This Week in Tech – Episode 1060: "A Shortage of Shame – Why Black Friday Numbers Aren't What You Think"

Date: December 1, 2025
Host: Leo Laporte
Guests: Mike Elgin (MachineSociety.AI, Gastronomad.net), Daniel Rubino (Windows Central), Sam Abulsamed (Wheel Bearings Podcast, Telemetry Automotive Analyst)

Episode Overview

This episode centers on the reality behind Black Friday sales figures, the increasing influence (and hype) of AI in retail and tech, the international rise of Chinese AI and EVs, the ethical challenges caused by tech giants' lack of accountability, and the growing tension between privacy, regulation, and innovation—especially regarding AI, cars, and commerce.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Black Friday/Cyber Monday – The Changing Face of Retail

[06:46–19:56]

Dilution and Lengthening of Black Friday:
The panel discussed how Black Friday and Cyber Monday have lost their original meaning. Discount periods now start as early as August, with online retailers manipulating the terminology for longer sales windows.
- Daniel Rubino: “It’s been going for months… Amazon called Black Friday last Friday… Cyber Monday starts Saturday… It’s cheating.”
- Sam Abulsamed: “It was always all made up… Now it’s not an event, it’s just watered down.”
Nostalgia for Old-School Shopping:
Stories emerged of lining up at stores at 4AM, which “feels like ancient history” given today’s online and digital marketplaces.
The Real Numbers:
- Online sales topped $11.8B, up 9%—but according to Mike Elgin, “the sale of actual items is down 1% and the sales are up mainly because of inflation.” [09:01]
- Salesforce data indicates order volumes are down, while average prices and total spending are up. It’s less a story of increased demand than one of fewer units at higher price points.
- Use of AI tools in shopping exploded, but it’s unclear if this is meaningful. Sam Abulsamed: “An 805% increase in AI-driven traffic sounds big, but the baseline is tiny.”
AI Shopping Assistants (Amazon Rufus, Walmart Sparky):
- Nobody on the panel has meaningfully used these tools, nor are they convinced of their impact on actual sales. Daniel notes that AI review summaries are useful, but for big-ticket items, human experience and reviews still rule. [11:58]

2. The Rise (and Risks) of AI Recommendations in Retail

[13:32–19:38]

AI Recommendations’ Flaws:
Mike Elgin discusses Amazon’s shift from consumer-focused recommendations to promoting products that benefit Amazon’s bottom line or vendors playing the “Amazon game.”
- “They don’t really want you to buy the best thing—they want to favor the people who are profiting Amazon the most.”
Problems with Personalization:
Amazon struggles prioritizing gift-buying versus personal shopping, leading to “universally awful” suggestions.
- Leo Laporte: “They often recommend buying something I just bought, which is kind of dopey.”
Aggregator AI Tools:
Other AI platforms, such as Cogi or Perplexity, are seen as better for objective information. Kagi AI is praised for having no ulterior motive as it’s entirely subscriber-funded.
Return and Pick-Up Trends:
Traditional brick and mortar is still relevant, particularly for returns or urgent purchases, but browsing is on the decline. Mike Elgin points out that stores like Costco offer perks and exclusive bundles that attract shoppers despite the online trend.

3. Macro Retail & Generational Changes

[19:38–22:44]

Smart, Surgical Shopping:
Shoppers—across all ages—are increasingly “doing it with surgical precision,” waiting for the right price, and using digital tools and promo windows to optimize purchases.
- Sam Abulsamed: “Even at Best Buy… I do all the research online and figure out exactly what it is I want to buy.”
Gen Z and the Mall:
Despite digital dominance, Gen Z reportedly still goes to physical malls, seeing it as a novelty “one-stop shop.”
Mall Decline:
Anchor tenants like Apple leaving malls signal a tough future, with many locations becoming empty shells.

