Diggnation (Rebooted) E21 – Sora 2 Breaks Reality, Neurotech Zaps Your Brain, Instagram Still Confused

Podcast: Diggnation (Rebooted)
Hosts: Kevin Rose & Alex Albrecht
Date: October 8, 2025
Episode: 21

Episode Overview

In this episode, Kevin Rose and Alex Albrecht continue their triumphant return to Diggnation after 15 years, diving into the freshest and quirkiest stories from the internet. They riff on everything from the mind-bending new release of OpenAI’s Sora 2, advances in neurotechnology, the ongoing identity crisis of Instagram, and their undying love for retro geek culture. True to Diggnation’s spirit, the conversation meanders with tangents, nostalgic tales, awkward confessions, tech skepticism, and genuinely hilarious banter.

Key Discussion Points

1. Ketones, Old Swag, and Geek Rituals

Timestamps: 00:00–13:45

• The episode opens with the hosts joking about STDs ("STDs or not, one of us has them, not sure who." – Alex, 00:00).
• Kevin introduces his night’s drink (Delta G ketone esters), calling it “the best ketones out there,” despite the terrible taste (01:28).
  • Memorable moment: Alex trying Delta G live: “This tastes like Builder Bear. Oh, God.” (02:42)
• Brief listener shout-out: Happy birthday to Matthew from Shauna R. (06:35)
• Nostalgia for “old Digg” swag, like the classic Digg x Nike Air Force Ones (05:00), and talk about a possible Diggnation shoe.
• Reflections on favorite iPhone models and Apple’s new iOS design, which both hosts agree feels dated:
  • “It does look a little bit like that stuff… when you used to jailbreak the phones.” (Alex, 10:01)
  • “It’s like a bad winamp skin or something.” (Alex, 10:09)
• Preparing to attend the Tron: Eras world premiere, getting playfully hung up on “grid chic” dress codes (10:44).

2. Drinks, Rituals, and the Power of Probiotics

Timestamps: 13:45–14:15

• Alex details his new pre-Diggnation ritual: Zbiotics, a scientifically-engineered pre-alcohol probiotic.
  • “I will tell you, it makes me feel great in the morning. Whip smart.” (Alex, 13:45)

3. Sora 2 Breaks Reality: AI Video Models & Digital Doppelgängers

Timestamps: 14:15–23:35

• Excitement over Sora 2, OpenAI’s next-gen video creation platform.
  • Kevin describes uploading his face and how Sora guessed he was bald because he wore a hat:
    • “It made you bald! I love this thing so much.” (Alex, 16:07)
  • The potential for viral shenanigans: “Let’s have a little competition to see what people can do with me.” (Kevin, 15:04)
  • Discussion about deep fakes, digital identities, and deep generational gaps in understanding what’s real/fake.
  • Alex: “My parents aren’t going to realize that.” (18:28)
  • Kevin: “There’s a whole generation that just won’t know that this is fake.” (18:48)
• Philosophical rabbit-hole:
  • “We are making little mini realities… that Kevin never existed, but, like, sure as hell looks real.” (Kevin, 22:11)
  • Concerns about virtual worlds, neural tech, and the blurring line of reality:
    • “Once that moment happens, shit’s gonna get fucking crazy.” (Alex, 23:00)

4. Neurotech & Behavior Modification

Timestamps: 23:35–25:54

• Exploration of emerging brain stimulation technology.
  • Kevin muses on neural tech used to motivate gym attendance or curb addictions:
    • “If I could get zapped in the brain and it would make me be motivated to go to the gym... Wouldn't anybody do that?” (Alex, 24:36)
  • They imagine the pros, cons, and funny side effects of such interventions.

5. Shrinking AI Models: Hardware, Home Assistants, and the End of Cloud Reliance

Timestamps: 25:54–33:24

• Huawei’s advance: Reducing large language models (LLMs) to run on consumer-grade hardware.
  • “They've been able to shrink the memory usage of some of the large... up to 60-70%.” (Alex, 26:58)
  • Impact on DIY home assistants, privacy, and the dream of a home not reliant on Amazon/Google/Apple servers.
• Tangent on voice assistants and privacy paranoia:
  • “I don't need to be giving all that information to Amazon.” (Alex, 32:15)
  • Argument about how much Amazon listens and privacy trade-offs.

6. Local vs. Cloud AI: The Bifurcating Future

Timestamps: 33:24–34:11

• Prediction: Split future of AI models – simple, private, local models vs. powerful cloud models, especially for health and real-time data.
  • “There's going to be the... personal home siloed... And then the go online quantum computing, high end.” (Alex, 33:25)
• Nostalgia for the early days when AI models had “internet cut-off dates” (33:59).

7. AI Coding Assistants: Claude Sonnet 4.5 vs. The World

Timestamps: 36:46–43:08

• Claude Sonnet 4.5 claims to be the “best coding model in the world.” Kevin ran experiments cross-comparing it against GPT-5 Codex and Gemini models.
  • “It's really hard to tell because they're all getting really good… but Claude Sonnet fixed it first try.” (Alex, 38:31)
• Reflection on the fast-approaching obsolescence of traditional coding education:
  • “In three, four years, we won't need engineers.” (Alex, 41:16)
  • “It’s democratizing ideas… Now it's the idea that's going to be the thing… not just the ability to hard code.” (Alex, 42:14)

8. Boomer, Smarter, and the Missing Social Pulse: App Pitches!

Timestamps: 43:08–45:44

• Kevin pitches two app ideas:
  1. Boomer: TL;DR for internet memes and trends, “just to keep older folks in the loop.”
  2. Deep Voice AI Assistant: Uses best-in-class models for real-time, voice-powered Q&A, with high-level, accurate responses.

9. Retro Geek Conventions: Bring Back the LAN Party

Timestamps: 45:44–52:03

• Listener Sumiya’s story about small local cons (like Nirvana in NC) and nostalgia for grassroots, folding-table style events.
  • Alex: “I miss those days… putting a TV, an old heavy ass TV, in the back of your car with your Xbox and your router…” (49:04)
• Idea to host a “Retro Nerd Weekend” in a low-rent Hilton/Hampton Inn:
  • “You bring out your old Game Boy… talk about the different retro games you're playing… you can’t bring anything new in the building.” (Kevin, 48:45)
  • Serious discussion about running a 48-hour, phone-free, old gear LAN party for Diggnation fans.

10. Breakthrough HIV Prevention Drug Announced

Timestamps: 54:12–62:13

• New HIV prevention drug, Lenacapavir, to be rolled out globally at $40/year by 2027 (down from $28,000/year currently).
  • “Twice yearly injection, 99.9% reduction in transmission.” (Kevin, 55:20)
  • Societal implications, especially for first responders and at-risk populations.

11. Modern Dating, STDs & Stigma

Timestamps: 62:13–61:01

• Conversation on how STD stigma persists, especially wit herpes.
  • “More than 50% of the population has herpes.” (Mal, the producer, 57:48)
  • A rare genuine pause as both hosts reflect on their own personal sexual health, societal stigma, and the weirdness of Google/AI now “knowing” your curiosities.

12. Instagram’s Identity Crisis and the Need for Simple Photo Sharing

Timestamps: 62:13–66:41

• The Verge article: “Instagram wants me to make content and I just want to post a photo.”
  • “To me, I'm always like, ‘What the fuck?’ ... I just want to see pictures. I want to see a picture of my buddy at a concert.” (Alex, 62:28)
  • Kevin proposes a purely photo-only social app called "MeHuman," with device-level attestation and no “content” pressure.
  • Reminiscing about how Instagram once only allowed photos taken in-app.

13. Luxury Jets with No Windows – Screens Instead

Timestamps: 66:41–70:01

• Startup launches the "Phantom 3500" jet, replacing cabin windows with panoramic, ultra-HD screens for better aerodynamics and design.
  • “Some of the traditional cabin design with the windows... are not the most efficient aerodynamically.” (Kevin, 67:41)
  • Debate: Would not having real windows feel claustrophobic? Is the screen experience convincing?

14. Show Wrap Up & Listener Engagement

Timestamps: 70:01–71:59

• Listener email from Charles recommending the “ChudBox” for wood-fired grilling (an ongoing Diggnation callback).
  • “He builds his own boxes, all made of rolled steel in Texas and it's really great.” (Alex, 71:00)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On AI deep fakes:
  “We are making little mini realities… that Kevin never existed, but, like, sure as hell looks real.” (Kevin, 22:11)
• On Instagram’s convoluted features:
  “They want it to be content, not a picture.” (Alex, 63:09)
• On shrinking LLMs:
  “They've been able to shrink the memory usage... up to 60-70%.” (Alex, 26:58)
• On the new anti-HIV drug:
  “Twice yearly injection, 99.9% reduction in transmission.” (Kevin, 55:20)
• On the future of coding:
  “In three, four years we won't need engineers.” (Alex, 41:16)
• On the nostalgia of LAN parties:
  “I miss those days… putting a TV, an old heavy ass TV, in the back of your car with your Xbox and your router…” (Alex, 49:04)
• On the persistent stigma of herpes and STDs:
  “More than 50% of the population has herpes.” (Mal, 57:48)
• On Instagram nostalgia:
  “There's something about the initial core idea of Instagram that doesn't exist in Instagram anymore.” (Alex, 64:51)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Opening banter, ketones, swag talk: 00:00–07:00
• Listener shout-outs, trip recaps: 06:35–07:12
• Sora 2 madness and digital realities: 14:15–23:35
• Neurotech & brain zaps: 23:35–25:54
• Shrinking LLMs, home assistants privacy: 25:54–33:24
• AI models, coding, Claude Sonnet 4.5: 36:46–43:08
• Startup app ideas (Boomer, deep AI voice): 43:08–45:44
• Vintage nerd conventions/LAN party dreams: 45:44–52:03
• Breakthrough HIV drug: 54:12–62:13
• STDs, modern stigma: 62:13–61:01
• Instagram’s identity crisis, photo-only nostalgia: 62:13–66:41
• No-window jets & future of aircraft design: 66:41–70:01
• Listener grill recommendations & wrap-up: 70:01–71:59

Tone & Style

True to Diggnation’s roots: irreverent, meandering, geeky, and self-deprecating. The hosts remain skeptical but deeply enthusiastic about technological progress, peppering their insights with candid personal stories, deep nostalgia, sarcasm, and sly references to their original fanbase.

For Listeners Who Missed the Episode

This episode is both a joyful tech catch-up and a loving send-up of how geek/tech culture has evolved — and not. If you’ve ever wanted a snapshot of today’s tech zeitgeist, laced with whoa-moments and a hefty dose of “old school” heart, episode 21 delivers it, Diggnation style.