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
My interview with @adambecker.bsky.social about technological salvation & his book "More Everything Forever" - now going out to over 200 affiliate stations, thanks to Pacifica Radio -
Listen:
soundcloud.com/pacificanetw...
Listen:
soundcloud.com/pacificanetw...
01.14.25 / Adam Becker, author of More Everything Forever
Techbros plan to escape to Mars, upload their minds, and then colonize the galaxy. Author Adam Becker explains this nonsense in his book More Everything Forever: AI Overlords, Space Empires, & Silicon
soundcloud.com
January 14, 2026 at 10:57 PM
My interview with @adambecker.bsky.social about technological salvation & his book "More Everything Forever" - now going out to over 200 affiliate stations, thanks to Pacifica Radio -
Listen:
soundcloud.com/pacificanetw...
Listen:
soundcloud.com/pacificanetw...
Reposted by Mark Hurst
I only meant to do a quick skim, share, & read more later but got sucked in.
Authors use institutional theory to discuss risks (expertise, decision-making, isolation) to civic institutions (law, higher ed, journalism, & democracy).
Ugh, but in an affirmed way. 😮💨
#AcademicSky
Authors use institutional theory to discuss risks (expertise, decision-making, isolation) to civic institutions (law, higher ed, journalism, & democracy).
Ugh, but in an affirmed way. 😮💨
#AcademicSky
This new paper by @hartzog.bsky.social and @jessicasilbey.bsky.social makes "one simple point: AI systems are built to function in ways that degrade and are likely to destroy our crucial civic institutions."
Grim but important reading:
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
Grim but important reading:
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
How AI Destroys Institutions
Civic institutions—the rule of law, universities, and a free press—are the backbone of democratic life. They are the mechanisms through which complex societies
papers.ssrn.com
January 14, 2026 at 8:42 PM
I only meant to do a quick skim, share, & read more later but got sucked in.
Authors use institutional theory to discuss risks (expertise, decision-making, isolation) to civic institutions (law, higher ed, journalism, & democracy).
Ugh, but in an affirmed way. 😮💨
#AcademicSky
Authors use institutional theory to discuss risks (expertise, decision-making, isolation) to civic institutions (law, higher ed, journalism, & democracy).
Ugh, but in an affirmed way. 😮💨
#AcademicSky
This new paper by @hartzog.bsky.social and @jessicasilbey.bsky.social makes "one simple point: AI systems are built to function in ways that degrade and are likely to destroy our crucial civic institutions."
Grim but important reading:
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
Grim but important reading:
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
How AI Destroys Institutions
Civic institutions—the rule of law, universities, and a free press—are the backbone of democratic life. They are the mechanisms through which complex societies
papers.ssrn.com
January 14, 2026 at 8:11 PM
This new paper by @hartzog.bsky.social and @jessicasilbey.bsky.social makes "one simple point: AI systems are built to function in ways that degrade and are likely to destroy our crucial civic institutions."
Grim but important reading:
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
Grim but important reading:
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
On the porn and Nazi images being generated by Grok: here's my Techtonic interview with @lorak.bsky.social , who describes what's going on. (She's covered Musk for years & describes how this fits with his past behavior.)
techtonic.fm/episodes/202...
As a podcast:
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...
techtonic.fm/episodes/202...
As a podcast:
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...
Lora Kolodny from CNBC on Grok's sexualized images | Techtonic with Mark Hurst on WFMU
On Twitter/X, a new AI feature called “Edit Image” allows users to create, and then publicly post, sexualized images of women and children. CNBC tech reporter Lora Kolodny discusses her coverage of th...
techtonic.fm
January 14, 2026 at 5:16 PM
On the porn and Nazi images being generated by Grok: here's my Techtonic interview with @lorak.bsky.social , who describes what's going on. (She's covered Musk for years & describes how this fits with his past behavior.)
techtonic.fm/episodes/202...
As a podcast:
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...
techtonic.fm/episodes/202...
As a podcast:
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...
Yep. And I'll say the same thing I said back then, which helped to kill off Google Glass:
**The most important aspect of spy glasses isn't what they do for the wearer, it's what they do to EVERYONE ELSE.**
(Here's the column that went viral: creativegood.com/blog/the-goo... )
**The most important aspect of spy glasses isn't what they do for the wearer, it's what they do to EVERYONE ELSE.**
(Here's the column that went viral: creativegood.com/blog/the-goo... )
January 14, 2026 at 5:09 PM
Yep. And I'll say the same thing I said back then, which helped to kill off Google Glass:
**The most important aspect of spy glasses isn't what they do for the wearer, it's what they do to EVERYONE ELSE.**
(Here's the column that went viral: creativegood.com/blog/the-goo... )
**The most important aspect of spy glasses isn't what they do for the wearer, it's what they do to EVERYONE ELSE.**
(Here's the column that went viral: creativegood.com/blog/the-goo... )
Reposted by Mark Hurst
let thine eye look like a friend on Denmark.
January 14, 2026 at 2:49 PM
let thine eye look like a friend on Denmark.
Reposted by Mark Hurst
A conversation w/ Mark Hurst (who you should follow here) on a grim bit of tech news that is still in the international conversation and will be for a long while… xAI’s Grok & its design enabling mass creation & sharing of AI deepfake porn, sexualized images of minors & other explicit violent images
New on Techtonic: @lorak.bsky.social from CNBC about Grok and sexualized images on Twitter/X.
This is a barnburner.
Episode page with lots of links, news, and resources:
techtonic.fm/episodes/202...
This is a barnburner.
Episode page with lots of links, news, and resources:
techtonic.fm/episodes/202...
January 13, 2026 at 4:19 PM
A conversation w/ Mark Hurst (who you should follow here) on a grim bit of tech news that is still in the international conversation and will be for a long while… xAI’s Grok & its design enabling mass creation & sharing of AI deepfake porn, sexualized images of minors & other explicit violent images
New on Techtonic: @lorak.bsky.social from CNBC about Grok and sexualized images on Twitter/X.
This is a barnburner.
Episode page with lots of links, news, and resources:
techtonic.fm/episodes/202...
This is a barnburner.
Episode page with lots of links, news, and resources:
techtonic.fm/episodes/202...
January 13, 2026 at 4:03 PM
New on Techtonic: @lorak.bsky.social from CNBC about Grok and sexualized images on Twitter/X.
This is a barnburner.
Episode page with lots of links, news, and resources:
techtonic.fm/episodes/202...
This is a barnburner.
Episode page with lots of links, news, and resources:
techtonic.fm/episodes/202...
Reposted by Mark Hurst
Just your reminder that even if there are good uses for a technology, that doesn’t justify mass surveillance and data gathering. We should demand tech that coincides with our values, and shun tech that doesn’t.
Don’t cripwash surveillance tech.
We can imagine and create tech that doesn’t come with this many downsides - for disabled and nondisabled alike.
We can imagine and create tech that doesn’t come with this many downsides - for disabled and nondisabled alike.
January 13, 2026 at 3:51 PM
Just your reminder that even if there are good uses for a technology, that doesn’t justify mass surveillance and data gathering. We should demand tech that coincides with our values, and shun tech that doesn’t.
Reposted by Mark Hurst
It is a federal crime to shoot a drone in the USA.
There is no loophole, Weird Trick, or secret way to get around this.
If you shoot a drone, ESPECIALLY a drone flown by the federal government, you must be prepared for very serious legal consequences.
There is no loophole, Weird Trick, or secret way to get around this.
If you shoot a drone, ESPECIALLY a drone flown by the federal government, you must be prepared for very serious legal consequences.
I Answer Some Of Your Burning Drone Questions
Whenever drones pop up in the news, whenever they buzz unnervingly again into popular perception, people ask me what I think about these latest developments on social media. Most of the time, and rega...
little-flying-robots.ghost.io
January 12, 2026 at 8:12 PM
It is a federal crime to shoot a drone in the USA.
There is no loophole, Weird Trick, or secret way to get around this.
