Hosted by: Cassie Betts
Executive Producer: Eman Barkley
Air Date: February 8, 2025
📻 KBLA Talk 1580

Introduction to Episode and Guest

In this episode of TalkTechTo.Me, host Cassie Betts dives into the future of technology with special guest Ural Garrett, a tech journalist and fellow KBLA personality. The focus? CES 2025, the world’s biggest tech event, showcasing game-changing innovations in AI, digital health, sustainability, and mobility. Ural shares firsthand insights on the most exciting trends and emerging companies shaping the future.

Guest Background in Tech

Ural Garrett, an Inglewood native and Southern University & A&M College graduate, has been a tech and culture journalist for over a decade. His work spans major platforms like Complex, BET, IGN, MTVNews, TechRadar, and more. Currently, he co-hosts The Lyric Lounge on KBLA 1580, where he explores music, culture, and tech.

The Tea in Tech: Headlines You Need to Know

🔥 TikTok & Black Girl Ventures Launch “2025 SOAR Together” Accelerator
TikTok is teaming up with Black Girl Ventures to support Black-owned businesses on TikTok Shop through a six-week accelerator program. Participants will receive mentorship and resources to boost their online presence and sales.

🚨 Google Scraps DEI & Opens the Door to AI in Weapons & Surveillance
Google has quietly removed DEI (Diversity, Equity & Inclusion) commitments from its policies and dissolved related hiring targets. Additionally, they’ve reversed a long-standing stance against using AI in weapons and surveillance technologies—a controversial shift in Big Tech ethics.

💰 Spotify Shatters Records with $10B Payouts & Universal Music Group Deal
In 2024 alone, Spotify paid $10 billion to the music industry, bringing its lifetime total to $60 billion. A new deal with Universal Music Group hints at improved audio quality, artist compensation, and fresh platform features.

🎧 Kendrick Lamar Goes Virtual on Apple Vision Pro
Ahead of his Super Bowl Halftime Show, Kendrick Lamar takes center stage in a VR experience for the game Synth Riders on Apple Vision Pro, offering fans an immersive ride through his hit "Humble."

CES 2025: Biggest Trends & Breakthroughs

CES 2025 by the Numbers

• 4,500+ exhibitors (including 1,400 startups)
• 141,000+ attendees from 150+ countries
• 300+ conference sessions featuring 1,200+ speakers
• 60%+ of Fortune 500 companies in attendance

Key Takeaways from Ural Garrett

🔹 Most Surprising Trends: Unexpected innovations that stole the show
🔹 Hyped vs. Ready-for-Market: What’s real and what’s just marketing hype?
🔹 AI at CES: The biggest leaps in AI-driven productivity and biotech
🔹 Self-Driving Tech: How Waymo and other EV pioneers are evolving
🔹 Sustainability & Energy Tech: Green hydrogen, battery breakthroughs, and eco-conscious innovations
🔹 The Power of Celebrity in Tech: How figures like will.i.am, Stevie Wonder, and Mark Cuban shaped the narrative

Future of AI, Health Tech, and Sustainability

As companies integrate AI deeper into everyday life, Ural breaks down:
✔️ How companies are tackling AI trust & ethics
✔️ The biggest health tech breakthroughs, from telehealth to biotech
✔️ Which green tech solutions are actually making an impact

Final Takeaways & Tech Predictions for 2025

🔮 What tech trends will dominate the year?
💡 Advice for consumers looking to invest in new gadgets
🎤 Ural’s most memorable moments at CES

Stay Connected

🎙️ Follow Ural Garrett on social media for more tech insights.
📲 Follow @instabetts, @talktechto.me, and @madeinsouth.la for the latest in tech and entrepreneurship.
🚀 Want to break into tech? Check out Made In South LA’s Bootcamps at misla.org.

💥 TalkTechTo.Me—Pushing the envelope of tech, one keystroke at a time. See you next time, Tech Bettsties! ✌🏾