Tech News Weekly 373: AI Wins a Grammy – Detailed Summary

Released on February 6, 2025 | Hosts: Micah Sargent and Abrar Al Heati

1. Uber and Waymo Partnership Expands Self-Driving Car Availability [02:04 – 12:11]

The episode kicks off with an in-depth discussion on the evolving landscape of self-driving cars, focusing on Uber's expanding partnership with Waymo. Abrar Al Heati highlights how Uber plans to integrate Waymo's autonomous vehicles into its existing app, allowing users in Austin to summon robo-taxis without needing to download a separate Waymo app. This strategic move aims to streamline the user experience by keeping all ride-hailing services within one platform.

Abrar delves into the historical tension between Uber and Waymo, referencing the 2016 incident where an ex-Googler, who later joined Uber, was convicted of stealing Google's trade secrets. Despite this rocky past, the two companies are now collaborating to navigate the competitive self-driving market. Abrar observes, “There are very few key players at this point and I think everyone has to kind of buddy up right now and get through the storm and see who makes it out alive” (02:04).

Micah Sargent adds his enthusiasm for the integration, stating, “I absolutely want to try it... I just point blank, I think it's cool” (07:18). The hosts discuss the potential barriers, such as user anxiety regarding autonomous vehicles. Micah shares a personal anecdote about his regret for not trying Waymo before moving away from San Francisco, emphasizing the shared excitement across diverse groups about self-driving technology.

2. Sonos Ventures into Streaming with New Set-Top Box [12:11 – 23:07]

The conversation shifts to Sonos, a renowned audio equipment manufacturer facing challenges due to an unpopular app update and subsequent leadership changes. With a new interim CEO, Tom Conrad, Sonos is reportedly developing a streaming set-top box codenamed Pinewood. This device aims to simplify the connectivity between multiple HDMI devices—such as TVs, gaming consoles, and other set-top boxes—by acting as an HDMI switch managed by Sonos.

Micah criticizes the current fragmentation in streaming ecosystems, noting how Sonos' Pinewood could potentially resolve issues like audio sync problems and codec incompatibilities by centralizing the input-output management. Despite skepticism about whether Sonos can successfully integrate a comprehensive content search across various streaming platforms—a feature they tout—he remains cautiously optimistic.

Abrar shares his basic streaming setup, highlighting the usability challenges with existing smart TVs and expressing interest in Sonos' solution: “I think how can we address this problem? Well, let's be in charge of the IO... that will make sure that we're handling all of that stuff” (12:11). The hosts compare their home setups, discussing the balance between simplicity and functionality, and ponder Sonos' ambitious pricing model of $200 to $400 for the new set-top box.

3. AI-Assisted Beatles Song "Now and Then" Wins a Grammy [34:10 – 49:51]

A groundbreaking moment in the episode is the discussion of The Beatles' song "Now and Then" winning a Grammy as the first AI-assisted track to receive such an honor. Abrar explains that AI was utilized to clean up the original recordings by separating John Lennon's vocals from his piano playing. The Beatles later added their own touches, culminating in the Grammy win, despite some critiques about the song's quality.

This achievement sparks a broader conversation on the role of AI in creative industries. Abrar reflects on the ongoing debates about AI's impact on music, film, and art, emphasizing the necessity of finding a balance between technological assistance and creative integrity. He mentions, “The US Copyright Office has also now said that AI tools that are used to assist in the creative process don't undermine the copyright of that work” (34:10).

Micah draws parallels to other technological integrations, likening AI tools to traditional editing software like Photoshop. He raises questions about future guidelines and the potential for labeling AI-assisted content, pondering, “I wonder if we're going to see the same thing where we will have a no AI used label” (43:39). Both hosts share personal experiences with AI in creative processes, discussing the stigma and practical implications of AI-generated content.

4. Developer Sentiment on Meta VR and Its Impact [51:42 – 66:58]

The final major topic revolves around the current state of virtual reality (VR) development, particularly concerning Meta's (formerly Facebook) VR platform. Despite Meta's Reality Labs reporting record revenues and the Quest 3S devices selling well, developers express frustration over declining sales and reduced visibility in the Quest App Store. The merging of the Meta Horizon app with App Lab has led to difficulties in discovering and promoting VR games, causing sales drops of 50 to 80% in 2024 compared to the previous year.

Abrar remarks on Meta's shifting focus towards Horizon Worlds—a social VR space—over traditional VR gaming experiences. This pivot has, according to developers, sidelined the broader VR ecosystem that originally attracted them to the platform. Micah compares Meta's developer support unfavorably to Apple's successful app ecosystem, noting, “it's the iPhone success that it is today if it weren't for the developers making thousands upon thousands of apps” (51:42).

Both hosts discuss the challenges faced by developers, including competition from free-to-play experiences and the Quest Plus subscription model, which some argue undermines direct sales. Abrar reflects on his limited experience with VR, while Micah shares his reluctance to engage with VR due to physical discomfort and lack of compelling experiences. They conclude that Meta's internal focus might be detracting from the platform's overall growth and developer satisfaction.

Conclusion

In this episode of Tech News Weekly, Micah Sargent and Abrar Al Heati navigate through a series of pressing technology topics—from the future of autonomous vehicles and Sonos' foray into streaming media, to the intersection of AI and music with The Beatles’ Grammy win, and the evolving developer environment within Meta's VR ecosystem. The hosts provide insightful analysis, personal anecdotes, and thought-provoking questions about the trajectory of technology and its broader implications on users and creators alike.

Notable Quotes:

• Abrar Al Heati [02:04]: “There are very few key players at this point and I think everyone has to kind of buddy up right now and get through the storm and see who makes it out alive.”

• Micah Sargent [07:18]: “I absolutely want to try it... I just point blank, I think it's cool.”

• Abrar Al Heati [34:10]: “Two words that I don't think most people thought would go together are artificial intelligence and the Beatles.”

• Micah Sargent [43:39]: “I wonder if we're going to see the same thing where we will have a no AI used label.”

• Micah Sargent [51:42]: “It's like the iPhone success that it is today if it weren't for the developers making thousands upon thousands of apps.”

This comprehensive summary encapsulates the essence of Tech News Weekly Episode 373, offering listeners a thorough overview of the discussions and insights shared by Micah and Abrar.