Grumpy Old Geeks

Latest Episodes:

718: Net Unhelpful Oct 18, 2025

Show notes

This week, Guest Host Donovan Adkisson joins Jason DeFilippo to wade through the usual tech chaos; California is attempting to regulate the inevitable AI companion chatbots, which is timely, considering ChatGPT is about to launch erotica (with age verification, natch). Turns out, most of the world is less stoked about our algorithmic future than Silicon Valley is. Speaking of chaos, Elon Musk’s Boring Company racked up nearly 800 environmental violations in Vegas, and his Starlink satellites are burning up the atmosphere, validating the Kessler Syndrome predictions (and ruining backyard astronomy). On the ground, Georgia Tech is deploying drone first responders, ensuring campus security is instantly airborne, while the UK's Online Safety Act slapped 4chan with a hefty fine. We also mourn a Crypto Kingpin who met his end in a Lamborghini following a market crash. Finally, beware that "perfect" house listing, as the owner likely used AI to virtually enhance that curb appeal.

It seems even the guy who coined the term "Vibe Coding" admits that relying on AI for complex software is "Net Unhelpful," proving that humans still have to do the heavy lifting—a fact Uber might ignore, as they plan to pay drivers to train AI between rides. Speaking of dumb human stunts, some genius launched the "World's First Waymo DDoS" by summoning 50 robotaxis to a dead end. On the entertainment side, it's time to binge Gen V before Season 5 of The Boys drops; also, why did Apple rename Apple TV+ to Apple TV? The guys also discuss the eternal cultural resonance of Idiocracy and the perfection of Galaxy Quest (and its fantastic documentary, Never Surrender). On the work front, Jason switched back to Things 3 because life is too short for ugly software, even as Windows 10's impending end-of-life threatens to create an e-waste disaster. Also, Wi-Fi 8 is coming soon, because the recently ratified Wi-Fi 7 just wasn't cutting it.

Finally, the Grumpy Old Geeks wish a happy birthday to friends of the show and offer remembrance for the recently deceased, including screen icon Diane Keaton and KISS founding member Ace Frehley (though, honestly, no one here watched KISS Meets the Phantom of the Park). Tune in next time, and always remember to check out Anonymous: Real Stories of Alcoholism, Addiction, and Recovery; and go get some of that GOG Merch... when it becomes available.

Sponsors:

MasterClass - Get an additional 15% off any annual membership at MASTERCLASS.com/GRUMPYOLDGEEKS

Private Internet Access - Go to GOG.Show/vpn and sign up today. For a limited time only, you can get OUR favorite VPN for as little as $2.03 a month.

SetApp - With a single monthly subscription you get 240+ apps for your Mac. Go to SetApp and get started today!!!

1Password - Get a great deal on the only password manager recommended by Grumpy Old Geeks! gog.show/1password

Show notes at https://gog.show/718

FOLLOW UP

Guest Host: Donovan Adkisson

California becomes first state to regulate AI companion chatbots

ChatGPT erotica coming soon with age verification, CEO says

International Polling Shows Fear of AI Across the World

IN THE NEWS

Georgia Tech’s drone first responder program cuts emergency response time to 90 seconds or less

Crypto Kingpin Turns Up Dead in Lamborghini After Market Crash

Concerns grow after spate of social media posts showing SpaceX Starlink satellites burning in the sky — we are currently seeing a ‘couple of satellite re-entries a day,’ says respected astrophysicist

4chan fined $26K for refusing to assess risks under UK Online Safety Act

Elon Musk’s Boring Company Accused of Nearly 800 Environmental Violations on Las Vegas Project

That perfect-looking house for sale may have an owner using AI to virtually enhance the listing

Even the Inventor of 'Vibe Coding' Says Vibe Coding Can't Cut It

Man Launches “World’s First Waymo DDoS” by Ordering 50 Robotaxis to Dead End Street

MEDIA CANDY

GEN V

Apple’s streaming service gets harder to tell apart from its streaming app, box

The Celebrity Traitors

The Fortune Hotel

Idiocracy

Never Surrender: A Galaxy Quest Documentary

The Missi & Brooke Show

Anonymous - Real Stories of Alcoholism, Addiction, and Recovery

Minecraft Movie 2 Release

APPS & DOODADS

Things 3

TP-Link confirms successful Wi-Fi 8 trials — next-gen wireless standard to usher in advances in reliability and latency

The End of Windows 10 Support Is an E-Waste Disaster in the Making

CLOSING SHOUT-OUTS

Diane Keaton dead at age 79

Kiss Meets the Phantom of the Park

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

717: Quantum of Nope Oct 10, 2025

Show notes

The Dutch courts finally did something useful: they told Meta to quit force-feeding algorithmic slop to everyone, so Facebook and Instagram users might actually see posts from friends again—if they can remember who those are. Meanwhile, OpenAI’s Sora 2 rollout is the kind of chaos that makes you wonder if the company replaced QA with a TikTok filter, as outrage videos flood the internet faster than you can say “deepfake meltdown.” Apple banned ICEBlock for being too effective while ICE now wants its own social media surveillance tool—one that OpenAI shut down when Chinese accounts tried to build it. California’s hammering Tesla for its abysmal insurance claims handling, OpenAI is gobbling up chunks of AMD, and consultants got caught using ChatGPT to fake reports before proudly partnering with Anthropic, who just landed Deloitte as its latest “enterprise AI” victim. Elsewhere in this circus: a Florida teen asked ChatGPT how to kill his friend, Taylor Swift fans are furious her new promo video used AI slop (“too rich to be this cheap”), and Apple’s “Find My” led cops to a mountain of smuggled iPhones.

In Media Candy, Brian’s stunned The Diplomat scored a third season, The Long Walk is being pitched as Stand By Me meets Squid Game, California finally bans loud streaming commercials, and Amazon censored Bond posters to remove guns because apparently irony is dead. AI “musicians” are signing record deals while Zelda Williams begs people to stop resurrecting her dad with deepfake garbage. In Apps & Doodads, Jony Ive’s OpenAI gadget is delayed (good), Rivian insists we’ll “appreciate” not having CarPlay (we won’t), Spotify and ChatGPT are teaming up to read your soul through playlists, and Jason warns everyone that the Echo Show is basically an ad-spewing parasite. Apple’s now facing a cybercrime probe in France for Siri’s wiretapping habits, and if you’re nostalgic for simpler times, ioquake3 will let you relive Quake III Arena glory on a modern rig. At the Library, Peter Cawdron’s Dark Beauty: First Contact belly-flops as a Slaughterhouse-Five tribute, while Cory Doctorow’s Enshittification nails exactly why everything sucks—even if his fixes are pure science fiction.

Sponsors:

CleanMyMac - clnmy.com/GrumpyOldGeeks - Use code OLDGEEKS for 20% off.

Private Internet Access - Go to GOG.Show/vpn and sign up today. For a limited time only, you can get OUR favorite VPN for as little as $2.03 a month.

SetApp - With a single monthly subscription you get 240+ apps for your Mac. Go to SetApp and get started today!!!

1Password - Get a great deal on the only password manager recommended by Grumpy Old Geeks! gog.show/1password

Show notes at https://gog.show/717

FOLLOW UP

Dutch court orders Meta to change its Facebook and Instagram timelines

OpenAI's Sora 2 Already Melting Down Into Outrageous Drama

IN THE NEWS

Apple removes ICEBlock from the App Store after Trump administration's demand

ICE is planning to create a surveillance team that hunts for leads on social media

OpenAI has disrupted (more) Chinese accounts using ChatGPT to create social media surveillance tools

California regulators threaten to revoke Tesla's insurance license for mishandling claims

OpenAI Gobbles Up a Stake in AMD as Its Spending Spree Shows No Sign of Stopping

Consultants Forced to Pay Money Back After Getting Caught Using AI for Expensive “Report”

Anthropic lands its biggest enterprise deployment ever with Deloitte deal

Teen Arrested After Asking ChatGPT How to Kill His Friend, Police Say

Taylor Swift Fans Furious as She’s Caught Using Sloppy AI in Video for New Album

Apple’s ‘Find My’ Leads Cops to Cache of Thousands of Smuggled iPhones

MEDIA CANDY

The Diplomat

The Long Walk

California bans loud commercials on streaming platforms

Amazon Pulls Censored Bond Posters After Pulling the Guns From Them

More AI artists are starting to get record deals

Robin Williams' daughter pleads for people to stop sending AI videos of her dad

APPS & DOODADS

OpenAI's first device with Jony Ive could be delayed due to 'technical issues'

Rivian says ‘customers will appreciate’ lack of CarPlay eventually

Spotify and ChatGPT Team Up for Personalized Music and Podcast Recommendations

Don’t buy an Echo Show (you can have mine)

Apple faces cybercrime investigation in France after Siri complaint

ioquake3

AT THE LIBRARY

Dark Beauty: First Contact by Peter Cawdron

Enshittification: Why Everything Suddenly Got Worse and What to Do About It by Cory Doctorow

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

716: Release the CrackerBot! Oct 03, 2025

Show notes

The world is a dumpster fire, confirmed. Following California's landmark AI safety bill SB 53, the head of Nvidia is allegedly "quaking in his boots"—which is a good sign, unlike the news that the "Nirvana Baby" Spencer Elden's lawsuit was finally dismissed. Meanwhile, corporate America continues its pivot to chaos: Spotify shuffled its execs, Meta is charging UK users for ad-free Facebook and Instagram, and the UK is introducing digital ID cards (Hello, Mark of the Beast). The entire internet is now dominated by bots, proving the Cracker Barrel logo outrage was manufactured, a fact that's somehow less depressing than the FCC accidentally leaking iPhone schematics. Naturally, Alphabet just paid $22 million to settle President Trump’s YouTube lawsuit, confirming that legal threats are the new VC funding. Disney is panicking over an "AI Actress," sending cease and desist letters to Character.AI, while OpenAI rolls out its new Sora app and ChatGPT's ability to buy things for you, proving it's determined to turn the internet into one seamless, copyright-infringing shopping mall, and it's now worth more than Elon Musk's SpaceX.

The ensuing boredom demands new media, though the pacing is terrible in everything: Slow Horses Season 5 and Human: Neanderthal Encounters are great, but even the original Matrix and Frankenstein trailer (by Guillermo del Toro) feel slow, confirming the Princess Bride litmus test. MXV’s Riot Fest photos were rad, and Disney lost 1.7M subs after suspending Kimmel, which is why YouTube Music is testing AI hosts (who will only be wrong), and the Pivot Tour is happening. Our Apps & Doohickeys department confirms security is an afterthought: macOS 26 unlocked the Journal app, but the smart glasses race is fully on, and Logitech’s new keyboard can be recharged by any light (finally, tech that works!). Amazon Fire TV is expected to ditch Android for Linux, Meta introduced the AI-filled Vibes feed, and Tile trackers were found to have a stalking flaw—a fact only slightly more depressing than the swift failure of the Neon call-recording app and the continued existence of the Comet browser. Finally, The Dark Side with Dave celebrated the low-budget charm of Blue Thunder and the necessity of Disney Park Ride Overlays, while Dave embarked on his quest to unbox the Home Depot R2D2. We thank our patrons for keeping this beautiful noise alive and pay tribute to the amazing Jane Goodall.

Sponsors:

Private Internet Access - Go to GOG.Show/vpn and sign up today. For a limited time only, you can get OUR favorite VPN for as little as $2.03 a month.

SetApp - With a single monthly subscription you get 240+ apps for your Mac. Go to SetApp and get started today!!!

