Are we already living in the Metaverse?
In 2019, computer scientist Riz Virk wrote a book called The Simulation Hypothesis, which outlined the 10 stages of technology development that would take us to the Simulation Point. He joins the show… Video, Audio
Soul Rebels: reggae on the Ukraine battlefield
There have been plenty of stories about brave Ukrainians taking up arms since the conflict in their country started back in late February. But the story of the soldiers in the Bob Marley Volunteer… Audio
Apple AirTags - a stalker's best friend?
Technology correspondent Mark Pesce joins Kathryn to look at Apple's AirTags, a device that can turn every iPhone in the world into a detector for your lost luggage or keys - but they're also being… Audio
Midweek Mediawatch: A new angle on housing
Midweek Mediawatch: Hayden Donnell talks to Karyn Hay about alternative approaches to stories about our housing and transport problems - and news media getting a green light to try and get Facebook… Audio
NZME undermines collective bid to confront tech titans
Google and Facebook have distributed New Zealand media outlets' news online for years - for free. Local media companies joined forces last year in a bid to get them to pay for it. But one of the… Audio
Russia blocks Facebook, says it restricts access to Russian media
Russia is blocking Facebook, the country's communications regulator said on Friday, in response to what it said were restrictions of access to Russian media on the platform.
Ukraine's military, politicians targeted in hacking campaign - Facebook owner
Meta Platforms says a hacking group used Facebook to target a handful of public figures in Ukraine, including prominent military officials, politicians and a journalist.
Russian court fines Google and Meta platforms
Google has been fined $US98 million by a Moscow court for repeated failures to delete illegal content, setting a first in Russia.
Technology: The Year in Review
Tech commentator Mark Pesce joins Kathryn to look at some of the biggest themes that have emerged this year, including the computer chip shortage that has ground the industry to a halt and forced… Audio
New 'anti-troll' law in Australia won't curb cyberbullying
A new "anti-troll" law in Australia will hold social media platforms liable for hurtful comments on their websites. The law will define the social media companies like Facebook and Instagram as the… Audio
New collective bid to make tech titans pay for NZ news
The umbrella group representing locally-owned news media wants to negotiate with Facebook and Google for "fair payment” for the local journalism appearing on their services. Australian news media have… Audio
The Native Dairy Farmer
Dave Swney and Alice Trevelyan have converted a tennis court on a dairy farm into a native plant nursery. They're using as much recycled material as they can. Audio
Veteran tech reporter warns against tech titans' overreach
Rory Cellan-Jones is a former BBC technology correspondent and author of 'Always On: Hope and Fear in the Social Smartphone Era.' The 63-year-old recently left the BBC after a 40-year association with… Audio
Looking back on tech titans' takeover of media
Facebook’s all-powerful founder has rebooted his trillion-dollar company as ‘Meta’ and he’s planning for a new virtual ‘metaverse’ for us in five years. But the real world mess Facebook’s made in… Audio
Meta’s moves to boost our media underwhelms observers
Facebook - freshly rebadged as ‘Meta’ - gives local news media content huge extra reach, but it covers none of the cost of creating it while snaring the bulk of the digital ad revenue it… Audio
What is the metaverse? And why is Facebook rebranding?
Technology commentator Mark Pesce joins Kathryn to talk about Mark Zuckerberg's announcement last week that Facebook would rebrand to Meta, to focus the direction of the company on the metaverse. Mark… Audio
Facebook parent company goes 'Meta'
Facebook is changing its company name to Meta. It's a shift of focus for the social media giant after a barrage of negative publicity. Worldwatch's Max Towle has this report. Audio
Jonathan Haidt: Social media model 'is breaking the world'
Named one of the world's top thinkers by both Prospect and Foreign Policy magazines, American social psychologist Professor Jonathan Haidt will feature as the keynote speaker at next month's APEC CEO… Audio
Midweek Mediawatch: Epidemiologists under attack
In this week's episode of Midweek Mediawatch, Hayden Donnell talks to Karyn Hay about an escalating series of media attacks on epidemiologists and layoffs at Newshub. Audio
Tech commentator Peter Griffin
Tech commentator Peter Griffin joins Kathryn to look at the legal action being taken by Uber drivers to try to force the company to treat them as employees, not contractors. It follows similar… Audio