This Week in Google (Audio) – Episode TWiG 786: "Now That's a Wikifoot - OpenAI o1, Flappy Bird, Instagram for Teens"

Release Date: September 19, 2024

Hosted by TWiT members Paris Martineau and Jeff Jarvis, with a guest appearance by Molly White, Episode 786 of This Week in Google delves into a diverse range of topics spanning Big Tech antitrust battles, social media regulations, the intersection of cryptocurrency and popular culture, and the latest advancements in artificial intelligence. Below is a detailed summary of the episode's key discussions, insights, and conclusions.

1. Google's Antitrust Victory in the EU

The episode kicks off with a significant development in the ongoing antitrust scrutiny of Google within the European Union.

Paris Martineau highlights that Google successfully overturned a €1.7 billion fine imposed by the EU for antitrust violations related to its advertising practices. This ruling comes despite Google's loss in other separate antitrust cases both in Europe and the U.S.

Paris Martineau [04:14]: "Google convinced the European Union court to overturn this huge fine that had been levied against it over Google's advertising practices. The victory comes after Google lost a separate antitrust case in Europe and the U.S."

Jeff Jarvis expresses confusion over the ruling, noting that Google's alleged anticompetitive activities reportedly ceased in 2016, suggesting that the fine feels more like a delayed reprimand.

Jeff Jarvis [05:36]: "Google stopped these activities in 2016. So I think it was all just a slap on the wrist afterwards."

The departure of key EU antitrust officials, Margrethe Vestager and Benoît Battistelli, is discussed as a potential signal of shifting regulatory landscapes.

Jeff Jarvis [06:03]: "The two champions of antitrust in Europe are leaving. Vestager and Battistelli."

This change raises questions about the future direction of EU tech regulation, leaving listeners to speculate on whether this signifies a relaxation or transformation of antitrust policies against Big Tech.

2. Instagram's "Teen Accounts" – A Response to Online Child Safety Concerns

Transitioning to social media, the hosts examine Instagram's recent rollout of 'Teen Accounts', designed to enhance the safety and privacy of users aged 13 to 17.

Paris Martineau explains that these accounts will default to private settings, restrict content visibility, and impose additional safeguards for younger teens to mitigate risks like harassment and exposure to inappropriate content.

Paris Martineau [12:09]: "Users that are 13 to 17 are going to automatically have their accounts put in this teen account bucket. That means their accounts won't be public facing, instead they'll be set to private."

Molly White critiques this move as part of a broader moral panic surrounding online child safety, highlighting concerns about enforceability and privacy.

Molly White [15:13]: "It really is about signaling a shift in how companies respond to legislative pressure, but it also raises questions about privacy and the effectiveness of such measures."

The discussion delves into the challenges of age verification, with Molly expressing apprehension over reliance on AI models for determining user age, which could lead to inaccuracies and privacy infringements.

Molly White [25:40]: "Age verification software has very concerning ramifications as far as online privacy and the ability to anonymously exist online."

Jeff Jarvis underscores the complexities of implementing these safeguards, pondering the potential for users to circumvent restrictions by misrepresenting their age.

Jeff Jarvis [26:29]: "I assume what's probably going to happen because kids are smart is they will figure out how to give off signals that they're 35."

The segment concludes by reflecting on the Broader Implications of such policies, including potential overlaps with other social issues like transgender rights and information access.

Molly White [23:56]: "There is this sort of third arm to it as well, where, you know, in a world where people are trying to control children and the types of content that children are able to be exposed to..."

3. Trump's Foray into Cryptocurrency and Associated Concerns

The conversation shifts to former President Donald Trump's entry into the cryptocurrency space with a new project named World Liberty Financial.

Molly White provides an overview of the project, noting its origins from a previously hacked crypto initiative and the questionable backgrounds of some of its team members.

Molly White [38:20]: "The Trump family... have decided to embrace a crypto project that is ostensibly a decentralized finance project. The details on it are somewhat scant... some of the people behind the project are sort of odd characters themselves."

The hosts express skepticism regarding the project's viability and transparency, especially given the recent scam website that led to significant financial losses for early investors.

Molly White [46:27]: "It's taken advantage of a recent craze with Telegram... There's nothing there yet except for a scam."

Paris Martineau raises concerns about the ethical implications and the lack of a tangible product, questioning how the Trump-led initiative aims to address genuine financial access issues.

Paris Martineau [44:19]: "It is misguided in terms of actually, if you've used the tools that claim to help software engineers or even claim to replace software engineers, they're not great."

4. Revival of Flappy Bird by Crypto Enthusiasts

The episode also covers the controversial revival of the popular mobile game Flappy Bird by cryptocurrency enthusiasts, leading to disputes over intellectual property.

