The Maybe
@themaybe.org
The Maybe is a media studio, collective, and consultancy challenging the power and politics of tech.
Home to the Computer Says Maybe podcast.
Home to the Computer Says Maybe podcast.
Across the globe, tech companies are racing to capture public infrastructure, promising governments that their algorithms and technical systems will “modernize” public sector operations.
January 9, 2026 at 11:18 PM
Across the globe, tech companies are racing to capture public infrastructure, promising governments that their algorithms and technical systems will “modernize” public sector operations.
In 2025, we posted a whopping SIXTY episodes of #ComputerSaysMaybe. We’ve unraveled the myths and visions peddled by big tech and AI companies, examined the threat that data centers pose to communities and the environment, saw the AI bubble grow and start (?) to deflate, and so much more.
December 19, 2025 at 8:31 PM
In 2025, we posted a whopping SIXTY episodes of #ComputerSaysMaybe. We’ve unraveled the myths and visions peddled by big tech and AI companies, examined the threat that data centers pose to communities and the environment, saw the AI bubble grow and start (?) to deflate, and so much more.
Two and a half months before the 2024 DNC in Chicago, @theonion.com did something unexpected. They pulled down every ad on their website, found an old-school print shop, and printed 40k physical newspapers before the convention. They’ve mailed out newspapers to their avid readers every month since.
December 18, 2025 at 11:50 PM
Two and a half months before the 2024 DNC in Chicago, @theonion.com did something unexpected. They pulled down every ad on their website, found an old-school print shop, and printed 40k physical newspapers before the convention. They’ve mailed out newspapers to their avid readers every month since.
In Japanese Shintoism, kami are spirits that take care of and are a part of hyperlocal natural and communal entities—there can be a kami of a specific river, forest, or village. What can kami teach us about AI?
December 18, 2025 at 2:35 AM
In Japanese Shintoism, kami are spirits that take care of and are a part of hyperlocal natural and communal entities—there can be a kami of a specific river, forest, or village. What can kami teach us about AI?
Reposted by The Maybe
Thanks to @themaybe.org team for putting this episode together and to the @pulitzercenter.org for co-curating this panel.
You can watch the full discussion we had at the MozFest 2025 here: www.youtube.com/live/WQuXlMu...
You can watch the full discussion we had at the MozFest 2025 here: www.youtube.com/live/WQuXlMu...
Exposing and Reshaping the Global Footprint of Data Centers - Mozilla Festival 2025
YouTube video by Mozilla
www.youtube.com
December 17, 2025 at 10:31 AM
Thanks to @themaybe.org team for putting this episode together and to the @pulitzercenter.org for co-curating this panel.
You can watch the full discussion we had at the MozFest 2025 here: www.youtube.com/live/WQuXlMu...
You can watch the full discussion we had at the MozFest 2025 here: www.youtube.com/live/WQuXlMu...
Reposted by The Maybe
A podcast I admire very much as Computer Says Maybe has included in one of its last episodes part of a conversation I took part in during Mozilla Festival in Barcelona some weeks ago.
cc @themaybe.org @alixdunn.com
share.transistor.fm/s/922463d3
cc @themaybe.org @alixdunn.com
share.transistor.fm/s/922463d3
Computer Says MozFest 2025 | Computer Says Maybe | Episode 88
Mozilla Festival 2025. Barcelona. Three days in a bonanza of interesting people, ideas, and technology politics. These were our highlights!More like this: FAccT 2025 episodes one and twoThis is an ext...
share.transistor.fm
December 17, 2025 at 10:31 AM
A podcast I admire very much as Computer Says Maybe has included in one of its last episodes part of a conversation I took part in during Mozilla Festival in Barcelona some weeks ago.
cc @themaybe.org @alixdunn.com
share.transistor.fm/s/922463d3
cc @themaybe.org @alixdunn.com
share.transistor.fm/s/922463d3
What would tech innovation look like if it wasn’t shaped by capitalist interests?
