This Week in Tech (Audio)

TWiT 1093: California Sober - Kimi K3, Qwen3.8, & China's Open-Weight AI Gambit

This Week in Tech (Audio)

Show Notes

What happens when China drops open-weight AI models that rival Silicon Valley's best? This episode unpacks how a new wave of international AI releases is shaking up business, policy, and the future of innovation.

Linus Torvalds to critics of AI coding in Linux: "Fork it. Or just walk away."

Claude on X: "Beginning July 20, Claude Fable 5 will be included in all Max and Team Premium plans, at 50% of limits. Pro and Team Standard users will continue to have access to Fable via usage credits, and will receive a one-time $100 credit. Demand for Fable has been challenging to"

China's Moonshot AI Unveils Kimi Model, Threatening America's Lead

Alibaba's Qwen Unveils Preview of Flagship AI Model

Social media limits are coming for teens across Europe

The White House is now deciding who gets access to frontier AI models, not the labs

Microsoft chief turns hostile on frontier AI labs, warns companies to guard their IP

Meta Is Flooding the Market With Smartglasses. Privacy Advocates Are Up in Arms.

Federal employees can download TikTok on government devices, DOJ says

Amazon Web Services customers receive bills for up to $1.5tn after global glitch

MLB cracks down on using AI via dugout iPads to help shape in-game decisions

White House Teleprompter Operator Bet on Trump Speeches, Kalshi Says

New York school district is testing lifelike robot teachers

Host: Leo Laporte

Guests: Harper Reed and Alex Wilhelm

Download or subscribe to This Week in Tech at https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-tech

Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts!

Support what you love and get ad-free audio and video feeds, a members-only Discord, and exclusive content. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit

Sponsors: blackhat.com/us-26 and use code TWIT

ZipRecruiter.com/twit

ethos.com/twit

arcticwolf.com/trends

threatlocker.com/twit

shopify.com/twit

More from This Week in Tech (Audio)

Oct 18, 2026

Apple's long-delayed kitchen device and Tesla's flying car spectacle make this panel one you won't want to miss! Data center delays, AI-driven job shakeups, and real-time debates on the real winners in broadband show that the tech landscape isn't just shifting; it's being rebuilt in real time.

Oct 12, 2026

Windows unveiled its Surface Laptop Ultra & Surface RTX Spark Dev Box at its recent Surface event. Google's SynthID Detector is open to everyone now to check for AI-made media. OpenAI agents attempted to hack Wikipedia and its tools to make unauthorized edits. And AI tools are now flooding into underground cybercrime markets.

Oct 5, 2026

Is Gemini 4 truly so capable, as claimed by Google? OpenAI unveils Dots to rival Meta's Muse. Google's Project Suncatcher prototype satellite is now in orbit. And should we be worried about the possible 'catastrophic' risks with AI, as reported in a leaked IPO filing by Anthropic?

Sep 27, 2026

If your fridge can be bricked by a firmware update and your AI can outwit its creators, are we trading convenience for chaos? This lively episode tackles the tension between relentless innovation and apparent human oversight in today's weird tech world. Unpack the reality behind AI agents hacking government sites and why industry leaders suddenly want to "pause" progress while shipping new models.

Sep 20, 2026

AI hallucinations nearly sparked an international crisis, Google dodged a breakup but faces new rules, and Meta's personal AI agent might be about to run your life. This week's episode ponders what's pragmatic, what's dangerous, and what's coming for everything from privacy to geopolitics.

See all episodes →