This Week in Tech (Audio)

TWiT 978: Baptized in Gatorade - AI Priest, FCC Fines, Jack Dorsey Leaves Bluesky


Listen Later

In this episode of This Week in Tech, Leo Laporte is joined by Georgia Dow, Shoshana Weissmann, and Fr. Robert Ballecer, tackling a wide range of thought-provoking topics, from the ethical implications of AI in sensitive fields to the challenges of creating and consuming content in an increasingly commercialized digital landscape.

  • The panel grapples with the potential risks and benefits of AI-powered therapists and priests, stressing the need for human empathy and discernment in these emotionally charged roles.

  • They confront the harsh realities of the internet's "heat death," as the relentless pursuit of profits and engagement leads to a glut of low-quality content and erodes user trust.

  • The group reflects on the double-edged sword of democratized media, celebrating the value of supporting emerging voices while acknowledging the importance of professional standards.

  • As Twitter faces existential challenges, the panel surveys the social media horizon, evaluating alternative platforms like Mastodon and Bluesky, and weighing the implications of Jack Dorsey's departure from the Bluesky board.

  • Elon Musk's reckless tweets about taking Tesla private have come back to haunt him, with the Supreme Court upholding an SEC settlement requiring his Tesla-related posts to be vetted by a lawyer.

  • The FCC has cracked down on major telecom companies for the illegal sale of location data, while legislators push for reforms to prevent the government from exploiting privacy loopholes.

  • Congress continues its misguided crusade to protect children online, with ill-conceived age verification mandates and privacy-eroding measures that threaten the very foundations of digital security. The panel offers an impassioned critique of these shortsighted efforts.

  • The once-beloved video game Helldivers 2 serves as a cautionary tale of platform overreach, as a heavy-handed PlayStation Network login requirement sparks a massive player revolt and torpedoes the game's reputation.

  • Apple's quarterly results are analyzed, and all eyes are on Apple's upcoming event, where new iPads and an enhanced Apple Pencil are expected to take center stage. But the real buzz surrounds the rumored M4 chip and its tantalizing AI capabilities, hinting at a potential game-changer for the iconic brand.

  • The group geeks out over Disney+'s radical revival of X-Men '97 and Amazon's ambitious Fallout adaptation, complete with an immersive easter egg phone experience

  • The freewheeling discussion also touches on Shoshana's ingenious Alexa hacks for Sabbath TV viewing, a UK council's apostrophe apocalypse, the looming cicada invasion, and Fr. Robert's role as a guardian angel for the Vatican's feral felines.

  • Host: Leo Laporte

    Guests: Georgia Dow, Shoshana Weissmann, and Fr. Robert Ballecer, SJ

    Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-tech

    Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit

    Sponsors:

    • Stamps.com promo code TWiT
    • kolide.com/twit
    • IntouchCX.com/twit
    • expressvpn.com/twit
    • NetSuite.com/TWIT
    • ...more
      View all episodesView all episodes
      Download on the App Store

      This Week in Tech (Audio)By TWiT

      • 3.9
      • 3.9
      • 3.9
      • 3.9
      • 3.9

      3.9

      2,965 ratings


      More shows like This Week in Tech (Audio)

      View all
      Mac Geek Gab — Apple Tips, Tricks, and Troubleshooting by Dave Hamilton, Pilot Pete & Adam Christianson

      Mac Geek Gab — Apple Tips, Tricks, and Troubleshooting

      827 Listeners

      Hands-On Tech (Audio) by TWiT

      Hands-On Tech (Audio)

      1,966 Listeners

      Security Now (Audio) by TWiT

      Security Now (Audio)

      1,982 Listeners

      MacBreak Weekly (Audio) by TWiT

      MacBreak Weekly (Audio)

      2,011 Listeners

      Windows Weekly (Audio) by TWiT

      Windows Weekly (Audio)

      868 Listeners

      Intelligent Machines (Audio) by TWiT

      Intelligent Machines (Audio)

      734 Listeners

      Tech News Weekly (Audio) by TWiT

      Tech News Weekly (Audio)

      1,072 Listeners

      iOS Today (Audio) by TWiT

      iOS Today (Audio)

      545 Listeners

      This Week in Tech (Video) by TWiT

      This Week in Tech (Video)

      255 Listeners

      MacBreak Weekly (Video) by TWiT

      MacBreak Weekly (Video)

      331 Listeners

      Macworld Podcast by Foundry

      Macworld Podcast

      303 Listeners

      Daily Tech News Show by Tom Merritt

      Daily Tech News Show

      1,395 Listeners

      Upgrade by Relay

      Upgrade

      1,199 Listeners

      AppleInsider Podcast by AppleInsider

      AppleInsider Podcast

      972 Listeners

      Rich On Tech by iHeartPodcasts

      Rich On Tech

      414 Listeners