Is AI Making Us Dumb? + Zuckerberg’s Robot Fantasy

Humans Dating Chatbots + SpaceX IPO Hype

On this week’s episode: What happens when everyday people fall in love with chatbots and AI companions? Victoria Hetherington, Host of Understood: Artificial Intimacy, joins us to share more. In this week’s headlines, Amber and Jeff chat about how Quebec is cracking down on Facebook’s crypto scams that are ruining the reputations of people in the public eye, robot workers at a Japanese airport, and a surprising thing that’s wrong with the Trump phone. In TheOtherMac, Jeff breaks down everything you need to know about the SpaceX IPO, including some strange details about Grok and Mars in the company’s pitch to investors. Send a voice message to The AmberMac Show [https://www.speakpipe.com/theambermacshow] Check out our guest on social… * Victoria Hetherington – Host of Understood: Artificial Intimacy: LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/victoriahetherington/] | Podcast [https://www.cbc.ca/listen/cbc-podcasts/1353-the-naked-emperor] Be sure to follow our hosts... * Amber Mac: Bluesky [https://bsky.app/profile/ambermac.bsky.social] | X/Twitter [https://x.com/ambermac] * Jeff MacArthur: Bluesky [https://bsky.app/profile/jeffmacarthur.bsky.social] | X/Twitter [https://x.com/jeffmacarthur]

AI Toys vs. Parenting + A $20 Hearing Aid

On this week’s episode, Amano Co-Founder Arish Shahab unpacks how his team designed a $20 hearing device to help millions of people who need a more accessible hearing solution (also known as the world’s most affordable hearing aid). We also break down the first-ever “Christian mobile carrier”, why Netflix is being sued in Texas, how AI is changing the call centre experience (not always for the better), and the latest AI cyber threats with ESET’s Chief Security Evangelist Tony Anscombe. Plus, in this week’s TheOtherMac, Jeff digs into a shocking UK report on just how many kids own AI-enabled toys. Send a voice message to The AmberMac Show [https://www.speakpipe.com/theambermacshow] Check out our guest on social… * Arish Shahab – Co-Founder at Amano: LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/arishshahab/] | Website [https://www.amanolabs.com/] * Tony Anscombe – Chief Security Evangelist at ESET: X/Twitter [https://x.com/TonyAtESET] | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/tonyanscombe/] Be sure to follow our hosts... * Amber Mac: Bluesky [https://bsky.app/profile/ambermac.bsky.social] | X/Twitter [https://x.com/ambermac] * Jeff MacArthur: Bluesky [https://bsky.app/profile/jeffmacarthur.bsky.social] | X/Twitter [https://x.com/jeffmacarthur]

Instagram Shuttered Her Business + OpenAI Breaks Canadian Law

On this week's episode, we speak to Emily Howard, a visual artist and entrepreneur based in PEI, who lost her Instagram account and, with it, almost 40,000 followers. We also answer your questions about cybersecurity, including how to avoid AI scams that are creeping into every corner of our digital lives. In tech news, Amber and Jeff discuss what we know about OpenAI's violation of Canadian privacy laws, why Anthropic and Elon Musk may be a match made in space, and what’s at stake if the EU caves to Big Tech. Plus, Julia Konefal, Co-Founding Partner at Toronto Tech Week, joins us to talk about what to expect at one of the country's biggest tech events later this month. Send a voice message to The AmberMac Show [https://www.speakpipe.com/theambermacshow] Check out our guest on social: * Tony Anscombe - Chief Security Evangelist at ESET: X/Twitter [https://x.com/TonyAtESET] | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/tonyanscombe/] * Julia Konefal - Co-Founding Partner and Organizer of Toronto Tech Week: LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliabairdkonefal/] | Website [https://www.torontotechweek.com/] * Emily Howard - Visual Artist based on PEI: Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/emilyhowardthe.real.one/] | Website [https://www.emilyhowardart.com/] Be sure to follow our hosts: * Amber Mac: Bluesky [https://bsky.app/profile/ambermac.bsky.social] | X/Twitter [https://x.com/ambermac] * Jeff MacArthur: Bluesky [https://bsky.app/profile/jeffmacarthur.bsky.social] | X/Twitter [https://x.com/jeffmacarthur]

Is AI Making Us Dumb? + Zuckerberg’s Robot Fantasy

On this week’s episode, Prof G Media’s Research Lead, Mia Silverio, is going to help us answer the question: Is AI Making Us Dumb? We’re also going to dive into Meta’s latest professional hobby (making humanoid robots), and we’ll tell you which Canadian bank is getting into the business of predicting earthquakes. In TheOtherMac, from bedrooms to bathrooms, Jeff shares his top Euro technology fails after his recent trip to Greece. Plus, we talk about what Spotify is doing to crack down on AI slop and how Taylor Swift is fighting back (once again) against deepfakes. Send a voice message to The AmberMac Show [https://www.speakpipe.com/theambermacshow] Check out our guest on social: * Mia Silverio – Research Lead at Prof G Media: LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/miasilverio/] Be sure to follow our hosts: * Amber Mac: Bluesky [https://bsky.app/profile/ambermac.bsky.social] | X/Twitter [https://x.com/ambermac] * Jeff MacArthur: Bluesky [https://bsky.app/profile/jeffmacarthur.bsky.social] | X/Twitter [https://x.com/jeffmacarthur]

The Truth About EV Costs + Smart Glasses Showdown

On this week’s episode, if you’re thinking about buying an electric vehicle, we do a deep dive into the truth about EVs and how much money you can actually save (spoiler alert, it’s a lot). Our expert guest for this conversation is Rachel Doran, Executive Director of Clean Energy Canada. Speaking about making green choices, we also speak with Lourdes Juan, who just won $50,000 in investment commitments from DMZ Ventures for her food rescue matchmaker, Knead. Plus, for the first time ever, Jeff and Amber dedicate an entire segment to your thoughts; this week, we’re tackling smart glasses and why some of you love to hate them. Send a voice message to The AmberMac Show [https://www.speakpipe.com/theambermacshow] Check out our guest on social: * Rachel Doran – Executive Director of Clean Energy Canada: LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/racheldoran/] * Lourdes Juan – Co-Founder & CEO of Knead Technologies: LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/lourdesmercedesjuan/] Be sure to follow our hosts: * Amber Mac: Bluesky [https://bsky.app/profile/ambermac.bsky.social] | X/Twitter [https://x.com/ambermac] * Jeff MacArthur: Bluesky [https://bsky.app/profile/jeffmacarthur.bsky.social] | X/Twitter [https://x.com/jeffmacarthur]