Join us for an eye-opening discussion on the latest tech developments shaping our digital lives.

We explore China's controversial "Are You Dead?" wellness app, Amazon's massive 30,000-job AI-driven layoffs, and the shocking revelation that major TV manufacturers are secretly taking screenshots of your viewing habits.

Plus: Verizon's $20 outage credit, Starlink's free internet for Iran, Alexa Plus browser launch, and why cable companies are desperately trying to win back cord-cutters.

We also dive into OpenAI's hyper-realistic Sora 2 video generator and what it means for truth in media. Essential viewing for anyone concerned about privacy, AI's impact on employment, and maintaining control over technology in your life.

0:00 - Introduction & Show Overview

1:00 - "Are You Dead?" App - China's Wellness Check-In Solution

6:00 - Amazon's 30,000 Job Layoffs & AI Impact on Management

7:43 - Verizon's 10-Hour Outage & $20 Credit

8:51 - Starlink Free Internet for Iran

10:19 - Alexa Plus Browser Launch & AI Assistant Competition

14:38 - AI Strategy & Use Cases for Business

18:39 - Radio & TV's Economic Impact ($1.19 Trillion GDP)

20:05 - Smart TV Surveillance Lawsuit - Texas vs. Sony, Samsung & LG

40:30 - Cable Companies Fight Back - Comcast & Spectrum's New Strategies

47:04 - OpenAI's Sora 2 - Hyper-Realistic AI Video Generation

49:39 - Closing Remarks

In this holiday edition of TechWatch Radio, Sam Bushman and Jay Harrison kick things off with some lighthearted Christmas tech talk before pivoting into much heavier territory. From ad-filled digital fireplaces and nostalgia for simpler tech experiences to the growing dangers of mistyped web addresses and parked domains serving malware, the conversation asks an uncomfortable question: has something as basic as typing a website URL become risky in today’s internet? What practical habits can actually keep everyday users safer online?

The discussion then turns serious as the hosts unpack the explosion of financial scams targeting seniors, with billions of dollars lost and many cases never reported. Why are gift cards, wire transfers, and cryptocurrency such massive red flags? What simple warning signs should families be talking about at the dinner table, and how can banks and loved ones help stop fraud before the money is gone? The episode offers clear, real-world guidance that could save families from devastating losses.

Finally, the show looks ahead to the future of technology itself. Are smartphone apps really on the way out, replaced by AI agents, voice assistants, and web-based experiences? Sam and Jay debate Amazon’s bold predictions, share firsthand experiences with self-driving Waymo taxis, and explore where AI genuinely adds value versus where the hype runs ahead of reality. Will automation make life easier, or introduce new risks we are not prepared for yet? This episode blends caution, curiosity, and common sense in a wide-ranging look at where tech is heading next.

In this episode of TechWatch Radio, Sam Bushman and Jay Harrison take a wide-ranging tour through the fast-moving tech landscape: from messaging platforms to artificial intelligence and the growing fatigue of nonstop software updates. Is X trying to become the next all-in-one messenger, and can it really compete with Telegram, iMessage, and Teams? Why does updating Chrome feel like a daily ritual now, and are zero-day vulnerabilities becoming the new normal? The hosts also dig into Apple’s surprising move to lean on Google’s AI to revamp Siri, raising big questions about who is actually winning the AI race.

The conversation expands into AI’s growing role in everyday tools, including new integrations between ChatGPT and Adobe apps that promise to simplify complex workflows. Is this the future of software, where you just tell an app what you want instead of hunting through menus, or are we dumbing things down too far? Along the way, Sam and Jay reflect on nostalgia, from Oregon Trail to retro gaming, while comparing it to today’s hyper-connected, cloud-first world.

Wrapping things up, the hosts break down a PC World tech gift guide, offering candid takes on which gadgets are genuinely useful and which are just novelty items. From electronics kits and Lego tech sets to mini PCs, drones, 3D printers, and phone sanitizers, what is actually worth your money this season? And what do these trends say about where consumer tech is headed next? Tune in for perspective, humor, and practical insight so you can keep an eye on tech!

