Mark Hurst
@markhurst.bsky.social
Writer and radio host in NYC.
- Host, Techtonic on WFMU: https://techtonic.fm
- Tech criticism: https://creativegood.com/blog
- Newsletter: https://creativegood.com/newsletter
Encouraging better tech, and resisting Big Tech.
- Host, Techtonic on WFMU: https://techtonic.fm
- Tech criticism: https://creativegood.com/blog
- Newsletter: https://creativegood.com/newsletter
Encouraging better tech, and resisting Big Tech.
Pinned
Mark Hurst
@markhurst.bsky.social
· Feb 21
If you like Severance, I hope you'll listen to Techtonic, my podcast/radio show.
I'm questioning tech & its promises, w/help from brilliant guests like @hypervisible.bsky.social @randomwalker.bsky.social @tamigraph.bsky.social & more.
Podcast:
itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/t...
More:
techtonic.fm
I'm questioning tech & its promises, w/help from brilliant guests like @hypervisible.bsky.social @randomwalker.bsky.social @tamigraph.bsky.social & more.
Podcast:
itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/t...
More:
techtonic.fm
The Google founders were on the Epstein plane. From Matt Stoller on the other site -
November 25, 2025 at 10:24 PM
The Google founders were on the Epstein plane. From Matt Stoller on the other site -
Reposted by Mark Hurst
Is this cheese grater conscious? Many users feel they're talking to a real person. Scientists say it's time to consider whether they're onto something.
November 25, 2025 at 8:21 PM
Is this cheese grater conscious? Many users feel they're talking to a real person. Scientists say it's time to consider whether they're onto something.
"Canceling a late loved one’s cable account led to an outrageous and shocking interaction with an AI assistant."
I’m quoted in this piece about customer service in the age of AI, by @amilnetyte.bsky.social.
www.nextavenue.org/were-sorry-f...
I’m quoted in this piece about customer service in the age of AI, by @amilnetyte.bsky.social.
www.nextavenue.org/were-sorry-f...
www.nextavenue.org
November 25, 2025 at 8:33 PM
"Canceling a late loved one’s cable account led to an outrageous and shocking interaction with an AI assistant."
I’m quoted in this piece about customer service in the age of AI, by @amilnetyte.bsky.social.
www.nextavenue.org/were-sorry-f...
I’m quoted in this piece about customer service in the age of AI, by @amilnetyte.bsky.social.
www.nextavenue.org/were-sorry-f...
New Techtonic: Citizens are being forced to pay for Big Tech data centers.
Full episode:
techtonic.fm/episodes/202...
Full episode:
techtonic.fm/episodes/202...
November 25, 2025 at 7:15 PM
New Techtonic: Citizens are being forced to pay for Big Tech data centers.
Full episode:
techtonic.fm/episodes/202...
Full episode:
techtonic.fm/episodes/202...
Reposted by Mark Hurst
This seems fine.
By 2028, a projected 6.7% to 12.0% of ALL electricity in the U.S. will go to data centers.
Source: the 2024 United States Data Center Energy Usage Report. escholarship.org/uc/item/32d6...
By 2028, a projected 6.7% to 12.0% of ALL electricity in the U.S. will go to data centers.
Source: the 2024 United States Data Center Energy Usage Report. escholarship.org/uc/item/32d6...
November 24, 2025 at 7:07 PM
This seems fine.
By 2028, a projected 6.7% to 12.0% of ALL electricity in the U.S. will go to data centers.
Source: the 2024 United States Data Center Energy Usage Report. escholarship.org/uc/item/32d6...
By 2028, a projected 6.7% to 12.0% of ALL electricity in the U.S. will go to data centers.
Source: the 2024 United States Data Center Energy Usage Report. escholarship.org/uc/item/32d6...
So if your goal is to get through 10 books a year - just try to read 10 measly pages a day - easy.
If you really dig in and build a habit of reading, say, 25 pages a day - that's 25 books a year! (Or more, if you're reading 7 days a week.)
If you really dig in and build a habit of reading, say, 25 pages a day - that's 25 books a year! (Or more, if you're reading 7 days a week.)
Another suggestion to put down the screen and pick up a book.
The number of pages you read per day, most days a week, is roughly equivalent to how many books you'll read in a year.
The number of pages you read per day, most days a week, is roughly equivalent to how many books you'll read in a year.
November 22, 2025 at 11:38 PM
So if your goal is to get through 10 books a year - just try to read 10 measly pages a day - easy.
If you really dig in and build a habit of reading, say, 25 pages a day - that's 25 books a year! (Or more, if you're reading 7 days a week.)
If you really dig in and build a habit of reading, say, 25 pages a day - that's 25 books a year! (Or more, if you're reading 7 days a week.)
Another suggestion to put down the screen and pick up a book.
The number of pages you read per day, most days a week, is roughly equivalent to how many books you'll read in a year.
