Author: Jeff

Apple’s into Perplexity.ai, Judge’s Perplexing Ruling on Copyright AI Training

Post author By Jeff
Post date June 25, 2025

Bryan and Jeff dive into the AI debate and the impact it’s having on content creators today. They look at the rumor that Apple is considering buying Perplexity.ai, and Judge Alsup’s ruling saying it’s fair use for AI companies to train their models on content as long as it isn’t pirated.

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Sources referenced in this episode:

Courts say AI training on copyrighted material is legal
Apple Executives Have Held Internal Talks About Buying AI Startup Perplexity
Report: Apple Is Considering Buying AI Startup Perplexity
Bryan’s book Accidental Intelligence
Bryan’s short story King Liam, First of His Name
Mason Truman on Threads

Jeff is speaking at Macstock 9 July 11, 12, and 13 — Use the discount code JGAMET to get $50 off your registration

Review the show on Apple Podcasts

Where to find us:

The Context Machine on Bluesky
The Context Machine Facebook Group – Facebook
The Context Machine on Mastodon
The Context Machine on Post
Bryan’s Instagram
Bran’s Mastodon
Bryan’s Threads
Bryan’s blog: GeekTells
Jeff’s Instagram
Jeff’s Mastodon
Jeff’s Threads
Jeff’s YouTube Channel

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Tags AI, Anthropic, Apple, Copyright, Perplexity

Podcast

OpenAI Buys Jony Ive’s io, Murderbot on Apple TV+

Post author By Jeff
Post date May 21, 2025

Bryan and Jeff do their best to come up with some thoughts on OpenAI’s purchase of Johnny Ive’s io company. They also take a look at the new Murderbot series on Apple TV+.

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Sources referenced in this episode:

OpenAI is buying iPhone designer Jony Ive’s AI devices startup for $6.4 billion
Sam Altman: ‘Steve Jobs would have been damn proud’ of Jony Ive’s latest move
Murderbot
Dresden Files
Callsheet
Bryan’s book Accidental Intelligence
Bryan’s short story King Liam, First of His Name
Mason Truman on Threads

Jeff is speaking at Macstock 9 July 11, 12, and 13 — Use the discount code JGAMET to get $50 off your registration

Review the show on Apple Podcasts

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Tags Apple TV+, Dresden Files, io, Johnny Ive, Murderbot, OpenAI

Podcast

Jeff’s Andor Faceplant, a Fun Mac Utility, and CarPlay Ultra

Post author By Jeff
Post date May 15, 2025

Bryan schools Jeff on the Ghor language in the Star Wars Andor series. They also take a look at a cool new Mac utility and CarPlay Ultra.

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Sources referenced in this episode:

Bryan gloats over what he learned about the Ghor language in the Star Wars Andor series
Andor Season 2
Tintd
Next-gen CarPlay, branded CarPlay Ultra, starts rolling out today
Next-gen CarPlay, branded CarPlay Ultra, starts rolling out today
Retro Rewatch
Bryan’s book Accidental Intelligence
Bryan’s short story King Liam, First of His Name
Mason Truman on Threads

Jeff is speaking at Macstock 9 July 11, 12, and 13 — Use the discount code JGAMET to get $50 off your registration

Review the show on Apple Podcasts

Where to find us:

The Context Machine on Bluesky
The Context Machine Facebook Group – Facebook
The Context Machine on Mastodon
The Context Machine on Post
Bryan’s Instagram
Bran’s Mastodon
Bryan’s Threads
Bryan’s blog: GeekTells
Jeff’s Instagram
Jeff’s Mastodon
Jeff’s Threads
Jeff’s YouTube Channel

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Tags Andor, CarPlay, Mac, Star Wars, Tintd

Podcast

Mac Classics Myth and Marathon Get New Lease on Life

Post author By Jeff
Post date April 23, 2025

It’s retro game time on The Context Machine. Bryan and Jeff talk about the user-driven revival of Bungie’s Myth, the open source Marathon games, and the upcoming new Marathon game. They also talk about itch.io and Goodreads.

SPONSOR: Insta360 X5 Camera – Score a free invisible selfie stick worth US$24.99 with your Insta360 X5 purchase, head to store.insta360.com and use the promo code tcm. Available for the first 30 purchases only.

Sources referenced in this episode:

Bungie’s ‘Myth’ resurrected by fans for modern Mac gamers
Aleph One Marathon Open Source Project
Marathon – Official Gameplay Reveal Trailer
Marathon | Reveal Cinematic Short
Goodreads
Bryan’s book Accidental Intelligence
Bryan’s short story King Liam, First of His Name
Mason Truman on Threads

Jeff is speaking at Macstock 9 July 11, 12, and 13 — Use the discount code JGAMET to get $50 off your registration

Review the show on Apple Podcasts

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Podcast

Adapting to GenAI – Spring 2025 Edition

Post author By Jeff
Post date April 15, 2025

Bryan and Jeff discuss the ethical use of AI and LLM, and the role those tools play in business. They also talk about the potential of being left behind as these tools advance and gain wider adoption.

Sources referenced in this episode:

Imaginary Worlds Episode 275: Blueprints for Utopias
ChatGPT
MacWhisper
LM Studio
Bryan’s book Accidental Intelligence
Bryan’s short story King Liam, First of His Name
Mason Truman on Threads

Review the show on Apple Podcasts

Where to find us:

The Context Machine on Bluesky
The Context Machine Facebook Group – Facebook
The Context Machine on Mastodon
The Context Machine on Post
Bryan’s Instagram
Bran’s Mastodon
Bryan’s Threads
Bryan’s blog: GeekTells
Jeff’s Instagram
Jeff’s Mastodon
Jeff’s Threads
Jeff’s YouTube Channel

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Podcast

Apple Personal Robots, More on Fancy Fountain Pens

Post author By Jeff
Post date March 19, 2025

Bryan and Jeff take a look at Apple’s potential path in the personal robotics space. They also talk about fountain pen nibs and whether or not Visconti pens are worth their high price tags.

SPONSOR: Incogni – Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code CONTEXT at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: http://incogni.com/context

Sources referenced in this episode:

Apple personal robots
Apple’s New Pixar-Inspired Lamp Robot Shows Off Its Moves
Walk, Run, Crawl, RL Fun | Boston Dynamics | Atlas
Amazon unveils a new and improved Alexa, Alexa+
Cozmo coding robot
Apple Leadership
Silicon Valley Macintosh User Group
Visconti Homo Sapiens Lava Bronze fountain pen
Visconti Collezione Checkmate fountain pen
Pilot Vanishing Point Fountain Pen
Baronfig journals
Sheaffer Nostalgia Solid Gold Filigree Overlay Fountain Pen 14k Gold Nib
Sheaffer Nostalgia Etched Sterling Fountain Pen 18k Gold Nib Stickered Clean
Bryan’s book Accidental Intelligence
Bryan’s short story King Liam, First of His Name
Mason Truman on Threads

Review the show on Apple Podcasts

Where to find us:

The Context Machine on Bluesky
The Context Machine Facebook Group – Facebook
The Context Machine on Mastodon
The Context Machine on Post
Bryan’s Instagram
Bran’s Mastodon
Bryan’s Threads
Bryan’s blog: GeekTells
Jeff’s Instagram
Jeff’s Mastodon
Jeff’s Threads
Jeff’s YouTube Channel

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Tags Baronfig, fountain pens, Pilot, robot, Visconti

Podcast

Our TV Catchup, Apple AI Catchup, and RCS Catchup

Post author By Jeff
Post date March 14, 2025

Bryan and Jeff talk about streaming shows they’re enjoying, how Apple is faring in the artificial intelligence space, and end-to-end encryption coming to RCS messaging.

