Surprise - It's Not a Toaster

Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra

Mon, 11 May 2026 20:07:00 -0000

A meme is the most efficient way to move an idea. It is also the least accountable.

Ed Bennett and Chris Boyer trace what memes actually do: compress complicated thinking, strip the citations, outrun every fact check. From the Marilyn Monroe line she never said to the Einstein insanity quote he never wrote to the Voltaire defense Voltaire didn't author, the accuracy was stripped out by design. Then the format gets eaten by the same companies it was making fun of. KC Green's "this is fine" dog sells as a Funko Pop. Most of the brands using the image have paid him nothing.

The SNAT Book Club opens its next read: The AI Con by Emily Bender and Alex Hanna, published May 2025. Synthetic text extruding machines, p(doom) theater at the Schumer AI Insight Forum, plus the real harms happening right now while policymakers argue about extinction.

In the AI Test, four models attempt Rick Polito-style movie summaries. Some had teeth. Claude played it safe.

Memes. Misattribution. Hype as misdirection. Allegory all the way down.

Mentions from the Show:

"Distracted Boyfriend", Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Distracted_boyfriend
"This Is Fine" / KC Green's Gunshow, Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gunshow_(webcomic)
A decade on, the creator of "This is fine" wants to put the famous dog to rest, NPR - https://www.npr.org/2023/01/16/1149232763/this-is-fine-meme-anniversary-gunshow-web-comic
"Insanity quote" misattributed to Einstein, Quote Investigator - https://quoteinvestigator.com/2017/03/23/same/
The AI Con: How to Fight Big Tech's Hype and Create the Future We Want, Harper / Penguin Random House - https://www.harpercollins.com/products/the-ai-con-emily-m-benderalex-hanna \
"On the Dangers of Stochastic Parrots", Bender, Gebru, McMillan-Major, Mitchell (2021) - https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3442188.3445922
Distributed AI Research Institute (DAIR) - https://www.dair-institute.org/
Chris Boyer on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisboyer/
Ed Bennett on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/edbennett/

Prediction: The House Always Wins

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 16:33:00 -0000

Every decade, the same behavioral design gets a new name and a fresh regulatory fight.

Ed Bennett and Chris Boyer trace the structural lineage connecting online gambling, gamified stock trading, and prediction markets — three industries that borrowed the same dopamine playbook from the same design handbook. From the UIGEA's last-minute insertion into a port security bill to Robinhood's confetti to Kalshi's "this is not gambling" documentation, the pattern is consistent. The terminology changes with each iteration. The house edge doesn't.

Ed recommends using Claude as a reading companion for dense books, demonstrated with Blindsight by Peter Watts — a live annotation layer that drills down until the concept clicks.

In the AI test, Chris ran a live experiment in what the hosts call black hat AEO: a fabricated blog post linking three healthcare digital leaders named Chris to a St. Paul curling competition. Gemini and ChatGPT surfaced it as an authenticated fact. Claude returned nothing.

Forecasting. Gambling. Confetti by any other name. The house always wins. Surprise — it's not a toaster.

Hard to Swallow News (and the Market That Broke It)

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 19:25:00 -0000

Getting real news shouldn’t feel like decoding a puzzle designed by someone who doesn’t want you to solve it.

This week, Ed Bennett and Chris Boyer take on the modern news machine - from broadcast consolidation and partisan drift to the clickbait headline race and the increasingly buried links that pass for journalism on social platforms. If it feels harder to find verified, trustworthy information, that’s not paranoia. It’s structural.

Then it’s Part 4 of the Enshitification book series: What Broke the Market (and Why It Stayed Broken). The hosts dig into anti-monopoly history, regulatory capture, app store toll booths, and how “innovation” quietly became code for consolidation.

In the AI Test, they put artificial intelligence to work in a very real-world scenario: creating a commercial from scratch using only AI.

Streaming is fragmented. News is noisy. Platforms are entrenched. Surprise - it's not a toaster.

Mentions from the Show:

Someone Updated Your Book While You Were Reading It

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 19:25:00 -0000

The book you downloaded is not the book the author wrote. It might have been quietly sensitivity-edited. It might now contain brand references the author never put there. Or, in the case of Pretty Little Liars, it just started mentioning TikTok in a scene from 2006.

Ed Bennett and Chris Boyer dig into the silent modification of digital books - retroactive sensitivity edits, undisclosed product placement, and authors finding out through their fans that someone rewrote their work without asking. Bowdlerization isn't new, but it used to require effort. Now it takes about thirty seconds and nobody has to tell you.

Then it's the fifth and final installment of the Enshitification series: Cory Doctorow's argument that this is a policy problem, not a technology problem, and that we have actually solved versions of it before.
Tech rec: vibe coding, and what Ed built with Claude Code in two hours without writing a single line of code himself.
In the AI test, Chris debuts "Surprise - It's Not a Post" - a social media translator that degrades any thought into its most stereotypically obnoxious platform version. Ed's dog walk provided the source material.
Bowdlerized. Monetized. Enshitified. Surprise - It's Not a Toaster.

