Tech Talk Thursdays Episode #157 (01/15/2026)

Tech Talk Thursdays Episode #157 (01/15/2026)

From Tech Talk Thursdays by Desk Chair Analysts

January 16, 2026 · 2h 31m · Season 1 · Episode 157

About this episode

The episode discusses the recent Verizon outage, Apple's new subscription service, and various controversies surrounding AI-generated content in gaming and surveillance.

Tech Verizon outage takes down cell service across large parts of the US Verizon Offering $20 Credit After Major Outage, Here’s How to Get It - MacRumors Apple debuts ‘Apple Creator Studio’ subscription, here’s what you get - 9to5Mac Spotify is no longer running ads for ICE Instagram user fights DHS for the right to post ICE sightings anonymously - Ars Technica Police Unmask Millions of Surveillance Targets Because of Flock Redaction Error Masterful Gambit: Musk Attempts to Monetize Grok’s Wave of Sexual Abuse Imagery Apple asked to pull X and Grok apps over ‘sickening content generation’ - 9to5Mac Two countries block Grok app over AI-generated CSAM as we await Apple’s response Gaming As Grok continues generating sexualised images, Epic Games boss says senators calling for a ban are trying to “censor all of their political opponents” | Eurogamer.net Manor Lords Publisher Has Banned AI Assets In Its Games, Called Them “Cancerous” - GameSpot ’A disgrace’: Steam dev is deleting own game after realizing AI is bad Stellar Blade director goes all-in on AI as South Korea’s games industry looks to compete on the global stage | Eurogamer.net Stellar Blade studio Shift Up has gifted all…

Topics covered

  • Verizon outage
  • Apple Creator Studio
  • AI-generated content
  • gaming industry
  • surveillance
  • fundraising events

Keywords

  • Verizon
  • Apple Creator Studio
  • AI
  • gaming
  • surveillance
  • fundraising
  • Super Mario 64

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Verizon, MacRumors, 9to5Mac, Ars Technica, Flock, Epic Games, GameSpot, VGC, Eurogamer.net, Unity

Books & works: Super Mario 64

More episodes of Tech Talk Thursdays

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Tech Talk Thursdays podcast page.