Tim Newman
@tnewmsblues.bsky.social
Labor + Tech | Currently @techequity.bsky.social | Formerly Coworker(.)org, Coworker Solidarity Fund, Change(.)org, International Labor Rights Forum
Pinned
Tim Newman
@tnewmsblues.bsky.social
· Mar 17
Let’s honor the breakthrough Tim’s in popular culture of late. We are doing great!
It’s really going to take workers to save companies from themselves when they are so intent on flushing billions of dollars down the drain in pursuit of “automation technology”
"Kroger will shutter 3 robotic e-commerce fulfillment facilities in a sharp turnabout. Until recently it expressed confidence in its ability to leverage automation... the course-correction will be expensive, forcing Kroger to incur charges of about $2.6 billion." www.grocerydive.com/news/kroger-...
Kroger acknowledges that its bet on robotics went too far
The retailer’s decision to close three automated fulfillment centers reflects the stark changes in grocery e-commerce that have taken place in the years since it launched its partnership with Ocado.
www.grocerydive.com
November 26, 2025 at 11:41 PM
It’s really going to take workers to save companies from themselves when they are so intent on flushing billions of dollars down the drain in pursuit of “automation technology”
"Kroger will shutter 3 robotic e-commerce fulfillment facilities in a sharp turnabout. Until recently it expressed confidence in its ability to leverage automation... the course-correction will be expensive, forcing Kroger to incur charges of about $2.6 billion." www.grocerydive.com/news/kroger-...
Kroger acknowledges that its bet on robotics went too far
The retailer’s decision to close three automated fulfillment centers reflects the stark changes in grocery e-commerce that have taken place in the years since it launched its partnership with Ocado.
www.grocerydive.com
November 26, 2025 at 11:37 PM
"Kroger will shutter 3 robotic e-commerce fulfillment facilities in a sharp turnabout. Until recently it expressed confidence in its ability to leverage automation... the course-correction will be expensive, forcing Kroger to incur charges of about $2.6 billion." www.grocerydive.com/news/kroger-...
Reposted by Tim Newman
Amazon Employees for Climate Justice says that over 1,000 workers have signed a petition raising “serious concerns” about the company’s “aggressive rollout” of artificial intelligence tools. www.wired.com/story/amazon...
Amazon Workers Issue Warning About Company’s ‘All-Costs-Justified’ Approach to AI Development
Amazon Employees for Climate Justice says that over 1,000 workers have signed a petition raising “serious concerns” about the company’s “aggressive rollout” of artificial intelligence tools.
www.wired.com
November 26, 2025 at 7:11 PM
Amazon Employees for Climate Justice says that over 1,000 workers have signed a petition raising “serious concerns” about the company’s “aggressive rollout” of artificial intelligence tools. www.wired.com/story/amazon...
Reposted by Tim Newman
"People who are immersed in AI often have surprisingly old-fashioned habits, from meeting notes on paper to inputting calendar entries manually. Some of the duties that the rest of us are most inclined to give to bots are things AI super users insist on doing themselves." www.wsj.com/tech/ai/why-...
Why AI Workers Won’t Let Bots Do the Most Basic Tasks
People immersed in artificial intelligence sometimes take an old-school approach to work.
www.wsj.com
November 26, 2025 at 3:14 PM
"People who are immersed in AI often have surprisingly old-fashioned habits, from meeting notes on paper to inputting calendar entries manually. Some of the duties that the rest of us are most inclined to give to bots are things AI super users insist on doing themselves." www.wsj.com/tech/ai/why-...
“By reinvesting AI-driven productivity gains into the upskilling that employees are demanding, companies can prove they see their people as partners in transformation & build trust”
Quick Q: if you use tech for productivity gains, do you want “upskilling” or cash?
www.cfodive.com/news/fear-of...
Quick Q: if you use tech for productivity gains, do you want “upskilling” or cash?
www.cfodive.com/news/fear-of...
Fear of AI-driven job displacement nearly doubles in a year: KPMG
The finding comes as two U.S. senators are pushing legislation that would require some AI-related layoffs to be reported to the Labor Department.
www.cfodive.com
November 26, 2025 at 2:55 PM
“By reinvesting AI-driven productivity gains into the upskilling that employees are demanding, companies can prove they see their people as partners in transformation & build trust”
Quick Q: if you use tech for productivity gains, do you want “upskilling” or cash?
www.cfodive.com/news/fear-of...
Quick Q: if you use tech for productivity gains, do you want “upskilling” or cash?
www.cfodive.com/news/fear-of...
Reposted by Tim Newman
Huge news about a very niche issue I’ve been obsessed with for over a year:
The National Geospatial Intelligence Agency awarded a $708M data labeling contract for Project Maven to Enabled Intelligence rather than Scale AI www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Here’s more on why this is so interesting!
