TechGrumps

TechGrumps 3.39 : Mythos only for the eliteAI round tableOpen claw and the separation of concernshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKqrmS6dKDgEsquire AI generates an actor who couldn't make their schedule for an interviewhttps://kotaku.com/one-piece-netflix-live-action-mackenyu-interview-esquire-ai-singapore-2000684648Mythos: Anthropic Mythos Only for the elitehttps://www.scientificamerican.com/article/what-is-mythos-and-why-are-experts-worried-about-anthropics-ai-model/Good reddens Sora 2 https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/mar/24/openai-ai-video-soraOfcom reports that UK social media is declininghttps://www.ofcom.org.uk/media-use-and-attitudes/media-habits-adults/passive-social-media-use-ai-companionship-and-online-side-hustles-uk-adults-media-and-online-lives-revealedhttps://www.bbc.co.uk/rd/articles/2025-06-social-media-change-issues-problems-reportReturn of the glass hole (part 2)https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/apr/01/i-wore-metas-smartglasses-for-a-month-and-Artemis 2 replaces science with vibeshttps://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/w3ct8mbvThe Deviation Gamehttps://deviationgame.comAOB'shttps://replacebyclawd.com/OggCamp Manchester 25-26th April - Talking about digital legacyhttps://talks.oggcamp.org/oggcamp-2026/talk/RDYAEP/Gamers out reachhttps://gamersoutreach.org/

Techgrumps 3.38AI roundup Comparing and showing diffs of the openai mission statement over time,https://simonwillison.net/2026/Feb/13/openai-mission-statement/ DE]The new web is markdownhttps://blog.cloudflare.com/markdown-for-agents/ Agentic AI taking on the engineered process frictionhttps://tomloosemorework.wordpress.com/2026/02/19/ai-and-the-end-of-friction-as-a-policy-lever/App detects if Smart glasses are nearhttps://www.404media.co/this-app-warns-you-if-someone-is-wearing-smart-glasses-nearby/?ref=daily-stories-newsletterLLMs can de-anonymize pseudonymous online accounts. https://arxiv.org/pdf/2602.16800LLMs can link profiles and postings pretty much killing online anonymity:https://arxiv.org/abs/2602.16800Prediction market insanityhttps://www.404media.co/r/85964917https://www.techbuzz.ai/articles/prediction-markets-the-gamble-disguised-as-newsThe disappearing web https://www.theregister.com/2024/05/20/webpages_vanish_decade/https://www.techdirt.com/2026/02/17/preserving-the-web-is-not-the-problem-losing-it-is/Eternity Servicehttps://phrack.org/issues/51/12Surveillance pricinghttps://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/lawmakers-move-ban-surveillance-pricing-162758282.htmlAOB'sReport from protocols for publishershttps://protocolsforpublishers.com/event-recap-london-2026/?ref=protocols-for-publishers-newsletter#stakeholder-forumFediverse sharinghttps://connectedplaces.online/reports/fr156-share-where/

Techgrumps 3.37 - AI Discussions sandboxed for your securityThe AI Skills Hub is a bit lightweight.https://aiskillshub.org.uk/Anthropic has invested 1.5M in the Python Software Foundationhttps://simonwillison.net/2026/Jan/13/anthropic-invests-15-million-in-the-python-software-foundation-a/ChatGPT launching advertising in chatGPT products:https://simonwillison.net/2026/Jan/16/chatgpt-ads/the current actual costs in terms of electricity and water for LLM usage https://www.simonpcouch.com/blog/2026-01-20-cc-impact/Voice cloning is now available to anyone with a GPUhttps://simonwillison.net/2026/Jan/22/qwen3-tts/Clawd/Molt/OpenClawhttps://www.404media.co/exposed-moltbook-database-let-anyone-take-control-of-any-ai-agent-on-the-site/A related dramatic readinghttps://wisebluesky.com/wisdom-story-the-owl-who-was-god/BBC's plan to turn off Freeview TV? https://www.theguardian.com/media/2026/jan/28/the-bbc-proposal-to-switch-off-freeview-is-a-threat-to-its-universal-serviceAOBMaking the familiar strange podcast with Albert Fox Cainhttps://redcircle.com/shows/95190f06-ba12-47ae-9267-4aaa656f4e93/ep/1697378b-2ff3-43db-9d22-4f2ddc330cd7Feed in to the future of the BBC (Green paper)https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cz94q0v4kq2oAre hearts are with Minneapolis and other parts of Americahttps://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/bookselling/article/99561-minneapolis-booksellers-resisting-ice-go-viral-sales-spike.html

