Tech News Weekly (Audio)

Abrar Al-Heeti joins Tech News Weekly this week! OpenAI launches Sora 2. AI is powering more fraudulent ads. Amazon updates its lineup of products. And Google incorporates Gemini into its smart home devices.

• OpenAI launches Sora 2, its latest video generator app. Sora 2 seeks to rival platforms such as TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts.


• DoubleVerify's DV Fraud Lab has detected a rise in fraudulent apps available for download, with AI powering these apps to hijack mobile devices.


• Amazon held its Fall Hardware Event this past week, unveiling the latest Echo devices, Ring security cameras, and its next-gen Alexa+ chatbot being available in these devices.


• And Florence Ion joins the show to discuss Google's revamp of its smart home devices, introducing Gemini for Google Home and the new Google Home Speaker, which is slated to launch in Spring 2026.

Hosts: Mikah Sargent and Abrar Al-Heeti

Guest: Florence Ion

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Emily Forlini of PCMag joins Mikah Sargent this week! The EU is considering ending the cookie consent banners. Amazon reaches a $2.5 billion settlement with the FTC. Some insight into why the new iPhone 17 Pros are more prone to scratches and dings. And is TechWoven truly better than FineWoven?

• Emily talks about how the EU is considering ending the cookie consent banners that pop up when users visit websites.


• Mikah shares how the FTC is bringing Amazon to trial over allegations that the company misled users into signing up for Amazon Prime. However, Amazon has settled the matter for a cool $2.5 billion!


• And Liz Chamberlain, Director of Sustainability of iFixit, joins the show to discuss what has led to the iPhone 17 Pro showing more wear than the other models, the organization's teardown of the iPhone Air, and how Apple's TechWoven improves on some of the failures of the previous FineWoven material.

Hosts: Mikah Sargent and Emily Forlini

Guest: Liz Chamberlain

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Jennifer Pattison Tuohy of The Verge joins Mikah Sargent this week on Tech News Weekly! Amazon has announced its upcoming fall hardware event. OpenAI is working towards implementing security features for teens using ChatGPT. A look into SMS blasters as a way to target you with scam texts. And Scott Stein of CNET spent some time with Meta's newest Ray-Ban Display Glasses and Neural Band.

• Jennifer is excited as Amazon has announced its upcoming hardware event for September 30th, at which the company is expected to unveil its latest Kindle and Echo devices.


• Also, Google will be debuting its latest smart home devices the day after Amazon's hardware event on October 1st!


• OpenAI is working towards implementing safeguards and restrictions for teens using ChatGPT, following lawsuits and growing regulatory scrutiny.


• Mikah shares how cybercriminals are utilizing a process called "SMS blasters" to send scam text messages to people.


• And Scott Stein of CNET joins the show from the Meta campus to share his initial hands-on experience with Meta's new Neural Band and latest Ray-Ban Display Glasses.

Hosts: Mikah Sargent and Jennifer Pattison Tuohy

Guest: Scott Stein

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Jacob Ward of The Rip Current podcast and newsletter joins Mikah Sargent this week! The impact that generative AI is having on energy and our climate. The privacy and social issues around AI wearables. And everything that was announced at Apple's 'Awe Dropping' event.

• Jacob shares a paper published recently that covered generative AI and how the massive use of GPU energy is causing concerns about its impact on the climate.


• Mikah talks about a new wearable AI companion device called Friend and how these always-listening devices present privacy challenges for not just others around the user but also for the company itself.


• And Zac Hall of 9to5Mac was at Apple's 'Awe Dropping' event this past Tuesday and was fortunate to get his hands on the new hardware the company announced. He shares his initial thoughts on the new AirPods Pro 3 and iPhone Air!

Hosts: Mikah Sargent and Jacob Ward

Guest: Zac Hall

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Abrar Al-Heeti of CNET joins Mikah Sargent this week for Tech News Weekly! Apple plans to build its own AI search engine to rival OpenAI. OpenAI is working on improving its models to help users in mental distress. Apple's September event is right around the corner. And the judge in the antitrust case against Google ruled this week!

• Abrar talks about Apple's plans to create a search engine that seeks to rival OpenAI's search engine as the company continues its aggressive expansion into AI.


• (Content Warning) OpenAI previews its plan to improve its AI models to help users in mental or emotional distress. This follows a recent lawsuit that was brought against the company following a teen's suicide.


• Dan Moren of Six Colors stops by to lay the foundation for what Apple could announce at its upcoming event on September 9th.


• And Leah Nylen of Bloomberg joins the show to share an update on the Google Antitrust case that the judge ruled on!

Hosts: Mikah Sargent and Abrar Al-Heeti

Guests: Dan Moren and Leah Nylen

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