Tech News Weekly (Video)

Jennifer Pattison Tuohy of The Verge joins Mikah Sargent this week! Amazon's Ring product had a Super Bowl ad that generated a lot of discussion and backlash following its debut. A look inside Lego's Smart Brick technology. And NASA's Perseverance rover completed its first-ever drive fully planned by AI.

• Jennifer talks about Amazon Ring's Super Bowl commercial that sparked a lot of backlash, which showcases its AI-powered Search Party feature, with concerns that it could be used as a means of a mass networked surveillance system.


• Mikah is fascinated by the dive into Lego's new Smart Brick technology.


• And Tariq Malik of Space.com and This Week in Space joins the show to talk about NASA's Perseverance rover, which completed its first drive planned by AI, and how the technology's use compares to a human-planned drive.

Hosts: Mikah Sargent and Jennifer Pattison Tuohy

Guest: Tariq Malik

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Amanda Silberling of TechCrunch joins Mikah Sargent this week on Tech News Weekly! A Stanford graduate built a matchmaking algorithm that's sweeping across the Stanford campus. Is social media "clinically addictive"? Discord announced an age-verification process that sparked privacy concerns among users. And the Virtual Boy is back?

• Amanda talks about an AI-powered dating app that was developed by a Stanford graduate and how dating for young adults is becoming more driven by tech.


• Mikah talks about the social media addiction trial and comments made by Instagram's CEO, Adam Mosseri.


• Emma Roth of The Verge joins the show to talk about Discord's age verification mandate that has sparked huge user privacy concerns, especially following a data breach the company suffered last year.


• And Scott Stein of CNET stops by to share his thoughts and time with Nintendo's revival of Virtual Boy as a replica accessory for the Nintendo Switch and Switch 2.

Hosts: Mikah Sargent and Amanda Silberling

Guests: Emma Roth and Scott Stein

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Abrar Al-Heeti of CNET joins Mikah Sargent on Tech News Weekly this week! Abrar has her hands on the new Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold phone! More people are pirating TV through rogue streaming boxes. The newest social media platform has launched, but it's only for AI bots. And Apple's Lockdown Mode prevented the FBI from accessing a reporter's iPhone.

• Abrar got her hands on the Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold phone and shares her initial thoughts on the device so far.


• Mikah talks about how more people are straying away from streaming services and looking towards streaming boxes that allow one to access pirated content that mirrors live TV.


• Mikah and Abrar chat about Moltbook, a new social media platform that is just for AI bots.


• And Mikah shares how Apple's Lockdown Mode helped a Washington Post reporter stop the FBI from accessing their seized iPhone.

Hosts: Mikah Sargent and Abrar Al-Heeti

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Jacob Ward joins the show this week! Big Tech is brewing up a battle for your kids. Scientists are using AI to identify dinosaur footprints. Looking into Apple's Creator Studio. And TikTok USDS blames Sunday's outages on a power outage.

• Jacob Ward talks about recently released documents in lawsuits against big tech that showcase how social media companies are aggressively recruiting teens to their platforms.


• Mikah Sargent gets very excited about scientists using AI in identifying dinosaur footprints.


• Dan Moren of SixColors stops by to talk about the Apple Creator Studio collection that makes Final Cut Pro, Logic Pro, and other creative apps available for users for a single subscription.


• And Emma Roth of The Verge joins the show to talk about the outage the US side of TikTok suffered earlier this week following the finalization of the new TikTok USDS Joint Venture.

Hosts: Mikah Sargent and Jacob Ward

Guests: Dan Moren and Emma Roth

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Mikah Sargent and Emily Forlini dive into some of tech's strangest new challenges: AI wearables causing psychological meltdowns, mobile games turning to casino-style tactics, and a viral EMF theory targeting NFL injuries. Get fresh perspectives on tech's impact from mental health to big-money gaming, plus a skeptical look at conspiracy theories in sports.

• Meta AI Glasses & Mental Health: Emily discusses the case of a tech exec whose constant use of AI glasses led to financial trouble and delusions, highlighting unseen risks of wearable AI.


• Gaming Industry's VIP Secrets: Mikah digs into how mobile games reward and track their top spenders with perks and personal attention, raising questions about ethics and addiction.


• 49ers EMF Injury Conspiracies: Mikah breaks down the sudden popularity of blaming football injuries on electromagnetic fields, with experts pushing back against the science behind the claims.

Hosts: Mikah Sargent and Emily Forlini

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