4. AI Regulation and National (vs. State) Policy

[32:54–44:17]

Federal AI Regulation Debate:
The NYT’s exposé on David Sacks, the Trump admin’s “AI Czar,” with 449 AI-related investments, raises questions about federal preemption of state AI laws, notably California’s.
- Mike Elgin: “It’s theoretically a good idea to have national policy on something like this rather than state policy… But I don’t trust this administration.” [32:54]
Industry Concerns:
AI companies want unified regulation to avoid “patchwork” state regimes. The panel is divided about how tightly AI should be regulated while the tech is still nascent.
- Leo Laporte: “In the early days of the internet, the policy was hands-off. I’m… in favor of minimal AI regulation.”
The China Competition:
The urgency to “beat China” in AI innovation underpins the administration’s policies—increasingly, regulation (or lack thereof) is justified as a national security measure.
- Daniel Rubino (re: Genesis Mission): “It’s full speed ahead on AI, let nothing get in our way… It’s about China” [38:04]
Mixed Attitudes towards AI:
AI’s potential for good (medicine, climate, etc.) is acknowledged, but concerns remain about abuse and surging energy/water consumption, especially for massive data centers.
- Sam Abulsamed: “The more powerful… AI becomes, the more ways there are for humans to abuse it.”

5. China’s Leap in AI/EVs & Global Market Implications

[53:15–63:41]

China Overtakes the U.S. in Open AI Models:
A study by MIT/Hugging Face finds that downloads of open Chinese AI models now outpace American ones—a “long-term, big-picture play.” Many Chinese AIs are open-source, cheap/free, but risks of censorship and malicious behavior (like generating intentionally insecure code) loom.
- Mike Elgin: “Every Chinese company has to cooperate [by law] with Chinese intelligence.” [55:42]
Chinese EV Leadership & US Protectionism:
Chinese EVs (e.g., BYD) are considered “light years ahead” in software, price, and technology. Protectionist policies in the US keep them out, but doing so inhibits clean air progress.
- Sam Abulsamed: “Chinese EVs are as good as anything built anywhere.” [58:27]
Risk of Embedded Backdoors:
There’s significant worry about hardware/auto backdoors due to China’s legal requirements for state cooperation (see recalls of Chinese buses with remote shutdown capability).

6. The “Shortage of Shame” – Accountability in Big Tech

[81:17–90:04]

Shameless Tech Leadership:
Casey Newton’s article (“A Shortage of Shame”) inspires discussion on how tech CEOs have become immune to public accountability, especially regarding child safety and privacy.
- Mike Elgin: “We live in a world where politicians and business tycoons are rewarded for shameless grifting, for ignoring the needs of children.”
- Leo Laporte: “Mark Zuckerberg started this by, you know, break things, apologize later.” [81:24]
Reward Structures & Regulatory Inaction:
Incentives are misaligned—growth and revenue trump social responsibility. Panelists take heart that a backlash is building, but agree reform is far off or uncertain.

7. AI Garbage and Content Authenticity Crisis

[90:04–100:08]

The Onslaught of AI-Generated Content:
AI-generated low-quality podcasts, music, and “slop” threaten to overwhelm the internet.
- Mike Elgin: “Some are predicting 99% of the content online will be AI-generated within years.”
Pushback and Possible Refuge:
New platforms and markets banning or flagging AI content may emerge (“a company can come along and … specifically ban AI stuff”).
Will Humans Still Care?
Debate on whether people will care about the “realness” of content: Daniel Rubino notes, “Maybe authentic content will become a luxury for the rich and well-educated.”

8. Ad-Supported AI and Monetization Challenges

[106:01–108:47]

Ads in ChatGPT:
Evidence surfaces for possible ad integration in ChatGPT, signaling OpenAI’s need to fund its giant data center bills.
- Mike Elgin: “They know more about you than Google does. And it’s going to be loaded with ads.”
Competition and Open Models:
Chinese open-source AIs may disrupt paid/ad models, but even those will ultimately need to find sustainable business strategies.
- Sam Abulsamed: “At some point they’re going to have to get revenue, pay off those costs, even at their lower costs.”

