This Week in Tech (Audio)

Snapshot · This Week in Tech (Audio)

TWiT 1090: Flock of SQLs - Apple & Microsoft Grapple With Soaring Hardware Prices

Explore episode Jun 29, 2026

Where this was said

Surveillance Roundup: Flock Backlash, Robotaxis Without Brakes & Ford's AI Fail

At 2:14:15 · chapter starts 2:13:10

Leo moves through a series of interrelated stories about technology and trust. The Flock camera backlash is spreading as communities learn these automated license plate readers are capturing Bluetooth device identifiers in addition to plates. Peter Diamandis's provocative post arguing that trillion-sensor ubiquitous surveillance is positive because humans behave better when watched sparks a debate about the panopticon and whether safety benefits justify total observation. NHTSA's proposal to eliminate foot-operated brake pedals from autonomous vehicles — citing them as a barrier to innovation — strikes the panel as alarming, with Leo noting the obvious connection to Tesla's political influence. Ford's public admission is the segment's most telling story: the company fired its vehicle hardware engineering team in the belief that AI could do their jobs, then was forced to rehire them after automated systems produced too many errors. VP Charles Poon publicly said they mistakenly thought AI plus adjusted design requirements would produce quality products.

Society & Culture
Social Media Bans for Under-16s Are Already Failing

TWiT 1090: Flock of SQLs - Apple & Microsoft Grapple With S… · Jun 29, 2026 Society & Culture

Australia passed a social media ban for under-16s. A University of Newcastle study found 80% of them are still using social media anyway. Now Norway and the UK plan to follow suit — apparently to get the same result. As Harper Reid warned when the law passed: you're just teaching kids to be hackers.

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