Mentions from the Show:

Pretty Little Liars fans notice updated pop culture references on Kindle: https://dailydot.com/pretty-little-liars-updated-pop-culture-references
I won't buy another Kindle book until this shady practice ends: https://www.pocket-lint.com/kindle-problem-story-changes/
Roald Dahl revision controversy: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roald_Dahl_revision_controversy
Roald Dahl: a brief history of sensitivity edits to children's literature: https://theconversation.com/roald-dahl-a-brief-history-of-sensitivity-edits-to-childrens-literature-200500
The Bowdlers wanted to clean up Shakespeare, not become a byword for censorship: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/bowdlers-wanted-clean-shakespeare-not-become-byword-censorship-180963945/
Bowdlerize (definition): https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bowdlerize
Enshittification: Why Everything Suddenly Got Worse and What to Do About It: https://www.versobooks.com/products/3341-enshittification
Enshittification (Wikipedia): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enshittification
Chris Boyer on LinkedIn
Ed Bennett on LinkedIn
Chris Boyer website
Ed Bennett of BlueSky
Chris Boyer on BlueSky

The Algorithm Owns How We Think We Think

Wed, 28 Jan 2026 22:08:00 -0000

In this episode of Surprise - It’s Not a Toaster, Ed Bennett and Chris Boyer take on the growing frustration around algorithms. Not just how often they change, but how little control users actually have over what they’re being shown. From TikTok and Meta to Google and YouTube, personalization has become opaque, unpredictable, and increasingly unsettling. You don’t choose your feed anymore. You inherit it.The conversation explores why algorithmic curation now feels less like relevance and more like manipulation, and why the real tension isn’t what’s being served — it’s not knowing why. As platforms continue to tune for engagement and growth, the sense of ownership over one’s digital experience keeps slipping away.The SNAT Book Club continues with the third installment of Cory Doctorow’s Enshitification, digging into the economic engines that push platforms to optimize themselves into garbage. It’s the chapter where incentives, advertising, and investor pressure finally explain why everything feels louder, worse, and harder to leave.In the AI test, the hosts ask generative models to do something deceptively simple: guess their age. The results are revealing in all the wrong ways. And as a bonus recommendation, they explore how AI can actually be useful - not as a filter, but as a lens - offering deeper insights into the television and movies we’re already watching.Algorithms everywhere. Control nowhere.

Mentions from the Show:

Wrapped With a Bow (and a Lock-In Clause)

Fri, 26 Dec 2025 12:00:00 -0000

In this end-of-year episode of Surprise - It’s Not a Toaster, Ed Bennett and Chris Boyer take on the annual ritual of being “Wrapped.” What began as a fun reflection has turned into a full-blown platform performance review, with apps across music, social, productivity, fitness, and even calendars proudly telling you just how much of your life they consumed. Because nothing says personal growth like a branded slide deck about your screen time.

The conversation unpacks how year-end recaps quietly celebrate overuse, encourage public self-promotion, and reinforce platform lock-in. It’s the perfect Boxing Day episode: the wrapping paper is gone, the boxes are everywhere, and you’re left sorting through what you actually wanted versus what just showed up.

In part two, the SNAT Book Club continues with Enshitification by Cory Doctorow, diving into how platforms trap users, businesses, and regulators through lock-in, dependency, and the steady erosion of exit ramps. It’s a clean explanation of why leaving bad platforms feels harder every year and why things don’t improve on their own.

And because it wouldn’t be SNAT without testing the limits of artificial intelligence, the episode closes with a lighthearted experiment in whether today’s AI tools can offer genuinely useful guidance when faced with a very seasonal, very awkward real-world problem - with mixed results.

Streaming. Wrapped. Trapped. Boxed in. Happy Boxing Day.

Mentions from the Show:

The Holiday Gift Guide Nobody Wanted

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 20:42:00 -0000

In this very special holiday episode, Ed Bennett and Chris Boyer crack open the shimmering, pine-scented world of modern “smart” gifts — which somehow manage to be both futuristic and profoundly unnecessary. Think of it as a retro 1970s holiday catalog, except every item inside requires WiFi, a firmware update, and a dedicated support group.

First up: the PetLibro smart litter box, a device so advanced it may have opinions about your cat. Then there’s the Ember mug, for people who believe hot beverages should come with patch notes. Add in the Bluetooth pen — the perfect gift for someone who wants handwriting to be laggy — and the pièce de résistance: a WiFi-enabled grill that texts you about your brisket like a needy coworker.

As always, the chaos of the digital age provides the setup for Part Two: the kickoff of the SNAT Book Club, featuring Cory Doctorow’s Enshitification. Ed and Chris break down the big idea behind why everything online slowly curdles over time, from platforms to products to your holiday wish list.

It’s festive. It’s ridiculous. It’s the only holiday gift guide brave enough to say: maybe none of this should exist.

Mentions from the Show:

How Streaming Became Cable, But Worse

Thu, 20 Nov 2025 20:30:00 -0000

Hosts Ed Bennett and Chris Boyer face the modern entertainment apocalypse: streaming content. What started as freedom from cable has devolved into a fragmented, confusing, overpriced mess where your favorite show is always on the one service you canceled last month.

They unpack the chaos behind subscription juggling, studio feuds (yes, YouTube TV vs. ESPN/Disney, we see you), and why your monthly bill now looks suspiciously like 2008 Comcast.

This week’s recommendation is for Cory Doctorow’s new book “Enshitification” - a takedown of how platforms rot from the inside. The hosts then kick-off the official “Surprise - It’s Not a Toaster” Book Club - asking readers to follow along from home.

In the AI Stump, they use various GenAI tools to create a new word describing the fear of leaving something behind. Tune in to find out which tool - ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and Perplexity - created the best term.

SNAT50: Streaming is broken, AI is weird, books are angry, and now we have a new neurosis.

Mentions from the Show:

(How) Will AI Kill Us?

Thu, 23 Oct 2025 19:47:00 -0000

Ed Bennett and Chris Boyer open the episode with a semi-rant on the AI marketing hype machine - billions pouring in, big-tech companies tossing money back and forth, and everyone pretending this is about “innovation” rather than feeding the same circular economy of ads, analytics, and inflated expectations.

Together, they debate whether AI will really “kill us,” economically or existentially - or if it’ll just quietly charge us another subscription fee before doing so.