1Password - Get a great deal on the only password manager recommended by Grumpy Old Geeks! gog.show/1password

Show notes at https://gog.show/716

FOLLOW UP

California Governor Newsom signs landmark AI safety bill SB 53

Nvidia Is Quaking in Its Boots

‘Nirvana Baby’ Spencer Elden’s ‘Nevermind’ Suit Dismissed Again

IN THE NEWS

Spotify Appoints New CEOs as Daniel Ek Becomes Executive Chair

Meta announces paid subscriptions for both Instagram and Facebook in the UK

UK announces plans for digital ID cards

OpenAI’s New Sora App Lets You Deepfake Yourself for Entertainment

The First 24 Hours of Sora 2 Chaos: Copyright Violations, Sam Altman Shoplifting, and More

OpenAI Rolls Out ChatGPT’s Ability to Buy Stuff for You

OpenAI Is Now Worth More on Paper Than SpaceX, Catches Up to Elon Musk Himself

Disney sends cease and desist letter to Character.AI

Creator of “AI Actress” Responds to Near-Universal Backlash

FCC accidentally leaked iPhone schematics, potentially giving rivals a peek at company secrets

Alphabet will pay $22 million to settle President Trump’s YouTube lawsuit

Cracker Barrel Outrage Was Almost Certainly Driven by Bots, Researchers Say

MEDIA CANDY

MXV’s Riot Fest Photos

Slow Horses Season 5

Frankenstein | Guillermo del Toro | Official Trailer | Netflix

Human: Neanderthal Encounters

Pivot Tour

YouTube Music is testing AI hosts that present relevant stories, trivia and commentary

How Many Streaming Subscribers Did Disney Lose After Suspending Kimmel?

APPS & DOODADS

macOS 26 unlocks the real potential of Apple’s Journal app

The smart glasses race is really on now

Logitech's new keyboard can be recharged by any kind of light

Amazon Fire TV devices expected to ditch Android for Linux in 2025

Meta introduces Vibes feed for AI generated content

Neon, an App That Pays to Record Your Phone Calls Hit #2 on the App Store, Taken Down Over Security Flaw

Tile trackers reportedly have a security flaw that can let stalkers track your location

Comet - The browser that works for you

THE DARK SIDE WITH DAVE

Only Malware in the Building

The Princess Bride

Blue Thunder

The Best Disney Park Ride Overlays, and Where to Find Them

Home Depot R2D2 Unboxing and Assembly!

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

715: Our Wizard Lies Sep 26, 2025

Show notes

Grumpy Old Geeks is back with another round of righteous griping and eyebrow-raising headlines in Episode 715: Our Wizard Lies. We kick things off in FOLLOW UP, where TikTok is still the geopolitical hot potato that both the U.S. and China promise to sort out “someday, maybe,” while Wired’s global editorial director explains how tech’s growing political clout is playing out under Trump. From there, it’s a cavalcade of absurdities: DOGE as federal workforce demolition derby, and crypto bros trying to turn Charlie Kirk’s death into meme-stock retirement plans. Late-stage capitalism is nothing if not creative.

Then in IN THE NEWS, Amazon gets spanked with a $2.5 billion fine for Prime trickery, Microsoft yanks cloud services from an Israeli military unit, and Palantir goes full lifestyle brand—yes, you too can cosplay as a drone strike enthusiast with a $99 pair of gym shorts. Silicon Valley philosophers warn AI regulation would literally summon the Antichrist, while banks whisper the bubble might pop before the devil even arrives. Meanwhile, YouTube toys with letting COVID and election denialists back into the algorithm, “SIM farms” threaten New York’s cell networks, and unlucky tourists are finding themselves trafficked into cyber-scam slavery across Southeast Asia. Progress!

MEDIA CANDY tries to lighten the mood—sort of—serving up everything from Elio, Tron: Ares, and Disney price hikes to AI musicians cashing million-dollar checks. Lionsgate, on the other hand, learns you can’t feed four John Wicks into an algorithm and get an anime out the other side. Over in THE DARK SIDE WITH DAVE, we get furries on the DC Metro, Disney plotting your every park step via Ray-Ban spy glasses, a Ponzi scheme in RadioShack cosplay, and even a Jim Henson Company anniversary auction. We close out with shout-outs and sighs, because sometimes the world doesn’t deserve a mic drop—just a slow shake of the head.

Sponsors:

Private Internet Access - Go to GOG.Show/vpn and sign up today. For a limited time only, you can get OUR favorite VPN for as little as $2.03 a month.

SetApp - With a single monthly subscription you get 240+ apps for your Mac. Go to SetApp and get started today!!!

1Password - Get a great deal on the only password manager recommended by Grumpy Old Geeks! gog.show/1password

Show notes at https://gog.show/715

FOLLOW UP

US and China agree to agree on a TikTok deal

WIRED global editorial director on tech's growing political power under Trump

The Story of DOGE, as Told by Federal Workers

Crypto Bros Are Trying to Monetize Charlie Kirk’s Death

IN THE NEWS

Amazon to pay $2.5 billion for allegedly duping millions to sign up for Prime

Microsoft cuts off cloud services to Israeli military unit after report of storing Palestinians’ phone calls

Palantir Wants to Be a Lifestyle Brand

Silicon Valley’s latest argument against regulating AI: that would literally be the Antichrist

AI Experts Urgently Call on Governments to Think About Maybe Doing Something

‘Workslop’: AI-Generated Work Content Is Slowing Everything Down

Deutsche Bank Issues Grim Warning for AI Industry

YouTube may reinstate channels banned for spreading covid and election misinformation

‘SIM Farms’ Are a Spam Plague. A Giant One in New York Threatened US Infrastructure, Feds Say

They traveled to Thailand. They wound up cyber scam slaves in Myanmar.

MEDIA CANDY

Disney is raising the price of Disney+, Hulu subscriptions next month

Wicked: For Good | Final Trailer

Lilith Faire: Building a Mystery

Tron: Ares

AI Artist Signs Million-Dollar Record Deal

Lionsgate Is Finding Out It’s Really Hard to Make Movies With AI

Jimmy Kimmel May Be Back. Trump’s Attacks on the First Amendment Aren’t Over By Merrill Markoe

Jimmy Kimmel is Back!

