February 6, 2025 • 59 mins
🔥 From AI-driven cybercrime crackdowns to groundbreaking tech innovations, this week’s episode of The JMOR Tech Talk Show dives into the biggest headlines shaking up the digital world. Whether it's the UK making AI-generated child abuse content a crime, Meta's spyware battle, or Vodafone’s first satellite video call, we’ve got it all covered! Tune in for expert insights, bold discussions, and the latest in tech that you won’t want to miss!
📢 Catch the latest episode within 24 hours at The JMOR Tech Talk Show 🎯 Explore unique content at BelieveMeAchieve.com
🚀 Subtitle: AI, Cybercrime & Innovation: The Tech Shifts You Need to Know!
🔹 This Week’s Highlights:
1️⃣ 🇬🇧 UK Bans AI-Generated Child Abuse Material 🔥 The UK has taken a bold step in the fight against online exploitation by becoming the first country to outlaw AI-generated child abuse content. The new law criminalizes the possession, creation, and distribution of explicit AI-generated images of minors, including tools that manipulate real photos. This crackdown comes in response to a fivefold increase in AI-generated abuse material in the past year, raising concerns about the growing use of AI in cybercrimes.
2️⃣ 📲 Meta’s WhatsApp Exposes Spyware Attacks 🛑 Meta’s WhatsApp has uncovered a major spyware attack orchestrated by Israeli firm Paragon Solutions. The attack, which targeted around 90 users—including journalists and civil society members—in over two dozen countries, used a "zero-click" hacking method, meaning victims were infected without even opening a message. WhatsApp successfully disrupted the attack, issued a cease-and-desist to Paragon, and referred affected users to cybersecurity watchdog Citizen Lab. This case further fuels concerns about spyware misuse against activists and opposition figures.
3️⃣ 🇰🇷 South Korea Investigates DeepSeek AI 📡 South Korea’s privacy watchdog is taking a closer look at Chinese AI firm DeepSeek over concerns about its data handling practices. This move follows similar investigations in France, Italy, and Ireland, where regulators are scrutinizing how the company collects and stores personal information. DeepSeek, known for its cost-effective AI models, is also facing allegations of using restricted AI chips, leading U.S. lawmakers to push for further restrictions on Nvidia chip exports.
4️⃣ 🏛️ Meta Considers Leaving Delaware for Texas 💼 Meta is reportedly exploring a move to reincorporate in Texas or another state, leaving behind its current home in Delaware. The decision, which follows a similar move by Tesla and SpaceX under Elon Musk, is seen as a strategic effort to take advantage of Texas’ business-friendly legal environment. While Meta has no plans to relocate its headquarters from California, the shift could offer tax and governance benefits.
5️⃣ 🇳🇱 Dutch Regulators Crack Down on DeepSeek ⚖️ The Netherlands' privacy authority has launched an investigation into DeepSeek’s AI data collection practices, warning users to be cautious. This follows Italy’s ban on DeepSeek’s app and similar actions by regulators in Ireland and France. European law requires that citizens' data be stored abroad only under strict conditions, and DeepSeek’s compliance is now under scrutiny. Authorities across the EU are sharing information as they assess the company's handling of sensitive data.
6️⃣ 🚫 LinkedIn Lawsuit Over AI Training Dismissed ❌ A lawsuit accusing LinkedIn of violating user privacy by using Premium members’ private messages to train AI models has been dismissed. The plaintiff withdrew the case just days after filing, following LinkedIn’s strong denial of any wrongdoing. LinkedIn provided evidence that it never used private messages for AI training, leading to the lawsuit's dismissal. The case had sparked concerns about AI and data privacy, but LinkedIn insists that it rema
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:05):
Hi everyone, I'm John Seymour, the host of
The JMOR Tech Talk Show and Inspirations
for Your Life.
(00:48):
Hey guys, how are you?
It is John C. Morley here, serial entrepreneur.
Welcome to The JMOR Tech Talk Show
and today is February 7th, 2025.
And you know what that means, ladies and
gentlemen?
Well, we are on series four, which you
guys know we've been on for quite a
few weeks.
(01:08):
But the other interesting thing that I think
is very interesting to share with you guys
is not only that, but we're on, yes,
show number six.
That's pretty cool.
All right.
So this is the show where we talk
about all those great things with technology.
We educate you, we inform, and we make
(01:29):
you alert about things that you probably shouldn't
do or that you should do.
And we give you lots of information to
help you use technology better and smarter.
From AI-driven cybercrime crackdowns to groundbreaking tech
innovations, this week is pumped with the best
(01:51):
JMOR Tech Talk Show stories.
So we'll dive into the biggest headlines, shaking
up the digital world, whether it's the UK
-making AI-generated child abuse content, a crime,
meta spyware battle, or Vodafone's first satellite video
call, we've got it all covered.
So just sit back, go get yourself something
to eat or drink from the kitchen, whether
(02:13):
it's something sweet, whether it's something hot, cold,
or maybe it's just a piece of healthy
fruit.
Whatever it is, go get it and come
on back as you tune into the expert
insights, bold discussions, and the latest in tech
that you won't want to miss.
I am your host, John Seymour, a serial
(02:33):
entrepreneur.
I'm a podcast coach and a podcast host,
and it's great to be with you.
Be sure to check out BelieveMeAchieved.com for
my amazing, inspiring creations, as well as to
catch replays of this show and all the
other shows that I produce.
So you can catch the latest episode within
24 hours of us airing on the audio
(02:55):
format, which will be on the podcast networks,
which you can obviously find out by visiting
BelieveMeAchieved.com.
So ladies and gentlemen, this title this week
is amazing, right?
AI Cybercrime, Innovations, the Tech Shifts You Need
to Know.
And so the first thing I want to
talk about is, yes, the UK bans the
(03:18):
AI-generated child abuse material.
The UK has taken a bold step in
the fight against crime and the exploitation by
becoming the first country to outlaw AI-generated
child abuse content.
The new law criminalizes the possession, creation, and
(03:38):
distribution of explicit AI-generated images of minors,
including tools that manipulate real photos.
This crackdown comes in response to a five
-fold increase in AI-generated abuse material in
the past year, raising concerns about the growing
use of AI in cybercrimes.
Now ladies and gentlemen, even if the photo
(03:58):
you had was not of someone nude, these
AI technologies are able to look at the
image and basically remove the clothing and actually
show you what they synthesize from what is
expected to be there in an adult photo.
So I think it's great that they are
(04:20):
doing this.
I think it's something they should have done
a long time ago.
But the question is, when will the rest
of the US catch up with this?
I don't know.
My question is, when will, let's just say,
when will the United States ban AI child,
(04:47):
let's say, material that is explicit?
And I don't have an answer for you.
So they have had talks in, I believe
it was Colorado, that they were going to
be criminalizing AI-generated or computer-edited child
(05:08):
sexual abuse material.
So this is something that had been ascertained
a while back.
And so right now it's been documented that
37 states have enacted the laws that criminalize
AI-generated or computer-edited CSAM, while 13
states and D.C. have not.
More than half of these states were enacted
(05:29):
in 2024.
And this reflects strong concern by legislators and
advocates about the significant increase in the creation,
production, and dissemination of these child exploitation materials.
The NCMEC, that is the National Center for
Missing and Exploited Children, reports that in 2023
alone, it received 4,700 ports of CSAM
(05:53):
involving generative AI technologies.
So a lot of the bad actors are
now generating, altering content that is perfectly legitimate
just because, well, let's face it, they have
something wrong with them.
They use parts of images of real children,
(06:13):
and then they use images of other people.
And it's just not right.
These are sexually explicit depictions involving children.
And if no physical abuse occurs during their
creation, it has significant psychological and long-term
impacts on the children depicted.
Artificially generated or computer-edited CSAM further re
(06:35):
-victimize actual child victims as their images are
collected from the internet and studied by artificial
intelligence tools to create their new images.
Now, child predators can also use artificially generated
or computer-edited CSAM to extort minors and
their families for financial gains.
So the question is, what's going on?
And I think the real issue is that
(06:57):
people have got to get smart and understand
that this technology is out there and people
are abusing it.
So this is why we want to report
this to you and let you know that
every state should be criminalizing basically any exploitation
of the technology of AI to create materials
(07:19):
that are not appropriate for anyone to be
looking at.
All right.
Number two, Meta's WhatsApp exposes spyware attacks.
Meta's WhatsApp has uncovered a major spyware attack
orchestrated by Israeli firm Paragon Solutions.
The attack, which targeted over around 90 users,
(07:42):
including journalists and civil society members in over
two dozen countries, used a zero-click hacking
method, meaning victims were infected without even opening
a message.
That's insane.
So WhatsApp successfully disrupted the attack, issued a
cease and desist to Paragon and referred affected
(08:02):
users to the cybersecurity watchdog Citizen Lab.
This case further fuels concerns about spyware misuse
against activists and opposition figures.
But the question, ladies and gentlemen, is, you
know, it's a matter of pointing fingers, right?
Was it this person?
Was it that person?
And so as much as we sometimes don't
(08:25):
agree with Facebook and Meta, it seems like
they did do what they were supposed to
do, which was issue that cease and desist
when apparently the Israeli firm Paragon Solutions had
unfortunately allowed that attack to go through.
So I have a real, real big problem
(08:48):
with that.
And you know, this is going to start
happening more and more and more.
Unfortunately, it's going to happen more and more.
And the reason it's going to happen more
and more is because of things that I
feel are going to make our world, let's
(09:11):
say, retreat a little bit.
That's probably the best thing that I can
tell you.
So that's a very important thing.
And number three, ladies and gentlemen, today is
South Korea investigates DeepSeek AI.
South Korea's privacy watchdog is taking a closer
look at Chinese AI firm DeepSeek over concerns
(09:33):
about its data handling practices.
Now, this move follows similar investigations in France,
Italy and Ireland, where regulators are scrutinizing how
the company collects and stores personal information.
DeepSeek, known for its cost effective AI models,
is also facing allegations of using restricted AI
(09:55):
chips, ladies and gentlemen, leading U.S. lawmakers
to push for further restrictions on Nvidia chip
exports.
So that's a whole other horse of a
different color, but it's something we've got to
be concerned about.
This is why President Trump is putting all
these, let's say, restrictions on the exports.
(10:16):
It's not just for money, but it's also
for our privacy and for our security.
Number four, Meta considers leaving Delaware for Texas.
Why would they do that?
Well, Meta is reportedly exploring a move to
reincorporate in Texas or another state leaving behind
its current home in Delaware.
The decision, which follows a similar move by
(10:38):
Tesla and SpaceX under the Elon Musk rule,
is seen as a strategic effort to take
advantage of Texas' business friendly legal environment.
While Meta has no plans to relocate its
headquarters in California, the shift could offer tax
governance benefits.
So this is very, very interesting.
(11:02):
A lot of people will form corporations in
Delaware because of the rules.
And this may be something that you're not
familiar with, but it's something that I think
everyone should be aware of.
