Tom Merritt and Jenn Cutter look back on the biggest tech stories of January.
Starring Tom Merritt and Jenn Cutter.
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US gas projects tied to data centers surge, videogame stocks dive after Google unveils “Project Genie”, Belkin shuts down cloud services for most Wemo smart home devices.
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Show Notes
OpenClaw agents build their own social network
The open source personal AI assistant formerly known as Clawdbot and Moltbot has rebranded again as OpenClaw, as the project grows beyond a solo effort. Developers have launched Moltbook, a Reddit-style social network where OpenClaw agents interact with each other, drawing interest from AI researchers and concern from security experts about autonomous agents pulling instructions from the web. The project now has more than 100,000 GitHub stars.
Source: TechCrunch
AI data centers fuel a US gas boom
New research from Global Energy Monitor finds US gas projects linked to data centers have surged nearly 25-fold in two years, driven by AI and cloud expansion. If fully built, projects in development could expand the US gas fleet by almost 50%, sharply increasing CO2 and methane emissions even as pollution rules are rolled back.
Source: Wired
Videogame stocks slide after Google AI reveal
Videogame stocks fell after Google unveiled Project Genie, an AI model that can generate interactive, physics-based worlds from simple prompts. Investors reacted to the threat to traditional game engines and long development cycles, sending shares of Take-Two, Roblox, and Unity down double digits.
Source: Reuters
Nvidia confirms participation in OpenAI funding round
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said the company will absolutely join OpenAI’s current funding round, calling it Nvidia’s largest investment ever but far smaller than the previously discussed $100 billion figure. The investment follows a stalled plan tied to massive AI data center buildouts, with Amazon also reportedly in talks to invest.
Source: Bloomberg
Gemini comes to Google Maps for walkers and cyclists
Google has expanded Gemini integration in Google Maps to users who are walking or cycling, enabling hands-free, conversational navigation. Users can ask questions about routes, nearby attractions, or amenities without stopping, pushing Maps toward a real-time AI assistant.
Source: TechCrunch
Belkin shuts down Wemo cloud services
Belkin will shut down cloud services for most Wemo smart home devices on January 31, ending remote access, Google Home and Alexa integrations, and app updates. Only certain Thread-based devices and units already set up in Apple HomeKit will continue to function, with some users eligible for partial refunds.
Source: The Verge
Amazon cuts 16,000 more jobs
Amazon is laying off 16,000 employees, its second major round of cuts in three months, citing ongoing restructuring and team consolidation. The company says it will continue hiring selectively while pulling back from some retail formats and leaning further into AI-driven efficiency.
Source: TechCrunch
Windows 11 passes 1 billion users
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said Windows 11 has crossed more than 1 billion users worldwide, reaching the milestone faster than Windows 10 despite stricter hardware requirements. Windows 10 still runs on hundreds of millions of PCs and will receive extended security support through at least 2028.
Source: Ars Technica
Apple loses more AI talent to rivals
Bloomberg reports Apple has lost at least four more AI researchers and a senior Siri executive to Meta and Google DeepMind. The departures include Stuart Bowers, a top Siri leader, and come as Apple relies on Google’s Gemini models for next-generation Siri features.
Source: Bloomberg
The TV industry moves on from 8K
TV makers including LG Display, Sony, and TCL are pulling back from 8K as demand remains weak and native content scarce. Since 2015, only about 1.6 million 8K TVs have been sold versus nearly 1 billion 4K sets in use, pushing manufacturers to focus on OLED, HDR, and Micro LED instead.
Source: Ars Technica
Apple announced big gains for the iPhone 17 last quarter while its services slowed, and Rabbit is back, teasing a specialized device designed for vibe coding.
Starring Jason Howell and Jenn Cutter
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Show Notes
OpenAI Speeds Up IPO Plans for Potential 2026 Listing, AI-Assisted Screening Cuts Late-Stage Breast Cancer Diagnoses by 12%, and Project Genie, Google’s $250/Month AI World Model, Goes Live
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Show Notes
Apple Posts Best-Ever iPhone Quarter
Apple reported its best-ever quarter for iPhone sales, achieving $85 billion in revenue, up from $69 billion the prior year, driven by strong global demand for the new iPhone 17. A major factor was the significant increase in sales in Greater China, where revenue rose from $18.5 billion to $25.5 billion. India also had a record quarter for iPhone, Mac, iPad, and services revenue. Overall sales growth was seen across all geographic segments, including the Americas and Europe.
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OpenAI Accelerates IPO Plans
OpenAI, valued at $500 billion, is reportedly accelerating plans for a public listing in Q4 this year, aiming for what could be the biggest IPO in 2026. The company is in informal talks with banks and strengthening its finance team to manage investor relations, but it faces challenges including rapid growth, recent leadership changes, fierce competition from Google and Anthropic, and a major lawsuit from co-founder Elon Musk. A successful IPO is essential for securing the massive funding needed for its future AI infrastructure and chip deals.
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AI Improves Breast Cancer Screening Outcomes
A large-scale Swedish study in The Lancet showed AI-assisted breast cancer screening, involving 100,000 women, led to a 12% reduction in late-stage diagnoses and increased early detection. The AI triaged low-risk mammograms for a single radiologist and high-risk cases for double reading. The AI group had a slightly lower cancer rate (1.55 vs. 1.76 per 1,000) and a higher initial detection rate (81% vs. 74%). Experts see this as a promising way to reduce radiologist workload and improve outcomes, stressing AI should assist, not replace, human judgment.
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Google’s Project Genie Goes Public—At a Premium
Project Genie, an advanced research prototype and evolution of Google’s Genie 3 world model, is now available to users of the most expensive AI subscription ($250 per month) via a dedicated web app. Utilizing updated models like Nano Banana Pro and Gemini 3, it generates 720p, 24fps interactive video environments from text prompts or images, allowing users to explore the simulated world for 60 seconds using WASD controls, with the option to remix or re-run the result. Current limitations include input lag, the brief exploration time, the removal of promotable events, and potential issues with physics modeling and changing content restrictions.
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Perplexity Signs $750M Cloud Deal With Microsoft
AI startup Perplexity has signed a three-year, $750 million deal with Microsoft to use the Azure cloud service, according to Bloomberg News. This agreement, facilitated through Microsoft’s Foundry program, will allow Perplexity to run various AI models from companies like OpenAI, Anthropic, and xAI. Microsoft confirmed the partnership for model sourcing, though Perplexity stated this does not change its primary spending on its main cloud provider, Amazon Web Services, which sued the startup last year.
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NASA Delays Artemis II Rehearsal
NASA has postponed the Artemis II wet dress rehearsal until Monday, February 2nd, due to cold weather, pushing the first potential launch window to Sunday, February 8th, as the February 6th and 7th dates are no longer possible. This 49-hour rehearsal, involving fueling and a simulated countdown, is vital for the crewed Artemis II mission, which will send astronauts Christina Koch, Jeremy Hansen, Victor Glover, and Reid Wiseman on a 10-day journey around the moon, following the uncrewed Artemis I and preceding Artemis III, the planned mission to return astronauts to the lunar surface.
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China Approves Major NVIDIA AI Chip Purchase
China reportedly approved the purchase of 400,000 NVIDIA H200 AI chips by companies like DeepSeek, ByteDance, Alibaba, and Tencent. This follows US approval for NVIDIA to sell the advanced H200 and the less powerful H20 to vetted Chinese firms, despite a 25% tariff. While Chinese authorities are finalizing conditions and NVIDIA’s CEO hasn’t received orders, the deal allows China access to superior chips. However, the purchase might face US scrutiny due to accusations that NVIDIA assisted DeepSeek in developing AI potentially usable by the Chinese military.
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Microsoft Explores a Top Menu Bar for Windows 11
Microsoft’s PowerToys team is considering adding an optional, highly customizable top menu bar for Windows 11 called the Command Palette Dock. Similar to menus in Linux or macOS, this dock would offer quick access to tools and system monitoring, support extensions in three distinct regions, and be configurable in terms of position, background, styling, and theme. It is intended to work alongside the existing Command Palette launcher, and Microsoft is currently seeking community feedback and providing an early version on GitHub.
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Pixel Tablet Gets Extended Update Support
Google has extended the Android OS and security updates for the Pixel Tablet until June 2028, aligning its support with the 5-year window of the Pixel 6 and 7 series. This quiet change on the support page gives the tablet, which previously was set to end updates in June 2026, a new lease on life for users, although newer Pixel devices now receive 7 years of support.
