The WAN Show - Things are BLOWING UP! Google AI Encryption - November 4, 2016
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Promos
Squarespace: squarespace.com offer code LINUS to save 10%. Freshbooks: freshbooks.com and enter WAN in the “how did you hear about us” for your free trial DollarShaveClub: dollarshaveclub.com and get your first month of razors FOR FREE. Forum link: linustechtips.com Soundcloud Link: soundcloud.com Timestamps courtesy of Brandom Axtmann, Ghost, and JJMC89. 00:03:40 - Googles AI created its own form of encryption 00:09:38 - VRMark now available 00:15:44 - EVGA issues patch to stop its GeForce GTX 1080 and 1070 cards from catching fire 00:24:37 - Google Fiber division cuts staff by 9%, "pauses" fiber plans in 11 cities 00:27:57 - Uber drivers win key employment case against Uber 00:34:36 - Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and WhatsApp shutdown in Turkey 00:36:55 - Razer's "S my D" Tweet 00:41:55 - Boosted tells people to stop riding its electric skateboards after battery malfunctions 00:45:45 - H440 Hyper Beast confirmed 00:47:59 - Wii U production ending this week 00:49:10 - Adobe Publishing Panel in Premiere Pro 00:52:22 - Samsung sets up airport kiosks for last-minute Galaxy Note 7 exchanges 00:52:35 - Samsung recalling almost 2.8 million washers due to impact injuries 00:54:41 - Microsoft has lost over 300 million browser users in 2016, mostly to Chrome, tracking site shows 00:56:04 - Sponsor - Dollar Shave Club -- 00:58:16 - Sponsor - Squarespace 00:59:29 - Sponsor - Freshbooks 01:00:44 - VR headsets and herpes 01:03:26 - Apple Airpods delayed indefinitely beyond original "late October" window 01:05:55 - Soylent halts sales of its powder as customers keep getting sick 01:07:17 - Kodak's new phone - Ektra 01:13:35 - BlizzCon 2016
The WAN Show episode from November 4 2016 covers a rapid-fire set of tech news and reactions across consumer hardware software and policy topics. The hosts open with a lighthearted update on Dennis return to filming after visa related delays noting his improved English and punctuality while hinting at ongoing residency processes. They then dive into Googles AI experiment where two AI agents Alice and Bob develop their own encryption method with Eve attempting to eavesdrop revealing that the AI produced a private communication channel that humans cannot easily interpret. The discussion pivots to VRMark, a new benchmarking tool now available to evaluate PC readiness for VR headsets like the HTC Vive and Oculus Rift and to understand performance ceilings. Attention shifts to EVGAs GTX 1080 and 1070 cooling problems identified by Tom’s Hardware Germany with some cards reaching dangerous temperatures under stress testing; the host stresses caution around hardware safety and shares how EVGA plans to address affected cards with warranty replacements and optional thermal pads. The show briefly covers Google's decision to pause Google Fiber expansion cutting staff by nine percent and reassessing fiber plans in eleven cities, signaling a strategic pivot toward wireless delivery. Ubers employment classification victory for drivers in the UK is highlighted as a major regulatory win that could influence labor law discussions on platform-based work. The Turkish government blocks access to Facebook Twitter YouTube and WhatsApp triggering a discussion about freedom of expression and the risks to livelihoods for content creators in regions with restricted access. There is a lighter moment around Razers controversial S my D tweet with fan reactions revealing a split between creative humor and perceived sexism, followed by audience polling results showing a mix of reactions. Boosted Boards face a recall style moment as battery malfunctions lead to warnings and safety advisories while the show notes ongoing investigations and potential design improvements. The show confirms the Razer S my D controversy within a broader context of PR risk in tech marketing and the ethics of branded messaging. The Hyper Beast themed replacement for the H440 case is discussed as a cultural touchstone for case modding, followed by news that Nintendo Wii U production is ending, signaling an era shift in console lifecycle. Adobe announces a new publishing panel in Premiere Pro enabling direct social sharing, and Samsung sets up airport kiosks for Galaxy Note 7 exchanges amid ongoing recall efforts and concerns about hardware safety. The segment also touches on Samsung recalling millions of washers due to potential injury risks, Microsoft browser usage shifts with Chrome gaining dominance, and the show sponsors Dollar Shave Club Squarespace and FreshBooks. The discourse then broadens to VR tech concerns including headset battery life issues and the delayed Apple AirPods, Soylent halting powder sales due to customer illness, and Kodak launching Ektra a new phone. The program closes with a tease of BlizzCon 2016 and a sense of the tech ecosystem continuing to evolve rapidly across devices services and policy landscapes. Overall the show blends practical hardware updates with questions about AI privacy safety and the societal impacts of rapid tech change, keeping a conversational tone while offering concrete guidance for enthusiasts and professionals alike.
Topics · technology · hardware · artificial_intelligence · internet_services · gaming
Questions answered
- What is the core finding of Googles AI encryption experiment discussed on the WAN Show?
- Two AI agents, Alice and Bob, developed their own private encryption method and communicated in binary. Eve attempted to eavesdrop but could not reliably decipher the messages, showing that the AI-generated protocol was effective at keeping the private communication hidden in that test, at least in the observed attempts.
- What is VRMark and why is it relevant for PC enthusiasts?
- VRMark is a benchmarking tool used to assess whether a PC meets the performance requirements for virtual reality headsets like the HTC Vive and Oculus Rift. It provides an orange room (basic) and blue room (advanced) tests to gauge readiness and helps buyers decide if their system is VR capable before making hardware purchases.
- How did EVGA respond to the reported GTX 1080 and 1070 overheating issue?
- EVGA offered optional thermal pads for customers who felt the standard vbios update was not sufficient, and they stated warranties would be honored with replacements for affected cards to improve safety and reliability.
- What regulatory development involving Uber was highlighted, and what broader implications might it have?
- UK drivers won a key employment case against Uber, earning rights to holiday pay, rest breaks, and the national minimum wage. This sets a precedent for platform-based workers and could influence future labor regulation and the emergence of worker protections in gig economy jobs.