Tech Tariffs, AI Manipulation, and Satellite Showdowns: April 30, 2025 Tech News Recap

Welcome to Tech Brewed, your go-to podcast for the freshest updates and boldest conversations in the world of technology. In today’s Tech News Brief for April 30, 2025, host Greg Doig serves up a quick yet insightful roundup of the top stories making waves across the tech landscape.

From the impact of rising tech tariffs and how they’re exacerbating the digital divide, to AI’s ability to subtly manipulate our preferences with every like and swipe, Greg offers a critical look at the trends shaping how we live and connect. You’ll also hear about Meta’s push to outpace OpenAI in the generative AI race, the potential traffic jam brewing in low Earth orbit as more satellite constellations launch, and the legal battles heating up in the competitive world of AI development.

So, whether you’re a tech enthusiast, an industry pro, or just curious about how cutting-edge innovations are changing our world, settle in with your favorite drink and join Greg as he breaks down the news you need to know—right here on Tech Brewed.

Subscribe to the weekly tech newsletter at https://gregdoig.com

Transcript

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Welcome to Tech Brood with your host, Greg Doig. We dive deep into the latest tech trends, innovations, and conversations that matter. Whether you're a tech enthusiast, industry professional, or just curious about how technology is shaping our world, you found the right place. So grab your favorite drink, settle in, and let's explore the fascinating world of technology together. Here are some recent tech news stories from the headlines across the Internet today. Alright. First up, tech tariffs we've been hearing about for months, and they're starting to have some real world consequences. It's not looking great for your wallet. Both wired and the verge are reporting that these tariffs aren't just making your next smartphone purchase more painful. They're actively widening the digital divide. Think about it. If you're already struggling to make ends meet, that extra 25% on essential tech becomes a deal breaker. What's really interesting here is how companies are responding. Some are trying the transparent approach, basically saying, hey. This is why our gadgets cost more now, while others are doing the corporate equivalent of hiding vegetables at a kid's dinner, disguising price increases and upgraded features you didn't ask for. I've been tracking my own tech purchases, and I've noticed my budget doesn't nearly stretch as far as it did even six months ago. Anyone else feeling that pinch? Next up, and this one gets under my skin a bit, AI is basically using your double taps and thumbs up to get inside your head. Wired has a fascinating deep dive on how every little interaction you have online is being fed into increasingly sophisticated AI systems. You know that feeling when you like one video about sourdough bread and suddenly your entire feed is nothing but people slice it into crusty loaves with that satisfying crackle? That's not a coincidence. It's algorithmic manipulation getting more sophisticated by the date. What's wild is these systems aren't just predicting what content you'll engage with. They're actually shaping your preferences over time. It's like a digital Pavlov situation. You're being conditioned without even realizing it, And the privacy implications here are massive. Every time you hit that like button, you're essentially giving away a tiny piece of your psychological profile. And these companies are collecting these pieces like infinity stones. Not to sound paranoid, but maybe think twice before mindlessly scrolling through your feeds tonight. And speaking of AI, Meta just held their LAMA con event, and they're coming for OpenAI's lunch money, they say. Tech Crunch covered this, and it's clear that the Facebook parent company is done playing second fiddle in the AI space. The demos they showed were pretty impressive. I'm talking about generative AI that can create content that's getting harder and harder to distinguish from human created work. Their large language models are making significant strides, and they're positioning themselves as the more open alternative to OpenAI's walled garden approach. What I find most interesting about this AI arms race is how quickly these capabilities are evolving. It feels like every month brings announcements that would have seemed like science fiction just a year ago. Whether that's exciting or terrifying probably depends on whether you're a tech optimist or someone who's watched too many episodes of Black Mirror. Either way, with Meta throwing their considerable resources behind AI development, we're likely to see even more rapid advancements in the coming months. Stay tuned because this battle is just heating up. Alright. Let's look up, way up, to low Earth orbit where things are getting crowded. The Verge reports that with Amazon joining SpaceX's Starlink and launching satellite constellations, space traffic management is becoming a serious concern. Think about it this way. We're talking about thousands of satellites zooming around at about 17,500 miles per hour. At those speeds, even a tiny collision can create a catastrophic cascade of space debris. This is like the ultimate game of Orbital Frogger, except with billion dollar consequences. What makes this particularly nerdy and interesting is the technical challenge of tracking all these objects. There are companies developing advanced radar and optical systems just to keep tabs on this increasingly crowded orbital highway. And here's a fun fact that keeps astronomers up at night. These satellite constellations are already interfering with ground based observations. So while you're enjoying your high speed satellite Internet in the middle of nowhere, there might be a frustrated scientist somewhere cursing as another satellite photobombs their telescope image of a distant galaxy. And finally, FigureAI is bringing out the legal big guns against secondary market brokers. According to TechCrunch again, they've sent cease and desist notices to stop unauthorized distribution of their technology. For those who haven't been following Figure.ai, they've been making waves with their humanoid robots and advanced AI systems. This legal move shows just how valuable their intellectual property has become and how competitive the AI landscape is getting. What's particularly interesting about this case is how it highlights the growing tension between open source collaboration and proprietary technology in the AI space. Companies are having to balance innovation with protection, and Figure dot ai has clearly decided some boundaries needed to be drawn. This is probably just the first of many legal skirmishes we'll see as AI technology becomes increasingly valuable. The intellectual property battles of the smartphone era might look quaint compared to what's coming in AI. And that wraps up our tech news roundup for today. If you found this informative or at least mildly entertaining, go ahead and, let me know. And come back for more updates from Tech Brood and your host. That's me, Greg Doick. Adios. Thank you for tuning in to another episode of Tech Brood. If you enjoyed today's discussion, don't forget to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Have questions or suggestions for future topics? Reach out on our website or social media channels. Until next time, Greg asked me to remind you that the future of tech is brewing right now, and we're all part of that journey. Stay curious, stay connected, and we will catch you on our next episode.