ben
@eskola.uk
Software engineer, socialist. London, but from up north. Learning Finnish.
Anti-AI, pro-human.
mostly cross posted from mastodon for now
https://eskola.uk
https://hachyderm.io/@benjamineskola
Anti-AI, pro-human.
mostly cross posted from mastodon for now
https://eskola.uk
https://hachyderm.io/@benjamineskola
Reposted by ben
'It found that using AI in education can "undermine children's foundational development" and that "the damages it has already caused are daunting," though "fixable."'
I hope @rweingarten.bsky.social and the AFT are paying attention. AI in education does NOT serve students.
I hope @rweingarten.bsky.social and the AFT are paying attention. AI in education does NOT serve students.
An invaluable new report. A "premortem" is exactly what we need.
The risks of AI in schools outweigh the benefits, report says
A new report warns that AI poses a serious threat to children's cognitive development and emotional well-being.
www.npr.org
January 14, 2026 at 1:38 PM
'It found that using AI in education can "undermine children's foundational development" and that "the damages it has already caused are daunting," though "fixable."'
I hope @rweingarten.bsky.social and the AFT are paying attention. AI in education does NOT serve students.
I hope @rweingarten.bsky.social and the AFT are paying attention. AI in education does NOT serve students.
cool, docker has chosen to enable brand new ai bullshit features on my work laptop after i specifically disabled all the existing ai bullshit features
January 14, 2026 at 10:34 AM
cool, docker has chosen to enable brand new ai bullshit features on my work laptop after i specifically disabled all the existing ai bullshit features
@murkydepths.bsky.social don’t suppose you know anything about armed police out in east Greenwich last night? Right outside our living room window.
January 13, 2026 at 11:36 AM
@murkydepths.bsky.social don’t suppose you know anything about armed police out in east Greenwich last night? Right outside our living room window.
RE: https://hachyderm.io/@mitsuhiko/115881388398646100
honestly surprised that even 15% of people on mastodon will admit that LLMs generate most of their code
the llm shaming hasn’t gone far enough, clearly
honestly surprised that even 15% of people on mastodon will admit that LLMs generate most of their code
the llm shaming hasn’t gone far enough, clearly
Armin Ronacher (@[email protected])
Attached: 2 images
The future is unevenly distributed.
hachyderm.io
January 12, 2026 at 3:34 PM
RE: https://hachyderm.io/@mitsuhiko/115881388398646100
honestly surprised that even 15% of people on mastodon will admit that LLMs generate most of their code
the llm shaming hasn’t gone far enough, clearly
honestly surprised that even 15% of people on mastodon will admit that LLMs generate most of their code
the llm shaming hasn’t gone far enough, clearly
LLM users desperately trying to make ‘LLM shaming’ a thing.
Quite simply: not all of the problems with LLM usage are solvable by individual choice. The correct analogy is not dietary preference but more like driving. You can’t escape the negative effects of cars on society by choosing not to drive.
Quite simply: not all of the problems with LLM usage are solvable by individual choice. The correct analogy is not dietary preference but more like driving. You can’t escape the negative effects of cars on society by choosing not to drive.
Added an "LLM shaming" section to RFD 576
rfd.shared.oxide.computer/rfd/0576#_ll...
rfd.shared.oxide.computer/rfd/0576#_ll...
January 11, 2026 at 4:18 PM
LLM users desperately trying to make ‘LLM shaming’ a thing.
Quite simply: not all of the problems with LLM usage are solvable by individual choice. The correct analogy is not dietary preference but more like driving. You can’t escape the negative effects of cars on society by choosing not to drive.
Quite simply: not all of the problems with LLM usage are solvable by individual choice. The correct analogy is not dietary preference but more like driving. You can’t escape the negative effects of cars on society by choosing not to drive.
oh no i looked at linkedin and its even more full of idiotic ai takes than i remembered
January 9, 2026 at 4:46 PM
oh no i looked at linkedin and its even more full of idiotic ai takes than i remembered
I agreed, intentionally, to marketing emails from Kobo, because I actually do want to hear about books I might be interested in.
They’re a bit too needy though. I just had three from them in the space of three minutes. Think I’m going to have to unsubscribe.
They’re a bit too needy though. I just had three from them in the space of three minutes. Think I’m going to have to unsubscribe.
January 8, 2026 at 9:16 AM
I agreed, intentionally, to marketing emails from Kobo, because I actually do want to hear about books I might be interested in.
They’re a bit too needy though. I just had three from them in the space of three minutes. Think I’m going to have to unsubscribe.
They’re a bit too needy though. I just had three from them in the space of three minutes. Think I’m going to have to unsubscribe.
'llms are really useful for writing tests', they said, and then proceeded to generate hundreds of lines encoding their wrong understanding of the problem
January 7, 2026 at 3:16 PM
'llms are really useful for writing tests', they said, and then proceeded to generate hundreds of lines encoding their wrong understanding of the problem
CW: uspol
I have a rule of thumb that if you assume that the USA is in the wrong on any foreign policy issue you'll basically never go wrong.
I'm yet to hear any convincing counterexamples.
I have a rule of thumb that if you assume that the USA is in the wrong on any foreign policy issue you'll basically never go wrong.
I'm yet to hear any convincing counterexamples.
January 4, 2026 at 3:27 PM
CW: uspol
I have a rule of thumb that if you assume that the USA is in the wrong on any foreign policy issue you'll basically never go wrong.
I'm yet to hear any convincing counterexamples.
I have a rule of thumb that if you assume that the USA is in the wrong on any foreign policy issue you'll basically never go wrong.
I'm yet to hear any convincing counterexamples.
Reposted by ben
The most effective way to resist this modern brand of fascism isn't to completely immerse yourself in its propaganda. You're actually helping their message spread. Go and make art or read a book or spend time with offline people. You can't marinate in the horror and emerge unscathed.
January 4, 2026 at 1:31 PM
The most effective way to resist this modern brand of fascism isn't to completely immerse yourself in its propaganda. You're actually helping their message spread. Go and make art or read a book or spend time with offline people. You can't marinate in the horror and emerge unscathed.
Reposted by ben
One of the most maddening things about our current government is the way that they seem to think that if you find the right ambiguity of framing, they can continue to have it both ways and be everyone’s friend indefinitely.
Darren Jones is asked if the US bombing Venezuela & abducting its leader was lawful
Jones says he won't give a view on the action & he goes on to say its not up to politicians to make judgements on international law. Phillips points out thats exactly what they've done on Ukraine
Jones says he won't give a view on the action & he goes on to say its not up to politicians to make judgements on international law. Phillips points out thats exactly what they've done on Ukraine
January 4, 2026 at 1:19 PM
One of the most maddening things about our current government is the way that they seem to think that if you find the right ambiguity of framing, they can continue to have it both ways and be everyone’s friend indefinitely.
Reposted by ben
The year is 2003. I’m 17 years old. I’m watching Democrats fail to appropriately oppose an illegal war for oil.
The year is 2026. I’m 40 years old. I’m watching Democrats fail to appropriately oppose an illegal war for oil.
The year is 2026. I’m 40 years old. I’m watching Democrats fail to appropriately oppose an illegal war for oil.
January 3, 2026 at 9:32 PM
The year is 2003. I’m 17 years old. I’m watching Democrats fail to appropriately oppose an illegal war for oil.
The year is 2026. I’m 40 years old. I’m watching Democrats fail to appropriately oppose an illegal war for oil.
The year is 2026. I’m 40 years old. I’m watching Democrats fail to appropriately oppose an illegal war for oil.
Reposted by ben
if you are talking today about how bad maduro was and were alive, at all, during the run-up to the iraq war you are potentially the dumbest person to ever live
January 3, 2026 at 5:00 PM
if you are talking today about how bad maduro was and were alive, at all, during the run-up to the iraq war you are potentially the dumbest person to ever live
CW: uspol
btw you can literally just say that unprovoked US military attacks are bad, that military attacks on civilian targets are bad, without having to qualify it with 'i don't support maduro but'
hth
btw you can literally just say that unprovoked US military attacks are bad, that military attacks on civilian targets are bad, without having to qualify it with 'i don't support maduro but'
hth
January 3, 2026 at 3:33 PM
CW: uspol
btw you can literally just say that unprovoked US military attacks are bad, that military attacks on civilian targets are bad, without having to qualify it with 'i don't support maduro but'
hth
btw you can literally just say that unprovoked US military attacks are bad, that military attacks on civilian targets are bad, without having to qualify it with 'i don't support maduro but'
hth
CW: uspol
I try not to be cynical etc, even about Trump and so on
but the usa conducting an illegal invasion of an oil-producing country? what is this, 2003?
I try not to be cynical etc, even about Trump and so on
but the usa conducting an illegal invasion of an oil-producing country? what is this, 2003?
January 3, 2026 at 12:51 PM
CW: uspol
I try not to be cynical etc, even about Trump and so on
but the usa conducting an illegal invasion of an oil-producing country? what is this, 2003?