If you shoot a drone, ESPECIALLY a drone flown by the federal government, you must be prepared for very serious legal consequences.
There is no loophole, Weird Trick, or secret way to get around this.
If you shoot a drone, ESPECIALLY a drone flown by the federal government, you must be prepared for very serious legal consequences.
Imagine being in 9-degree (Fahrenheit) cold, with no electricity - I've heard many parts have no water, either - after the recent bombardment by Putin.
Slava Ukraini
Slava Ukraini
Tonight in Kyiv, it’s −13°C. Some parts of the city have been without electricity for more than 60 hours after russian attacks.
January 11, 2026 at 11:53 PM
Imagine being in 9-degree (Fahrenheit) cold, with no electricity - I've heard many parts have no water, either - after the recent bombardment by Putin.
Slava Ukraini
Slava Ukraini
Chris Hedges: "We must resist now. If we wait, it will be too late."
chrishedges.substack.com/p/the-machin...
chrishedges.substack.com/p/the-machin...
The Machinery of Terror
The Trump administration is consolidating the familiar machinery of terror of all authoritarian states. We must resist now. If we wait, it will be too late.
chrishedges.substack.com
January 11, 2026 at 7:23 PM
Chris Hedges: "We must resist now. If we wait, it will be too late."
chrishedges.substack.com/p/the-machin...
chrishedges.substack.com/p/the-machin...
U.S. Senator from Connecticut summing up the absolute insanity of this moment.
I can't believe I'm posting this video - but we actually have to have a conversation about the real world implications of America going to war over Greenland.
Let me walk you through it. It doesn't turn out well for us.
Let me walk you through it. It doesn't turn out well for us.
January 11, 2026 at 1:36 PM
U.S. Senator from Connecticut summing up the absolute insanity of this moment.
Reposted by Mark Hurst
Reposted by Mark Hurst
Preventing the sharing of sexualised images of children is “censorship” according to Elon Musk.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Musk says X outcry is 'excuse for censorship'
The government is urging Ofcom to use all its powers – up to and including an effective ban – against X.
www.bbc.co.uk
January 10, 2026 at 5:51 AM
Preventing the sharing of sexualised images of children is “censorship” according to Elon Musk.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Mark Hurst
We have been living in the age of extraction for a very long time. The current crop of companies is merely expanding the frontier of extractivism.
The diagram below is how I tried to make sense of extractive and exploitative industries here: www.jussipasanen.com/consumer-pro...
The diagram below is how I tried to make sense of extractive and exploitative industries here: www.jussipasanen.com/consumer-pro...
January 9, 2026 at 8:34 PM
We have been living in the age of extraction for a very long time. The current crop of companies is merely expanding the frontier of extractivism.
The diagram below is how I tried to make sense of extractive and exploitative industries here: www.jussipasanen.com/consumer-pro...
The diagram below is how I tried to make sense of extractive and exploitative industries here: www.jussipasanen.com/consumer-pro...
Reposted by Mark Hurst
"Companies that *aren’t* engaged in fleecing, deceiving, addicting, or otherwise exploiting customers are operating at a distinct disadvantage."
We're living in an age of extraction. On @superwuster.bsky.social's book, the horrible news this past week, and feeling the weight of it all.
New from me:
buttondown.com/creativegood...
New from me:
buttondown.com/creativegood...
Life in an age of extraction
I used to believe that running an honest business was a path to long-term success. Treating customers and clients with integrity would build a reputation...
buttondown.com
January 9, 2026 at 4:17 PM
"Companies that *aren’t* engaged in fleecing, deceiving, addicting, or otherwise exploiting customers are operating at a distinct disadvantage."
We're living in an age of extraction. On @superwuster.bsky.social's book, the horrible news this past week, and feeling the weight of it all.
New from me:
buttondown.com/creativegood...
New from me:
buttondown.com/creativegood...
Life in an age of extraction
I used to believe that running an honest business was a path to long-term success. Treating customers and clients with integrity would build a reputation...
buttondown.com
January 9, 2026 at 4:14 PM
We're living in an age of extraction. On @superwuster.bsky.social's book, the horrible news this past week, and feeling the weight of it all.