THE DARK SIDE WITH DAVE

Only Malware in the Building

Disney Explores Using Ray-Ban Meta Glasses To Guide Guests Around Its Parks

The Happiest Story on Earth: 70 Years of Disneyland

The Mandalorian and Grogu | Official Trailer | In Theaters May 22, 2026

The Jim Henson Company 70th Anniversary Auction

Feds Say Company That Bought RadioShack Was Running $112 Million Ponzi Scheme

Furries ride the DC Metro

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

714: Crossfade This Sep 19, 2025

Show notes

The internet continues its chaotic march, with a TikTok deal potentially happening (for real this time, maybe), while LimeWire bought the Fyre Fest brand, because more viruses are always a great idea. Corporate America is going full AI-bro with massive layoffs at Fiverr, xAI, and Google, while OpenAI reveals people are using ChatGPT for pretty much everything but coding. Age verification is coming to apps and online services in California and New York, because apparently, teenagers need protection (after the fact). Elsewhere, nudists have declared war on SpaceX over rocket launches, and fans are ditching Elon since he started being so insufferable; even a Tesla engineer quit and roasted him spectacularly, all while NHTSA investigates Tesla's fire-prone door handles.

In the world of entertainment, we're catching up on Wednesday and Foundation S3 (just pretend the books never existed, your brain will be rewired!), and Upload wrapped up its truncated season nicely. The 2003 Freaky Friday was a fun, nostalgic trip through early 2000s L.A., reminding us of all the cool places that are now just... gone. Alien: Earth and Gen V S2 are on our watchlist, and we'll see if Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 4 lives up to its promise. The Witcher S4, featuring Liam Hemsworth as Geralt (aka the Dick Switch), drops in October, with Laurence Fishburne making it somewhat palatable. The Lilith Fair documentary is peak 90s, and Meta's latest dystopian product was so bad it made the Cybertruck demo look good. Apple's new AI features are cool, but the iOS 26 "liquid glass" update and its awful crossfade feature are less so; also, meditation apparently has a dark side, but binaural beats might just make you rave. Publishers Clearing House's bankruptcy means "forever" winners won't get paid (always take the lump sum!); international sellers are charging absurd shipping to avoid American buyers; and the deepfake Star Wars: Obi-Wan Kills Darth Maul (Live Action) is surprisingly good.

Steve Martin's Born Standing Up is still great life advice, and the Carrot App the Musical is, against all odds, amazing. Robert Redford has sadly passed, a legend who gave us Sneakers, and L.A.'s own Clayton Kershaw is retiring at the end of the season, a true one-team legend who deserves all the accolades.

Sponsors:

MasterClass - Right now, our listeners get an additional 15% off any annual membership at MASTERCLASS.com/GRUMPYOLDGEEKS. No-risk 30-day money-back guarantee!

Private Internet Access - Go to GOG.Show/vpn and sign up today. For a limited time only, you can get OUR favorite VPN for as little as $2.03 a month.

SetApp - With a single monthly subscription you get 240+ apps for your Mac. Go to SetApp and get started today!!!

1Password - Get a great deal on the only password manager recommended by Grumpy Old Geeks! gog.show/1password

Show notes at https://gog.show/714

FOLLOW UP

A TikTok deal may finally be happening

LimeWire Revealed as Mystery Buyer of Fyre Fest Brand

IN THE NEWS

Fiverr is laying off 250 employees to become an 'AI-first company'

xAI reportedly laid off at least 500 AI tutors working on Grok

Hundreds of Google AI Workers Were Fired Amid Fight Over Working Conditions

OpenAI Reveals How (and Which) People Are Using ChatGPT

ChatGPT may soon require ID verification from adults, CEO says

California's age verification bill for app stores and operating systems takes another step forward

New York details its plans for online age verification rules

Nudists Declare War on SpaceX

People Who Loved Watching SpaceX Launches Can’t Stomach Them Anymore Since Elon Musk Started Being So Horrible

Tesla Engineer Quits, Roasts Elon Musk in Spectacular Fashion

NHTSA is investigating Tesla over its electronic door handles

MEDIA CANDY

‘Star Trek: Strange New Worlds’ Producers Promise Season 4 Will Be Better

Slow Horses Season 5

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011)

The Witcher Season 4 will hit Netflix in October with its new Geralt

Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery

APPS & DOODADS

New Apple Intelligence features are available today

iOS 26 lets you reduce Liquid Glass to be more like iOS 18, here’s how

Meta's most dystopian product yet...

Meditation And Mindfulness Have a Dark Side We Don't Often Talk About

BrainWave: 37 Binaural Series™

The Rise of the Indie Web Movement

Links - Marighoul

Stendig Calendars

AT THE LIBRARY

Flybot by Dennis E. Taylor

Proof of Heaven: A Neurosurgeon's Journey into the Afterlife by Eben Alexander

Cleave the Sparrow by Jonathan Katz

The Case Against Reality: Why Evolution Hid the Truth from Our Eyes by Donald D. Hoffman

The Code. the Evaluation. the Protocols: Striving to Become an Eminently Qualified Human by Jocko Willink, Dave Berke, Sarah Armstrong

I Don't Answer Questions: Pleading the Fifth! by David Ridings

Finding Your Comic Genius: An in-depth guide to the art of stand-up comedy by Adam Bloom

Disney and Webtoon’s Partnership Is Leading to a Massive New Comics App

THE DARK SIDE WITH DAVE

Only Malware in the Building

Hanker for a Hunk of Cheese

‘The Muppet Show’ Is Getting a 50th Anniversary Disney+ Special

Carrot App the Musical...

