Abandoned Tech Projects
From Microsoft's dual-screened tablet concept to a holographic video game system, we take a look at some tech projects that died on the vine. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Sep 05, 2024•43 min
TechStuff
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
What happened to Facebook's digital currency?
In 2019, Facebook (now Meta) announced it was developing a digital currency called Libra. Just a couple of years later, the project was dead in the water. What happened? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Sep 02, 2024•21 min
Elon Musk Gets a Lot of Bad News
From X to Tesla to SpaceX to xAI, we've got a bunch of stories about various Elon Musk companies and the challenges they face this week. Plus, the MPA takes down a massive media piracy ring, and more! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Aug 30, 2024•42 min
Sending Telegram's CEO to Court
French authorities arrested Telegram's CEO on Saturday, August 24th, 2024. What did he do? What is Telegram? And can a balance be struck between secure, private communications and stopping illegal activity? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Aug 28, 2024•41 min
Smart Talks with IBM: How open source can democratize AI
In a rapidly evolving AI landscape, open-source models can further accelerate the pace of progress and help expand access to all. In this episode of Smart Talks with IBM, Malcolm Gladwell sits down with Mo Duffy, Software Engineering Manager at Red Hat. They discuss InstructLab and the benefits of open-source technology, such as flexible deployment and the ability to enhance transparency, as well as the power of partnerships and collaboration. Mo explains how a community-based approach is essent...
Aug 27, 2024•40 min
Rerun: How Podcasting Works
In this podtastic episode, Jonathan and Chris explore how podcasting works. Tune in as they touch on everything from how TechStuff got its start to tips for listeners who want to become podcasters themselves. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Aug 26, 2024•30 min
Tech News: Augmenting (Or Outright Replacing) Reality
Meta and Snap each plan to introduce new AR glasses, but you probably won't be able to get your hands on them. Plus, Cruise strikes up a partnership with Uber, Google introduces a photo editing feature that muddies the waters and an enterprising hacker attempts to fake his own death. Through hacking. Plus more! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Aug 23, 2024•20 min
Disney's Multiplane Camera
While tackling a project that could have bankrupted the company, Walt Disney's engineers created a new method to add depth to two-dimensional animation. The multiplane camera would add an element of realism to an otherwise unrealistic medium. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Aug 21, 2024•18 min
Rerun: Space Suit Evolution
A lack of new space suits is going to push back the Artemis Program. Where did space suits come from? What were the early ones like? We look at flight suits up through the early days of Apollo in this episode. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Aug 19, 2024•45 min
A Bad Hack and a Great Guest
Shannon Morse joins the show to talk about how a data breach might impact you, as well as to clear up a few things the media tends to get wrong about data breaches. Plus, we have news about AI, NASA and more! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Aug 16, 2024•28 min
AI and Price Fixing
Business leaders understand that AI can help increase revenue and profit margins. But is using AI to control pricing going to lead to bad outcomes for consumers? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Aug 14, 2024•31 min
Smart Talks with IBM: An AI advantage for the US Open
As AI technology progresses, its impact on our daily lives—including how we consume our favorite sports— will grow alongside it. In this episode of Smart Talks with IBM , Jacob Goldstein, host of Pushkin’s own What’s Your Problem? , sat down with Brian Ryerson, Senior Director of Digital Strategy at the US Tennis Association. They discuss the impact of data on the fan experience, the role that storytelling plays in sports, and how AI has unlocked innovative features, such as AI Commentary and Ma...
Aug 13, 2024•34 min
The Tale of the RCA VideoDisc
In 1981, RCA released a new media format on the market. It was the CED -- the Capacitance Electronic Disc, and it was meant to compete with Betamax, VHS and LaserDisc. How did it do? Not so great! But I own one, so I'm doing an episode about it! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Aug 12, 2024•48 min
It's Just a Matter of (Anti)trust
Google and Amazon are the subject of antitrust proceedings, while an antitrust lawsuit from Elon Musk's X has prompted an organization to disband. Trust me, you'll want to hear this. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Aug 09, 2024•21 min
Hitting the Road with GPS
How does GPS work? How can satellites tell you where you are? And what does Einstein have to do with all of this? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Aug 07, 2024•36 min
The Global Economy and the Hype on Artificial Intelligence
As the US teeters on the brink of a recession, we're seeing economies around the world take a hit. What role, if any, did the hype around AI play? We take a critical look at the Gartner Hype Cycle and whether it applies to artificial intelligence. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Aug 06, 2024•39 min
Tech News: Is the Honeymoon Over for AI?
