All TWiT.tv Shows (Audio) Episode: This Week in Tech 1024: Payday Loan Burrito
Release Date: March 24, 2025
Host: Leo Laporte
Guests: Harry McCracken (Fast Company), Father Robert Balasare (Vatican), Patrick Beja (France)

Introduction

In this episode of This Week in Tech, host Leo Laporte engages with a diverse panel consisting of technology historian Harry McCracken, Father Robert Balasare from the Vatican, and Patrick Beja representing France. The discussion spans a wide array of topics including Intel's strategic direction, EU's regulatory actions against Big Tech, the future of social media platforms like TikTok, advancements in AI and robotics, and the recent release of Pavel Durov.

Intel’s Strategic Shift and Leadership Change

Leo Laporte initiates the conversation with breaking news about Intel’s accelerated Vision Conference, signaling imminent strategic announcements from the new CEO, Lip Bhutan.

Patrick Beja comments on the uncertainty Intel has faced since the ousting of former CEO Pat Gelsinger:

"Uncertainty is always bad. So I think that's a pretty good. A pretty clever move on his part."
[04:37]

Harry McCracken reflects on past leadership maneuvers at Intel, emphasizing the challenges the company faces in regaining its footing:

"It's been trying to rectify that ever since. And you would think that if they were still going to follow Gelsinger's strategy, they would have Gelsinger doing that..."
[08:24]

The panel discusses potential strategies, including splitting Intel into separate entities for foundry and design, but skepticism remains about the company’s ability to leverage its assets effectively.

Big Tech's Struggles and EU Regulations

The conversation shifts to the broader struggles of major tech companies in the current landscape. Father Robert Balasare underscores the burden of legacy systems:

"It's very hard to innovate when you're tied down to what you're expected to maintain."
[09:07]

Patrick Beja delves into the European Union’s stringent regulations aimed at fostering fair competition, particularly targeting Apple’s closed ecosystem:

"I think one element that is very much obfuscated in those discussions is that the issue is fair competition."
[14:50]

Leo Laporte highlights the impact of these regulations on platforms like Instagram and how they force Apple to open up certain functionalities, albeit with security concerns.

"In order to enable other entrants to compete, you need the access to those features."
[19:35]

Father Robert Balasare adds that while opening systems introduces security vulnerabilities, it also encourages faster patching and innovation:

"If you come from the open source background, you recognize that opening up a closed system will reveal security exploits and even more quickly it will help to patch those security exploits."
[20:00]

Social Media Platforms and Content Moderation

A significant portion of the discussion centers on content moderation and the potential impact of removing Section 230 protections in the United States. Leo Laporte expresses concern over how smaller platforms would cope without these protections:

"If this passes, I will then shut down all of our interactive content, all of our chat rooms."
[58:29]

Patrick Beja emphasizes the bipartisan support for the bill and its detrimental effects on smaller forums and communities:

"The problem is that they can moderate without becoming essentially editors, right? Without becoming liable for the content."
[56:22]

Father Robert Balasare argues that Section 230 already provides mechanisms for removing illicit content without making platforms liable:

"There's a system at which you can submit a complaint and action needs to be taken against that content in a reasonable amount of time."
[52:08]

Data Privacy and Algorithmic Influence: The TikTok Conundrum

The panel delves into the ongoing debate surrounding TikTok's potential acquisition and its implications for data privacy and algorithmic influence. Patrick Beja raises concerns about TikTok's role in shaping public opinion, particularly among youth:

"TikTok being a major source of information... tweaking the algorithm can present disinformation, misinformation... It is a political weapon."
[82:15]

Leo Laporte and Harry McCracken discuss the practical challenges and skepticism surrounding TikTok's influence compared to broader issues of data privacy and misinformation across all platforms.

"TikTok isn't collecting anything that China can't get otherwise. China has other ways to propagandize it. American youth, ample ways."
[81:33]

Father Robert Balasare emphasizes that the problem extends beyond TikTok to all social media platforms, highlighting the systemic nature of misinformation:

"The only issue is the influence that a massive media can have on society and on the opinions of people that consume it."
[82:08]

Advancements in AI and Robotics

Harry McCracken brings attention to recent developments in robotics showcased at Nvidia’s GPU Technology Conference (GTC), highlighting innovations that integrate AI with physical movement:

"Gemini Robotics... robots doing cart flips. And even more impressive than Boston Dynamics Atlas, even the new version is vastly improved."
[137:45]

The panel discusses the potential for AI-driven robotics to bridge the gap between digital intelligence and physical interaction, suggesting that such advancements could accelerate AI development by providing real-world feedback loops.

"They can train AIs faster than they could train the physical items in a sufficiently realistic environment, digital environment that they can do it really fast."
[141:19]

Patrick Beja envisions a future where robots become integral to everyday tasks, although acknowledging the current limitations in affordability and practicality.

Clearview AI and Privacy Concerns

The discussion turns to Clearview AI’s controversial practices of scraping millions of online photos to train facial recognition systems, raising serious ethical and legal questions:

Harry McCracken notes:

"They spent a million dollars in a bid to purchase 690 million arrest records and 390 million arrest photos from all 50 states."
[118:03]

Leo Laporte expresses relief over Clearview AI’s failed acquisition attempt due to legal disputes:

"Thank goodness they didn't succeed. They have a legitimate beef because using pirated content is morally wrong."
[121:46]

Father Robert Balasare critiques the lack of transparency and cooperation from companies like Telegram in handling government requests:

"Well, we do need to be able to work together properly... if they use pirate content, it's a different issue."
[117:52]

Self-Driving Cars and Infrastructure

The panel examines the state of self-driving technology, focusing on Waymo’s dominance and the practical challenges these vehicles face in complex urban environments:

Harry McCracken remarks on Waymo’s extensive presence in San Francisco:

"In theory, self-driving cars, because they drive rather cautiously, help improve [safety]."
[68:01]

Leo Laporte contrasts Waymo with Tesla’s ongoing issues with AI accuracy:

"Mark Rober drove several Teslas through a wall that was painted to look like a road like Wiley Coyote... it made it cute."
[69:29]

The conversation highlights the potential for AI-integrated robotics to enhance vehicle navigation but acknowledges the substantial hurdles in achieving reliable automation across varied global regions.

Fraudulent Activities and Scam Texts

A growing concern is the surge in fraudulent activities, particularly toll-free scam texts, which have risen by over 600% according to the panel:

Leo Laporte outlines the nature of these scams:

"If you click this link, you get a place that looks just like easy pass. And of course, it's not."
[147:35]

Patrick Beja notes the international scope of such scams and the challenges in combating them effectively:

"We can do it [addressing larger issues], but if you talk about TikTok is a more specific issue that can be managed."
[88:51]

The panel discusses the ethical implications of scammers, many of whom may themselves be victims of larger systemic issues like human trafficking.

Fusion Energy and AI Infrastructure

The guest panelists explore recent breakthroughs in fusion energy by French scientists, emphasizing the technological advancements and the lingering challenges in energy conversion:

Father Robert Balasare critiques the practicality of current fusion breakthroughs:

"The mechanism that we use to convert that into usable electrical power goes back to the steam engine. We haven't made any massive strides..."
[129:22]

Patrick Beja underscores the transformative potential of fusion energy, while acknowledging its long-term feasibility:

"It's a solution to a lot of our problems until we get fusion going."
[132:10]

Leo Laporte connects fusion advancements to AI infrastructure, highlighting the need for improved data storage and processing capabilities to enhance AI models.

"Advancements in AI infrastructure... if they get that working properly, that has ramifications beyond just in a better AI model."
[141:36]

Classroom Technology and Student Well-Being

The panel discusses educational policies regarding smartphone usage in classrooms, evaluating their effectiveness based on recent studies:

Leo Laporte references a study from The Lancet indicating no significant improvement in student well-being or academic performance from restricting phone use:

"The researchers found no significant difference in the well being of students allowed to use their phones compared to those who were not."
[148:03]

Father Robert Balasare shares his organization’s approach to technology in education, emphasizing responsible usage over outright bans:

"It's more important to look at the attitudes that students develop around the use of their devices."
[150:00]

Patrick Beja concurs, highlighting the importance of teaching students to balance device utility with appropriate usage contexts.

Final Thoughts: Societal Impacts and Future Outlook

As the episode winds down, the panelists reflect on the broader societal implications of technological advancements and regulatory measures. Leo Laporte expresses concern over the trajectory of societal dependence on credit systems exemplified by DoorDash’s partnership with Klarna for "Payday Loan Burritos":

"You have to ask if it's the person or the society that is in trouble when someone has to take out a loan to buy a burrito."
[154:21]

The discussion underscores the interconnectedness of technology, regulation, and societal well-being, advocating for thoughtful integration of innovations to mitigate adverse effects.

Conclusion

This episode of This Week in Tech offers a comprehensive exploration of pressing issues in the tech landscape, from corporate strategies and regulatory challenges to ethical considerations in AI and data privacy. The insightful dialogue among Leo Laporte, Harry McCracken, Father Robert Balasare, and Patrick Beja provides listeners with a nuanced understanding of the complexities shaping the future of technology.

Notable Quotes:

• Patrick Beja on Intel’s strategic move:
  "Uncertainty is always bad. So I think that's a pretty good. A pretty clever move on his part."
  [04:37]

• Father Robert Balasare on open systems and security:
  "If you come from the open source background, you recognize that opening up a closed system will reveal security exploits and even more quickly it will help to patch those security exploits."
  [20:00]

• Patrick Beja on EU regulations fostering competition:
  "I think one element that is very much obfuscated in those discussions is that the issue is fair competition."
  [14:50]

• Leo Laporte on the impact of potential Section 230 repeal:
  "If this passes, I will then shut down all of our interactive content, all of our chat rooms."
  [58:29]

For those who haven't listened to the episode, this summary encapsulates the critical discussions and insights shared by the panel, offering a clear and structured overview of the dynamic and multifaceted world of technology as of March 2025.