Amanda Silberling joins Mikah Sargent on this week's episode of Tech News Weekly! Common Sense Media labels ChatGPT for Teens as an "unacceptable risk." AI agents from companies such as Meta and OpenAI are "cute washing" to make them feel friendlier. A federal judge ruled a Flock license plate search unconstitutional. And organs-on-chips, simulations, and AI models are starting to replace animal testing.

• Amanda talks about Common Sense Media's labeling of ChatGPT for Teens as an "unacceptable risk", as its friend-like design, engagement incentives, and rarely appearing "take a break" prompts can keep teens talking to a chatbot instead of a trusted adult.
• Mikah shares an article from Fast Company's Grace Snelling, who coined the term "cute washing" for how SpaceX AI's Grokbot, Meta's Muse, and OpenAI's Dot all use big eyes and soft shapes to make autonomous AI agents feel friendly.
• Jason Koebler of 404 Media joins the show to discuss the first federal ruling to call an automated license plate reader search unconstitutional, and explains how Flock's network of more than 100,000 cameras feeds federal programs like HIDTA (High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area).
• And Mikah explains how organs-on-chips, computer simulations, and AI models are beginning to replace animal testing as regulators like the FDA shift their rules, as noted by IEEE Spectrum's Brandon Kim.

Hosts: Mikah Sargent and Amanda Silberling

Guest: Jason Koebler

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What's actually inside an AI model? Mikah Sargent opens up the file from last week's episode and finds tokens, billions of numbers, and one surprisingly simple job: guess the next piece of text. Along the way, he shows why the same question can get a different answer every time, where all those numbers came from, and why a chatbot can sound completely sure of itself and still be wrong.

Host: Mikah Sargent

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On this week's episode of Hands-On Tech, Clyde, who is shopping for a new phone after his last one died in a sink full of dishwater, asks what an IP68 water resistance rating actually promises, whether it wears off as a phone ages, and what to do in the first few minutes after a phone gets wet.

Send in your questions for Mikah to hot@twit.tv, and he'll answer them in a future episode!

Host: Mikah Sargent

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Is your digital life a scattered mess or a finely tuned "second brain"? This episode reveals how Rosemary and Mikah may organize everything from 3D printer hacks to family chaos using iOS power tools and apps you've never tried.

• Building a "second brain" for knowledge management on iOS
• Comparing digital note-taking systems: OmniFocus, Notion, Craft, Obsidian
• Importance of cross-referencing and linking between apps
• Notion deep dive: databases, AI features, and integration tips
• Craft as an alternative for flexible, visual note organization
• Drafts as a staging ground for notes and quick capture
• Daily journaling and agenda apps: Parchment and Kan Do highlights
• Community discussion: Using TextEdit, Notes, and minimal scratchpad workflows
• iPhone Duo preorder chaos: launch supply snags and shipping delays
• News: iOS 27 Reminders and Notes app updates
• App Caps: Scrappy digital scrapbook and Everlog journaling app picks

Hosts: Mikah Sargent and Rosemary Orchard

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Meta Muse's security flaw. Reviews of the iPhone Duo are starting to come out. Microsoft's plans to overhaul the Xbox department. And Meta is ordered to pay $25 billion in a New Mexico court ruling.

• Mikah shares a PSA on Meta's new Muse AI agent: A security firm found that Muse's share button put conversation titles in the subdomain of public share links!
• Allison Johnson of The Verge joins the show to talk about her time with the iPhone Duo so far and things that she misses on the device so far compared to the Pro lineup.
• Sebastian Herrera of Fortune stops by to talk about how Xbox has lost its focus over the years and what new CEO Asha Sharma, who has no gaming background, is doing to fix it.
• And Isaiah Poritz of Bloomberg Law breaks down the verdict made in a New Mexico court that orders Meta to pay $25 billion in penalties to the state, related to the Cambridge Analytica scandal.

Host: Mikah Sargent

Guests: Allison Johnson, Sebastian Herrera, and Isaiah Poritz

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The big AI apps now have research modes that make you wait for a report full of sources. Is the wait worth it? Mikah Sargent gives ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, and Perplexity the same complicated question, plus ChatGPT with regular web search as a control, and compares how long they take, where they look, what they miss, and how much cleanup each report needs. Then he checks every answer against a rebate and tax-credit answer key built from official sources.

Host: Mikah Sargent

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On this episode of Hands-On Tech, Mikah answers a question from Otis, who relies on the 6-digit text-message codes his bank sends at sign-in but has started to worry about SIM swap attacks, and wants to know whether those codes are still worth anything and whether he can lock down his number at the carrier.

Host: Mikah Sargent

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Apple finally steps into the smart home display race with HomeView, shakes up its HomeKit lineup, and partners with major brands for "second-party" devices. Mikah Sargent and Rosemary Orchard break down what these big changes mean for everyday users and power tinkerers alike.

• Apple debuts major Home app updates in iOS 27
• HomeKit Secure Video gets AI-powered descriptions, smarter notifications, and search
• New HomeKit features: Thread, Matter support, energy monitoring, 4K streaming
• Apple reveals HomeView: smart display for the home with speaker or wall-mount options
• HomeView's features, FaceTime, and multi-user support
• Apple TV 4K updated with better Siri AI, microphones, and Find My remote
• Four-speaker HomePod/HomePod mini surround sound with latest Apple TV
• HomePod mini 2 announced: new sounds, color-matched features, and Siri AI caveats
• Apple's "second-party" Home accessories line launches with LG, Schneider Electric
• Overview of new cameras, video doorbell, floodlight, thermostat, and smart lock
• Matter support in Apple Home devices: features, pitfalls, and real-world advice
• Shortcuts Corner: Advanced HomeKit automations, weather integration, and triggers
• App Caps: HomePass for HomeKit and Signals for HomeKit automate and simplify smart homes

Hosts: Mikah Sargent and Rosemary Orchard

Contact iOS Today at iOSToday@twit.tv.

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