SPONSOR: Incogni – Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code CONTEXT at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: http://incogni.com/context

Sources referenced in this episode:

Dark Winds
Severance
Daredevil: Born Again
Reacher
Something Is Rotten in the State of Cupertino
Amazon unveils a new and improved Alexa, Alexa+
End-to-end encrypted RCS messaging on iPhone coming in future software update
Bryan’s book Accidental Intelligence
Bryan’s short story King Liam, First of His Name
Mason Truman on Threads

Review the show on Apple Podcasts

Where to find us:

The Context Machine on Bluesky
The Context Machine Facebook Group – Facebook
The Context Machine on Mastodon
The Context Machine on Post
Bryan’s Instagram
Bran’s Mastodon
Bryan’s Threads
Bryan’s blog: GeekTells
Jeff’s Instagram
Jeff’s Mastodon
Jeff’s Threads
Jeff’s YouTube Channel

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Tags Alexa, Apple Intelligence, Daredevil, Dark Winds, Reacher, Severance

Podcast

Bookshop.org and New Mac Studios, MacBooks Airs, and iPad Airs

Post author By Jeff
Post date March 5, 2025

Apple’s on a roll with new product announcements. This week Bryan and Jeff take a look at the new M4 Max and M3 Ultra Mac Studio, M3 iPad Air, and A16 iPad. They also talk about independent book shops and Bookshop.com.

SPONSOR: Incogni – Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code CONTEXT at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: http://incogni.com/context

Sources referenced in this episode:

Review the show on Apple Podcasts

Where to find us:

The Context Machine on Bluesky
The Context Machine Facebook Group – Facebook
The Context Machine on Mastodon
The Context Machine on Post
Bryan’s Instagram
Bran’s Mastodon
Bryan’s Threads
Bryan’s blog: GeekTells
Jeff’s Instagram
Jeff’s Mastodon
Jeff’s Threads
Jeff’s YouTube Channel

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Tags Bookstore.com, iPad Air, M3, M4, Mac Studio, MacBook Air

Podcast Uncategorized

France Gets Whacky on Apple and Other Privacy Things

Post author By Jeff
Post date February 27, 2025

France thinks Apple should scale back privacy protection, the UK wants access to your encrypted iCloud data, and Bryan and Jeff have plenty to say about both. They also have a couple cool apps from Iconfactory to share.

Sources referenced in this episode:

Apple faces likely French antitrust fine for privacy tool, sources say
Apple pulls data protection tool after UK government security row
Tapestry
Wallaroo
Don’t Mention the Book author interview with science fiction and cyberpunk author Bryan Chaffin
Bryan’s book Accidental Intelligence
Bryan’s short story King Liam, First of His Name
Mason Truman on Threads

Review the show on Apple Podcasts

Where to find us:

The Context Machine on Bluesky
The Context Machine Facebook Group – Facebook
The Context Machine on Mastodon
The Context Machine on Post
Bryan’s Instagram
Bran’s Mastodon
Bryan’s Threads
Bryan’s blog: GeekTells
Jeff’s Instagram
Jeff’s Mastodon
Jeff’s Threads
Jeff’s YouTube Channel

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Tags France, Iconfactory, privacy, Tapestry, UK, Wallaroo

Podcast

Listener Email, Instagram Alternatives Update, and Collier’s

Post author By Jeff
Post date January 29, 2025

Bryan and Jeff follow up on listener emails, take a quick look at new shows on Apple TV+, and look at some Instagram alternatives. They also reminisce about defunct social media platforms, and Bryan manages to weave in the long-dead Collier’s magazine.

Sources referenced in this episode:

Prime Target
Silo
Severance
The Rockford Files
Shogun on Disney Plus
HomeKit Headaches and Apple Vision Pro Rumors
Controller for HomeKit
Nova Pocket Titanium fountain pen from Namisu
Pi-hole
Cloudflared
Pixelfed
Pinksky
Flashes
Defunct Social Media Platforms
Collier’s magazine
Bryan’s book Accidental Intelligence
Bryan’s short story King Liam, First of His Name
Mason Truman on Threads

Review the show on Apple Podcasts

Where to find us:

The Context Machine on Bluesky
The Context Machine Facebook Group – Facebook
The Context Machine on Mastodon
The Context Machine on Post
Bryan’s Instagram
Bran’s Mastodon
Bryan’s Threads
Bryan’s blog: GeekTells
Jeff’s Instagram
Jeff’s Mastodon
Jeff’s Threads
Jeff’s YouTube Channel

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Tags Apple TV+, fountain pens, Prime Target, Severance, Silo

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