Grumpy Old Geeks – Episode 728: “No Face to Shoot”

Hosts: Jason DeFilippo, Brian Schulmeister, with Dave Bittner
Date: January 9, 2026

Episode Overview

In this episode, the Grumpy Old Geeks crew dive into the bleak landscape of 2026 tech and social news, calling out egregious failures, surveillance paranoia, AI mayhem, and corporate misdeeds with their signature acerbic wit. Topics range from police-state tactics in the U.S. to the wild frontiers of AI manipulation and unchecked social networks, all with plenty of pointed sarcasm and gallows humor. The team is later joined by Dave Bittner for their “Dark Side with Dave” segment focused on holiday reflections, retro tech support horror, and a bit of sci-fi and gaming nostalgia.

Tech Dystopia & Surveillance State

LA Fire Anniversary & Societal Trauma

• [00:11] The hosts reflect on the anniversary of the devastating LA fires, noting a lingering citywide PTSD and the haunting visuals still circling through memories and social media feeds.
• [00:59] “Yeah, LA is... it's generally not a city that looks back. And everybody was posting about it and talking about it.” (Brian)

U.S. Policing and Protest Safety

• [02:02] Brian laments an unchecked, increasingly violent police-state in America, specifically referencing ICE shooting civilians:

  “The American Gestapo... have shot three American citizens, one of them in the face. Who’s dead? What the fuck?” ([02:12] Brian)

• [03:03] Jason highlights a Wired article on “How to Protest Safely in the Age of Surveillance” (paywall removed).
• [03:29–04:53] Hosts discuss how surveillance technologies (phones, facial recognition, license plate readers, social media, etc.) make privacy impossible, especially for protestors.
• [04:53] Jason:

  “We are fucked, Brian. If anybody goes back and listens to our history, they're going to be knocking on the door this afternoon. That's it.”

• [05:24] Sarcastic Kristallnacht references drive home the sense of dystopian escalation.
• [06:05] Jason:

  “EFF has a lovely rundown on what hackers and activists are doing to thwart the fucking Nazis invading our streets... be really fucking careful because these goons might just shoot you in the fucking face.”

Tech & Corporate Screw-Ups

Meta AI Privacy Expansion

• [07:09] Brian explains that Meta has updated its privacy policy: all data from interactions with its AI (across Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Ray-Ban smart glasses, etc.) can now be used for targeted advertising.

  “You might be noticing that ads on Instagram and Facebook are getting more personal… That is, assuming you’re alive and haven’t been shot in the face.” ([07:09] Brian)

• [08:29] Jason:

  “Would you like to turn on Meta AI? All of your friends have turned on Meta AI. Would you like to be like your friends, too?”

Disney COPPA Violations

• [08:35] Disney fined $10 million for violating children’s privacy protections (COPPA) on YouTube.
• [10:15] Jason clarifies:

  “They got to find $10 million because some intern that was uploading the videos to YouTube didn’t figure out how to check the right box. That’s literally what this is about.”

AI: Ethics, Abuse, and the Grok Debacle

Grok and AI Image Manipulation Outrage

• [11:13] Brian experiments with Grok (Elon Musk’s AI), horrified by its capacities for image manipulation:

  “Holy man. This should be so illegal. I can’t even stress how illegal this should be... It's really, really good. Scary.” ([11:51] Brian)

• [12:14–14:33] Hosts discuss rampant AI-generated deepfakes, including those depicting minors and non-consensual imagery.

  “This is the AOL of fucking AI porn. Like you got a CD in the mail and you're fucking on. You're on the information super bikini highway, baby.” ([14:33] Brian)

• [15:27] Brian:

  “Now we just shoot civilians and we let this run amok. This is the world we've created now.”

(Forthcoming) Legislation

• [16:58] The “Take It Down Act” (criminalizing nonconsensual explicit content) doesn’t go into effect until May 19, 2026, so platforms like X (formerly Twitter) have no current legal obligation to act swiftly.
• [18:13] Jason on Ashley St. Clair (Elon’s baby mama):

  “She fucked Elon and she can't even get those pictures taken down. And then... X kicked her off of X and took away her premium account. That's exactly what we're dealing with nowadays.”

