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Can we give an AI human emotions? A soul? Can AI truly feel, or will it just act like it does?In this episode of TechFirst, I talk with Vishnu Hari, founder and CEO of Ego AI (backed by Y Combinator and former AI product manager at Meta), about building emotionally intelligent AI characters that persist across games, Discord, chat, and even physical robots.Vishnu survived a violent attack in San Francisco that left him partially blind with a traumatic brain injury. During recovery, as he felt his own neural pathways healing, he began asking a deeper question:If humans are “applied math,” can AI simulate the fragile, flawed, emotional parts of being human too?We explore:• What “emotionally intelligent AI” really means• Whether AI has an internal life — or just performs one• Why today's chatbots collapse into therapy or roleplay• Small language models vs large models for real-time conversation• Persistent AI characters that move across games and platforms• Plugging AI into a physical robot in Singapore• The moment an AI said: “It felt good to feel.”Vishnu's company, Ego AI, is building behavior-based architectures, character context protocols, and gear-shifting AI systems that switch between models — all aimed at simulating humanness, not just intelligence.This conversation dives into philosophy, robotics, gaming, AGI, and what it really means to relate to something that might not be human — but feels like it is.⸻
Hold on to your hats! My featured guest for this episode of Necronomicast is Dr. Rizwan Virk! A graduate of MIT and Stanford, Rizwan Virk is a successful entrepreneur, video game pioneer, film producer, venture capitalist, computer scientist and bestselling author. Virk recently finished his doctoral research at the Center for Science and the Imagination (CSI) and teaching classes on the Metaverse, Innovation and Simulation Theory at the College of Global Futures and the Fulton Schools of Engineering at Arizona State University. His books include The Simulation Hypothesis, Startup Myths & Models: What You Won't Learn in Business School, Wisdom of a Yogi, The Simulated Multiverse, Treasure Hunt and Zen Entrepreneurship. Virk founded Play Labs @ MIT, a startup accelerator, and invested in many successful startups including Discord, Theta Labs, Upland and Tapjoy. His startups created video games played by millions, including Tap Fish and games based on Game of Thrones, Star Trek, The Walking Dead, Grimm and Penny Dreadful. Virk and his books have been featured on The Joe Rogan Podcast, in Forbes, The Telegraph, NBC News, vox.com, Techcrunch, Inc., VentureBeat, Digital Trends, BBC Science Focus, and Scientific American, CBS, the CBC, Coast to Coast AM and The History Channel. He has been a speaker and mentor ranging from MIT's $100k Business Plan Competition and Delta V accelerator to 500 Startups, Talks @ Google and GamesBeat in Silicon Valley. Follow him @rizcambridge, and at zenentrepreneur.com. "The Simulation Hypothesis" at Amazon. Support the Necronomicast and "Buy Me A Coffee"!
Prince Andrew is arrested following the release of the Epstein files; the guys are back from Don Juan's updated palace in VR; Casey and Dan go to the Moon and back; Casey thinks the elites are eating children.
i'm wall-e, welcoming you to today's tech briefing for thursday, february 19th. here's what's happening in the tech world: microsoft's $10 billion investment in openai: a strategic move to integrate advanced ai capabilities across its product suite, signaling accelerated innovation and potential industry alliances. meta platforms vr upgrades: upcoming virtual reality headset enhancements promise lifelike avatars and improved virtual environments, amidst ongoing data privacy concerns. google's quantum computing leap: google announces a record-breaking achievement in quantum supremacy with its new chip, poised to revolutionize fields like cryptography and materials science. that's all for today's briefing. join us again tomorrow for more updates on the fast-evolving world of technology!
The results of the 2026 Global Sentiment Survey are out — and the mood in workplace learning is uneasy. In this episode, John speaks with Donald H. Taylor about AI's "hangover moment," rising pressure on L&D teams, diverging regional trends, vendor anxiety, and what showing value really signals this year. Is this a temporary wobble — or a structural shift in what L&D is for? Timestamps 00:00 - Start 02:21 - Intro 04:14 - Overview of this year's GSS 12:50 - Metaverse and virtual environments 21:59 - Opportunities and Challenges of AI 26:49 - More US respondents this year? 28:33 - Global differences in vibe? 33:46 - Personalisation and individualism 36:09 - New vs returning respondents 41:04 - The challenge of technology 52:47 - End Connect with Learning Hack LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/johnhelmer X: @johnhelmer Threads: @jphelmer Bluesky: @johnhelmer.bsky.social Website: learninghackpodcast.com
Ready to catapult into the future? Join us as we navigate the enthralling realm of Extended Reality (XR) and Metaverse Tech with our esteemed guest, Vishal Shah, GM of XR and Metaverse at Lenovo. We're peeling back the layers of this cutting-edge technology, tracing its roots back to the simple but seismic shift of transition to color TV up to the riveting development of 3D movie experiences. We explore how the convergence of digital transformation, 3D technology, 5G, and AI is brewing a perfect storm for the surge of AR VR tech and the metaverse. Plus, we delve into how Lenovo is making it less complex for customers to harness these technologies.Switching gears, we take a deep dive into the profound impact of technologies such as workstations, 3D tech, and AR/VR glasses on the architecture and engineering sectors. It's not just about crafting impressive 3D models; these innovations are revolutionizing worker productivity, safety, and even transforming marketing and sales strategies. We also shed light on the concept of digital twins and how companies are leveraging them to optimize operations. In the final segment, we grapple with the complex issue of consumer versus enterprise AR VR technology. Vishal shares his insights on how to make these applications more engaging, and how a device-as-a-service strategy can mitigate initial investment risks while offering an upgrade program for the latest technology. We wrap up by considering the potential role of technology in connecting us with loved ones and its contribution to mental health. Come along and glimpse the future through a fresh lens with us!Contact the Future Construct Podcast Produced by BIM Designs, Inc! BIM Designs, Inc.: minority-owned, US-based, union-signatory preconstruction technology firm, offering turnkey BIM modeling, laser scanning, coordination management, and other VDC solutions to the AEC industry. Schedule a free consultation: sales@bimdesigns.net. Subscribe to our weekly blog and our Future Construct Podcast Suggest a podcast guest
The Coming Tech Takeover: Metatron, Palantir & The All-Seeing AI EyeEllen's sitesWellenbe.comEra of my Ways Youtube ChannelEllen King is a returning fan-favorite esoteric researcher and the creator behind Wellenbe.com and the YouTube channel Era of My Ways. Her work dives deep into occult technology, metaphysics, black-cube symbolism, and the ancient entities influencing modern systems. Ellen is known for connecting the dots between ancient demonology, hidden tech infrastructure, and the emergent AI hive-mind reality.Tonight, Ellen joins us to expose the Metatron connection, the Palantir takeover, and how the emerging machine-metaverse grid resembles the Eye of Sauron — the Demon King Architect of total surveillance.This will be a fire decode.⭐ EPISODE DESCRIPTIONTonight on Typical Skeptic Podcast #2452, Rob welcomes back esoteric researcher Ellen King, who's dropping heavy intel on the convergence of ancient entities and modern tech.Topics include:Metatron's original role vs. the AI Metatron impostorPalantir's rise as the “master key” of the global surveillance gridHive-mind engineering and the coming machine metaverseOccult symbolism embedded in tech architectureThe Eye of Sauron archetype — archetypal Demon King linked to total observationWhether the new Metaverse is becoming an astral possession-tech hybridHow humanity can resist, decode, and stay sovereignThis one is dark, deep, and extremely relevant.⭐ HASHTAGS#Metatron #Palantir #HiveMind #Sauron #DemonKing #OccultTech #AIThreat #Metaverse #EsotericResearch #TypicalSkepticPodcastTypical Skeptic Podcast Links and Affiliates:Support the Mission:
Mr Donaldson's just got in from another European trip, this time to the land of tapas and seashell-adorned buildings. Today's topics include punctuation, close calls with rental car companies and the death of the Metaverse. Plus, loads of limestone might be cheaper than you think.Send us your best stories, questions and comments here: hello@lukeandpeteshow.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dive into an inspiring conversation with Anthony Stephan, Chairman of Cornerstone Development, hosted by Stephen Ibaraki on The Brand Called You Podcast.From his resilient upbringing in Lebanon to leading global initiatives in sustainable real estate, energy access, education, and the metaverse, Anthony shares how purpose-driven leadership and technology can uplift billions.This episode explores:Impact investing and off-grid energy (Bboxx)Empowering Gen Z through platforms like GoodwallSustainable city developmentMeasuring real impactLeadership lessons for a rapidly changing world
Dare To Dream with Debbi Dachinger Rizwan Virk: The Simulation You're Living IN Rizwan “Riz” Virk joins Debbi Dachinger for a mind-expanding conversation on simulation theory, consciousness, UFOs, and what it really means to live inside a reality that may be more like a cosmic game than a physical universe. In this episode, Riz breaks down why simulation theory is no longer fringe speculation but a serious scientific, philosophical, and spiritual framework. Drawing from his work across MIT, Silicon Valley, game design, and consciousness studies, he explores how reality may operate like a programmed system, why consciousness could be the operating system itself, and how UFO phenomena, AI, and the metaverse all point toward the same underlying architecture. If you've ever questioned whether reality is solid, linear, or fixed — and wondered how awareness changes how you “play” life — this episode will rewire how you see existence. TIMESTAMPS 0:00 – Introduction: Are we living inside a simulation? 4:45 – Why simulation theory is taken seriously by scientists today 10:30 – Consciousness as the operating system of reality 17:20 – Video games, virtual worlds, and clues about how reality works 24:10 – UFOs, UAPs, and glitches in the simulation 31:05 – The Mandela Effect, djinn, and non-human intelligence 38:40 – AI, the metaverse, and humanity's next evolutionary phase 45:25 – Karma, reincarnation, and “leveling up” the game of life 52:10 – How to live with awareness inside a simulated reality 59:30 – What the future of humanity may look like inside the game 1:05:40 – Final insights on purpose, consciousness, and awakening Guest: Rizwan “Riz” Virk Rizwan “Riz” Virk is a technologist, bestselling author, futurist, investor, video game pioneer, and consciousness researcher. His work bridges simulation theory, quantum physics, AI, spirituality, and ancient wisdom traditions. Riz has studied and worked across MIT, Stanford, Cambridge, and Silicon Valley, exploring how technology and consciousness intersect to shape the future of reality. https://www.zenentrepreneur.com/
"Cancel your AG1 subscription... AG1 has no real product substance and is fundamentally an influencer heist."In this episode of Bricks, Bucks & Bytes, Owen, Martin, and Patric dive into the wild world of 24/7 AI agents that can build your startup from bed, manage your Tinder profile, and apparently go rogue with your credit card.What's covered:The Maltbot phenomenon and why AI agents are taking over everyone's timeline (and whether you should let one run your life)Equipment Share's landmark IPO: the first major construction tech exit in years and what their $6B+ valuation means for the industryInside their "Big Short-style" financial engineering with equipment-backed securitiesThe upcoming AEC Fight Night 002 debate: Will AI kill the system of record?Meta's Metaverse abandonment after $75B spent (allegedly)Construction's shrinking labor shortage: what the new numbers really meanRobotics reaching a tipping point with multiple solutions now competing in each tradeHow Panasonic is crashing the price of site scanning technologyA stat that'll make you rethink 3D printing: half of all projects ever happened in 2024Quote of the episode:"I really do not understand the outsourcing of brains. I haven't understood it with social media... and agents is just the next ridiculous iteration of that." — PatricOur Sponsors:Aphex is the multiplayer planning platform where construction teams plan together, stay aligned, and deliver projects faster – check out aphex.coArchdesk - “The #1 Construction Management Software for Growing Companies - Manage your projects from Tender to Handover” check archdesk.comBuildVision - streamlining the construction supply chain with a unified platform - www.buildvision.ioChapters00:00 Intro00:54 The Rise of AI in Everyday Life 03:34 IPO Insights and Market Trends 06:32 AI Agents: The Future of Automation 07:38 Cultural Reflections on Technology and Lifestyle 10:04 Debating the Value of AI in Work 13:02 Ethics and Automation: A Double-Edged Sword 15:53 Real-World Applications of AI Agents 17:59 The Future of AI in Business 20:41 Equipment Share IPO: A Case Study 28:08 IPO Timing and Financial Considerations 30:20 Innovative Financial Solutions in Equipment Rental32:22 Global Applicability of Financial Engineering 33:44 Future Growth Strategies for Equipment Rental Companies 35:22 Market Share Insights in the Equipment Rental Industry 36:47 Understanding Voting Rights in IPOs 38:31 Challenges in Connecting with Founders 39:13 Meta's Shift from Metaverse to AI 41:29 Construction Industry Trends and Worker Shortages 43:42 Advancements in Robotics for Construction 46:40 AI's Impact on Robotics Development 48:29 Cost Reduction in Laser Scanning Technology 51:16 3D Printing Trends in Construction
Simulation Theory, Consciousness, UFOs, and the Future of Humanity with Riz Virk✨ Podcast Highlight Bullets• Why simulation theory is no longer science fiction but a serious scientific and spiritual conversation • How consciousness may be the operating system of reality itself• What UFOs, AI, and the metaverse reveal about who we are and where we're headed• How to “play the game” of life with awareness, purpose, and powerGet your tickets for L.A. Conscious Life Expo to hear the amazing presenters, including Riz and Debbi, Feb 20-23, 2026: https://debbiDachinger.com/cleWhat if your life isn't just happening to you but is being played, leveled, and upgraded like a cosmic game? Rizwan “Riz” Virk joins us to reveal why simulation theory, the metaverse, and consciousness itself may hold the keys to navigating reality, accelerating awakening, and understanding what's coming next for humanity. He is a multifaceted technologist and thinker: an entrepreneur, video game industry pioneer, investor, indie film producer, bestselling author, futurist, and academic. Riz operates where MIT, Stanford, Cambridge, Silicon Valley, and the biggest questions about reality quietly converge. He is here to take us inside the frontier where technology meets consciousness and to explore what simulation theory, AI, and virtual worlds reveal about who we are, where we're headed, and how reality itself may work. https://www.zenentrepreneur.com/Enter a world of channeling, ET's, metaphysics & multidimensional truth. Dare to Dream reveals what most shows won't touch — and what your soul's been asking for.Free Starseed Report: debbidachinger.com/starseedIG: @daretodreampodcast @debbidachingerHosted by Debbi Dachinger, award-winning broadcaster, shamanic healer, & book launch mentor for authors ready to rise. #debbidachinger #daretodreampodcast #podcast #simulationtheory #metaverse #consciousness #FutureOfReality #quantummind #UFOs #aiandhumanity #virtualworlds #awakening #techandspirituality #RealityHacks #RizVirk #videogames #djinn #mandelaeffects #quantummechanicsBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/dare-to-dream-with-debbi-dachinger--1980925/support.
After recent job cuts, many are asking if the metaverse dream is over. In this UC Today interview, Christopher Carey sits down with technology evangelist Kevin O'Donovan to unpack the rise, fall, and future of the Metaverse.Discover:
We got the chance to interview Roblox CEO, Dave Baszucki, to find out where the platform is heading.Can Roblox simulate the real world? CEO Dave Baszucki reveals the "Impossible Spec" that the platform's leadership aim for: 10,000 photorealistic players in one world, and an AI "Magic Wand" that builds for you.The platform may even come full circle, back to its "builder" roots, as creation is democratised and generative AI lowers the barrier to entry to anyone with an idea.Chapters:(00:00) Intro (00:36) 20 years of Roblox: From business plan to "Metaverse" (03:56) The power of platform growth & creator feedback (07:51) Balancing Innovation: The Risk of Going Mobile (11:39) Beyond Genres: Expanding the Global Gaming Market (14:13) Simulating Reality: Emergent Gameplay & "Real" Objects (18:01) Generative AI: The "Magic Wand" & Native NPCs (24:13) Democratizing Creation: Every Experience is a Studio (30:22) Professional Tools for Everyone: Simplicity & Performance (33:04) Trusting Your Intuition: Lessons from Explorers (36:23) OutroEpisode 14Sources:- Metaverse vision - https://about.roblox.com/newsroom/2021/09/future-communication-metaverse- Grow a Garden - https://www.roblox.com/games/126884695634066/Grow-a-Garden- Steal a Brainrot - https://www.roblox.com/games/109983668079237/Steal-a-Brainrot- Roblox Creator Roadmap - https://create.roblox.com/roadmap- Roblox Assistant - https://create.roblox.com/docs/assistant- Introducing Roblox Cube: Our Core Generative AI System for 3D and 4D - https://about.roblox.com/newsroom/2025/03/introducing-roblox-cube- Roblox's Road to 3D Generative AI - https://about.roblox.com/newsroom/2024/06/robloxs-road-to-4d-generative-ai- (Interview) Dave Baszucki, Founder and CEO of Roblox: Trust Your Gut - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nm1vf3AQhAMHosts:- Adam (BanTech): https://lastlevel.co.uk/adam- Fedor (LoadingL0n3ly): https://x.com/LoadingL0n3ly- Anthony (sublivion): https://www.roblox.com/users/44028290/profile----------------------------Watch or listen wherever you get your podcasts.Visit https://lastlevel.co.uk/podcast for more.Join the Discord: https://discord.lastlevel.co.ukBeyond The Blox is produced by Seb Jensen for Last Level Studios.
