TNW 451: AI Is Eating Rare Books - Rare Books Gutted for AI Training

TNW 451: AI Is Eating Rare Books - Rare Books Gutted for AI Training

Author: TWiT August 21, 2026 Duration: 1:08:04

Abrar Al-Heeti of CNET joins the show to talk about her review of the Pixel 11 Pro Fold, Meta's smart glasses are slowly becoming a concern in the workplace, and Amazon is destroying rare books & utilizing them as AI training data.

  • Abrar Al-Heeti shares her review of the Pixel 11 Pro Fold, noting how foldables have become nearly indistinguishable in size from standard phones like the iPhone 17 Pro Max, and shares a look at its camera, battery, and new software features like Pause Point.
  • Mikah shares an article published by The Verge that looks into how retail workers, tourism employees, and comedians describe being secretly recorded by Meta Ray-Ban wearers on the job.
  • And 404 Media's Emanuel Maiberg joins the show to share his investigation into Amazon buying and shredding rare, out-of-print books to scan them as AI training data, and how a legal ruling in Anthropic's book-piracy case made destroying the originals advantageous.

Hosts: Mikah Sargent and Abrar Al-Heeti

Guest: Emanuel Maiberg

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Every Thursday, host Mikah Sargent gathers with a rotating panel of frontline tech journalists to sort through the week's noise. This isn't just a recap of headlines; it's a conversation with the people who are actually reporting them, offering context and clarity that goes far beyond a news alert. You'll hear how stories develop behind the scenes and understand why certain announcements truly matter. The Tech News Weekly (Video) podcast from TWiT provides that essential depth, transforming breaking news into meaningful analysis. Whether it's a major product launch, a shifting policy, or an emerging trend, these discussions help make sense of the relentless pace of innovation. Tune in for a grounded, informed perspective that feels like sitting in on a meeting of sharp, knowledgeable friends. New episodes record live each Thursday, ready to give you the insight needed to navigate the ever-changing tech landscape.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 30

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