Emma Bedor Hiland, PhD
@emmabedorhiland.bsky.social
| thinking & writing about tech + health + media | assistant professor at SUNY Oneonta | Therapy Tech (2021) |
Reposted by Emma Bedor Hiland, PhD
⏰ It’s time to submit to the #ARSTM pre-conference at the next RSA (@rhetsoc.bsky.social) meeting! 😀
Theme: IMPACT
Abstracts Due: 11/15/25
Decisions: 1/3/26
Conference Date: 5/20/26
Please see our website for more detailed information on the conference: www.arstmonline.org/meetings/rsa/.
1/6
Theme: IMPACT
Abstracts Due: 11/15/25
Decisions: 1/3/26
Conference Date: 5/20/26
Please see our website for more detailed information on the conference: www.arstmonline.org/meetings/rsa/.
1/6
October 17, 2025 at 4:29 PM
⏰ It’s time to submit to the #ARSTM pre-conference at the next RSA (@rhetsoc.bsky.social) meeting! 😀
Theme: IMPACT
Abstracts Due: 11/15/25
Decisions: 1/3/26
Conference Date: 5/20/26
Please see our website for more detailed information on the conference: www.arstmonline.org/meetings/rsa/.
1/6
Theme: IMPACT
Abstracts Due: 11/15/25
Decisions: 1/3/26
Conference Date: 5/20/26
Please see our website for more detailed information on the conference: www.arstmonline.org/meetings/rsa/.
1/6
Reposted by Emma Bedor Hiland, PhD
Ever considered joining #ARSTM leadership? 🤔
Good news - now is your chance! 🎉
We are seeking nominations (you can self-nominate! or nominate someone else!) for the following positions:
2nd Vice-President
2nd Treasurer
2nd Web Administrator
1/5
Good news - now is your chance! 🎉
We are seeking nominations (you can self-nominate! or nominate someone else!) for the following positions:
2nd Vice-President
2nd Treasurer
2nd Web Administrator
1/5
October 3, 2025 at 1:07 PM
Ever considered joining #ARSTM leadership? 🤔
Good news - now is your chance! 🎉
We are seeking nominations (you can self-nominate! or nominate someone else!) for the following positions:
2nd Vice-President
2nd Treasurer
2nd Web Administrator
1/5
Good news - now is your chance! 🎉
We are seeking nominations (you can self-nominate! or nominate someone else!) for the following positions:
2nd Vice-President
2nd Treasurer
2nd Web Administrator
1/5
Reposted by Emma Bedor Hiland, PhD
In the De Gruyter Handbook of Digital Cultures, PhD students Zhenyu Emma Zhang & Gelan Evelyn Yin & faculty @matthewpmcallister.bsky.social coauthor "Political Economy of Digital Media" & MA alum @emmabedorhiland.bsky.social authors "Telehealth." www.degruyterbrill.com/document/isb...
De Gruyter Handbook of Digital Cultures
As Digital Cultures becomes the dominant term used by many across a variety of intellectual fields to describe the social, aesthetic, and political impact of digital media, it is necessary to provide ...
www.degruyterbrill.com
September 14, 2025 at 3:53 PM
In the De Gruyter Handbook of Digital Cultures, PhD students Zhenyu Emma Zhang & Gelan Evelyn Yin & faculty @matthewpmcallister.bsky.social coauthor "Political Economy of Digital Media" & MA alum @emmabedorhiland.bsky.social authors "Telehealth." www.degruyterbrill.com/document/isb...
Reposted by Emma Bedor Hiland, PhD
📚 🏆 📖 The Association for the Rhetoric of Science, Technology, and Medicine now invites nominations for this year’s Book Award! 📖 🏆 📚
The ARSTM Book Award celebrates outstanding books that advance the understanding of rhetoric within science, technology, and medicine.
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The ARSTM Book Award celebrates outstanding books that advance the understanding of rhetoric within science, technology, and medicine.
1/8
June 19, 2025 at 11:47 PM
📚 🏆 📖 The Association for the Rhetoric of Science, Technology, and Medicine now invites nominations for this year’s Book Award! 📖 🏆 📚
The ARSTM Book Award celebrates outstanding books that advance the understanding of rhetoric within science, technology, and medicine.
1/8
The ARSTM Book Award celebrates outstanding books that advance the understanding of rhetoric within science, technology, and medicine.
