Alisa Perren
@aperren.bsky.social
Media studies prof. Director of Industry Relations for the Radio-Television-Film Department at UT-Austin. Opinions are my own.
Reposted by Alisa Perren
CBS News invites everyone who works for them to quit.
Below is the buyout offer all CBS Evening News staff received today.
"We hope you are excited about this vision, but we understand that some of you may not be, and we want to provide support. As such, we are offering an extraordinary chance to leave CBS News with an enhanced separation payment."
"We hope you are excited about this vision, but we understand that some of you may not be, and we want to provide support. As such, we are offering an extraordinary chance to leave CBS News with an enhanced separation payment."
January 28, 2026 at 11:39 PM
CBS News invites everyone who works for them to quit.
Reposted by Alisa Perren
Documents from lawsuit claiming Meta & Google purposely marketed addictive & dangerous products to children reveal corporate strategies for pushing into a schools to force young kids into their ecosystems.
Below slide from internal Google pitch deck.
www.nbcnews.com/tech/social-...
Below slide from internal Google pitch deck.
www.nbcnews.com/tech/social-...
January 25, 2026 at 2:21 PM
Documents from lawsuit claiming Meta & Google purposely marketed addictive & dangerous products to children reveal corporate strategies for pushing into a schools to force young kids into their ecosystems.
Below slide from internal Google pitch deck.
www.nbcnews.com/tech/social-...
Below slide from internal Google pitch deck.
www.nbcnews.com/tech/social-...
Reposted by Alisa Perren
Blistering piece on ed tech in @economist.com.
‘Although ed-tech companies tout huge learning gains, independent research has made clear that technology rarely boosts learning in schools—and often impairs it.’
economist.com/united-state...
‘Although ed-tech companies tout huge learning gains, independent research has made clear that technology rarely boosts learning in schools—and often impairs it.’
economist.com/united-state...
Ed tech is profitable. It is also mostly useless
Independent research identifies few learning gains
economist.com
January 24, 2026 at 2:24 PM
Blistering piece on ed tech in @economist.com.
‘Although ed-tech companies tout huge learning gains, independent research has made clear that technology rarely boosts learning in schools—and often impairs it.’
economist.com/united-state...
‘Although ed-tech companies tout huge learning gains, independent research has made clear that technology rarely boosts learning in schools—and often impairs it.’
economist.com/united-state...
Reposted by Alisa Perren
“But what stood out to me as I listened to the recorded conversation between Nadella and Fink is that they have largely given up on organic adoption by consumers. They have moved on to a new dream of forced adoption mandated by government and managerial coercion.”
I watched a bunch of AI sessions at the WEF so you wouldn’t have to.
But you should read this.
But you should read this.
"You have to use it. You have to trust it.": Forced Adoption of AI is The Subtext of Davos
Authoritarianism is the AI Bailout; But If AI Doesn't Need a Bailout, Does it Need Authoritarianism?
theamericanvandal.substack.com
January 24, 2026 at 2:56 PM
“But what stood out to me as I listened to the recorded conversation between Nadella and Fink is that they have largely given up on organic adoption by consumers. They have moved on to a new dream of forced adoption mandated by government and managerial coercion.”
Reposted by Alisa Perren
early industrialists adopted the power loom initially not because it was faster or cheaper than the workers it was replacing, but because increased precarity allowed harsher discipline of the workers who remained
i've rarely seen or even read about such blatantly unambiguous interlocking directorate behavior?? just irrational investment despite all evidence because the finance class likes AI's political power. i'm sure historians have better cases but this stands out to me.
January 21, 2026 at 6:58 PM
early industrialists adopted the power loom initially not because it was faster or cheaper than the workers it was replacing, but because increased precarity allowed harsher discipline of the workers who remained
Reposted by Alisa Perren
Thinks are going great in AI world.
January 21, 2026 at 8:06 AM
Thinks are going great in AI world.
Reposted by Alisa Perren
Yesterday it was cows using tools, today its penguins using satellite imagery.
January 20, 2026 at 6:44 PM
Yesterday it was cows using tools, today its penguins using satellite imagery.
Reposted by Alisa Perren
“business could falter without customers”
AI boom could falter without wider adoption, Microsoft chief Satya Nadella warns
AI boom could falter without wider adoption, Microsoft chief Satya Nadella warns
Big tech boss tells delegates at Davos that broader global use is essential if technology is to deliver lasting growth
www.irishtimes.com
January 20, 2026 at 2:18 PM
“business could falter without customers”
Reposted by Alisa Perren
When I lecture to students about how the apparently thriving economy of the 1920s was really a house of cards just waiting to be knocked down, one of the points I stress is how much a small number of the very rich were essentially propping up consumer spending in unsustainable ways
The top 10% now account for nearly half of all consumer spending.
