Anna E. Cook
@annaecook.com
I stopped publishing on Medium awhile ago, partially because their leadership team didn't prioritize accessibility needs in the product.
I also have seen a significant uptick in poorly reasoned content and AI-generated slop on Medium "publications," which really just takes away credibility imo.
I also have seen a significant uptick in poorly reasoned content and AI-generated slop on Medium "publications," which really just takes away credibility imo.
November 24, 2025 at 8:49 PM
I stopped publishing on Medium awhile ago, partially because their leadership team didn't prioritize accessibility needs in the product.
I also have seen a significant uptick in poorly reasoned content and AI-generated slop on Medium "publications," which really just takes away credibility imo.
I also have seen a significant uptick in poorly reasoned content and AI-generated slop on Medium "publications," which really just takes away credibility imo.
The advocacy and work of accessibility continues, regardless of anti-DEIA.
But the work can be harder, less resourced, more diminished.
Oppressive systems weigh heavily on the advocates still advocating.
So if you can, take the weight off us by helping where you can, regardless of your job title.
But the work can be harder, less resourced, more diminished.
Oppressive systems weigh heavily on the advocates still advocating.
So if you can, take the weight off us by helping where you can, regardless of your job title.
November 24, 2025 at 5:22 PM
The advocacy and work of accessibility continues, regardless of anti-DEIA.
But the work can be harder, less resourced, more diminished.
Oppressive systems weigh heavily on the advocates still advocating.
So if you can, take the weight off us by helping where you can, regardless of your job title.
But the work can be harder, less resourced, more diminished.
Oppressive systems weigh heavily on the advocates still advocating.
So if you can, take the weight off us by helping where you can, regardless of your job title.
This post was written by a UX or UI designer
November 24, 2025 at 1:49 AM
This post was written by a UX or UI designer
I don’t understand how investors take meta seriously at this point
Meta HIRED the “chemicals are turning the frogs gay” guy to police AI bias against, presumably, complete morons:
“He [Starbuck] falsely asserted that exposure to the pesticide atrazine turned amphibians "gay,” prompting male frogs to mate — a claim that has been repeatedly debunked.”
“He [Starbuck] falsely asserted that exposure to the pesticide atrazine turned amphibians "gay,” prompting male frogs to mate — a claim that has been repeatedly debunked.”
Meta appoints anti-DEI and anti-LGBTQ+ conspiracy theorist Robby Starbuck as AI bias advisor
Robby Starbuck has been appointed as an AI bias advisor at Meta with the goal of making the company's chat bot less "woke."
www.advocate.com
November 23, 2025 at 10:19 PM
I don’t understand how investors take meta seriously at this point
I feel like an obvious issue with AI is e-commerce sites allowing it for product photos.
Editing is one thing but if I see an AI generated photo representing a physical product I can’t trust that it’s going to look anything like what I’m purchasing.
Which is false advertising imo 🤷♀️
Editing is one thing but if I see an AI generated photo representing a physical product I can’t trust that it’s going to look anything like what I’m purchasing.
Which is false advertising imo 🤷♀️
November 23, 2025 at 7:21 PM
I feel like an obvious issue with AI is e-commerce sites allowing it for product photos.
Editing is one thing but if I see an AI generated photo representing a physical product I can’t trust that it’s going to look anything like what I’m purchasing.
Which is false advertising imo 🤷♀️
Editing is one thing but if I see an AI generated photo representing a physical product I can’t trust that it’s going to look anything like what I’m purchasing.
Which is false advertising imo 🤷♀️
I was an unknowingly neurodivergent, chronically online kid in the 00s with a love for online forums and front end code.
November 23, 2025 at 1:29 AM
I was an unknowingly neurodivergent, chronically online kid in the 00s with a love for online forums and front end code.
I’ve said it many times, but forcing AI on users is a clearly bad decision.
If a capability works well users will choose it, being forced into it just makes them resent the forced decision.
