The Unicorn Roast podcast features sparkling conversation between technology journalists Mike Elgan and Emily Forlini about technology, culture and our fast-changing world.
The podcast Unicorn Roast is created by Mike Elgan, Emily Forlini. The podcast and the artwork on this page are embedded on this page using the public podcast feed (RSS).
In this conversation, Mike Elgan and Emily Forlini throw themselves in front of the autonomous vehicle industry, focusing on Tesla's initiatives and financial woes and the regulatory changes driving changes in the world of rolling robots. Then, your illustrious hosts politely explore the implications of proper etiquette when interacting with AI. They look at the environmental costs of AI interactions, and the necessity of good prompt engineering for effective outcomes. The conversation also touches on the future of AI in education.
Links
• Feds Relax Self-Driving Car Regulations Ahead of Tesla Robotaxi Launch
• How to Win Fake Friends and Influence Fake People
• Why Being Polite to ChatGPT Is Costing OpenAI Millions and Wasting Electricity
Chapters
00:00 The Rise of Autonomous Vehicles
02:26 Regulatory Changes and Their Implications
07:06 The State of Self-Driving Technology
10:13 Tesla's Controversial Approach
15:03 The Future of Transportation
18:14 Elon Musk: A Psychological Profile
26:16 Narcissism and Leadership
27:40 Understanding the Value of Established Systems
28:08 Politeness in AI Interactions
29:02 The Role of AI in Social Networking
31:03 The Cost of Politeness to AI
32:11 The Nature of AI: Alive or Not?
34:31 Prompt Engineering: The Key to Better AI Responses
38:22 Becoming a Skillful Prompt Engineer
40:22 Conscious AI Usage and Environmental Impact
42:20 The Importance of Distinguishing AI from Humanity
44:40 The Future of AI in Education
48:23 The Role of AI in K-12 Education
52:02 The Challenges of AI in the Education System
01:00:48 unicorn_roast_sonic-branding.mp3
Keywords
#AI #AutonomousVehicles #Tesla #ElonMusk #Regulations #SelfDrivingCars #Technology #Transportation #Psychology #Innovation #Politeness #PromptEngineering #Education #HumanInteraction #SocialNetworking #EnvironmentalImpact #FutureOfAI #K12
On this episode of the Unicorn Roast podcast, hosts Mike Elgan and Emily Forlini obsess over Apple CEO Tim Cook’s obsession with smart glasses, Meta’s race to launch their Hypernova specs. The also talk about Google’s smart glasses plans, a conversation which devolves into a brutal takedown of Google CEO Sundar Pichai. Emily shares tales from the New York Auto Show, where electric vehicles are somehow thriving despite industry panic, and Mike recounts a Norwegian road trip in a Polestar, confirming that Norway is basically the EV promised land. Tesla, on the other hand, is having a rough year—sales are down, the Cybertruck ages about as well as an unrefrigerated fish, and Elon Musk seems more interested in AI and controversial tweets than making cars. The conversation veers into drones, with Mike explaining how Ukraine is booby-trapping them to slow Russian hackers, and why the best anti-drone tech might still be a shotgun. They wrap up with Blue Origin’s all-female space flight, which leads to more conspiracy theories than scientific breakthroughs.
LINKS
• Apple and Google Eye the Future of AI Glasses - Computerworld
• Coolest Electric Cars at 2025 New York Auto Show - PCMag
• Drones are the Future of Cybercrime - Computerworld
• An Alarming Number of Gen Z AI Users Think It's Conscious - PCMag
KEYWORDS
#smartglasses #AItechnology #electricvehicles #techindustry #Apple #Meta #Google #innovation #travel #markettrends #Tesla #ElonMusk #drones #spacetourism #extraterrestriallife #dronecyberattacks
Join Mike Elgan and Emily Forlini as they share strange and exhilarating new experiences with AI, particularly ChatGPT. They explore the reliability of AI responses, the evolution of AI tools, and the importance of prompt engineering in enhancing user experience. Mike and Emily then turn to the implications of AI on open access websites, and the challenges faced by platforms like Wikipedia resulting from AI spiders that raise the cost of being stolen from by AI companies, which often ignore restrictions on access. They then explore the environmental costs of AI, the limitations of OpenAI's computing power, and the need for better engineering practices in the industry.
