Alix Dunn
@alixdunn.com
I bloop about the politics of technology and host the Computer Says Maybe podcast: https://www.themaybe.org/podcast
Reposted by Alix Dunn
What was ChatGPT? Now nearly three years old, we can look at OpenAI's LLM as a product of its time, optimized ever since to its earliest uses. While this period of deep disorientation and social isolation has been obscured from public memory, it remains embedded within the interface.
What Was ChatGPT?
A Chatbot Optimized for Social Distance
Three years after the launch of ChatGPT, we can finally speak in hindsight about what it was and how it came to be. Its meteoric rise shocked the world, gather...
mail.cyberneticforests.com
November 23, 2025 at 12:37 PM
What was ChatGPT? Now nearly three years old, we can look at OpenAI's LLM as a product of its time, optimized ever since to its earliest uses. While this period of deep disorientation and social isolation has been obscured from public memory, it remains embedded within the interface.
The chaos monkey on my shoulder really wants him to veto it.
JUST IN: Senate unanimously passes bill to release Epstein files, sending it to Trump
Senate sends bill to release Epstein files to Trump
Trump said Monday he would sign the bill, but the files still may not be released any time soon.
trib.al
November 19, 2025 at 1:03 AM
The chaos monkey on my shoulder really wants him to veto it.
Reposted by Alix Dunn
New in @theverge.com - half of US scams originate on a Meta property. The company must do more. @lanalanalana.bsky.social and I weigh in www.theverge.com/tech/820906/...
Meta must rein in scammers — or face consequences
Scams are ruinous to users — but, reportedly, big business to Meta.
www.theverge.com
November 14, 2025 at 7:52 PM
New in @theverge.com - half of US scams originate on a Meta property. The company must do more. @lanalanalana.bsky.social and I weigh in www.theverge.com/tech/820906/...
I think of political comms as saying the thing we know is happening isn't happening and "This is delivery, not dithering – and it’s happening now" is chef's kiss projection.
November 13, 2025 at 8:35 PM
I think of political comms as saying the thing we know is happening isn't happening and "This is delivery, not dithering – and it’s happening now" is chef's kiss projection.
Reposted by Alix Dunn
This week Open AI walked back a call for the govt to backstop financing for its trillion dollar investments in data centers. This was only the tip of the iceberg; a slow bailout for AI firms is already underway. Read more from @ambakak.bsky.social and I in @wsj.com: www.wsj.com/opinion/you-...
Opinion | You May Already Be Bailing Out the AI Business
Washington is treating the industry as if it’s too big to fail, even as the market sends lukewarm signals.
www.wsj.com
November 12, 2025 at 10:56 PM
This week Open AI walked back a call for the govt to backstop financing for its trillion dollar investments in data centers. This was only the tip of the iceberg; a slow bailout for AI firms is already underway. Read more from @ambakak.bsky.social and I in @wsj.com: www.wsj.com/opinion/you-...
Reposted by Alix Dunn
New Report: Fission for Algorithms. We draw on our nuclear expertise to dissect the risky fast-tracking initiatives hastening nuclear development in service of AI. This includes proposals to use Gen AI for nuclear licensing, whilst lowering well-established nuclear thresholds.
Fission for Algorithms: The Undermining of Nuclear Regulation in Service of AI - AI Now Institute
A report examining nuclear “fast-tracking” initiatives on their feasibility and their impact on nuclear safety, security, and safeguards.
ainowinstitute.org
November 12, 2025 at 11:05 AM
New Report: Fission for Algorithms. We draw on our nuclear expertise to dissect the risky fast-tracking initiatives hastening nuclear development in service of AI. This includes proposals to use Gen AI for nuclear licensing, whilst lowering well-established nuclear thresholds.
Reposted by Alix Dunn
Many news orgs are "all-in" on AI, fearful of repeating the errors of the early digital era, but what if the real risk lies in handing chunks of our business, our civic function, and our values to a handful of hyperscalers? @alixdunn.com prodded me to think that through with her for @themaybe.org
The Maybe
www.themaybe.org
November 7, 2025 at 9:34 PM
Many news orgs are "all-in" on AI, fearful of repeating the errors of the early digital era, but what if the real risk lies in handing chunks of our business, our civic function, and our values to a handful of hyperscalers? @alixdunn.com prodded me to think that through with her for @themaybe.org
This is so good!
For @techpolicypress.bsky.social I laid out a tech agenda for Mayor-elect zohrankmamdani.bsky.social that resists surveillance and extraction while advancing his goals for affordability, dignity, and justice.
Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@zohrankmamdani.bsky.social)
Mayor-Elect of New York City
zohrankmamdani.bsky.social
November 6, 2025 at 2:30 AM
This is so good!