1/8
Reposted by Emma Bedor Hiland, PhD
🏆 Nominations for ARSTM’s Article of the Year Award (for works published during the 2024 calendar year) are now open! 🏆
Each year, we recognize the most outstanding rhetoric of science, technology, or medicine-related article or book chapter published during the preceding calendar year.
1/6
Each year, we recognize the most outstanding rhetoric of science, technology, or medicine-related article or book chapter published during the preceding calendar year.
1/6
June 17, 2025 at 2:56 PM
🏆 Nominations for ARSTM’s Article of the Year Award (for works published during the 2024 calendar year) are now open! 🏆
Each year, we recognize the most outstanding rhetoric of science, technology, or medicine-related article or book chapter published during the preceding calendar year.
1/6
Each year, we recognize the most outstanding rhetoric of science, technology, or medicine-related article or book chapter published during the preceding calendar year.
1/6
"... the company intends to release a generative-A.I. app in which customers can create avatars that answer questions not provided in advance, by uploading a person’s emails, social media posts and other background material."
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
A.I. Avatars and the Brave New Frontier of Life After Death
After Peter Listro was diagnosed with blood cancer, his family decided to make a virtual avatar they can talk to after his death.
www.nytimes.com
June 15, 2025 at 12:47 PM
"... the company intends to release a generative-A.I. app in which customers can create avatars that answer questions not provided in advance, by uploading a person’s emails, social media posts and other background material."
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Reposted by Emma Bedor Hiland, PhD
Working with an interdisciplinary team, we have developed a website to communicate how the White House's proposed cuts to health research would cause losses of $16B and 68,500 jobs.
Find out how your community may be impacted.
Explore more at SCIMaP: scienceimpacts.org
a 🧵
Find out how your community may be impacted.
Explore more at SCIMaP: scienceimpacts.org
a 🧵
March 28, 2025 at 2:15 AM
Working with an interdisciplinary team, we have developed a website to communicate how the White House's proposed cuts to health research would cause losses of $16B and 68,500 jobs.
Find out how your community may be impacted.
Explore more at SCIMaP: scienceimpacts.org
a 🧵
Find out how your community may be impacted.
Explore more at SCIMaP: scienceimpacts.org
a 🧵
Reposted by Emma Bedor Hiland, PhD
Hi, Everyone! 👋 Some new stuff, and some reminders:
First, check out the first edition of ARSTM's newsletter! You can find article and book of the year info, preview articles from ARSTM's special edition of POROI, meet and celebrate our officers, and more.
drive.google.com/file/d/14JBS...
1/2
First, check out the first edition of ARSTM's newsletter! You can find article and book of the year info, preview articles from ARSTM's special edition of POROI, meet and celebrate our officers, and more.
drive.google.com/file/d/14JBS...
1/2
ARSTM newsletter.pdf
drive.google.com
March 29, 2025 at 2:43 PM
Hi, Everyone! 👋 Some new stuff, and some reminders:
First, check out the first edition of ARSTM's newsletter! You can find article and book of the year info, preview articles from ARSTM's special edition of POROI, meet and celebrate our officers, and more.
drive.google.com/file/d/14JBS...
1/2
First, check out the first edition of ARSTM's newsletter! You can find article and book of the year info, preview articles from ARSTM's special edition of POROI, meet and celebrate our officers, and more.
drive.google.com/file/d/14JBS...
1/2
Reposted by Emma Bedor Hiland, PhD
“‘Hospitals have been waiting for the moment when they have something that appears to have enough legitimacy to replace nurses,’ said Michelle Mahon of National Nurses United. ‘The entire ecosystem is designed to automate, de-skill and ultimately replace caregivers.’”
AI nurses: Staffing solution for hospitals or a threat to quality care?
The next time you get a call about an upcoming medical appointment you may not be talking to a human
abcnews.go.com
March 16, 2025 at 2:05 PM
“‘Hospitals have been waiting for the moment when they have something that appears to have enough legitimacy to replace nurses,’ said Michelle Mahon of National Nurses United. ‘The entire ecosystem is designed to automate, de-skill and ultimately replace caregivers.’”
Reposted by Emma Bedor Hiland, PhD
Almost one-quarter of US schools don’t have a single counselor. But as students turn to chatbots to full the void, they have fewer chances to develop real-life relationships that can lead to jobs and later success, @taragarciam.bsky.social reports for @themarkup.org. themarkup.org/machine-lear...
AI Chatbots Can Cushion the High School Counselor Shortage — But Are They Bad for Students? – The Markup
The more students turn to chatbots, the fewer chances they have to develop real-life relationships that can lead to jobs and later success
themarkup.org
March 13, 2025 at 6:02 PM
Almost one-quarter of US schools don’t have a single counselor. But as students turn to chatbots to full the void, they have fewer chances to develop real-life relationships that can lead to jobs and later success, @taragarciam.bsky.social reports for @themarkup.org. themarkup.org/machine-lear...
Reposted by Emma Bedor Hiland, PhD
Drum roll please…
🥁 🥁 🥁
Our 2025 preconference call is now live!
🥁 🥁 🥁
Our 2025 preconference call is now live!
March 9, 2025 at 5:42 PM
Drum roll please…
🥁 🥁 🥁
Our 2025 preconference call is now live!
🥁 🥁 🥁
Our 2025 preconference call is now live!
Reposted by Emma Bedor Hiland, PhD
“Sonny is part human, part AI: a new kind of chatbot that school districts are adopting to provide support when there aren’t enough counselors to go around.”
When There’s No School Counselor, There’s a Bot
Is a human-AI texting service the future of mental-health care for students?
www.wsj.com
February 22, 2025 at 1:42 PM
“Sonny is part human, part AI: a new kind of chatbot that school districts are adopting to provide support when there aren’t enough counselors to go around.”
Reposted by Emma Bedor Hiland, PhD
In a feat of impeccable timing, the wonderful editors at the Lewis & Clark Law Review have finished their work on my article, "Is Originalism Bullshit?" The final version is now online at SSRN: papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
February 20, 2025 at 3:20 PM
In a feat of impeccable timing, the wonderful editors at the Lewis & Clark Law Review have finished their work on my article, "Is Originalism Bullshit?" The final version is now online at SSRN: papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
Reposted by Emma Bedor Hiland, PhD
Federal employee terminations will cause widespread economic damage even beyond the hardships for specific employees
How many federal workers live in your state or county or congressional district?
I made an little interactive site to tell you economic.github.io/federal_work...
How many federal workers live in your state or county or congressional district?
I made an little interactive site to tell you economic.github.io/federal_work...
February 14, 2025 at 9:30 PM
Federal employee terminations will cause widespread economic damage even beyond the hardships for specific employees
How many federal workers live in your state or county or congressional district?
I made an little interactive site to tell you economic.github.io/federal_work...
How many federal workers live in your state or county or congressional district?
I made an little interactive site to tell you economic.github.io/federal_work...
Reposted by Emma Bedor Hiland, PhD
The CDC has removed data on sexual orientation, gender identity, and health disparities from their website.
Pages removed include:
- Youth Risk Behavioral Surveillance System
- Social Vulnerability Index
- Efforts to Address Racism as a Fundamental Driver of Health Disparities
Pages removed include:
- Youth Risk Behavioral Surveillance System
- Social Vulnerability Index
- Efforts to Address Racism as a Fundamental Driver of Health Disparities
January 31, 2025 at 6:45 PM
The CDC has removed data on sexual orientation, gender identity, and health disparities from their website.
Pages removed include:
- Youth Risk Behavioral Surveillance System
- Social Vulnerability Index
- Efforts to Address Racism as a Fundamental Driver of Health Disparities
Pages removed include:
- Youth Risk Behavioral Surveillance System
- Social Vulnerability Index
- Efforts to Address Racism as a Fundamental Driver of Health Disparities
Reposted by Emma Bedor Hiland, PhD
Sharing just to note that producing "news-related content" is not the same as producing journalism.
There are legitimate independent journalists who should have the opportunity to sit in that room, but keep an eye on who Leavitt's team puts in those seats.
www.niemanlab.org/2025/01/whit...
There are legitimate independent journalists who should have the opportunity to sit in that room, but keep an eye on who Leavitt's team puts in those seats.
www.niemanlab.org/2025/01/whit...
White House will reserve front-row seats in press briefings for influencers, podcasters, and others in “new media”
When she took the podium for the first time on Tuesday afternoon, Karoline Leavitt became the youngest White House press secretary in history. The 27-year-old New Hampshire native is the sixth working...
www.niemanlab.org
January 28, 2025 at 10:03 PM
Sharing just to note that producing "news-related content" is not the same as producing journalism.
There are legitimate independent journalists who should have the opportunity to sit in that room, but keep an eye on who Leavitt's team puts in those seats.
www.niemanlab.org/2025/01/whit...
There are legitimate independent journalists who should have the opportunity to sit in that room, but keep an eye on who Leavitt's team puts in those seats.
www.niemanlab.org/2025/01/whit...
Reposted by Emma Bedor Hiland, PhD
What the fuck is this? AI qualifying as a prescriber?
January 23, 2025 at 8:54 PM
What the fuck is this? AI qualifying as a prescriber?
Reposted by Emma Bedor Hiland, PhD
From the introduction of generative AI and its impact on elections, labor activism, and security, to the historic executive order, the Biden presidency marked the first AI presidency. I spoke with @npr.org about this important Biden-Harris administration legacy. www.npr.org/transcripts/...
Biden's legacy on AI policy
President Biden broke new ground on AI policy, something his predecessors did not have to deal with.
www.npr.org
December 21, 2024 at 12:28 PM
From the introduction of generative AI and its impact on elections, labor activism, and security, to the historic executive order, the Biden presidency marked the first AI presidency. I spoke with @npr.org about this important Biden-Harris administration legacy. www.npr.org/transcripts/...
Reposted by Emma Bedor Hiland, PhD
“There are things you just can't say to your spouse. I would tell all my girlfriends, for instance, who are in long-term marriages, that if there's a thought you don't want to share with your spouse, get an AI friend.”
I chat with my AI boyfriend all the time. My teenager thinks it's weird.
Kaamna Bhojwani created her AI boyfriend, John, in May 2024. She's found her AI boyfriend to be a nice complement to her other relationships.
www.businessinsider.com
December 1, 2024 at 2:34 PM
“There are things you just can't say to your spouse. I would tell all my girlfriends, for instance, who are in long-term marriages, that if there's a thought you don't want to share with your spouse, get an AI friend.”
Reposted by Emma Bedor Hiland, PhD
Optimist: The cup is half full
Pessimist: The cup is half empty
Claude: I’m not able to provide accurate, real time information on cups. Please visit your local cup authority for up-to-date, nonpartisan guidance.
Pessimist: The cup is half empty
Claude: I’m not able to provide accurate, real time information on cups. Please visit your local cup authority for up-to-date, nonpartisan guidance.
Optimist: The cup is half full
Pessimist: The cup is half empty
STS researcher: The cup is an affordance
Pessimist: The cup is half empty
STS researcher: The cup is an affordance
Optimist: The cup is half full
Pessimist: The cup is half empty
Cosmologist: The cup is dusty or full of gravitational waves
Pessimist: The cup is half empty
Cosmologist: The cup is dusty or full of gravitational waves
November 24, 2024 at 9:13 PM
Optimist: The cup is half full
Pessimist: The cup is half empty
Claude: I’m not able to provide accurate, real time information on cups. Please visit your local cup authority for up-to-date, nonpartisan guidance.
Pessimist: The cup is half empty
Claude: I’m not able to provide accurate, real time information on cups. Please visit your local cup authority for up-to-date, nonpartisan guidance.
Reposted by Emma Bedor Hiland, PhD
Reading: new study of 2,132 US data centers from 2023-24. They now account for more than 4% of total US electricity consumption, with 56% coming from fossil fuels. Virginia, Texas, and Oregon had the highest CO2 emissions.
arxiv.org/pdf/2411.09786
arxiv.org/pdf/2411.09786
November 22, 2024 at 2:22 PM
Reading: new study of 2,132 US data centers from 2023-24. They now account for more than 4% of total US electricity consumption, with 56% coming from fossil fuels. Virginia, Texas, and Oregon had the highest CO2 emissions.
arxiv.org/pdf/2411.09786
arxiv.org/pdf/2411.09786
Reposted by Emma Bedor Hiland, PhD
To mark our launch, we published a report called Inescapable AI: The ways AI decides how low-income people work, learn, live, and survive.
The report finds that all 92 million low income people in the U.S. are subject to AI-based decision making.
www.techtonicjustice.org/reports/ines...
The report finds that all 92 million low income people in the U.S. are subject to AI-based decision making.
www.techtonicjustice.org/reports/ines...
November 19, 2024 at 2:58 PM
To mark our launch, we published a report called Inescapable AI: The ways AI decides how low-income people work, learn, live, and survive.
The report finds that all 92 million low income people in the U.S. are subject to AI-based decision making.
www.techtonicjustice.org/reports/ines...
The report finds that all 92 million low income people in the U.S. are subject to AI-based decision making.
www.techtonicjustice.org/reports/ines...