The whole Twitter Space presidential announce did not go well. Microsoft says Chinese hackers have burrowed into critical US infrastructure. Sony has a handheld gaming device, but a true descendent of the PlayStation Vita it is not. Quite. Has AI allowed a paralyzed man to walk again? And the world’s newest unicorn is maybe the most delightful interesting raise of the year. Sponsors: Miro.com/podcast Links: Twitter glitches plague Ron DeSantis’ much-hyped presidential announcement with Elon Musk...
May 25, 2023•19 min
All the headlines from yesterday’s Build conference. The big Netflix password crackdown has begun. Did Elon buy Twitter to dethrone Fox News? Is an Uber/Waymo partnership the start of a beautiful relationship? And is Final Cut Pro on the iPad actually what everyone wanted? Sponsors: Miro.com/podcast OregonState.edu Links: Microsoft’s Azure AI Studio lets developers build their own AI ‘copilots’ (TechCrunch) Microsoft’s Copilot and Bing AI plug-ins will be interoperable with ChatGPT (The Verge) N...
May 24, 2023•17 min
Apple continues to play nice with Broadcom despite hoping to drop them someday. The thing people warned about with these bluechecks happened yesterday. HBOMax isn’t cool. You know what is cool, according to David Zaslov? Max. And how Shareit became the world’s favorite file sharing app. Sponsors: Miro.com/podcast ZocDoc.com/techmeme Links: Apple expands US investment with new multibillion-dollar Broadcom deal for 5G tech (9to5Mac) Verified Twitter Accounts Spread AI-Generated Hoax of Pentagon Ex...
May 23, 2023•16 min
Meta got hit by the biggest ever GDPR fine in Europe. A crypto project got taken over by hackers who voted themselves into power. The startup that wanted to dethrone Google is shutting down. The E-sports bubble seems to be popping. And what is it actually like to try to use Google’s new AI tools? Sponsors: Nutrafol.com/men promocode ride Miro.com/podcast Links: Meta Fined $1.3 Billion Over Data Transfers to U.S. (WSJ) Sanctioned Crypto Mixer Tornado Cash Hijacked by Hackers (Bloomberg) Neeva, th...
May 22, 2023•18 min
Re-releasing this one, hopefully with improved sound quality! The earliest days of Amazon with its earliest hire: Shel Kaphan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 22, 2023•1 hr 1 min
I didn't know the whole story of Sam Bankman-Fried. This book will do that for you. From our very good friend of the show Brady Dale: SBF: How the FTX Bankruptcy Unwound Crypto's Very Bad Good Guy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 20, 2023•1 hr 9 min
OpenAI has launched an official ChatGPT app for iPhones and iPads. Android coming soon. The Supreme Court actually propped up Section 230, allowing it to live another day. Apple as an example of why companies are looking to keep the AI in house. And, of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsors: Mimecast.com TryNom.com/ride Links: AI in your pocket: ChatGPT officially comes to iPhone with new app (ArsTechnica) Link to the official ChatGPT App in the App Store Supreme Court shields Twit...
May 19, 2023•17 min
The first official ban of TikTok by a US state is here. Unskippable tv-like ads are coming to YouTube when you’re watching on your TV. How much can be recovered when a crypto project blows up? Why is Amazon so far behind in drone delivery? And how Apple’s forthcoming headset got developed. Sponsors: Traceroute Podcast Bloomberg.com/careers Links: TikTok Ban Signed in Montana, Paving Way for First Amendment Legal Battle (WSJ) YouTube 2023 Upfront: Platform to Launch Unskippable 30-Second Ads on T...
May 18, 2023•19 min
If you’ve been letting some of your Google accounts sit fallow, you better look into that cause Google is gonna start deleting things. Why some new top level domains have people concerned. Why tech companies are racing to put generative AI on your phone. And part two of the open source vs. centralized AI debate. Sponsors: OregonState.edu Links: Google will delete accounts, including Gmail & Photos, that haven’t logged on in 2 years (9to5Google) New ZIP domains spark debate among cybersecurit...
May 17, 2023•18 min
The EU actually approved the Microsoft Activision acquisition so… what now? The IRS might finally allow us to file our taxes online for free. The EU passes the first crypto regulatory regime, but questions are being asked of their forthcoming digital Euro experiment. And an interesting raise allows us to take our first look at the Open Source vs. Centralized debate when it comes to AI. Sponsors: Collective.com Links: E.U. Approves Microsoft’s $69 Billion Deal for Activision (NYTimes) IRS tests f...
