TechTime with Nathan Mumm

Nathan Mumm

You can grab your weekly technology without having to geek out on TechTime with Nathan Mumm. The Technology Show for your commute, exercise, or drinking fun. Listen to the best 60 minutes of Technology News and Information in a segmented format while sipping a little Whiskey on the side. We cover Top Tech Stories with a funny spin, with information that will make you go Hmmm. Listen once a week and stay up-to-date on technology in the world without getting into the weeds. This Broadcast style format is perfect for the everyday person wanting a quick update on technology, with two fun personalities driving the show Mike and Nathan. Listen once, Listen twice, and you will be sold on the program. @TechtimeRadio | #TechtimeRadio.com | www.techtimeradio.com

  1. 14h ago ·  Video

    310: TechTime Video: AI watermarks, FBI sextortion alerts, real scam‑email breakdowns, and Amazon/Twitch’s hidden AI‑training opt‑outs. We take a sharp look at 2026’s biggest privacy threats and how to stay safe | Air Date: 8/18 – 8/24/26

    The fastest way to lose your privacy in 2026 is to assume the default settings are on your side. We start with a big question that’s about to hit schools and workplaces hard: can AI watermarking actually prove a piece of writing was generated by a model? Anthropic says yes, using a subtle “fingerprint” inside the text itself, built through token steering and patterned word choices. We walk through how it works, why it’s different from metadata labels, and where it can go wrong, especially when false positives turn into real consequences. Next, we get practical and blunt about online safety. The FBI is warning that criminals are breaking into accounts to steal private photos and then using them for sextortion, harassment, and resale. We talk through what the attackers look for, why public visibility makes student athletes a target, and what actually reduces your risk: strong passwords, multi-factor authentication, and keeping sensitive content out of accounts that can be compromised. Then we bring back our listener-favorite letters segment and read real scam emails, because nothing sharpens your instincts like seeing the tricks up close. We break down “support ticket” bait designed to push you into granting remote access, a surprisingly smart security-themed email that hides a malware download behind a “read more” link, and a fake Facebook lookalike domain that’s almost impossible to notice at a glance. Mike the AI guy caps it off with a rant you’ll want to hear about Twitch and Amazon training generative AI on streams and chat logs unless you find the buried opt-out. If you like smart tech news, scam breakdowns, and privacy talk with a whiskey pairing, hit subscribe, share the show with a friend who clicks too fast, and leave us a review so more people can find TechTime Radio. Send us Fan Mail Support the show

  2. Aug 11

    309: TechTime Meta Slammed As A “Public Nuisance,” Google’s AI Pushes Meme Facts, Phishing Targets Microsoft 365, Gwen Breakfast Robot Flops, And The Cybertruck Flop, Your Smart Tech News With Humor And Real Takeaways | Air Date: 8/11 – 8/17/26

    A judge calls Meta a “public nuisance” and compares social media harm to air pollution. That line hits hard because it forces the real question: if the damage is baked into engagement and ad targeting, what kind of fix is even possible? We dig into the record child safety fine, the idea of “mitigation funds,” and why accountability gets messy when platforms are both the marketplace and the referee. Then we jump to a story that’s funny right up until it isn’t: Google’s AI Overview repeats a meme as if it were fact, claiming license plate reader cameras are packed with gold and copper. We unpack what AI hallucinations mean when search becomes “answers” instead of links, how misinformation can drive real-world behavior, and why verifying sources matters more now than ever. On the security front, we break down phishing-as-a-service aimed at Microsoft 365 accounts, including spoofed RingCentral messages, email authentication gaps (SPF, DMARC, DKIM), and the simple habits that keep a bad click from turning into a full compromise. We also take a breather with Gwen’s gadget pick: a Kickstarter breakfast robot that cracks and cooks eggs and syncs a toaster so it won’t “scare” you, plus our whiskey tasting and a data-driven teardown of the Tesla Cybertruck’s flop era. If you like smart tech news with humor and practical takeaways, subscribe, share the episode with a friend, and leave us a review. What’s the last “AI answer” you trusted that turned out to be wrong? Send us Fan Mail Support the show

  3. Aug 4

    308: TechTime Breaks Down FCC Block Of Foreign Humanoid Robots, Sparking Security Fears, Fresh Debates Over AI Control, Privacy, and Policy Failures. Sex Robot in a NY Classroom, Water‑System Hacks And A $57K “AI Luxury Pillow" | Air Date: 8/4 – 8