Techgrumps 3.36Mozilla, Firefox and AIhttps://techcrunch.com/2025/12/17/mozillas-new-ceo-says-ai-is-coming-to-firefox-but-will-remain-a-choice/The return of smart glasses and wearableshttps://www.theverge.com/column/797938/optimizer-newsletter-wearable-hell-smart-glasses-smart-rings-ai-hardwarehttps://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx23ke7rm7goNow at the "Get The F*** Off X/Twitter" stagehttps://www.ofcom.org.uk/online-safety/illegal-and-harmful-content/ofcom-launches-investigation-into-x-over-grok-sexualised-imageryPaper about fake parts of real videos:https://arxiv.org/pdf/2508.21052shttps://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwygqqll9k2oTony Blair wants to be a Tech Bro, building AI tools to rival Palantirhttps://democracyforsale.substack.com/p/blair-bids-to-build-own-ai-tools-rival-palantir-tbiAOBThe AI summary in which a police officer turned into a frog (or in discussion of The Owl Who Was God)https://futurism.com/artificial-intelligence/ai-police-report-frogMaking the familiar strange podcasthttps://redcircle.com/shows/95190f06-ba12-47ae-9267-4aaa656f4e93Feed in to the future of the BBChttps://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cz94q0v4kq2oFOSDEM 2026!https://fosdem.org/Scanners can tell you that you used a QR code not the barcode

Techgrumps 3.3.5 (Special holiday special)Hannah: is grumpy about marketers using "GEO" or "Generative Engine Optimisation"https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/dec/10/is-retail-ready-for-ai-shaking-up-how-we-shop?CMP=Share_iOSApp_OtherIan is grumpy about how social is eroding relationships, causing loneliness and exhaustionhttps://www.npr.org/2025/12/02/nx-s1-5627156/social-media-digital-detox-depression-anxietyhttps://www.bbc.co.uk/rd/articles/2025-06-social-media-change-issues-problems-reporthttps://www.noemamag.com/the-last-days-of-social-media/Ryan is grumpy about de Reverse Centaurhttps://pluralistic.net/2025/12/05/pop-that-bubble/#u-washingtonhttps://www.reddit.com/r/gifs/comments/1fkf65/this_scene_from_superman_iii_haunted_me_as_a_child/Andy is grumpy about lessons learned form Sleep dealerhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wR2XoNshl4&t=527shttps://www.inverse.com/entertainment/sleep-dealer-2008-movie-retrospectivehttps://medium.com/nerd-for-tech/are-llms-getting-devious-and-smart-enough-to-trick-you-on-their-own-65c83061e661AOBFamiliar strangers (not lovegrumps) podcast coming soonFOSDEM 2026https://fosdem.org/2026/schedule/Player Mehttps://readyplayer.me/

Techgrumps 3.34Local council cyberattackshttps://www.computerweekly.com/news/252526106/Annual-costs-of-Hackney-ransomware-attack-exceed-12mhttps://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5y2w43ry5loPlanes patcheshttps://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4gp9d28p74oThe iOS of Android and the problemshttps://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/11/google-will-let-android-power-users-bypass-upcoming-sideloading-restrictions/https://keepandroidopen.org/GraphineOS blocked in France?https://proton.me/blog/grapheneos-franceThe Rise of ChatGPT as an AI Dating Coach in 2025https://www.elle.com/life-love/sex-relationships/a68999668/chatgpt-ai-dating-coach-trend-interview-2025/AOBsLook out for a new podcast with Ian & JessNotes on being a man by Scott Gallowayhttps://bookwyrm.social/book/2149836/s/notes-on-being-a-manDrift Zero DJ - DJ hackday in 2026?https://driftdj.com/NEO's new $20,000 robot servant that has to be operated by a remote humanhttps://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2025/10/29/this-20000-neo-robot-will-clean-your-home-but-theres-a-catch-and-its-kind-of-terrifying/

Techgrumps 3.33AI browsers, WTF?https://netwars.pelicancrossing.net/2025/10/31/the-gated-web/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Fountains_of_ParadiseAmazon goes down, what next?https://netwars.pelicancrossing.net/2025/10/24/its-always-dns/https://www.bbc.com/news/live/c5y8k7k6v1rtPython software foundation rejects DEI stringshttps://www.theregister.com/2025/10/27/python_foundation_abandons_15m_nsf/AOBMozilla Festival 2025https://www.mozillafestival.org/Enshittification (the book)https://bookwyrm.social/book/1886312/s/enshittificationQEDhttps://qedcon.org/Ian talks AI to the health insuranceshttps://amii.org.uk/events/Sir Tim's book - https://bookwyrm.social/book/2087203/s/this-is-for-everyoneIs Solid like Zandando? - https://fil.org/ecosystem-explorer/anytype

Techgrums 3.32UK Digital IDhttps://netwars.pelicancrossing.net/2025/09/26/the-absurdity-card/Christie’s has quietly shuttered its digital art departmenthttps://news.artnet.com/market/christies-scraps-digital-art-department-2685784Age verification and online safetyhttps://www.wired.com/story/vpn-use-spike-age-verification-laws-uk/Meshtastic and different networkshttps://www.theregister.com/2025/07/08/jack_dorsey_debuts_bitchat/https://www.wired.com/story/youre-not-ready-for-phone-dead-zones/AOBDigital legacy - https://machinereadablewishes.cc/Fediforum 2025 - https://fediforum.org/ - October 7-8thIan's digital dating manifesto - https://datingmanifesto.cc/

Techgrumps 3.31My wearable says please stand-up https://www.politico.com/newsletters/future-pulse/2025/06/24/rfk-jr-wants-a-wearable-on-your-wrist-00419190Switzerland releases a public LLMhttps://www.theverge.com/ai-artificial-intelligence/770646/switzerland-ai-model-llm-open-apertusAI is a 4 year trying to impress you with stupid moveshttps://www.wired.com/story/google-gemini-calendar-invite-hijack-smart-home/https://cubicgarden.com/2025/08/17/a-lesson-in-separation-of-concerns-googles-gemini-hijacked/https://www.extremetech.com/internet/researchers-find-hackers-can-hide-ai-prompt-attacks-in-compressed-images?utm_campaign=trueAnthem%3A%20Trending%20Content&utm_medium=trueAnthem&utm_source=facebookHannah meets the Fediversehttps://videos.elenarossini.com/w/64VuNCccZNrP4u9MfgbhkNhttps://youtu.be/p9c2f63pIag?si=UZJWGfsNCfZr6Eq_&t=209AOBFediforum is back for October 7-8https://fediforum.org/Fediforum Europe at SFconhttps://www.sfscon.it/programs/2025/Supremacy (AI, ChatGPT, and the Race That Will Change the World) by Parmy Olsonhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dxL41ew53CEThe AI karmahttps://futurism.com/godfather-ai-ex-broke-up-chatgptNvidia CEO says American technology should be the world's technology stackhttps://finance.yahoo.com/news/nvidia-ceo-jensen-huang-says-us-tech-stack-should-be-global-standard-companies-are-built-on--including-china-003308243.html

