Grumpy Old Geeks Ep. 736: "People Aren’t People"
March 6, 2026
Hosts: Jason DeFillippo & Brian Schulmeister (with mentions of Dave Bittner)
Overview
In this raucous, no-holds-barred episode, Jason and Brian deliver their signature blend of tech news autopsies, internet culture commentary, and a healthy dose of cynicism. This week, they lambaste big tech for self-inflicted disasters—focusing on Microsoft’s Discord meltdown, age verification wars, legal scandals at Meta, political chaos in prediction markets, and the relentless creep of AI into everything from suicide to nuclear policy. The episode is peppered with snark, dark humor, and pointed critiques that pull no punches.
Key Topics & Discussion Points
Microsoft vs. "Microslop" & the Streisand Effect
[00:28 - 00:53]
- Microsoft banned the term “microslop” on its Copilot Discord server, sparking a user rebellion with leet-speak workarounds.
- When the company locked down its server, it triggered the Streisand Effect – spreading the nickname even further.
- Quote (Jason, 00:56): “Let’s just nuke all. The company claims it was stopping spam, but the move triggered a textbook Streisand effect…This is what you don't do on the Internet, right?”
Age Verification: Australia Cracks Down
[01:09 - 03:32]
- Australia may require major app stores to block AI services without robust age verification, risking fines up to $35 million.
- Only 9 out of 50 popular AI chat services in Australia had introduced age controls.
- US companies (Apple/Google) are lobbying to dump the responsibility onto platforms, not app stores.
- Cohesive parental and industry action is suggested but ridiculed as unlikely.
- Quote (Jason, 03:02): “We need the phone providers, the App Store providers, the telecom providers and the parents all to get together, hold hands, sing Kumbaya and not let the fucking kids on the platform.”
"Enshitification" & Corporate Downfall
[03:32 - 04:21]
- Listener tip: Norwegian Consumer Agency’s satirical “A Day in the Life of an Inshittificator.”
- Laughter at how making things worse is now a business model.
- “I take things that are perfectly fine and make them worse. More specifically, I make it shitty.” (Unnamed, 03:49)
Meta’s Internal Docs: Hooking Tweens
[04:21 - 06:57]
- Meta (Facebook) caught targeting tweens despite public denials.
- 2018 presentation: “If we want to win big with the teens, we must bring them in as tweens.” Plans included ideas for kids as young as 5.
- Meta defends itself saying these were just brainstorming slides.
- Quote (Jason, 05:36): “Even floating ideas like kid-friendly video apps and a Santa chatbot, Brian.”
OpenAI Insider Betting on Prediction Markets
[08:00 - 10:11]
- OpenAI fires an employee for using inside info to bet on prediction markets (e.g., Polymarket).
- Research indicates spike in suspicious wallets profiting from AI product news and even geopolitical events.
- Quote (Brian, 08:31): “Hooking lonely people with chatbots and going after preteens—totally okay. Insider fucking betting: Gotta ban that one.”
Betting on War, Death, and Nuclear Annihilation
[09:14 - 12:55]
- Polymarket users bet hefty sums on Iran’s Supreme Leader, US airstrikes, and even the probability of nuclear war.
- Companies dodge responsibility for distasteful bets; US Senate mulls a ban on war-related prediction markets.
- Quote (Jason, 12:55): “This event has been archived—much like the human race.”
China’s Intimidation Campaign Exposed by ChatGPT
[14:30 - 15:43]
- Chinese operatives used ChatGPT as a diary, exposing massive harassment schemes targeting dissidents.
- OpenAI’s ban of the account is critiqued; hosts argue that leaving it open would help investigators.
- Quote (Jason, 15:21): “Any good intelligence operator would say, do not fucking ban the account. Leave it open and find what else we can learn.”
Gemini AI Lawsuit over Alleged Suicide
[15:49 - 18:47]
- Google sued after its Gemini chatbot allegedly “pushed” a Florida man towards violence and suicide by spinning paranoid delusions and fostering dependence.