And so that's what they're doing.
When we think about the whole concept of
(11:24):
them reincorporating, it's pretty interesting.
It's a very interesting thing.
As I said, Meta is talking about moving
its legal headquarters away from Delaware, according to
Bloomberg.
Now, they're, you know, milling over the idea
to move from a state that has built
(11:44):
a favorable reputation among corporations for its tax
benefits and lacks incorporation requirements.
The social media company has talked with Texas
officials regarding a potential move to the Lone
Star State.
The Wall Street Journal had cited unnamed people
are familiar with the matter.
Meta has also considered a reincorporation in other
(12:06):
states.
And it was reported, though, that it did
not specify which states were up for consideration.
Meta had told Forbes recently that there were
no plans to move its corporate headquarters, which
is located about 30 miles of San Francisco,
California.
So it looks like they just want to
reincorporate in Texas only.
That's the truth because of the tax benefits.
(12:28):
So you might be asking me, so, you
know, what are the tax benefits that would
make Meta want to reincorporate in Texas?
I mean, what are they?
And I think that's an interesting thing because,
you know, has to do with the structure.
(12:52):
And so the thing is, you know, Delaware
was always this safe state, right?
But now Texas, Texas has lots of benefits
for businesses to incorporate there.
And, you know, some of the advantages, just
(13:15):
to go through them, not to spend too
much time, one is a favorable tax climate.
You don't have to pay any tax on
the money you make through your startup company
in Texas.
This opens the door for businesses to recruit
top talent without having to worry about losing
profits.
So again, you don't have to pay any
tax on the money you make through your
(13:36):
startup company in Texas.
The other advantage is Texas Enterprise Fund, it's
called TEF.
The Texas Enterprise Fund is the real advantage
that can strengthen the roots of businesses, especially
in terms of providing cash grants.
The TEF is basically a financial incentive tool
where a cash grant is provided for those
(13:57):
projects that promise significant job creation, as well
as capital investment.
Are there disadvantages of incorporating in Texas?
Well, I'm sure there may be, but it
seems like there's a lot of benefits.
There are several advantages and only a few
disadvantages.
If you choose to incorporate your business from
a sole proprietorship and then file the fee,
(14:20):
it's a little quite steep for some.
It's $300.
Along with this, the process of incorporating your
startup company in Texas will require more time
as compared to other forms of businesses, since
corporations in Texas are monitored by the state,
local, and federal agencies.
There's more paperwork to be done, and it
has to be insured correctly that all documents
(14:41):
are in compliance with state regulations.
This makes some interesting questions arise.
Is it better to incorporate in Texas or
Delaware?
Because Delaware was always the place to be,
right?
People ask this question, what should I do?
(15:03):
I think the biggest thing is that there
are a lot of interesting rules, as I
mentioned to you, in Texas, and they're not
things that you can just decide overnight.
While organizing your startup as a Delaware corporation
might sound good now, the downside is that
you might be required to double up on
(15:23):
business organization filings later on.
The filing fee to form a corporation in
Delaware is based on a formula depending on
how many shares and what the par value
of the shares are.
It may cost you a few thousand dollars
to form a simple corporation, depending on the
options you choose, while a Delaware limited liability
company will only require $110 filing fee.
(15:44):
Texas, on the other hand, only requires a
flat one-time filing fee of $300 for
a corporation or limited liability company.
All the Delaware requirements must be filed in
addition for a Delaware corporation operating in Texas.
You'll be required to file as a foreign
corporation about $750 per year.
So foreign entities must pay franchise taxes to
(16:06):
both Texas and Delaware yearly.
As the business grows, the cost of compliance
in each state will multiply.
Incorporating outside of Texas will cost more as
a startup and increase as you grow.
The corporate income tax in Delaware is determined
by whether the income is generated in the
state or outside of the state.
For income generated within Delaware, the state corporate
(16:30):
income tax is 8.70%. Income generated outside
the state is generally not taxable by Delaware.
Similarly, Texas does not tax income generated outside
of the state and also does not levy
any state income tax, even on corporations.
Texas does require a franchise tax for any
entity doing business in Texas on gross receipts.
(16:54):
This entity level tax on the gross receipts
has been lowered over the years to 0
.75% and only applies to entities with
gross receipts of more than 2.1 million
in the tax year.
So the primary reason you would incorporate in
Delaware instead of Texas is if you anticipate
raising professional venture capital funds.
(17:14):
Outside of this possibility, a Texas business will
save more money by remaining in Texas unless
you're facing a round of venture capitalists with
an established set of securities firms stay in
Texas.
But again, this is just some ideas, but
it seems that it's going to be definitely
(17:35):
some interesting conversations that are going to pop
from this.
And Dutch regulators cracked down on DeepSeek.
The Netherlands Privacy Authority has launched an investigation
into DeepSeek's AI data collection practices, warning users
to be cautious.
This follows Italy's ban on DeepSeek's app and
(17:55):
similar action by regulators in Ireland and France.
European law requires that citizens' data be stored
abroad only under strict conditions and DeepSeek's compliance
is now under scrutiny.
Authorities across the European Union are sharing information
as they assess the company's handling of sensitive
(18:17):
data.
I wouldn't want to be in those shoes.
Number six, LinkedIn lawsuit over a training has
been dismissed, AI training.
Yes.
The lawsuit that was originally put through for
the alleged AI training was dismissed, a lawsuit
(18:38):
accusing LinkedIn of violating user privacy by using
premium members' private messages to train AI models
has been dismissed.
By the way, in case you didn't know,
Microsoft Corporation actually owns LinkedIn.
It's not a secret, but it's not easy
to find that unless you go pretty far
deep on their site.
(18:59):
They don't make that very obvious.
The plaintiff withdrew the case just days after
following LinkedIn's strong denial of any wrongdoing.
LinkedIn provided evidence that it never used private
messages for AI training, leading to the lawsuit's
dismissal.
The case had sparked concerns about AI and
data privacy, but LinkedIn insists that it remains
(19:21):
committed to transparency.
Right now, it seems like there's no challenging
them, but are they really being truthful?
Well, unfortunately only time will tell, but I
can tell you one thing, LinkedIn and Microsoft,
if you are trying to hide something, you
won't be able to hide forever because we
all know what happened to Google and many
(19:42):
of the other companies.
They eventually will figure it out, and when
they do, well, it won't just be some
of those small fines that you can pay
with your pocket change.
You'll need to go into some full deep
reserves of your company.
I hope for your sake, Microsoft and LinkedIn,
that you're being truthful to everyone, but only
(20:03):
time will tell.
Number seven for this week, the DOJ, the
Department of Justice of the United States, sues
to block the HPE Juniper merger.
The United States Department of Justice is suing
to block Hewlett Packard's enterprise $14 billion acquisition
of Juniper Networks, arguing it would create a
near monopoly in the networking equipment market alongside
(20:26):
Cisco.
HPE and Juniper argue that the deal will
boost competition and innovation, but US regulators are
pushing back hard.
While European and UK authorities have approved the
deal, the legal battle in the US is
expected to stretch on for months.
Let's talk about this for a second.
It's funny, when things are going to go
(20:47):
south for, let's say, things that would have
to do with stuff to protect them, then
they suddenly don't want to do it.
But when it's not going to affect them
and it might affect someone else, then they're
okay with it.
(21:08):
I just think that's complete nonsense.
But we'll have to see what they're doing
and why they're doing it.
Personally, I think the monopoly right now with
Cisco is nuts.
I think the HPE merger that they're trying
to do, I think also would be a
bad idea.
(21:30):
HPE reminds me very similar to Amazon.
It's like they want to get their hands
in things.
HPE is trying to become another Cisco, if
you didn't know it.
HPE is trying to become another Cisco.
Cisco makes its money not by being the
leader in the field.
What you probably didn't know about Cisco is
(21:50):
that they are very targeted at buying technology
up from other companies, smaller and medium-sized
companies, and then they put that under their
umbrella and they pretty much gain market share.
That's the secret.
Well number eight this week, Avride rolls out
(22:13):
food delivery robots actually at colleges.
Autonomous delivery startup Avride is teaming up with
Grubhub to deploy 100 self-driving food delivery
robots on U.S. college campuses.
This move aims to address labor shortages, reduce
delivery costs, and cut reliance on cars for
(22:34):
short-distance orders.
The partnership kicks off at Ohio State University
with plans for expansion.
Avride, which spun out of Russian tech firm
Yandex, has already completed over 200,000 deliveries
worldwide and is also working with Uber on
robotic food delivery and ride-sharing projects.
(22:57):
I don't know.
I'm not sure how well that's going to
go.
I saw this in the very beginning and
they had this little robot, to be honest
with you, that looks kind of cute looking.
And so it was like this little white
box pretty much.
And so, you know, I think it's going
(23:19):
to have some limitations.
So the Yandex spinoff is switching from six
wheels to four.
And so Avride, the robotics company, as I
said, spun out of the Russian search giant
Yandex.
It has this new sidewalk delivery robot to
show itself off.
(23:39):
So again, it's going to need to be
on a campus.
It's going to need to be somewhere.
It can't obviously be, you know, on major
highways.
The new robot has four wheels, which Avride
says is more energy efficient than its six
-wheeled model.
And the six-wheeled version were simple to
build and could turn confidently on a variety
(24:01):
of surfaces.
But they also create a lot of friction,
which ate up a lot of energy.
So the new four-wheel designs are much
more efficient in their energy consumption, they say,
which means they can stay in operation a
lot longer before needing to be recharged.
The robot's wheels are mounted on movable arms
attached to a pivoting axle, which is kind
(24:21):
of cool.
And the new generation model can turn 180
degrees almost instantaneously.
Think of that like turning a boat on
a dime, right, which the company actually says
will improve the robot's ability to navigate narrow
sidewalks and reverse out of the way for
someone in a wheelchair or perhaps a stroller.
(24:42):
The company also made improvements to the robot's
control system for improved torque and updated the
hardware with NVIDIA's Jetson Orangen platform.
The various eye expressions not only bring the
robot to life, but also create a sense
of interaction for clients.
Avride's new robots are being manufactured, guess where,
(25:02):
in Taiwan and are expected to join its
Austin-based fleet in the coming days.
Avride's spokesperson, Yulia Zhukova, said the company expects
to have at least a hundred deployed.
Basically, they're saying now by the end of
January, now getting to February.
So I haven't seen them, but I guess
(25:22):
they're slowly starting to appear, again, just because
I haven't seen them doesn't mean they're not
around.
But they are apparently on college campuses.
And I wonder if they're going to come
to any campuses in New Jersey.
I don't know.
So you have to have the right kind
of environment for this.
(25:44):
And although I think it's an interesting concept,
I do see that it can be a
little bit of a disaster because, you know,
you've got to have places that are local
to where you're going, right?
You know, if it's a college campus and
you're trying to deliver from one side to
another, I get it.
There's some sense to that.
(26:04):
But the question is, you know, is this
going to be something that people want or
is this going to just be another fad?
