TechStuff

After 20 years, the Seti@Home program is going on hiatus. How did this project let the average computer user lend a hand in the search for alien intelligence?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Smoke detectors save lives, but how do they work? From photoelectric effects to nuclear radiation, we explore how smoke detectors let you know when there's a fire.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we delve into the groundbreaking technology behind autonomous driving vehicles in Lake Nona, a living lab community in Orlando, Florida, America's first smart town. Join us as we explore the dynamic world of Beep, the organization powering a transformative mobility solution operating in Lake Nona. Beep CEO Joe Moye joins Graeme and Tavistock Senior Vice President Juan Santos, to discuss how artificial intelligence has revolutionized transportation within the Lake Nona project. Discover how these visionary leaders have united to make communities safer, smarter, and more sustainable through AI integration. Get ready to be inspired by the innovative strides being taken to create a more connected and secure future on the roads of Lake Nona. Learn more about how Intel is leading the charge in the AI Revolution at Intel.com/storiesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Washington Post published an article revealing that the CIA secretly owned and operated an encryption company for decades. How did that happen and what does it mean? And what lessons should we learn from it?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How did the company Samsung get its start? From its humble beginnings as a grocery and shipping company, we look at the complicated history of one of South Korea's most influential companies.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Elon Musk once again demonstrates his leadership style by telling advertisers who are pulling out of X to go eff themselves. Also, an update on the OpenAI leadership situation, how some researchers got ChatGPT to share more than it was supposed to and say goodbye to those inactive Gmail accounts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Diversity and representation is important for all types of organizations. But one company decided the solution to finding the right women to serve as keynote speakers was to invent them. We look at the wild story of the DevTernity 2023 conference.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The capabilities of artificial intelligence are increasing at a breakneck speed. Companies must leverage generative AI to transform everyday customer and employee experiences. In this episode of Smart Talks with IBM, Jacob Goldstein sits down with Susan Emerson, Senior Vice President of Product: AI, Analytics & Data at Salesforce & Matthew Candy, Global Managing Partner of Generative AI at IBM Consulting. They chat about the latest evolution of the two tech innovators’ decades-long relationship, explore the opportunity AI presents for customer experiences, and break down how better experiences will remove friction for all. Visit us at: ibm.com/smarttalks Read more about elevating experiences in the CEO’s Guide to Generative AI from the IBM Institute for Business Value. This is a paid advertisement from IBM.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

While Meta communications director Andy Stone has ruffled more than a few feathers since joining the company in 2014, it seems that in Russia things are a bit more serious. Apparently, he's on a wanted list created by Russia's Ministry of the Interior. But why?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Are you an adult citizen in the US? If so, there's a 50% chance your face is in a law enforcement database. We look at this problematic law enforcement tool.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Where did green screen technology come from? How does it work? From the dawn of cinema to the latest Zoom meeting, we take a look at the tech that lets us combine different images into a single film or video.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We get a very quick update on the OpenAI/Sam Altman situation and then turn our attention to the blockbuster news that Binance and its co-founder, Changpeng "CZ" Zhao, have entered a guilty plea on charges that include money laundering. What does this mean for Binance in particular and cryptocurrency in general? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We've got a few updates on what's going on after OpenAI's board of directors fired CEO Sam Altman (and then asked if he wouldn't mind coming back, please). Plus, X is looking at a pretty rough holiday season as advertisers flee the platform. And SpaceX deals with another exploding spacecraft. Plus more!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In a dramatic turn of events, OpenAI's board of directors fired CEO and co-founder Sam Altman. Then they tried to hire him back. Then they announced a former Twitch CEO will lead the company. What the what?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The world has teetered on the brink of nuclear war a few times. Sometimes, it was because of technical glitches. Sometimes, it was because of coincidences. We explore some very close calls.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

TikTok tries to convince the EU to reconsider designating parent company ByteDance as a "gatekeeper" under the Digital Markets Act. A ransomware group tattles on its victim to the SEC. And SpaceX is getting ready to test the Starship launch vehicle, hopefully with better results.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What's the story behind the microblogging site Tumblr? How did it go from the nexus of Internet culture valued at more than a billion dollars to a property that would change hands multiple times in just a few short years? We take a look at the phenomenon known as Tumblr.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In order to stay competitive in a rapidly changing marketplace, businesses need to adapt to the potential of generative AI. In this special live episode of Smart Talks with IBM, Malcolm Gladwell is joined onstage at iHeartMedia’s studio by Dr. Darío Gil, Senior Vice President and Director of Research at IBM. They chat about the evolution of AI, give examples of practical uses, and discuss how businesses can create value through cutting edge technology. Watch the live conversation here: https://youtu.be/WOwM__St6aU Hear more from Darío on generative AI for business: https://www.ibm.com/think/ai-academy/ Visit us at: ibm.com/smarttalks This is a paid advertisement from IBM.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How did the famous Napoleon Bonaparte set into motion the events that led to the humble can opener? From early experiments in canning to gadgets so dangerous the average person wasn't allowed to buy them, we look at the history and evolution of can openers.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Was Google Glass an idea ahead of its time? What are its origins and where is it today?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Steve Wozniak is recovering in a hospital in Mexico City and we wish him well. Internal documents from Meta show that Mark Zuckerberg repeatedly shut down initiatives meant to promote user well being. Microsoft says it has a plan for AI-generated misinformation during the election season. And the Omegle service shuts down.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What does artificial intelligence have to do with an outdated practice that involved blasting shoe stores with radiation? Trust me, there's a connection. Or at least I make one. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

WeWork declares bankruptcy, there's a ton of AI news in the tech space and some attendees at an NFT conference received painful burns. Plus much more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What has Digg been up to since our last episode about the site back in 2017? From shutting down a popular tool to another acquisition from a small ad company, we explore what has been up over at Digg.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It all began with a startup led by a TechTV host. Then it evolved into a massively influential site, only to seemingly implode a short while later. What's the story behind Digg?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