LINKS:
The Future of AI Search is Google’s to Lose https://www.computerworld.com/article/3951907/the-future-of-ai-search-is-googles-to-lose.html
Recent OpenAI Launches Limited by GPU Shortages: Poor Planning or Wider Issue? https://www.pcmag.com/news/recent-openai-launches-limited-by-gpu-shortages-poor-planning-or-wider
Alexa+ Takes a Page From Apple Intelligence With Staggered AI Rollout https://www.pcmag.com/news/alexa-plus-takes-a-page-from-apple-intelligence-with-staggered-ai-rollout
Inside the War Between genAI and the Internet https://www.computerworld.com/article/3854642/inside-the-war-between-genai-and-the-internet.html
AI Mode experiment in Search Labs https://support.google.com/websearch/answer/16011537
CHAPTERS:
00:00 Introduction and Personal Updates
01:22 Exploring AI Interactions
02:04 Using ChatGPT for Home Renovation Decisions
05:10 Evaluating AI Responses and Reliability
07:04 New AI Features and Tools
09:49 The Evolution of AI Chatbots
11:29 The Role of AI in Search and Information Retrieval
13:20 Prompt Engineering and User Experience
17:06 Learning Through AI Conversations
21:09 The Future of AI and Its Implications
24:28 Navigating Content Creation and AI
26:15 The Impact of Open Access on AI
28:45 The Dangers of AI Traffic
30:59 Wikipedia's Struggles with AI
32:52 The Bot Traffic Crisis
35:52 OpenAI's Computing Power Limitations
37:44 The Environmental Cost of AI
40:07 Engineering Challenges in AI
42:46 The Future of AI and Public Perception
KEYWORDS:
#chatbots #HVACsystems #heatpumps #tariffs #energyefficiency #AIhallucinations #ChatGPT #promptengineering #NotebookLM #AImode #generativeAI #Googlesearch #Kagi #Wikipedia #openaccess #scientificresearch #environmentalimpact #datacenters #consumertechnology #energypolicies
In this week's thrilling episode of Unicorn Roast, hosts Mike Elgan and Emily Forlini delve into the evolving landscape of language translation technology (coming soon to an ear canal near you). The conversation then shifts to the turmoil surrounding Tesla and Elon Musk's leadership, exploring the challenges the company faces and the potential consequences of Musk's actions on the brand's future, plus Trump's reaction to Tesla vandalism (which is ludicrous). Plus, they look at the companies teaching chatbots to stop lying, and ponder the future of Apple smart glasses and Siri.
LINKS
1. Why You'll Speak 20 Languages by Christmas
2. Trump Threatens 20 Years in 'Cruel' El Salvador Prison for Tesla Vandals
3. Tesla's Elon Musk Holds Surprise All-Hands Meeting to Assuage Employees and Investors
4. Finally, Some Truth Serum for Lying GenAI Chatbots
5. Tim Cook Gives Siri Delays, Vision Pro Creator Apple Intelligence
CHAPTERS
00:00 The Future of Language Translation
12:03 Tesla's Turmoil and Elon Musk's Leadership Crisis
27:45 The Challenges of Media Appearances
29:39 Chatbots and Misinformation
32:01 The Future of AI and Factual Accuracy
34:47 The Role of AI in Social Media
36:07 Apple's AI Strategy and Executive Shakeup
39:20 The Future of Smart Glasses
42:21 The Debate on Wearable Technology
45:14 Apple's Long-Term Vision for AI
49:02 The Competition in AI Assistants
#LanguageTranslation #AI #RayBanMetaglasses #Tesla #ElonMusk #Technology #Travel #Culture #Innovation #Business #MediaAppearances #Chatbots #Misinformation #FactualAccuracy #SocialMedia #Apple #SmartGlasses #WearableTechnology #AIAssistants
Your favorite podcast hosts explore OpenAI's $20,000 PhD-level AIs, Russia's "LLM grooming" disinformation network, the doomed Microsoft Office products, and why it's weird to buy a house nowadays. And more!