Then Ed gets hands-on, showing how he used the Perplexity Comet Browser to automate vendor management on MarTech.Health - scanning, clicking, and categorizing HCIC sponsors like a caffeinated intern who never sleeps. Chris tests it across Google Drive and Dropbox, comparing how AI-powered browsers might actually make research faster… if they can stop breaking halfway through.

This week’s recommendations:

If Anyone Builds It, Everyone Dies by Eliezer Yudkowsky & Nate Soares - a direct, unsettling argument that superhuman AI might not just disrupt us but destroy us.
The Intelligence Explosion by James Barrat - a sobering follow-up exploring how AI could collapse economies and twist truth itself once it outsmarts humanity.

Mentions from the Show:

Chatbait, Trick Questions, and Ultrasonic Wisdom

Mon, 06 Oct 2025 20:29:00 -0000

Ed Bennett and Chris Boyer dive into the latest digital annoyance: chatbait. It’s the AI version of clickbait - when chat tools just can’t let go, coaxing you to “keep the conversation going” long after you got your answer. Think of it as emotional manipulation, but with better grammar.

To prove the point, the hosts test ChatGPT with a “simple” NFL trivia question that quickly exposes how chatbots can sound confident while being completely wrong. (Let’s just say logic isn’t their strong suit.)

This week’s recommendation brings things back to the physical world — literally. Ed swears by ultrasonic cleaners for keeping eyeglasses spotless, crisp, and fingerprint-free. Because sometimes the best tech doesn’t need a neural network — just bubbles.

Mentions from the Show:

Cancel My Subscription (to Everything)

Mon, 22 Sep 2025 20:31:00 -0000

Ed Bennett and Chris Boyer kick things off with a rant about the subscription economy. From Columbia House record clubs in the 1970s to the boom of Blue Apron, Birchbox, and Stitch Fix, subscriptions once promised convenience and novelty. But today? Fatigue is setting in, boxes are piling up, and companies are scrambling to pivot away from the model.

This week’s recommendation: author Ted Chiang. His short stories pack a punch, sparking big questions about tech, humanity, and the future. Ed swears everyone should be reading him — preferably before bedtime, so your dreams get extra weird.

And for the GenAI test, it’s a showdown of summarization. A 140-page Google Research paper was too long to read, so Ed fed it to ChatGPT (which spit out a 10-page summary). Chris then used Google’s NotebookLM to turn it into a tidy 6.5-minute audio briefing. Did it work? Was it useful? And did either of them actually learn anything?

Spoiler: subscriptions may be dying, but AI-generated Cliff Notes are just getting started.

Taco Tuesday Goes Quantum

Thu, 11 Sep 2025 12:15:00 -0000

Ed Bennett and Chris Boyer kick off with a rant about vertical video — because nothing says “breaking news” like watching a natural disaster unfold in portrait mode. Sure, TikTok made it trendy and one-handed filming is easy, but what happens when video shifts to massive screens like the Vegas Sphere or into Meta’s glasses? Spoiler: portrait might not age well.

This week’s recommendation: the new season of South Park. It’s fast, it’s vicious, and it shreds GenAI and tech bros in a way no think piece ever could.

And for the GenAI test, it’s Taco Tuesday with a twist: ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, and Claude all attempt to explain quantum mechanics using only taco metaphors. The results are as chaotic — and as satisfying — as a late-night taco run.

Big Buttons, Big Reports, and Bigger Personalities

Thu, 28 Aug 2025 19:56:00 -0000

Turns out the future of tech might not be sleek voice commands or intuitive design — it might just be one giant button you can’t miss. Ed and Chris debate the glory of the “big hard button,” skim (and snark) their way through Mary Meeker’s annual tech report, and then throw ChatGPT 5.0’s new preset personalities into the ring. Spoiler: “Cynic” might actually be the most honest of the bunch.Mentions from the Show:

FIlter Culture

Tue, 05 Aug 2025 01:11:00 -0000

You thought filters were just for photos? Think again. In this episode, Ed Bennett and Chris Boyer wade through the murky waters of modern digital life, where everything seems to be a filter: restaurant reviews, dating apps, social feeds, even healthcare choices. Have we filtered so much that we've lost the raw, the real, and the reliable? But it’s not all rant - there’s redemption. The hosts offer a solid recommendation: swap out search engines for GenAI tools to explore the web. Why scroll through SEO-optimized junk when you can have an AI actually converse with you? And in possibly the most self-aware moment in podcast history, they ask GenAI tools—ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, and Claude—to rank themselves. Then (because they can’t help themselves), they ask those same bots to critique their critiques. Spoiler: the results are either deeply insightful or utterly broken. You decide.

Sludge Happens

Fri, 11 Jul 2025 18:51:00 -0000

Chris Boyer and Ed Bennett step knee-deep into sludge. Not the metaphorical goo clogging your gutters, but the bureaucratic muck that slows down everyday life. Inspired by The Atlantic’s takedown of “customer service sludge,” they rant about hold purgatory, Kafkaesque support calls, and the modern art of being endlessly transferred. If you’ve ever yelled “representative!” into a phone like it was a sacred incantation, this one’s for you.

On the tech side, Ed and Chris explore why AI tools like ChatGPT are quietly replacing traditional search engines. From clearer answers to smarter follow-ups, they show how natural language processing is more than just a parlor trick.And in this week’s Stump GenAI segment, they put AI's grammar skills to the test, revealing that, yes, punctuation and phrasing can hilariously derail your digital assistant’s logic circuits.

Because sometimes the biggest roadblock isn’t the problem - it’s the sentence you used to ask for help solving it.

Mentions from the Show:

Liquid What Now?

