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How reliable are LLMs when it comes to judgements in sensitive areas? Turns out not so much. How oversharing information online can make you a bigger target for cyber criminals. And can LLMs do a better job being CEO than a human could? Plus it's Friday and it's time to screw you thinking caps on as we quiz our panel about bad product names. Starring Sarah Lane, Tom Merritt, Robb Dunewood, Roger Chang, Joe. To read the show notes in a separate page click here! Support the show on Patreon by becoming a supporter!
Space the final frontier for startups. Rob DeMillo is here to talk to us about the Space startup scene. Anthropic releases hybrid LLMs Claude Opus 4 and Claude Sonnet 4. Will Jony Ives AI device be more successful than Rabbit R1 or the Humane AI pin? And is Google harming its own ability to compete in the LLM space with its confusing naming conventions? Starring Sarah Lane, Robb Dunewood, Rob DeMillo, Roger Chang, Joe. To read the show notes in a separate page click here! Support the show on Patreon by becoming a supporter!
Plus, Nvidia and Intel have new chip announcements at Computex, and Ina Kim shares tech to teach languages online.Starring Tom Merritt, Robb Dunewood, and Ina Kim.Show notes can be found here.
Charter is buying Cox to form a cable giant, while Verizon gets FCC approval to acquire Frontier and expand fiber to millions. Meanwhile, Apple and Epic are back at it over Fortnite, OpenAI launches a coding assistant, Microsoft kills the Surface Laptop Studio, and Acer shows off sleek new gear at Computex. Also: Nvidia denies shifting GPU work to China, and Kickstarter gets serious about funding climate tech. Starring Sarah Lane, Tom Merritt, Robb Dunewood, Molly Wood, Len Peralta, Amos, Joe. To read the show notes in a separate page click here! Support the show on Patreon by becoming a supporter!
Coinbase revealed a major data breach tied to contractor bribery, refusing a $20M ransom and facing up to $400M in fallout. Apple launched CarPlay Ultra with deeper in-car integration, starting with Aston Martin. Microsoft is shutting down third-party Bing Search APIs, while Trump criticized Apple's move to import India-made iPhones. Meanwhile, Pinterest faces backlash over mass account bans. Starring Sarah Lane, Robb Dunewood, Amos, Joe. To read the show notes in a separate page click here! Support the show on Patreon by becoming a supporter!
Plus, happy birthday to the longest-running Apple podcast on the internet.Starring Tom Merritt, Robb Dunewood, and Allison Sheridan.Show notes can be found here.
Apple earned over $10 billion from U.S. App Store commissions last year, while Epic continues pushing to relist Fortnite amid ongoing policy shifts. Meanwhile, Microsoft banned the DeepSeek app over privacy concerns, and Meta is reportedly reversing course by adding facial recognition to its Ray-Ban smart glasses despite previous backlash. Starring Sarah Lane, Tom Merritt, Robb Dunewood, Len Peralta, Amos, Joe. To read the show notes in a separate page click here! Support the show on Patreon by becoming a supporter!
Plus, Apple may change up the pattern it uses to announce iPhones.Starring Tom Merritt and Robb Dunewood Show notes can be found here.
Xbox prices are going up? Is the first time in home video gaming where prices increase as a system gets older? Meta has plans to overhaul the advertising business from top to bottom, but will it work? Starring Sarah Lane, Robb Dunewood, Roger Chang, Amos To read the show notes in a separate page click here! Support the show on Patreon by becoming a supporter!
OpenAI pulls an update from ChatGPT that made it too sycophantic. Will Apple Intelligence ever come out? And researchers study if robo-vacuums can be repurposed for other tasks. Finland will restrict student phone use during the school day starting August 1st. Starring Sarah Lane, Robb Dunewood, Roger Chang, Amos To read the show notes in a separate page click here! Support the show on Patreon by becoming a supporter!
And how Warner Brothers Discovery is using AI to improve live sports coverage.Starring Tom Merritt, Robb Dunewood, and Andy Beach.Show notes can be found here.
Will AI replace apps as the primary interface for technology? Meta's CTO thinks so. Netflix rolls out dialogue only subtitles. In Australia an AI-generated radio host of a four-hour show went unnoticed for months. And we end the week with another quizzical quiz that we'll test your knowledge of life after death through technology in big and small screen. Starring Sarah Lane, Tom Merritt, Robb Dunewood, Roger Chang, Joe. To read the show notes in a separate page click here! Support the show on Patreon by becoming a supporter!
Can training an LLM on your work enable it to reproduce it with the same precision and quality? Would an energy efficiency label sway your decision on which smartphone or tablet you bought? Is 2025 the year when AI becomes a central pillar in which companies organize themselves around? And Uber, Volkswagen team up to launch US robotaxi service with self-driving, electric microbuses. Starring Sarah Lane, Robb Dunewood, Andrea Jones-Rooy, Roger Chang, Joe. To read the show notes in a separate page click here! Support the show on Patreon by becoming a supporter!
A very convincing phishing scam hits Gmail and Blair from This Week in Science helps us understand how AI helps us understand Dolphins.Starring Tom Merritt, and Robb Dunewood, and Blair Bazdarich.Links to stories featured in this episode can be found here.
We discuss alternatives to Google's ubiquitous search tool. Will screenshots be the universal method of capturing digital information for AI digital assistants? Is a trend of using ChatGPT to identify locations from photos another threat to privacy? Starring Sarah Lane, Tom Merritt, Robb Dunewood, Roger Chang, Joe. To read the show notes in a separate page click here! Support the show on Patreon by becoming a supporter!
Google has been found guilty of breaking the law to establish its dominance in ad tech. What discuss what it means for the company. Community colleges struggle against bots pretending to be students stealing financial aid funds. How has AI impacted irregular digital workers who rely on online work to get by? And Polaroid introduces an updated version of their popular camera taking the best of both the old and the new. Starring Sarah Lane, Robb Dunewood, Roger Chang, Joe. To read the show notes in a separate page click here! Support the show on Patreon by becoming a supporter!
Plus we explain why chips do still have tariffs despite receiving some exemptions and why they may get new tariffs in the next couple of months. Starring Tom Merritt, and Robb Dunewood, and Matteo Doni.Links to storied in this episode can be found here.
Toshiba unveils the Aurex AX-RP10, a portable wireless record player. MIT researchers study if English-speaking robots improve the quality of dialogue between parents and children. Plus would you subscribe to your appliance? And it's time again for our Friday end-of-week Great Debates! Unemployed or Phoneless, Smell vs Taste; which side will you take? Starring Sarah Lane, Tom Merritt, Robb Dunewood, Len Peralta, Roger Chang, Joe. To read the show notes in a separate page click here! Support the show on Patreon by becoming a supporter!
Have you ever experienced GTP or Game Transfer Phenomenon? A condition where the physical world and video games bleed together. What new research discovered about the stylistic differences between news articles written by human journalists and those generated by AI. And Apple airlifts U.S. around 1.5 million iPhones to avoid tariffs on Chinese imports. And DoorDash starts robot deliveries in Los Angeles and Chicago. Starring Sarah Lane, Robb Dunewood, Roger Chang, Joe. To read the show notes in a separate page click here! Support the show on Patreon by becoming a supporter!
Episode 621 of The SMRpodcast is online and available for download. The fellas talk about track, tariffs, world record deadlifts, and we even throw some tech in there. Hosts: Chris Ashley @bigchrisashley Robb Dunewood @robbdunewood Rod Simmons @rodsimmons Picks: Dyson - Hot+Cool AM09 Tower, Heater and Fan -- Best Buy SHOKZ New OpenRun Pro 2 - Amazon ULANZI F38 Video Travel Tripod -- Amazon Support SMRpodcast by becoming a Patron. Head over to https://patreon.com/smrpodcast.
The intricacies of full time podcasting, discussing workflows, preparation, and the tools necessary for producing quality content, the reality of daily podcasting, the importance of research, plus tools and systems to get the work done! Then, analyzing insights from the Infinite Dial study 2025, highlighting trends in content consumption, the evolving landscape of podcasting, the importance of understanding audience preferences and adapting to the changing media environment ---- all with special guest Robb Dunewood! Audience feedback drives the show. We'd love for you to contact us and keep the conversation going! Email thefeed@libsyn.com, call 412-573-1934 or leave us a message on Speakpipe! We'd love to hear from you!
The intricacies of full time podcasting, discussing workflows, preparation, and the tools necessary for producing quality content, the reality of daily podcasting, the importance of research, plus tools and systems to get the work done! Then, analyzing insights from the Infinite Dial study 2025, highlighting trends in content consumption, the evolving landscape of podcasting, the importance of understanding audience preferences and adapting to the changing media environment ---- all with special guest Robb Dunewood! Audience feedback drives the show. We'd love for you to contact us and keep the conversation going! Email thefeed@libsyn.com, call 412-573-1934 or leave us a message on Speakpipe! We'd love to hear from you!
Plus, augmented reality has deeper roots than you think and what Dr. Gippitti is good at. (Chat GPT to its friends.)Starring Tom Merritt and Robb Dunewood.Show notes can be found here.
Vimeo is rolling out Vimeo Streaming, enabling video creators launch their own subscription streaming services. AI experts are way more optimistic about AI's future than the general U.S. public. Speaking of AI Microsoft's Copilot can now browse the web and perform actions for you. And its Friday! We've got another fun trivia quiz that will test your knowledge of fake movies! Starring Sarah Lane, Robb Dunewood, Len Peralta, Roger Chang, Joe. To read the show notes in a separate page click here! Support the show on Patreon by becoming a supporter!
Google's NotebookLM has a new feature enabling it to find and summarize its own web sources. OpenAI's new image-generation feature in ChatGPT is proving popular with users. Can extended reality tech help change the way we eat? And Apple might be upgrading the telephoto lens in the upcoming iPhone 17 Pro. Starring Sarah Lane, Robb Dunewood, Roger Chang, Joe. To read the show notes in a separate page click here! Support the show on Patreon by becoming a supporter!
Goodbye to the Blue Screen of Death, celebrating the 20th Anniversary of Buzz Out Loud!Starring Jason Howell and Robb Dunewood.Show notes can be found here.
A Chinese leaker says Apple's upcoming “iPhone Fold” will feature a foldable screen with a 4:3 aspect ratio. Microsoft is phasing-in a new passwordless sign-in experience for over 1 billion user acounts, with a focus on eliminating passwords. DOGE plans to migrate Social Security's legacy code base to something more modern over a few months. Is that enough time to ensure the system's integrity stays intact? And its Friday. We test everyone's knowledge of failed or bankrupted tech brands. Starring Sarah Lane, Robb Dunewood, Roger Chang, and Joe. To read the show notes in a separate page click here! Support the show on Patreon by becoming a supporter!
WhatsApp is available as the default call and message app for iPhones, Instacart will start paying customers to record store shelves, and Signal downloads are on the rise. Starring Sarah Lane, Robb Dunewood, Amos, Joe. To read the show notes in a separate page click here! Support the show on Patreon by becoming a supporter!
Apple AirPods Max are set to get a firmware update with support for ultra-low latency high-fidelity audio, and Chloe Castillo from Cal Fire talks with Tom about how they put together the Palisades Fire Ops briefing during the Los Angeles fires.Starring Jason Howell and Robb Dunewood.Show notes can be found here.
What the 23 and Me bankruptcy means for its customers, new features coming to Apples top of the line AirPod Max, and FuriosaAI has turned down an $800 million acquisition offer from Meta. Starring Sarah Lane, Robb Dunewood, Amos, and Joe. To read the show notes in a separate page click here! Support the show on Patreon by becoming a supporter!