Links:
1. Where's a Red Scare When You Need One?
2. A Well-Funded, Moscow-Based Global Disinformation Campaign
3. Is OpenAI's Rumored $20,000 AI Agent Good Enough to Take Your Job?
4. Drones Are Already Transforming Business
5. Microsoft Publisher Dead After 34 Years: How to Save Your Work
Chapters
00:00 The Rise of AI in Job Automation
15:12 Russian Disinformation and AI
21:30 The Challenges of Trusting AI
26:01 Navigating the Future of AI and Information
26:08 Revisiting Reagan: A Lesson in Free Trade
28:35 The Evolution of Search: AI and Chatbots
30:26 The Future of Information Retrieval
34:40 The Role of Sources in AI Responses
39:26 The Challenge of Information Quality
46:37 Microsoft's Struggles: A Shift in Relevance
50:55 The Modern Home Buying Experience
#OpenAI #Microsoft #RussianDisinformation #RealEstate #LLMGrooming #PerplexityAI #RAG
Join Mike and Emily on another exciting episode of Unicorn Roast! They explain why robots are wearing glasses (smart glasses for fast training, not for eyesight). They answer the question: Are Apple's $199 AirPods good for using as hearing aids? Plus, they explore the brand-new products and features designed to make AI chatbots like Tolan, Sesame, Perplexity Voice, Grok 3, and Amazon Alexa+ more “human.” Your favorite podcasters expose OpenAI's recent release of the not-ready-for-prime-time GPT-4.5. And more!
Links
• "There's a Vape With a Tamagotchi Inside It That Dies If You Stop Puffing" - Link
• "Why Fast-Learning Robots Are Wearing Meta Glasses" - Link
• "3 Fixes That Could Make Apple AirPods Pro a True Hearing Aid Replacement" - Link
• "Tolan: Alien Best Friend" - Link
• "Sesame: Making Voice Companions Useful for Daily Life" - Link
• "Perplexity - Ask Anything" - Link
• "Perplexity - Ask Anything on Google Play" - Link
• "OpenAI Launches GPT-4.5 But Limits It to Priciest Tiers After Running Out" - Link
Chapters
00:00 The Rise of Robot Training
04:47 Healthcare Robots and AI Training
08:37 The Future of Autonomous Vehicles
11:32 Integrating Robots into Daily Life
16:07 Apple's AirPods as Hearing Aids
22:42 The Evolution of Hearing Technology
27:13 The Future of Hearing Aids and AI Technology
28:25 The Rise of Human-like Chatbots
31:33 Innovative AI Companions and Their Impact
35:39 The Evolution of Voice Assistants
39:45 Amazon's New Alexa and Its Features
44:40 OpenAI's GPT 4.5 Launch and Its Implications
52:01 Controversies Surrounding AI Leadership
#RobotTraining #Robotics #Manufacturing #Factories #AI #HumanOperator #VRGoggles #Tesla #Meta #ARIA #SmartGlasses #GeorgiaTech #LLMs #MultimodalAI #AutonomousCars #Honda #DataSimulation #TrafficJams #SiliconValley #Computer #Milliseconds #SelfDrivingCars #RobotOverlords #Amazon #AgenticAI #DeliveryRobots #WaymoCars #AmazonWarehouses #AppleAirPods #HearingAids #iPhone #Hearables #Tolan #Sesame #Tamagotchi #Vape #ElonMusk #Grok #VladimirPutin #TheBar #AmazonAlexa #EchoShow #SamAltman #Twitter #AGI #DeepSeek #WolframAlpha #StephenWolfram
Mike and Emily tackle the latest Tesla self-driving mishap – a Cybertruck versus a pole. Is it the driver's fault, a software failure, or false advertising by Elon Musk? They debate the safety of self-driving cars compared to human drivers and what it all means for the future of transportation. Then, they take a look at Apple's claim that their robot lamp feels emotions, and talk about how this kind of false claim is actually common in the industry. Finally, they unpack the shocking story of Kanye West's Super Bowl ad selling a swastika t-shirt. This leads to a conversation about AI-generated celebrity condemnations and Scarlett Johansson's fight against the misuse of her likeness.