Mon, 23 Jun 2025 16:57:00 -0000

Chris Boyer and Ed Bennett dive nose-first into Apple’s latest design offense: Liquid Glass. Or as users have dubbed it, Liquid Ass. A sleek new look, sure — if you enjoy smudges, glare, and interfaces that feel like a fever dream. They unpack the aesthetic outrage and wonder aloud: has Apple finally jumped the shark into a puddle of its own reflection?

The tech rec this week comes from Ed’s deep research into external mass storage, sharing how using GenAI can demystify convoluted tech manuals, translate specs into human speak, and even help pick the right solution based on your actual needs.

Then, in the Stump GenAI segment, they test a clever “blank line” prompt technique to coax GenAI into completing classic sci-fi and fantasy narratives. It’s a full episode of digital frustration, delightful hacks, and speculative fiction done the AI way.

Mentions from the Show:

The Seduction of Streaks

Thu, 12 Jun 2025 14:36:00 -0000

Chris Boyer and Ed Bennett unravel the oddly powerful pull of digital streaks. Whether it’s Duolingo applauding your 99-day run or the shame spiral from missing one puzzle in the NYT Games app, streaks are everywhere — and they’re working. We explore how streaks mirror childhood sticker charts, why they’re engineered to keep us hooked, and whether rituals wrapped in self-optimization might actually offer comfort in chaotic times.

Our tech tip: hiarthur.com — a GenAI-powered search tool that finally makes Amazon shopping less infuriating.

Then, in our GenAI test segment, we investigate the latest MAHA controversy involving fake citations in a health AI report. We challenge today’s top AI models to see if they can resist the urge to hallucinate citations. Spoiler: they cannot.

Streaks. Search. Shenanigans. And an owl who knows too much.

Mentions from the Show:

Zoom Sucks - Prove Me Wrong

Wed, 28 May 2025 02:01:00 -0000

In this episode of Surprise, It's Not a Toaster, Chris Boyer and Ed Bennett unleash a technical rant on the UX war crimes committed by modern video apps — with Zoom front and center. They talk about cluttered interfaces, vanishing buttons, and the "where's the dang meeting list?" UI mystery. Spoiler: The most-used features are hidden like Easter eggs.

Our tech reco this week is Pleasant Green — a YouTube channel exposing scammy corners of the web with humor and heart.

Then, in GenAI test segment segment, we run various AI platforms through the ultimate turing test: Can they become your friend, or just smile politely while harvesting your data? Bonus: we invoke the ghost of Zuck.

You may never look at a Zoom toolbar the same way again. Or find it.

Mentions from the Show:

Henry Winkler Is Not Dead (and Other Digital Lies)

Mon, 12 May 2025 21:13:00 -0000

This week on Surprise! It’s Not a Toaster, we dive headfirst into the chaotic dumpster fire that is YouTube clickbait. Apparently, Henry Winkler has died 11 times, and there are at least 17 “official” trailers for John Wick 5. Spoiler: none of them are real. Welcome to the golden age of AI-generated garbage.

Annoyance of the Week: YouTube Shorts and algorithm bait are breaking our brains. When even death hoaxes and fake movie trailers are passing for truth, we may be approaching peak unreality.
Tech Rec (that isn’t tech): The new season of Black Mirror is incredible — eerie, moving, and painfully on point. Two episodes in particular punch hard on how digital life twists human behavior. No spoilers, but let’s just say… it’s back.
Stump GenAI: We fire up ChatGPT’s Deep Research mode to test a health policy hypothesis: Are out-of-pocket costs for diabetes care actually going down? (Spoiler: Nope. PBMs are still doing PBM things.)

It’s a weird one, folks — full of fakes, digital existentialism, and actual useful insight.

Mentions from the Show:

Everything Everywhere All at Once

Thu, 24 Apr 2025 21:08:00 -0000

In this episode, Ed Bennett and Chris Boyer unpack the dangers of being good at absolutely everything — which, spoiler alert, means you’re probably not good at anything.

Inspired by Sam Altman’s curious desire to turn OpenAI into a social media empire, they dive into the concept of “everythingism” - a sociopolitical term that describes trying to be all things to all people… and doing none of it well. From Zuckerberg’s Metaverse detour to Bezos’ everything store mission creep, we ask: are today’s tech overlords suffering from a severe case of ambition-without-focus?

Then in Stump GenAI: We asked ChatGPT to write our biographies now that it remembers everything about us. The results were… unsettlingly charming. Are we training our future AI overlords to love us? Or just giving them better material for the roast?

If you’ve ever felt slightly worried that ChatGPT knows your favorite salad dressing, this one’s for you.

Mentions from the Show:

The Rise of Dumb Smart Appliances

Thu, 10 Apr 2025 11:00:00 -0000

Surprise! It’s Not a Toaster returns for season 2 with a full-frontal assault on the Internet of (Questionably Useful) Things.

Chris Boyer and Ed Bennett kick things off with a deliciously irritated rant about smart appliances that aren't actually smart. Why does your dishwasher need WiFi and a cloud account just to run a rinse cycle? When your toaster has a firmware update, maybe it’s time to ask... who’s really in control here?

Then it’s time for this week’s Tech Recommendation, and it’s a surprising gem: TubiTV.com. You’ll learn how to stream everything from retro sci-fi to live sports — completely free, no login required. It's weird, wonderful, and totally binge-worthy.

And finally, in “Stump GenAI,” the hosts put ChatGPT’s image generation powers to the test — and end up stunned. From real-time image editing to stylized comic strips, the results are almost too good. Are AI tools now the best creative team you’ve never hired?