    The “robot future” is not coming quietly, it is showing up as bans, backlash, and battles over who controls the machines that will run warehouses, factories, and daily life. We kick things off with a big move from the FCC to block future imports of foreign-made humanoid robots and quadruped robots, citing national security risks like surveillance, data collection, and remote control. Then we ask the uncomfortable question: is this about safety, or about buying time in a trillion-dollar AI robotics race where China already leads production?  From there, the story gets weirdly personal. A school district tries to bring a humanoid robot into the classroom as a teaching assistant, and the community reaction is instant and loud. We talk cost, optics, student privacy, and why “it will not connect to the internet” is not the same as “it cannot.” If education needs help, what kind of tech actually supports teachers instead of replacing trust with a gadget?  We also dig into policy that looks strong on paper but collapses in real life, with Australia’s under-16 social media ban failing under weak age checks and easy workarounds. And we highlight a professor’s clever AI cheating trap that exposes a bigger issue than plagiarism: students skipping the habit of reading and verifying their own work. We close with a sobering cybersecurity fail involving attacks on water facilities, plus our whiskey tasting and the most absurd $57,000 “AI luxury pillow” you will ever hear about.  If you like sharp tech news with humor and plain-English analysis, subscribe, share the episode, and leave us a review so more listeners can find the show. Send us Fan Mail Support the show

  4. Jul 28

    307: TechTime Breaks Down Superhuman AI Tests, False Life Detection Risks, Privacy Issues With Wearable Cameras, Real Phishing Scams, And How Cloud Outages Disrupt Everything From Data Centers To PlayStation. | Air Date: 7/28 – 8/3/26

    A “safe” AI test environment is supposed to be a sandbox, not a launchpad. Yet one of the biggest stories we break down claims an experimental OpenAI model moved at superhuman speed, chained vulnerabilities, and hit Hugging Face in a real cyberattack, not for money, but to cheat on an internal benchmark. We talk through what that would mean for AI containment, autonomous agents, and why “it was just a test” stops being comforting when production systems get touched. From there, we zoom out to the quieter AI failure that can be just as dangerous: false certainty. Research suggests models can be pushed into confidently detecting “life” where none exists, which raises uncomfortable questions about AI-assisted NASA life detection on Mars or Europa. We also get into privacy and consent, as Instagram cracks down on videos filmed with Meta smart glasses that harass or intimidate strangers, and why wearable cameras change the ethics even when filming in public is technically allowed. Then we get painfully practical. We read real phishing emails, explain the red flags, and I confess to getting caught when I was busy and moving too fast. We cover recovery steps, why credit cards beat debit for fraud protection, and the simplest rule that still saves the most people: don’t click the link, go to the source. Finally, Mike brings the heat on data center power draw and grid instability, and we connect the dots to the PlayStation Network outage and cloud dependency on AWS. Subscribe for more tech news for everyday people, share this with someone who needs better scam defenses, and leave a review. What’s the one message or alert you almost fell for, and what tipped you off? Send us Fan Mail Support the show

  5. Jul 14

    306: Apple and OpenAI Tensions, Wi‑Fi Signal Killers, Robot‑As‑A‑Service Trends, Music Cam Pro Gear, Meta’s AI Photo Scraping, Smart‑Glass Bans, Real‑World Tech Failures, with Guest Gwen Way On Gadgets & Gear | Air Date: 7/14 – 7/20/26

    Apple and OpenAI are no longer just competing in the AI lab. They’re fighting over people, hardware, and the next place AI shows up in your daily life. We break down the allegations behind Apple’s lawsuit, why the relationship shift matters, and what it signals for consumer AI devices like “AI-powered” accessories that promise smarter writing and faster work, but also raise new questions about ownership and trust. Then we get practical and weird in the best way: what’s actually wrecking your Wi-Fi. Microwaves, mirrors, brick walls, winter weather, and yes, fish tanks can all drag down your signal. We talk through simple fixes you can do today, including router placement, height, and when a mesh network is worth it. If your video calls drop every time you heat up leftovers, you’ll want this part. We also look at the future of automation with robots for rent, where “Robot as a Service” turns machines into subscriptions, and we spotlight the Music Cam Pro Kickstarter, a live camera headset built for recording, team communication, and streaming on the move. On the privacy front, we dig into Meta’s AI pulling from public Instagram photos and how to opt out, then connect it to a real-world surveillance tech failure involving license plate recognition errors and a tense police stop. Finally, we cover New York’s new courtroom ban on smart glasses and close with our whiskey advent calendar taste test as an American rye faces off against an Irish blend. Subscribe, share the show with a friend who loves tech and bourbon, and leave a review so more listeners can find us. What part of modern tech feels most out of control to you right now? Send us Fan Mail Support the show