If a capability works well users will choose it, being forced into it just makes them resent the forced decision.
So, I'm really kind of fucking annoyed and disappointed with Mozilla enabling AI in Firefox by default and not giving users a simple opt out switch.
I have disabled it in my firefox via 'about:config' , if you want to too, here's how to disable it completely or enable certain bits you find useful
I have disabled it in my firefox via 'about:config' , if you want to too, here's how to disable it completely or enable certain bits you find useful
How to Disable AI Features in Firefox Browser
Are you looking for clean user experience in your Firefox browser? Here's how you can disable AI features in Firefox for a simple, no-nonsense usage.
gadgetstouse.com
November 22, 2025 at 5:20 PM
I’ve said it many times, but forcing AI on users is a clearly bad decision.
If a capability works well users will choose it, being forced into it just makes them resent the forced decision.
If a capability works well users will choose it, being forced into it just makes them resent the forced decision.
Zohran with Trump reminds me of many interactions I’ve had with Boomers where I act normal and they’re like “maybe not all millennials are so bad”
November 22, 2025 at 2:47 AM
Zohran with Trump reminds me of many interactions I’ve had with Boomers where I act normal and they’re like “maybe not all millennials are so bad”
Reposted by Anna E. Cook
Zohran flip your hair again we need healthcare get him to give us healthcare.
November 21, 2025 at 9:26 PM
Zohran flip your hair again we need healthcare get him to give us healthcare.
Reposted by Anna E. Cook
Trump talking to Zohran is giving huge my grandfather talking to me about my career energy
November 21, 2025 at 10:14 PM
Trump talking to Zohran is giving huge my grandfather talking to me about my career energy
I’m gonna talk about non deterministic design at axe con 2026.
This will be a good footnote in the “there are plenty of reasons not to use AI, actually”
This will be a good footnote in the “there are plenty of reasons not to use AI, actually”
A company is reportedly withdrawing its $99 AI teddy bear from the market after researchers found it told a tester where to get knives, pills and matches when asked.
It also spoke graphically about sex positions and sexual kinks.
It also spoke graphically about sex positions and sexual kinks.
AI toys can cajole kids or be made to discuss sex, watchdog groups warn
A company is reportedly withdrawing its AI teddy bear from the market after researchers found it told a tester where to get knives, pills and matches when asked.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 21, 2025 at 8:18 PM
I’m gonna talk about non deterministic design at axe con 2026.
This will be a good footnote in the “there are plenty of reasons not to use AI, actually”
This will be a good footnote in the “there are plenty of reasons not to use AI, actually”
Reposted by Anna E. Cook
🦊
“Artificial intelligence isn’t going anywhere. It’s the future.”
I hear that line a lot. The thing is, futures are tricky.
ethanmarcotte.com/wrote/the-li...
“Artificial intelligence isn’t going anywhere. It’s the future.”
I hear that line a lot. The thing is, futures are tricky.
ethanmarcotte.com/wrote/the-li...
The line and the stream. — ethanmarcotte.com
“Artificial intelligence is the future,” they tell me. The thing is, futures are tricky.
ethanmarcotte.com
November 21, 2025 at 3:05 PM
🦊
“Artificial intelligence isn’t going anywhere. It’s the future.”
I hear that line a lot. The thing is, futures are tricky.
ethanmarcotte.com/wrote/the-li...
“Artificial intelligence isn’t going anywhere. It’s the future.”
I hear that line a lot. The thing is, futures are tricky.
ethanmarcotte.com/wrote/the-li...
Don’t worry everyone, RFK Jr is driving to the whale to put it on top of his car and drive it home.
A dead sperm whale has washed up on Nantucket for the first time in decades. It’s too big to move — at least until officials figure out a plan.
Dead Sperm Whale on Nantucket Is Too Big to Move, for Now
A local nonprofit said the 52-ton mammal is “far too big, awkward and heavy to remove.” A town official later said it could be dragged out to sea by Thanksgiving.
nyti.ms
November 21, 2025 at 4:13 PM
Don’t worry everyone, RFK Jr is driving to the whale to put it on top of his car and drive it home.
Just put this inside my work laptop, so I see it when I open it.
November 20, 2025 at 10:41 PM
Just put this inside my work laptop, so I see it when I open it.
I for one am grateful to our billionaire overlords for granting us a surveillance machine that is aesthetically pleasing
What if we made the panopticon aesthetically pleasing.
Can surveillance tech ever be beautiful?
Swift Creatives' Carsten Eriksen on turning eyesores into art.
www.creativebloq.com
November 20, 2025 at 3:57 PM
I for one am grateful to our billionaire overlords for granting us a surveillance machine that is aesthetically pleasing
“We don’t have users with vision disabilities.”
Buddy… the user with vision disabilities is literally inside the house. 👋
(I've had a rare disorder that causes vision issues for over a year)
Buddy… the user with vision disabilities is literally inside the house. 👋
(I've had a rare disorder that causes vision issues for over a year)
November 19, 2025 at 9:15 PM
“We don’t have users with vision disabilities.”
Buddy… the user with vision disabilities is literally inside the house. 👋
(I've had a rare disorder that causes vision issues for over a year)
Buddy… the user with vision disabilities is literally inside the house. 👋
(I've had a rare disorder that causes vision issues for over a year)
Reposted by Anna E. Cook
🏳️⚧️ We’re back with paid opportunities for Trans+ creatives!
Writer? Illustrator? Audio producer? This is for you.
With @transhistoryweek.com we’re investing in 20 Trans+ creatives to make content for Trans+ History Week 2026.
Deadline 2nd Dec 2025, 11:59PM GMT 🗓️
🧵 Details 👇
Writer? Illustrator? Audio producer? This is for you.
With @transhistoryweek.com we’re investing in 20 Trans+ creatives to make content for Trans+ History Week 2026.
Deadline 2nd Dec 2025, 11:59PM GMT 🗓️
🧵 Details 👇
November 11, 2025 at 2:46 PM
🏳️⚧️ We’re back with paid opportunities for Trans+ creatives!
Writer? Illustrator? Audio producer? This is for you.
With @transhistoryweek.com we’re investing in 20 Trans+ creatives to make content for Trans+ History Week 2026.
Deadline 2nd Dec 2025, 11:59PM GMT 🗓️
🧵 Details 👇
Writer? Illustrator? Audio producer? This is for you.
With @transhistoryweek.com we’re investing in 20 Trans+ creatives to make content for Trans+ History Week 2026.
Deadline 2nd Dec 2025, 11:59PM GMT 🗓️
🧵 Details 👇
A PSA to my peers looking for jobs right now:
Scammers are definitely aware of the job market right now, which super sucks.
Be cautious and pay attention to little details, validate before you provide personal information.
Scammers are definitely aware of the job market right now, which super sucks.
Be cautious and pay attention to little details, validate before you provide personal information.
November 19, 2025 at 6:59 PM
A PSA to my peers looking for jobs right now:
Scammers are definitely aware of the job market right now, which super sucks.
Be cautious and pay attention to little details, validate before you provide personal information.
Scammers are definitely aware of the job market right now, which super sucks.
Be cautious and pay attention to little details, validate before you provide personal information.
Disney pitching AI as a way for people to make their own content and all I can think is that it seems like a lot of work.
Idk about you all but I watch TV to have someone else tell me a story. Wild I know
Idk about you all but I watch TV to have someone else tell me a story. Wild I know
November 19, 2025 at 3:13 AM
Disney pitching AI as a way for people to make their own content and all I can think is that it seems like a lot of work.
