Did Google Predict Venezuela Earthquakes Before it Happened? & GTA VI’s Launch Plan Irks Gaming Purists

June 26, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

Two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela just 39 seconds apart last Wednesday, killing at least 235 people and registering magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5. The back-to-back events, known as a doublet, hit the northern coastal state of La Guayra during a national holiday when beaches were crowded. Rescue operations continue amid widespread building collapses, with economic losses estimated by the U.S. Geological Survey between 10 and 100 billion dollars.

Android phones as an earthquake sensor network

Billions of Android devices already function as a distributed detection system through their built-in accelerometers. When shaking patterns match earthquake signatures, the phones transmit data and location to Google servers, which then issue alerts to nearby users. Roughly four million people in Venezuela received warnings, sometimes seconds before the stronger waves arrived. The system relies on the fact that data travels at the speed of light while seismic waves move at roughly six kilometers per second, creating a narrow but useful time advantage for actions such as moving away from windows or stopping a vehicle.

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What you'll learn

1 (03:18) **Venezuela Earthquakes & Google’s Android Alert System** - A 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude doublet earthquake hits Venezuela, killing at least 235, as rescue efforts focus on the coastal state of La Guayra.
2 (08:31) **Stock of the Week: Apple (Dog)** - Apple raises prices across its Mac lineup (up to $300 on MacBook Pro), iPad, and HomePod, blaming a memory shortage caused by the AI infrastructure boom.
3 (13:19) **Stock of the Week: Oil (Bull)** - Brent crude falls below $73/barrel, erasing all wartime gains after a truce reopens the Strait of Hormuz, with 57% of pre-war traffic restored.
4 (17:18) **GTA VI Goes Digital-Only** - Rockstar confirms the most anticipated game in history will launch on November 19th with no physical disc, only a box containing a download code.
5 (23:01) **Amble: The Apple-Designed Golf Cart** - A former top Apple designer launches Amble, a $25,000 open-air electric buggy aimed at filling the transportation gap between a Tesla and an e-bike.
6 (25:10) **Taylor Swift & Travis Kelce Wedding at MSG** - The New York Times sleuths that the couple will marry over July 4th weekend at Madison Square Garden, based on street closure permits and hotel bookings.
7 Standout Quotes

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Show Notes

#876: Two powerful earthquakes devastated Venezuela and there are reports that Google alerted millions before it happened. Apple is taking some heat after it raised prices on its products due to the memory chip supply crunch. Oil prices have fallen down to pre-war levels. Grand Theft Auto VI has a release date, but some fans are irked by a digital-only release. Finally, is Taylor Swift having her wedding at Madison Square Garden?

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