Michael Brown

Right off the bat, the app requires an Apple ID for login, consistent with Apple’s approach to most of their other apps, including their Apple Music approach on Android. While Apple will likely cite “privacy” as the reason 🙄

A significant drawback is the absence of previously purchased Apple TV movies and shows within the app. This feels like a missed opportunity, perhaps intentionally left as an incentive for users to remain within Apple’s ecosystem, even with Apple TV Plus now available on Android.

The “About this app” section on the Apps Play Store page says the following:

Watch exclusive shows and movies on Apple TV+ and stream live sports With the Apple TV app, you can:

• Watch exclusive, award-winning Apple Originals shows and movies on the streaming service Apple TV+. Enjoy thrilling dramas like Presumed Innocent and Bad Sisters, epic sci-fi like Silo and Severance, heartwarming comedies like Ted Lasso and Shrinking, and can’t-miss blockbusters like Wolfs and The Gorge. New releases every week, always ad-free.

• Also included with your Apple TV+ subscription is Friday Night Baseball, featuring two live MLB games every week throughout the regular season.

• Stream live soccer matches on MLS Season Pass, giving you access to the entire MLS regular season-including every time Lionel Messi takes the pitch-and each playoff and Leagues Cup clash, all with no blackouts.

• Access the Apple TV app everywhere-it’s on your favorite Apple and Android devices, streaming platforms, smart TVs, gaming consoles, and more.

The Apple TV app makes watching TV easier:

• Continue Watching helps you pick up where you left off seamlessly across all your devices.

• Add movies and shows to Watchlist to keep track of everything you want to watch later.

• Stream it all over Wi-Fi or with a cellular connection, or download to watch offline. The availability of Apple TV features, Apple TV channels

Despite the limitation of not being able to access your library of movies and TV shows in the app, the app is generally well-designed. Even if it utilizes Apple’s iOS design language rather than Material UI/UX. I’m not surprised by that.

On Android, the interface feels intuitive. Overall, I guess it’s fine app. One big glaring issue is that it doesn’t support casting. Just about every movie and TV streaming app supports Cast. So that’s stupid.

We’re at a fascinating moment with Artificial Intelligence. It feels like everyone’s talking about it, some with excitement, others with a bit of trepidation. It reminds me of something Pharrell Williams said at the recent AI Summit in Paris:

“The internet in the ’90s…people were genuinely worried.”

He’s right. By doing a little research and seeing how people viewed the internet back then, I’ve gotten a good understanding of just how worried many were. Some marveled at the instant access to information, while others worried about its impact. It’s funny, isn’t it? Fast forward to today, and it’s hard to imagine life without it. We’re at a similar inflection point with AI, and honestly, I think that’s what makes events like the AI Summit in Paris so important. They bring together people from all over the world—researchers, tech companies, everyday consumers—and spark a global conversation about what AI can achieve. This isn’t about robots taking over; it’s about AI becoming a powerful partner, accelerating human ingenuity and ushering in a new era of innovation. And this vision was echoed by Sundar Pichai, who emphasized the incredible potential of AI to address some of humanity’s greatest challenges.

I think one of the biggest hurdles AI faces is perception. We’ve all seen the movies—the iRobot antagonist, the Matrix scenarios—and it’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking AI is inherently malicious, destined to take our jobs and turn us into batteries. But like most things in life, there’s a good side to this. Just like any tool, AI can be used for good or bad. And at the AI Summit, we saw so many examples of the good it can do.

AI isn’t a sudden invention; it’s the next logical step in our technological evolution. Just as we moved from basic computing to the internet, and then to mobile, AI is now poised to become ubiquitous. Imagine a “universal AI assistant” – seamlessly integrated into your Android phone, your Google Workspace, your smart home, and beyond. This is the vision behind concepts like “Project Astra”: AI that understands context, anticipates needs, and assists you across all aspects of your life. It’s not just a feature; it’s a fundamental shift in how we interact with technology.

AI’s real magic? It’s all about collaboration. And science is where we’re seeing some truly mind-blowing breakthroughs. Consider AlphaFold, a super-smart AI from DeepMind, that can predict how proteins are shaped with incredible accuracy. Proteins are like the building blocks of life, and knowing their shape is key to understanding diseases and developing new treatments. Researchers estimate that AlphaFold has saved years of research time, not just days or weeks. Over a million researchers worldwide have used AlphaFold, accessing over 200 million protein structure predictions, accelerating research in areas from drug discovery to combating antibiotic resistance. Building on this success, Isomorphic Labs is using machine learning to revolutionize drug design, potentially shortening development timelines and creating more effective treatments. And we’re just scratching the surface. The next big thing on the horizon? It’s called Quantum Computing. Imagine regular computers as light bulbs—they can be on or off. Quantum computers are more like lasers—they can be on, off, and a whole bunch of other states in between. This gives them the potential to solve problems that are impossible for today’s computers. Breakthroughs like Google’s Willow quantum chip, with its improved coherence and control, promise to unlock computational power previously unimaginable. Collaborative efforts, like those with Servier in France, are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible, exploring how quantum AI can solve complex problems in materials science, chemistry, and beyond.