The National Geospatial Intelligence Agency awarded a $708M data labeling contract for Project Maven to Enabled Intelligence rather than Scale AI www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Here’s more on why this is so interesting!
November 25, 2025 at 3:08 PM
Huge news about a very niche issue I’ve been obsessed with for over a year:
The National Geospatial Intelligence Agency awarded a $708M data labeling contract for Project Maven to Enabled Intelligence rather than Scale AI www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Here’s more on why this is so interesting!
The National Geospatial Intelligence Agency awarded a $708M data labeling contract for Project Maven to Enabled Intelligence rather than Scale AI www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Here’s more on why this is so interesting!
Huge news about a very niche issue I’ve been obsessed with for over a year:
The National Geospatial Intelligence Agency awarded a $708M data labeling contract for Project Maven to Enabled Intelligence rather than Scale AI www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Here’s more on why this is so interesting!
The National Geospatial Intelligence Agency awarded a $708M data labeling contract for Project Maven to Enabled Intelligence rather than Scale AI www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Here’s more on why this is so interesting!
November 25, 2025 at 3:08 PM
Huge news about a very niche issue I’ve been obsessed with for over a year:
The National Geospatial Intelligence Agency awarded a $708M data labeling contract for Project Maven to Enabled Intelligence rather than Scale AI www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Here’s more on why this is so interesting!
The National Geospatial Intelligence Agency awarded a $708M data labeling contract for Project Maven to Enabled Intelligence rather than Scale AI www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Here’s more on why this is so interesting!
Reposted by Tim Newman
Just after becoming billionaires, the cofounders of Mercor slashed the contract positions of the people who helped them achieve that monumental feat.
Only to allegedly try to hire them back for less money. www.forbes.com/sites/iainma...
@forbes.com @iainmartin.bsky.social
Only to allegedly try to hire them back for less money. www.forbes.com/sites/iainma...
@forbes.com @iainmartin.bsky.social
Mercor Contractors Allege The AI Company Slashed Their Wages
Mercor allegedly canned an AI training project with thousands of contractors just weeks after hitting a $10 billion valuation.
www.forbes.com
November 24, 2025 at 5:09 PM
Just after becoming billionaires, the cofounders of Mercor slashed the contract positions of the people who helped them achieve that monumental feat.
Only to allegedly try to hire them back for less money. www.forbes.com/sites/iainma...
@forbes.com @iainmartin.bsky.social
Only to allegedly try to hire them back for less money. www.forbes.com/sites/iainma...
@forbes.com @iainmartin.bsky.social
"Trump faces an unexpected rift in the MAGA movement as Republican officials from statehouses to Capitol Hill warn his full-throated embrace of the tech industry’s AI boom risks undermining Americans’ economic security and exposing their children to new harms." www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2...
The surprising issue driving a wedge between Trump and his MAGA base
President Donald Trump’s attempt to block states from regulating AI sparked pushback from Republicans concerned the tech will displace workers and harm kids.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 23, 2025 at 4:54 PM
"Trump faces an unexpected rift in the MAGA movement as Republican officials from statehouses to Capitol Hill warn his full-throated embrace of the tech industry’s AI boom risks undermining Americans’ economic security and exposing their children to new harms." www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2...
Reposted by Tim Newman
November 23, 2025 at 7:13 AM
Karly Hartzman of Wednesday: ideal rock star 🔥
🎂Played last show of tour on her birthday
🍉Spoke eloquently about solidarity w Palestine as a Jewish person
✊Supported 9:30 staff unionizing w @unitehere.org @iatse.bsky.social
🏛️Went to the punk rock flea and shouted out @freedcproject.bsky.social 🤘
🎂Played last show of tour on her birthday
🍉Spoke eloquently about solidarity w Palestine as a Jewish person
✊Supported 9:30 staff unionizing w @unitehere.org @iatse.bsky.social
🏛️Went to the punk rock flea and shouted out @freedcproject.bsky.social 🤘
November 23, 2025 at 7:11 AM
Karly Hartzman of Wednesday: ideal rock star 🔥
🎂Played last show of tour on her birthday
🍉Spoke eloquently about solidarity w Palestine as a Jewish person
✊Supported 9:30 staff unionizing w @unitehere.org @iatse.bsky.social
🏛️Went to the punk rock flea and shouted out @freedcproject.bsky.social 🤘
🎂Played last show of tour on her birthday
🍉Spoke eloquently about solidarity w Palestine as a Jewish person
✊Supported 9:30 staff unionizing w @unitehere.org @iatse.bsky.social
🏛️Went to the punk rock flea and shouted out @freedcproject.bsky.social 🤘
Reposted by Tim Newman
Our very own @brookh.bsky.social and @kristap.bsky.social shared with Varsha Bansal the concerns they have with AI from the perspective of workers who are fine-tuning it.