Reposted by Alix Dunn
Computer Says Maybe is taking the stage at @mozilla.org Festival! This weekend, @alixdunn.com will be leading discussions on reclaiming scale in tech, tackling the role of AI in war, exposing the global footprint of data centers, and more.
November 5, 2025 at 7:02 PM
Computer Says Maybe is taking the stage at @mozilla.org Festival! This weekend, @alixdunn.com will be leading discussions on reclaiming scale in tech, tackling the role of AI in war, exposing the global footprint of data centers, and more.
My 'o' key is making an oo all the time and now all my typoos look Dutch.
October 29, 2025 at 6:59 PM
My 'o' key is making an oo all the time and now all my typoos look Dutch.
Reposted by Alix Dunn
Can a chatbot therapist really replace a human one? The simple answer is, no of course not. But as always, it’s a little more complicated than that.
Access to (real, human-to-human) therapy is limited. You need money, and probably have to jump through a lot of hoops.
Access to (real, human-to-human) therapy is limited. You need money, and probably have to jump through a lot of hoops.
October 28, 2025 at 5:21 PM
Can a chatbot therapist really replace a human one? The simple answer is, no of course not. But as always, it’s a little more complicated than that.
Access to (real, human-to-human) therapy is limited. You need money, and probably have to jump through a lot of hoops.
Access to (real, human-to-human) therapy is limited. You need money, and probably have to jump through a lot of hoops.
Their paper and top level findings:
cse.umn.edu/college/news...
cse.umn.edu/college/news...
New research shows AI chatbots should not replace your therapist
For the first time, researchers compared AI systems and clinical standards for therapistsMINNEAPOLIS / ST. PAUL (07/08/2025) — Should AI chatbots replace your therapist? New research says “no.” The ne...
cse.umn.edu
October 25, 2025 at 2:15 AM
Their paper and top level findings:
cse.umn.edu/college/news...
cse.umn.edu/college/news...
I've been getting more and more concerned and confused about this topic given the rapid uptake by users, and the YOLO response from companies.
If you want a deep dive on what we know, give it a listen. It ain't pretty.
www.themaybe.org/podcast/you-...
If you want a deep dive on what we know, give it a listen. It ain't pretty.
www.themaybe.org/podcast/you-...
The Maybe
www.themaybe.org
October 25, 2025 at 2:15 AM
I've been getting more and more concerned and confused about this topic given the rapid uptake by users, and the YOLO response from companies.
If you want a deep dive on what we know, give it a listen. It ain't pretty.
www.themaybe.org/podcast/you-...
If you want a deep dive on what we know, give it a listen. It ain't pretty.
www.themaybe.org/podcast/you-...
This week on the show, I talk to Stevie Chancellor, a co-author on a banger of a paper introducing new evaluation frameworks and some shocking findings on the use of chat bots for mental health support.
October 25, 2025 at 2:15 AM
This week on the show, I talk to Stevie Chancellor, a co-author on a banger of a paper introducing new evaluation frameworks and some shocking findings on the use of chat bots for mental health support.
To be this smug and corrupt while selling out your constituents in a public forum is a sight to behold.
Former US Sen. Kyrsten Sinema lobbies for data center developer at Chandler AZ Plan Commission. Says she's working "hand in glove" w Trump Admin & warns city to embrace DCs or face federal intervention. City Council vote on Sinema's DC scheduled for Nov. 13.
October 25, 2025 at 1:30 AM
To be this smug and corrupt while selling out your constituents in a public forum is a sight to behold.
Reposted by Alix Dunn
I’m always surprised we don’t talk more about AWS as a single point of failure — and hence of vulnerability to censorship pressure.
Today's AWS outage, which affected a range of websites and applications—from Signal to Fortnite to key UK government services—reveals the dangers of relying on a handful of Big Tech firms, write Article 19's Corinne Cath and Don Le. These are not glitches; they are democratic failures, they say.
Amazon Cloud Outage Reveals Democratic Deficit in Relying on Big Tech | TechPolicy.Press
The AWS outage demonstrates the need for a fundamental shift in how we think about digital infrastructure, write Corinne Cath and Don Le.
www.techpolicy.press
October 20, 2025 at 2:44 PM
I’m always surprised we don’t talk more about AWS as a single point of failure — and hence of vulnerability to censorship pressure.
Showing generative AI videos to a gullible narcissist with dementia to manipulate him was...not a threat vector I had considered.
Trump: "We're in Chicago now ... Beautiful Black woman wearing MAGA caps all over the city. It's the most incredible thing. I love it."
