TNW 433: A $399 AI Deer That Texts You - Crazy Lore Behind an AI Companion

Jennifer Pattison Tuohy of The Verge joins Mikah Sargent this week on Tech News Weekly! How AI is helping elders stay independent & provide companionship. How Apple and Google's app stores are pushing users toward deepfake nude apps, per an organization's report. And inside the crazy backstory behind an AI plush companion. Jennifer talks about Samsung's newest updates to its SmartThings Family Care service and how technology and AI are increasingly being used to help take care of elderly people & provide companionship. Mikah talks about a report from the Tech Transparency Project that found both Apple & Google's app stores that host & direct users to apps that generate non-consensual nude images of women. And Victoria Song of The Verge joins the show to share her review of a $399 AI companion and her very unique experience with the device overall. Hosts: Mikah Sargent and Jennifer Pattison Tuohy Guest: Victoria Song Download or

You can listen to TNW 433: A $399 AI Deer That Texts You - Crazy Lore Behind an AI Companion online on Radio and Podcast. Open the player on this page to stream the available audio.

TNW 433: A $399 AI Deer That Texts You - Crazy Lore Behind an AI Companion is an episode from Tech News Weekly (Video) by Leo Laporte.

This episode is 1:15:23 long.

This episode was published on Apr 16, 2026.

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