Can AI provide help to patients with rare illnesses using repurposing existing medication? Is Google's conclusion that news has little to no value to its ad business in Europe a self-interested negotiating tactic? GM seems like really not want people installing Apple CarPlay upgrade kit in its EVs, citing safety concerns and potential warranty issues. And its Friday we a have new end of week Quiz with Sound! Starring Sarah Lane, Robb Dunewood, Andrea Jones-Rooy, Roger Chang, Joe. To read the show notes in a separate page click here! Support the show on Patreon by becoming a supporter!
Apple TV+ Losing is reportedly losing $1 Billion annually. Does that matter? ChatGPT is hit with privacy complaint over defamatory hallucinations in the EU. Are kids having too much screen time in the classroom? TikTok is planning to display real-time Amber Alerts in US users' For You feeds. Starring Sarah Lane, Robb Dunewood, Roger Chang, Joe. To read the show notes in a separate page click here! Support the show on Patreon by becoming a supporter!
It's just the big fellas this week, so, for episode 620, Chris and Robb hit you with Chicken Wings and Beer, Part 89. Hosts: Chris Ashley @bigchrisashley Robb Dunewood @robbdunewood Rod Simmons @rodsimmons Picks: DJI Osmo Mobile 6 Gimbal -- Amazon OBSbot UVC to HDMI adapter -- Amazon Support SMRpodcast by becoming a Patron. Head over to https://patreon.com/smrpodcast.
Plus, the US Congress is actually the best at online resources. So sayeth Jen Briney!Starring Tom Merritt and Robb DunewoodShow notes can be found here.
Comcast signed a $3 billion deal with the IOC to retain U.S. broadcasting and streaming rights for the Olympics through 2036. What does it mean for Peacock and what are Comcast's obligations? Google has released Gemini with Personalization, a new experimental feature designed to enhance user experience by leveraging personal data from Google's ecosystem to deliver tailored responses. How does generative AI flatten indigenous cultures? And OpenAI wants the U.S. government to establish a copyright strategy to train AI models on copyrighted material under “fair use.” Starring Sarah Lane, Robb Dunewood, Roger Chang, Joe. To read the show notes in a separate page click here! Support the show on Patreon by becoming a supporter!
Dr. Niki updates us on the latest plus, why the new Siri is delayed, and the Pixel 4a got the battery-killing update.Starring Tom Merritt and Robb Dunewood.Show notes can be found here.
SMRpodcast 619 is online and ready for download. It's just Rod and Robb this week which almost didn't happen because someone whose name starts with R forgot to hit the record button... Twice. Hosts: Chris Ashley @bigchrisashley Robb Dunewood @robbdunewood Rod Simmons @rodsimmons Picks: Whoop Band: Wearable Fitness and Activity Tracker - Amazon Baseus 65W Flat Wall Charger - Amazon Support SMRpodcast by becoming a Patron. Head over to https://patreon.com/smrpodcast.
Can LEDs banish the blight of acne? Is Apple's AI push stalled? Meta's Threads is testing a feature that lets users add interests to their profiles. And we got another end of the week Quiz with focus on ionic phones from pop culture. Starring Sarah Lane, Tom Merritt, Robb Dunewood, Len Peralta, Roger Chang, Joe. To read the show notes in a separate page click here! Support the show on Patreon by becoming a supporter!
When is thin too thin for smartphones? Why are so many sites moving content behind a paywall and does it bode for tightening ad sector? Reddit is introducing new tools to improve user engagement and help prevent rule violations. And 1Password has a new feature to add a specific physical location to items. Starring Sarah Lane, Robb Dunewood, Roger Chang, Joe. To read the show notes in a separate page click here! Support the show on Patreon by becoming a supporter!
External NPUs and solar-powered laptops, plus new EV battery tech.Starring Tom Merritt and Robb Dunewood.Show notes can be found here.
Google co-founder Sergey Brin wants employees to work 60-hour weeks in the office every weekday to accelerate AI development. Microsoft is shutting down Skype. We look back at our fond and maybe not so fond memories of the service. Plus are return to office policies catering to a companies lowest performing employees? And its Friday quiz time. Do you know these UK musicians who participated in the silent album titled “Is This What We Want?”. Starring Sarah Lane, Tom Merritt, Robb Dunewood, Len Peralta, Roger Chang, Joe. To read the show notes in a separate page click here! Support the show on Patreon by becoming a supporter!
Social Media and Misinformation are often presented as two sides of the same coin, but what does the data actually say? Andrea Jones-Rooy is here to break it down for us. And surveillance technology used to monitor warehouse workers is being introduced into the office workplace but does it actually measure anything useful? Instagram looking into the idea of launching Reels as a standalone short-form video app. And OpenAI announced GPT-4.5, its latest and largest AI model, available as a research preview. Starring Sarah Lane, Robb Dunewood, Andrea Jones-Rooy, Roger Chang, Joe. To read the show notes in a separate page click here! Support the show on Patreon by becoming a supporter!
Amazon MGM has entered into a deal that will allow it creative control over the James Bond movie franchise. Will this be a blessing or a curse for 007? YouTube is planning a new, lower-priced version of its paid video service called “premium lite”. An Australian online safety report from eSafety found that children can easily bypass social media age restrictions, something necessary as the government moves forward with a ban on social media for under-16s. And Amazon announced that it surpassed Walmart in Q4 revenue, bringing in $187.8 billion, ahead of Walmart's $180.5 billion. Starring Sarah Lane, Robb Dunewood, Roger Chang, Joe. To read the show notes in a separate page click here! Support the show on Patreon by becoming a supporter!
As Apple looks to increase is production of iPhones for the global market in India, China is finding ways to slow that process. Fiverr unveiled new initiatives to attract gig workers with generative AI tools that would help creators automate their work. Spotify will launch a “Music Pro” tier later this year that will offer “Hi-Fi” audio, “remixing tools,” and access to concert tickets. And Waymo is rumored to be developing a subscriber program. Starring Sarah Lane, Tom Merritt, Robb Dunewood, Roger Chang, Joe. To read the show notes in a separate page click here! Support the show on Patreon by becoming a supporter!
Mastodon is working to add the controversial ‘quote posts' feature found on other platforms like X, Bluesky and Threads. A memo shows Meta has plans investments into AI-driven humanoid robots, memo shows. Y Combinator startup Firecrawl seeks to hire an AI agent for $15K a year. Real effort or just free publicity? And we test everyone's knowledge of theme restaurants with this week's quiz! Starring Sarah Lane, Tom Merritt, Robb Dunewood, Roger Chang, Joe. To read the show notes in a separate page click here! Support the show on Patreon by becoming a supporter!
What's the current state of GPU marketplace and why is it so darn hard to get one? On Monday Meta started a round of performance-based layoffs of roughly 5% of the workforce even though many of those affected met or exceeded performance goals. UK firm manages to recover 97% of the lithium and 99% of the graphite from a used EV battery. And Paramount channels, including CBS and Nickelodeon, to go dark on YouTube TV starting today. Starring Sarah Lane, Robb Dunewood, Will Smith, Roger Chang, Joe. To read the show notes in a separate page click here! Support the show on Patreon by becoming a supporter!
President Macros promotes it with deepfakes and huge spending on Data Centers. Plus why the US doesn't get cheap EVs.Starring Tom Merritt and Robb Dunewood.Show notes can be found here.
We discussed our cable management habits. The UK's government has reportedly ordered Apple to create a backdoor encrypted user data in iCloud data. Google updates Gemini's AI response in its Super Bowl ad. And it's Friday. We test our panel with another round of quiz questions centered on the topic of distillation. Starring Sarah Lane, Tom Merritt, Robb Dunewood, Len Peralta, Roger Chang, Joe. To read the show notes in a separate page click here! Support the show on Patreon by becoming a supporter!
Gary Shapiro tells us when failure is good, and OpenAI launches an agent with the same name as Google's agent.Starring Tom Merritt and Robb Dunewood.Show notes can be found here.
Plus, the story behind YouTube's hour-long unskippable ads.Starring Tom Merritt and Robb Dunewood.Show notes can be found here.