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Examining
Examining episodes
- 90: Sasha Ivanov - Maple Scan
Kris and Erik speak with Sasha Ivanov, creator of Maple Scan, a mobile app that helps Canadians identify products made in Canada while shopping. Sasha explains the motivation behind the project, how the app works, and what it reveals about Canadian manufacturing and supply chains.
Maple Scan: https://maplescan.app/
CONTACT
Website:examining.ca
Twitter: @ExaminingPod
Erik Christiansen, Co-Founder & Co-Host
Website: erikchristiansen.net
Kris Hans, Co-Founder & Co-Host Website: krishans.ca
Website: krishans.ca
34 min - 89: AI Frenemies
In this episode, Erik and Kris discuss the ongoing saga between Apple and Google, including the $20 billion deal that made Google the default search engine on Apple devices and the recent DOJ review of their partnership. Additionally, they explore how AI is changing the game for search behaviors and user expectations, citing a study from the NN Group. The co-hosts also share their personal experiences with using AI (over the long term) to boost productivity and reduce research friction.
SHOW NOTES
Google's Deal with Apple: Google paid $20 billion to become the default search engine on Apple devices in 2022 https://appleinsider.com/articles/24/05/02/google-paid-apple-20-billion-to-be-default-search-engine-in-2022
DOJ Re-Reviews Google-Apple Search Deal: The US Department of Justice has appealed and re-reviewed Google's deal with Apple, putting it back under scrutiny https://www.macobserver.com/news/google-and-apple-search-deal-back-under-review-after-doj-appeal/
Alphabet's Silence on AI Deal: Despite investor pressure, Alphabet (Google's parent company) remains tight-lipped about its AI agreement with Apple https://techcrunch.com/2026/02/04/alphabet-wont-talk-about-the-google-apple-ai-deal-even-to-investors/
The Future of Search: A recent report highlights how AI is changing search behaviors and user expectations https://www.nngroup.com/articles/ai-changing-search-behaviors/
CONTACT
Website:examining.ca
Twitter: @ExaminingPod
Erik Christiansen, Co-Founder & Co-Host
Website: erikchristiansen.net
Kris Hans, Co-Founder & Co-Host Website: krishans.ca
Website: krishans.ca
48 min - 88: Rewind - AI Soap Opera & Velcro Hacks
*This episode was originally published on December 8, 2023
In this episode, Erik and Kris tackle the unfolding drama at OpenAI and its implications. Kris discusses his recent AI panel discussion at MRU, while Erik offers an overview of his latest home organization project. Both hosts will share their holiday gift guide tips, perfect for the tech-savvy and the organized.
SHOW NOTES
AI Soap Opera
- OpenAI Announces Leadership Transition (OpenAI Blog): OpenAI announces significant changes in its leadership structure.
- Sam Altman Returns as CEO of OpenAI (The Verge): Sam Altman reclaims the CEO position at OpenAI, marking a new chapter for the company.
AI Panel Discussion Highlights:
- Context of AI in Research: Discussing the evolving role of AI in academic and professional research settings.
- Panelist Introductions: Each panelist shares their background and how AI intersects with their research.
- Diverse Perspectives on AI: Highlighting unique insights from each panelist, providing a broad view of AI's role in different research areas.
- Practical Applications of AI: Exploring how panelists currently use AI in their work, including specific tools and methodologies.
- Successes and Challenges: Discussing what has worked well in AI-driven research and addressing the limitations and issues faced.
- The Future of AI in Research: Debating whether AI is a permanent fixture in research and the value of investing in AI knowledge and tools.
- AI as Collaborator or Competitor: Examining views on whether AI is augmenting human research capabilities or posing a threat to traditional research roles.
- Human Skills vs. AI Capabilities: Delving into which human skills might remain irreplaceable by AI and what research aspects can be effectively outsourced to AI technologies.
- Impact on Research Quality: Analyzing how AI tools influence the quality and rigor of research and their implications for academic integrity.
- Ethical Considerations in AI Research: Addressing the pressing ethical concerns in integrating AI into research and discussing potential norms for ethical AI use.
