Grumpy Old Geeks

Jason DeFillippo & Brian Schulmeister with Dave Bittner
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  • TECH NEWS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

We dissect the tech news train wrecks of the week, calling out what went wrong and who’s to blame. Think of this podcast as if Kurt Cobain threw down with Tom from MySpace, Elon Musk, and Mark Zuckerberg in a back alley brawl. No mercy, no filter—if tech had a walk of shame, this would be it.

  1. Pixel Predators

    2 DAYS AGO

    Pixel Predators

    This episode proves that nothing gold can stay, especially your 401k, as we kick things off with the revelation that October saw the worst tech layoffs since 2003, all while "Big Short" genius Michael Burry decided to bet a billion dollars on the inevitable AI bubble bursting. The villains of the week are legion: the FCC is officially making it easier for internet companies to charge us even more hidden fees; Elon Musk not only got his $1 trillion pay package approved—despite Tesla sales collapsing nearly 90% in some countries—but he also teased a flying car, clearly living in his own "Golden Dome" fantasy, which the Pentagon is happily subsidizing; and in a stunning display of entitlement, Mark Zuckerberg opened an illegal school, which is somehow less shocking than Meta’s claim that their massive porn stash was purely for "personal use," not AI training. The bad news doesn't stop there, with Texas suing Roblox over 'pixel pedophiles,' though at least a rural Michigan healthcare system is doing some good by using drones to improve care. Jumping over to Media Candy, since we’re all emotionally scarred by the sheer awful-ness of The Witcher S4—a season so bad it "broke" The Critical Drinker—we need some comfort viewing. We’re deep-diving into the political chess of The Diplomat and escaping into the sheer volume of competitive cooking shows, including the standard Halloween and Holiday Baking Championships, plus the delightfully ridiculous Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking S2; we also took a look at Pluribus, Knife Edge, Black Rabbit, and the trailer for Tron: Ares, while cheering the fact that Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz are set to revive The Mummy franchise for a fourth film. In Apps & Doodads, we’re all mourning the eventual death of simple, good tech as we’re warned to enjoy Apple CarPlay while we still can, but at least the Lego ‘Star Trek’ Set is finally here for our inner child; the real question, though, is why Automattic Inc. thinks they can claim ownership of the actual word 'Automatic.' Finally, The Dark Side with Dave Bittner reminds us that everything old is new again and ripe for monetization, whether it's Miss Piggy potentially bringing back The Muppets to the movies or the sleek, blacked-out remake of the Commodore 64, not to mention that cool Tron Arcade Cabinet Miniature Model. However, the present is still a complete dumpster fire: a Google AI model allegedly accused a senator of sexual assault, and internal documents show that Meta is earning a fortune on a massive deluge of fraudulent ads, proving that the only thing getting healthier is our paranoia, though Dave did throw in a curveball with some special jar lids and seeds for growing organic sprouts. We finish, as always, with the obligatory Closing Shout-Outs because even cynical geeks need validation. Sponsors: MasterClass - Get an additional 15% off any annual membership at MASTERCLASS.com/GRUMPYOLDGEEKS Gusto - Try Gusto today at gusto.com/grumpy, and get three months free when you run your first payroll. Private Internet Access - Go to GOG.Show/vpn and sign up today. For a limited time only, you can get OUR favorite VPN for as little as $2.03 a month. SetApp - With a single monthly subscription you get 240+ apps for your Mac. Go to SetApp and get started today!!! 1Password - Get a great deal on the only password manager recommended by Grumpy Old Geeks! gog.show/1password Show notes at https://gog.show/721 FOLLOW UP October Layoffs Were the Worst Since 2003 and Hit Tech Workers Hard IN THE NEWS The Big Short Guy Just Bet $1 Billion That the AI Bubble Pops Trump's FCC is officially moving to make it easier for internet companies to charge hidden fees Pentagon will reportedly award SpaceX a $2 billion contract to help develop the 'Golden Dome' Elon Musk teases a flying car on Joe Rogan's show Tesla’s Sales Collapsed Nearly 90 Percent in Some Countries Last Month Tesla shareholder meeting updates: Elon Musk gets his $1 trillion pay package Texas AG sues Roblox, accusing it of prioritizing 'pixel pedophiles' over child safety Mark Zuckerberg Opened an Illegal School at His Palo Alto Compound. His Neighbors Revolted Meta Says Porn Stash was for ‘Personal Use,’ Not Training AI Models How a rural Michigan healthcare system is using drones to improve care MEDIA CANDY The Diplomat Halloween Baking Championship Holiday Baking Championship Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking S2 Pluribus Knife Edge: Chasing Michelin Stars Black Rabbit Tron: Ares The Witcher S4 The Witcher Season 4 - A Show So Awful, It Broke Me by The Critical Drinker Brendan Fraser, Rachel Weisz Set to Revive The Mummy Franchise with Fourth Film APPS & DOODADS Enjoy CarPlay While You Still Can The Lego ‘Star Trek’ Set Is Here, and It’s Exactly What You Want Automattic Inc. Claims It Owns the Word 'Automatic' THE DARK SIDE WITH DAVE Dave Bittner The CyberWire Hacking Humans Caveat Control Loop Only Malware in the Building Miss Piggy May Bring ‘The Muppets’ Back to the Movies Relive the Commodore 64's glory days with a slimmer, blacked-out remake Show and Tell: Tron Arcade Cabinet Miniature Model Google removes AI model after it allegedly accused a senator of sexual assault Sprouting Jar Lid (32oz Glass Jars) with 4 Pack Stainless Steel Sprouting Stands for Wide and Wide Mouth Mason Jar for Growing Organic Sprouts, Stainless Steel, 4 Pack Organic Radish Sprout Seeds (16 oz) – Non-GMO, Heirloom Seeds for Sprouting and Microgreens Meta is earning a fortune on a deluge of fraudulent ads, documents show ... See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    1h 8m
  2. Sad Max Mode