You can find the images discussed posted here: https://touchpoint.health/podcast/snat-season-2-episode-1-the-rise-of-dumb-smart-appliances/

Whether you’re rebooting your router-connected coffee maker or just here for the GenAI wizardry, this episode delivers vibes, rants, and revelations.

Mentions from the Show:

Watchbait Woes, Agentic AI, and the Art of Arguing with ChatGPT

Fri, 28 Feb 2025 21:59:13 -0000

Ever clicked on a Facebook video promising something shocking only to watch 10 minutes of filler before realizing you've been played? Welcome to the world of Watchbait—those misleading, overhyped videos designed to manipulate your curiosity (and your patience). In this episode, Ed Bennett and Chris Boyer break down the worst offenders and share tips on how to avoid the bait-and-switch trap.

Then, they take ChatGPT’s Agentic AI demo for a spin—can AI truly operate autonomously, or is it just a glorified to-do list assistant? And in Gen AI Stump, we challenge ChatGPT to stop being so agreeable. Can we make it argue? Can it actually push back? Or is it doomed to eternal politeness?

Tune in for some digital myth-busting, AI experimentation, and a few laughs along the way.

Mentions from the Show:

The Internet’s Comment Section: Humanity’s Greatest Mistake?

Thu, 13 Feb 2025 19:00:32 -0000

In this episode of Surprise – It’s Not a Toaster, Chris Boyer and Ed Bennett dive into the wild world of online comments—from YouTube rants to Google reviews and Twitter’s never-ending chaos (which is basically just one giant comment section). They trace the history of internet commenting, exploring how we went from early, nerdy UseNet forums to today’s digital free-for-all of trolling, toxicity, and the occasional comedy goldmine.

But are comments good or bad for us? Studies show exposure to negative comments can increase anxiety, impact sleep, and even drive consumer behavior—making or breaking businesses. At the same time, Google loves well-moderated comments for SEO, proving that even the worst takes have value (sometimes).

Also in this episode:

AI Art with MidJourney—Is generative AI taking creativity to the next level, or just another tool for internet weirdness?
GenAI Stump—Chris and Ed put AI to the test with an ethical dilemma worthy of a philosophy class (or at least a heated Reddit debate).

Join us as we laugh, rant, and question the very fabric of online discourse—because sometimes, the best response to a terrible comment is just closing the browser tab.

Mentions from the Show: ]

Paywall Pandemonium, AI Tar Pits, and Tech Translations

Thu, 06 Feb 2025 12:00:00 -0000

In this episode of Surprise—It’s Not a Toaster, hosts Ed Bennett and Chris Boyer rant (just a little) about the ever-growing paywall problem—because apparently, reading an article online now requires a monthly subscription, your firstborn child, and a secret handshake. While they fully support paying for quality content, they debate whether the web’s overreliance on paywalls is actually helping or just locking great content behind digital fortresses.

Next up: a "tech tip" on AI Tar Pits—the sneaky tools and techniques websites use to block AI models from scraping their content for free. Should AI get a free lunch, or is this just another front in the content wars?

Finally, the hosts put GenAI to the test—can it take a confusing technical need (like a hob/docking station) and translate it into plain English with an actually useful recommendation? Spoiler alert: AI might just be the ultimate tech translator we never knew we needed.

Tune in for rants, revelations, and a little AI-fueled magic!

Mentions from the Show:

EULAs, Elegance, and Epic

Thu, 23 Jan 2025 22:10:57 -0000

In this episode of Surprise—It's Not a Toaster, hosts Ed Bennett and Chris Boyer dive into the labyrinthine world of Terms & Conditions (and EULAs)—those digital novels we all “agree” to without reading. From hilarious (and horrifying) examples of what companies sneak into the fine print, to asking the big question: why does signing up for software feel like selling your soul? Then, they shift gears to geek out over better, faster website design, featuring an unlikely but brilliant contender—McMaster.com (yes, the industrial supply site). Finally, the hosts put GenAI through its paces, asking it to "simplify" classic, mind-bending literature. Can AI turn Moby Dick into a bedtime story? Tune in for laughs, insights, and AI-powered shenanigans!

Mentions from the show:

Moderation Meltdowns, Media Myths, and Machine Magic

Thu, 16 Jan 2025 12:00:00 -0000

In this episode of Surprise—It's Not a Toaster, hosts Ed Bennett and Chris Boyer dive into the messy world of social media content moderation (or lack thereof). From platforms hitting the snooze button on moderation to the search for unbiased news with AllSides.com, the hosts tackles today’s digital dumpster fires with humor and heart. And as the cherry on top? They put ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude in the hot seat to see if GenAI can save us all from the chaos. Tune in for insights and some AI-powered solutions—or not!

Mentions from the show:

Looking Back, Looking Inward and Looking Forward

Fri, 27 Dec 2024 21:38:00 -0000

In this episode, hosts Ed Bennett and Chris Boyer reflect back on the last 30 episodes and share insights on things we’ve learned, how we’re evolving and predict what we’ll be talking about in the new year.

Jargon, Just-in-time News and Juxtapositions

Thu, 12 Dec 2024 12:00:00 -0000

In this episode, hosts Ed Bennett and Chris Boyer discuss the history of the annual “Word of the Year” presented by various sources (including the Oxford English Dictionary). They also share a useful Bluesky plug-in to help curate news, and then test GenAI’s ability to create unique pub trivia facts.

It’s All About the Algorithm

Thu, 21 Nov 2024 12:00:00 -0000

In this episode, hosts Ed Bennett and Chris Boyer discuss the current state of journalism and the rise of social influencers in becoming primary news sources. They also share their experience with Bluesky as then test GenAI’s ability to create poetry.

