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Your next chatbot doesn't need the cloud. Mikah Sargent installs a free app, downloads an AI model, turns off the Wi-Fi, and keeps right on chatting, all on an ordinary computer. Along the way, he explains how to read a model listing, including what the size and "Q4" labels mean, so you can pick a model that runs well on your own machine. Then the local model goes head-to-head with a cloud assistant to see where it holds up and where it falls short. Host: Mikah Sargent Download or subscribe to Hands-On AI at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-ai Want access to the ad-free audio and video and exclusive features? Become a member of Club TWiT today! https://twit.tv/clubtwit Club TWiT members can discuss this episode and leave feedback in the Club TWiT Discord.

Hands-On AI is the show that turns AI confusion into AI confidence. In this introductory episode, Mikah Sargent lays out what the show is and isn't: short, focused episodes — most 10 to 15 minutes — that take one question, one tool, or one technique at a time. Some weeks go under the hood on what a large language model is actually doing. Some weeks get practical: the AI already in your pocket, or a model running entirely on your own computer. And some weeks are honest verdicts on the tools everyone's talking about. This show is a conversation. Send your AI questions to [email protected] or reach out on TWiT's social media, and you might hear your question answered on the show. Host: Mikah Sargent Download or subscribe to Hands-On AI at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-ai Want access to the ad-free audio and video and exclusive features? Become a member of Club TWiT today! https://twit.tv/clubtwit Club TWiT members can discuss this episode and leave feedback in the Club TWiT Discord.

On this week's Hands-On Tech, Lorraine asks Mikah whether her husband or her daughter is right about the difference between shutting down and restarting a Windows PC, and how often she should be restarting her computer and phone. Send in your questions for Mikah to [email protected], and he'll answer them in a future episode! Host: Mikah Sargent Download or subscribe to Hands-On Tech at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-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 Club TWiT members can discuss this episode and leave feedback in the Club TWiT Discord. Sponsors: trustedtech.team/twit joindeleteme.com/twit-biz

Dan Moren of Six Colors joins the show this week! Meta's Muse has a zero-day vulnerability. Rat brains can power an AI model? Why are we hearing more about AI agents escaping their testing environments? And Meta's new VR glasses. Dan talks about a new zero-day exploit that affects Meta's Muse AI agent, which allows an app or terminal command that can impersonate the AI agent and easily gain access to users' messages, emails, and other sensitive data. Mikah is amazed at the Biological Computing Company's new AI video model that was built from patterns utilizing lab-grown rat neurons. Mikah walks through The Verge's report on why researchers can't simply air-gap AI agents that keep escaping test environments and hitting real-world targets. And Scott Stein of CNET joins the show live from Meta's Headquarters to share his hands-on impressions of Meta's new VR glasses that were unveiled at this year's Meta Connect event. Hosts: Mikah Sargent and Dan Moren Guest: Scott Stein Download or subscribe to Tech News Weekly at https://twit.tv/shows/tech-news-weekly. 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: trustedtech.team/twit horizon3.ai/technews outsystems.com/twit framer.com/tnw

Tired of waiting for your favorite gym, library, or coffee shop to offer digital cards? With iOS 27, you can finally make your own custom Apple Wallet passes for any barcode or QR code, no third-party apps needed. Physical loyalty cards now easily added to Apple Wallet with iOS 27 "Create a Pass" feature lets users digitize any barcode or QR code Three wallet pass templates: Standard, Membership, and Event Apple Intelligence enables automatic code scanning on supported iPhones Passes can include color themes, icons, member info, and custom fields Sharing passes with family members now possible Using wallet passes on iPhone and Apple Watch at checkout Host: Mikah Sargent Download or subscribe to Hands-On Apple at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-apple Want access to the ad-free audio and video and exclusive features? Become a member of Club TWiT today! https://twit.tv/clubtwit Club TWiT members can discuss this episode and leave feedback in the Club TWiT Discord. Sponsors: trustedtech.team/twit threatlocker.com/twit

Apple's new Siri AI is finally turning digital assistant hype into real, practical power, letting users speak naturally and control their apps in ways that were impossible a year ago. Matthew Cassinelli, a Siri automation expert, is here to break down what's genuinely working, what's missing, and why this matters for your iPhone right now. Early experiences: Siri's improved world knowledge and real-time actionability Developer shift: New Siri relies on app actions and App Intents for integration Beta rollout details: Supported devices, region restrictions, language support Apple's foundation models, on-device AI, and privacy-focused execution App actions at launch, incoming third-party app support, and developer adoption hurdles Siri AI's limitations: Domains not supported and why Technical evolution: Transition from SiriKit to App Intents framework and its challenges for devs NSSpain XIV recap and developer readiness strategies App Intents Optimization (AIO): Why it matters as the new SEO for apps Shortcuts Corner: Testing Siri AI's ability to build complex automation workflows Host: Mikah Sargent Guest: Matthew Cassinelli Contact iOS Today at [email protected]. Download or subscribe to iOS Today at https://twit.tv/shows/ios-today 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 Club TWiT members can discuss this episode and leave feedback in the Club TWiT Discord. Sponsors: trustedtech.team/twit scribe.how/ios