    31 OCT

    Sad Max Mode

    This week’s episode started with the usual existential sigh before tumbling straight into the corporate bloodbath. Amazon chopped 14,000 jobs under the noble banner of “embracing AI,” which CEO Andy Jassy insists isn’t about money—despite swimming Scrooge McDuck–style in profit. GM’s cutting 1,700 workers, YouTube’s dangling “voluntary” buyouts, and economists can’t decide if AI is killing jobs or if the economy’s just trash. Microsoft’s winning either way, sitting pretty on OpenAI’s planned $1 trillion IPO, while Meta stock cratered because Zuckerberg’s still shoveling billions into the AI bonfire instead of quietly burying the metaverse. Meanwhile, Elon managed to cram a week’s worth of disasters into a single news cycle: Tesla’s being probed for its idiotic “Mad Max” mode, recalling thousands more Cybertrucks because they can’t figure out glue, launching Grokipedia (Wikipedia’s evil twin), and turning Truth Social into a crypto casino. Somewhere between the chaos, more people tuned into a fake NVIDIA livestream than the real one, and the only vaguely uplifting story was a grieving family using an AI chatbot to hack a $195K hospital bill down to $33K. In media misery, we soothed our nuclear anxiety with A House of Dynamite, tolerated Welcome to Derry, rolled our eyes at Stranger Things 5, and confirmed Slow Horses still rules. Music listeners, please stop streaming fascism—cancel Spotify. On the tech toy front, Grammarly’s having an identity crisis as “Superhuman,” Affinity caved to the subscription gods, and Apple’s prepping to inject ads into Maps because the world wasn’t already annoying enough. The chaos didn’t stop there: a rogue Goodreads librarian rewrote Trump’s book listings to protest censorship, Cursor 2.0 actually impressed us with a working currency converter, and Enshittification: Why Everything Suddenly Got Worse and What to Do About It turned out to be the perfect title for the entire digital era. Sponsors: Private Internet Access - Go to GOG.Show/vpn and sign up today. For a limited time only, you can get OUR favorite VPN for as little as $2.03 a month. SetApp - With a single monthly subscription you get 240+ apps for your Mac. Go to SetApp and get started today!!! 1Password - Get a great deal on the only password manager recommended by Grumpy Old Geeks! gog.show/1password MasterClass - Get an additional 15% off any annual membership at MASTERCLASS.com/GRUMPYOLDGEEKS CleanMyMac - clnmy.com/GrumpyOldGeeks - Use code OLDGEEKS for 20% off. Show notes at https://gog.show/720 FOLLOW UP What both sides of America’s polarized divide share: Deep anxieties about the meaning of life and existence itself 720° © 1986 Atari Games. IN THE NEWS Amazon cuts its workforce by 14,000 in further embrace of AI Is AI Leading to Layoffs or Does the Economy Just Suck? Amazon CEO Now Says AI Is Not Responsible for Recent Layoffs Amazon Accused of Trapping Drivers in AI Panopticon GM lays off 1,700 workers making EVs and batteries in Michigan, Tennessee Tesla Recalls Thousands More Cybertrucks, Is Bad at Gluing Things YouTube is offering employees buyouts as part of an AI-focused reorganization Everyone Is Laying People Off This Week. Researchers Say They’re Going to Regret It OpenAI completes restructure, solidifying Microsoft as a major shareholder OpenAI lays groundwork for juggernaut IPO at up to $1 trillion valuation Meta Stock Plummets as Investors Horrified at How Much Zuckerberg Is Spending on Misfired AI Federal investigators are looking into Tesla's Mad Max mode, which reportedly defies speed limits Grokipedia Is the Antithesis of Everything That Makes Wikipedia Good, Useful, and Human More people watched a fake NVIDIA livestream than the real thing Trump’s Media Company Set To Roll Out Polymarket-Like Prediction Market on Truth Social Surprising no one, researchers confirm that AI chatbots are incredibly sycophantic Grieving family uses AI chatbot to cut hospital bill from $195,000 to $33,000 — family says Claude highlighted duplicative charges, improper coding, and other violations MEDIA CANDY A House of Dynamite Welcome to Derry Stranger Things 5 | Official Trailer | Netflix Slow Horses Don’t Stream Fascism: Cancel Spotify APPS & DOODADS Grammarly has rebranded to Superhuman Affinity’s image-editing apps go “freemium” in first major post-Canva update Apple is reportedly getting ready to introduce ads to its Maps app Rogue Goodreads Librarian Edits Site to Expose 'Censorship in Favor of Trump Fascism’ Introducing Cursor 2.0 and Composer Enshittification: Why Everything Suddenly Got Worse and What to Do About It by Cory Doctorow The Disenshittify Project Currency Converter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    1h 8m
  3. Uniquely Devoid of Feeling