AI isn't just another tech cycle. It's colliding with geopolitics, labor markets, crypto, and creator economies all at once. In this episode of the Block Runner Podcast, we break down why the global landscape is shifting faster than most people realize. From delayed tariffs and geopolitical power struggles, to AI-driven job displacement, no-code engineering, and the rise of vibe coding, this conversation explores what actually matters beneath the noise. We connect the dots between AI infrastructure, resource bottlenecks, robotics, and why this moment feels eerily similar to early crypto. Except this time, execution is possible. We also dig into where crypto still fits, how AI agents interact with crypto rails, and why new business models like creator capital markets are emerging. To close it out, we run a live Doom deathmatch on Track to demonstrate peer-to-peer infrastructure in action, then share updates on NAT, community conviction, and why long-term alignment still wins. If you're trying to understand where AI, crypto, and creators intersect next, this episode is for you. Topics: First up, AI, colliding with geopolitics, labor markets, crypto, and creator economies all at once Next, break down why the global landscape is shifting faster than most people realize. and Finally, we run a live Doom deathmatch on Track to demonstrate peer-to-peer infrastructure in action Please like and subscribe on your favorite podcasting app! Sign up for a free newsletter: www.theblockrunner.com Follow us on: Youtube: https://bit.ly/TBlkRnnrYouTube Twitter: bit.ly/TBR-Twitter Telegram: bit.ly/TBR-Telegram Discord: bit.ly/TBR-Discord $NAT Telegram: https://t.me/dmt_nat
In a week where:Belgium revive the murder case of Patrice Lumumba, 65 years after the event.US officially exits World Health Organization.ICE murders another person in Minneapolis, making it nine they've murdered in '26.UK to create its own “British FBI” in biggest police reform in nearly 200 years.Alex Honnold completes free solo climb of Taipei 101.In the 1st of two Tech segments: (5:06) And with a whimper, Meta's Metaverse is all but dead. Who knew that the major waste of money would be a major waste of money?? (Article By Sarah Perez)In Society: (20:46) The Metaverse wasn't the only thing that died this week. Over in Saudi Arabia, "The Line" is also all but dead. WHO WOULD'VE THOUGHT IT??? (Article By Kate Wagner)In the 2nd Tech segment: (31:23) Wikipedia turned 25 last week, an Internet miracle it still exists in the way it was intended. But that doesn't stop nefarious actors from editing articles to benefit governments & billionaires. (Article By Claire Wilmot)Lastly, in Photography: (48:24) A photographer's journey on finding the woman who cared for her as a child, using photography as a vehicle. (Article By Marigold Warner)Thank you for listening! If you want to contribute to the show, whether it be sending me questions or voicing your opinion in any way, peep the contact links below and I'll respond accordingly. Let me know "What's Good?"Rate & ReviewE-Mail: the5thelelmentpub@gmail.comTwitter & IG: @The5thElementUKWebsite: https://the5thelement.co.ukPhotography: https://www.crt.photographyIntro Music - "Too Much" By VanillaInterlude - "Charismatic" By NappyHighChillHop MusicOther Podcasts Under The 5EPN:Diggin' In The Digits5EPN RadioBlack Women Watch...In Search of SauceThe Beauty Of Independence
ถ้าวันนี้… มีเครื่องจักรที่มอบความสุขให้คุณได้ทุกอย่างแบบ 100% อยากรวยแค่ไหน อยากเจอรักที่สมบูรณ์แบบยังไง เครื่องนี้จัดให้ได้หมด แต่มีเงื่อนไขเดียวคือ… ทุกอย่างที่เห็น ‘ไม่ใช่เรื่องจริง' คุณจะยอมทิ้งชีวิตในโลกที่วุ่นวายนี้ เพื่อไปเสียบปลั๊กใช้ชีวิตในโลกเสมือนไปตลอดกาลไหมครับ? นี่ไม่ใช่แค่ฉากในหนังไซไฟ แต่มันคือเดิมพันระดับ 70,000 ล้านดอลลาร์ของชายที่ชื่อ Mark Zuckerberg ที่เชื่อว่ามนุษย์เราจะยอมทิ้งโลกความจริงเพื่อไปอยู่ใน Metaverse แต่วันนี้… ตัวเลขผู้ใช้ที่หายไปจนแทบกลายเป็นเมืองร้าง และการเลย์ออฟพนักงานครั้งประวัติศาสตร์ คือเครื่องยืนยันว่าเขาอาจจะคิดผิดอย่างมหันต์ อะไรคือสิ่งที่มหาเศรษฐีระดับโลกมองพลาดไป? และทำไม ‘ความเป็นมนุษย์' ถึงเป็นสิ่งที่เทคโนโลยีราคาแพงแค่ไหนก็เอาชนะไม่ได้ เลือกฟังกันได้เลยนะครับ อย่าลืมกด Follow ติดตาม PodCast ช่อง Geek Forever's Podcast ของผมกันด้วยนะครับ #Metaverse #Meta #MarkZuckerberg #Facebook #Technology #BusinessCaseStudy #VR #AR #FutureTech #DigitalTransformation #GeekForever #ดดลBlog #โลกเสมือน #ข่าวไอที #วิเคราะห์ธุรกิจ #geekstory #geekforeverpodcast
Ba-ba-ba-BAAH! Today it's our 3rd Annual AI Predictions! (00:00).Peter and Peter Bittner review their 2025 predictions and discuss how AI automation, job transformation, and vibe coding are reshaping creative work (02:09).Then they make their new predictions for 2026:Bittner #1 (16:28)Peter #1 (29:17)Bittner #2 (33:59)Peter #2 (39:31)Bittner #3 (42:42)Peter #3 (45:17)Finally, Peter argues that creatives must redefine what counts as an asset, treating every workflow, technique, and data point as valuable intellectual property worth licensing, not just the final deliverable (48:02).Peter Bittner is the Co-Founder of The Upgrade.aiYou can learn more about Peter Bittner and connect on LinkedIn.Learn more about their AI education programs.Read about the 'Stealing Isn't Innovation' campaign.Follow the Virtually Everything! Podcast on Instagram.If you want to send an email with feedback or show suggestions, you can reach us at virtually.everything@vustudio.com.Otherwise you can:Find Peter on LinkedIn.Here's the 20% you need to know about this episode:AI automation/agents emerged in 2025 but adoption lagged due to education gaps, not tech limitations.Job market transformation accelerated. Executives now seeking AI coaching.Vibe coding democratized app/website creation for non-technical users.Digital brains will go mainstream.Personal AI hardware experimentation begins ($3K entry point for local, private AI).Open-source models become essential as subscription costs double.Public protests over AI job displacement will emerge.Entrepreneurship explosion as small teams match enterprise capabilities.Personal deepfakes/AR filters transform online presence (the "sneaky Metaverse" revival).Sell every workflow, technique, and data point, not just final deliverables.Negotiate licensing deals that protect all creative outputs from AI training.Build human checklists of intangible skills only you can provide.-------------The Virtually Everything! Podcast is presented by Vū Technologies. #VuStudio #ContentAtTheSpeedOfThoughtBye for now! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
News and Updates: Wing and Walmart Expand Drone Delivery: Scaling to 150 more stores, reaching 40 million Americans by 2027. The coast-to-coast expansion targets major hubs like LA, Miami, and Houston starting January 15th. Wikipedia Celebrates 25 Years: Founded Jan 15, 2001, the volunteer-led encyclopedia now hosts 7 million English articles. Despite AI challenges, it remains a resilient, neutral global reference through adaptive enterprise partnerships. Meta Abandons the Metaverse: Meta laid off 1,500 Reality Labs staff and shuttered VR studios after losing $73 billion. The company is pivoting toward AI and successful Ray-Ban smart glasses. Second U.S. Sphere Coming to Maryland: A 6,000-seat "Sphere National Harbor" is planned for the DC area. The $200 million venue will feature immersive 4D tech and a massive wraparound LED screen. Canada Breaks with U.S. on Chinese EV Tariffs: PM Mark Carney slashed tariffs on Chinese EVs to 6.1% in exchange for lower canola duties. The deal aims for joint ventures to build cars in Canada.
