693: Let Them Eat Space

This week on Grumpy Old Geeks, Fyre Festival rises from the ashes yet again—but not as a festival, because even Billy McFarland finally figured out he’s better at selling pipe dreams than tents. Meanwhile, Amazon and Microsoft are tapping the brakes on their AI data center dreams, Google’s AI keeps confidently explaining made-up nonsense like it’s gospel, and Kevin Roose once again tries to convince us to have empathy for the glorified autocomplete machines. (Spoiler: We won’t.) Also, OpenAI wants to buy Chrome even though they can barely afford their own lunch tabs, Perplexity says the quiet part loud about stalking your browser habits, and Meta lays off more VR developers while pretending they care about human rights.In the “it’s all stupid, but at least it’s entertaining” department: Uber gets sued for making it harder to cancel than joining Scientology, Adam Neumann dupes investors again, sperm racing is now a real thing (and yes, there’s crypto involved), and Bluesky caves to the almighty blue checkmark. Plus, Affinity Suite reminds us you don’t have to sell a kidney to escape Adobe, The Wheel of Time gets an open-world game that’ll probably drop after the heat death of the universe, and Wednesday Season 2 is on the way, because Netflix refuses to let its only hits rest.Stick around for The Dark Side with Dave where we grumble about Andor Season 2, lament bad writing decisions, geek out over old-school arcade games, and learn that memory colors are apparently a thing. Oh, and if you’re feeling fancy, go ahead and thank ChatGPT for wasting millions in server bills—because if Sam Altman’s crying about manners costing money, we’re grabbing the popcorn.Sponsors:Insta360 - The first 30 people who use code “gog” at store.insta360.com get a free 45” invisible selfie stick worth $25!DeleteMe - Head over to JoinDeleteMe.com/GOG and use the code "GOG" 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/1passwordShow notes at https://gog.show/694FOLLOW UPFyre Festival is becoming a music streaming service that might not be a scam this timeBilly McFarland Is Selling Fyre FestIN THE NEWSAmazon Follows Microsoft in Retreat From Ambitious AI Data Center PlansYou can trick Google's AI Overviews into explaining made-up idiomsDan Rather’s Metaphors Anchored in Folksy TruismsIf A.I. Systems Become Conscious, Should They Have Rights?A Strange Phrase Keeps Turning Up in Scientific Papers, But Why?Google will keep third-party tracking cookies on Chrome as they areOpenAI wants to buy Chrome and make it an “AI-first” experiencePerplexity CEO says its browser will track everything users do online to sell 'hyper personalized' adsChatGPT’s responses will now include Washington Post articlesSam Altman Admits That Saying "Please" and "Thank You" to ChatGPT Is Wasting Millions of Dollars in Computing PowerFTC sues Uber over claims the company makes subscriptions hard to cancelMeta conducts layoffs in Oculus Studios, impacting VR exercise app SupernaturalMeta’s Oversight Board Is Worried Meta’s New Policies Will Harm Human RightsAdam Neumann’s Flow raises $100M+, more than doubles valuation to $2.5BChinese AI startup Manus reportedly gets funding from Benchmark at $500M valuationTwo Guys, One Track: Sperm Racing Is Now a Thing—Yes, It Involves CryptoRAMMS+EIN - 14.12.1997 – Palladium, Los Angeles, CA, United StatesMEDIA CANDYThe PittThe Last of UsCompanionThe OrderWednesday: Season 2 | Official Teaser Trailer | NetflixApple TV+ has its own spin on Indiana Jones, and it looks epicRiot Fest 2025APPS & DOODADSBluesky is getting blue checkmarks and an official verification systemAffinity Suite 2.6The Wheel of Time Is Getting Its Own Open-World RPG Video GameTHE DARK SIDE WITH DAVEDave BittnerThe CyberWireHacking HumansCaveatControl LoopOnly Malware in the BuildingAndor Season 2The Glorious, Terrible Delirium of Mon Mothma’s Liberating Andor MomentLight & Magic Season 2Strong Songs - The Music of the MuppetsArcade Game: Lunar Lander (1979 Atari)When arcade games were boring.Hard Drivin' - ArcadeTempestMemory ColorsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

