In a striking development, OpenAI, known for the celebrated AI chatbot ChatGPT, is discussing a remarkable share sale, potentially valuing the startup between $80 billion and $90 billion, a substantial leap from earlier this year. As OpenAI’s momentum surges with over 100 million active users of ChatGPT and the development of innovative AI technologies like DALL-E 2 and Codex, this share sale signifies a pivotal moment. It underscores the escalating interest in AI investments and highlights the intensifying U.S.-China competition in the AI arena.

Subscribe to the Newsletter.

Join the Chat @ GeekNews.Chat

Email Todd or follow him on Facebook.

Like and Follow Geek News Central’s Facebook Page.

Download the Audio Show File

Show Notes:

* –The new Fitbit Charge 6

* –This tool helps you analyze real estate

* –Super harvest full moon

* –Google rushes to patch

* –Gamestop’s billionaire backer

* –SBF to get wardrobe from his lawyers

* –Tubi and ChatGPT

* –Nord Security

* –Scientists write words in water

* –NASA and Psyche

* –Radio telescope to launch to the moon

* –Sinking “hotspots” in NYC

* –iPhone 15 Pro owners complain

* –SpaceX and Space Force

* –Boundless Life

* –

OpenAI is revolutionizing communication with ChatGPT by introducing new voice and image capabilities. This significant update allows users to voice conversations or visually show ChatGPT what they are discussing. Snapping a picture of a landmark while traveling or your fridge at home can start a live discussion about interesting aspects or help determine what’s for dinner with additional follow-up questions for recipes. The update, available to Plus and Enterprise users, brings ChatGPT to iOS and Android, offering voice and image options to all platforms. This advancement comes as Big Tech firms heavily invest in AI-powered voice assistants, aiming to expand their functionality beyond basic tasks.

Subscribe to the Newsletter.

Join the Chat @ GeekNews.Chat

Email Todd or follow him on Facebook.

Like and Follow Geek News Central’s Facebook Page.

Download the Audio Show File

Show Notes:

* –WGA strike ends

* –Instacart founder Apoorva Mehta

* –Google Pixel 8 and 8 Pro

* –Queen’s Brian May helped NASA

* –Evernote users

* –The five most dangerous Wi-Fi attacks

* –The iPad Mini 7

* –NASA plans to use blockchain

* –EU online piracy on the rise

* –Meta is planning on introducing dozens of chatbot personas

* –City of Dallas and its ransomware attack

* –Alexa Guard security features behind a paywall

* –DJI Mini 4 Pro unveiled

* –

Today’s top story focuses on Microsoft’s latest fall hardware event, where the spotlight wasn’t just on new consumer laptops like the Surface Laptop Go three and the Surface Laptop Studio 2. What stole the show was the company’s deep dive into AI and Copilot. From unifying Copilot across Windows 11 to introducing voice-activated and context-aware features, Microsoft is making AI more integral than ever to its ecosystem. Stay tuned as we unpack all the announcements and explore how they could change how you interact with technology. See the full show summary at the end of the post.

Subscribe to the Newsletter.

Join the Chat @ GeekNews.Chat

Email Todd or follow him on Facebook.

Like and Follow Geek News Central’s Facebook Page.

Download the Audio Show File

Show Notes:

* –T-Mobile system glitch

* –A NASA astronaut wants peace and quiet.

* –Sick of Chrome and Edge?

* –Apple store workers in France to strike

* –The Luke Skywalker solution

* –GM CEO drops out of the Code conference

* –Threats bombard consumers

* –Humanoid Robots to Mars

* YouTube Create

* –FBI and CISA issue warning

* –Facebook officially embraces fake profiles 

* –The US and UK strike agreement

* –Vizio’s new 4K TVs

* –A judge “in a pickle”

* –Signal is adding quantum-level encryption

* –

European regulators have issued a hefty $368 million fine to TikTok for failing to safeguard children’s privacy. This marks the first instance of the renowned video-sharing app facing penalties for violating Europe’s rigorous data privacy regulations. TikTok, on their part, said this had been fixed for years. But one thing is sure: European governments, aka EU, love to get their pound of flesh out of big companies.

Tech Fines, Software Updates, and Lost Fighter Jets – A Look at the Latest Tech News

Several interesting tech stories have recently made headlines, ranging from significant companies getting fined to software updates causing user problems. Here’s a rundown of some notable tech news covered in a recent Geek News Central podcast episode.