Carrot The Musical on IG

Netatmo Home Weather Stations

Ambient Weather WS-2902 WiFi Smart Weather Station with AWN+ Included

Publishers Clearing House’s bankruptcy means ‘forever’ winners will no longer get paid

$2,000 Shipping: International Sellers Charge Absurd Prices to Avoid Dealing With American Tariffs

Star Wars: Obi-Wan Kills Darth Maul (Live Action)

Born Standing Up by Steve Martin

CLOSING SHOUT-OUTS

Robert Redford dead at 89

Sneakers

All-time Los Angeles Dodgers great Clayton Kershaw to retire at end of season

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

713: Ourovibeos Sep 12, 2025

Show notes

This week on Grumpy Old Geeks, we're diving headfirst into the digital dumpster fire, starting with follow-up that will make you wonder if the rich are finally getting their comeuppance. It seems Tesla's market share is plummeting, and Elon Musk has been unceremoniously knocked off as the world's wealthiest person. Meanwhile, OpenAI and Microsoft are flirting with new partnership terms, and OpenAI is also reportedly cozying up with Oracle for a cloud computing deal. Are they figuring it all out or just rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic? You decide.

In the news, it’s a feast of AI-induced chaos. Anthropic attempted to settle a copyright lawsuit for $1.5 billion, but a judge rejected it. Apple faces scrutiny for allegedly using pirated books to train AI (because who needs original ideas when you can just steal them?), and everyone from Reddit to Yahoo is rushing to get paid for their data being scraped by AI. Google even admits that the open web is struggling, while pushing ads into AI-generated answers and trying to convince us that DOGE never existed. Meanwhile, millions of YouTube videos have been copied by AI companies—because why create when you can just steal? Not to mention, The Boring Company reportedly stopped tunneling after a "crushing injury" (ironic, huh?), Zuckerberg and Palmer Luckey are teaming up again like a disastrous boy band for military-grade goggles, and Meta whistleblowers are exposing child safety issues. Plus, a hot mic caught Zuck groveling to Trump—the cringe is real. And if that wasn't enough, it turns out AI usage is actually declining at big companies, and programmers using AI are creating more security risks than a screen door on a submarine. It's almost like we saw this coming.

For your Media Candy fix, get ready for a dose of existential dread. The MTV Video Music Awards are still happening in 2025, with a median viewer age of 56—because nothing screams "youth culture" like osteoporosis. We'll wonder if Wednesday (aka Charlie Sheen) is still winning and discuss Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. Amazon Music is launching AI-powered playlists (because who needs a human DJ when you can have an algorithm that thinks it knows your soul?), and Deezer claims 28% of all new music is AI-generated. Taika Waititi is developing a "potentially disastrous" Fyre Fest musical (we're excited!), Foundation is renewed for season 4, and the HBO Max CEO thinks it's "way underpriced"—bless his heart. Plus, more Highlander reboot news that will probably disappoint, and a look at The Missi & Brooke Show and The Traitors Ireland.

Finally, in Apps & Doodads, bad news for AirPods Live Translation in the EU, Evernote and WeTransfer's owner is buying Vimeo, and you need this pettable Poké Ball Tamagotchi-style toy. In The Dark Side with Dave, we'll discuss The Princess Bride, how tariffs are ruining hobbies, and who wants "slop for their ears." This episode shows that some things never change, and most things are just getting worse. You're welcome.

Sponsors:

CleanMyMac - clnmy.com/GrumpyOldGeeks - Use code OLDGEEKS for 20% off.

Private Internet Access - Go to GOG.Show/vpn and sign up today. For a limited time only, you can get OUR favorite VPN for as little as $2.03 a month.

SetApp - With a single monthly subscription you get 240+ apps for your Mac. Go to SetApp and get started today!!!

1Password - Get a great deal on the only password manager recommended by Grumpy Old Geeks! gog.show/1password

Show notes at https://gog.show/713

FOLLOW UP

Exclusive: Tesla market share in US drops to lowest since 2017 as competition heats up

Elon Musk Was Just Unseated as the World’s Richest Person

OpenAI and Microsoft sign preliminary deal to revise partnership terms

OpenAI and Oracle reportedly ink historic cloud computing deal

IN THE NEWS

Anthropic will pay a record-breaking $1.5 billion to settle copyright lawsuit with authors

Judge rejects Anthropic's record-breaking $1.5 billion settlement for AI copyright lawsuit

Apple faces lawsuit over alleged use of pirated books for AI training

Reddit, Yahoo, Medium and more are adopting a new licensing standard to get compensated for AI scraping

In court filing, Google concedes the open web is in “rapid decline”

Google brings ads to AI-generated answers worldwide

Google Is Telling People DOGE Never Existed

At Least 15 Million YouTube Videos Have Been Snatched by AI Companies

The Boring Company Reportedly Halts Tunneling in Las Vegas After 'Crushing Injury'

Dynamic Duo Zuckerberg and Palmer Luckey Reunite for Army Combat Goggles Contract

Meta Whistleblowers Allege Company Buried Info on Child Safety

Hot Mic Catches Mark Zuckerberg Groveling to Trump

Data Shows That AI Use Is Now Declining at Large Companies

Programmers Using AI Create Way More Glaring Security Issues, Data Shows

The Software Engineers Paid to Fix Vibe Coded Messes

MEDIA CANDY

2025 MTV Video Music Awards

Median age of MTV viewers is 56

Wednesday

aka Charlie Sheen

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds

Amazon Music launches AI-powered weekly playlists based on 'preferences and mood'

Deezer: 28% of all music delivered to streaming is now fully AI-generated

Taika Waititi Developing “Potentially Disastrous” Fyre Fest Musical

Apple TV+ has officially renewed Foundation for another season, with production on season 4 kicking off early next year.

