MacVoices #25190: Live! - Gemini, Pluribus, and Meta's Fraud Profits

The reports that Apple may pay nearly $1 billion to license Google's Gemini AI for Siri are examined, debating privacy, accuracy, and long-term AI strategy. Chuck Joiner, Brian Flanigan-Arthurs, Marty Jencius, David Ginsburg, Eric Bolden, Jeff Gamet, and Mark Fuccio then rave about the new Apple TV sci-fi series Pluribus and other standout shows, before turning to disturbing revelations that a significant share of Meta's ad revenue appears tied to scam advertising and questionable enforcement practices.

http://traffic.libsyn.com/maclevelten/MV25190.mp3

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Show Notes:

[0:28] Reported $1B Apple–Google Gemini deal for Siri
[0:53] Why Apple might license AI instead of building everything in-house
[2:10] Comparing Gemini, Claude, and ChatGPT performance
[2:46] Longstanding Apple–Google relationship and spreading AI bets
[4:09] Privacy questions and limits of deep integration on iPhone
[5:36] Multiple-model future and Apple running Gemini on its own servers
[6:22] Accuracy concerns and Gemini's track record
[7:42] Privacy as a differentiator and stopgap strategy analogy to Maps
[8:10] Using Gemini to learn while Apple builds its own model
[10:36] Energy efficiency, Apple silicon, and AI infrastructure
[11:59] Training vs. inference costs and NVIDIA dependence
[14:12] Viewing AI models as commodities and Apple's end-to-end experience
[16:09] Could "to Gemini" become the next "to Google"?
[18:06] Shifting to Pluribus on Apple TV and its 100% rating
[19:39] First reactions to Pluribus and spoiler-free praise
[21:17] Binge-watching, the official companion podcast, and water-cooler TV
[22:25] Broader strength of Apple TV's original series
[23:35] Comparing Apple TV's consistency to HBO's classic era
[25:17] More standout titles: documentaries and prestige series
[28:15] Coverage of shows vs. recognition of Apple TV as a network
[29:08] Turning to Meta and revelations about scam-driven ad revenue
[30:12] Meta's incentives to keep "borderline" scam ads running
[31:35] Ethical outrage, user harm, and lack of protection
[32:05] Meta's history of questionable experiments and weak moral compass
[33:22] Legal angles, potential class actions, and enforcement gaps
[37:17] "Violating the spirit, not the letter" of policy at scale
[38:04] Higher ad rates for scammers and disturbing normalization
[38:55] Closing remarks and wrap-up

Chapters:

Links:

Apple will pay almost $1 billion a year for a custom Gemini model to power Siri
https://appleworld.today/2025/11/apple-will-pay-almost-1-billion-for-a-custom-gemini-model-to-power-siri/

Why 'Pluribus' Has a Perfect Score on Rotten Tomatoes
https://www.today.com/popculture/tv/pluribus-rotten-tomatoes-perfect-score-100-apple-tv-critics-watch-rcna243055

Bombshell report exposes how Meta relied on scam ad profits to fund AI
https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2025/11/bombshell-report-exposes-how-meta-relied-on-scam-ad-profits-to-fund-ai/

Guests:

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.

Mark Fuccio is actively involved in high tech startup companies, both as a principle at piqsure.com, or as a marketing advisor through his consulting practice Tactics Sells High Tech, Inc. Mark was a proud investor in Microsoft from the mid-1990's selling in mid 2000, and hopes one day that MSFT will be again an attractive investment. You can contact Mark through Twitter, LinkedIn, or on Mastodon.

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.

Dr. Marty Jencius has been an Associate Professor of Counseling at Kent State University since 2000. He has over 120 publications in books, chapters, journal articles, and others, along with 200 podcasts related to counseling, counselor education, and faculty life. His technology interest led him to develop the counseling profession 'firsts,' including listservs, a web-based peer-reviewed journal, The Journal of Technology in Counseling, teaching and conferencing in virtual worlds as the founder of Counselor Education in Second Life, and podcast founder/producer of CounselorAudioSource.net and ThePodTalk.net. Currently, he produces a podcast about counseling and life questions, the Circular Firing Squad, and digital video interviews with legacies capturing the history of the counseling field. This is also co-host of The Vision ProFiles podcast. Generally, Marty is chasing the newest tech trends, which explains his interest in A.I. for teaching, research, and productivity. Marty is an active presenter and past president of the NorthEast Ohio Apple Corp (NEOAC).

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