    24 OCT

    Uniquely Devoid of Feeling

    We open with a sobering follow-up: the future is less about AI toast (though Red Dwarf predicted it) and more about a soul-stripping "infrastructure of meaningless" after an AWS outage proved how fragile the internet is. Corporate overlords, like Elon Musk, are taking note: he finally addressed Starlink's use by Asian scam syndicates, but his attention is mostly on superintelligence, which Wozniak, Prince Harry, and 800 others want banned. Meanwhile, Meta, despite pouring $27 billion into data centers, suddenly cut 600 AI jobs, and Amazon is preparing to automate a half-million warehouse positions, offering drivers AR spy glasses and suggesting a new "Help Me Decide" AI tool to automate the exhausting micro-decision of which air fryer to buy. This dystopian fever dream peaked when Suzanne Somers' widower revealed he built a full-on robotic AI twin of the late actress. Predictably, Tesla stock tumbled, and the crypto grift continued with the pardoning of Binance founder Zhao, leaving SBF to ponder his failed check-bounce in jail. Speaking of soul-crushing, Disney's latest nostalgia raid, Tron: Ares, tanked harder than anticipated, proving not every Gen-X intellectual property is a worthy cash cow. But fear not, there's still great TV to be had: we recommend the clever dramas Slow Horses and The Diplomat Season 3, the high-stakes culinary nightmare Knives Edge: Chasing Michelin Stars, and the surprisingly excellent Gen V (which you must watch before the next season of The Boys). We also got our fix with the Pluribus trailer, Bullet Train, Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog, and the deliciously low-stakes reality shows Come Dine With Me, Hotel Costiera, and The Celebrity Traitors UK/Canada. Sadly, we must mourn the end of Food Network’s The Kitchen. Yet, no matter how good the show, you still have to deal with Ticketmaster, which is still lying about "fighting bots" while cornering the secondary market. In the world of Apps & Doodads, OpenAI dropped its "Anti-Web" browser, ChatGPT Atlas (a data mule in disguise), and a new app now fakes your vacation photos (perfect for burned-out users). X is poised to sell "rare" usernames for millions (with a terrible subscription catch), while some clever hacker figured out a $60 mod to disable the privacy light on Meta's Ray-Ban spy glasses. Fellow podcast host Dave Bittner joined us to agree that the new Hall of Presidents format is better without the political posturing and confirmed the joy of old-school, purple-ink-smelling Spirit Duplicators (and we checked out a Star Wars fan film trailer for the AT THE LIBRARY section). Don't forget your Tilly Hat! Finally, R.I.P. Soft Cell's musical force Dave Ball, aged 66; the hits still hit. Sponsors: Private Internet Access - Go to GOG.Show/vpn and sign up today. For a limited time only, you can get OUR favorite VPN for as little as $2.03 a month. SetApp - With a single monthly subscription you get 240+ apps for your Mac. Go to SetApp and get started today!!! 1Password - Get a great deal on the only password manager recommended by Grumpy Old Geeks! gog.show/1password MasterClass - Get an additional 15% off any annual membership at MASTERCLASS.com/GRUMPYOLDGEEKS CleanMyMac - clnmy.com/GrumpyOldGeeks - Use code OLDGEEKS for 20% off. Show notes at https://gog.show/719 FOLLOW UP Does Anyone Want Any Toast? | Red Dwarf | BBC A Tool That Crushes Creativity IN THE NEWS Amazon's AWS outage knocked services like Alexa, Snapchat, Fortnite, Venmo and more offline SpaceX disables 2,500 Starlink terminals allegedly used by Asian scam centers Yelp is getting more AI, including an upgraded chatbot Steve Wozniak, Prince Harry and 800 others want a ban on AI ‘superintelligence’ Suzanne Somers’ Widower Built “AI Twin” of Late Actress Meta Cuts 600 AI Roles From Its Superintelligence Labs After $27 Billion Data Center Deal New report leaks Amazon's proposed mass-automation plans Amazon Rolls Out New AI Tool to Help You Decide What to Buy: The Great Mental Outsourcing continues. Amazon unveils AI-powered augmented reality glasses for delivery drivers Tesla reports revenue growth after two down quarters. Why the stock is falling Trump pardons convicted Binance founder Zhao, White House says Crypto billionaire pardon is insane by Coffeezilla MEDIA CANDY ‘Tron: Ares’ Is an Even Bigger Bomb Than We Thought Tron: Legacy Human: Into the Americas Human: Building Empires Come Dine With Me Food Network’s The Kitchen to End After 40 Seasons Knifes Edge: Chasing Michelin Stars Pluribus — Official Trailer | Apple TV Bullet Train Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog Hotel Costiera Slow Horses The Diplomat Season 3 The Celebrity Traitors UK Traitors Canada Season 3 Ticketmaster Is Going to Have to Do Better Than That APPS & DOODADS OpenAI's AI-powered browser, ChatGPT Atlas, launches on macOS today ChatGPT's Atlas: The Browser That's Anti-Web By Anil Dash Too burned out to travel? This new app fakes your summer vacation photos for you X's handle marketplace will sell some 'rare' usernames for millions of dollars A $60 Mod to Meta’s Ray-Bans Disables Its Privacy-Protecting Recording Light THE DARK SIDE WITH DAVE Dave Bittner The CyberWire Hacking Humans Caveat Control Loop Only Malware in the Building Gen V Tilly Hats Firefly | The World's Smallest Pro-Audio Microphone Spirit Duplicators: Copies Never Smelled So Good STAR WARS ENTRENCHED: Fan Film TEASER 2 CLOSING SHOUT-OUTS Soft Cell's musical force Dave Ball dies, aged 66 See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    1h 22m
  4. Net Unhelpful