- AI, Accessibility, and Inclusivity: Exploring the implications of AI on inclusivity in research, especially between well-funded and under-funded programs, and discussing measures for fair representation.
Organizational Guide:
- Cable Management: Emphasize the importance of Velcro ties for efficient cable organization.
- Labeling Essentials: Discuss the use of label tape and whiteout pens for clear labeling, even without a label maker.
- Consistent Systems: Stress the importance of grouping related items and maintaining a consistent organizational system.
- Space Utilization: Highlight the use of 3M Command hooks for maximizing space, especially inside cupboards.
- Document Organization: Recommend accordion folders for essential document storage, such as receipts and manuals.
- Life Consolidation: Encourage listeners to avoid having multiples of items and to refrain from collecting unnecessary tools (e.g., notebooks, notes apps, to-do lists).
- Digitization and Decluttering: Advice on using a scanner app to digitize important papers, followed by shredding the physical copies, except for sentimental items like children's artwork or personal journals.
- Regular Use and Review: Suggest using items regularly and assessing their utility. If something is not being used or can't be organized for occasional use, consider removing it.
- Routine Organization: Recommend organizing the home weekly and undertaking a major organization twice a year. Each session should focus on consolidating and reducing possessions to make the process more manageable over time.
Holiday Gift Guide:
- Field Notes
- UniBall Jetstream Pens
- Pentel EnerGel Pens
- Sakura Pigma Micron Pens
- USB-C to A Adapters
- "The Daily Stoic" Book
- Asus Optical Drive
- Logitech MX Vertical Mouse
- Evoluent Mouse
- Kobo Clara 2E E-Reader
Erik Christiansen, Co-Founder & Co-Host
Website: erikchristiansen.net
Kris Hans, Co-Founder & Co-Host Website: krishans.ca
Website: krishans.ca
Show notes created with help from ChatGPT 4.
The transcript is AI-generated. Please excuse any errors.
1 hr 35 min - 87: Randall Herd—Arkhet
In this episode, Erik and Kris interview Randall Herd—VP Marketing at Arhket.
Arhket is an AI driven prototyping tools that allows users to quicky get from ideation to prototype through a clever combination of visual wireframing tools and AI prompts.
SHOW NOTES
Arkhet: https://arkhet.app/
*For those interesting a discount on the Arkhet platform, contact Randall on LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/in/randallherd/
CONTACT
Website:examining.ca
Twitter: @ExaminingPod
Erik Christiansen, Co-Founder & Co-Host
Website: erikchristiansen.net
Kris Hans, Co-Founder & Co-Host Website: krishans.ca
Website: krishans.ca
59 min - 86: One Ring to Record It All
In this episode Kris and Erik discuss Microsoft's latest report on global AI adoption trends, explore highlights from CES 2026 including LEGO's groundbreaking Smart Bricks, Samsung's triple-folding phone, and AMD's new AI-powered laptop processors. Plus, we check out Repebble's new smartwatches and voice-recording ring.
