Accessibility links
Laura Sydell
Stories By

Laura Sydell

Monday

Peter Thiel Stands Out In Silicon Valley For Support Of Donald Trump

While much of Silicon Valley has supported Hillary Clinton, billionaire investor Peter Thiel is backing Donald Trump. "We're voting for Trump because we judge the leadership of our country to have failed," Thiel says. Bloomberg via Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Bloomberg via Getty Images

All Tech Considered

Peter Thiel Stands Out In Silicon Valley For Support Of Donald Trump

Thiel, a billionaire investor, has caused friction in Silicon Valley, which has largely backed Hillary Clinton. But others who disagree with Thiel's views stand by his right to express them.

Peter Thiel Stands Out In Silicon Valley For Support Of Donald Trump

Listen · 4:02
Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/500114584/500115512" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Tuesday

It Ain't Me, Babe: Researchers Find Flaws In Police Facial Recognition Technology

A New York Police Department security camera set up along a street in New York City on Aug. 26. Robert Alexander/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Robert Alexander/Getty Images

All Tech Considered

It Ain't Me, Babe: Researchers Find Flaws In Police Facial Recognition Technology

Nearly half of American adults have been entered into law enforcement facial recognition databases, a new report shows. But problems with the accuracy of the technology could affect innocent people.

It Ain't Me, Babe: Researchers Find Flaws In Police Facial Recognition Technology

Listen · 3:52
Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/499176469/499262869" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Monday

Pundits Vs. Machine: Who Did Better At Predicting Campaign Controversies?

Quid found 228,912 English-language stories in the news and on the blogs about Clinton's health between Sept. 12 and Oct. 12. Quid hide caption

toggle caption
Quid

All Tech Considered

Pundits Vs. Machine: Who Did Better At Predicting Campaign Controversies?

We pitted two political pundits against an algorithm to compete at predicting the biggest issues to arise over a month in the presidential election. Now we find out who won.

Pundits Vs. Machine: Who Did Better At Predicting Campaign Controversies?

Listen · 4:05
Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/498280965/498292102" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Wednesday

Technology

Amazon Prepares To Launch Cheaper Music Streaming Service

Amazon is taking a deep dive into the highly competitive music streaming world. It's introductory price of $3.99 a month undercuts every other streaming service, and it does some heavy lifting with artificial intelligence.

Amazon Prepares To Launch Cheaper Music Streaming Service

Listen · 2:30
Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/497715207/497715208" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Tuesday

Business

Samsung Officially Halts Production Of Galaxy Note 7 Phones

South Korea's Samsung Electronics Co., is reeling Tuesday after announcing it would halt production and sales of its Galaxy Note 7 smartphone. Samsung had to issue a recall about a month ago after multiple incidents in which the phone overheated and caught fire.

Samsung Officially Halts Production Of Galaxy Note 7 Phones

Listen · 3:11
Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/497563902/497563903" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Wednesday

As Buyers Circle, Could Twitter Be Better Off As A Nonprofit?

Several companies are said to be considering bids for Twitter. Chesnot/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Chesnot/Getty Images

All Tech Considered

As Buyers Circle, Could Twitter Be Better Off As A Nonprofit?

Disney, Google and others are said to be considering buying Twitter. It's got baggage — lackluster ad sales, abusive trolling — but also millions of users. What if Twitter focused on a public mission?

As Buyers Circle, Could Twitter Be Better Off As A Nonprofit?

Listen · 3:31
Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/496427956/496984947" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Thursday

Technology

Tech Group To Set Industry Standards For Artificial Intelligence

Artificial intelligence is increasingly becoming part of everyday life: think Apple's Siri. Major tech firms formed a group to help the public understand AI and develop standards so it isn't misused.

Tech Group To Set Industry Standards For Artificial Intelligence

Listen · 2:48
Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/495882758/495882759" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Monday

Republicans Say Obama Administration Is Giving Away The Internet
Andrew Cowie/AFP/GettyImages

All Tech Considered

Republicans Say Obama Administration Is Giving Away The Internet

The U.S. is about to complete its long-planned handover of Internet domain name management to a global non-profit. Republicans argue it's an example of the Obama administration giving up U.S. power.

Republicans Say Obama Administration Is Giving Away The Internet

Listen · 4:02
Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/495396014/495523431" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Monday

Pundits Vs. Machine: Predicting Controversies In The Presidential Race

Quid, a data analytics firm, uses proprietary software to search, visualize and analyze text. Quid hide caption

toggle caption
Quid

All Tech Considered

Pundits Vs. Machine: Predicting Controversies In The Presidential Race

How well can a computer program predict which controversies around Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump are likely to re-emerge in the coming weeks? Two human pundits agree to compete against the machine.

Pundits Vs. Machine: Predicting Controversies In The Presidential Race

Listen · 5:57
Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/494279204/494619550" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Thursday

Business

Coming To The App Store: Nintendo's New Game 'Super Mario Run'

"Super Mario Run" will soon be available for iPhones. Apple CEO Tim Cook made the announcement at a product event Wednesday, and shares of Nintendo soared on the news.

Coming To The App Store: Nintendo's New Game 'Super Mario Run'

Listen · 1:31
Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/493073602/493073603" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Tuesday

Apple May Test iPhone Users' Loyalty If It Dumps The Headphone Jack
Bill Hinton/Moment Editorial/Getty Images

All Tech Considered

Apple May Test iPhone Users' Loyalty If It Dumps The Headphone Jack

The next iPhone, expected to be unveiled Wednesday, may be missing something familiar: the ubiquitous headphone jack. Usability experts say the change could really sit badly with Apple customers.

Apple May Test iPhone Users' Loyalty If It Dumps The Headphone Jack

Listen · 2:18
Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/492876197/492926693" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Monday

A Robot That Harms: When Machines Make Life Or Death Decisions

When a person places a finger in the slot on the left, the robot uses an algorithm — unpredictable even to its creator — to decide whether to prick the finger with the pin on the end of its arm. Alexander Reben hide caption

toggle caption
Alexander Reben

All Tech Considered

A Robot That Harms: When Machines Make Life Or Death Decisions

An artist has designed a robot that purposefully defies Isaac Asimov's law that "a robot may not harm humanity" — to bring urgency to the discussion about self-driving and other smart technology.

A Robot That Harms: When Machines Make Life Or Death Decisions

Listen · 4:03
Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/490775247/491848144" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Wednesday

Tuesday

Why The Airline Industry Could Keep Suffering System Failures Like Delta's

Passengers wait at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport after a computer systems failure on Monday caused Delta to delay or cancel hundreds of flights. Branden Camp/AP hide caption

toggle caption
Branden Camp/AP

All Tech Considered

Why The Airline Industry Could Keep Suffering System Failures Like Delta's

Delta's massive outage wasn't the first malfunction to wreak havoc on an airline. The industry's systems are complex and require high security, which can make them more prone to shutdowns.

Why The Airline Industry Could Keep Suffering System Failures Like Delta's

Listen · 3:20
Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/489355923/489361714" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript