nitasha tiku
@nitasha.bsky.social
technology mother @ the washington post. baddie in the digital badlands. signal: nitasha.10
Pinned
nitasha tiku
@nitasha.bsky.social
· Dec 28
our data story visualizing the rabbit hole people can fall into with chatGPT is on the cover of today’s @washingtonpost.com @kevinschaul.bsky.social
Reposted by nitasha tiku
The people of Minnesota have executed one of the most impressive civil resistance campaigns I can remember:
- Organized a city wide general strike
- Maintained nonviolent discipline amidst violence
- Mobilized 10,000s in subzero temps to protest and watch ICE
- Flipped public opinion against ICE
- Organized a city wide general strike
- Maintained nonviolent discipline amidst violence
- Mobilized 10,000s in subzero temps to protest and watch ICE
- Flipped public opinion against ICE
January 26, 2026 at 4:17 PM
The people of Minnesota have executed one of the most impressive civil resistance campaigns I can remember:
- Organized a city wide general strike
- Maintained nonviolent discipline amidst violence
- Mobilized 10,000s in subzero temps to protest and watch ICE
- Flipped public opinion against ICE
- Organized a city wide general strike
- Maintained nonviolent discipline amidst violence
- Mobilized 10,000s in subzero temps to protest and watch ICE
- Flipped public opinion against ICE
Reposted by nitasha tiku
Interesting piece. I had never considered that Google (who started doing the same thing 20 years ago for Google Books) might have already fed that entire library into Gemini. I wonder if they already have?
more details and sharp analysis from @willoremus.com and @aaronschaffer.com here is a gift link wapo.st/4rjXAMQ
Inside a tech company’s secretive plan to destroy millions of books
Court filings reveal how AI companies raced to obtain more books to feed chatbots, including by buying, scanning and disposing of millions of titles.
www.washingtonpost.com
January 27, 2026 at 9:30 PM
Interesting piece. I had never considered that Google (who started doing the same thing 20 years ago for Google Books) might have already fed that entire library into Gemini. I wonder if they already have?
Reposted by nitasha tiku
it's *such* a pain that alt text is so manual; I wish the OS makers would add a metadata field to image files for alt text so we could do it once and have it get carried along when we share and save images. I wish screenreaders could scrape text out of images; most platforms have OCR in now!
January 27, 2026 at 7:16 PM
it's *such* a pain that alt text is so manual; I wish the OS makers would add a metadata field to image files for alt text so we could do it once and have it get carried along when we share and save images. I wish screenreaders could scrape text out of images; most platforms have OCR in now!
Reposted by nitasha tiku
At least I’ll be getting… (checks notes) $1500 at most for my book they stole that took me two years to write.
some of my favorite snippets from newly released court docs in the Anthropic copyright book case. eye-opening stuff on Project Panama, their plan to "destructively scan all the books in the world" in order to train AI
January 27, 2026 at 6:54 PM
At least I’ll be getting… (checks notes) $1500 at most for my book they stole that took me two years to write.
some of my favorite snippets from newly released court docs in the Anthropic copyright book case. eye-opening stuff on Project Panama, their plan to "destructively scan all the books in the world" in order to train AI
January 27, 2026 at 6:44 PM
some of my favorite snippets from newly released court docs in the Anthropic copyright book case. eye-opening stuff on Project Panama, their plan to "destructively scan all the books in the world" in order to train AI
what a paragraph @kristenradtke.bsky.social www.theverge.com/policy/86856...
January 27, 2026 at 6:15 PM
what a paragraph @kristenradtke.bsky.social www.theverge.com/policy/86856...
Reposted by nitasha tiku
This story led me to conclude that the rule of law is an illusion clung to only by those who lack sufficient lust for power & money. The method of buying used books, ripping their spines apart & scanning every page turned out to be the more legally sound method www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2...
