Hashtag Trending: The AI Hype Curve, Backlash, and Ethical Concerns

In this episode of 'Hashtag Trending,' host Jim Love, along with guests Marcel Ganger and John Pinard, dive into the latest in AI technology and its societal impact. They discuss how the perception of AI has evolved from overwhelming excitement to backlash, highlighting issues like job loss, ethical concerns, and the increasing prevalence of deep fakes and non-consensual AI-generated content. The trio also explores significant updates in AI, the potential pitfalls of ad-supported AI models, and the importance of adopting AI thoughtfully and responsibly. Additionally, they touch on community movements like the resurgence of Clippy and why understanding and experimenting with AI is crucial for everyone. This episode is packed with insights, critiques, and practical advice for navigating the complex world of AI.

Hashtag Trending would like to thank Meter for their support in bringing you this podcast. Meter delivers a complete networking stack, wired, wireless and cellular in one integrated solution that's built for performance and scale.

You can find them at Meter.com/htt

00:00 Introduction and Sponsor Message 00:27 Welcoming the New Year 00:59 AI Advancements and Reflections 05:51 The Battle of Titans in AI 08:14 Monetizing AI: Ads and Recommendations 22:00 Open Source and Quality Concerns 28:11 The Hype Curve and AI Backlash 36:26 Supporting a Canadian Company 36:47 Grok and the Rise of Notify Apps 41:12 The Seriousness of Revenge Porn 42:28 Deep Fakes and the Erosion of Trust 50:22 AI's Impact on Society and Consent 58:36 The Future of AI and Social Backlash 01:00:09 The Clippy Revolution 01:01:51 Navigating AI Tools and User Experience 01:08:42 The Importance of Engaging with AI 01:12:17 Final Thoughts and Farewell

EU Investigates Grok, GameStop Closures, Billionaire Taxes, and AI Resistance

In this episode of Hashtag Trending, host Jim Love covers key tech developments: the European Commission's investigation into X's Grok over harmful AI-generated images, GameStop's controversial store closures amidst CEO Ryan Cohen's ambitious $35 billion payday plan, NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang's surprising support for a proposed billionaire tax in California, and the resurgence of Clippy as a protest symbol against intrusive AI features. Plus, insights into how Clippy's ironic comeback reflects growing concerns over the increasing integration of AI in everyday software. Thank you to Meter for supporting this podcast. Tune in for more tech news and analysis!

00:00 Introduction and Sponsor Message 00:53 EU Orders X to Preserve Grok Records 03:37 GameStop's Massive Store Closures 06:43 NVIDIA CEO Supports Billionaire Tax 09:37 Clippy: The AI Resistance Symbol 12:18 Conclusion and Sponsor Message

AWS Price Hike, Microsoft Office Rebranding, and AI's Role in Fake News

In this episode of 'Hashtag Trending,' host Jim Love covers the recent 15% pricing increase by AWS on premium GPU reservations, discusses Microsoft's rebranding of the Office app to Microsoft 365 Copilot app, and addresses the impact of AI-generated fake news with a specific example involving a fake viral video about Venezuelans. Additionally, the episode highlights a hacktivist's live takedown of three white supremacist websites. Listeners are advised on the importance of treating cloud AI pricing as variable and the need for media literacy in combatting misinformation.

Hashtag Trending would like to thank Meter for their support in bringing you this podcast. Meter delivers a complete networking stack, wired, wireless and cellular in one integrated solution that's built for performance and scale.

You can find them at Meter.com/htt

00:00 Introduction and Sponsor Message 00:42 AWS Hikes Premium GPU Reservations 03:00 Microsoft Office Rebranding Explained 05:16 The Impact of AI on News and Misinformation 07:37 Hacktivist Takes Down White Supremacist Sites 10:00 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

AWS Price Hike, Microsoft Office Rebranding, and AI's Role in Fake News

In this episode of 'Hashtag Trending,' host Jim Love covers the recent 15% pricing increase by AWS on premium GPU reservations, discusses Microsoft's rebranding of the Office app to Microsoft 365 Copilot app, and addresses the impact of AI-generated fake news with a specific example involving a fake viral video about Venezuelans. Additionally, the episode highlights a hacktivist's live takedown of three white supremacist websites. Listeners are advised on the importance of treating cloud AI pricing as variable and the need for media literacy in combatting misinformation.

Hashtag Trending would like to thank Meter for their support in bringing you this podcast. Meter delivers a complete networking stack, wired, wireless and cellular in one integrated solution that's built for performance and scale.

