Mike Zajko
@zajko.bsky.social
Sociologist at UBC Okanagan -- digital policy, algorithms & AI, surveillance, governance, internet. https://zajko.ca/
Pinned
Mike Zajko
@zajko.bsky.social
· Jun 6
Autocompleting inequality: Large language models and the “alignment problem”
| Journal of Digital Social Research
publicera.kb.se
New research article from me in JDSR about aligning chatbots and image generators with “safety”, political economy, and what this means for the reproduction of inequality. I looked at controversies (-isms & 'wokeness'), documentation of fine-tuning, jailbreaking...
publicera.kb.se/jdsr/article...
publicera.kb.se/jdsr/article...
Reposted by Mike Zajko
I'm thrilled to see this piece in the world. Through it, Dr. Milagros Miceli and her team have put some language to the worker-led methodology which they have developed.
📣New paper!
Thrilled to share the methodological recipe for @dataworkersinquiry.bsky.social in this article co-authored with @adiod.bsky.social @krystalkauffman.bsky.social Camilla Salim Wagner, Laurenz Sachenbacher @alexhanna.bsky.social & @timnitgebru.bsky.social
👉 ojs.aaai.org/index.php/AI...
Thrilled to share the methodological recipe for @dataworkersinquiry.bsky.social in this article co-authored with @adiod.bsky.social @krystalkauffman.bsky.social Camilla Salim Wagner, Laurenz Sachenbacher @alexhanna.bsky.social & @timnitgebru.bsky.social
👉 ojs.aaai.org/index.php/AI...
November 25, 2025 at 5:49 PM
I'm thrilled to see this piece in the world. Through it, Dr. Milagros Miceli and her team have put some language to the worker-led methodology which they have developed.
The Canadian Sociological Association conference in Halifax and the Surveillance Studies Network conference in Lille overlap this year. They are both worthwhile and I am feeling a bit torn... SSN is now open for abstracts: surveillance-studies.net/conference/
Conference – Surveillance Studies Network
surveillance-studies.net
November 25, 2025 at 5:50 AM
The Canadian Sociological Association conference in Halifax and the Surveillance Studies Network conference in Lille overlap this year. They are both worthwhile and I am feeling a bit torn... SSN is now open for abstracts: surveillance-studies.net/conference/
Reposted by Mike Zajko
if you are considering submitting an application for this position, you still have just under 2 weeks to do so
any and all suitable candidates, please apply. everyone else, pls share with your networks
any and all suitable candidates, please apply. everyone else, pls share with your networks
📣 I am hiring a postdoc! aial.ie/hiring/postd...
applications from suitable candidates that are passionate about investigating the use of genAI in public service operations with the aim of keeping governments transparent and accountable are welcome
pls share with your networks
applications from suitable candidates that are passionate about investigating the use of genAI in public service operations with the aim of keeping governments transparent and accountable are welcome
pls share with your networks
November 19, 2025 at 2:44 PM
if you are considering submitting an application for this position, you still have just under 2 weeks to do so
any and all suitable candidates, please apply. everyone else, pls share with your networks
any and all suitable candidates, please apply. everyone else, pls share with your networks
Reposted by Mike Zajko
I first saw Microsoft's TV ad about "The computer you can talk to" during an NFL game. So I spent a week talking to the Copilot AI in Windows 11. Surely, it must be easy to replicate the specific tasks Microsoft wants millions of people to see...
Right? RIGHT??
www.theverge.com/report/82244...
Right? RIGHT??
www.theverge.com/report/82244...
Talking to Windows’ Copilot AI makes a computer feel incompetent
Hey Copilot, are you useful yet?
www.theverge.com
November 18, 2025 at 9:20 PM
I first saw Microsoft's TV ad about "The computer you can talk to" during an NFL game. So I spent a week talking to the Copilot AI in Windows 11. Surely, it must be easy to replicate the specific tasks Microsoft wants millions of people to see...
Right? RIGHT??
www.theverge.com/report/82244...
Right? RIGHT??
www.theverge.com/report/82244...
Reposted by Mike Zajko
A couple people asked about this Vancouver Sun article whingeing about the word ‘settler’. I wrote a reply on my Substack here: substack.com/@rjjago/note...
