251: OpenAI CEO Warns Courtesy is Costly. Apple Suffers a Courtroom Defeat over App Store Policies. Scammers Weaponize QR Codes to Hijack Phones. Visa Revolutionizes Payments with AI-Driven Wallet Access | Air Date: 5/6 - 5/12/2025

TechTime with Nathan Mumm

A federal judge has just delivered a stunning blow to Apple's App Store dominance, permanently banning the tech giant from charging commissions on purchases made outside their walled garden. This landmark ruling in Epic Games' ongoing legal battle against Apple not only paves the way for Fortnite's return to iOS but signals a fundamental shift in how digital marketplaces operate. Could this be the beginning of the end for Apple's notorious 30% "tax" on developers?
Meanwhile, your polite interactions with AI might be costing more than you think. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman recently revealed that users saying "please" and "thank you" to ChatGPT costs the company tens of millions of dollars annually—money he considers "well spent." Beyond the financial implications, these interactions have surprising environmental consequences, with AI-generated content consuming substantial energy resources. As 67% of users report being polite to their AI assistants (with 12% doing so to appease potential robot overlords), the question emerges: does courtesy to algorithms matter?
The financial world isn't sitting idle either. Visa's ambitious new initiative aims to give AI agents direct access to your wallet, allowing them to make purchases on your behalf based on preferences and budgets. This move beyond simple chatbots raises profound questions about convenience versus control in our digital lives. As consumer credit card debt soars past $1.21 trillion, should we trust algorithms to manage our spending habits? We explore the benefits and potential pitfalls of this new frontier in financial technology.
Don't miss our essential "Letters" segment, where we expose the latest scams targeting consumers—including a dangerous new "brushing scam" using malicious QR codes to compromise smartphones. Subscribe to Tech Time Radio wherever you get your podcasts and follow us on social media to stay ahead of emerging threats and technological developments that impact your digital life.

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Fejezetek

1. Show Introduction & Weekly Overview (00:00:00)

2. Apple's App Store Legal Battle (00:01:43)

3. AI Politeness Costs Millions (00:09:13)

4. Visa's AI Financial Agents (00:13:26)

5. Letters: Scam Alerts & Warnings (00:21:09)

6. Whiskey Tasting: Monthly Tradition (00:35:06)

7. Technology Fail: Uber's Emergency Response (00:43:23)

8. Nathan's Nugget: AI Errors in Science (00:55:25)

9. Final Whiskey Verdict & Show Wrap-up (00:58:18)