People say “AI is/will be in everything” and to me it sounds like “microplastics are/will be in everything.” Some predicted futures ought to be resisted lest they happen.

there is no such thing as "responsible use of generative ai" in research

TFW the example you use as a nightmare case of bad application of language technology has actually been implement (and in the works since 2019) in your own city. buttondown.com/maiht3k/arch... w/ @deccamuldowney.bsky.social

Just came across (via a citation alert) a new paper that purports to be a thematic synthetisis of the academic literature on ethical issues of LLMs. It doesn't cite Stochastic Parrots. >>

Just came across (via a citation alert) a new paper that purports to be a thematic synthetisis of the academic literature on ethical issues of LLMs. It doesn't cite Stochastic Parrots. >>

For example, if the "AI" system is supposed to be evaluating papers for peer review, it might be "tested" in terms of whether it accepts/rejects the right papers, or gives feedback that authors (or author-proxies) deem "helpful". >>

Oh no, I've registered for a conference (#acl2026, #acl2026nlp) and now whova is live and it is yet another vector for LinkedIn-type spam. Two exhibits so far: >>

Strong recommend. Best book I read in 2025.

This is the book that Sam and Dario don't want you to read. Read it a few weeks ago, I recommend you do as well.

Check it out! The AI Con is onsale for just $1.99 for the ebook on bookshop.org: bookshop.org/p/books/the-... w/ @alexhanna.bsky.social

The AI Con, an excellent book by @emilymbender.bsky.social and @alexhanna.bsky.social is costing 1.99 dollars on Amazon US today amzn.to/4uJmdE1

See you soon, Ottawa! I'll be at @octopusbooks.ca in conversation with Kelly Bronson from the University of Ottawa to dismantle AI hype. RSVP here: octopusbooks.ca/events/52084...

Happy Juneteenth

Hey German speaking friends: Do you have a name for the feeling associated with watching a mutual on social who's a mutual because of historical shared respect fall down a rabbit hole and start publically 'liking' all kinds of bad takes?

Pleased to share that “ASL Signbank” through Cambridge Elements (Sign Language Series) is out! It’s free for the next two weeks. You can find it here doi.org/10.1017/9781... Thanks to Erin Wilkinson and David Quinto-Pozos, editors of Sign Language Series, for their support! #ASLSignbank

Shorter version: If you can't understand the film exposing the fascist history and present of so-called AI systems, you're better off just saying nothing. Or, you could show your whole ass by using one such system to produce slop to post instead.

It's worthwhile to document these impacts, because they are harmful. But also: "When utilized in literature review" ... for this AND MANY OTHER REASONS they shouldn't be used that way.

Co-signed. Also, every time you see that framing, note how it zeroes in on what the specific "AI" system is allegedly doing and takes a similarly narrow view of how such tasks show up in people's work. >>

Many people: "I need a shelf that holds up kilos of books for decades — your terrible company cannot even hang one that lasts a day" These bros if tasked with that: "But humans are bad at holding things for decades"

I am curious what would lead to someone voluntarily embarrassing themselves this way. 🧵 >>

Happy Juneteenth everyone! I’ll be in D.C. tonight talking with @geedee215.bsky.social at @solidstatebooksdc.bsky.social if you’d like to join the conversation

Co-signed. Also, every time you see that framing, note how it zeroes in on what the specific "AI" system is allegedly doing and takes a similarly narrow view of how such tasks show up in people's work. >>

Where data centers are really going… Thank you, @majorityreport.bsky.social and @emmavigeland.bsky.social, for having me on! Check out the full video - these are just some of the incentives driving data center development to certain municipalities.

It's worthwhile to document these impacts, because they are harmful. But also: "When utilized in literature review" ... for this AND MANY OTHER REASONS they shouldn't be used that way.

Shorter version: If you can't understand the film exposing the fascist history and present of so-called AI systems, you're better off just saying nothing. Or, you could show your whole ass by using one such system to produce slop to post instead.