I try not to be cynical etc, even about Trump and so on
but the usa conducting an illegal invasion of an oil-producing country? what is this, 2003?
Reposted by ben
The US has launched an unprovoked and illegal attack on Venezuela.
This is a brazen attempt to secure control over Venezuelan natural resources.
It is an act of war that puts the lives of millions of people at risk, and should be condemned by anyone who believes in sovereignty & international law.
This is a brazen attempt to secure control over Venezuelan natural resources.
It is an act of war that puts the lives of millions of people at risk, and should be condemned by anyone who believes in sovereignty & international law.
January 3, 2026 at 10:26 AM
The US has launched an unprovoked and illegal attack on Venezuela.
This is a brazen attempt to secure control over Venezuelan natural resources.
It is an act of war that puts the lives of millions of people at risk, and should be condemned by anyone who believes in sovereignty & international law.
This is a brazen attempt to secure control over Venezuelan natural resources.
It is an act of war that puts the lives of millions of people at risk, and should be condemned by anyone who believes in sovereignty & international law.
Reposted by ben
coming round to the position that genAI is just as much a scam as cryptocurrency and NFTs, it's just the pool of marks intersects with more people's professional circles, which amplifies the feeling of social proof
December 29, 2025 at 12:19 PM
coming round to the position that genAI is just as much a scam as cryptocurrency and NFTs, it's just the pool of marks intersects with more people's professional circles, which amplifies the feeling of social proof
Reposted by ben
‘Tis the season to remember this classic tweet
December 25, 2025 at 4:20 PM
‘Tis the season to remember this classic tweet
“How to review AI generated PRs” https://kevinjmurphy.com/posts/how-to-review-ai-generated-prs/
How to review AI Generated PRs
Close them
kevinjmurphy.com
December 20, 2025 at 12:24 PM
“How to review AI generated PRs” https://kevinjmurphy.com/posts/how-to-review-ai-generated-prs/
Reposted by ben
What’s really amazing about vibe-coding is how people are replacing programming languages which are strictly deterministic with human speech which is highly ambiguous and expect programming to be faster and better.
December 19, 2025 at 2:46 PM
What’s really amazing about vibe-coding is how people are replacing programming languages which are strictly deterministic with human speech which is highly ambiguous and expect programming to be faster and better.
Reposted by ben
I became a software engineer because writing code is fun. Thinking through hard problems, designing elegant solutions, seeing the things you’ve built working for the first time… these moments are all deeply satisfying, so why in the world would I ever surrender them to AI?
Writing Code Is Fun
I became a software engineer because writing code is fun. Thinking through hard problems, designing elegant solutions, seeing the things you’ve built working for the first time… these moments are all deeply satisfying, so why in the world would I ever surrender them to AI?
davidcel.is
December 19, 2025 at 8:26 PM
I became a software engineer because writing code is fun. Thinking through hard problems, designing elegant solutions, seeing the things you’ve built working for the first time… these moments are all deeply satisfying, so why in the world would I ever surrender them to AI?
Reposted by ben
British Quakers are refusing room bookings from terfs as policy.
If you were waiting for an org to stand up for LGBTQIA+ rights, and unflinchingly withstand bullying and lawfare, here you go, friends.
Good luck to the raging bigots, they'll get nowhere with threats.
If you were waiting for an org to stand up for LGBTQIA+ rights, and unflinchingly withstand bullying and lawfare, here you go, friends.
Good luck to the raging bigots, they'll get nowhere with threats.
December 18, 2025 at 8:34 PM
British Quakers are refusing room bookings from terfs as policy.
If you were waiting for an org to stand up for LGBTQIA+ rights, and unflinchingly withstand bullying and lawfare, here you go, friends.
Good luck to the raging bigots, they'll get nowhere with threats.
If you were waiting for an org to stand up for LGBTQIA+ rights, and unflinchingly withstand bullying and lawfare, here you go, friends.
Good luck to the raging bigots, they'll get nowhere with threats.
the fact that some people like using it and find it personally useful does not make it good or useful for society as a whole.
Because hundreds of millions of people are already using these tools and finding utility in them. And they're not crazy, they are reasonable. Telling them, "no, you have to do without", will make them think, "Oh, I guess the critics are crazy and the AI bros are the reasonable ones."
December 19, 2025 at 9:18 AM
the fact that some people like using it and find it personally useful does not make it good or useful for society as a whole.
Reposted by ben
Guess I'll post this again
December 18, 2025 at 7:55 PM
Guess I'll post this again