Grumpy Old Geeks - Episode 699: TACO 2025
Release Date: May 30, 2025
Hosts: Jason DeFilippo, Brian Schulmeister, with Dave Bittner
1. Personal Updates and Week in Review
The episode kicks off with Jason and Brian sharing personal challenges from the past week. Jason discusses losing a major client due to relocating his office and highlights his frustration with Spectrum's non-prorated billing policy upon cancellation. Additionally, he touches on personal hardships, including health issues affecting friends and family.
Notable Quote:
- Jason DeFilippo [00:38]: “Lost my biggest client moving out of my old office, which means they want all the monies.”
2. The Overuse and Misinformation of AI
A significant portion of the discussion revolves around the pervasive integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in everyday technology and the resultant misinformation. Both hosts express their frustration with AI's ubiquity, noting that even simple searches now yield AI-generated, often inaccurate responses.
Notable Quotes:
- Brian Schulmeister [02:11]: “We’ve killed the entire Internet. We might as well not have it at this point, because the Internet is as reliable as my drunk uncle was when I was 12.”
- Jason DeFilippo [02:56]: “Is it AI taking over the world? No, it ain't.”
3. Political Commentary: Trump and Social Media
The hosts delve into the ongoing "Taco Tuesday" meme targeting former President Donald Trump, discussing its impact and potential repercussions. They express concerns about Trump’s mental state and speculate on possible internal manipulations within his operations.
Notable Quotes:
- Brian Schulmeister [03:28]: “They’re definitely entering their around and find out phase.”
- Jason DeFilippo [04:22]: “There’s somebody over. I mean, it could be the…”
4. Social Media Policies and Legislative Actions
Brian introduces a new segment titled "Completely Fucking Intended Consequences," analyzing Meta’s (Facebook) recent policy changes. They criticize Meta for reducing content moderation, which has led to an increase in violent content and harassment on the platform.
Notable Quotes:
- Brian Schulmeister [05:17]: “Facebook saw an uptick in violent content, bullying, and harassment…”
- Jason DeFilippo [06:14]: “If you never take down any content, you’re not gonna make any mistakes.”
The discussion extends to legislative measures in Texas aiming to ban social media for individuals under 18, mirroring Florida’s previous restrictions. The hosts debate the effectiveness and potential privacy concerns of these age verification laws.
Notable Quotes:
- Brian Schulmeister [11:17]: “A Texas bill that would ban social media use for anyone under 18 recently moved past the Senate committee.”
- Jason DeFilippo [13:08]: “Maybe when you cast your first vote, you can actually make your first tweet…”
5. Cryptocurrency and Legal Troubles
Jason recounts a harrowing crypto-related crime in New York City, where two men kidnapped and tortured an Italian man to extract his Bitcoin password. He connects this incident to broader issues within the cryptocurrency world, including Trump Media’s controversial investment in Bitcoin.
Notable Quotes:
- Jason DeFilippo [07:29]: “They used a luxury SoHo townhouse to force him to reveal his bitcoin password.”
- Brian Schulmeister [10:22]: “[Trump Media] is just diving all in on it.”
6. European Regulations and Online Content Control
The hosts shift focus to Europe, discussing Germany's proposal to impose a new 10% tax on major online platforms like Google and Facebook. This move is part of a broader trend where several countries are enacting taxes on digital service revenues to hold tech giants accountable.
Notable Quotes:
- Brian Schulmeister [16:42]: “Germany could impose a new 10% tax on major online platforms such as Google and Facebook.”
- Jason DeFilippo [17:47]: “Trump will chicken back out.”
They also touch upon the European Commission’s crackdown on porn sites like Pornhub for failing to implement adequate age-verification measures, despite these platforms only requiring users to confirm their age via a simple button click.
Notable Quotes:
- Brian Schulmeister [17:46]: “The EC suspects the porn sites have breached the Digital Services Act.”
- Jason DeFilippo [18:28]: “We cannot help if they’re liars.”
7. AI Developments and Corporate Moves
Jason and Brian discuss recent developments in AI, including Anthropic’s introduction of web search for free Claude users and the addition of Reed Hastings, co-founder of Netflix, to Anthropic’s board. They criticize the reliance on AI for accurate information, highlighting repeated failures in delivering reliable content.
Notable Quotes:
- Jason DeFilippo [19:27]: “Anthropic brings web search to free Claude users.”
- Brian Schulmeister [20:27]: “If you can't beat them, destroy them.”
The conversation also covers X's AI Bot Grok, particularly its contentious interactions with Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, and Telegram’s $300 million partnership with XAI to integrate Grok into its platform.
Notable Quotes:
- Brian Schulmeister [23:34]: “Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene picked a fight with Grok this week.”
- Brian Schulmeister [25:03]: “Telegram will earn 50% of the revenue from XAI subscriptions…”
8. Entertainment Reviews and Recommendations
The hosts share their thoughts on recent entertainment releases. Brian praises "Lilo and Stitch" for its family appeal, while expressing disappointment over the cancellation of popular series like "Wheel of Time" by Prime Video. They also touch upon Martha Stewart’s documentary, "Martha," critiquing its portrayal of her persona.
Notable Quotes:
- Brian Schulmeister [29:04]: “Lilo and Stitch opened last weekend and made the most money out of any movies.”
- Brian Schulmeister [32:26]: “Wheel of Time has been canceled by Prime Video after three seasons.”
9. Business Misreporting and Show Promotions
Jason and Brian address a humorous mishap where Rocket Reach inaccurately reports Grumpy Old Geeks' annual revenue as $3 million and misattributes employee details. They use this to highlight their own business struggles despite producing a popular show.
Notable Quotes:
- Brian Schulmeister [38:11]: “GOG show info on Rocket Reach inaccurately lists our revenue.”
- Jason DeFilippo [40:53]: “We suck at business. We make less than minimum wage.”
They briefly promote their other show, "Schmacters," and lament the lack of new Patreon subscribers, urging listeners to support their endeavors.
10. Graduation Stories and Personal Reflections
Towards the end, the hosts share personal anecdotes about their high school and college graduations. Dave Bittner recounts his son's high school graduation, highlighting a disappointing Kermit the Frog performance by the principal. Jason reminisces about his own tumultuous graduation experience, involving being barred from walking the stage due to a failing grade.
Notable Quotes:
- Dave Bittner [62:41]: “My youngest son, Jack, graduated from high school yesterday.”
- Jason DeFilippo [65:42]: “I was in the principal's office with my dad after I had to take summer school.”
11. Technical Glitches and Outlandish Content
The episode concludes with a humorous segment where the hosts engage with Dave Bittner’s role in another podcast, interspersed with playful banter about Star Wars fursonas and fictional AI features.
Notable Quotes:
- Jason DeFilippo [73:12]: “The perfect fursona for me is a full-body Wampa costume.”
- Brian Schulmeister [75:29]: “Sing me a song, Mr. Piano Man.”
Conclusion
Episode 699 of Grumpy Old Geeks offers a blend of personal stories, in-depth tech and AI discussions, political commentary, and lighthearted banter. The hosts provide insightful critiques on current technological and social trends while maintaining their signature grumpy humor. Notable issues such as AI misinformation, social media policy changes, and legislative actions are examined with both skepticism and wit, making this episode a comprehensive and engaging listen for tech enthusiasts and casual listeners alike.
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