25 Apr 1h 23min

This week, the boys kick things off with some serious déjà vu as Fyre Fest’s favorite grifter promises he’s totally throwing another festival — because nothing says “I’ve changed” like doubling down on the same scam. Meanwhile, the IRS decided to become ICE’s BFF by casually sharing migrant tax data, and their commissioner moonwalks out right after. Also: Microsoft’s long game of “let OpenAI set the money on fire while we build empires” is going exactly as planned.In the news, it’s Elon all day: Starlink might be doing the same government freebie hustle Microsoft perfected, DOGE is monitoring your comms for anti-Musk snark, and apparently has enough data on your family to build Black Mirror Season 8. Tesla’s financials are circling the drain so hard they won’t even take their own Cybertrucks back as trade-ins, but don’t worry — Elon’s ready to bail out Twitter/xAI with monopoly money. Over in the UK, the cops are one coffee away from full Minority Report, and MIT confirms what we already knew: AI doesn’t have morals, just vibes. Speaking of AI, someone sent an avatar to court. Yes, really.In Media Candy, it’s a smorgasbord: The White Lotus is back, Murderbot looks like a win, and the Tron: Ares trailer wants you to care again. There’s also a full Ask A Ninja drop for your 2006 nostalgia, and “Donald Trump Rides a Cock Horse” makes us long for the innocent absurdity of Morrissey Rides a Cockhorse. Over in Apps & Doodads, we’ve got AI dumbbells (because of course), Instagram still pretending the iPad doesn’t exist, and the Scotty Peeler — the tool you didn’t know you needed. Finally, Dave’s back in The Darkside, riffing on malware, The Owl House, and how ChatGPT sometimes gives your image prompts a side of Lovecraftian horror. RIP to some true legends: Dave Allen, Al Barile, and Clem Burke — your music lives louder than ever.Sponsors:DeleteMe - Head over to JoinDeleteMe.com/GOG and use the code "GOG" 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/1passwordShow notes at https://gog.show/692FOLLOW UPFyre Fest Founder Insists Another Festival Is ComingI.R.S. Agrees to Share Migrants’ Tax Information With ICEIRS agrees to share tax data with immigration authoritiesActing IRS commissioner resigning after agency reaches data-sharing deal with immigration authoritiesMicrosoft’s AI masterplan: Let OpenAI burn cash, then build on their successesIN THE NEWSMicrosoft Hooked the Government on Its Products With Freebies. Could Elon Musk’s Starlink Be Doing the Same?Social Security Website Crashes Blamed on DOGE Software UpdateDOGE is reportedly using AI to monitor government comms for anti-Musk and anti-Trump chatterHere's All of the Data That Elon Musk's DOGE May Have on You and Your FamilyDOGE Is About to Get DOGE’dUK is going full Minority Report with ‘murder prediction’ researchMIT study finds that AI doesn't, in fact, have valuesElon Musk sets the stage for Tesla to bail out Twitter/xAI at an insane valuationTesla Is So Cooked That It's Now Refusing to Accept Cybertrucks as Trade-InsJustice Department Says It Will Pull Back on Prosecuting Crypto FraudCitation Needed - Issue 81 – Crypto crime is legal by Molly WhiteReflexive AI use isn’t optional anymoreTech founder charged with fraud for 'AI' that was secretly overseas contract workersPro Tip: Don’t Send Your AI Avatar to Testify for You in CourtTrump’s TikTok Plan Upended by Chinese Objections Over TariffsFrance to ban students from keeping smartphones in schoolsA Tiny Piece of Mouse Brain Has Finally Been Mapped in Mindblowing DetailMEDIA CANDYThe White LotusThe StudioDevil May CryBlack Mirror Season 7Ask A Ninja Omnibus What Year Is This?The PittTron: Ares‘ First Trailer Brings Us to a Whole New GridTron: Ares | Official TrailerThe Murderbot TV show trailer is hereMurderbot — Official Trailer | Apple TV+Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning | Official Trailer (2025 Movie) - Tom CruiseBrian Eno’s Windows Reboot Chime Inducted Into National Recording RegistryThere’s No Future in OptimismTriplaPearliesLonely TownDonald Trump Rides a Cock HorseDecades After "Morrissey Rides a Cockhorse," Moz Is "Way Worse"Morrissey Rides A Cockhorse - Warlock PinchersAPPS & DOODADSMacbook Air 15“Scotty Peeler - Label and Sticker RemoverSlipdrive - Portable Hard Drive Sleeve for LaptopThe year is 2025, and Instagram is reportedly 'working on' an iPad appNova by PanicDerek Sivers - Tech IndependenceKabata - The world’s first AI powered dumbbellsNintendo delays Switch 2 US pre-orders following Trump tariffsBUSY BarAmazon HaulMob ControlUnited States Disappeared TrackerTHE DARKSIDE WITH DAVEDave BittnerThe CyberWireHacking HumansCaveatControl LoopOnly Malware in the BuildingThe Owl HouseEerie, IndianaCLOSING SHOUT-OUTSDave Allen, Gang of Four Bassist, Dead at 69Al Barile, Guitarist for Hardcore Pioneers SSD, Dead at 63Blondie Drummer Clem Burke Dead at 70See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