I don't know.
I definitely like the idea.
I think it's very catchy.
I like the idea that they have these,
you know, eyes that kind of interact with
the clients on the street.
So we'll have to see, you know, what
(26:24):
happens with it.
We're going to have to see how it
responds.
And we're also going to see, you know,
is it something that's going to be profitable?
I think they're also trying to roll these
out like in New York in some areas,
because again, there it's pretty easy.
But the question is, you know, how do
you keep the robot safe, especially if it's
on the street?
I see just a whole complexity of challenges
(26:47):
with this robot.
I don't think it was designed to actually
be on the same street that cars drive.
And I think that's probably the biggest thing
that I can tell you.
And getting off to our nine story, which
I know you're not going to want to
miss GM.
Yes.
General Motors shifts their focus to Super Cruise
driver assistance.
After the failure of its robo taxi division,
(27:10):
GM is shifting its strategy to focus on
Super Cruise, its hands free driver assistance system.
The company aims to generate two billion in
annual revenue from this technology within five years.
Super Cruise, which competes with Tesla's Autopilot, offers
advanced safety features and is available on 20
(27:31):
GM models.
Customers receive three years of free access before
transitioning to a subscription based model, positioning it
as a high margin revenue system.
But we all know that, you know, a
lot of these manufacturers, they want you to
get a new car, right?
So even the one like I just got
(27:53):
recently, they actually gave me all of my
features that I could, you know, send addresses
to the car and stuff.
The only thing I didn't get free is
if I wanted the concierge service, which is
basically allows you to press a button and
then they can make reservations.
But I have to tell you, do I
really want somebody from another country like Malaysia,
(28:14):
China or India making a recommendation on a
restaurant based on some website or script they
read?
I don't really think so.
So we're going to have to see, you
know, what's going to happen.
And I think what a lot of people
are going to find out is that.
It's important to understand what your customer wants,
(28:39):
and I can tell you one thing, that
is something that I decided, you know, hands
down.
That I did not want, I did not
want it at all, and so.
There are four features, you know, that enable
the super cruise, super cruise functions with OnStar,
(29:02):
and it uses real time cameras, sensors, global
positioning satellites, GPS and LIDAR map data to
help detect curves, helping make long drives and
commutes on compatible roads more comfortable.
So the super cruise driver assistive technology, as
I said, uses these interesting features.
But the question I have is, how much
(29:25):
is it after the after the free trial?
And.
That's something that they're not sharing too much,
but if I had to guess, I know
Tesla charges $10 a month.
I think they are probably going to go
somewhere around $25, $30 a month for connectivity.
(29:48):
Tesla's full driving rated below the GM super
cruise is $100 a month.
So that could mean that they could easily
charge $200.
So by the time you're done with all
the fees, we could be talking $220, $230
a month.
Do people really want to pay fees for
something?
I mean, this is almost as bad as
(30:10):
there's a car out there.
I'm not sure if they still do it.
There's a vehicle.
You don't get your power seats unless you
pay a monthly fee for them.
Now, I think that's stupid.
So they had introduced this concept a while
(30:31):
back, and so although it didn't seem like
a bad idea for many people, I don't
like the idea you spend all this money
on a car.
And now you've got to pay like $10
a week to be able to use some
of the features like memory seat recall, like
when you go to your car automatically brings
(30:53):
the steering wheel and and the seat to
the exact position that you pre-programmed with
the with the fob for driver one or
driver two, or maybe not being able to
use the heated seat or cooling seat feature.
I don't know.
It's interesting.
(31:13):
The German automaker Audi, as you know, admitted
that it would be adding more paywall features
to cars currently on the road.
Oliver Hoffman, Audi's board rep for technical development,
said, quote, I think there's a demand from
the customer to bring new functions in the
car.
And this is a profit pool for us.
(31:35):
Though Hoffman's job is keeping the shareholders happy,
he was very hesitant to name the features
you'll soon have to pay for through the
my Audi app.
But here's a clue.
In some markets, Audi's charge extra for certain
HVAC features.
Now, we know that the automaker will pioneer
this transition on its e-tron EVs.
(31:59):
BMW finally backed down and sees charging eight
dollars a month for heated seats.
I mean, come on.
And eight dollars a year for Apple CarPlay.
I mean, that's ridiculous.
Even though BMW is paywalling fewer features than
Audi, you still must pay $19 a month
to use your BMW's existing camera as a
dash cam.
(32:19):
Really, BMW?
Really, really, BMW?
So when it comes to the Japanese automakers,
Toyota is one of the worst subscription fee
offenders.
If you already drive a 2018 present Toyota,
you're about to get hit with fees up
the yin yang for functions that were previously
free.
(32:40):
The automaker is bundling a bunch of app
based functions into its Toyota Remote Connect app
and charging eight dollars a month or eight
dollars a year for it all.
Now, these functions include things like remote start,
vehicle start alerts, valet mode, last parked location
reminder and unlocking with your phone.
Mercedes-Benz, a monthly fee for an app
(33:01):
that turns your phone into a key fob
or gives you OnStar roadside.
That's ridiculous.
Porsche has relatively standard subscription features available in
its Porsche Connect phone.
But unlike Toyota, you'll have to pay an
extra fee for each one.
For example, enabling your car's Wi-Fi hotspot
is just twenty dollars a month.
(33:22):
Infotainment and navigation are two or five dollars
a year and theft detection is 280.
Come on, Porsche.
I mean, come on, you're you're charging a
lot for the car.
Why are you trying to rip people off
with subscriptions just because you can?
So my words to the wise here is
(33:42):
that if you are looking to lease or
buy a car, make sure that you understand
what's coming in that vehicle and what's not
coming in that vehicle, because I bet you're
not going to be too happy if that
car you spent all this money or the
SUV you spent all this money on suddenly
doesn't give you the function that it did
after those first 30 days.
(34:04):
And Vodafone makes the first satellite video call.
This is really cool.
Vodafone has achieved a major milestone by making
the world's first satellite video call using a
standard smartphone.
The call made from a remote location with
no cellular signal was enabled by AST Space
Mobile's Bluebird satellites, offering speeds up to 120
(34:27):
megabits per second.
Vodafone plans to expand this satellite network across
Europe in 2025, aiming to provide full mobile
connectivity in areas where traditional networks fail.
So the question you're maybe asking is, is
Vodafone, and this is a great question, is
Vodafone, you know, Vodafone satellite calling available in
(34:54):
the U.S.? And so.
They're working on it, it appears that it's
not been directly marketed, but it'll be interesting
to see what they're doing, what their plans
are to use 4G and 5G smartphones.
(35:15):
You know, satellites have been around for a
while.
Dedicated satellite phones can be a large, chunky,
heavy and expensive device.
I remember my very first cell phone that
I had was actually a it was an
NEC cell phone.
Any of you guys remember those NEC cell
(35:35):
phones?
Well, they were not cheap.
An NEC large, I think it was a
large car or like portable cell phone costed,
I'm trying to remember how much I paid
for it.
But again, it was not cheap.
This was like this big brick that you
had to carry with you.
And this device, if I remember correctly, it
(35:58):
was about five thousand dollars.
OK, without the installation, without the extra kits,
because you had things like, you know, a
special hookup so that when you're away from
your car, it could honk the horn, all
this other garbage.
So then there was a Motorola that had
(36:20):
one, I remember my dad had one that
he got and.
He locked himself out and then I had
to reprogram the phone because he somehow locked
the phone and because this phone would go
with you, it wasn't like in the car.
First of all, people could steal it.
And second of all, it was not digital.
It was analog.
So people could clone the information very easily.
(36:42):
We have New York City very close to
us.
And back when cell phones were only analog,
they had people sitting literally outside the tunnels
and they'd be there ready to grab your
signal.
And so I would get back home and
usually within a day or two, I would
get my bill, which would usually be, you
(37:05):
know, one fee.
Well, the next time I got my bill,
which would be a couple of weeks later,
my bill went up by like five thousand
dollars.
And I was like, but I only went
here.
I went to the city.
I came back.
Bam.
Yeah, they that's the time when everybody was
charging lots of money for roaming calls.
Of course, I got it reversed, but it
(37:26):
was a complete hassle to do this.
And so I must have gotten cloned so
many times.
I was so pleased when cell phones went
digital.
All right.
But it'll be very interesting to see, you
know, what Bluebirds satellites are going to do.
And again, they're only offering speeds up to
120 megabits per second.
(37:48):
Now, you might say, gee, John, that's not
good.
And you're right.
It's not good.
But here's the thing.
You have to realize that they're now doing
a service through a satellite.
And using satellites, let's face it, that is
not cheap.
If we had to guess, you know, how
much does it cost to make a call
(38:14):
on, you know, via satellite?
It's not cheap.
It is not cheap.
You're talking anywhere from, let's say, four dollars
and fifty cents a minute.
And there's some providers like AT&T that
charge as much as eleven dollars and forty
(38:34):
nine cents per minute.
Now, that's without all the other nonsense.
I think you might want to ask me
is how much is a four one one
call on a satellite?
You don't want to know.
Every call, OK, per minute starts at four
fifty and they now charge, if I remember
(38:56):
correctly.
So Verizon charges, I believe, I think it's
two dollars for four one one now.
I think that's what they're charging.
I don't use it.
But, you know, and then now they want
to raise it for four for four one
one, you know, directory assistance.
(39:18):
So, you know, I remember when you used
to get so many free, they actually they
went up.
It's actually two ninety nine that Verizon charges
for directory assistance.
And I don't know.
I think that's crazy.
And so imagine you making phone calls.
And then the thing I hated with the
(39:38):
directory assistance, which you'd call is like you
would give it your they would say business
or residence.
So I'd say business name and listing.
So I would say our business name and
city or whatever it was.
So I would say whatever it was in
the city.
And then I would either get the automated
recording saying the number you have dialed is
(39:59):
to automatically complete be completed to this transfer
to this number for no additional charge.
Press one.
And then they started saying to be transferred
to this call for an additional 50 cents.
Press this.
I'm like, for what?
So I quickly discovered a new way to
(40:22):
get numbers.
And you could do it from your phone
when you're parked safely, or you could just
dial one hundred three four one one.
So one hundred three four one one is
a free call.
The company actually makes its money by having
(40:45):
you listen to a short advertisement before the
call gets transferred.
That's how they work.
Here's something that I think is going to
blow your mind.
Now, many of us are gamers.
I love to play games and I'm sure
you do, too.
Or you have friends or family members or
kids that love to play games.
Imagine sitting at your game and having that
(41:08):
game give off a scent.
I'm not kidding you.
A smell based gaming immersion research.
At the Warwick University, researchers are developing technology
that integrates scents into video games to enhance
realism.
Come on.
(41:29):
So their custom made headsets release scents like
petrol, rubber.
Or even new car smell during gameplay, creating
a more immersive experience, they say, for racing
and simulation games.
While previous attempts at smell based gaming failed,
this new system can switch between scents quickly,
(41:50):
open the door for commercial applications.
I see this going a lot further.
I mean, this can get into kid games.
This can get into things that literally can
have you smell certain food.
I mean, there's lots of potentials with this.
We knew that we were at a 1D
world, then a 2D world, now a 3D
world.
We're moving into a 5D world where we
(42:10):
now have the ability to probably even get
things like proportionality of where you are, feelings
with sensors.
We remember going to Disney and I remember
the first time I went to a Bug's
Life and literally the bugs were coming out
of the, let's say, the chair you were
sitting in, which are basically like a little
(42:31):
plastic thing that you felt hitting the back
of your leg or butt.
And that was just very eerie.
Another time you're sitting in the front and
then the bug basically sprayed you.
It was like an air, but it smelled
terrible.
So this is not new, but I think
they're trying to get people to um, game
(42:56):
in a different way.
And I imagine that this is going to
probably be a very profitable thing.
Now here's something I don't know if you
know, casinos spend how much a month on
piping in cents to their, their venue.
(43:17):
This will blow your mind.
Are you ready?
Yes.
So casinos use cents to keep you relaxed
and gambling longer.
There's a science behind scent marketing and the
practice of using sense to influence consumer behavior
known as set marketing is not exclusive to
(43:39):
casinos, stores, hotels, and even car dealerships have
used pleasant aromas to create a specific atmosphere
or enhance the customer experience.
Think about when maybe you went to buy
a home or maybe you're selling your home
and there, they said, the realtor said to
put an apple pie in the oven or
something like that, so that made somebody feel
really good.
(44:00):
Uh, there was a well-known experiment conducted
by Dr. Alan Hirsch of the smell and
taste treatment and research foundation in Chicago and
demonstrated the potential impacts of sense on casino
behavior.
Hirsch found out the effects of scent on
gamblers in Las Vegas by introducing a pleasant
smell into certain areas of the casino and
(44:22):
leaving other areas unscented really affected things.
The results were pretty incredible.
The areas with the pleasant aroma saw a
significant increase in slot machine revenue and an
increase of all around 45% compared to
the unscented areas.
So why does sense work?
Sense have a direct connection to the brain's
limbic system, which is responsible for emotions and
(44:42):
memory.
And this means that a specific smell can
trigger emotional responses that may influence behavior.
For example, a relaxing lavender scent might help
you reduce anxiety.
Doctors offices, hospitals are doing this.
Alternatively, a fresh citrus smell might energize players
and keep them alert and engaged.
(45:02):
Casinos understand this connection and they even pipe
in certain things from like the Orient that
have a very strong sell.
Um, they spend anywhere from 5,000 to
20,000 and some even more.
Um, so do casinos use sense to keep
you gambling longer based on the available evidence,
it appears to be more fact than fiction
(45:23):
scent marketing is a powerful tool that casinos
use to enhance the gaming experience and potentially
yes, increase revenue, or at least improve the
mood of their patrons.
And what does that do makes you want
to spend more money while it may not
be something that every player is consciously aware
of the impact of scent on emotions and
behavior is very well documented.
(45:45):
And I think we need to be aware.
I remember going to the casino.
I'm not a gambler.
And I remember going there and I remember,
um, just going there and just playing to
lose like 20 or $50.
And suddenly I remember being very, like very
alert and awake.
And I said, I know what this is.
They're piping sense in.
And a friend of mine was actually selling
(46:05):
these scents.
Uh, they do this now in a lot
of, uh, retail stores.
Why do they do this?
Because you're going to buy more, right?
Uh, there's a company out there, uh, the
scent air system, uh, Disney, uh, does this.
And so, um, it's, it's very interesting.
(46:26):
Uh, Disney uses something, they call it smellizers.
So the park smells very good.
Maybe you've tried to figure out what makes
Disney parks smell so good.
Well, it's really interesting.
You've ever been to any Disney parks around
the world.
You probably with popcorn along main street, or
maybe you caught the scent of burning as
you pass by Rome on a spaceship earth,
(46:48):
whatever smells you sniff, you might be wondering
how Disney creates these.
And it's interesting.
They have something called the Disney smellitizer.
They're essentially systems of pressurized air mixed with
a fan system.
And that pump sense through the parks, but
there's way more to these nifty machines than
(47:08):
first meets the eye.
And I'd like to share this with you.
So one of the thing that they have
is Disney smellitizers aren't so much a thing
as they are a process that involves airflow,
pressurizing and exhaust systems.
So creating sense of Disney is important as
it is essentially bringing about a feeling of
nostalgia.
(47:29):
Smellitizers combine a strong smelling substance that smells
like popcorn or something else with a powerful
source of air and the air has to
be moving at a pressurized way, like a
powerful fan.
The, um, action from this propels the scent
toward the guest while an exhaust sucks it
back in, and this means the smell won't
get contaminated or lost.
(47:50):
You smell these scents during shows like, uh,
Philharmonic, the Muppets, Vision 3D.
So it's important that imagineers get the right
things to you.
Believe it or not.
Disney has tested over 3000 cents before landing
on the final ones.
How do they really work?
Disney keeps their smelling technology under wraps.
(48:11):
As you can imagine, the smellitizer relies on
a reservoir of scented liquid that flows through
a compressor, uh, air inlet, and it's then
pushed in front of a special fan.
Uh, this then flows through the canopy of
the ride or areas and the mechanism before
being drawn toward the guest.
(48:31):
So Disney smellitizers, um, the most magical science
on earth.
Disney feeds the smells into a nozzle that's
connected to a reservoir upstream of the nozzle
of 65 to 70, uh, roughly.
Okay.
And then, uh, they use compressed air that's
fed into the system, which pulls the scented
(48:53):
material from the reservoir and pushes it through
a nozzle and toward a fan.
The air moves, the scented air will then
pass through the fan and out toward the
gap in the system.
After it's released, they instantly, um, get that
amazing smell and it's fed back before it's
all over.
Exhaust pulls the scented air back to the
reduce the contamination before the process starts all
(49:15):
over again.
This is pretty amazing.
So, uh, there are many companies that offer,
uh, professional, um, scent air systems.
And so, um, they're not terribly expensive, but
you know, um, one of them is air
(49:35):
scent, uh, and, and there's lots of them
out there and you can buy these for
your home.
Um, and they have catalogs of, you know,
different fragrances.
In fact, there's certain fragrances that are only
available to the business subscription.
Well, number 12, AI generated fake content misleads
(49:58):
us teens.
A new study by common sense media reveals
that 35% of American teens have been
misled by AI generated fake content while 41
% encountered real, but misleading information.
The rise of AI generated videos, images, and
deep fake news is fueling distrust in big
tech with many teens admitting and knowingly shared
(50:20):
false content.
The study highlights the urgent need for better
content verification and transparency on social media, AI
power, deep fake scams are on the rise,
AI power, social engineering attacks, or becoming more
sophisticated from deep fake political recording, swaying elections
to AI generated ransom calls, mimicking family members,
uh, cyber criminals are using AI to manipulate
(50:42):
victims, get into bank accounts.
That's why I was telling people don't record
your voice as a, as a password voice
print.
Um, they're using AI to manipulate victims.
Other scams include AI chatbots, stealing login credentials
and deep fake impersonations, tricking employees into wiring
millions to fraudsters.
And these cases highlight the growing risk of
(51:04):
AI driven cybercrime.
And it's getting worse every day.
Global cybercrime forums shut down law enforcement agencies
from multiple countries have now shut down several
major hacking forums, including cracked and nulled, which
facilitated cybercrime operations.
(51:24):
And these platforms had millions of users.
And they were the key hubs for selling
stolen data, hacking tools and malware and the
international operation, which led to mobile arrests and
seizures of cryptocurrency and illegal funds.
It's part of a broader effort to curb
cyber crime.
(51:47):
So I think this comes back to the
fact that we need to be cognizant about
our information.
We need to understand who we're sharing it
with, why we're sharing it.
I think these are very, uh, important things
to understand.
Uh, and if we don't understand that, then
we're going to have a problem.
(52:08):
We're definitely going to have a problem.
So if we're aware, I think that is
probably the best thing I can tell you.
Being aware is the key.
Okay.
It definitely is the key.
And so when we think about, you know,
(52:29):
the fact that these no gooders do this
stuff.
So they're going to do it, whether you
are aware or whether you're not aware.
And so I think if you're aware of
it, at least you can, you know, change
your behaviors.
And our thoughts basically cause our behaviors to
(52:53):
go one way or another.
The reason why a lot of these bad
actors are so successful is because nobody is
stopping them.
That's probably the biggest thing that I can
tell you right now.
Nobody is stopping them.
So we need to grab the bull by
the horns and we need to start understanding
that the data we feed into AI systems.
(53:17):
Okay.
The data we feed in, we need to
understand who's using that system, what they're doing
with it, why they're using it, and are
they selling it to anybody?
I think these are all very, very, um,
important things to realize.
And so just like when I talked to
you about the casinos and using, is what
(53:39):
they're doing illegal?
No, but the fact that I've told you
now that there are systems in place, there's
even certain audio in place that'll actually make
you want to gamble more.
Is that illegal?
No, it's not illegal.
It's just a way of changing our behavior.
Now, if I had to think about that,
I'd say that it's kind of manipulating us,
(54:02):
right?
So if you're aware that this is happening
and suddenly you notice that you don't like
to gamble, but now you suddenly want to
gamble so much, you should ask yourself a
question.
Why am I suddenly so compelled to gamble
when I usually hate gambling?
And what I'm going to tell you is
that there's something in the environment, something you
(54:25):
may or may not be aware of.
That's the truth.
That is the bottom line.
You may not want to hear that, but
you have to realize that there are things
out there that are going to be used
to exploit you.
There's the sense systems I told you about
that.
The limbic system is very powerful.
(54:46):
We all know that if you go to
a music park and you smell cotton candy,
or you smell funnel cake, and you like
funnel cake, and you smell that again, all
those nostalgia feelings are going to rush back.
When you go to a fun house and
all those different smells come in, some smells
give us fear, some smells give us pleasure.
(55:10):
So when we know that this happens, at
least we have the ability and the choice
to stay in it or not.
So if I'm at a restaurant and suddenly
I know that I like to eat ice
cream, but I had, let's say, two scoops
(55:31):
of ice cream.
Suddenly I want to order another one.
Wait a minute, that's more than I normally
eat.
Why am I doing this?
There's something in this environment.
This isn't like me to want to eat
again.
So this happens with certain foods.
Did you know that?
Yes, there are certain companies that put ingredients
(55:55):
in food to make you want to eat
more.
Basically, what does it do?
It makes them addictive to you.
So foods are packed with added sugar and
salt triggers the brain's reward system, setting a
cycle of craving and addiction.
(56:16):
And when there's too much of that, well,
the body goes on overload.
So we've got to be the governor and
say, look, this isn't the way my body
normally functions.
Why is this happening?
What am I doing?
And that's the real key, ladies and gentlemen.