Robert Jago (@rjjago)
There was a Vancouver Sun article at the weekend, by Peter McMartin - where he asked how long it will be before he can call himself a ‘Native’ of Canada? He’s upset that terms like ‘Settler’ are used ...
substack.com
November 18, 2025 at 7:59 PM
A couple people asked about this Vancouver Sun article whingeing about the word ‘settler’. I wrote a reply on my Substack here: substack.com/@rjjago/note...
Did you know that Thomson Reuters is a major Canadian tech company, and that they do this kind of work for the authoritarians next door? www.404media.co/this-app-let...
This App Lets ICE Track Vehicles and Owners Across the Country
Material viewed by 404 Media shows data giant Thomson Reuters enriches license plate data with marriage, voter, and ownership records. The tool can predict where a car may be in the future.
www.404media.co
November 17, 2025 at 7:51 PM
Did you know that Thomson Reuters is a major Canadian tech company, and that they do this kind of work for the authoritarians next door? www.404media.co/this-app-let...
Reposted by Mike Zajko
A group of scientists has called on EC president Ursula von der Leyen to retract a statement she made suggesting A.I. would soon reach parity with human intelligence. Her statements were based on marketing statements from US Tech firms not empirical evidence or real proof. #ResistAI
Stop overhyping AI, scientists tell von der Leyen | Euractiv
Open letter criticises the Commission President for remarks earlier this year – when she anticipated AI would “approach human reasoning” in 2026
www.euractiv.com
November 10, 2025 at 1:22 PM
A group of scientists has called on EC president Ursula von der Leyen to retract a statement she made suggesting A.I. would soon reach parity with human intelligence. Her statements were based on marketing statements from US Tech firms not empirical evidence or real proof. #ResistAI
Reposted by Mike Zajko
too bad carney loves the UAE because it has money for AI 🤑
PM @mark-carney.bsky.social, there can be no move to "expand the Canada-UAE economic partnership" unless & until the UAE ceases ALL support to the RSF, responsible for unspeakable mass atrocities, very likely on the scale of genocide, in Sudan.
Prime Minister Carney to visit the UAE and attend the G20 Leaders’ Summit in South Africa to deepen trade, technology, and defence partnerships
Today, the Prime Minister, Mark Carney, announced that he will travel from November 18 to 24, 2025, for a bilateral visit to Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE), and the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Johan...
www.pm.gc.ca
November 12, 2025 at 9:06 PM
too bad carney loves the UAE because it has money for AI 🤑
"Canada intends to continue its partnership with the Coast Guard, called Operation Caribbean. But the country has made clear to the US that it does not want its intelligence being used to help target boats for deadly strikes" <-- Look, they've clearly been told! www.cnn.com/2025/11/11/p...
Exclusive: UK suspends some intelligence sharing with US over boat strike concerns in major break | CNN Politics
The United Kingdom is no longer sharing intelligence with the US about suspected drug trafficking vessels in the Caribbean because it does not want to be complicit in US military strikes and believes ...
www.cnn.com
November 11, 2025 at 8:20 PM
"Canada intends to continue its partnership with the Coast Guard, called Operation Caribbean. But the country has made clear to the US that it does not want its intelligence being used to help target boats for deadly strikes" <-- Look, they've clearly been told! www.cnn.com/2025/11/11/p...
Reposted by Mike Zajko
Signed. There are many problems with a 30-day, industry-heavy 'sprint' to develop AI policies, especially when a key goal is to cut the public service & integrate AI chatbots across government departments.
Along with numerous orgs and individuals, I have signed on to an Open Letter to the 🇨🇦 Minister of AI raising serious concerns about the government's approach to AI strategy.
Details are here 👇
bccla.org/policy-submi...
Details are here 👇
bccla.org/policy-submi...
OPEN LETTER to the Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation from civil society organizations and individuals opposing "National Sprint" consultation on AI strategy - BC Civil Liberti...
The Honourable Mélanie JolyMinister of IndustryHouse of CommonsOttawa, OntarioK1A 0A6 The Honourable Evan SolomonMinister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital InnovationHouse of CommonsOttawa, Ontar...
bccla.org
November 6, 2025 at 1:37 AM
Signed. There are many problems with a 30-day, industry-heavy 'sprint' to develop AI policies, especially when a key goal is to cut the public service & integrate AI chatbots across government departments.
