Podcast Summary: Tech News Weekly 364: AI App Aims To Predict Your Death

Release Date: December 5, 2024
Host: TWiT (Micah Sargent and Abrar Elhity)
Guests: Scott Stein (CNET), Joseph Cox (404 Media)

1. TikTok's New Policy: Banning Beauty Filters for Teenagers

Discussion Overview:
Abrar Elhity initiates the episode by addressing TikTok's recent policy change, which restricts users under 18 from utilizing beauty filters. These filters, such as the popular "Bold Glamour," alter facial features to enhance appearance, potentially impacting young users' self-image and beauty standards.

Notable Points and Quotes:

• Abrar Elhity [02:17]:
  "Beauty filters that make it look like they're wearing makeup when they didn't have to do any makeup at all... TikTok is now blocking anyone under 18 from being able to use these beauty filters."

• Abrar Elhity [04:30]:
  "Content that isn't necessarily real. It looks real, it's not real. And that includes beauty standards."

• Micah Sargent [05:53]:
  "This seems like one of the most reasonable changes to make... It does make me think about how habitual these filters can become and the impact on personal identity."

Impact Analysis:
The hosts discuss the psychological effects of filtered images, emphasizing the risk of dysmorphia where users may feel inadequate without filters. TikTok's move is lauded as a proactive step amidst growing scrutiny over social media's influence on youth. Abrar highlights TikTok's efforts to implement machine learning to verify user ages, acknowledging challenges in enforcing age restrictions.

Additional Insights:
Micah draws parallels with historical shifts in media consumption, noting that similar concerns arose with the advent of books, rock music, and video games. However, TikTok's specific focus on beauty filters addresses a tangible issue related to visual self-perception among adolescents.

2. Death Clock: An AI App Predicting Your Death with Health Recommendations

Discussion Overview:
Micah introduces an innovative yet controversial app, Death Clock, which predicts users' death dates based on various health and lifestyle factors. The app not only forecasts mortality but also offers suggestions to potentially extend lifespan.

Notable Points and Quotes:

• Micah Sargent [10:54]:
  "There has long been research devoted to longevity and its economic impact... this app provides a second by second countdown to your expected day of death."

• Abrar Elhity [19:58]:
  "Absolutely not. This would make me spiral. So I'm staying far, far away from this."

• Micah Sargent [21:00]:
  "Ireally don't want to think about this with humanity. The death clock... I don't like this stuff."

Impact Analysis:
The hosts explore the ethical and psychological ramifications of such an app. Abrar expresses concern over the potential for increased anxiety and existential dread, questioning the utility and morality of predicting death. Micah muses on the probabilistic nature of life and the futility of relying on statistical predictions for personal destiny.

Balanced Perspective:
Despite reservations, Micah acknowledges that the app could incentivize healthier living by providing tangible motivations to improve one's lifestyle. However, both hosts remain skeptical about the app's overall benefit versus its potential to induce fear and distress.

Philosophical Insights:
The conversation delves into human psychology, highlighting our innate difficulty in considering future selves. Micah references an author's perspective on end-times scenarios, suggesting that tangible deadlines can prompt action where abstract possibilities do not.

3. Interview with Scott Stein: Exploring xreal One Smart Glasses

Discussion Overview:
Scott Stein of CNET joins the podcast to discuss his experience with the xreal One smart glasses, comparing them to other augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR) headsets in the market. The focus is on the glasses' functionality, user experience, and future advancements.

Notable Points and Quotes:

• Scott Stein [33:26]:
  "These are the xreal One glasses... I can turn my head and see this like curved ultra-wide monitor for the Mac."

• Scott Stein [34:05]:
  "It's a full USB connected display... It mirrors my MacBook seamlessly without additional software."

• Scott Stein [37:16]:
  "Field of view is important because it's like letterboxing your reality... the goal is to achieve 70 to 80 degrees for greater utility."

• Micah Sargent [36:01]:
  "How does this user experience differ from traditional VR headsets?"

Impact Analysis:
Scott highlights the xreal One's unique position between traditional VR headsets and AR glasses. Unlike bulky VR devices, the xreal One offers a lightweight design with a 1080p micro OLED display, providing a more comfortable and versatile user experience suitable for everyday tasks like watching movies or extending computer displays.

Technical Insights:
The glasses feature a custom X1 chip, enabling 3-degree freedom position tracking. This advancement allows the display to anchor itself in a fixed position relative to the real world, enhancing usability for productivity without the disorientation commonly associated with VR headsets.

Future Developments:
Scott discusses the ambition to increase the field of view to 70-80 degrees, aligning closer to Apple's Vision Pro and Meta's Orion glasses. He emphasizes challenges such as battery life and wireless connectivity, speculating that future iterations may adopt tethers or larger battery packs to support extended use and enhanced features.

4. Interview with Joseph Cox: FTC Bans Ventel from Selling Sensitive Location Data

Discussion Overview:
Joseph Cox from 404 Media elaborates on the FTC's recent ban on Ventel, a company involved in harvesting and selling sensitive location data to the government. The conversation explores the implications for government surveillance practices and data privacy.

Notable Points and Quotes:

• Joseph Cox [51:30]:
  "Ventel... harvest location data from ordinary apps installed on your phone... sells it to the government."

• Joseph Cox [52:34]:
  "The FTC has banned Ventel from collecting, selling, transferring sensitive location data, and ordered the deletion of all historical data."

• Joseph Cox [54:00]:
  "This is the latest action against location data companies... includes sensitive locations like places of worship, healthcare facilities, and schools."

• Micah Sargent [56:18]:
  "Does this have an impact on government surveillance practices, or is it just one of hundreds of companies?"

• Joseph Cox [57:47]:
  "The FTC is saying you can't even do that type of surveillance at all, which could impact other companies as well."

Impact Analysis:
The FTC's stringent actions against Ventel represent a significant crackdown on data brokers selling sensitive location information without user consent. The ban not only halts Ventel's operations but also mandates the destruction of existing data, underscoring the seriousness of privacy violations.

Government Surveillance Implications:
Cox addresses concerns about government agencies accessing location data without warrants. While the FTC's order includes exemptions for national security and law enforcement, the effectiveness of these carve-outs remains uncertain. The hosts discuss the potential for revised surveillance practices, possibly requiring warrants for accessing such data in the future.

Data Privacy Concerns:
The conversation highlights systemic issues in data privacy, including inadequate informed consent from users and the opaque practices of app developers and data brokers. Cox points out that both developers and consumers are often unaware of the full extent of data collection and sales, exacerbating privacy infringements.

Regulatory Trends:
Micah notes the increasing frequency of FTC actions against data brokers, indicating a broader regulatory shift towards tighter control and oversight of the data brokerage industry. Cox anticipates further enforcement actions, though he acknowledges challenges in regulating international companies operating beyond the FTC's jurisdiction.

Conclusion

In this episode of Tech News Weekly, the hosts and guests delve into pressing issues at the intersection of technology, privacy, and societal impact. From TikTok's responsible move to limit beauty filters for minors to the ethical dilemmas posed by AI-driven death prediction apps, and from advancements in smart glasses technology to the FTC's decisive action against data brokers like Ventel, the discussion paints a comprehensive picture of the evolving tech landscape. The episode underscores the importance of responsible innovation, user privacy, and the need for robust regulatory frameworks to navigate the complexities of modern technology.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps:

• Abrar Elhity [02:17]:
  "TikTok is now blocking anyone under 18 from being able to use these beauty filters."

• Micah Sargent [05:53]:
  "This seems like one of the most reasonable changes to make..."

• Micah Sargent [10:54]:
  "This app provides a second by second countdown to your expected day of death."

• Joseph Cox [52:34]:
  "The FTC has banned Ventel from collecting, selling, transferring sensitive location data, and ordered the deletion of all historical data."

• Micah Sargent [56:18]:
  "Does this have an impact on government surveillance practices, or is it just one of hundreds of companies?"

Further Resources and Follow-ups:

• Scott Stein's Work:
  Follow Scott on CNET and Bluesky for more insights on AR/VR technology.

• Joseph Cox and 404 Media:
  Listen to the 404 Media Podcast to stay updated on data privacy and surveillance topics.

This comprehensive summary encapsulates the key discussions, insights, and conclusions from Tech News Weekly Episode 364, providing listeners with a thorough understanding of the episode's content without needing to tune in.