May 16, 2023•18 min
After some news about Apple testing M3 chips, it’s media day on the podcast. Wither Motherboard, as Vice declares bankruptcy. Netflix is cutting spending on its originals. Is the pivot to ads going to define the next stage of the streaming wars. And ad supported television is one thing, but what if we took that literally? Would you want a tv that has a second screen to show you ads all the time? Sponsors: Ramp.com/techmeme go.tech/tm Links: Apple Begins Testing Speedy M3 Chips as It Pursues Mac ...
May 15, 2023•17 min
Marc Tarpenning, along with Martin Eberhard, was the cofounder of Tesla Motors back in 2003. But before that, Tarpenning and Eberhard were also the cofounders of NuvoMedia, which produced one of the world's first ebook devices, the rocket eBook. So, for the first part of the episode, Mark recounts the story of NuvoMedia and then about 25 minutes in we begin the founding of Tesla, in my opinion, perhaps the most amazing startup story of the last 20 years. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit m...
May 15, 2023•1 hr 23 min
Yes, the Apple II is maybe more historically important than the Macintosh, at least for Apple as a company. I agree with the argument my friend Laine Nooney makes in their book: The Apple II Age: How the Computer Became Personal . Enjoy this deep dive into early Apple and PC history and then, BUY THE BOOK! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
May 13, 2023•58 min
Elon says he’s hired a new CEO for Twitter, and folks think they know who this person will be. The Claude chatbot has expanded so much you can now write entire novels with it. Seeing what Meta is doing with AI in ads makes me wonder about the future of all media. And, of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsors: Grammarly.com/go GetSunday.com/ride Links: Elon Musk says he has found a new CEO for Twitter (TechCrunch) Linda Yaccarino Leaves NBCUniversal Amid Talks to Become Twitter CEO ...
May 12, 2023•19 min
Twitter finally rolled out encrypted DMs… or did they? More drips and drabs from yesterday’s Google event including an AI music generating tool that sounds pretty wild. Even the crypto miners are pivoting to AI. And why tech has warmed up to the concept of nearshoring. Sponsors: Grammarly.com/go Bloomberg.com/careers Links: Twitter's encrypted DMs are here — but only for verified users (Engadget) Join the waitlist for Google's generative AI tools, including search, Project Tailwind, & MusicL...
May 11, 2023•17 min
I’m writing this this morning before Google’s I/O, so I’m assuming that’s going to be the entirety of this episode. But who knows. Maybe I’ll be able to squeeze something non-Google stuff at the end. Join me in the time machine, won’t you, and find out. In the meantime, here’s what Sundar had to share with us today. Sponsors: Leadership.OregonState.edu/cic Grammarly.com/go Links: Google Photos to gain a new ‘Magic Editor’ feature powered by generative AI (TechCrunch) Google launches PaLM 2, its ...
May 10, 2023•21 min
More roiling questions about crypto and regulator enforcement. Nintendo’s Switch is getting long in the tooth. AI’s are coming to the Wendy’s drive through lane. An AI startup to protect against AI. And more of what we can expect from Google’s big day tomorrow. Sponsors: Grammarly.com/go Notion.com/ride Links: Coinbase CEO says SEC is on ‘lone crusade,’ dials back on suggestion exchange may relocate (CNBC) Ripple will have spent $200 million fighting SEC lawsuit, CEO says (CNBC) U.S. Crypto Exch...
May 09, 2023•19 min
What to expect from Google IO. The big discord username switch. Sam Altman’s side hustle is launching a thing. But also a look at the regulatory issues his OpenAI is facing in Europe. And what if I told you an Ikea chair can short out your monitor. It’s weird, but it can. Sponsors: ZocDoc.com/techmeme Grammarly.com/go Links: Google Plans to Make Search More ‘Personal’ with AI Chat and Video Clips (WSJ) Discord’s username change is causing discord (The Verge) Sam Altman’s Worldcoin rolls out app ...
May 08, 2023•17 min
This is the crossover episode of when I went on the Big Technology podcast on Friday. We ask where the moat is in AI? And we celebrate Ed Sheeran if you can believe it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 07, 2023•56 min
This is the book I've been dying for someone to write! This is how digital media happened for 20 years! Traffic: Genius, Rivalry, and Delusion in the Billion-Dollar Race to Go Viral . Yay to finally having Ben Smith on the pod! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 06, 2023•45 min
Apple earnings recap. A new, free code generating AI tool. Which, actually, lots of people are starting to ask the question: will open source AI actually come out on top in the AI revolution? And, of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsors: Mindbloom.com/techmeme and promocode techmeme OregonState.edu/believe-it Links: Apple CEO Tim Cook says AI is "huge," but care is needed (Axios) Hugging Face and ServiceNow release a free code-generating model (TechCrunch) Google Is Falling Behind...
