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Justin Cary @justinrcary.bsky.social · Sep 3

I will be buying this!! (Even tho I already have and adore the hardback!) everyone else should too!! Looking forward to the new preface!! Thank you!! 🙏

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Verity Harding @verityharding.bsky.social · Sep 3

🚨 The paperback version of my book is out this week! With a new preface from me where I reflect on the past couple of years in AI.

If you haven’t got a copy already this is the perfect time to buy!

Princeton University Press @princetonupress.bsky.social · Sep 3

Now in #paperback with a new foreword by the author, AI Needs You by @verityharding.bsky.social is a humanist manifesto for the age of #AI.

Learn more about this timely and important book: press.princeton.edu/books/paperb...

AI Needs You: How We Can Change AI's Future and Save Our Own by Verity Harding

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Dr. Damien P. Williams Wants A Better Sociotechnical Paradigm @wolvendamien.bsky.social · Apr 24

Also remember that part of why many love that "AI" conforms to and reproduces their biases but does so in a format they can claim is "objective" is that it lets them offload responsibility and obfuscate their intent:
bsky.app/profile/wolv...

Dr. Damien P. Williams Wants A Better Sociotechnical Paradigm @wolvendamien.bsky.social · Jan 6

My article "Any Sufficiently Transparent Magic…" is part of the journal American Religion's Fall 2023 roundtable "On Religion and Algorithms." I explore both religious & magical concepts w/in "AI," & the obfuscatory work done by hype-laden "AI" discourse. Hope you enjoy!
muse.jhu.edu/pub/3/articl...

Currently, too many comparisons between “AI” and Magic serve to either hype up what “AI” can do, or wave away the things “AI” companies and designers want hidden from the public— indicating a fundamental misunderstand of both magic and “AI.” Both kinds of systems are internally consistent, even when built on rules which may seem—or are intended to be—opaque to outsiders. “AI’s” logics are put into relation arrayed around older, hidden systems of emotional resonance and symbolic association—and in the West, “power,” “supremacy,” “perfection” “individuality,” “liberty,” and “property” are among the most potent symbols of social attainment.

They’re built by people who hide their true goals and elide their responsibility by attributing both “objectivity” to the data and nearly ineffable powers to the “AI” itself. And these systems are built and deployed from logics which would see them work the wills of their creators and operators into the world. They’re built on logics of magic.
But the present magic of “AI” is performed on us without our input, without our knowledge, and without our consent. There’s another word for that kind of magic; binding, subjugating magic performed on you against your will is called a curse.

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Justin Cary @justinrcary.bsky.social · Aug 2

Add writing studies in there too! Kinda feels like we need a whole new kinda thing…..

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Reposted by Justin Cary

NPR @npr.org · Jul 18

Congress has decided to claw back previously approved funding for public media.

This decision hurts people in communities across the country, but it has only strengthened our resolve to keep Americans informed and connected. (1/2)

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Justin Cary @justinrcary.bsky.social · Jun 12

This is a really important piece about the thoughtful and nuanced and complex consideration of how to use (or not use) this tech. This is exactly the sort of critical, evaluative thinking we need more of. That line of thinking about “hey, this isn’t really the best approach for an encyclopedia”

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Dr. Damien P. Williams Wants A Better Sociotechnical Paradigm @wolvendamien.bsky.social · May 31

Tomorrow (05.31.2025) I'm presenting a talk on Misinformation in the Age of "AI" with the Durham County Library. If you're interested, you can find out more and register here:

durhamcountylibrary.libcal.com/event/14318472

Misinformation in the age of "AI" with Dr. Damien Patrick Williams

In considering today's so-called artificial intelligence systems we must realise that what we say we want them to do is often at odds with how they're built— that there is a lot...

durhamcountylibrary.libcal.com

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Justin Cary @justinrcary.bsky.social · May 30

If you are working on anything related to AI right now, do yourself a favor and read this book.

Verity Harding @verityharding.bsky.social · May 30

Tomorrow is the last day of the 50% off sale at Princeton University Press -- why not stock up for some summer reading, including on a positive and practical vision for the future devoid of fear-mongering and hype (if I do say so myself!)