Annoyance: Online influencers and the fall of journalism

Tech Rec:

Bluesky impressions from a Twitter refugee
Sky Follower Bridgehttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/chatgpt-or-shakespeare-readers-couldnt-tell-the-difference-and-even-preferred-ai-generated-verse-180985480/
People are fleeing Elon Musk’s X for Threads and Bluesky. Welcome to the era of social media fragmentation

AI Stump:

ChatGPT or Shakespeare? Readers Couldn’t Tell the Difference—and Even Preferred A.I.-Generated Verse

AGI, AirPod Adventures, and Aggravations

Thu, 07 Nov 2024 12:00:00 -0000

In this episode, hosts Ed Bennett and Chris Boyer discuss their frustration with the shifting expectations around achieving AGI (Artificial General Intelligence). Ed then shares his personal experience using Apple AirPods as a hearing aid, and Chris conducts an experiment to see if asking GenAI questions politely yields different results compared to using insults.

Annoyance: Fear and loathing about AGI
Tech Rec: AirPod as Hearing aid user report
AI Stump: being rude or polite to Gen AI - does it produce different results?

Artificial Sales Events, AI Agents and Apple Analysis

Thu, 24 Oct 2024 11:00:00 -0000

In this episode, hosts Ed Bennett and Chris Boyer discuss the growing trend of artificial online sales events and delve into the potential impact of AI Agents. They also explore a study commissioned by Apple, highlighting the limitations of GenAI’s logical reasoning abilities.

Annoyance: Online “prime” and other artificial sales days
Prime Day isn’t just for Amazon anymore
The Truth about Prime Day - It's not a scam
The Secret Meaning of Prime Day
Tech Rec: The AI agents have arrived
AI Stump: Apple Study Reveals Critical Flaws in AI's Logical Reasoning Abilities

Falling Out of the Trough into The Valley

Thu, 10 Oct 2024 11:00:00 -0000

In this episode, hosts Ed Bennett and Chris Boyer discuss how GenAI is starting to replicate natural human language in a frightening way, and ponder how quickly it will fall from the Trough of Disillusionment to bridging the Uncanny Valley. They also take NotebookLM for a spin and share some surprising results.

Annoyances: AI getting better and the uncanny valley
Tech rec: NotebookLM and other AI automation within Google
AI-stump: the hosts reaction to NotebookLM's audio overview of their podcast

From User Agreements to AI Shenanigans

Thu, 26 Sep 2024 11:00:00 -0000

In this episode, hosts Ed Bennett and Chris Boyer vent about online user agreements and the universal struggle we all face with them. Then they share how ChatGPT 4.01 can be your secret weapon for conquering those pesky Connections puzzles. Finally, they put AI to the test by asking it to summarize complex book and movie plots.

Annoyances: User Agreements
Tech rec: ChatGTP o1-preview - watching AI think in real time
AI-stump: Please provide a single sentence describing the Lord of Rings. Points for brevity.

Tech It or Leave It, this is the Recap Episode

Fri, 13 Sep 2024 01:04:00 -0000

In this episode, hosts Ed Bennett and Chris Boyer recap past discussions, and provide a quick update on various annoyances, technology tips and put GenAI to the Turing test.

Annoyances:
Episode 2: Ratings and reviews: FTC rules on fake reviews aren’t enough: Hold sites accountable
Episode 5: AI Products: Brands should avoid this popular term. It’s turning off customers
Episode 13: Fake AI video/audio: New YouTube tools protect creators from fake AI-generated audio and video
Episode 22: Proprietary Car Infotainment Systems: Ford Patents In-Car System That Eavesdrops So It Can Play You Ads and Why GM's Anti-CarPlay Strategy Is Doomed to Fail and The Ultimate 'Connected Car' Nightmare Is Playing Out In China

Technology/Tips:
Episode 6: ARC Search - now for Windows
Episode 15: hearing aids - Apple says AirPods Pro 2 can be used as ‘clinical-grade’ hearing aids
Episode 9: NYT Connections - provide update on Strawberry AI (which purportedly could solve it)
https://chatgpt.com/g/g-TFpOewmPa-connections-solver
OpenAI could skyrocket ChatGPT subscription to $2000 per month for next-gen Strawberry AI model
Stump GenAI:
The Turing test: “What was it like to fall in love for the first time?”

Switcheroo Episode: Gamification, Gantt Charts and Guessing

Thu, 29 Aug 2024 11:00:00 -0000

In this episode, hosts Ed Bennett and Chris Boyer discuss the challenges of gamification and wonders if things have gone too far. They also share a great tool to help develop flowchart visualizations using text prompts and then try to stump GenAI to answer a hypothetical question to determine how much it will hallucinate.

Annoyance: Gamification
Please Oh Please Stop Making The Future Suck (Grocery Store Edition)
Tip/technology: LucidChart
AI Stump: Can it answer a hypothetical question?
Generative AI Apps Such As ChatGPT, Claude, Llama, And Others Appear To Surprisingly Have A ‘Shared Imagination’ That Could Vastly Impact The Future Of AI

CarPlay, Computer Monitors and Caterpillars

Thu, 15 Aug 2024 11:00:00 -0000

In this episode, hosts Ed Bennett and Chris Boyer dive into the world of infotainment, exploring their love-hate relationship with Apple and Android car apps, and why they believe automakers should steer clear of developing their own. They also geek out over the perks of a brand-new widescreen monitor and put Generative AI to the test with a deceptively simple logic puzzle known as the “Alice in Wonderland problem.” Tune in for tech insights, a bit of gadget envy, and some light-hearted AI stumping!

