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TechStuff

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TechStuff is getting a system update. Everything you love about Tech Stuff now twice the bandwidth with new hosts, Oz Woloshyn (Sleepwalkers) and Karah Preiss (Sleepwalkers). 

Oz and Karah bring humour and wit to the table as they break down what's happening in tech...and what it says about us. 

TechStuff is the podcast where technology meets culture. 

We speak to the folks building the future to understand what tomorrow will look like and how our technology is changing us: how we live, how we love, how we work and even how we die. With a healthy dose of drama, too, as tech titans clash over their interstellar ambitions. 

Get in touch here: [email protected]

Episodes

TechStuff Classic: Close, but No Nuclear War

The world has teetered on the brink of nuclear war a few times. Sometimes, it was because of technical glitches. Sometimes, it was because of coincidences. We explore some very close calls. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nov 18, 202354 min

Tech News: TikTok Protests Being Called a Gatekeeper

TikTok tries to convince the EU to reconsider designating parent company ByteDance as a "gatekeeper" under the Digital Markets Act. A ransomware group tattles on its victim to the SEC. And SpaceX is getting ready to test the Starship launch vehicle, hopefully with better results. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nov 16, 202321 min

I'll Tumblr 4 Ya

What's the story behind the microblogging site Tumblr? How did it go from the nexus of Internet culture valued at more than a billion dollars to a property that would change hands multiple times in just a few short years? We take a look at the phenomenon known as Tumblr. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nov 15, 202340 min

Smart Talks with IBM - Generative AI: Its Rise and Potential for Society

In order to stay competitive in a rapidly changing marketplace, businesses need to adapt to the potential of generative AI. In this special live episode of Smart Talks with IBM, Malcolm Gladwell is joined onstage at iHeartMedia’s studio by Dr. Darío Gil, Senior Vice President and Director of Research at IBM. They chat about the evolution of AI, give examples of practical uses, and discuss how businesses can create value through cutting edge technology. Watch the live conversation here: https://y...

Nov 14, 202353 min

Napoleon Bonaparte and the Invention of the Can Opener

How did the famous Napoleon Bonaparte set into motion the events that led to the humble can opener? From early experiments in canning to gadgets so dangerous the average person wasn't allowed to buy them, we look at the history and evolution of can openers. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nov 13, 202345 min

TechStuff Classic: The Google Glass Story

Was Google Glass an idea ahead of its time? What are its origins and where is it today? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nov 10, 20231 hr 5 min

Tech News: Good Vibes for the Woz and Bye to Omegle

Steve Wozniak is recovering in a hospital in Mexico City and we wish him well. Internal documents from Meta show that Mark Zuckerberg repeatedly shut down initiatives meant to promote user well being. Microsoft says it has a plan for AI-generated misinformation during the election season. And the Omegle service shuts down. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nov 09, 202322 min

AI and Radioactive Shoe Salesmen

What does artificial intelligence have to do with an outdated practice that involved blasting shoe stores with radiation? Trust me, there's a connection. Or at least I make one. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nov 08, 202336 min

Tech News: WeOutOfWork and Getting Burned by NFTs

WeWork declares bankruptcy, there's a ton of AI news in the tech space and some attendees at an NFT conference received painful burns. Plus much more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nov 07, 202321 min

Digging Back Into Digg

What has Digg been up to since our last episode about the site back in 2017? From shutting down a popular tool to another acquisition from a small ad company, we explore what has been up over at Digg. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nov 06, 202343 min

TechStuff Classic: The Digg Story

It all began with a startup led by a TechTV host. Then it evolved into a massively influential site, only to seemingly implode a short while later. What's the story behind Digg? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nov 03, 20231 hr 5 min

Tech News: YouTube Ramps Up Strategy Against Ad Blockers

YouTube users with ad block software may find themselves blocked from watching videos on the platform unless they allow ads. Politicians around the world speak out against bias on Tiktok, but no one can agree which way the bias goes. Scarlett Johansson takes legal action against a company that used an AI-generated impression of her voice for an ad. Plus much more! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nov 03, 202340 min

A Brief History of Ad Blocking

First came the web ad. Then came the ad blocking software. What is the history of ad blocking? What challenges does it create for industry, and what services does it provide beyond, you know, blocking all those pesky ads? We get into it! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nov 01, 202350 min

Tech News: A Spooky Halloween Tech News Episode

From ghostly AI to hacker goblins, we get a rundown on what's going on in the tech space. The US President issues an executive order about artificial intelligence, X reveals in internal documents that the company's value has dropped by more than 50% over the last year, and a little software company in the UK is trying to take on the mega corporation Meta. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oct 31, 202334 min

Excess Babbage

Charles Babbage was a man ahead of his time. He was an engineer, inventor, mathematician, and grouchy pants. We learn more about this historic figure and his creations. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oct 30, 202347 min

TechStuff Classic: How USB Ports Work

The USB has become a standard port in tech. How did it get started and how does it work? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oct 27, 202351 min

Tech News: Hackers and Vulnerabilities and APIs, Oh My!

