AI Is Invading All Aspects of Our Tech Lives. Good Luck Trying to Avoid It

In this episode of Tech Therapy, we cope with companies changing voice assistants and feeding us AI slop. Theme parks might be the only escape.

Bridget Carey Editor at Large

Bridget Carey is an award-winning reporter who helps you level-up your life -- while having a good time geeking out. Her exclusive CNET videos get you behind the scenes as she covers new trends, experiences and quirky gadgets. Her weekly video show, "One More Thing," explores what's new in the world of Apple and what's to come. She started as a reporter at The Miami Herald with syndicated newspaper columns for product reviews and social media advice. Now she's a mom who also stays on top of toy industry trends and robots. (Kids love robots.)

Bridget has spent over 18 years as a consumer tech reporter, hosting daily tech news shows and writing syndicated newspaper columns. She's often a guest on national radio and television stations, including ABC, CBS, CNBC and NBC.

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Scott Stein Editor at Large

I started with CNET reviewing laptops in 2009. Now I explore wearable tech, VR/AR, tablets, gaming and future/emerging trends in our changing world. Other obsessions include magic, immersive theater, puzzles, board games, cooking, improv and the New York Jets. My background includes an MFA in theater which I apply to thinking about immersive experiences of the future.

Expertise VR and AR | Gaming | Metaverse technologies | Wearable tech | Tablets Credentials

Nearly 20 years writing about tech, and over a decade reviewing wearable tech, VR, and AR products and apps

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Bridget Carey

Scott Stein

March 22, 2025 5:00 a.m. PT

2 min read

Whether Android users want it or not, AI is replacing the classic Google voice assistant. Google announced that the Google Assistant will be completely replaced by Gemini on mobile devices over the coming months.

Amazon's Alexa is also forcing changes on Echo users, killing off a core privacy feature and requiring all voice recordings be sent to Amazon for analysis (instead of letting users keep that data on the device). The change comes as Amazon prepares to launch the Alexa Plus conversational AI upgrade as a $20 up-charge to customers.

iPhone and Siri users also deal with pushy corporate interests, as Apple Intelligence was automatically turned on in the most recent iOS software update.

In this episode of Tech Therapy (video embedded above) co-hosts Bridget Carey and Scott Stein tackle their feelings of all the ways AI is pushing its way into our world.

Are we even using AI tools all that much in our gadgets? Not really. Scott discusses how Meta's Ray-Bans are a classic example of how AI often feels like an random extra instead of an essential help.

But alas, there's no escape even on social media, as Scott tells us AI slop videos have taken over his feeds on Facebook and Instagram.

So we hopefully can find some escape to a different kind of weird in the real world. The interactive art experience of Meow Wolf is making its way to New York City, which is blending various tech into the storytelling. Bridget and Scott talk about their experiences with tech in immersive spaces and the upcoming Epic Universe theme park opening.

Ready for another session? Catch up on past Tech Therapy podcast episodes and subscribe on our YouTube channel.

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