    18 OCT

    Net Unhelpful

    This week, Guest Host Donovan Adkisson joins Jason DeFilippo to wade through the usual tech chaos; California is attempting to regulate the inevitable AI companion chatbots, which is timely, considering ChatGPT is about to launch erotica (with age verification, natch). Turns out, most of the world is less stoked about our algorithmic future than Silicon Valley is. Speaking of chaos, Elon Musk’s Boring Company racked up nearly 800 environmental violations in Vegas, and his Starlink satellites are burning up the atmosphere, validating the Kessler Syndrome predictions (and ruining backyard astronomy). On the ground, Georgia Tech is deploying drone first responders, ensuring campus security is instantly airborne, while the UK's Online Safety Act slapped 4chan with a hefty fine. We also mourn a Crypto Kingpin who met his end in a Lamborghini following a market crash. Finally, beware that "perfect" house listing, as the owner likely used AI to virtually enhance that curb appeal. It seems even the guy who coined the term "Vibe Coding" admits that relying on AI for complex software is "Net Unhelpful," proving that humans still have to do the heavy lifting—a fact Uber might ignore, as they plan to pay drivers to train AI between rides. Speaking of dumb human stunts, some genius launched the "World's First Waymo DDoS" by summoning 50 robotaxis to a dead end. On the entertainment side, it's time to binge Gen V before Season 5 of The Boys drops; also, why did Apple rename Apple TV+ to Apple TV? The guys also discuss the eternal cultural resonance of Idiocracy and the perfection of Galaxy Quest (and its fantastic documentary, Never Surrender). On the work front, Jason switched back to Things 3 because life is too short for ugly software, even as Windows 10's impending end-of-life threatens to create an e-waste disaster. Also, Wi-Fi 8 is coming soon, because the recently ratified Wi-Fi 7 just wasn't cutting it. Finally, the Grumpy Old Geeks wish a happy birthday to friends of the show and offer remembrance for the recently deceased, including screen icon Diane Keaton and KISS founding member Ace Frehley (though, honestly, no one here watched KISS Meets the Phantom of the Park). Tune in next time, and always remember to check out Anonymous: Real Stories of Alcoholism, Addiction, and Recovery; and go get some of that GOG Merch... when it becomes available. Sponsors: MasterClass - Get an additional 15% off any annual membership at MASTERCLASS.com/GRUMPYOLDGEEKS Private Internet Access - Go to GOG.Show/vpn and sign up today. For a limited time only, you can get OUR favorite VPN for as little as $2.03 a month. SetApp - With a single monthly subscription you get 240+ apps for your Mac. Go to SetApp and get started today!!! 1Password - Get a great deal on the only password manager recommended by Grumpy Old Geeks! gog.show/1password Show notes at https://gog.show/718 FOLLOW UP Guest Host: Donovan Adkisson California becomes first state to regulate AI companion chatbots ChatGPT erotica coming soon with age verification, CEO says International Polling Shows Fear of AI Across the World IN THE NEWS Georgia Tech’s drone first responder program cuts emergency response time to 90 seconds or less Crypto Kingpin Turns Up Dead in Lamborghini After Market Crash Concerns grow after spate of social media posts showing SpaceX Starlink satellites burning in the sky — we are currently seeing a ‘couple of satellite re-entries a day,’ says respected astrophysicist 4chan fined $26K for refusing to assess risks under UK Online Safety Act Elon Musk’s Boring Company Accused of Nearly 800 Environmental Violations on Las Vegas Project That perfect-looking house for sale may have an owner using AI to virtually enhance the listing Even the Inventor of 'Vibe Coding' Says Vibe Coding Can't Cut It Man Launches “World’s First Waymo DDoS” by Ordering 50 Robotaxis to Dead End Street MEDIA CANDY GEN V Apple’s streaming service gets harder to tell apart from its streaming app, box The Celebrity Traitors The Fortune Hotel Idiocracy Never Surrender: A Galaxy Quest Documentary The Missi & Brooke Show Anonymous - Real Stories of Alcoholism, Addiction, and Recovery Minecraft Movie 2 Release APPS & DOODADS Things 3 TP-Link confirms successful Wi-Fi 8 trials — next-gen wireless standard to usher in advances in reliability and latency The End of Windows 10 Support Is an E-Waste Disaster in the Making CLOSING SHOUT-OUTS Diane Keaton dead at age 79 Kiss Meets the Phantom of the Park See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    1h 16m
  5. Quantum of Nope

