Podcast Summary: This Week in Google 798: Great for Soup

Hosts and Guests

• Leo Laporte (Host)
• Paris Martineau (Reporter from The Information)
• Jeff Jarvis (Professor Emeritus at Montclair State University and SUNY Stony Brook)

Release Date: December 12, 2024

1. AI Developments

a. Google Gemini Advanced and Video Model

• Timestamp: [06:00] – [12:00]
• Discussion: The hosts delve into Google’s latest AI advancements, notably the release of Google Gemini Advanced. A significant highlight is the introduction of Google’s new video model called Vue, which aims to compete with OpenAI's offerings like Sora.
• Notable Quote:
  • Leo Laporte: "Google has pushed out their new video model, Vue, which is positioning itself against OpenAI's Sora. It's part of their ongoing efforts to stay ahead in the AI race." [06:29]

b. OpenAI’s 12 Days of AI and the Canvas Tool

• Timestamp: [18:00] – [28:00]
• Discussion: OpenAI continues its 12 Days of AI campaign, unveiling tools like Canvas, a collaborative writing and coding assistant. The hosts experiment with Canvas by prompting it to craft a fictional story about a homeless man who is secretly Santa Claus.
• Notable Quote:
  • Jeff Jarvis: "They’re not AGI, not RoboCop, not HAL 9000. But we're seeing AI used in very useful and interesting ways." [12:21]

c. Apple AI 18.2 Image Generator

• Timestamp: [14:00] – [16:00]
• Discussion: Apple’s latest update, AI 18.2, introduces an Image Generator feature within iOS. The hosts compare it to Google Lens, highlighting privacy considerations and the integration with search functionalities.
• Notable Quote:
  • Paris Martineau: "It's kind of compelling in a way. Not wanting to give Google any information about you is crucial." [16:13]

d. Practical Uses of AI in Various Fields

• Timestamp: [12:00] – [13:36]
• Discussion: AI's practical applications are explored, including:
  • Weather Forecasting: Google’s DeepMind enhances 15-day weather predictions, benefiting sectors like agriculture and disaster management.
  • Medical Diagnostics: AI-assisted mammograms show a 20% improvement in cancer detection rates for those who opt to have their scans analyzed by AI.
  • Material Science: AI aids scientists in developing new materials with 50% better results compared to traditional methods.
• Notable Quote:
  • Jeff Jarvis: "When they paid extra, they got 20% better results. In other words, the AI did make a difference." [12:46]

2. Discussion on AI’s Potential and Limitations

• Timestamp: [07:00] – [08:30]
• Discussion: The conversation centers on whether AI is approaching Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) or remaining as specialized tools. The hosts express skepticism towards overhyped claims of AI replacing all jobs within a few years.
• Notable Quote:
  • Jeff Jarvis: "It's just not AGI. If we just didn't have that as this ridiculous supposed goal and we said, hey, it's got a new trick, we'd say right?" [08:22]

3. Quantum Computing and Multiverse Theory

• Timestamp: [28:00] – [36:00]
• Discussion: The hosts discuss Google’s quantum chip, Willow, which reportedly performs complex computations exponentially faster than classical supercomputers. The claim suggests ties to multiverse theory, though the hosts express skepticism about the connection.
• Notable Quote:
  • Paris Martineau: "They’re going to change the world." [06:57]
  • Leo Laporte: "I don't have access to real-time news updates until October 2023. So obviously, it would not know anything." [10:17]

a. Attempt to Explain with Gemini AI Assistant

• Timestamp: [33:00] – [36:00]
• Discussion: The hosts attempt to use Google’s Gemini AI to explain the quantum computing breakthrough’s relation to multiverse theory but find the AI’s response inadequate.
• Notable Quote:
  • Leo Laporte: "I'm prepared for that at all times. For a while, I was pretty sure every time I crossed an intersection, I was gonna get T boned." [01:28]