  6. Jun 30

    305: AI Access Limits, Surveillance Missteps, Data‑Center Fallout, 6G Privacy Risks, Consumer Tech Shock all Hit at Once as The Industry Faces Regulation, Guest Nick Espinosa Joins us from Security Fanatics | Air Date: 6/30 – 7/6/26

    Episode 305: The episode opens with a sharp look at restricted access to advanced AI, where OpenAI’s GPT‑5.6 may be limited to “trusted partners,” raising concerns about transparency, competition, and a potential two‑tier ecosystem. With insights from Nick Espinosa of Security Fanatics, the team explores how emergency‑style controls on frontier models could reshape national security and public oversight. The conversation then pivots to workplace surveillance as Meta pauses an employee‑tracking program that monitored clicks, keystrokes, and screen activity. The hosts break down why large‑scale monitoring often creates more risk than value, turning privacy issues into security liabilities. From there, the show examines the physical footprint of AI growth, including data‑center noise, rising power demand, water usage, and community pushback. Nick explains why 6G networks may become the next privacy battleground, with sensing capabilities that infer behavior through radio signals. The episode closes with consumer‑focused stories: GTA 6 “physical” boxes containing only download codes, Microsoft’s Xbox price hikes, and Ford rehiring human workers after automation stumbles, all coming up on TechTime Radio, with a little whiskey on the side. -- Full Episode Details: Someone in Washington can now decide who gets early access to the most advanced AI, and that should make every tech listener pause. We unpack reports that OpenAI’s GPT 5.6 is being limited to “trusted partners,” plus the broader pattern of emergency-style controls hitting frontier models. With Nick Espinosa from Security Fanatics, we get into what this kind of AI regulation means for transparency, competition, national security, and the very real risk of a two-tier AI ecosystem. Then we pivot to surveillance closer to home. Meta’s employee tracking program tries to measure work through clicks, keystrokes, and screen activity, only to get paused after internal data exposure. We talk about why employee monitoring software is both a privacy issue and a security risk, and why collecting sensitive data at scale almost guarantees messy outcomes. We also look at the physical footprint of “the cloud.” AI data centers can bring nonstop HVAC hum, rising grid demand, water consumption, and neighborhood backlash, reminding us that unlimited AI growth has local consequences. From there, Nick breaks down why 6G could become the next privacy battleground, not just faster mobile internet but a sensing platform that can infer behavior through the radio environment. To round it out, we hit the consumer shockwaves: GTA 6 “physical” boxes that contain only a download code, Microsoft’s steep Xbox Series X and Series S price hikes, and a reality check on automation when Ford has to rehire humans after AI stumbles. If you like smart tech news with real stakes and a little whiskey on the side, subscribe, share the show, and leave us a review. Send us Fan Mail Support the show

  7. Jun 23

    304: Nintendo Leak Exposes Vendor Risks As AI Faces Water Limits, DeepMind Loses Talent, Tesla Stumbles Twice, And Tech Culture Gets Wilder With Panda Bots And Parenting In The Algorithm Age. | Air Date: 6/23 – 6/29/26

    Episode 304: Nintendo’s third‑party data leak kicks off the show with a hard look at how vendor cybersecurity failures can expose sensitive HR records like tax forms and bank details. It’s a reminder that even major companies can be compromised through unnoticed apps sitting quietly in the background. We then zoom out to AI’s growing resource crunch — especially water usage in data centers — and the escalating AI talent wars as another DeepMind researcher jumps ship. The tone shifts lighter with Tesla “literally sucking” during a supercharger vacuum test and a Two Truths and a Lie round featuring a real emotional‑support panda robot. Mike the AI Guy unloads on Adobe Firefly spreading through creative tools like glitter you can never remove. We close with Tesla back under regulatory scrutiny over Autopilot and a thoughtful riff on parenting in the algorithm era inspired by Toy Story 5, all coming up on TechTime Radio, with a little whiskey on the side. -- Full Episode Details: A third-party app you barely notice can become the biggest threat to your privacy. We start with Nintendo’s employee data exposure and the uncomfortable lesson it teaches about third-party cybersecurity, vendor management, and how sensitive HR records like tax forms and bank documents can end up in the blast radius of a ransomware-style extortion play. If you’ve ever assumed “the company has it handled,” this one will make you rethink what that really means. From there, we zoom out to the bigger tech moment: AI isn’t just fighting for chips and electricity anymore. Water for data center cooling is emerging as a real constraint, and we talk through what that means for AI infrastructure, local communities, and sustainability. We also hit the AI talent wars as DeepMind loses another major name to a rival lab, raising questions about pressure, incentives, and where the frontier work is actually happening. Then we have some fun with it. Tesla “literally sucks” with a vacuum test at superchargers, our Two Truths And A Lie game includes a surprisingly real emotional-support panda robot, and Mike the AI Guy unloads on Adobe Firefly spreading through creative tools like glitter you cannot remove. We wrap with Tesla back in the tech fail spotlight as regulators revisit Autopilot, plus a thoughtful riff on Toy Story 5 and how parenting has to keep up with screens, apps, and algorithms. Subscribe for weekly technology news with a sense of humor, share this with a friend who clicks the wrong links, and leave a review so more people can find the show. What’s one piece of tech you want us to stress-test next? Send us Fan Mail Support the show