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A study by SEO tools company SE Ranking found that Google’s AI Overview relied heavily on YouTube channels as “trusted medical sites” over traditional medical sites to pull information to answer user queries. Is this a cause for concern and should the company be more transparent on where its AI tools are pulling answers from? Robb shares his experience with Samsung’s Dex since getting back from CES. Is it ready to replace his main laptop? Tesla says it will stop producing the Model S and Model X to free up factory space for its Optimus humanoid robots.
Starring Sarah Lane, Tom Merritt, Robb Dunewood, Tasia Custode, Len Peralta, Roger Chang, Joe.
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Show Notes
To read the show notes in a separate page click here!
Brian and Tom enjoyed it and Amos finally came around…but not for the reason you think.
Next week: Star Trek: The Animated Series (206 – “The Counter-Clock Incident”)
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Plus, Apple is inspiring imitators without even having a product, and why Waymo hitting children is not a problem. In this case.
Starring Tom Merritt and Huyen Tue Dao
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Show Notes
Google Offers $135M Settlement in Android Data Collection Lawsuit, Meta to charge Italian developers for non-template WhatsApp AI chatbot messages, Honda and DriveOhio Pilot AI System to Detect Road Damage.
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Show Notes
Tesla to End Model S and X Production to Make Room for Optimus Robots
Tesla CEO Elon Musk is ending production of the older Model S and X next quarter at the company’s Fremont, California factory to convert the space for manufacturing Optimus humanoid robots, prioritizing an autonomous future. The Model S and X will be sold until stock depletes but will remain supported, despite declining sales compared to the Model 3 and Y. Musk aims to produce one million Optimus robots in the converted space and sell them to the public by the end of next year, even though the robot’s demonstrations have been unimpressive and Musk is known for optimistic deadlines.
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Google Proposes $135 Million Settlement Over Alleged Android Data Collection
Google has proposed a $135 million settlement in a San Jose class action lawsuit, potentially granting Android users up to $100 each. The lawsuit alleges Google collected cellular data without permission, even when location and apps were off. As part of the settlement, Google, while denying wrongdoing, has also agreed to implement changes like making it easier for users to stop data transfers, asking for consent during setup, and disclosing transfers in the Google Play terms of service. The eligible class includes Android users as of November 12, 2017.
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Meta to Charge AI Chatbots on WhatsApp in Italy
Starting February 16 in Italy, Meta will charge developers $0.0691 per non-template message to run AI chatbots on WhatsApp in regions that mandate their allowance. This comes after Meta’s January 15 ban on third-party chatbots, which the company initially blamed on system strain but which has since sparked anticompetitive investigations. Developers whose bots were affected had to redirect users, but the new fee sets a precedent if more areas force Meta to permit chatbots.
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Honda and Ohio Pilot AI-Powered Roadway Maintenance System
Honda and DriveOhio successfully piloted the Proactive Roadway Maintenance System, utilizing advanced vehicle sensors and Edge AI to detect road deficiencies like damaged signs and potholes across 3,000 miles in central and southeastern Ohio. This system automatically generates prioritized work orders for the Ohio Department of Transportation via Honda’s cloud platform, potentially saving ODOT over $4.5 million annually if scaled. Honda plans to commercialize the system and integrate similar detection into customer vehicles for crowdsourced road safety data.
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Google Expands Gemini Access in Maps for Walkers and Cyclists
Google has expanded Gemini integration to Google Maps for users who are walking or cycling, providing conversational, hands-free navigation and assistance. This allows users to ask Gemini questions while on the move, like finding nearby attractions, checking for cafes with restrooms on the route, or getting ETA without stopping or taking their hands off the handlebars, furthering Google’s goal to make Maps a real-time, conversational tool.
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Apple Forces Patreon Creators to Switch to Subscription Billing
Apple has mandated that all Patreon creators must switch to subscription billing by November 1, 2026, a reversal that Patreon criticizes as the third policy change in 18 months, claiming it destabilizes creators’ businesses. This requirement eliminates a loophole for bypassing Apple’s in-app purchase fees. While Patreon opposes the change and notes that only 4% of creators use the affected legacy billing, it must comply to keep its app on the App Store, though fans can still subscribe via a web browser to avoid the fees.