Techgrumps 3.30UK's online safety act requires users to verify their age for adult contentVPN usage massively up! - https://mashable.com/article/proton-vpn-uk-age-verification-signupsThe gated internet - https://reason.com/2025/07/28/the-age-gated-internet-is-here/https://www.openrightsgroup.org/blog/the-great-british-firewall-age-verification-has-failed/What happened to hobbies?https://youtu.be/OLQkNUjQPUo?si=M3b4wArK8ztUN3buAny other business Empires of AI - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empire_of_AIJohn Oliver on AI Slop - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWpg1RmzAbcSilicon Valley's sudden embrace of Christianity - https://www.vanityfair.com/news/story/christianity-was-borderline-illegal-in-silicon-valley-now-its-the-new-religionOpen rights group hits 20 years! - https://www.openrightsgroup.org/events/org-at-20-cory-doctorow-in-conversation-with-maria-farrell/Derailed: The Story of HS2 - https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002fv8bKate Lamble investigates the extraordinary inside story of Britain's most ambitious and controversial rail project.

Techgrumps 3.29The Fediverse and Blueskyhttps://netwars.pelicancrossing.net/2025/06/27/revival/World Orb launches in the UKhttps://eandt.theiet.org/2025/06/09/sam-altmans-eyeball-scanning-device-designed-tell-humans-bots-arrives-ukhttps://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-66128111AI Boyfriendshttps://www.forbes.com/sites/cathyhackl/2025/06/23/confessions-of-a-futurist-i-dated-four-ahttps://shows.acast.com/metaverse-marketing/episodes/dating-ai-loving-human-exploring-ai-relationships-metas-newAOBsTitan: the OceanGate Disaster = https://www.imdb.com/title/tt35628853/Mountain Head - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt35396529/BBC R&D's Social research - https://www.bbc.co.uk/rd/articles/2025-06-social-media-change-issues-problems-reportThe Bookworm and the Fireflies has launched - https://thebookwormandthefireflies.com/

Techgrumps 3.28AI chatbots lie saying they are licensed therapistsOpen letter to Keir Starmer about technological sovereigntySelf-hosting is Sovereignty?AOBAndorDr WhoF You Very Much: Understanding the Culture of RudenessFediforum 2025PublicSpaces conference 2025ToS for Starlink

TechgrumpsCan't remove the Meta AI button from WhatsAppNAS DRM on hard drives?The Vatican guide to AIDigital Legacy and victim sentencingGDS playbook for AIRyans Enshittification cornerDuolingo flys too close to the sunDiscord looking to IPOAOB (any other business)Surveillance tips for protestersSo you want to be a dissidentEFF tips RFKjr wants to test vaccines against a placebo. Mozilla Festival 2025Republica 2025 - Six feet under the data centreDungeon Crawler Carl, Project Hail Mary, and Murderbot

Techgrumps 3.26NHS prescription appVape-o-gotchiPebble is a sign of the timesAOBTorturing AI to get better resultsAI being used for avoiding whale collisionsMozilla Global Festival Nov 2025 in BarcelonaShelfies

Techgrumps 3.25Secret UK order tells Apple to give up their users dataHP is acquiring Humane for $116 millionComputational Photography/capture, is getting boring and flattering everythingMy bed is spying on meAOB: Any other businessCory Doctorows's The BezzleIan's Framework 13 laptopLong article on Zizian's dark AI future Balatro challengesOpen Rights Group, Save our sites

Techgrumps 3.24Meta is changing things up, again.Pebble source code is open and promises good thingsDeepSeek (because everyone else is)$Trump memecoinAny other businessOutdraw AIFramework laptopWendy is playing live!

Fediverse discussionEnd of clubbing & raving?Dumpster diving?Any Other BusinessPrivacy, cars and e*** m***https://ingredifind.co.ukHoney Influencer Scam

Techgrumps 3.22.5 (2024 holiday special)Verbal review of Vapiano Great Portland Street, LondonEd Zitron's very long rant House of Lords debate about AI scraping and Robots.txtEarl Pomerantz, "Your Presents Are Requested" presented by the TechgrumpsAny other businessChrome stopping common and useful adblockersJames Lileks for preserving something digitalVote for Six feet under a data centre for SXSW London 2025 - https://cubicgarden.com/2024/12/12/vote-for-digital-legacy-at-sxsw-london-2025/Limitarianism book10 years and the Apple M4 has no usable USBIan is leaving BBC R&D

