In this episode of TechWatch Radio, Sam Bushman and Jay Harrison cover a wide range of tech stories—starting with the unexpected: AOL finally retiring dial-up internet after 35 years, while more than 160,000 people still rely on it. They take a nostalgic detour into the history of the payphone, tracing its roots back to 1889 and reflecting on how it transformed communication long before the smartphone era.

From there, the conversation shifts to modern concerns. The hosts discuss the growing privacy risks of uploading personal photos into ChatGPT and highlight the ongoing debate over whether children’s images should be shared online. They also examine the rising costs of everyday software, from Microsoft 365’s sharp subscription increase to the retirement of the once-simple Microsoft Lens app, now being folded into the pricier Copilot ecosystem. Wrapping up, they dig into QuickBooks’ controversial decision to add ACH transfer fees—another example of tech companies squeezing small businesses. It’s an episode that bridges the old and the new, showing how far technology has come and the challenges it still creates.

In this episode of TechWatch Radio, Sam Bushman and Jay Harrison unpack the quiet rollout of ChatGPT 5.0, which is now powering user interactions without most people realizing it. They discuss its improved accuracy, reduced hallucinations, and dynamic model-switching capabilities. The conversation shifts to the massive power demands of AI, with projections showing it could consume 12% of U.S. electricity by 2028—outpacing even Bitcoin mining. Sam and Jay challenge the “net zero” narrative, arguing that carbon credits and offsets are more about taxes than true environmental responsibility, and they weigh the tough tradeoffs society may face between air conditioning, electric vehicles, AI, and cryptocurrency.

The show also covers Amazon’s Project Kuiper, a $140 million satellite facility aimed at competing with SpaceX’s Starlink to deliver global broadband. Jay shares his real-world experience using Starlink for years, its strengths and occasional dropouts, and how competition could drive prices down and service up. Wrapping up, the hosts highlight a rare “human beats AI” story where a Polish programmer narrowly outperformed an OpenAI model in a grueling 10-hour coding contest—while noting that such victories may be short-lived as AI rapidly advances.

In this episode of TechWatch Radio, Sam Bushman and Jay Harrison dive into the rapidly changing media landscape where podcasting is now rivaling and even overtaking traditional AM/FM radio. They explore new data showing podcasts capturing 41% of listeners aged 13–64, compared to radio’s 39%, with YouTube emerging as the dominant platform thanks to video podcasts, ease of access, and its powerful recommendation engine. The hosts debate whether this signals the decline of radio or simply a new era where both mediums can thrive side-by-side, and discuss how the very definition of “podcast” has blurred across platforms.

The conversation also covers major media shakeups, including the NFL acquiring a stake in ESPN, Howard Stern’s steep audience decline and contract uncertainty, and The New York Times’ surging digital subscriptions amid print’s steady decline. Wrapping up, Sam and Jay reflect on the influence of top podcasters like Joe Rogan, who now reach more people than legacy news outlets.