Ben Grannis was fed up with distracted drivers and people living on their phones, so he did something about it. He set out on a 7,000-mile bicycle ride around the United States to raise awareness and over $40,000 to end distracted driving and promote digital wellness. Having recently completed his journey, Ben is now sharing his Eyes Up message with young people and interviewing athletes along the way. Ben is a public speaker for audiences of all ages and sizes and works with brands that ali ...
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A daily dose of irreverent, offbeat, and informative takes on business & tech news. Hosted by Jon Weigell, Juliet Bennett Rylah, Mark Dent, Ben Berkley, Sara Friedman, Matthew Brown, and Rob Litterst from The Hustle.
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Learn about the history of this remarkable island. Nick Bellatoni, the State Archeologist talks about geological changes that have taken place on the island. We’ll talk to Ben Breton, from the New Haven Historical Society about the native people who lived on the island. Fox Running, the Quinnipiac Medicine Man will share legends and his hopes for the future.
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Chocolate inflation makes Valentine’s Day even pricier
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14:09Chocolate prices are way up, meaning your Valentine’s Day might have a little less sweetness to it. The price of raw cocoa surged 200% in the last year, meaning that candy companies are looking for filler in their chocolate products. So why is it so expensive and how does this affect your Valentine’s Day? Plus: The Stanley water bottle era might be…
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How two LinkedIn pals made 31 AI models in a month
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13:58Lab31 was created in 2024 with the goal of producing 31 custom AI projects. LinkedIn connections Jenny Nicholson and Allister Hercus joined together to accomplish just that. So how did they make 31 AI projects in such a short period and how can you do the same? Plus: Olipop gets a soaring valuation and Zelle payments top $1T. Join our hosts Jon Wei…
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The next frontier for Netflix: video podcasts
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15:13Netflix is eyeing an investment in creator content on the streaming platform. Video podcasts are hugely popular on platforms like YouTube and Spotify- now Netflix is exploring them as a cheap to produce content pillar for their collection. So what does a video podcast on Netflix look like and how much is the company looking to spend? Plus: Valentin…
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Clothing brands crack down on digital shoplifting
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15:08Online returns are becoming quite the habit for clothing shoppers. Wearing and returning are becoming so common now that some companies are starting to crack down. So how many people are scamming the system and how are these online brands trying to fight back? Plus: Lyft announces robotaxis for 2026 and Hyatt makes a $2.6B acquisition. Join our hos…
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DeepSeek burst onto the scene with an edge over ChatGPT and others- it was similar in performance and cheaper to make. So a few weeks out from its launch, Martina Bretous chats with Nathan Lands from The Next Wave podcast about where DeepSeek now sits in the AI landscape and if it's really the disruptor it's cracked up to be. Plus: AI investments a…
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Ecommerce sites Shein and Temu have benefitted from a nearly nonexistent tax burden for years, but that’s about to change because of a Trump administration policy that’s ending a special exemption for Chinese goods. Plus: Bankruptcy for Billabong and Starbucks’ sharpie problem. Join our hosts Mark Dent and Ben Berkley as they take you through our m…
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A $0 phone plan now exists, but what’s the catch?
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17:15Helium Mobile’s Zero Plan sounds exactly like what it is. The company is offering a free phone plan to customers. So how is Helium able to offer such a plan and what’s the catch? Plus: Boeing loses $2B and $40k worth of eggs goes missing. Join our hosts Jon Weigell and Juliet Bennett as they take you through our most interesting stories of the day.…
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Decathlon’s secret $16B sports retail empire
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15:29French sports retailer Decathlon is riding high outside of the public eye. Although the company reports great revenues, a low carbon footprint and worldwide storefronts, it stays away from flashy ads and sponsorships. So how did this company earn its success? Plus: Self-driving trucks are on the way and Waffle House adds an egg surcharge. Join our …
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Los Angeles is still facing devastating wildfires, and although the two biggest ones are contained, startups around the country are eyeing up preventative measures fo the future. So how can tech help extinguish wildfires before they begin to simmer? Join our hosts Jon Weigell and Sara Friedman as they take you through our most interesting stories o…
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Why is every household device ‘smart’ now?
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16:30Internet connectivity has taken over the home. Everything requires an app now and we’re wondering why. So how did the smart home gain popularity and is there any security issue to having such hyperconnectivity in the home? Plus: Apple abandons AR product and DeepSeek gets a price check. Join our hosts Jon Weigell and Juliet Bennett as they take you…
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The biggest physical bookseller in the US, Barnes & Noble, had an uncertain future pre-pandemic. Sales were down, stores lost their luster and the brand made some weird business decisions. However, in 2025 they’re doing the best they have in a long while. Where did that change happen and why are they back on top? Plus: Sorry Tesla, Toyota is still …
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Is “blockchain storytelling” the new Hollywood?
