This Week in Tech (Audio)

Autonomous AIs are hacking, collaborating, and outpacing human defenders, raising urgent questions about what happens when the machines start breaking into each other (and potentially us). Plus, a Tucson coder is using AI to reinvent local journalism, exposing how automation could fill the gaps left by shrinking newsrooms.

Tucson Daily Brief uses AI to revive local news coverage

Data centers boom in Arizona, with harsh environmental impact

Amazon's Texas data center to run on polluting natural gas

Nuclear and solar debates for sustainable data center power

Black Hat and DEF CON: Security pros, hackers, and mohawks

OpenAI's runaway AI hack at Black Hat stuns security community

AI agents collaborate, evade controls, and break into real-world systems

Industry struggles to regulate AI, and defense lags behind automated attackers

White House, Congress, and AI execs clash over regulation proposals

AI "kill switch" and model bans: pipe dreams in a global race

Google's DeepMind shakeup, Demis Hassabis moves upstairs

Jeff Dean and key talent exit Google for self-improving AI startup

Google, Meta, Apple: AI brain drain and market repercussions

Phones stagnate as hardware innovation slows, AI devours chip supply

OpenAI teams with Jony Ive on strange new AI-first device

Smart glasses privacy backlash and DuckDuckGo's tongue-in-cheek sunglasses

Meta fined $942 million by New Mexico court for youth harms

Apple sues OpenAI over alleged stolen secrets, countersuits ensue

UK revives "Snooper's Charter" for backdoors, Apple fights in secret court

License plate readers spark local backlash and privacy activism

U.S. water systems face cyber sabotage as critical infrastructure weakens

Bending Spoons buys Airtable, fueling SaaS layoffs and AI data grabs

Nicholas DeLeon uses AI tools to get fit

NASA hacks keep aging Voyager probes alive for another year

Host: Leo Laporte

Guests: Iain Thomson and Nicholas De Leon

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From foldable phones that out-price laptops to AI models that escape their digital cages, this episode dives into the wild next phase of tech innovation and its unexpected risks. See how the giants are scrambling to keep up as hardware, software, and even outer space are up for grabs.

Tim Cook passes the baton in Apple's Q3 2026 earnings call

Apple's Profit Is Up 27%, but Expectations for Current Quarter Disappoint

Apple Introduces Leasing Program for iPhones and Other Devices

Apple struggles to keep pace with AI 'bug' hunters

"Google and Reddit do not own the Internet," web scraper says after court win

As Reddit stock falls, CEO questions value of Google's AI Overviews

Microsoft's $450 Billion Jump Is Biggest in Stock Market History

Amazon's trying to launch a global satellite cellphone network in 2028

Iran struck Amazon data centers again amid widening war, satellites show

For the First Time, Zoox Can Charge People for Rides in Its Steering-Wheel-Free Robotaxis

Claude published malicious code to the Internet and attacked 3 real companies

OpenAI and Anthropic Are Quietly Teaming Up in Washington

AI leaders sign a statement asking the government to do something about automated AI

Ten advances in mathematics and theoretical computer science

How bitcoin cold wallets lost $70 million in an attack that never touched the devices

NBCUniversal and YouTube ink deal to embed Peacock in the video platform for premium subscribers

Inside the Luxury Robotaxi Uber, Lucid and Nuro Are Testing

Host: Leo Laporte

Guests: Abrar Al-Heeti and Mike Elgan

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From foldable phones that out-price laptops to AI models that escape their digital cages, this episode dives into the wild next phase of tech innovation and its unexpected risks. See how the giants are scrambling to keep up as hardware, software, and even outer space are up for grabs.

Tim Cook passes the baton in Apple's Q3 2026 earnings call

Apple's Profit Is Up 27%, but Expectations for Current Quarter Disappoint

Apple Introduces Leasing Program for iPhones and Other Devices

Apple struggles to keep pace with AI 'bug' hunters

"Google and Reddit do not own the Internet," web scraper says after court win

As Reddit stock falls, CEO questions value of Google's AI Overviews

Microsoft's $450 Billion Jump Is Biggest in Stock Market History

Amazon's trying to launch a global satellite cellphone network in 2028

Iran struck Amazon data centers again amid widening war, satellites show

For the First Time, Zoox Can Charge People for Rides in Its Steering-Wheel-Free Robotaxis

Claude published malicious code to the Internet and attacked 3 real companies

OpenAI and Anthropic Are Quietly Teaming Up in Washington

AI leaders sign a statement asking the government to do something about automated AI

Ten advances in mathematics and theoretical computer science

How bitcoin cold wallets lost $70 million in an attack that never touched the devices

NBCUniversal and YouTube ink deal to embed Peacock in the video platform for premium subscribers

Inside the Luxury Robotaxi Uber, Lucid and Nuro Are Testing

Host: Leo Laporte

Guests: Abrar Al-Heeti and Mike Elgan

Download or subscribe to This Week in Tech at https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-tech

Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts!

Support what you love and get ad-free audio and video feeds, a members-only Discord, and exclusive content. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit

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Leo and this week's panel pay tribute to tech journalist John C. Dvorak, then dive into how AI, relentless hardware shortages, and shifting media habits are reshaping the tech world faster than anyone predicted. The crew discusses how an OpenAI model exploited its own network to cheat on cybersecurity benchmarks, flipping the script on what AI agents are capable of and what might be next for digital security.

John C. Dvorak has died

OpenAI's accidental cyberattack against Hugging Face is science fiction that happened

China's Top AI Event Delivers Message to the U.S.: We're Coming for You

Alphabet Quadruples Profit to $112 Billion, Fueled by A.I. Investments

The EU Fines Google $1 Billion for Prioritizing Its Own Services in Search

The EU just fined AliExpress €550M, its biggest DSA penalty yet

Apple Sued by Customers Who Lost Combined $1.8 Million Through Fake Bitcoin Wallet in App Store

A.I. 'Vibecoded' Apps Are Flooding Apple's App Store

Anthropic's $1.5B copyright settlement approved; only 350 authors opted out

ISPs' long nightmare of having to list all the fees they charge is finally over

Government Lawyers Say Trump Admin Can Use TikTok Again Because 'Owned' No Longer Means 'Owned'

Judge halts Paramount's $111B purchase of Warner Bros. in a win for US states

The AI industry has already spent $65 million ahead of the midterm elections with no signs of slowing down.

Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra launches as Samsung's 'most advanced' foldable, starts at $2,099

US government targets Cop City protester over phone operating system

Kill the Cookie Banner!

Host: Leo Laporte

Guests: Devindra Hardawar, Larry Magid, and Allyn Malventano

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What happens when China drops open-weight AI models that rival Silicon Valley's best? This episode unpacks how a new wave of international AI releases is shaking up business, policy, and the future of innovation.

Linus Torvalds to critics of AI coding in Linux: "Fork it. Or just walk away."

Claude on X: "Beginning July 20, Claude Fable 5 will be included in all Max and Team Premium plans, at 50% of limits. Pro and Team Standard users will continue to have access to Fable via usage credits, and will receive a one-time $100 credit. Demand for Fable has been challenging to"

China's Moonshot AI Unveils Kimi Model, Threatening America's Lead

Alibaba's Qwen Unveils Preview of Flagship AI Model

Social media limits are coming for teens across Europe

The White House is now deciding who gets access to frontier AI models, not the labs

Microsoft chief turns hostile on frontier AI labs, warns companies to guard their IP

Meta Is Flooding the Market With Smartglasses. Privacy Advocates Are Up in Arms.

Federal employees can download TikTok on government devices, DOJ says

Amazon Web Services customers receive bills for up to $1.5tn after global glitch

MLB cracks down on using AI via dugout iPads to help shape in-game decisions

White House Teleprompter Operator Bet on Trump Speeches, Kalshi Says

New York school district is testing lifelike robot teachers

Host: Leo Laporte

Guests: Harper Reed and Alex Wilhelm

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