That is the key.
Well, we covered a lot here today.
(56:39):
And, you know, artificial intelligence in itself is
not good.
It's not bad.
It is a tool.
And how we choose to use it that
makes it so.
If we understand that all the technology in
our world can either help us or hurt
us, depending on its application, then we're a
(57:00):
lot smarter than most.
But the reason that we fall victim or
guilty to this is because we just see
and feel the pleasure that we don't realize
what's going on.
If you go to a donut shop and
suddenly you're eating so many donuts, what's going
on?
Well, you're smelling all the donuts, right?
And that can be a huge, huge problem.
(57:23):
Same thing happens, ladies and gentlemen, with social
media.
Why do kids and even adults keep going
back and they scroll?
Well, they get this high.
Oh, my gosh, you got this like, I
got this like.
Oh, this is amazing.
It's amazing.
Oh, my gosh, I feel really good.
And so I think maybe you can understand
that that is causing you to respond like,
(57:43):
oh, my gosh, I got to go check
my phone.
I got to go see if somebody liked
my post.
It's OK to do that.
But when it becomes addictive, then that's a
serious problem.
Ladies and gentlemen, you know who I am
by now.
I'm John Seymour.
Sir, launch more.
It's always such a privilege.
And it's always such a pleasure to be
with you here on the more tech talk
show, as well as many of my other
shows.
(58:04):
So more tech talk airs every Friday night.
But you can always catch it on lots
of different places that we have it, like
believemeachieve.com.
We're on many different cable stations.
And I would invite you to definitely check
this out because our show will give you
the insights so you can use technology smarter
(58:26):
and wiser.
I hope that you have an amazing rest
of your night and a fantastic weekend.
And when it comes to technology, remember, it's
a tool.
And how you choose to use it will
make it good or make it bad.
Let's make sure we always use it for
the right reasons.
Hi everyone, I'm John Seymour, the host of
The JMOR Tech Talk Show and Inspirations
for Your Life.
(00:48):
Hey guys, how are you?
It is John C. Morley here, serial entrepreneur.
Welcome to The JMOR Tech Talk Show
and today is February 7th, 2025.
And you know what that means, ladies and
gentlemen?
Well, we are on series four, which you
guys know we've been on for quite a
few weeks.
(01:08):
But the other interesting thing that I think
is very interesting to share with you guys
is not only that, but we're on, yes,
show number six.
That's pretty cool.
All right.
So this is the show where we talk
about all those great things with technology.
We educate you, we inform, and we make
(01:29):
you alert about things that you probably shouldn't
do or that you should do.
And we give you lots of information to
help you use technology better and smarter.
From AI-driven cybercrime crackdowns to groundbreaking tech
innovations, this week is pumped with the best
(01:51):
JMOR Tech Talk Show stories.
So we'll dive into the biggest headlines, shaking
up the digital world, whether it's the UK
-making AI-generated child abuse content, a crime,
meta spyware battle, or Vodafone's first satellite video
call, we've got it all covered.
So just sit back, go get yourself something
to eat or drink from the kitchen, whether
(02:13):
it's something sweet, whether it's something hot, cold,
or maybe it's just a piece of healthy
fruit.
Whatever it is, go get it and come
on back as you tune into the expert
insights, bold discussions, and the latest in tech
that you won't want to miss.
I am your host, John Seymour, a serial
(02:33):
entrepreneur.
I'm a podcast coach and a podcast host,
and it's great to be with you.
Be sure to check out BelieveMeAchieved.com for
my amazing, inspiring creations, as well as to
catch replays of this show and all the
other shows that I produce.
So you can catch the latest episode within
24 hours of us airing on the audio
(02:55):
format, which will be on the podcast networks,
which you can obviously find out by visiting
BelieveMeAchieved.com.
So ladies and gentlemen, this title this week
is amazing, right?
AI Cybercrime, Innovations, the Tech Shifts You Need
to Know.
And so the first thing I want to
talk about is, yes, the UK bans the
(03:18):
AI-generated child abuse material.
The UK has taken a bold step in
the fight against crime and the exploitation by
becoming the first country to outlaw AI-generated
child abuse content.
The new law criminalizes the possession, creation, and
(03:38):
distribution of explicit AI-generated images of minors,
including tools that manipulate real photos.
This crackdown comes in response to a five
-fold increase in AI-generated abuse material in
the past year, raising concerns about the growing
use of AI in cybercrimes.
Now ladies and gentlemen, even if the photo
(03:58):
you had was not of someone nude, these
AI technologies are able to look at the
image and basically remove the clothing and actually
show you what they synthesize from what is
expected to be there in an adult photo.
So I think it's great that they are
(04:20):
doing this.
I think it's something they should have done
a long time ago.
But the question is, when will the rest
of the US catch up with this?
I don't know.
My question is, when will, let's just say,
when will the United States ban AI child,
(04:47):
let's say, material that is explicit?
And I don't have an answer for you.
So they have had talks in, I believe
it was Colorado, that they were going to
be criminalizing AI-generated or computer-edited child
(05:08):
sexual abuse material.
So this is something that had been ascertained
a while back.
And so right now it's been documented that
37 states have enacted the laws that criminalize
AI-generated or computer-edited CSAM, while 13
states and D.C. have not.
More than half of these states were enacted
(05:29):
in 2024.
And this reflects strong concern by legislators and
advocates about the significant increase in the creation,
production, and dissemination of these child exploitation materials.
The NCMEC, that is the National Center for
Missing and Exploited Children, reports that in 2023
alone, it received 4,700 ports of CSAM
(05:53):
involving generative AI technologies.
So a lot of the bad actors are
now generating, altering content that is perfectly legitimate
just because, well, let's face it, they have
something wrong with them.
They use parts of images of real children,
(06:13):
and then they use images of other people.
And it's just not right.
These are sexually explicit depictions involving children.
And if no physical abuse occurs during their
creation, it has significant psychological and long-term
impacts on the children depicted.
Artificially generated or computer-edited CSAM further re
(06:35):
-victimize actual child victims as their images are
collected from the internet and studied by artificial
intelligence tools to create their new images.
Now, child predators can also use artificially generated
or computer-edited CSAM to extort minors and
their families for financial gains.
So the question is, what's going on?
And I think the real issue is that
(06:57):
people have got to get smart and understand
that this technology is out there and people
are abusing it.
So this is why we want to report
this to you and let you know that
every state should be criminalizing basically any exploitation
of the technology of AI to create materials
(07:19):
that are not appropriate for anyone to be
looking at.
All right.
Number two, Meta's WhatsApp exposes spyware attacks.
Meta's WhatsApp has uncovered a major spyware attack
orchestrated by Israeli firm Paragon Solutions.
The attack, which targeted over around 90 users,
(07:42):
including journalists and civil society members in over
two dozen countries, used a zero-click hacking
method, meaning victims were infected without even opening
a message.
That's insane.
So WhatsApp successfully disrupted the attack, issued a
cease and desist to Paragon and referred affected
(08:02):
users to the cybersecurity watchdog Citizen Lab.
This case further fuels concerns about spyware misuse
against activists and opposition figures.
But the question, ladies and gentlemen, is, you
know, it's a matter of pointing fingers, right?
Was it this person?
Was it that person?
And so as much as we sometimes don't
(08:25):
agree with Facebook and Meta, it seems like
they did do what they were supposed to
do, which was issue that cease and desist
when apparently the Israeli firm Paragon Solutions had
unfortunately allowed that attack to go through.
So I have a real, real big problem
(08:48):
with that.
And you know, this is going to start
happening more and more and more.
Unfortunately, it's going to happen more and more.
And the reason it's going to happen more
and more is because of things that I
feel are going to make our world, let's
(09:11):
say, retreat a little bit.
That's probably the best thing that I can
tell you.
So that's a very important thing.
And number three, ladies and gentlemen, today is
South Korea investigates DeepSeek AI.
South Korea's privacy watchdog is taking a closer
look at Chinese AI firm DeepSeek over concerns
(09:33):
about its data handling practices.
Now, this move follows similar investigations in France,
Italy and Ireland, where regulators are scrutinizing how
the company collects and stores personal information.
DeepSeek, known for its cost effective AI models,
is also facing allegations of using restricted AI
(09:55):
chips, ladies and gentlemen, leading U.S. lawmakers
to push for further restrictions on Nvidia chip
exports.
So that's a whole other horse of a
different color, but it's something we've got to
be concerned about.
This is why President Trump is putting all
these, let's say, restrictions on the exports.
(10:16):
It's not just for money, but it's also
for our privacy and for our security.
Number four, Meta considers leaving Delaware for Texas.
Why would they do that?
Well, Meta is reportedly exploring a move to
reincorporate in Texas or another state leaving behind
its current home in Delaware.
The decision, which follows a similar move by
(10:38):
Tesla and SpaceX under the Elon Musk rule,
is seen as a strategic effort to take
advantage of Texas' business friendly legal environment.
While Meta has no plans to relocate its
headquarters in California, the shift could offer tax
governance benefits.
So this is very, very interesting.
(11:02):
A lot of people will form corporations in
Delaware because of the rules.
And this may be something that you're not
familiar with, but it's something that I think
everyone should be aware of.
And so that's what they're doing.
When we think about the whole concept of
(11:24):
them reincorporating, it's pretty interesting.
It's a very interesting thing.
As I said, Meta is talking about moving
its legal headquarters away from Delaware, according to
Bloomberg.
Now, they're, you know, milling over the idea
to move from a state that has built
(11:44):
a favorable reputation among corporations for its tax
benefits and lacks incorporation requirements.
The social media company has talked with Texas
officials regarding a potential move to the Lone
Star State.
The Wall Street Journal had cited unnamed people
are familiar with the matter.
Meta has also considered a reincorporation in other
(12:06):
states.
And it was reported, though, that it did
not specify which states were up for consideration.
Meta had told Forbes recently that there were
no plans to move its corporate headquarters, which
is located about 30 miles of San Francisco,
California.
So it looks like they just want to
reincorporate in Texas only.
That's the truth because of the tax benefits.
(12:28):
So you might be asking me, so, you
know, what are the tax benefits that would
make Meta want to reincorporate in Texas?
I mean, what are they?
And I think that's an interesting thing because,
you know, has to do with the structure.
(12:52):
And so the thing is, you know, Delaware
was always this safe state, right?
But now Texas, Texas has lots of benefits
for businesses to incorporate there.
And, you know, some of the advantages, just
(13:15):
to go through them, not to spend too
much time, one is a favorable tax climate.
You don't have to pay any tax on
the money you make through your startup company
in Texas.
This opens the door for businesses to recruit
top talent without having to worry about losing
profits.
So again, you don't have to pay any
tax on the money you make through your
(13:36):
startup company in Texas.
The other advantage is Texas Enterprise Fund, it's
called TEF.
The Texas Enterprise Fund is the real advantage
that can strengthen the roots of businesses, especially
in terms of providing cash grants.