New from me:
buttondown.com/creativegood...
New from me:
buttondown.com/creativegood...
Reposted by Mark Hurst
Weird to be commemorating the 250th anniversary of the Am Rev while living under a government that has a) sent armed troops to occupy cities perceived to be too rebellious, b) rendered largely irrelevant the representative branch of government, and c) claimed imperial right to rule other countries.
January 9, 2026 at 3:10 PM
Weird to be commemorating the 250th anniversary of the Am Rev while living under a government that has a) sent armed troops to occupy cities perceived to be too rebellious, b) rendered largely irrelevant the representative branch of government, and c) claimed imperial right to rule other countries.
Reposted by Mark Hurst
Something I always wondered is how it would be covered if America became a dictatorship
This is it
This is it
January 9, 2026 at 12:09 PM
Something I always wondered is how it would be covered if America became a dictatorship
This is it
This is it
Reposted by Mark Hurst
The Guardian doing inexplicable voluntary free public relations work for a corporation profiting from sexual abuse by headlining this as the image gen being "turned off". It isn't off: they've just monetised it. What the fuck are we doing here people, come on.
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
Grok turns off image generator for most users after outcry over sexualised AI imagery
X to limit editing function to paying subscribers after platform threatened with fines and regulatory action
www.theguardian.com
January 9, 2026 at 9:18 AM
The Guardian doing inexplicable voluntary free public relations work for a corporation profiting from sexual abuse by headlining this as the image gen being "turned off". It isn't off: they've just monetised it. What the fuck are we doing here people, come on.
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
Reposted by Mark Hurst
The world's richest man runs a subscription-based automated service that removes clothing from photographs of children.
Now only paying subscribers can make violent non-consenual sexual imagery of women and children -
Grok turns off image generator for most users after outcry over sexualised AI imagery www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
Grok turns off image generator for most users after outcry over sexualised AI imagery www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
Grok turns off image generator for most users after outcry over sexualised AI imagery
X to limit editing function to paying subscribers after platform threatened with fines and regulatory action
www.theguardian.com
January 9, 2026 at 7:58 AM
The world's richest man runs a subscription-based automated service that removes clothing from photographs of children.
Reposted by Mark Hurst
what you clearly see, CLEARLY, is a driver who is spooked by the agents grabbing her door, takes steps to drive away, and is immediately shot as moves her vehicle *away* from the agents.
Forensic analysis of objective video evidence. This is how you serve readers searching for clarity.
January 8, 2026 at 1:12 PM
what you clearly see, CLEARLY, is a driver who is spooked by the agents grabbing her door, takes steps to drive away, and is immediately shot as moves her vehicle *away* from the agents.
We're headed into dark times, and ham radio is going to be highly valued.
It was an honor to be featured in this post by Thomas Witherspoon, amateur radio expert.
qrper.com/2025/12/a-co...
It was an honor to be featured in this post by Thomas Witherspoon, amateur radio expert.
qrper.com/2025/12/a-co...
A Conversation About Amateur Radio and Hurricane Helene with Mark Hurst on Techtonic
I was recently invited onto Techtonic, the weekly technology program on WFMU, hosted by Mark Hurst. If you’ve never listened to Techtonic, I encourage you to check it out—it’s one of the most thoug…
qrper.com
January 8, 2026 at 3:58 PM
We're headed into dark times, and ham radio is going to be highly valued.
It was an honor to be featured in this post by Thomas Witherspoon, amateur radio expert.
qrper.com/2025/12/a-co...
It was an honor to be featured in this post by Thomas Witherspoon, amateur radio expert.
qrper.com/2025/12/a-co...
Asking the Bluesky universe: does anyone know Giuliano da Empoli? Trying to get him on Techtonic to talk about his book "The Hour of the Predator."
January 7, 2026 at 9:15 PM
Asking the Bluesky universe: does anyone know Giuliano da Empoli? Trying to get him on Techtonic to talk about his book "The Hour of the Predator."