Grumpy Old Geeks - Episode 686: Not All Heroes Vibe Code
Release Date: February 28, 2025
Hosts: Jason DeFilippo & Brian Schulmeister with Dave Bittner
Introduction
In Episode 686 of Grumpy Old Geeks, hosts Jason DeFilippo and Brian Schulmeister dive into a whirlwind of tech news, dissecting recent events with their signature no-holds-barred humor and critical insight. From government data breaches to AI mishaps and cryptocurrency chaos, this episode covers a broad spectrum of topics, ensuring listeners are both informed and entertained.
Privacy Act Ruling and Government Data Sharing
The episode kicks off with a discussion about a federal judge's ruling against the U.S. Department of Education and the Office of Personnel Management. These agencies were found to have likely violated the Privacy Act by sharing personal data with the Department of Government Efficiency. This unauthorized disclosure has led to a temporary blockade, preventing further access to the compromised data.
Jason DeFilippo remarks at [01:13]:
"A federal judge has ruled that the U.S. department of Education and the Office of Personnel Management likely violated the Privacy Act by sharing personal data with the Department of Government Efficiency."
Brian Schulmeister adds at [02:22]:
"This is where the rubber hits the road. We're going to find out exactly what's going on."
The hosts express skepticism about the Department of Government Efficiency's compliance, suggesting that unauthorized data may already be compromised.
Elizabeth Holmes and Ramesh Sunny Balwani's Legal Setback
Next, the hosts cover the recent denials of appeals by Elizabeth Holmes and Ramesh Sunny Balwani to overturn their fraud convictions. The Northern District Court of California has refused to reduce their sentences or the substantial restitution they owe.
Jason DeFilippo states at [03:01]:
"Holmes, cast your mind back again to 17 years ago. She was the disgraced founder of Theranos and is serving over 11 years in a Texas prison."
The discussion highlights the court's dismissal of their claims of an unfair trial, leaving both individuals with little hope for early release.
Cryptocurrency Volatility: Bitcoin's Rollercoaster
The podcast shifts to the volatile world of cryptocurrency, focusing on Bitcoin's dramatic price swings. Between one night and the next morning, Bitcoin plummeted from approximately $84,000 to below $79,000 before rebounding to around $84,000.
Jason DeFilippo exclaims at [04:56]:
"Between last night and this morning, bitcoin went from about $84,000 to under $79,000."
Brian expresses concern over institutional investors considering adding Bitcoin to their portfolios, advising against it due to the unpredictable market.
Warner Brothers Discovery Cuts Gaming Division
Warner Brothers Discovery has announced significant layoffs in its gaming division, shutting down three studios—Monolith Productions, Player First Games, and WB Games San Diego—due to disappointing performance in 2024.
Jason DeFilippo comments at [06:18]:
"Warner Brothers Discovery has made sweeping cuts to its games division, closing three studios and adding development on its planned Wonder Woman project."
The hosts debate the future of major IPs like Harry Potter, Mortal Kombat, DC Universe, and Game of Thrones in the gaming landscape.
Google’s Employee Cuts and AI Spending
Google has initiated a voluntary exit program for its People Operations and Cloud organizations, citing a need for cost-cutting to expand its AI infrastructure. This follows mixed messages about whether these cuts are part of internal reorganizations or purely financial measures.
Jason DeFilippo explains at [08:36]:
"They plan to cut employees as part of internal reorganizations... Google will offer a voluntary exit program to US-based full-time employees in people operations."
The hosts critique Google's justification, suspecting that the company is redirecting funds toward AI at the expense of other operations.
AI-Generated Content and Safety Concerns
The conversation takes a critical turn towards AI-generated content, highlighting an incident where an AI-created video featuring Trump and Musk caused chaos by playing on government TVs.
Brian Schulmeister notes at [12:00]:
"There's your use for AI. And I bet they didn't use Gemini."
They discuss broader AI safety issues, including the potential for AI to generate harmful content and the inherent challenges in regulating AI outputs.
Resignation of 21 Government Employees
A significant number of government employees—21 in total—from the Department of Government Efficiency have resigned, citing their refusal to use technical expertise to dismantle critical public services. This mass resignation underscores growing resistance within government agencies to certain administrative directions.
Jason DeFilippo observes at [14:00]:
"These guys used to be part of the United States Digital Service... they finally had enough. So, you know, good for these 21 people."
Anthropic’s Massive Funding Round and AI Ethics
AI startup Anthropic is reportedly scaling up its next funding round to a staggering $3.5 billion. The company, known for its focus on AI safety and its Claude AI assistant, is attracting significant investor interest despite skepticism about the feasibility of achieving true superintelligence.
Jason DeFilippo remarks at [28:00]:
"Anthropic's emphasis on AI safety and transparency has been a key factor in its appeal to investors."
