Grumpy Old Geeks
patreon
Ep 699: TACO 2025 - Ad Free!
🕑 Added 2025-05-30 20:54:30 +0000 UTC
In this week’s “we told you so” edition, we kick things off with the latest AI faceplant—go ahead, Google “Is it 2025?” and try not to spit coffee on your keyboard. Meanwhile, over at Meta, Zuckerberg’s brilliant idea to loosen content moderation has, shocker, led to more harassment and violent content. Elsewhere in tech dystopia: Texas is trying to ground all minors off social media, Germany wants to slap a 10% tax on Silicon Valley, and Anthropic is handing out free search powers and a board seat to Netflix’s Reed Hastings. Because nothing says “trusted AI governance” like a guy who greenlit Love Is Blind.
But wait, crypto bros are having their own John Wick arc: a luxury townhouse, a missing wallet, and possibly an NYPD detective tangled in a real-life “crypto millionaire torture” flick. As if that isn’t enough, Trump Media is fundraising to buy $2.5B in Bitcoin—and DJT stock promptly nosedived. Also feuding this week: Marjorie Taylor Greene vs. Grok, because nothing screams Christian values like rageposting at Elon’s AI. And speaking of Elon, he’s now in bed with Telegram to the tune of $300 million, which we’re sure won’t be a disinformation factory.
MEDIA CANDY is stacked: from the Murderbot diaries to a My Dinner with Andre rewatch, and yes, the Wheel of Time got axed after 3 seasons. Apps? Opera Neon is a UI fever dream, Starling Home Hub adds more smarts to your house, and WhatsApp finally arrives on iPad—welcome to 2016. In THE DARK SIDE, Dave Bittner brings the latest digital dirt, including the CIA’s bonkers Star Wars fan site op. And if you’re hitting the library, grab The AI Con or something more romantic—like Love, Sex and the Alien Apocalypse. Just be careful if you read that on public transit.
Show notes at https://gog.show/699
FOLLOW UP
Don't Google "Is it 2025?" unless you want to laugh at the state of AI
IN THE NEWS
Facebook sees rise in violent content and harassment after policy changes
What we know about the NYC crypto kidnapping and torture case
Manhattan Crypto Kidnapping and Torture Case: What We Know
NYPD detective on Adams' security detail may be tied to crypto millionaire torture case: Sources
Judge denies bail to crypto investor charged with kidnapping and torturing man in posh NYC townhouse
Trump Media Raises Money to Buy $2.5 Billion in Bitcoin
Trump administration ramps up push as crypto ally
DJT shares drop after Trump Media announces bitcoin raise - CNBC
Texas is getting ready to ban social media for anyone under 18
Texas enacts age-verification law for app stores
Germany is considering a 10 percent digital service tax on US tech giants
EU regulators are investigating Pornhub and three other sites
Anthropic brings web search to free Claude users
Reed Hastings appointed to Anthropic's board of directors
Anthropic appoints Netflix Chairman Reed Hastings to board - CNBC
Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings joins Anthropic's board | TechCrunch
RFK Jr.’s ‘Make America Healthy Again’ Report Cites Fake Studies
Marjorie Taylor Greene feuds with AI bot over her Christian cred
Telegram CEO announces $300 million partnership with Elon Musk's xAI and Grok
MEDIA CANDY
Murderbot
Long Way Home
Lilo and Stitch
Martha
‘The Wheel Of Time’ Canceled By Prime Video After 3 Seasons
Billy Joel Cancels Concerts Due to Brain Disorder
My Dinner with Andre
Grumpy Old Geeks Information on RocketReach
Schmactors with James Marsters, Mark Devine, and Jason DeFillippo
APPS & DOODADS
Opera Neon
Apple Reportedly Says ‘Screw It’ and Jumps From iOS 19 to iOS 26
Starling Home Hub
WhatsApp finally launches an official version for iPads
AT THE LIBRARY
The Essential Terry Pratchett
Good Omens TV Companion Misprint
The AI Con: How to Fight Big Tech’s Hype and Create the Future We Want By: Emily M. Bender, Alex Hanna
Love, Sex and the Alien Apocalypse (First Contact) by Peter Cawdron
THE DARK SIDE WITH DAVE
Dave Bittner
The CyberWire
Hacking Humans
Caveat
Control Loop
Only Malware in the Building
The CIA Secretly Ran a Star Wars Fan Site
LIVE: Kermit the Frog gives commencement speech at University of Maryland
Billy Joel - I've Loved These Days (Audio)