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Meta Plans Massive Increase in AI Infrastructure Spending
Meta is significantly increasing its AI infrastructure spending, projecting $115–$135 billion in capital expenditure for this year, up from $72.22 billion in 2025. CEO Mark Zuckerberg justifies this massive investment as necessary to accelerate AI development for “personal superintelligence” and to integrate large language models with recommendation systems to boost ad revenue. The company expects this strategy to increase operating income above 2025 levels and is launching its “Meta Compute” initiative, which involves planning for vast AI datacenter capacity and securing nuclear energy agreements.
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Google Brings Gemini AI to the Chrome Sidebar
Google is adding Gemini AI directly to the Chrome sidebar, making it available to Chromebook Plus users. This integration enables users to ask website-specific questions, understand tab groups, modify images with Nano Banana, and use the auto-browse agent for tasks like finding discounts and making purchases. Future updates will introduce a personal intelligence feature linking to services like Gmail and Photos, allowing Gemini to answer data-based questions and perform actions such as drafting and sending emails directly from Chrome.
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Big Tech Giants Reportedly in Talks to Invest Up to $60 Billion in OpenAI
Nvidia, Amazon, and Microsoft are reportedly in discussions to invest a combined total of up to $60 billion in OpenAI. Nvidia, an existing investor and provider of the chips powering OpenAI’s models, is rumored to be considering an investment of up to $30 billion. Microsoft, a longtime backer, is said to be in talks for an investment of less than $10 billion, while Amazon, which would be a new investor, is discussing a significantly larger investment, potentially exceeding $20 billion.
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Is Focusrite’s Vocaster One the one stop solution for people looking to build up their podcasting setups? Roger explains why he thinks of the audio interface Focusrite is targeting towards beginning podcasters and streamers and why you’ll want one.
Starring Sarah Lane, Roger Chang
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Show Notes
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Highlights:
What’s in the box:
– Vocaster One audio interface
– USB-C to USB-A cable
Inputs
– Mic input gain range: 70dB
– Mic input frequency range: 20Hz – 20kHz
Outputs
– Headphone output frequency range: 20Hz – 20kHz
– Speaker output frequency range: 20Hz – 20kHz
Connectivity
– Phone input and output: Mono. Requires 3.5mm TRRS cable, not included
– Camera output
Requires 3.5mm TRS cable, not included
*Requires 900mA USB port
System Compatibility
– Windows
Intel, AMD, and Arm64 processors supported
– macOS
Apple Silicon and Intel processors supported
Google launches Gemini into the Chrome browser and Amazon ends Palm scanning.
Starring Tom Merritt, Sarah Lane, and Jason Howell.
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Show Notes
Amazon Is Laying Off 16,000 Employees
Amazon to Cut 16,000 Jobs, Trimming Bureaucracy Amid AI Tussle
Amazon Is Ending Its Palm ID System for Retail as It Closes Physical Stores
Amazon One Help and Support
Two Major Studies of 125,000 Kids Show the Social Media Panic Doesn’t Hold Up
Viral AI Assistant MoltBot Rapidly Gains Popularity but Poses Security Risks
Everything You Need to Know About Viral Personal AI Assistant Clawdbot, Now MoltBot
Clawdbot/MoltBot Raises Serious Security Concerns
Spotify Paid Out $11B in Royalties to the Music Industry in 2025
Spotify’s $11B Music Industry Payouts Explained
DDR4 RAM Prices Are Rising Twice as Fast as DDR5 Amid Memory Shortage
ASML Q4 2025 Earnings Report
ASML Plans About 1,700 Job Cuts as Sales Boom
SK Hynix Smashes Earnings Estimates as AI Memory Demand Drives Record Profit
AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D Spotted in $1,000 Bundle Aimed at Memory Crisis
Apple May Raise iPhone 18 Prices, Analyst Says
Humanoid Robot Learns to Fetch a Toothbrush
Android Desktop Mode Leaks Ahead of Launch
France to Ditch Microsoft Teams and Zoom for Sovereign Platform
Apple Creator Studio Launches for $13 per Month
China Approves First Batch of Nvidia H200 AI GPU Imports
Snap Spins AR Glasses Into a Standalone Company
OpenAI’s Latest Product Lets You “Vibe Code” Science
Apple TV+ Offers First Look at Ted Lasso Season 4
Chrome Takes on AI Browsers With Gemini Integration and Agentic Features