This Week in Tech 1052: "It's a Nice Day for CRM"
Date: October 6, 2025
Host: Leo Laporte
Guests: Georgia Dow, Ian Thompson, Patrick Beja
Overview
This international edition of TWiT brings together Georgia Dow (Canada), Ian Thompson (UK/US), and Patrick Beja (France) to discuss the week’s most pressing and peculiar issues in technology. Hot topics include the meteoric rise of AI video through Sora 2, the shifting landscape of tech ownership and regulation, growing privacy risks, and the ever-evolving world of gaming and media consolidation.
Panel Introductions & Tone Setting
Timestamp: 00:00–04:35
- Leo jokes about international representation (“Canada, England, and France in the house!”) and muses on recent panel activities.
- Georgia continues her “therapist reacts” YouTube series, focusing on media and gaming themes.
- Ian banters about his British-to-American transition.
- Patrick prepares for a Street Fighter tournament in Nice and reflects on his “NotPatrick” online identity.
"Just a reason for me to dress up. Let's just be honest.”
— Georgia Dow [04:25]
Sora 2, Generative AI Slop, and the Future of AI Video
Timestamp: 04:36–20:38
Rise of Sora 2
- OpenAI's Sora 2, an “AI TikTok,” hits #1 on the App Store despite requiring invites.
- Users create “cameos” (AI avatars) by reciting random numbers, a mechanic to prevent digitizing unauthorized individuals.
- Early use cases quickly veer toward copyright violations and “AI slop” (endless, low-value content).
Copyright & Rights Holders
- Immediate copyright pushback. OpenAI responds by offering more granular controls and promises to share revenue with rights holders.
- Public debate over ethical and practical implications (e.g., making public cameos for plausible deniability).
“I think there are two aspects to this... the rights holder and copyright issues... The other thing is… generative AI video has arrived. It's here. It's good enough.”
— Patrick Beja [09:42]
Societal & Psychological Impact
- Discussion of the “uncanny valley,” the erosion of trust, and the visceral disgust many feel for generative AI.
- Concerns about jobs displaced, acceleration of change, and a breakdown in the ability to discern truth.
“Change is hard for people, right?”
— Georgia Dow [11:45]
- Patrick highlights artists' outrage in Europe, climate costs of massive AI video generation, and OpenAI’s unsustainable business model (estimated $5/video).
“There are people making good livings decrying [AI] and yelling at it…”
— Leo Laporte [23:38]
Work "Slop" and Corporate Culture
- Stanford’s “workslop” study: AI-generated internal business content is “good enough,” but recipients trust and like colleagues less when receiving such work.
- Risks of increasing shoddy work and psychological impacts—bias reinforcement, echo chambers, greater radicalization.
“It confirms what you believe… even if it’s a lie, you just hear it enough, it becomes true.”
— Georgia Dow [21:01]
Bubble Dynamics, Tech Valuation, and Optimism
Timestamp: 25:43–28:08
- Jeff Bezos’s view: industrial bubbles (dot-com, railroads) build infrastructure, which is a net positive, even if companies fail.
- Tech speculation and optimism vs. concerns about a new AI bubble.
"But in both those cases... what you got was infrastructure. You got fiber of the dot com... you got the transcontinental railroad."
— Leo Laporte [26:27]
Media Ownership & TikTok’s American Dilemma
Timestamp: 29:46–40:46
Yahoo & AOL in Play—Who Uses Legacy Tech?
- Italian company Bending Spoons is lined up to buy AOL for $1.4 billion, inheriting a grab-bag of “legacy” brands and millions of nostalgic users.
"What 25-year-old is using AOL?"
— Leo Laporte [34:17]
TikTok’s Forked Future
- Uncertainty over TikTok’s US “bifurcation”—possible Oracle-led venture, algorithm licensing, ongoing ByteDance financial control.
- Concerns about editorial influence by US companies (Larry and David Ellison), the consolidation of news and entertainment media, and implications for propaganda or bias.
“It feels right out of Succession. They're building a media empire.”
— Leo Laporte [39:41]
The Dark Side: Media Influence, Schooling, and Compliance
Timestamp: 40:46–44:45
- Georgia worries about media consolidation’s effect on public opinion, collective compliance, and long-term societal shifts.
“We’re taught to just follow and do and be obedient... sitting in a classroom for eight hours... does the opposite [of building critical thought].”
— Georgia Dow [43:34]
Big Tech Capitulation: Platform Governance & Privacy
Timestamp: 52:08–61:34
Apple, Google, and Content Moderation
- Historic lawsuits: YouTube, Meta, and X (Twitter) settle with Trump and associates over bans, costing $59.5 million in total.
- Apple and Google remove ICE-tracking apps from stores after DOJ pressure. Raises broader questions about freedom and compliance.
“Apple does what's best for Apple, and they always have, and I suspect they always will.”