North Korea’s $1.4 Billion Ethereum Heist on Bybit
In a startling development, North Korea's Lazarus Group has conducted its largest cryptocurrency heist yet, stealing $1.4 billion worth of Ethereum from the exchange Bybit. Despite the massive loss, Bybit's CEO assures all withdrawals remain covered, a promise met with doubt by the hosts.
Jason DeFilippo comments at [30:27]:
"Despite the massive loss, Bybit CEO Ben Xiao insists all withdrawals are covered, though we've heard that promise before."
Billy McFarland's Fyre Festival 2 Debacle
Billy McFarland, infamous for the original Fyre Festival fiasco, is reportedly attempting to recreate his failed event with Fyre Festival 2. The hosts express skepticism about the event's feasibility, noting exorbitant ticket prices and the absence of confirmed artists.
Brian Schulmeister states at [31:30]:
"Tickets have just gone on sale ranging from $1,400 to an eye-watering $1.1 million. Yet no artists have been announced."
SEC Drops Investigation into Robinhood
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has decided not to move forward with enforcement actions against Robinhood concerning its cryptocurrency activities. Despite past fines and settlements, the SEC's latest stance suggests a more lenient approach under the new administration.
Brian Schulmeister points out at [36:34]:
"The SEC is dropping its investigation into Robinhood. The agency has informed the company they will not move forward with any enforcement actions."
The Rise of Vibe Coding and AI in Development
A significant portion of the episode addresses the concept of "Vibe Coding," a trend where AI tools generate code, potentially sidelining traditional coding practices. The hosts express concern over the quality and security of AI-generated code, fearing it could lead to widespread vulnerabilities.
Jason DeFilippo critiques at [53:47]:
"Silicon Valley's latest buzzword, vibe coding... People aren't going to know how to fix anything, because we know that AI-generated code is full of security holes."
Brian and Jason discuss how AI tools like Microsoft's Copilot are contributing to this trend, exposing private repositories and perpetuating insecure coding practices.
Microsoft Copilot Exposes Private GitHub Repositories
The discussion shifts to Microsoft's Copilot AI assistant, which has inadvertently exposed over 20,000 private GitHub repositories from major companies. Despite attempts to secure these repositories, Copilot's integration with Bing's cache has prevented the removal of sensitive information.
Jason DeFilippo laments at [59:09]:
"Copilot is adding them to the corpus of knowledge in its LLM, which is not going to get removed because AI doesn't have a delete key."
Skype's Final Farewell
Marking the end of an era, Microsoft has announced that Skype will cease operations on May 5th, urging users to transition to Microsoft Teams. The hosts reflect on Skype's long history and its decline amid the rise of other communication platforms.
Brian Schulmeister expresses at [61:23]:
"Microsoft is officially getting rid of Skype as of May 5th and encouraging its users to pick Teams once and for all."
Media and Entertainment Insights
The hosts share their thoughts on current TV shows, including Severance, Reacher, White Lotus, and the upcoming Dexter reboot. They critique the state of modern television, applauding some series while expressing disdain for others.
Jason DeFilippo enthuses at [39:40]:
"The trailer for Daredevil Born Again was fucking amazing. It's some of the best TV they've ever seen."
YouTube’s Podcast Growth and Platform Challenges
Discussing digital trends, the hosts note that YouTube has surpassed 1 billion monthly active podcast viewers. However, they express frustration that their podcast hasn't gained traction on the platform, emphasizing their preference for traditional podcasting channels.
Brian Schulmeister comments at [43:08]:
"As of January 2025, YouTube has surpassed 1 billion monthly active viewers of podcasts."
Closing Remarks
In their typical irreverent fashion, Jason and Brian wrap up the episode by acknowledging their listeners, promoting their Patreon, and sharing light-hearted banter about merchandise and pop culture references. They reflect on the enduring nature of tech mishaps and express their continued commitment to keeping the "grumpiness" alive.
Jason DeFilippo concludes at [64:02]:
"Good run and too soon. Until next time, I'm Jason DeFilippo."
Brian Schulmeister adds at [64:24]:
"Thanks for listening to Grumpy Old Geeks. Stay grumpy."
Notable Quotes
- "It's all happened before, it will all happen again." — Jason DeFilippo [11:10]
- "If you don't play with Google, they... it's pay to play." — Brian Schulmeister [21:56]
- "Vibe coding, fuck that shit." — Jason DeFilippo [53:47]
- "OpenAI is the only one that has any usage." — Brian Schulmeister [05:50]
Conclusion
Episode 686 of Grumpy Old Geeks offers a comprehensive and candid exploration of recent technological and corporate developments. Through sharp analysis and spirited dialogue, Jason and Brian provide listeners with a critical lens on the tech industry's latest upheavals, ensuring that even amidst chaos, there's always room for informed grumpiness.