HBO Max is “way underpriced,” Warner Bros. Discovery CEO says

‘The Grandmaster’ Chinese Martial Artist Max Zhang to Join ‘Highlander’ Reboot

Please, ‘Highlander’ Reboot, Don’t Waste Djimon Hounsou

The Missi & Brooke Show

The Traitors Ireland

APPS & DOODADS

There's bad news for AirPods Live Translation in EU countries

Evernote and WeTransfer owner Bending Spoons is set to buy Vimeo for $1.38 billion

This pettable Poké Ball is a Tamagotchi-style toy with over 150 Pokémon inside and I need it now

THE DARK SIDE WITH DAVE

Only Malware in the Building

The Princess Bride

‘It's Just a Mess:' 23 People Explain How Tariffs Have Suddenly Ruined Their Hobby

Who Wants Slop for Your Ears?

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

712: Preparation WTF Sep 05, 2025

Show notes

The internet's still broken, folks, and apparently, AI's here to make it more awkward. Intel caught a break from Uncle Sam's CHIPS Act, cool for them, not so much for those 'flashing warning signs' in the job market. Meta's been letting celebrity chatbots run wild (and creepy), Midjourney's getting sued by Warner Bros. for stealing IP (who'da thought?), and OpenAI thinks an AI hiring platform is a good idea. Plus, an AI chatbot automated a cybercrime spree, totally unexpected. If you're calling ChatGPT a 'clanker,' you're not wrong, but seriously? Your butt probably needs a break from the toilet.

Elon Musk and his joyride of companies continue to make us wonder if we're living in a dystopian satire. Tesla got slapped with a $243 million verdict after rejecting a $60 million settlement (because that's how you make deals, right?). 'Key data' they said they didn't have? A hacker found it. His vague 'master plan' sounds like a last-minute college essay, and software deploys airbags before you crash. His quest for a trillion-dollar pay package is on, and Neuralink can't even trademark 'telepathy.' They're doing brain surgeries in Toronto now. What could go wrong?

On the lighter side, Finland built a giant sand battery, which is cool, and iOS 26 finally gave iPads a native Instagram app after, like, forever. We've got movie reviews, TV binges (Wednesday is really good), and a deep dive into KPop Demon Hunters (seriously, listen to the songs). FIFA's jacking up World Cup ticket prices with dynamic pricing (of course they are), and Morrissey's selling his stake in The Smiths (probably to escape his own 'malicious associations'). If you're still reading Usenet threads from '94, you're either a sadist or Dave.

Sponsors:

CleanMyMac - clnmy.com/Grumpyoldgeeks - Use code OLDGEEKS for 20% off.

Private Internet Access - Go to GOG.Show/vpn and sign up today. For a limited time only, you can get OUR favorite VPN for as little as $2.03 a month.

SetApp - With a single monthly subscription you get 240+ apps for your Mac. Go to SetApp and get started today!!!

1Password - Get a great deal on the only password manager recommended by Grumpy Old Geeks! gog.show/1password

Show notes at https://gog.show/712

FOLLOW UP

The US government drops its CHIPS Act requirements for Intel

America’s job market flashes yet another warning sign about the economy

Hydrogen-Powered Plasma Torch Decimates Plastic Waste in a Blink

Your Butthole Is Begging You to Stop Scrolling on the Toilet

IN THE NEWS

Tesla rejected $60 million settlement before losing $243 million Autopilot verdict

Tesla said it didn’t have key data in a fatal crash. Then a hacker found it.

Tesla has a new master plan—it just doesn’t have any specifics

Tesla Software Update Will Deploy Airbags Before Crash Actually Happens

Trump to host tech CEOs for first event in newly renovated Rose Garden

Tesla proposes Elon Musk pay package that could make him the world’s first trillionaire

Tesla shareholders to vote on investing in Musk’s AI startup xAI

Meta reportedly allowed unauthorized celebrity AI chatbots on its services

Warner Bros. Discovery is suing Midjourney for copyright infringement

OpenAI announces AI-powered hiring platform to take on LinkedIn

OpenAI is reportedly producing its own AI chips starting next year

A hacker used AI to automate an 'unprecedented' cybercrime spree, Anthropic says

The world's largest sand battery just went live in Finland

Why the Internet Can’t Stop Calling ChatGPT a “Clanker”

MEDIA CANDY

The Thursday Murder Club

Weapons

Alien: Earth

Wednesday

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds - Four and a Half Vulcans

Upload

KPop Demon Hunters - revisited

2026 World Cup tickets: FIFA confirms use of dynamic pricing

Exhausted by "malicious associations," Morrissey sells stake in The Smiths

APPS & DOODADS

Marshall’s Mid-Century-Looking Soundbar Would Make Don Draper Cry Tears of Joy

Who Owns ‘Telepathy’?

Instagram finally has an iPad app 15 years after it first launched

Roblox will require age verification for all users to access communication features

superwhisper

iOS 26 adds seven brand new iPhone ringtones, listen here

THE DARK SIDE WITH DAVE

Only Malware in the Building

Hot sauce and hot takes: An Only Malware in the Building special.

My comments on a Usenet thread from 1994

Darth Vader’s Lightsaber Auction Sale Sets Record for ‘Star Wars’ Item

Home Depot R2D2

Disney Disney Star Wars Animated Darth Vader

Florida plans to end all state vaccine mandates, including for schools

VibeVoice: A Frontier Long Conversational Text-to-Speech Model

Rumor: There’s A New ‘The Muppet Show’ Pilot

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

711: Oh Thank Heaven Aug 29, 2025

Show notes

Remember when we thought AI was going to bring about utopia or Skynet? Turns out, it's mostly just a bunch of fancy spreadsheets, a potential bubble ready to burst (looking at you, Nvidia), and a legal minefield. We're talking wrongful death lawsuits because a chatbot encouraged suicide, OpenAI admitting their 'safety controls degrade,' and then secretly siccing the cops on users. Plus, the Citizen app's AI can't even tell a murder vehicle from a motor vehicle, and Grok 2.5 is now open source if you want to invite that chaos into your life. Also, don't ask Google if 1995 was 30 years ago, because apparently, AI can't do basic math.

