TechStuff - podcast cover

TechStuff

iHeartPodcastswww.iheart.com

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

Why is Meta's Andy Stone wanted by Russia?

While Meta communications director Andy Stone has ruffled more than a few feathers since joining the company in 2014, it seems that in Russia things are a bit more serious. Apparently, he's on a wanted list created by Russia's Ministry of the Interior. But why? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nov 27, 202333 min

TechStuff Classic: The National Facial Recognition Database

Are you an adult citizen in the US? If so, there's a 50% chance your face is in a law enforcement database. We look at this problematic law enforcement tool. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nov 24, 20231 hr 15 min

Rerun: TechStuff In Front of a Green Screen

Where did green screen technology come from? How does it work? From the dawn of cinema to the latest Zoom meeting, we take a look at the tech that lets us combine different images into a single film or video. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nov 23, 202347 min

Binance Pleads Guilty

We get a very quick update on the OpenAI/Sam Altman situation and then turn our attention to the blockbuster news that Binance and its co-founder, Changpeng "CZ" Zhao, have entered a guilty plea on charges that include money laundering. What does this mean for Binance in particular and cryptocurrency in general? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nov 22, 202348 min

Tech News: More Aftermath From OpenAI's Chaotic Weekend

We've got a few updates on what's going on after OpenAI's board of directors fired CEO Sam Altman (and then asked if he wouldn't mind coming back, please). Plus, X is looking at a pretty rough holiday season as advertisers flee the platform. And SpaceX deals with another exploding spacecraft. Plus more! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nov 21, 202330 min

The Fallout from OpenAI Firing CEO Sam Altman

In a dramatic turn of events, OpenAI's board of directors fired CEO and co-founder Sam Altman. Then they tried to hire him back. Then they announced a former Twitch CEO will lead the company. What the what? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nov 20, 202351 min

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
For the best experience, listen in Metacast app for iOS or Android
Open in Metacast