Old's Cool — A Retro Tech Podcast

The Googlebook can't be real, can it?


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This week on the show, Stephen and Daniel dive into wonderful world of Google's Android Show, where they discuss the Googlebook; Android 17's Agentic AI transformation; and whether AI art is ever actually satisfying.


Plus, a primer on cognitive surrender, and why Daniel always finds himself getting existential at around the three-quarter mark of every episode.


AI-generated time stamps:

02:02 - Geopolitical headlines: Elon Musk, China, and the semiconductor ghost town

10:17 - Android’s latest: What Google announced last week and the significance of the Pixelbook upgrade

14:34 - Google's Gemini AI: Automating everyday tasks and system-wide AI integration

16:54 - The evolving interface: Background AI automation and user experience dilemmas

20:31 - Ambient computing and privacy fears: When AI starts 'knowing' too much

26:19 - The rise and fall of Apple's AI ambitions and Siri’s future

28:48 - Practical AI: From organizing photos to making your newsletter easier

30:10 - Deepfakes and AI-generated avatars: Ethical questions and emotional reactions

33:01 - Cognitive surrender: When we start trusting AI over our own thinking

35:12 - The ethics of AI art, fan creations, and the uncanny valley

41:24 - Nostalgia trip: Remembering early laptops like PowerBooks and ThinkPads

44:34 - How AI transforms niche content creation and micro-podcasts

51:17 - The long game: AI's role in consumer devices and the future of multitasking

55:20 - Will AI replace creative jobs? Perspectives on art, audio, and design

58:07 - Google’s new Google Book platform: A premium take on Chromebooks and ecosystem integration

64:10 - Hardware dreams: Combining the power of smartphones, Chromebooks, and desktop modes

65:50 - The dangers of AI-automated shopping and personal assistants

71:26 - Podcast consumption: Long form, background listening, and future trends

73:00 - Wrapping up: Reflections on trust, nostalgia, and the path ahead


Resources & Links:

  • Everything Announced at The Android Show I/O Edition 2026 - 9to5Google
  • Why does the Googlebook exist? - The Verge
  • I used the Motorola Razr Fold for a week, and I think it's the best foldable - 9to5Google
  • Is AI Coming for Our Thinking? Behold the Age of 'Cognitive Surrender' - The Globe and Mail


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Old's Cool — A Retro Tech PodcastBy Daniel Bader and Stephen Radochia