Some folks are getting impatient while waiting on AI to transform the world (or at the very least their investment portfolio). Plus, we learn about how a controversial online safety bill has been left to fizzle out in the US House of Representatives. And much, much more! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Aug 02, 2024•38 min
This Episode Was Written By AI (Sort Of)
Can generative AI write a good episode for a technology podcast? We find out with this experiment about airbags written by ChatGPT. What worked, what didn't work, and what does Jonathan find really troubling? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Aug 01, 2024•58 min
Jamming the Signal
What does it mean when a signal is "jammed?" From radar to radio to some cheeky broadcast TV signal intrusions, we look at how signal jamming works. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jul 29, 2024•37 min
AI is Smart At Math But Stupid With Love
Meta and Google both brag on how their respective AI models are good at math. Meanwhile, OpenAI unveils its prototype AI-enhanced search engine. Plus, we learn about why video game voice actors are going on strike and more! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jul 26, 2024•32 min
Pinball: From Electromechanical Machines to Solid State Tables
We continue to explore the evolution of pinball and learn how the humble solenoid powers so much of the game. Plus, what happens when transistors, integrated circuits and computers join the party? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jul 25, 2024•47 min
The Southern Fried Gaming Expo and Pinball
After attending the 2024 Southern Fried Gaming Expo, TechStuff looks into the origins and evolution of pinball machines. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jul 22, 2024•39 min
Tech News: A Software Update Crashed Computer Systems Around the World
A company called CrowdStrike pushed out a software update to Windows-based systems. But the update had a defect, bringing computer systems around the world to a standstill. Plus, stories about the FBI cracking into a would-be assassin's phone, how X is appealing a California law and Google's plans to get rid of crappy apps. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jul 19, 2024•21 min
How a medieval king influenced a modern technology
King Harald of Denmark had a little quirk that would, centuries later, provide inspiration for the naming of a modern technology. We learn how his lack of oral hygiene led to the naming of a wireless protocol. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jul 17, 2024•19 min
Smart Talks with IBM - Transformations in Al: why foundation models are the future
Major breakthroughs in artificial intelligence research often reshape the design and utility of Al in both business and society. In this special rebroadcast episode of Smart Talks with IBM, Malcolm Gladwell and Jacob Goldstein explore the conceptual underpinnings of modern Al with Dr. David Cox, VP of Al models at IBM Research. They talk foundation models, self-supervised machine learning, and the practical applications of Al and data platforms like watsonx in business and technology. When we fi...
Jul 16, 2024•41 min
AI Model Collapse and the Dangers of AI-Generated Content
An AI image of a devious banker with way too many fingers can be entertaining, but could it also be a warning sign for the future of the Internet? We learn about some research that indicates future generative AI may be a real mess if it trains on other AI-generated content. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jul 15, 2024•45 min
Tech News: The Death of Physical Media
Sony will stop producing rewritable Blu-rays and a DVD rental service went belly up. Are we looking at the end of physical media? Plus, AI causes more headaches, Goldman Sachs warns we might be in an AI bubble, and more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jul 12, 2024•45 min
What are AI Chips?
As chip manufacturers rush to meet the needs of all this artificial intelligence work going on, we're left to ask the question "What the heck is an AI chip anyway?" We find out! From GPUs to ASICs, this is the episode for you. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jul 10, 2024•43 min
Artificial Artificial Intelligence
The AI startup scene is bonkers. Investors are pouring so much money into AI startup companies that some of those businesses are making unsubstantiated AI claims. We explore stories of a few companies that weren't as AI-focused as they initially claimed to be. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jul 08, 2024•42 min
Tech News: What a hack!
There's a lot of hacker news this week, with updates on the severity of the Ticketmaster hack, a credit union in California is doing its best to restore services after a ransomware attack, and a Chinese company turned an innocent, helpful tool into a malicious trick. Plus more! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jul 05, 2024•21 min