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
Meet the AI workers who tell their friends and family to stay away from AI
When the people making AI seem trustworthy are the ones who trust it the least, it shows that incentives for speed are overtaking safety, experts say
www.theguardian.com
November 22, 2025 at 8:03 PM
Our very own @brookh.bsky.social and @kristap.bsky.social shared with Varsha Bansal the concerns they have with AI from the perspective of workers who are fine-tuning it.
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
Based on our research (although this not mentioned cwa-union.org/ghost-worker...) and featuring data workers you should follow here including @kristap.bsky.social & @brookh.bsky.social!!
November 22, 2025 at 5:16 PM
Based on our research (although this not mentioned cwa-union.org/ghost-worker...) and featuring data workers you should follow here including @kristap.bsky.social & @brookh.bsky.social!!
“When people who make AI seem trustworthy are those who trust it the least, experts believe it signals a larger issue”
For more, check out @techequity.bsky.social @alphabetworkersunion.org @cwaunion.bsky.social report based on research w workers featured in the article cwa-union.org/ghost-worker...
For more, check out @techequity.bsky.social @alphabetworkersunion.org @cwaunion.bsky.social report based on research w workers featured in the article cwa-union.org/ghost-worker...
November 22, 2025 at 4:30 PM
“When people who make AI seem trustworthy are those who trust it the least, experts believe it signals a larger issue”
For more, check out @techequity.bsky.social @alphabetworkersunion.org @cwaunion.bsky.social report based on research w workers featured in the article cwa-union.org/ghost-worker...
For more, check out @techequity.bsky.social @alphabetworkersunion.org @cwaunion.bsky.social report based on research w workers featured in the article cwa-union.org/ghost-worker...
Here’s the thing folks: if AI were to actually deliver in any of the productivity gains touted by executives, that probably just means you are busier.
November 22, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Here’s the thing folks: if AI were to actually deliver in any of the productivity gains touted by executives, that probably just means you are busier.
Reposted by Tim Newman
Our data, analyzed by @washingtonpost.com, shows giving from the 100 wealthiest Americans has risen 140x since 2000. In 2024 they accounted for 7.5% of federal election spending - $1 of every $13. www.washingtonpost.com/politics/int... @bethreinhard.bsky.social @ence.bsky.social @aaronschaffer.com
How billionaires took over American politics
The current concentration of wealth is unlike anything in history. So is billionaires’ involvement in politics.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 21, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Our data, analyzed by @washingtonpost.com, shows giving from the 100 wealthiest Americans has risen 140x since 2000. In 2024 they accounted for 7.5% of federal election spending - $1 of every $13. www.washingtonpost.com/politics/int... @bethreinhard.bsky.social @ence.bsky.social @aaronschaffer.com
Reposted by Tim Newman
Tools for Humanity CEO Alex Blania said that "if you should care about something else, and if you want something else, you should just not be here."
Sam Altman's eye-scanning Orb startup told workers not to care about anything outside work
Tools for Humanity CEO Alex Blania said that "if you should care about something else, and if you want something else, you should just not be here."
www.businessinsider.com
November 20, 2025 at 10:41 AM
Tools for Humanity CEO Alex Blania said that "if you should care about something else, and if you want something else, you should just not be here."
Reposted by Tim Newman
Secretary of Commerce "Lutnick has twisted the arms of American allies, dangling policy favors in exchange for investments in U.S. industrial projects. At times, these tactics have created opportunities for his family’s clients to gain access to much-needed foreign capital, The Times found."
Family Affair: Commerce Secretary’s Sons Cash In on A.I. Frenzy
www.nytimes.com
November 20, 2025 at 3:53 PM
Secretary of Commerce "Lutnick has twisted the arms of American allies, dangling policy favors in exchange for investments in U.S. industrial projects. At times, these tactics have created opportunities for his family’s clients to gain access to much-needed foreign capital, The Times found."
Reposted by Tim Newman
🚨 Big tech billionaire attempts to ban state regulation of AI are unpopular, dangerous, and not in the public interest.
These bans will make it easier for employers to discriminate, lower worker pay, steal creative work, spy on workers, retaliate and union bust. It doesn’t have to be this way →
These bans will make it easier for employers to discriminate, lower worker pay, steal creative work, spy on workers, retaliate and union bust. It doesn’t have to be this way →
How Banning State Regulation of AI Harms Workers — We Build Progress
webuildprogress.org
November 20, 2025 at 6:16 PM
🚨 Big tech billionaire attempts to ban state regulation of AI are unpopular, dangerous, and not in the public interest.
These bans will make it easier for employers to discriminate, lower worker pay, steal creative work, spy on workers, retaliate and union bust. It doesn’t have to be this way →
These bans will make it easier for employers to discriminate, lower worker pay, steal creative work, spy on workers, retaliate and union bust. It doesn’t have to be this way →
Loved this fantastic article!