YouTube users with ad block software may find themselves blocked from watching videos on the platform unless they allow ads. Politicians around the world speak out against bias on Tiktok, but no one can agree which way the bias goes. Scarlett Johansson takes legal action against a company that used an AI-generated impression of her voice for an ad. Plus much more!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

First came the web ad. Then came the ad blocking software. What is the history of ad blocking? What challenges does it create for industry, and what services does it provide beyond, you know, blocking all those pesky ads? We get into it!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From ghostly AI to hacker goblins, we get a rundown on what's going on in the tech space. The US President issues an executive order about artificial intelligence, X reveals in internal documents that the company's value has dropped by more than 50% over the last year, and a little software company in the UK is trying to take on the mega corporation Meta.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Charles Babbage was a man ahead of his time. He was an engineer, inventor, mathematician, and grouchy pants. We learn more about this historic figure and his creations.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The USB has become a standard port in tech. How did it get started and how does it work?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pro-Russian hackers have found and exploited a vulnerability in a popular webmail app. Researchers found a very complicated way to compromise certain Apple devices. Slack has ended support for X/Twitter integration. Plus lots more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In our third episode about the silly Ig Nobel prizes, we learn about music playing in a place you wouldn't expect, a clawed machine for changing diapers, and whether or not you'll feel more pain if you're looking at ugly art.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A tool called Nightshade could give human artists the poison they need to sabotage generative AI. Google and Apple disable live traffic data in the region around the Gaza Strip. And NASA pushed a software update out to Voyager 1 as it hurtles through interstellar space. Plus more!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Neuroscientist David Eagleman joins the show to talk about lighthearted topics ranging from the nature of consciousness to the intersection of technology and the grey matter that lives in our skulls.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Once upon a time, a text-based Internet navigation system was poised to become the primary way we interact with the net. What happened?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A special council convened to discuss how Chinese hackers pose a massive threat to national security. A hacker released information on millions of 23andMe customers, prompting the company to suggest the customers were at fault. And Elon Musk gave investors a bit of a reality check on the Cybertruck.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 2011, Microsoft acquired Skype for 8.5 billion dollars. What happened next? What did the giant tech company have in mind, and how did things pan out? And why did Zoom become the go-to conferencing solution during the pandemic instead of Skype?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To deploy responsible AI and build trust with customers, businesses need to prioritize AI governance. In this episode of Smart Talks with IBM, Malcolm Gladwell and Laurie Santos discuss AI accountability with Christina Montgomery, Chief Privacy and Trust Officer at IBM. They chat about AI regulation, what compliance means in the AI age, and why transparent AI governance is good for business. Visit us at: ibm.com/smarttalks Explore watsonx.governance: https://www.ibm.com/products/watsonx-governance This is a paid advertisement from IBM.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How is Skype related to Kazaa? What does a peer-to-peer network do? And was the eBay acquisition of Skype really one of the worst deals in tech history (spoiler: no it was not)?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From catapults to ballista, we explore the world of siege engines. Which ones were real? Which are fantasy? And how did they work?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last April, National Public Radio (NPR) closed out its Twitter accounts. Six months later, NPR leadership says that the impact to NPR has been negligible. Could this mean more organizations will say goodbye to Musk's platform? Plus, news about a massive DDoS attack, why we'll be seeing a lot more of AI in the near future, and an update on Sam Bankman-Fried's court case.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Intelligence researchers lament that X has become so rife with disinformation that there's no good way to use it while tracking tumultuous events like the war in Israel. The FCC is gearing up for a fight with US broadband companies. And did Disney unknowingly use an AI-generated stock image to promote Loki season 2? Plus more!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Back in 2020, we did a three-part series on the history of Ubisoft. What's been going on since then? And what's the story behind the troubled development of the pirate-themed game Skull & Bones?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From humble beginnings to massive success, we follow the rest of the id Software story. When did the founders leave and why? And what's going on there now?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In an episode with perhaps the most SEO-friendly title in TechStuff history, we learn about how someone used an AI-generated version of YouTuber MrBeast to advertise a scammy deal, how the FTC alleges that Amazon used a secret algorithm to fix prices and squash competition, and how Facebook Messenger users proved that Meta's tool for AI-generated stickers might need a bit more work.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A slightly sick Jonathan is back to talk about some past winners of the Ig Nobel Prize. Learn about how a wasabi-spraying alarm could save lives, how an inventor planned to recreate a classic cartoon trap, and how a bra might be just the thing during the next pandemic.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Open-source innovation is the future of AI. In this episode of Smart Talks with IBM, Malcolm Gladwell and Tim Harford discuss the open-source AI community with Jeff Boudier, head of product and growth at Hugging Face. They chat about the history and future of open-source AI, its critical importance to AI progress, the IBM watsonx partnership with Hugging Face, and how businesses can leverage open-source AI for their specific needs. Visit us at ibm.com/smarttalks Learn more about the Hugging Face partnership: https://newsroom.ibm.com/2023-08-24-IBM-to-Participate-in-235M-Series-D-Funding-Round-of-Hugging-Face This is a paid advertisement from IBM.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's hard to hold onto information. Paradoxically, it can also be hard to get rid of it. In this episode, we look at why long-term data preservation is a challenge, and the lengths people will go to in order to clear out digital information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

They made games like Doom and Quake, but where did id Software come from? In this episode, we explore the origins of a major name in computer games.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chinese-backed hackers are infiltrating computer systems by compromising routers. Some security researchers say that modern GPUs can steal pixels right off a web site. And Microsoft encounters yet more resistance regarding its acquisition of Activision Blizzard.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.