Tech News Weekly 415: OpenAI's 'Code Red'

Podcast: All TWiT.tv Shows (Audio)

Host: Jake Ward (filling in for Micah Sargent)
Co-Host: Abrar Al-Heiti (CNET)
Guests:

• Rita Omoka (journalist, Elle)
• Adam Rogers (journalist, Mother Jones)
  Date: December 4, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode dives into timely and resonant topics from across the technology landscape, with a heavy focus on AI's accelerating influence. Jake Ward and Abrar Al-Heiti lead off with hands-on reactions to Samsung's latest foldable phone, pivot to OpenAI's internal “Code Red,” then dissect the proliferation of AI as both companion and dating coach, before closing with a deep profile of California State Senator Scott Wiener—the man shaping American tech regulation from the state level, especially for AI.

The discussions are lively, insightful, and often laced with concern about the social and psychological impacts of rapid tech evolution, making it an essential listen for anyone tracking the shifting tech/culture/policy nexus.

Highlights by Topic

1. Samsung's Galaxy Z Tri Fold – The Triple-Fold Futuristic Phone

Key Points

• Samsung unveiled the Galaxy Z Tri Fold, a phone with three folding panels, first launching in Korea (Dec 12, 2025), then in the US (Q1 2026).
• Specs: Unfolds to 10”, 6.5” cover screen, incredibly thin (3.9mm–4.2mm), 200MP main camera, 12MP ultra-wide, 10MP telephoto.
• Likely price: $2,000–$2,500+, targeting tech enthusiasts and business users.
• Not intended for everyday users—the survey cited revealed 64% of people aren’t interested in foldables.

Discussion & Insights

• The phone is seen as both innovative and risky—an impressive technical achievement, but perhaps a niche indulgence.
• Samsung’s rapid device iteration is framed as a direct response to Apple and Chinese competitors, with thinness and foldability their battleground.

Notable Quotes

“Even if it is, what’s the use case of this thing? ...Phones were announced within a year, which is really surprising and quite impressive.”
—Abrar Al-Heiti (03:42)

“My nightmare is, how do you protect this investment? ...the $2000 computer that folds into thirds is going to be on the floor of a cafe at least once, maybe twice in a day.”
—Jake Ward (05:01)

“Most people just want good cameras and good battery life ...and they don’t want to pay a bajillion dollars.”
—Abrar Al-Heiti (10:20)

Timestamps

• Announcement & Features: 02:22–04:54
• Travel & Use Scene: 04:54–06:23
• Tech Demand & Market Niche: 06:23–09:13
• Apple’s Reluctance/Strategy: 09:13–11:07
• Competitive Risks & Innovation: 11:07–14:37

2. OpenAI’s 'Code Red': Inside the Generative AI Arms Race

Key Points

• Following Thanksgiving, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman internally called a “Code Red,” pulling staff off experimental projects to focus on core ChatGPT improvements (personalization, speed, reliability, broader questions).
• This is seen as a reaction to Google’s Gemini, which gained rapid user growth after product launches like NanoBanana.
• Discussion centers on whether OpenAI is facing financial/resource constraints and what their prioritization signals about strategy.
• Debate on whether this is desperation, or a ‘refocus on the only product that matters’ (user experience over profit and ads).

Discussion & Insights

• The business tension: Unlike Google or Meta, OpenAI lacks robust alternative revenue streams; any resource shift is amplified.
• The emotional/“psychological stickiness” of ChatGPT is now a key differentiator and company goal.
• Both hosts voice concern (and marvel) at AI’s increasing role as emotional surrogate and companion, especially for younger generations.

Notable Quotes

“Anything except making this product irresistible, emotionally irresistible, is an unacceptable distraction from the main thing.”
—Jake Ward (25:06)

“For them to have this code red and say, we’re worried about these other guys is a really interesting turning point.”
—Abrar Al-Heiti (21:36)

“Nick Turley... posted around the code red...his words were more intuitive and emotional. It feels to me like that's the focus here, is make this thing so emotionally and psychologically compelling.”
—Jake Ward (28:12)

Timestamps

• OpenAI’s Code Red Memo: 18:43–21:05
• Google’s Gemini/Competition: 21:05–22:35
• Money, Profitability & Investor Pressure: 22:50–25:06
• Refocusing on Stickiness, Ads, and User Experience: 25:06–27:41
• AI Distortion & Emotional Impact: 27:42–30:32

3. AI Companions & Dating Coaches: New Social Reality

Interview: Rita Omoka (Elle)

Key Points

• Rita’s reporting explores why women are increasingly turning to chatbots, like ChatGPT, for emotional support and relationship advice.
• AI companionship has become routine—a 24/7, nonjudgmental confidante, especially in a post-pandemic world.
• The rise is seen among women with active social circles, not just the lonely—chatbots offer frictionless, affirmation-heavy support absent from human interactions.
• Tech companies are keenly aware of this dynamic and are fine-tuning their bots for maximum emotional resonance and stickiness.

