Technology

Starlink, owned by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, says it’s waived fees for customers in hurricane-affected areas. The company is growing, but rivals may be coming.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

The Intuit Dome in Inglewood offers facial recognition for just about everything, from ticketing to concessions at concerts and Clippers games.

from KCRW Features

CalTech professor John Hopfield and Google scientist Geoffrey Hinton’s discoveries taught computers to learn the same way humans do, paving the way for A.I.

‘Godfather of AI’ wins physics Nobel, he fears his creation

CalTech professor John Hopfield and Google scientist Geoffrey Hinton’s discoveries taught computers to learn the same way humans do, paving the way for A.I.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Julie Guthman critiques tech entrepreneurs whose proposed food system "fixes" ignore the underlying problems they claim to address.

Maybe we should be more skeptical about Silicon Valley's "solutions" for food issues

Julie Guthman critiques tech entrepreneurs whose proposed food system "fixes" ignore the underlying problems they claim to address.

from Good Food

Wall Street Journal technology columnist Joanna Stern and her colleagues built a chatbot for iPhone recommendations. Then came the movie reviews, recipes, and Nazis.

A tech columnist built a chatbot for iPhone reviews. It got weird

Wall Street Journal technology columnist Joanna Stern and her colleagues built a chatbot for iPhone recommendations. Then came the movie reviews, recipes, and Nazis.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Gov. Gavin Newsom recently signed a bill to protect tech consumers.

New CA law protects ‘brain data’ collected by neurotech companies

Gov. Gavin Newsom recently signed a bill to protect tech consumers.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Two major developments tighten big tech’s grip on Hollywood: Lionsgate’s deal with AI company Runway + Meta’s SAG-AFTRA-endorsed celeb chatbots.

Lionsgate, SAG, and Meta are tightening Hollywood and big tech’s bonds

Two major developments tighten big tech’s grip on Hollywood: Lionsgate’s deal with AI company Runway + Meta’s SAG-AFTRA-endorsed celeb chatbots.

from The Business

The U.S. continues to take a firm stance on China. When does censorship go too far? Plus, California’s gas inventory may hurt its neighboring state, Nevada.

US legislators harden stance on China, Brazil bans Musk’s X

The U.S. continues to take a firm stance on China. When does censorship go too far? Plus, California’s gas inventory may hurt its neighboring state, Nevada.

from Left, Right & Center

The attack on Hezbollah, using explosive pagers and walkie-talkies, reveals vulnerabilities in our globalized electronics supply chain.

What do exploding pagers mean for supply chain security?

The attack on Hezbollah, using explosive pagers and walkie-talkies, reveals vulnerabilities in our globalized electronics supply chain.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Gov. Newsom signed several AI bills on Tuesday that protect Hollywood actors, and try to prevent voters from being duped by deepfakes ahead of the November election.

New CA laws target deepfakes. Opponents say this violates free speech

Gov. Newsom signed several AI bills on Tuesday that protect Hollywood actors, and try to prevent voters from being duped by deepfakes ahead of the November election.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Jamil Zaki, Stanford professor of psychology/author, explains the science and appeal of cynicism while Tania Israel, professor of counseling psychology/author, talks about how to build…

Positivity and hope: How to navigate society away from cynicism

Jamil Zaki, Stanford professor of psychology/author, explains the science and appeal of cynicism while Tania Israel, professor of counseling psychology/author, talks about how to build…

from Life Examined

With the launch of its new, artificial intelligence-powered iPhone 16, Apple is hoping to boost smartphone sales, which have been sluggish lately.

Can Apple’s new AI software reverse iPhone sales slump?

With the launch of its new, artificial intelligence-powered iPhone 16, Apple is hoping to boost smartphone sales, which have been sluggish lately.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

A commuter train that emits only water vapor will start carrying SoCal passengers in early 2025. State officials have already ordered 10 more.

All aboard America’s first hydrogen-powered train

A commuter train that emits only water vapor will start carrying SoCal passengers in early 2025. State officials have already ordered 10 more.

from KCRW Features

Marina Del Rey Middle School went phone-free a year ahead of the Los Angeles Unified School District’s 2025 mandate. It changed everything.

Ahead of cell bans, this phone-free school is thriving

Marina Del Rey Middle School went phone-free a year ahead of the Los Angeles Unified School District’s 2025 mandate. It changed everything.

from KCRW Features

AI could make human college counselors obsolete. But it may help students and families who can’t afford a higher education coach.

AI could upend $3 billion college application industry

AI could make human college counselors obsolete. But it may help students and families who can’t afford a higher education coach.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Both Kamala Harris and Donald Trump are hoping to mobilize youth support online through fan videos, candid clips, memes, and the language of TikTok.

TikTok ‘meme armies’ are energizing the 2024 campaign

Both Kamala Harris and Donald Trump are hoping to mobilize youth support online through fan videos, candid clips, memes, and the language of TikTok.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams piloted the maiden voyage of Boeing’s Starliner spaceship. Now they're stuck at the ISS and might have to hitch a ride home with SpaceX.

Two NASA astronauts possibly stuck in space until 2025

Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams piloted the maiden voyage of Boeing’s Starliner spaceship. Now they're stuck at the ISS and might have to hitch a ride home with SpaceX.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

The Department of Justice sued TikTok, claiming the popular app allowed children under 13 to create and use accounts, illegally gathered data from them, and ignored parents’ requests…

Justice Department sues TikTok for illegally collecting children’s data

The Department of Justice sued TikTok, claiming the popular app allowed children under 13 to create and use accounts, illegally gathered data from them, and ignored parents’ requests…

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Pulitzer prize-winning reporter and author Charles Duhigg delves into the art of effective communication and the innate human desire for connection.

The art of conversation: Charles Duhigg on how to be a super communicator

Pulitzer prize-winning reporter and author Charles Duhigg delves into the art of effective communication and the innate human desire for connection.

from Life Examined

Video game performers have gone on strike after two years of negotiations around AI and the use of performers’ digital likeness.

Video game voice actors go on strike. Yes, it’s because of AI

Video game performers have gone on strike after two years of negotiations around AI and the use of performers’ digital likeness.

from KCRW Features