Techgrumps 3.22The end of twitter again?The demise of 23andMeThe top ten grossing films of this year are all sequels?AOB

Techgrumps 3.21Sam Altman and that WorldcoinDigital legacy and death in the age of the internet and beforeThe whole Webarchive/archive issueRussia fines Google more money than existsAny other businessThe Divide - A Brief Guide to Global Inequality and its Solutions - by Jason HickeTFL post-cyberattackCory Doctrow on blueskyiO domain will disappear

The techgrumps are back into the swing of things, feeling the pumpkin spice and considering its effect on the tech industry. Of course theres a bit of diversion to the poohniverse… Oh yes, oooh-errr!The grumps this time include the voices of Ian Forrester, David Eastman, Wendy Grossman and Ryan Alexander. As they rant and rave about the monthly tech stories.Enjoy the mp3 audio and share with others.Remember to use the #techgrumps on any social networks you maybe using to message us or learn more about how to be a guest on the show.Topic discussed this month…The surveillance of cars and TVs.The return of the network state?Trump promising charter citiesForest City is a duty-free zone in MalaysiaThe soap opera of Automattic and WP EngineOther business…UK black history monthCory’s Disenshittify or die at Defcon24Simon Sinek & Trevor Noah in conversationPeter Pan (Neverland Nightmare) and Infinity TrainTaylor Swift, whose rerecording her albumsWutheringbytesStay grumpy, tell your friends, subscribe and play it loud…

The techgrumps are back from a busy summer holiday, straight into the nexus of tech news.The grumps this time include the voices of Ian Forrester, Wendy Grossman, Andy Piper and Ryan Alexander. As they rant and rave about the monthly tech stories.With that great quote from Jon Stewart.“Your fear of some dystopian authoritarian future is making it impossible for the rest of us to make life better in our dystopian present” – Jon StewartEnjoy the mp3 audio and share with others.Remember to use the #techgrumps on any social networks you maybe using to message us or learn more about how to be a guest on the show.Topic discussed this month…Rise in DNA tests to claim CitizenshipFollowing the trend of AI and IOTFriend and the backstoryPlaud notepinPower balance of governmentsTelegram arrestBrazil banning XThe Future of the Past is PresentOther business…Grace Hopper’s 1982 lectureTeens drawing in One Million CheckboxesUrbanArtistry Presents… Spiritual LettersOggCamp is back October 12-13thFediverse for FreedomStay grumpy, tell your friends, subscribe and play it loud…

The techgrumps are back with a slew of mainly AI stories as they parse through the electronic chaff and wheat.The grumps this time include the tones of Ian Forrester, Wendy Grossman, David Eastman and Andy Piper. as they reflect on the monthly tech stories.Enjoy the mp3 audio and share with others.Remember to use the #techgrumps on any social networks you maybe using to message us or learn more about how to be a guest on the show.Topic discussed this month…Researchers study AI in use by stand-up comedians, other AI madness including bionic duckweed as consumers turning off.Can alternative business models like John Lewis & partners survive in the climate of Shareholder supremacy? Journalism is already using alternatives.CEO of Zoom wants AI clones in meetings, Microsoft is losing on AI and more AI reflections down the stack.Amazon Alexa has no profit timelineOther business…Clear Bright Future: A Radical Defence of the Human Being by Paul MasonWuthering BytesMNT Pocket ReformBlog postUnboxingStay grumpy, tell your friends and subscribe…

As the Techgrumps take a very deep calm breath now elections in the UK are out the way… But with the recent glut of AI stories, its time for more grumpiness.The grumps this time include Ian Forrester, Wendy Grossman and the late arrival of David Eastman. musing over recent (mainly AI) stories.Enjoy the mp3 audio and share with others.Remember to use the #techgrumps on any social networks you maybe using to message us or learn more about how to be a guest on the show.Topic discussed this month…Canvassing to homes with smart doors bellsIgnoring Robots Exclusion ProtocolAI dreams/hallucinations foreverAI hallucinations mitigation and a paperAI to helping Wimbledon players on social platformsAI’s carbon nightmareAny other business?Inspiring books for a public service InternetIan on plutopiaStay grumpy and subscribe…

