Technology

“I pledge allegiance to the joke,” says comedian Roy Wood Jr., explaining his approach to hosting CNN’s take on the British quiz show “Have I Got News For You.”

from The Business

Pro-cryptocurrency donors have made almost half of all the corporate contributions to political action committees this election, spending hundreds of millions of dollars on both sides…

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Filmmaker Lauren Greenfield assesses how constant internet access affects the coming-of-age experience of pandemic teens in a new series called “Social Studies.”

LA teens would rather live without social media, says new docuseries

Filmmaker Lauren Greenfield assesses how constant internet access affects the coming-of-age experience of pandemic teens in a new series called “Social Studies.”

from KCRW Features

Elon Musk is offering swing state voters $1 million to sign his petition. But some election law experts worry that Musk is trying to buy votes for Donald Trump.

Elon Musk offers $1M to sign his petition. Is it legal?

Elon Musk is offering swing state voters $1 million to sign his petition. But some election law experts worry that Musk is trying to buy votes for Donald Trump.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Starlink, owned by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, says it’s waived fees for customers in hurricane-affected areas. The company is growing, but rivals may be coming.

Starlink proves useful in aftermath of Hurricanes Helene and Milton

Starlink, owned by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, says it’s waived fees for customers in hurricane-affected areas. The company is growing, but rivals may be coming.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

The Intuit Dome in Inglewood offers facial recognition for just about everything, from ticketing to concessions at concerts and Clippers games.

At Intuit Dome, your face is your ticket and credit card

The Intuit Dome in Inglewood offers facial recognition for just about everything, from ticketing to concessions at concerts and Clippers games.

from KCRW Features

CalTech professor John Hopfield and Google scientist Geoffrey Hinton’s discoveries taught computers to learn the same way humans do, paving the way for A.I.

‘Godfather of AI’ wins physics Nobel, he fears his creation

CalTech professor John Hopfield and Google scientist Geoffrey Hinton’s discoveries taught computers to learn the same way humans do, paving the way for A.I.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Julie Guthman critiques tech entrepreneurs whose proposed food system "fixes" ignore the underlying problems they claim to address.

Maybe we should be more skeptical about Silicon Valley's "solutions" for food issues

Julie Guthman critiques tech entrepreneurs whose proposed food system "fixes" ignore the underlying problems they claim to address.

from Good Food

Wall Street Journal technology columnist Joanna Stern and her colleagues built a chatbot for iPhone recommendations. Then came the movie reviews, recipes, and Nazis.

A tech columnist built a chatbot for iPhone reviews. It got weird

Wall Street Journal technology columnist Joanna Stern and her colleagues built a chatbot for iPhone recommendations. Then came the movie reviews, recipes, and Nazis.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Gov. Gavin Newsom recently signed a bill to protect tech consumers.

New CA law protects ‘brain data’ collected by neurotech companies

Gov. Gavin Newsom recently signed a bill to protect tech consumers.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Two major developments tighten big tech’s grip on Hollywood: Lionsgate’s deal with AI company Runway + Meta’s SAG-AFTRA-endorsed celeb chatbots.

Lionsgate, SAG, and Meta are tightening Hollywood and big tech’s bonds

Two major developments tighten big tech’s grip on Hollywood: Lionsgate’s deal with AI company Runway + Meta’s SAG-AFTRA-endorsed celeb chatbots.

from The Business

The U.S. continues to take a firm stance on China. When does censorship go too far? Plus, California’s gas inventory may hurt its neighboring state, Nevada.

US legislators harden stance on China, Brazil bans Musk’s X

The U.S. continues to take a firm stance on China. When does censorship go too far? Plus, California’s gas inventory may hurt its neighboring state, Nevada.

from Left, Right & Center

The attack on Hezbollah, using explosive pagers and walkie-talkies, reveals vulnerabilities in our globalized electronics supply chain.

What do exploding pagers mean for supply chain security?

The attack on Hezbollah, using explosive pagers and walkie-talkies, reveals vulnerabilities in our globalized electronics supply chain.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Gov. Newsom signed several AI bills on Tuesday that protect Hollywood actors, and try to prevent voters from being duped by deepfakes ahead of the November election.

New CA laws target deepfakes. Opponents say this violates free speech

Gov. Newsom signed several AI bills on Tuesday that protect Hollywood actors, and try to prevent voters from being duped by deepfakes ahead of the November election.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Jamil Zaki, Stanford professor of psychology/author, explains the science and appeal of cynicism while Tania Israel, professor of counseling psychology/author, talks about how to build…

Positivity and hope: How to navigate society away from cynicism

Jamil Zaki, Stanford professor of psychology/author, explains the science and appeal of cynicism while Tania Israel, professor of counseling psychology/author, talks about how to build…

from Life Examined

With the launch of its new, artificial intelligence-powered iPhone 16, Apple is hoping to boost smartphone sales, which have been sluggish lately.

Can Apple’s new AI software reverse iPhone sales slump?

With the launch of its new, artificial intelligence-powered iPhone 16, Apple is hoping to boost smartphone sales, which have been sluggish lately.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

A commuter train that emits only water vapor will start carrying SoCal passengers in early 2025. State officials have already ordered 10 more.

All aboard America’s first hydrogen-powered train

A commuter train that emits only water vapor will start carrying SoCal passengers in early 2025. State officials have already ordered 10 more.

from KCRW Features

Marina Del Rey Middle School went phone-free a year ahead of the Los Angeles Unified School District’s 2025 mandate. It changed everything.

Ahead of cell bans, this phone-free school is thriving

Marina Del Rey Middle School went phone-free a year ahead of the Los Angeles Unified School District’s 2025 mandate. It changed everything.

from KCRW Features

AI could make human college counselors obsolete. But it may help students and families who can’t afford a higher education coach.

AI could upend $3 billion college application industry

AI could make human college counselors obsolete. But it may help students and families who can’t afford a higher education coach.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Both Kamala Harris and Donald Trump are hoping to mobilize youth support online through fan videos, candid clips, memes, and the language of TikTok.

TikTok ‘meme armies’ are energizing the 2024 campaign

Both Kamala Harris and Donald Trump are hoping to mobilize youth support online through fan videos, candid clips, memes, and the language of TikTok.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand