Tech News Weekly #413: Testing Valve's Steam Frame, Machine & Controller

Date: November 14, 2025
Host: Micah Sargent
Guests: Jake Ward (NBC News), Zach Bowden (Windows Central), Scott Stein (CNET)

Overview

This episode of Tech News Weekly brings together leading tech journalists to dig into fascinating stories at the intersection of science, technology, privacy, and hardware innovation. Topics include the fast-evolving—and ethically fraught—world of embryo genetic screening and gene modification, modern attitudes to digital privacy and data surveillance, controversy over Microsoft's "agentic OS" direction for Windows, and extensive hands-on impressions of Valve’s brand new gaming hardware: the Steam Frame VR headset, Steam Machine, and updated Steam Controller.

Micah Sargent is joined by Jake Ward, who discusses the growing business—and social risk—of genetically engineered babies, and by Zach Bowden, who explains the heated social media backlash to Microsoft’s latest AI-driven vision for Windows. Finally, Scott Stein of CNET offers insights from his exclusive testing of Valve’s new devices, with practical impressions and market speculation.

1. Genetically Engineered Babies: Ethics, Hype & Tech-Driven Eugenics

(Jake Ward, 01:45–21:48)

Key Discussion Points

• Rise of Geno-Economics & Polygenic Scoring
  • Jake recounts interviewing early "genoeconomists," combining economics and genetics to predict life outcomes from DNA.
  • Polygenic scoring is now a commercial reality, letting prospective parents select embryos by predicted traits (e.g., intelligence, height, risk of disease).
• Big Tech’s Foray into Embryo Modification
  • WSJ report: Silicon Valley billionaires (including Sam Altman, Brian Armstrong, and Elon Musk) are investing in startups like Preventive, aiming to engineer out diseases before birth.
  • Cost ranges from $10,000–$50,000 for for-profit polygenic screening; $2,500 per embryo for risk tests (e.g. Alzheimer's, bipolar disorder, etc.).
• Ethical and Social Implications
  • Many experts see thinly veiled eugenics. "Marketing unproven promises of vague optimization is, quote, corporate eugenics." – Eric Turkheimer, behavioral geneticist (12:43)
  • Jake describes researchers' resistance to regulatory caution: "We are scientists, we have to go where the data leads us." (03:31)
• Personal Autonomy and the 'Optimization' Ideology
  • Micah questions who draws the line between disease risk mitigation and designing desirable traits: “There is already kind of a loss of autonomy that comes with bringing a being into the world…to go further and say, I am going to also enact all of these small changes as well…" (14:50)
  • Jake: "It is the lingo and the optimization ideology of software applied to kids…we don’t know quite what it is yet." (13:13)
• Practical Risks and Parental Motivation
  • Experts urge caution due to unknowns with gene editing's side effects. “Responsible adults agree. We can’t do it now because it’s unreasonably unsafe…The risk benefit ratio sucks at this point.” – Hank Greeley, Stanford bioethicist (16:43)
  • Jake: "As anyone who has kids, right…what you. The number one thing that parenting actually teaches you is just how little control you have over this world…" (17:16)
• Questions of Empathy and Long-Term Consequences
  • Micah: "Is it not ultimately a lack of empathy that is so often at the heart of so much of this?" (18:29)

Notable Quotes

• "Marketing unproven promises of vague optimization is...corporate eugenics." – Eric Turkheimer, behavioral geneticist (12:43)
• “Responsible adults agree. We can't do it now because it's unreasonably unsafe. The risk benefit ratio sucks at this point.” – Hank Greeley, Stanford bioethicist (16:43)
• "It is the lingo and the optimization ideology of software applied to kids...we don’t know quite what it is yet." – Jake Ward (13:13)

2. The Privacy Paradox: Data Disaffection & Learned Helplessness

(Micah Sargent & Jake Ward, 24:31–32:53)

Key Discussion Points

• News Event: Medicaid recipient data shared with ICE under the Trump administration (2025) caused activist outcry but little public reaction.
• Statistical Disconnect:
  • Pew: 81% of US adults care about corporate data practices, 71% fear government surveillance—yet 61% believe personal actions don't make a difference.
• Concept of Data Disaffection
  • Researchers Rohan Grover & Josh Wadera define "data disaffection" as a learned helplessness wherein people accept surveillance as the cost of modern life.
  • It's not apathy, but “an unfeeling, an intentional numbness. This numbness serves as a psychological defense mechanism...” (31:41)
• Personal Journeys and Societal Trends
  • Jake: Growing cynicism, admits using Google Maps despite privacy concerns. “We bought these surveillance devices and brought them into our homes...If that thing said NSA on it, you'd drown it in the bathtub.” (27:18)
  • Influence of convenience (“to sort of say, oh no, we concede it’s ok if a certain amount of surveillance takes place…because it's free or whatever the thing is.”) (30:41)
• International Perspective
  • Estonia as a model: Data silos ensure only the citizen can see/access all their data.
• Call to Stay Principled
  • “Just because you’re not seeing your morals enacted in the world doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be your morals… you hold your morals firm to keep the center of gravity as close to your morals as possible.” – referencing Ta-Nehisi Coates/Ezra Klein discussion (28:52)

Notable Quotes

• "It's not a lack of feeling, but rather an unfeeling, an intentional numbness. This numbness serves as a psychological defense mechanism…" (31:41)
• “We bought these surveillance devices and brought them into our homes...If that thing said NSA on it, you'd drown it in the bathtub.” – Jake Ward (27:18)

3. Windows’ Agentic OS Vision Sparks User Backlash

Guest: Zach Bowden (Windows Central, 35:25–49:43)

Key Discussion Points

• Microsoft’s “Agentic OS” Vision
  • Windows President tweets about OS evolving to where AI performs user tasks.
  • Copilot feature: AI can assume control of your PC within a desktop, letting you watch or multitask.
  • Reply backlash forces tweet replies to be disabled.
• Reasons for Discontent
  • Windows community weary: current OS is plagued by bloat, bugs, and forced integration of Microsoft services (Edge, Copilot, OneDrive).
  • Forced Microsoft Account requirements on Windows 11 frustrate users—unlike Apple, Google, or ChromeOS.
  • Bowden: “People just want Windows as a platform, not part of an ecosystem.” (41:15)
• AI-First Hardware & Budget Allocation
  • Third-party PC makers align with “AI PCs,” but users mostly want Windows to support their own preferred apps/services.
  • Investment in AI comes at the expense of platforms like Xbox and Surface, resulting in layoffs and unexciting, safe hardware.
• Market Sentiment:
  • "People are less loyal to Windows…most use it because they must, not because they love it." – Zach Bowden (46:55)
  • Innovation like “platform-level” AI is conceptually appealing, especially to Mac/Linux users, but Windows’ reputation and instability make users wary.
• Broader Trend
  • Microsoft will press forward regardless; “Mac is going to do it. Google's going to, everyone is going to do it. It would be weird for Windows to not do it.” (46:55)

Notable Quotes

• “People just want Windows as a platform, not part of an ecosystem.” – Zach Bowden (41:15)
• “People are less loyal to Windows…most use it because they must, not because they love it.” – Zach Bowden (46:55)

4. Hands-On: Valve’s Steam Frame, Steam Machine, and New Steam Controller

Guest: Scott Stein (CNET, 51:45–69:56)

Key Discussion Points

• Valve Steam Frame VR Headset
  • Blends VR & handheld gaming, pushes Steam’s game library (including 2D games).
  • ARM processor opens new compatibility questions.
  • Not aiming to compete with Apple Vision Pro in high-end mixed reality or AI features, but focused on gaming “fun.”
  • Hardware design: Quest-like fit; prescription inserts available; price as-yet unknown.
• New Steam Controller
  • Keeps classic gamepad layout while adding VR-friendly design.
  • “They just put that set of control on a separate controller…you could use this on a TV with the Steam Deck.” (64:19)
  • Missing Steam Deck's trackpads, otherwise highly versatile, including gyro aiming.
• Steam Frame’s Wireless Technology
  • New 6GHz protocol—offers dedicated bandwidth for streaming VR.
  • Foveated streaming: Like foveated rendering, leverages eye tracking, only streams data at highest quality where user is looking.
• Steam Machine Console
  • Compact, console-style PC promising “six times the Steam Deck’s graphics” but raw numbers don’t tell the whole story.
  • Some performance issues (e.g. “Sonic Racing Crossworlds”), but product is far from release (2026).
• Valve's Vision
  • Sees ecosystem as key: bringing Steam across device types (VR, console, TV).
  • “It seems like they’re exploring basically how to get Steam games everywhere outside of your desktop PC.” (60:58)
• Pricing & Market Position
  • Price point will be crucial. "If the prices go too high…then you’d have to pick and choose." (66:55)
  • Stein’s pick: Steam Frame VR is the most personally intriguing.
  • Cautious optimism: Valve’s track record on Steam Deck pricing is encouraging.

Notable Quotes

• “It seems like they’re exploring basically how to get Steam games everywhere outside of your desktop PC.” – Scott Stein (60:58)
• “If the prices go too high…then you’d have to pick and choose.” – Scott Stein (66:55)

Memorable Moments & Quotes

• “Marketing unproven promises of vague optimization is...corporate eugenics.” (12:43 – Jake Ward quoting Eric Turkheimer)
• “If that thing said NSA on it, you'd drown it in the bathtub. And yet for some reason it's okay because it's a for profit company.” (27:18 – Jake Ward)
• "It's not a lack of feeling, but rather an unfeeling, an intentional numbness." (31:41 – Micah Sargent quoting Grover/Wadera)
• “People just want Windows as a platform, not part of an ecosystem.” (41:15 – Zach Bowden)
• “It seems like they’re exploring basically how to get Steam games everywhere outside of your desktop PC.” (60:58 – Scott Stein)
• “If the prices go too high…then you’d have to pick and choose.” (66:55 – Scott Stein)

Timestamps for Major Segments

• [01:45] – Geno-economics, embryo screening, and tech eugenics (Jake Ward)
• [24:31] – Digital privacy, data disaffection, and convenience vs. conviction (Micah & Jake)
• [35:25] – Windows “Agentic OS” backlash, forced accounts, and AI priorities (Zach Bowden)
• [51:45] – Valve's new Steam Frame VR, Steam Machine, and controller hands-on review (Scott Stein)

Conclusion

This episode surveys the bleeding edge—and sharp ethical gradients—of foreseeable technology: from the DNA of tomorrow's children, to the digital nudges underpinning our data-driven lives, from the operating system’s shifting identity, to the next leap in PC and VR gaming hardware.

Each guest brings not only expertise but also a willingness to wrestle with the profound ambiguities and unintended consequences these advances create. Whether you’re worried about corporate eugenics, exhausted by pervasive surveillance, burned out by AI hype, or excited to see new PC gaming hardware, this episode offers something to challenge your assumptions and provoke discussion.