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18:14Could we see entertainment and IPs pivot to he blockchain? Incention, a new blockchain storytelling platform, is looking to make IP invention collaborative. Given Hollywood’s recent issues, does this kind of storytelling tech have legs? Plus: Frontier bids to merge with Spirit again and Fox makes millions per Superbowl ad. Join our hosts Jon Weigel…
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Starbucks is attempting to overcome its recent sales woes by reclaiming its status as a third place. Can that strategy work? Plus: America’s digital shoplifting problem and continued aftershocks from China’s DeepSeek AI. Join our hosts Mark Dent and Rob Litterst as they take you through our most interesting stories of the day. Get our Side Hustle I…
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Spotify’s founder wants to scan you… for $373
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15:53Gen Z and millennials care more about their health than ever before. Spotify’s founder is looking to capitalize on this influx of health and wellness spending by introducing his bodyscan startup Neko. So what is the ethos of Neko and how much funding have they secured? Plus: DeepSeek is here for the US AI industry and Kia has a big recall. Join our…
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AI Brad Pitt, Deep Fake Elon Musk, and a whole line of financial advice chatbots mean that AI is getting a lot better with its scams. And many of us are falling for it. So what’s the best way to figure out if something is a scam and how much worse will these celebrity related frauds get over time? Plus: Costco dumps Pepsi and UnitedHealth names a n…
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Corporate America seems forever frustrated with Gen Z. CEOs and Managers from every generation complain about them, and now Gen Zers themselves are joining in. So why is Gen Z picked on so much and why are they perceived as “unprofessional”? Plus: Walmart managers are breaking $500k and Tom Brady is selling his $150m island mansion. Join our hosts …
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On Tuesday President Donald Trump pardoned Ross Ulbricht from life in prison. Ulbricht is the founder of Silk Road, and if you’re not well versed in the history of the dark web, boy do we have a story for you. So why was Ulbricht pardoned and what even is Silk Road? Plus: Netflix raises prices and consumers are spending billions on AI. Join our hos…
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Snow is falling across the country but so is people’s confidence in Vail Resorts. The ski industry giant has faced a decline in lift ticket sales and worker strikes, as more skiers ditch the mountains for the backcountry. Join our hosts Mark Dent and Rob Litterst as they take you through our most interesting stories of the day. Get our Side Hustle …
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Britain declared that it wants to “unleash” AI. Prime Minister Keir Starmer laid out plans for the UK to invest heavily in its AI technology and eventually become a global leader in it. So how feasible is this and what are the details behind the plan? Plus: and TikTok is back…for now. Join our hosts Jon Weigell, Martina Bretous, and Matt Village as…
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A new study from Pew Research Center confirms that young Americans are feeling intense loneliness. Gen Z’s lack of third space access, more time on the Internet and other factors are causing a real social problem. So how did this happen and what is there to do about it? Plus: The Jeff Bezos rocket finally launches and YouTube sensation Ms. Rachel s…
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Shocker: The Walgreens/CVS anti-theft lockers are backfiring
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15:47The CEO of Walgreens admitted what we were all thinking: when you lock up items, you don’t sell as many of them. This move towards anti-theft lockers in stores like CVS, Walgreens and Target has led to a sales decline. So what’s their plan for getting out of it? Plus: Coors Light becomes Mondays Light and Delta tightens lounge entry requirements. J…
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Thousands of TikTokers flee to Xiaohongshu (RedNote)
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15:30The app stores sudden new chart topper, referred to as RedNote, is the most recent safety net for many TikTok users in anticipation of a TikTok ban on January 19th. The Chinese app has over 300m users and isn’t the most English-friendly app, but that hasn’t stopped TikTok “refugees” from getting on board. So why Rednote? Plus: Starbucks reverses op…
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The downfall of big alcohol: taxes, Gen Z and public health
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16:29Alcohol’s boom period is over. After a prolonged bourbon boom and many years of high earnings, the spirit industry is facing new challenges with declining sales, warning label proposals and higher taxation. So how did we get here and is alcohol on the outs in the U.S.? Plus: The White House’s new AI guidelines rock the stock market and Ryanair want…
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Meta sunsets its AI profiles following backlash
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16:32Meta introduced AI profiles on all of its platforms last year and since then the company has received tons of backlash. Now, they just pulled the plug. So what did Meta mean to gain from these profiles and why did users want them shut down so badly? Plus: Wayfair plans a new physical store strategy and canned cocktails are dominating the American a…
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TikTok’s judgement day: everything you need to know
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15:44TikTok is facing a ban in one of its biggest markets, the United States. With over 170m monthly users in the U.S., this is a fight that parent company ByteDance does not want to lose. Today is their last chance to plead for a halt to the ban. Here’s everything you need to know. Plus: JCPenney completes a risky merger and Rolls Royce invests in more…
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No space, no work: Return to office is a flop
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13:37AT&T employees were called back to the office only to realize there wasn’t enough space. Amazon is facing RTO delays due to their lack of space. Today, we’re talking about why these companies desperately want their office workforce back, what disgruntled employees are doing about it and why the policies are going wrong. Plus: Delta Airlines partner…
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Why ancient history is dominating media right now
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15:34History podcasts, books, newsletters and TikToks are ruling the media landscape. So why did it take so long for history to get its shine in today’s media climate and why are we seeing such a boom in its interest? Plus: Getty acquires Shutterstock and McDonald’s rolls out McValue meals this week. Join our hosts Jon Weigell and Sara Friedman as they …
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Why unemployed office workers still can’t find jobs
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16:20More than 1.6m unemployed office workers have been on the job market for over six months. In what is now the “average” timeframe to find a job, six months seems long and arduous. So why is the job market so slow and who is it particularly slow for? Plus: Hulu and Fubo merge and Hertz is in an EV pickle. Join our hosts Jon Weigell and Mark Dent as t…
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The billionaire island you’ve (probably) never heard of
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15:38Billionaires love this one island off the coast of Miami. Indian Creek Village has homes owned by celebrities, sports stars and tech founders. But what happens when you try to visit them? Today, we dive into why the wealthy love this place, home prices and the almost military-like security of it. Join our hosts Jon Weigell and Noelle Medina as they…
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Netflix Qwikster: The idea that cost Netflix 800k subscribers
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13:32Netflix is now the streaming giant of giants, but once upon a time they had a rough go of it while they were slinging mailed DVDs in the 2000s. Netflix Qwikster stands as one of the company’s biggest blunders resulting in a loss of 800k subscribers, but what was Qwikster and why was it such a problem? Join our hosts Jon Weigell and Juliet Bennett a…
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Shared GF: The rental sex doll that irked the Chinese government
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11:17Chinese company Taqu developed the concept of a shared girlfriend doll in China in 2017. Yes, it’s a silicone doll that rents by the day. A rental sex doll business idea was never going to work here, but it may have failed for reasons besides what you’d think. Join our hosts Jon Weigell and Juliet Bennett as they take you through our most interesti…
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Nokia N-Gage: The taco phone that tried gaming
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11:34This taco-shaped device is the latest on our list of failed products. An idea that would be revolutionary at the time, a phone that you can game on, didn’t gain the traction it could have. Was it just before its time? Or were there other issues plaguing Nokia? Join our hosts Jon Weigell and Juliet Bennett as they take you through our most interesti…
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As 2024 comes to an end, we look to 2025 and make some bold predictions about what’ll happen in the next year. We saw some catastrophic shake ups in business and tech this year, so what can we expect in 2025? Join our hosts Jon Weigell, Rob Litterst, Juliet Bennett, Mark Dent, and Sara Friedman as they take you through our most interesting stories …
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Our 2024 roundup continues with a look at the statistics that best told the story of this wild year. Join our hosts Jon Weigell, Rob Litterst, Juliet Bennett, Mark Dent, and Sara Friedman as they take you through our most interesting stories of the day. Get our Side Hustle Ideas Database: https://clickhubspot.com/thds Follow us on social media: Tik…
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We’ve once again this year assembled a roundtable of our journalist avengers this week to break down 2024 in all the stories covered here at The Hustle. Today’s topic is the best ‘under-the-radar’ stories of the year. Join our hosts Jon Weigell, Rob Litterst, Juliet Bennett, Mark Dent, and Sara Friedman as they take you through our most interesting…
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2024 gave Americans even more options to gamble. Sports betting continues to rise across the country and the presidential election had tens of millions of dollars riding on its result. So is the widespread betting epidemic a big problem? Plus: Amazon workers go on strike and KFC tries a new youth-forward concept. Join our hosts Jon Weigell and Mark…
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Sales of liquor, wine, and beer have been trending down over the past year. But Guinness is one notable exception, as it has rode TikTok virality and a recent fascination with Irish culture to new heights. Join our hosts Juliet Bennett and Mark Dent as they take you through our most interesting stories of the day. Get our Side Hustle Ideas Database…
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Airbnb’s world domination plot, explained
