Tech Life

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Tech firms boosted by Covid-19 May 01, 2020

Show notes

In contrast to many businesses, will the tech giants emerge stronger from the crisis? Plus, the Eurovision song contest is off this year but we find out about a music competition to create a Eurovision-style hit using artificial intelligence. And in another of our series on using tech during the lockdown for new skills and hobbies, we look at podcasting. Presented by Rory Cellan-Jones, with BBC tech reporters David Molloy and Jane Wakefield. Produced by Jat Gill.

(Image: A customer wearing a face mask tries out the latest iPhone SE at an Apple store in Hangzhou, China. Credit: Getty Images).

Influencers feel the pinch Apr 24, 2020

Show notes

How social media influencers are earning less in lockdown and rethinking what they do. Plus, is it realistic to expect technology to provide an answer to ending social distancing measures? And we get some tips on producing music at home. Presented by Rory Cellan-Jones, with BBC tech reporter Jane Wakefield. Produced by Jat Gill.

(Image: Stock photo of a young woman with pink dyed hair applying makeup towards the camera. Credit: Getty Images).

Tech skills for the lockdown Apr 17, 2020

Show notes

Are you using the lockdown to pick up new tech skills? We meet a family learning coding. Plus, billions of people around the world remain unconnected to the internet. How will this make it harder to deal with the pandemic? And, Facebook says it will alert its users when they like or share a post that contains falsehoods about Covid-19. Presented by Rory Cellan-Jones, with BBC tech reporter Chris Foxx. Produced by Jat Gill.

(Image: Stock photo of a young girl using a laptop to program small robots on the table in front of her, Credit: Getty Images).

WhatsApp and YouTube act on Covid conspiracies Apr 10, 2020

Show notes

The social media giants take steps to remove falsehoods linking Covid-19 to 5G tech. Plus, how will China’s tech sector fare now that its cities are emerging from lockdown. And, are drones useful in maintaining “social distancing”? Presented by Rory Cellan-Jones, with BBC tech reporters Cristina Criddle and David Molloy. Produced by Jat Gill.

Privacy in a pandemic Apr 03, 2020

Show notes

Should we trade some privacy to end a lock-down earlier with the help of technology? Plus, how volunteers with 3D printers are coming to the aid of coronavirus medics needing face shields. And are computer scientists designing artificially intelligent machines in the wrong way? Presented by Rory Cellan-Jones, with BBC tech reporter Jane Wakefield. Produced by Jat Gill.

Hand over your virus data Mar 27, 2020

Show notes

How much data are we all prepared to share in the battle to beat the coronavirus? Rory Cellan-Jones speaks to Milo Ho-Hsuan Hsieh, a Taiwanese journalist who saw his phone tracked by the government after he was asked to self-isolate following a trip abroad. Jeni Tennison of the Open Data Institute says there are ways of sharing personal data more transparently and fairly, even in the midst of a pandemic. Lexi Sydow from App Annie, which monitors what apps get downloaded and where, tells us what millions of us stuck at home are doing on our phones. And one of the world’s leading AI experts Professor Stuart Russell tells us why artificial intelligence my not be about to ride to the rescue. The BBC's Jane Wakefield runs down the latest technology news.

Coronavirus: Can the internet cope? Mar 20, 2020

Show notes

What impact will the coronavirus pandemic have on the infrastructure of the internet? Zoe Kleinman speaks to David Belson from the Internet Society, and to Lisa Forte from Red Goat Cyber Security about the security implications for companies of having so many remote workers. Dhanaraj Thakur from the Web Foundation explains how the current health crisis exposes the billions of people who still live without internet access, while the BBC’s Kinjal Pandya Wagh in Delhi tells us how mobile phones are being used to spread information about the virus in India. The BBC’s Chris Fox rounds up the latest tech news.

Apps helping to track coronavirus Mar 13, 2020

Show notes

How governments are using apps and citizens' phone data to try to contain the pandemic. Plus, the robots helping to disinfect hospital wards using ultraviolet light. And Steven Levy, author of the new book "Facebook - the inside story" talks to us about Mark Zuckerberg's management of the social network. Presented by Rory Cellan-Jones, with BBC tech reporter Jane Wakefield, and special guest Ingrid Lunden from TechCrunch. Produced by Jat Gill.

(Image: A man wearing a facemask to protect against the COVID-19 coronavirus browses his smartphone on a Beijing street as he rides a shared bicycle. Credit: NICOLAS ASFOURI/ AFP via Getty Images).

YouTube and conspiracy theories Mar 06, 2020

Show notes

Users are seeing fewer conspiracy theories in their YouTube recommendations, a new study suggests. But the material is still available on the platform. Plus, what Amazon knows about you if you have a Ring connected doorbell. And how Silicon Valley thinks there's money in wellness at work. Presented by Rory Cellan-Jones with BBC tech reporter Zoe Kleinman, and special guest Shona Ghosh, UK tech editor at Business Insider. Produced by Jat Gill.

(Image: Abstract video wall representing online streaming, Credit: iStock/ Getty Images Plus).

Conspiracy theories rage online over coronavirus Feb 28, 2020

Show notes

Is social media likely to help or hinder efforts to contain the outbreak? We hear about the lessons from past epidemics. Plus, is the tech business reaching "peak capitalism" and is there a future for it based on values other than making money? And why people keep choosing bad passwords. Presented by Rory Cellan-Jones, with BBC tech reporter Jane Wakefield. Produced by Jat Gill.

(Image: A visitor tries to sanitise hands before being allowed into a state hospital at Yaba in Lagos, Nigeria, February 2020. Credit: PIUS UTOMI EKPEI/ AFP via Getty Images).

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