The number of pages you read per day, most days a week, is roughly equivalent to how many books you'll read in a year.
November 22, 2025 at 10:05 PM
Another suggestion to put down the screen and pick up a book.
The number of pages you read per day, most days a week, is roughly equivalent to how many books you'll read in a year.
The number of pages you read per day, most days a week, is roughly equivalent to how many books you'll read in a year.
“I’d be less concerned if Musk was just a crackpot billionaire off to the side, creating things that people could avoid, once they found out how creepy/offensive/lethal they were. But Musk – like the other oligarchs – has a different level of influence.”
New from me:
buttondown.com/creativegood...
New from me:
buttondown.com/creativegood...
More reasons to avoid Tesla and Musk
I recently learned two new reasons to avoid Tesla vehicles. First, there’s another lawsuit about their incredibly dangerous door handles. Two people died in...
buttondown.com
November 21, 2025 at 8:45 PM
“I’d be less concerned if Musk was just a crackpot billionaire off to the side, creating things that people could avoid, once they found out how creepy/offensive/lethal they were. But Musk – like the other oligarchs – has a different level of influence.”
New from me:
buttondown.com/creativegood...
New from me:
buttondown.com/creativegood...
With Gemini, Google delivers yet another insult to Gmail users.
Also: get off Gmail. Lots of alternatives, like Fastmail.com or proton.me/mail.
Also: get off Gmail. Lots of alternatives, like Fastmail.com or proton.me/mail.
If you use GMail, AI (Gemini) was turned on yesterday by default and now scans all of your content for machine learning. To turn off, go to Settings>General and scroll down. Uncheck the box for "Smart features."
There's other "Smart" add-ons as well, but that's the one that reads your content.
There's other "Smart" add-ons as well, but that's the one that reads your content.
November 20, 2025 at 11:16 PM
With Gemini, Google delivers yet another insult to Gmail users.
Also: get off Gmail. Lots of alternatives, like Fastmail.com or proton.me/mail.
Also: get off Gmail. Lots of alternatives, like Fastmail.com or proton.me/mail.
Reposted by Mark Hurst
Zuckerberg is building a data center in Louisiana the size of Manhattan — while Meta runs ads about how small towns love their data centers, we found furious locals who plan to leave town completely.
November 19, 2025 at 9:41 PM
Zuckerberg is building a data center in Louisiana the size of Manhattan — while Meta runs ads about how small towns love their data centers, we found furious locals who plan to leave town completely.
Below: my comments on Techtonic about Tesla and its Grok chatbot that, as reported by the CBC, made sexual comments to a 12-year-old boy.
Episode page with links to the story:
techtonic.fm/episodes/202...
Episode page with links to the story:
techtonic.fm/episodes/202...
November 18, 2025 at 4:03 PM
Below: my comments on Techtonic about Tesla and its Grok chatbot that, as reported by the CBC, made sexual comments to a 12-year-old boy.
Episode page with links to the story:
techtonic.fm/episodes/202...
Episode page with links to the story:
techtonic.fm/episodes/202...
So nice to read about my alma mater every week - "MIT adds new wing onto Torment Nexus"
futurism.com/health-medic...
futurism.com/health-medic...
MIT Invents Injectable Brain Chips
Researchers at MIT have invented "Circulatronics," a medical platform they say enables non-invasive treatment of neuroinflammation.
futurism.com
November 18, 2025 at 12:59 AM
So nice to read about my alma mater every week - "MIT adds new wing onto Torment Nexus"
futurism.com/health-medic...
futurism.com/health-medic...
"Doctorow has performed a valuable public service with 'Enshittification,'" writes @dmandl.bsky.social about Cory's new book. I agree, and would add that Dave has done us all a service by writing such a clear and cogent review:
lareviewofbooks.org/article/gian...
lareviewofbooks.org/article/gian...
Giant Platforms of Shit | Los Angeles Review of Books
Dave Mandl catches a whiff of Cory Doctorow’s anatomy of platform “enshittification.”
lareviewofbooks.org
November 17, 2025 at 4:50 PM
"Doctorow has performed a valuable public service with 'Enshittification,'" writes @dmandl.bsky.social about Cory's new book. I agree, and would add that Dave has done us all a service by writing such a clear and cogent review:
lareviewofbooks.org/article/gian...
lareviewofbooks.org/article/gian...
One of the best pieces I've read in awhile. Emily Bressler in @mcsweeneys.net writes "I Work for an Evil Company, but Outside Work, I’m Actually a Really Good Person":
www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/i-w...
www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/i-w...
I Work For an Evil Company, but Outside Work, I’m Actually a Really Good Person
I love my job. I make a great salary, there’s a clear path to promotion, and a never-ending supply of cold brew in the office. And even though my j...
www.mcsweeneys.net
November 15, 2025 at 8:18 PM
One of the best pieces I've read in awhile. Emily Bressler in @mcsweeneys.net writes "I Work for an Evil Company, but Outside Work, I’m Actually a Really Good Person":
www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/i-w...
www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/i-w...