December 16, 2025 at 11:59 PM
What would tech innovation look like if it wasn’t shaped by capitalist interests?
AI-generated videos are getting too convincing—and social media companies are letting them flood our feeds without warning.
December 16, 2025 at 10:34 PM
AI-generated videos are getting too convincing—and social media companies are letting them flood our feeds without warning.
Just a few hours before @abeba.bsky.social was supposed to give the keynote speech at the UN’s AI for Good Summit, three large men in black suits flipped through her slide deck, cutting out any mention of Palestine, Israel, or even the word genocide.
December 16, 2025 at 2:21 AM
Just a few hours before @abeba.bsky.social was supposed to give the keynote speech at the UN’s AI for Good Summit, three large men in black suits flipped through her slide deck, cutting out any mention of Palestine, Israel, or even the word genocide.
Reposted by The Maybe
A little advent calendar of #ComputerSaysMaybe episodes coming your way.
The first is an episode beautifully cut by our team to give you an overview of my time at @mozilla.org Festival in Barcelona, including some interviews with amazing folks.
www.themaybe.org/podcast/comp...
The first is an episode beautifully cut by our team to give you an overview of my time at @mozilla.org Festival in Barcelona, including some interviews with amazing folks.
www.themaybe.org/podcast/comp...
The Maybe
www.themaybe.org
December 15, 2025 at 4:46 AM
A little advent calendar of #ComputerSaysMaybe episodes coming your way.
The first is an episode beautifully cut by our team to give you an overview of my time at @mozilla.org Festival in Barcelona, including some interviews with amazing folks.
www.themaybe.org/podcast/comp...
The first is an episode beautifully cut by our team to give you an overview of my time at @mozilla.org Festival in Barcelona, including some interviews with amazing folks.
www.themaybe.org/podcast/comp...
We’re very excited about this film and you should be too. Sign up to get updates on virtual and in-person screenings at Sundance: www.ghostinthemachinedoc.ai
December 10, 2025 at 9:15 PM
We’re very excited about this film and you should be too. Sign up to get updates on virtual and in-person screenings at Sundance: www.ghostinthemachinedoc.ai
Reposted by The Maybe
📻 New episode of #ComputerSaysMaybe
Who Knows? Independent Researchers in a Platform Era w/ @geurkink.bsky.social
www.themaybe.org/podcast/who-...
Who Knows? Independent Researchers in a Platform Era w/ @geurkink.bsky.social
www.themaybe.org/podcast/who-...
The Maybe
Imagine doing tech research… but from outside the tech industry? What an idea…
www.themaybe.org
December 2, 2025 at 11:25 PM
📻 New episode of #ComputerSaysMaybe
Who Knows? Independent Researchers in a Platform Era w/ @geurkink.bsky.social
www.themaybe.org/podcast/who-...
Who Knows? Independent Researchers in a Platform Era w/ @geurkink.bsky.social
www.themaybe.org/podcast/who-...
Reposted by The Maybe
PEARSON: “We need new energy to meet the moment. And we need term limits.”
COHEN: “Term limits would make Congress worse… I appreciate my interns giving me advice on what I should do with my life.”
MEMPHIS TN-9 primary opponents @justinjpearson.bsky.social & @repcohen.bsky.social each on WKNO👇🏽
COHEN: “Term limits would make Congress worse… I appreciate my interns giving me advice on what I should do with my life.”
MEMPHIS TN-9 primary opponents @justinjpearson.bsky.social & @repcohen.bsky.social each on WKNO👇🏽
November 15, 2025 at 8:01 PM
PEARSON: “We need new energy to meet the moment. And we need term limits.”
COHEN: “Term limits would make Congress worse… I appreciate my interns giving me advice on what I should do with my life.”
MEMPHIS TN-9 primary opponents @justinjpearson.bsky.social & @repcohen.bsky.social each on WKNO👇🏽
COHEN: “Term limits would make Congress worse… I appreciate my interns giving me advice on what I should do with my life.”