— Ian Thompson [54:51]
Apple, Privacy, and International Law
- Apple fights UK’s demand for a backdoor into encrypted storage (Advanced Data Protection), but stands firm on privacy—at least in some regions. Home Office wants access “just” for UK citizens.
- Other countries (e.g., China, Russia) cited as cautionary tales; Apple sometimes complies quietly.
Chat Control, Encryption, and Privacy in the EU
Timestamp: 70:41–85:33
The Proposal
- “Chat Control” would require mandatory client-side scanning of all messages and images for abusive material (e.g., child exploitation), even on encrypted platforms.
- Activists worry about precedent: once in place for one purpose, scope could easily expand.
Panel Reflections
- Patrick: The immediate implementation may be "technically safe," but the bigger risk is mission creep.
- Georgia: Each incremental loss of privacy “normalizes” surveillance; hard to draw the line further down.
- EFF: “Phones and laptops must work for users who own them, not as bugs in our pockets..."
“Once you open that door, anything goes... the next government could decide [what to scan for].”
— Patrick Beja [74:58]
Proton's Switzerland Exit & Global Privacy Havens
Timestamp: 86:06–91:42
- Switzerland, once a privacy haven, contemplates extreme surveillance laws: mandatory data retention, ID verification, warrantless police access.
- Proton (secure email, now with AI and more) plans to relocate most infrastructure to the EU.
“I've never seen any law go that far. And for it to come from Switzerland... mind boggling.”
— Patrick Beja [88:50]
Gaming & Media Consolidation
Timestamp: 95:08–125:01
Game Trends and Hardware Futures
- Georgia discusses “Night Rain,” a fast-paced Elden Ring-like game. Accessibility and fatigue with VR hardware.
- Apple rumored to be pausing Vision Pro development, focusing future R&D on AR glasses.
Microsoft Shifts
- Game Pass Ultimate jumps to $30/month; possible end of new Xbox hardware in favor of multiplatform software publishing.
- Rising gaming hours among young adults; mobile gaming dominates overall revenue but consoles still matter for “core” experiences.
Saudi Arabian Acquisition of Electronic Arts
- Potential $55 billion leveraged buyout, part of broader Saudi diversification (“sportswashing”).
- Debate over ownership influence, potential for bias or propaganda, impact of private equity practices on beloved franchises.
Memorable Moments & Quotes
-
On AI slop:
"It is the AI Slop generator par excellence. What do you think?"
— Leo Laporte [07:38] -
On plausible deniability in AI:
"I thought…better make it open to the public, because then I have plausible deniability no matter what videos are posted of me.”
— Leo Laporte [08:20]
"That's you looking like a criminal. I like it."
— Georgia Dow [08:26] -
On industrial bubbles:
"Gave us the Internet, people. It wasn't that bad."
— Patrick Beja [28:06] -
On privacy/rights:
"You have to be wary when giving up our rights and our privacy for something."
— Georgia Dow [81:59] -
On shifting geopolitics:
"My biggest concern is how traditional media...is turning everything into controversial right-wing issues."
— Patrick Beja [47:42]
Lighter Segments
-
Excel World Championships
International nerds compete in arenas, rush to solve logic puzzles in spreadsheets—watching keystrokes on the big screen. -
EVO Street Fighter Tournaments
Patrick preps for his IRL esports debut, bantering about “using the force” to win a single round. -
Meta Glasses and the End of VR Hype
Georgia and Leo both skeptical; everyone waiting for the AR “game changer.”
Closing Thoughts
- Tech's future is increasingly international, regulatory, and economically precarious. Privacy, media consolidation, and AI’s impact on creativity and truth are key themes.
- Despite global turbulence, geeky pursuits (from Street Fighter to Excel) are celebrated.
- Hosts and panelists remind listeners to stay vigilant, be skeptical of centralized power, and support independent media.
Notable Timestamps
- Sora 2 & AI Slop: 04:36–20:38
- Bubble Talk: 25:43–28:08
- Media Ownership & TikTok: 29:46–40:46
- Privacy Laws (US & UK): 52:08–61:34
- EU Chat Control and Privacy: 70:41–85:33
- Proton Leaves Switzerland: 86:06–91:42
- Gaming/EA Buyout: 95:08–125:01
- Excel World Championship: 150:44–154:18
Final Panel Notes
Georgia Dow
- @georgiadao on YouTube — “Therapist Reacts” series; mentions importance of teaching media literacy in schools.
Ian Thompson
- The Register — notes on independent media; discusses Dreamforce, Salesforce events, Metallica cameo.
Patrick Beja
- NotPatrick.com — hosts international podcasts; prepping for EVO Nice, gaming insights.
Leo Laporte:
Wraps with encouragement: stay critical, support independent tech journalism, and enjoy the geeky ride.
Next Episode: Stay tuned for more analysis, laughs, and cultural technopolitics—because “another TWiT is in the can.”