In this episode of This Week in Tech, Leo Laporte is joined by Georgia Dow, Shoshana Weissmann, and Fr. Robert Ballecer, tackling a wide range of thought-provoking topics, from the ethical implications of AI in sensitive fields to the challenges of creating and consuming content in an increasingly commercialized digital landscape.

• The panel grapples with the potential risks and benefits of AI-powered therapists and priests, stressing the need for human empathy and discernment in these emotionally charged roles.

• They confront the harsh realities of the internet's "heat death," as the relentless pursuit of profits and engagement leads to a glut of low-quality content and erodes user trust.

• The group reflects on the double-edged sword of democratized media, celebrating the value of supporting emerging voices while acknowledging the importance of professional standards.

• As Twitter faces existential challenges, the panel surveys the social media horizon, evaluating alternative platforms like Mastodon and Bluesky, and weighing the implications of Jack Dorsey's departure from the Bluesky board.

• Elon Musk's reckless tweets about taking Tesla private have come back to haunt him, with the Supreme Court upholding an SEC settlement requiring his Tesla-related posts to be vetted by a lawyer.

• The FCC has cracked down on major telecom companies for the illegal sale of location data, while legislators push for reforms to prevent the government from exploiting privacy loopholes.

• Congress continues its misguided crusade to protect children online, with ill-conceived age verification mandates and privacy-eroding measures that threaten the very foundations of digital security. The panel offers an impassioned critique of these shortsighted efforts.

• The once-beloved video game Helldivers 2 serves as a cautionary tale of platform overreach, as a heavy-handed PlayStation Network login requirement sparks a massive player revolt and torpedoes the game's reputation.

• Apple's quarterly results are analyzed, and all eyes are on Apple's upcoming event, where new iPads and an enhanced Apple Pencil are expected to take center stage. But the real buzz surrounds the rumored M4 chip and its tantalizing AI capabilities, hinting at a potential game-changer for the iconic brand.

• The group geeks out over Disney+'s radical revival of X-Men '97 and Amazon's ambitious Fallout adaptation, complete with an immersive easter egg phone experience

• The freewheeling discussion also touches on Shoshana's ingenious Alexa hacks for Sabbath TV viewing, a UK council's apostrophe apocalypse, the looming cicada invasion, and Fr. Robert's role as a guardian angel for the Vatican's feral felines.

Host: Leo Laporte

Guests: Georgia Dow, Shoshana Weissmann, and Fr. Robert Ballecer, SJ

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TikTok Ban, Intel's Struggles, Google's Ensh*ttification

• 'Thunder Run': Behind Lawmakers' Secretive Push to Pass the TikTok Bill
• A Chinese Firm Is America's Favorite Drone Maker. Except in Washington.
• The panel taks about AI
• With YouTube Booming, Podcast Creators Get Camera-Ready
• A new California bill would restrict line-skipping service 'Clear' at airports in the name of equity
• The Man Who Killed Google Search
• Google search boss Raghavan warns employees of 'new operating reality'
• Oracle is moving its world HQ to Nashville
• Google delays third-party cookie demise yet again
• Alphabet Leaps Into $2 Trillion Club as Results Show AI Strength
• U.S. chipmaker Intel was once dominant, now struggles to stay relevant
• Twilio Founder Jeff Lawson Has Some Serious Plans for The Onion

Host: Leo Laporte

Guests: Amy Webb and Kevin Rose

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• Cops can force suspect to unlock phone with thumbprint, US court rules
• TikTok 'ban' passes in the House again
• Senate reauthorizes FISA spy program, but not before its midnight expiration
• Surveillance Law Section 702 Keeps Us Safe
• Netflix (NFLX) earnings Q1 2024
• Americans' New TV Habit: Subscribe. Watch. Cancel. Repeat.
• How One Author Pushed the Limits of AI Copyright
• Amazon Prime Memberships in US Gain 8% to New High After Lull
• Tesla recalls all 3,878 Cybertrucks over faulty accelerator pedal
• Tesla asks shareholders to approve Elon Musk's nixed $56 billion pay plan
• Cool or creepy? Microsoft's VASA-1 is a new AI model that turns photos into 'talking faces'
• GPT-4 can exploit real vulnerabilities by reading advisories
• Boston Dynamics' Atlas humanoid robot goes electric
• Schools Want to Ban Phones. Parents Say No.

Host: Leo Laporte

Guests: Jason Howell, Abrar Al-Heeti, and Mikah Sargent

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