Podcast
Terms of Service with Clare Duffy
Hosted by CNN Podcasts · EN
New technologies like artificial intelligence, facial recognition and social media algorithms are changing our world so fast that it can be hard to keep up. This cutting-edge tech often inspires overblown hype — and fear. That’s where we come in.
Each week, CNN Tech Writer Clare Duffy will break down how these technologies work and what they’ll mean for your life in terms that don’t require an engineering degree to understand. And we’ll empower you to start experimenting with these tools, without getting played by them.
42episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
The Best Way to Search for Info Online in the AI Era
Jan 600:26:13Tap to summarizeFinding information online can be overwhelming. And as more people turn to chatbots for information, search engines are adapting. Google Search has added an AI mode and its chatbot, Gemini, to help users get the information they need. So what’s the best way to conduct a search now? Robby Stein, vice president of product at Google Search, walks us through the newest features available to users. Don’t miss Terms of Service live later this month in New York City! On January 13 at Ludlow House, Clare will be interviewing Nick Frosst, co-founder of AI startup Cohere, about whether the tech industry should really be trying to build a superhuman, superintelligent AI. Visit the event page to get an invite. Terms of Service is a CNN Podcasts and Goat Rodeo production. This episode was produced by Jay Venables. At Goat Rodeo, the lead producer is Rebecca Seidel, and the executive producers are Megan Nadolski and Ian Enright. At CNN, Matt Martinez is our Senior Producer and Dan Dzula is our Technical Director. Production support from Sofía Sanchez. Steve Lickteig is the Executive Producer of CNN Audio. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Transcribe →The Year in News: Deepfakes, MAHA & AI
Dec 3000:35:11Tap to summarizeAfter a head-spinning year in the worlds of health and technology, Audie Cornish of The Assignment sat down with Dr. Sanjay Gupta and Clare Duffy to break down the stories that ended up on all their podcasts this year. Producer: Dan Bloom Technical Director: Dan Dzula Executive Producer: Steve Lickteig Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Transcribe →Why We're So Hooked on Scrolling
Jan 28, 202500:25:17Summary readyIn an age of personalized algorithms and constant notifications, it can be hard to resist the pull of our devices. Why is it so hard to stop mindlessly scrolling? Cultural anthropologist Natasha Schüll shares some of her research on why we’re so hooked to our phones – and some thoughts on how to pull away from the infinite scroll. What questions do you have about the technology in your life? Email us at CNNTermsofService@Gmail.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
SummaryHow Do You Fact-Check Social Media?
Jan 21, 202500:28:26Tap to summarizeMeta CEO Mark Zuckerberg says the company is ending its partnership with third-party fact-checkers in the US because the program caused too much censorship on the company’s platforms. The announcement raised a big question: How much were third-party fact-checkers really responsible for what content stays or goes on Meta’s platforms? Carlos Hernández-Echevarría, head of public policy at fact checking organization Maldita.es, explains how the group fact-checks posts – and what happens to that content after they do.What questions do you have about the technology in your life? Email us at CNNTermsofService@Gmail.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Transcribe →AI Voice Scams Are on the Rise. Here’s How You Stay Safe.
Jan 14, 202500:26:42Tap to summarizeGary Schildhorn sprang into action to help when he got a call in his son’s voice saying he’d landed in jail after getting into a car accident. That is, until he got a FaceTime call from his son, who was not actually in jail. Gary was the target of an AI voice cloning scam, one that nearly cost him $9,000. As AI technology advances, these scams are becoming more common and more effective. Digital forensics expert Hany Farid explains how the technology works and how people can protect themselves. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Transcribe →If TikTok is Banned, What Happens to Creators and Fans?
Jan 7, 202500:21:45Tap to summarizeTikTok is facing a looming ban in the United States. The company will make a final effort to argue its case before the Supreme Court on Friday; if it loses, the law forcing TikTok to spin off from its China-based parent company or be banned in the United States is set to go into effect on January 19. Will that mean the app disappears from users’ phones overnight? Eva Galperin, director of cybersecurity at the Electronic Frontier Foundation, breaks down what the ban would look like for users, in practical terms. And influencers Eli Rallo and Joanne Molinaro, aka The Korean Vegan, share what it would mean for people who make a living from the app.What questions do you have about the technology in your life? Email us at CNNTermsofService@Gmail.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Transcribe →What You Should Buy Before Trump’s Tariffs
Dec 17, 202400:19:10Tap to summarizeMany people voted for President-elect Donald Trump with the hope that he’d lower the cost of groceries and other essentials. But Trump’s promised tariffs on imported goods could raise the cost of products ranging from computers to cars to refrigerators. So, is there anything you should consider buying now, before that happens? CNN Business economics writer Elisabeth Buchwald has the lowdown. Read Elisabeth’s full article here.What questions do you have about the technology in your life? Email us at CNNTermsofService@Gmail.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Transcribe →Should You Say Yes to a TSA Face Scan?
Dec 10, 202400:27:11Tap to summarizeIf you’ve been to the airport recently, you might have noticed something different while going through security: a TSA agent taking your photo. More than 200 US airports are now using facial recognition technology to identify passengers. Face scans can speed up the security process, but according to Dr. Joy Buolamwini, this technology comes with big picture risks. She explains what’s going on with these face scans — and how to opt out.Read more about Dr. Joy’s nonprofit, the Algorithmic Justice League, here.What questions do you have about the technology in your life? Email us at CNNTermsofService@Gmail.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Transcribe →Remembering All Your Passwords is Hard. Let's Make It Easier
Dec 3, 202400:24:14Tap to summarizeCNN Audio’s senior producer Haley has a confession: she uses the same password for everything. Research shows she’s not alone. Why is this a problem? And what’s the safest way to create and manage your passwords? Rachel Tobac, an ethical hacker and CEO of SocialProof Security, has some answers that won’t make your head spin.The password managers Rachel mentions include: Bitwarden, 1Password, Dashlane, and KeePassWhat questions do you have about the technology in your life? Email us at CNNTermsofService@Gmail.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Transcribe →Debunking Conspiracies This Holiday Season? Let AI Help.
Nov 26, 202400:27:57Tap to summarizeConspiracy theories can take many forms, from misgivings about the first moon landing to false claims that the 2020 election was stolen. These kinds of beliefs are nothing new, but social media has helped make many of them more mainstream. As anyone who’s tried to reason with a conspiracy theorist knows, it’s hard to debunk such deeply held beliefs – and arguing with a loved one about them can be emotionally taxing. What if an AI chatbot could help? A recent study, published in Science, asked that very question — and the results were surprising. Thomas Costello, an assistant professor of psychology at American University and co-author of the study, breaks down the findings.Try chatting with the bot yourself at debunkbot.com.What questions do you have about the technology in your life? Email us at CNNTermsofService@Gmail.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Transcribe →