11 Apr 1h 26min

This week, the Geeks wade into a swamp of tech meltdowns, governmental facepalms, and the usual Elon-flavored absurdity. Kicking things off, protesters take their beef with Tesla to the streets while Proud Boys decide this is the hill to vroom and die on. Meanwhile, Elon’s privacy prayers have finally been answered—thanks to new FAA rules, he and Tay-Tay can jet around untracked like it’s 1999. Oh, and while Earth dodges a killer asteroid, the Moon might be signing up for an unplanned smackdown. Sorry, Luna.In the news, Signal’s reputation as the go-to encrypted app takes a nosedive thanks to Republican Senate drama and an Inspector General with receipts. The NSA warned us. Nobody listened. Now it’s “SignalGate” season. Elon continues his narcissist Voltron strategy by having xAI buy X (from Elon). Trump, meanwhile, is moonwalking into a $2.3B Truth Social payday, while his meme coin tanks post-tariff tantrum. OpenAI flexes with new AGI funding and 700M AI-generated images (probably 699M of them cursed), while the first therapy chatbot actually helps someone and a brain-voice interface starts sounding a lot like Skynet: The Prequel. Oh, and in shocking news: Trump’s war on “information silos” is code for “your personal data is about to be someone else’s business.”Media Candy serves up a grab bag from punk docs (Turn It Around) to jungle pulp throwbacks (Tales of the Gold Monkey), and yes—Stephen Collins is still problematic. Apple’s prepping new AI-powered health apps, emoji drops, and a food tab for News+, because why not. WhatsApp now wants to be your phone, Alexa+ disappoints, and Zuckerberg tries to make Facebook usable again with a “Friends-only” feed. Meanwhile, Bill Gates pulls a nostalgia flex by dropping OG Microsoft source code like it’s a rare vinyl. In other dark corners: Kermit the Frog is now giving commencement speeches, Val Kilmer sadly exits stage left, and Elon fails in his bid to buy a state supreme court. Hands off, Elon. Just… hands off.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/1passwordDeleteMe - Head over to JoinDeleteMe.com/GOG and use the code "GOG" for 20% off.Show notes at https://gog.show/691FOLLOW UPCrowds Turn Out Across the U.S. for ‘Tesla Takedown’ ProtestsThe Proud Boys and Militias Come to Tesla’s DefenseTaylor Swift and Elon Can Finally Fly Private Without Being Tracked Thanks to New FAA RuleEarth Is Safe From Menacing Asteroid—but Our Moon Might Take the HitIN THE NEWSRepublican chair of Senate Armed Services Committee calls for investigation into Signal chatDoD Inspector General Says He’s Looking Into SignalGateWaltz’s team set up at least 20 Signal group chats for crises across the worldNSA warned of vulnerabilities in Signal app a month before Houthi strike chatTrump administration fires director of National Security AgencyxAI, Elon Musk's AI company, just purchased X, Elon Musk's social media companyTrump kicks off sale of $2.3bn Truth Social stakeYou’ll Never Guess What Happened to Trump’s Meme Coin After He Announced His TariffsOpenAI: New funding to build towards AGIOxygen Levels in Earth's Lakes Are Plummeting, Study RevealsChatGPT users have generated over 700M images since last week, OpenAI saysFirst Therapy Chatbot Trial Yields Mental Health BenefitsUS Senate committee opens review into Meta’s efforts to gain access to ChinaBrain-to-voice neuroprosthesis restores naturalistic speechGenerative AI Leadership & Strategy SpecializationPresident Trump’s War on ‘Information Silos’ Is Bad News for Your Personal DataMEDIA CANDYThe White LotusThe StudioOrphan Black: EchoesOrphan BlackShe-Hulk: Attorney at LawTales of the Gold MonkeyStephen CollinsTurn It Around: The Story of East Bay PunkGenres are bustin’ out all over in Strange New Worlds S3 teaserFerris Bueller's teacher schools Trump on tariffsAPPS & DOODADSProject 2025 TrackerApple is reportedly on track to launch the M5 iPad Pro and MacBook Pro later this yearApple is said to be developing a revamped Health app with a built-in AI doctoriOS 18.4 is available now with new emoji, Apple News+ Food and priority notificationsChange the default apps on iPhoneWhatsApp can be your default calling and texting app on iPhoneAlexa+ is out, but missing a lot of features Amazon demoed last monthFacebook’s new Friends-only feed ditches all the algorithmic junkBill Gates Publishes Original Microsoft Source Code in a Blog PostRed SalsaTHE DARK SIDE WITH DAVEDave BittnerThe CyberWireHacking HumansCaveatControl LoopOnly Malware in the BuildingKermit the Frog named University of Maryland commencement speakerCLOSING SHOUT-OUTSBletchley code breaker Betty Webb dies aged 101Val Kilmer, Top Gun Actor and One-Time Batman, Dead at 65Elon Musk tried to buy Wisconsin's Supreme Court. He lost.Hands Off!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

