Alex Shultz
@alexshultz.bsky.social
Journalist, Hard Reset co-author, pickup basketball enthusiast
Email: [email protected]
Signal: ajshultz.13
Website: alex-shultz.com
Email: [email protected]
Signal: ajshultz.13
Website: alex-shultz.com
This AI-generated smear was a success for the Redditor. They got millions of views on a falsified post & compelled statements from DoorDash + Uber. Part 2 of their scheme—getting a journalist to publish libelous documents—didn’t work. But there’s a blueprint here that other fraudsters will emulate
A self-identified “engineer” went viral on Reddit (& on social media) w/damning allegations about one of the food delivery apps. Then they circulated a legit-looking “internal document” to journalists, including me.
The whole thing was an AI-generated scam intended to smear Uber. Here’s the story
The whole thing was an AI-generated scam intended to smear Uber. Here’s the story
An AI-Generated Reddit Post Fooled the Internet. It Was Only Half of an Elaborate Scam.
I traded Signal messages with someone purporting to have serious dirt on Uber. They used AI to make the whole thing up.
open.substack.com
January 5, 2026 at 9:07 PM
This AI-generated smear was a success for the Redditor. They got millions of views on a falsified post & compelled statements from DoorDash + Uber. Part 2 of their scheme—getting a journalist to publish libelous documents—didn’t work. But there’s a blueprint here that other fraudsters will emulate
Reposted by Alex Shultz
“ChatGPT started coaching Sam on how to take drugs, recover from them and plan further binges. It gave him specific doses of illegal substances, and in one chat, it wrote, ‘Hell yes—let’s go full trippy mode’”
www.sfgate.com/tech/article...
www.sfgate.com/tech/article...
A Calif. teen trusted ChatGPT for drug advice. He died from an overdose.
"Who on earth gives that advice?"
www.sfgate.com
January 5, 2026 at 6:28 PM
“ChatGPT started coaching Sam on how to take drugs, recover from them and plan further binges. It gave him specific doses of illegal substances, and in one chat, it wrote, ‘Hell yes—let’s go full trippy mode’”
www.sfgate.com/tech/article...
www.sfgate.com/tech/article...
Reposted by Alex Shultz
A self-identified “engineer” went viral on Reddit (& on social media) w/damning allegations about one of the food delivery apps. Then they circulated a legit-looking “internal document” to journalists, including me.
The whole thing was an AI-generated scam intended to smear Uber. Here’s the story
The whole thing was an AI-generated scam intended to smear Uber. Here’s the story
An AI-Generated Reddit Post Fooled the Internet. It Was Only Half of an Elaborate Scam.
I traded Signal messages with someone purporting to have serious dirt on Uber. They used AI to make the whole thing up.
open.substack.com
January 5, 2026 at 2:25 AM
A self-identified “engineer” went viral on Reddit (& on social media) w/damning allegations about one of the food delivery apps. Then they circulated a legit-looking “internal document” to journalists, including me.
The whole thing was an AI-generated scam intended to smear Uber. Here’s the story
The whole thing was an AI-generated scam intended to smear Uber. Here’s the story
A self-identified “engineer” went viral on Reddit (& on social media) w/damning allegations about one of the food delivery apps. Then they circulated a legit-looking “internal document” to journalists, including me.
The whole thing was an AI-generated scam intended to smear Uber. Here’s the story
The whole thing was an AI-generated scam intended to smear Uber. Here’s the story
An AI-Generated Reddit Post Fooled the Internet. It Was Only Half of an Elaborate Scam.
I traded Signal messages with someone purporting to have serious dirt on Uber. They used AI to make the whole thing up.
open.substack.com
January 5, 2026 at 2:25 AM
A self-identified “engineer” went viral on Reddit (& on social media) w/damning allegations about one of the food delivery apps. Then they circulated a legit-looking “internal document” to journalists, including me.
The whole thing was an AI-generated scam intended to smear Uber. Here’s the story
The whole thing was an AI-generated scam intended to smear Uber. Here’s the story
Reposted by Alex Shultz
Trump visibly falling asleep in the background, very inspiring.
January 3, 2026 at 5:05 PM
Trump visibly falling asleep in the background, very inspiring.
Charging someone in a different country with “possession of machine guns” the day after the Ninth Circuit ruled it’s unconstitutional for California to ban open carry of firearms in populated areas
It is illegal under United States law for foreign leaders to have machine guns.
🤡🤡🤡
🤡🤡🤡
January 3, 2026 at 4:29 PM
Charging someone in a different country with “possession of machine guns” the day after the Ninth Circuit ruled it’s unconstitutional for California to ban open carry of firearms in populated areas
It's impossible for me to do a year-end thread without first apologizing for doing so, and adding another disclaimer that I will keep it brief! But it's been a good year, and I want to highlight a few pieces I wrote. If you like any of them, consider subscribing to Hard Reset, where I write weekly
Hard Reset | Substack
A publication about tech, labor, and power by Ariella Steinhorn, Eli Rosenberg, Alex Shultz, and Jacob Ward, featuring exclusive reporting, interviews, and insights about holding corporate power accou...
www.hardresetmedia.com
December 30, 2025 at 7:09 PM
It's impossible for me to do a year-end thread without first apologizing for doing so, and adding another disclaimer that I will keep it brief! But it's been a good year, and I want to highlight a few pieces I wrote. If you like any of them, consider subscribing to Hard Reset, where I write weekly
Reposted by Alex Shultz
“Palantir CEO Alex Karp will take a mysterious leave of absence.” 😂
Here are my 26 locks for 2026, presented by FanDuel and DraftKings and Kalshi and Polymarket and Robinhood
26 Predictions for 2026
Stone-cold locks about Donald Trump, Sam Altman and OpenAI, Kalshi and Polymarket, and America’s tenuous labor movement.
www.hardresetmedia.com
December 29, 2025 at 8:40 PM
“Palantir CEO Alex Karp will take a mysterious leave of absence.” 😂
Here are my 26 locks for 2026, presented by FanDuel and DraftKings and Kalshi and Polymarket and Robinhood
26 Predictions for 2026
Stone-cold locks about Donald Trump, Sam Altman and OpenAI, Kalshi and Polymarket, and America’s tenuous labor movement.
www.hardresetmedia.com
December 29, 2025 at 6:35 PM
Here are my 26 locks for 2026, presented by FanDuel and DraftKings and Kalshi and Polymarket and Robinhood
Man of the people David Sacks is complaining about a possible 5% reduction of the net worth of billionaires
December 28, 2025 at 3:14 PM
Man of the people David Sacks is complaining about a possible 5% reduction of the net worth of billionaires
FaZe Swagg announces he has left FaZe Clan.
December 28, 2025 at 12:51 AM
FaZe Swagg announces he has left FaZe Clan.
great news from the Department of Education's invaluable student loans calculator: if I increase my monthly payments, I can pay off my balance by December 1969, instead of November 2035. Very helpful info!
December 24, 2025 at 9:01 PM
great news from the Department of Education's invaluable student loans calculator: if I increase my monthly payments, I can pay off my balance by December 1969, instead of November 2035. Very helpful info!
Reposted by Alex Shultz
In early November, I wrote a newsletter titled "Sequoia Still Has a Shaun Maguire Problem."
Last week, Maguire falsely accused a Brown University student of being a mass murderer. I would say Sequoia now has a much bigger Shaun Maguire problem—and Maguire himself is vulnerable to a massive lawsuit.
Last week, Maguire falsely accused a Brown University student of being a mass murderer. I would say Sequoia now has a much bigger Shaun Maguire problem—and Maguire himself is vulnerable to a massive lawsuit.
X’s Echo Chamber Gets a Reality Check
A collection of right-wing influencers, chief among them Shaun Maguire, smeared an innocent Brown University student. What happens now?
www.hardresetmedia.com
December 22, 2025 at 8:49 PM
In early November, I wrote a newsletter titled "Sequoia Still Has a Shaun Maguire Problem."
Last week, Maguire falsely accused a Brown University student of being a mass murderer. I would say Sequoia now has a much bigger Shaun Maguire problem—and Maguire himself is vulnerable to a massive lawsuit.
Last week, Maguire falsely accused a Brown University student of being a mass murderer. I would say Sequoia now has a much bigger Shaun Maguire problem—and Maguire himself is vulnerable to a massive lawsuit.
My favorite holiday read. lot of strong contenders this year
Presenting The 2025 Shams Charania Award For Excellence In Divulging Of Information Through Syntax Comprehended By Many | Defector
Can you ask someone to “close your eyes and watch” something? Just how private does a conversation need to be in order to upgrade from speaking “privately” to “very privately”? What does it mean for a...
defector.com
December 22, 2025 at 11:24 PM
My favorite holiday read. lot of strong contenders this year
In early November, I wrote a newsletter titled "Sequoia Still Has a Shaun Maguire Problem."
Last week, Maguire falsely accused a Brown University student of being a mass murderer. I would say Sequoia now has a much bigger Shaun Maguire problem—and Maguire himself is vulnerable to a massive lawsuit.
Last week, Maguire falsely accused a Brown University student of being a mass murderer. I would say Sequoia now has a much bigger Shaun Maguire problem—and Maguire himself is vulnerable to a massive lawsuit.
X’s Echo Chamber Gets a Reality Check
A collection of right-wing influencers, chief among them Shaun Maguire, smeared an innocent Brown University student. What happens now?
www.hardresetmedia.com
December 22, 2025 at 8:49 PM
In early November, I wrote a newsletter titled "Sequoia Still Has a Shaun Maguire Problem."
Last week, Maguire falsely accused a Brown University student of being a mass murderer. I would say Sequoia now has a much bigger Shaun Maguire problem—and Maguire himself is vulnerable to a massive lawsuit.
Last week, Maguire falsely accused a Brown University student of being a mass murderer. I would say Sequoia now has a much bigger Shaun Maguire problem—and Maguire himself is vulnerable to a massive lawsuit.
Reposted by Alex Shultz
This is 404 Media's @jasonkoebler.bsky.social waving at himself through a Flock camera; one of 60 we learned was left exposed to the open internet. Not only could anyone with a link livestream it, but some admin portals were open with no login credentials required.
www.404media.co/flock-expose...
www.404media.co/flock-expose...
December 22, 2025 at 4:37 PM
This is 404 Media's @jasonkoebler.bsky.social waving at himself through a Flock camera; one of 60 we learned was left exposed to the open internet. Not only could anyone with a link livestream it, but some admin portals were open with no login credentials required.
www.404media.co/flock-expose...
www.404media.co/flock-expose...
from this (bad) Free Press story from October, which is premised on anonymous NYPD complaints and speculation: "the Mamdani campaign did not respond to requests for comment." Funny how it was deemed publishable by EIC Bari Weiss
December 22, 2025 at 2:40 PM
from this (bad) Free Press story from October, which is premised on anonymous NYPD complaints and speculation: "the Mamdani campaign did not respond to requests for comment." Funny how it was deemed publishable by EIC Bari Weiss
Reposted by Alex Shultz
just saw this -- yesterday, Eleanor Holmes Norton apparently once again told a reporter she's going to run for re-election in 2026. Previously, her office has walked those claims back afterwards. But they've been radio silent this week, perhaps because of my requests for comment for this story
December 19, 2025 at 8:40 PM
just saw this -- yesterday, Eleanor Holmes Norton apparently once again told a reporter she's going to run for re-election in 2026. Previously, her office has walked those claims back afterwards. But they've been radio silent this week, perhaps because of my requests for comment for this story
just saw this -- yesterday, Eleanor Holmes Norton apparently once again told a reporter she's going to run for re-election in 2026. Previously, her office has walked those claims back afterwards. But they've been radio silent this week, perhaps because of my requests for comment for this story
December 19, 2025 at 8:40 PM
just saw this -- yesterday, Eleanor Holmes Norton apparently once again told a reporter she's going to run for re-election in 2026. Previously, her office has walked those claims back afterwards. But they've been radio silent this week, perhaps because of my requests for comment for this story
Reposted by Alex Shultz
For @nymag.com I reported on 88-year-old Eleanor Holmes Norton, who was recently a victim of credit card fraud.
Among my findings:
The Norton campaign listed a deceased person as campaign treasurer for 2.5 years
Between '23-25, amid q's about her mental acuity, Norton loaned $110k to her campaign
Among my findings:
The Norton campaign listed a deceased person as campaign treasurer for 2.5 years
Between '23-25, amid q's about her mental acuity, Norton loaned $110k to her campaign
The Crime That Exposed a Congresswoman’s Decline
Is Eleanor Holmes Norton, 88, still fit for office? Is she even in charge?
nymag.com
December 19, 2025 at 2:25 PM
For @nymag.com I reported on 88-year-old Eleanor Holmes Norton, who was recently a victim of credit card fraud.