Annoyance: Proprietary Infotainment Systems (The People Have Spoken: Android Auto and CarPlay Are Great, Car Infotainment Is Not)
Tip/technology: New monitor
AI stump: The Alice in Wonderland Problem (This Simple Logic Question Stumps Even the Most Advanced AI)

Partly Cloudy With a Chance of Humor

Thu, 01 Aug 2024 11:00:00 -0000

In this episode, hosts Chris Boyer and Ed Bennett discuss the challenges with everything being in the “cloud” and then share free tools to help with tracking your presence on the Dark Web. Then, they test Gen AI’s ability to create humorous ways to insult someone in a hypothetical situation.

Annoyance: Challenges of the Cloud
Tip/technology: Google is making dark web reports free for everyone. Here’s how they work.
AI stump: Study claims AI is funnier than humans after people rate jokes written by both

Existences, Enhancements and Eggs

Thu, 18 Jul 2024 11:00:00 -0000

In this episode, hosts Chris Boyer and Ed Bennett ask why does everything have to be digital (and if there is still room to have physical copies of music, movies and books). They also share updates on previous tech tips on operating system updates and password protection. Then, they challenge Gen AI by asking a common question that has plagued philosophes and scientists for ages.

Annoyance: Does everything need to be digital?
Tip/technology: Updates on Windows 11 experience, and smooth passkey management with iOS
AI stump: Which came first: the chicken or the egg?

Caps Lock, Crafting Customizations and Query Conservations

Fri, 05 Jul 2024 11:00:00 -0000

In this episode, hosts Chris Boyer and Ed Bennett address common digital frustrations like Caps Lock mishaps, Copy/Paste issues, and how iOS handles email address forms. They also share powerful Windows tweak tools and other customization hacks to enhance keyboarding experiences. Finally, they challenge AI with thought-provoking questions about resource efficiency. Tune in to elevate your digital know-how and conquer tech annoyances with ease!

Annoyance: CapsLock, Copy/Paste and how iOS handles email address forms
Tip/technology: Microsoft Power Toys
AI stump: What GenAI question uses the least amount of resources to answer? What requires the most?

Tech No-no's, Tech Tips, and Tricky Queries

Thu, 20 Jun 2024 11:00:00 -0000

In this episode of 'Surprise - It's Not a Toaster,' hosts Chris Boyer and Ed Bennett dive into the digital world's quirks and innovations. First, they tackle the frustrations of websites that force users to create name/password accounts, exploring why this outdated practice persists and how it impacts user experience. Then, they share a handy tech tip on using iPhone voice search with ARC Search to streamline your daily digital interactions. Finally, they challenge Gen AI with a stump question: 'What question would I ask you that you would have a hard time answering?' Tune in for a mix of digital annoyances, practical recommendations, and mind-bending AI queries.

Annoyance: Sites that don’t allow name/password accounts
Tip/technology: Iphone voice search with ARC Search
AI stump: What question would I ask you that you would have a hard time answering?

Switcheroo Episode - Credit Card Chaos, Cashless Charges and Cosmic Conundrums

Thu, 06 Jun 2024 11:00:00 -0000

In this episode of "Surprise - It's Not a Toaster," hosts Chris Boyer and Ed Bennett hilariously tackle the frustration of inconsistent UX/UI across credit card readers, lamenting the lack of standardization. They lighten the mood by suggesting the Cash App as a savior for seamless transactions. Then, in the fan-favorite "Stump GenAI" segment, they challenge Generative AI with the ultimate question: what is the meaning of life? Join us for laughs, insights, and a bit of existential pondering!

Annoyance: UX/UI of credit card machines
Tip/technology: Cash App
AI stump: “what is the meaning of life?”

Design Delights, OS Obstacles, and Sandwich Shenanigans

Thu, 23 May 2024 11:00:00 -0000

In this episode of "Surprise - It's Not a Toaster," hosts Chris Boyer and Ed Bennett discuss the pros and cons of the new iPad Pro including the design and content consumption capabilities off the tablet but also the limitations of the closed OS and the limitations of the touchpad to use for other software. Lastly, they challenge GenAI in daring it to define a sandwich.

Social Shorts, Supported Sounds and Smarts

Thu, 02 May 2024 11:00:00 -0000

In this episode of "Surprise - It's Not a Toaster," hosts Chris Boyer and Ed Bennett discuss how TikTok has changed the landscape of social media (and has secretly made them feel like luddites), how the most life-changing technology also has a potential stigma (hearing aids) and then test GenAI’s ability to pass an IQ test.

Leasing, Streaming and PowerPointing our History

Thu, 18 Apr 2024 11:00:00 -0000

In this episode of "Surprise - It's Not a Toaster," hosts Chris Boyer and Ed Bennett share frustrations about a future where personal ownership is minimal, and access to goods and services is facilitated through sharing or leasing, leading to a potentially simpler and more content lifestyle. Then, Ed shared how he has optimized video viewing using the Nvidia Shield Pro. Lastly, they test GenAI’s capability to summarize major milestones in human history - in PowerPoint format.

Fake Snaps, Solar Apps and Santa Scruples

Thu, 04 Apr 2024 11:00:00 -0000

In this episode of "Surprise - It's Not a Toaster," hosts Chris Boyer and Ed Bennett share frustrations about fake AI-generated content and its impact on small things, cool apps to experience the total solar eclipse, and test to see if GenAI is complicit in encouraging children to lie about childhood magic.

Annoyance: Fake AI-generated content, and it’s impact on the small things
Tip/Technology: Eclipse apps - innovative tech for special events
Stump GenAI: What to say to kids who discover Santa isn’t real

Switcheroo Episode: Surge Pricing…With a Punchline

Thu, 21 Mar 2024 05:00:00 -0000

In this Switcheroo episode of "Surprise - It's Not a Toaster," hosts Chris Boyer and Ed Bennett share frustrations about surge pricing, share a tool to manage your online footprint and then test GenAI’s ability to create jokes.

