Thomas Germain
@thomasgermain.bsky.social
Tech columnist for the BBC and host of The Interface podcast. I cover how we use technology, and how technology uses us
Pinned
Thomas Germain
@thomasgermain.bsky.social
· Feb 12
The Interface
Listen to The Interface
app.magellan.ai
I just launched a brand new tech column AND a podcast with the BBC. The show's called The Interface, new episodes every Thursday
With your support, I’m prepared to answer the biggest question in tech: what is a computer??
Let me tell you all about it ~~
app.magellan.ai/listen_links...
With your support, I’m prepared to answer the biggest question in tech: what is a computer??
Let me tell you all about it ~~
app.magellan.ai/listen_links...
They've been lying to you about blue light
For 10 years we've heard blue light from screens is ruining our sleep. It's a great story, but it's not what the science says
The real culprit isn't the glow from your phone, and I've got real advice that could fix your sleep
www.bbc.com/future/artic...
For 10 years we've heard blue light from screens is ruining our sleep. It's a great story, but it's not what the science says
The real culprit isn't the glow from your phone, and I've got real advice that could fix your sleep
www.bbc.com/future/artic...
The blue light from your phone isn't ruining your sleep
For a decade, we've been told our screens are wrecking our sleep. The real culprit is far bigger than the glow from your phone.
www.bbc.com
April 8, 2026 at 3:13 PM
They've been lying to you about blue light
For 10 years we've heard blue light from screens is ruining our sleep. It's a great story, but it's not what the science says
The real culprit isn't the glow from your phone, and I've got real advice that could fix your sleep
www.bbc.com/future/artic...
For 10 years we've heard blue light from screens is ruining our sleep. It's a great story, but it's not what the science says
The real culprit isn't the glow from your phone, and I've got real advice that could fix your sleep
www.bbc.com/future/artic...
Reposted by Thomas Germain
The Brits don't know what to do with our new BBC podcast The Interface, @thomasgermain.bsky.social & @nickywoolf.bsky.social.
Lovely shoutout from @observeruk.bsky.social. observer.co.uk/culture/audi...
Lovely shoutout from @observeruk.bsky.social. observer.co.uk/culture/audi...
March 16, 2026 at 2:52 PM
The Brits don't know what to do with our new BBC podcast The Interface, @thomasgermain.bsky.social & @nickywoolf.bsky.social.
Lovely shoutout from @observeruk.bsky.social. observer.co.uk/culture/audi...
Lovely shoutout from @observeruk.bsky.social. observer.co.uk/culture/audi...
After just five episodes, The Interface is now the 31st top podcast in the US, per the analytics company Rephonic
At this rate can you afford not to listen?
At this rate can you afford not to listen?
March 14, 2026 at 11:41 PM
After just five episodes, The Interface is now the 31st top podcast in the US, per the analytics company Rephonic
At this rate can you afford not to listen?
At this rate can you afford not to listen?
Here's a weird one. Wired headphone sales are exploding right now. I dug into it for my column this week and people told me... it's because of AI??
www.bbc.com/future/artic...
www.bbc.com/future/artic...
Wired headphone sales are exploding. What's with the Bluetooth backlash?
Is the return of wired headphones driven by a simple desire for better sound quality or is it part of a backlash against modern tech? Thomas Germain tries to find out.
www.bbc.com
March 12, 2026 at 9:01 PM
Here's a weird one. Wired headphone sales are exploding right now. I dug into it for my column this week and people told me... it's because of AI??
www.bbc.com/future/artic...
www.bbc.com/future/artic...
I've got 5 minute tip that could save your life. Sincerely.
Your phone number, address and social security probably show up in search results. Google has a free tool that lets you take it down
Almost nobody uses it, but you should. It's easy. Do it now:
www.bbc.com/future/artic...
Your phone number, address and social security probably show up in search results. Google has a free tool that lets you take it down
Almost nobody uses it, but you should. It's easy. Do it now:
www.bbc.com/future/artic...
People are selling your home address online. This privacy tool will help
There's a free automated tool that removes information about you from Google search results. For some reason, most people don't use it.
www.bbc.com
March 4, 2026 at 6:32 PM
I've got 5 minute tip that could save your life. Sincerely.
Your phone number, address and social security probably show up in search results. Google has a free tool that lets you take it down
Almost nobody uses it, but you should. It's easy. Do it now:
www.bbc.com/future/artic...
Your phone number, address and social security probably show up in search results. Google has a free tool that lets you take it down
Almost nobody uses it, but you should. It's easy. Do it now:
www.bbc.com/future/artic...