May 05, 2023•18 min
The regulators have not been sleeping on the AI revolution. Everybody wants to get in on the blue checkmark game. But this time, with actual utility. Airbnb now offers to rent out single rooms. Can ChatGPT out invest professional money managers? And the return of the flip phone. No, not a foldable phone. The flip phone from your youth. Sponsors: Bloomberg.com/careers The Traceroute Podcast Links: “We must regulate AI,” FTC Chair Khan says (ArsTechnica) UK competition watchdog launches review of ...
May 04, 2023•17 min
Google releases a new feature to put another nail in the password coffin. Malware merchants are using generative AI. A deep dive into what Bluesky is like right now. The best explainer of quantum computing I’ve ever seen. And how a Pixies song is breaking Google assistant and making people miss their wakeup alarms in the morning. Sponsors: Nutrafol.com/men promocode ride OregonState.edu Links: You no longer need a password to sign in to your Google account (The Verge) Twitter restores free API a...
May 03, 2023•17 min
Looks like that Hollywood strike inspired by AI fears is a go. Apple and Google want to set a new standard to prevent modern digital stalking. Pornhub is boycotting Utah. Mastodon is trying to make it less confusing to give them a try. And what is one of the biggest reasons companies are wary of giving generative AI a try? Sponsors: Mimecast.com Bloomberg.com/careers Links: Hollywood Writers Strike Over Pay Disputes with Streaming Giants and AI Concerns (Gizmodo) Apple and Google team up to stop...
May 02, 2023•18 min
Gurman says the big Apple Watch OS overhaul is nigh. I can already tell you what the biggest tech IPO of 2023 is going to be. Are there signs tech earnings have turned or a corner, or, at least, have bottomed out? And why the AI revolution is behind the potential of a major labor strike in Hollywood. Sponsors: Ramp.com/techmeme This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/techmeme and get on your way to being your best self. Links: Apple to Upgrade It...
May 01, 2023•18 min
Another bonus episode from the Internet History Podcast. As promised, Mike Slade is back to tell stories from the period 1998 through 2004, when he was Special Assistant to Steve Jobs. Background details on the iMac, the iPod and the iPhone and more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 30, 2023•1 hr 2 min
Another bonus episode from the Internet History Podcast. I originally wanted to talk to Mike Slade about Starwave, the innovative company that launched some major names onto the web, including ESPN.com, ABCNews.com, MrShowbiz.com, and after an eventual sale to Disney, put together the pieces that eventually became the Go.com portal play. But Mike is one of those guys who has had such a varied and interesting career, I couldn't help but go into other eras of his career. The dude worked at Microso...
Apr 29, 2023•1 hr 5 min
More signs that vital communications infrastructure is abandoning Twitter. Reddit is testing Discord-like chat channels. Big layoffs at Clubhouse. Microsoft exits the peripherals business after 40 years. And, of course, the Weekend Longreads suggestions. Sponsors: Bloomberg.com/careers Miro.com/podcast Links: New York City Subway Ends Twitter Service Alerts After Musk Raises Price (Bloomberg) Reddit is testing Discord-like channels for community chat (TechCrunch) Once-Hot Chat Startup Clubhouse ...
Apr 28, 2023•19 min
Meta reported earnings that surprised investors in the good way. But that doesn’t mean they’re backing off the Metaverse. Global smartphone shipments continue to plummet. Might congress ban children from social media? Amazon gets out of the health tracker business. And the interesting way that rejection of the Microsoft Activision deal is using a somewhat novel argument. Sponsors: Miro.com/podcast Shopify.com/ride Links: Facebook Parent Meta Platforms Sees First Sales Increase in Nearly a Year (...
Apr 27, 2023•16 min
The UK is blocking Microsoft’s Activision Acquisition. A quick rundown of Microsoft and Alphabet earnings. The new Mavic drone is a beast. Cruise has actually expanded its self-driving taxi service. And a look at the mounting pressure on Binance and CZ. Sponsors: Mindbloom.com/techmeme and promocode: techmeme Miro.com/podcast Links: UK Blocks Microsoft’s $69 Billion Activision Deal (Bloomberg) Microsoft Q3 2023: Windows, devices, and Xbox down again (The Verge) Google’s cloud business turns prof...
Apr 26, 2023•18 min
