Uncanny Valley | WIRED

Meta's annual Connect developer conference announces new mixed reality headset, smart glasses, and AI chatbots. The podcast explores Meta's hardware and software releases, including the Meta Quest 3 VR headset and Ray-Ban smart glasses. They discuss the features and limitations of the mixed reality glasses, voice-powered chatbots, and AI advancements. The podcast also mentions Emu, a text image generator, and the popularity of the llama and llama two models. They end with movie recommendations and casual conversation about movies and TV shows.

Amazon's annual media event unveils an upgraded Alexa with more natural conversation abilities and emotional nuance. The podcast explores the use of generative AI and large language models in improving Alexa's conversational skills. It also discusses the competition between tech companies in developing generative AI tools and the future of smart speakers and personal voice. The episode concludes with a mention of AutoGBT and Google's announcement of connecting bard to apps.

Apple announces new iPhones, Apple watches, and software features. The switch from Lightning to USB-C discussed along with its challenges. Updates on Apple watches and introduction of double tap gesture. Exploration of big tech's environmental policies and expansion of iCloud Plus. Challenges of storage and reliance on iCloud in Apple's ecosystem. Octavia Spencer's participation in Apple event and recommendation for Anchor M650 wireless microphone. Discussion on spicy hot sauce called Shata as a personal recommendation.

Explore the expanding world of Roblox, its efforts to attract older users, and its introduction of animated video chat. Delve into the concept of the metaverse and Roblox's potential in it. Get recommendations on getting rid of cables and watching Jury Duty, as well as a deep dive into the history of rock music.

The podcast discusses the future of smartphones, including the potential for foldable phones and voice features. They also explore the decline in smartphone sales and the appeal of flip phones. The hosts share personal recommendations for reducing excessive smartphone use and discuss the benefits of swimming and meditation as ways to disconnect from screens. They recommend the book 'Why Buddhism is True' and explore the science behind meditation and its connection to Buddhism philosophy.

An investigation reveals how school administrators in Illinois turned to police to issue fines for student infractions, leading to financial strain and added stress for families. The podcast dives into a case involving a student accused of stealing AirPods that goes to a jury trial. Discussions also cover the issue of punitive discipline in schools, disproportionate ticketing of students of color, and recommendations for the end of summer. Additionally, there is talk about a popular sponge, a diverse newsletter, and the problems caused by cows on an uninhabited island.

Excessive summer heat waves, wildfires, and infrastructure failures caused by climate change are discussed. The podcast explores the impact of heat on the environment, the urgency of the problem, and potential solutions. It also covers the causes and consequences of wildfires in Lahaina, Maui, and debates individual responsibility in combatting climate change. The podcast also touches on the documentary 'How to Catch a TikTok Thief'.

Tech companies have been touting self-driving cars as the future of transportation for over a decade now. Companies like Cruise, Waymo, and Zoox all have active programs testing their autonomous vehicles in US cities like San Francisco, Phoenix, and Austin. Their cars have run endless loops around town to train their algorithms, zipping along city streets—and occasionally blocking them. While the tech has clearly gotten better and Waymo and Cruise now have permission to operate fully autonomously in California, the computer-powered taxis have also driven up some controversy with local governments, safety officials, city residents, and drivers.This week on Gadget Lab, WIRED transportation writer Aarian Marshall joins us to talk about how a vote this week in California will affect robotaxi adoption in cities across the country, and what happens when our roadways are inundated with robots.Show Notes:Read Aarian’s story about how ride-hailing service drivers are responding to self-driving taxis. Read all of WIRED’s coverage of autonomous vehicles.Recommendations:Aarian recommends calling company customer support and trying to talk to a human sometimes. Mike recommends listening to comedy albums on streaming services. Lauren recommends her other podcast Have a Nice Future, particularly the episode with the artist Grimes.Aarian Marshall can be found on Twitter @AarianMarshall. Lauren Goode is @LaurenGoode. Michael Calore is @snackfight. Bling the main hotline at @GadgetLab. The show is produced by Boone Ashworth (@booneashworth). Our theme music is by Solar Keys. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Cloud computing has streamlined our hyper-mobile digital lives. We upload files, images, and globs of data to the cloud. Once all of our stuff is stored there, we can access it from anywhere and edit things collaboratively with our friends and coworkers. It’s convenient and appealing—but only if you don’t mind that all your personal data is stored on servers run by giant companies like Google and Amazon. The local-first computing movement is advocating for a different kind of communal framework, one that’s more private, more secure, and powered by peer-to-peer software that runs just on the machines where the files are being shared. No giant server farms in faraway lands, no faceless corporations using your data to generate ad revenue. Just the good old internet, by the people and for the people.This week on Gadget Lab, WIRED staff writer Greg Barber joins us to talk all about the local-first computing movement and how its adherents hope to upend our reliance on cloud services using peer-to-peer communication.Show Notes:Read Greg’s story about local-first computing.Recommendations:Greg recommends the Ragnar Kjartansson: The Visitors installation at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. Lauren recommends the Barbie movie if you somehow haven’t seen it already. Mike recommends the latest episode of The War on Cars podcast with Bob Sorokanich.Greg Barber can be found on Twitter @gregoryjbarber. Lauren Goode is @LaurenGoode. Michael Calore is @snackfight. Bling the main hotline at @GadgetLab. The show is produced by Boone Ashworth (@booneashworth). Our theme music is by Solar Keys. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Back in May, the Writers Guild of America went on strike—partly over disputes about compensation, and partly over fears that studios could use generative artificial intelligence tools to replace human writers and creators. This month, when the actor’s union SAG-AFTRA announced its own strike, things really started to heat up as some of the biggest and most recognizable movie stars joined the picket lines. Production in Hollywood has now mostly ground to a halt, negotiations with studios have stalled, and this stalemate looks as though it will persist for some time.What do these strikes mean for the movies, shows, podcasts, and video games we consume? Will the celebrity podcasts and chat shows also go dark? Are our streaming options now going to be limited to reruns and reality shows? Senior writer Kate Knibbs joins us from WIRED’s Culture desk to discuss the shifts that technology, economics, and income disparity have wrought in Hollywood.Show Notes:Read our coverage of the WGA strike, the actors’ strike. Learn how AI is being used in Hollywood and in video games. We also have a report from a Hollywood-less Comic-Con. Read WIRED’s entire series on the future of entertainment.Recommendations:Kate recommends two music artists, Nation of Language and Yaya Bey. Lauren recommends the episode of WTF with Marc Maron featuring Cillian Murphy. Mike recommends the film How to Blow Up a Pipeline.Kate Knibbs can be found on Twitter @Knibbs. Lauren Goode is @LaurenGoode. Michael Calore is @snackfight. Bling the main hotline at @GadgetLab. The show is produced by Boone Ashworth (@booneashworth). Our theme music is by Solar Keys. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices