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Can a robot really cure your loneliness? (The 3:59, Ep. 64)

We also discuss Spotify hitting 100 million active listeners and "Independence Day" director Roland Emmerich's take on what happens when aliens show up.

Roger Cheng Former Executive Editor / Head of News
Roger Cheng (he/him/his) was the executive editor in charge of CNET News, managing everything from daily breaking news to in-depth investigative packages. Prior to this, he was on the telecommunications beat and wrote for Dow Jones Newswires and The Wall Street Journal for nearly a decade and got his start writing and laying out pages at a local paper in Southern California. He's a devoted Trojan alum and thinks sleep is the perfect -- if unattainable -- hobby for a parent.
Expertise Mobile, 5G, Big Tech, Social Media Credentials
  • SABEW Best in Business 2011 Award for Breaking News Coverage, Eddie Award in 2020 for 5G coverage, runner-up National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Award for culture analysis.
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Joan E. Solsman Former Senior Reporter
Joan E. Solsman was CNET's senior media reporter, covering the intersection of entertainment and technology. She's reported from locations spanning from Disneyland to Serbian refugee camps, and she previously wrote for Dow Jones Newswires and The Wall Street Journal. She bikes to get almost everywhere and has been doored only once.
Expertise Streaming video, film, television and music; virtual, augmented and mixed reality; deep fakes and synthetic media; content moderation and misinformation online Credentials
  • Three Folio Eddie award wins: 2018 science & technology writing (Cartoon bunnies are hacking your brain), 2021 analysis (Deepfakes' election threat isn't what you'd think) and 2022 culture article (Apple's CODA Takes You Into an Inner World of Sign)
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Roger Cheng
Joan E. Solsman
Katie Collins

Robots don't just have to be our future overlords; they can be cuddly pets too.

We discuss whether robots can potentially cure loneliness. Kaname Hayashi, the "father of Pepper," a humanoid robot that supposedly senses your emotion, wants to create a follow-up that can be a true companion.

Also, Spotify passes 100 million active listeners, with the splashy launch of Apple Music having had little effect on its momentum. And "Independence Day" director Roland Emmerich talks about the sequel to his sci-fi classic and what he would do if aliens showed up tomorrow.

The 3:59 gives you bite-size news and analysis about the top stories of the day, brought to you by CNET Executive Editor Roger Cheng, Senior Writer Ben Fox Rubin and Producer Bryan VanGelder.

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