Shows – Page 2 – Tom Merritt .com

DTH-6-150x150 Russia Blocks WhatsApp, Promotes Surveillance-Prone ‘National Messenger’ MAX, Soaring Memory Prices Accelerate Corporate PC Purchases, and Anthropic Significantly Upgrades Free Tier of Claude Chatbot.

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Show Notes

Apple’s AI Siri Relaunch Slips, Will Roll Out in Stages

Apple’s anticipated AI-powered Siri redesign, meant to be a more capable assistant, has been delayed due to internal testing problems, including sluggishness and failure to process queries. Instead of a single launch, Apple will now roll out the new features incrementally through updates like iOS 26.4 (possibly next month), iOS 26.5 (in May), and iOS 27 later in the year. The company previously confirmed that Google’s Gemini models will help power the new Siri, which is expected to eventually function like an AI chatbot.

Russia Blocks WhatsApp, Pushes State-Controlled Alternative

Russia has completely blocked WhatsApp, the country’s most popular messaging app owned by Meta Platforms, after it failed to comply with local laws. The Kremlin is promoting its own surveillance-prone “national messenger” MAX as an alternative. This move, which isolates over 100 million users from secure communication and forces them to use VPNs to access the service, is part of a broader six-month effort by Russian authorities to establish a sovereign communication infrastructure that mandates foreign tech companies submit to local regulations or be shut down.

Memory Price Surge Triggers PC Buying Rush

Soaring memory prices are driving corporate buyers to accelerate PC purchases, boosting revenue for PC makers like Lenovo. This imbalance, worsened by the “Curse of AI,” is forecast to constrain PC and smartphone unit volume later in 2026. Despite lower shipments, overall PC market revenue is still expected to grow due to higher pricing and a shift to premium AI PCs. Resellers like CDW anticipate stronger early-year hardware growth as buyers pull purchases forward to avoid steeper costs. Analysts predict rising costs passed to consumers could cause a 10–15% decline in PC shipments as the market adjusts to new, higher price points.

Anthropic Expands Claude’s Free Tier, Takes Aim at ChatGPT Ads

Anthropic is significantly upgrading the free tier of its Claude chatbot, directly challenging OpenAI’s plan to introduce ads to free ChatGPT. Free Claude users now receive previously paid features, such as file creation/editing (using Sonnet 4.5) for documents like Excel and PDFs, third-party integrations (Connectors), and custom task teaching (Skills). These improvements also include better search and longer conversations, with Anthropic emphasizing that Claude will remain entirely ad-free, a commitment recently highlighted in a Super Bowl ad mocking OpenAI’s new ad model and GPT-4o.

Anthropic Backs Pro-AI Regulation Candidates Ahead of 2026 Elections

Anthropic is committing $20 million to the 2026 political elections through the Public First Action PAC, which supports pro-AI regulation candidates such as Republicans Marsha Blackburn and Pete Ricketts. The PAC, targeting $75 million, is smaller than the rival Leading the Future PAC ($125 million). Anthropic justifies the spending as necessary for policy safeguards, though critics like David Sacks view it as a “regulatory capture strategy.” This follows the U.S. president’s executive order establishing a national AI regulatory framework.

Google Recovers “Deleted” Nest Video, Raising Privacy Questions

Police recovered “deleted” video of a masked suspect from Nancy Guthrie’s non-paying Nest camera nine days after her abduction, despite Google’s policy of only saving three hours of event history for non-subscribers. This successful, voluntary recovery by Google in aid of the investigation suggests that Nest event data persists and is recoverable from Google’s backend servers long after it is inaccessible to the user, raising privacy concerns about the company’s stated data deletion policy.

Musk Reorganizes xAI After SpaceX Merger

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk announced a reorganization at the company’s xAI artificial intelligence venture, including some personnel departures, to “improve speed of execution,” while noting they are “hiring aggressively.” This overhaul follows the recent exits of co-founders Jimmy Ba and Tony Wu, adding to previous departures. The changes come after SpaceX acquired xAI last week in an all-stock transaction valuing the combined entity at $1.25 trillion. The company is preparing for an anticipated IPO this year, amidst regulatory probes into xAI’s Grok AI chatbot over its role in the creation of deepfake porn.

