Wild Wild Tech

Tools and Weapons, hosted by Microsoft Vice Chair and President Brad Smith, features conversations with leaders in government, business, and culture that explore the world’s most critical challenges at the intersection of technology and society. This episode’s guest is Father Paolo Benanti, a Franciscan monk who is also a technology and bioethics professor and advisor to Pope Francis on the ethics of artificial intelligence. He and Brad discuss the Rome Call for AI Ethics, which has brought together faith leaders and tech companies around the mission of putting people at the center of AI development. Listen to Tools and Weapons at https://news.microsoft.com/tools-and-weapons-podcast/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With the continually rapid evolution of the technology around us and the advent of computers and smartphones, it would appear that the future is upon us. But is that necessarily a good thing? This week, Jordan and Joshua speak with writer and tech journalist Alexandra Samuel to discuss how our new reality was merely science fiction just a few years ago, and sometimes quite literally! Alexandra explains how Sci-Fi writers have actually predicted technology trends and have even shaped a lot of the tech we use today. She also explains how, much like everything else, a lot of how technology is used tends to benefit those who are already privileged, while leaving the underprivileged in the past. Not to mention that after a certain point, A.I. technology can become self-sufficient which could mean the end of humanity as we know it. So can science fiction continue to give us a window into a beautiful future, or have we progressed so much that we've already doomed ourselves? Follow Wild Wild Tech Love Wild Wild Tech, but hate the ads? Subscribe to the ad-free version here!: https://wildwildtech.supercast.tech/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wildwildtechpod/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/wildwildtechpod/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What if you were offered the chance to speak with a lost loved one? New technology, namely the app Replika, is offering the chance to upload someone's data to recreate them in the digital form. Joshua and Jordan chat with journalist with Protocol, Mike Murphy, who has written extensively about the subject of recreating the digital self using data. Replika came into the public eye when founder Eugenia Kuyda shared the story of her friend Roman Mazurenko who passed away. Eugenia uploaded Roman's thousands of texts to the Replika software to create a chatbot that converses like Roman. Eugengia believes that this technology could help keep the spirit alive of someone who has died. Conversely, Jordan and Joshua also speak with Professor at Keene State College, Amber Davisson, who warns of how this burgeoning technology could be exploited for the vast amount of user-submitted data it requires. So is this the modern answer to grieving or is this yet another dangerous step towards perfecting deep fakes and having it fall into the wrong hands? Follow Wild Wild Tech Love Wild Wild Tech, but hate the ads? Subscribe to the ad-free version here!: https://wildwildtech.supercast.tech/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wildwildtechpod/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/wildwildtechpod/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Gamestop, Robinhood, Hedge funds, Reddit; there's a good chance you've been hearing these terms being thrown around, but what exactly is going on? This week, Jordan and Joshua break down the timeline events of that made Gamestop stock soar and make redditors millionaires overnight. Journalist and writer for VICE MOTHERBOARD Matthew Gault simplifies how the stock market works, what "shorting" is, the major conflicted interest with Robinhood's involvement, and how savvy redditors banded together and created this frenzy. Fellow MOTHERBOARD writer and GME investor Jason Koebler, who wrote his own explainer of the entire situation, discusses why Robinhood appealed to young investors, including the subreddit r/wallstreetbets that lead to Gamestop stock to soar, which in turn angered hedge funds who shorted the stock. Plus, Jason discusses how this seemingly David vs. Goliath story has a darker side when looking at the toxicity of wallstreetbets and what the future holds for this brave new stock market that might not fully represent the valuation of companies and the economy at large. Follow Wild Wild Tech Love Wild Wild Tech, but hate the ads? Subscribe to the ad-free version here!: https://wildwildtech.supercast.tech/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wildwildtechpod/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/wildwildtechpod/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You may not realize it, but that smartphone in your pocket has influenced how you and much of the world speaks to each other. This week, Jordan and Joshua speak with two linguists to discuss how internet culture and even the act of texting has completely morphed the way the world communicates with each other. First, linguist David Crystal discusses how language has always evolved and changed, but the rapid-fire evolution of communication technology has thrown that change into hyperdrive. Plus, linguist Gretchen McCulloch explains more specifically how internet lingo has created a new form of language, merging written and spoken language, which is creating a generational gap, even between people born within a few years of each other. Whether you like it or not, the way you speak has been influenced by the technology around us. The question is, is this just a natural progression that has happened since the beginning of spoken language, or a sign of the decay of our society? Follow Wild Wild Tech Love Wild Wild Tech, but hate the ads? Subscribe to the ad-free version here!: https://wildwildtech.supercast.tech/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wildwildtechpod/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/wildwildtechpod/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The FBI estimates that as many as 40% of homicides go unsolved, with no national database to keep track. But what if an algorithm could help identify trends and even potentially bring the number of unsolved murders down? This week, Joshua and Jordan delve into the Murder Accountability Project, a nonprofit group dedicated to mapping unsolved homicides in the United States. They speak with one of the founders of the M.A.P., Thomas Hargrove, who was able to create an algorithm that mapped clusters of murders in various areas around the U.S. His work was even able to identify a previously-unknown serial killer in Gary, Indiana, and could help solve more unsolved cases