In this episode of TechWatch Radio, Sam Bushman and Jay Harrison dig into the strange, fascinating, and sometimes unsettling ways technology is weaving itself into everyday life. From a magician who implanted an RFID chip in his hand and then forgot the password, to Googles bold vision of solar powered data centers in space. Just because we can do something with tech, does that mean we should? What happens when innovation moves faster than common sense or reliability?

The discussion moves through some truly eye opening developments, including Voyager 1 reaching a distance where signals take a full day to travel one way, and the hidden costs of the AI boom that are driving memory shortages and higher prices for consumer devices. Can AI data centers really help solve housing affordability, or do they just move the problem around? Are we rushing AI into everything, from enterprise software to everyday gadgets, without stopping to ask if it actually helps?

Finally, Sam and Jay turn a critical eye toward Microsoft's rapid release cycle, chronic Windows bugs, broken updates, and security vulnerabilities that affect everyone from home users to governments. They contrast this with the rise of privacy focused alternatives like Proton, and make a case for slowing down, prioritizing stability, and letting technology serve people rather than dominate them.

In this episode of TechWatch Radio, Sam Bushman and Jay Harrison dive into a wide-ranging tech reality check. They kick things off with an unexpected truth: audio is still king, even in a video-obsessed world. From there, they unpack the renewed debate over AM radios in cars, the push for digital modernity, and why consumers say they still want good old-fashioned radio on their dashboards. The guys take a balanced look at government mandates, the free market, and what actually makes sense for car manufacturers in 2025.

Then the episode shifts hard into cybersecurity, highlighting massive breaches hitting platforms like WhatsApp and Logitech. Sam and Jay explain why so many major companies are losing control of sensitive user data and why homeowners and small businesses need to rethink how they separate personal devices, work systems, and kids’ gaming PCs. They break down the scary implications of Windows 11’s new “agentic” AI features, how automated bots can unintentionally install malware, and why parents should stop letting kids play on devices tied to banking and medical accounts.

The guys also explore the future of AI collaboration, including ChatGPT’s new group-chat feature, and discuss how overlapping tool ecosystems (Microsoft Teams, ChatGPT, Alexa, etc.) are creating confusion instead of convenience. They wrap up with practical tips for protecting your identity, including the power of masked email addresses, and offer down-to-earth guidance on surviving the modern cyber landscape. It’s a packed episode full of real-world tech talk, security warnings, and solutions you can actually use!

Sam Bushman is joined by NPI marketing admin and musician Jake Oakes for a fast-paced tour through the ways modern tech can either protect you or quietly put you at risk. They start with one of today’s biggest business threats: email and payroll scams that impersonate bosses, HR, and vendors. Sam and Jake walk through practical steps to stop fraud before it happens: like always verifying banking changes by phone (using a trusted number), documenting confirmations in writing, and treating any request for sensitive data as suspicious until proven otherwise. Along the way, they highlight how Network Providers Inc. is trying to "secure, educate, and protect" with webinars, in-person events, and a growing video library to help business owners understand security, endpoints, HIPAA-sensitive environments, and more.

From there, the conversation zooms out to the bigger tech picture: phones that are always listening for “Hey Siri” and turning those snippets into eerily targeted ads; AI tools that can summarize everything but still can’t think beyond their training; and the growing temptation to let digital assistants guide every decision. Sam and Jake argue for balance; using AI as a powerful tool without letting it replace real human connection or common sense. They also dig into YouTube’s war on ad blockers, Meta’s profit-from-scammers problem, and Chrome’s new ability to autofill highly sensitive IDs, all through the lens of privacy, morality, and trust. To lighten things up, Sam shares a practical audio upgrade tip: ditching bulky desktop speakers for a sleek solution that transforms your computer into a surprisingly rich media station.

In this lively episode of TechWatch Radio, Sam Bushman and Jay Harrison dive into the outer and inner reaches of technology; from the Voyager spacecraft still running on 69 KB of memory, to Jeff Bezos’ ambitious plan for millions to live in orbit within decades. The hosts question whether such space ventures are realistic or simply futuristic fantasies, comparing them with down-to-earth innovations like an Australian nano-coating that passively cools buildings and pulls water from the air.

