AI companies are playing a game wherein these computer programs are presented to the public as autonomous individuals capable of issuing a meaningful apology. The machine is just a machine. Human beings owe the apology for building the machine irresponsibly and unleashing it on the world.

The only New Year's Eve countdown that matters!

(Re)introducing the "Homework Machine," a 1981 poem by Shel Silverstein that turned out to be strikingly prescient about AI

"...universities are not tech companies. Our role is to foster critical thinking, not to follow industry trends uncritically" www.ru.nl/en/research/...

The AI Bubble in a nutshell: WSJ installed an AI-powered vending machine in their office and journalists, via Slack, convinced it to start ordering and giving away anything and everything, including a PS5, wine, cigarettes, and a live fish. www.wsj.com/tech/ai/anth...

Increasingly, I've been interested in understanding the ideas and beliefs that have shaped Silicon Valley and its technologies. "Engagement" is one of them. Far from merely a base economic impulse, the concept did--and continues to do--important ideological work for the high-tech industry

This is deeply distressing. futurism.com/future-socie...

Only two more weeks to go 👀 web.law.duke.edu/cspd/publicd...

Planning your week? Add this #booktalk to your list! 📖 THE PUBLIC DOMAIN explores how we can protect the “commons of the mind” & why it’s as vital as intellectual property. 📆 Thurs Dec 18 🕙 10 AM – 11 AM PT 📍 Online 🎟️ www.eventbrite.com/e/1839697527... @dukelaw.bsky.social @mollysvh.bsky.social

The University of Washington's Center for an Informed Public is looking to bring on new postdoctoral scholars to join our research community starting in 2026-2027. Come collaborate w/ our amazing, interdisciplinary team working to understand & help people navigate our complex information ecosystem!

Enshittification has reached academia.

Analysis: New supersized data centers sprouting across the country are starting to transform landscapes and communities, sparking debates about what our energy systems and environment can sustain.

This is so well done. Hilarious, if it weren't so devastating. “1,705,947 seconds meditated. Together we’re making no difference." oilwell.app

Okay #AcademicSky, #HistorySky, etc: There's a lot of chatter abt how we're moving forward with assignments in the "Age of AI." Especially for those of us in writing disciplines. I also want to hear what YOU'RE doing. Let's create a master resource thread-list here!

Australia has banned under-16s from major social platforms in a world-first move to curb algorithmic harm. Can blunt restrictions really fix a system designed for addiction? lfpress.com/opinion/colu...

There isn't a single problem "solved" by edtech that couldn't be fixed with smaller classes led by well-paid teachers given real academic freedom

The war on disinformation is being dismantled on purpose. This piece from @theverge.com shows how fact-checking and accountability are reframed as “censorship,” then systematically targeted until the guardrails crack. A must read. www.theverge.com/features/839...