Inside one company’s secret plan to ‘destructively scan every book in the world’
Court filings reveal how AI companies raced to obtain more books to feed chatbots, including by buying, scanning and disposing of millions of titles.
www.washingtonpost.com
January 27, 2026 at 1:42 PM
This story led me to conclude that the rule of law is an illusion clung to only by those who lack sufficient lust for power & money. The method of buying used books, ripping their spines apart & scanning every page turned out to be the more legally sound method www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2...
Reposted by nitasha tiku
“The humans cut apart all the books filled with their knowledge to teach the AI” is absolutely the beginning of a good sci-fi series
www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2...
www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2...
How Silicon Valley built AI: Buying, scanning and discarding millions of books
Court filings reveal how AI companies raced to obtain more books to feed chatbots, including by buying, scanning and disposing of millions of titles.
www.washingtonpost.com
January 27, 2026 at 2:08 PM
“The humans cut apart all the books filled with their knowledge to teach the AI” is absolutely the beginning of a good sci-fi series
www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2...
www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2...
Reposted by nitasha tiku
There's a predictable approach to denial that we're already seeing, which I call the Four Pillars of Disordered Doubt, which allows actors to constantly question evidence that don't fit their preferred narratives.
January 27, 2026 at 12:10 PM
There's a predictable approach to denial that we're already seeing, which I call the Four Pillars of Disordered Doubt, which allows actors to constantly question evidence that don't fit their preferred narratives.
Reposted by nitasha tiku
i have just gotten off a productive call with sauron where i laid out our requests
- nazgul bodycams
- morgul knife must remain sheathed unless suspect is determined to be carrying the one ring
- shelob will be the new point of contact
- nazgul bodycams
- morgul knife must remain sheathed unless suspect is determined to be carrying the one ring
- shelob will be the new point of contact
January 27, 2026 at 3:15 PM
i have just gotten off a productive call with sauron where i laid out our requests
- nazgul bodycams
- morgul knife must remain sheathed unless suspect is determined to be carrying the one ring
- shelob will be the new point of contact
- nazgul bodycams
- morgul knife must remain sheathed unless suspect is determined to be carrying the one ring
- shelob will be the new point of contact
Reposted by nitasha tiku
New: Unsealed court docs detail Big Tech’s yearslong, secret race to ingest the collective works of humanity, including Anthropic’s project to “destructively scan all the books in the world.”
Gift link: wapo.st/4rjXAMQ
Gift link: wapo.st/4rjXAMQ
How Silicon Valley built AI: Buying, scanning and destroying millions of books
Court filings reveal how AI companies raced to obtain more books to feed chatbots, including by buying, scanning and disposing of millions of titles.
wapo.st
January 27, 2026 at 3:20 PM
New: Unsealed court docs detail Big Tech’s yearslong, secret race to ingest the collective works of humanity, including Anthropic’s project to “destructively scan all the books in the world.”
Gift link: wapo.st/4rjXAMQ
Gift link: wapo.st/4rjXAMQ
Reposted by nitasha tiku
It's called Project Panama. The goal? "Destructively scan all the books in the world."
The kind of deep reporting with @willoremus.com and @nitasha.bsky.social that I love doing at @washingtonpost.com. wapo.st/4rjXAMQ
The kind of deep reporting with @willoremus.com and @nitasha.bsky.social that I love doing at @washingtonpost.com. wapo.st/4rjXAMQ
How Silicon Valley built AI: Buying, scanning and destroying millions of books
Court filings reveal how AI companies raced to obtain more books to feed chatbots, including by buying, scanning and disposing of millions of titles.
wapo.st
January 27, 2026 at 3:52 PM
It's called Project Panama. The goal? "Destructively scan all the books in the world."
The kind of deep reporting with @willoremus.com and @nitasha.bsky.social that I love doing at @washingtonpost.com. wapo.st/4rjXAMQ
The kind of deep reporting with @willoremus.com and @nitasha.bsky.social that I love doing at @washingtonpost.com. wapo.st/4rjXAMQ
Reposted by nitasha tiku
If you're interested in seeing how framing contests are taking shape after the ICE killing of another person in Minneapolis, here's a window into the conversation on X this morning.
