Plus: forget solar — what about powering your house using disposable vapes ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

November 10, 2025 | Read online
# Chinese EV bus fears, Disney v YouTube and first ChatGPT warrant Plus: forget solar — what about powering your house using disposable vapes
Edition 2457
"AMD K5-PR166" (Flickr: madworm)
# The News
### Electric buses can be shut down by Chinese manufacturer, Norwegian agency claims
Last week, Norwegian public transport agency Ruter said testing showed that Chinese brand Yutong buses — which are currently in service in Norway — allow remote software updates and diagnostics access (Guardian). This prompted fears it could be used to shut down the vehicles remotely, so now the UK, too, is looking into the claims (FT). There are some Yutong buses on Australian roads, including in Canberra (ABC News) but the bus-maker told the ABC News that this doesn’t include the model tested by Ruter.
The Sizzle: One of the loudest voices about what China could do with electronic devices like cars has been CyberCX’s Alastair MacGibbon who says “all connected vehicles” made by China are vulnerable to remote sabotage. He has also raised concerns about the BYD vehicles in car lots around Australia. These device makers always say that they don’t have those capabilities — but would you really expect them to say if they did, I guess? Anyway, I guess MacGibbon’s recommendation for politicians and public servants to avoid using these vehicles is fine. To be honest, if we get into some full blown war with China, unusable buses will be one of the last things on my mind.
Discuss in the Sizzle Slack or forum.
### Disney v YouTube is a taste of the future of content wars
Disney is in a stand-off with YouTube in a fight that tells you a lot about how the internet is eating everything (Verge). At the end of last month, Disney pulled 20+ channels from Google’s online cable TV streaming platform, YouTube TV, over claims that the tech company was offering “below-market rates” to carry its content. Meanwhile, Google says that Disney is “proposing costly economic terms that would raise prices on YouTube TV customers” (Verge). This blackout includes ESPN, ABC, Disney Channel, Nat Geo, and a bunch of other big channels.
The Sizzle: I wanted to flag this because we’re at a tipping point. Fewer and fewer people are paying for things like Foxtel or even watching terrestrial TV. Meanwhile, platforms like YouTube are increasingly filled with high-quality video that wouldn’t be out-of-place on traditional TV.
What’s the difference? YouTube pays zero upfront to anyone putting video on their platforms only giving a share of advertising revenue. In the past, companies like Disney have been able to essentially go to platforms like YouTube TV and say “we know you need football and cable news and cartoons” and have been able to charge enormous carriage fees because they were essential. Now, with all the content online for free, I think Google is emboldened to play hardball because of all the competition from online, free content. Now, Disney (and every other major content provider) has to prove that what they have is more valuable than everything else online.
Discuss in the Sizzle Slack or forum.
### First known warrant for ChatGPT data gets a bit funky with it
The first known search warrant to OpenAI for user data was a “reverse prompt” request from US Homeland Security Investigations to unmask a dark web CSAM website admin (Forbes). The suspect had shared with an undercover cop prompts and responses that he had given and received from ChatGPT (like “What would happen if Sherlock Holmes met Q from Star Trek?” lol). So, HSI asked OpenAI for the user associated with this data. The agency figured out the man’s identity through other means, but Electronic Frontier Foundation pointed out that governments are turning towards using AI chatbots as a source for investigations.
Discuss in the Sizzle Slack or forum.
#### Leftovers
Australia:
Five ways to fix social media for teens without a ban (and Australia can still do them all) (Crikey, $) Tasmania moves on digital drivers' licences (InnovationAus, $) Australia's largest radio network, Southern Cross Austereo, crosses the AI Rubicon, using a robot to source and script the news. (ABC) Some investors in AI 'are extremely autocratic', says ABC chair Kim Williams (The Guardian) DVA trials ChatGPT-based tool with 300 staff (iTnews) Tech sector struggling to meet goal of creating 1.2 million jobs by 2030 (The Australian, $) Afterpay data play to boost retail media network (The Australian, $) Another big tech platform going all in on ad networks Having a laugh at Scott Farquhar is a bipartisan effort (The Australian Financial Review, $) My Favourite Tech GIFT Ideas in 2025! (Karl Conrad YouTube)
Rest of the world:
Apple Plans Major New Satellite-Powered Features for iPhones (Bloomberg, $) EU set to water down landmark AI act after Big Tech pressure (Financial Times, $) People with ADHD, autism, dyslexia say AI agents are helping them succeed at work (CNBC) Oddest ChatGPT leaks yet: Cringey chat logs found in Google Analytics tool (Ars Technica) October Layoffs Were the Worst Since 2003 and Hit Tech Workers Hard (Gizmodo) Does ChatGPT know my geolocation? (Daniel Herman) Password for Louvre's video surveillance system was 'Louvre', employee says (ABC News) Drilling Down on Uncle Sam's Proposed TP-Link Ban (Krebs on Security)
Discuss these links in the Sizzle Slack or forum.
# Oh, Also
### Forget solar - try powering your house using disposable vapes
You know how some YouTube videos overpromise and underdeliver? I Powered My House Using 500 Disposable vapes is not one of those. Enjoy.
I Powered My House Using 500 Disposable vapes
Discuss in the Sizzle Slack or forum.
# Bargains
Electrical & Electronics
Good Guys: $40 off on $250-500 spend, $60 off $400+ spend Spend $500, Get 10% Back in Gift Cards (1 Month Expiry, Exclusions Apply) at Harvey Norman MiLESEEY D9 Pro Laser Distance Meter - $79 at Mileseey AU Direct via Amazon Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro + Free Clear Case - $179.93 at Samsung Education Store Huawei Watch GT 5 46mm, Stainless Steel Case, Black Fluoroelastomer Strap - $269 at JB Hi-Fi (Down from $429) Samsung Galaxy Watch6 Classic 47mm (Black) - $299 at JB Hi-Fi (Down from $749) Samsung Galaxy Ring - Titanium Gold - Size 15 Only - $467 at Amazon AU Focal Azurys Headphones - $590 at Elise Audio Roborock Qrevo C Robot Vacuum with Multifunctional Dock - $710 at MobileCiti Kogan 65" QLED 4K Smart AI Google TV (Q97T) + TV Wall Mount Bundle - $794 at Kogan
Computing
NZXT N7 Z790 Black Motherboard - $199 at Scorptec HP Omen 27q 27" QHD 165hz Gaming Monitor - $199 at JB Hi-Fi Lenovo ThinkPad T14s 14" Touch Laptop Ryzen 5 4650u 16GB Ram 256GB SSD W11p - $343 at Max Direct Computer (Used) Seagate IronWolf 12TB NAS HDD CMR 3.5 Inch 7200 RPM (St12000vnz008/St12000vn0008) - $378 at Amazon US via AU XFX Swift AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT 16GB Graphics Card - $989 at Centre Com Dell Pro 14 Pc14250 Laptop 14″, i5-120u, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD w/ Free Bag - $1099 at Lotus Computers Gigabyte AORUS FO27Q5P 26.5inch 500Hz QHD QD-OLED Gaming Monitor - $1099 at Scorptec
Mobile
35% Cashback on Vodafonoe $199 300GB 12-Month Prepaid Plus Starter Pack - $199 at ShopBack Google Pixel 7 Pro 128GB Snow/Obsidian - $299 but must add plan from $30/28 days at amaysim Google Pixel 9a 128GB - $527 at The Good Guys XIAOMI 15T Pro Smartphone 12/256GB - $854 at Amazon UK via AU
# The End
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