LITS bits:
 This week, Matt and Griff discuss AI that plays Pokémon, a song that has the power to breaks certain computers, why Big Tech is sweating, AI usage stats in 2025, the Bezos-backed Auto maker bringing a small EV truck to life, and much more!
Gemini 2.5 Pro Beats Pokémon Blue
It’s official: Google DeepMind’s Gemini 2.5 Pro has defeated Pokémon Blue yes, the classic Game Boy title. This isn’t just a quirky party trick. It signals the growing ability of large language models to solve problems in unfamiliar environments using limited feedback something even experienced players sometimes struggle with.
Sundar Pichai’s thread explaining the feat dives into the implications, including the potential for more intelligent in-game AI, dynamic storytelling, and autonomous agents that learn from play. AI just got its Boulder Badge.
A Janet Jackson Song Crashed Laptops for 9 Years
One of the most bizarre stories in tech history resurfaced this week: Janet Jackson’s 1989 hit “Rhythm Nation” could crash laptops and not just the one playing the song.
Microsoft engineer Raymond Chen revealed that the track contained a frequency that resonated with the spinning disks in certain 5,400 RPM hard drives. These vibrations caused read errors, crashes, and even damaged nearby machines.
Microsoft responded with a notch filter in Windows XP to block the problematic frequency—a fix that stayed in place through Windows 7. With SSDs now dominant, the issue is thankfully obsolete, but it’s a wild reminder that sound can literally break hardware.
OpenAI Restructuring and How Microsoft is Holding the Keys
OpenAI’s ongoing effort to restructure—splitting its for-profit initiatives into a public benefit corporation—has hit a snag. Microsoft, OpenAI’s largest investor, hasn’t yet approved the move. State attorneys general also need to give the green light.
Microsoft’s hesitation stems from wanting to protect its strategic interests, but the clock is ticking. OpenAI’s transformation is part of a broader plan to balance innovation with ethical oversight. Read the full story.
🔗 OpenAI’s official statement on its structural evolution
AI usage stats in 2025: Beyond Search and Code
AI has officially gone mainstream—not just as a productivity tool but as a life assistant and emotional support system.
According to recent usage data, AI is now helping with:
- Therapy and mental health guidance
- Life coaching and personal organization
- Creative projects, learning, and art
This shift marks a deepening of our relationship with AI—from helpful to essential. See the trends here.
AI Workers Are Coming, And So Are Security Risks
Get ready: fully autonomous AI-powered virtual employees are expected within the next year. These aren’t just fancy chatbots—they’ll perform entire workflows.
But with that comes massive cybersecurity concerns. Companies must rethink access control, digital identity, and risk management. Firms like Anthropic are racing to develop safeguards that can handle this new class of non-human workers.
Big Tech vs Governments
Governments on both sides of the Atlantic are clamping down on Big Tech.
- Apple was hit with a €500 million fine for restricting developers’ pricing flexibility outside the App Store.
- Meta took a €200 million hit for its "pay-or-consent" ad model, which EU regulators say violates privacy rights.
In the U.S., the proposed App Store Freedom Act would force dominant app platforms like Apple to allow third-party app stores—and let users set them as default.
Before this AI era, this fight started with Epic Games vs. Apple—a battle that's still evolving. Read more.
đź“° Full story on the EU fines here
Bezos-Backed Slate Auto Debuts $20K EV Pickup
Jeff Bezos is backing Slate Auto, a new player in the EV market—and their debut truck is refreshingly simple and cheap. Priced under $20,000 (after tax credits), the “analog” EV pickup aims to outflank Tesla by going for affordability over flash.
But the specs are modest:
- 1,400-pound payload capacity
- 1,000-pound towing limit
This isn’t a workhorse, but it could shake up the low-end EV market. Release is planned for late 2026.
Full announcement via TechCrunch
Enjoyed what you heard? We release a new episode every two weeks, so be sure to come back for the next one!