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Is Microsoft Teams really going to start tracking employee locations? Jul 13, 2026

Show notes

A new "Workspace Check-in" feature rolled out last month.

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Did AI shopping app Phia claim unearned affiliate sales through fake clicks? Europe took another step toward a social media ban for kids, and what are your plans for AI Appreciation Day? Jul 13, 2026

Show notes

-According to multiple reports, the AI-powered shopping plugin Phia used a tactic known as cookie stuffing to attach its affiliate code to sales it didn't actually drive.

-Across Europe, kids now spend four to six hours per day on social media, and almost 60 percent of them had experienced "socio-emotional development and susceptibility to mental health issues.

-While we can acknowledge the impact that AI has made on society and industries so far, shouldn't we embrace the human experience instead of celebrating this AI slop of an excuse for a special day?

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New York is the first US state to ban smart glasses in all its courthouses Jul 10, 2026

Show notes

People will have to surrender their devices for safekeeping before they’re allowed in court.

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Microsoft's carbon emissions grow by 25 percent last year, a new ChatGPT tool for all things work related, and Playdate is helping Big Ben ring on time Jul 10, 2026

Show notes

-As GeekWire noted, Microsoft seems to be moving in the opposite direction of where it wants to go in order to achieve its goal.

-OpenAI describes its latest offering as something of a general purpose productivity agent.

- Big Ben's clock mechanic says he programmed his Playdate to help check the timing for the iconic clocktower's bells to ring.

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The next Samsung Galaxy Unpacked launch is happening in July Jul 09, 2026

Show notes

We’re expecting an updated family of foldables including not one but possibly two versions of the Galaxy Z Fold 8.

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SpaceXAI launched Grok 4.5, the NHTSA called out autonomous cars, and Volkswagen is employing 100 sheep at a solar farm in Poland Jul 09, 2026

Show notes

-SpaceXAi says Grok 4.5 is its smartest model yet, built specifically "to excel at coding, agentic tasks and knowledge work." It was trained across tens of thousands of NVIDIA GB300 GPUs on datasets full of coding, science, engineering and math information.

-The US Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is demanding action from autonomous car makers after identifying "a clear pattern of driverless AVs interfering with law enforcement and other first responders" over the past months.

-There are now 100 sheep grazing at the solar farm that powers Volkswagen's manufacturing plant in Poznań, Poland.

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Now you can direct Anthropic's Claude Cowork AI from your phone Jul 08, 2026

Show notes

Max subscribers get first access.

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Apple is reportedly testing DRAM chips from a US-blocked Chinese company, the US wants to restrict corporate use of Chinese AI, and DuckDuckGo’s Browser can now block video ads Jul 08, 2026

Show notes

-According to Financial Times, Apple has already progressed to testing the company's memory chips with its devices, while it's still lobbying the US government to give it permission to use CXMT's products.

-CNBC quotes an unnamed State Department spokesperson who said the use of Chinese models "by US companies raises serious concerns."

-DuckDuckGo announced that it can now block most video ads, particularly those on YouTube, when a video is playing in its browser.

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Apple's foldable iPhone may be in short supply after it launches Jul 07, 2026

Show notes

The iPhone Fold's complexity means production will get off to a slow start.

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Google now uses your uploaded search media to train AI, DeepSeek may be developing its own AI chips, and Meta is facing $1.4 trillion in state lawsuits Jul 07, 2026

Show notes

- Google introduced a change to how it hoovers up our data to train its AI platforms. It can now scoop up media you upload to its various search tools for training purposes, according to a report by TechCrunch.

-DeepSeek, the Chinese AI company which sometimes keeps tech executives awake at night, is reportedly looking to build its own silicon.

-Meta is facing penalties of up to a massive $1.4 trillion from four US states that sued the company over the addictive designs of Facebook and Instagram.

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