The AAUP asserts that AI is a labor, governance, & public good issue subject to collective bargaining, controlled through shared governance, & regulated to prevent displacement, surveillance, inequality, gigification, & the privatization & extraction of knowledge produced by academic workers. 6

I am curious what would lead to someone voluntarily embarrassing themselves this way. 🧵 >>

Since I did do my PhD in cyanobacteria growth and treatment optimization modeling AND work in the water treatment industry, I’m gonna share my theory as to what’s happening here and how to fix it. People are focusing on the painted bottom of the pool increasing residual heat, and while that 1/19

Was creeping the AI Con website and found out it's going to be available in paperback in October - so excited that @emilymbender.bsky.social and @alexhanna.bsky.social can find even more readers. www.penguin.com.au/books/the-ai...

this is what i mean when i say ai is a rhetorical technology. functionally this is a tool for *justifying deportation*, not a tool for assessing age. when someone is pitching an ai product, don't ask them what it's supposed to do. ask yourself what it's supposed to justify

The last thing we need is the US government having an even greater interest in the success of these grifters.

The phrase "garbage in garbage out" suggests that if you put in only good, verified sources then you will get good "info" out. Unfortuantely, it doesn't work that way. >>

This whole thread up & down is important and insightful. I want to add one linguistic point here:

The point of having students do peer review is not to fix the essay, it’s to give the students a concrete experience of delivering their ideas to an audience and being in community caring about their compositional choices.

TORONTO: tomorrow at 7 PM! I'll be in conversation with Dr. M. Murphy and discussing The AI Con at the Jackman Humanities Institute. RSVP at aiconto.eventbrite.ca.

"I find it interesting that trans women, in particular, are under so much attack during a time when the AI industry is so keen on selling men a fake girlfriend."

Great additional point here. 🧵

This whole thread up & down is important and insightful. I want to add one linguistic point here:

One of the things I research is the cooperation of cultural institutions like museums in pitching tech products--specifically AI--to the public. This is advertising for the capacity of AI to educate and thus to reshape education itself as a project better left to private tech companies. 1/n

Why is this a nightmare scenario for a computational linguist? Because automatic processing of speech (whether for transcription or detecting any other info in the speech signal) does not work equally well for different people. >>

This is wildly unacceptable to have implemented without a robust public process.

I have been working on societal impacts of language technology since late 2016, and my nightmare example since pretty early on has been using automatic transcription in emergency services systems. And today I learn it's happening *in my own city* www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news... Short 🧵>>

Just finished reading The AI Con by @emilymbender.bsky.social and @alexhanna.bsky.social A fantastic book dismantling AI hype and talking about a more human future for AI. It’s refreshing to read, so many business meetups are caught up with the AI dream, it’s good to take a hard, critical look.

Looks like WA has a carve-out from two-party consent specifically for emergency calls: app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default....

I have been working on societal impacts of language technology since late 2016, and my nightmare example since pretty early on has been using automatic transcription in emergency services systems. And today I learn it's happening *in my own city* www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news... Short 🧵>>

I need to dig into the discussion draft to do more detailed commentary, but it was really frustrating listening to @trahan.house.gov speak about it: She made claims like "AI is going to be one of those transformative technologies that changes everything." >> player.captivate.fm/episode/fac7...

If you use Waymo driverless car services, you are aiding and abetting fascism. Waymo helps I.C.E. agents locate people to terrorize and abduct. The company willingly shares all facial recognition, license plate and GPS data with I.C.E. and other law enforcement agencies—no subpoena required.

Just heard some reporters on NPR trying to figure out whether SpaceX could possibly merit its $2 trillion valuation. They were skeptical about that, but sounded only bemused by the nonsense about "extending the light of consciousness" and colonizing Mars. >>

Any reporter on that beat *must* read @adambecker.bsky.social 's More Everything Forever. This is a non-negotiable requirement now. (Also will save you from making an ass of yourselves, too.) www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/adam-...

Just heard some reporters on NPR trying to figure out whether SpaceX could possibly merit its $2 trillion valuation. They were skeptical about that, but sounded only bemused by the nonsense about "extending the light of consciousness" and colonizing Mars. >>