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15:05The US is cracking down on Airbnb. The pressure is so hard that CEO Brian Chesky now wants to try his hand at expanding the short-term rental business globally. So how will the company better expand into international markets and what are the challenges they face? Plus: Waymo is coming to Japan and Amazon’s RTO policy isn’t going to plan. Join our …
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Modern cookie company Crumbl got its start in Utah in 2017 and has since scaled to become a billion dollar company. TikTok was of course instrumental in the company’s popularity, but what is their target market and how are they rolling in dough? Plus: Temu was the most downloaded free app in the US and the EU wants their own Starlink. Join our host…
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OpenAI’s Sora release: Capabilities, concerns and everything we know
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15:58After a long wait, OpenAI finally released its video generator Sora to the public. When first announced, the idea received backlash from those in the film industry and concern from AI regulators. So how does the platform look and is it a game changer? Plus: Apple gets foldable and Costco is on cloud 9. Join our hosts Jon Weigell, Martina Bretous an…
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How one Macy’s employee cost the company $151m
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14:50Macy’s concluded an investigation on the $151m amount that it lost over the course of three years. The amount, attributed to a single employee, was a handful of delivery expenses. So what actually happened here and how is Macy’s going to course correct? Plus: Buzzfeed sells Hot Ones and Frontier Airlines offers an all you can fly pass. Join our hos…
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Spotify has been getting heat this year for what some are calling an “uninspired” and "inaccurate" wrapped. Though the public hasn’t been a fan, is there something deeper that’s going on at the streaming company that could’ve led to this? Plus: The Onion’s Infowars purchase is halted and Jetblue looks to add first class seating. Join our hosts Jon …
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Americans feel they’re underpaid, but safe from firing
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16:40Unemployment is low right now in the United States and the majority of workers are feeling safe in their jobs. The problem? Most of them don’t feel like they’re getting paid enough. What does this mean for satisfaction in the workplace? Plus: Amazon launches a car business and Google unveils a new quantum chip. Join our hosts Jon Weigell and Mark D…
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The unexpected revival of Rainforest Café
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14:18Rainforest Café is doing very well. This is the opposite of most chain restaurants that are going bankrupt like Red Lobster and TGI Friday’s. So what’s been the secret sauce for Rainforest Café? Plus: Taco Bell invests in caffeine and Reddit tests out a new chatbot. Join our hosts Jon Weigell and Rob Litterst as they take you through our most inter…
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You might think religion and tech don’t seem like they go together very well, but you might have to think again. An AI Jesus model sprung up recently and there are reports going around of the Vatican making use of AI at St. Peter’s Basilica. So what is the intersection between religion and AI? Plus: Notre Dame reopens and Dollar General gets into t…
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Why fast food chains are going all in on chicken
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15:45Chicken is the new beef. Since prices are on the rise for beef, many fast food chains are looking to invest in and offer more chicken at their locations. McDonald’s, Chipotle and more are trying to get consumers behind the cheaper protein. So how and why are they doing it? Plus: Home Depot gets hit with some Black Friday tampering allegations and C…
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Wikipedia is the seventh-most visited website in the world and they’ve given us a ton of data to parse. So let’s see what the global population has been looking up in 2024. Plus: Gen Z is in credit card debt and Mattel gets hit with a lawsuit. Join our hosts Jon Weigell and Juliet Bennett as they take you through our most interesting stories of the…
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A miserable holiday season for dollar stores
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17:21Americans love bargains, but they’ve gone cold on dollar stores. Top chains Dollar Tree and Dollar General have cut sales forecasts as their loyal shoppers reduce spending. Plus: the (satirical) return of Enron and Pizza Hut’s new design concept. Join our hosts Mark Dent and Rob Litterst as they take you through our most interesting stories of the …
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Your favorite LinkedInfluencer might be a bot
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13:21AI writes tons of the LinkedIn posts that you see. Whether it's a real person or a bot, this is a huge problem across all social networks. More uninspired AI generated content can lead to feeds of nothing burgers. So how is LinkedIn combatting this and how many posts in your timeline are AI generated? Plus: The CEO of Stellantis steps down and Moan…
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How AI grannies can save you from scammers
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16:44Find out how AI grannies are wasting phone scammers' time. Plus, what can we make of the world of AI cloning? It's impacting consumers, celebrities, and content creators alike. The big question is whether there's a positive takeaway for businesses. Plus: Black Friday breaks records (again) and iPhones aren’t selling. Join our hosts Jon Weigell, Mar…
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