Link to interactive graph: faculty.washington.edu/kstarbi/Spot...
* I put this together quickly. Sorry for any errors
Link to interactive graph: faculty.washington.edu/kstarbi/Spot...
* I put this together quickly. Sorry for any errors
January 24, 2026 at 8:56 PM
If you're interested in seeing how framing contests are taking shape after the ICE killing of another person in Minneapolis, here's a window into the conversation on X this morning.
Link to interactive graph: faculty.washington.edu/kstarbi/Spot...
* I put this together quickly. Sorry for any errors
Link to interactive graph: faculty.washington.edu/kstarbi/Spot...
* I put this together quickly. Sorry for any errors
Reposted by nitasha tiku
Alex from our time working together, while he was in nursing school. Later, he moved to ICU, working as a nurse to support critically ill Veterans. He had such a great attitude. We’d chat between patients about trying to get in a mountain bike ride together. Will never happen now
January 24, 2026 at 7:39 PM
Alex from our time working together, while he was in nursing school. Later, he moved to ICU, working as a nurse to support critically ill Veterans. He had such a great attitude. We’d chat between patients about trying to get in a mountain bike ride together. Will never happen now
Reposted by nitasha tiku
Minneapolis protester as he's being brutalized and abducted by ICE:
"You're gonna have to kill me! You're gonna have to kill me! I've done nothing wrong! My name is Matthew James! I'm a US citizen! You're gonna kill me! Is that what you want?" (You can hear his wife screaming) 1/24/26
"You're gonna have to kill me! You're gonna have to kill me! I've done nothing wrong! My name is Matthew James! I'm a US citizen! You're gonna kill me! Is that what you want?" (You can hear his wife screaming) 1/24/26
January 24, 2026 at 8:23 PM
Minneapolis protester as he's being brutalized and abducted by ICE:
"You're gonna have to kill me! You're gonna have to kill me! I've done nothing wrong! My name is Matthew James! I'm a US citizen! You're gonna kill me! Is that what you want?" (You can hear his wife screaming) 1/24/26
"You're gonna have to kill me! You're gonna have to kill me! I've done nothing wrong! My name is Matthew James! I'm a US citizen! You're gonna kill me! Is that what you want?" (You can hear his wife screaming) 1/24/26
Reposted by nitasha tiku
"Liam’s teacher, Ella Sullivan, teared up when thinking about Liam. 'He’s a bright young student,' she said, 'and he’s so kind and loving. His classmates miss him.'"
www.startribune.com/preschooler-...
www.startribune.com/preschooler-...
Preschooler and three other students detained by ICE, school district leader says
The detentions of Columbia Heights students come after weeks of heightened concern and enforcement presence near and on Twin Cities school property.
www.startribune.com
January 22, 2026 at 1:23 AM
"Liam’s teacher, Ella Sullivan, teared up when thinking about Liam. 'He’s a bright young student,' she said, 'and he’s so kind and loving. His classmates miss him.'"
www.startribune.com/preschooler-...
www.startribune.com/preschooler-...
Reposted by nitasha tiku
ICE has kidnapped one of my MN News Guild siblings
January 16, 2026 at 4:03 PM
ICE has kidnapped one of my MN News Guild siblings
Reposted by nitasha tiku
Breaking news: An employee of El Paso County’s Office of the Medical Examiner said it is likely to classify the death of Geraldo Lunas Campos at an ICE detention center as a homicide. A detainee says he witnessed Campos being choked to death by guards.
Medical examiner believes death of man in ICE custody was homicide, recording says
A fellow detainee says he witnessed Geraldo Lunas Campos being choked to death by guards at the ICE detention center in Texas on Jan. 3.
www.washingtonpost.com
January 15, 2026 at 10:58 PM
Breaking news: An employee of El Paso County’s Office of the Medical Examiner said it is likely to classify the death of Geraldo Lunas Campos at an ICE detention center as a homicide. A detainee says he witnessed Campos being choked to death by guards.