    10 OCT

    Quantum of Nope

    The Dutch courts finally did something useful: they told Meta to quit force-feeding algorithmic slop to everyone, so Facebook and Instagram users might actually see posts from friends again—if they can remember who those are. Meanwhile, OpenAI’s Sora 2 rollout is the kind of chaos that makes you wonder if the company replaced QA with a TikTok filter, as outrage videos flood the internet faster than you can say “deepfake meltdown.” Apple banned ICEBlock for being too effective while ICE now wants its own social media surveillance tool—one that OpenAI shut down when Chinese accounts tried to build it. California’s hammering Tesla for its abysmal insurance claims handling, OpenAI is gobbling up chunks of AMD, and consultants got caught using ChatGPT to fake reports before proudly partnering with Anthropic, who just landed Deloitte as its latest “enterprise AI” victim. Elsewhere in this circus: a Florida teen asked ChatGPT how to kill his friend, Taylor Swift fans are furious her new promo video used AI slop (“too rich to be this cheap”), and Apple’s “Find My” led cops to a mountain of smuggled iPhones. In Media Candy, Brian’s stunned The Diplomat scored a third season, The Long Walk is being pitched as Stand By Me meets Squid Game, California finally bans loud streaming commercials, and Amazon censored Bond posters to remove guns because apparently irony is dead. AI “musicians” are signing record deals while Zelda Williams begs people to stop resurrecting her dad with deepfake garbage. In Apps & Doodads, Jony Ive’s OpenAI gadget is delayed (good), Rivian insists we’ll “appreciate” not having CarPlay (we won’t), Spotify and ChatGPT are teaming up to read your soul through playlists, and Jason warns everyone that the Echo Show is basically an ad-spewing parasite. Apple’s now facing a cybercrime probe in France for Siri’s wiretapping habits, and if you’re nostalgic for simpler times, ioquake3 will let you relive Quake III Arena glory on a modern rig. At the Library, Peter Cawdron’s Dark Beauty: First Contact belly-flops as a Slaughterhouse-Five tribute, while Cory Doctorow’s Enshittification nails exactly why everything sucks—even if his fixes are pure science fiction. Sponsors: CleanMyMac - clnmy.com/GrumpyOldGeeks - Use code OLDGEEKS for 20% off. Private Internet Access - Go to GOG.Show/vpn and sign up today. For a limited time only, you can get OUR favorite VPN for as little as $2.03 a month. SetApp - With a single monthly subscription you get 240+ apps for your Mac. Go to SetApp and get started today!!! 1Password - Get a great deal on the only password manager recommended by Grumpy Old Geeks! gog.show/1password Show notes at https://gog.show/717 FOLLOW UP Dutch court orders Meta to change its Facebook and Instagram timelines OpenAI's Sora 2 Already Melting Down Into Outrageous Drama IN THE NEWS Apple removes ICEBlock from the App Store after Trump administration's demand ICE is planning to create a surveillance team that hunts for leads on social media OpenAI has disrupted (more) Chinese accounts using ChatGPT to create social media surveillance tools California regulators threaten to revoke Tesla's insurance license for mishandling claims OpenAI Gobbles Up a Stake in AMD as Its Spending Spree Shows No Sign of Stopping Consultants Forced to Pay Money Back After Getting Caught Using AI for Expensive “Report” Anthropic lands its biggest enterprise deployment ever with Deloitte deal Teen Arrested After Asking ChatGPT How to Kill His Friend, Police Say Taylor Swift Fans Furious as She’s Caught Using Sloppy AI in Video for New Album Apple’s ‘Find My’ Leads Cops to Cache of Thousands of Smuggled iPhones MEDIA CANDY The Diplomat The Long Walk California bans loud commercials on streaming platforms Amazon Pulls Censored Bond Posters After Pulling the Guns From Them More AI artists are starting to get record deals Robin Williams' daughter pleads for people to stop sending AI videos of her dad APPS & DOODADS OpenAI's first device with Jony Ive could be delayed due to 'technical issues' Rivian says ‘customers will appreciate’ lack of CarPlay eventually Spotify and ChatGPT Team Up for Personalized Music and Podcast Recommendations Don’t buy an Echo Show (you can have mine) Apple faces cybercrime investigation in France after Siri complaint ioquake3 AT THE LIBRARY Dark Beauty: First Contact by Peter Cawdron Enshittification: Why Everything Suddenly Got Worse and What to Do About It by Cory Doctorow See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    57 min
  6. Release the CrackerBot!

    3 OCT

    Release the CrackerBot!