9. Hardware Trends: Wearables, Glasses, and RAM Prices

[109:10–115:44], [147:14–155:01]

Jony Ive & OpenAI’s Hardware Play:
The “iPod moment” for AI is still elusive. The panel is skeptical of anything but AR smart glasses, with voice and gesture input being the most likely interface.
- Mike Elgin: “Anything that is AI you can wear all day and look good doing it is going to be successful.”
RAM/Component Price Surge:
RAM prices are skyrocketing due to AI/GPUs consuming supply, with some tripling in cost in 90 days.
- Daniel Rubino: “If people need a laptop, now’s a good time. New laptop prices are going to go up.”

10. Automotive Tech: Surveillance, Data Privacy, and EV History

[117:49–132:45], [135:23–147:47]

Car Data Privacy Nightmares:
Modern cars help insurers get more precise about risk, but share massive amounts of driving and even biometric data. California and Europe offer more opt-out options, but it’s usually all-or-nothing—turning off data disables useful features like navigation.
- Leo Laporte: “If you’re a crappy driver, why should I be paying [the same]? But my car is supposed to be on my side.”
Driver Monitoring & AI Features:
Automakers use gaze tracking, attention monitoring, and “Orwellian” alerts for everything from distraction to exceeding the speed limit by 1km/h.
- Mike Elgin: “One by one, these little features will chip away at our individual autonomy… at some point, the car just drives us.”
History: The GM EV1 and Its Resurrection
Sam Abulsamed tells the story of the only privately owned GM EV1—a hand-built, historic car recently bought at auction after being abandoned by a university. Restoration efforts are documented on YouTube ([141:31]).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On Black Friday hype:
“It starts in August.” – Mike Elgin [07:14]
On AI shopping impact:
“Sale of actual items is down 1%, and the sales are up mainly because of inflation.” – Mike Elgin [09:01]
On recommendation algorithms:
“They don’t really want you to buy the best thing—they want to favor the people who are playing the Amazon game.” – Mike Elgin [13:32]
On tech CEO accountability:
“We live in a world where politicians and business tycoons are rewarded for shameless grifting…” – Mike Elgin [82:28]
On the flood of AI content:
“There are podcast companies … create 5000 shows… It’s just garbage, right?” – Mike Elgin [92:09]
On privacy and autonomy in cars:
“My car is supposed to be on my side.” – Mike Elgin [119:50]
On US–China EV and AI rivalry:
“Chinese EVs are as good as anything built anywhere.” – Sam Abulsamed [58:27] “Every Chinese company has to cooperate with Chinese intelligence.” – Mike Elgin [55:42]
On AI-generated media’s future:
“Maybe authentic content will become a luxury for the rich and well-educated.” – Mike Elgin [99:37]

Section Timestamps

Panel/Introductions: 00:00–04:52
Black Friday Analysis and AI Shopping: 06:46–19:56
AI/Recommendations vs. Human Reviews: 13:32–19:38
Retail Trends and Gen Z: 19:38–23:06
AI Regulation – US vs States: 32:54–44:17
China’s Advances in AI/EVs: 53:15–63:41
Lack of Accountability in Tech: 81:17–90:04
AI Content ‘Slop’ Takeover: 90:04–100:08
Ads in AI, Monetization, Open Models: 106:01–108:47
Hardware/AI Wearables: 109:10–115:44
Car Privacy/Driver Surveillance: 117:49–132:45
GM EV1 Restoration Segment: 135:23–147:47
RAM/Laptop Pricing Crisis: 147:14–155:01

Tone & Style

The conversation is informed, skeptical, occasionally wry, and marked by a mix of nostalgia, cautious excitement (for AI and new tech), and sharp critique of industry hype and regulatory abdication. Guests blend technical and policy expertise with a sense of irony about how innovation is sold and abused.

Useful for both listeners who missed the show and anyone seeking key insights on the intersection of retail, AI, China, tech industry accountability, and auto privacy, with helpful timestamps for deeper dives.

