Morozov brilliantly exposes how capitalism forecloses technological possibilities. But perhaps the most foreclosed possibility of all is that advanced AI itself — even one we might be able to tinker with and adapt to our own ends — might be incompatible with a livable planet. #DigitalDegrowth?

This is the huge blind spot in most left-wing AI critique more broadly. The search for "alternative technological paths" rarely confronts the possibility that no path at this computational scale is compatible with planetary boundaries. Another sign of ecological backlash?

Most crucially, there's the (usual) crucial omission: materiality: Can one advocate collectively-embedded AI without even alluding to the ecocidal production chains they require? Rare earth mining, water consumption, energy demands —all conspicuously absent from Morozov's "cybersocialist baroque".

But here's my issue: Eventually, AI becomes fetishized as the prime vehicle for socialist worldmaking -"experimentation, discovery, the power to make worlds out of ideas" now mediated through this powerful technology. The market is out, distributed AI is in, but the a Promethean undertone lingers.

It masterfully unpacks how socialist thought keeps treating tech as neutral hardware waiting for better ownership. Unlike many celebrations of a "democratic AI", Morozov tries to sketch what a different AI could look like: municipal projects, cooperative models, community-curated data training.

- In a separate proposal, the Commission finally eases emission control requirements for backup generators in data centers.

- National governments are asked to bear the costs associated with environmental assessments, in favor of industrial developers.

- Environmental impact assessment associated to changes in initial project (such as extensions) may be lifted. The Commission recommends that member states refuse to allow objections to the project to be raised in court if they have not been previously reported at the administrative stage.

- The death or disturbance of protected species during the implementation of the project will not be considered “intentional” as long as “proportionate and appropriate” mitigation measures are in place.

- These projects will benefit from limited timeframes for public consultation, environmental assessment, and decision-making by the authorities.