ByteDance’s New AI Video Model Goes Viral in China

ByteDance has released a new video-generating AI model that has garnered attention, including from Elon Musk, and gone viral in China for its ability to create cinematic storylines from simple prompts, earning comparisons to DeepSeek. This development signals that video and picture generation models are becoming the next major advancement in AI, following the widespread adoption of text-centric models like ChatGPT and DeepSeek’s R1.

NVIDIA Brings GeForce Now to Amazon Fire TV

NVIDIA has launched a native GeForce Now app for select Amazon Fire TV devices, including the second-gen Fire TV Stick 4K Plus and 4K Max, and the original Fire TV Stick 4K Max. This eliminates the need for sideloading the Android app. While streaming quality on Fire TV is capped at 1080p resolution at 60 fps with SDR and stereo audio it provides a convenient cloud gaming option for users who own compatible Fire TV hardware and a controller.

Cordkillers 587: The Crooked Tunnel Effect

Cordkillers/ Shows / February 11th, 2026

Amazon pushes deeper into AI-assisted filmmaking while studios flood Super Bowl weekend with trailers, renewals, and future slates. Meanwhile, streamers tweak pricing, theatrical windows stay political, and the UK gets another license fee bump.

This week on The FULL Experience: Star Trek: The Animated Series (206 – “The Counter-Clock Incident”)

Next week: Lost (101 – “Pilot: Part 1”)

Subscribe, get expanded show notes, and past episodes at http://Cordkillers.com

Support Cordkillers at http://Patreon.com/Cordkillers

YouTube: https://youtu.be/W2RZu3zRk0s

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Sony ZV-1: Still #1 Vlog Camera? – Live With It

Daily Tech News Show/ Shows / February 11th, 2026

Sony’s ZV-1 was positioned as one of the first high-end point-and-shoot cameras targeting vloggers and content creators. Robb Dunewood share his experiences with it and why you just might want to own one if you make a living as a content creator.

Starring Sarah Lane, Robb Dunewood

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Show Notes
To read the show notes in a separate page click here!

AI Builds Itself — And Might Be Coming for Your Job – DTNS 5204

Daily Tech News Show/ Shows / February 11th, 2026

It wrote that headline for us after all. One dev thinks he knows what we all need to do.

Starring Tom Merritt and Sarah Lane.

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Show Notes

ChatGPT Deep Research Now Lets You Pick Sources, Adds Built-In Documents
OpenAI’s Deep Research Now Runs on GPT-5.2 and Lets Users Search Specific Websites
Something Big Is Happening
OpenAI Uses ChatGPT to Catch Leakers
Razer Revives the Boomslang Gaming Mouse
Discord Statement on Upcoming Ads Rollout
Discord Says Vast Majority of Users Won’t See Its Ads
Google Pushes AI Shopping Features in Search and Gemini
Google Makes Etsy and Wayfair Items Shoppable Within Agentic AI Search
Homegrown Startups Outperform Returnee Tech Talent, Study Shows
India AI Summit Pushes “Third Way” for Global South
Samsung to Hold Galaxy S26 Event on February 25
Android 16 QPR3 Beta 2.1 Rolls Out to Pixel Devices
TikTok Launches Opt-In Local Feed in the U.S.
T-Mobile Debuts AI-Backed Live Language Translation, No App Needed
Meta, TikTok and Others Agree to Teen Safety Ratings
Pokémon Pokopia Demo Coming to European Championships
Fitbit Coach Expands Internationally on iOS
Mewgenics Sells 150,000 Copies in Six Hours on Steam
FCC Green-Lights Amazon’s Second-Gen LEO Satellite System
ByteDance Reportedly Working With Samsung on AI Features

Uber, Baidu To Launch Fully Autonomous Ride-Hailing in Dubai – DTH

Daily Tech News Show/ Shows / February 11th, 2026

DTH-6-150x150 Meta, TikTok, Snap agree to be evaluated under new teen safety rating system, TikTok rolls out “Local Feed” in the U.S., Samsung announces iGalaxy Unpacked event on February 25th.