• Tesla Cybertruck Crashes Into Pole While Running Latest Version of FSD - PCMag
• Apple Is Lying: Robots Don’t Feel Emotions - Machine Society
• Apple's Emotional Lamp and the Future of Robots - Computerworld
• ScarJo Condemns Deepfake of Her Protesting Kanye Ad as Misuse of AI - PCMag
• Why AI Usage May Degrade Human Cognition and Blunt Critical Thinking Skills - Hackaday
Chapters
00:00 Intro
03:58 Tesla's Self-Driving Controversy
11:53 Safety and Ethical Implications of Self-Driving Cars
12:56 The Challenges of Self-Driving Technology
18:44 The Emotional Intelligence of Robots
26:51 The Ethics of AI and Human Interaction
32:50 The Future of AI in Customer Service
38:55 Kanye's Controversial Merchandise Launch
40:56 Failures in Advertising and Technology
42:31 Celebrity Reactions and AI Misuse
44:47 Scarlett Johansson's Voice and AI Ethics
47:48 The Impact of AI on Human Intelligence
52:51 The Evolution of Skills in the Digital Age
56:20 Outro
#Tesla #Cybertruck #SelfDriving #ElonMusk #CarSafety #Waymo #CultOfElonMusk #ElectricFences #Apple #ELEGNT #Robots #Humanoid #RobotBodyLanguage #RobotEmotions #SonyAIBO #SoftBankPepper #HansonRoboticsSophia #MITKismet #IBMWatson #Pixar #VoiceSelection #CustomerService #AICommunication #ScarlettJohansson #KanyeWest #SuperBowl #Swastika #Advertising #Deepfakes #OpenAI #SamAltman #VoiceCloning #AIGeneratedVideo #SocialMedia #AI
Hosts Emily Forlini and Mike Elgan tackle the ethics of recording conversations with AI devices without permission, the implications of DEI policies in tech companies, and the impact of political agendas on electric vehicle infrastructure. They also touch on Elon Musk's influence and actions, government overreach, and the importance of maintaining perspective in a stressful media landscape.
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Links
https://www.computerworld.com/article/3815564/why-i-want-glasses-that-are-always-listening.html
https://www.pcmag.com/news/google-ends-diversity-equity-inclusion-dei-hiring-goals
https://legiscan.com/CA/text/SB243/2025
https://www.pcmag.com/news/dot-orders-states-to-halt-work-on-5-billion-ev-charging-network
Chapters
00:00 Introduction
05:25 The Role of AI in Memory Enhancement
10:59 The Power Dynamics in Journalism and Recording
16:15 Amazon's Financial Success and AI Investments
21:41 The Cultural Shift in Tech Hiring Practices
27:02 The Role of Corporations in Solving Societal Issues
36:48 The Ethics of AI Interaction
42:50 Political Maneuvering and EV Infrastructure
47:16 The Role of Business Leaders in Governance
51:49 Reflections on Society and Personal Wellbeing
01:02:22 Exploring the Unusual: A Conversation on Unique Experiences
01:02:56 The Importance of Kindness and Community
Mike and Emily go deep on DeepSeek, and compare it with ChatGPT, explore the emergence of political bias in AI chatbots, and talk about a future where ideological biases shape everyone’s view of the world. They also have a smart conversation about smart glasses, and slam Meta’s narrow focus on VR and AI-generated artificial people. Plus, they give an update and exploration on the latest developments in electric vehicles, based on Emily’s interview with the CEO of Lucid Motors.