The Future of AI Content

• [18:55] Instagram boss Adam Mosseri forecasts that AI-generated media will overtake human-generated media by 2026 and suggests only 'real' camera images should be labeled as authentic.
• [20:08] Jason:

  “Their product is you. Their product is content. Their product is eyeballs. And now we don’t even need people to make content anymore.”

Autonomy, Crypto, and Corporate Greed

Autonomous Vehicles (AVs) - RoboTaxi Skepticism

• [25:55] Uber, Lucid, and Nuro are launching a new RoboTaxi fleet in San Francisco.
• [27:46] They scrutinize studies touting AV safety, which are authored by the very companies selling the technology.

  “This is a bit like Marlboro. Marlboro says that smoking is safe.” ([28:09] Brian)

• [28:46] Studies show AVs are actually far more prone to accidents at dawn/dusk and during turns.
• [30:46] “When the Waymo drove through the active crime scene here in LA, that somebody didn’t shoot it in the face. Give it time.” (Jason)
• [30:56] “No face to shoot.” (Brian) — Title Drop

Polymarket, Crypto Bets & Venezuela

• [24:20] The team details a crypto market debacle: insider trading, semantic “raids” vs. “invasions,” and how digital gamblers lost out due to arbitrary rulings by anonymous token holders.

  “Welcome to the future, Brian. Welcome to the fucking future. It's a day. It's a day.” ([25:46] Jason)

OpenAI and Health Data

• [21:25] OpenAI launches ChatGPT Health, encouraging users to connect private medical records for “tailored responses,” with predictable host ridicule about privacy safeguards.

  “For an extra $20 a month, you get a rectal exam too. Elon comes around and sticks a finger up your ass.” ([22:08] Jason)

• [22:48] Discussion of recent lawsuits regarding AI chatbots encouraging self-harm and suicide among teens.

Media & Entertainment Segment (“Media Candy”)

TV & Film Roundup

• [33:39] Stranger Things finale—a “collective meh,” not worth revisiting the series.
• [35:11] Jason’s John McTiernan marathon includes “The Hunt for Red October,” “Die Hard 3,” and “The 13th Warrior.”
• [36:36] “The Pit” returns on HBO Max—gross, intense, highly recommended.
• [37:02] Downton Abbey “Grand Finale”—not needed, “don't bother.”
• [37:53] Jurassic World Rebirth—boring despite Scarlett Johansson and dinosaurs.
• [38:50] Wes Anderson’s “Darjeeling Limited”—unwatchable; revisit “O Brother, Where Art Thou” for quality.
• [39:44] “Honey Don’t” (Margaret Qualley, Aubrey Plaza)—quirky, NSFW for planes, but fun.
• [40:52] John Candy documentary: Nice nostalgia, but lacks emotional punch due to time elapsed.
• [41:44] MTV shutting down global music channels; developer Flexosaurus Rex bids tribute with “MTV Rewind,” streaming multiple classic-format channels (grab it before takedown!).

Star Trek & More

• [43:16] “Star Trek Starfleet Academy” drops January 15 on Paramount Plus.

New Tech, Gadgets, Apps & Doodads

DJI Osmo Mobile 8

• [43:36] Jason receives the Osmo Mobile 8 smartphone gimbal for Christmas; he's a fan of major updates, especially face-detection and built-in tripod.

Netflix Games

• [45:19] Discovery of Netflix’s games platform, enjoyed at a New Year’s Eve party via Boggle, Pictionary, Lego Party, and more. Multiplayer features praised.

Victrola Turntable/Speaker Combo

• [46:49] Skepticism over Victrola's new speaker-under-turntable product, due to probable audio fidelity issues.

California “Drop the Delete Request” Platform

• [48:29] California launches a free tool to mass-request deletion from 500+ data brokers—hosts recommend pairing with services like DeleteMe for broader coverage.

“The Dark Side with Dave” – Guest: Dave Bittner

Sobriety, Holidays, and Humor

• [50:08] Jason marks three years sober:

  “You can make fun of cancer patients, too. If I had cancer, I wouldn’t be yelling at you. It doesn’t matter... you guys have the chuckles at my expense. That’s okay. I'm used to it.” ([51:22–51:45] Jason)

Disney Holidays & Reflection

• [54:11] Brian reviews Disneyland holiday experiences—Halloween season now outshines Christmas for decorations and engagement.