The TEF is basically a financial incentive tool
where a cash grant is provided for those
(13:57):
projects that promise significant job creation, as well
as capital investment.
Are there disadvantages of incorporating in Texas?
Well, I'm sure there may be, but it
seems like there's a lot of benefits.
There are several advantages and only a few
disadvantages.
If you choose to incorporate your business from
a sole proprietorship and then file the fee,
(14:20):
it's a little quite steep for some.
It's $300.
Along with this, the process of incorporating your
startup company in Texas will require more time
as compared to other forms of businesses, since
corporations in Texas are monitored by the state,
local, and federal agencies.
There's more paperwork to be done, and it
has to be insured correctly that all documents
(14:41):
are in compliance with state regulations.
This makes some interesting questions arise.
Is it better to incorporate in Texas or
Delaware?
Because Delaware was always the place to be,
right?
People ask this question, what should I do?
(15:03):
I think the biggest thing is that there
are a lot of interesting rules, as I
mentioned to you, in Texas, and they're not
things that you can just decide overnight.
While organizing your startup as a Delaware corporation
might sound good now, the downside is that
you might be required to double up on
(15:23):
business organization filings later on.
The filing fee to form a corporation in
Delaware is based on a formula depending on
how many shares and what the par value
of the shares are.
It may cost you a few thousand dollars
to form a simple corporation, depending on the
options you choose, while a Delaware limited liability
company will only require $110 filing fee.
(15:44):
Texas, on the other hand, only requires a
flat one-time filing fee of $300 for
a corporation or limited liability company.
All the Delaware requirements must be filed in
addition for a Delaware corporation operating in Texas.
You'll be required to file as a foreign
corporation about $750 per year.
So foreign entities must pay franchise taxes to
(16:06):
both Texas and Delaware yearly.
As the business grows, the cost of compliance
in each state will multiply.
Incorporating outside of Texas will cost more as
a startup and increase as you grow.
The corporate income tax in Delaware is determined
by whether the income is generated in the
state or outside of the state.
For income generated within Delaware, the state corporate
(16:30):
income tax is 8.70%. Income generated outside
the state is generally not taxable by Delaware.
Similarly, Texas does not tax income generated outside
of the state and also does not levy
any state income tax, even on corporations.
Texas does require a franchise tax for any
entity doing business in Texas on gross receipts.
(16:54):
This entity level tax on the gross receipts
has been lowered over the years to 0
.75% and only applies to entities with
gross receipts of more than 2.1 million
in the tax year.
So the primary reason you would incorporate in
Delaware instead of Texas is if you anticipate
raising professional venture capital funds.
(17:14):
Outside of this possibility, a Texas business will
save more money by remaining in Texas unless
you're facing a round of venture capitalists with
an established set of securities firms stay in
Texas.
But again, this is just some ideas, but
it seems that it's going to be definitely
(17:35):
some interesting conversations that are going to pop
from this.
And Dutch regulators cracked down on DeepSeek.
The Netherlands Privacy Authority has launched an investigation
into DeepSeek's AI data collection practices, warning users
to be cautious.
This follows Italy's ban on DeepSeek's app and
(17:55):
similar action by regulators in Ireland and France.
European law requires that citizens' data be stored
abroad only under strict conditions and DeepSeek's compliance
is now under scrutiny.
Authorities across the European Union are sharing information
as they assess the company's handling of sensitive
(18:17):
data.
I wouldn't want to be in those shoes.
Number six, LinkedIn lawsuit over a training has
been dismissed, AI training.
Yes.
The lawsuit that was originally put through for
the alleged AI training was dismissed, a lawsuit
(18:38):
accusing LinkedIn of violating user privacy by using
premium members' private messages to train AI models
has been dismissed.
By the way, in case you didn't know,
Microsoft Corporation actually owns LinkedIn.
It's not a secret, but it's not easy
to find that unless you go pretty far
deep on their site.
(18:59):
They don't make that very obvious.
The plaintiff withdrew the case just days after
following LinkedIn's strong denial of any wrongdoing.
LinkedIn provided evidence that it never used private
messages for AI training, leading to the lawsuit's
dismissal.
The case had sparked concerns about AI and
data privacy, but LinkedIn insists that it remains
(19:21):
committed to transparency.
Right now, it seems like there's no challenging
them, but are they really being truthful?
Well, unfortunately only time will tell, but I
can tell you one thing, LinkedIn and Microsoft,
if you are trying to hide something, you
won't be able to hide forever because we
all know what happened to Google and many
(19:42):
of the other companies.
They eventually will figure it out, and when
they do, well, it won't just be some
of those small fines that you can pay
with your pocket change.
You'll need to go into some full deep
reserves of your company.
I hope for your sake, Microsoft and LinkedIn,
that you're being truthful to everyone, but only
(20:03):
time will tell.
Number seven for this week, the DOJ, the
Department of Justice of the United States, sues
to block the HPE Juniper merger.
The United States Department of Justice is suing
to block Hewlett Packard's enterprise $14 billion acquisition
of Juniper Networks, arguing it would create a
near monopoly in the networking equipment market alongside
(20:26):
Cisco.
HPE and Juniper argue that the deal will
boost competition and innovation, but US regulators are
pushing back hard.
While European and UK authorities have approved the
deal, the legal battle in the US is
expected to stretch on for months.
Let's talk about this for a second.
It's funny, when things are going to go
(20:47):
south for, let's say, things that would have
to do with stuff to protect them, then
they suddenly don't want to do it.
But when it's not going to affect them
and it might affect someone else, then they're
okay with it.
(21:08):
I just think that's complete nonsense.
But we'll have to see what they're doing
and why they're doing it.
Personally, I think the monopoly right now with
Cisco is nuts.
I think the HPE merger that they're trying
to do, I think also would be a
bad idea.
(21:30):
HPE reminds me very similar to Amazon.
It's like they want to get their hands
in things.
HPE is trying to become another Cisco, if
you didn't know it.
HPE is trying to become another Cisco.
Cisco makes its money not by being the
leader in the field.
What you probably didn't know about Cisco is
(21:50):
that they are very targeted at buying technology
up from other companies, smaller and medium-sized
companies, and then they put that under their
umbrella and they pretty much gain market share.
That's the secret.
Well number eight this week, Avride rolls out
(22:13):
food delivery robots actually at colleges.
Autonomous delivery startup Avride is teaming up with
Grubhub to deploy 100 self-driving food delivery
robots on U.S. college campuses.
This move aims to address labor shortages, reduce
delivery costs, and cut reliance on cars for
(22:34):
short-distance orders.
The partnership kicks off at Ohio State University
with plans for expansion.
Avride, which spun out of Russian tech firm
Yandex, has already completed over 200,000 deliveries
worldwide and is also working with Uber on
robotic food delivery and ride-sharing projects.
(22:57):
I don't know.
I'm not sure how well that's going to
go.
I saw this in the very beginning and
they had this little robot, to be honest
with you, that looks kind of cute looking.
And so it was like this little white
box pretty much.
And so, you know, I think it's going
(23:19):
to have some limitations.
So the Yandex spinoff is switching from six
wheels to four.
And so Avride, the robotics company, as I
said, spun out of the Russian search giant
Yandex.
It has this new sidewalk delivery robot to
show itself off.
(23:39):
So again, it's going to need to be
on a campus.
It's going to need to be somewhere.
It can't obviously be, you know, on major
highways.
The new robot has four wheels, which Avride
says is more energy efficient than its six
-wheeled model.
And the six-wheeled version were simple to
build and could turn confidently on a variety
(24:01):
of surfaces.
But they also create a lot of friction,
which ate up a lot of energy.
So the new four-wheel designs are much
more efficient in their energy consumption, they say,
which means they can stay in operation a
lot longer before needing to be recharged.
The robot's wheels are mounted on movable arms
attached to a pivoting axle, which is kind
(24:21):
of cool.
And the new generation model can turn 180
degrees almost instantaneously.
Think of that like turning a boat on
a dime, right, which the company actually says
will improve the robot's ability to navigate narrow
sidewalks and reverse out of the way for
someone in a wheelchair or perhaps a stroller.
(24:42):
The company also made improvements to the robot's
control system for improved torque and updated the
hardware with NVIDIA's Jetson Orangen platform.
The various eye expressions not only bring the
robot to life, but also create a sense
of interaction for clients.
Avride's new robots are being manufactured, guess where,
(25:02):
in Taiwan and are expected to join its
Austin-based fleet in the coming days.
Avride's spokesperson, Yulia Zhukova, said the company expects
to have at least a hundred deployed.
Basically, they're saying now by the end of
January, now getting to February.
So I haven't seen them, but I guess
(25:22):
they're slowly starting to appear, again, just because
I haven't seen them doesn't mean they're not
around.
But they are apparently on college campuses.
And I wonder if they're going to come
to any campuses in New Jersey.
I don't know.
So you have to have the right kind
of environment for this.
(25:44):
And although I think it's an interesting concept,
I do see that it can be a
little bit of a disaster because, you know,
you've got to have places that are local
to where you're going, right?
You know, if it's a college campus and
you're trying to deliver from one side to
another, I get it.
There's some sense to that.
(26:04):
But the question is, you know, is this
going to be something that people want or
is this going to just be another fad?
I don't know.
I definitely like the idea.
I think it's very catchy.
I like the idea that they have these,
you know, eyes that kind of interact with
the clients on the street.
So we'll have to see, you know, what
(26:24):
happens with it.
We're going to have to see how it
responds.
And we're also going to see, you know,
is it something that's going to be profitable?
I think they're also trying to roll these
out like in New York in some areas,
because again, there it's pretty easy.
But the question is, you know, how do
you keep the robot safe, especially if it's
on the street?
I see just a whole complexity of challenges
(26:47):
with this robot.
I don't think it was designed to actually
be on the same street that cars drive.
And I think that's probably the biggest thing
that I can tell you.
And getting off to our nine story, which
I know you're not going to want to
miss GM.
Yes.
General Motors shifts their focus to Super Cruise
driver assistance.
After the failure of its robo taxi division,
(27:10):
GM is shifting its strategy to focus on
Super Cruise, its hands free driver assistance system.
The company aims to generate two billion in
annual revenue from this technology within five years.
Super Cruise, which competes with Tesla's Autopilot, offers
advanced safety features and is available on 20
(27:31):
GM models.
Customers receive three years of free access before
transitioning to a subscription based model, positioning it
as a high margin revenue system.
But we all know that, you know, a
lot of these manufacturers, they want you to
get a new car, right?
So even the one like I just got
(27:53):
recently, they actually gave me all of my
features that I could, you know, send addresses
to the car and stuff.
The only thing I didn't get free is
if I wanted the concierge service, which is
basically allows you to press a button and
then they can make reservations.
But I have to tell you, do I
really want somebody from another country like Malaysia,
(28:14):
China or India making a recommendation on a
restaurant based on some website or script they
read?
I don't really think so.
So we're going to have to see, you
know, what's going to happen.
And I think what a lot of people
are going to find out is that.