Pro-Russian hackers have found and exploited a vulnerability in a popular webmail app. Researchers found a very complicated way to compromise certain Apple devices. Slack has ended support for X/Twitter integration. Plus lots more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oct 26, 202334 min

Catching Up with the Ig Nobel Prizes

In our third episode about the silly Ig Nobel prizes, we learn about music playing in a place you wouldn't expect, a clawed machine for changing diapers, and whether or not you'll feel more pain if you're looking at ugly art. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oct 25, 202339 min

Tech News: Poisoning AI with Digital Art

A tool called Nightshade could give human artists the poison they need to sabotage generative AI. Google and Apple disable live traffic data in the region around the Gaza Strip. And NASA pushed a software update out to Voyager 1 as it hurtles through interstellar space. Plus more! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oct 24, 202333 min

Conversation on the Brain with Guest David Eagleman

Neuroscientist David Eagleman joins the show to talk about lighthearted topics ranging from the nature of consciousness to the intersection of technology and the grey matter that lives in our skulls. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oct 23, 202352 min

TechStuff Classic: What was Gopher?

Once upon a time, a text-based Internet navigation system was poised to become the primary way we interact with the net. What happened? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oct 20, 202351 min

Tech News: Hackers, National Security and You

A special council convened to discuss how Chinese hackers pose a massive threat to national security. A hacker released information on millions of 23andMe customers, prompting the company to suggest the customers were at fault. And Elon Musk gave investors a bit of a reality check on the Cybertruck. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oct 19, 202322 min

The Skype Story: Microsoft Buys Skype. What Now?

In 2011, Microsoft acquired Skype for 8.5 billion dollars. What happened next? What did the giant tech company have in mind, and how did things pan out? And why did Zoom become the go-to conferencing solution during the pandemic instead of Skype? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oct 18, 202339 min

Smart Talks with IBM - Responsible AI: Why Businesses Need Reliable AI Governance

To deploy responsible AI and build trust with customers, businesses need to prioritize AI governance. In this episode of Smart Talks with IBM, Malcolm Gladwell and Laurie Santos discuss AI accountability with Christina Montgomery, Chief Privacy and Trust Officer at IBM. They chat about AI regulation, what compliance means in the AI age, and why transparent AI governance is good for business. Visit us at: ibm.com/smarttalks Explore watsonx.governance: https://www.ibm.com/products/watsonx-governan...

Oct 17, 202328 min

Kazaa, Skype, and the Worst Deal of All Time?

How is Skype related to Kazaa? What does a peer-to-peer network do? And was the eBay acquisition of Skype really one of the worst deals in tech history (spoiler: no it was not)? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oct 16, 202343 min

TechStuff Classic: TechStuff is Under Siege

From catapults to ballista, we explore the world of siege engines. Which ones were real? Which are fantasy? And how did they work? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oct 13, 202342 min

Tech News: NPR Says X Isn't Worth It

Last April, National Public Radio (NPR) closed out its Twitter accounts. Six months later, NPR leadership says that the impact to NPR has been negligible. Could this mean more organizations will say goodbye to Musk's platform? Plus, news about a massive DDoS attack, why we'll be seeing a lot more of AI in the near future, and an update on Sam Bankman-Fried's court case. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oct 12, 202339 min

Tech News: X Marks the Spot (For Disinformation)

Intelligence researchers lament that X has become so rife with disinformation that there's no good way to use it while tracking tumultuous events like the war in Israel. The FCC is gearing up for a fight with US broadband companies. And did Disney unknowingly use an AI-generated stock image to promote Loki season 2? Plus more! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oct 10, 202338 min

Ubisoft and the Skull & Bones Debacle

Back in 2020, we did a three-part series on the history of Ubisoft. What's been going on since then? And what's the story behind the troubled development of the pirate-themed game Skull & Bones? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oct 09, 202353 min

TechStuff Classic: The id Software Story Part Two

From humble beginnings to massive success, we follow the rest of the id Software story. When did the founders leave and why? And what's going on there now? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oct 06, 202348 min