Reposted by Mike Zajko
New art video just dropped! The 7 Trillion Dollar Seance 🔮 This is meant to be performed live, recited in front of the video at conferences, museums, public events. It got a standing ovation at Tech Together in NYC. Your phone works but best on your largest screen.
vimeo.com/1116289621
🧵
vimeo.com/1116289621
🧵
The 7 Trillion Dollar Seance
Şerife Wong The 7 Trillion Dollar Seance 2025 Original score by Jeromey Cooks (rikuwru) This video is part of Icarus Salon. It is intended to be viewed in…
vimeo.com
November 5, 2025 at 6:58 PM
New art video just dropped! The 7 Trillion Dollar Seance 🔮 This is meant to be performed live, recited in front of the video at conferences, museums, public events. It got a standing ovation at Tech Together in NYC. Your phone works but best on your largest screen.
vimeo.com/1116289621
🧵
vimeo.com/1116289621
🧵
Reposted by Mike Zajko
Canadian government departments are big believers that AI will be the source of reducing expenses. Finance, Justice, CRTC, Fisheries, CRA, ESDC all cite new efficiencies from AI to explain how they will meet the 15% spending reduction target in the budget.
November 4, 2025 at 9:50 PM
Canadian government departments are big believers that AI will be the source of reducing expenses. Finance, Justice, CRTC, Fisheries, CRA, ESDC all cite new efficiencies from AI to explain how they will meet the 15% spending reduction target in the budget.
Reading Koopman again
November 4, 2025 at 8:11 PM
Reading Koopman again
Reposted by Mike Zajko
Just put my thoughts together on this:
The time to reckon with AI agents in digital learning spaces is now
We need ed tech and AI companies collaborating to prevent widespread fraud
open.substack.com/pub/annamill...
The time to reckon with AI agents in digital learning spaces is now
We need ed tech and AI companies collaborating to prevent widespread fraud
open.substack.com/pub/annamill...
October 19, 2025 at 8:25 PM
Just put my thoughts together on this:
The time to reckon with AI agents in digital learning spaces is now
We need ed tech and AI companies collaborating to prevent widespread fraud
open.substack.com/pub/annamill...
The time to reckon with AI agents in digital learning spaces is now
We need ed tech and AI companies collaborating to prevent widespread fraud
open.substack.com/pub/annamill...
“I can be the best spy you have ever seen,” Earl promised Privet Bot.
The following day, counter-terrorism police arrested him in a car park of B&Q.
www.irishtimes.com/world/europe...
The following day, counter-terrorism police arrested him in a car park of B&Q.
www.irishtimes.com/world/europe...
‘Do you have any friends in the IRA?’: how Russia’s hybrid war is sowing chaos across Europe
The trail from a Normandy pig farm has helped expose Russia’s campaign of sabotage across Europe aimed at inflaming division, spreading fear and weakeing support for Ukraine
www.irishtimes.com
October 24, 2025 at 6:01 PM
“I can be the best spy you have ever seen,” Earl promised Privet Bot.
The following day, counter-terrorism police arrested him in a car park of B&Q.
www.irishtimes.com/world/europe...
The following day, counter-terrorism police arrested him in a car park of B&Q.
www.irishtimes.com/world/europe...
I still can't bring myself to say "hyperscaler"
October 21, 2025 at 4:25 PM
I still can't bring myself to say "hyperscaler"
"The CRA's chatbot, Charlie, which can answer basic tax-related questions online, provided accurate answers only a third of the time, according to the AG" www.cbc.ca/news/politic...
In scathing report, AG finds CRA call centres are slow to answer and often inaccurate | CBC News
In a scathing new report released Tuesday, the auditor general found Canada Revenue Agency contact centres are repeatedly failing to answer calls in a timely manner, and when agents do connect to a cu...
www.cbc.ca
October 21, 2025 at 4:07 PM
"The CRA's chatbot, Charlie, which can answer basic tax-related questions online, provided accurate answers only a third of the time, according to the AG" www.cbc.ca/news/politic...
If the Canadian government is unwilling to stand up to Trump on these killings, it should at least get the Navy as far away as possible from Stephen Miller's murder missiles and further escalation in the region.
October 20, 2025 at 6:24 PM
If the Canadian government is unwilling to stand up to Trump on these killings, it should at least get the Navy as far away as possible from Stephen Miller's murder missiles and further escalation in the region.