Apple and Microsoft Release Major Software Updates Apple rolled out updates for iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and watchOS in mid-September. However, some users report issues like Macs failing to boot after installation. Podcasters using specific Intel-based machines are advised not to update yet. Meanwhile, a Windows 11 update has also caused some users gaming glitches, boot failures, and other problems. Software updates often bring bugs, and it’s best not to rush into installing them immediately.

NASA Spacecraft Returning with Asteroid Samples NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft is finally set to deliver asteroid samples it collected in space back to Earth after a seven-year mission. The samples will land in a Utah desert on September 24th. Studying these early space materials could provide insights into the solar system’s history and composition. OSIRIS-REx is the first NASA mission to retrieve asteroid samples.

F-35 Fighter Jet Goes Missing In a bizarre news story, an advanced F-35 stealth fighter jet went missing following an incident that forced the pilot to eject. The $160 million aircraft then continued before presumably crashing in South Carolina. The military has been unable to locate the wreckage of the missing plane so far. Each F-35 costs around $100-160 million, depending on the variant.

Subscribe to the Newsletter.

Join the Chat @ GeekNews.Chat

Email Todd or follow him on Facebook.

Like and Follow Geek News Central’s Facebook Page.

Download the Audio Show File

Show Notes:

* –iOS 17, iPadOS 17,watchOS 17, and tvOS 17

* –Cloud changes are to blame for cyber-attacks

* –Here’s the latest from the Mars rover

* –Stoke Space

* –NASA’s Osiris-Rex

* –

American astronaut Frank Rubio has surpassed the previous US record for the most extended stay in orbit, marking over 355 days aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Initially scheduled for a six-month mission, circumstances changed due to a rocket leak, extending his stay. Rubio, who has witnessed 28 fellow astronauts come and go, is set to reach an astonishing 371 days by his scheduled return on September 27. Reflecting on his experience, Rubio shared insights into the challenges and blessings of life in space. Congratulations and best wishes for a safe return.

I also discuss my experience in renting a Tesla.

Subscribe to the Newsletter.

Join the Chat @ GeekNews.Chat

Email Todd or follow him on Facebook.

Like and Follow Geek News Central Facebook Page.

Download the Audio Show File

Show Notes:

* –$100 million to fix EV chargers

* –Instacart deactivated a shopper

* –Crew to replace astronauts stuck in space

* –WD launches new hard drives

* –Chromebooks will get 10 years of updates

* –A wheelchair-accessible robo-taxi

* –A pig kidney works a record 2 months in a donated body

* –Walmart wants associates 

* –Tesla’s new car building process

* –Ex-Twitter employees and Elon is back on the table

* AI Ethics

* AI is a “double-edged sword”

* –Tech leaders endorse AI regulation

* –California passes a bill

Elon Musk has announced that the next fully stacked SpaceX Starship is ready to launch. However, the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) hasn’t approved it yet. The FAA is awaiting SpaceX to implement corrective actions following issues from the first launch attempt. Although Musk is confident, the FAA remains silent on whether they will approve the second launch attempt. This Starship launch is crucial for NASA’s Artemis program and Musk’s ambition to colonize Mars. True to the government, they work at Government speed, not civilian sector speed. So, we will see how long it takes to get the license approved.

Subscribe to the Newsletter.

Join the Chat @ GeekNews.Chat

Email Todd or follow him on Facebook.

Like and Follow Geek News Central Facebook Page.

Download the Audio Show File

Show Notes:

* –Google Pixel 8 and Pixel Watch 2 

* –Most people are using AI for fun

* –Musk stiffed Twitter vendors

* –Android has a worrying security flaw

* –Toyota suffered a major outage

* –Newly found bubble of galaxies 

* –NASA’s Swift learns a new trick

* –A Russian gets 9 years in prison for hacking 

* –Musk’s involvement in the war in Ukraine

* Musk’s mighty missile

* –Tesla lawsuit

* –Honda will use Tesla’s EV charging standard

* –Victrola’s new Hi-Res wireless turntables 

* –Chrome’s 15th birthday

* –

HP Once Again Screws Consumers.

In a scandalous twist, HP faces heavy criticism for allegedly bricking the scanner functions on their multifunction printers when the ink runs low. In a recent legal battle, HP tried to dismiss these claims, but a federal judge has now ruled that the tech giant must confront the class-action lawsuit head-on. Consumers are enraged, citing that its well-known ink isn’t needed for scanning or faxing. The real shocker? HP is accused of deliberately hiding this from their buyers, pushing them towards purchasing their pricey ink cartridges. Not to mention making it hard to have third-party ink. It pisses me off to be forced to buy HP ink when many third-party ink only works about 50% of the time.

Subscribe to the Newsletter.

Join the Chat @ GeekNews.Chat

Email Todd or follow him on Facebook.

Like and Follow Geek News Central Facebook Page.

Download the Audio Show File

Show Notes:

* –Astronomers find an impossibly massive exoplanet

* –Tech firms are slowing layoffs

* –SpaceX’s Crew-7

* –A look back at the Atari 800

* –A 142-year-old astronomy building in Michigan

* –Bing Chat

* –Netflix

* –Slack had some significant issues

* –Microsoft to hold a “special event.”

* –Anonymous file-sharing site has shut down

* –Elon is killing “Environmental Twitter.”

* –Google and AI Magic

* –

Lead Story:

The Geek News Central Podcast lead story, three American and two Russian astronauts stranded on the International Space Station (ISS) for almost a year are preparing to return to Earth. Their prolonged stay, six months beyond their scheduled mission, was due to damage to their original Soyuz MS-22 spacecraft, believed to be from a meteor strike. With the aid of a rescue craft, Soyuz MS-23, sent by the Russian space agency Roscosmos, the trio is slated to head home, marking a record stay for the American astronaut. We wish them a safe return from on the Soyuz spacecraft.

Subscribe to the Newsletter.

Join the Chat @ GeekNews.Chat

Email Todd or follow him on Facebook.

Like and Follow Geek News Central Facebook Page.

Download the Audio Show File

Top Stories:

Apple Could Soon Kill Off the Mac Pro

Rumors suggest Apple may discontinue the Mac Pro as the new M3 chips offer performance comparable to the Mac Pro in more mainstream models like the Mac Studio. The Mac Pro’s days could be numbered.

Hackers Explore Ways to Misuse AI at DEFCON

Over 2,500 ethical hackers at DEFCON tested major AI models like GPT-3 for security flaws. This signals the tech industry is taking AI security seriously as generative AI becomes more prevalent.

Verizon 5G Upgrade Coming to Rural Areas

Verizon is upgrading nearly 40 million rural customers to faster 5G using the new C-band spectrum. This could provide a big speed boost to underserved rural areas.

Tesla’s EV Range Estimates Revealed as Unrealistic

Tests show Tesla EV range estimates don’t account for driving style, temperature, and other factors. This helps explain why many Tesla owners find their cars don’t achieve advertised range.

Nvidia’s Next-Gen GPUs Puzzle AMD

Nvidia may not release a high-end GPU equivalent to compete with AMD’s latest offering. This could give AMD an edge in the GPU market.

iPhone 14 Battery Life Woes Threaten iPhone 15 Launch

Reports show iPhone 14 batteries degrade faster than iPhone 13. This could hurt the perception of the upcoming iPhone 15 if the issue persists.

New York Times Bans AI Vendors from Using Its Content

The New York Times has updated its terms to prohibit using articles, images, and data to train AI systems without permission. This poses problems for “absorb everything” AI models.

Hinge Hiring AI Executive for $398,000/Year

Dating app Hinge aims to be “AI-first” and is hiring a VP of AI for up to $398,000 annually. This could change matchmaking algorithms and recommendations.

Netflix Testing Cloud Gaming

Select Netflix subscribers in Canada and UK will test streaming games to TVs. If successful, this cloud gaming expansion could reach worldwide audiences.

Godaddy Sponsor Summary

Todd highlights great deals from longtime sponsor GoDaddy, a leading domain registrar, and web hosting provider. August promo codes offer significant savings like .com domains for 1 cent, Economy Hosting for $1.99/month, and Managed WordPress Hosting for $2.99/month – all with a free domain name. Plus, new users can get a free trial of GoDaddy Website Builder. Cochrane encourages listeners to use his promo codes to get significant savings, support the show,

Today’s Lead Story: Google is introducing enhanced online safety and privacy tool. They’ve improved the “Results about you” tool, which alerts users when their personal contact info appears on Google Search, allowing for easy removal. They’re also launching a SafeSearch blurring tool that hides explicit content by default in Search results. Furthermore, they’ve enhanced policies that let individuals remove their personal, explicit images from Google Search. All of these are welcome changes; while one person may consider something private, another may consider it the cost of doing business.

Top Story Summaries:

Google Improving Tools to Remove Personal Search Results

Google announced enhancements to allow users to request the removal of personal contact info and other sensitive results from search queries. This includes phone numbers, home addresses, and emails. Users can access the tool through their Google account or by visiting a specific URL. This gives people more control over their privacy and search results.

TV and Film Extras Fear AI Will Take Jobs

Extras are concerned that studios scan their faces and bodies to create AI-generated fake doubles. Production companies could replace many background actors with cheaper synthetic versions. As scripts and likenesses are studio-owned, writers may also compete with AI-written episodes based on past work.

PayPal Launches New US Dollar-Backed Stablecoin

PayPal launched a new cryptocurrency stablecoin called PYUSD. It is backed 1:1 by the US dollar, so $1 of PYUSD equals $1 USD. Users can buy, sell, hold, and transfer the coins within PayPal’s system. Stablecoins attempt to provide the benefits of crypto with less volatility.

Microsoft Bringing AI Chat to Mobile Browsers

Microsoft is expanding its AI-powered chatbot Bing Chat access to mobile web browsers. After launching exclusively on Edge earlier this year, support is now coming to Chrome, Safari, and more. The chatbot aims to provide helpful searches and recommendations.

MrBeast’s Burger Company Suing Him for $100 Million

MrBeast Burger, created in partnership with Virtual Dining Concepts, is suing YouTube star MrBeast for $100 million. MrBeast claims the burgers are poor quality, while the company alleges he failed to properly promote the brand as agreed. The lawsuit is in response to MrBeast’s own recent suit against the company.

Tesla Executive Rumored as Next CEO Leaving Company

Zachary Kirkhorn, Tesla’s Chief Financial Officer, is departing after 13 years. Kirkhorn was rumored to be a potential successor to CEO Elon Musk. Musk commonly moves executives between his companies, so Kirkhorn may end up at SpaceX or Twitter next.

YouTube Enabling 1080p Streaming on Desktop

YouTube is rolling out 1080p streaming options for desktop users on premium subscriptions. Previously only available on mobile and smart TVs, the enhanced 1080p promises improved quality with less compression. However, Android mobile still lacks 1080p support.

Amazon Launching First Internet Satellites

Amazon is preparing to launch its first two prototype internet satellites as part of Project Kuiper. The launch was initially planned on Vulcan Rockets but will now use Atlas V until Vulcan is ready later this year. Amazon aims to provide broadband worldwide through a network of over 3,000 satellites.

Cybercriminals in Vietnam Targeting Ransomware Attacks

Researchers discovered a new ransomware operation emerging out of Vietnam. The group uses cyberattacks to extort money from victims, primarily targeting English-speaking countries and enterprises in Vietnam. Vietnam has become a hub for various hacking collectives engaged in cybercrime.

Wrongful Arrest Lawsuit Blames Detroit Police Facial Recognition...

From 2024, US taxpayers will transition to a completely paperless tax filing system with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Expected to reach full paperless processing by 2025, this initiative will save 200 million sheets of paper annually and reduce tax processing times. Taxpayers will enjoy faster refunds and the convenience of digital document verification. By 2025, all mailed tax forms will be digitally converted and processed; by 2026, even non-tax documents will be processed paperlessly. The Inflation Reduction Act funding technology facilitates scanning millions of paper documents. In a shocking revelation, the government spends 40 million a year to store paper tax returns.

Broadcast TV Declines While Streaming and Social Media Grow

A new report revealed steep declines in traditional broadcast TV viewing in the UK, especially among older audiences. However, public broadcasts still dominate most watch lists. The research also showed teens and young adults spend an average of 1 hour daily on TikTok consuming short-form content. While broadcast TV falters, streaming services and social media continue to engage strongly. Commercial radio remains popular in its 50th year, though, and smart speakers and podcasts are also rising.

FCC Fines Massive Illegal Robocall Operation $300 Million

In the most significant action of its kind, the FCC moved to fine an illegal robocall operation $300 million for spamming 500 million phone numbers with over 5 billion prerecorded voice calls in just three months. The group violated spoofing and consent laws by faking caller ID information and contacting people on the Do Not Call list. The fine aims to curb the plague of unwanted robot calls.

Patreon Suffers System Issues, Reminding Builders Not to Rely on Third-Party Platforms

Recent problems with failed payments and erroneous transaction declines on Patreon caused many creators to lose subscribers. This demonstrates the risks of building a business on someone else’s platform. Patreon blamed the issues on a payment systems glitch, but many users were negatively impacted.

That and many more stories on the show today.

Subscribe to the Newsletter.

Join the Chat @ GeekNews.Chat

Email Todd or follow him on Facebook.

Like and Follow Geek News Central Facebook Page.

Download the Audio Show File

Show Notes:

* –Samsung’s new “flagship” repair centers

* –Waymo in Austin, Texas

* –Warner Bros. Q2

* –Pateron issues

* Apple’s AI strategy

* CM...