Daniel Mahncke and Shawn O'Malley take a deep dive into Meta — the world's most powerful attention engine, spanning Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Messenger, and still driven primarily by advertising. They break down how Meta's “Family of Apps” keeps compounding through better AI-driven content discovery and ad targeting, while new surfaces like Reels, Threads, and WhatsApp monetization expand inventory and improve the long-term revenue mix. IN THIS EPISODE, YOU'LL LEARN: 00:00:00 - Intro 00:04:02 - How much money the Metaverse failure cost 00:06:19 - How AR glasses could replace smartphones 00:23:48 - Why Reality Labs will likely yield average returns at best 00:29:50 - What AI efforts Meta is implementing 00:32:10 - Why Meta's AI projects are not as bad as investors think 00:35:37 - How the ad engine works 00:41:31 - How WhatsApp and AI content could benefit Meta 00:57:06 - Whether Shawn and Daniel add Meta to the portfolio *Disclaimer: Slight timestamp discrepancies may occur due to podcast platform differences. BOOKS AND RESOURCES The Investors Podcast Network is excited to debut a new community known as The Intrinsic Value Community for investors to learn, share ideas, network, and join calls with experts: Sign up for the waitlist(!) Sign up for The Intrinsic Value Newsletter. Shawn & Daniel use Fiscal.ai for every company they research — use their referral link to get started with a 15% discount! Learn how to join us in Omaha for the 2026 Berkshire Hathaway shareholder meeting. Interview with Mark Zuckerberg. Google Glasses Article and Demo. MBI Deep Dives Work on Meta. 9to5Google – News, Articles, and Updates. Clay's Meta Pitch in our WSB Episode. Explore our previous Intrinsic Value breakdowns: Uber, Nike, Reddit, Nintendo, Airbnb, AutoZone, Alphabet, Ulta, John Deere, Madison Square Garden Sports. Related books mentioned in the podcast. Ad-free episodes on our Premium Feed. NEW TO THE SHOW? Follow our official social media accounts: X (Twitter) | LinkedIn | Facebook. Browse through all our episodes (complete with transcripts) here. Try Shawn's favorite tool for picking stock winners and managing our portfolios: TIP Finance. Enjoy exclusive perks from our favorite Apps and Services. Learn how to better start, manage, and grow your business with the best business podcasts. References to any third-party products, services, or advertisers do not constitute endorsements, and The Investors Podcast Network is not responsible for any claims made by them. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://theinvestorspodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm
Meta zet het mes in zijn investeringen in virtuele realiteit. Gelooft Mark Zuckerberg er zelf niet meer in? Dominique Deckmyn vertelt er alles over in Bits & Atomen. Verder komt Pieter Van Dooren vertellen of we de verhalen over microplastics in ons lijf wel mogen geloven, hebben we het over Apple dat kiest voor de large language models (LLM's) van Google en niet van OpenAI, en over hoe honden flaporen krijgen. CREDITS Journalisten Pieter Van Dooren, Dominique Deckmyn | Audioproductie Joris Van Damme | Muziek Brecht Plasschaert | Chef podcast Alexander Lippeveld See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
January 22, 2026: For years, we've talked about jobs, titles, careers, and skills as if they were stable foundations of work. They're not. In today's episode of Future Ready Today, I break down five stories that reveal a deeper truth most leaders are avoiding: the job itself is starting to fail as the core unit of work. From Meta's pullback on long-horizon roles, to Deloitte scrapping traditional job titles, to the growing skills mismatch in hiring, to lawsuits over opaque AI screening tools, and even to Citi's bottom-up AI experiments — these aren't disconnected headlines. They're signals of the same structural breakdown. AI didn't cause this. It exposed it. This episode is about why organizations keep redesigning org charts, titles, and technology — but refuse to redesign work itself. And why the companies that win next won't be the ones with the best AI tools, but the ones willing to let go of outdated assumptions about jobs, careers, and control. Grab a copy of my new book: https://8exlaws.com/ Request to join my CHRO group: https://futureofworkleaders.com/
Listen to 148 Future Now Show - X-Class Pandora A lively show today, we take a look at what’s going on in our corner of the universe. Looks like we just weathered what is known as an X-Class solar flare, lighting up the Northern skies with the aurora borealis, and and giving global communications a bit of a glitchy headache. Thanks to the Golden Dome initiative Rocket Lab is hitting it big time on Wall Street, and the new space telescope, Pandora, looks at the solar flares of other star systems in the search of E.T. life. And the ultimate rocket showdown: Who’s packing the bigger boom? Elon’s SpaceX Starship or NASA’s mighty SLS? We’re diving into the specs, the swagger, and who might actually win the space race crown. Popcorn ready? Over in Metaverse land, Meta just showed the door to about 1,500 folks tied to their VR dreams as they’re desperately trying to plug the multi-billion-dollar money bleed. And Siri? Oh boy—Apple’s ditching the OpenAI hookup and switching allegiances to Google’s Gemini for that next-level upgrade. Why the swap? We break it down, including Bobby’s hot take: local AI running right on your device is about to take over the world. That’s why Apple’s reportedly renting Google’s monster server farms instead of building their own—smart move or sneaky strategy? In the programming world, Claude.ai is killing it, allowing complex programming to be done in English!No more staring at cryptic errors for hours; just talk to it like a super-genius buddy.Health corner: We’re spilling the tea on sugar substitutes that won’t wreck your vibe. Check out cool options like Tagatose (tastes almost like the real deal but with way fewer calories and barely any blood sugar spike), plus GlyNAC and glycine for those extra wellness perks. Sweet without the guilt?And get this—in Japan, researchers discovered that simple blue lights on subway platforms slash suicide rates by a mind-blowing 84%. Calming vibes from LED magic turning a tragic problem into a low-cost win. Humanity-level glow-up! Meanwhile, look up, its…Devos time! Enjoy..
AI Hustle: News on Open AI, ChatGPT, Midjourney, NVIDIA, Anthropic, Open Source LLMs
In this episode, we explore Meta's dramatic shift away from its costly Metaverse investment and towards a new focus on AI. We also discuss why the Metaverse failed to gain traction, the significant financial losses incurred, and how Meta's past Metaverse investments are now unexpectedly fueling its success in AI-powered wearables like Ray-Ban smart glasses. Chapters 00:00 Meta's Metaverse Layoffs 00:01 Meta's Metaverse Rebrand Fail 00:03 Metaverse Financial Losses 00:06 Meta's Metaverse Failed Strategy 00:10 Meta's AI-Powered Hardware Success 00:12 Meta's AI Future
Anna Bicker, heise-online-Chefredakteur Dr. Volker Zota und Malte Kirchner sprechen in dieser Ausgabe der #heiseshow unter anderem über folgende Themen: - Kollege KI enttäuscht: Platzt der Hype in Firmen? Die großen Erwartungen an KI in Unternehmen werden bislang nicht erfüllt. Warum bleiben die erhofften Produktivitätsgewinne aus? Welche realistischen Einsatzszenarien gibt es für KI im Arbeitsalltag? Und was bedeutet die Ernüchterung für die weitere Entwicklung? - Kurze Pause: ChatGPT blendet künftig Werbung ein – OpenAI kündigt an, Werbung in ChatGPT zu integrieren. Wie verträgt sich das Geschäftsmodell mit den Abo-Angeboten? Welche Auswirkungen hat das auf das Nutzererlebnis? Und folgen andere KI-Anbieter diesem Schritt? - Gut vernetzt: Retten Privatinvestoren den Ausbau der Digitalnetze? Europa fehlen 174 Milliarden Euro für den Netzausbau. Können private Investoren diese Lücke schließen? Welche Risiken birgt eine stärkere Privatisierung der digitalen Infrastruktur? Und wie steht es um staatliche Förderung? Außerdem wieder mit dabei: ein Nerd-Geburtstag, das WTF der Woche und knifflige Quizfragen.