Princeton University Press @princetonupress.bsky.social · Apr 29

In AI Needs You, @verityharding.bsky.social gives us hope that we, the people, can imbue #AI with a deep intentionality that reflects our best values, ideals, & interests, & that serves the public good.

Save 50% on the print, ebook, and audiobook w/ code BLOOM50: press.princeton.edu/books/hardco...

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Reposted by Justin Cary

Verity Harding @verityharding.bsky.social · May 30

Tomorrow is the last day of the 50% off sale at Princeton University Press -- why not stock up for some summer reading, including on a positive and practical vision for the future devoid of fear-mongering and hype (if I do say so myself!)

Princeton University Press @princetonupress.bsky.social · Apr 29

In AI Needs You, @verityharding.bsky.social gives us hope that we, the people, can imbue #AI with a deep intentionality that reflects our best values, ideals, & interests, & that serves the public good.

Save 50% on the print, ebook, and audiobook w/ code BLOOM50: press.princeton.edu/books/hardco...

"Essential reading for anybody keen to ensure the transformative power of AI is directed to the common good." -Diane Coyle, The Enlightened Economist

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Justin Cary @justinrcary.bsky.social · May 29

This is an incredibly important and impressive collection of work. Thank you for this and special shout out to @wolvendamien.bsky.social 🙌 I will be sitting with this myself for a while and sharing widely. ❤️Thank you for this work and this care.

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Reposted by Justin Cary

jess reia • 何杰茜 @jhereia.bsky.social · May 29

ICYMI: Our new collection of essays, “Reimagining AI for Environmental Justice and Creativity,” is out! ✨ Download it here: doi.org/10.18130/03d.... Offering some responses & asking more questions, we cover topics like arts administration, data centers, digital sovereignty, sustainability & more.

There are two images together. On the left is the cover of a collection of essays titled "Reimagining AI for Environmental Justice and Creativity," co-edited by Jess Reia, MC Forelle and Yingchong Wang in 2025. The cover features an orange and teal design with an abstract pattern at its center. On the right, the table of contents featuring dozens of authors divided into four sections.

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Reposted by Justin Cary

Verity Harding @verityharding.bsky.social · May 22

This time last year I was on stage at the wonderful @hayfestival.bsky.social being interviewed by @jonniepenn.bsky.social about (what was then) my new book “AI Needs You”. It was a dream to be there and to be the third best- selling book of the day! Good luck to all authors going this year 📚

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Reposted by Justin Cary

Dr. Damien P. Williams Wants A Better Sociotechnical Paradigm @wolvendamien.bsky.social · Nov 22

Also also, way too many of you are still taking this as "those poor benighted deluded fools who believe in the spiritual" rather than understanding what I'm actually saying:

All "AI," from the beginning, has and has always had religious and mythological resonances woven through it.

Dr. Damien P. Williams Wants A Better Sociotechnical Paradigm @wolvendamien.bsky.social · Nov 22

(Relatedly, if you don't recognize that Altman's and Sutskiver's metaphysical commitments are the same and that their actions toward building "AI" therefore arise from the same place, then you're still missing the crux of it)

Dr. Damien P. Williams Wants A Better Sociotechnical Paradigm @wolvendamien.bsky.social · Nov 21

If you want to understand where a very large swathe of "AI" is, today, then you very seriously need to engage w/ religious studies & mythology — & understand I don't mean "mythology" in the pejorative sense of "falseness" or "fantasy;" I mean "animating beliefs," or "fundamental guiding narrative."

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Reposted by Justin Cary

Wynne~🏳️‍🌈 (she/her) @wynnehoped.bsky.social · May 19

So excited for @wolvendamien.bsky.social's program on misinformation and 'AI'!

It's a free program on May 31st (open to all!), taking place on ZOOM from 2pm-3pmish Eastern time.

Register here (more info at the link or in alt text)
durhamcountylibrary.libcal.com/event/14318472

A totally rad flyer that wouldn't look out of place advertising a punk or metal show, but it's telling you about a library program, wow.