SHOW NOTES
Zorin OS https://zorin.com/os/ (Linux-based operating system designed as a user-friendly alternative to Windows and macOS, featuring familiar desktop layouts and extended hardware support)
Ollama https://ollama.com/search (Local LLM runtime platform enabling privacy-focused AI model deployment on personal hardware)
Microsoft AI Economy Institute Global AI Adoption Report 2025 https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/corporate-responsibility/topics/ai-economy-institute/reports/global-ai-adoption-2025/ (Comprehensive analysis showing AI adoption reached 16.3% globally with widening divide between Global North and Global South)
Repebble Index 01 https://repebble.com/index (Voice-recording smart ring with button and microphone for capturing thoughts, requiring no charging for years of use)
Repebble Watch https://repebble.com/watch (New e-paper smartwatches including Pebble Round 2 and Pebble Time 2 with long battery life and open-source PebbleOS)
AMD Ryzen AI 400 Series Announcement https://www.amd.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/2026-1-5-amd-expands-ai-leadership-across-client-graphics-.html (Next-generation processors featuring 60 TOPS NPU for AI workloads, 12 Zen 5 cores, and enhanced performance for laptops and mini-PCs)
Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold Coverage https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/samsung-galaxy-z-trifold-hands-on-flexing-is-believing-at-ces-2026-224343480.html (Hands-on coverage of Samsung's triple-folding smartphone with 10-inch display that won Best Overall Product at CES 2026)
LEGO Smart Bricks Star Wars Sets https://www.lego.com/en-us/aboutus/news/2026/december/lego-smart-play-announcement (Interactive LEGO platform featuring Smart Bricks with embedded sensors, speakers, and processors smaller than a LEGO stud, launching March 2026 with Star Wars sets)
CONTACT
Website:examining.ca
Twitter: @ExaminingPod
Erik Christiansen, Co-Founder & Co-Host
Website: erikchristiansen.net
Kris Hans, Co-Founder & Co-Host Website: krishans.ca
Website: krishans.ca
49 min - 85: The AI Architects
In this episode Kris provides a long-term review of the iPhone Air, our co-hosts discuss Time Magazine's person of the year—The AI Architects—and Erik discusses how to run AI locally using Ollama.
SHOW NOTES
TIME: Person of the Year 2025 — AI Architects
https://time.com/7339685/person-of-the-year-2025-ai-architects/
(Overview of TIME’s 2025 Person of the Year selection, highlighting AI builders shaping technology and society)Ollama (Official)
https://ollama.com/
(Main site for Ollama, a local LLM runtime focused on privacy and performance)Shep Bryan on Ollama
https://www.shepbryan.com/blog/ollama
(Practical breakdown of Ollama, how it works, and use cases from a developer perspective)CONTACT
Website:examining.ca
Twitter: @ExaminingPod
Erik Christiansen, Co-Founder & Co-Host
Website: erikchristiansen.net
Kris Hans, Co-Founder & Co-Host Website: krishans.ca
Website: krishans.ca
43 min - 84: Windows 10 to Linux
In this episode, Erik discusses Linux has never quite become the everyday desktop operating system, despite powering much of the modern Internet and having a passionate community behind it. He explores what has held Linux back from mainstream adoption, and looks at how the end of Windows 10 support is pushing people to explore alternatives. Erik highlights Zorin OS, a Linux distribution designed to feel instantly familiar to Windows users, and explains why it might be the most compelling option yet for anyone user older hardware that is not compatable with Windows 11.
SHOW NOTES
Statcounter: Desktop OS Market Share Worldwide
https://gs.statcounter.com/os-market-share/desktop/worldwide/
(Global operating system usage data, including Linux’s current ~3 percent share)Linux Today: Microsoft Continues to Cite Linux as Proof It Is Not a Monopoly
https://www.linuxtoday.com/infrastructure/microsoft-continues-to-cite-linux-as-proof-it-is-not-a-monopoly/
(Historical context on Microsoft using Linux’s existence during antitrust scrutiny)Ars Technica: New Project Brings Strong Linux Compatibility to More Classic Windows Games
https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2025/11/new-project-brings-strong-linux-compatibility-to-more-classic-windows-games/
(Explains Proton, SteamOS momentum, and why Linux gaming is suddenly viable)Zorin OS Blog: Introducing Zorin OS 18
https://blog.zorin.com/2025/10/14/zorin-os-18-has-arrived/SavvyNik (YouTube): Zorin OS 18 Overview
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ni-JXsp0Vtw
(Visual demo of Zorin’s UI and Windows-like workflow)Microsoft: Windows 10 End of Support: October 14, 2025
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/lifecycle/products/windows-10-home-and-pro
(Official end-of-life documentation for Windows 10)Microsoft Learn: Windows 11 Requirements
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/whats-new/windows-11-requirementsUbuntu Documentation: Linux Hardware and Driver Support Overview
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/HardwareSupportComponents
(Context on device compatibility challenges that shaped Linux adoption)GNOME Blog: Online Accounts and Cloud Integration in GNOME
https://blogs.gnome.org/
(Background on the online accounts integration used by distros like Zorin)LibreOffice: LibreOffice for Windows, macOS, and Linux
https://www.libreoffice.org/discover/libreoffice/
(Open-source Office alternative recommended for Windows switchers)Obsidian: A Powerful Notes App for Linux and Beyond
https://obsidian.md/
(Cross-platform note-taking tool mentioned as a OneNote replacement)GIMP: The GNU Image Manipulation Program
https://www.gimp.org/
(Open-source Photoshop alternative available on Linux distributions)CONTACT
Website:examining.ca
Twitter: @ExaminingPod
Erik Christiansen, Co-Founder & Co-Host
Website: erikchristiansen.net
Kris Hans, Co-Founder & Co-Host Website: krishans.ca
Website: krishans.ca
28 min - 83: Why AI prompting is hard
In this episode, Erik dives into why prompting AI is hard, especially for those of us who have spent twenty years being trained to search the web with short, concise queries. He unpacks the shift from keyword-driven search habits to the more detailed, creative instructions AI systems require, and explains what this new “prompt literacy” means for everyday users, educators, and anyone working with modern AI.