Retro Tech Support Horrors

• [56:15] HP printers and Windows 10 setup for a 97-year-old. Corporate dark patterns make things ridiculous.
• [57:52] Brian’s family tech support:

  “My nephew got a PS5 that I had to set up. And you know, nothing is just plugging it in and figuring out cables anymore…”

Flipper Zero Nostalgia

• [60:07] Dave’s son receives a Flipper Zero hacking device for Christmas; stories of cloning parking passes and disruptive fun in the office.

Healthcare Rant

• [62:20] Jason:

  “Are you getting gouged on your health insurance now? Mine only went up to 740 bucks a month… How you doing, Dave?”

• [63:37] Brian (in Canada):

  “Wouldn’t know anything about it anymore.”
  “We don’t have government thugs shooting people in the face.” ([64:42] Brian)

Star Wars Nerdiness & iOS Gaming

ILM Book & Lucasfilm Leadership Rumors

• [66:15] Dave receives the new ILM (“Industrial Light & Magic”) 50th anniversary book. Speculation abounds over Dave Filoni possibly taking over at Lucasfilm.

Who’s Who at X – Deepfake Satire

• [68:17] Financial Times uses Grok to deepfake X/Twitter execs into clown costumes (“Who’s Who at X, the deep fake porn site formerly known as Twitter”).

iOS Game Recommendations

• [69:32] Dave asks for game recs.
  • Jason: Tiny Wings (Apple Arcade), Super Monster Ate My Condo, Plants vs. Zombies, Cut the Rope, old Angry Birds.
  • Brian: Solitaire.
  • Dave: Interested in classics that provide time-filling, low-stress distraction.

Lighthearted Closer

• [73:10] Tribute to David Bowie’s birthday and the “David Bowie Died, Everything Went to Hell” theory.
• [74:01] Shout-outs to Patreon supporters and donors.
• [75:36] Jason:

  “We got ten more years to go before 2027. What are you talking about?”

• Stay grumpy!

Notable Quotes

• “[AI]... It's the AOL of fucking AI porn. Like you got a CD in the mail and you're fucking on. You're on the information super bikini highway, baby.” (Brian, [14:33])
• “No face to shoot.” (Brian, [30:56]; episode title)
• “You guys have the chuckles at my expense. That’s okay. I’m used to it.” (Jason, [51:45])
• “Welcome to the future, Brian. Welcome to the fucking future.” (Jason, [25:46])
• “Their product is you. Their product is content. Their product is eyeballs. And now we don’t even need people to make content anymore.” (Jason, [20:08])
• “We don’t have government thugs shooting people in the face.” (Brian, [64:42])

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [02:02] – U.S. policing and ICE violence
• [03:03] – Protest surveillance dangers & Wired article
• [07:09] – Meta AI privacy policy change
• [11:13] – Grok image manipulation experiment
• [14:33] – Grok deepfake exploitation (“AOL of AI porn” quote)
• [21:25] – OpenAI ChatGPT Health launch
• [27:46] – RoboTaxi, AV studies, and media skepticism (“No face to shoot”)
• [33:39] – Stranger Things finale review
• [43:36] – DJI Osmo Mobile 8 impressions
• [45:19] – Netflix Games group play
• [50:08] – Dave Bittner joins, sobriety reflection
• [56:15] – Retro tech support stories
• [62:20] – U.S. health insurance costs vs. Canada
• [66:15] – ILM book & Star Wars leadership
• [69:32] – iOS game recommendations
• [73:10] – David Bowie tribute

Tone & Takeaways

Bracingly snarky, deeply skeptical, and unapologetically profane, the episode combines righteous outrage at tech’s moral failings with gallows humor and nostalgic asides. The hosts’ chemistry keeps the ranting entertaining, offering catharsis for listeners navigating their own exasperation over today’s tech and social landscape.

Listenership Recommendation:
If you care about privacy, dystopian tech, and media trends—or just want acerbic humor about how much everything sucks—this is an essential, cathartic listen.