Microsoft DOESN'T CARE - WAN Show Aug 16, 2019

Episode Summary

Executive Summary: The episode mixed tech-policy commentary with sponsor reads and product demos. The hosts debated Microsoft’s decision to keep human review of Cortana/Skype audio, argued that voice assistants require some tradeoff with privacy, mocked Facebook’s privacy cafés as ineffective PR, praised YouTube’s faster video-based demonetization appeals, and discussed Amazon’s 1959-price gas promotion, Huawei’s delayed foldable phone, and allegations of Huawei helping African governments surveil opposition.

Main Topics: Microsoft continues human review of voice recordings (Priority: 5/5): The hosts discuss reports that Microsoft, like Amazon, Google, Apple, and Facebook, uses contractors to review voice clips from Cortana and Skype for transcription and AI training. They debate whether this should be more openly disclosed and whether privacy expectations are realistic for voice assistants. Privacy tradeoffs in consumer voice assistants (Priority: 5/5): A broader discussion about how users want convenience and smart features now, but those features often depend on some level of data collection and human review. The speakers argue that consent should be more overt than buried in terms of service, while acknowledging most people still assume privacy. Facebook privacy cafés as PR and user education (Priority: 4/5): The hosts react skeptically to Facebook opening physical privacy cafés in London, where people can get free drinks and learn privacy settings. They see it as expensive, performative, and unlikely to fix Facebook’s underlying privacy problems. YouTube adds video appeals for demonetization (Priority: 4/5): They praise YouTube’s pilot program allowing creators to submit video appeals for demonetization decisions, arguing that creators communicate better on video than in forms, and that the turnaround time of seven days is a meaningful improvement over 30 days. Amazon’s 1959-price gas promotion (Priority: 3/5): The hosts cover Amazon’s promotional stunt for The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, in which gas, hot dogs, milkshakes, hotel rooms, and movie tickets were temporarily priced as if it were 1959. They note the promotion caused traffic disruptions and police intervention. Huawei foldable phone delays and espionage allegations (Priority: 4/5): They discuss the Huawei Mate X being delayed again and speculate on the economics of foldable phones, then shift to allegations that Huawei helped African governments track political opposition in Uganda and Zambia. Sponsor reads and merch showcase (Priority: 3/5): The episode includes extended sponsor segments for Comic Garage, Savage Jerky, and Private Internet Access, plus a showcase of LTT jackets and hats, including discussion of material, fit, water resistance, and visibility details.

Key Arguments: Voice assistant accuracy is improved by human review, but that benefit should be disclosed more clearly and ideally opt-in rather than hidden in long policies. Users want the convenience of assistants like Cortana, Alexa, or Google Assistant, so some privacy compromise is an inherent tradeoff rather than a shocking breach. Facebook’s privacy cafés are viewed as expensive optics; changing product behavior would likely be more effective than teaching users settings in a branded café. YouTube’s video-based appeals are likely better than written forms because creators can explain context faster, more clearly, and with better evidence. The market has already created inertia around platforms and tools, so many people stay with inferior systems due to network effects and habit. Foldable phones are being pushed by hype and competition, but high prices and immature hardware make them more of an early-adopter experiment than a mainstream product. Huawei’s delay may reflect broader geopolitical and production pressures, while its alleged surveillance role in Africa raises concerns about telecom hardware being used for political monitoring.

Data Points: Companies reportedly using human review of voice recordings: 5 - Apple, Google, Amazon, Facebook, and Microsoft were referenced as having some form of human review of voice/audio recordings for assistant training. YouTube appeal turnaround: 7 days - The new pilot program is said to respond to demonetization appeals within a week instead of the prior 30-day process. Previous demonetization appeal turnaround: 30 days - Creators previously had to submit a form and wait roughly a month. Amazon gas promotion price: 30 cents per gallon - The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel promotion temporarily reset gas prices to 1959 levels in Santa Monica. Movie ticket price in promo: 51 cents - Part of Amazon’s 1959 pricing stunt. Facebook fine mentioned: 20% of annual revenue - One speaker referenced Facebook having to spend 20% of annual revenue on an EU fine that year. PAI/PIA server footprint: 3,000+ bare metal servers - Private Internet Access was described as having over 3,000 bare metal servers. PIA server locations: 44 locations in 28 countries - Used to describe the VPN provider’s network size. PIA device limit: 5 devices - The VPN service was said to allow up to five simultaneous devices. Comic Garage box contents: 10 comics or 24 comics - The sponsor read described monthly box options with 10 curated comics in the super box or 24 in the ultimate box. Comic Garage promo code discount: $6 off - Offer code Linus was said to save $6 on the first box. Huawei foldable phone launch target: September 2019, then November 2019 - The Mate X was reportedly delayed from mid-2019 to September and then to November. Huawei foldable phone price: About $2,600–$2,700 - The hosts referenced the expected price of the foldable Huawei phone. Samsung foldable tech theft claim: $14 million sale - They referenced a report that stolen folding-display technology was sold for $14 million.

Pivotal Quotes: "We know that our... We did the legal stuff. Yeah. Whatever." — Speaker 1: Commenting on Microsoft updating its privacy policy to disclose human review of Cortana and Skype audio. "Do you want the Google Assistant to understand you? Do you want these voice things to like really work well?" — Speaker 2: Arguing that improved assistant performance requires some data collection and human review. "I want it to be an opt-in switch." — Speaker 1: Making the case that voice recording review should be explicitly consent-based rather than hidden in terms.

Implications: The episode frames AI convenience as inseparable from privacy tradeoffs, pushing companies toward clearer consent and faster user-facing dispute processes. It also suggests that hype products like foldables and privacy PR stunts will face skepticism unless they deliver tangible value.