SHOW NOTES
OpenAI: Best practices for prompt engineering with the OpenAI API
Palantir: Best Practices for Prompt Engineering
System in Motion: Why is prompting for image generation so difficult?
Nielsen Norman Group: How AI Is Changing Search Behavior
One Useful Thing: Working with AI: Two Paths to Prompting
CONTACT
Website:examining.ca
Twitter: @ExaminingPod
Erik Christiansen, Co-Founder & Co-Host
Website: erikchristiansen.net
Kris Hans, Co-Founder & Co-Host Website: krishans.ca
Website: krishans.ca
13 min - 82: The Agentic Web
In this episode, Erik talks about the rise of Agentic Web Browsers. These "next generation" web browsers are the new hotness, and companies like OpenAI, Perplexity, and Microsoft claim they can save you time by doing tasks on your behalf. But do they actually work? What are the risks of letting an AI control your browser?
SHOW NOTES
Consumer Reports: Should You Use an AI Browser Like ChatGPT Atlas?
ChatGPT Atlas browser
Microsoft Edge Copilot Mode
TIME STAMPS
00:00:00 - Intro
00:03:35 - What are agentic web browsers?
00:13:15 - Consumer reports agent browser comparison
00:23:22 - Tips
00:29:07 - Wrap upCONTACT
Website:examining.ca
Twitter: @ExaminingPod
Erik Christiansen, Co-Founder & Co-Host
Website: erikchristiansen.net
Kris Hans, Co-Founder & Co-Host Website: krishans.ca
Website: krishans.ca
30 min - 81: Rewind - AI Hype
This episode was originally published on September 8, 2023 (Episode 60), during the AI hype cycle. What is still true today? Does Amazon still want to own the AI highway? Is higher education and business responding to ChatGPT the same way today?
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Examining is a technology-focused podcast that dives deep. Our co-hosts, Erik Christiansen and Kris Hans examine the technology industry, branding, productivity, and education, and provide practical tech tips. As we make this transition to "Examining" we will be updating our various account links, so please bear with us.
SHOW NOTES
YouTube: This video is titled “YouTube” and is available on the YouTube platform
Harvard Business Review: How to Prepare for a GenAI Future You Can’t Predict
ZDNet: 75% of businesses are implementing or considering bans on ChatGPT
Slate: Amazon Web Services isn’t trying to win the A.I. race. It wants to own the road
CONTACT
Website:examining.ca
Twitter: @ExaminingPod
Erik Christiansen, Co-Founder & Co-Host
Website: erikchristiansen.net
Kris Hans, Co-Founder & Co-Host Website: krishans.ca
Website: krishans.ca
(Show notes created with help from Bing Chat AI)
1 hr 12 min
About Examining
From the publisher's feed
Examining is a technology-focused podcast that dives deep. Our co-hosts, Erik Christiansen and Kris Hans examine the technology industry, productivity, and education, and provide practical tech tips.
(The podcast started as EdTech Examined in July 2020 with the goal of helping educators transition to online education in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.)