Reposted by Mike Zajko
The surveillance empire that tracked world leaders, a Vatican enemy, and maybe you www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
A stunning investigation by @lighthousereports.com of what I call "despotism as a service"👇
A stunning investigation by @lighthousereports.com of what I call "despotism as a service"👇
The surveillance empire that tracked world leaders, a Vatican enemy, and maybe you
We uncovered a massive data trove. It revealed the hidden world of First Wap, whose untraceable tech has targeted politicians, journalists, celebrities, and activists around the globe.
www.motherjones.com
October 14, 2025 at 3:27 PM
The surveillance empire that tracked world leaders, a Vatican enemy, and maybe you www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
A stunning investigation by @lighthousereports.com of what I call "despotism as a service"👇
A stunning investigation by @lighthousereports.com of what I call "despotism as a service"👇
Still relevant: "Digital sovereignty" here usually means being less dependent/vulnerable to the U.S., but there's no positive vision there beyond boosting Canadian industry. If Canada wants to chart its own path, this should include a rethink of how our data is governed and profited from.
Jamie Duncan and I are in the @theglobeandmail.com this week! 🗞️
In this piece, we argue that Carney's ambitious plans to enhance Canada's sovereignty is a worthy goal, but requires the simultaneous consideration of several trade-offs. Have a read here 👇
#bigdata #datasovereignty #wethedata
In this piece, we argue that Carney's ambitious plans to enhance Canada's sovereignty is a worthy goal, but requires the simultaneous consideration of several trade-offs. Have a read here 👇
#bigdata #datasovereignty #wethedata
Opinion: Digital sovereignty is a means to an uncertain goal
Our government’s focus on Canada’s digital destiny is admirable, but it will require Canadians to make difficult trade-offs around our reliance on data-driven technologies
www.theglobeandmail.com
October 9, 2025 at 5:26 PM
Still relevant: "Digital sovereignty" here usually means being less dependent/vulnerable to the U.S., but there's no positive vision there beyond boosting Canadian industry. If Canada wants to chart its own path, this should include a rethink of how our data is governed and profited from.
Either you eat our brand-labeled slop, or you'll be eating someone else's off-brand slop soon enough. Either way, it's slop for everyone from here on.
October 8, 2025 at 7:36 PM
Either you eat our brand-labeled slop, or you'll be eating someone else's off-brand slop soon enough. Either way, it's slop for everyone from here on.
AI-generated images shown at the press conference, which the suspect had generated months before the fire, showing the world on fire. The suspect had also previously told ChatGPT he had burned a bible and "felt so liberated". Probable cause by way of AI slop laist.com/news/crimina...
Uber driver charged in connection with starting the Palisades Fire
The Palisades Fire erupted on Jan. 7 and went on to kill 12 people and destroy more than 6,800 homes and buildings.
laist.com
October 8, 2025 at 5:47 PM
AI-generated images shown at the press conference, which the suspect had generated months before the fire, showing the world on fire. The suspect had also previously told ChatGPT he had burned a bible and "felt so liberated". Probable cause by way of AI slop laist.com/news/crimina...
"Progress on genAI could stall, too, leaving consumers with 'good enough' tools that are free to use. In that scenario, AI firms may become less important, the technology a little less powerful — and that might be perfectly OK." theconversation.com/generative-a...
Generative AI might end up being worthless — and that could be a good thing
GenAI does some neat, helpful things, but it’s not yet the engine of a new economy — and it might not ever be.
theconversation.com
October 7, 2025 at 7:47 PM
"Progress on genAI could stall, too, leaving consumers with 'good enough' tools that are free to use. In that scenario, AI firms may become less important, the technology a little less powerful — and that might be perfectly OK." theconversation.com/generative-a...
Reposted by Mike Zajko
Let's be clear tho: Carney abandoned climate change policy as a cynical means to get elected, not because there are other crises.
A decade ago, Mark Carney gave a speech pointing out how biz and political leaders had no day-to-day incentive to address climate change, yet it was up to governments. Today, Carney is leading one, but finds himself consumed with responding to the many crises of the day thenarwhal.ca/mark-carney-...
How Mark Carney is complicating Canada’s climate progress | The Narwhal
From cancelling the carbon tax to pausing the EV mandate, Mark Carney’s government is making sweeping changes to Canada’s environmental rules
thenarwhal.ca
October 7, 2025 at 5:55 PM
Let's be clear tho: Carney abandoned climate change policy as a cynical means to get elected, not because there are other crises.