It's important to understand what your customer wants,
(28:39):
and I can tell you one thing, that
is something that I decided, you know, hands
down.
That I did not want, I did not
want it at all, and so.
There are four features, you know, that enable
the super cruise, super cruise functions with OnStar,
(29:02):
and it uses real time cameras, sensors, global
positioning satellites, GPS and LIDAR map data to
help detect curves, helping make long drives and
commutes on compatible roads more comfortable.
So the super cruise driver assistive technology, as
I said, uses these interesting features.
But the question I have is, how much
(29:25):
is it after the after the free trial?
And.
That's something that they're not sharing too much,
but if I had to guess, I know
Tesla charges $10 a month.
I think they are probably going to go
somewhere around $25, $30 a month for connectivity.
(29:48):
Tesla's full driving rated below the GM super
cruise is $100 a month.
So that could mean that they could easily
charge $200.
So by the time you're done with all
the fees, we could be talking $220, $230
a month.
Do people really want to pay fees for
something?
I mean, this is almost as bad as
(30:10):
there's a car out there.
I'm not sure if they still do it.
There's a vehicle.
You don't get your power seats unless you
pay a monthly fee for them.
Now, I think that's stupid.
So they had introduced this concept a while
(30:31):
back, and so although it didn't seem like
a bad idea for many people, I don't
like the idea you spend all this money
on a car.
And now you've got to pay like $10
a week to be able to use some
of the features like memory seat recall, like
when you go to your car automatically brings
(30:53):
the steering wheel and and the seat to
the exact position that you pre-programmed with
the with the fob for driver one or
driver two, or maybe not being able to
use the heated seat or cooling seat feature.
I don't know.
It's interesting.
(31:13):
The German automaker Audi, as you know, admitted
that it would be adding more paywall features
to cars currently on the road.
Oliver Hoffman, Audi's board rep for technical development,
said, quote, I think there's a demand from
the customer to bring new functions in the
car.
And this is a profit pool for us.
(31:35):
Though Hoffman's job is keeping the shareholders happy,
he was very hesitant to name the features
you'll soon have to pay for through the
my Audi app.
But here's a clue.
In some markets, Audi's charge extra for certain
HVAC features.
Now, we know that the automaker will pioneer
this transition on its e-tron EVs.
(31:59):
BMW finally backed down and sees charging eight
dollars a month for heated seats.
I mean, come on.
And eight dollars a year for Apple CarPlay.
I mean, that's ridiculous.
Even though BMW is paywalling fewer features than
Audi, you still must pay $19 a month
to use your BMW's existing camera as a
dash cam.
(32:19):
Really, BMW?
Really, really, BMW?
So when it comes to the Japanese automakers,
Toyota is one of the worst subscription fee
offenders.
If you already drive a 2018 present Toyota,
you're about to get hit with fees up
the yin yang for functions that were previously
free.
(32:40):
The automaker is bundling a bunch of app
based functions into its Toyota Remote Connect app
and charging eight dollars a month or eight
dollars a year for it all.
Now, these functions include things like remote start,
vehicle start alerts, valet mode, last parked location
reminder and unlocking with your phone.
Mercedes-Benz, a monthly fee for an app
(33:01):
that turns your phone into a key fob
or gives you OnStar roadside.
That's ridiculous.
Porsche has relatively standard subscription features available in
its Porsche Connect phone.
But unlike Toyota, you'll have to pay an
extra fee for each one.
For example, enabling your car's Wi-Fi hotspot
is just twenty dollars a month.
(33:22):
Infotainment and navigation are two or five dollars
a year and theft detection is 280.
Come on, Porsche.
I mean, come on, you're you're charging a
lot for the car.
Why are you trying to rip people off
with subscriptions just because you can?
So my words to the wise here is
(33:42):
that if you are looking to lease or
buy a car, make sure that you understand
what's coming in that vehicle and what's not
coming in that vehicle, because I bet you're
not going to be too happy if that
car you spent all this money or the
SUV you spent all this money on suddenly
doesn't give you the function that it did
after those first 30 days.
(34:04):
And Vodafone makes the first satellite video call.
This is really cool.
Vodafone has achieved a major milestone by making
the world's first satellite video call using a
standard smartphone.
The call made from a remote location with
no cellular signal was enabled by AST Space
Mobile's Bluebird satellites, offering speeds up to 120
(34:27):
megabits per second.
Vodafone plans to expand this satellite network across
Europe in 2025, aiming to provide full mobile
connectivity in areas where traditional networks fail.
So the question you're maybe asking is, is
Vodafone, and this is a great question, is
Vodafone, you know, Vodafone satellite calling available in
(34:54):
the U.S.? And so.
They're working on it, it appears that it's
not been directly marketed, but it'll be interesting
to see what they're doing, what their plans
are to use 4G and 5G smartphones.
(35:15):
You know, satellites have been around for a
while.
Dedicated satellite phones can be a large, chunky,
heavy and expensive device.
I remember my very first cell phone that
I had was actually a it was an
NEC cell phone.
Any of you guys remember those NEC cell
(35:35):
phones?
Well, they were not cheap.
An NEC large, I think it was a
large car or like portable cell phone costed,
I'm trying to remember how much I paid
for it.
But again, it was not cheap.
This was like this big brick that you
had to carry with you.
And this device, if I remember correctly, it
(35:58):
was about five thousand dollars.
OK, without the installation, without the extra kits,
because you had things like, you know, a
special hookup so that when you're away from
your car, it could honk the horn, all
this other garbage.
So then there was a Motorola that had
(36:20):
one, I remember my dad had one that
he got and.
He locked himself out and then I had
to reprogram the phone because he somehow locked
the phone and because this phone would go
with you, it wasn't like in the car.
First of all, people could steal it.
And second of all, it was not digital.
It was analog.
So people could clone the information very easily.
(36:42):
We have New York City very close to
us.
And back when cell phones were only analog,
they had people sitting literally outside the tunnels
and they'd be there ready to grab your
signal.
And so I would get back home and
usually within a day or two, I would
get my bill, which would usually be, you
(37:05):
know, one fee.
Well, the next time I got my bill,
which would be a couple of weeks later,
my bill went up by like five thousand
dollars.
And I was like, but I only went
here.
I went to the city.
I came back.
Bam.
Yeah, they that's the time when everybody was
charging lots of money for roaming calls.
Of course, I got it reversed, but it
(37:26):
was a complete hassle to do this.
And so I must have gotten cloned so
many times.
I was so pleased when cell phones went
digital.
All right.
But it'll be very interesting to see, you
know, what Bluebirds satellites are going to do.
And again, they're only offering speeds up to
120 megabits per second.
(37:48):
Now, you might say, gee, John, that's not
good.
And you're right.
It's not good.
But here's the thing.
You have to realize that they're now doing
a service through a satellite.
And using satellites, let's face it, that is
not cheap.
If we had to guess, you know, how
much does it cost to make a call
(38:14):
on, you know, via satellite?
It's not cheap.
It is not cheap.
You're talking anywhere from, let's say, four dollars
and fifty cents a minute.
And there's some providers like AT&T that
charge as much as eleven dollars and forty
(38:34):
nine cents per minute.
Now, that's without all the other nonsense.
I think you might want to ask me
is how much is a four one one
call on a satellite?
You don't want to know.
Every call, OK, per minute starts at four
fifty and they now charge, if I remember
(38:56):
correctly.
So Verizon charges, I believe, I think it's
two dollars for four one one now.
I think that's what they're charging.
I don't use it.
But, you know, and then now they want
to raise it for four for four one
one, you know, directory assistance.
(39:18):
So, you know, I remember when you used
to get so many free, they actually they
went up.
It's actually two ninety nine that Verizon charges
for directory assistance.
And I don't know.
I think that's crazy.
And so imagine you making phone calls.
And then the thing I hated with the
(39:38):
directory assistance, which you'd call is like you
would give it your they would say business
or residence.
So I'd say business name and listing.
So I would say our business name and
city or whatever it was.
So I would say whatever it was in
the city.
And then I would either get the automated
recording saying the number you have dialed is
(39:59):
to automatically complete be completed to this transfer
to this number for no additional charge.
Press one.
And then they started saying to be transferred
to this call for an additional 50 cents.
Press this.
I'm like, for what?
So I quickly discovered a new way to
(40:22):
get numbers.
And you could do it from your phone
when you're parked safely, or you could just
dial one hundred three four one one.
So one hundred three four one one is
a free call.
The company actually makes its money by having
(40:45):
you listen to a short advertisement before the
call gets transferred.
That's how they work.
Here's something that I think is going to
blow your mind.
Now, many of us are gamers.
I love to play games and I'm sure
you do, too.
Or you have friends or family members or
kids that love to play games.
Imagine sitting at your game and having that
(41:08):
game give off a scent.
I'm not kidding you.
A smell based gaming immersion research.
At the Warwick University, researchers are developing technology
that integrates scents into video games to enhance
realism.
Come on.
(41:29):
So their custom made headsets release scents like
petrol, rubber.
Or even new car smell during gameplay, creating
a more immersive experience, they say, for racing
and simulation games.
While previous attempts at smell based gaming failed,
this new system can switch between scents quickly,
(41:50):
open the door for commercial applications.
I see this going a lot further.
I mean, this can get into kid games.
This can get into things that literally can
have you smell certain food.
I mean, there's lots of potentials with this.
We knew that we were at a 1D
world, then a 2D world, now a 3D
world.
We're moving into a 5D world where we
(42:10):
now have the ability to probably even get
things like proportionality of where you are, feelings
with sensors.
We remember going to Disney and I remember
the first time I went to a Bug's
Life and literally the bugs were coming out
of the, let's say, the chair you were
sitting in, which are basically like a little
(42:31):
plastic thing that you felt hitting the back
of your leg or butt.
And that was just very eerie.
Another time you're sitting in the front and
then the bug basically sprayed you.
It was like an air, but it smelled
terrible.
So this is not new, but I think
they're trying to get people to um, game
(42:56):
in a different way.
And I imagine that this is going to
probably be a very profitable thing.
Now here's something I don't know if you
know, casinos spend how much a month on
piping in cents to their, their venue.
(43:17):
This will blow your mind.
Are you ready?
Yes.
So casinos use cents to keep you relaxed
and gambling longer.
There's a science behind scent marketing and the
practice of using sense to influence consumer behavior
known as set marketing is not exclusive to
(43:39):
casinos, stores, hotels, and even car dealerships have
used pleasant aromas to create a specific atmosphere
or enhance the customer experience.
Think about when maybe you went to buy
a home or maybe you're selling your home
and there, they said, the realtor said to
put an apple pie in the oven or
something like that, so that made somebody feel
really good.
(44:00):
Uh, there was a well-known experiment conducted
by Dr. Alan Hirsch of the smell and
taste treatment and research foundation in Chicago and
demonstrated the potential impacts of sense on casino
behavior.