    The world is a dumpster fire, confirmed. Following California's landmark AI safety bill SB 53, the head of Nvidia is allegedly "quaking in his boots"—which is a good sign, unlike the news that the "Nirvana Baby" Spencer Elden's lawsuit was finally dismissed. Meanwhile, corporate America continues its pivot to chaos: Spotify shuffled its execs, Meta is charging UK users for ad-free Facebook and Instagram, and the UK is introducing digital ID cards (Hello, Mark of the Beast). The entire internet is now dominated by bots, proving the Cracker Barrel logo outrage was manufactured, a fact that's somehow less depressing than the FCC accidentally leaking iPhone schematics. Naturally, Alphabet just paid $22 million to settle President Trump’s YouTube lawsuit, confirming that legal threats are the new VC funding. Disney is panicking over an "AI Actress," sending cease and desist letters to Character.AI, while OpenAI rolls out its new Sora app and ChatGPT's ability to buy things for you, proving it's determined to turn the internet into one seamless, copyright-infringing shopping mall, and it's now worth more than Elon Musk's SpaceX. The ensuing boredom demands new media, though the pacing is terrible in everything: Slow Horses Season 5 and Human: Neanderthal Encounters are great, but even the original Matrix and Frankenstein trailer (by Guillermo del Toro) feel slow, confirming the Princess Bride litmus test. MXV’s Riot Fest photos were rad, and Disney lost 1.7M subs after suspending Kimmel, which is why YouTube Music is testing AI hosts (who will only be wrong), and the Pivot Tour is happening. Our Apps & Doohickeys department confirms security is an afterthought: macOS 26 unlocked the Journal app, but the smart glasses race is fully on, and Logitech’s new keyboard can be recharged by any light (finally, tech that works!). Amazon Fire TV is expected to ditch Android for Linux, Meta introduced the AI-filled Vibes feed, and Tile trackers were found to have a stalking flaw—a fact only slightly more depressing than the swift failure of the Neon call-recording app and the continued existence of the Comet browser. Finally, The Dark Side with Dave celebrated the low-budget charm of Blue Thunder and the necessity of Disney Park Ride Overlays, while Dave embarked on his quest to unbox the Home Depot R2D2. We thank our patrons for keeping this beautiful noise alive and pay tribute to the amazing Jane Goodall. Sponsors: Private Internet Access - Go to GOG.Show/vpn and sign up today. For a limited time only, you can get OUR favorite VPN for as little as $2.03 a month. SetApp - With a single monthly subscription you get 240+ apps for your Mac. Go to SetApp and get started today!!! 1Password - Get a great deal on the only password manager recommended by Grumpy Old Geeks! gog.show/1password Show notes at https://gog.show/716 FOLLOW UP California Governor Newsom signs landmark AI safety bill SB 53 Nvidia Is Quaking in Its Boots ‘Nirvana Baby’ Spencer Elden’s ‘Nevermind’ Suit Dismissed Again IN THE NEWS Spotify Appoints New CEOs as Daniel Ek Becomes Executive Chair Meta announces paid subscriptions for both Instagram and Facebook in the UK UK announces plans for digital ID cards OpenAI’s New Sora App Lets You Deepfake Yourself for Entertainment The First 24 Hours of Sora 2 Chaos: Copyright Violations, Sam Altman Shoplifting, and More OpenAI Rolls Out ChatGPT’s Ability to Buy Stuff for You OpenAI Is Now Worth More on Paper Than SpaceX, Catches Up to Elon Musk Himself Disney sends cease and desist letter to Character.AI Creator of “AI Actress” Responds to Near-Universal Backlash FCC accidentally leaked iPhone schematics, potentially giving rivals a peek at company secrets Alphabet will pay $22 million to settle President Trump’s YouTube lawsuit Cracker Barrel Outrage Was Almost Certainly Driven by Bots, Researchers Say MEDIA CANDY MXV’s Riot Fest Photos Slow Horses Season 5 Frankenstein | Guillermo del Toro | Official Trailer | Netflix Human: Neanderthal Encounters Pivot Tour YouTube Music is testing AI hosts that present relevant stories, trivia and commentary How Many Streaming Subscribers Did Disney Lose After Suspending Kimmel? APPS & DOODADS macOS 26 unlocks the real potential of Apple’s Journal app The smart glasses race is really on now Logitech's new keyboard can be recharged by any kind of light Amazon Fire TV devices expected to ditch Android for Linux in 2025 Meta introduces Vibes feed for AI generated content Neon, an App That Pays to Record Your Phone Calls Hit #2 on the App Store, Taken Down Over Security Flaw Tile trackers reportedly have a security flaw that can let stalkers track your location Comet - The browser that works for you THE DARK SIDE WITH DAVE Dave Bittner The CyberWire Hacking Humans Caveat Control Loop Only Malware in the Building The Princess Bride Blue Thunder The Best Disney Park Ride Overlays, and Where to Find Them Home Depot R2D2 Unboxing and Assembly! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    1h 13m
  7. Our Wizard Lies

