Tech News Weekly 414: Viral TikTok AI Pen Flunks The Test

Dan Moren of Six Colors joins Mikah Sargent this week! Apple Wallet's mobile driver's license feature is expanding to more users. An AI-powered teddy bear was caught giving explicit and graphic instructions to children. Google unveiled Gemini 3. And can AI-powered smart pens give you an edge in your academics? Dan covers the expansion of Apple Wallet's mobile driver's license feature as the state of Illinois is the latest to support this feature. Mikah shares how an AI-powered teddy bear, FoloToy, was discovered to be teaching kids unsafe behaviors and discussing adult topics. Sabrina Ortiz of ZDNET joins the show to talk about Google's latest iteration of AI model, Gemini 3. And Elissa Welle of The Verge stops by to share her experience using an AI pen, and how the pen was less than helpful. Hosts: Mikah Sargent and Dan Moren Guests: Sabrina Ortiz and Elissa Welle Download or subscribe to Tech News Weekly at https://twit.tv/shows/tech-news-weekly. Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free shows, a members-only Discord, and behind-the-scenes access. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: spaceship.com/twit zapier.com/tnw ventionteams.com/twit auraframes.com/ink

Imagine Windows 11 without Edge, OneDrive, or Copilot. This episode dives into Tiny11Builder, the tool that strips Windows down to just what you want—no corporate extras. Host: Paul Thurrott Download or subscribe to Hands-On Windows at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-windows Want access to the ad-free video and exclusive features? Become a member of Club TWiT today! https://twit.tv/clubtwit Club TWiT members can discuss this episode and leave feedback in the Club TWiT Discord.

Ever wondered why your iPhone's sound isn't as loud as you expect, or your AirPods seem capped? Mikah Sargent uncovers the hidden settings that could be hindering your listening experience. Managing silent mode and status bar indicators on newer iPhones Switching audio input sources, including iPhone mic and AirPods Fine-tuning ringtone and alert volume controls for less disruption "Change with buttons" explained: separation of media and alert volumes Customizing haptic feedback and vibration settings for notifications Setting default sounds for ringtones, texts, voicemail, and mail alerts Keyboard feedback: toggling typing sounds and haptics preference Differences between iPhone and iPad haptics (limitations on iPad) Controlling speaker volume limits and effects on media playback Understanding "Reduce Loud Sounds" to avoid abrupt audio spikes Headphone safety: adjusting reduced loud audio upper limit for AirPods Headphone usage notifications & protecting hearing over seven days Managing USB audio accessory settings and privacy tracking Host: Mikah Sargent Download or subscribe to Hands-On Apple at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-apple Want access to the ad-free video and exclusive features? Become a member of Club TWiT today! https://twit.tv/clubtwit Club TWiT members can discuss this episode and leave feedback in the Club TWiT Discord.

Listener Jason asks which is better for the center channel: a speaker designed for that purpose, or the same speaker as the front left and right? What are the pros and cons of each approach? Also, same question for the surround speakers. Scott Wilkinson has some answers. Host: Scott Wilkinson Download or subscribe to Home Theater Geeks at https://twit.tv/shows/home-theater-geeks Want access to the ad-free video and exclusive features? Become a member of Club TWiT today! https://twit.tv/clubtwit Club TWiT members can discuss this episode and leave feedback in the Club TWiT Discord.

Ready to ditch holiday stress? Discover the relatively new Apple Invites app and cutting-edge planning tools that could change how you host, organize, and celebrate with friends and family this season. Apple Invites app demo: shared photos, playlists, and event updates Partiful vs. Apple Invites: choosing invite apps friends actually use Shared reminders and sections: holiday shopping and planning hacks OmniOutliner for meal prep and complex holiday schedules, plus AI outlines Favorite recipe apps: Paprika vs. Crouton for Thanksgiving cooking Secret Santa gift exchanges made easy with Elfster app features News: Apple launches $150 iPhone Pocket fashion accessory. New Apple hardware updates: iPad Pro, 14" MacBook Pro, Vision Pro M5 App Caps: Torras Mini MagSafe battery pack and Locket Widget social app Hosts: Mikah Sargent and Rosemary Orchard Contact iOS Today at [email protected]. Download or subscribe to iOS Today at https://twit.tv/shows/ios-today Want access to the ad-free video and exclusive features? Become a member of Club TWiT today! https://twit.tv/clubtwit Club TWiT members can discuss this episode and leave feedback in the Club TWiT Discord.