In this week's episode of Hands-On Tech, Wendell asks Mikah whether his wife is right that typing into an AI chatbot is no different from a Google search, and wants to know where those conversations go, who can see them, whether they're used for training, and if any settings can turn that off in both ChatGPT and Gemini. Send in your questions for Mikah to [email protected], and he'll answer them in a future episode! Host: Mikah Sargent Download or subscribe to Hands-On Tech at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-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 Club TWiT members can discuss this episode and leave feedback in the Club TWiT Discord. Sponsor: trustedtech.team/twit

Jennifer Pattison Tuohy joins the show this week! AI-generated "news" sites. Are "health age" scores helpful, or harmful? Google Home now supports the Model Context Protocol. And Apple unveils a new photo verification technology for the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max. Mikah shares a story about Futurism's investigation into Brown Brothers Media reveals a network of AI-generated "news" sites - complete with fabricated writer personas and stolen bylines. Victoria Song of The Verge joins the show to explain why "health age" scores from wearables like Whoop, Oura, and now Apple Watch are wildly inconsistent proprietary metrics that can fuel unnecessary shame or false confidence about your health. Jennifer discusses Google Home's new MCP support and makes the case that what smart homes really need is a dedicated, on-device "smart home computer" rather than more cloud-dependent AI. And Mikah talks about Apple's Reference Image feature for the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, which aims to verify photo authenticity straight from the camera sensor, an approach the company says avoids the privacy and security pitfalls of industry standards like C2PA. Hosts: Mikah Sargent and Jennifer Pattison Tuohy Guest: Victoria Song Download or subscribe to Tech News Weekly at https://twit.tv/shows/tech-news-weekly. 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: trustedtech.team/twit outsystems.com/twit rayneo.com threatlocker.com/twit

Apple Watch's new Audio Intelligence tools promise instant transcriptions and meeting summaries without keeping your recordings. But is the S11 chip's privacy tech strong enough to calm nerves on both sides of the conversation? Apple Watch Audio Intelligence: Four Features, One Secure Chip Sound Recognition and Shazam: Always-On Environmental Listening Live Rewind: 15-Second Instant Replay With Privacy Safeguards Siri Recap: Automated Meeting Summaries, Not Full Transcripts Privacy, Secure Exclave processing, and Cloud Summarization Explained Usage Limits, Age Restrictions, and Launch Timeline for Features Transparency and Social Impacts of New Tools Host: Mikah Sargent Download or subscribe to Hands-On Apple at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-apple Want access to the ad-free audio and video and exclusive features? Become a member of Club TWiT today! https://twit.tv/clubtwit Club TWiT members can discuss this episode and leave feedback in the Club TWiT Discord. Sponsor: trustedtech.team/twit

Apple finally enters the foldable fray with the iPhone Duo, packing unexpected features and a lower-than-expected price. Find out what's actually inside and if it's worth leaving your classic iPhone behind. iPhone 18 Pro/Pro Max colors, pricing, and 1st impressions Variable aperture camera tech benefits, marketing, and durability concerns Battery life and ultra-fast charging impress for Pro iPhones A20 Pro processor with advanced neural engine and vapor chamber cooling Dynamic Island hardware and software upgrades iPhone Duo: Apple's first folding phone, hardware, and price iPhone Duo durability, hinge design, dust/water resistance, and case compatibility Camera features on Duo: under-display camera, selfie tricks, and photography upgrades iOS 27 on Duo: Side dock, split view, app pairs, and standby mode Battery stats, charging, eSIM, and cases on the Duo Apple Watch Series 12/Ultra 4: new health sensors, improved heart tracking, and battery Live Rewind and Siri Recap: AI-driven audio/smartwatch features and privacy Apple Health app redesign: insights, movement evaluations, and proactive alerts AirPods 5: ANC for all models, color, pricing, and battery App Caps: Athlytic and Splitwise Hosts: Mikah Sargent and Rosemary Orchard Contact iOS Today at [email protected]. Download or subscribe to iOS Today at https://twit.tv/shows/ios-today 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 Club TWiT members can discuss this episode and leave feedback in the Club TWiT Discord. Sponsors: trustedtech.team/twit horizon3.ai/iostoday