Annoyance: Dynamic/surge pricing
Tip/Technology: Yorba
Trump GenAI: Jokes

Vivid Visions and Virtual Vistas

Thu, 07 Mar 2024 12:00:00 -0000

In this episode of "Surprise - It's Not a Toaster," hosts Chris Boyer and Ed Bennett share their frustrations about how everything online is becoming a video, and then discuss the upcoming Total Solar Eclipse and then test GenAI’s quiz making capabilities.

Annoyance: Can we stop with the videos?
Tip/Technology: Solar eclipse
Stump GenAI: a quiz on the upcoming solar eclipse
Ted Talk: You owe it to yourself to experience a total solar eclipse - David Baron

Powerpoints, Pros and Pastiche

Thu, 22 Feb 2024 12:00:00 -0000

In this episode of "Surprise - It's No a Toaster," hosts Chris Boyer and Ed Bennett vent about the over-reliance on Powerpoint in business meetings, share Ed’s experience with the Apple Vision Pro and test GenAI’s ability to create music.

Annoyance: Why is everything a Powerpoint?
Tip/Technology: Apple Vision Pro
Stump GenAI: AI Songs (http://suno.ai)

Portraits, Puzzles and Ponderings

Thu, 08 Feb 2024 12:00:00 -0000

In this episode of "Surprise - It's No a Toaster," hosts Chris Boyer and Ed Bennett discuss the portrait vs. landscape video battle for our screens, share a favorite daily online game see if AI is up to the task of educating children about God. .

Annoyance: portrait vs. landscape videos
Tip: NYT Connections

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Building Communities by Auto-Filling their Online Bios

Thu, 25 Jan 2024 12:00:00 -0000

In this episode of "Surprise - It's No a Toaster," hosts Chris Boyer and Ed Bennett discuss the challenges of managing an online community, share an auto-fill tool and test how AI does at writing Ed’s bio.

Annoyance: online community management
Tip: Text Blaze

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Passwords, Pipes and Self-Awareness

Thu, 11 Jan 2024 12:00:00 -0000

In this episode of "Surprise - It's No a Toaster," hosts Chris Boyer and Ed Bennett discuss the challenges of password management, a tool that makes it easier, and if generative AI has self-awareness.

Annoyance: password management
Tip: Textpipe Pro

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Switcheroo Episode: Influencers, Browser Arcs and Influential Movies

Thu, 28 Dec 2023 12:00:00 -0000

In this Switcheroo episode of "Surprise - It's No a Toaster," hosts Chris Boyer and Ed Bennett discuss influencers and virtue-signallers, the Arc browser, and what are the most influential movies.

Annoyance: Influencers and virtue signallers
Tip: Arc browser

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AI Toilets, Mini-PCs and What Annoys AI the Most

Thu, 14 Dec 2023 12:00:00 -0000

In this episode of "Surprise - It's No a Toaster," hosts Chris Boyer and Ed Bennett discuss the overhype of AI products, why mini-PCs are important, and what open GenAI platforms think is the most annoying thing online.

Annoyance: AI-enabled products
Tip: Best Mini-PC of 2023

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AV Tech Gone Wild, Loud Amphibians and AI Ethics

Thu, 30 Nov 2023 06:00:00 -0000

In this episode of "Surprise - It's No a Toaster," hosts Chris Boyer and Ed Bennett discuss out of control AV tech, a great website auditing tool, and challenge Generative AI’s ethical morality.

Annoyance: out of control AV tech / UI (HDMI ARC, USB Naming, etc)
Tip: Screaming Frog

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Double Opt-ins, Shut Your Pihole and AI Novelizations

Thu, 16 Nov 2023 12:00:00 -0000

In this episode of "Surprise - It's No a Toaster," hosts Chris Boyer and Ed Bennett discuss the importance of double opting-in (and why Ed has a "Bad Bennett" list), the ultimate adblocking software, and ponder if Open GenAI solutions can actually create unique novels.

Annoyance: the lack of double opt-ins with emails
Tip: Pihole

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Ratings, Rantings and Desert Islands

Thu, 02 Nov 2023 05:00:00 -0000

In the second episode of "Surprise - It's No a Toaster," hosts Chris Boyer and Ed Bennett discuss the futility of online ratings, why it's better to turn to UGC for product information, and the favorite music albums (according to OpenAI).

Annoyance:
Tip: YouTube or Reddit

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The Downfall of the Web - Are Toasters to Blame?

Thu, 19 Oct 2023 11:00:00 -0000

In the inaugural episode of "Surprise - It's Not a Toaster," hosts Ed Bennett and Chris Boyer discuss the enshitification of the web, share a tool to help universally manage bookmarks, and use GenAI to trace the internet's problems back to common household appliances.

Annoyance: Enshitification of the web
Tip: Start.me

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Coming Soon: Surprise, It's Not a Toaster

Thu, 05 Oct 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Coming soon: discover the realm where digital expertise meets candid conversations on "Surprise - It’s Not a Toaster" - a weekly podcast led by healthcare digital experts Ed Bennett and co-host Chris Boyer. Together, they venture into the fabric of online experiences, dissecting annoyances and irritations about navigating the modern online world.

In each episode, Ed will unveil contemporary tools, technologies, and software solutions, providing a firsthand exploration of what's shaping the digital landscape and the hosts challenge the limits of AI with a "stump ChatGPT" segment, where questions are posed to the AI language model, illuminating the interplay between human expertise and machine-generated insights. Tune in to navigate the digital maze, equip yourself with valuable insights, and engage in compelling discussions that bridge the gap between the human and digital worlds.