Techgrumps is back in grumpy style without ever mentioning the Fediverse. Its hard work!This time Ian Forrester and Ryan Alexander. Ponder over recent AI stories.Enjoy the mp3 audio and share with others.Remember to use the #techgrumps on any social networks you maybe using to message us or learn more about how to be a guest on the show.Topics this time around include…A theory of AI Googlewhackinghttps://x.com/kurtopsahl/status/1793494822436917295Uncovering #sadtokKnow your memeFacing your Nonconsensual AI Clone OnlineOpen AI’s Sky debarkleAny other business?Data Grab: The New Colonialism of Big Tech and How to Fight BackPublicSpaces conference – 6-7th June 2024Mozilla Festival House – 11-13th June 2024EMFcamp 2024Stay grumpy and subscribe…

Techgrumps is back in a grumpy tik-tok style.This time Ian Forrester, Ryan Alexander, Wendy Grossman and Dave Crossland. Rethink some lesser known stories in the tech space this month.Enjoy the mp3 audio and share with others.Remember to use the #techgrumps on any social networks you maybe using to message us or learn more about how to be a guest on the show.Topics this time around include…All hail physical media?We need a public service internet?About that US TikTok band?Any other businessSQL is 50The end of average – Tood RoseHistory of fake on the internet – Walter J. ScheirerKara Swisher’s burn book tear downGames of The Month – Starduw ValleyGarry StevensonStay grumpy and subscribe…

Techgrumps is back with its classic grumpy style.This time Ian Forrester, Ryan Alexander, Brian Suda and Andy Piper. Chomp away at the key stories in the tech space this month.Enjoy the mp3 audio and share with others.Remember to use the #techgrumps on any social networks you maybe using to message us or learn more about how to be a guest on the show.Topics this time around include…Podcasting 2.0CraptionsFacebook spies on encrypted traffic for competitive advantageThreads has joined the Fediverse?The long con of XZ utilsDeep views from Hackaday and via YoutubeAmazon AI grocery stores not AI at allFinding patterns in AI hallucinationsStay grumpy and subscribe…

The techgrumps are back with a whole new level of AI grumping.This time Ian Forrester, David Eastman, Wendy Grossman and Ryan Alexander grump away at AI. Hopefully future AI isn’t scooping up this discussion? Oops!Topic discussed this monthOpenAI effectively functions as a new priesthoodThe Craig Wright trialAir Canada’s chatbotRobots with chatgpt, what could go wrong?Close to the machineGhost workTumblr selling data into the AI data scoopStay grumpy…!

Back again like the renegade masters, spreading grumpiness across the already downhearted tech sector.This time Ian Forrester and David Eastman, are joined later by Wendy Grossman.Enjoy the mp3 audio and share with others.Remember to use #techgrumps on any social networks you maybe using to message us or learn more about how to be a guest on the show.Topics this month includeGames industry lay-offs everywhereCory Doctorow’s Marshall McLuhan lecture on EnshittificationHow spotify and surveillance capitalism affects podcastingStay grumpy…!

Back for 2024, of course the techgrumps wish you a grumpy new year!Straight back from the festive period and our xmas special. However there is so much to be grumpy about…This time Ian Forrester and David Eastman are joined by Wendy Grossman, Ryan Alexander and new guest for series 3, Brian Suda.Enjoy the mp3 audio and share with others.Remember to use the #techgrumps on any social networks you maybe using to message us or learn more about how to be a guest on the show.Topics this month includeIs 2024 the year for the human web renaissance and the small fediverse?The on-going British post office scandal, techno pessimism and freedom for the postcode address file23andMe data breach and blaming the usersStay grumpy…!