716: Release the CrackerBot!

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/1passwordShow notes at https://gog.show/716FOLLOW UPCalifornia Governor Newsom signs landmark AI safety bill SB 53Nvidia Is Quaking in Its Boots‘Nirvana Baby’ Spencer Elden’s ‘Nevermind’ Suit Dismissed AgainIN THE NEWSSpotify Appoints New CEOs as Daniel Ek Becomes Executive ChairMeta announces paid subscriptions for both Instagram and Facebook in the UKUK announces plans for digital ID cardsOpenAI’s New Sora App Lets You Deepfake Yourself for EntertainmentThe First 24 Hours of Sora 2 Chaos: Copyright Violations, Sam Altman Shoplifting, and MoreOpenAI Rolls Out ChatGPT’s Ability to Buy Stuff for YouOpenAI Is Now Worth More on Paper Than SpaceX, Catches Up to Elon Musk HimselfDisney sends cease and desist letter to Character.AICreator of “AI Actress” Responds to Near-Universal BacklashFCC accidentally leaked iPhone schematics, potentially giving rivals a peek at company secretsAlphabet will pay $22 million to settle President Trump’s YouTube lawsuitCracker Barrel Outrage Was Almost Certainly Driven by Bots, Researchers SayMEDIA CANDYMXV’s Riot Fest PhotosSlow Horses Season 5Frankenstein | Guillermo del Toro | Official Trailer | NetflixHuman: Neanderthal EncountersPivot TourYouTube Music is testing AI hosts that present relevant stories, trivia and commentaryHow Many Streaming Subscribers Did Disney Lose After Suspending Kimmel?APPS & DOODADSmacOS 26 unlocks the real potential of Apple’s Journal appThe smart glasses race is really on nowLogitech's new keyboard can be recharged by any kind of lightAmazon Fire TV devices expected to ditch Android for Linux in 2025Meta introduces Vibes feed for AI generated contentNeon, an App That Pays to Record Your Phone Calls Hit #2 on the App Store, Taken Down Over Security FlawTile trackers reportedly have a security flaw that can let stalkers track your locationComet - The browser that works for youTHE DARK SIDE WITH DAVEDave BittnerThe CyberWireHacking HumansCaveatControl LoopOnly Malware in the BuildingThe Princess BrideBlue ThunderThe Best Disney Park Ride Overlays, and Where to Find ThemHome 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.