MacVoices #26115: Manus AI, DuckDuckGo AI, WordPress AI, Predictive Markets Under Fire

The MacVoices Live! panel looks at a wave of new AI tools, from Meta's Manus agent and DuckDuckGo's reasoning models to WordPress features that can generate and publish content. The conversation weighs practical uses against privacy, quality, and abuse risks, especially with AI-generated web content. It also examines legal pressure on predictive markets, where regulation, insider knowledge, and manipulation remain major concerns. Chuck Joiner, Guy Serle, David Ginsburg, Jim Rea, Brian Flanigan-Arthurs, Jeff Gamet, Eric Bolden, Web Bixby weigh in.

This edition of MacVoices is brought to you by our Patreon supporters. Get access to the MacVoices Slack and MacVoices After Dark by joining in at Patreon.com/macvoices.

Show Notes:

Chapters:

[0:00] Manus AI, DuckDuckGo AI, WordPress AI, and predictive markets overview
[0:13] Meta's Manus AI agent and trust concerns
[1:07] Llama experiences and choosing the right AI model
[3:48] WordPress AI tools for writing and publishing posts
[5:51] The problem of AI-generated content and "AI slop"
[7:00] Practical publishing workflows versus likely misuse
[8:43] DuckDuckGo adds reasoning models to DuckAI
[9:48] Real-world experiences using DuckDuckGo search
[11:35] Predictive markets face lawsuits and gambling questions
[12:47] Guardrails, sports betting, and potential abuse
[16:20] Regulation challenges and insider influence in predictive markets

Links:

DuckDuckGo adds reasoning models to Duck AI

https://9to5mac.com/2026/03/17/duckduckgo-adds-reasoning-models-to-its-privacy-focused-chatbot-hub/

WordPress.com now lets AI agents write and publish posts, and more
https://techcrunch.com/2026/03/20/wordpress-com-now-lets-ai-agents-write-and-publish-posts-and-more/

Meta's Manus launches 'My Computer' to turn your Mac into an AI agent

https://9to5mac.com/2026/03/17/metas-manus-launches-my-computer-to-turn-your-mac-into-an-ai-agent/

Arizona attorney general sues Kalshi on illegal gambling charges

https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/arizona-attorney-general-sues-kalshi-on-illegal-gambling-charges-172006290.html

Guests:

Web Bixby has been in the insurance business for 40 years and has been an Apple user for longer than that.You can catch up with him on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, but prefers Bluesky.

Eric Bolden is into macOS, plants, sci-fi, food, and is a rural internet supporter. You can connect with him on Twitter, by email at embolden@mac.com, on Mastodon at @eabolden@techhub.social, on his blog, Trending At Work, and as co-host on The Vision ProFiles podcast.

Brian Flanigan-Arthurs is an educator with a passion for providing results-driven, innovative learning strategies for all students, but particularly those who are at-risk. He is also a tech enthusiast who has a particular affinity for Apple since he first used the Apple IIGS as a student. You can contact Brian on twitter as @brian8944. He also recently opened a Mastodon account at @brian8944@mastodon.cloud.

Jeff Gamet is a technology blogger, podcaster, author, and public speaker. Previously, he was The Mac Observer's Managing Editor, and the TextExpander Evangelist for Smile. He has presented at Macworld Expo, RSA Conference, several WordCamp events, along with many other conferences. You can find him on several podcasts such as The Mac Show, The Big Show, MacVoices, Mac OS Ken, This Week in iOS, and more. Jeff is easy to find on social media as @jgamet on Twitter and Instagram, jeffgamet on LinkedIn., @jgamet@mastodon.social on Mastodon, and on his YouTube Channel at YouTube.com/jgamet.

David Ginsburg is the host of the weekly podcast In Touch With iOS where he discusses all things iOS, iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Apple Watch, and related technologies. He is an IT professional supporting Mac, iOS and Windows users. Visit his YouTube channel at https://youtube.com/daveg65 and find and follow him on Twitter @daveg65 and on Mastodon at @daveg65@mastodon.cloud.

Marty Jencius, Ph.D.,is a counselor educator and technology pioneer who has spent 30 years bringing emerging tech into his field — from founding one of the first professional listservs (CESNET-L) to podcasting, virtual reality, and now AI and AR. He is the founder of ThePodTalk.net, where he produces Vision ProFiles, The Old Mac Gang, A.I. Productivity Workflow, The Tech Savvy Professor, 15 Minute Bytes, The Neo Notebook, and Fade to Chat: Golden Age Cinema. He is also a regular panelist on MacVoices Live!, In Touch with iOS, and The Mac Show. Find him on Bluesky and Mastodon.

Jim Rea built his own computer from scratch in 1975, started programming in 1977, and has been an independent Mac developer continuously since 1984. He is the founder of ProVUE Development, and the author of Panorama X, ProVUE's ultra fast RAM based database software for the macOS platform. He's been a speaker at MacTech, MacWorld Expo and other industry conferences. Follow Jim at provue.com and via @provuejim@techhub.social on Mastodon.

Guy Serle, best known for being one of the co-hosts of the MyMac Podcast, sincerely apologizes for anything he has done or caused to have happened while in possession of dangerous podcasting equipment. He should know better but being a blonde from Florida means he's probably incapable of understanding the damage he has wrought. Guy is also the author of the novel, The Maltese Cube. You can follow his exploits on Twitter, catch him on Mac to the Future on Facebook, at @Macparrot@mastodon.social, and find everything at VertShark.com.

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