The conversation shifts to electric vehicle struggles and the post-subsidy sales slump, as Sam and Jay weigh whether the EV market can truly stand on its own. They spotlight Elon Musk’s Starlink as a game-changer for rural connectivity, discuss OpenAI’s $38-billion partnership with Amazon Web Services, and reflect on the soaring energy demands of AI. Wrapping up, they note how AI - especially ChatGPT - is reshaping daily life across industries, urging listeners to embrace its potential but keep human judgment in the loop!

In this episode of TechWatch Radio, hosts Sam Bushman and Jay Harrison dive deep into the evolving media and tech landscape—from YouTube’s high-stakes dispute with Disney to the skyrocketing costs of streaming that are driving viewers back toward ad-supported models. They unpack how traditional cable habits are resurfacing in modern streaming bundles and explore whether industry greed or inflated production costs are to blame for soaring subscription fees.

The discussion then shifts to a surprising new player in tech acquisitions—Italy’s “Bending Spoons,” the company quietly buying up major names like AOL and possibly Venmo. Sam and Jay analyze what this trend means for the future of global tech brands and innovation. They also explore Canva’s latest AI-powered design overhaul, the company’s ambitious challenge to Adobe, and whether it risks losing its “for-everyone” simplicity in the process.

Later in the show, the hosts spotlight a disturbing rise in AI-generated fake expense receipts; exposing how employees are committing digital fraud and how AI is now being used to detect it. Other segments tackle OpenAI’s mental-health data on ChatGPT users, massive password breaches affecting billions, Nvidia’s record-shattering valuation, Elon Musk’s “Grockapedia” project, and Microsoft’s bold move to bring Halo to PlayStation. As always, TechWatch Radio keeps an eye on the fast-changing world of tech so you don’t have to!

In this packed episode of TechWatch Radio, hosts Sam Bushman and Jay Harrison tackle the biggest and strangest headlines in the world of technology. From Amazon’s plan to replace 600,000 human jobs with robots by 2033, to Meta trimming its AI division, they explore the real-world implications of automation on the workforce. The discussion expands to military-grade humanoid robots, raising questions about the ethics of using machines in warfare and whether humanity risks losing control in its quest for technological dominance.

The hosts also take a sharp turn into the world of digital media, examining how AI tools like ChatGPT are siphoning off traffic from Wikipedia and transforming how we consume information. They debate who’s more trustworthy, AI or human, edited wikis, and what “clean AI” could mean for the future. In true TechWatch fashion, the show closes with rapid-fire stories ranging from WhatsApp’s new anti-spam controls and VPN privacy concerns, to bizarre innovations like the $600 “poop cam” that analyzes your health. It’s a fascinating, fast-moving episode that captures both the promise and absurdity of our AI-driven world!

This week on TechWatch Radio, Sam Bushman and Jay Harrison dive into the shifting digital landscape where security, hardware, and user control collide. The show opens with a breakdown of Google’s new Gmail client-side encryption rollout and the quiet removal of key features like POP access and Gmailify; changes that could leave longtime users scrambling. The hosts debate whether end-to-end encryption really means privacy when Google still owns the infrastructure, and what it signals for the future of offline email and open-source compatibility.

The conversation then turns to the surprising report that Intel may manufacture AMD chips in its own U.S. foundries — a move that could reshape the semiconductor industry, reduce America’s dependence on Taiwan’s TSMC, and bring more competition to the GPU and AI-driven chip market. Sam and Jay weigh how this partnership might lead to faster, cheaper processors and revive stateside chipmaking.

Finally, the hosts round up browser news: Google Chrome hits a record-high 72% market share, Microsoft Edge struggles to define itself, and the Brave browser quietly celebrates 100 million active users with privacy-first innovation. With sharp takes and relatable humor, TechWatch Radio keeps you up to speed on the storms brewing across Big Tech.