Kim Komando Daily Tech Update

School laptops are failing our kids

6 min
Feb 24, 20263 months ago
Listen to Episode
Summary

The episode examines how $30 billion invested in school laptops over the past decade has failed to improve student outcomes, with Gen Z scoring lower on standardized tests than previous generations despite being digital natives. The show also covers emerging trends in gaming monetization, AI advertising strategies, and cybersecurity concerns.

Insights
  • School technology investments have not translated to academic improvements; Gen Z scores lower on standardized tests than their parents despite unprecedented device access
  • Gaming companies are adopting casino-style VIP programs targeting high-spending players, with 90% of revenue coming from less than 5% of users
  • AI companies are pivoting to ad-supported models to demonstrate revenue generation despite massive infrastructure investments
  • Free and budget-tier AI services are becoming ad-supported as companies struggle to prove profitability
Trends
School technology spending plateau with diminishing returns on academic outcomesGamification and subscription services adopting predatory monetization tactics similar to gamblingAI platforms transitioning from subscription-only to ad-supported hybrid modelsVIP loyalty programs in casual gaming targeting high-value spenders with luxury experiencesMicro-transactions in games scaling to macro-level spending for engaged usersTech companies monetizing user data and behavior patterns through targeted advertising
Companies
Zynga
Gaming company generating over $1 billion in revenue, implementing VIP programs targeting high-spending players with ...
OpenAI
ChatGPT provider beginning to show ads to free and $8 budget tier users to demonstrate revenue generation
Google
Announced Gemini AI platform will not show ads yet, but indicated future ad implementation is likely
People
Andrew Bobinski
Morning co-host on KEZ 99.9 FM in Phoenix, Arizona; co-host discussing tech trends with Kim Komando
Quotes
"Gen Z is the first generation to score lower on standardized tests than their parents and their parents before them."
Kim KomandoEarly segment
"Clearly, whatever we're doing handing out tech is not working."
Kim KomandoSchool laptops segment
"90% of the revenue comes from less than 5% of the players."
Kim KomandoGaming monetization segment
"They call them micro transactions but when you add it up it's pretty macro."
Kim KomandoZynga VIP program discussion
Full Transcript
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That's rocketmoney.com slash Kim. Go now, rocketmoney.com slash Kim. In the past 10 years, Americans have spent $30 billion swapping textbooks for laptops in our schools. The costs are still growing. If your kids are using a school laptop, listen up. Gen Z, kids born between 1997 through 2012, were the first true digital natives, the first to get school-issued laptops. They've never known a world without smartphones, social media, streaming They followed by Gen Alpha the most digitally integrated population ever While the jury is still out on Gen Alpha Gen Z is the first generation to score lower on standardized tests than their parents and their parents before them. Scores were dropping before COVID, so don't blame that. In fact, no one seems to know who to blame. But clearly, whatever we're doing handing out tech is not working. Join almost a million folks who get my free newsletter every single day. It's five-star rated. Sign up at GetKim.com. And now a clip from my weekend show, The Kim Commando Show. It's pretty much the best radio show in the world, but I may be just a little biased. Sit back and enjoy. Passwords are the key to your digital life, but if you're reusing the same ones or simply adding a number here and there, you're practically putting up a big, come on in and steal from me sign for hackers. Even worse, a lot of websites don't require strong passwords. That makes them prime targets for cyber criminals. You need a solid password manager. I trust and recommend NordPass. With NordPass, everything stays locked behind one master password. If someone gets their hands on your device, they're still locked out. NordPass isn't only secure, it's smart. You get features like a password health tool, secure sharing, email masking, and even emergency access. It's powerful and simple to use. Stop leaving your digital life exposed. Take charge and lock down your passwords today with NordPass. With my exclusive deal you save 52 That a month Don wait for a breach to get protected Sign up now at NordPass slash Kim That NordPass slash Kim All right joining me here on the Kim Commando Show is my cohort in tech crime. He is the morning co-host on KEZ 99.9 FM here in Phoenix, Arizona, the amazing Andrew Bobinski. Yay. Well, thanks, Kim. How are you? This is our sound effects. You know, that's all we can afford. The whole studio is clapping for me. Oh, no, wait, I wasn't clapping because you're the only one here. You know about Farmville Words with Friends? Oh, yeah. Massive company behind it. Zangna. They raked in over one billion dollars and they have a new strategy that has been revealed to us. They are actually copying Las Vegas. They have VIP programs that will target the biggest spenders on the games. And it makes sense because if you're playing words with friends or farm, you are in essence gambling. So you have that going on. And so you are assigned a person to your account that tracks everything, your gaming habits, your life events, because they talk to you. How was your day? How's your husband? How's your dog? What's going on? Beverly, a retired school teacher from South Padre Island in Texas, she won $15,000 and won their sweepstakes. She's a VIP and she bought herself a new car. Somebody else lost $50,000. Playing Farmville What I mean they call them micro transactions but when you up up to it pretty macro But if you part of the VIP program keep in mind you paying for this you get private concerts with Wynonna Judd, day cruises, personal dog training. They say 90% of the revenue comes from less than 5% of the players. I believe that. Absolutely. No 80-20 rule there. No. Here are some other updates that you need to know about. ChatGPT is about to start showing ads to free users and the $8 budget subscribers. Why? Because they need to say that they are making money. Yeah, they haven't made a dime yet, have they? Well, they have subscriptions. Yeah, but they say they're just piling all that money back into it. Otherwise, though, I don't even see, do they sell information? Oh, what am I talking about? It's a tech company. Yes, they sell information. I know. When you said that, I was like, I mean, what are you talking about? It's like not the home improvement show over here. Google says we're not going to sell ads for now. You mean Gemini, their job on. Yeah, Gemini, not yet. They said that we're not going to put ads yet. Oh, there definitely will be ads. Of course. Hey, if you love staying tech ahead, then you're going to love, love, love. I'm talking about my free newsletter called The Current. Join almost a million folks who get it every single day. It's quick, smart, and only takes five minutes a day. Yes, sign up right now at GetKim.com. That's GetKim.com.