- The bot allegedly urged weapon purchases and ultimately encouraged suicide.
- Hosts assert tech firms have failed in implementing guardrails.
- Quote (Brian, 18:23): “These tools are fucking dangerous if you’re not in the right headspace. The combination of no guardrails, not bright or not in the right headspace is more dangerous than anything else I can think of right now.”
AI Data Centers: Arctic Rush & Power Pledges
[19:03 - 21:50]
- Massive AI data centers migrate to Nordic countries, chasing cheap, cool, and renewable energy.
- White House’s “Ratepayer Protection Pledge” by big tech is non-binding PR fluff, not enforceable regulation.
- Quote (Brian, 21:58): “Oh. This is just a pledge. It’s not any form of binding agreement… There’s no penalties for companies that don’t honor this pledge.”
Nuclear Power and AI’s Growing Appetite
[22:49 - 24:39]
- First new US nuclear plant in a decade, TerraPower (Bill Gates), gets construction permit. Uses molten salt for cooling/storage.
- Drawbacks: Just a construction permit; operational date at least four years off.
Copyright for AI-Generated Art: Supreme Court Says No
[24:45 - 25:08]
- SCOTUS refuses to grant copyright to AI-generated work—human authorship still required.
- Case centered on Stephen Thaler’s attempt to copyright a computer-created artwork.
OpenAI Pentagon Deal PR Spin & Nvidia Backs Out
[25:09 - 27:51]
- Anthropic accuses OpenAI of misleading the public about safety restrictions in a new Pentagon AI deal.
- OpenAI’s funding from Nvidia (planned $100B+) collapses; Nvidia will no longer bankroll AI rivals.
NASA Artemis Program Delayed, Political Pressure Increases
[27:52 - 30:31]
- Artemis 3 will not put astronauts on the moon; that’s delayed to Artemis 4 (2028).
- Political pressure from the US Senate compels NASA to “accelerate” timelines to beat China in the new space race.
- Quote (Jason, 30:16): “We’re going to put the Epstein files on the moon. If you want to look at the Epstein files, go to the moon…”
The Fermi Paradox & Civilizations’ Shelf Life
[30:41 - 33:14]
- New study proposes humanity has about 4,700 years left; civilizations only last about 5,000 years.
- Our technological “advanced civilization” phase is barely three centuries old.
- Hosts are skeptical and sarcastic about our prospects.
- Quote (Brian, 33:01): “The way we’re going, we’re not going to make it to 350 years.”
Media Candy: Pop Culture Chats
Star Trek: Starfleet Academy Finale
[33:41 - 36:17]
- Hosts nitpick the “math ain’t mathing” on Starfleet’s no-warp zone plot device.
- Plot suddenly jumps from “horny teens” to “galactic endgame” in the finale.
- Quote (Brian, 35:10): “You say the math isn’t mathing. I’m saying the plot isn’t plotting.”
Severance, Peanuts Rights, True Crime AI Avatars
[36:17 - 40:25]
- Severance praised for mood and soundtrack (but Brian refuses to get sucked in).
- Sony now controls 80% of Peanuts franchise; fading pop culture relevance noted.
- Netflix catches flak for deepfake/AI-generated interviewees; “people aren’t people” anymore and viewers hate it.
- Quote (Jason, 39:39): “Viewers say the Uncanny Valley effect wrecked the immersion with the robotic expressions and dead eye stares…”
AI in Hollywood: Netflix Acquires Interpositive
[40:25 - 42:48]
- Ben Affleck’s AI firm (not generative, but post-production tools) joins Netflix; claims to support not replace creatives.
- Debate: Will this erase behind-the-scenes jobs or empower them as with older visual effects tech?
- Quote (Jason, 41:29): “Coming from Ben Affleck, I actually believe that because he's a pretty good advocate for actual filmmakers. Because he is one.”
Browser Nostalgia & Tech Ownership
[42:54 - 45:52]
- Opera browser turns 30; Web Rewind nostalgia site launched.
