Diggnation (Rebooted) — Episode Summary

Episode: LEGO Got Smarter, Planes Land Themselves, and Hooters Is Rebranding Again
Hosts: Kevin Rose and Alex Albrecht
Date: January 7, 2026

Overview

After a 15-year hiatus, Diggnation is back! In their classic style—just two geeks catching up—the guys riff on the internet’s latest stories: from self-assembling LEGO bricks and autonomous airplanes to a Hooters revival. They share personal updates, reflect on tech and wellness trends, and sprinkle in that trademark, irreverent humor.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. New Year, New Habits, and Self-Care (00:16–07:08)

• Both hosts are attempting a (somewhat) dry January, using the new year as motivation for better habits.
• Self-care is a major theme: Kevin talks sauna, acupuncture for tennis elbow, weighted vests, and a renewed focus on cardio with Peloton’s German instructors.
• Alex shares his own workout approach and the couple’s new puzzle/woodworking hobbies.

Memorable Quote:
“A good hard massage—200 calories.” —Alex (03:30)

Notable Segment:
Kevin explains the health benefits of sauna, referencing UCSF scientist Ashley Mason’s work on infrared sauna for depression (03:59–04:37).

2. Crafting, Woodworking, and Old Man Hobbies (07:08–12:28)

• Both guys are getting into woodworking. Alex is excited by DIY cutting boards, while Kevin’s carving spoons—sometimes resulting in “blood on my spoon.”
• Japanese hand tools and joinery spark geeky enthusiasm, with Kevin even researching premium hammer tops.

Memorable Quote:
“It’s like hammer porn, which I never even thought was a thing and it totally is.” —Kevin (10:46)

3. Digg Platform Updates: Communities Coming Soon (12:28–13:51)

• Digg is rolling out “communities” to their public beta, promising new ways for users to create and organize groups.
• Early adopters will have a chance to claim community names and participate in shaping the experience.

4. Tech News Roundup

Samsung Bundles Gemini AI On All Devices (13:59–20:27)

• Samsung is launching Google’s Gemini AI across 400 million (soon 800 million) devices, moving away from their own Bixby assistant. This integrates Google’s cutting-edge AI into Samsung’s Android ecosystem by default.
• Discussion about industry implications for other AI players and the inevitable platform consolidation.

Quote:
“It’s a browser world kind of all over again... They knew they were gonna get all these installs.” —Kevin (18:20–18:41)

Waymo vs. Santa Monica: Autonomous Cars Bring Noise (20:29–28:49)

• Waymo, Google’s self-driving taxi service, is in a legal spat with Santa Monica due to “womp womp” backup noise from its cars operating all night in residential areas.
• Alex details both sides, and Kevin shares a personal story of Waymo’s car lidar scanning his kids for legal compliance.

Notable Segment:
Kevin’s kids were scanned by Waymo’s AI to see if they needed booster seats (25:41–26:23).

LEGO Smart Bricks & Internet of Things (32:42–38:35)

• LEGO announces “smart bricks” with built-in chips allowing motion/interactivity, lights, and sounds. These bricks sense orientation, nearby minifigs, and use a wireless “bricknet.”
• The hosts geek out on the potential for Internet-of-Things-style LEGO kits.

Quote:
“I am so excited for this era of smart LEGO.” —Kevin (36:00)

Memorable Exchange:
Kevin imagines smart bricks organizing themselves to clean up kids’ rooms. “Go bricknet!” (36:00–36:08)

5. Well-Being, Boredom, and Embracing Analog Life (38:35–41:59)

• Alex discusses embracing boredom, limiting phone use in the TV room, and a return to puzzles and LEGO for mindful downtime.
• Both reflect on dopamine addiction and how media is now written for distracted audiences with “second devices” in mind.

Quote:
“They’re rewriting scripts to re-say the same thing over and over, because they have to assume you’re not looking and you’re doing this [on your phone].” —Kevin (39:42)

6. Planes That Land Themselves: Garmin’s Autopilot Milestone (42:07–49:25)

• Garmin’s emergency auto-landing technology successfully landed a plane after a real-life depressurization incident, marking the system’s first use outside of testing.
• The system detects incapacitated pilots (especially important for single-pilot general aviation), contacts air traffic control, and lands the plane automatically.
• Kevin and Alex ponder remote-piloting, future aviation, parachute-equipped jets, and the safety advantages of new tech.

Notable Segment:
Alex details the incident and tech at (43:54–45:12), including tower communications and emergency protocols.

7. CES Product Talk: Amazon’s Frame TV Competitor (56:52–61:00)

• Amazon’s new “Art Line” Fire TV enters the frame-TV market, with matte art displays, built-in backgrounds, and Dolby Vision, challenging Samsung and Hisense at a lower price point.

Quote:
“I love that we act like that’s a big deal. Can you believe it has 2000 wallpapers?” —Kevin (60:11)

8. Smart Appliances: Necessary or Not? (70:03–75:06)

• GE’s new smart fridge features a barcode scanner and automatic ordering—but the hosts remain skeptical of smart fridges and “firmware for hummingbird feeders.”
• The chat pivots to the absurdities of needing software updates for everything, but Kevin gives a nod to his “Kamado Joe” smart grill.

9. Hooters Returns—Rebranded and Retro (75:28–80:10)

• The iconic (and controversial) restaurant chain Hooters is staging a comeback, emerging from bankruptcy with updated, vintage-inspired uniforms that channel more “beach vibe.”
• The guys discuss the odd cultural legacy of Hooters, question its relevance in 2026, and remember a time when its wings were the main draw.

Quote:
“It feels like, boy, there’s a whole lot of reasons why it should have just stayed in the coffin, you know?” —Alex (79:05)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “I can’t believe it’s 2026. New Year’s resolutions are in force.” —Kevin (01:12)
• “The depth of peace that comes from learning how to sit with yourself without having to do anything is so real.” —Kevin (38:49)
• “If AI continues to do what it’s doing...we’ll be in a really good place in 10 to 15 years, without a doubt.” —Kevin (68:04)
• “You know, it's that era.” [On watching old Christmas specials and encountering outdated social norms.] —Kevin (62:10)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Self-Care & Wellness: 00:16–07:08
• Woodworking & Hobbies: 07:08–12:28
• Digg Communities Announcement: 12:28–13:51
• Samsung Gemini AI Rollout: 13:59–20:27
• Waymo v. Santa Monica: 20:29–28:49
• LEGO Smart Bricks: 32:42–38:35
• Mindfulness & Media Boredom: 38:35–41:59
• Garmin Auto-Landing Tech: 42:07–49:25
• Amazon’s Frame TV Competitor: 56:52–61:00
• Smart Fridges & Appliances: 70:03–75:06
• Hooters Returns: 75:28–80:10

Language and Tone

The hosts remain loose, playful, and conversational—poking fun at themselves, swearing liberally, and blending deep tech/geek insights with candid takes on wellness and nostalgia. The vibe is classic Diggnation: irreverent but smart.

In a Nutshell:
Diggnation’s comeback episode delivers a whirlwind tour of user-submitted internet oddities, cutting-edge gadgets, and the hosts’ own journeys in self-improvement. Whether you’re interested in LEGO’s next-gen bricks, big AI news, or just want to hear about woodworking injuries and nostalgic chicken wings, this episode captures the unique blend of geek culture and comedy that defines classic Diggnation.