What happens when China drops open-weight AI models that rival Silicon Valley's best? This episode unpacks how a new wave of international AI releases is shaking up business, policy, and the future of innovation.

• Linus Torvalds to critics of AI coding in Linux: "Fork it. Or just walk away."
• Claude on X: "Beginning July 20, Claude Fable 5 will be included in all Max and Team Premium plans, at 50% of limits. Pro and Team Standard users will continue to have access to Fable via usage credits, and will receive a one-time $100 credit. Demand for Fable has been challenging to"
• China's Moonshot AI Unveils Kimi Model, Threatening America's Lead
• Alibaba's Qwen Unveils Preview of Flagship AI Model
• Social media limits are coming for teens across Europe
• The White House is now deciding who gets access to frontier AI models, not the labs
• Microsoft chief turns hostile on frontier AI labs, warns companies to guard their IP
• Meta Is Flooding the Market With Smartglasses. Privacy Advocates Are Up in Arms.
• Federal employees can download TikTok on government devices, DOJ says
• Amazon Web Services customers receive bills for up to $1.5tn after global glitch
• MLB cracks down on using AI via dugout iPads to help shape in-game decisions
• White House Teleprompter Operator Bet on Trump Speeches, Kalshi Says
• New York school district is testing lifelike robot teachers

Host: Leo Laporte

Guests: Harper Reed and Alex Wilhelm

Download or subscribe to This Week in Tech at https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-tech

Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts!
Support what you love and get ad-free audio and video feeds, a members-only Discord, and exclusive content. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit

Sponsors:

• blackhat.com/us-26 and use code TWIT
• ZipRecruiter.com/twit
• ethos.com/twit
• arcticwolf.com/trends
• threatlocker.com/twit
• shopify.com/twit

Leo and this week's panel pay tribute to tech journalist John C. Dvorak, then dive into how AI, relentless hardware shortages, and shifting media habits are reshaping the tech world faster than anyone predicted. The crew discusses how an OpenAI model exploited its own network to cheat on cybersecurity benchmarks, flipping the script on what AI agents are capable of and what might be next for digital security.

• John C. Dvorak has died
• OpenAI's accidental cyberattack against Hugging Face is science fiction that happened
• China's Top AI Event Delivers Message to the U.S.: We're Coming for You
• Alphabet Quadruples Profit to $112 Billion, Fueled by A.I. Investments
• The EU Fines Google $1 Billion for Prioritizing Its Own Services in Search
• The EU just fined AliExpress €550M, its biggest DSA penalty yet
• Apple Sued by Customers Who Lost Combined $1.8 Million Through Fake Bitcoin Wallet in App Store
• A.I. 'Vibecoded' Apps Are Flooding Apple's App Store
• Anthropic's $1.5B copyright settlement approved; only 350 authors opted out
• ISPs' long nightmare of having to list all the fees they charge is finally over
• Government Lawyers Say Trump Admin Can Use TikTok Again Because 'Owned' No Longer Means 'Owned'
• Judge halts Paramount's $111B purchase of Warner Bros. in a win for US states
• The AI industry has already spent $65 million ahead of the midterm elections with no signs of slowing down.
• Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra launches as Samsung's 'most advanced' foldable, starts at $2,099
• US government targets Cop City protester over phone operating system
• Kill the Cookie Banner!

Host: Leo Laporte

Guests: Devindra Hardawar, Larry Magid, and Allyn Malventano

Download or subscribe to This Week in Tech at https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-tech

Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts!
Support what you love and get ad-free audio and video feeds, a members-only Discord, and exclusive content. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit

Sponsors:

• box.com/AI
• arcticwolf.com/trends
• hoxhunt.com/securitynow
• superhuman.com
• gusto.com/twit

As AI-generated video blurs reality and new Macs hit five-figure price tags, the conversation digs into who's left behind in the race to automate and whether "democratizing" tech actually delivers on its promise. Find out how NVIDIA, Meta, and even Apple are reshaping the tech game, and why it might not be good news for everyone.

• Brief independent investigation of agents' behavior, reasoning and collaboration in the OpenAI / Hugging Face hacking incident
• NVIDIA's Profit Doubles to $59.69 Billion Thanks to A.I. Spending
• Bill Gates Is Warning That A.I. Is More Dangerous Than Big Tech Will Admit
• Apple Introduces M6 and M5 Ultra Chips, in New Mac Mini and Mac Studio
• How Apple Stumbled Into AI Hardware Success With the Mac
• Meta reaches $16.68 billion settlement over social media harms to children
• Meta Just Paid Nearly $17 Billion To Make Sure It Gets To Write The Kid Safety Rules For Every Other Social Media Platform
• The Meta Settlement Makes Big Tech Bigger
• 'Darth Vader' Wants You to Know He Definitely Supports Flock Surveillance
• The Data Center Backlash Bursts Into the Midterms
• With the Snip of a Gene, Scientists Hope To Erase High Cholesterol For Life - Slashdot
• Skynet went live yesterday
• Amazon service Bezos once called 'artificial artificial intelligence' is shutting down

Host: Leo Laporte

Guests: Jacob Ward, Harry McCracken, and Molly White

Download or subscribe to This Week in Tech at https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-tech

Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts!
Support what you love and get ad-free audio and video feeds, a members-only Discord, and exclusive content. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit

Sponsors:

• ZipRecruiter.com/twit
• adaptivesecurity.com
• helixsleep.com/twit
• outsystems.com/twit
• tinyhealth.com/twit