The Technology Risk Podcast

A new Gallup and Stop Scams Alliance survey of 5,173 U.S. adults found that roughly 15 million Americans were scammed in 2025, with 12 percent of successful scams involving AI or deepfakes and total losses reaching 68 billion dollars. Stop Scams Alliance CEO Ken Westbrook compared the scale of organized fraud to the annual revenue of Delta Airlines, a Fortune 500 sized adversary now aimed at busin...

A Canadian tribunal ordered Air Canada to pay 812 dollars and 2 cents after its booking chatbot invented a fare discount that did not exist, and the airline's argument that the chatbot was a separate legal entity was flatly rejected. This week we break down a new Forbes roundup of five high-profile AI failures at Air Canada, Zillow, Samsung, CNET, and IBM, and unpack what each one means for sm...

Apple just unveiled what TechCrunch is calling the company's biggest AI launch to date, packing new automated features across iOS and macOS and quietly partnering with Google Gemini to power some of them. In this episode we break down what was announced at WWDC, why a delayed Siri upgrade is making a comeback after Apple had to disable an earlier Apple Intelligence feature, and the question most s...

A sitting UK Labour Party lawmaker just sued Elon Musk's xAI at the High Court in London, alleging that someone used the Grok chatbot to create fake bikini images of her without consent. Jess Asato is seeking damages under the Data Protection Act and, more importantly, trying to set a legal precedent that AI companies can be held liable for how their systems are designed. Prime Minister Keir S...

Verizon Business just released the 2026 Data Breach Investigations Report, and the findings are a wake-up call for every small business owner. Social engineering is back in the top three attack patterns alongside system intrusion and miscellaneous errors, and together those three account for 81% of all breaches studied. Attackers are now using AI to study how your company writes, who your vendors...

LinkedIn warned on May 7 2026 that fake AI generated profiles are increasingly being used to infiltrate companies, apply for jobs, and build trust with employees before launching scams or data theft attempts. In this episode, we explain how AI generated identities are changing the threat landscape and why hiring workflows are becoming attractive targets for cybercriminals. We break down how fake p...

Shopify reported issues with checkout and payment flows on April 17 2026, affecting merchants globally and preventing some customers from completing purchases. In this episode, we break down what happened, how checkout systems function, and why disruptions at the payment stage create immediate financial impact. We explain how modern e-commerce platforms centralize key operations and what it means...

OpenAI reported degraded performance on April 16 2026 that affected ChatGPT and the APIs many businesses use to power customer support, automation, and internal tools. In this episode, we break down what happened, what APIs are, and how disruptions in AI infrastructure can ripple across modern business operations. As more companies embed AI into daily workflows, even short outages can slow respons...

Tesla confirmed a data exposure involving internal records after concerns were raised about how employee data was accessed and handled, highlighting the risks associated with insider access. In this episode, we break down what happened, what insider risk means, and how authorized users can unintentionally or intentionally expose sensitive information. We explain why internal data exposure can be j...

Google rolled out updates to its AI-driven search results that changed how websites are ranked and displayed, and many businesses observed traffic drops around March 26 2026. In this episode, we explain what changed, how AI-generated search results are reshaping visibility, and why traditional ranking strategies may no longer work the same way. We break down how search is shifting from listing lin...

Slack users reported message delays and connection problems on March 13 2026, affecting teams across multiple regions. In this episode, we break down what happened, how widespread the disruption appeared, and why even short outages in communication platforms can create ripple effects across business operations. We explain how modern teams rely on tools like Slack for coordination, decision making,...

Major defense contractors including Lockheed Martin are reportedly removing Anthropic AI tools from internal systems after a U.S. government directive restricted their use. In this episode, we break down what happened, why the restriction was issued, and how quickly major organizations are adjusting their technology stacks in response. We explain how vendor bans tied to national security or regula...

Reports surfaced on February 17 2026 that Google Gemini, a generative AI system used for research, writing, and analysis, was producing incorrect citations and fabricated facts in professional workflows despite new safeguards. In this episode, we examine how AI hallucinations happen, why they remain difficult to eliminate, and how confidently incorrect output can quietly enter business operations....