Hirsch found out the effects of scent on
gamblers in Las Vegas by introducing a pleasant
smell into certain areas of the casino and
(44:22):
leaving other areas unscented really affected things.
The results were pretty incredible.
The areas with the pleasant aroma saw a
significant increase in slot machine revenue and an
increase of all around 45% compared to
the unscented areas.
So why does sense work?
Sense have a direct connection to the brain's
limbic system, which is responsible for emotions and
(44:42):
memory.
And this means that a specific smell can
trigger emotional responses that may influence behavior.
For example, a relaxing lavender scent might help
you reduce anxiety.
Doctors offices, hospitals are doing this.
Alternatively, a fresh citrus smell might energize players
and keep them alert and engaged.
(45:02):
Casinos understand this connection and they even pipe
in certain things from like the Orient that
have a very strong sell.
Um, they spend anywhere from 5,000 to
20,000 and some even more.
Um, so do casinos use sense to keep
you gambling longer based on the available evidence,
it appears to be more fact than fiction
(45:23):
scent marketing is a powerful tool that casinos
use to enhance the gaming experience and potentially
yes, increase revenue, or at least improve the
mood of their patrons.
And what does that do makes you want
to spend more money while it may not
be something that every player is consciously aware
of the impact of scent on emotions and
behavior is very well documented.
(45:45):
And I think we need to be aware.
I remember going to the casino.
I'm not a gambler.
And I remember going there and I remember,
um, just going there and just playing to
lose like 20 or $50.
And suddenly I remember being very, like very
alert and awake.
And I said, I know what this is.
They're piping sense in.
And a friend of mine was actually selling
(46:05):
these scents.
Uh, they do this now in a lot
of, uh, retail stores.
Why do they do this?
Because you're going to buy more, right?
Uh, there's a company out there, uh, the
scent air system, uh, Disney, uh, does this.
And so, um, it's, it's very interesting.
(46:26):
Uh, Disney uses something, they call it smellizers.
So the park smells very good.
Maybe you've tried to figure out what makes
Disney parks smell so good.
Well, it's really interesting.
You've ever been to any Disney parks around
the world.
You probably with popcorn along main street, or
maybe you caught the scent of burning as
you pass by Rome on a spaceship earth,
(46:48):
whatever smells you sniff, you might be wondering
how Disney creates these.
And it's interesting.
They have something called the Disney smellitizer.
They're essentially systems of pressurized air mixed with
a fan system.
And that pump sense through the parks, but
there's way more to these nifty machines than
(47:08):
first meets the eye.
And I'd like to share this with you.
So one of the thing that they have
is Disney smellitizers aren't so much a thing
as they are a process that involves airflow,
pressurizing and exhaust systems.
So creating sense of Disney is important as
it is essentially bringing about a feeling of
nostalgia.
(47:29):
Smellitizers combine a strong smelling substance that smells
like popcorn or something else with a powerful
source of air and the air has to
be moving at a pressurized way, like a
powerful fan.
The, um, action from this propels the scent
toward the guest while an exhaust sucks it
back in, and this means the smell won't
get contaminated or lost.
(47:50):
You smell these scents during shows like, uh,
Philharmonic, the Muppets, Vision 3D.
So it's important that imagineers get the right
things to you.
Believe it or not.
Disney has tested over 3000 cents before landing
on the final ones.
How do they really work?
Disney keeps their smelling technology under wraps.
(48:11):
As you can imagine, the smellitizer relies on
a reservoir of scented liquid that flows through
a compressor, uh, air inlet, and it's then
pushed in front of a special fan.
Uh, this then flows through the canopy of
the ride or areas and the mechanism before
being drawn toward the guest.
(48:31):
So Disney smellitizers, um, the most magical science
on earth.
Disney feeds the smells into a nozzle that's
connected to a reservoir upstream of the nozzle
of 65 to 70, uh, roughly.
Okay.
And then, uh, they use compressed air that's
fed into the system, which pulls the scented
(48:53):
material from the reservoir and pushes it through
a nozzle and toward a fan.
The air moves, the scented air will then
pass through the fan and out toward the
gap in the system.
After it's released, they instantly, um, get that
amazing smell and it's fed back before it's
all over.
Exhaust pulls the scented air back to the
reduce the contamination before the process starts all
(49:15):
over again.
This is pretty amazing.
So, uh, there are many companies that offer,
uh, professional, um, scent air systems.
And so, um, they're not terribly expensive, but
you know, um, one of them is air
(49:35):
scent, uh, and, and there's lots of them
out there and you can buy these for
your home.
Um, and they have catalogs of, you know,
different fragrances.
In fact, there's certain fragrances that are only
available to the business subscription.
Well, number 12, AI generated fake content misleads
(49:58):
us teens.
A new study by common sense media reveals
that 35% of American teens have been
misled by AI generated fake content while 41
% encountered real, but misleading information.
The rise of AI generated videos, images, and
deep fake news is fueling distrust in big
tech with many teens admitting and knowingly shared
(50:20):
false content.
The study highlights the urgent need for better
content verification and transparency on social media, AI
power, deep fake scams are on the rise,
AI power, social engineering attacks, or becoming more
sophisticated from deep fake political recording, swaying elections
to AI generated ransom calls, mimicking family members,
uh, cyber criminals are using AI to manipulate
(50:42):
victims, get into bank accounts.
That's why I was telling people don't record
your voice as a, as a password voice
print.
Um, they're using AI to manipulate victims.
Other scams include AI chatbots, stealing login credentials
and deep fake impersonations, tricking employees into wiring
millions to fraudsters.
And these cases highlight the growing risk of
(51:04):
AI driven cybercrime.
And it's getting worse every day.
Global cybercrime forums shut down law enforcement agencies
from multiple countries have now shut down several
major hacking forums, including cracked and nulled, which
facilitated cybercrime operations.
(51:24):
And these platforms had millions of users.
And they were the key hubs for selling
stolen data, hacking tools and malware and the
international operation, which led to mobile arrests and
seizures of cryptocurrency and illegal funds.
It's part of a broader effort to curb
cyber crime.
(51:47):
So I think this comes back to the
fact that we need to be cognizant about
our information.
We need to understand who we're sharing it
with, why we're sharing it.
I think these are very, uh, important things
to understand.
Uh, and if we don't understand that, then
we're going to have a problem.
(52:08):
We're definitely going to have a problem.
So if we're aware, I think that is
probably the best thing I can tell you.
Being aware is the key.
Okay.
It definitely is the key.
And so when we think about, you know,
(52:29):
the fact that these no gooders do this
stuff.
So they're going to do it, whether you
are aware or whether you're not aware.
And so I think if you're aware of
it, at least you can, you know, change
your behaviors.
And our thoughts basically cause our behaviors to
(52:53):
go one way or another.
The reason why a lot of these bad
actors are so successful is because nobody is
stopping them.
That's probably the biggest thing that I can
tell you right now.
Nobody is stopping them.
So we need to grab the bull by
the horns and we need to start understanding
that the data we feed into AI systems.
(53:17):
Okay.
The data we feed in, we need to
understand who's using that system, what they're doing
with it, why they're using it, and are
they selling it to anybody?
I think these are all very, very, um,
important things to realize.
And so just like when I talked to
you about the casinos and using, is what
(53:39):
they're doing illegal?
No, but the fact that I've told you
now that there are systems in place, there's
even certain audio in place that'll actually make
you want to gamble more.
Is that illegal?
No, it's not illegal.
It's just a way of changing our behavior.
Now, if I had to think about that,
I'd say that it's kind of manipulating us,
(54:02):
right?
So if you're aware that this is happening
and suddenly you notice that you don't like
to gamble, but now you suddenly want to
gamble so much, you should ask yourself a
question.
Why am I suddenly so compelled to gamble
when I usually hate gambling?
And what I'm going to tell you is
that there's something in the environment, something you
(54:25):
may or may not be aware of.
That's the truth.
That is the bottom line.
You may not want to hear that, but
you have to realize that there are things
out there that are going to be used
to exploit you.
There's the sense systems I told you about
that.
The limbic system is very powerful.
(54:46):
We all know that if you go to
a music park and you smell cotton candy,
or you smell funnel cake, and you like
funnel cake, and you smell that again, all
those nostalgia feelings are going to rush back.
When you go to a fun house and
all those different smells come in, some smells
give us fear, some smells give us pleasure.
(55:10):
So when we know that this happens, at
least we have the ability and the choice
to stay in it or not.
So if I'm at a restaurant and suddenly
I know that I like to eat ice
cream, but I had, let's say, two scoops
(55:31):
of ice cream.
Suddenly I want to order another one.
Wait a minute, that's more than I normally
eat.
Why am I doing this?
There's something in this environment.
This isn't like me to want to eat
again.
So this happens with certain foods.
Did you know that?
Yes, there are certain companies that put ingredients
(55:55):
in food to make you want to eat
more.
Basically, what does it do?
It makes them addictive to you.
So foods are packed with added sugar and
salt triggers the brain's reward system, setting a
cycle of craving and addiction.
(56:16):
And when there's too much of that, well,
the body goes on overload.
So we've got to be the governor and
say, look, this isn't the way my body
normally functions.
Why is this happening?
What am I doing?
And that's the real key, ladies and gentlemen.
That is the key.
Well, we covered a lot here today.
(56:39):
And, you know, artificial intelligence in itself is
not good.
It's not bad.
It is a tool.
And how we choose to use it that
makes it so.
If we understand that all the technology in
our world can either help us or hurt
us, depending on its application, then we're a
(57:00):
lot smarter than most.
But the reason that we fall victim or
guilty to this is because we just see
and feel the pleasure that we don't realize
what's going on.
If you go to a donut shop and
suddenly you're eating so many donuts, what's going
on?
Well, you're smelling all the donuts, right?
And that can be a huge, huge problem.
(57:23):
Same thing happens, ladies and gentlemen, with social
media.
Why do kids and even adults keep going
back and they scroll?
Well, they get this high.
Oh, my gosh, you got this like, I
got this like.
Oh, this is amazing.
It's amazing.
Oh, my gosh, I feel really good.
And so I think maybe you can understand
that that is causing you to respond like,
(57:43):
oh, my gosh, I got to go check
my phone.
I got to go see if somebody liked
my post.
It's OK to do that.
But when it becomes addictive, then that's a
serious problem.
Ladies and gentlemen, you know who I am
by now.
I'm John Seymour.
Sir, launch more.
It's always such a privilege.
And it's always such a pleasure to be
with you here on the more tech talk
show, as well as many of my other
shows.
(58:04):
So more tech talk airs every Friday night.
But you can always catch it on lots
of different places that we have it, like
believemeachieve.com.
We're on many different cable stations.
And I would invite you to definitely check
this out because our show will give you
the insights so you can use technology smarter
(58:26):
and wiser.
I hope that you have an amazing rest
of your night and a fantastic weekend.
And when it comes to technology, remember, it's
a tool.
And how you choose to use it will
make it good or make it bad.
Let's make sure we always use it for
the right reasons.
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