691: Cry Me A River (to Cool Off My AI)

691: Cry Me A River (to Cool Off My AI)

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/1password

DeleteMe - Head over to JoinDeleteMe.com/GOG and use the code "GOG" for 20% off.


Show notes at https://gog.show/691


FOLLOW UP

Crowds Turn Out Across the U.S. for ‘Tesla Takedown’ Protests

The Proud Boys and Militias Come to Tesla’s Defense

Taylor Swift and Elon Can Finally Fly Private Without Being Tracked Thanks to New FAA Rule

Earth Is Safe From Menacing Asteroid—but Our Moon Might Take the Hit


IN THE NEWS

Republican chair of Senate Armed Services Committee calls for investigation into Signal chat

DoD Inspector General Says He’s Looking Into SignalGate

Waltz’s team set up at least 20 Signal group chats for crises across the world

NSA warned of vulnerabilities in Signal app a month before Houthi strike chat

Trump administration fires director of National Security Agency

xAI, Elon Musk's AI company, just purchased X, Elon Musk's social media company

Trump kicks off sale of $2.3bn Truth Social stake

You’ll Never Guess What Happened to Trump’s Meme Coin After He Announced His Tariffs

OpenAI: New funding to build towards AGI

Oxygen Levels in Earth's Lakes Are Plummeting, Study Reveals

ChatGPT users have generated over 700M images since last week, OpenAI says

First Therapy Chatbot Trial Yields Mental Health Benefits

US Senate committee opens review into Meta’s efforts to gain access to China

Brain-to-voice neuroprosthesis restores naturalistic speech

Generative AI Leadership & Strategy Specialization

President Trump’s War on ‘Information Silos’ Is Bad News for Your Personal Data


MEDIA CANDY

The White Lotus

The Studio

Orphan Black: Echoes

Orphan Black

She-Hulk: Attorney at Law

Tales of the Gold Monkey

Stephen Collins

Turn It Around: The Story of East Bay Punk

Genres are bustin’ out all over in Strange New Worlds S3 teaser

Ferris Bueller's teacher schools Trump on tariffs


APPS & DOODADS

Project 2025 Tracker

Apple is reportedly on track to launch the M5 iPad Pro and MacBook Pro later this year

Apple is said to be developing a revamped Health app with a built-in AI doctor

iOS 18.4 is available now with new emoji, Apple News+ Food and priority notifications

Change the default apps on iPhone

WhatsApp can be your default calling and texting app on iPhone

Alexa+ is out, but missing a lot of features Amazon demoed last month

Facebook’s new Friends-only feed ditches all the algorithmic junk

Bill Gates Publishes Original Microsoft Source Code in a Blog Post

Red Salsa


THE DARK SIDE WITH DAVE

Dave Bittner

The CyberWire

Hacking Humans

Caveat

Control Loop

Only Malware in the Building

Kermit the Frog named University of Maryland commencement speaker


CLOSING SHOUT-OUTS

Bletchley code breaker Betty Webb dies aged 101

Val Kilmer, Top Gun Actor and One-Time Batman, Dead at 65

Elon 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.

Avsnitt(731)

177: Benedict Pleepleusbatch

177: Benedict Pleepleusbatch

Zane Lamprey drops in; iOS 10; cookies everywhere; the tech bubble; elephant charts; exploding batteries; Facebook annoys Norway; stank cyber hygiene; stream ripping; Penn, King & Tolhurst; laser tag backpack; ethical hacking; Sherlock & the Grand Tour.  Show notes at http://grumpyoldgeeks.com/177 See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

16 Sep 20161h 49min

176: Ready Player Pobama

176: Ready Player Pobama

Apple’s premature tweet; exploding Samsungs; Airbnb’s “constitutional rights”; costly cord-cutting; Americans not into self-driving cars, ride-sharing; Attack of Things!; slogging through the Gunslinger; baby apps; the build team & the triplets are back. Show notes at http://grumpyoldgeeks.com/176 See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

9 Sep 20161h 19min

175: We Are the Dreamers of Dreams

175: We Are the Dreamers of Dreams

Paternity leave is over; psychology on the ropes; Ireland doesn’t want Apple’s taxes; Olds & Emojis; dark forests & Dresden bombing; big ol’ TVs; pinch & zoom & knuckle drag; unbundling gets pricey; Mac Sabbath; putting on the ritz.   This episode is sponsored by Freshbooks! To claim your free month, go to FreshBooks.com/GRUMPY and, this is REALLY IMPORTANT, enter GRUMPY OLD GEEKS in the “How Did You Hear About Us?” section.   Show notes at http://grumpyoldgeeks.com/175 See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

2 Sep 20161h 26min

174: Morphable Faraday

174: Morphable Faraday

DNS is Ok; Uber still sucks; Facebook WTF; Pokemon Plateau; WiFi is tracking you; Sleep Rules; The Monkees are back; Kanye loves fries; Baltimore No-Fly Zone; Jason and Brian need sleep. Show notes at http://grumpyoldgeeks.com/174 See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

26 Aug 20161h 36min

173: Economy Drone.0

173: Economy Drone.0

1 Drone, 2 Drone, Red Drone, Blue Drone; R2D2’s final beep; No Hyperloop for us; Uber’s shoe drops; the Great Con; NASA research free; phishing ain’t just for suckers; IoPoop; tin foil hat news; revisiting Gopher; Dune in Emoji; Scum & Villainy Cantina. Show notes at http://grumpyoldgeeks.com/173 See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

19 Aug 20161h 20min

172: No Wood for Vader

172: No Wood for Vader

Social network fails; your friends don’t like you; flawed design; FTC crackdown on sponsored posts; ad-block wars; data-fusion; Golden Key; read for health; Meat is Murder 8bit; Mr. Robot FTW; Stranger Things; WTF America; the other Solo; Electric Mayhem! Show notes at http://grumpyoldgeeks.com/172 See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

12 Aug 20161h 39min

171: Faradayspotting

171: Faradayspotting

Peak app; elevated buses; Pokemon mind control; Faraday caged bars; stupid chip payments; uber mapping; Netflix tax; IoT disasters; hacking autonomous vehicles; Australia moving; emoji political correctness; Mr. Robot back on track, stand ups; Matt Damon. Show notes at http://grumpyoldgeeks.com/171 See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

5 Aug 20161h 33min

170: Brian's Getting a Drone!

170: Brian's Getting a Drone!

CEOs paid to be average; Pono down; Yahoo deconstructed; Facebook value rising; 7-11 wins the drone race; Apple’s billionth iPhone; DNC hack & treason; IoT code audits; Star Wars drones; Star Trek; Moby; Lucy; drink beer for cash; meet the Allens. Show notes at http://grumpyoldgeeks.com/170 See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

29 Juli 20161h 20min

Populärt inom Politik & nyheter

aftonbladet-krim
svenska-fall
motiv
p3-krim
flashback-forever
rss-viva-fotboll
fordomspodden
politiken
aftonbladet-daily
rss-sanning-konsekvens
rss-krimstad
rss-vad-fan-hande
spar
olyckan-inifran
rss-krimreportrarna
rss-frandfors-horna
dagens-eko
blenda-2
rss-flodet
rss-expressen-dok