What does it take to build tech the world actually trusts? Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales joins the crew to dig into the real crisis behind AI, social networks, and the web: trust, and how to build it when the stakes are global. Teen founders raise $6M to reinvent pesticides using AI — and convince Paul Graham to join in Introducing SlopStop: Community-driven AI slop detection in Kagi Search Part 1: How I Found Out $1 billion AI company co-founder admits that its $100 a month transcription service was originally 'two guys surviving on pizza' and typing out notes by hand His announcement leaving Meta White House Working on Executive Order to Foil State AI Regulations Nvidia stock soars after results, forecasts top estimates with sales for AI chips 'off the charts' Jeff Bezos Creates A.I. Start-Up Where He Will Be Co-Chief Executive Jack Conte: I'm Building an Algorithm That Doesn't Rot Your Brain AI love, actually Cat island road trip: liquidator's warehouse Gentype The Carpenter's Son... My excerpt from the Q&A Image of the paper Hosts: Leo Laporte, Jeff Jarvis, and Paris Martineau Guest: Jimmy Wales Download or subscribe to Intelligent Machines at https://twit.tv/shows/intelligent-machines. Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free shows, a members-only Discord, and behind-the-scenes access. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: ventionteams.com/twit zapier.com/machines agntcy.org spaceship.com/twit

Ahead of Microsoft Ignite 2025, Windows boss Pavan Davuluri tweeted an innocuous post about nothing, and all hell broke loose. We are broken as a community and it's time to cull the herd. Ignite 2025 Fun aside: Google could have announced Gemini 3 at any time, but they chose the opening day of Ignite. Who's dancing now? No Satya and suddenly the keynote is watchable again Microsoft brings Anthropic models to Foundry along with Nvidia architecture MCP comes to Windows 11 in public preview for developers New Microsoft 365 Copilot agents for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint Agent 365 is the obvious name of an AI agent management service Windows 11 is getting agents on the Taskbar because it isn't annoying enough already Windows 11 Two new Release Preview builds, a new Canary build, and the first release of Copilot Actions The RP builds are a preview of Patch Tuesday in December, it's bigger than expected Dev/Beta build with experimental AI agent capabilities, more AI OpenAI released ChatGPT 5.1 and it's like no one noticed Mozilla announces AI window for Firefox, with immediate backlash Xbox and gaming Qualcomm JUST announced a new control panel for Snapdragon X gaming Hands-on with the Xbox Full Screen Experience (FSE) for Windows 11 FSE Transforms a gaming handheld PC into a device-like experience Frame rates see a dramatic jump in FSE Call of Duty, which was surprising Fortnite is coming to the Xbox app in Windows, adding Xbox Play Anywhere support Xbox announces a new set of titles coming to Game Pass across platforms Xbox Partner Preview event is set for November 20 As predicted, Steam Machine is the "Xbox Microsoft wanted to make." Yes, it's a good idea now that someone else is doing it Tips and picks Tip of the week: Tiny11 Builder, again Hardware pick of the week: Lenovo Legion Go 2 RunAs Radio this week: Azure SRE Agents with Deepthi Chelupati Brown liquor pick of the week: Jameson Rarest Vintage Reserve 2007 Hosts: Leo Laporte, Paul Thurrott, and Richard Campbell Download or subscribe to Windows Weekly at https://twit.tv/shows/windows-weekly Check out Paul's blog at thurrott.com The Windows Weekly theme music is courtesy of Carl Franklin. Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free shows, a members-only Discord, and behind-the-scenes access. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: ventionteams.com/twit helixsleep.com/windows framer.com/design promo code WW

Think your cell phone is safe from tracking? Steve reveals how global networks let anyone pinpoint your location—no hacking required and no malware involved. Apple introduces a new Digital ID inside Wallet. Checkout.com refuses to pay a ransom demand. Google announces "Private AI Compute" in the cloud. Google backpedals on their "devs must register" demand. Win11 added a Passkeys API which 1Password & Bitwarden support. Russia tracks SIM card appearances to thwart drone usage. Google sues Chinese Phishing as a Service platform. Lots of interesting listener feedback. Global cellphone tracking is alive, well, malware free and a distressingly common commercial enterprise Show Notes - https://www.grc.com/sn/SN-1052-Notes.pdf Hosts: Steve Gibson and Leo Laporte Download or subscribe to Security Now at https://twit.tv/shows/security-now. You can submit a question to Security Now at the GRC Feedback Page. For 16kbps versions, transcripts, and notes (including fixes), visit Steve's site: grc.com, also the home of the best disk maintenance and recovery utility ever written Spinrite 6. Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free shows, a members-only Discord, and behind-the-scenes access. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: threatlocker.com for Security Now bigid.com/securitynow veeam.com bitwarden.com/twit joindeleteme.com/twit promo code TWIT

Speculation about Tim Cook's eventual successor is ramping up, as he may announce his retirement as early as next year. A federal jury in California rules that Apple must pay Masimo $634 million for patent infringement. And Apple unveils how cases for the Apple Watch Series 11 & Ultra 3 were 3D-printed this year. Apple intensifies succession planning for CEO Tim Cook. Apple COO Jeff Williams is now officially retired. Jury says Apple owes Masimo $634M for patent infringement. UK refuses Apple's request to appeal $2 billion App Store ruling. Apple wins camera patent dispute, as Supreme Court refuses to hear appeal. 2026 iPad roadmap: Here's when to expect every upcoming model. Mapping the future with 3D‑printed titanium Apple Watch cases. Joe Rogan beats The Daily to top Apple Podcasts' Top Charts for 2025. Apple's new App Review Guidelines clamp down on apps sharing personal data with 'third-party AI'. Apple's iPhone overhaul will reduce its reliance on annual fall spectacle. Apple takes 25% share of China smartphone market in October on iPhone 17 demand. Survey data shows Wi-Fi speeds are much faster on iPhone 17, thanks to Apple N1 chip. Apple loses iPhone Air designer to unnamed AI startup. Is 'F1 The Movie' getting a sequel? Legendary game designer, programmer, Space Invaders champion, and LGBTQ trailblazer Rebecca Heineman has died. Picks of the Week - Andy's Pick: A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving - Shelly's Pick: Magnetic Airpod Pro Lanyard - Jason's Picks: Alternatives to Bartender Hosts: Leo Laporte, Andy Ihnatko, and Jason Snell Guest: Shelly Brisbin Download or subscribe to MacBreak Weekly at https://twit.tv/shows/macbreak-weekly. Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free shows, a members-only Discord, and behind-the-scenes access. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: spaceship.com/twit zapier.com/macbreak framer.com/design promo code MACBREAK cachefly.com/twit

Meta's Ray-Ban Display glasses steal the spotlight on a Rome trip, triggering debates about privacy, wearable tech etiquette, and the uncomfortable power of recording the world through your eyewear. Plus, gadgets scanning your urine, bots shaping your inbox, and the future of Disney+! Counting Renaissance butts in Rome with the Meta Ray-Ban Display Jury says Apple owes Masimo $634M for patent infringement Google ordered to pay $665 million for anticompetitive practices in Germany Disney and YouTube TV reach deal to end blackout The future of Disney Plus could involve AI-generated videos X is finally rolling out Chat, its DM replacement with encryption and video calling Tim Cook could step down as Apple CEO 'as soon as next year' iPhone Pocket revealed in hands-on videos of new Apple accessory AMD continues to chip away at Intel's X86 market share — company now sells over 25% of all x86 chips and powers 33% of all desktop systems Google DeepMind is using Gemini to train agents inside Goat Simulator 3 George Lucas' narrative art museum opens next year in LA Spotify's new audiobook recap feature uses AI to remind you of the story so far PNG is back! 3 SeatGuru alternatives for finding the best airline seats What Are We Going to Do With 300 Billion Pennies? Withings Beamo Host: Leo Laporte Guests: Victoria Song and Christina Warren Download or subscribe to This Week in Tech at https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-tech Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free shows, a members-only Discord, and behind-the-scenes access. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: zapier.com/twit deel.com/twit zscaler.com/security helixsleep.com/twit ventionteams.com/twit