TechStuff

The promise of autonomous vehicles and machinery has been on the minds of industries, consumers and science fiction writers for many years. While advancements in AI, Robotics, Edge Computing and 5G Connectivity have gotten us closer to that vision, we are still quite far from computers solely running the show. The brain’s ability to compute and react to real-life situations is still a critical component to most operations, and companies such as Phantom Auto are working hard to combine these two forces - the advancements in machine learning  and the power of human decision making, opening entire sectors of the labor force previously unseen.    In this episode of The Restless Ones, I had the pleasure of sitting with the founding partners of Phantom Auto, Elliot Katz and Shai Magzimof who are actively merging the world’s needs for autonomous machine operation and dynamic employment opportunities. With skilled labor as a key problem for their clients, Phantom specializes in creating remote controlled solutions for everything from forklifts, to factory and warehouse vehicles and more, all made possible through connecting the power of technology and human intelligence. Their work is also bridging the worker divide, allowing blue collar workers to enjoy the benefits of remote work that their counterparts enjoy, avoiding the hazardous and other physical challenges typically associated with their work. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A critical look at ethical sourcing, sustainability, and repairability in smartphone design. Hidden supply chains and the human and environmental cost of rare earth and cobalt mining are explored. Manufacturing realities in China and the problem of consume-and-replace culture get attention. Fairphone’s recycling-first approach and modular repair design are highlighted alongside tough trade-offs.

What was HitchBot all about and what happened to it? From hitchhiking across Canada to a violent end in Philadelphia, we tell the robot's story. Scott Benjamin guest hosts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Twitter shareholders voted to approve Elon Musk's acquisition bid for Twitter even as a whistleblower testified in front of Congress that Twitter has terrible security practices. Plus Senators put social media in the hot seat, California sues Amazon and EA's anti-cheat strategy is scary. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Exploring the evolution of podcast advertising, from static to dynamic ads, balancing commerce with content creation. Delving into the challenges and shifts in podcast advertising, monetization through advertising, and the importance of authenticity in sponsored content. Discussing creating and implementing ad breaks in podcasts, maximizing ad relevancy for listeners, and the growth of brands in podcast advertising.

Twitter's shareholders are expected to approve Elon Musk's proposed Twitter acquisition even as Musk continues to try and extricate himself from the deal. Meta spins off the PyTorch project into a new, independent foundation. Square Enix announces that a computer game is going to shut down prematurely. And much more!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One challenge with data preservation is that the way we store information changes rapidly. In this episode, we look at some media formats that are now obsolete, including some that Jonathan had never heard about before!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is Google Plus heading off into the sunset? What happened? In this update to a classic episode, TechStuff looks at what went wrong.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apple held its Far Out event and unveiled new iPhones, Apple Watches and Airpods. Google is telling employees to cut back on company travel. Microsoft has invested in Travis Kalanick's next company. And Twitter is going to let a subset of users finally edit their tweets.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Way back in 1939, GM proposed a highway system that would allow cars to travel rapidly down highways with no danger of traffic congestion or accidents. What would it take to create an automated highway system, and why is the focus instead on making vehicles themselves autonomous? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.