WW 998: Laptop Fort - Bill Gates Warns About the Dark Side of AI

WW 998: Laptop Fort - Bill Gates Warns About the Dark Side of AI

Author: TWiT August 26, 2026 Duration: 2:42:40

Microsoft tries to prove Windows on ARM is ready for prime time, but behind the PR push, unresolved questions about compatibility, branding, and a tepid market threaten to derail the company's ambitions. Also, PowerToys 0.101 is here with Windows Hopper and multiple improvements! Plus, Parallels Desktop 27 for Mac launches.

Windows

  • If a Week D falls in the woods and no one installs it, did a Week D really happen?
  • Theory: This is the big one, with the three big changes Microsoft promised this year. Basically, this is Windows 11 version 26H2
  • Three new builds across Beta, Experimental, and Experimental (26H1) with a modernized AutoPlay experience and a new "Open apps maximized" accessibility feature
  • Microsoft reminds business customers that Windows on Arm is terrific ahead of Nvidia RTX Spark launch
  • Totally coincidental that this happened on the same day that Apple announced a new Mac Mini with M6 and M5 Pro and Mac Studio with M5 Ultra and M5 Max

Microsoft 365

  • OneDrive for Mac gets native sync engine
  • Proton Mail gets automatic and customizable category filtering

AI/dev

  • Bill Gates issues a strong warning on the dangers of AI. And you're not going to believe what number two is
  • WSJ report echoes the complaints that Paul has been making for years. Again
  • Adobe Firefly gets production-quality music, speech, and sound effect generation capabilities
  • Apple Music will start labeling AI-generated music
  • .NET Conf 2026 on track for November with .NET 11

XBOX and gaming

  • XBOX testing long-awaited disc to digital entitlements
  • The ASUS ROG XBOX Ally X20 is available now for $1299, or in a $2499 bundle
  • Rumor: Microsoft prepping an Xbox Series X25 Limited Edition console for November
  • Update: it's real. The XBOX 25th anniversary collection arrives November 13
  • Microsoft announces (third party) Designed for XBOX 25th Anniversary Collection of hardware peripherals
  • IKEA has designed some XBOX-influenced furniture and it is amazing
  • Rockstar Games weighs in on leaks as GTA VI reveal arrives (tomorrow)
  • Commodore announces Alien Breed 35th Anniversary Collection for PC, consoles
  • NVIDIA brings GeForce Now to Firefox

Tips and picks

  • Tip of the week: Expose yourself to other points of view
  • App pick of the week: PowerToys
  • RunAs Radio this week: Security Features of PowerShell 7 with Mike O'Neill
  • Brown liquor pick of the week: SpiceBox Spiced Whisky

Hosts: Leo Laporte, Paul Thurrott, and Richard Campbell

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Check out Paul's blog at thurrott.com

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For anyone following the vast and often intricate ecosystem of Microsoft, Windows Weekly (Video) offers a consistently insightful look behind the curtain. Hosted by Leo Laporte of TWiT, the conversation is driven by veteran Microsoft insiders Paul Thurrott and Richard Campbell, whose combined expertise provides context that goes far beyond surface-level news. While the name suggests a focus on the operating system, this podcast truly serves as a comprehensive analysis of the entire company, from its consumer-facing products like Xbox and Surface to its massive enterprise cloud services and ambitious AI initiatives. Each episode feels like a detailed briefing, unpacking the strategies, successes, and stumbles of the tech giant. The video format adds a valuable layer, allowing you to see the hosts' reactions and follow along with screen shares when they delve into technical previews or software updates. You'll hear informed speculation, historical perspective, and critical debate about Microsoft's direction, making it an essential resource for IT professionals, developers, and dedicated enthusiasts who want to understand not just what is happening, but why. This is the kind of deep dive that turns complex topics into engaging discussion, offering the only Microsoft analysis you'll likely need. For those who prefer an uninterrupted experience, ad-free audio and video feeds are available through Club TWiT.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 33

Windows Weekly (Video)
Podcast Episodes
WW 992: Gassy Jack - Largest Patch Tuesday in Microsoft History! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:32:12
Microsoft's July 2026 Patch Tuesday just shattered records with hundreds of bug fixes, and AI is the force behind the surge. Are we witnessing the beginning of a safer Windows, or is this flood of vulnerabilities the new…
WW 990: Don't Be Nostalgic for Stupid - The Doom & Gloom Watch [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:39:55
Windows 10's Extended Security Update program quietly gets extended for another year for consumers. Microsoft reportedly kills Surface Go products & is now selling 8 GB Surface Pro & Laptop models. And Xbox Series X & S…
WW 989: Deer Hate MSDN - Point-in-Time Restore Arrives for Windows 11 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:41:44
Windows 12 is stalled and the real reasons go far beyond software. The conversation unpacks how soaring hardware prices, AI chaos, and market confusion have Microsoft in a holding pattern. Also, Paul finally took a sledg…
WW 988: Bubbleable - XBOX Could Be Facing a Moment of Reckoning [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:51:13
With major leadership shakeups and rumors of studio closures, the future of XBOX inside Microsoft suddenly looks uncertain. Is this the beginning of a Game Pass overhaul, or could XBOX face an outright split from the com…
WW 986: Liminal AI - RTX Spark, Project Solara, Scout, & Much More! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:32:00
Build 2026 is underway in San Francisco this week, and it started with a big, overly-long keynote as always. And Computex is this week, too. There's a lot going on, and some of it is fascinating. Plus, WWDC is next week…