This Week in Tech – Episode 1060: "A Shortage of Shame – Why Black Friday Numbers Aren't What You Think"

Episode Overview

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Black Friday/Cyber Monday – The Changing Face of Retail

[06:46–19:56]

Dilution and Lengthening of Black Friday:
The panel discussed how Black Friday and Cyber Monday have lost their original meaning. Discount periods now start as early as August, with online retailers manipulating the terminology for longer sales windows.
- Daniel Rubino: “It’s been going for months… Amazon called Black Friday last Friday… Cyber Monday starts Saturday… It’s cheating.”
- Sam Abulsamed: “It was always all made up… Now it’s not an event, it’s just watered down.”
Nostalgia for Old-School Shopping:
Stories emerged of lining up at stores at 4AM, which “feels like ancient history” given today’s online and digital marketplaces.
The Real Numbers:
- Online sales topped $11.8B, up 9%—but according to Mike Elgin, “the sale of actual items is down 1% and the sales are up mainly because of inflation.” [09:01]
- Salesforce data indicates order volumes are down, while average prices and total spending are up. It’s less a story of increased demand than one of fewer units at higher price points.
- Use of AI tools in shopping exploded, but it’s unclear if this is meaningful. Sam Abulsamed: “An 805% increase in AI-driven traffic sounds big, but the baseline is tiny.”
AI Shopping Assistants (Amazon Rufus, Walmart Sparky):
- Nobody on the panel has meaningfully used these tools, nor are they convinced of their impact on actual sales. Daniel notes that AI review summaries are useful, but for big-ticket items, human experience and reviews still rule. [11:58]

2. The Rise (and Risks) of AI Recommendations in Retail

[13:32–19:38]

AI Recommendations’ Flaws:
Mike Elgin discusses Amazon’s shift from consumer-focused recommendations to promoting products that benefit Amazon’s bottom line or vendors playing the “Amazon game.”
- “They don’t really want you to buy the best thing—they want to favor the people who are profiting Amazon the most.”
Problems with Personalization:
Amazon struggles prioritizing gift-buying versus personal shopping, leading to “universally awful” suggestions.
- Leo Laporte: “They often recommend buying something I just bought, which is kind of dopey.”
Aggregator AI Tools:
Other AI platforms, such as Cogi or Perplexity, are seen as better for objective information. Kagi AI is praised for having no ulterior motive as it’s entirely subscriber-funded.
Return and Pick-Up Trends:
Traditional brick and mortar is still relevant, particularly for returns or urgent purchases, but browsing is on the decline. Mike Elgin points out that stores like Costco offer perks and exclusive bundles that attract shoppers despite the online trend.

3. Macro Retail & Generational Changes

[19:38–22:44]

Smart, Surgical Shopping:
Shoppers—across all ages—are increasingly “doing it with surgical precision,” waiting for the right price, and using digital tools and promo windows to optimize purchases.
- Sam Abulsamed: “Even at Best Buy… I do all the research online and figure out exactly what it is I want to buy.”
Gen Z and the Mall:
Despite digital dominance, Gen Z reportedly still goes to physical malls, seeing it as a novelty “one-stop shop.”
Mall Decline:
Anchor tenants like Apple leaving malls signal a tough future, with many locations becoming empty shells.

4. AI Regulation and National (vs. State) Policy

[32:54–44:17]

Federal AI Regulation Debate:
The NYT’s exposé on David Sacks, the Trump admin’s “AI Czar,” with 449 AI-related investments, raises questions about federal preemption of state AI laws, notably California’s.
- Mike Elgin: “It’s theoretically a good idea to have national policy on something like this rather than state policy… But I don’t trust this administration.” [32:54]
Industry Concerns:
AI companies want unified regulation to avoid “patchwork” state regimes. The panel is divided about how tightly AI should be regulated while the tech is still nascent.
- Leo Laporte: “In the early days of the internet, the policy was hands-off. I’m… in favor of minimal AI regulation.”
The China Competition:
The urgency to “beat China” in AI innovation underpins the administration’s policies—increasingly, regulation (or lack thereof) is justified as a national security measure.
- Daniel Rubino (re: Genesis Mission): “It’s full speed ahead on AI, let nothing get in our way… It’s about China” [38:04]
Mixed Attitudes towards AI:
AI’s potential for good (medicine, climate, etc.) is acknowledged, but concerns remain about abuse and surging energy/water consumption, especially for massive data centers.
- Sam Abulsamed: “The more powerful… AI becomes, the more ways there are for humans to abuse it.”

5. China’s Leap in AI/EVs & Global Market Implications

[53:15–63:41]

China Overtakes the U.S. in Open AI Models:
A study by MIT/Hugging Face finds that downloads of open Chinese AI models now outpace American ones—a “long-term, big-picture play.” Many Chinese AIs are open-source, cheap/free, but risks of censorship and malicious behavior (like generating intentionally insecure code) loom.
- Mike Elgin: “Every Chinese company has to cooperate [by law] with Chinese intelligence.” [55:42]
Chinese EV Leadership & US Protectionism:
Chinese EVs (e.g., BYD) are considered “light years ahead” in software, price, and technology. Protectionist policies in the US keep them out, but doing so inhibits clean air progress.
- Sam Abulsamed: “Chinese EVs are as good as anything built anywhere.” [58:27]
Risk of Embedded Backdoors:
There’s significant worry about hardware/auto backdoors due to China’s legal requirements for state cooperation (see recalls of Chinese buses with remote shutdown capability).

6. The “Shortage of Shame” – Accountability in Big Tech

[81:17–90:04]

Shameless Tech Leadership:
Casey Newton’s article (“A Shortage of Shame”) inspires discussion on how tech CEOs have become immune to public accountability, especially regarding child safety and privacy.
- Mike Elgin: “We live in a world where politicians and business tycoons are rewarded for shameless grifting, for ignoring the needs of children.”
- Leo Laporte: “Mark Zuckerberg started this by, you know, break things, apologize later.” [81:24]
Reward Structures & Regulatory Inaction:
Incentives are misaligned—growth and revenue trump social responsibility. Panelists take heart that a backlash is building, but agree reform is far off or uncertain.

7. AI Garbage and Content Authenticity Crisis

[90:04–100:08]

The Onslaught of AI-Generated Content:
AI-generated low-quality podcasts, music, and “slop” threaten to overwhelm the internet.
- Mike Elgin: “Some are predicting 99% of the content online will be AI-generated within years.”
Pushback and Possible Refuge:
New platforms and markets banning or flagging AI content may emerge (“a company can come along and … specifically ban AI stuff”).
Will Humans Still Care?
Debate on whether people will care about the “realness” of content: Daniel Rubino notes, “Maybe authentic content will become a luxury for the rich and well-educated.”

8. Ad-Supported AI and Monetization Challenges

[106:01–108:47]

Ads in ChatGPT:
Evidence surfaces for possible ad integration in ChatGPT, signaling OpenAI’s need to fund its giant data center bills.
- Mike Elgin: “They know more about you than Google does. And it’s going to be loaded with ads.”
Competition and Open Models:
Chinese open-source AIs may disrupt paid/ad models, but even those will ultimately need to find sustainable business strategies.
- Sam Abulsamed: “At some point they’re going to have to get revenue, pay off those costs, even at their lower costs.”

9. Hardware Trends: Wearables, Glasses, and RAM Prices

[109:10–115:44], [147:14–155:01]

Jony Ive & OpenAI’s Hardware Play:
The “iPod moment” for AI is still elusive. The panel is skeptical of anything but AR smart glasses, with voice and gesture input being the most likely interface.
- Mike Elgin: “Anything that is AI you can wear all day and look good doing it is going to be successful.”
RAM/Component Price Surge:
RAM prices are skyrocketing due to AI/GPUs consuming supply, with some tripling in cost in 90 days.
- Daniel Rubino: “If people need a laptop, now’s a good time. New laptop prices are going to go up.”