OpenClaw is an agentic AI, meaning it can take actions on your behalf, including reading local files, browsing the web, and using stored credentials. On February 19 2026, Microsoft warned that it should not be run on a standard personal or enterprise workstation because of identity and runtime risks. In this episode, we explain what agentic AI is, why it changes the traditional risk model, and how...

Polish officials said Russia domestic spy agency likely carried out cyberattacks in late December against 30 renewable energy and manufacturing facilities, affecting systems that serve nearly 500,000 customers. In this episode, we break down what is known about the attacks, what types of operational systems were reportedly targeted, and why critical infrastructure incidents matter beyond national...

BridgePay, a major U.S. payment gateway that processes credit and debit transactions for merchants and municipalities, was hit by a ransomware attack that triggered widespread outages. Some businesses were pushed into cash-only operations as transaction processing stalled. In this episode, we explain what happened, what ransomware is, and how a third-party payment processor outage can immediately...

TikTok has finalized a deal that places Oracle and other U.S. investors in control of its U.S. business, reshaping who owns, stores, and oversees platform data and algorithms. In this episode, we unpack what changed, why the deal was completed, and how data custody and governance are being repositioned under the new structure. The conversation focuses on why this is not just a geopolitical story,...

A U.S. federal appeals court warned that errors from generative AI in legal filings are increasing — and judges are issuing sanctions when users fail to verify outputs. In this episode, we explain why sloppy AI use in contracts, compliance filings, or court documents creates real legal risk for SMBs, and how to put guardrails in place before AI mistakes cost you in court. Make sure to subscribe to...

A supplier tied to Boeing disclosed a data exposure involving internal documents — even though Boeing itself was not breached. In this episode, we explain how third-party incidents trigger audits, contract reviews, and trust issues across the supply chain, and why SMB manufacturers must prepare for scrutiny even when their own systems are clean. Make sure to subscribe to our podcast on Spotify and...

UnitedHealth is facing fresh lawsuits and regulatory scrutiny tied to last year’s cyber incident — a reminder that legal fallout often arrives months after leaders think the crisis is over. In this episode, we explain why delayed fines, audits, and lawsuits are the real cyber risk for regulated SMBs, and how to prepare for the long tail of post-breach exposure. Make sure to subscribe to our podcas...

ASML confirmed that viral claims of a data breach were false — but the damage from the rumor still spread fast. In this episode, we explain how fake breach posts can trigger customer panic, supplier disruption, and reputational harm, and why SMBs need a calm verification and communication playbook when cyber rumors surface. Make sure to subscribe to our podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts for mo...

A cyber incident at a Toyota supplier forced production slowdowns, proving that manufacturers can be shut down even when their own systems are secure. In this episode, we explain how supplier cyber failures ripple instantly through just-in-time manufacturing, why third-party risk is now an operational threat, and what manufacturers must do to stay running when vendors fail. Make sure to subscribe...

Apple and Google issued rare global warnings about widespread spyware targeting users across iOS and Android. In this episode, we explain why these alerts matter to SMBs, how spyware turns everyday phones and email into surveillance tools, and what steps businesses must take now to protect credentials, communications, and sensitive plans. Make sure to subscribe to our podcast on Spotify and Apple...

Oracle’s disappointing earnings rattled investors and raised serious questions about the ROI of massive AI infrastructure spending. In this episode, we unpack what Oracle’s stumble signals for SMBs considering expensive AI and cloud contracts — and why today’s shiny AI bet could become tomorrow’s budget black hole when vendor promises don’t deliver. Make sure to subscribe to our podcast on Spotify...

OpenAI has publicly warned that its next-generation AI models may pose “high” cybersecurity risks by helping attackers find exploits and automate cyberattacks. In this episode, we explain why AI is no longer just a helper for SMBs, how poor governance turns AI into a new attack vector, and what guardrails businesses must put in place to avoid data loss, fraud, and compliance trouble. Make sure to...