Summary of Grumpy Old Geeks Episode 702: "TikTaco"

Release Date: June 20, 2025
Hosts: Jason DeFilippo, Brian Schulmeister
Guest: Dave Bittner
Description:
Grumpy Old Geeks dissect the tech news train wrecks of the week, calling out what went wrong and who’s to blame. Think of this podcast as if Kurt Cobain threw down with Tom from MySpace, Elon Musk, and Mark Zuckerberg in a back alley brawl. No mercy, no filter—if tech had a walk of shame, this would be it.

Introduction

In this engaging episode titled "TikTaco," hosts Jason DeFilippo and Brian Schulmeister, joined by Dave Bittner, delve into a myriad of tech-related controversies and mishaps. Their candid and often humorous take provides listeners with insightful critiques of recent developments in the tech world.

TikTok Ban Delays

Timestamp: [00:49] – [02:10]

The episode opens with a discussion about the turbulent saga surrounding the potential ban of TikTok in the United States. Brian expresses disbelief over the repeated delays:

Brian Schulmeister ([00:49]): "President Donald Trump will once again give TikTok a temporary reprieve as it faces another deadline to sell itself or face a ban in the United States."

Jason humorously renames the situation "Tick Taco," emphasizing the convoluted nature of the ban attempts:

Jason DeFilippo ([01:32]): "Tick tock, Taco."

The hosts critique the administration's indecisiveness, suggesting skepticism about the ban ever materializing given the repeated postponements.

Tesla's Self-Driving Struggles

Timestamp: [02:50] – [07:08]

Shifting focus, the hosts delve into Tesla's ongoing issues with their Full Self-Driving (FSD) technology. They reference a recent test conducted by the Dawn Project, Tesla Takedown, and Resist Austin, which highlighted significant flaws:

Brian Schulmeister ([06:50]): "They run over eight kids... Tesla's full self driving software repeating the same mistake eight times."

Jason mocks the repeated failures, comparing Elon Musk's deadline-pushing tactics to procrastination:

Jason DeFilippo ([01:59]): "It's all that time with Elon. He's just pushing deadlines now."

The discussion highlights the skepticism surrounding Tesla's ambitious self-driving rollout, with concerns about safety and reliability undermining consumer trust.

23andMe's Acquisition Reversal

Timestamp: [09:07] – [11:14]

The conversation transitions to the biotech sector, specifically the turmoil surrounding 23andMe. After Regeneron acquired 23andMe for $256 million in a bankruptcy auction, founder Ann Wojcicki has regained control through an unsolicited offer of $305 million:

Brian Schulmeister ([09:35]): "The tatam Research Institute was able to reopen bidding with an unsolicited offer of 305 million."

Jason speculates on Wojcicki's motives, suggesting a possible move to protect customer data privacy or secure financial interests without public audits:

Jason DeFilippo ([10:15]): "I think Ann bought 23andMe back just so nobody could look at the books."

The hosts express mixed feelings about the acquisition reversal, pondering its implications for data privacy and corporate governance.

AI Developments and Microsoft Tensions

Timestamp: [12:03] – [26:19]

A substantial portion of the episode is dedicated to the escalating tensions between OpenAI and Microsoft. The discussion covers several key points:

• Partnership Dynamics: Brian explains that Microsoft has substantial influence over OpenAI's technology due to their significant financial backing.

• Legal Threats: OpenAI is reportedly threatening a lawsuit against Microsoft over antitrust violations, aiming to gain more control over AI technologies.

  Jason DeFilippo ([13:45]): "OpenAI is threatening a lawsuit against their BFF over antitrust violations just to kind of strong arm them."

• Financial Implications: There's speculation that if Microsoft withdraws support, OpenAI could face financial instability, potentially leading to a takeover where Microsoft might absorb OpenAI's assets and talent pool.

• Satya Nadella's Approach: The hosts criticize Microsoft's CEO for overemphasizing AI without delivering substantial economic benefits, questioning the sustainability and strategic vision of integrating AI deeply into Microsoft's operations.

  Jason DeFilippo ([14:25]): "He really, like, turned that place around. And I don't know... He's like, you know, he says it's the Frank's red hot of his life."

• Environmental Concerns: The high energy consumption of AI models like ChatGPT is highlighted, with independent studies indicating massive electricity usage:

  Brian Schulmeister ([25:28]): "Independent studies are showing the Chat GPT burns through nearly 40 million kilowatt hours a day."

The hosts emphasize the urgent need to address the environmental and economic impacts of large-scale AI deployments.

Impact of AI on Education

Timestamp: [22:11] – [25:28]

Jason introduces a study titled "Your brain on ChatGPT," which investigates the cognitive effects of relying on AI for essay writing:

Jason DeFilippo ([23:18]): "Our findings highlight potential cognitive costs... Raises concerns about the long term educational implications of LLM reliance."

The study suggests that extensive use of AI tools may lead to underperformance in neural, linguistic, and behavioral areas, prompting the hosts to advocate for restricting AI usage in educational settings to preserve critical thinking and learning skills.

XAI Data Center Controversy

Timestamp: [25:28] – [27:17]

The discussion moves to Elon Musk's XAI project, specifically the controversial Colossus data center being constructed in Memphis. The project has faced backlash for environmental reasons:

Jason DeFilippo ([26:50]): "They are being sued right now by the NAACP and the Southern Environmental Law Center."

Brian and Jason condemn the use of gas-powered generators and the overall environmental negligence, calling for legal action to halt the project:

Brian Schulmeister ([27:18]): "They need to be sued out of existence."

The hosts emphasize the importance of holding tech enterprises accountable for their environmental footprint.