4 Apr 1h 19min

The Dunning-Kruger Effect is alive, well, and running the show. Elon’s approval rating is cratering while experts warn he could blow a hole in federal spending; war plans are accidentally texted, and top U.S. officials’ passwords are found online; 23andMe files for bankruptcy; TikTok attempts a patriotic glow-up to stay alive in the U.S.; OpenAI admits trying to make chatbots honest, while research shows lonely users are emotionally clinging to ChatGPT; Amazon wants the Consumer Product Safety Commission erased; SEVERANCE, and more!Sponsors:DeleteMe - Head over to JoinDeleteMe.com/GOG and use the code "GOG" 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/1passwordShow notes at https://gog.show/690FOLLOW UPDunning-Kruger EffectDOGE’s Supposed Savings Are About to Cost the U.S. a Lot of MoneyElon Musk's Approval Rating Is 'Falling Through the Floor,' Polls ShowThe Guy Who Predicted the 2008 Crash Issues Warning About Elon Musk Torpedoing Federal SpendingIN THE NEWSThe Trump Administration Accidentally Texted Me Its War PlansPrivate Data and Passwords of Senior U.S. Security Officials Found OnlineDNA testing firm 23andMe files for bankruptcy as demand dries upHow to delete your 23andMe dataRebuilding TikTok in AmericaOpenAI Says Disciplining Chatbots for Lying Just Makes Them WorseOpenAI CEO Responds to ChatGPT Users Creating Studio Ghibli-Style AI ImagesDavid Findlay on BlueskyEarly methods for studying affective use and emotional well-being in ChatGPTJoint studies from OpenAI and MIT found links between loneliness and ChatGPT useAmazon wants the Consumer Product Safety Commission deemed 'unconstitutional'US lifts sanctions on Tornado CashTrump-backed crypto bank joins stablecoin wars with new dollar-pegged tokenThe 560-pound Twitter logo has sold for $34,000Tesla halts driving-assistance software trial in China, pending approvalMEDIA CANDYYou Gotta Eat Here Restaurants In Toronto, ONCommon Sense - What’s Good for the GooseAMC Theatres will screen a Swedish movie 'visually dubbed' with the help of AIDaredevilFor the WinDodgers confirm they will visit President Trump at White House next monthAdolescenceThe ResidenceDirector Uses Takedowns to Remove Pirate Bay Docu "TPB-AFK" from YouTubeSeveranceSEVERANCE - PILOT EPISODE - "MISTER"Severance: The Lexington LetterLumon Terminal ProSeason 2 writing on RedditAPPS & DOODADSThe AirFly Pro 2Napster just sold for $207 millionConsent-O-MaticAT THE LIBRARYThe President's Brain Is Missing - A Tor.Com Original By John ScalziWhen the Moon Hits Your Eye by John ScalziPicks and Shovels by Cory DoctorowBlueprint for RevolutionCLOSING SHOUT-OUTSKISS Officially Confirm First Performance Since Retiring from TouringSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

28 Mar 1h 8min

AI influencers with Down syndrome are selling nudes; Tesla’s Autopilot crashes into a cartoon wall while 46,000 Cybertrucks get recalled; ICE ramps up creepy surveillance; OpenAI’s copyright grab faces pushback; California might hand AI to Big Tech on a silver platter; BYD dunks on Tesla with lightning-fast EV charging; White Trash Wins Lotto returns; Max kills the Looney Tunes; Apple gets sued, Amazon spies harder, and Roku pushes autoplay ads; Dave geeks out on keyboards like it’s 1994.Sponsors:DeleteMe - Head over to JoinDeleteMe.com/GOG and use the code "GOG" 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/1passwordShow notes at https://gog.show/689FOLLOW UPPeople Are Using AI to Create Influencers With Down Syndrome Who Sell NudesHuman Intelligence Sharply DecliningCan You Fool A Self Driving Car?Tesla Autopilot drives into Wile E Coyote fake road wall in camera vs lidar testTesla recalls more than 46,000 Cybertrucks over a faulty exterior panelIN THE NEWSThe 200+ Sites an ICE Surveillance Contractor is MonitoringCISA scrambles to contact fired employees after court rules layoffs ‘unlawful’Director of rural broadband program exits with a warning about shift to ‘worse’ satellite internetThe court rejects Elon’s latest attempt to slow OpenAI downThe Unbelievable Scale of AI’s Pirated-Books ProblemCalifornia’s A.B. 412: A Bill That Could Crush Startups and Cement A Big Tech AI MonopolyOpenAI declares AI race “over” if training on copyrighted works isn’t fair useChina's EV champ BYD reveals super-fast charging that leaves Tesla eating dustMEDIA CANDYWHITE TRASH WINS LOTTOAndy Prieboy talks 'White Trash Wins Lotto'Spotify's latest custom playlist highlights artists with upcoming shows in your areaOddly catchy remix of Hootie & the Blowfish singing to The Smiths' music (video)From the World of John Wick: Ballerina (2025) New TrailerBallerina‘s New Trailer Teases a John Wick Showdown for the AgesMoana 2Mythic QuestThe White LotusDaredevilThe Wheel of Time Season 3Max Removes the Rest of the Original Looney Tunes CartoonsSpectrum is finally offering a streaming-only subscription for DodgersNew ‘Starship Troopers’ Movie in the Works from ‘District 9’ Filmmaker Neill Blomkamp (Exclusive)Mark Cuban Shares the Dumbest Video Ever Uploaded to BlueskySeveranceSeverance: The Lexington LetterAPPS & DOODADSApple hit with lawsuit over 'false advertising' of Apple Intelligence featuresMacWhisper ProAmazon’s Echo will send all voice recordings to the cloud, starting March 28Roku testing auto-play video ads before loading the home screenSetApp THE DARK SIDE WITH DAVEDave BittnerThe CyberWireHacking HumansCaveatControl LoopOnly Malware in the Buildingthe SenecaApple Extended Keyboard IISee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

