Summary
Overview
This Tech Linked episode covers Reddit's controversial API and RSS feed restrictions ostensibly aimed at protecting against AI scraping, OpenAI's Dev Day announcements including failed product demos and expensive new subscription tiers, YouTube's crackdown on low-effort content in Shorts, and various quick hits including Amazon's smart glasses pilot program, NYC's new subscription cancellation law, a landmark voice rights ruling in Japan, the ongoing RAM shortage through 2028, and Micro Center's new RTX 5090 purchase verification requirements.
Reddit Restricts Public API and RSS Feeds to Combat AI Scraping
Reddit announced sweeping changes that will kill its public API and RSS feeds in an effort to protect against AI scraping, with RSS feeds shutting down November 13th and the public API closing in March 2027. The changes will significantly impact Reddit moderators who rely on these data sources for moderation tools, ironically making the site harder to use for humans while Reddit simultaneously makes AI deals with companies like Google and OpenAI. Additionally, old Reddit access will be restricted to users who have logged in within the preceding six months, effectively blocking new users from accessing the legacy interface.
- RSS feeds will be discontinued on November 13th and public API access ends March 2027
- Changes will have an outsized impact on Reddit moderators who use tools relying on these data sources
- The moves may not actually protect against recent AI posting that mods have been dealing with
- Old Reddit access will be limited to users who have logged in within the preceding six months
- Reddit has made AI deals with Google and OpenAI while restricting human user experience
" it will be restricting old reddit functionality and killing its public api and rss feeds in an effort to protect the site from ai scraping this might be the death of the open internet but we can take solace that it died doing what it loved getting scraped "
" Users in r slash mod news were openly hostile to the announcement and were quick to call out the hypocrisy of Reddit for making the experience of its human users and moderators worse while making AI deals with Google and OpenAI "
OpenAI's Dev Day Stumbles with Failed Demos and Price Increases
OpenAI held its Dev Day conference with over 20 product announcements, but the event was marred by a live demo failure of DOTS, their new always-on AI agent positioned as a competitor to Meta's Muse. The presenter requested information from her dot which said it was working on it but never responded, highlighting reliability concerns. OpenAI also launched a $500/month pro plan while simultaneously cutting the $200/month plan's usage in half, suggesting financial pressure to turn a profit.
- OpenAI announced DOTS, an always-on agent that acts as a personal assistant with access to your entire digital life
- The DOTS demo failed live on stage when it stopped responding after saying it was working
- DOTS comes with fuzzy avatars similar to Meta's Muse to make the service feel friendly
- OpenAI launched a new $500/month pro plan with slightly increased usage
- The $200/month plan had its usage cut in half, suggesting financial pressure
" We're not evil. Look, this little guy is shaped like a heart. And that one has a beret. Now look into the orb and yield your digital soul to our computer god. For we are architecting a new Garden of Eden. And in this new utopia, man's original sin is privacy. "
" Hey, pro tip, dude, don't ins**tify your service till after the IPO. This is basic. "
📚 5 more sections below
Sign up to unlock the complete summary with all insights, key points, and quotes
Get this summary + all future TechLinked episodes in your inbox
100% Free • Unsubscribe Anytime
Sign up now and we'll send you the complete summary of this episode, plus get notified when new TechLinked episodes are released—delivered straight to your inbox within minutes.