Host Keith Shaw and his expert guests discuss the latest technology news and trends happening in the industry. Watch new episodes twice each week here or listen to the podcast.
As computing has developed over the past four decades, we increasingly see products designed to be more ‘disposable’ rather than upgradeable or made to last longer. However, there are still bright spots within the ecosystem that allow consumers to get more out of their devices or extend their life. Keith chats with Larry O’Connor, founder and CEO of Other World Computing, about these issues, as well as how improving speeds through cables and connectors enabled more external products such as storage (and why Keith needs to backup his data more often).
Big Tech companies trying to roll out new AI tools face some blowback in recent weeks, whether it was OpenAI using a Scarlett Johannson-like voice (without her permission or licensing) to tout new voice AI features; or Microsoft hyping a new feature that takes screen shots of your computer every few seconds; or Google proudly announcing that AI overviews and paid sponsors will bury search results even further. Chris Shaw from NTT Research joins the show as guest co-host with the crew to discuss these and other top technology stories from the week.
Four years after most employees began using video calls for meetings, workers are discovering that they are still not good with the technology. In addition, a new survey suggests that video calls cause anxiety and fatigue. In this episode, Keith chats with Sylvia Johnson, head of methodology at Preply, about the survey and how we can ease the anxiety around video calls.
OpenAI launches a new AI model that lets users have voice conversations with ChatGPT, creating the world of ‘Her’. With rumors of Apple creating a “better Siri” at some point, are we getting to a world with better AI voice assistants? Guest co-host Chris Shaw joins the crew to discuss these topics and also news around autonomous vehicles making a comeback, why solar storms disrupted tractors in the Midwest, and whether people just don’t want to work anymore.
The onslaught of new artificial intelligence tools is causing burnout for many engineers, while another research paper suggests that AI will produce generic, bland content if humans don’t challenge the AI systems to be better. Also, Apple faces backlash for its ‘Crush’ ad promoting its new iPad, and TikTok heads to the courts to try and prevent its sale in the U.S. Chris Shaw from NTT Research joins the crew as guest co-host as they discuss these stories and other technology topics.
As businesses look to deploy artificial intelligence, many are concerned about making sure the systems are 100% accurate in their responses, and that ‘AI hallucinations’, where the system seems to make up answers, are eliminated. However, there are cases where AI hallucinations can be good for a business. Keith chats with Ryan Welsh, Field CTO for Generative AI at Qlik, about how companies can determine the right level of accuracy for their AI needs, and whether hallucinations are OK in certain situations.
Elon Musk gets rid of most of his Supercharger team, confusing and stunning others in the automotive industry, which leads us to ask whether Musk is playing chess while the rest of us play checkers. Chris Shaw, CMO of NTT Research, joins the show as guest co-host to discuss this with Keith and Chris. Also covered – UnitedHealth CEO admits a security failure that caused a huge ransomware attack, Google continues to act ‘evil’ with its latest layoffs, the Rabbit R1 gadget could have just been an Android app, and a Catholic group deploys an ‘AI priest’ chatbot with easily predictable disastrous effects.
Despite low unemployment numbers and reports of “plenty of jobs available” in the technology space, many job seekers are still struggling to find work. Encountering hurdles such as AI-driven applicant tracking systems, fake job listings, recruitment scams and ageism, many job seekers are becoming more frustrated. Keith chats with Chui Senanyake from The Job Helpers to see if there are other ways that job seekers can beat (or bypass) several of these hurdles.
The countdown clock for TikTok in the U.S. continues to run, as the Senate passes a bill and President Biden signs it into law, giving the Chinese-owned company up to a year to sell to a new owner, or face a U.S. ban. Analyst Jack Gold joins the show as guest co-host this week to discuss this news, as well as the ‘earthquake effect’ of the FTC’s ban on non-compete agreements for workers, and whether an AI dogfighting demonstration by the U.S. Air Force is just a dog-and-pony show.
