#technology-trends

#technology-trends

As the year draws to an end, hosts Michael Calore and Lauren Goode have some news to share with listeners. But first, they head over to the pool to unwind and reflect on what they'll be watching for in the tech space this upcoming year, and what they think should stay behind. Articles mentioned in this episode: You can follow Michael Calore on Bluesky at @snackfight, Lauren Goode on Bluesky at @laurengoode, Brian Barrett on Bluesky at @brbarrett, and Zoé Schiffer on Bluesky at @zoeschiffer.

Tea's Firebase misconfiguration exposed 1.1M sensitive messages, raising concerns over data security and highlighting the crucial need for better configuration practices.

Advertising has infiltrated every aspect of digital life, with ads present on e-readers, TVs, music streaming services, and even gaming consoles, disrupting user experiences.

Historically, Microsoft seems cursed: It's often early to big technological shifts, and it's great at prototyping them. But then, after a hype-filled launch where Microsoft celebrates its lead, the company seems to lose interest.

ChatGPT now responds to around 2.5 billion user queries daily, with 330 million of those (roughly 13%) originating in the US, totaling approximately 912.5 billion queries per year.

Fidji Simo will start her new role as an OpenAI executive on August 18th, leading at least one-third of the company and reporting directly to OpenAI CEO Sam Altman.

Nearly 100% of engineers at Robinhood are using AI code editors, making it hard to distinguish between human-written and AI-generated code, according to CEO Vlad Tenev.

"Combining ChromeOS and Android into a single platform...I'm very interested in how people are using their laptops these days and what they're getting done."

The 256GB version of the original Google Pixel Fold is priced at $599.99 during a Lightning Deal, reduced from its typical $749.99 price.

Rick Muller, head of IARPA, is leaving the agency on July 11 to join IonQ, a quantum computing company, amid broader downsizing in the U.S. intelligence community.

Apple's foldable iPhone has entered its prototype testing phase, with a functioning model already in existence and expected to launch alongside the iPhone 18 series in September 2026.

In a world of SuperShifts, planning for the most probable future is no longer enough. We need approaches that embrace complexity, expand foresight, and prepare us for disruptions.

"As we have said previously, we are refocusing on our core client and data center portfolio to strengthen our product offerings and meet the needs of our customers."

Smartphones' endless distractions have prompted rising interest in dumbphones as alternatives, as users seek respite from screen addiction, indicating a market shift.

Somewhere in the last few months, something fundamental shifted for me with autonomous AI coding agents. They've gone from a 'hey this is pretty neat' curiosity to something I genuinely can't imagine working without.