Among my findings:
The Norton campaign listed a deceased person as campaign treasurer for 2.5 years
Between '23-25, amid q's about her mental acuity, Norton loaned $110k to her campaign
Among my findings:
The Norton campaign listed a deceased person as campaign treasurer for 2.5 years
Between '23-25, amid q's about her mental acuity, Norton loaned $110k to her campaign
Reposted by Alex Shultz
@nymag.com @alexshultz.bsky.social reporting that while Eleanor Holmes Norton has been showing steep signs of mental decline, she is suddenly loaning a large amount of money to her campaign — which only pays her campaign manager / treasurer / confidant and one adviser. nymag.com/intelligence...
December 19, 2025 at 3:08 PM
@nymag.com @alexshultz.bsky.social reporting that while Eleanor Holmes Norton has been showing steep signs of mental decline, she is suddenly loaning a large amount of money to her campaign — which only pays her campaign manager / treasurer / confidant and one adviser. nymag.com/intelligence...
For @nymag.com I reported on 88-year-old Eleanor Holmes Norton, who was recently a victim of credit card fraud.
Among my findings:
The Norton campaign listed a deceased person as campaign treasurer for 2.5 years
Between '23-25, amid q's about her mental acuity, Norton loaned $110k to her campaign
Among my findings:
The Norton campaign listed a deceased person as campaign treasurer for 2.5 years
Between '23-25, amid q's about her mental acuity, Norton loaned $110k to her campaign
The Crime That Exposed a Congresswoman’s Decline
Is Eleanor Holmes Norton, 88, still fit for office? Is she even in charge?
nymag.com
December 19, 2025 at 2:25 PM
For @nymag.com I reported on 88-year-old Eleanor Holmes Norton, who was recently a victim of credit card fraud.
Among my findings:
The Norton campaign listed a deceased person as campaign treasurer for 2.5 years
Between '23-25, amid q's about her mental acuity, Norton loaned $110k to her campaign
Among my findings:
The Norton campaign listed a deceased person as campaign treasurer for 2.5 years
Between '23-25, amid q's about her mental acuity, Norton loaned $110k to her campaign
playbook for Trump/his orbiters:
1. gossip about how an appointee/staffer is doing a bad job or is desperate to leave
2. Story comes out that appointee/staffer is leaving soon
3. Appointee/staffer can't give an inch, cries fake news, is stuck for 3-6 months
4. News cycle passes, they slink away
1. gossip about how an appointee/staffer is doing a bad job or is desperate to leave
2. Story comes out that appointee/staffer is leaving soon
3. Appointee/staffer can't give an inch, cries fake news, is stuck for 3-6 months
4. News cycle passes, they slink away
December 17, 2025 at 10:48 PM
playbook for Trump/his orbiters:
1. gossip about how an appointee/staffer is doing a bad job or is desperate to leave
2. Story comes out that appointee/staffer is leaving soon
3. Appointee/staffer can't give an inch, cries fake news, is stuck for 3-6 months
4. News cycle passes, they slink away
1. gossip about how an appointee/staffer is doing a bad job or is desperate to leave
2. Story comes out that appointee/staffer is leaving soon
3. Appointee/staffer can't give an inch, cries fake news, is stuck for 3-6 months
4. News cycle passes, they slink away
The reporter who interviewed Susie Wiles 11 times on the record should call her later and ask her how her day went. Seems like a pretty decent chance she will immediately dive into on the record interview number 12
December 16, 2025 at 5:10 PM
The reporter who interviewed Susie Wiles 11 times on the record should call her later and ask her how her day went. Seems like a pretty decent chance she will immediately dive into on the record interview number 12
Sam Altman's assertion that he needs ChatGPT to raise his child was widely ridiculed, but the timing of Altman’s Jimmy Fallon interview coupled with a lack of viewership for the full segment (which has 2x more thumbs-down reactions than thumbs-up reactions on YouTube) also don't bode well for OpenAI
Sam Altman's Disastrous Interview With Jimmy Fallon, an AI Chatbot in the Flesh
Altman apparently needs ChatGPT to navigate parenthood, but his viral remarks weren’t the most concerning aspect of his late night debut.
www.hardresetmedia.com
December 15, 2025 at 7:19 PM
Sam Altman's assertion that he needs ChatGPT to raise his child was widely ridiculed, but the timing of Altman’s Jimmy Fallon interview coupled with a lack of viewership for the full segment (which has 2x more thumbs-down reactions than thumbs-up reactions on YouTube) also don't bode well for OpenAI