Today in Tech

Governments and car companies continue to push the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) to become more environmentally friendly. But as more people experience the technology, there are increasing concerns about potential battery issues, limited range, fire possibilities and other problems. Keith and Chris discuss whether this means an EV backlash is coming soon.

A scientific project that can create digital representations of the cardiovascular system aims to predict and diagnose diseases in virtual scenarios before applying them to real-world settings. The system can help doctors make better decisions on treatment options, as well as predict potential illnesses down the road. Iris Shelly, a research scientist with NTT Research, joins the show to discuss the project.

Recent employment reports suggest that layoffs from tech companies did have an impact on IT-related jobs, but with extremely low unemployment for those positions, it remains a hot market for many companies looking for IT workers. Lucas Mearian from Computerworld joins the show to discuss the latest reports on tech employment, and what skills are now valued by employers.

PC shipments around the world plunged in Q1 2023 compared to 2022, due to excess inventory and economic fears about new purchases. Also, governments around the world begin to flex their muscles over AI and big tech companies like Google and Apple. Also, can ChatGPT write a better fortune cookie fortune than a human?

Amazon’s Sidewalk expansion to outside developers is showing increased enthusiasm for low-power networks that could compete with 5G to support Internet of Things infrastructures. Analyst Jack Gold joins the show to discuss the latest developments around IoT and 5G and how it could provide better tracking capabilities for packages and other services.

Apple, AI and Amazon all had interesting technology news last week, with more hints at augmented reality device from Apple; deepfake imagery continues to haunt the internet, and a Wired article exposes the problems of Amazon’s Prime Air Delivery service. Keith and Chris comment on these topics and more.

With accelerating developments in artificial intelligence, are we now on a path towards AI achieving greater intelligence than humans? Keith is joined by a panel of AI experts to discuss whether we are going down that road, and how to ensure that humans remain in control of AI development.

To recover from pandemic-era challenges, many restaurants are attempting to innovate with new technologies such as AI voice, mobile phone point of sale ordering systems, and drone deliveries. Are these efforts just experimental or will they be a part of our future dining experiences? Keith chats with Michael Atkinson, a noted leader in the restaurant technology space, to separate the wheat from the chaff.

Elon Musk and other AI luminaries are calling for a 6-month pause on AI tool training so that the industry may better collaborate on design and development before the technology accelerates to infinity and beyond. Keith chats with Jason Mars, Ph.D., from the University of Michigan, about whether this is a good or bad idea.

Coming off the heels of an AI image of Donald Trump getting arrested, a fake image of the pope wearing a white puffy coat tricks many on the Internet. Keith and Chris discuss other tech news from the week, including the Twitter source code leak, what jobs may be in danger from ChatGPT, and why working-from-home exclusively might be going away at many companies.

Google finally launches its Bard AI app as an alternative to ChatGPT, while Microsoft continues to add more functionality to ChatGPT through Bing, all while others begin calling for regulation as more and more competitors appear. Keith and Chris discuss this, as well as additional layoffs in the tech space and research that proves that in-office engagement between employees is valuable.

TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew testified in front of a hostile and united Congressional committee on Thursday, mostly failing to convince lawmakers that user data it collects from more than 150 million Americans is protected from the Chinese Communist Party. But in the end, there are doubts about whether the government can successfully ban the popular video-sharing application, and whether this hearing was mostly about theatrics and grandstanding.

Americans lost more than $10 billion in 2022 due to internet scams in 2022, a jump from $6.9 billion in 2021. Cryptocurrency and investment scams are now competing with ransomware, phishing, and other methods that criminals are utilizing to try and separate consumers from their money. We chat with Rob Holmes, founder of investigation firm MI:33, about the myriad ways that scammers, counterfeiters, and criminals are using tools to con people, and how consumers can better protect themselves.

Recent geopolitical events and other natural disasters in recent years have shown how reliant we are on electricity, and how vulnerable the power grid can be. Rebuilding the grid following a nightmare scenario such as an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) attack could take years, so preparation from an individual, town and regional basis can be key to accelerating recovery. We chat about this topic with Dr. William R. Forstchen, author of “One Second After” and other books that explore life in a small town following such an attack.

While the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank and other banks is mainly an economic story, it will have ripple effects on the technology industry, including startups and large enterprises. Additional topics this week include whether tech bros have become villains in Hollywood content, and how a new superconductor material could improve our electric future.

ChatGPT and other AI tools can create content that helps bad actors create better phishing emails or generate malware/ransomware code. But on the other side of the coin, the tools can better educate users about security threats, identify bugs and vulnerabilities on websites faster, and help researchers in their security efforts. We chat with Etay Maor, an adjunct professor at Boston College and industry cybersecurity expert, about these key issues. Etay Maor, Adjunct professor at Boston College, senior director of security strategy, Cato Networks https://www.linkedin.com/in/etaymaor/

Growing evidence indicates that Facebook (Meta) is seemingly abandoning its metaverse aspirations as it chases ChatGPT and other AI technologies. Is this the death knell for the metaverse? Keith chats with Dan Roberts from Decrypt and Mike Mason from Thoughtworks about whether this concept has legs beyond “Meta”

Keith and Chris catch up on the tech news of the week, including how people are increasingly concerned over deepfake video and audio creeping into the 2024 election cycles, and whether media (traditional and social) can spot the fakes before they do significant damage. Also, TikTok executives woo European politicians in the face of potential bans of the video-sharing app.

With some pending lawsuits around copyright infringement and questions surrounding liability and ownership, generative AI tools such as ChatGPT and others will need to navigate around some rough waters. Keith chats with AI expert Lisa Palmer about how the legal issues around these tools could play out. Guest: Lisa Palmer, chief strategist for AI Leaders, based in Broken Arrow, Okla. Lisa C. Palmer, former big tech executive and AI doctoral candidate, is the Chief AI Strategist for AI Leaders based in Broken Arrow, OK. She uses outside-in thinking to help Fortune 500 executives, board directors, and product leaders to drive growth, improve profitability, and outperform competitors by staying ahead of emerging trends and risks.

The number of electric vehicles (EVs) being deployed on the roads continues to escalate, but several challenges around battery technologies and electric grid infrastructures loom ahead. How will the world be able to meet the demand for these vehicles while also maintaining an affordable cost and not completely disrupt the power infrastructure? Keith talks with Nic Tat from Capgemini Invent about how utilities and battery experts are addressing these key challenges.

Keith and Chris look at the tech news of the week, including continuing AI integrations into other apps; TikTok bans continue in Europe and Canada; and why other parts of the world are returning to offices compared with America.

Apple has stayed on the sidelines for a lot of the ChatGPT/AI tool gold rush of late, but could that change with an AI-boosted Siri? Keith chats with Computerworld’s Ken Mingis and Macworld’s Michael Simon about a bunch of Apple-related developments.

Keith and Chris look at the tech news of the week about how old gadgets become bricks or valuable properties; the latest on how offices are redesigning themselves to look more like homes; and the effects of increased attacks on the power grid system.

Keith chats with author Justin Bean, author of “What Could Go Right?” about how technology and society can work together for a better future instead of focusing on crisis, doom and gloom.

Recent missteps and misfires around AI-integrated search functionality by Google and Bing, along with other examples of bad behavior dominated the news this week. Are these bumps in the road or cause for real concern? Keith talks with Jason Mars, Ph.D., from the University of Michigan about the future of the AI technology.

Technology tools such as Zoom and TikTok are causing employees to do some weird things as they return to the office; employers are looking to entice workers with mandatory ‘fun’ events, but this has many eyes rolling. Keith and Chris discuss the latest work trends affecting office culture.

As automakers continue to push new advances in autonomous vehicles, there are many potential potholes for consumers who expect a fully automatic, robot car. Keith talks with author Jason Torchinsky about some potential disasters on the road to full autonomy.

The increasingly easy methods for cloning someone’s voice creates security challenges, especially when combined with video deepfaking technology and ChatGPT-style generative AI. Are technologists thinking about the potential troubles this could create?