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Show Notes

T-Mobile says it will launch a spring beta for “Live Translation,” an AI feature that translates phone calls into more than 50 languages in real time without an app. Because it runs at the network level, it works on most devices, including older phones, as long as the call uses VoLTE, VoNR, or VoWiFi. Beta users can activate it by dialing 87 at no extra cost, though the carrier hasn’t said if it will charge after the test.
Source: The Verge

Major platforms agree to teen safety rating system
Meta, TikTok, and Snap have agreed to be evaluated under a new teen safety rating program from the Mental Health Coalition. The system will grade platforms on safety rules, design, moderation, and mental health resources, with Discord, YouTube, Pinterest, Roblox, and Twitch also participating. Top performers get a blue shield badge, while weaker ones receive red ratings.
Source: Los Angeles Times

TikTok rolls out opt-in Local Feed in the U.S.
TikTok is launching a “Local Feed” in the U.S. that shows nearby content about restaurants, events, shopping, travel, and news, powered by precise location data. The feature is off by default, limited to users 18 and older, and follows a terms-of-service change allowing more accurate location collection. The company says it’s meant to connect users with local businesses, noting 7.5 million businesses use the platform globally.
Source: TechCrunch

Samsung sets February 25 Galaxy Unpacked event
Samsung will hold its next Galaxy Unpacked on February 25 in San Francisco, where it’s expected to reveal the Galaxy S26, S26+, and S26 Ultra with faster chips, upgraded cameras, and new AI features. The event starts at 10 a.m. PT and will be livestreamed, with pre-order reservations offering a $30 credit and up to $900 in trade-in savings.
Source: Thurrott

UK doctors urged to avoid Palantir NHS data platform
The British Medical Association is urging more than 200,000 UK doctors to avoid non-clinical use of the NHS’s Palantir-built Federated Data Platform, citing concerns about the company’s work with U.S. immigration enforcement and the effect on patient trust. The union says the NHS should eventually move away from Palantir, while the company says its software supports public services and the NHS maintains control of patient data.
Source: The Register

Uber, Baidu to launch robotaxis in Dubai
Uber and Baidu will launch fully autonomous ride-hailing in Dubai next month, starting in parts of Jumeirah. Riders will be able to select Baidu’s Apollo Go robotaxis in the Uber app, with expansion planned pending regulatory approval. Baidu says the service has already completed more than 17 million rides across 22 cities.
Source: Reuters

Dutch court orders probe into Chinese-owned chip firm Nexperia
A Dutch court has ordered an investigation into alleged mismanagement at Chinese-owned semiconductor company Nexperia and upheld the suspension of its CEO. The case is tied to U.S. export controls and European security concerns, following government intervention last year to protect critical chip technology. The dispute has disrupted automotive supply chains and escalated tensions between European managers and parent company Wingtech.
Source: Wall Street Journal

Apple’s Creator Studio adds subscription features to free apps
Apple’s new $12.99-per-month Creator Studio subscription adds AI-powered features and premium content to Keynote, Pages, Numbers, and Freeform, which have traditionally been free with macOS. The base apps remain free, but users now see upgrade prompts for the paid features, with some complaining that subscriptions and ads in Apple’s productivity suite signal a shift toward a more bloated model.
Source: The Register

Spotify Wrapped Was a Raging Success – DTNS 5203

Daily Tech News Show/ Shows / February 10th, 2026

Alphabet is selling 100-year bonds to fund its data-center priorities while sitting on $100 billion in cash, and Justin Robert Young explains a new bipartisan AI copyright transparency bill.

Starring Jason Howell, Tom Merritt, and Justin Robert Young.

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Show Notes

Spotify Hits a Record 751M Monthly Users Thanks to Wrapped and New Free Features
Spotify Has Over 750 Million Users
Alphabet Is Selling Very Rare 100-Year Bonds to Help Fund AI Investment
ChatGPT Free and Go Tiers Now Show Ads to US Users
Bluesky Finally Adds Drafts
WhatsApp Is Testing Web App Calls
OpenAI Drops “io” Branding From Its Hardware Devices
Rivian Is Launching an Apple Watch App With Remote Controls and Digital Key
YouTube Rolls Out an AI Playlist Generator for Premium Users
Gemini Icon Appears in Android Desktop Mode Leak
Cisco Challenges Broadcom and Nvidia in Switch Chip Market
UK Takes Light-Touch Approach to Regulating Apple and Google App Stores
SMIC Earnings Top Expectations on Strong Chip Demand
Russia Starts Limiting Access to Telegram, RBC Reports
Nike’s New Bionic Sneakers Aim to Amplify Athletic Performance
US Senate Bill Targets Copyright Rules for AI Training Models

ChatGPT Tests Ads for Free and Go Users, Higher Tiers Remain Ad-Free – DTH

Daily Tech News Show/ Shows / February 10th, 2026

DTH-6-150x150

Spotify Hits Record User and Profitability Milestones, Driven by “Wrapped” and New Co-CEOs, Bipartisan CLEAR Act Requires AI Companies to Disclose Copyrighted Training Data, and Paramount Sweetens Warner Bros. Discovery Bid to Counter Netflix Offer.

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Show Notes

ChatGPT tests ads for free users
ChatGPT is beginning a test of advertisements in the U.S. for logged-in adult users on the Free and Go subscription tiers. Higher tiers (Plus, Pro, Business, Enterprise, and Education) will remain ad-free. The ads will not influence ChatGPT’s answers, and user conversations will stay private from advertisers. The goal is to see how ads can help support wider access to more powerful features while maintaining user trust, with this initial phase focused on learning and refining the experience.
Read More

Spotify hits a record quarter
Spotify had a record quarter, reaching 751 million monthly active users (+38M new) and 290 million paying subscribers (+10%), fueled by the “Wrapped” campaign. Total revenue rose 7% to €4.53 billion, primarily from an 8% increase in subscription revenue. Profitability improved with a record 33.1% gross margin. New co-CEOs Gustav Söderström and Alex Norström take charge of a diversified company (music, podcasts, audiobooks, AI, social) focused on profitability through price hikes and better free-tier options.
Read More

Bipartisan AI copyright transparency bill introduced
Senators Adam Schiff (D-CA) and John Curtis (R-UT) introduced the bipartisan Copyright Labeling and Ethical AI Reporting (CLEAR) Act. The bill requires AI companies to file a notice with the Register of Copyrights detailing the copyrighted works used to train their models before public release, and this requirement would also apply retroactively. The Copyright Office must create a public database of these notices, and civil penalties would apply for non-disclosure. Although supported by creator unions like SAG-AFTRA and the Writers Guild of America, the bill does not mandate licensing copyrighted works, which remains a subject of litigation and fair use arguments by AI companies.
Read More

DOJ communications with Apple and Google under scrutiny
The House Judiciary Committee has requested that the US Department of Justice provide all communications with Apple and Google regarding the removal of apps that shared information about US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) sightings. These apps were taken down in October, prompting Representative Raskin to write to Attorney General Pam Bondi. Raskin criticized the removal, referring to it as an example of concerning government influence on platform moderation, and suggested it might be an attempt to limit information critical of the administration’s actions.
Read More

Paramount Skydance sweetens bid for Warner Bros Discovery
Paramount Skydance has attempted to make its $108.4 billion, $30 per share bid for Warner Bros Discovery more appealing to shareholders, who are also considering an $82.7 billion deal with Netflix. The bid includes a 25-cent per share “ticking fee” of about $650 million quarterly for any delays past early 2027 and an agreement to cover the $2.8 billion breakup fee Warner Bros would owe Netflix, suggesting Paramount’s confidence in regulatory approval, though some analysts believe the overall offer is still too low.
Read More

Bluesky finally adds drafts
Social network Bluesky, which launched publicly in early 2024 and now has over 42 million users, is finally adding a drafts feature, a basic capability already offered by competitors like X and Threads. This new feature is being rolled out as the company also focuses on future improvements such as enhancing its algorithmic Discover feed, providing better follow recommendations, and making the app feel more real-time, even while admitting it still needs to implement essential features like private accounts and longer video support to catch up with rivals.
Read More

India tightens social media and AI rules
India has enacted new, stricter social media rules that mandate platforms to fulfill government content removal orders within three hours, label AI-generated content prominently, and issue quarterly warnings about user penalties. These amendments are designed to increase government control over online dialogue and hold tech companies accountable for illegal material, such as “synthetic” content and explicit images, following a recent complaint involving an AI bot on X.
Read More

Russia moves toward more Telegram restrictions
Russia’s state communications watchdog, Roskomnadzor, announced it will impose further restrictions on the messaging platform Telegram, citing the platform’s failure to comply with Russian law, including protecting personal data and countering fraudulent and criminal use. This action is part of a broader trend of Russian authorities clamping down on foreign-based tech providers, following previous restrictions on Telegram’s voice and video calls and the blocking of Apple’s FaceTime. Roskomnadzor confirmed it will continue to impose successive restrictions until Telegram ensures compliance with Russian legislation and citizen protection.
Read More