Companies like Apple and Meta are grabbing the headlines for augmented and virtual reality technology (or calling it ‘spatial computing’), but is there still a market for the idea of mixed reality, which merges both technology into an augmented and virtual experience? Keith chats with Mark Day, CEO of AlensiaXR, about the history of XR’s ups and downs, and what it would take for the technology to become more mainstream with consumers and businesses.
While some company layoffs at companies like Tesla and Rivian indicate a lower demand for electric vehicles, companies like Google and Best Buy may have said the quiet part out loud – investments in AI might be one of the reasons they are letting people go. Keith and Chris talk with guest co-host Brandon Mahne about the reasons behind the latest bunch of tech layoffs, as well as whether anyone will buy an AI PC, and why the Fallout TV show hit a home run with viewers and gamers alike.
Advances in battery performance, design, form factors and lightweight materials are all contributing to a potential boost in wearable computing devices that move beyond the smart watch. Whether devices will be worn on your face, neck, hands or even feet, companies are looking to find new ways for users to monitor their health or provide other data for convenience purposes. Keith chats with Semir Haddad, chief product and strategy officer for MicroEJ, about the new world of wearables we might see in the next five years.
With the arrival of the Apple Vision Pro and renewed interest in virtual reality offerings by Meta, it looks like shipments of the devices will grow in 2024 and beyond. Keith chats with IDC’s Ramon Llamas about the impact of Apple’s entrance into the market, and what the future holds for the augmented reality / virtual reality / mixed reality / spatial computing world.
OpenAI announces a tool that can clone a person’s voice based only on a 15-second audio clip, while a song generator can now generate a three-minute song from natural language prompts. Brandon Mahne joins the crew as guest co-host as they also discuss Amazon ditching its ‘Just Walk Out’ grocery technology, and we find out who was really responsible for the MGM Resorts hack.
The rise of social media addiction and behavioral issues has also corresponded with the rise of smartphone usage, especially among adolescents. When talking about the behavioral issues caused by social media addiction, how much of this can also be attributed to a device that we have attached to our hip almost 24 hours a day? Keith chats with Professor Joseph Trunzo, a professor of psychology at Bryant University about how smartphones are affecting behaviors, as well as whether there will be long-term effects of social media addiction as this generation moves into the workforce.
FTX co-founder Sam Bankman-Fried will be in federal prison for a very long time for his role in conspiracy and fraud charges from the collapse of the crypto exchange he started. Guest co-host Brandon Mahne joins Keith and Chris to discuss these and other tech stories of the week, including the under-the-radar rise of NVIDIA and Anthropic, as well as the new AI song-writing tool that everyone is obsessed with.
Parents and end users who are worried about the potential effects of social media addiction can take more proactive steps to help stave off potential behavioral issues as a result. Keith chats with John Paul Simon, director of clinical interventions in schools for CarePlus New Jersey, about how to recognize the signs of social media addition, as well as advice to help users become more aware of the dangers.
Using tactics like how Las Vegas casinos keep customers in their seats, big social media companies are designing interfaces to keep users on the platform for longer periods of times. This can be very problematic for younger users, who have brains that are still developing and can be seriously affected by addiction behavior. Keith chats with Dr. Lisa Strohman, a licensed psychologist and director of the Digital Citizen Academy, about the harmful effects of social media addiction.
The last two years has seen more than 310,000 layoffs from more than 200 tech companies, indicating an issue with employment in the technology sector. While some experts say there are plenty of open technology positions at companies, anecdotal evidence suggests that it’s becoming harder to find work. AI-based hiring tools that often screen out qualified candidates before they reach a hiring manager also seems problematic. In our latest technology roundup, Keith and Chris are joined by guest co-host Brandon Mahne, a Silicon Valley veteran technologist and CTO, to discuss the issue. Also discussed is whether Apple and Google teaming up on AI is a good idea, and why people under 30 are so unhappy.
While news publishers have often used ‘clickbait’ and other misleading headlines to sell newspapers and content for years, the rise of generative artificial intelligence means that we can expect even more “junk content” that could be misleading, fake or otherwise unreliable. Add in other AI-based generation such as voice content, images and videos and the world will suddenly become very unreliable when it comes to news. Keith chats with Alex Fink, founder and CEO of Otherweb, to discuss AI-generated junk content and what publishers, companies and even users need to do to combat the issue.
A multi-district lawsuit against the major social media companies (Meta, TikTok, Google, Snapchat) alleges their algorithms are defective because they are designed to maximize screen time, which can encourage addictive behavior in adolescents. Keith chats with Jayne Conroy, a partner at Simmons Hanly Conroy, about the lawsuit, its origins and potential consequences, and the process moving forward.
The U.S. Congress takes the first step against a potential ban or sale of TikTok through House legislation, but will this mean the end of the social media app as we know it? Meanwhile, Europe begins adding safeguards around artificial intelligence technology to help protect the privacy of its citizens. Guest co-host Paul Desmond from Saratoga B2B Group joins the show to discuss these issues, as well as whether the U.S. power infrastructure will eventually be unable to support new AI efforts and electric vehicle applications.
With more AI models and tools coming out from companies on a weekly basis, we are beginning to wonder whether this will turn many companies away from the technology as they look for the ‘best tool possible.’ Meanwhile, continued errors and AI hallucinations have companies holding back on fully deploying the technology. Keith chats with Rebecca Parsons, CTO Emerita at Thoughtworks, about how companies need to remain vigilant and responsible in their AI development, while also accepting that we are still in the early days and that errors will happen.
Over the past 20 years, innovation and new products seemed to come mainly from Silicon Valley entrepreneurs and other venture capitalist investments. But that may be changing, as research labs, academics and research and development groups come up with new ways to develop “what’s coming next.” In this episode, Keith chats with Chris Shaw, CMO at NTT Research, about some of the big trends in how new products and technologies will be developed over the next 10 to 20 years.
The ‘spatial computing’ Apple Vision Pro has been out for a few weeks now, and reviews have been mixed about whether this is the future of computing or just a really expensive gadget. Keith chats with Macworld’s Mike Simon and Jason Cross, and Computerworld contributing writer Michael deAgonia about their impressions of the device and whether business users will find value in the device.
In our latest technology news roundup, we discuss how scammers were able to grab $25 million from a Hong Kong company’s finance employee by using deepfaked AI video; the rise of dumb people using Apple Vision Pro devices in not-so-smart ways, and whether a mega-sports streaming service will mean the death of the cable TV industry.
The Apple Vision Pro has been out for a few weeks now, and reviews have been mixed about whether this is the future of computing or just a really expensive gadget. Macworld’s Mike Simon and Jason Cross, and Computerworld contributing writer Michael deAgonia discuss their impressions of the device and whether business users will find value in it.
What makes a company among the best for IT professionals? The pay? The benefits? Career growth opportunities? Keith Shaw chats with Beck Stackpole and Valerie Potter about Computerworld’s Best Places to Work in IT 2024, now in its 30th year. What benefits, insights and programs make companies more appealing?
Since ChatGPT was released a year ago, generative AI tools have disrupted the way we work, play, draw and create. Keith Shaw chats with resident AI experts Nicholas Mattei (Tulane University) and Mike Mason (Thoughtworks) about what was good, bad and ugly around ChatGPT and genAI — and what we can expect in 2024.
Microsoft has invested $13.1B in generative artificial intelligence, but early indications of Copilot for Windows suggests it’s nothing more than an updated version of Clippy. Can other versions of Copilot, such as M365 for enterprise users, be more successful? Keith Shaw chats with Computerworld’s Preston Gralla about his annoyance with the latest AI tools from Microsoft.