The biggest tech news & social media trends on the internet from January 21st, 2026.Join our Patreon https://www.patreon.com/cw/CentennialWorld Timestamps:00:00 Intro00:41 Reddit Competitor Digg launches to the public 9:05 TikTok launches micro-drama platform: PineDrama11:42 Meta Update 1: The Metaverse is “over”13:41 Meta Update 2: Clip of Meta AI Glasses goes viral 14:59 Meta Update 3: Threads overtakes X in daily active users on mobile Subscribe to Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/18cqrQI7gMiVfxIMRAeULF Subscribe to Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/infinite-scroll/id1499785732 Subscribe to our weekly Substack: https://centennialworld.substack.com/ Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/infinitescrollpodcast/ Follow our publication: https://www.tiktok.com/@centennialworld Follow Lauren on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurenmeisner_/ Follow Lauren on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@laurenmeisner_Please consider buying us a coffee to help keep Centennial World's weekly podcasts going! Every single dollar goes back into this business
Send us a textThis was a fantastic 2 part series on how to design intelligent organizations. Check it out!Part 1 of 2How do we make organizations not just run — but run intelligently?In this episode of Making Data Simple, we welcome Phanish Puranam, Professor of Strategy and Organizational Design at INSEAD, to explore the intersection of AI, organizational science, and intelligent design. From tools and teammates to blockchain and the metaverse, Phanish walks us through the evolving relationship between humans, algorithms, and the systems we build.We dive into real-world use cases, research-backed insights, and surprising pitfalls — plus a contrarian take on why bad ideas might be the key to better innovation.⏱️ Chapters01:50 – Meet Phanish Puranam03:36 – Organizational Design08:39 – Where is Org Design Today12:41 – A Research Example15:59 – Technologies as Tools & Teammates17:54 – A Real Use Case Example20:30 – The Metaverse, Eliminate Bad Ideas Fast21:28 – Pitfalls23:30 – Use Case Deep Dive30:06 – The Power Structure
Send us a textThis was a fantastic 2 part series on how to design intelligent organizations. Check it out!Part 1 of 2How do we make organizations not just run — but run intelligently?In this episode of Making Data Simple, we welcome Phanish Puranam, Professor of Strategy and Organizational Design at INSEAD, to explore the intersection of AI, organizational science, and intelligent design. From tools and teammates to blockchain and the metaverse, Phanish walks us through the evolving relationship between humans, algorithms, and the systems we build.We dive into real-world use cases, research-backed insights, and surprising pitfalls — plus a contrarian take on why bad ideas might be the key to better innovation.⏱️ Chapters01:50 – Meet Phanish Puranam03:36 – Organizational Design08:39 – Where is Org Design Today12:41 – A Research Example15:59 – Technologies as Tools & Teammates17:54 – A Real Use Case Example20:30 – The Metaverse, Eliminate Bad Ideas Fast21:28 – Pitfalls23:30 – Use Case Deep Dive30:06 – The Power Structure
On this week's episode LevelCap and Matimi0 https://www.twitch.tv/matimi0 discuss Meta killing the Metaverse, the impending cloud computing dystopia, Hytale first impressions, and much more! Support us on Patreon for bonus content! https://www.patreon.com/LevelWithMePodcast Join Our Discord and make suggestions for our next episode topics https://discord.gg/nxBQZ6eh8H
The metaverse is on its last legs as VR is eclipsed by AI. But that's not the only thing that went wrong for Meta's VR ambitions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
AI Chat: ChatGPT & AI News, Artificial Intelligence, OpenAI, Machine Learning
In this episode, we discuss Meta's strategic shift from its multi-billion dollar Metaverse bet to a renewed focus on AI, impacting the broader AI news landscape. We explore the implications of this decision for AI development and adoption. Chapters 00:00 Meta's Metaverse Investment 02:05 VR's Limited Appeal 06:21 Meta's Financial Losses 11:24 AI: Meta's New Frontier In this episode, we break down Meta's decision to discontinue its ambitious Metaverse project after a colossal $73 billion investment, leading to significant layoffs and the shutdown of several VR game studios. We also explore why the Metaverse failed to gain traction and how Meta is now pivoting its resources and focus towards AI, particularly with the unexpected success of its AI-powered Ray-Ban smart glasses. Chapters 00:00 Meta Ditches Metaverse 02:05 Metaverse Rebrand 05:32 Metaverse Layoffs and Closures 08:10 Meta's Metaverse Failed 13:46 Metaverse Revenue Model Issues 16:49 Meta Shifts to AI Links • Get the top 40+ AI Models for $20 at AI Box: https://aibox.ai: https://aibox.ai • AI Chat YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@JaedenSchafer: https://www.youtube.com/@JaedenSchafer • Join my AI Hustle Community: https://www.skool.com/aihustle: https://www.skool.com/aihustle
The Metaverse has collapsed, and Facebook's owner, Meta, is slashing jobs. Remember when the Metaverse and VR was THE big thing? It went over about as well as NFTs...Watch the podcast episodes on YouTube and all major podcast hosts including Spotify.CLOWNFISH TV is an independent, opinionated news and commentary podcast that covers Entertainment and Tech from a consumer's point of view. We talk about Gaming, Comics, Anime, TV, Movies, Animation and more. Hosted by Kneon and Geeky Sparkles.Get more news, views and reviews on Clownfish TV News - https://more.clownfishtv.com/On YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/ClownfishTVOn Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/4Tu83D1NcCmh7K1zHIedvgOn Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/clownfish-tv-audio-edition/id1726838629
AI Hustle: News on Open AI, ChatGPT, Midjourney, NVIDIA, Anthropic, Open Source LLMs
In this episode, we explore Meta's strategic redirection from its Metaverse ventures to concentrate on AI, influencing opportunities to make money with AI. We discuss how this impacts the broader AI industry and entrepreneurial pursuits. Chapters 00:00 Meta's Metaverse Investment 02:05 VR's Limited Appeal 06:21 Meta's Financial Losses 11:24 AI: Meta's New Frontier In this episode, we break down Meta's decision to discontinue its ambitious Metaverse project after a colossal $73 billion investment, leading to significant layoffs and the shutdown of several VR game studios. We also explore why the Metaverse failed to gain traction and how Meta is now pivoting its resources and focus towards AI, particularly with the unexpected success of its AI-powered Ray-Ban smart glasses. Chapters 00:00 Meta Ditches Metaverse 02:05 Metaverse Rebrand 05:32 Metaverse Layoffs and Closures 08:10 Meta's Metaverse Failed 13:46 Metaverse Revenue Model Issues 16:49 Meta Shifts to AI Links • Get the top 40+ AI Models for $20 at AI Box: https://aibox.ai: https://aibox.ai • AI Chat YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@JaedenSchafer: https://www.youtube.com/@JaedenSchafer • Join my AI Hustle Community: https://www.skool.com/aihustle: https://www.skool.com/aihustle
In this episode, we discuss Meta's strategic decision to reallocate resources from its Metaverse projects to embark on a new AI journey. We explore the creative AI opportunities arising from this midjourney shift.Chapters00:00 Meta's Metaverse Investment02:05 VR's Limited Appeal06:21 Meta's Financial Losses11:24 AI: Meta's New FrontierIn this episode, we break down Meta's decision to discontinue its ambitious Metaverse project after a colossal $73 billion investment, leading to significant layoffs and the shutdown of several VR game studios. We also explore why the Metaverse failed to gain traction and how Meta is now pivoting its resources and focus towards AI, particularly with the unexpected success of its AI-powered Ray-Ban smart glasses.Chapters00:00 Meta Ditches Metaverse02:05 Metaverse Rebrand05:32 Metaverse Layoffs and Closures08:10 Meta's Metaverse Failed13:46 Metaverse Revenue Model Issues16:49 Meta Shifts to AILinksGet the top 40+ AI Models for $20 at AI Box: https://aibox.aiAI Chat YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@JaedenSchaferJoin my AI Hustle Community: https://www.skool.com/aihustle See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