January 17, 2026 at 6:50 PM
When I lecture to students about how the apparently thriving economy of the 1920s was really a house of cards just waiting to be knocked down, one of the points I stress is how much a small number of the very rich were essentially propping up consumer spending in unsustainable ways
Reposted by Alisa Perren
January 17, 2026 at 6:26 AM
Reposted by Alisa Perren
In a Brookings presentation about AI and education.
Notes so far:
-students have access to Wild West of AI
-declining trust between students and teachers
-AI divide opening up by economic class
Notes so far:
-students have access to Wild West of AI
-declining trust between students and teachers
-AI divide opening up by economic class
January 14, 2026 at 4:12 PM
In a Brookings presentation about AI and education.
Notes so far:
-students have access to Wild West of AI
-declining trust between students and teachers
-AI divide opening up by economic class
Notes so far:
-students have access to Wild West of AI
-declining trust between students and teachers
-AI divide opening up by economic class
Reposted by Alisa Perren
Reposted by Alisa Perren
@anildash.com on ai-washing: "Now, to be clear, those workers haven’t been laid off because their jobs are now being done by AI, and they’ve been replaced by bots. Instead, they’ve been laid off by execs who now have AI to use as an excuse for going after workers they’ve wanted to cut all along."
500,000 tech workers have been laid off since ChatGPT was released - Anil Dash
A blog about making culture. Since 1999.
www.anildash.com
January 7, 2026 at 2:43 PM
@anildash.com on ai-washing: "Now, to be clear, those workers haven’t been laid off because their jobs are now being done by AI, and they’ve been replaced by bots. Instead, they’ve been laid off by execs who now have AI to use as an excuse for going after workers they’ve wanted to cut all along."
Doing research on an article about how streaming services’ unscripted TV strategies evolved and came across this gem of a tidbit from 2015:
Ted Sarandos declared reality TV “off-brand” and told investors of its “disposable nature,” making it less interesting for streamers to invest in.
🤣
Ted Sarandos declared reality TV “off-brand” and told investors of its “disposable nature,” making it less interesting for streamers to invest in.
🤣
January 6, 2026 at 2:55 PM
Doing research on an article about how streaming services’ unscripted TV strategies evolved and came across this gem of a tidbit from 2015:
Ted Sarandos declared reality TV “off-brand” and told investors of its “disposable nature,” making it less interesting for streamers to invest in.
🤣
Ted Sarandos declared reality TV “off-brand” and told investors of its “disposable nature,” making it less interesting for streamers to invest in.
🤣
Reposted by Alisa Perren
USPS quietly changed its postmark rules — mail is no longer dated when you drop it off. The “official” date is when it hits automated sorting — sometimes days later
Which could have major implications for mail in voting — it’s a clever way to disenfranchise voters that’s going largely overlooked
Which could have major implications for mail in voting — it’s a clever way to disenfranchise voters that’s going largely overlooked
December 29, 2025 at 7:14 PM
USPS quietly changed its postmark rules — mail is no longer dated when you drop it off. The “official” date is when it hits automated sorting — sometimes days later
Which could have major implications for mail in voting — it’s a clever way to disenfranchise voters that’s going largely overlooked
Which could have major implications for mail in voting — it’s a clever way to disenfranchise voters that’s going largely overlooked
Reposted by Alisa Perren
Can’t see what could go wrong with the chatbot that tells people to kill themselves also pushing DraftKings
December 31, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Can’t see what could go wrong with the chatbot that tells people to kill themselves also pushing DraftKings
Just read this from @seanmcnulty.bsky.social in The Ankler:
NETFLIX will have live TV programming on Sunday, Monday (RAW), Tuesday & Wednesday (Star Search) every week as of mid-January, plus their new mobile daily game show.
The more things change…
NETFLIX will have live TV programming on Sunday, Monday (RAW), Tuesday & Wednesday (Star Search) every week as of mid-January, plus their new mobile daily game show.
The more things change…
December 29, 2025 at 9:58 PM
Just read this from @seanmcnulty.bsky.social in The Ankler:
NETFLIX will have live TV programming on Sunday, Monday (RAW), Tuesday & Wednesday (Star Search) every week as of mid-January, plus their new mobile daily game show.
The more things change…
NETFLIX will have live TV programming on Sunday, Monday (RAW), Tuesday & Wednesday (Star Search) every week as of mid-January, plus their new mobile daily game show.