Google announced its ChatGPT rival, Bard A.I., which looks to be integrated into search engines in the same way that ChatGPT is being integrated by Microsoft into Bing. Keith chats with Alex Lawrence, Ph.D., a professor at Weber State University about these latest developments, as well as how students are embracing the tools to augment their learning in his classes.

There is additional evidence that technology that should have helped us during the Covid-19 pandemic likely did more harm than good. Keith and Chris discuss their frustration with collaboration software, educational learning platforms and Zoom fatigue.

The level of innovation occurring across the technology landscape is happening in small hops rather than large leaps. Keith talks with analyst Jack Gold about where technology can still be innovative to get people excited about new products that move us forward as society.

Wading through the testimony in the Senate hearing exploring the TicketMaster failure during the Taylor Swift presale, it becomes clear that it’s easier to blame ‘bots rather than innovate.

The pendulum of power is shifting back towards employers as tech layoffs, a softening economy and other office workplace and hiring trends hit the world of work.

Massive layoffs are beginning to hit companies that are not specifically technology companies, indicating a slowing economy. However, for workers with specific technology skills, there’s a silver lining in this news.

The big game is coming, and Keith gets a sneak peek at how digital technologies are being used to support logistics for public safety, utilities and other city services in a discussion with Feroz Merchhiya, CIO and CISO for the city of Glendale, Arizona.

More governments and universities are looking at banning TikTok on their networks, as well as banning ChatGPT and other AI technologies from students who might use the tools to “cheat.” Is this a good idea, or would it create a new generation of rogue users?

ChatGPT and generative AI continues to take the Internet by storm, with new tools and applications popping up almost daily, and concerns and thoughts raised about intellectual property and how the tool can be used for nefarious purposes. Are we at the beginning of an AI revolution or is it just a mismash of publicity stunts being created?

We look at the recently concluded CES 2023 to see whether any new technologies launched at the largest consumer electronics tradeshow will make its way into the home or office or on the roads.

Artificial intelligence, ongoing chip shortages, cybersecurity concerns and keeping businesses moving will likely be the biggest technology trends for 2023 in the tech space. We check in with our key news editors and writers to see what they think will top the headlines in 2023.

Several surveys and trends indicate that 2023 is still a great time for employees to look for a new job; the Great Resignation seen over the past few years is continuing, but employers might be starting to push back by asking or requiring employees to come into the office more.

Newly launched artificial intelligence tools and apps are flooding the internet with computer-generated text and artwork that closes the gap between a ‘robot’ and human creativity.

After a few years of hype, is there still a future around the metaverse and its implications for work, play and everything in between?

Whether scalper bots were truly responsible for the Taylor Swift/Ticketmaster debacle, they are a considerable problem for companies looking to sell popular items online. In this episode of Today in Tech, we talk with Kasada CEO Sam Crowther about the problem, what IT pros can learn from these events, and how to take on the ‘bots.

Join Macworld’s Michael Simon and Computerworld’s Ken Mingus as they discuss Apple product lineup as we head into the all-important holiday shopping season.

The biggest change in years to the Apple Watch line-up is the new Apple Watch Ultra. It’s big — and controversial. Macworld’s Michael Simon and Computerworld’s Ken Mingis weigh in on the new wearable, which users love or hate.

Join Macworld’s Michael Simon and Ken Mingis from Computerworld as they discuss their Apple newest phones and answer your questions.

Join Michael Simon of Macworld and Ken Mingis from Computerworld as they preview Apple's big iPhone event.

Join Computerworld executive editor Ken Mingis and Macworld executive editor Michael Simon as they look at the latest Apple Watch rumors and why it could be the biggest update ever

Join Macworld executive editor Michael Simon and Computerworld executive editor Ken Mingis as they talk about the latest iPhone 14 rumors – everything from anticipated release date to price to design changes. Plus, they'll talk about the features they hope to see in the latest release.

Join Computerworld executive editor Ken Mingis and Macworld executive editor Michael Simon as they talk about their favorite features and biggest gripes with iOS 16, macOS Ventura and the rest of the OSes arriving from Apple this fall.