Discussion & Insights

• Potential psychological risk: Bots may reinforce users’ existing perspectives rather than challenge them, leading to less personal growth (“a reflective surface made of language data rather than glass”).
• AI can become a primary emotional interface, with growing questions about what happens if real relationships, including with therapists, are sidelined.
• OpenAI’s pursuit of “intuitive and emotional” chatbots is mutually reinforcing with these trends.

Notable Quotes

“Those I spoke with told me they use these tools now the same way they'll use [friends] ... the only difference now was that this space was always on ... never judging them.”
—Rita Omoka (34:22)

“We’re creating this almost frictionless society, but we have to remember...without friction, there's no growth.”
—Rita Omoka (41:26)

“It'd be hard to talk about the ex with the friends because the friends might say to you this is a terrible idea ... instead you’ve got this bot that’s conditioned for this.”
—Jake Ward (38:39)

Timestamps

• Why Women Use AI Companions: 34:22–35:51
• Emotional Affirmation vs. Human Friction: 36:44–39:56
• Tech Strategy & Risks: 39:56–41:26
• Will Human Input Fade?: 42:06–44:03

4. Profiling Scott Wiener: California’s AI Lawmaker and National Tech Regulation

Interview: Adam Rogers (Mother Jones)

Key Points

• Adam Rogers profiles State Senator Scott Wiener, architect of California’s new AI law—the first significant US state effort to regulate frontier models.
• Wiener’s legislative track record: Steadfast in pursuing difficult, complex policies (notably, housing reform and now AI regulation), consistently coming back after defeats to achieve compromise and results.
• The SB-53 AI law focuses on transparency, safety framework disclosure, and whistleblower protections, but (after concessions) drops liability for AI model creators.
• Wiener’s ambitions for Congress (Nancy Pelosi’s seat), and his alignment with Governor Newsom (possible future President)—both seem pragmatic and business-friendly but interested in regulatory guardrails.

Discussion & Insights

• Wiener’s strength: Crafting doable deals on tough, divisive tech topics, often requiring concessions to business interests.
• The law’s focus emerges from “Doomer” AI circles—fear of catastrophic AI risks—rather than day-to-day harms like deepfakes, job losses, or social impact.
• The US is seeing a patchwork: 38 states with various AI laws; meanwhile, national Republicans (notably Ted Cruz) want to limit state-level regulation in favor of federal law.

Notable Quotes

“He’s known for getting [bills] passed, for being effective...because he’s a dealmaker.”
—Adam Rogers (52:39)

“He is always a very effective representative...some of those interests are technology interests...because that's where they live in his district.”
—Adam Rogers (59:08)

“The thing that’s not in the [new AI bill] that was in the one that got vetoed is liability for the AI companies. And that's not there...the companies prevailed upon him to take out.”
—Adam Rogers (61:37)

Timestamps

• Wiener’s Background & Legislative Style: 47:20–52:39
• AI Law, Newsom Relationship, Business Ties: 53:02–60:02
• Law’s Details & Compromises: 57:21–62:35
• Comparison to National Trends & Political Appetite: 62:35–65:32

Memorable Moments & Turn of Phrase

• “It’s so wholesome—kind of, it feels to me to be talking about smartphones here. So retro. Right?”
  —Jake Ward (14:58)

• “We were flexing our innovation—quite literally.”
  —Abrar Al-Heiti (12:55)

• “The next influencer is like ChatGPT talking to you about what you should buy and...that’s a really creepy, fun future, right?”
  —Abrar Al-Heiti (26:20)

Episode Conclusions

Takeaways:

• Aggressive hardware innovation (like Samsung’s trifold) is alive but mostly for tech enthusiasts.
• The AI product wars have narrowed: user “stickiness” and emotional resonance now matter more than breadth of features.
• People are using AI for emotional support in ways that outstrip many initial expectations, raising huge societal, personal, and regulatory questions.
• Regulation is inching forward through the states, led by ambitious, savvy politicians like Scott Wiener—yet each new compromise reflects the heavy gravitational pull of Silicon Valley.

Where to Find the Guests

• Abrar Al-Heiti:

  • X: @lheiti3
  • IG: @abraralheiti
  • CNET: Author page

• Rita Omoka:

  • Elle magazine

• Adam Rogers:

  • Bluesky: @jetjocko
  • Website: adam-rogers.net
  • Mother Jones: Wiener profile & bibliography here

Skipped Sections

• Sponsorship messages, podcast intros/outros, and promotional reads have been omitted.

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