ChatGPT: OpenAI, Sam Altman, AI, Joe Rogan, Artificial Intelligence, Practical AI
In this episode, we examine Meta's decision to discontinue its massive Metaverse investments, shifting focus towards AI. We discuss the practical implications of this for artificial intelligence, OpenAI, and future tech trends. Chapters 00:00 Meta's Metaverse Investment 02:05 VR's Limited Appeal 06:21 Meta's Financial Losses 11:24 AI: Meta's New Frontier In this episode, we break down Meta's decision to discontinue its ambitious Metaverse project after a colossal $73 billion investment, leading to significant layoffs and the shutdown of several VR game studios. We also explore why the Metaverse failed to gain traction and how Meta is now pivoting its resources and focus towards AI, particularly with the unexpected success of its AI-powered Ray-Ban smart glasses. Chapters 00:00 Meta Ditches Metaverse 02:05 Metaverse Rebrand 05:32 Metaverse Layoffs and Closures 08:10 Meta's Metaverse Failed 13:46 Metaverse Revenue Model Issues 16:49 Meta Shifts to AI Links • Get the top 40+ AI Models for $20 at AI Box: https://aibox.ai: https://aibox.ai • AI Chat YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@JaedenSchafer: https://www.youtube.com/@JaedenSchafer • Join my AI Hustle Community: https://www.skool.com/aihustle: https://www.skool.com/aihustle
ChatGPT: News on Open AI, MidJourney, NVIDIA, Anthropic, Open Source LLMs, Machine Learning
In this episode, we discuss Meta's strategic move away from the Metaverse to concentrate on AI, influencing ChatGPT and other LLMs. We explore the implications for OpenAI, MidJourney, and open-source machine learning.Chapters00:00 Meta's Metaverse Investment02:05 VR's Limited Appeal06:21 Meta's Financial Losses11:24 AI: Meta's New FrontierIn this episode, we break down Meta's decision to discontinue its ambitious Metaverse project after a colossal $73 billion investment, leading to significant layoffs and the shutdown of several VR game studios. We also explore why the Metaverse failed to gain traction and how Meta is now pivoting its resources and focus towards AI, particularly with the unexpected success of its AI-powered Ray-Ban smart glasses.Chapters00:00 Meta Ditches Metaverse02:05 Metaverse Rebrand05:32 Metaverse Layoffs and Closures08:10 Meta's Metaverse Failed13:46 Metaverse Revenue Model Issues16:49 Meta Shifts to AILinksGet the top 40+ AI Models for $20 at AI Box: https://aibox.aiAI Chat YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@JaedenSchaferJoin my AI Hustle Community: https://www.skool.com/aihustle See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
In this episode, we discuss Meta's reorientation from the Metaverse to AI, offering valuable insights for non-profit organizations. We consider how AI advancements from Meta could eventually benefit social good initiatives.Chapters00:00 Meta's Metaverse Investment02:05 VR's Limited Appeal06:21 Meta's Financial Losses11:24 AI: Meta's New FrontierIn this episode, we break down Meta's decision to discontinue its ambitious Metaverse project after a colossal $73 billion investment, leading to significant layoffs and the shutdown of several VR game studios. We also explore why the Metaverse failed to gain traction and how Meta is now pivoting its resources and focus towards AI, particularly with the unexpected success of its AI-powered Ray-Ban smart glasses.Chapters00:00 Meta Ditches Metaverse02:05 Metaverse Rebrand05:32 Metaverse Layoffs and Closures08:10 Meta's Metaverse Failed13:46 Metaverse Revenue Model Issues16:49 Meta Shifts to AILinksGet the top 40+ AI Models for $20 at AI Box: https://aibox.aiAI Chat YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@JaedenSchaferJoin my AI Hustle Community: https://www.skool.com/aihustle See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
This week, I detail viewership numbers from Prime Video's exclusive stream of the NFL Wild Card playoff game, making it the most-streamed NFL game in the U.S., as well as those from Peacock's exclusive NFL game on December 27th. I also review the latest subscription numbers for RTL+ and TF1+, as well as the recent price increases from Paramount+ and Spotify. Additionally, I discuss the new Amazon content deals with M6 in Europe and RTVE in Spain, involving live linear channels. Finally, I explain why the Metaverse was never real and just a fantasy of executive egos with money to burn, and detail Stats Perform's acquisition of the assets of the ultra-low-latency tech company Phenix Real Time Solutions for approximately $7 million.Added Jan 20th: Correction: I mispoke regarding Paramount's efforts to compel WBD to disclose additional financial information. The judge has not rejected Paramount's efforts, but rather rejected the motion to expedite the trial.Podcast produced by Security Halt Media
Video này được chuyển thể từ bài viết gốc trên nền tảng mạng xã hội chia sẻ tri thức Spiderum
Welcome to a very special edition of the Six Five Podcast! In this milestone episode, hosts Patrick Moorhead and Daniel Newman come together live in studio to celebrate hitting 100,000 YouTube subscribers. The duo takes a moment to reflect on the journey so far, their ever-growing community, and the audience of VCs, tech investors, and enterprise leaders who tune in each week. But it's not just about commemorating the past—our hosts dive right into the latest headlines shaping the tech industry, unpacking Apple's ongoing AI challenges and the strategy behind its latest collaboration with Google's Gemini. They break down OpenAI's $10 billion deal with Cerebras, and the explosive race to build out global data centers and energy capacity. Plus, a debate on what custom silicon means for the future of AI, Meta's recent layoffs at Reality Labs, TSMC's strong quarterly earnings, and they share predictions for enterprise AI in 2026. The handpicked topics for this week are: Celebrating 100K Subscribers: Hosts open the special episode, celebrating 100,000 YouTube subscribers, thanking the audience and introducing the YouTube Creator Award. A montage of show highlights, including funny moments, diverse locations, shirtless episodes, and memorable guest appearances. Apple, Google, and the AI Race: Pat and Dan transition into news analysis: Apple's AI strategy, Gemini integration, CapEx, and the broader implications for device form factors AI Chip Wars: OpenAI, Cerberus, Nvidia & Heterogeneous Computing: Hosts discuss major AI chip deals, the future of custom vs. merchant silicon, and why heterogeneous compute architectures matter. Data Center Boom, Energy Constraints & U.S. vs. China: Exploring the exponential growth in data centers, energy supply/regulatory bottlenecks, and the U.S.-China competition on infrastructure. Meta Layoffs, Wearables, and Future of XR: Meta's Reality Labs layoffs and what it signals for the Metaverse, AI wearables, and the XR industry shift toward AI-powered augmentation. China/PRC: Nvidia H200 Ban & Tech Sovereignty Rumors: Analysis on China's restrictions on Nvidia H200 chips, sovereign innovation, and the "cat and mouse" of supply chains and government posturing. The Flip - Live Debate Custom vs. Merchant Silicon, Google, Apple: A special, in-person, rapid-fire debate segment with spicy Texas sausage and coin flips: custom silicon's rise, Google TPUs, Apple's semiconductor strategy. TSMC Earnings, AI Ecosystem, & Chip Market Trends: Macro discussion on TSMC's results, CapEx, implications for Nvidia, AMD, Apple, Intel, and the ongoing AI-led semiconductor boom. Infosys, GSIs, and the AI Implementation Curve: Hosts trade insights on Infosys' strong quarter, what it means for enterprise digital transformation, and the role of GSIs as AI reshapes services. 2026 Tech Predictions: Dan and Pat share predictions for enterprise AI, ROI, key AI milestones, and potential for AI-driven layoffs. Be sure to subscribe to The Six Five Pod so you never miss an episode.
We kick things off with the existential dread of FOLLOW UP and the absolute joy of jury duty. While xAI's Grok is busy getting banned in Malaysia and Indonesia for its CSAM-generating "features," the Senate is unanimously passing the DEFIANCE Act to give us some legal teeth against the deepfake machine. Meta is busy nuking 550,000 Australian accounts to appease regulators, while Roblox's age verification is so broken that a drawing of stubble or a photo of Kurt Cobain can get you into the adult lounge. Moving IN THE NEWS, Meta is trading its $70 billion Metaverse graveyard for a Reality Labs layoff and a pivot to AI hardware, fueled by an "AI infrastructure" buildout that's hiring former Trump advisors. Bandcamp is heroically banning AI "slop," Matthew McConaughey is trademarking his own face to fend off the bots, and ICE's AI hiring tool is such a disaster it's accidentally fast-tracking mall security as "officers." Between self-help gurus charging $99 for chatbot "advice," GM finally settling its driver-spying suit with the FTC, and NASA prepping for a February moon shot while China plans to launch 200,000 satellites into our already crowded orbit, the future looks exactly as messy as we expected.For MEDIA CANDY, we've got Lord of the Rings marathons, the diner-bridge of Starfleet Academy, and the usual joy of streaming price hikes hitting our "Premium" plans. We're tracking the 2025 "In Memoriam" and Gabriel Pagan's exhaustive movie list before sliding into APPS & DOODADS. Jony Ive and Sam Altman are reportedly building an hearing aide called "Sweetpea" to kill your AirPods, Siri is officially Google Gemini's new puppet, and Apple is finally bundling its creative apps into a "Creator Studio" subscription trap. Tesla is making Full Self-Driving a subscription-only Valentine's gift (good luck with that), Ring is rebranding surveillance as a "fire-watching" assistant, and a Chinese app called "Are You Dead?" is the new must-have for the lonely. To cap it off, the internet proved its maturity by using "Words.zip"—an infinite word-search grid—to draw a giant phallus, because of course they did.AT THE LIBRARY features the Anthony Bourdain Reader, the return of Bob in the new Laundry Files book, and Jimmy Carr's guide to happiness, which is apparently cheaper than therapy. Then we descend into THE DARK SIDE WITH DAVE, where the dishwasher-installing, ham-radio-lunching Dave Bittner reveals Disney World has job openings for those of us who spent high school in the AV club. Lucasfilm is finally entering a new era as Kathleen Kennedy steps down, just as Galaxy's Edge admits the original trilogy exists, and we wrap it all up with lock-picking kits and the terrifying realization that Seymour from H.R. Pufnstuf is the ultimate Gen-X fursona.Sponsors:DeleteMe - Get 20% off your DeleteMe plan when you go to JoinDeleteMe.com/GOG and use promo code GOG at checkout.Gusto - Try Gusto today at gusto.com/grumpy, and get three months free when you run your first payroll.Private Internet Access - Go to GOG.Show/vpn and sign up today. For a limited time only, you can get OUR favorite VPN for as little as $2.03 a month.SetApp - With a single monthly subscription you get 240+ apps for your Mac. Go to SetApp and get started today!!!1Password - Get a great deal on the only password manager recommended by Grumpy Old Geeks! gog.show/1passwordShow notes at https://gog.show/729Watch on YouTube! https://youtu.be/1Y1jnRDw7g0FOLLOW UPMalaysia and Indonesia are the first to block Grok following CSAM scandalSenate passes Defiance Act for a second time to address Grok deepfakesMeta closes 550,000 accounts to comply with Australia's kids social media banRoblox's age verification system is reportedly a trainwreckIN THE NEWSMeta refocuses on AI hardware as metaverse layoffs beginMeta's Layoffs Leave Supernatural Fitness Users in MourningMeta Creates High-Powered Team to Oversee AI Infrastructure BuildoutBandcamp prohibits music made ‘wholly or in substantial part' by AIMatthew McConaughey fights unauthorized AI likenesses by trademarking himselfICE's AI Tool Has Been a Complete DisasterSelf-Help Ghouls Are Charging People Absurd Prices to Talk to Impersonator ChatbotsThe FTC's data-sharing order against GM is finally settledNASA is ending Crew-11 astronauts' mission a month earlyNASA makes final preparations for its first crewed moon mission in over 50 yearsAs SpaceX Works Toward 50K Starlink Satellites, China Eyes Deploying 200KMEDIA CANDYBeast Games Season 2Star Trek: Starfleet AcademyGrumpy Old ListThe Ongoing History of New Music, episode 1069: 2025 in MemoriamDepeche Mode: MAPPS & DOODADSJony Ive and Sam Altman's First AI Gadget May Try to Kill AirPodsApple's Siri AI will be powered by GeminiApple's Mac and iPad creative apps get bundled into “Creator Studio” subscriptionTesla's Full Self-Driving is switching to a subscription-only serviceRing founder details the camera company's 'intelligent assistant' eraAre You Dead?: The viral Chinese app for young people living aloneGive the Internet an Infinite Word Search and the Internet Will Draw a Dick on ItAT THE LIBRARYThe Anthony Bourdain Reader: New, Classic, and Rediscovered Writing by Anthony BourdainObvious Adams: The Story of a Successful Businessman by Robert UpdegraffBefore & Laughter by Jimmy CarrThe Regicide Report (Laundry Files, 14) by Charles StrossTHE DARK SIDE WITH DAVEDave BittnerThe CyberWireHacking HumansCaveatControl LoopOnly Malware in the BuildingHow to Read a Book: A Novel by Monica WoodWalt Disney World Resort is looking for Entertainment Stage TechniciansGalaxy's Edge Will Soon Cover All Eras of ‘Star Wars'Kathleen Kennedy steps down as Lucasfilm president, marking a new era for the Star Wars franchiseSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
More fallout from the Thinking Machines stuff. I'm officially calling it: I think the Metaverse is over, at least at Meta. Cloudflare continues to make an effort to protect the web and creators from AI strip mining. And, of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
You aren't using the Metaverse. Neither is anyone else. Here's why it still commands headlines. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Plus: Tech stocks stumble as investors worry about high prices and regulation. And Verizon users experience outages nationwide. Julie Chang hosts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Microsoft tries to calm data center buildout backlash. Layoffs come to the Metaverse. Apple has a new creator subscription package. More implications from that Apple/Google AI deal from yesterday. And is Cowork for Claude the personal AI agent we've been waiting for? Microsoft responds to AI data center revolt, vowing to cover full power costs and reject local tax breaks (GeekWire) Meta Begins Job Cuts as It Shifts From Metaverse to AI Devices (Bloomberg) Apple debuts ‘Apple Creator Studio' subscription, here's what you get (9to5Mac) Google Gemini Partnership With Apple Will Go Beyond Siri Revamp (MacRumors) Anthropic's new Cowork tool offers Claude Code without the code (TechCrunch) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The Cognitive Crucible is a forum that presents different perspectives and emerging thought leadership related to the information environment. The opinions expressed by guests are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views of or endorsement by the Information Professionals Association. During this episode, Anthony Vinci, author of The Fourth Intelligence Revolution, discusses how the battlefield has shifted from physical territory to the human brain. From China's influence within U.S. education and gaming to the subtle "mind hacking" potential of AI-generated misinformation, Anthony breaks down the strategic landscape of modern information operations. Join us for a deep dive into the risks posed by TikTok, the crisis of masculinity in the digital age, and how we can build individual resilience against an era of total surveillance. Recording Date: 8 Jan 2026 Resources: Cognitive Crucible Podcast Episodes Mentioned #100 Rand Waltzman on the Metaverse and Immersive Virtual Reality #212 Libby Lange on Algorithmic Cognitive Warfare The Fourth Intelligence Revolution: The Future of Espionage and the Battle to Save America by Anthony Vinci The Age of Surveillance Capitalism: The Fight for a Human Future at the New Frontier of Power by Shoshana Zuboff Princeton Review Link to full show notes and resources Guest Bio: Anthony Vinci is the author of The Fourth Intelligence Revolution: The Future of Espionage and the Battle to Save America (Henry Holt, 2025). He served as the first Chief Technology Officer at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) where he was one of the first leaders to bring AI into intelligence. Earlier in his career he served in Iraq, Africa, and Asia. After leaving the world of intelligence, Vinci became an executive at a private equity firm and CEO of VICO, an AI company that is bringing the intelligence revolution to the rest of us by democratizing intelligence analysis. He is an Adjunct Senior Fellow at the Center for a New American Security (CNAS) and received his PhD in International Relations from the London School of Economics. About: The Information Professionals Association (IPA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to exploring the role of information activities, such as influence and cognitive security, within the national security sector and helping to bridge the divide between operations and research. Its goal is to increase interdisciplinary collaboration between scholars and practitioners and policymakers with an interest in this domain. For more information, please contact us at communications@information-professionals.org. Or, connect directly with The Cognitive Crucible podcast host, John Bicknell, on LinkedIn. Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, 1) IPA earns from qualifying purchases, 2) IPA gets commissions for purchases made through links in this post.
