Today in Tech

Courts are no longer debating whether social media causes harm — they’re ruling that it does. In this episode of Today in Tech, Keith Shaw speaks with Lisa Strohman, founder of the Digital Citizen Academy, about the legal tipping point that could reshape the entire social media ecosystem. From landmark cases in New Mexico and California to the growing scrutiny of algorithms, advertisers, and AI, this conversation explores what accountability really looks like — and who might be on the hook next. The discussion goes beyond platforms like Meta and Google to examine the broader ripple effects: Could advertisers be held responsible for where their ads appear? Will AI companies face similar liability risks? Are businesses underestimating the reputational and legal exposure tied to these platforms? And perhaps most importantly — what does this mean for parents, schools, and the next generation of users? This isn’t just a story about social media anymore. It’s about a potential shift in how technology companies — and the companies that rely on them — are held accountable. Subscribe for more conversations with industry leaders on the biggest technology issues shaping business today.

Airports have zero tolerance for downtime — but they’re also packed with aging infrastructure, tight security requirements, and nonstop passenger pressure. In this episode of Today in Tech, host Keith Shaw sits down with Deepak Nayyar, Executive Vice President and CIO of Pittsburgh International Airport, to break down how a major airport modernizes without disrupting travelers. You’ll hear how PIT rebuilt its technology foundation — from network and Wi-Fi upgrades to segmented security architecture — and why the airport is betting on predictive analytics to keep systems running smoothly. Nayyar also shares how PIT uses vision AI and historical data to forecast security line peaks, how real-time wait times help travelers plan smarter, and what it takes to prepare for major surge events like the 2026 NFL Draft. Topics include: * Building a modern airport tech platform for the next decade * Predictive maintenance for baggage systems and operations * Vision AI for forecasting security line demand (without storing faces or PII) * Network segmentation, failover planning, and cybersecurity priorities * Passenger-facing upgrades like smart parking and real-time wait times * PIT’s xBridge innovation hub and partnerships with local robotics startups Follow TECH(talk) for the latest tech news and discussion!

Glasses-free 3D tried to take over living rooms a decade ago—and flopped. So what changed? In this episode of Today in Tech, host Keith Shaw sits down with David Fattal, founder and CTO of Leia Inc., to break down why 3D TVs collapsed (hype, lack of content, and imperfect tech) and why the next wave of glasses-free 3D could be different. We dig into the breakthroughs powering this comeback: switchable 2D/3D displays, AI-driven head tracking that preserves sharp resolution, and real-time 2D-to-3D conversion that can unlock everything from live sports to teleconferencing. Fattal also explains what “the consumer bar” means, why monitors and laptops may lead the adoption, and how phones could become the key to building the massive 3D data sets needed for true spatial AI. Watch to learn what’s real, what’s hype, and the biggest misconceptions that still hold glasses-free 3D back—plus a realistic timeline for when this tech could show up in mainstream devices.

Could AI soon have a seat on the board of directors? In this episode of Today in Tech, host Keith Shaw talks with Kevin Bocek, Senior Vice President for Innovation at CyberArk, about the rise of agentic AI in corporate leadership — starting with “AI shadow boards” that advise CEOs and potentially evolving into AI that actually votes on board decisions. They dig into why companies are exploring AI for board-level decision-making, what benefits AI agents could bring (speed, consistency, transparency for shareholders), and the biggest risks leaders can’t ignore — privileged access to sensitive financial and strategic data, accountability when AI gets it wrong, and how identity security could become the “kill switch” for powerful AI agents. It may seem like a goofy idea now, but could be looming in the future. We break down what’s real, what’s hype and what questions to ask if AI moves from advisor to decision-maker. Follow TECH(talk) for the latest tech news and discussion!

AI is becoming a new “peril” for the enterprise (like a fire or flood), except it can trigger losses across privacy, cybercrime, business interruption, media liability, and even professional liability. So here’s the real question: can AI risk actually be insured? What happens when it isn’t? In this episode of Today in Tech, host Keith Shaw sits down with Josh Motta, co-founder and CEO of Coalition, to break down what “AI insurance” really means today, why cyber insurance is the closest thing most companies have, and where coverage gaps are already showing up (including professional liability exclusions and AI-driven mishaps that may not be covered at all). You’ll learn: * What kinds of AI incidents may already be covered under cyber, E&O, or other policies * Where insurers are starting to add exclusions—and why * How deepfakes and AI-powered fraud are changing real-world claims * Why legal exposure and privacy enforcement may be the sleeper risk in 2026 * The key questions CIOs, CISOs, and CFOs should ask before an AI incident becomes a financial crisis

Vibe coding has gone from “kicking the tires” to shipping real software—but what does AI-powered vibe coding break along the way? In this episode of Today in Tech, Keith Shaw sits down with Scott Breitenother, CEO and co-founder of Kilo Code, to unpack how AI-assisted development is changing the craft of programming—and the structure of engineering teams. Scott explains what vibe coding really means, why “one-shot” prompts often fail, and how the best teams are already using multiple AI agents to build and review features. We also dig into the big questions leaders are wrestling with right now: how to create guardrails and quality gates, what happens to junior developer pipelines, and whether AI will reduce or multiply tech debt as more people build more software faster. Topics covered: What “vibe coding” is (and why the name may disappear) Why specificity beats “magic prompts” AI as a multiplier: vision + architecture still matter Quality gates: AI code review + human review Team redesign: one engineer managing multiple agents Tech debt, maintenance, and the “slop” problem How education and career paths will change

AI is shifting from assistant to teammate — and that changes everything. In this episode of Today in Tech, Keith Shaw sits down with Karen Ng, EVP of Product at HubSpot, to break down what “hybrid AI teams” actually are, how companies are deploying AI agents alongside humans, and what that means for your day-to-day work. You’ll hear why hybrid teams are more than just “using AI tools,” how organizations should onboard agents like new hires, and why governance, guardrails, and trust are the difference between real adoption and risky chaos. Karen shares practical examples (including AI resolving a majority of support tickets), plus a simple three-phase blueprint for getting started: clean your data, focus humans on what they do best, and automate the right tasks. If you’re wondering whether AI agents will count as headcount, how much autonomy is too much, and what skills matter beyond prompt engineering — this conversation is your roadmap. In this episode: What a hybrid human + AI team really looks like “Supercharged humans” vs. basic AI usage Where agents work best (and where risk spikes) Onboarding, observability, and human-in-the-loop guardrails Trust, outcomes, and why AI doesn’t need to be perfect to be valuable What employees should do now to stay ahead

AI is supposed to reduce technical debt, but what if it’s actually making the problem worse? In this episode of Today in Tech, host Keith Shaw sits down with Gary Hoberman, Co-Founder of Unqork, and David Ferrucci, CTO of Unqork and former IBM Watson leader, to unpack how generative AI, low-code platforms, and “vibe coding” can quickly multiply hidden risk instead of eliminating complexity. They break down why digital transformation hasn’t solved tech debt, how AI-generated code can speed up architectural mistakes, and why governance, component reuse, and disciplined system design matter more than ever. Drawing on Gary’s experience managing global engineering organizations and Dave’s work building Watson for Jeopardy!, this conversation reveals what enterprise leaders must understand if they want to use AI without creating the next generation of legacy problems. Key topics include * Why tech debt keeps growing after modernization efforts * How AI coding tools can accidentally amplify bad architecture * The limits of low-code, no-code, and “citizen developer” platforms * Governance and guardrails for safe enterprise AI adoption * What the future holds for software development and AI-assisted teams

Are self-driving cars finally ready for everyday use, or is the hype still ahead of the reality? In this episode of Today in Tech, host Keith Shaw sits down with Edwin Olson, CEO and Founder of May Mobility, to break down where autonomous vehicles truly stand as we head into 2026. From AI reasoning models and real-world deployments to the challenges of weather, unpredictable human drivers, and scaling nationwide fleets, Olson shares what’s working, what isn’t, and what’s coming next for ride-hailing, public transit, and the future of car ownership.

Finding a job has never been more automated or more frustrating. Candidates feel ignored. Employers feel overwhelmed. Trust in the hiring process is breaking down. On this episode of Today in Tech, host Keith Shaw sits down with futurist Cliff Jurkiewicz of Phenom to unpack what is really broken in the 2026 job market. Is the problem the economy, or the way companies hire? They dig into AI-driven hiring tools, resume filtering, ghosting, unrealistic job requirements, flawed job descriptions, and why many companies are using AI incorrectly. The conversation also explores how candidates can adapt, how recruiters should rethink hiring, and what “human plus AI” work really looks like going forward. If you’re hiring, job hunting, or just trying to understand where work is headed next, this episode breaks down what needs to change before the system breaks even further.