Tech News Weekly (Audio)

Google's new policy for the use of its AI products with K-12 accounts. A SpaceX phone service? The aftermath of the largest crypto theft at Binance. And how the "agentic web" is being welcomed by some websites.

• Google is switching off its AI tools for K-12 accounts unless schools opt in, but schools that opt out will lose access to Google Search.


• A report from The Washington Post shows that Elon Musk is seeking a way for network access to start a phone service with SpaceX and is reportedly pursuing EchoStar, Boost Mobile's parent company, after being rejected by Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile.


• Taking a look at how Binance survived the biggest crypto theft on record, about $6.3 billion, which its incident report traces to a month-long North Korean campaign that included a tampered Homebrew installer and a fake job interview.


• And MIT Technology Review took a look at the "agentic web," showing AI agents from Meta, OpenAI, and Anthropic being welcomed by some sites and blocked by others, such as Amazon shutting out Meta's Muse.

Hosts: Mikah Sargent and Abrar Al-Heeti

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Amazon unveiled a new Echo device lineup. Proton's AI manifesto. Understanding the PHP2Shell flaws, and Apple unveiled its first-ever touchscreen MacBook Pro!

• Mikah looks at Amazon's new Echo lineup the company unveiled earlier this week, including the Echo Show 16, Echo Studio, and Amazon's first digital photo frame.


• 404 Media's Joseph Cox joins the show to discuss his reporting on Proton's aggressive AI push, including employee re-interviews about AI use and a CEO who called pen-testing concerns "loser thinking."


• TechCrunch's Zack Whittaker talks about the recent PHP2Shell critical vulnerability that was discovered last week and how the coordinated patch rollout largely held, why a mass-hacking wave seems to have been avoided, and why millions of sites may still be vulnerable.


• And D. Griffin Jones breaks down Apple's announcements of new hardware this past week, including the first touchscreen MacBook Pro and a new iPad mini.

Host: Mikah Sargent

Guests: Joseph Cox, Zack Whittaker, and D. Griffin Jones

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Meta Muse's security flaw. Reviews of the iPhone Duo are starting to come out. Microsoft's plans to overhaul the Xbox department. And Meta is ordered to pay $25 billion in a New Mexico court ruling.

• Mikah shares a PSA on Meta's new Muse AI agent: A security firm found that Muse's share button put conversation titles in the subdomain of public share links!


• Allison Johnson of The Verge joins the show to talk about her time with the iPhone Duo so far and things that she misses on the device so far compared to the Pro lineup.


• Sebastian Herrera of Fortune stops by to talk about how Xbox has lost its focus over the years and what new CEO Asha Sharma, who has no gaming background, is doing to fix it.


• And Isaiah Poritz of Bloomberg Law breaks down the verdict made in a New Mexico court that orders Meta to pay $25 billion in penalties to the state, related to the Cambridge Analytica scandal.

Host: Mikah Sargent

Guests: Allison Johnson, Sebastian Herrera, and Isaiah Poritz

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Apple recently unveiled its Apple HomeView, and Jennifer Pattison Tuohy got a first-hand look at Apple's foray into the smart home market! Apple also unveiled its Apple TV 4K and HomePod mini 2. And some US states have filed lawsuits against OpenAI.

• Jennifer shares her hands-on impressions of Apple's HomeView, the company's first smart display that she describes as a cross between a HomePod mini and a giant Apple Watch. She also talks about how the device uses Siri AI and facial recognition to show different calendars and messages for different users.


• Also, Apple unveiled a new Apple TV 4k at a $299 price point, and a new lineup of what they call the Apple Home Collection of LG and Schneider smart home accessories as part of its Smart Home lineup.


• And Mikah talks about how eight US states have filed lawsuits against OpenAI, claiming that ChatGPT was built to be easily agreeable and to feign human compassion in ways that can harm users.

Hosts: Mikah Sargent and Jennifer Pattison Tuohy

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Amanda Silberling joins Mikah Sargent on this week's episode of Tech News Weekly! Common Sense Media labels ChatGPT for Teens as an "unacceptable risk." AI agents from companies such as Meta and OpenAI are "cute washing" to make them feel friendlier. A federal judge ruled a Flock license plate search unconstitutional. And organs-on-chips, simulations, and AI models are starting to replace animal testing.

• Amanda talks about Common Sense Media's labeling of ChatGPT for Teens as an "unacceptable risk", as its friend-like design, engagement incentives, and rarely appearing "take a break" prompts can keep teens talking to a chatbot instead of a trusted adult.


• Mikah shares an article from Fast Company's Grace Snelling, who coined the term "cute washing" for how SpaceX AI's Grokbot, Meta's Muse, and OpenAI's Dot all use big eyes and soft shapes to make autonomous AI agents feel friendly.


• Jason Koebler of 404 Media joins the show to discuss the first federal ruling to call an automated license plate reader search unconstitutional, and explains how Flock's network of more than 100,000 cameras feeds federal programs like HIDTA (High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area).


• And Mikah explains how organs-on-chips, computer simulations, and AI models are beginning to replace animal testing as regulators like the FDA shift their rules, as noted by IEEE Spectrum's Brandon Kim.

Hosts: Mikah Sargent and Amanda Silberling

Guest: Jason Koebler

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