The labor market has swung from the Great Resignation to “job hugging,” where workers cling to their roles out of fear of AI-driven layoffs and inflation, crushing engagement and accelerating burnout. At the same time, OpenAI is accused of suppressing research showing job losses, ignoring internal warnings about chatbot mental health risks, and bleeding safety staff, while state Attorneys General fire off an opening salvo likening unchecked AI harms to an opioid crisis-in-the-making.The AI boom is now colliding with reality. Environmental groups want a halt on new datacenters as power prices spike, and the industry is starting to look financially radioactive, with opaque financing schemes, hidden debt, and trillion-dollar infrastructure bets that could vaporize household wealth. Regulators are pushing back too: the EU is fining X, probing Google over training data, and floating a statutory licensing scheme for AI scraping, while Disney dives in with a billion-dollar bet on “responsible” AI storytelling that mostly translates to fewer humans on payroll.Meanwhile, everyday tech dystopia rolls on. Uber is monetizing your movement data, Instacart is quietly price-discriminating groceries, Waymo is spinning a robotaxi birth as a feel-good story, and crypto fraud finally earns real prison time. Add in AI-generated marketing slop, government sites hijacked by SEO porn, billion-dollar festival scams resurrected, and Congress kneecapping right-to-repair, and the takeaway is simple: the machines are hungry, the adults are absent, and the vibes are aggressively bad.Sponsors:CleanMyMac - Get Tidy Today! Try 7 days free and use code OLDGEEKS for 20% off at <a href="https://clnmy.com/OLDGEEKS" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">clnmy.com/OLDGEEKS</a>Gusto - Try Gusto today at <a href="https://gusto.com/grumpy" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">gusto.com/grumpy</a>, and get three months free when you run your first payroll.Private Internet Access - Go to <a href="https://gog.show/vpn" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">GOG.Show/vpn</a> and sign up today. For a limited time only, you can get OUR favorite VPN for as little as $2.03 a month.SetApp - With a single monthly subscription you get 240+ apps for your Mac. Go to <a href="https://setapp.sjv.io/c/4484313/343321/5114" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">SetApp</a> and get started today!!!1Password - Get a great deal on the only password manager recommended by Grumpy Old Geeks! <a href="https://gog.show/1password" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">gog.show/1password</a>Show notes at <a href="https://gog.show/726" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://gog.show/726</a>Watch on YouTube: <a href="https://youtu.be/eJbLlVhIQ-Y" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/eJbLlVhIQ-Y</a>FOLLOW UP<a href="https://www.fastcompany.com/91447592/the-hidden-psychological-costs-of-job-hugging" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">“Why ‘job hugging’ can be worse than quitting”</a><a href="https://gizmodo.com/openai-accused-of-self-censoring-research-that-paints-ai-in-a-bad-light-2000697413" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">OpenAI Accused of Self-Censoring Research That Paints AI In a Bad Light</a><a href="https://gizmodo.com/openai-anthropic-others-receive-warning-letter-from-dozens-of-state-attorneys-general-2000698248" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">OpenAI, Anthropic, Others Receive Warning Letter from Dozens of State Attorneys General</a>IN THE NEWS<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/dec/08/us-data-centers" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">More than 200 environmental groups demand halt to new US datacenters</a><a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/economy/2025/12/nvidia-ai-financing-deals/685197/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Something Ominous Is Happening in the AI Economy</a><a href="https://www.engadget.com/ai/openais-house-of-cards-seems-primed-to-collapse-170000900.html?guccounter=2" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">OpenAI's house of cards seems primed to collapse</a><a href="https://www.engadget.com/social-media/x-shuts-down-the-european-commissions-ad-account-the-day-after-major-fine-173553267.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">X shuts down the European Commission’s ad account the day after major fine</a><a href="https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/eu-opens-antitrust-investigation-into-googles-ai-practices-133015762.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">EU opens antitrust investigation into Google's AI practices</a><a href="https://torrentfreak.com/eu-report-distills-ai-training-lessons-from-napster-piracy-era-dont-sue-license/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">EU Report Distills AI-Training Lessons from Napster Piracy Era: Don’t Sue, License</a><a href="https://www.404media.co/disney-invests-1-billion-in-the-ai-slopification-of-its-brand/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Disney Invests $1 Billion in the AI Slopification of Its Brand</a><a href="https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/uber-will-start-selling-trip-and-takeout-data-to-marketers-171011769.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Uber will start selling trip and takeout data to marketers</a><a href="https://gizmodo.com/instacart-charging-customers-different-prices-for-same-products-study-finds-2000697348" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Instacart Charging Customers Different Prices for Same Products, Study Finds</a><a href="https://www.engadget.com/transportation/waymos-robotaxi-fleet-is-being-recalled-again-this-time-for-failing-to-stop-for-school-buses-190222243.