Kim Komando Daily Tech Update

Apple News bias

6 min
May 7, 202627 days ago
Listen to Episode
Summary

Kim Komando discusses the FTC's warning to Apple regarding algorithmic bias in Apple News, which showed zero articles from right-leaning outlets in its top stories. The episode also covers automotive industry resistance to Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, with GM prioritizing proprietary dashboards to control user data and subscriptions.

Insights
  • Pre-installed apps with hidden algorithmic decision-making represent a significant consumer control issue, regardless of political perspective
  • Automakers are deliberately rejecting industry-standard integrations (CarPlay/Android Auto) to maintain data collection and recurring revenue streams
  • Consumer expectations around technology features (like CarPlay) have become deal-breakers in purchasing decisions, with 50% of car buyers unwilling to buy without them
  • Companies justify data control and proprietary systems using safety and user experience arguments, but the underlying motivation is revenue and market control
  • Regulatory scrutiny is increasing on algorithmic bias and editorial decisions made by tech platforms, signaling potential future compliance requirements
Trends
Regulatory pressure on algorithmic transparency and bias in news curation platformsAutomotive industry fragmentation over connected car standards and data ownershipConsumer demand for seamless smartphone integration in vehicles becoming a competitive necessityCompanies using safety and experience arguments to justify proprietary data collection strategiesGrowing awareness of shadow scores and data broker ecosystems affecting consumer privacyVoice assistant reliability issues driving user preference for touchscreen interfaces in vehiclesSubscription model expansion in automotive industry through connected vehicle features
Topics
Apple News algorithmic biasFTC regulatory action on tech platformsApple CarPlay and Android Auto adoptionAutomotive data collection and privacyProprietary vs. open standards in connected vehiclesAI in enterprise resource planningPersonal data broker removal servicesVoice assistant accuracy in navigationConsumer privacy and shadow scoresHeated seat subscriptions and recurring revenue modelsPre-installed app control and user choiceEditorial algorithm transparencyConnected car dashboard designDistracted driving and vehicle interface safetyData monetization in automotive industry
Companies
Apple
FTC sent warning letter about Apple News algorithm showing zero right-leaning articles in top stories, raising bias c...
General Motors
Deliberately rejecting CarPlay and Android Auto to maintain proprietary dashboard control and data collection capabil...
Mercedes-Benz
Mentioned as considering GM's approach to reject standard integrations and maintain proprietary dashboard systems
Ford
Watching GM's strategy regarding CarPlay and Android Auto rejection to determine industry direction
Toyota
Watching GM's strategy regarding CarPlay and Android Auto rejection to determine industry direction
Audi
Watching GM's strategy regarding CarPlay and Android Auto rejection to determine industry direction
Nissan
Mentioned as manufacturer of 2009 Murano lacking CarPlay, illustrating generational technology gap in vehicles
People
Andrew Ferguson
Sent warning letter to Tim Cook regarding Apple News algorithmic bias and editorial decisions
Tim Cook
Recipient of FTC warning letter about Apple News algorithm bias and editorial practices
Kim Komando
Host providing commentary on tech industry issues and personal experiences with vehicle technology
Quotes
"This is an app you never asked for, on a phone that you paid for, quietly deciding what news you get to see."
Kim KomandoApple News segment
"The only person who should be picking your headlines is you not an algorithm with an agenda"
Kim KomandoApple News segment
"They're so full of crap. I mean, then they can actually say this with a straight face."
Kim KomandoCarPlay discussion
"If they don't control CarPlay or Android Auto, they get to get all the data. Right. They get to sell you the subscriptions for the heated seats."
Kim KomandoCarPlay discussion
"50 of new car buyers say they will not buy a car if it doesn't have CarPlay in it or Android Auto"
Kim KomandoCarPlay segment
Full Transcript