21 Mar 1h 17min

Pi Day gets its due; Y Combinator marks 20 years of “disruption”; Americans lose $12.5B to scams thanks to AI and social media; Deliveroo posts a profit but still tanks on Wall Street; Twitter’s security remains a joke; Pinterest steals user content for AI; and a rogue developer gets busted for a kill switch scheme. Severance Season 2 costs $20M per episode; Ted Lasso returns despite ending; Waymo’s driverless taxis rack up parking tickets; and Apple plans to turn AirPods into live translators. Meanwhile, the FCC launches a National Security Council, the U.S. housing agency flirts with crypto, and hermit crabs show better teamwork than Big Tech.Sponsors:DeleteMe - Head over to JoinDeleteMe.com/GOG and use the code "GOG" 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/1passwordShow notes at https://gog.show/688FOLLOW UPIt's Pi Day.The Man Behind The American OligarchyIN THE NEWSDeliveroo turns first annual profitFTC says Americans lost $12.5B to scams last yearConsumer Reports finds popular voice cloning tools lack safeguardsThe FCC is creating a new Council for National Security within the agencyDOGE axes CISA ‘red team’ staffers amid ongoing federal cutsJudge Calls DOGE Firings a ‘Sham,20 Plagues Y Combinator Unleashed on the World Over the Last 20 Years‘We Are Witnessing a New Brain Drain’ as Scientists Flee America for FranceElon Musk claims bad actors in Ukraine are behind “massive“ X cyberattackThe Real Reason Twitter Went DownDeveloper convicted for “kill switch” codePinterest to Train AI Models on User ContentU.S. Housing Agency Considers Launching Crypto ExperimentWaymo was slapped with nearly 600 parking ticketsAre We Inside a Black Hole?MEDIA CANDYSeverance is laughing at youSomehow, Severance season 2 cost an enormous $20 million per episodeEddy Cue and Ben Stiller interview each other about SeveranceParadiseThe White LotusBlack Mirror: Season 7 | Official TrailerTed Lasso Returning for Season 4Apple Music Classical expands to the webAphex Twin Curates a Massive 191-Song PlaylistPlaylist - Music selected by Aphex Twin for Supreme.Matt Pinfield Comes Out of a Coma After Suffering Massive StrokeAPPS & DOODADSAudioShake Launches Breakthrough AI Model to Separate Overlapping VoicesZoom PodTrak P2Apple reportedly plans to add a live-translation feature to AirPods'Don't let your kids be on Roblox', Roblox CEO tells parentsAT THE LIBRARYCareless People: A Cautionary Tale of Power, Greed, and Lost Idealism by Sarah Wynn-WilliamsMeta is trying to silence a former executiveTHE DARK SIDE WITH DAVEDave BittnerThe CyberWireOnly Malware in the BuildingGravity FallsBaiting A Romance FraudsterHermit Crabs: Conga Line CooperationSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

