This Week in Tech 1064: TWiT Best of 2025

Date: December 28, 2025
Host: Leo Laporte
Guests: Harper Reed, Victoria Song, Father Robert, Brian Wolf, Jason Calacanis
Theme: Best moments and key technology trends discussed on TWiT in 2025

Episode Overview

This special “Best of 2025” episode takes listeners on a journey through the most remarkable moments, discussions, and innovations in technology over the past year. Leo Laporte is joined by familiar TWiT voices and special guests to reflect on the show’s 20th anniversary, celebrate community stories, debate the future of AI, analyze Apple and tech industry events, and muse about privacy and job security in a fast-changing digital world. The tone is conversational, witty, and occasionally nostalgic.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Celebrating 20 Years of TWiT (00:13–10:10)

• Reflections on the Journey:
  Leo Laporte opens with gratitude to listeners and supporters, reflecting on 20 years of TWiT, its evolution, and the community’s role in keeping it running.
  • "It's been 20 years. This is the year we celebrated our 20th anniversary and, well, I can't imagine a better 20 years more satisfying for me and I think for our team. And it's all because of you." — Leo Laporte (00:37)
• Community Stories:
  Listeners share personal stories on how TWiT has impacted their lives, from a proud developer (Scott Simmons) to an incarcerated fan (Ron), highlighting the show’s diverse reach and longevity.
  • "As a nerd for over 40 years, it's a blessing to have the joy of TWIT every week." — Ron, listener email (09:39)

2. AI in Creativity and Film: Hollywood’s Tussle (00:58–06:28)

• The AI-Enhanced Film Debate:
  Discussion on "The Brutalist," a film that used AI (Respeecher) to fine-tune actors’ Hungarian dialogue, sparking controversy among Hollywood’s traditionalists over AI’s award eligibility.
  • "There's so much fear of AI in Hollywood, isn't there? Right now among creatives in general, there is." — Leo Laporte (02:36)
• AI vs. Artistic Authenticity:
  The team debates acceptable boundaries for AI in creative media, agreeing that subtle uses for language authenticity or minor visuals don’t diminish the art but worrying about deepfakes and overreach.
  • "There is some line, like the deepfakes in Hollywood are an issue... what you're describing, I don’t think crosses it." — Victoria Song (06:01)

3. The Evolution of TWiT: Behind-the-Scenes History (10:10–15:15)

• Origins and First Episodes:
  Recollections of TWiT’s first episodes, tech used, and guest appearances. The staff reminisce about early recording struggles, the charm of amateur production, and how scalability improved.
• Technological Shifts in Production:
  Comparing early “double-ender” recording techniques to contemporary cloud-based solutions.
  • "It's gotten easier now with services like streamyard... We use Restream." — Leo Laporte (13:45)

4. AI, Vibe Coding, and the Future of Software Development (16:03–30:24)

• Vibe Coding Explained:
  A lively exploration of “vibe coding” — using AI tools like OpenAI Codex or Claude to generate code by describing what you want, now feasible even for non-coders. Harper Reed demonstrates enthusiasm and also concern over this democratization:
  • "You have relinquished control of all the individual decisions... I'm so happy about this." — Harper Reed (19:14)
• The Disruption of Craft:
  Acknowledgement that traditional software craftsmanship risks being replaced by mass-produced, AI-generated solutions, likening the process to industrialization versus artisanal labor.
  • "We are all farmers and industrial farming is coming for us ... we're going to be relegated to the farmer's market." — Harper Reed (23:22)

5. AI and Work: Dystopian or Liberating? (30:24–47:57)

• Will AI Replace Jobs?
  Jason Calacanis and the panel discuss AI-driven job displacement, UBI (universal basic income), and whether new jobs will sufficiently replace those destroyed.
  • "In the next 10 years we're going to see serious job displacement." — Jason Calacanis (34:51)
• Limits of UBI:
  Skepticism over funding and sufficiency of UBI for displaced workers — “It would be like unemployment or food stamps... subsistence.” — Jason Calacanis (36:43)
• Broader Implications:
  Debate continues on the societal consequences — from shifting demographics to radical self-reliance and growing income inequality.
  • "It's just going to drive income inequality crazy. And I don't think that that's a sustainable way for a society..." — Leo Laporte (46:35)
• Memorable Moment:
  “Every time we've seen that in the past there's been a guillotine involved.” — Leo Laporte (47:04)