in the future. Thomas's work has revealed startling issues in how police across the country fail to keep track of unsolved murders when this data is crucial in understanding crime, and even helping prevent it, as well as how murders that remain unsolved disproportionately affects women and people of color. For a limited time you’ll get 10% off any order of $200 or more! Visit Purple.com/wildtech10 and use promo code wildtech10! Follow Wild Wild Tech Love Wild Wild Tech, but hate the ads? Subscribe to the ad-free version here!: https://wildwildtech.supercast.tech/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wildwildtechpod/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/wildwildtechpod/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this special pre-election episode, Jordan Erica Webber and Joshua Rivera explore the cloud of misinformation that is affecting the country, more specifically, how it's targeting the state of Florida and the Latinx community that resides therein. They speak with Sabrina Rodríguez, Florida native and politics writer for Politico, who wrote an article detailing how wild conspiracy theories are directly warping the political attitudes of the varied Latin demographics in Florida, and how conspiracy theories have begun to appear in local media publications in the Sunshine State. Joshua also speaks with his uncle Ezequiel Rivera, a resident of Florida, who is directly affected by the misinformation campaign flooding local media and even WhatsApp. Though this contentious election is affecting everyone around the country, Jordan and Joshua offer helpful ideas to fight against misinformation and bring peace back to our democratic process. Now, go out and vote! To get your new unlimited wireless plan for just 30 bucks a month, and get the plan shipped to your door for FREE, go to MintMobile.com/Wild! Search your podcast app now for Ride Home and subscribe to the Techmeme Ride Home podcast! Get a head start on your holiday shopping. Sign up to shop on Zebit TODAY at Zebit.com/Wild! Follow Wild Wild Tech Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wildwildtechpod/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/wildwildtechpod/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How is it possible that a restaurant that doesn't exist could become the top-rated restaurant on TripAdvisor? We get the answer from Oobah Butler, artist and prankster, who created "The Shed at Dulwich," a restaurant that served microwaved mac and cheese and boxed soup, but still managed to be the most-hyped restaurant in London. Jordan Erica Webber and Joshua Rivera explore how reliant we all are on reviews to make decisions for just about everything, even if reviews cannot always be trusted. They also talk to James Kay, Director of Communications for TripAdvisor, to hear their side of the story. And, Josh and Jordan speak with Davide Cerretini aka the One Star Chef, who after Yelp attempted to strongarm him in to pay for advertising, used Yelp's reviewing system against them to create the most popular one-star restaurants in the world. Follow Wild Wild Tech Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wildwildtechpod/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/wildwildtechpod/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You ever get so immersed in the world of a video game you start to believe you could live in that world? Well, the U.S. Army is betting on that. The United States Army has a long history of using video games as a tool for recruiting the next generation of soldiers. Activist Jordan Uhl alleges that recently the military is preying on vulnerable potential recruits by glamorizing war through their Twitch. Jordan Erica Webber and Joshua Rivera speak with Jordan Uhl about how he was banned from the Army's Twitch stream, how they use misleading links and prize offers to direct people to recruitment forms, and why he has taken his cause up through the U.S. courts to curb these practices. The U.S. Army refused to talk to us about this, but we'll keep digging as the story continues to develop. Follow Wild Wild Tech Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wildwildtechpod/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/wildwildtechpod/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Animal Crossing: New Horizons has captured the world's heart due to its cutesy animal neighbors, soothing island vibes, and unbridled capitalism? Hidden beyond Nook's Craney there's a black market emerging on the internet that involves the trafficking of certain characters, and bringing out the worst greed in some players. Joshua Rivera takes a visit to Jordan Erica Webber's island to see what the fuss is about the hit Nintendo Switch game. And we hear from Zach Reino about his crazy pursuit of virtual riches in the Stalk Market and of course his famed turnip jail. And we talk to Eric Peckham who dives into this virtual utopia to try and find out why it has been corrupted by our real-world faults. Wild Wild Tech is going bi-weekly so stay tuned on 8/26 for a brand-new episode! Follow Wild Wild Tech Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wildwildtechpod/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/wildwildtechpod/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If you noticed something hairy while watching Splash on Disney+, it wasn't just your imagination. Disney digitally added hair to cover Daryl Hannah's rear-end, and viewers are confused. Turns out, Disney has been altering it's content for decades to stay "family friendly." Jordan Erica Webber and Joshua Rivera chat with Josh Spiegel revealing this isn't the first time Disney hid their connection to Daryl Hannah's butt. And, we assemble a panel of parents to figure out how they feel about Disney+. And honestly, we talk about butt's way too much. Follow Wild Wild Tech Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wildwildtechpod/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/wildwildtechpod/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Would you be surprised if scientists are learning how to fight COVID-19 from World of Warcraft? What if I told you that I could spoil almost any movie based on who uses an iPhone? Did you know that Disney is afraid of butts? Well, that’s Wild Wild Tech, the podcast that brings you the wildest, most bizarre, the most interesting stories about tech and how it’s shaping our culture. Wild Wild Tech is hosted by Jordan Erica Webber and Joshua Rivera where every week we'll uncover infamous stories in pop culture and tech and we’ll learn from the experts, and talk to the people who lived through these weird stories. These are the stories that are seldom told, but once you hear them, you’ll never forget. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices