Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Baratunde

jenniferbokma.bsky.social @jenniferbokma.bsky.social · Aug 29

"We don't have a President of the Untited States, we have a President of the Confederacy". Yup, that pretty much says it. And the actions tells it all.

Credit; @baratunde.com

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John Scalzi @scalzi.com · Aug 23

This feels like a spot of good news

www.sciencedaily.com/releases/202...

Scientists found the missing nutrients bees need — Colonies grew 15-fold

Scientists have developed a breakthrough food supplement that could help save honeybees from devastating declines. By engineering yeast to produce six essential sterols found in pollen, researchers pr...

www.sciencedaily.com

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Baratunde @baratunde.com · Aug 15

Some news from the Life With Machines Cinematic Universe. We submitted a panel to SXSW 2026 to build off last year’s success. We propose to lean into the absurdity, comedy, and satire of this AI moment. Check it out and vote for participate.sxsw.com/flow/sxsw/sx....

PanelPicker | SXSW Conference & Festivals

PanelPicker® is the official SXSW user-generated session proposal platform. Enter ideas and vote to help shape Conference programming for SXSW and SXSW EDU.

participate.sxsw.com

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Baratunde @baratunde.com · Aug 14

If you’re building the AI you think might destroy us… maybe you’re not the one who should “save” us from it. In this week's @lifewithmachines.bsky.social newsletter, we share news about Lighthaven, a semi-secret group in Berkeley. And other AI updates you should know. bit.ly/3UY4qt8

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Baratunde @baratunde.com · Jul 29

In the future, kids may ask their grandparents, "Is it true that when you were young you used to think?" The rise of AI is pushing us to define what we want for our #LifeWithMachines. We're entering a new phase of this exploration. More clarity, critique, and creativity. Join us

bit.ly/3GY6D4z

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Baratunde @baratunde.com · Jul 17

Hey!!

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Baratunde @baratunde.com · Jul 11

AI is made of people. Data labelers, content moderators, gig workers. It's Soylent Green, all so we can convert angry emails into non-fireable communications

As @milamiceli.bsky.social shared, the more AI expands, the more human drudgery it creates. But it doesn't have to baratun.de/4eJjqEl

A distressed man (actor Charlton Heston) with wide eyes and an open mouth looks shocked. The meme text reads: “AI’S SECRET INGREDIENT” at the top and “IS PEOPLE” at the bottom, referencing Soylent Green while highlighting the hidden human labor behind artificial intelligence systems.

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Baratunde @baratunde.com · Jul 11

Loved the convo on this pod. Check it out!

AI for All Tomorrows @aiforalltomorrows.bsky.social · Jul 10

Listen to why @baratunde.com has hope for humanity when it comes to AI in this weeks brand new episode! Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Youtube! Link in bio.

#ai #ethics #humanity #viral #foryou #explore #tech #ethicaltech

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Baratunde @baratunde.com · Jul 10

my favorite website is localhost

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Larrish 💙 @larrish.bsky.social · Jul 8

🙂

I SURVIVED READING BANNED BOOKS
ALL I GOT WAS SMARTER AND MORE EMPATHETIC

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Baratunde @baratunde.com · Jul 8

thank YOU!

Erin Robinson @erinmr.bsky.social · Jul 4

Thank you, @baratunde.com, for illuminating history and putting this moment we are in now in a larger context. Reading: On America’s Birthday, Frederick Douglass, the Haudenosaunee, and Unrecognized Founders newsletter.baratunde.com/p/on-america...

On America’s Birthday, Frederick Douglass, the Haudenosaunee, and Unrecognized Founders

What to the Slave is the Fourth of July Still Slaps

newsletter.baratunde.com

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Jules @julesrotich.bsky.social · Jun 22

@vukosi.bsky.social you might enjoy this wonderful podcast by @baratunde.com podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/l...

Can AI Save Indigenous Languages? | Michael Running Wolf (Ep. 25)

Podcast Episode · Life with Machines · 06/17/2025 · 1h 8m

podcasts.apple.com

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Reposted by Baratunde

Doug Mirams @dmirams.bsky.social · Jun 25

"The big lie of AI?

It’s not intelligent.
It’s not autonomous.
It’s human-powered."
-- @baratunde.com www.instagram.com/reel/DLSv7IR...

Login • Instagram

Welcome back to Instagram. Sign in to check out what your friends, family & interests have been capturing & sharing around the world.

www.instagram.com

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Baratunde @baratunde.com · Jun 27

Oooh thanks sis. And sending peace to you and Kenya

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Milagros Miceli @milamiceli.bsky.social · Jun 24

I had a great conversation with @baratunde.com on Life with Machines about the millions of data workers worldwide who produce the data that fuels AI. We dug into the scale of this labor, its deeply human costs, and the possibilities for something better.

Watch it here youtu.be/4NSWFy11E8Q?...

