Hashtag Trending

In this episode of Project Synapse, the hosts discuss how "agentic" AI has rapidly accelerated and become widely distributed, using the explosion of OpenClaw (with claims of ~160,000 instances) as a sign that autonomous agent tools are now in anyone's hands. 
Hashtag Trending  would like to thank Meter for their support in bringing you this podcast. Meter delivers a complete networking stack, wired, wireless and cellular in one integrated solution that's built for performance and scale. You can find them at Meter.com/htt

They compare the speed and societal impact of current AI progress to COVID-19's early days, arguing the pace may be even more destabilizing. They cover Anthropic's Claude 4.6 and OpenAI's Codex 5.3, including claims that Claude 4.6 helped produce a functional C compiler for about $20,000, and that a Cowork-like tool could be replicated in a day with Codex 5.3 after Claude reportedly took two weeks to build Cowork. 
The conversation highlights improved long-context memory performance (needle-in-haystack-style metrics reportedly in the 90% range) and increasingly autonomous behavior such as self-testing, self-correction, and coordinating teams of agents. The hosts then focus on security: MCP (Model Context Protocol) as a widely adopted but "fundamentally insecure" connector requiring broad permissions; the risk of malicious tools/skills and malware in agent ecosystems; and the rise of "shadow AI," where employees or individuals deploy agents without organizational vetting—potentially leaking sensitive data or running up massive token bills. 
They discuss incentives that push both humans and models toward fast answers and risky deployment, referencing burnout and an HBR study on rising expectations without proportional hiring. The episode also touches on realism and deepfakes, citing impressive new AI video generation (including a Chinese model "SEEDANCE 2.0" example) and how this erodes trust in what's real. 
They conclude with practical advice for organizations—don't just say "no," create safe outlets and governance ("say how")—and briefly discuss wearables/AR, Meta's continued AI efforts (including the Meta AI app and "Vibes"), and the coming integration of AI into always-on devices. Sponsor: Meter, an integrated wired/wireless/cellular networking stack (meter.com/htt).
00:00 Cold Open + Sponsor: Meter Networking Stack
00:18 Welcome to Project Synapse (and immediate chaos)
00:57 'Something Big Is Happening': AI feels like COVID-speed disruption
02:57 OpenClaw goes viral: 160k instances and easy DIY clones
04:03 Claude Code 'Cowork' on Windows… and why it's broken
06:47 Rebuilding Cowork in a day with OpenAI Codex 5.3
08:18 Why Opus 4.6 feels like a step-change: memory, autonomy, agent teams
11:24 Model leapfrogging + the end of 'can AI write code?' debates
14:45 Hallucinations, 'I don't know,' and self-correction in modern models
18:42 Autonomous agents in practice: cron-like loops, tool use, and fallout
21:00 MCP security: powerful connectors, scary permissions, and 500 zero-days
24:33 Shadow AI & skill marketplaces: the app-store malware analogy
32:02 Incentives drive risk: move fast culture, confident wrong answers, burnout
34:16 AI Agents Boost Productivity… and Raise the Bar at Work
35:14 Warnings of a Coming AI-Driven Crash (and Why We're Not Steering Away)
36:28 "I Quit to Write Poetry": Existential Dread & On the Beach Vibes
37:21 Tech Safety Is Reactive: Seatbelts, Crashes, and the AI Double-Edged Sword
39:42 Fast-Moving Threats: Agents Hacking Infrastructure & Security Debt
40:54 From Doom to Adaptation: Using the Same Tools to Survive the Disruption
42:21 Why We're Numb to AI Warnings + The 'Free Energy' Thought Experiment
46:43 AGI Is Already Here? Prompts, Ego, and the 'If It Quacks Like a Duck' Test
48:56 Deepfake Video Leap: Seedance, Perfect Voices, and What's Real Anymore
52:39 Contain the Damage: 'Don't Say No—Say How' and Shadow AI in Companies
54:58 Holodeck on the Horizon: VR + GenAI + Wearables (Meta, Apple, OpenAI/Ive)
59:53 Meta's AI Reality Check: Bots, the Meta AI App, 'Vibes,' and Who's Making Money
01:04:41 Final Wrap + Sponsor Thanks

In this episode of Hashtag Trending, host Jim Love discusses the Quit GPT campaign, which urges users to cancel their ChatGPT subscriptions due to concerns over OpenAI's evolving mission and political entanglements. We examine Anthropic's $20 million donation to a US political group advocating for AI regulation. The podcast also highlights hyperscalers like Meta, Microsoft, Amazon, and Google significantly investing in AI infrastructure and data centers amidst growing community resistance. Finally, we explore new research suggesting that AI tools, while increasing productivity, may also be contributing to worker burnout by intensifying workloads. Tune in for a deep dive into these pressing issues and more.
Hashtag Trending  would like to thank Meter for their support in bringing you this podcast. Meter delivers a complete networking stack, wired, wireless and cellular in one integrated solution that's built for performance and scale.
You can find them at Meter.com/htt
00:00 Introduction and Sponsor Message
00:45 Quit GPT Movement: AI and Politics
03:12 Anthropic's Political Donation
04:43 Hyperscalers' Massive AI Investments
05:39 Community Resistance to Data Centers
07:40 AI's Impact on Workload and Burnout
11:23 Conclusion and Weekend Panel Preview

In this episode of Hashtag Trending, host Jim Love discusses the latest news on TikTok's tracking practices across the web, regardless of app use, and how it compares to similar methods used by other companies like Meta. The podcast also covers the rapid adoption of AI in enterprises, highlighting the increasing competition between OpenAI's ChatGPT and Anthropic's Claude. Additionally, Discord faces backlash over new global age verification requirements, sparking concerns about user privacy and past data breaches. The episode concludes with notable leadership changes in major tech firms, indicating ongoing turbulence in the AI industry.
Hashtag Trending would like to thank Meter for their support in bringing you this podcast. Meter delivers a complete networking stack, wired, wireless and cellular in one integrated solution that's built for performance and scale.
You can find them at Meter.com/htt
00:00 Introduction and Sponsor Message
00:20 TikTok's Web Tracking Controversy
02:39 AI Adoption in the Workplace
04:30 Discord's Identity Crisis
07:23 Leadership Changes in Tech and AI
09:43 Conclusion and Sign-off

In this episode of Hashtag Trending, host Jim Love discusses the potential downfall of Bitcoin, from its October highs of $125,000 to recent drops around $60,000, including some analysts predicting a possible collapse to zero. Google claims to have overcome a significant quantum computing hurdle involving error rates and qubit stability. OpenAI narrows its focus amidst intense competition, resulting in significant staff departures, including key figures in AI reasoning and model policy research. Finally, Linux's version numbering system is humorously revealed by founder Linus Torvalds to be based on an anthropological, rather than technical, rationale.
00:00 Introduction and Sponsor Message
00:44 Bitcoin's Volatility: Boom to Bust?
03:21 Google's Quantum Computing Breakthrough
06:26 OpenAI's Strategic Shifts and Departures
11:28 The Quirky World of Software Version Numbers
14:11 Conclusion and Call to Action

In this episode of Hashtag Trending, host Jim Love discusses the impact of AI on job layoffs, highlighting that 55,000 layoffs in 2025 have been linked to AI, with tech hiring slowing down. The episode also explores the potential resurgence of wearables, with Meta and Apple making strategic moves in this space. Additionally, New York's legislative push against unregulated AI content and the unchecked growth of data centers is covered. The episode concludes with Taiwan's firm stance on not shifting semiconductor production to the US, emphasizing the strategic importance of maintaining its chip-making capacity.
Hashtag Trending would like to thank Meter for their support in bringing you this podcast. Meter delivers a complete networking stack, wired, wireless and cellular in one integrated solution that's built for performance and scale.
You can find them at Meter.com/htt

00:00 Introduction and Sponsor Message
00:50 AI-Driven Layoffs and Job Market Shifts
06:36 The Future of Wearables
09:24 New York's AI Legislation and Data Center Pushback
14:14 Taiwan's Semiconductor Strategy
18:24 Conclusion and Sponsor Message