Stories We Can’t Stop Thinking About: Deepfakes, the Tesla Backlash, and All Things Chips
Feb 28, 2025 - wired.com
The article discusses a podcast episode from WIRED's "Uncanny Valley," where hosts Michael Calore, Lauren Goode, and Zoë Schiffer delve into three significant stories from February. The episode covers the backlash against Tesla, a saga involving deepfaked images, and developments in the microchip industry. A key focus is on a story about Breeze Liu, a former venture capitalist who faced a distressing situation when explicit images and videos of her, some real and some deepfaked, were spread online without her consent. The content was stored on Microsoft's Azure cloud servers, and Liu struggled for years to have it removed, highlighting the challenges of combating non-consensual image distribution and the limitations of current support systems.
The podcast also touches on the evolving landscape of the chip industry, noting Intel's decline and the rise of companies like Nvidia, which have capitalized on the growing demand for AI-focused graphics processing units (GPUs). The discussion emphasizes the importance of semiconductors in everyday technology and the shift in computing needs towards AI, which has reshaped the market dynamics. The episode underscores the broader implications of these technological shifts and the societal challenges posed by advancements in AI and deepfake technology.
Key takeaways:
WIRED discusses three stories from February: Tesla backlash, deepfaked images saga, and microchips.
Lauren Goode talks about her interest in the Oura Ring for sleep tracking and stress monitoring.
Zoe Schiffer shares a story about Breeze Liu's struggle with non-consensual deepfaked images and Microsoft's role.
Lauren Goode highlights the changing landscape of the chip market, focusing on Intel's decline and Nvidia's rise.