Meanwhile, the adults in the room are just doing what they do: the U.S. government is buying a chunk of Intel, while Trump wants to "design" government websites (with badly edited photos, naturally). Meta's own AI stuff is so bad they're just licensing Midjourney's tech, proving it's always easier to buy than build. Apple TV+ raised its prices, and Spotify finally figured out how to let you DM songs. Over at Apple Fitness, it seems the execs are fostering a "toxic workplace environment," because who knew working out could be so hardcore? Oh, and Chipotle is doing drone delivery now. Welcome to Zipotle, because getting off your ass is apparently too much to ask.

As for what we're actually watching, it's a mixed bag. Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' documentary episode was... fine, but Paramount's axing jobs and "un-renewing" Dexter: Original Sin to focus on Dexter: Resurrection (because that always works out). We're trying to keep up with Alien: Earth, Wednesday, and Upload, but good luck with those staggered release dates. Apple TV+ has some good sci-fi, but Foundation might just be a hate-watch for Brian. And in the library, we've got Budgie's surprisingly depressing memoir and some solid sci-fi from Scott Meyer and Dennis E. Taylor. It's almost enough to make you miss the simpler times before AI broke everything.

Sponsors:

CleanMyMac - clnmy.com/Grumpyoldgeeks - Use code OLDGEEKS for 20% off.

Private Internet Access - Go to GOG.Show/vpn and sign up today. For a limited time only, you can get OUR favorite VPN for as little as $2.03 a month.

SetApp - With a single monthly subscription you get 240+ apps for your Mac. Go to SetApp and get started today!!!

1Password - Get a great deal on the only password manager recommended by Grumpy Old Geeks! gog.show/1password

Show notes at https://gog.show/711

FOLLOW UP

Welcome to Acast Ads Academy - your go-to learning destination for podcast advertising.

Deep Questions with Cal Newport - Ep. 367: What if AI Doesn’t Get Much Better Than This?

AI Bubble Watch: Nvidia Shares Skid on Middling Q2 Results

Reports Of AI Not Progressing Or Offering Mundane Utility Are Often Greatly Exaggerated

IN THE NEWS

The US government is taking an $8.9 billion stake in Intel

Trump is forming a 'National Design Studio' to spruce up government websites

Trump Mobile is promoting its smartphone with terribly edited photos of other brands' products

ChatGPT Lawsuit Over Teen’s Suicide Could Lead to Big Tech Reckoning

OpenAI Admits Safety Controls 'Degrade,' As Wrongful Death Lawsuit Grabs Headlines

OpenAI Says It's Scanning Users' ChatGPT Conversations and Reporting Content to the Police

Huge Number of Authors Stand to Get Paid After Anthropic Agrees to Settle Potentially $1 Trillion Lawsuit

Meta is licensing Midjourney's AI image and video tech

MidJourney TV

Citizen Is Using AI to Generate Crime Alerts With No Human Review. It’s Making a Lot of Mistakes

You can now download and tweak Grok 2.5 for yourself as it goes open source

MEDIA CANDY

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds

Paramount Job Cuts In Excess Of 2,500 Coming In November, With Cost Savings To Exceed $2 Billion

‘Dexter: Original Sin’ Un-Renewed as Paramount Opts Out of Second Season

Alien: Earth

Wednesday

Upload

‘The Institute’ Renewed for Second Season at MGM+

Apple TV+ subscriptions just rose to $13 a month

Spotify is adding DMs

APPS & DOODADS

Apple fitness exec accused of creating toxic workplace environment

Zipotle: Chipotle, Zipline Launch Drone Food Delivery in Dallas

AT THE LIBRARY

The Absence: Memoirs of a Banshee Drummer by Budgie

Master of Formalities by Scott Meyer

Flybot by Dennis E. Taylor

CLOSING SHOUT-OUTS

'Was 1995 30 years ago?' Google's AI overviews is having issues with a simple question

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

710: Mass Delusion Events Aug 22, 2025

Show notes

Remember all that "AI is gonna change everything" nonsense the kids were screaming about just a few months ago? Yeah, about that. It turns out 95% of corporate generative AI pilots are, to use a technical term, completely shitting the bed, according to a report from MIT. This shocking revelation has sent Wall Street into a tizzy, wiping trillions off the market as investors suddenly realize they've been sold another bill of goods. Even Sam Altman, the high priest of the AI cult, is now trying to pump the brakes, warning that maybe, just maybe, everyone got a little too excited. Meta, never one to miss a bandwagon it can immediately fall off of, has slammed the brakes on its AI spending and hiring. It’s almost like we’ve seen this movie before, with NFTs, crypto, and every other tech bubble that was supposed to make us all billionaires while we sat on our couches.

As if the AI-pocalypse wasn't entertaining enough, the next brilliant idea from Silicon Valley, "agentic AI" browsers, has proven to be dumber than a bag of hammers, happily handing over banking details to obvious phishing scams. Meanwhile, in the land of aging tech bros, Elon Musk is getting his butt handed to him in court by Media Matters, proving that you can't just bully everyone into submission. Not to be outdone in the corporate greed department, Volkswagen wants you to pay a subscription to unlock the horsepower you already own, and Robinhood is trying to convince its users that betting on football games is now called "investing." We're just waiting for them to offer a strategic advisory seat to Donald Trump Jr.... oh, wait.

Just to put a fine point on our collective slide into oblivion, it turns out Antarctica is melting about six times faster than it was in the 90s, no doubt powered by the massive natural gas plants being built to run Meta's useless chatbots. But hey, at least we can distract ourselves with new toys! The Flipper Zero, that handy little hacker gadget, can now be upgraded to steal a wide variety of cars, bringing grand theft auto to the masses. So as the sea levels rise and the robots fail, at least we'll have new and exciting ways to commit felonies. Welcome to the future; it's just as dumb as we predicted.

Sponsors:

CleanMyMac - clnmy.com/GrumpyOldGeeks - Use code OLDGEEKS for 20% off.