4. Cryptocurrency News: Hawk Coin Plummet

• Timestamp: [40:00] – [44:00]
• Discussion: The hosts cover the volatile surge and subsequent crash of Hawk Coin, which saw its market cap drop by 91% in three hours, indicative of a pump and dump scheme.
• Notable Quote:
  • Jeff Jarvis: "Is this what you call a pump and dump?" [43:08]
  • Paris Martineau: "I didn't make any money on it. I wasn't involved." [43:10]

5. Media and Cloudflare’s Year in Review

a. Cloudflare’s Year in Review

• Timestamp: [77:00] – [83:00]
• Discussion: Leo reviews Cloudflare’s annual report, noting a 17% growth in global internet traffic. Key insights include:
  • Most Popular Services: Google remains top, followed by Facebook, Apple, TikTok, and Instagram.
  • Starlink: Traffic tripled in 2024, with significant growth in new markets like Malawi.
  • Web Crawlers: Googlebot leads in traffic, followed by others like ByteDance’s ByteSpider and Anthropic’s ClaudeBot.
• Notable Quote:
  • Leo Laporte: "Google is far and away the most popular search engine globally across all platforms." [82:14]

b. 404 Media and Legal Subpoena

• Timestamp: [129:00] – [147:00]
• Discussion: The hosts discuss 404 Media being subpoenaed by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton over their reporting on Google Privacy Incidents. Emphasis is placed on the importance of journalistic integrity and source protection.
• Notable Quote:
  • Paris Martineau: "Fundamental tenet of journalism is to protect your sources and not capitulate to government demands." [130:57]
  • Leo Laporte: "404 Media is in trouble now. We love 404 Media." [129:11]

6. TikTok Ban and Legal Battle

• Timestamp: [56:00] – [68:00]
• Discussion: The potential TikTok ban in the US is examined, including Google's lawsuit against the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) over the regulation of its payment services. Mention of Frank McCourt’s Project Liberty aiming to purchase TikTok's US operations to prevent it from shutting down.
• Notable Quote:
  • Leo Laporte: "If we do... we're going to have a very interesting 10 years. I don't think that's wrong." [28:42]
  • Paris Martineau: "I'm fascinated by groups who still believe Bed Bath and Beyond stock will become valuable post-bankruptcy." [46:09]

7. Advertising Issues

• Timestamp: [155:00] – [163:00]
• Discussion: The hosts critique the inefficacies and intrusiveness of modern advertising, citing examples like irrelevant ads from the Washington Post and Instagram. They express frustration over targeted ads that miss the mark.
• Notable Quote:
  • Jeff Jarvis: "Advertising is stupid. If you go to line 182, you'll see what the Washington Post was advertising me. And I had no idea what it is." [165:03]
  • Paris Martineau: "Every time I see them, I swipe right away." [89:24]

8. White Elephant Gift Discussion

• Timestamp: [158:00] – [172:00]
• Discussion: In a lighter segment, the hosts brainstorm ideas for a white elephant party, contemplating humorous and impractical gifts like a yard of beef and funny stickers.
• Notable Quote:
  • Paris Martineau: "Yard of beef is the current winner. It’s either that or a rotisserie chicken." [158:28]
  • Leo Laporte: "Scary Buddha could be good." [160:25]

9. Closing Remarks and Call for Support

• Note: As per instructions, the closing sections involving advertisements and calls for support have been omitted from this summary.

Conclusion

In this episode of "This Week in Google," Leo Laporte, alongside Paris Martineau and Jeff Jarvis, navigates through the bustling landscape of AI advancements, quantum computing breakthroughs, cryptocurrency volatility, media challenges, and the ongoing debate surrounding TikTok’s regulatory battles. The discussion weaves through practical applications of AI in healthcare and weather forecasting, scrutinizes the implications of Google's quantum claims, and highlights the critical intersection of journalism and legal pressures. The hosts maintain an engaging and informative tone, interspersed with light-hearted segments on gift-giving, making the episode both comprehensive and entertaining for listeners.