6. Apple & Google Events: Leaks, Spin, and the Influencer Era (48:57–63:52)

• Apple’s “Awe-Dropping” Event:
  Analysis of a recent Apple event as heavily design-focused but somewhat lackluster and predictable due to leaks.
  • "There was no one more thing, no surprises or were there not everything?" — Leo Laporte (49:04)
• Influencers vs. Journalists:
  The increasing priority Apple and Google give to influencers over traditional tech media—leading to different experiences and coverage of major launches.
  • "Interesting to see... influencers have a bigger seat at the table and in many cases get prioritized." — Victoria Song (61:03)
• Authenticity in Reporting:
  Emphasis on the value of honest journalism vs. “reading the press release” influencer coverage.
  • "Her reporting is authentic and it's honest... YouTube was loaded with those ridiculous influencers." — Brian Wolf (62:50)

7. Privacy, Anonymity & DIY Security: How Far Can You Go? (66:27–77:53)

• Anonymous “Shadow Laptop” Project:
  Brian Wolf describes an experiment to build an untraceable laptop for privacy, using cash-bought VPN cards (Mullvad), public library Wi-Fi, and MAC address rotation to avoid digital fingerprints.
  • "Could I make a laptop that was completely disassociated to myself?" — Brian Wolf (68:05)
  • "It was just a fun game of trying to separate out..." — Brian Wolf (73:43)
• Real-World Pen Testing:
  Engaging a group of friends to try to de-anonymize the device, with lessons about technical limits, legal threats, and the unspoken risks of “nation-state level” adversaries.
• Cautions About AI as a Teacher:
  Wolf found ChatGPT helpful but “confidently wrong” at times, reinforcing the need for domain knowledge.
  • "It was confidently wrong if you don't know enough to know that it's snowballing you." — Brian Wolf (74:54)
• Legal and Societal Barriers:
  Kathy Gellis, referenced as an expert, further emphasizes the ongoing difficulty of legal protections for anonymity, despite technical solutions.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On AI in filmmaking:
  • "Nobody is outraged because something shot in front of a green screen... so why this?" — Leo Laporte (03:51)
• On Vibe Coding:
  • "I have many friends who have vibe coded their way into an app, and vibe coded their way into a bunch of bugs." — Harper Reed (18:30)
• On AI’s impact on software jobs:
  • "Therefore, there's no more jobs. ... The best analogy I've seen is we are all farmers and industrial farming is coming for us." — Harper Reed (22:19, 23:22)
• On self-driving cars:
  • "I put a couple hundred miles on it doing self-driving… feels a little more aggressive and confident." — Jason Calacanis (37:55)
• On Influencer Coverage:
  • "YouTube was loaded with those ridiculous influencers. Some are fantastic. Some are just reading the press release." — Brian Wolf (62:50)
• On Privacy Experiments:
  • "Could I make a laptop that was completely disassociated to myself?" — Brian Wolf (68:05)
  • "I could never have done this without [AI], but at the same time, if I didn’t have the base knowledge... I think that would have left me." — Brian Wolf (75:33)

Timestamps by Segment

• 00:13–10:10: 20-year celebration, community letters
• 00:58–06:28: Hollywood’s AI debate (“The Brutalist”)
• 10:10–15:15: TWiT history and early podcasts
• 16:03–30:24: Vibe coding and AI-accelerated production
• 30:24–47:57: Job loss, UBI, and workforce impact of AI
• 48:57–54:51: Apple event analysis, design focus, influencer shift
• 54:51–63:52: Coverage differences, influencer vs. journalist
• 66:27–77:53: DIY anonymity, privacy experiments, ChatGPT in security
• 77:53–end: Reflections, thanks, and vision for 2026

Conclusion & Closing Remarks

Leo Laporte closes with heartfelt thanks to the TWiT team, hosts, and especially the audience and Club TWiT members whose loyalty keeps the network alive. Looking forward, he promises more thoughtful, entertaining, and unfiltered coverage of tech’s next chapter, all shaped by TWiT’s uniquely engaged community.

For New Listeners

This episode is a perfect primer on what makes TWiT beloved: friendly banter, honest opinions, expert tech analysis, and a special relationship with its audience. Whether you’re curious about AI, privacy, or just want to reminisce with the TWiT family, this “best of 2025” episode is both accessible and richly layered for tech fans old and new.