could probably get some perks or
maybe some early ticket sales, which may or
may not even be worth it.
And I like the fact that Trump wants
to try to go back and regain control,
because I think it's a problem that we
have given away too much of our control
to other countries, because we feel we've had.
I had a situation today, I was actually
(51:20):
in a store, and the thing was, there
was this agreement.
I was actually helping my mom upgrade her
iPhone.
She was getting this free iPhone.
Well, the thing about the iPhone is, the
one she was getting was, it was like
$830.
It was the iPhone 16.
I have the iPhone 16 Pro Max, and
I had just done one from my dad
last month in December.
(51:41):
And so, actually, yeah, December, so two months
ago.
And so, when we're in the store, and
we're going through everything, I wanted the free
phone.
So, you get the free phone.
Here's how it works.
They rebate you the credit of the new
phone.
So, when you give the old one in,
they give you the year 30, but they
give it to you in credit.
So, you're not paying for the phone as
long as you're with them for 36 months.
It used to be one year, then it
(52:02):
was two years.
Now, it's 36 months.
But here's another little thing they do.
When you sign the agreement, they now have
a little clause in there that states that
you're also agreeing to keeping your credit card
on file.
See, it's like they loop you into things.
And the only way that we win is
by filing complaints or by exposing to some
(52:23):
people say, hey, did you see what they
did?
And of course, they're going to say that
they can't do anything.
But when push comes to shove, if you
don't like something, you can go back and
you can challenge it.
It is your right.
Absolutely is your right.
So, we've talked about a lot of artificial
(52:44):
intelligence stuff today.
We've talked about the fact that all these
innovations that are starting to appear around us
from the Cybertruck to things in Germany, the
thing with the arm deal.
I think it just comes back to one
main thing.
Even the UK fines that are hitting these
(53:08):
other companies, right?
Italy possibly fining Amazon.
I think it comes back and saying that
it doesn't matter whether you have 1 million,
1 billion, 1 trillion, 1 zillion or infinite
amounts of money, right?
It doesn't matter.
If you do something wrong, you are going
to pay the piper.
And it might not be today.
It might not be tomorrow.
(53:28):
It might not be this week.
It might not be next week.
It might not be next month.
It might even be this year.
But here's the thing.
Here's the promise.
It's going to come out.
And when it does, the longer it takes
to come out, the more you're probably going
to get hit with charges and fines.
And I know as we talk a lot
(53:49):
about these things that are happening to these
companies, things that you figure, well, nothing can
penetrate these companies.
Well, when you hit them in their pockets,
they don't quite like that.
And we've seen how quiet Facebook has gotten,
right?
When we find them guilty on something, it's
like they just kind of like, you know,
put their head under the covers, like, you
know, like, you know, just like, leave me
alone.
(54:11):
And, you know, when we talk about trouble,
like I said, for the dating apps, I
think that's something that a lot of people
don't want to admit because they want to
know, like, you know, what's the right way
to do this?
Because the way that people have been doing
it for so long has been like a
norm.
But, you know, the fact that things like
(54:33):
World of Warcraft and Connections, I think those
are great ideas.
And I think the point of internet dating
is turning to more or less not application
dating, but hobby dating.
And so hobby dating allows you to pick
(54:54):
different apps.
And these apps allow you to get to
know somebody even before they may or may
not be an interest to you.
But it doesn't mean that you suddenly reveal
every single thing about yourself on the app,
okay, or in the world.
Like, if you go to play a game
of chess with somebody, right, and you're in
(55:16):
a chess club, do you just tell them
everything about you the first day you play
chess?
No.
You probably talk about chess.
How did we get started with chess, right?
Too many of these apps, they get too
personal too fast.
And what I have seen is that the
moment you try to slow them down, like,
hey, you know, let's meet for a cup
of coffee.
(55:37):
Do you know what they do?
They go block.
And sometimes they go report.
Because the people on the apps right now
who's being attracted to these apps, they're not
the people you and I would want to
date.
We think we'd want to date them.
But actually, it's not.
(55:57):
It's actually a facade.
We want to connect with people that know,
like, and trust who they are, and that
are going to respect themselves and respect others.
That might sound like something very common, but
unfortunately, common sense is getting, like, thrown out
the window.
(56:18):
And so the more I ponder about artificial
intelligence, I ponder about apps, I ponder about
the fact of where artificial intelligence is, let's
say, teleporting us, because that's what AI is
doing.
It's teleporting us to a place that's more
advanced.
(56:40):
We're able to take data, we're going to
see things happening with quantum computing, not too
far off in the next, I'm going to
say less than a decade or so away.
And just the whole idea of things coming
full circle, like quantum physics and stuff like
that.
And again, that seems like a really interesting
thing.
(57:00):
But when we cross this pathway, we have
to be very, very careful of what it
is that we are actually paying attention to,
and how we're responding and how we're reacting.
Ladies and gentlemen, I am John C.
Morley, serial entrepreneur.
(57:21):
It's always such a privilege, pleasure and honor
to be with you guys, not just today
on my birthday, February 21st, but every single
day, night and evening that I'm here.
Do check out BelieveMeAchieved.com for more of
my amazing, inspiring creations.
Thank you so much for all of your
great wishes, and for continuing to watch the
show.
And of course, for just taking all this
(57:43):
information in and making the choice to apply
it to your life, so you can become
just a little bit better than you were
before.
Take care, everyone.
And remember, technology is not good, it's not
bad, it's a tool.
It's how we choose to use it that
makes it so.
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