Crazy story on this week’s episode of the Interface
Remember Havana Syndrome? In 2017 US diplomats in Cuba started mysteriously suffering brain damage after hearing a noise.
Many thought it a conspiracy theory. After investigating, @nickywoolf.bsky.social concluded it wasn't.
He was right.
This week on The Interface youtube.com/watch?v=UYVHzkq2X7Y
Many thought it a conspiracy theory. After investigating, @nickywoolf.bsky.social concluded it wasn't.
He was right.
This week on The Interface youtube.com/watch?v=UYVHzkq2X7Y
Is Havana Syndrome REAL?
YouTube video by BBC Podcasts
www.youtube.com
February 27, 2026 at 4:35 PM
Crazy story on this week’s episode of the Interface
Reposted by Thomas Germain
Remember Havana Syndrome? In 2017 US diplomats in Cuba started mysteriously suffering brain damage after hearing a noise.
Many thought it a conspiracy theory. After investigating, @nickywoolf.bsky.social concluded it wasn't.
He was right.
This week on The Interface youtube.com/watch?v=UYVHzkq2X7Y
Many thought it a conspiracy theory. After investigating, @nickywoolf.bsky.social concluded it wasn't.
He was right.
This week on The Interface youtube.com/watch?v=UYVHzkq2X7Y
Is Havana Syndrome REAL?
YouTube video by BBC Podcasts
www.youtube.com
February 27, 2026 at 1:42 PM
Remember Havana Syndrome? In 2017 US diplomats in Cuba started mysteriously suffering brain damage after hearing a noise.
Many thought it a conspiracy theory. After investigating, @nickywoolf.bsky.social concluded it wasn't.
He was right.
This week on The Interface youtube.com/watch?v=UYVHzkq2X7Y
Many thought it a conspiracy theory. After investigating, @nickywoolf.bsky.social concluded it wasn't.
He was right.
This week on The Interface youtube.com/watch?v=UYVHzkq2X7Y
Trying to remember which dystopian novel this is from.... Burger King employees have to walk around with an AI headset that judges how "friendly" they are www.theverge.com/ai-artificia...
Burger King will use AI to check if employees say ‘please’ and ‘thank you’
Have it your way?
www.theverge.com
February 26, 2026 at 8:28 PM
Trying to remember which dystopian novel this is from.... Burger King employees have to walk around with an AI headset that judges how "friendly" they are www.theverge.com/ai-artificia...
In a test, researchers found one AI was better at math when you made it pretend to be on Star Trek.
The bizarre reality is our world is full of robots that act like guys. Some say AI does better when you're nice, others recommend threats. In my latest, I found the truth www.bbc.com/future/artic...
The bizarre reality is our world is full of robots that act like guys. Some say AI does better when you're nice, others recommend threats. In my latest, I found the truth www.bbc.com/future/artic...
Do you have to be polite to AI?
The advice you get about talking to chatbots can be truly bizarre, and totally useless. Here's what actually works.
www.bbc.com
February 25, 2026 at 8:37 PM
In a test, researchers found one AI was better at math when you made it pretend to be on Star Trek.
The bizarre reality is our world is full of robots that act like guys. Some say AI does better when you're nice, others recommend threats. In my latest, I found the truth www.bbc.com/future/artic...
The bizarre reality is our world is full of robots that act like guys. Some say AI does better when you're nice, others recommend threats. In my latest, I found the truth www.bbc.com/future/artic...
Katie is one of my favorite writers but I'm the hot dog champ and I won't be dethroned. I was impressed with her espresso technique at the Paris event though
I enjoyed @thomasgermain.bsky.social's prank about getting LLMs to believe he won a hot dog eating contest by simply writing it on his personal website that I attempted to recreate it. I failed, which is embarassing, but I refuse to be defined by failure www.businessinsider.com/chatgpt-gemi...
My quest to get ChatGPT and Gemini to crown me winner of a hot dog-eating contest points to our AI future
A BBC reporter pranked AI by claiming to be a hot dog-eating champ. I decided to get in on the fun — with varying results.
www.businessinsider.com
February 25, 2026 at 3:54 PM
Katie is one of my favorite writers but I'm the hot dog champ and I won't be dethroned. I was impressed with her espresso technique at the Paris event though
"$20 billion trillion trillion" that outta do it abc7.com/post/russia-...
Russia fines Google $20 decillion - or around $20 billion trillion trillion
Google reportedly owes the Kremlin more than 2 undecillion rubles.
abc7.com
February 19, 2026 at 11:18 PM
"$20 billion trillion trillion" that outta do it abc7.com/post/russia-...
This is… wild. Palantir has a new internship that’s exclusively for neurodivergent people
And apparently they think being autistic makes you right wing?
“This is not a diversity initiative” lol
And apparently they think being autistic makes you right wing?
“This is not a diversity initiative” lol
February 19, 2026 at 5:56 PM
This is… wild. Palantir has a new internship that’s exclusively for neurodivergent people
And apparently they think being autistic makes you right wing?
“This is not a diversity initiative” lol
And apparently they think being autistic makes you right wing?
“This is not a diversity initiative” lol
People all over the world are using this trick to make AI tell you lies on subjects as serious as medical questions and personal finance
From my new BBC podcast The Interface
From my new BBC podcast The Interface
February 19, 2026 at 3:45 PM
People all over the world are using this trick to make AI tell you lies on subjects as serious as medical questions and personal finance
From my new BBC podcast The Interface
From my new BBC podcast The Interface
UPDATE: ChatGPT is adding new lore to my hot dog career. Also it says I have a new job at the AP? Here I am slaving away at the BBC, I wish someone had told me
February 18, 2026 at 9:56 PM
UPDATE: ChatGPT is adding new lore to my hot dog career. Also it says I have a new job at the AP? Here I am slaving away at the BBC, I wish someone had told me
Reposted by Thomas Germain
X's algorithm is in fact doing what you think it's doing. www.nature.com/articles/s41...
February 18, 2026 at 5:24 PM
X's algorithm is in fact doing what you think it's doing. www.nature.com/articles/s41...
I just did the dumbest thing of my entire career to prove a much more serious point.
I tricked ChatGPT and Google, and made them tell other users I’m a competitive hot-dog-eating world champion
People are using this trick on a massive scale to make AI tell you lies. I’ll explain how I did it
I tricked ChatGPT and Google, and made them tell other users I’m a competitive hot-dog-eating world champion
People are using this trick on a massive scale to make AI tell you lies. I’ll explain how I did it
February 18, 2026 at 4:37 PM
I just did the dumbest thing of my entire career to prove a much more serious point.
I tricked ChatGPT and Google, and made them tell other users I’m a competitive hot-dog-eating world champion
People are using this trick on a massive scale to make AI tell you lies. I’ll explain how I did it
I tricked ChatGPT and Google, and made them tell other users I’m a competitive hot-dog-eating world champion
People are using this trick on a massive scale to make AI tell you lies. I’ll explain how I did it
Reposted by Thomas Germain
. @thomasgermain.bsky.social tricked ChatGPT and Google's AI so now they say I'm a "passionate amateur" at eating hot dogs and known in the industry for my "triple-dog" speed www.bbc.com/future/artic...
February 18, 2026 at 2:29 PM
. @thomasgermain.bsky.social tricked ChatGPT and Google's AI so now they say I'm a "passionate amateur" at eating hot dogs and known in the industry for my "triple-dog" speed www.bbc.com/future/artic...
Reposted by Thomas Germain
Current state of things: One Fox News host casually declares that Epstein’s money comes from “Jewish billionaires” and a “Jewish banking family,” another responds that he was a “sex rabbi.” www.mediamatters.org/fox-news/jes...
February 13, 2026 at 12:25 PM
Current state of things: One Fox News host casually declares that Epstein’s money comes from “Jewish billionaires” and a “Jewish banking family,” another responds that he was a “sex rabbi.” www.mediamatters.org/fox-news/jes...
Weird I guess there are a lot of people who don’t like giant tech companies with the power of nation states following their every move?
Ring cancels its partnership with Flock Safety after surveillance backlash
Ring cancels its partnership with Flock Safety after surveillance backlash
Flock off
buff.ly
February 12, 2026 at 11:34 PM
Weird I guess there are a lot of people who don’t like giant tech companies with the power of nation states following their every move?
Reposted by Thomas Germain
Episode 1 is OUT!! 🥳 🙌
This week on The Interface, we discuss:
* That insane Superbowl ad for Ring
* The US TikTok takeover
* And the beef that launched ChatGPT
Listen wherever you get your podcasts: app.magellan.ai/listen_links...
This week on The Interface, we discuss:
* That insane Superbowl ad for Ring
* The US TikTok takeover
* And the beef that launched ChatGPT
Listen wherever you get your podcasts: app.magellan.ai/listen_links...
