A $399 AI Deer That Texts You - Crazy Lore Behind an AI Companion

Jennifer Pattison Tuohy of The Verge joins Mikah Sargent this week on Tech News Weekly! How AI is helping elders stay independent & provide companionship. How Apple and Google's app stores are pushing users toward deepfake nude apps, per an organization's report. And inside the crazy backstory behind an AI plush companion. • Jennifer talks about Samsung's newest updates to its SmartThings Family Care service and how technology and AI are increasingly being used to help take care of elderly people & provide companionship. • Mikah talks about a report from the Tech Transparency Project that found both Apple & Google's app stores that host & direct users to apps that generate non-consensual nude images of women. • And Victoria Song of The Verge joins the show to share her review of a $399 AI companion and her very unique experience with the device overall. Hosts: Mikah Sargent and Jennifer Pattison Tuohy Guest: Victoria Song Tech News Weekly Episode 433 More Info: https://twit.tv/shows/tech-news-weekl... Sponsors: • http://zscaler.com/security • Simply CX Download or subscribe to Tech News Weekly at https://twit.tv/shows/tech-news-weekly 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 Products we recommend: https://www.amazon.com/shop/twitnetca... TWiT may earn commissions on certain products. Follow us: Website: https://twit.tv/ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/twit.tv Mastodon: https://mastodon.social/@TWiT Facebook:   / twitnetwork   Instagram:   / twit.tv   X (Twitter): https://x.com/TWiT TikTok:   / twittok   LinkedIn:   / twit-llc   About us: TWiT.tv is a technology podcasting network located in the San Francisco Bay Area with the #1 ranked technology podcast This Week in Tech hosted by Leo Laporte. Every week we produce dozens of hours of content on a variety of programs including Tech News Weekly, MacBreak Weekly, Windows Weekly, Security Now, Intelligent Machines, and more.