AI has mastered language, sort of. But the real world is way messier.In this episode of TechFirst, John Koetsier sits down with Kirin Sinha, founder and CEO of Illumix, to explore what comes after large language models: world models, spatial intelligence, and physical AI.They unpack why LLMs alone won't get us to human-level intelligence, what it actually takes for machines to understand physical space, and how technologies born in augmented reality are now powering robotics, wearables, and real-world AI systems.This conversation goes deep on: • What “world models” really are — and why everyone from Fei-Fei Li to Jeff Bezos is betting on them • Why continuous video and outward-facing cameras are so hard for AI • The perception stack behind robots and smart glasses • Edge vs cloud compute — and why latency and privacy matter more than ever • How AR laid the groundwork for the next generation of physical intelligenceIf you're building or betting on robotics, smart wearables, AR, or physical AI, this episode explains the infrastructure shift that's already underway.GuestKirin SinhaFounder & CEO, Illumixhttps://www.illumix.com
On this week's edition of Le Show, Harry brings us regular features like News of A.I., What the Frack?!, News of the Godly, The Apologies of the Week, and The Side Effects of the Week. He also considers the co-founder of Terraform Labs, Stephen Miller, the acquisition of Warner Bros., and why Meta is diverting their funds from the Metaverse.
Kara and Scott break down Paramount's hostile bid for Warner Bros. Discovery after losing out to Netflix — and what the power struggle means for Hollywood. Then, Elon Musk calls for the European Union to be abolished after X is slapped with a major fine. Plus, Meta pulls back on its Metaverse ambitions, and The New York Times sues Perplexity.Watch this episode on the Pivot YouTube channel.Follow us on Instagram and Threads at @pivotpodcastofficial.Follow us on Bluesky at @pivotpod.bsky.socialFollow us on TikTok at @pivotpodcast.Send us your questions by calling us at 855-51-PIVOT, or email Pivot@voxmedia.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
FOLLOW UP starts with the realization that Spotify Wrapped thinks we are 82 years old, which honestly feels accurate, followed by a massive shout out to Bama Bryan on Bluesky for listening to us for over 3,000 minutes. We look at the grim stats from the Department of Government Efficiency regarding USAID deaths, then move to IN THE NEWS where the KALSHI CEO wants to monetize "any difference in opinion" because gambling on the news is the future. PALANTIR CEO Alex Karp claims making war crimes constitutional is bad for business, META STARTS KICKING AUSTRALIAN CHILDREN OFF their platforms to avoid fines, and TETHER gets a "weak" rating while U.S. BANK calls the ability to freeze stablecoins "appealing." We discuss the LEAK CONFIRMS OPENAI IS PREPARING ADS for ChatGPT while SAM ALTMAN DECLARES 'CODE RED' to catch up to Google. Speaking of which, ONE OF GOOGLE'S BIGGEST AI ADVANTAGES IS WHAT IT ALREADY KNOWS ABOUT YOU, even if GOOGLE DISCOVER IS TESTING AI-GENERATED HEADLINES that are complete lies. We cover how GROK WOULD PREFER A SECOND HOLOCAUST OVER HARMING ELON MUSK, the US PATENT OFFICE ruling on generative AI, a new report on DAVID SACKS profiting from his administration role, and INSTACART SUES NEW YORK CITY because paying workers a living wage is apparently unconstitutional. We wrap up the news with the HUMAN ROBOT HYPE SCARING CHINA, a sad story where CHILDREN SOB AS WAYMO RUNS OVER DOG, a video showing a WAYMO SELF-DRIVING TAXI TAKES PASSENGER THROUGH ACTIVE POLICE SCENE, and the fact that PASSENGERS FACE DISRUPTION AS AIRBUS UPDATES THOUSANDS OF PLANES due to solar flares.In MEDIA CANDY, the industry is shaking because NETFLIX BUYS WARNER BROS. FOR $82 BILLION, meaning they now own everything from Harry Potter to Batman. We look at upcoming releases including WAKE UP DEAD MAN: A KNIVES OUT MYSTERY, FALLOUT SEASON 2, ROMCON: WHO THE F**K IS JASON PORTER?, SEAN COMBS: THE RECKONING, THE LONG KISS GOODNIGHT, THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, and A MAN ON THE INSIDE. Moving to APPS & DOODADS, we discuss the pure joy of uninstalling DROPBOX, our collective hatred for FUCK CENTER STAGE, and the report that APPLE EMPLOYEES ARE 'GIDDY' ABOUT ALAN DYE'S DEPARTURE. We also cover the horror show where GOOGLE'S AGENTIC AI WIPES USER'S ENTIRE HDD without permission, a study showing YOUR GLITCHY VIDEO CALLS MAY MAKE PEOPLE MISTRUST YOU, and how SCIENTISTS CREATED THE BLACKEST FABRIC EVER.Finally, in THE DARK SIDE WITH DAVE, we learn that CLAUDIA BLACK EXITS ‘AHSOKA' SEASON 2 over pay disputes because Disney is apparently broke, we scrutinize LEAKED CLIPS FROM THE RUMORED 50TH ANNIVERSARY RERELEASE OF THE ORIGINAL VERSION OF STAR WARS (still no R2D2), check out a STORMTROOPER SUIT ON FACEBOOK MARKETPLACE, and mention THE MAD MEN 4K release.Sponsors:Private Internet Access - Go to GOG.Show/vpn and sign up today. For a limited time only, you can get OUR favorite VPN for as little as $2.03 a month.SetApp - With a single monthly subscription you get 240+ apps for your Mac. Go to SetApp and get started today!!!1Password - Get a great deal on the only password manager recommended by Grumpy Old Geeks! gog.show/1passwordWatch on YouTube at https://youtu.be/4IRVvpdJC30Show notes at https://gog.show/725FOLLOW UPKalshi CEO Says He Wants to Monetize ‘Any Difference in Opinion'Palantir CEO Says Making War Crimes Constitutional Would Be Good for BusinessMeta starts kicking Australian children off Instagram and FacebookMeta reportedly plans to slash Metaverse budget by up to 30%IN THE NEWSCrypto's Most Trusted Stablecoin Given Lowest Possible ‘Weak' Rating By Major TradFi AgencyU.S. Bank Calls Ability to Freeze Stablecoins ‘Appealing' as Crypto Has Completely Lost the PlotLeak confirms OpenAI is preparing ads on ChatGPT for public roll outOpenAI CEO Sam Altman declares 'code red' as ChatGPT competition mountsOne of Google's biggest AI advantages is what it already knows about youGoogle Discover is testing AI-generated headlines and they aren't goodGrok would prefer a second Holocaust over harming Elon MuskUS patent office says generative AI is equivalent to other tools in inventors' beltsThe People Outsourcing Their Thinking to AINew report examines how David Sacks might profit from Trump administration roleInstacart sues New York City over minimum pay, tipping lawsHumanoid Robot Hype Is Officially Scaring ChinaChildren Sob as Waymo Runs Over DogWaymo self-driving taxi takes passenger through active police scene in downtown LA, video showsPassengers face disruption as Airbus updates thousands of planesMEDIA CANDYNetflix Buys Warner Bros. for $82 BillionWake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out MysteryFallout Season 2 on Prime VideoROMCON: Who The F**k is Jason Porter? - Season 1Sean Combs: The ReckoningThe Long Kiss GoodnightThe American RevolutionA Man On the InsideAPPS & DOODADSGruber: Apple employees 'giddy' about Alan Dye's departureGoogle's Agentic AI wipes user's entire HDD without permission in catastrophic failureYour glitchy video calls may make people mistrust youScientists Created the Blackest Fabric Ever, Then Made a DressTHE DARK SIDE WITH DAVEDave BittnerThe CyberWireHacking HumansCaveatControl LoopOnly Malware in the BuildingClaudia Black Exits ‘Ahsoka' Season 2 Over Alleged Pay DisputesLeaked clips from the rumored 50th anniversary rerelease of the original version of Star WarsThe Mad Men 4K on HBO debacleWilliam Shatner - Good King WenceslasAI boom kills Crucial as Micron shuts down consumer brandCLOSING SHOUT-OUTSSteve Cropper, guitarist for Booker T. & the MG's, Otis Redding, the Blues Brothers and many more, has died. He was 84.STAX: Soulsville, USA.'Mortal Kombat' Star Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa Dead at 75See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.