AI isn’t just changing science; it’s changing the world around us, one innovation at a time. Waymo has already logged millions of passenger trips, proving that self-driving cars aren’t just a futuristic dream—they’re a present-day reality. This isn’t just about convenience; it’s about increasing road safety and accessibility. With 110 new languages added, Google Translate is tearing down communication barriers and building bridges of understanding across cultures. Imagine the impact on education, business, and personal connections. AI is also revolutionizing healthcare, from assisting in cancer research to improving diabetic retinopathy screening (which helps doctors detect eye diseases caused by diabetes). Partnerships like the one with Institute Curry, and work in India and Thailand, are leading to earlier diagnoses, more personalized treatments, and ultimately, better patient outcomes. AI-powered flood forecasts now cover 80 countries, and wildfire mapping provides crucial real-time information, helping communities prepare for and respond to natural disasters. These tools are saving lives and protecting livelihoods. I was particularly struck by the stories shared at the AI Summit, like the one about Max using Gemini to learn about his son’s rare disease. It really brings home how AI can empower individuals and make a profound difference in people’s lives. It’s stories like these that make the potential of AI so incredibly exciting.

“We are at the dawn of a golden age of innovation," - Sundar Pichai

Let’s be real: AI is powerful, and with great power comes great responsibility. Worries about bias, job displacement, and ethical implications are legitimate and must be addressed head-on. But just as we developed safeguards for other transformative technologies, we can – and must – do the same for AI. Responsible AI development is paramount. This means prioritizing fairness, transparency, and accountability. It means embedding ethical considerations into the very design of AI systems. Human oversight is crucial; AI should be a tool that augments human capabilities, not replaces them. Plus, we need to create an environment where innovation can thrive. This requires significant investment in infrastructure, like the billions Google is spending on data centers and AI development. It also means investing in people. Programs like “Grow with Google” and the Global AI Opportunity Fund, which have trained millions of people in digital skills, are essential to ensure that everyone can benefit from the AI revolution. We also need to be clear about AI’s limitations. AI models can sometimes be inaccurate, they are vulnerable to misuse, and the computational power they require can have significant energy implications. We need to be honest about these challenges, take them seriously, and find ways to tackle them head-on. AI should be democratized, meaning access and benefits should be widely shared.

Governments have a strategic role to play in shaping the future of AI. We need aligned policy across countries, striking a delicate balance between mitigating risks and fostering innovation. Overly restrictive regulations could stifle progress, while a laissez-faire approach could lead to unintended consequences. The goal should be to create an environment where AI can flourish responsibly, benefiting all of humanity.

“AI is a profound technology, and it’s important that we develop it responsibly," - Sundar Pichai.

Sundar Pichai, at the AI Summit, spoke eloquently about the “once-in-a-generation opportunity” that AI presents. We are at the dawn of a “golden age of innovation,” and the potential benefits are immense. But we can’t afford to be complacent. Other nations are investing heavily in AI, and we risk falling behind if we don’t act decisively. Just like how people feared search engines would replace libraries in the ’90s (and they didn’t—they just made information more accessible), I believe AI will augment, not replace, human capabilities.

Imagine a future where AI empowers us to not just solve, but vanquish the world’s most pressing challenges – from climate change to disease, once and for all. Imagine a future where personalized education, accessible healthcare, and sustainable energy are available to all. This isn’t just sci-fi anymore; it’s a future within our reach, if we embrace the collaborative potential of human ingenuity and artificial intelligence.

I’ll spare you into writing up another dissecting blog post, breaking down Kendrick Lamar’s Superbowl halftime performance. I will highlight Time Magazine’s since I think it’s the best comprehensive breakdown review. In its conclusion the writer says the following:

In its framing, narrative approach, and density, Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl was unlike any that have come before it. To some, it mystified; to others, it kicked open the door for what this format could be. Just because something is expected of you, he seemed to be saying, doesn’t mean that’s the path you should take. Maybe Kendrick, in his own words, does deserve it all.

If you haven’t watched it, I suggest you do.

Okay, so today’s Super Bowl Sunday. Big deal, right? Just another excuse to wear a jersey and eat questionable snacks. But seriously, even my church got in on the action. I swear, the place looked like a Cowboys fan club meeting – and as a Commanders fan, I’m contractually obligated to be bitter. But all those jerseys got me thinking…

It’s curious, isn’t it? It’s not just football teams that inspire this kind of devotion. America has its own set of “teams” – not all of them athletic – that people rally behind. Think Cowboys, Yankees, Lakers, sure, but also Apple, and even Taylor Swift. It’s fascinating how we choose these “teams” and how fiercely we defend them.

And let’s be real, this tribalism isn’t just about the big names. It’s in the small things too. Think about the great Android vs. iPhone debate. Green bubbles vs. blue bubbles. It’s a digital divide that separates friends and families (okay, maybe that’s a bit dramatic). But seriously, it’s another example of how we find our tribe and stick with them, even when it comes to something as silly as phone preferences.

Anytime someone steps away from the beloved teams, you’re practically an outcast (just kidding… mostly). But seriously, it does feel like we’re wired to belong, to find our tribe. Whether it’s a sports team, a brand, or even a pop star, we find something to connect with and declare our allegiance. We’re tribal creatures, after all.

This whole jersey-filled Sunday got me wondering, why do we do this? What is it about being part of something bigger than ourselves that’s so appealing? Psychologists have explored this, suggesting it taps into our need for community and identity. Being a fan connects us to something larger, giving us a sense of belonging and shared purpose. It’s like having an extended family of fellow fans. But it goes beyond just feeling good. Our “team” affiliations can influence how we see the world, from what we buy to how we interact with others. Think about it: do you find yourself more drawn to people who share your fandoms? Do you subtly (or not so subtly) judge those who root for the “wrong” team? It’s funny how these seemingly small allegiances can shape our perceptions and even our relationships.

And where do we draw the line between healthy fandom and, well, not-so-healthy tribalism? So, from Cowboys jerseys to green bubbles, it seems we’re always finding new ways to define our tribes. The question is, why? Maybe it’s something to think about as we head into the rest of the week.

Anyway, I got the Chiefs winning, even though I want the Eagles to win.