AI insiders are warning that artificial intelligence could wipe out humanity within the decade, but is this a real threat or a convenient narrative serving Silicon Valley's biggest players? Tune in as the panel untangles fact from hype and digs into the power plays shaping AI's future. Worried Anthropic researchers warn that AI 'could kill all humans' Anthropic Researchers Raise Alarm Over A.I. Acceleration, Warning of Threat to Humanity Countering misuse of AI: September 2026 / Anthropic Pluralistic: LLMs are real, AI is fake (12 Sep 2026) – Pluralistic: Daily links from Cory Doctorow New Apple Watches to get Siri AI 'Recaps' feature similar to AI wearables Apple Unveils the iPhone Duo, a Foldable Phone That Costs $1,999 Key App Developers Have Yet to Embrace Apple's New Siri A.I. Why this month's Microsoft patch release is a doozy LG TV shown scanning LAN for third-party phones and other device The Flock backlash is coming for retail Automobile Camouflage to Hide from Flock Cameras A Secretive DHS 'Predictive Policing' Unit is Analyzing Americans' Financial Habits and Pulling Them Over Clearview AI Is Testing an AI Tool That Would Let Cops Unearth Your Life Online Some of Dyson's $500 toothbrushes are breaking iRobot unveils the Roomba Duo Husqvarna gets the first exception to the FCC's foreign robot ban for its mowers. Correction: Mikah incorrectly stated that Live Rewind and Siri Recap would also be available on iPhone 16 and newer. Apple says the features require an Apple Watch Series 12 or Apple Watch Ultra 4 paired with a supported iPhone. They are not iPhone features. Host: Leo Laporte Guests: Mikah Sargent, Jennifer Pattison Tuohy, and Daniel Rubino 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: joinbilt.com/twit threatlocker.com/twit joindeleteme.com/twit-biz scribe.how/twit bitwarden.com/twit

On this week's Hands-On Tech, Mikah helps Harriett understand whether deleted files are truly gone when the recycle bin is emptied, and whether accidentally deleted files can still be recovered. Send in your questions for Mikah to [email protected], and he'll answer them in a future episode! Host: Mikah Sargent Download or subscribe to Hands-On Tech at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-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 Club TWiT members can discuss this episode and leave feedback in the Club TWiT Discord. Sponsor: scribe.how/hot

Jacob Ward explores the resignation of an Anthropic AI researcher and mounting alarms over AI's potential dangers, while Dan Moren recaps Apple's major iPhone event, new hardware, and controversial AI-powered features. AI researcher Jacob Coxon quits Anthropic, warning the company is "gambling with our lives," an admission echoed by Anthropic's own AI safety leads, as calls for regulation grow louder inside the industry. Apple's iPhone event marks the start of the John Ternus era as CEO, with Tim Cook stepping up to executive chairman and handing off the spotlight at a packed launch. Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 launch with advanced health sensors and Apple Intelligence-powered "Live Rewind" transcription features, raising questions about privacy, surveillance, and brand identity. Apple finally unveils the iPhone Duo foldable, with a redesigned interface for multitasking and new workflows, aiming to set the standard for premium foldables as pricing and developer adaptation come under scrutiny. Hosts: Mikah Sargent and Jacob Ward Guest: Dan Moren Download or subscribe to Tech News Weekly at https://twit.tv/shows/tech-news-weekly. 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: joindeleteme.com/twit-biz bitwarden.com/twit

With new iPhones shipping and major iOS updates around the corner, now is the moment to protect your info. Mikah shows the overlooked features and essential steps that keep your data truly safe. You might be missing crucial areas and not even know it! iCloud Backup: how it works, what it includes, and limitations Key differences between synced data and backed-up data Backing up locally to Mac or PC: process and pros How to back up via Finder on macOS and Apple Devices app on Windows Managing and locating your iPhone backups on Mac and PC Importance and benefits of encrypting local backups Using 3rd-party backup tools like iMazing for flexibility Wi-Fi scheduled snapshots, storage locations, and restore caveats Host: Mikah Sargent Download or subscribe to Hands-On Apple at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-apple Want access to the ad-free audio and video and exclusive features? Become a member of Club TWiT today! https://twit.tv/clubtwit Club TWiT members can discuss this episode and leave feedback in the Club TWiT Discord.

Are passwords really on their way out, or are we stuck with them a bit longer? Mikah Sargent and Rosemary Orchard dig into Apple's latest moves in credential management and reveal why the end of passwords is only "dead-ish." Find out why this shift matters for both convenience and security, and how it could upend your digital habits. Apple Passwords app evolves: features, security, and sharing explored Passkeys adoption, magic links frustration, and passwordless future Passkeys security benefits and everyday use cases discussed Verification code autofill and cleanup Real-world quirks and reliability of code autofill features Shared groups and Wi-Fi credentials streamline family password management Comparing Apple Passwords vs. third-party managers: features and limitations Password best practices debunked: phase out bad habits App Caps: ESR magnetic matte screen protector and Spark Daily Learning Puzzles Hosts: Mikah Sargent and Rosemary Orchard Contact iOS Today at [email protected]. Download or subscribe to iOS Today at https://twit.tv/shows/ios-today 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 Club TWiT members can discuss this episode and leave feedback in the Club TWiT Discord.