10. Automotive Tech: Surveillance, Data Privacy, and EV History

[117:49–132:45], [135:23–147:47]

Car Data Privacy Nightmares:
Modern cars help insurers get more precise about risk, but share massive amounts of driving and even biometric data. California and Europe offer more opt-out options, but it’s usually all-or-nothing—turning off data disables useful features like navigation.
- Leo Laporte: “If you’re a crappy driver, why should I be paying [the same]? But my car is supposed to be on my side.”
Driver Monitoring & AI Features:
Automakers use gaze tracking, attention monitoring, and “Orwellian” alerts for everything from distraction to exceeding the speed limit by 1km/h.
- Mike Elgin: “One by one, these little features will chip away at our individual autonomy… at some point, the car just drives us.”
History: The GM EV1 and Its Resurrection
Sam Abulsamed tells the story of the only privately owned GM EV1—a hand-built, historic car recently bought at auction after being abandoned by a university. Restoration efforts are documented on YouTube ([141:31]).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On Black Friday hype:
“It starts in August.” – Mike Elgin [07:14]
On AI shopping impact:
“Sale of actual items is down 1%, and the sales are up mainly because of inflation.” – Mike Elgin [09:01]
On recommendation algorithms:
“They don’t really want you to buy the best thing—they want to favor the people who are playing the Amazon game.” – Mike Elgin [13:32]
On tech CEO accountability:
“We live in a world where politicians and business tycoons are rewarded for shameless grifting…” – Mike Elgin [82:28]
On the flood of AI content:
“There are podcast companies … create 5000 shows… It’s just garbage, right?” – Mike Elgin [92:09]
On privacy and autonomy in cars:
“My car is supposed to be on my side.” – Mike Elgin [119:50]
On US–China EV and AI rivalry:
“Chinese EVs are as good as anything built anywhere.” – Sam Abulsamed [58:27] “Every Chinese company has to cooperate with Chinese intelligence.” – Mike Elgin [55:42]
On AI-generated media’s future:
“Maybe authentic content will become a luxury for the rich and well-educated.” – Mike Elgin [99:37]

Section Timestamps

Panel/Introductions: 00:00–04:52
Black Friday Analysis and AI Shopping: 06:46–19:56
AI/Recommendations vs. Human Reviews: 13:32–19:38
Retail Trends and Gen Z: 19:38–23:06
AI Regulation – US vs States: 32:54–44:17
China’s Advances in AI/EVs: 53:15–63:41
Lack of Accountability in Tech: 81:17–90:04
AI Content ‘Slop’ Takeover: 90:04–100:08
Ads in AI, Monetization, Open Models: 106:01–108:47
Hardware/AI Wearables: 109:10–115:44
Car Privacy/Driver Surveillance: 117:49–132:45
GM EV1 Restoration Segment: 135:23–147:47
RAM/Laptop Pricing Crisis: 147:14–155:01

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TWiT 1060: A Shortage of Shame - Why Black Friday Numbers Aren't What You Think

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Summary

This Week in Tech – Episode 1060: "A Shortage of Shame – Why Black Friday Numbers Aren't What You Think"

Episode Overview

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Black Friday/Cyber Monday – The Changing Face of Retail

2. The Rise (and Risks) of AI Recommendations in Retail

3. Macro Retail & Generational Changes

4. AI Regulation and National (vs. State) Policy

5. China’s Leap in AI/EVs & Global Market Implications

6. The “Shortage of Shame” – Accountability in Big Tech

7. AI Garbage and Content Authenticity Crisis

8. Ad-Supported AI and Monetization Challenges

9. Hardware Trends: Wearables, Glasses, and RAM Prices

10. Automotive Tech: Surveillance, Data Privacy, and EV History

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Section Timestamps

Tone & Style

Summary

This Week in Tech – Episode 1060: "A Shortage of Shame – Why Black Friday Numbers Aren't What You Think"

Episode Overview

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Black Friday/Cyber Monday – The Changing Face of Retail

2. The Rise (and Risks) of AI Recommendations in Retail

3. Macro Retail & Generational Changes

4. AI Regulation and National (vs. State) Policy

5. China’s Leap in AI/EVs & Global Market Implications

6. The “Shortage of Shame” – Accountability in Big Tech

7. AI Garbage and Content Authenticity Crisis

8. Ad-Supported AI and Monetization Challenges

9. Hardware Trends: Wearables, Glasses, and RAM Prices

10. Automotive Tech: Surveillance, Data Privacy, and EV History

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Section Timestamps

Tone & Style