Durham County Library Presents
Misinformation in the age of "AI" with Dr. Damien Patrick Williams
A program happening on May 31st at 2pm Eastern Time, on ZOOM

In considering today's so-called artificial intelligence systems we must realise that what we say we want them to do is often at odds with how they're built— that there is a lot of space between our technological goals and the reality of what we create and put into practice. Anyone seeking to perform research into, educate others about, or otherwise use “AI” must consider not just the promises made about these technologies, but the real and demonstrated harms of their use. Researchers must consider what it means that they say they're creating systems for interpreting and applying natural human language and concepts, but are actually designing, building, and training these systems in ways which almost guarantee that they'll do harm. What are the dangers of "AI" in our present society? Whose expertise will help us build and use "AI" in ways which help rather than harm our ethical, democratic, and pro-social ideals? And how can we overcome the influences of those who don't see any harm whatsoever in leaving these systems exactly as they are?

Dr. Damien Patrick Williams is an assistant professor in Philosophy and Data Science at UNC Charlotte, where he teaches and researches on how technologies such as algorithms, machine intelligence, and biotechnologies are impacted by the values, knowledge systems, philosophical explorations, social structures, and even religious beliefs of human beings. Dr. Williams received his PhD from Virginia Tech in the field of Science, Technology, and Society. All of Dr. Williams' research is concerned with how the knowledges and experiences of marginalized peoples affect and should be centered within the technosocial structures of human societies.

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Reposted by Justin Cary

Dr. Damien P. Williams Wants A Better Sociotechnical Paradigm @wolvendamien.bsky.social · May 19

Getting to talk to public libraries about the intersection of "AI," misinformation, consensus reality, and democracy is, frankly, a dream come true. Come on in, if you can!

Wynne~🏳️‍🌈 (she/her) @wynnehoped.bsky.social · May 19

So excited for @wolvendamien.bsky.social's program on misinformation and 'AI'!

It's a free program on May 31st (open to all!), taking place on ZOOM from 2pm-3pmish Eastern time.

Register here (more info at the link or in alt text)
durhamcountylibrary.libcal.com/event/14318472

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Justin Cary @justinrcary.bsky.social · May 17

music.apple.com/us/album/lan...

Land of Hope and Dreams by Bruce Springsteen on Apple Music

Song · 2012 · Duration 6:58

music.apple.com

Justin Cary @justinrcary.bsky.social · Apr 15

Reposted by Justin Cary

Dr. Damien P. Williams Wants A Better Sociotechnical Paradigm @wolvendamien.bsky.social · Apr 12

Some of my family are trying to rebuild their lives after a shockingly catastrophic house fire. Please help if you can. www.gofundme.com/f/83pxt-help...

Donate to Help Rebuild a Family's Life After Fire

<div>On Tuesday, 04/08/2025, <strong>my family (parents, brother, nieces, and nephews) lost their home and possessions in a house fire.</strong> My family has lived in this home for 43 years. They now...

www.gofundme.com

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Justin Cary @justinrcary.bsky.social · Mar 26

Everyone*

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Justin Cary @justinrcary.bsky.social · Mar 26

This is a fundamentally important piece of the conversation. Every needs to read this.

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Justin Cary @justinrcary.bsky.social · Mar 15

Aww man…..

Justin Cary @justinrcary.bsky.social · Mar 9

Can I play the piano anymore?

Reposted by Justin Cary

Dr. Damien P. Williams Wants A Better Sociotechnical Paradigm @wolvendamien.bsky.social · Feb 28

"Any Sufficiently Transparent Magic…[: On Occultation and Magical Logics in the Realm of 'AI'"]
scholar.google.com/citations?vi...

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Justin Cary @justinrcary.bsky.social · Feb 22

Omg this is awesome.

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Dr. Damien P. Williams Wants A Better Sociotechnical Paradigm @wolvendamien.bsky.social · Feb 22

Did you know that @chelsea-wolfe.bsky.social has oracle card readings on her site? I just found out. And the first pull was… Well. Anyway. You can play with it here:
oraclereading.chelseawolfe.com

Chelsea Wolfe's Oracle Card Reading

Twist the old self into poetry

oraclereading.chelseawolfe.com

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