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Data Workers’ Inquiry @dataworkersinquiry.bsky.social · Jun 25

@milamiceli.bsky.social joined @baratunde.com on Life with Machines to talk about the Data Workers’ Inquiry, AI impersonation, and more. Check it out on YouTube: youtu.be/4NSWFy11E8Q?...

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Baratunde @baratunde.com · Jun 11

I was in downtown #losangeles at the beginning of this week. The streets had a way different feel from what’s been on my screens. No signs of insurrection just love and peace. For more check out this full post open.substack.com/pub/baratund...

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Baratunde @baratunde.com · Jun 10

Hi from downtown LA. We told yall. Folks said Trump wouldn’t do this. It’s the reason Hegseth was chosen. Because he would choose a man over the law. This was all so predicted. This is a mockery of whatever principles the US has claimed to uphold. This is an occupation. THIS is the invasion.

LA times cover: Camp Pendleton marines deployed to LA

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Baratunde @baratunde.com · Jun 9

“If you’re going to protest, take biometric permissions off devices. Have a contact number memorized. Bring medication if you need it. Be realistic about your risk profile” via @freepress.bsky.social PDF guide here www.freepress.net/sites/defaul...

@freepress.bsky.social

www.freepress.net

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Baratunde @baratunde.com · May 26

Can’t stop talking about #Sinners newsletter.baratunde.com/p/welcome-to...

#blacksky

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Baratunde @baratunde.com · May 24

Siri: “something went wrong. Please try again.” That is literally the entire history of Siri. What an embarrassment.

Lock screen of an iPhone displaying a scenic lake surrounded by lush green pine-covered mountains under a partly cloudy sky. The water sparkles with sunlight reflections, and a line of partially submerged branches stretches across the lake. At the top, a notification banner reads: “Something went wrong. Please try again.” The time shown is 20:20, and the phone has 5G signal with a battery charge of 66%. A rainbow-colored vignette borders the screen. Flashlight and camera icons are visible at the bottom.

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Sam Gregory @samgregory.bsky.social · May 21

This was one of the most engaging (and bleakest, because the world...) deepfakes, AI and human rights conversations I've had - with @baratunde.com, who is knowledgeable, perceptive and funny and whose pet AI BLAIRwas very snarky....
#ai #lifewithmachines #deepfakes

www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucb8...

Why Dictators Love AI & How To Fight Back | Sam Gregory (Ep. 21)

YouTube video by Baratunde Thurston

www.youtube.com

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Baratunde @baratunde.com · May 20

This edition of my latest transmission is about as good as it gets. If you're looking for grounded hope in these times, some laughs, and some channeling of ancient wisdom, check out my offering and attempt at all that. Thank you @bioneers.bsky.social for being such REAL ONES

Bioneers @bioneers.org · May 20

🪵🔥 Since time immemorial, storytellers have held an exalted role in human societies.

In the latest Bioneers podcast episode, we hitch a ride with comedian, writer, futurist, technologist, and storyteller @baratunde.com to discuss. 🎧 Listen here: bioneers.org/declarations...

Declarations of Interdependence: A Story of Storytelling - Bioneers

In this episode, we hitch a ride with comedian, writer, futurist, technologist, and storyteller Baratunde Thurston. At this perilous existential threshold that will determine the fate of the human exp...

bioneers.org

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Baratunde @baratunde.com · May 20

Had some fiery words to share for Lord Zuckerberg after he broke friendship and is now trying to sell us fake friends as an AI substitute. Sad wannabe-mafioso behavior. See the full rant newsletter.lifewithmachines.media/p/this-isnt-...

Baratunde Thurston speaks with emotion, wearing a denim jacket and gesturing with his hand. He is seated in front of blurred greenery. Overlaid quote reads:
“We’re doing it again. Dehumanization as an intentional strategy of economic growth. We look at humans and see data to extract. Those doing the exploitation have to dehumanize themselves, severing their connection to what’s right in order to pursue what’s profitable. And we are invoking a new population of beings that aren’t human and can’t resist (at least not yet).”
Text at the bottom highlights “Baratunde Thurston” and “lifewithmachines.media.”

Baratunde Thurston speaks passionately into a handheld microphone on stage, wearing a white t-shirt. He leans forward mid-sentence, delivering a pointed critique. Overlaid quote reads:
“So the guy who broke real friendship wants to offer up fake friends as the solution. Because he can sell them to you. How very organized crime of him. You break the store window, then sell protection to the owners. Create the illness, then sell the cure. Monetize the loneliness you helped cause. It’s brilliant. It’s terrifying. It should be criminal.”
Text at the bottom reads: “Baratunde referring to Zuckerberg and his AI friends” and “lifewithmachines.media.”

Baratunde Thurston smiles while seated at a podcast desk, wearing a gray button-down shirt and speaking into a broadcast mic. A leafy plant and wooden paneling decorate the background. Overlaid graphic reads:
“Life with Machines — a tech show about humans, helping us make sense of how A.I.’s arrival is changing everything.”
The bottom of the image features the website: “lifewithmachines.media.”

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Baratunde @baratunde.com · May 20

Stop it!

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