Recent trends indicate continuing problems around generative AI, such as security issues, the ‘dumbening’ of the tech, and cost problems — which leads us to wonder whether we are about to hit the proverbial ‘trough of disillusionment.’ Is this the case or are we just at another plateau, with more greatness to come? Keith Shaw speaks with Mike Mason from Thoughtworks and Nicholas Mattei from Tulane University about whether we have reached “Peak AI."
Technology that can create artificial intelligent avatars of humans is now moving beyond just celebrities and politicians. Influencers, news anchors, college professors and even brand mascots may soon have AI avatars that can interact with customers. Foundry's Keith Shaw chats with Joe Murphy, a technology evangelist with DeepBrain AI, about AI avatars and how they can help people get more done while also reaching new audiences.
Despite hype and negative headlines about generative AI and tools like ChatGPT, companies are finding useful and efficient uses for the tools. We chat with Ajay Mohan, a principal of AI and analytics at Capgemini, about the ways in which businesses will deploy generative AI tools.
With the costs of large language models and generative AI platforms coming down, companies are beginning to explore highly focused systems that can answer questions to specific, niche topics. We explore the pros and cons of this approach with Lawrence Spracklen, senior technical advisor at Numenta.
New research shows that companies involved in a four-day workweek project benefited from improved productivity and better mental health for employees, with the number of hours needed to complete the same amount of work continuing to decline. Lucas Mearian, a senior reporter at Computerworld, talks with us about the latest findings.
The looming launch of electronic data record exchanges will allow more doctors, hospitals and other health providers to more easily share records amongst each other. This should ease the ability for clinicians to see the entire health history of patients, more so than the current fragmented system. Computerworld’s Val Potter and Rob Mitchell talk about the topic with Keith on this episode.
Artificial intelligence, ongoing chip shortages, cybersecurity concerns and business transformation will likely be the biggest technology trends for 2023. We check in with key news editors and writers to see what they think will top the headlines this year.
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.
Macworld Executive Editor Michael Simon and Ken Mingis, executive editor at Computerworld, go over the high points of the new iPhone 14 Pro Max. Standouts include the "Dynamic Island" and always-on display.
Join Macworld Executive Editor Michael Simon and Computerworld Executive Editor Ken Mingis as they look ahead to Apple's big Sept. 7 iPhone event.
Join Computerworld executive editor Ken Mingis and Macworld executive editor Michael Simon as they discuss the latest Apple Watch rumors, new features and why this 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.
Join Macworld Executive Editor Michael Simon and Computerworld Executive Editor Ken Mingis as they break down the pros and cons of Apple's newest laptop.
On Today in Tech, join Michael Simon and Ken Mingis as they separate the facts from fiction about the new 13-in. MacBook Pro, the M2 chip, the M2 MacBook Air, and the latest rumors.
On this week's episode of Today in Tech we talk about the state of Apple's laptops, whether you should preorder the M2 MacBook Pro, and what the future will bring.
On today's episode, it's a WWDC wrap-up party! We'll talk all about the new iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and watchOS updates and which features you'll be most excited to try. And of course we'll have a lot of thoughts about the new M2 processor and MacBook Air.
Apple’s big Worldwide Developers Conference begins June 6. While it’s uncertain there’ll be new hardware , there will be previews of upcoming versions of macOS, iOS, iPadOS and more. Macworld Executive Editor Michael Simon and Computerworld Executive Editor Ken Mingis look at what software announcements may be in the offing.
Not-so-breaking news: Supply chain constraints continue to challenge technology manufacturers, and Apple is no exception. While the wait for some Macs is quite short, others, like the 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro face wait times of eight to ten weeks. And with WWDC looming, could hardware supply chain issues upend any hardware announcement plans? Computerworld executive editor Ken Mingis and Macworld executive editor Michael Simon join Juliet to discuss current hardware supply chain issues and how they may affect WWDC.