October 20, 2025 at 3:00 AM
Showing generative AI videos to a gullible narcissist with dementia to manipulate him was...not a threat vector I had considered.
Pyrrhic processing.
Whener people say they did something useful with ai, the response should be: ”it’s not a trillion-dollar use case.”
arstechnica.com/ai/2025/10/a...
arstechnica.com/ai/2025/10/a...
Ars Live recap: Is the AI bubble about to pop? Ed Zitron weighs in.
Despite connection hiccups, we covered OpenAI’s finances, nuclear power, and Sam Altman.
arstechnica.com
October 19, 2025 at 6:24 PM
Pyrrhic processing.
Reposted by Alix Dunn
There’s nothing sweet about Project Sucre.
Curious about this huge project with a euphemistic name? All you get is a fully redacted proposal from the parish. That’s what organizers like @kadeeja.blacksky.app are up against in Louisiana, a state with one of the most strained energy grids in the US.
Curious about this huge project with a euphemistic name? All you get is a fully redacted proposal from the parish. That’s what organizers like @kadeeja.blacksky.app are up against in Louisiana, a state with one of the most strained energy grids in the US.
October 16, 2025 at 3:16 PM
There’s nothing sweet about Project Sucre.
Curious about this huge project with a euphemistic name? All you get is a fully redacted proposal from the parish. That’s what organizers like @kadeeja.blacksky.app are up against in Louisiana, a state with one of the most strained energy grids in the US.
Curious about this huge project with a euphemistic name? All you get is a fully redacted proposal from the parish. That’s what organizers like @kadeeja.blacksky.app are up against in Louisiana, a state with one of the most strained energy grids in the US.
Pumped about the ceasefire, hostages, aid to a starved people but still feeling a bit confused. Israel has been committing genocide.
When do we start talking about what they owe the Palestinian people for two years of savage collective punishment and mass civilian murder?
And who goes to jail?
When do we start talking about what they owe the Palestinian people for two years of savage collective punishment and mass civilian murder?
And who goes to jail?
October 12, 2025 at 3:58 PM
Pumped about the ceasefire, hostages, aid to a starved people but still feeling a bit confused. Israel has been committing genocide.
When do we start talking about what they owe the Palestinian people for two years of savage collective punishment and mass civilian murder?
And who goes to jail?
When do we start talking about what they owe the Palestinian people for two years of savage collective punishment and mass civilian murder?
And who goes to jail?
Super fun to have Cory Doctorow ( @pluralistic.net.web.brid.gy) on the show!
Non-stop, rapid fire quips about everything from 'chickenised reverse centaurs' to beefs with platforms that do egregious things with power.
Listen to the man, the myth, the ~24-time book author on the pod this week!
Non-stop, rapid fire quips about everything from 'chickenised reverse centaurs' to beefs with platforms that do egregious things with power.
Listen to the man, the myth, the ~24-time book author on the pod this week!
1/7
Why do all the platforms we love eventually become terrible?
There's a name for this all-too-predictable decline, coined by our guest this week, writer and activist Cory Doctorow (@pluralistic.net.web.brid.gy): enshittification.
Why do all the platforms we love eventually become terrible?
There's a name for this all-too-predictable decline, coined by our guest this week, writer and activist Cory Doctorow (@pluralistic.net.web.brid.gy): enshittification.
October 10, 2025 at 9:54 PM
Super fun to have Cory Doctorow ( @pluralistic.net.web.brid.gy) on the show!
Non-stop, rapid fire quips about everything from 'chickenised reverse centaurs' to beefs with platforms that do egregious things with power.
Listen to the man, the myth, the ~24-time book author on the pod this week!
Non-stop, rapid fire quips about everything from 'chickenised reverse centaurs' to beefs with platforms that do egregious things with power.
Listen to the man, the myth, the ~24-time book author on the pod this week!
The banking executives who drove the global economy off a cliff in 2008 should be in jail.
At least then we wouldn't have to listen to their 'feelings' about AI paying off.
At least then we wouldn't have to listen to their 'feelings' about AI paying off.
October 9, 2025 at 11:58 PM
The banking executives who drove the global economy off a cliff in 2008 should be in jail.
At least then we wouldn't have to listen to their 'feelings' about AI paying off.
At least then we wouldn't have to listen to their 'feelings' about AI paying off.
Reposted by Alix Dunn
Here is just a sample of the secrecy involved in the infrastructure demands in these data center proposals. It’s literally my job to read this stuff and I CAN’T!
September 26, 2025 at 5:18 PM
Here is just a sample of the secrecy involved in the infrastructure demands in these data center proposals. It’s literally my job to read this stuff and I CAN’T!