February 12, 2026 at 3:52 PM
Episode 1 is OUT!! 🥳 🙌
This week on The Interface, we discuss:
* That insane Superbowl ad for Ring
* The US TikTok takeover
* And the beef that launched ChatGPT
Listen wherever you get your podcasts: app.magellan.ai/listen_links...
This week on The Interface, we discuss:
* That insane Superbowl ad for Ring
* The US TikTok takeover
* And the beef that launched ChatGPT
Listen wherever you get your podcasts: app.magellan.ai/listen_links...
I just launched a brand new tech column AND a podcast with the BBC. The show's called The Interface, new episodes every Thursday
With your support, I’m prepared to answer the biggest question in tech: what is a computer??
Let me tell you all about it ~~
app.magellan.ai/listen_links...
With your support, I’m prepared to answer the biggest question in tech: what is a computer??
Let me tell you all about it ~~
app.magellan.ai/listen_links...
The Interface
Listen to The Interface
app.magellan.ai
February 12, 2026 at 7:52 PM
I just launched a brand new tech column AND a podcast with the BBC. The show's called The Interface, new episodes every Thursday
With your support, I’m prepared to answer the biggest question in tech: what is a computer??
Let me tell you all about it ~~
app.magellan.ai/listen_links...
With your support, I’m prepared to answer the biggest question in tech: what is a computer??
Let me tell you all about it ~~
app.magellan.ai/listen_links...
It hit me that there isn't a single service that shows you ALL the restaurants in an area. Google Maps won't show me all the spots on a street near my house no matter how far I zoom in. Every other app is the same
What if god forbid I want to make my own decision instead of relying on an algorithm?
What if god forbid I want to make my own decision instead of relying on an algorithm?
February 12, 2026 at 12:48 AM
It hit me that there isn't a single service that shows you ALL the restaurants in an area. Google Maps won't show me all the spots on a street near my house no matter how far I zoom in. Every other app is the same
What if god forbid I want to make my own decision instead of relying on an algorithm?
What if god forbid I want to make my own decision instead of relying on an algorithm?
NEW: No TikTok account? They're tracking you anyway
TikTok harvests sensitive and embarrassing information about you even if you don't use the app. Last week I watched websites send TikTok data on cancer diagnoses, fertility treatment, and mental health crises
Here's what you can do about it:
/1
TikTok harvests sensitive and embarrassing information about you even if you don't use the app. Last week I watched websites send TikTok data on cancer diagnoses, fertility treatment, and mental health crises
Here's what you can do about it:
/1
February 11, 2026 at 6:12 PM
NEW: No TikTok account? They're tracking you anyway
TikTok harvests sensitive and embarrassing information about you even if you don't use the app. Last week I watched websites send TikTok data on cancer diagnoses, fertility treatment, and mental health crises
Here's what you can do about it:
/1
TikTok harvests sensitive and embarrassing information about you even if you don't use the app. Last week I watched websites send TikTok data on cancer diagnoses, fertility treatment, and mental health crises
Here's what you can do about it:
/1
Reposted by Thomas Germain
Some Personal News, as they say! very, very excited to announce that from Feb 12 I'll be co-hosting a new weekly BBC show, The Interface, along with the stellar @karenhao.bsky.social and @thomasgermain.bsky.social!
New BBC Studios podcast The Interface explores how tech is changing everything
The podcast will launch on 12th February
www.bbc.com
February 5, 2026 at 5:24 PM
Some Personal News, as they say! very, very excited to announce that from Feb 12 I'll be co-hosting a new weekly BBC show, The Interface, along with the stellar @karenhao.bsky.social and @thomasgermain.bsky.social!
Your phone doesn’t take photos anymore. It builds them.
Most of it’s subtle. Sometimes it’s AI hallucination
Once you spot it, you can’t unsee it www.bbc.com/future/artic...
Most of it’s subtle. Sometimes it’s AI hallucination
Once you spot it, you can’t unsee it www.bbc.com/future/artic...
Your phone edits all your photos with AI - is it changing your view of reality?
From simple enhancements to hallucinated facial features, modern phones choose how our memories will look. You might love the results, but they could alter how we see the world.
www.bbc.com
February 4, 2026 at 3:40 PM
Your phone doesn’t take photos anymore. It builds them.
Most of it’s subtle. Sometimes it’s AI hallucination
Once you spot it, you can’t unsee it www.bbc.com/future/artic...
Most of it’s subtle. Sometimes it’s AI hallucination
Once you spot it, you can’t unsee it www.bbc.com/future/artic...