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Waymo's robotaxi fleet is being recalled again, this time for failing to stop for school buses</a><a href="https://sfstandard.com/2025/12/09/baby-born-in-waymo-san-francisco/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Driverless delivery: Woman gives birth in San Francisco Waymo</a><a href="https://www.cnn.com/2025/12/11/business/cryptocurrency-do-kwon-fraud-sentencing-intl-hnk" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Crypto mogul Do Kwon sentenced to 15 years in prison for $40 billion stablecoin fraud</a><a href="https://www.404media.co/porn-is-being-injected-into-government-websites-via-malicious-pdfs/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Porn Is Being Injected Into Government Websites Via Malicious PDFs</a><a href="https://techcrunch.com/2025/12/10/marco-rubio-bans-calibri-font-at-state-department-for-being-too-dei/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Marco Rubio bans Calibri font at State Department for being too DEI</a><a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cly01mdm577o" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">'Architects of AI' named Time Magazine's Person of the Year</a>MEDIA CANDY<a href="https://www.pbs.org/kenburns/the-american-revolution" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The American Revolution</a><a href="https://www.vulture.com/article/billy-mcfarland-phnx-festival.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">What Happened at Billy McFarland’s PHNX Festival?</a><a href="https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/tv-movies/the-lord-of-the-rings-trilogy-returns-to-theaters-in-january-for-25th-anniversary-202433217.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Lord of the Rings trilogy returns to theaters in January for 25th anniversary</a><a href="https://gizmodo.com/fallout-ai-recap-prime-video-amazon-2000698573" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Amazon’s Official ‘Fallout’ Season 1 Recap Is AI Garbage Filled With Mistakes</a><a href="https://www.starz.com/us/en/series/spartacus-house-of-ashur/72002" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Spartacus House of Ashur</a><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fv0leN8TmR8" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Boys - Final Season Teaser Trailer | Prime Video</a><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JIjJ2v5ic1w" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Paradise Season 2 | Official Teaser | Hulu</a><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqdAEdkHrwo" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Supergirl | Official Teaser Trailer</a><a href="https://overcast.fm/+LJPAifBbI" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">No Such Thing As a Fish - Ep612: No Such Thing As The Gordon Ramsay Songbook</a><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cehLZWUnwLc" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">WTF Happened To Battlestar Galactica (2004-2009)?!</a><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHDDzcyNWGs" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Star Trek: Starfleet Academy | Official Trailer | Paramount+ (NYCC 2025)</a><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QsZMCgSUy0s" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Starfleet Academy - What Is This Garbage?</a>APPS & DOODADS<a href="https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/google-and-apple-partner-on-better-android-iphone-switching-204738960.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Google and Apple partner on better Android-iPhone switching</a><a href="https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/congress-removes-right-to-repair-language-from-2026-defense-bill-231708835.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Congress removes right to repair language from 2026 defense bill</a><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B019AJOLEM" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Glide Gear TMP 100 Teleprompter – DSLR, Tablet, Smartphone – 12" Glass, Carry Case, No Assembly</a><a href="https://github.com/waydabber/BetterDisplay" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">BetterDisplay Pro</a>THE DARK SIDE WITH DAVE<a href="https://twitter.com/bittner" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Dave Bittner</a><a href="http://www.thecyberwire.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The CyberWire</a><a href="https://thecyberwire.com/podcasts/hacking-humans.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Hacking Humans</a><a href="https://thecyberwire.com/podcasts/caveat.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Caveat</a><a href="https://thecyberwire.com/podcasts/control-loop" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Control Loop</a><a href="https://thecyberwire.com/podcasts/only-malware-in-the-building" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Only Malware in the Building</a><a href="https://youtu.be/J1-yToxKOzI?si=WOvaUou2rrLBczHC" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Splat HiFi</a><a href="https://gizmodo.com/every-change-to-star-wars-a-new-hope-ever-made-2000697419" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The History Behind All the Cuts of the Original ‘Star Wars’’</a><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SxAZy6CS4tU" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Rise of the Resistance | Layout Side By Side</a><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=msZCv0_rBO4" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">BLUE MONDAY - Analyzing the MOST BRUTAL BEAT of the '80s | Drum Patterns Explained</a>See Privacy Policy at <a href="https://art19.com/privacy" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://art19.com/privacy</a> and California Privacy Notice at <a href="https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info</a>.

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