Idk about you all but I watch TV to have someone else tell me a story. Wild I know
Idk about you all but I watch TV to have someone else tell me a story. Wild I know
Really enjoyed this post by @gerireid.com
It felt accurate for what I've experienced from designers coming to me with specs written by AI.
Designers may learn what they should include, but the specs tend to lack the contextual awareness or accuracy required.
gerireid.com/blog/can-ai-...
It felt accurate for what I've experienced from designers coming to me with specs written by AI.
Designers may learn what they should include, but the specs tend to lack the contextual awareness or accuracy required.
gerireid.com/blog/can-ai-...
Can AI write accessibility specs?
I wrote a prompt to help me write accessibility specs for components. Then had an existential crisis.
gerireid.com
November 18, 2025 at 9:15 PM
Really enjoyed this post by @gerireid.com
It felt accurate for what I've experienced from designers coming to me with specs written by AI.
Designers may learn what they should include, but the specs tend to lack the contextual awareness or accuracy required.
gerireid.com/blog/can-ai-...
It felt accurate for what I've experienced from designers coming to me with specs written by AI.
Designers may learn what they should include, but the specs tend to lack the contextual awareness or accuracy required.
gerireid.com/blog/can-ai-...
I always wonder where big company CEOs come from. It seems like they pop out of thin air, just suddenly there and magically having 20 years of CEO experience.
It's like they're hatched in a lab.
It's like they're hatched in a lab.
November 18, 2025 at 7:27 PM
I always wonder where big company CEOs come from. It seems like they pop out of thin air, just suddenly there and magically having 20 years of CEO experience.
It's like they're hatched in a lab.
It's like they're hatched in a lab.
Reposted by Anna E. Cook
"The OSA is likely driving adults into a more fragmented, less regulated ecosystem, largely because people are uneasy about handing over ID. We’re probably not going to see less engagement with porn, we’ll see different routes to it — many of them far outside the spaces the law was written for.”
‘I watch more hardcore stuff on unregulated sites’: Men on their changing porn habits post-age verification
Three months since the UK introduced age checks for NSFW content online, some men are reporting unexpected (and some totally expected) changes in consumption
www.cosmopolitan.com
November 14, 2025 at 5:31 PM
"The OSA is likely driving adults into a more fragmented, less regulated ecosystem, largely because people are uneasy about handing over ID. We’re probably not going to see less engagement with porn, we’ll see different routes to it — many of them far outside the spaces the law was written for.”
I spend a lot of time these days giving less tech-aware people in my life tips on how to protect themselves from security, privacy, and AI related risks.
Digital literacy is not nearly as ubiquitous as we make it out to be, and its worth the 5 minutes to explain basics now and then.
Digital literacy is not nearly as ubiquitous as we make it out to be, and its worth the 5 minutes to explain basics now and then.
November 17, 2025 at 8:55 PM
I spend a lot of time these days giving less tech-aware people in my life tips on how to protect themselves from security, privacy, and AI related risks.
Digital literacy is not nearly as ubiquitous as we make it out to be, and its worth the 5 minutes to explain basics now and then.
Digital literacy is not nearly as ubiquitous as we make it out to be, and its worth the 5 minutes to explain basics now and then.
Reposted by Anna E. Cook
🚨🚨🚨 Hello, I am going to take some time off over the holidays AND have a decent amount of freelance budget remaining. So if you have something you'd like to write for @ballsandstrikes.org, now is the time to pitch. Guidelines below, email me at pitches@ballsandstrikes dot org. Talk to you soon.
Submissions
Do you want to write for Balls and Strikes? Here's how to get in touch, what we pay, and what we look for in a successful story pitch.
ballsandstrikes.org
November 17, 2025 at 7:12 PM
🚨🚨🚨 Hello, I am going to take some time off over the holidays AND have a decent amount of freelance budget remaining. So if you have something you'd like to write for @ballsandstrikes.org, now is the time to pitch. Guidelines below, email me at pitches@ballsandstrikes dot org. Talk to you soon.