AI's Limits in Reasoning

Timestamp: [27:17] – [28:30]

Apple releases a study challenging the efficacy of reasoning AIs, indicating that current AI models fall short in enhancing logical and critical thinking:

Jason DeFilippo ([28:08]): "It's not designed in any way, shape or form to do the things that you say it's ever going to do."

The hosts agree with the study, arguing that AI lacks the nuanced reasoning required for meaningful cognitive assistance, and caution against over-reliance on AI tools in professional and educational domains.

French TikTok Crypto Influencer Freed

Timestamp: [28:30] – [29:10]

A brief news segment covers the release of a French TikTok crypto influencer who was kidnapped for a €50,000 ransom. The influencer was freed after failing to provide sufficient crypto funds:

Jason DeFilippo ([28:53]): "A 26-year-old trader who has around 40,000 followers was abducted near Paris last Friday... they just let him go."

Brian and Jason comment on the bizarre intersection of crypto culture and criminal activities, highlighting the vulnerabilities associated with digital currencies.

Surge in Bay Area Bankruptcies

Timestamp: [29:10] – [30:02]

The hosts discuss the significant increase in bankruptcy filings in the Bay Area, attributing the surge to several factors:

• Economic Recovery: A sluggish post-COVID recovery.
• Tech Job Security: The collapse of job security in the tech sector.
• Living Costs: Sky-high living expenses exacerbating financial instability.

Jason shares his personal experience of leaving the Bay Area due to these challenges:

Jason DeFilippo ([29:53]): "That's why I left the Bay Area... It's about 10 times better than the Bay Area."

The conversation underscores the broader economic ramifications of the tech industry's volatile nature.

Study on Vulgarity Across Countries

Timestamp: [30:02] – [31:16]

The episode features a discussion on a study analyzing online language across 20 English-speaking regions, identifying the prevalence of swear words:

Brian Schulmeister ([31:16]): "Number one was a USA Brian. Mark. Number one. Yeah, we're number one."

The USA tops the list, followed by Great Britain, Australia, Singapore, New Zealand, Ireland, and Canada. The hosts express surprise at Singapore's ranking and critique media inaccuracies, such as misnaming countries.

Entertainment: Books and Movies

Timestamp: [31:16] – [54:40]

The conversation shifts to lighter topics, with the hosts sharing their thoughts on various books, movies, and TV shows:

• Books:

  • Everything Is Absolutely Fine by Darren Brown: Jason praises the philosophical insights and the audiobook narration.
  • AI Snake Oil by Saiyash Kapoor and Arvind Narayan: Brian expresses interest in the book's critique of AI prediction algorithms.

• Movies and TV Shows:

  • Brave and Inside Out (Disney/Pixar films): Both hosts share their thoughts on animation quality and storytelling.
  • Families Like Ours (Danish limited series): Brian enjoys the show's exploration of family dynamics amidst societal crises.
  • Stick and Murderbot: Mixed reviews on originality and character development.
  • FUBAR Season 2: Jason discusses his mixed feelings about the characters.
  • Naked Gun Reboot and Sandman Season 2: Excitement over upcoming releases.
  • Rear Window (Classic Hitchcock): Appreciation for timeless cinematic techniques.

Notable engagements include personal anecdotes about Book recommendations and movie-viewing experiences, adding a relatable and entertaining dimension to the episode.

Musical Resistance Against AI

Timestamp: [45:37] – [46:18]

Musicians are combating AI-driven theft with tools like Harmony Cloak and Poisonify, which embed inaudible noise into music, rendering it unusable for AI training without affecting human listeners:

Brian Schulmeister ([45:19]): "These technologies can potentially damage entire AI models that try to use protected music."

Jason suggests that major streaming platforms like Spotify and Apple Music should adopt these tools to protect artists, though he doubts their willingness to do so:

Jason DeFilippo ([45:14]): "Spotify and Apple Music... you haven't studied your history of the Internet very much, have you there?"

CarPlay and iOS 26 Updates

Timestamp: [46:18] – [48:54]

The hosts review new features introduced in iOS 26's CarPlay update:

• Smart Display Zoom: Shrinks screen elements to fit more app icons.
• Compact Incoming Calls: Ensures call notifications don't obstruct navigation directions.
• Emoji Responses and Pinned Conversations: Allows quick messaging functionalities while driving.

Jason shares his personal setup with a Jeep and praises the update's practicality, though he humorously critiques the new functionalities:

Jason DeFilippo ([47:19]): "I like my Jeep and I have... it's exactly as big as I need it to be."

Conclusion

Throughout "TikTaco," Grumpy Old Geeks provide a comprehensive and candid analysis of recent tech developments, blending critical insights with humor and personal anecdotes. From regulatory dilemmas and AI's societal impacts to entertainment and personal tech experiences, the hosts maintain their signature grumpy yet insightful tone, delivering a podcast episode that's both informative and entertaining.

Notable Quotes:

• Brian Schulmeister ([00:49]): "President Donald Trump will once again give TikTok a temporary reprieve as it faces another deadline to sell itself or face a ban in the United States."
• Jason DeFilippo ([01:32]): "Tick tock, Taco."
• Brian Schulmeister ([06:50]): "They run over eight kids... Tesla's full self driving software repeating the same mistake eight times."
• Brian Schulmeister ([31:16]): "Number one was a USA Brian. Mark. Number one. Yeah, we're number one."
• Jason DeFilippo ([28:08]): "It's not designed in any way, shape or form to do the things that you say it's ever going to do."

This comprehensive summary encapsulates the key discussions and insights from Episode 702 of Grumpy Old Geeks, providing a detailed overview for those who haven't listened to the full episode.