YouTube adds AI playlist generation for Premium users
YouTube is launching an AI-powered playlist-generation feature for Premium subscribers on iOS and Android. This allows users to create playlists using text or voice prompts (e.g., “raging death metal”) via the “AI playlist” option in the Library tab. This initiative aims to boost the value of the Premium offering and follows similar AI features implemented by competitors like Spotify, Amazon Music, and Deezer.
Read More

Free the Lyrics YouTube – DTNS 5202

Daily Tech News Show/ Shows / February 9th, 2026

Plus, science says AI is good at brain scans, too good at making you more productive, and not great at helping you with your medical condition.

Starring Tom Merritt and Robb Dunewood

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Show Notes

Discord Will Roll Out Global Age Verification – DTH

Daily Tech News Show/ Shows / February 9th, 2026

DTH-6-150x150

The European Commission wants to stop Meta blocking WhatsApp 3rd-party AI assistants, Google rolls out paywall for YouTube Music lyrics, SpaceX shifts focus from Mars to “self-growing city” on the Moon.

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Show Notes

Discord to require age verification worldwide

Discord says it will roll out global age verification starting in March, automatically putting all accounts into a “teen-appropriate” experience unless users confirm they’re adults with a face scan or ID. Unverified users won’t be able to access age-restricted servers, speak in stage channels, or view sensitive content, and messages from unfamiliar users will be filtered.

Source: The Verge

EU plans interim order against Meta over WhatsApp AI policy

The European Commission told Meta it intends to impose interim measures to stop the company from blocking third-party AI assistants on WhatsApp while an antitrust probe continues. Regulators say Meta’s January policy may illegally leverage its dominance by restricting competitors’ access to the WhatsApp Business API, and could require the company to restore outside AI services during the investigation.

Source: CNBC

YouTube Music begins paywalling lyrics

Google is rolling out a lyrics paywall in YouTube Music, requiring a YouTube Premium or Music Premium subscription after a limited number of free views. Users now see a prompt to unlock lyrics with Premium, and once the free uses run out, only the first few lines remain visible. The change, tested for months, is now expanding globally as subscription revenue grows.

Source: 9to5Google

SpaceX to focus on Moon base before Mars

Elon Musk says SpaceX is shifting its near-term focus from Mars to building what he called a “self-growing city” on the Moon, arguing a lunar base could be completed in under 10 years while a comparable Mars effort would take more than 20. He said Mars missions could begin in five or six years, with a crewed flight possibly in 2031, but the Moon will come first.

Source: Engadget

Uber buying Getir’s food delivery arm in Turkey

Uber is acquiring the food delivery arm of Turkey’s Getir from controlling shareholder Mubadala for $335 million in cash. It will also invest $100 million for a 15% stake in Getir’s broader delivery businesses, including grocery, retail, and water. Uber says it plans to combine Getir with its existing Turkish operations, including Trendyol GO.

Source: Reuters

Disney+ loses Dolby Vision in parts of Europe

Disney+ subscribers in parts of Europe, including Germany, France, Poland, Portugal, and the Netherlands, have lost access to Dolby Vision HDR. Disney says the change is due to technical challenges and that it’s working to restore the feature, with 4K and HDR10 still available. Reports suggest the issue may be tied to a German court injunction over streaming patents held by InterDigital.

Source: Engadget

OpenAI begins ad tests in ChatGPT

OpenAI is reportedly starting ad tests in ChatGPT, with clearly labeled ads appearing in a separate area below conversations. The ads will target free users and those on the lower-cost Go plan, while the company says chats will remain private and advertisers won’t influence responses. CEO Sam Altman also told staff ChatGPT is growing more than 10% month over month, with 800 million weekly users reported last October and a new chat model expected this week.

Source: The Verge

ByteDance previews Seedance 2.0 AI video model

ByteDance launched a pre-release version of its new AI video model, Seedance 2.0, which combines text, images, audio, and video to generate cinematic clips with natural-language controls. The company says it supports 2K exports and runs about 30% faster than the prior version, while Swiss consultancy CTOL claims it outperforms OpenAI’s Sora 2 and Google’s Veo 3.1 in testing. The model is available to select users of ByteDance’s Jimeng AI platform and produces watermark-free videos.

Source: Silicon Republic