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It's free to you at NetSuite.com slash Kim. That's netsuite.com slash Kim, netsuite.com slash Kim. Here's one that should bother you no matter what side you're on. The FTC just sent Apple a warning letter about Apple News, that app pre-installed on every single iPhone. A study found that in January, Apple News ran 620 articles in its top stories. Guess how many came from right-leaning outlets? Zero. FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson told Tim Cook to review the algorithm. Now, forget left or right for a second. This is an app you never asked for, on a phone that you paid for, quietly deciding what news you get to see. Most people have no idea it had an opinion. Want to check yours? Simple. Go to Settings, then Apps, and Apple News. Review your preferences because the only person who should be picking your headlines is you not an algorithm with an agenda Take two minutes and take back control now Get my free newsletter at GetKim 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. Have you ever Googled yourself, typed your name into Chad Chippey Tate? Go ahead. What comes back should scare you. Your phone number, home address, your profession. That's just the surface. Dig a little deeper and anyone can find your social security number, health records, financial history. You see, data brokers collect and sell your personal information, which fuels something called your shadow score. Think of it like a secret credit score for your digital life. Companies use it to judge if you're a high-value VIP or a problem customer to be ignored. That's why I use Incogni. It works behind the scenes to track down where your data is exposed and submits removal requests on your behalf. Now, in my case, Incogni has completed over 2,700 removals from sites I didn't even know existed. They don't stop there. They keep sending follow-up requests so your data stays gone, protecting you from spam, scams, and real digital threats. Get 60% off right now with my exclusive deal at privacykim.com. That's privacykim.com. Sit back and enjoy. would you buy a car if it didn't have Apple CarPlay or Android Auto in it? That's a great question because normally you don't want to think when you're buying a car I want a real transmission I want X amount of horsepower in an engine I got to be able to seat a gaggle of humans but CarPlay is like a make or break 50 of new car buyers say they will not buy a car if it doesn have CarPlay in it or Android Auto We got a 2009 Nissan Murano from McKenzie and we gave it to her That was the first question she asked Oh, my gosh, does it have CarPlay? And I'm like, no, it's 2009. Oh, gosh. Of course it doesn't. Did she look at you like a loser dad? She couldn't be that upset. She got a car for her birthday. But still, it was like, oh, okay. Well, GM, makers of Chevy, Buick, and Cadillac, they say that we don't want CarPlay or Android Auto in our cars because we want to be able to have the better experience. We want to show you things in the dashboard. We want you to be part of our community, not of the Android or Apple community. So therefore, we are going to create a safer dashboard and one that is less distracting. Okay. I'm listening. They're so full of crap. I mean, then they can actually say this with a straight face. The reason why is because if they don't control CarPlay or Android Auto, they get to get all the data. Right. They get to sell you the subscriptions for the heated seats and the upgraded suspension and whatever it may be. And so now all the other car makers, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Ford, Toyota, the rest, they say, we're just watching us. To see if it works? Yes. The only thing is if I have my phone and I will put in an address, because that's the number one thing for CarPlay, right? If you didn't have your phone, open up your Maps app, put in the address and hit go, you probably wouldn't even care what it was, what the interface was. Well, I still like to get my texts and my phone calls and everything through. But even if you had standard Bluetooth you could have that capability Probably wouldn work as well Yeah and I like to be able to touch the screen Okay Because that not distracted driving Safety But as long as I can do that, I don't care what you call it. You can slap whatever name on it. I just want to be able to, from my phone, put in my GPS address. Because talking to that navigation thing through my steering wheel. I hate that. Never works. I was driving last night down to, I hadn't been, there's a place in Phoenix, and Barry told me the whole history of it. Celebrity theater. Yeah. Okay. When's the last time you've been to celebrity theater? I don't know. The 80s? Yeah, exactly. I couldn't remember. It's been in existence since 1963. It looks like it does. So, but anyway, I put that in there and I was given directions to CarPlay and then on my G-Wagon, the Mercedes gal was like, how can I help you? I'm like, stop. And I have like these two Siri and the gal from Mercedes like talking to each other. I'm like, okay, I just want, I just wanted to drive directions. I did it. I was like, I need to drive to Dick's Sporting Goods. And it responded with, starting route to Fry's Food and Drugstore. I'm like, I said Dick's Sporting Goods. You incompetent computer. You know what? 20 years from now, people won't understand our pain. No, exactly. They won't. I have a really bad joke. What's new? Okay. Don McLean lobbied for GM to be included in a carmaker tax. Did he? He wanted to bring his Chevy to the levee. But the levee was dry. Oh, gosh. I just crack myself up sometimes. 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.