You can find them at Meter.com/htt

00:00 Introduction and Sponsor Message 00:42 AWS Hikes Premium GPU Reservations 03:00 Microsoft Office Rebranding Explained 05:16 The Impact of AI on News and Misinformation 07:37 Hacktivist Takes Down White Supremacist Sites 10:00 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

California's New Data Privacy Tool, Bernie Sanders' AI Moratorium, and the Future of AI Cold Calls

In this episode of Hashtag Trending, host Jim Love discusses several significant tech trends and issues. California has introduced 'Drop', a platform that allows residents to request the deletion of their data from over 500 data brokers. The fallout continues for Grok, an AI tool generating problematic deep fakes, with multiple countries launching investigations. Senator Bernie Sanders calls for a moratorium on new AI data centers to regulate the AI industry's rapid growth. Jason Lemkin has replaced his sales development team with AI agents, signaling potential changes in the cold-calling industry. Additionally, the future of ChatGPT conversations posthumously is discussed, addressing privacy and accountability concerns. The episode wraps up with information about Meter's support for the podcast and how to connect with the show.

00:00 Introduction and Sponsor Message 00:49 California's New Data Deletion Tool 02:17 Grok Deepfake Fallout 03:55 Bernie Sanders' AI Data Center Moratorium 05:48 AI Replacing Sales Development Roles 06:37 The Rise of AI Cold Calls 09:32 AI and Posthumous Conversations 12:08 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

In this episode of Hashtag Trending, host Jim Love examines the significant trends in AI and their broader implications for the coming year. Key trends include the intensifying competition between major AI developers, the incorporation of AI into everyday life through audio interfaces, the emergence of agentic AI capable of autonomous actions, and the backlash against AI from various societal quarters. Love also touches on the potential positive impacts of AI, such as advancements in medical technology. Additionally, he introduces the podcast's new associate editor and highlights the launch of a new and improved news site aimed at providing accurate and ad-free tech news.

00:00 Introduction and Sponsor Message 00:22 Welcome Back and Overview 00:52 Trend 1: The AI Arms Race 02:50 Trend 2: AI in Everyday Life 03:39 Trend 3: Agentic AI 05:28 Trend 4: Backlash Against AI 09:32 Positive Impacts of AI 10:53 Conclusion and Call to Action

In this episode, host Jim Love discusses the importance of cybersecurity awareness and training, featuring insights from Michael Joyce of the Human-Centric Cybersecurity Partnership at the University of Montreal and David Shipley of Beauceron Security. They explore the impact of cybersecurity awareness programs, the decay of sustained vigilance post-training, and the nuances between phishing reporting and clicking behaviors. The conversation also critiques recent research claims that question the efficacy of phishing training, emphasizing the need for continuous, empirically supported approaches in cybersecurity education. The episode highlights the value of balanced, layered defenses involving both technical solutions and informed user behavior.

00:00 Introduction and Podcast Announcement 00:14 Sponsorship Acknowledgment 00:35 The Nature of Cybersecurity Awareness 01:09 Introduction to the Research Show 01:21 Guest Introductions 02:15 Human-Centric Cybersecurity Partnership 03:46 The Importance of Canadian Research

In this episode, the host shares a pre-recorded favorite interview with David Decary-Hetu, a criminologist at the University of Montreal. They discuss the dark web, its technology, and its role in cybercrime. Decary-Hetu explains how the dark web operates, its users, and the dynamics between researchers and law enforcement in tackling cyber threats. Key topics include the economics of illicit markets, the cat-and-mouse game between law enforcement and criminals, the role of cryptocurrencies, and the evolution of cyber threats. The episode offers insights into the social aspects of cybercrime and the measures being taken to combat it.

00:00 Introduction and Sponsor Message 00:52 Understanding the Dark Web 02:16 Interview with David Decary-Hetu 05:10 The Basics of the Dark Web 06:27 Technology Behind the Dark Web 14:49 Law Enforcement Challenges 21:50 Trust and Transactions on the Dark Web 23:45 Recruitment and Structure of Cybercriminals 26:42 Cultural Dynamics in Hacking Communities 27:32 Researching the Impact of Technology on Crime 29:01 Challenges in Policing the Dark Web 30:12 The Role of Social Engineering in Cybercrime 31:18 Law Enforcement Strategies and Conditional Deterrence 32:09 The Evolution of Cybercrime and Cryptocurrency 41:24 Legal and Ethical Considerations in Cybercrime 43:47 Advice for Policymakers and Corporations 48:44 Educational Resources and Conferences 50:57 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

This is an interview with former hacker Brian Black. Brian is now on the right side of the battle and bringing his skills to to the fight against hackers. He finds the weaknesses in corporate security so that it can be patched.

This was one of my favourite interviews this year. Listening to what Brian has learned and understanding how we can use that knowledge and experience kept me on the edge of my seat.

Once more I want to thank Meter for making this possible. Visit them at meter.com/cst

Some of you may have missed this yesterday as the Google feed didn't catch it. It's a great episode and I want to make sure everyone gets it. I'll be posting another great repeat episode on Saturday Morning.