Private Internet Access - Go to GOG.Show/vpn and sign up today. For a limited time only, you can get OUR favorite VPN for as little as $2.03 a month.

SetApp - With a single monthly subscription you get 240+ apps for your Mac. Go to SetApp and get started today!!!

1Password - Get a great deal on the only password manager recommended by Grumpy Old Geeks! gog.show/1password

Show notes at https://gog.show/710

FOLLOW UP

Sen. Hawley says he'll investigate Meta's 'sensual' child chatbot policies

MIT report: 95% of generative AI pilots at companies are failing

Wall Street Appears to Be Having Serious Doubts About AI

Meta Freezes AI Hiring as Fear Spreads

IN THE NEWS

AI Is a Mass-Delusion Event

There's a Compelling Theory Why GPT-5 Sucks so Much

Nobody Likes Zuckerberg’s Glitchy AI App

Gas power plants approved for Meta’s $10B data center, and not everyone is happy

AI browsers may be the best thing that ever happened to scammers

Court blocks FTC investigation into Media Matters' alleged scheme against X

Self-Proclaimed Nazi Kanye West Announces 'New Economy, Built on Chain'

Cybertruck Owners Sue Over Expensive Upgrade

Google to pay $30 million to settle class-action suit over children's privacy

VW introduces monthly subscription to increase car power

Robinhood Tries to Rebrand Sports Betting as Investing

Study Confirms 'Abrupt Changes' in Antarctica – And The World Will Feel Them

MEDIA CANDY

Ali Wong: Single Lady

‘Alien: Earth’ Is Finally Doing What the Movies Have Not

‘Star Trek: Strange New Worlds’ Did a Documentary Episode That Should’ve Been Killed in the Edit

Karen Gillan Joins the New ‘Highlander’ and Has the Best Reaction to the News

Anonymous Podcast

APPS & DOODADS

Roblox cracks down on its user-created content following multiple child safety lawsuits

Inside the Underground Trade of ‘Flipper Zero’ Tech to Break into Cars

New AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4 firmware now available in public beta

Tobio's™ Watercolor Kit

Pzizz

Dohm® Connect App Controlled Sound Machine

StressWatch: AI Stress Monitor - HRV & Habit Tracker for Watch

THE DARK SIDE WITH DAVE

Only Malware in the Building

Here’s What Muppet Mayhem Disney Will Unleash on Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster

Ayaneo’s Pocket DS could be the dual-screen handheld you’ve been waiting for

Apple TV+ releases the first 'Peanuts' musical in 37 years

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

709: Grumpy Old Gardeners Aug 15, 2025

Show notes

Well, strap in, because this week the tech world decided to set itself on fire just for kicks. First up, Elon Musk’s much-hyped Tesla Diner in Los Angeles is already a culinary disaster, slashing its menu faster than you can say “over-promise and under-deliver.” Speaking of rolling garbage fires, the Cybertruck now apparently sounds like Fred Sanford’s junk pickup rattling down the street, a fitting soundtrack for the ongoing dumpster fire that was Project 2025. Remember how that was supposed to save trillions? Turns out it was just a festival of bullshit math that likely cost taxpayers a fortune. It seems the only thing being successfully launched is our collective patience into the sun.

The implosions continued with the launch of GPT-5, which effectively lobotomized its predecessor and sent thousands of users into mourning for their suddenly stupid digital "friends." It's a harsh lesson for anyone who thought building their business—or their entire social life—in someone else's backyard was a bright idea. While the normals are dealing with emotionally unavailable AI, the tech billionaires who broke the world are busy prepping for the collapse they engineered. Zuckerberg is building a $300 million apocalypse bunker in Hawaii, Sam Altman is stockpiling guns and gas masks, and Peter Thiel has his New Zealand hideout. It’s comforting to know the architects of our dystopian future have their escape hatches ready. Meanwhile, Meta was caught with internal documents greenlighting its AI chatbots to have "sensual conversations" with kids, proving once again that when it comes to tech ethics, the call is coming from inside a burning, abandoned house.

If you thought it couldn't get dumber, Musk and Altman got into a public slap-fight over who's more full of crap, with Musk's own AI, Grok, hilariously declaring its creator the loser. Google, admitting its search results are now a toxic sludge pile, has decided to just let users build their own news echo chambers. On a more nostalgic note, AOL Dial-Up is finally logging off for good, taking the screeching sound of our formative years with it. As we contemplate trading our devices for pitchforks, we're retreating to simpler times, like teaching our kids Solitaire with premium Star Wars playing cards (a concept apparently too advanced for Dave) or justifying dropping a cool grand on the new 9,000-piece Lego Death Star, which features a hot tub full of Stormtroopers in swim trunks. From a surprisingly decent Wicked movie adaptation to the sad, slow demise of Kodak, it's enough to make anyone want to become a Grumpy Old Gardener.

Sponsors:

Private Internet Access - Go to GOG.Show/vpn and sign up today. For a limited time only, you can get OUR favorite VPN for as little as $2.03 a month.

SetApp - With a single monthly subscription you get 240+ apps for your Mac. Go to SetApp and get started today!!!

1Password - Get a great deal on the only password manager recommended by Grumpy Old Geeks! gog.show/1password

DeleteMe - Head over to JoinDeleteMe.com/GOG and use the code "GOG" for 20% off.

Show notes at https://gog.show/709

FOLLOW UP

Musk's Tesla diner faces immediate setbacks with massive menu cuts, restricted hours, and tech issues

DOGE Has Wasted Billions While Saving Only a Fraction of What It Claims: Reports

IN THE NEWS

GPT-5 AMA with OpenAI’s Sam Altman and some of the GPT-5 team

The Real Reason You Haven’t Been Replaced by AI Yet

The World Will Enter a 15-Year AI Dystopia in 2027, Former Google Exec Says

Researchers Made a Social Media Platform Where Every User Was AI. The Bots Ended Up at War