“Union organizing, however, makes power relations clear to cultural workers and helps them recognize their status as such. As a museum worker put it, ‘I think what unionizing does is make visible that your job is actually work. You are a worker.’”
“Union organizing, however, makes power relations clear to cultural workers and helps them recognize their status as such. As a museum worker put it, ‘I think what unionizing does is make visible that your job is actually work. You are a worker.’”
November 20, 2025 at 3:44 PM
Loved this fantastic article!
“Union organizing, however, makes power relations clear to cultural workers and helps them recognize their status as such. As a museum worker put it, ‘I think what unionizing does is make visible that your job is actually work. You are a worker.’”
“Union organizing, however, makes power relations clear to cultural workers and helps them recognize their status as such. As a museum worker put it, ‘I think what unionizing does is make visible that your job is actually work. You are a worker.’”
“Every company would be affected if the AI bubble were to burst, the CEO of Google's parent firm Alphabet told the BBC.
Sundar Pichai said while the growth of a AI investment had been an ‘extraordinary moment’, there was some ‘irrationality’ in the current AI boom.”
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Sundar Pichai said while the growth of a AI investment had been an ‘extraordinary moment’, there was some ‘irrationality’ in the current AI boom.”
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Google boss says trillion-dollar AI investment boom has 'elements of irrationality'
In an exclusive BBC interview, Sundar Pichai hailed artificial intelligence as an "extraordinary moment" but said no company would be immune if bubble burst.
www.bbc.com
November 20, 2025 at 2:31 PM
“Every company would be affected if the AI bubble were to burst, the CEO of Google's parent firm Alphabet told the BBC.
Sundar Pichai said while the growth of a AI investment had been an ‘extraordinary moment’, there was some ‘irrationality’ in the current AI boom.”
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Sundar Pichai said while the growth of a AI investment had been an ‘extraordinary moment’, there was some ‘irrationality’ in the current AI boom.”
www.bbc.com/news/article...
“The White House is preparing to issue an executive order as soon as Friday that enlists the power of the federal government to block states from regulating AI”
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
White House prepares executive order to block state AI laws
Draft document obtained by POLITICO calls for task force and multi-agency approach.
www.politico.com
November 20, 2025 at 1:27 AM
“The White House is preparing to issue an executive order as soon as Friday that enlists the power of the federal government to block states from regulating AI”
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
New paper! Let’s not overemphasize AI “upskilling” as a response to CEOs saying AI is gonna replace us.
So what else can we do?
Check out our new paper to find out how we can approach workforce development in the modern tech economy: techequity.us/2025/11/19/a...
Check out our new paper to find out how we can approach workforce development in the modern tech economy: techequity.us/2025/11/19/a...
AI & Workforce Development - November 2025 Report - TechEquity Collaborative
AI is changing the labor landscape. TechEquity’s explores how we can approach workforce development in the modern tech economy.
techequity.us
November 19, 2025 at 7:07 PM
New paper! Let’s not overemphasize AI “upskilling” as a response to CEOs saying AI is gonna replace us.
Reposted by Tim Newman
A super PAC backed by Andreessen Horowitz, OpenAI and other tech leaders has targeted New York Assembly member Alex Bores' congressional campaign, marking its first attack against a lawmaker supporting AI regulation.
A16z-backed super PAC is targeting Alex Bores, sponsor of New York’s AI safety bill. He says bring it on. | TechCrunch
A super PAC backed by Andreessen Horowitz, OpenAI and other tech leaders has targeted New York Assembly member Alex Bores' congressional campaign, marking its first attack against a lawmaker supporting AI regulation.
techcrunch.com
November 18, 2025 at 12:37 AM
A super PAC backed by Andreessen Horowitz, OpenAI and other tech leaders has targeted New York Assembly member Alex Bores' congressional campaign, marking its first attack against a lawmaker supporting AI regulation.
Right back here again - this time Cloudflare.
“More than a technical fault, the episode underscores the risks of infrastructural concentration. Cloudflare’s failure—even briefly—illustrates how a small misstep by one provider can cascade across global systems.” circleid.com/posts/cloudf...
“More than a technical fault, the episode underscores the risks of infrastructural concentration. Cloudflare’s failure—even briefly—illustrates how a small misstep by one provider can cascade across global systems.” circleid.com/posts/cloudf...
November 18, 2025 at 11:04 PM
Right back here again - this time Cloudflare.
“More than a technical fault, the episode underscores the risks of infrastructural concentration. Cloudflare’s failure—even briefly—illustrates how a small misstep by one provider can cascade across global systems.” circleid.com/posts/cloudf...
“More than a technical fault, the episode underscores the risks of infrastructural concentration. Cloudflare’s failure—even briefly—illustrates how a small misstep by one provider can cascade across global systems.” circleid.com/posts/cloudf...