MEMPHIS TN-9 primary opponents @justinjpearson.bsky.social & @repcohen.bsky.social each on WKNO👇🏽
Computer Says Maybe is taking the stage at @mozilla.org Festival! This weekend, @alixdunn.com will be leading discussions on reclaiming scale in tech, tackling the role of AI in war, exposing the global footprint of data centers, and more.
November 5, 2025 at 7:02 PM
Computer Says Maybe is taking the stage at @mozilla.org Festival! This weekend, @alixdunn.com will be leading discussions on reclaiming scale in tech, tackling the role of AI in war, exposing the global footprint of data centers, and more.
@mozilla.org is one of the most known and liked brands in public interest tech. This visibility—and the resources from its market share—position Mozilla Foundation to play an important role today.
But what should a foundation like Mozilla do in an era of uncritical hype around for-profit AI?
But what should a foundation like Mozilla do in an era of uncritical hype around for-profit AI?
October 31, 2025 at 6:45 PM
@mozilla.org is one of the most known and liked brands in public interest tech. This visibility—and the resources from its market share—position Mozilla Foundation to play an important role today.
But what should a foundation like Mozilla do in an era of uncritical hype around for-profit AI?
But what should a foundation like Mozilla do in an era of uncritical hype around for-profit AI?
Can a chatbot therapist really replace a human one? The simple answer is, no of course not. But as always, it’s a little more complicated than that.
Access to (real, human-to-human) therapy is limited. You need money, and probably have to jump through a lot of hoops.
Access to (real, human-to-human) therapy is limited. You need money, and probably have to jump through a lot of hoops.
October 28, 2025 at 5:21 PM
Can a chatbot therapist really replace a human one? The simple answer is, no of course not. But as always, it’s a little more complicated than that.
Access to (real, human-to-human) therapy is limited. You need money, and probably have to jump through a lot of hoops.
Access to (real, human-to-human) therapy is limited. You need money, and probably have to jump through a lot of hoops.
If you breathe in too much nitrogen oxide, you are at a higher risk for heart disease, lung damage, and more.
So why is Elon’s supercomputer allowed to use 33 gas turbines that are pouring nitrogen oxide into Memphis’ air, increasing their NOx levels by 79% in a single year?
Turns out, it’s not.
So why is Elon’s supercomputer allowed to use 33 gas turbines that are pouring nitrogen oxide into Memphis’ air, increasing their NOx levels by 79% in a single year?
Turns out, it’s not.
October 22, 2025 at 5:15 PM
If you breathe in too much nitrogen oxide, you are at a higher risk for heart disease, lung damage, and more.
So why is Elon’s supercomputer allowed to use 33 gas turbines that are pouring nitrogen oxide into Memphis’ air, increasing their NOx levels by 79% in a single year?
Turns out, it’s not.
So why is Elon’s supercomputer allowed to use 33 gas turbines that are pouring nitrogen oxide into Memphis’ air, increasing their NOx levels by 79% in a single year?
Turns out, it’s not.
1/6
How do you run a city when tech companies are selling "solutions" for problems they helped create?
How do you run a city when tech companies are selling "solutions" for problems they helped create?
October 20, 2025 at 6:13 PM
1/6
How do you run a city when tech companies are selling "solutions" for problems they helped create?
How do you run a city when tech companies are selling "solutions" for problems they helped create?
There’s nothing sweet about Project Sucre.
Curious about this huge project with a euphemistic name? All you get is a fully redacted proposal from the parish. That’s what organizers like @kadeeja.blacksky.app are up against in Louisiana, a state with one of the most strained energy grids in the US.
Curious about this huge project with a euphemistic name? All you get is a fully redacted proposal from the parish. That’s what organizers like @kadeeja.blacksky.app are up against in Louisiana, a state with one of the most strained energy grids in the US.
October 16, 2025 at 3:16 PM
There’s nothing sweet about Project Sucre.
Curious about this huge project with a euphemistic name? All you get is a fully redacted proposal from the parish. That’s what organizers like @kadeeja.blacksky.app are up against in Louisiana, a state with one of the most strained energy grids in the US.