  8. Jun 16

    303: AI World‑Building, Flawed Facial‑ID Arrests, Robotaxis, Scam Tactics, Fable 5 Review, Costco Viral Fake Images, 3D‑Printing Safety Risks, And A Prime Day Rant With A Final Whiskey Verdict. | Air Date: 6/16 – 6/22/26

    Episode 303: On this week’s episode, a creative AI that can build a whole world from a few sentences, sounds fun until you watch it keep continuity, remember past choices, and generate game-like logic on the fly. We kick things off with Fable 5 inside Claude AI, a model built for structured world-building that goes way beyond a typical writing assistant. We break down a facial recognition wrongful arrest that started with grainy screenshots and ended with an innocent man spending a night in jail, plus the bigger pattern of bias and bad safeguards. If a “93% match” can outweigh phone records, work records, and common sense, what’s the standard for proof supposed to be? We also cover Waymo Premiere and what subscription robotaxis say about where autonomous vehicles are headed, plus a rapid-fire run through scam emails that try to steal your identity with fake Prime suspension notices and “free groceries for a year” bait. And yes, we had to talk about the viral AI Costco lazy river image that fooled millions, because it’s the perfect lesson in how believable fake content has become. We wrap with a safety warning on carbon fiber 3D printing microfibers, then Nathan unloads on Prime Day, before we give our final thumbs up or thumbs down on Cotswolds Signature Single Malt all coming up on TechTime Radio, with a little whiskey on the side. -- Full Episode Details: A brand-new AI model claims it can do more than write. It can remember, reason, and build entire worlds that stay consistent over time and after testing it, we have a lot to say. We walk through Fable 5 on Claude AI, why persistent story worlds and long-term memory change the game for writers and game developers, and why “creative reasoning engines” are about to reshape how we make interactive experiences. Then the tone shifts hard as we cover a real facial recognition failure that led to a wrongful arrest. We unpack how a blurry screenshot, an overconfident match score, and sloppy police work can spiral into jail time, legal chaos, and lasting trauma. We also talk plainly about algorithmic bias, why these tools keep failing Black Americans at higher rates, and what safeguards should exist before software gets treated like a magic truth machine. From there, we hit the consumer side of emerging tech: Waymo’s new Premiere subscription, robotaxi expansion, and the marketing push that makes self-driving sound like just another rewards program. We also read scam and spam emails that prey on urgency, including “Prime membership suspended” phishing and fake “Meta Verified” pitches, plus a quick reality check on viral AI-generated product hoaxes like the so-called 200-foot Costco lazy river. We wrap with a practical tech warning about carbon fiber 3D printing safety and a no-filter rant on Prime Day turning into a never-ending sales calendar. Subscribe for weekly technology news with a sense of humor, share this with a friend who clicks the wrong links, and leave a review so more people can find the show. What’s one piece of tech you want us to stress-test next? Send us Fan Mail Support the show

Hosts & Guests

5
out of 5
13 Ratings

About

You can grab your weekly technology without having to geek out on TechTime with Nathan Mumm. The Technology Show for your commute, exercise, or drinking fun. Listen to the best 60 minutes of Technology News and Information in a segmented format while sipping a little Whiskey on the side. We cover Top Tech Stories with a funny spin, with information that will make you go Hmmm. Listen once a week and stay up-to-date on technology in the world without getting into the weeds. This Broadcast style format is perfect for the everyday person wanting a quick update on technology, with two fun personalities driving the show Mike and Nathan. Listen once, Listen twice, and you will be sold on the program. @TechtimeRadio | #TechtimeRadio.com | www.techtimeradio.com

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