The more things change…
👀
December 28, 2025 at 9:11 AM
👀
Reposted by Alisa Perren
Find me a piece of ed tech from the past thirty years that's genuinely more about student learning than it is about extracting more labor from fewer teachers. Can't be done!
Every pedagogical argument I see is essentially "You could use it to do something you already do but you will also have to do a lot of setup and double check everything it does."
December 27, 2025 at 9:29 PM
Find me a piece of ed tech from the past thirty years that's genuinely more about student learning than it is about extracting more labor from fewer teachers. Can't be done!
Reposted by Alisa Perren
will also add - yes, this is my personal crusade - that turning podcasts into videos implicitly asks women to once again make more effort than men, as the bar for "camera-ready" for one gender is obviously higher than for the other
‘Painful to hear!’ How podcasts’ rush to video is turning them into dreadful listens
‘Painful to hear!’ How podcasts’ rush to video is turning them into dreadful listens
From Joe Marler’s visual-only stunts to the incomprehensible shuffling sounds Steven Bartlett recently subjected headphone users to, dodgy audio experiences are on the rise
www.theguardian.com
December 27, 2025 at 10:20 AM
will also add - yes, this is my personal crusade - that turning podcasts into videos implicitly asks women to once again make more effort than men, as the bar for "camera-ready" for one gender is obviously higher than for the other
Reposted by Alisa Perren
I know it’s been widely remarked upon but Netflix releasing eight episodes of STRANGER THINGS in three installments is so funny to me
They’re so close to getting it
They’re so close to getting it
December 26, 2025 at 7:53 PM
I know it’s been widely remarked upon but Netflix releasing eight episodes of STRANGER THINGS in three installments is so funny to me
They’re so close to getting it
They’re so close to getting it
Reposted by Alisa Perren
All of this thread.
I understand the self interest that AI salesmen have to push their product, but the grasping way they’re doing it — the internet version of a traveling salesmen putting his foot in the door so you can’t close it — is only going to drive more people away.
I understand the self interest that AI salesmen have to push their product, but the grasping way they’re doing it — the internet version of a traveling salesmen putting his foot in the door so you can’t close it — is only going to drive more people away.
You absolutely will not convince a bunch of historians and sociologists and whoever else is in this thread that you know more than we do about this and we should use it. I wish you AI enthusiasts would stop wading into our conversations. You have nothing helpful to contribute and are snarky.
December 21, 2025 at 2:21 PM
All of this thread.
I understand the self interest that AI salesmen have to push their product, but the grasping way they’re doing it — the internet version of a traveling salesmen putting his foot in the door so you can’t close it — is only going to drive more people away.
I understand the self interest that AI salesmen have to push their product, but the grasping way they’re doing it — the internet version of a traveling salesmen putting his foot in the door so you can’t close it — is only going to drive more people away.
Also: Their vice provost is named Michael Scott!?!
Coming to a campus near you: goldengatexpress.org/114511/campu...
SFSU offers buyouts to all tenure-track and tenured faculty
The Voluntary Separation Incentive Program is a “balancing act,” where there is a stronger incentive for tenured and tenure-track faculty to retire and open up room to hire back lecturer faculty.
goldengatexpress.org
December 23, 2025 at 7:14 PM
Also: Their vice provost is named Michael Scott!?!
Reposted by Alisa Perren
it's an interesting conversation in media as well when you consider all the link rot and intentional destruction of journalistic history that occurs at the hands of corporate power
a narrow window of badly curated knowledge dictated by unreliable narrators forming the foundation of modern wisdom
a narrow window of badly curated knowledge dictated by unreliable narrators forming the foundation of modern wisdom
Wait until you hear that LLMs can only train on digitized/datafied info.
Most of the FACTS scholars use are in archives/libraries.
Less than 1% of archival colletions worldwide have been digitized.
Also: lots of facts are not even in archives, but in the attics.
Most of the FACTS scholars use are in archives/libraries.
Less than 1% of archival colletions worldwide have been digitized.
Also: lots of facts are not even in archives, but in the attics.
suspect a big reason why many academics and others who work in areas where getting facts RIGHT is key are disinterested in using LLMs for research:
they’ve tried it, they keep noticing major errors in output, and they conclude that having to verify all that doesn’t actually save them time.
they’ve tried it, they keep noticing major errors in output, and they conclude that having to verify all that doesn’t actually save them time.
December 22, 2025 at 5:08 PM
it's an interesting conversation in media as well when you consider all the link rot and intentional destruction of journalistic history that occurs at the hands of corporate power
a narrow window of badly curated knowledge dictated by unreliable narrators forming the foundation of modern wisdom
a narrow window of badly curated knowledge dictated by unreliable narrators forming the foundation of modern wisdom