Links
https://machinesociety.ai/publish/post/153836590
https://www.pcmag.com/news/deepseek-vs-chatgpt-5-questions-that-put-these-ai-chatbots-to-the-test
https://www.pcmag.com/news/deepseek-is-here-to-stay-as-microsoft-perplexity-integrate-its-model
https://www.pcmag.com/news/ford-opens-2025-mustang-mach-e-orders-with-reduced-price-added-heat-pump
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/30/technology/softbank-openai-ai-investment.html
Takeaways
• DeepSeek has gained significant attention for its capabilities and cost-effectiveness.
• There are concerns about censorship and political bias in AI tools like DeepSeek.
• The rise of smart glasses could change how we interact with AI.
• Elon Musk's decisions have impacted Tesla's design and user experience.
• The future of electric vehicles is tied to government regulations and incentives.
• SoftBank's investment in OpenAI raises questions about the future of AI funding.
• The commodification of AI data is a growing concern in the tech industry.
• Political bias in chatbots could lead to a fragmented information landscape.
• The conversation around AI is becoming increasingly polarized.
• The integration of AI into everyday tools like smart glasses is inevitable.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to DeepSeek and Its Impact
02:53 DeepSeek vs. ChatGPT: A Comparative Analysis
05:48 Censorship and Political Bias in AI
08:30 The Future of Chatbots and Ideological Bias
11:16 Smart Glasses and Proactive AI Innovations
13:18 The Role of AI in Everyday Life
16:21 The Metaverse and AI Integration
19:04 Conversational AI: The Next Frontier
22:11 Conclusion and Future Predictions
32:02 The Chatty AI Experience
34:48 AI in Everyday Life
39:47 The Future of Electric Vehicles
41:14 Interview Insights with Lucid's CEO
48:03 Political Landscape for EVs
53:51 Investment Trends in AI
57:22 unicorn_roast_title.mp4
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In the first official episode, Mike and Emily discuss the directionless $500B Stargate announcement, GeoSpy pulling public access, Meta’s distorted AI dreams, Apple cranking out fake news, and wait, Bill Gates is autistic?
Takeaways
Trump's AI initiative raises questions about government involvement.
Concerns about the selection of companies for AI funding.
GeoSpy's decision to limit access highlights surveillance issues.
Meta's AI ads are misleading and not truly open to all.
Bill Gates' self-diagnosis of autism sparks debate.
The implications of AI in social media are concerning.
Google's reCAPTCHA 2.0 is outdated and ineffective.
AI technology is evolving faster than regulations can keep up.
Public access to powerful surveillance tools is being restricted.
The conversation around autism and tech leaders is complex.
Chapters
00:00 Trump's AI Announcement: Smoke and Mirrors?
02:45 The Role of Government in AI Development
05:33 Surveillance Technology: GeoSpy and Privacy Concerns
11:44 AI Ads: Meta's Strategy and Public Perception
21:55 The Impact of AI on Perception
23:55 Challenges of Misinformation and AI Summarization
25:37 Apple's AI Missteps
31:09 Bill Gates' Autism Revelation
38:53 The Block List: Google's reCAPTCHA Issues
43:19 New Chapter
This is episode zero where Mike Elgan and Emily Forlini discuss their journey to starting a podcast together. They emphasize the importance of authentic dialogue in the tech industry and explore the challenges of media consumption, the evolution of podcasting, and the significance of context in tech discussions. The duo also brainstorms potential names for their podcast, ultimately settling on 'Unicorn Roast,' and outlines their plans for audience engagement and future episodes.
En liten tjänst av I'm With Friends. Finns även på engelska.