14 Mar 1h 23min

Techdirt has finally accepted the inevitable and gone full democracy blog—because let’s face it, politics and tech are now the same dumpster fire. Google rolled out AI Mode for Search, proving once again that the internet is just Clippy with better branding. Meanwhile, Billy McFarland insists Fyre Festival 2 is totally happening, despite Mexican officials pointing out that his coordinates literally lead to the ocean. Speaking of fraud, Tesla sales are in freefall thanks to Elon’s alt-right cosplay, and people are setting Teslas on fire in protest. And in rich-guy disconnect news, Google’s Sergey Brin thinks engineers should work 60-hour weeks to build the AI that will replace them. That’s some late-stage capitalism poetry right there.Elsewhere, Trump Media paid Don Jr. nearly a quarter of its revenue to show up twice, while indie musicians can’t afford to tour, proving once again that grifting is more profitable than making art. Technicolor shut down overnight, stranding 10,000 workers because Hollywood’s financial planning is apparently as stable as a Starship rocket launch. Oh yeah, SpaceX exploded another one.Meanwhile, Netflix’s attempt to upscale A Different World turned it into a Lovecraftian horror show. A quarter of Y Combinator startups now run on “vibe coding,” meaning their software is basically a Ouija board with extra steps. The AI takeover continues as OpenAI plans to charge $20,000 monthly for specialized AI "agents," proving once again that the revolution will be monetized. Meanwhile, Moscow's Pravda network has been poisoning Western AI chatbots with Russian propaganda, because if you can't convince humans, just brainwash the robots that humans increasingly trust.On the bright side, hackers brought the Humane AI Pin back to life after it was bricked, transforming an overpriced paperweight into... a slightly less useless overpriced paperweight. ChatGPT can now directly edit code in macOS development tools, making it easier for AI to introduce bugs you never would have thought of yourself. Over At the Library, check out "The Tempest" by Peter Cawdron for your first contact fix, and if you're worried about where society is heading (and who isn't?), Timothy Snyder's "On Tyranny" offers a survival guide for our slow-motion constitutional collapse. Finally, in "everything is fine" news, 82% of indie artists can't afford to tour anymore.Enjoy the dystopia, kids – at least we still have our sense of humor.Sponsors:DeleteMe - Head over to JoinDeleteMe.com/GOG and use the code "GOG" 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/1passwordShow notes at https://gog.show/687FOLLOW UPWhy Techdirt Is Now A Democracy Blog (Whether We Like It Or Not)Google announces ‘AI Mode’ as a new way to use Search, testing starts todayGovernment Officials for Announced Fyre Festival 2 Location Say Event “Does Not Exist”‘I’m selling the Nazi mobile’: Tesla owners offload cars after Musk’s fascist-style salutesTesla Just Got Even More Bad NewsTesla Just Got News About Its Sales in Germany, and It Shows That Elon Musk Has Seriously Messed UpArsonists Set Fire to a Dozen Teslas, Charging Stations Amid "Anti-Capitalist Coordination to Target Tesla"Google’s Sergey Brin Says Engineers Should Work 60-Hour Weeks in Office to Build AI That Could Replace ThemEx-Amazon VP explains why rich a-holes with helicopters and personal assistants don't get why you hate your commuteTrump Media Paid Donald Trump Jr. Nearly A Quarter Of Its Annual Revenue. He Attended Just Two Board MeetingsIN THE NEWSCinema Giant Technicolor's Abrupt Shutdown Affects 10,000 Workers WorldwideUS employers cut more jobs last month than any February since 2009No part of Amazon is 'unaffected' by AI, says its head of AGIChatGPT doubled its weekly active users in under 6 months, thanks to new releasesHugging Face's chief science officer worries AI is becoming 'yes-men on servers'A well-funded Moscow-based global ‘news’ network has infected Western artificial intelligence tools worldwide with Russian propagandaOnlyFans Model Amouranth Held at Gunpoint for Her Crypto in Home InvasionCrypto Soars Then Plunges Following Trump’s Post About a Strategic ReserveFact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Establishes the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and U.S. Digital Asset StockpileTrump creates a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve one day ahead of White House crypto summitCFPB drops Zelle lawsuit in latest reversal under Trump administrationCanadian Municpalities and the Canadian Supreme Court to stop using twitter.Ontario once again promises to nix $100 million Starlink deal over Trump tariffsOpenAI reportedly plans to charge up to $20,000 a month for specialized AI 'agents'Kevin Rose, Alexis Ohanian acquire DiggDoes the World Even Want Digg in 2025?Scrolling Through Social Media Has a Unique Effect on Your BodySpaceX's latest Starship test flight ends with another explosionA second Intuitive Machines spacecraft just landed on the moon — and probably tipped overTouch down on the moon with private Blue Ghost lander in this amazing videoMEDIA CANDYHow Many Episodes Should You Watch Before Quitting a TV Show? A Statistical AnalysisNetflix Is Using AI to Upscale a 1980s Sitcom and the Results Are Borderline HorrificDaredevil: Born AgainDavid Duchovny to Explore Real-Life X-Files for History ChannelBeyond Belief: Fact or FictionAncient MysteriesIn Search Of...82% of indie artists can’t afford to tour anymoreAPPS & DOODADSThe Humane Ai Pin Has Already Been Brought Back to LifeChatGPT on macOS can now directly edit codeA quarter of startups in YC's current cohort have codebases that are almost entirely AI-generatedThe Vanishing Middle Class of TechWill the future of software development run on vibes?Hallucinations in code are the least dangerous form of LLM mistakesAT THE LIBRARYThe Tempest (First Contact) by Peter CawdronOn Tyranny by Timothy SnyderWarning - DomesticIs Trump preparing to invoke the Insurrection Act? Signs are pointing that waySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

7 Mar 1h 5min