Molly White explains that a crypto company managed to re-register the Flappy Bird trademark after the original creator declined any association, resulting in the release of a game that many believe is a clone rather than a legitimate continuation of the original.

Molly White [58:09]: "The creator of Flappy Bird held the trademark, but the crypto company... convinced the courts that this trademark was inactive... creating this game without compensating the original creator."

Jeff Jarvis highlights the predatory nature of such actions within the crypto community, emphasizing the rampant scams and lack of accountability.

Jeff Jarvis [48:48]: "That might be the scam website. They're just like, you know, it's a scam."

The discussion underscores the intersection of cryptocurrency and popular culture, where the allure of crypto can lead to exploitation and misuse of beloved brands.

5. OpenAI's Strawberry o1 and the Hidden Chain of Thought

A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to discussing OpenAI's new AI model, Strawberry o1, and the controversies surrounding its hidden chain of thought mechanism.

Jeff Jarvis criticizes OpenAI's portrayal of Strawberry o1 as approaching Artificial General Intelligence (AGI), labeling it as misleading marketing.

Jeff Jarvis [99:27]: "It's closer to AGI, which is bs."

The hosts delve into the technical aspects, explaining that the 'chain of thought'—the reasoning process the AI uses to arrive at answers—isn't transparently shared with users, raising concerns about trust and accountability.

Jeff Jarvis [104:15]: "They have chosen to abandon content moderation in audio and video and encrypt it, but they want to be able to spy on your direct messages so that they can do the content moderation."

Paris Martineau expresses frustration over the lack of transparency, suggesting that disclosing the inner workings of AI models would foster better understanding and trust.

Paris Martineau [105:00]: "We would start to learn more about what's going on if they had more transparency about how things operate."

Molly White adds that hiding the chain of thought not only serves as a competitive advantage for OpenAI but also complicates efforts for independent verification and understanding of AI decision-making processes.

Molly White [106:40]: "They have been faceong these issues around transparency because they are trying to protect their competitive advantage."

The segment concludes with a critical view of AI advancements, emphasizing the need for ethical considerations and openness in AI development.

6. Elon Musk's Expanded Security Measures

In a lighter yet intriguing segment, the hosts discuss Elon Musk's burgeoning security apparatus, comparing it to a "mini Secret Service."

Paris Martineau cites a New York Times article detailing how Musk's security team has grown significantly to protect him from various threats, leading to an isolated and highly guarded lifestyle.

Paris Martineau [70:00]: "His security team now operates like a mini Secret Service, and he is guarded more like a head of state than a business executive."

Jeff Jarvis humorously relates this to Howard Hughes, illustrating the extremes of wealth and privacy.

Jeff Jarvis [71:25]: "It's the modern Howard Hughes."

The discussion touches upon the personal costs of such high-level security, including Musk's isolation and constant surveillance, which may influence his public and private behaviors.

7. Additional Topics

• Former MoviePass CEO's Guilty Plea: The hosts briefly mention the former CEO of MoviePass pleading guilty to securities fraud, highlighting the perils of unsustainable business models in media subscriptions.

• Cultural Reflections on Technology and Society: Throughout the episode, Paris and Molly intertwine their discussions with personal anecdotes and reflections on technology's role in modern life, from social media interactions to the impact of AI on job security.

Concluding Thoughts

Episode 786 of This Week in Google offers a comprehensive exploration of current issues affecting Big Tech, social media platforms, and the broader technological landscape. Through insightful discussions and critical analyses, Paris Martineau, Jeff Jarvis, and Molly White shed light on the complexities of regulating tech giants, ensuring online safety, and navigating the rapidly evolving world of artificial intelligence. The episode underscores the delicate balance between innovation, ethics, and privacy in today's digital age.

Notable Quotes:

• Paris Martineau [04:14]: "Google convinced the European Union court to overturn this huge fine that had been levied against it over Google's advertising practices."

• Jeff Jarvis [05:36]: "Google stopped these activities in 2016. So I think it was all just a slap on the wrist afterwards."

• Molly White [15:13]: "It really is about signaling a shift in how companies respond to legislative pressure, but it also raises questions about privacy and the effectiveness of such measures."

• Molly White [38:20]: "The Trump family... have decided to embrace a crypto project that is ostensibly a decentralized finance project. The details on it are somewhat scant..."

• Jeff Jarvis [99:27]: "It's closer to AGI, which is bs."

For those interested in staying informed about the latest in Google, Big Tech, and emerging technologies, this episode provides valuable insights and thought-provoking discussions.