    26 SEPT

    Our Wizard Lies

    Grumpy Old Geeks is back with another round of righteous griping and eyebrow-raising headlines in Episode 715: Our Wizard Lies. We kick things off in FOLLOW UP, where TikTok is still the geopolitical hot potato that both the U.S. and China promise to sort out “someday, maybe,” while Wired’s global editorial director explains how tech’s growing political clout is playing out under Trump. From there, it’s a cavalcade of absurdities: DOGE as federal workforce demolition derby, and crypto bros trying to turn Charlie Kirk’s death into meme-stock retirement plans. Late-stage capitalism is nothing if not creative. Then in IN THE NEWS, Amazon gets spanked with a $2.5 billion fine for Prime trickery, Microsoft yanks cloud services from an Israeli military unit, and Palantir goes full lifestyle brand—yes, you too can cosplay as a drone strike enthusiast with a $99 pair of gym shorts. Silicon Valley philosophers warn AI regulation would literally summon the Antichrist, while banks whisper the bubble might pop before the devil even arrives. Meanwhile, YouTube toys with letting COVID and election denialists back into the algorithm, “SIM farms” threaten New York’s cell networks, and unlucky tourists are finding themselves trafficked into cyber-scam slavery across Southeast Asia. Progress! MEDIA CANDY tries to lighten the mood—sort of—serving up everything from Elio, Tron: Ares, and Disney price hikes to AI musicians cashing million-dollar checks. Lionsgate, on the other hand, learns you can’t feed four John Wicks into an algorithm and get an anime out the other side. Over in THE DARK SIDE WITH DAVE, we get furries on the DC Metro, Disney plotting your every park step via Ray-Ban spy glasses, a Ponzi scheme in RadioShack cosplay, and even a Jim Henson Company anniversary auction. We close out with shout-outs and sighs, because sometimes the world doesn’t deserve a mic drop—just a slow shake of the head. Sponsors: Private Internet Access - Go to GOG.Show/vpn and sign up today. For a limited time only, you can get OUR favorite VPN for as little as $2.03 a month. SetApp - With a single monthly subscription you get 240+ apps for your Mac. Go to SetApp and get started today!!! 1Password - Get a great deal on the only password manager recommended by Grumpy Old Geeks! gog.show/1password Show notes at https://gog.show/715 FOLLOW UP US and China agree to agree on a TikTok deal WIRED global editorial director on tech's growing political power under Trump The Story of DOGE, as Told by Federal Workers Crypto Bros Are Trying to Monetize Charlie Kirk’s Death IN THE NEWS Amazon to pay $2.5 billion for allegedly duping millions to sign up for Prime Microsoft cuts off cloud services to Israeli military unit after report of storing Palestinians’ phone calls Palantir Wants to Be a Lifestyle Brand Silicon Valley’s latest argument against regulating AI: that would literally be the Antichrist AI Experts Urgently Call on Governments to Think About Maybe Doing Something ‘Workslop’: AI-Generated Work Content Is Slowing Everything Down Deutsche Bank Issues Grim Warning for AI Industry YouTube may reinstate channels banned for spreading covid and election misinformation ‘SIM Farms’ Are a Spam Plague. A Giant One in New York Threatened US Infrastructure, Feds Say They traveled to Thailand. They wound up cyber scam slaves in Myanmar. MEDIA CANDY Elio Superman Human: Origins Human: Journeys Alien: Earth The Traitors Ireland Disney is raising the price of Disney+, Hulu subscriptions next month Wicked: For Good | Final Trailer Lilith Faire: Building a Mystery Tron: Ares AI Artist Signs Million-Dollar Record Deal Lionsgate Is Finding Out It’s Really Hard to Make Movies With AI Jimmy Kimmel May Be Back. Trump’s Attacks on the First Amendment Aren’t Over By Merrill Markoe Jimmy Kimmel is Back! THE DARK SIDE WITH DAVE Dave Bittner The CyberWire Hacking Humans Caveat Control Loop Only Malware in the Building Disney Explores Using Ray-Ban Meta Glasses To Guide Guests Around Its Parks The Happiest Story on Earth: 70 Years of Disneyland The Mandalorian and Grogu | Official Trailer | In Theaters May 22, 2026 The Jim Henson Company 70th Anniversary Auction Feds Say Company That Bought RadioShack Was Running $112 Million Ponzi Scheme Furries ride the DC Metro See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    1h 8m
  8. Crossfade This

    19 SEPT

    Crossfade This

    The internet continues its chaotic march, with a TikTok deal potentially happening (for real this time, maybe), while LimeWire bought the Fyre Fest brand, because more viruses are always a great idea. Corporate America is going full AI-bro with massive layoffs at Fiverr, xAI, and Google, while OpenAI reveals people are using ChatGPT for pretty much everything but coding. Age verification is coming to apps and online services in California and New York, because apparently, teenagers need protection (after the fact). Elsewhere, nudists have declared war on SpaceX over rocket launches, and fans are ditching Elon since he started being so insufferable; even a Tesla engineer quit and roasted him spectacularly, all while NHTSA investigates Tesla's fire-prone door handles. In the world of entertainment, we're catching up on Wednesday and Foundation S3 (just pretend the books never existed, your brain will be rewired!), and Upload wrapped up its truncated season nicely. The 2003 Freaky Friday was a fun, nostalgic trip through early 2000s L.A., reminding us of all the cool places that are now just... gone. Alien: Earth and Gen V S2 are on our watchlist, and we'll see if Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 4 lives up to its promise. The Witcher S4, featuring Liam Hemsworth as Geralt (aka the Dick Switch), drops in October, with Laurence Fishburne making it somewhat palatable. The Lilith Fair documentary is peak 90s, and Meta's latest dystopian product was so bad it made the Cybertruck demo look good. Apple's new AI features are cool, but the iOS 26 "liquid glass" update and its awful crossfade feature are less so; also, meditation apparently has a dark side, but binaural beats might just make you rave. Publishers Clearing House's bankruptcy means "forever" winners won't get paid (always take the lump sum!); international sellers are charging absurd shipping to avoid American buyers; and the deepfake Star Wars: Obi-Wan Kills Darth Maul (Live Action) is surprisingly good. Steve Martin's Born Standing Up is still great life advice, and the Carrot App the Musical is, against all odds, amazing. Robert Redford has sadly passed, a legend who gave us Sneakers, and L.A.'s own Clayton Kershaw is retiring at the end of the season, a true one-team legend who deserves all the accolades. Sponsors: MasterClass - Right now, our listeners get an additional 15% off any annual membership at MASTERCLASS.com/GRUMPYOLDGEEKS. No-risk 30-day money-back guarantee! Private Internet Access - Go to GOG.Show/vpn and sign up today. For a limited time only, you can get OUR favorite VPN for as little as $2.03 a month. SetApp - With a single monthly subscription you get 240+ apps for your Mac. Go to SetApp and get started today!!! 1Password - Get a great deal on the only password manager recommended by Grumpy Old Geeks! gog.show/1password Show notes at https://gog.show/714 FOLLOW UP A TikTok deal may finally be happening LimeWire Revealed as Mystery Buyer of Fyre Fest Brand IN THE NEWS Fiverr is laying off 250 employees to become an 'AI-first company' xAI reportedly laid off at least 500 AI tutors working on Grok Hundreds of Google AI Workers Were Fired Amid Fight Over Working Conditions OpenAI Reveals How (and Which) People Are Using ChatGPT ChatGPT may soon require ID verification from adults, CEO says California's age verification bill for app stores and operating systems takes another step forward New York details its plans for online age verification rules Nudists Declare War on SpaceX People Who Loved Watching SpaceX Launches Can’t Stomach Them Anymore Since Elon Musk Started Being So Horrible Tesla Engineer Quits, Roasts Elon Musk in Spectacular Fashion NHTSA is investigating Tesla over its electronic door handles MEDIA CANDY Wednesday Foundation (S3) Upload Devs Freaky Friday (2003) Alien: Earth Gen V Season 2 ‘Star Trek: Strange New Worlds’ Producers Promise Season 4 Will Be Better Slow Horses Season 5 Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011) The Witcher Season 4 will hit Netflix in October with its new Geralt Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery APPS & DOODADS New Apple Intelligence features are available today iOS 26 lets you reduce Liquid Glass to be more like iOS 18, here’s how Meta's most dystopian product yet... Meditation And Mindfulness Have a Dark Side We Don't Often Talk About BrainWave: 37 Binaural Series™ The Rise of the Indie Web Movement Links - Marighoul Stendig Calendars AT THE LIBRARY Flybot by Dennis E. Taylor Proof of Heaven: A Neurosurgeon's Journey into the Afterlife by Eben Alexander Cleave the Sparrow by Jonathan Katz The Case Against Reality: Why Evolution Hid the Truth from Our Eyes by Donald D. Hoffman The Code. the Evaluation. the Protocols: Striving to Become an Eminently Qualified Human by Jocko Willink, Dave Berke, Sarah Armstrong I Don't Answer Questions: Pleading the Fifth! by David Ridings Finding Your Comic Genius: An in-depth guide to the art of stand-up comedy by Adam Bloom Disney and Webtoon’s Partnership Is Leading to a Massive New Comics App THE DARK SIDE WITH DAVE Dave Bittner The CyberWire Hacking Humans Caveat Control Loop Only Malware in the Building Hanker for a Hunk of Cheese ‘The Muppet Show’ Is Getting a 50th Anniversary Disney+ Special Carrot App the Musical... Carrot The Musical on IG Netatmo Home Weather Stations Ambient Weather WS-2902 WiFi Smart Weather Station with AWN+ Included Publishers Clearing House’s bankruptcy means ‘forever’ winners will no longer get paid $2,000 Shipping: International Sellers Charge Absurd Prices to Avoid Dealing With American Tariffs Star Wars: Obi-Wan Kills Darth Maul (Live Action) Born Standing Up by Steve Martin CLOSING SHOUT-OUTS Robert Redford dead at 89 Sneakers All-time Los Angeles Dodgers great Clayton Kershaw to retire at end of season See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    1h 23m
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Hosts & Guests

About

We dissect the tech news train wrecks of the week, calling out what went wrong and who’s to blame. Think of this podcast as if Kurt Cobain threw down with Tom from MySpace, Elon Musk, and Mark Zuckerberg in a back alley brawl. No mercy, no filter—if tech had a walk of shame, this would be it.

Information

  • Creator
    Jason DeFillippo & Brian Schulmeister with Dave Bittner
  • Years Active
    2013 - 2025
  • Episodes
    725
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Grumpy Old Geeks LLC. All Rights Reserved.
  • Show Website
    Grumpy Old Geeks

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