Curious about this huge project with a euphemistic name? All you get is a fully redacted proposal from the parish. That’s what organizers like @kadeeja.blacksky.app are up against in Louisiana, a state with one of the most strained energy grids in the US.
1/7
Why do all the platforms we love eventually become terrible?
There's a name for this all-too-predictable decline, coined by our guest this week, writer and activist Cory Doctorow (@pluralistic.net.web.brid.gy): enshittification.
Why do all the platforms we love eventually become terrible?
There's a name for this all-too-predictable decline, coined by our guest this week, writer and activist Cory Doctorow (@pluralistic.net.web.brid.gy): enshittification.
October 10, 2025 at 3:11 PM
1/7
Why do all the platforms we love eventually become terrible?
There's a name for this all-too-predictable decline, coined by our guest this week, writer and activist Cory Doctorow (@pluralistic.net.web.brid.gy): enshittification.
Why do all the platforms we love eventually become terrible?
There's a name for this all-too-predictable decline, coined by our guest this week, writer and activist Cory Doctorow (@pluralistic.net.web.brid.gy): enshittification.
1/6
Thought we were at peak scam? Well, ScamGPT just entered the chat. This week, we're talking about how generative AI is supercharging the global fraud industry.
Thought we were at peak scam? Well, ScamGPT just entered the chat. This week, we're talking about how generative AI is supercharging the global fraud industry.
October 4, 2025 at 2:35 PM
1/6
Thought we were at peak scam? Well, ScamGPT just entered the chat. This week, we're talking about how generative AI is supercharging the global fraud industry.
Thought we were at peak scam? Well, ScamGPT just entered the chat. This week, we're talking about how generative AI is supercharging the global fraud industry.
Reposted by The Maybe
I've been feeling a little bit crazy reading the news lately about what's going on in the AI market and what it means for the economy at large. So I'm grateful I got to knit the threads together with @alixdunn.com last week.
I don’t want AI companies to get a bailout. I said this to @smw.bsky.social of @ainowinstitute.bsky.social last week, and she said they already were being bailed out. We sat down to talk about it in our first full-form video interview here:
youtu.be/WvN1wQ_CBlY?...
youtu.be/WvN1wQ_CBlY?...
Are AI Companies Cooking the Books? w/ Sarah Myers West
YouTube video by The Maybe
youtu.be
October 1, 2025 at 1:29 PM
I've been feeling a little bit crazy reading the news lately about what's going on in the AI market and what it means for the economy at large. So I'm grateful I got to knit the threads together with @alixdunn.com last week.
1/6
Want to be your own boss? Work from home and achieve financial freedom?
This week, we're talking about the original "innovation" that perfected that pitch: the Multi-Level Marketing scheme.
Want to be your own boss? Work from home and achieve financial freedom?
This week, we're talking about the original "innovation" that perfected that pitch: the Multi-Level Marketing scheme.
September 27, 2025 at 1:06 PM
1/6
Want to be your own boss? Work from home and achieve financial freedom?
This week, we're talking about the original "innovation" that perfected that pitch: the Multi-Level Marketing scheme.
Want to be your own boss? Work from home and achieve financial freedom?
This week, we're talking about the original "innovation" that perfected that pitch: the Multi-Level Marketing scheme.
1/2
Amazon planned to build a massive data center in Tucson. If built, Project Blue would have threatened the city’s already scarce water supply.
But the community fought back — and won.
Amazon planned to build a massive data center in Tucson. If built, Project Blue would have threatened the city’s already scarce water supply.
But the community fought back — and won.
September 24, 2025 at 1:40 PM
1/2
Amazon planned to build a massive data center in Tucson. If built, Project Blue would have threatened the city’s already scarce water supply.
But the community fought back — and won.
Amazon planned to build a massive data center in Tucson. If built, Project Blue would have threatened the city’s already scarce water supply.
But the community fought back — and won.