Reposted by nitasha tiku
X says Grok account will stop undressing women. I just tested the standalone Grok app, which immediately complied with my request to undress a photo of me. This is illegal, according to the legal experts I spoke with.
January 15, 2026 at 12:14 AM
X says Grok account will stop undressing women. I just tested the standalone Grok app, which immediately complied with my request to undress a photo of me. This is illegal, according to the legal experts I spoke with.
Reposted by nitasha tiku
The Washington Post Guild is alarmed and appalled by federal law enforcement’s search and seizure of reporter Hannah Natanson’s property and personal devices. Hannah is a valued member of our union whose work covering the federal workforce has been essential (1/3)
January 14, 2026 at 5:52 PM
The Washington Post Guild is alarmed and appalled by federal law enforcement’s search and seizure of reporter Hannah Natanson’s property and personal devices. Hannah is a valued member of our union whose work covering the federal workforce has been essential (1/3)
Reposted by nitasha tiku
New: Instagram pursued a yearslong strategy to win teens back even after critics said it wasn’t safe, according to records recently reviewed by the Washington Post. www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2...
Leaked documents show Instagram’s plan to win back teens
Instagram has pursued a yearslong strategy to win teens back to the app after its critics said the platform wasn’t safe for them, documents obtained by The Post show.
www.washingtonpost.com
December 26, 2025 at 6:07 PM
New: Instagram pursued a yearslong strategy to win teens back even after critics said it wasn’t safe, according to records recently reviewed by the Washington Post. www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2...
Reposted by nitasha tiku
For those keeping score, Bellingcat, The New York Times Visual Investigation Team, & Washington Post's Visual Forensic team have all published analysis showing the ICE shooter wasn't in the path of Renee Nicole Good’s vehicle when he shot her, contradicting statements by the President & his cronies
January 8, 2026 at 3:35 PM
For those keeping score, Bellingcat, The New York Times Visual Investigation Team, & Washington Post's Visual Forensic team have all published analysis showing the ICE shooter wasn't in the path of Renee Nicole Good’s vehicle when he shot her, contradicting statements by the President & his cronies
Reposted by nitasha tiku
New: We got an internal ICE document revealing its $100 million ad plan to bring in 14,000 new hires: deals with "tactical" influencers; ads to gun & military buffs; and geo-targeting phones around NASCAR races and gun shows.
A "wartime recruitment" mode with paramilitary branding: wapo.st/44QrP5j
A "wartime recruitment" mode with paramilitary branding: wapo.st/44QrP5j
ICE plans $100 million ‘wartime recruitment’ push targeting gun shows, military fans for hires
An internal ICE document shared among immigration officials details plans to use influencers and geo-targeted ads to rapidly hire thousands of deportation officers.
wapo.st
December 31, 2025 at 12:09 PM
New: We got an internal ICE document revealing its $100 million ad plan to bring in 14,000 new hires: deals with "tactical" influencers; ads to gun & military buffs; and geo-targeting phones around NASCAR races and gun shows.
A "wartime recruitment" mode with paramilitary branding: wapo.st/44QrP5j
A "wartime recruitment" mode with paramilitary branding: wapo.st/44QrP5j
Reposted by nitasha tiku
"All the wrongful-death lawsuits against OpenAI quote disturbing responses from ChatGPT that appear to show it validating a person’s desire to self-harm... "
www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2... by @nitasha.bsky.social
www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2... by @nitasha.bsky.social
December 30, 2025 at 8:46 PM
"All the wrongful-death lawsuits against OpenAI quote disturbing responses from ChatGPT that appear to show it validating a person’s desire to self-harm... "
www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2... by @nitasha.bsky.social
www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2... by @nitasha.bsky.social
Reposted by nitasha tiku
this is a very good story, well done, excellent positioning in the paper, and glad to see it.
our data story visualizing the rabbit hole people can fall into with chatGPT is on the cover of today’s @washingtonpost.com @kevinschaul.bsky.social
December 30, 2025 at 3:58 AM
this is a very good story, well done, excellent positioning in the paper, and glad to see it.