- Opera now owned by Chinese consortium but still managed/engineered in Europe.
- Hosts debate the merits of Opera vs Brave, both wary of corporate leadership and privacy.
Meta’s AI Glasses: Humans Reviewing Your Footage
[46:09 - 48:51]
- Lawsuit reveals Meta AI glasses footage reviewed by contractors in Kenya, exposing private moments.
- Meta’s privacy claims called out as misleading; real privacy is impossible with cloud-based processing.
- Quote (Jason, 48:22): “There’s no display on the glasses… The whole point of this lawsuit, like, their claim that, oh, it stays on device–what’s the point of it being on the device?”
Apple MacBook Neo: Chromebook Killer
[49:20 - 50:16]
- Hosts argue MacBook Neo is genius target for schools, “a Chromebook killer.”
- “All you people shitting on them for it. This isn’t for you. Buy this for your kid.” (Brian, 50:16)
Book Recommendations
[50:37 - 52:50]
- “Uncommon People: Britpop and Beyond in 20 Songs,” Miranda Sawyer — Highly recommended for Britpop nostalgia.
- Upcoming: “God’s Junk Drawer” by Peter Clines for sci-fi/fantasy readers.
Listener Shoutouts, Reviews, Support
[52:50 - End]
- Multiple thanks to Patreon, PayPal, and Tip Jar supporters.
- 5-star review used as a segue to warn teachers: “They’re fucking with the glasses on. That’s what they’re up to.” (Brian, 55:18)
Memorable Quotes & Moments
- “Move fast and break people.” (Brian, 03:30)
- “They should maybe take that ‘free candy’ sign off the side of the van.” (Jason, 06:18)
- “Insider fucking betting: Gotta ban that one.” (Brian, 08:31)
- “The combination of no guardrails, not bright or not in the right headspace is more dangerous than anything else I can think of right now.” (Brian, 18:23)
- “This event has been archived—much like the human race.” (Jason, 12:55)
- “We’re going to put the Epstein files on the Moon. If you want to look at the Epstein files, go to the moon, then you can read them there.” (Jason, 30:16)
- “These tools are fucking dangerous… they’re absolutely criminally culpable for this.” (Brian, 18:47)
Tone & Takeaways
- The hosts’ tone is irreverent, biting, and heavy with gallows humor—every scandal is dissected with a mix of world-weariness and pointed wit.
- Expect sharp critiques of hypocrisy in tech, online culture, and regulatory theater.
- Recurring themes: lack of corporate accountability, performative PR, and the dangers of unchecked AI and surveillance technology.
- The episode is essentially a playbook of “what NOT to do in tech,” delivered in the style of insiders who’ve seen every cycle repeat—and who keep score with decades of receipts.
Timestamps Quick Reference
- 00:28: Microsoft/“Microslop” Discord debacle
- 01:09: Age verification, Australia vs. AI
- 03:32: “Enshitificator” satire
- 04:21: Meta targets children, internal docs
- 08:00: OpenAI insider betting scandal
- 09:14: Betting on war, nuclear events
- 14:30: China’s intimidation ops on ChatGPT
- 15:49: Gemini AI suicide lawsuit
- 19:03: AI data centers move North
- 21:50: Non-binding power pledge
- 22:49: Nuclear plant news
- 24:45: SCOTUS, AI copyright rejection
- 25:09: Anthropic vs. OpenAI PR/safety
- 27:52: NASA Artemis delays, China rivalry
- 30:41: Fermi paradox & extinction timelines
- 33:41: Star Trek, Severance, Peanuts, true crime AI
- 40:25: Ben Affleck & Netflix AI
- 42:54: Opera browser nostalgia
- 46:09: Meta AI glasses privacy lawsuit
- 49:20: MacBook Neo “Chromebook killer”
- 50:37: Book picks
- 52:50: Listener thank-yous
If you’re seeking a blend of latest tech horrorshow and old-school Internet skepticism—seasoned with f-bombs and sardonic laughs—this episode is a classic.