New from me: AI and people drinking sewage.
"We have to evaluate the systems by their real-world effects: not what the companies *claim* is happening, not what their government sponsors *hope* will happen, but what people on the ground are actually experiencing."
buttondown.com/creativegood...
"We have to evaluate the systems by their real-world effects: not what the companies *claim* is happening, not what their government sponsors *hope* will happen, but what people on the ground are actually experiencing."
buttondown.com/creativegood...
The AI buildout shouldn't force people to drink sewage
Here’s a story about AI you need to hear. First the bad news, then the good news. 1. AI gets fresh water, while citizens are told to drink sewage Five years...
buttondown.com
November 14, 2025 at 3:10 PM
New from me: AI and people drinking sewage.
"We have to evaluate the systems by their real-world effects: not what the companies *claim* is happening, not what their government sponsors *hope* will happen, but what people on the ground are actually experiencing."
buttondown.com/creativegood...
"We have to evaluate the systems by their real-world effects: not what the companies *claim* is happening, not what their government sponsors *hope* will happen, but what people on the ground are actually experiencing."
buttondown.com/creativegood...
Get your workplace off of M$ Office. One alternative is Open Desk: www.opendesk.eu - "the Community Edition can be downloaded free of charge from the openCode.de platform."
November 13, 2025 at 9:55 PM
Get your workplace off of M$ Office. One alternative is Open Desk: www.opendesk.eu - "the Community Edition can be downloaded free of charge from the openCode.de platform."
Reposted by Mark Hurst
Authors -- you are entitled to a payment for the books of yours that Anthropic stole for its AI. It's about $1,500 per book. I just filed - you should too!
www.anthropiccopyrightsettlement.com?_gl=1*1ersia....
www.anthropiccopyrightsettlement.com?_gl=1*1ersia....
Homepage | Bartz v Anthropic Settlement Site
www.anthropiccopyrightsettlement.com
November 13, 2025 at 5:17 PM
Authors -- you are entitled to a payment for the books of yours that Anthropic stole for its AI. It's about $1,500 per book. I just filed - you should too!
www.anthropiccopyrightsettlement.com?_gl=1*1ersia....
www.anthropiccopyrightsettlement.com?_gl=1*1ersia....
Really enjoyed speaking w/ @paulmozur.bsky.social, global tech correspondent for the NYT, about the water & power draw of data centers worldwide.
Full episode:
techtonic.fm/episodes/202...
Full episode:
techtonic.fm/episodes/202...
November 11, 2025 at 6:36 PM
Really enjoyed speaking w/ @paulmozur.bsky.social, global tech correspondent for the NYT, about the water & power draw of data centers worldwide.
Full episode:
techtonic.fm/episodes/202...
Full episode:
techtonic.fm/episodes/202...
"El Presidente — in every dictatorship — follows the same playbook. No bribe too small. No violation of civil liberties too extreme. No stupidity too absurd. All dissent, no matter how tepid, is treason."
"America is a Banana Republic," writes Chris Hedges:
chrishedges.substack.com/p/america-is...
"America is a Banana Republic," writes Chris Hedges:
chrishedges.substack.com/p/america-is...
America is a Banana Republic
El Presidente Donald Trump is the gringo version of brutal and corrupt dictators foisted on Latin American countries by their oligarchs and Yankee imperialists.
chrishedges.substack.com
November 10, 2025 at 2:00 PM
"El Presidente — in every dictatorship — follows the same playbook. No bribe too small. No violation of civil liberties too extreme. No stupidity too absurd. All dissent, no matter how tepid, is treason."
"America is a Banana Republic," writes Chris Hedges:
chrishedges.substack.com/p/america-is...
"America is a Banana Republic," writes Chris Hedges:
chrishedges.substack.com/p/america-is...
Reposted by Mark Hurst
Yeah so several major Ukrainian cities are in a complete blackout right now. 0 generation from thermal plants and 0 idea when the power will be back. Just please don’t forget us
November 8, 2025 at 9:23 PM
Yeah so several major Ukrainian cities are in a complete blackout right now. 0 generation from thermal plants and 0 idea when the power will be back. Just please don’t forget us
Reposted by Mark Hurst
"We lived in intense silent fear as an algorithm meticulously tore our family apart…This AI chatbot perfectly mimicked the predatory behaviour of a human groomer, systematically stealing our child's trust and innocence.”
Mothers say AI chatbots encouraged their sons to kill themselves
In her first UK interview Megan Garcia speaks to Laura Kuenssberg about the death of her teenage son.
www.bbc.com
November 9, 2025 at 1:47 AM
"We lived in intense silent fear as an algorithm meticulously tore our family apart…This AI chatbot perfectly mimicked the predatory behaviour of a human groomer, systematically stealing our child's trust and innocence.”
Reposted by Mark Hurst
