Jacob Kramer-Duffield
@jaykaydee.bsky.social
Consulting on audience strategy, audiostrategy.org
Writing a book for @beltpublishing.bsky.social
Teaching digital sociability and ethics, NYU-Tandon
ACT-UAW Local 7902
Ph.D., UNC-SILS
Fmr audience data WNYC, NYMag, Megaphone
jkd.10 on Signal
Enjoys birds
Writing a book for @beltpublishing.bsky.social
Teaching digital sociability and ethics, NYU-Tandon
ACT-UAW Local 7902
Ph.D., UNC-SILS
Fmr audience data WNYC, NYMag, Megaphone
jkd.10 on Signal
Enjoys birds
Pinned
Since I am apparently on a starter pack or something: hello! I'm JKD. I have been bopping around the Internet for a long time, used to work in politics, got my Ph.D. studying digital identity, worked in-house in media on analytics and audience, and now consult on that and teach about Online. (1/n)
Guillermo del Toro's "At the Mountains of Madness"
If you were a despotic president, what movie would you force Hollywood to make? I want to see Quentin's Star Trek movie or maybe Kill Bill Vol 3.
November 25, 2025 at 6:53 PM
Guillermo del Toro's "At the Mountains of Madness"
Have thought for a while even pre-AI-sloppification, that a human-curated portal a la the old Yahoo! is a good way to turn for the information environment we have and it's emerging, and am only becoming more certain of that bet.
It’s clearly evident the main use of AI will be to alter the web, hurting anyone who relies on google traffic. We will forget, in a year or two, how it used to be. New forms of searching and discovering will arise and we will use those.
NEW: AI “recipe slop” is overrunning search and social. Food creators say Google’s AI Overviews and glossy fake food pics are drowning out real, tested recipes — collapsing traffic and setting home cooks up for disaster, especially this Thanksgiving.
Gift link: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Gift link: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
November 25, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Have thought for a while even pre-AI-sloppification, that a human-curated portal a la the old Yahoo! is a good way to turn for the information environment we have and it's emerging, and am only becoming more certain of that bet.
Reposted by Jacob Kramer-Duffield
DOT recently installed a bench on Bergen St near the 78th Precinct and now the cops can't park on a few feet of the sidewalk over there. If they're not going to stop this themselves, it's time to design our way out of it.
“The Police Department will continue to allow precinct commanders to ignore parking rules, refusing to implement one of the major placard abuse reforms recommended by city probers earlier this year, Streetsblog has learned.” — nyc.streetsblog.org/2025/11/25/e...
EXCLUSIVE: NYPD Rejects Ending 'Self-Enforcement' Scandal at Precinct Houses - Streetsblog New York City
Police brass are refusing to implement a major reform recommended by city probers earlier this year. And the agency won't say why.
nyc.streetsblog.org
November 25, 2025 at 3:49 PM
DOT recently installed a bench on Bergen St near the 78th Precinct and now the cops can't park on a few feet of the sidewalk over there. If they're not going to stop this themselves, it's time to design our way out of it.
Reposted by Jacob Kramer-Duffield
the intriguing possibility that the first dyson sphere found will have resulted from the builders' home planet having finally come up with a way to get them to go the fuck away having failed to get them to knock it off
We’d better hope it’s a bubble and it bursts soon because otherwise Google and Nvidia will have converted the entire surface of the Earth to datacenters by 2032.
Wanna know how I know it's a bubble?
November 25, 2025 at 3:18 AM
the intriguing possibility that the first dyson sphere found will have resulted from the builders' home planet having finally come up with a way to get them to go the fuck away having failed to get them to knock it off
Good reminder that Weiss is completely out of her depth in her current job and has only risen as far as she has by flattering the low bigotries of the very rich and very out of touch, never by building a mass audience. She is going to fail, and deserve it.
"elevate charismatic figures such as Alan Dershowitz"
-____________-
-____________-
November 25, 2025 at 4:25 AM
Good reminder that Weiss is completely out of her depth in her current job and has only risen as far as she has by flattering the low bigotries of the very rich and very out of touch, never by building a mass audience. She is going to fail, and deserve it.
Reposted by Jacob Kramer-Duffield
Fifteen Years xkcd.com/3172/
Fifteen Years
xkcd.com
November 25, 2025 at 12:01 AM
Fifteen Years xkcd.com/3172/
Reposted by Jacob Kramer-Duffield
incidentally, this is precisely what everybody said would happen with robotaxis, huge numbers of empty vehicles clogging up streets.
Waymo privatized another public street:
Chanel approaching 4th, San Francisco
Possibly queued for a Billie Eilish show at Chase Center ~half mile away.
The light rail train on 4th seen passing in front of this roboherd has more passenger capacity than all of them combined.
OP: .tiktok.renaspam18
Chanel approaching 4th, San Francisco
Possibly queued for a Billie Eilish show at Chase Center ~half mile away.
The light rail train on 4th seen passing in front of this roboherd has more passenger capacity than all of them combined.
OP: .tiktok.renaspam18
November 24, 2025 at 9:50 PM
incidentally, this is precisely what everybody said would happen with robotaxis, huge numbers of empty vehicles clogging up streets.
Reposted by Jacob Kramer-Duffield
"Collecting that experience" is an incredible euphemism for "Asking a guy about the fact that more than a dozen women accused him of sexual misconduct"
November 24, 2025 at 8:59 PM
"Collecting that experience" is an incredible euphemism for "Asking a guy about the fact that more than a dozen women accused him of sexual misconduct"
Reposted by Jacob Kramer-Duffield
The UW Center for an Informed Public is looking for postdocs (for 2026-2028) from across diverse disciplines whose research sheds light on the challenges of our modern information environment, promotes civic health, and/or helps people/communities navigate online spaces: apply.interfolio.com/177901
Apply - Interfolio
{{$ctrl.$state.data.pageTitle}} - Apply - Interfolio
apply.interfolio.com
November 24, 2025 at 6:26 PM
The UW Center for an Informed Public is looking for postdocs (for 2026-2028) from across diverse disciplines whose research sheds light on the challenges of our modern information environment, promotes civic health, and/or helps people/communities navigate online spaces: apply.interfolio.com/177901
This is true, but it's also worth stepping back and pondering how absolutely bonkers it is that the GOP under Trump's influence have gone from multi-generation Russia hawks to Moscow's errand boys.
I know why but still, it's very, very weird!
I know why but still, it's very, very weird!
The crazy thing about Trump II is that we really have no idea who is drafting the war plans or the peace plans, or even how much Trump is in the loop on either.
November 24, 2025 at 2:48 PM
This is true, but it's also worth stepping back and pondering how absolutely bonkers it is that the GOP under Trump's influence have gone from multi-generation Russia hawks to Moscow's errand boys.
I know why but still, it's very, very weird!
I know why but still, it's very, very weird!
Reposted by Jacob Kramer-Duffield
I always really loved Jimmy Cliff’s cover of Cat Stevens’ Wild World, which I found on a cassette of a 1976 live album (In Concert) that in college was one of my favorites to come home and chill out to after a night out youtu.be/wDmSZr9FPO4?...
November 24, 2025 at 1:03 PM
I always really loved Jimmy Cliff’s cover of Cat Stevens’ Wild World, which I found on a cassette of a 1976 live album (In Concert) that in college was one of my favorites to come home and chill out to after a night out youtu.be/wDmSZr9FPO4?...
Reposted by Jacob Kramer-Duffield
Paul Conrad on the far right painting enemies with a red brush, Ventura County Star, 8/24/1966.
November 24, 2025 at 1:32 PM
Paul Conrad on the far right painting enemies with a red brush, Ventura County Star, 8/24/1966.
Reposted by Jacob Kramer-Duffield
What is your favorite example of someone navigating our data-saturated world in a way that cares for others?
More specifically, who should @jesgilbert.bsky.social and I be interviewing for our new book on #DataKindness?
More specifically, who should @jesgilbert.bsky.social and I be interviewing for our new book on #DataKindness?
November 24, 2025 at 1:23 PM
What is your favorite example of someone navigating our data-saturated world in a way that cares for others?
More specifically, who should @jesgilbert.bsky.social and I be interviewing for our new book on #DataKindness?
More specifically, who should @jesgilbert.bsky.social and I be interviewing for our new book on #DataKindness?
We have such sights to show you, Charlie Brown
Meat's back on the menu, Charlie Brown.
You can be my wingman any time, Charlie Brown.
November 24, 2025 at 3:15 AM
We have such sights to show you, Charlie Brown
We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful what we pretend to be, Charlie Brown
They're made of meat, Charlie Brown
Where Is Your God Now, Charlie Brown?
November 24, 2025 at 3:00 AM
We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful what we pretend to be, Charlie Brown
This is also why the platform companies, despite very obviously being publishers, are so desperate to avoid being labeled as publishers. It's all about evading accountability for things any normal company would be burned to the ground for.
November 23, 2025 at 10:22 PM
This is also why the platform companies, despite very obviously being publishers, are so desperate to avoid being labeled as publishers. It's all about evading accountability for things any normal company would be burned to the ground for.
Totally agreed. People who buy books are already a very self-selected group, they are not just buying whatever book happens across their transom.
I 100% cannot see AI-written books being some new threat to publishing. There are a gazillion shittily written slop books out there already, have always been
November 23, 2025 at 9:48 PM
Totally agreed. People who buy books are already a very self-selected group, they are not just buying whatever book happens across their transom.
Endorse, turkey is a slept-on top-tier BBQ meat.
Here’s a non-Thanksgiving turkey tip: if you have a reliable local barbecue spot and they make smoked turkey and you’ve never had whatever kind of turkey sandwich they make with it, it will probably change your life
it is tired to the point of cliche to say if turkey was good, people would make it more than once a year. but it is understated that at least one American explodes every Thanksgiving in a brave attempt to make the main dish more palatable
November 23, 2025 at 8:07 PM
Endorse, turkey is a slept-on top-tier BBQ meat.
Reposted by Jacob Kramer-Duffield
I don’t mind stealin’ bread from the mouths of decadents
Freeeeeeeezing
Rests his head
on a pillow made of concrete
again
Ohhhhhhh feeeeeeling
Maybe he'll see a little better set of days, oooooooh, yeah
Oh, hand out
Faces that he sees time again ain't that familiar, ooh, yeah
Oh, dark grin
He can't help, when he's happy looks insane, oh hm, yeah
Rests his head
on a pillow made of concrete
again
Ohhhhhhh feeeeeeling
Maybe he'll see a little better set of days, oooooooh, yeah
Oh, hand out
Faces that he sees time again ain't that familiar, ooh, yeah
Oh, dark grin
He can't help, when he's happy looks insane, oh hm, yeah
November 23, 2025 at 4:14 PM
I don’t mind stealin’ bread from the mouths of decadents
I can report that even among my engineering students there is a lot of interest in making culture - both themselves and in supporting the creation of it.
"While other universities report that the humanities are shrinking, at Berkeley, the opposite is true. The music major is the fastest-growing major on campus. We are finding bigger classrooms because film is exploding. English is back to the numbers we saw 15 years ago. We are hiring" bit.ly/4ohKuOe
"The humanities really are a resource — a confidence for living in our times.” Dean Sara Guyer on the modern utility of humanities degrees
This interview originally appeared on the Division of Arts
bit.ly
November 23, 2025 at 4:20 PM
I can report that even among my engineering students there is a lot of interest in making culture - both themselves and in supporting the creation of it.
Basically all of "social" media has made the turn into AI slop because its owners have contempt for their users. Not great but it wasn't great before! On to the next thing.
November 23, 2025 at 1:10 PM
Basically all of "social" media has made the turn into AI slop because its owners have contempt for their users. Not great but it wasn't great before! On to the next thing.
Reposted by Jacob Kramer-Duffield
I used to handle interlibrary loans for a public library. ILL is a magnificent expression of the idea that readers deserve books, and books deserve readers. It’s libraries everywhere pooling their resources for the benefit of everyone.
Killing IMLS could have killed ILL.
This is great news. 📚
Killing IMLS could have killed ILL.
This is great news. 📚
Court permanently blocks Trump's executive order to dismantle federal agency for America's libraries IMLS
librarytechnology.org/pr/31973
librarytechnology.org/pr/31973
Court permanently blocks Trump's executive order to dismantle federal agency for America's libraries
Press Release: Court permanently blocks Trump's executive order to dismantle federal agency for America's libraries. The U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island struck down the Trump Adm...
librarytechnology.org
November 22, 2025 at 3:23 PM
I used to handle interlibrary loans for a public library. ILL is a magnificent expression of the idea that readers deserve books, and books deserve readers. It’s libraries everywhere pooling their resources for the benefit of everyone.
Killing IMLS could have killed ILL.
This is great news. 📚
Killing IMLS could have killed ILL.
This is great news. 📚
Reposted by Jacob Kramer-Duffield
ANYWAY… Here are two baby elephants.
two baby elephants are standing next to each other in a field .
Alt: two baby elephants are walking next to each other in a field with green trees onstage background.
media.tenor.com
November 22, 2025 at 2:24 PM
ANYWAY… Here are two baby elephants.
Reposted by Jacob Kramer-Duffield
My new favorite insult is now going to be accusing someone of paying to read Ryan Lizza’s substack.
November 22, 2025 at 1:44 PM
My new favorite insult is now going to be accusing someone of paying to read Ryan Lizza’s substack.
Reposted by Jacob Kramer-Duffield
For me & pretty much every prof I know, this is our fundamental mission: spending real, sustained time talking abt important/interesting subjects w folks who are curious about them.
It’s not abt the transfer of knowledge. It’s about acculturating people to ask good questions well. AI can’t do that.
It’s not abt the transfer of knowledge. It’s about acculturating people to ask good questions well. AI can’t do that.
Thinking a lot lately about the simple fact that college allows people to spend about 15 weeks immersed in a disciplinary conversation with an expert in that field. And what a special thing that is.
November 21, 2025 at 5:28 PM
For me & pretty much every prof I know, this is our fundamental mission: spending real, sustained time talking abt important/interesting subjects w folks who are curious about them.
It’s not abt the transfer of knowledge. It’s about acculturating people to ask good questions well. AI can’t do that.
It’s not abt the transfer of knowledge. It’s about acculturating people to ask good questions well. AI can’t do that.