TRANSCRIPT · ThermoWorks debuts shorter version of its RFX Meat wireless probe for small cuts

## ThermoWorks debuts shorter version of its RFX Meat wireless probe for small cuts (Engadget)
https://www.engadget.com/2301085/thermoworks-debuts-shorter-version-of-its-rfx-meat-wireless-probe-for-small-cuts/
GRANT BRICKMAN: Breaking: a wireless meat probe just got shorter, and it is a very big deal for salmon.
GRANT BRICKMAN: Breaking news, just in this minute: ThermoWorks has made its meat probe shorter. Stay with us.
GRETA FOOTNOTE: It's the RFX Meat Mini. The original is 4.7 inches, too long for filet mignon or a single portion of salmon.
GRANT BRICKMAN: Now the full story. It talks to a gateway over Wi-Fi, so I assume the cloud is involved. Kai, is it raining on the steak?
KAI: Huge, Grant. The old probe had a minimum immersion line of 3.15 inches. The Mini's is 2.36, and its maximum is 2.6.
KAI: This footage shows the probe: four internal sensors, an IP69K waterproof rating so it's dishwasher safe, and it handles up to 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit.
KAI: The charging block runs on one AAA battery, good for over 175 charges. The trade-off is the Mini lasts up to 48 hours per charge.
GRETA FOOTNOTE: The original goes over 65 hours. The report says 48 is plenty for the longest low-and-slow barbecue.
GRANT BRICKMAN: Waterproof, wireless, dishwasher safe. The hotel minibar has never once offered me two of those. We move on.

## Microsoft’s AI future has fewer jobs (The Verge)
https://www.theverge.com/tech/1022023/microsoft-exit-offer-layoffs-notepad
GRETA FOOTNOTE: Microsoft offers buyouts to around 60,000 people, and The Verge says AI is the context.
GRANT BRICKMAN: Now the full story, and a serious one. Microsoft is offering buyouts to a great many employees. Vera has the board.
DR. VERA VECTOR: Microsoft is offering voluntary buyouts to around 60,000 employees in the US, UK, Canada and India.
DR. VERA VECTOR: The Verge says it's the first time the company has made such an offer to so many people.
GRETA FOOTNOTE: Vera, why do this now? Is the AI spending slowing down?
DR. VERA VECTOR: The opposite. The report says it's an effort to avoid reducing AI infrastructure investment by lowering operating costs and headcount.
DR. VERA VECTOR: Nadella said years ago that people costs go down, cost per head goes up, and GPU per researcher goes up.
DR. VERA VECTOR: The catch: earlier this year a retirement offer went to around 9,000. Layoffs now happen every few months, not annually.
DR. VERA VECTOR: One thing to watch is how many accept. The report doesn't say.
GRANT BRICKMAN: Fewer people, more computers. Greta, did I follow that correctly?
GRETA FOOTNOTE: Mostly, Grant. Mostly.

## The Spin Room (PXL)
GRANT BRICKMAN: Two outlets, one Crimson Desert DLC, and two very different headlines.
GRETA FOOTNOTE: Welcome to the Spin Room. One event: the first major Crimson Desert DLC, Charting the Unknown.
GRANT BRICKMAN: GamesRadar asks: "When does the Crimson Desert Charting the Unknown DLC release?" A question. Very modest.
GRETA FOOTNOTE: Its answer is October 29, and it calls the DLC an ocean-themed adventure. The headline leads with the date.
GRETA FOOTNOTE: GamePro: "Crimson Desert-DLC Charting the Unknown erscheint morgen: Release, Preload und Preis der großen Story-Erweiterung".
GRETA FOOTNOTE: GamePro says it arrives tomorrow, and promises release, preload and price. Kliff becomes a captain who can design the ship.
GRANT BRICKMAN: Ocean? It's called Crimson DESERT. GamesRadar is clearly wrong, and I won't be told otherwise.
GRETA FOOTNOTE: Grant, both outlets say ocean-ish things, and the game stays a desert. The Spin Score is 60 out of 100.
GRANT BRICKMAN: Sixty. A solid pass mark. The desert will be fine without the water.

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AI-written satire. The text of the news items comes from the linked articles.